From a History of the Inhabitants of Lawrence Co.

The Sibley Families, of Lawrence County

	Grandfather James Jackson Sibley, born in 1873, was the son of Robert Jackson Sibley 
and Mary Richarson, the second wife of Robert, therefore it was generally thought that James 
Jackson was an only child.  However, research into family records quickly revealed that he had 
lots of kinfolks who lived in and around Franklin County, Alabama.  James Jackson Sibley married 
Finch Anna Atwood from Lawrence County and they were the parents of five sons and one daughter, 
all born in Lawrence County.  Grandfather James farmed and was active in community affairs, 
having served as the Chairman of the Board of Education for Lawrence County for many years.

	The oldest, Neal Sibley, born in 1899, married Ada Mclain from Franklin County and they 
made their home in Russellville, AL and raised their four children there.  The second son Grady 
C. Sibley, born in 1903, married Mavis King from Weir, Mississippi and lived in Lawrence County 
most of their married life.  Mavis taught school in Mount Hope, AL (Lawrence Co.) for more than 
30 years while rearing four children.  Third son, Thomas J. Sibley, born in 1906, first married 
Velma Alverson, and were parents of two sons reared in Lawrence County.  Velma became ill and 
died in 1963 at age 53.  Thomas married a second time to Inez Martin Atwood and unfortunately 
she also died in 1990.  The fourth son, Erol D. Sibley, born in 1908, married Lois Smith from 
Lawrence County and they lived in Lawrence County while raising their six children.  The fifth 
son, Merrill Sibley, born in 1914, married Luberta Smith from Lawrence County and they raised 
their three children in Lawrence County.  The sixth and last child was a daughter, Jessie Mae 
Sibley, born in 1923, who married Angelo Fergerson from Lawrence County.  They have raised their 
four children in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida.

	Grandchildren of the Sibley's are scattered throughout the United States and have always 
kept in close contact with their relatives in Alabama.


Contributed by: Judy Townsend Livings