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In order to understand the history of the county of Alamance it is necessary to go far back of its erection into a county. Tts history begins as a county in 1728 when the county of New Hanover was created and named from the English House of Hanover. From this New Hanover county in 1734 was created the county of Bladen which at that time took in the entire western part of the state. Later, or in 1751, the county of Orange was formed from parts of Bladen, Johnson and Granville counties, and named Orange from the ruling House of Orange. In 1770, Guilford county was created from parts of Orange and Rowan counties, and it was not until the year 1848 that Alamance county was erected, the greater part of the territory being taken from Orange county with a smaller portion from Guilford.
Pre-Revolutionary Days
On the soil of what is now Alamance county (then known as Orange county) centered the struggle of that patriot band of farmers and early settlers known as the Regulators who in resistance to the oppressions of Edmund Fanning, clerk of the county court at Hillsboro, and of Gov. William Tryon, boldly marched upon the field at Alamance and on May 16, 1771, took their stand against tyranny and injustice, and gave the first blow struck in that struggle between the crown and the colonies that was finally carried to a glorious culmination in the war for American independence. It was the preliminary note in the chorus for freedom and liberty that closed with the surrender of Lord Cormvallis to General Washington on the field of York-town in 1781. After the struggle at Alamance there followed the Declaration of Mecklenburg, the Declaration of Philadelphia, the Battle of Guilford Court House, and that long train of events connected with the winning of American independence; but let us never forget the bold spirits and the strong arms of the men of Alamance who dared to defy even the haughty Tryon when they felt that their rights were being trampled into the dust.
"The war of the Regulation ripened North Carolina for the
coming stupendous change in which her people would fight with Massachusetts for the second Magna Charta. . . This was the first lesson in the history of a new nation-that of the United States of America"-Stockard's History. In the various sections of the North Carolina constitution adopted in 1776 we find more than one-fourth of the demands of the Regulators adopted and embodied as the law of the state, thus showing that the Regulators in the petitions of grievance which they from lime to time presented were only asking and demanding rights which were later on to be recognized and adopted as the law of the land. We do not endorse or praise all the actions of these Regulators, but their spirit we must commend, and their bravery we must admire, if we will but read their true story in the pages of the early Colonial Records of North Carolina. The field of Ala-mance is sacred ground; some day it will become a great battle park with stately monuments and tablets, and here the lover of "liberty will stand with uncovered head before the heroism of that earliest outbreak against depotism on American soil. Of this spot it will some day be said:
"Eternal Spirit of the chainless mind! Brightest in dungeons, LIBERTY, thou art! For there thy habitation is the heart- The heart, which love of thee alone can bind."
We must not forget that it was also upon the soil of Alamance that Col. Fyles' famous hacking match occurred; a decisive battle that filled the hearts of the Tories of Chatham and Randolph counties with terror. Remember also, that on Cane Creek was fought what is known as the Battle of Lindley's Mill which of itself was no insignificant struggle in the events of that •early day; this was on September 14, 1781. These events show as nothing* else can the spirit of the fathers of old, and the determination that fired their hearts to have justice and equity •even if they must be purchased at the price of blood. This is the stock that peopled these hills of Alamance, and their story is one that no patriot would willingly forget.
Interesting Items About Alamance
John Lawson, English surveyor and historian, of 1700, speaks of this middle section of the state as far excelling many other parts of the surrounding territory; George Bancroft, America's great historian, knew and admired greatly this region.
'The Quaker early occupied Pennsylvania; Virginia was claimed in great part by Episcopal faiths; so this favored spot of mid-Carolina early claimed the attention of pre-Revolutionary settlers. In 1740 the Strayhorns settled around Haw Fields, and in 1828 ten thousand acres of land was patented by the Moseleys in this section. The Quakers were organized at Cane Creek before 1752, and some claim had settled there by 1700. The Palatine settlers poured in from 1725 to 1750, coming from the favored Rhine region. Settlers from England, Germany, Holland, and France came into this territory, with many from the Virginia settlements, until about the close of the Revolutionary War. Soon after this time a tide of emigration began to flow from all this territory towards Tennessee, Missouri and other points west, and this continued until about 1840, giving to many places in certain western states entire communities and settlements with the identical family names found today in Alamance county. It is said of some of the members of almost every family "He went West" when records are being searched, referring to this tide of emigrants.
Western Alamance was settled by people of the Lutheran and the Reformed faith; followers of the doctnnes of Martin Luther and John Calvin. In the main, they were Whigs. Their names are found on Herman Husband's petitions of grievance to the royal governor (see N. C. Colonial Records, Vol. VII, pp. 733-737). They fought at Alamance May 16, 1771. Maiiy of their graves are to be found at Low's church, Brick Church, Stoner's church, Friedens church and elsewhere. Their pastors, Rev. Adolphus Nussman, Lutheran, and Rev. Samuel Suther, Reformed, at Friedens church and Low's church, stood for liberty and justice, side by side with Dr. David Caldwell of Alamance and Buffalo, and Rev. Henry Patillo of Haw Fields, of the Presbyterian faith. What a mighty team for that early day,-Caldwell and Nussman, Suther and Patillo! No wonder that the fury of Lord Cornwallis was aimed at them when he came into this section on his memorable trip! They used their pulpits as recruiting camps for the army of patriots who immortalized themselves at Alamance, at Guilford Court House, and later at Yorktown.
From all obtainable data it seems certain that Alamance county was first settled in connection with the eastern portion of Guilford county by settlers from that Rhine river region known as the Palatine section,, and that their coming was an outgrowth of the effects of the Thirty Years' War in Europe which raged
from 1618 to 1648. A great many of these settlers undoubtedly came from what was known as the old Alemanni region. We find in old records these names: Allemance, Alemanz, Alnmans, Allemanni. The family names corroborate this view: Foust, Clapp, Holt, Albright, Summers, Sharp, Coble, Kime, Smith, Ingle, Shepherd, Whitesell (Weitzell), Fogleman, Reitzcll, Hoffman (Huffman), Trollinger, Long, and many others being identical with the numerous Alemanni names. These early people settled on all the lands lying along the streams now called Big Alamance and Little Alamance, and even yet their descendants are on these lands. Naturally they became known as the "Alemanni settlers" and the streams took these names.
ALAMANCE, THE COUNTY NAME
Alamance, being only a softening of the name Alemanni, so from these streams bearing now the name Alamance, came the county name of Alamance. That view of some that Alamance is an Indian name, finds no chain of circumstances to bear it out, while the other view of its derivation from the Alemanni may be traced back for hundreds of years. Certainly for more than a thousand to fifteen hundred years the pages of history carry the story of the Alemanni people, and it is these same people who came to this section, and whose racial name is now borne by the two streams named, and by the county of Alamance. In accepting this view, Alamance county is only paying proper tribute to those who were beyond any question her first settlers, and who first set up their homes and their households upon this virgin soil. The county is sprinkled still with scores of names that trace back in this view of the matter-descendants beyond question of the Alemanni stock of the Palatine region of the Rhine river.
Physical Features of Alamance
The county of Alamance contains 265,776 acres of land. The northern part of the county lies in the Laurentian, and the southern part of the county in the Huronian geologic belts. Both of these belts are very old, the Laurentian being the older of the two. The few Triassic sections of the county are much younger, speaking from the standpoint of geology. In the Cane Creek mountains in this county we find the Huronian slate. There is no coal in Alamance; as coal was formed after both the Laurentian and the Huronian periods of geologic history. There is
valuable granite in several sections; and much auriferous quartz. Scattered mineral deposits are found, but building stone is by far its most valuable mineral product. The upper waters of the Cape Fear, the Haw river, the Big and Little Alamance streams, and others are capable of developing from 4,000 to 5,000 horsepower. The soils are chiefly fertile red clay loams. Hickory, the various oaks and pine are the chief woods. The upper edge of the county is well suited to tobacco; the central part to the various grain crops, and cotton may be raised with profit on the lower edges. The fruits are very plentiful and the flavor is fine; clover and the better grasses flourish. The excellent water powers called early attention to Alamance as a manufacturing county. The land area measured in square miles is 494 squre miles.
In 1860 the county had a.popution of 11,852; in 1890 this had grown to 18,271, and in 1920, the last census taken gives Alamance county a population of 32,718. More than one-half of this is white population. Remember, that the entire state of North Carolina had a population in 1675 of only 4,000; in 1752 of 100,000 and in 1786 of only 350,000. In 1920 the largest town in Alamance county was Burlington with a population of 5,952, which is estimated for 1926. to be about 10,056; Graham, the county seat, had in 1920 a population of 2,366, now estimated in 1926 to be about 4,000; the third town in size is Mebane, located in Alamance-Orange, with a population in 1920 of 1,341, now estimated in 1926 to be 3,000. The North Carolina railroad (now leased to the Southern railway) runs through the center of the county from east to west, as also does central highway No. io, which traverses the state. State maintained highway No. 62 also traverses Alamance county. Over 1,000,000 pounds of tobacco are raised annually, among other crops. The average elevation of the county is from 400 to 600 feet above sea level, rising to nearly twice this height in the Cane Creek mountains in the southern portion.
Indians of Alamance
Here lived the Sissepahaw, or Saxapahaw Indians, when we first learn of this section. Indian words still survive to remind us of those days of the red men; names like Haw, Saxapahaw, Altamahaw, Eno, Oconeechee, Minneola and others. A careful reading of John Lawson's history written concerning his trip through this section in 1700 will give us a clear idea of those days. Indian villages were numerous. The banks of the Haw were among their favorite resorts. Indian relics such as arrow
points and broken pottery, arc still frequently found. Indian paths and trails were well marked all over this territory. In 1728 Col. William Byrd spoke of the well-known fertility of the section known as the Haw fields, a region that still keeps this naine from the olden days. Game was very abundant; the buffalo, deer, bear, turkey and smaller game filled the woods. The wild turkey was especially abundant and great flocks roamed the fields and woods. The Indian had his patches or small fields of corn, but food was too easy to obtain to encourage him to work much. These Sissepahaw or Saxapahaw Indians were simple children of nature, but were neither savage nor vindictive ; judged by an honest standard, they must be said to have been semi-civilized, with some knowledge of the healing art, customs well-fixed for marriage, burial, etc.; with a simple speech; for example : One-unche; two-necte; ten-wartsanh ; eleven-unche-schanwhan, etc. The mild climate, abundant game, excellent fishing, etc., made life very easy for the Sissepahaw Indians. Even the shad then came up the Haw river; and the buffalo crowded the grassy lowlands of these surrounding streams. It seems almost impossible to conceive that it has been only 200 years since these days of which we are speaking, yet such is a fact, for the first white settler came into this region about 1720, after it was pretty well known by traders for a score of years previous to that date.
Haw River and Alamance County
To the student nothing in Alamance county can be of more interest than the Haw river, for this stream later on down is known as the Cape Fear river, and many early explorers sailed up the stream. Let us notice for a moment the interesting account of Capt. William Hilton, and Capt. Anthony Long who in 1664 sailed up Cape Fair (Fear) river, and later on wrote this following description of a part of their voyage. After going up streani until stopped by obstructions they have this to say: "We viewed the land on both rides of the stream, and found as good tracts of land, dry, well-wooded, pleasant and delightful as we have seen anywhere in the world. Great burdens of grass are on it; the woods stored with abundance of deer, and turkey, every where, we never go on shore but we also see great store of partridges, cranes abundant, conies in several places, we heard" wolves howling in the wood and saw where a deer had been torn in pieces. In the river stores of ducks, teal, widgeon, and
in the woods great flocks of paroquets; oaks of four and five-sorts, and 40, 50 and 60 feet before you come to boughs. Likewise also cypress, walnut, birch, beech, maple, ash, bay, alder, holly, and innumerable pines, with mulberry trees, grapevines-and some grapes which we did not eat."
Certainly, an attractive picture they draw of the Haw river of their day.
On a branch of the Haw river, Holt and Carrigan began cotton manufacturing in 1837 and continued this firm until 1851 when Carrigan sold his interest. In 1859 they did the first dyeing of cotton yarns ever done in the south, and thus started an industry that has carried the name of Alamance county over the world, and given her a large place as a manufacturing county in North Carolina. Millions upon millions of dollars worth of cotton products have been manufactured in Alamance county upon the waters of the Haw river, and its tributaries, at various points, as Haw River, Big Falls, Glencoe, Altamahaw, Swepsonville, Old" Alamance Mills, Belmont, and Saxapahaw. Until the coming of steam and electric power it is difficult to estimate the influence of a stream such as the Haw upon the life of a county.
Townships In Alamance County
The townships of Alamance county are as follows: Patterson, Coble, Boon Station, Morton, Faucett, Burlington, Graham, Albright, Newlin, Thompson, Melville, and Pleasant Grove. Of these 12 townships, it will be noted that eight are named from prominent families among the early settlers.
Churches of Alamance County
The religious life of Alamance county has always been of a
very high order. The earliest settlers brought with them their Bibles, and their love for morality and religion, and the religious •development of the county has been notable in every decade of growth. Throughout the county the numerous handsome churches with large membership testify to the universal high regard of the Alamance people for religion. Burlington, the largest town, has long been noted for its fine church buildings which would be a credit to cities of much larger size. To illustrate the interest of the people in religion we note the church activity of the three largest towns. In Graham, the county seat, we find churches as follows for the whites (the membership mentioned is approximate for 1926): Presbyterian, 300; M. E. church, 300; Baptist 275; New Providence, Christian, 250; M. P. church, 250; Friends, 150; and for the negro race, A. M. E. •church, 125; Baptist, 100; Christian, 125; Presbyterian, 100. In Haw River Baptist, 150; Christian, 200; M. E. church, 150; M. P. church, 140. In Burlington we find churches as follows: Macedonia Lutheran, 275; First Reformed, 250; First Christian, <>5o; Holy Comforter, Episcopal, 200; First Baptist, 750; Hocutt Memorial Baptist, 350; Front Street Methodist, 800; Webb Avenue Methodist, 300; West End Methodist, 200; First Presbyterian, 400; Elmira Presbyterian, 200; Piedmont Presbyterian, 100; East End Presbyterian, 75; First Methodist Protestant, 750; Fountain Place M. F\, 75; Holiness church, 100; and the negro churches of Burlington are as follows: Christian, 450; Baptist, 250; Methodist, 75; mission points, 100.
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