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 42
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of the Thirty-fifth Alabama infantry. with which company he was cap- tured at Corinth. He subsequently entered the cavalry service, and in .November, 1863, was commissioned colonel of the Tenth Alabama cav- alry, which was organized to constitute a part of Gen. Roddy's command, and whose services were. in a great measure, confined to outpost opera- tions in the Tennessee valley. With this regiment he served until the close of the war. He was mustered out at Pond Springs, in May, 1565. Upon the evacuation of Corinth. Col. Pickett was captured, he being at the time, too ill to get away or to be removed' with the sick. He was held until the following September, when he was- exchanged at Vicks- burg. While with the Thirty-fifth regiment Col. Pickett participated in the battles of Baton Rouge, Champion Hills, and a number of skirmishes. At the close of the war he returned to Moulton, and resumed the prac- tice of law. but in December, 1867. he removed to Florence. Since the war, as before, he has taken an active part in politics. In 1875 he was a member of the constitutional convention from Lauderdale county, and he was in the legislature during the sessions of 1584-85 and 1886-87. He was a delegate to the national convention that nominated Horatio Sey- mour for the presidency, and took an active part in the campaign. He was also a delegate to the national convention that met in Chicago in 1884 and nominated Grover Cleveland for president. Looking backward over Col. Pickett's career. we note also that he was elected judge of Law- rence county in 1846. and was in the legislature from that county during the sessions of 1853, 1855, 1857, and 1861. In 1856 he was elected to rep- resent the sixth congressional district of Alabama, when Buchanan was elected president. In 1843 Col. Pickett was married to Miss Fannie L. Boggs, by whom he has had nine children, of whom only three are.liv- ing, Mrs. Charles H. Patton. Mrs. Paul King and Mrs. S. E. Rice.
JAMES K. POWERS, A. M., president of the state normal college, at Florence, Ala., was born in Lauderdale county, August 15. 1-51. He was educated at the Florence Wesleyan university. and university of Ala- bama, and was a tutor in the former institution in 1870-71. In 1878 he was graduated from the state university, with the degree of master of arts, when that institution was granting that as a graduating degree, for a grade of ninety or over in every department in the institution. Imme- diately after his graduation. he was appointed professor of mathematics in the state normal college. In 188 he was elected president of the normal college, and was re-elected in 1-90 and in 1892. Under his presi- dency the normal college has reached the highest point of efficiency and attendance in its history. The average attendance in 1891 was 291, whereas the highest enrollment, previous to his election to the presidency, never exceeded 240 in any one year. It has attained the position of a normal school, principally under his management. Prof. Powers was one of the originators of the Alabama Educational association, and has served as chairman of the executive committee for two years, and president for one
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year. He has a very extensive acquaintance among the teachers of the south, and has probably supplied more places with teachers than any other man in the south. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, is a Knight of Pythias, and is a past grand dictator for the state in the order of the Knights of Honor. He was married January 30. 1879, at Nashville. Tenn .. to Miss Lulu Reynolds, daughter of the late Calvin A. Reynolds of Giles county. As Prof. Powers' connection with the normal college dates from the first day of the first session, he is now completing his twentieth year's service. Every graduate and under-graduate sent out by the institution (hundreds in number; has passed through his hands. These fill many of the most important positions in Alabama. To know these facts is to realize the influence that Prof. Powers has had in mold- ing the educational sentiment of the state.
WILLIAM M. PRICE. A. M., M. D., one of the most prominent physi- cians and surgeons of the county of Lauderdale, was born near Florence, that county, June 3. 1837. He is the son of James B. and Frances (Mason) Price, the former a native of Tennessee, and the latter of Vir- ginia. James B. Price vas one of the pioneers of Lauderdale connty. He engaged in farming and followed that occupation till his death, at the age of seventy-five years. His wife died in 1853, aged fifty years. Dr. William M. Price was reared in Lauderdale county, and received a collegiate education. He took his bachelor's degree at the Florence Wesleyan university in 1857, and received the honorary degree of master of arts from the same institution in 1860. He then began the study of medicine, entering the university of Nashville, graduating from the latter institution in 1865. Immediately afterward he began the practice of his profession at Bailey Springs, in Lauderdale county, remaining at that place until 1579. when he removed to Florence. Here he soon took rank among the most prominent and successful members of his profes- sion, and at the present time, he is accorded first place in the profes- sion of Lauderdale county, not only by the people. but by the members of that profession themselves. He is the senior physician in length of time in practice in Florence. He has served as president of the Lauder- dale county Medical society, and as chairman of the board of censors, and he is a member of the Alabama Medical association. For a short time during the war Dr. Price was connected with the Confederate army. but served most of his time in detail in the surgeon's office. He was married at Corinth, Miss., in 1858. to Miss Martha J. Fort, who died in 1963, leaving one son, now Dr. Percy I. Price, of Waxhatchie, Tex. On September 12. 1865, Dr. Price married Miss Nannie Henderson, of Maury county, Tenn., by whom he has had eight children. Dr. Price is a member of the Knights of Honor, and of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. He ranks among the leading citizens of Florence. He is quiet and unassuming in his manner. never seeking publicity or undue public notice, and at the
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same time he is ever ready and willing to lend a helping hand to all good works.
MASON BRADFORD SHELTON, the leading general merchant of Flor- ence, Ala., was born February 27. 1838, in Jackson county, Ala. He is the son of William F. and Elizabeth ( Wood) Shelton. the former of whom was born August 30, 1812, and came to Alabama in 1:27 with his parents and an uncle or two. and was thus one of the first to settle in Jackson county. He followed farming for a livelihood and died in 1582. His wife was a native of Tennessee and was born in 1816. They were married 'in 1835 in Jackson county, and were the parents of nine children, five of whom. together with their mother. are still living. She is living on the old homestead. Mason Bradford Shelton was reared on the farm and was educated in the common schools of his county, and then by persistent private study, the schools themselves not being very efficient. By this private study he acquired a knowledge of the higher English branches and the classics. At the age of fifteen he had passed through Mitchell's and Olney's geographies, Kirkman's grammar, and Pikes's arithmetic, and. though a young boy. began teaching school near his home, filling a vacancy caused by the teacher of the school going away during the winter. He taught school more or less each year in Jackson and adjoining coun- ties for the next ten years. As a rule he taught about eight months in the year, and the rest of the time was spent in different stores, posting up the books and waiting on customers. In the latter part of the year 1862, Mr. Shelton had a long and severe attack of sickness. and upon partially recovering, being unable to bear arms, went to Gen. Pillow at Huntsville, who sent him to Dr. Stout. at Chattanooga. for assignment to some duty. and he was sent by him to Ringgold, Ga., to fill a place in one of the Confed- erate hospitals. After remaining there for some time engaged in the capac ity of nurse for the sick and wounded, he was appointed private secretary to Dr. Curry, surgeon in charge of the Ford hospital. of which he became steward. At the end of about three months' time. however, having regained his health, he was, at his own request. sent to Shelbyville. Tenn., and he there joined the Fourth Confederate Tennessee infantry. Forty days after joining this regiment, he was with Gen. Bragg on his famous retreat from Tennessee, and at Winchester. Boing unable to keep up with the regiment on account of having been siek so long. he was captured by the Federal soldiers. Being dressed in citizen's clothes, not having yet donned the soldier's uniform. he was taken by them for a spy and sent to Camp Chase. Ohio, where he was kept a prisoner for twen- ty-two months. notwithstanding it was impossible to prove him a spy. and it was only through the intervention of United States Senator Powell, afterward governor of Kentucky, with President Abraham Lincoln, that he was released, the president himself signing Mr. Shelton's discharge. After leaving Camp Chase, he went by rail. road to Cincinnati and by steamboat to Henderson. Ky., where
PERSONAL MEMOIRS-LAUDERDALE COUNTY. 369
he was given a position as salesman by Soper. & Dallam, mer- chants of that place, where he remained about months. After the war he returned to his home in Jackson county. He remained at home with his parents only a few days. and then accepted a position in the store with his cousin, C. . C. Shelton, now of Chattanooga, Tenn., where he remained until January 1. 1867. Mr. Shelton now found him- self the possessor of a few hundred dollars earned by wages as clerk, but the most important event of his life had taken place when he met the lady he expected and promised to make his wife, Miss Endora Pittman. This brought serious reflections to a poor man with high anticipations, which resulted in a resolution to go west-out in the mining camps of the Rocky mountains. Crossing the plains by driving ten oxen to the old-
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. time prairie schooner, which required six weeks, two days of which time was spent in fighting Indians, he reached Denver city in the month of July, and from there went to Georgetown, at that time a small mining camp, but while he was there grew to be quite a city. From this point he made his prospecting detours, leading a life of adventure. filled with hardship, danger, and privation. After nearly nine years spent in search of gold and silver mines, meeting with the usual reverses and successes incident to the pursuit, he finally returned to his native home, and finding the lady he had left still watching and waiting, they were united in mar- riage on the 23rd day of February. 1875. To this union there have been born three children. all of whom are daughters, the eldest, Ettie, born December 9, 1>75, dying in infancy. The next in age, Lida G., was born September 4, 1578, and the youngest. Alta P., was born November 23, 1880. Mr. Shelton bought out the old firm he had formerly clerked for, and engaged in the mercantile business at Larkinsville. Ala., making a success in the business from the beginning. After nearly five years. he lost his store by fire on December 23. 1880. In 1981 he removed to Flor- ence and formed a partnership with John H. Young. under the firm name' of Shelton & Young. A few months later he opened another store in partnership with a Mr. Ragsdale. under the firm name of Shelton & Rags- dale. About eighteen months after going into business with Mr. Young he sold his interest to Mr. Young. continuing in the other firm. About 18-5 Mr. Ragsdale retired from this firm, and since then Mr. Shelton has continued on in business by himself, doing a general merchandise busi- ness and meeting with great success. Mr. Shelton was one of the organ- izers of the Merchant's bank of Florence, opened in 1892, and of that institution he is vice-president and a member of the board of directors. He is a member of the Masonie fraternity. and is at present worshipful mas- ter of Florence lodge, No. 14. A. F. & A. M., which, as is evident from its low number, is one of the oldest lodges in the state. Mr. Shelton is one of the self-made men of Lauderdale county, and in the tru- est sense of the word. Starting with nothing he has attained a
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position of wealth and influence in the community, all by his own industry and energy, and by doing business on strict business principles, and thus gaining a reputationf or honesty and integrity which is wide spread and well known. Mr. Shelton is an enterprising and lib- eral citizen, and has always done his share in supporting all laudable pub- lic enterprises. He is a steadfast friend to schools, and has always been found ready to do all in his power to advance the educational interests and to improve the educational facilities of the city of Florence and of the county.
ROBERT T. SIMPSON, attorney-at law. of Florence, Ala., was born in Florence. His parents were John and Margaret (Patton) Simpson, both natives of Ireland. His father came from Ireland in 1818, and located at Florence and engaged in mercantile pursuits. Seven years later he ยท returned to Ireland, and married there. Returning to Florence, he lived there the remainder of his days. Robert T. Simpson graduated from Princeton college in the class of 1857. He then entered the law depart- ment of the Cumberland university, Lebanon, Tenn., where he graduated in the class of 1859. He then located at Des Arc, Ark., began the prac- tice of the law, and was there at the beginning of the war. In April, 1861, lie enlisted in the Fourth Alabama infantry, and was with that regiment at the first battle of Manassas. After that battle he was appointed second lieutenant in the First Alabama battalion of artillery, and was subsequently promoted to be first lieutenant in the same com- mand. When Fort Powell was besieged he was placed in command of a picket company, and given charge of an important gun. which he manned through the siege. When Fort Morgan was besieged he was cut off from his command, and assigned to duty as adjutant-general of Gen. Liddell's brigade, and while serving in that capacity he was elected cap- tain of one of the companies of the Sixty-third Alabama regiment. This `company he commanded through the siege of Spanish Fort and Blakely. When his command was surrendered at the . last-named place, April 9, 1865, he was taken a prisoner of war to Ship island, where he remained until the command was brought to Jackson, Tenn., and was there paroled in May. 1865. After the war Capt. Simpson located at Camden. Ala., where he practiced law till 1870. He then returned to Florence. In 1882 he was elected to the legislature, and in 1884 to the senate, from the district composed of Lauderdale and Limestone counties. He is now president of the board of trustees of the Female Synodical college of Florence, and is a member of the Knights of Honor, and also of the Knights and Ladies of Honor. Capt. Simpson was married in Florence, Septemper, 1861, to Miss Mattie Collier, daughter of Mr. Wyatt Collier. of Lauderdale county, and to this marriage has been born one son, R. T. Simpson. Jr., who is now practicing law at Florence, and four daughters.
ALEXANDER EWELL WALKER, one of the well known young members of the Landerdale county bar, was born in Newbern, Va., October 22,
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1863. He is a son of Gen. James A. Walker, of Virginia, brigadier-general of the Confederacy, who commanded the Stonewall brigade during the last year of the war. and is to day the only living commander of that brigade. He was lieutenant-governor of Virginia from 1578 to 1882. He is a member of the Wythe county bar and a citizen of Wytheville, Va. He has also served in the legislature of that state. Alexander Ewell Walker was educated at the university of Virginia, and afterward read law in his father's office. He was admitted to practice in 1536, and began his prac- tice at his home at Wytheville, where he continued to remain for three years. In the spring of 1889 he removed to Florence, Ala., where he has since continued to reside. and to practice his profession, at the head of the firm of Walker & Hall. Mr. Walker was married to Miss Adele Rob- inson, in 1887. She was a resident of Selma. Ala. Mr. Walker is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias and of a Greek college society.
SAMUEL D. WEAKLEY, one of the pioneers of Florence, was born in Davidson county. Tenn., October 2. 1312. He is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Vaughan) Weakley, both of whom were natives of Halifax county, Va., and were of Irish and Welsh descent. Samuel Weakley was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1832, at the age of sixty-five years. Samuel D. Weakley was the youngest of four sons. He was edu- cated at Nashville. Tenn., and removed to Florence, Ala., in 1831. where his elder brother. James, H. Weakley. then surveyor-general of the state of Alabama, resided. Samuel D. had learned surveying under his father, and at once entered the office of his brother, and spent about ten years, retracing old survey field notes, which had been in part obliterated by fire. In 1849, in company with James Martin and others, he engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods and yarns, near Florence. Ala .. and in the spring of 1831 he was elected major-general of militia, which posi- tion he held for about eighteen months, and then resigned, because the act of conscription had placed every able-bodied man. from seventeen to fifty, in the army, and he had no one to command. Up to 1863. he had been an active business man. and was largely interested in railroads and steamboats; but since that date he has been but little in active life. In 1836, he was married, in Lauderdale county. to Miss Eliza B. Bedford, of Lauderdale county. Gen. Weakley's only son is John B. Weakley, who was born in 1-37. Up to fifteen years ago. he followed mercantile par- suits, and he then took a position as traveling salesman for a wholesale grocery house, of Memphis, Tenn. He joined one of the first companies to leave Florence, to serve in the Confederate army. of which company he was the captain. He was married to Miss Mollie E. Rice, daughter of Green P. Rice. of Morgan county. Ala. John B. Weakley. Jr., son of Captain John B. Weakley. is one of the leading attorneys of Florence. He was born in that city November 6. 1863, and graduated from the State Normal college. in 1882, During the winter of 1952->3. he was engaged in teaching school. as principal of the . Tuscumbia male academy. He
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then read law in the office of Hon. R. T. Simpson, and was admitted to the bar September 12, 154. He began the practice of law in Memphis, Tenn., but the following year returned to Florence, where he has since remained, meeting with success in bis practice. Mr. Weakley is a mem- ber of the board of trustees of the city schools. He was married June 30. 1891, to Miss Anne E. Rather, daughter of Gen. John D. Rather, of Tuscumbia. Ala.
COL. JOHN DAVID WEEDEN, a leading attorney of Florence, and a leading citizen of Lauderdale county, was born at Huntsville, Ala .. July 27. 1840. He is a son of William and Jane (Urquhart) Weeden. the former of whom was a Virginian, came to Alabama, about 1823, and located at Huntsville. He. was an extensive planter, owning and operating plan- tations in Marengo, Sumter and Madison counties, but residing in Hunts- ville. He died in 1-50. His wife was a native of Augusta, Ga .. and a daughter of David Urquhart, a native of Scotland. She died in 1895. Col. Weeden was reared in Huntsville, and was educated at the university of Alabama, graduating from that institution in 1859. After leaving col- lege, he read law under Chancellor Keyes, at Montgomery, and in 1860, was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of the state. Returning to Huntsville, he engaged in the practice of law until the breaking out of the war, and early in the spring of 1461 he entered the Confederate serv- ice, as second lieutenant of the Ninth Alabama infantry. He remained with this regiment until January. 1562, when he was ordered to Nashville, Tenn., and was then made adjutant of the Forty-ninth Alabama infantry. A few days after the battle of Shiloh. he was promoted to be major of the regiment, and subsequently, during the summer of 1863, he was still farther promoted to be lieutenant-colonel of his regiment, and commanded it until the second day's battle of Nashville, December 16, 1864. when he was wounded. taken prisoner, and taken to Johnson's island. and was there held prisoner until August 1. 1865. After the war. Col Weeden returned to Huntsville, and there resumed the practice of law. He was made a trustee of the university of Alabama: in 15-2. and in 1885. was elected. by the trustees, professor of the law department of the university, and held the position three years, resigning in 1888. He then resumed general practice in Florence, where he has since resided. In 1892, Col. Weeden. at the solicitation of his friends. became a candidate for the posi- tion of state senator, from the counties of Lauderdale and Limestone. and was defeated in the primaries. receiving. however. a handsome vote. and carrying the city of Florence by over 200 majority. In 1590. Col. Weeden was recommended by the bar of Lauderdale county. and by the attorneys that practiced in her courts. for the appointment of judge of the district court having jurisdiction in the counties of Lauderdale and Colbert; but notwithstanding the earnest and enthusiastic support accorded his candi- dacy he failed to receive the appointment. He is a director in the Sweet
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Water Land company. and is its attorney. He was married in September, 1870, to the daughter of ex-Gov. Robert M. Patton, of Alabama, and of this marriage have been born four children.
LAWRENCE COUNTY.
Manter.
ALVA E. ASHFORD, a prominent farmer of Courtland, Ala .. was born in Lawrence county, that state, July 10, 1834. He is the youngest of five children born to Thomas and Jane ( Elgin ) Ashford, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Maryland. The father of Thomas Ashford was John Ashford, of Virginia, and the father of Mrs. Jane Ashford was Hezekiah Elgin of Maryland. Alva E. Ashford was reared and educated in Alabama. He is a farmer by occupation and owns 1,300 acres of land. 400 acres of which is under cultivation. He is a very successful farmer and a good, substantial citizen. He was married, in 1871, to Miss Carrie Fletcher of Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Ashford have no children, but they have adopted two daughters who bear the name of Ashford. Mr. Ashford in 1861 enlisted in company B. Sixteenth Alabama infantry, and served about a year, when he was wounded and disabled for further service, for some time. When he had sufficiently recovered he raised and equipped a company at his own expense, which became company C, Thirty-fifth Alabama infantry, and he was made its captain. After serving in this capacity for eighteen months he was promoted to be major, and a few months later was promoted to be lieutenant-colonel, which position he held till the close of the war. He commanded the regiment in several battles and was. in fact. the colonel of the regiment. He was always a brave soldier, and on the field of Corinth he was com- plimented by General Albert Russ, and his bravery was mentioned in the record of that battle. He was in the battles around Jackson, Miss., Port Hudson, and at Champion Hill, his division being the only one that escaped the enemy from this battle ground, the others going into Vicks- burg, and being ultimately captured. He was in the Georgia campaign including the battles around Atlanta. He was at Franklin and Nashville. He had charge of the skirmishers at Columbia, followed the Union men into town. drove them out and took charge of the place. He was in the short and sharp tight at Spring Hill, Tenn .. and at the battle of Nashville he was wounded in the right ankle while trying to rally his men, who were retreating. As he was a valiant soldier on the battlefield. so since then he has been a leader in the ranks of the democracy. and he has been quite prominent in the politics of his county. He was elected to the state legislature. in 1866, by the largest majority ever given any man in the county. He has always contributed liberally toward all worthy public enterprises and takes great interest in all things pertaining to the general
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welfare. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian church, and are highly esteemed by all who know them.
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