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 59
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MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
among the Indians. Mrs. Satira Morris was a daughter of Allen and Caroline (Foster) Wynn, both from South Carolina. They settled in Georgia at an early day, and for many years lived among the Indians, whom Mr. Wynn helped to "round up" when they were sent out of the state. He was for many years justice of the peace, and he and wife are strict members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Grandfather Morris and wife were devoted members of the Primitive Baptist church. John E. Morris came to Alabama with his parents when but three years of age, and also returned to Georgia with the family, where he grew to manhood on the farm. He received but a limited education, his father having been killed in the army and the support of the family depending to a large extent upon his labors. He remained with and took care of his widowed mother until 1876, when he was united in marriage to Georgia Arnold, daughter of Joshua P. and Nancy (Morgan) Arnold. This union produced nine children, of whom seven are living: Emery, Walter, Maude, Claude, Earley, Clara and an infant unnamed. The mother was born and reared in Georgia. She is a member of the Baptist church and her husband is a member of the I. O, O. F. After his marriage Mr. Morris began life without anything, but by hard work and close economy he has succeeded well and now owns nearly 1,000 acres of fine land, the most of which is tillable. He has several acres of iron ore, and manganese is found in abundance on a part of his property. This is one of the best improved farms in Blount county, and he has erected a fine two-story residence and good barn. He also owns two houses and lots in Blountsville. He is one of the largest stock dealers of the county and is one of its worthy citizens and representative farmers.
DR. H. B. ROBINSON, one of the pioneer physicians of Blount county, was born in Greene county, Ala., March 12, 1823, son of George and Mary (Herndon) Robinson, both natives of Virginia, who came to Alabama in 1819, and settled in Erie, Greene county. George Robinson followed the vocation of farming, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a son of Michael and Mary M. Robinson, both natives of Spottsylvania county, Va. Mrs. Mary Robinson was a daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Sharp) Herndon, both natives of Spottsylvania county, Va. The doctor was reared in Greene county, attended the common schools, and in 1840 began reading medicine; in 1847 he entered the medical department of Tulane university, at New Orleans, La., remained two sessions, and re- turned to Alabama and began the practice of his chosen profession at his old home, in Green county. He built up a large practice and remained until 1873, when he removed to Blount Springs, Ala., where he has since been actively employed. The doctor is getting so far advanced in years that for the last twenty-four months he has almost retired from the prac- tice. In 1861, when the call was made for troops in Greene county, he was the third man that stepped into line. The wives and mothers of the boys who enlisted at that time asked that the doctor remain at home to
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assist in the care' of those left behind, and when the battle of Corinth was fought, the doctor went to the scene and looked after the wounded- about seventy in number. He gave his time and medicine gratis, and re- mained with the wounded until they were all cared for. He also was placed in charge of a lot of provisions and other comforts made up by the ladies of Forkland and vicinity, Mrs. Robinson being one of the leaders in this movement. On January 29, 1845, the doctor married Vir- ginia Sawkins, daughter of William and Mary G. (Carter) Sawkins, the parents both being natives of England. The father was born in Framp- ton, and was an Episcopal minister; the mother was born in Devonshire. To this union, of the doctor and his wife, were born three children, two still living: Helen and Mary L. The mother was born in Washington city, D. C., in 1825, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The doctor was one of the leading practioners of Birmingham about fourteen months before settling at Blount Springs, in 1873. During twenty-five years' practice, and twelve and a half years' of these in Greene county, he booked $96,000, and $52,000 is yet due.
ALFRED RUSSELL, farmer, of Blount county, was born in Marshall county, Ala., in 1839, a son of Alfred G. and Susan (Geno) Russell. The father was born in Hawkins county, Tenn., June 25, 1811, came to Alabama in 1828 and settled in Limestone county, where he engaged in a tannery until 1837, when he removed to Marshall county and engaged in the mercantile business and remained until his death, November 4, 1874. He was a son of Joshua S. and Nancy (Richardson) Russell, both natives of Pennsylvania, who moved to Tennessee in an early day, where they remained until 1850, when they came to Alabama and remained till death. Joshua S. was a saddler by trade. Mrs. Susan Russell was a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Hancock) Geno. Her grandfather was a. Frenchman, and the grandmother (born 1774, died 1857) was a native of South Carolina. Alfred Russell was reared on the farm and received but a limited education in the old log school-house. In 1861 he enlisted in company H, Fourth Alabama cavalry, under Capt. Henry Milner, and served until the 9th day of May, 1865, and was with Gen. Joe E. Johnston in his famous march. He was taken prisoner at Fort Donelson, Feb- ruary 16, 1862, and was held until September 23, 1863. After the war he returned to Marshall county, Ala., and began farming and butchering. In 1868 he married Nancy A. Carnes, daughter of James and Nancy (Staten) Carnes, who has borne him eight children: Thomas B., Nancy J., James A., Sam H., Eliza M., William A., Grover Cleveland and Susan G. The mother was born April 8, 1846, and reared in sight of where she now lives. After marriage Mr. Russell settled on his present farm, and since that time has given it and his gin-mill and saw-mill all his atten- tion. He began life without a dollar, but by hard work he gradually came to the front and now owns 490 acres, the most of which is tillable.
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and well improved. He is a representative farmer of the county, well respected, and, with his family, affiliates with the Methodist church.
MONROE WHALEY, a prominent and prosperous farmer of Blount county, and one of its most rapid money makers, was born in 1849, a son of Alexander and Debbie A. (McPherson Whaley. The father was born in 1814 and reared on the farm where he now lives, and has always lived within one mile of his birthplace. When he was a boy the country was filled with Indians, wolves and all kinds of wild game. He was the father of fourteen children, ten of whom are now living: William M., Lewis, Catharine, Monroe, Martha, Mary D., Florence, Ruth, Anna and Francis. They were all reared to majority and all live in Alabama, and all in Blount county, except two. The mother was also born and reared in Blount county and both are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The father was a soldier in the late war in Capt. Graves' com- pany of cavalry, and served two years. He was a son of Alexander Whaley and Ruth (McAnally) Whaley. Alexander Whaley was a native of east Tennessee and came to Alabama before the war of 1812. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, was one of the very first settlers in Blount county, and at that time had to "tote" his corn from Guntersville and beat it with a pestle to make meal-a distance of about seventy-five miles, and on their way to the mill had to go through an unbroken forest and had to feed the horses on sassafras and other bushes. Alexander Whaley still has the old flint-lock gun that his father carried with him on his trips. The grandfather was a great hunter in his day and for a number of years followed hunting as a livelihood. Mrs. Debbie Whaley is a daughter of Lewis and Narcissa (McPherson) McPherson. Monroe Whaley was reared in Blount county and attended school in the old log cabin school house, with its slab seats and stick and dirt chimney. In 1871 he married Rebecca A. Rice, daughter of James and Sarah (He- dricks) Rice, both natives of Tennessee who came to Alabama in 1860. This union has resulted in the birth of seven children, five of whom are still living: Jessie E., William H. T., Minnie R., Clarence E. and Claude A. Those dead are Alexander and an infant. The mother was born in 1844 in Tennessee. Her grandfather was named James Rice and her grandmother's maiden name was Rebecca Bordon. Mr. Whaley has served as justice of the peace, in beat twenty-four, four years, and was appointed by Governor Seay as commissioner of Blount county in 1887, served two years, and refused to accept the position a second time. After marriage, when he began life for himself, he had to borrow his first flour to make some biscuit, but he went to work with a will and is now one of the substantial farmers of Blount county. He owns 450 acres of fine land, which is one of the best improved farms in the county. He also runs a large gin in connection with his farm. As an illustra- tion of his energy, we simply state that when he first settled where he now lives he had to clear up the land that he planted the first
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year, and went to a store to buy a plow on credit, and was refused, yet to-day he is one of the solid moneyed farmers of Blount county. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, and are very highly respected.
A. U. R. WHORTON, one of the most prominent farmers of Blount county, was born in Georgia in 1826, son of Isaac and Iroil (Baker) Whorton, both natives of South Carolina, who located first in Georgia at an early day and remained until 1840, when the family came to Alabama and purchased a partially improved farm in Blount county. Mr. Whorton removed to Walker county, however, after a few years, where he remained till 1867, when he returned to Georgia where he remained till his death. He represented Forsythe county, Ga., in the legislature before coming to Alabama, and represented Blount county in the legislature before the war. He was also the first sheriff of Forsythe county, Ga., under the new con- stitution. He and wife were members of the Baptist church. He was a son of Benjamin and Olla (Green) Whorton, both natives of South Caro- lina. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Whorton was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and served seven years. He and wife were both mem- bers of the Baptist church. A. U. R. Whorton was reared mostly in Alabama, and attended school in the old pioneer log house with its puncheon floor and stick and dirt chimney. In 1848 he married Sarah Alexander, daughter of Noah and Eliza
£ (Gandy) Alexander, both natives of South Carolina. Noah Alexander came to Ala- bama with his parents in 1812 and settled in Morgan county. He was a son of David and Eunice (Hill) Alexander. Eliza Gandy was a daughter of Edward and Mary (Thurman) Gandy, both also natives of South Caro- lina. ' Grandfather Gandy was a soldier in the war of 1812, came to Ala- bama in 1821 and settled in Morgan county at Gandy's Cove, which takes its name from him. After marriage, Mr. Wliorton settled first in Marshall county, Ala., where he remained till 1854, when he went to Texas and remained one year, and then returned to Alabama, settled in Blount county and has since remained. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Whorton, eight children have been born, of whom six are still living: Isaac, Eliza, Augusta, John P., Claudie and Ora. The mother was born in 1830, in Blount county, and is a member of the Presbyterian church. In 1861 Mr. Whorton enlisted in company F, Col. Starn's battalion of cavalry, under Capt. John McKaskill. He served till the close of the war and was under Gen. Forrest and Gen. Joe Wheeler. He served as became a good and brave soldier and at the close of the war was orderly sergeant. He began in life with but little, but has done well and now owns 200 acres where he lives and 200 acres, two and a half miles down the valley. In 1865 .he engaged in merchandising at Summit and conducted a large and lucrative business at that point, but since 1885 he has turned the business over to his sons, although he is still sole owner. He is one of the leading citizens of the county and a man that is known far and wide as being an honest
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and upright man, and a man that has built up his trade by honest and fair dealings. He is a Free Mason, has always been an ardent democrat,. and at the last election voted against his own brother for senator, because he was running on the opposition ticket.
ELIAS DEAN, a prosperous native farmer of Blount county, was born in 1849. His parents, Joseph and Athen R. (Reed) Dean, were both born and reared in Alabama-the father having been born in 1823. He was a soldier in the late war, in the Nineteenth Alabama regiment, having en- listed in 1861, and served until the close. After the war he returned to Blount county, and as the war had broken him up, began life as a renter, and little by little accumulated until he owned a well improved farm. He had three children by his first wife, as follows: John A., James N. and Elias. Elias was reared a farmer, and attended the common schools of the neighborhood. In 1870 he married Taylor Ann Sapp, daughter of Harris and Harriet Sapp. This union was blessed by the birth of ten children, and of these eight still live: James M., Fannie, Joseph H., Tullula, Walter, William, Maud and Lomey. The mother was born in 1848, and reared in Blount county. When Elias was first married his father gave him a mule, and a cow and calf, with which to begin life, but he has succeeded well and now owns between 400 and 500 acres of good land. He is a man who is respected by all who know him, and he and wife are members of the Baptist church.
BULLOCK COUNTY.
REV. LORENZO J. BIGGERS .- This gentleman is a devout and eloquent Congregational minister as well as an agriculturist, near Perote, Bullock county, Ala., but was born in Muscogee county, Ga., in July, 1848. His parents were Lorenzo M. aud Ann Elizabeth (Dent) Biggers, the former born in York district, S. C., in March, 1811, and the latter in Wilkes county, Ga., in 1815. Lorenzo M. Biggers was reared to practical plant- ing in his native county and in Jasper county, Ga., to which latter place he was taken by his parents; later he moved to Muscogee Ga., where he still followed planting until his death, March 5, 1875. He was a prominent man during life, and was worth about $70,000 at the close of the late war. Several times he was elected sheriff of Muscogee county, and was always active in public affairs. In the Indian war of 1836 he proved himself to be a brave soldier, and during the recent Civil war was attached to the reserve corps the last year of the struggle. He was a Mason of the K. T. degree, a Son of Temperance, and from his youth has been a Methodist. His widow, a member of the same church, is a resident of Muscogee county, Ga. Joseph Biggers, the father of Lorenzo M., was of Irish origin and was probably born in South Carolina. From that state he moved to Jasper county and thence to Muscogee county, Ga. He served in the war of 1812, became the father of seven children, and died in Mus -.
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cogee county, a very wealthy man. The maternal grandfather of Lorenzo J. Biggers, whose name stands at the head of this sketch, was Lawson Dent, who was born in Maryland, but early settled in Wilkes county, Ga., where he resided several years and then removed to Musco- gee county, Ga., where he passed away in 1848, the father of a large family. Lorenzo J. Biggers is the seventh child in a family of nine chil- dren, comprising seven daughters and two sons, still living. He received a good classical education in and near Columbus, Ga., and was preparing for college when the Civil war interrupted his studies. In June, 1864, he and his father enlisted in what was known as the Pemberton cavalry of the reserve force, and did considerable scouting duty, and took part in a number of skirmishes. On return of peace Mr. Biggers attended school another year and then engaged as mill contractor in Barbour and Henry counties, Ala., and Jackson county, Fla., for a few years. His next oc- cupation was that of a planter near Columbus, Ga., but in 1876 he relin- quished agriculture for the drug business at Eufaula for two years. In 1878 and 1879 he re-engaged in planting in Barbour county, and in 1880 removed to a plantation in Bullock county, and in this county he has resided ever since, at different points. His present plantation is situated three miles south of Perote and comprises 560 acres, in addition to which he owns 240 acres in Harris county, Ga., his principal products being cotton and general supplies. Mr. Biggers was joined in the bonds of matrimony January 25,1876, in Barbour county, Ala., with Miss Josephine F, a native of Barbour county, and a daughter of Edward and Mary Garland. Mr. Garland was a native of Virginia, from which state he removed, first to Georgia and thence to Russell county, Ala., and later to Barbour county, Ala., where his death took place in 1875. He was a cousin of ex-Attorney- General Garland, and at one time a very wealthy man, but lost $70,000 by the calamities of war. Mr. Biggers was licensed a preacher by the Methodist Episcopal church and officiated about six years, when he was regularly ordained by the Congregational church, and is now pastor of Morgan chapel and Webster in Bullock county, and Catalpa and Wesley chapels in Pike county, and also has appointments at Banks Station and Buckhorn in Pike county, both of which he is preparing to organize. He is a member of Missouri lodge No. 146 F.& A. M., and was formerly worship- ful master of Wiley lodge at Post Oak; he was also at one time chaplain of Perote alliance. He is an indefatigable worker for his church, in which his chief interest is bound up, but he is still very popular with the more worldly minded, many of whom are desirous of his taking charge of their secular affairs as well as spiritual, and he has just been elected for the state legislature from his county.
DR. NATHANIEL MACON BLEDSOE, physician and druggist of Union Springs, Ala., is a descendant of one of the oldest families in the state of Virginia, although a native of Georgia. He was born in Butts county,
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'the latter state, in 1833, and is a son of Morton and Mary J. (Bailey) Bledsoe, who were respectively natives of Orange county, Va., and Ogle- thrope county, Ga. Morton Bledsoe was a young man, when he settled in Butts county, Ga., where he was engaged extensively in planting, and where he died in 1845 at the age of sixty-one years; his widow died in Lee county, Ga., in 1855, aged fifty-four. Morton Bledsoe was of English descent and a man of great force of character, who took great interest in the current events of his day; while an active politician of the Henry Clay school, he never sought nor held office, being content in advocating and working for what his sense and conscience told him was right. He was the father of twelve children, of whom three died in infancy, and in the order of birth Dr. Nathaniel M. was the ninth. Of those who reached maturity, beside the doctor, Elijah Morton, a planter, was wounded while in the Confederate army and died in Butler county, Ala. ; Dr. John W., was a graduate of the university of Nashville, Tenn., and practiced medicine from 1845 until his death at Midway, Ala., in 1871; Dr. Bushrod W., was also a graduate of the Nashville university, was assistant surgeon in the Confederate army a short time, and is now in practice in Baker county, Ga .; Caleb B., is a planter of Texas, who was several times wounded while in the Confederate army: Joseph P., a planter of Baker county, Ga., was also a soldier of the Confederate army; George P., was all through the war and had his under jaw shot in two; he is now a planter in Texas. The girls of this family of twelve were Mary A., deceased wife of Rev. Jonathan Davis, an eminent Bap- tist clergyman of Georgia; Sarah, deceased wife of George C. Hodges, who was a wealthy planter of Barbour county, Ala., and Caroline F., deceased wife of the late Dr. L. G. Bozeman of Bullock county. Dr. Nathaniel M. Bledsoe received a good academic education prepara- tory to studying medicine-chiefly at Jackson, Ga .- and at the age of eighteen entered the office of a brother to prepare himself for his life work. After studying for a year under this brother he sought the assist- ance of a brother-in-law for the same purpose and studied with him until his entrance into the medical department of the university at Nash- ville, from which he graduated in 1857, and began practice seven miles east of Union Springs, where he met with a success that justified his re- maining there until 1884, when he removed to the town, where he opened a drug store, which he conducts in connection with his extensive prac- tice. So valuable have been his services as a physician that, when the war opened, his neighbors strenuously resisted his entering the army, although he was anxious to do so. To oblige them he remained at home and cared for the sick and destitude without compensation, and he has ever since given his professional services gratuitously to the poor fami- lies of fallen soldiers. So boundless is his benevolence, that, although he has no children of his own, he has expended thousands of dollars on the education of the offspring of others-in one instance alone having
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spent $12,000 on the education of two children only, and he has always given liberally, if not munificently of his income toward the erection of schools and churches. In connection with his practice and drug busi- ness, the doctor has also done more or less planting, at times raising 100 bales of cotton. He has never held public office, but takes a lively inter- est in politics and performs punctually every public duty as a citizen. He is one of the oldest practitioners in the county of Bullock and is a member of the county medical association. He is also a Free Mason, hav- ing taken the royal arch and council degrees, and being a member of St. Johns lodge, F. & A. M., of Union Springs. The marriage of the doctor was solemnized, in 1857, with Miss Amanda, daughter of James R. Pickett, who was a pioneer of what is now Bullock county. where he died in 1854. Mrs. Bledsoe was born in this county, and with her hus- band is a member of the Baptist church.
DR. PATRICK BLUE, now one of the most prominent merchants of Union Springs, Ala., was born in Monroe county, N. C., in 1834, a son of Hector and Mary (Mckinnon) Blue, both of whom were natives of the state named. In 1835, the family came to Alabama and settled in the woods of Pike (now Bullock) county. Hector Blue took part in the Indian war of 1836, and was always ready to perform the duty of a good citizen, although he never sought an office. He led the life of an honest, industrious man, and consequently successful planter, and died in the Presbyterian faith, in 1878, at the age of seventy-six years, his widow being laid by his side in 1884, at the age of seventy-two. Hector Blue was a son of Peter Blue, a native of Scotland, but a resident for many years of North Carolina, where his death occurred. Of his six sons, all but one became citizens of Alabama. The maternal grandfather of Dr. Blue was John McKinnon, a native of North Caorlina, of Scotch descent. He came to Alabama in 1835, and settled in Pike county, where he passed the remainder of his years in following his calling of planter. Dr. Patrick Blue is a member of a family of eight children, comprising six boys and two girls. Of these the boys all were soldiers: Duncan, a lawyer by profession, served in the Confederate service one year at Pen- sacola, Fla., and then joined the Fifty-third Alabama volunteers and served until the close of the war, dying afterward in Texas; Hector also served his first year in the army at Pensacola, and then in the army of Virginia until the end of hostilities; John served with Gen. J. E. John- ston's command all the way through, and was killed by a runaway horse about 1880; Archie served under Gen. Johnston to the close of hostilities, and Eugene did the same under Joe Wheeler. The doctor passed his youthful days on the home farm, performing such duties as usually fall to the lot of farmer lads and attending school at the proper time. In 1855 and 1856 he attended the medical college of Charleston, S. C., grad- uated, and then practiced at Geneva, Ala., until 1862, when he joined the Fifty-third Alabama reigment and served as steward and acting assistant
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MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
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