Harriet Elizabeth Dobson was the second-born child of Wallace Washington Dobson (1810-1894) and Clerinda Byers(?) (1817-1901). Born in North Carolina, in early childhood she moved with her parents, siblings and other families to her paternal grandparents' community, south of Wedowee on Wildcat Creek and off the Malone Road, in Randolph County, AL. She had several siblings:
Sarah C. Dobson West born June 29, 1838
Nancy C. Dobson Willingham (1844-1926)
William Washington Dobson born Oct. 29, 1846
Mary A. O. Dobson Bass born March 10, 1848
Joseph Addington Dobson (1850-1937)
Josie Dobson Dean born Nov 24, 1852
Lenora Dobson West born Oct 23 1855
Cornelia Dobson Brown born Aug 6, 1857
Nicknamed "Eliza", another given name was "Harriet Morevilla Talitha Louetta Henryetta Dobson". She may have been given multiple names by community women during a quilting bee.
Shortly before the War Between the States Eliza married one of the boys next door, schoolteacher James M. Bowen. He was born a twin, with Thomas J. Bowen, on November 23, 1837. He and all his siblings were born in Georgia to Alanson and Jane Bowen, and they moved to Randolph County before 1850.
James and Eliza had one daughter, Jimmie A. Bowen, who was born March 2, 1863.
James joined the 53rd Alabama Mounted Inf Reg, Co A on January 1, 1863. Six months later Eliza's uncle, Benjamin Parks Dobson, joined the same company. James died September 12, 1863 of disease, at the camp hospital in Russellville, AL. Eliza filed a widow's claim the following December 9th. He has no confirmed burial place but it's probably in Russellville. He may also be buried at Chattanooga Confederate Cemetery or the Bowen Family Cemetery. There are no known memorial stones for him.
One of Eliza's first-cousins, "Mountoria" Addington, told stories about the girls' war experience; how they and the other Dobson sisters once escaped marauding Union soldiers by hiding in a pond. Ironically, Eliza's and James' fathers were Whig-Republicans and very much against the war. Wallace served in Faulkner's Mounted Inf Bn, Co F with many other local "Union men", led by Sheriff Larkin Breed. Wallace also served as justice of the peace, and there were rumors he was part of the Alabama Peace Society which sought an early end to the war. He even took his youngest son north of Union lines in Tennessee to ensure he wasn't forced to fight for the Confederacy.
Six months after James' death, uncle Benjamin defected to the Union Army and served in the 1st AL Cavalry.
After the war, census data indicate Eliza lived in her father's household, where we might assume she helped keep house. Daughter Jimmie went on to be a schoolteacher, and she married married Walter Rufus Wood. Jimmie and Walter settled near his family in Heard County, GA where she passed away following the birth of their second child, Roy Rufus Wood, on August 30, 1885.
Eliza never re-married, and she lived with her parents the rest of her life, likely helping them with household duties. It's said she filed for a Confederate widow's pension and was approved shortly before her death. She is buried beside her parents at Wildcat Creek Cemetery, aka Mt Pisgah Methodist Church Cemetery.
Sarah C. Dobson West born June 29, 1838
Nancy C. Dobson Willingham (1844-1926)
William Washington Dobson born Oct. 29, 1846
Mary A. O. Dobson Bass born March 10, 1848
Joseph Addington Dobson (1850-1937)
Josie Dobson Dean born Nov 24, 1852
Lenora Dobson West born Oct 23 1855
Cornelia Dobson Brown born Aug 6, 1857
Nicknamed "Eliza", another given name was "Harriet Morevilla Talitha Louetta Henryetta Dobson". She may have been given multiple names by community women during a quilting bee.
Shortly before the War Between the States Eliza married one of the boys next door, schoolteacher James M. Bowen. He was born a twin, with Thomas J. Bowen, on November 23, 1837. He and all his siblings were born in Georgia to Alanson and Jane Bowen, and they moved to Randolph County before 1850.
James and Eliza had one daughter, Jimmie A. Bowen, who was born March 2, 1863.
James joined the 53rd Alabama Mounted Inf Reg, Co A on January 1, 1863. Six months later Eliza's uncle, Benjamin Parks Dobson, joined the same company. James died September 12, 1863 of disease, at the camp hospital in Russellville, AL. Eliza filed a widow's claim the following December 9th. He has no confirmed burial place but it's probably in Russellville. He may also be buried at Chattanooga Confederate Cemetery or the Bowen Family Cemetery. There are no known memorial stones for him.
One of Eliza's first-cousins, "Mountoria" Addington, told stories about the girls' war experience; how they and the other Dobson sisters once escaped marauding Union soldiers by hiding in a pond. Ironically, Eliza's and James' fathers were Whig-Republicans and very much against the war. Wallace served in Faulkner's Mounted Inf Bn, Co F with many other local "Union men", led by Sheriff Larkin Breed. Wallace also served as justice of the peace, and there were rumors he was part of the Alabama Peace Society which sought an early end to the war. He even took his youngest son north of Union lines in Tennessee to ensure he wasn't forced to fight for the Confederacy.
Six months after James' death, uncle Benjamin defected to the Union Army and served in the 1st AL Cavalry.
After the war, census data indicate Eliza lived in her father's household, where we might assume she helped keep house. Daughter Jimmie went on to be a schoolteacher, and she married married Walter Rufus Wood. Jimmie and Walter settled near his family in Heard County, GA where she passed away following the birth of their second child, Roy Rufus Wood, on August 30, 1885.
Eliza never re-married, and she lived with her parents the rest of her life, likely helping them with household duties. It's said she filed for a Confederate widow's pension and was approved shortly before her death. She is buried beside her parents at Wildcat Creek Cemetery, aka Mt Pisgah Methodist Church Cemetery.
Harriet Elizabeth Dobson was the second-born child of Wallace Washington Dobson (1810-1894) and Clerinda Byers(?) (1817-1901). Born in North Carolina, in early childhood she moved with her parents, siblings and other families to her paternal grandparents' community, south of Wedowee on Wildcat Creek and off the Malone Road, in Randolph County, AL. She had several siblings:
Sarah C. Dobson West born June 29, 1838
Nancy C. Dobson Willingham (1844-1926)
William Washington Dobson born Oct. 29, 1846
Mary A. O. Dobson Bass born March 10, 1848
Joseph Addington Dobson (1850-1937)
Josie Dobson Dean born Nov 24, 1852
Lenora Dobson West born Oct 23 1855
Cornelia Dobson Brown born Aug 6, 1857
Nicknamed "Eliza", another given name was "Harriet Morevilla Talitha Louetta Henryetta Dobson". She may have been given multiple names by community women during a quilting bee.
Shortly before the War Between the States Eliza married one of the boys next door, schoolteacher James M. Bowen. He was born a twin, with Thomas J. Bowen, on November 23, 1837. He and all his siblings were born in Georgia to Alanson and Jane Bowen, and they moved to Randolph County before 1850.
James and Eliza had one daughter, Jimmie A. Bowen, who was born March 2, 1863.
James joined the 53rd Alabama Mounted Inf Reg, Co A on January 1, 1863. Six months later Eliza's uncle, Benjamin Parks Dobson, joined the same company. James died September 12, 1863 of disease, at the camp hospital in Russellville, AL. Eliza filed a widow's claim the following December 9th. He has no confirmed burial place but it's probably in Russellville. He may also be buried at Chattanooga Confederate Cemetery or the Bowen Family Cemetery. There are no known memorial stones for him.
One of Eliza's first-cousins, "Mountoria" Addington, told stories about the girls' war experience; how they and the other Dobson sisters once escaped marauding Union soldiers by hiding in a pond. Ironically, Eliza's and James' fathers were Whig-Republicans and very much against the war. Wallace served in Faulkner's Mounted Inf Bn, Co F with many other local "Union men", led by Sheriff Larkin Breed. Wallace also served as justice of the peace, and there were rumors he was part of the Alabama Peace Society which sought an early end to the war. He even took his youngest son north of Union lines in Tennessee to ensure he wasn't forced to fight for the Confederacy.
Six months after James' death, uncle Benjamin defected to the Union Army and served in the 1st AL Cavalry.
After the war, census data indicate Eliza lived in her father's household, where we might assume she helped keep house. Daughter Jimmie went on to be a schoolteacher, and she married married Walter Rufus Wood. Jimmie and Walter settled near his family in Heard County, GA where she passed away following the birth of their second child, Roy Rufus Wood, on August 30, 1885.
Eliza never re-married, and she lived with her parents the rest of her life, likely helping them with household duties. It's said she filed for a Confederate widow's pension and was approved shortly before her death. She is buried beside her parents at Wildcat Creek Cemetery, aka Mt Pisgah Methodist Church Cemetery.
Sarah C. Dobson West born June 29, 1838
Nancy C. Dobson Willingham (1844-1926)
William Washington Dobson born Oct. 29, 1846
Mary A. O. Dobson Bass born March 10, 1848
Joseph Addington Dobson (1850-1937)
Josie Dobson Dean born Nov 24, 1852
Lenora Dobson West born Oct 23 1855
Cornelia Dobson Brown born Aug 6, 1857
Nicknamed "Eliza", another given name was "Harriet Morevilla Talitha Louetta Henryetta Dobson". She may have been given multiple names by community women during a quilting bee.
Shortly before the War Between the States Eliza married one of the boys next door, schoolteacher James M. Bowen. He was born a twin, with Thomas J. Bowen, on November 23, 1837. He and all his siblings were born in Georgia to Alanson and Jane Bowen, and they moved to Randolph County before 1850.
James and Eliza had one daughter, Jimmie A. Bowen, who was born March 2, 1863.
James joined the 53rd Alabama Mounted Inf Reg, Co A on January 1, 1863. Six months later Eliza's uncle, Benjamin Parks Dobson, joined the same company. James died September 12, 1863 of disease, at the camp hospital in Russellville, AL. Eliza filed a widow's claim the following December 9th. He has no confirmed burial place but it's probably in Russellville. He may also be buried at Chattanooga Confederate Cemetery or the Bowen Family Cemetery. There are no known memorial stones for him.
One of Eliza's first-cousins, "Mountoria" Addington, told stories about the girls' war experience; how they and the other Dobson sisters once escaped marauding Union soldiers by hiding in a pond. Ironically, Eliza's and James' fathers were Whig-Republicans and very much against the war. Wallace served in Faulkner's Mounted Inf Bn, Co F with many other local "Union men", led by Sheriff Larkin Breed. Wallace also served as justice of the peace, and there were rumors he was part of the Alabama Peace Society which sought an early end to the war. He even took his youngest son north of Union lines in Tennessee to ensure he wasn't forced to fight for the Confederacy.
Six months after James' death, uncle Benjamin defected to the Union Army and served in the 1st AL Cavalry.
After the war, census data indicate Eliza lived in her father's household, where we might assume she helped keep house. Daughter Jimmie went on to be a schoolteacher, and she married married Walter Rufus Wood. Jimmie and Walter settled near his family in Heard County, GA where she passed away following the birth of their second child, Roy Rufus Wood, on August 30, 1885.
Eliza never re-married, and she lived with her parents the rest of her life, likely helping them with household duties. It's said she filed for a Confederate widow's pension and was approved shortly before her death. She is buried beside her parents at Wildcat Creek Cemetery, aka Mt Pisgah Methodist Church Cemetery.
Inscription
"Weep not for her who meekly led
A life of piety and love
Whose unassuming virtue shed
A hallowed influence from above."
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