Extracted from The Centreville Press (Centreville, AL)
Thursday, August 17, 1899

FIRST WHITE SETTLERS
Of Bibb County

By W. P. Wallace

William Fletcher was son-in-law of Richard Pratt and brother-in-law to Col Absolom Hopkins and Joab Pratt. He made his first settlement on or near sec 16, t 23, n r 10 e, or not far from the present home of John E. Jones. Shortly after settling here his father-in-law Richard Pratt, Col Absolom Pratt and others of their N.C. relatives came to seek a home in this goodly land. Whereupon Mr. Fletcher and Hopkins Pratt broke their camp on east side of of [sic] river and settled with their relatives in River Bend. Mr. Fletcher located upon the place now owned and known as the home of John Lowrey, Sr., where he lived until his wife died in 1847; after his wife died he lived first on one side of the river and then the other until about 1857-58, when he saw fit to marry again. His 2nd, wife Miss Nancy Garrett of River Bend; with whom he lived very happily until the day of his death. Their residence during part of his days was a quiet country home among the tall pines 1- and 3-4 miles west of the present village of Six Mile. Persons who were accustomed to visit this quiet home tell us that though the buildings are all dilapidated, that there is yet a feeling of sacred esteem for the place where the house originally stood. After living at peace with all men a few years at this quiet home he finished his earthly career and his remains were interred and now rests in River Bend cemetery. His last wife after a reasonable widowhood, married Matthew Wallace, with whom she lived peaceably until the Lord called him from the walk of this life to a higher state of existence. She is yet alive living with W. D. Wood, of Woodstock, who is the nephew of her last husband. Her faith in God makes her company pleasant and her life sweet though in her dote age.

Joab Pratt was a son of Richard Pratt. He was a pioneer Baptist preacher of River Bend and it is claimed that his services were unequalled in this part of the new country in the constitution of new congregations. He was a man of marked ability in his calling, but, unfortunate for the first settlers of River Bend, he possessed a roving disposition, consequently he did not spend the years of his riper age with them; but sought a new field of labor in the west, which was at that time almost unexplored by the whites. He moved to Arkansas in 1840 and spent the remaining part of his life in the ministry in that country; only visiting his relatives in River Bend once, in 1867. He died shortly after his return to Arkansas and his body now rests in a quiet grave near Little Rock, in Saline county. We have been informed that he raised a nice family, none of whom we have ever met.

The Hon Hopkins Pratt was also a son of Richard Pratt. He and his brother Col Absolom purchased jointly the lands of River Bend, belonging to S W Davidson, Sr., who manifested much fatherly kindness and leniency toward them. After the purchase of this spendid and important piece of real estate, each proceeded to erect for himself a spacious and comfortable residence; out of which came forth an industrious, staunch, shrewd ingenuous and honest citizenship.