In today’s writing, there is a return to Ira Washington Rabren and his descendants. In the previous two columns, Ira’s ancestors and the families of his siblings were presented. At this point, his grandchildren who mostly resided in Covington County, Ala., will be outlined.

First, a short review of Ira Washington Rabren’s biography and children is provided. Ira enlisted for service in the Creek Indian War in 1836 in Columbia, Ga. Then on May 1, 1862, he, his son, James Wiley Rabren and his half-brother, James W. Rabren, enlisted for service in the Confederate Army as privates in the New 1st. Alabama Infantry Regiment. James W., the brother, died of brain fever, and Ira Washing and son, James Wiley, returned home. However, two years later, in 1864, Ira Washington joined Company B, Florida 1st Cavalry of the Union Army most likely to help provide food for his family.

Ira Washington Rabren was married to his first wife, Amanda Murphy/Murfees, in 1839, and they were only married a short time. It is not known for certain if they had any children. Ira was then married in 1841 to Eliza Ann “Luiza” Garrett who is believed to have previously been married to a Mr. Tidwell. Ira and Luiza were the parents of the following children: James Wiley, b. 1845, d. 1921, m. (1) Lucrecy Fuqua (1828-1913 (2) Martha Lundy; Ira Washington Jr., b. 1846, d. 1860, single; Mary jane, b. 1848; Henry Joseph, b. 1850, d. 1925, m. 1874 Martha Ann Fuqua (1859-1930); Green T. “Tom,” b. 1852, m. Emma ?; Caroline Elizabeth, b. 1854, d. 1935, m. Thomas Jefferson Brown (1847-1923); William Jasper, b. 1856, d. 1929, m. 1882 Mary Anderson; Nancy Ann, b. 1858, d. 1902, m. 1874 James Eastman Reynolds (1853-1932); and Daniel Damascus, b. 1863, d. 1940, m. 1885 Mary Magdalene “Maggie” Fuqua (1866-1955).

Ira’s oldest son, James Wiley, was born at Laurel Hill, Fla., in 1845. He was married around 1870 Lucrecia/Lucrecy Fuqua (1828-1913), daughter of Ephraim Fuqua and Martha Patsy Hewitt. He was later married to Martha Lundy. The only child found for James Wiley is Dorothea D., b. 1871, d. 1957, m. James Wilson Little (1857-1919). She appears to be the daughter of James Wiley’s first wife, Lucrecia. James Wiley died in 1921 in Covington County.

The next son, Henry Joseph Rabren (1850-1925), was married to Martha Ann Fuqua, daughter of William Wesley Fuqua (1832-1898) and Nancy Caroline Archilus (1833-1915). They were the parents of the following children: Eliza Caroline, b. 1876, d. 1912, m. (1) Columbus Eiland (2) James York; Rosa, b. 1878, d. 1909, m. George W. Huggins; James Henry Lafayette “Fate,” b. 1880, d. 1963, m. (1) Mary Delilah “Lila” Stokes (2) Mrs. 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. Nobie L. Huggins; Minnie Lee Berta, b. 1890, d. 1968, m. Wright Absalom Stokes II; George Franklin, b. 1892, d. 1936, m. Lucy Linum; 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 next son, Green T. “Tom” Rabren, was married in 1852 to a lady named Emma. They were the parents of the following children: Claude, b. ca 1875; Paul Perl, b. ca 1877; and Hannah, b. ca 1879.

Next was a daughter, Caroline Elizabeth Rabren, who was born in 1854, was married to Thomas Jefferson Brown in 1847. They were the parents of the following nine children: Savannah, b. 1874, d. 1876; Frances Elizabeth, b. 1875, d. 1961, m. William Lazarus White; Phillip Washington “Tim,” b. 1876, d. 1946, m. J.S. or S.A. Raley; Susanna, b. 1878, m. E.F. “Bud” Gibson; Rosa Edah “Rossie Edeh,” b. 1883, d. 1939, m. William Robert Duggan; O. Savannah, b. 1884, d. 1976, m. George E. Stone (1878-1946); Alvin Jefferson “Abb,” b. 1887, d. 1967, m. (1) Nancy Arnassa Brooks (1891-1941) (2) Ollie Savannah Fuqua (1900-1995); Bonnie A., b. 1889, d. 1973, m. Hillary H. Stone (1885-1949); and Halver Lavon, b. 1892, d. 1924, m. Margaret E. Kimbro (1893-1967).

Another son, William Jasper Rabren, was born in 1856 and died in 1929 in Jackson County, Fla. He was married in 1882 to Mary Anderson, and they were the parents of the following children: Lola, b. 1884; Kate W., b. 1886, m. Herbert E. Swain; Irene, b. 1889, m. 1916 Robert W. Parrish; and Estelle, b. 1894. Mary Anderson was a native of Arkansas, and all the children were born there.

Still another daughter, Nancy Ann Rabren, was born in 1858 and married James Eastman Reynolds (1853-1932) in 1874. Nancy Ann died in 1902 in Washington County, Fla. She and James Eastman reared the following children in the Vernon community: Mollie, b. 1875, d. 1931, m. Louis Gainey (1860-1934); Emma Georgia, b. 1877, d. 1964, m. 1891 William Daniel Rogers Melvin (1870-1952); James Henry, b. 1879, d. 1969, m. (1) 1894 Amanda Elizabeth Mae Carter (2) Georgia Melvin; Ida, b. 1883, d. 1978, m. Frank Simmons; James J., b. 1885, d. 1968, m. Mattie Miller; Mattie Nancy, b. 1886, d. 1942, m. 1904 James Lafeyette Miller; Annie, b. 1889, b. 1912, m. 1904 Wesley Scroggins; Laura Bell, b. 1891, d. 1977, m. 1904 Patrick Franklin Hall (1875-1935); Lucy Madie, b. 1893, d. 1896; Willie, b. 1895, d. 1996, m. 1909 Henry Vandell Frasier (1886-1964); and Eddie D., b. 1901, d. 1902.

The youngest son, Daniel Damascus Rabren, was born in 1863, which was during the war, in Andalusia, Ala. He was married in 1885 in Andalusia to Mary Magdalene “Maggie” Fuqua, daughter of William Wesley Fuqua and Nancy Caroline Archilus. Maggie was a younger sister to Daniel’s brother, Henry Joseph Rabren’s, wife, Martha (Fuqua) Rabren. Daniel and Maggie resided in Conecuh County where he farmed and engaged in the timber business. He eventually owned as many as 470 acres and was able to give each child 40 acres. This practice was quite common during that time as it helped the young couples get a start in life and usually kept them located near the parents and the home place.

Daniel and Maggie Rabren were the parents of the following children: Nancy Ann, b. 1885, d. 1958, m. James “L.” Ira Padgett; Malachi C., b. 1887, d. 1968, m. Ethel Pate; Willie, b. 1890, d. 1908, single; Caroline “Callie” Elizabeth, b. 1891, d. 1940, m. Samuel Travis Johnston; Pearlie Annis, b. 1894, d. 1974, m. Dallas Macon Pugh (1894-1978); Robert T., b. 1896, d. 1977, m. Ella Mae C. Turner; Carlie Marquerite, b. 1898, d. 1977, m. (1) John Irving Monk (2) Henry James Ryals; Arthur, b. 1900, d. 1970, m. Elsie L. Thomas (1905-1991); Vernon Austin, b. 1904, d. 1989, m. Beatrice Potts; and Daniel Houston, b. 1906, d. 1986, m. Tommy Lucille Barfield.

Most of Daniel and Maggie’s children were born in the Andalusia area, but the last three or so were born in the edge of Florida and in the Evergreen area where the family finally settled. Daniel died in 1940 in Evergreen, and Maggie died there in 1955. They were both buried in the neighboring Sepulga Cemetery.

The sources for this writing were the family records compiled by descendants Nelda (Pugh) Stephenson and Albert “Buddy” Blackwell. Appreciation is expressed to them for their research and sharing it with others.

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