Chambers County AlArchives Obituaries.....Smith, Mary Helen Blackmon May 4 1998 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Betty Beard rlbeard@cox.net May 22, 2004, 11:51 am Valley Times News, Lanett, Alabama Lanett -- Mrs. Helen Blackmon Smith, 75, of Lanett died Monday, May 4, 1998, at West Georgia Medical Center in LaGrange, Ga. Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, at 11 a.m. at First Christian Church in Lanett with the Rev. Howard Merchant officiating. Burial will follow in Marseilles Cemetery in West Point. Mrs. Smith is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Betty and Robert Beard of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.; her son and daughter-in-law, Robert E. "Bobby" and Mila Smith of Grafton, W. Va.; five grandchildren, Jenny, Luke, Harley, Rosie and Tina; four sisters, Edna Thompson of Fredonia, Dot Mason of Huguley, Ruby Mosley of Valley and Betty Story of Upatoi, Ga.; three sisters- in-law, Mildred Bartlett,Marinelle Smith, and Sarah Frances Smith, all of Valley; three brothers, Sanford Blackmon of Rockville, Md., Bobby Blackmon of Fredonia and Franklin Blackmon of LaFayette; and two brothers-in-law, Robert E. Smith of Lanett and Niles Dudley Smith of Valley. Born July 3, 1922, in Lanett, Ala., Mrs. Smith was a member of First Christian Church of Lanett. She was a retired supervisor at the former Playtex Corp. in LaFayette. Mrs. Smith was a homemaker and had been active in her church, where she served as a deacon, financial secretary, social secretary and was active in the Women of the Church. She was a self-taught artist. Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her husband, A. Clifford Smith, and was the daughter of the late Alice Dickson Blackmon and James Farley Blackmon. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 7 until 9 p.m. at McCarthy Funeral Home in West Point. The family respectfully declines the gift of flowers and asks that memorials be made to First Christian Church of Lanett in memory of Mrs. Smith. McCarthy Funeral Home in West Point is handling arrangements. This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/alfiles/ File size: 2.4 Kb

Chambers County AlArchives Obituaries.....Blackmon, Sarah Alice Dickson October 16 1989 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Betty Beard rlbeard@cox.net May 22, 2004, 11:49 am Valley Times News, Lanett, Alabama Lanett -- Mrs. Alice Blackmon, 90, of Lanett, died Monday at Lanett Geriatric Center. Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Johnson-Brown- Service Funeral Home in Lanett with the Rev. Cecil Halsey, the Rev. Gene Webb and the Rev. Robert E. Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Cemetery in Lanett. Mrs. Blackmon is survived by five daughters, Helen Smith of Lanett, Edna Thompson of Fredonia, Dot Mason of Huguley, Betty Story and Ruby Mosely both of Lanett; three sons, Sanford Blackmon of Rockville, Maryland, Bobby Blackmon of Fredonia and Franklin Blackmon of LaFayette; three sisters, Ida Dickson, Virginia Dickson and Era Dickson all of LaGrange, Ga.; 21 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren. A native of Chambers County, Mrs. Blackmon was a member of New Hope Baptist Church and she was a homemaker. The family will receive friends this evening from 7-9 at Johnson Brown- Service Funeral Home in Lanett. Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home in Lanett is handling arrangements. This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/alfiles/ File size: 1.6 Kb

Chambers County AlArchives Obituaries.....Blackmon, James Farley September 9 1964 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Betty Beard rlbeard@cox.net May 22, 2004, 11:48 am Valley Times News, Lanett, Alabama OBITUARY: Jim Blackmon, Retired Store Operator, Dies Jim Blackmon, 74, of Route three, West Point, died at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday at Lanier Memorial Hospital, Langdale, following a serious illness of three days. He had been declining in health for several months. A native of Harris County, Georgia, Mr. Blackmon had been a resident of The Valley and the Fredonia area for the past 50 years. He was a retired merchant, for some years owning a store in Fredonia. Mr. Blackmon was a veteran of World War One and was a member of the American Legion and the Fredonia Methodist Church. Funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Johnson and Blakely Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. W. W. Hitt, pastor of Fredonia Methodist Church, conducting the service. Burial will be in Hillcrest Gardens, Lanett. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Alice Dickson Blackmon of Route Three, West Point; six daughters, Mrs. Clifford Smith, Mrs. Millard Mason and Mrs. Jim Boone, all of Lanett, Mrs. J. D. Thompson Jr., of Route Three, West Point, Mrs. Grady Story of Shawmut and Mrs. Tommie Griffin of Atlanta; three sons, James R. Blackmon of Fredonia, Franklin Blackmon of LaFayette and Sanford Blackmon of Washington, D.C.; two brothers, Mark Blackmon of Lanett and John Will Blackmon of Route Three, West Point; a sister, Mrs. T. I. Herring of Auburn; and 17 grandchildren. This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/alfiles/ File size: 1.9 Kb

Chambers County AlArchives Deed.....Blackmon, James Farley - Wilkinson, J. H. September 2 1943 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Betty Beard rlbeard@cox.net May 22, 2004, 11:46 am Fredonia, Alabama Written: September 2 1943 _______________________ Copy of Indenture, 1943: STATE OF ALABAMA, CHAMBERS COUNTY THIS INDENTURE, made and entered into on this the 2 day of September, 1943, by and between the undersigned J.H. Wilkinson and wife, Addie Wilkinson, parties of the first part and James F. Blackmon, party of the second part, WITNESSETH: That the said parties of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of seven hundred & no/100 DOLLARS, to them in hand paid by the said party of the second part, the receipt whereof is, upon the delivery of these presents, hereby acknowledged, having granted, bargained and sold, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said party of the second part the following described property, situated in Chambers County, Alabama, to wit: Two lots in the Town of Fredonia, Alabama, one lot with house building bounded as follows: On the North by land of J.F. Cumbee, South by lots of C.L. Veazey and E. T. Johnson, West by School lot, East by public road known as Rock Mill Road, containing seven and one-half (7 1/2) acres, more or less. One lot bounded on the North by lands of Mayland Williams and W. O. Heath and J. M. Edwards, containing fifteen acres, more or less, both above described lots of land containing twenty-two and one-half (22 1/2) acres, more or less, situated in Chambers County, Alabama. together with all and singular the tenements, hereditaments, and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD unto the said party of the second part, and unto his heirs and assigns, in fee simple. And the said parties of the first part convenant and agree with the said party of the second part that they are seized of an indefeasible estate in fee simple of said property, and that they have the lawful right to sell and convey the same in fee simple; that the said property is free from incumbrances, and that they will forever warrant and defend the title to the same and the possession thereof unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, against the lawful claims and demands of all persons whatsoever. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the said parties of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals this the day and year first above written. J. H. Wilkinson (SEAL) Addie X Wilkinson (SEAL) her mark WITNESSES: W. H. Morrow R. L. Jones STATE OF GEORGIA COUNTY OF Troup I, R. L. Jones, a Notary Public in and for said County and State, hereby certify that J. H. Wilkenson and wife, Addie Wilkenson, whose names are signed to the foregoing conveyance and who are known to me, acknowledged before me on this day, that being informed of the contents of the within conveyance, they executed the same voluntarily on the day the same bears date; and I further certify that on the 2 day of September, 1943, came before me the within named Addie Wilkenson, known to me to be the wife of the within named J. H. Wilkenson, who being examined separate and apart from her husband, touching her signature to the within conveyance, acknowledged that she signed the same of her own free will and accord and without fear, constraints or threats on the part of her husband. Given under my hand and official seal this the 2 day of September, 1943. R. L. Jones (his signature) This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/alfiles/ File size: 3.9 Kb

Chambers-Lowndes-Jefferson County AlArchives News.....Centenarian November 21 1968 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Betty Beard rlbeard@cox.net May 22, 2004, 11:24 am Valley Times News, Lanett, Alabama On the occasion of her 100th birthday, published in THE VALLEY TIMES NEWS, November 21, 1968: "Not many of us hope to be centenarians, and not many persons live to attain that honor, but we proudly salute a woman who today reached that milestone. "Mrs. Herberta Mitchell of Birmingham, mother of Mrs. R. E. Smith of West Point, is 100 years old today, having been born on November 21, 1868, in Collirene, Ala. "Although Mrs. Mitchell has been bedridden since last December, she was active up until that time, and often visited her daughter in West Point. Her doctor says she has a remarkably strong physical constitution. "MRS. MITCHELL was before her first marriage Miss Herberta Pierce and was married at the age of 17 to Mr. Niles Dudley (father of Mrs. R. E. Smith), both living in Collirene at the time. Her father, Mr. Pierce, was the postmaster in the small village of Collirene, which is located in Lowndes County and which boasted a post office and a general store at that time. Her husband, Mr. Dudley, played a fiddle and used to play for square dances and waltzes in the homes in and around Collirene. Mrs. Smith says the folks around there knew only those two dances--the square dance and the waltz. "Mrs. Mitchell, before and after her marriage, was an active member of the Presbyterian Church. "To her union with her first husband, Mr. Dudley, eight children were born, three of whom are still living. They are Mrs. Smith and her two sisters, Mrs. L. H. Gilley and Miss Anne Dudley, both of Fairfield, Ala., a suburb of Birmingham. Mrs. Mitchell lives with her daughters in Fairfield. "MRS. MITCHELL'S FIRST husband, Mr. Dudley, died in 1910, and some 15 years later she was married to Mr. Mitchell. "Mrs. Mitchell had two brothers and three sisters, and two of her sisters lived to be more than 90 years old. "In addition to her three living children,she has five grandchildren, Robert E. Smith Jr., Dudley Smith, Hunter Smith and Mrs. Charlie Bartlett, all of Fairfax, and Clifford Smith of Lanett; five great-grandchildren, Mrs. Nick Wright (the former Dorothy Bartlett) of LaGrange; Mrs. Tony Dollar (the former Linda Smith) of Birmingham, Julia Nell Smith of Fairfax and Columbus; and Bobby and Betty Smith of Lanett. She also has two great-great-grandchildren, Maury and Laura Wright, of LaGrange. "Mrs. Smith of West Point is spending today in Birmingham with her mother and her sisters, and they are having birthday cake and coffee for friends who drop by to extend felicitations to the beloved centenarian. "And speaking of anniversaries, Mrs. Smith and her late husband, their son, Hunter Smith, and his wife and their daughter, Mrs. Charlie Bartlett, and her husband all have wedding anniversaries in the month of December." This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/alfiles/ File size: 3.3 Kb

Jefferson-Chambers-Lowndes County AlArchives Biographies.....Pierce Dudley Mitchell, Herberta November 21 1868 - August 16 1969 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Betty Beard rlbeard@cox.net May 22, 2004, 11:22 am Author: Valley Times News, Lanett, Alabama On the occasion of her 100th birthday, published in THE VALLEY TIMES NEWS, November 21, 1968: "Not many of us hope to be centenarians, and not many persons live to attain that honor, but we proudly salute a woman who today reached that milestone. "Mrs. Herberta Mitchell of Birmingham, mother of Mrs. R. E. Smith of West Point, is 100 years old today, having been born on November 21, 1868, in Collirene, Ala. "Although Mrs. Mitchell has been bedridden since last December, she was active up until that time, and often visited her daughter in West Point. Her doctor says she has a remarkably strong physical constitution. "MRS. MITCHELL was before her first marriage Miss Herberta Pierce and was married at the age of 17 to Mr. Niles Dudley (father of Mrs. R. E. Smith), both living in Collirene at the time. Her father, Mr. Pierce, was the postmaster in the small village of Collirene, which is located in Lowndes County and which boasted a post office and a general store at that time. Her husband, Mr. Dudley, played a fiddle and used to play for square dances and waltzes in the homes in and around Collirene. Mrs. Smith says the folks around there knew only those two dances--the square dance and the waltz. "Mrs. Mitchell, before and after her marriage, was an active member of the Presbyterian Church. "To her union with her first husband, Mr. Dudley, eight children were born, three of whom are still living. They are Mrs. Smith and her two sisters, Mrs. L. H. Gilley and Miss Anne Dudley, both of Fairfield, Ala., a suburb of Birmingham. Mrs. Mitchell lives with her daughters in Fairfield. "MRS. MITCHELL'S FIRST husband, Mr. Dudley, died in 1910, and some 15 years later she was married to Mr. Mitchell. "Mrs. Mitchell had two brothers and three sisters, and two of her sisters lived to be more than 90 years old. "In addition to her three living children,she has five grandchildren, Robert E. Smith Jr., Dudley Smith, Hunter Smith and Mrs. Charlie Bartlett, all of Fairfax, and Clifford Smith of Lanett; five great-grandchildren, Mrs. Nick Wright (the former Dorothy Bartlett) of LaGrange; Mrs. Tony Dollar (the former Linda Smith) of Birmingham, Julia Nell Smith of Fairfax and Columbus; and Bobby and Betty Smith of Lanett. She also has two great-great-grandchildren, Maury and Laura Wright, of LaGrange. "Mrs. Smith of West Point is spending today in Birmingham with her mother and her sisters, and they are having birthday cake and coffee for friends who drop by to extend felicitations to the beloved centenarian." Additional Comments: This was my great-grandmother. This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/alfiles/ File size: 3.2 Kb

Chambers-Tallapoosa-Randolph County AlArchives Marriages.....Lauderdale, Mary Magdalene - Johnson, James Edgar March 31 1929 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Tony Southard jsouth2687@aol.com May 21, 2004, 10:29 pm Marriage License Marriage License found at Chambers County Court House in Lafayette This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 0.6 Kb

Tallapoosa-Chambers-Randolph County AlArchives Deaths.....Lauderdale, Thomas Benjamin April 16 1960 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Tony Southard jsouth2687@aol.com May 21, 2004, 10:20 pm Name: Lauderdale, Thomas Benjamin Date Of Death: April 16 1960 Time: 3:20 PM Place Of Death: Alexander City / Tallapoosa County Residence: Tallapoosa County Gender: Male Race: W Age: 77 Marital Status: Widower Spouse: Mooney, Gussie Date Of Birth: February 13 1883 Place Of Birth: Tallapoosa County Alabama Mother's Name: Smith, Laney Ann Mother's Birthplace: Alabama Father's Name: Lauderdale, James Alfred Father's Birthplace: Tallapoosa County Alabama Cause Of Death: Pulmonary Edema / Uremia Hospital: Russell Hospital SS Number: Unavailable Occupation: Farmer Funeral Home: Radney Brown Service / Alexander City Doctor: H. Harrison M.D. Coroner: Unavailable Informant: Rufus Lauderdale Date Of Burial: April 17 1960 Place Of Burial: Milltown Cemetery Date Recorded: May 5 1960 Additional Comments: Buried next to his wife Gussie Mooney This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 1.5 Kb

Tallapoosa-Chambers-Randolph County AlArchives Deaths.....Lauderdale, James Alfred January 26 1941 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Tony Southard jsouth2687@aol.com May 21, 2004, 10:11 pm Name: Lauderdale, James Alfred Date Of Death: January 26 1941 Time: 7:00 AM Place Of Death: Langdale Alabama / Chambers County Residence: Langdale Alabama / Chambers County Gender: Male Race: W Age: 86 Marital Status: Widower Spouse: Smith, Laney Ann Date Of Birth: December 27 1854 Place Of Birth: Tallapoosa County Alabama Mother's Name: Mahan, Elizabeth Ann Mother's Birthplace: Tallapoosa County Alabama Father's Name: Lauderdale, Andrew Jackson Father's Birthplace: Georgia Cause Of Death: Chronic Nepheritis Hospital: Unavailable SS Number: Unavailable Occupation: Merchant Funeral Home: Johnson & Co. Doctor: W. L. Marshall Coroner: Unavailable Informant: J. F. Lauderale Date Of Burial: January 27 1941 Place Of Burial: Wadley City Cemetery Date Recorded: February 3 1941 Additional Comments: No headstone on gravesite but has a son Stephen Lauderdale buried there also and Stephen Lauderdale has a headstone. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 1.6 Kb

Tallapoosa-Chambers-Chilton County AlArchives Marriages.....Lauderdale, Millie Abigail - Sellers, Sherod Hagan September 11 1902 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Tony Southard jsouth2687@aol.com May 21, 2004, 10:02 pm Marriage License Marriage License found at Court House in Dadeville This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 0.6 Kb

Tallapoosa-Chambers-Chilton County AlArchives Marriages.....Lauderdale, Mary Magdalene - Sellers, Sherod Hagan December 15 1896 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Tony Southard jsouth2687@aol.com May 21, 2004, 10:00 pm Marriage License Marriage License found at Court House in Dadeville This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 0.6 Kb

Tallapoosa-Chambers-Randolph County AlArchives Marriages.....Carl, Margaret J. - Lauderdale, Andrew J. October 22 1885 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Tony Southard jsouth2687@aol.com May 21, 2004, 9:59 pm Marriage License Marriage License found at Court House in Dadeville This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 0.6 Kb

Tallapoosa-Chambers-Clay County AlArchives Marriages.....Lauderdale, Sarah Virginia - Cash, Hiram R. December 28 1886 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Tony Southard jsouth2687@aol.com May 21, 2004, 9:57 pm Marriage License Marriage License found at Court House in Dadeville This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 0.6 Kb

Tallapoosa-Chambers-Randolph County AlArchives Marriages.....Mahan, Elizabeth Ann - Lauderdale, Andrew Jackson March 4 1854 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Tony Southard jsouth2687@aol.com May 21, 2004, 9:55 pm Marriage License Marriage License Found at Court House in Dadeville This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 0.6 Kb

Tallapoosa-Chambers-Randolph County AlArchives Marriages.....Smith, Laney Ann - Lauderdale, James Alfred November 15 1877 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Tony Southard jsouth2687@aol.com May 21, 2004, 9:54 pm Marriage License Marriage License found at Tallapoosa County Court House in Dadeville This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 0.6 Kb

GULLATT, George Washington [1807-1898] m. Jane Glaze {1815-1887}. In 1862, came to Russell Co., settling near Crawford, Al. Children: Alexander; Peter: Nancy Ann (m. John W. Dudley); William: Katherine: Absolem: Robert: Augustus: Amelia m. B.F. Stripling: George: Martha: John: Edwin: All children settled in Chambers, Russell & Lee Counties. Absolem [1811-1872] m. Nancy Frazer [1820-1891] settled in Stonewall, Al. Children: Groegia, Martha, Regina Mary, Baxter, John, Peter, Willie, Nannie. Family Cemetery at Stonewall, Al. --------------------------------

I have a copy of the Heritage of Chambers County,AL book by Heritage Publishing and in it on page 120 is James Ferguson Dowdell 1818-1871. eldest son of Lewis and Elizabeth Married Sarah Hamilton Render of Meriwether County,GA. If this sounds like your line please email me seperately and mention name and page. Sandel BRISKEY-L@rootsweb.com Seattle

Gretchen and all I'm so glad that you found the biographies to be helpful but please understand that they did not come from me, they came from my email address but only because that address is used with the forms that automatically create the files. When these files come in if you'll look under the copyright it gives the name and email address of the contributor in this case it's Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com Ann has been amazingly generous in sharing these biographies with Alabama for Chambers and all other counties as well. Ann on behalf of many Alabama researchers,, Thank you!! Debra Crosby Chambers County AlArchives Biographies.....Dowdell, J. R. April 2 1847 - living in 1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 15, 2004, 5:07 pm ----- Original Message ----- From: PoteetGourd@aol.com To: ALCHAMBE-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2004 10:33 PM Subject: [ALCHAMBE-L] Dowdell Thank you, poohbos, for posting the bio of J. R. Dowdell. He was connected to my William Callahan Thomas family in 2 different ways, so after I copied it, I forwarded the bio to other Dowdell connections, and they were very pleased to get it too. Gretchen ==== ALCHAMBE Mailing List ==== Post your Bible records here! http://www.rootsweb.com/~alchambe/

Thank you, poohbos, for posting the bio of J. R. Dowdell. He was connected to my William Callahan Thomas family in 2 different ways, so after I copied it, I forwarded the bio to other Dowdell connections, and they were very pleased to get it too. Gretchen

Chambers County AlArchives Photo person.....B. F. Rea 1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 15, 2004, 5:33 pm Source: from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 633 Photo can be seen at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/chambers/photos/gph348bfrea.jpg Image file size: 70.5 Kb B. F. REA, a leading physician of La Fayeette, Ala., is a son of Robert and Jane (Smith) Rea, the former a native of Pennsylvania, born in Cumberland county in 1775. He is a farmer by occupation. The family removed to Greene county, Ga., when he was but a small boy. He married in Greene county in 1818, and lived there until 1845, when he moved to Alabama, settling at La Fayette in Chambers county. Here he lived until his death, which occurred in 1852. His wife survived him until 1878. He was a man of fine education, which he acquired mostly by private study. He was especially well versed in astronomy and was quite an authority on that subject, and as a mathematician few excelled him. He was prominent in politics in his own state, representing Greene county for twenty-three years in the legislature, serving during that time in both branches. He was for many years one of the judges of the inferior county court. He was a prominent member of and an elder in the Presbyterian church, and in politics a whig. The Rea family are of Scotch-Irish extraction, Samuel Rea, the grandfather of Dr. B. F. Rea, coming to this country a few years before the Revolutionary war. He took an active part in the struggle, and after it was over settled in Cumberland county, Penn. The Smith family is also of Scotch-Irish ancestry, William Smith, grandfather of Dr. Rea, having come from near Dublin, Ire-land, to this country with grandfather Rea. William Smith also took part in the war of the revolution as an officer of high rank. The Smith family also resided for a number of years in Greene county, afterward went to Tennessee. The parents of Dr. Rea reared a family of four, three sons and one daughter, viz.: B. F.; William S., deceased; Frances E., deceased wife of Rev. William H. Moore, Presbyterian minister; Cornelius, of Lockesburg, Ark. Dr. B. F. Rea, was born in Greene county, Ga., in November, 1819. He was reared in that county in Greensboro and given a liberal classical education. He began the study of medicine with Dr. T. W. Grimes of Greensboro, Ga., and remained a student there two years, when he entered Jefferson Medical college at Philadelphia, and graduated in 1842. During his two years in Jefferson college he was also a private pupil of the great Dr. Robley Dunglison, one of the most renowned physicians of any age. After his graduation he located for the practice of his profession at his home in Greensboro, where he remained until 1852, when he removed to his present location, La Fayette. During the war he was a surgeon in Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's army. He was married in 1847 to Laura V. Gresham, who was born in Georgetown, D. C., and reared in Greensboro, Ga., by whom he had no children. She died of consumption in 1853, and Dr. Rea married, in 1855, Sarah Williams, who was born and reared in Tuskegee, Ala. By her he has had the following children: Ida, deceased; Carrie Lee, wife of Charles Schuessler of La Fayette, Ala.; William R., salesman of Roanoke, Ala., Frances M., deceased; B. Franklin, a physician of La Fayette, Ala., and Sarah, deceased. The mother of these children died of typhoid fever in 1865. Politically Dr. Rea is a democrat. He is a master Mason, and an elder in the Presbyterian church. He has served as president of the Chambers county Medical society several years, and at the same time, president of the board of censors. He has always been fond of languages, and has never given up, or neglected, his Latin and Greek, as is too frequently done by professional men, and he has devoted much time to the study of some of the modern languages, and has given as much time to speaking and writing them correctly, as to his own language. Additional Comments: Bio from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 632-635, published by Brant & Fuller (1893) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 4.4 Kb