THE HIGHTOWERS
James A. Hightower and Nancy A. Humphrey
James A. Highhtower, Jr. and Mary Jane House
W. Richard Hightower and Kate MacKinnon Tervin
Mary Emma Hightower and John Andrew Williams
Richard Clarence Hightower and Addie Troy Lanier

With thanks to Janet Ricke and to Doug Bell!
Marriages listed here in detail from "Monroe and Conecuh County, Alabama Marriages 1822-1880", by Dr. Lucy Wiggins Colson and Dr. Robert Ellis Colson. (Book available form Boyd Publishing Company). Many thanks to Steve Travis.

JAMES A. HIGHTOWER, SR. and NANCY A. HUMPHREY

James Alexander Hightower

LifeNotes: we have been searching for him for over 100 years. Appears in the 1860 Monroe Co., AL census as age 46 with wife Nancy and 10 children. He was a mason / plasterer. Neighbors in Monroe Co., were Marshall, Carter, Orman, Thompson, Sigler, Daniel, Loften, Lambert. He was sheriff of Monroe Co. from 9/27/1854 to 9/12/1855.

Bureau of Land Management Records:
Pattenttee: JAMES HIGHTOWER
land office: CAHABA
Date: 1835/04/15
township: ST. STEPHENS
Doc. #: 18470
Base line: 17N 12E
Range: 24 27.1000 acres

Pattenttee: JAMES HIGHTOWER
land office: CAHABA
Date: 1854/10/02
township: ST. STEPHENS
Doc. #: 43611
Base line: 6N 6E
Range: 2
41.0250 acres

Appears in the 1860 Monroe Co., AL census as age 46 with wife Nancy and 10 children. He was a mason / plasterer. Neighbors in Monroe Co., were Marshall, Carter, Orman, Thompson, Sigler, Daniel, Loften, Lambert.

James A. Hightower was sheriff of Monroe Co. from 9/27/1854 to 9/12/1855.

He is shown as security for the marriage of his son James A. Hightower, Jr. in 1866. (Monroe and Conceuh Counnty, Alabama Marriages if 1833-1880, Dr. Lucy Wiggins Colson and Dr. Robert Ellis Colson, Southern Hist. Press)

From Janet Rickes, Hightower Quest: 1870 Census Monroe Co., AL, Dennards Bluff, p.427: James 57, stone mason; Nancy 53; Mary Emma 17; Richard 15; Elizabeth 13; Queen 11; Frances 21 mulatto servant.

Born: 1814, Monroe Co., AL
Married: 6/14/1838, Monroe Co., AL Witness, E. L. Moore. Married by J. H. Schroebel.
Died: 1872, Escambia Co., FL, per death record from Wm. Williford. He is shown as security for the marriage of his son James A. Hightower, Jr. in 1866.
Parents: we want to know

Nancy A. Humphrey

LifeNotes: She may have had a sister named Isabella Umphrey, who married Samuel Bussy 8/15/1844, with C. H. Foster as security,

Born: 1817, Monroe Co., AL or GA (she is shown in the 1860 census as born in GA and as age 43).
Married: 6/14/1838, Monroe Co., AL. Witness, E. L. Moore. Married by J. H. Schroebel.
Died:
Parents: probably Joseph Humphrey and Elizabeth ?? of Monroe Co., AL

Their children were:

• Martha Lenora Hightower, born 1840, Burnt Corn, Monroe Co., AL. Appears in 1860 census as age 20. Married James E. Brown on 12/24/1860 at her father's house, George W. Fountain as security, married by R. O. Connell. (Monroe and Conceuh County, Alabama Marriages if 1833-1880, Dr. Lucy Wiggins Colson and Dr. Robert Ellis Colson, Southern Hist. Press)
• James Alexander Hightower, Jr., born 1842, Burnt Corn, Monroe Co., AL. See his page. Appears in 1860 census. Mason apprentice. May be the James A. on the muster roll for Company A, 42nd Alabama Infantry during the Civil War. Married Mary Jane House on 9/12/1866, Monroe Co., ALwith James A. Hightower, Sr. as security, and married by B. A. Sigler. (Monroe and Conceuh Counnty, Alabama Marriages if 1833-1880, Dr. Lucy Wiggins Colson and Dr. Robert Ellis Colson, Southern Hist. Press). Mary Jane was daughter of Gilbert House or Houss and Levitia Moniac / Hollinger. Their children were: Isabella L. Hightower (b. 9/22/1870, Perdue Hill, Monroe Co., AL), Verdilia M. Hightower (b. 12/7/1873), James A. Hightower, Jr. (b. 11/13/1877), Mary Jane Hightower (b. 2/17/1881), William Hollinger Hightower (b. 1/1/1884; m. Mae White and they had a child, Levice Pearl Hightower, b. 9 Nov. 1918 in Uriah, Monroe Co., AL), Earnest E. Hightower (7/6/1886), Gustave S. Hightower (b. 11/22/1888). (Source: Eastern Creek Indian Claim Applications in 1907)
• William Hightower, born 1843, Burnt Corn, Monroe Co., AL. Appears in 1860 census as age 17. Is he the 3rd Cpl. W. H. Hightower on the muster roll for Company A, 42nd Alabama Infantry during the Civil War.
• George Hightower, born 1846, Burnt Corn, Monroe Co., AL. Appears in 1860 census as age 14.
• Charles Hightower, born 1848, Burnt Corn, Monroe Co., AL. Appears in 1860 census as age 12.
• Arthur Hightower, born 1850, Burnt Corn, Monroe Co., AL. Appears in 1860 census as age 10.
• Mary Emma Hightower, born 1852, Burnt Corn, Monroe Co., AL. See her page. Appears in 1860 census as age 8. Married John Andrew Williams. John Williams born 11/2/1849 GA, son of James M. Williams, Sr. and Margaret E. Miles or Myles. Margaret E. Miles or Myles, daughter of James Miles or Myles and Nellie Franklin -- Nellie was daughter of Thomas Jefferson Franklin and Elizabeth "Betsy" Sizemore; James Miles, son of James E. Miles. Their children were: James Ernest Williams (b. 1881, McDavid, Escambia Co., FL; ), Mable Williams (b. McDavid, Escambia Co., FL; m. H. M. Nored), Mallory Anderson Williams (b. 1877, McDavid, Escambia Co., FL; m. Lavonia Sheppard), V. D. Williams (b. McDavid, Escambia Co., FL), Robert Eugene Williams ), Lirmword Williams (b. 3/1887, McDavid, Escambia Co., FL), Viola Williams (b. 9/26/1889, McDavid, Escambia Co., FL), Brent Williams (b. 7/12/1893, McDavid, Escambia Co., FL). (Source: Eastern Creek Indian Claim Applications in 1907).
• W. Richard "Dick" Hightower, born 10/1855, Burnt Corn, Monroe Co., AL. See his page. Appears in 1860 census as age 5. Married Kate McKinnon Tarvin, daughter of George Franklin Tarvin and Sarah Douglass MacKinnon.
• Betty Hightower, born 1857, Burnt Corn, Monroe Co., AL. Appears in 1860 census as age 3.
• Queen Hightower, born 1859, Burnt Corn, Monroe Co., AL. Appears in 1860 census as age 1. Married John Mott Ackerman 7/26/1877, Escambia Co., FL. James A. Hightower, Sr. apparently went to Escambia Co., FL to live with or near Queen.; James died in Escambia Co.

Found in the Escambia County, FL Obit Index
ACKERMAN John B. 26 15 Dec 1889
ACKERMAN John R. 36 15 Dec 1889VS
ACKERMAN Marjorie Barlow 12 Oct 1997
ACKERMAN Mrs. J. C. 73 07 Feb 1892
ACKERMAN SR. John Mott 78 9 Dec 1980
Unclear as to connection to Queen, but surely the last entry was a grandson.

to Some Creek Families & Friends

JAMES A. HIGHTOWER, JR. and MARY JANE HOUSE
Not of my direct line but of interest to others

James Alexander Hightower, Jr.

LifeNotes:Appears in 1860 census. Mason apprentice. On the muster roll for Company A, 42nd Alabama Infantry during the Civil War.

Born:1842, Burnt Corn, Monroe Co., AL.
Married: on 9/12/1866, with his father James A. Hightower, Sr. as security, and married by B. A. Sigler.
Died:
Parents: James A. Hightower, Sr. and Nancy Humphrey

Mary Jane House

LifeNotes: Application of Mary Jane House / Houss Application #3358

Born: in Claiborne, Monroe Co. AL
Married: on 9/12/1866, with James' father James A. Hightower, Sr. as security, and married by B. A. Sigler.
Died:
Parents: Isaac Gilbert House or Houss and Levitia Hollinger, daughter of William R. Hollinger and Levitia Hettie Moniac, Creek Indians of Monroe County, AL. Isaac Gilbert House was born in Binghampton, New York. (Eastern Creek Applications research in progress: Earnest E. Hightower Application # 18538)

Their children were:

• Isabella L. Hightower, born 9/22/1870 , Perdue Hill, Monroe County, AL. Eastern Creek application of Isabella L. Hightower: Application #3371. Have BLM land record for her.
• Verdilia M. Hightower, born 12/7/1873. Eastern Creek application of Verdilia M. Hightower: Application #3377.
• James A. Hightower Jr. (III), born 11/13/1877. His Eastern Creek Eastern Creek application was # #18539.
• Mary Jane Hightower, born 2/17/1881
• William Hollinger Hightower, born 1/1/1884. Married Mae White. Their daughter: Levice Pearl Hightower (b. 9 Nov. 1918 in Uriah, Monroe Co., AL). Eastern Creek application of William H. Hightower: Application #3379.
• Earnest E. Hightower, born 7/6/1886. Eastern Creek applications research in progress: Earnest E. Hightower Application # 18538
• Gustave S. Hightower, born 11/22/1888

to Some Creek Families & Friends

MARY EMMA HIGHTOWER and JOHN ANDREW WILLIAMS
Not of my direct line but of interest to others

Mary Emma Hightower

LifeNotes: Appears in 1860 census as age 8. She was my Richard Hightower's sister.

Born: 1852, Burnt Corn, Monroe Co., AL; Married: ; Died:
Parents: James A. Hightower, Sr. and Nancy Humphrey

John Andrew or Anderson Williams

LifeNotes: See his page.

Born: ; Married: ; Died:
Parents: James M. Williams, Sr. and Margaret E. Miles or Myles. Margaret was daughter of James Miles or Myles and Nellie Franklin. Nellie was daughter of Thomas Jefferson Franklin and Elizabeth "Betsy" Sizemore; James Miles was son of James E. Miles.

Their child:

• John A. Williams, Jr. , born McDavid, Escambia Co., FL.
• Mable Williams, born McDavid, Escambia Co., FL. Application # 18375. Married H. M. Nored.
• Mallory Anderson Williams, born 1877 McDavid, Escambia Co., FL. Application # 18405. Married Lavonia Sheppard.
• V. D. Williams, born McDavid, Escambia Co., FL.
• James Ernest Williams, born 1881 McDavid, Escambia Co., FL. Application # 18403. Married ?
• Robert Eugene Williams, born 1885, McDavid, Escambia Co., FL. Application # 18407.
• Linwood Williams, born 3/1887, McDavid, Escambia Co., FL.
• Viola Williams, born 9/6/1889, McDavid, Escambia Co., FL.
• Brent Williams, born 7/12/1893, McDavid, Escambia Co., FL.

to Some Creek Families & Friends

W. RICHARD HIGHTOWER and KATE MacKINNON TARVIN

W. Richard Hightower

LifeNotes: He was from a Monroe Co., AL (Burnt Corn) family and married into a DeFuniak Springs (Walton Co., FL) family. He and his wife Kate Tarvin Hightower had several children; the family lived in Freeport, FL Dick Hightower worked at Southern States Land & Timber Company's mills, Millview, FL. His sister Queen Hightower lived in DeFuniak Springs; she was married to John Mott Ackerman. Sadly, a month after the birth of Kate, their baby, Kate Hightower was taken ill with yellow fever, and she died. The younger children and the new baby were sent to relatives in Talladega until their father make better arrangements.

On July 3. 1892, Dick took his 11-year-old son Jamie and some other children for a sailing excursion in Perdido Bay. Far from shore, things went terribly wrong-- Jamie fell overboard. Dick went into the water to save his dear boy. The children left in the boat did not know how to handle the boat and it drifted away from Dick and Jamie. According to reports, Dick made a valiant struggle to pull his child to shore but his strength gave out and both drowned. See the write-up of the accident.

So were left orphaned three very small children, Clarence, Katherine and baby Kate Hightower. Kate was taken in by the Tervin family and friends but Clarence and Katharine were put in Talladega Orphanage where they were adopted by Miss Lucy Smith of Columbiana, AL.

The happy ending here is that those children grew up to be wonderful productive people; they were very close to each other all their lives.

Born: 10/1855, Burnt Corn, Monroe Co., AL. Appears in 1860 census as age 5.
Married:
Died: 7/3/1892 in Perdido Bay, FL Buried at Euchee Valley Presbyterian Church, Walton Co., FL.
Parents: James A. Hightower, Sr. and Nancy Humphrey

Kate MacKinnon Tarvin

LifeNotes: See her Tarvin page.

Born: 5/5/1854 in Walton Co., FL
Married:
Died: 12/28/1891, Freeport, FL. Buried at Euchee Valley Presbyterian Church, Walton Co., FL. See the note she wrote to her sister Emma Tervin McLean shortly before she died.
Parents: Sarah Douglass McKinnon and George Franklin Tervin.

Their children were:

• Jamie Hightower, born 2/3/1881, probably in Freeport, FL. See the touching letter he wrote his Aunt Emma. He drowned with his father 7/3/1892 in Perdido Bay, FL/AL. Buried at Euchee Valley Presbyterian Church, Walton Co., FL.
• Benjamin Palmer Hightower, died as an infant. Buried at Euchee Valley Presbyterian Church, Walton Co., FL.
• Sallie Hightower, died as an infant. Buried at Euchee Valley Presbyterian Church, Walton Co., FL.

Her obituary: Died-- At DeFuniak Springs. June 26th, 1886, Sallie E. Hightower, infant child, the bereaved parents who mourn the loss of their precious little Jewel, have our heart felt sympathy, in this sad hour to them. Dear parents, grieve not for her who was so briefly lent to gladden your hearts and home, but remember the words of an all wise ruler when He said 'Suffer little children to come unto me for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."

• Katherine Hightower, born in Freeport, FL. After the deaths of their parents, she and Clarence were adopted by Miss Lucy Smith of Columbiana, AL and Katherine's surname was changed to Smith. Married Dr. Frank Smith. They started their marriage in Thorsby, AL and later moved to Bessemer, AL. Their children were: Gertrude Smith, Louise Smith, Frank Colvin Smith. Katherine was a writer, a devoted Presbyterian, a wonderful human being. In her nineties, she was still entertaining family and friends with wonderful stories. She happily celebrated her 100th birthday at a party surrounded by all her loving family including her baby sister Kate (who soon after turned 100). Katherine died in Bessemer, AL and is buried there in Jefferson Co., AL.
• Richard Clarence Hightower, born 2/10/1883 in Freeport, FL. After his parents' death, adopted by Miss Lucy Smith. Married 1st-Addie Troy Lanier. Their children: Mary Catharine Smith (b. 9/29/1913, Laniers, Talladega Co., AL; m. James Wilson Nicol 11/3/1934), Sarah Tervin Smith (b.6/22/1921, Lineville, AL; m. 6/19/1942 Frank Albert Robinson, Birmingham, AL). Married 2nd- Lucy Creel.
• Kate Tervin Hightower. She was raised by relatives in DeFuniak Springs, FL (by her Aunt Emma Tervin McLean). Her surviving siblings were adopted out of the family but they were always stayed close. Married William Harry Clardy in Talladega, AL. Their child: Lyman Clardy. Kate was a much beloved community and church leader in Talladega and considered a great lady. She lived to be over 100 years old. She is buried in Talladega, AL.

to Some Creek Families & Friends

RICHARD CLARENCE HIGHTOWER (adopted later as SMITH) and ADDIE TROY LANIER

Richard Clarence (born Hightower) Smith

LifeNotes: After the deaths of his parents, he and his sister Katherine were adopted by Miss Lucy Smith of Columbiana, AL. Clarence became a school teacher at age 17. Worked in Wilsonville, AL for the Pope family. Became a pharmacist and worked at Dewberry Drugs in downtown Birmingham, AL for many years until he retired. He was extremely well-read. Clarence had a wonderful sense of humor. He lovingly cared for his invalid wife until her death in 1947. His second wife was Lucy Creel.

Clarence died in Birmingham, AL and is buried beside Troy at Laniers, AL cemetery in Talladega Co. He was dearly loved by all and is dearly missed.

Born: 2/10/1883 in Freeport, FL
Married: 1st-10/12/1912 in Laniers, Talladega Co., AL. See thir wedding writeup.
Died: 6/30/1965 in Birmingham, AL; buried in Laniers, AL
Parents: W. Richard Hightower and Kate McKinnon Tarvin

1st-Wife: Addie Troy Lanier

LifeNotes: She was born to a well-to-do family. She was also an artist. Sadly, her father James Crawford Lanier died while she and Clarence were on their honeymoon.

Born: 9/22/1888 in Lincoln, Talladega Co., AL
Married: 10/12/1912 in Laniers, Talladega Co., AL See thir wedding writeup.
Died: 6/4/1947 in Birmingham, AL; buried in Laniers, AL
Parents: James Crawford and Mary Elizabeth Sproull Lanier

Their children were:

• Mary Catharine Smith, born 9/29/1913 in Laniers, AL. Married James Wilson. Nicol. See their page. Their children: Nancy Jane Nicol, Carol Ann Nicol.
• Sarah Tervin Smith, born 6/22/1921 in Lineville, AL. Married Frank Albert Robinson 6/19/1942 in Birmingham, AL. Their children: Sarah Katherine Robinson, Richard Edgar Robinson.

2nd-Wife: Lucy Creel

LifeNotes: She was a delightful lady and a wonderful grandmother to all of Clarence's grandchildren. Lucy's Sunday dinners are still talked about-- fried chicken, rice and gravy, THE BEST green beans (LucyBeans, we call them, and all of us still try to duplicate them) and THE BEST lemon icebox pie.

to Some Creek Families & Friends