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976.101 РОЛЬ v.I
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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00824 8574
RECORDS OF PICKENS COUNTY,
ALABAMA
VOLUME I
By Mrs. C. P. McGuire, Sr. and THE BIRMIGNGHAM GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
WILLO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Post Office Box 284 Tuscaloosa, Alabama
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1173313
Pages
BIOGRAPHIES
74 - 101
CENSUS RECORDS 13 32
CHURCH RECORDS .
34 - 60
CONFEDERATE WAR RECORDS. 66 - 73
EARLY RECORDS OF PICKENS COUNTY. 7 - 10
"FIRSTS" IN PICKENS COUNTY
5
"FACE IN THE WINDOW" 0 . .
12
INDIANS IN PICKENS COUNTY. 3
MAP OF ALABAMA 2
MAP OF PICKENS COUNTY.
1
REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIERS OF PICKENS COUNTY 60-A - 63
64 - 65
WAR OF 182 SOLDIERS OF PICKENS COUNTY.
MALE INDEX
FEMALE INDEX
$ 8.0
Willo Prete.
LAMAR
COUNTY
-
COUNTY
MACEDONIA CHURCH
GREEK
17
1
1
PALMET TO
L
Gou
7 LIBERTY CHURCH
FOREST CHURCH
KEASLEY SCHOOL
can-
ALA
8
ETHELSVILLE
1 82
MINERAL SPRINGS CHURCH
COAL FIRE
ALA
HWY
6
OHIO
37
18
AND
RO.
CO.
RD.
CO
R
PINE GROVE CHURCH
BELL
--
RD.
AL
HEBRON CHURCH
STANSEL )
LINE
HWY
0
CARLOSS
ARCHER
TỌA **
ALA
1
CARROLLTON
1
S
-
70
RO
19
S
SAPPSOL
-
COUNTY
ALA
UNION CHAPEL
S
S
SAN
S
DILLBURG
-
UNITY CHURCH
M
AD
8
CUNNINGHAM
OLNEY
RAILWAY
PLEASANT GROVE
ALICEVILLE
& CREEK
RO
BENEVOLA
COUNTY
NOXUBEE
HWY
LUBSUB
LAH
-
COCHRANE
ALA
GREENE
DANCY
SIPSEY
SUMTER
COUNTY
PICKENS COUNTY, ALABAMA SCALE IN MILES
O
2
3
PAVED ROADS
-
- UNPAVED ROADS
COUNTY
OEL BETHEL CHURCH
MOBILE
co
LOWNDES_
REFORŮ
CO
MCSHAN
CREEK
30
`HARGROVE CHURCH
SHEPHERDE
ALA
FIRE
GORDO
can
SINOT
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79.1
NOLAND
63
CO.
COUNTY SEAT ?.
RD.
CO
PICKENSVILLE
BEASLEY
BEAR
RO.
63
00
HW
. FRANCISCO
MEMPHIS
(TOMRIGBEE
CO RO.1J
RIVER
RIVER
LNWY
71
STAFFORD
49
LUBBUB
RO
NEW HOPE O CHURCH
U.S. HI
CREEK
17
RD
CO
KIRK SCHOOL CO
TUSCALOOSA
CO
00
Lauderdale
Madison
Limestone
Jackson
Colbert
Lawrence
Franklin
Morgan
Marshall
Cullman
Cherokee
Marion
Winston
Etowah
Blount
Lamar
Walker
Calhoun
St.Clair
Fayette
Cle- burne
Jefferson
Pickens
Tuscaloosa
Shelby
Randolph
Bibb
Coosa
Groene
Tallapoosa
Hale
Chilton
Perry
Elmore
Lee
Sumter
Autauga
Macon
Dallas
Montgomery
Marengo
Choctaw
Lowndes
Bullock
Wilcox
Barbour
Clarke
Butler
Pike
Cren- shaw
Monroe
Henry
Washington
Dale
Conecuh
Coffee
Covington
Baldwin
Houston
Geneva
Escambia
Mobile
ALABAMA
Talladeg:
Clay
Chambers
Russell
Dekalb
HIGHWAY MARKERS IN PICKENS COUNTY, ALABAMA
The present northern boundry of Pickens County is the original boundry seperating the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indian Tribes. The Creeks had a town on the site of Tuscaloosa, within the Choctaw Territory and con- tested the Choctaw title to this land and in 1800 defeated the Choctaws in a battle between the Tombigbee river and the present State boundry, one mile south of Pickenville. The Choctaws refused to give up their Claims and held the territory until 1816 when they ceded the land east of the Tombigbee River to the United States. Now Highway Markers show the locations.
CHOCTAW NATION:
These were the ancestral hunting grounds of the Choctaws ceded in 1816. The Choctaws were one of the four great civilized tribes occuping the Southeast frrom aboriginal times.
U.S. 82 near Reform,
CHOCTAW INDINAS. 1830
This territory west of the Tombigbee was ceded by the Choctaws at the Treaty of the Dancing Rabbit Creek in 1830.
Alabama #17, between Cochrane and Dancy.
CHOCTAW-CHICKASAW INDINA BOUNDRY
The present county line between Pickens and Lamar Counties is the same as the boundry between these two great civilized Indian Tribes which occupied these parts until 1816.
Alabama #17 on Pickens - Lamar Line.
CREEK-CHOCTAW BATTLE 1800 5 miles west
The Creeks invading the Choctaw lands and contesting their title defeated the Choctaws, but were not able to eject them or settle this section.
Alabama #17, between Aliceville and Carrollton,
- 3 -
ORIGIN OF PICKENS COUNTY, ALABAMA
When Alabama became a State in 1819 what is now Pickens .County was in Tuscaloosa County, but the settlement on the Tombigbee River was too far from the county seat of Tuscaloosa County, so a new county was formed December 19, 1820 and named PICKENS in homor of ISRAEL PICKENS, the third Governor of Alabama, The first seat of Pickens County was in the home of Jacob Dansby, who lived where Pickensville now is, with three electoral precincts, one at the home of Mr, Mullins, another at the home of James Heflin, in the Garden community and the third at Ezeckial Nash's
The first settlers were mainly from South Carolina, down the trail from Ditto's Lanci Ditto's Landing on the Tennessee River to "Mud Town", IL ater named Elyton. Even more settlers came in, with the seccion of the Choctaws land in 1830, causing some of the earlier settlers to move on west, as they had only "squatter's rights" to the land in Pickens County,
Pickensville was the first county seat when Government gave 80 acres in 1830 to establish a county seat, The county seat was moved to Carrollton later. Carrollton was incorporated as a town January 15, 1831, with Robert Jemison as member of the Board of Commission to locate and lay off the town,
The Acts of the State in 1821 established an election precinct at the house of Mr, Cox, near Cole Fire Creek.
December 20, 1824 Fayette County was established from part of Pickens and Tu Tuscaloosa and Marion Counties. In 1832 two Beats on the west side of the County, were added from Greene County,
- 4 -
In 1819, Rev. Lorenzo Dow, and Itinerant preacher, came into what was later - Reform, Pickens County, to try and convert the many vandals and saloons there. He had no result at all in his undertaking, and as he was leaving someone was suggesting a name for the town - he yelled back: "Name it REFORM" and left!
The first white settler in Pickens County was Josiah Tilly, and Indian Trader who came into Tuscaloosa in 1817, to the east bank of the Tombigbee River, half a mile above the rpesent town of Pickensville. He is said to have been born in North Carolina or Tennessee and married in Tuscaloosa County to a daughter of Patrick Scott, who came to Pickens County from South Carolina. Tilly is said to have gone to Texas with the Choctaws.
The second settler was Jonothan fork, who lived on the road from Pickensville to Columbus, Mississippi. His daughter, Catherine, was the first child born in Pickens County.
The first male child born in Pickens County was Edward L., son of Stephen P. Doss, about 1818.
The first marriage in the county was that of Elizabeth Cox and Lewis Christopher in February 1820, she being the daughter of Daniel Cox.
The first Methodist preacher in the community was Rev. Ebenezer Hearn, who came in from Tennessee in 1819.
Rev. Charles Stewart, a Baptist preacher was preaching at the Big Creek Baptist in the year 1823.
The early Presbyterian preachers were not permanent ones, though several of that faith preached there in the early days.
- 5 -
FROM ALABAMA MILITARY REGISTER
PICKENS COUNTY, ALABAMA FIRST COUNTY OFFICALS
1821
March 20 Adino Griffin
Sheriff
3 Peter Kilpatrick
Clerk of Circuit Court
Levi Parker
Clerk of County Court
September 1
Underhill Ellis
Justice of Peace
Thomas Shannon Justice of Peace
November 1
Joseph Parker
Justice of Peace
Hezekiah Williams
Justice Of Peace
Samuel Carnill Justice of Peace
William Johnson
Justice of Peace
Thomas Gore Justice of Peace
Benjamin Pollard
Justice of Peace
F
Herbert Becklam Constable
Excerpts from ACTS OF ALABAMA 1837 - 1838
Pickens County, Alabama. Carrollton Male Academy established.
Trustees: Benjamin Roper, Edmund T. Bush, Francis W. Bostick, John M. Pettigrew, George W. Daniel, Anderson Russell, and Richard K. Chamberlayne.
Bridgeville, Pickens County, Alabama
Male and Female Academy.
Trustees: Reuben Gardner, John Summerville, William Fowler, James Gillespie and James B. Gladney.
- 6 -
THE FIRST JUDGE OF PICKENS COUNTY, ALABAMA
The first Judge was Solomon Marshall electedin 1821. "Old Sol" was the soubriquet bestowed upon the Judge and was sonsidered an indication of popularity in the community. Mr. Marshall came originally from the State of Georgia, at a very early period in the history of Alabama, he had been a member of the General Assembly of the State. He was a man of some prominence in his county, before he moved to North Alabama. He first settled in Madison County and resided there several years. Being unsuccess- ful there, in business he removed to Pickens County. The Old Judge was. however a thriving man while he resided in Pickens County. In 1830 Judge Marshall resigned and removed to Panola County, Mississippi, where he re- sided to the time of his death.
Hon. Martin L. Stansel was elected Judhe 1849 - 1850 and served for a few months. His father, Rev. William R. Stansell came to Pickens County in 1824 from Washington County, Georgia, when his son was seven months old. Martin L. Stansell was born in Savannah, Georgia in April 1824, being the Son of William R. Stansell and Jane C. Riddle (Riddell). His father came to South Carolina with the Hugenots. Rev. Stansell's father was a Captain in the Revolutionary War. Rev. Stansell was in the War of 1812 and died in Pickens County in 1860; his wife died there October 16, 1868. He mar- ried Olivia, daughter of James C. and Mary C. Sherrod. Judge Stansell was a graduate of the University of Alabama. The Stansell home still (1959) stands in Carrollton.
- 7 -
HON. TRISTAM SHANDY THOMAS
From THE PICKENS REPUBLICAN 1854
Hon. Thristam Shandy Thomas was the first Judge of Probate of Pickens County, was elected by the people in May 1849, after having been clerk in the County Court. He was also a licensed Baptist preacher. He was born 1800 in Wythe County, Virginia, whence he removed to Kentucky , when a boy, resided one year in Tennessee, then to Pickens County in 1818. He died June 7, 1854.
1850 Census of Pickens County, Alabama
Family #35 T. S. Thomas
aged 49
born Va, Judge of Probate
Delile Thomas
= 47
m Tenn
Malinda Thomas
=
18
Ala.
John Thomas
: 17
=
Elizabeth Thomas
11 15
=
Joseph Thomas
=
14
Tristam, Jr,
= 12
David Thomas
=
11
1
James Thomas
11
5
In this family was: David Thomas born Tenn. aged 22.
From the family names - Thristam & Matthew Cother Thomas, there must be a descent from the THOMAS family of Maryland, thru George Thomas who married Elizabeth Cother. George Thomas said to have lived a short time in Christain County, Kentuck, then to Warren County, Tennessee. No record that he owned land in Wythe County, Virginia and the early records of Warren County, Tennessee were destroyed.
William Thomas, brother of Tristam, also lived in Pickens County for a while then moved into Jefferson County where he died. The settlement of his estate in Ophan's Court states that he died June 24, 1843.
8
NAMES OF MEN IN THE CIRCUIT COURT ABOUT 1824 IN PICKENS COUNTY, ALABAMA
Adair, Thomas
Gordon, John
Mckinley, John
Adair, William
Gore, Ellis
Hall Hallaway
Addington, William Alden, Samuel Austen, J. B.
Hawkins, Henry
Parham, Nat
Aycock, William T.
Hill, John P.
Porter, Samuel
Ballard, Henry W.
Hooper, John
Powell, James
Ballard, John G.
Hooper, Obadiah
Ricks, James
Bell, Samuel
Howard, Robert
Riley, James
Bridges, Robert
Ivy, J. A.
Ring, William
Brown, Nat
Johnson, George
Robertson, Ephraim
Byler, Abram
Johnson, Hayley
Scott, Andrew
Carroll, William
Johnson, Henry
Scarborough, Joseph
Carroll, William W.
Johnson, Stpphen
Shannon, Moses
Cary, John C.
Johnson, William
Shannon, Owen
Clark, Daniel
Jones, Hardy
Shannon, Thomas
Clark, Lewis
Jones, Jesse
Shaw, Archibald
Clark, Theophilus
Lacy, James
Saltonstall, Gilbert
Denton, W. D.
Lukes, James
Saltonsrall, Gordon
Denty, John
Marshall Solomon
Silas, James
Dobson, Sterrett
Mayfield, Obadiah
Steen, John
Dobson, Neely
Merrell, Alex
Stodfill, jesse
Dobson, William
Morehead, John
Springs, Sloan
Doss, Stephen
Mullins, Loan
Teas, Charles
Ellison, Jonothan
McCombs, Williams
Temple, James
Forrester, Silas Gammell, William
McCarary, Andrew
Townsend, Thomas
Gilbry, J. W.
McGeehee, William
Ward, John
Weaver, Elijah
Williams, George
Watson, Samuel
Wigginton, George
Williams, James
Watson, Simon
Grant, William
Neighbors, William
Harrison, Richard
Oxford, John
- 9 -
McClanahan, Robert
Thomason, Fleming
NAMES OF THE MEN OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT 1824 - PICKENS COUNTY
Ball, Burell
Jackson, William
Ball, Parks
Jones Richard
Barnes, Caleb
Martin, Alex
Barnes, Joseph
Morehaed. Joseph
Bradford, Davis
Morfit, John
Brashier, Thomas
Parkinson, Edmund
Billington, John
Petete, John
Cox, Allen
Peterson, James
Cox, Danile
Porter, Andrew
Cox, William
Ring, John G.
Crunbull, John
Robertson, Henry
Ellis, Joe
Robertson, Loderwick
Ellis, Robert
Scott, John Scott, Patrick
Ellis, Underhill
Sherrod, Randall
Davidson, William
Shoemaker, Linsey
Dobbs, Charles
Sims, Thomas G.
Dobbs, Silas
Smith, James
Dobbson, Steret
Spraggins, William
Fournoy, George H.
Forrester, Forrest
Fowler, William
Wilkins, George
Hargrove, William
Williams, John
Harris, Thomas
Wilson, William
Harrison, Hugh Holland, C. M.
Woods, Thomas
Wier, Samuel
Homes, Thomas
Jackson, Joseph
Jenkins, Stephen
- 10 -
Steen, Thomas White, William
Ellison, Lewis
SAMUEL B. MOORE, 6TH GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA
Samuel B. Moore was born in Franklin County, Tennessee in 1789 and died in Carrollton, Pickens County, Alabama November 7, 1846. He had received a limited education and settled first in Jackson County, Alabama, where he represented that county in the Legislature as early as 1823. After serving several terms in the Lower House, he was elected to the State Senate in 1828, being President of that body in 1831.
He succeeded Judge Flournoy by election at the session of 1834 and 1835. He held his first County Court in July of the latter named year. He served out the full term of six years. He fills too important a place in the history of Pickens County and the State to receive a mere passing notice, He was State Senator from Pickens at the time of his election. When Governor Gabriel Moore (Governor of Alabama) resigned to take his place in the United States Senate, Samuel Moore succeeded him in the Executive office and Administered until December of the same year. Gabriel Moore resigned March 3, 1831.
At the end of his term he returned to Pickens County, which he represented in the State Senate 1834 - 1838, serving as President of the Senate in 1835
He was Judge of the County Court of Pickens County from 1835- 1841. He was never married and made his home in Carrollton.
11 -
THE FACE IN THE WINDOW
The Courthouse in Carrollton, seat of Pickens County, Alabama was burned on Tuesday, November 16, 1876. A negro - Henry Wells was arrested, two years after as being the one who started the firs. In the meantime a new courthouse had been built.
Henry was, also suspected of other crimes and to save him from the enraged mob, he was hidden in the garret of the new Courthouse. Just at that time an electrical storm occurred and as Henry was looking down at the mob, his face was stamped on the window by the electricity.
Through all the years, in spite of hail and storm, which destroyed all other windows in the Courthouse, that particular pane, with the striking image, remains.
The glass has been scribbed with soap and gasoline as well as other means, but still that pane has met all tests and to this day, (August 1959) the face remains unchanged.
Henry died in jail from effects of wounds he received as he once tried to escape.
- 12 -
METHODIST CHURCH OF ALICE, PICKENS COUNTY, ALABAMA
The church was organized in 1879, during the ministry of the Rev. W. M. Ripper, 5 miles south of Aliceville, a few hundred yards east of the present Aliceville-Eutaw Highway. The church was named the Emory's Chapel and was on the Carrollton demominational circuit.
Another church, on the same Circuit, was located at Olney, eight miles east of the present site of Aliceville.
In 1900 when the Rev. John W. Norton was pastor of the Circuit the two churches were torn down, and the lumber taken to Bethany, six mile southeast of Aliceville and a new church was constructed there. There had already been a Methodist congregation in Bethany, so the combined congregation formed a flourishing church which went by the name of Bethany and remained in the community for about six years.
In 1906, when the Rev. Samuel N. Burn was pastor, the church building in Bethany was sold and the congregation moved into Aliceville and constructed a new church, On Sunday, the 3rd one in May 1909, Bishop H. C. Morrison preached the dedicatory sermon in the new church in Aliceville. In 1923, the Aliceville Methodist Church was taken into the Carrollton Circuit and made a full-time station. During the pastorate of the Rev. J. E. Jenkins, 1923-1927 an annex was added for Sunday School rooms.
In 1944 a building fund was started for a new church building and manse. The first service in November 1948, was held in the new build- ing which cost approximately $45,00.000
- 13 -
BETHESDA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ROUTE 2, PICKENS COUNTY, ALABAMA
The pioneer Presbyterians in the southern part of Pickens County, many of whom came in from the Carolinas planned to organize a church. On the 29th of September 1838, the Rev. Thomas Morrow of the Tuscaloosa Presby- tery organized the church, near Crawford, with fifteen Charter Members, who were: Thomas Loftin Mary K. Eddings
Edwin Bridges
Andrew Lofton
Martha Bridges Nancy Davis
Elizabeth Loftin
Harry Burnsides John S. Knox
David C. Russell Elizabeth Burnsides Rachel R. Knox
Ann B. Russell
Jane Craig Elizabeth Love
Thomas and Andrew Lofton and John S. Knox were elected the ruling Elders. On September 30, 1828 the Session met and decided to name the church - BETHESDA.
Some of the early members were:
Julia Crawford Mrs Nancy G. Herndon Francis Weir
Nelson Crawford
John Herrington
Mrs. Sarah Weir
Eli T. Goinf Sarah D. Lanier
Eliza Williams
Martha A. Going
Thomas C. Lanier
Michael Williams
Mahala Going
Mrs. Jane Lavender
Rebecca Going
Mrs. Prudence Weit
Members added in 1824 - 1852
Mrs. Margaret Craig
Mrs. Elizabeth Lofton
Miss Sophronia Lofton
Miss Jane Caroline Richard
Miss Elizabeth Lofton
- 14 -
Members added 1853 - 1860
William I. Goign
Rebecca Jane Going
Mrs. Ann Somerville
Amanda C. Bailey
Josephine Going
Dr. C. W. Somerville Henrietta Somerville
Martha J. Bailey
Sarah A. Going
Miss Mary Crawford
Mrs. Elizabeth Gardner
Mary Ann Gardner
Martha Jay
William Gardner
Louis Jay
Mrs. Wright Hudson Gardner
Members added in 1863 - 1873
Martha Bailey Mrs. Elizabeth Cunningham Harry Boutwell
Mrs. Caroline Boutwell
Tyler Polk Jay James Jay
Rosaline Cunningham
H. D. Boutwell
Mary Jay
Thomas G. Duncan
Mrs. H. L. Hutton
Going Jay
Dr. James A. Fulton
James A. Going
Lewis Jay
Miss Mary Fulton
John S. Going
Laura E. Lanier
Edwin E. Fulton
Job. Going
Thomas B. Lanier
James H. Fulton
H. Graham
James G. Lanier
William L. Fulton
Duncan E. Lockhart
Ellas Lofton!
Miss Davis Wilson,
James H. Nunnellee
Mrs. Amanda Nunnellee
from Centerville Church
E. E. Nunnellee
Mary Nunnellee
Members added in 1875 - 1882 S. S. Stanton and his wife and their baptized children: Mary Jessie, Porter, Elizabeth and Martha.
Mrs. Maggie B. Osborne and her children: Lula C., Elizabeth,
Martha E., Walter R., and Willie F. Osborne.
Mrs. Maude Going William Akines
James M. Weir
Mrs. Jane S. Murphy
M. R. Hood
A. Hood Mrs. M. P. Paden Miss Rebecca Russell Eugene Stanton
Minnie Sommerville
- 15 -
John K. Spence, Feb. 28, 1869, from Greensboro, Ga,
Carrie Nunnellee
J. D. Weir
Alfred E. Going
James Huffman
Elizabeth White
16
BETHESDA CHURCH - Continued
Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Morrow came into the church several years later. She descends from the A. E. Going family and Mr. Morrow was a descer ant of Rev. Thomas Morrow. They being the only ones of the congrega tion descending from one who was present at the organization of the Church one hundred years before.
Rev. John K. Spence who was a well known Presbyterian Minister of Alabama, was at one time an Elder of this church. He being the only person who had once belonged to this church - to enter the ministry. The early churches were a sort of court - where grievance of its members were threshed out.
As was custom in the South, before the War between the States, quite a number of slaves were regular members of this church. In later years, the younger generation preferred an organization of their own The cemetery at BETHESDA, where the older members were laid to rest, is well cared for. A Revolutionary war Soldier - Thomas Lofton lies buried in this adjoining cemetery.
Early Presbyterian Churches were located at Carrollton, Pickensville Reform, Franconia, (2) Bradfords, over Sipsey and Sipsey Turnpike.
17
BIG CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH
This church is said to have been the oldest congregation in Pickens County and was organized in 1823, at the Garden (Enon), then moved to Aliceville.
Its second organization was at Yorkville (now Aliceville), by Elder Jacob Crocker in 1829.
Then at Big Creek on January 10, 1829, with fourteen members, with Rev. Charles Stewart as pastor; first Deacons were Notley Gore and Dempsey White. In two months, the congregation had increased to twenty members - one - " a black woman, Melly". At that date, slaves In were given the opportunity to attach themselves to that church. the next ten years, there were thirty-four black members, out of the whole list of one hundred and sixty four. In 1848 it was agreed to build a separate building for the black population. This church was the scene of a break in the Baptist denomination, in 1837, the Missionary Baptists continued in this church and the Hardshell Baptist established a new organization.
From the Big Creek Church, a Baptist church was organized in Carrollton in 1846 by Mrs. Candace Bostick, Mrs. Caroline Sherrod, Matthews Lyons and others.
The UNITY GROVE CHURCH was the place of the beginning of an Assembly known as "CAMP MEETING", where people from even nearby states have camped and held religious services for over fifty years.
MT. OLIVET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
This church was located about sixteen miles west of Tuscaloosa in Pickens County, in the Davidson Settlement of Tuscaloosa County. Saturday, January 6th, 1838, Rev. Joseph B. Adams, organized this church. The fifteen charter members were:
Thomas Wier William Archibald
Milus A. Davidson
Nancy S. Wier Margaret Archibald Devey Davidson
Wallis Alexander Sarah Archibald Alonzo F. A. Love
Elizabeth Alexander
Thomas W. Falls Mary Love
Mary Robison
Eliza Falls Ann Chambers
Thomas H. Wier and William Archibald were elected as the first ruling elders of this church. Rev. William Williams was the first pastor and served for eleven years.
The seats were arranged so the slaves would have a place to sit in the church.
Mr. Ninian Steel, a native of Iredell County, North Carolina, was one of the early members in 1839 and remained a member until his death, October 15, 1842, at the age of 62 years and his body was the first to be buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. One corner of this cemetery was reserved for the slaves.
Thomas H. Wier was the first clerk of the Church, until his death when Thomas W. Falls was elected to serve in that place. 3 William Archibald was appointed to attend the Presbytery in Tuscaloosa, October 2, 1838. Rev. James Somerville succeeded Rev. Williams as pastor of this Church in 1850, where he served faithfully for twenty- nine years. Rev. Somverville was a great-uncle of Mrs. T. C. Border of Reform. The church building was well constructed and even the wooden pegs in the benches were in use one hundred and one years later.
19
Records of the OAK GROVE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, at Franconia, near Aliceville, Pickens County, Alabama. Data copied from the minutes of that Church.
MAY 20th 1837
"According to a previous appointment, Rev. Thomas Morrow, a member of the Tombecbee Presbytery, proceeded to organize a Presbyterian Church near Mayrehoop' store, in the county aforesaid; when the
following persons were on certificate, received as members, vis:
1. John Turnipseed 17. Eliza J. Hood
2. Elizabeth Turnipseed
18. William Owens
3. Mary Ann Turnipseed 19. Elizabeth M. Owens
4. Martha Turnipseed 20. Robert Cunningham
5. Abraham Turnipseed
6. Nancy Turnipseed
7. Archibald Hood
8. Mary A. Hood
9. John Summerville
10. Sara Summerville
11. Jane N. Summerville
12. William H. Summerville
13. John Hughes, Sr.
29. Margaret S. Duncan
30. Rebecca Going
31. Queen Ann ( colored)
32. Hannah (colored)
Elders :
John Hughes
John Turnipseed
John Summerville
Abraham Turnipseed
Archibald Hood
RESOLVED : That this church be called "OAK GROVE,"
26. Eliza J. Williams
27. William Kelsey
28. Joseph Duncan
14. Sarah Hughes
15. Margaret Summerville
16. Samuel W. Hood
21. Mary Cunningham
22. Jane Summerville
23. Martha D. Summerville
24. Andrew H. Summerville
25. Michael C. Williams
Records of Oak Grove Presbyterian Church, Continued May 21, 1837 - the following members were received.
Robert Bell, John Rogers, David Hood, Nancy Morrow June 4, 1837 - Margaret Rowe rec.on certificate. September 30, 1837 - These were received:
George Weir M. McBurney Susan Howarth
Jane Hughes D. McBurney
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