Several years ago, not long after my wife and I moved to Winston County, Alabama, I was talking with a longtime member of the community. During the conversation he said something I’ve never forgotten. “It doesn’t matter how long you live here,” he said. “You’ll always be an outsider.” He didn’t say it kindly. And … Continue reading The Free State of Trust
Tag: Alabama history
John L. Knighten – Just the Facts
In the previous post I introduced the story that has circulated in parts of our family for many years: the idea that my great-great-great grandfather, John L. Knighten, had Cherokee ancestry and was known by names such as “Johnny Lighthorse Nightingale.” Like many family traditions, the story is intriguing—but before exploring it further, it is … Continue reading John L. Knighten – Just the Facts
