Since substantial data is available, a second look will be taken at the Curlee family, which was introduced in last week’s column.

Jesse Curlee’s lineage through his grandchildren and great grandchildren will be presented.

Jesse’s oldest daughter, Elizabeth “Eliza” Curlee, was married in 1845 in Harris County, Georgia, to William R. Bussey.

In the 1850 federal census they were enumerated in Merriwether County, Georgia. William was 32 years old and working as a mechanic, and Eliza was 24 and a housekeeper. They had two young children with them, William T., 4; and an infant female, 7 months.

In 1860, they were in the same location with William farming.

The female infant appears now as Mary A, 10 years old; and an A.J. Curlee, 21, is living in the household and helping farm. By 1870, William had died, and his son, William was farming. Mary A. had married Robert F. Bonner in 1866. In 1880, Eliza was living with her son, William, and his wife, Sallie. Mary A. and Robert Bonner were living near by.

The family of the second daughter, Malinda Curlee, was briefly covered in last week’s column.

Her first husband, Henry Exum lost his life in 1864 during the War Between the States. She was then married in 1875 to Andrew Jackson Williams of Conecuh County. Andrew Jackson had the following children by his first wife, Lucinda: Eugene, b. ca 1866; Mary, b. ca 1870; Lizzie b. ca 1872, and Ada, b. ca 1874. In 1900, Malinda Williams was residing in the household of her son-in-law, James Henry Plant, in Lee County, Texas. She died there in 1903.

The third daughter, Agnes Jane Curlee, was married to Joshua Thomas Lord, and they reared their family in Covington County. Their oldest daughter, Martha Matilda “Matt” Curlee, was married to a Mr. Liles, but the names of any children are not known. The next daughter, Emily Frances Lord, and her husband, John L. Hitson, Sr.  (1860-1939), reared a large family in Covington County. They had the following children: Vallie P., b. 1883, d. 1980, m. (1) George Marshall Capps (2) W.D. Norton; Lee Ervin “Labie,” b. 1885, d. 1964, m. Rosa Anna ?; Daisy Pearl, b. 1887, d. 1980, m. Joe Sephas Jackson (1869-1937); Lora Deanna, b. 1889, d. 1970, m. B.B. Howard; Minnie Vera, b. 1892, d. 1985, m. (1) Wiley B. Bradshaw (1886-1935); John Curtis Sr., b. 1896, d. 1981, m. Maude Nell Reeves (1902-1976); and John L. Hitson, Jr., b. 1902, d. 1969, m. Vera Lucile Beck.

The great grandchildren of Agnes Jane (Curlee) and Joshua Thomas Lord include the following: Vallie P. (Hitson) and George Marshall Capps had the following children: Bertha Lea, b. 1903, d. 1987, m. Albert L. Mason; Aubrey, b. 1904, d. 2005, m. ?; and George Madison, b. 1909, d. 1981, m. Hester ?. Lee Ervin “Labie” and Rosa Anna Hitson had two children, Hermoine, b. 1911; and Johnnie, b. 1913. Daisy Pearl (Hitson) and Joe Sephas Jackson, had two children: Caudie Faye, b. 1914, m. Grady Edward Barnes (1910-1987); and Curtis McCoy, b. 1917, d. 1994, m. (1) Margaret Biddle (2) Joan Guin.

Minnie Vera (Hitson) and Wiley B. Bradshaw (1886-1935) reared the following two daughters: Gladys, b. 1914, d. after 1995, m. Clyde Laird; and Louise, b. 1916, d. 1940, m. W.L. Bennett; John Curtis and Maude Nell (Reeves) Hitson reared two children: John Curtis Jr., b. 1921, d. 1973; and Betty Lou, b. 1929.

Agnes Jane (Curlee) and Joshua Thomas Lord’s son, William Thomas Lord, and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Benton (1880-1970), lived in Mobile and reared the following children: B.J., b. 1902, d. 1987, m. Sybil Sue Dunn; Vada, b. 1904, m. A.B. Campbell; Willie Mae, b. 1905, d. 1974, m. Thad Day; Mary Clide, b.&d. 1910; Minnie Ethel, b. 1913, m. Everett Autry; Mary Belle, b. 1915, m. H.L. Byrd; and Curtis Eugene Sr., b. 1916, d. 1992, m. ?. Curtis Eugene Lord, Sr. and his wife had the following children: Curtis Eugene Jr., b. 1937, d. 2008, m.?; Cheri, m. ? Walker; and Robert.

Jesse Curlee’s daughter, Lavica Ann “Vicie” Curlee, had the following grandchildren: Her first son by Mr. Hester, John P., used the name of Bennett rather than Hester. He and his wife, Sarah Jane Spears, reared  the following 10 children who went by the Bennett name: William Henry, b. 1879, d. 1948, m. Ola Octavia Hogg (1885-1970); John Emmett, b. 1881, d. 1919; Merida Herbert, b. 1883, d. 1965, m. Emma Frances Hartley (1890-1965); A. Hicks, b. 1886, d. 1906, single; Vicie Anna, b. 1888, d. 1963, m. William Leonard Ledlow (1881-1965); Martha Alice, b. 1891, d. 1966, m. Newton Herbert Hester (1883-1960); Amanda, b. 1893, d. 1962, m. John Lamar Kervin; Joseph P., b. 1895, m. Delphia Williams; Rosa Belle, b. 1897, d. 1967, m. Jeppie William Turner, Sr. (1893-1952); and Labe Lee, b. 1899, m. Pearl Boland.

Vicie and her second husband, William Materson Bennett, had one child, William Beauregard Bennett, who married Delaney H. Matthews.

They reared two children, Mary Alice, b. 1883, d. 1950, m. Elias Jackson Lee (1880-1965); and John Matt, b. 1887, d. 1907, m. Ellar Mathews (1890-1907).

Vicie and her third husband, Samuel E. Brooks, had two daughters, but they went by the Bennett name. Mae Sula was first married to Yancey A. Ledlow, and they reared the following three children: Ada O., b. 1888, d. 1953, m. (1) Daniel M. Parker (2) Charles Edwin Wilder (1882-1955); Grover C., b. 1893, m. Rosebud Gresham; and William McKinley, b. 1896, d. 1947.

Vicie’s second daughter, Callie Brooks, also used the Bennett name.

She and her husband, James K. Lee, reared the following eight children: Kenyard Sheldon, b. 1840, d. 1962, m. Kenzie Irene Peevy; James Eldridge, b. 1892, d. 1958; William Lucious, b. 1894, d. 1965, m. Lucy Florence Gomillion (1899-1971); Horace G., b. 1898, d. 1977, m. Callie Paulk (1898-1980); Robert Maraman, b. 1902, d. 1934, m. Lula Lucy Lee; Stella Marie, b. 1903, d. 1990, m. Mr. Lowrey; Evella, b. 1905, d. 1987, m. Marlin Walker (1906-1985); and Callie Carswell, b. 1908, m. Oren Lee Jackson.

This Curlee family has been thoroughly researched by Pamala Celeste Nolan, a granddaughter to Caudie Faye (Jackson) Barnes.

Appreciation is expressed to her for making her records available for this writing.

Anyone who might have any corrections to the above or additional information on this family is requested to contact Curtis Thomasson at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-222-6467; or E-mail: cthomasson@centurytel.net.