Fayette County Alabama Biographies   AGNEW, A. W., M.D. physician at Fayette court house, Ala, was born in Abbeville County, S. C. September 17, 1824. He was the ninth of nine children born to Andrew and Anna (Cowan) Agnew, both natives of South Carolina. Mrs. Cowan was the daughter of Isaac and Anna Cowen, also natives of South Carolina. Andrew Agnew came to Alabama in 1836, and was thus one of the earliest settlers of the county. He was a farmer by occupation. Dr. A. W. Agnew was educated at the Liberty Academy in Alabama, and then attended the medical college at Lexington, Ky where he graduated in 1844. He immediately afterward located in Pickens county, Ala and began the practice of medicine, and there he remained, thus engaged for thirty-eight years. Then, in 1883, he removed to Fayette Court House, where he has since resided, and where he enjoys a large and lucrative practice. Dr. Agnew has been married twice. In 1850 he married Miss Amanda S Burdine, daughter of James T. Burdine, and a native of Alabama. To this marriage three children were born, viz: Dr. James A., Lilly J. and Louis a. He was married again in 1871t o Mrs. M. R. Beckwith, of Mississippi, but whom he has no children. Dr. Agnew was quite prominent in the politics of Pickens county and served as a representative of that county in the state legislature. He has been a very successful and prominent physician, and is now surgeon for the Richmond & Danville Railroad company, a position which he has held for the past two years. On account of the necessity for professional service such as he is capable of rendering he was permitted to remain at home during the war. He is member of the Masonic fraternity, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, is an Odd Fellow and is well known as a public –spirited man in all things. Source: From Memorial Record of Alabama. By Hannis Taylor, Brant & Fuller, Publishers, Madison, Wis. 1893. Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney BEASLEY, CECIL ACKMOND of Fayette, Fayette county, Ala., was born Dec. 20. 1876. four miles west of Kennedy, Lamar county, Ala., and is the son of Wm. Luther and Susan Frances (Howeil) Beasley, both of whom were natives of that section of the State where their son was born. The former was the son of Gabriel and Mary (Appling) Beasley and the latter the daughter of Elijah and Abigail (Shepherd) Howell. His grandfather. Gabriel Beasley, moved to Fayette county, Ala., from Middle Tennessee in the early thirties and later located in Lamar county. His grandmother on the paternal side, Mary Appling, moved with her parents from Georgia in 1830 at the age of six years to Tuscaloosa county. Elijah Howell was born near New Lexington, Tuscaloosa county, Ala., his parents having removed from South Carolina. He was a Baptist minister. His grandmother Howell came from South Carolina with her parents and they located in Fayette county. Ala. His ancestors have all been farmers. He was educated in the public schools of Lamar county, Ala., and at the State Normal College at Florence, from which he was graduated in 1896. In 1900 he took the degree of Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alabama. He was admitted to the bar in 1900 in Florence, where he had previously read law in the olfice of Emmet O'Neal before he entered the University. He practiced in Florence for two years before he located in Fayette in Oct., 1903. He is private secretary to U. S. Senator John H. Bankhead, which position he has held since 1903. Is a Democrat; a Missionary Baptist; a Royal Arch Mason; Odd Fellow; Knight of Pythias and Red Man. On Jan. 18. 1910, Senator Beasley was married in Fayette, Ala., to Mrs. Louise (Renfro) Robertson, daughter of A. J. and Sarah Freeman Renfro. both of Fayette. Source: Alabama Official and Statistical Register - by Alabama Department of Archives and History. Compiled by Thomas M. Owen, LL. D., Director , Montgomery, Ala. THI Brown Printing Company 1911 - Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney BELL, HOLLAND M., Probate judge of Fayette county, was born in Tuscaloosa county, Ala. June 25, 1839. He was the fifth of ten children born to Anthony F. and Elizabeth (Middleton) bell, the former a native of South Carolina, and the latter of Alabama. Anthony F. bell came to Alabama in 1816, and was thus one of the very earliest settlers of the state. He was a tanner by trade, and became one of the prominent citizens of the county of Fayette. He was elected county commissioner a number of times before the war, and was elected county treasurer in 1874. His parents were John and Amelia (Heard) Bell, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of South Carolina. The father of Mrs. Elizabeth Bell was Zachariah Middleton. Judge Holland M. bell was reared in Alabama, and educated in both public and private schools until he was twenty-one years of age. He then entered the La Grange Military academy in Franklin county, Ala. where the remained fifteen months, when upon the breaking out of the war he enlisted. April 14, 1862, in Company H., forty-first Alabama infantry, and served until captured 29th of March 1865. He was in several of the important battles of the war, among them being that of Murfreesboro, Drewry’s Bluff, Chickamauga, Richmond, Petersburg, and Hatcher’s Run, in which last battle he was captured 29th of March 1865, and taken to Washington, where he was held eight days, and then taken to Johnson’s island. Here he was kept two months and was then paroled. He enlisted as a private soldier but was soon promoted to sergeant major of his regiment, which position he held until a vacancy occurred in the position of first lieutenant in the company to which he was elected, and continued as first lieutenant until 1864 when he was promoted to captain, and held this position until the close of the war. He was married in 1866 to Miss Margarette Miles, a naïve of Georgia, and a daughter of Robert P. Miles of Georgia. To this marriage there were born seven children, viz: John M. Edna, and Ethel, all deceased; Ernest S., Claude, and Ludy and one not named, having died in infancy. Mr. Bell is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church church. Mr. Bell is very popular in his county. He was elected circuit clerk in 1874 and was elected county and probate judge in 1880 and has held this position ever since. Source: From Memorial Record of Alabama. By Hannis Taylor, Brant & Fuller, Publishers, Madison, Wis. 1893. Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney  CANNON, WILLIAM MORROW of Fayette. Fayette county, was born at New Lexington. Tuskaloosa county, March 15, lS65. His parents were Thomas Sidney and Mary Ellen (Morrow) Cannon. His grand-parents were Isaac and Sarah (Barbee) Cannon of Tuscaloosa county, and Jas. Morton and Catherine White (Paden) Morrow, of Fayette county. His paternal grand-father and both his grand-mothers were South Carolinians by birth. His maternal grand-father came from N. C., to Fayette county, and served as sheriff of that county for a term. Thomas S. Cannon was a Confederate soldier. Representative Cannon received his education at the Fayette high school, and thereafter followed the occupation of farming until he became a merchant. He served on the board of education of Fayette for three y«ars, 1901-3. He is a Democrat, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. On November 29. 1892, he was married to Mary Jane, daughter of Lewis Porter and H. J. (Moore) Humber of Fayette. Source: Alabama Official and Statistical Register 1907 - by Alabama Department of Archives and History. Compiled by Thomas M. Owen, LL. D., Director , Montgomery, Ala. Brown Printing Company 1907 - Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney JONES, ELLIOTT PRIEST – He is a native of Lawrence county, and was born in the year 1819. His mother was a Miss Wallace; his father was a farmer who came from Kentucky the year before, and lived in Lawrence. He came with his parents to Fayette in 1837. Having received a good education, he taught school three years, then read law in Moulton under the eye of Messrs D. G. Ligon and Leroy P. Walker. Enrolled as an attorney in 1844, he opened an office in Fayetteville. In 1848-50 he was judge of the county court, and from 1850 to 1860 he represented Marion and Fayette in the senate with modesty, but with usefulness and efficiency. He was a member of the constitutional conventions of 1861 and 1865 and in the latter year was again chosen to the State Senate. He went out of office when the Reconstruction acts were passed in 1868, and the same year was on the Seymour electoral ticket. He now practices law and ranks well in the profession. Judge Jones in held in deserved esteem for his honorable character, solid mental attributes, and public spirit. Source: Alabama, Her History, Resources, War Record, and Public Men - by Willis Brewer, Barrett & Brown Publishers, Montgomery, Ala. 1872. Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney LOCKE, HUGH ALLEN,lawyer,was born February 9, 1885, near Moscow, Fayette County; son of Robert and Susannah Francannah (Crenshaw) Locke, the former a native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., who lived at different places in that state, who served four years as a Confederate soldier, and was a civil engineer and a farmer. The grandson of David Shelton and Clarissa Caroline Crenshaw, who lived near Memphis, Tenn., and of Robert Locke, who was from the north of Ireland, of Scotch descent, came to America and finally settled near Memphis, Tenn., where he became a planter. The Crenshaws are of Welsh descent, and settled in North Carolina. Judge Locke was educated in the grammar and high schools of Somerville, Tenn. He graduated from Birmingham college, 1905, B. S.; from Vanderbilt university, LL.B., 1907, and the same year began the practice of law in Birmingham. He served as assistant solicitor of Jefferson County from January, 1911, to April, 1914; was elected judge of the tenth judicial circuit of Jefferson County, January, 1916; and is a trustee of the Birmingham-Southern college. He is a Democrat; a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south; is a Mason; a Shriner; A Odd Fellow; Knight of Pythias; Woodman of the World; and a MacCabee. He is unmarried. Residence: Birmingham. 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 MCCLURE, BENJAMIN F., a prominent farmer of Fayette county, was born in the same county June 7, 1839. He is the ninth of a family of ten children born to John and Ellen (Phelps) McClure, the former of whom is a native of Kentucky and the latter of Alabama. John McClure came to Alabama in 1820 and engaged in farming until his death in 1858. Benjamin McClure was reared in Alabama and was educated in the private schools of this state. He has followed farming and is one of the most extensive farmers in the county. He owns 1,200 acres of land, 300 of which are under a high state of cultivation. He has been married twice, first in 1860 to Josephine Miles, a native of South Carolina. To this marriage there was born one child, Melissa C. In 1867 he married Miss Ellen Anderson of Alabama. Mr. McClure enlisted in 1862 in Company F. thirteenth Alabama battalion of cavalry, and served therein until the close of the war. In this year the thirteenth and First Alabama battalions were consolidated and became the Fifty-sixth. He served in many of the important battles of the war, among them being the fight at New hope church, and the Georgia campaign from beginning to end. He was in Forest’s raid in northern Mississippi. He was wounded in the thigh by a shell at Atlanta, but was out of service but a short time. He retuned to his command and afterward was neither wounded nor capture. Mr. McClure is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church south as are also the other members of his family. He is also a member of the order of Odd Fellows. He is a strong democrat but has been sought for any office in the county. He was one of the guards who accompanied Jefferson Davis when he carried the treasure of the failing confederacy of public institutions, such as schools, churches and other praise worthy objects. Source: From Memorial Record of Alabama. By Hannis Taylor, Brant & Fuller, Publishers, Madison, Wis. 1893. Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney MCGUIRE, JOSEPH H., attorney at law of Fayette court House, Ala. was born in Tuscaloosa county, Ala., September 29, 1848. He was the youngest of six children born to Henry W. and Sarah (Embry) McGuire, both natives of Alabama. The parents of Henry W. McGuire were John and Nancy (Rogers) McGuire, both natives of Tennessee. John McGuire came to Alabama in 1817, and was one of the early settlers and prominent characters in that early day. The father of Mrs. Sarah McGuire was Joseph Embry. Joseph H. McGuire was reared in Alabama and educated in private schools. He then entered the law department of the University of Alabama, and graduated in 1878, taking also a course in English. He practiced law in Pickens county one year, and then removed to Fayette, where he has since remained, and where he has a large and profitable practice. He is one of the foremost lawyers in the county. He owns considerable land in different counties, and valuable city property in Birmingham but does not farming himself, preferring to rent it to others. He was married in 1878 to Mrs. Seleta J. Windham, nee Anderson, a native of Alabama, by whom he has four children, viz: Everett, Joseph, Mary and Florence. Mr. McGuire has filled several official positions, along them register in chancery from 1880 to 1883, in Fayette county, and he also filled the same position in Walker county from 1872 to 1876. He is a strong democrat and belongs to one f the best families in the state. He has been a member of the missionary Baptist church since 1867. He takes great interest in all laudable public enterprises, and is well and widely known as a public-spirited man. Source: From Memorial Record of Alabama. By Hannis Taylor, Brant & Fuller, Publishers, Madison, Wis. 1893. Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney PETERS, ROBERT FRIERSON, attorney at law, of Fayette, Fayette county, Ala., was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala, October 11, 1862. He is the eldest of four children born to Benjamin F. and Ada M. (Frierson) Peters, the former a native of South Carolina and the latter of Tennessee. The father was a Presbyterian minister of distinction, and is still living at the age of seventy-five. His parents were Jordan and Elizabeth (Crews) Peters, both of South Carolina. The parents of Mrs. Ada M. Peters were Robert and May C. (McCrea) Frierson, of Tennessee. Benjamin F. Peters occupied a prominent position in the public eye while a resident of Fayette county, being superintendent of instruction in the county, as well as a popular minister of the gospel. Robert F. Peters was reared in Fayette county, and educated by his father, who is a graduate of the university of Virginia. At the age of twenty-four he entered the University of Alabama and graduated in 1887 from the department of law. He immediately began practice at Fayette court house, where he has since remained, and where he now has a very large and lucrative practice. He also takes an active part in the politics of the county. He was appointed by Gov. Seay in 1887, circuit clerk, and has filled that office up tot eh present time. In 1892 he was a candidate for the position of representative in the legislature from Fayette county. He is now county solicitor. He is a very popular young man in the county in which he lives. He was married June 2, 1891 to Miss Lena Jones, daughter of James B. Jones. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and of the Masonic fraternity. He is also a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and is a liberal supporter of all public enterprises that are worthy of support. Source: From Memorial Record of Alabama. By Hannis Taylor, Brant & Fuller, Publishers, Madison, Wis. 1893. Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney RAY, JAMES J. , attorney of law of Fayette Court House, Ala. was born in Fayette county, Ala. July 31, 1857. He was the sixth of seven children born to Elijah and Lucy A. (Wright) Ray, both natives of Virginia. The former was one of the early settlers of the county, having come to Alabama sixty years ago. His father was one of the first men to open up a farm in this section of the state. The parents of Mrs. Lucy A. Ray were Jesse and Elizabeth Wright of Virginia. James J. Ray was reared in Alabama, and educated in the private schools of the state. At the age of twenty-three he entered the law department of the university of Alabama, and graduated there from in 1881. He began the practice of the law immediately in the town of Fayette, and has been continuously engaged there ever since in the practice of the law. He is prominent n the politics of the county and is now register in chancery, having held the office for nine years. He is also a notary public, and a justice of the peace. He educated himself by teaching school to earn the money to pay his way through the university and he is in every way a self-made man. He has been married twice, first in 1884 to Miss Ida L. Jones, a native of Alabama, and a daughter of Dr. W. W. Jones, who died August 31, 1887. To this marriage there was born one son, Alex. Bismarck Ray. Mr. Ray was married May 1, 1890 to Miss Ella E. Edney, a native of Alabama and a daughter of John M. Edney, by whom he has one child. The Ray family is of English origin. Mr. Ray is well known and is one of the prominent and popular men in the county. Source: From Memorial Record of Alabama. By Hannis Taylor, Brant & Fuller, Publishers, Madison, Wis. 1893. Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney SANFORD, JOHN B., attorney-at-law at Fayette Court house, was born in Jefferson county, Ala., February 19, 1844. He is the only son of Thomas and Marguerite (Burford) Sanford, the former of whom was a native of Tennessee and the latter of Alabama. Thomas Sanford came to Alabama in an early day, settled in Jefferson county, and there engaged in faming and in merchant tailoring. The father of Mrs. Marguerite Sanford was John Burford, who was also one of the early setters of Jefferson county and one of its leading citizens. John b. Sanford was reared in Alabama and educated in private schools. He is a lawyer and has been in active practice for the past twenty-five years. He was married in 1870 to Miss Marguerite S. Robertson, a native of Alabama and a daughter of John C. Robertson. To this marriage there have been born six children, viz: Samuel F., John T. Mary j. Susie, Earline, and Pinkie. Mr. Sanford was in the late war, enlisting in 1861 in Company B., Tenth Alabama infantry, which surrendered at Appomattox Court house in 1865. He was engaged in several of the important battles of the war, Sharpsburg, Gettysburg, Second battle of Manassas, Seven Pines, Williamsburg, and the battles around Richmond and Deep Bottom. He was slightly wounded at Salem Church near Fredericksburg. Jr. Sanford is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, the Masonic fraternity and of the order of Odd fellows. He is a democrat and has filled several official positions. He was superintendent of instruction in Jefferson county when only twenty-nine years of age. He was county solicitor from 1870 until 1890. He was sent to the state legislature from Fayette county in 1882 and filled all these positions with credit to himself and with satisfaction tot hose whom he served. He has lived at Fayette Court house for thirty-five years and has served as mayor of the town for the past six years. He is a representative citizen and is widely and popularly know to the people of this part of the state. Source: From Memorial Record of Alabama. By Hannis Taylor, Brant & Fuller, Publishers, Madison, Wis. 1893. Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney   SHERER, JOHN MADISON, lawyer, was born June 7, 1874, at Dry Creek, Fayette County; son of Jonathan D. and Mary (Eason) Sherer, the former a native of near York, York District, S. C, who removed to Alabama, settling first in Walker, later at Dry Creek, Fayette County, and was of the nine men who were first from that county to offer their services to the Confederate cause, walking to Moulton from Jasper to join the army, was captured at Franklin, Tenn., and carried to Black Island prison; in 1916 was county commissioner of Fayette County; grandson of Thomas and Jane Sherer who lived at Jasper from 1856 to 1884, and of Harrison and Mary Eason, of Dry Creek; great-grandson of William Sherer, who located in York, S. C, about 1800. The founder of the family in America was John Christopher Sherer, who came to this country, October 13, 1709, from Hundsruck, on the west side of the Rhine River. When eighteen years of age, left home on the ship "Minerva," commanded by Captain Arnold. He settled in Reading, Pa., where he married Julianna Phillipi, the first female child born in that place. He was a sergeant in Washington's Continental Army and was wounded at the battle of the Brandywine. He was one of the Immortal eleven hundred who crossed the Delaware River with General Washington, in spite of the ice. The following morning the battle of Trenton Heights was fought .His two sons were John and Jonathan. Mr. Sherer received his early education in the public schools of his community, often taught in cabins and country churhces, as was the custom a quarter of a century ago. He attended high school at Fayette, and studied law at the University of Alabama; admitted to the bar at Fayette. 1896; entered upon the practice at Gainsville, where he remained for two years, removed to Ensley in 1899, and to Jasper in 1900; solicitor of Walker County, 1904-06; city attorney, 1906. He was a Democrat and chairman of the county executive committee 1904-05; a Baptist; and a Knight of Pythias. Married: May 11, 1898, at Gainesville, to Lucy Reavis, daughter of Thomas Klugh and Lucy Burt (Reavis) Jackson, of that place, the former a graduate of West Point, 1858, lieutenant in the U. S. Army, resigned and served on the staff of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, wounded at the battle of Shlloh, served during the remainder of the war as major, in charge of the quartermaster department and in the army of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston; granddaughter of Turner Reavis, planter, circuit Judge of Sumter County prior to the War of Secession, who resided at Gainesville. Children: 1. John M., Jr. Residence: Jasper. Source:  History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography  by Thomas McAdory Owens - Vol IV.  Published by S. J. Clarke Publishing  Company. 1921.  Submitted by Veneta McKinney    VAN HOOSE, JAMES M., a native of Fayette County, Alabama; was born in the year 1824, and is a son of Judge Jesse and Ann Van Hoose. His father's ancestors were of Dutch extraction, and early settlers of New York, prior to the Revolution, in which they were participants, the original name being Van Hoosen. Descendants of this family removed to North Carolina, where the father of our subject was born. In 1815 he removed to Franklin County, Alabama, where he was a pioneer merchant, in connection with William B. Wilson, and was the first clerk of the circuit court. They established a large and flourishing trade, among the early settlers and Indians. In 1821 he became the second or third settler, in what is now Fayette County, then part of Pickens, and resumed his mercantile operations. He was soon forced into politics, and, in 1826, was elected to the State Senate. He served nearly two terms and then resigned. Elected judge of the county court he served until Fayette was fully organized, when he also resigned that position, having a distaste for politics. He was one of the original board of trustees to locate the University of Alabama. Continuing business in Fayette County until 1841 he became a merchant of Tuscaloosa, where he lived until his death, at Northport, in 1852. He married in 1822.  His wife's ancestors were early settlers of Virginia, belonging to the Eggleston, Cary, and Archer families. She died in 1857, in Tuscaloosa. Two of their children are now living—the subject of this sketch, and Valentine C., a merchant of Birmingham.  James M. commenced the study of law, in 1847, with Judge E. W. Peck; was admitted to the bar in 1848, and immediately thereafter formed an alliance with his preceptor, which copartnership was not dissolved until 1854. He was also associated with Hon. E. W. Powell, in copartnership, continuing until Colonel Van Hoose became a citizen of Birmingham, in 1885.  He has never entered the devious paths of politics, but has achieved a high standing in his profession, and added not only luster to the bar of Jefferson County but dignity, through personal attributes and high moral worth.  Colonel Van Hoose has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Susan Alexander, of an old Virginia family. She died in 1864, leaving two children, both of whom have attained prominent positions in professional and business life. The eldest, George Wolsey, is an attorney, and is holding the office of Register in Chancery at Tuscaloosa, and James Alexander, one of the best known business men of Birmingham.  The second marriage of Colonel Van Hoose occurred in 1870, with Mrs. Annie H. Sorsby. Her maiden name was Hill, and she was a native of Greene County, Alabama. Two children have been born to this union, Susie and Mary Lee. The family are members of the Episcopal Church.   Source: Jefferson County and Birmingham Alabama: Historical and Biographical.  John Witherspoon DeBose.  1887     WELCH. WILLIAM SHELTON. lawyer, was born April 28, 1874, at Antioch. Fayette County; son of John Anderson and Dicy Melissa (Pryor) Welch, the former who was a farmer and a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, South, served in the War of Secession, first in Co. A, Twenty-sixth Alabama infantry regiment, was wounded at Seven Pines, was transferred to cavalry, and served until the close of the war; grandson of John Sanders and Elizabeth (Baker) Welch, the former who served under Gen. Jackson in the wars of 1813- 1814, and later removed to (Georgia, and of Rev. John Pryor; great-grandson of John and Elizabeth (Baker) Welch, both natives of Ireland, the former who was bom in Belfast, later came to America and settled at Petersburg, Va. William Shelton Welch received his primary education in the country schools of Fayette County; attended the Fayette Academy; in 1893-1894 attended the Florence state normal school; attended Peabody college; University of Nashville; and graduated LL. B., from the University of Alabama in 1901. He was admitted to the bar June 18, 1901, at Fayette; practiced there less than a year; removed to Bessemer; has been junior member of the firm of Estes, Jones and Welch; was city attorney of Bessemer, 1903-04; and was a member of the State legislature from Jefferson County, 1915. He is a member of the Alabama State Bar Association; and of the American Bar Association. He is a Democrat; a Methodist, in which church he has been an active member; a Woodman; an Odd Fellow; and a Knight of Pythias. Married: on December 25, 1906, at Bessemer, to Elizabeth Schley Calhoun, who died July 16, 1907, daughter of Dr. John Davidson and Mollie Elizabeth (Carry) Calhoun of Arizona, La., the former's father who was a first cousin of the statesman, John C. Calhoun of South Carolina. Residence: Bessemer.    Source:  History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography  by Thomas McAdory Owens - Vol IV.  Published by S. J. Clarke Publishing  Company. 1921.  Submitted by Veneta McKinney   WIMBERLY, GILBERT, M. D., of Reform, Ala., was born December 12, 1871, at Fayette,  Fayette county, and is the son of Louis Monroe and Dorcas T. (Reynolds) Wimberly, and the grandson of Thomas and Mahala (Irvin) Wimberly, and of Alva Morgan and Matilda (Brewer) Reynolds, the great-grandson of Wm. and Susan Irwin, from Ireland, and Ell and Drusie (Morgan) Reynolds, and of Wm. and Dorcas (Churchwell) Brewer. Thomas Wimberly, with two brothers, was an immigrant from Ireland. Louis M. Wimberly was captain of company "G," 26th Alabama Infantry Regiment. C. S. A., was tax collector of Fayette county for many years prior to the War; and after the War was treasurer and superintendent of education of Lamar county, until his death in 1901. Senator Wimberly was educated in the public schools of Fayette and Lamar counties, and in the Vernon institute; was graduated from the Memphis Hospital Medical College in 1891, with the degree of M. D.; and from the Medical College of Alabama with the same degree in 1892. He was mayor of Reform, 1895 to 1900; member of the city council since 1900; was a member of the Alabama National Guard, and served in the war between the U. S. and Spain. He is a Democrat, and served as member of the Pickens county Democratic executive committee, 1893 to 1900, and has been its secretary since 1894; has also been a member of the State Democratic executive committee from the 6th district since 1902. He is a member of the Baptist Church; is a Mason; an Odd Fellow; a member of the Woodmen of the World and of the B. P. O. E. He was married at Carrollton in 1895, to Elizabeth Robertson, daughter of William G. and Sarah Elizabeth Robertson. His second marriage, 1906, was to Marion Matthews, daughter of Dr. Emmet A. and Belle Matthews, of Clanton, Ala. Source: Alabama Official and Statistical Register 1907 - by Alabama Department of Archives and History. Compiled by Thomas M. Owen, LL. D., Director , Montgomery, Ala. Brown Printing Company 1907 - Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney WOODS, ROBERT W., farmer and merchant of Fayette county, was born in the same county, July 3rd, 1850. He is the eldest of three children, born to Robert M. and Cornelia (Trull) Woods, both of whom are natives of Alabama. Robert M. Woods was the son of David E. and Peggy Woods of South Carolina, the former of whom was one of the very earliest settlers in Alabama, coming here in 1821. He remained here afterward most of his life, dying when he was eighty-five years old. The parents of Mr. Cornelia Woods were Griffin and Sally Trull of South Carolina. They were also among the first settlers in Alabama. Robert M. Woods was born and reared in this state and died in 1862, during the war. Robert W. Woods was educated in the private schools of his native state until he was sixteen years of age, when he entered the Southern university at Greensboro, remaining three years. In 1881, he entered the Louisville medical college at Louisville, Ky. and gradated in 1882. He had, however, read medicine somewhat before, and took a course of lectures in 1875. Immediately upon his graduation in 1882 he began the practice of medicine and remained thus engaged for five years. He then abandoned medicine and established himself at Bankston in the mercantile business, and since them he has been thus occupied, and is now also giving his attention to farming. He owns a plantation of 560 acres or land, 250 acres of which are under cultivation. >He was married in 1877 to Miss Fanny C. Cole, a native of Alabama, and a daughter of William Cole. To this marriage there have been born four children, viz: Cornelia A., Willie W., Eller E., Chester A. Mr. and Mrs. Woods are members prominent of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Woods is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and always ahs taken an active interest in all laudable public enterprises. His is one of the oldest and best families in the state, and he is respected and honored by all who known him. Source: From Memorial Record of Alabama. By Hannis Taylor, Brant & Fuller, Publishers, Madison, Wis. 1893. Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney   WRIGHT, SIMEON T., lawyer and legislator, was born June 29, 1874, at Spencer, Fayette County; son of William M. and Sarah A. (Studdard) Wright, of that place; grandson of James and Mary Wright, the former a Confederate soldier, killed in the seven days' fight around Richmond, and of David and Mary Studdard, the former also a Confederate soldier; great-grandson of Samuel Studdard, a soldier in the War of 1812. He was educated in the common schools of Fayette County; in the law department of the University of Alabama, 1900-01; at Tulane university, 1904-05, and was admitted to the practice in Birmingham in 1905. He represented Fayette County in the legislature of 1911, but during the session resigned. He is a Republican; a Methodist; and a Mason. He is unmarried. Residence: Fayette. Source:  History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography  by Thomas McAdory Owens - Vol IV.  Published by S. J. Clarke Publishing  Company. 1921.  Submitted by Veneta McKinney YOUNG, WILLIAM A.  - Judge William   A. Young is a native of Lamar County, Ala., and was born October 22, 1857,   the second in a family of ten children, born to JAMES P. and MARTHA (BOX)   YOUNG, natives of South Carolina and Alabama, respectively. JAMES P. YOUNG   came to Alabama in 1836 and settled in Fayette County, where he engaged in tanning and farming. He is a prominent citizen of Lamar, and is president of the Veterans Association of that county. The paternal grandparents of  William A. Young were ALEXANDER and ESTHER YOUNG of South Carolina, and his maternal grandparents were LYLES and MARY BOX, of Tennessee. William A. Young was educated in the public and private schools of Lamar county, and at the   vernon Institute. At the age of twenty-three he entered the law department of the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, and with one exception, completed   his law education in a shorter period than any other on record in that department. After graduation he opened practice at Vernon, which he successfully   continued for six years, when he was appointed Probate Judge by Gov. Seay  in 1887. He filled the position with punctilious attention to every detail   of the business brought before him, and was on the first day of August 1892,   by a handsome majority,elected to the same office. He has also served as   mayor of Vernon one term and has filled the position of chairman of the county Democratic Executive Committee of Lamar. The marriage of Mr. Young took place   in1887, the bride being Miss MARY C. CREW, a native of Alabama and daughter   of TITUS L. CREW, of Tennessee. Two children have come to bless the household, and are named ALBERT and OLIVER. Mr. YOUNG is an Odd Fellow and with Mrs. YOUNG, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. His hand is always open to the demands of charity and he is a liberal contributor to all commendable enterprises. Source: From Memorial Record of Alabama. By Hannis Taylor, Brant   & Fuller, Publishers, Madison, Wis. 1893. Transcribed and submitted by   Veneta McKinney. Visit Our Alabama State Site HOME Visit our National Site Copyright © Genealogy Trails This Webpage has been created exclusively for the Genealogy Trails History Project. Submitters retain all copyrights