During the Civil War, Company "H" of the 15th Regiment Alabama Infantry was raised from Barbour and Dale counties and called the "Glenville Guards".

In addition to the Methodist Church, the community was home to Male and Female Academies and the Weyman School for Girls, all of which were renowned throughout the South for their classical curricula.

With railroad bypassing Glennville and diminished power and influence of farmers after the Civil War, the town gradually faded.

It did not reappear again until 1880 with a much-diminished population after the borders were redrawn between Barbour and Russell Counties and it was moved into the latter.

Late 19th- and early 20th-century tenant farmer houses are more modest, and reflect the changing fortunes of the town.