| Huntsville History Comes Alive | |
| Part 4: Albert Russel Sr., Gen. Gilbert Johnson, Rev. John Allen, Thomas Freeman | |
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Albert Russel, Sr. (1755-1818) is played by David Milam. Russel was a Revolutionary War veteran and an original member of the Sons of Cincinnati. He came to Huntsville in 1816 and purchased Russel Hill where Butler High School now stands.
The part of Brevet Gen. Gilbert Lafayette Johnson (1838-1871) is played by Brian Hogan. Johnson was Commander of the 13th Indiana Cavalry stationed in Huntsville during the Civil War. After the war he returned to Huntsville to marry Susan Bradley in 1866. He served as Postmaster from 1869-1871, when he died from war wounds.
Rev. John Allen (1788-1843) and his wife Nancy (1785-1841) are represented by Dr. Bill Cockrill and his wife Kathy. Allen was born in England and was a professor at Green Academy. He was the first pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Huntsville. Bill Cockrill is the present day pastor of the church on Gates Avenue.
This marker in Maple Hill Cemetery shows the spot that Thomas Freeman established for the Meridian for the newly purchased Indian lands in 1807. A triangular area of 345,000 acres, south of the Tennessee state line, because known as "old Madison County." It was at 86° 34' `8" longitude, a point almost midway of the base of the triangle. Freeman established the Huntsville Meridian from which point all the lands of northern Alabama were surveyed.
Thomas Freeman is portrayed by Philip Wilbanks and the Surveyor by Billy Smith.
All photos © 2001 Jean Brandau, licensed to About.com.
