Raiford M. Spann (1839-1918)
Copyright © Jeffery L. Palmer 1998
lamontpalmer@hotmail.com

Raiford served as a private in Company B of the 6th Alabama Infantry Regiment. He enlisted on February 27, 1862 at Abbeville, Henry County Alabama. He fell victim to typhoid fever and spent part of the war in various hospitals, first Richmond, Virginia, then later in Columbus and Fort Gaines, Georgia. His pension papers indicate he was wounded at the Battle of Berryville in Virginia. He was discharged at the conclusion of the war.

On March 16, 1866, he married Zilpha Dilla Whitehead, daughter of Jacob Whitehead and Zilpha Holland in Henry County, Alabama. This marriage produced four children. The family initially lived at the John Edward Spann homestead northwest of Balkum. In 1882, Raiford moved the family just west of Haleburg where they settled on 40 acres.

Raiford was a member of Balkum church and was a Mason at Brown's Crossroad Lodge. He died January 28, 1918 at the age of 78. Zilpha died circa 1922. Jeffery L. Palmer lamontpalmer@hotmail.com, www.geocities.com/heartland/village/1225