The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-19
ARCOLA.

Tn nreceding chapters we have had a
lhr,ef narrative of the phenomenal physi-
cal character of the canebrake; now 1he
magnificent forest yielded with unparal-
lleled rapidly to the Drawn of the happy
black toilers and how the picturesque
plantations became the abode of an as-
ricultural population unique In the re-
anements of life, a perfect democracy OF
society.
We shall now consider the neighbor-
hood subdivisions of the territory and 1or
this purpose will engage in a succession
of biographical notes of various fndivid-
uals and families. If the task be ade-
quately executed there is something to
be learned of the highest type of the CIV
iliEation upon which American govern
ment was founded
The Bonapartists as we know, laid on
the streets of Demopolis, built some red
cedar log cabins, fixed the lines of the
grand boulevard along the edge of the
white bluff. only then to discover that
the site of the town was rife-shot length
to the west of the limit of the French
grant.
The substitute town, Aiglesville, near
by. came too late to enjoy the confidence
of the immigrants. The site. although
not more than mile away was too far
from the river.
The French never leave France. So in
the Alabama wilderness they had Maren-
GO. Linden and now Arcola, all in the
|
Rayesies founded Arcola three miles away
on the left bank of the Black Warrior
The landscape of the vicinity differed
somewhat from the main body of the
grant in the deeper sloughs and higher ell
evations. more beautiful land could
not be easily found. The town project
failed Arcola remained in name only as
landing, where steamers called to re-
ceive or deliver freight and passengers.
Finally two North Carolinians built hand
some residences Therein. Samuel Strud-
wick and Mr. Alfred Hatch
knew Mr.. Ravesies, the agent of the
| ..Tombeckbe association and founder or
Arcola, in his old age. He was a gen,ie-
man of accomplished manners ana rare
daughters now living in Marenso county
have fine portrait of him in oil.
The father of Mr.. Revesies abandoned
his estates in France at the outbreak OF
the great revolution in the latter de-
cades of the 18th century. He already
owned an estate on the Island of Hayti,
and thither he fed with his family. The
change did not secure the quietude he
sought Indeed he had changed from
bad to worse The African slaves and
mulsttoes excited the most desperate In
surrection. Mr.. Ravesies' family survived
the general massacre and escaped to
philadelphia. The refugees were the ia
Their and mother, the young maiden
daughter and the youth Frederick. The
rescue from the fury of the servile insur-
| rection was made by faithful black
slave "Iono." The tradition Is that Lono
hid his master and his family under some
| overturned moiasses kettles until yes
sci in the harbor was ready to sail He
then secured safe escape for them on
board the ship.
The father soon died In Philadelphia,
where they landed. The support of his
family. SO precipitately reduced from az
fuence to perjury, now devolved on the
youth Frederick. Right nobly did he
meet the heavy charge After various
vicissitudes the young man established
himself as a merchant in Philadelphia.
! There he married Miss Mary Roane, an
! orphan refugee the adopted daughter OF
John Soaller, also a refugee from the
French West Indies insurrection.
Frederick Ravesies and his wife. Mary
Roane, became the parents of two sons
and two daughters. born in Philadelphia.
The sons were John Godfrey and Fred
erick Pierre, the latter removing to Ala
hall ND In ri
phine and Anne victoire. the daughters,
the former marrying Col. John McRae
of the "Athol' plantation in the Cane
brake.
About the time the 'Tombeckbe asso-
citation was organized to distribute the
allottments OF the congressional grant to
the Bonapa rtists, Mrs. Frederick Rave
sies died In Philadelphia. Mr.. Ravesies,
having accumulated fortune in mercan-
tile pursuits there. resolved to come as
agent of the association to the far away
lands seeking enterprise. He invested
largely in the abandoned allottments of
the Bonapartists. His lands lay between
Arcola and the present railroad station
of Van Dorm, picturesque and splendid
estate.
From the canebrake Mr.. Ravesies re-
turned to Philadelphia for the purpose of
setting sail for France to recover and re-
store the estates Of his father, about
Bordeaux.
When about to take passage on the re-
turn voyage Mr.. Ravesies was requested
to take under his care to Philadelphia
Madame Adele Gertrude Davide and her
two infant daughters. widow of General
!, Davide. one OF the great Emperors sol
diers who desired to come to her moth
err. Madame Bruel, already settled In that
city This Madame Bruel was a lady OF
singular accomplishments. Her first mar
rage was to the Marquis de Slavery and
Madame Davide was a child of this first
4 marriage.
Mr. Ravesies married Madame Davidt
in Philadelphia and brought his wife ant
har two Erench horn dau1hters To Arcola