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Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2000 19:03:07 -0500
From: Monya Havekost <MonyaH(a)conterra.com>
To: ALMARION-L(a)rootsweb.com
Message-Id: <v0311071db6323cebd5dc(a)[64.28.195.13]>
Subject: [ALMARION] The Town of Hackleburg article
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The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section C, Page 6
THE TOWN OF HACKLEBURG WAS SETTLED BACK IN EARLY 1800
Hackleburg is an agricultural village settled in the early 1800's. the town
was named by the sheep-drovers of Tennessee because of the think growth of
thorny plants called hack burrs which were destructive to the fleece and
fatal to the sheep as the sheep were driven through Hackleburg to the
market at Tuscumbia. Hackleburg is situated at a point that was once the
intersection of the Russellville Pipe and the Allen's Factory and Iuka
stage coach road. Northwest of Hackleburg are traces of the old Jackson
Military Road which branched from the Natchez Trace at columbia Tennessee,
and crossed the Tennessee River at Muscle Shoals. Along the Jackson
Military Road was strung one of the first telegraph lines in the South in
1848. U.S. 43 Highway then crossed rugged, rocky country scarcely covered
with vegetation and mass. Southward were forested hills and broad lowland
fields.
Some of the first settlers were the FREDERICKS, COCHRANS, BOYDS, ROWES, and
OSBORNS. The first post office near Hackleburg was called Chalk Bluff. It
was about four miles south of town and was moved to what is known as old
Hackleburg in 1885. W. W. FREDERICK was the first postmaster. W. W. OSBORN
started the first store in 1884 at old Hackleburg. He also had a cotton
gin, saw mill, and grist mill.
the first church was the Congregational Methodist housed in a little log
building about one mile south of town. some of the early members were John
COLEMAN, B. P. CANTRELL, and W. W. FREDERICK. Later, from this church was
organized the Methodist Church South. the building for the church was
erected at town in 1889 and because of some large cedar trees the church
was called Cedar Tree Methodist Church.
The Baptist Church was organized July 5, 1908. Some of the charter members
were: J. M. CONDEN and family, J. L. VANDIVER and family, and W. J. BRYAN
and family. The Church of Christ was organized about 1912 and the Church of
god about 1920.
The first school was held in the little log house of the Congregational
Methodist Church. When the Methodist Church was built at Cedar Tree, the
school was moved there. School was held there until the school was erected
on the Boyd place near the present site of the high school and elementary
school in 1913. This building burned in 1921 and classes were taught in the
churches until the building was erected across from J. S. WALKER residence
in 1923, starting the first Hackleburg High School and Elementary School
moved to the present site.
The Illinois Central Railroad was under construction through Hackleburg in
1906 and the first trains 4an in 1908. During the construction of the
railroad, an epidemic of small pox swept through the construction camps
killing many of the men who were [then] buried in the fields aside the
track. The Hackleburg depot was built in 1910 and the first depot agents
were: Jess DOTY, Frank OSBORN and W. E. DOTY.
The Doodle Bug, a one-coach train, became a popular transportation vehicle
for the young and old. People rode the Doodle Bug to attend Fa So La
singings on Sundays, to go to the doctor and dentist, shopping and to
school.
W. B. MIXON built the first store at the present site of Hackleburg in
1906. The post office was also moved to its present location and W. W.
FREDERICK was still the postmaster.
In the 1940's the Hackleburg Clinic was constructed. the earliest doctors
were: Dr. BROOKS, Dr. J. B. GOGGANS, Dr. W. B. MIXON, and Dr. J. L. WILSON.
Others were Dr. WISER, Dr. SHERMAN, Dr. MATTHEWS, Dr. Earnest WEST, Dr.
PYLE, and Dr. Robert HOLCOMB.
Hackleburg's water was supplied from the Big Cedar Tree Spring and Young
had the first water wheel works on the former MIXON farm.
In the late 1930's and early 40's, a convict camp was located a mile west
of Hackleburg. These men helped to build the U. S. 43 Highway.
On April 12, 1943, a tornado severely damaged the town of Hackleburg
killing four persons, Mr. and Mrs. Bud POWELL and Mr. and Mrs. Walter MANN.
Sonny JAMES of Hackleburg has become a famous and very popular country
singer and musician.
Among other settlers for Hackleburg were the GOWDERS, GREENS, HUDSONS,
SPRAGINS, YEILDINGS, FINCHERS, HOLCOMBS, WIGINTONS, CANTRELLS, FORDS,
ISOMS, MIXONS, WILSONS, PARAINS, LUNSFORDS, MILLERS, EVANS RAYS, ROBINSONS,
BAKERS, GUNNINS, HOLLANDS, TAYLORS, BARNWELLS, BURELSONS, SPRATLINS,
STELLS, KENNEDYS, JACKSONS, GOGGINS, INGLES, COLES, FOWLERS, MANNS,
BREWERS, QUINNS, WALKERS, QUILLINS, CLARKS, CLAYS, WOODS, and CLEMENTS.
The Kaolin plant was established about 1940 by the THOMAS brothers and
today the plant is still known as the THOMAS Kaolin plant. there are 13
employees.
The shirt factory was established in 1957 with bout 40 employees. Mid-South
changed its name to Blue Bell in 1967 and there is some 450 employees today.
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