Butler County AlArchives Biographies.....Harrell, Louis August 12 1821 - living in 1893
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Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 14, 2004, 11:25 am

Author: Brant & Fuller (1893)
    LOUIS HARRELL, the subject of this sketch, is, perhaps, the largest and
wealthiest farmer of Butler county, and one of the leading agriculturists of
southern Alabama. His ancestors on the father's side came originally from France
and the name in that country was Harrelle. His grandfather, Louis Harrell,
settled in Marion district, S. C., before the war of the Revolution and owned
the historic tract of land spoken of, in the life of Gen. Marion, as "Briton
Neck." He was a soldier in the war of independence and served throughout the
struggle with Francis Marion's celebrated band of partisans in South Carolina
and other parts of the south. The subject's father, also named Louis Harrell,
was born in Marion district, S. C., in 1787; was a planter by occupation, served
in the war of 1812, and died in 1822, in Darlington district, his native state.
Melissa W. Hill, the wife of Louis Harrell. whom he married in South Carolina,
in 1820, was the mother of but one child, the subject of this mention. Mrs.
Harrell, some years after her husband's death, became the wife of John Cody, by
whom she had a family of seven children. She died in January, 1886, in Crenshaw
county, Ala. The gentleman whose name heads this biography was born, August 12,
1821, in Darlington district, S. C., and when three years of age was taken by
his mother to Pike county, Ala., where his youthful years were passed on a farm.
Owing to the indifferent schools of that day his early education was exceedingly
limited, and at the age of sixteen he turned his back upon his home and engaged
in the battle of life upon his own responsibility. In November, 1842, shortly
after obtaining his majority, he met and married Matilda A. Wyrnsdick, and
shortly thereafter engaged in agricultural pursuits in Pike county, Ala., where
he resided until 1852, doing business a part of that time in Montgomery, where
for three years he clerked in the mercantile establishment of J. & H. Weil & Co.
In 1852, he moved to Butler, now Crenshaw county, and located at the town of
Rutledge, where he made his home until 1866, at which time he removed to a farm
nine miles from Greenville, where he resided one year. He then located in
Greenville, where for twenty years he was engaged as clerk for different
business firms, during which time he was also interested in farming in the
vicinity of the county seat. In 1886, he moved to his present plantation three
and a half miles east of Greenville, where he has since resided and where he now
carries on one of the largest and most valuable farms in Butler county,
consisting of a thousand acres, 400 of which are under cultivation. He also owns
a plantation of 300 acres in Montgomery county, to which he gives his personal
attention, and which, like his home place, is well improved and highly
cultivated. During his residence in Greenville, Mr. Harrell served four years as
mayor of the city, and in 1888 was elected representative from Butler county in
the state legislature, in which body he served one year. Previous to that time
he was frequently importuned to run for office, but always refused, and in 1856,
was nominated against his wish for the legislature, but declined to make the
race. In March, 1862, he entered the Confederate army as a member of company A,
Third battalion, Hilliard's legion, and soon after his enlistment was promoted
second lieutenant, and in 1863, upon the reorganization of the company, was
elected captain. He took part in but one important battle, Perryville, and on
account of sickness, superinduced by exposure, he was discharged for disability
early in the year 1864. In 1860, Mr. Harrell disposed of his real estate with
the intention of going west, but the war breaking out prevented him putting his
plans into execution. At that time he was regarded as the heaviest farmer in the
county, owning very valuable real estate and fifty-two slaves, but at the close
of the war his circumstances became so reduced that he was compelled to borrow
money with which to purchase provisions for his family. He has been a prudent
manager, possesses superior business sagacity, and by close attention to his
chosen calling has succeeded in amassing a comfortable fortune, being now
considered one of the wealthiest men of the county of Butler. As a democrat he
has ever manifested great interest in the success of his party in county, state
and national affairs, and has recently taken an active interest in the farmer
alliance movement. He is a master Mason, and for a number of years has been a
communicant of the M. E. church, in which he holds the position of steward. Mr.
and Mrs. Harrell, have had eight children born to them. The following living:
Melissa W., wife of J. E. Faison; John D., farmer near Greenville; Delila J.,
wife of E. M. Kirk. The names of those deceased were: John A., died in in-fancy;
Margaret J., wife of Eli Dampier; Sally; Dove and Adella.



Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 560-562


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