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 46
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1 married to Charles Varner. of Opelika; Thomas F., Jr .. Robert E., Lillie Belle, George T .. Sallie L., and Claude A .- the last six still at home. Mr. Williamson votes the democratic ticket: he is a steward in the Methodist church, and also a Knight of Honor.
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H. T. WIMBERLY .-- This extensive planter was born January 29, 1844, near his present residence, Loachapoka, Lee county. Ala. His father, L. T. Wimberly, was born in Jones county, Ala., January 16. 1820, was married in Muscogee county. Ga., December 7, 1840. to Miss Hannah Pitts, and soon after this event came to Alabama and located in Macon (now Lee) county, four miles west of Auburn. He made his resi- dence in a one-roomed Indian log cabin. with no neighbors nearer than the town, and there resided until his death in 1880. He was an active worker in the Methodist church and Sunday school. was a chapter Mason, and worshipful master of the blue lodge at Loachapoka. Well informed on all subjects, and especially on biblical literature. he for a number of years taught school. and though no office seeker, frequently gave his aid to the democratic party by delivering speeches throughout the neighbor- hood in support of its principles. His father, Titus Wimberly. lived and died in Jones county. Ga. The Pitts family originally came from Ten- nessee. the father of Mrs. Hannah Wimberly having settled in Georgia at an early day; her mother was a native of Muscogee county. Ga., where Hannah was herself born. Of the eleven children born to L. T. and Hannah Wimberly. seven reached the years of maturity, as follows: H. T .. the sub- ject proper of this sketch: Mary E .. wife of T. L. Sanford, of Loacha- poka; T. P., of Auburn; W. N .. who died at the age of twenty-six years: L. T., a farmer at Loachapoka: Lucy A., wife of J. H. Webb, of the same place, and Frank, residing with Mr. H. T. Wimberly. The father of this family died August 28, 1880, and the mother March 17, 1885. H. T. Wim- berly was educated at the Military school at Auburn. In 1863 he enlisted in the Forty-sixth Alabama infantry, which was assigned to the western army, but, after some service, was honorably discharged for disability, caused by severe attacks of rheumatism. He is now most heavily engaged in planting, owning several plantations and a cotton-gin and mill. He has always been successful in his vocation and freely gives from his accu- mulations to the churches and schools. and is famous for his liberality. He is well posted in state and national politics, and is bitterly opposed to "boss-ism." December 7, 1882. Mr. Wimberly was happily married, at Opelika, to Miss Cornelia P. Ware. the accomplished and beautiful daugh- ter of James H. Ware. of Montgomery. and niece of United States Senator John T. Morgan, her mother's maiden name having been Octavia Willis. The Ware family are from Georgia originally, from which state Mrs. Wimberly's grandfather migrated to Montgomery county. Ala. There he bought land from the Tuckahachee Indians, on the Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers. stretching from two miles below Tallassee to a distance of twenty-five miles from that town. The father of Mrs. Wimberly was
reared on this plantation, twelve miles from Montgomery, and first mar- ried Mary Stokes. who bore him three children, two of whom are still living, viz. : Mrs. Anna W. Holmes, of Montgomery, and Wade, now liv- ing near Tallassee. Mrs. Ware having been called from earth, Mr. Ware
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married Octavia Willis, at Talladega, and to this union were born three children, one of whom died in infancy; the surviving two are Jimmie, now Mrs. Mack Wimberly, of Greenville, and Cornelia P., wife of H. T. Wimberly, as stated. James H. Ware died in 1867; his widow at present resides with Mrs. H. T. Wimberly. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Wimberly are three in number and are named Libbie H., Louis L., and Persia.
T. S. YOUNG, prominent business man of Columbus. Ga., and resident of Phnix City. Ala .. is a native of Georgia, born in the county of Upson on the seventh day of December, 1835. His father, Williamson B. Young, was born in Wilkes county, Ga., in the year 1810, moved to Phoenix City, Ala., in 1858, and departed this life in November, 1869, He was by occupation a carpenter, and is remembered as a most excellent citizen and prominent member of the Methodist church. He was married about the year 1834. in Upson county, Ga., to Winnie Ogletree. daughter of Thomas Ogletree, a veteran of the Indian war of 1836, and became the father of nine children. three of whom are living at this time, namely: T. S., Mary J. and A. O. Young. Sherwood Young, father of William- son B., was also a native of Georgia, born in Wilkes county, of Scotch- Irish parentage. The widow of Williamson B. Young is still living, a hale old lady of seventy-eight years, clear of intellect and remarkably sound of body for one of her age. T. S. Young was reared in Monroe county, Ga., on a farm, and began life for himself as a workman in a cotton-mill. in which capacity he continued three and a half years. Sub. sequently, he found employment as clerk in a store, and in May. 1862, enlisted in the Third Georgia cavalry. Within a short time after enlist- ment, he and about 200 others of the regiment, while on a raid near Haginsville. Ky., were captured and taken to Louisville, thence to Alton, Ill., where he was exchanged after four months' confinement. Rejoining his command in middle Tennessee, Mr. Young participated in a number of skirmishes, and in 1863 was transferred to company K. Forty-sixth Georgia infantry, with which he served in the Atlanta cam- paign and Hood's raid. His command surrendered in North Carolina, but he surrendered at Columbus, Ga., in April, 1865, being ill at the time of the surrender of his command, and, returning home. worked for some time at the carpenter's trade. and later became a member of the Columbus police force, the duties of which position he discharged for a period of three years. He next embarked in the mercantile business at Columbus, and has since been prominently identified with the commercial interests of the city. In his business ventures, Mr. Young has been quite sne- cessful and is now one of the large property owners of Columbus and Phonix City. his real estate in the two places being estimated at over $30,000. He was the first mayor of Phoenix, and has ever taken an active and prominent part in its welfare and improvements. Mr. Young was married October 14, 1550, to Beulah, daughter of Thomas and Ellen Wor-
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rell, to which union three children have been born, namely: Beulah May. Sherwood Magnus and Zada Winnie. Mr. Young's political affilia- tions are with the democratic party, and he is an active member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity.
LIMESTONE COUNTY.
CAPT. PORTER BIBB, one of the worthy citizens of Limestone county, Ala., and a grandson of ex-Gov. Thos Bibb, deceased, was born in 1838, a son of Porter and Mary P. (Betts) Bibb, both natives of this state. The father was a graduate of the university of Virginia. and was always a farmer. He was a son of ex-Gov. Bibb. and his wife Miss Permelia (Thompson) Bibb. both natives of Virginia, who came to Alabama about 1813. settled first in Madison county, Ala., and remained until 1818, when he bought in Limestone county about 2.560 acres of some of the finest land in Alabama. Here he opened up a large plantation. on which he remained till his death. He was one of the leading politicians of the state. and was president of the senate when his brother, William Bibb, was governor, and upon the death of William he became governor. In 1818. there was a combination of some capitalists to purchase all the lands in this section of the country, and, not being in the combination, his land was knocked down to him at $75 per acre, but he and others went before congress and had the price reduced. In 1826, he erected a fine, large brick house, which is in good state of preservation to-day, and is now occupied by Capt. Porter Bibb and known as the Belle Mina farm. He served in the legislature, and was a member of the constitutional con- vention. He was at one time the largest planter in the state of Alabama. Mrs. Mary P. Bibb, mother of Capt. P. Bibb, was a daughter of Elisha and Martha (Chambers) Betts. both natives of Virginia, who were early settlers in Alabama. Elisha was a captain in the war of 1812, and after the war he settled in Madison county, Ala .. in the woods and opened up a farm. Porter Bibb was reared on the farm where he now lives; he attended the common schools of the neighborhood. and attended Greene academy of Huntsville. In 1859, he began the study of law with Charles Kortrecht as preceptor in Memphis, Tenn., but in 1-60, the war came on and he gave up the law and entered the southern army and came home and organized a company and entered the army as first lieutenant in 1861, in company E, Fortieth Tennessee regiment, but when they offered their services the Alabama quota was full and they were rejected. The com- pany then proceeded to Memphis. Tenn., and was admitted in the Fortieth Tennessee regiment. They onlisted for twelve months. and when the time expired they were prisoners of war at Johnson's Island. remained in prison six months, and were then exchanged at Vicksburg. During his service in the field and in prison he was thrown in contact with Col. Alpheus Baker of Eufaula, Ala., and they became great friends-and
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upon their release Col. Baker received a commission from Senator Pugh as brigadier-general, and on the receipt of this commission he went to Capt. Bibb and said: "Here is something from Pugh," and stated what it was, and added, "I want you with me; I want you for brigade quarter- master." Here Capt. Bibb served till the close of the war. After the war he returned to Limestone county. and settled on the old Belle Mina farm, and since that time he has been engaged in farming. On coming home from the war, his father having died in the meantime, he had the estate to settle and has since remained in possession of the farm. In 1883 and 1954, he represented Limestone county in the Alabama legisla- ture. He is a notary public and ex-officio justice of the peace. In 1864, while in the war and a short time after he had been paroled in Marengo county, Ala., he met and married Amelia Bradley, daughter of Nathan and Amanda (Taliaferro) Bradley, who were early settlers of Alabama. Thirteen children were born to this union: eight still survive: Nathan B. and Mary P. (twins), Augusta K., Thomas P., Robert C., Benajah, William J. and Allen D. The mother was born in 1845, and raised in Marengo county, Ala. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a member of the Masonic order and K. of H. He is one of Limestone's best citizens, and he and family occupy a front rank in society.
S. M. CLAY. of Limestone county, Ala., was born October 13, 1844, in Simm's settlement. which afterward became the town of Elkmont. His parents were Samuel M. and Eliza (Henderson) Clay. The father was a native of Greenville county, N. C., and the mother from Abbeville dis- trict, S. C. The father was born October 19. 1787, died August 25, 1844; the mother was born June 1. 1816, and died March 1, 1886. The father came to Alabama in 1525, and settled near Elkmont. where he remained till his death. He built the first gin in Limestone county. Ala , and was also a stockholder in the bank of Decatur. when that bank failed in 1837, and S. M. Clay now has the clock that was used in the bank at that time. Samuel Mitchell Clay was a son of Samuel and Martha (Walls) Clay, both natives of Virginia. The grandfather was a close relation of Henry Clay. and was in the legislature several terms in North Carolina. Mrs. Eliza Clay was a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Grigby) Hen- derson. Her father was a native of Virginia and was a soldier in the war of 1-12: her mother was a native of Virginia, and came to Alabama in 1821. and settled on Piney creek. Limestone county. Thomas Hender son was a son of Nathaniel Henderson, who was a native of Virginia, and a soldier in the Revolutionary war. S. M. Clay was reared on the farm, received a good education and finished it at Danville. Ky. : this, however. was after the war. In March, 1962. he enlisted in company F, Ninth Ala- bama regiment, under Capt. Thomas B. Hobbs. and served till July 2, 1863, when he lost his left arm in battle. Gettysburg. Penn. After fin- ishing his schooling he returned to Alabama. In 1-66 he married
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Mary V. Daly, daughter of Thomas B. and Ann ( Abernathy) Daly. Her father was a native of Virginia and her mother was a native of Tennessee. Three children blessed their union, two living. William T. and Samuel N. The mother was born February 23, 1547, and died June 25, 1873, a mem- ' ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. On August 6, 1875, Mr. Clay married Clara P. Hartsell. daughter of J. W. and Eliza J. (Pettey) Hartsell. The father was a native of North Carolina, and the mother a native of Alabama. This union has resulted in the birth of five children -four still living, viz. : Francis H., Clara E., Pryor H. and Alice N. The mother was born in Madison county, Ala., August 12, 1854. and is an author, poet and composer of considerable local reputation. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. After mar- riage Mr. Clay farmed one year, then engaged in the mercantile business in Giles county, Tenn., and in 1872 removed his business to Limestone, county, Ala., continued it till 1873. when he returned to Tennessee and resumed farming for several years. He was engaged in teaching school, however, upon his return from the war, but was interrupted by. the Fed- eral soldiers. He then taught one year in Tennessee, and one year after he returned to Alabama. In 1888 he was elected county superintendent of education of Limestone county. and served one term, and is still a mem- ber of the board; he has also been the principal assistant postmaster at Elkmont. When the war was over he was left, like all others, without anything, but by close economy he has succeeded well and now owns 1,000 acres. Mr. Clay established the Elkmont Enterprise in 1890, and was the editor and proprietor of that paper one year, when he removed the same to Athens and consolidated with the Limestone Advertiser, a party democratic paper of which he was the editor and proprietor a short time, and then sold out on account of an attack of sciatica, which prostrated him.
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WM. N. HAYES, a prominent citizen of Limestone county, was born on August 17, 1839, in Lincoln county, Tenn., son of John N. and Mary J. ( Blake ) Hayes. The father was born in North Carolina in 1809 and came to Alabama with his parents in 1522. and settled in Madison county. Ala., and remained but a short time, when the family went to Tennessee, where John N. Hayes was reared. He was a son of Charles Hayes. The grand- father and grandmother ( Howze ) were natives of North Carolina. The maternal grandparents were John W. . and Mary ( Morgan ) Blake, who were natives of North Carolina and Virginia, whose parents came to America before the Revolution. Wm. N. Hayes was reared in Tennessee. received a good common school education, and spent two years at Cum- berland university Lebanon, Tenn. During the late war he acted for the Confederacy, as a telegraph operator. In 1863, he married Mary E. Hussey, daughter of E. M. and Mary A. ( Thach ) Hussey, and of the eight children born to them, six are living: William H .: Anna M., wife of C. E. Haile: John, Thomas, Helen B., and Baker. William H., married
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Minnie Lykes; John married Effie Townes. The mother of these children was born and reared in Mooresville, Ala. She is a member of the Christian church and he is a member of the Masonic order of the royal arch degree. In 1888, he was appointed solicitor of Limestone county by Judge James S. Clark, and served three years, and in 1888 he was elected state senator from the first district and served till 1992. In 1858, he began the study of law with Hon. Luke Pryor as preceptor, but before he completed his education, the war came on and stopped for the time his law study. After the war he returned to Athens, and began the practice of law and remained about twelve years, when he removed to the farm near Mooresville, where he now lives, and began farming. which he has since continued, and in 1886 he developed a valuable water power and engaged in cotton ginning and milling business and has since that time conducted a large business. He began life without a dollar, and the early part of his career was attended with great hardship. At one time he got behind while studying law and had to go to work at railroading to earn money to pay up his debts. He now owns 1.720 acres of very fine land near Mooresville, which is one of the best improved farms of the county. He is one of Limestone cuunty's best citizens.
DR. HENRY W. HILL, one of the old and prominent physicians of Limestone county. was born in Wilkes county, Ga .. January 9, 1827, a son of Abram and Clarissa (Callaway) Hill. The father was a native of North Carolina, born September 4. 1778. and died October 4. 1852. The mother was a native of Georgia, born January 5, 1790, was married December 4, 1806, and died December 26, 1855. These parents had eight children: Josiah W .. John M., Sarah A .. Albert G., William G., Abram M., Ely and H. W. ; of these children. the doctor is the only living representa- tive. The father was a son of Henry and Sarah ( Cotton) Hill-he, a native of Virginia. The grandfather was of Irish descent, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The grandmother was a native of North Carolina, of Scotch descent. Mrs. Clarissa Hill was a daughter of Joseph and Miss (Reagen) Callaway. both natives of Georgia. The maternal grandmother was a daughter of David Reagen, of North Carolina, who also was in the Pevolutionary struggle. Dr. Henry W. Hill was reared in Georgia, and received a good education at Brownwood university, at La Grange, and when he had passed through this school his father removed to Missis- sippi. In 1846. he began the study of medicine with Dr. A. B. Calhoun, as preceptor, and in the same year. he entered the South Carolina univer- sity at Charleston, and remained through 1846 and 1847. and in the spring of 1847 he entered the university of the city of New York, and graduated in medicine in 1-4. He first located for practice at Blackhawk, Miss., and remained in Mississippi, but at different points, until the war came on. In 1862 he enlisted. was with Gen. Chalmers, and served on his staff about six months, when he was taken sick and returned home, where he remained eight months, and then returned to the army as a surgeon of
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Col. Fisher's regiment until the close of the war. After hostilities ceased, he opened a drug business in Memphis, but only remained about one year, when he went to Texas, where he practiced two years, and while there had the yellow fever. He then came to Alabama, where he remained two years, then returned to Mississippi and remained rill 1873, when he went to Germantown, Tenn., where he remained till 1881, when he came to Mooresville. Ala., where he has since remained and now has a large practice. He is a member of the Masonic order, of the council degree, royal and select master. On July 12. 1-49, he married Mary E. Lipscomb, daughter of Baker and Almeda (Callaway, Lipscomb, Mrs. Hill was born in Georgia, January 10. 1833, but left the doctor a widower; and on March 27, 1855, he married Ann T. Hall. daughter of James and Elizabeth (Wood) Hall. This union has been favored with two children; one is living-James A .. who is also a practicing physician. The mother was, born in Mississippi, June 16, 1835, died October 25, 1:57, and on Febru- ary 25, 1859, the doctor married Mrs. Mary E. (Poitevent) Girault. She was also a native of Mississippi, born in February, 1-27, and died Novem- ber 14, 1885. All the wives were members of the Baptist church. He is also a member of the same church. His son, Dr. J. A .. was educated in medicine, first, at New Orleans, and graduated at Vanderbilt university, in Nashville. in 1884. He was born February 8 1856, and married Eliza- beth W. Woodroof, daughter of James and Harriet A. (Wright) Woodroof. This union was productive of tive children, two living-Anna Atwood and Henry W. Dr. J. A. Hill and wife are members of the Baptist church. He is a member of the K. of P. He has been in full partnership with his father since he began the practice.
GEORGE S. HOUSTON, of Limestone county, is a son of ex-Gov. George S. and Mary (Beatty) Houston. The father was born in Tennessee in 1809, received an elementary education at an academy in Lauderdale county, and entered a law office as a student. His law course was com- pleted at Harrodsburg, Ky., and he was admitted to the bar in 1831. In 1832 he was elected to represent Lauderdale county in the general a sem- bly of Alabama. He was laborious in his professional engagements. so that he was soon elected to the office of circuit solicitor. From this position he was elected to congress in 18:1. He then became generally known to the people of the state-that election under the general ticket system having been determined by a vote of the entire state. He was again elected in 1543 and 1845 and 1:47. but in 1849 he declined re-elec- tion and resumed his law practice. In 1851 he was again elected to con- gress and continued to hold his seat by ro-election until 1861, when he retired from the house in obedience to the will of the people of Alabama, as expressed in their ordinance of secession. In 1865 he was elected to the senate of the United States by the legislature of Alabama, but was was not admitted to his seat. In 1874 he was elected governor of Ala- bama and re-elected in 1:76. At the expiration of his first term he was
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again elected United States senator, but he had again been chosen gov- ernor, and the people would not consent to relieve him of the service until he had completed fully the wise course of policy he had inaugurated during his first term. At the end of his second term he was again elected United States senator. but death cut him off and and he died before he took his seat. While in congress he was chairman of the ways and means committee, chanman of the house committee on judiciary. He was one of Alabama's greatest sons. He was a son of David and Hannah (Reagan) Houston. both natives of Ireland. who came to America before the Revolutionary war and settled in Tennessee. where they raised a family of eleven children, and came to Alabama in 1813. George S. Houston's mother was born in Missouri and came to Alabama at an early day. George S. Houston received a liberal education. He attended school in Washington. D. C., and then attended a military school at Nash- ville, Tenn .. three years, but before he completed his course the war came on, and in 1863 he enlisted in Roddy's command and was a lieuten- ant in Roddy's escort. and served until the close of the war. After the war he returned to his old home in Alabama and settled on the farm. On January 6, 1870, he married Margaret Irvine, daughter of James and Emily (Boggs) Irvine. The father was a native of Ireland and the mother was a native of Pennsylvania. James Irvine became one of the prominent citizens and attorneys of Florence. Ala., and served in the leg- islature before and after the war. Mrs. Houston was born and reared in Lauderdale county. and is a member of the Presbyterian church. He and his wife are among the most prominent people of Limestone county.
HECTOR DAVIS LANE, commissioner of agriculture, was born in Hunts- ville, Ala., in 1852. and educated at the academy taught by Dr. Carlos B. Smith. Leaving school about 1572. he commenced to read law with his uncle, Nick Davis, and. in 1573, was admitted to the bar in Union county, Ill., whither he had gone in 1571. He then returned to Alabama in 1973, and formed a law partnership with his uncle. Nick Davis, in Huntsville, which continued until the fall of 1975. when he devoted himself to his agricultural interests, which still engage his attention. He was elected to the legislature from Limestone county in 1890. and served two years. In September. 1591. he was appointed commissioner of agriculture by Gov. Jones, and now holds that office. He is a Knight of Pythias. and a member of the farmers' alliance, and was the only man who voted against the St. Louis resolutions in 1838. Mr. Davis Lane was married in January, 1578, to Madge G. Mason. a daughter of Dr. Joseph G. Mason. of Giles county, Tenn .. and to them have been born three chil- dren, one son and two daughters. George W. Lane, father of Hector D., was born in Oglethorpe county, Ga., in 1806. He came to Alabama with his mother in 1815. who settled in Limestone county. where he lived until about 1850. and then moved to Huntsville, in Madison county, Ala. He was a lawyer, and was admitted to the bar in 1-26. He was elected pro-
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