Franklin County Alabama Biographies   LINDSAY, ROBERT BURNS, lawyer, governor of Alabama, was born July 4, 1824, in Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and died February 13, 1902; son of John and Elizabeth (McKnight) Lindsay. He was educated at the parochial schools, at the University of St. Andrews, and was a prize student of the foundation bursary under the principalship of Sir David Brewster. He came to the United States in 1844 on a visit to his brother David R. Lindsay, a school teacher in North Carolina, and concluded to remain in this country. He accepted charge of a boys' academy in North Carolina, and in addition to his teaching, began the study of law under Col. Robert Treat Paine. In 1849 he moved to Tuscumbia, Franklin County, where he continued teaching school and studying law, until 1852 when he was admitted to the bar. He opened a law office in Tuscumbia, and the following year was elected to the State legislature as a representative of Franklin County. In 1857, he was elected to the State senate on the Democratic ticket, and during the same year was on the board of visitors to West Point Military Academy. He was appointed a presidential elector on the Democratic ticket in 1860, but when the breach in the party placed two candidates in the field, Douglas representing the Union wing and Breckenridge the states rights or southern wing, Mr. Lindsay who was a conservative and opposed to secession, refused to serve on the Breckenridge ticket and became an elector on the Douglas ticket. He resisted secession with all his power, but after the ordinance was passed, remained loyal to the state, and served for part of the time during the war m Roddy's cavalry, organized at Tuscumbia, in December, 1862. He was elected to the State senate in 1865, and in 1870, under the constitution of 1868, which permitted a foreign born citizen to hold the office of governor of Alabama, was nominated and elected governor by 1051 the Democratic conservative party, over Gov. William H. Smith,  the Democratic conservative party, over Gov. William H. Smith, the radical incumbent. An attempt was made by Gov. Smith to contest his election and prevent his inauguration, but after a few stormy weeks, during which Gov. Smith called in the power of the Federal army to sustain him, Gov. Lindsay was left in possession of the executive authority. He served through his term and refused to allow his name >to be presented for a second term. Two months after his term of governor had expired, he was stricken with paralysis, and became an invalid. He continued his law practice, although not as actively as before, and took no further part in politics. He was a Presbyterian, and one of the oldest members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in the state. Married: in 1854, to Sarah Miller, William Winston; sister of Gov. John Anthony Winston (q. v.) ; sister-in-law of Gov. Pettus, of Mississippi; and cousin of Edmund Winston Pettus (q. v.), U. S. senator from Alabama. Of nine children born to him, the following survive: 1. Mamie, m. Robert H. Watkins, formerly of the Birmingham "Age," resides in Washington, D. C.; 2. Minnie Burns, m. Joseph H. Nathan, lawyer, Sheffield; 3. Mattie I., Sheffield; 4. Maud, Sheffield. Last residence: Tuscumbia.  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  LITTLE, BENJAMIN F., merchant, farmer, railroad agent and real estate man, was born November 30, 1842, near Russellville; son of Claiborne and Sarah (Bruton) Little, the former a merchant, reared eight children, two sons, Coleman R. and John C., members of the 10th Mississippi infantry regiment, C. S. Army, lost their lives in the services of their country; great-grandson of Maj. William Russell of Tennessee, who served with Gen. Jackson in the battle of New Orleans, located in Alabama and for whom Russell's Valley was named. The paternal ancestry was of Irish stock. Mr. Little received his education in the schools of his community, and at the age of twelve began clerking in a store, eventually engaging for himself in the mercantile business in partnership with J. O. Jones, at Russellville and Florence. In 1861, he entered the Confederate States Army, enlisting as second sergeant, in Co. H, 4th Alabama infantry regiment. He participated in the first battle of Manassas, after which he was promoted to 2nd lieutenant; transferred, 1862, to the Army of Mississippi, and served in the forage department of Bragg's army; appointed to command a company of sharpshooters and was engaged at Bryantsville and Perryville; was made aide-de-camp of Woods' brigade on the retreat from Kentucky; appointed captain in the 5th Alabama cavalry; appointed recorder of the military court for the northern district of Alabama, where he served until the close of the war; appointed major, but did not receive his commission owing to the cessation of hostilities. After the war he located at Tuscumbia where he engaged in the real estate business. He had previously assisted the Sheffield and Birmingham railroad in procuring the right of way for its lines. He is a Methodist and member of the Knights of Honor. Married: (1) August 2, 1864, at Tus- cnmbla, to Mattie, daughter of John D. Inman, a substantial citizen of that place; (2) Emma, daughter of Daniel Jones, of Holly Springs, Miss. Children: by the first wife, 1. John C.; 2. Mattie R., m. F. W. Ross; 3. Sac; by the second wife, 4. Lulie W.; 5. Edward; 6. Laura F.; 7. Henry; 8. Benjamin. Residence: Tuscumbia. 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 © Copyright 2009 Genealogy Trails