HENRY ALEXANDER KILLEN
KILLEN, Henry Alexander, business man, was born January 31, 1837, at Bluewater,
Lauderdale County; son of John and Susan (Richardson) Killen, the former a native of Averysboro, N. C., who was a major of militia
for a number of years; grandson of James and Nancy (McDougal) Killen, and of John and Catherine (Stubbs) Richardson, of Landerdale County. The Killens were of Irish descent; the McDougals, Scotch; the Richardsons, English; and the Stubbs, Dutch. 'He received a limited education in the country schools; engaged
in farming and merchandising; was elected county commissioner in 1874, and served two successive terms; represented Lauderdale County in the State legislature, 1896, 1898, 1902 and 1906. During the War of Secession,
he entered the C. S. Army as first lieutenant of Co. E, Twenty-seventh Alabama infantry regiment, serving throughout the war. He is a Democrat and a Mason. Married: (1) in December, 1860, to Mary Allen, deceased,
daughter of Bluford and Telltha (Harrison) Allen, of Lauderdale County; (2) July 26, 1866, to Sallie A., daughter of John and Marcy (Mayfield) Robinson, of the same county.
Children: 1. James Sharp, m. Jennie Peden; 2. Nettie Jane, m. R. F. Williams; 3. Mary Cora, m. John Springer; 4. Birdie Lee, m. William 5. Daniel Fisher, m. Maud Mackey; 6. Robert Bruce, m. Velma Hall; 7. Sallie Cleveland, m. Mead Harwell. Residence: Green Hill.
History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography / Thoms McAdory Owen 1921
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Henry Alexander Killen, merchant, farmer, and legislator, is a self-made man who has by his own labor earned the esteem of those who know him, and acquired for himself a competence.
He was born at Blue Water, near Green Hill, Lauderdale county, Ala., Jan. 31, 1837. He is a descendant of Adam Killen,
who came from Ireland and settled in Averysboro, N. C. Adam Killen's son, James Killen, married Nancy McDougal,
and lived in Averysboro, and their son, John Killen, father of Henry A., was born
at Averysboro, N. C., but spent most of his life as a farmer at Green Hill, Ala. He was many years major of a militia company.
His wife, Susan (Richardson) Killen, was a daughter of John and Katie (Stutts)
Richardson, and a niece of Henry Stutts, who fought in the Revolutionary war. Henry A. Killen was reared at Green Hill and obtained
a limited education there in the country schools. He became a farmer, and prospered so that in 1884 he was able to go into the mercantile
business, and in this, too, he has been successful. He is now regarded as one of the substantial men of Lauderdale county. At the beginning
of the Civil war he enlisted as first lieutenant of Company E, Twenty-seventh Alabama regiment, and served throughout the war. His war
record is commendable. He served in the Tennessee, Kentucky, Port Hudson and Vicksburg, Georgia, Nashville and Franklin campaigns,
and in North Carolina, taking part in the battle of Bentonville, and surrendering at Greensboro. During the war he was never absent from
roll call without leave, and was never in the hospital. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, as was his father before him; he has served on the
county executive committee and as delegate to numerous State and district conventions. He is a prominent Mason, and has been master of
the Green Hill lodge. He was married in i860 to Mary Allen, of Lauderdale county, who died in 1865. On July 26, 1866, he married Sallie
A. Robinson, daughter of John and Marcy (Mayfield) Robinson, natives of Tennessee, of Irish descent, who lived in Lexington, Lauderdale
county, Ala. The list of his children follows: James Sharp, married Jennie M. Pcden and lives at Green Hill; Nettie J., married R. F. Williams and lives at Wills Point, Tex.; Mary Cora, married J. W.
Springer, and resides in Lawrenceburg, Tenn.; Birdie Lee, married J. W. Lumpkhis, and lives at Lawrenceburg, Tenn.; Daniel Fisher,
Robert Bruce, and Sallie Cleveland, who live at Green Hill. Mr. Killen has filled a number of responsible public offices. He was elected county
commissioner in 1873, and re-elected in 1877, and has served three terms in the State legislature, having been elected in 1896, 1898 and again in 1902.
Notable Men of Alabama 1904 - reprinted 1976
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