General Notes

Custom Field:<_FA#> 1 Sep 1900Commissioned as Justice of the Peace.Alabama State of Archives and History@@S726784@@Date of Import: Jul 31, 2003
Custom Field:<_FA#> 6 Aug 1900Elected Justice of the Peace for Precinct 15, Pike Co., AL.Alabama State of Archives and History@@S726784@@Date of Import: Jul 31, 2003
Custom Field:<_FA#> 22 Sep 1904Appointed Justice of the Peace for Precinct 15, Pike Co., AL.Alabama State of Archives and History@@S726784@@Date of Import: Jul 31, 2003
[coosa1.ged]
The following was from a newspaper clipping given to me, Ron Bridges, by
Gertrude P. Parnell via the mail on August 20, 1996.  One can surmise
that the article was written about 1913 either in the Montgomery
Advertiser or Montgomery Journal.  At a later date I will find out.
Spradley Here for the First Time In Nearly 40 Years
Former Resident Relates Experience of "Carpet Bagger" Days - Has Not Seen
Railroad Train Since He Left.
Stephen A. Spradley, of Pike county, who is making his first visit to
this city in thirty-eight years, gave a vivid picture of conditions as
they existed at that time.
"The last time I was in a city," said Mr. Spradley, "was  in October,
1875. At that time Montgomery had not recovered from the effects of the
war, and everything was chaos and confusion. The carpet-baggers were in
control and everything was in bad shape. I drove forty-five miles to
Montgomery to sell a load of produce, and it took me five days to make
the trip with a yoke and oxen."
"I remember that sweet potatoes brought $3.25 a bushel in greenback
money. Greenbacks at that time was worth about one-half of their face
value. Anyone who had any gold or silver money kept it secreted, and
this, added to the hardships of the times as it was difficult to trade
your paper money for produce or provisions. I remember distinctly having
to give $25 in greenbacks for $10.00 worth of food. This money was later
redeemed at face value."
"When George S. Houston was elected governor of the state he had a law
passed to tax all money that was stored away, and in this way more gold
and silver was put into circulation."
"The only railroad was the L. & N., and at that time they burned wood
only. I have never seen a railroad since."
Mr. Spradley was greatly surprised to learn that there were buildings
over six stories high now in Montgomery.
"At that time the only building of six stories was the old Madison
hotel," he said.
When speaking of the outrages committed by the carpet baggers, Mr.
Spradley’s eyes flashed and his face grew red.
"While they were not in power long, it was awful while it lasted," he
declared. "The negroes had the power of the vote and no honorable man
would be elected by a ‘nigger,’ and so the thieves and crooks from the
north came down here and were elected to office. They made the negro the
boss, and you can see what the result was. Montgomery is a fine place now
and I am sorry to have to leave so soon."
Mr. Spradley is visiting his daughter at 15 Brassel street while here.
The following was from a newspaper clipping given to me, Ron Bridges, by
Gertrude P. Parnell via the mail on August 20, 1996.
S. A. SPRADLEY DIES EARLY THIS MORNING
Stephen A. Spradley died at five o’clock this morning at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. G. F. Porath on Williams Street. He was born in 1849 in
Crenshaw county(1) and moved to Pike county in 1897. He was perhaps the
oldest member of the Church of Christ in Pike county, having been a
member about 50 years.
He was preceded to the grave by his wife and an infant many years ago. He
is survived by four daughters, Mrs. J. J. Rushing, Mrs. G. F. Porath,
Mrs. J. D. Youngblood and Mrs. Jack Coll, of Baton Rouge, LA., son J. K.
Spradley, three brothers, C. T. Spradley, John Spradley and W. P.
Spradley, of Patsburg and a number of other relatives who mourn his death.
The funeral services will be conducted at Antioch Church at Shellhorn
Friday