Conecuh County AlArchives Biographies.....McCall, Thomas M. January 11 1860 - living in 1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 17, 2004, 9:36 am Author: Brant & Fuller (1893) THOMAS M. MCCALL, one of the leading business men of Castleberry, was born in Monroe county, Ala., January 11, 1860, and is the son of Dr. T. D. and Sarah J. McCall. Paternally he is descended from Scotch ancestors, who were among the early residents of South Carolina, several members of the family, among whom was his grandfather, emigrating from that state to Alabama, as long ago as 1810, settling in the county of Monroe. The grandfather was a man of local prominence and served in the last war with Great Britain. T. D. McCall was a native of Monroe county, born in 1833, and was a widely known and popular physician, a graduate of Memphis college. He was married in 1850 to Sarah J. Herrington, daughter of John Herrington, a native of Vermont, who early in life settled in Maryland, and there married Ann Dennis. The Herringtons removed to Alabama as early as 1806, and were among the well known citizens of Monroe county, where Mrs. McCall was born and reared. The following are the names of the children born to Dr. and Sarah J. McCall: John D., died when a young man; Charlie E., a mill operator in Monroe county; Julius H., conductor on the L. & N. railroad running to Mobile; George B., also a Conductor on the same line; Thomas M.; Moses E., deceased in 1891; and Elizabeth, died near Pensacola, Florida in 1867. After their marriage Dr. and Mrs. McCall resided for a while at Brooklyn, Conecuh county, thence removed to the vicinity of Pensacola, Florida, where in connection with the practice of his profession; the doctor was also engaged in the timber business, manufacturing lumber for the European markets. In 1867 he located at Pollard, Escambia county, where he practiced his profession until his death, which occurred in 1870. The family remained at that city until 1878, and then removed to Monroe county, thence later to Montgomery, where the widow and several children still reside. Like many other successful men, Thomas McCall, in early life, was without the benefit of thorough educational training, and at the age of ten he accepted a clerkship in a general store at the insignificant salary of $3 per month. He has spent the greater part of his life in the mercantile business, clerking at different times for various firms at Pollard, Ala., and Escambia, Florida, and for some time was manager of the large store operated by the timber firm of Skinner & McDavid, for which he, was paid a salary of $1,000 per year. Subsequently he became manager of the store and business of a firm at Chumuckla, Florida, and while holding that position met and married Miss Julia Downing, eldest daughter of E. Downing, a prominent and successful business man of Smith, Ala.. A short time after his marriage, Mr. McCall removed to Brewton, thence to Kirkland, where, in partnership with his father-in-law and J. C. Avent, under the firm name of the Union Lumber company, he engaged in the mercantile business, which he carried on about one and a half years, disposing of his interest at the end of that time and returning to Brewton, where he also engaged in the mercantile trade. He carried on a successful business at the latter place until July, 1888, at which time with many others he suffered severely from the great fire which almost destroyed the city. He rallied from his loss, however, and effecting a co-partnership with Silas Maddox, under the firm name of Maddox & McCall, again opened a goods house, but a short time thereafter withdrew from the firm and removed to Castleberry, where he has been actively engaged in merchandising since the fall of 1889. His business, since locating at Castleberry, has been more than ordinarily successful, and he carries a stock representing a capital of about $7,000, and about $35,000 represent the aggregate of his yearly sales. Mr. McCall is essentially a self-made man, and as such, coupled with business sagacity and honorable dealing has accomplished much in the face-of adverse circumstances. He began life with no capital and is now reckoned among the substantial business men of Conecuh county. He is a member of the Methodist church, in which he holds the offices of steward and Sunday school superintendent, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity, Morris Lodge Mo. 201, Brewton. The home of Mr. and Mrs. McCall is brightened by the presence of two beautiful and interesting children, John Massey and Robert Elisha McCall. Mrs. McCall is a popular and accomplished lady and an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church of Castleberry. Additional Comments: from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 713-715 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb