General Notes

Custom Field:<_FA#> Named after his Grandfather Andrew Jackson Miller.@@S726784@@Date of Import: Jul 31, 2003
Custom Field:<_FA#> Baptized when 6 years old at Sears Chapel, Coosa Co., AL.@@S726784@@Date of Import: Jul 31, 2003
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THE CHRONICLE
From Our Correspondents
Swamp Creek Gleaning
"Jack Miller, of Sears Chapel, was in the community last Sunday."(1)
From Our Correspondents
Estille Items
"Jack Miller and sister, Miss Kate, of Sears Chapel, spent Sunday night
with their cousin, B. T. Stewart."(2)
THE ROCKFORD CHRONICLE
Sears Chapel News
"Mr. Jack Miller of South Ga. (formerly of here) has returned home after
spending several days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Miller and
other relatives."(3)
(1) The Chronicle, From Our Correspondents, 18 Feb 1910, p. 5.  Published
in Rockford, Coosa Co., AL. Microfilm: Located in the Alabama Archives
and History, Montgomery, AL.
(2) The Chronicle, Estille Items, 17 Jun 1910, p. 5.
(3)The Rockford Chronicle, Sears Chapel News, 26 Jul 1934, p. 1. Printed
in Rockford, Coosa Co., AL. Microfilm: Located in the Alabama Archives
and History, Montgomery, AL.
THE ALABAMA MIGRATION
In the period of the First World War, the area around Whigam (GA)
experienced an "invasion" of Alabamians. The Messenger of December 16,
1921 estimated that by that date "more than fifty splendid families" from
Alabama had moved into the territory. Almost all of them were either from
Coosa or Elmore County in central Alabama.
Tradition credits Elder Benjamin M. Jowers (1851-1928) with being the
first of these Alabamians to visit the region. As a prominent Primitive
Baptist leader, he had occasion to preach in several churches in
southwest Georgia and so carried back home with him to Alabama
descriptions and stories of the rich farmlands around Whigham and
vicinity. To the farmers of Coosa and Elmore Counties, trying to make a
living from the small hilly plots of central Alabama, the flatlands of
Grady County must have seemed a land of opportunity.
D. C. Jowers, the son of Benjamin M Jowers, was apparently the first
farmer to make the move to Grady County, and he brought in his first
crops there in 1914. The main body of Alabamians arrived somewhat later.
Some say that a "wagon train" from Alabama was organized in 1918. Others
dispute this story this story, and say that the new families arrived a
few at the time over a period of several years. In any case, the
migration seems to have been largely complete by the end of 1921, as
evidenced by the Messenger’s report referred to above.
An interesting question that has not been addressed is how it
happened that so many new farmers were able to move into the area at
almost the same time and find farms - not virgin lands - to purchase and
settle on. Why were so many farms for sale at that time? The Messenger
article (Dec 16, 1921) refers to the "the disturbing experiences through
which the section had passed" but gives no clue as to what events had
taken place.
Below are some of the Alabama families who settled in Grady and
Decatur Counties. As would be expected, many are related, but the tracing
of these relationships must be left for another occasion. (The list is
not complete. Perhaps others can come forward to correct or add to it.)
Benjamin M. Jowers (returned to Ala.)        Cleon Waldrop
D.  C. ("Dick") Jowers             ? Waldrop
Dallas Jowers                 Martin Burks (returned to Ala.)
John H. Howard                George Thomas
Jackson L. Salter                  ? Thomas
Isaiah J. Burks                    John Davis (returned to Ala.)
Jared Gandy                   Dr. Harden
Silas Kelley                  Ralph McBroom
Lawson Salter                 Byrd Lassiter
Charlie Barrett (returned to Ala.)      ? Jackson (returned to Ala.)
Vivien Murchison                   ? Golden (returned to Ala.)
Jim Newberry                  Pliney Smith (returned to Ala.)