A Brogden descendant, Hiram Jenkins Brogden, Sr., is well remembered as an outstanding public servant in Covington County. For a remarkable record he served for approximately 38 years, from 1922 to 1959, as Probate Judge of Covington County. He came from a rich heritage of family success in business and industry as well as education. Early generations of the Brogden family had large holdings in real estate and timber.

It is not known exactly when the Brogden family moved to Covington County. Some claim the earliest settlers were here before they moved on to Butler County in 1865. However, the mother of the family featured in this writing was enumerated in the 1880 Census of Aiken County, South Carolina. She was listed as being 67 years old and head of the household. Residing with her were her 96 years old mother, Sarah Nobles, and her 31 years old son, John.

Representatives of this family appear to have arrived during the early 1880s. Some of the children acquired land during the late 1880s, and some of the grandchildren were born here during the 1880s. When the 1900 census was taken, Winnie Brogden resided in the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Martha and Fuller Huckabaa.

Although Winnie Brogden's husband's name is not known, the couple reared the following children: Jesse, b. ca 1830, m. Elizabeth Gunter; Elizabeth, b. 1833, m. Andrew Jackson "Vealey" Fallaw, Sr.; Mansel, b. 1836, m. Dolly ?; Sally, b. 1838, d. after 1892; William C. "Bill," b. 1840-46, m. (1) Celestia A. (2) Martha E. Neese; Adolphus A., b. 1853, d. 1998, m. Mary Jane Hogg; Martha Ann, b. 1854, m. Fuller Huckabaa; and Wilson B., b. 1857, m. Annie Poole.

Jesse and Elizabeth Gunter had the following children: Elliott; Sellers, m. Selina Sawyer; Dossie, m. Sump Ables; Zelphia, m. W.B. Harley; and Donie, b. 1868, d. 1917, m. Elliott B. Gunter.

The names of any children for Elizabeth and her husband, Andrew Jackson Fallaw, are not known at this time. Andrew Jackson or "Vealey" was in Covington County earlier than the Brogdens as he enlisted in 1862 and served as a private in Company I, 40th Alabama Infantry Regiment of the Confederate States of America.

William C. and his first wife, Celestia, had the following three children: Louzenia, b. 1874; George T., b. 1876; and Lidda L., b. 1879. William C. was supposedly married second to Martha E. Neese, daughter of Lewallen and Mary (Craft) Neese. They had the following two children who retained the Neese name: Sara Frances "Lizzy" Neese, b. 1868, m. (1) Tommy Gay (2) William Yancey Sims; and Henry Alex Neese, b. 1871.

John B. homesteaded 160 acres of land in the Buck Creek Township in 1890. He and Mary Victoria had the following two children: Fannie Cornelia, b. 1885, m. George W. Scott; and Annie Lee, b. 1887, m. Jim May.

Adolphus A. "Dolph" homesteaded two tracts of 80 acres each in 1888 in the Rawls Township. He was married to Mary Jane Hogg, a native of Covington County and the daughter of Holland Hogg. (Holland Hogg was a Confederate Veteran.) Adolphus and Mary had the following children: James M., b. 1874, d. 1932, m. Joan M. Rawls; Frances Samantha, b. 1876, d. 1942, m. Elliott L. Rawls; JoAnn, b. 1879, d. 1923, m. Benjamin F. "Bede" Rawls; Hosea Holland, b. 1882, d. 1922, m. 1908 Willie Ruth Garvin; Hiram Jenkins, b. 1887, d. 1967, m. 1923 Lillian E. Cottle; Minnie Myra, b. 1889, d. 1973, m. (1) James W. Straughn (2) Boyd Brunson Gibbs; and Edward Henry, b. 1891, d. 1978, m. Bessie Grantham. Dolph met with an untimely death in 1898 when he became the victim of a homicide. It was reported that he was killed in a store in Searight by Rivers Gunter. His widow was enumerated in the 1900 census with the four youngest children still residing with her.

Martha Ann and her husband, Fuller Huckabaa, homesteaded 160 acres of land in 1890 in the Buck Creek Township. They reared the following children: James "Jim," m. Nellie Black; Robert "Rob," b. 1893, m. Vada Hogg; Virginia Olivia "Ollie," b. 1880, m. James A "Bossie" Raley; Dollie, m. Dock Straughn; Lizzie, m. Jim Aplin; Hattie; Ancil, m. (1) Lillie Scott (2) Zora Jones; and Carlos, m. (1) Willie Ruth Brogden.

Wilson B. homesteaded 156 acres of railroad land during 1899 in the Patsaliga River Township. He and his wife, Annie, had the following children: Jackson C. "Babe," b. 1879, m. Minnie M.; Loula, b. 1884; Pearl, b. 1885; Cassie, b. 1887; Carrie, b. 1890; Hardie, b. 1896; Dessie L., b. 1898; Verdie; Donie; and Bealey. Minnie M. Brogden was the first secretary of First Baptist Church, Gantt, Alabama.

There are many descendants in the succeeding generations who will be presented in next week's column. Sources for the genealogical data and historical records presented today included primarily research done by Greg Wood and Marie Scott Dixon also with Wyley Ward's book, Original Land Sales and Grants in Covington County, Alabama.

Anyone who has corrections to any of the above or additional genealogical data to share on this family is requested to contact Curtis Thomasson at 21361 Rabren Road, Andalusia, AL 36420 or Email: chthom@alaweb.com

HISTORICAL MEETING

The Covington Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 27, in the Andalusia Public Library's Dixon Memorial Room. Political Cartoonist Charles Brooks, a native of Andalusia, will be the speaker. Guests are welcome.