Crenshaw County AlArchives Biographies.....Cody, Francis M. 1829 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 18, 2004, 10:39 am

Author: Brant & Fuller (1893)
    FRANCIS M. CODY, a prominent citizen of Rutledge, Ala., was born near where
Luverne now stands in 1829. He is a son of John and Melissa W. (Hill) Cody, the
former of whom was born in Warren county, Ga., in 1803, and the latter in
Darlington district, S. C., in 1797. Mrs. Cody was married three times, her
first husband living about two months, and her second about two years, after
marriage. They both died in South Carolina. She came to Pike county, Ala., where
she and Mr. Cody were married, Mr. Cody having come to Alabama with his parents
at a very early day, and being with them among the very first settlers of the
state. Soon after his marriage he located in the woods near where Luverne now
is, and improved a farm, and in 1856 removed to Butler county, but in 1861
returned to Pike county, dying in January that year. Mrs. Melissa Cody survived
until 1882, when she died in Crenshaw county, Ala. at, the age of eighty-six.
For many years he followed farming, and he also was for some time a bookkeeper,
and also a merchant on his own account. He was of a large family born to John
Cody, a native of Georgia, but who at a very early day came to Pike county,
where he died about 1830. He was a farmer and had served in the war of 1812. His
father was a direct descendant of one of three brothers who came from Ireland,
and one of whom settled where Cleveland, Ohio, is now situated, and from this
one the celebrated William F. Cody, Buffalo Bill, is a direct descendant. One of
the three brothers went west and the other went to Georgia. Lewis Hill, the
maternal grandfather of Francis M. Cody, was born in North Carolina, when young
went to South Carolina, and still later, but yet at an early day came to
Alabama, located in Pike county, but afterward moved to Barbour county. Ala.,
and died there about 1850, aged ninety years. He served as a soldier in the
Revolutionary war, was of Scotch descent, and raised a large family of children.
Francis M. Cody was the eldest of a family of five sons and one daughter. The
other members of the family were: George W., who was in company C, Fifty-ninth
Alabama infantry, and died at Knoxville, Tenn., after a few months' service;
Jackson Van Buren was in the Seventeenth Alabama infantry from May, 1861;
Columbus Jefferson was a lieutenant in the same regiment from May, 1861, and
died about 1883; Martin McComb served in a Charleston, S. C., command from 1861,
and now lives in Houston, Tex.; Louisa, widow of William P. Harbin, who was a
member of the Fifty-ninth Alabama infantry. Francis M. Cody was reared on a
farm, was educated at the country schools in the vicinity, and finished his
education at Helicon academy. He then clerked six years in Montgomery and then
returned to Pike county and engaged in merchandising at Millville and Valleyton
two years. He then engaged in farming until the breaking out of the war. In the
meantime he had married Martha F., daughter of George and Celia (Stokes) Reese,
natives of Virginia and Alabama respectively. They however, moved to Texas,
where they died. Mr. Reese was a merchant and speculator, and a prosperous
business man. Mrs. Cody was born in Lowndes county, and is the mother of six
children, viz: Mollie L., wife of Smith W. Sikes; James M., Fannie W., wife of
Oscar Centill; John D.; Tennent Lomax; Cuba Estell. In May, 1862, Mr. Cody
joined Hilliard's legion, afterward the Fifty-ninth Alabama infantry, and was on
the Kentucky raid, when he lost his health and was discharged at Knoxville,
Tenn., in 1863. He was then at home a few months, and joined Love's cavalry, but
upon examination he was discharged. He then made application at Greenville,
Ala., to join the Seventeenth Alabama infantry, and was again rejected. After
the war was over he farmed a short time and then engaged in the collecting
business in Montgomery, and in 1867, on the formation of Crenshaw county, he was
made the first clerk of the county, and served in that position for nineteen
years. Afterward, although solicited by numerous friends, he declined to serve
the public longer. Since retiring from office he has devoted his attention to
farming, owning some 800 acres of land in different tracts, all of which he has
accumulated through his own energy acid industry. He at one time served as
justice of the peace. He has been a Mason for thirty-one years, and is at
present a member of Luverne lodge. He is a member of Thomas M. Bragg chapter,
No. 99, R. A. M., at Rutledge. Mrs. Cody is a member of the Christian church.
Mr. Cody is one of the most popular and highly respected citizens of Crenshaw
county.



Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 772-773
Published by
Brant & Fuller (1893)
Madison, WI



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