Without question the most renowned black citizen of Autauga County was Charles Atwood. It was assumed for many years that he was one of two slaves that Daniel Pratt brought with him from Georgia when he arrived in Autauga County in 1833. However, research by Curt Evans turned up a bill of sale from Samuel Griswold to Daniel Pratt dated March 30, 1843, which read as follows: Received of Daniel Pratt seven hundred dollars for a Negro mulatto boy named Charles, which boy I warrant sound and healthy and sound and healthy and a slave for life--the title of which boy I warrant against all claims. Said boy is about thirteen years old this 30th March 1843. Signed: Samuel Griswold. Witness: H. Kendal Carter. It is believed that the subject of the above transaction was Charles Atwood.

At the time of the sale he did not bear the name Atwood. The Atwood name came from the woman that Charles married, Eliza Atwood. He took her last name after she was bought by Pratt as a wife for Charles. This sale was recorded in a bill of sale executed by Amos Smith to Daniel Pratt. Smith made the purchase while on a trip to Savan-nah, Georgia, in Pratt's behalf. A story has been passed down through the Atwood descendants, some of whom still resided in Prattville in 1999, to the effect that Charles fell in love with a white woman. This being unacceptable to Pratt, he sent Smith to Savannah to procure Eliza, a true African, so that Charles would have a proper mate.

Atwood was a faithful servant to the Pratts, working as their coachman and personal valet. He was obviously well kept, and after emancipation he was allowed to buy a prominent home in the heart of Prattville, on Fourth Street, across from the present courthouse. This was a highly unusual event for several reasons. First, it was unusual that anyone had the money to make such a purchase after the War. Second, the location of the house was squarely in Prattville's white community. His descendants believe that Charles was freed before the war. At any rate, he was apparently paid for his services to the Pratts. Not only did he have sufficient finances to buy the house, he also invested in the South and North Railroad that Pratt sponsored after the war.

Certainly no other black family in Autauga County can lay claim to such prominence. According to family belief, the Atwoods were buried just outside the Pratt Family Cemetery, but Eliza was later re-interred in the Chapman Cemetery in Prattville, a known black burial place. It is believed that Charles’ remains continue to lie at the Pratt Cemetery.