A County Older Than the State–Lawrence County

  Created by Territorial Legislature in 1818 from lands ceded by Cherokee and Chickasaw Indians. Named for U.S. Navy hero of War of 1812 Capt. James Lawrence. Fatally wounded, his famous command was, "Don't give up the ship." County seat since 1820 has been at Moulton which was named for hero of Creek Indian War, 1813-14.

[Before 1965: Lawrence Co. Courthouse, Moulton]

Home of General Joseph Wheeler

  1836-1906. "Fighting Joe Wheeler" Confederate Cavalry Commander of Army of Tennessee. Major-General Cavalry U.S.A. in Spanish American War. Soldier-Statesman-Author-Planter. One of Alabama's representatives in the Statuary Hall in Washington.

[Before 1965: Ala. Hwy 20, Wheeler]

Shackleford's Red Rovers

  Dr. Jack Shackelford, Courtland physician, named captain of Volunteer company to aid Texas in seeking independence. In first action Rovers were with regiment cut off, captured near Goliad, March 20, 1836. Surrendered on promise of return to U.S. On March 27, regiment and others, 365 men, executed at Goliad by order of General Santa Ana. Shackelford and three other doctors spared. He later escaped, returned to Courtland. His son and nephew among those executed. Only 8 of 60 Rovers survived. Incident, plus Alamo, rallied U.S. support.
  *Captain J. Shackelford, *Lt. William C. Francis, Sgt. F. G. Shackelford, Sgt. A. J. Foley, *Sgt. J. D. Hamilton, Sgt. C. M. Short, Cpl. J. H. Barkley, Cpl. H. H. Bentley, Cpl. David Moore, Cpl. Andrew Winter, Patrick H. Anderson, John N. Barnhill, Joseph Blackwell, *George W. Brooks, *L. M. Brooks, T. E. Burbridge, F. T. Burt, J. W. Cain, Thomas Cantwell, Seth Clark, John G. Coe, *D. Cooper, Harvey Cox, R. T. Davidson, George L. Davis, H. D. Day, A. Dickson, Alfred Dorsey, H. L. Douglas, W. C. Douglas, J. W. Duncan, James E. Ellis, Samuel Farley, *Joseph Fenner, Robert Fenner, J. G. Ferguson, E. B. Franklin, D. Gamble, M. C. Garner, I. E. Grimes, William Gunter, William Hemphill, John Hyser, John Jackson, John N. Jackson, H. W. Jones, John Kelly, Charles McKinley, John H. Miller, D. A. Murdock, William Quinn, W. F. Savage, J. N. Seaton, W. S. Shackelford, *Wilson Simpson, B. Strunk, James Vaughan, Wm. E. Vaughan, James S. Wilder, Robert W. Wilson.
  *Escaped at execution, on patrol, or on leave when unit captured.

[Before 1965: Courtland]

Other Lawrence County pages:

• Newspapers on microfilm at ADAH
• Probate records on microfilm at ADAH
• Vital records on microfilm at ADAH
• County historical and genealogical societies
• Current county highway map from Department of Geography, The University of Alabama