Books or pamphlets written about Clay County, Alabama

Books or pamphlets written about Clay County, Alabama

Compiled by Don C. East, 2010

Few words of description and definition have been put in print about Clay County since its beginnings in 1866.  The following list of published material contains the thoughts of a few native countians and a couple of outsiders regarding this mountainous east central Alabama county and its people.  Many of these sources are now out of print and difficult to find.  In many cases, there is only a single copy known to be available to the public at each of the two county libraries in Ashland and Lineville. The sources are in chronological order of publishing or printing.  Any suggested additions to this list of books on Clay County should be forwarded to this Clay County Chamber of Commerce web site via Richard Arnold at keycon@centurytel.net or Mary Patchunka-Smith at claychamber@centurytel.net.

1. Shinbone Valley, The Stricklands and the Elders. By Vista Strickland.  Self-published pamphlet. Circa 1920s.  This pamphlet cast some light on a secluded section in the mountains in north Clay County.  Ms. Strickland’s remembrances go back to the earliest pioneer settlers in the area.  This source is out of print.  Copies are held at the Ashland and Lineville public libraries.
2. Horse and Buggy Days on Hatchet Creek.  By Mitchell B. Garrett. The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa and Auburn. 1957. This book describes life along Hatchet Creek in western Clay County as it tells the story of a rural Alabama boyhood in the 1890s.  Limited used copies of this book can be sometimes found on the web and copies are held by the Ashland and Lineville public libraries.
3. Recollections; My Folks and Fields.  By Eddie Rozelle. Self-published copyright 1960 by E. B. Rozelle, Talladega, Alabama. 1960.  This book covers many aspects of rural life on Hatchet Creek in western Clay County.  Out of print.  A copy is available at the Ashland public library.
4. Irene Vansandt Teel.  By Ammie Anderson. The Lettercraft Shop, East Point, Georgia. 1965. This book covers the life of the famous fortune teller of Millerville in Clay County.  The book is out of print.  A copy is held at the Ashland public library.
5. Shinbone. By G. C. Saylors. Self-published by G.C. Saylors 10/15/79, registration nr. TXU30-704. 1979.  This book is a folksy story of a slice of Clay County Americana  from the Shinbone Valley area in the early 1900s.  Out of print.  Copies are held by the Ashland and Lineville public libraries.
6. The Hatchet Creek Presbyterian Church 1832-1982.  By Mary E. Watts. A self-published pamphlet. 1983.  A well-written history of the oldest church in Clay County.  Out of print. A copy can be found at the Ashland public library.
7. The Shiloh Delta Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery.  By Mildred Smith Laney and Margaret Cockrell Dunkerley. Self-published in 1984. A brief sketch of the Shiloh Delta Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. Out of print.  A copy is located in the Ashland public library.
8. Appointment of Postmasters; Clay County, Alabama 1832-1985.  Author unknown. Self-published. 1985. Out of print. A listing of postmasters for the various Clay county villages and towns from 1832 until 1985. Copy in the Ashland public library.
9. Cemeteries of Clay County, Alabama.  By the Clay County Historical Society. Copyright by the Clay County Historical Society in 1987. Published by the Family Tree, LaGrange, Georgia.  Out of print.  A copy is available at the Ashland public library.
10. You Always Think of Home; A Portrait of Clay County, Alabama.  By Pamela Grundy and photographs by Ken Elkins. The University of Georgia Press, Athens and London. 1991. Go to web sites of Books-A-Million, Amazon, Barnes&Noble to search for copies.  Copies of the book are at the Ashland and Lineville public libraries. Pamela Grundy wrote this book while a doctoral candidate in history at the University of North Carolina.  She was inspired to write the book after working as a reporter for the Anniston Star, which covers Clay County.  The book uses the voices of over 80 Clay County natives to make up an eloquent portrait of Clay County and its people.
11. Pamphlets entitled “The Quarters; A Place to Call Home” (1997) and “A Black Historical and Sociological Annotated Ownership and Achievement Survey.” (2005).  By Arthur G. Oliver. These pamphlets cover some of the aspects of Clay County’s Black citizens. Out of print. Copies are available at the Ashland public library.
12. A History of the Ashland Church of Christ 1961-2000.  By Mamie French Creed, Will Pearle (Brown) Atkisson, Flora Moore Poe and Georgia Ann Brown Mann. Self-published in 1999. A brief history of the Ashland Church of Christ. Out of print.  A copy is available at the Ashland public library.
13. The Heritage of Clay County.  By the Clay County Historical Society Book Committee. Published by the Heritage Publishing Consultants, Inc. Clanton, Alabama in 2000.  This book contains Clay County family histories submitted by various authors.  It also contains some historical data on the early county, communities, schools, churches and military figures.  Out of print.  Copies are available at the Ashland and Lineville public libraries.
14. History of Clay County.  By the Clay County Historical Society. Edited and published by the Clay County Historical Society and the Clay County Arts league in 2001. This book is a compilation of articles about Clay County and its people written by various individuals.  Some early Indian history, and histories of villages, churches, towns, schools and individuals are included.  Out of print.  Copies are available at the Ashland and Lineville public libraries.
15. Caney Head.  By J. Wayne Creed. Green Quill Publishing Co, Lineville, Alabama. 2001.  This first-person account of the adventures of a Clay Countian during the 1930-1970s brings out some aspects of rural life in Clay County.  This book is available for purchase at the Lineville Public library.
16. Confederate Soldiers of Clay County, Alabama.  By Cathy Dianne Vickers Reed. Published by the Clay County Historical Society. 2004. Out of print. List the Confederate Soldiers mustering in at Clay County sites. Copy in the Ashland public library.
17. A Historical Analysis of the Creek Indian Hillabee Towns; and Personal Reflections on the Landscape and People of Clay County, Alabama.  By Don C. East (creekstreefarms2@yahoo.com). Iuniverse, Inc. New York and Bloomington. 2008.  This book tells the story of the Hillabee Towns of the Creek Indian Confederacy in southern Clay County.  Then, after the Indian removals of the 1830-40s, the book details the early pioneer settlement of villages in the southern part of the county.  This book can be obtained (autographed) direct from the author, purchased at the Ashland or Lineville public libraries, or ordered from the web sites of Barnes&Noble, Books-A-Million, Amazon or Iuniverse.
18. Remembering Mrs. Rena: The East Alabama Soothsayer.  By Elizabeth Wade.  An article published in the Fall 2009 issue number 94 of the Alabama Heritage Magazine.  This article contains some aspects of the life of Irene (Rena) Vanzandt Teel, the renowned “Fortune Teller” of Millerville, Alabama. This magazine issue can be purchased via the web by typing “Alabama heritage Magazine” into your search engine and following the directions. A single copy of the magazine is in the Lineville public library.

Many thanks to Don East for providing this list to the Clay County Chamber of Commerce. Don East may be contacted by email at creekstreefarms2@yahoo.com.