Acree descendants remained in county and migrated to Texas
Published 11:30 pm Friday, December 12, 2014
In last week’s column, the Acree family of Covington County was reviewed through several generations.
Today’s writing will continue with an additional two generations to more thoroughly present this family, which was quite influential in the development of this county.
Nathaniel Acree’s children as well as grandchildren were outlined in last week’s column.
Also reported was the family of his son, William Thomas Acree’s daughter, Mary Ann Elizabeth (Acree), and her husband, Zachariah T. Allen.
In addition, the family of a son, William Thomas Acree Jr., of William Thomas Sr. and his second wife, Mary Amanda (Adams), daughter of Benjamin and Jincy Caroline (Smith) Adams, was listed.
Another son of William Thomas Acree, and his first wife, Achsah Ann “Axie” (Jones), was Daniel Milton Acree, Daniel Milton Acree was married circa 1873 to Abi S.A. “Abbie” or “Cresta” Lenhart, the daughter of Dr. George Morgan and Eliza (Dixon) Lenhart.
In 1884, Daniel purchased Lot Number Two in Andalusia, but he sold it two years later in 1886. During that year he was elected to serve as County Treasurer.
In 1887, he bought 39.89 acres in the Blue Pond Township from the government.
Later, in 1893 he acquired 159.55 acres of government land, which was railroad land earlier in the Blue Pond area.
He was listed as a farmer in 1920. He died that year in Andalusia of stomach cancer at 65 years of age.
He was buried with other relatives in Magnolia Cemetery.
Daniel Milton and Abbie Acree reared the following children who were all born in Covington County: Annie Laura, b. 1875, d. 1926; E.C., b. 1877; Luna or Luner C., b. 1878; William Thomas, b. 1881, d. 1949, m. Carrie Bell Riland; Lafieler, b. 1884; Grover Cleveland, b. 1887, d. 1929; Francis F., b. 1889, m. 1906 W.E. Josey; Bonie, b. 1890; Nora, b. 1893; Bobbylee, b. 1895; Ester, b. 1898; and Leroy, b. 1902.
Next being presented are the grandchildren of Nathaniel Acree’s son, John E. Acree. John’s son, Alfred W. Acree, by his first wife, Elizabeth (Schofield), was married in 1866 to Mary E. Nichols.
Alfred served throughout the War Between the States from 1861 to 1865 as a private in Company D, 1st Battalion Alabama Artillery. In 1870, he was residing in Rutledge of Crenshaw County, Ala. By 1880, he had moved with his young family to Lavaca County, Texas.
He purchased land in Waller County, Tex., where he died in 1904.
Alfred W. and Mary (Nichols) Acree reared the following children: James Marlin, b. ca 1867; Alexander S., b. ca 1869; Ida, b. 1870 (first child born in Texas), d. 1942; Thomas W. “Tommie,” b. ca 1873, m. 1899 Ola ?; John Franklin, b. 1875, d. 1942, m. 1897 Julia Ella Norwood; Eugene W., b. 1878, d. 1927, m. Johnnie B. ?; Alfred Zera, b. 1882, d. 1948; and Adia, b. 1886.
John E. Acree’s oldest daughter by his second wife, Mary E. (Polk), was Francis M. Acree who married Drayton A. Chesser in 1867 in Crenshaw County. They reared the following children: Joseph Wilden, b. 1868, d. 1955, m. Ida Mae Jones; John D., b. ca 1871, d. 1934; Florence A., b. ca 1871; Sarah A., b. ca 1875; George T., b. ca 1877; and Octavia, b. 1883. The first five children were born in South Alabama before the family moved to Texas circa 1880. The last child was born after the move.
Nathaniel’s son, Wooten O’Neal Acree, was born in 1825 in Georgia, but was in Covington County, Ala., by 1860 when he was elected to serve as County Sheriff. He was married to Rebecca “Becky” Wheeler in 1861.
Their oldest son, Jesse O’Neal Acree, was born in 1862 and was married to Caroline G. Gresham.
This couple moved to Mobile and reared the following children there: Jesse O’Neal Jr., b. 1898, d. 1981, m. Emily R. ?; Acree child, b. 1901, d. at nine years of age; Caroline E., b. 1904, m. Ward E. Faulk; Harriet George, b. 1907; and Wooten O’Neal, b. 1909.
The next child in this family, Emma Lenora Acree, was married to John William Williamson (1867-1948), son of Jesse J. and Mary (Lanton) Williamson. They had the following children: William Douglas, b. 1892, d. 1920; John Wheeler, b. 1892, d. 1964, m. Willie Ray ?; William McNeal, b. 1896, d. 1932; Roy Rodney, b. 1898, d. 1985, m. Sarah Rebecca ?; Mary Gay, b. 1901; Ada Gray, b. 1903, d. 1949, m. Jesse Mason; and Marguritt, b. 1907, m. ? Camrow.
The last child in this family was Charles Ewin, who was married to Abigail “Abbie” Beasley (1875-1935). Charles died in 1935 in Florida. They reared the following children: Mabel, b. 1892, d. 1948, m. William Newton Whitfield; Gay Georgia, b. 1898, m. Arthur Lewis; Clarence; Ettle Lenora, b. 1909, d. 1910; Webster Wheeler, b. 1910, d. 1986, m. Vera Josephine Fox; and Rushton.
Next, the son of Nathaniel, Joseph S. Acree, and his wife, Angeline, had a daughter Martha Elizabeth who married Elisha H. Hall (1849-1916) in 1869. They had the following children: George W., b. 1870, m. Sarah A. ?; Child, b. 1872, d. at 8 years of age; Addie Hall, b. 1875; Child, b. 1876, d. at 4 years of age; Child, b. 1878, d. at 2 years of age; Elisha W., b. 1882, m. Frances E. ?; William Jeff, b. 1885, m. Ida ?; James N., b. 1888; Eli F. 1890; Pascal C., b. 1892; Andrew J., b. 1896; and Elisha Acree, b. 1905, d. 1973, m. Girtha B.T.
Acree family researchers have compiled much more genealogy on this family, but space does not permit covering all of it. Anyone interested my contact one of those working with this family history for additional information.
Once again, appreciation is expressed to one of the researchers, Lisa Franklin, who gave permission for use of her data for writing this story. She maintains a very informative web site, www.trackingyourroots.com, for sharing her extensive research with others. She may be contacted at trackingyourroots@gmail.com.
Lisa Franklin is also an administrator with DNA testing at 23andMe and is seeking contact with anyone having a documented Acree connection at DNA testing at 23andMe. There are a few descendants already tested, so comparison data are available.
She would like to get to the bottom/truth of her Acree ancestry.
Also, she is most interested in hearing from any Acree descendant who might wish to participate in the DNA testing
. Contact Lisa for information on this testing program at trackingyourroots@gmail.com.
Anyone who finds any errors in the above is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.