Conecuh County AlArchives Biographies.....Betts, Jacob F. October 14 1819 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 17, 2004, 8:32 am

Author: Brant & Fuller (1893)
    JACOB F. BETTS.-Among the enterprising and philanthropic men of Conecuh
county, Ala., may be found the name of Jacob F. Betts. Mr. Betts is a native of
Conecuh county, born near what is now known as Fowler's Mill, October 14, 1819,
and is the son of Isaac and Nancy Betts. The father was born in the state of
Delaware, in 1795, and shortly after his birth was taken by his parents to
Georgia, where he lived until about the year 1818, when he moved to Conecuh
county, Ala. Isaac Betts was a blacksmith and planter, a fine christian
gentleman, and was known far and wide for his piety and many acts of
benevolence. He married in Georgia, in the year 1813, Nancy Denson, and reared a
family of thirteen children, the following of whom are now living: Jacob F.,
Mary, widow of I. M. Henderson; Emily, wife of T. H. Mauldin, and William H.,
merchant, of Burnt Corn. The deceased members of the family were Martha Ann,
died in childhood; James M., died in 1852; Elbert G., died in Texas, in 1876;
Melissa Ann, wife of Dr. C. P. Partin; Serena W., wife of Wyatt Godbold; Isaac,
died in 1864; Nancy, died in infancy; Amanda, wife of D. T. Brown, died in
Texas, about the year 1882; Edward, killed in North Carolina, near the close of
the war, while fighting for the Confederacy. Isaac Betts settled near Fowler's
Mill, Conecuh county, in 1818, where he resided until the fall of 1828. He
removed to Monroe county in the spring of 1832, where he lived until his death,
April 5, 1863. Mrs. Betts survived her husband several years, dying in the fall
of 1876. Her life was that of a true christian woman, ever known for her
gentleness of spirit and amiability of character. The Betts family is of Irish
descent, and several of their ancestors took part in the Revolutionary war. The
Denson family were also of Irish origin and originally settled in South
Carolina, from which state Mrs. Betts' father removed to Georgia. Jacob F. Betts
was reared to manhood in his native county, received a limited education in such
schools as the county afforded, and, on attaining his majority, went to
Kentucky, and was engaged in driving stock to Charleston, S. C. During the time
he followed this business, he became very thoroughly acquainted with the same
and followed it for a year or two. Returning home, he entered into the
mercantile business at Belleville, Conecuh county, in 1847, and since that time
has been extensively engaged in the mercantile trade at that place and Burnt
Corn. In addition to the goods business, he has also dealt largely in real
estate, in which he has met with the most flattering encouragement. In 1848,
October 11th, Mr. Betts was united in marriage to Miss Anna B. Clarke, daughter
of Russell Clarke, of Connecticut. Mr. Clarke's people were English, and early
settlers of one of the New England states. Mrs. Bett's mother was a Miss
Boardman. Politically, Mr. Betts is a supporter of the democratic, party, but
has never been a partisan, so far as seeking official positions is concerned. He
is a master Mason, belonging to the Burnt Corn lodge, No. 489, and, with his
wife, belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, south, in which he holds the
position of steward. Mr. Betts is broad minded and liberal, and of sympathetic
and generous disposition, characteristics that have made him justly popular and
influential among his fellow-citizens. His success financially, has been due,
not only to his natural fine ability as a business man, but to his integrity and
fair dealing as well. He is known far and wide for his benevolence and
generosity, and for years has been prominent in the affairs of his church in
southern Alabama. He owns large and valuable tracts of real estate in different
counties, and is owner of the popular hotel Whitcomb, which is run as a winter
resort in Evergreen.



Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 702-703


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