Hello, everybody! I am responding to Diane's question about Benjamin Hood in Cherokee County, 1870-80. [email protected] wrote: > > I am hoping to find information (any information) about the family of a > Benjamin F. HOOD, known to be living in Cherokee Co., AL from at least 1870 > to 1880. He may have served in the 13th Infantry Regiment of Alabama Troops > in the Civil War (I have sent for the records of this Benjamin F. Hood, but > don't yet have them). He is supposed to have been born in SC ca. 1826. His > oldest child (b. ca. 1855) is supposed to have been born in AL. I doubt his > pre-war county of residence in AL was Cherokee Co. According to the 1880 > Federal Census, his father was born in SC and his mother in NC. > > All I know about his wife is that her first name was Mary, and that she was > born in NC. According to the 1880 Federal Census, her father was born in > Ireland, and her mother in SC. I don't know if this is the same “Hood” you are looking for in Cherokee County. I have a copy of the diary of Sarah Rousseau Espy covering the years 1859-1868 and there is much mention of a Parson Hood. At various places in the diary she referred to him as Parson, Preacher, or Elder. The first mention of him is as Preacher Hood at a meeting at Yellow Creek, Sept 2, 1859, then the next day to her home for mid-day dinner. In November he was elected moderator [of the church association] for the ensuing year. Continued references to his preaching at Shady Grove, Willow Creek, Round Mountain, and Lebanon. There is also a mention of a Miss Hood who came with Elder Hood and spent Sunday night at Sarah Espyís home. In November, 1860, Elder Hood was elected pastor at Yellow Creek for the next year. In July, 1861, there is mention of Hood's volunteers being given a bucket dinner at the school-house, then, still in July “went to King's where a volunteer company is to elect its officers; they chose Elder Hood as Captain.” On July 29, 1861, she says, “they are to start to Huntsville on the 14th August; Elder Hood's are to start on the 13th to Richmond. So we are to lose our preacher, and the country one of her best men.” On Aug 4, 1861, “Elder Hood, who is going off soon with his company, preached his farewell sermon to a large congregation.” On Aug 30, “finished a pair of socks for Alfred Espy, one of Mr. Hood's company, who leaves next Wednesday.” On September 3rd and 4th: “the boat (Bill Ramey) which is to take the volunteers tomorrow, arrived at Dublin last night, and is lying there now. Elder Hood came home with T. tonight. Pretty morning, we went to Dublin early; a large concourse of people assembled there to witness the departure of the volunteers; considerable excitement.” On the 11th of Jan., 1862, however, “he went to see Elder Hood this evening, who has returned on account of ill health.” On the 29th of March, 1862, “Mr. Hood preached and also consented to attend the Church the remaining of the year.” He provided a great deal of comfort to the Espy family in the lingering death of their son Columbus Espy, who died 29 Nov 1862 of wounds taken during the war. Sarah continues to mention Parson Hood preaching until the end of her diary, 1868. She never mentions his first name, so don't know if this is your man or not! I have permission from the Alabama Archives to publish Sarah's diary, and am working on the index, so persons mentioned in it can be looked up. In the meantime, if you think you might have had people living in the area during 1859-1868, I'll be happy to do lookups. Martha Lyle