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Descendants of

William 'Pappy' Bearden

Generation No. 1

1.  WILLIAM 'PAPPY'² BEARDEN  (RICHARD¹ BEARDEN?) was born December 25, 1794 in GA, and died December 19, 1887¹.  He married (1) OBEDIENCE 'BEADIE' HARRIS 1824, daughter of CLAIBURN HARRIS and UNKNOWN.  She was born 1805, and died Bet. March 11, 1849 - 1850².  He married (2) MATILDA HARRIS 1855, daughter of CLAIBURN HARRIS and UNKNOWN.  She was born 1820 in GA, and died Unknown.  He married (3) NANCY LEE September 24, 1882 in Chilton Co. AL.  She died Unknown.

Notes for WILLIAM 'PAPPY' BEARDEN:

Copied from the book "We Bounteous Beardens":

     His children called him "Pappy" and so shall I, this giant of a man who was the grandfather of 'We Bounteous Beardens'.  They say(1) he was so tall, when he rode a mule his feet, would drag the ground.  Judging from the size of many of his grandsons we believe he was no 'string-bean' of a man but rather a Paul Bunyan type.  Monroe Bearden(2) has worn size 17 shirts and his grandfather, Alfred A. Bearden, wore size 12 shoes(3).  A picture of Emsley, the oldest son of Pappy's, reflects a broad shouldered man dressed in full Confederate Army uniform.  From these facts, we believe it safe to assume that our Pappy was a large man and a true pioneer.

     We know few facts of Pappy's origin except those given in the United States Census records and on his tombstone.  His hand carved(4) tombstone indicates he was born on Dec. 25, 1794 'about' 1794 and 'dide' Dec 19, 1887.  His year of birth is further established by the 1860 Census of Perry County(5), Alabama, which gives his age that year as 66, and his place of birth as Georgia.

     So far as we know, Pappy's first marriage was to Beadie Harris who was born about 1805 in Alabama.  No record of their marriage has been located, but it is believed they married either in Jefferson or Bibb County, Alabama, about 1824.  Beadie died at the birth or soon after, of her youngest child, William Bradford 'Kurg' Bearden, who was born March 11, 1849.

     For the first five months or so of Kurg's life, he was wet-nursed by a Negro woman with whom the child lived.  Pappy went to see the baby and found him in a small bed under the Mammy's bed.  The house was so filled with flies Mammy was trying to keep them off the infant.  Pappy was so outraged that he took Kurg home with him on horseback and fed him on boiled salt pork(6).  It was soon thereafter that William married Beadie's sister, Matilda Harris, on September 13, 1849, in Perry County.  Beadie and Matilda are believed to have been daughters of Claiborn Harris(7).

     Pappy is buried in the Smith Cemetery located in the Oakmulgee Park area, but so far as we know, none of his three wives were buried there.  It is believed that both Beadie and Matilda were buried in the Mt. Olive Cemetery nearby and possibly the reason William was not buried there could well have been because the creeks were overflowing that December of 1887, making travel there impossible.

     Just before Kurg left Alabama to go to Arkansas, Pappy came to see him.  Unknown to Kurg, his father had married again for the 3rd time at the age of 83.(8).  William asked Kurg what he thought of his Pappy raising another family.  William's third marriage was to Nancy Key(9) and after his death, she married a Mr. Young.

     We do not know who Pappy's father was but we do have theories.  Many Beardens were in Georgia quite early and among them was a Richard Bearden who, in 1820, lived in Hall County, Georgia, with 3 males between 10 and 16, 3 between 16 and 18, and 1 between age of 18 and 26.  Also in his household was a female between 18 and 26, probably a daughter.  The Arthur Bearden(10) who lived in Shelby County near Pappy in 1830, and in Perry County in 1840 may have been his brother.  In the 1830 Census of Shelby County, Arthur was between the age of 20 and 30.  Living with him was 3 young children under 10, his wife, between 20 and 30, and 2 other males between the ages of 15 and 20, who may have been young brothers.  Much research remains to be done before facts are established concerning William's parentage.

     A few stories have been handed down from generation to generation about our Pappy.  Emsley(11) told that his father had a blind mare that always managed to lift the latch on the gate, thus allowing her to get into the corn patch.  Soon tiring of this, Pappy took the mare up a gully where she could not turn around and left her there.  It is presumed, however, that someone eventually went and brought her home.

     In olden days people's stock stayed out on free range and their fields were fenced in, often with the now relic rail fence.  One day Pappy decided to kill a beef cow, took her off the range and penned her in the stable to kill the following day.  During the night he got up in his sleep, took his gun, went to the cow pen and killed the best milk cow he owned(12).

     In several branches of the family it is said that Pappy was once quite a wealthy man but lost much of his fortune in a lawsuit in Jefferson County, Alabama.  On record in the Jefferson County Courthouse, we find that William and Beadie Bearden sold land on December 25, 1839 to Mathias Obarr.  The transaction was witnessed by Benjamin Harris and Thomas Obarr.  The lawsuit was said to have been over the mineral rights involved and it is believed that a coal mining operation was developed on the property sold.  Thus far we have not been able to verify this rumor although many frustrating hours have been spent in the Jefferson County Courthouse.

     Several Bearden males fought with the Colonists during the Revolutionary War.  Among them were Jeremiah, who later went to Mississippi, John, who served under Colonel Sevier and probably another John, Richard, and William who served from the State of South Carolina.  Humphrey and Andrew served from the State of North Carolina.  Other Beardens were said to have been Loyalists (loyal to the King of England) during the Revolutionary War and were deeply hated by the other colonists.  The British sympathizers migrated from Georgia into Alabama in 177? and the planters came from the Carolinas and Virginia into Georgia about 1783.

     It is the belief that William may have descended from one or both of these branches.  Another story is that William, or his father, came to Alabama from Kentucky.  If this is true, then William's ancestor fought with the Colonists as veterans of the Revolution were often given tracts of land from the United States in Kentucky and Tennessee.  Whether Loyalists or Patriots, it is a characteristic of the Bearden family, even though sometimes wrong, to remain loyal to their own belief(6).

     So far as we know, William Bearden was the father of 13 children.  If there were children of his second marriage, other than Buchanan who was born 1857 and died when he was 10 years of age, they must have died in infancy.

 Sources:

(1)  This information from both Eula Mae Bearden Lovelady and Betty Bearden Fuller.

(2)  William Monroe Beasley made this statement about 1950.

(3)  Robert Bearden (son of Jack M. Bearden, who was son of Alfred) stated Alfred wore size 12.  Robert's sister, Etta Bearden Parker, stated she understood he wore size 15.  Size 12 was believed to be correct by other members of the family.

(4)  Pappy's Tombstone states:  "William Bearden Was Born Dec. The 25 about 1794  Dide Dec. The 19, 1887."  Nearby is two graves with identical stone and lettering.  The graves contain the remains of 3 children of William 'Kurg' Beardens.  The markers state  "Savana Bearden Was Born Feb. The 8, 1884 and Dide Jan. 1, 1888."  "Suda Bearden was Born Aug. The 25, 1871 and Dide Jan. The 8, 1888."

Also, a tombstone in Chestnut Hill Cemetery near the Smith Cemetery, States:  "M.J. Bearden  Born The 11 Day of _____, 1874  Dide The 18th Day of May 1879."  The stone and lettering is, or appears to be, of same workmanship as the stones mentioned above.  All four stones are believed to have been lettered and placed at the graves by William 'Kurg' Bearden shortly before he left Alabama to settle in Arkansas.

(5)  The 1860 Census of Perry County, Alabama, States:

                Heard's Beat, House No. 212

                Bearden, William   66 b. Ga.  Farmer Real Est. $1000

                        Matilda        45 b. Ga.   Personal Property valued                  

                         Jane        19 b. Ala.                at $3794

                        Susan        16 b. Ala.

                        Matilda A.14 b. Ala.

                        Wm.B.        11 b. Ala.

                        Buchanan 3 b. Ala.

(6)  Betty Bearden Fuller made this statement in her booklet,  "What's My Line?", about 1959.

(7)  Betty Fuller or Eula Mae Lovelady may have definite proof that Claiborn Harris was the father of Beadie and Matilda.  There were more than one Claiborn Harris in Alabama quite early.

Bibb County Administration Record Book"d", page 151, states that Mary L. Harris was appointed guardian of Ezekiel L. Harris, and infant and orphan of Claborn Harris over age 14.

Page 33 of same volume states that Mary L. Harris was the widow of Claibon Harris.  (dated Nov. 7, 1831)

Page 152 (dated Feb. 3, 1834) states Mary L. Harris was made guardian of Adison R. Harris, Leonados F. Harris, Emily E. Harris, Hadins M. Harris and Samuel D. W. Harris, infants of Claiborn Harris under age 14.

Page 193 (same volume) stated Robert Calvert, John Calfee and James Hill, Sr., appointed to sell lands belonging to Claiborn Harris located in SC1/4 of W1/2 of S. 14, T.21, R.6 and W1/2 of NW1/4 of S 23, T21, R 6.  (This land located at present site of West Blocton, Ala.)

(8)  So far as we know, Pappy was married 3 times.  His widow remarried and we do not know where she is buried.  Betty Fuller states it is a belief in her branch of the family that Pappy was married prior to his marriage to Beadie.  If so, we have no record, but neither do we have a record of his marriage to Beadie.

(9)  I believe Nancy Key was a widow when Pappy married her as Robert Bearden states that Alfred talked of his father (Pappy) marrying a "Fox".  Robert believes her maiden name was Nancy Fox.  Pappy would tease her, so Alfred told Robert, by saying that it took a smart 'dog' to catch a Fox!

(10)  The 1830 Census, Shelby County, Ala. shows:

                William Bearden, page 8

                1 male under 5   1 female 20-30

                1 male 20-30                                                             

                1 male 30-40

                Arthur Bearden, page 8 (1 house between he and Wm.)

                1 male under 5   1 female under 5

                1 male 5-10    1 female 20-30

                2 males 15-20                                                             

                1 male 20-30

                Lovin Bearden, page 10

                1 male 20-30       1 female under 5

                 1 female 20-30

   The 1840 Census, Perry County, Alabama shows:

                Arthur Bearden, page 8

                2 males under 5   1 female 5-10

                1 male 5-10    1 female 20-30

                2 males 10-15

                1 male 30-40

                William Bearden, page 44

                1 male 5-10    1 female under 5                                  

                3 males 10-15       3 females 5-10                                 

                1 male 40-50        1 female 30-40

(note:  There were many other Beardens throughout the State, same years)       

(11)  This was taken from "What's My Line?" by Betty Fuller.

(12)  Eula Mae Lovelady wrote of this incident.

More About WILLIAM 'PAPPY' BEARDEN:

Burial: Smith-Campbellite Church Cemetery, Perry Co. AL

Census 1: 1850, Perry Co. AL, Household #7/7, Heards Beat,  William Bearden, age 56?, born in GA³

Census 2: 1860, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #212/212, William Bearden, age 66, farmer, value $1000/3794, born in GA, cannot read and write⁴

More About OBEDIENCE 'BEADIE' HARRIS:

Burial: Mt. Olive Church Cemetery, Perry Co. AL

More About WILLIAM BEARDEN and OBEDIENCE HARRIS:

Marriage: 1824

More About MATILDA HARRIS:

Burial: Mt. Olive Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry Co. AL

Census 1: 1850, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #7/7, Matilda Bearden, age 31, born in AL⁵

Census 2: 1860, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #212/212, Matilda Bearden, age 45, wife, born in GA, cannot read and write⁶

Census 3: 1880, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #28/28, Bearden, Matilda, age 60, mother-in-law, widowed or divorced, no occupation, born in AL, living with Jim and Matilda Lovelady⁷

More About WILLIAM BEARDEN and MATILDA HARRIS:

Marriage: 1855

More About WILLIAM BEARDEN and NANCY LEE:

Marriage: September 24, 1882, Chilton Co. AL

Children of WILLIAM BEARDEN and OBEDIENCE HARRIS are:

2.                i.       EMSLEY³ BEARDEN, b. about 1826, Jefferson Co. AL; d. May 20, 1863, Suffolk, VA.

3.               ii.       ALFRED A. BEARDEN, b. May 1828, Jefferson Co. AL; d. February 26, 1910, Shelby Co. AL.

4.              iii.       LEONARD BEARDEN, b. 1830, Jefferson Co, AL; d. Unknown.

5.              iv.       HARDY BEARDEN, b. 1831, Jefferson Co. AL; d. 1903, Perry Co. AL.

6.               v.       MELVINA/ELVINA 'VINA' BEARDEN, b. 1832, Jefferson Co. AL; d. Unknown.

7.              vi.       JANE BEARDEN, b. 1833, Jefferson Co. AL; d. before 1874.

                vii.       DAUGHTER BEARDEN, b. 1834; d. 1834.

               viii.       PERALEE BEARDEN, b. 1835, Jefferson Co. AL; d. before 1858; m. WILLIAM N. INGRAM, May 16, 1855, Bibb Co. AL⁸; d. Unknown.

More About WILLIAM INGRAM and PERALEE BEARDEN:

Marriage: May 16, 1855, Bibb Co. AL⁸

                  ix.       ANGELINE BEARDEN, b. 1837, Perry Co. AL; d. before 1860⁹; m. JABEZ F. BRAZELL, July 25, 1858, Perry Co. AL; b. December 18, 1813, GA; d. October 17, 1883, Johnson Co. AR.

Notes for JABEZ F. BRAZELL:

Jabez F. Brazell was ordained Pisgah Baptist Church of Perry county on the Saturday before the third Lord's Day of January (1851).  The Presbytery consisted of Revs. John Salsing, George Everett and John S. Ford.  ("Southwest Baptist", Jan. 19, 1851)

In 1856, J. F. Brazil, N. Haggard, and J.G. Watson and A. Brazil came to the Mulberry (Baptist) Association from the Shelby Association.  In 1859, J.F. Brazil was on the Arrangement Committee.  The same year he was chosen as an alternate to preach at the next meeting of the Mulberry Association, to be held (1860) with the Antioch Baptist Church.  After 1860, no mention is made of Jabez Brassell in the Minutes of the Mulberry Association. (Microfilm at Howard College Library, Birmingham)

From "Baptists of Shelby County Alabama", by Atchison, mention is made on page 100, that J.F. Brazel was a delegate from Providence Church (located 8 miles south of Montevallo), in the years 1857 through 1861.

It is believed that Rev. Jabez Brazel left the Mulberry Association and moved to Tuscaloosa in the 1860's, as it is said he pastored a church near Tuscaloosa by the name of Mt. Gilgad.

More About JABEZ F. BRAZELL:

Occupation: Baptist Minister

More About JABEZ BRAZELL and ANGELINE BEARDEN:

Marriage: July 25, 1858, Perry Co. AL

8.                x.       SUSAN BEARDEN, b. 1843, Perry Co. AL; d. July 19, 1908.

9.               xi.       MATILDA ANN 'DIT' BEARDEN, b. May 12, 1845, Perry Co. AL; d. August 07, 1926.

10.            xii.       WILLIAM BRADFORD R. 'KURG' BEARDEN, b. March 11, 1849, Perry Co. AL; d. March 1931, Bokchito, Brayan Co. OK.

Child of WILLIAM BEARDEN and MATILDA HARRIS is:

                xiii.       BUCHANAN³ BEARDEN, b. 1857, Perry Co. AL; d. 1867.

More About BUCHANAN BEARDEN:

Census: 1860, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #212/212, Buchanan Bearden, age 3, born in AL¹⁰

Generation No. 2

2.  EMSLEY³ BEARDEN (WILLIAM 'PAPPY'², RICHARD¹ BEARDEN?) was born about 1826 in Jefferson Co. AL, and died May 20, 1863 in Suffolk, VA.  He married ROHAMA FOWLER January 11, 1846 in Perry Co. AL, daughter of LAWSON FOWLER and MARY UNKNOWN.  She was born 1828 in AL, and died Aft. 1880.

More About EMSLEY BEARDEN:

Census: 1850, Perry Co. AL, Household #6/6, Heards Beat, age 24, born in AL¹¹

Medical: May 03, 1863, Died from wounds received in battle on May 3, 1863.¹²

Military 1: April 07, 1862, CSA, Pvt. Co. F, 44th Ala. Inf. Enlisted at Randolph, Bibb County April 7, 1862.¹³

Military 2: 1862, Hospitalized at Scottsville, Va. 1862. Died at a hospital in Richmond.¹⁴

Military 3: August 04, 1864, Claim filed August 4, 1864 by R. Bearden.¹⁵

More About ROHAMA FOWLER:

Census 1: 1870, Bibb Co. AL, Household #180/180, age 43, born in AL, living with son-in-law and daughter, John and Francis Wallace¹⁶

Census 2: 1850, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #6/6, Ruhamy,  age 22, born in AL¹⁷

Census 3: 1880, Chilton Co. AL, Beat 7, Maplesville, Household #175/177, Bearden, Ruhamman, age 45, widowed, keeping house, born in AL, parents born in AL¹⁸

More About EMSLEY BEARDEN and ROHAMA FOWLER:

Marriage: January 11, 1846, Perry Co. AL

Children of EMSLEY BEARDEN and ROHAMA FOWLER are:

11.              i.       FRANCES J. 'FANNIE'⁴ BEARDEN, b. January 02, 1847, Perry Co. AL; d. May 20, 1937.

12.             ii.       WILLIAM 'BILL' BEARDEN, b. August 25, 1847, Perry Co. AL; d. November 14, 1919.

13.            iii.       HENRY CLAY BEARDEN, b. August 25, 1849, Perry Co. AL; d. November 08, 1922, Chilton Co. AL.

14.            iv.       JOHN S. BEARDEN, b. 1853, Perry Co. AL; d. 1917.

15.             v.       GEORGE WASHINGTON BEARDEN, b. March 25, 1859, Perry Co. AL; d. March 30, 1939, Dallas Co. AL.

16.            vi.       EMSLEY 'LITTLE EMS' BEARDEN, b. about 1861, Perry Co. AL; d. before 1887.

3.  ALFRED A.³ BEARDEN (WILLIAM 'PAPPY'², RICHARD¹ BEARDEN?) was born May 1828 in Jefferson Co. AL, and died February 26, 1910 in Shelby Co. AL.  He married SOPHRONIA SMITH before 1850, daughter of BRYANT SMITH and ELIZABETH AUTRY.  She was born 1832 in AL, and died May 19, 1898.

Notes for ALFRED A. BEARDEN:

        Alfred A. Bearden enlisted in the Confederate Army on April 9, 1862, at Selma, AL  and gave his address as Dogwood, Shelby Co., AL.  He drew a pension for his service as a Private in Co. A, 8th Alabama Regiment, C.S.A. and served until the close of the war when he was honorably discharged on April 25, 1865.  Another military record indicates Alfred A. Bearden enlisted in the Perry County Guards on April 10, 1862.  This was a Home Guard outfit and was composed mostly of old men and young boys.  If there was another Alfred Bearden in Perry County that year, we do not know of him.

        While Alfred was away during the war, Sophronia and the children, like other farm families, had a very hard life.  Aunt Beadie told of how Sophronia and the children would hide the best farm animals in the backwoods for fear the Yankees would carry them away.  Once, after the Yankee soldiers left their campsite near Alfred's home, Sophronia and the children gathered the corn scattered on the ground by the horses, washed it, and carried it for miles through the woods to a grist mill to be ground into cornmeal for the hungry children.  Aunt Beadie also told of how she and the other children chewed green pine needles in an effort to draw their stomach and kill the hunger pangs.

        The day Alfred returned from the war, he took his gun and little feisty dog and went squirrel hunting.  He shot a squirrel and then leaned his gun against a stump while he went to pick the squirrel up.  The dog jumped about and caused the gun to discharge, shooting Alfred in the side.  He was bedridden a full year after this accident but Sophronia nursed him back to health.  At his death, he still had some of the shot in his side which could be felt through the skin.  Robert Bearden, son of Jackson Monroe, said that Alfred told him of this accident many times.

        Alfred lived with Jackson Monroe, his youngest son, at the time of his death.  When his personal possessions were divided among the children, Robert asked for something of his grandfather's to keep and was given the vest to his Sunday dress suit.  The vest, still in Robert's possession, has a medal awarded Alfred by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in commemoration of his service with the Confederate Army.

Alfred's grave was unmarked until a claim was filed through the Department of Veteran's Affairs at Rockford, requesting a Confederate marker.  The claim was filed in May of 1962, and the marker was placed at his grave a few months later by William Beasley and his cousin, Peddy Bearden of Montevallo.  Sophronia's grave is yet unmarked.

More About ALFRED A. BEARDEN:

Died 2: February 27, 1910, Shelby Co. AL¹⁹

Burial: Salem Cemetery, Montevallo, Shelby Co. AL

Census 1: 1850, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #33/33, Alfred Bearden, age 22, value $100, born in AL²⁰

Census 2: 1860, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #218/218, Alfred Bearden, age 33, farmer, value $600/510, born in AL²¹

Death Certificate: State of Alabama, Vol. 24, Certificate #104, died in Shelby Co. AL²²

More About SOPHRONIA SMITH:

Burial: Salem Cemetery, Montevallo, Shelby Co. AL

Census: 1850, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #33/33, Sophronia Bearden, age 18, born in AL²³

More About ALFRED BEARDEN and SOPHRONIA SMITH:

Marriage: before 1850

Children of ALFRED BEARDEN and SOPHRONIA SMITH are:

17.              i.       JANE PARALEE⁴ BEARDEN, b. September 03, 1851, Montevallo, Shelby Co. AL; d. March 06, 1932.

                  ii.       BEADIE BEARDEN, b. 1853, AL; d. 1920.

More About BEADIE BEARDEN:

Census: 1860, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #216/216, Beady Bearden, age 7, born in AL²⁴

18.            iii.       ELIJAH BEARDEN, b. December 1854, AL; d. March 1927, Chilton Co. AL.

                 iv.       JAMES 'JIM' BEARDEN, b. 1857, AL; d. 1900.

More About JAMES 'JIM' BEARDEN:

Census: 1860, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #216/216, James Bearden, age 4, born in AL²⁴

Information: Never married

19.             v.       JOHN ALLEN BEARDEN, b. April 15, 1859, AL; d. July 13, 1939, Bibb Co. AL.

                 vi.       ADELINE BEARDEN, b. 1861; d. Unknown.

More About ADELINE BEARDEN:

Information: Never married

Medical: Died at the age of 19 of a tumor.

20.           vii.       THOMAS ALFRED BEARDEN, b. 1862, AL; d. 1944.

21.          viii.       BIRD BEARDEN, b. 1864; d. Unknown.

22.             ix.       AMEY ELIZABETH 'LIZZIE' BEARDEN, b. June 08, 1866; d. September 19, 1949.

23.              x.       JACKSON MONROE BEARDEN, b. 1872; d. March 1956.

4.  LEONARD³ BEARDEN (WILLIAM 'PAPPY'², RICHARD¹ BEARDEN?) was born 1830 in Jefferson Co, AL, and died Unknown.  He married ELIZABETH KENNY February 18, 1867.  She was born 1853 in MS²⁵, and died Unknown.

More About LEONARD BEARDEN:

Census 1: 1850, Perry Co. AL, Household #7/7, Heards Beat, Leonard, age 22, born in AL²⁶

Census 2: 1860, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #217/217, Leonard Bearden, age 30, farmer, value $850/480, born in AL²⁷

Census 3: 1880, Chilton Co. AL, Beat 7, Maplesville, Household #158/160, Bearden, leonard, age 50, married, farmer, born in AL, father born in GA, mother born in AL²⁸

More About LEONARD BEARDEN and ELIZABETH KENNY:

Marriage: February 18, 1867

Children of LEONARD BEARDEN and ELIZABETH KENNY are:

                   i.       ROBERT⁴ BEARDEN²⁸, b. 1868.

                  ii.       RICHARD BEARDEN²⁸, b. 1870.

                 iii.       ISBELLA BEARDEN²⁸, b. 1873.

                 iv.       MARY BEARDEN²⁸, b. March 1880.

5.  HARDY³ BEARDEN (WILLIAM 'PAPPY'², RICHARD¹ BEARDEN?) was born 1831 in Jefferson Co. AL, and died 1903 in Perry Co. AL²⁹.  He married (1) ARPANTHIA 'ARPY' SAMANTHA GAY July 25, 1855 in Perry Co. AL, daughter of WILLIAM GAY and LUCY WYATT.  She was born 1837 in Selma, Dallas Co. AL, and died 1888³⁰.  He married (2) MARY ELIZABETH LOVELADY November 04, 1889 in Chilton Co. AL, daughter of WILLIAM LOVELADY and SARAH FULTON.  She was born April 05, 1846 in Bibb Co. AL, and died November 09, 1913.

More About HARDY BEARDEN:

Burial: Medline Baptist Cemetery, Perry Co. AL

Census 1: 1850, Perry Co. AL, Household #7/7, Heards Beat,  Hardy Bearden, age 19, born in AL³¹

Census 2: 1860, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #211/211, Hardy Bearden, age 28, farmer, value $300/652, born in AL³²

Census 3: 1880, Chilton Co. AL, Beat 7, Maplesville, Household #157/159, Bearden, Hardy, age 50, married, farmer, born in AL, father born in GA, mother born in AL³³

Medical: 1865, Suffered severe facial wound with disfigurement during the war³⁴

Military: Bet. 1861 - 1865, CSA Pvt. Co. F, 44th AL Infantry, wounded at Gettysburg

Occupation: Farmer

More About ARPANTHIA 'ARPY' SAMANTHA GAY:

Burial: Medline Baptist Cemetery, Perry Co. AL

Census 1: 1860, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #211/211, Arpy A. Bearden, age 23, wife, born in AL³⁵

Census 2: 1880, Chilton Co. AL, Beat 7, Maplesville, Household #157/159, Bearden, Arpy A., age 45, wife, married, keeping house, born in AL, parents born in GA³⁶

More About HARDY BEARDEN and ARPANTHIA GAY:

Marriage: July 25, 1855, Perry Co. AL

Notes for MARY ELIZABETH LOVELADY:

        There were eight children born to William and Sarah Fulton Lovelady.  The first was Mary E. Lovelady born about 1846 in Alabama.  She married first Bennie Sanders and had six children.  Bennie Sanders died, leaving his wife and children.  She married 2nd Hardy Bearden (brother to the other Beardens who married Loveladys).  He was a widower and they raised their children together.  Two of the Sanders girls married Bearden boys.  Hardy probably had a very lonely life after Mary left him three or four years before his death.  He took his own life one day in his later years.  His daughter-in-law found his body beside the creek near his home.  He was a very proud man, as has seemed to run in the Bearden family.  He would not accept any form of charity from anyone.

More About MARY ELIZABETH LOVELADY:

Census 1: 1850, Bibb Co. AL, Household #492, age 4, born in AL³⁷

Census 2: 1860, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #197/197, M. E. Lovelady, age 14, born in AL³⁸

Census 3: 1880, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #42/42, Sanders, Mary E., age 34, widowed, farmer, born in AL, parents born in AL³⁹

Census 4: 1910, Chilton Co. AL, Precinct 7, Maplesville, Household #22/22, Moore, Mary E., wife, age 64, married twice, married 6 years, 7 children born, 5 children alive, born in AL, parents born in AL⁴⁰

More About HARDY BEARDEN and MARY LOVELADY:

Marriage: November 04, 1889, Chilton Co. AL

Children of HARDY BEARDEN and ARPANTHIA GAY are:

24.              i.       EMILY LOU TISHIE⁴ BEARDEN, b. May 06, 1855, Perry Co. AL; d. December 21, 1914.

                  ii.       WILEY BEARDEN, b. 1857, Perry Co. AL; d. before 1860⁴¹.

25.            iii.    W. EDWARD BEARDEN, b. 1859, Perry Co. AL; d. Unknown.

26.            iv.       JOSEPH 'JOE' BEARDEN, b. 1859, Perry Co. AL; d. Aft. 1920.

27.             v.       CLAYTON HARDY BEARDEN, b. January 04, 1873, Perry Co. AL; d. October 21, 1946, Summerfield, Dallas Co. AL.

6.  MELVINA/ELVINA 'VINA'³ BEARDEN (WILLIAM 'PAPPY'², RICHARD¹ BEARDEN?) was born 1832 in Jefferson Co. AL, and died Unknown.  She married THOMAS P. GRAVES September 29, 1848 in Perry Co. AL.  He was born 1823 in AL, and died Unknown.

More About MELVINA/ELVINA 'VINA' BEARDEN:

Census 1: 1850, Perry Co. AL, Household #8/8, Heards Beat, Melvina, age 18, born in AL⁴²

Census 2: 1860, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #248/248, age 32, farmer, value $50/100, born in NC⁴³

More About THOMAS P. GRAVES:

Census 1: 1850, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #8/8, Thos P. Graves, age 27, born in AL⁴⁴

Census 2: 1860, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #248/248, Thomas Graves, age 32, farmer, value $50/100, born in NC⁴⁵

Marriage Notes for MELVINA/ELVINA BEARDEN and THOMAS GRAVES:

The marriage license for Vina and Thomas was issued on September 29, 1848 with the consent of William Bearden.  Only three of their children have been accounted for thus far.  The 1866 Census of Bibb Co. indicates that year Elvina was the head of the household and living with her was 1 male under 10; 2 males between 10 and 20; 1 female under 10; 2 females between 10 and 20; and herself between the age of 30 and 40.  She stated one member of the household had died that year of sickness.  Some of the family moved to Mississippi and believed to have settled near Tupelo.  According to the 1850 Census of Perry Co. Thomas Graves was born in 1823.

More About THOMAS GRAVES and MELVINA/ELVINA BEARDEN:

Marriage: September 29, 1848, Perry Co. AL

Children of MELVINA/ELVINA BEARDEN and THOMAS GRAVES are:

28.              i.       DANIEL⁴ GRAVES, b. 1849, AL; d. Unknown.

                  ii.       JOHN GRAVES, b. 1853, AL; d. Unknown.

More About JOHN GRAVES:

Census: 1860, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #248/248, John Graves, age 7, born in AL⁴⁶

                 iii.       JAMES GRAVES, b. 1855, AL; d. Unknown; m. WIFE SEWELL; d. Unknown.

More About JAMES GRAVES:

Census: 1860, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #248/248, James Graves, age 5, born in AL⁴⁶

                 iv.       WESLEY/WESTON GRAVES, b. 1859, Perry Co. AL; d. Unknown; m. UNKNOWN HUNSUCKER; d. Unknown.

More About WESLEY/WESTON GRAVES:

Census: 1860, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #248/248, Weston, age 1/12, born in AL⁴⁶

                  v.       MATILDA GRAVES, b. Aft. 1860; d. Unknown; m. HUSBAND HOLMES; d. Unknown.

                 vi.       PHILLIP GRAVES, b. Aft. 1860; d. Unknown.

                vii.       SARAH GRAVES, b. Aft. 1860; d. Unknown; m. HUSBAND ADAIR; d. Unknown.

29.          viii.       SUDIE GRAVES, b. Aft. 1860; d. Unknown.

                  ix.       THOMAS GRAVES, b. Aft. 1860; d. Unknown.

7.  JANE³ BEARDEN (WILLIAM 'PAPPY'², RICHARD¹ BEARDEN?) was born 1833 in Jefferson Co. AL, and died before 1874.  She married JOSIAH/CYRUS 'CY' WALLACE before 1871, son of JOHN WALLACE and ELIZABETH UNKNOWN.  He was born February 14, 1830 in Moore Co. NC, and died December 31, 1910⁴⁷.

More About JANE BEARDEN:

Census: 1860, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #212/212, Jane Bearden, age 19, domestic, born in AL⁴⁸

More About JOSIAH/CYRUS 'CY' WALLACE:

Address: Lawley, Chilton Co. AL

Burial: Rehobeth Baptist Church Cemetery, Bibb Co. AL

Census: 1880, Chilton Co. AL, Beat 7, Maplesville, Household #165/167, Wallis, Josiah, age 60, married, farmer, born in NC, parents born in NC⁴⁹

Medical: Aft. 1887, Suffered with paralysis of the upper limbs since 1887.⁵⁰

Military 1: June 05, 1864, CSA, Pvt, Co. F, 4th Ala. Inf. Enlisted June 5, 1864⁵⁰

Military 2: April 1865, Served near Richmond. Discharged April 1865 at Talladega.⁵⁰

Obituary: January 12, 1911, 'Banner' Jan. 12, 1911⁵⁰

Religion: Member of Rehobeth Baptist Church, Chilton Co. AL⁵¹

More About JOSIAH/CYRUS WALLACE and JANE BEARDEN:

Marriage: before 1871

Children of JANE BEARDEN and JOSIAH/CYRUS WALLACE are:

30.              i.       PARALEE⁴ WALLACE, b. 1863, AL; d. Aft. 1920.

31.             ii.       ANGELINE WALLACE, b. 1865, AL; d. Unknown.

                 iii.       SALLY WALLACE, b. 1867, AL⁵²; d. Unknown; m. DAVE LEACH; d. Unknown.

32.            iv.       JOHN WALLACE, b. April 1864, AL; d. Unknown.

33.             v.       THOMAS WESLEY 'TOM' WALLACE, b. October 13, 1871, AL; d. March 21, 1932.

8.  SUSAN³ BEARDEN (WILLIAM 'PAPPY'², RICHARD¹ BEARDEN?) was born 1843 in Perry Co. AL, and died July 19, 1908^53,54.  She married JOHN N. LOVELADY 1866, son of WILLIAM LOVELADY and SARAH FULTON.  He was born April 28, 1848 in Bibb Co. AL, and died January 28, 1891^55,56.

More About SUSAN BEARDEN:

Burial: Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Chilton Co. AL

Census: 1860, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #212/212, Susan Bearden, age 16, domestic, born in AL⁵⁷

Notes for JOHN N. LOVELADY:

John is buried in the Lovelady/Chestnut Hill Cemetery.  His headstone reads:  "The sweet remembrance of the just shall flourish when they sleep in the dust."

More About JOHN N. LOVELADY:

Burial: Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Chilton Co. AL

Census 1: 1850, Bibb Co. AL, Household #492, age 2, born in AL⁵⁸

Census 2: 1860, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #197/197, Jno N. Lovelady, age 12, born in AL⁵⁹

Census 3: 1870, Perry Co. AL, Heards Beat, Household #30/30, Lovelady, John, age 22, farm laborer, born in AL⁶⁰

Census 4: 1880, Chilton Co. AL, Beat 7, Maplesville, Household #161/163, Lovelady, John, age 33, married, farmer, born in AL, parents born in AL⁶¹

Military 1: Bet. 1861 - 1865, CSA, Pvt, Hurt's Bty, Ala. Lt Arty. Originally Hardaway's (Action in VA)⁶²

Military 2: September 12, 1861, Enlisted in Tallapoosa Co. Ala. Sept 12, 1861 by Sgt. Rix (Ricks).

Military 3: 1865, POW at Richmond April 3, 1865. Took the oath July 8, 1865⁶²

More About JOHN LOVELADY and SUSAN BEARDEN:

Marriage: 1866

Children of SUSAN BEARDEN and JOHN LOVELADY are:

34.              i.       WILLIAM DAVID 'WILL'⁴ LOVELADY, b. August 11, 1868, Perry Co. AL; d. December 27, 1924.

35.             ii.       BEADIE LOVELADY, b. April 16, 1870; d. April 01, 1941.

36.            iii.       JAMES RICHARD 'RICH' LOVELADY, b. May 08, 1872, Perry Co. AL; d. August 02, 1931, AL.

37.            iv.       JOHN MARSHALL 'MARSH' LOVELADY, b. May 04, 1874, Perry Co. AL; d. December 22, 1948.

                  v.       J