1872 History - Sanford County by Willis
Brewer.
1887 History - Alabama As It Is - by Benjamin Franklin
Riley
1872 History - from Alabama, Her History, Resources,
War Record...Published by Barrett and Brown 1872, pg 517 - transcribed and
submitted by Veneta McKinney
The County of Sanford or Jones
Sanford was first established in 1866, and called in honor of Hon. E. P.
Jones of Fayette. The de facto convention of 1867 abolished it, but
it was re-established Oct. 8, 1868 by its present name, to compliment Hon.
H. C. Sanford of Cherokee. The territory was taken from Fayette and
Marion, and it lies in the northwest quarter of the State, on the Mississippi
line, north of pickens, south of Marion, and west of Fayette and Marion.
The population in 1870 was 7,330 whites, and 1,563 blacks. The area
of Sanford is about 600 square miles. The assessed value of property
is about $750,000. The farm lands - 42,465 acres improved, and 231,537
acres unimproved - had a cash value of $304,250 in 1870.The value of live
stock - 1,462 horses, 496 mules, 6,848 neat cattle, 6,784 sheep, 11,463 hogs
- was $301,749 in 1870. In 1869 the productions were 219,437 bushels
of corn, 16,145 bushels of wheat, 14,128 bushels of oats, 32,664 bushels
of potatoes, 1,144 gallons of wine, 72,157 pounds of butter, 6,407 gallons
of sorghum, 4,000 pounds of tobacco, 1,825 bales of cotton, 9,924 pounds
of wool; the value of animals slaughtered was $64,083; and the value of farm
productions was $643,049.
The surface is hilly and broken; the soil light to a large extent, but with
fertile valleys. There is a great abundance of iron ore, and a smeltling
and casting furnace is in operation three miles west of Vernon. The
Buttahatchee flows through teh northern part, but there are no navigable
streams. The projected railway form Columbus to Decatur is surveyed
through the heart of the ocunty. There are a number of flour and lumber
mills, and the material interests of othe ocunty are rapidly improving.
Vernon, the seat of justice is a village, and there are no towns. The
county has no general history and is not yet represented separately in the
general assembly.
1887 History - Alabama As It Is - by Benjamin
Franklin Riley, D. D., 1887 - transcribed by Christina Anthony
This county was formed in 1866, and named Jones; in 1868 the name was changed
to that of Sanford, and in 1877 its present designation was adopted. Remote
from transportation, the county of Lamar has been placed at great disadvantage,
notwithstang its rich stores of mineral and the productiveness of its soils.
It covers an area of 550 square miles.
Population in 1870, 8,893; population in 1880, 12,142. White, 9,967; colored,
2,175. Tilled Land—62,141 acres. Area planted in cotton, 15,245 acres;
in corn, 28,303 acres; in oats, 4,139 acres; in wheat, 5,627 acres; in rye,
75 acres; in tobacco,46 acres; in sweet potatoes, 626 acres. Cotton
Production—5,015 bales.
Like the most of this section of Alabama, the surface of Lamar
is hilly and unbroken, with many productive valleys. The
soil along the oak uplands is superior, while that along the pebbly ridges
is barren. The general character of the soils of Lamar is that of red loam.
The best lands in the county are those found along the uplands, or table-lands,
and those along the banks of the streams. But there is a mixture of sand
in all the lands of the county. The soil is easily tilled under all
circumstances.
The chief productions of the county are cotton, corn, wheat and oats. Nearly,
or quite one half, of the tilled lands of Lamar are devoted to the production
of cotton. Grasses grow here spontaneously, and afford rich pasturage for
stork. Better grasses are cultivated, and much attention is devoted to
stock-raising, and, with commercial outlets, this would be one of the chief
industries of the county. The forests of Lamar are heavily timbered with
short-leaf pine, the various species of oak, hickory, ash, chestnut, and
sassafras.
The drainage of Lamar is secured through Buttahatchie River and Luxapalila,
Beaver, Coal Fire, and Yellow Creeks, all of which have large branches or
tributaries. Along these streams nourishing lumber and flour mills are met
with. The River and Creeks are finely suited to machinery by reason of their
immense water-power. The mineral products of the county are iron, coal,
and valuable stones for building purposes. The county now enjoys railroad
transportation since the passage of the Georgia Pacific and the Kansas City,
Memphis & Birmingham through its territory. The completion of these great
lines has greatly facilitated the development of the county.
Vernon, Moscow, and Millport are towns of local importance, the first mentioned
being the county-seat. Schools and churches are found in
every part of the county.
Immigrants desiring cheap lands will do well to examine the merits of the
lands of this county. It has a quantity of public or government land. The
prices of land vary from $2 to $8 or $10 per acre. Because of its
climate, healthfulness, mineral resources, and location, Lamar will, one
day, be one of the most progressive regions of Alabama. It contains 30,000
acres of government land.
