Frances L. Pettus, PGM 1892-1894

“Hon. Frances L. Pettus, attorney and counselor at law, at Selma Al. was born at Cahaba, Dallas County, Oct. 7, 1858 son of GEN.. E. W. Pettus, Hon. F. L. Pettus was reared for the most part in Selma, to which city his parents removed shortly after the Civil War. He received his early education in Selma and then sent to the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington, Virginia where he remained for one year. He then in consequence of failing health returned to his home and for a short time engaged in farming. Upon recovering, he attended Davidson College, NC where he completed a classical course of two years. Leaving college in 1877, he went to Galveston, Texas where he was employed for a year in the commission house of John D. Rodgers & Co., large cotton factors. Returning to Selma he entered the law office of his father, with whom he read law and on April 9, 1879, he was admitted to the bar. He became a member of the Pettus and Dawson firm in Selma with his father GEN. E. W. Pettus and COL. N. H. R. Dawson. In 1880 he began to play an important part in the politics of the state, being elected a delegate to the state democratic convention, and he was a delegate to the state democratic convention for four subsequent state conventions, in 1882, 1884, 1886, and 1888. In 1882 he became Clerk of the Supreme Court of the State, and continued to hold that position until November, 1884., during which time he resided at Montgomery. In 1886 he was elected as a Democrat to the lower house of the Legislature to represent Dallas County and was re-elected in 1888, in 1890 and in 1892. From the first Mr. Pettus took an active part in shaping legislation and soon gained a reputation amongst his constituents for faithfulness and ability, thus securing their confidence and esteem. In 1888 he became chairman of the Judiciary committee of the house, and such was his display of intelligence and power that during the session of 1890 he became a strong candidate for Speaker of the House. The contest was an enthusiastic and heated one, and though he was defeated it was only by a very small majority, showing that he was a popular and highly esteemed member of the house.

Mr. Pettus was a prominent Mason, being Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the state. He was also a member of the Knights of Pythias of the Elks.

In 1880, Mr. Pettus married Miss Mary Knox, daughter of MAJ. William S. Knox of Selma. Mrs. Pettus was an accomplished lady and conferred grace and dignity upon the domestic circle.”

George M. Morrow, PGM 1890-1892

“George M. Morrow one of the leading druggists of Birmingham, was born in Elyton, Alabama August 20, 1846. His father, Hugh Morrow, came from Kentucky to Alabama. His father died July, 1889 and his mother, Margaret Holmes died June 1891, the father at 85 and mother 67. George Morrow attended the common schools of his home until he was 16 years old, when, in 1863 he enlisted in the Confederate service, in company F. 7th Alabama Cavalry, under command of COL. L. B. Musgrove. The next year he was transferred to the famous Cavalry Brigade under command of GEN. Joseph Wheeler, and promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant. He fought at Nashville and at Franklin. When he came home from the war, he attended school one year at Elyton, and took up the study of medicine under Dr. Joseph R. Smith.. The following year he attended the Miami Medical College, of Cincinnati, graduating in 1868 and at once began to practice at Ashville. He remained there until 1871, then going to Elyton, where he practiced until 1878. In the latter year he removed to Birmingham and embarked in the wholesale and retail drug business in company with Dr. F. D. Nabers, having abandoned the medical profession on account of ill-health. His career was marked by great financial success, and his warm nature and genial social qualities endeared him to a large circle of friends.

He was married, the first time in November 1868 to Mary E.. daughter of Dr. Joseph and Mrs. Margaret SMITH, of Elyton. They had one child, Margaret J. Morrow. His first wife died in 1873. His 2nd wife, whom he married in May 1874 was Miss Susie, daughter of O. S. Malinda (Nabers)Smith of Elyton. There were four children of the latter union—-Lucy O., Anna Bertha, deceased; George M. Jr. and Frank Morrow.

In Dec. 1890, he was elected Grand Master of the Masonic order of Alabama.

In 1891 he was elected sheriff of Jefferson County for four years. Both he and wife were communicants of the Baptist Church.”

Henry Hart Brown, PGM 1888-1890

“Henry Hart Brown was born August 24, 1837 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. He died at his home in East Lake, Jefferson County, Alabama on January 9th 1903 at 65 years of age.

He was an attorney and a member of several organizations such as the Alabama Historical Society.

He was initiated at an Entered Apprentice in Northport Lodge No. 252 A. F. & A. M. in Feb. 12, 1859, passed to the degree of Fellow Craft March 26th, 1859, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason April 28th 1859. He evinced great interest and devotion and his development in was sure.” xliv[PRO 1903]

“In his annual address as Grand Master, Henry Hart Brown, urged “the importance of a more efficient system of lecturing the Subordinate Lodges in the work of conferring degrees.” As a result of his effort, the District Lecturer system was initiated in 1891. He appointed five members to take consideration the establishment of a Masonic Home for widows and orphans of deceased Masons of Alabama.” Xlv[Dictionary][1849 Pro][Masonry]

He served as Worshipful Master of Northport Lodge for a number of years. When he moved to East Lake, he became affiliated with East Lake Lodge No. 480 and continued as an honored member of that Lodge until his death. He was for many years a regular attendant upon the Communications of the Grand Body and its members were quick to recognize and reward his great zeal and worth. “He was elected Junior Grand Warden December 1885, Senior Grand Warden December 1886, Deputy Grand Master 1887 and Grand Master December 1888, which exalted station he filled with signal ability until December 1890. At the time of his death, he was Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia near this Grand Lodge.

In the midst of his great usefulness, our beloved brother was stricken down by a hopeless malady, which held him a helpless suffer for four long years, ere the ‘grim monster’ was welcomed as a kind messenger, and his noble spirit winged its eager flight from this imperfect, to that all perfect, glorious, celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides.

Henry Hart Brown was every inch a man. An honest, able attorney, a brave Confederate soldier, a great pillar of strength in the Church, in Masonry, in affairs of government, in society; a tender loving spirit in the home. We miss his genial, noble face! Our sympathies go out to his sorely bereaved family. His memory is enshrined in our hearts. His works do follow him.

‘Brethren a Mighty Craftsman works no more
With maul and level, plumb and square and line;
His tools lie idle on the checkered floor-
The workman gone upon the Master’s sign,
Yet true and polished there his ashlar stands,
The chiseled witness of his cunning skill.
The name of Henry Brown glistens in its sands
The Temple waits the stone on Salem’s Hill.’

Myles Jefferson Greene, PGM 1887-1888

Myles Jefferson Greene, a native of Baldwin County, Georgia, was born October 30th, 1827 and died June 27th 1892 in Montgomery, Alabama. He was educated in the country schools in Georgia and at Auburn. He received his medical degree from Charleston, S. C. medical college in 1851. He began the practice of medicine in Lochapoka shortly after graduation and practiced there, in Opelika and in Talladega, until his appointment as Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge in December, 1888. He married Mary Anne Eliza, daughter of Dr. Reuben and Mary (Baldwin) Phillips of Loachapoka, on April 10, 1853. There were no children. He was a Christian gentleman and an educated physician, taking a high position amongst his professional brethren, which he maintained to the day of his death. As a physician he was an original thinker, and a careful and painstaking practitioner as well as skillful surgeon.

He was initiated May 17, 1849, passed June 9th, 1849, and raised June 28th, 1849 by Auburn Lodge No. 76 A.F. and A. M. In 1850 he located in Loachapoka, Macon County, and measures were soon taken to establish a Lodge in that, at that time, new and prosperous town. Dr. Greene was the first Worshipful Master of this Lodge. In 1877 he removed to Talladega, where he resided until 1888, save two years in Opelika. During that period he filled the office of Worshipful Master or a subordinate station in Talladega Lodge No. 261.

He was exalted by Opelika Chapter No. 74, R. A. M. in 1866. He soon thereafter demitted and assisted in the establishment of Lochapoka Chapter No. 80, being one of the charter members. He was the first and only H. P. of that chapter as long as he lived there. In 1877, he went to Talladega, became a member of and soon an officer in Talladega Chapter No. 23. At the time of his death, he was a member of Montgomery Chapter No. 22. He was knighted by Tuskegee Commandery of Knights Templar in 1873. After moving to Talladega he was unaffiliated until 1888 when he became a member of Montgomery Commandery No. 4 on whose record will no doubt be found a tribute to his memory.

Dr. Greene made his first appearance in the Grand Lodge in 1852 as Worshipful Master of Loachapoka Lodge No. 133. From that date he was seldom absent from the Grand Communications, having attended every one since 1867. In 1869 he was appointed a member of the Committee on Work. This position he held until 1881, when he was elected Junior Grand Warden. He was successively elected Senior Grand Warden, Deputy Grand Master and became Grand Master in 1877. He held this high office one year, when he was elected Grand Secretary, the position he occupied at the date of his death.

In 1869 he was appointed a member of the Grand Chapter Committee on Work. In 1869 he was elected Grand Captain of the Host and was regularly promoted until he became Grand High Priest in 1872 and filled that office for three years.

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.”