The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-21
GORDO IS THRIVING WEST ALABAMA TOWN How It Got Its Start in the
 World BIG LUMBER INTERESTS Bishop Hargrove Born and Reared Near Gordo-Thc People Are Noted for
 Their Hospitality and
 Public Spirit
BIG LUMBER INTERESTS
BY WALTER HARPER

About 50 years ago, before the day of railroads in Alabama, a distinguished looking citizen of Georgia visited a rel ative in the eastern part of Pickens county, Alabama.
 He travelled all the way on horseback on a large, fine bay mare. The horse and the soldierly bearing of the rider att tracted the admiration of all who saw them. The mans name is forgotten but he is still remembered by a number of old men now living in Alabama who were small boys at the time.
 The section Of the country where the old gentleman was visiting was on the stage mail line between Columbus, Miss and Tuscaloosa, in Alabama. Quite a community of families had been formed on the fertile lands in the section and at the time the Georgian was there a post office was being established.
 The people were at loss to select an appropriate name for the office. At last they called in the distinguished guest He had just returned from the Mexican war, where he had taken part in the bat tie of Cerro Gordo.
 He asked that the new postoffice be named Gordo and it was done.
 A few years ago the Mobile and Ohio railroad built it's line from Tuscaloosa to Columbus. The railroad followed al most the exact course of the old stage road and passed through Gordo
 The new railroad stimulated develop ment and Gordo began to grow. It is now town of more than 700 progressive people and Is surrounded by one of the most advanced agricultural sections of the state.
 It Is clean, attractive town and it's citizens are noted for their hospitality and public spiritedness.
 The citizens have just voted for an is- sue of bonds for the erection of a hand some and commodious school building The construction will begin at once.
 The town now has one of the best schools in this part of the state Prof T. J. Reeves is principal The teachers are Miss Gentry. Miss simms, Miss Shell ley and Mrs. A. T. Ezell.
 w. s. Carver one of the leading mer- chants of the town, has just taken his seat as mayor and will continue the broad policy that has been pursued by his predecessor, A. E. Bell.
 Mayor Bells administration was high ly satisfactory. He Is business man with large interests and could not afford to continue in the office when there were other men who were Just as willing to sacrifice their time to the public welfare of the town and community.
 Mir. Bell is a merchant and also has large lumber interests. The lumber in- dustry is one of the most important that hoC haan daxra f,, @tt tion of the state since the building of the railroads.
 At least 23 large mills ship their prod ucts through Gordo. These mills not only give employment to large numbers of people but furnish money market for vast forests of timber that were prac- tically worthless before transportation fa- cilities were provided.
 Gordo has a modern electric lighting plant operated by a private corporation. Plans are now under way for the building of water works by the town.
 The new members of the town council are J. c. IAngston, J. E. Strickland, George M. Collins W. E. Davis and H. fl. Park.
 Bishop R. K. Hargrove of the Meth odist Episcopal church. south, was born and reared near Gordo. His was one of the first families to settle In this part of the state.
 John V. Glass, now living at No 1017 Tuscaloosa avenue, Birmingham. is a de- scendant of Bishop Hargrove and Is also native of Pickens county.
 MT. Glass was the first graduate of the Southern university at Greensboro.
 His name Is the first to appear on the old register of that institution It may be seen there today. MT. Glass delayed his entry into college one year until the Southern university could be opened He graduated from the institution in 1860.
 It is said that Pickens county has pro- duced more Methodist preachers than any other three counties In Alabama