T. J. Killebrew Sr., is a Georgian by birth. 

His parents, Marmaduke N. Killebrew and Marie L. Wiggins were married in 1839 in Warren County, GA. 

Nine children blessed this union, the eldest of whom Thomas J. his
father was a planter, and in the interest of his business moved to
the sparsely settled lands of Smuttier County. 

In 1852 he again moved, this time to Clay County, where he lived until 1865. 

When he came to Alabama, settling in Dale County, two miles southwest
of the little town of Newton. On the Choctawhatchee River. Here
he engaged in farming and soon bought a small mill used as a grist
mill, a rice mill and cotton gin. In 1872, he associated his son,
T.J. Jr. with himself in business, added a woolen mill and began
the manufacturer of full stock jeans. In 1885, the firm Killebrew
and Son was dissolved, the father retiring from business sold out
his interest to his son, Thomas J. He then retired in his seventy-ninth year
(1806)?

The mother of our subject was born in Warren County, GA in 1823
and then grew to womanhood. She was married in her 19th year
(1842)? and was the mother of nine children, eight of whom are
living. Early in life she joined the Methodist Episcopal Church
South and still lives in her seventy-second year.

The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on the farm, having the
best of educational advantages to be derived from private tutors.
Under these studied Latin, the higher mathematics and the natural
sciences, besides taking a course in English literature. Upon his
arrival into manhood the war broke out (civil) and he entered the
state militia for six months, in "Old Joe Brown's Pets" so called.
He then enlisted in the confederate service and was assigned to
the Eastern army, serving most of the time during the war in
garrison duty along the Atlantic coast, though he participated in
the three days battle of Bentonsville. He was regularly discharged
April 30, 1865, and given $150.50 in silver. This was all the money
he had to get home and begin business with.
Upon returning home he began farming and made his first crop with
nothing but a weeding hoe. He farmed six years at which time he
entered business with his father.

In 1885 he purchased his father's share and then began to enlarge
and strengthen his facilities, until the present time. In 1890 he
erected a fine brick building which is now his factory which has a
capacity of 5,000 yards per month of nine ounce all wool Jeans and
about 25,000 pounds of spun yard. The machining in this factory is
of the most improved pattern and about fifteen hands employed. The
power is supplied by an eighteen foot overshot wheel.
He commenced business with about $4,500, and by his own efforts
built up his business to its present magnitude. He has ready sale
for all the goods he can manufacture and has contracts from there
to eight months ahead.
He now contemplates enlarging of his plant and so changing it to
enable him to manufacture his wool into garments.
Mr. Killebrew was married in 1865 to Martha S. Blocker, daughter of Stephen
and Rebecca (Rice) Blocker. Mrs. Killebrew's father was a slave owner and
rich farmer. She had the best of educational advantages, taking a thorough
literary course in the Southern Masonic Female College of Covington, GA.
graduating with the first honors. She was married at 23 and now is the mother
of eight children, seven of whom still live. The boys all graduated from
Auburn and the girls from Wesleyan College in Macon, GA.
                                                                             
                                                      Note #2------My name is
Kip Killebrew and Thomas Jefferson Killebrew, the jeans maker, was my great,
great grandfather. The information I have on him comes
from my cousin Martha Killebrew of Montgomery, Al. TJ. Killebrew
purchased an old water wheel in Newton, Al after the Civil war and began
by spinning cotton cloth and then expanded into making woolen/cotton blue
jeans. The remains of the dam and a few bricks from the jeans factory
can still be found hidden in the brush. TJ's beautiful home still exists
and is well maintained on a street near the old dam site.

Bob Killebrew
153 Sand Dr.   
Naples Fl. 34104
941-643-2981
bkiller153@AOL.com