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

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

Discordance: The Cottinghams (Volume 1)

Filled with drama, suspense, humor, and romance, DISCORDANCE continues the family saga from the Tapestry of Love series with the children of Mary Dixon who married Thomas Cottingham.

Inspired by true events and the Cottingham family that resided in 17th century Somerset, Maryland, and Delaware, colonial America comes alive with pirate attacks, religious discord, and governmental disagreements in the pre-Revolutionary War days of America

About Donna R Causey

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