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 2 > Part 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
:
1
785
PERSONAL MEMOIRS-PERRY COUNTY.
in North Carolina, and his widow married William L. Davidson, a son of Gen. William Davidson, of North Carolina, and of Revolutionary fame, and after whom Davidson college, was named. William L. Davidson, brought Mrs. Houston as his wife to Alabama in which state she lived until her death. Dr. James H. Houston was reared in North Carolina, and graduated from Davidson college in 1845, and graduated in medicine from the University of Pennsylvania in 1848. In 1832, he married Miss Mary Jane, daughter of Absey Simonton, of Stubsville, who married a daughter of Gen. Falls. His father was killed at the battle of Ramsour's Mills in the Revolutionary war. Dr. Houston has in his possession a sword worn by this old Revo- lutionary soldier. Dr. Houston came to Alabama in 1856, and has since resided at Uuiontown. He went into the war in 1863, and was a surgeon from that time until the close of the war, in the Confederate army. Resuming the practice of medicine at Uniontown, after the close of the' war, he has continued an active and successful practitioner till the pres- ent day. He is a member of the State Medical association, and of the Perry county Medical society, and is a member of the board of censors of the county. In 1873-74 he was superintendent of education of the county of Perry. He was a reconstructionist during the troubles over recon- struction, and believing the policy of the republican party was best for the country, in the new and changed condition of things, he identified himself with the national republican party, and has ever since acted with that party. He has a son, Robert Lee Houston, who is postmaster at Bir- mingham. His daughter, Lulu, is the wife of C. A. Tyrell, a druggist of Uniontown, and present mayor of the city. Another daughter, Isabella, ยท is single and living at home. Dr. Houston has a large farm near Union- town, and superintends its management. The family is in part Presby- terian and in part Methodist.
COL. BENJAMIN M. HUEY .- Chief among the legal practitioners of Marion, Perry county, Ala., may be found the name of Benjamin M. Huey, a native of Talladega county, born June 15, 1840. His father, Gen. James G. L. Huey, was born in Lancaster district, S. C., June 28, 1813, and was a son of Hon. Alexander B. Huey, of Huguenot descent, a native of South Carolina and an early settler of Harris county, Ga. James G. L. Huey came to Alabama about the year 1833 and settled in Talladega county, where he devoted his life to the varied vocations of banker, broker, merchant and planter. He married, for his first wife, Miss Vir- ginia V. Maclin, a native of Virginia, of English descent. Mrs. Huey's mother was a Miss Mason of Virginia, and was a cousin of Hon. James M. Mason, of Virginia, who was captured on the high seas while on his way as an embassador for the Confederate States to England during the Civil war, and also of Hon. John Y. Mason, of Virginia, who was secretary of the navy in President Harrison's cabinet in 1843-44. Her father, Ben- jamin Maclin, was a wealthy and influential planter, residing near Peters- burg, Va. Mrs. Huey bore her husband five sons and two daughters, all
786
MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
of whom are deceased except a daughter and the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. Benjamin Maclin Huey was educated at Emory college, Ga., where he reached the senior class, but was graduated from the Southern university of Greensboro, Ala., July 4, 1860. In June, 1861, he was mustered in as a sergeant of company E, Tenth Alabama regiment, was commissioned second lieutenant for gallantry and meritorious conduct on the battle field of Williamsburg, Va., and assigned to the regular army of the Confederate states; and placed on post duty in Talladega, his own home, though this was unintentional on the part of the commander. While stationed here he married June 9, 1863, Miss Sallie E., daughter of Capt. Edwin King, of Perry county-a planter. of high social standing, wealth and influence. In the early summer of 1864, Lieut. Huey became impatient of post duty, and desirous of taking a more active part in the war, he was permitted to raise a company of infantry in Talladega, of which he was commissioned captain. The company was ordered to Mobile, and was there captured by Farragut's forces. At this time, how- ever, Capt. Huey was at home on furlough and beside the sick-bed of his wife. He then reported to the war department, and was again assigned to post duty at Talladega, where he remained until the close of the war. He then changed his residence to Marion, where he was prepared for the practice of the law under such preceptors as ex-Gov. A. D. More and Hon, William M. Brooks, and in the spring of 1866 was admitted to the bar. Since that time, with the exception of the years 1869-70-71, which he passed on his plantation in Perry county, he has been constantly and actively engaged in practice at Marion. He has been active as a member of the democratic party, and served one term as mayor of Marion, and one term in the lower house and one term in the senate of the state legislature, declining nominations for second terms in each. He was on the staff of Gov. Seay as colonel of cavalry during his four years' term as governor of Alabama; he is a Knight Tempiar, a past-grand chancellor of the K. of P. of the state of Alabama. and a trustee of the Marion Female seminary, having been quite influential, while in the legislature in securing the passage of an act making Marion a school district. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both lend willing help to its works and charities. Of his four sons and four daughters, the eldest of either sex is married.
P. T. HURT, one of the oldest citizens of Marion, Perry county, Ala., was born in Campbell county, Va., February 26, 1816. His father, Har- rison H. Hurt, was also a native of Virginia, of Scotch-Irish descent. He came to Alabama about the year 1827, locating first in Limestone county, and then removing to Jackson county, where he ended his days, having followed agriculture as his life occupation. He had been twice married, his first wife having been Sarah Smith, of Virginia, who bore him eleven children, of whom P. T. Hurt was sixth in order of birth. . For his second wife, he chose a lady named Watkins, who bore him four
1
787
PERSONAL MEMOIRS-PERRY COUNTY.
children. P. T. Hurt was but a small boy when brought by his parents from Virginia to Alabama, via Knoxville, Tenn. He was reared on a farm, and received a fair education at the old-field schools, and this was supplemented by business experience, and through the medium of books and papers and other avenues within his reach. About the year 1835, he became a clerk at Triana, Madison county, Ala., in the store of Col. Ed. Toney, with whom he remained two years, and then held a clerkship at another point for a year. Returning to Triana with a partner, he began merchandising in a limited capacity, meeting with moderate success. October 25, 1846, he settled in Marion, and with a brother, I. S. Hurt, established the firm of Hurt & Bro. For the past thirty years, however, he has been in business at Marion on his own account, although, for a while, during this period, he had business interests with a planter at Selma; but these have been discontinued. Success has always attended his business ventures in Marion, and he has not only secured a com- petency, but he has gained and held a name as an honest, frank, and thorough business man. At times he has been interested in planting, and he has now considerable landed property. Necessarily his mer- cantile trade has been vast in volume. He has visited New York city thirty-three times for the purchase of goods, having always given this feature of his business his personal attention. His career as a merchant thus extends over a period of fifty years, and it is but proper that he has met with a just reward. Mr. Hurt has never aspired to public office, although he has accepted a few positions of honor and trust at the solici- tation of his many friends, having served two terms as county commis- sioner, and over twenty-five years a member of the Marion city council. Mr. Hurt has been twice married-first, in 1850, to Miss Martha A. Eng- land, of Tennessee, who bore him several children, a son and a daughter being the survivors. In 1867, he took for his second wife Miss Jennie Marshall, and this union has been blessed with the birth of two children -a son and a daughter. Mr. Hurt has been a member of the Christian church since 1843, and has always lived up to its teachings. He has never taken part in party politics, simply as a party man; but as a citi- zen who has felt it to be his duty to serve in office when circumstances seemed to demand such service. He was first a whig, but is a democrat in principle.
t
1
WILLIAM BENNETT JEFFRIES, M. D .- This successful practitioner of medicine and surgery at Marion, Perry county, Ala., was born in Cum- berland county, Va., July 16. 1851. His parents were John B. and Martha Louisa (McLarine) Jeffries, both natives of Virginia -the former of Scotch extraction, while the father of the latter was a native of Eng- land. John B. Jeffries was a farmer and died in his native state. the father of eight children, of whom the doctor is the youngest. At the age of twenty-one, the latter went to Scottsville, Albemarle county, Va .; and entered the drug store of V. B. Jeffries, and later, under his brother,
1
788
MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA,
J. M. Jeffries, of Albemarle, Va., he studied medicine, and then entered the Washington university, at Baltimore, graduated in 1875, having saved the means to pay for his tuition from bis salary as drug clerk. He began practice at Scottsville, Va., and in 1876, came to Perryville, Perry county, where he met with much success, and remained until the fall of 1890, when he removed to Marion, where he has rapidly risen to profes- sional prominence, and is now president of the Medical board of Perry county, also censor of the county, and since his arrival in the state he has been a member of the Alabama state Medical society, besides being a Knight of Pythias. He is strictly a self-made man, and is a prosperous one. He has been twice married, his first wife having been a Miss Carrie Wood, of Virginia; for his second wife he married Miss Sallie Walker Hudson, of Alabama, who has borne him eight children, whom he is rear- ing to moral lives, he being a member of the Methodist church.
JUDGE PORTER KING .- In every generation there arise those who tower above their fellows in intelligence and force of character; men who draw to themselves that deference which mankind naturally yield to their superiors; men whose wisdom guides, whose sagacity discerns; those born to take their place among men as leaders. Of such was the late Judge Porter King, whose name forms the caption of this biographi cal mention. This distinguished man-for such he was, more for his purity of character, devotion to principle, and useful career, than for noise, and impetuosity-was born in Perry county, Ala., April 30, 1824. Before entering into a review of this remarkable man's brilliant and use- ful career, mention of his father; Gen. Edwin D. King, may appropri- ately be made.' Gen. King was a son of an officer in the Revolutionary war, who was a wealthy and influential planter in Greene county, Ga., the county in which Gen. Edwin D. King was born, in 1793. The latter grew to man's estate in this county, and, marrying a Miss Hunter, also a native of the same county with himself, he came to Alabama with his young wife in 1816. He settled in, and continued his home in Perry county, till January, 1862, when, in his seventieth year, death ended his useful career. He devoted his life to the honorable pursuit of the planter, and amassed a large estate; indeed, it has been recorded that but two other Alabama planters were as wealthy as he. Early in life he became a communicant in the Baptist church, and for years gave largely of his means and energy to the propagation of the doctrines of that denomina- tion. He no less eagerly espoused the cause of education, and will long be held in affectionate remembrance as one of the most influential and enthusiastic founders of both the Judson Female institute, and How- ard college. at Marion, the latter institution now being at Birmingham, Ala. Not only did the church and school receive largely of his means and zeal, but charity, as well, found in him a great benefactor. His first wife bore him two sons, and died in 1852, having greatly aided her hus- band in his acts of charity and benevolence Both of these sons are
-
789
PERSONAL MEMOIRS-PERRY COUNTY.
deceased. William, was prominent as a planter, and the name of the other son introduces this personal mention. Gen. King gained his title of general by promotion to the rank of major-general of militia. He had participated in the war of 1812, as a major, and with Gen. Jackson fought in the battle of New Orleans in 1815. The late lamented Judge Porter King, of Marion, Ala., graduated at the age of eighteen years from the university of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, and then spent one and a half years at the Brown university of Rhode Island. Inclination led him to the study of law, a profession suited to his character of mind and ardor of temperament and affording a field for the application of the thorough and general education he had obtained. He therefore began his legal studies under Col. Thomas Chilton, at Marion, and was admitted to the bar in 1845; a year or two later becoming interested in politics he was elected to the legislature, in which he served one term. At the , earnest solicitation of his wife, he abandoned politics to recuperate his private fortune. After spending two years on his plantation he returned to Marion and resumed the practice of law. In 1850 he was elected judge of the circuit court, and in this capacity continued to serve until the out- break of the war between the states. In the early part of 1861, while presiding over the Bibb county circuit court, he received notice that at his home a volunteer company for the war was being formed, mostly of Howard college students. Prompted by patriotic ardor he tendered the grand jury his resignation, and, returning to Marion, was made captain of the company known as the "Marion Light infantry." The company became a part of the Fourth Alabama regiment, and Judge King, as cap- tain, commanded the company for one year. At the first battle of Man- assas it was to Capt. King that Gen. Bee said: "Come, go with me yon- der, where Jackson stands like a stone wall," the sentence that gave the sobriquet "Stonewall" Jackson to that great soldier. After a year and a half's service he was recalled to his post of circuit judge to clear the jails of the many criminals who had been arrested in the meantime, and to dispatch the regular business of the court. Feeling that his duties and responsibilities on the bench were no less imperative than those on the field, he continued on the circuit court bench till the military gov- ernor, Parsons, discontinued him in the office. He now found it neces- sary to give. his attention to the three large plantations he owned, and from which the negroes had all been freed. To his planting and other financial interests he continued thereafter to give his attention. How- ever, in 1877, he was appointed judge of probate, but two years later resigned this position that he might return to a more active life of out- of-doors exercise, requisite because of a trouble akin to apoplexy, or rush of blood to the head. Judge King as a financier was unrivaled, and he had many financial interests. He was a director in the Central City Insurance company, and the Commercial bank of Selma, and was instru- mental in the construction of the Selma, Marion & Memphis R. R., of
1
790
MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA
which he was president until succeeded by Gen. Forrest. As a planter he was a success, and, though many were his varied business interests, he found time to aid in behalf of church and education. He was for twenty years president of the board of trustees of Judson Female insti- tute, succeeding his father in this position. To him was due the pro- . jection and completion of the large Baptist college building at Florence, Ala. For twenty years he was a member of the board of trustees of Howard college; and the last public position of trust he occupied was that of vice president and treasurer of the Educational, Land and Develop- ment company of Florence, Ala. He was a member of Siloam Baptist church, its leading deacon and superintendent of its Sunday school for twenty years or more. His piety was frank, generous and sincere, with- out ostentation. He was a lover of little children, who returned his affections with guileless confidence and trust. His home was the abode of christian hospitality and his hand and heart were "open as the day to melting charity." To chicanery, duplicity or unprincipled evasions in doctrine or duty, his heart was a stranger. He delighted to succor the sorrowful and distressed, and threw the mantle of sweet charity over the faults and fallings of his fellow-men. His wise and prudent counsels prevailed to compose many personal difficulties that might otherwise have had very serious terminations. He loved the church, and this christian love and faith not only sustained him throughout life, but gave peace an comfort to him in the hour of death, which came to him Janu- ary 3, 1890, while at the city of Atlanta. Ga., where he had been under medical treatment. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Margaret Irwin, daughter of Col. Irwin of Greensboro, Ala. ; she died one year after marriage, and in 1852 he married Miss Callie M. Lumpkin, daughter of Chief Justice Lumpkin of Georgia. She survives him, and by him had eight children, of whom but three are living, viz. : Joe H., Porter and Tom Cobb King. This distinguished citizen was no less honored as a jurist than beloved as a faithful friend, devoted husband and loving father. Among men of his profession he was esteemed as a man of learning and thorough knowledge of the principles of law and justice. He was no less ableas an advocate, and at the bar he was a for- midable opponent. As a speaker he was clear, logical and forcible. He was an honor to his profession, a public benefactor, and a great loss to the cause of education. His name was known and respected throughout the broad domain of his native state, in which he ever took pride as a loyal citizen. He was beloved by many, and long will he be remembered and held in affectionate remembrance as a cultured gentleman, learned scholar, profound jurist, courageous soldier, and above all a noble christian man.
-
JOHN M. LANGHORNE, JR., druggist of Uniontown, Ala., is the son of John F. Langhorne, M. D., practicing physician of the same place. John M. Langhorne, M. D., was born in 1817, in Bedford county, Va., and was
I
791
. PERSONAL MEMOIRS-PERRY COUNTY.
reared in that county. His parents were William and Catherine (Callo- way) Langhorne, who were married in Virginia and always lived in that state. They had two sons and three daughters. John M. Langhorne, M. D., was educated at the Randolph-Macon college at Atlanta, Va., graduated in 1837. He graduated from the university of Pennsylvania in 1845, and soon afterward removed to Alabama, locating in Uniontown, where he has since continued in the active practice of his chosen profes- sion, in which he takes high rank as a physician and surgeon. He is a member of the state Medical association and of the Perry county Medical society. When yet a young man he married Lucy Lea, by whom he has had five children, of one of whom, John M. Langhorne, Jr., mention is here made. He was born in Uniontown, March 31, 1860, and graduated in 1882 from the Agricultural and Mechanical college at Auburn, Ala. After graduating he held a clerical position at Uniontown up to 1889, ,in which year he commenced business as a druggist in Uniontown, in which business he still continues and in which he has a bright prospect of future success. Mr. Langhorne, like his parents, is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and is properly classed among the representative and progress ive citizens of the county.
JAMES A. MOORE, president of the Marion Central bank, was born near West Point, Clay county, Miss., December 10, 1839. His father, Thomas W. B. Moore, was a son of Capt. Charles Moore, a pioneer of Perry county, Ala. He was a brother of Andrew Barry Moore, twice governor of Alabama, who has gone down to history of the state as a man of distinction, and as one of superior endowment, and a leader among men, was born in Spartanburg district, S. C., Marchi 7. 1807. His father was Capt. Charles Moore, who came to Alabama in about 1823 or 1824, set- tling in Perry county, where he afterward lived, and died at the age of seventy-nine years. He was a son of Robert Moore, a Scotch-Irishman, born in Ireland, but who, on coming to America, settled in Chester county, Penn., whence with others he emigrated, in 1769, to the Carolinas. He settled in Spartanburg district, S. C. and there live and died. He had several sons, among whom there were two, Thomas and Charles Moore, who when mere youths participated in the Revolutionary war, and fought in the battle of Cowpens; they also participated in the war of 1812, the former rising to the rank of general and the latter a captain. Gen. Thomas Moore served in congress from South Carolina, from 1810 to 1812, and after the war of 1812 closed, he was, in 1816, again elected to congress and died while a member of the same, a few years later. Capt. Charles Moore left South Carolina and came to Alabama, as we have already observed, in about 1823 or 1824. Capt. Charles Moore married Miss Jane Barry, who was a cousin of Postmaster-General Barry, of Ken- tucky. She was born in Spartanburg district, and bore her husband eight children, as follows: Thomas W. B. Moore, of whose son, James A.
1
-
792
MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA
.
Moore, mention is made elsewhere in these pages; Mary Moore was wedded by the late Capt. James G. Evins. who was a prominent planter and citizen of Perry County, Ala. He was a native of South Carolina, and came to Alabama about 1826. To himself and wife were born seven sons and two daughters. He died in 1892 at the advanced age of eighty-four years, while she died in 1865; Andrew Barry Moore was the second son of Capt. Charles Moore. Charles Hamilton Moore married Miss Eliza Billingsly who had by him four sons and two daugh- ters. But he and wife are deceased, and Adline Moore and Caro- line Moore died without issue. Juliet Moore was wedded by Dr. Robert Foster, a native of South Carolina, who was a prominent physician of Perry county, Ala. By him Juliet had five daughters and one son. Alfred Moore, who died in early life, married a Miss Hannah, who bore him two children, a son and daughter, now living. Andrew Barry Moore as a well educated young man of less than twenty years, came on business to Perry county, Ala., in 1826; being induced to take a school in that county, he taught school for two years. Predilection led him to the study of law, a profession well suited to his character of mind ard ardor of temperament. He studied law at Marion under the guidance of Messrs. Elisha Young and Sidney M. Goode, and in 1833 was enrolled as an attorney-at-law. After serving in his first public office, that of jus- tice of the peace, for eight years, he was in 1839, elected to the state leg- islature and in 1842 was again elected, and for four consecutive terms thereafter was in the legislature. He was chosen speaker of the house in 1843 and again in 1845. In 1848 he was an elector for Cass and Butler. In 1852 he was elected judge of the circuit court of his district, and on the bench of the circuit court he continued till 1857, when he resigned the judge- ship to become the nominee of the democratic party for governor, to which position he was elected without opposition. In 1859, he was re- elected under a stormy campaign. As governor of Alabama, he direc- ted' the seizure of the forts and arsenals of the Federal govern- ment prior to the ordinance of secession in Alabama. He threw his soul into the cause of the Confederacy and gave material aid and impetus to the equipment of state troops. His term of office as governor ended in 1861, and he was then appointed special aid-de-camp to his successor, Gov. Shorter, and in this capacity discharged very important duties in the northern Alabama counties. Infirm health prevented him from active field duty. In 1865, he was arrested and tried for treason at Montgomery. His seizure of Fort Morgan was pronounced treason and he was imprisoned with other prominent southern men at Fort Pulaski, at Savannah, but in August of that year he was released in consequence of ill-health. Return- to Marion, he resumed the practice of law at which he continued till in 1872. when death ended his long active career. He married, in 1835 or 1836, Miss Mary Goree, who had by him three children. of which a son and daughter now survive. Gov. Moore, as a lawyer, soon rose to high rank. He
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.