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 67
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gagements Mr. Graham did valiant service, and at Pulaski, while in re- treat, he and many others of his command were made prisoners, and sent to Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio. There he remained in confinement until the cessation of hostilities, at which time he was released and sent home. Mr. Graham was elected by his party, democratic, in 1844, com- missioner of Butler county, in which capacity he served one term of four years. He is a member of the farmers' alliance, which he looks upon as the best thing for the agricultural classes, and has great confidence in the final outcome of that movement. The marriage of Mr. Graham and Louisa M. Thomas was solemnized in 1859, and has been blessed with the birth of ten children, the following of whom are living at this time, namely : Ida, wife of F. M. Rhodes; Ella, wife of A. H. Fagin; Minnie L., John G., Raif, Fletcher and Clarence.
CALHOUN COUNTY.
DR. T. W. AYERS, one of the leading physicians of Jacksonvillle, Ala., was born in Georgia in 1858. He is a son of J. W. and Lucy ( Guest) Ayers, the former of whom was a merchant in Carnesville, Ga. He was also judge of Franklin county court about eight years. Dr. T. W. Ayers was reared and educated in Georgia and in 1880 he began the study of 'medicine, the next year taking a course of lectures in the medical depart- ment of the university of Georgia. For two years afterward he was engaged in the drug business in Georgia, and in 1883 he came to Alabama locating in Anniston, conducting the drug business there until 1835. In August, 1885, he entered the city hospital at Baltimore, remaining there one year, and graduated from the college of Physicians and Surgeons in the spring of 1886. He began the practice of medicine at Anniston and in 1888 removed to Jacksonville where he has since remained and where he has built up a fine practice. In 1878 he married Minnie Skelton, daughter of Dr. W. A. and L. J. (Skelton Skelton, and to this marriage have been born five children, viz .: Goldie, Stakely, Lucy, Harry and Carey. Mrs. Ayers was born in Alabama and both she and her husband are members of the Baptist church. He is a member of the Knights of Honor, of the order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias. He is president of the Calhoun County Medical society, and is a member of the Alabama State Medical association, and he is county health officer at the present time. He attends the meetings of the State Medical associa- tion, and at its next meeting to be held at Selma will contribute a paper on the Progress of Medicine. Dr. Ayers takes an active interest in politics, and in September, 1892, was made chairman of the democratic district committee. While he is modest and unassuming, yet he is one of the most highly respected and most useful citizens of Calhoun county.
C. L. BAIN, one of the pioneers of Calhoun county, was born May 24, 1819, a son of Robert and Rachel (Collins) Bain. The father was born
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and reared in North Carolina, a son of Charles Bain. The mother was also born in North Carolina and a daughter of William Collins, who was of Revolutionary fame. Robert Bain came to Alabama in 1835 and settled among the Indians within six miles of where his son, C. L. Bain, now lives, and opened a farm and lived to be one of Calhoun's worthy citizens. C. L. Bain was raised on the farm and never received any education to speak of, his father being a poor man and having a large family. C. L. Bain first made his start in life on rented land, and was fifty years old before he owned any property, but by hard work, close economy and good management, he has succeeded in life and now owns 300 acres, on which he lives and which is well improved, besides 200 acres more, which is not so well improved. In 1846 he married Sarah Smith, a native of South Carolina and daughter of William and Mary (Hewey) Smith, the result being three children, two of whom are living: William and James R. Mr. Bain has always been a democrat of the most stalwart sort.
A. J. H. BORDERS, one of the wealthiest pioneers and farmers of Cal- houn county, was born in Jackson county, Ala., April 10, 1824, a son of John and Cynthia (Knox) Borders. The father was born in Virginia in 1779. He was a son of Samuel Borders, who was a soldier in the Revo- lution. Mrs. Cynthia Borders was born in Georgia in 1790. The father, John Borders, came to Alabama in 1835 and bought a large tract of land, but, as the Indians were too numerous, he did not move his family until 1837, when he settled in the woods and cleared up a large plantation. A. J. H. Borders was reared on the farm and received a fair education. In 1844 he married Sarah Griffin, daughter of Vincent and Elizabeth Griffin. Of the eleven children born to this marriage, the following eight- are still surviving: John V., James G., A. H., S. W., William S., Charles C., and Addie G. The mother was born in Abbeville district, S. C. She was a member of the Baptist church and died in 1874. In 1878 Mr. Borders married Mary E. Goodlett, daughter of Zion and Harriet. (Hughes) Goodlett. This union has been blessed with two children, Abie G. and May C. The mother was born in Greenville district, S. C., in 1836, and with her husband is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Borders is also a member of the Masonic order. Mr. Borders was not in the late war on account of sickness, but was well represented by two boys. He is one of the old, substantial citizens of the county, is well respected by " all who know him, and owns 940 acres of good land. He was always a great hunter and still enjoys the chase.
T. G. BUSH, one of the most substantial citizens of Anniston, Ala .. was born in Pickensville, Pickens county, Ala., in 1847. He is a son of Albert P. and Sarah A. (Williams) Bush, the former of whom is a native of Georgia, came to Alabama about the year 1835, and settled in Pickens county, where he remained, in the mercantile business, many years. He then removed to Mobile, where he now lives. He is a son of John and
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Nancy (King) Bush, who came from Georgia to Alabama about 1830, and lived on their farm till their death, near Oxford, Ala. Mrs. Sarah A. Bush is a native of Alabama, and a daughter of Curtis and Patience (Thomas) Williams, the former of whom was a member of the Alabama legislature. He was a son of Curtis Williams, who also served in the Alabama legislature. T. G. Bush's father removed to Mobile in 1852, and engaged in the cotton commission business, in which he continued for many years. He is now living in Mobile, at the age of seventy-four years. T. G. Bush's childhood was spent in Picken's county, Alabama, and in Mobile, and during his youth was a portion of the time on his father's plantation, in Noxubee county, Miss. He entered the university of Alabama at the age of fourteen, and remained there two years. He was adjutant of the corps of cadets, which, in 1864, was ordered into the service. In 1861, when he was thirteen years old, he organized two military companies, the service of one of which was tendered to the governor of Alabama as state troops, and accepted by him. In 1864, while the university cadets were in service, he left them and entered the regular army as adjutant of the Fifty-second Alabama. In May. 1865, he was captured at Blakely. Ala., after a severe battle there, and held prisoner at Ship island and in New Orleans until the surrender of Gen. Dick Taylor, when he was exchanged at Vicksburg, Miss., and paroled at Meridian, Miss. In October, 1865, he entered university of Mississippi, and had, among his instructors, the late Justice L. Q. C. Lamar, and Dr, L. C. Garland, president of the Vanderbilt university. At the end of two years he graduated in the same class with his brother, who was two years his senior, his brother taking first honors, and he taking second. His school days ended, he entered into the cotton commission business with his father and brother in Mobile, withdrawing, after four years, from the firm, and establishing himself in the wholesale grocery business in Mobile, in 1871. This business has ever since been continued under the the firm name of T. G. Bush & Co. In 1886, he accepted the presidency of the Mobile & Birmingham railroad company, a position which he still retains. He was the first president of the present Mobile chamber of commerce, and served for several years. He also served for some time as president of the Planters' & Merchants' fire insurance company of Mobile. In April, 1890, he was elected president of the Shelby iron ยท company. In 1891, he was made president of the Woodstock iron com- pany, which position he resigned after one year, and accepted the presi- dency of the Clifton iron company, at Ironton, Ala., which position he still retains, together with the presidency of the Shelby iron company. He was a member of the legislature of Alabama in 1886-87, and served as chairman of the ways and means committee. In 1890, in connection with Mr. D. T. Parker, Mr. Bush organized the Anniston water supply company, and now the city of Anniston has one of the finest supplies of water, and one of the most superior water plants of any city in the union. He was
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made president of this company, and still retains this position. He is also engaged in stock raising, having a large farm near Oxford. Ala., and within four miles of Anniston, on which he has large herds of thorough- bred Jersey cattle and Shetland ponies. In June, 1871, he was married to Miss Alberta Williams, daughter of Rev. Albert and Anna (Hollis Williams. Both Mr. and Mrs. Williams came to Alabama from Georgia. The father of Rev. Albert Williams is said to have been the first owner of a cotton factory in Georgia. Mr. and Mrs. Bush have had born to them five children, namely: Annie, Albert P., Morris W., Thomas G. Jr., and Edwin Hollis. Mrs. Bush was born in Alabama, and was reared and educated in Montgomery. She and her husband are members of the Baptist church. Mr. Bush is a trustee of Howard college, and of the Marion military institute, at Marion, Ala He is also a member of the board of trustees of the deaf and blind institute of Alabama, located at Talladega.
JUDGE B. F. CASSADY, a prominent jurist of Alabama, was born in Henry county, Ala., October 25, 1843. He is a son of Michael H. and Caroline C. ( Willis ) Cassady, the former of whom was a native of South Carolina and came to Alabama about 1830. He was always a farmer. He was a son of Hugh Cassady, a native of Scotland. Mrs. Caroline C. Cassady was a native of Georgia, and was a daughter of Rev. William Willis, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church of Georgia, who lived to be one hundred years old. Judge B. F. Cassady was reared on the farm and received only a common school education. In 1862 he enlisted in Captain Sloan's company, of the Seventh Florida infantry, but in a month or two was transferred to company C, Second Florida cavalry, under Captain Chambers, and served in that company untill the close of the war. After the war he returned to his home and began teaching school and read law at the same time, being admitted to the bar in 1869. He formed a partnership with his preceptors, Wood & Carmichael, of Newton, Ala., remaining with them one year. He then practiced alone until December, 1885, when he removed to Henry county, Ala., and formed a partnership with D. C. Blackwell and practiced in Henry county until 1887, when the firm removed to Anniston, opened an office and remained intact untlil August 24, 1889. At this time Mr. Cassady was appointed judge of the city court of Anniston by Governor Seay, and held that position for one term. He is engaged in the practice of law at Anniston, Alabama, at this time. He was married in 1879 to Miss Georgia E. Rigell, daughter of Mark and Frances S. ( Kelly ) Rigell, both natives of Georgia. To this marriage there have been born three children, viz. : Lela; Zula, and Lida. Mrs. Cassady was born and reared in Dawson, Terrell county, Ga .. and both she and her husband are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. Judge Cassady is one of those of whom it may be truly said that he is a self-made man. He began the study of law under most adverse circumstances, but such was his application, and such was his
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persistence that he overcame all obstacles, and by hard study and close application rose to the front rank as a lawyer, and is known far and wide, not only as a sound lawyer and an upright judge, but also a true christian gentleman.
E. T. CLARK, a prominent merchant of Alexandria, Ala., was born in 1849 in Calhoun county, a son of John R. and Catharine (Hoke) Clark. The father was a native of Virginia, born in 1789. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He represented Calhoun county in the legislature two terms when the capital was at Tuscaloosa. He became a Mason and was master of the Jacksonville lodge forty-three years in succession and dur- ing that whole time only missed about three sessions of the grand lodge. He was a royal arch Mason and his picture to-day adorns more lodge rooms than any other man's in the state. He was the father of two children-E. T. and Annie. He and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was always a farmer and was one of the repre- sentative citizens of the state. The mother was born in North Carolina. She was a daughter of Daniel and Margaret Hoke. Grandfather Hoke was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and was in the legislature of North Carolina and served several years. E. T. Clark was reared on the farm, but never had the advantages of much schooling, as in March, 1862. when he was but seventeen years of age, he enlisted in company B. Thirty-eighth regiment under Capt. John C. Francis, and served as a private until 1864, when he was made second lieutenant of his. company and served in that position until the close of the war. He was with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston in his memorable retreat, and was present at the time that Johnston was relieved of his command, and was also present when he was reinstated and noted the behavior of the men on both occasions. "Johnston," he says, "loved his men, but the men worshiped Johnston." After the war he returned home to the farm on which he continued to live until 1891, when he engaged in the mercantile business at Alexandria. In 1867 he married Nannie Sheid, daughter of James N. Sheid. The mother was born in Tennessee in 1850. In 1872 Mr Clark became a member of the Masonic order, and has been master of Alexandria lodge four years. He is one of the leading and worthy citizens of Calhoun county and a man that has the entire confidence of all who know him.
W. P. COOPER, a prominent planter of Calhoun county, was born in 1834. in Tennessee, a son of Henry and Eliza (Cooke) Cooper, both natives of Pendleton district, S. C., who went to Tennessee in 1825. Henry Cooper was a son of Philip and Eunice (Freeman) Cooper. The grandfather was a native of England. Mrs. Eliza Cooper was a daughter of William H. and Mary (Cantrell) Cooke. W. P. Cooper was reared on the farm, but his father, Henry, having died when the son was only eighteen days old, and the latter having been raised by a step father, his education was neglected, and at the age of seventeen years the unpleasant-
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ness of his step-father was so bad, that he left his home and at eighteen he entered school and went two sessions; at nineteen he entered Mossy- Creek college and remained about five months. He then went into mer- cantile business at Benton, Tenn., and continued ten years, and then was on a plantation four years. In 1861 he was made deputy sheriff of his county, and the sheriff, going into the army, was left in full charge. In 1863 he was elected sheriff and was removed in 1864 by the military powers. In 1866 he went to Georgia and remained five years, and on December 23, 1871, he came to Alabama and settled on the farm where he now lives. In 1890 he was nominated without any solicitation on his part for the legislature and was elected by a good majority, but refused a second nomination, preferring the quiet of the farm to the "hubbub" of political life. December 23, 1856, he married Mrs. E. A. Boyd-maiden name Cameron-daughter of William O. and Eliza (Dacus) Cameron. This union was blessed with seven children, five still living: W. H., Alice, Anna, Cora and Thomas B. The mother was born in Georgia in May, 1832, and died May 31, 1890, a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. June 7. 1891, Mr. Cooper married Mrs. Sarah L. Loyd-maiden name Fullenwiler -- she is a member of the old school Presbyterian church, while Mr. Cooper is a member of the Baptist church. He is one of the representative farmers of his county and a leading democrat. He is a member of the Masonic order, having joined the fraternity in 1855. In connection with farming he also runs a cotton gin, of thirteen bales per day capacity.
JUDGE EMMETT F. CROOK was born in Calhoun county, Ala , in 1851. He is a son of John M. and Narmezia (Woodruff) Crook, the former of whom was a native of South Carolina, and came with his parents to Alabama in 1833. He became a lawyer and was a member of the secession conven- tion. He retired from the practice of law on account of poor health and settled on a farm. He was a son of James and Amelia Crook. James Crook was a native of South Carolina, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and came to Alabama in 1833, and settled on a farm near Alexandria Val- ley, where he remained the remainder of his life. Judge Emmett F. Crook was reared in Alexandria, Ala., and received the benefits of only a common school education, but by hard and diligent private study he edu- cated himself and has gradually risen to be one of the leading citizens of the county. He began life for himself by farming and merchandising, which occupations he followed until 1886, when he was elected judge of probate for Calhoun county, and so well did he administer justice during his first term of office that he was nominated again in 1892 for the same office, and was elected after a very hard contest by a majority of 2,395, the largest majority that was ever given in the county, and this notwith- standing the third or people's party did all it could to prevent his elec- tion. In his capacity of judge he has always striven to serve the people
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MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
instead of being a mere partisan officer, and in this way he has made many friends. It is a common remark that if any one desires to know anything about court house affairs, all that is necessary to do is to write to Judge Crook, and an answer is sure to be forthcoming. If you call at the court house Judge Crook's latch-string is always out, and you are certain of a cordial reception, and he treats all alike in the same gentle- manly manner. When he assumed'office, in 1886, the county was $40,000 in debt, but now that all has been paid off, and the county is out of debt. The condition of the public roads has been much improved. Six iron bridges have been built, each costing about $25,000, and there have also been erected many wooden bridges. There have been erected two jails, one at Jacksonville, with steel cells, at a cost of $25,000, and another at Anniston. In 1872 Mr. Crook married Miss Sallie Walker, of Gainesville, Sumter county, Ala., daughter of Whitfield and Mary (Mangum) Walker, both natives of South Carolina. Whitfield Walker was a member of the state legislature before the war. He came to Alabama in 1860 and in the late war was colonel of a regiment. Remaining in Alabama until 1873, he then removed to Jacksonville, Fla., and was afterward elected to the senate of that state. Colonel Walker was internal revenue collector for Florida under the Cleveland administration and had to remain, there dur- ing the yellow fever epidemic of 1888, and both he and his wife had it, but both recovered from that dread disease. Colonel Walker has a son who is one of the leading lawyers in New York city. To the marriage of Judge Crook and Miss Walker there have been born four children, viz. : Maud, a graduate of Cappell's Female college, of Columbus, Ga. : Ida, Whitfield, and John M. Mrs. Crook was born in South Carolina and both she and her husband are members of the Baptist church. Judge Crook is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Knights of Honor. He is deserving of all commendation for the success he has met with in life, as he commenced with nothing after the war, and has since then accumulated considerable property in both Jacksonville and Anniston. Besides this he has risen to a position of honor and respectability among his fellow-men by his own unaided efforts. He is now of the best and best known of the citizens of Calhoun county, and has the complete confidence of all who know him.
J. M. CROOK, one of the leading physicians of Calhoun county, was born in Alexandria, Ala., in August, 1847. He is a son of John M., and Margaret (Miller) Crook, both natives of South Carolina. John M. Crook, Sr., was born in 1810, and came to Alabama in 1834. Though always declining office himself he took an active part in politics; but he was a delegate to the secession convention in 1860, and took an active part in its deliberations. He was both a farmer and a lawyer. The Crook fam- ily came originally from Wales. James Crook, Sr., the grandfather of John M. Crook, was reared and educated in South Carolina, and repre- sented Spartanburg district at different times in both branches in the
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state legislature. He married a Miss Owens, a lady of Scotch-Irish de- scent, and after removing to Alabama purchased large tracts of fertile lands and devoted himself to farming. , Samuel Miller, the father of Mrs. Crook, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He and his wife, who was a Miss Dean, were both of Scotch-Irish descent. The ancestors on both sides of Dr. John M. Crook, were among the first to take up arms in defense of the colonies. Among these ancestors were Crook, Owens, Dean and John Miller, all in what is now Spartanburg county. They were all great-grandfathers of Dr. John M. Crook. The first three served nobly through the war, but John Miller was killed by Indians and Tories in 1775. He left one son, Samuel Miller, who took part in the battle of Cowpens, and was the maternal grandfather of Dr. John M. Crook. He afterward served as sheriff of Spartanburg county, when that officer had to perform the duties now performed by the clerk and probate judge. Dr. John M. Crook at the age of fourteen years was sent by his father to the university of Alabama, and remained there two years. In 1864, he enlisted in the state troops, his company being organized later into a company of scouts. He was with Gen. Johnston in his re- treat a short time, and afterward with Hood when he returned to Ten- nessee, serving until the close of the war as a scout. After the war was over he returned home, and began going to school at Jacksonville, but he attended only a short time, being compelled on account of his father's death to take charge of the plantation. In 1873, he and his half brother, now Judge Emmet F. Crook, formed a partnership and established themselves in the mercantile business, which they conducted until 1878, when he retired from the firm. In 1876 he married Miss Anna Whatley, daughter of Col. G. C .. and Ann (Crook) Whatley. Col. Whatley lost his life at the battle of Sharpsburg in making a charge with his company, which was a part of the Tenth Alabama. Col. Whatley had been one of the foremost lawyers of his county. To the marriage of Dr. Crook with Miss Whatley, there was born one child, Anna Lee, the mother dying
at the birth of her child. Dr. Crook was much grieved at the death of his wife, and was never fully satisfied as to the cause thereof. In order to satisfy himself as to the cause he began the study of medicine, and the more he studied the more interested he became in the study. While pursuing this study he determined to become a physician, and in 1883, entered the college of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Md., grad- uating in 1885. After spending one year in the hospital he returned to Jacksonville, and began the practice of his profession at his old home. He now has a large practice and is one of the most successful practi- tioners in the county. In 1891 he established a drug store in Jackson- ville. In April, 1890, he married Miss Louise Rankin, daughter of James and Agnes Rankin, both natives of Scotland. To this marriage there has been born one child, Agnes. Mrs. Crook was born and reared in Co- lumbus, Ga, but was educated in Scotland. Dr. Crook is a member of the
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Baptist church, and he is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Knights of Honor. He served as mayor of Jacksonville three. years, resigning his office as mayor to attend college. He has been a member of the town council about six years. He is a member of the Calhoun county Medical society, of the board of censors, and also of the State Medical association. He is also a member of the College of Coun- selors of the state.
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