The Reminiscences of George Strother Gaines : Pioneer and Statesman of Early title: Alabama and Mississippi, 1805-1843 Library of Alabama Classics author: Gaines, George Strother.; Pate, James P. publisher: University of Alabama Press isbn10 | asin: 0817308970 print isbn13: 9780817308971 ebook isbn13: 9780585258966 language: English Gaines, George Strother,--ca. 1784-1873, Pioneers--Alabama--Biography, Alabama-- History--To 1819, Alabama--History--1819- subject 1950, Alabama--Social life and customs, Choctaw Indians--Alabama--History--19th century. publication date: 1998 lcc: F326.G28 1998eb ddc: 976.1/05/092 Gaines, George Strother,--ca. 1784-1873, Pioneers--Alabama--Biography, Alabama-- History--To 1819, Alabama--History--1819- subject: 1950, Alabama--Social life and customs, Choctaw Indians--Alabama--History--19th century. Page i The Reminiscences of George Strother Gaines Page ii The Library of Alabama Classics, editions of works important to the history, literature, and culture of Alabama, is dedicated to the memory of Rucker Agee whose pioneering work in the fields of Alabama history and historical geography continues to be the standard of scholarly achievement. Page iii The Reminiscences of George Strother Gaines Pioneer and Statesman of Early Alabama and Mississippi, 18051843 Edited with an Introduction and Notes by James P. Pate Page iv Copyright © 1998 The University of Alabama Press Tuscaloosa, Alabama 34587-0380 All rights reserved Manufactured in the United States of America "Gaines' Reminiscences" by George Strother Gaines was originally published in The Alabama Historical Quarterly 26 (Fall-Winter 1964) by the Alabama Department of Archives and History. "Gaines' Reminiscences" and the material in the appendixes to this volume are published with the permission of the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Front Cover: Photograph of portrait of George Strother Gaines from Gaineswood in Demopolis, Alabama. Photograph by Rob Fleming. Courtesy of the Alabama Historical Commission. Text Designed by Lucinda Smith The paper on which this book is printed meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Science- Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48- 1984. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Gaines, George Strother, 17841873 The Reminiscences of George Strother Gaines: Pioneer and Statesman of Early Alabama and Mississippi, 18051843 / edited with an introduction and notes by James P. Pate. p. cm. (Library of Alabama Classics) Includes bibliographical references (p.) and index. ISBN 0-8173-0897-0 (alk. paper) 1. Gaines, George Strother, 17841873. 2. Pioneers AlabamaBiography. 3.AlabamaHistoryTo 1819. 4. AlabamaHistory18191950. 5. AlabamaSocial life and customs. 6. Choctaw IndiansAlabamaHistory 19th century. I. Pate, James P. II. Title. III. Series. F326.G28 1997 976.1'05'092dc21 97-7084 [B] British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data available Page v Contents Illustrations vii Note on the Text ix The Family of George Strother Gaines x Introduction 1 by James P. Pate Gaines' Reminiscences Introduction from the Mobile Register, 19 June 1872 37 Notes on the Early Days of South Alabama 40 Reminiscences of Early Times in Mississippi Territory 70 Death of a Good Man from the Hayneville Examiner 117 Appendix A: Gaines to Dillard, Peachwood, 8 August 119 1857 Appendix B: Conversation with George S. Gaines 131 by Albert James Pickett Appendix C: 2nd Conversation with Geo. S. Gaines, 147 Spring of 1848 by Albert James Pickett Companions and Associates of George Strother Gaines 155 Notes 169 Selected Gaines Bibliography 211 Index 213 Page vii Illustrations Photographs George Strother Gaines xii Ann Gaines 7 Peachwood 30 Pushmataha 85 Mushulatubbee 90 Maps Mississippi Territory, 17981816 45 Plat of Choctaw Trading House 72 Choctaw Removal Routes, 18311832 104