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 47
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131
HENRY DE LAMAR CLAYTON, who in life was the revered citizen, the gallant soldier, the eminent jurist, the renowned statesman, and to crown it all the distinguished educator, was born in Pulaski county, Ga., on the 7th day of March, 1827. He was the son of Nelson Clayton, long a citizen of that part of Chambers, now included in Lee county, Ala., where the
-
408
MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
subject of this sketch grew to manhood. Graduating at the Emory & Henry college, Va., in 1848, his graduating address winning the prize medal in oratory, he read law in the office of John G. and Eli S. Shorter, in Eufaula, and in the following year was admitted to the bar. He loca- ted at Clayton, the county seat of Barbour county, and by close and per- sistent effort soon built up a wide and lucrative practice. In 1857 he was chosen to represent his county in the legislature and was chairman of the military committee of that body at the breaking out of hostilities in 1861. He was sent by the governor immediately to Pensacola, where he received the different companies as they arrived, and organized them into the First Alabama regiment, of which he was elected colonel. At the expiration of his twelve months' enlistment, he organized the Thirty-ninth Alabama "for three years or the war," and led it through the Kentucky campaign. At Murfreesboro he was severly wounded in the right shoulder, and the following day was promoted to brigadier, with the Thirteenth, Thirty-sixth, Thirty-eighth, Thirty-second, and Fifty-eigth, Alabama regiments for a brigade. He led this brigade in the thickest of the fight at Chickamauga, Rocky Face and New Hope Church, and in the latter engagement, by the exhibition of the qualities of a commander and his marked courage, he so distinguished himself, that he was promoted to a major-generalship. The brigades of Gibson, Stovall, Strahl and Holtzclaw formed a division, which he led in all the subsequent battles of the army of Tennessee and up to the surrender in North Carolina. "He was known as one of the for- most 'fighting generals' of the western army. He was several times wounded, and at Jonesboro had three horses killed under him." His corps commander, Gen. Stephen D. Lee, said of him. "I have never seen the personal gallantry he displayed in the battles of Jonesboro and Nashville excelled." After his return from the army, General Clayton resumed the practice of his profession and the cultivation of his plantation, but was soon called upon to devote his talents to the public service, being elected, in May of 1866, judge of the eighth, now the third, judicial district. In 1868 he was deposed by the national congress, but was again elected when the great "tidal wave" of 1874 struck the state. He was re-elected in 1880, and held the office until 1886, when he resigned to enter the field as a candidate for governor before the democratic convention. He made a strong fight and went into the convention as the leading can- didate, but was defeated by a combination of the weaker ones. In June of the same year he was elected president of the university of Alabama, where he also filled the chair of international and constitu- tional law. He accepted this position, and in September entered upon the noble calling in which the great southern leader, Gen. Robert E. Lee, had spent his last years-the training of the sons of those he had led in battle for the high duties and responsibilities of American citizenship. In this position it was said of him: "Although learned in the law, and skilled as an expositor, it was probably in the exalted standard of
9
409
PERSONAL MEMOIRS-BARBOUR COUNTY.
professional ethics that he constantly held up to his classes that he had left his most lasting impression upon the minds and characters of those who were fortunate enough to enjoy his instruction." It was while laboring in the educational field that the great Reaper marked him for his own, and on the 13th of October, 1888, the state was called upon to mourn the loss of one of her strongest sons. Gen. Clayton was married in 1850, in Barbour county, to Victoria V., daughter of Gen. John L. Hunter, who, with a family of seven sons and four daughters, still survives him. Henry D. Clayton, Jr., third son of Gen. Clayton, was born about thirty-five years ago, on the old homestead one mile south of the county seat of Barbour. He was educated at Emory and Henry college, Va., and at the university of Alabama, where he graduated in both the academic and law departments; from the latter in 1878. He practiced for two years at Clayton, then located in Eufaula, where he has since estab- lished for himself a state reputation in criminal and general practice. In the fall of 1890 he was elected to represent his county in the legis- lature, and in the session which followed, as chairman of the judiciary committee, he acquitted himself most creditably. He is the Alabama- member of the national democratic committee, so appointed by the St. Louis convention in 1888. Mr. Clayton is of commanding and capti- vating address, a fluent and able speaker, and a fit representative of a man whom Alabama is proud to own as one of her favorite sons.
HON. G. L. COMER, mayor of Eufaula and a prominent member of the bar of southeastern Alabama, is a native of Barbour county, born at Spring Hill, January 1, 1847. His father, J. F. Comer, son of Hugh Comer, of Georgia, was born in Jones county, that state, and moved to Alabama in the year 1841, settling in the vicinity of Old Spring Hill, Barbour county. He was a successful planter, represented Barbour county in the legislature in 1856, and died in the year following. His wife, whose maiden name was Catharine L. Drewry and who is still living, bore him nine children, six of whom are living and whose names are as follows: Hugh M., receiver of Georgia Central railroad, residing at the city of Savannah; John W., cotton merchant, in the same place; G. L., Braxton B., president of the City National bank, Birmingham, Ala .; J. F., planter, and Ed. T., a large cattle dealer of San Angelo, Tex. G. L. Comer's early education was interfered with by the war, but he afterward entered the university of Georgia, from which he graduated in 1867, and in 1869 completed his legal studies in the law school of Lexing- ton, Ky., receiving a degree from that institution. He was admitted to the bar at Eufaula, in May, 1869, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession in Barbour county, in the courts of which and adjoining counties he has ever since done a very extensive business. For ten years he was alone in the practice, but in 1874 became associated with John M. McKleroy, which partnership continued until 1884. During the late war Mr. Comer served in the Alabama state troops and participated in several
410
MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
engagements, but his command was not actively engaged in any of the great campaigns beyond the limits of the state. In 1882, he was elected mayor of Eufaula, and has filled the position by successive re-elections ever since, and it is a fact, universally conceded, that the city, at no time of its previous history, has ever had as wise, able, faithful and judicious an executive. During his twelve years' administration of the office, a number of public enterprises have been inaugurated and completed, among which are the electric light plant, gas works, water works, and free public schools, the equal of any in the state, and among the business enterprises are the large cotton factory and grist mill, the successful completion of which is largely due to his efforts in their behalf. Mr. Comer is a born leader, and possesses, in a marked degree, the chivalrous qualities char- acteristic of the true-born southern gentleman. Of striking personal appearance, genial manners and kindly disposition, he makes friends of all with whom he comes in contact, while as a lawyer he is keen, active in the management of cases intrusted to him, and eminently honorable in the practice. His popularity as an official is attested by his successive re-elections and by the fact of his having overcome every species of opposition which his political enemies could possibly devise for his over- throw. A politician, in the true sense of the term, Mr. Comer has never resorted to the questionable arts of the partisan or the demagogue to further his ends, and he has, at various times, been his party's chosen delegate to county, district, state, and national conventions. Mr. Comer is a director of the Eufaula cotton mills, has an interest in the Bluff City mills, and is owner and proprietor of the New St. Julien hotel, one of the most popular resorts for the traveling public in southeastern Alabama. He is prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, being a Knight Templar and master of the blue lodge, and he also holds membership in the K. of P., K. of H. and A. O. U. W. The Baptist church represents his religious creed, and his wife is also a member of that denomination. The married life of Mr. Comer began on the 23d of June, 1870, at which time Laura V. Thornton, daughter of Dr. W. H. Thornton, and niece of ex-Governor Shorter, became his wife. A family of intelligent children have been born to this union, namely: W. T., graduate of the university of Alabama, also of Poughkepsie, N. Y., commercial college; at the present time he is bookkeeper and manager of the business of his uncle, at Harris; Laura, Wallace, G. L., E. T., Nell; Walter B., a bright boy, was drowned while bathing in the river at Eufaula; Mary, Frank, Willis, and Robert C.
W. P. COPELAND, M. D .- The Copeland family is of French-Hugue- not origin and the name in this country was first known in South Caro- lina, of which state the doctor's grandfather was a native. J. N. Cope- land, the father of the doctor, was born in Barnwell district, S. C., in the year of 1811. In early manhood he moved to St. Joseph, Fla., and after taking part in the Seminole war, in that state, came to Alabama, locating
411
PERSONAL MEMOIRS-BARBOUR COUNTY.
at Eufaula, then known as Irwinton, where he carried on the mercantile business until his death in 1859. He was married, in South Carolina, to Caroline E. Garvin, a widow, to whom by a previous marriage had been born three children, one of whom, a daughter, grew to womanhood and became the wife of General Alpheus Baker, of Civil war fame. Mr. and Mrs. Copeland reared a family of four children, namely: Florida C., wife of T. J. Branson; Dr. W. P .; John C., and Harry C. The mother departed this life in the year 1866. Dr. W. P. Copeland was born September 1, 1845, in Eufaula, Ala., and has spent all of his life in Eufaula, Barbour county. In 1863 he became a cadet in the university of Alabama, and while there did duty for several months during the summer of 1864, the greater part of the time in and around the city of Mobile. Returning to the university he was made sergeant of his company, and after a short period they were again ordered to Mobile, were he remained for a limited time, and, going back to his classes, witnessed the destruction of the university buildings by fire in the spring of 1865. In the summer of 1865 Mr. Copeland entered the mercantile establishment of H. C. Hart & Co., at Eufaula, as clerk, and after several months in that capacity, entered the Georgetown college, D. C., where he pursued his studies until January of the following year. He supplemented his course at Georgetown by attending for sometime the university of Virginia; subsequently followed the pursuit of agriculture for one year in the vicinity of Eufaula, and then became bookkeeper for T. J. Perkins, with whom he remained until the summer of 1868, at which time he began the study of medicine under the tutorship of Dr. P. D. L. Baker, of Eufaula. He spent a part of the years 1868-9 at Bellevue Hos- pital Medical college, N. Y., and after graduating from that famous insti- tution in the spring of 1870, opened an office in Eufaula, where he has since followed his chosen calling with a large and lucrative practice. The doctor has served as president of the Barbour county medical society three terms, and is also a counselor of the State Medical association of Alabama. His reputation as a physician places him in the front rank of Alabama's successful medical men, and in Barbour county his professional ability is such that his practice, already large, is continually increasing. Politically the doctor wields an influence for the democratic party, and in religion affiliates with the Baptist church. He was married in the month of April, 1872, in Eufaula, to Mollie Flewellen, daughter of Col. James Flewellen, and is the father of four children: Etta F., C. E., Matilda, and W. P. Copeland.
DR. J. E. CREWS, retired physician of Clayton, is a native of Jones county, Ga., born January 1, 1819, the son of Arthur and Mary (King) Crews. The Crews family is of Irish extraction, but owing to the death of the doctor's grandfather when Arthur Crews was a mere child, but little in- formation concerning its history has been obtained. Arthur Crews served in the Seminole war and the Indian war of 1836; married in Jones county,
412
MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
Ga., and about the wear 1822 moved to Alabama, settling in what was then Henry county, now the county of Barbour, where he died in 1872. The doctor's maternal ancestors also came from Ireland in an early day and settled in Georgia, where many of the descendants are still to be found. Arthur and Mary Crews reared a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters, but three of whom are now living, namely: Dr. J. E .; Jane, wife of Rev. John D. Morrel, and A. A., a planter of Bar- bour county. Dr. Crews was brought to Alabama when three years old, and since that tender age he has been a resident of Barbour county, living nearly all his life in Clayton and the immediate vicinity. His liter- ary education was acquired by his own exertion, and having early decided to make the medical profession his life work, he entered upon the study of the same when twenty-five years of age, and in 1845 became a student in the medical college of South Carolina. He supplemented his course at this institution by attending a series of lectures in the medical college at Augusta, Ga., and after receiving a degree from that school in 1851, opened an office and for a period of over twenty-five years was actively engaged in the pursuit of his profession. His success in his chosen call- ing was very marked, and during his long period of practice he became the trusted medical counselor in many of the leading families of Barbour and other counties. The doctor practically retired from active practice in 1882, and since that time has turned his attention principally to agri- culture, in which he has been quite successful, his plantation of some 700 acres being one of the well improved farms of the county. In 1840, Dr. Crews was elected colonel-commandant of the Eighty-fifth Alabama militia, which position he held for a number of years, and during the late war he commanded a local military company for home protection. In matters political, the doctor has borne no inconsiderable part, and upon three occasions he was called upon to represent the people of Barbour county in the general assembly, first, in 1874, again in 1876, and a third time in 1886. For many years the doctor has been prominent in religious circles, being a recognized leader of the Methodist church in southeastern Alabama. In 1868, he was honored by being chosen a delegate to the annual conference, and a similar distinction was again awarded him in 1873. The doctor is a master Mason and has ever been a supporter of the political principles as laid down by the democratic party. He married on the 25th of March, 1851, in Early county, Ga., Margaret E. Du Bois, a member of an old and prominent French family of South Carolina. To this marriage but one child was born, William Newton Crews, who died at the early age of thirteen years. The doctor is now vice-president of the Clayton Banking company, and is also a shareholder and one of the directors of the same, his fine business qualifications being fully recog- nized.
JUDSON DAVIE, M. D., the subject of this sketch, is a leading physician and planter of Barbour county, and also its present representative in the
413
PERSONAL MEMOIRS-BARBOUR COUNTY.
upper house of the state legislature. The doctor's father, Marshall C. Davie, was a native of Georgia. born in Columbia county, in the year 1817, and a descendant of the noted family of that name in North Carolina. He was an extensive planter, lived in different counties of his native state, and became a resident of Alabama in 1848, purchasing a plantation in Bar- bour county, in the vicinity of what is now Spring Hill Station, where he died in 1876. His wife, whom he married in 1839, was Jane E. Bass, whose family were prominent in Georgia for generations, and many of the name are still classed among the leading people of that and other of the southern states. The following are the living children born to Marshall C. and Jane E. Davie: Ruby, wife C. J. Jones, of Spring Hill, Ala. ; Mercer, practicing physician at Ozark, Ala .; Judson, the subject of this sketch; Bunyan, merchant of Clayton, Ala .; Jesse, in the mercantile business, at Blocton, Ala. ; Stella, teacher of music at Clayton, Ala. ; Luna, teacher in public schools at Eufaula, Ala .; and Meigs, messenger for Southern Express Company running between Americus and Lyons, Ga. The mother is still living, making her home with the subject of this sketch. Dr. Judson Davie, was born in Barbour county, Ala., on the 17th day of April, 1851. After receiving an academic education he began the study of medicine in 1870, under the instruction of Dr. J. B. Pouncey, at Spring Hill, and in the fall of the same year entered the medical department of the university of Georgia, situated at Augusta, from which institution he graduated in March, 1872.
Receiving his degree, the doctor began the practice of his profession at Cowikee, Borbour county, and has since resided at the same place, giving his attention, at this time, largely to agriculture, having abandoned his large general practice about five years ago. Dr. Davie has been a potent factor in local politics for several, years and is recognized as a leader of his party, the democratic, in Barbour county. Prior to 1888 he contented himself with attending the party conventions, both county and state, but in the fall of that year he was elected representative from Barbour county, to the state legislature, in which body he served one term. While in the legislature, the doctor was instrumental in bringing about much needed legislation for his constituency, among which was the present law in force in Barbour county, for the regulation of the whisky saloons, which he contended should not be allowed to exist except under police surveillance, and he also took the lead in all matters pertaining to the sanitary condition of the state, having served with marked ability as chairman of the "committee on public health." In 1890, the doctor was honored by an election to the state senate, in which body he has dis- tinguished himself as the author of a number of important bills, one of which became the present efficient law controlling the practice of medi- cine in the state of Alabama. Previous to the passage of this bill the law relating to medical practice was so defective that the penalty for its 26
414
MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
violation could not be enforced, consequently any body so disposed could enter the practice of the profession without examination; but under the present law, every physician is compelled to obtain a certificate of qualification from the county board of medical examiners before he is allowed toengage in the practice of his profession, in such county. The effect of this law and others relating to the practice of medicine has been very salutary in ridding the state of a large number of quacks and char- latans and elevating the profession to a very high plane of efficiency and excellence. To the doctor is also largely due the credit of introducing an admendment to the legislation relative to the public schools, which eventually became embodied in the state school law and which is now in full force and effect. Before the law went into effect the school funds were distributed "per capita" among the schools of the white and colored children alike, in consequence of which certain districts predominated very largely by colored children received monthly all the funds, while the whites. who paid nearly all the taxes, enjoyed but limited educational advantages. The reverse of this condition (except the payment of taxes) also existed where there were few colored children and many whites. Largely through the doctor's efforts, the law was so amended that the apportionment of the funds to the schools of the two races is entrusted to boards of township trustees, whose duty it is to make a "just and equitable" distribution-giving as nearly as possible as many days in school to the children of one race as the other. He was also interested in other important legislation and earned the reputation of being one of the ablest, as well as one of the most industrious, members of the legis- lature, and his future course in the body is being watched with a great degree of interest by his constituents who seem to repose its greatest confidence in his integrity and ability. Personally the doctor is prepos- sessing in manners and appearence; of dignified presence, and he is a fine specimen of vigorous physical and intellectual manhood; as a public speaker he is earnest and impressive. He enjoys life in a very beautiful and comfortable home, and his popularity is great among all classes of the community irrespective of political affiliations. He was married December 8, 1874. to Lula Hillman, and is the father of two bright children, namely: Annie, a recent graduate of Huntsville female college, and Rutledge an intelligent boy of twelve years. The doctor's companion in life is indeed a lovely and talented woman-and is from a large and extensively connected family-was born April 1st, 1857. In religious belief the family are Baptists. If long spared the future, no doubt, holds in store further honors and distinctions for their bright and interesting family.
WILLIAM B. DAVIS .- Conspicuous among the prosperous planters of Barbour county is William B. Davis, who was born in the county of Russell, Ala., on the 27th day of February, 1845. His father, Gardner H. Davis, a wealthy planter and prominent man of southern Alabama, was
S. H. DENT.
417
PERSONAL MEMOIRS-BARBOUR COUNTY.
born in Upson county, Ga., in the year 1804, and came to this state prior to the Indian war of 1836, in which he took a part. He settled in Russell county, which he represented in the legislature in the year 1862, and while a member of that body opposed the ordinance of secession, being one of the leading whigs in the assembly. When the war broke out, however, he cast his fortunes with the south, and while too old to take an active part in the struggle, sent five sons to the front, all of whom did valiant service for the Confederacy. He was married in Upson county, Ga., to Mary Trice, whose family were for many years residents of Talbot county, that state, where one of them, Dr. Zach Trice, became an eminent physician and surgeon. About ten years after his marriage, Mr. Davis settled in Russell county, Ala., near the town of Salem, thence moved to Glenville, in what was then Barbour county, and died there in March, 1873. His widow survived him until August, 1879, at which time she was laid to rest in the old burial ground beside her husband. They had a family of eleven children, the following of whom are living at this time, namely: Hiram A., E. M., William B., Sallie, wife of J. J. Black- stock, Zach L., Mrs. Julia Owens, John G. and Emma, wife of J. M. Jones. The gentleman for whom this sketch is prepared was raised on a farm near Glenville, Russell county, and during the years of his youth and early manhood assisted his father in agriculture. He attended such schools as the county afforded at intervals until the breaking out of the war, and in July, 1863, enlisted in the Seventh Confederate Partisan Rangers, with which he served until his company was disbanded a few months later and re-organized as a part of the Tenth Georgia cavalry. He served with the regiment in the exciting campaign of Virginia and participated in the memorable raids around Petersburg, and was in the breastworks of that city when Grant made his celebrated attack. He returned home before the surrender and since the war has been following agricultural pursuits in the neighborhood where he now resides. He pur- chased his present beautiful plantation of 1,200 acres, four miles from Eufaula, about the year 1877 and now he has one of the finest and most comfortable homes in Barbour county, where he dispenses a genuine old- fashioned southern hospitality. Mr. Davis is regarded as one of the solid men of the county and few have made as thorough success of agri- culture, to which useful calling he has devoted the best years of his life. He has been prominently identified with the grange movement ever since its organization. He is a democrat in his political belief, and belongs to the Methodist church, in which for a period of seventeen years he has filled the office of steward. April 23, 1867, Mr. Davis and Mary L., daughter of T. R. Coleman, were united in the bonds of wedlock. They have had two children, one dying in infancy and the other, Thomas E., at the age of fifteen years.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.