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Flowers Family
Submitted by [email4grant @ gmail. com]
Grant Johnston
W. H. FLOWERS, Sr.
W.H. Flowers, Sr.----Men who leave the impress of their characters upon a
community for good are always honored by a grateful public, and as the frosts of
many years gather upon their heads, their children rise-up and call them
blessed. In the category of such worthies, in Butler County, the name of W.H.
Flowers is especially deserving of mention, a name which for over thirty-five
years has added luster to the community in which he has resided.
Rev. Drury Flowers, father of W. H., was a native of South Carolina, born May 1,
1780. He was a farmer by occupation, and for a number of years a preacher of the
Methodist church, the interests of which religious body he was largely
instrumental in promoting throughout many sections of the South.
February 15, 1801, he married Catherine Sullivan, and in 1826 emigrated to
Georgia, settling in Jasper County, thence in 1833 moved to the county of Henry,
and in 1844 became a resident of Fayette County, Ga.
Subsequently, about 1859, he removed to Randolph County, Ala., and died there in
August of the same year. His wife survived him only a short time, dying in May,
1860.
Of the large family of children born to Drury and Catherine Flowers, but three
are living at this time, namely: W.H. Flowers, Benjamin J. Flowers, of Polk
County, Fla., and Evaline Flowers, wife of Daniel Johnson, of DeKalb County,
Ala. W. H. Flowers was born in Darlington District, S. C., January 7, 1813, and
on attaining his majority began life for himself as a farmer, in his native
state. January 5, 1837, when twenty-four years of age, he was married in Henry
County, Ga., to Sarah T. Thomas, daughter of Rev. William Thames, and in 1840
moved to Fayette, County, Ala., where he followed his chosen calling until 1857,
at which time he became a resident of Butler County. He lived for some years in
Greenville, but after Mrs. Flowers' death, which occurred on the 7th day of
October, 1885, he moved to Bolling, where he has since made his home.
In 1860, Mr. Flowers embarked in the milling business, which he has since
carried on with a large measure of success, being at this time the executive
head of the Milner, Caldwell & Flowers Lumber company, one of the largest and
best known manufacturing establishments of the kind in the state. Mr.
Flowers is the father of twelve children, as follows: John J. Flowers; Cassie
Flowers, wife of Charles H. Chandler; Lizzie Flowers, wife of A.
Hamil; WilliamM.
Flowers; James D. Flowers; F. A. Flowers; Mary Ellen Flowers, died in infancy;
Josephine Flowers, wife of J. Reed; Mrs.Susie Vinson, deceased; Sarah
Flowers,died at the age of fifteen; Joseph H. Flowers, and Emma Flowers, wife of
Dr.Perry.
Mr. Flowers is a Methodist in his religious belief, belongs to the Masonic
fraternity, and in politics has always been an earnest supporter of the
principles of the democratic party. He came to Butler County a poor man, but by
honest work and honorable dealing has succeeded in accumulating a handsome
fortune, besides rearing a large family, every member of which reflects credit
on the name an is an honor to the community. As a citizen, Mr. Flowers has ever
stood ready to aid and encourage every worthy enterprise; in all transactions
with the world, none have ever accused him of a mean or unworthy act, and his
integrity has always been above reproach. His business career knows no stigma,
his moral character is without blemish, and to posterity he will leave a name
worthy of emulation by the wisest and best of mankind.
JOHN J. FLOWERS
John J. Flowers, eldest son of W. H. and Sarah T. Flowers, was born in Fayette
County, Ga., October 8, 1837. He received a practical education in the common
schools. In 1858 came to Alabama, and, in partnership with a Mr.
Thames, engaged in the mercantile business at Greenville, where the firm did a
large and lucrative trade for a period of three years. Severing his connection
with merchandising, Mr. Flowers, for the succeeding ten years, lived the life of
a farmer, but in 1872 moved to Bolling and became a member of the firm known as
the Milner, Caldwell & Flowers Lumber company, of which he is now general
manager, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Flowers possesses business ability of a
high order, and much of the success of the large company with which he is
connected is due directly to his superior management.
He is a democrat in polities, a royal arch Mason and a member of the Methodist
church.
April 11, 1861, Miss Kate Brooks, daughter of Sawyer Brooks, became his wife, to
which union the following children have been born: May Flowers, wife of R. E.
Steiner; Sallie Flowers, wife of Bernard Steiner; Edward P. Flowers, bookkeeper
for the lumber company with which his father is connected; William H. Flowers,
student at Vanderbilt University, preparing for the legal profession; Brooks
Flowers and Marvin Flowers. Marvin died January 14, 1891. July 11, 1878, Mr.
Flowers had the misfortune to lose his wife, and in October, 1881, he married
Mrs. Lizzie (Hill) Brown, daughter of John G. Hill, of Griffin, Ga. The children
born to bless this union are named John J.
Flowers, Jr., and Arthur Flowers, who are living at home with their parents.
WilliAM M. FLOWERS
William M. Flowers, the gentleman whose biographical mention is herewith
presented, is the second son of W. H. and Sarah T. Flowers, and was born in
Fayette County, Georgia, September 14, 1842. He was reared on a farm, early
learned by practical experience the meaning of the words hard work, and in
January, 1862, enlisted in company C, Thirty-third Alabama infantry, with which
he served as private until 1863, when he was appointed sergeant-major of the
regiment. He held that position until the fall of 1864, at which time he was
elected first lieutenant of company C, and continued in that capacity until the
close of the war.
Mr. Flowers' command was stationed at Pensacola till after the battle of Shiloh,
and then joined Bragg's army at Tupelo and moved with it to Chattanooga. At the
battle of Perryville he received a bullet wound in the right shoulder and was
taken prisoner and sent to Harrisburg, Ky., for treatment, thence.
in December, 1862, to Vicksburg, Miss., where he was exchanged. He rejoined his
regiment just after the battle of Murfreesboro, and subsequently participated in
the battles of Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and Lookout Mountain, and wintering
at Dalton, Ga., took part in the bloody campaign of Atlanta. He was with Hood's
army in its raid through Tennessee, and did valiant service in the battles of
Franklin and Nashville, and after the latter engagement obtained a furlough and
spent twenty days at home, afterward rejoining his command at Harrisburg, S. C.
Returning home after the close of the war Mr. Flowers accepted a position with
the saw-mill firm of Evans, Teal & Co., with which he remained two years, and
for one year thereafter filled the position as agent for the M. & M.
railroad company at the city of Montgomery.
Severing his connection with railroading, he next engaged with Milner &
Caldwell, lumber manufacturers at Bolling, and after continuing in their employ
less then a year moved to a farm on Cedar Creek and followed the pursuit of
agriculture until his election as sheriff of Butler county in the fall of 1874.
He proved a popular and efficient officer until the expiration of his term of
three years, at which time he embarked in the mercantile business at Greenville
and continued the same until 1880, when in partnership with R .E. Corry he
purchased a mill and began the manufacture oflumber in the vicinity of the
county seat. The firm thus constituted lasted until 1884, at which time it was
dissolved, Mr. Flowers effecting a copartnership in the milling and lumber
business at Forest with G. J. Peagler, under the firm name of Flowers & Peagler,
by which style the company is still known.
Mr. Flowers is justly considered one of the prominent men of the county; his
well known integrity and business ability have won him an enviable place in the
affections and minds of those who know him best, and his whole life is an
exemplification of what honesty and perseverance will give those whose aims are
prompted by noble emotions. Mr. Flowers and Sophronia E. Peagler were made man
and wife on the 25th day of January, 1868, and they are now the parents of five
children, namely: Abbey Flowers, wife of O.R. Porter; George Flowers Katy
Flowers, Walter Flowers and Willie Flowers. Mr. and Mrs.
Flowers are members of the Baptist church. The fraternities to which Mr. Flowers
belongs are the Masonic lodges, the K. of H. and K. of P., and his political
views are in harmony with the principles of democracy.
JAMES D. FLOWERS
James D. Flowers, third son of W. H. Flowers. is a native of Fayette County,
Ga., and dates his birth from the second day of March, 1814.
He served in the late war in Col. Carter's cavalry regiment, the Second Alabama,
from April 1861, till May, 1862, and on the latter date was transferred to the
Seventeenth Alabama infantry, with which he took part in the battles around
Atlanta and Hood's Tennessee raid and engagements incident thereto. He was
captured at the battle of Nashville and sent north to Camp Douglas, where he was
kept a prisoner until the cessation of hostilities, when he returned home, and
for some time thereafter attended school in Butler county. Subsequently he was
employed in a saw mill at $1.25 a day, and in April, 1866, moved to Bolling,
where he has since resided and where he now owns an interest in the large
milling firm, notices of which appears elsewhere.
Like his brothers, Mr. Flowers is a straight forward man, possessing that kind
of courage which encounters obstacles only to surmount them, and he is
thoroughly identified with the growth and prosperity of that part of the county
in which he resides.
June 9th, 1866, he was married to Emma, daughter of D. A. Rutledge, Jr., and is
now the father of seven children: Bettie Flowers, wife of J. H. Dunklin; William
R. Flowers, James Henry Flowers, John J. Flowers, Mary Flowers, Emma Flowers,
and Ruth Flowers, the last named accidentally shot and killed on the 26th of
July, 1889.
Mr. Flowers is an active worker in the Masonic fraternity, is steward and Sunday
school superintendent of the Methodist church at Bolling, and votes with the
democratic party. F. A. Fowlers, fourth son W. H. and Sarah Flowers, was born in
Georgia, county of Fayette, February 2, 1846, and there spent the years of his
youth, moved to Alabama, Butler County, December, 1857, farmed with his father
two years, then engaged in the lumber business. His first practical experience
in life was as sawyer for the lumber firm of Milner & Caldwell, in whose employ
he continued until 1867, at which time he went to Bluff Springs, Florida, where
he operated a saw mill about two years for Evans & Tait. In 1873 he moved to
Bolling, Ala., where he has since been identified with the lumbering interests
of Butler county, as a member of the firm of Milner, Caldwell & Flowers.
Mr. Flowers is a practical lumberman, shrewd in the management of his business
affairs and is one of the popular and highly respected citizens of Butler
county. He was married March 4,1869, to Carrie, daughter of J.
S. Wood, a
prominent merchant of Greenville, and is the father of two children: Mamie
Flowers and Maude Flowers. He is a democrat in politics, a member of the K.
of P. fraternity, and, with his wife, belongs to the Baptist church of
Greenville, Ala.
02/15/2006
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