The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-24

 ! inston counties.
 Sullman county bears the name of founder, John Gottfried Cullman, ho was born on the Rhine in Bavaria 3'dy ?, 1923. His father was d : ;hool teacher and his mother was t.so well educated And as a conse- h4ence. he, too received a very fine loucation.
 Because of his broad and liberal eWs, which clashed with the Ger Ian government, he was said to have bcen leader of small revolutionary tarup, and thus received the title of colonel, by which he was called ta:cughout his life. His broad views as to government made it impossible to remain in Germany, SO he came 70 tae United States, which seemed the most promising land in the world.
 His wife, not caring to leave the ties CT a lifetime and to endure the hard snips of new world, did not come to America, but remained in Germany Until her death. At the time that colonel Cullman came to America, she Lad an aged mother living with them, Nho also was afraid of a new world, DO the family remained in the old country.
 HE BUYS SITE
 Alter remaining in New York for a time, Colonel Cullman came to Phila- Gclphia He stayed there only a short tme. however. before he went over to Cincinnati. Here his oldest son ioineA him, only to fall a victim of typhoid lever and die. He is now buried in that city.
 Colonel Cullman. it seems, had always been haunted with the idea of estab- fishing German colony in America. Consequenty he spent a year travel Ing all over the United States visitins German colonies already established and getting ideas for the founding or one himself.
 He remained for a time in Florence. Ala, having been attracted to the south. Here he met ex-Governor Pat ion, who provided him with horses and men 10 explore north Alabama with a view of founding his colony.
 In 1872 Colonel Cullman met MT Fink of the North and South Alabama railroad. And it was through this nan that a deal was closed for about 549,000 acres of land
 When the government donated the land to the railroad, all of the even sections were given over, to home steaders and all of the odd sections went to the railroad. Colonel Gull mar took charge of the railroad land. upon which many settlers had already made their homes. It was thus nec-
 
 already proved their claim and who were located on these odd sections, to float their interests to an even sec ton. These lands descended from one railroad to the other by purchase and were bought by the Louisville and nashville Railroad company, Colonel Culiman still having charge of them,
 BITTER DISPUTES
 Many bitter disputes arose over the claiming of this land, and it was inst after a meeting with Colonel Cullman and these settlers that one of the "seuatters" attempted to kill him. He was stabbed in the forehead twice. Tt was said that had it not been for a heavy felt hat which Colonel Cullman had on at the time he would have been killed outright.
 colonel Cullman settled on the spot on which the town of Cullman is now located. His residence here, which was a very pretentious one, was made cf lumber gotten out entirely by hand, None Of 1t was sawed. Even the doors ana windows were handmade by car- pentcrs, many of them skilled ones from the old country The first set tiers who came down with him were mostly Germans who had settled in other parts of this country.
 Later, however, Colonel Cullman mace many trips to Europe to bring pack immigrants, mostly from Saxony and Bavaria, for his colony. A second son returned with him on one of these trips and also died here. He lies buried In the cemetery here by his father.
 Many of the people now living in Cullman recall seeing the immigrants from the old country arriving here With the heavy wooden jackets scarfs over their heads and each family with us supply of feather beds These sturdy hard working foreigners were. Tor the most part, given employment In the Dreher factory, which was at that time well established and one of the biggest manufacturing plants in this part of the state. Many of these immigrants also settled on farms out from town.
 COUNTY ESTABLISHED
 colonel Cullman attracted many of the more highly educated people from ms country here. His only daughter married Richard. brother of the late William Richard of this city, in Ger many. During the recent war, two of her sons were officers in the German army.
 Among his own relatives who came 10 this country with him were the von Gerichtens. These interesting people