The early days of Lee County created on Dec. 15 – Home county of Auburn University

EARLY LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

Lee County was named in honor of Gen. Robert E. Lee, commander-in-chief of the Confederate Armies, and later president of the Washington and Lee University.

The county was created by an act of the legislature of December 15, 1866. The territory from which this county was formed was taken from portions of Chambers, Russell, Macon and Tallapoosa Counties.

Postcard of Lee County Court House, Opelika, Ala, ca. 1900s (Alabama Department of Archives and History)

Evidence of Native American settlement

The county is well watered, and there is a ridge which runs through Opelika which “forms the drainage divide” Osauippa, Halawachee, Wachoochee, and Wetumpka Creeks and the Chattahoochee River, drain the eastern part of the county, while Sougahatchee and Chewacla Creeks, together with their numerous branches and many small creeks drain the western portion.

Situated as the county is, in the northern section of the Lower Creek territory, along the headwaters of the Wetumpka or Little Uchee Creek, in the Waucoochee Valley and on the Chattahoochee River, are to be found many evidences of its former settlement.

Many of its place names bear those of the Creeks. Among them are Waucoochee, Opelika, Loachapoka, Halawochee, Wetumpka, Chewacla. Sanguahatchee, Sawackahatchee and many others. Hu’li Taiga, a Lower Creek village, planted by Okfuski Indians was on Chattahoochee river. Big Halawockee Creek in the northeastern section of the county, very probably derives its name therefrom. Pin’ Hoti or “Turkey town,” an Upper Creek town, was located on the trail from Ninyaxa to Kawita. Tchuko ‘Lako, a Lower Creek town settled by Okfuski Indians was on Chattahoochee river, believed to have been located near the mouth of the present Waucooche creek. A mound and extensive village site is found here.

Postcard, Residence Section, Opelika, Ala ca. the 1920s (Alabama Department of Archives and History)

On the plantation of Mr. Powledge, Sr., (in 1921) of Waucoochee is an extensive town site, possibly the location of Pin’ Hoti. Some fine specimens of chipped objects and earthenware have been secured from this point. Witumka council house, noted on all the earlier maps, was situated just north of the present Crawford to Columbus turnpikes on the headwaters of what is locally called little Uchee Creek.

Near the source of the main stream of Uchee Creek, in the southwestern section of the county, is the remains of an unidentified village. Along the river, extending all way. from Phenix to Waucoochee Creek (known locally as Soap Creek) are found remains. On an island in the river about 9 miles above Phenix, burials and some fine pots have been noted. In T. 19 N., R. 27 E. on the Central of Georgia Railway, east of old Youngsboro formerly existed a considerable workshop site.

The country now included in Lee County was settled by whites many years before the county itself was established. The majority of the early settlers came from Georgia, and the Carolinas.

Post Offices and Towns.—Revised to July 1, 1919, from U. S. Official Postal Guide. Numbers indicate the number of rural routes from that office.

• Auburn—3
• Opelika (ch)—9
• Blanton—2
• Phoenix—1
• Gold Hill
• Salem—3
• Loachapoka—1
• Smith’s Station—1

Delegates to Constitutional Conventions

• 1867- John C. Meadors; Samuel Blandon( colored)
• 1875- George P. Harrison; William J. Samford
• 1901- George P. Harrison; Emmett C. Jackson; Noah P. Renfro

Senators

• 1868- J. L. Pennington
• 1871-2- J. L. Pennington
• 1872-3- J. L. Pennington
• 1873- J. L. Pennington
• 1874-5- J. T. Harris
• 1875-6- J. T. Harris
• 1876-7- Geo. P. Harrison, Jr.
• 1878-9- Geo. P. Harrison, Jr.
• 1880-1-Geo. P. Harrison, Jr.
• 1882-3- Geo. P. Harrison, Jr.
• 1884-5- W. J. Samford
• 1886-7- W. J. Samford
• 1888-9- J. T. Harris
• 1890-1- John T. Harris
• 1892-3- W. J. Samford
• 1894-5 – W. J. Samford
• 1896-7- W. J. Boykin
• 1898-9- W. J. Boykin
• 1899 (spec)- W. J. Boykin
• 1900-01- G. P. Harrison
• 1903- George Paul Harrison
• 1907- E. H. Glenn
• 1907 (spec) E. H. Glenn
• 1909 (spec) E. H. Glenn
• 1911- N. P. Renfroe
• 1915- W. J. Price
• 1919- B. T. Phillips

Representatives

• 1871-2- Sheldon Toomer; J. M. Simms
• 1872-3- Samuel G. Jones; Thomas B. Peddy
• 1873- Samuel G. Jones; Thomas B. Peddy
• 1874-5- M. J. Greene; T. R. Leslie
• 1875-6- M. J. Greene; T. R. Leslie
• 1876-7-L. Booker; Thomas L. Kennedy
• 1878-9- William Lowther
• 1880-1- R. H. Harris; W. W. Wright
• 1882-3 – W. J. Samford; E. H. Baker
• 1884-5- H. C. Armstrong; J. T. Holland
• 1886-7- O. Kyle; J. J. L. Allen
• 1888-9- W. D. Kyle; W. A. McElvey
• 1890-1-W. M. Bass; E. C. Jackson
• 1892-3-W. D. Kyle; E. C. Jackson
• 1894-5- E. C. Jackson; L. R. Wheeless
• 1896-7- R. B. Barnes; E. H. Baker
• 1898-9- John T. Harris; L. C. Jones
• 1899 (spec) John T. Harris, L. C. Jones
• 1900-01- T. L. Kennedy; L. C. Jones
• 1903- Cleopas Rhett McCrary; Levi Robertson Wheeless
• 1907- T. D. Power; R. C. Smith
• 1907 (spec) T. D. Power; R. C. Smith
• 1909 (spec) Warren Williams; R. C. Smith
• 1911- E. C. Jackson; L. R. Wheeless
• 1915- W. T. Andrews; Dr. C. T. Yarbrough
• 1919- J. A. Albright; W. T. Andrews

SOURCE

1. Owen, Thomas McAdory, History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, 1921

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Donna R. Causey, resident of Alabama, was a teacher in the public school system for twenty years. When she retired, Donna found time to focus on her lifetime passion for historical writing. She developed the websites www.alabamapioneers and www.daysgoneby.me All her books can be purchased at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. She has authored numerous genealogy books. RIBBON OF LOVE: A Novel Of Colonial America (TAPESTRY OF LOVE) is her first novel in the Tapestry of Love about her family where she uses actual characters, facts, dates and places to create a story about life as it might have happened in colonial Virginia. Faith and Courage: Tapestry of Love (Volume 2) is the second book and the third FreeHearts: A Novel of Colonial America (Book 3 in the Tapestry of Love Series) Discordance: The Cottinghams (Volume 1) is the continuation of the story. . For a complete list of books, visit Donna R Causey

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