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 51
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of schooling in the country schools. At eighteen he left home and fol- lowed clerking for eighteen months. and he then managed his grand- father's store and plantation three years. In April, 1847, he married Clara Powell, daughter of Seymour and Ursula M. Powell, both natives of Georgia, but who came to Alabama at an early day and settled in Lowndes county, where he died in 1834, and she in 1867. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and reared a large family. Mrs. Russell was born in Lowndes county, was the mother of nine chil- dren, and died in 1870. Four of her nine children are now living, viz. : Mattie L., widow of Henry L. Smith: Callie P .;. Bettie, wife of R. M. Williamson, and Josiah. The other five died young. In 1879 Mr. Russell married Mrs. M. E. Powell, nee Miller, who was born in Montgomery county, educated at Lowndesboro, after the death of her parents. Since January, 1848, Mr. Russell has lived on his present farm, and has followed farming all his life. In 1864 he was for a short time in the state militia. He served eight years as commissioner of the board of revenue, and in 1884 resigned. He was elected to the legislature, and served on the con- mittees on temperance, on public highways, and on other important com- mittees. He became a Mason during the war at Lowndesboro. His first wife was, and he and his present wife are, members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JOHN P. STREETY, general merchant and planter of Hayneville, Ala., was born in Bladen county, N. C., in 1820. He is a son of William and Anne Jane (Poynter) Streety, both natives of North Carolina, in which state they spent all of their lives, the former being for twenty-one years sheriff of his county, and holding that office at the time of his death. Argulas Poynter, the father of Mrs. Anne Jane Streety, died in North Carolina before John P. Streety was born. The latter was the youngest of six children, viz .: William T., who came to Butler county, Ala., at a very early day, and later went to Texas, where he died; Griffith J., who died in Florida: Bela, now of New York: Mis. Mary J. Rinaldi, Mrs. Lucy Smith, and John P. He was reared on a farm, and received but a limited education. At the age of thirteen he attended school at Fayette- ville, N. C., and in 1835 went with his brother-in-law, Mr. Rinaldi, to Apalachicola. Fla., and spent one year there as a clerk. He then came to Butler county, Ala., and spent one year in the office of his brother, who was circuit court clerk. He next removed to Lowndes county, and became a clerk in a drug store at Hayneville; and still later in a general store until 1841, when he engaged in mercantile business for himself, going to New York to purchase goods. where he was com- pelled to remain a few weeks until he should attain his majority in order that he might be able to make a legal transaction. For more than fifty years since then he has transacted business in the same place, with the exception of a few years during the war, and since 1844 he has carried on his business in the same building, and has never had any loss by fire.
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In 1846 he was married to Anna Marvin, daughter of Ebenezer Marvin, of New York, who came south at an early day. After residing in the south many years, he returned north and died in Canada Mrs. Streety was born in New York, and died June, 1852, leaving two children. Cynthia I., widow of Dr. J. P. Muskat, and John P., Jr., who died during the war. He was in what was called the Boy Command of Montgomery. One child died young. Mr. Streety was married April 22. 1854, to Ellen A., daugh- ter of Hugh and Mary McCall, both natives of North Carolina, but who came to Alabama, settling in Lowndes county in 1818, where they spent the rest of their lives. He was a farmer, and a justice' of the peace for many years. Mrs. Streety was born in Lowndes county, and is the mother of two children, one of whom died in infancy, and the other, Anne Mary, married W. R. Houghton, an attorney of Birmingham. She died young, leaving one child, Harry Streety Houghton. In the summer of 1863 Mr. Streety joined company D. Fifty-third Alabama mounted infantry, Hannon's regiment, and was in the office of the quartermaster of the regiment the remainder of the war This regiment operated in northern Alabama as a portion of Wheeler's cavalry, was in the Georgia campaign, and followed Sherman to South Carolina, where it was dis- banded in May, 1865, Mr. Streety returning home on horseback. During the war he was home twice on furlough, was never either wounded nor captured, nor was he ever sick nor in the hospital. He was always pres- ent at roll call. and always ready for duty. During the war his family lived in Montgomery, but after it was over they returned to Hayneville. Mr. Streety was appointed county commissioner by Gov. Houston, and served some years, the only office he ever held. He is the owner of sev- eral thousand acres of land individually, and the firm of J. P. Streety & Co. owns considerable land, and also one of the best and most complete modern cotton gins in the state. It is of the Munger system, 4-60 saw gins, Pratt's invention. Mr. Streety started with nothing, and through his own industry and untiring zeal, and superior business qualifications, has amassed a considerable fortune. He has passed through all the financial crises of the last fifty years, and, as he expresses it, "has never struck his colors," but has always paid 100 cents on the dollar of all his obligations. He is well known in the commercial world, and the credit of Streety & Co. stands very high. He is a most genial gen- ial gentleman, and is a member of the Missionary Baptist church, while his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church.
DR. CHARLES TALIAFERRO WEATHERLY, physician and druggist of Benton, was born near Atlanta. Ga., in 1852. He is a son of Dr. Job S. and Eliza G. (Taliaferro) Weatherly, the former born in Marlborough district, S. C., in 1828, and the latter near Atlanta, Ga., in 1833. Mr. Weatherly, Sr., was well educated. and graduated in medicine from the university of New York. He at once removed to Georgia, married near Atlanta, and in 1857 came to Montgomery county, Ala., where he con-
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tinued in active practice until his sudden death in July, 1891, after a successful career of nearly half a century. He stood high in his profes- sion, and was several times president of the State Medical association, and once vice-president of the American Medical association. He was in fact one of the most distinguished physicians of the entire south. He acted a prominent part in the late war, and all felt that in his death, Montgomery lost one of its best citizens. He was a Mason. and an Epis- copalian. He was a son of Job Weatherly, who was of Scotch parents, a farmer, and died in South Carolina when not more than of middle age. His death was caused by a wound received in the Mexican war. He had two sons and two daughters. His wife was a Scotch lady. and also died in South Carolina. Charles Taliaferro. the father of Mrs. Eliza G. Weatherly, was a native of Virginia, and removed to Georgia when a boy. He married there and spent the rest of his life there as a farnier, and as a cotton dealer the latter part of his life. He was a colonel in the Mexican war, was a self-made man, and became quite wealthy. His wife also died in Georgia. Both were members of the Methodist Episco- pal church. Mrs. Weatherly is still living. Dr. Weatherly is the eldest of a family of eight children, seven sons and one daughter. five of whom are living. He received his early education at Montgomery, and gradu- ated from the university of the South at Sewanee, Tenn .. in 1870. He then read medicine with his father, and in 1871 and 1872 he attended Louisville Medical college, the next year Charleston Medical college, and in 1874 graduated from Atlanta Medical college. He practiced with his father two years, when he went to his father's old home in South Caro- lina, and practiced there seven years. He then returned to Benton, where he has since followed his profession. He is a member of the State Medical association and of the Lowndes county Medical society. He is also a member of the board of censors, ranks high as a physician and is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church. One of his father's brothers, Thomas. was a prominent politician in South Carolina, held various minor offices, and during reconstruction days was a candidate on the democratic ticket for governor. Dr. Weatherly's brothers are as fol- lows: James M .. a prominent attorney of Birmingham, was educated at Montgomery and Sewanee university, and graduated in law at the uni- versity of Alabama: Frank G .. a druggist of Montgomery: Thaddeus L., of New Mexico, and George G., of Montgomery.
MACON COUNTY.
D. C. ARMSTRONG. the leading merchant of Notasulga. Macon county, Ala .. was born in 1841. in Walker county, Ga., and is a son of H. H. . and E. L. (Sloan) Armstrong, born respectively in Wilkes county, Ga., in 1810, and Edgefield district. S. C., in 1512. These parents were mar- ried in Walker county, Ga., and in 1543 came to Alabama. located in
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Macon county, and died in 1886, and 1888, members of the Missionary Baptist church. H. H. Armstrong was a gentleman of considerable ability, was at one time a member of the Georgia legislature from Wilkes county, was an advanced Mason, and a successful business man. His father, James Armstrong, was a native of Scotland, was a young man when he came to the United States, where he married, and held charge of a Baptist church at Savannah, Ga., but during the war of 1812, sought refuge in Wilkes county, where he died many years ago. The maternal grandfather of D. C. Armstrong was Adam Sloan, who died in South Carolina. The children of H. H. and E. L. (Sloan) Armstrong are nine in number and are named as follows: Mrs. T. P. Harvey, of Rome, Ga .; James, of Main City, Mo .; Col. H. Clay. a prominent citizen of Auburn, Ala. During the late war he was on Gen. Ross's staff, later was state superintendent of education. was once a member of the state house of representatives. and under President Cleveland was United States consul to Rio Janeiro; he is also one of the leading Masons of the state, being past grand master of the grand lodge. and past grand high priest of the chapter. D. C. Armstrong is the fourth born in the family; the fifth is Mrs. E. Dellridge; the sixth, A. S., deceased, was with Gen. Ross during the war; the seventh is also deceased, and was named R. D .; the eighth is Mrs. Corrie Reese, of Rome, Ga., and the ninth and youngest is R. T., of the same city. D. C. Armstrong was educated at Notasulga, at Ervin college. Tenn., and at Rome, Ga. In 1861 he joined company B, Sixth Alabama reserves, in which he remained until after the first battle of Manassas; he then went to the front and took part in the fight of Seven Pines, and following this, in nearly all the engagements of the Virginia campaign, including Antietam and Gettysburg. At the last-named place he was severely wounded and captured, and for three months was unable to turn over. After being confined in Baltimore for a time. he was released, and went to Texas, where he passed four years in the hide and wool business. He then returned to Alabama, and engaged in merchandis- ing at Loachapoka. in Lee county, for a few years, and thence went to Florida, where he passed four years. and finally settled in Notasulga, his present place of residence, where he is doing a successful business, and also has considerable farming interests. His nuptials took place in 1872, with Miss Susie R., daughter of Maj. H. E. J. Harris, now a resi- dent of Georgia. Mrs. Armstrong is a native of Stewart county, Ga., and in religion is a Methodist. Mr. Armstrong is a member of Loacha- poka lodge, F. & A. M .. and has served as its worshipful master.
GEORGE W. CAMPBELL, senior member of the firm of Campbell & Wright, bankers and merchants of Tuskegee, Macon county, Ala., and the oldest firm in the state, was born in Montgomery county. Ala., in 1×28. a son of Moses and Macy (Gatlin) Campbell, natives of Mecklen- burg, N. C., and Warren county, Ga. Moses Campbell went to .Georgia when a young man, was married there, and in 1818 came to Alabama, and
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located in Montgomery county, where he improved a farm, resided for some years, and then moved to Macon county, and for a while was engaged in merchandising in the western part. In 1836, he was elected circuit clerk of Macon, being the second person to fill the office, and for twelve years was county tax collector. He located in Tuskegee in 1837. and died in 1858, at the age of seventy-seven years. In 1836-7 he performed active service in the Indian war, although he had always been on friendly terms with the savages. His father was a Scotchman, was a Revolutionary soldier, and died in North Carolina, leaving two sons, Moses and George. Mrs. Macy Campbell died in Tuskegee in 1888, aged eighty-eight years. she was a daughter of Jephtha Gatlin, who was for many years a farmer in Butler county, Ala., but who died in Florida, in 1874. at the advanced age of nearly one hundred years. George W. Campbell, the only child. born to his parents. was educated at Tuskegee, where, at the early age of fourteen years, in 1843, he began his business career as a clerk, and so continued until 1849, when he engaged in merchandising on his own account. In 1952, the firm of Campbell & Wright was formed, and has proven to be one of the most successful in the state. Merchandising engaged their .attention almost exclusively. until 1871, when, together with Mr. E. T. Varner, still living, they constructed the railroad from Tuskegee to Chehaw, on the Western railroad of Alabama, a distance of about six miles. This road they have equipped and operated with success ever since. In 1882 they established the only bank in the county, which has also proven to be a great success. In December, 1851, Mr. Campbell married Miss Eliza Jane, daughter of John and Elizabeth Wright. Mr. Wright, a native of Lincoln county, Ga., came to Alabama in 1847, located first in Macon county, and later moved to what is now Bullock county. where he died in 1864. Mrs. Campbell was born in Lincoln county, Ga., and died in May, 1892, at the age of fifty-eight years, a sincere member of the Baptist church. Her eight children were born and named in the following order: John W .. a banker of Mountain Home, Idaho; Macy E., wife of W. G. Swanson, of Abilene, Tex .; Pauline. now Mrs. L. W. Mizell, of Atlanta, Ga .; Lucerne E., married to Judge D. G. Hill, of Texas; George Lee. banker, of Columbia, Ala. ; Moses G., of the Atlanta Medical college; William W., a civil engineer. and Flora, widow of Dr. W. J. Gautier. These children are all temperate. moral, and members of the Baptist church. Mr. Campbell is a member of Tuskegee lodge, No. 57, F. & A. M., and for many years has been an energetic worker in the Baptist church. He began life with no capital save a sterling capacity for business. but has acquired a fortune and stands among the highest in the financial cireles of central Alabama.
JAMES EDWARD COBB .-- James Edward Cobb was born in Thomaston, Ga., October 5, 1835, and was educated at the schools there until he reached the age of nineteen. He then entered the junior class of Emory college at Oxford, Ga., and was graduated in the summer of 1856. He
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then taught school at Ford Valley, Ga., at a large female school. study- ing law at the same time. He returned to Thomaston, Ga., and went to reading law with Hon. Thomas W. Goode, and was admitted to the bar at Zebulon, Ga .. in November. 1557. He left soon after for Texas, locating first at Quitman. Tex., and there began to teach school being without means, and after four months' teaching opened a law office. A year later he moved to Henderson, Tex., and opened a law office and practiced law until 1860, when the town was burned. Mr. Cobb lost by this fire his library and his clothing. His loss was a great blow to his advancement. He then went to Galveston, Tex., but not finding an opening there went to Liberty, Tex., where he engaged in teaching. While out looking for a place in which to locate, he walked 200 miles from Henderson to Beaumont. He taught school at Liberty until Texas seceded, when he joined a company, which afterward became company F. of the Fifth Texas volunteers, of the army of northern Virginia. Mr. Cobb joined as a private, but on the organization of the company was made second lieuten- ant, and served as such until early in 1862. when he was made first lieutenant, and served as such up to the battle of Gettysburg. In that fight he was captured, and was taken to Fort McHenry near Baltimore. thence to Fort Delaware, and a month later to Johnson's Island, where he remained until February, 1863. He was then taken to Point Lookout to be exchanged, but was not exchanged. and a month or two later with 600 others, was taken down to Charleston Harbor to be placed before the Federal batteries. He was not so exposed, retaliation being threatened. Six weeks later, he was taken to Fort Pulaski, and thence back to Fort Delaware, and was not released from there until Gen. Lee surrendered. Mr. Cobb was in the following battles: Gaines Farm and Malvern Hill. When Mcclellan was being pressed back in the swamps of the Chicka- hominy, Mr. Cobb took chills and ague, and was furloughed, returning in time to join his command at Sharpsburg on the battle field: then he was next in the battle of Fredericksburg February 11, and 12, then on with Gen. Lee to Pennsylvania, then to Gettysburg, where he was captured, at Round Top on the second day of the fight. After the war, he returned to Thomaston, Ga., and after resting a little while he went to his present home, Tuskegee. Ala., where he opened a law office, going into partner- ship with Gen. George W. Gunn in the practice of law. This partnership continued from December, 1865, to October, 1867, when he dissolved the partnership and opened an office alone. After practicing alone sometime, he formed a partnership with Hon. Robert F. Ligon. afterward lieutenant- governor of Alabama, and the partnership continued until November, 1874, when his partner was elected lieutenant-governor and Mr. Cobb him- self was elected judge of the ninth judicial cureuit, comprising at that time Macon. Tallapoosa, Chambers. Lee and Russell counties. He served six years (one term) and shortly before the general election of 1980, his circuit was made the fifth circuit, composed of Macon. Tallapoosa and
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Chambers of the old circuit, to which was added Elmore, Autauga, Chil- ton, Bibb, Coosa and Randolph, and he was elected judge of the new circuit. He served six years. In the summer of 1886, he was elected for the third time, without opposition, receiving all the votes cast by both parties. Before qualifying as judge. he was, in September, 1886, nomi- nated for congress by the democrats to represent the fifth congressional district. He at once resigned the office of judge, and made the race, was elected and served in the fifthieth congress. He was re-elected to the fifty-first, to the fifty-second and the fifty-third congresses. His record in congress has been a brilliant and useful one. Judge Cobb was married October 24, 1867, to Miss Caroline E. Hunter, daughter of Dr. James W. Hunter of Tuskegee, Ala., and to them were born seven children, of whom six now survive. Judge Cobb's father, William A. Cobb, was born in Columbia county, Ga., in 1798, and his mother was .Jane MacMurphy, a native of Augusta, Ga. William A. Cobb served in the Indian war of 1836, in Florida. He was for thirty years elected to the office of ordinary of Upson county, Ga., where had moved soon after his marriage, about 1824. He finally settled in Thomaston, Ga., and engaged in business there. He held the office of ordinary at his death in 1877.
THOMAS C. DRAKEFORD. of the firm of T. C. Drakeford & Co., general merchants, Tuskegee, Ala., was born in Kershaw district, S. C., in 1833, and is a son of John and Sarah A. (Carlos) Drakeford. natives of South Carolina, and born respectively in 1799 and 1812. In 1836 the family came to Alabama, located at Montgomery, moved to Tuskegee the next year, remained a year or two, went back to Montgomery for another year, and finally settled in Tuskegee, where Mr. Drakeford died in 1858, and Mrs. Drakeford in 1859-he a member of the Missionary Baptist church, and she of the Christian church. While in South Carolina, Mr. John Drakeford had followed farming. but on coming to Alabama engaged in merchandising, which occupied his attention until his retirement to private life, a short time before his death. The Drakeford family are of English descent: the Carlos family are of Spanish extraction; and both reached America long before the Revolutionary war freed the country from the control of England. William Drakeford. a brother of John' Drakeford, father of the John named above, held the rank of colonel in patriot army. William C. Carlos, the maternal grandfather of Thomas C. Drakeford, was a farmer, and died in Montgomery county many years ago. Thomas C. Drakeford was the second born in a family of six sons and three daughters. Of these, William H. was a member of company A. Third Alabama infantry, and was in all probability killed at Gettysburg, as he was never seen or heard of after that great battle. Thomas C. was educated at Tuskegee, and at the age of eighteen years engaged as a clerk in mercantile business, which has occupied his attention ever since, he being now the oldest and most successful merchant in the. county. having begun on his own account after the accumulation of a few hundred
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dollars. saved from his salary as clerk. He has also invested somewhat in real estate, which he rents. The . marriage of Mr. Drakeford was solemnized November 15, 1870. with Mys. S. C. Dryer. daughter of Ben- jamin Dryer, a North Carolinian, but an early settler in Montgomery county, Ala. This lady was born in Montgomery county, and is the mother of four sons. Thomas and Benjamin Dryer, by her first husband, and John H. and William C. by her second husband. Mr. Drakeford has had his experience as a soldier, having early in 1862 joined a company of partisan rangers, which was subsequently attached to the Fifty-sixth Alabama regiment of cavalry, and was known as company A. He saw service in northern Mississippi. Alabama and Georgia. and in North and South Carolina, and served until the close of the war, being near Greens- boro, N. C., at the surrender. To the marriage of John and Sarah A. Drakeford were born the following children: May A., wife of W. L. Benham, West Point, Ga .; Thomas C., whose name heads this sketch: John S., present tax collector of Macon county, Ala .; Elizabeth, married to T. J. Calhoun, of Montgomery, Ala .: Paul, Alexander H., business partner of Thomas C .; Sallie, wife of George Sandusky, of Kentucky, and Rich P., who died in infancy.
JUDGE WILLIAM H. HURT was born in Macon county, Ala., in 1846, the only son of Elisha Fletcher and Amanda A. (Marshall) Hurt, natives of Putnam county and Talbot county, Ga. E. F. Hurt was a boy when brought by his parents to Russell county, Ala., where he received a com- mon school education, and grew to manhood. Returning to Georgia, after reaching his majority, he married Miss Marshall, in Talbot county, and then located in Macon county, Ala., where he died in the prime of life, when Judge Hurt was but an infant. He had won for himself the reputation of being a skillful and progressive farmer, and an upright citi- zen. He was one of the large family of Henry Hurt, who was probably of English descent, and who came from Georgia to Russell county, Ala., at a very early day in the history of the state. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Amanda A. Hurt was married to James T. Burt, and died in Lee county, Ala., about 1880. She was a daughter of Hon. William B. Marshall, of Talbot county, Ga., a man of much prominence, who had been a member of the state legislature, and of the secession convention of 1861. By vocation, he was a farmer and mechanic. William H. Hurt was reared a farmer boy, and at the early age of fifteen, in 1861, joined company C. Fifteenth Alabama infantry, and took part in many of the hardest fought battles of Virginia. including Winchester, Port Republic. seven days around Richmond. Cross Keys, second Manassas, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, where he was cap- tured July 2, 1863, and confined in Fort Delaware until June. 1865, nearly two years. He served as orderly-sergeant of his company during a por- tion of his term of service, and was once slightly wounded. On his return home, he attended school a short time, and then engaged in farm-
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