Some stories have been written about early settler, Lloyd Robert Butler Sr., who located along Hickory Nut Ridge. His farm was located near the line between Covington and Crenshaw Counties. He and his wife, Elizabeth “Betsy” (Wages) Butler, reared a large family of 17 children; however, two of them died as infants and were buried in the historic Williams Graveyard. At his death in 1875, Lloyd Butler was buried beside his two infants. His widow, Elizabeth, lived an additional 20 years, so her children had her buried in the near by Veasey Cemetery. The Williams Cemetery was no longer being used and was difficult to access.

Lloyd Robert Butler was born in 1795 in South Carolina and died circa 1875 in the Williams community of Covington County. His wife, Elizabeth Wages, was born circa 1807 in the Richland District of South Carolina. Lloyd Robert was the son of Barnaby Butler (1768-1840) and Ann Owens (1774-1840). Elizabeth “Betsy” Wages was the daughter of Jacob and Susannah Wages. Susannah’s maiden name is not known at this time. Jacob Wages was the son of Dawson Wages Sr. (ca 1761-ca 1821) and Rebecca Boatwright, widow of Benjamin Boatwright.

Lloyd Robert and Elizabeth (Wages) Butler were the parents of the following children: Gincey, b. 1825, d. 1916, m. David Cauley; John Rice, b. 1827, d. 1912, m. (1) Mary Elizabeth Sasser (1833-1879) (2) Tempy Sasser (1839-1920); Lloyd Robert Jr., b. 1828, d. 1910, m. Emily Robbins; Green, b. 1833, d. 1906, m. Annie E. Boyette; Marcus or Mark, b. 1835, d. 1900, m. Matilda Catherine Sasser; Emily, b. 1837, d. 1880, single; Luke, b. 1840, d. 1852 from being hit by falling tree; Susannah “Sukey” A., b. 1842, d. 1917, m. James Talton Drake (1833-1916); Bathsheba, b. 1844, d. 1864 as invalid; Elizabeth, b. 1846, d. 1873; Rebecca, b. 1847, d. 1915, m. Jefferson Sylvanus Thomasson; Annie, b. 1850, d. 1885, m. 1871 Charles Irvin Maloy; Coleman, b. 1852, d. 1874, m. Nancy Jane Kilcrease; Mathew, b. 1854, d. 1876; and Holley.

Family legend contends that Elizabeth (Wages) Butler was a lady doctor who rode a white horse as she visited the sick in the community. It is remarkable that she was able to give birth to 17 children of her own and helped rear 15 of them to adulthood. Elizabeth was the daughter of Jacob and Susannah Wages. She had a brother named Gale Wages who was a reputable outlaw. Unfortunately, he was killed during a raid in South Alabama or South Mississippi when he was a young man leaving a widow and young son.

Annie Butler was the twelfth child born to Lloyd Robert and Elizabeth (Wages) Butler. When she was around 21 years of age, she was married in 1851 to Charles Irvin Maloy, son of John M. Maloy and Elizabeth Mariah (Sasser). Charles Irvin became a Primitive Baptist preacher and served churches in the northern area of Covington County and southern region of Crenshaw County. At Anne’s death, she was buried in the historic Veasey Cemetery in a plot adjacent to the grave of her mother, Elizabeth (Wages) Butler.

Annie (Butler) and Charles Irvin Maloy were the parents of the following children: Roxie Ann, b. 1872, m. 1895 John David Caston (1861-1925); Gatsie M., b. 1874, m. Loney Moody; Howell, b. 1877, d. 1885; Elsie Elizabeth, b. 1875, d. 1953, m. (1) 1898 William Angus Richards (1875-1923) (2) W.C. Hull (3) George Wilson Kilcrease ; Howell W., b. 1875, d. 1881; Malza R., b. 1879, d. 1821, single; and Lloyd Irvin, b. 1881, d. 1968, m. 1913 Lessie Wese Smith. Sadly, Annie died in 1882 about nine months after her last child was born. After his wife’s death, Charles Irwin Maloy was married to Nancy Jane (Kilcrease) Butler, widow of his brother-in-law, Coleman Butler.

The oldest daughter, Roxie Ann, and her husband, John Coston, began their marriage in Brantley, Ala. and later moved to Freeport, Fla. They eventually settled in South Florida. They were the parents of the following children: Mary Nancy, b. 1896, d. 1976, m. Richard L. Roberts; Minor Irvin, b. 1899, d. 1979, single; Anna May, b. 1902, m. 1930 Alvin Herman Hinson (1893-1976); Nettie Estelle, b. 1904; and Eva Lois, b. 1906.

The next daughter, Gatsie, was married in 1895 to Loney Moody. They were the parent of two children: Edward; and Minnie, m. ? Jenkins.

The next daughter, Elsie Elizabeth Maloy, was first married in 1898 to William Angus Richards, son of James Richards and Arra Maloy. They lived in Baker, Fla. and in Canal Point, Fla. where Angus died of a heat stroke in 1923. Elsie then returned to her home in Baker. They were the parents of the following children: Infant son, b. 1900, d. 1901; Annie Bea, b. 1902, d. 1987, m. (1) 1919 William Buford Williams (2) 1945 Troy W. Maddox; Minnie Lee, b. 1906, d. 1966, m. (1) 1924 Elijah Elbert Williams (2) 1946 Charles E. Taylor; James Irvin, b. 1910, d. 1991, m. Bessie Delanie Cox; and Atha Ray, b. 1915, d. 1993, m. Jane Jenness Egbert. Following Angus’s death, Elsie married second in 1935 to W.C. Hull, but the marriage only lasted a short time. Next, she married in 1936 George Wilson Kilcrease, and it only lasted a short time.

The son, Lloyd Irvin Maloy, and his wife, Lessie Wese Smith, were the parents of the following children: Annie Myrle, b. 1914, m. Howard Lafayette Carter; Mallie Wese, b. 1915, m. Stuart Kennen Swayne; Jessie Grey, b. 1917, m. Millard MaNutt Stowers; Thurla Evona, b. 1920, m. John Leslie Doling; Willette, b. 1921, m. Edgar Lee Landers; Inez, b. 1924, m. Roy Lee Williams; Lloyd Irvin Jr., b. 1927, m. Janet Adams; and Mary Evelyn, b. 1928, m. Robert Donald Molloy.

The children of James Irvin Richards and his wife, Bessie Delanie Cox, represent the next generation of this family. They lived and reared their family in Baker. They were the parents of the following children: Joyce Jeanette, b. 1936, m. (1) John Clark Cosson (2) Eddie Rogers Blalock; Betty Jean, b. 1939, m. Marvil Leo Melvin; James Irvin Jr., b. 1941, d. 2010, m. Bobbie Ruth Sowell; Frances Delois, b. 1943, d. 2013, m. (1) Jesse Eugene Medley (2) William Dean Hart; Roy Angus, b. 1945, m. Betty Sue George; and Linda Carol, b. 1948.

The source for this story were the family records of the above descendant, Joyce (Richards) Blalock, of Baker, Fla. A story she had published in The Heritage of Covington County, Alabama was also used.

Anyone who may 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:

Members of the Covington Rifles Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans plan to attend “Flag Day” at the Confederate Park between Brantley and Luverne on Saturday, March 3. The program begins at 10 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m. This trip is in place of the regular meeting on the first Thursday. Guests are urged to attend.