The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-12

a seat on the Supreme Court bench of the United States. Nine of the Cover nors have been identified by residence or birth. with Madison County. The two Bibbs. Gabriel Moore, c. c. Clay, Ruben Chapman, John A Winston. Rob- ert Patton. D. P. Lewis and F.. A. ONeal. Eight United States Senators and two Confederate Senators were Huntsville's honored sons, prominent among whom were c. c. Clay, Jr., and Jere Clements. In the Confederate Sen ate .. c. Clay, Jr, served first and atterwards Richard W. Walker Gen. l.. F. Walker was Secretary of War of the Confederate States in 1861. The Federal troops took possession of Huntsville. April II. 1862, and held un- til the following September, when Gen eral -Brasg's army drove them out, but they re-occupted 1t in July, 1863, and remained during most of the war.
 Among the many natural advantages or Huntsville may be mentioned the famous Big Spring." whose pure wa ters add much to the attractiveness of the city. This spring issues from q oiuH seventy-five feet high. on the top or which is the public square The clll1ens claim that this spring is the largest in the United States. and 1t seems probable when we recognize the fact that at times the daily discharge IS 4O,OOO.OOO gallons of pure limestone water. Owing to this the United States government stationed 20.O00 men In and around this pretty city, awaiting the developments of the Cuban war. Huntsville has always been recognized throughout the State as the seat of in- telligence and social refinement, and since US establishment, there has been no city of the South more attractive and desirable as a home, but enough of Huntsville of the past, let us look at it as it now is
 Until a few years ago agriculture in the surrounding country was the chief support of the city, but now seven large cotton factories, spinning and knitting mills, one of the largest cot ton seed oil factories in the South and number of nurseries employs hum dreds of men.
 Huntsville claims as her own four writers of celebrity. Miss Julia Pleas ants was poetess of high order of talent, sending out in conjunction with her cousin, Tom Bibb Bradley, a vol ume of poetic gems. Miss Mary Ann Cruse is the author of the "Llttle Epis- copalian.'' a work considered unequall- ed for the great good it achieved in simplifying for childrens' minds the ritual of the established church of England. Mrs. Clay Clopton. the gift ed author of "A Belle of the Fifties," Is known from Washington to the Gulf as the most brilliant woman of her day. This book Is a portrayal of her life at Washington and elsewhere dur ing her husbands political career A friend writes: Miss Howard Weed en. artist and poet lives as quietly as if she had not started the wave of pa- thetic melody which has spread in ever widening circles. immortalizinE the negro. in the old likeness that we know. To the artist whose touch has revived the fading picture of Nanny the Southern heart will pay tribute as long as memory lasts.
 Bessie M. Schley.
 This interesting paper was read at the December meeting of the Mobile Chapter. The D. A. R. department is indebted to Mrs. Schley. a native of Huntsville, for this sketch of the most beautiful spot in the Valley of the Tennessee.