Welcome to Alabama Pioneers

Those who walk in another’s tracks leave no footprints 

Alabama Pioneers is a website devoted to discovering and sharing the lost and forgotten footprints left behind by our ancestors through transcribed documents/articles, stories, and biographies. We report and preserve the true stories from Alabama’s past!

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Become a Patron member

We have been chronicling Alabama history through transcribed documents, vintage books, and old newspapers for years, and now with the support of Alabama Pioneers Patrons, we are able to  “bring to light” the footprints left behind by our ancestors via our booksour website alabamapioneers.comand now our Podcast, “The Alabama Grist Mill

Whether you are interested in history, genealogy, historical stories, old recipes, old household tips, or memories of the past, you should find something of interest on the website. Be sure to follow us on Facebook or Twitter and sign-up for the daily newsletter so you can stay abreast of what’s new on the website.

Check out our books in Donna R Causey’s Shop in COLLECTION and on Amazon.com! (amazon.com/author/donnarcausey)

Join us in preserving and sharing Alabama’s lost and forgotten history! Become an Alabama Pioneers Patron member for less than the price of a cup of coffee per month.

Thank you for visiting and we hope you return again soon.

Donna R. Causey

Favorite memories aren’t meant to be sequestered in photo albums or exiled to attics, they should be shared.

“This packrat has learned that what the next generation will value most is not what we owned, but the evidence of who we were and the tales of how we loved. In the end, it’s the family stories that are worth the storage.“-Ellen Goodman – The Boston Globe

27 comments

  1. I enjoyed the article about Richmond Pearson Hobson. It is a shame in most places in the article the name is listed as Richard Pearson Hobson. My father was named after Richmond Pearson Hobson and I was named after my father. I know most people wrongly assume the name is Richard rather than the correct name of Richmond. I have experienced this thoughout my life and had to correct people. I was told my grandfather who died before I was born knew Richmond Pearson Hobson and thus my father was named after him and I was named after my father.

  2. Hello, again!
    It’s been a while!!

    This is for the Editor’s eyes only – to consider including on this beautiful site.
    Wondered if you had seen this very interesting story.
    http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2018/01/alcom_reporter_may_have_found.html

  3. Donna, I want to thank you for posting the biography about Maj. Charles Abercrombie. Little did I know that I was one of his descendants, until recently. Your informative piece assisted me in adding to my family tree. Thank you so much.

  4. You should be a part of a contest for one of the greatest sites online.
    I most certainly will recommend this blog!

    1. Thanks!

      1. I wish you would publish a phone number or address to send the $ to become a patron.
        I would love to join!

        1. Check out our new Patron program. http://www.alabamapioneers.com/category/patron/
          We would love to have you as a member.

  5. I will be a Patron however, I would like to pay yearly instead of each month. Can that be done?

    1. Not at this time, Robert. Thank you for the question.

  6. I can identify some of the people in a few of your photos. Please inform me as to how to do this.

    1. If you see a link with a picture that starts with a Q, it will take you to the Alabama Department of Archives picture. They have directions on the page for submitting names, etc.

  7. Hi Ruthie,
    We sent you a private message.

  8. Donna: I am interested in where you found the information for today’s blog entry (Journal of C. J. Hildreth, of Albany/New Decatur, Alabama from 1889). Was it from the Ellen Hildreth collection (his granddaughter) at the state archives?

    C.J. (Christopher James) was my husband’s great-grandfather. He and his wife, Ella Stephens Trotter, were very interesting folks. C.J. reportedly kept journals his entire life. I have a bound 1876-79 copy of a journal that was produced about 1955 by a cousin (pre-photocopying) in my possession, but I don’t know where the original went. I also know of another one that was in the possession of a g-grandnephew several years ago.

    I have considerable information about C.J. life (including photos), if anyone is interested.

    1. Hi Terri –

      It has been many years since we last corresponded.

      As you may recall, I am descended from Henry William Hildreth, brother of your Christopher James Hildreth. In fact, Henry came to San Diego in 1887 and took over the printing business established by Christopher.

      I am hoping you might be able to shed some light on the Hildreth DNA testing results – more specifically the Y-DNA. I recently realized that your family is the only one left with male descendants of our emigrant James A. Hildreth. My family’s last male descendant died in 2016 (but he wouldn’t do a DNA test). I am a Hildreth on my mother’s side so that doesn’t count.

      So, I am wondering if your family has been tested ant what it showed. While we know they came from Yorkshire and Durham England, I am not sure where they may connect to the much earlier Hildreth settlers here (1635) or which branch in the UK. Any insights?

      Thanks for your help.

      Best regards

      Peter Hildreth Steelquist
      San Diego

  9. Hi there! I’m doing a research paper on the Catawba native Americans and I’m trying to cite one of your news articles on their involvement in the Civil War. Would your website be considered a news source, a blog, or an average webpage?

    1. I’d lean toward a blog or average webpage.

  10. What phone company was located in Fairhope in or around 1939-1940? I am advised my grandmother worked there.

  11. I am researching the Hinton line, trying to prove that Elizabeth Jane Hinton Milford was the daughter of Bradford Hinton. I am doing this for membership in a heritage organization. I MUST have definite proof. I have proof that Bardford married Patience Hulday Lucre in Henry Co. GA, 22 November 1822. Would you possibly be able to help me?

    1. I’m sorry I no longer have time to assist in research. You might get some help from the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

  12. Hello, I recently signed up as a monthly donor, but am going back to work fulltime and unable to find the location to unsubscribe.
    Many thanks for such an informative site, though. I know so very many hours go into the upkeep and continuance!

  13. Was there an Indian village in Eufaula and if so what was the name?

  14. Do you know of documents listing names of workers involved with Central Plank Road Co.? My 2nd Great Grandfather came from NY state to work on that project.

  15. Donna
    Do you have any information on Elm Bluff? the hotel and the area around it. I would be interested in Native Americans living in that area also.

    Thanks

  16. After lurking for a couple of years, I subscribed yesterday at the Patron + level. Why am I not allowed access the earlier Patron + articles? Please advise.

    Thank you,

    Bobby Graham

    1. You have access to all Patron articles, even the earlier ones. All the stories including all patron articles are on the Alabama Pioneers website. You can search for earlier articles in the search box.

  17. You have a page honoring Edmund Pettus. You neglected to point out that he was the head of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan, and he dedicated his life to promoting racism. You should also emphasize that all Confederates were traitors to their country. Let’s get the history right. Have a great day!

  18. Hi! I have just started research in Alabama. My great-grandmother was from Union Springs — a Bledsoe– I am very curious about finding more information about them and that specific area. Your books and website look amazing – -where should I start with specific possibilities for the Bledsoes — before I explode and am interested in the whole darn state? Thank you for any help you can give me.
    Teresa Finn

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