As a spring off from last week story of the Thomaston family, today’s column will feature the Hyatt family since a descendant of each of these families were married. The union of Willie Dean Hyatt and Hugh Warren Davis in 1958 merged the two families. Hugh Warren Davis was the son of Velma Frances Thomaston (1913-1991) and David Gardie Davis (1911-1979). Willie Dean Hyatt was the daughter of Alvie Joseph Hyatt Sr. and Willie Laura Brewer. These interrelated families for the most part settled in Coffee and surrounding counties.

The earliest generation found on Ancestry.com for the Hyatt lineage is Lewis Hyatt who was born in 1810 in South Carolina and died in 1893 in Jackson County, Fla. In 1843, he was married to Rosa Ann whose maiden name was not found. Around 1852, he moved his family from Marion County, S.C., to the Marianna community in Jackson County, Fla. In 1857, he secured a land patent for 158.94 acres of land in Jackson County. When he was in his early 50’s, he volunteered for service in the Confederate Army as a private in Company C, 1st. Fla. Infantry Reserves, Poe’s Company. He was recognized for distinguished service.

Lewis and Rosa Ann Hyatt were the parents of the following children: Warren, b. 1843; Margaret, b. 1845; Jane, b. 1847, d. 1860; Susan, b. 1850; Randall, b. 1852; Mary, b. 1855; Olive Francis, b. 1859; Enos Winslow, b. 1863, d. 1975, m. Jamie Barefoot Walls; Zachariah T., b. 1865; Laura L., b. 1868, d. 1930; and Alfred R., b. 1869.

The son, Enos Winslow Hyatt, who was sometimes called Winn or Wynn, is the line being followed in this writing. He is the family member who brought the family from Florida to Coffee County, Ala., circa 1892. He was married that year or the next in Coffee County to Janie Barefoot Walls (1877-1948), daughter of Joseph H. Walls (1852-1916) and Nancy Melissa Barefoot (1852-1925). Around 1910 they lived in Dale County but were back in Coffee by 1920 where Enos died in 1935.

Enos Winslow and Janie Hyatt were the parents of the following 10 children:  Alvie Joseph Sr., b. 1894, d. 1957, m. Willie Laura Brewer; Era Sue, b. 1896, d. 1963, appears to have been single; William Charlie, b. 1898, d. 1970, m. Connie Nelson (1900-1972); Melissa Walls, b. 1900, d. 1995, m. James Thomas Franklin Norsworthy (1895-1967); Janie Belle, b. 1902, d. 1999; Flora Alice “Annie,” b. 1904, d. 1989; Eunice Myrtle, b. 1906, d. 1996, m. Karo Thomas Ellis (1910-1987); John O., b. 1908, d. 1998, m. Essie L. ? (1908-1998); Tim, b. 1912, d. 1981, m. (1) Mattie Lee Ellis (b. 1909) (2) Gertrude Jacobs (1920-1996); and Infant b.&d. 1917.

The oldest son, Alvie Joseph Hyatt Sr., was born in 1894 in the Damascus community of Coffee County. In his 1917 military draft registration he was described as being of medium height, slender build and having blue eyes and black hair. He was married in 1917 in Dale County, Ala., to Willie Laura Brewer (1899-1962), daughter of Oscar Brewer (1873-1931) and Sarah “Sallie” Morgan (1864-1900). Alvie was a farmer and lived a number of years in Ozark, Ala., before returning to Coffee County. He was listed in one record as being a housewares peddler. He was a faithful member of Elba Lodge #170 AF and AM which published a memorial tribute to him and his service. He died in 1957 in the New Brockton community of Coffee County and was buried in the Damascus Cemetery near Enterprise.

Alvie Joseph Hyatt Sr. and his wife, Willie Laura, were the parents of the following eight children: Bessie Foy, b. 1918, d. 2004, m. Virgil Dove Willoughby (1912-1993); Ernest Vane, b. 1920, d. 1991, m. Velma Inez Odum (1922-2000); Oscar Winslow, b. 1925, d. 2004, m. Annie Laurie Bordus (1927-2016); Alvie Joseph Jr., b. 1927, d. 1999, m. Peggy Wynette Watson (1934-2014); James Austin, b. 1930, d. 2007, m. Anna “Annie” Lou Kelley (1931-2013); Emmett Morgan, b. 1933, d. 2005, m. Gwendolyn Louise Peacock; John Herbert, b. 1936, m. Joyce Gassett; and Willie Dean, b. 1938, d. 1962, m. 1956 Hugh Warren Davis (1932-1993).

The oldest daughter, Bessie Foy Hyatt, and her husband, Virgil Dove Willoughby, reared two daughters and resided in the Rocky Head community near Airton, Ala. They were buried in the Mount Olive Cemetery.

Brothers Oscar Winslow and Alvie Joseph Hyatt Jr. and families resided in Coffee County. Oscar Winslow served in the U.S. Navy during three years of combat and was a decorated Navy Veteran. His wife Annie Laurie, a native of Winchester, Tenn., was a faithful member of the Baptist Church, active Eastern Star member and enjoyed needle-work.

James Austin Hyatt and his family lived in Enterprise, Ala. He served as a military police officer. He and his wife, Anna Lou, were buried in the Phillips Cemetery.

Emmett Morgan Hyatt also served in the U.S. Navy. He later worked as a postal clerk in Lakeland, Fla., where he and his wife, Gwendolyn Louise, resided.

John Herbert served in the U.S. Navy and Air Force. He and his wife, Janice, lived in the Skipperville community.

The youngest daughter, Willie Dean Hyatt, was born in Coffee County in 1938 and died in Montgomery County in 1962. She was married in 1956 in Etowah County, Ala., to Hugh Warren Davis, son of David Gardie Davis (1911-1979) and Velma Frances Thomaston (1913-1991). Willie Dean and David Gardie resided in Elba, Ala. They were the parents of three children: David Matthew “Mack,” m. Terri McDaniel; Faye, m. James Colburn; and Freida, m. Shayne Bullard. After Willie Dean’s untimely death, Hugh Warren was married to Dixie Ann Hughs.

The sources for today’s story include Ancestry.com and personal records of Mack Davis, son of Hugh Warren Davis and Willie Dean Hyatt of the Elba area. Appreciation is expressed to Mack of Tuscaloosa, Ala., for inspiring this story and sharing his records. Credit is also given to Carolyn Garland of Chattanooga, Tenn., who has done considerable research on the Hyatt family.

Anyone who might find an error in the above or who is able to share additional information on this family is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.

HISTORICAL MEETING:

The Covington Historical Society will be meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, in the Dixon Memorial Room of the Andalusia Public Library. The program will be The Design of the Saturn 5 and the Moon Landing by Wyley D. Ward, retired Huntsville engineer. Prospective members and guests are encouraged to attend.