Alabama

Biographical Sketch of George N. Carter

George N. Carter, jeweler, dealer in watches and silverware, and a leading young citizen of Tullahoma, Tennessee, was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, in 1859, and is the son of James Carter, a native of Virginia. He father immigrated when quite small with his parents to Bedford County, Tennessee, where, in 1830, our subject’s grandfather, grandmother, and five children were burned to death in their residence, the house having been set on fire from a stove. Reared in the town of his birth, he attended the public schools. In 1878 he succeeded his father in the jewelry business at Tuscumbia, continuing … Read more

Garner, B. Joyce Colter – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon B. Joyce Colter Garner, 59, of La Grande died Nov. 15 at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise. No public services are planned at this time. Arrangements are under the care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Joyce was born March 21, 1947, in Birmingham, Ala., to Hermit and Opal Garner. She was educated in Alabama and moved to Oregon in 1970. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and talking with her family living in the South. She also enjoyed crocheting and knitting. Survivors include her daughters, Erica Garner, Lillian Keeling and Kelly Thweatt, all of La … Read more

Rogers, William Spencer – Obituary

Another pioneer has been laid away beneath the sod, W. S. Rogers died Thursday, February 9th at 4 o’clock a.m. after a lingering illness covering a period of 15 years. The funeral took place from the Baptist Church, Sunday at 11 a.m., the funeral eulogy being delivered by Reverend M. H. Yager, Pastor. Mr. Rogers was born in Alabama, September 7th, 1840. From his native state he moved to Texas and lived there several years prior to moving to this valley in 1886. He settled on a claim on the Nanum which he sold 10 years ago and moved to … Read more

Ruth Miriam Todd of Portland OR

Ruth Miriam, b. Jan. 29, 1894, she is a college graduate and was athletic editor her senior year, is a member of the largest athletic clubs in America, has recently been elected as teacher of physical culture and English in two splendid High schools. Ruth began life in a beautiful little villa by the banks of the Blue River at Blue Springs, Neb. and her arrival was heralded by the gift of a home, and half a car-load of supplies of all kinds of provisions that came over the Burlington Railroad–a bountiful and most generous consideration from her father’s people … Read more

John William Stover Todd of Seattle WA

John William Stover, b. Aug. 8, 1901, he also has lived in a dozen of the states, but received his earlier school training in Alabama, Ncbraska and Virginia. He had a diploma from the Normal Grade or School of Pedagogy, at Central Academy and from the High School of Aplington, Iowa two months before he was fifteen years of age. He was then employed for two years part of the time in Iowa at garage and band work, then later with the office force of a great commercial and banking company at Butte, Montana, where sometimes with a reliable revolver … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Isaac N. McPheron

Isaac N. McPheron, farmer; P. O. Mattoon; is the son of Alexander and Sarah McPheron, of Alabama; was born Nov. 20, 1825, in Alabama; moved to Coles Co., Paradise Tp., Jan. 15, 1877. Is the owner of 89 acres of land valued at or near $3,500; held no public office in this township. Was married to Matilda Shook Feb. 11, 1846; names of children – boys, Samuel B., John A., Oscar P., Allen, Logan; (deceased, boy, Leuellen); girls, Carrie A., Alice, Flora T.; deceased, girls. (Roxanna and Henrietta R.); his father is dead; died in Mattoon Jan. 26, 1873, in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Daniel R. McAlister

Daniel R. McAlister, farmer, deceased; one of the early pioneers of Coles Co. The subject of this sketch was born in Alabama May 29, 1821; he emigrated to Illinois at 10 years of age, and located in what is now known as Morgan Tp., in the year 1831, where he lived until his death, which occurred Nov. 9, 1867; he was one of the most industrious and hardworking men of Morgan Tp., and by his industry and good management had accumulated a good property at the time of his death. His marriage was celebrated Feb. 11,1844; six children were the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Martin Price

Martin Price, farmer; P. O. Cook’s Mills; one of the early settlers; was born in Alabama March 4, 1827; came to this State in 1830, to Coles Co. in 1842, and settled in North Okaw. He was married Feb. 15, 1849 to Miss Mary J. Hoskins, who was born in Illinois Jan. 7, 1830; they have ten children, viz., Mary Ann, Margaret M., Martha J., Lucinda D., Joseph A., Nancy M., Lowery M., Ruth, Belle, William E. and James F. Since Mr. Price’s residence in the township he has held the office of Commissioner of Highways four years, School Director … Read more

Grace, Gary Dean – Obituary

Gary Dean Grace, 52, of Halfway died April 26, 2004, at Las Vegas, Nev., from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident outside Kingman, Ariz., on April 22, 2004. There will be a celebration of life memorial service at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Lions Club Park in Halfway. Friends are invited to a potluck at the Lions Club after the service. Gary was born on April 4, 1952, at Biloxi, Miss., to Lowell and Bonnie Lindsay Grace. His father was in the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Keesler Air Force Base at the time. Gary grew up in many different … Read more

Biography of James M. Drake

James M. Drake is one of Riverside’s representative and well-known businessmen, and has for years been the treasurer of the city, which responsible and important office he fills with honor and credit to himself and the municipality whose interests he so ably guards. Although not a pioneer of Riverside, her history would be incomplete without a fitting mention of Mr. Drake’s eight or ten years’ association with her interests. He is a native of Louisville, Kentucky, and dates his birth April 12, 1837. His parents were Charles and Mahala J. (Jeter) Drake. His father was a native of Virginia, a … Read more

Biography of David G. Parker, D. D. S.

David G. Parker, D. D. S., a popular dentist of Riverside and well known in professional circles of that city, is a native of Alabama, where he was born in 1850, his parents being Peter and Nancy (Blackshear) Parker; the former a Northern man by birth, a descendant of the old colonial families of Massachusetts, by occupation a planter; the latter of German descent, the arrival of whose forefathers in this country antedates the Revolutionary period. When the Doctor was a mere lad his parents moved to Mississippi, settling in Clarke County, where he received his education, closing his studies … Read more

Biography of James Monroe West

James Monroe West, living two and one-half miles east of San Bernardino, on Third Street, is a pioneer of 1856. His native State is Alabama. He was born in Dallas County, October 23, 1825, and is the son of Simon and Nancy (Thompson) West, natives respectively of Tennessee and North Carolina. The father was born August 19, 1797, and the mother April 3, 1799. Simon West moved with his family to Mississippi in 1839, and died there in January 1884. The mother is still living in Itawamba County, Mississippi. They had ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch … Read more

Tawasa Tribe

Tawasa Indians (Alibamu: Tawáha). A Muskhogean tribe first referred to by the De Soto chroniclers in the middle of the 16th century as Toasi and located in the neighborhood of Tallapoosa river. Subsequently they moved south east and constituted one of the tribes to which the name “Apalachicola” was given by the Spaniards. About 1705 attacks by the Alibamu and Creeks compelled them to leave this region also and to seek protection near the French fort at Mobile. In 1707 the Pascagoula declared war against them, but peace was made through the intervention of Bienville. From this time the tribe … Read more

Fort Toulouse, the Chitimachas and the Natchez Wars

Another war between England and France began in 1718 – the War of the Quadruple Alliance. The French had succeeded in surrounding the British colonies in North America, except for the boundary with Florida.  France seemed poised to have most of the Southeastern Indians as allies.  These advanced Native American provinces represented the densest indigenous population north of Mexico.  However, the British Navy had destroyed French coastal forts and shipping almost at will.  France might control the coastline, but the British controlled the seas. Fort Toulouse – 1717 Anticipating more wars with Great Britain and desiring closer trade relations with … Read more

Choctaw Mixed Bloods and the Advent of Removal

P.P. Pitchlynn, Speaker of the National Council of the Choctaw Nation and Choctaw delegate to the government of the United States

Choctaw Mixed Blood and the Advent of Removal: This dissertation by Samuel James Wells lists the names and families of the known mixed bloods and examines their role in tribal history, especially regarding land treaties during the Jeffersonian years preceding Removal. This dissertation includes a database of over three thousand names of known and probable mixed bloods drawn from a wide range of sources and therefore has genealogical as well as historical value.