The area Fuqua family was reviewed in last week’s column, and later generations will be outlined today. In the last narrative, Absalom Fuqua, the ancestor who brought this family to Covington County and surrounding areas, was introduced, and his life was described in some detail. This current writing will focus on his descendants.

Absalom and his wife, Tabitha (Barrow) Fuqua, who was reviewed last week, reared the following children: William Wesley, b. 1832, d. 1898, m. Nancy Caroline Archillus; Henry Morton, b. 1834, d. 1917, m. Sarah Elizabeth King; John, b. 1835, d. 1921, m. Esther ?; (twins) Nancy J. and Elizabeth, b. 1836; James, b. 1838, d. 1917, m. Elizabeth “Babe” Haveard; Sarah A., b. 1840; Minerva, b. 1841, m. George Nieser; Reuben, b. 1842, d. 1932, m. Lottie Cincinnati Adkinson; George, b. 1843, d. 1870, m. Elizabeth ?; Wealthy, b. 1844; Mary Pollyanna, b. 1845, d. 1904, m. William Henry Barneycastle; and Samuel, b. 1846. It is amazing that Tabitha gave birth to 13 children in 14 years, but that was not all that uncommon during that period of time.

The oldest son, William Wesley Fuqua, appears to have been born in 1832 when his parents were residing first in Covington County. Then he seems to have been back in the county when he was married to his first cousin, Nancy Caroline Archillus, daughter of Charley and Mary (Barrow) Archillus. William Wesley acquired 40.02 acres in 1856 and homesteaded 80.04 acres in 1870, both in the Montezuma Township. His acreage was next to his father-in-law, Charley Archillus, who had in 1855 acquired 80.04 acres surrounding the site where Coker Mill Creek forked. William Wesley’s land is known as the Fuqua Homestead and is located across the Brooklyn Road from Cedar Grove Church of Christ and runs almost to the Brewton Highway.

William Wesley and Nancy Caroline Fuqua reared the following children: Martha Ann, b. 1859, d. 1930, m. Henry Joseph Rabren; Edward, b. 1861; John, b. 1863, d. 1953, m. Mary Eveline Wishum; Mary Magdalene “Maggie,” b. 1866, d. 1955, m. Daniel Damascus Rabren; James A., b. 1869, d. 1918, m. Ella Jones; and Elizabeth “Bett,” b. 1871, m. Ed Smith, a preacher.

With his little family growing, William Wesley enlisted to serve as a private in the county guard, Company E, Brady Company, for the Confederacy during the War Between the States. Most likely some of his brothers rendered service, but this writer has not researched those records. Following the end of the war and in 1867, William Wesley was listed as a registered voter for Beat No. 1. He worked as a farmer and lived out his life in the Salem community. His burial site is not known, but this writer feels like he and his wife would have been buried in the neighboring Jordan Cemetery where at least one of his son’s is buried. Most families in this community buried their relatives there during the mid- to late 1800s and early 1900s.

The oldest daughter, Martha Ann Fuqua, was married to Henry Joseph Rabren, son of Ira Washington Rabren and Eliza Ann (Garrett). They resided in the Cedar Grove community and reared the following children: Eliza Caroline, b. 1876, d. 1912, m. (1) Columbus Eiland (2) James York; Rosa, b. 1878, d. 1909, m. George Huggins; James Henry Lafayette “Fate,” b. 1880, d. 1963, m. (1) Mary Delilah “Lila” Stokes (2) Annie Sinkfield; John Thomas, b. 1883, d. 1966, m. (1) Fannie Lou Carter (2) ? (3) Beulah Lindsey; Monroe, b. 1885, d. 1956, m. Mary Lillian “Lillie” Sellers; Marion William, b. 1888, d. 1963, m. (1) Nobie L. Huggins (2) Bessie Lee Busbee; Minnie Lee Berta, b. 1890, d. 1968, m. Wright Absalom Stokes II; George Franklin, b. 1892, d. 1936, m. Lucy Limend; Emory E., b. 1894, d. 1957, m. Ollie Phyllis Stokes; Annie Merle, b. 1897, d. 1934, m. (1) Fletcher Frazier (2) Raddick Cumbie Pittman; and Arrie Ambers “Jack,” b. 1902, d. 1987, m. Bertha Q.V. Gilmer.

The oldest son, Edward Fuqua, was born in 1862, the year the War for Southern Independence began. The name of his wife is not known, but the following children have been identified: Evelyn, who moved to Mobile; Lillian; Henry; Amos; Della and Ella.

The second oldest daughter, Mary Magdalene “Maggie” Fuqua, married Daniel Damascus Rabren, brother of Henry Joseph. They lived in the same general area and reared the following children who were double first cousins to the above: Nancy Ann, b. 1884, d. 1968, m. James Ira Padgett; Malichi, b. 1887, d. 1968, m. (1) Ethel Pate (2) Daisy Ola Sellers; Henry Washington, b. 1888, m. Minnie Alba Ryals; Willie, b. 1890, d. 1903; Caroline Elizabeth “Callie,” b. 1892, d. 1940, m. Samuel T. “Bud” Johnston; Pearlie Anice, b. 1894, d. 1974, m. Dallas M. Pugh; Robert, b. 1896, d. 1977, m. Ella Turner; Carlie M. b. 1898, d. 1977, m. (1) Henry Ryals (2) John Irving Monk; Arthur, b. 1900, d. 1970, m. Elsie Thomas; Vernon Austin, b. 1904, m. Beatrice Potts; and Daniel Houston, b. 1906, d. 1986, m. (1) Tommie Lucille Barfield (2) Flora VanHouten.

The second oldest son, John Fuqua, was married to Mary Eveline Wishum, daughter of James Madison Wishum and Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Potts). They resided in the Salem community and reared the following children: Henry Thomas, b. 1887, d. 1906, single; Callie Alabama “Bama,” b. 1889, d. 1978, m. Leland Congdon Stokes; Alice Viola “Ola,” b. 1893, d. 1970, m. Harvey Dwight Jacobs (1890-1978); James Wesley “Jim,” b. 1895, d. 1989, m. Naomi Cornelia “Oma” Stokes (1903-1977); Frank Anderson, b. 1897, m. Naomi Williams; William Walker, b. 1898, m. Lillian Myrick; Olive Savannah, b. 1900, d. 1995, m. Abb J. Brown (1887-1967); Elijah Nathaniel “Lige,” b. 1902, d. 1972, m. (1) Lura “Lurey” Grey Parker (1907-1929) (2) Eula Belle Wiggins (1906-1992); Vallie Elizabeth, b. 1904, m. Sanford L. Cremer (1900-1976); George Washington, b. 1906, m. (1) Lallie Alberta Gilbert (1908-1971) (2) Juanita Bullock; and Johnny Mack, b. 1909, m. (1) Luna Virginia Bray (2) Barbara Elna McMillan.

The next son, James A. Fuqua, was born after the war ended. He and his wife, Ella (Jones), lived in the Red Level area and reared the following children: William “Willie,” m. Betty Mae Chavers; Laura Isabella, b. 1896, d. 1997, m. William Orby Grimes; Alma, b. 1898, d. 1989, m. Alcus “Rub” Chavers; Dora, b. 1900, d. 1929, m. John Miller; Virgie, b. 1905, m. (1) Joe Turner (2) Cyrus Findley; Earnest, b. 1909, d. 1968, m. Willie Estille Johnson; Marvie, m. Lonnie Williams; Walter J. b. 1910, d. 1928 from hunting accident; Albert, m. Ona Styron; and Eva Lois, m. Charlie Styron.

The youngest daughter, Elizabeth “Bett” Fuqua was married to Ed Smith who was a minister. This writer has not been able to identify any children for them.

The sources for this genealogy are the family records of the writer, Curtis Thomasson, who is a great grandson of John and Eveline (Wishum) Fuqua and a grandson of Callie Alabama (Fuqua) and Leland Congdon Stokes.

Anyone who might find any errors in the above or who might have additional information on this Fuqua family is requested to contact Curtis Thomasson at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.