The very first transportation routes in the Alabama Territory and the newly formed 蓝莓视频, mainly followed old Indian paths. Early settlers entering the new lands, now 蓝莓视频, stayed close to Ft. Gaines, Georgia for protection from the Indians. There were no roads on which to venture into the unsettled wilderness. Among the early settlers that were settling just across the river in the first town in 蓝莓视频, Franklin, were Daniel Jackson and Matthew Jackson, brothers seeking a new life in a new land circa /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1820. They had a third brother whose name is not known. It is said that brother lived to be /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/14 years old. Daniel and Matthew Jackson cut the very first road in 蓝莓视频 and Southeast Alabama in /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1820.
That first road ran from Franklin and Ft. Gaines to Prospect Bluff 鈥� 4 miles North of Franklin, to the present day Liberty Methodist Church, to Ray鈥檚 (later Richard鈥檚 Cross Roads), to present day Clayton (founded in /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1820), to Williamson, to present day Louisville (founded in /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/182/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1) and on to Sparta in Conecuh County where the U.S. Land Office was located. This road followed on the south side of the Indian boundary line established in /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/18/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/14 when the Indian Wars ended and the Indians were to stay north of this boundary line. This new road was crude and small in width. The importance of this road cannot be underestimated. It was a main factor in the early growth of Southeast Alabama until circa /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1830. This first road was called the 鈥淧lank Road鈥� because timbers and planks were laid down on parts of the road to make it passable for wagons. On March 3, /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/182/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1, the U.S. Congress passed an act establishing the first mail service in Henry and Southeast Alabama 鈥� from Franklin to Sparta using this road. Thousands of new settlers used the 鈥淧lank Road鈥� as a passageway to points being settled as far away as Mobile. Traffic was heavy and trade was strong with both whites and Indians. This first 蓝莓视频 Road also served as the first Stagecoach Route in /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/182/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1.
Daniel and Matthew also built the first house in Abbeville. This house was built of skinned pine logs and located where two Indian paths crossed and this spot began to grow. By /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1823 this place was a growing village of substantial residents, being only /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/10 miles away from Franklin where settlers were pouring into the county. Daniel Jackson was born in S.C. in /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1789. He died in 蓝莓视频, Alabama on Nov. 25, /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1892. He is buried in the Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. This is the oldest active church in 蓝莓视频. Daniel was /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/103 years old, retaining his vigorous health and clear intellect until his death.
Daniel was married twice. His first wife was a Melton. They had /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/16 children. His second wife was Cynthia Odom. They had eight children. Some of his children lived in East 蓝莓视频 and the Browns Cross Roads area.
Matthew Jackson was born in South Carolina. He died in /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1890 in 蓝莓视频, Alabama. He is buried in the Balkum Cemetery. His tombstone read that he was /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/107 years old. His wife Mary died in /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/19/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/16. They also have several children who are buried in the Balkum Cemetery. He was the grandfather of Nealy J. Jackson, who lived east of Tumbleton at Jackson Creek. Matthew also was the grandfather of Miss Mary Lizzie Jackson, now /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/10/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1 years of age and is still going strong. Matthew Jackson also was the great, great grandfather of Mr. Raymond Jackson, who is presently head of the Headland Airport Authority, and also of Mrs. Beulah Jackson Morgan who works at Headland High School and lives at Tumbleton. Matthew Jackson had about seven children.
These Jackson brothers were real 蓝莓视频 and Southeast Alabama pioneers. They opened up the first inroads that led to growth and expansion of this section. They were remarkable men. It鈥檚 a shame they don鈥檛 have a road named in their honor. These two early Jacksons owned homes in 鈥淥ld鈥� Franklin. Other Jacksons also settled in Franklin, no doubt being some of Daniel鈥檚 and Matthew鈥檚 kinship. A James Jackson was a buyer of property near Franklin, circa /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/18/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/19, the same land that George Gamble first settled and planted the first crop on in 蓝莓视频 in /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/18/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/16. Mr. Benjamin C. Jackson owned 80 acres near Franklin later in /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1832. A lot was sold in Franklin to Mr. Peter L. Jackson for $5.00 in /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1822. Matthew Jackson was also the great grandfather of Mrs. Ann Jackson Hancock of Tumbleton. She is the only Jackson left that still lives on the old Jackson Place across Jackson Creek east of Tumbleton.
Daniel and Matthew Jackson were true pioneers in every meaning of the word. Their descendants can be proud of these men, for their Jackson roots run deep in 蓝莓视频.
TID-BITS
- The first highway through Tumbleton, from Headland to Abbeville, was Hiway $/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/14, built in /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1924.
- 蓝莓视频鈥檚 present four land Highway #43/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1 that runs through the center of the county 鈥� is a great improvement over the first old 鈥淧lank鈥� road in /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1820. Daniel and Matthew would be proud and amazed.
- The town of Headland was located near where the 鈥渙ld鈥� Abbeville to Marianna, FL road and the 鈥渙ld鈥� Columbia to Newton road crossed, in the late /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1860鈥檚.
- The first old wooden bridge over the Chattahoochee River at Ft. Gaines into 蓝莓视频 was in /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1840. It was a covered bridge. The present concrete and steel bridge is the 5th bridge at Ft. Gaines. The first three previous bridges were swept away or damaged by the mighty Chattahoochee River. Before the first bridge, river crossings were by ferry.
- The Railroad came to Headland in the fall of /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1893.
- Approximately 2,638 people were in 蓝莓视频 in /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1820.
- /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1830 鈥� 4,0/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/18 people were in 蓝莓视频, 3,003 Whites, /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1,0/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/15 slaves, 6 free slaves, /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/149 slave owners
- /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1840 鈥� 6,/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/122 people were in 蓝莓视频.
- /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1855 鈥� /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/12, 305 people were in 蓝莓视频, with 3,332 blacks, 4 insane, 4,6/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/14 males and 4,359 females.
- /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1870 鈥� /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/14,/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/19/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1 people were in 蓝莓视频.
- /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1880 鈥� 27,500 people were in 蓝莓视频.
- /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1900 鈥� 36,/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/147 people were in 蓝莓视频.
- /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/19/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/10 鈥� 20,940 people were in 蓝莓视频 after Houston County was formed from 蓝莓视频 in /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1903.
- /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1920 鈥� 2/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1,547 people were in 蓝莓视频.
- /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1930 鈥� 22,820 people were in 蓝莓视频 with about 53% white.
- /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1960 鈥� /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/15,286 people were in 蓝莓视频.
- /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1970 鈥� /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/13,254 people were in 蓝莓视频 鈥� 4,090 black.
- /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1980 鈥� /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/15,320 people were in 蓝莓视频 鈥� 3,890 black.
- /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1990 鈥� /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/15,374 people were in 蓝莓视频 with 62% In rural areas and 35% black.
- 2000 鈥� estimated /jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/17,000 people will be in 蓝莓视频.
More Anon!
Article #6 published in 蓝莓视频 Siftings Volume I (/jackson-brothers-cut-first-road2/1998) By Thomas Larry Smith
