The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN RECOGNITION OF THE 170TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY OF OXFORD
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HON. MIKE ROGERS
of alabama
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 170th Anniversary of the City of Oxford.
A part of Alabama's Third Congressional District, Oxford, is located in Calhoun County. The Muscogee Creek Nation called Choccolocco Valley home for 12,000 years. In 1540, Hernando DeSoto crossed the region on behalf of Spain in search of riches. France claimed the lands in 1699 after successfully establishing settlements at Mobile, New Orleans and Biloxi. Even though France controlled the area that would later become Oxford, it was still inhabited by the Creek Nation. England gained possession after the signing of the Treaty of Paris at the end of the Seven Years War. In 1789, the entire northern portion of Alabama was owned by Georgia. The lands were given to the federal government in 1802 as part of the Mississippi Territory.
Alabama was admitted to the Union on December 14, 1819. Benton County was incorporated on December 18, 1832, and included present-day Calhoun, Cleburne and portions of Cherokee and Talladega Counties. At the time of incorporation, the only incorporated towns in Benton County were Jacksonville and White Plains. In the early 1830s, the Snow and Simmons families were two of the first European descent families to settle among the Creek natives. Snow owned the land south of present-
day Choccolocco Street, and Simmons owned the land north. An early legend recalls the area south was called ``Skace Grease'' and the area north ``Lick Skillet.'' Local folklore says a traveler was passing through and needed a place for rest and food. As he was visiting, he was directed to ``lick the skillet'' because they were ``skace of grease.''
Oxford was established on February 7, 1852, the bill proposed by Representative Matthew Allen of Benton County. The limits of the town included one square mile from the center at the male academy on Second Street. Elisha S. Simmons, Edmund P. Gains, John A. Turnipseed, Stephen C. Williams, and Woodson Seay were authorized to run on a ballot for the election of three council members and an intendant (mayor). It was decided that on the first Saturday of each March, annual municipal elections would be held for offices of council and mayor.
On February 21, 1860, Oxford was chartered for the second time due to redrawing of boundary lines and the changing of the name of Benton County to Calhoun County. The limits of the town included a half-mile in each direction from the railroad culvert at Spring Street. Elections were to be held on the first Monday of each March annually. In this incorporation, the law called for the election of seven councilmembers and an intendant. The councilmembers and intendant were given the power to elect a marshal, clerk and treasurer. Those who have served as mayor of Oxford, respectively, include Elisha S. Simmons, Dr. Stephen C. Williams, Samuel C. Kelly, James S. Kelly, Edgar H. Hanna, Charles T. Hilton, William J. Borden, John B. McCain, Dr. Thomas C. Hill, Robert P. Thomason, William H. Griffin, John N. Gunnels, Thomas A. Howle, Maj. William A. Orr, George W. Eichelberger, William C. Gray, Dreadzil P. Haynes, Asa C. Allen, William R. Norton, Davis C. Cooper, Robert R. Pope, Dr. Thomas B. Howle, Carl D. Pace, Hemphill G. Whiteside, Alvis A. Hamric, Bester A. Adams, Earl R. Martin, Therman E. Whitmore, Leon Smith, and Alton Craft.
The Oxford Police Department was established at the time of the first incorporation. However, the earliest police force only included one town marshal. The first recorded marshal for Oxford was Francis M. Gardner, who served in the early 1880s. The Oxford Fire Department was organized on May 18, 1884, as a volunteer department. Major William A. Orr served as the first chief.
In 1904, the citizens of Oxford were convinced that the town needed a permanent city hall for the purposes of conducting municipal business. In September of that year, it was decided city hall would be located in a building on Main Street and the fire department would share the building. An armory was established adjacent to the building for the Calhoun Rifles. The calaboose was located several yards south on Spring Street.
Madam Speaker, please join me in wishing Oxford a happy 170th anniversary.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 25
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