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The people of Franklin County are primarily
interested in only one of the eight children of John and Catherine (Sherrill) Sevier, Dr.
Samuel Sevier, the second son. He was the progenitor of the Sevier family of
Franklin County and of North Alabama. Dr. Sevier was one of the prominent physicians
of Russellville in pre-Civil War days. He is buried in the same cemetery in which
his mother was buried. On his tombstone is found the following inscription:
DOCTOR SAMUEL SEVIER
BORN
JUNE 16, 1785
DIED
OCTOBER 25, 1849
AGED
64 YEARS, 4 MONTHS, 9 DAYS.
Dr. Sevier is said to have located in Russellville, Juee 10, 1836,
and with him came his mother, Bonnie Kate. As she died in October of the same year,
the reader sees that her period of residence in Russellville was very brief, though it was
her burial place for more than eighty-five years. Samuel Sevier lived at the old
Peter Martin Place, or where W. J. Hurn and family now live. His wife, according to
Mrs. T. S. Hyde, was a Miss. Jane Rhea. The Rhea family was also prominent in early
Tennessee history. Several children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Sevier. Among
them were: John; Rhea; Benjamin; Daniel Vertner; Brannon; Jane married Louis Chisholm;
Joanna married —— Dickson; Catherine married ——Merrill; Margaret
married ———— Tenant; Ruth died in college; Samuel, Jr.
The above list may not be accurate in the order of arrangement.
It appears that John Sevier lived for a number of years in Tuscumbia.
Rhea Sevier died in Mississippi.
Benjamin Sevier was a physician. He lived for a while in Baldwin, Miss., and was
also located at Russellville and at Belgreen. He is buried in the.old Town,Cemetery
at Russellville.
Dr. Daniel Vertner Sevier was one of the best known physicians in Franklin County.
He is said to have been a graduate of the Louisville Medical College. Dr. Sevier was
located at Frankfort during its days of glory and, and there his first wife, who was Miss.
Safrona Chisholm is buried. He was at Russellville for many years and was a leading
citizen of that place. Dr. Sevier was a bold, outspoken man, and like his
illustrious grandfather, General Sevier, was very brave. He was a member of the
Church of Christ and a Republican. He was State Senator from Franklin County in
1868, and in 1871-72. He and second wife, who was Miss. Catherine Keelon, daughter
of John Keelon, a prominent Franklin County planter, are buried in the Knights of Pythias
cemetery in Russellville. Dr. Sevier was born July 2, 1823, and died November 22,
1901.
HIS DESCENDANTS—Mrs. Nancy Irvin Hyde, wife of T. S. Hyde of Russellville, is the
only child of Dr. D. V. Sevier, who resides in Franklin County. She was born to his
second wife. Mrs. Hyde is the mother of several sons and daughters who reside in
Russellville.
Among the other children of Dr. Sevier are: Adelia married a Mr. Baumer; Samuel G., a
physician of Texas; Cullen; Daniel Vertner, Jr., resides in Texas; Catherine Keelon; Nancy
Irvin married T. S. Hyde; Jane died when young.
The first four of the above children of Dr. Sevier were born to his first wife.
There is a host of other descendants of John and Catherine (Sherrill) Sevier scattered
throughout the country, many of whom are very prominent in public and social life. Two
others, who deserve mention here are Miss. Mattie Sevier and Miss. Corrine Chisholm.
Miss. Mattie Sevier, a daughter of D. V. Sevier, Jr., performed a marriage ceremony
at Russellville in 1912. She is said to have been the first woman in Alabama to have
performed this rite.
Miss. Corrine Chisholm, is at the head of the Girl Scouts of the South. She owns the
famous "Dismal" near Phil Campbell, Ala., one of the scenic wonders of the
state. Each summer Miss. Chisholm holds a very interesting camp there composed of
girls from all parts of the South. In this way she is doing much to attract
outsiders to the beautiful scenery and natural resources of Franklin County.
From the book: "Distinguished Men, Women and Families of Franklin Co., Alabama,"
by R. L. James, pub. cir. 1927-1929, pages 110, 111. Copy of book located in the
Franklin County Library, Russellville, Alabama but not in very good shape as of June 2002.
UPDATE: On April 30, 2004, I visited the new Franklin Archives
Building in Russellville, Alabama and was glad to see that Chris Ozbirn, Director, had
procured an original copy of the publication of this book. |
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