Several years earlier the Sasser family of Covington County, Ala., was introduced and reviewed to some extent. Howell Sasser and his relatives were the first members of this family to migrate to the local area. He and his son, Jesse Byrd Sasser Sr., were identified on the List of Registered Voters for Conecuh County made in 1818. Their descendants were numerous and spread throughout Covington and surrounding counties. Today’s story will be a look at Jesse Byrd Sasser Sr. and some of his descendants.

Jesse Byrd Sasser Sr. was the son of Howell Sasser (1770-1835) and Winifred Byrd (1770-1835). (This writer questions the birth and death dates of the parents since they are listed as the same.) Jesse Byrd Sr. was born in 1795 in South Carolina or possibly Georgia after the family migrated there. He was in the area of Covington County in 1818 with his father and family. He was married circa 1820 to Martha Holley, daughter of William Holley and Charlotte Massey. Martha Was born in 1805 in South Carolina and died in 1870 in Covington County.

Howell and Jesse Byrd Sasser Sr. were among those pioneers settling at the headwaters of Five Runs Creek, which was about four miles east of Andalusia and north of Sanford. In the 1830s, they purchased land toward Brantley and south of the Conecuh River.

For easy reference, the children of Jesse Byrd Sasser Sr. and Martha Holley included the following: Elizabeth, b. 1823, m. John Maloy; Sarah, b. 1824, m. Eli Parker; James Irvin, 1827, d. 1870, m. Mary I. Harrison: Henry Harrison, b. 1829, d. 1872, m. Sarillah Teresa Smith; Jesse Byrd Jr., b. 1832, m. Celia Ann Dannelly; Nancy, b. 1835; Howell, b. 1838; Harmon Hartley, b. 1840; Martha, b. 1843; and Charlotte, b. 1846.

Today’s writing will focus on the lineage and family of the second oldest son, Henry Harrison Sasser. Henry H. was married circa 1851 to Sarillah Teresa Smith (ca 1832-1905). They reared the following eight children: Mary Adaline “Addie” or “Ad,” b. ca 1853, d. 1937, m. John Byrd Sasser Sr. (1852-1917; Matilda M., b. 1854, d. 1944, m. 1876 Lloyd Chandler (ca 1855-1934); Jesse Richard, b. 1856, d. 1908, m. Dought Andrews/Anders; John M., b. 1858, d. 1939, m. Amanda A. Jones (1860-1956); James Thomas “Tom,” b. 1859, d. 1925, m. 1888 Mary Ella “Nen” Bailey (1871-1960); Jack (or John) H., b. 1862, d. 1931, m. 1893 Laura Ann Burk (1872-1944); Henry Harrison Jr., b. 1863, d. 1931, m. ca 1881 Rhoda “Rody” Andrews/Anders (ca 1860-1905); and J.I., b. 1864, m. 1888 Malissa E. Nelson (1870-1948).

The oldest daughter, Mary Adaline Sasser, was married to John Byrd Sasser Sr, who was the son of James Irvin Sasser (1827-1870) and Mary Harrison (1835-1879); therefore, they were first cousins. They lived and died in the southern area of Crenshaw County. They were the parents of seven children: Arvie Sasser/Cauley, b. 1875, d. 1908, m. James Richard Frazier (1866-1952); Annie or Fannie, b. 1878, m. (1) William Weaver (2) 1907 Arter Frazier; Lula Mae, b. 1878, d. 1958, m. Howell Rice Butler (1877-1956); John Byrd Jr., b. 1882, d. 1939, single; J. Frank, b. 1885, d. 1973, m. 1910 Jo Anne “Annie” Campbell; Nancy Elizabeth, b. ca 1889, d. 1964, m. 1909 Frank Lawrence Robbins (ca 1880-1958); Malzie, b. 1890, d. 1931, single; and Lula, b. 1891, d. 1931, single. The first child named, Arvie, was the daughter of John Byrd Sasser Sr., she was reared by the David Cauley family.

In the next generation, the oldest child of John Byrd Sasser Sr., Arvie Sasser/Cauley, was not the daughter of Mary Adeline Sasser, but she was the daughter of Winneford Elizabeth Cauley, daughter of David S. Cauley and Gincy Butler. Arvie was married to James Richard Frazier, and they lived in the Burnout community of Covington and Crenshaw Counties. They were the parents of six children: Jasper, b. 1891 or 1892, d. 1940, m. Cora Laurice Henderson; Preston Alie, b. 1894, 1969, m. Pauline Floyd; Patie, b. 1895, m. Zebedee Hollice Schofield; James Elton, b. 1899, d. 1952, m. Emma Lou Perdue; Velma I., b. 1904, d. 1984, m. Walter S. Kelley; and Ester “Estie,” b. 1906, d. 1994, m. Henry C. Kelley. After Arvie’s death, James R. Frazier married Fredrica “Freddie” Loretta (Thomasson) Alsabrooks, widow of William Edgar Alsabrooks. This couple had 12 additional children.

Mary Adeline and John Byrd Sasser Sr.’s grandchildren included the following: Annie Sasser and Arter Frazier, son of James Madison Frazier and Martha Raborn, resided in the Copperas Head district of Covington County where Arter farmed. No children were found for either of Annie’s marriages.

According to some researchers, the next set of grandchildren were the children of Lula Mae Sasser and Howell Rice Butler, son of William Lloyd Butler and Madora Ann Wyatt. There is some question here as a Mary Lula Sasser, daughter of John Mudson Sasser, is reported to be the wife of Howell Butler. It is known that Howell was a farmer, and the family lived in the Sanford community of Covington County. They were the parents of Almer E., b. 1901, d. 1902; Lillie Bertha, b. 1900, d. 1977, m. Calvin Turner Owens; Howell Hollis, b. 1904, d. 1976, m. Bessie Blocker; Lodis V., b. 1904, d. 1957, m. Lula Henderson; John Henry, b. 1906, d. 1979, m. Mamie W. ?; Annie Maybell, b. 1911, d. 1999, m. Farris Herman Wesley; and Lennis D. “Tiny,” b. 1916, d. 1998.

Another set of grandchildren were the children of J. Frank Sasser and Jo Anna “Annie” Campbell: Effie Lou, b. 1911, d. 2005, m. Otho Dupree McDonald; Clifton, b. 1913/1914, m. Eula V. Sexton; Annie Lee, b. 1917, d. 2002, m. (1) ? Spatilla (2) ? Blackledge (3) ? Kuhlman; Woodrow Wilson, b. 1919, d. 2007; James Preston, b. 1922, d. 1984; Elton, b. ca 1921, d. young; Flossie Atriss, b. 1920, d. 2005, m. ? Ehlers; and Lindsey James, b. 1925, d. 1995, m. Mildred Boutwell.

Others were children of Nancy Elizabeth Sasser and Frank Lloyd Robbins, son of Dock Robbins and Matilda Bailey. They were Wilton Casper, b. 1910, d. 1994, m. Mary Alice Senn; Willie Bell, b. ca 1914; and Dallas R., b. 1923, d. 1974, m. Emogene Perdue.

The second daughter of Henry Harrison Sasser, Matilda M. Sasser, was married to Lloyd Chandler, son of Julius Jackson Chandler and Margaret Colvin. Although she was born in Rose Hill of Covington County, they made their home in the Bullock community of Crenshaw County where she died. They were buried in the Veasey Chapel Cemetery. They were the parents of the following four children: John H., b. 1875, d. 1883; Lloyd J., b.&d. 1877; Badie E., b. 1879, d. 1949, m. Elder James Jasper Richards (1885-1953), a Primitive Baptist preacher; and James Walton, b. 1882, d. 1972, m. 1904 Maggie Tabitha Weed (1886-1975).

Matilda and Julius J. Chandler’s grandchildren included the children of their daughter, Badie E. Chandler, and her husband, Elder James Jasper Richards, son of James Wesley Richards and Arra Ann Maloy. They were: two Infants; Lloyd Wesley, b. 1908, d. 1990; Gladys I., b. 1911, d. 2003, m. Willis Sylvester Wilson; Roy L., b. 1914, d. 1971, m. Mennie Lee McCart; Luna Kate, b. 1918, d. 1965, m. Clinton J. Johnson; and Mary Geraldine, b. 1919, d. 2004, m. Jesse B. Carnley.

Others were the children of James Walton Chandler and his wife, Maggie Tabitha Weed, daughter of James Norris Weed and Georgia Ann Morgan. They were: Ethel Irene, b. 1905, d. 1993, m. Aaron Randolph Hudson; Shirley Denver, b. 1907, d. 1994, m. Boncile Galloway; Vonnie, b. 1908, d. 2003, m. Robert Auburn King; Bertha Mae, 1911, d.1993, m. James Kimmey King; Grady F., b. 1913, d. 1981, m. Millie Foy Bane; Infant, b.&d. 1917; Comer Marvin, b. 1918, d. 1992, m. Gladys M. Rushing; Infant, b.&d. 1919; Cumi Edrie, b. 1921, d. 2011, m. Albert Boyd Cauley; James Phoman, b. 1923, d. 1975, m. Lois Rayburn; and Lloyd Lester, b. 1926, d. 2003, m. (1) Imogene Veasey (2) Jeanette Bodiford (3) Serobia Rushing Weaver.

The primary source for today’s genealogy was the records of Scott Smith of Enterprise. He has done extensive research on this family and is related through Henry Harrison’s wife, Sarillah Teresa Smith. Appreciation is expressed to him for sharing his work.

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