“Palmer Job Pillans was a native of South Carolina, and a civil engineer by profession. He served as major in the army of the Texan Republic, and as a lieutenant-colonel in the Civil war.
He moved to New Mexico in 1849, Mobile in 1853, and resided in Dallas County, Alabama around 1872. For about twenty years after his settlement in Mobile and up to the reconstruction period, he served as city engineer of Mobile.
He was a member of Bienville Lodge No. 348 in 1882 and was appointed to serve on a Select Committee of Five to perfect some plan to carry out the ideas of resolutions offered to establish a Masonic Orphans Home and College at the 1882 Annual Communications.”
“Brother Wilson was born in Talbot County, Georgia. Having completed his education and attained his majority shortly before the war, (Civil War) he moved to what was then Macon, but is now Bullock County, Alabama and engaged in teaching school. In that profession, as in everything else he undertook, he was zealous, faithful, and thorough, winning the respect of his pupils and the confidence and esteem of his patrons. When the first tocsin of war sounded, Brother Wilson went to the front and nobly served his country through all the hardships and gloom of that terrible strife.
Some few years after the war we first find his name among the representatives to this Grand body, and he had been here but a short time when his ability, earnestness, and devotion to the principles of the fraternity, had marked him as a leader of the Craft. In 1869 he was elected Junior Grand Warden, and in 1873 he was elected to fill the chair in the East, thus within a few short years after his introduction to this Body, the was elevated to the position of the greatest dignity and highest honor within the gift of Masons. As a presiding officer he was firm but courteous, dignified but gentle, quick and ready in his rulings, but accurate and impartial. The high posers and prerogatives of the office were never claimed or exercised except the advancement of Masonic virtues and the good of the Craft. His decisions on questions of Masonic law are models of that character, force and terseness that is characteristic of a mind endowed with a fine common sense and a will that is unbending in its determination to do right.
In private and in public life, around the domestic circle, and in his associations with his neighbors and the public, his example was one of which our Order may well feel proud, and to which we can point as worthy of emulation. A devoted and loving husband an affectionate and tender, yet firm parent, a true and faithful friend; a public spirited and patriotic citizen, his home was a charmed circle, his friends were numerous, and his life filled with instances of unselfish efforts to further the interests of his church, his neighbors and his country….
Bro. Wilson passed away in 1882.”
“Joseph Henry Johnson, a leading physician of Talladega, and Principal of the Institute for the Deaf and Dumb, the Academy for the Blind, and the Academy for the Colored Deaf and Blind, was born in Georgia in 1832. He was a son of Seaborn J. and Minerva (Fannin) Johnson, both of whom were natives of Georgia. The former was a prominent attorney of Floyd County, Ga. where he practiced law and followed planting on a large scale. Col. Fannin, a cousin of Mrs. Johnson, was massacred at the Alamo and a county in Texas is named after him. Joseph H. Johnson was raised on the farm with the advantage of the neighborhood schools. He was also educated at Hern school in Georgia and began teaching the Georgia Institute for the Deaf and Dumb, remaining there nine consecutive years. In 1854 he left the institution and entered Charleston Medical College for one course of lectures. He then went to Philadelphia, graduated in 1856, and returned to Georgia, where he taught another year. In 1858 he came to Talladega and opened a school for the deaf and dumb and was in charge of the school until 1861. In March of that year he organized Company First Alabama Infantry and became captain, serving one year. He then met with an accident which rendered him unfit for active duty and he returned to Talladega. Again he assumed charge of the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and in 1856 secured the establishment of a department for the blind, in connection with the Institute for the Deaf and Dumb. In 1891 he was the prime mover in the establishment of the asylum for the deaf and blind of the colored race. He superintended all the improvements made in the asylum.
Joseph was married in 1853 to Emily Darden, daughter of Judge Abner, native of Georgia and Nancy (Morris) Darden. To the marriage of Dr. Johnson and Miss Darden were born four children, Seaborn Johnson, Joseph H. Johnson, Jr. Annie Johnson and Helen Johnson. She was a native of Georgia and both she and her husband were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
He was a member of the Masonic order and Grand Master of all the Masonic bodies in the state. He was a Knight’s Templar, a member of the Odd Fellows and was a Knight of Honor. Joseph served about ten years as alderman of Talladega and was one of the most prominent and best of the citizens of Talladega County. He was appointed to serve on a Select Committee of Five to perfect some plan to carry out the ideas of resolutions offered to establish a Masonic Orphans Home and College at the 1882 Annual Communications.”
“William Parish Chilton was born in Kentucky in 1810. He was plainly educated and read law in Nashville, Tenn. His father was a Baptist minister and his mother a sister of Hon., Jesse Bledsoe, the Kentucky jurist. He came to this State in 1834, and established himself in the practice at Mardisville, in Talladega, associated with Mr. George P. Brown. He was subsequently associated in the practice with Messrs. G. W. Stone, J. T. Morgan, and F. W. Bowdon.
In 1839 he represented the county in the legislature, and in 1843 was the unsuccessful candidate of his party for congress. He removed to Macon County in 1846, and was at different times in partnership there with Messrs. William McLester, W. C. McIver, and C. A. Battle. He became Chief Justice when Justice Dargan resigned, Dec. 6, 1852, and held the eminent position till Jan. 2, 1856. He was chosen to the senate from Macon in 1859, over Col. Graham. In 1860 he resided in Montgomery and was the law partner of Hon. William L. Yancy. He was elected to represent the Montgomery district in the provisional congress of the Confederacy, and was re-elected to the two congresses under the permanent constitution. “It was a common remark that he “was the most laborious member of the body,” says his colleague, Hon. J.L.M. Curry of Talladega. At the peace he continued his professional labors in association with Col. Jack Thorington, and was so engaged at the time of his death, Jan. 20, 1871.
Both houses of the legislature, the Supreme Court, the federal court, all in session at the time in Montgomery, adjourned in respect to his memory, and spread resolutions of sorrow on their journals. The circuit court of Mobile, the bar there and at Selma, took similar action; while the Masonic bodies throughout the State, of which order he was Grand Master, united in the general expression of sorrow.
“His public career was distinguished by a pure, unselfish patriotism, an incorruptible integrity, a and a capacity and willingness to labor which seemed inexhaustible.” His life was a conclusive refutation of the popular fallacy that the practice of law is inconsistent with a pure Christianity. No public man of the State has exhibited more of the characteristics of a good and useful citizen.
Justice Chilton was twice married, each time to a sister of Gen. Morgan of Dallas, and two of his sons were attorneys at the Montgomery bar. Col. Anderson Abercrombie of Texas, and Dr. U. R. Jones and Mr. Wm. S. Thorington of this county, married daughters of Judge Chilton. Hon. Thomas Chilton of Talladega, deceased, who was for eight years a member of congress from Kentucky, was a brother.”
“On the 12th day of February, 1890, the death Angel came into our midst and summoned to the reward of the just, our highly esteemed and dearly beloved Brother, Past Grand Master George D. Norris, of New Market, Alabama.
After the Civil War, Grand Master George D. Norris renewed the need for an Orphans Home. He traveled through the rain, in a stage coach, on a steamboat, and by rail. He traveled two months in 1869 visiting Lodges, lecturing, working and settling points of Masonic Law.
Brother Norris was one of the oldest and brightest stars in the Masonic constellation of this State, and his love, devotion and zeal for the cause of Masonry were equaled by but few and surpassed by none. Always at his post of duty, ever ready and willing to sacrifice and be sacrificed for the good of the Fraternity, he was a model Mason, and in his Masonic life we have an example worthy of imitation by all who have assumed the obligations of the mystic brotherhood
Brother Williams was born on 25 February 1829, in Talbot, Georgia, United States. He married Jane E Gates on 15 October 1856. He lived in Crawford, Russell, Alabama, United States in 1860. He died on 6 August 1882, in Opelika, Lee, Alabama, United States, at the age of 53, and was buried in Rosemere Cemetery, Opelika, Lee, Alabama, United States.
“William C. Penick and Elizabeth (Byers) Penick were natives of Cumberland County, Virginia and York district, South Carolina, respectively. William C. Penick was born July 17, 1800 to Nathaniel Penick and Zilla H. Allen. He was educated at Hampdon-Sidney College, Va. He graduated in medicine at Transylvania College, at Lexington, Kentucky about 1824. He married Elizabeth Narcissa Byers Nov. 24, 1825 in York SC. Elizabeth Narcissa Byers was born Nov. 10, 1807 in York, SC . to David (Davie) Byers and Mary Gordon. William practiced medicine in the York District of SC. until 1835 when William and Elizabeth relocated in Alabama. They settled at Wetumpka, where he was engaged in merchandising but resumed the practice of medicine in 1839. He continued his medical practice with great success until the fall of 1846 when he bought a considerable farm near Wetumpka and continued in the business of agriculture until his death on the 16th day of Oct. 1872.
William Penick and Elizabeth had the following children: (1) William Smith Penick (b. Oct. 20, 1826 York Dist., SC d. Aug. 2, 1894 Wetumpka, Elmore Co.,Alabama)(2)John Byers Penick (b. Feb. 5, 1832 York, SC d. Dec. 12, 1840 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL) (3) Frances Anna Penick (b. Feb. 5, 1848 Wetumpka, Coosa Co., AL d. Sep. 12, 1885 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL) (4) Holmes Allen Penick (b. Mar 1, 1845 Wetumpka, Coosa County, AL d. Oct. 9, 1874 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL) (5) David Johnson Penick (b. Mar 8, 1834 York, SC d. Nov. 12, 1834 York, SC) (6) Louisa Josephine Penick (b. Apr. 25, 1842 Wetumpka, Coosa Co., Alabama d. 1843 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL) (7) Alemeth Byers Penick (b. Apr. 30, 1836 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL d. 1862 Mississippi) (8) Nathaniel Edward Penick (b. June 3, 1830 York, SC d. Sep 1, 1864 GA) (9) Mary Frances Penick (b. Sep 4, 1828 York, SC d. Aug. 3, 1845 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL) (10) Sarah Elizabeth Penick (b. Dec. 26, 1838 Wetumpka, Coosa County, Alabama d. Apr. 12, 1916 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL)
He was a public-spirited and prominent man in his day. He was a strong unionist in 1833, and an ardent secessionist in 1861. He was a delegate to the Baltimore convention in 1860 from Alabama and assisted in nominating John C. Breckenridge for president. Prior to his death he had acquired a large property in slaves and lands. He died Oct. 16, 1872 and is buried in Wetumpka County Cemetery, Elmore County, Alabama.
John Adams Loder was the son of Benjamin Hoagland Loder (b. June 9, 1795 d. Sep 6, 1828) and Maria (pronounced Mariah) Bowie (b. Feb. 3, 1799 d. Feb. 18, 1899. His parents were married Feb. 3, 1819 in the 6th Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. John Adams Loder’s siblings were Jane Bowie Lodor born Nov 4, 1821 and died March 20, 1904. Napoleon Loder born Oct 10, 1823 d. aft. 1854, Sarah Lavinia Lodor born August 2, 1825 died Dec 15, 1906, Harriet South Lodor b. Aug. 28, 1827 d. March 30, 1915.
John Loder resided in Cahawba, Dallas County, Alabama in the 1840 and 1850 census of Cahawba, Alabama and the Dallas County census of 1860. He was born 6 Dec 1819 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died Nov. 5, 1865.
He was a an attorney and resided in 1840-1850 at the corner of Oak and 4th St. in Cahawba, Alabama. He married Bettie S. Duke. Bettie was born about 1826 in Kentucky. Their children were John Loder who died in infancy, A. Duke Loder born about 1851, James Craig Loder born about 1853, Napoleon Loder born about 1856 (married Susan Dabney), Reginald Heber Loder, Annie Matthews Loder, Bessie Duke Loder b. about 1858 and Edward Perrine Loder born about 1865
“BROTHER NORRIS, born about 1793, was a highly successful planter and legislator, having served in the Legislature and in the Senate from 1840-47. He received his degrees in Dale Lodge No. 25 in 1838-39. He became the Charter Master of Liberty Lodge No. 65 in 1845 and in 1849 he became the Charter Master of Fulton Lodge No. 98. In 1859 he became the Charter Master of Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 266 and remained a member there until about 1866 when he and his family sailed for Brazil from the Port of Mobile aboard the Ship “Talisman.” He had purchased a farm in Brazil in 1865 and later joined a colony of Alabamians who went to Brazil to make their homes there.
Most Worshipful Brother NORRIS was very active in forming new lodges in Alabama and continued his great interest in Masonry by forming in 1874 the George Washington Lodge at Santa Barbara, Brazil. This lodge was constituted under the Brazilian Great Orient with special dispensation to function using the English language. This lodge is not in existence today and records are vague as to the date it ceased to function. Indications are that the columns made by Col. Norris for George Washington Lodge are in use today in a Blue Lodge in Santa Barbara, Brazil.
Brother Norris’s farm was a settlement approximately ten miles from Santa Barbara. The settlement is now called the Village of Americans and is presently a city of 200,000. In February 1972 there was formed in the Village of Americans the Loja Simbolica Coronel WILLIAM HUTCHINSON NORRIS No. 151 (Symbolic Lodge Colonel Norris). This lodge presently has forty-four members, one of whom is a great grandson of Brother NORRIS. Most Worshipful Brother Norris died July 13, 1893 at the age of 93 years, in his home at Santa Barbara, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, leaving behind a devoted wife, nine children, thirty-nine grand-children and twenty-three great-grand-children. Both are buried in the American Cemetery near the village of Americans. ”
“Stephen Fowler Hale was born in Crittenden Co. Kentucky, Jan. 31, 1816. His father, a Baptist minister, was from S.C.; his mother was a Miss Mannahan of the same State. After his 1837 graduation from Princeton College, Princeton, Kentucky, Stephen taught school about a year in Eutaw before returning to Kentucky and study law. He graduated from Transylvania Univ. two years later and returned to Eutaw, Al. He practiced at different times in association with Messrs. Alexander Graham and T. C. Clarke. In 1843 he was elected to the legislature for the first of numerous terms. Three years later, he marched to war in Mexico as first lieutenant of a company of Greene County volunteers.
He also served as president of the Alabama Great Southern Railroad Company, devoting much time to advancing that important enterprise. In 1853 he was the nominee of his party for Congress. From 1857 to 1861 he again represented the county in the legislature, and was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons in the State at the same time.
Col. Hale married a sister of Mr. F. M. Kirsey at one time sheriff of Greene, and one of his sons was a member of the bar of the Greene County. A daughter married Capt. E. B. Vaughn of Sumter County, Alabama.
Bro. Hale presumably received his Masonic degrees at Amity Lodge #54 in Eutaw, where he served for many years as Worshipful Master. He was chosen Junior Grand Warden in both 1844 and 1845, Senior Grand Warden in 1858 and held that position until he was elected Grand Master for 1861.
In December, 1860, when Alabama’s secession from the Federal Union became a serious possibility, Stephen Hale was chosen by Governor A. B. Moore to enlist the cooperation of his native state. On his return from Kentucky, the Alabama Constitutional Convention named him to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States, then meeting at Montgomery. However, Hale soon abandoned politics for the more manly business of soldiering. In June, 1861, Hale became Lieutenant Colonel of the 11th Regiment Alabama Volunteer Infantry, of which Sydenham Moore was Colonel. After a short period of training, the regiment was ordered to the front, becoming part of General Cadmus Wilcox’s Brigade of what would later be called the Army of Northern Virginia.
At precisely 7 P.M. on Monday, December 2, 1861, the gavel sounded to open the 41st Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of AL. However, the premier Mason in Alabama Grand Master Stephen F. Hale – was nowhere to be seen. Deputy Grand Master William H. Norris, who sat in the East, informed the brethren that the Most Worshipful Grand Master could not be present because he was serving “with the patriotic Confederate Army in Virginia.” On June 27, 1862, Colonel Hale led his men into combat at the fiercely fought Battle of Gaines’ Mill. Seeing his color bearer fall, he moved forward, waving his sword to pick up the flag, when he received two slight wounds and fell. He lingered three weeks, dying in Richmond, July 18, 1862. He was only 46 years old when he died. He left a widow, several daughters, and a teenage son who was serving as a midshipman in the Confederate Navy. His remains were interred in Eutaw at Mesopotamia Cemetery some months after.
The Grand Lodge of Alabama honored his memory by presenting a special Masonic medal to his family and when the Alabama Legislature proposed to divide Greene County, its citizens agreed on the condition that the new county must be named for their esteemed fellow citizen Stephen Hale. Hale County came into existence by an act signed on Jan. 30, 1867.”
“Robert H. Ervin was a native and resident of Wilcox County, Alabama. His father Samuel Ervin, a South Carolinian, was in Alabama in 1814; while his mother’s father, Mr. John Eades, was here even earlier. Born at Coal Bluff, in 1822, he received a plain education, but graduated in medicine at Transylvania University in 1845. He retired from an extensive practice in 1853 when elected to represent the County in the legislature.
In 1858 he was Grand Master of the Masons of Alabama. Early in 1861 he entered the army in a mounted company, and participated in the battle of Shiloh.
From 1863 to 1865 he represented Dallas and Wilcox counties in the State Senate. He later gave his public attention to agriculture. Dr. Ervin was stout and robust with a brusque but kind deportment. He was prudent and sagacious, his mind was of the practical order. Moral and honorable, he was a fair type of the Southern gentleman. He married a sister of Major Felix Tait.”
“James McCaleb Wiley resided in Pike County, Alabama. He was born in Cabarrus Co. North Carolina March 12th, 1806, and came with his parents to Alabama in 1818. They settled in Lawrence County. James relocated to Dallas in 1824 and became a physician in 1826. He read law shortly after, and was licensed. In 1829 he removed to Louisiana and in 1832 to Mexico, where he became a military officer. In 1836 he returned to the State, and began to practice law in Butler Co. In 1839 he was appointed Register in Chancery of Barbour and removed to Clayton. He was elected Major General of the Militia in 1843. He practiced in partnership with Messrs. Shep Ruffin and B. B. McCraw. In 1865 he was appointed to the Circuit Court bench and was elected to Congress in 1866 but was not permitted to hold the seat. In 1868 he became Judge of the Circuit Court.
Judge Wiley was of portly figure and impressive appearance. He was dignified and impartial on the bench and a citizen of moral habits and public spirit.
He married a daughter of Hon. Randall Duckworth of Dallas, and two of his sons became attorneys. Judge Wiley passed away Dec. 2nd, 1877.
