General Notes

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"CONFEDERATE MOTHERS YET LIVING
Mrs. Julia Spradley, living with her son, Charles Spradley, near
Youngbloods, is a mother of the Confederacy.  Her husband was a member of
the home guards, but her son, J. E. Spradley, was a member of Co. "C"
17th Alabama, in General J. E. Johnson's army.  He surrendered at
Danville, Va., at the cessation of hostilities.  He was run over and
killed by a train at Patsburg some years ago. Mrs. Spradley was 81 years
of age on July 28th." (1)
(1)Troy Messenger, Confederate Mothers Yet Living,  9 Aug 1905, p. 2.
The following was from a newspaper clipping given to me, Ron Bridges, by
Gertrude P. Parnell via the mail on August 20, 1996.  One can surmise
that the article was written in 1912.
A NOTABLE OCCASION
A custom too rarely observed by most of us is the celebration of the
anniversaries of our old people. Very few of them are left to us after
the four score limit is passed. We should venerate them as vanishing
links with the silent past and remember that through their bodies bow
beneath the weight of years and the snows of age whiten their heads,
their hearts are young and they crave the love and sympathy of the
younger generation. The shadows lengthen around them and few if any of
the friends of youth remain, and their loneliness grows as the years
glide away.
So it is pleasing to note a delightful exception to the rule which
befell a venerable lady, Mrs. Julia Spradley, at Youngblood’s Station, on
the 28th July, in the fitting celebration of her eighty-eighth birthday.
The happy event took place at the residence of her son, Mr. S. A.
Spradley. Three generations of her descendants participated, besides many
friends.
Mrs. Spradley was born near Fayetteville, N. C., July 28, 1824, and
came to Alabama at ten years of age. About 1843 she was married to James
Spradley and is the mother of eight children, six sons and two
daughters:  Margaret, J. E., S. A., W. P., Lizzie, Charles T., and George
S., five of whom are still living.
A feature of the of the occasion was a most entertaining and
instructive talk by Rev. John R. Caldwell, of Prattville, who told of the
people and condition of pioneer days, and paid a golden tribute to the
sterling womanhood and gentle mothers of those strenuous days, as
illustrated by the life of Mrs. Spradley.
The dinner spread under the cool shade trees, in quantity and quality
fitted the occasion, and was partaken of with happy zest by the goodly
company. The afternoon passed in social converse and thus one of the
pleasantest days in the life of many present was terminated.
It is interesting to note that the life time of Mrs. Spradley has
witnessed more changes in the conditions of human life than perhaps did a
thousand years before. Horses were the swiftest means of travel and the
mail the quickest way of communication. Steam power was in its infancy
and the marvelous development and application of electricity were
undreamed of.
"Mrs. Julia Spradley aged 94 died at Troy Saturday and was brought to
Live Oak Sunday for interment. She was one of the oldest and best woman
of Crenshaw and is survived by several children among whom are John
Spradley of Patsburg. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. S. E.
Boroughs of Brantley." (1)
(1) The Luverne Journal, March 1, 1917
BOON(E) FAMILY CEMETERY
Township 11, Range 18, Section 22-North of Bradleyton, AL on County Road
59, Crenshaw Co., AL. There are only two graves visible now, located on
the land settled by the Boones, near the old Mt.Cannan Church.
Boon A. C. (Boon Family Cemetery) Feb 28 1867 * Jan 01 1876
Boon M.  (Boon Family Cemetery) July 16 1822 * Jun 06 1872