The Gunter family of Covington County was introduced in last week's column, and the family line of Lemuel Gunter, son of Abel Gunter and grandson of Joshua Gunter, was featured. In today's writing, the lineage and history of Lemuel's brother, Zimri Gunter, will be presented. These two brothers left the extended family in Aiken, South Carolina, and moved to this area during the mid to late 1890s.

Zimri Gunter appears to have arrived in this area circa 199 according to birth places of his children. He was a younger brother to Lemuel and was born in 1833 in South Carolina. He was married there in the late 1850s to Alsey Kirkland, daughter of Warren and Aliss Kirkland. He and Alsey had two infant daughters when he enlisted in the Confederate Army. They had another child born during the war and several after it to comprise a large family, which was typical for the time.

Zimri and Alsey reared the following children: Nancy I., b. 1858, d. 1921, m. James Aaron Hutto; Martha Allie, b. 1860, m. John Ervin Blackwell; Ailey, b. 1863, m. Giles Crumwell Gunter; Anderson Lonzo, b. 1865, d. 1918; Ellen May, b. 1867, d. 1918, m. (1) Augustus Colwell Gunter (2) Gibbes Hutto (?); Saphronia, b. ca 1870; Eliza Ann, b. 1862, d. 1958, m. Martin Friday Posey, Jr.; Wade Hampton, b. 1876, d. 1925, m. Glatha Hutto; Georgiana, b. 1879, d. 1918; and Annie, b. 1882.

Their oldest daughter, Nancy, and her husaband, James Aaron Hutto, had the following children: Lula Mae, b. 1879, d. 1955, m. LeRoy Andrew Jordan, son of Andrew and Martha (Liatson) Jordan; Robert Lafayette, b. 1881, d. 1965, m. 1905 Annie Belle Kilpatrick; Carrie, b. 1884, m. Morgan Riley; Stansel, b. 1890, m. Evie Stacks; Ora Alsey, b. 1896, d. 1960, m. Devoe Olen Hutto: and Emmie Cornelia, b. 1882, d. 1965, m. James Wilson Bass, son of Bennett Bridges "Sug" and Mary (Padgett) Bass.

Martha Allie, and her husband, John Ervin Blackwell, resided in the Carolina community. John homesteaded 120 acres in that area in 1900. That means he would have been living there by 1895. Tragically, John died in 1902 at he age of 48 years leaving Allie a widow with several young children. They reared the following children: Estelle, b. 1877, d. 1949, m. Silas Cross; Malissa, b. 1880, d. 1897; James Milton, b. 1882, d. 1952, m. Nancy Viola Jane Lawson; Malzie, b. 1884, d. 1944, m. Joseph Richard Gortman; Dolly, b. 1886, m. Simpson Gunter; Minnie, b. 1890, d. 1953, m. Lovie Garvin; Maggie, b. 1894, m. Tangor Nelson; Ellen Saphronia, b. 1897, d. 1981, m. Dink Raybon; and Carlis Hampton, b. 1899, d. 1961, m. Delia Elvira Harrelson.

Ailey and her husband, Giles Crumwell Gunter, son of Elliott and Theoxena Gunter, resided in the Carolina community near their relatives. Giles homesteaded 160 acres of land in that area in 1899. They had the following children: Willie Marcus, b. 1883, d. 1949, m. Josephine "Josie" Padgett; Oscar Cleveland, b. 1884, m. Leslie "Lessie" Elvira Hutto, daughter of Benjamin and Mary Hutto; Lillie Lovelace, b. 1886, d. 1959, m. William Timothy "Bud" Herring; Fred Lee, b. 1890, m. Nina Bell Spicer; Harvey G., b. 1893, d. 1985, m. Carrine Carter; Harmon Zimri "Jimmy," b. 1896, d. 1979, m. Thelma Gregory; Lawrence Reginal, b. after 1900, m. Gedie Ester Davis; and Winnie Faye, b. after 1900.

Anderson Lonzo and his wife, Anna Lee Gunter, daughter of Wayne and Deborah (Sawyer) Gunter, appear to have remained in South Carolina. They reared the following children: Clarence F., b. 1891, d. 1979, m. Camellia M.; Albert C., b. 1895, d. 1948; Ollie Carlton, b. 1897, m. Carlie Mulvena Gantt; and Carlisle, b. 1905, d. 1963.

Ellen May was married twice, but she is only known to have had one son, James Otis Gunter, b. 1885, d. 1970, m. 1909 Anna Lee Parrish. Her husband, Augustus Colwell Gunter, was also the son of Elliott and Theoxena Gunter.

Saphronia and her husband, Mark N. Posey, son of Martin Friday and Annice (Williams) Posey, reared two children: Dennis Teague, b. 1886, d. 1962, m. Lessie Posey; and Annice Lenora, m. James Henry "Jim" Smith.

Eliza Ann and her husband, Martin Friday Posey, son of Martin Friday and Annice (Williams) Posey, Sr., lived in the Libertyville community. Martin homesteaded 160 acres there in 1901. They reared the following children: Wiles Crayton, b. 1893, d. 1974, m. Vinnie Hogg; George Carman, b. 1896, d. 1965, single; Christopher Columbus, b. 1897, d. 1967, m. Velma ?; Creps Anderson, b. 1900, d. 1931; Colwell, b. 1903, d. 1974, m. Carrie Mae Thomas; Cora Bell, b. 1903, d. 1972, m. William Bullock; Clydie Annice, b. 1908, d. 1909; and Curtis Martin, b. 1912, d. 1949, m. Annie Clyde Pope.

Wade Hampton homesteaded 160 acres of land in the Libertyville community in 1907. He and his wife, Galatha (Hutto), daughter of Benjamin and Mary Hutto, reared the following three children: Farrel A., b. 1906, d. 1972, m. Jewel Walker, daughter of Avery and Lydia (Hutto) Walker; E. Clement, b. 1911, d. 1973, m. Allie Frances Blackwell, daughter of James and Nancy (Lawson) Blackwell; and Horace.

There are many of these Gunter relatives who have generations of descendants who continue to reside in Covington County. Considerable genealogical research has been done on these later generations if anyone is interested. Several members of the family including Charlotte Smith, Howard Hutto, Ezra Posey, and Robert G. Smith contributed data for this writing. Once again, Albert "Buddy" Blackwell, a descendant who resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, shared his records for the bulk of the article. Appreciation is expressed to all of these for their assistance.

Since some of the information was gathered by word of mouth and by telephone, there might be some errors in the correct spelling of names and dates. Anyone who detects an error or has additional data to contribute is requested to contact Curtis Thomasson at 21361 Rabren Road, Andalusia, AL 36420 or Email chthom@alaweb.com

HISTORICAL PROGRAMS:

A Confederate Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. this Saturday, May 10, at the Cool Springs Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Opp to honor the Confederate service of Veteran William Jasper Martin. His widow, the last living widow of the War Between the States, plans to be present. Anyone with an appreciation of Southern Heritage is cordially invited.

Another Confederate Memorial Service is planned at 1:30 p.m. the same day to honor two Confederate Veterans and members of the Veasey family, Jesse H. Veasey and his son, Samuel D. Veasey. The program will be held at their gravesite in the Veasey Chapel Cemetery, located several miles north of Opp and about two miles west of US 331 in the Burnout community. Guests are welcome.