By Danny Crownover
Col. R.B. Kyle was the first mayor of Gadsden. The aldermen elected with him in 1867 were Dr. Joseph Bevans, Major W.P. Hollingsworth, R.O. Randall, And Herman Herzberg.
Soon after Baine County was created in the fall of 1866 a number of citizens petitioned L.E. Hamlin, probate judge, to call an election to determine whether the town should be incorporated and he named a commission to conduct the election.
One of the members of that commission was Herman Herzberg. The voters favored incorporation and a board of mayor and aldermen were elected.
They began to function in 1867, along about March. Under the old village Code of Alabama communities of not less than 150 and not over 2,000 population could petition the probate judge to start the machinery for incorporation.
In 1866, Gadsden had from 300 to 500 population and less than a dozen stores. In those days the mayor was called intendant, which was probably a hangover from the Spanish rule since Spanish possessions and political subdivisions are still ruled by intendants.
However, cardinal Richelieu appointed intendants to rule various political subdivisions in France and that country’s colonies. The Portuguese government did the same and even the Chinese had intendants of circuits.
There was no newspaper to report the incorporation but soon after intendant R.B. Kyle had called a meeting of the common council to correct tax assessments. Col. Kyle in his official call referred to the council as the “corporate authorities.”
one of the first ordinances was a law against public drunkenness and others that followed were for the protection of the public.
It seems fitting that the little town should have been started off under the direction of such men as Kyle, Bevans, Randall Hollingsworth and Herzberg.
Col. Kyle was the richest man in town and was for many years its largest taxpayer. He was a successful merchant and manufacturer.
He and Major Hollingsworth built the first railroad into Gadsden. It was the little five-mile stretch to Attalla. It became part of the N.C. & St. L. System. The latter was a wealthy merchant.
Herman Herzberg, who had the courtesy title of major, as did Col. Kyle, was the biggest merchant here for many years and he was also one of the principal builders of the city and county.
Major Randall, who also had a courtesy title, was a native of Brockport, N.Y., being born there in 1840. He came to Gadsden in 1858 and opened a watch making business. Later he established a jewelry store which later was owned by the family of his son-in-law, the late C.F. Cross, and under management of his grandson. Randall C. Cross.
Dr. Bevans was a famous surgeon in the Confederate army and in subsequent years served Gadsden as mayor several times. All five were confederate veterans.
Major Hollingsworth was a major in the Confederate army and personal friend of General Joseph Wheeler. This is the second time that the name of these town officials had been printed, the first-time being March 5, 1869.
Dave Lewis was the first town marshal. He seems to have been the street overseer also when they went out of office. He was a member of a pioneer and prominent family.
