Henry Joseph and Martha (Fuqua) Rabren’s family resided in Andalusia

In the previous column, the family of Ira Washington Rabren was featured. Today, the family of one of his sons, Henry Joseph Rabren and his wife, Martha (Fuqua), will be covered.

Henry Joseph Rabren was born in 1850 and died in 1925. He was married to Martha Ann Fuqua, daughter of William Wesley Fuqua (1832-1898) and Nancy Caroline Archilus (1833-1915). They resided in the Cedar Grove community located along Brooklyn Road where they reared their children on the family farm. They were the parents of the following children: Eliza Caroline, b. 1876, d. 1912, m. (1) Columbus Eiland (2) James Eykool 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 j. (White) Lindsey; Monroe Isaiah, b. 1888, d. 1955, 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 oldest child, Eliza Caroline Rabren, was born in 1876 in Covington County. She died in 1912 and was buried in the Adellum Baptist Church Cemetery. She was first married to Columbus Eiland with whom she had a daughter, Agnes Leona, b. 1896, d. 1934, m. Matthew Vanburen Stokes (1897-1959). She later in 1908 married James Eykool York with whom she had a daughter, Ruth, b. 1909, d. 2002, m. Sanford Dozier Palmer Sr. (1903-1987). Eliza Caroline died fairly young in 1912 and was buried in the Adellum Baptist Church Cemetery.

The next daughter, Rosa Rabren, was born in 1878 in Covington County. She was married in 1904 to George W. Huggins (1876-1959), son of Samuel A. Huggins and Nancy Ann Thompkins. Before Rosa’s untimely death in 1909, they were blessed with one daughter, Martha A., b. 1909, m. O.C. Hare.

The oldest son, James Henry Lafayette “Fate” Rabren was born in 1880 in Andalusia. He supported his family through farming in the Adellum community. He was first married in 1905 to Mary Delilah Stokes (1889-1929) in Andalusia. They were the parents of the following children: Thelma Lee, b. 1906, d. 1972, m. Warren C. Girdner Sr.; Edna, b. 1909, d. 1968, m. Ollie Fletcher (1907-1969); Burrell/Bearl Joseph “Bill,” b. 1912, m. Lula Irene “Bobbie” Moore” Ester, b. 1915, d. 1941, single; Thomas Edward “Tom,” b. 1921, d. 1981, m. Ella Mae “Squeak” Wade (1921-2005); and James Heflin, b. 1924, d. 1993, m. Jean King. After Mary Delilah’s death, Fate married Mrs. Annie Sinkfield.

The next son, John Thomas Rabren, was born in 1883 in Andalusia. He was first married in 1910 to Fannie Lou Carter (1890-1926), daughter of Enoch Carter (1871-1932) and Mary Frances Shultz (1872-1956). They were the parents of three children: Harvey Lee, b. 1911, d. 1976, m. Annie Clyde McLelland (1912-1991; Carrye Elizabeth, b. 1914, d. 1990, m. Johnny D. Howell (1921-1989); and Arthur Raymond, b.1923, d. 2012, m. Ila Mae Gorum (1922-2010.

Another son, Monroe Isaiah Rabren, was born in 1888 in Andalusia. He was married to Mary Lillian “Lillie” Sellers (1893-1975), daughter of Simeon Sellers and Mary Martha Mason. Monroe supported his family by farming, working as a laborer in a packing plant, and he retired from being an Andalusia policeman. He was an early and long-time elder in the Cedar Grove Church of Christ located on Brooklyn Road near his home. He and Lillie were the parents of the following children: Alonzo Oscar, b. 1910, d. 1972, m. 1931 Helon Vertie Hilson (1910-1976); Roscoe Henry, b. 1912, d. 1973, m. Lena Mae Smith (1913-1991); Andrew Simeon, b. 1914, d. 2000, m. Inez Palmer (1916-2011); Earl “Buck,” b. 1916, d. 2001, m. Eva Rae Palmer (1924-living); and James Damascus, b. 1929, living, m. Mary Ann Harris.

The next son, Marion William Rabren, was born in 1887 in Andalusia. He was first married to Nobie Lee Huggins (b. 1895), daughter of Samuel A. Huggins and Nancy Ann Thompkins. They were the parents of the following children: Myrtle, b. 1912, d. 1987, m. (1) Clifton Jackson Stokes (1911-1990) (2) Frank Byrd (3) Joe Harrison (4) Jepp Sasser; Myrtice, b.&d. ca 1915; George Edgar, b. 1916, d. 1972, m. Cumi Garrett (1918-1997); Artie, b. 1918; Plesse Lee, b. 1922, d. 1939, single; and Troas T., b. 1927, d. 1994, m. Vera ? (1935-1983). Marion William was next married to Bessie ?, and they were the parents of the following children: Kenneth, Shirley, Margaret, and Barbara.

Another daughter, Minnie Lee Bertha Rabren, was born in 1890 in Andalusia. She was married in 1909 to Wright Absalom Stokes, son of Burrell Jackson Stokes and Cornelia Georgia Hare. They were the parents of the following children: Bertha Leola, b.&d. 1909; Sadie Mae, b. 1911, d. 2004, m. 1926 William Marvin Garrett; Catha Corene, b. 1912, d. 1951, m. Egbert Hicks; Nina Belle, b. 1914, d. 1996, m. Bert Gorum; Martha Cornelia, b. 1916, d. 2008, m. (1) Melvin Deckard (2) Louis Hecker; Sanford Carlos, b. 1920, d. 2012, m. Althea Pearl Oliver; and Absalom Silas, b. 1921, d. 1998, m. Doris Louise Lunsford.

The next son, George Franklin Rabren, was born in 1892 in Andalusia. He was married to Lucy L. Lynam/Linam (1896-1982). They were the parents of the following children: Griffin C. or H. “Grider,” b. 1914, d. 1990; Gretchen, b. 1917, d. 1990, m. (1) William Cecil Poitevint (1911-1953) (2) Enos Wilbur Slauson (1916-1971); and Bertha Alice, b. 1919, d. 1983, m. Cecil Willingham Laney (1912-1997).

The next son, Emory E. Rabren, was born in 1894 in Andalusia. He was married circa 1915 to Ollie Phyllis Stokes (1900-1968), daughter of Burrell Jackson Stokes and Cornelia Georgia Hare. Emory farmed for a few years, but he later moved the family into town and began working as custodian for the Martin Movie Theatre and night watchman for the Covington County Courthouse. He also maintained a large vegetable garden, and they rented rooms in their home on Opp Avenue. They were the parents of the following children: Chester S. b. ca 1916, d. 1930, single; Justus Guy, b. 1916, d. 1986, m. (1) Sue ? (2) Mary Emmett (1919-1991); Rosa Beatrice, b. 1920, d. 1999, m. () Otis Bevis Dees (1915-1947 (2) James Krammer (3) 1953 Willie Green Mullins (1909-1972); Eleanor Pauline, b. 1922, d. 1966, m. (1) 1940 Albert Clayton Blackwell Sr. (1919-1994) (2) 1949 Wilson Alfred Williams (1916-1960) (3) 1966 Ewell Clark; Emory E. Jr., b. 1924, d. 1994, m. (1) Naomi Jewel Lee (2) Dessie Robbins; Hazel Mae, b.&d. 1926; Tempie Erlene, b. ca 1929, m. Paul Ewashinko; and Doris Jean, b. 1930, m. William L. McCoy (b. 1922).

The youngest daughter, Annie Merle, was born in 1897 in Andalusia. She was first married to Fletcher Frazier and was later married to Raddick Cumbie Pittman. She and Raddick had a son named Rowland Pittman.

The youngest son, Arie Ambrose “Jack” Rabren, was born in 1902 in Andalusia. As an adult he owned and operated a feed and see store on South Cotton Street. In 1921 he was married to Bertha Q.V. Gilmer. They were the parents of the following children: James Morgan Sr., b. 1922, d. 1999, m. 1941 Ruth Reynolds; Vesper Blair, b. 1923, m. Anne Wiggins; Eran Voncile, b. 1926, m. Pat Thompson; Edwin Morris, b. 1928, m. Betty ?; and Bertha Lucile, b. 1929, d. 2014, m. 1947 Leon E. Brawner.

The sources for this writing include the genealogical records of Albert “Buddy” Blackwell, Nelda (Pugh) Stephenson and this writer. Anyone who might find an error is requested to contact Curtis Thomasson at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.