The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-19
PIONEER DAYS
BY MARY GORDON DuFFEE.

not hold land sale in Huntsville until July 19, 1s19. The minimum price was S2 an acre, one-fourth to be paid the day 1t was purchased. and the balance in three equal annual installments, bearing inter- est from the date of sale. Farming lands were the kind wanted: coal and iron lands had no value whatever in the estimation of the farmers, as they had neither the facilities for mining and transportation, nor a market for such output At that period there was no specified law for the settler to obtain his tract by residence and cultivation, for a term of five years and the payment of small sum as at present No matter how humble the home, or costly the Improvements. if there was no money to make the first pay sment then any one else could buy the place The tracts were of equal size, namely, 160 acres, and no' limit was put upon the amount wanted by any one pur- chaser, and in this manner,large bodies of Hand were accumulated by a- few men who had the ready cash. Let it be understood that the government sold each tract for as much as could be obtained, even in some cases as high as S and S6 per acre, but S2 was the lowest price. When the day of sale arrived the pioneers, to their aston ishment and dismay, were met by gang of spectators who had secured Hist of the numbers of the most valuable lots of land, and especially those occupied, who boldly told their intention to bid certain price in each case much higher than that anticipated by the settler, who must either lose his home or compromise with the sharks by paying to them the difference between their price and that of the government After this compromise had been effected the tract was bid in by the rightful claimant and often the com promise cost more than the government received, In many cases relating to Jones valley two and three times as much, that section being considered the most valu- able. When ready funds were exhausted notes were given and of such binding character as to secure payment On several of the large plantations in Jones and Roupe valleys, and in the Tennes- see valley. the compromises cost as high as S5o0 and S1000 In the mountain region from $50 to s1Oo.
 In the autumn of 1S19 the legislature passed some very severe acts against such a system of graft. but it was too late to protect those who suffered from it; yet 1t put stop to any further schemes of such a character.
 
 and that paid to the sharks nearly every citizen was left deeply in debt, and some worthy men. being unable to pay for their homes, lost them, and had to rent from their more fortunate neighbors. This Eeemed especially hard upon the Tennes- scans, who had endured sufferings and fought so bravely under Jackson and Coffee for the salvation of this fair state Of Alabama
 I1-r of foodstuffs caused money to be scarce. Corn was 30 to 40 cents a bushel smoked baeon, cents a pound; butter, cents: honey, cents; no sale for eggs grown chickens 10 cents each. Men split rails for 10 cents day and fed themselves; the fbest class of farm laborers. s a month Under such circumstances the prospect of the entire loss of their farms because of Inability to meet payments was so wide spread that our legislature petitioned Congress for relief laws, such as pro- Longing the time of payment, remitting the interest, and subsequently remitting part of the original debt. But the most substantial assistance resulted from an act which permitted the purchaser to re- 1inquish part of the tract of land in pay ,nent for the portion retained. This wise and timely act enabled the landholders Ito get clear of indebtedness to the govern B. Not so charitable were the holders of their compromise notes who held them In their power until the last dollar was paid. or their homesteads abandoned
 There being no market for corn. the farmers in the latter part of autumn would gather up their hogs, already fat upon the mash of the range. feed them with corn to harden the meat. ana when made into bacon. haul if to Tuscaloosa, where 1t found ready sale They also carried large quantities of dried fruit, heeswax, honey, cheese. feathers, and tanned deerskins, and the skins of bea- vers and otters The women also sent homemade jeans. woolen coverlids, blan- kets and socks to exchange at the stores for dry goods The ox-teams travelled slowly, and 1t required about six days to reach the city.
 The culture of cotton progressed slowly, and after many years of effort 1, was abandoned by three-fourths of the population, and in 1854 and 1855, only foul or five hundred bales were produced if Blount. The farmers turned their atten. tion to the raising of corn, wheat, oat. and fruit. and live stock, and then pros perity set in. Down in Jones' valley twhere there were much larger bodies o level and fertile land. and considerabl, humber of slaves, the cultivation of cot ton was annually increased.
 The pioneers early began the erection O meeting houses, as their churches wer then called. for the purpose of religious worship. At first, services were held a the residence of gome prominent mem ber of community, during the winte season; in spring. summer and autuml lat their camp grounds where tents an, Tude wooden shelters gave protection. Tn preaching was held in the open air. Man, came a distance of 40 miles, and tn spiritual refreshment served them fo long and lonely months afterward. Il Jones' valley and Murphree's vallay. quit comfortable houses were built. It Is no known positively just where the frs Methodist church in Blount was located but it is a fact that the Rev. Ebeneze Hearn of that denomination preached tn first sermon ever delivered in the count 1n the year 1s16, at Bearmeat Cabin, nov sBlountsville, and continued his round during 1877. In this year Charles Guyun a Methodist commenced preaching in pri vate houses each Sabbath, and in a fey months the people collected money an
 built a church in Guyun's Cove one 0 the most picturesque and beautiful spot dn Alabama. and situated at the bas
 of the lofty Warnocks mountain, si
 miles east of Blount Springs The fram
 of this structure was made of cedar, an
 the lumber was all sawed with the whit saw, operated by two men. It was quit Ia large and neat building. few year ago. when being repaired, all the heav
 timbers were found in sound condition
 Father Guyun (pronounced Gwinn) we "a noble and lovable character, tOling field and forest all week and preachin
 every Sunday. He sleeps amid the seen,
 of his labors, awaiting the joyful resu
 l.t