The Lex Whatley Sr. Family

PART 4 OF 4

Martin Whatley, born in 1801 in Georgia, was the son of Jesse Whatley and Rachel Taylor Whatley. Martin had two brothers, Solomon and Taylor. He married Sophia Smith, born on November 22, 1805 in South Carolina, daughter of William L. & Elizabeth Smith.

Martin and Sophia had thirteen children, Nancy, James Darling, William Taylor, Elizabeth C., Emily, Greenberry, Caroline, Martin W., Lucinda, Francis Marion, Henry Jackson, Miles Jefferson, and George Washington.

Martin was a farmer and also a great hunter, who always kept a record of quail, deer, rabbits, turkeys, et cetera that he killed. While hunting in about 1875, he evidently died of a heart attack; he was found dead with his gun beside him. He was buried in Clay Co., Alabama, near Ashland, Alabama; (Grave has not been located. This came from “The Whatley’s” by Norma Hobbs Eberhardt).

In November 1883, Sophia, age about 77 years, moved with her son Miles Jefferson Whatley to Jefferson, Marion, Texas, and she lived with him until her death. Sophia died on September 15, 1889 and is buried in Savannah Cemetery, in Marion County, Texas. Members of Sophia’s family gave the land for the Savannah Cemetery.

Martin and Sophia’s oldest child, Nancy, born on January 3, 1823 in Georgia married James Addison Colley in Alabama and either came to Texas with James Darling Whatley and Francis Marion Whatley in 1872 or shortly thereafter. Their children were Elizabeth Jane, William G, James, Jacintha, and Nancy. Addison died on September 9, 1895 and is buried in Kildare Cemetery, Kildare, Cass, Texas. Nancy died on September 3, 1904, and is buried beside her husband in Kildare Cemetery.

James Darling, born in 1825 in Georgia, married 1st Martha Elizabeth Nickerson and had four sons, Seaborn Jesse, Maleberry Washington, Martin W. and James Taylor. James Darling married 2” , Isabella Dickerson and had the following children, George A., Henry Edward, Frances (Fannie), Ida, William E., Anna, Mary Elizabeth, Allie, Arthur Edmund, Thomas Martin, Hester, and Viola Annie. James Darling gave the land for the Peavy School and was the Whatley family member who gave the first land for Savannah Cemetery. He is buried beside his wife, Isabella, in a rock marked grave in Savannah Cemetery. He served in the Civil War, and the family is in the process of securing a veteran’s marker for his grave.

William Taylor, born on December 13, 1827 in Georgia married Frances Ann Wilboum on September 29, 1852 in Talladega Co./Clay Co., Alabama. William and Frances’s children were Martin Wilbum, Laura Eugenia, Madison Hayne, Louise Melvina, Carolyn Lucretia “Carrie”, Theodosia LeHence, Edgar Leonidas, Emma Octivia, and Dora Ann. William Taylor died on April 23, 1883 and is buried in Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery, Ashland, Clay, Alabama. Frances Ann died on March 2, 1879 and is buried beside her husband in Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery.

Elizabeth C., born about 1829 in Fayette, Co., Georgia, married 1st Benjamin F. Stokes on June 10, 1846 in Talladega/ Clay Co., Alabama. Their children were Sophia Matilda, William Taylor, Emily Elizabeth, James Berry, John B., Lucy Ann, and Benjamin F. Jr. Their third child, Emily Elizabeth married William D. Fason and came to Texas with the Whatley’s or soon thereafter. Benjamin was killed during the Civil War. Elizabeth married 2nd husband Allen Rainwater about 1868 and had the following children, Sarah Ann, Susan Caroline, and Nancy Jane. Elizabeth C. died about 1900, in Clay Co., Alabama and is buried in Pole Bridge Cemetery, Clay Co. Alabama.

Emily, born 1831 in Georgia, married Marion Bailey and their children are Jake, John Greenberry, Jim, Nancy Jane, Anne, Manilla, Sophia, and Laura. Emily, died in 1911 and Marion are buried in Shelby or Coosa Co., Alabama.

Greenberry, born 1833 in Georgia, married Malinda J. Braswell on October 3, 1852 in Talladega Co., Alabama and their children were James, William, and Elizabeth. Greenberry was killed in the Civil War according to Widow’s Claim on April 4, 1863. He was a Sgt. CE, 31st Alabama Regiment Caroline was born in 1835 in Georgia. Martin W., born 1837 in Georgia, married Mary A. ? and they had William E. Henrietta, Margaret, Norma, Sylvester Swope, and Lillian Maud. These children were all born in Alabama. He married 2nd wife Lula Nixon on March 29, 1891 in Cass County, Texas. Martin W. was in the Civil War and is buried in Savannah Cemetery, Marion Co., Texas in a rock marked grave. The family is in the process of getting a veteran’s marker for Martin W. Lula is buried beside him in a rock marked grave.

Lucinda, born 1839 in Georgia, married 1st, Alex Morgan, and 2nd John H. Walker. Lucinda died in Alabama.

Francis Marion, born in 1841 in Alabama, married Martha Callie Wilson in Alabama. Francis Marion and Martha had three daughters Ettie, Lenoria, and Ednie. They are buried in Sharon Cemetery, Wood Co., Texas.

Henry Jackson, born November 1845 in Ashland, Clay, Alabama, married Nancy Jane Smith in 1864 in Alabama. Their children are Marion Jackson, Elisha Martin, Sarah Elizabeth, William Alonzo (Lon), Lilia B., James Greenberry, and Mattison Hayne. Henry Jackson died in Marion Co., Texas on November 29, 1917 and is buried in the Trinity Cemetery, Marion Co., Texas. Nancy Jane died on August 11, 1926 and is buried beside her husband in Trinity Cemetery. Henry Jackson served in the Civil War.

Miles Jefferson, born November 5, 1847 in Clay Co., Alabama, married Sally Linton, born 1848, in Clay Co., Alabama. Sally died on October 24, 1871 in Clay Co., Alabama. Miles Jefferson and Sally had two sons, George Washington and Martin Edward. Miles Jefferson married Savannah Gaither, born July 28, 1852 in Alabama, daughter of William H. Gaither and Hepzibah Knox. Miles Jefferson and Savannah had six children born in Alabama before they came to Texas. They were John Hart, Julia “Judy” Ida, Emma Jane “Janie B”, Mary Frances “Mollie” and Arie Belle. After they arrived in Texas, they had the following children, Olia Victoria, William Jefferson, Mattie Lee, and Edgar Leon. Miles Jefferson died on January 16, 1926 in Marion Co., Texas and is buried in Savannah Cemetery, Jefferson, Marion Co., Texas. Savannah lived with her daughter, Olia Victoria until her death on January 1, 1947, and she is buried in Savannah Cemetery, by her husband, Miles Jefferson Whatley. The Savannah Cemetery was named for Savannah Gaither Whatley.

George Washington, born 1849 in Clay Co., Alabama, married Mary W. (Molly) Graves. George Washington and Mary W. are buried in Upshur County, Texas.

Sophia lived about six years after she came to Texas but left a very large family here to carry on the Whatley name.

Submitted by Frances Russell Whatley