Moulton in Lawrence County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Cheatham Road

By Sandra Hughes, October 30, 2010

1. Cheatham Road Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Wyatt Cheatham (1769-1856) was one of the early settlers of Lawrence County and bought land near Wren in 1818. The Alabama Legislature on 14 Dec 1824 authorized him, "to open out and make a road leading from at or near the Gum Pond in said county to Tuscaloosa". The act authorized him to erect turnpike gates and collect tolls for passage. The Gum Pond near the Leola Road was located on Payne’s Road about 7 miles south of Moulton. The Cheatham Road was to be 18 feet wide with 12 feet cleared of "stumps and grubs". On 15 Jan 1825, Wyatt Cheatham and Joseph Coe (Lawrence County State Representative) formed a partnership and agreed to divide the expenses and tolls associated with the road. Prior to 1828, Cheatham, a War of 1812 veteran, moved to what is now Winston County where he profited both from tolls and a public house that he built to entertain and lodge travelers. His tavern was located at the Clear Creek crossing of Cheatham's Road.

In 1835, Lawrence County Commissioner court records, the road is noted as the "Moulton to Tuscaloosa commonly called Cheatham's Road", with two landmarks identified as the Gum Tree and Ambrose Rucker’s place.

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Wyatt Cheathem’s memorial is located in Scott's Cemetery in Walker County, AL, where his wife and son are buried.

Erected by Lawrence County Historical Commission Inc.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is January 15, 1825.

Location. 34° 25.103′ N, 87° 18.103′ W. Marker is in Moulton, Alabama, in Lawrence County. Marker is on County Route 33. Located near mile marker 17 after leaving Warrior Mountain Trading Co located at 11312 Al Hwy 33 Moulton, Al 35650 headed South. Marker is located on right side of road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Moulton AL 35650, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. General Leroy Pope Walker (approx. 4 miles away); Judge Thomas M. Peters (approx. 4 miles away); General Phillip Dale Roddy (approx. 4.3 miles away); A County Older Than The State (approx. 4.4 miles away); Confederate Veterans Memorial (approx. 4.4 miles away); Lawrence County Vietnam Veterans Memorial (approx. 4.4 miles away); Anne Newport Royall (approx. 4.4 miles away); Gallagher Hill/Science Hill (approx. 4½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Moulton.

Also see . . . Wyatt Duke Cheatham Sr. Scott Cemetery (Submitted on November 1, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 1, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 1,358 times since then and 28 times this year. Last updated on June 12, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Querétaro, Mexico. Photo 1. submitted on November 1, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.