Left to right: Betty Harrison Treasurer; Mike Hankins President; Dee Barger Vice President; Stephanie Butler Secretary
2023 Lamar County Genealogical & Historical Society Officers
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Sacred Harp Also Known as Shaped Note or Fa So La Singing, Will Be Presented by Stephanie Butler on Monday, August 13th
Lamar County Genealogical & Historical Society’s August meeting will be Monday August 13th at 6:00 p.m. in the conference room of Lamar County Extension Service 281 Columbus Avenue Vernon, Alabama.
Our program will be on Sacred Harp also known as Shaped Note or Fa So La Singing, presented by Stephanie Butler.
Visitors are welcome you do not have to be a member to attend. Regular meetings are held the second Monday of each month, except July and December.
Our 2018 officers are:
President – Wayne Baines
Vice-President – Barb Carruth
Secretary – Stephanie Butler
Treasurer – Becky Johnson
Personal Stories, Historic Artifacts and Memorabilia Displays Alabama Bicentennial Event Held July 21st
On Saturday July 21, 2018 in the City Auditorium of Vernon about 50 persons gathered to hear “Personal Stories” and view historic artifacts along with memorabilia displays in celebration of 200 Alabama Bicentennial.
Enjoyed were Family history displays on the following families: Box, Young, Oakes, Elliott, Merchant, Pennington, Tackett, Corder, Wheeler, Tomlin, Priddy, Hill, Butler and related families. Responsible for these displays were: Mary Lou Young Fabian, Dianne Oakes Woods, Paul Woods, Kathy Heatherly Tomlin, Betty Priddy Frankl, and Stephanie Butler.
Local folks attended as well as from Trussville, AL; Pelham, AL; Guin, AL; Winfield, AL; Millport, AL; Columbia, MO; Van Buren, MO; Sulligent, AL; Fayette, AL; and Northport, AL.
Special guest, Carla Waldrep, Historian, Herbalist, Story Teller & Librarian at Haleyville Public Library presented stories of the life and legend of Aunt Jenny Brooks. Willis Brooks Sr. was a saddle and boot maker and Jane or “Jenny” Brooks was a beautiful, blue-eyed, half Cherokee woman, twenty years his junior. Willis and Jenny raised their large family in the rugged mountains of southwest Lawrence County and operated a road house for travelers of the historic Byler Road. During the war of Northern Aggression, this area of North Alabama was a hotbed of Confederate discontent. The hill country of Northwest Alabama was full of “Tories,” or those opposed to the Secession Convention in Montgomery and who wanted to remain loyal to the Union, or at least to remain neutral. It was suspected that Willis Brooks had been giving aid to a number of Tories in the area. For this perceived act of treason, sometime in late 1863 or early 1864, a renegade band of Confederate Home Guards tortured and killed Willis and his oldest son, John. This sparked the beginning of a blood feud that would span thirty years and lead all the way to Texas and Oklahoma. The Brooks boys were just little shavers when their pa and teenage brother were killed. Jenny Brooks was left a widow with a newborn baby and large family to feed. Jenny Brooks gathered her young blood around her and all swore to avenge the deaths of their father and brother. “Aunt Jenny,” as she came to be known, would proudly say in later years that she “wasted many a keg of powder teachin’ my boys to shoot!” Eight men were implicated in the deaths of Willis and John Brooks and at least seven of the killers paid for their cruel deed with their lives. Aunt Jenny was said to have accounted for two of the men herself”.
Thanks to Amanda Glasgow, Mary Wallace Cobb Memorial Library Director, Ali Glasgow, Annia Carruth and Clay Carruth for set-up and clean-up. Thanks to Sue Hollis, Burma Jordan and Betty Harrison for all their help preparing for this event. A special thank you to Mr. Eugene Hayes our Videographer. Thanks to Carla Waldrep and her mom for using their Saturday time to visit.
Thank you to our sponsors: Lamar County Genealogical & Historical Society, Alabama Bicentennial Commission, Lamar County Commission and the City of Vernon, connecting our past to our future!
Personal Stories – Historic Artifacts and Memorabilia Displays
On Saturday, July 21, 2018 Carla Waldrep will present stories of the life and legend of Aunt Jenny Brooks. Edward Herring wrote “Willis Brooks, Jr., was born April 3, 1854 in Alabama, the son of Willis Brooks Sr., and Louisa Elisabeth Jane Bates. Willis Sr. was a saddle and boot maker and Jane or “Jenny” Brooks was a beautiful, blue-eyed, half Cherokee woman, twenty years his junior. Willis and Jenny raised their large family in the rugged mountains of southwest Lawrence County and operated a road house for travelers of the historic Byler Road. During the war of Northern Aggression, this area of North Alabama was a hotbed of Confederate discontent. The hill country of Northwest Alabama was full of “Tories,” or those opposed to the Secession Convention in Montgomery and who wanted to remain loyal to the Union, or at least to remain neutral. It was suspected that Willis Brooks had been giving aid to a number of Tories in the area. For this perceived act of treason, sometime in late 1863 or early 1864, a renegade band of Confederate Home Guards tortured and killed Willis and his oldest son, John. This sparked the beginning of a blood feud that would span thirty years and lead all the way to Texas and Oklahoma. The Brooks boys were just little shavers when their pa and teenage brother were killed. Jenny Brooks was left a widow with a newborn baby and large family to feed. Jenny Brooks gathered her young blood around her and all swore to avenge the deaths of their father and brother. “Aunt Jenny,” as she came to be known, would proudly say in later years that she “wasted many a keg of powder teachin’ my boys to shoot!” Eight men were implicated in the deaths of Willis and John Brooks and at least seven of the killers paid for their cruel deed with their lives. Aunt Jenny was said to have accounted for two of the men herself”.
Carla Waldrep, Historian, Herbalist, Story Teller & Librarian, Haleyville Public Library has been portraying Aunt Jenny (living history) for about 12 years. Mrs. Waldrep said “From deep in the Black Warrior Mountains (now known as the Bankhead National Forest) comes the tales of the life and legend of Aunt Jenny Brooks. By way of a number events she became one of the most noted and famed individuals of North Alabama. Her life story is as rich and intense as any good novel, but it’s real. And then there are the legends and ghost tales. You can decide for yourself if those are real”.
Lamar County Kin Volume One
A collection of stories, written or collected by Barb Carruth of the people of Lamar County, Alabama. Many are untold, interesting and informative to read.
Note from Barb: “It is my intent for this book to serve as an easy reference in the reader’s search of Lamar County people. I focus on many who have been forgotten, bringing their stories to life again. You will likewise read about the lives of present day Lamar people who have and are contributing to the preservation of our history or community. I am not a writer but a COLLECTOR of local historical information which may help you discover your family history or solve your family mystery.”
Pioneer settlers came by covered wagon, many walked, rode horses, mules, oxen, bringing everything they owned with them on their backs or either in a wagon. Many left everything behind. They came with a dream, a dream of finding land, a better place, to build a future with hope for themselves and their family. Most came from Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia.
Many saw our area for the first time after the War of 1812 as soldiers returning back to Tennessee, recognized the potential, later coming back to claim land or work on the Military Road (Known as Andrew Jackson’s Military Road) built after the war.
Some came with nothing more than determination and a desire for a better life. They built homes, worked the land growing their food and crops to sell, began traditions that we keep today.
Many have been forgotten, their footprints are gone, washed away by the rains of time. But their hardworking spirit and their pride in our land is not forgotten. This pioneer spirit is alive today in remnants of the past. We will not forget.
FOR SALE
You can order from amazon.com or me if you like. I should have my books in by November 17th. Be sure to get your copy/copies, order from me NOW $19.99 each plus 8.00 shipping = $27.99; 2 books ship priority mail for $8.00.
You may pay by check, paypal or money order. Email me at msbcarruth@aol.com to order.
Books will be available at Falkner Antique Mall in Vernon, Alabama.
READ ABOUT
Armstrong Murder
A terrible tragedy happened in the Moore Hill house in the old Moscow community near Sulligent owned by Ezekial Armstrong and his wife Malinda Marchbanks Armstrong about 1882. The Winston Armstrong family were living in the Moore house at this time. Wint’s wife had a new baby. One chilly morning, Wint had gone to the next farm to help his brother-in-law John Burton Woods with hog killing. Cap Bankhead a trusted old Negro man was splitting wood in the back yard. He went in the house carrying the ax going into the bedroom where Eliza was lying in bed with her little baby. He stood there looking at mother and baby. There were three other people in the room: Mrs. Malinda Armstrong Eliza’s mother-in-law, ten year old Emma Armstrong and Elvira Hill a neighbor.
Mrs. Armstrong thought he had come in to see the baby. She asked, “Well Cap what do you think of our baby?” Without a word he went beserk, took his ax and spit Eliza’s head open. Cap hit Mrs. Malinda Armstrong with the ax but she evaded him. Elvira Hill slipped out of the house and ran on the path through the woods to the home of Burt Woods and told the terrible news. ……..Read the rest of the story in Lamar County Kin Volume One by Barb Carruth
Jane Clouse
Over One Hundred Years.
Lamar County comes to the front with the oldest living person in the state.
Mrs. Jane Clouse, who lives on the Military road ten miles north of Crews, is now one hundred and five years of age. She has been very active until of late. For the last six months she has failed considerably and it is with difficulty that she does her house work. She says that she counts herself but a little over one hundred years old; but the record of her birth which is now in the possession of a well-known gentleman of Marion County shows her to have been one hundred and five last autumn. Read the rest of the story in Lamar County Kin Volume One by Barb Carruth
Jesse Hollis & Eunice Tomlin Cole
They were born in Lamar County Alabama to John Cole and Ida Vernon Cole and Jacob Lafayette and Mary Emily (Molly) Tomlin. Both were reared on farms. The grandfathers of Jesse and Eunice were confederate soldiers. Jesse’s formative years were spent in the Walnut Grove community while Eunice’s were in the community between Mount Olive and Kingsville.
Their courting began prior to World War I and were married before Jesse’s entrance into the army. Jesse served with the infantry. His duties moved him rapidly and was unable to get mail from Eunice until he left the front line. Jesse was wounded, gassed, was blind and without food for seven days while serving in France. He served with a close friend and first cousin Edgar Louis Cole throughout his military career.
Upon being discharged from the Army they farmed on a farm adjoining Jacob Tomlin’s farm until Jesse entered Mississippi A & M. His attention in college was studying raising and marketing poultry. Upon their leaving college they resumed fruits of his education as well as general farming. The depression soon terminated the growing of poultry because it was too difficult to protect the chickens from theft by people desperate for food.
Jesse and Eunice had six children. The three eldest were girls: Ratha, Christine and Jean. The boys Glen, Thad and Jake respectively.
The Coles continued on the farm near the Tomlin’s homeplace. The farming experience included: cotton, corn, hay, truck farming (selling fruits and vegetables) and pure bred Guinea hogs. The marketing of these vegetables was a house to house approach in Kennedy and Fayette. The pigs were sold locally as well as advertised in farm publications and shipped throughout the America’s farming communities. The hogs were famous for the large amount of lard they produced. Read the rest of the story in Lamar County Kin Volume One by Barb Carruth
A. L. Guin
On Saturday afternoon about one o’clock Sulligent was shocked by the news that one of her citizens had been fatally shot. For some time bad feelings have existed between A. L. Guin and A. Q. Smith, growing out of a partnership business. Smith had been absent from there some days and had returned to Sulligent, either that day or the day before, and was at that time waiting for his brother to come and take him to his home at Bedford. Read the rest of the story in Lamar County Kin Volume One by Barb Carruth
James Holladay
Memory Of Jas. Holladay
Mr. James Holladay, an old man and full of years, died on Saturday the 23rd day of April 1887. He was 72 years of age; had lived in this county from his infancy. He was a good and peaceable citizen; had been a member of the Baptist Church for many years, a good and charitable neighbor and a kind husband. He has left an aged companion and many relatives and Read the rest of the story in Lamar County Kin Volume One by Barb Carruth
Girthie Coker Knight
01-26-2004
Girthie Coker Knight celebrated her 99th birthday on Saturday, January 24, 2004. Mrs. Knight is the mother of Robbie Knight, Jewel Sandlin and Dennis Knight. Having served on the Lamar County Board of Education for a number of years and his love for sports, Dennis Knight is widely known throughout the area. Robbie Knight, who worked at the pants factory, lives with her mother. Jewel Sandlin lives out of state, but is visiting with her mother and family.
I had a nice visit with daughters, Robbie, Jewel and granddaughter-in-law Lucy Knight late Sunday afternoon. Mrs. Girthie was taking a nap, so I missed speaking with her. When, Robbie, Jewel and Lucy spoke about Mrs. Girthie’s life, their faces filled with love and admiration. Read the rest of the story in Lamar County Kin Volume One by Barb Carruth
Below is a list of person titles of the articles or stories. Other persons are mentioned, these are like main characters. May be a story or a small tidbit, but it will be interesting. The tidbits are most likely from historical newspaper.
Akens, J. J.
Allman, Minnie Lee Pennington
Anderson, Robert Houston
Armstrong Family
Armstrong Murder
Atkins, Spenser
Baines, Lona
Baines, Wayne & Kathleen
Bankhead Family
Bankhead, G. E.
Bankhead, John Hollis
Bankhead, Marion
Bardon, Betty Etma
Beard, Andy
Beard, Onay Ray
Black, Ralph
Blackwell, Levina Catharine
Blaylock, James David
Bobo, Raymond
Bobo, W. L.
Bolin, Nellie
Bolin, Robert Donathan
Bolin, R. D. Mrs.
Boman, Sammie Lee
Boman, Thos S.
Bonman, Egbert
Box, William Lyles MD
Bradley, Emma
Bradley, Robert Luther
Bridges, Francis R.
Brock, Berneal
Brock, Hubert
Brown, Burrell
Brown, David
Brown, James
Brown, J. W.
Brown, Rias
Brown, Watson
Buckley, Corky
Burnett, Robert A. and E. Loucinda Traylor
Burns, Samuel
Burrow, John T.
Burrow, Martha Caroline Terry
Burrow, Rube and Sim Green
Byrd, L. D. Killed
Caldwell Family
Cantrell Family Travel to Roots
Carden, Avist 95th Birthday
Carr, Jean Smith
Carruth, Robbie Omary
Christain, Loree Hankins Butler
Clark, Erah Burks
Cleveland, Dorothy Noe
Clouse, Jane
Cobb, R. W.
Coker, F. M.
Cole, Jesse Hollis and Eunice Tomlin
Cole, Nellie Price
Collins, James
Combs, P. C.
Cooper, W. T.
Cox, Diaderea
Cox, Will
Danner, Levi Mrs.
Darnel, G. B.
Davidson, Lillie Millican Evans
Draper, Isaiah
Duke, Mose
Edgeworth, Carolyn Black
Edgeworth, Clovis and Ola Robinson
Edwards, John Bankhead
Edwards Infant
Edwards, Henry Tracy
Elliott, Billie Brooks
Evans, Charles
Evans, Richard Green
Falkner, B. L.
Flinn, W. J.
Flynn, Erma Jaggers
Gibbs, Farmer
Gilmer, John Thompson Fraizer
Gilmer, Virginia Woods
Goodwin, S. P.
Gosa, Faustina Hankins
Guin, A. L.
Guthrie, D. R.
Guyton, John Strawbridge
Hale, Harrison and Abraham Murdock
Hamilton, W. F.
Hankins, Huse
Hankins, John Franklin
Hankins, Stephen
Hankins Thomas
Harris, Milas
Hayes, Maggie Lee Davis
Hays, Hilda
Hays, Paul
Henson, L. N.
Hocutt, Rose Marie Gardner Smith
Holladay, C. C.
Holladay, James
Holladay, John Daniel Sr.
Holliday, Joe Mrs.
Hollis Family
Hollis, Darling Jones Jr.
Hollis, D. U.
Homan Family
Ingle, Louise Bankhead
Irvin – Norton Family
Jaggers, Clytee Turman
Jones, Harold
Jones, Jim
Jordan, Hiram
Jordan, J. E.
Kabell, Cynthia Mary Jackson
King, Mary Lou Kinard
Kirk, Robert
Knight, Girthie Coker
Knight, James
Lamar, Lucius Quintius Curtius
Lawrence
Lowery, Anderson
Livington, Richard
Lusk and Pennington Family
Marchbanks Infant
Marler, Adine
McClung, Jim
McDaniel, Albritian
McGee, Peter
McKinney, Veneta Aldridge
McReynolds, Bobby
Metcalf Family
Middleton, James
Mixon, J. W.
Mixon, William Pierce
Molloy, Thomas
Moore, George
Moore, James Field
Moore, John T.
Moore, Thomas B.
Morris, Floyd Jr.
Morris, John
Morris, Ruby Cash
Morton, M. Dr.
Morton, James M.
Mose
Mozley, John Coleman and Mary Jane Evans
Nesmith, T. B.
Nixon, W. L. Dr.
Noe Family
Noe, Lockie Reese
Noe Murders
Nolen, Ellie Ester Birmingham
Nolen, George Washington
Norton, Elmer
Oakes, Evelyn Elliott
Odom, Renzo Franklin
Pearson, Green
Pennington Family of Lamar County
Pennington, Hugh
Pennington, Mollie
Pennington, Rena
Pennington, Richard
Pennington, Silas Filmore
Perkins, Laverne Cunningham
Perry, R. J.
Pinkerton, Austin
Pollard, Mr.
Rasbury, Elizabeth
Rasbury, Isaac
Rector, Charlie Franklin and Annie Lucas
Rector Kin – Digging Up
Redden Family
Reese
Reeves, Jimmy Paul
Revolutionary Patriot Dedication Held
Roberts
Roberts, John Monroe Dr.
Robertson, Fay Memories
Robertson, Tom
Rush
Sanders
Sanders, Bill
Shackelford, Thurman and Margaret McDill
Shaw, Peter
Shelton, Dr. L. F.
Shields, Captain
Smith, A. Q.
Smith, L. R.
Smith, Rube
Smithson, Claud
Springfield, E. M.
Springfield, Harriet
Stanford, Martha Brown Heirs
Stanford, Thomas
Stanford, William Estate
Stone, Commissioner
Sudberry, Sabra Newell
Tate, Alfred William
Taylor, Jesse
Terrell, John D. Jr.
Terrell, S. M. Mrs.
Thomas Family Reunion
Thomas, William Murray
Thornton, Annie Belle Flynn
Todd, Ruby
Trim, J. M.
Trimm, Eunice and Willie Mae Trimm Hamm
Turner, Joe and Sibbie
Vail, Jeremiah and John Michael
Veal, Laura
Vernon, Edmond
Waldrop, W. W.
Wall, A. A.
Wall – Summers Wedding
Ward Family
Webb, Dumas
Webb, Jack
Webb, Joseph and Lucinda Emiline Evans
Weeks
Wells, Dug
Wells, Susie Davis
Wheeler, A. J.
Wheeler, Andy
Wheeler, William Chester
White
Wilson, J. E. A. and Rody Pennington
Wimberly, L. M.
Woods, Jessie Woolbright
Woolbright, Lula King
Wright, Ellis Northington
Wright, Robert Green
Young, Alexander
Young, Dora
Young, Eddie
Young, J. P. & R. W.
Young, Judge Mrs.
Young Limited Partnership
Young, William A.
Cemetery Decoration Days – Lamar County, Alabama
April
4th Sunday: Pleasant Ridge (near Gattman, MS) and Union Chapel, Moscow/Hollis/Holliday(near Sulligent)
May
1st Sunday: Asbury, Cody Church of God, Fellowship, Furnace Hill, Kingsville near Detroit, Lampkin, Lovejoy, Mt. Hebron, Nebo, Sailors, Sandlin, Springfield, Walnut Grove, and Wesley Chapel near Detroit
2nd Sunday: Blaylock, Bethel Church of Christ, Christian Chapel Church of Christ, Crews, Evans, Liberty Freewill Baptist, Murry Shiloh CME at Furnace Hill, Olive Hill, Piney Grove Freewill Baptist Church, Pleasant Grove (Fayette County, AL) Pleasant Ridge Methodist, Shiloh (Pinhook) Methodist, Springhill, Webb, and Wofford
3rd Sunday: Antioch Baptist, Carter (Detroit), Beaverton Freewill Baptist, Ebenezer, Friendship South, Hubert Hollis aka Hollis Memorial, New Hope, Oakes Chapel, Pickle (Monroe County, MS), and Vernon City
4th Sunday: Emmaus, Fairview Baptist, Henson Springs, Lucas, Mt. Zion Baptist and Pine Springs, Wesley Chapel ( in Fayette County)
June
1st Sunday: Kingville Church of Christ, Mt. Vernon Methodist, Old Liberty, Riverside Baptist, and Shiloh Baptist
2nd Sunday: Mt. Pleasant, Mulberry, and Shady Grove
3rd Sunday: Corinth, Higdon, and Taylor Springs
July
1st Sunday: Providence Methodist, and Macedonia Freewill Baptist in Pickens County..
4th Sunday: Blooming Grove
Fikes and Vinson – Historical Question and Answer Session
Today, April 25, 2017, a great Historical Brown Bag lunch at Bevill State Community College in Hamilton, Alabama second in a series sponsored by Bevill State and Marion County Historical Society.
Dr. Beth Gibbs welcomed guests to the lunch. Bob Moore introduced local historians, Mr. Nelson Vinson and Mrs. Willie Fikes.
Mr. Vinson, who came to Marion County in 1949 is known as a “land line” authority ( property ownership legal boundaries) of the county. Mrs. Fikes has a vast knowledge of Hamilton and local area history, and its people. She and Mr. Vinson, know locations of many of the early buildings in Hamilton, that I only wonder about. Attendees were allowed to ask questions with Mrs. Fikes and Mr. Vinson responding.
If you love Marion County Alabama History, you should have been there.
Third luncheon in this series will be May 29th 12 Noon at Bevill. Randy Brown will be guest speaker, topic Andrew Jackson Military Road.
Need Family Mysteries Solved ?
I CAN HELP YOU!
My fee is $15.00 per hour, you set hour limit. Two free hours with purchase of 10 hours during month of May.
Contact me for free consultation. Specialize in West Alabama but I have solved mysteries in other locations of the United States.
I can help you with you DAR and SAR Applications.
I now have resources available to help with Native American and African American research as well.
Barb Carruth
No Woman Can Patronize the Waltz
The New Orleans States fires this random shot: “A Topeka preacher said that ‘no woman can patronize the waltz and maintain her virtue’ and a few days later the pious sky pilot was forced to resign his pulpit for swindling several members of his congregation. It seems that there is always something wrong about a man who is so good that he goes to extremes and shocks and insults people.” Exactly so!! Vernon Courier Vernon, Alabama January 14, 1887.
West Alabama History 