BAKER COUNTY, ALABAMA

1868

Resulting from the policies of post-war reconstruction, Baker County was created by act of the Alabama legislature on 30 December 1868 by taking land from Autauga, Bibb, Perry, and Shelby counties. The name Baker was selected in honor of Alfred Baker, a prominent citizen who is credited for founding the town of Clanton. Old Autauga was no more, having lost its eastern border to newly established Elmore County and now loosing the areas of Mountain Creek, Verbena, Chestnut Creek &  lands to the northwest past Goosepond. 

 

Baker County ca. 1870

During the Civil War, Alfred Baker was a member of the Autauga Rangers Home Guard. He enlisted at age 34 on March 25, 1862 in Autauga County. Baker was granted by the Governor, an "Exemption from Military Service for 1861-65" to continue his office duties as Justice Of The Peace for Autauga County. Baker also enlisted as a member of Col. Byrd's Alabama Regiment, 4th Alabama Volunteer Militia, Company D, known as the Autauga Rangers. This was a State Militia force, not the Regular Confederate Army.

In addition to Justice Of The Peace, Baker also served as Postmaster for the town of Grantville, the original county seat before the courthouse burned down in 1870. The county seat was then moved to the community of Goosepond, a stop on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. It was here that Baker put into motion the beginnings of a new town.

 

 

Alfred Baker

Alfred Baker bought land from Joseph Williams and heirs, Tom and Newton Williams and Mrs. Bill Adair. On this land he supervised the formation of the town, laying out the streets and avenues, assisted by the Government Surveyor, George W. Floyd. Baker donated about half of the building lots in the original village. This new town was named Clanton, in honor of Confederate Brigadier General James Holt Clanton.

C.S.A.

 

Brigadier General James Holt Clanton

 

Oakwood Cemetery, Montgomery, AL

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Alfred Baker made many contirbutions to his new town, as well as serving as the first Mayor. He built a storehouse just east of the railroad.  A year later he built a more modern store on the west side of the railroad. He built a two-story hotel. Baker built a depot and platform beside the railroad. The railroad would not use the depot because it was private property, so he offered to donate it to the railroad company.  The railroad again declined for fear they would become obligated to the Baker. Eventually, the railroad purchased the building from Baker and used it for Clanton's depot for several years. While Alfred Baker was operating the hotel and store in Clanton, he also operated a farm outside of town.

During this time, disdain increased among the townspeople for the reconstruction policies forced upon them by the northern invaders who now occupied many political offices and public positions. As town mayor and leader of many public projects, Alfred Baker had found it necessary to align himself into a position of cooperation with many of these "Northern Carpet Baggers". The people of the county became suspicious of Baker's motivations and began to view him as an opportunist, too cooperative with these "Carpet Baggers". As public resentment grew, a campaign was began to have the county renamed for another State or Confederate figure that the people felt would more closely reflect their southern sentiments of the late war and for the causes of which it was fought. The campaign was successful, and on 17 December 1874 Baker County was renamed Chilton in honor of Chief Justice & Alabama Representative to the Confederate Congress, William Parish Chilton.

 

  

William Parish Chilton 

William Parish Chilton served as a member of the Alabama state legislature in 1839. He was a candidate for the U.S. Representative from the Alabama 7th District, in 1843. Chilton served as an Associate Justice of  the Alabama State Supreme Court, 1852-56. He was elected to the Alabama State Senate in1859.

During the Civil War, William P. Chilton served as the delegate from Alabama to the Confederate Provisional Congress for the period 1861-62. He was elected to serve as the Representative from Alabama in the Confederate Congress for 1862-65. Chilton enlisted in Harrison’s Company of Alabama Rebels, Home Guard. He died in Montgomery, AL, January 20, 1871 and is buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Montgomery.

 

Oakwood Cemetery, Montgomery, AL