Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1913-07-01
TELLS if START OF
 7e1'N OF ALTHEIMER
IN INTERESTING LETTER TO GA. BETTE. LpUIS ALTHEIMER EX.
 PLAINS TOWNS NAME.
Many Pine Blufijan's Had q Part ill Establisl hing Little City On
 The Branch Road.

adjoining, writes Colonel Louis AL theimer in the rkAansas Gazette. A narrow strip fronting on the bayou and one and pne-half miles long was ill cultivation and was occupied by Uncle Julius lEdeline, Dixie Hammal and Joe Woodruff, who are still liv- ing and cultiYating the same land. There was Felix Robinson Aaron Jones Robert Fuller and Godfrey Gates, who have gone to their everlasting homes. All of them were a splendid set of tenants, hard workers. They were all ex-slaves and we'll thought of by tie white people. My brother and 1 paid $6,000 for the Turner place, Every body ridiculed paying such an enor- nous price. Even Capt. Thomas H. Collier remarked to the writer some time after the purchase that the price paid was entirely too high and per fectly out of reason. Today Altheime3 is situated in the middle of the Turner place.
 When the Cotton Belt railroad made it's advent into Jefferson county sta tion was established at Wabbaseka bayou and one on the Arkansas river, the later one being called Rob Roy. The location where Althe.mer stands today was ignored over looked. Be- fore long the people petitioned tie management and made up sub scription of s1,000 to buy enough ground for depot and switching pur- poses, but to no, evail. The road then was a narrowgauge, and, tra- versing an undeveloped country, struggled along for mere existence, ultimately going into the hands of receiver.
 Woodland Is Receiver.
 Colonel Woodland as receiver took charge On his first inspection trip my late brother, Joseph, and myself were invited to accompany him as guests. Before coming to the place where Altheimer is located, I reques- ed Colonel Woodard to stop his special After alighting we conduct ed Colonel Woodland to the country road on the bank of Flat bayou. pointed out the meeting of several country roads and the great advan- tage to the railroad and convenience to the people to have station there Colonel Woodland at once was con- vinced of the soundness of my argu- ment an dsaid: Il will order al passenger trains to stop here regular ly and once establish a station, call ing it Altheimer." l replied, Why not call it Woodland" to which he ans wered No, no; you are the pioneers of this section and we will call 1t All theimera'
 The. ground for depot and for switching purposes was donated ana the request was made for depot building to which Colonel, Woodland replied:
 "The road is in recievers' hands we have no money; l can't even build a chicken coop at present.
 I then said to him. Tt is hard for the people to stand in the open air. subject to the inclemency of the wea- ther, the trains hardly ever being on time it is too severe for the people to stand in the sunshine and ram TOT hours, waiting for the trains. Instruct your chief engineer to draft plans for a depot, not to exceed in cost the sum of S1,300, and my brother anu myself will give it to the railroad TOT the benefit of the people.
 This offer was accepted, the depot was mbuilt by us and delivered.
 station Soon Grows.
 The station soon began build up. oClonel Howell of St. Mary's Landing on the Arkansas river built the llrst store. He was the father of the late E. C. Howell of Pine Bluff and grand father of Clifton Howell, president ot the Hammett Grocer Company or that city. Colonel Howell built up quite trade. Later on he sold out to James and John Busby. The Busby slocA later was purchased by J. F. Quattle- baum of Sherrill, which was the beginning of the wealthy firm of eooas John Busby moved away. James pc" came constable. was highly esteemed by everybody and his untimely uessh is still regretted by those who kheN him. His widow re-marrled ana is living in Chicago his son and dau- ebter now reside in Little Rock, out tney still retain their acquired prop erty at Altheimer.
 Dr. John W. Withers, who lived ad-