William John Alvis was born the 2nd of 9 children on April 5, 1844 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama to Abner Alvis and Elysabeth Stovall Alvis. Not much is known of his early life, but when he was 18 he was conscripted and mustered into the 13th Alabama Partisan (Confederate) Rangers, Company A, on September 6, 1862 at Jasper, Alabama for the duration of the war. His brother, Thomas G. Alvis, had also joined in with the Rebels but only served about 3 months before his death around Oct 1862. William's service and desertion date from the great Confederate Army is unknown at this time. The family story says he first joined the Confederates, home in August and then returned to the Union Army. A brother, Franklin Newton Alvis, serving in the Union Army in Company B, Alabama 1st Calvary Regiment may have been part of the reason William John joined up. William John enlisted April 13, 1864 in Decatur, Alabama. William is promoted to Corporal on August 1, 1864. He was admitted to 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, Hospital at Savannah, GA for remittent fever on January 18, 1865, sent to the USA General Hospital at Savannah on February 1, 1865 and returned to duty on February 28, 1865.
On August 15, 1865 he marries Sarah Francis Leonard in Walker County, Alabama. (This part collaborates with the family story of "home in August" but he has already been in the Union Army for over a year AND Lee had surrendered April 9, 1985.) On October 11, 1865, he was admitted to the USA Post Hospital (Thomas Barracks) at Huntsville for typhoid and returned to duty October 20, 1865. I guess you had to return to duty to be discharged, as his discharge date is also October 20, 1865, which is when the First Alabama Cavalry was disbanded at Huntsville, Alabama. When he got back to his "bride" he was carrying his shoes because his feet and legs were swollen and they had big knots on them. He drew a pension for his service in the First Alabama Cavalry and for "those knots on his legs" beginning June 10, 1886.
With the war over he returned to Jasper, Walker County, Alabama and stayed there about 13 years. He then moved to Hamilton, Marion County, Alabama and stayed about 20 years. Family story says he was very educated. He had a grist mill, a store and ran a racetrack. (More research is needed to verify that) Some newspapers from Hamilton in 1896 – 1908 show him as an election officer (Republican); active with the school board; petitioning the county for prohibiting stock from running at large in his precinct; and a cotton farmer (Nov 1896 article: ""W. J. Alvis brought to our office one day last week specimens of second growth cotton which was remarkable. The limbs were heavily loaded with very large green bolls, and Mr. Alvis stated that the limbs had sprouted out near the root of the stalk. Neither of these bolls showed any signs of opening, though they appear to be fully matured. We learn that there is a considerable quantity of this kind of cotton in the country. The question is will it open? The frost that fell last Sunday night will decide that question very soon." An interesting little bit of gossip was printed in The Marion County News. Apr 2, 1908: "W. J. Alvis made a business trip to Birmingham last week." We have to wonder what type of business he was tending to in the same year his family heads to Texas?
We also have to wonder where he stayed in Texas during 1908 and the first part of 1909 as he doesn't purchase land until August 21, 1909. He bought 50 acres in Leaugeville on August 21, 1909. Sarah at age 67 dies of Typhoid Fever on Nov 19, 1913. Billy sells their land on Dec 2, 1916 and purchases 50 acres of land on Feb 1, 1917 next to the Red Hill Cemetery in Murchison where his wife is buried. The granddaughter, Ada Melinda Davis, marries Jerome Kirb Bearden Dec 28, 1918 and they live with Grandpa until he dies. Family story says Grandpa sold his land a few years before he died, but courthouse documents show he didn't sell it until a week before his death. Anyway, he must have been feeling poorly as he writes and signs his Last Will & Testament June 18, 1920. He and his sons John Thomas (living in DeKalb) and James Monroe (living in Henderson County) sign the documents to sell his land on July 12, 1920. One day Pa (as Ada called him) asked her to fix an early supper. She did. She fixed his favorite and after he ate he went to lay down. John Thomas was visiting then and William told him "to go fetch James Monroe. I hear angels singing and harps playing and I want him to hear it too." All those there couldn't hear anything. James did not return in time. William John Alvis died July 28, 1920. He is buried in Red Hill Cemetery beside his wife. He was always one to read the Bible and attended the Church of Christ (or Christian Church). He lived right and trusted in the law.'
Bio by Liz Bearden Smith - using newspapers, documents and plenty of family stories
On August 15, 1865 he marries Sarah Francis Leonard in Walker County, Alabama. (This part collaborates with the family story of "home in August" but he has already been in the Union Army for over a year AND Lee had surrendered April 9, 1985.) On October 11, 1865, he was admitted to the USA Post Hospital (Thomas Barracks) at Huntsville for typhoid and returned to duty October 20, 1865. I guess you had to return to duty to be discharged, as his discharge date is also October 20, 1865, which is when the First Alabama Cavalry was disbanded at Huntsville, Alabama. When he got back to his "bride" he was carrying his shoes because his feet and legs were swollen and they had big knots on them. He drew a pension for his service in the First Alabama Cavalry and for "those knots on his legs" beginning June 10, 1886.
With the war over he returned to Jasper, Walker County, Alabama and stayed there about 13 years. He then moved to Hamilton, Marion County, Alabama and stayed about 20 years. Family story says he was very educated. He had a grist mill, a store and ran a racetrack. (More research is needed to verify that) Some newspapers from Hamilton in 1896 – 1908 show him as an election officer (Republican); active with the school board; petitioning the county for prohibiting stock from running at large in his precinct; and a cotton farmer (Nov 1896 article: ""W. J. Alvis brought to our office one day last week specimens of second growth cotton which was remarkable. The limbs were heavily loaded with very large green bolls, and Mr. Alvis stated that the limbs had sprouted out near the root of the stalk. Neither of these bolls showed any signs of opening, though they appear to be fully matured. We learn that there is a considerable quantity of this kind of cotton in the country. The question is will it open? The frost that fell last Sunday night will decide that question very soon." An interesting little bit of gossip was printed in The Marion County News. Apr 2, 1908: "W. J. Alvis made a business trip to Birmingham last week." We have to wonder what type of business he was tending to in the same year his family heads to Texas?
We also have to wonder where he stayed in Texas during 1908 and the first part of 1909 as he doesn't purchase land until August 21, 1909. He bought 50 acres in Leaugeville on August 21, 1909. Sarah at age 67 dies of Typhoid Fever on Nov 19, 1913. Billy sells their land on Dec 2, 1916 and purchases 50 acres of land on Feb 1, 1917 next to the Red Hill Cemetery in Murchison where his wife is buried. The granddaughter, Ada Melinda Davis, marries Jerome Kirb Bearden Dec 28, 1918 and they live with Grandpa until he dies. Family story says Grandpa sold his land a few years before he died, but courthouse documents show he didn't sell it until a week before his death. Anyway, he must have been feeling poorly as he writes and signs his Last Will & Testament June 18, 1920. He and his sons John Thomas (living in DeKalb) and James Monroe (living in Henderson County) sign the documents to sell his land on July 12, 1920. One day Pa (as Ada called him) asked her to fix an early supper. She did. She fixed his favorite and after he ate he went to lay down. John Thomas was visiting then and William told him "to go fetch James Monroe. I hear angels singing and harps playing and I want him to hear it too." All those there couldn't hear anything. James did not return in time. William John Alvis died July 28, 1920. He is buried in Red Hill Cemetery beside his wife. He was always one to read the Bible and attended the Church of Christ (or Christian Church). He lived right and trusted in the law.'
Bio by Liz Bearden Smith - using newspapers, documents and plenty of family stories
William John Alvis was born the 2nd of 9 children on April 5, 1844 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama to Abner Alvis and Elysabeth Stovall Alvis. Not much is known of his early life, but when he was 18 he was conscripted and mustered into the 13th Alabama Partisan (Confederate) Rangers, Company A, on September 6, 1862 at Jasper, Alabama for the duration of the war. His brother, Thomas G. Alvis, had also joined in with the Rebels but only served about 3 months before his death around Oct 1862. William's service and desertion date from the great Confederate Army is unknown at this time. The family story says he first joined the Confederates, home in August and then returned to the Union Army. A brother, Franklin Newton Alvis, serving in the Union Army in Company B, Alabama 1st Calvary Regiment may have been part of the reason William John joined up. William John enlisted April 13, 1864 in Decatur, Alabama. William is promoted to Corporal on August 1, 1864. He was admitted to 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, Hospital at Savannah, GA for remittent fever on January 18, 1865, sent to the USA General Hospital at Savannah on February 1, 1865 and returned to duty on February 28, 1865.
On August 15, 1865 he marries Sarah Francis Leonard in Walker County, Alabama. (This part collaborates with the family story of "home in August" but he has already been in the Union Army for over a year AND Lee had surrendered April 9, 1985.) On October 11, 1865, he was admitted to the USA Post Hospital (Thomas Barracks) at Huntsville for typhoid and returned to duty October 20, 1865. I guess you had to return to duty to be discharged, as his discharge date is also October 20, 1865, which is when the First Alabama Cavalry was disbanded at Huntsville, Alabama. When he got back to his "bride" he was carrying his shoes because his feet and legs were swollen and they had big knots on them. He drew a pension for his service in the First Alabama Cavalry and for "those knots on his legs" beginning June 10, 1886.
With the war over he returned to Jasper, Walker County, Alabama and stayed there about 13 years. He then moved to Hamilton, Marion County, Alabama and stayed about 20 years. Family story says he was very educated. He had a grist mill, a store and ran a racetrack. (More research is needed to verify that) Some newspapers from Hamilton in 1896 – 1908 show him as an election officer (Republican); active with the school board; petitioning the county for prohibiting stock from running at large in his precinct; and a cotton farmer (Nov 1896 article: ""W. J. Alvis brought to our office one day last week specimens of second growth cotton which was remarkable. The limbs were heavily loaded with very large green bolls, and Mr. Alvis stated that the limbs had sprouted out near the root of the stalk. Neither of these bolls showed any signs of opening, though they appear to be fully matured. We learn that there is a considerable quantity of this kind of cotton in the country. The question is will it open? The frost that fell last Sunday night will decide that question very soon." An interesting little bit of gossip was printed in The Marion County News. Apr 2, 1908: "W. J. Alvis made a business trip to Birmingham last week." We have to wonder what type of business he was tending to in the same year his family heads to Texas?
We also have to wonder where he stayed in Texas during 1908 and the first part of 1909 as he doesn't purchase land until August 21, 1909. He bought 50 acres in Leaugeville on August 21, 1909. Sarah at age 67 dies of Typhoid Fever on Nov 19, 1913. Billy sells their land on Dec 2, 1916 and purchases 50 acres of land on Feb 1, 1917 next to the Red Hill Cemetery in Murchison where his wife is buried. The granddaughter, Ada Melinda Davis, marries Jerome Kirb Bearden Dec 28, 1918 and they live with Grandpa until he dies. Family story says Grandpa sold his land a few years before he died, but courthouse documents show he didn't sell it until a week before his death. Anyway, he must have been feeling poorly as he writes and signs his Last Will & Testament June 18, 1920. He and his sons John Thomas (living in DeKalb) and James Monroe (living in Henderson County) sign the documents to sell his land on July 12, 1920. One day Pa (as Ada called him) asked her to fix an early supper. She did. She fixed his favorite and after he ate he went to lay down. John Thomas was visiting then and William told him "to go fetch James Monroe. I hear angels singing and harps playing and I want him to hear it too." All those there couldn't hear anything. James did not return in time. William John Alvis died July 28, 1920. He is buried in Red Hill Cemetery beside his wife. He was always one to read the Bible and attended the Church of Christ (or Christian Church). He lived right and trusted in the law.'
Bio by Liz Bearden Smith - using newspapers, documents and plenty of family stories
On August 15, 1865 he marries Sarah Francis Leonard in Walker County, Alabama. (This part collaborates with the family story of "home in August" but he has already been in the Union Army for over a year AND Lee had surrendered April 9, 1985.) On October 11, 1865, he was admitted to the USA Post Hospital (Thomas Barracks) at Huntsville for typhoid and returned to duty October 20, 1865. I guess you had to return to duty to be discharged, as his discharge date is also October 20, 1865, which is when the First Alabama Cavalry was disbanded at Huntsville, Alabama. When he got back to his "bride" he was carrying his shoes because his feet and legs were swollen and they had big knots on them. He drew a pension for his service in the First Alabama Cavalry and for "those knots on his legs" beginning June 10, 1886.
With the war over he returned to Jasper, Walker County, Alabama and stayed there about 13 years. He then moved to Hamilton, Marion County, Alabama and stayed about 20 years. Family story says he was very educated. He had a grist mill, a store and ran a racetrack. (More research is needed to verify that) Some newspapers from Hamilton in 1896 – 1908 show him as an election officer (Republican); active with the school board; petitioning the county for prohibiting stock from running at large in his precinct; and a cotton farmer (Nov 1896 article: ""W. J. Alvis brought to our office one day last week specimens of second growth cotton which was remarkable. The limbs were heavily loaded with very large green bolls, and Mr. Alvis stated that the limbs had sprouted out near the root of the stalk. Neither of these bolls showed any signs of opening, though they appear to be fully matured. We learn that there is a considerable quantity of this kind of cotton in the country. The question is will it open? The frost that fell last Sunday night will decide that question very soon." An interesting little bit of gossip was printed in The Marion County News. Apr 2, 1908: "W. J. Alvis made a business trip to Birmingham last week." We have to wonder what type of business he was tending to in the same year his family heads to Texas?
We also have to wonder where he stayed in Texas during 1908 and the first part of 1909 as he doesn't purchase land until August 21, 1909. He bought 50 acres in Leaugeville on August 21, 1909. Sarah at age 67 dies of Typhoid Fever on Nov 19, 1913. Billy sells their land on Dec 2, 1916 and purchases 50 acres of land on Feb 1, 1917 next to the Red Hill Cemetery in Murchison where his wife is buried. The granddaughter, Ada Melinda Davis, marries Jerome Kirb Bearden Dec 28, 1918 and they live with Grandpa until he dies. Family story says Grandpa sold his land a few years before he died, but courthouse documents show he didn't sell it until a week before his death. Anyway, he must have been feeling poorly as he writes and signs his Last Will & Testament June 18, 1920. He and his sons John Thomas (living in DeKalb) and James Monroe (living in Henderson County) sign the documents to sell his land on July 12, 1920. One day Pa (as Ada called him) asked her to fix an early supper. She did. She fixed his favorite and after he ate he went to lay down. John Thomas was visiting then and William told him "to go fetch James Monroe. I hear angels singing and harps playing and I want him to hear it too." All those there couldn't hear anything. James did not return in time. William John Alvis died July 28, 1920. He is buried in Red Hill Cemetery beside his wife. He was always one to read the Bible and attended the Church of Christ (or Christian Church). He lived right and trusted in the law.'
Bio by Liz Bearden Smith - using newspapers, documents and plenty of family stories
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