Peaceful, Quiet, Pious & Forgiving--Alonzo Grant Taylor

Alonzo & Margaret Taylor

Alonzo Grant Taylor was born in Winston County on June 6^th 1869. Of course this was just after the great American tragedy, the Civil War. Winston County was an area of hilly terrain and very little flatfarming land; most of the residents were small farmers of very modest means. Hardly any had slaves and the people of this part of the state were generally not sympathetic to the “flat landers,” where cotton was king.  The War was truly a struggle of brother against brother for which each side felt justified.  So how did the healing process take place and how long did it take? Alonzo Grant was the oldest son of William “Carroll” Taylor the only child of Mary Shipman; she died in about 1876 and is buried at Curtis Cemetery. It is easy to see embedded in his name  “Grant” where this family placed their loyalties.  Alonzo’s grandfather, John Henry Taylor was a Republican state legislator from Winston County from 1868-1872 and was well known for his support of the Union during that time.  

Alonzo was only 7 years old when his mother died and Carroll soon married Sarah Evans with whom he had 10 more children. Sarah certainly had her hands full with her own children; but in later years she told Alonzo she was sorry for not giving him more attention when he was a child; Alonzo told her that was OK. In some ways that conversation speaks to the character of both of them, redemption and forgiveness. Alonzo grew up a Christian and remained so his entire life; always an active member of Liberty Grove Missionary Baptist Church. In 1898, he gave an acre of land for the Liberty Grove Church site (south portion), and Mr. Cauthen gave additional land (north portion). As for the nature of Alonzo, he was a quiet man, never known to curse, drink, smoke or speak ill of his neighbor. He and his family, like most in the area lived a plain and simple life, looking not to accumulate material things but to insure his salvation and when asked by his sons, why not get another mule; he would say this is all we need now. . He raised the things needed to feed his family and his wife often made garments from wool sheared from his own sheep. Early days of his farming included plowing with oxen.

Emma "Emmer" L. Elliott,
1st wife of Alonzo

On August 27, 1891, Alonzo married Emmer L. Elliott and their family included, William Wansey born Sept 30, 1892. William (Willie) moved with other members of the Taylor family (including his grandfather Carroll) to Lawrence Cty, TN. There Willie married Bertha Comer, and had a large family. Alonzo stayed put…this land is OK…..  Henry L. born May 28, 1894 and died Jan 31, 1895. “Little Henry” as he was always referred thereafter, he is buried in the Old Carroll Taylor Cemetery which is 1 ¼  mile southwest of Liberty Grove. Mary Sephronia Taylor was born Dec  12, 1895 and married Harvey Berry, they had a large family in Winston County, however he deserted his family when they were small children and was found by his adult children in Cleveland,  MS. years later with a new family. Alonzo and others helped support Mary and her children for years as they were left without a father. On March 20, 1898 Emma passed away and was buried at Liberty Grove.





Alonzo and 2nd wife, Margaret
in later years


On December 22, 1898 Margaret Derusha Stephens (Stevens), daughter of John Benjamin Stevens, joined this family as Alonzo’s spouse.  Margaret’s father, John, was a confederate Soldier, in contrast to Alonzo’s Union father: so here we see the mending of a torn nation forgetting, forgiving, and moving forward. Peaceful, quiet, pious, and forgiving Alonzo died March 6, 1949.

Their children were:

1. Sarah Lucinda, 2-4-1900 to 10-15-1990, she cared for her parents for many years, and at age 39 married Jasper M. King then (2^nd) Verdie Davis, no children.  Lucinda was a lifelong resident of Winston who was loved by many.  She touched many lives with her kindness and sweet spirit.
2.  Aussie Elizabeth 1-22-1902 to 1-1-1998, who married James W. Knight, lived in the Haleyville area (Forkville) and had 7 children, Eugene, Auziline, Carl, Johnnie, Wynema, Patricia, and Joe. Following in their father and mothers footsteps, this large successful family was often business leaders throughout Alabama and the southeast.
3. Wallace Roosevelt, 5-4-1904 to 11-19-1987, married Hazel Jordan who died in an accidental fire tragedy at their home; they had 2 daughters, Gloria “Ann” and Norma “ Jean”. Wallace then married Martha Louise Glasgow, who later became an Alabama teacher of the year; they had 1 daughter Sarah Margaret (Sally). Wallace lived in Haleyville AL and worked for the IC Railroad.
4. Elmer Benjamin, 10-22-1906 to 6-24-1999, married Audrey Pulliam; they had 3 children, Elmer “Ben”jamin Jr., Franice “Legetta”, and “Billy” Owen. They left the farms of Winston County, moved to Birmingham in the early 1950’s and lived there and St. Clair County until his death. He worked for Hayes Aircraft many years.
5. Newman Oliver, 9-22-1909 to 1-25-2000, married Lucy Charity Godsey on 11-15-1936. They followed Elmer’s family to Birmingham in the 1952 and Newman also worked at Hayes as a forklift operator.  Lucy worked for Dowdy Candy Company and Contenential Can Corp. They were active members Meadowbrook Baptist Church. Their 3 children, “Anita” Ann, Newman “Wayne”, and “Harold” James all had careers with Alabama Power Company.
6. Hubert Atticus, 11-22-1913 to 3-15-1974, married Marguerite Angela Enright of Springfield OH, a registered nurse, they lived in Birmingham, Al and he was a WWII veteran, and worked in management with Firestone Stores. Their three children, John “Grant”, Monica Ann, Mary Lucinda “Cindy” graduated from John Carroll High School and all finished college.
7. Thurlo McKinley, 11-17-1917 to 2-3-2001, married Melba Jean Parker, 2^nd Mary Lucille Danchower, 3^rd Vera Winnie Walker. Thurlo had a successful tour during WWII and was a Captain in the USAF. He worked as a salesman for Progressive Farmer for years.  Arguably the most gifted of all Alonzo’s children, he was plagued with alcoholism for much of his adult life. He had no children and died in Carrollton Ga.

                                                   Written by Alonzo's Grandson, Newman "Wayne" Taylor

William Carroll Taylor, 9th Child of John & Eliza

William Carroll
Taylor

William Carroll Taylor, born on February 8, 1847,  was the last son of John and Eliza (Cagle) Taylor.


Known as Carroll, he married Mary Christeener Shipman, daughter of George and Margaret (Hefner) Shipman. Their marriage was performed on February 13, 1868.  Mary Shipman's family moved to Winston County from Gilmer County, Georgia where Mary was born on June 3, 1849.  


Carroll and Mary were the parents of one son: Alonzo Grant Taylor, born June 20, 1869.  When Alonzo was three years old, his mother Mary died.  Mary is buried in Curtis Cemetery, Winston County.  Alonzo's son, Newman Taylor, remembered carrying his father to Curtis Cemetery to visit his mother's grave.  Alonzo married (1) Emma Elliot and (2) Margaret Derusha Stevens.

After the death of Carroll's first wife, he married Sarah Sephronia Evans, daughter of Leverette and Sarah (Brown) Evans.  Sarah was born on May 9, 1855 in Heard County, Georgia.  The Evans family migrated to Winston County from Heard County after the civil war ended.  In a newspaper arricle published in The Advertiser in 1947, Sarah stated she was 12 years old when she came to Winston.  Her family's trip took two weeks, using steer wagons.  They brought along a milk cow.  Accompanying Sarah were her parents and her grandfather, Daniel Brown. 

Ten children were born to Carroll and Sarah:

• William Jackson "Jack" married Delilah Beatrice Riddle, buried Greenview Memorial Gardens, Forest Hills, Lauderdale County, Alabama
• Patience "Pachie" Bersheba married John Aaron Stevens, buried Mimosa Cemetery, Lawrenceburg, Lawrence County, Tennessee
• Sarah Louiza married Early James Isom, buried Spruce Pine Cemetery, Franklin County, Alabama
• John Henry married Lydia Ann King, buried Evergreen Cemetery, New Madrid, Missouri
• Mary Jane married Thomas Harrison Riddle 
• Joseph Marion married Delia Hood
• Doctor Riley married May Bell Hood, buried Lynn Cemetery, Winston County, Alabama 
• Jasper Newton married  Maebell Land, buried Center Point United Methodist Church Cemetery, Lawrence County, Tennessee
• Mattie married (1) Willie M. Hood and (2) Arthur Sanders, buried Leoma Cemetery, Leoma, Lawrence County, Tennessee
• Francis Marion married Mary Elizabeth Moye, buried Freemon Cemetery, Lawrence County, Tennessee

Left to right: Pachie Taylor Stevens, Sarah Louiza Taylor Isom,
Mary Jane Taylor Riddle, Doctor Riley Taylor,
Jasper Newton Taylor and Francis Marion Taylor

Carroll and Sarah were charter members of Liberty Grove Baptist Church, located about one mile from Ashridge, Alabama. The church was organized in 1881. The original building was made from logs, with a dirt floor and split logs for benches. Carroll's son, Alonzo, and Bud Cauthen later deeded the land for the property to the church. Liberty Grove joined the Clear Creek Baptist Association in 1882 with a membership of 20. Carroll was active in the church for years--serving as moderator to the Clear Creek Baptist Association.


In 1916 tragedy struck Liberty Grove Baptist when a tornado destroyed it. Carroll Taylor along with others served to rebuild the church.  His seven year old grandson, Newman, carried lunch to him while Carroll worked to reconstruct the church building.  This story was passed down to Newman's own son, Wayne Taylor.

Rocks carved from nearby stone fields were quarried by Carroll to mark the graves of John and Eliza Taylor, Andrew Jackson and Martha Taylor and other Taylor family members. The graves in the old Taylor Historical Cemetery still bear these stones.  The cemetery has been renamed the William Carroll Taylor Cemetery to honor his work in marking the grave sites with these stacked stones.

In the History of the Clear Creek Baptist Association, 1874-1957, by Jerry M. Burns, Carroll Taylor was described as a "Christian gentleman and deacon of high regards."

 

 

Carroll died at the age of 74 on January 24, 1922.  Although he was living in Lawrence County, Tennessee at the time of his death, his body was carried back to Haleyville by train and then by wagon to his final resting place at Liberty Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.  His wife, Sarah,  who also died in Lawrence, Tennesee, is buried at Liberty Grove as well.

From January 20, 1922 issue of Winston Herald:

A Good Man Gone

W. Carroll Taylor an aged citizen, formerly of this county, died at his home in Tennessee and was brought back to his home church, Liberty Grove, Tuesday for funeral at the sacred cemetery around which he had spent the best part of his life. Uncle Carroll was a good man a personal friend of the editor of this paper, and it is with much sorrow we note his departure from the walks of men. The bereaved relatives have our sympathy.



Carroll and Sarah Taylor with family

Doctor Riley Taylor

Doctor Riley Taylor, son of William Carroll and Sarah Sephronia (Evans) Taylor, was born in Winston County on December 3, 1894.  He was their seventh child.  After his birth, 3 more Taylors were born to Carroll and Sarah.  As a child, Dock lived with his family on Byler Road. 

May Bell and Dock Taylor

When he was 19 years old, he married May Bell Hood.  She was 17.  By 1917, he was living in Ashridge.  On his World War I Draft Registration card, he described himself as tall, slender, blue eyes and black hair. He and May Bell had one child when he registered for the draft in 1917.  In 1930, the family was living in Lynn according to the federal census record.

Dock and May Bell had three children--Rosalie, Lenora and Myla.  Lenora was also recorded on census records as L.V.  It has been said that L.V. was told later in life that she couldn't fill out a form with initials only, so she named herself Louise Virginia. 

Rosalie married Oda Joe Martin.  They had 3 children--Carolyn Jo, Hannah Jean and Roger Lee.  Lenora married Mr. Grace.  Myla married Mr. Beechum. 

Dock and May Bell Taylor

Dock died on March 17, 1971 at the age of 76.  He is buried in Lynn Cemetery, Lynn, Alabama.  His wife, who died on October 23, 1983, is buried alongside him.

My Grandma's Legacy--Patience Taylor

Patience Bersheba Taylor, known as "Pachie" to family and friends, was born in Winston County, Alabama on December 23, 1879.  Her parents were William Carroll and Sarah Saphronia (Evans) Taylor.  Pachie was the granddaughter of John and Eliza (Cagle)Taylor.

Pachie grew up in Winston and married John Aaron Stevens, son of Adam Bird and Mary (Whatley) Stevens.  The wedding took place on September 29, 1901 at the home of Pachie's father, William Carroll. She was 21 years old.

Pachie (Taylor) and John Stevens
Photo taken in yard of their home in Lawrenceburg, TN

Pachie and John lived near Liberty Grove Baptist Church, among other Taylor and Stevens families. They had two sons, Hosey Ottis and Verbon Stanley.  Twins were also born, but died in infancy.

When their youngest son Verbon was 3 years old, the family loaded up their possessions in a covered wagon and moved to Lawrence County, Tennessee.  They settled near Lawrenceburg and lived out the remainder of their lives in that state.  Many folks from Winston County migrated to Lawrence County, Tennessee.  Several other sets of Taylors made the move also.  But Pachie and John would return for visits to Winston over the years.  The homecoming each year at Liberty Grove Baptist Church would often bring them back.

Pachie always wore an apron...and wore a "special" apron on Sunday.  She was a hard working woman. One of her many tasks was producing thread on her spinning wheel from cotton that John grew in the field.  She used the thread to fringe bedspreads and other items.  The spinning wheel remains in the family with another granddaughter, a treasured keepsake.

Perhaps the most memorable legacy she left me was her steadfast belief in the importance of education.  Her husband, John, could not read or write, although he could "figure" and "calculate" board timber.  Grandpa John wanted Verbon to quit school when he was finished with grammar school.  He needed him to work on the farm.  But Grandma Pachie put her foot down and said she wanted Verbon to stay in school and get an education.  Verbon did stay in school! My father, Verbon, tried to teach his father how to read when he was an adult. But Grandpa wasn't interested.  My father always thought his dad was too proud or embarrassed.

The family story was passed down to me, and even though it didn't seem like a big deal to me as a child, I learned how remarkable Pachie's thoughts were as I grew up.   Times were hard and the family's living conditions were very humble. Having another farmhand to work would have made the family's life a tad bit easier. But Pachie knew what the future could be for her son if he stayed in school. 

In turn, my father was an advocate for education in our own family.  Pachie began a legacy.

Patience "Pachie" Taylor Stevens