The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-22

The Town of Goodwnter
 The locality of Goodwater was first known as Adkins Gap. after "Bill' Adkins. one of the first settlers, and man who Is still remembered by some of the old settlers Each year Camp 'Bill Adkins" holds it's annual reunion at Grimes lake, when the old Confederate veterans are treated to an old time barbecue.
 The name was later changed from Adkins Gap to Goodwater, because of the large spring that formed the source of Hatchet creek bubbles up in the midst of the town. The creek runs in a southwesterly direction, ana flows into the Coosa river, after unit ing with Weogufka creek from the north.
 Goodwater, located on the Central of Georgia railway. and on ridge di- viding the headwaters of Ratchet and Socopatoy creeks, has an elevation or SIP feet. Kellyton, just a little to the south, has an elevation of Soo' Rockford, the county seat has an elevation of 745 feet.
 It was from the fact that Adkins Gap was the natural passageway through the hills that the Central or Georgia railway made 1t its obJec- tive in building from Opelika. Good water Is located on the old Jackson trail from Talladega to Wetumpka. IL was through the gap that the trad CTS In the early days drove horses and mules and cattle and hogs.
 Rails Bring New Life.
 It was the arrival of railroad that gave new life to the little community built around an old apple orchard. The coming of the Central of Georgia in 1874 was a great event, ana ceie- brated according to the importance of the occasion. on the first passenger train was Shepherds band of Dade- vile, family band consisting of J. F. Shepherd and his two sons, J. E. and P. M, and his four daughters, Lessie' Stella Ella and Josephine. r. M. Shepherd, at that time just young ster. is now in business in Goodwater.
 The panic of 1874 stopped the Cen tral of Georgia at Goodwater for about 13 years, long enough for scrub pines to grow up on the right of way. The service on the road consisted for a long time of one train. It left Goodwater in the morning and went to opelika and returned in the after noon. D. W. Baker. one. of the old citizens, claims the honor of being the first depot agent, arriving 47 years ago.
 If the coming of the Central of Georgia to Goodwater was an event. It's reaching Birmingham in 1887 was sensation. D. M. White Is proud of the fact that he went into the Magic City on the first train which ran to 1t from Goodwater. John Kelly was at the throttle and Tom Gordy pulled the bell cord.
 Incorporated in 1S70.
 Goodwater was incorporated in 1879, with A. o. Harwell as mayor. and Powell Low as town marshal. It was later incorporated under the munich pal core of 1907. with mayor and al dermen, and corporate limits forming a circle of one mile in diameter. with the railroad station as the center. William Staples Is now mayor. and ]. $. Gilliland, D. S. Brown. T. J. Wheeler, Jeff McCord and J. A. Floyd are aldermen. J. K. Lauderdale Is clerk, while z. D. Sprayberry and NJ. K. Graham act as marshals, the former during the day and the latter at night. It has city hall built in 1s0ss The city has electricity and water.
 Goodwater is surrounded by fine farming country, and while the crops were cut short by the long drouth, tlit iduQs dic CdpaDic Ol Hikn CQlls- vation. The farmers have gone in for 1 diversification. Some 330 car loads of watermelon were shipped during the last season, the dry weather cut ting down the yield materially. II has always been the center of large l trade In sorghum and syrup.
 Interested in Cattle
 Goodwater for some years has been interested in both beef and dairy cat | tie, and while 1t has been demon 1 strated that there Is a good chance to make the native beef breeds pay when registered bulls are used. yet those who some time back brought in car loads of western cattle to feed and raise lost money. Somehow the pas lures were not strong enough, and the heifers bred poorly and the loss of calves was great. Fulton Brothers have a fine herd of Jerseys and are doing well with them. Hogs do wei when properly cared for. The poul- try industry is growing. A modern potato house cares for the potato I.crop.
 Goodwater has a number of good merchants and a comfortable hotel The Peoples Trust and Savings bank has a capital of $S0.o00 and a surplus of $20,000. and Is quite liberal in its credit to worthy businesses. The graphite industry got a setback after the war. and the lumber interests had a rather hard time as elsewhere dur ing the days of ,readjustment While at present the graphite market Is quiet. there is picking up in lumber. A large new blaming mill Is being erected with D. F. Saxon president z. D. McCord's enterprises are all at work. His blaming mill. sawmill grist mill and gin add to the towns pay rolls. The Southern Casket com pany Is running full time. J. s. Billl. land. president. and A. H. Ingram arc the officers in 1t. Their output Is sold by salesmen in Alabama. Georgia and Tennessee. They have line running from $25 to $200 and more.
 Goodwater. while having only one railroad. Is fortunate on account oi its being the terminal for loca freight between Columbus. Georgia and Birmingham. All of the passen- ger trains stop at Goodwater. The Central of Georgia has one of the most up-to date coal shutes on 1t. line near the depot. A large reservoir is near by to furnish water for the engines.
 Proud of Schools
 Goodwater Is proud of It's school The Goodwater High school has for its principal Dana White, young man born and reared in the town