According to the Madison Countyweb site, Madison County was created in 1808. After Congress authorized land sales in the northern part of Alabama Territory settlers flocked to the Tennessee Valley. In 1811 the land office was moved from Nashville to Huntsville.
Ruby W. Lawler described the living conditions of the early settlers as follows:
During those early years in the small settlements, all supplies received from the outside world had to be transported in by pack mules from settlements further north in Tennessee and Kentucky. Prior to the arrival of cotton and the cotton spinning wheel, buckskin was used almost exclusively for clothes, sewing threads or thongs, bedspreads, ropes, and many other assorted uses. Eventually, the cultivation of cotton was started and this, along with the spinning wheel, was to make a drastic change on the lives or these early settlers.
By 1820, Huntsville had become a frontier metropolis. One thousand pounds of cotton per acre could be harvested consistently by the farmers of Madison County. The streets of Huntsville were dotted with the small offices of cotton merchants, lawyers, and bankers. Farmers brought cotton by wagon and cart to merchants to be classified for staple and grade, and would then sell to the highest bidder. The town's economy was so dependent on cotton that the entire west side of the courthouse square was reserved for cotton wagons. In the early 1820's, Bell Factory the first Textile Mill in Alabama opened in Madison County. Today the Madison County set is located in Huntsville.
First wife - Rebecca Hathcock
Alexander married 15-year-old Rebecca Hathcock 15 August
1821 in Madison County, Alabama. Rebecca was born 15 October 1805. She was the
daughter of Sarah Jones and John Hathcock Sr. We don't know how Alexander made his living, but later census records indicate he was a southern farmer who didn't own slaves. I imagine he was working a small family farm.
Rebecca gave birth to four daughters:
Martha Anne b.1822
in Alabama
Elizabeth Jane b.1824 in Alabama
Mary Etter b.1827
Sarah Catherine b.1829
Sometime between 1824 and
1830 the family moved to Hardeman County, Tennessee.
1830 was a sad year for
the family; Alexander's wife Rebecca died on 22 July at the age of 24. His two youngest
daughters died the same year; 1 year old Sarah Catherine in May; and 3 year old
Mary Etter in November. On June 1 when
the 1830 Census of Hardeman County, Tennessee was taken, the family was enumerated as follow:
Alexander F Stacy M F My identification Note:
40 thru 49: 1 - Alexander
15 thru 19: - 1 Rebecca (age in error)
5 thru 9: - 2 Martha & Elizabeth
Under 5: - 1 Mary
In 1818 the treaty with the Chickasaws opened West Tennessee for settlement. Settlers began to arrive in 1819. Rapid settlement occurred with new arrivals coming from North and South Carolina, Virginia, northern Alabama and middle Tennessee. In 1823 the first hamlet was established along the banks of the Hatchie River. Hatchie, whose name was later changed to Bolivar was named the county seat.
Second wife - Marinda Stanley
In need of a mate to care
for his young motherless daughters, 34-year-old Alexander took a second wife. On 26 August 1832 Alexander married 15-year-old Marinda who was born in 1817 in
Alabama. The location of the marriage is unknown; perhaps Hardeman County where his first wife died 2 years earlier; perhaps in Alabama where Marinda was born or perhaps in Louisiana where we next find the family.
Whether fleeing the sad times, or seeking a better life, sometime between 1830 and 1836 the family migrated to Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana where they settled in the Marthaville.
When Louisiana was ceded to the United States, the landowners registered private claims to verify their ownership. Unclaimed land became public domain and was surveyed and sold. Alexander bought 120 acres Land patents found for Alexander include:
40.55 Acres
in SE¼SW¼ Section 30, Township 010N Range 010W sold 8/16/1839 patent issued 4/1/1843
40.55 Acres
in SW¼SE¼ Section 30, Township 010N Range 010W sold 7/19/1839 patent issued 4/1/1843
40.48
Acres in NE¼NW¼ Section 31, Township 010N Range 010W sold 7/22/1830* patent issued 10/1/1853
* I transcribed the sales date as it appeared of the BLM track book, but this date is questionable.
As their land holdings expanded, so did the family. Marinda is said to be the mother of the following children:
Edmoune b. 1833
Nancy B. b.1836 in Louisiana
William Harrison b.1839 in Louisiana
Henry Stanley - twin b.1840 in Louisiana
Rebecca Josephine -
twin b.1840 Louisiana
Josephine Miranda b.1843 Louisiana
On 16 Feb 1838, Martha
Anne (Alexander’s oldest daughter from his first marriage) married Joseph
William "Peter" Gardner in Marthaville. She and Joseph settled near her
father, perhaps on her father's land; they were listed as the next family on the 1840 Census of Natchitoches Parish:
Alexander Stacy M F My identification Note:
40 thru 49: 1 - Alexander
20 thru 29: - 1 Marinda
10 thru 14: - 1 Elizabeth
5 thru 9: 1 - Edmoune
Under 5: 1 1 William & Nancy
Joseph Gardner M F My identification Note:
30 thru 39: 1 - Joseph
20 thru 29: - 1 Martha
30 thru 39: 1 - Joseph
20 thru 29: - 1 Martha
5 thru 9: 1 - Unknown
Under 5: - 1 Unknown
On 18 February 1841, Elizabeth Jane (Alexander’s second daughter) and my 3rd great grandmother married William Norwood Gates in Natchitoches Parish. The Gates family settled near her father.
On 22 Jan 1844 Alexander's second wife Marinda died in Marthaville, at the age of 27 leaving behind her husband and 6 motherless children.
On 22 Jan 1844 Alexander's second wife Marinda died in Marthaville, at the age of 27 leaving behind her husband and 6 motherless children.
Third wife - Eliza Ann Wagley
A mere 7 months later, Alexander then 46, married 18-year-old Eliza Ann Wagley on 30 August 1844 in Natchitoches
Parish. Eliza was a native of Louisiana born 24 August 1826, daughter of Benjamin Wagley and Rowena Scallorn. She gave birth to the following children all in Louisiana:
Margaret b. 1845 Thomas Jefferson b. 1854
James Willis b. 1847 Laura Jane b. 1858
Alexander Franklin b. 1849 Roena Malissa b.1859
Louisana Virginia b. 1852 Napoleon Bonaparte b. 1866
The family suffered a few losses along the way; Margaret, their sweet 4 month old baby girl died on 8 February 1846; their eldest son Edmoune, age 15 died on 14 December 1848; and Thomas Jefferson just 2 days short of his first birthday died on 8 December 1855.
In the 1850 Census of Natchitoches Parish, Alexander Stacy, William Gates, and Joseph Gardner are
living in the same area of Natchitoches Parish. Alexander's occupation was listed as farmer; his real estate holdings were valued at $600. His family members were enumerated as follows:
Name Age Where born
A F Stacy 51 Virginia
Eliza Stacy 25 Louisiana
Mary Stacy 14 Louisiana
Will Stacy 12 Louisiana
Rebecca Stacy 12 Louisiana
Josephine Stacy 7 Louisiana
Jas W Stacy 3 Louisiana
Alex F Stacy 1 Louisiana
Alexander's son-in-law William Norwood Gates was a veteran of the Texas Revolution. For his service to Texas, he was eligible for a Texas land grant. Sometime between September
1853 and February 1854 the Gardner and the Gates families migrated to
Atascosa County, Texas.
In 1852, daughter Nancy married Levi Johnson a native of Tennessee. In 1859 Rebecca Josaphine married John Reason Meadows. Both families settled in Louisiana.
Nancy and Levi were living next door to Alexander when the 1860 Census of Natchitoches Parish was taken. Alexander's occupation was listed as planter. His real estate holdings were valued at $800, his personal estate was valued at $700. His family members were enumerated as follows:
Name Age Where born
A F Stacy 62 Virginia
Eliza Stacy 34 Louisiana
Henry Stacy 19 Louisiana
Wm H Stacy 20 Louisiana
Josaphine Stacy 17 Louisiana
Willice Stacy 14 Louisiana
A F Stacy 12 Louisiana
Louisiana Stacy 9 Louisiana
Laura J Stacy 4 Louisiana
Rosana Stacy 1 Louisiana
Although the Stacy family were not slave owners, they were loyal southerners. When the American civil war started Alexander's sons and son-in-laws enlisted in 1862. The military service record documented at the Young-Sanders Center shows Alexander's sons and son-in-laws were paroled at the end of the war.
- His son William Harrison Stacy, enlisted May 7, 1862 in Natchitoches, LA. He served as a corporal in Company F, of the Consolidated Crescent Regiment of the Louisiana Infantry. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war about April 1864. He was paroled in Natchitoches, on June 9, 1865.
- His son Henry Stanley Stacy, enlisted May 7, 1862 in Capt. Fullers Cavalry Company in Natchitoches, LA. The company was reassigned to the 16th Battalion Louisiana Infantry as Company D in June, 1863. At some point he was transferred to Company N of the Consolidated Crescent Regiment Louisiana Infantry. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war about April 1864. He was paroled in Natchitoches, on June 9, 1865.
- Son-in-law Levi Johnson enlisted in Natchitoches Parrish about May 1862 in Natchitoches, LA. He served as a private in Company N of the Consolidated Crescent Regiment, Louisiana Infantry. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war probably around April 1864. He was paroled in Natchitoches, on June 7, 1865.
- Son-in-law John Reason Meadows enlisted in Natchitoches Parrish on May 7, 1862 in Natchitoches, LA. He served as a private in Company F of the Consolidated Crescent Regiment, Louisiana Infantry. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war probably around April 1864. He was paroled in Natchitoches, on June 9, 1865.
In the Military Records of Louisiana the author A. B. Booth, Commissioner Military Records states:
"It is a lamentable fact, however, that a very large number, many of whom had served with honorable records, to within a short time of the close of the War, were absent without leave, at the final Surrender of their respective Commands, and therefore, were not included in the Rolls of those actually Surrendered and Paroled. ... This condition gives additional luster to the loyal service of those noble men, whose devotion to duty and to Country, nerved them to stand the final test of Soldierly Honor, and while their Comrades were deserting from duty, and from them, yet stood firm and did not lay down their arms, until they could do so honorably and deserve the Parole, which is their Certificate of loyalty, faithfulness, devotion to Country, and to their enlistment Oath."
It was left to 64-year-old Alexander and his under age sons James Willis, age 15 and Alexander Franklin "Frank", age 13 to work the farm and support the family. Per the Conscript Act of February 17, 1864, 17-year-old Willis was drafted into Company
B, Maddox's Regiment Louisiana reserve Corp. This act extended the draft to include seventeen year olds and men between 45 and 50. His unit was surrendered
at New Orleans on May 26, 1865 and paroled in Natchitoches June 21, 1865.
Even while the war was raging and his sons and son-in-laws were being held a prisoners of war, life in Louisana continued. On 19 September 1864, daughter Josephine Miranda married John Calvin Thomason.
Even while the war was raging and his sons and son-in-laws were being held a prisoners of war, life in Louisana continued. On 19 September 1864, daughter Josephine Miranda married John Calvin Thomason.
The family had much to celebrate in June 1865, their men were home from the war safe and sound. The joy was short lived, according to family tradition Alexander died in August of that year. Clayton Heathcock on the http://heathcock.org website states: "In 1865 Alexander Franklin Stacy made a trip to Texas to find a place to locate. He went to Concho County, which adjoins Tom Green County on the east. He contracted pneumonia and died there in August of the same year, and is buried at Eden, about 45 miles southeast of San Angelo." Source: Harriette Glenn
At the time of his death, his wife Eliza Ann must have been pregant. Alexander's youngest son Napoleon Bonaparte was born on 19 June 1866. Being the doubting Thomas that I am, there is something wrong with one of these dates unless Eliza's preganacy was extremely long. I have been unable to locate any records to determine the correct dates. Perhaps probate records for Alexander will provide proof of his death date.
It is unknown how long Eliza stayed in Louisiana. I have been unable to locate Eliza and her underage children in the 1870 census. By 1880, she was living in Atascosa County with her daughter Laura Jane Adams.
Based on the location of her children's I believe she moved to Texas sometime between 1874 and 1877. Her son Alexander Franklin "Frank" was married in 1874 in Natchitoches Parrish. Her daughters Louisiana Virginia and Rowena Melissa were married in Atascosa County, Texas in 1877.
Eliza is said to have died in 1888. Find a grave indicates she was buried in Loma Vista cemetery, Zavala County, Texas.
Additional information on his children will be included in the next post.
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