Dale County AlArchives Biographies.....Sammons, William F. October 31 1845 - 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 18, 2004, 9:06 pm Author: Brant & Fuller (1893) WILLIAM F. SAMMONS, farmer and general business man of Charlton, Ala., was born in Darlington district, S. C., October 31, 1845. He is a son of James and Sarah (Hatchell) Sammons, the former of whom was born in Virginia in 1808. He removed with his parents to South Carolina while he was very young, where he had the poorest kind of educational advantages, school houses being extremely rare in South Carolina at that early day. He was married in Darlington district in 1837, lived in South Carolina as a farmer until 1851, when he removed to Alabama, settling in Dale county near the town of Charlton, and building the first farm house in that part of Dale county. He proceeded to clear up the farm he purchased, and so improved it as to have the reputation of having one of the best farms in the county, and of being one of the model and progressive farmers. He was an active and leading citizen, and was of such intellectual ability that his opinion on public and private affairs was much sought after. In politics he was a democrat, and usually voted that party's ticket. His death occurred in 1872. The mother of our subject was born in Virginia in 1820, had limited educational advantages, and married when she was seventeen years old, became the mother of eight children, six of whom now survive, and all of the survivors live in Dale county. Early in life she united with the Methodist Episcopal church, and died in that connection at an advanced age. Mr. Sammons was also a member of the same church. William F. Sammons was brought up on the farm, and in 1863 he enlisted in company C, Thirty-ninth Alabama infantry, in which regiment he served until the close. of the war. He was captured at Franklin, Tenn:, December 15, 1864, and at once sent to Camp Douglas, where he was detained until February 19, 1865, when he was paroled and sent through the lines to Richmond, Va., and from there he went home. The war being over he turned his attention to farming, in which occupation he remained engaged until 1888, when he became engaged in the mercantile business at Charlton. He continued in this business until November 19, 1890, when he retired and again turned his attention to farming, but finding leisure time on his hands he entered the store of M. A. Smith, whose memoir appears elsewhere in this volume, where he has continued as a clerk ever since. He owns 50) acres of choice farming lands, and considerable town property, which is well improved. He was married December 27, 1865, to Miss Mary H. Burk, daughter of Abraham and Jane J. Burk, the former of whom was a native of Georgia, moved to Alabama in an early day, settling first in Coffee county, and later in Barbour county, where Mrs. W. F. Sammons was born July 31, 1847. In that county she was reared, educated, and married at the age of eighteen. She became the mother of ten children: William T; James A., deceased; Dora M.; James F., deceased; Julius F. T.; Charles A.; Ennis H.; Maryetta G.; Franklin L.; Lexie E. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sammons are members of the Missionary Baptist church. Mr. Sammons is a democrat in politics, and now occupies the position of township superintendent of public instruction. He has always taken an active interest in the welfare of the public, and in the upbuilding of church and school. Additional Comments: from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 836-837 Published by Brant & Fuller (1893) Madison, WI This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 3.9 Kb