The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-27

A city that was destined to be one of the most historic, as well as one of the most Inflated, spots in Alabama
 few miles below the present city of Selma, in Dallas county, at the junction of the Alabama and Cahaba rivers, lies the site of old Cahaba She boasted in her day of some of the most notable, wealthy and influential personages, among whom were C. C. Clay, Samuel Dale, James Titus. William L. Adams, Samuel l.. Taylor, Jerre Beene, Thomas Casey, Horatio G. Perry. James J. Peasants, Jack l. Thornton, Jack F. Ross, Henry F. Minor, Reuben Saffod, John Gayle, William Gill. Burwell Boykin, James D. Craig, William Curtis. John and William Lovett, Joel E. Matthews, William Hunt CT. George R. Evans, William L. Yancey, William Rufus King, John Tyler Morgan, Edmund Winston Pettus and a host of others.
 Though all of these have passed away, their descendants are as the sands of the desert, and today are scattered to the four winds of earth taking their lead, in things political and commercial, as their forefathers did In days gone by. Though thorns and thistes, old mounds of decaying brick cactus, prickly pear and Cherokee roses. growing in wild lux uriance now mark the spots where once stood palatial residences, houses of com merce and edifices of state, still the solemn grandeur of the lonely scenes, and the thought of the once brilliant past, fill one with awe and reverence, while stand ing amidst the relics of her glorious past, and refiecting upon her brief but eventful career. A feeling of pride swells within your breast as you view from the lofty cliffs, the junction of the two mighty rivers, mingling their muddy waters, and together sweeping majestcally onward, in each others embrace, to the blue placid waters of our beautiful gulf.
 To have been permitted to stand thus, and to have had the privilege of hear ing one of the few who sti survive, tell of the things that actually happened here and wonder in the days long past-that here stood the first capitol of the state of Alabama; that there stood the home of John T. Morgan, and that wonder stood the law office of Edmund w. Pettus, and that over wonder, a little way up the river, lived William Rufus King-these are things which are not granted to many of ''the youth of Alabama"
 Accompanied by Cal Ellis
 It was the writer's privilege and pleas ure to be accompanied by Col. Benjamin F Ellis of Orrville, who has passed his three score years and ten" being now in his s7th year. Colonel Ellis served through the civil war a member of the Thirty seventh Alabama. He was a member of the legislature in 1866, and of the consti- tutional convention of 1888; is now sena- tor from Dallas county, and is one of her largest and most influential planters. He is a loyal member of the Baptist church. a member of the board of trustees of the Judson college, a good and loving hus- band. and a kind and affectionate father It was through his kindness and courtesy that we secured valuable data for this sketch. We are also indebted to Mem ories of Old Cahaba.' a book written few years ago by Mrs. Anna Gayle Fry.
 Cahaba of today truly reminds one of Goldsmiths Deserted Village as the devastating hand of time has fallen heav- fly upon the spot that was once the home of the most cultured, learned and wealthy citizens of the south.
 Tradition tells us that a French trad ing post was established at the junction of these two rivers as early as 17l3, from grants secured from Louis XN f France. The remains of old forts al \ trenches gave rise to this belief. Being unprotected from the ha-harous attacks of he war ft Creeks the post was abandoned, and
 $, frilory remained an ilnbr ken wil- 4erDess until iSie vh,n t. becam one cf tte frs -icetier rreCncts Thesr cleo tiols were held in the homes of aorge Euhps osslf BrttcB Gap Aost r John freaeriele.
 e. < ss,s z. & tae r-nited s,a Con Yrrss divideT hat vas ktovu q. ..ie Mis- siastrri territory, and formed the terri tory of Alabama. fixing the seat of gov ernment at Fort St phens and empowered the President to arpoint governor Pres ident Monroe appointed William Wyatt Bibb of fseorKsa ~ss'rhe first territorial leg islature was , sld at St. Stephens in Jam uary. ISIS, and the next in November.
 At this session of the legislature a number of new counties were formed, Dal- las among them At the same time a com mittee was appointed to locate more cen tral point for the capital of the state of Alabama. This committee was composed of c. c. Clay. James Titus, William l.. Adams, Samuel L. Taylor and Samuel Dale, the latter famous as leader of the celebrated "canoe fight" The following year the state constitutional convention met in Huntsville, and the above-named committee reported that they had selected q spot at the junction of the Alabama and Cahaba rivers. and an act was passed to incorporate and lay out the town of Cahaba On December II, 1S19, Alabama was admitted into the union.
 Luther Blake, Carlisle Humphreys and