Anyone who reviews the history of Andalusia during the first quarter of the twentieth century will discover a business named Kilpatrick-Mashburn. This mercantile store was located on the southeast corner of the Square on the site of the current offices of Mayor Earl Johnson. In the February 5, 1929, edition of the Andalusia Star-News the business is named along with 11 others in a Who’s Who in Andalusia. No further information on the business is known other than a report in the March 4, 1936, Andalusia Star-News stating it was in bankruptcy. During the late 1940s and 1950s this writer recalls the same structure was occupied by Christo’s Five and Ten.

The Mashburn name is not heard of in the area at this time, but it belonged to descendants of an influential family who resided in the area at one time. One of these was Annie Rebecca Mashburn who was married in 1902 in Andalusia to Harold Albritton. She was the daughter of Charles Monroe Mashburn and Elizabeth “Eliza” Snead (and Annaluvinia) Folkes, daughter of William Jacob Folkes (1812-1901) and Anna Jane Howell (1812-1886).

Charles Monroe was born in 1855 in Washington (later Bay) County, Fla. According to the 1880 Federal Census, Charles was a farmer. He died in 1829 in Bay County. His wife, Eliza, was born in 1851 and died in 1927. They were buried in the Mashburn Cemetery in Bennett, Bay County, Fla. It would seem this couple probably resided in Andalusia before moving to Bay County. Their daughter, Annie Rebecca Mashburn, was married in Andalusia.

Charles Monroe and Eliza (Folkes) Mashburn were the parents of the following children: Ellie Illinois, b. 1879, d. 1912, m. Peter Parker; Annie Rebecca, b. 1881, d. 1967, m. 1902 William Harold Albritton (1881-1929); Georgia Leone, b. 1884, d. 1971, m. Sidney Clarence Albritton (1880-1963); Richard Marvin, b. 1886, d. 1946, m. R. Henrietta Walters (b. 1892); Charles Arthur (or Allen), b. 1889, d. 1956, m. Annie R. Tipton; and Louisiana.

Charles Monroe’s son, Richard Marvin Mashburn, was married around 1914 to E. Henrietta Walters. Records were found for one daughter, Madge Willoughby Mashburn, who was born in 1914 in Andalusia and died in 1962 in Bay County, Fla. Madge was married to Thomas Jefferson Redmond, and they had three daughters.

It would appear that Richard Marvin was one of the owner/managers of the Kilpatrick/Mashburn business. In the 1930 Federal Census, he was listed as being a merchant and employer. Apparently, the store closed during the 1930s as Robert Marvin was listed in the 1940 census as a manager with the government. Also, in that census, his daughter and her three daughters were living in his household located on Sixth Avenue in Andalusia.

Robert Marvin Mashburn’s sister, Annie Rebecca Mashburn, was married in 1902 in Andalusia to William Harold Albritton (1881-1929), son of Edgar Albritton and Apsilah Best Daniel. Annie was born in Dothan, Ala., and William Harold was born in Green County, N.C. They both died in Andalusia, Ala. and were buried in the city’s historic Magnolia Cemetery.

Annie Rebecca Mashburn and William Harold Albritton were the parents of the following children: Charles Edward, b. 1903, d. 1974, m. Elizabeth Lee Bradshaw; Robert Bynum, b. 1905, m. Carrie Veal; William Harold Jr., b. 1907, m. 1930 Anne Kirtley Long; Annie Rebecca, b. 1909, d. 1971, m. 1933 Robert David Conner; Apsilah Daniel, b. 1911, d. 1976, m. 1937 Durham Edward Terry; Mary, b. 1913, m. 1940 Edward Harmon Cabaniss; James Marvin, b. 1915, m. 1941 Frances Ophelia Adams; Jesse Tignor, b. 1917, m. 1939 Frances Russell Josey; John Thomas, b. 1917, m. 1939 Mary Neil Smith; Dempsey Powell, b. 1920, m. 1961 Lucille Martin; and Margaret, b. 1928, d. 1975.

Charles Monroe Mashburn was the son of James Mannon Mashburn who was born in 1821 in Bainbridge, Ga. James Mannon was married to Clara Rebecca Sealey who was born in 1823 in Quincy, Fla. They eventually settled in Washington, later named Bay, County, Fla. where he died in 1859, and she, in 1900. (The Mashburn Cemetery in Bennett, Fla., could have well begun with his burial.)

James Mannon Mashburn was the son of Daniel Mashburn who was born in 1794 in Oslow, N.C. He was married to Elizabeth ? who was born in 1800 in Oslow. Daniel and Elizabeth were living in Quincy, Fla., when he died in 1834, and she in 1846.

Daniel Mashburn was the son of Henry Mashburn and Elizabeth Murray. Henry was born in 1756 in Oslow County, N.C., and Elizabeth was born there in 1758. Henry died there in 1801, and Elizabeth, in 1792. Henry Mashburn is the earliest Mashburn ancestor identified by this writer from Ancestry.com family trees.

Sources for this writing include Ancestry.com for the early generations, articles in the Andalusia Star-News and a family folder in the Andalusia Public Library’s genealogical section. It should be noted that Anne (Long) Albritton was a major figure in creating the vast genealogical collection by donating much of her personal library and records to the library. She is also remembered for providing generous assistance to those researching their family and heritage.

This writer requests that anyone who finds an error in the above or who might have additional records on the Mashburn family to contact him, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.