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From: "Larry Van Cleave" <>
Subject: [DALELIST] Ozark Tribune; Alabama history articles
Date: Sun, 3 Sep 2000 12:54:24 -0400


From:
OZARK TRIBUNE
SEPT. 6, 1904

EARLY HISTORY OF ALABAMA
Chapter 2

Early settlers on Claybank creek. My father settled near where Edward
Dowling now lives. Samuel Hallford settled farther down the creek on an
Indian camp near the spring where the Indians got water. Dr. Isaac Adkins
settled still farther down below what we now know as Peter's old mill. Soon
after we moved across to the west side of the creek where Amos Mizell's
father is now. Still farther down on the east side Noel Dowling settled,
where he lived out his days. Shade Mills settled still farther down on the
place we know as the Gordon Matthews old homestead and where Jason Fain
lives. Below this Hampton Parrish settled the place where I live. Below
my place Isaac Ledbetter settled, lived and died. He and his wife are
buried in an oak grove at the southeast corner of the field which was around
the house, and which was afterwards used for the purpose of interring his
negroes by Col. C.D. Crittenden. Out farther from the creek at what is now
old China Grove camp ground, John Andrews settled in 1832. He moved near
Claybank church in 1833. Henry Stokes settled where Wade Byrd lives now.
The Indian war of 1836, caused the white men to go out and fight them.
They had a battle on Pea river and the whites routed the enemy. A runner
was sent to let us know the Indians were coming this way which frightened
every body at home. So my mother gathered her children, Mrs. Noel Dowling
hers, Zillah Hallford hers and all went into a ravine near where Edward
Dowling now lives, and remained there all night. But instead of coming this
way the Indians went down the Pea river trail towards Florida. It was
nothing strange to see an Indian in those days. This was a wild country
then and the early settlers had many thrilling experiences. Bear and
panther were common when Dr. Adkins first settled below Peters old mill
place. He set out some peach trees, and as soon as they began bearing the
bear began to eat the fruit. Late one Saturday night while all were asleep
old bruin decided to sample the peaches good. He broke the limbs down and
ate as many as he wanted. On Sunday morning Dr., saw the sign and said
"boys lets have some fun." He called John, George, and Lewis, his three
sons, and Frank and Mike, his two negroe men, all being regular hunters and
they called his pack of hounds. He had a bndle? bob-tailed catch dog---a
species of wolf and dog mixed, which was called Bone. When they blew the
horn every dog answered with a yell and were soon on bruin's trail. They
quickly found him in a thicket and gave chase. They ran him around and
around and as he came near John Adkins he shot and crippled him. The boys
then turned old Bone loose, and he soon covered him. Bone had many hard
battles with the bear finally in which he had come out first best, and this
gave him confidence but this was his fateful fight. Mr. Bruin backed
himself up under a clay root and when faithful old Bone went in after him,
he squeezed him so hard that bone died of his injuries, but the bear did not
escape. While he was so lovingly embracing his antagonist the negro man,
Mike, ran up and shot him in the shoulder, which made him turn loose old
Bone, and put an end to him.
I want to correct an error that appeared in my other piece. It should
have said that the fort at Fort Gaines, Ga., was built in 1816 instead of
1836.

To be continued
W.F. Cox

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