Descendants of the Dutch Bend Pioneers

Orangeburgh Migrations - Alabama

 Not long after the Creek War ended and the defeated Indians were neutralized, a number of families - Spigeners, Whetstones, Zeiglers and Stoudenmires followed the Federal Road into the Alabama Territory. According to the Descendants of the Dutch Bend Pioneers, the early settlers of Dutch Bend (Autauga County) Alabama came around 1819-1820. The families who departed Orangeburgh District, SC traveled on a wagon train with an army escort. They came through Georgia near what is now Augusta, then on to Macon, then west to the area that is south of Autaugaville, AL and is known as Dutch Bend.

There were 69 wagons in the wagon train. In a letter written by Lewis HOUSER (b. 1788) in the 1820's, he mentions the proximity of many of these Orangeburgh families.

           (I believe that my Funderburg's and other family members were in this group)

From the The Alabama Historical Quartely SPRING ISSUE 1941 pg. 107

 DUTCH BEND...Is the bend in the Alabama river immediately below Vernon, and took its name from the families which in1820, removed to it,from Orangeburg District,S.C. They were of German descent,and a few of the older had only been taught to read that language, and pronunciation of the English, by a majority of them, was very imperfect.
  A large portion of them when they settled here were by no means wealthy and were limited in education.
  By economy without avarice they have accumulated ample fortunes, and byattention and proper appreciation of mental culture manyof them have qualified themselves to fill high stations.
  For honesty of purpose, integrity of character andindustrial habits, they are unsurpassed in theState. They are conscientious in all their transactions, and their social relations are of the strongest character, particularly among themselves.
  They possess a peculiar fondness for intermarrying, for of forty or fifty families in the Bend, there are but a few that are not related by the ties of consanguinity. With practical intellects, they become professional farmers and rarely ever seek any other avocation. Being devotional in feeling, they, to a man, belong to some branch of the Christian Church.
  A strong attachment to home prevent them from mingling, to a great extent in society; and to remove west is never thought of, except by those whose improved fortunes have rendered more land absolutely necessary.

***It was here that Isaac Funderburg, my 4th great grandfather,  served on the first Jury, summoned and empannelled at Washington, 12th of April, 1820. Also listed are Joshua Oden, Edmund Foreman and Aaron Moore, all of which married into the Funderburg lines.

~Trish~