In an earlier column the Hallford family, which settled in the Westover community in the northern part of Covington County, was featured. John and Mary Hallford, natives of South Carolina, came south and acquired land first in Butler County where John was appointed a Justice of the Peace.

They later moved to Westover, which was located just over the county line in Covington County. There John was appointed Post Master of the Westover Post Office on Nov. 30, 1859.

Among John and Mary’s children was a son, James Redden Hallford, born in 1834 in Butler County when the family lived there.

In 1858, he was first married to Louisa Jane Williamson, daughter of William Williamson. In the 1860 census, James Redden was listed as a teacher.

He later became a Justice of the Peace in Covington County.

He and his wife were active members of the Baptist Church and were baptized in 1877 at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Walton County, Fla.

The area was just south of the Covington County line.

James and Louisa Hallford had the following children: William Thomas “Bill,” b. 1859, d. 1934, m. (1) Louanna Morris (2) Pinkie viola “Shug” Worley; Joseph Warren, b. 1861, d. 1864; Julius George, b. 1862, d. before 1895, m. Rebecca Odessa Clark; infant son, b. 1864, d. 1865; Joseph Warren, b. 1866, d. 1913, m. Susan Ida Davis; John Gordon, b. 1868, d. 1923, m. Clemmie Belle Cole; infant son, b.&d. 1870; James Owen, b. 1871, d. 1964, m. 1900 Mary Alice Belle Beasley; Mary Louisa, b. 1874, d. 1972, m. James Aaron Majors; Scott Wilson, b. 1876, d. 1945, m. Martha Callie Lloyd; Lucy Emoline, b. 1878, d. 1946, m. 1906 W. Fred Capps; and infant son, b.&d. 1881.

Following Louisa’s death, James Redden Hallford was married in 1882 to Emma Rachel Frances Majors (1847-1920).

They reared the following three children: Ada Matilda, b. 1883, d. 1952, m. 1902 Dock Baker: David Redin “Dee,” b. 1885, d. 1922, m. 1909 Nora Frances “Fannie” Nalls; and Rachel Alice, b. 1867, d. 1913, m. 1906 Andrew Jackson Josey.

The remainder of this writing will focus on James Redden’s third son, Julius George Hallford, who was married to Rebecca Odessa Clark, daughter of John and Elzada (Rodgers) Clark. They had two sons before Julius George’s disappearance. Family legend suggests that Julius left home and possibly drowned while rafting timber down the Escambia River. The two sons were Warren Lee Ander, later known as James H. or Jim, and Daniel Sutley, later known as Henry Sutley, b. 1889, d. 1965, m. 1913 to Frances Elizabeth “Lizzie” Etheridge (1889-1958), daughter of Levy Jefferson and Sarah Laviney “Sallie” (Brooks) Etheridge.

The son, Daniel “Dan,” and his wife resided in Covington and Crenshaw Counties.

At one time they lived near Cameron’s Chapel and attended church there.

They later moved back into Covington County and located just west of Good Hope Church to what relatives refer to as the Fannie Etheridge place.

As so many of the time, Dan was unable to read or write, so his wife, Lizzie, taught him to read by using the Bible.

He was eventually able to read through the entire Bible at least three times during his lifetime.

Dan and Lizzie Hallford reared the following children: George Jefferson, b. 1914, d. 1979, m. Irone Legg; Thelma, b. 1916, d. 1990, m. Thomas Edward “Short” Burch; Jim, m. (1) 1943 Marian Roney (2) 1948 Jewel Dean Alverson; John Hallford, b. 1921, d. 1989, m. Mildred Chance; Joseph, b.&d. 1924; (twin) Elmer “Buddy,” b. 1926, d. 1964, disabled; (twin) Alma, b. 1926, m. (1) Rufus Neal Blair (2) 1944 Robert Delton Mills; Wilma, m. 1947 Gordon Vernon Ivey (1920-1979).

Dan died of a stroke while living in the home of his daughter, Alma Mills, in Montgomery. Lizzie was also living in Montgomery with Alma when she was suffering from cancer. As her death approached, she chose to return to her home in Covington County to spend her last days. Both were buried near their home in the Good Hope Baptist Church Cemetery.

The oldest son, George Jefferson Hallford, was married in 1939 to Irone Legg, daughter of Oscar Fornee and Leila Mae (Killingsworth) Legg. George had overcome an attack of polio, which he had as a young lad, but through determination, he regained his ability to walk. He worked mostly as a mechanic and worked on cars, trucks, tractors and boats. He died of a stroke while visiting his daughter, Joan, in Montgomery and was buried in Meadow Lawn Cemetery near Enterprise. George and Leila Mae reared two children: Joan and Paul David Hallford.

The oldest daughter, Thelma Hallford, was born in the old Paul Clark house, which was located near Good Hope. (In recent years, the house was moved to the Three Notch Museum in Andalusia to represent typical log houses.) Thelma was married in 1930 to Thomas Edward “Short” Burch, son of John Thomas and Penny (Leger) Burch. They reared the following children: James Edward; Wilburn Daniel; Max; Mary Elizabeth; Chapel Gray; William Oliver; Myrtle Faye; Norman Leslie; and Thomas Edward “Tommy.” Thelma was buried in the Good Hope Cemetery.

Jim Hallford, the second son, was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II and sent to California for training.

In 1943, he was married to Marian Roney, and they had a daughter, Paula.

He divorced Marian and then married Jewel Dean Alverson in 1948 in Butler County, Ala. He and Jewel reared the following children: Joseph Michael, Martha Lynn, Paul Timothy, Stephen Daniel and Thomas Jason.

The next son, John Hallford, was married to Mildred Chance, daughter of William C. and Lillie Clyde (Compton) Chance. John worked as a farmer and later a police office in Andalusia. He and Mildred reared two children: Josephine and William Harold. John was buried in the Good Hope Cemetery where so many of his relatives had been buried.

The twins, Elmer “Buddy” and Alma Hallford, were born in 1926 in Covington County. From birth Elmer developed health problems and was disadvantaged physically and mentally. He lived until 1964 and was in the home of his sister, Thelma, when he died. Alma grew up normally and was first married to Rufus Neal Blair whom she later divorced. She then married Robert Delton Mills in 1944 in Montgomery County.

He was the son of William Robert and Annie Mae (Baker) Mills. Alma and Delton have one son, Clifton Sanders Mills.

The youngest daughter, Wilma Hallford, was married in 1947 in Covington County to Gordon Vernon Ivey, son of James Henry and Emmy (Williford) Ivey. They have the following children: Emmie Frances, Embery Harmon, William Ted and Victor Carlton.

The source for this narrative was two family stories written by Joan Hallford Hidle of Montgomery for publication in The Heritage History of Covington County, Alabama.

Anyone who might find an error in the above is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.

HISTORICAL

MEETING:

The Covington Rifles Camp of the SCV will be meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thurs., Feb. 5, in the Dixon Memorial Room of the Andalusia Public Library. Guests are welcome.