Additional genealogical information was located for Joseph Thurman Barrow, a descendant and great, great, great grandson of John Gray/Grey Barrow who was featured in last week’s column. Today’s story will be an outline of Joseph Thurman’s ancestral lineage. The presentation of his lineage will be working backwards through the preceding generations.

Joseph Trout Barrow, a Barrow family researcher, shared his records for today’s narrative. He is the son of Joseph Thurman Barrow and Hattie Logan Trout and was born in Texas. He is married to Clare Elisabeth Dauphin, a descendant of Darling Dauphin, a noted early citizen of Covington County, Ala. The Dauphin family migrated early on from North Carolina to Covington County during the 1820s, around the same time as the Barrow family. Joseph Trout worked 45 plus years as a registered civil engineer for the government and in private practice and is now enjoying retirement in Houston, Tex.

Joseph Trout Barrow had one sibling, John Logan Barrow, who was born in 1945, married, and died in 2007, all in Texas. He as well as his parents were buried in the Oakwood Cemetery in Honey Grove, Fannin, Tex., hometown of his mother. His father, Joseph Thurman Barrow, met his future wife, Hattie Logan Trout, during the 1930s when he arrived in Texas from Red Level, Ala. She was a librarian in the local school system, and he worked in the oil industry.

Joseph Thurman Barrow was born in 1908 in Red Level, Covington County, Ala. He was the son of Thomas Bursa Barrow who was born in 1875 in Alabama and Laura Catherine Hugghins who was born in 1875 in Red Level, Covington County. Thomas died in 1861 in Los Angeles, Cal., with his second wife, and his first wife, Laura, died in 1958 in Red Level. Thomas and Laura were the parents of the following children: Ardis Clifton, b. 1900, d. 1984, m. 1925 Effie Louise Phillips (1899-1974); Roy Luther, b. 1901, d. 1987, m. (1) 1924 Ella Inez Weaver (1900-1990) (2) ca 1940 Myrtie E. Harper (1905-1993); Elmer, b.&d. 1903; Dennis Fleet Sr., b. 1904, d. 1984, m. 1927 Mary Hattie Mims (1904-1997); and Joseph Thurman, b. 1908, d. 1993, m. 1939 Hattie Logan Trout (1912-1974). All the children were born in Red Level, Ala, and most of them died there as well.

Joseph Thurman’s grandfather, Josiah M. Barrow, was born in 1854, probably in Covington County, and was named for his maternal grandfather, Josiah L. Franklin. He was the son of Jacob G. Barrow (1823-1895) and Unity Ann Franklin (1827-1892). In 1873, Josiah M. Barrow was married to Mary E. Caton (1854-1914), daughter of Andrew Mason “Sam” Caton and Rhoda Ann Lee. They were the parents of the following children: William Robert, b. 1874, d. 1953, m. ca 1905 Allie Costella Sanders (1884-1958); Thomas Brusa, b. 1875, d. 1961, m. (1) 1899 Laura Catherine Hugghins (1875-1958) (2) Adren Salome Hugghins (1881-1945); John Gray, b. 1877, d. 1966, m. (1) Audrey Camilla Sanders (1882-1907) (2) 1915 Florence L. Mallett (1887-1954); George Maxie Troupe, b. 1879, d. 1965, m. 1909 Nancy Gertrude Williamson (1882-1975); and Augusta, b. 1880, d. 1923, m. Andrew Icelier Straughn (1876-1965).

Joseph Thurman Barrow’s great grandfather, Jacob G. Barrow, was born in 1823 in Escambia County, Fla. and moved with his family circa 1831 to the Montezuma Settlement in Covington County, Ala. Before his marriage, he lived in his father’s household and probably helped operate the family’s Barrow Ferry across Conecuh River, which was active until after the War Between the States. He enlisted in the Confederate States of America and was captured in Florida where he was held on Ship Island. Once he was released, he returned to his unit to serve throughout the war. Afterwards, he primarily worked as a farmer and owned considerable acreage in Conecuh County.

Jacob G. Barrow was married in 1850 to Unity Ann Franklin (1827-1892), daughter of Josiah L. Franklin (1794-1867) and Mary Ann Farmer (1796-1853). Unity Ann was born in Georgia, and she as well as Jacob G. died in Evergreen, Conecuh County, Ala. Jacob G. was a dedicated farmer and was prosperous, owning considerable land and six slaves in Conecuh County before the War Between the States. He was identified as a registered voter in the county in 1867.

Jacob G. and Unity Ann Barrow were the parents of the following seven children: Elizabeth, b. 1851; Josiah M., b. 1854, d. 1942, m. (1) 1873 Mary E. Caton (1850-1914) (2) 1916 Mary L. Brown (1867-1946); Mary, b. 1856; Sarah P., b. 1859, d. 1936, m. John P. Bullock (1858-1929); John A.G., b. 1861; Jacob Davis, b. 1864, d. 1947, m. 1891 Lee Jackson Wiggins (1868-1945); and Julian, b. 1869, d. 1881, young.

Joseph Thurman Barrow’s great, great grandfather was John Gray/Grey Barrow who was born in 1804 in the State of Georgia. John Gray migrated to the Pensacola, Fla., area as a young man where he met a widow lady, Gatsy Ann (Dunn) Gainer. They were married circa 1824 in Escambia County, Fla., and later circa 1831, they became some of the earliest settlers in Covington County, Ala. He chose to settle in the small Montezuma community, which was located along the banks of the Conecuh River. John Gray built two gristmills, farmed, raised stock and taught school while teaching his own children at home. Other business adventures included owning and operating a hotel, the only two-story building in the small town. He emerged as a leader and served his neighbors as a county commissioner for several terms. During the early years in the county, he engaged in several expeditions against the Indians until they were removed from the area.

Early on, John Gray was appointed to a second special commission in 1841 for the task of selecting a suitable and permanent site for the courthouse and to serve as county seat. The goal was not reached, but eventually the current location of Andalusia was chosen and the town was born in 1844 with the post office being named Andalusia. John Gray Barrow was definitely a leading citizen in the development of the county.

Gatsy had a son, Meeker Gainer, by her first husband who was reared with her children by John Gray Barrow. In addition to Meeker, they were the parents of the following children: Gatsy Ann, b. 1826, d. 1856, m. Joshua L. Deen; Jacob G., b. 1827, d. 1895, m. Unity Ann Franklin (1827-1892); David S., b. 1828, d. 1908, m. Sarah K. Dean (1830-1906); Mary, b. 1829, m. David Foshee; Caroline, b. 1833, d. 1850s, m. Wiley Padgett (1813-1865); James Madison, b. 1835, d. 1892, m. 1853 Lucinda Avis Keen (1838-1908); Sarah Jane, b. 1836, m. William J. Riley; and John Julian, b. 1838, d. 1909, m. (1) ? Still (2) Elizabeth (Dixon) Caton (1825-1942). The first four children were born in Escambia County, Fla., and the last four were born in Covington County where they lived and reared their families. There were four sons and four daughters, and all four sons rendered service in the Confederate Army. It would seem that at their deaths John Gray and Gatsey Barrow would have been buried in the Barrow Cemetery in the Montezuma area, but no cemetery has been located.

The lineage of the Barrow family has been researched thoroughly by several descendants. Appreciation is expressed to one of these, Joseph Trout Barrow, of Houston, Tex., who made today’s story possible. Anyone who might discover an error in the above is requested to contact this writer. Also, anyone who might have additional records on the Barrow family is urged to contact Curtis Thomasson at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.