John Gideon Harris, PGM 1885-1887

“John Gideon Harris, State Superintendent of Education in Alabama, is a native of this state, and was born in the thirties in Hale County, then a part of Greene County. He was educated at Greene Springs, under PROF. Tutwiler. He taught school for five years and then proceeded to Cumberland University, Lebanon Tennessee, and in 1858 graduated there in law. He opened a law office in Greensboro, Alabama.

He joined the Confederate army as a member of the Greensboro light artillery guards and proceeded to Fort Morgan. Later he raised a company of volunteers, Planter Guards, that became a part of the 20th Al infantry. He saw service with the western army and took part in nearly all the bloody battles of the memorable campaigns through Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia. He was promoted to the rank of major in the winter of 1863. Returning home, he took up his residence at Livingston in Sumter County and resumed the practice of his profession. In 1870 he was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in a district overwhelmingly Republican before that time. He reduced his opponent’s majority to less than 900. In 1876 he was an alternate elector at large; in 1880 he was a district elector, and in 1884 he was again alternate elector at large. In 1886 he received the appointment at the hands of President Cleveland of register of the land office at Montgomery. He administered this post with signal ability; cleared up neglected business and left it in perfect shape to his successors, in 1889. In 1890 Maj. Harris was by a flattering vote, nominated by the Democratic Party for State Superintendent of Education. He was elected at the ensuing election and was re-nominated and re-elected in 1892.

Maj. Harris was a prominent Mason, having been at one time Grand Master of the Grand Lodge in this state. He was also a devoted member of the Baptist church, and was a pulpit lecturer while the regular minister had been detained away.

Maj. Harris was married in 1861 to Miss Mary J. Brown of Sumter Co. He had two children, both daughters, Mrs. L. G. Dawson and Mrs. J. T. Rushin , of Elmore Co. He served as president
of the YMCA convention of Al and was chosen president of the International Sunday School Convention that was held at Pittsburgh, Penn. in June 1890.”

John Hollis Bankhead, PGM 1883-1885

John Hollis Bankhead a descendant of Scotch-Irish stock was born on his father’s farm in Marion, now Lamar Co., near the town of Moscow, Alabama, and September 13, 1842. His father, James Greer Bankhead, a native of Union District, S.C. settled at that place in 1818 and resided there until his death in 1861. His mother, Sussan Hollis, was born in Darlington District, S.C. and came with her parents to Alabama in 1822 where she remained until her death at the age of seventy-five.

He was married November 13th 1866, at Wetumpka, Alabama, to Tallulah Brockman, a native of S.C. who had been reared in Alabama. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1916 at their home, “Sunset,” at Jasper, Alabama. Their five children (in 1920) Louise, (wife of A.G. Lund); Marie, (wife of Thomas M. Owen); John H, William B, Henry M. Bankhead.

He enlisted as a Private in Co. K, 16th Alabama Regiment Infantry Volunteers, of the Confederacy and was promoted to Captain after the battle of Shiloh. After the Civil War, he returned to his home and resumed life on the farm. In his early twenties, he was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives of 1865-6 from old Marion County and this marked the beginning of long career in Public service. Some of the offices he held include; State Senator at various times, State Legislator, Warden of Alabama State Penitentiary, Congress, House of Representatives. He was instrumental in making the Warrior River a navigable stream as well as the development of Muscle Shoals on the Tennessee River. The Bankhead Highway beginning in Washington D.C. and ending in San Diego, Ca. is a just recognition by the public of the achievements wrought by John Hollis Bankhead in behalf of good roads throughout the nation.

His death occurred at his residence in Washington D. C, March 1st, 1920. Following a religious service in the Methodist Church at Jasper, Alabama, of which he was a member, he was buried by the Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. of Alabama.

Rufus Willis Cobb, PGM 1881-1883

“Rufus Willis Cobb was born on February 25, 1829, at Ashville, St. Clair County, Alabama, and died on November 26, 1913, at Birmingham. He was the son of John W. and Catherine (Stevens) Leak Cobb, who lived on a plantation at Ashville. Governor Cobb was educated at an academy in Ashville and graduated from the University of Tennessee, at Knoxville, in 1850. Returning to Ashville, he read law in the office of John C. Thommason and was admitted to the bar in 1855. He practiced law in St. Clair until he moved to Shelby County, Alabama, in 1867 and became a law partner of B. B. Lewis.

When war was proclaimed in 1861, Cobb joined the Confederate Army as captain of Co. C., Tenth Alabama Infantry Regiment, Forney’s brigade, and went to Virginia with that regiment. He remained there until, in 1863, he was assigned to General Joseph Wheeler’s cavalry in Tennessee and placed in charge of a scouting party. At the end of the war Cobb resumed his law practice.

Cobb was elected to the Alabama state senate in 1872 and in 1876. During his term in the state senate, he collaborated with Peter Hamilton of Mobile on a plan for readjusting the state debt, a plan subsequently adopted by the legislature. Cobb was a friend and advisor of Governor George Smith Houston during Houston’s administration. Cobb was elected governor in 1878 and reelected in 1880. “He had a quiet administration, without striking events.” (Owen, p. 357 ) The population of Alabama was growing, by 1880 the federal census recorded 1,262,505, and the problems of administrative finance and control of the railroads fell to Cobb. “His administration made improvements in tax assessment and reduced the cost of surplus in the state treasury.” Also during Cobb’s two terms, the State Railroad Commission, the State Bar Association, and the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute were created. The records of Governor Cobb’s administration reflect that a major controversy during his last term was prohibition. The prohibition forces attempted to pass a statewide local option law but were unsuccessful. After his term as governor had expired, he retired to private life for a time,
but in 1888 accepted the appointment to the office of probate judge of Shelby County. Cobb also served as president of the Central Iron Works at Helena from 1873 to 1891; was an attorney for the Louisville and Nashville Railway; and was involved in cotton planting and in developing an iron mine, the Delmar, in northern Alabama.

Cobb belonged to all the branches of the York Rite Masons and was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Alabama. He was the only man who was Grand Master and Governor at the same time. He was a member of all the lodges of the Scottish Rite Masonry up to and including the thirty-second degree. Cobb’s last residence was Birmingham.”

Henry Clay Tompkins, PGM 1879-1881

“Henry Clay Tompkins was born in Essex Co., VA. Sep. 14, 1842. He was educated at the schools and Academies of Virginia. Early in 1862 he entered the Confederate service, enlisting in the 44th Virginia cavalry as a private. He remained a private until March, 1864, when he joined the 22nd Virginia infantry, with the rank of Lieutenant, commanding Company F. Henry was captured at Sailors’ Creek just before the surrender at Appomattox. Returning home, he engaged in saw milling and farming, and continued so employed until the fall of 1886, when he removed to Montgomery Co., Alabama.

He taught a neighborhood school in the southeastern portion of the county for two years, devoting his spare time to the study of the law. He was admitted to the bar in Feb. 1869, at Union Springs, in Bullock Co. where he began his practice. He advanced steadily, aiding materially by extra professional labor as Chairman of the Democratic County Executive Committee in redeeming his county from the scalawags and carpet baggers. While living at Union Springs, he was elected lieutenant-colonel of the 2nd regiment of Alabama State troops, which position he held for several years. In 1878, he received the distinguished compliment of a nomination to the office of Attorney-General of the state, and was elected. He was re-elected for two additional terms. The acceptance of this office compelled him to remove to Montgomery, and he formed there a partnership with COL. Daniel S. Troy one of the ablest and best known practitioners in the state. The firm, during its continuance, did a very large and paying business. On the retirement of COL. Troy from business, the firm became Tompkins and Troy, the junior member being Mr. Alexander Troy. He was, for many years, a member of the State Executive Committee of the Democratic Party, and in 1886, he was elected Chairman of that Committee, in which position he continued until the spring of 1892 when he resigned. He was a delegate-at large to the National Convention of the Democracy in 1884 and 1888 and in each convention served on important committees. COL. Tompkins had been repeatedly mentioned for the US Senate, and he was singularly well equipped for that high post.

COL. Tompkins was married, in April, 1869 to Annie Baldwin, daughter of Marion Baldwin, Attorney-General of Alabama for 18 years. They have two children, a girl and a boy. COL. Tompkins’s father was Joseph Temple Tompkins, who was born in King County, Va. April 7, 1792. He was a farmer and a soldier in the War of 1812. COL. Tompkins’s mother’s maiden name was Jane Ford, a native of Fredericksburg, Va. His grandfather was Christopher Tompkins, a Virginian, a Captain in the Continental Army and a participant in the siege of Yorktown. COL. Tompkins’s ancestors on his father’s side came to America from England in the 17th century; those on his mother’s side are of Scotch and English stock.

Henry Clay Tompkins died suddenly at his office Sept. 12th, 1898.”

Henry Clay Armstrong, PGM 1877-1879

“COL. Henry Clay Armstrong was a prominent citizen of Auburn, Alabama. During the Civil War, he was on GEN. ROSS’S staff, and later was State Superintendent of Education. He was a member of the State House of Representatives and under President Cleveland was United States Consul to Rio de Janeiro.

“Col. Henry Clay Armstrong died at his home in Auburn, Alabama.

His Masonic career began in his early manhood. He was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in 1865, exalted to the Holy Royal Arch in 1866, and knighted a Knight Templar in 1868. He was also a member of the council. He filled with credit the first station in the subordinate bodies of Ancient Craft, Capitular, Cryptic and Templar Masonry. He was Grand
High Priest of the Chapter for three years, Junior and Senior Grand Wardens, Deputy Grand Master and Grand Master, respectively, for two years. At the time of his death, he was Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter, Grand Council, Grand Lodge, and Grand Recorder of the
Commandery. He was well informed in Masonic law and precedent and thorough with the ritual. He was perhaps the most impressive exemplifier of Masonic work in the State.

As a citizen he has been true to his country, loyal in his political alignment and faithful in office. He fought valiantly for the lost cause, but accepted the result without a murmur, and there was nowhere a more loyal citizen of the United States. In the General Assembly of his State, both House and Senate, the former of which he was at one time speaker, in the office of
State Superintendent of Education, as Consul General of the U. S. at Rio de Janeiro and in all public stations to which he was called, he discharged his duty as becometh an honest, faithful official, and with marked ability. He was appointed to serve on a Select Committee of Five to perfect some plan to carry out the ideas of resolutions offered to establish a Masonic Orphans
Home and College at the 1882 Annual Communications.”

Palmer Job Pillans, PGM 1875-1877

“Palmer Job Pillans was a native of South Carolina, and a civil engineer by profession. He served as major in the army of the Texan Republic, and as a lieutenant-colonel in the Civil war.
He moved to New Mexico in 1849, Mobile in 1853, and resided in Dallas County, Alabama around 1872. For about twenty years after his settlement in Mobile and up to the reconstruction period, he served as city engineer of Mobile.

He was a member of Bienville Lodge No. 348 in 1882 and was appointed to serve on a Select Committee of Five to perfect some plan to carry out the ideas of resolutions offered to establish a Masonic Orphans Home and College at the 1882 Annual Communications.”

Isaiah A. Wilson, PGM 1873-1875

“Brother Wilson was born in Talbot County, Georgia. Having completed his education and attained his majority shortly before the war, (Civil War) he moved to what was then Macon, but is now Bullock County, Alabama and engaged in teaching school. In that profession, as in everything else he undertook, he was zealous, faithful, and thorough, winning the respect of his pupils and the confidence and esteem of his patrons. When the first tocsin of war sounded, Brother Wilson went to the front and nobly served his country through all the hardships and gloom of that terrible strife.

Some few years after the war we first find his name among the representatives to this Grand body, and he had been here but a short time when his ability, earnestness, and devotion to the principles of the fraternity, had marked him as a leader of the Craft. In 1869 he was elected Junior Grand Warden, and in 1873 he was elected to fill the chair in the East, thus within a few short years after his introduction to this Body, the was elevated to the position of the greatest dignity and highest honor within the gift of Masons. As a presiding officer he was firm but courteous, dignified but gentle, quick and ready in his rulings, but accurate and impartial. The high posers and prerogatives of the office were never claimed or exercised except the advancement of Masonic virtues and the good of the Craft. His decisions on questions of Masonic law are models of that character, force and terseness that is characteristic of a mind endowed with a fine common sense and a will that is unbending in its determination to do right.

In private and in public life, around the domestic circle, and in his associations with his neighbors and the public, his example was one of which our Order may well feel proud, and to which we can point as worthy of emulation. A devoted and loving husband an affectionate and tender, yet firm parent, a true and faithful friend; a public spirited and patriotic citizen, his home was a charmed circle, his friends were numerous, and his life filled with instances of unselfish efforts to further the interests of his church, his neighbors and his country….
Bro. Wilson passed away in 1882.”

Joseph Henry Johnson, PGM 1871-1873

“Joseph Henry Johnson, a leading physician of Talladega, and Principal of the Institute for the Deaf and Dumb, the Academy for the Blind, and the Academy for the Colored Deaf and Blind, was born in Georgia in 1832. He was a son of Seaborn J. and Minerva (Fannin) Johnson, both of whom were natives of Georgia. The former was a prominent attorney of Floyd County, Ga. where he practiced law and followed planting on a large scale. Col. Fannin, a cousin of Mrs. Johnson, was massacred at the Alamo and a county in Texas is named after him. Joseph H. Johnson was raised on the farm with the advantage of the neighborhood schools. He was also educated at Hern school in Georgia and began teaching the Georgia Institute for the Deaf and Dumb, remaining there nine consecutive years. In 1854 he left the institution and entered Charleston Medical College for one course of lectures. He then went to Philadelphia, graduated in 1856, and returned to Georgia, where he taught another year. In 1858 he came to Talladega and opened a school for the deaf and dumb and was in charge of the school until 1861. In March of that year he organized Company First Alabama Infantry and became captain, serving one year. He then met with an accident which rendered him unfit for active duty and he returned to Talladega. Again he assumed charge of the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and in 1856 secured the establishment of a department for the blind, in connection with the Institute for the Deaf and Dumb. In 1891 he was the prime mover in the establishment of the asylum for the deaf and blind of the colored race. He superintended all the improvements made in the asylum.

Joseph was married in 1853 to Emily Darden, daughter of Judge Abner, native of Georgia and Nancy (Morris) Darden. To the marriage of Dr. Johnson and Miss Darden were born four children, Seaborn Johnson, Joseph H. Johnson, Jr. Annie Johnson and Helen Johnson. She was a native of Georgia and both she and her husband were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

He was a member of the Masonic order and Grand Master of all the Masonic bodies in the state. He was a Knight’s Templar, a member of the Odd Fellows and was a Knight of Honor. Joseph served about ten years as alderman of Talladega and was one of the most prominent and best of the citizens of Talladega County. He was appointed to serve on a Select Committee of Five to perfect some plan to carry out the ideas of resolutions offered to establish a Masonic Orphans Home and College at the 1882 Annual Communications.”

William Parish Chilton, PGM 1869-1871

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“William Parish Chilton was born in Kentucky in 1810. He was plainly educated and read law in Nashville, Tenn. His father was a Baptist minister and his mother a sister of Hon., Jesse Bledsoe, the Kentucky jurist. He came to this State in 1834, and established himself in the practice at Mardisville, in Talladega, associated with Mr. George P. Brown. He was subsequently associated in the practice with Messrs. G. W. Stone, J. T. Morgan, and F. W. Bowdon.

In 1839 he represented the county in the legislature, and in 1843 was the unsuccessful candidate of his party for congress. He removed to Macon County in 1846, and was at different times in partnership there with Messrs. William McLester, W. C. McIver, and C. A. Battle. He became Chief Justice when Justice Dargan resigned, Dec. 6, 1852, and held the eminent position till Jan. 2, 1856. He was chosen to the senate from Macon in 1859, over Col. Graham. In 1860 he resided in Montgomery and was the law partner of Hon. William L. Yancy. He was elected to represent the Montgomery district in the provisional congress of the Confederacy, and was re-elected to the two congresses under the permanent constitution. “It was a common remark that he “was the most laborious member of the body,” says his colleague, Hon. J.L.M. Curry of Talladega. At the peace he continued his professional labors in association with Col. Jack Thorington, and was so engaged at the time of his death, Jan. 20, 1871.

Both houses of the legislature, the Supreme Court, the federal court, all in session at the time in Montgomery, adjourned in respect to his memory, and spread resolutions of sorrow on their journals. The circuit court of Mobile, the bar there and at Selma, took similar action; while the Masonic bodies throughout the State, of which order he was Grand Master, united in the general expression of sorrow.

“His public career was distinguished by a pure, unselfish patriotism, an incorruptible integrity, a and a capacity and willingness to labor which seemed inexhaustible.” His life was a conclusive refutation of the popular fallacy that the practice of law is inconsistent with a pure Christianity. No public man of the State has exhibited more of the characteristics of a good and useful citizen.

Justice Chilton was twice married, each time to a sister of Gen. Morgan of Dallas, and two of his sons were attorneys at the Montgomery bar. Col. Anderson Abercrombie of Texas, and Dr. U. R. Jones and Mr. Wm. S. Thorington of this county, married daughters of Judge Chilton. Hon. Thomas Chilton of Talladega, deceased, who was for eight years a member of congress from Kentucky, was a brother.”

Dr. George D. Norris, PGM 1867-1869

“On the 12th day of February, 1890, the death Angel came into our midst and summoned to the reward of the just, our highly esteemed and dearly beloved Brother, Past Grand Master George D. Norris, of New Market, Alabama.

After the Civil War, Grand Master George D. Norris renewed the need for an Orphans Home. He traveled through the rain, in a stage coach, on a steamboat, and by rail. He traveled two months in 1869 visiting Lodges, lecturing, working and settling points of Masonic Law.

Brother Norris was one of the oldest and brightest stars in the Masonic constellation of this State, and his love, devotion and zeal for the cause of Masonry were equaled by but few and surpassed by none. Always at his post of duty, ever ready and willing to sacrifice and be sacrificed for the good of the Fraternity, he was a model Mason, and in his Masonic life we have an example worthy of imitation by all who have assumed the obligations of the mystic brotherhood

Wilson Williams, PGM 1865-1867

Brother Williams passed away in 1882

William C. Penick, PGM 1864-1865

“William C. Penick and Elizabeth (Byers) Penick were natives of Cumberland County, Virginia and York district, South Carolina, respectively. William C. Penick was born July 17, 1800 to Nathaniel Penick and Zilla H. Allen. He was educated at Hampdon-Sidney College, Va. He graduated in medicine at Transylvania College, at Lexington, Kentucky about 1824. He married Elizabeth Narcissa Byers Nov. 24, 1825 in York SC. Elizabeth Narcissa Byers was born Nov. 10, 1807 in York, SC . to David (Davie) Byers and Mary Gordon.  William practiced medicine in the York District of SC. until 1835 when William and Elizabeth relocated in Alabama. They settled at Wetumpka, where he was engaged in merchandising but resumed the practice of medicine in 1839. He continued his medical practice with great success until the fall of 1846 when he bought a considerable farm near Wetumpka and continued in the business of agriculture until his death on the 16th day of Oct. 1872.

William Penick and Elizabeth had the following children: (1) William Smith Penick (b. Oct. 20, 1826 York Dist., SC d. Aug. 2, 1894 Wetumpka, Elmore Co.,Alabama)(2)John Byers Penick (b. Feb. 5, 1832 York, SC d. Dec. 12, 1840 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL) (3) Frances Anna Penick (b. Feb. 5, 1848 Wetumpka, Coosa Co., AL d. Sep. 12, 1885 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL) (4) Holmes Allen Penick (b. Mar 1, 1845 Wetumpka, Coosa County, AL d. Oct. 9, 1874 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL) (5) David Johnson Penick (b. Mar 8, 1834 York, SC d. Nov. 12, 1834 York, SC) (6) Louisa Josephine Penick (b. Apr. 25, 1842 Wetumpka, Coosa Co., Alabama d. 1843 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL) (7) Alemeth Byers Penick (b. Apr. 30, 1836 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL d. 1862 Mississippi) (8) Nathaniel Edward Penick (b. June 3, 1830 York, SC d. Sep 1, 1864 GA) (9) Mary Frances Penick (b. Sep 4, 1828 York, SC d. Aug. 3, 1845 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL) (10) Sarah Elizabeth Penick (b. Dec. 26, 1838 Wetumpka, Coosa County, Alabama d. Apr. 12, 1916 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL)

He was a public-spirited and prominent man in his day. He was a strong unionist in 1833, and an ardent secessionist in 1861. He was a delegate to the Baltimore convention in 1860 from Alabama and assisted in nominating John C. Breckenridge for president. Prior to his death he had acquired a large property in slaves and lands. He died Oct. 16, 1872 and is buried in Wetumpka County Cemetery, Elmore County, Alabama.