Gurley Lions Club serving the Gurley community since 1948
Gurley and the Post Civil War Years
The end of the Civil War generally saw a South broken, burned, and
devastated beyond description. The South had made two basic mistakes at the wars offset.
First they had underestimated the will of northern leaders and people to continue the
fight and secondly, they did not realize that superior technology and resources would be
unleashed. In the end, the north simply had too much industrial strength and overwhelming
manpower.
Despite the hardships, the people of the South and North Alabama were forced to adapt to
the Reconstruction period and put up with the hardships and depravations brought about by
a prolonged Yankee occupation. In early 1862, Huntsville and most of the eastern part of
North Alabama were occupied by the Union army who maintained Huntsville as a command
center throughout the rest of the war. As a result, the area around Huntsville did not
experience the utter destruction as many other areas had in Virginia, Georgia, and
Tennessee. At the close of the war, the town of Gurley was still only a few scattered
homesteads and farms. Gurley also had the benefit of fertile bottom land ideal for crops,
excellent timber resources, good water supply, and some fine young community leaders like
F. B. Gurley, J. F. Morrow, J. B. Joplin, and E. F. Walker. The first store was opened in
1866 and for the next several years, the town continued to grow until it's incorporation
in 1890.
Captain Frank Gurley never forgot his troopers from the 4th Alabama Cavalry. He was to
hold eight reunions with the first in 1890 and the final reunion in August 1913. This
photo was taken at the reunion held at Wortham's Mill in August 1906. Gurley (center) is
wearing a lapel metal given to him by General Forrest.
Captain Gurley gave this reunion photo to his friend Capt.
Elijah F. Walker
(Click on the picture to view it full size)
Captain Gurley gave this reunion photo to his friend Capt. Elijah F. Walker. He even numbered and named each of the attendees in the photo. It should be remembered that most of the veterans were local men recruited by Frank Gurley during his return to the Huntsville-Gurley area in 1862. It is quite probable that several of these troopers were residents of Gurley.
Capt. Walker also received a small silver "Confederate Reunion Cup" given as a memento of the occasion. This particular cup has the words "Confederate Reunion" engraved on the front and was typical of the small mementos Capt. Gurley would pass out to his veteran troopers of the Fourth Alabama Cavalry and visitors at the reunions. |
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When Gurley was incorporated in 1890, the population went from 250 to 1000
residents within one year. The "heyday" years for Gurley appear to be from 1890
to about 1940. Getting the churches in 1891 and the Donnell Academy in 1893 seemed to be a
big boost for Gurley and its growth.
In the February 22, 1925 Birmingham News, in an article about Madison County and
specifically referring to Gurley, it was written: "The frame buildings have been
replaced with modern brick buildings and now the main thoroughfare makes a creditable
showing. Some of the stores are as good as can be found anywhere in the state, in places
with a population under 2000. The town is by no means standing still but forging
ahead".
In the period between 1890 and 1910, considerable land was sold to different people in
lots and small acreage plats. Most interesting are the transactions and deeds set forth at
that time. Most were written by hand on plain paper. Two of the most interesting deeds
involved tracts sold By Capt. Frank B. Gurley. The deed on the left was a deed whereby
Capt. Frank Gurley was administrator for the estate of George Coil and offered several
tracts of land to the highest bidder in a public auction. The auction was held March 14,
1879, in front of the Huntsville Courthouse. The highest bidder was Capt. Elijah F. Walker
who won the bid at $835. The deed appears to be written in Frank Gurley's hand.
The second deed on the right was where Capt. Frank Gurley sold two plats of land for the
Robert Donnell High School. The land was sold for the sum of $10 and the deed was recorded
on December 2, 1893. The deed indicates the land was conveyed to the Trustees of the
school who were W. J. Walker, W. W. Thompson, R. D. shook, J. R. Morris, G. T. Hayes, A.
F. Evans, and J. D. Coffey. The erection of the school building was estimated at $10,000,
of which half was contributed by the citizens of Gurley and the other half by the Robert
Donnell Presbytery that was then part of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The deed
further explained "The said school building shall be used as an institution of
learning, under the superintendence and discipline and according to the usages of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, but nothing herein contained shall be construed as a
limitation upon the right of said Robert Donnell Presbytery, under the proper authority of
said church, to sell or dispose of said property."
Captain Frank Gurley and the other leading citizens of Gurley remained very busy over the
next few years with various endeavors involving land sales, new businesses and especially
the start up a new company to build a new railroad.
In the March 30th issue of the Gurley Record, it was reported: "The annual
stockholders meeting was held on Tuesday together with a financial meeting for the purpose
of raising the capital stock of the company and increase the number of Directors. There
was a good attendance with about four-fifths of the shares represented".
Another very interesting letter from Frank Gurley was written to his close friend and business associate Capt. Elijah F. Walker on August 23, 1890. It was a three page letter written by Gurley from the Cotton Exchange in Liverpool England. Gurley went to England on business and addressed the letter "Dear Lige". Most of the letter talks about the fine time he had on the voyage and on the sailing ship Eturid. Gurley said: "there were plenty of "nice ladies" on board with music and dancing and even games of "Blind Mans Bluff". He further stated: "I went to the rear of the ship at night and saw the hot salt water come from under the ship and for a hundred yards, the water looked like it was full of sparkling diamonds and presented a grand sight". He further said: "It was not long until we could see land and very soon we could see this big city. We anchored out in the river near where the Confederate gun boat C.S.S. Alabama was built for Semmes during the war" (Admiral Raphael Semmes).
Sunday 24th : We are now in Birmingham, (England) the great city of stacks
and chimneys, When we went to Liverpool, I was pleased with many things I saw, but there
were many things a long way behind us. The rail cars are very small and for passengers,
the step goes in at the side. There are no conductors, no cowcatchers, and not much
whistle, and switching is done by a horse." Capt. Gurley devotes several more
sentences discussing rail cars and the "Grand car shed". He does not
specifically indicate why he went to England but it is surmised he probably went to look
at some rail equipment and rolling stock for their new railroad in Gurley. Capt. Walker
had written Gurley a letter dated August 14th that had come over on the same ship. He did
not receive it until the 24th when he got to Birmingham. In Gurley's letter he stated:
"You continue to sell as you think. Best if you sell any on my side and I will
sanction anything you do and deed it when I come back". It does not explain what they
were selling (maybe land or cotton) but it shows the confidence each of these good friends
had in each other. Finally Gurley said: "I met one of the men today that we have
business with and well pleased with him. His name was Richards and was the agent for the
CSA during the war. He was glad to meet an old Confederate". As with Gurley and
Walker, like other veterans, there was a strong bond between them that was carried on
until the rest of their lives. They had faced the horrors of civil war together and
survived. For the most part, their confidence in each other was strong and their word to
each other was an unquestioned bond.
Of interest is some of the firsts in Gurley. In a 1925 Birmingham newspaper article it was
stated: the first mayor and oldest merchant was J. B. Joplin. The first physicians were
Flynt and Allen McLain. The name of the first teacher was mentioned as Professor Wood. The
first drug store was operated by W. T. Roberts. The first hotel, and one long noted for
its cheer and table was opened by T. R. Hall and known as The Hall House. The first gin
was operated by Capt. F. B. Gurley and the first water mill was run by Judge Clarke. The
first blacksmith recalled was opened by L. H. Lewis.
At the turn of the century, several fine Victorian and antebellum homes were built,
replacing several smaller wood frame houses. Many of these were "showcase" homes
and many still stand and are occupied today as reminders of Gurley's past.
"Most of the citizens keep chickens, cows, and some raise their own
meat. Everyone has a vegetable garden as well as a flower garden. They live and board at
the same place".
The founders and builders of Gurley were men and women of enterprise and character. All of
Gurley's residents and those whose ancestors were a part of Gurley's past can be very
proud of her colorful history. Gurley is a true Southern and American icon and a town to
be honored and maintained in the highest fashion. The founders who built this great little
town are due that.