The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-07-18

niaI mansion. This mansion not a ves- tige of the woodwork of which re- mains, was in 1854 the home of Gov ernor John Gayle of Alabama, and in it on October of that year Amelia Gayle Gorgas, daughter of the gov erRor, bore a son to Josiah Gorgas, then young officer in the federal army, stationed not far away, and later a brigadier general in the Confederate forces during the war. It was this boy who gained world wide fame and be- came the recipient of honors from kings.
 HISTORY OF HOMESTEAD
 The history of the antiquated home stead, now fallen into decay and barely recognizable save for the lone chimney i standing upon the eastern side, is in- teresting because of its association | with early times in A1abama's state | hood and it's inhabitants by men who | moulded into one of the United States | territory which has been under the do- | minion of five flags. But in the light of present-day as the birthplace of a man highly honored for his mighty mentality in matters medical, it's mar rative becomes all the more absorb | ing. Harry Theophilus Toulmin English minister of Unitarian beliefs, came to this country in 1701, first residing for a considerable period in Kentucky and later moving to Alabama, making his home in what is now Baldwin county, on the eastern bank of the Mobile river. As man of letters and of high moral qualities, he commanded the respect of his neighbors and was hon. ored with many positions of political l trust When the Mississippi territory l in the region of the Tombigbee coun- l try demanded an additional territorial TuG 1 pointed Toulmin to the office, which he held for thirteen years. until Ala bama was set off as separate terri | tory. It was during his tenure of the | judgeship that Aaron Burr was ar rested in 1907 by Gen. Edmund Pendle- | ton Gaines, then captain commandant | of Fort Stoddard, and a son-in-law of Judge Toulmin,, who was advised of | Burr's presence in the vicinity as a traveller by Thomas Malone, first clerk 1 of Toulmin's court, and Nicholas Per kins, Tennessee lawyer. of whom the former vice president inquired direc' | ton: and later, in 1913 that savages butchered men, women and children in the terrible massacre at Fort Mims. | Theophilus Lindsay Toulmin, son of the judge, inherited large portions of 1 the vast territory of his father, owned l extensive plantations rich in cultiva- 1 tion. was extremely popular in the l country and also held many high po- 1 sitions. Picking a picturesque spot on l his lands in Mobile county, the younger | Toulmin had his slaves to build him a 1 splendid home in a grove of oaks on | the road which led to St. Stephens, one time seat of the government. It was in this home that Major General l Gorgas was born.
 1 IDEAL OF HOME BEAUTY
 Looking from the roadway in those days of nearly century ago. the newly Icompleted colonial manse. reposing in the spacious and well-laid-off grounds which surrounded it. must have present ed the ideal of home Identification of the period. A wide driveway led to the front steps which mounted from the ground. to the first story set high upon a Trick foundation which formed be- meath it sort of basement level with the earth. Upon either side of this driveway line of young cedars grew and in it's center two live oaks of goodly size~n ~necessitated division of the high
 way from the road to the house. The building itself stood within the checkered shade of two large oaks. the spreading
 foliage of whose branches touched and
 formed deep green archway over it's immediate front Verdant pastures. with Ihere and there clump of magnolas a cluster of crepe myrtles or punched To-
 
 ton with scarcely discernible undu- ,ation.
 The Toulnin family and descendants resided in this community from that time to the present day From them the name of Tculminville was given to the IGoYgas birthplace, now thriving su- burb jess than three miles distant from the bustliLE shipbuilding port of Mobile. Fut to trace the occupants of the old Ihomestead It's builder later sold the place to Thomas Gayle, who served as governor Of Alabama from 1881 to 1885 During these years no doubt, as the res idence of the young states chief execu- ltive it served as the place of many of lficial functions and was thrown open ir hospitality to charming and dashing of lficers of the United States army who
 were garrisoned at Mount Vernon, moi far away. Then it is believed that young Josiah GHgas. captain of the fedora
 army, was received into the Gayle home | and later married the governors daugh | She, as we'll as other members of thu lGayle family, was highly gifted in men ftal attainments and possessed of man, Accomplishments and was one of tn, noted women of Mobile in the forties lAll of the men were renowned accord ing to tradition, for their high learnin, and brilliancy of mind. From th
 source it is believed by many that Sur geon General Gorgas inherited his vas lmental capabilities. which carried hin l to the pinnacle of success as a pionee
 in public health methods.
 His mother must herself been the pos
 sessor of literary tastes. for in afte Iyears and until her death several year ago she acted as librarian of the Uni Iversity of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, wher l the family later moved. and her daugh ter. Miss Mamie Gorgas. sister of tn deceased surgeon general. now holds tn same office. Gorgas' father, though a the time of his marriage a federal of ficer. joined the Confederate states arm, at the outbreak of the civil war ant lrose to the rank of brieadier general
 WRAPPED IN LEGENDS
 The incidents surrounding the birt
 of Gorgas are wrapped in comm unit
 legends. handed down from forme
 generations. As far as can be learned
 Mrs. G0rgas returned to the home o
 her father in Tourminville from Noun
 Vernon, where she had accompanie
 her husband so that she might be sur
 rounded by her relatives at the birt
 of her child. Some few have it tha