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 85
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the following June. For many years after the war he followed the trade of mechanic and carriage-builder, and also that of the millwright. He located in Good Water in November, 1879, and established a hardware store. In 1890 he accepted a partner, and added a line of drugs, the firm being named Moon & McLeod. This firm continued until 1886, when another partner was admitted to the firm, and the name changed to Moon, McLeod & Co. In 1887 Mr. McLeod bought out both his partners and ran the business alone until 1889, when he took in his present partner, B. H. Ford, the firm taking the name of McLeod & Ford. This is a very successful and prosperous hardware firm. Mr. McLeod was married May 18, 1871, in Coosa county, to Mary Elizabeth Staples, eldest daughter of D. R. and Mary A. M. (Moon) Staples, by whom he has one child, a daughter, named Margaret Kelly McLeod, born April 26, 1872. She is a graduate of the Female college at Tuskegee. Mr. McLeod has been mayor of Good Water several times. He is interested in farming and milling beside his merchandising. Politically Mr. McLeod is a dem- ocrat. He is a Knight of Honor, and a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, south. He is a steward of his church and has been for many years. He is a successful and substantial citizen of Good Water, whom every one respects and honors, and his name is a synonym for honesty and fair dealing.
W. H. MOON, M. D., physician of Good Water, Ala., is a son of Y. A. and Sarah Amanda (Staples) Moon, the former of whom was born in Madison county, Ga., in 1812. He was left an orphan boy at an early age and reared by a brother in Troup county. Coming to manhood there he married near La Grange, but settled in Chambers county, Ala., four miles from Fredonia. This was about 1842. He lived there seven years and then moved to Randolph county, on a plantation five miles from Roa . noke. He remained there seven years and then moved to another place near by. In 1861 he moved to the vicinity of Lineville, in Talladega county, where he lived eight years, and then moved to another place in the same neighborhood where he lived until his death, which occurred in April, 1888. He was always a farmer, quiet in his disposition and a dea- con in the Baptist church. His widow is still living. They reared a family of twelve children, ten of whom are living. These children were as follows: T. C., planter, of Lineville, Ala .; Mary S., wife of J. L. Lemon, of Lemon, Texas; W. H .: Jacob W., farmer of Lineville, A.a .; Jesse D., enlisted in company I, Thirteenth Alabama infantry, and was killed in Lee's retreat at High Bridge on Stanton river, just before the surrender; John E., farmer of Lineville, Ala .; Nancy J., wife of William Glass, farmer, of Ashland, Ala .; Robert H., farmer, of Lineville, Ala. ; James A., living in Texas; Anna, deceased; Carrie, wife of Thomas Weaver, of Weaver's Station, Ala .; and Lulu, wife of .James Allen, of Ashland, Ala. W. H. Moon was born September 23, 1844, in Chambers county, Ala. In October, 1862, he enlisted in company I, Thirteenth
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PERSONAL MEMOIRS-COOSA COUNTY.
Alabama infantry as a private soldier and served in the army of northern Virginia. He was in the battle of Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was in the line of battle that charged on the first day of the battle of Gettsyburg, consisting of only two brigades which went too far and were all taken prisoner. Dr. Moon was taken to Fort Delaware where he was kept for fifteen months. Boats came frequently to take off prisoners who were physically unable to endure prison life. Only a certain number could go on each boat and each had to be exam- ined. The examination was conducted near the gate. Dr. Moon being well and strong could hope for nothing on an examination, so he resolved to see what could be accomplished by putting on a bold front. He there- fore braced up and walked out past the guards, and being once on the outside he stepped up to the officer and was enrolled as one of the sick who had passed the examination, and was not detected. He rejoined his company and participated in the battle at Hatcher's Run. He was then transferred to a battalion of sharpshooters, and was again captured a few days before Lee's surrender. He spent several months at Newport News. Returning home he attended school for some time, being at Oxford col- lege in 1868. He began the study of medicine about this time and taught 'school three years .. He took his first lectures in 1871 and then practiced medicine near Alexander City, in Tallapoosa county, until 1878, when he returned to Mobile and graduated in the spring of 1879. After practic- ing another year at Alexander City he removed to his present location. He was married in November, 1872, at Lineville, Ala., to Fannie O., daughter of William P. Bell, and has the following children: Lulu B., single; Fannie O .; Hartley A .; William P .; Susan; Mary Z .; Nellie and Charles D. Politically Dr. Moon is a democrat. He is a Mason, a Knight of Honor and a deacon in the Missionary Baptist church. He is a mem- ber of the State Medical association and is president of the Coosa County Medical society. Dr. Moon is an excellent physician, a good citizen and a genial man.
J. H. NEIGHBORS, prominent planter of Coosa county, is a son of Will iam and Nancy (Cato) Neighbors. The former was a native of Newberry district, S. C., and was reared and married in the same district in which he was born. In 1832 he removed to Campbell county, Ga. In 1839 he came to Alabama and settled in Chambers county, two and a half miles from La Fayette toward the north. He removed to Tallapoosa county in 1850, and to Coosa county in 1875. Here he died in 1886 at the age of eighty-three years. He was a very quiet man, taking some little interest in politics, but never seeking office. Before the war he was a whig. He accumulated considerable property. He was married three times and reared twenty-three children. He was of a very robust and powerful physical constitution. He was a Methodist in his religious belief. J. H. was the fourth child of his first wife. The family are of French extrac- tion and came to America before the Revolutionary war, in which strug-
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MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
gle different members of the family took part. They settled in South Carolina. Nothing is known of the Cato family. Mrs. Nancy Neighbors died in 1844. J. H. Neighbors was born February 8, 1831, in Newberry district, S. C. He became possessed of his time when the family lived in Tallapoosa county. He taught school in early life but has been a far- mer ever since. He was married in 1854 in Coosa county, to Sarah Mat- thews, by whom he has had eleven children, eight sons and three daugh- ters, viz. : William N., living near Good Water; James A., at Good Water; John M., Bradford. Ala .; Thomas L., Crewsville, Ala .; Benjamin H., deceased; N. L., at home; Reuben P., at home; Marvin D .; Martha A .; Eudora C .; Annie B., are daughters. The mother of these children died July 18, 1888. Mr. Neighbors was married the same year to E. C. Porch, by whom he has two children, Robert M. and Oliver P. He enlisted in 1864 in the state troops, and served a short time. He was jus- tice of the peace after the war for nine years, and he was county com- missioner ten years. In 1886 he was elected a representative in the leg- islature and served one term, during which time he was on the commit- tee on local legislation. Politically he is a democrat. He is a master Mason, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a trustee of his church. He is one of the wealthy planters of the county, owning 320 acres of land, most of it under good cultivation.
R. S. NOLEN, planter of Nixburgh, Ala., is a son of Abner and Vesta (Sellers) Nolen. The Nolen family is of Irish extraction and came to this country long before the Revolutionary war, settling first in Virginia and moving thence to the Carolinas. William Nolen, father of Abner Nolen, moved with his family to Newton county, Ga., where Abner grew to manhood and married, He was born in 1812 in Barnwell district, S. C. He was married in 1832 and moved to Butts county and thence to Coosa county in 1849. He settled near where R. S. Nolen now lives. He died in 1863 and his widow died in 1886. He was a farmer by occupation and a stock raiser, a whig in politics, and a Methodist in religion. He was an energetic and thrifty man and a good liver. He reared a family of six children, four of whom are living, viz .: Parson W. J., of Tallapoosa county ; R. S,; Mary, widow of D. A. Huff, living near R. S. : A. A., of Ty Ty, Worth county, Ga. R. S. Nolen was born August 27, 1837, in Newton county, Ga. He removed to Alabama with the family in 1849. He was married November 10, 1857, to Mary E. Spears, a member of an old Alabama family. She was born and reared in the vicinity of her present home, and reared a family of six sons and two daughters, viz .: A. J., a physician of New Site, Ala. ; W. B., a lawyer at Clanton, Ala. ; E. T., wife of Dr. S. W. Owens, of Bluff Springs, Clay county; Victoria, wife of Charlie Jones. a farmer living near Nixburgh; R. S., Jr., a physician at. Equality, Ala .; I. D., a physician at New Site; Wilson and Murphy at. home. R. S. Nolen began life without property. His father wanted him to become a physician, to which he objected, and his father cut him off ..
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PERSONAL MEMOIRS-COOSA COUNTY.
He preferred farming and has been a farmer all his life. When the war came on he enlisted in company B, Hilliard's legion, and went into the field, but losing his health he furnished a substitute. It was thought for a time that he would die of consumption but he at length recovered. From a boy he has been an independent thinker and has taken great interest in politics. He was a whig up to the war and since then has been a democrat. He was justice of the peace of his beat for ten years. He was nominated by the democratic party in 1880 for the legislature and elected, serving in 1880-81. He was again elected in 1890, and served another term. In the year 1892 he was nominated for the legis- lature by the Kolb faction, or Jeffersonian democracy, and after a bitter campaign was elected over his opponent by over two to one. . It will be seen from this that Mr. Nolen is a Jeffersonian democrat. He is a royal arch. Mason, and has served as king. He owns a plantation of one thousand acres of land. He is a self made practical man and is very popular in the county. The Alliance Herald, published at Montgomery, Ala., in its issue of November 24, 1892, commenting on the members of the general assembly has the following to say of Mr. Nolen: "Hon. R. S. Nolen, of Coosa, is not to be termed aged, but he is a gentleman of mature years and mature judgment. He is up to snuff, to use a slang phrase, and also up for Coosa on demand of any of her interests. His watchfulness and quick perception keep him closely engaged in seeing and hearing every thing said or done, and it is about as difficult to detract his attention, when the house is in session, as it is for a new member to catch the eye of the speaker. He is ready in debate and his practical way of dealing with any subject under discussion, as well as the sound sense he displays, always command attention."
T. J. PENNINGTON, planter, of Rockford, Ala .. is a son of Thomas and Elinda (Phillipps) Pennington. The Pennington family is of Eng- lish descent, and settled in South Carolina before the Revolutionary war. Ephraim Pennington, the father of Thomas, settled in Jasper county, Ga .. where he raised his family. There Thomas Pennington was born, about 1802, and was reared and married there. Soon after his marriage he removed to Meriwether county, Ga., where he died, in 1842. He took great interest in politics, and held several offices of honor and trust. He was a democrat. The Phillipps family is a large and promi- nent one in Georgia and Alabama. Thomas Pennington and his wife had a family of eleven children, only three of whom are now living, viz. : T. J .; Elizabeth, widow of Judge John S. Bently, Rockford, Ala. ; Nancy A., widow of Rev. Harry Stearns, Rockford, Ala. Four of their sons lost their lives in the army. Hilary died of disease; James was captured at Murfreesboro and was never heard of afterward; Thaddeus died of disease, and Winn also died of disease-small-pox. The mother of these children died in 1887, in her eighty-third year. T. J. Penning-
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MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
'ton was born June 23, 1840, in Meriwether county, Ga. He was edu- cated at Central institute, then in Coosa county, but which has since ceased to exist. He left the school-room to enter the army, and enlisted as a private : soldier in company R, Third Alabama regiment, in 1861. This regiment was the first that left the state; he was at the battle of Seven Pines, Seven Days' Fight, and in the Wilderness, where he was severely wounded in the thigh. He spent some time in a hospital on account of his wound, and was not again in active service. He was at home at the time of the surrender. After the war he was a teacher in Central institute for two years, and afterward at Rockford six years. He then engaged in farming and has devoted himself to agriculture ever since. He has a plantation of 700 acres of land within half a mile of Rockford. He has represented the educational interests of Coosa county eighteen years. He was elected county superintendent of education in 1870, and served till 1890, with a short intermission. He was married December 19, 1869, in Coosa county, to Mary L., daughter of G. Bently. Mrs. Pennington died September 14, 1889, leaving no children. Mr. Pennington married June 8, 1890, in Elmore county, Miss Fanny Howle. To this union was born one child, Jefferson Cumley. In politics Mr. Pennington is a democrat; he is a royal arch Mason and secretary of the chapter; is a member of the Missionary Baptist church, and is deacon of his church; is also superintendent of the Sunday-school, and is a member of the board of trustees of the high school. He has always been a stanch and true friend of education, and while superintendent of edu- cation for the county did much to build up the country schools, the peoples' seminaries of learning.
CHARLES M. SIMPSON, merchant, of Good Water, Ala., is a son of Robert A. and Martha A. (Bedell) Simpson, the former of whom was born in Laurens district, S. C. His great-grandfather, Charlie Simp- son, was one of three brothers who ran away from home in Ireland and came to America. He settled in New York. The father of Robert A. Simpson, Charlie Simpson, moved to South Carolina, and when Robert A. was nine years old came to Chambers county, Ala., where the family lived until the death of Charles Simpson. Robert A. Simpson was reared in that county but married in Talbotton, Talbot county, Ga., and lived there two years. He then moved back to Chambers county, where he lived until 1875, when he moved back to the line of Tallapoosa and Clay counties. In 1890 he moved to Good Water, where he how lives. There was a family of ten children, four sons and six daughters. One of the sons is a physician at Anniston, Ala. The others are farmers with the exception of Charles M. He was born in Talbotton, Ga., July 26, 1853, received a common school education, and began life for himself at the age of twenty-one. He carried on farming and attended school at the same time for several years, and then taught school for three years. He then became a clerk for Smith & Taylor, and also for other firms in Alex-
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PERSONAL MEMOIRS-COOSA COUNTY.
ander City, Ala. In 1879 he commenced the mercantile business on his own account, and after several years took in a partner, the name of the firm becoming C. M. Simpson & Co. He continued a member of this firin till in January, 1892, since when he has given his attention to farm- ing. He was married June 30, 1887, in Good Water, to Lulu A. O'Neil, by whom he has had two children, Ethel L. and Hugh M. Politically Mr. Simpson is a democrat; he is a royal arch Mason and is scribe of his chapter and senior warden of his lodge; he is a Knight of Honor and is vice-dictator of his lodge; he is a member of the order of the Knights of Pythias and is vice-chancellor of his lodge; served three years as captain of the Coosa county guards, a militia company now dis- solved. Capt. Simpson is an energetic and popular young man and takes great interest in what tends to benefit the community as a whole.
JOHN N. SLAUGHTER, of Good Water, Ala., is a son of John R. and Temperance (Harris) Slaughter. The grandfather of John R. Slaughter, John Slaughter, lived in Culpeper county, Va., and was of English descent. He reared a large family of children. Three granduncles of John N. Slaughter were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. The older members of the family were Episcopalians in their religious belief, and the entire family is inclined to the professions. John Slaughter, the grandfather of John N. Slaughter, together with five brothers, emigrated to Georgia about 1790. They settled in different counties. John Slaughter himself settling in Greene county, and rearing his family. John R. Slaughter married in this county and removed to Heard county, and thence to Tallapoosa county, Ala., settling four miles east of Dadeville. This was about 1837, and here he lived until his death in 1884. He was a man of remarkable energy, very benevolent, and a preacher of the . Methodist Episcopal church, south. He was one of the originators of the Savannah & Memphis, now the Columbus & Western railroad, and was its first president. He was an old line whig, and was once sheriff of Tallapoosa county. He was a man of thrift and accumulated much valua- ble property, both in lands and negroes. Matthew Harris, father of Mrs. Temperance Slaughter, was reared in Mecklenburgh county, N. C., and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Two of his brothers, Robert and James Harris, signed the Mecklenburgh declaration of independence. Samuel Harris, the father of Matthew Harris, came from Ireland and was the first settler in Mecklenburgh county. The family were Presbyterians. John R. and Temperance Slaughter reared a family of five sons and one daughter. John N. was the eldest of their children and was born Novem- ber 4, 1828, in Greene county, Ga. He was educated first in the common schools and then in the university of Georgia, graduating in 1851. Two of his brothers graduated at Oglethorpe college near Milledgeville, and the sister at the Synodical institute of Talladega, Ala. She is now Mrs. Rev. G. R. Foster, a widow, and superintendent of the Orphans' Home at Talladega, Ala. A brother, A. H. Slaughter, is a prominent business man
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MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
in Opelika, Ala. John N. Slaughter studied medicine for some time but never practiced. As there was a demand for classical teachers, he became a school teacher, and taught in the three counties of Coosa, Talladega. and Tallapoosa for thirty-nine years, though not regularly. He was liv- ing in Coosa county when the war came on, and raised company B, Thirty-fourth Alabama infantry, and led it to the field as its captain. Afterward he became major of this regiment. He served over three years in the army of Tennessee. He was engaged in the battles of Murfrees- boro, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and in the Georgia campaign down to Atlanta. He went back with Hood to Tennessee, and fought at Franklin, and also during the first day of the battle of Nashville, where he was wounded in the arm, but not severely. He then went around to North Carolina and was in the last battle of Kingston, being in the state at the time of the surrender. He has been engaged in farming and teaching ever since the war. In 1881 he was elected to represent Tallapoosa county in the legislature and served one term. He was married in Coosa county, December 20, 1855 to Celia R. McAdory, by whom he has three children. These are Robert M., a teacher who makes his home with his father. He graduated in the class of 1881 at the university of Alabama; Emily T., single, and a graduate of the Southern female college at La- Grange, Ga., in 1881. She is a teacher of note, and is engaged to teach at Maysfield, Texas, during the school year of 1892-93; M. J., a student at La Fayette college, Ala. Politically Mr. Slaughter is a democrat, and he is a master Mason and an elder in the Presbyterian church. He owns land in the three counties of Clay, Tallapoosa and Coosa, to the amount of 1,100 acres, and also considerable real estate in Good Water, where he has resided since 1888. Mr. Slaughter is a man of influence in the com- munity in which he resides, and is a most reputable citizen. Celia R. Slaughter is the daughter of Robert and Emily (Mckinney) McAdory. Her grandfather McAdory came from Ireland, settled in Christian county, Ky., and married Celia McShan and emigrated to Jefferson county, Ala., where he died soon after. He left four sons and one daughter. Three sons, James, Robert and Thomas, reared familes, and were men remarka- ble for energy and enterprise. Robert died in the year 1837 in Tusca- loosa county, Ala. He left three children, Col. P. J. McAdory, a promi- nent citizen and planter of Coosa; Mrs. M. Y. Baker, widow of Dr. W. H. Baker, the same county, and Celia R. Slaughter, who was born Novem- ber 9, 1837. Her maternal grandfather, Harris Mckinney, was born in Virginia, emigrated to Warren county, Ga., and married Jane Ivey. He then emigrated to Tuscaloosa county, Ala., before the admission of the state, afterward to Coosa, where he died in 1864. He reared five children, two boys and three girls. Emily (Mckinney) McAdory was married a. second time, to Alfred Massengale, emigrated to Texas and died in 1861. Harris Mckinney was one of the most remarkable men of this section.
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PERSONAL MEMOIRS-COOSA COUNTY.
He commenced life without a dollar, accumulated by agriculture alone, over $100,000 and was distinguished for his energy, enterprise, probity and sagacity. He and family were Baptists.
FELIX L. SMITH, attorney at law at Rockford, Ala., is a son of Simeon L. and Sarah R. (Persons) Smith, the former of whom was born in Troup county, Ga. He was reared there, and married about 1828. He resided there until 1847, when he came to Alabama, settling at Dadeville, where he remained until his death in 1869, his widow dying in 1884. He was a farmer and miller by occupation, and in politics an uncompro- mising whig. He was very moral and chaste in his language. His family consisted of eight children, five of whom are living, viz .: Thomas J., postmaster at Dadeville; Jones P., farmer of Opelousas, La .; Mary R., wife of Allen J. Thomas, of Nixburg; O. A., a farmer of Homer, La., and Felix L. The Persons family are prominent in Georgia, Henry R, Persons having been a member of congress, and others also occupying prominent positions. Felix L. Smith was born April 30, 1847, in Dade- ville. He enlisted January 30, 1863, at the age of sixteen, in company L, Twelfth Louisiana infantry, and took a position in the commissary de- partment. His services were given mainly in the western army. He was in the battle of Baker's Creek, or Champion Hills, as it is otherwise called, and captured, but he escaped. He was one of the four men who saw General Polk killed, near Marietta, and secured the ambulance which carried him away. After the war he went to school until 1868 at Dade- ville. In the latter part of 1868 and 1869 he read law with Oliver & Vaughan, and was admitted to the bar in 1872. In that year he was elected county solicitor of Tallapoosa county on the democratic ticket, defeating in the democratic convention Colonel Garrett, an old lawyer. He held this office four years. He then practiced in Dadeville until 1878, when he removed to Rockford, where has ever since been engaged. In 1884 he was one of the Cleveland electors, and canvassed his district for the ticket. He has been always present as a delegate at the congres . sional and state conventions, never having lost one for twenty-one years. He is making a specialty of criminal law. He was married at Nixburg, November 28, 1879, to Ida I. Thomas, daughter of A. J. Thomas. This is an old Alabama family of good standing. Mrs. Smith was born and reared in Coosa county, and is a graduate of a female college at Wetumpka, Ala. By this marriage Mr. Smith has three children, viz. : Bertha, ยท Posey and Beatrice. Politically, Mr. Smith is a democrat, and he is a Knight of Honor. Mr. Smith is one of the most prominent members of the Coosa county bar.
REV. JOHN K. SPENCE, Presbyterian minister at Good Water, Ala., is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth J. (Miller) Spence. Samuel Spence was a native of Ireland, having been born near Belfast in 1808. He became an orphan in infancy and was reared by an aunt. He learned the weaver's trade in Ireland, and in 1828, emigrated to America, landing at Charleston,
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