The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-12-26


was created by an act of the Missis-
sippi legislature in the year 1909, of
territory already apportioned to
Washington county, which was crea-
ted by a proclamation of Governor
Sargent of Mississippi Territory in
1900. Madison county was created
in 1903 and the three counties en-
braced all the territory now. within
the boundary Of the state, except that
south of the 31st degree of north lati-
tude, known as West Florida, then
under the dominion of Spain. ,
Baldwin county, as first formed, in
cluded much territory west of the
Alabama river, which has since been
chopped off and formed into counties
Of the state of Alabama and Missis-
sippi.
Subsequent to the cession of Flor
ida by Spain in 1919, the boundaries
of Baldwin county as it now exists,
were for the first time defined by
an act of the Alabama legislature APP
proved December 20, 1882, and there
has been no change in it's boundaries
since, except when a part of it's north
eastern territory ceded to Escambia
county in its creation in 1868.
The settlement Of the county began
at a very early date. History re-
cites that as early as III that ne
gro slaves were brought by the ship
load by the French settlers to Mobile.
and rich crops of rice and indigo
were raised by these slaves for their
masters along the Tensas river,
which is within the boundary of Bald
win county.
The territory south of the 31st de-
gree of north latitude, was subse-
Quently settled by a few families of
Spanish and French emigrants, and
many Of our most honored citizens
of to-day sprang from them, notably
among whom are the Suarez and Do
live families, who still live in that
territory.
The northern portion of the county
before the dawn Of the 18th century,
began to be populated by emigrants
from the states of Georgia, the Caro-
linas and Virginia, who brought with
them their slaves and cleared planta-
tons in the dense cane brakes on the
Alabama river, from whose fertile
acres were raised by them bountiful
harvests Of corn, potatoes and other
crops, while on the hills around
browsed numerous herds of cattle
and other domestic animals.
The first English school ever
taught in the territory of Alabama,
was taught by John Pierce, a native
of New England, on Boat Yard lake,
in the northwestern portion of the
county in 1899, at which the children
of the Durants. Minis, Weatherfords
and Tates imbibed their first ideas
OF education, and many OIL their de-
scendants now constitute our best
citizenship.
In 1910 however. the population of
the three counties of Alabama was
only 9046, of which 2064 were ne
groes, Madison county containing
more than half of the whole.
In 1913, or three years after. the
Creek Indians, who outnumbered the
white inhabitants of the territory of
Alabama. led by Francis, Weather
ford and Mcqueen, attacked Fort
Minis, the refuge of the inhabitants
thereabout, situated in the northwest
ern part of Baldwin county, and
massacred 500 of Its 553 inmates and
so terrified the white settlers of the
territory adjacent that they fed from
their homes and plantations and were
slow to return, until the indomitable
Creeks were conquered or their war.
riors slain by the army of General
Jackson, and their remnant trans,
ported to Indian Territory, west of
the Mississippi
On the soil Of Baldwin county have
transpired more events of historic in
terest than on that of any county in
this great state. 1t can be verified
by history. that the naughty Span.
lard. gay Frenchman and crafty In
dian held alternate sway within IT'S
domain, while their English competi.
tors, who survived all three, are now
I In undisputed possession.
The thunder of the last battles of
q dying Confederacy were fought out
lby the unserried ranks Of blue and
tgray in April, 1865, around Spanish
) Fort and Blakeiy, and whose winrows