Pioneer Profiles

I was recently going through some boxes of photos in my basement and found a booklet entitled “Pioneer Profiles” (F. Johnson, Ed.). This was put out by the Madison Crossroads Homemakers Club in conjunction with the “Alabama Reunion 1989″. In their words: “It is hoped that this booklet will cause an awareness and appreciation of the rich heritage afforded by this community.”  It is a collection of histories and stories from the area one of which was submitted by my mother. The following is excerpted from that story.

The Homemakers thank Mrs. Lavetta Kull for the following insight (both historical and humorous) into the family/heirs of Max Julius Kull.

Max Julius Kull (known in America as Julius Max Kull) of Lenzburg, Switzerland arrived in America aboard the ship “Weimar” (a steam assisted sailing vessel) in 1892.  [NOTE: My information is that he actually arrived earlier around 1888 with his mother and brother.  There is a record of an 1893 arrival for Julius and his brother Fred but this was their return trip from Switzerland after going back to settle affairs after their father’s death in 1892.]

He settled in Chicago where he worked for Pullman Company. I have heard him tell the story about a land agent from Madison County, Alabama coming to Chicago to get settlers to come to Northwest Madison County. He and his friend Michael Ghidotti, an Italian, came to Madison County in the early part of 1895. He said when they arrived in Madison County and saw all the sage grass they thought this must be very fertile land. He laughed when he told this for he said he learned this was not true. He and his friend homesteaded adjoining farms on Stateline Road. The farm Julius acquired (158.5 acres) had been entered by someone else who failed to prove his claim. Julius bought the improvements and took up permanent residence on June 28, 1895.

Early in 1896 at a party in a home in the Cedar Hill Community of Limestone County, he met America C. Culps. At that time America was living with her grandfather Stephen B. Clements and his daughter Tennessee Clements. Julius and America were married at the home of her grandfather by J. W. Johnson, Justice of the Peace, on November 15, 1896.  Her Aunt Tennessee married Julius‘ friend Michael Ghidotti.

There was a one-room cabin on the property when Julius took possesion in 1895. He proved his claim and gained full title to the property on April 22, 1901 during the term of President William McKinley. Julius always said the house grew as the family grew. The house is located on Stateline Road east of wall Triana Highway about 5 miles east of Ardmore. It now has 8 rooms and a bath in the living portion, 2 rooms in the basement for storage, and a storage attic accessible from a second story bedroom. That house, along with 40 acres of land, is now owned by William Max Kull of California and Rose Marie (Kull) Higginbotham of Capshaw. They are the children of Julius M. Kull, Jr. and grandchildren of Julius Max Kull, Sr. The house is rented at the present time.

During what Julius called the Hoover Depression he was forced to sell about half of the land in order to retain the other half. He sold this land located west of Wall Triana Highway to a Mr. Peake. Several families now own parts of this land.

The remaining 40 acres still retained by the Kull family is owned by Lavetta W. Kull (widow of Lloyd A. Kull, the youngest son).

Julius and America had 3 sons and 4 daughters. They were, in order, Fred Julius who died in I964; Selina Sophia who died in 1984; Selma Cynthia who lives in Huntsville, Alabama; Elsie who died as an infant; Julius Max, Jr. who died in 1988; Lloyd Adolph who died in 1984; and Hortense Kathryn (Kitty) who lives in San Antonio, Texas. They had four grandsons and six granddaughters (one granddaughter died at birth). There were 16 great-grandchildren and 9 great-great-grandchildren.

Julius was a great story-teller and kept both family and friends entertained with his stories and his music. He played a concertina (accordion) that he had brought with him from Europe. Even after his own children had left home he and “Maw” opened their home to the young people of the community for music and dancing. He also had a fair-sized grape vineyard and was well known for his wine making. He had learned this skill in Switzerland where his own father had a bakery and winery.

As a teacher, one of the stories I enjoyed most was about punishment he received as a school boy in Switzerland. He said the teacher did not spank them at the time they misbehaved but kept a little book in which he scheduled the spanking a day or so later. He said he not only had to take the spanking but also had time to dread it in advance. He also told of a time in bitterly cold weather when he and Maw decided to move a sow and a new litter of pigs inside the house. To their dismay they found that the mother was eating her own babies. They also told of a time that an owl somehow got down the chimney and into the house. Needless to say, they had great difficulty in removing the owl. Since Julius had grown up in the city he knew almost nothing about farming and it was interesting to hear them tell about how Maw had to teach him to harness the mules.

There was a train that ran along what is now “Old Railroad Bed” Road from Capshaw to Elora, Tennessee. One of Lloyd’s most vivid memories was a trip to Fayetteville with his father on this train. He said there was someone on the train selling fruit, etc. and that his Dad bought an apple for him. Selma (Sammie) tells of a time when she was visiting some friends at Elkwood when the train came through. There was a band traveling on the train and when it stopped, the band played for those people gathered round. She said she cried because no one else in her family was there to hear them.

Julius was instrumental in helping to build the northern portion of Wall Triana Highway. This road, which runs north and south, divided his farm in half.

Julius died in October, 1965, at age 93. America followed him in February of 1967 at age 87. They are buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery (Clements-Delap Cemetery) in Limestone County.

Since much of this information is hearsay, I cannot vouch for its accuracy, but I do believe it is all true.

Submitted by Lavetta W. Kull, March, 1989
Daughter-in-Law of Julius and America Kull