On February 12, 1869, Esau Thomas, aged in his mid to late 40s, was lynched in the community of Hickman’s beat, now called Ralph, at the intersection of Tuscaloosa and Greene counties. He was attacked by a mob of white citizens after being accused of sexually assaulting a daughter of his former enslaver. Esau lived in Pickens County with his 4 children, an elder daughter and three young sons.