William Chavers, a native of North Carolina, was the ancestor of the Chavers descendants in South Alabama. He was born in 1805 and died sometime after 1880 in Conecuh County, Alabama. He was married to Easter Williams who was born in 1814 in South Carolina. They later lived for a time in Lee and Randolph Counties, Georgia. While the date of their move to Alabama is uncertain, the two oldest sons enlisted in the Confederate Army in Monroe County in November 1861. The family was enumerated in the 1870 Federal Census of Conecuh County. At the time William was listed as being 65 years of age and Easter, 56.

William and Easter had the following nine children: John Thomas, b. 1834, d. 1908, m. (1) Nancy J. ? (2) Lucretia Anne Rhodes; Uriah R. Sr., b. 1838, d. 1915, m. (1)Elizabeth Smith (2) Susan Orea McMillan; William Edmond, b. 1839; Prank M., b. ca 1843; Andrew Jackson, b. 1845; Kosiah, b. 1846; Susan, b. 1849; James Austin, b. 1851; and Jasper, b. 1854.

The oldest two sons, John Thomas and Uriah Sr., served together throughout the entire War Between the States in Co. I, 24th Alabama Infantry Regiment. Their regiment fought in battles in Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. There is a record of Uriah filing for his service pension in 1907.

John Thomas and his first wife, Nancy, had the following children: John W., b. 1856; Henry T., b. 1858, d. 1925, m. Mary C. Grimes; James E., b. 1859; Samuel Beauregard, b. 1862; Martha M., b. 1868; and Simon R., b. 1870.

The second son, Uriah R. Sr., returned from the war to his first wife, Elizabeth, and infant daughter. Elizabeth was the daughter of Arthur and Alvaney (Bowden) Smith. Uriah and Elizabeth continued their family until they had the following 16 children: Mariah Eugenia, b. 1864, d. 1926, m. 1879 William Jackson Petty; Nickolas, b. 1867, d. 1888, single; Sarah Florice "Sally," b. 1868, d. 1900, m. 1883 William S. Sirmon; Eliza J., b. 1870; Barbara Allen "Bobbie," b. 1871, d. 1931, m. 1886 George Nathan Forte; Uriah R. Jr., b. 1872, d. 1925, m. 1891 Addie Lou Jean Morgan; Flora "Florrie," b. 1874, d. 1928, m. 1897 Jesse Lewis Hughes; Clark, b. 1876, d. 1941, m. Thekla S. Rathwell; Elizabeth "Betty," b. 1878, d. 1893, single; Harriet "Hattie," b. 1879, d. 1909, m. 1889 John H. Curry; Emanuel, b. 1881, d. 1918, m. Willie Dean ?; Clara Colleen "Carlie," b. 1882, d. 1963, m. 1896 James Allen Hughes; Lemuel Madison, b. 1885, d. 1966, m. 1904 Allie Rae Burkett; Seaborn, b. 1883, d. 1950, m. Nancy Brewton; John Earnest, b. 1887, m. Fannie Brewton; and Morris, b. ca 1889.

Elizabeth died in 1890 while the family resided in Monroe County. In 1898, Uriah was married to Susan Orea McMillan, and the family moved to Escambia County, Florida. Uriah and Susan had two children: Wright, b. 1898, d. 1979; and Carrie Mae, b. 1901.

The next generation in this family will be represented by Henry T. Chavers, the second son of John Thomas. Henry was married in 1879 in Monroe County to Mary C. Grimes, daughter of Allen and Jo (Jay) Grimes. The ceremony was performed by Robert Smilie at the Grimes home. Henry and Mary had the following children: James T. "J.T.," b. 1880, d. 1964, m. Suanna Grimes; Samuel D., b. 1882, m. Ellen ?; Maggie J., b. 1884, m. (1) ? Watkins (2) Arch Austin; Robert Lafayette, b. 1889, d. 1942, m. (1) ? (2) Pearl Elizabeth Lawson (3) Cassie Mae Rhodes; Nancy Matilda "Tildy," b 1891, m. Tom Lawson; Henry Allen, b. 1892, d. 1953, m. Vallie Lee Hare; Rubble "Rub," b. 1895, m. Alma Fuqua; Elba Catherine, b. 1897, d. 1972, m. Edward Lawson; and Bettie Mae, b. 1899, m. Will Fuqua.

The above couple, Henry T. and Mary C. Grimes Chavers, were married in Monroe County, but they later moved to Covington Country where they settled for remainder of their lives. His grave is marked at the Adellum Baptist Church Cemetery and his wife was probably buried there as well. Some of their children and other descendants are also interred there. The family appears to have lived in the Adellum community.

The same generation as that of Henry T. Chavers will be represented by Uriah R. Chavers, Jr., son of Uriah Sr. Uriah Jr. and his wife, Addie Lou Jean Morgan. They had the following children: John W., b. 1891, d. 1907, single; Annie Mae, b. 1893, d. 1979, m. Burton Basil LeClare Simmons; Clarence Bazell, b. 1896, d. 1982, m. Mary Alice Harter; Clark, b. 1898; Prudie, b. 1899, d. 1971, m. Oscar Clyde Stokes; Lily Ethel, b. 1901, m. Perce Thompson; Mabel, b. 1903, m. Newman Ingram; Essie Arelia, b. 1905, d. 1907; Elizabeth "Golden," m. Eugene Sowell; and Gertrude "Gertie," m. D.B. James. Uriah Jr. reared his family in Milton, Florida, where he operated a store on Willing Street and one later on Park Avenue. In 1923, he moved to Panama City two years before his death.

At the present time, there are many descendants of the above families and other relatives who reside in Covington County. Several of the descendants and relatives are currently researching this family's genealogy. Some of those actively conducting research include Albert "Buddy" Blackwell of Las Vegas, Clyde Lafayette Stokes of Bagdad, Florida, and Dorothy Jean (Palmer) Pearson of Tuscaloosa. Others who generously contributed data for today's writing include the following: Evelyn (Chavers) Ganus, Mary Elizabeth (Chavers) Gantt, and Catherine (Lawson) Tatum, all residents of Andalusia.

It is planned that some of the next generation in this Chavers family will be covered in next week's column. Anyone who might have any corrections to the above genealogy or additional information related to this family is requested to contact the writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 21361 Rabren Road, Andalusia, AL 36420 or Email: chthom@alaweb.com