In the 30's, several families, including that of John Gurley, purchased land and built homes in this area. John Gurley became the owner of the greater portion of the land. In 1857, when the Memphis and Charleston Railroad laid tracks through this area, John Gurley built a large cedar water tank near the railroad. Water was piped to this tank from a spring on Keel Mountain which overlooks the town on its southern border. John Gurley’s tank supplied the necessary water for the steam engines of that time, and the town became known as Gurley’s Tank. Settlers who built their homes near the water tank tapped into the lines and Gurley became the first town in Madison County to have its own water works system.
One of his sons, Captain Frank B. Gurley, was a confederate veteran and confidential assistant of General Forrest. Captain Frank Gurley was said to be one of the most noted guerrilla chiefs of this region during the civil war. In 1909, the editor of the Gurley Herald, G. T. Shelley, wrote, "Captain Gurley's soldier life was a varied and checkered one, full of heroism, tragedy and pathos from beginning to end. No braver or truer soldier shouldered a gun in the south than our own Captain Frank B. Gurley."
His civil war years are an interesting read where he had several close calls but fate had other plans for Gurley. Returning to his home in the spring of 1866, Gurley rebuilt his house and worked with determination on his farm to make him a leading agriculturalist in this section. He donated one square mile of land surrounding Gurley’s Tank to be used as the town site. He was instrumental in the development of the town including new school. He and other town leaders were proud when Gurley’s Tank was incorporated in 1890. The town grew in its first year from 250 residents to 1,000. The town had a fine mercantile business and boasted of numerous manufacturing establishments including a cedar bucket factory, a stave and hoop factory, and an Eagle Pencil Mill. The first post office was established in 1896 and the name of the town officially became Gurleysville. Not long thereafter the town’s name was shortened to Gurley.
Captain Frank Gurley never forgot his troopers from the 4th Alabama Cavalry. He held eight reunions with the first in 1890 and the final reunion in August 1913. He held these reunions on his farm lasting for several days. He would give souvenirs to his fellow Veterans including an engraved silver cup. Photographs were taken and he meticulously labeled each person shown in the photograph.
It was said, in Capt. Gurley this town has a citizen in whom it is proud and one in whom it could not well dispense with. He is a man of high integrity, a true friend and charitable to a fault. A man with whom it is a pleasure to meet, and who is loved and respected by all who know him for his many noble qualities.
Thank you to the Gurley’s Lion Club for maintaining the website of the history of Gurley. This information along with many historical photographs, letters and ledgers can be found at the this great website. A picture of his grave can also be found here which might help in your search. I was able to find it after a brief search on my first visit to the cemetary. http://gurleyalabama.contactez.net/index.html
PUZZLE: 1) Find the grave stone of Frank B. Gurley. 2) Face North. 3) Looking at your compass find 40 degrees. 4) You will be walking 255 feet at a 40 degree angle to find your cache. It might be helpful to mark the ooordinates of the grave to measure your distance. Enjoy your visit at this peaceful cemetery as you stroll along the wonderful mature trees and historical grave stones.