John Washington Echols

John Washington Echols was a farmer before joining the Confederate States Army in the 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment. He died as a result of his involvement in the civil war and his wife, Lucy, received a pension as a result.

The proposed connection to Samuel Moore Echols is the first link is the agnatic line not recorded in Milner's The Echols Family History. In the words of Janice Echols Gorman: "It has been nearly four years now that I have been searching for the father of John W.. and Samuel M. Echols."

The Satterwhite Family Book claims that John Echols was one of the original settlers of the village of "Milltown" in Chambers Co., AL. In addition, it states that he was a farmer and land owner and provides supplementary evidence of his marriage to Lucy Satterwhite, daughter of Obe Satterwhite.

The Satterwhite Family Book states that John W. Echols was born ca. 1811 in Chambers County, Alabama, but Chambers County was not created until 1832. This is likely a back-projected location or an inference from his 1838 Chambers County marriage and later Milltown association.

He served in the Confederate States Army and died as a result (either as a soldier or due to wounds stemming from his involvement). His wife, Lucy, filed for a pension as a widow (Military Pension Records 1879-1940 Lucy A Echols).

There are seemingly distinct "J. W. Echols"'s involved in the CSA:

• Private, Cavalry, 1st Alabama Regiment, Company I, pension applicant named "Lucy A. Echols" from Butler County (alabama.gov)
• Private, Infantry, 23rd Alabama Regiment, and eventually captured and confined at Alton Illinois prison (alabama.gov) (NARA)
• Lt. Colonel for "Echols, J. W." in 34 Alabama Infantry (FamilySearch), although this appears to be a "James W. Echols" (FamilySearch)

The alignment between Lucy A. Echols, the widow, and Lucy Annah Echols, the wife of John Washington Echols, is very strong (see more at Lucy Anna (Satterwhite) Echols Source Alignment). According to FamilySearch, the 1st Alabama Regiment's Company I consisted of "many men from Pike County and Butler County", which aligns with Lucy. But, I cannot find a packet for J. W. Echols to prove his involvement in the 1st Alabama Regiment of the Calvary and all sources point back to Lucy's pension document decades after the Civil War so I cannot rule out the possibly that she is incorrect here.

He is the solider listed under "Died of sickness" for Lucy Anna (Satterwhite) Echols's entry in the Alabama Census 1866.

Date	Event
Circa 1811	Born, as implied by 1860 Federal Census, Alabama
October 2, 1838	Marriage license (Marriage License Indexes 1833-1915)
October 4, 1838	Married to Lucy Anna (Satterwhite) Echols (source in Lucy's obituary)
1848	Birth of his son, Josephus Bryan Echols, as implied by 1860 Federal Census, Alabama
1860	Occupation listed as "Farmer" by 1860 Federal Census, Alabama (corroborated by Satterwhite Family Book)
October 5, 1865	Died, per wife's obituary (The Gospel Messenger)

Note that the 1st Alabama regiment had surrendered in April 1865; thus, he likely died of disease or injury sustained as a solider rather than directly in combat.

Source: FamilySearch

Transcription:

J W & Lucy Ann Echols To Churchwell Allen

The state of Alabama

Chambers County

This Indenture made and entered into this the 31st January Eighten Hundred and fifty seven, between Churchwill Allen of Tallapossa County. of the own part and J. W. Echols and Lucy Ann, wife of J. W. Echols, all of the state aforesaid: Witnesseth: the said J. W. and Lucy Ann Echols, for and in consideration of the sum of Five Hundred and forty dollars to them in hand paid by the said Churchwill Allia, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath sold and conveyed and by these presents do hereby grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said Churchwill Allen, his heirs and assigns all that tract or parcel of Land lying in Chambers County known and distinguished by the North half of the south West Quarter and the North West quarter of the south East Quarter of Section Eight Township twenty three, and range twenty five, in the district of land subject to sale at Montgomery Alabama, containing one Hundred and twenty acres, more or less, to have and to hold unto him the said Churchwell Allen, his heirs and assigns in for simple for ever and we J W and Lucy Ann Echols wife of J W Echols do covenant and agre with the said Churchwell Allen, that we have a good right and title to convey the same and that we will forever warrant and defend the right and title of the said land to him the said Churchwell Allen, his heirs and assigns, against ourselves, our heirs and assigns and against all other person nature: In Intemone whereof, have hereunto set our hands and fixed our scale this the day and year above written.

J W Echols (seal)

Lucy Ann Echols (seal)

In presence of

J. H. Shirley

Jordan Sanders

The state of Alabama

Chambers County

I. Wm H H Hunter, a Justice of the Peace hereby Certify that Jordan Sanders, a saber bring witness to the foregoing conveyance, known to me, appeared before me, on this day and being sworn, stated that John W. Echols and Lucy Aun Echols his wife, the grantors in the conveyance, voluntarely executed the same in his presence and in the presence of the other authority withof, on the day the same bears date, that he attested the same in the presence of grantors and in the presence of the other witness and that such other witness subscribed his name as a witness on his presence Sworn under my hand this the 2nd day of February A D 1857

Wm H H Hunter J. P.

Filed in office for record April 14th 1857 and recorded April 25th 1857 in Record of Deed Vol 12 Page 181? of 185?

Wm L Crayton

Judge of Probate

This land is in Chambers County, close to Milltown, AL. This section of land was originally patented by three different people:

• NW1/4 SW1/4 to John H. Todd on 1 Jun 1849 (AL4370__.294)
• NE1/4 SW1/4 to John Harrist on 10 May 1848 (AL4360__.195)
• NW1/4 SE1/4 is part of W1/2 SE1/4 patented to John Bentley on 2 Nov 1837 (AL4290__.074)

Corroborating patent records can be found at state.al.us. I do not yet have the records of the acquisition of this land, just the sale and original patents by other people.

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"J. W. Echols & wife To Jourdan Sanders" (FamilySearch).

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"John W Echols & wife to Edwin Lamberth", dated July 28, 1851 (FamilySearch)

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There appears to be a row for "Echols J. W." as the grantee in "Chambers. Deed Indexes 1834–1876" (FamilySearch) for April 17, 1849 recorded in Book 2 Page 242. The other party name is illegible. Oddly, the indicated book does not seem to include this reference on the page number or book-specific-index. This reference may be intended to align with "Echols John W." in the Vol. 5 index (FamilySearch) if you allow a book "2" to morph into book "5" (flipped) and allow page "242" to morph into page "442" (changed orders). This deed can be found here: (FamilySearch). Transcription:

Sheriffs Deed to Jno. W Echols

920

The State of Alabama

Chambers County

By virtue of a writ of venditioni exponas issued from the circuit court of Chambers County in said state of the limit? of John W Echols and against Garrett Wilder bearing date october 24th A.D. 1843 and to mr? diricted? I William Bledsor? Sheriff of said County of Chambers did lately levy on and seize the lot tract or parcel of Land hereinafter specified and after being duly and publickly advertised according to law did at the court house in said county of Chambers on monday the 6th day of February 1843 proceed at publick out cry to sell the same, when John W Echols was the highest and best bidder therefor, at the price of Fifty Dollars the same bring struck off to him the said John W. Echols for the sum aforesaid- In consideration of which I William Blidsor? Sheriff as aforesaid do hereby bargain sell and convey unto him the said John W. Echols his heirs and assigns the following described property to wit: Eighty acres of land more or less known and distinguished by the west half of the north East quarter of section six in Township Twenty four of Range Twenty seven Lying and being in said county of Chambers and state aforesaid so have and to hold said bargained property or premises unto him the said John W Echols heirs and assigns forever – And I William Blidsor? sheriff as aforesaid do so far as the office of sheriff authorises me hereby warrant said property or ral? Estate unto him the said John WEchols his heirs and assigns, and the same to have hold use and enjoy in the same manner the afore said Garrett Wilder defendant as aforesaid could or might have held said proporty, had not the same been seized and sold by virtue of the aforesaid writ of Venditioni exponas- In testimony whereof I the said William Blidsor sheriff as aforesaid have here unto let my hand and seal this seventh day of February 1843

William Bledsor Shff (LS)

Signed handed and delivered in presence of

Edward Bryd? -M

The land in question that John W. Echols received is the west half from patent AL4250__.408. This land is just south of Roanoke, AL and adjacent to Randolph County to the North. Evidently, this land was patented by an Ezekiel Wilder, came at least partially into the possession of Garret Wilder, then the western half was purchased at auction by John W. Echols.

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This is possibly the "John Echols" or "J. [M?]. Echols" (two different entries) found in Alabama Census 1855.

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Possibly mentioned in the Estate of Thomas W. Coker as "J. W. Echols" in Tallapoosa County (FamilySearch).

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Also see Tallapoosa Deed Indexes 1835-1913.

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Per "Estate Case Files: Tallapoosa. Probate Estate Case Files 1840-1915" (FamilySearch):

THE STATE OF ALABAMA

TALLAPOOSA COUNTY

TO ANY SHERIFF OF THE STATE

YOU are hereby commanded without delay to summon John Echols and Lucy Echols his wife personally to be and appear before the Honorable the Judge of the Court of Probate for Tallapoosa County, at the Court room thereof, on the Sixth day of April next then and there to show cause if any they have or cab why a paper writing purporting to the last will and Testament of Obed Satterwhite, deceased shall not be admitted to probate, and ordered to the filed and Recorded and have you then and there this Writ, with your endorsement thereon.

WITNESS: SIMEON GOOLSBY, Judge of Probate, at office, this 5th day of March A. D. 1857.

Simeon Goolsby JUDGE OF PROBATE

Connects to the estate of Obediah Satterwhite

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"John W Echols" as well as "Samuel Echols" mentioned as recipients of items (FamilySearch).

From 1 Calvary:

Maybe the "J W Echols" mentioned in this CSA document (FamilySearch):

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Probably not the "J W Echols" from 23 Regiment Alabama Infantry.

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"Janet Carter to John W. Echols" where "John W. Echols of the County of Chambers Alabama" dated 1845 (FamilySearch).