The Ingram family of Butler and Covington Counties is another with roots in the Oakey Streak community. Their Ingram ancestor appears to have migrated there during the early 1850s. Later descendants moved into Northern Covington County and other areas.

The earliest ancestor of this family found on Ancestry.com is John Flournoy Ingram who was born in 1827 in North Carolina. He migrated to Alabama where he was married in Barbour County in 1853 to Louisa F. Blalock, daughter of John L. Blalock (1797-1849) and Prudence Guise/Grice (1799-1882 or 1879). Louisa was born in 1835 in Lincoln County, Ga., and lived until 1912 at which time she died in Oakey Streak, Butler County. The couple had moved there soon after marriage and before their first child was born in 1854.

Unfortunately, John Flournoy Ingram died in 1865 while in a Union prison in Columbia, Franklin County, Oh. He was buried there in Camp Chase Cemetery, but his remains were later exhumed and moved to the Oakey Streak Cemetery. John had served in the Confederate Army as a private in Company C, 7th Alabama Cavalry Volunteers Regiment.

Before John Flournoy’s untimely death, he and Louisa had been blessed with six children, so she was left a young widow with six young children. They were the parents of the following children: Thomas Dixon, b. 1854, d. 1923, m. Irena Antoinette “Nettie” Smith; Emma Florence, b. 1856, d. 1915; Marcus Lafayett, b. 1858, d. 1923, m. 1885 Mary Thomas “Mittie or Martha” Adams; Amanuel, b. 1860; Mary Lela “Mollie,” b. 1861, d. 1924, m. Benjamin Mastin “Rastus” Horne; and Clara Alice b. 1863, d. 1901, m. James Daniel Rainer (1857-1941).

The oldest son, Thomas Dixon Ingram, was born in 1854 in the Oakey Streak community. He grew up on the family farm, and he would become a farmer to support his growing family. In 1880, he was married to Irena Antoinette “Nettie” Smith, daughter of Henry Smith (1824-1899) and Irene Ann Wallace (1835-1912). They eventually made their home in the Hamptonville area, which later became Gantt, Ala. At their deaths, they were buried in the Oakey Streak Methodist Church Cemetery where so many of their relatives were buried.

Thomas Dixon and Antoinette Ingram were the parents of the following 12 children: Nonie Inez, b. 1881, d. 1954, m. Claude Franklin Cassady ; Lula Irene, b. 1883, d. 1968, m. Homer Gordon Cowart Sr.; Earnest LaGrange, b. 1884, d. 1887; Thomas Edgar, b. 1886, d. 1948, m. Minnie Boggan; John Alvah, b. 1888, d. 1948, m. Cora Geneva Brodie (1894-1964); Josephine “Josie” Juanita, b. 1890, d. 1932, m. Marvin Wade Cassady (1878-1949); Robert Smylie, b. 1892, d. 1918 during WWI in France, buried in Arlington National Cemetery; Annie Jewell, b. 1895, d. 1984, m. Robert Lee Simmons (1883-1948); Clinton Justice, b. 1897, d. 1946, m. Alice Muriel Brockway (1905-1956); Leo Vernon, b. 1899, d. ?; Mabel or Mae Belle, b. 1907, d. 1948. single; and Emma Myrtis, b. 1905, d. 1975, m. L.C. Fowler.

The second son, Marcus Lafayett Ingram, was born in 1858 in the Oakey Streak community. He was married in 1885 to Mary Thomas “Mittie or Martha” Adams, daughter of Thomas Richard Ragan Adams (1826-1906) and Margaret Elizabeth “Maggie” McIntosh (1831-1914). Mary Thomas was born in 1863 in Covington County, Ala. In 1920, Marcus and Mary were residing in the Westover community in Northern Covington County. They died in 1933 and 1930 respectively in the area of Red Level.

Marcus Lafayette and Mary Thomas Ingram were the parents of the following children: Ruby Pauline “Pearly,” b. 1887, d. 1923; Martha V. “Mattie,” b. 1891; Austin Dillard, b. 1893, d. 1951, m. Ollie Lee McGowin; Thomas Edward, b. 1894, d. 1977, m. Ruby Ann Beasley; Leonard, b. 1896, d. 1983; Julian Clarence, b. 1899, d. 1981, m. Nancy Viola Hall; John Fred, b. 1902, d. 1983, m. Peggy Lois Munnelee (1901-1999); and Grady Leroy Sr., b. 1904, d. 1991, m. 1927 Carolyn Elizabeth Cochran (1905-1939).

The second daughter, Mary Lela “Mollie” Ingram, was married in 1886 to Benjamin Mastin “Rastus” Horne. Rastus was a farmer in the Oakey Streak community, and they moved to Pensacola in their later years. They were the parents of the following children: Velma Lilly, b. ca 1888; Willie Bryant, b. ca 1893; Eva Alice, b. ca 1893; Ethel Florence, b. ca 1894; Nonie Ione, b. ca 1896; Dewey Hammit, b. ca 1999; Tenny Lela, ca 2004; Mattie Lee, b. ca 2006; and Exa Lou, b. ?.

The youngest daughter, Clara Alice Ingram, was born in 1863 during the War Between the States and two years before her father’s death as a Confederate soldier. Upon adulthood, Clara was married to James Daniel Rainer (1857-1947). The family moved around, and in 1900 they were residing in Dozier, Crenshaw County, Ala., with James listed as a dry goods salesman. Their last years were spent in Covington County. They were the parents of the following five children: Mamie Virginia, b. 1885, d. 1955; James Flournoy, b. 1890, d. 1973; Robert Edward, b. 1894, d. 1979; Minnie L., b. 1895; and Flora E., b. 1899, d. 1909.

The next generation is represented by some of the grandchildren of Marcus Lafayett Ingram. His oldest son, Austin Dillard Ingram, was married to Ollie Lee McGowin, and they were the parents of two daughters: Alanna Jym “Jimmie,” b. 1925, d. 1992, m. Louie William Harrelson (1918-1991); and a second daughter listed on Ancestry.com as private. A.D. and Ollie were both well-known educators in Covington County. He was the first teacher of the consolidated Blue Springs School, which was located about six miles south of Opp. He was later Principal of Pleasant Home School where he was working when he died in 1951. His wife, Ollie, was teaching there, and she was transferred to Carolina School when Hugh D. Wilson went from Carolina to Pleasant Home to serve as principal. She and Wilson’s wife, Gwen, somewhat traded teaching positions.

Mrs. Ollie Ingram came to Carolina in 1951 and settled into teaching the sixth grade. This writer was in her class during the latter part of the 1951-1952 school year. She was an excellent teacher who motivated students in their academic subjects, and she also conducted enrichment activities. She had some experience in opera singing, so she organized a school choral group.

A younger son, Julian Clarence “Jule” Ingram, was born in 1899 and was married in 1919 to Nancy Viola Nall (1803-1993), daughter of Walter and Lizzie Nall. About the time they married, the couple settled in the Westover community where Julian’s family was residing in Northern Covington County. In later years, they moved a bit south to the Red Level area. They were the parents of the following children: Vernon Cecil, b. 1921, d. 2016, m. Ida Mae Garvin; Julia Ernestine, b. 1923, d. 2016, m. Tom C. Miniard; Eleanor, b. 1925, m. Hiram Pitts; Lomax J., b. 1928, d. 2015, m. Ruby Graham; and James C., b. 1932, d. 2018, m. Wilma Spann.

The oldest son, Vernon Cecil Ingram, was born in 1921 and was residing in Westover when he enlisted for service in the Army Air Corp in 1940 and later in the Air Force. He had a career in the military serving during World War II, Korean Conflict and the Viet Nam War. Upon retirement, he worked as director of maintenance for the Dixon Plywood Mill in Andalusia. He was a member of the Masons, Shriners, Scottish Rites, V.F.W. Post #4388, and American Legion Post #129. He was an active member of the Oakey Streak Methodist Church where he served as a trustee and chairman of the board.

Vernon was married to Ida Mae Garvin (1923-1991), daughter of Jessie L. Garvin (1877-1938) and Etta Bozeman (1898-1982). They were the parents of the following children: Joan, b. 1945, d. 2002, m. Lloyd Darby; Debra, b. 1952, d. 2008, m. Billy Joe Sharpe; Martha Ann, m. Jewell Tipton; Patricia “Patty,” m. Ruck Ashworth; and Jennifer “Jenny,” m. Paul Rogers.

Vernon’s sister, Julia Earnestine, and her husband, Tom Miniard, had two sons, Larry and Donald. His sister, Eleanor, and her husband, Hiram Pitts, had three children: Linda, Micky, and Pam. His brother, Lamar Ingram, and wife, Ruby, had three children: Myron, Paul and June. His brother, James C. Ingram, and wife, Wilma, had two children, Cindy and Tony.

There are many Ingram descendants who currently reside in the area and who have moved to other states.

Sources for this story include Ancestry.com, Fern S. Nix’s Oakey Streak—A Historic Landmark, and the family records of Martha Ann (Ingram) Tipton and her son-in-law, Lee Elrod.

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