Suggsville historical marker in Clarke County, Alabama.
Recently, we were out rambling and photographing churches for our ongoing project in the Alabama Black Belt when we came upon a historical marker deep in the woods of Clarke County. The marker stood quietly at the side of the old road, weathered but still legible: “SUGGSVILLE,” it read. Naturally, we stopped, curious about this place we’d never heard of before. What we discovered was a fascinating story of a town that once played a big role in the early days of Alabama—and has now almost vanished from view.
Suggsville was laid out in 1819 at the crossing of the Old Line and Old Federal Roads, vital routes during Alabama’s frontier era. It was named after William Suggs, a storekeeper who helped establish the settlement. This tiny town quickly became an important hub—home to Clarke County’s first newspaper, and to early cotton, carriage, shoe, and silk factories. The marker even notes that Dr. Denny conducted aviation experiments here nearly a century before the Wright brothers ever took flight. Imagine that—homemade flying machines in the backwoods of Alabama in the early 1800s!
In its prime, Suggsville had schools for both boys and girls, businesses, and a community life that revolved around education and religion. It was once one of Clarke County’s largest towns, and by the 1880 census it still ranked third in population after Grove Hill and Choctaw Corner (modern-day Thomasville). That momentum didn’t last, though. Like so many small towns in the South, Suggsville faded after the Civil War, bypassed by railroads and changing trade routes.
Today, Suggsville is an unincorporated community with no defined center and only scattered residences. Most people driving through the area would never know it once bustled with activity. But the history lives on—not just on the marker, but in the stories of people who came from here. Red Barnes and Sam Barnes, both of whom made it to Major League Baseball, were born in Suggsville. So was Charles Rudolph d’Olive, a World War I flying ace who notched five aerial victories in combat.
Standing there among the pine needles and tall trees, we could almost hear the echoes of wagons on the old road and voices from the past. That’s what we love about these backroads rambles—sometimes you find a story waiting quietly in the woods, just like Suggsville.
Sources: Clarke County Historical Marker (pictured), Clarke County Historical Society, Wikipedia, U.S. Census records.