The Early History of Walker County, Alabama

The Early History of Walker County, Alabama

Arrowheads, tomahawks, and mounds found in the county indicate that once there were Indian villages here. The dense forests with many creeks and rivers provided abundant wild game and fish. Indian trails connected the Creek, Cherokee, and Chickasaw nations. All of these tribes probably used what is now Walker County as their hunting grounds.

Although there were many trails, there were no roads, which accounts in part for the small number of settlers prior to 1820. The major trail was the Huntsville Road, a military road built in 1812 by Andrew Jackson. It ran from Huntsville to present day Birmingham. Most of the early settlers came from north Georgia, the Carolinas, and western Tennessee, thus this road was of slight use to them. In the 1820's, flat boats successfully utilized the Warrior River. In 1822, John Byler completed Byler Road, a toll road, through the western part of what would become Walker County. This marked the beginning of increased settlement in this area because cheap land was plentiful and there was access to many markets.

According to historians, the first settlers came to the present site of Jasper about 1822. Dr. Edward Gordon Musgrove, who migrated from South Carolina, is said to be the first one. Indeed his influence played an important role in the community's early history.

Walker County was officially formed in 1824 from parts of Marion and Tuscaloosa Counties. It is named for John W. Walker, one of Alabama's first U.S. Senators.

Jasper became the county seat when Walker County was created. Dr. Musgrove, who was the first county judge, gave the land for the courthouse, which was constructed of logs. Most of the early history of the county was lost when a fire destroyed the courthouse records in 1877.

Jasper is named for Sgt. William Jasper, a South Carolinian who fought with distinction in defending Fort Moultrie during the Revolutionary War. Hugh Lollar, an early settler, is said to have named the town.

The first automobile registered in Walker County was a Maxwell Runabout bought by H.W. Cranford in 1907. It is reported that the 40-mile drive from Birmingham required eleven hours.

An interesting story in told of the discovery of coal in the county. Two young men camping out on Lost Creek used large "black rocks" to reflect the heat from their campfire. During the night the young men awoke in fear to find their "black rocks" burning.