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 94
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Ala., he coming with them, marrying and settling down on a farm. Later he engaged in merchandising, and in time became one of Bullock county's largest merchants. In 1860 he removed to Barbour county, where he owned a great deal of property in slaves, and as a result of the war the bulk of his property was swept away. He built up a fortune after the war, and in 1883, in connection with the subject of this sketch, engaged in the fertillizer business in Columbia, Ala., which he continued until 1890, when he removed to Dothen, where he now resides and still carries on an extensive fertilizer business. - Both he and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist church. The subject of this sketch grew up on his father's farm, spent a considerable portion of his time in attending common school, and the high school of Barbour county. At the age of nineteen he entered the store of H. C. Thornton, as a clerk, and worked a year. He then engaged in farming successfully for one year, and then, in company with J. F. Thornton, engaged in the cross tie and lumber business. Here he remained three years, when he went to Colum- bia, and became engaged in mercantile business with his brother Michael, continuing there three years. He then became engaged with his father in the fertilizing business, so continuing until January 1, 1892, when he took a contract for furnishing the Alabama Midland railroad with cross ties, forming a partnership with J. F. Thornton in this business, the name of the firm being Cody & Thornton. This firm now employs 100 men, and has its commissary store at Midland City. The subject of this sketch was the first to establish a business at Midland City, com- ing here when the depot was but just finished, and when there was no business house erected, and when he was at the same time carrying on business at Columbia. He opened an office for the sale of guano, and has continued in this business ever since. Without any solicitation on his part, he was appointed justice of the peace in 1891, and has held the office ever since. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. He is a straight-out democrat, and always takes an active interest in public affairs. In 1887 our subject took up the study of the law, and has since been reading whenever he has had leisure. He is almost ready to be admitted to the bar. Mr. Cody repre- sents one of the younger element of Dale county, and takes great interest in everything tending to promote the welfare of the community. He is yet a single man.
JESSE M. CARMICHAEL, judge of third judicial district of Alabama, was born in Macon county, Ga., October 29, 1837. He was a son of Daniel and Martha A. (Coleman) Carmichael, the former of whom was born in South Carolina, January 13, 1819. The grandfather of Daniel Carmichael immigrated to America just before the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, settled in Robinson county, N. C., and served as a soldier in the great struggle. He had come to this country with a colony of Scotch emigrants. The grandfather of Jesse M. served in the war of
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1812, and afterward figured in politics to a certain extent. Daniel Carmi- chael was taken to Georgia by his parents, who settled on a farm in that state. At eighteen years of age he married and settled on a farm in Macon county, Ga. In 1842, he removed to Alabama, and settled at Sylvan Grove, Dale county, where he engaged in farming. In May, 1857, he was elected judge of probate of Dale county, holding the office three terms by successive re-elections, but he was discharged from office under the reconstruction act of 1868. He still survives, and lives a retired life in his country home, near Newton, Dale county. His wife was born in Abbe- ville district, S. C., October 12, 1818, and was taken by her parents to Georgia. They settled in Newton, but afterward removed to Macon county, where she was married when she was eighteen years of age. She is the mother of eleven children, all of whom reached maturity, and seven of whom now survive. One, the wife of Capt. Williams, lives at Columbia, Ala. The rest all live in Dale county. Their mother, early in life, united with the Methodist Episcopal church, and is still living, peace- fully and pleasantly, in her country home. Jesse M. Carmichael came, when five years old, with his parents to Alabama, where he grew up on the farm. At the age of twenty-three, he enlisted in company E, Fifteenth Alabama infantry, and was mustered in at Gordonsville, Va., in April, 1862, under James C. Canty, colonel. He served in the Virginia army, and was in numerous skirmishes and battles, among them, the famous battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862, where he was wounded in the right hand, the wound necessitating the amputation of the hand five days later. He then, disabled for active service, returned to his home, and engaged in farming, and in 1864, participated with a company for home protection against marauders and thieves and bushwhackers, all classes of whom then infested the country. In March, 1865, he, with a company of nine men, defended the town of Newton against a band of five times that number of bushwhackers, putting them to flight without the loss of a man, but killing three of the bushwhackers and wounding several others. He followed this course of life in connection with his farming until the surrender of the last Confederate army, and then followed farming for a year or two more, when he took up the study of the law under Judge A. L. Milligan, and after one year of close application, he was admitted to the bar in 1866, and immediately began the practice of the law, form- ing this year a law partnership with W. D. Wood. About this time he became clerk in the office of judge of probate, and kept the records of that office six years. In after years, he was a partner of Hon. B. F. Cassidy, of Anniston, Ala., now judge of the circuit court of that place, and he has also been a partner of Judge W. T. Mauldin. All through reconstruction days, Mr. Carmichael was engaged in writing articles for the county newspapers. At one time he was part owner of the largest paper in the county, and was subsequently its editor and manager. In 1870, he was elected to the legislature from Dale county,
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and in 1872, he was elected to the state senate, during one session of his term introducing and securing the passage of twelve different bills of a general character. He also served on numerous committees, and was chairman of the committee for the examination of the management of the asylum for deaf. dumb and blind, and made a report, which was pub- lished in the catalogue of the college. After his term as senator expired, in 1876, he was elected secretary of the senate. In 1877, he was appointed judge of probate, and held that office until 1880, when he was elected auditor of state, and was re-elected in 1882. During his four years in that office, he instituted numerous necessary and salutary reforms. In 1884, he was a presidential elector for the third district, which office he filled with ability and credit. In 1886, he was elected judge of the third judicial district, the largest district in the state, and he has held that office up to the present time. In 1892, he was the nominee of the deniocratic party for re-election, and was re-elected by a very large majority. Mr. Carmichael was married in September, 1860, to Miss Amanda J. Smith, daughter of Wesley and Marguerite (Lollers) Smith, who was reared in Barbour county, Ala., but who lost her father while she was yet very young. She was married in her eighteenth year, and was the mother of four children, all of whom survive. Their names are Lillie, Archibald, Charles D. and Pauline. All are graduates of good schools and all are married. Lillie is the wife of W. H. Simons, and has four children; Archibald married Miss Anna Sugg, resides in North Alba, and has one child, named after the subject of this sketch; Charles D. is an Ozark attorney and married Miss Fannie Bowen, and has one child, Sibert B., and Pauline is the wise of A. T. Borders, an Ozark attorney. The mother of these children died July 8, 1870, and Mr. Carmichael married, October 1, ยท 1871, Miss Mary Smith, sister of his first wife. by whom he has had four children, but one of whom survive, viz .: Malcolm. Mrs. Carmichael was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, her death occurring in 1885. Mr. Carmichael married for his third wife Miss Emma Beard, December 17, 1885, daughter of W. F. and Elizabeth (Donaldson) Beard. Her father was born in Jones county, Ga., in September, 1817, but while young he came to Alabama with his parents. in which state he lived until the war broke out, and in which he lost his life, dying Sep- tember 16, 1864. Her mother was born in Barnwell district, S. C., and removed to Lowndes county, Ala., where she was married at the age of eighteen, and became the mother of eleven children, seven of whom sur- vive, as does their mother, who lives at Elba, Coffee county. By his third marriage Mr. Carmichael has no children. He has made a grand success of his life, even though deprived of the use of his right, hand while a young man. He has filled the high offices in the state which he has held with ability and credit, and has been a potent factor in the up- building of his county and state. He is the owner of 1,500 acres of good farming land, and other property. and lives in a most comfortable home,
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surrounded by numerous friends and neighbors, all of whom honor him for his sterling worth.
MAJOR CARROLL, farmer and business man of Ozark, was born near Ozark, April 25, 1851. He is the son of Maj. James Carroll and Pennie Kennedy, the former of whom was born in Johnson county, N. C., in 1805, who grew to manhood there, and who was married in 1834, in John- son county, N. C. He came to Alabama and settled in Dale county in 1837, and became a large realty and negro owner, of which latter he liberated twenty-five at the close of the war. He was a man of judgment and managed his large plantation until the close of his life. His death occurred August 13, 1878. The mother of our subject was born in Lenoir county, N. C., in September, 1810, where she was married in her twenty-fourth year, and became the mother of nine children, four of whom now survive. She died September 23, 1865. The Carroll (originally spelled McCarroll) family in America are descend- ants of James Carroll, who came to America at an early day and settled on the Atlantic coast. He was the son of Duncan McCarroll and Isabella (Dallas) McCarroll. Major Carroll was brought up in Dale county, devoting most of his time to labor on the farm. At the age of nineteen he engaged in business for himself, and afterward, in company with his brother, opened up a small store in Ozark, in which he was not successful, and at the expiration of four months he closed his store and engaged once more in farming. In this business he has ever since been engaged. He was exclusively occupied with farming until 1881, when he bought forty acres of choice land located within the limits of Ozark. This property he immediately began to improve, opening an avenue through it, building several tenant houses and making other improve- ments. This proved to be a good investment. In the meantime he erected a substantial brick cotton warehouse, 100x150 feet in size, with a commodious brick store room attached. He then engaged in weighing cotton. He then had side tracks laid to his warehouse, and other first- class shipping facilities. This building with its improvements he sold to the farmers' alliance in 1880. He then erected a substantial brick block with commodious store rooms below and offices above. He now owns in his own right over 2,800 acres of land, and cultivates a portion of it each year. He also owns much valuable city property, all his busi- ness having been conducted according to strict business methods, and all his transactions having been straightforward and honest. On January 11, 1872, our subject was married to Miss Sarah E. Branch, daughter of John W. and Emma (Hook) Branch, the former of whom (John W.) was a native of South Carolina, son of William Branch. The Branch family was founded in America by John Branch, and his son, Brittain Branch, was the father of William Branch, who was the grandfather of Mrs. Carroll. John Branch was born April 14, 1822, and was married in Colleton district, S. C., December 8, 1849. He was a farmer, and was in
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the Confederate service in the last war, serving as a private in the Twenty-seventh Alabama infantry. He came to Alabama, settling in Russell county, where he lived for a number of years, moving to Dale county in 1857. He has always been a man of sound judgment and in- fluence, whose opinion upon various matters has been much sought and. highly valued. He still lives. The wife of our subject was born in Rus- sell county, October 15, 1853, and she was married here in her eighteenth year. She has had nine children, as follows: Anna, wife of Ursus McNeil, of Ozark, Ala .; James W., deceased; Major O .; John W. ; Emma P .; Marvin C .; Sallie B .; Samuel J. and Corinne. Our subject is a member of the municipal board of Ozark, is junior warden of Ozark lodge, No. 349, A. F & A. M., has always been a democrat, and takes an active interest in public affairs. He was at one time a member of the farmers' alliance, but severed his connection with that party when he became dissatisfied with its methods. In March, 1892, he was elected a member of the board of directors of the Alabama Midland railroad company. He is a stock- holder in the company, and also in several building and loan associations in Ozark. He started in life with $800 in cash, and from that small sum has built up his large fortune. He attributes his success in life to strict attention to business, and to square and honorable dealing with all men. He encourages all measures calculated to improve his town and county, and has done much to the building up of the city. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, and holds the office of steward in the church. His wife is also a member of the same church, and both stand deservedly high in the estimation of all.
PERRY F. COVINGTON .- Dale county, Ala., possesses no more prosper- ous and enterprising farmer than Perry F. Covington. He was born in Chattahoochee county, Ga., June 24, 1854, and is a son of Ransome and Permelia (Dillard) Covington. The father was born in Pike county, Ga., December 24, 1818. His early years were largely passed in travel for the benefit of his health, but during this period he gained considerable experience in planting by acting in the capacity of overseer. About the year 1850 he married Miss Dillard and located in Stewart county, Ga., where for a few years he resided on rented land and then purchased a. plantation. Subsequently he disposed of this land and moved to Chatta- hoochee county, purchased another tract of land and farmed until 1858, when he came to Alabama and settled in Dale county, near the present home of his son, Perry F. Here he bought his third plantation, which he improved with a good dwelling and outbuildings, and placed under a high state of cultivation. He took an active part in the upbuilding of the county, and was especially energetic in advancing church and school interests. A democrat in politics, he freely gave his services to the Confederacy during the late war, and after its close led a peaceful life until April, 1888, when he passed from earth. Mrs. Permelia Covington was born in Stewart county, Ga., in 1828, was married in her twenty-
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second year, and became the mother of eleven children, of whom nine still survive and reside in Dale county. She is a member of the Mission- ary Baptist church and leads a somewhat retired life near the residence of her son, Perry F. Perry F. Covington was reared a farmer and early proved to be a valuable aid to his father, who gave him his liberty at the age of twenty. In 1875 he bought a portion of the fine farm he at present owns, near Skipperville, but which was then a wilderness of timber, comprising 240 acres. He built a cabin, cleared this land, and cultivated it until 1880, when he put up a cotton-gin, and four years later erected a steam gin, grist mill and saw mill, which are patronized from far and near. January 28, 1875, Mr. Covington was joined in the bonds of matrimony with Miss Catherine L. Hunt, daughter of Gadsden Hunt. The last named is a native of Barbour county, Ala., and is now an owner of large farming realty, in that county. Mrs. Covington was born in Barbour county in May, 1854, and is now the mother of eight. children, born in the following order: Mattie F., Calvin C. and Alpheus A. (twins), Louis L., Asa S., Perry C., Carrie A. and Bob. The homestead now comprises nearly 1,000 acres, and is a model southern home. Mr. and Mrs. Covington are consistent members of the Missionary Baptist church, while in politics, he is a democrat and a member of the farmers' alliance. He is public spirited, an ardent advocate of education and is one of those who make a county prosperous.
JOHN D. CRIM, senior member of the firm of John D. Crim & Bro., was born April 12, 1841, in Macon county, Ga. He there grew up on a farm, doing the ordinary work of a farmer's boy and having but limited educational advantages, but making the most of what he had. He was successful in his farming operations and took good care of his earnings. He was married in 1876 to Miss Sarah M. Daniel, daughter of John Daniel. Mrs. Crim was born in Florida in 1840, and was married in her thirtieth year. She is the mother of one child, Frances Irene, born in 1880. She has been for many years a member of the Missionary Baptist church. G. S. Crim, junior member of this firm, was born in Clay county, Ga., in 1852. He grew up on the farm, and was engaged in its customary duties until 1873, and in 1882 he was married to Miss Fannie Mullen, daughter of John Mullen. Mrs. Crim was born in Columbia, Ala., in 1861, where she had the best of educational advantages, and where she was married in her twenty-first year. She is the mother of two children, John and Marie. Mrs. Crim is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. These two brothers, John D. and G. S. Crim, are the sons of Louis and Nancy E. (Clemons) Crim, the former of whom was born in Lexington district, S. C., in 1812. He remained in South Carolina, fol- lowing the vocation of a farmer, until he reached young manhood, when he removed to Georgia, and was married there in 1837. He later emigrated to Alabama and settled on a farm near Newton, remaining on this farm until his death, which occurred in 1890. He was always identi-
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fied with every movement instituted for the benefit of the community, and helped to lay broad and deep the foundations of the commonwealth. He was a Mason and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. Their mother was born in Dooly county, Ga., in 1813, where she grew to womanhood. She was married in her twenty-fourth year, and is the mother of four children, three of whom are living. One of her children is the wife of Benjamin Say, and resides at Blakely, Ga. The mother of these children resides at Newton, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. Both members of the firm of John D. Crim & Bro. are democrats in politics, and have done their share to build up the county in which they reside. Their present firm was established in 1873, with a small capital, but, with fair dealing and good management, they soon began to make rapid gains and they have since gradually increased their capacity and business facilities until they now carry a stock of about $8,000 worth of general merchandise, and transact about $40,000 worth of business a year. In 1889 they erected a substantial brick store, 24x80 feet in size, which they now occupy. Beside their mercantile business they also buy about 600 to 1,000 bales of cotton each year, which taken altogether make a very handsome business. These gentlemen have always taken an interest in whatever was calculated to advance the welfare of the com- munity and county, and stand high in the estimation of the public.
JAMES J. DEAN, SR., farmer and merchant of Charlton, was born in Houston county, Ga., September 27, 1836. He is the son of Elijah and Martha (Page) Dean, the former of whom was born in Lawrence county, Ga., about 1794. He enlisted in the war of 1812 under Gen. Blackshire, and served two enlistments. After the war he engaged in farming in Houston county, Ga., and followed that vocation for twelve years. He moved to Muscogee county and, lived there until 1854, when he removed to Alabama, settling on Rocky Head creek, where he bought 1,000 acres of land, which he improved and continued to cultivate until his death, which occurred on November 10, 1858. Politically he was what was known as an old line whig, but when that party became extinct, and while he still entertained the same political principles, yet he voted the democratic ticket. He was a member of the Anti-Mission Baptist church, was congenial and cordial in manner, and had hosts of friends. The mother of James J. Dean, Sr., was also a native of Georgia, born. in 1790, married in her sixteenth year and became the mother of thirteen child- ren, ten of whom reached maturity, and five of whom still survive, three brothers of Mr. Dean, living in Texas, and one sister living in Dale county. Her death occurred in 1875 at the advanced age of eighty-five years. James J. Dean. Sr., lived upon his father's farm until he was twenty years old, and then began farming for himself, so continuing until his twenty-sixth year, when he enlisted in the Confederate service in a company known as the Partisan rangers. Later he was mustered in at Barnes' cross roads as a member of company D, Twenty-third Alabama
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cavalry, under Capt. William T. McCall, , M. W. Hannan, colonel. He served in the army of Tennessee until the end of the war. He was wounded at New Oak Church, losing his right forefinger. He was at home on a furlough at the time of the final surrender: He then engaged in farming in Georgia until 1868, when he removed to Dale county, Ala., near where Charlton now stands. Here he purchased a plantation of a 1,000 acres and has continued to operate it ever since. He has the reputation of being one of Dale county's model farmers. In 1890 he formed a part- nership with E. R. Phillips and opened up a stock of general merchan- dise, doing business under the firm name of Dean & Phillips, and putting in a stock of goods worth $5,000, and now doing a business of some $30,000 per annum This firm also deals in cotton, buying 2,500 bales in
1891. In 1857 Mr. Dean was married to Miss Martha Anne Magee, daughter of Richard Magee, a native of North Carolina, a farmer and mechanic. He died in 1850. Mrs. Dean was born in North Carolina in July, 1837, and moved with her parents to Georgia, where she grew to womanhood. She is now the mother of ten children, seven of whom sur- vive: Emma, James J., William L., George B., Robert E., Thomas H., and Richard F. Mrs. Dean is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Dean became a Mason in 1872, and is now a member of Clopton lodge, No. 174, F. & A. M. He was elected county commissioner in 1880, and served three years; is a democrat in politics and a worthy citizen.
O. C. DOSTER, attorney at Newton, was born in Barbour county, Ala., in 1856. He is a son of Obed C. and Mary Doster, the former of whom was born near Monroe Union county, N. C., and was taken to Georgia when quite young by his parents, who settled in Talbot county, that state, remaining there but a short time, when they removed to Alabama, settling in Dale county. The father, however, soon removed to Barbour county, where he was married to Miss Mary Campbell, and followed the . occupation of farming the rest of his life. He was a very unostentatious man, but took a reasonably active interest in public affairs. Politically, he was a whig, and after that party became extinct, while he still adhered to his whig principles, yet he usually voted the democratic ticket. With- out being a candidate, or in any way seeking the position, he was elected to the legislature, at the first session after the close of the Civil war be- tween the states, and served six years. Previous and at the commence- ment of the late war, he was an advocate of southern rights, and protec- tion under the constitution and flag of the Union, but when Alabama seceded he went with his people. He was born in 1819 and died in 1883. He joined the Methodist Episcopal church, south, early in his married life, and lived a consistent member thereof until his death. The mother of our subject was born and reared in Barbour county, where she was married at the age of nineteen, and became the mother of nine children, six of whom still live. Early after marriage she joined the Methodist Episcopal church., but after the death of her husband she united herself
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