FACT NO. 1
Horace King (1807-1885), A Former Slave Built the First Lee County Courthouse in 1867
King was an architect, engineer, and master bridge builder. He built the biggest American bridges in the mid-1800s and was one of the most respected bridge builder in the Deep South. He built dozens of bridges in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.
He was born a slave on September 8, 1807 in Chesterfield District, South Carolina. He was of African, European, and Catawba ancestry. He was taught to read and write at an early age. When he reached adolescence he was a proficient carpenter. His first introduction to bridge building was in 1824, at that time, no one could have imagined that he would become a great bridge builder.
He met his destiny, with the death of his master in 1830, he was sold to John Goodwin, a contractor and bridge builder. In 1832, Goodwin received a contract to construct a 560 foot bridge across the Chattahoochee River from Columbus, Georgia to Girard, (now Phenix City). Although, a slave Goodwin treated him as a valuable partner. He recognized his genius and nurtured his talent. Their partnership transformed the landscape of Columbus, Ga with the completion of the Columbus City Bridge in 1833.
This bridge was vital to the economic growth of Georgia because it facilitated the transit of goods and services to the neighboring states. Although there is some debate as to whether, King was naturally endowed with gifts as a master builder. Some historians seemed to think that he studied at Oberlin College, Ohio, the first institution of higher learning to admit African-Americans, in the mid-1830s.
FIVE AMAZING FACTS
ABOUT LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA