- B - Discoverer and proprietor of Bailey Springs, Lauderdale County. Author: "A History and description of the Bailey Springs," published in Memphis Tenn., by William M. Hutton 1860. History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume 3 By Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen BALDRIDGE, William Franklin, was born in Lauderdale County, Alabama, in 1840. He is a son of William F. and Caroline E. (Mitchell) Baldridge. His father is a native of North Carolina, and came to Tennessee, in 1809, with his parents, being then quite young. His mother was of Irish descent, and born in Tenuesee. They were married in Murray County, came to Alabama about 1840, and settled in Lauderdale County, From here he removed to Madison County, where he became a farmer, and remained until 1881. He then moved to Texas where he now lives. His wife died in Madison County in 1865. Thev had born to them ten children, of whom seven are now living. W. F. Baldridge, was reared in Madison County, received his early education there, and has been interested in fanning all his life. He now owns a farm of a thousand acres near Huntsville, and takes a special interest in raising and breeding stock, especially llolstein ami Jersey cattle, and he has found this pursuit quite profitable. He entered the real estate business in Huntsville, in connection with Ben. 1'. Hunt, under the firm name of Baldridge & Hunt. The firm of Baldridge. .Murray & Scruggs, was organized in 1887. Mr. Baldridge was married in 187O, to Miss Julia A., daughter of James Landman, of Madison County. They have six children living, viz.: Lula B-, James H., Ella May, Oscar, Lee, and an infant. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, -South, and of the Masonic fraternity. Knights of Honor and Knights of Pythias. In 1864. Mr. Baldridge entered the Confederate Army in Company K. Fourth Alabama Cavalry, which was commanded by Colonel Bussell, and under General Forrest. He served in this command eighteen months, mostly on detached duty as a scout. He had two brothers killed in the armv. James at the siege of Port Hudson, and John at the Battle of Shiloh. Transcribed by Christine Walters Source: Northern Alabama Historical & Biographical by T.A. DeLand and A. Davis Smith 1888 Birmingham AL BALDRIDGE M.D., Milton C., son of William F., and Elizabeth Caroline (Mitchell) Baldridge. was born in Cornersville, Marshall County, Tenn., May 12, 1832. William F. Baldridge was born in North Carolina in 1809, and brought in his infancy to Giles County. Tenn., wherein due time, he learned the tanners trade, in which business he afterward engaged quite extensively. In 1836 he removed to Perry County and embarked in merchandising and in 1844 he became a resident of Lauderdale County. In 1855, he established a nursery not far from Huntsville, which is said to have been the first enterprise of the kind in that section; and in 1807, be removed to Piano, Tex., where he still resides. He had eleven children: Milton C, James A., Jane C, Virginia C, Mary A., Parmella K.. Elizabeth. William F., John C, Henry B. and Oscar. Mrs. Caroline Baldridge died in March, 1866 and William F. was again married to a Miss McDonald, of Huntsville. Milton C. Baldridge was reared upon a farm. He received a good education, and in 1850 began the study of medicine at Florence with Dr. J. P. Mitchell. In 1853, he attended lectures at the Medical College of Ohio, in Cincinnati, and practiced on a license until 1874, when he was graduated from the Medical College, of New York. In the spring of 1862, he entered the army as assistant surgeon of the Twenty-sixth Alabama and Forty-eighth Tennessee Regiments, and continued there until ill-health forced him to abandon the field. After returning home, he practiced near Huntsville until 1871, when he located in that city, where he has since remained and established a most successful practice. He is a member of the State Medical Association, of which he has been Vice-president, Orator, and is now Grand Senior Counselor and President. He has been Health-Officer of Madison County since 1883: is a member of the County Medical Society; Chairman of the Medical Board of Examiners, and is a frequent contributor to medical journals. The Doctor is a Knight Templar, Scottish Rite, Mason, an Odd Fellow, Knight of Honor and a Knight of Pythias. He was married January 16, 1855 to Miss N. C. Neely, a daughter of Anderson P. and Eliza M. (Cannon) Neely. Unto them were born seven children: James Alexander, Viola Beatrice, Mollie Bertie, Felix Edgar, Stella Corvin, Percy and Katie. James Alexander died October 6, 1956, Mollie Bertie died March, 1866, Percy died 1872. Viola Beatrice is the wife of Bently H. Brooks, now of Paris. Texas. Felix Edgar, Stella Corvin, and Katie reside with their father in Huntsville, Ala. The Doctor's first wife died in April, 1878, and in September, 1880, he married Miss Ella M. Johnson, who has one child, Milton C, Jr. The Doctor and Mrs. Baldridge are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. BAYLESS, William W., of the firm of Bayless Reeder, Real Estate Agents Florence, is a native of Louisville, Ky., where he was born December 5, 1841. and is the eldest son of William B. and Ann (Tannyhill) Bayless, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively. The Bayless family removed from Kentucky to Nashville, Tenn. in 1842 or '43. and from there several years later, to Giles County, that State. W. W. Bayless was educated at Nashville, and began business as a clerk in his father's book establishment. At the outbreak of the war, he enlisted as a private in Co. B, First Tennessee Infantry, (C. S. A., and was in the army until May, 1865. He was promoted first to a lieutenancy from the ranks and placed in charge of a cavalry company in Nixon's regiment (1863), and was acting adjutant with the rank of first lieutenant when the war ended. He participated in the battles of Perryville, Johnsonville, and Franklin, Tenn. He was wounded at Perryville so seriously as to retire him from active service for one year, and again at Franklin, or Brentwood, laying him up for three months. At Perryville. he fell into the hands of the enemy and was a prisoner from October, 1862, to April, 1863. After the close of the war Captain Bayless returned to Tennessee and in the following year removed to Colbert County, Ala., where he subsequently married Miss Rebecca Thompson, daughter of Lawrence Thompson, Esq., one of the pioneers of that county. For fifteen years he devoted his time to farming in Colbert, and in 1881 removed to Florence. Captain and Mrs. Bayless are members of the Presbyterian Church, and the Captain belong to the Masonic fraternity and to the Knights of Honor. Source: Northern Alabama Historical & Biographical by T.A. DeLand and A. Davis Smith 1888 Birmingham AL BENHAM, Vincent M. - business man, secretary of state of Alabama, died in Lauderdale, in 1865. He was sheriff of Coosa County for several years, and was a business man. In 1851 he represented Lauderdale in the house and was elected secretary of state after sixteen ballots were taken. Mr. Benham's vote of sixty-four elected him over his principal opponent. Mr. Clltherall, who received fifty-eight votes. He was re-elected secretary of state, derailing John H. Caldwell. Esq.. and Gen. Higgins. In 1853, but resigned before his term had expired. In the reorganization of the government in 1865. He was appointed Judge of probate in his county, by Gov. Parsons, and died not long after receiving his commission. He was a Democrat. Last residence: Lauderdale. BURTWELL, James, the leading Druggest of Florence, was born at Florence July 17,1842. His father, John T. Burtwell, came from England with his parents, who settled in Tennessee. He there grew to manhood: came into Alabama, where he married Miss Cornelia Bedford, and returned to Tennessee, from whence after a few years he removed to Florence, where he was engaged many years in steamboat business. He died in 1862 at the age of sixty-two years. James Burt well was educated at Florence Wesleyan University; entered the Confederate Army in 1862 as a private soldier in a regiment which had the misfortune of being captured by the enemy before it fairly got started to the field. However, it was but a short time before Mr. Burtwell was again in the service; this time as a private in the Sixteenth Alabama Infantry where he remained three years. his only brother, John R. Burtwell. was a graduate from West Point, and one of the most brilliant young men that went from Northern Alabama into the army. After the war, he was several years United States chief engineer of the Mussel Shoals improvement, and it was while in the performance of his duty in this capacity, that he contracted malarial disease, from which he died in 1875. He was a colonel in the Ninth Alabama Cavalry during the late war, and at West Point was the classmate of General Wilson, the famous United States Cavalry commander. Immediately after leaving West Point with the rank of second lieutenant, he was assigned to Fort Wachita. Indian Territory, and was there at the outbreak of the war between the States, when he immediately resigned and went into the Confederate service. He went out as adjutant of the Ninth Alabama Infantry, which command he joined in Virginia. At the end of about one year he was made aide-de-camp on General Hardee's staff. From there he was within a short time assigned to a position on on the staff of General Bragg, and later was made chief of artillery in Cheatham's division. He was next promoted to inspector-general on Bragg's staff, in which capacity he was sent to Florence to inspect General Roddy's command, and while here was captured by General Phillips. Phillips at once paroled him, and left him at his home at Florence. Being exchanged in about three months, he was placed in command of the Ninth Alabama Cavalry, under (General Roddy. In 1871 he entered the service of the United States government as an engineer He died a widower, leaving five daughters. He was born in Lauderdale Co. AL 1834. Source: Northern Alabama Historical & Biographical by T.A. DeLand and A. Davis Smith 1888 Birmingham AL son of James Trumbull and Cornelia Matilda (Bedford) Burtwell