William Samson Spurlin, the son of William J. and Cellie Matthews Spurlin, was born in Elba, Alabama, on February 5, 1868. He lived a long and active life; his death came on April 15, 1961. He was married to Pearl Dean Spurlin, and they had four children–two sons who are deceased, Charles Spurlin, Opp and W. S. Spurlin, Jr., Winter Haven, Florida; and two daughters, Edna Pearl Spurlin Gore and Mary Nell Spurlin Bolan, both of Opp.
“Bill” Spurlin was educated in the Elba schools, graduated at the age of fifteen. He taught school at Cross Trails, now Kinston, at Curtis, and at Danley’s Cross Roads.
In 1892, he was a partner in a mercantile establishment with H. D. Donaldson at Curtis. In 1894 on the Elba Highway three miles from Opp, he built a store and a sawmill. Here he squared the timber and hauled the squared logs to Pea River where they went down river to Freeport, Florida.
In 1900 he moved to Opp where he established a grist mill and a cotton gin. Using timber cut from the town site, Spurlin built some of the first homes in Opp. In 1912 he built a new home on what is still known as Spurlin’s Curve. Spurlin sawed the first timber off the land that was to become the city of Opp; he helped to carve this town out of the wilderness.
In 1925 the Spurlin’s moved to East Hart Avenue in Opp where Mr. Spurlin lived until his death. He was a prominent farmer and cattle owner and supervised all these operations until ill health caused him to retire in 1950.
When Opp was surveyed, one street was named Spurlin Street. He served as Post-master, Spurlin Town Community, Elba Road. He owned Opp’s first drug store in partnership with Aaron Whaley. He helped to organize Opp’s first bank, serving as Vice President. He was a stockholder in the Opp Cotton Mills. He served as City Councilman. One of Opp’s early stores was Spurlin Mercantile Company on Railroad Avenue; the store handled everything from mule collars to perfume. One of the first structures in Opp was Spurlin’s warehouse on Rail- road Avenue where the First Baptist and First Methodist Churches held services during the winter months. Spurlin set up a brick kiln and made bricks to build the first brick stores in Opp. Some of these early, unusually large bricks were donated to the Opp Historical Society after they were found during recent construction of the drive-through for the First National Bank.
When Dr. Dan J. Campbell of Rose Hill began his practice, Mr. Spurlin chose a horse and buggy from his stables and sent them to Dr. Campbell to use until the doctor was able to pay for them. Mr. Spurlin was well known for lending money to one in need or to back someone to start a business venture.
William S. Spurlin was an astute businessman, whose generosity and presight were in great measure responsible for the establishment and growth of the city of Opp. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982.
