Old Times by the late Joel D. Jones
Originally Published November 19, 1936
Contributed by D. West
People want to know about Marengo in Slavey times.
I have letters from people of various parts of the United States wanting information about the people who lived in Marengo County back in Slavery time. In tracking some of the old families back to the settling up of this country, one would be surprised to know how many changes have been made in the spelling of names. I have letters from a lady wishing to know something about the family of John McGaughey who married Nancy Sowell, in Marengo County, June 5, 1826. She refers me to a record of land owned at one time by him, and recorded in a book, page 434. On examining the record, I find that the land is adjoining the land that I now live on and was conveyed by William Megaw to John T.Megaw, on March 29, 1834. This gave me a starting to trace this family, as I could not find any name on record of the McGaughey family.
Dr. Joh T. Mcgaw, lived here in Dixons Mills, for a long number of years, and he is buried in a graveyard near where he lived, which has long been abandoned and allowed to grow up in woods so that a very few of the graves can now be identified. Doctor Megaw was known as a "Root" Doctor.
He would go to see a patient and after examining the patient carefully, armed with a grubbing hoe, he would proceed to the woods and would dig and bring back with him a lot of roots and herbs, and would proceed to make teas and begin to physic his patients. It seems that he was very successful and enjoyed a large practice. I have often heard the old people talk about him as a great doctor, and have heard my grandmother relate many times of the year when Typhoid fever broke out in her family and among her neighbors causing the deaths of three of her children and the death of my granfather, and a large number of Negros. She had called in several doctors and finally called in Doctor Megaw and after he took charge of the sick there was no more deaths. The lady writes that he married Nancy Sowell but my records show that he married Nancy Stovall, daughter of Andrew M. Stovall, who was born December 25, 1809, in Giles City, Tennessee and died July 4, 1872 near Hampden, Marengo County, Alabama. I have no record of Doctor Megaw’s birth or death, but he voted in Clay Hill, in 1860.
Another lady writes wanting to know something about the Howze family. John Howze, a merchant and farmer, was born January 22, 1822, in Louisburg, Franklin County, North Carolina and died April 26, 1902, at Marion , Perry County, Alabama. He was the son of Henry Yarborough and wife who was a Mitchell, of Salisburg, who later located in Marion, Perry County, where he died in 1862. His grandfather and grandmother were John Howze, and a Miss Yarbrough, wife of John Howze both of North Carolina. He was the grandson of Dr. Thomas Mitchell of North Carolina. John Howze was educated in the common schools of his native county, and when a young man in Mobile, where he learned the cotton business and became a cotton merchant at that place. He was afterwards removed to Perry County where he engaged in farming. He merchandised in Marion for nearly twenty years. He was captain of a company of State troops during the early part of the War of Seccession and was stationed at Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines. He was a Mason, and was married October 1, 1845 at Athens, to Claudia Caroline, daughter of Agustin Smith and Julia Clayton .
Her father was a prominent citizen of Georgia, about the year 1839. He was a judge of some local courts and for many years a member of Congress. Their children were Augustin Clayton who married first Vallie Long, and then Fannie (Dillard) Arrington, of Birmingham; Harry Y. Merchant of Marion, Alabama; Jphn married Fannie Berry of Marion, Alabama; Claudia Caroline married a Mr. Jones, of Marion, Thomas Mitchell, married Miss North of Marion; Lenora Clayton married Rev. James A. Bryan of Birmingham; Mallie Cobb, married Marly Linde, of St. Louis, Mo. Agustin Clayton Howze, was a lawyer, and was born Aug 17, 1846, at Athens, Clarke County. Georgia. He receivcd his preparatory education in the public schools of Marion, and attended Howard College for several terms. He graduated from the University of Georgia, 1869, with a degree of A.B. He studied law in the office of Gov. Andrew B. Moore, in Marion, and was admitted to the bar, November 1869, and practiced in Marion and Birmingham, where he now resides if still living. He was a probate judge of Perry County from April 1871 to November, 1874, and special judge of the criminal court of Jefferson County in 1908. He was appointed a member of the board of visitors to the military Academy, West Point, New York, by President Roosevelt, June, 1902. He was elected a member of the constitutional convention, 1901, from the ninth district. He was a private in Battery B, under Captain Charles W. Lovelace, from September 1863, to the surrender in 1865. He was married first in February, 1870 to Vallie, daughter of Dr. Henry J. and Susan (Stroud )Long, of Athens, Georgia. He married the second time, December 10th, 1889 to Mrs Nannie (Dillard) Arrington, who was a daughter of James R. Dillard, of Montgomery. His children by his first wife, were Henry Russell, a lawyer, educated at the University of Alabama, 1891 with a degree of A. B. LL. B., instructor in mathematics at the institution, 1890-01, and married Minnie Love of Birmingham; Susie, married Preston Hampton Haskell, of Mineral Virginia; John, cotton buyer, married Kate Fontaine Meade, of Birmingham; Marion William, United States army judge advocate general department, Chicago, Ill. Gerald, lieutenant, United States navy, aboard war-ship Florida.
Old Times by the late Joel D. Jones...
Orginially published December 24, 1936
Contributed by D. West
Remembering those who passed away in 1936's 12 Months
This year of 1936, has about passed in history, and as we look back over the twelve months of its existence, we remember many of our best friends and relatives who have passed to the beyond and entered upon a new life in another world. Among them was my last sister, Lou M. Perkins, James W. Tucker, a first cousin, E.S. Cornish, William G. McClure, William M. Tucker, William S. Skinner, Nathaniel G. Carlton, Percy Crocker, Gould Lewis, David Vick, Mrs Lovinia Tucker, Mrs Sallie Coats, and many others, the last at the time of this writing, Judge John McKinley. It is sad for us to part with our friends and loved ones, but we must be contented to submit to His will who knows best.
Nathaniel Green Carlton, was a son of Nathaniel and Rebecca Jane Carlton of Marengo County. He was educated in the schools of the county and early in life married Miss Beulah Thomas Collier daughter of Thomas Wiley and Mary Lucy Collier of Hampden, Marengo County. To this union were born several children, among which are twins, O.D. and J. T. Carlton, who were born Sept. 8, 1882, at Cliften Wilcox County but have made Marengo County their home since childhood. For many years they were engaged in the saw mill business and in the year of 1919, J.T. Carlton was elected to the senate from the twentieth district, and served as state senator and is now serving in the present legislature. Both are Democrats, Masons and Shriners.
James W. Tucker was the son of the late Rev. J. Lee and Catherine (Stafford) Tucker and grandson of James Wilson and Martha (Perkins) Tucker. He was born at Shiloh and raised and educated in Marengo County. He began his business career keeping store for Skinner and Miller at Dixons Mill and in 1889, he married Miss Kate Tate, a daughter of the late Gove Tate of Shiloh. He moved from Dixons Mills to Thomasville and kept books for N.P. Boyles for several years during which time he lost his wife. He was one of the founders of the Farmers Bank and Trust Company of Thomasville and served many years as president of that institution. During this time, he married a Miss Tabs of Thomasville who lived only a few years, and after her death he married her sister who survived him. His health began to give away and he resigned his position with the bank and organized Tucker Insurance Agency of Thomasville, which he conducted until his death. He was a Mason for many years Master of his lodge, and only refused that honor a year before his death, on account of his failing health.
Mrs Virginia Tucker was a daughter of the late Rial and Virginia Norris. She was born, reared and educated in the neighborhood where she died. Early in life she married C.L. Tucker and was the mother of three daughters, Mrs Gertrude Corley of Lasca, Mrs Nettie Tucker of Miller and Mrs Belle Glass of Octagon, all of which survive her.
Mrs. Sallie Coats was a daughter of the late George W. and Mittie (Lewis) Compton of Wayne. She was born, reared and educated at Wayne. She was one of a family of about fourteen children, eight of which survive her. For years this family were next door neightbors to me, and when I say neighbors, I mean neighbors in the highest degree.
Judge John McKinley, who was born December 12, 1871, at Demopolis and died at his home in Linden on December 10, 1936. If he could have lived two days longer, he would have been just 65 years old. He was a son John Henry and Martha Ann (Stanton) McKinley who lived at Demopolis. His father was a native of Kennebunk Port Maine, who came south when about eighteen years of age and served in the Forty-third Alabama Regiment, Confederate Army and was transferred to the engineers corps, serving first with the western army and being transferred after the Battle of Missonary Ridge to the Virginia army. Judge McKinley was a grandson of Thomas and Mary Stanton who lived in South Carolina. He was educated in the public schools of Demopolis, and upon his father's death in 1887, he went to work to aid in the support of the family. While working at the bench as a mechanic, he devoted his night to the study of law and was admitted to the bar Sept. 21, 1896 before the circuit court of Marengo County at the age of 25 years. He opened his practice at Demopolis but moved to Eutaw, Green County, in 1897. He was for two years associated with Edward DeFraffenried, who later was of the Supreme Court bench. Later he formed a partnership with Bernard Harwood, which lasted until Mr. Harwood became judge of the sixth judicial circuit. After that time he became senior member of the firm of McKinley, McQueen, Hawkins and Snow, with offices at Eutaw and Tuscaloosa.
Later he removed back to Demopolis and became a candidate for circuit judge in the 17th Judicial Circuit, and successful in the election, he served as circuit judge from 1922 until 1926, when he resigned that office and formed partnership with Hon. Henry McDaniel with offices at Demopolis and Linden. He then moved to Linden which he made his home until his death.
He married first April 27, 1898 in Eutaw to Miss Margaret Augusta Braune, daughter of Gustave and Nora Braune of Eutaw. To this union was born one son, John Jr., who was born Dec 9, 1899. It was after Mrs McKinley's death that judge McKinley moved back to Marengo County, and while he was circuit judge, he married Miss Kate Coats of Linden who survives him.
He was Baptist and a high Christian man, being a deason in his church, He was an entusiastic Mason, having once served as District lecturer, and was master of his judge. He was past grand noble of Odd Fellows, and past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias.
Judge McKinley was a man I loved and have enjoyed so many long conversations we have had together, we both being interested in old times and Masonry and if I needed legal advice he was always so good to give it to me. He is gone, and we are all traveling upon the level of time to that undiscovered county from whose bourne no traveler ever returns. We will never see that smiling face again, nor hear the gentle words from that tongue, for they are now silent in the tomb, there to remain until the morning of the world's resurrection, when again they will rise in newness of life and expand into immortal beauty in realms beyond the skies. Until then dear friends, until then, farewell. So long until next time.