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 83
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his native state. He was a man of much more than ordinary powers of inind, liberally educated, and well informed upon all questions of the day. S. W., and Charlotte Newton were married about the year 1832, in 'Swan- ton, Vt., where they passed their lives and where their respective deaths occurred in the years 1888 and 1864. They reared a family of ten children: Arethusa, widow of Henry W. Stoudemyer, now of Oregon; Charles A .; George W., attorney-at-law, Bismarck, S. D .; Benjamin F., an Episcopal clergyman of St. Louis, Mo .; Jaspar P., physician at Ben- son, Vt .; Emily, wife of James O. Tebow, Elizabethtown, O .; Sanford H., druggist at Rouse's Point, N. Y .; Sarah, widow of Nelson Hunger- ford, Franlkin county, Vt. ; Cyrus G., an officer of the Vermont Central : railroad, St. Alubans, Vt .. and Walter, professor in an educational insti- tution in New Jersey. Charles A. Newton, received a liberal education in his youth, and was educated in Vermont and New Hampshire. At the age of twenty-one, at the instance of an uncle, Rev. H. A. Smth, he came to Alabama and engaged in teaching in Monroe county, and for one year had charge of the school near Monroeville. He next taught in Montgomery county, thence returned to Monroe county, where he was actively engaged in educational work until the breaking out of the war. In 1861, he embarked in merchandising at Pensacola, Fla., but disposed of this business in a short time and entered the Confederate army, enlist- ing in the First Florida regiment, in which he served twelve months on the coast. At the expiration of his year's service, he engaged in school work at Belleville, where he taught three years, and at the end of that time, in 1863, again entered the service as member of the Fifteenth Confeder- ate regiment, Alabama and Florida troops, with which he served until made a prisoner at Pine Barren creek, Fla., November 17, 1864. After his capture he was carried to Ship island, where he remained a prisoner until the cessation of hostilities. Returning home at the close of the war, he accepted a position in the Pineville school, Monroe county. where he was employed for three and a half years, and then became principal of the academy in Belleville, where he taught for a period of seventeen years. In 1874, in partnership with Sherman G. Forbes, under the firm name of Forbes & Newton, he engaged in mercantile business at Belleville, which he carried on in connection with his pro- fession for some years. His partner dying in 1876, Mr. Newton became associated in the business with a son of Mr. Forbes, and the firm. thus constituted, continued until February, 1883, at which time it was dissolved and the present firm of C. A. Newton & Son formed. This is one of the well known firms of Belleville and its trade is large, the stock repre- senting a capital of $4,000, and the annual sales amounting to from $10,000 to $12,000. Mr. Newton and son, in addition to their mercantile interests. own a tract of 1,500 acres of land, over 600 of which are under a successful state of cultivation, constituting one of the finest and best improved plantations of Conecuh county. Owing to the stringency of
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the cotton market, Mr. Newton in the last few years has dealt exten- sively in live stock, and upon his farm are to be seen some of the finest blooded horses and cattle in this part of the state. In 1874, Mr. Newton was elected superintendent of schools of Conecuh county, and still holds the position, the duties of which he has discharged in a manner highly creditable to himself and to the satisfaction of the general public. He was married in July, 1863, near Belleville, to Lucy C., daughter of The- ophilus Ballard. and has a family of five children. The eldest, William H., is a partner with his father in the mercanitle business, farming, and stock raising. The second son, Earnest E., is a sub-professor in the university of Alabama, from which institution he graduated with the class of 1891. He is preparing for the law and expects to make that the profession his life work. The next child in order of birth is Nettie, wife of W. M. Car- ter, of Vincent, Ala. The two youngest children are Claude C., and Guy G., both of whom reside under the parental roof. Politically Mr. Newton is a democrat, and the Presbyterian church embodies his relig- ious creed. In his professional career Mr. Newton has made a creditable record and his interest in behalf of education has been the means of lift- ing the schools of his adopted county to a very high plane of usefulness. He is a popular citizen, and his long connection with educational work has gained much more than a local reputation as a teacher.
ISAAC M. SANDERS .-- Few planters in southern Alabama are as widely known as Isaac M. Sanders, one of the intelligent and representative men of Conecuh county. His parents were James N. and Nancy Jane San- ders, the father a native of Georgia, born in Jones county, in the year 1822. He was a leading farmer of Pike county, Ala., to which part of the state he removed with his father, Isaac Sanders, about the year 1853, and is remembered as a man of excellent moral character, of whom it has been said, by those who knew him best, that a better farmer and more scrupulously honest and upright citizen it was never their fortune to meet. In 1844, in the state of Georgia, he married Nancy Sledge, and in 1852 moved to Pike county, Ala., where Mrs. Sanders died, in 1859. She bore her husband four children, namely: Amos A., Isaac M., Thomas S., and Mary A. Mr. Sanders' second marriage was solemnized, in 1861, with Mrs. Perdue, and she also became the mother of four children, whose names are as follows: Amanda J., wife of James C. Shirley; James, Alice, wife of Dr. William Eiland; Elizabeth Victoria, wife of Samuel Casey, and Stephen W., who resides with his widowed mother at Troy, Ala. Mr. Sanders died full of years and honors and greatly lamented by a large circle of relatives and friends, in November, 1890. Isaac M. Sanders was born November 2, 1849, in Upson county, Ga., and at the age of three years was brought by his parents to Alabama, of which state he has since been a resident. His educational training em- braced the common school course, and at the age of twenty he began his life work as an agriculturist, which he has since followed with success
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MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA
such as few planters attain. After his marriage, which was consummated December 20, 1871, with Mary S. Perdue, he followed his chosen calling for three years in Pike county, and in 1875 moved to his present large plantation, consisting of 1,500 acres, two miles northwest of Brooklyn, where he has since resided. In addition to his farming interests, Mr. Sanders is also connected with the timber business of Conecuh county, being principal member of the J. M. Sanders milling firm, which owns a large mill on Indigo creek, south of Brooklyn, where square timber is manufactured on an extensive scale. Mrs. Sanders, a most estimable lady, is a daughter of Jalus and Alvira Perdue, and was born and raised in Pike county, Ala. She has borne her husband six children, namely : James Jalus, John A., Shelby B., Hillary Hubbard, Amos B., and Capt. Monroe. Mr. Sanders is a notable example of the successful self-made man. He began the struggle of life without a dollar of his own, but the school of adversity, in which his early life was invigorated, proved an ex- perience which in after years enabled him to overcome discouraging ob- stacles and wring success, from that which to many a man of less firm purpose would have proved defeat. All of his business transactions are dictated by shrewd common sense and a correct judgment that seems to be inborn and intuitive, and he impresses those with whom he comes in contact as a man of more than ordinary intelligence and sagacity. His family of manly boys, whom he is raising to practical work, and educating with unstinted purse, would be a credit to any father, and right proud is he in the reflection of the good name inherited from a noble ancestry will, in no wise, suffer by the injudicious action of any of his children. In politics, Mr. Sanders is a democrat, and in religion a Baptist.
DR. CHARLES T. TALIAFERRO, one of the oldest physicians and sur- geons of Conecuh county, was born in the county of Caroline, Va., on the 15th day of March, 1833. As is indicated by the name, the Taliaferro family is of Italian origin, but the American branch is descended from an early resident of Virginia who immigrated to that state from England in the time of the colonies. The doctor's grandfather, William T. Taliaferro, was a native of Caroline county, Va., and had five children: Hay, Will- iam, Charles, Lucy and Robert. The third named, the doctor's father, was a native of Virginia, born in Caroline county about the year 1780. He was a planter and stood high in his county, where he was especially noted for his zeal in religious work, having been prominently identified with the Baptist church in his native state. He served as a private in the war of 1812, and by his marriage with Susan Moxley became the father of four children: Lucy, William, Robert and Charles T., the doc- tor being the only member of the family now living. At the early age of seven years the doctor suffered an irreparable loss in the death of his father, and the widowed mother, shortly after the sad event, moved with her family to southern Alabama, settling in Conecuh county. Here Charles T. Taliaferro attended the common schools, and at the age of
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twenty-three began the study of medicine at Brooklyn, under Dr. John Scott, with whom he remained one year, after which he attended a course of lectures at the Louisiana university, at New Orleans. Subsequently he pursued his medical studies at the Atlanta medical college, Georgia, from which institution he received his degree in the summer of 1859. Actuated by a laudable desire to increase his knowledge of medicine, the doctor afterward entered the Jefferson medical college, at Philadelphia, but owing to the excitement caused by the John Brown raid, did not complete the course, but went to Richmond, Va., in the medical college of which city he pursued his studies some time longer. Leaving college he returned to Alabama and opened an office in the town of Sparta, Con- ecuh county, where he practiced one year, and then, April, 1861, entered the Confederate service as member of the Conecuh Guards, in which he was promoted to the lieutenantcy in 1862. The following year he was appointed assistant surgeon and in 1864 was promoted to be full sur- geon, and as such served until the close of the war. Returning to Cone- cuh county on severing his connection with the army, the doctor resumed his practice, opening an office in Evergreen, where he also engaged in the drug business, which he carried on in connection with his profession for a period of two years. At the end of that time he moved to a farm several miles from the town, which he had previously purchased, where, until 1885, he was engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. He left the farm that year and returned to Evergreen and again embarked in the drug business, which he still carries on, though giving part of his atten- tion to his fine farm of 2,300 acres, one of the best cultivated places in Conecuh county. The doctor entered into the marriage relation, January 12, 1866, with Mary Ashley, daughter of Capt. Wilson Ashley, one of the pioneers of Conecuh county. Capt. Ashley was a native of Barnwell dis- trict, S. C., served as captain in the war of 1812, and became a citizen of Alabama in 1820, settling in Conecuh county, of which he served as sheriff in 1832 and representative in the general assembly in 1835, and was also one of the presidential electors for Alabama in 1860. Capt. Ashley was noted for his suavity of manners, his penetrating discrimina- tion and clear judgment. To the doctor and Mrs. Taliaferro have been born four children, namely: Mamie, Charles R., bookkeeper for C. P. Dennis, Evergreen; William A., assisting his father in the drug business, and Katy. In politics Dr. Taliaferro is a democrat, and fraternally a member of Dean lodge, F. & A. M., at Brooklyn. He was elected mayor of Evergreen in 1889 and probate judge of Conecuh county in 1892.
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MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
COOSA COUNTY.
JAMES P. BATSON, merchant, of Rockford, Ala., is a son of William and Mary (Kelly) Batson, the former of whom was born in Milledgeville, Ga., in 1823. At the age of eleven he was brought by his parents to Alabama, they settling in Autauga county, near Kingston. After living here eight or nine years they moved to the western part of Coosa county. William Batson married in Coosa county in 1843, and lived in that county until 1867, when the new county of Elmore was formed, or rather when the county lines were changed, and then without moving he became a resident of Elmore county. He died in 1877. He was a planter by occu- pation and was always a very quiet man. He was a thoroughgoing and thrifty farmer and accumulated some property. He was highly in favor of educating the young, and he gave his youngest children especially a good education. There is a legend that the first Batson coming to this country was a sailor who settled in Virginia. The Kelly family were from North Carolina and are of Scotch ancestry. Mrs. Mary Batson was born and reared in Cumberland county, that state. William and Mary Bat- son reared a family of seven children, viz. : James P., a merchant at Rock- ford; Margaret A., wife of W. C. Culver, of Verbena, Ala .; Z. T., mer- chant, of Good Water, Ala .; Sarah C., wife of William J. Curlee, of Weoka, Ala .; John W., attorney-at-law, of Good Water, Ala .; George W., merchant, of Sykes' Mills, Ala .; Angus A., merchant, of Fort Worth, Texas. The mother of these children lives with her daughter, Sarah, at Weoka. James P. Batson was born in Coosa county, Ala., January 10, 1845. He began business for himself at the age of twenty-two, and fol- lowed farming near Equality until 1875 in the northern part of Elmore county, Ala. Being successful at farming, and having accumulated some capital, he commenced business as a merchant at Sykes' Mills, Elmore county, and removed his business to Rockford in 1886, where he has since remained. He carries an average stock of general merchandise of about $8,000. He was married November 4, 1866, in Elmore county, to Susan M. Wingard, by whom he has seven children, viz .: Lavinia, single; James W., clerk in probate judge's office; Osee, David C., Orestus, Viola and Adin, the last five at home. Mr. Batson is-a democrat and a master Mason, aud he is a prominent and successful merchant.
JOHN S. BENTLEY, formerly probate judge of Coosa county, was a son of Hiram and Levisa (Bentley) Bentley, husband and wife being cousins. The Bentley family came from Elbert county, Ga., to Alabama, settling first in Chambers county. They lived there for some years and then removed to Coosa county, locating near Nixburgh. Hiram Bentley and his wife died in Coosa county. John S. Bentley grew to manhood in this county, and was married November 1, 1850, to Miss Sarah C. Suttle, daughter of I. W. Suttle, formerly a merchant, but later probate judge of the county . To this marriage there were born ten children, viz. : Mary L., deceased wife
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of T. J. Pennington; Emma L., deceased wife of Rev. W. T. Stewman; William H., a farmer, of Coosa county; Rufus A., member of the fire department, at Birmingham; Archie D., probate judge of Coosa county; Sinclair M .. bookkeeper, of Montgomery; John S., living at home; Oscee P. S., lawyer, of Good Water, and Sarah Belle, at home. The mother of these children died in 1875. Mr. Bentley then married Mrs. E. Phillips, of Opelika; after his marriage he taught school in Central institute, Elmore county, for several years, then taught in Hanover beat, Coosa county. He was one of the self-made men of the county, and took up the study of medicine and also the practice of that profession, being what was called a cold-water physician. He practiced at Robinson Springs, Elmore county, for some years. He was a justice of the peace, also tax assessor and tax collector. He also served as circuit court clerk for three terms. In 1874, he was elected probate judge of the county, and was re-elected in 1880 and 1886. He had nearly completed his third term in this office when he was stricken with paralysis and died January 25, 1892. Judge Bentley was probably the most influential and highly respected man in Coosa county. As will be seen from this brief sketch of his career, he held various offices and for a long series of years. He was very popular, even during radical times, and, though he was a stanch democrat, he could not be defeated. His son, Archie D. Bentley, succeeded him in the office of probate judge.
J. A. BROWN, merchant of Kellyton, Ala., was born January 23, 1852, in Coosa county, near Mount Olive. During his minority he received a good common school education. In 1873 he began teaching school and followed that profession in Coosa county until 1884. The year following he began a merchandise business at his present location on a small scale, and was successful. In 1889 he accepted R. Corley as a partner, the firm name being J. A. Brown & Co. In 1890 this firm erected a fine stone store building, and they are now the leading merchants in the place. They carry a stock of about $4,000, and transact a yearly business of about $15,000. Mr. Brown was married in 1885, September 23, to Annie Hestor, daughter of Alfred L. Hestor. To this marriage there have been born three children, viz .: Orrie E., Clyde Graham, and Voncille Amanda. Politically Mr. Brown is a democrat, and he is now justice of the peace for his beat. He is a dimitted Mason and his wife is a Methodist. W. C. Brown, the father of J. A. Brown, is a son of J. B. and Susan (Alford) Brown. The Browns are of Scotch ancestry, and came to this country before the Revolutionary war, settling in Virginia. They afterward moved into North Carolina, in which state J. B. Brown was born and reared. He married there and lived there until 1835, when he removed to Talladega county, Ala. He settled near a point called Brownville, and lived there a number of years. Mr. J. B. Brown was an old line whig and was opposed to the war of secession. He was a good scholar, a great reader, and was well informed in history. The Alfords are of Welsh
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MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
and English ancestry. W. C. Brown was born in December 29, 1825, in Robeson county, N. C. He was therefore ten years old when he reached Alabama. He received a common school education, and taught school in his early manhood. He has been a farmer ever since. He moved to his present location in 1850. He was married December 6, 1849, in Coosa county, to Margaret N. Graham, a daughter of G. W. Graham, who was of a large and influential family of Alabama. To this marriage there were born six children, Elizabeth G., deceased; Julius A., Kellyton, Ala .; Mary E. wife of William H. Staples, of Good Water, Ala .; J. K., deceased; W. G., Hollands, Ala .; and Susan, deceased. The mother of these children died December 1, 1868. and Mr. Brown on January 3, 1870, married Mrs. S. E. Calfee, a lady whose maiden name was Kimbro. Mr. Brown served in the Confederate army, as a private soldier in company C, Tenth Confederate cavalry, mostly in the western army. Like all the cavalry his regiment saw very hard service in the war. He was in the Atlanta campaign from Resaca down to Atlanta. He was at Savannah when it was evacuated, and was paroled at Talladega, Ala. In 1888 he was elected to the legislature by the democrats from Coosa county and served one term. He has been a justice of the peace of his beat since the war .. He is a democrat, a master Mason and treasurer of Hillabue lodge, No. 197, F. & A. M .; is a member of the Baptist church and a deacon of his church.
L. M. BRUCE, druggist of Good Water, Ala., is a son of Wilson and Alice (Gallin) Bruce, the former of whom was a native of North Carolina. When he was quite young his father's family moved to Greene county, and he was reared and married there. He lived there until 1836 when he re- moved to Troup county, settling in the southwestern part and lived there until his death in 1888, at the age of eighty-seven. By occupation he was a planter, and he was also a Missionary Baptist preacher. Though not a college bred man he obtained a good English education. He reared his family of seven children mostly in Troup county, Ga. These children were as follows: H. S., a practicing physician of Waverly, Ga .; W. P., a farmer of Troup county, Ga. ; S. A., a soldier in the Confederate army, killed in battle; Emeline, single and living with W. P. : E. D., a farmer and stock raiser of Atlanta, Ill., and L. N. The mother of these children still lives on the old homestead with W. P. and Emeline. Grandfather Bruce was a native of Scotland and emigrated to this country early in this century, settling in North Carolina. Grandfather Gallin emigrated from England to New Jersey, and afterward removed to Greene county, Ga. He was killed in the Creek Indian war of 1836, at some point in Alabama. L. M. Bruce was born November 23, 1852, in Troup county, Ga., and was educated in the country schools of that county. He was thoroughly drilled in the higher branches of an English education by a noted teacher, Prof. J. T. Johnson, whose place he took when he re- signed. He began teaching when eighteen years of age, teaching the
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PERSONAL MEMOIRS-COOSA COUNTY.
home school for nine years. Then he taught a year at Waverly, Ala., and three years at Camp Hill. Next he taught at Good Water five years. After being in Good Water one year he became interested in a drug-store, and at the end of his five years he discontinued teaching and devoted his entire attention to the drug business. He was married at Camp Hill, Ala., December 28, 1882, to Miss Josie N. Hicks, daughter of Samuel Hicks, and by her he has three children, viz, : Hixie M., Clio, and Ernestine. Politically Mr. Bruce is a democrat, and he is a master Mason, a Knight of Honor and a Knight of Pythias, and he is a member of the Missionary Baptist church. He is one of the most i telligent citizens of the county end takes great interest in everything pertaining to its welfare.
A. D. CRAWFORD, planter and miller at Crewsville, Ala., is a son of Daniel and Annie J (McNeil) Crawford. Daniel Crawford was a native of South Carolina, born there January 21, 1806, in the Chesterfield district. He was a son of Duncan and Mary (McLaughlin) Crawford. While he was still a young man he came to Alabama, settling in Autauga county, but he afterward moved to Coosa county and settled in the place which A. B. Crawford now owns, five miles east of Rockford. He started out in life as a mechanic and possessed scientific genius of a high order. He was mar- ried in 1840 and had a family of seven children. viz .: W. H., a planter of Vicksburg, Ala., McNeil, deceased, Jeannette, wife of J. E. Billupps, of Albany, Ga .; Ellen, wife of W. B. Shepherd, Opelika, Ala .; A. D .; Daniel, deceased, and James A., at home. Family lived at Washington, Autauga county, until 1845 when they moved to Coosa county and settled where A. B. Crawford now resides. Here they have lived continuously ever since. The mother died September 11, 1890, and the father February 8, 1891. Daniel was for a time a prominent figure in state politics. In 1847, despite his disinclination. he was elected to the lower house of the legislature and in 1857 he was elected to the senate. He was always a cautious and conservative man and was very much opposed to secession. In 1865, he was a delegate to the constitutional convention. In 1871 he was again elected to the legislature and served one term. This was at the time of the dual legislature, he being in the democratic ranks. He was elected state treasurer in 1874, re-elected in 1876. During the four years of his service as such officer he earned the honorable appelation of "watch dog" of the treasury, and his record was in striking contrast to that of his suc- cessor; all must and do appreciate the faithfulness of Daniel Crawford, who was a true servant of the state. " Garrett's Public Men of Alabama speaks of Mr. Crawford in the following words: "Few men of the state are more deservedly respected; few illustrate more fully in fitness for public trusts the injustice of the fourteenth amendment; and yet with his mature capacity and character for usefulness in public life few men have less thirst for its honors and emoluments or are more wedded to private stations than Mr. Crawford." He was always a democrat in politics and in religion he favored the Presbyterian faith, though not a member of any
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