Blount County Alabama Biographies

LILE, HENRY THOMAS, teacher, was born October 15, 1863, at Blount Springs, Blount County; son of John Allison and Louisa Elizabeth (Minor) Lile of Huntsville, and brother of William Minor Lile (q. v.). He acquired the foundation of his education in the Mountain Spring high school, established by his father in 1872, and was prepared for college by Prof. J. Ray Baylor of Albemarle County, Va. He subsequently entered the University of Virginia, but on account of the death of his father did not finish his course at that institution. His preparation had been so thorough, however, that at this time, 1883, when nineteen years of age, he was made professor of Latin and mathematics at his preparatory alma mater, Mountain Spring. Three years later, he returned to the University of Virginia for further study. He conducted his mother's planting interests during the period of his teaching and in 1901 established Lile's university school at Trinity, of which he was president for fifteen years. This school was built upon the beginnings of Mountain Spring school, which hia father had founded for the education of his seven sons and the sons of his neighbors, its special purpose being the preparation of students for entrance to the University of Virginia. The patronage came from neighboring states and was limited to twenty boys. Prof. Lile was superintendent of education of Morgan County, 1896-98, and candidate for the State superintendency in 1898, but was defeated by Hon. John W. Abercrombie. Owing to the failure of his health, he gave up his school and removed to Evergreen, where he became president of the Second district agricultural school. He is a Democrat; Baptist; Mason; and Knight of Pythias. Married: December 21, 1891, at Danville, Morgan County, to Emma, daughter of Jonathan Gibson and Martha (Burleson) Orr of Decatur. Mrs. Lile's maternal grandfather was a captain in Gen. Jackson's army during the Indian Wars in Alabama. He settled a farm where Decatur now stands in 1812, and his eldest son, Aaron Burleson, physician, was the first white child born in Morgan County, 1813, and is the father of Mrs. James K. Vardaman of Mississippi, wife of the former governor and U. S. Senator of that state. Children: 1. Henry Orr; 2. Louisa Glenn; 3. John Allison; 4. Richard Darwin. Residence: Evergreen.

Source: History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, By Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen, Published by The S. J. Clarke publishing company, 1921; Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer

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WAID (sic), CALVIN, soldier of the American Revolution, aged 73, and a resident of Blount County; private New Jersey Militia; enrolled on July 10, 1834, under act of Congress of June 7, 1832, payment to date from March 4, 1831; annual allowanee, $53.33. — Revolutionary Pension Roll, in part 3, vol. xiii, Sen. doc. 514, 23rd Cong., 1st sess., 1833-34.

Source: History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, By Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen, Published by The S. J. Clarke publishing company, 1921; Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer

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WALDEN, DAVID, soldier of the American Revolution, aged 76, and a resident of Blount County; private N. C. Continental Line; enrolled on January 27, 1834, under act of Congress of June 7, 1832, payment to date from March 4, 1831; annual allowance, $80.— Revolutionary Pension Roll, in part 3, vol. xiii, Sen. doc. 514, 23rd Cong., 1st sesa., 1833-34.

Source: History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, By Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen, Published by The S. J. Clarke publishing company, 1921; Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer

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WEAVER, WILLIS A., lawyer, was born October 23, 1878, at Andersonville, Sumter County, Ga.; son of James H. and Emily Melissa Weaver, the former who was a native of Americanus, Sumter County, Ga., and served in Co. B, Eleventh Georgia battalion. Willis A. Weaver received his early education in the Avon- dale public schools; later attended Wake Forest college, N. C.; and was graduated from the law department of the University of Alabama, 1903. He began practice at Oneonta, and in 1907 was a member of the legislature from his county. He is a Democrat, has served as secretary of the county committee; a Baptist; a Mason; and a Knight of Pythias. Married: on September 8, 1905, at Oneonta, to Augusta Lewis Ellis, daughter of Jesse W. and Elizabeth (Montgomery) Ellis, who lived at Blountsville. Residence: Oneonta.

Source: History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, By Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen, Published by The S. J. Clarke publishing company, 1921; Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer

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WILSON, JOHN FRANKLIN, of Oneonta, Blount county, was born Sept 17, 1858, at Arkadelphia, Blount (then Walker) county, and is the son of Washington and Margaret Taylor (Gumhle) Wilson, the former of Anderson, South Carolina, and the grandson of Wm. and Sarah (Hawthorn) Wilson, and of Rev. John R. and Jane (Mills)Gamble, of Walker county, and the grandson of Robert Gamble and James Mills, both of whom were Revolutionary soldiers. Washington Wilson was too old for the Confederate service, but during the War held the position of commissioner of Walker county for a time. Senator Wilson was educated in the common schools, and at the Birmingham district high school. He read law and was admitted to the bar in 1891, practiced in Blount and Jefferson counties, residing at Bangor and later at Oneonta. He was solicitor of Blount county, 1898-1904; mayor of Warrior, 1893; and elected to/the State Senate in November, 1906. He is a Democrat, and has served as a member of the executive committee of Blount county and of the ninth Congressional district. He is a Methdoist; a Mason; and a Knight of Pythias. He has been twice married: (1) On Jan. 21. 1883, to Kate, daughter of Rev. Frank A. and Lucinda (Brake) Hewitt; and (2) on March 30, 1898, to Mrs. Leota (Hendricks) Hartley, daughter of Wm. Holland and Mary Jane (Blackburn) Hendricks, of Murphree's Valley, Blount county.

Source: Alabama Official and Statistical Register  1907- by Alabama Department of Archives and History. Compiled by Thomas M. Owen, LL. D., Director , Montgomery, Ala., Brown Printing Company 1907 - Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney

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