Gadsden, the third town in size and importance in the county, is situated on the L. & M. Ry., seven miles from Bell’s Depot, in the Third Civil District, and has a population of 250. The town was founded in 1858-59 by a number of business men, who moved there from Mason’s Grove upon the building of the railroad, and was named in honor of Gen. Gadsden, of South Carolina. J. B. Boykin was the first man to engage in business, he opening a store on what is now Main Street, in 1858. He was soon followed by R. W. Simms, who began business on the same street. In 1860 W. W. Williams opened a store, and in 1862 William Richardson began business. All of the above came from Mason’s Grove. From 1860 to 1870 the business men were W. W. Richardson, H. H. Richardson, J. F. Fullalore, William Tinder, C. B. Stewart, John W. Matthews, L. H. Harris, J. P. Taylor & Son, J. S. Medlin, J. A. Tinder, R. J. Williams and Sidney Harris. The hotel was kept by Rev. Payne; W. W. Herndon was the blacksmith, and J. W. Williams owned a cotton-gin. From 1870 to 1880 the business men were R. W. Simms, W. W. Richardson, H. H. Richardson, W. E. Richardson, L. H. Harris, J. A. Medlin, R. J. Williams & Co., F. M. Thompson and G. W. Rooker, hotel. The business men of the present are as follows: W. W. Richardson, dry goods and groceries; Williams & Horine, hardware and groceries; J. A. Tinder, dry goods; R. W. Simms, drugs and groceries; H. B. Wilson, furniture; Humphreys & Welch, groceries; J. F. Parsons, drugs; L. H. Harris, groceries; J. Fullalore, dry goods and notions; G. M. Cornatzer, groceries; L. L. Cox, saddler; J. A. Medlin, saloon; Jonathan Hall, hotel; W. E. Richardson, livery stable. In 1880 W. W. Sherod erected a frame mill, which was destroyed by fire in 1881. In 1882 the Gadsden Mill Company erected a two-story brick flour, grist and saw-mill and cotton-gin combined, at a cost of about $8,000. F. M. Thompson is president, secretary and treasurer of the mill company.

The first church erected in Gadsden was the Missionary Baptist, which was built in 1866. The building was a common box house, but was used until 1883, when the present frame church was erected at a cost of about $600. The Christian Church, a substantial brick, was erected in 1882, costing about $1,000, and during the same year the Methodist Church was erected at a cost of $800.

The school building now in use is a frame house, and was erected in 1883, costing about $800.

The secret societies are Gadsden Lodge, No. 163, F. & A. M., instituted in 1862 at Mason’s Grove and removed to Gadsden in 1866; Gadsden Lodge, No. 133, I.O.O.F., instituted in 1868 and suspended in 1884; Ladies Friend Lodge of G.T., instituted in 1876 and suspended in 1883; Gadsden Lodge, No. 86, G. T., instituted in 1885.