Houston in Winston County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Richard Elliott Payne

"Uncle Dick"

— 3/22/1826 - 3/25/1900 —

Richard Elliott Payne Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, August 8, 2021

1. Richard Elliott Payne Marker

Inscription. In 1861 "Uncle Dick” was present at a meeting of 2,500 people at Looney's Tavern. Upon hearing the proposal of Winston County's possibly seceding from the state, he sarcastically exclaimed, "Oh, oh, Winston secedes! The Free State of Winston!” – a phrase, which is still proudly used today.

However, the county never actually seceded, and Payne later served in the Confederate Army. After the war he returned to banking, where he made his own currency using brown paper.

Major Contributors:
Alabama Division Sons of Confederate Veterans
Modern Woodmen Insurance

Sculptor Branko Medenica

Erected by Alabama Divison Sons of Confederate Veterans and Modern Woodmen Insurance.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.

Location. 34° 8.465′ N, 87° 15.458′ W. Marker is in Houston, Alabama, in Winston County. It is at the intersection of County Road 63 and County Road 61, on the left when traveling south on County Road 63. Located at the Houston Historic Jail site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4806 Co Rd 63, Houston AL 35572, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Willis Farris (here, next to this marker); John Anthony Winston

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(here, next to this marker); The Jail at Houston / Houston-County Seat of Winston (a few steps from this marker); M1841 Mountain Howitzer (a few steps from this marker); Brushy Creek (approx. 2.6 miles away); Former Site of Smith Schoolhouse (approx. 3.6 miles away); Early Post Office Site (approx. 4.3 miles away); Meek High School War Memorial (approx. 4.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Houston.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, August 8, 2021

2. Richard Elliott Payne Marker

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, August 8, 2021

3. Richard Elliott Payne Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 1, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 672 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 30, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.