Part of the

www.beatricealabama.com

network

When Andrew Rikard, a man of Dutch German decent, arrived in north Monroe County in 1818, he originally named the area Germany after his heritage. Rikard arrived here with his family from South Carolina. His son Jake established Rikard’s Mill, which is located approximately two miles east of Buena Vista on Flat Creek. In 1846, the village’s name was changed by J.W. Perrin.  Perrin decided to name the village Buena Vista, meaning beautiful view, which was inspired by his fighting in the Battle of Buena Vista in the Mexican-American War.

In 1847, Mr. Perrin became the first postmaster of Buena Vista, a position he held until 1861.  During this time, transportation was principally achieved by way of ox teams and steam boats. Roads were impassable in many places during much of the year. All freight and mail was delivered from the Alabama River at Bell’s Landing. Ox carts, buggies, and wagons from the north came down the narrow roads through the village on their way to the river.

From 1850 to World War II, Buena Vista was a flourishing community. Farming was the large industry as well as some stock raising. There were also two sawmills and steam gins. Up until 1875, the old horse gin and wood screw were the methods of bailing cotton.  James C. Finklea and his wife, Frances E. Henry, moved into north Monroe County just before the birth of their eldest son, John James, in 1847. John James, known as Jack, is given much of the credit for the development of the village of Buena Vista. During the Civil War, Jack kept store for Captain Malcolm Patterson, who was killed in service, and after the war had a store of his own. The village grew at the turn of the century, when Finklea’s children married, and he gave each of them five acres upon which to build a home. The Finklea’s were merchants who advanced money to farmers and operated a sawmill and a cotton gin in the village. Much of Buena Vista remains in the Finklea family today.

In 1887, J.J. & Jack Finklea accomplished his dream of operating his own store.  Two years later, he rented the store of M. Patterson and continued a small cash business. When Jack’s sons, Oliver and Foster joined the business, the store became J.J. Finklea and Sons, General Mercantile. Oliver owned and operated the business until his death in 1958. Afterward, the store operated as the Estate of O.B. Finklea.  The Buena Vista Post Office was in the store until the post office closed in 1974.

The Finklea Mercantile tradition continued in Buena Vista into the 1980s as Jack Finklea’s great-grandson, Oliver P. “Sonny” Turner operated the Pine Lake Store in Buena Vista. Ironically, this last Finklea’s store was the first store building Jack rented in the village. However, Pine Lake Store eventually closed and activity in and around Buena Vista focused on the family’s significant timberland holdings. The Estate of O.B. Finklea, at one time in excess of 20,000 acres, was divided among his four children. Sonny Turner, grandson of O.B. Finklea, was the last family member to live in the village. His desire was that the village of Buena Vista be preserved and used for educational, recreational, and historical purposes. The various activities now taking place in and around Buena Vista represent the fulfillment of Sonny’s wishes. Much of his property, as well as properties owned by other family members, are being used in the life of the Village of Buena Vista.