Covington County Alabama Biographies     DAVIS, DEWITT C., member consitutional convention, 1861, from Covington County. Source: History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, By Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen, Published by The S. J. Clarke publishing company, 1921; Transcribed by C. Anthony HARDAGE, JOEL THOMAS, teacher, was born Novemher 4, 1863, at Carrolton, Ga.; son of James McKenny and Sarah (Jackson) Hardage, the former a native of Georgia, who served in Co. I, Second Georgia regiment, C. S. Army, until he was fatally wounded; grandson of Adam and Marian (Woodall) Hardage, of Wilkinson County, Ga., and of Jesse and Mary (Brady) Jackson who moved from that county to Alabama, the former a veteran of the Indian War. Mr. Hardage was educated in the common schools, and in the high school of Rutledge, Crenshaw County. He is a farmer and teacher, and has been for five terms superintendent of education of Covington County, entering office in 1892. He represented Covington County in the State legislature in 1915. He is a Democrat. Married: February 10, 1887, near Rose Hill, to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Wendell W. and Matilda (Jones) Taylor, of that place, the former who served In Co. B, Eighteenth Alabama Infantry regiment, C. S. Army, and as commissioner of Covington County for several terms. Residence: Opp. Source: History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, By Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen, Published by The S. J. Clarke publishing company, 1921; Transcribed by C. Anthony LEE, GEORGE WASHINGTON, Baptist minister, was born October 30, 1842, in Covington County, and died at McKenzie, Butler County; son of Greenbery and Martha Jane (Taylor) Lee, the former a native of Putnam County, Ga., who went to Alabama and resided at West- over, Covington County; grandson of Richard and Martha Taylor, of Putnam County, Ga. Mr. Lee received a limited education in the country schools; was ordained a Primitive Baptist minister, November 15, 1871; was in the ministry for forty years, serving churches in Butler, Covington, Crenshaw and Conecuh Counties, and other places; was clerk of the Antioch Primitive Association for thirty years; and was pastor for thirty years of Elizabeth church. For ten years he taught school, and for two terms was tax collector of Butler County. He represented Butler County in the State legislature in 1903. During the War of Secession, he was a member of Co. B, and Co. C, Seventeenth Alabama infantry regiment, C. S. Army, and lost his arm at Vicksburg. He was a Democrat. Married: (1) February 17, 1864, to Rhoda A. E. Mitchell, daughter of R. M. J. Mitchell; (2) to Rebecca L., daughter of Joseph Howell, of Butler County. Last residence: McKenzie.  Source: History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, By Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen, Published by The S. J. Clarke publishing company, 1921; Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer LEE, WILLIAM ITHAMER , teacher, was born August 13, 1876, in Covington County; son of Samuel Asberry and Hulda (Deal) Lee of McKenzie, the former aConfeder>ate soldier; grandson of Eli and Sarah (Piles) Lee, of Covington County, and of George W. and Tabitha Deal, of Butler County. The Lees came from England and settled inSouth Carolina, later moving to Georgia and from there to Alabama. Mr. Lee received his education in the public schools of Butler County; in Georgiana high school; and the State normal school, Troy. He began teaching in 1898; taught eleven years in the public schools of Butler, Covington and Geneva Counties, and for nine years as principal of the McKenzie public school; was mayor of McKenzie, 1912; and was elected to legislature from Butler County, 1918. He is a Democrat; a Methodist; and a Woodman of the World. Married: October 21, 1903, at McKenzie, to Ethel Estelle, daughter of James R. and Mit- tie Harper of McKenzie; granddaughter of Robert Alexander and Susie (Purnell) Harper, and of John and Sarah (Sellers) McPherson. Children: 1. Mary Evelyn; 2. Hulda Madia. Residence: McKenzie. Source: History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, By Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen, Published by The S. J. Clarke publishing company, 1921; Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer ©2009 Genealogy Trails