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 42
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colonel, Maj. Archibald Grahamn, also a Scotchman, married a Scotch lady, Miss Euphemia Graham. They came to the United States with their parents, who died in North Carolina. These grandparents came to Alabama in 1818, located in Autauga county, where he died in 1825, aged sixty-two years, and she in 1848. Maj. Archibald Graham was a planter on a large scale, was the father of a very intelligent family and his des- cendants are now numbered among the best families of the county. The eldest son, Judge William Graham, was state treasurer from 1848 until the opening of the Civil war, and Samuel S. was assistant state geologist. for a number of years. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch, Col. Alfred Y. Smith, is the fourth born in a family of seven sons and five daughters, of whom three of the sons, beside himself, were Con- federate soldiers during the Civil war, viz. : Prof. C. W., who was in the Third Alabama cavalry, army of the Tennessee, but who in a short time lost his health; he is now principal of the Prattville schools; Hon. Mac. A., now a prominent lawyer, was in the First Alabama heavy artillery; Dr. Virgil, who died in Wilcox county in 1884, was in Wheeler's cavalry. Col. A. Y. Smith was reared on the home plantation, and was educated in the neighborhood and at Woodville, Coosa county. In 1845 he entered as a clerk in a commission house in Mobile, remained one year, and then managed his father's plantation for a few years, or until his marriage in December, 1847. The lady of his choice was Miss Fannie, daughter of John Slaton, who moved from Georgia to Autauga county about 1845. Mr. Slaton (now deceased) married a Miss Harris, who was born near Merriwether, Ga., a member of one of the best families of that state. Mrs. Smith died in 1857, the mother of four children, viz .: Helen F., a graduate of Judson Institute at Marian, and now the wife of Dr. T. G. Howard of Selma; Walter H .; Rebecca, who died in infancy; Lula, who died young, and Frank S. In 1859, the colonel chose for his second spouse Mrs. Mary Pleasant Pope, daughter of Alexander McKeithen, a. native of North Carolina who came to Alabama with his parents about the year 1822 and died in Elmore county in 1881. Mrs. Smith was born in Autauga county, was educated at Montgomery, and died in 1879, the mother of seven children, viz .: Thomas M., Alfred Graham, Forrest, Alexander M., Charles C., Kate and Minnie. From 1854 to 1857, Col. Smith lived in Florida, where he served on the board of revenue of Jack- son county, but ill health necessitated his return to Autauga county, Ala., where he has since resided on his farm near Prattville. He was lieu- tenant-colonel of militia of his county before the war, and early in the struggle was for seven months a lieutenant in the Third Alabama cavalry at Pensacola; and was then commandant of the militia at Prattville until the close. The colonel is a practical and enlightened agriculturist and devotes much of his time to the advancement of farming interests; he is an active worker in all farmers' organizations, and in 1889 was repre- sentative from his congressional district in the Inter State Farmers"
MAC. A. SMITH.
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PERSONAL MEMOIRS-AUTAUGA COUNTY.
association held at Raleigh, N. C .; he is a frequent contributor to the local press, and his articles on husbandry are always largely read. In religion he is a Presbyterian and is an active worker in the Sabbath school; while in educational matters he takes an unbounded interest, spar- ing no expense, especially in the intellectual training of his own children, whom he is bringing up in a manner that will transmit, through them, the amiable traits and progressive qualities of their ancestors.
HON. MAC A. SMITH, one of the most prominent and gifted lawyers of Autauga county, and residing in Prattville, was born in Elmore county, Ala., in 1841. His parents were Malcolm and Mary Baker (Gra- ham) Smith, of whom the former was born in Moore county, N. C., in 1795, and the latter in Cumberland county, N. C., in 1800. They were married in North Carolina, and in 1819 located in Autauga county, Ala., but later removed to Coosa county (now Elmore county), and in 1840 returned to Autauga county and settled near Prattville, where Mr. Smith died in 1857 and his widow in 1880. Both were members of the Presby- terian church, in which Mr. Smith was an especially active worker, having built, in conjunction with his brother-in-law, Judge William Graham. the present Presbyterian church edifice at Prattville. Malcolm Smith was a wealthy planter, was progressive and industrious, and was one of the founders and operators of the Planters' cotton mill at Autauga. He was a member of the Masonic lodge at Prattville, was an active democrat, but was possessed of no aspirations for office. His father, Neill Smith, was a native of Scotland, but an early settler of North Carolina, in which state he ended his days. The maternal grand- parents of Mac A. Smith were Archibald and Euphelia Graham, both natives of Argyleshire, Scotland, the latter born in 1765. They lived some years in North Carolina, but in 1818 came to Alabama and settled in Autauga county, where Mr. Graham stood in the front rank of business men and his family in the social circle. He was called to his final rest in 1825, and his widow in 1848. Their only son, William, was state treasurer from 1848 until the opening of the Civil war. The children born to Malcolm and Mary B. (Graham) Smith comprised eight sons and four daughters. Of the sons, four served in the Confederate army, viz .: Alfred Y., as lieutenant in the Prattville dragoons; Prof. C. W., now principal of Prattville schools, was in the same command; Dr. Virgil J. (deceased) was also in the same company, and Mac A., whose military career will be now related. Hon. Mac A. Smith was reared on the home plantation and received a good literary education. Leaving his academy, he entered Oglethorpe university, in Georgia, where he passed a year and a half, when, in 1862, he left that institution to join company K., First Alabama heavy artillery; he was sent to the front at Island No. 10, but was soon discharged on account of sickness and sent home, but the same year joined a company of sharpshooters and went to Tennessee; at Murphrees- boro he was slightly wounded, and was again wounded at Chickamauga,
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his last wound necessitating his return once more to his home; but he recovered and re-joined his command at Dalton, and fought on to Atlanta and Jonesborough and back with Hood to Nashville, on the retreat south to Mississippi, and then joined Johnston in North Carolina, and fought on as a first sergeant until the surrender. On the restoration of peace he went to live with his mother at the old home, "Jessamine Hill." read law, and was admitted to the bar in 1867, but still devoted his attention to plant- ing until the death of his mother; after which he entered upon the active practice of his profession, in which he has met with phenomenal success. He became quite popular as a citizen, a lawyer and a politician. For a number of years he served as notary public and also justice of the peace, and in 1882 was elected to the state legislature, in which he served on judiciary, and was chairman of committee on boundaries, etc. In 1890 Mr. Smith was elected to the state senate for four years, from Lowndes and Autauga counties, and by this august body was placed on the com . mittees on judiciary, on divisions of roads, on local legislation and on enrolled bills, and was a member of the conference committee to re- district the state into judicial circuits. But he has declined to accept further official honors which a grateful and admiring constituency have often urged upon him, preferring to devote his time to his rapidly in- creasing law practice, which demands all his attention. In March, 1877, Mr. Smith was married to Mrs. Lillie M. Foster, daughter of John Merrith, a native of Georgia, who came to Alabama many years ago and here died. Mrs. Smith was born in Autauga county, received her primary education here, and graduated from the Huntsville Female college under Dr. Price. Since his marriage Mr. Smith has resided at his coun- try home, "Frogmoor," where he has some fine horses and a good track, on which he delights to train them.
WILLIAM D. SMITH, a prominent business man and planter of Autauga county, Ala., was born in Jones county, Ga., January 26, 1809. His parents, John Scott and Sarah (Bush) Smith, were also natives of Georgia, where they were married, and whence they came in 1818 to Alabama, and located in Autauga county, being among the pioneer settlers, and improved a farm on Nolan's creek. The family subsequently removed to Talladega. county, and later to Jefferson county, where Mr. Smith ended his days. Mrs. Smith passed away in Autauga county, a member of the Baptist church. Levi Bush, the maternal grandfather of William D. Smith, a preacher, died before the date to which the memory of the latter reaches. William D. is the second born in a family of two boys and two girls, viz. : Rebecca, residing in Louisiana; William D., Eliza, who died in Louisiana; Sarah, who died in Florida; Harriet, whose death took place in Autauga, and the youngest, Thomas, who settled in Louisiana before the beginning of the Civil war. William D. received a good English education, fitted himself for the practice of the law and was admitted to the bar, but never practiced. His marriage took place June 14, 1838, when he chose for his
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bride Miss Sarah McLain, who was probably a native of South Carolina, and who lived until September 7, 1892, when she passed away, strong in the Methodist faith. Her parents were John and Elizabeth McLain, who settled in Autauga county in the pioneer days. Mr. Smith has passed almost his entire life in Autauga, has always been a farmer, and is recog- nized as a progressive and honorable citizen and an excellent business man. In 1849, he and Malcolm Smith built a cotton factory, known as the "Planters' Manufacturing Co.," at Autaugaville, which they successfully operated until the close of the Civil war, when it passed from their hands and went down. Mr. Smith was also formerly connected with the Pilot- ville cotton mills. He is a self-made man and is now one of the wealthiest in the county. He grew up among the Indians and became familiar with their habits and customs; he endured the hardships and privations of pioneer life and has been a resident of the county nearly seventy-five years-having come when the settlers secured their supplies by poling boats up the river from Mobile. The country was a dense forest, teeming with bear, deer, turkeys and with the panthers and wolves. He is still remarkably well preserved, and, although nearly eighty-four years old, is as vigorous, robust, and active as a person twenty years his junior. He is a life-long democrat, having voted for Jackson in 1832. was an early advocate of secession, and, although not subject to military duty during the late war, was anxious to join the army, but was dissuaded by his neighbors, who desired his presence and aid at home in supporting the wives and little ones of the absent soldiers, and in other ways assisting the Confederate cause. In religion he is a Methodist, and has been a mem- ber of that church for nearly half a century. He is the father of these children, viz .: William D., who died young; Calista, a graduate from Tuskegee Female college, and wife of Prof. C. W. Smith, of the Prattville schools; Colstanza, wife of Dr. D. A. McKeithen, and also educated at Tuskegee; James B., a graduate from Washington and Lee university; Thomas P., who died while attending the law department of Cumberland university; Morgan McL., of whom mention will again be made; Hattie, who was educated at the Martha Washington college, Va., and was mar- ried to D. W. McCarty; Mary Alice, who was educated at Ward's semi- nary and married to J. T. Floyd, a druggist of Prattville; Norwood, educated at the Alabama state university and now residing in Prattville; Morgan McL. Smith, the sixth member of the above family, received a good English education at Autaugaville and Prattville, and graduated from the law department of the Cumberland university at Lebanon, Tenn., in 1872. He preferred an active business life, however, to a professional one, and engaged in merchandising at Autaugaville, which he still follows with success; he is also engaged in saw-milling, ginning, and extensive planting operations. Recently he has constructed a dam at Autaugaville, at a cost of $10,000, by means of which he operates his machinery; he is also the owner of the old cotton factory already spoken of and will make
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an effort to restore it to its former prosperity. He is enterprising and progressive and keeps well abreast of the times, being one of the fore- most business men of the county. In January, 1875, he married Miss Fannie F., daughter of James and Sarah Nunn, ratives respectively of Autauga county and Selma, Ala. Mr. Nunn was a wealthy farmer and a prominent citizen and passed his entire life in Autauga county-he and his wife both dying in Autaugaville, where Mrs. Smith was born. This lady was educated at the Ward seminary, at Nashville, Tenn., and with her husband is a member of the Methodist church.
GEORGE COOK SPIGENER, sheriff of Autauga county, Ala., was born in Robinson Springs, in what is now Elmore county, in 1849. His father, Llewellyn Spigener, was born near Columbia, S. C., in 1812, and married Mary Elvira Ramsey, who was born near La Grange, Ga. Llewellyn Spigener served an apprenticeship of four years to a wheel- wright at Columbia, S. C., and soon after reaching his majority came to Alabama and engaged · at his business in Washington, Autauga county, where he lived until Prattville was founded, when he removed to the new town, and in conjunction with his trade carried on farming, and later became traveling agent for the Pratt Gin company, which position he filled both before and after the war. He was once town marshal, and during the period of hostilities was tax assessor of the county. For eight or ten years he was worshipful master of Prattville lodge of F. & A. M., and was also a royal arch Mason. He died September 25, 1887, a sincere Methodist. He had three brothers, Samuel, Joel and William, who lived and died in Coosa county. Their father died while still a young man, and their mother, Barbara, was married to a Mr. Oliver; both died in Coosa county. Mrs. Mary E. Spigener, also a Methodist, died about 1877. Her parents, James N. and Mary Ramsey, came from Georgia to Autauga county, but subsequently removed to Wetumpka, where they died after the war had closed. One of their sons, James Newton Ramsey, Jr., was colonel of the First Georgia regiment, was a brave soldier and a prominent lawyer of Columbus, Ga. George Cook Spigener is the eldest of a family of six children, the second born being Mary, wife of W. W. Pierce; the third is Julia, married to W. M. Fisher; Llewellyn. of Pensacola, and two girls deceased. George C. received his early education at Prattville and graduated from the Agricultural and Mechanical college at Auburn in 1872. He then passed some time at the Red Mount Iron works, and then engaged in the undertaking business at Prattville, with which he has now connected a livery establishment. Mr. Spigener was married in 1883 to Miss Kate Gardner, a native of Prattville, and daughter of George and Bettie Gardner, the latter a daughter of Judge Gholson. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gardner are now deceased. Mr. Spigener once served as town marshal and is now intendent of the town. From 1880 to 1884 he was sheriff of the county, and in August, 1892, was re-elected. He is a member of Prattville lodge, No. 19, F. & A. M., and
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has served as its worshipful master; is secretary of Daniel Pratt lodge, No. 96: is P. C. C. and representative to the grand lodge of Merrill Pratt lodge, No. 71, K. of P., also past dictator and grand representative of Prattville lodge, No. 2128, K. of H. In religion he and wife are Methodists.
JAMES M. THOMPSON, planter of Autaugaville, and ex-sheriff of Au- lauga county, Ala., was born in 1836 in the county named, a son of Will- iam N. and Cynthia A. (Manning) Thompson. The father was born in Wiltshire, Eng., about 1789; was a man of great information, obtained after leaving school by constant reading, research, and observation in travel. During the war of 1812, between England and America, he was sent by his government on some public mission, and later drifted to Autauga county, where he married and engaged in farming for a number of years; he then, about 1830, moved to Kingston, the old county seat, where he was occupied in merchandising and in keeping a hotel; for eight years he was also circuit clerk, in which office he was followed by his eld- est son, William N. He was very public-spirited and progressive in his nature; was a successful business man, and active in politcs. He was the only member of his family that came to America, and but little is known in regard to his progenitors. His death took place in 1851, at the age of sixty-two years. Mrs. Thompson was born in Alabama, and died when her son, James M., was an infant. James M. Thompson is the youngest but one in a family of six boys and two girls, his brothers and sisters having been born in the following order: William N., who died in 1870, was circuit clerk of Autauga county eight years, and was an excellent public official; he took part in the Indian war of 1836, and also saw three months' service in the Civil war at Mobile. Dr. Horatio P., of Wells Point, Tex., where he has resided forty years, was in the quartermaster's department, during the war; Thomas L. was killed at Sharpsburg, September 17, 1862, while serving as a private in the Autauga Rifles, attached to the Sixth Alabama infantry; Dr. Greene H., who died in 1886, in Autauga county, was captain of company G, Sixth Alabama infantry, from May, 1861, until the surrender; he had resigned just before the close, but was requested to resume command of the company; he was a graduate from the university of Louisiana, and a most successful physician; Joseph, who died in 1890 in Autauga county, served in the Fourth Louisiana infantry during the Civil war, was disabled at Vicks- burg, was captured, and saw no more service; Elizabeth, the wife of Gen. Goodson, and the sixth of the family, was killed by a runaway horse about 1867; Mary J., the youngest child, is the wife of T. C. Smith. James M. Thompson was educated at old Kingston and at Selina, and finished at the age of fifteen on the death of his father. In May, 1861, he joined company G, Sixth Alabama infantry, commanded by his brother, and from 1862 served as sergeant. He fought at Seven Pines, Malvern Hill, where he was wounded; he returned home until recovered
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and re-joined his command just after the battle of Sharpsburg; he fought at Cold Harbor, where he was again wounded July 2, 1864; fought. at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Front Royal, Warrenton Springs, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and Fisher's Hill. In the spring of 1865, he fought around Petersburg, and March 24, 1865, in front of the town, was shot through his right arm, which wound ended his active service; but he still remained with the army, and was at Danville at the time of the surrender. He was never captured, but was three times severely wounded, and was always ready for roll-call except when these wounds were being cared for. The marriage of Mr. Thompson took place in 1866 to Miss Virginia C. Pou, a daughter of John Pou, of Autauga county, but he had the misfortune to lose his bride in 1868. In October 1869, the took for his second matrimonial partner Miss Emma C., daughter of Robert and Cordelia Shackleford. Mr. Shackleford was formerly an extensive commission merchant of Mobile, and was first married to Amelia Harper; he then settled in Greensboro, Ala., where he engaged in merchandising, and where he died about 1876, his wife still surviving. Mrs. Thompson was born in Mobile and educated 'at Greensboro. She has presented her husband with three children, named Eliza, William N. and Robert S. Mr. Thompson resided at old Kings- ton until 1854, then at Independence until after the war, and then settled near Autaugaville, where he has a fine farm. and from 1888 to 1892 was sheriff of the county .. He is secretary of Autaugaville lodge, No. 31, F. & A. M .; is president of the Autaugaville alliance, and is assistant lecturer and member of the executive committee of the county alliance. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church, and the family are held in high esteem by the community in which they live.
WILLIAM W. WADSWORTH, a native of Autauga county, Ala., and one of the leading business men of Alabama, was born near Prattville, Octo- ber 17, 1841, the son of Daniel and Sallie (Matthews) Wadsworth. The father was born in Moore county, N. C., in 1810, and the mother is a native of Georgia. In 1832, Daniel Wadsworth came to Alabama and set- tled in Autauga county, where he was married, passing twice through the nuptial ceremony. His first wife was Miss Matthews, who died in 1846, and his second wife was Miss M. A. Norris. Mr. Wadsworth, who was one of the most prominent planters and representative citizens of the county, died in 1876. His parents were William and Sarah Wads- worth, the former a native of Connecticut, who was married in North Carolina and there passed the remainder of his life. He was a farmer, for many years county sheriff, at one time a member of the legislature, and a man of considerable ability and prominence. He was connected with the old Gov. Wadsworth family of colonial times, and a worthy repre- sentative of its respectability. Abram Matthews, the father of Sallie Matthews, came from Georgia to Alabama at an early day and settled near Prattville, and died in 1837 or 1838; his widow died in Texas only a few
El ay EG Wilhame & Er. NY.
W. W. Wadsworth 1
BRANT & FULLER, PUBŞ
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years ago. To Daniel and Sallie (Matthews) Wadsworth were born five children, viz: Mary Frances, deceased wife of G. Z. Wood, also deceased; Malcolm S., who was in the Prattville dragoons on the coast for a short time during the Civil war, and later in company H, Third Alabama cav- alry, with Wheeler in Tennessee, was captured near Strawberry Plain in 1863, and imprisoned at Rock Island, Ill., until the cessation of hos- tilities; William W., whose name opens this sketch; John W., who was in the Confederate army in the west in the latter part of the war and died after the war was over, and James K. P., who was in the same com- mand with John W., and who also died after the close of the struggle. The children born to Daniel and M. A. (Norris) Wadsworth were named Charlotte Ellen, widow of Lewis Fitz; Patrick D., deceased; Newton Y., of Arkansas; Florence, wife of Charles Flint, of Michigan; Sallie, who died young; Mills A., who died in Louisiana; Kate and Anna, who both died while still young, and Jesse D., now of Birmingham, Ala. William W. Wadsworth was reared on the home plantation and received a sound, but somewhat limited education, and just on the verge of his majority, fired with zeal for the cause of his native south, enlisted, or rather at- tempted to enlist. early in 1861 in the Confederate army, but underwent the mortification of rejection on account of having both arms broken, caused by a falling building, and his arms were never set as he was not expected to live. However, he succeeded in enlisting in the next year in an infantry company at Fort Morgan, afterward transferred to Pratt- ville dragoons, which were with Gen. Wheeler in his memorable campaign in east Tennessee; thence to Atlanta and on to the sea, and into the Car- olinas, passing the last winter of the conflict at Beaufort, S. C. During his service he received five distinct and severe wounds, one of which was by a minie ball that passed {clear through his body, barely missing his heart. In 1864 he was captured near Strawberry Plain, the point where his brother had been captured the previous year; but, having a some- what vivid impression of the disagreeabilities of prison life, he resolved on escape; accordingly, as soon as the opportunity presented itself, seizing one of his captor's most speedy horses, he mounted, broke through the lines, and was soon free. He kept the animal which had thus as- sisted him in this daring feat for some years after the close of the war, and when it died gave it a respectable burial-for a horse. Soon after the war had closed, Mr. Wadsworth engaged in saw-milling, which he has successfully followed ever since-a period of twenty-eight years, and is recognized by all the southern lumbermen's associations as one of the leaders of the craft. He was once president of the Southern Lum- bermen's association, and, later vice-president of the Southern Lumber- men's manufacturing association. In 1880, he located at the station which bears his name on the Louisville & Nashville railroad, in Autauga county, where he now has one of the most complete plants in the state for the mnaufacture of rough and dressed timber, with a capacity of
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