Blount County's Rich Historical Past is indicated throughout the county by the placement of Historic Markers. Some were placed by the State of Alabama and others were contributed by our own Historical Society. This list will give you an idea of our past.
A County Older Than the State BLOUNT COUNTY created Feb. 7, 1818 by Alabama Territorial Legislature from lands ceded by Creek Indian Nation. Named for Tennessee Governor W. G. Blount who sent militia under Andrew Jackson to punish Creeks for Ft. Mims massacre. Jackson fought and won Creek War. Creeks gave up half of their lands by Treaty of Ft. Jackson, 1814. Some of Jackson's men were first settlers. County seat moved here in 1889.

(Pictured above at the courthouse in Oneonta).

BATTLE ROYAL May 1, 1863 Nathan Bedford Forrest attacked Col. Streight's column as it crossed Locust's swift waters, causing the Federals to make tremendous exertions to complete the movement, contributing thereby to Streight's eventual surrender of his entire command to Forrest some forty hours later and seventy-five miles distant from Battle Royal. (On Alabama Highway 26 at Royal near Blountsville).
Take a Driving Tour! BLOUNT SPRINGS Famous Health Resort 1843 - 1914. Here fashionable ladies and gentlemen of the South vacationed with their families. (On Highway 1 at Blount Springs).

BLOUNTSVILLE 1820-1889 seat of Blount County, a county older than the state. Named for Tennessee Governor W. G. Blount who sent Andrew Jackson to aid Alabama settlers in Creek Indian War, 1812-1814, Indian Chief Bear Meat lived here at crossing of Old Indian trading paths. 1816 - Tennesseans began trading post here and called village Bear Meat Cabin. 1820 - name changed to Blountsville and made county seat. 1889 - County seat moved to Oneonta. (On highway 231 in yard of Blountsville Public Library).

EBENEZER HEARN 1794-1862 Methodist Missionary. First Minister assigned to Alabama Territory by Tennessee Conference. Preached first sermon two blocks west at Bear Meat Cabin (present Blountsville) April 18, 1818. He later organized churches in Shelby, St. Clair, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa and Cataco (present Morgan) Counties: the beginning of Methodism in Central Alabama. (Located in front of Methodist Parsonage on highway 231, Blountsville).

EXPLOIT OF MURPHREE SISTERS Incident of May 1, 1863 during Streight-Forrest: Campaign. Three prowling Union soldiers invaded home of sister-in-law of Celia & Winnie Mae Murphree taking food, drink, killing two colts. Located at the intersection of Hwy 26 and 34.

When soldiers fell asleep these two young girls took rifles marched soldier to headquarters of General Forrest bivouacked at Royal Community on Warrior River. (On highway 26 at Royal).

FEDERAL RAID May 1, 1863 1 mile south Gen. N. B. Forrest captured wagon train and supplies of Col. Streight's raiders. Forrest continued his relentless pursuit eastward toward final capture of Streight. (On highway 231, just north of Blountsville).

CHAMPION MINES, John Hanby came in 1817 and found a rich seam of brown iron ore. Named Champion in 1882 when Henry DeBardeleben and James Sloss bought land and brought L & N Railroad causing county seat to be moved from Blountsville to Oneonta in 1889. Most ore was mined by Shook and Fletcher 1925-1967 from Champion & Taits Gap mines under E. N. Vandegrift, superintendent. Ore was shipped to Woodard, T.C.I. & Sloss furnaces in Birmingham and Republic in Gadsden. ( placed on highway 231 South at intersection with Champion Road across from entrance to Eastwood subdivision).
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These were erected by the Historical Society and are not state markers.

HOMESITE AND GRAVE OF GEORGE POWELL 1794 - 1872. Planter, trader, historian, geologist, surveyor. Gathered authentic data from early settlers and Indians for his history of Blount County published 1855. Made original survey of Blount County. (Erected by the Junior Blount County Historical Society in graveyard in Nectar at junction of highway 160 and Nectar Covered Bridge Road).

GABRIEL HANBY 1786 - 1826. Grave and Home site 300 yards. Member Constitutional Convention 1819. First Senator of Blount County, Brigadier General, Alabama Militia. County Road and Court Systems organized at his house 1820. (Located on highway 79 at Locust Fork School).

MURPHREE, SOLOMON 1803 - 1882 EUTERPSY 1808 - 1874. Solomon, born in Pendleton District, S. C., to Daniel Murphree and Pheraby Bynum, had six brothers who came from Tenn. to Blount County in 1818, for whom Murphree's Valley was named.

Euterpsy was the first person buried in the Lebanon Methodist Church cemetery (located at 925 CTY HWY 42 in Oneonta.) Born to Frazier Brindley and Phoebe Riggs in Franklin County, Ga., she came to Blount County in 1819 with her widowed mother, two brothers and six sisters. She and Solomon, married in 1823, reared five sons and four daughters: Daniel, Asa, Lurinda, James, Phoeba, Jessie, Mace, Pheraby, and Martha.

Euterpsy died during a rainy season. After two graves opened in the old cemetery filled with water, Solomon's neighbor, John D. Amberson, said that Euterpsy could be buried on his Rocky Hill where he would give four acres of land for a cemetery. A grave was opened there and Euterpsy was buried after dark. Later the hill also became the site of the new church building. (Erected: by Murphree Family at Lebanon Methodist Church 1964).