Part
of this excerpt was read to Anna, Matt and I by Mr Travis Wesson on the porch
of Benjamin Averiett’s home while Buddy chased chickens, 2013.
(written
as read except made a little more p.c. in terms of racist reference to the “servant”)
Benjamin Averiett was one of the first settlers in
what is now Talladega
County
He made his way from Autauga to the farm which he
settled through canebreaks and unbroken forest.
When he came upon a slough he would have to cut trees, roll them on top
of logs, slide the wagon over by hand and then swim the team through the
slough. The woods at the time were full
of Indians and wild game.
One time when Mrs Averiett was left at home with an
old servant, her husband being out in the field at work, a bear came near the
house, caught a pet pig and carried it off. When Mrs Averiett saw the bear
carrying off her last pig she, with true pioneer courage, seized a gun,
followed the bear to the swamp and when near enough took deadly aim and laid
the bruin low. This was 3 days before
her son, William, was born.
When Mr Averiett came home and heard all that had
happened he said to his wife,
“Sarah, what in the hell do you mean? One of these
days I shall come to the house and find you killed.”
Benjamin was one of the early traders with the
Indians, keeping a store for the purpose.
Over the years his farm grew to over 10,000 acres. He owned two ferry systems and was instrumental
in bringing the railroad to the Talladega
Too old to go to war in 1861 he served in the Home
Guard sharing substantial amounts of money and supplies with soldier’s
families.
He was a man of great determination. It was said of
him he never undertook anything he failed to carry through.
 |
| Benjamin and Sarah Averiett's headstones Fort Williams Baptist Church Cemetery |
No comments:
Post a Comment