Robert & LaRue Wiggins 1. William Robert1 Wiggins was born 09 March 1860, and died 10 May 1941. He married Minnie Rosetta Yarbrough. She was born 19 September 1859, and died 31 January 1940.
More About William Robert Wiggins:
Burial: Ridge Cemetery, on the Ridge Road, North of Monroeville, AL
More About Minnie Rosetta Yarbrough:
Burial: Ridge Cemetery, on the Ridge Road, North of Monroeville, AL
Children of William Wiggins and Minnie Yarbrough are:
+ 2 i. George Cooper2 Wiggins, born 19 October 1882; died 02 November 1940.
3 ii. Listern Wiggins.
4 iii. Burt Wiggins.
5 iv. Sidney Wiggins.
6 v. Minnie Wiggins.
7 vi. Lela Wiggins.
8 vii. Nettie Wiggins.
9 viii. Gracie Wiggins.
Generation No. 2
2. George Cooper2 Wiggins (William Robert1) was born 19 October 1882, and died 02 November 1940. He married (1) Tunie Peaden. She was born 30 June 1895. He married (2) Mary Ella Manning 04 February 1903. She was born 19 May 1886, and died 09 November 1921.
More About George Cooper Wiggins:
Burial: Ollie, Alabama
More About George Wiggins and Mary Manning:
Marriage: 04 February 1903
Children of George Wiggins and Tunie Peaden are:
+ 10 i. Edwina3 Wiggins, born 16 January 1926.
11 ii. Juanita Wiggins, born 13 December 1929. She married Lewis Geddert.
12 iii. Alsie Wiggins, born 03 February 1930. She married Berlin Sims.
13 iv. Vera Wiggins, born 04 July 1933.
Children of George Wiggins and Mary Manning are:
+ 14 i. Robert Ishmael3 Wiggins, born 07 December 1907; died 28 April 1975 in Monroe County Hospital, Monroeville, Alabama, buried, Pineville Cemetery, Beatrice, Monroe Co., AL.
15 ii. Lillian Elizabeth Wiggins, born 29 December 1905; died 21 April 1975. She married Alvin Jaye.
16 iii. Annie Mae Wiggins, born 02 January 1910; died 24 July 1984. She married James Carl Scruggs.
17 iv. Carrie Wynona Wiggins, born 22 March 1912; died 23 May 1914.
18 v. George Newton Wiggins, born 09 November 1914. He married Lila Mae Green.
19 vi. Infant Wiggins, born 10 December 1903; died 15 December 1903.
20 vii. Infant 2 Wiggins, born 07 November 1921; died 07 November 1921.
Generation No. 3
10. Edwina3 Wiggins (George Cooper2, William Robert1) was born 16 January 1926. She married Oscar Wiggins.
Children of Edwina Wiggins and Oscar Wiggins are:
21 i. Sammy4 Wiggins.
22 ii. Eddie Wiggins.
+ 23 iii. Paul Wiggins.
14. Robert Ishmael3 Wiggins (George Cooper2, William Robert1) was born 07 December 1907, and died 28 April 1975 in Monroe County Hospital, Monroeville, Alabama, buried, Pineville Cemetery, Beatrice, Monroe Co., AL. He married Vivian LaRue Dulaney 01 October 1927 in Excel, Monroe Co., AL, by W. R. Manning, Justice of the Peace, daughter of James Dulaney and Amanda Sawyer. She was born 14 October 1911 in Jones Mill, Monroe County, Alabama (now Frisco City, AL), and died 09 January 1990 in her home in Beatrice, Alabama, buried Pineville Cemetery, Beatrice, Monroe Co., AL.
More About Robert Wiggins and Vivian Dulaney:
Marriage: 01 October 1927, Excel, Monroe Co., AL, by W. R. Manning, Justice of the Peace
Children of Robert Wiggins and Vivian Dulaney are:
+ 24 i. Robbie Ruth4 Wiggins, born 04 November 1931 in Beatrice, Monroe Co., AL; died 05 May 1996 in Mobile Infirmary, Mobile, Alabama, buried in Pineville Cemetery, Beatrice, Monroe Co., AL.
+ 25 ii. Charles Edward Wiggins, born 14 February 1942 in Beatrice, Monroe Co., AL.
Generation No. 4
23. Paul4 Wiggins (Edwina3, George Cooper2, William Robert1) He married Ellen Price.
Children of Paul Wiggins and Ellen Price are:
26 i. Bethany5 Wiggins.
27 ii. Rob Wiggins.
24. Robbie Ruth4 Wiggins (Robert Ishmael3, George Cooper2, William Robert1) was born 04 November 1931 in Beatrice, Monroe Co., AL, and died 05 May 1996 in Mobile Infirmary, Mobile, Alabama, buried in Pineville Cemetery, Beatrice, Monroe Co., AL. She married Roy Bernard Morgan 02 December 1950 in Ruth's parents home in Beatrice, Alabama. He was born 24 June 1929 in Butler County, Alabama, and died 05 June 1989 in Prattville, Autauga Co., Alabama.
More About Robbie Ruth Wiggins:
Divorced: 24 February 1984
More About Roy Bernard Morgan:
Divorced: 24 February 1984
More About Roy Morgan and Robbie Wiggins:
Divorce: 24 February 1984
Marriage: 02 December 1950, Ruth's parents home in Beatrice, Alabama
Children of Robbie Wiggins and Roy Morgan are:
+ 28 i. Lynda5 Morgan, born 15 July 1951 in Monroe County Hospital, Monroeville, Alabama.
+ 29 ii. Tony Eugene Morgan, born 06 December 1953 in Monroe County Hospital, Monroeville, Alabama.
25. Charles Edward4 Wiggins (Robert Ishmael3, George Cooper2, William Robert1) was born 14 February 1942 in Beatrice, Monroe Co., AL. He married Joyce Ann Brown 20 July 1963 in Monroe County, Alabama. She was born 26 June 1944 in Mexia, Monroe Co., AL.
More About Charles Wiggins and Joyce Brown:
Marriage: 20 July 1963, Monroe County, Alabama
Child of Charles Wiggins and Joyce Brown is:
30 i. Susan Angela5 Wiggins. born 26 October 1980
Generation No. 5
28. Lynda5 Morgan (Robbie Ruth4 Wiggins, Robert Ishmael3, George Cooper2, William Robert1) was born 15 July 1951 in Monroe County Hospital, Monroeville, Alabama. She married Jimmie D. Spann 14 November 1976 in Beatrice Baptist Church, Beatrice, Alabama. He was born 18 February 1951.
More About Jimmie Spann and Lynda Morgan:
Marriage: 14 November 1976, Beatrice Baptist Church, Beatrice, Alabama
Children of Lynda Morgan and Jimmie Spann are:
31 i. Heather Leah6 Spann, born 11 April 1982 in University of South Alabama Hospital, Mobile, Alabama.
32 ii. Tamara Lynn Spann, born 11 April 1982 in University of South Alabama Hospital, Mobile, Alabama.
29. Tony Eugene5 Morgan (Robbie Ruth4 Wiggins, Robert Ishmael3, George Cooper2, William Robert1) was born 06 December 1953 in Monroe County Hospital, Monroeville, Alabama. He married (1) Marjorie Ledbetter 09 July 1971. He married (2) Jacqueline McGee Johnson 17 June 1984 in Monroeville, Monroe Co., AL. She was born 22 September 1956 in Mobile County, Alabama. He married (3) Ruth Bailey 25 November 1999 in Beatrice, Monroe Co., AL in the Mary Elizabeth Stallworth House - first marriage performed there after restoration was completed.
More About Tony Eugene Morgan:
Divorced: 1983
More About Tony Morgan and Marjorie Ledbetter:
Divorce: Abt. 1983
Marriage: 09 July 1971
More About Tony Morgan and Jacqueline Johnson:
Divorce: Abt. 1989
Marriage: 17 June 1984, Monroeville, Monroe Co., AL
More About Tony Morgan and Ruth Bailey:
Marriage: 25 November 1999, Beatrice, Monroe Co., AL in the Mary Elizabeth Stallworth House - first marriage performed there after restoration was completed
Children of Tony Morgan and Marjorie Ledbetter are:
33 i. Steven Bernard6 Morgan, born 09 February 1972.
34 ii. Joanne Laura Morgan, born 23 September 1979.
Emma & Jerry Montgomery
Pineville, Monroe Country, Alabama
By William V. Rogers, Jr.
------------------------------------------------
Prepared for the Montgomery/Cunningham Family Reunion Committee and presented during the 1999 reunion held in Washington, DC.
Submitted by Gwendolyn D. Richardson
======================================= London Montgomery, along with his siblings, Jerry, William, Rebecca and Minta migrated or were brought to the Pineville and Turnbull Communities (slave landings) in the 1800s. Their original home was John's Island, Charleston County, Charleston, South Carolina. According to the Alabama State Department of Archives and History, London and Jerry were carpenters and master craftsmen. Rebecca, the oldest sister, married Thomas Black, a free Negro, who also migrated from John's Island. He too was a carpenter and became a large landowner in Monroe County.
London, a mulatto, married Celia, a pureblooded African, who likewise came from South Carolina. Celia had two known siblings, Waiters and Nancy.
Horace Cunningham, a mulatto, and his wife Sarah lived and farmed in the Turnbull Community before and after the Civil War. His mother came from South Carolina, his father from Scotland. He was born in Burntcorn, Alabama but migrated to the Turnbull Community. Sarah was born in the Turnbull community after her mother was brought there from South Carolina. Horace had two known siblings, Jimmie and Alice. Sarah's known siblings were Lucy, Lizzie, Nancy, Rance and Richard. She was a very industrious woman. Captain Riley, the landowner, used her as a work example. He would admonish the other workers as he oversaw them to, "Keep up with Sarah and you'll get a day's work done." She was an outstanding leader in whatever task assigned.
The union between the Montgomery and Cunningham families took place in 1908 when Lillie Stallworth Cunningham married Evans B. Montgomery, son of London and Celia Montgomery. Lillie's first Husband was Daniel Cunningham who died in 1907. He was the son of Horace and Sara Cunningham. To that union Daniel and Lillie, five children were born. The union of Lillie and Evans produced four children. Because of this link of offspring, the two families, Montgomery and Cunningham, became bonded into a lasting, harmonious relationship.
The white ancestors of both families came from the Southern part of Scotland in Ayr, South Glasgow. The Scottish spelling of Montgomery is Macgumerait. The Scottish spelling of Cunningham is accunnineagain. The Methodist Church sponsored our white ancestors from Scotland to Alabama. One of those churches still stands as a place of worship in a community near Beatrice. Many of the names on the tombstones in the nearby cemetery are those of Montgomerys and Cunninghams.
As the southern industries expanded there was a need for houses, warehouses and other buildings in Monroe County. Our ancestors saw this as an opportunity to prosper and achieve modest wealth. This wealth was measured by the families' ability to own property.
In the late 1800's Pineville Community, Monroe County, was the predominant center of business for surrounding communities. Soon, land was being sold southwest of Pineville and Turnbull. The land that London and his offspring purchased was named "The Montgomery Hill." Sarah and Horace, along with Sarah's sister Lucy and her husband Isaac, purchased a plantation south of the Montgomery Hill Community. This property was known as "Isaac's Settlement." Because of the sacrifices made by our forefathers to become landowners, most of the offspring have retained the land as part of the family heritage. It also encouraged the next generation to become independent property owners, a plus in a state dripping with segregation. However, during the Depression in the 1930's, many family members went "North" to support their families and pay for land that they had purchased. Some did not return to live but they maintained close ties to Beatrice, their "Starting Point."
The Pineville and Turnbull communities were family oriented in the true sense. Members of families farmed, worked together, cared for each other and shared with each other. They were also self- sustaining. They produced cotton, corn, cows, chickens, eggs, milk, hogs, fruits of several kinds, and vegetables. The Rikards's Mill played an important part also in the family's livelihood. It was there that the men of the family carried com to be made into meal, grits and/or chopped com for the chickens.
The Montgomerys and Cunninghams were active members and leaders in the communities, especially in the church, school Masons, and the Eastern Star. The oldest black Baptist church in the Pineville community was Sylvester Baptist. The Cunninghams were active members there and still are today. One part of London and Celia's offspring became members of Morning Star Baptist Church and the other part became members of New Purchase CME Church. Rebecca Montgomery Black and Thomas Black's offspring were also members of New Purchase CME Church. They deeded 21 acres of land to establish the church. However, in 1936 the church was moved to its present location in the town of Beatrice. The original 21 acres are currently utilized as the church's cemetery. It is located near Montgomery Hill. London's offspring likewise have remained connected to their respective Churches.
Three of the first Black teachers in the communities were Clara Montgomery Cooper, youngest daughter of London; Sarah Stallworth, step-daughter of Sinbad Montgomery; and Lucy Cunninghan, daughter of Horace Cunningham. They were dedicated teachers who made obstacles into stepping stones of opportunity. Even today, some of their students marvel at their quality of teaching. Evans Montgomery (Buck), Ollie Cunningham and other family members who were on the School Board were not there because of their formal education but because of their wisdom (Mother Wit) and their great interest in educating the future generations. Family members provided "homes away from home" for teachers who came to teach in Beatrice.
In 1900, the Louisville-Nashville rail line completed the gap in the Selma, Alabama to Pensacola, Florida branch. Both Evans Montgomery (Buck), son of London and Celia, and Daniel Cunningham, son of Horace and Sarah, were employed in laying rails for the railroad. Before his death in 1907, Daniel's last public employment involved assisting with cutting a tunnel for the railroad. With the improvement of the rail lines, a depot was built and shipping improved. Arnold Seymour, resident superintendent of the Louisville-Nashville rail line, requested that the newly developed area become a town named Beatrice, after his beloved granddaughter.
Thus was the beginning of OUR BELOVED BEATRICE - A TOWN MADE UP OF COMMUNITIES OF FAMILIES WHO KNEW GOD AND INSTILLED IN THEIR OFFSPRINGS THAT KNOWING GOD, OWNING PROPERTY, AND EDUCATING THE MIND ARE INTERTWINED WITH THE HALLMARK OF FREEDOM AND SUCCESS. WE PRAISE GOD FOR BEATRICE, OUR STARTING POINT!
Lindsey 1937 Interviews. The Clans and Tartans, Ch. 3
Thomas M. and Rebecca Montgomery Black Second Biennial Family Reunion pp 3-5
Audio Tape of Oral History narrated by Ollie Cunningham and Oral History from family members
Bennie J. McRae, Jr.
LWF Communications
Trotwood. Ohio
Click Here For-> Montgomery Family History
Click Here For->Montgomerys of Monroe County, Alabama
Edward Wiggins--WebMaster
<
Descendants of William Robert Wiggins
Generation No. 1
Our Starting Point: Beatrice, Alabama
RESOURCES:
Ford, Comp, Census of Charleston, pp 23-239 in Ira Berlin, Slaves Without Masters
View My Guestbook
Sign My Guestbook
This Website is a Joint Project of: Lynda M. Spann & Edward Wiggins
