The Chism family of Covington County is the subject of today’s column. The earliest ancestor of this family to be identified according to Ancestry.com is Alexander Murdock Chisholm who was the immigrant ancestor.

Murdock who was born circa 1738 in Inverness-shire, Scotland, was married in 1762 In Inverness-shire to Flora McPherson, who was born in 1740 in Scotland. Murdock died in 1823 in Montgomery County, N.C. Among their children was a son named Malcolm C. Chisholm who was born in 1768 in Isle of Skye, Inverness-shire, Scotland.

The family had settled in North Carolina before Malcolm was married in 1794 in North Carolina to Mary ? (1772-1849). Malcolm was also a resident of Montgomery County when he died before 1823.

Malcolm and Mary Chisholm had a son named Daniel A. Chisholm who was born in 1795 in Montgomery County, N.C.

There is a record of Daniel rendering service during the War of 1812. In 1821, he was married to Mary Allred (1797-1850).

Within two years they had a son whom they named Hugh Gillis Chisholm. Daniel A. died in 1849 in Montgomery County, N.C., the same one in which he was born.

Hugh Gillis Chisholm was born in 1823 in Montgomery County. He was married in the late 1840s to Mary Ann Elizabeth McMillan who was born in 1831.

They only had one son, Daniel Taylor Chism, before Hugh’s untimely death in 1850 at about 27 years of age. (Note the name change from Chisholm to Chism, which appears to be due to it being so frequently misspelled.

Also, note that for three generations, the Chisholm men had wives named Mary.) Daniel Taylor was born on Christmas Day in 1850, which may have been after his father’s death during that year. Records indicate he was born in Pensacola, Escambia County, Fla.

For some unknown reason, Hugh Gillis Chism’s widow, Mary Ann Elizabeth, moved to Covington County after his death.

Family lore suggests she or Daniel had some connections to the Harrelson family of this area. She was married circa 1852 to Elijah Harrelson, son of Jonathan Harrelson.

In addition to her and Hugh Gillis’s son, Daniel Taylor Chism, Mary Ann Elizabeth and Elijah Harrelson were the parents of the following children: William C., b. 1853, d. 1856; Jonathan P., b.&d. 1855; Rebecca Caroline, b. 1859, d. 1947, m. John Clinton Worley; Sarah Frances, b. 1860, d. 1939, m. T.J. Green; Mary Ann Elizabeth, b. 1865, d. 1937, m. Kendred Bracewell; George Edgar Martin, b. 1866, d. 1935; Elijah Russell, b. 1869, d. 1911; and Eliza A.E., b. 1870, d. 1938, m. George Odom.

Daniel Taylor Chism moved to Covington County as an infant with his widowed mother before 1869 and grew up in the Elijah Harrelson household.

This family was living in the Rose Hill community in 1880, Andalusia in 1900, and in Straughn community in 1910 until the Harrelsons’ deaths.

At the age of 25 in 1875, he was married to Sarah Caroline Odom (1845-1935). Their first child, Emoch Huey, was born in 1879 while they were residing in the Rose Hill community.

Emoch married Mary Bell Moore, and he died in 1966.

The next child, Isaac Harmon, was born in 1882 and lived to be 100 years old in 1922.

He married Jewel Missouri Harrelson (1880-1959).

The third child, Wydonia “Donie” Matilda, was born in 1866 and died in 1969. In 1906, she was married to Roach Aughtman (1876-1953).

In 1920 and 1930, Daniel and family were residing on Gantt Road in the Straughn community where he was farming.

Emoch Huey Chism was married to Mary Bell Moore, daughter of Jason Watson Moore and Mary Elizabeth Elum.

They were the parents of the following children: Daniel Jason, b. 1902, d. 1991, m. Lonie Louise ?; Ila Leone, b. ca 1905, d. 1983, m. (1) ? Jones (2) 1925 Henry Caustin Knotts (1901-1938), son of Henry Jackson Knotts (1858-1910) and Nancy Rebecca Duncan (1869-1901); Isaac Lester, b. 1908, m. Agnes Jones; James Solomon, b. 1910; Willie Lee, b. 1917, m. (1) Effie Lucile Youngblood (2) Mildred Allene Kilpatrick (3) Irene Hopson Jackson (4) Buna Moore Newby; and Wydonia. The oldest daughter, Ila Leone Chism, and her second husband, Henry Caustin Knotts, were the parents of the following two children: James Alton, b. 1933, d. 2003; and Dorsie Myle, b. 1936, d. 1937.

Isaac Harmon Chism was a farmer residing on Settlement Road in Andalusia in 1930.

He and Jewel Chism were the parents of the following children: Nobie, b. 1906, d. 1998, m. Hiram McKendley Carter Sr. (1903-1984); Leanna, b. 1908, d. 2003, m. 1926 Joe Edward Kilpatrick (1903-1987); Wiley Enos, b. 1910, d. 1978, m. Hazel Elder; Riley Daniel, b. 1912, d. 1995, m. Bertha L. Straughn; Lena, b. 1917, d. 2001, m. Clem Davenport; and Minnie, b. 1919, d. 2009, m. James Willie Meadows, son of James Esker Meadows and Myrtie B. Mock.

At their deaths, Isaac Harmon and Jewel were buried in the Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery.

Isaac Harmon’s youngest son, Riley D. Chism, was married to Bertha L. Straughn, daughter of John Leroy Straughn and Lena Charity Kilpatrick.

They were the parents of the following son: Roy Parker, b. 1942, d. 2004, m. Mamie Morgan.

On October 16, 1940, Riley was residing in Andalusia when he enlisted into military service for World War II.

He was described as standing 5’6” tall, weighing 135 pounds, and having light complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.

At their deaths, Riley and Bertha were buried in the Andalusia memorial Cemetery.

Wydonia Matilda (Chism) was married to Roach Aughtman, son of Thomas Aughtman and Lucey Ann Scroggins. They were the parents of the following children: Lena M., b. 1910, d. 2005, m. George C. Butler; Lee, b. 1911, d. 1937, m. Irena “Reanie” Cogburn; Ely Hubert, b. 1912, d. 1937, m. V. Lucille Houston (1913-1995); Harvie “Mose,” b. 1914, d. 2000, single; Joe Leamon, b. 1917, d. 2007, m. Annie L. Aughtman (1922-2010); Bertha, b. 1919, d. 2009, m. John M. Riley (1925-1975) and Evelyn J., b. 1925, d. 2011, m. H.B. Owens Sr. (1923-2006), son of Albert Owens and Louvenia Coplin.

A majority of the above families lived in the Straughn and Heath communities where they worked and reared their children.

Many of their descendants continue to reside in the same communities.

Sources for the Chism family story included Ancestry.com and the family records and tree of Donna (Chism) Fountain, which she generously shared.

Donna is the daughter of Willie Lee Chism and his second wife, Mildred Allene Kilpatrick.

Anyone who might discover an error in any of the above data or who has additional genealogy on the Chism family is encouraged to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.