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 91
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in the saw-mill business, and now carries on the most extensive business in Crenshaw county. He has just erected one of the most commodious store houses in Crenshaw county, beside which he owns nearly all the town of Petrey. He also owns 1,177 acres of fine land in Pike and Cren- shaw counties. He has about twenty-five men in his employ and carries a monthly pay roll of about $300. His annual business amounts to about $20,000. He started in life with no capital but energy, ambition and pluck, and is now one of the most prominent business men in the county. He was married in 1873 to Tolitha Emma, daughter of Thomas and Mrs. Underwood. She was born in Montgomery county, and reared and edu- cated in Troy. Her mother died in Montgomery county when she was a little girl, and her father who was a farmer, died in Pike county.
DR. JAMES E. KENDRICK, practicing physician and surgeon of Luverne, Ala., was born in Warren county, Ga., in 1846. He is a son of Aaron T. and Eleanor (Nesbitt) Kendrick, the former born in Wilkes county, Ga., in 1808, and the latter in Macon county, Ga., in 1828. Aaron-T. Ken- drick was liberally educated and came to Barbour county, Ala., in 1856, where he lived fifteen years. He then removed to Butler county and later to Crenshaw county, where Mrs. Kendrick died in 1884. Mr. Ken- drick is still living, but is very feeble. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kendrick were Methodists for many years. He has been a prominent Mason and has always taken an active part in politics and in all other public matters, though he never aspired to office. He has always been industrious and energetic and accumulated a handsome property. He is one of a large family born to Jacob Kendrick, who was also a Georgian by birth, and died in his native state. He was of Irish descent and was a farmer all his life. Dr. J. E. Kendrick is the fifth of eleven sons and two daughters, viz. : Dr. Joel C., a practicing physician of Greenville and a graduate from the medical department of Vanderbilt university; he was captain of a company in the Thirty-seventh Alabama infantry, and served in the Tennessee army; William B. was captain of company B, Forty-sixth Alabama infantry, served in the army in Virginia and is now connected with the National Book Co., of Virginia; John A., was a prominent attorney, but went to New Mexico and has not been heard of in ten years ;. Jones, died young; J. E .; Aaron T., Jr., a merchant in Texas, spent last two years of the war as a cadet of the state university; George P .; Edward N., died young; Susie, died when two years old, and Texas, died at eleven years of age. Dr. J. E. Kendrick was reared on a farm, with a good common school education, spending the last two years of the war as a cadet of the state university by appointment of Gov. Watts. While in the university thie cadets were frequently called into active serv- ice in different parts of the state, which greatly interfered with their school work. After the war he read medicine with his brother, and in 1867 and 1868 attended Washington university, „now the college of Physicians and Surgeons, of Baltimore, Md. In 1869 he graduated at
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the medical college of Alabama at Mobile. He then practiced medicine at Leon until 1889, when the town of Luverne was founded, since which time he has lived and practiced at Luverne, being the leading physician of the place. He is also largely interested in farming. He has served as president of the Crenshaw Medical society, and is now its secretary. He has been president of the board of censors since its organization, and is a prominent member of the State Medical association. He is a mem- ber of Luverne lodge, No. 488, F. & A. M .; is P. C. C. and prelate of Luverne lodge, No. 84, K. of P. He is also one of the most prominent politicians of the county, always taking an active part in the politics of the day, and of all other public matters. In 1868 he married Miss Fannie Riley, who was born and educated at Leon, in this county. She is a sister of Judge Malachi Riley, of Andalusia, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.
LAWRENCE S. KNIGHT, sheriff-elect of Crenshaw county, was born near Griffin, Ga., January 5, 1846. He is a son of William and Mary (Sansom) Knight, the former a native of Edgecombe county, N. C., born in 1808, and the latter of Walton county, Ga., born in 1812. Mr. Knight came to Georgia with his parents when a little boy, and lived in that state until 1856, when he came to Butler, now Crenshaw county, Ala., settling near where Rutledge now is, on a small improvement, and lived there until 1866, when he removed to Greenville. Here he was engaged in business until his death, in 1888, his wife having died about seven years before. Both were members of the Christian church, he for many years. He followed farming and milling during the early part of his life, and, while strong in his political convictions, never sought nor held office. He was a man of remarkably sound judgment, and was a coun- selor among his neighbors and friends for many years. He was a Mason of good standing, and assisted to remove the Cherokee Indians to the west. His father, Charles Knight, came from North Carolina to Georgia, was of Scotch-Irish descent, was a farmer in Georgia, and died in that state. His wife came with her son to Alabama, and died at Greenville, a few years ago, over one hundred years old. Grandfather Sansom was killed by the Indians in Georgia, when Mrs. Knight was but a little girl, and Mrs. Sansoni died there in the fifties. They had six children. Lawrence S. Knight is the youngest but one of three sons and six daughters, viz. : Elizabeth, deceased wife of David Clements: Franklin, was killed at Appomattox the morning of Lee's surrender. He had en- listed in Hilliard's legion in 1862, and had been wounded once; Mary A., a twin with Franklin, is the widow of William Jackson; Lucy, deceased; Charles P .. was with Franklin in the war till the close, was wounded once, and died in 1889; Lucinda, widow of William H. Hambrick; Emily, wife of J. M. Ellington; Lawrence S .; Nannie, wife of R. Pace. Law- rence S. Knight was reared on a farm. July 9, 1861, when not sixteen years old, he enlisted in company K, Seventeenth Alabama infantry, was
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mustered in at Montgomery, and spent the first year at Pensacola, and was in the bombardment of Fort Pickens. After fighting at Shiloh and other battles, he was taken sick and was off duty for some time. He re- joined his company at Tupelo, and from there went to Mobile in May, and remained there on garrison duty until 1864. In 1864 he joined John- ston at Resaca and fought down to Kenesaw Mountain, June 20, when lie was wounded in the left arm, and was in the hospital at Macon, Ga., until July 11, when his arm was amputated, and he then returned home. He was a private soldier, and had been slightly wounded before. After his recovery he taught school in northern Alabama for three years. In 1868 he engaged in merchandising in a country store in Crenshaw county. In 1870 he married Fannie, daughter of Peter and Matilda (Welsh) Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell was a farmer, and died in 1879. Mrs. Mitchell is still living. Mrs. Knight was born in what is now Crenshaw county, and has four children: Dr. William P., a practicing physician, a graduate from the Southern Medical college, at Atlanta, in 1892; Lucy E .; Herbert, and Clay Armstrong. In 1874 Mr. Knight was elected sheriff of Crenshaw county, and served with general satisfaction four years, and from 1879 was five years superintendent of education. Afterward he was engaged in milling a few years, and since then in farming. He owns 600 acres of land where he lives, besides other lands in the county. He has under culti- vation about 200 acres. What property he has he has accumulated by his own efforts. On March 22, 1883, while he was at court, his residence was destroyed by fire, causing a loss of $940 of the public funds. Col. H. Clay Armstrong, a warm personal friend of his, and who was speaker of the next house of representatives, advocated a measure for his relief, but Mr. Knight declined it, preferring to make good the loss himself. Mr. Knight is a member of Greenville lodge, No. 70, I. O. O. F., and of Honoraville lodge, No. 20, K. P. He is treasurer of Crenshaw county alliance, and chairman of the executive committee of the same. He and his entire family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. August 1, 1892, he was elected sheriff of Crenshaw county for four years.
FREDERICK C. MCDONALD, of the firm of F. C. McDonald & Co., general merchants and one of the leading firms of Luverne, was born in Washington county, Ga., in 1829. " He is a son of Edward and Mary (Trot- man) McDonald, the former a native of Edgefield district, S. C., and the. latter of Washington county, Ga. Mr. McDonald came to Washington county, Ga., a young man, married there and lived there until 1838, when he and his wife removed to Stewart county, Mr. McDonald dying soon after their arrival. Mrs. McDonald spent the last years of her life in Alabama, dying in Rutledge about 1882. aged seventy-nine years. Mrs. McDonald was a devout Methodist for many years. Mr. McDonald was a. prosperous farmer. His father was probably a native of Scotland, but he died in South Carolina and his wife died in Georgia. Grandfather Trot-
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man died in Georgia when Mrs. McDonald was but a little girl. Fred- erick C. McDonald was the second in a family of two sons and three daughters, viz .: Elizabeth, died young; Frederick C .; Celia A., widow of G. B. Stinson of Pike county; Narcissa, died young. and William died young. The subject was reared on a farm, with but limited opportunities for securing an education, having to assume principal charge of the family upon the death of his father. Notwithstanding he had many obstacles to overcome he struggled manfully, and in time was prepared to do battle for himself. He was married in 1854 to Esther Flinn, a native of Geor- gia, and a daughter of John Flinn, also a native of Georgia, but who removed to Barbour county, Ala., where he died before the war at an advanced age. Mrs. McDonald died in 1870, the mother of five- children, viz. : John F. of Texas; Jane, died when a child; Georgiana Steward, wife of W. C. Cameron; Kate, wife of P. J. Thrower; Mattie, wife of J. M. Cody. In 1872 Mr. McDonald married Mrs. Emma Osborne, née Howard, who was born at Tuskegee, Ala. In 1858 Mr. McDonald removed to Barbour county, where he farmed until 1866, when he came to Crenshaw county and settled where Rutledge now is, where he followed farming with marked success until 1888. Then, on the location of Luverne, he removed to that place, where he has since resided, engaged in merchan- dising with gratifying success. He is the owner of 600 acres of land, which is one of the best farms in the state. In September, 1862, he joined company C, Twenty-ninth Alabama infantry, and spent over one year at Mobile, and in the spring of 1864 joined the Tennessee army at Resaca, served in the campaign down to Atlanta, and back with Hood to Tennessee, and was taken prisoner at Nashville. From December 20, to June 23, was in prison at Camp Douglas. He was a private soldier all through his service, but was never wounded. After the war he resumed farming, and followed that occupation as related above until he became engaged in merchandising. He has never neglected his domestic or business affairs for politics, and has never aspired to public honors, yet he is an earnest supporter of his party. He has been a Presbyterian for a good many years, as also was his first wife. His present wife is a Methodist, and both she and her husband are prominent and much respected members of society.
THOMAS L. MERRILL, farmer and miller of Beat No. 9, was born in the neighborhood where he now resides, in 1843. He is a son of Jacob and Hollan (Merrill) Merrill, their fathers being cousins. Mr. Merrill was born in Georgia, and Mrs. Merrill probably in North Carolina. They were married in 1818 and came to Henry county, Ala., about 1820, and soon afterward to Covington county, and lived near Andalusia for about eight years, and then removed to the neighborhood of Leon in the winter of 1829-30, settling in the woods, and here Mr. Merrill made a fine improve- ment and here spent the rest of his life, dying in 1857, aged about sixty-five
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MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
years. He was one of the first settlers in Covington, and was an indus- trious, prosperous man. He served a short time in the war of 1812. Both he and his wife, who died in Texas in 1880, were members of the Mission- ary Baptist church. At the time of her death she was nearly eighty years old. The paternal grandfather of Thomas L., Robert Merrill, was probably born in Maryland, whence he removed to Georgia, and in 1819, came from that state to Alabama. Here he died before the recollection of our subject. For some years prior to his marriage he followed sailing upon the ocean. Benjamin Merrill, a brother of Robert, died near Anda- lusia, where he settled about 1819. His wife died at Leon. He was the maternal grandfather of our subject and his wife was Rachel Lewis. The subject was the youngest but one of a family of four sons and five daugh- ters: Green B., deceased, served for a short time in the Thirty-seventh Alabama infantry; Henry, deceased, was a lieutenant in company C, same regiment, and died at Columbus, Miss., in 1862; William Reed, deceased, was in the same command three years; Thomas L .; Jane, the deceased wife of Josiah Rhodes; Martha, widow of S. T. Smith, who was killed in time of the war; Rachel, widow of John R. Shaw, of Texas; Sarah, deceased wife of Wesley Richards; Rebecca, widow of Alfred Martin of Texas. The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm in what is now Crenshaw county, with but a limited education. In April, 1862, he joined company C, Thirty-seventh Alabama infantry, his first fight being near Abbeville, Miss., and he was then in the siege of Vicksburg, after which he was paroled and went home for thirty days. His command having been re-organized at Demopolis, he went to north Georgia, fought at Look- out Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and all the way down to Atlanta in front of Sherman, and was afterward sent to Mobile and encamped at Spanish Fort. After Hood's defeat in Tennessee he was sent to Johnston in North Carolina, and surrendered with him. He was never wounded during his entire service. After the war he engaged in farming. In 1866 he mar- ried Margaret, daughter of Hugh and Tabitha Cameron. Mr. Cameron died in Crenshaw county, and his widow is still living. He was a farmer, and was one of the first county commissioners of Crenshaw county. Mrs. Merrill was born in Georgia and was brought to Alabama when a child. Mr. Merrill is the owner of 1,900 acres of fine timber land. He has been a farmer all his life, and for the past fourteen years he has run a saw and grist mill. He has been a life-long democrat, and is now secretary of Chapel alliance, No. 895. While he is not a politician, yet he always takes great interest in politics, and is always ready to bear his share of the burden of party support. Mrs. Merrill has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, for many years, and both Mr. and Mrs. Merrill are exemplary members of society.
WILLIAM JOHN MERRILL, farmer of Beat No. 8, was born within one mile of where he now resides at Leon, in a little log house with a dirt floor and other appurtenances to match. The date of his birth was Feb-
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ruary 17, 1830. He is a son of William and Susan (McDade) Merrill. The former was a native of Georgia, in which state he was raised with but a limited education. When a young man he came to Montgomery county, Ala., where he married and afterward removed to Montezuma, the old county seat of Covington county. Here he lived a few years and then removed to and settled in the woods where Leon now is, when the woods were filled with Indians and all kinds of wild beasts, but contain- ing very few white people. Here Mr. Merrill improved a farm and lived many years. In an early day he was engaged in merchandising, and beside this line of business he handled considerable cotton. He was the first merchant at Leon. Mrs. Merrill died at Leon November 2, 1875. She was born probably in Montgomery county, and was raised princi- pally at Mt. Meigs. Mr. Merrill died in Polk county, Tex. He was a man of great perseverance and industry, accumulated considerable property, but was unfortunate in business transactions. His father, Robert Mer- rill, was probably born in Maryland, whence he removed to Georgia, and later to Montgomery county, Ala., where he died. In his youth he for some years followed the sea. The subject of this sketch was the third of a family of five sons and two daughters, viz .: Sarah, deceased wife of Aaron Feagin; Mary E., widow of James E. Taylor of Texas; William J .; Robert R., of Limestone county, Tex., who served in the Con- federate army from that state; James T., who served in the Frist Ala- bama cavalry in the western army all through the war, and was once wounded; Jacob P., who was a private soldier in the Thirty-seventh Alabama infantry nearly all through the war, was once wounded and has since died; Henry J., also deceased. William J. Merrill began life on the farm, suffering the privations incident to pioneer days, the nearest market being Montgomery, sixty-five mlies away, and occasionally he would go to Milton, Fla., ninety miles away. The woods then were full of wild animals, deer being especially plentiful. January 24, 1850, he married Sarah, daughter of Jesse and Mary Handley, who died in Cov- ington county. Mrs. Merrill was born in Dale county, Ala., and is the mother of thirteen children, three of whom died young. Those Jiving are as follows: Mary A., wife of W. L. Benson; Viola, wife of Riley Odin; Laura A., wife of A. E. Cannon; Beulah E .; Jessie E .; James C .; John F .; Henry J., Robert B., and Joseph P. With the exception of two years, one before and one after his marriage, when he lived in Wilcox county, Mr. Merrill has lived all his life in the neighborhood of his birth, and since 1861 on his present farm near Leon. Here he has 640 acres of good land. At one time he owned about 1,000 acres, but sold off a portion because he thought he had too much. He began with nothing, working one year for the first horse he ever owned. He has done a great deal of hard work and is one of the most widely known men in the county, as well as one of its most respected citizens. In 1862 he volunteered to serve the Confederate cause, but was not ac-
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cepted, a substitute going instead, in the Thirty-seventh Alabama infan · try and serving two years. In 1864, however, he joined company F, First Alabama cavalry, and began operations in South Carolina, his first battle being in Barnwell district, February 2, 1865. The next day he was detailed to service in South and North Carolina, but he afterward rejoined his company and served therewith until the close of the war. On April 26, he left for home. Since then he has pursued the paths of peace, not having sought office, preferring the life of a private citizen. Whlie he has never been a politician he has always been ready to sup- port his party.
DR. DANIEL NEWTON MOXLEY, practicing physician and surgeon of New Providence, Ala., was born in Burke county, Ga., in 1827. He was a son of Nathaniel and Jane (Matthews) Moxley, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of North Carolina. Nathaniel, when a boy, went with his mother and brothers and sisters to Georgia, his father having died in Virginia. Mrs. Moxley also came to Georgia, with her parents. Mr. Moxley received a good English education, and married in Burke county, afterward lived in Stewart county, and then in Jefferson county, where both Nathaniel and his wife died in 1849. He died of apoplexy at the age of seventy-nine, and she of consumption, aged sixty-two. Both of them had been members of the Methodist Episcopal church, many years. Mr. Moxley was a whig in politics, was in the war of 1812, was a progressive farmer, was of a quiet dsposition, and was highly thought of by his friends and neighbors. He had two elder brothers who served through the Revolutionary war. Their names were Benjamin and Daniel. Benjamin and his uncle, Joel Dassey, were with Gen. Marion and were captured by the tories, but made their escape and went home for a time, on their way home crossing the Savannah river by tying logs together with bark. After a short stay at home they returned to their command. Joseph Moxley, the grandfather of our subject, was an Eng- lishman, but died in Virginia, probably before the Revolutionary war. Aquilla Matthews, the maternal grandfather of our subject, came from North Carolina to Jefferson county, Ga., where he died when the subject was a small boy. He was of Irish descent, reared a large family, six. sons and six daughters, who afterward scattered to different states. Dr. D. N. Moxley was the second in a family of four sons and one daughter, viz .: William M .; was a major in the Eighteenth Alabama in- fantry, served in the Tennessee army till after the battle of Shiloh, when he resigned on acco unt of the death of his wife; he has since died; the doctor; Nathaniel Jasper, served in the war in a cavalry regiment from Georgia, and is now a prominent citizen of Augusta, Ga .; Benjamin Thomas, served all through the war in the Eighteenth Alabama infan- try, died in Jefferson county, Ga., in 1891; Sarah E., widow of William Brooks, of Emanuel county, Ga. Dr. D. N. Moxley was reared on a farm in Stewart county, and Jefferson county, Ga., remaining with his-
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PERSONAL MEMOIRS-CRENSHAW COUNTY. t 789
parents until their death. In 1855 he went to Florida, where he soon commenced reading medicine, and in 1857 and 1858 attended the Reform Medical college at Macon, Ga., and at once came to New Providence, then a new country place, and has practiced there ever since. He is one of the oldest physicians of the county, and also one of its most prominent citizens. On his arrival here he purchased his present home, now one of the most pleasant ones in the place. In January, 1862, he went to Mobile and joined the Twenty-fifth Alabama infantry, and was made cap- tain of company B. His regiment went to Corinth and fought at Shiloh, after which he resigned, being in very poor health. After his recovery he was appointed by Gov. Watts to look after deserters in the lower counties, which he continued to do until the close of the war. In the meantime, on October 24, 1864, he married Narcissa, daughter of George W. and Eliza King, the former a native of North Carolina, the latter of Georgia. Mrs. King died in Georgia, and Mr. King came to Barbour county, Ala., in 1850. In 1857 he came to Pike county, where he lived until 1878, when he died. He was a farmer all his life, and raised a large family of children. Mrs. Moxley was born in Lee county, Ga., and is the mother of six children, viz .: John Jasper; Mattie, killed by a cotton gin at nine years of age; William Albert; Anna, died in 1886; Joseph Benjamin, and Jessie May. Dr. Moxley has done more or less farming all his life, and, for some years, he has been in the saw-mill busi- ness. For some years after the war he was in the mercantile busi- ness at New Providence. He owns now about 1,500 acres of land, and being one of the oldest citizens he has witnessed many changes in the customs and habits of the people. He has been since before the war a member of Bullock lodge, F. & A. M., and is a prominent member of the State Medical association, having served as its vice-president two years. While he is one of the most widely known he is at the same time one of the most highly esteemed citizens of the county. In relig- ion he is a Universalist, whose profession of faith, adopted in 1803, is as follows :
I. We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testa- ments contain a revelation of the character of God, and of the duty, in terest and final destination of mankind.
II. We believe that there is one God, whose nature is Love, revealed in one Lord Jesus Christ, by one Holy Spirit of Grace, who will finally restore the whole family of mankind to holiness and happiness.
III. We believe that holiness and true happiness are inseparably con- nected. and that believers ought to be careful to maintain order, and practice good works; for these things are good and profitable unto men.
JAMES P. PENDREY, a prominent farmer and merchant of Leon, was born in Jefferson county, Ga., in 1831. He was a son of John and Mary (Fleeting) Pendrey, both born in Jefferson county, he about 1786, and she a few years later. When James P. Pendrey was about eight years old,
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