Day descendants resided in Babbie
Published 12:00 am Friday, June 27, 2003
Today's writing will be a continuation of the genealogy of the John Atha Day family and descendants. The family and first generation was introduced in last week's column, and the first two of John's children were outlined. Following will be the other children of John and Celia (Jourdon) Day.
Very little is known of the third child, Jan, who was born in Alabama in 1842. Some records indicate she was married to a Mr. Harrison, but no additional information has been documented at this time.
The fourth child, John William, born in 1843 in Alabama, enlisted in the Confederate Army at age 18 in 1861. He served as a private in Company D, 15th Alabama Voluntary Infantry, which was raised in Barbour County. He was active throughout the war and became one of the lucky 231 of the 1633 in his regiment to return home alive. About a year later he was married to Julia Ann McKinney, daughter of David and Patience (Standfield) McKinney.
John W. and Julia Ann reared the following four children: Martha E., b. 1868, d. after 1920, m. George W. Meeks, son of Jeremiah and Emily E. Meeks; Emma Lee, b. 1869, m. Dr. Thomas Jefferson Patrick, son of Littleberry and Anna (Connell) Patrick; John William Hiram, b. 1881, d. 1933, m. (1) Sarah Monroe (2) Ada Elizabeth "Lizzie" Parker, daughter of Nathan Aaron and Martha Ellen (Wise) Parker; and Cecilia "Sealie," b. 1882, m. ? McCarthy.
The next child, Henry Joel, was born on Christmas Day, 1844, in Alabama. He worked as a farmer, appointed Justice of the Peace in 1862, became Postmaster for the Sanford Post Office and church clerk for the Bethel Primitive Baptist Church. In 1864, at age 20, he enlisted at Knoxville, Tennessee, to join his brother in Company D, 15th Alabama Infantry Regiment, Confederate Army. Their company was also known as the "Fort Browder Roughs." After returning from the war, he settled in the Babbie community where he lived most of his life.
Henry Joel was married in 1874 in Covington County to his first wife, Pheraby Keziah Wiggins, daughter of Thomas and Louisa J. (Cobb) Wiggins. They had the following three children born before Louisa's untimely death in 1880: Richard T., b. 1875, d. 1961(?), m. Louisa C. Houston, daughter of Samuel James and Missouri Clementine (Olive) Houston; Willis Barney, b. 1877, d. 1947, m. Vickie L. Taylor, daughter of William and Gertrude (Jones) Taylor; and Joseph Henry, b. 1878, d. 1950, m. Carrie Olive Taylor, sister to Vickie.
Next, Henry Joel was married in 1884 to Eva Jane Bradley, daughter of Irwin Preston and Rhoda Catherine (Craig) Bradley, Jr. The had the following 15 children: Evolena "Lena," b. 1885, d. 1976, m. Reuben Theophilous Powell, son of Theophilous and Alice M. (Smith) Powell; Viola, b. 1888, d. 1956, m. Wade Hampton Prater, Sr., son of James Franklin Monroe and Rebecca Adaline (Permenter) Prater; Eujenia "Jeannie," b. 1890, d. 1967, m. John Dixie Powell, brother to Reuben; Rhoda Myrtle, b. 1892, d. 1965, m. John Jefferson Davis; Arthur Irwin, b. 1894, d. 1989, m. Ida Belle Prater, sister to Wade Hampton; John Bernard, b. 1896, d. 1971, m. Vera Adelia Dreadin; Benjamin Franklin, b. 1898, d. 1966, m. Carlie Henley, daughter of William E. and Annimitous Henley; Robert Lee, b. 1900, d. 1971, m. Mary Catherine Willis; Charlie Wilson, b. 1902, d. 1983, m. Mabelle ?; Lilla Rebecca, b. 1904, d. 1986, m. Cellus Barney Morgan, son of John Green and Annie Mirtie (Smith) Morgan; Tessa Ann, b. 1906, d. 1987, m. Marlin Powell; James Ambrose, b. 1908, d. 1922, m. Annie Lee Hinson; Bonnie Eva Jane, b. 1909, d. 1996, m. Huey Green Morgan, brother to Cellus Barney; Elton Theodore, b. 1912, d. 1984, m. Dorothy H. ?; and Versie Noy, b. 1913, d. 1917.
The next child, James Daniel, also joined the Confederate Army and at the young age of 17 in 1864. He enlisted in Captain Roger's Company, Company C, 2nd Alabama Regiment Reserves. He returned to the area, but moved his family to Texas during the late 1870s. They sailed by boat from the Florida coast to Indianola, Texas. From there they joined a wagon train heading for Ardmore, Oklahoma, and later to Dixie. In 1908, they family moved south and eventually settled in Bowie, Texas, where he and his wife were buried.
James Daniel was married to Mary Elizabeth (Hughes) Harrison, daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Cutts) Hughes. They reared the following children: Jeremiah "Jerry," b. 1864; Henry James "Big Hat," b. 1866, d. 1939, m. Elizabeth John Selby; Willie Daniel, b. 1867, d. 1952, m. Eliza Catherine "Kate" Hahn; Mary "Mollie" Elizabeth, b. 1869, d. 1955, m. George Washington Fisher; Jeffalonia "Lonie" J., b. 1870, d. 1896; Infant, b.&d. ca 1872; Samantha "Mancy" Devoria, b. 1874, d. 1957, m. Joseph "Joe" Nazareth Shaddock; Infant, b.&d. ca 1876; Sarah "Sada," b. 1878, d. ca 1894; Celia "Sely" A., b. 1881, m. ? Crawford; and Robert Lee, b. 1884, d. 1955, m. Nancy Emma "Emmie" Tedford.
The next child, Mary Elizabeth, and her husband, John Gray Little, son of Henry Bennett and Elizabeth (Beck) Little, resided in the Beck community next to John's relatives. They lived out their lives there and were buried in the Jordan Cemetery, which is located several hundred yards north of the Old Brooklyn Road near the Salem community. They reared the following children: Isabelle "Belle," b. 1872, d. 1969, m. James K. Kelley; James "Jim" Washington, b. 1874, d. 1958, m. Lela Eleanor Knight; Green Berry, b. 1878, d. 1952, m. Alice Odom; Lou Della, b. 1880, m. Henry Beasley; Callie Alabama, b. 1882, d. 1966, m. John Henry Goodman; Henry Bennett, b. 1884, d. 1964, m. Augusta Lucy "Gustie" Brooks; Nancy E., b. 1887, d. 1970, m. Alex W. Lambert; John Anderson "Manson," b. 1890, d. 1970, m. Lena Mae Davis; Carey Eli, b. ca 1892, d. 1962, m. Leona Cartwright; Howard "Doc," b. 1894, d. 1961; and Infant.
Since there is so much good material readily available, this family will continue to be covered with the presentation of the families of the additional children of John and Celia Day. Most of this genealogy data is the work of Joanna Burton of Peoria, Arizona, to whom the family is truly indebted.
Anyone who might find corrections to the above or additional information on this family is requested to contact Curtis Thomasson at 21361 Rabren Road, Andalusia, AL 36420 or Email: chthom@alaweb.com