Harriet Mountoria Addington was born to farmer/minister Jacob Weaver "Jake" Addington and his wife Mary Louisa Dobson in Rockdale, Randolph County, Alabama. Her name was common in both parents' families, while her middle name honors great uncle Monterville Weaver and uncle William Monterville Addington. She had two brothers:

Jacob "Walter" Dobson Addington (1855-1909), h/o Samantha Murphree (1861-1937)

Elijah "Bert" Sherrill Addington (1859-1933), h/o Mary L. Pollard (1862-1952), h/o Mary A. Turner Mashburn

Sometimes called "Mountoria", "Mattie" and later "Granny Barnett" by her biological and step grandchildren, she has been described as a very loving, engaging person, quite a prankster and an unreconstructed Confederate.

Harriet often told stories about growing up in Randolph County, especially about the hardships during the War Between the States and "Reconstruction" that followed. Throughout her adult life she referred to Northerners as "damn yankees". One of her steps was in the Army before he learned the two words weren't necessarily inclusive.

Curiously, her father was probably a Republican and served in the Randolph County Homeguard with a number of Union men, including uncle Wallace W Dobson, who was a justice-of-the-peace and alleged member of the Alabama Peace Society.

Family lore says her first husband, Alanson M Bowen, died from chronic injuries sustained during the war. He deserted the 8th Confederate Cavalry in August 1864 and was likely gravely ill, as he spent a considerable time in a Union Prison hospital at Nashville, being released to the custody of his family in February 1865. Mattie's cousin and close friend, Harriet Elizabeth "Eliza" Dobson, married Alanson's brother, schoolteacher James M. Bowen (he died during the war, serving the 53rd Alabama Mounted Infantry Regiment, Co A).

Later on, Harriet married unknown Allen, and then Henry Jackson Moss.

Mattie's last husband, Isaac T. Barnett, bred and traded horses and grew his own tobacco; she didn't care for "the weed". One season just before planting time, she switched or diluted Isaac's seeds so that his vain efforts produced a beautiful poppy garden! Many other stories have survived the generations that followed.

Married:

Alanson M Bowen, (ca.1842-bef.1880)

Henry J. Moss (1835-1912)

Unknown Allen

Isaac T. Barnett (1845-1926)

It's been said Harriet and Isaac's marriage was initially borne of convenience but turned into a love-match. Her stepchildren loved her very much, as well.

All three of Harriet's sons preceded her in death;

James H. Bowen (1868-1931)

Henry A. Bowen (ca.1870 to 1895)

Thomas Bowen (ca.1872 to 1900)

Stepchildren:

(children of Henry J Moss)

James C. Moss b. 26 Mar 1859

Emiline Moss b. 3 Jan 1862

Joseph A. Moss b. Oct 1864

Luther Houston Moss b. 1866

Eliza Jane Moss b: 1870

(children of Isaac Barnett)

Manila Almedia Barnett Allred (1869-1955)

Mary Elizabeth "Bettie" Barnett Light Bodine (1870-1956)

Margaret Barnett

Steven Barnett

William C. Barnett

Isaac Montgomery Barnett (1878-1957)

Luther Asberry Barnett (1887-1947)

Following Isaac Barnett's death in 1926, Harriet lived the next decade with her stepson, Luther Barnett.

This obit from Blount Co., AL Southern Democrat March 14, 1935:

Just as we go to press we learn of the death of Mrs. Harriet Barnett at Brooksville.

She is one of the oldest citizens of the county, and was known to many people in this section. She was 71 years of age and a member of the Primitive Baptist Church.

The cause of her death was given as pneumonia.

Funeral services were held at Brooksville and were conducted by Revs. Graves and Murphree, with Wade, of Oneonta directing.

Special thanks to L Ayres, J Jenkins and Robin Sterling for information making this memorial possible.