The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-05-09
RUSSELLV|LLE, is
HISTORIC TOWN
Poultry and Eggs Are Shipped
in Abundance
"BONNY KATE" BURIED HERE
Growth Of the Town Has Been Rapid
and the Ore Mines Are
Source of Large
Revenue.
"BONNY KATE" BURIED HERE
BY FRANK v. EVANS.

BY FRANK v. EVANS.
Russellville, May s.-(Special.) -This is
another city of the old towns of Alabama
which has been made new by the general
progress of the state In 1870 Russelville
had a population of only $50. though the
village was older than the state of Ala
bama. Now. Russellvlle is real little
city, with a business center built substan-
TALLY of brick and population of about
1000. The place was named for Major
| Russell, an early settler, who was the
grandfather of Lieutenant Governor Cum
bingham and of Col E. L. Russell of
Mobile. and by the way both of these
distinguished Alabamlans we're born in
the country near Russellville.
This, Franklin county, was established
at the first session of the territorial leg
slature, February l. 1918, and from that
date until 1s49, Russellville was the coun-
/ ty seat and then 1t was changed to
Frankfort. where it remained until long
after the civil war Now again Russell
vile is the seat of justice and a very
handsome and imposing modern brick
court house ornaments the city.
Much Historic Interest.
Much historic interest attaches to Rus
sellville. The principal business thor
oughfare of the town is Jackson street,
and is an actual part of the military road
cut by General Andrew Jackson in his
march from Tennessee to New Orleans,
where he fought the great battle
1t was here that Governor Sevsier, Ten
nessee's first chief executive, once lived
and here he loved and won his wife,
nj Il to e,a4d tn
most beautiful woman of all the south
land. In an old and much neglected
burying ground near here lie the last
earthly remains of Mrs. Sewer. Some
years ago, when the remains of the ex-
governor and soldier were removed to
Tennessee, an effort was made to obtain
permission to remove those of the dead
wife we'll but her descendants, who
still live here are said to have objected.
Now another effort will be made In this
direction and 1t is thought the descend
ants will withdraw objection. The wri-
ter Is informed that the present post
master at Russellvile is a great-grand-
son of Governor and Mrs. Sewer.
Is an orderly Town.
Russellville is quite an orderly town.
No whisky is sold here. either by saloons
or by dispensary. The town contains
three white churches which have large
W
have an enrolment of about 800. are un-
der the excellent management of Profess
sor Marlborough who has five or six as
sstant teachers. This school is free.
The tax rate of the town Is one-half of
1 per cent, which is said to be ample for
all purposes
Franklin county in the center of which
is situated Russellville, was for long
time considered one of the poorest coun-
ties of the state, but 1t is not so now
The surface of the country is rugged with
ridges, intersected by beautiful little val
leys-small but exceedingly fertile. The
farmes are small, but they are numerous
and productive. Franklin county pro-
duces wheat, corn. cotton, potatoes, to-
bacco sorghum and wool There are few
counties in the state of like area that
raises and sell more live stock than does
Franklin. Many heads of cattle are an
nualy shipped to the markets from this
point; and your correspondent has just
beheld the gratifying sight of a thrifty
farmer Of this county with a wagon we'll
laden with lucious looking country hams
and bacon, brought from his own farm
for sale in this market; and am inform
ed that this is frequent occurance here
Produce Much Fruit.
These hill-sides and valleys produce
fruit, berries and grapes in abundance
kind Is shipped away.
Franklin may be fairly classed as a
poultry and egg county and of these
Russellville ships thousands Of dollars
worth every year. l am informed that
these find most profitable market in
the sea-coast towns and cities of Flori-
da: and to Tampa Russellville merchants
are today shipping many coops of chick
ems and turkeys, and many cases of eggs.
All of these things contribute to Rus
sellvilles strength. but perhaps what
gave most impetus to the recent rapid
growth of the town was the building of
the Northern Alabama Railroad. which
made possible the development of these
rich iron ore mines which lie immediate
~ on the corporation line OF RusseIlville
These mines are operated by the Sloss-
Sheffield company. the Tennessee Coal
Iron and Railroad company and others.
and they give employment to large
number of men and support large popu-
laton.
BY the way, a goodly number Of these
workmen are Italians and they are said
to be quite Industrious ana intelligent.
They live with their and children in quar- |
ters far apart from the blacks and work |
separately in the mines. The climate |
here Is much like that of Italy. and quite
agrees with these people.
Furnace in 1920.
AS far back as 1920 Russelvile had an |
iron furnaces smelling furnace as they |
called it then. The remains of the old |
works can be seen today and are quite |
picturesque and antique How changed |
are conditions now. The iron produced |
in 1890 at this place was hauled in wagons |
to the Tennessee river and from there |
foated to the markets of the world
Many of your readers will recall the |
statement that Mrs. Maybrick. the much |
discussed woman who long suffered |
British Imprisonment is largely interested |
financially in some of these timber and |
ore lands around Russellvilie.
Another historical fact about RUSSELL |
Vile and Franklin county is that Will
sons raiders rode through mere en- route
from Tennessee to the farther south. and
the farms and homes the barns and
smoke houses of old Franklin suffered
severely at their hands.
There are three hotels In Russell, and
of these the Drake House Is quite popu-
lar. The house Is new and Clearly, and
the cuisine is most excellent.