Steele / McCormick

I am looking for info on Francis (Fannie) McCormick Steele and her parents Joseph McCormick and Nancy Lowe McCormick.

I do know Francis was born 10/14/1849 at Sparta, Al.
Married Jesse Steele 1873
She died 11/28/1927 at Walnut Hill, Florida

All I know of her parents is
Joseph McCormick was born 1825 in Georgia.  Died 1903
Nancy Lowe McCormick was born 1822 N.C.  Died 1926 here in Alabama

Donda

Surname Search Needed

I am looking for anyone that can help me fill in some info on the following Surnames. They were located in the Conecuh, Escambia and Pike Counties in Alabama.

Steele
McCormick
Hall
Wilson
Lowe
Brewton
Godwin
Bell

Donda

Mathis / Schrimshon

My ancestors were Frederick Mathis and W. M. B. Schrimshon [as spelled in the 1820 census]. This 2nd name is usually spelled Schrimshire/Schrimsher/Scrimsher & even Skrymsher and his full name is William McDonald Brown S——.

Both are listed in the Conecuh Co 1820 census, along with a Micajah Mathis. We have never been able to link that name to our Frederick , but it would be so helpful if we could. Frederick ’s father-in-law Samuel Waits is also listed on the census, with James Waits and John Waits, sons of Samuel. A brother-in-law of Frederick, Littlebury Hutchens, is also listed on the census, with a Redmon Hutchens, who may be related.

Frederick Mathis and Littlebury Hutchens, as well as Joshua Horn [also on the census], each married a daughter of Samuel Waits. This extended family moves back to Georgia after 1820 – Henry County . They are in the 1830 Heard Co GA census and 1840 Troup Co GA census [likely county boundary changes] and then my line moves to Lauderdale Co Mississippi before the 1850 census.

William Scrimshire is from a different line altogether. He came from England to Charleston in 1794. In 1830, he has moved to Upson Co GA and 1840/1850 is in Stewart Co GA. In 1817, he married in Warren Co GA fro the 2nd time.  In 1808 he got a ‘passport’ from the Cherokee Indian Agent to travel in Indian territory .

So any records of these ancestors in Conecuh Co would be quite early. I knew there were courthouse fires there too. It will be interesting to learn if anything exists from 1815 – 1824 era. Also – I’ve always been curious about why they moved back to Georgia — what happened in Conecuh Co that caused them to head back to “civilization?” Probably the Indians??  What attracted them to that area from Georgia in the first place? What a hard trip it must have been across the frontier in those times!

Thanks so much for your help.

Martha McDonald ~ Niceville, FL

Audie N. Harper

I am looking for information on my grandfather.  His name was Audie N. Harper he was born in 1907, we think in Castleberry.  I know his daughter Susan is buried there.  She was born about 1950 or so.  I do not know who his parents were or anything about his siblings.

Known Information:

Audie N. Harper
b.   12 Dec  1907        Castleberry, Conecuh Co., Alabama
d.   08 May 1996        Mobile, Mobile Co., Alabama

Susan A. Harper
b.     09 Sep 1949
d.     14 Apr 1954
bu.   Cedar Creek Baptist Church Cemetery

If you can be of any assistance please feel free to email me.

Teresa Engleke

Bullock

Looking for any information on the following:

Martha Bullock

• 1870 & 1880 Census, in Sepulga/Mixon’s Crossing, living with John, Mary, and Lola Morgan [1870; born about 1845-1848]

Millard F.

• Fillmore, but listed as “P” in the 1870 Census; 1870 & 1880 Census; born  in 1870; listed as “Peter” in the 1880 Census

William

• 1880 Census; born about 1875

Erwin Bullock

James W. Black

Seeking Information on James W. Black

I would like to exchange information with anyone researching or having information on James W. Black, a life long resident of Conecuh. James W was married to Alma abt. 1905 and they had 6 children, all girls. They are Eva E, b.1906, Ruby D., b 1908, Pauline, b. 1910, Louis, b 1914, Mary Ruth, b 1916 and Jenett Faye, b 1919.

Census records show John C as living in Forks of Sepulga in the late 1800s and from 1910 to 1930 James W. was listed as living in Gravilla.

I’m hoping to make contact with any of the Black descendants or anyone who has information on the above people and I hope this will lead to information on James Preston Black, father of John C. and my great grandfather. I’m at a dead end on determining who James Preston’s parents were.

So far, my research has not turned up anything on the parents of James Preston and his wife Nancy Elizabeth Edge Black, b 1834, d 1917, buried at Concord Church, Conecuh Co. AL. So I’m hoping to find someone who might have old correspondence, wills or Bibles that will shed some light.

For the record, John C. is my great uncle. My grandfather is William Ira Black, b 1871, d 1939, buried at Repton.

Bob Black – Atlanta, GA

Joseph Day

I am in desire need of any information on a Joseph Day and his family. He appears on the 1850 Conecuh County census. He is 51 years old and his wife is 45. There is a list of children on this census too. I am not sure if they are his though. I am particularly interested in the one named John Day who is 14. If anyone can give me any information on this family, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You!

Pam Day

Bessie Maiden Ward Freeman

I’m looking for any information, especially marriage, on “Bessie Maiden Ward Freeman”, b.4/21/1890 d. 12/28/1928 . She’s buried in Holley Grove Methodist Church Cemetery outside of Castleberry,AL. Her parents are William E. and Lujainia (Langley) Maiden, found in the 1900 census in Castleberry Dist.-Dist 50, Image 8, along with Bessie and her 5 siblings–another one was born on 7/7/1900, Robert Maiden.

During Bessie’s life, she gave birth to:

1. Velah B. Dolihite, b. 11/9/1910 d. 1/15/1923 I have one note that George Dolihite was the father, but no idea whether Bessie and George married. Also, in the 1900 census just below the Maiden listing mentioned above, the next property is the Dolihite’s with a son, George, the same age as Bessie. Velah is also buried in Holly Grove Cemetery.
2. Willie Washington Ward, b.10/6/1917 d.9/16/1985 (Willie is my father-in law.) He never had a birth certificate issued and had to get one made up to draw a retirement from the post office using the 1930 census in Escambia County, AL. In going thru his notes, he may have been born in Montgomery County, AL with a mid-wife at home. His father’s name is probably John William (or Henry) Ward, but not for certain and haven’t found any records to verify this. Willie served in WWII in the 751st Tank Battalion – I have most of his military info.
3. Lottie Belle (later went by Marjorie L.) Ward, b.7/9/1920 d. 5/12/2006, Same father as Willie’s.
4. Leevan (also spelled Levan and Lavan) Ward, b.1/15/1923 d.5/3/1981 Same father as Willie’s.
5. James W. Freeman b.7/26/1928 d.6/13/1993 I don’t know who the father is for Jim.

Bessie never recovered from complications of the birth of Jim and died 6 months later. Her sister and her husband, John and Emma(Maiden) Smith took the 4 kids in and raised them. They show up in the 1930 census listed along with Bessie’s 4 children, in Escambia Co, AL.

I have been unable to find any listing of any of these people in the 1910 or 1920 census. Not sure if they were in Coneuch County during this time. If I can verify the county they were in during 1917-1923, I could request a marriage license or birth certificate for the child born during that time, in hopes of finding the father’s name.

Any help is greatly appreciated,

R. Lyle Eastep

William Wright

Surname: WILLIAM WRIGHT born 1827, Duck Creek, Conecuh County. He is the son of John Wright and Eliza Jane Taylor, also were residents of Conecuh County and are buried in the Concord Methodist Church Cemetery

I do not have a birth date for William Wright, only a year of his birth. Any information on the Wright family of Conecuh County would be greatly appreciated. I also would be willing to share what I have.

Thanks in advance

Heather Wright – New Orleans, LA

James C. Garrett

I am searching for my Great-great-grandfather’s middle name. He was James C. Garrett, born in 1822 in Montgomery County, later moved to Coffee County. Land records in the old courthouse in Evergreen indicate he came to Conecuh County about 1869. He is in Coffee County for 1860 Census and in 1870 is in Conecuh Census. He died in 1898 and is buried next to his wife, Evaline Rials Garrett in a family cemetery I call Battle Branch Creek Cemetery near Sand Cut. I can not find any record of his having served in Civil War. My grandfather had Cleveland for a middle name but there is no tradition of that name anywhere else in family. James’ mother’s maiden name was Clackler. Please, tell me no one would name their son that.

Thanks for any help.

Jim Garrett – Orlando, FL