The rise of the work in the Southern section of Alabama appears in the
following, copied from Brother Holcombe’s work, and originally written
for the _Christian Index_, March 10, 1836:
“About 120 years ago a few Frenchmen came here and made the first
little opening in the pine forest. Previously to 1817 it was occupied
principally as a place of deposit and trade with the Indians. Now
its population is not far from 10,000. Eighteen years ago a single
steamboat found her way to this port, now forty-five are employed in
the Mobile trade. The Baptist church was constituted March, 1835, by
J. G. Collins, R. L. Barnes and P. Stout with ten members. Rev. G. F.
Heard was called to begin the pastorate February 14, 1836.
“At that time they had no house of worship, but met in the court house,
and for a time they met in the house belonging to the African Baptist
Church. The African Church is in a prosperous condition; their number
is about 90.”
In this city and county the colored people had more liberty and better
treatment than in any other section of the State. The free people and
those who hired their time often supported schools for the education of
their children. Revs. Wm. Dossey, P. Stout, A. Travis, J. H. Schroebel,
Mr. Hawthorne and Mr. Spence (all white) are mentioned as pioneers and
fathers of the work at this point. Near this old French town, June
13, 1845, the writer was born, and in this county and city he spent
the first fourteen years of his life, and many years since. For some
years prior to the late civil war, the Stone Street and St. Louis
Street churches (colored) were both noted for their numbers and their
financial strength.