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HEFLIN, JOHN T., of Randolph, represented that county and Tallapoosa in 1851 in the Senate, which was his only session in the Legislature; but his position was a respectable one, and he exerted no little influence in the political deliberations of that exciting session.
His father, Wyatt Hefflin, represented Randolph for many years; and the son studied law, and in early practice resided, at Wedowee, where he continued many years. He exhibited from the start a close, discriminating legal mind, and made haste slowly to assert his rights to a higher place in his profession. He was elected to the Circuit Court bench, in which station he sustained himself and the public good by his profound legal knowledge, and his pure administration of justice.
Judge Hefflin was a Democrat, and exerted a large influence in the counsels and measures of that party. Since the war he has been largely and profitably engaged in the practice of the law, residing at Talladega. After spending a part of his manhood in the circle of bachelors, he, a few years ago, married Mrs. Bowdon, an accomplished lady, widow of tie Hon. F. W. Bowdon.
Source: Reminiscences of Public Men in Alabama, by William Garrett, 1872, Transcribed by C. Anthony
LACY, SHERIFF , lawyer and register in chancery, was born May 7, 1853, in Randolph County; son of Abner Wise and Martha (Brewster) Lacy, the former a native of Maury County, Tenn., who settled in St. Clair County, where he held numerous official positions and was at the time of his death, in 1887, probate judge of the county; grandson of William and Mary (Wise) Lacy who lived in Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, and of Sheriff and Malinda (Wortham) Brewster of South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. He received a common school education in St. Clair and Talladega Counties, and read law in the office of Bradford and Bishop, in Talladega, 1879-81. He was licensed to practice his profession the latter year, and in 1882, located at Jasper, where he has since resided. In 1883, he was appointed register in chancery for Walker County and has continued to fill that office. He was a member of the Alabama legislature, 1898-99; county solicitor, Walker County, 1886- 87-88; for several years a member of the board of aldermen, Jasper; member city board of education. He is a Democrat; and a Baptist. Married: December 24, 1876, to Mary Ella, daughter of John Marion and Ruth (Skinner) McCollough, of Macon County, the former a native of Anderson District, S. C., a Confederate soldier under Hood and was killed in Peachtree Creek battle, near Atlanta, Ga. Children: 1. Ernest Renfroe (q. v.) ; 2. Cecil Justus; 3. Clyde; 4. Pauline; 5. Ruth; 6. Lorene. Residence: Jasper.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
SMITH, ELLA GAUNT (born April 12, 1868 – April 2, 1932 in Roanoke, Alabama) was an innovative American doll manufacturer.
After graduating from LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia, and marrying Samuel Smith, Ella began working as a seamstress. She spent years repairing broken bisque dolls brought in by her neighbors and experimenting with ways to produce sturdier dolls. She eventually turned to doll manufacturing full-time, selling mostly to friends and neighbors. After experiencing early success she exhibited her dolls at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, winning a Grand Prize for Innovation and helping establish a nationwide market for her product. She received a patent for her design in 1905.
From 1899 to 1932 her back-yard factory employed 12 women and produced 8,000-10,000 dolls per year. The dolls, known as Ella Smith dolls or Alabama Babies were also sometimes called "Roanoke Indestructible Dolls" because of their heavy cotton frame and stout plaster of Paris heads. It was often said that a truck could drive over one of these dolls without damaging it. The price at the time for an Ella Smith doll ranged from $1.15 to $12.15 depending on size, clothing and hair. A tenth of her dolls were painted black to resemble African-American girls. She was likely the first manufacturer to market black dolls in the South.
Mrs. Smith was known for working with a hymn-singing parrot perched on her shoulder. At a time when she was planning to expand her operation, a train wreck caused the disastrous loss of many orders. At the same time a lawsuit arising from a bad business deal cost her a large settlement. Mrs. Smith, who suffered from diabetes and kidney disease, died in 1932.
Ella Smith dolls, especially the black dolls, are highly collectible. A Randolph County Historical Museum, to be located in the 1940 Post Office building in Roanoke will tell the story of the Ella Smith Doll through documents and artifacts.
Source: wikipedia; Transcribed by C. Anthony
