11.11. Of : Coal and Iron - Samford...

... ~ I } '," I ~ ~ • ) • ' \ \ , \ l .. -4...;.. ... \ ..., \ ...... • \

\ \

• • 11.11.

. . · ... ~tq~Y ... Of . .. :

Coal and Iron ln

Alabama

\ , (,\

HON. TRUMAN H . ALDHICH. CHAIRMAN,

1007 fli<OWN-l\1 ,\ HX BUILDING,

Brt<MINGHAM, ALA.

On · behalf of t h e committee namerl 1n Talla<kKa

.:nunty we beg leave to ~tate t h a t upon as careful an inwst igation•as was possible. we have .ohtained the <lata a-:

hercinaf tcr se t forth. as to the making of i ro n in Alabama, a nd cert a inly, i t would seem. as to the early hi" torr ol

tha industry in 'J' alla<l e~a County. If a forge ·was erected in any oth e r co unt.\ earli~r than

1S42 our inquir ies havE.' faih'd t o obt a in r c> l iablc information to t hat effec t, and, if ~uch was t h e ca~e. it would m cH(S

than vrohablv have been crectecl e ithe r · i n Jetlcrso n. Shelby , o r ~ome. county in nor th. wcs t Alabama, wln:: rl'

iron ore was found . Our attent ion h a~ been c a\lec\ to a s tatc rn e nt rece ntly

published in the Anniston .)'tar. to the dTc.: t th.a t tlw tir.-;t furna ce ,,f the State was the one at l'olk\·ilk. I nPw

Cane Crcd; J , C1lhoun County. natnccl in honor of Pr,·-- icknl Polk. ancl owm•d II\' t\1.·:-~ r". Noah c,,ocl,• ancl Johll :\I. ~loon•, nnd that the sa tm.\ \\:a~ s tarted in iH~(,. \\'hih.• "'"'' -..,·l'k no c·on t rcwe rsy , y d we re!'pec tfully suhmit that \\,·11 known condition<;, hi:-; ll>ric<d fa ; ts ancl otht•r cvitll·ncl· a re

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Samford University Library

wholl r ag-a i n·~ t t h ,• • la ir .1 ,ha t a f t•r li~l .:c w ;,s l'IC'c te cl in

t ha t county as e•, r l y ,· ~ 1 ~3· • . h ·J l , ' "1 t h<: ccn tr;: n ·, t <: ncl t o -. ho w tha~ the furnacl! :.t t P <.-11{\: i ! l.! mus t ce r ta inly bav<:

Ul'en c r(•c t e d m a n y y~an·. l<t tl' r. and probably n o t l.'arl ier

t han 1:-i45 o r 1 ~4r.. T:1~ terr:~ •lr}' easo ,, f t i>L ~·oo-..a H ivcr

and north of C'O·)~~'l, Cl1a :nn? r -; <! Lt '! 1'al l;t<;e ;.!' a C o u nt ic·s

w :1s no t a cquire d from the i nd ians unt i l the tre at y m a d e with t lwrn i n 1832. a nd b ut t e w w hi te settlers h a d g-o ne

i n to thiq t e rritorv u nti l 1833, a n d e ve n d uring- th a t year

t l•cse few w<·rc t hrea te n e d wi t h a tr I nd i ·tn wa r. a nd m an y

hu r r iedly ldt. T h is t c rrito r v. ~nc l u ding- Be nto n ( now

Calho11n l . part of Chero~e<>, Cle burne , C lay , H a ndo l p h and ,~ ' J'alla1k g a Coun ties. was oc~i1pie cl b y t hl! C rel.'k a nd

C'berokl'C' I nd ian .., un ti l t h e autumn o f 183(> . whe n t hl'Y we re

fo re, db\' the State Gu a rd. o r ;:>.Iiliti a , ass is ted hy Unikd

Statc:-. troo p" a n d Mars ha ls , i n to c orrals o r ca rn p'i, and

lakin th a t vear re movc cl, m o<> t o f the m. lO In d i a n T e r r i-

t on. ft i :-. ha n ll y reason a ble to be lie ve t h at iron furnace:-.

would h :1\'C been cv~ n in process of e rec tio n , wit h ronq11r red

hut unta med Indi a n~, roa ming the wood s . J ame:. K . P ol k

was the n a lntdding- po li t i.:: i a n, but h ad nor blossome d

l' \ 'l' ll in to t ill' of'fi c,• of C~overnor of T e n nessee, much lcss

P re:-. i1k nt o f t t1c Unite d Sta tes, he h a ,· in ).!' h l:e ll ekctcd to

titat o llie~: in N ove m be r, HH4, and i n a u ).! ura tcd a s ::; uc h

111 1\ f<rrc lr, 1:->4 :1 . S<• tha t P o Jk,·ille could no t h a\'l' hl'L' ll

nantl'd fo r Prl!'-' idl! nt P -J lk unt i l h e was at k as t l:k( tc d

l' r,·si<knt. But the f act is t ha t J o hn ;\ [. .i\ l oor,• . af tL' r

h a v in!! l' n g-a ::c d i n i ron milki n g- in T;rll a d q!a C ou nt y,

r~m ,H'l·d to He nton ( C alho un Coun t \'J and in .t u ).! u r a tvcl hi :-.

w o r k t h ~..· r c . An e x-sl ave of M oore iR no w l i\ in :.( in T all a

<k ·g-a Cuun ty: a nd was ( arried by his m a:. t ~r t o t he newly ..;t artl•d work-; in B~ nton Co unt r.

J v h n :\[ :\luo rc was\er t ainl _, ··m a n ufad u ri n:!'. iron at

the p l.1,.,. o n T :rll a dl.'J!al'reck, a n d kno w n""' ":\l .tria F\>r:f~..· · · prio r to :\fard1, I K4~. a :-. h e sold th a t pl:111t for "rna nu

fa ~..· turin J! iron ' , w ith all the rn ac htnc ry CO il lll'Ckd t lt~• rl· with , on that dak, to Walte r D. Hidd ie fo r a CllllSilh· rat io n

of S I. K-Hl.OO, to:,:c thc r wit h i ts -; i t u s, ,·i ;.: : til L' nu rth-eas t

!

t l

I l I f


5

q u a rter ol t h e nor t h -wes t qu ., r t e r of Sec tio n 17, Townghip lY, o f Range 6 c ast, in t he Cuo<; a L anrl Dis tri~ t. It c a n he e as ilv establ ishetl t hat J o h n M. Moore, af te r this !'ale, in a u )!uratc cl h is "iro n works ' i n Cal ho un Coun t y.

T h e " M a r ia l•'orge,' as t h t> n ca l lcd ,-rea l ly a n o p(•n heart h f urnace-t oget he r w ith scvc> r a l othe r!> e rect ed la te r on T a lled)!a C reek , jg fu l ly a nd most int~ restin g-l v de!-\cri bed i n t h e ~ tatement~ of M r . WaJt,•r D. R icl<lle , now residin g- o n T al la deg-a C reek a t Waldo , o r Riddle's M i lls, a nd who is a s o n of'S. S. R idd le. m e ntion ed 1)\' ~lr. S H. W hee le r in his s tate me nt. and ne p h ew o f Walte r I>. R idclk wh o purchased ''Maria Forg-e " f ro m J oh n l\1. Muon:. Mr. Walte r D . R idcl k . w h ose s tate ment is appcndl•d, is one o f t ill' b~st known _a nd moc>t rel ia ble c iti :~.ens of t his ..:onnt y , an d e ndowed wit h cxtraordina r v " me r hani,· a l" a,·u tt Jc n . A s a ho v "on the g-round ' he s aw these pr im a tive furn acco; in ope ration, a nd ..: uuld. w i th a fe w tools a nd a l ittle "~[us~ ul<lf'. h e l p, dupli..:a te and operak one of t hese ' ' li'orges•· toda y . The cl ai m that iron was made in Calhoun ( l:k nto n Co unt y ) in 1 ~3( , , c arries u s bac k o ver mortc" th a n seve nty y~~a rs. and prohabl r h as for 1t s only s ur ... • fuu n cl a tion a ve ry vi,· id im;q.~· ina t ion . But , lw w~_• ve r , this m a y l>l' , 'l'al\aclc ga has it "writ d own in the bool<" t h;Jt s he wa~ ··ma n ufa..:turi n g- i rnn ' b y the c rtukl y h a rnc~Sl' tl lli)Wl' r of lw r p ic tures q ue 111 01111tain s trl' atn in 1S42. T he In cli.t n W arr io r no l o n ::~..· r " woo~.·d his dus k y ma id " llJHk r t he lcarv ho ·.n·rs t hat li tll..' <i th~.· T alladc!.[a ·s ha nk ... a nd l ' 'e n the "W ild F ox" did n o t " di g- his h oh' LJIIk Jm w u· · fur r id ,•r . h oru a nrl h o und were 1>11 th ... · s..:c nc. th~..· tml iti..: al a-; p i r.tl io ns of !!lorious ' ' 11 a rr \· or the \Ves t " had no t 'l'l

r,.,· ,·iv,·d t iJ,•i r lin :Ji q u il.'t u '\ a t the h a nd s o f ' ' Ja nte'\ .1 . l'ol k a nd Dal la:-. to. •. 'hu t .luh n ;"o.f. \l o orv an d t ilo ->v :-. JJ J)c rlo pinJH' l·rs fro 111 l ' ... ·tlll ._y h ·ania . t ll c l~ i ddk lmlt lH· r .:;. (: .,r r.q.ru s. ~ I · 1\·h ,•rn· and <:vn. )) . \\' htl' k r. " ' ' fl' I<H!.[ illl! < ho~rl·o.d i rnn I 111 11" l ,·:-.~..·,·lknt qn :t l •l \ <Ill it" h .tnl' " · and v,·,· n nnw l.111~ ,·d ,· inl·"· th l' l it.;.:: t rd and " liul\· tno\l'<t.., in l' ft'l' jl (1 \·,·r tit ,· \ flllllhlin !.[ fl'lll.tin .. of tl h"' l' lllllllll l lll' lll'" o r ,\ l.tllant a·.., ,· .trh ind11-... tri .d lilv .


( ,

The d is t ing uis hin g feature of the iron macle by thr•:>e ea rly fo rg es was i ts purity a nd softness, h ut in m akin g- p low po in ts a nd t h e tips of horse-s hoes t he mechanic al ~k i ll o f David Garrag-us wa s b rou g-h t in to ac tion , and he proccrc <l s m all pieces o f impor te d ca s t 1ro n. a nd w i th t hese h e , by a c hill i ng- p rocesc; known o nly t o hi mself, added a c h i lled poi nt t o plow o r tip of s h ne .

T h e perso n al recollec t ion of t he writer of this re port exte nd s uac k t o t he ea r l y fo r t ies. a nd w h ile he was ne ve r p resen t w he n o n .: of t h es e ''forges'' wa~ in ope ratio n he k '1ows we l l t ha t the iro n gene rall y in u~c in T a lladeg-a a t t hat time was t he J) roduc t of t hese forges o n T alhtde g-a Cree k, ope ra t i ng- o n ly s ix to h~ n m iles fro m hi!" houw i n the tow n of T a ll adeg-a, a nd h a c! pe rso n al acq uai:lt ao c<> wit h t wo o f the Ridctl e bcothers and w ith one of the GMrag-u~ ope rato rs

H e re with is s ubjoi ned the st a teme n t ~ o f W. D. Ridd le and Sa mue l H Whee le r. sons o f me n who oper a te d 1H1r pio nee r furn .tces, bo th n ow ve te rans in \"l' a rs and of the ur. plea~antne:>s v f 1861- 5.

S'l'.\TE:Il ENT OF \V. D. HI DDT.E.

:\Iy u nck. Wal te r D . l~ i d<l l· , l>nu~h t th\.' i ro n aftl'rwarcls k nown as " :\!a ria F'o rg-1.!" fr0111 J o hn M .

works l\1 oor~

i n II'S·U, as th l' records of this cou n ty sho.v, a n<l I '"'''C it ll Jll lll t h l' a u tllon t y o f :\l r. A . s. I~O \\'C and ,,r s,l\'ilnna h Cnti k'> h ank bot h no w li vin g- in T a l ladl.!l(a Count 1·, tha t tlt ~Sl' d'vorks·' \ve rl! cn:c tcd i n I H4~. J\{,· f. .t lh: r, S . S

l~iddk. H" sil n w n by o ur fa mi l1· rc.:o rd -;, l'<~ lll l.! lro11 1

ll ul li d,t ysbllr~. P a., in HH3. Bdur-: L'O: n ing- ""lt lh h \.• wur i\Ld on t he Cruton A q uechtct in N~·w York l't t 1 a11d al-;,) 011 th~.· l •:ri~.: C .tlt.d . Tiler~.: W\.'r~· four hrot h\.• r..,, :-). S. l~iddll' tlt~· eld··-.L, Joseph R iddk. E H. l?iddk. \ \' alll· r I>. l~tddiP and J . l'. l~iddlt•. Jo..,l• ph '"''"in tit~.· w.tr lor '1\·:\;e-.. l tukpv nde nC\.' and '"'"~killed in t hl' l•'annin :\l.e -.-..tl'rv. 1•:. 1~ . H tdd k wa-. ,, _-j ,·i iL' II:!tne _• r. th ~.: orh~·r .... w~·r,· l·nntr.tctur-. .tnd wurh,·d 1\)~~·th l' r in OJll'rating- till' :'lfHrt .t l•',.rg-,· 'l'ltl·\ ll h t l, l ontr.tl h 111 IH11ldin :.:- t it .. · \lont ~llllh'f\' .tnd \\'1'-..t Potn t


7

l~ a il R oacl with L~mut• l P . G r a nt, of Atlant a, Geor~i a. ancl bu ilt some fo r ty miles of t ha t ro ad. laving the tra~k o f Ha t

iron o n stri ng~r::>. -·Ht~rwa rds th~.:y h ad contrac t ~ fo r gradin g the A labam a and T e nnessee Hi ve rs R a il ~oad. a fte r wards Sel m a. Home a nd Dalton. g ast T c nndsl'C, Virginia a nd Georg i<~ R a i l H.oacl ancl now 'l part o t th~ Southern Svs tc m . ' r'hey graded f ro m t we nty m iles above S e lm a to Ran dol ~>h. the labore r e mplo yed hc tng Irish . a ncl n<:g ro slaves. F or a g-oocl negro la b.)re r they pa icl S IO.OO per m o nth. a nd of ..:oursc hoarding and clo t h in g- him. a nd

his d oc to r 's b ills. !IIA IH A FOI~GE

Was Joc atccl o n the hanks of Tallade ga C rcL·k. a nd

ope rated by wa t~.: r po w,•r obtaincd frn m that s tr<'am. 'l'h~ clam wa'> ten fct• t high; the wheel th a t runs the fo r g-t.: h a mm a was c i )!ht tee t in di a mder, w ith e ig ht fed fa(e fo r t he p:t cl d l~:s, or hurkds, as they were callc cl. in an 0\·crshot wh ('rl, s pan ned abou t t wo fc L't apar t. The ll a n g-es o r Pn(ls of the whct• l were sol id, m ade o f planh:s p in m•li to).!"cthc r with woorkn p ins. T his was ca l led a h reast whcc \. T h e ~hait v. 'I" abou t t wcnty im: hcs in diautekr, and oct al{<t ll s hapcr!. The wate r s truc k t he wheel up al>oul t h ree fed I rum the llnt tom. Th ~.: water op,·nin g w:'"' ahout s ix inciH:S a t til <: s t art ( that is f ro m t h e padd k ) and ca 111e to a e ll)'>~ at t il.: bot t o m of the w h el' l. and was m ade wit h til ~· s ame ( irl: k .ts the whee!. T lw shaft wa"' about I w~nty · li v,• f•.:e t ton:-(. 0 11 till' c nc\ of the ~ l! itft thl·n• wa" a c<to..; t iro n rin:..( ( :tlkd the horns. T h ,· re Wl' rl' l' i)!ht horn". or lift e rs. that lifkd the hamut.:r. 'l' ll l'Sl' lwrtl"' w,• re "hod with hard-wood, - mapk or hil·lwry . ' l'!J,• halll llH'r ll .tncl k "'""' paral \t> l w ith the s haft. :'O that wlwn th· · lw rth ~· am· a tO UJ lll th~y would lift the halllllh'r. Tit ,•

han.J( ,• ul th ,· hallllll<:r "'·'" ahuut twt·h•c fed lo n g and l \\~\' l' inCI Il'"' " 'l llal'l.: . lll<Uk ot hl.t.-1' :..(11111. anc\ aho1·~· tl11.· h, lll l'r th ,·rv W.l'> .1 .... trtlll:..( '>tHi n g. c·a!kc\ thv .. r.tldiJI. • ' I' 1 .... woul lll.tr; v till' h.llllllh'rc\owll wlll'n t hro\\11 up. tl n•r,·b ) ( .,u .... Jil !! ,, qtlt<kl' r " trol, ,· . '1'1•·· h .ll11111L'r"lrtl•' '- t!JJ..., ..,prtll:..( or· r.thl , tt ' "" l1 .1rd .1 :- 1t dtd t 1J , · .111111. t lH·r,· lur,· ll tnok


g-ri!at resis-ting power to hold the "rabbit'' in place. To Si!t: ure this, the "rabbit" and hamme r hand le were fastened betwi!cn two post-;. These posts we re hclu s teady b_,. four beams as large as ther w uld he hewn, and keyed

toget he r, a nd long- e nough to reach across the buildinl!. a~ting- as a lever to h o ld the postssol icL T r.e hamme r was o f cast iron, weighing- al>out five bundrecl pou nds. Its far~ was three Qy twelve tnc hes, and whe n iu f ull operation 111acle about eil!hty s trokes pt:r minute.

The b~llows were two cyl inde rs a bout four feet in diamete r, the pistons be ing- driven from the bottom lJ',- a

be am with an axle be twee n the cylinders, c.: allecl a walkin~ ll~am. This beam was worked by a wah·r wheel like the h <: mm ..:! r wheel, thoug-h smaller, gcltin~ the motion with a c rank.

The ore was aushecl by four stamp._, thL'Il c.:allc<l "stompe rs '',-opirated by a st ill s m a l le r whc«..'L 'l'hl'sc "stornper.;;" were about t e n fee t hig-h , mack o f wood. six i n ~hcs b\' s ix inclws, working between wnockn ~uicks. and

we re li fte d hy woodl.!n cogs o n a wooden shaft- On t his s ha ft wa.;; a wooclen pullev d r ivl.! n hr one on the shaft of t he wa tcr who..: ..: I. The s tamps o r " s tornpcrs " we rl' s hod with iro n. Th ..:! t>re was feel in to the m o tor br a boy, a ncl a LOn.;; tant -"lrcam of water ran irto tlh' motor, tl1u~ kel·p

i n ~· it I ro m LIH>k in g-. The motor in whic h the oro.: '''i.l" c.: n1 s. t~·cl h<Jcl iron h;tr~ scr ed~cwisc in th ~.· htlllo tn, ilhout o1w half inch apart. A s the o re was c.: n 1s :J,·d ~ul1ki l' n!lr lill L' the wakr an d ore pa~sccl hc twl·en thl' !Ja r.;;. .-\box lll•lt.l W thl' 1notor ..:: aug-ht tho.: •1rc and kttirr :..:- th L' rnu d pa"" oil with t il ~· watl'r, and !e a\' illl! !hl' or,• wa .;; h,•d, r ,•a dr for \1 Sl'.

l•' ru1 11 th i .... htlX till' c rus hed o rl' was c arri,•tt in a w ht•,•ll , o~ r row to llh' lir,·-plal'l' t)r ftlrrra ..::L', thro wn 11 11 t h,· tirl' .t tl.! 11t,·lll'd dn \\ 11 . Tit ,• li rt.•-p lacl' o r fn r11 .tt.'<' 1\',t..., .d~tllt l lu11r l,·l'l .... q n .t rt.·. buil t of sl;t! L· r o..:: k o b t.tint.·d fnnrr t h, hill .... ll l'.tr t.y, -no lirt.' !J r id.; or fi rt.• ..::Jar ·· n krrrt)! rrtt.J th <'<111-

...,, fll' l 1 till In I h ~· Ill) I I I) Ill ' " I h i.;; I i f l'- p 1 cit.,. I I h. r •. \\' ...... .I p Lll·,·

rnu11 h'd tlllt .t nd .dlllttl 1\\'n kt· l d,·,•p tu r,.,., .• ,.,. tlt · rth·lt.d


non. In fro nt o f thi" was a n iron plate with hok~ in it,

to le t o ut the sla~. The O,Je r a. t o rs w o uld open the to p

hole fi rs t , the n the next , so o n until thC' Y d rew o ff th t• s'a~

d o wn to the iron a nd the n c.oo le d clown t he tiro.:' . Afte r the

me lte d iro n h a d coule cl e no ug-h to hold t o !?'c tht•r and fo rm

a m aRs they r o unde d tt u p with lo nJ,!' bars , rAoHl ed it o ut

on th l' fl uor l:l nd h a mme re d it round w ith h<~nd h a mme rs.

This ro und mass w a -; the n c au)!ht with a pair · of l arg-e

ho ol<s , m a d e S0}11 C! thin~ like t o ng·s . the n c arrie d with a

c rane t o the ha mme r, and it was hamme re d down to a bo ut

s ix inc he s s quare and abo ut three tee t long-. This w as

c all e d "shtn~ling- a loop'' Whe n take n from tht• lire it was ca lle d a ''loop· ·. A ft :> r th e " s hinJ,!Iing-'' prOl'l'=>S , the

mass o f iro n tllll s ham1;1e re d was aJ,!'a in h e ate d an!'l c ut into pieces of th t> pro pe r s i;.;c for c. n y har th a t was dt•sirC'cl t o

be m a de. Aft l' r c utting-, the piel'es we re h a ndled \\ ith

to ng-s . lf a waJ.!O n ti re was t o be <Ira wn the o perator h a d a s t ri p o f iro n w ith a note 1 to J.!U a g- e the w id th a nd thic k

ne-.s, and the hamme r m a n d n•w a bout a foo t o f t he har hy this :,r u a~c. t he res t of i t bJ• Iti.1· e t•e. and i t would be j>a .

(t·d/vcorral. ... A-. t hey wt.> r~ he a t i n ~ this ba r i n the fi r~ to

hl' d ra w n o u t oth e r orL' was thrown o n t h l' tire t o mak·~ tlw ne x t '' loop. " At i\l a ri a l~'org-~ t hey m a de a ).!'rad~ o l n u n

l'qual tn t lw hL•s t Swcck s iron. dnd a ll t his ~~ rndt• C l trtHl the n: nt a d c was s t :t tn pt>d w ith a ' 'boar's lh' a d,' ' tlti -. la•i n g

t ht' H id d lt ':-. lamil~ o.: n·~t.

T hL· .::q>a o.: it\' of the 1\lar i a l•'org-c wa <; a lhlltt a ton

n f iro n e ve n • t wL• n t\' - fo ur ho u rs, l it e p r il'L' in i t s l' a r lr O th'

rat ioln hL· in:.!' abo u t ~ i g- ht n• tt l s pl' r JJOlttJCI. In opl' rating

tlt l' furna l'e till' tir-. t h l.t-.. 1 wa -. lllade hy lt a,· inJ.! a hu:-. wtt h lol) l t l\ 111 o)p• n a nd lol w.·r~· cl into -.t i l l wa l l' r . wi t h a :-.q u .t r,·

l' toltttnn o f \h tt •· r forcl'd in to til l' ho:-. . T he w a tl' r l.t llll' .... tr ail-!"111 cl ll \\'11 th ro u :.: h th L' a i r al.HHtl t wo tee t. ' l'h · OJll'll i n :! i n top o t ho :-. wa..., tl h· -..;n tt' -.it.l' ,...., wa t L· r cnlulll n 'l' h,·rt•

"· '"a -.p.t\l' in t it,• loo' aiHl\L' t ill' -..ttl! w.ll,·r. ,llld l h < .ttr

:f11lllJ.! ·n '' t t h t hl· ""'' r w a -.. con•kn-..ed .tnd -.o fu rcl'd tit roll I ,, p1 p .• ll·.td in'.! tu till' top o l tIt,· lm' :tnd 111 to I IJL• ltr,·-pl ,. . .\ lll·r 1111· t hv , . . , ltnd,·r .... IJL•r,·ttllotro· ck-..1111,·cl


10

w~n~ used fo r g-vtting- th e b l a~t. The~e cyl inners were calkd bellow~. These cy linders forced t he ai r into a rcc..:i,·-.:r four fee t :--.quare. The tov and bottom of the recein-: r were of wood, the sides of leather, and about two l~et

<h.·ep. Wt.:ig-ht:> were placed o n tot) t o giv~ the air n.·gular pressure. A cast iro n pipe ran from this receiver to the lire- place or furnace and through a nd back just o,·er the fire, thus h•'a ting- the a ir force<! throug-h the pipes, and when L' xpdled gi,· in g what was t hen called a Hot Blast. .\ l aria For~c had lour fire -p laces. Mos t of the pipes used i n opern ~ion were made h \' bvri ng a h ole t h rou :{h logs of wood. as iron piptng was scarce and difficult to ~e t nuring

th a t da y. and in th"t locality, a s it was fully sixty 1111ks

t v Wetumpka, the neares t sh ipptn:,! point. The re wen: a few pieces of i n ..: h pipe. about four feet Jon:,! a nd ha,td- nt;J(k, u .... l.'cl. I han.> one of theSL' pipe~ in Ill\' ...,osscs:-.ion now.

Silas and Davi " (-~arrag-us c ame south with t he Hiddks and worked for the m as ltamuh:r m en. or fl>rcmen. i n the iro n works. After they had bee n lt~ re a s h ort time Stla-.:

buiit a forge on F:•in s Crt!c k. two miks no rtheas t t)f Ironation, hu t did nut operate it long-. as hL· became aippk<l and r -! lutnL•d nurth.

During- lhv ('i"il War l\tajor Walkt.'r lxeynolds and Da\'id t :arrag-u.;; took ~ome of the mat.::ri :d ldt of Maria Forg-..: and s tarte d lo build a fo rg-e at thi.;; '\.t lth' placl· ' >n Fain'-, t ' r~·e k . .\lajor R~'y rwld~ :-.old his inkr~·-.t t o John· T. l XU:fd n. who ha d worked man r :-· ~· ar:-. wit It t ltv Hi del h · Hrotlh· r~ . ' l'hi:-. forge was OpL"rakd for -.:ot nv littk tillll' afkr the close uf tlt~· Ci ,· il War.

Atll'r t h.: ··;-..!.tria'' th~,· nt•:\1 f,>rg-t' t'r~·,·ll'd ''a" t ht•

''1-: ,q,:-k." lll(;tl t.'d lll.tr tilL' -,llli \IJ,•a-.:t t'OI'III"r Of S,'\\10 11

' 1'\\o, ' l' own .... hip 1'\tnetecn, lxallg"l' Si:-., and ott T.tll.tdt·:!· •

l'rL·t•k, .•Lh>llt th rl'<' mt k:-. ... -.: th~· l'rnw lit ~,·-.. -.ou:h,·;,q ot th ~· .. :-.Iari.t ' · ,. "'. ' I' hi .... "'·•" hu i It lll (; :t,r :.!,. I) \\ ' ltv.·kr

and 1 -. r a~.·l :-)pr.t \'lwrn. ;\Jr \\' lw~·k r. w l111 "'·' ' " t'i' II t'll;!llll'l'l', ~.·a llh ">lllllh with th ~· lx tddJ,• 13r•lth.·r-. a-. .\J ..... Il' l

.\J ,·,n .. nt,·. and lHttlt thi-. and til L' lxub H u\ fur!-!~· t .. r tit~-.~·

P••rttv-.. .\ l r \\ !l,,·lvr lt.td ft\1' '"•"'· 'iz: ' l'ltntn:t-.. C ,·o r_:.!t'


11

K., C h a rks . Albe rt an d S a mue l R. Whc~·le r. Georg-~ K. a nd Tho ma!' \\'Orkc d w ith t he H iddlc Bro the rs i n o pe ratin gthese fo r l(es . Sa mue l R Is the o nly o ne o t the Wheele r~ now li v in ~ t ha t I ~an n•mc m bcr t hat w a s tn an y war c onnec tt•d w i t h the i ro n work" .

"l~o l, l~oy'' fo r ge was t he next one built, and w as

a lso s itu a te d on Tallade g a C reek. e ith e r in ~c~ tion J5 o r J(,, t owns hi p l 'J, rang-e f>, and sonh' t wo or th n •c utiles

southeas t of E a g-IP l•'or~e . It wa s erec ted br <.~eorg-c ~I. Hidd ll• an d Joh n ~loorc . Gcor~e rvr. Ridd k wa::; a hroth ~· ri n-1 a w of 111 , . f a t 11 e r. S. S. Hid d 1e N e it It c r t h c .. E a:.:-lc"

nor ''H.ob R oy'' was as lar~c a s the "Mar ia." "l~oh lxoy ·· h ad o nly t wo firc-ph·ll'L'S. hut h a d a sa w a nd g-r is t mill in

connc~ tion w ith the f(lrgc 'fhcr~ 1v as a lw tt r r wate r

power a t t h i" p:J int , as the re is 1. fa l l of ltl ft>e l in ,::,().

Jus t allo1·t· t he f.tll s t he creek hran~ hes. o ne pro nl! :.:·<Jin g

arou nd a hill SO o r c,o f~·l't hi g- h . Tn the isla nd t h u <; fo rlll

ed t he n .• mus t he t hirt y o r fo rt y ;teres. This l1r a th: hi n )! o f th ... · c ree k c a ttsN l t he hu i ld in)! of two dams .

'l' lwrt• wa" anoth L· r s m all fo r l,!'e e rec te d about a m il\· from what is k now) t a s t he l l.' nki rt s o r Clo irmont S p r i ng-"

a nd on T a llade g-a Crl'l' k, l>y .\I r. A me rin ~ . \Vh~n o ne 11f

these e a r ly forg-l'S wa~ in o p~· ratwn t he strokes of t ill'

ha1 n nH•r ~ould lh• hL•a rd at a di :-. tan l'e or' t l!rct' mi k~. S . S. l~iddl\· . ( ; ,•org·l· K \Vit l···k·r a nd Da , ·id <: arr.tg-u-... ''L'r'' tlh.'

li rst i l\.'opk lt> -; u ~l' l.'"" f ull\· m a ke irt>n in t h i -> ,:ou ltt y . ! It t• ' 'l•;d~·lc' ' lll· in g- s tar k d hr p.1 rti e~ t h at karn cd iww 1•1 lll.tk...·

tron whi k w o r l,i n l.!· w i t h Il l \' f :t t lt c r, wlto wa" till' prtnl' ip lt•

atnong- tlw l~idd k Hro tiH' r". o~ n d OJ>l.' ra t inJ! t lw iron works . " \ l:tria tu r nl'd 0 111 1110rc irotl I !tan a l l t he otlwr~ l ' 0 111 1>inL'd . and til e' " I•:a :.: .v'' Wit " :-.oon w;,..; lt l'd .tway itll .l <: . . \1. l~ id d k a nd .lol111 ;>.( oorl· l :1ikd a nd "o ld to ,\lr l'u r r1 .

Trai n:-. ul w:~;.!·••ll " W\' l'l' kl' Jil h1 til l' fa tl ll' r h th l ltillil i n).! i ro n 111 \\'\'ltl :ll!.. p .t d lld :-.l on t :.: n tll t'rl' , ;t nd ;tl,o 'IIJIJII Il'd

lhv lo t':tl tl ,· nt.t nd I n IS.; Ior 10.; :! " lllitll rl. tlll l d Sp.urg,· tnll•lt ,· rl' lr<llll 1 \·ntt-... l llo~lll.t .tl ld -..t.,rll..'d .t l, ltiiHir' .t l

(~ j dd k<-.. :-. f ill IIIII\ \\' a lci(J, Olh' IJ ,tlf 111i i<' l rPIII " \i.trtd

l 'or:.: •·. · .11111 lll .td •· pot-; , -... 1, II I. t--. ' ' " ' t''· p lo 11" " nd <~tlt v r


12

the of

Tht> logs to rriake the lumber · used in <·rectin~.r ''Eagle" we re hauled on a truc k wagon, the wheels whic h were discs sa w~d from a large blac k gum log.

In conclusion, permit me to ask. what does the machinist of today think of runninl!" ore iron furnace o r forg-e, without one foot of iron s hafting, without a s ing-le iron pull~y . o r a pound of bahbe t me tal, with all of the journals being run on wooden bearin~s?

w. D. H.IDD LE.

lh re with i!'< appe nded the s tate men t of Mr. A. S. h\.1wc, one of Talladc~a County'!'< oldest and highly hunor

cd citizcnR. writte n to Judge J. E. Camp. a member of the Committee, a ppoi nted in this county tv sec ure informat ion as to iron making in Alabama, vtz:

JUDU8 J. E. CAMP,

Ut·:.\t< Sue

I see you are on this Committ~·e t o determille who made iro u ti rst iu thiscouu ty. John M . .:\1oure built "Maria l•'org-c" ;nld sold to W. U. l<iddlt' betwee n

l ii·W and HHJ. Bxamiue the records and I think you w ill lind the d eed:, recorde d. J o hn M. 1\loon.:: and <..~oodt• w e nt to t'alhou11 and bu ilt a forge o n Cau::Creek , nca r Morrb\'ilk.

l<espectfully )0111'»,

A. S. RO \\ E. ,\u g-u;.t 9th., l(J()i.,

[ , !" . 1~ . Wheeler, the young-est ,ou o f <:eo rg-c V . \\' heckr. w..ts huru at ::>yracu,e, N e w y ,,.·l-, Atl g-u;.t Hth., IK4:!.

111 HHJ.- tll~· yeat· after I was l>Ont, my fatll,•r, S. S . l~id<llc a11d Sila, l~a rra;.:u" C<tllt~· t o Tall:l(kg a l~uuuty

.11td :-;. S. Ni<ld le l>ollt l(llt fro1111 Dt·. J oh11 .:\loure til l' irma "'' "·k., l<llowll aft,• rw.trcb "" th~· "l\'Iaria l•\1rg-,•." '1'111,.. pru p<' t ty "a:. "·''"''d hy Sa n1 Niddk for hi, wtk, " : ... .,~· llt.tuh-11 tl.llll<: "''"' "1\l.triah Ur.uiky".

!11 IK-t-t J~t<ldk a nd Ill)' f..tth~·r t'l' lllrn~·cl 11 •11111 .11111 l>l'llllg"hl tlt,·ir f.~tllilit':-. to Tall.tdl'~,, t' ,Jtllt t\ .

. \ , tu l h<' pruct".,., of iro11 tll:tklltl( I kll.<\\ 'tntt ltt t k

th.tt "'"tid l"· ,,r iHt<' l'l'>t. I ·"" IJIIIt <' ""~'~' ll1. :--t .. ckd.tk ..., ll tt-.Ltk<'tl a, Ill "l<oh Roy" t,,·i u g- huilt pr<'\ '""" t u · J ~.,.a~h· 1•', 11 g--.· ''


Whe u Riu dlc and fa the r ca me back to N e w YQrk fo r th e ir familie-s , S am Riddle uamedme ::-ia m N i<ldle W h eeh.:r. I have read M r. W . D. Niddlc's a rt icle 0 11 the s ubject o f iro u makiu g- a u d also as t o th~ d a tes th is fo rg-e connne-n ced o pe ra t io n s , a ud think his a rt-icle both 1nterestiu~ and q u ite co rrect.

S. R . WHE E I.-ER

'L'hc fo regoing r C' po't't and s t ;., t e me n ts a rc f'es pec t f u II y

s u bmi t ted fo r in fo r m a t tOn, as t o t h~ h i•nor y o f iro n Hl :-tkin)! in ·Alaba m a. ' The ores ftn1nd 111 this count y arc t lw brown he me t ite, princ ipally . wi th some wh a t late ly disco ve re d fine depos its of l!ray he me tite. So fa r no depos 1ts of coal h<~ ve bce tJ fo und o f any workabl~.! ex te nt e ast of the Coosa Ri ve r 1n th is S t ate' , and neces c,ari ly, we h ave no informa t io n to co mmunic ate as t o coal fro m this sectio n .

Th..:! i ro n ore so s uccess f u ll y worked a t the ea r ly forg es o n T a l lade l!a Cr~'c k was in gre a t m C' as ure obt a i ned from t he e xce lle nt de pos i t s <'f hw~ n heme tit c a t a nd nea r o ur spk ndicl indust rial tow r •. I ro n a ton , s ix mllcs c a ., t o f

the C ity o f T a ll a dega. Respectfu lly s u llmitted . o n be h a lf of the Ta l l ad~ga

Committee.

K N l ( ; ll T P U I<N A CJ•:.

I n t h e e arl\· l HSOs J ames L . a nd W illiam C r a ig- Orr, bro thC' rs an d hi g-hl y s ki lled mec ha n ics, acqui red a t r a.: t of la 11d i n sect io ns 11. 12, 13 a nd H, to wns hip 17, r an).!e h c as t . in T a l ladeg-a Coun t ,·, a nd some t wo m iles fro m th \! present to w n o f l\l unfo rd. T h ro ug-h thi:-; t rac t of la nd

Choccoloc .:o C reek , from thn•c t o f i n.~ c hain" w ick. Wl.' nd c <l it s tor t u ous w ay on:r rock y s hoa ls. A d a m was l.' r\.'l"I NI on t h i ->cn·~'k IJ\' tl h ' Orr bro t lwr,, h arn es'> in ~ an t·~t'L'P

twna lly line wakr power .. w hic h was u t il ized h.v the m in dr ivi n g tlw m ac h ine ry fo r a larg:c fa.:tory fo r the man ufa~· t u r '"· of cot to n g ins. 'l' hi ~ m anufaL· t uq did . t lart.!"L'

and lw.: rativl.' l>u-; i nL'S' . and .::o t ton 1.:-ins trl)nl ih p r,,duc t ~uppliL·d a larJ!•' por t ionuf ~orth A lab:u na. :11HI m:! rl\

ol t lw ,·,• rr '-'lll'l.' r ior ).!in s frorn th e factory WL' rc soli i n 1\ [ i-;~ i :-.-;i ppi. C· ~·orl-!"ia anti Tvnn''""~·c . hl.'illl-!" cran-..porkd ll>


tlH.'SC markets by wag-on, as no rail road had the n heo.:n

huilt in Tall:tdcga County. About 1854 Samuel Hunte r

was taken into the lirm and the businc:>~ was conducted in

the nat'1\:! uf Orr & Hunte r. In 1860 William Craig Orr

m e t acc idental d eath br falling fro m the roof of a dwell

ing- he was erec ting- two and onr half mile.., from the city of 'l'alladega. and where three of hi ~ c hildre n now rcsid<'. HIS interL'St in the cotton g-in fac t o ry was sold to the s nniving partners and the m anuf.tc ture of g-in~ continued

until afte r the b r.•akingout of. t he war of S ecession in l S(Jl. Cot ton planting in the South then Cl'ascd. and the

Orr & Hunter manufacturin g plant c(•asecl to oper<ttc .

.lames L. Orr <.;en t two gallant s0ns l<' swell the Confc

CII:rak ranl<s . while o.1e son of William Crai~r Orr rode to

his death in a c avalrr char~e at Blackland. i\Iiss .. on Jun•: 4th . • 181>2.

In H)(,:\, and afte r tlile fall of NewOrkan'-'. two b:n· h

cllll" brothers of lar~e wealth. Jacob B. and B .· nj .11 nin Kn1 g ht, r.:-fu g~..•ed I rom Lou1s iana, bringing with th l' lll a

larg-•.' nu1ubcr of sl;n es. The~ ~..·amc t o Ta l lackg-a CtHinty

ancl, o n ~I a rch 11th. , U\C,J, for a cons idera tion o; S211,0t)0.

Orr & lluntLr ~0 11\' l' )'o.:d to Jacob B. K nig-ht th 1..' mor_, than

HOO <~ c r~·s of land ancl a ll 'he t -: n L' m L'n t s and appurtena n ct:'S of tlwir IIHt nnla~..·turi n g- l)l a nt. Th~..· Kni g-h t Br . • t)l ~._•rs

at Olll'L' ~..·un,· ~..·rtvd tlw plant into a co t ton factory fur tilL' '-'pin<linl!· of) ant, and aJ,o l' fl' l'tL'cl <I ll iron ht;,,t lur,lltl'l'.

h ;l\ in:: a ,· ,q>:tl'il .\' of ahllttt lour tons or pi:.: iron pt•r cl <t.\.

til~..· powe r t o opl.'rate w~1i ..:h. ~Ol-!'1't h 1.' r \\'ith t il .· cotton fac

tor.'. hl.'ing- s••ppli,•cl by the w:d~.· rs of thl' h,· :llltlful l'IHh' ~._· olo..: \.'u. A llHtndry was ;,]so put 111 opl·r:tt ion. wh,· r~._•

poh. kl•ttJc-. .111d m any otlH·r ~..· .~~tin::s 1\' l..' fl' mack . . \!lth,• tlilh· r..: lll hralh· h~..·, of tlti-. lin~..· I lo r thos,• tinw .... l lll .t nuta.· · turing pL1nt , ,,·~._· r,• k~..· pt in full o~ nd StH:,·~.. ..... ,fn i op~..· ratton 111

th,· Kn1:.!lll HnHII,· r, tlntil ,\pril, l.'.:r •. ; . \\' h v n ( ;, n . ( ' r <~ :-.l o n ....

H rig.tck. of 1·\ ·dcral ( ; L' Il l.' ro~l \\' il-;on..., ra ~<k r-. . ·•ppl h·tl tl ~< ·

tor, h ttl ,.,l' rl thin).! ,· oml•u, t ddv . .• nd \\' l:tJil:.!hl .... u ~..·lt n tll'r

d , ... qnh· tilllt oltlw vntir~..· p lo~nt t ha t on h ,, "'" d> llll lll'\..., iti HI .1 pt> rtll l ll P I ti t<• lur;t lh' l· q,l\ k lllil l'klcl tl 1' -.pu t : h .t:


1~

had he<: n the hive ol th<.'se several indus trips fo r so many yea r'>. Upon the clo'ie o f h o:-. tilities be twee n the .... ec tio nc; in H\(,S lhc Knig-ht Brothers re turned to L o uisian<J, th~

s ite os· t he ir plant passed into other hands. and onlv a part

of the ir furan~c s tac k r'-• m .1ins, a s ilent and un-rei ie,·ecl sc ntinal, s tandirtg- guard over the :.!rounds where on~e stood the homes of many of Tallacle g-a's skilled and unskilll.'d incius trial workers. A rcw miles away. at the home of l\11'. N. B. Linde-r, there is a large \\as h pot, which, afte r l' Onstant sen·ice fnr forty three years . is s ti ll doing full dut y. and bearing- wirness to the cxcdknt qualit y of hollo w ware turne d ou t frum Knight llruthcrs Founchy. * * * *

JENIFEI~ FUI<NACE.

I n n ccemhl' L 1 ~(.~. S<tllllll'' Clabau/.!h :-tnd Jalll<'S A.

Currylh .. ' :!an thl·t'rl'c tion or an iron 1urr1aceon Salt Crl'l'k. in Sl'Ction 17. towns hip 17. rall/.!l' 7. in Tallackg-a ('ounty. on the !-pot ·vh<.'rl' Jl·nif<.' r furnal'C now s tands. bu ilding- a mos t s ubs tantial s•ack of s tclll e fo und nea r :ll hand, a

port ion of w h 1 c h s t ack ·· t i II ex is ts i n t h c s tac k o I J e 11 i t l'r Furll <ICl' . 4

J a l!H' '- .-\.Curry was a half hrot hc:r ci tht• lah· lio n. JalJet: L. l\1. C urry. s t atl'sma n . dip lomat and ~duca tor, and one

>I Alah;tme~'s n •pn .>entati,,•s in ~t a tuary ll a ll 111 tlw

Capitol o f tlw Union. 1\lr. C urry"'""· until •he hn•akingout (I f l ht' wa; Of s,··~·:-,~i0 11 1 il Jlh:rchant \)f l:t r ;,!'' ll ll'all" doing-lms inl'"'-' in t ill' to wn of T;dlack~ta, and owner of t h l• lalids on wl:ic h .knil l' l' F11rna \l' wa~ ln1 i lt.

'Samu~·i l'lallaug-h wa~ a l>rothl·r-111-law n1 lhl' late ll or a c l' \\"a fl'. t hat p r~· -l' 111 i 11 v n t 1\· d is t i 11 g 11 i" he d a 11 d m u~ t hi!,.!hl\ ~~~••l·:-:-l u l piulll' l'l' i ron-l thH1;..;",·r of .\l.th:tllt:L :\lr. ( 'l al.:nt ;.!h h;~el lll :tll\' ~l'•'r"' ul ,·xpl·ri.-lh.''' 111 lllllth·•·tion ''ith ~lr . \\':t rv i11 tlw dl'\ ~· loplth.: nt <tnd •>pL·r:iltnn ol th,· Slivllt\ l•'ur.tth'•·. and''·'" t hL· .._ J-i lkcl l~t•<~d o l tl1,· linn of ('l;.llo~tl;.!h & l'ur rr tn 1'1\'\tin;.! .11td opvro~ting- thl' fur.1111·v 1111 So~lt Cr,•,•k. wlti,:h ''' ""' lir-.t known"" S .d t ('r,·,t, · l n•n \\'ork-.. h11t 111 j>oY//Jt//lf/11 <],,, . .._, w.1 ... n:11111 'd "..f ,·nil vr' In


•

16

Mr. S . S. Gl idden, a Northe rn 1ro n maker who OPE' raterl it fo r a number of years, in the la te 70s and un til about 1884, fo r the J enife r Fu ra nce. Compan y, in which Horace Ware was a large stock holde r, un t il it was sold to a corpo ration con t rolled by t he Messrs. Nv ble of An nis ton.

The Sa lt Creek I ron. Works began operat io n in 1864, a nd was s uccessfu lly runn ing until dest royed by Wilson's Raide rs in Apr il , 1865, at t he s ame ti me, th a t the Kn il:!'bt Furance. found ry and cot ton fac tory were licked out of exis tence bv the torch of war .


11.11. Of : Coal and Iron - Samford...

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