Biographies and influential residents.
Meet J.P. Phelps, a man who made significant contributions to the world of photography in the late 1800s. Born in Muscatine, Iowa in 1848, Phelps quickly gained a reputation for producing superior-quality photographs and even ventured into the world of…
In the late 19th century, amidst the bustling streets of Florence, a former barber named Winfield Scott Canaday of Indiana embarked on a fascinating new venture. He opened a unique establishment on South Court Street that caught the attention and…
Ferdinand Sannoner was born in Tuscany, Italy in 1793. He was a highly educated individual who was a multilingual master at the age of sixteen. Sannoner was a highly regarded engineer at the age of eighteen. He worked as an…
In the annals of history, tales of courage and sacrifice often emerge from unexpected quarters. One such remarkable story is that of Frances Hook, a 14-year-old girl from Chicago, whose unwavering devotion to her brother led her to disguise herself…
Robert Cloud was born on May 4, 1844, in Marshall County, Mississippi. At the age of sixteen, Cloud went to Arkansas and enlisted in Company E, Tenth Arkansas Regiment. He was quickly afterwards taken out of service by his father…
Early Days and Traveling Troupe: Wyoming Frank, a charismatic figure of the late 19th century, first came onto the scene in 1888 alongside his brother, “Wyoming Ed.” The duo traveled through Kentucky and Ohio, selling “patent medicines” and performing with…
Zebulon Pike Morrison was a cornerstone of Florence, Alabama, for over half a century. From 1840 until his death in 1895, he left an indelible mark on the town through his various roles as a businessman, contractor, and public servant.…
Captain Andrew Brown was a prominent figure in Florence, Alabama, throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1839, he arrived in the United States and left his mark on the community through his business…
Florence, Alabama, boasts a rich history, and a significant part of that story is etched in stone. Literally. C.B. Eldred, a skilled craftsman who worked in Florence from 1874 to 1910, played a key role in shaping this legacy through…
R.W. Drane, a prominent local merchant and the proprietor of a cigar store and pool room, and Mr. George (Will) Young, a prominent furniture merchant, were thrust into a harrowing drama that played out in downtown Florence on East Tennessee…