This area of Alabama was known for its wiregrass by the native population long before colonialists moved into the region. The dominate tribe here was the Creek and Seminole Indians. The Muskogee tribe of the Creek Indians here were not nomadic but were excellent settled farmers. They lived along the many creeks and streams and developed quite a number of recipes based on the local fare such as hickory nut soup, deer liver with onions, roasted wild duck and cornmeal bread. This group of the Creek nation fought along side Andrew Jackson against other tribes and helped to make it possible for colonialist to settle the region.

Abbeville, the county seat, takes its name from Abbie Creek which runs through the center of the county. The Indian name for the creek was Yatta Abba which means "a grove of dogwood trees." Dogwoods still grow along the creek and bloom in early spring.

Henry County is the so called Mother County, aptly called since it was divided into portions of nine other counties. It was created on 13th of December in 1819 one day before Alabama became a state of the Union. It was named after Patrick Henry. Shortly after forming many families including the Kirkland families started coming to the area from South Carolina. The Kirkland family was particularly prolific and added many new families to the area. Some became important to the community. One of the main streets in town is named Kirkland. There is still a debate about which Kirkland it was named for since there were about 200 Kirklands in Henry County in 1850.
The Civil War wrecked havoc with the family structure. Alabama regiments were particularly hard hit at Gettysburg and many locals never returned home. Others, such as my great grandfather, decided to move on. He left for Arkansas where he raised his family.

Of the family that stayed in and around Abbeville, Zacheriah T. Kirkland, one of my great great great grandfather's sons, became a well know woodworker and carpenter. He designed and helped to build the Methodist Episcopal Church, South in 1896 which still stands as a historical landmark to this era and skill. He also designed the Henry County Courthouse in 1889 above which was razed in 1961 for the present courthouse. He also helped design the Southeast Alabama Agricultural School.

100th Anniversary pamplet of the Abbeville United Methodist Church, Abbeville, Henry Co., Alabama c1996.
Wiregrass Cooking Through the Years, "An Historical Way of Life in the Southeast Alabama," 1600-1981. 1981. The Henry County Historical Society, P. O. Box 222, Abbeville, AL 36310
Henry County Historical Society, c/o Abbeville Memorial Library, History Room, PO Box 222, Abbeville, AL 36310
Kirkland Source Book of Records (KSBR), v.1 p 317, 319, 334 - v.2 p.51, 52, 463, 464 ,in two volumes, 1977 reprinted 1989. compiled by Mrs. Schlandensky, Mrs. Green, Mrs. Leonard, Mrs. John H. Kirkland. , Greenwood, S. C. 29649, out of print

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