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 124
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of her life. Her death occurred in June, 1890, when she was in her seventieth year. James R. Crawford grew to manhood on his father's plantation, working at the usual routine labors pertaining to the farm, and attending school at such times as he could be spared. He also man- aged to take a short academic course beside. Thus having finished bis education he began business for himself as a farmer, following that occupation ten years. In 1878 he removed to Gainesville, and became a clerk in a general store, but soon after engaged in business for himself. First he established a meat market and then did a general stock busi- ness. and later added a general merchandise business. During his resi- dence in Gainesville he conducted a successful business for ten years. He then in 1888 removed to Bainbridge, Ga., and there organized a private bank in February, becoming president and general business manager. He continued in this business one year, and in 1889 removed to Dothen, and in Sepetmber of that year organized the First bank of Dothen, with a floating capital of $100,000. Of this institution he became vice-president and managing director, which relations he sustained to the bank until January, 1892, when he was elected president, retaining controlling authority over the bank. This enterprise has proved to be a most remarkably successful and useful one, and the income of the investment has been as high as 20 per cent. He was married to Miss Martha A. Dickinson, daughter of John P. and Nancy (Crawford) Dickinson, whose father was a native of Georgia and at one time a banker in Bain- bridge. He turned his attention, however, mostly to farming. He, early in life, joined the Methodist Episcopal church, and was known through- out his life as an eminently pious man. He died at Bainbridge, Ga., in 1874. His wife was a native of Bainbridge, was reared there, early united with the Methodist Episcopal church, was married in her nine- teenth year and still survives. The wife of James R. Crawford grew up on the Chattahoochie river, secured a good English education, and is now somewhat proficient in art, having taken up the study since her mar- riage. She was married at the age of twenty-one years, and is the mother of six children, all of whom are living. Their names are as fol- lows: John L., cashier of the Bank of Dothen; Robert D .; Elma, Ethel, Ruth and Tom-Jim. John L. is a graduate of Oxford and also of Pough- keepsie Business college, N. Y .; Robert D. is also a graduate of Oxford, and is now taking a course at Poughkeepsie, intending to take up the practice of law; Elma is now attending the Wesleyan Female university at Stanton, Va. John L. Crawford, an uncle of Mr. James R. Crawford, is at present secretary of state of Florida, and has occupied the same position through three gubernatorial terms. He is now a candidate for the governorship. He at one time came within one vote of being elected United States senator. Mr. James R. Crawford is undoubtedly a man of sound judgment and of great financial ability. He encourages all meas- ures looking to the advancement of Dothen. It is related of him that by
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prompt action he saved the compress located here from destructon, and thus preserved one of Dothen's great industries. He has always given liberally to churches and schools, is also reasonably active in politics and occupies one of the tinest houses in Dothen, which he has himself much improved.
JAMES W. CRAWFORD, treasurer of Henry county, was born in Barbour county in 1844. He was the eldest in a family of twelve children born to Nicholas W. and Lindsey W. (Hays) Crawford, and is a brother of A. C. Crawford, present mayor of Dothen, whose memoir appears elsewhere in this work. James W. Crawford grew to manhood on his father's farm. At the age of eighteen years in 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate service as a private in company H, Fifteenth Alabama infantry, commanded by Col. William C. Oates. He was assigned to the eastern army, and participated in numerous skirmishes, and fought at the battle of Gettysburg, being taken prisoner July 30, 1863. He was at first taken to Fortress Monroe and shortly after to Fort Delaware, where he spent the remainder of the war, not being released until June 15, 1865. During his prison days he managed to collect some money, which upon his liberation served a good purpose. He in company with a number of others had to work his way home as best he could. After experiencing many hardships and a long circuitous route he reached Eufaula, Juy 2, 1865. Here he bought a good suit of clothes and made his way home. He was now in his twenty- first year and decided to attend school, which he did for three months. He then engaged to manage his father's farm and did so for seven years. At the end of this time he began farming for himself and thus continued till January, 1891, when he moved to Abbeville and bought a choice lot, on which he erected a large and commodious residence, and is now engaged in educating his children. In 1876 Mr. Crawford was elected county commissioner, serving seven years. In 1888 he was elected county treasurer, which office he has filled up to the present time, to the general satisfaction of the public. . He also filled the office of town- ship superintendent for a number of years. He owns and manages a. farm of 1.000 acres, upon which he has the best improvements, including a number of tenant houses. In 1880 he embarked in the mercantile busi- ness at Lawrenceville, with a large stock of general merchandise, con- tinuing thus engaged two years. He then moved his stock of goods to his store building on his plantation, and has continued it there up to the. present time. He has on his farm a steam saw-mill, grist-mill and cot- ton gin, which are valuable adjuncts to his farming operations. Beside all this he has invested in property at Dothen. In 1890 he bought out a fine business and erected for its accommodation a fine brick block. He also owns a number of residence lots. Mr. Crawford was married December 7, 1869, to Miss Anna Hays, daughter of Calvin and Mahala C. (White- hurst) Hays, who was born in Henry county, and is the mother of eleven. children, nine of whom survive: Everett C., single and living at home
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Lou E., Lindsey J., Albert N., Curtiss W., James W .; John L., Coda A., and Jessie O. The mother of these children died February 1, 1892, at the age of forty-three years. Mr. Crawford, by careful management and by following correct business principles, has made his way to wealth, and is a representative business man of the community, in which he has risen to the top.
JOHN ISAAC DARBY, physician and surgon of Columbia, was born in Stewart county, Ga., June 18, 1851. He was one of six children born to John W. and Susan ( White ) Darby, the former of whom was born in Twiggs county, Ga., in 1834, and followed the occupation of a planter, until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he volunteered in the Forty- seventh Alabama infantry, and lost his life from sickness in 1863 at Quitman, Miss. The mother of Dr. Darby was born in Anson county, N. C., and grew to womanhood in Harris and Talbot counties, Ga. She was married at about the age of twenty years, and was the mother of seven children, five of whom now survive, viz .: S. J., an attorney at Birmingham, who was solicitor for the fifth circuit for six years; James W., a planter of Elmore county; Mary, single, and living with James W., and Dr. J. I. Darby. After the father's death, his widow was married to Mr. Johnson Burk. by whom she had one child, Anna S. Mr. Burk died in 1884, and she died in 1886. Dr. Darby received a common school education, and studied medicine, in 1873, with Drs. A. L. Warren and S. C. Elliott, and attended his first course of medical lectures in the Alabama Medical college, in 1873-4, and practiced his profession in central Alabama a few years, after which, he attended the Louisville Medical college, and graduated in 1880. Since then he has attended three post-graduate courses of medical lectures, the last of which was in the New York Polyclinic, during the winter of 1892. He came to Columbia in 1884, since which time he has been engaged in the drug business, and prac- ticing his profession. He has been married twice, the first time to Miss Loudie E. Espy, daughter of Hon. John S. Espy, of Barbour county, Ala. She was born in Barbour county and educated at Union female college, ,of Eufaula. She was married at the age of nineteen, and became the mother of one child, Susie E., now attending the Columbia high school. She died of pneumonia in 1884, and Dr. Darby was again married in December, 1884, to Miss Lavonia Hill, of Lawrenceville, Ala. Her father is well known in southeast Alabama, as an upright and worthy citizen. He now resides at Abbeville, and has been prominently identified with all the movements looking to the advance- ment of the county. The present Mrs. Darby was well educated at the Lawrenceville schools. She was married in her twentieth year, and has no children. Dr. Darby has been prominently identified with all the enterprises of a public nature in his town and section of the state. He was elected mayor of Columbia, in 1890, and served one term, and he has been a member of the board of aldermen for four terms. He has been
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reasonably active in politics, and has always, from his majority, been identified with the organized democracy, and filled several places of honor at their hands. He was chairman of the memorable Geneva sena- torial convention of 1888. In 1889, he purchased the Columbia Enter- prise, and changed the name to the Columbia Recorder. This paper he has published ever since. Soon after assuming control of this paper, he began the agitation of the question of the establishment of manufactur- ing institutions in the place, and, as a result of this agitation, a meeting of the citizens was called and steps taken to inaugurate the building of a cotton mill. Dr. Darby was made chairman of this meeting, and pre- sented the project to the people in such manner as to interest the moneyed men to the extent of subscribing $50,000, with which a splendidly equipped and good paying cotton mill has since been built, and is now in successful operation. Dr. Darby made the opening address at the dedi- cation of this mill. This is now looked upon as the beginning of a new era for Columbia, and it is confidently expected that other, and perhaps, more important, enterprises will follow this one, so auspiciously inaugu- rated. Dr. Darby is a member of Omersee lodge of F. & A. M., and both himself and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist church. They both are highly esteemed for their many excellent social qualities.
JOHN F. DAWSEY, farmer of Henry county, and warehouseman and business man of Dothen, was born in Henry county, Ala., in 1852. He is a son of James J. and Parmelia Dawsey, the former of whom was born in South Carolina, but removed to the southern portion of Georgia, and married there. He moved in 1840, with his family, to Alabama, and located near the present town of Dothen. He became one of Henry county's most prosperous farmers and stock raisers, and owned several slaves. He took an active part in quelling Indian disturbances, and was one of the most intelligent and influential men in the county. He was straightfowrard and honest in his business transactions, was a democrat in politics, and was a member of the Missionary Baptist church. His death occurred October 26, 1871. His wife was born in North Carolina in 1820, but removed to Georgia with her parents, where she received a moderate education and was married in her sixteenth year. She became the mother of fourteen cihldren, only six of whom now sur. vive. She was a consistent member of the Missionary Baptist church from early youth until her death, which occurred December 19, 1891. John F. Dawsey was reared under christian influences at his home with fairly good educational advantages, and began life for himself in 1873, when he purchased his first eighty acres of land. He has always been a planter and has added to his first purchase until now he owns in his own right, a well improved farm, and besides has an interest in two cotton warehouses and other town property. He was married in November, 1875, to Miss Nancy Tucker, daughter of Louis Tucker. Mr. Tucker was a native of Georgia, but came to Alabama at an early day and located
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in the lower part of Henry county near the Florida line. He was the owner of a fine plantation and numerous slaves, losing the salves as a result of the war. After the war he so far recovered his fortunes as to become the largest farmer and stock raiser in the lower part of Henry county. He was a model farmer, honest in his dealings with his fellow- men, and so well informed and of such sound judgment that his opinion was much sought after by all within the circle of his acquaintance. His death occurred in 1872. Miss Nancy Tucker, the wife of Mr. Dawsey, was born in Henry county in 1848, and was married in her twenty-seventh year. She became the mother of eight children, of whom four survive, viz. : Minnie, Anna, Ada, and Homer T. Mrs. Dawsey is a member of the Missionary Baptist church. The home of Mr. Dawsey is situated in a beautiful oak grove near the town of Dother. Mr. Dawsey takes great interest in the general progress of the community, and intends to give all his children a college education. He is a member of a subordi- nate grange, and has been elected to the mastership thereof several times. He is also a member of the executive committee of the state grange. He is a member of the order of the Knights of Pythias and of Dothen lodge, No. 466, A. F. & A. M. He has been a Mason since 1888. He was elected to the state legislature in August, 1892. He is one of the progressive farmers and enterprising citizens of Henry county, takes great interest in all public movements calculated to improve the general condition of the community, and is respected by his friends and neighbors to a high degree.
THOMAS J. DAWSEY, planter and stock raiser of Henry county, Ala., was born in Decatur county, Ga., in 1840. His paternal great-grand- father, Michael Dawsey, came from England in 1761, and settled in Vir- ginia. He there became a farmer and engaged in the Revolutionary war, enlisting in the Second Virginia infantry under Greene, and was killed in 1783 near where now stands the city of Charlottesville. He left two sons, Thomas, grandfather of Thomas J. Dawsey, and Michael, who set- tled in Tennessee, whose descendants still survive, and one of whom was at one time editor of the Macon Telegraph, published at Macon, Ga. Thomas Dawsey was born in November, 1766, near Charlottesville, Va., and while in his youth received a fair education. At first he began life by teaching school, and in his nineteenth year went to South Carolina. and there became a dealer and speculator in negro property. He was married in that state, about 1800, to Miss Elizabeth Hooks, and in 1815 he removed to Georgia, settling - in Tattnal county, and there engaged in stock raising and dealing in stock, in which he was very successful. In 1819 he removed to Florida and settled in Leon county, where the city of Tallahassee now stands, and established a mercantile business. At the same time he became a Methodist minister, and filled the pulpit of the Methodist church for many years in connection with his mercantile busj- ness. He was appointed judge of probate for Leon county, and was the.
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first to fill that office in that county. In 1828 he removed to the present site of Quincy, Fla., cleared a farm and engaged in farming. In 1838 he removed to Alabama, and became one of Henry county's earliest settlers. Here he lived until 1845, and then he moved to Sylvan Grove, Dale county, where he lived until 1851, when he moved to the house of J. J. Dawsey, and lived there until his death, which occurred November 19, 1854. At this time he was in his eighty-eighth year. Elizabetlı Hooks, his wife, died August 7th, 1854, in the eightieth year of her age. The father of Thomas J. Dawsey, James J. Dawsey, was born in South Car- olina. He was reared a farmer boy, and at eleven years of age he moved with his parents to Tattnall county, Ga. In 1840 he came to Alabama, and settled in Henry county on the farm now owned and occupied by Thomas J. Dawsey, and became one of the largest stock raisers in the county. He was county commissioner for a number of years, and assisted in the erection of the first court house in the county. He filled the office of justice of the peace for a number of years, and remained a planter until his death, which occurred in 1871. In politics he was a democrat, and he was a member of the Missionary Baptist church. He was mar- ried in Georgia, in 1838, to Miss Parmelia Privatt, who was born in Robeson county, N. C., in 1819, and who at fourteen years of age was taken by her parents to Georgia, where she was married in her sixteenth year, and she became the mother of fourteen children, six of whom still survive. She lived a consistent christian life until her death, which oc- curred December 19, 1891, when she was seventy-two years old. Thomas J. Dawsey removed to Henry county .with his parents, and in this county grew to manhood, taking an active interest in the management of the plantation until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in the Seventh Georgia infantry under Captain Merrell, and served the Confed- erate cause about two years, and then becoming dissatisfied with that cause he united with the Federal army and fought for the Union cause until the war closed. He was mustered out of service at New Orleans in June, 1865. He then went to Texas, and subsequently to Mexico, return- ing to Alabama in the latter part of 1866. He then settled on the farm he now owns and occupies, and has ever since been engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Dawsey was married, in 1860, to Miss Mary Smith, daughter of Wyley Smith, a farmer of Henry county, and a native of Barnwell district. S. C., who after his marriage came to Alabama in 1846, settling in Henry county and dying in 1847. His wife, Elizabeth Knight, was also a native of South Carolina, where she was married. She survived her husband a number of years, and lived with Thomas J. Dawsey until her death, which occurred in March, 1890. Mrs. Thomas J. Dawsey was born in South Carolina January 13, 1844. She was brought to Alabama by her parents when two years old. She was mar- ried in her sixteenth year, and became the mother of sixteen children, thirteen of whom still survive, viz .: Parmelia A., wife of James Beckett, a
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farmer of Henry county ; Thomas W., a farmer of Henry county; James R., traveling man: Abner P., resident of Ashford, Ala .; Mary, deceased wife of Samuel Beckett; John J .; Stephen; Sarah V .; Lillie and Lelia, twins; Learoy; William C. and Sampford M. Thomas J. Dawsey owns in his own right 600 acres of land, five miles from the city of Dothen. His is a model farm and he is regarded as a model farmer. His buildings are large and commodious, and his plantation is well equipped with every- thing necessary to make farm work as light as practicable. He raises cotton, corn, cane, Bermuda grass, stock and fruit of all kinds. He has always been a democrat. He is a member of Dothen lodge, No. 466, A. F. & A. M., and has been a Mason since 1869. He is also a member of Smyrna grange, No. 699, and is a worthy treasurer of the grange. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist church, and he is a public-spirited and highly respected citizen.
JOHN W. DREWRY, capitalist and cotton buyer of Dothen, and one of the leading business men of Henry county, was born at Spring Hill, March 31, 1860. He is a son of John W. and Elizabeth (Etheridge) Drewry, the former of whom was born in Georgia in 1827, and came to Eufaula in 1867. He has lived there ever since, constantly engaged in his practice as a physician and surgeon. The mother of John W. Drewry is a native of Georgia, and still survives. John W. Drewry grew up ir. Barbour county, had the advantages of the common school, and early entered the employ of his uncle, William H. Grice, at Eufaula, where he learned the art of classifying and buying cotton, remaining in his uncle's employ until he had accumulated sufficient means to pay tuition for a term at school. In 1879 he entered the university of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, and at the end of three years, graduated in five studies. He then entered the employ of his uncle, M. Grice, of Eufaula, in buying cotton, and afterward became his partner in the manufacture of brick. He continued thus engaged successfully for two years, and for five years he was engaged in buying cotton. In 1887, he went to north Alabama and engaged in the manufac- ture of brick there, in company with his brother, which enterprise proved successful. After a sojourn in this part of the state he returned to Eufaula. and in May, 1889, he located in the present town of Dothen, where he has since continued to live. Here he engaged in his favorite occupation, that of buying cotton, and was the first cotton buyer in the place, and the founder of the business in Dothen. Previous to this time the cotton pro- duced in the county had to be conveyed to Columbia by wagons, there being no railroad here, and the money paid out for it had to be sent to Columbia, and thence by messenger throughout the country. The first year he was in business in Dothen he bought 600 bales; the second year, 1,200, and the third year, 12,000, showing a most gratifying increase in the pusiness done at the new cotton market. He is also engaged to a certain extent in the real estate business. He has a large cotton ware- house, and since the advent of the railroad his facilities for the handling
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of cotton have been largely increased, for he has ample transportation for his goods. On January 19, 1888, he was married to Miss Anna McDonald, the only surviving child born to John J. and Dora (Harris) McDonald. The former is a wealthy planter of Georgia, farms on an extensive scale, and is one of the well known figures in financial circles in Cuthbert, where he lives, and where he is engaged in money lending. Mr. Drewry's wife was born in Cuthbert, Ga., in 1869, grew to womanhood there, surrounded by the best of educational facilities. She graduated from the Female college at Macon, Ga., in 1888. She was married at the age of nineteen years, and is the mother of two children, Eva Gertrude and James McDonald. Mr. Drewry has seen Dothen grow from a small hamlet of a few houses to a town of its present size and prosperity. He has been instrumental in the up-building of all its industries, and was one of the first to assist in the location of the compress here, which has a capital stock of $30,000. In 1889, he erected his present handsome resi- dence on Foster street, which is built in modern style with all needed improvements. He is recognized as one of Dothen's most active and prosperous business men, and is now as actively engaged as at any previous time in his life. He has not neglected to assist the church and schools to the extent of their needs, and his ability, and in every duty of a citizen has set, and is setting, a good example.
JOSEPH S. ESPY, principal of the southeast Alabama Agricultural school and Experiment station, was born January 18, 1844. He was the eighth in a family of nine children born to Robert M. and Elizabeth (Watts) Espy. The former was a native of Georgia, and came to Ala- bama while a boy, remained with his parents in Cherokee county for some time, and then moved to Tallapoosa county, where he grew to man- hood and married there. His education was of the most limited char- acter. Subsequently he moved to Barbour county, and purchased a plan- tation there, in which he remained till his death, which occurred in 1858. His wife was born in Cherokee county, Ala., grew to womanhood there, having but limited educational advantages, schools being very scarce there, at that time. She was married at about the age of seventeen, and died in 1859. Joseph S. Espy was reared on his father's farm, attended school a short time, and, at the age of ten years, moved with his parents to Barbour county. Here also he attended school, while working on his father's plantation. He subsequently attended what was known as the old Field academy, then located on the Chattahoochie river, but now defunct. In 1861, he attended school at Cotton Hill, Ga. In 1862, he started a school at Eufaula, Barbour county, but the Civil war being in progress at that time, he enlisted in the light artillery, commanded by Capt. Clark at Eufaula, and served until the final surrender. He then settled at Lawrenceville, and attended school for a short time. In 1866, he taught a country school for a few months, and in the fall of that year, began attendance at the Emory and Henry college, graduating from there;
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