The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-12

a good dirt road from these points. It is said that capitalists are figuring on railroad from Epes and the country has began to pave the dirt road with slag and sand hence Gainesville has brighter prospects. The water is pure and plen- tiful there being several artesian wells In the town, and 1 presume many in the country. So much for Gainesville of the present; we will now speak of Gainesville of the past.
 Towns Past History.
 One hundred years ago, where this town stands, the Indian roamed, hunted and fished and padded his canoe up and down the Bigbee. Blenville and his little army came up the river from Mobile, built fort near the land on which Epes now stands. then marched on their west ward journey to the Mississippi river leaving the territory to the north to be explored and settled by the English from the east
 Now, as to the history of the early set clement of Gainesville. That which l will give Is taken from data obtained from a scrap book compiled by Col. R. J. McMahon. one of the first residents, and willed to his relative, J. M. Gilbert of this place. This book is a valuable historical record, containing not only history per taining to Gainesville and Sumter coun- ty, but also sketches of history of the whole of the United States. It contains an autograph letter of Aaron Burr and the autograph of nearly all of the early settlers of Gainesville and Sumter county. This scrap book also holds copies of the first newspaper issued in Sumter county, beginning with the Alabama Reporter of March 30 183S
 Proceeding the settlement of Gaines vile and Sumter county, we find that fort had been built at Jones Bluff as early huf hq A aftpr- wards Joseph Gillespie. an Irishman, who had been a clerk at the trading post at St. Stephens, resided near Belmont. A trading post was established in Sumter in the fall of 1915. In 1881. when General Jackson was President Maj. John H. Eaton and Gen. John Caffey were United States commissioners. Major Eaton was also Secretary of War and took upon himself the management of the treaty with the Indians. Major Eaton bullied and threatened the Indians until the principal chiefs signed the treaty, which Is called the Dancing Rabbit Creek treaty" at a point which is now in the southwestern part of Noxubee county, Miss.
 Had But One House.
 In this sar there was but one house in Gainesville. It stood on the east side of the lot on which was afterwards built the American hotel, and was occupied by a white man named Coleman and his h. dian wife.
 On the 9th day of June. 1882, William O. Winston, John l.. Winston and Mitchell Malone crossed the Tombigbee by flat at this place, being the first white man that ever crossed here in flat. They had left Tuscumba with directions to cross at Demopolis and then work their way up the river to this point; but at Tuscaloosa they met Col. James Snedecor, who had
 
 ty, and who was then a member of the legislature. He advised them to come to his house and inquire for Jacob Os- walt. who was then building fiat. They found the fiat completed, in Tubbs creek and ready for turning. By using this fiat the party. with their wagons and equipment. soon landed on this side of the 'Bigbee
 w. O. Winston had bargained with Mr. Coleman for the site of Gainesville, but while his messenger had gone to north Alabama for the funds, Col. Moses Lewis traded with Coleman and secured the title on the 4th day of March, 1882.
 Receives Merchandise.
 A A. Winston received by steamer "Sun." a lot of merchandise from Col umbus, Miss. 1t having been wagoned from Tuscumbia, Ala, to that point He opened a store the same day on the ReaVeS plantatlOn, men owned by John D. Rogers. afterwards and for many years by Col A. Winston. On December ' he removed his goods to Gainesville into his new house. which is still standing in fairly good condition. on the business street of the town. Previous to Decem- Der '. 1892, Lewis and Whitsett had a small stock of goods in a log house.
 The town of Gainesville was first named Eaton, in honor of Major Eaton. but on account of the scandal of Mrs. Eaton 1t was changed to the name it now bears, which is in honor of Col. George D. Gaines. who was one of the commission CTS in locating the county site.
 In 1886 the smallpox visited Gainesville, and the citizens, under the lead of Gov. J. J. Pettus, then young man. lined the river bank and refused to suffer the steamboat Iberia to land, because 1t had smallpox on board.
 John G. Baldwin. the author of Flush Times resided for many years here. Miss Ann Hazard composed her novel Emma Bell" while she resided in Gaines vile. Reaves' Digest was also prepared here, and for over thirty years Judge n, |