Today’s writing will be a further look at some of the later Fuqua descendants who lived previously and currently in Covington County.

Within the family there are frequent references to the “Fuqua Homestead.”

This is a name given to about 400 acres of land lying between the Brooklyn Road and Brewton Highway, which encompasses some of the Salem community and borders on the Cedar Grove Church of Christ’s property.

A few Fuqua ancestors came to the county during the early 1850s and began to purchase and later homestead acreage in the above named location.

Actually, William Wesley Fuqua’s father-in-law, Charles E. Archelius, was the first related member of this family to buy land, 80.04 acres, in 1855.

He chose a select site where Coker Mill Creek forks, and most likely he established a gristmill there.

Years later, his grandson, James Wesley “Jim” operated a feed mill a little farther down this creek.

The next year in 1856, William Wesley Fuqua, purchased 40.02 acres of land adjoining his wife’s father.

He was later able in 1870 to homestead 80.06 acres next to his other land. In 1887, his son, Edward Fuqua, was fortunate enough to homestead 160.08 acres adjoining his father.

Another son, John Fuqua, homesteaded 160.08 acres in 1890 adjoining his father and brother.

All of this property came to make up what has been called the Fuqua Homestead.

Through the last one hundred plus years, different Fuqua members have inherited and owned most of the original holdings.

At present, descendants of brothers who are the sons of William Wesley Fuqua, Jim and John Fuqua, own much of the acreage.

There have been various houses on the property, and one descendant built a new home on one of the original house sites across from Salem Baptist Church and off Salem Road.

The children of William Wesley Fuqua and other family members were named in the last two columns.

From this point forward, focus will be upon one of his sons, John Fuqua, who was the second oldest son born to William Wesley and Nancy Caroline Fuqua.

He was born in 1863 during the middle of the War for Southern Independence.

The family had been in Covington County for nearly a decade and had become well established.

John grew up working on the family’s farm and grew to love his home area, which was in what would become the Salem community.

John Fuqua was married on April 27, 1885, to Mary Eveline Wishum, the daughter of neighbors, James Madison Wishum and Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Potts).

Both John and Eveline’s fathers had rendered service in the Confederate Army.

James Madison Wishum was injured, but he survived and even after not allowing the doctors to remove his leg following injuries.

Eveline’s Grandfather James L. Potts was also a Confederate Veteran.

John and Eveline became respected members of their community as they developed their family and contributed to the well being of all their neighbors.

They were faithful members of the local Salem Baptist Church, which was established in 1837 as one of the earliest in the county only six years after the county was formed.

No records have been located that confirm the date of the first building being constructed.

The Fuqua family understands that sometime during the late 1800s or early 1900s John and Eveline Fuqua donated land for the church and cemetery.

Their oldest son, Henry Thomas Fuqua, who died of pneumonia in 1906 at 19 years of age, was the second person to be buried in the cemetery.

John and Eveline Fuqua 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. 970, m. Harvey Dwight Jacobs (1890-1978); James Wesley “Jim,” b. 1895, d. 1989, m. Naomi Cornelia “Oma” Stokes (1903-1977); Frank Anderson, b. 1897, d. 1980 m. Naomi Williams(1904-2000); William Walker, b. 1898, m. Lillian Myrick; Olive Savannah “Ollie,” 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 (1908-1972) (2) Juanita Bullock; and Johnny Mack, b. 1909, d. 1978, m. (1) Luna Virginia Bray (1909-1934) (2) Barbara Elna McMillan.

The oldest daughter, Callie Alabama Fuqua, married Leland Congdon Stokes, the son of Burrell Jackson Stokes and Cornelia Georgia (Hare) whose family lived in the same community. Bama told how their “courting” was usually done at church and maybe walking down the road together following church services.

They were married in 1908 when she was 19 and he, 17.

They made their home in the Adellum and Cedar Grove communities mostly where they reared the following children: Ruby Evelyn, b. 1910, d. 1953, m. James Wesley Thomasson; Clifton Jackson, b. 1911, m. (1) Myrtle Rabren (2) Ruby (Peek) Bryant; Earl Hampton, b. 1914, d. 1937, m. Pauline Kirkland; John D., b. 1916, d. 2011, m. Mildred Thomas; Leland Congdon Jr. “L.C.,” b. 1920, d. 2004, m. Bonice Jones; and Bernice Leola, b. 1924, d. 2008, m. Robert Theron Holley.

The next daughter, Alice Viola Fuqua, and husband, Harvey Dwight Jacobs, farmed and reared the following 10 children in the Carolina community: John Mandrake, b. 1918, d. 1999, m. Sybil Rodgers; Harvey Donald, b. 1920, d. 1964, m. Carrie Mae Duckett; Evelyn Lucille, b. 1921, d. 2013, m. Tillman Cleveland “T.C.” Bozeman; Walker “Jake,” b. 1923, d. 2011, m. Helen Hawkins; Garland Dwight, b. 1924, d. 1989, m. Ethel Pope; Hazel Julia, b. 1927, m. John William “Billy” Wood; Mary Belle, b. 1930, d. 2005, m. Donald Hutto; Esther Leola, b. 1932, m. Benny Bozeman Barrow; Earl Gene, b. 1935, m. Wilma Dean Henderson; and Tessie Ruth, b. 1936, m. Charles Lawson.

The son, James Wesley Fuqua, was married in 1918 to Naomi Cornelia (Stokes), daughter of Burrell Jackson and Cornelia Georgia (Hare) Stokes.

Jim is the one who operated a feed crushing business along with farming in the Salem community.

He and Naomi reared the following children: Beryl James, b. 1921, d. 1973, m. Mary Evelyn Brown; Lillian Cornelia, b. 1923, m. Loyce Vaughn (1919-1986); Elma Evelyn, b. 1925, m. Sam Kierce Barron; John Wesley Jr. “J.W.,” b. 1928, m. Jane King (1927-1986); Thomas Roland, b. 1932, d. 1994, m. Kathleen “Kaye” M. (1927-1996); Jeff Hines, b. 1938, m. (1) Arlene Stinson (2) Madalyn (Turman) Hardy; and Kathryn Naomi, b. 1944, m. (1) William Feigh Brown (2) Frederick “Freddie” Loftin.

The next son, Frank Anderson Fuqua, resided in Andalusia and had several places of employment.

He worked first in timber for the sawmill at River Falls and then worked for the Alabama Highway Department.

Last, he worked for the Covington County Engineering and Roads Department. He was married to Naomi Williams, and their residence was located on South Three Notch Street. They reared the following two children: Deward Byron, b. 1922, d. 1999, m. Jean Carter; and Mary Evelyn, b. 1924, d. 2006, m. Malcolm O’Neal.

Son William Walker Fuqua and his wife, Lillian (Myrick), made their home in Birmingham.

They had one daughter, Betty, who was married to ? Clifton.

Betty and her husband also made their home in Birmingham.

Daughter Olive Savannah “Ollie” Fuqua was married to Abb Brown, a widower.

They resided in Andalusia on Dunston Street. They did not have any children, but they pretty much reared her nephew. Elijah Grey Fuqua, son of Lige Fuqua, after his mother’s death.

Son Elijah Nathaniel “Lige” Fuqua was first married to Lura Grey Parker.

They had one son before her untimely death. Elijah Grey, born in 1929 and died in 1999 in Texas, was first married to Shirley ? from Missouri, and his second marriage was to Helen Beatrice Weeks.

After Lura Grey’s untimely death during childbirth, Lige was married to Eula Belle Wiggins.

Their home was located on the current Creekwood Road where they reared three children: Arlie Virginia, b. 1931, m. William David Hall; Sylvia Jeannette, b. 1936, m. Clinton Hugh Wiggins; and Arthur Grady “Sonny,” b. 1938, d. 1992, m. Margaret Waid.

Daughter Vallie Elizabeth Fuqua was married to Sanford L. Cremer, who became a Baptist minister.

They had two children: Daughter who died in infancy; and Nathaniel, who married Opal Garner of the same Carolina community.

He also became a Baptist minister.

Son George Washington Fuqua was married to Alberta Gilbert, and they made their home in Birmingham.

Upon retirement, George returned to his roots and lived in Andalusia where he married Juanita Bullock.

Later, his children had him move near them in Jacksonville, Fla.

George and Alberta reared one daughter, Jeanice or “Jeanene,” who m. ?.

Her husband was a minister of music, and Jeanene was an accomplished pianist.

They mostly lived in Jacksonville, Fla., where they reared five children.

The youngest son, Johnny Mack Fuqua, and his first wife, Luna Virginia (Bray), had one son, Mack Harold, m. (1) Margaret Martin (2) Brenda Tompkins. Johnny Mack was a Baptist minister and preached for several area churches.

He and his family resided on Fuqua property in the Salem community.

This concludes a brief review of the John Fuqua family.

There are many descendants who currently reside in the area who are appreciative of this heritage.

The sources for this writing were personal records of the writer and interviews with various family members.

If anyone finds any error in the above data or who might have additional information related to this family, he is requested to contact this writer and descendant, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.

 

HISTORICAL

MEETING:

The Covington Historical Society will be meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 31, in the Dixon Memorial Room of the Andalusia Public Library. Sidney Waits will be presenting the program. Guests are most welcome.