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[[File:Charles DeBardeleben.jpg|right|thumb|Charles DeBardeleben]]
'''Charles Fairchild DeBardeleben''' (born [[July 4]], [[1876]] in Prattville, Autauga County; died [[August 31]], [[1941]] in [[Birmingham]]) was president of the [[Alabama Fuel & Iron Company]].
'''Charles Fairchild DeBardeleben''' (born [[July 4]], [[1876]] in Prattville, Autauga County; died [[August 31]], [[1941]] in [[Birmingham]]) was president of the [[Alabama Fuel & Iron Company]].


DeBardeleben was the fourth of six children born to [[Henry F. DeBardeleben|Henry]] and [[Ellen DeBardeleben|Ellen Pratt DeBardeleben]]. He graduated from [[Auburn University|Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama]] in [[Auburn]] and married [[Margaret DeBardeleben|Margaret Harvie Prince]] of [[Jonesboro]].
DeBardeleben was the fourth of six children born to [[Henry F. DeBardeleben|Henry]] and [[Ellen DeBardeleben|Ellen Pratt DeBardeleben]]. He graduated from [[Auburn University|Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama]] in [[Auburn]] in [[1893]] and began his career in the engineering department of the [[Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Co.]], then headed by [[Erskine Ramsay]]. He left TCI to join the [[Bessemer Coal, Iron & Land Company]] and was soon supervising its coal mining activities. He invested in the [[Little Cahaba Coal Company]] and oversaw the opening of mines in [[Piper]]. He married [[Margaret DeBardeleben|Margaret Harvie Prince]] of [[Jonesboro]] on [[April 15]], [[1896]].


Charles was a co-founder of the Alabama Fuel & Iron Company with his father and brother [[Henry T. DeBardeleben]] along with partner [[Jesse Overton]]. The company operated coal mines in the [[Acton Basin]] on the [[L & N Railroad]] in present-day [[Hoover]], as well as at [[Acmar]], [[Margaret]] (named for Charles' wife), and [[Overton]], all on the [[Central of Georgia Railway]]. The company also mined iron ore at Russellville in Franklin County.
In [[1905]] Charles was a co-founder of the Alabama Fuel & Iron Company (AFICO) with his father and brother [[Henry T. DeBardeleben]] along with partner [[Jesse Overton]]. Charles initially served as vice-president and general manager before taking over as Henry focused on his [[DeBardeleben Coal Company]]. AFICO operated coal mines in the [[Acton Basin]] on the [[L & N Railroad]] in present-day [[Hoover]], as well as at [[Acmar]], [[Margaret]] (named for Charles' wife), and [[Overton]], all on the [[Central of Georgia Railway]]. The company also mined iron ore at Russellville in Franklin County.


Charles and Margaret built a [[Charles & Margaret DeBardeleben residence|large house]] for $76,000 in the [[Milner Heights]] subdivision of [[Redmont]] in [[1923]]. In [[1925]] the company moved its offices to the newly-completed [[Liberty National Building|Pioneer Building]] on [[20th Street South]].
Charles and Margaret built a [[Charles & Margaret DeBardeleben residence|large house]] for $76,000 in the [[Milner Heights]] subdivision of [[Redmont]] in [[1923]]. In [[1925]] the company moved its offices to the newly-completed [[Liberty National Building|Pioneer Building]] on [[20th Street South]]. He served as president of the [[Birmingham Chamber of Commerce]] in [[1917]] and as president of the [[Country Club of Birmingham]] the following year.


DeBardeleben was an outspoken and active opponent of unionization. In order to keep his miners beholden to him, he built isolated company-run camps with company-owned housing, company-sponsored churches and schools, and company stores that sold merchandise in exchange for company scrip. The company's towns and social programs were strictly segregated by race. He employed armed guards to keep organizers away from his mines and buried explosive charges on the driveway to his house. In March [[1937]] he led a revival-style mass meeting with 6,500 workers which closed with a rousing chorus of "Where He Leads Me I Will Follow". Some of the company's guards grabbed a teenaged [[Troy Ingram]], who was attempting to interview miners' families in [[Overton]] for the [[United Mine Workers]], beat him and drove him out of town.
DeBardeleben was an outspoken and active opponent of unionization. In order to keep his miners beholden to him, he built isolated company-run camps with company-owned housing, company-sponsored churches and schools, and company stores that sold merchandise in exchange for company scrip. The company's towns and social programs were strictly segregated by race. He raised wages and shortened hours to head off inducement to unionization in [[1933]]. He also employed armed guards to keep organizers away from his mines and buried explosive charges on road approaching Overton. In October [[1935]] his guards ambushed labor demonstrators at Acmar, [[List of homicides in 1935#St Clair County|killing one]] and wounding six others. In March [[1937]] DeBardeleben led a revival-style mass meeting with 6,500 workers which closed with a rousing chorus of "Where He Leads Me I Will Follow". Some of the company's guards grabbed a teenaged [[Troy Ingram]], who was attempting to interview miners' families in [[Overton]] for the [[United Mine Workers]], beat him and drove him out of town.


During the [[Great Depression]], DeBardeleben encouraged his employees to raise grain and vegetable crops and livestock as a way of staying off of government relief rolls. The company sponsored exhibits of their agricultural accomplishments at the [[Alabama State Fair]].
During the [[Great Depression]], DeBardeleben encouraged his employees to raise grain and vegetable crops and livestock as a way of staying off of government relief rolls. The company sponsored exhibits of their agricultural accomplishments at the [[Alabama State Fair]].


DeBardeleben died in [[1941]] and is buried at [[Elmwood Cemetery]].
DeBardeleben died in [[1941]] and was buried at [[Elmwood Cemetery]] on [[Labor Day]]. He was survived by his wife and three children; [[Charles DeBardeleben II|Charles II]], [[Prince DeBardeleben|Prince]], and [[Walker DeBardeleben|Walker]].


==References==
==References==
* {{Cruikshank-1920}}
* {{Woodrum-2007}}
* Ruisi, Anne (July 11, 2022) "[https://www.otmj.com/original-charm-historic-redmont-home-crowns-red-mountain/ Original Charm: Historic Redmont Home Crowns Red Mountain]." {{OTMJ}}
* Ruisi, Anne (July 11, 2022) "[https://www.otmj.com/original-charm-historic-redmont-home-crowns-red-mountain/ Original Charm: Historic Redmont Home Crowns Red Mountain]." {{OTMJ}}


Latest revision as of 14:17, 20 November 2022

Charles DeBardeleben

Charles Fairchild DeBardeleben (born July 4, 1876 in Prattville, Autauga County; died August 31, 1941 in Birmingham) was president of the Alabama Fuel & Iron Company.

DeBardeleben was the fourth of six children born to Henry and Ellen Pratt DeBardeleben. He graduated from Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama in Auburn in 1893 and began his career in the engineering department of the Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Co., then headed by Erskine Ramsay. He left TCI to join the Bessemer Coal, Iron & Land Company and was soon supervising its coal mining activities. He invested in the Little Cahaba Coal Company and oversaw the opening of mines in Piper. He married Margaret Harvie Prince of Jonesboro on April 15, 1896.

In 1905 Charles was a co-founder of the Alabama Fuel & Iron Company (AFICO) with his father and brother Henry T. DeBardeleben along with partner Jesse Overton. Charles initially served as vice-president and general manager before taking over as Henry focused on his DeBardeleben Coal Company. AFICO operated coal mines in the Acton Basin on the L & N Railroad in present-day Hoover, as well as at Acmar, Margaret (named for Charles' wife), and Overton, all on the Central of Georgia Railway. The company also mined iron ore at Russellville in Franklin County.

Charles and Margaret built a large house for $76,000 in the Milner Heights subdivision of Redmont in 1923. In 1925 the company moved its offices to the newly-completed Pioneer Building on 20th Street South. He served as president of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce in 1917 and as president of the Country Club of Birmingham the following year.

DeBardeleben was an outspoken and active opponent of unionization. In order to keep his miners beholden to him, he built isolated company-run camps with company-owned housing, company-sponsored churches and schools, and company stores that sold merchandise in exchange for company scrip. The company's towns and social programs were strictly segregated by race. He raised wages and shortened hours to head off inducement to unionization in 1933. He also employed armed guards to keep organizers away from his mines and buried explosive charges on road approaching Overton. In October 1935 his guards ambushed labor demonstrators at Acmar, killing one and wounding six others. In March 1937 DeBardeleben led a revival-style mass meeting with 6,500 workers which closed with a rousing chorus of "Where He Leads Me I Will Follow". Some of the company's guards grabbed a teenaged Troy Ingram, who was attempting to interview miners' families in Overton for the United Mine Workers, beat him and drove him out of town.

During the Great Depression, DeBardeleben encouraged his employees to raise grain and vegetable crops and livestock as a way of staying off of government relief rolls. The company sponsored exhibits of their agricultural accomplishments at the Alabama State Fair.

DeBardeleben died in 1941 and was buried at Elmwood Cemetery on Labor Day. He was survived by his wife and three children; Charles II, Prince, and Walker.

References

External links

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