The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-21

few within the southern states. To
his foresight, indomitable pluck and
perseverance is due to a large extent
the success of this colony which as
the county of Cullman stands today
second in the United States in average
per capita wealth agriculturally, ELI
mlnating the live stock and manufac-
turing. industries, and is only exceeded
by Lancaster county, Pa.-another Ger
man county-which has a per capita of
9O.21 while Cullman county stands Sec
ond in the list with a per capita of
S7S6, county noted as the best agri-
cultural section in the state a county
with the lowest death rate in 1912 of
any county in the United States, 4.54.
In the winter of 1873 few German
families We're induced to come here
from the rigorous climate of the north
ern states, and the town of Cullman
was laid out and the lands belonging to
the railroad placed in the hands of John
G. Cullman for sale. In the spring of
| 1873 the first store was opened here
| by A. G. Prinz-John Fromhold and
Joseph Hibbler opened hotels, carpen-
tiers and other mechanics came in and
immigration to the new colony was
fairly begun. Consequently the spring
of 1878 is looked upon as the founda-
ton of Cullman. Reference to the
files of the Southern Immigrant and
Tribune, later the Alabama Tribune,
and still later the Cullman Tribune,
show that for number of years, and
especially during the lifetime of John
, G. Cullman, an anniversary was held
in the month of May, notably the sew
enth anniversary on May g. 1880, the
eighth on May 16, 1881. and the tenth
on May IS, 1888. BY the eleventh year
goodly number of immigrants had
arrived and the town of Cullman had
er,.] 70 oh, tx,,..
forts were put forth to have 1t incor-
porated with the result that on March
Is, 1875, the legislature of Alabama
granted the first charter to the town
of Cullman. the town having been in
corporated under the state law in 1874
and Fred Betz elected as its first
mayor. Mr.. Betz is still resident of
Cullman.
Formation of Cullman County
| As the tide of immigration still con-
tinued to flow steadily this way in
this year an attempt was made on the
part of the citizens to have a new
county made out of this territory by
the legislature. This was not successful
but again on the assembling of the
| legislature in the fall of 1875 an or
ganized effort was again made which
met with success so that on January
"a, 1877. the act was approved creating
the county or Cullman out OF portions
| of Blount, Morgan and Winston coun-
ties. There was violent opposition on
the floor of the senate from this dis
| trict, and statements were made on
the floor that to make the county of
Cullman would be building poor
house for the state to support. Had 1t
not been for the valiant support of
such men as John T. Miner. Thomas
Seay of Hale, who later served as
the states chief executive, Governor
George s. Houston, Rufus N. Cobb, pres
ldent of the senate, N. N Clements,
speaker of the house. Colonel j. w.
Sloss and others who came forward and
rendered valuable assistance, and
whose names will always remain green
IN our memories. the matter would
nave again been deferred. Among those
who went from this county to Mont
gomery to work for the new county
one finds the names of John G. Gull
man. T. W. McMinn, Thomas G. Will
mite, william Bauer, Joseph Nader and
george III. Parker, George III. Parker
being the only one left today all the
rest have passed on to their regard,
but their names are still cherished.
At this period the new county re-
ceived another impetus and one comes
to another epoch In it's history. Up
to this time most of our Immigrants
had been foreigners. mostly Germans,
but In this year under the leadership
of Abraham Austin, frequently called
Father Austin, began the organized i'm
migration of the Georgia Dutch as they
are sometimes called, for years, and in
fact, at this time. there Is still a stream
OF the Georgians. who are said to be