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 48
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PERSONAL MEMOIRS-TALLADEGA COUNTY.
name of the firm to Miller, Blackburn & Co. This firm continued one year, and in January, 1890, Mr. Miller bought the interests of his part- ners, and conducted the business under his own name. Some time previ- ously, there had been started a wholesale grocery store by D. L. Lewis & Co., and on November 4. 1890, this company and Mr. Miller consolidated their business, and changed the name to the Talladega Mercantile com- pany, which is still in existence, and has a capital of $50,000. Mr. Miller owns the controlling interest in this company, has the exclusive man- agement of its business, and has made a dividend regularly, since then, every six months, all of which is a tribute to his able management. In 1890, he was married to Miss Samuella Jemison, by whom he has one child, Lawrence J. Mrs. Miller is a native of Texas, and was educated at Hollings institute, of Virginia, and in New York city. She is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. Mr. Miller is a member of the Masonic fraternity. and in politics, is a democrat. That he is promi- nent in his party, and a trusted counselor, is evident from the fact that he has been a delegate to every state convention, with one exception, since he was twenty-one years of age. Thus, in business and in politics, as well as in social life, he is equally honored and respected.
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SANDY MORRISS, a prominent farmer of Talladega county was born on the farm where he now lives in February, 1834. He is a son of William A. and Susan (Wynn) Morriss. The parents were both natives of Georgia, came to Alabama in 1833, and settled near Talladega. Here Mr. Morriss cleared up a farm and remained upon it ten years, when he removed to the creek near the land his son now owns. There he remained a few years, and then removed to the farm where his son now lives. He then erected a house near Plantersville, that he might educate his children. Not having received much education himself he was the more anxious to give his children the advantages of which he had himself been deprived. On April 22, 1830, he married Betsey Ann Darden, by whom he had five children, viz .: Louisa, Abner D., Mary S., William S., and Betsey A .. Mary S. and William S. having died. The mother was born in Georgia, September 23, 1815, and died February 25, 1840. On November 23, 1841, he married Susan Wynn, daughter of James and Lockey Wynn, by whom he had eight children, viz. : Ellen L., Robert H. B., James W., Susan M., Emma, Fannie I., Sanders and Anna S. Four of these children are now living, viz. : Ellen L., James W., Emma and Sanders. The mother of these children was born in Georgia, June 28, 1818. Mr. Morriss was a member of the Baptist church, and toward the latter part of his life was an earnest worker in the cause of religion. His vocation was that of a farmer and at the time of his death he owned a large plantation. Sandy Morriss was brought up on the old homestead. and received a good common school education. In 18:3 he married Minerva C. Garrett, by whom he has had seven children, of whom five are living, viz. : William G:, Sallie A., James W., Susan, and Ellen M. The mother of these children was born
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and raised in Georgia, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church,. south. Mr. Morriss has always been a democrat, and takes great interest in politics. He is one of the progressive young farmers of the county, and is well respected by all who know him.
JOHN ODEN, one of the pioneers of the state of Alabama, and one of the leading farmers of Talladega county, is as fully deserving of men- tion in a work of this kind as any man in the state. He was born in Autauga county, in May, 1823. His parents were Joshua and Charlotte (Funderburg) Oden, both natives of South Carolina, who came to Ala- bama in early pioneer days. The father of Joshua Oden was Alexander Oden, who was born in Frederick City, Md. Joshua Olen was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving as a lieutenant through the entire war. John Oden was reared in Autauga county until ten years of age, when he came with his parents to Talladega county. They settled on a farm near where Mr. Oden now lives. Here he grew to manhood, assisting his father very materially in clearing up the farm. Early morning would find him with ax and maul at work in the woods, the hard and continued labor being at length repaid by the beautiful and profitable field of grain. In the meantime, John Oden attended school in the pioneer log school house, its puncheon floor and seat showing that educational facil- ities were very poor indeed. He was married in 1844 to Elizabeth J. Peoples, daughter of William H. and Jane (Herrod) Peoples, by whom he had three children, two of whom are now living, viz. : William P. and Elizabeth J. The mother of these children was born in Alabama, and died in 1853. In 1855 Mr. Oden married, for his second wife, Miss Cath- arine E. Crumpler, daughter of Albert and Maria (Zeigler) Crumpler, by whom he also had three children, Albert G., Mollie and Lutie Maud. The mother of these children is also a native of Alabama. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. In 1861, when the war came on, Mr. Oden could not content himself at home, notwithstand- ing he had large financial interests that needed his attention. He there- fore assisted in organizing company K, Tenth Alabama infantry, and was at first its first lieutenant, but was made its captain before the com- pany took the field. He served as became a true soldier until 1863, being wounded twice at the battle of Antietam, and in 1863 he resigned and came home. But he had not been home more than twenty days when he organized another company, composed of old men and boys, and returned to the field to continue the struggle for states' rights and the southern Confederacy. He remained in actual service then until the close of the war. His last engagement was at Columbiana, Ala., when he made an attack upon Gen. Wilson's forces, which were making a raid . through the state. After the war he returned to his home in Talladega county, where he has since remained, and he says he wants it understood that, although he has been in twenty different states, he prefers his own home to any he has ever seen. Mr. Oden's home is a very beautiful one,
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and one only has to see it to appreciate the meaning of the word. When the war closed Mr. Oden was in little better circumstances than many who were less fortunate than he at the beginning of the war. He had saved a few bales of cotton from the general wreck which were ยท held by the Confederacy, This he redeemed and was holding for a high price, when one day, on his way to Talladega, he met Gen. Christler, who had established headquarters there, and who wanted to buy Mr. Oden's cotton. Gen. Christler offered him fifteen cents per pound for his cotton, and advised him to take it, for he might have it taken from him. He therefore sold his cotton to Gen. Christler, and, upon reaching Talladega a few minutes later, found that cotton was selling for twenty cents per pound. Since that time he has accumulated property, and now has a large plantation, most of which is under a high state of cultiva- tion. In connection with his farming he is largely interested in the lum- ber business, and has been for several years engaged in saw milling. He is a man that has always stood very high as a citizen, and has unlimited credit. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has always been a democrat in politics, taking a deep interest in the success of his party but never allowing himself to be a candidate for office. While he has never been a church member, yet he always liberally supports the cause of religion. His property, his character, and his good works form a basis for the certain and lasting popularity which he enjoys.
S. W. PACE, a leading young business man of McElderry, was born in Clay county, Ala., December, 1848. He is a son of William S. and Mary J. (Dozier) Pace. The former was born in Clay county, Ala., and the latter in Georgia. William S. Pace was a son of D. E. and Militie (Leverite) Pace, both of whom were natives of Virginia. D. E. Pace was a Baptist minister as well as a farmer. S. W. Pace's mother was a daughter of Wood Dozier, who with his wife was a native of Georgia. William S. Pace was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in 1863, and served as a good and faithful soldier until 1864, when he was taken prisoner and died while in prison in the same year, He had formerly been a mer- chant and farmer in Clay county. He was the father of six children, three of whom are now living, viz .: S. W .; Lucretia, wife of J. M. Pittard, and Achsah, wife of H. S. Camp. Both the father and mother were members of the Baptist church; but after her husband's death Mrs. Pace joined the Methodist Episcopal church, south. S. W. Pace received but a limited education. His father dying during the war he had to assist his mother to support the family. When twenty years of age, how- ever. he attended school for about a year. In 1885 he married Miss Fannie Mckibbon, daughter of John W. and Frances (Stewart) McKibbon. Mr. McKibbon was a native of Pennsylvania, was a mill- wright by trade, which he followed up to within eight years of his death. when he retired to the farm, and died in 1891. Mrs. McKibbon was a native of Alabama, and she as well as her husband was a member of the
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Presbyterian church. To the marriage of S. W. Pace with Miss Mckibbon were born the following children: Eugene S., Carl D., and Mary. The mother of these children was born in Talladega county in 1862. Both Mr. and Mrs. Pace are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. In 1873 he engaged in a general merchandise business at Mumford, Ala., and conducted the business at that place two years. He then retired to the farm, where he lived till 1883, when he came to McElderry station and resumed merchandising, which he continues to the present time, at the same time conducting a farm. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity and a highly esteemed member of society.
DR. E. D. RHODES, a retired physician of Talladega county, was born July 17, 1832, in Georgia. He is a son of Heflin S. and Elizabeth (Gunn) Rhodes, both of whom were natives of Georgia. The former was a Bap- tist minister, a farmer and a clerk in the land office where the lands in Georgia were divided. His education was entirely neglected in his youth, and he went to school to learn to write after he was a man of family. He is a son of Thomas and Prudence Rhodes. Thomas Rhodes was also a Baptist minister, serving in that capacity for many years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Dr. E. D. Rhodes was reared in Georgia, and at the age of eighteen could not write his name. After he became of age his brother furnished him the means to attend school. In 1858 he began the study of medicine and in 1859 entered the Medical college of Augusta, Ga. In 1860 he began the practice of his profession at Craw- ford, Ga., and became the physician of Alexander H. Stephens. In 1861 he enlisted in company D, Forty ninth Georgia infantry, and was elected first lieutenant of the company. He served under Stonewall Jackson in the earlier part of the war. Dr. Rhodes was in the house of Alexander H. Stephens, and in conversation with him, on the day that Gen. Joseph E. Johnston was removed from his command at Atlanta. When the news came to him at that time, Mr. Stephens in answer to Dr. Rhodes' ques- tion as the effect of the removal, immediately remarked "we are whipped." The doctor served until the close of the war, and then returned to Craw- ford, where he remained from May to October, 1865. He then removed to Talladega county, having at that time but 860 in money with which to begin life over again. In connection with his practice he conducted a small farm, raising his first crop with an ox. Little by little he accumu- lated property until he now owns a large plantation, which is under a high state of cultivation, and upon which he lives in ease and dignity, a fitting condition for one who has behind him a well spent life. July 10, 1864, he married Lucinda Wynn, daughter of James and Lockey (Barksdale) Wynn, both natives of Georgia. Of the children born to the marriage of Dr. Rhodes and Miss Wynn only one survives, Ira W. The mother was also a native of Georgia. She died May 12, 1872. On March 15, 1877, Dr. Rhodes married for his second wife Mattie Allen, daughter of Matthew and Angeline (Drummer) Allen. The former represented Calhoun county,
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Ala., in the lower house of the legislature for several years. The second Mrs. Rhodes was born in Alabama, was reared and educated here, and died February 28, 1887, having had one child which died at the age of four years. Dr. Rhodes and his last wife were members of the Baptist church. He has served as justice of the peace for two years. In poli- tics he has always been a democrat and is a member of the state alliance.
HUGH H. RUSSELL, one of the oldest settlers of Talladega county, Ala., was born in Abbeville district, S. C., July 20, 1831. He is a son of James C. and Sarah (Huston) Russell, both of whom were natives of South Carolina, but who came to Alabama in the fall of 1834. Hugh H. Russell came with his parents to Alabama, and was raised in Talladega county, near Pine Spring, in Childersburg beat. The school house in which he received his education was of the primitive kind, a little log building with puncheon floors and seats. In 1859 he married Mary J. Henry, daughter of Mary and Edward Henry. To this marriage were born ten children, viz .: Thomas H., Hugh, Anna, Hyder E., Robert E. Lee, Victor O., James C., Orville L., Amner L., Minnie L. and Tinnie Q., the eldest three and the youngest of whom are dead. The mother of these children was born and raised in Talladega county, within one mile - of where she now lives. In 1862 Mr. Russell enlisted in company K, Tenth Alabama infantry, and was with his company in all its engage- ments, until the battle of Salem Church in 1963, where he received a wound which rendered him unfit for active service, yet he remained with the company until the end of the war. After he was wounded, he was appointed corporal by his captain, "John Piney" Oden, and he held the position until the close of the war. After the war he returned home, bringing with him a small piece of the apple tree, under which Lee surren- dered to Grant, and the bullet which had penetrated his body. All the property he had was a few bales of cotton which he had 'saved. This was very fortunate for him, for, being wounded and having a wife and two children on his hands to support, and with nothing to begin with except a small piece of land, upon which everything had been destroyed, the outlook was certainly discouraging. But he took hold like a true man, persisted in his labor, and now has a fine farm of more than 300 acres, and well improved. He is one of the few farmers who do not depend entirely upon cotton, raising corn, wheat and other crops, so that he is independent, even if cotton fails, and if it succeeds, then he has cotton as a surplus crop to be sold for cash. He also raises his own meats, which can be said of but few farmers in Talladega county. He has always been a democrat in politics, and during the campaign of the summer of 1892, was in favor of the re-election of Gov. Jones.
T. F. RUSSELL, one of the older and more prominent citizen of Talla- dega county, was born in 1838, and was raised in the county. He is a son of James C. and Sarah Huston) Russell, the former of whom was born in South Carolina in 1805, and the latter, in 1810. They came to Alabama
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in 1830, and settled in the woods. Here Mr. Russell cleared up a farm and remained upon it about sixteen years, when he removed to a farm near Fayetteville, cleared this farm up also, and lived upon it the remain- der of his life. His vocation was always that of a farmer. His was a son of James Russell. The mother of T. F. Russell was a daughter of William Huston, the latter of whom was a native of Scotland, and came to America with her parents when six months old. T. F. Russell was raised on the farm, and received a very limited education. He very dis- tinctly remembers the old log school house he attended, with its puncheon floors and seats. He remained with his father until he reached his majority, and until the war began. In 1861, he enlisted in company K. Tenth Alabama infantry, under Capt John C. Mckenzie, and served through the war. He went into the war as a private soldier, and came out as orderly sergeant. He was in many a hard-fought battle, but was wounded only once, and that severely in the left hip, at Fredericksburg. After the war was over he returned home and began farming, and has ever since continued to follow that occupation. In 1872, he married Mertilla Satterwhite, daughter of John and Sarah (Black) Satterwhite, both of whom were natives of Georgia, and who came to Alabama at an early day. By this marriage have been born six children, viz. : Sallie Lee, Joseph Johnston, Clara J., Albert Sidney, Thomas C., and Charles S. The mother of these children was born in Chambers county in 1851. After the conclusion of the war Mr. Russell began life without any property, but by industry and economy he has accumulated little by little until he now owns 284 acres of good farming land, where he now lives, besides 165 acres of creek bottom lands. Mr. Russell is one of the prominent citizens of the county, has always been a democrat in poli- tics, and stands high in the estimation of his fellow-men.
BERNARD SCHMIDT, one of the leading German citizens of Talladega county, was born in Saxony, Germany, May 19, 1831. He is a son of George L. and Caroline (Strobe) Schmidt, both natives of Germany. He grew to manhood in his native country, and received there a good general education, and afterward took a course in an industrial school. At the age of twenty-two he took a sailing vessel for the United States, and was on this vessel on the Atlantic ocean fifty-four days. Upon reaching this country he first began to travel, but at length, in 1859, settled on the farm where he now lives. He is a miller and millwright by trade, and after coming to this county, he at first secured employment with Samuel Jemison, in a mill, remaining there until 1862, when he enlisted in company A, Eighth Confederate cavalry, and served under Gen. Joseph Wheeler, being with that general on his first raid through Mississippi. He was captured at Shelbyville, Tenn., June 22, 1862, and was held a prisoner until the close of the war. He then returned to where he now lives, and in connection with his father-in-law built a grist mill, which they ran in partnership until 1873. He then purchased his father-in-law's
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PERSONAL MEMOIRS-TALLADEGA COUNTY.
interest in the mill, and in 1875 added a gin in connection with it; in 1883 he added an oil mill, which has a capacity of five tons of cotton seed per day. In 1890 he took his son into full partnership, the firm name being B. Schmidt & Son. In addition to his interest in the mills, he also owns one of the largest plantations in the county, containing 800 acres, a portion of which is richly underlaid with iron ore. In 1862 he married Permelia Harmon, daughter of Jacob and Lucinda (Gann) Harmon, both natives of east Tennessee, and among the first settlers of Alabama. To the marriage of Mr. Schmidt with Miss Harmon there were born two children, George L., and Sudie. The mother was born in 1836 in Talladega county, and brought up in this county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. He is a member of Masonic fraternity. When he came to this country he had no money, but by hard work and economy he had saved up about $900 when the war came on. This he managed to save, and by its proper investment in the milling business, as above related, and by continued careful management, he has accumulated a handsome competency for his support in his old age, and is one of the solid and substantial citizens of Talladega county. His career is another of the many illustrations to be found in this country of the possibilities presented to young men of making themselves independent and useful citizens.
A. G. SIMS, M. D., a leading medical practitioner, of Talladega county, was born April 6, 1844. He is a son of Henry and Martha L. (Hayes) Sims. The former was born in Culpeper county, Va., May 26, 1804. He was a son of James Sims, who was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war. He came to Alabama in 1837, and lived to be one of the most prominent citizens of the state. He was an elector on the whig ticket when Gen. William Henry Harrison was a candidate for the presi- dency, and he was a member of the state legislature during the war. Dr. Sims' mother was a daughter of James and Mrs. (Holt) Hayes. James Hayes was born in South Carolina, and was a soldier in the Revo- lutionary war. He was with Gen. Greene at Guilford Court House, at the defeat of Gen. Cornwallis. Dr. Sims was reared in Talladega county. and was educated at the university of Nashville, graduating from the medical department in 1869. He immediately afterward began the prac- tice of medicine at Renfroe, Ala., and has ever since been thus engaged at this place. In August, 1863, he enlisted in company F, Thirtieth Alabama infantry, under Capt. J. K. Elliott, and commanded the com- pany from the siege of Atlanta until the close of the war. Being at that time a very slender young man, the soldiers in his company used to say that if he were set up edgewise toward the enemy, the enemy might as well try to hit the edge of a piece of paper. - After the war he took up the practice of medicine, and in 1873, he married Miss Kate Allen, daughter of F. M. and Margaret P. (Fanning) Allen. To this marriage there were born eight children, viz. : Marion H., Henry P., Louise,
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Albert, Anthony, Claude, Margaret, and Katie. The mother of these children was born in Rome, Ga., in 1832, and is a member of the Baptist . church. Dr. Sims is a member of the' Masonic fraternity, chapter, and blue lodge, is a Knight of Pythias, and a Knight of Honor, and is not only one of the leading physicians, but also one of the leading citizens of the county.
WILLIAM H. SKAGGS, formerly mayor of Talladega, and now presi- dent of the Citizens' bank, is one of the rising young men of the state of Alabama. He was born in 1861, and his father died when he was a mere boy. He was thus thrown upon his own resources in early boyhood. Not only had he himself to take care of, but his mother's family looked to him for support. Notwithstanding these obstacles, he made his way over or through all difficulties, until now, at the age of thirty-one years, he ranks high among the noted, successful and prominent men of his state. He is in every way popular with the people of Talladega, as an evidence of which it may be sufficient to say that in 1885 they elected him mayor of the city, and he then established that popularity on new and broader grounds. Upon assuming the office of mayor of Talladega, he immediately began to put in operation a number of practical and neces- sary reforms. One of his first reforms was the establishment of a system of water-works, which at the time of their establishment, at least, were confidently believed to be among the finest in the southern states. He also encouraged the organization of fire companies. By the first of these reforms, the city was supplied with pure spring water, and by the sec- ond, it was made as safe from destruction by fire as it was possible to make it. The streets and public walks were improved and shaded with trees, and fountains were erected in the public square, which was itself leveled and paved with macadam. Generally speaking, great attention was paid to the adornment of the city, which had always been noted abroad for the beauty of its surroundings. Mr. Skaggs also founded a bank, which is one of the noted institutions of the city. It was at first called the bank of Talladega, and he was its first president. This was in January, 1886. During the first year of its existence, it claimed to be the only bank in the state, the First National bank of Birmingham not excepted, that issued bills of exchange or letters of credit upon European firms. This bank is still in existence, but is now known as the Citizens' bank of Talladega, and Mr. Skaggs is still its president. But perhaps the most useful, most important and most lasting work done by Mr. Skaggs, was the establishment of the present system of public schools in Talladega, which was put in operation in 1886. He could not wait for the erection of a building for the accommodation of the pupils that needed a school of this kind, but made arrangements with the management of the Synodical institute, by which the public school for girls was opened in its building, while the wooden building near the East Tennessee depot was rented for the use of the school for boys. These schools opened with
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