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 46
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W. BEN GROCE, one of the farmers of Talladega county, was born in Lincoln county, Ga., March 20, 1840. He is a son of Jared E. and Sarah (Simmons) Groce, both of whom were natives of Georgia, who came in 1840, to Alabama, and settled in Talladega county, at Curry sta- tion, where Mr. Groce remained until his death. He was a stew- ard in the Methodist Episcopal church for more than forty years; his wife was also a member of the same church. He was also a Freemason. The mother of W. Ben Groce was a daughter of John and Mary ( Mathewson ) Simmons, both natives of Georgia. She was a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. W. B. Groce was reared within one mile of where he now lives. He received a good common school education, and in 1860 married Cornelia Jackson, daughter of Daniel H. and Julia E. (Montogmery) Jackson, both natives of Georgia, who came to Alabama in 1836. Mrs. Groce was born and married in Talladega county. She was born October 20, 1840. She is a member of the Presbyterian church, while her husabnd is a member of the. Methodist Episcopal church, south. He is a member of the Masonic order, and also of the farmers' alliance. In 1861 he enlisted in company A, Eighth Confederate cavalry, under Capt. G. K. Miller, the regiment serving under Gen. Joseph Wheeler, and was wounded in October, by a gun shot through the foot, which rendered him unfit for further active service. After the close of the war, he began with nothing, and has gradually accumulated property until he now owns 500 acres of good land which is well improved. He is a prominent and leading citi- zen of the county, and one of its representative farmers. He has served as justice of the peace of the beat two years, and twelve years as super- intendent of the schools of the county. - He takes great interest in poli- tics, and has always been a straightout democrat. Taken all in all, he is one of Talladega county's most prominent and reliable citizens.
MOSES HAMILTON, one of the pioneers of Talladega county, .was born in Lowndes county, Ala., in 1828. He is a son of Moses and Susan
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(Givan) Hamilton, both of whom were natives of South Carolina, who came to Alabama in 1822, and settled in Lowndes county, where they remained until their death. When Moses Hamilton came to Alabama, the country was in its primitive state; the woods were full of wild beasts, Indians and game. He lived to be sixty-three years of age. Moses Ham- ilton, whose name heads this paragraph, was reared in his native county, received a common school education, and remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. He then began life for himself. In 1849, he married Miss Sylvia A. Watson, daughter of Emsley and Mary (Ellis) Watson, both of whom were natives of Georgia. To this marriage three children were born. two of whom still survive, William A. and Moses A. Their mother was born in Lowndes county, Ala., in 1832, and died in 1859. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1860, Moses Hamilton married. for his second wife, Miss Harriet J. McPherson, daugh' ter of William and Susan (Spear) McPherson. Mr. McPherson, a native of New York, came to Alabama at an early day. He had been a soldier in the Revolutionary war. To the marriage of Mr. Hamilton and Miss McPher- son were born ten children, eight of whom are living, viz .: Daisy E., Stella, Hudson, Ida, Jeannette, Jessie, Margaret and Robert. The mother of these children was born in Talladega county in 1842. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, and they both take a deep interest in church and Sunday school work. Mr. Hamilton, after his marriage, remained in Lowndes county till 1857, when he came to Talladega county, and settled on the farm where he now lives. When he first came here, being a lover of shade trees, he planted some twenty oaks, and he has lived to see them grow . to their present noble proportions, some of them being two and a half feet in diameter. He was not in the late war, but remained at home on his farm, working it for the benefit of the soldiers. All he raised on his plantation, except a living for his family. he devoted to the southern cause. After the war he was left without anything but his plantation, his forty-three slaves having been of course set free, and his plantation was badly grown up to bushes and briers. He however began hard work himself and now has his farm in a high state of cultivation. In politics. he has always been a democrat, and he is now one of the leading and most influential citizens of Talladega county, highly respected by all who know him. Certain breastworks are on his farm which are believed to have been erected by DeSoto, when on his way from Florida to the Mis- sissippi river. At any rate they are very ancient, the oldest citizens hav- ing seen them there in their early boyhood, and Mr. Larkin Watters, one of the oldest inhabitants of the county, ploughed corn over them more than forty-six years ago, notwithstanding the works were far higher than at the present time.
J. T. HARRISON, one of the oldest medical practitioners in Talladega county, was born in Madison county, Ala., April 20, 1834. He is a son
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of J. T. and Melinda (Stone) Harrison, both natives of Jamestown, Va. The former came to Alabama in 1818, landing in Huntsville, and assisted to survey the lands around Huntsville, near which city he located on a farm, and lived upon it until his death. He was a soldier of 1812, and was in the Indian war, being in the skirmishing which drove the Indians across Coosa river. His father, the grandfather of J. T. Harrison, was a native of England, and was a relative of President Benjamin Harrison. The mother of J. T. Harrison was a cousin of Chief Justice Stone, of Alabama. J. T. Harrison was reared in Madison county, Ala., and not having the advantages of a common school education in his youth, is what may be truly and appropriately called a self-made man. In 1852 he began the study of medicine with his brother; Dr. W. B. Harrison, of Guntersville, Ala., and in 1835 he entered the Nashville Medical college, of Tennessee, remaining there eighteen months. He then returned to Marshall county, Ala .. where he established himself in the practice of medicine, and remained there, thus engaged, thirteen years. In 1869 he removed to Talladega county, to the farm on which he now lives, and has, since that time, been actively engaged in the practice of medicine, as well as in the management of his farm. He has a large plantation, and from the two sources of income he is well situated, so far as this world's goods are concerned ._ In 1858, he married Belinda Cowan, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., daughter of Varner D. and Susan Collins. She was born in 1836, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, . and died in 1864. In 1868, Dr. Harrison married Sarah S. Groce, daugh- ter of J. E. and Sarah (Simons) Groce. To this marriage have been born six children, four of whom are living, viz .; William G., Linda, W. Ben, and Mattie. The mother of these children was born in Talladega county, in 1846, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. Dr. Harrison is president of the board of censors of Talladega county, and he is also president of the board of health of the county. During the war he was for one year, post surgeon at Guntersville. Dr. Harrison has a high appreciation of the value of the education of the young, and is striving to so educate his children that, when they grow older, they may find themselves equipped, mentally, for the great struggle of life, and have no regrets that they were neglected in this particular. His son, W. Groce, was born in 1871, graduated at the A. and M. college, at Auburn, Ala., in 1890, and then began the study of medicine with his father. He then attended and graduated from the medical department of the university of Maryland, April, 1892. In August, 1892, he was assistant physician at Bay View, Baltimore, Md. Dr. Harrison's daugh- ter, Linda, is a graduate from the Huntsville Female college, and also of a conservatory of music, in Baltimore, Md. In this way the doctor is performing, perhaps, the most important duty a parent owes his chil- dren, after supplying their bodily wants, while they are dependent .upon
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him; for it is certain that an uneducated person cannot judge of the past, or the present, or be equipped for the present or future.
J. W. HEACOCK, M. D., one of the leading physicians and planters of Talladega county, was born December 21, 1837, in the beat in which he now resides. He is a son of Dr. Joseph D. and Rachel M. (Garner) Heacock. The former was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Ala- bama about 1833. settling in Talladega county, where he resided until his death. He practiced medicine in all forty years, and in Talladega county thirty-six years. His death occurred in 1869. J. W. Heacock was raised where he now lives, was educated in part in the common schools, finish- ing his education in the high school at Talladega. In 1861 he enlisted in company E, Tenth Alabama infantry, under Capt. John J. Woodward, and served until the close of the war. He was in the army of northern Vir- ginia, and fought in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged.' He enlisted as a private soldier, and when the war closed he had been promoted to a first lieutenancy. He was only slightly wounded, notwith- standing his many battles. After the war he returned to his home and resumed the study of medicine, which he had dropped to go to the war. In 1866 he entered the medical department of the university of Louisiana. at New Orleans, graduated in 1868, returned to Talladega county, and there began the practice of his profession at his old home, where he has thus been engaged ever since. During the year last mentioned above he was married to Miss Belle Riser, daughter of George and Paralee (McElroy) Riser, by whom he had two children, Joseph D., who is a graduate of the Tulane university of New Orleans, the same college at which his father graduated from in 1868, the name only being changed. He is also a graduate of Howard college, at Birmingham. He began his practice in May, 1892. The other child is Alda Belle. The mother of these children was born in Talladega county, was raised in her native county, and died in 1874. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. In 1875 Dr. Heacock married, for his second wife, Miss Lou E., sister of his first wife, by whom he has eight children, viz. : Georgia M., John W., Rachel P., Minnie, Walter J., Irene and Kathleen, twins, and Nannie M. The mother of these children was raised in Talla- dega county, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. Dr. Heacock is a member of the Baptist church and of the Masonic fra- ternity. He served as a member of the lower house of the legislature four years, commencing in 1878. He is and always has been a straight- out democrat. and takes great interest in the success of his party. In ยท connection with his medical practice he manages a large plantation, own- ing 2,500 acres of land. A large per centage of this land is under a high state of cultivation, and is well improved with all the necessary out- buildings and fences. Thus it will be seen that Dr. Heacock is one of the most prominent and also one of the most wealthy of the citizens of
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Talladega county, as well as being held in the highest esteem by all classes of society.
R. H. HEASLET, one of the pioneers of Talladega county, was born in Madison county, Ala., May 13, 1822. He is a son of Benjamin C. and Ellenor K. (Mccullough) Heaslet, the former of whom was a native of Tennessee, and a soldier in the Creek war. He was a son of William and Mary (Clark) Heaslet, the former of whom was a soldier under Gen. Washington all through the Revolutionary war. At least one incident in his career in this war is worthy of record in this sketch. Gen. Washing- ton desired to send a dispatch across the Potomac river, but as the river was frozen over no one could be found to carry it across, until William Heaslet mounted his horse and volunteered to make the venture. He had but just landed safely on the other side of the river when the whole mass of ice broke up and floated down the river. The father of R. H. Heaslet came to Alabama in 1812, settled in Shelby county, and erected the first cotton gin in that county. He served in the war of 1812-15 under Gen. Jackson, and while living in Shelby county was a justice of the peace sixteen years. He removed to Talladega county in 1830, settled on a claim near the Coosa river, cleared it up and built upon it the first log cabin in Talladega county. He was married in 1799, and by this marriage he had ten children, seven of whom lived to maturity and became useful citizens, but two of whom now survive-R. H. Heaslet and Benjamin C. Heaslet. He was raised in Tennessee, was a cabinet maker by trade, followed his trade during the earlier years of his life, but later turned to farming, which vocation he followed then the rest of his life. Both he and his wife were members of the "Old Blue Stocking" Presbyterian church and took great interest in the cause of religion. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and died September 2, 1837. His wife died October 2, 1833. She was a daughter of Joseph and Mrs. (Kennedy ) Mccullough, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. Joseph Mccullough was a soldier in the Revoluionary war, was a surveyor and civil engineer by profession, and surveyed the lands in east Tennessee. He was also a school teacher, and had the honor of teaching his letters to Andrew Jackson, afterward president of the United States. R. H. Heaslet was raised in Alabama, and though he had but limited opportunities for securing an education in his boyhood days, yet in later life, by means of books and papers, he became unusally well informed on all subjects of general interest. On October 23, 1875, he married Mrs. Laura J. Parks, widow of Leonidas Parks, and daughter of James and Mary (McMillan) Graham. To this marriage there has been born one child, Laura L., a mute. In 1864 Mr. Heaslet enlisted under Capt. Hardie, in the Alabama infantry, and being a cripple he was assigned to the commissary depart- ment. He was however, not in active service. After the close of the war he began life without property or money, but has been so successful.that now he is surrounded by all the necessities and comforts of life. His
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daughter, Laura L., is a student at the Deaf and Dumb institute at Talladega. At a meeting of the directors, held June 25, 1892, she recited a piece of poetry on her hands, which Dr. J. H. Johnson, the principal, interpreted, and which Miss Atwood, one of the oral teachers, sang, Mr. Williams, a blind student, playing the accompaniment on the piano. Taken altogether it was considered a wonderful performance. Mr. Heaslet is one of the leading citizens and one of the most substantial planters. He can well remember when the Indiaus lived here. At one time it was reported that the Indians were coming upon the settlers, and Mr. Heaslet and his father remained in their cabin, while the rest of the family, and, indeed, the entire neighborhood, left the county, some of them never stopping until they reached Tuscaloosa. After all it proved to be a false alarm.
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R. M. HENDERSON. the pioneer druggist, and one of the oldest and , most prominent citizens of Talladega, was born in Tennessee in 1827, February. He is a son of Samuel and Mahala (Blair) Henderson, the former of whom was a native of Virginia, and was brought to Tennessee when about a year old and followed the occupation of a farmer all his life. The latter was a native of Tennessee. R. M. Henderson remained on his father's farm till he was eighteen years old, and he then accepted a position as clerk in the drug store of Dr. Cannon, of Madison, Tenn., in which position he remained three years. In 1852 he removed to Talla- dega, Ala., and opened a drug store-the first in the place. In this store he has remained ever since. In 1860 he married Miss Mary D. Castle- berry. daughter of Joseph H. and Nancy (Beavers) Castleberry, the latter of whom is still living at the age of eighty-three. To the mar- iage of Mr. Henderson and Miss Castleberry were born four children, viz. : Samuel H., R. W., Ida M. and Mammia. The mother of these chil- dren was born and reared in Alabama, was a member of the Baptist church and took great interest in the Sunday school, and died in 1870. In 1875 Mr. Henderson married Jane C. Cunningham, daughter of Will- iam J. Cunningham, a native of Georgia. His father, Ansil Cunningham, was a soldier all through the Revolutionary war. To the second mar- riage of Mr. Henderson have been born two children, viz .: Carrie and Nannie B. The mother of these children was born in Georgia, came to Alabama with her parents when ten years old, and is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Henderson is a member of the Baptist church and is a royal arch Mason. During his long life in Talladega he has always been looked upon as one of the most substantial and reliable busi- ness men, honored and respected by all who know him for his many manly and social qualities.
H. G. HENDRICK, a prominent planter of Talladega county, was born in Lawrence district, S. C., in February, 1827. He was a son of Hansel . and Rachel (Ragan) Hendrick, the former of whom was born in South ' Carolina in 1797. Hansel was brought up in his native state, but without
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education. After he attained his majority, however, he learned to read and write and became a well informed man on all subjects of general interest. He was in the Creek war under Gen. Andrew Jackson, who kept him in his mess as a cook for a long time. In 1833, he came to Alabama, and settled in Talladega county, when his nearest neighbor, except the Indians, was eight miles away. The Indians were his warmest friends, as by dealing fairly with them he gained their confidence, and thus made them his friends. While he lived in South Carolina he served two terms in office as sheriff of Laurens county, and after removing to Alabama he served as justice of the peace for eighteen years. He was a member of the Presbyterian church for thirty years previous to his death, and he was for many years an elder in the church. He was a son of William and Margaret (Burgess) Hendrick the former of whom was a native of Virginia, and came to South Carolina at an early day. He was always a farmer, and came to Alabama with the father of H. G. Hendrick, and died here in 1836. Mrs. Rachel Hendrick was a native of Georgia, in which state she was brought up and educated. H. G. Hendrick was raised on the `farm, and received only a country school education, but living as he did among the Indians, he learned their language. In 1848, he began the study of medicine with Dr. A. Pelham. He attended a medical college in Charleston, and then went to a medical college in Philadelphia, where he was graduated in 1852, and located in Talladega county, in the prac- tice of his profession. He practiced in the eastern part of this county ten years, when he removed to Dallas county, Ala., and remained there nine years, enjoying a large practice. His practice here was so exten- sive and exacting that he broke down in health, and was compelled to retire for a time, and he then spent four years in seeking health and recrea- tion. In 1854, he married Celestia Ann, daughter of Thomas and Sarah "(Montgomery ) Cameron. To this marriage was born one child, Thomas H .. who died at the age of nine years, and Mrs. Hendrick died in 1866. Mr. Hendrick then, in 1872, married Sallie Higgans, daughter of Joel and Sophronia (Turner) Higgans, and in the fall of 1873 he removed to the farm upon which he now resides, and has, since that time, devoted him- self to farming. He was for a long time a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and he is now a member of the Knights of Honor. He is also a member of the Presbyterian church. The doctor has a fine plantation situated one mile south of Talladega, which is well improved, and has upon it a fine residence and comfortable and convenient out-buildings. He is one of the substantial citizens of the county, and a highly respected man.
JAMES M. HENDRICKS, a leading business man of Fayetteville, was born in Marshall county, Ala., May 3, 1849. He is a son of Madison and Elizabeth (Nobles) Hendricks, both of whom were natives of South Caro- lina. The former was a Baptist minister, beginning his ministerial work, when eighteen years old. He was a son of James and Mrs. Hendricks,
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James Hendricks being a native of Maryland and a soldier in the war of 1812. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. James Hen- dricks came to Alabama about 1827 or 1828, settling in Cherokee county and remaining there until within a few years of his death. Madison Hen- dricks was reared in Cherokee county from a small boy, having come to that county with his parents when quite young. He received a good edu- cation for those days and rose to be one of the most prominent men of the state. He represented DeKalb county in the stato legislature six dif- ferent terms. He was naturally a leader of men, and was one of the prominent politicians of his day. He was a public-spirited man, was the very soul of honor, and was a supporter of all legitimate enterprises. He lived to be seventy-three years old. James M. Hendricks rose to man- hood mostly in DeKalb, Cherokee and St. Clair counties. He had the advantage of a good common school education. In 1876 he married Miss Virginia Wallis, daughter of William and Missouri (Welch) Wallis. William Wallis, deceased, one of the pioneers of Alabama, was born in South Carolina in 1823. He was a son of John and Sinia (Bloyse) Wal- lis. He was reared in South Carolina until he was about sixteen years of age, when he came to Alabama and settled in Talladega county, where he remained until his death. He was a soldier in the Mexican war, and also Civil war, being a member of company A, Thirtieth Alabama infantry. He went out as a lieutenant, but soon rose to the rank of captain, and held that position until the time of his death, which occurred at the siege of Vicksburg, May 22, 1863, where he was killed. In 1857, he married Miss Missouri Welch, daughter of Daniel and Mary (George) Welch. Daniel Welch was born in North Carolina, but removed to Tennessee, when a boy, and there grew to manhood. He was a soldier under Gen. Jackson for three years during the war of 1812. He was with Jackson when he marched through Talladega county, and he made up his mind that as soon as peace was restored, he would locate in what is now Talla- dega county. After the close of hostilities, therefore, in 1816, lie came to Alabama and settled where Wetumpka now stands. There being very few white settlers here at that time, he moved in about one year to Jack- son county, remaining there until 1823, when he removed to what is now Talladega county, his wife being the first white woman that ever stood upon the soil of the county. He remained in Talladega, near the Welch springs, which take their name from him, until the day of his death. Here he soon made friends with the Indians, and soon was capable of , wielding a great influence over them. He remained friendly with them until their departure. He was a great admirer of Andrew Jackson; was an ardent democrat: was an officer in the militia; was for many years, drill master, and died September 1, 1840. He was married August 7, 1816, and was, by this marriage, the father of five children, two of whom are still living, viz. : Alabama and Missouri. The mother of these children was born in Jefferson county, Tenn., June 7, 1797, and came to Alabama the
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same year. She was one of the true pioneer women of those days. Often when the Indians were on the war path, she would take her children and go to the woods, lying out all night until the danger was past. It oftened happened, that when there was trouble with the Indians, her husband was able to so influence them, that it was soon over, or in case of anticipated trouble, it was often prevented by him. On one occasion, an Indian came to her house when her husband was away from home. angry because of the killing of another Indian, sat down in the door for some time, but finally went away without doing any harm; she, herself, though, being afraid of him, took her children and went to the woods and awaited her husband's return. To the marriage of Mr. Wallis with Miss Welch; there were born four children, viz .: Mary Alabama, Virginia, Louisiana W. and Willie. The mother of these children was born in 1827, and is believed to have been one of the first white children born in Tal- ladega county. Both he and wife were members of the Baptist church, he being a deacon in the church from 1853 until his death. When he came home from the Mexican war, he brought with him four pieces of Mexican money, and when he was killed in 1863, he had four silver dimes in his pocket. He had four daughters, and each of his daughters has one of these pieces of Mexican money, and also one of the silver dimes. He was well-known all over the county as one of the best citizens, always favoring temperance and every other cause, that, on his opinion, was for the good of the community. To the marriage of Mr. J. M. Hendricks and Miss Wallis, there were born four children, viz .: Otis, Bertie, Cam- mie and Nobles. The mother of these children was born and reared in Fayetteville. She was born April 26, 1856, and is a member of the Bap- tist church. Mr. Hendricks began traveling in 1870, as a commercial man, in the grocery line, and continued until 1875. This year he left the road and established himself in the business of general merchandising at Fayetteville, and has been in this business ever since. In 1877 he circu- lated a petition for a postoffice at this place, and through the assistance of Gen. W. H. Forney, secured the office, and was appointed, by Presi- dent Grant, as the postmaster. He has held the office ever since, and has worked it up to a money order office. He is one of the leading and progressive men of the county. He is a democrat in politics, as was his father.
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