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 47
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T. L. ISBELL, a prominent farmer of Talladega county, was born in the same county in 1837, and on the farm where he now resides. He was a son of James and Rutelia ( Huston ) Isbell. The former was born in Buncombe county, N. C., came to Talladega county early in the thirties, and settled on the farm where T. L. Isbell now resides. This was the old battlefield where Gen. Jackson fought the Creek Indians, and eight- een of Jackson's men are buried within 300 feet of the house. He was a merchant in Lowndes county for a few years, was one of the leading merchants in Talladega for many years, and organized the first bank in
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Talladega. He remained in the banking business until his death. He was also president of the First National bank of Selma at the same time His father was a native of North Carolina. The mother of T. L. Isbell was a native of Tennessee, having been born at Knoxville, and was a daughter of Judge Robert Huston, who was probate judge of Knoxville for many years. T. L. Isbell was reared on a farm, and had but little education in his youth; but later in life he became a great reader, and informed himself, through books and papers, on all subjects of general interest. At the age of twelve he entered his father's store, and later, he entered the bank. Afterward he engaged in the merchantile business, which he continued for six years. During the first year of the war, he acted as overseer on his father's farm, and, in 1862, enlisted in his broth- er's company, First Alabama infantry. He was in the forty-nine days' fight at Port Hudson, was taken prisoner, paroled, and sent home. Soon afterward his regiment was re-organized at Cahaba, Mr. Isbell being placed on detached duty at Selma, and placed in the machine shops, where he was again captured and beld a prisoner for seven days. He was then again set at liberty. The war ended shortly afterward, and he again entered the mercantile business, and continued there. in connection with banking, till his health failed and he retired to the farm. In 1883, he married Mattie J. Norris, daughter of James and Sarah ( Moss ) Nor- ris. Her father is one of the leading merchants of Selma, having been connected with the mercantile and banking business for many years. To Mr. Isbell's marriage with Miss Norris there have been born four chil- dren, three of whom are living: Thomas H., Mossie and Rutelia H. Their mother was born in Selma and reared there. Both Mr. and Mrs. Isbell are members of the Presbyterian church, and he is an earnest and liberal supporter of both church and school. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He owns 600 acres of good farming land one-half mile from Talladega, and his home is surrounded by all the comforts and necessities of life, the yard around the house being especially beautiful with evergreens and shrubs. He belongs to one of the oldest and best families of the state, and is everywhere recognized as one of its fore- most citizens.
JOSEPH H. JOHNSON, M. D., leading physician of Talladega, and prin- cipal of the institute for the deaf and dumb, the academy for the blind, and the academy for the colored deaf and blind, was born in Georgia, in 1832. He was a son of Seaborn J. and Minerva (Fannin) Johnson, both of whom were natives of Georgia. The former was a prominent attorney of Floyd county, Ga., where he practiced law and followed planting on a large scale. Joseph Fannin, the maternal grandfather of Mr. Johnson, was also a native of Georgia, in which state he remained until his death. Col. Fannin, a cousin of Mrs. Johnson, was massacred at the Alamo, and a county in Texas is named after him. Joseph H. Johnson was raised on the farm, with the advantage of the neighborhood schools, and he was
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also educated at Hern school in Georgia. He began teaching the Georgia Institute for the deaf and dumb, remaining there nine consecutive years. In 1854 he left the institution and entered Charleston Medical college, one course of lectures. He then went to Philadelphia, graduated in 1-56, and returned to Georgia, where he taught another year. In 1838 he came to Talladega and opened a school for the deaf and dumb. Of this school he had charge until 1861. In March of that year he organized company G. First Alabama infantry, of which he became captain, serving as such officer one year. He then met with an accident which rendered him unfit for active duty, and he returned to Talladega. Again he assumed charge of the institution for the deaf and dumb. and has since that time been in control. In 1836 he secured the establishment of a department for the blind, in connection with the institute for the deaf and dumb, and in 1891 he was the prime mover in the establishment of the asylum for the deaf and blind of the colored race. He has superintended all the improvements made in and about the asylum, and has it beautified all around with shade trees and flower gardens, so that at the present time this institution is not only one of the most beautiful in the state, but it has a capacity of accommodating 250 patients. Too much , credit can not be given Dr. Johnson for his labors in behalf of the unfortunate of both races and of both sexes in this noble institution, and it will be many a year before his work in this direction will be forgotten. He was married, in 1853, to Emily Darden, daughter of Judge Abner and Nancy (Morris) Darden. Judge Darden was a native of Georgia, was an eminent jurist and an intimate friend of Alexander H. Stephens. For fourteen years he was in the legislature, either in the house or in the senate. Mr. Steph- ens and he were from the same county, and when one would go to the senate the other would go to the house. His obituary was written by Mr. Stephens, as was most fitting, as they had been devoted friends during life. To the marriage of Dr. Johnson with Miss Darden were born four children : Seabora, Joseph H., Jr., Annie and Helen. She was a native of Georgia, and both she and her husband are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. He is a member of the Masonic order, and is the only one now living that has presided in all the grand Masonic bodies in the state. He is a Knight Templar. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows and is a Knight of Honor. He has served about ten years as alderman of Talla- dega, and is one of the most prominent and best of the citizens of Talla- dega county.
D. C. KELLER, M. D., one of the oldest physicians of Talladega county, . was born August 25, 1824. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Cromer) Keller. John Keller was one of triplets. and was born in Marlborough, Va., in 1783. He moved with his father to Newberry, S. C., in 1792. He received a good education, and began life as a teacher in the common schools, following that vocation for many years. He afterward settled on a farm, and followed farming the rest of his life. His death occurred in
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1852. He was a son of Jacob and Susanah Keller, the former of whom served as a soldier in the war of 1812. Dr. Keller's mother was born in Newberry, S. C., in 1793, and both his parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His father was an earnest worker in the Sunday school, and organized a great number of schools of this kind. Dr. Keller was born in Abbeville, S. C., and was raised on the farm. He attended a school for several years at Greenwood, S. C., taught by Prof. James Giles and James Leslie. Here he received his preparatory educa- tion, and, in 1840, he entered the university of the city of New York, graduating in 1844. and during the vacation traveled through the New England states. In 1844, he commenced reading medicine, Franklin Branch, M. D .. being his preceptor, and he graduated, in 1847, from the Philadelphia college of medicine. On leaving college he entered upon the practice of his profession, in partnership with his preceptor, and remained one year. He then removed to Lexington, Ga., where he remained three years, when he removed to Auburn, Ala. Here he remained until the war, and in 1861 entered the Southern hospital, and was of great assist- ance to the sick and wounded during the war. He also did a great deal of work for the government of the Confederate States, in the way of making purchases, and in establishing a detective agency in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. While not engaged in work for the Confederacy, he devoted his time to his profession. He has now been continuously in the practice of medicine for more than forty-five years. On October 15, 1850, he married Sarah Clark, daughter of Hon. Z. H. and Elizabeth ( Mattox) Clark. The former was a prominent citizen of Georgia, serving many terms in the legislature. Mrs. Keller died February 19, 1852, and on February 22, 1855, Dr. Keller married Mary E. Carlton, daughter of James and Rebecca. (McGuire) Carlton. James Carl- ton was born in Virginia in 1799. To this second marriage of Dr. Keller there have been born five children, two of whom are living, viz., Eola R., wife of Middleton Hubbard, and Dr. W. C., who is in the practice of medicine in Texas. The mother of these children was born at Union Point, Ga. Both the doctor and his wife are members of the Methodist Episco- pal church, south. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having joined the order in 1864. He is one of the public-spirited citizens of the county, and has educated many children beside his own. He is always ready to assist in any enterprise that will build up the town, and in poli- tics he has always been a democrat. He assisted in the organization of the Medical society of Talladega county in 1884, and has ever since then been a member. He attended the first meeting of the National Medical association in Philadelphia in 1847, Dr. Arnold of Savannah being presi- dent, and he has always taken great interest in whatever tends to advance the medical profession.
T. J. LAW, a son of one of the pioneers of Alabama, was born in Marengo county, this state, September 7, 1831. He was a son of Isaiah.
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and Sarah E. (Goldson) Law, both of whom were natives of South Caro- lina, but who came to Alabama about 1830. They settled in Marengo county, and remained there until the death of Mr. Low, after which the widow removed to Dodge county, where she remained until her death. Both Isaiah Law and his wife were members of the Baptist church. When they came to Alabama they settted in the woods, where Mr. Law cleared up a farm. He was of Irish descont. His father was also named Isaiah, being a native of Ireland and coming to America at an early day. T. J. Law was reared on a farm an attended school only six weeks in his life. He has always followed the occupation of farming, but, in addition to this calling, he has during the last three years kept a hotel at Fayette- ville and another during the summer months at Talladega Springs. In 1861 he married Mrs. Catharine Nunn, daughter of Mr. Laseter. She was a native of Alabama, was a member of the Baptist church and died in 1853. In 1884 Mr. Law married Mrs. Sarah A. Law, daughter of Dent and Mary (Moss) Lamar. She was also a native of Alabama. and was brought up in this state. In 1861 he was detailed as a contractor and worked thus through the war. At the beginning of the war he owned twenty-eight slaves and had just bought a plantation on credit, having his money invested in slaves. As a natural consequence of the war he lost his slaves and so could not pay for his plantation. He therefore lost all he had had and had to begin over after the war with nothing, and in addition to this greatly in debt. He has, however, succeeded in accumulating con- siderable property, and now owns a large plantation which is under a high state of cultivation. He has always been a democrat in politics and has always taken a great interest in elections. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church, and stand high in the social scale.
THOMAS J. LEE, M. D., one of the leading physicians of Talladega county, was born in October, 1861, in North Carolina. He is a son of Joshua and Eliza (Doster) Lee, the former of whom was a second cousin of Gen. Robert E. Lee, and commanded a regiment as colonel, during the late war, serving in Stonewall Jackson's division through the entire war. He was, by profession, a school teacher, but also followed farming in connection with his teaching. Dr. Lee was reared in Georgia, received a good education, and taught one term of school. He began reading medicine in 1879, and in 1890 entered the literary department of Vander- bilt university. After spending ten months in this department, he entered the medical department, from which he graduated in 1883. He then located at Stilesborough, Ga., where he began the practice of his profession, and where he remained until 1837. He then located at Child- ersburg, Ala., and formed a partnership with Dr. T. J. Powell. This
firm has a very large practice, covering a very extensive territory. In 1885, Dr. Lee was married to Miss Josie Fowler, daughter of Elijah and Mary (Moseley) Fowler. The parents of Miss Fowler were both natives of South Carolina. To this- marriage there were born two children.
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Mary and Joshua. The mother of these children was born in South Carolina. She is a member of the Baptist church. Dr. Lee is a member of the Odd Fellow lodge in his.town, and was one of the charter mem- bers. He is one of the prominent younger physicians of the county.
A. LESSOR, a prominent citizen of Talladega county, was born in Vermont, in 1831. He is a son of Joseph and Mary Lessor, the former of whom was of French descent and was born in Quebec. A. Lessor re- ceived a very limited education, for at the age of twelve years he was bound out as an apprentice to a bridge carpenter, and remained with him nine years. During this time he went to school but a short time in the winters. After becoming of age he worked for the same man with whom he had served his apprenticeship one year more, and then he accepted a ' position as foreman for another year. During the time he worked at his trade he was employed on the following railroads: the Vermont Central; Vermont Southern; a railroad in Canada; Marietta & Cincinnati; Ohio & Mississippi; New Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern; New Orleans & Opelousas; Mobile & Ohio, and East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia. On the latter road he was foreman of the bridge crew, and was super- visor of the track. He was at work on the latter road when the war came on and the company would not let him off to enlist in the army. In 1861 he married Dollie Cavanaugh, who died about four months after marriage. In 1866 he married Mrs. Susan A. Caldwell, daughter of Miner J. and S. A. (Smith) Cleatt. To this marriage there were born seven children, six of whom are living, viz .: Anna, Henry, George, Caroline, Maud and Earnest D. Their mother was born in Georgia, and came to Alabama with her parents in 1858. She is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Lessor served as justice of the peace while living in Kymulga beat, six years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He joined the Odd Fellows at Chillicothe, Ohio, but discontinued his relations with this order after coming to Alabama. While he began life very poor, yet, by hard work, which he was compelled to perform, he has not only made a good living for his family, but he has also accumulated a comfortable com- petency for his old age. He owns 400 acres of land in Talladega county and is one of the best citizens of the county. In politics he is a straight out democrat, but has never been an office seeker.
N. C. LOONEY, a prosperous farmer of Talladega county, was born in St. Clair county in 1835. He is a son of John and Cinderella (Cooper) Looney. John Looney is a native of Tennessee and his wife was a native of South Carolina. He came to Alabama about 1822 with his par- ents. He was a son of John and Elizabeth Looney, both of whom were of German descent. Mr. N. C. Looney was reared mostly in Coosa county, coming here in 1836 with his parents, and settling within one mile of where he now lives. The country was then new, and the work upon the farm so necessary that he had but little time to devote to secur- ing an education. He had to help his father make a living for the
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family. In 1859, he married Mary E. Blakely, by whom he had eight children, seven of whom are now living. viz. : Nettie, Viola, Eliza, Ruby, Iscie, Claudius and Emma. The mother of these children was born in Alabama, and reared in that state. Both Mr. and Mrs. Looney are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. In 1862 Mr. Looney enlisted in company B, Thirty-fourth Alabama infantry, under Capt. John H. Slaughter, and served throughout the war. He participated in some very hard fought battles, among which may be named Chicka- mauga, Missionary Ridge, Dalton, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin and Nashville. At the last battle he was captured and taken to one of the northern prisons, where he was held until June 22, 1855. when he was released. He then came home to begin life anew. At first he embarked in the tanning business, which he continued three years. He then engaged in farming, milling, running a saw mill, grist mill and a cotton gin. He has thus been engaged ever since, and has made his business a success. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, is a representa- tive farmer of the county, a prominent democrat and a leading and most worthy citizen.
WILLIAM MCPHERSON (deceased) was one of the pioneers of Alabama and one of the early settlers in Talladega county. He was a most remark- able man in many ways. He was born in the state of New York in 1785, and died June 24, 1891. He was of Scotch descent, both his parents hav- ing been born in Scotland. They came to this country at an early day. Their names were Charles and Isabelle (McPherson) McPherson. William McPherson was raised on a farm, receiving a liberal education, and while in his teens began life for himself by clerking in a store in New York city. He was always a great reader, and kept by him a large quantity of books and papers, for handy reference. While in New York, in 1807, he saw .Ful- ton's first steamboat, the Clermont, steam awayup the Hudson river. He served in the war of 1812, and after the close of that war, again became a clerk in a store in New York city, remaining in this position until 1819. During this time, by close economy, he managed to save up $600, with which he bought goods. These goods he shipped to Mobile, Ala., reach- ing there in December, 1819. Here he rented a store, put his goods in the building, and the second night of his occupancy of this building, had the misfortune to lose all by fire. Being thus left without any property he accepted a position in a store at Mobile, remaining thus engaged about two years. During his second year his employer, Mr. Levens, was so favorably impressed with him, that he sold him a bill of goods on credit, with which goods he removed to Vernon, Ala., on the Alabama river, and established himself in business there, meeting with great suc- cess. He also made very fortunate investments in cotton, buying while it was low and selling when it was high, thus realizing a handsome profit. The $14,000 made in this way he invested in land. In 1835, he removed to what is now Fayetteville, resumed his mercantile business and contin-
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ued thus engaged until 1872. He was also at the same time interested in the operation of saw mills, grist mills and cotton gins. Besides being a very successful business man he was a very large land owner, having at at one time 10,000 acres of land. He was also prominent in politics, being, in 1839, elected to the legislature of Talladega county, and served two years. He also at other times held other and minor offices. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was an earnest worker for the church and Sunday school. He was present at the preaching of the funeral sermon of Alexander Hamilton. In 1831 he married Martha Mims, daughter of Marshall and Jane Mims. Mrs. McPherson was a native of Georgia, and died in the latter part of 1836. September 21. 1837, he married Susan S. Spear, daughter of Moses and Amelia (Ewing) Spear. Moses Spear was a native of Maryland, and was one of the pio- neer ministers of Tennessee and Kentucky. He joined the Methodist Episcopal conference in 1783, devoted his whole life to the ministry and died in Texas in 1840. Mrs. Amelia Spear was born in Virginia in 1774, emigrated with a colony from Virginia at an early day to Tennessee, and was raised in the fort at Nashville. While an inmate of this fort she witnessed many a fight between the whites and the Indians, and upon different occasions she was chased by Indians, while she was on a bare-backed horse with a child in her arms. She was one of the true- hearted pioneer women of those early days, and always performed her part of the duty of the pioneer. She was one of the seven that formed the first Methodist society in Nashville, in 1790. To the marriage of Mr. McPherson with Miss Susan Spear, there were born nine children, five of whom are now living, viz. : Jeannette, William G., Roxanna, Charles C., and Samuel. Robert died in 1881. The mother of these children was
born in 1815, near Nashville, Tenn.
She had the advantage of good
schools, and was well educated. In 1835, she removed to Talladega
1 county, Ala., for the purpose of teaching school, and hers was the first school for girls taught in the county. She taught the first Sunday school in the southern end of the county, which she organized in 1840, and her husband attended Sunday school up to within a few years of his death. She also taught a school, without charge, for such young ladies as were unable to pay tuition. Mr. McPherson's death was a great shock and caused a great loss to the community. He was a man well known for his liberality to the poor, and was never known to press a poor man for a debt that was difficult for him to pay. He was a liberal supporter of the church and Sunday school. Dying at the great age of one hundred and six years, there are few if any men who have ever lived in Talladega county who have made the profound impression on the public mind, made and left by Mr. McPherson by his noble aims and lofty purposes. Mrs. McPherson still survives at the age of seventy-seven, and enjoys the respect of a large circle of acquaintances and friends. At this
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:advanced age, Mrs. McPherson has recently written, for the public press, a sketch of the life of her husband, some extracts of which are here inserted. Invernesshire, in Scotland, is the place whence the McPher- son family came to America prior to the Revolution, settling a small colony in Albany county, N. Y. This colony brought with them a min- ister of the Scottish church, to which the colonists adhered until the presbytery formed an independent church some years after peace was made with Great Britain. William McPherson, Sr., was the father of Charles, who, in turn, was the father of the William who came south. He was born May 12, 1785, was baptized in the kirk of Scotland at eight years of age, and spoke Scotch until nine years old. Among the early events of his life, beside; those already recorded, he remembered the text selected for the funeral sermon of Alexander Hamilton: Samuel II., ch. 3, v. 33. He also traveled on a boat with Aaron Burz, whom he considered to be a sad- looking and unhappy man, and in 1824, had the pleasure of seeing Lafayette land on the shores of America. He fought during the war of 1812-15, in Capt. Buckley's company, Col. Swarthon's regiment, doing duty on Staten Island, but not taking part in any active battle. In after years he was a great admirer of Grover Cleveland, and would have voted for him in 1892, had not death carried him away.
W. L. MILLER, general manager of the Talladega Mercantile company, was born in Wilcox county, Ala., in 1860. He is a son of George O. and Susan C. (Trussell) Miller, the former of whom was born in North Caro- lina, came to Alabama in 1834, and was a soldier in the late war, being a member of company C, Forty-fourth Alabama infantry. Mrs. Susan C. (Trussell) Miller was a native of South Carolina. W. L. Miller was raised in his native county, and was more fortunate in his youth than many others, in that he received a liberal education. After leaving school, and at the age of sixteen, he accepted a clerkship in a 'grocery store, at Shiloh, Ala., with T. I. Hosea. His wages for the first year were $5 per month, and for the second year, they were 88 per month. For the third year his employer offered him $10 per month, which he refused to accept, and, as a consequence, he retired to farm labor, at which he continued six months, when he accepted a clerkship with J. M. Varner, with whom he remained six months. He then again returned to the farm, remaining this time on the farm two years. During his second year on the farm, he established, in December, 1879, a store, six miles west of Shiloh, on his own account, which he continued three years, or until 1893. In Septem- ber, 1883, he opened a branch store at Magnolia, and at the close of the same year, closed his store at Shiloh. He conducted the store at Mag- nolia until 1890. In the meantime he established, in 1885, a branch store at Gulett's Bluff, Wilcox county, which he conducted for some years, closing it out in 1890. In 1888, Mr. Miller, in company with J. A. Black- burn, established a wholesale grocery store in Talladega, the first in the place, and 1889 they admitted to partnership W. M. Groce, changing the
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