Jefferson County, Alabama Biographies

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Jefferson County, Alabama
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ROBERT JEMISON is a native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and was born September 12, 1853. His father, William H. Jemison, was a native of Georgia, and his mother a Tennesseean by birth. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Patrick, and she came of a good old Pennsylvania family. The former was a large planter in Tuscaloosa County for thirty years, in ante-bellum days.

There were nine children in the family, of whom the subject of this sketch is the second oldest son. He was educated at the University of Alabama, which, from its-founding, has been located at Tuscaloosa. He graduated in the law department of the same institution in 1872, but never followed the profession of law. He engaged in the hardware trade, and in 1874 was admitted as a member of the firm of J. Snow & Co., at that time and ever since the largest establishment of the kind in Tuscaloosa. He held a half interest in it for ten years, and for the whole time conducted a very successful business. In September, 1884, realizing that Birmingham was a place more congenial to his progressive views, he came here to make it his home, and ever since has been a resident of the city. There is no young man in Birmingham who has shown himself more alive to its active, wide-awake life than he. He first began business as a broker in various lines of the grocery trade, and continued in it until June, 1886. He then sold out his interests, and became extensively interested in banking, real-estate transactions, and insurance.

In 1885 he was made vice-president of the Berney National Bank, and in March, 1886, took the leading part in organizing the Iron and Oak Insurance Company, with a capital stock of $100,000, and was elected president of it. In May, 1886, he formed the East Lake Land Company, with a capital stock of $200,000, and was also elected president of it. The Birmingham Land and Loan Company was another corporate enterprise in which he, with several other gentlemen, combined to form, with a capital stock of $50,000. He is a director in this company. Thus it will be seen that Mr. Jemison, since his residence here, has been as active and as thoroughly enterprising as the most progressive of its citizens.

Mr. Jemison was married in 1876 to Miss Eugenia R. Sorsby, a daughter of Dr. N. T. Sorsby, of Greene County, Alabama. He has four chileren—Robert S., John S., Annie H., and Elizabeth P. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jemison are members of the Episcopal Church. He is also a member of the Knights of Honor.

EVAN R. JONES was born in Wales in 1846. He first went to school in his native town until he was sixteen, and then apprenticed himself at Lanelly, England, to learn mechanical and civil engineering and draughting. He was under the supervision of Mr. Joseph Mayberry, one of the most distinguished engineers of his time. After leaving this place of training he became chief engineer of the Cork Navigation Company, of, Ireland, and after two years' service was made chief engineer for Logan & Hemmingway, contractors for the East India Dock, at Cardiff, England, and the Cardiff & Canphilly Railroad. In the spring of 1868 he came to America in the service of the Guion Steamship Line, but after two trips remained in this country. He worked as a journeyman machinist, and subsequently took charge of the Spuyten Duyvil Rolling Mills, and was next connected with the Dixon Manufacturing Company.

He satisfactorily held a responsible place with the Delaware & Western Railroad as master mechanic, up to 1877. At this time he came South, and was at Jackson, Tenn., some months as master mechanic of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad Shops, but was forced to resign on account of failing health. He then worked for the Rome Iron Works, of Chattanooga, Tenn., for two years. In February, 1880, he came to Birmingham, in company with Mr. W. B. Caldwell, president of the Birmingham Rolling Mills, and was there eighteen months as constructing engineer and superintendent of the placing of machinery. To him was due the plans and specifications by which these mills were built. He was then superintendent of the Linn Iron Works.

In 1882 he became general superintendent and constructing engineer for the Brierfield Iron Works, Brierfield, Ala., and discharged its responsible duties, in which he had the building and care of a large rolling mill and nail factory, a furnace and a coal mine for three years. In May, 1886, he returned to Birmingham, and took the part in organizing the Excelsior Foundry and Machine Shops, and was its first president. Upon its reorganization, in 1887, he was made its general manager. Mr. Jones is the inventor of a coal presser, a valve indicator, and a patent tram-car wheel and axle, and from the latter named he will no doubt reap a large sum.

Mr. Jones was married in April, 1865, at Swansea, England. He has three children living—Mabel, Bryce, and Agnes. Mr. Jones and the members of his family are Presbyterians.