Edwin and his brother Gurdon grew up in Brooklyn, Connecticut.
The brothers felt a "strong inclination to adventure" and decided
to travel to Alabama, a "fine country just beginning to be
settled". Their father was not so sure of the success of the
brothers' idea, but he gave Edwin $1000 and told him "I hope you
will make good use of it, but you possess such mistaken ideas of
this world that I fear it will not stay with you long."
In October 8, 1819 the brothers loaded a boat with goods and set
sail from New York. Unfortunately, they found themselves
shipwrecked on an island in the Bahamas. After much hardship they
were able to make it to Mobile where they set up a small grocery
business with some of the goods that were salvaged from the
shipwreck.
In 1820 Edwin settled along the Sepulga river very near this
site. He opened a cotton gin where he would gin cotton for the
local Planters and transport it via barge to Pensacola. On his
return trips he would bring back goods to sell.
Edwin established the first business in the area and named the
town Brooklyn after his beloved home town in Connecticut.
I hope that you will enjoy your trip to this area. The drive in
is very peaceful, so take your time and roll down the windows and
enjoy the scenery. Take time to travel up to the town and visit the
old general store/post office where you can still grab a Coke and a
moon pie.
Also, be sure to bring some trash bags with you and take some
trash out to be disposed of in a proper manner. I meant to pack
some bags in the cache, but in my haste I forgot to do so. This is
a very beautiful area and with your help it can become even more
beautiful!
Source: "European Travels 1841-1842 Letters Home
by Daniel Chapman Robinson", 1997, by Irene Cumbie
Perkins
