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 II pt 1 > Part 38
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Ala .. September 30, 1864; Athens, Ala .. October 1. 1864. After this splendid military experience, he was paroled at Gainesville. Ala .. May 11. 1865. He practiced medicine at Gainesville, Ala .. after the war, until May, 1883, when he took up his residence in Birmingham, Ala., and still practices there. He is a member of the state board of health and censors. He is also chairman of the committee of health. of Jefferson county, Ala., and also chairman of the charity hospital staff, of Birming- ham, Ala. For the past twenty-five years Dr. Sholl has been a large contributor to the medical journals of the day, and many of his articles have been widely copied, and are now embodied in the general medical literature of the day. Among his latest, is one entitled: "The Negro .. and his Death Rate," published originally in the Virginia Medical Monthly, in June, 1-91. He was married, first, in April, 1858. to Miss Sarah Ann Pearson, of Greene county, Ala., and to them was born one son, Edward,P. Sholl, now in business in New Orleans. The second marriage took place in February, 1-66, to Miss Ellen Raymond Stillman, daughter of Rev. Dr. C. A. Stillman. of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and to this marriage were born four children: Charles S., Emma, deceased, 1878, Mary Hammond. and Will- iam Nace. Dr. Sholl is an active member and elder in the Second Presbyterian church, and is much interested in church and charitable work. His father was Rev. Dr. William N. Sholl. a Lutheran minister of Pennsylvania. who died June 12. 1889, and his mother was Henrietta Wampler, also of Pennsylvania, who died August 6. 1845.
DR. JOSEPH RILEY SMITH .- Probably the oldest living native-born physician of Jefferson county, Ala., is Joseph Riley Smith. M. D., now retired from active practice and living upon the income of wealth acquired in his younger days. His birth took place February 6, 1818, in the county then known as Blount, in the territory of Mississippi. but now known as Jef- ferson county, in the state of Alabama. It will be seen that the doctor is really older as an individual than Alabama itself as a state, as its admis- sion into the Union did not occur until 1819. His father, John Smith, was a native of Union district. South Carolina. where his parents had set- tled upon emigrating from Wales. His mother's ancestors were Irish and her parents among the pioneers of Kentucky. Her maiden name was Sallie Riley, and her place of nativity, Rockcastle county. Ky. They were married in Lincoln county, Ten., in 1814, and, soon after. learning of.the beauty and rich soil of Jones valley, Ala., were induced to emi- grate thither. and settled upon a large tract of land near Elyton, a por- tion of which is now owned by the Wheeling Furnace company. They resided upon this land, within a half mile of their first location, until their deaths. John Smith was a farmer, and pursued cotton planting, owning, prior to the war, about sixty slaves: he was well and widely known, serving for many years as magistrate and county commissioner, and, at the time of his death. in October. 1576, was the owner of 2.000 acres of land. which is now among the most valuable in Alabama. The-
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mother of Dr. Joseph R. departed this life in April. 1863. She was the mother of ten children-David, now living at Crawfordsville, Miss .; Joseph R .. William D., a resident of Jefferson county; John B., lieutenent- colonel of the Thirtieth Alabama regiment, who was killed at Vicks- burg; Octavius S., who represented Jefferson county in the state legisla- ture one session, died in 1867: Thomas, was admitted to the Jefferson county bar in 1852. emigrated to Texas. served as captain in the Confed- erate service, and while clerk of the court of Smith county, was accidently killed; George W., of Jefferson county : Susan Weaver. living near Colum-
received a good education in youth and early manhood, having been sent bus, Miss. ; Sarah J. Baird, who died in 1883, and Lucy. Dr. Smith
to Union seminary, Murray county. Tenn., one of the best educational institutions in the south at that early period, there to prepare himself for the course of study which resulted in the adoption of his profession.
This study was pursued under the able supervision of Dr. James Kelly,
near the Smith homestead, from the time of his leaving the seminary. in
the fall of 1838, for the period of twelve months, when a wider scope of
medical education was sought. Lexington, Ky .. was the point decided
upon for the finishing chapter of instruction in the medical art. From
the medical department of the Transylvania university he graduated in 1841, and then for two years practiced his profession with all the success
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that so small a place could afford. and then went to Elyton, where for
forty-three years he has resided in one house. employed constantly in
medical practice until 1870. when he engaged in mercantile pursuits. later adding a branch establishment in the thriving city of Birmingham, and these two establishments were profitably conducted by him until his retire- ment in 1883-a wealthy man, rewarded for his attention to his business affairs and fair dealing with his patrons. In 1544 Dr. Smith married
Margaret Harvey Jordon, daughter of Mortimer Jordon, a native of Geor- gia, and a sister of the late Dr. M. H. Jordon, of Birmingham, Ala. To this union there were born twelve children, four of whom died in infancy and eight grew to maturity, as follows: Mary Ella, deceased wife of Dr. George M. Morrow, of Birmingham, Ala., and Sarah Eminons,
deceased wife of W. R. Owen, of Jefferson county, Ala., -these two . having been twin sisters; John F., deceased in 1555, leaving one daugh- ter, Mary L. Smith : Joseph R .. Jr. : Thomas O. ; Charles Jordon : William D. ; Virginia Irene, wife of Robert P. McDavid. The mother of these child- ren died in 1875, the sequel being somewhat romantic. When a medical student at Lexington, Ky., Dr. Smith met a young lady, whose accomp- lishments and rare beauty deeply impressed him. Years afterward, when a widower, he learned she was a resident of St. Louis. and was the widow of Dr. Thomas J. Kilpatrick, who had been a celebrated practitioner of that city, and in 1876, she became his wife. Her maiden name was Mary Smithers. In the court house of Lexington. Ky .. stands a beautiful statue entitled "Chastity Triumphant". It is the handiwork of the late
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PERSONAL MEMOIRS-JEFFERSON COUNTY.
· celebrated sculptor, Joel T. Hart, who. encouraged to prosecute his studies, died in Europe. This work of art has the form and features of Mary Smithers. as he last saw her, and is a beautiful tribute and acknowledg- ment of their friendship. Mrs. Smith is a lady of great personal worth, a member of the Methodist church, and devoted to all good works. Dr. and Mrs. Smith reside quietly in their elegant home at Elyton.
HON. NOBLE SMITHSON, Birmingham. Ala., was born near Nolensville, Williamson county. Tenn., December 7, 1841. His father was John Greene Smithson. of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, who was born near Danville, Va., June 10, 1820, and died near Madison. Ga., January 2, 1893. His father was a successful farmer, distinguished for his energy and industry, and noted for his good sense, sound judgment and honesty of purpose. In politics, he was a whig, and after the dis- bandment of that party, he was a unionist and republican. His paternal grandfather was Hezekiah Powell Smithson; his great-grandfather was Francis Smithson. His paternal great-grandmother was a daughter of Capt. Powell. of the Revolutionary army. The maiden name of his paternal grandmother was Henrietta Carter. All of these were natives of Virginia. His mother's maiden name was Ann Vaughn Ladd, a daughter of Noble Ladd. She was a woman of strong intellect, thoroughly devoted to domestic affairs and to the promotion of the interest and happiness of her husband and children. She was born in Williamson county, Tenn., November 10, 1818, and died near Pulaski, Tenn., July 20, 1886. She was the mother of fifteen children, thirteen of whom survived her. Noble being the eldest. His maternal grandfather was Noble Ladd, for whom he was named. He was a native of Rockingham county, N. C. His maternal grandmother's maiden name was Mary Burton, a daughter of Peter Burton, a native of Ireland. She was a native of Stokes county, N. C. Both the Smithson and Ladd families were of English descent, the Smith- sons coming from Northumberland county, England, to Virginia before the Revolution of 1776. Mr. Smithson did not have the advantages of a col- legiate education, but enjoyed only such as the "old field schools" of his neighborhood afforded. But he early realized that he, who can read, has the key to knowledge, and began to read and study educational, lit- erary and scientific books when a boy: and has ever since pursued the same course. In this way he acquired substantially the same mental training and scientific knowledge which he would have gained had he taken a collegiate course. Although he is entirely a self-made man, and never entered a college, yet, as a student, few men are better informed upon general literary and scientific subjects than he is. In early life he was a salesman and bookkeeper in a country store, and afterward a country school teacher. He then studied medicine for a time, intending to prac- tice that profession for a livlihood; but. finally, he abondoned this purpose, and determined to study law, and did so. He was admitted to the bar at Pulaski, Tenn., in December, 1566, and has continued in the
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full and active practice of the law ever since. He continued to practice at Pulaski, and in the courts of Tennessee adjacent thereto, and in the supreme court of Tennessee until March 1. 1987, when he moved to Birming- ham, Ala., where he has resided and practiced ever since. From November, 1867, to September, 1870, he was district attorney -general of the eleventh circuit of Tennessee, composed of the counties of Williamson, Maury, Marshall, Giles, Lawrence and Lewis. Or. November 6, 1872. he was elected state senator in the thirty-eighth general assembly of the state of Tennessee, for the fifteenth senatorial district. composed of the counties of Giles, Lawrence. Wayne and Lewis. for the year 1873-74. He was chair- man of the senate committee on judiciary and was also chairman of a special committee appointed to investigate the affairs of the bank of Tennessee. While a citizen of Tennessee he was a state director in the Nashville & Dacatur railroad company, a director in the National bank of Pulaski: and repeatedly served as special judge of the circuit courts by appointment of the governor. Upon the organization of the American National bank of Birmingham in 1883, he was elected one of its directors and also'attorney for said bank. which position he continued to hold until the bank went into liquidation in 1892. In the spring of 1889, he made application to the president of the United States for the office of district attorney for the northern and middle district of Alabama. His application was endorsed by substantially all of the lawyers of Birmingham, Anniston. Tuscaloosa and other towns in the district, as well as other prominent citizens outside of the bar: but the office was given to another applicant. On June 4. 1890. the state con- vention of the republican party of Alabama nominated Mr. Smithson as the republican candidate for governor of the state; but. being ineligible to the office, by reason of the fact that he had not been a resident of the state for seven years. he declined the nomination. He has been a mem- ber of the following secret societies, namely: the Free Masons, Odd Fel- ,lows, Knights of Honor. American Legion of Honor and Ancient Order of United Workmen; and is now a member of the Knights of Pythias and Knights Templar. He is a member of the Tennessee Historical society. a member of the Bar associations of Tennessee and Alabama, and an attorney of the supreme court of the United States. In politics he is a republican. He married Miss Alice Patterson April 2. 1-65. and they have five children living: William Noble. John, Tully. Guy and Alma. Their daughter. Annie Laura, died at Birmingham. February 7, 1893. In physique, be is six feet high. and well formed: somewhat corpulent and weighs 225 pounds. His head is unusually large and well shaped. His eyes are bluish gray and his complexion ruddy and has a commanding presence. Mr. Smithson is an able and accomplished lawyer, a highly successful practitioner, a polished gentleman and an eminent citizen.
BURGHARD STEINER, one of the successful financiers and prominent citizens of Birmingham, was born in Bohemia, Austria. April 24, 1857.
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He was educated in the ordinary schools of his country, and at a college in Pilsen. He was bookkeeper in his native city for three years, and in 1874 he came to America, settling in Uniontown, Ala .. where he was employed for three years as a clerk in a large mercantile establishment. Later he went to Hamburg. Ala., and commenced business for himself. which he conducted with success until 1857, and then came to Birming- ham, and opened a bank, in connection with his brother, under the name of Steiner brothers, bankers, which still continues. In 1985 he was mar- ried to Rosa Bresler, a daughter of A. Bresler of Tuscumbia, Ala. They are the parents of two children, Arthur S. and Herbert E. Mr. Steiner is an honorary member of the Birmingham rifles. and a director of the Birmingham & Atlantic railroad, president of the Birmingham, Powderly & Bessemer railroad: secretary and treasurer of the Mutual Loan & Trust company. member of the board of directors of congregation Temple Emanuel, being chairman of the finance committee: director of the Meri- dian Gas Light company of Meridian, Miss .: director of the Talladega Gas Light & Water company, director of the Pleasant Valley land com- pany; a member of the Alabama industrial and scientific society: treas- urer of the Masonic lodge, and a member of the grand lodge of Knights of Pythias, and a leading spirit in all industrial and benevolent move- ments. The father of Mr. Steiner is Emanuel Steiner, who is living in retirement in Pilsen. Bohemia. His mother's maiden name was Katrina Gutwillig. They had six children, of whom five are now living. Two of the sons, Burghard and Sigfried, are in America. Sigfried Steiner was born in Austria. July 23. 1859, and educated at Pilsen, Austria. At the age of sixteen, he left school and came to America, locating in Union town, Ala. He embarked in business with his brother at Hamburg, Ala., and in 18-7. opened. in connection with his brother. the banking house of Steiner Bros .. Birmingham. Ala. Mr. S. Steiner was married in May, 1891, to Mamie Stern, daughter of Sol Stern, of New Orleans. La. They are the parents of one son. Irwin B. He . and his brother are largely interested in industrial and mercantile pursuits, street railroads, gas and electric light works. He is vice-president of the Meridian Gas Light company of Meridian. Miss. He has several times visited his native land since coming to America. The Steiner Brothers represent a capital of over $300.000. and do as much business in bonds, loans and investment securities, and in building, re-organizing and developing industrial enter- prises, as any other banking house in the south.
A. G. STOLLENWERCK, the banker and broker of Birmingham, was born in Greensboro. Ala., in 1832. He was educated in Greensboro and at the select school of Dr. Henry Tutwiler, in Green Springs. Ala. In 1847, he left school and began to clerk for Wyatt & Horeslin, in Marion. He worked for this firm until 1-55, in which year he went into business with Mr. J. B. Lovelace, at Marion, until April, 1561. In that year he enlisted
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in the Twenty-fourth Alabama regiment of infantry, and was detailed on commissary duty at Dalton, Ga. He served in Tennessee and North Caro- lina, and surrendered at Augusta. During all his service, he never drew a cent of pay, but paid all his expenses from the time of his enlistment. At . the close of the war. he went to Selma and engaged in the cotton business, and carried it on until 1889, in which year ho removed to Birmingham. In this city he took up the stock. bond and brokerage business, which he has vigorously pursued since that time. Mr. Stollenwerck is a Methodist, and has been for over forty years. He was married, in 1:55, to Julia F. Fowlkes, daughter of Col. E. T. Fowlkes, of Raleigh. N. C. Ten chil- dren of this union survive. They are: Henry .A., of Birmingham; Edward, of Birmingham; Frank, of Dunham, Ala .; A. G., Wheeling, W. Va .: Clayton, of Caryville, Fla .: Samuel A .. Birmingham; Leslie, of Birmingham; Julia, Mabel and Nellie, at home. Mr. Stollenwerck's ' father, Louis A. Stollenwerck, came from France. His wife was Amice Coupre, a native of San Domingo. The father came to Alabama in 1818, settling in Greensboro, and died there in 1834 He was an attorney, and was counsel for most of his countrymen who came to America.
GEORGE A. STOWERS, the furniture man of Birmingham. is a native of Georgia. He was born in Brazalia, that state, February 3, 1867. . He was reared and educated in Atlanta, Ga., having, at the age of two years, removed with his parents to that city. At the early age of thirteen, Mr. Stowers began the battle of life by going into a confectionery store as a clerk, and at the age of fifteen the enterprising young boy had opened a grocery . store for himself. This store he successfully conducted for nearly three years, when he went into the furniture business for a year or two in Atlanta. When still a youth, July, 1886, he located in Birmingham, and went into the furniture business on a large scale, and is still in that business. So prosperous, indeed, has the trade become that in 1891 it was made a stock company. of which Mr. Stowers is president. The company now has large stores and warehouses at Waco, Tex., San Antonio, Tex., Pratt Mines. Ala., and a large establish- ment in Birmingham, and at one time they ran twenty-two houses. Mr. Stowers is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His father is T. J. Stowers, now living in Atlanta. Ga., where he is in the furniture business, and has been at different times connected with the Georgia rail- road for the past thirty-two years. His wife was Mary L. Warren, of Georgia. Eight children were born to their union, and four are now liv- ing, as follows: William H., Vicksburg, Miss. ; James D., Atlanta, Ga .; Ella, wife of B. M. White, of Atlanta, and G. A., of Birmingham.
GEORGE LANE THOMAS, well known as the county commissioner of Jefferson county, was born in Limestone county, Ala., September 3, 1830. He removed with his parents to Greene county, Ala., when he was only three years of age, and resided there until he moved to Birmingham in 1873. He was educated in the schools of Greene county, and had made
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preprations to enter Princeton college, N. J .. but determined upon farming and accordingly assisted his father upon the farm until the fall of 1861, when he went into the Confederate service in company B, Thirty-sixth Alabama, commanded by Col. Sinith. of Mobile. and later, by Col. L. T. Woodruff. He went in as a private. but shortly after was put on Col. Smith's staff with the rank of captain. He also served on Col. Wood- ruff's staff until the latter part of 1864. and at the close of the war, he held the rank of major. He fought at Rocky Face Mountain, Chick- amauga. Atlanta and many other minor engagements. and surrendered at Meridian, Miss. He returned to Greene county. Ala., after the war, and lived there until March. 1573. when he removed to Birmingham. He was one the trustees of the relief fund during the cholera epidemic of 1873. He first engaged in Birmingham in the coal and lumber business, which he conducted until 1857, when he sold out, and the same year was appointed commissioner of Jefferson county by Gov. Seay. and has been twice elected to the office. for a term of four years each time. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. and Knights of Pythias, and is an elder in the First Presbyterian church. He was married the first time, in November, 1858. to Mary McMillian of Greene county, Ala., by whom he had two children. Lizzie. and Mary. wife of W. H. Jeffries. of Birming- ham. His first wife died in October. 1866. and he married. a few years later, Angie Knox. née Eggleston, of Mississippi. They had one son- George L., Jr. This boy was born March 8, 1873, and graduated in 1892 with the degree of A. B., from the university of Alabama. During Mr. Thomas'sadministration, 152 miles of macadamized roads and about twenty - five or thirty iron bridges over the streams of the county have been built, and the building of the Hospital of the United Charities and the new court house was largely through his instrumentality. of both of which he was superintendent of construction. He has also. for many years, been a leading and prominent member of the school board.
BURGESS ASBURY THOMPSON, secretary and treasurer of the Birmingham Safe & Lock company. is a gentleman of extraordinary industry, activity and versatility, and has filled numerous positions of trust and responsibility in Birmingham, both public and private. December 27, 1986, he was associ- ated with T. C. Thompson, J.C. Kyle and J. B. Francis in the organization of the Thompson Brick company, to manufacture and sell brick, to buy and sell real estate, to build houses, etc., with a capital stock of $20,000, with the privilege to increase to $100.000. In 1885 he was elected mayor of Birm- ingham and served two years. In 1590 he was elected secretary and treasurer of the Safe & Lock company, and also secretary and treasurer of the Alabama Building & Loan association; he is a director of the Peo- ple's Saving bank. and a Knight of Pythias, and is identified with various other institutions, social and industrial.
JOHN WALTER TOMLINSON, of the Birmingham bar, was born in Rus- sellville, Tenn .. February 1, 1559. He was educated at Emory and Henry
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college. Va., and graduated with first honors in the law at Vanderbilt uni- versity .. Tennessee. in 1882, and was admitted to the Birmingham bar in the year following, where he has since practiced with success. He is ga thirty-second degree Mason, @ Knight of Pythis, a mem- ber of the order of Elks and of Phi Delta Theta. In 1891 he was elected mayor of the Town of Highlands. In 1884 he be- came associated in the practice of law with C. A. Mountjoy. They transact a large and successful business, being counsel for the Birmingham National bank and R. G. Dun & Co. Mr. Tomlinson is a director in the Alabama National bank and Birmingham National bank, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. He was married April 25, 1859, to Annie Renfro. a daughter of Forney Renfro, of Opelika. Ala. His father was Thomas Tomlinson, of South Carolina, who went to Tennessee as a young man, and was a Confederate soldier of distinction. His wife was Malvina J. Proffitt. of Tennessee. Eight chil- dren were the result of this union. of whom the following seven are liv- ing: John W. : Annie, wife of W. B. Ragsdale, Knoxville, Tenn. ; Clem H., of Morristown, Tenn .; and Frank. Lucy, Oscar and Essie. of Tate Springs, Tenn. Mr. Tomlinson has been frequently mentioned in connec- - tion with public office, but preferring his profession has universally declined all public honors. He is possessed of many of the attributes which go to make up the character of a successful man of business.
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JAMES TROTTER. of the Bessemer bar. and a representative lawyer of Alabama, was born in Carroll county, Miss .. August 12th, 1857. He was educated at the university of that state (Oxford), and after leaving col- lege he taught two years, and then took up the study of law in the office of Sweatman & Trotter. a law firm in Winona, Miss., and was admitted to the bar in 1879. He located in Vaiden. Carroll county, Miss .. where he practiced until 1883. He then removed to Winona. Miss., and prac- ticed until 1887. and in that year went to Bessemer. and began the suc- cessful practice he enjoys there to-day. He was mayor of Vaiden, Car- roll county. Miss .. for two years, refusing a re-election, and served three years as city attorney of Bessemer. He is a director of the First National bank of Bessemer, and is a member of the democratic executive committee, is a Knight of Pythias, and a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church. He was married, in 1-57, to Annie L., daughter of J. C. Kittrell, of Winona. Miss., and they have two children. The father of Mr. Trotter, I. P. Trotter. is a resident of Webster county. Miss. He is an extensive planter, and was a member of the Mississippi legislature at the beginning of the war. He served as captain in the Fifth Mississippi regiment all through the hostilities. He married Elizabeth F. Peebles. of Mississippi, and Mr. Trotter is one of the six children, all boys, by that marriage. The mother died in 1-76. and the father afterward mar- ried Mrs. Bufkins, by whom he has one child. a daughter.
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