Page:Historic towns of the southern states (1900).djvu/429

 immediately adjoining, was called "East Alabama Town." Its site is now included in the part of Montgomery west of Court Street. The jealous rivalry that followed was seasoned with many pranks played by one town on the other. The redoubtable Mr. Klinck, on one chilly night, fired his musket with such continued energy that the neighboring town supposed the Indians were upon them, fled over the river, and men, women and children spent the night among the canes and bushes.

The inconvenience of this rivalry soon became apparent, and on December 3, 1819, New Philadelphia and East Alabama Town were united in one town called Montgomery, a name whose origin Mr. Klinck explains thus:

"All was agreed, and the union took place. Now for the name? What shall be done? It will never do to call it 'New Philadelphia,' nor 'Yankee Town': either scent too strong for 'Georgy.' I have it: we will call it Montgomery, after the county. It was settled upon without a dissenting voice, and to the great satisfaction of all concerned, the name being equally dear to every American throughout the land."

On the other hand, the Montgomery Republican of 1821 states very positively that the county was named after Lemuel Montgomery, who fell in the fight against the Creek Indians