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 34
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
50*
1
860
MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
grand chapter. He is a respected elder in the Presbyterian church, of which his amiable wife is also a member.
MAJOR JAMES PINCKARD WOOD, dealer in general building supplies, machinery, etc., of Troy, was born in Chambers' county, Ala., in 1845. He is a son of Augustus E. and Jane M. (Pinckard) Wood, natives of Monroe county, Ga .. both of whom received a fair common school edu- cation. They were step-brother and sister, the former's father marrying the latter's mother, with whom the children moved to Alabama, where Mr. and Mrs. Wood were married in Chambers county, whence they moved to Pike county in 1860, locating on a farm where Mr. Wood died in 1865 and Mrs. Wood in 1887. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wood were members of the Missionary Baptist church, the former being a deacon for several years. Mr. Wood was formerly a merchant, and was energetic and indus- trious, honest and fair in all his dealings. He accumulated considerable . property, and was an active public-spirited man. In politics he was a stanch democrat, and served for a short time, toward the latter part of the war, as a member of the home guards of Mobile. He was one of the large family of Rev. John Wood, a prominent Baptist preacher in Han- cock county, Ga., who was a man of fine talents, and a forcible speaker. For a time he was an associate of Rev. Jesse Mercer, one of Georgia's greatest divines. Rev. Mr. Wood was a great church organizer of north- ern Alabama, and always in his churches inculcated a strong temperance spirit, from which sprang the first prohibition element in Alabama. He died in Taladega county, Ala., after the war. He had served as a lieu- tenant in the Florida war, and many of his people were among the best people of Georgia. A. brother of his, Brumfield Wood, was once secre- tary of state of Georgia. Jame Pinckard, the maternal grandfather of Major Wood, was a native of Virginia, but spent the latter part of his life in Georgia, where he was quite prominent, influential and wealthy. Major James Pinckard Wood was one of seven sons and two daughters. Three of the brothers served in the late war. John H., was captain of company E. First Alabama, was captured at Island No. 10, was imprisoned at Johnson's Island, and, after being exchanged, served till the close of the war. He is now one of Pike county's most prominent farmers. Wil- liam A. was killed at Franklin, Tenn., in 1864, having served from 1862 with Cap. John H. Major Wood received a good English education in Chambers county, came with his parents to Pike county, and in Febru- ary, 1861, enlisted for one year in company E, First Alabama infantry, and operated at Pensacola, Fla., as lieutenant, having charge of a mortar battery, at the bombardment of Fort Pickens and other forts. At the end of the first year's service he re-enlisted in company A, fifty-seventh Alabama infantry, as first lieutenant, and soon after was made captain. He served about one and a half years at Mobile and Pollard, and then joined the army of the Tennessee, at Resaca. Ga., fighting all the way to Atlanta, and back with Gen. Hood to Franklin, Tenn., where he com-
-
-
861
PERSONAL MEMOIRS-PIKE COUNTY.
manded the regiment. as his colonel was absent, and he the senior captain. After the battle of Nashville, and the retreat to Corinth, Miss., he joined Gen. Johnston in North Carolina, whence he obtained leave of absence for thirty days. After his return, and upon the reorganization of the army, he was made major of the Twenty-sixth Alabama, but was in no more engagements, surrendering with Johnston. He was wounded at Peach Tree Creek, and was out of service for twelve days. At that battle he displayed great gallantry, for which he was recommended by Gen. Lor- ing for promotion. After the war he engaged in farming, and in 1867 he married Mattie Taylor, of Chambers county, who died about four years afterward. In 1877, he married Theodosia Jordan, a native of what is now Bullock county, and a daughter of Hon. William C. Jordan of Midway, who was President Cleveland's receiver of public moneys, in the land office at Montgomery. Hon. Mr. Jordan was a gallant soldier of the Fif- teenth Alabama infantry. Mr. Wood continued farming until 1880, when he removed to Troy, where he was engaged in the warehouse business for some years, but he still has large planting interests. He is one of Troy's prominent citizens, and holds the highest office in the A. O. U. W., Troy lodge, No. 24, and is president of the board of trustees of the First Baptist church, of which his wife is likewise a prominent member. Mr. Wood is active in politics and in all laudable public enterprises.
ALFRED N. WORTHY, M. D., a retired lawyer of Troy, was born in Jasper county, Ga., in 1818. He is a son of Thomas and Mary (Cro- well) Worthy, natives of Columbia county, Ga. They early removed to Gwinnett county, where Mrs. Worthy died. Mr. Worthy died at Troy in January, 1870, where he had lived about five years. He was a farmer by occupation, and was a man of great prominence, being a member of the state senate from Gwinnett county for fifteen or twenty years. He was then nominated for sheriff of the county for the purpose of defeating a mam whom it was. thought no one else could defeat, the result being that Mr. Worthy was elected. Mr. Worthy had served in the Indian war of 1836. His father was John Worthy. a Revolutionary soldier, and a Vir- ginian at the time of his death. Alfred N. Worthy was a member of a family of two sons and four daughters. He was educated at Washington academy, Ga., and graduated from the Literary and Botanical college of Columbus, Ohio, in 1838. He also graduated from the medical depart- ment of the same institution, and upon removing to Georgia, practiced medicine until 1849. In the meantime he graduated from the law school at Tuskegee, Ala., and in 1849 removed to Troy, and there engaged in the practice of law and medicine for many years. In 1834, he was ordained by the Missionary Baptist church as a minister, and has fol- lowed that calling ever since, but not regularly. After the war he entered politics, and was elected to the legislature for the first session after the war. serving two terms when he was elected to the senate, serving therein for five sessions, being the only democrat in that body
862
MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA
during the stormy time of reconstruction. He was chairman of the com- mittee on public works, and other- prominent committees. In 1871, he retired from politics, and resumed the practice of law for several years, from which he retired also several years ago. He was married, in August, 1839, to Ann Pace, daughter of James Pace, who was born in Twiggs county, Ga., and was educated at Cullodenville, Monroe county, Ga. She is the mother of twelve children, five of whom are living, viz. : Cleone, Alfred C., a lawyer of Troy, who served in the Fifteenth Alabama infantry, in the army of Virginia, and later in the Western army; C. P., a merchant of Paris, Tex .: Ophelia, wife of H. C. Wiley, and Oglethorp, the present efficient clerk of the circuit court of Troy. The latter was born at Troy November 11. 1852, was educated at the public schools at Troy, and then spent nine years as clerk in the postoffice, where he acquired a reputation for honesty and faithfulness, and in 1880, was elected clerk of the circuit court. He was re-elected in 1886, and has served twelve years with satisfaction to the public and great credit to himself. He was a candidate for re-election, in 1892, with every chance in his favor. He is a prominent member of the First Baptist church, and is an upright Christian gentleman. He is also a member of the Y. M. C. A. of Troy. October 21, 1881, he was married to Miss Sallie, daughter of Maj. Alexander McKenzie, who refugeed from Quincy, Fla., to south- eastern Alabama during the war. He located at Troy about 1880, and died there, a farmer by occupation. Mrs. Mckenzie is still living. Mrs. Worthy was born and educated at Quincy, Fla., and died October 21, 1882. On August 13, 1890, Oglethorpe Worthy married Emma, the accomplished daughter of Prof. H. E. Brooks, a native of Alabama, and a graduate from the state university, who has followed teaching nearly all his life. He was president of the Southern Female college at LaGrange, Ga., before the war, and through the destruction of that institution lost all he had. In 1879 and 1880, he taught at Troy, and is now a resident of Eufaula. He is, beside being an eminent general scholar, master of several languages. . Mrs. Worthy was born and educated at Lafayette, Ala., and is a lady of fine accomplishments. She is an excellent pianist, and is a teacher in the normal school at Troy. Dr. Worthy is now one of the oldest residents of Troy, where he is well known and highly esteemed by all. Besides being well qualified in the lines of his various profes- sions, he possesses fine abilities as a writer. He is the author of several valuable works on medicine, and has just completed a history of the First Baptist church of Troy.
RANDOLPH COUNTY.
W. W. DOBSON, JR., merchant of Wedowee, Ala., is a son of W. W. and Clarinda (Byers) Dobson. the former of whom is a native of North Carolina, and was born and reared in Franklin county, that state. A few
-
1
1
863
PERSONAL MEMOIRS-RANDOLPH COUNTY.
years after his marriage, which took place in his native county, he came to Alabama and settled in Randolph county. three miles south of Wedowee. This was in 1844, and he and his wife still live on the old homestead. Mr. Dobson has been in public life to a considerable extent. He was a justice of the peace for several years, and immediately after the war he represented Randolph county in the legislature one term. He then served as probate judge of the county one term. He has been a republican ever since that party was organized. He was very earnestly opposed to the war of secession and did all in his power to avert it. He has been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church nearly all his life. Both he and his wife now live on the old homestead farm, the father at the great age of eighty-two, and the mother at the age of seventy-six. They reared a family of seven daughters and two sons, viz. : Sarah, wife of J. A. West, of West postoffice. Randolph county, Ala .; Eliza, deceased wife of James Bowen; Nancy, wife of J. F. Willington, Wedowee, Ala .; W. W .; Mary, wife of F. M. Bass, who lives six miles south of Wedowee, Ala .; Josie, wife of Dr. F. E. Dean, of Wedowee, Ala .; J. A., who lives with his par- ents; Lenora, wife of A. F. West, of Ashland, Ala., and Cornelia, deceased wife of Sidney Brown. W. W. Dobson was born October 26, 1846, in Ran- dolph county, Ala. His education was of a limited nature, because of the inadequate school advantages of the country when he was young. Dur- ing the war, when he became of age and could be conscripted, his father had him passed through the lines, and he spent the latter part of 1864 and 1865, in Nashville and Chattanooga, Tenn. For several years after the war he followed farming, and in 1870 he established his present mer- cantile business. He now owns two good farms, aggregating 1,560 acres of land, and also considerable real estate, and his home in the town of Wedowee. He also owns a mill, which he operates near Wedowee. He was married in October, 1873, in Wedowee. Ala., to Miss Fannie Merriw, by whom he had four children, viz .: Joseph L., Cassie, Meek and Roy. Politically Mr. Dobson has always been a republican, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Dobson is one of the solid and substantial men of Wedowee, and indeed of the county of Randolph, and is held in high esteem by all classes of the people.
W. L. HEFLIN, M. D., one of the leading physicians of Roanoke, Ala., is a son of Wyatt and Sarah (Stell) Heflin, the former of whom was a native of Orange county, N. C., born there about 1795. He was of Scotch and French Huguenot descent. He was reared in North Car- olina and when yet a young man removed to Morgan county, Ga. He . was married here and lived in this county a number of years. He moved then to Fayette county, and thence to Coweta county, and in 1837 came to Alabama, settling in Randolph county, fourteen miles west of Roan- oke. Here he lived the rest of his life, dying in February, 1860. He was a planter by occupation and took an active part in politics, repre- senting Randolph county several times in the early fifties in the legis-
1
864 1
MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
lature, as a democrat. He was a man of thrift an energy and accumu- lated a fine property. He was a man of strong religious convictions, but was not a member of any church. Early in life, while a resident of Fayette county, he was sheriff of the county several times. He reared a family of three sons and six daughters, six of whom are now living, viz. : Robert S., of Randolph county, Ala .; Sophronia, now Mrs. Cook, of Heard county, Ga .; Samantha, now Mrs. Pool, of Randolph county, Ala .; Amanda, now Mrs. Daniel, of Heard county, Ga .; Sarah, now Mrs. Gay, of Randolph county, Ala., and Dr. W. L. Heflin, of Roanoke, Ala. The three that have died were named Emily, Mary and John T. The mother of these children died in 1869. Dr. W. L. Heflin was born March 21, 1828, in Fayette county, Ga. He was educated at Dudleyville college, and began the study of medicine under Dr. R. M. Stell, in Dudleyville, Ala .; and in 1846, began attending lectures at the Augusta Medical college,, remaining there two years, graduating in 1848. He began the practice of his profession at the old home in Randolph county and remained there continuously in practice until 1892, when he removed to his present loca- tion. He has always taken an active part in politics and has attended a large number of conventions of his party. He is a straight-out demo- crat. He was married December 8, 1859, in Randolph county, Ala .. to Miss Levisa C. Phillips, by whom he has had eleven children, nine of whom are now living, viz .: Wyatt, a physician, of Birmingham, Ala .; Herrington P., a lawyer of Birmingham, Ala .; Walter W., a farmer of Randolph county, Ala .; John T., a farmer and merchant of Randolph county, Ala .; Howell T., a physician of Roanoke, Ala .; James T., a law- yer of La Fayette, Ala. ; Robert Lee, Marvin R., and Sarah L., the lat- ter three living at home. Two daughters died in infancy, Sophia and Cenus. The mother of these children died November 3, 1883. Dr. Hef- lin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. John T. Hef- lin, a brother of Dr. Heflin, was a prominent member of the Birming- ham bar. He was judge of one of the judicial circuits, and served for many years in the legislature of the state, in both the lower and upper house. Robert S., another brother of Dr. Heflin, has also been promi- nent in the history of the state. He has served as a member of con- gress from his district, and in the state legislature several times. He has also been probate judge of Randolph county. Dr. Heflin sent his sons to school in Nashville, both those who are lawyers as well as those who are doctors. Wyatt is a graduate of Jefferson medical college and also of Vanderbuilt, and Howell T. is a graduate of the university of Maryland, medical department. Dr. Heflin is the oldest, and at least one of the best, physicians in Roanoke, and is of a most excellent fam- ily, which is of prominence in the history of the state.
LEONIDAS JONES, of Roanoke, Ala., is a son of Thomas and Marina (Harris) Jones, the former of whom was a native of Georgia. He was born and reared in Madison, Morgan county, and married in Walton
.#
865
PERSONAL MEMOIRS-RANDOLPH COUNTY.
county, that state. After living in Madison a short time after his mar- riage, he moved to West Point, Ga., and was among the first inhabitants of that place. He started a general and provision store there, and con- ducted it for some time, when he came to Alabama. After living one year in this state, he removed to Mississippi, near Holly Springs, and after living a year there, he removed to Texas, settling near Austin. Here he conducted a hotel for some time, and was killed in a personal encounter with a physician. His widow moved back to Georgia and located in Walton county, where she lived until 1854. She then removed to Troup county. Here she married Samson Lay, and, lived in Troup county till he died, and then she took up her residence with her son, Leonidas, living with him till her death, which occurred in June, 1889. Steven Jones. the father of Thomas Jones, was a Georgian, but spent the last years of his life in Texas. Benjamin Harris, the father of Mrs. Marina Jones, was a native of North Carolina, and removed.to Walton county, Ga. He was a captain in the Revolutionary war. Leonidas Jones has a relic in the shape of a razor, which was owned by his grandfather Harris, and which is good to-day. Leonidas was an only child, and was born August 27, 1836, in Walton county. His educational opportunities, when a boy, were quite limited; but at sixteen he went to Emory college, which he attended until he had nearly finished the course. In 1856 he went to La Grange, or near there, and taught a country school, remaining in the same school four years. He then went to Union academy, Heard county, and taught there one year, when he was called back to his first school. Here he remained four years more, and in 1865 went to Grantville, Ga., and taught there two years. He then went to La Grange, Ga., and was there associate principal of the high school one year. He was then principal of the Farmers' high school in Heard county several years, and then taught several years at Franklin, Ga. He then returned to the Farmers' high school in Heard county, and after teaching there several years he went to Rock Mills, Randolph county, Ala., and remained there one year. In 1885 he went to Roanoke, Ala., and taught there five years, as presi- dent of the Roanoke normal college. He then went to Dawson, Ga., where he had charge of the southwest Georgia Male and Female college. He was called from there to the La Grange high school, and taught there. one year. He then removed to Roanoke and took a position as book- keeper for the firm of Hill, Jones & Co., which position he still retains. While he was a teacher he had under him as many as 4,000 pupils. He was married in December, 1858, near La Grange, Ga., to Margaret Mooty, by whom he had five children, viz. : Romaldus M., died in childhood; Sue Hattie. died in childhood; Burrell C., a member of the firm of Hill, Jones & Co, of Roanoke, Ala .; Ida E., wife of Thomas C. Goodwin. of Roanoke, Ala .; Maggie L., wife of E. W. Hill, of Roanoke, Ala. Politi- cally Mr. Jones is a democrat, and he is a member of the Missionary Baptist church, while his wife and daughters are Presbyterians. There
866
MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA
is not, in all probability, one other man in Alabama whose experience as a teacher has covered so many years, and who has been at the same time so successful. And since he retired from the profession he has been offered lucrative positions, which he has declined, one as president of a college in Georgia.
H. M. MICKLE, farmer of Roanoke,Ala., is a son of James M. and Elizabeth (Hathorn) Mickle. The Mickle family are of Irish origin, and came to America in colonial times. The earliest knowledge Mr. H. M. Mickle has of them is that his grandfather, Jeremiah Mickle, removed from Buncombe county, N. C., to Georgia, locating for a time in Coweta county, and removing in 1837 to Randolph county, Ala. Here he died in 1850. James M. Mickle was born in North Carolina in 1802. and was reared in that state. In 1822 the family left North Carolina. He married about 1823, and lived in Monroe county, Ga., until 1837, when he removed to Heard county. living there until 1854, when he came to Alabama set- tling within two miles of the present town of Roanoke, toward the west. He was one of the very first settlers in this section of the country, and lived there until his death in 1879. He was a man of religious convictions and an active worker for the Missionary Baptist church. He was an honest man, and was very punctual about paying debts. He reared a family of children as follows: Jane, wife of Henry Ward, of Ward's Mill, La .; M. J., of Roanoke Ala. ; Frances A., wife of Chaneedle Wood of Fort Worth, Tex .; Delila, widow of H. E. Disharoon; H. M. The mother of these children died in 1866. H. M. Mickle was born January 20, 1837, in Randolph county, Ala .. and was married in the same county, January 23, 1859, to Lydia F. Anderson, by whom he has two children, viz .: Cora, wife of Prof. George W. Stevens, whose memoir appears elsewhere in this work; and C. M., a practicing physician of Roanoke. He is a graduated of the Alabama Medical college of Mobile. Mr. Mickle enlisted in March, 1862, as a private soldier in company H. Thirty-first Alabama infantry, and was in the following battles: Cumberland Gap; Munfordville. Harrisburg, Missionary Ridge. the Atlanta campaign down to the battle of Kennesaw Mountain. At this battle his regiment and the Fortieth Alabama were captured and he was taken to Rock Island, Ill., where he was detained until after the final surrender, June 18, 1865. He returned home after being released and has ever since that time followed farming. He now . owns a farm of 150 acres. one mile west of Roanoke, and loans money in addition to his management of the farm. Politically he is a democrat, and has served as county commissioner several years. He is a member of and a deacon in the Baptist church. He is of an excellent family, and one whose members are much respected in this county, where they are known and appreciated as good citizens.
M. P. PITTMAN, farmer of Roanoke, Ala., is a son of James M. and Emelia (Gathright) Pittman, the former of whom was a native of Jackson county, Ga., and was born in 1812. He was reared in that county. and
1
1
867
PERSONAL MEMOIRS-RANDOLPH COUNTY.
the family, about 1835, moved to Randolph county, Ala., and settled seven miles northeast of the present town of Roanoke. This being before the Indians left the country, the family, beside being subjected to the hardships of a pioneer life, was also considerably annoyed by the Indians. In 1843 James M. Pittman returned to Jackson county and mar- ried. He had taught school up to that time. He then took up farming, settling on part of the old homestead, which he had bought of his father. He reared a family of eleven children, and died in 1883. He was buried in the family burying ground on the old homestead, as was his father before him. He always took an active interest in politics, but did not aspire to office. He was a life-long democrat, and a member of the Christian church. He was a man of strong character, whose influence was always exerted for the good of the community. Of his eleven chil- dren, eight are now living, viz .: M. P .; Emelia, wife of J. B. Carlisle of Randolph county, Ala .; James M., of Roanoke, Ala. ; Warren W., a mer- chant of Roanoke, Ala .; Pierce K, of Young county, Tex .; Andrew J., of Wehadkee, Ala .; Nancy C., wife of B. J. Harris, Bowdon, Ga., and Wilson S. of Guntersville, Ala. The mother of these children died in November, 1890. The Pittman family alı sprang from Martin H. Pittman, father of James M. Pittman, who reared a family of eight children, two of whom are now living: William A., living on the old homestead, and Pleasant O., living at Cedartown, Ga. M. P. Pittman was born July 18, 1844. At the age of seventeen he enlisted as a private soldier in company I, Thirteenth Alabama infantry, and fought in Virginia under Gen. Lee. He partici- pated in the following battles: Siege of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Mechanicsville and Cold Harbor. Here he was wounded by a minie ball in the face, and was in the hospital for some time and at home. He still carries a scar from the wound. Rejoining the army, he was in the battle of Fredericksburg and of Chancellorsville, where he was again wounded, being struck by a ball in the foot, which disabled him for a considerable time. After again joining his command, he was in the bat- tle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, second Cold Harbor, in the trenches around Petersburg, and in the engagement at Hatcher's Run. At the time of the final surrender he was at home on furlough, and retired from the army as a sergeant, having then recently been promoted. Since the war he has followed farming, and now owns a plantation of 300 acres, three miles northeast of Roanoke. He had been a justice of the peace four years, when in 1888 he was elected on the democratic ticket as tax assessor of the county, his term expiring in 1892. He was married, in 1866, November 8, in Randolph county, Ala., to Eliza E. Taylor, by whom he has three children, viz. : Lura V., wife of D. B. Stevens, of Randolph county, Ala. ; Escar A. and Sarah L. E., living at home. Politically Mr. Pittman is a democrat, and he is a member of the Christian church. He is a deacon of his church. The defeat of Mr. Pittman for tax assessor,
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.