By Danny Crownover
Gadsden was named after Col. James Gadsden, distinguished soldier, diplomat, railroad president and businessman of Charleston, S.C. He was born in that city May 15, 1788. He was also known as a promoter of Southern nationalism, and it was his earnest desire to do something for his beloved South.
He was chief promoter of a railroad planned to be built from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast. He was acquainted with the families of Gabriel and Joseph Hughes, and John S. Moragne, all founders of Gadsden.
He in fact, grew up with them in Charleston. It was while he was in the United States Army in the campaign against the Seminole Indians in Florida that he also became acquainted with Daniel C. Turrentine, a general of the army and an early Gadsden settler. They were comrades at arms and were fast friends.
After Gadsden had been located and surveyed into 221 lots, the question of naming the village came up.
On July 4, 1845, Captain James Lafferty came sailing into port with the steamboat Coosa. He landed at Walker’s Ferry, a mile north of today’s downtown in what was called Double Springs.
The Hughes, Moragne and Turrentine urged Captain Lafferty to build his landing at the foot of Railroad (now Broad) Street, offering to name the new town Lafferty’s Landing and to give him a third of the 221 lots of the original survey as an inducement.
Captain Lafferty accepted the lots and agreed to the landing as suggested, but refused the having the new town named in his honor.
At about this time, Colonel Gadsden came here by invitation to visit his old Charleston friends and his comrade in Indian fighting.
He was so impressed with the location and the possibility of a railroad, then being promoted by Gabriel Hughes, that he predicted great things, declaring that the town was destined to become a city.
He was so enthusiastic that the founders decided then and there to name the village in his honor and that’s how Gadsden got its name.
Contact The Vagabond at dkcrown@bellsouth.net.
