One line of Sassers in Covington County descend from John Mudson Sasser, a native of Georgia. To date, no relationship of him to the other Sasser families of this county has been established. Those families were featured in a column about two years ago.

John Mudson Sasser was born circa 1836 as the eighth child of Richard H. and Jane (Johnson) Sasser, natives of South Carolina. His parents were married in Stewart County, Georgia, and later moved to Lee County, Alabama. The 1860 Census enumerated the family in Macon County, and the 1870 Census listed the family, after Richard's death, in Russell County. John was born while the family lived in Georgia.

John was married circa 1858 to Elizabeth Jane Burnett, daughter of Joseph and Abseny Johnson, Sr., natives of North Carolina. Jane was born circa 1841.

The 1870 Census enumerated the family as residents of Russell County. John was 34 years of age, and Elizabeth was 29. They had three children at the time: Sarah, Richard, and William. It is believed that he had served in the Confederate Army. He had moved his family to Covington County by the taking of the 1890 Census.

John was listed as a farmer residing in the old Straughn Schoolhouse District in the 1900 Census. Only the two youngest children, Washington and Edna, were still living at home. A single lady, Sarah Burnett, who was apparently Elizabeth's sister was also residing in the home.

John and Jane reared at least the following 10 children: Sarah Jane, b. 1861, d. 1925, m. John R. Treadaway; Richard Henderson, b. 1866, d. 1917, m. Lula Viola "Leila" Graham; William Thomas, b. 1868; Eulalia Elizabeth, b. 1871, m. Jim Tom Mayberry; Frances Ann Elender, b. 1873, d. 1958, m. J.H. McFarland; John Streatman, b. 1876, m. (1) Georgia Rebecca Shepperd (2) Una Vae Elmore; Mary Lula, b. 1880, m. Howell Butler; Cynthia Beulah, b. 1883, d. 1913, m. James Franklin Thomasson; Noah Washington, b. 1884, m. Annie Caton; and Edna Earl, b. 1887, m. John Shepperd.

Sarah Jane and her husband, John Treadaway, moved to Covington County circa 1894 and settled in the Damascus community. They had the following children: Joseph Benjamin, b. 1881, d. 1968, m. Palestine Hamilton, Jr.; John Thomas, b. 1883, m. Myrtle Carner; Daniel G., b. circa 1883, d. 1967, m. Leola Mitchell; and Lee, b. ca 1897, m. Annie Hamrick.

After losing their land during the depression, the family moved to Opp to work in the new cotton mill. After Sarah Jane's death John married Frances Pevy who died within the next two years. He then lived with his son, Daniel, at Antioch. John and Sarah Jane were buried in the Hickory Grove Cemetery in Opp.

Richard Henderson and his wife remained in Lee County.

Eulalia Elizabeth and her husband, J.T. Mayberry, reared the following children: John Albert, m. (1) ? (2) Rachael ?; Elzie, m. Alonzo Elmore; Wiley, m. Meelie Wells; William Clyde, m. Isabelle Rowell; and. Vida, m. (1) Kendrick Campbell (2) Sam McFarland (3) Man Solomon.

Frances A.E. was married to Jim H. McFarland in 1891 in Lee County. They had at least one daughter, Lorena, who married C.B. Godfrey.

John S. was married first to Georgia Rebecca Shepperd who died at a young age. They had at least one daughter who died in childhood. John was married second to Una Vae Elmore, daughter of Jim Elmore. They had the following children: Eunice, m. (1) Jim Mack Stephens (2) ? Barlow; Myra, m.(1) Joe Hunt (2) William Bedsole; Charles; and Pearlie, b. 1902, m. ? Watson.

Mary Lula was married after the family moved to Covington County to Howell Butler. They reared the following children: Lillie Bertha, m. Turner Owens; Horace, m. Bessie Blocker; Lodis Vascom, b. 1904, d. 1957, m. Lula Beatrice Henderson; John Henry, m. Lottie Meridith; Maybelle, m. Herman Wesley; and Tina Dell "Tiny," m. J.T. Houston.

Cynthia Beulah was married in 1899 to James Franklin Thomasson, son of Jefferson Sylvanus and Rebekah (Butler) Thomasson of the Burnout community. They had the following children: Ora Louvenda, b. 1903, d. 1979, m. Clement Vester Hare; James Wesley, b. 1905, d. 1971, m. (1) Ruby Evelyn Stokes (2) Minnie Ethel (Barfoot) Folmar; John Chesley, b. 1906, d. 1952, m. (1) Ruby Houston (2) Bessie Lee Kirkland; Reedy Vester, b. 1907, d. 1963, m. Eva Mae Thompson; Charles Esker, b. 1909, m. Runie Hare; Dorothy Merle, b. 1911, d. 1978, m. Willie Henry Lawson; and Norris Lester, b. 1912, d. 1977, m. Johnnie Mae Wilson.

Noah Washington was married to Annie Caton and had at least one daughter, Nancy, who married a Sasser.

Edna Earl was married to John Shepperd and had a daughter, Edna Vae, who married James Rice.

As the years passed the above Sasser descendants began to spread out in South Alabama and Northwest Florida. The parents, John and Elizabeth, lived out their years here and were buried in the Valley Grove Cemetery located adjacent to the Valley Grove Primitive Baptist Church on US Highway 331 north of Opp. Their graves are located in the northeast corner of the cemetery, but they are not marked. They are near the grave of their daughter-in-law, Georgia Rebecca Sasser.

The writer has communicated with numerous Sasser descendants and has accumulated considerable genealogical records from which this column was written. Appreciation is expressed to each one who has shared significant information.

Anyone who might have corrections or additions to the above is requested to contact Curtis Thomasson, a great grandson, at Route 9, Box 97, Andalusia, AL 36420 or Email: chthom@alaweb.com

Historical Meeting

The Covington Rifles Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans will hold its annual meeting to honor Gen. Robert E. Lee on Thursday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. in the LBW Dixon Conference Center. Anyone interested in Southern heritage is welcome.