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 50
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
1
.
991
PERSONAL MEMOIRS-TALLADEGA COUNTY.
they immediately did, although the water was waist deep, and very cold. Just at this time he heard some one say, "Webb, for God's sake, save me!" and, on looking round, he saw Maj. J. W. Johnson, who was severely wounded. Capt. Webb took the major upon his horse behind him during the fighting that night, and during the retreat, and was the means of nursing him back to life. The army reached the Tennessee river on Christmas day. During the entire retreat, from the 17th to the 25th, the ground had been covered with snow and sleet, and icicles, from one to four feet long, hung on either side of the road. Previous to this time Hood's army had been barefooted, to a great extent, and during the march, or retreat, there was no way to provide them shoes, except by detailing troops to follow the commissary at night, manufacture the hides of the animals into moccasins, with the hair inside, and distribute them to the troops in the morning. But many of the soldiers could not be supplied with even this covering for their feet, and all along the road in which they marched, in their shirt-sleeves, with their pant legs worn off up to the knees, and with bare feet, they could not take a step with- out their foot-prints being marked in blood. It is, therefore, difficult to believe that the sufferings of Hood's soldiers on this famous retreat were not as severe as those of their Revolutionary sires, during the war for independence, in 1776. While waiting his turn to cross the Tennessee river, an incident occurred that is worthy of note: A man came up, stood and looked at Capt. Webb a short time, turned and walked off a short dis- tance, and called, "Boys, come here." Upon returning to where Capt. Webb stood, he said to the "boys", pointing to the captain: "There is the man who killed that d-d Yankee, who had us all captured." After crossing the Tennessee, the army went down into Mississippi, and thence the portion of it to which Capt. Webb belonged went to South Carolina, was at Columbia when that place was shelled, was at Charlotte, Salisbury, Golds- boro and Bentonville, where they met Sherman, defeated him at the out- set, but Johnston was unable to hold the advantage gained, and finally sur- rendered. Capt. Webb retained his position as ordnance officer in Pettus brigade till the last, and now has the receipt given him, by the Federal officer, for the guns and ammunition of the brigade. Upon the close of the war, he began life without any property, and what he has now he has accumulated through his own exertions. In 1838 he was elected by the democratic party to represent Talladega county in the legislature, and was re-elected in 1890. He was the author of the bill providing for the care of Confederate soldiers. their widows and orphans. He was also the author of the bill to prohibit pools, trusts, etc., in Alabama. He never lost a bill that he advocated. He is a Mason, an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Honor. On September 11, 1851, he married Miss P. M. B. Ruble, daughter of Dr. Peter and Mrs. (Shelly) Ruble, by whom he had one child, Celeste J. The mother of this child was born in Rowan county, Tenn., and died February 26, 1853. She was a member of the Methodist
-
992
MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
Episcopal church. On September 30, 1858, he married Elizabeth And Sumner Barnes. She was born in Gates county, N. C., February 1, 1834, and both she and her husband are members of the Baptist church. Capt. Webb is a leading and influential citizen of Talladega county, and still has the reputation of having been the best ordnance officer in the Con- federate army. He is now a wealthy man, owning a farm of 375 acres of land, which has upon it large quantities of iron ore. When he bought this farm, he had no money, but notwithstanding this, he was not required to give a mortgage, and this is merely an illustration of the estimation in which he is held by his fellow-men.
REV. WASHINGTON WILKES, one of the pioneer ministers of Alabama, was born in Marlborough district, S. C., March 26, 1822. He was a son of Elias and Hannah (Usher) Wilkes, the former of whom was a native of North Carolina, and, was, by occupation, a mechanic. His parents were John and Margaret Wilkes, the former of whom was a soldier in the war of 1812, and one of the early pioneers of North Carolina. Elias Wilkes, the father of Rev. W. Wilkes, was a superior mechanic, and was gener- ally known as Elias Wilkes, "the honest house carpenter." The mother of Rev. W. Wilkes was a native of North Carolina, and was a distant relative of James Usher, archbishop of Armagh, "by common consent the most learned prelate that ever adorned the Irish Protestant church." She was a daughter of Thomas Usher. Rev. W. Wilkes was reared in South Carolina until about eleven years of age, when he came with his parents to Alabama, first settling in Dale county, remaining there only a short time, when he removed to Barbour county, where he grew to man- hood. He attended was was then known as a three-months school, work- ing during the summer season, and attending school until "fodder pulling time," in the fall. The seats in the schoolhouse which he attended were made of a sapling or small tree split in two. with legs put in, and having . the flat side up for seats. A part of a log in the side of the building was out for a window, and there was a door swinging on leather hinges. This was the only kind of schoolhouse he saw until he was about twenty years of age, and he then entered the Louisville academy, at Louisville, Bar- bour county, Ala., taught by A. R. McDonald, one of the greatest men of whom Alabama can boast. This was the first frame schoolhouse he had ever seen, and at that time the very idea of an academy filled his mind with awe, difficult to realize at the present time. An education obtained at such an institution was thought to be the very acme of literary attain- ment. He attended this school one year, and then began his ministerial work in 1846. In 1848 and 1849, he attended Howard college at Marion, Perry county, Ala. After this time he again took up the work of the ministry, and has devoted his time to it ever since. He is now recognized as one of the strongest advocates of the christian religion in the south- ern part of Alabama. He has always preferred to labor in villages,. and though he has had many flattering offers from larger places, he has always
PERSONAL MEMOIRS -- TALLADEGA COUNTY. 993
declined to accept them, believing he can be of more benefit to the cause of Christianity in the smaller villages, where he is already well known. In 1854, he married Mary E. LaMar, daughter of John and Mary E. (DuBose) LaMar. John LaMar was a native of Georgia, and came to Ala- bama in 1832, settling in Dallas county, and opening up a farm on the Alabama river, near Selma. He was always a farmer by occupation, was a soldier in the Indian war, and was in a battle near Fort Williams, always called himself a "hard-shell whig," and would always vote on the first day of August, and then go home and plant his turnips. Mary E. DuBose, was a daughter of Peter DuBose, a native of Georgia, who also died in that state. To the marriage of Rev. Wilkes with Miss DuBose, there were born seven children, six of whom are living, viz. : James L., Lulu, John D., May H., Thomas J. and Sadie A. C. The mother of these children was born in Alabama in 1835. She was a member of the Baptist' church, and was an earnest and consistent vorker in the religious and in the temperance cause. She was president of the Ladies' Aid society at the time of her death, in April, 1891. The mother of John LaMar came from Georgia on a pony, with him at her side, selected land in Autauga county, made the purchase and returned to Georgia, passing through the Indian country, purchasing what she had to eat from the Indians and accepting their hospitality when night overtook her. Dr. W. Wilkes is one of the substantial citizens of the county. He has long enjoyed the unbounded confidence of all who knew him. and he exerts a' great influ- ence for good throughout the whole community. He has been for years a father to the poor and afflicted. He now has the distinction of being the "Poet of the South." While a complete list of his productions can- not be presented in this sketch, yet it would be unjust to him and to his admirers to omit the following: "Our Times," a poem which Dr. Wink- ler says will well compare with any poem ever written, ancient or mod- ern; a poem on Home; a "Centennial Song;" "The Aged Pilgrim Waiting to Die," written for the Rev. J. M. Scott, of Shelby county, Ala., who was then one hundred and three years old, and who had been a minister about sev- enty years; "Looking Through My Window Glass," or "Deceptive Appear- ances," which was suggested to him by looking through his window at some flowers, and on moving his head to one side, and looking through a broken pane, the appearances of the flowers was much changed; "Woman of the South;" "Hymn;" "Passing Away," or "Four Brief Stages of Human Life;" "Parting Ode to a Preacher's Tear;" "The Old and New Year;" "The Broken Cup." He has written many others which have found their way into the principal newspapers of the day, and several which are published in "Poets of America.".
ASHLEY C. WOOD, attorney at law at Fayetteville, Ala., and one of the pioneers of Talladega county, was born in Bibb county, July 10. 1832. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Atkin) Wood, both of whom were natives of Georgia, but who came to Alabama in 1830, settling in Bibb
.
1
994
MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
county, where they remained until 1834. They then moved to Talladega county, where Mr. Wood remained the rest of his life. Previous to the war he was one of the most extensive planters in Talladega county, owning some 3,000 acres of land; and he was one of the largest slave holders in the state. His death occurred in 1881. His wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Joshua Wood, the paternal grandfather of Ashley C., was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, as was also his maternal grandfather, Agrippa Atkin. Ashley C. Wood came to Talladega county with his parents when two years old, received a good education and remained with them until he attained mature years. In 1849 he entered the college at Talladega, and remained two years. He then entered the state university at Tuscaloosa, but after spending two years there he was compelled to abandon college on account of failing health. Soon, however, he entered the office of Elmore & Yancey, at Montgomery, and began the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1857, and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession except during the time he served in the late war. In 1862 he enlisted in com- pany F. Capt. N. D. Johnson, Fifty-first Alabama regiment, and served until the close of the war. He was the legal adviser of the western army and was sent with Gen. Johnston to Augusta, Ga., at the time of the sur- render. After the close of the war he returned to the county of Talla- dega and resumed the practice of law. Through his practice and through the property left him by his father he has now a handsome competency. He owns a large tract of land which his father opened in the pioneer days of the state. He is one of the foremost, one of the most substan- tial and one of the best citizens of the county, as well as being one of the best lawyers. He is a republican in politics and one of the strongest vet- erans in the doctrine of protection to American industries. On March 10, 1858, Mr. Wood married Josephine Brooks, of South Carolina. Her par- ents were I. L. and Sarah (Oliver) Brooks. Her father was a Baptist minister of national reputation. To this union several children were born, five of whom are living, viz. : Clinton A., Cornelia R., Walk, Julia and Frank. The mother of these children was a native of South Caro- lina and was of one of the old pioneer families of that state. She was a member of the Baptist church and died in 1887. In 1889, Mr. Wood mar- ried Mrs. Susan Pruett, daughter of Washington and Rachel (Vardaman) Robinson, who were natives of Georgia and came to Alabama about 1830. The father is now living at eighty-three years of age. Mrs. Wood is a member of the Baptist church.
J. B. WOODWARD, a leading merchant of Talladega, was born Decem- ber 7, 1846. He is the eldest son of J. A. and Minerva (Rice) Wood- ward. The former, Hon. Joseph A. Woodward, was a native of Fairfield district, S. C., and was born April 11, 1806. He was the son of Hon. William Woodward who, while he was a practicing physician and a minis- ter of the gospel, was at the same time a prominent politician, and
PERSONAL MEMOIRS-TALLADEGA COUNTY.
1 995
served in congress several terms. The father of Hon. William Woodward, Thomas Woodward, was known in the history of South Carolina as the "Regulator." . Hon. Joseph A. Woowdard had several brothers of distinc- tion, two of whom came to Alabama, Thomas B. and Rev. William Wood- ward. The latter resided for several years in Sumter county, Ala., where he was pastor of Baptist churches, and frequently represented that county in the lower house of the legislature. The father of J. B. Wood- ward came to Alabama in 1860, and settled ir Talladega county, where he remained until his death. He was a graduate of the state university of South Carolina at Columbia, then under the presidency of Dr. Cooper, and was entirely familiar with the Latin classics, and took great delight in Greek literature. He was a lawyer by profession, and while in South Carolina led a very distinguished career as a lawyer, successfully argu- ing several very important cases before the courts in Washington, D. C.' He served several terms in the legislature of South Carolina, and in 1843 was elected to congress from the Winnsboro district, and was returned to his seat in the halls of congress for five consecutive terms, giving entire satisfaction to his constituency, and finally retiring because he did not desire longer to serve. He was a statesman of the broadest views. He was a friend and lifelong admirer of Hon. John C. Calhoun, and though he differed widely in his views of public policy from Hon. Horace Greeley, yet he was a friend of Mr. Greeley and kept up a correspond- ence with him until that gentleman's death in 1872. Mr. Woodward was well informed upon all subjects of general interest, and his life was one of constant and unswerving integrity throughout. On his death-bed he expressed himself as having no fear. Some of his last utterances were: "I am ready to die;" "God has provided a place for me;" "I am not dying by accident or mere chance, it is God that is killing me, and it is right;" "I am done with this world and am ready for the next;" "I shall soon be in the region of great festivities." J. B. Woodward received a good common school education, but the war coming on cut his education short. In 1862, when but sixteen years of age, he offered his services to the southern cause, enlisting in the first company of Washington artil- lery of New Orleans, under Capt. Charles Squires, and serving until the surrender of Lee. He was with his battalion in all its battles after join- ing, except the one at Drewry's bluff. After the war he returned to Talla- dega, and at first accepted a position in a store as clerk, in which posi- tion he remained several years. He then formed a co-partnership with I. B. Merriam of New York, doing a general merchandise business in the town of Talladega, after which he formed a partnership with his father- in-law, J. P. Wood, under the firm name of J. P. Wood & Co., which name has never been changed to this time. He has served as alderman of Talladega several years, and is a member of the Knights of Honor. In 1877 he married. and by this marriage has two children, Rice, a son, and Pinckney C., a daughter. Mr. Woodward and his wife are members of
996
MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
the Presbyterian church, and he has been an elder of the church many years. Few men stand higher in the estimation of the public, and few are more prominent and useful citizens than he.
TALLAPOOSA COUNTY.
E. H. BERRY, state senator from Tallapoosa county, is the only child of M. T. and Mary A. ( Heard) Berry, and was born November 24, 1844, near Dudleyville, Ala., on the old homestead settled by his grandfather. The Berry family came originally from Ireland, William and Isham Berry, two brothers, coming to America about 1740. They both served in the Revolutionary war under Gen. Washington, and Isham, from whom the Berrys of Tallapoosa county sprang, was promoted to be sergeant of his company during that war. He married Sally Massey of Virginia, about' 1775, and they were the parents of twelve children, all of whom they reared to maturity. They settled in Georgia after the Revolutionary war was over, and most of their children were born in that state. They were among the first to settle in that new and undeveloped country. James Berry, the seventh child born to Isham Berry, after marrying Juda Thornton about 1816, left Georgia about 1828, located in Chambers county, Ala., lived there a short time, and then removed to Tallapoosa county in 1832. He raised his first crop on what is known as Cattasofka creek. He lived upon this place till his death, which occurred in 1859, when he was sixty seven years old, and had reared a family of seven ยท children. He was one of the first white men to settle in that locality, the country, at the time. being occupied by Creek Indians, and it was no uncommon thing to see a hundred of them together at their councils or green corn dances. James Berry, from the time he was old enough to take an interest in politics, was a democrat. He was always a firm believer in. and a supporter of the principles of that party. He reared four sons, who, like himself, were democrats. Of these four boys, three served in the Confederate army. The other, W. H. Berry, the eldest of the four, served as a member of the legisla- ture from 1861 to 1865, inclusive, and still lives at the age of seventy- two. Both W. R. and M. T. Berry, before the war, were honored by being elected delegates to the state conventions. W. R. Berry was col- onel of the Ninety-ninth regiment of Alabama state militia for a number of years, until such time as he had arrived at the age of exemption from military duty. E. H. Berry, in 1862, enlisted in company D, Thirty- fourth Alabama infanrty, commanded by Col. Mitchell. After serving as a private soldier in this infantry regiment for six months, he was trans- ferred to Gen. Clanton's cavalry, and served in this reigment mainly in this state and in Mississippi. He was near by when Gen. Clanton was wounded in the skirmish on the Conecuh river, in which skirmish nearly the whole regiment was captured; but Mr. Berry and a few others made
1
:
997
PERSONAL MEMOIRS-TALLAPOOSA COUNTY.
their escape. When Sherman started south on his Atlanta campign, Mar. Berry, with his regiment, was ordered to the support of Johnston, and participated in nearly every battle in that celebrated campaign. When Hood went to Tennessee, the regiment was ordered south to meet a raid from Pensacola. He was at home at the time of the surrender. After the war was over, he attended school. for some time, and then entered the university of Georgia at Athens, where he remained for two years. He was in the sophomore class, and intended going into the juinor class the next year; but in some way he found out that his father was bor- rowing money to pay his expenses at school, and for this reason refused to return. He taught school for two years, and then bought the old homestead, and has followed farming ever since. In 1889 he moved into town, near which place he owns another plantation. In 1890 the senato- rial convention of the tenth district met at Notasulga, and, without any solicitation on his part, nominated him for the state senate, and when he received the notification, he was following the plough. He was elected and is now serving his term. He is a straightout democrat, and has never given any countenance to independence in politics. Senator Berry belongs to a family that is highly respected wherever known.
M. J. BULGER, retired farmer of Dadeville, Ala., is a son of Pierce and Sarah A. (Adams) Bulger. The father of Pierce Bulger, Michael Bulger, came to America during the time of the Revolutionary war with Gen. De Kalb as a member of his staff. He was left wounded on the battle field of Camden, where Gen. De Kalb was killed. He recovered, however, from his wound, and settled in Richland district, S. C., where he married, and reared his family. His son, Pierce Bulger, was a sol- dier in the war of 1812, and received a wound during the war. He was a mechanic by trade, lived a quiet life in Richland district, S. C., and died there in 1815. He reared a family of six children, all of whom are dead, except M. J. Bulger, and one brother who lives in Texas. M. J. Bulger was born February 13, 1806, in Columbia, S. C., at the age of seventeen. he determined to move to Alabama, and in company with a brother, Charles, located in Montgomery, was apprenticed to a gin maker, and remained with him five or six years. In 1827 he was married to Miss Parmelia Donnell, of Rea county, Tenn., and a daughter of Rev. Matthew Donnell, a Presbyterian minister. To this marriage there were born four children, viz. : Pierce D., a Baptist minister and school teacher of Lake View, Fla. ; Mary A., wife of Dr. James T. Shackleford, of Trenton, Tenn .; Michael, deceased, and Parmelia, widow of Dr. Wilson T. Banks, of Tallapoosa county, Ala. The mother of these children died in 1836, and Mr. Bulger, in 1837, married Elizabeth M. Bozeman, daughter of Nathan Bozeman, of Tallapoosa county. To this marriage there were born four children, viz .: Nathan, deceased; William D., a lawyer at Bir- mingham, Ala. ; Caroline T., deceased wife of John P. Burns, a lawyer of Dadeville, Ala .; Thomas L., a lawyer of Dadeville, Ala. In 1838 Mr.
998
MEMORIAL RECORD OF ALABAMA.
Bulger removed to Tallapoosa county, and has resided in this county ever since. He has followed farming as his occupation. Prior to the war, he took great interest in politics, and was a member of the legisla- ture in 1851 and again in 1857. In 1860 he was a delegate to the demo- cratic national convention that nominated Stephen A. Douglas for the presidency, and was an elector on the Douglas ticket. In January, 1861, he was a member of the secession convention, and, by his influence and his vote, he opposed secession. He was one of the three who would not sign the ordinance of secession after it was passed. However, notwith- standing his opposition to the secession movement, when the war came on, he felt that he must do his part to sustain the southern cause, and in March, 1862, he raised a regiment in Tallapoosa county, and would have led it to the field as its colonel, but was defeated in the election. He went out as captain of company A, and was afterward promoted to the various offices and up to be not only colonel of his regiment, but also to be brigadier-general. He commanded his regiment, the Forty-seventh Alabama infantry, in its first fight, that of Cedar Run. Here he was seriously wounded in the arm and leg, and was compelled to return home. While lying in bed at home, he was elected to the state senate from his district, served in that session until its close, and then returned to his regiment and commanded it in the battle of Fredericksburg. On the second day of that battle he was in Longstreet's corps, which made the famous charge, and Col. Bulger's regiment was one of the two that carried the Yankee works. Just as he got inside the lines, he was wounded in the breast, and when the regiment fell back, he was left inside the works. He was taken prisoner, and was in various prisons, finally landing at Johnson's Island, where he remained until April, 1864, when he was exchanged. He rejoined his command at Hanover Station. Some time before the surrender, he was granted leave of absence, and was at home, when that event occurred. In the latter part of 1864, when he was at home on leave of absence, he was elected to the state senate, and was serving in that capacity when the state was taken charge of by the national authorities. In 1866 he was the candidate for governor of the conservative wing of the democracy, but he was defeated. An inci- dent connected with his refusal to sign the ordinance of secession is worthy of note, showing, as it does, the character of the inan. When it became generally known that he refused to sign it, a mob of four or five hundred men gathered outside, and determined to lynch him, unless he would sign the ordinance. He sent them word that in his opinion a man who refused to vote according to the wishes of his constituents, deserved to be hanged, and that they should come on and do the work. This dis- play of courage and coolness won their admiration, and turned the tide of feeling in his favor, and upon their desire to see the man who had defied them, they were permitted to file into the chamber and take a look at him. Thomas La Fayette Bulger, son of M. J. Bulger, was born
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.