Presented by Bettye Lessley:
In the early spring of 1887, the 316 hardy Americans who made up the little community nestled in the peaceful valley surrounding The Coosa, decided their “Town” had reached the point where it should be incorporated and accordingly did so on February 15, of that year, under the name of Sylacauga.
The business district of the Sylacauga of that day was a hand full of stores, scattered up and down the main street – which was thick with dust in summer and deep in mud in winter and down which labored a lumbering wagon or passed an occasional traveler on horseback bound for the capital city of Montgomery.
From this humble beginning Sylacauga grew in a short 57 years to a thriving little American city, with a five mile radius population of nearly 20,000.
In tribute to the memory of these founders of this community it is with pleasure that we inscribe their names and their occupations upon the pages of the minute book of the Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce.
E. M. Douglas, Mayor Ellis Hickman, Clerk
J. M. Lanning, Clerk B. C. Hickman, Hackman, or Taxi
B. D. French, Merchant J. T. Boone, Hackman or Taxi
J. J. Hightower, Sr., Postmaster J. M. Knight, Sawmilling
J. L. Wilkes, T. V. Knight, Sawmilling
Wash Wilkes, Minister J. W. Knight, Brick Layer
D. C. Keller, Physician M. E. Knight, Sawmilling
W. C. Keller, Physician G. A. Hill, Physician and Farmer
W. M. Sorrell, Physician G. S. Ham, Farmer
M. E. Conaway, Physician T. E. Morris, Farmer
J. M. Smith, Physician William Nivens, Farmer
J. E. Pearson, (1888), Physician Bill Brannon, Fiddler
F. H. Craddock, Physician H. M. Hubbard,Merchant
G. W. Sorrell, Dentist H. C. Zuber, Coaling
J. W. Langley, Jeweler Ben McNeely, Farmer
W. P. Caudle, Minister J. D. Strauther, Farmer
T. P. Roberts, Minister Pat Bazemore, Mechanic
A. Hall, Lawyer Jim Wallace, Lumber Planer
J. H. Caudle, Livery J. A. Wallace, Farmer
R. M. Conville, Blacksmith E. (Eli) Horn, School Teacher
J. E. Caudle, Blacksmith T. A. Henderson, Teacher
B. E. Blackmon, Wagon Maker M. L. Smith, Merchant
T. B. Ogletree, Drayer E. J. Smith, Merchant
W. M. Lane, Coaling W. F. Smith, Merchant
R. T. Hebson, Coaling E. S. Smith Merchant
W. J. Cannon, Merchant W. T. Coker, City Farm Demonstration
W. C. Cannon, Teacher M. P. Coker, Physician
George W. Wheeler, Clerk D. A. Parker, R. R. Agent
George W. Heacock, Railroader G. A. Conville, Mechanic
W. C. Crow, Farmer John Piney Oden, Farmer and Mill
W. D. Abston, Hotel W. P. Oden, Lawyer
J. M. Bazemore, Merchant S. J. Oden, Agent
A. C. Harper, Clerk W. S. Mallory, Merchant
J. D. Pennington, Mechanic Baldwin M. Fluker, Farmer
Frank C. Hickman, Mechanic L. M. Burgess, Farmer
B. M. Harris, Mechanic J. W. Brown, Banker, Merchant
T. H. Harris, Mechanic R. L. Edwards, Druggist
B. J. Hammett, Mechanic R. D. Edwards, Mineral Worker
W. C. Trammell, Saw Mill T. W. Edwards, Clerk
T. P. Phillips, Merchant T. M. McDowell, Sawmilling
J. T. Thompson, Barber L. S. Phillips, Merchant
W. E. Dunsmore, Mechanic T. P. Johnston, Clerk
Charlie Caudle, Blacksmith J. T. Persons, Brick Layer
John Hunter, First Eng. On A & A R.R. L. H. Crumpler, Justice of the Peace
H. G. Darby, Farmer L. King, Sawmilling
John (Jack) Herd, Marble Maker Jack King, Coaling
David Herd, Marble Maker M. H. Jackson, Druggist
Frank Sherrell, Farmer C. B. Porter, 3rd Marshall
L. W. Sherrell, Farmer J. P. Creel, Farmer
Pat Pheney, Contractor R. B. Caudle, Farmer
George Yeaman, Farmer J. A. Edwards, Dairy Farmer
Sam Scott, 2nd Marshall W. H. Malone, Farmer
J. M. Gillespie, 2nd Marshall R. W. Prather, Farmer
Dr. A. B. Lovejoy, Capitalist T. P. Hickman, Farmer
F. B. Fulmer, Merchant L. L. Terry, Farmer
J. M. Rainey, Hardware Merchant C. C. Douglas, Clerk
M. M. Bailey, Merchant R. B. Pruett, Owned Hotel & Merchant
J. E. Berkstresser, Insurance L. T. Parnell, Blacksmith
Colored People In Sylacauga At That Time
Rube Lindsey Hall Yeoman
Dan Oden Pop Martin
Beverly Darby Simon Morris
Shack Fluker George Oden
John Oden Tom Lindsey
Tom Oden Tom Fluker
Simon Oden
This copy was typed from the Carolyn Lane Luttrell Collection, housed in B. B. Comer Memorial Library.
Mrs. Luttrell said that this list is incomplete and partially correct. (BRL)
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