USA > Alabama > Memorial record of Alabama. A concise account of the state's political, military, professional and industrial progress, together with the personal memoirs of many of its people. Volume I > Part 123
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PERSONAL MEMOIRS-HALE COUNTY.
1844, he was admitted to the degree of A. M. The honorary degree of D. D. was simultaneously conferred upon him by Randolph-Macon and Emory & Henry colleges, June, 1847. To the general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. south, he was elected a delegate in 1850, and again in 1854. Resigning the presidency of La Grange college in 1852, he was stationed at Nashville, Tenn., in 1853 and 1854, and was elected to the chair of English and belles-letters in Nashville university, and chairman of its faculty in 1853. In 1855 he was transferred to the Alabama conference, and during the following two years he was stationed at Greensboro, Ala. He was located at Selma, Ala., during the years 1858 and 1859, and in October of the latter year. he was called to the chair of moral science in the Southern university at Greensboro. This chair he resigned in February, 1871, and during the four succeeding years served as pastor of the church at Montgomery, Ala. The four years fol- lowing found him at the Franklin Street Methodist Episcopal church, Mobile, Ala., and he was then transferred to the eldership of the Mobile district, serving during the years 1880 and 1881. At this point the be- numbing and withering hand of paralysis was suddenly and heavily laid upon him, irrepressible though his energies were, and he never recov- ered from the blow. He was taken to his home, his much loved Greens- boro, where he passed many a day and night in suffering and seclusion till relieved by death in 1889. If an attempt were made to review the character of this distinguished divine nothing in it would be found more conspicuous than candor. So transparent was he in word and deed, that mere policy, as that word is understood, was practically unknown to him. To believe a certain course of action to be right, that was enough. What is duty? was always with him the paramount question, and having settled that question he would go right on without regard to the popular drift of opinion, into which so many throw themselves in order to secure the praise and admiration of the multitude. So pure was he in thought. word and deed, that it is in no wise an exaggeration to quote in applica- tion to his purity, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile." And in summing up what is said of him in this work it must be said that the fact of his having been for fifty years in the front rank of pulpit orators presents to the mind the most certain expression of his gifts as a preacher. In 1841 he was married to Miss Eliza Felton, of Raleigh, N. C., who died in 1848. In 1850 Dr. Wadsworth was united in marriage with Miss Mary W. Sledge, of Alabama, a lady of excellent family and culture. The latter still survives.
D. WEIL, one of the representative business men of Greensboro, was born in Bavaria, Germany. September 23, 1853. He is the son of Isaack and Regina Weil, both of whom were born in Bavaria, and lived and died in their native country. The former was a merchant. D. Weil received a fair education in Germany, and came to this country in 1881. For some 64
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time he worked in a clothing house in New York city. He then came to the southern states, and sold goods as a peddler in Tennessee for some years. In 1887 he bought the general merchandising business of A. B. Loveman, at Greensboro, where he has since resided and carried on the mercantile business. During the first eighteen months he had a partner, but at the end of that time he bought his partner's interest, and has since been alone. His is one of the most important general merchandise stores in Greensboro. Little by little he has gone on accumulating prop- erty, until now he is one of the substantial citizens of Hale county. In 1877 he married, in Germany, Miss Leona Weil, who bore him four sons, and died a short time after he located in Greensboro. In 1885 he mar- ried, for a second wife, Miss Emelia Frank, who has borne him one child. Mr. Weil is a member of the order of Knights of Pythias, of the Free Sons of Israel, and is a master Mason. He is now past chancellor of his lodge of Knights of Pythias.
HENRY COUNTY.
WILLIAM B. AYCOCK, maufacturer of naval stores, was born in Wayne county, N. C .. in 1849. He was a son of Benjamin and Serena ( Hooks ) Aycock, the former of whom was a native of Wayne county, born there in 1817, was raised in the same county, was a farmer and was recognised as one of the leading business men of his day. He was elected to the legislature in 1864, and held the office eight years. He was also a member of the constitutional convention in 1855, held for the purpose of changing the constitution of the state., Although he had but a limited education, his opinions were generally sound and his decisions usually accepted by his associates. He was a well read man and was conversant with the current topics of the times. He was a Jeffersonian democrat in politics, and a Primitive Baptist in religion. While he was engaged in politics he was also engaged in merchandising and farming, both of which lines of busi- ness he carried on extensively. His death occurred in 1875. William P. Aycock's mother was also born in Wayne county, N. C., in 1817, was married at the age of twenty-three years and was the mother of ten children, only four of whom now survive. She is still living at the old home place in North Carolina. William B. Aycock was reared on a farm in his native county, was educated in the common school, made the most of his opportunities and worked on the farm and at various occupations until 1874, when he left home and went to Richland county, S. C., where he became engaged in the manufacture of spirits of turpentine as an employee, and in that capacity learned the business in all its branches. Remaining there until 1877, he went to Wayne county, Ga., there estab- lishing himself in business, which he prosecuted successfully until 1879. He then sold out and went to Jasper county, Fla., and there established a turpentine plant, which he operated a short time, selling out and then
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engaging in promiscuous occupations for some years. He then established a plant at Houston, Fla., which he operated some years, then sold it and in August, 1891, bought the large plant he now operates and owns at the town of Dothen. He was married to Miss Virginia, daughter of James L. King, a merchant and farmer of Blount's Ferry, Fla. Mrs. Aycock was born in Caledonia county, Fla., about 1851, was married at the age of twenty-seven, and is the mother of two children, Laura N. and Benjamin K. Mr. Aycock now has a plant in fine working order, valued at $10,000, with a capacity of 400 gallons a day, and an orchard of 270,000 trees, from which he gains his supplies. He furnishes employment daily to sixty men and has a daily expense account of $75. He also has a commissary with a stock of $5,000 worth of goods. He has two brothers, who have attained distinction in politics, one, Charles B., ran for the United States senate, but was defeated by the farmers' alliance. He was one of the Cleveland electors in 1888; the other, Francis M., was elected to the legislature from Wayne county, N. C., two terms, and then to the state senate one term in 1888. Early in life William B. Aycock was thrown upon his own resources; but being full of energy and ambition he made a way to a business which he mastered and built up, and now has undertaken that which renders him independent, an employer of labor, a distributor of money and a valuable citizen. In politics he is a democrat and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. Both are valuable members of society.
JOSEPH BAKER, capitalist, speculator and cotton buyer of Dothen, is one of the most widely known men in southeastern Alabama. He was born in Lee county, Ga., March 9, 1836. He was the son of William and Sophia (Somers) Baker, the former being a native of Georgia, born in 1800, and in that state growing to manhood. Early in life he learned the trade of a cooper, and died at Americus, Ga., in 1855. Mrs. Baker was born in Wright county, Ga., and was of Irish parentage, of which fact Joseph has always been justly proud. Her father came from the Emerald Isle at an early day, settled in Georgia, and was well known throughout certain portions of that state. Mrs. Baker grew to womanhood in Twiggs county, Ga., and was married in her fourteenth year. She became the mother of nine children, eight of whom still live. Early deprived of the protection of her husband, the support of this large family of children devolved upon her. But she took hold of her task like the noble woman that she was, and by good and judicious management she reared and edu- cated them to the best of her ability, and all remember her self-sacrific- ing devotion to their interests with affection. She was a member of the Missionary Baptist church, and died in 1875. in her sixty-third year of her age. Joseph Baker grew up on the farm until he was sixteen years of age, when he went to northwestern Louisiana, where he engaged as a farm hand and worked by the month, remaining there eight years, devot- ing his wages to the assistance of his mother, in her efforts to take care
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of the family. At the age of twenty-one, he attended the parish school ninety days, during which time he learned to read and write, and acquired somewhat of the rudiments of mathematics. In April, 1867, he returned to Alabama, bought a farm in Henry county, and commenced farming, at. which he was very successful, making $1,000 per year, for ten years. In 1870, he opened a small mercantile business on his farm, secured mail facilities, and opened a postoffice, which was called Baker, in honor of himself. He then began to enlarge and build up his business, and became one of Henry county's stanchest and most successful business men. He continued to operate his farm, in connection with his store, and steadily kept on accummulating land. He produced large quantities of pork, corn, cotton, and all kinds of cereals. In 1889, Mr. Baker closed out his farm- ing business and settled in Dothen, in order that he might have complete school facilities for his children. Here he invested largely in real estate business, and dwelling lots and property-and has built three large brick store buildings, in the business portion of the town, also two frame store buildings, and nearly a dozen dwelling houses. Mr. Baker was married April 4, 1867, to Miss Jane Saunders, daughter of Holloway Saunders. Mrs. Baker was born in Georgia, April 12, 1849, and while yet young, came with her parents to Alabama, they settling in Henry county. She. was married in her eighteenth year, and is now the mother of fourteen children. seven boys and seven girls: Eugenie, wife of W. T. Buntin, lives at Headland; Joseph, single, engaged in mercantile business; Min- nie, wife of T. E. Shadgett, lives in Dothen; Nancy, wife of W. E. Danzeys; George; Maggie; James; Daniel; Robert: Silas; Ghastie: Colie; Willie and Vera. Mrs. Baker is a member of the Missionary Baptist. church. Mr. Baker has always been a straight-forward, upright and honest business man, and by his own industry, energy and well directed. efforts has amassed an ample fortune, for the support of his family, dur- ing their declining years. Early in life thrown upon his own resources, and with the support of his father's family resting in part upon him, and at the same time deprived of an education, he had nothing with which to battle with the world, except his two hands and his indomitable will. What he has accomplished speaks for himself. He has fearlessly met. and overcome every obstacle, and now is one of the wealthy men of Henry county. He is now the president of the compress company, capi- talized at $50,000. He is a very extensive land owner, having deeds to 3,000 acres of land, which is divided up into some seventy-five or eighty farms, all well tilled. He owned one of the finest houses in Geneva county, which was erected at a cost of $10,000. It was manufactured in New York, transported to Geneva county, and there erected. It was destroyed by fire in 1891. His Dothen dwelling is one of the finest in the place, and he is now erecting one of the handsomest, and most commodi- ous residences in this part of the country. Mr. Baker still holds to the good old ways of hospitality, keeping his sideboard always well supplied,.
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PERSONAL MEMOIRS-HENRY COUNTY.
but he has never been under the influence of intoxicating liquor during his life time. He attributes his success in life to strict attention to busi- ness, to straightforward methods of doing business, and always meeting his obligations when due. In politics he is neutral. He has contributed liberally to the upbuilding of Dothen churches and schools, is in every ยท sense of the world a public spirited man, and he has a large circle of friends all over southeastern Alabama.
HENRY M. BEACH, general merchant of Columbia, is one of the ener- getic and practical business men of Henry county. He was born in New Jersey, November 26, 1833, and was one of four children born to Amzi and Martha W. (Potts) Beach. The former was a native of New Jersey, was educated in the common schools of that state, and also at Princeton college, one of the foremost colleges in the union. While yet a young man, he moved to Florida, and there took charge of a school. After a time, his health failed, and he returned to New Jersey, remaining there three years, when he returned to Florida with health much improved, and settled at St. Joseph, a small town situated some twenty-five miles north of Appalachicola, but of which town there remains not now a single vestige to indicate its past existence. Then it contained about 2,500 people, and he became a member of its town council, and city clerk and treasurer. After some years spent here, he removed to Albany, Ga., and from there to Marianna, Fla. He then removed to Columbia, Ala., remaining there five years. He then removed to Abbe- ville, and died there in 1841. His profession was that of a school teacher, and he followed that profession all his life. The mother of Henry M. Beach was a native of North Carolina, and was married first to a Mr. Fowler, who soon afterward died. She was married then to the father of Henry M. Beach, in New Jersey, in her twenty-fifth year, by whom she had four children, two of whom survive, Henry M., and a brother, C. L., who now resides in Bainbridge, Ga. She died in 1873, at the age of sixty-three. Both she and her husband were members of the old school Presbyterian church. Henry M. Beach began life as a farmer boy, and attended the country schools until he was sixteen years old. He then taught a country school one winter. He was then educated for the minis- try. . Afterward, he went to Quincy, Fla., and in 1855, to Bainbridge, Ga., where he was elected bookkeeper for a mercantile company, for which he worked until 1860. He was then elected probate judge, and held that office until the reconstruction- days of 1868. He then became a cotton buyer and moved to Columbia in 1880, where he continued buying cotton and engaged in general merchandising as well, in which lines of business he is still engaged, having built up a very large and flourishing business. He was married, in 1858, to Miss Clara Maxwell, daughter of Benjamin C. Maxwell, a relative of the Maxwells of Liberty county, Ga., in which county she was born. She was raised, however, in Decatur county, Ga., enjoying the advantages of the schools of that county. She was
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married at eighteen years of age, and became the mother of seven chil- dren, five of whom are living. These five are as follows: Benjamin A., married to Miss Stowe, of Eufaula, and is now a merchant of Columbia; Charles H., married to Miss Jennings, and now engaged in the drug business at Eufaula; Eva, Tamy and Ninia. Henry M. Beach has been identified with every enterprise designed to advance the interests of the town and county. He was a member of the city council of Bainbridge for a number of years, and has also been a member of the city council of Columbia. He is also a member of the K. of H., and of Mystic lodge, No. 23, A. O. U. W. He was one of the first to extend aid to the cotton mill, and is a member of the board of directors. He also holds the office of secretary and treasurer of the board. He has always aided every enterprise calculated to build up the material and moral interests of the community, including churches and schools. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He is one of the principal members of the commercial exchange, owns a large store, and a beautiful home, and is one of the most highly respected citizens of the place.
WILLIAM E. BRADLEY, one of the most prominent merchants of Abbe- ville, Henry county, Ala., is the gentleman who heads this sketch. He was born in the county of Henry in 1838, the only child of Henry and Eliza (Danzey) Bradley. Henry Bradley was a native of Connecticut, born at Southington, in 1811. He and C. C. Langdon, late secretary of state, were boys together and were reared on adjoining farms. Henry Bradley, in 1830, came to Alabama in company with four brothers; he settled in Henry county, while the four brothers went to Columbus, Ga., where one enlisted for the Mexican war, but died at Mobile, Ala .; one returned to Connecticut and there died, and the other two died at Col- umbus. Henry Bradley married in 1837, and died in 1840. His widow, in 1850, was married to W. Coxwell, to whom she bore one child, and died in 1858. William E. Bradley was reared on his maternal grandfather's farm and was educated at the subscription schools of Henry county. At the outbreak of the Civil war, he went out as lieutenant of company A, Thirty-seventh Alabama infantry, under command of Col. James F. Dow- dell, and served until July 22, 1864, when he lost a leg at Atlanta, and was sent home. When peace was established he was elected clerk of the cir- cuit court of Henry county and held the office two terms, during which time he engaged in merchandising, which business he still continues to conduct. In 1860, he married Miss Lucy Sholar, daughter of Bryant and Mary (Kirkland) Sholar, natives of South Carolina, and early settlers of Alabama, her uncle, indeed, being a resident here when Alabama was a territory. Her parents were married after their arrival here. Her father died, in 1863, of small-pox; her mother, who was born in 1808, still survives. Mrs. Bradley was born in Henry county in 1842, was married at the age of eighteen, and has borne her husband two children --- William Canty, who died in infancy, and Sterling Price, who is now married and the
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father of two children-Ruth and Mary. Politically, Mr. Bradley is a stanch democrat, and at the age of nineteen was appointed postmaster of Abbeville by Joseph Holt, postmaster-general under the administration of James Buchanan; later he was appointed to the same office by J. H. Ragan, postmaster-general of the Confederacy. Mr. Bradley is a member of lodge No. 91, F. & A. M., of Abbeville, also a member of I. O. O. F .; with his wife, he is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. He is well preserved for his age, is of good address and is attentive to his business; he takes deep interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the county, and is well worthy of notice in connection with the upbuilding of Abbeville.
A. C. CRAWFORD, one of the enterprising men of Henry county, was born in Barbour county, Ala., in January, 1851. He is a son of Nicholas Linsy (Hays) Crawford, who were the parents of ten children. The former was born in North Carolina in 1812, spent his youth there and became an agriculturist, and though his early education appears to have been somewhat neglected, his experience in the world was such as to a great extent supply the deficiency. In 1833, he moved to Barbour county and engaged there in his favorite pursuit, farming, which he followed all his life. He was married in 1843 to a Miss Hays and continued on in his accustomed mode of life, raising large quantities of wheat, pork and cotton; but in 1856 he removed to Henry county, settling near Lawrence- ville, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1887. His wife was also a native of North Carolina and moved with her parents to Alabama in 1829, they settling in Henry county. Here she grew to womanhood and was married in her twenty-second year. She was the mother of ten children, one of whom, J. W. Crawford, is now the treas- urer of Henry county. The rest with one exception are living in Henry county in comfortable circumstances. The one mentioned as an exception is living in Texas. She was a member of the Primitive Baptist church from early life, was a good woman and a devout Christian until her death in 1891. A. C. Crawford grew to manhood on the farm, gaining what education he could from the district schools. In 1869 he went to Texas and began business for himself, remaining there eighteen months; he then returned to his home in Henry county and took charge of his father's farm. At the end of two years thus spent he purchased 400 acres in Barbour county and engaged in farming eight years; he then sold his farm, moved to Lawrenceville, where he opened up a stock of general merchandise and continued in this business four years. Not being satis- fied with the profits he sold out and purchased a plantation, and engaged in farming and cotton raising, often raising as much as a hundred bales of cotton in a year. In 1886 he removed to Dothen and here engaged again in the mercantile business, and in 1888 began to take con- tracts for the erection of buildings and operated this line in connection with his mercantile business until 1892, selling his mercantile interests in
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January of this year, and then engaged exclusively in contracting and building, and in the manufacture of brick, in which his brother W. H. is his partner. He was married March 4, 1873, to Mary E. Craddock, daughter of Thomas and Jane A. Craddock. They were both natives of North Carolina, came to Alabama in 1821 and settled in Henry county. Mr. Craddock was a successful farmer, throughout life, dying in 1876 and his widow in 1878. She was a member of the Primitive Baptist church from early womanhood. The wife of A. C. Crawford was born, reared and educated in Henry county, and was married at the age of eighteen. She became the mother of seven children, five of whom are living: Thomas C., attending the Dothen high school; Miss Willie May, also attending Dothen high school; Cleveland, Mary and Anna. Mr. Crawford, since commencing the business of contracting and building, has done most of the work in this line that has been done in this vicinity. He has been the originator of many good enterprises, and donated a beautiful building now occupied by the Dothen high school. He has always contributed liberally to the support of churches and schools, and has been identified more or less closely with every enterprise designed to advance the material prosperity of the place. In 1889, he was elected mayor of Dothen and was re-elected in 1891. He has filled this office to the satis- faction of the public and with credit to himself. He has been a member of the municipal board and a trustee of the public schools ever since his removal to Dothen. He is the owner of large tracts of land, several lots and houses in Dothen, beside his interests in manufacturing and his res- idence, and is everywhere recognized as an enterprising business man.
JAMES R. CRAWFORD, banker of Dothne, is the central figure of the place. He was born August 7, 1844. He is a son of Charles Y. and Mary A. (Read Crawford, who were the parents of ten children. The former was born in Greene county, Ga., in 1810, left there when a boy, settled in Newton county, and engaged in farming, in which occupation he passed the rest of his life. In 1815 he moved to Decatur county, Ga., and there purchased a large plantation, upon which he lived the rest of his days. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, and was a Mason nearly all his life. His death occurred in 1888, when he was seventy-eight years old. He was a nephew of Hon. W. H. Craw- ford, who was at one time governor of the state, and in 1824 one of the four candidates for the presidency of the United States. He was an old line whig, and was in politics at the time Troup and Tyler were promi- nent men. The mother of James R. Crawford was born in Newton county, Ga., in 1820, near the site of what is known as the old Salem camp ground. Here she spent her girlhood's days and was married at the age of sixteen. She became the mother of ten children, eight of whom still survive, and two of whom live in Dothen, two in Bainbridge, Ga., and four in Gainesville, Fla. While quite young she united with the Methodist Episcopal church, and lived a devoted Christian the rest
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