The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-12
PIONEER DAYS
BY MARY GORDON DUFFEE.


 Kentucky and Tennessee; but lacking the pen of a local historian, many of their traditions have well nigh perished. Tney were a brave, hardy and enerseuc race. Conspicuous among them rises out Of the twilight mist of the past the Hercuies ol his day and generation, the stalwart form of Gen. Sam Dale, who was, in prowess and in spirit of adventure, to Alabama what Daniel Boone was to Kentucky. Ills hovhood was passed amid the Indian con- dicts upon the frontiers of Georgia, which trained him to all the wiles and strata gems of savage warfare, and wherein he won distinction for his dauntless cour- age. vigilance and strength; later a trader among the Creeks and Cherokees; then guide for trains of immigrants upon the blind or blazed paths that led from Georgia to the Tombigbee river, and eventually settler with his wife in Clarke county, Alabama. The Indians knew him well and feared his strength and reckless daring. They called him Sam Thlucco, or Big Sam. The fa- nous Canoe fight, in which with only two men to aid him. he vanquished nine of the most distinguished Creek warriors, was merely one of the incidents of his roman tic life. Upon another occasion, when absolutely alone, he had slain five war riors and rescued female prisoner. who expressed her gratitude by saving him from the knife of a sixth foeman, who. but for her timely effort, would have taken his life. AS one who personally knew and admired him says: 'He was Richard Occur de Leon, - Godfrey of Bouillon, moulded and fashioned to the circumstances of his forest home." After the war between Jackson and the Creek Indians he served as member of the legislature. honored a new county with his name, and pursued a life of peaceful industry. Subsequently he re- moved to Mississippi where at an ad- vanced age, respected and beloved by all. he died in May, 1SH.
 As time passed all this beautiful region of Alabama became thickly populated, and modest farms nestled beside lonely plantations whose owners dwelt in colon- ia1 mansions. They were supreior class of people, noted for culture, refinement and hospitality. The removal of the Creek Indians west of the Mississippi river, by order of the United States gov ernment, insured the white residents per manent security from danger.
 Contemporary with Dale in south Ala bama was another illustrious pinoeer. named Hunt, who came from Tennessee. Of & more peaceful disposition. hunter rather than born fighter, he entered the Tennessee valley of north Alabama, and charmed with the beauty of the spot, as all are who ever beheld 1t, he built his cabin upon a bold and elevated bluff over hanging an immense limestone spring from which poured forth large creek of clear water, crystal in its purity upon whose baker powered banks the deer col lected in great numbers.
 This valley of the Tennessee, like that of the Vale of Cashmere, has ever pos sessed a subtle and alluring beauty. a fascination that fingers long after one has passed from it's scenes. There Is nothing to compare with 1t in the south land. unless it be the valley of the Shen- andoah. in Virginia. Nothing to surpass it in all our national domain. A mighty river winds through its entire length, and lofty mountains blue and beautiful. sen- tinel it's borders. It's meadow lands and vast fields of corn and cotton slope to the rivers banks massive oaks like those that guard the stately homes of England, gather in groups here and there, while the streams from countless sprfngs refresh the earth. Rumors of the remarkable fertility and healthfuIness of this region were widely circulated after the close of the American Revolution. and hunters. explorers and adventurers brought home marvellous accounts of it's wondrous love- 1iness, its vast area of deep, rich soil, clothed with the noblest of all forest trees, its creeks abounding in fish, and It's dense groves full of the choicest game, such as the bear, deer and droves of wild turkey, the river full of beaver and otter which were easily trapped; It's pure and invigorating climate, while from the summits of the lofty mountains, south and east. were glorious panoramas of this enchanted cline. From time imme- morial this was the favorite border hunt ing ground of the Cherokee and the Chickasaw Indians, which their rivalry had kept sacred from the possession of either tribe As early as the year 17s4 an ineffectual attempt had been made to colonize 1t by Colonel Robertson and Col onel Sevier of Tennessee. and Georgia had actually erected 1t into . county, denominated Houston, in honor of one of her earlier governors; but M was not un- til tho month of July. 1So6, that its title was ceded to the whites by tho Indians. It was about this time that MT. Hunt ar rived. followed soon after by other ad- venturous spirits. who buift cabin homes until quite village was established, forming the nucleus of the population that moved in from Tennessee Kentucky and North Carolina, all of whom en- gagged In farming.
 Madison county was established fin De- cember, 1908. and in 1909 the village was incorporated under the name of Twick- enham, after the villa of the i1lustrious English author of "The Essay on Man." some of whose relatives were among its first settlers; but the more democratic members of the community did not fancy such . high-strung title. and at the next session of the territorial legislature the original name of Huntsville was restored. It rapidly grew and prospered and be- came the metropolis of the valley, noted for the elegance of it's homes and the wealth and superior culture of It's cfti- gems. At the present time it still main tains these features. and judging from the number and size of its cotton mills, seems destined to be the Lowell of Ala bama- Its scenic surroundings are fa- nous, especially the landscape from the summit of Monte sano. which is sur passinely grand and beautiful.
 While Huntsville was a flourishing vfl- lage and many prosperous families had located throughout the valley and con- siderable commerce was carried on by. way of the Tennessee river consisting of keel boats and hat boats laden with coun- try produce that portion of Alabama ex- tending from Sand mountain to the white settlements of south Alabama was stfll in an undeveloped condition. A few families scattered far apart and bands of Indians