The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-07
Chronicles Of The Canebrake
CHAPTER VIII
BY JOHN wITHERsPOON DUBoSE

4 NY purpose is to make permanent
Il MI record of the class of popula-
l ton who were cotton planters
up to the emancipation of slavery in
Alabama. To perform this important
duty to the history of the state I de-
scribe those people among whom | was
reared. No selection of individuals Is
made. The area is taken by parishes OF
arbitrary boundaries and every resident
planter within is named and more or less
considered. The narrative as it proceeds
is in truth roll of the landed proprietors
of the parishes named, in most instances
The territory, as has already been seen
known as the ''Canebrake," was one vas
plantation in effect, a country some Cox
square miles in extent, of unsurpassed
beauty of landscape and phenomenal fer
tlity of soil 1t was more thickly pop
ulated than any other equal agriculture
area in Alabama, In the south, or In the
United States, perhaps, where there were
no towns.
Before the close of the Goth century the
world may be expected to consider the
facts underlying the industrial. social ant
! political character of the south, or the
slave area, and SO be brought to a just
appreciation of the predominating inf1u-
/ ence of that section In the government OF
j the United States prior to 1860 to just
| appreciation of the character of the Con
federacy and an impartial judgment
upon the force silently exerted by the
south in arrest of revolutionary tenden-
cies the past so years in America.
JOHN WILLIAM TAYLOE.
This was In some respects the foremost
of the younger planters of st. Andrew S
parish. His property in land and ne
groes was larger, his residence was
more. capacious and his hospitality so
profuse that his home, walnut Grove
became the mecca of society.
Mr. Tayloe was born on the Glover
dale" farm of his father, George T. ray
loe in Botetourt county Virginia, In
1881 His mother was Miss Mary Lang
horne of the Virginia family. He was
educated in the schools of Washington
city, living at that time with his grand
mother Tayloe In the "Octagon," where
he saw the best social element OF the
federal capital Thence he was sent to
the Virginia Military Institute as one OF
the early matriculates of that famous
training school for soldiers. He was
born with the high instincts of soldier
This fact manifested itself to his pre-
ceptors and the standing of the youth
at the school became high at once. he
was made bugler at one time, while OF
ficers and cadets united in praise OF MS
efficiency in that important position.
Mr.. Tayloe, at the age of a. came TO
Walnut Grove not quite willingly HIS
ambition was to enter the navy. He was
an expert draughtsman, his habits were
most systematic, his mind resourcefui
and his bearing martial.
| However, soon after his arrival In the
| Canebrake he married the briiiant MISS
I,ucie Randolph of the "Oakleigh' plan
tation. near Greensboro. Walnut Grove
at once became their home.
The man as you find him To-Day, OF
| found him under the conditions OF yes
terday, was not made today or yester-
dav. NV task being to tell of men, I am
justified, perhaps, in the following prler
mention:
| In the year 1912, William Tayloe, from
London, England, possessed large body
of land on the Rappahanack river, IN the
present county of RichInond, wnere sui
stands the estate Mount Airy. FROM
William descended Col. John Tayloe,
soldier under Washington and fast
friend of that commander. col. John
Tayloe built Mount Airy, where ne
lived in great wealth and style He was
called thence by General washington to
assist him in bringing population 10
inhabit the newly laid off federal capl-
tai So he built the Octagon.
Mount Airy sits on a high hill, com
handing a splendid panarama-the WIND
ing river farms and villages for many
miles. The residence of native brown
stone. the facing Of white marble prougnt
from England. An inventory OF personal
property of Col. John Tayloe SHOWS
chariot for six horses and the harness.
coach for four horses and the harness.
large number of portraits and other
works of art, plate glass and china TO
correspond with the general environ
ment of elegance.
The Mount Airy race horse stables
were among the most celebrated IN the
world Up to 80 years ago, when the run
ming track. four mile heat races pre-
vailed, it retained it's ancient renown.
The monarch of the stud was imported
"Gray Diomede." From him came sir
Archy," '"Timoleon," Boston, Lex
ington' and to this day the trotting turf
delights most in the descendants from
GRAY Diomede" of Mount Airy.
| Canebrake roads were in their tradi-
| tional winter degree of execrable desue-
tude. Mr. and Mrs. Tayloe of walnut
Grove resolved to give ball In COM
plment to a newly married couple, Dr.
| Henry ]. Winn and his bride, Miss Eliza
Ellerbe. A competent confectioner mad
a shop in Demopolis, but that town was
separated from the plantation by u miles
| of caneDrake Winter rOdu. L ITO SohiSS
toner agreed to make certain supper
table ornament for $50 and to deliver IT
intact. About noon of the day of the
ball a man bearing a tall wooden frame
fitted over his shoulders and towering
several feet above his head was dis
covered approaching the premises. Tne
confectioner, true to his engagement, had
borne 1t, walking all the distance.
The Alabama legislature of 1859 re-
organized the militia. prepared for inde-
pendent volunteer companies and pro-
yided certain arms for the use of all
Under these laws Mr.. J. w. Tayloe Is
sued a call for public meeting to as
semble on the lawn in front of the law
and medical offices of W. w. Duggan,
ESQ, and DR.. R. H. Duggar at Prairie
VILE The meeting was full and 1t was
resolved to reorganize the old cavalry
the "Canebrake Legion" J. W. Tayloe
was elected captain. No one else was
seriously thought of for the position.
The first step of Captain Tayloe was
to procure the sabres and the reviewers
from the state This done he asked for
subscriptions from the general public TO
send to Philadelphia, where the govern
ment horse equipment and uniforms We're
manufactured So earnest and enthusi-
astic was he that he paid from his own
pocket nearly half of the $500 the goods
cost Not cent of this generous con-
tribution was ever repaid to him at any
time, during or after the war.
The company went into camp at De-