There appears to be more than one Ellenburg family line who has resided in South Alabama, mostly in Pike and Coffee Counties. Some descendants also became residents of Covington County.

A few Ellenburg families were introduced in a recent column featuring the Polson family and one of the Sasser lines since a few members of these families intermarried. With that being the case, a few of those may be included in today’s coverage of this particular Ellenburg family line.

According to Ancestry.com John Fredrick Eishelberger is the earliest ancestor identified to date for the Ellenburg family line being featured today. John was born in Germany in 1730 and was married in the 1740s in York, Penn., to Anna Marie Kintz, a native of Heidelberg, Germany. They became the immigrant ancestors of this family. John died in 1823 in the State of South Carolina.

Among John and Anna’s children was a son named John Martin Eishelberger who was born in 1750 in the State of Maryland. John Martin was married to Elizabeth Welch (1760-1821). John Martin died in 1831 in Pickens County, S.C. They were the parents of William Benson Ellenburg who was born in 1778 in South Carolina. He was married in 1839 to Nancy Keith Rice, daughter of Isaac Rice (1768-1855) and Elizabeth Lucinda Kennemore (1776-1863).

William Benson and Nancy Ellenburg resided in South Carolina and were the parents of the following 16 children: John, b. 1794, d. 1880; Hezekiah, b. 1802, d. 1883; Martin, b. 1805, d. 1883; Solomon, b. 1810; Adam, b. 1812, d. 1894; Ralph “Rafe,” b. 1815, d. 1878; Willis Eli, b. 1815, d. 1864; William Watson “Babe,” b. 1819, d. 1883; Joseph, b. 1822, d. 1865; Thomas William, b. 1825, d. 1883; Rebecca, b. 1830, d. 1900; Henry, b. 1832, d. 1880; Joseph Larkin, b. 1835, d. 1922, m. Susan J. Crenshaw; Delila, b. 1835, d. 1918; Nancy, b. 1842; and Marilla Prucilla, b. 1844, d. 1913. William Benson Ellenburg died in 1845 in Anderson, S.C., but Nancy lived until 1880 and was living in Tennessee at the time.

The son, Joseph Larkin Ellenburg, had migrated to Pike County, Ala., before 1860. In 1861, he was married in Coffee County, Ala., to Susan J. Crenshaw (1843-1921), daughter of John Owen Crenshaw Jr. (1812-1870) and Rebecca Elizabeth Harless (1818-1880), residents of South Carolina. In 1880, the family was living in the Spring Hill community of Pike County, Ala. Joseph Larkin was 45 years of age and working as a farmer.

Joseph Larking and Susan Ellenburg were the parents of the following children: Martha Ann Rebecca, b. 1860; Mary Josephine, b. 1862, d. 1909, m. James T. Kyzer; Daniel Alexander, b. 1866, d. 1940, m. Mary Ellen Sasser; Mary Elizabeth “Lizzie,” b. 1866, d. 1924, m. Henry James Sasser (1860-1923); Georgia Alabama, b. 1872, d. 1962, m. Lee Johnson Parrish; and J.G., b. 1874, d. 1946, m. Maggie Everidge.

The oldest son, Daniel Alexander Ellenburg, was born in Pike County and later was married to Mary Ellen Sasser, daughter of John B. Sasser (1826-1887) and Charity A. Whittle (1831-1907). They were the parents of the following children: Ella; Fanny; Leila Ressie, b. 1887, d. 1970, m. Zachariah Polson (1866-1943); Lillie Louiza J., b. 1888, d. 1972, m. John Clifton Polson; Cassie Miles, b. 1891, d. 1985, m. Ira Zola Mae Andrews (1902-1988); John Meddie, b. 1891, d. 1926, m. Julie Elenbury; Rossie, b. 1894, d. 1985; Joseph Freeman, b. 1895, d. 1969, m. Martha Coone; Effie Lee, b. 1897, d. 1906; Henry Nelson, b. 1902, d. 1966, m. Eva Mae Lolly; Lee Annie L., b. 1904, d. 1996, m. Henry H. Walls (1900-1989); Gennia Bell, b. 1906, d. 2001, m. Lee Noah Johnson (1896-1947); Robert Esau, b. 1909, d. 2004, m. Mae Sasser (1904-1969); and Phenia Mae, b. 1913, d. 2005, m. (1) Charles Leon Harper (1908-1982) (2) Floyd Davis (1912-1998).

The daughter, Leila Ressie Ellenburg, was married to Zachariah Polson, son of Evander “Vander” C. Polson (1833-1917) and Martha Jessie Roscoe (1835-1915). They were the parents of the following children: Mary Russie, b. 1904, m. Wilbur Daughtry; Nellie Mae, b. 1904, d. 1996, m. (1) Ollie Herbert Bell (2) David Smith; Marvin D., b. 1906, d. 1979, m. Ora Baxley; Mervie P., b. 1910; Effie Lee, b. 1912, m. Harvey Moore; Rupert Daniel, b. 1912, d. 1972; Lee Andrew, b. 1916, d. 1976; and Chessie Lee, b. 1918, m. Joe Mobley.

The daughter, Lillie Louiza Ellenburg, was married to John Clifton Polson, and they were the parents of the following children: Mary Jane, b. 1906, d. 1987; Arkie, b. 1907, d. 1977; Jewel, b. 1910, d. 1988; Myrtie, b. 1914, d. 1991; Willie Rufus, b. 1917, d. 1981; and Eunice Lois, b. 1920, d. 1971.

The oldest son, Cassie Miles Ellenburg, was born in Geneva County and died in Dale County. He was married to Ira Zola Mae Andrews, and they were the parents of the following children: Mary Lois, b. 1922, d. 1998; Charles Ralph, b. 1924, d. 1993; Jerald Raiford, b. 1928, d. 2000; Joseph Edward, b. 1930, d. 2004; Cassie Miles Jr., b. 1933, d. 2003; Sarah Nell, b. 1936, d. 1992; Joe Frank, b. 1937, d. 2012; and John D., b. 1939, d. 2015.

The son, Joseph Freeman Ellenburg, was married to Martha Coone, and they were the parents of the following children: Clarence M., b. 1915, d. 2012; Lovie, b. 1917, d. 1975; Lois, b. 1920, d. 2009; James Edward, b. 1923, d. 1966; and Mary Ruth, b. 1927, d. 2013.

The daughter, Gennia Bell Ellenburg, was married to Lee Noah Johnson, and they were the parents of the following children: Wenfred O’Neal, b. 1926, d. 2015; Lee Noah Jr., b. 1928, d. 2009; and Charles Tommie “P-Joe,” b. 1931, d. 1990.

The youngest son, Robert Esau Ellenburg, was married to Mae Sasser. They were the parents of the following eight children: Foye Mae, b. 1929, d. 1998, m. George Cary Sasser (1928-2002); Cecil Monroe, b. 1931, d. 1959; Johnny B. b. 1932, d. 1934; Bobby Gene, b. 1932, d. 2016; Robert Earl, b. 1935, d. 1994; Elbert Lee, b. 1938; Jo Anne, b. 1942; and Dorothy Jean, b. 1945.

The youngest child and daughter, Phenia Mae Ellenburg, was married first to Charles Leon Harper, and they were the parents of three children: Rebecca, Valinda Ann, and Elaine. Phenia was married second to Floyd Davis, and they were also the parents of three children: Mary Ellen, b. 1935; Lamar; and Talmadge.

There were many Ellenburg descendants who lived all over South Alabama. Considerable genealogy is available on this family.

The sources for today’s writing were Ancestry.com and the family records of Joe Frank Bickford whose wife is a descendant.

Anyone who might find an error in the above data is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 34620; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.

HISTORICAL

MEETING:

The Covington Rifles Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans will be meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 3. In the Dixon Memorial Room of the Andalusia Public Library. The program will be a planning session, and new officers will be installed. Anyone interested in Confederate heritage is encouraged to attend.

FAMILY REUNION:

The Thomas Randolph and Sarah (Roach) Thomasson descendants will hold their annual reunion on Saturday, August 5, in the fellowship hall of the Cedar Grove Church of Christ on Brooklyn Road in Andalusia. All relatives are urged to attend and bring “covered dishes” for the buffet meal.