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The Hightower News-A
Compilation
Edited by Paul Hightower
Civil War Stories
Andrew Hightower, born in 1811, heard that Union Soldiers were coming to get his guns and
horses. He took the horses into the Butler County woods and said "if they get my guns, they will
get 'em red hot!" He loaded his black powder weapons, but the soldiers never came.
Andrew lived the early part of his life in Butler County, Kentucky. He was reared by a man
named Alph Taylor, who had a number of slaves. Fielding's fatherin-law, James Mahan,
purchased two slaves to help farm his land. But when his wife saw them, she made him take
them back because she didn't think slavery was right.
Descendents of the two Arkansas brothers who left Warren County, Joshua and William, ended
up on opposite sides of the war. William's family joined the Confederacy and fought at Shiloh
while Joshua's family went north into Missouri and joined a volunteer Union regiment.
The Kentucky/Arkansas Hightower
Connection
Possessed with but few things of this world, believing he could better his condition and be of
more benefit to his family caused him to break his endearments with many friends and his
Kentucky home and cast his destinies in the almost untrodden wilds of the territory of Arkansas.
In November, 1830, Joshua and William Hightower, with their families and Mrs. Elizabeth
Wren,(their sister), with her seven children left Warren County, Ky., in wagons for Izard County,
Ark. Mr. Wren remained until he could dispose of his tobacco crop. The progress of this little
emigrant train was necessarily slow. There were few settlements, and public roads were
unknown west of the Mississippi River. By perserverence and energy they reached Rocky Bayou
on the 24th of December and camped that Christmas eve night on the farm now owned by R. L.
Landers. On this place Mrs. Wren waited for Mr. Wren who came by water to Chickasas Bluff,
now Memphis, and walked through the lonely swamps and cane brakes alone, camping out
nights with no protection save his pocket knife.He reached his family early in 1831 and made a
crop on that place.
James Wren organized a Baptist Church, the first in Izard County, on the west bank of Rocky
Bayou with 8 members. Another group of Hightowers, descendants of James WiIson
Hightower(born 1816 in Warren County) migrated to Cushman, Arkansas and today about a
dozen Hightower families live there. Some of these Hightower migrants moved on into Texas
and the Southwest.
The Story of My Parents
by Bertha Turner Hightower
June 27, 1958
Henry Jackson Turner was my father. He was a hard working honest man. He taught us children
to do good in all things. Ile worked at a saw mill most of his married life. He didn't make much
money, but always bought clothes and food for his family. My father and mother were very
devoted to each other. My mother, Harriet Young Turner, was a very fine and sweet woman. She
didn't go to church much, but she read her Bible and taught me to read it.She taught me to be
honest, truthful and descent. She always taught her children good things. She never talked about
her neighbor or anyone else. She was a hard working womanwho taught all of us children to
work. While my father worked at the saw mill the children raised large gardens and sold lots of
vegetables. She loved her children very much and worked awfully hard to raise them.
Dudley Hightower, Bowling Green, KY
I was born and grew up at a community called Benleo, Kentucky. My parents were Henry Lester
and Bertha Turner Hightower. There has never been a kinder man than my daddy. He had to be
made of steel to endure what he did and raise us during the depression. started to school at five
years of age at the Mortar Branch School which was about 2 miles from where we lived on my
grandfathers farm. My dad worked at a sawmill, made railroad ties, farmed, trapped and did
anything to make a dollar. We kids started work when we were 8-10 years old doing anything we
could to help make a living like picking berries, cutting wood, or digging Gin Seng or May
Apple Root. When I was 10, my dad was boarding away from home and working at a sawmill.
He came home at the end of the week and brought me a dollar watch. He couldn't afford it, but
he did. Was I thrilled!
Louise had pneumonia one night and the doctor came to see her. My daddy rode back to Bowling
Green and got some medicine and walked back home ( 17 miles) in the dark. The doctor said
tomorrow would be too late. Again, my dad did what had to be done--never complaining.
John Hightower 1653
by Hazel Hightower
I yet cannot verify our Hightower immigrant ancestor, but am of the firm conviction we are of
English descent.
Friendship, of the earliest passenger ships on record, embarking from England, took nine to ten
weeks to complete the Trans-Atlantic crossing and the passengers on board were under
obligation to the Governors of American Plantations.
Year 1653, the Friendship, with William Perse, as commander, arrived with one of its passengers
by the name of John Hitower (Hightower). According to the passenger ship search and
attestation report, he had come to Virginia on land transactions.
In view of the foregoing statement, Hightower descendants, now into the many thousands, would
be pleased to claim him as our ancestor. Who knows? In spite of the ever on-going diligent
research of hundreds of avid genealogical researchers, proof has not surfaced.
The best we can do is speculate and continue the search. This John Hightower could have been
the father of a son Joshua, then residing in England. Perhaps a young man, maybe one with high
aspirations to come to America, and his father, John, was instrumental in seeing his son, Joshua,
realize his dream.
At any rate, it is a known fact, one Joshua Hightower had been in Richmond County, Virginia,
owned property there, indicating residence prior to 1698. A suit was filed against his estate in
1698 and it is recorded in Richmond County, Virginia. Since the suit was filed against his estate
is a clear indication this Joshua Hightower was deceased, and that he had been a resident of
Richmond County, VA. According to Clayton Torrence's Virginia Will and Administration,
1632- 1800, this Joshua Hightower was not recorded as having a will, therefore, he died
intestate.
Since no records had been kept by the State of Virginia, prior to 1700, as to marriages, births and
deaths, researchers are at a loss to determine who the Joshua Hightower was that was residing in
Richmond, County, Virginia in 1698, with a suit filed March, 1698, Ob2, p. 389 where in an
action was brought against Joshua Hightower by Giles and James Webb, executors of John
Webb, deceased.
The foregoing statement is clear indication there is a Joshua Hightower, very much alive,
residing in Richmond County, VA. It seems logical to use this data to link John and the two
Joshuas.
John Hightower, believed to have not resided in America, but having bought land in Richmond
County, VA, in the early 1650's_whether he was our immigrant ancestor is yet to be proven. My
researched opinion is that he, indeed, was our immigrant ancestor and the Joshua Hightower
named in the suit filed in March, 1698, by Webb brothers was the Hightower I claim to be the
husband of Eleanor Charnold and the father of six children, two of which he named his will,
probated in 1726, in Richmond County, VA. Numerous court cases are of record in Richmond
County 1698-1726 naming this Joshua Hightower.
After the revolution, the great migration of Virginians carried the Hightowers to various regions
south and west. By 1800 there were about 30 families of their descendants. For many years I
have collected Hightower records from all available sources, in an effort to trace all lines down
to recent times, for publications as a general genealogy of the Hightower family. It is strongly
indicated that all Hightowers of the county are descended from that early family of Richmond
County, VA.
The earliest Hightower family of whom we have records lived in Richmond County, VA. before
the year 1700. There, in 1698, the estate of Joshua Hightower was administered, suggesting
residence of Hightowers there sometime before that date.
In 1726, a Joshua Hightower died in Richmond County, leaving a wife, Eleanor and six children.
His eldest son, Charnel, married Sarah Glascock in January 1727/8, and reared a large family.
From 1720-1750 three Hightower families lived in Richmond County, close neighbors and
closely related_the families of Charnel, John and Joshua. We do not yet know just how these
three men were related, John and Joshua could have been brothers, Charnel, the son of Joshua
who died in 1726, a cousin.
About 1750 these three families moved to Amelia County, to the part that in 1789 was cut off
and made Nottoway County. they settled in the southeast corner of the county, near the present
city of Blackstone, where Nottoway, Brunswick and Lunenburg Counties meet. Though some
lived in each county, they still were near one another. They continued in that region, close
together, until the period of the Revolutionary War.
Fortunately, for the genealogical record, the names, birth dates and names of the parents of the
children born in Richmond County, VA between 1700 and 1750 were recorded in the North
Farnham Parish Register, a copy of which is to be found at Warshaw, Virginia.
Joshua and Eleanor Hightower lived on what is today called the Northern Neck of Virginia it is
that portion of land bordered by the Rappahannoch River on the West and the Potomac River on
the East where, in 1608, Captain John Smith first visited. It was the southern tip of this portion of
Virginia where the ship, Friendship, via Chesapeake Bay landed in 1653.
Six sons were born to the first Hightower couple, Joshua and Eleanor: John, Charnel, Joshua Jr,
Austin, Joseph and Thomas. The birth of Thomas, Sr., the youngest on 20 March 1712, was the
first Hightower birth of record.
Thomas Hightower, Jr
by Paul High tower, with Ed Hightower, Hazel Hightower, Hugh High tower, Preston Michael
Jones & Tony Rockefeller.
If you are one of the Hightowers whose roots lead you to Warren County, Kentucky, then your
Hightower ancestor is almost certainly, Thomas Hightower, Jr. Thomas, according to the North
Farnham Parish Register of Richmond County, Virginia, was born 5 February, 1736_listing as
his parents, Thomas and Kindness Prentess Hightower. His brother was the Reverand John
Hightower, featured in last year's High tower News.
In 1758, North Carolina Land Grant # 1540 survey shows a 400 acre grant in Anson County, NC.
to Thomas Hightower and his wife, Kindness and they are residing on this grant situated on the
south side of the Pee Dee River, in Anson County. Thomas, Sr. resided on the land until his
death abt. 1762. In December 1760, Thomas llightower, Jr. sold 150 acres of the 400 acre tract to
John Morris. A deed, dated 21 November, 1763 was signed by Thomas Hightower, Jr.
fle remained single for five years after his fathers death in 1762 and then married Susannah
(Herrington?) in Anson County prior to 1767 and moved to Rutherford County, often referred to
as District 96, North Carolina on the Broad River. Two children were born: John B. in 1774 and
Henry in 1777.
Thomas, by 1780, was living with Susannah on the Tygar River, Spartanburg County, SC. After
the fall of Charleston, South Carolina, 12 May 1780, Thomas Hightower, Jr. joined the
Revolution.
While Thomas was away from home on the campaign, "Bloody" Bill Cunningham, a tory,
stormed the Hightower home demanding to know the whereabouts of Thomas. Susanna refused
to divulge the information and Bill Cunningham ordered her execution (about 1780).
Thomas, serving with Col. Roebuck of Spartanburg fought at the battle of Kings Mountain 7
October, 1780. The battle was the turning point of the Revolutionary War in the south. The
Regiment along with Lt. Col. Ilenry White fought at the Battle of Mudlick where 150 American
Patriots successfully attacked the British garrison at Ft. Williams on 2 March, 1781.
After the war, Thomas came came home to his homestead on the Tyger River in Spartanburg, SC
and married a Cherokee Indian named Jane (abt. 1786). She was some 20 years of age and
Thomas was about 50.
Thomas and Jane's first three children were likely born in Spartanburg: Maryan (1787), John
(1790) and Elizabeth (1794).
About 1798, Thomas sold his land on the Tyger River and moved his young family to Warren
County, KY. His children by Susanna, Henry and John moved to Tatnal County, GA in 1800 and
to Lowdnes Co., GA in 1829.
Thomas and Jane's last three children were born: Joshua (abt. 1797), William Robert (abt. 1805)
and Charity (abt. 1807) in Warren County.
Thomas received two separate land grants totaling approximately two
hundred acres of land. The tracts were thought to be adjacent, but while doing
research in the Kentucky Library this past year, l became concerned by the fact that
as I tried to run the titles of ownership to bordering farms, things did not make sense. One tract
was 130 acres of land in Jackson's bottoms near Gasper River, but the other mentioned the Big
Beaver Dam Creek_which could not be found anywhere near the Gasper River
community. Connie Mills, the librarian, found an 1820 map that showed a creek on the upper
Green River called BigBeaver Dam. That was it, one land grant tract
on Gasper River and the other on Green River, located in Rhoda, Ky, near Brownsville,
Edmonson County.
Thomas died about 1908 and it is likely that his grave is one of the dozens of unmarked graves in
the nearby Beaver Dam Baptist Church. The Church was founded in 1802, about four years after
Thomas and Jane Hightower immigrated there from South Carolina. After Thomas Hightower's
death, Jane never remarried. She moved in 1831 with two sons and a daughter to Izard County,
Arkansas where she died between 1840 and 1850(see related story, High tower News 1989).
The Life and Times of
Jim Hightower-Cherokee Indian
by Paul Hightower
After hundreds of hours of family history research, the nature of our ancestor Jim Hightower
begins to emerge from a number of small clues gleaned by dozens of family history researchers.
Jim Hightower, father of James Wilson and John Andrew Hightower and husband to Elizabeth
Hughes Hightower has eluded researchers for many years, but today we believe his history is
becoming more clear.
After his wife was killed by a Tory during the American Revolution, Thomas Hightower, Jr.,
married a Cherokee Indian in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Thomas and his twenty year old
Indian bride, Jane, moved to Warren County, Kentucky about 1798. Along with Thomas, Jane
and their children, there came a Cherokee Indian named Jim. Perhaps he was the younger brother
of Jane, or a friend or acquaintance of the Thomas Hightowers. The area around Spartanburg, SC
was home to numerous Cherokee Indians and many had inter-married with the white settlers.
The Cherokee had lived in these lands for over a thousand years before Columbus came.
But they had adapted to the White man's ways living in peace and harmony. The Cherokee
signed a peace treaty with representatives of President George Washington just after 1800. The
treaty promised the Cherokee that they could live on the land "As long as the rivers flowed and
the grass grew." This, of course, was another in a series of broken promises made to the
Cherokee and other Indian tribes of the southeastern United States.
Aunt Mary Hightower's Story written in 1980 spoke of the father of James Wilson Hightower
thus: "His father was full blooded Indian and he married this woman, I guess it was in
Kentucky...Bowling Green I suppose, and the Cherokee Indian (Jim) cut cedar logs and laced
them together and was taking them to market. I think they were using them for ship building. He
had laced the logs together with hickory bark. And they never saw him or herd of him again.
They said many things could have happened. These logs, the hickory bark could have broken and
the logs could have drowned him on the Mississippi. Or he could have been hijacked and
killed...nobody ever knew. I know about this great- grandfather who was the full blooded indian
because I heard my father tell of him many times."
Another story handed down through family folklore claimed that Jim was a part of the Trail of
Tears the forced migration of Cherokee Indians from the southern states to Oklahoma during the
winter of 1837. Over four thousand Indians died along the way after the U.S. Government failed
to provide food, clothing and supplies that were promised the Cherokee. However, the date of the
migration was a number of years after Jim Hightower disappeared.
The river trip theory has been handed down by more than one member of the family and would
seem to have the most credence.
Both Jim and his two sons, Andrew and James Wilson were riverboat men when flatboats and
later steamers were the only mass-transportation modes available to pioneers on the frontier. The
flat boars were loaded with pork, lard, cattle, oats and cornmeal. The boats were made of large
yellow poplar trees, reinforced with Red Oak up to 100 feet long and as much as 20 feet wide.
There were long oars used to propel the boat and pull it out of eddies and to steer. It would take a
little over a month for Jim to make it from the waters of the Gasper River all the way down to
New Orleans. Indeed Joshua Hightower made the trip a number of times_walking back to Logan
County, Kentucky each time. When the boats arrived in New Orleans they sold the produce to
merchants and sold the wood boats to furniture manufacturing companies.
Austin Hightower
Austin Hightower, the son of Joshua and Eleanor Hightower was mentioned in Joshua's Will,
recorded in WB 5, Page 14, Richmond County, Virginia, and proven 3 August 1726. In Item 5 of
this handwritten Will, Joshua mentioned "my other four children~_research has shown that one
of those four was indeed, Austin Hightower, Sr.(see chart page 2) And in the records of
Richmond County, Virginia, the earliest reference to this man is found in Brunswick County. A
land transaction dated 25 July 1746_a 400acre land grant to Austin Hightower south of Cedar
Creek in Brunswick County, Virginia. It is believed that this was where Austin took his young
bride in the early 1740's. Many of the records of this County were destroyed by fire and we have
not been able to come up with births, marriages, etc. during those years. However, we do have
the following:
1. 2 October 1746, Hugh and Elizabeth Williams to Austin Hightower 168 acres;
2. 1748 Polling List for House of Burgess election;
3.7 March 1750 Austin and wife Jane to James Tarpley, 200 acres. (This is the first evidence that
Austin is married.)
4. 26 June 1759 Austin and wife Jane to Andrew Lester - 168 acres. (This is the last record found
that lists Jane as Austin's wife. It is believed she died shoffly after this transaction.)
Taken from the Bible Records of Oldham Hightower, it has been established that he was born 17
September 1744, probably in Brunswick County, Virginia, and through court records it has been
established that Oldham was the firstborn of Austin and Jane Hightower.
In 1755, records of the North Carolina Historical Commission-Records of the Moravians, p.
536_ shows: Austin Hightower, 640 acres; Marks Creek Fork of New Hope, above John Penes'
land, Orange County, North Carolina. We think that Austin was in the process of migrating from
Brunswick County, Virginia to Orange County, North Carolina. What is not clear at this time is
the fact that we do know that his wife, Jane, was still living, since she entered into the transaction
26 June 1759. Another transaction dated 26 June 1762, 700 acres of land in Orange County~
North Carolina on Phill's Creek, waters of Morgan's Creek, granted to Austin Hightower.
(Oldham Hightower was a chain carrier on the survey of this land for Austin.)
Other mentions of Austin Hightower,Sr. and family in Orange County, North Carolina:
1. 1765 Austin Hightower appointed Constable.
2. 1778 Ordered to work on a road building project, Austin Hightower, Sr., George Hightower,
Austin Hightower, Jr., William Hightower, John Hightower. Mr. Hightower, overseer.
It has been ascertained that Austin Hightower, Jr., William Hightower and John Hightower were
the sons of Austin Hightower, Sr. The George Hightower mentioned in the 1778 reference was a
nephew of Austin, (a son of John Hightower of Amelia County, VA, late_he having died in
1764.)
It is believed that Austin Hightower, Sr. moved from Brunswick County, Virginia some time
around 1760/62 and established his homestead on the 700-acre tract of land in Orange County,
North Carolina. Also, it is believed that he re-married about this time, a lady by the name of
Martha. Since we have established from Austin's Will, the name of his surviving widow as being
Martha, and also listed three more children, namely:
1) Sterling, who was named as one of the executors of his will and therefore this boy had to be of
age to participate, therefore we set his birthdate around the year 1761/62 and it is believed he
was born in North Carolina; 2) Henry, born cat 1763 and a daughter, Amelia, 10 June 1765, the
latter two also being born in North Carolina, and probably there at the homestead on Phill's
Creek, waters of Morgan's Creek, Orange County, (these lands are now in both Orange and
Chatham Counties, North Carolina).
Proof that Austin's wife at this time was named Martha is found in Vol.5, P.499 of the Orange
County Records of North Carolina wherein Austin Hightower and Martha in 1783_188 acres, a
grant. Also, Orange County, N.C. Deeds, Bk. 2, p. 374,'Austin Hightower and wife Martha of
Orange Co. to Pamfret Herndon of same for 500 Ibs. a specie of land granted to Austin
Hightower by John, Earl of Granville by deed 28 June1762 (this being part of that 700-acre tract
by deed, shown as 26 June 1762 on which son, Oldham Hightower was a chain carrier.)
Austin Hightower died at his homestead, Orange County, North Carolina in the summer of 1784.
His Will, made 6 February 1782 was proven in the August Session of Chatham County, North
Carolina. He named his surviving widow, Martha, as an executor, and Sterling, next to his
youngest son, as an executor and named in the following order the following children: l)
William, 2) John, 3) Austin, 4) Sterling, 5) llenry and 6)Amelia. It is pointed out that his son, the
oldest, was not named in this will-namely: Oldham Hightower. We can not determine the reason
for this, except that at that time Oldham was married and migrating_about the time of his father's
death, he was living in Washington County, Tennessee. Even though the son, Henry Hightower,
was named in his father's will made 6 February 1782, he was dead at the time of his father's
death. It is believed that all other children named in the will, survived him.
Will of Austin:
I Austin Hightower of Orange County and State of North Carolina being in perfect health and
sound in mind and memory do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form
following to-wit, I recommend my soul to Almighty God who gave it and my body to the Earth
to be buried in a Christian manner at the discretion of my Executor in certain expectation of a
glorious Resurrection at the Last Day_and as to my worldly sustenance as hath pleaded Almighty
God to bestow on me I give and bequeath in the following manner In premise_my will is that
myjust debts be first paid. I lend to my beloved wife Martha my Negro man named Roger during
her natural life or widowhood and at her decease or intermarriage his value to be divided among
my children agreeable to their distributive shares as in the succeeding. Whereas I have heretofore
given to my son William a Negro girl named Sook eight years old also a horse bridle and saddle
and to my son John one hundred acres of deeded land and an entry adjoining the same and to my
son Austin one cow and calf and to my son Sterling one saddle and bridle.
Sterling Hightower
The first court reference to Sterling Hightower is in his father, Austin Hightower's Will
made in 1782, Orange/Chatham Counties, North Carolina. He was also one of the executors of
the will.
We do not have a record of the birth of Sterling: nor do we have the date of Austin Hightower's
marriage,his second, to Martha whom later in court records reflects her as his wife. Also, she is
named in her husband'sWill. Since Sterling was of legal age when his father prepared his Will,
Sterling's birthdate is placed at about1761, and in all probability in Orange County, North
Carolina, since Austin established residence in that county around 1760 on a tract of land in
Orange County North Carolina, more fully described as being on Phill's Creek, waters of Morgan
Creek.
It is safe to assume that Sterling resided with his parents up to and after his father's death; that he
is not found in the court records of Orange County, North Carolina. In 1785, Edgefield District,
South Carolina, Court: Fields Pardue vs. Sterling Hightower. Then in 1793, March 23, Elbert
County, Georgia, Martha Hightower of Elbert County, Georgia deeds to one, John Hightower of
Buncombe County, North Carolina, one slave. Sterling Hightower witness. (Note: It was
apparent that Sterling moving around with Oldham Hightower had his mother, Martha, with him
and it is believed that he was single up until this time. Some reports say that Sterling attended
Oxford University and graduated prior to 1793 and that he did extensive educational work
among the Indians and the uneducated white people of the Colonies, but it cannot be
substantiated.
Sterling Hightower made entry of land 640 acres, Buncombe County, North Carolina on August
15, 1793 on French Broad River, two miles above the painted rock. (Grant was never made).
Same date, August 15, 1793, Sterling Hightower made another entry for 640 acres adjoining his
prior entry. Survey ordered March 10,1794. Grant was never made. November 16,1796.
Pendleton District, South Carolina. Deed. John McCosky to James Hagood 137 acres, Georg's
Creek, Soluda River. Sterling Hightower, witness. May 28, 1796. Pentleton District, South
Carolina. Deed. Howell Dowdy to George Willson 100 acres Dowdyls Creek. Soluda River.
Sterling Hightower, witness, 1798 Chatham County, North Carolina. Sterling Hightower of
Elbert County Georgia, petitions the court for the original Will of Austin Hightower, his father.
1800 Federal Census Pentleton District, South Carolina. Sterling Hightower. 1 white male, 1626, 1 white female 16-26, 1 white female - 10. (Note: This is the first record we have that
Sterling Hightower is married and there is one child of this union_a daughter.)
In 1803, and earlier, it has been established that Sterling Hightower and his family were living in
Walton County, Georgia(now Transylvania County~ North Carolina). There was a dispute
between North Carolina and Georgia over the establishment of the County of Walton, Georgia in
1803 and Walton County was represented in the legislature for all of its turbulent career by only
three men in the Senate from 1804
1811, and Sterling Hightower represented the County in 1808. He was seated as State Senator 7
November 1808, unseated 11 November 1808 and re-seated 9 December 1808.
Through various articles, it has been determined also that Sterling Hightower's wife was
Beersheba Davis and to this union were born 10 children. A list of his children, in the order of
their birth has not been determined. We only have the following information:
1....Hightower Taken from the 1800 Federal Census, Pentleton District, South Carolina,
established that there was a female child under ten years of age in the household of Sterling
Hightower.
2. Hugh MacHightower, taken from Bible Records, tombstone records, etc., b. 9 December 1803,
d. 11 February 1879 and m. 3 February 1824. Settled in Montgomery County, Illinois. 11
children. (IYext years' newsletter will feature a story about Hugh Mac Hightower and the
Illinois-Hightower connection)
3. Peppernitis llightower-probably settled in Georgia.
4, John Hightower-in Tennessee.
George Hightower 1783
George Hightower was born 28 September 1733, in Richmond County Virginia the son of John
and Mary Bryan Hightower. When George was about 17 years old his parents along with other
Hightower families living in Richmond County, VA began migrating to other areas of the state.
George's parents settled in Amelia County around 1750.
The first court reference found on George Hightower was in Amelia County Virginia, 21
September 1757. His father deeded him 200 acres of land on George Ford's branch and Charles
Williams' Corner. The first evidence we have that George is married is found in the court records
of Amelia County, 22 June 1769. George and Susannah Hightower sold 275 acres of land to
Richard Walthall.
George's oldest brother, William Hightower, died in Amelia County, Virginia in August 1764
and George was named as one of the executors in his will. All nine of William Hightower's
children were minors at the time of the will. In 1770, the courts placed four of the minors in
George Hightower's custody: William, Daniel, Elizabeth and Stephen.
In 1771 George and Susannah Hightower were selling their land in Amelia County. George,
along with his brothers, Joshua, Richard and John sold 890 acres on Tomahitton Creek_their
interest in their deceased father's estate.
George and Susannah Hightower and their family moved to Lunenburg County Virginia where
they bought 715 acres of land adjoining John Hightower and Thomas Cocke on the branches of
Hounds creek, 9 May 1776 (Thomas Cocke was the husband of Eleanor Hightower, George
Hightower, Sr's daughter. )
In the court records of Orange County, NC, 1776, there is a mention of George Hightower in the
7th Militia. On 7 February 1777, George Hightower enlisted in the Third South Carolina
Regiment. He was taken prisoner, 9 January 1779; George was 46 years old.ln 1787 George and
Susannah sold their land on the south side of Hounds Creek and then moved to Campbell
County, Virginia.
The North Farnham Parish Church
The North Farnham Parish Church built about 1737, replaced an earlier church built near the site
about 1660. The Church is in the shape of a Latin cross, the walls of which are two feet thick.
The bullet holes in the exterior brick of the church confirm a skirmish in 1814 between the
Virginia Militia and raiders from the British fleet. During the Civil war both Confederate and
Union troops occupied the church. Although vandals and the ravages of nature have necessitated
the rebuilding of the church's interior, the walls are the original brick circa 1737.
The Church is in the shape of a Latin cross_the walls of which are almost two feet thick. The
bullet holes in the exterior brick of the church confirm an 1814 skirmish between the Virginia
Militia and raiders from the British fleet. During the Civil War both Confederate and Union
troops occupied the church. Although vandals and the ravages of nature have necessitated the
rebuilding of the church's interior; the walls are the original brick circa 1737. Only one
tombstone has survived the two century old vigil, it bears the name of Katharine Nicholas, died
Jan. 1767. There are many other unmarked graves in the cemetery.
Almost as illusive is the evidence of what happened at the parish for all those years. The original
parish register_with all births, marriages_was either lost or destroyed. The 1 1 x 17 inch parish
register which Walter A. Walker located was actually a copy which was made from the original,
sometime during the eighteenth century. The first Hightower entry is, Bom . Thomas, son of
Joshua and Eleanor Hightower, Mar. 20 1712 (see inscription above) Notice that instead of
comas, periods are used in the separation of text. That is in keeping with the writing style of the
era, a hold over from early Latin punctuation. A photocopy of the register is in the State
Archives at Richmond. The actual document is in the courthouse at Warsaw, VA.
Our Family Origin
Almost every Hightower family researcher you talk with, eventually gets around to the same
age-old question, where did the family originate_Was it England, Scotland, Germany, Holland,
or where? Now through the use of computers and a lot of old fashioned footwork, at least two
old world locations have emerged as a possibility, the Fife area of Scotland and Western
Yorkshire, England.More about them later, but first a few words about surnames, how and when
they came about. It is estimated that there are over 100,000 surnames of British origin, but the
idea of having a surname has not been around forever. Look at some of the oldest written history
we have, in the Old Testament, there was Adam, Moses, Noah. In early Roman Britain, people
had only one name. That was true also as the Anglo-Saxons (Germanic tribesmen) invaded
Celtic England about 500 A.D., and created one of the great civilizations of the Dark Ages. In 5
centuries the Anglo-Saxons and native Celticspeaking Brits created a unified culture in low-land
Britain which they called England (Angle-land). But across the channel the Normands who were
Viking adventurers, settled in the French Seine valley in 91 1 A.D. A little more than 150 years
later they were knocking at the gates of the Anglo- Saxon civilization. A Normand named
William the Conqueror defeated the Brits at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and became ruler of
all England. About twenty years later, he wanted to know the extent of English wealth primarily
for future taxation. The result was: the Domesday Book_sort of a general directory for 1086
England. Every Shire in England and many of its people are found in the Domesday Book The
book illustrates to us that the resident's Old English names had already been modified by 1086,
into simpler and more manageable forms. Instead of the long-winded Aethelbeorht and
Sigeweard, men were calling each other Albert and Siward.
As they were taking the census for the Domesday Book, Norman clerks wrote down what they
heard in their own way. In doing so they made clear to us that the pronunciation of such names
had been much modified from the early Anglo-Saxon period. The clerk put it into Latin, but he
himself would have uttered his favorite toast in Norman French. The Normans invaded, but they
were conquerored by the culture and language of the Brits as we see almost an amalgamation of
the French and AngloSaxon tongues. In Domesday, almost all Normans had surnames or second
designations of some kind. '
In Hertfordshire in 1289 there was a Richard, son of Alice, at the Lane but by 1317 the next
generation is called at the Lane and a generation later, AtteLane ("atte" is the contraction of "at
the"). And finally we arrive at the surname LANE by about 1400. The prepositions and articles
have virtually disappeared and lists of names have a more modern look. This simplification is yet
another sign of surnames being fixed. They have ceased to be descriptive phrases and have
become proper names. English surnames were completely settled in by 1 hoo.2 The only new
names formed in England afterthat date were those of immigrants from Wales, Scotland and
Europe.
1. Our cousin, Ruth Hightower Smith of Murray, KY, located one source in the Tennessee State
Archives which points to Scotland, as our ancestral home. In the late nineteenth century the state
of Tennessee sent surveys to all their surviving Civil War veterans. These surveys have been
published in six volumes. One such veteran was Thomas Hodge High tower. One of his answers
regarding ancestry was: Mygrand father, William High tower, came from Scotland, went into
business in the city of Philadelphia; from there they moved to eastern IY. C. near the Virginia
line. My father told me they raised tobacco.
Of course that was written from his recollection of what had been told him by his family and that
might not be accurate. I have checked the International Genealogical Index3 in Scotland and
have found one llightower living there in the Seventeenth Century (see map page 9).
2. Our cousin, John Hightower of Berryville, VA, hired a researcher in Knoxville, TN,
specializing in English and Scottish family research. Two entries in the surname of fIightower
were found. They were both in the lluddlesfield area (see map page 9) of Yorkshire, England.
John reports that there are no Hightowers in the cross index of BoyUs, the surnames of England
or Scotland, or in the early wills, deeds or court records.
3. Michael Wood, a London genealogical researcher, reports in England, Denmark and Germany,
there is the name Heytor. It appears as early as 1 296 A. D. and some modern versions use the
current Heytower. From Old English:
-Haegtor- fenced hilltop
-Hightor- high hill
-haegtour- small tower
-Heybury- middlesex meaning high castle
-Hightowler- There was a John
-Hightowler in Yorkshire, England
-Hightower- name found in England
So as we continue the search for our Old World heritage, it is looking more and more like the
Island of Britain_There are five High towers in the London phonebook. The next step is to check
into parish registers in both the areas of Fife, Scotland and western Yorkshire, England. It is
exciting to think that we Ilightowers may be descendants of those early Brittons who lived across
the Atlantic more than 1500 years ago. If you are interested in learning more about early Britain,
Surnames and The Domesday Book, see the following references:
Hightowers in the Confederacy
A. A. Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 3rd Georgia Reserves
A. F. Hightower, Pvt, 2nd Georgia Infantry
A. G. Hightower, Pvt, 6th Texas Cavalry
A. G. Hightower, Pvt, Company H, 31st Mississippi Infantry
A. Hightower, Pvt, 3rd Louisiana Cavalry
A. 1. Hightower, Pvt, Russel's Mississippi Cavalry
A. M. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, I st Georgia Regiment
A. M. Hightower, Pvt, Company H, 2nd Regiment, Texas State Troopers
A. M. Hightower, Pvt, Lynch's Tennessee Light Artillery
A. M. Hightower, Pvt, Texas Light Artillery
A. S. Hightower, Pvt, Company K, 1 6th Texas Cavalry
A. Tagivello Hightower, Pvt, Company B, 2nd Battalion, Georgia Infantry
A. W. Hightower, Cpl. Livingston's Alabama Cavalry
A. D. Hightower, Pvt, Randolph County Alabama Volunteers
Alexander Hightower, Pvt, Company H, 27nd Arkansas Infantry
Anderson E. Hightower, Pvt, Company H, 5th North Carolina Cavalry
Anderson Hightower, Pvt, 4th North Carolina Infantry
Andrew H. Hightower, Pvt, Company K, 5th Georgia Infantry
Amold Hightower, Pvt, Company K, 7th Louisana Infantry
B. B. Hightower, Pvt, Ist South Carolina Cavalry
B. Hightower, Pvt, Clinches Georgia Cavalry
B. Hightower, Pvt, Company E, 50th Georgia Infantry
B. W. Hightower, Pvt, 45th Alabama Infantry
Benjamin Hightower, Pvt, Company B, 3th Virginia Infantry
Benjamin Hightower, Pvt, Company F, 1 8th Texas Infantry
Benjamin W. Hightower, Pvt, 6th Alabama Infantry
Burwell M. Hightower, Pvt. Company G, 56th North Carolina Infantry
Byrd Hightower, Pvt, 4th Georgia Infantry
C. C. Hightower, Pvt, 8th Battalion, Georgia Cavalry
C. Hightower, Pvt, 45th Georgia Infantry
C. Hightower, Pvt, 4th Missouri Cavalry
Caswell Hightower, Pvt, 10th Missouri Infantry
Charles D. Hightower, Pvt, 39th Alabama Infantry
Charles D. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 22nd Alabama Infantry
Charles R. Hightower, Pvt, Company D, 22nd Battalion, Virginia Infantry
Chamel B. Hightower, Pvt, Company 1, 19th Texas Cavalry
Chamel Hightower, Company E, 30th Texas Cavalry
Chamel Hightower, Cpl, Company E, 31st Louisiana Infantry
Chamel Hightower, Pvt, 14th Georgia
Chamel Hightower, Pvt, Villepigue's 36th Georgia Infantry
D. E. (Divine) Hightower, Sgt, Ist Battalion, Virginia Infantry
D. Hightower, Pvt, 16th South Carolina Infantry
D. J. Hightower, Pvt, 6th Alabama Infantry
D. J. Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 6th Georgia Infantry
Daniel D. Hightower, Sgt, 22 Virginia Infantry
Daniel D. Hightower, Sgt, Company D, 22nd Battalion, Virginia Infantry
Daniel Hightower, Pvt, Company B, 4th horth Carolina Cavalry
Daniel Hightower, Pvt, Company E, 6th South Carolina Cavalry
Daniel W. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 4th florth Carolina Cavalry
David A. Hightower, Company B, 5th Missouri Infantry
David C. Hightower, Pvt, Company D, 3rd Battalion, Georgia Infantry
David D. Hightower, Sgt, 22nd Battalion Virginia Infantry
David Hightower, 2nd. U, 3rd Lillard's Tennessee Mounted Voiunteers
David Hightower, 37th Tennessee Infantry
David J. Hightower, Pvt, Company C, I 0th Confederate Cavalry/Alabama
David J. Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 5th Battalion Hillard's Legion
E. A. Hightower, Pvt, Company A, Phillip's Legion, Georgia
E. D. Hightower, Pvt, Wood's Missouir Infantry
E. F. Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 4th Confederate, Al,TN, MS
E. G. Hightower, Pvt, Company K, 62nd Georgia Infantry
E. Hightower, Pvt, 3rd. Palmetto, South Carolina
E. Hightower, Pvt, Company H, 16th South Carolina Infantry/Greenville
E. W. Hightower, Sgt, Company K, 13th Georga Infantry
Edward Hightower, Pvt, Company K, 3rd Virginia Infantry
Elberry Hightower, Pvt, Company F, 40th Georgia Infantry
Elisha F. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 54th Alabama Infantry
Elisha Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 4th Confederate Infantry
Ephaphroditus Hightower, Pvt, Company A, Wood's Missouri Infantry
Francis M. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, Georgia Infantry
G. A. Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 27th Arkansas Infantry
G. B. Hightower, Pvt, Company F, 40th Georgia Infantry
G. B. Hightower, Pvt, Company 1, Fannin's Georgia Reserves
G. E. Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 2nd Georgia Infantry
G. H. Hightower, Pvt, Ford's Battalion, Missouri Volunteers
G. Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 4th Confederate Infantry
G. W. Hightower, Pvt, 42 Alabama Infantry
G. W. Hightower, Pvt, Company E, 3rd Mississippi Volunteers
Garland Hightower, Pvt, Company A, 45th Georgia Infantry
George Hightower, Pvt, 3rd Mississippi Infantry
George Hightower, Pvt, Company D, 13th Georgia Infantry
George Hightower, Pvt, Company D, Ist Battalion MS Sharp Shooters
George Hightower, Pvt, Company H, 2nd Mississippi Infantry
George W. Hightower, Pvt, Ist Battalion, Hillard's Legion, AL Volunteers
Green Hightower, Pvt, Company H, 4th Missouri Volunteers
Gustance G. Hightower, Maj, Company C, 31st Mississippi
H. H. Hightower, Pvt, 19th Texas Volunteers
H. H. Hightower, Pvt, Company D, 15th Mississippi Infantry
H. H. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 8th Louisianna Cavalry
H. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 59th Virginia Infantry
H. l. Hightower, 2nd Lt, Company G, 20th Georgia Infantry
H. l. Hightower, Pvt, Company K, 5th Georgia Volunteers
Harvey Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 20th Georgia Infantry
Henry Hightower, Pvt, Adair's Mississippi Volunteers
Henry Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 20th Mississippi Infantry
Henry Hightower, Pvt, Company D, Ist Battalion MS Sharp Shooters
Henry Hightower, Pvt, Company K, 15th Texas Cavalry
Henry Hightower, Pvt, Ford's Battalion Missouri Infantry
Henry Hightower, Pvt, Perrin's Battalion, Mississippi State Infantry
Hugh Hightower, Pvt, Company E, 29th Texas Volunteers
1. H. Hightower, Pvt, Company A, 32nd Texas Cavalry
1. M. Hightower, 2nd Lt, Company B, Moss's Squadron
1. N. Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 30th Georgia Infantry
Issac F. Hightower, Pvt, 30th Georgia Infantry
Issac Hightower, Pvt, Company B, 27th Georgia Volunteers
Issac O. Hightower, Pvt, Company K, 7th Texas Infantry
J. A. Hightower, Pvt, Company A, 42nd Atlanta Infantry
J. A. Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 2nd Regiment, Atlanta Infantry
J. A. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 6th Arkansas Infantry
J. D. Hightower, Capt, Darden's Mississippi Light Artillery
J. E. Hightower, Pvt, 57th Alabama Infantry
J. F. Hightower, Sgt, Company H, 16th South Carolina Infantry
J. H. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 59th Virginia Infantry
J. H. Hightower, Pvt, Company H, 17th Tennessee Infantry
J. H. Hightower, Pvt, Elliot's Missouri Cavalry
J. Henry Hightower, Pvt, Company B, Hardy's Arkansas Infantry
J. Hightower, Pvt, Ist Pannin's Georgia Reserves
J. Hightower, Pvt, Company D, Ist Battalion, Mississippi Sharp Shooters
J. Hightower, Pvt, Company F, 6th Mississippi Cavalry
J. Hightower, Pvt, Company K, 32nd Georgia Infantry
J. J. Hightower, Pvt, Company K, 10th Alabama Infantry
J. M. Hightower, Pvt, Company A, Texas State Troopers
J. M. Hightower, Pvt, Company D, 6th South Carolina Infantry
J. O. A. Hightower, Pvt, Company E, 2nd Georgia Cavalry
J. R. Hightower, Pvt, 22nd Alabama Infantry
J. R. Hightower, Pvt, 22nd Alabama Infantry
J. S. Hightower, 2nd Lt, 10th Arkansas
J. S. Hightower, Pvt, 26th Arkansas Infantry
J. S. Hightower, Pvt, Company B, 27th Battalion, Georgia Infantry
J. S. Hightower, Pvt, Company F, Bell's Battalion
J. T. Hightower, Pvt, 15th Alabama Infantry
J. W. F. Hightower, 2nd Lt, Company C, Ist Battalion Georgia Reserves
J. W. Hightower, Pvt, 4th Confederate Infantry, AL, TN, MS
J. W. Hightower, Pvt, Company A, 23rd Alabama Infantry
J. W. Hightower, Pvt, O'Neal's 26th Alabama Infantry
Jack O. Hightower, Pvt, Company A, 21 st Texas Cavalry
James A. Hightower, Pvt, I st Alabama Cavalry
James A. Hightower, Pvt, Company A, 42nd Alabama Infantry
James C. Hightower, Capt, AQM Confederate Staff
James C. Hightower, Pvt, 13th Atlanta Infantry
James C. Hightower, Pvt, Company B, 30th Georgia Infantry
James C. Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 30th Mississippi Infantry
James C. Hightower, Pvt, Company D, 16th Louisiana Infantry
James C. Hightower, Pvt, Company D, 3rd Battalion, Georgia Infantry
James C. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, Stapleton's 2nd Georgia State Troops
James D. Hightower, Pvt, Georgia Light Artillery
James E. Hightower, Pvt, 13th Alabama Infantry
James E, Hightower, Pvt, Company A, 42nd Alabama Infantry
James E. Hightower, Pvt, Company H, 2nd Texas Infantry
James F. Hightower, Cpl, Company F, 4th South Carolina Infantry
James G. Hightower, Pvt, 27th Arkansas Infantry
James H. Hightower, Pvt, 17th Consolidated Texas Dismounted Cavalry
James H. Hightower, Pvt, 53rd Tennessee Infantry
James Hightower, Pvt, 10th Georgia Infantry
James Hightower, Pvt, 17th Texas Cavalry Moore's Regiment
James Hightower, Pvt, Company B, 27th Georgia Infantry
James Hightower, Pvrt, Company B, 6th Texas Infantry
James W. F. Hightower, 2nd Lt, Robinson's State Guards
James W. Hightower, Pvt, Branne's 4th Tennessee Cavalry
James W. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 2nd Ashbys Tennessee Cavalry
Jefferson F. Hightower, Pvt, 2 Ist Georgia Infantry
Jesse Hightower, 2nd Lt, Company H, Consolidated Mississippi Infantry
Jesse Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 20th Mississippi Infantry
Jesse Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 5th Florida Infantry
John A. Hightower, Capt, Parker's Light Artillery
John B. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 2nd Arkansas Mounted Infantry
John C. Hightower, Pvt, Company H, 32nd Alabama Infantry
John D. Hightower, Cpl, Company C, 29th Mississippi Infantry
John D. Hightower, Pvt, Company 1, 41st Georgia Infantry
John F. Hightower, Ist Lt, Company D, 3rd South Carolina Reserves
John G. Hightower, Pvt, 4th Battalion Georgia Sharp Shooters
John G. Hightower, Pvt, Company D, 3rd Battalion Georgia Infantry
John Hightower, Ist Lt, Company B, 59th Tennessee Mounted Infantry
John Hightower, Pvt, Company B, 63rd Tennessee Volunteers
John Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 26th Tennessee Infantry
John Hightower, Pvt, Company H, 9th South Carolina Infantry
John Hightower, Pvt, Company K, 7th Louisiana Infantry
John Hightower, Pvt, Missouri Light artillery
John J. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 61 st Alabama Infantry
John J. Hightower, Pvt, Company K, I 0th alabama Infantry
John J. Hightower, Pvt, Company K, 30th Mississippi Infantry
John L. Hightower, Pvt, 12th Louisiana Infantry
John L. Hightower, Pvt, 39th Alabama Infantry
John L. Hightower, Pvt, Company H, 12th Louisiana Infantry
John N. Hightower, Pvt, Company B, 30th Georgia Infantry
John N. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 44th Georgia Infantry
John 0. Hightower, Pvt, 13th Texas volunteers
John 0. Hightower, Pvt, Wilkins Louisiana Cavalry
John R. Hightower, Pvt, Company K, 21stArkansas Infantry
John T. Hightower, Pvt, 41st Georgia Infantry
John W. F. Hightower, Pvt, 3rd Battalion Georgia Infantry
John W. Hightower, Pvt, 3rd Battalion Georgia Infantry
John W. Hightower, Pvt, 4th Battalion Georgia Sharp Shooters
John W. Hightower, Pvt, 6th South Carolin Infantry
John W. Hightower, Pvt, Company K, 42nd Alabama Infantry
Jordan G. Hightower, Sgt, 23 Georgia Infantry
Jordan Hightower, Sgt, Company D, 23rd Georgia Infantry
Jordan W. Hightower, Pvt, 3rd Atlanta Reserves
Joseph Hightower, Pvt, 2nd Georgia Infantry
Joseph W. Hightower, Pvt, 14th Georgia Infantry
Joshua Hightower, Capt, 3rd Arkansas Infantry
Joshua Hightower, Cpl, Company F, 3rd Battalion Mississippi Infantry
Joshua Hightower, Pvt, 14th Georgia Infantry
Joshua Hightower, Pvt, 30th Texas Cavalry
Joshua Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 31st Mississippi Infantry
Joshua W. Hightower, Pvt, Company A, 22nd Mississippi Infantry
L. B. Hightower, Pvt, Company F, 40th Georgia Infantry
L. J. Hightower, Pvt, Company D, 13th Georgia Infantry
L. T. Hightower, Sgt, 5th Georgia Reserves
Leander Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 63rd Tennessee Infantry
Lewis Hightower, Capt, 35th Texas Cavalry
Martin Hightower, Capt, Walter's Co, South Carolina Light Artillery
Martin Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 57th Georgia Reserves
Martin V. Hightower, Pvt, Company D, 14th McCarver's Arkansas Infantry
Milton E. Hightower, Cpl, Company B, 20th Georgia Infantry
Nathan Hightower, Cpl, 8th Arkansas Infantry
Newton Hightower, Pvt, 45th Alabama Infantry
Nicholas E. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 15th Georgia Infantry
P. C. Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 43rd Tennessee Infantry, Gillespie's
P. C. Hightower, Sgt, Company C, 19th Louisiana Infantry
P. E. Hightower, Pvt, 62 Tennessee Mounted Infantry
P.C. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 43rd Tennessee Volunteers
Pascal H. Hightower, Pvt, Company B, 30th Georgia Infantry
Pascal Hightower, Pvt, Company E, 7th Georgia Infantry
Pleasant Hightower, Pvt, Company F, 62nd Tennessee Mounted Infantry
Pleasant Hightower, Pvt, Company K, 30th Mississippi Infantry
R. A. Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 27th Arkansas Infantry
R. B. Hightower, Pvt, Company E, 10th Georgia Infantry
R. C. Hightower, Pvt, Company A, 23rd Texas Cavalry
R. D. Hightower, Pvt, Company E, 4th Texas Infantry
R. H. Hightower, 2nd Lt, 10th Georgia Cavalry
R. Hightower, Pvt, Company A, 2nd Louisiana Reserves
Raleigh Hightower, Pvt, Company B, 30th Georgia Infantry
Richard B. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 5th Florida Infantry
Richard Hightower, Pvt, 45th Alabama Infantry
Richard Hightower, Pvt, 8th Louisiana
Richard R. Hightower, Pvt, Company L, 12th Louisiana Infantry
Rolly B. Hightower, Sgt, Company E, 31st Louisiana Infantry
Rolly Hightower, Pvt, Company F, 27th Texas Cavalry
Russel Hightower, Pvt, Company B, 57th Georgia Infantry
S. A. Hightower, Capt, Company C, 19th Louisiana Infantry
S. E. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 13 Georgia Infantry
S. M. Hightower, Pvt, 27th Arkansas Infantry
Samuel Hightower, Sgt, Company K, Woods Cavalry
Sanford Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 10th Confederate Cavalry
Sidney Hightower, Pvt, Wade's Confederate Cavalry
Sterling E. Hightower, Lt, Company C, 31 st Mississippi Infantry
T. E. Hightower, 2nd Lt, Company G, 13th Georgia Infantry
T. Hightower, Capt, Henly's Co, Mississippi Volunteers
T. Hightower, Pvt, 19th Texas Cavalry
Thomas H. Hightower, Ashby's 2nd Tennessee Cavalry
Thomas H. Hightower, Pvt, Capt. Lynch's Co, Tennessee Light Artillery
Thomas Hightower, Capt, Capt. Hightower's Company, Mississippi Volunteers
Thomas Hightower, Pvt, 3rd Mississippi Infantry
Thomas Hightower, Pvt, Capt. Lee Jr's Alabama Volunteers
Thomas Hightower, Pvt, Company D, 2nd. Battalion Georgia Sharp Shooters
Thomas Hightower, Pvt, Company E, 24th Alabama Infantry
Thomas Hightower, Pvt, Company H, 2nd Texas Cavalry
Thomas Hightower, Pvt, Ferguson's South Carolina Cavalry
Thomas J. Hightower, Pvt, 12th Louisiana Infantry
Thomas J. Hightower, Pvt, Company E, 27th Louisiana Infantry
Thomas J. Hightower, Pvt, McCarver's Arkansas Infantry
Thomas P. Hightower, Pvt, Company B, Waller's Regiment Texas Cavalry
Thomas W. Hightower, 2nd Lt, 21 st Georgia Infantry
Vincent Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 2nd Confederate Volunteers
W. A. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 54th Alabama Infantry
W. B. Hightower, Pvt, Company A, 37nd Alabama Infantry
W. C. Hightower, Lt, Company B, 34th Texas Calvary
W. C. Hightower, Sgt, 2nd Louisiana Infantry
W. H. Hightower, Capt, Company, 4th Regiment Georgia Militia
W. H. Hightower, Cpl, 42nd Alabama Infantry
W. H. Hightower, Pvt, 10th Georgia Infantry
W. H. Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 35th Alabama Infantry
W. H. Hightower, Pvt, Company D, 13th Georgia Infantry
W. J. Hightower, 2nd U, 54th Georgia Infantry
W. K. Hightower, Company H, 6th South Carolina Infantry
W. M. Hightower, Pvt, 10th Georgia Infantry
W. M. Hightower, Pvt, Company B, 7th Confederate Cavalry/Clairbornes
W. R. Hightower, Pvt, 27th Arkansas Infantry
W. R. Hightower, Pvt, Company A, Ford's Missouri Cavalry
W.K. Hightower, 2nd. Lt, 57th Georgia Infantry
W.S.A. Hightower, Pvt, Carter's Tennessee Cavalry
W.S.A. Hightower, Pvt, Thomals Legion North Carolina
Warren Hightower, Pvt, Company A, 22nd Mississippi Infantry
William A. Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 3rd. Battalion Mississippi Infantry
William A. Hightower, Pvt, Company F, Cooke's Arkansas Regiment
William A. Hightower, Pvt, Company H, 21 st Arkansas Infantry
A. Hightower, Sgt, Company E, 23rd Virginia Infantry
William C. Hightower, Sgt, Company A, 38th North Carolina Infantry
William D. Hightower, Cpl, Company A, 5th Alabama Infantry
William E. Hightower, Cpl, Company B, 20th Georgia Infantry
William F. Hightower, Pvt, Company A, 16th Arkansas Infantry
William F. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 22nd Alabama Infantry
William F. Hightower, Pvt, Scott's Louisiana Regiment
William G. Hightower, Pvt, 39th Alabama Infantry
G. Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 31st Mississippi Infantry
H. Hightower, 2nd Lt, 57th Georgia Infantry
H. Hightower, Pvt, Company B, 51st. Arkansas Militia
H. Hightower, Sgt, 6th South Carolina Infantry
William H. Hightower, Sgt, Company G, Floyd' s Legion
Hightower, Pvt, 17th Lemoyne's Arkansas Infantry
William Hightower, Pvt, 63rd Tennessee Infantry
William Hightower, Pvt, 8th Missouri Cavalry
Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 2nd Regiment Alabama Cavalry
William Hightower, Pvt, Company D, 5th South Carolina Reserves
William Hightower, Pvt, Company D, Young's 9th Texas Infantry
William Hightower, Pvt, Company E, 3rd Georgia Infantry
Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 3rd Texas Infantry
William Hightower, Pvt, Company H, 4th Missouri Cavalry
William Hightower, Pvt, Company H, 8th Arkansas Cavalry
William Hightower, Pvt, Light Georgia Artillery
William J. Hightower, Pvt, Josey's Arkansas Infantry
William M. Hightower, Pvt, Company K, 13th Alabama Infantry
William O. Hightower, Pvt, 10th Georgia Cavalry
William T. Hightower, Pvt, Company C, 30th Mississippi Infantry
Zachariah H. Hightower, Pvt, Company A, 3rd Florida Cavalry
Hightowers in the Union Army
Alexander Hightower, Pvt, 8th Missouri Cavalry
Arland Hightower, Pvt, Company F, 1 20th Indiana Infantry
Berry Hightower, Pvt, Company K, 21st Kentucky Infantry
Caleb Hightower, Pvt, 148th Indiana infantry
Campbell Hightower, Pvt, Company H, Ist Tennessee Mounted Infantry
Charles Hightower, Pvt, Company B, 99th 111inois Infantry
Daniel Hightower, Sgt, Company F, 60th 111inois Infantry
David Hightower, Pvt, Webster Co. Batallion, Missouri Volunteers
David Hightower, Pvt, Sgt, Company 1, 81st 111inois Infantry
Elijah Hightower, Pvt, Company L, 1 7th Indiana Infantry
George Hightower, Pvt, I Ith Kentucky Cavalry
George W. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 7th Indiana Infantry
James Hightower, Cpl, Company 1, 18th 111inois Infantry
James Hightower, Cpl, Company 1, 18th 111inois Infantry
James R. Hightower, Pvt, 32nd Kentucky Infantry
Jesse Hightower, Pvt, 3rd Missouri S.M. Cavalry
Jesse Hightower, Pvt, 6th Missouri S.M. Cavalry
John D. Hightower, Pvt, Ist USA Alabama Cavalry
John G. Hightower, Cpl, 14th 111inois Infantry
John H. Hightower, Bugler, 6th Missouri Cavalry
John H. Hightower, Pvt, Company B, 3rd Missouri Cavalry
John Hightower, Pvt, 40th 111inois Infantry
John Hightower, Sgt, 32 Kentucky Infantry
John K. Hightower, Pvt, 81st 111inois Infantry
Marion Hightower, Ist USA Alabama Cavalry
Marcelles Hightower, Pvt, 143rd Indiana Infantry
Monroe Hightower, I st USA Alabama Cavalry
Noel Hightower, Pvt, Company D, 63rd Regiment, Missouri Infantry
Richard Hightower, Pvt, 11 th Kentucky Cavairy
Robert H. Hightower, Pvt, 12th Kentucky Cavalry
Smith Hightower, Pvt, 63rd Regiment, Missouri Infantry
Smith W. Hightower, Pvt, Company G, 48th Missouri Infantry
Solomon Hightower, Pvt, Company E, 149th Indiana Infantry
Thomas Hightower, Maj, Company B, 81st 111inois Infantry
William A.Hightower, Pvt, 6th Missouri Cavalry
Wilburn Hightower, I st USA Alabama Cavalry
Hugh MacHightower
Mac Hightower was the first son of Sterling Hightower and Beersheba Davis. His father was
from Buncombe County, North Carolina and the date of his parents marriage is unknown at this
time. Hugh Mac Hightower, the second child of his parents, was born 9 December, 1803. His
parents moved to Franklin County, TN where they are listed in the 1820 census. Hugh Mac
would have been about 17 years of age.
Hugh Mac married Delia Hicks in Wilson County, TN, 3 February, 1824. Alfred M, their first
child, was born 8 January, 1825 in Franlkin County, TN. We f nd the family in Lincoln City, TN,
in 1827 where two children were born_ Martha Jane, 15 April 1827 and Elizabeth 12 February
1829. Hugh M. is listed in the 1829 Lincoln County Tax List.
He appears next in the 1830 census of Montgomery County, IL. Children born in Montgomery
County included Alexander Jackson (15 April 1832), George (19 August, 1834), Margaret
Melsena (19 September 1836), Sterling Sylvester(4 February 1840), Henretta Carolina (20 May
1841), James Richard ( 1 1 April 1843), John Henry (23 June 1845), and Sarah Melvina
Catharine (29 March 1848). Hugh Mac's sister, Nancy Hightower King, lived in nearby Coles
County, Illinois.
Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois - Bateman and Selby, pg. 912_Hugh Hightower settled in
1843, Section 33, built first house ever erected within the boundaries of Nokomis township- pg
907~ames Kelly and a Hightower landed in Hillsboro in 1829 without a penny. p. 715. Hugh
Hightower in 1843 made a settlement in section 33 and for some years was the only resident in
this section of this county. Apparently he was slow paying his land taxes in 1858, 1861 and
1865_he was listed in the delinquent land list in the Montgomery County Herald for those years.
Montgomery County Herald - 13 January 1 860_Sheriff's sale in favor of William Brewer
against George W. and Hugh Mac Hightower (Note: George Washington Hightower was a
younger brother of Hugh).
Copy of a deed dated 10 August 1833 and recorded August 15, 1833, reflects Hugh
McHightower purchasing a parcel of land in the Cresses addition, Town of Hillsboro, Lot No. 4,
Montgomery County, Illinois forthe sum of $14.00 lawful money of the United States, together
with all and singular the appurtenances and advantages thereto. This is where Hugh Mc
Hightower settled and where several of his children were born on these premises. Hugh Mac
Hightower's wife, Delia Hightower, was accepted on certificate as a member of the First
Presbyterian Church, Hillsboro, Illinois on the 1 8th day of April 1831.
Hugh Mac Hightower died 1 1 February 1879 in Powsheik County, lowa (Deep River) and is
buried in the Light Cemetery in Powsheik County, lowa.
Although some think that Hugh used the last name of Mac Hightower as is the case on his
tombstone, we fnd it listed that way in only one other place_an obituary. But in all court
documents, tax rolls and census records it is Hugh M. Hightower or Hugh M. C. Hightower. And
all the kids go by the name Hightower. Robert Thurman says, "I can recall Grandad Bob
Hightower calling him Hugh Mac.
James Wilson Hightower
I was born the 1 6th of February, 1908 to Louvina Kirkdoffer and William Hightower, only six
months before my father's seventieth birthday. On touring over his 208 acre farm with me at his
heels running to keep up with his swift pace, he would sometimes sit for a few minutes on a log,
or a stone, to rest and reminisce. These were memorable occasions. They always brought out
accounts of adventures in his exciting life: hunting, fishing, trapping, making a home, and
making a living in the wilderness.
He was a wonderful story teller, making the Ozark pioneer wilderness
life so real that I lived through his childhood memories; the Civil War days; the carving of the
farm out of
the virgin hardwood forest; building the home and farming the rich dark soil. I felt my roots
securely anchored here in this, the most beautiful place in the world to me. There were stories of
his
parents, brothers, sisters, uncles and aunts, some strangers from the Indian tribes, not yet moved
to
reservations, and new comers to the territory, some of whom were large plantation and slave
owners.
He said that his father, James Wilson Hightower, and his father's brother, John Andrew, came
from Bowling Green, Kentucky. Their father had disappeared down the Mississippi
River on a raft of cedar logs for sale in the ship yards of New Orleans (see story of Jim
Hightower-Cherokee Indian in HighLowerlYews 1990). No one ever heard of him again. When
they were little boys, they were obliged to go to work while quite young. As they were working
on a keel boat taking a load of slaves up the White River they tied up the boat overnight at Walls
Ferry. The ferryman,
William Tosh, was from Virginia. His wife, Elizabeth born in Tennessee had lived there long
enough to
have several children, the oldest of whom was Margaret Tosh. James Wilson and she fell in love
and became engaged.
The two Hightower boys hated their jobs because they didn't believe in slavery. They said the
slaves were tied to the deck and had to push the boat up river in rain and storm, heat or cold up to
the Saltpeter mines further up the river. There was a big demand for saltpeter for use in making
nitroglycerin. When they went back to Bowling Green they planned a family reunion with their
mother in five years. James Wilson returned to Walls Ferry and married Margaret Tosh in
Batesville, Arkansas_the county seat of Independence county. There he became a farmer. Before
the five years were up his mother had died and he never returned to Kentucky.
My father, William, was their first child, born July, 1859. We as children to celebrate his
birthday, always enjoyed a family campout at Walls Ferry where he was born. We children and
mother enjoyed a campfire and were bedded down at night in a wagon bed of clean wheat straw
while father and the boys fished on the river. The big drums took the bait better at night my dad
always said.
Our farm was five miles from Walls Ferry on the White River. Father's favorite way to fish was
standing in a boat spearing the fish with a harpoon. He told of harpooning a catfish so big that
when he tied it's head with willow switches to carry it over his shoulder, its tail dragged the
ground. He could relate adventures with such detail we kids would listen with big eyed wonder
and suspense like we were standing up in the little boat with him as he relived his boyhood
fishing adventures.
He told us of clearing one field with his father saying, "pappy, let's leave this little one" every
time a young saplin took his fancy. Finally, right in the middle of what was to become a
cornfield he said, "Willie you may have this one." The tree became the famous Chiquipin tree
that grew to be so large that all five of us children in the second family holding hands could not
reach around it. Though it was struck regularly by lightening it produced bushels of nuts every
year through my childhood and its spreading branches sheltered the sorghum mill each summer
where hundreds of gallons of sweet sorghum syrup were made from cane that grew right on the
spot.
About the time father was born William and Elizabeth Tosh had another little girl, they named
Sarina. She and father grew up together and were inseparable friends, though being his mother's
sister she was really his aunt. He taught us to love and respect her like a saint and everyone
respectfully called her Aunt Rean. She married William Barnes who died in Missouri in the
Union Army during the Civil War. She was instrumental in keeping the family together and
getting them all to Missouri when they had been run out of their homes by the bushwackers and
the Confederate Army. William had carried his sick father, James Wilson, on his back for much
of the way until it was safe to buy a horse and continue their journey to what they thought would
be safety.
William was a friendly, likable lad and made friends with plantation owner, John Glenn, his
children and slaves. Mr. Glenn had built a log school house at Glenn's Gin where the Lafferty
Creek flows into the White River. Steam boats landed there at the cotton gin to ship cotton down
river and for delivering goods and news from New Orleans. He hired the Methodist circuit rider
preacher to teach his children and slaves. William was invited to attend the first integrated school
in the area, which was an eight mile walk through dangerous woods, but he never missed a day.
He attended four, four-month sessions and had memorized the bluebook speller words, and
stories word for word. He loved repeating these stories as I sat on his knee before the fireplace
until I could repeat them too. He boasted that he could cypher any sum the teacher would put on
his slate. I always thought of him as a well educated person. He read widely: books, news fliers,
and especially the Holy Bible. He seemed endowed with good common sense and wisdom. I
never heard him use a bad word and he never chewed or smoked tobacco or drank whiskey.
He was a lover of nature and perhaps his best school was the wilderness itself which he knew
and loved well. One day a little motherless fawn followed him to school. Like Mary's Lamb it
lingered on the playground during school and ran after him in the games in the clearing during
recess. All children loved it and young Johnny Glenn's sister wanted her brother to buy it for her.
Father said he would take five dollars. Mr. Glenn told me about the deer deal once when I was
going to Arkansas College and Uncle Johnny was old and white-haired. I asked father about it
and his countenance fell. That was one story he had intentionally missed. He said he thought he
had put the price so high no one would buy it. Next morning when Johnny came running to him
waving a big green five dollar bill his heart sank to the bottom of his stomach. But he said his
father, James Wilson, had taught him that his word was his honor. He had not wanted to part
with his devoted little friend but there was no way out of the deal.
William was strong and tall and often walked miles for any necessary purpose or maybe just to
explore with his muzzle loading rifle. Once when Christmas was coming and there was no turkey
for the dinner he set out walking at 4 a.m. on his way to Bates Landing 12 miles away for a keg
of gun powder. In Grooms Holler he heard the rumbling noise of an ox cart meeting him, they
exchanged greetings. Next morning before daybreak when the wild turkeys began to come down
from the roost, father was there under the big trees to bring one home for Christmas dinner.
While he was still a youth, James Wilson became sick with what they called dropsey. Much of
the responsibility of providing for the family and managing the farm fell to William, with the
help of his sisters and Aunt Rean. They cut trees, split rails, fenced the fields and made crops. He
told of cutting his knee with the sharp axe once while he and Rean were splitting rails, she tore a
piece from her petticoat, bound up the wound and threw him over her shoulder and carried him
to the house. Margaret, his mother was an industrious woman and housewife. He said she spun
the thread and wove the cloth for a new pair of britches for him to put on each fall. The ones he
discarded, already too small, had rotted off at the knees from being rolled up to avoid the dew
while plowing.
In spite of all the work and the responsibility he found time for recreation and fun often walking
miles to a pioneer party to play his fiddle for dancing. William was a self-taught musician. I
never had the pleasure of hearing father play the violin though he loved to tell about it. He had
been bitten by both a diamond-back rattler and a copperhead snake at different times on the same
hand and some of this finger joints were stiff as a result.
About the time he was approaching voting age, rumors of Civil War and politics began to filter
into this peaceful wilderness country west of the Mississippi and south of the Ozarks. Father was
hopeful that the Missouri Compromise introduced by Stephen A. Douglass might possibly
prevent war. So for his big day of casting his first vote for president, he voted for Douglass.
Nothing but heartache and disappointment followed. Afterwards he proudly supported his new
hero and voted for Abraham Lincoln for President of the United States.
As the dangers of war came over the Mississippi, rumors of the Confederate Army confiscating
the struggling frontier families' food, supplies and horses, and pressing men into the army_even
those who opposed slavery. One old man whose family had hidden him under the porch was
coughing with TB when the soldiers dragged him out and killed him and pressed his teenage son
into the army. These people were father's neighbors. Two of Margaret's brothers were forced to
join the Confederate Army and both died and were buried on Papa Island in the Mississippi
River.
The southern soldiers were aided by a band of renegades who for their own greedy reasons stole
and plundered the natives' homes and barns for food, cattle, oxen and horses. But the men in the
gray uniforms, who were on leave, hunted down the bushwhackers and killed many of them.
While plowing one summer day, William had removed his shoes to cool his feet in a little spring
of water on the hillside when he looked down in the field where his horse was still tied to the
plow and saw men stealing his horse. The horse was expendable but his sick father was at home.
He ran home without taking time to put on his shoes. He carried his father to a limestone
sinkhole covered with vines and leaves to hide temporarily.
The soldiers hung around for several days pestering Margaret and the younger children. They
hung the young twin boys Robert and Henry by the toes until they were unconscious trying to
make them tell where James Wilson and William were. But the little fellows didn't know. Then
Aunt Rean came onto the scene she cut the children down and threatened the soldiers with her
anger and famous vocabulary of cuss words.
Her home was about two and a half miles away by Lafferty Creek and they hit her home next.
They took all her smoked bacon and sausage and hams from her smokehouse and everything
they could use. Then one of the ruffians piled all their bedding; feather beds, quilts and pillows
in a heap in the middle of the floor. Then he lit a torch at her fireplace and started to set the pile
on fire. Aunt Rean picked up a home-made hickory chair and warned him with strong language
that if he did that he'd regret it. So as he stuck the torch to the bedding she let him have it and
stomped out the fire. When he recovered enough to get up he ran outside to the soldiers who had
been supervising the raid and yelled "She hit me! Shoot her! Shoot her!" The young Confederate
Lieutenant became angry and ordered him to let these people alone and get going. He must have
come from one of the better southern families in the south. He said, "We have taken their food
and supplies with winter coming on, leaving these people to starve. Would you burn down their
shelter and everything left? This is not the purpose of this war."
After they rode away she went into the woods, rounded up an oxen, hitched him to the cart and
went out and shot a hog. She some how got it onto the cart and headed home. On the little
wooded trail she met 6 soldiers on horseback she sat on top of the hog, waving a huge butcher
knife and threatened anyone who tried to take her food. They meekly cut out of the trail and gave
her the right of way.
William, William Barnes and James Wilson were hiding in the cedar breaks and Aunt Rean was
slipping food to them pretending to be gathering greens or one pretext or another. William
Barnes slipped away to Missouri and joined the Federal Army.
As soon as father's foot was well enough to travel he had hurt it when he ran barefoot to rescue
his father_they started walking north by the stars. As soon as they thought they were in neutral
territory they approached a man who was gathering fresh corn from a field. On asking about
buying food they were invited in for breakfast. On the table was a large platter of cooked
roasting ears. The food was blessed and they were invited to help themselves. He said that was
all they had. Fresh corn never tasted so good. They found a farm that would sell them a horse
and that helped them get to Rolla, Missouri. They went around the town to a high spot from
which they could look down on the town and found the streets filled with Confederate Soldiers.
When his father was safely located William found a warehouse that needed teamsters and hired
on with some other loyal men. They were told to take loads of food and supplies to a battalion of
Federal soldiers some distance away who were pinned down by the Confederates. They were
told the direction and instructed to cut out though the woods separately. He had not gone far until
he came upon one of the wagons on fire and the driver hanging by the neck from a tree. But
father and one other load got through. Father joined the army and his name was on the roll.
When the troops found out he could cook he became the official biscuit maker. They had been on
hardtack too long. He described hardtack as something like a dehydrated bagel.
He said night after night the guard in a certain place was killed. Finally the culprit was caught by
a clever trick of putting a dummy in place of the guard. The assassin was caught hiding behind a
log. He had been posing as the preacher of their own outfit. I remember a scar as big as a dollar
on father's arm_he had a smallpox vaccination and almost lost the arm. He and a friend were
very sick with measles. They went to a house they had past while coming to camp. The lady said,
"You poor boys come in." She gave them some food and put them to sleep in a warm room. Next
morning they were broken out with the red measles. The lady was angry that her children had
been exposed but she knew if she sent them out so sick they would die so they became a part of
the family.
By the time they were well enough, their outfit had either died of measles or had been wiped out
by the confederate troops. The records were destroyed and there was never an official record of
William Hightower ever having been a member of the United States Army.
Aunt Rean and grandmother Margaret managed to get all the family to Rolla where they cared
for Grandfather James Wilson Hightower until he died. While they were in Missouri, father's
lovely sister, Margaret, died of diphtheria. After the war, the whole family returned to
Independence County, Ark., without grandpa James Wilson and little Margaret. They were
buried in unmarked graves in Rolla, Missouri.
Bill Barnes, Aunt Rean's husband had died in the U.S. Army. William was engaged to Mary
Gillispe Wilson. He returned with the family to Arkansas to make their home and when the
house was finished and the crop laid by, he returned to Missouri for her. They were married in
Rolla, 13 December, 1866 and returned to Arkansas. In the aftermath of Civil War the couple
had 5 boys and 3 girls and reared them in the peace of their little Arkansas farmstead.
John D. Hightower of Effingham, IL, Civil
War Veteran
From a History of Effingham County, by Bateman & Shelby, Chicago, 111., published
1910
John D. Hightower received his education in the subscription schools of Georgia and Alabama.
At the outbreak of the Civil War John and his four brothers joined the I st Middle Tennessee
Cavalry, United States Troops, in which he served until the battle of Stone's River, when they
were transferred to the 1 st Alabama.
John was captured by the Confederates and taken to Tupelo, Miss. But after two months of
confinement he managed to escape and hid in the woods, escaping from the scouts of the
Confederate army. In October, 1863, he rejoined his regiment in which his three brothers,
Marion, Monroe and Wilburn were serving.
The 1st Alabama took part in the hard fought campaigns around Atlanta. When this company
served as escort to General Sherman, John D. Hightower was his orderly during the March to the
Sea (ea. note. though we genealogists are most unhappy with all the courthouse records pillaged
by the invading General Sherman).
In 1864 Mr. Hightower spent five months in scouting service. After the surrender of General Lee
at Appomattox, Hightower's company was mustered out at Nashville, Tl1., 21 July, 1865.
Two of his brothers, Monroe and Wilburn, died in the war and Marion was discharged and
migrated to Arkansas. In 1865 Mr. Ilightower came to Effingham County and bought a small
farm on section 20, Watson Township. His wife, whom he had married after his escape from the
Confederates in 1863, had come to Effingham County in 1864. The couple had seven children:
George, Wilburn, Martha, John, Sadie, Lota and Lee.
Mr. Hightower has voted for every Republican president since Lincoln. He was for a number of
years Republican County Chairman. His religious affiliations are with the Methodist Episcopal
Church of which he is a liberal supporter.
Early Tennessee Hightowers
In each issue of the Hightower News we feature a particular state and the contributions of early
Hightower settlers in that state's history. Tennessee not only holds a great deal of Hightower
family history, but it is through the Volunteer State that many of our ancestors came on their way
west.
In 1776 the settlers in a few isolated centers in Tennessee organized themselves into the Watauga
Association for protection and administration of justice. Two now famous leaders of this
association were John Sevier, who would become the first governor of the state and James
Robertson, who founded (1779) a community near present-day Nashville.
A less prominent signer of the Watauga Petition was Oldham Hightower (see story of Oldham
Hightower page 8). Oldham's son, Richard Hightower (b. 25 May, 1764) lived in Caswell
County, NC in 1790. In 1791 Richard Hlightower marned Nancy Smith. The couple settled in
Williamson County Tennessee on Wilson Pike at Old Smyrna Rd., in what is now the city of
Nashville. This Richard Hightower should not be confused with the Capt. Richard Hightower of
Jessamine County, Kentucky whose father was George Hightower (some researchers have made
this mistake simply due to proximity and the fact that they lived at nearly the same time).
Richard and Nancy had nine children: John, Robert Smith, Asenath, Lucinda, Sarah Clemmons,
Mary Smith, Joseph B. and Richard R._all born at the Hightower homestead pictured here. The
home was purchased by Buck Davis about 1865 and burned almost one hundred years later in
1964.
Hightower Place Names
Churches and Cemeteries:
Hightower Cemetery. Johnson Co., GA near Cow Hell Swamp
Hightower Cemetery, Lowndes Co, GA, Bemis
Hightower Cemetery-2. Lowndes Co, GA,Baldosta
Hightower Church, Cherokee, GA, Ball Ground E
Hightower Church, Kershaw Co, S.C., Elgin
Hightower Church, Swain, Co, S.C., Wesser
Hightower-Andrews Cemetary, Lee Co., AL, Opelikawest
Hightower Cemetery, Limestone Co., AL, Salem
Hightower Cemetery, Clairborne, Co., LA, Haynesville, E
Hightower Cemetery, Benleo, Warren, KY,
Hightower Cemetery, Webster Co, MS, Little Sand Creek
Hightower Cemetery, Erath Co., TX, Morgan Mill
Hightower Cemetery, Walker Co., TX, Huntsville
Communities, Towns 8t Places:
Hightower Hollow, Lawrence, Co, AL, Masterson
Hightower, Forsyth, GA, Matt
Hightower Summet, Towns Co., GA, Hightower Bald
Hightower Branch, Rabun Co., GA, Dillard
Hightower Branch, Steward Co., GA, Lumpkin
Hightower Creek, Greene Co., GA, White Plains
Hightower Creek, Laurens, Co., GA, East Dublin
Hightower Creek, Towns, Co., GA, Macadonia
Hightower Falls, Polk Co, GA, Felton
Hightower Gap, Towns Co., GA, Hightower Bald
Hightower Gap, Union Co., GA, Noontootla
Hightower Indian Trail Monument, (see map above-left),
Hightower Lake Reservoir, Polk Co., GA, Felton
Hightower Lake Reservoir, Upson Co., GA, Tomaston
Hightower Mt, Polk Co., GA, Felton
Hightower School, Lumpkin Co., GA, Campbell Mt.
Hightower Creek, Aiken Co, S.C., Graniteville
Hightower~Hall, in York Co, S.C., (historical site)
Hightower i~untain, Greenville, Co., S.C., Slater
Hightower Gap, Swain Co., N.C., Wesser
Hightowers Community, (see above map and photo below)
Hightower Creek, Warren Co., KY (Hadley)
Hightower in Cleburne, AL, Hightowers
Hightowers Store, also Avery's Store, Talladego, Co., AL
Hightower in Mississippi Co., AR, Dell
Hightower Creek in Baxter Co., AR
Hightower Hollow, Giles, CO., TN, Aspen Hill
Hightower Spring, Marion Co., TN, South Pittsburg
Hightower Canyon, Hidalgo Co., N.M., Table Top Mt.
Hightower East Oil Field, Chaves Co., N.M., Frier Ranch
Hightower Mountain, Lincoln Co., N.M., Ft. Stauton
Hightower in Texas, Liberty Co., TX, Rayburn
Hightower Branch, Montgomery Co., TX, Fostoria
Hightower Bridge, Parker Co., TX, Tin Top
Hightower Creek, Erath Co., TX, Morgan Mill
Rockdale, Co., GA, Milstead
Charnell Hightower
Charnell Hightower was probably born in Clarke County, Georgia in 1796. He was only one of
many Charnells_perhaps named after his grandfather Charnell. Little is known about Charnell's
parents (see Chart links on page 2), except that his father was named Thomas Hightower and
died around 1826 probably in Marengo County, Alabama. The connection between Charnell and
Thomas is verified by two deeds. The first deed is dated February 2,1819, in Clarke County,
Georgia. This deed willed nine slaves to Thomas Hightower as an inheritance from his parents,
Joshua and Polly Hightower, in the event of their deaths. The names and ages of all of the slaves
are given in the deed.
The second deed is dated February 4,1828, and it is recorded in Marengo County, Alabama. This
deed gave one slave, Frank, to Charnell Hightower as his part of his father's and grandfather's
estates. According to the deed, the slave was to descend to Charnell after the death of his
grandfather, Joshua, because of the previous death of Charnell's father, Thomas. The slave was
one of the same slaves deeded to Thomas by Joshua in 1819. Therefore, these two deeds verify
the identity of Charnell's father and grandfather. At this time, according to the deed of 1826,
Charnell was a resident of Walton County, Georgia.
It was said that Charnell served in the War of 1812, but no record of his service could be found.
Therefore, the first actual record where Charnell is involved is his marriage to Elon Watts on
December 22, 1816, in Morgan County, Georgia. The marriage record listed their names as,
UCharnell Hightower and Ellon Watts."
Next, Charnell is found back in Clarke County, Georgia when he bought 730 acres for $250 on
April 19,1819. This land was situated on the Oconee River. In October of 1820, Charnell and his
family lived in Clarke County near many other Hightowers. By this time Elon had bore two
children. (Thomas Preston Hightower born on December 3,1817 and an unidentified daughter
born around 1819) Charnell once again bought land in Clarke County on November 27,1820
when he purchased 225 acres on the Oconee River for $600. Then on February 12, 1821,
Charnell sold the 730 acres for $475, making $225 on the sale. This was the last record of
Charnell and his family in Clarke County, Georgia.
By leaving Clarke County, Charnell began his life-long westward journey which would lead him
through five states. His journey would end nearly fifty years later and over 800 miles from his
birthplace.
In 1826, Charnell lived in Walton County, Georgia according to the previously mentioned deed
from Marengo County, Alabama. Also Charnell's son John B. Hightower testified to have been
born there, so we know that at least two of Charnell's children were born there. (John B.
Hightower born in December of 1822 and Teletha Hightower Sanders born about 1825; also by
this time another unidentified daughter had been borned about 1821)
Next Charnell is found in Newton County,Georgia where he participated in the Land Lottery of
1827. The birthplace of his next three children is uncertain, but some may have been born
here.(Charnell Jr. born about 1827, William T. born 1828 and another unidentified daughter born
about 1829)
The reason that three of Charnell and Elon's daughter's are unidentified is that the records of
Chickasaw County, Mississippi, where these children were probably married, were burned in the
Civil War, so their names from marriage records are lost forever. The only way to find the
identity of these daughters is for their descendants to see the connection from old family records
and legends.
It is uncertain what Charnell and his family did after leaving Georgia, for the family was not
recorded in the 1830 census as far as has been determined. It is reasonable to assume that they
quickly moved through Alabama, and by the end of 1830, they were settled in their new
home_Chickasaw County, Mississippi. Due to the lost records of this county, Charnell's life
there is almost a mystery. He lived there until about 1846 when he once again moved west.
While in Chickasaw County, Charnell and Elon had their last four children. (Raleigh or Rollyborn on December 18, 1830, Joseph Watts born on March 26, 1832, Joshua born in 1833, and
then Allexander G. or Allen born in December of 1837) Charnell was first recorded in Texas in
1848 in Cherokee County, Texas. He lived near his son, Thomas P., and his daughter, Teletha
Sanders,(Mrs. Stephen) According to tax rolls, he also lived there in 1849 and owned 450 acres.
Then in the census of 1850, Charnell was in Anderson County, Texas. Living with him were his
wife, Elon, his sons, William, Joshua and Allexander. Charnell must have been quite a
businessman, as was evident from two deedS in Anderson County dated January of 1851. In the
first deed dated January 3, 1851, he bought 400 acres for $800 from Frost Thorn. Then on
January 9, 1851, he sold the same 400 acres to Barnett Hollingsworth for $2000, making a $
1200 profit in just six days.
Charnell and Elon then moved to Henderson County, Texas near Tennessee Colony. Charnell
bought 320 acres for $640 from John Stephens on January 30, 1852. According to tax rolls of
1852, Charnell owned twelve slaves valued at $4200, six horses valued at $300 and 75 cattle
valued at $300. His son John B. Iived nearby. On September 25, 1853, Charnell bought 70 acres
for an unstated price(valued at $ 160 in 1853 tax rolls) from John Stephens. This deed was
witnessed by J. Hightower and J. W. Hightower. All of this land was located on the Neches
River.
The family remained in the same area, and in 1856 death struck when Elon Watts Hightower,
mother of twelve and Charnell's wife of 40 years, died. Her death was recorded in the family
Bible of her son Joseph Watts Hightower. It reads, "Elon Hightower, August 20th, 1856, aged 59
years."
Only two months after the death of Elon, Charnell remarried to Mrs. Thomas Jefferson Morris of
Cherokee County, Texas. Mrs. Morris or Glovina as she was called, probably met Charnell when
he visited his son, Thomas P., who also lived in Cherokee County. Charnell and Glovina were
married there on October 30, 1856, though they lived afterwards in Charnell's home in
Henderson County. Several of Glovina's children from her previous marriage lived with them.
Glovina was almost twenty years younger than Charnell, and on their marriage record her name
was listed as "Lucretia Morris".
Charnell fathered two children by his new wife, when he was over 60 years old. Both of these
children were born in Henderson County. (Sidney S. born in 1857 and Lucinda or Cynthia born
in 1859)
Between the years of 1857 and 1859 Charnell disposed of eleven slaves. Only one record
concerning this has been found. This record stated that on May 9,1858 in Henderson County,
Charnell Jr. paid Charnell $400 for a slave girl named Harriet as his part of his father's and
mother's estate. This deed was witnessed by John B. Hightower.
Oldham Hightower
Oldham Hightower was born 17 Sept.1744. This date was taken from Bible Records. Through
research it has been ascertained that he was the firstborn of Austin and Jane Oldham Hightower
and they were residing in Brunswick County, Virginia about that time, on a 400-acre land grant
south of Cedar Creek. It is interesting to note that there is an Oldham, VA which is near the
North Farnhum Parish Church and near where the Hightower family lived in Richmond County,
VA. That is most certainly the ancestors of Jane Oldham, wife of Austin.
There is no reference to Oldham Hightower in Brunswick County, VA. in the records of that
time that were not destroyed. He was first mentioned in the land grant from John Earl Granville
to Austin Hightower in 1762, in Orange County, North Carolina. He was a chain carrier on the
survey of the granted land and would have been about 28 years old.
From bible records, we learned that Oldham Hightower married Sara Parker (b.12 April, 1745)
in 1763, and in all probability it was in Orange County, North Carolina. Their first child, a son,
Richard, was born 25 May of 1764. John Oldham, Jr. was born in 1766 and Joseph was born in
1768, all in Orange County, North Carolina, as the records show Oldham and Sara Parker
Hightower still residing in Orange County, North Carolina in 1771.
Shortlythereafterhe is found in SurryCounty, North Carolinaand on the fax Lists for 1774 and
1775 (at that time this County covered Northeast corner of North Carolina).
Oldham apparently was moving westward toward Tennessee because in 1776 he was living in
the Watauqua District, which is now in eastern Tennessee, but at that time was Indian Territory
and not part of the United States or the colonies. He was one of the signers of the Watauga
Petition. He was a Revolutionary Patriot.
In 1778, Oldham Hightower paid one poll tax and owned 0- 100 acres of land in Washington
County, Tennessee (this county covered the entire state)_taken from the records of Hardy
Hightower, the fourth child and son of Oldham and Sarah Parker Hightower, he was born 28
December 1779 in Buncombe County, North Carolina (formerly Rutherford County). Their only
daughter and last child, Jane (Jincy) was also born in Buncombe County, North Carolina about
1786.
In 1800 Oldham was recorded as being in Christian County, KY, perhaps visiting a family
relative there or a preleminary to his move to Giles County Tennessee. Oldham was one of the
first settlers on Bradshaw Creek, east of Pulaski, Tennessee in 1808. He raised corn and wth his
son, Hardy, built the first grist mill on the creek. According to the 1820 Census_Oldham and his
wife was living in the home of their son, Hardy. About 1821 Hardy moved the family to the
Hickory Flat Plantation near Florence, Alabama where Oldham died, 23 October, 1823. Sarah
Parker died at the plantation 31 December, 1836.
Epaphroditus Hightower
Epaphroditus Hightower was the youngest son of Joshua and Susannah Tavenor Hightower, born
in Richmond County, Virginia about 1741. His birth was not recorded in the Farnham Parish
Register, however verification that he was their son is taken from Joshua Hightower's will made
12 May,1770. He married Eleanor Hightower, daughter of Joshua Hightower, of Amelia County,
VA in November 1771, in Amelia County, VA
He was one of the earliest residents of Caswell County, NC., by 1780 he entered a deed for land
on Country Line Creek and in 1783 he was in county court records as a road overseer. He was
reported on tax records and the Federal census through 1810.
Epaphroditus moved to Buncombe County, NC in 1809. In the files of the County Court Clerk,
we find and "Epaphroditus" bought and sold land twenty times until the year 1834, but some of
those transactions could have been his son, Epaphroditus, Jr. (The will of the Senior Epaph was
probated in 1832). We don't know exactly when he moved to Tennessee, but he served as a
private in Bunch's Mounted Regiment, East Tennessee Volunteers in the War of 1812. He served
from 12 October, 1813 to 12 January, 1814. Epaphroditus lived in Grainger County, Tennessee
according to the U. S. Census in 1820 and 1830.
Epaph and wife Eleanor had the following children:
1. Frances A. married Herndon Lea.
2. Joshua married Delialah Slade and had one child: Deveraux. A second marriage was to Eunice
Lea. The two moved from Grainger, TN to Bloomington, IN about 1830. Joshua died before
1843, Eunice died in 1863.
3. Agnes, married John Kersey. She was living in Granger County, TN as late as 1852. 4. Lettice
married James Paul.
5. Sally, married Benjamin Walker.
6. Susannah married John Tyre Curl.
7. Elizabeth married Jeremiah Jarnigan.
8. Epaphroditus, Jr. married Nancy Clay.
Epaphroditus died in Grainger County, TN about 1832 and his wife Eleanor died in 1848.
Hightowers in the Indian Wars
D.C. Hightower, Pvt, Creek War, Company 1, Beall's Georgia Mounted Volunteers.
Elisha Hightower, Pvt, Creek War, Company 1, Georgia drafted militia
George Hightower, Pvt, Comb's Kentucky Mounted Gunmen
Green Hightower, Pvt, Seminole War, Picket's Florida Mounted Volunteers
H. Hightower, Pvt, Creek War, Company 1, Beall's Georgia Mounted Volunteers
Hen~y Hightower, Pvt, Seminole War, 1st Battalion, Wimberly's Georgia Militia
H.L. Hightower, Pvt, Cherokee War, 1st Tennessee Mounted Infantry
1. W. Hightower, Pvt, Creek War, Company 1, Beall's Georgia Mounted Volunteers
James Hightower, Pvt, Florida War, Ross's Battalion, Georgia Militia
Ja~nes H. Hightower, Pvt, Creek War, Smith's Alabama Mounted Volunteers
J~mes M. Hightower, Pvt, Creek War, Company 1 Beall's Georgia Mounted Volunteers
Joel Hightower, Pvt, Florida War, Ross's Battalion, Georgia Militia
Jonathan Hightower, Pvt, Seminor War, Wimbert's Georgia Militia
Joshua Hightower, Pvt, Cherokee War, Lindsay's Georgia Mounted Volunteers
Joshua Hightower, Pvt, Creek War, Webb's Battalion, Alabama Mounted Militia
L. G. Hightower, Pvt, Florida War, Howard's Battalion, Georgia Mounted Militia
Pleasant C. Hightower, Pvt, Cherokee War, Company 2, Tennessee Mounted Militia
Robert L. Hightower, Pvt, Creek War, Georgia Infantry
lhomas A. Hightower, Pvt, Florida War, I loward's
Battalion, Georgia Mounted Militia
Thomas Hightower, Pvt, Florida War, Ross's Mounted Militia
William Hightower, Corporal, Seminole War, Company 1, Mounted Gunmen W. Tenn.
William Hightower, Pvt, Florida War, Company 1, Brisbane's South Carolina Militia
Inhe American Revolution the British, as the French had done earlier, made extensive use of
Indians to fight the colonists. After the war, settlers pushed west of the mountains, and
newfighting erupted. North of the Ohio River, in 1790 and 1791, LITTLE TURTLE led warriors
of the MIAMI, SHAWNEE, and other tribes to victories over U.S. troops. The Shawnee chief,
TECUMSEH, carried on, striving to forge a grand alliance of tribes west of the mountains. His
dream was shattered by the Indiana Territory Governor William Henry HARRISON at the Battle
of TIPPECANOE in 1811. Tecumseh fell in battle during the WAR OF I 812, in which Indians
once again aided the British. In the South, Indian resistance collapsed after Gen. Andrew
JACKSON smashed the CREEKS in 1814 at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, located in presentday Alabama.In the three decades following the War of 1812 the U.S. government evolved a
policy of moving eastern tribes to new homes west of the Mississippi River in order to clear the
way for white settlement. For the most part, Indian removal was accomplished by nonviolent
though coercive measures. Notable exceptions were Florida's SEMINOLE WARS (181 7- 18,
1835-42, 1856-58) and the brief BLACK HAWK WAR (1832) in 111inois.
Jim Polk Hightower
The following reminiscences of the past were furnished by one of our old colored friends, Jim
Polk Hightower, here in Sardis, AL in 1875.
"After so much has been written about the town of Sardis by its white citizens, I thought I would
try to give a little history of the old time white southern gentlemen, and as times are so fast
carrying all of the old time whites and old time colored into that unknown world, and myself as
one of the old time slaves I thought it but right that I should give to the world some of the ways
of the old time white men and old time white women. They was as a general thing kind to the
slaves and only correct them when it was needed. The slave was treated much better than the
present generation can imagine. It seems that it was the highest ambition of Master and Mistress
to teach them to be honest and to have manners and I want to say right here that most of our race
that are yet living have not forgot the first lesson, that manners and good behavior will carry you
farther than money. On the plantation the white boy and the niger boys would play together, fight
and make up before going to the house for if the father and mother were told of the fighting, both
would get the rod. And when the old time southern gentleman and lady would fix to go to see
some entertainment, you would see the gentleman with his trock tail broadcloth coat and his
white lining shirt, they did not think of themselves being dressed up if they did not have on a
frock coat. Such a thing as a white gentleman going to church or to a wedding with a short coat
on was not known with oldtime aristocrates. And the good white lady would have on her silk
dress and her bonnet, and the carriage driver would dress up and be as proud as the old Master.
Then come the white young lady and she was just as obedient to mother and father as a child.
She would not say a cross word to them for anything, and I must say, I grew up right there in the
yard, with the white people and had a good chance to know something of their ways.
And when any slave on the plantation was sick you would see the old mistress going in the night
to the house of that sick slave to give the medicine and some of them was as good a doctor as
some of them that practices medicine.
And I must say that the mothers and fathers of the boys that grew up in the sixties ( I 860's) were
the best people that the world will ever see. So to the few old boys of the Lost
Cause(Confederacy), let me say that you are the sons of some of the purest mothers and fathers
that ever lived. And I want to say right here that I belonged to one of the best owners that lived in
the day of slavery. Mr. J.D. Hightower and his little wife thought so much of their slaves. We
were always kindly treated. If one of the slaves on the term got into trouble with the overseer in
the absence of the master, he would go to the house, the mistress would take him into her room
and have him stay until his master came home.
All of us Hightower slaves with bear witness of the love we had for Miss Dollie and Master John
as we call them. Then in 1861 came the War between the States and how sad it is to me jest to
look back and see such a band of noble young men, just in the pride of life go out to the cruel
war. Some of them never to return home anymore. Yet the father and mother gave them up freely
to go out and fight for what they thought was their right. They did not go out to fight to hold the
negroes in slavery, for that was not the question when the war commenced. They fought for
prinicple. They put that ahead of dollars and slaves.
Then after the war was over and the poor old South was beat, and the camp-tevered, worn-out
soldier returned, and as he came in sight of home he would look and see the black smoked
chimney as the only remaining thing to point him where the manson of his father and mother
stood. What a cruel war! Then the poor fellow would start a new life without a dollar. I think if
more of the old time slaves would write and give the world the true facts of our relations to the
old slave owners it would better our condition. Now let us live together in peace and die in the
full triumph of the Christian faith.
Back to The Northern Neck of VA
Following the king's grant of another charter to the Virginia Company in 1609, Robert Johnson,
a London alderman and official of the company, printed this promotional pamphlet entered for
publication on February 28, 1609. The author pleaded for colonists, called planters to come to
Virginia, this "paradise on earth." It may have been a flyer such as this that led our first
liightower family to tidewater Virginia. Of course it was not the paradise defined by the
pamphlet, it was an extremely difficult life on the Northern Neck of Virginia in the seventeenth
century.
And while we do not know exactly when the Hightower family first arrived in America, We
think it was after 1650 (llightower IYews, p. I 1, 1993). From 1645 to 1665, the population of the
Virginia colony multiplied more than threefold. And more than 75% of the immigrants came as
indentured servants. In order to pay for the passage, the young adventurer would enter into a
contract with a planter to pay his way. To repay the planter, the youth would agree to work for
the planter for a certain period of time, and at the end of his service he would have a trade and
some supplies to get started in housekeeping. Starting in 1642, servants 21 years of age and older
had to serve their masters for four years.lt has been speculated that the first llightower in
America was one of those indentured servants_ from a book by Samuel Hales published in 1975,
we read, "Mrs. Blanche Williams was a daughter of William Flavius Joseph Hightower. Mrs.
Williams said that her father told her that his great-great-great grandfather llightower came to
America as a bound boy," or indentured servant. Indeed that may be the reason that we are
unable to find evidence of a land grant or deed for land prior to 1700 in the Hightower name. The
first mention in court records of the Northern Neck is a suite settled against Joshua llightower in
which he has to pay the sum
John Hightower
The birthdate of John Hightower has not been proven but through years of research it has been
accepted as about 1692 and that he was the oldest child of Joshua and Eleanor Hightower, first
Hightower's of Virginia, and that this family was residing in Richmond County prior to the
1700's. Our story on John Hightower has been taken from the court records of Richmond and
Amelia Counties of Virginia, and the Farnham Parish Register Richmond County, the Lunenburg
Parish Register, Richmond County, Virginia.
He was about 26 years of age when he married Mary Bryan, daughter of Thomas Bryan and
Eleanor Winniford, also of Richmond County Virginia and their first child, WILLIAM, was born
20 July 1720. A total of eight children were born of this union, the last, twins, Richard and
Rebeckha were born 27 December 1737 and all the children's births were recorded in the
Farnham Parish and Lunenburg Parish Registers with the sole exception of Rebeckha, and her
birth was recorded only in the Episcopal Church Records of Richmond County, Virginia. There
has been no further information found on this child and it has to be assumed that she died at
birth.
It is evident that John llightower was a profitable farmer and grower of tobacco. In one court
reference he paid 5000 Ibs. of tobacco for 180 acres of land on Turks Branch of Totuskey Creek
in October 1726. As early as 1612, John Rolfe had planted a commercial tobacco crop in
Jamestown and the Virginia settlement quickly became a center for the trade of tobacco.
Tobacco cultivation spread through colonies.
Court records reflect that John Hightower was a slave owner in Richmond County in 1729 and
by August 28, 1745 he and his wife Mary owned 290 acres of land and at this time they sold it to
Nicholas Flood for 50 pounds of Virginia money.
Also from the court records we learn that John llightower was a surveyor and was appointed as
the surveyor of highways as prescribed by law June 18, 1739. (It might be pointed out at this
time that this chosen line of work was found in the descendants of not only John, but of his
brothers as well.)
The Hightower families began to migrate around 1748 and JOLIN and his wife, MARY moved
too. They stayed in Virginia their entire lives and their only move was to Amelia County.
Between 1748 and 1756 John had acquired 1600 acres of land in Amelia County.
The 1600-acre plantation in Amelia County was on Tommihitton Creek, and there were a
number of slaves.
September 21, 1757 JOHN HIGHTOWER filed six deeds in Amelia County Virginia, deeding
acreage to his six sons as follows: John Hightower, Jr.,250 acres, 10 shillings; Thomas
Hightower, 100 acres, 10 shillings;George Hightower,200 acres, 10 shillings; William
Hightower,400 acres, 10 shillings; Richard Hightower, 200 acres, 10 shillings.
John Hightower was about 20 years old, living in Richmond County, Virginia, and in all
probability in the homestead of his parents, Joshua and Eleanor, when he married Mary Bryan,
the daughter of Thomas Bryan, Jr. and Eleanor Winniford, in 1718 or 1719. Their first child was
born in Richmond County, Virginia, and his birth was recorded in the Farnham Parish Register.
They named him William and he was born 20 July 1720.
The first reference to John Hightower was in May 1719,, p. 166, Richmond County, Virginia.
Elizabeth Whittle vs. John llightower. 794 Ibs. of crop tobacco due on account. Again in May
1719, p.166, Richmond County, Virginia, Anthony Sidney, assignee of John Bryan vs. John
llightower. This case was dismissed. OB8, p. 110, Richmond County, Virginia. Newman
Brackenbrough, plaintiff and John llightower and Mary his wife, defendants. Pay out of estate of
Thomas Bryan to plaintiff. This is the first record that offers proof that John Hightower is
married and that his wife's name is Mary. In the above reference, the 'Thomas Bryan' is the late
father of John Hightower's wife, Mary Bryan Hightower. Taking this date, it has been established
that this couple was married about 1719. The case of Whittle vs. LIightower continued on into
Mary 1720 at which time John Hightower was found guilty and required to pay damages. Also
on p.189 of May 1720, the claim of John llightower for taking up one runaway servant named
James McCall belonging to John Lomax of Essex County be certified. The second child of John
and Mary Bryan Hightower was born: 10 January 1722, Eleanor, and her birth was also recorded
in the Farnham Parish Register, Richmond County, Virginia. Through research, it has been
established that John and Mary Bryan Hightower had established their domicile near the
homestead of John's parents, Joshua and Eleanor Hightower, in Richmond County, Virginia and
thatJohn's brothers, Joshua, Charnell and Thomas were living at the homestead. All of these
children had been born prior to the 1700's with the sole exception of Thomas and he was born 20
March 1712 and his birth was recorded in the Farnham Parish_ Richmond County,Virginia.
Further research of the Richmond County, Virginia court records reveals John residing in the
county at the time of his father's death in 1726. Also, their third child, JOHN, JR. was born 13
November 1725 and his birth was recorded in the Farnham Parish Register, Richmond County,
Virginia.
In August 1727 John HIightower was appointed surveyor of highways for coming year. This
profession was carried down through generations and it is interesting to
Another son, Joshua, was born 12 September 1728, and his birth was recorded in the Farnham
Parish Register, Richmond County, Virginia. This boy was named for his grandfather Joshua,
who died in Richmond County, Virginia in 1726. It was established and the records of Richmond
County, Virginia reflect that John Hightower was a slave ownerin 1729.
The fifth child, another son, Thomas, was born 24 May 1731; the sixth, George, born 28
September 1733; and the last two, twins, born 27 December 1737, Richard and Rebeckah. Births
of the three boys were recorded in the Farnham Parish Register, Richmond County, Virginia but
the birth of Rebeccah was recorded in the Episcopal Church Register. It has to be assumed this
child died at birth, or shortly thereafter since no further information has been found to this date.
The court records reflect John and Mary Hightower still residing in Richmond County, Virginia
up to and including August 28, 1745, at which time John and Mary Hightower sold to Nicholas
Flood 290 acres for 50 pounds Virginia money. This was the last reference of this couple being
residents of this county. May 20, 1748, Amelia County, Virginia we find Wood Jones selling to
John Hightower 600 acres in Tommihitton Swamp. Again in 1750, Thomas sold John Hightower
400 acres for 35 pounds in the Tommihitton Swamp. May 2, 1754, Charles Williams sold John
Hightower 50 acres for 10 pounds, Tommihitton Creek.
In 1755, September 10, John Hightower was granted 400 acres in Lunenburg County, Virginia
and in August 7,1756, John Ornsby sold to John Hightower 550 acres of land at the head of
Tommihitton Creek. This gave John Hightower 1600 acres in the Tommihitton Swamp and 400
acres in Lunenburg County a total of 2 ,000 acres and a number of slaves. Then in March 1758,
John Hightower, Sr. deeded to his son, Thomas, the 400 acres in Lunenburg County, Virginia,
thus leaving 350 acres in the Tommihitton Swamp known as the plantation.
John Hightower died in 1764, Amelia County, Nottaway Parish, Virginia leaving a will dated
October 16, 1761. This will was probated September 27, 1764 in Amelia County, Virginia and it
is recorded in Will Book 2X. In his will, John Hightower gave each of his surviving children, six
sons and one daughter, his slaves, reserving slaves for his wife, Mary, to be given to John, Jr.
upon his mother's death, along with the plantation lands and another small tract. His wife, Mary,
to remain at the plantation with her three slaves until her death.
Thomas Russell Hightower
Thomas Russell llightower, one of the leading citizens of Union Township, Webster Co., Mo.,
was born in Caswell County, N. C., May 1, 1839, and is a son of Deverex and Sicily (Gooch)
Hightower, natives, respectively, of linox County, Tenn., and North Carolina. The parents were
married in North Carolina in 181 d, where they lived until the fall of 1850, when they removed to
Greene County, MO., and three years later located in Webster County. When a young man the
father learned the stone- mason's trade, at which he worked in connection with farming all his
life, and was very successful until the outbreak of the Civil War, during which he lost heavily.
He was a Democrat politically, and in his death, which occurred September 17, 1872, Webster
County lost one of its most enterprising residents. Mrs. llightower died in October, 1858, a
member of the Primitive Baptist Church. There were eight sons and eight daughters born to the
parents of our subject, of whom four sons are now living, viz.: Joshua, a farmer of Niangua
Township, Webster County; Eppa, a farmer of Wright County, Lao.; Abner, a farmer of High
Prairie Township, Webster County, and Thomas Russell. The latter received his education in the
common schools, and his home was with his parents during their life-time, providing and caring
for his father during the last years of his life. He started in life for himself with limited means,
but industry and good management have added 280 acres to the eighty acres led him, and he now
owns a farm of as good laud as there is in Webster County. March 4,1860, he married Martha
Walker, daughter of Robert Walker; she was born in Cedar County, MO., June 5,1843. To this
union were born six children. Mr. llightower is a Democrat in politics, a member of the Masonic
fraternity, and a member of the Methodist Church. lle is one of the enterprising men of the
county, and is highly respected by all who know him.
John Hightower
John Hightower, Jr. was born Novem- ber 13, 1725, in Richmond County,Virginia, the son of
John and Mary Bryan Hightower. Ilis birth was recorded in the Farnham Farish Register. His
parents migrated to Amelia County, Virginia around 1748 and John, then about 23 years of age,
went along with them.
The first reference we find of record in Amelia County, Virginia, is dated August 7,1756. Deed.
John Ornsby to John Hightower, Sr. Adjoining John Hightower, Jr. This establishes his residence
in Amelia County, Virginia. He married l) Ann Smith, daughter of Agniss Smith. It is not known
at this time the number of children born of this union, however, we are certain there was at least
one child, a daughter, Lucy. She was named in her grandfather, Agniss Smith's Will, Book 2,
Amelia County, Virginia, proved 24 March 1774. John and Ann Hightower were married prior to
1758, as she is mentioned in legal transaction in that year.
September 21,1757, Amelia County, Virginia. Deed. John Hightower, Sr. to John Hightower, Jr.
250 acres. Tomahitton Swamp. Amoco's Corner. Stanley's Branch. September 21, 1757, Amelia
County, Virginia. Deed. John Ilightower, Sr. to John Hightower, Jr. 100 acres. Tomahitton
Creek. Womack's Corner. September 21, 1757, Amelia County, Virginia. Deed. John llightower,
Sr. to Richard Hightower. Adonis his brother, John Hightower, Jr. September 27,1758, Amelia
County, Virginia. Deed. John Hightower, Jr. and wife, Ann to Benjamine Milner. 100 acres
adjoining William Hightower, to the Sedge Bottom. June 5,1759, Lunenburg County,
Virginia.Deed. John Ilightower, Jr. of Amelia County, Virginia, from Joseph and Amelia
fIightower of Lunenburg County, Virginia. 300 Acres. llounds Creek.
Lewis Buckner Hightower
Often I am asked if my family is related to the distinguished Hightower family in southeast
Texas. Judge Lewis Buckner Hightower was a pioneer in Liberty County, Texas, and a renowned
bear hunter in the Big Thicket. His progeny include many distinguished lawyers, judges and
public servants. Judge Hightower was a descendant of Austin Hightower. Another descendant of
Austin Hightower was Judge Richard Levesly Hightower, who was brought to Texas in a wagon
train at the age of four in 1840, and served as a member of the Texas Senate in 1881. As a lawyer
he is remembered for obtaining an acquittal for Abe Rothschild in the Diamond Bess Murder
Trial. Some have inquired about our relationship to Jim Hightower, the Commissioner of
Agriculture of the state of Texas. When the commissioner was asked this question in my
presence he replied, "Oh yes, we are last cousins." Regardless, whether "first" or "last" cousins, it
would seem that there is a great probability that through descent from the family of Joshua and
Eleanor, most who carry the name Hightower are kin.
John Hightower, the son of Joshua Hightower and his wife, Eleanor, was born about 1692,
probably in Richmond County, Virginia. He was married when he was about twenty six years to
age, in 1718 or 1719, to Mary Bryant, in Richmond County. Mary was the daughter of Thomas
and Eleanor Winniford Bryan.
It is evident that John Hightower was a profitable farmer, most likely in tobacco. In one court
reference h paid 5000 Ibs of tobacco for 180 acres of land on Turk's (see Hightower News 1996)
Branch of Tutskey Creek in October, 1726. The County records reflect that he was a slave owner
in Richmond County in 1729 and by August 28,1745 he and his wife Ma! owned 290 acres of
land. At this time they sold it to Nicholas Flood for 50 pounds of Virginia money. Also from the
court records we learn that he was a surveyor and was appointed as the surveyor of highways as
prescribed b law June 18, 1739.
In about 1748 they moved to Amelia County, on Hurricane Creek, near Blackstone, in present
Nottoway County, Virginia. They stayed in Virginia their entire lives and their only move was to
Amelia County. Between 1748 and 1756 they acquired 1600 acres of land in Amelia County and
were granted 400 acres in Lunenburg County
William Hightower, the eldest son of John Hightower and Mary Bryant, was born July 20, 1720,
Richmond County, Virginia. He was the first grandchild of Joshua and Eleanor Hightower. He
married Susann Hanks, the daughter of William and Hannah Mills Hanks, October 12,1743, in
Richmond County. Susannah w born December 18,1725, in Richmond County (See The Hanks
Family).
The Hightower families decided to move and all moved together some settling in Amelia
County, some Brunswick. The migration began around 1750. William followed
Hightower, Stephen Hightower, born about 1780, Susannah Hightower, ~ Pressley Hightower.
Thomas Hightower was born in Amelia County, Virginia, about 1751, the son of William
Hightower and Susannah Hanks (See The Hanks Family). By 1774 he had moved to
Mecklenburg County, Virginia, on Piney Creek, a few miles northeast of South Hill. He lived
there until 1782 when the tax lists credit Thomas Hightower with six slaves. In 1782 he sold his
farm in Mecklenburg. No further record is known until August, 1789, when Thomas bought 400
acres of land in Union County, South Carolina. He was married to Mildred Arnold, the daughter
of James Arnold of Mecklenburg County sometime prior to November 6, 1775, when James
Arnold wrote his will (See Hightower Family Wills).
In December, 1776, Thomas and Mildred sold their land and moved to Elbert County, Georgia.
By 1801 Thomas and his family, three of the children married, had moved to Greene County
where his brother William had settled in 1796. His neighbors were his brother William, James
Leggett, Reuben Smith and Russell Talley. He bought an improved farm there in April of 1803.
But he was not to enjoy the possession of it long, for he died the following September 22,1803.
Mildred was living in Putnam County, Georgia, as late as 1820.
Thomas Hightower served in the Revolutionary War under the command of Col. Robert Goode
and Brig. Gen. James Wood. He was wounded in 1781 while under the immediate command of
Major General The Marquis de LaFayette. He received a pension for his services which began
September 4,1783. He was a private in the militia of Chesterfield County, Virginia.
Thomas Hightower, Jr., the son of Thomas Hightower,Sr. and Mildred Arnold was born in 1800
at Cracker's Neck, Greene County,Georgia2. On October 16,1821, he married Elizabeth Tucker
Moreland in Putnam County, Georgia.
Revolutionary service authenticated by Daughters of the American Revolution, No. 415734. 21n
1797 Rev. James Jenkins, a leader in the early days of Methodism, preached at Cracker's Neck
and reported in his journal that, once a "fiery exhortation", a man in uniform came down the aisle
and fell to his feet, crying for pardon.
Thomas and Elizabeth lived in Putnam County until 1824. They moved to Monroe County,
Georgia, in 1825. By 1830 they were in Troup County, Georgia, where they lived until after
1840. By 1846 they were in Chambers County, Alabama, and moved on to Clalborne Parish,
Louisiana, sometime before 1860.
Thomas Hightower, Jr., died in Clalborne Parish, Louisiana, May 15, 1874. Elizabeth died there
October
William Clayton Hightower's
War Experiences
An account of W. C. Hightower's service during the Civil War can be found in a history of the
"Clalborne Guards" by W. C. Cooksey in The History of Clalborne Pansh, Louisiana, compiled
by D. W. Harris and B. M. Hulse, New Orleans: Press of W. B. Stansbury & Co, 38 Natchez
Street, 1886, beginning at page 173:
This company was organized in Homer, in April, 1861, with John Young, Captain, and J. B.
Parham, J. M. Andrews, and John S. Young, Lieutenants. The company left immediately for
New Orleans, where it went into the Second Louisiana Regiment of Infantry. Captain Young was
promoted to be lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, which necessitated a new election of officers
for the company, resulting in the choice of J. M. Andrews, Captain, and J. B. Parham, John S.
Young and W. C. Leslie, Lieutenants. The regiment remained about a week in New Orleans,
drilling, when we were ordered to Yorktown, where we passed a month in fortifying the place.
From Yorktown we went to Williamsburg, where we remained two months, drilling and
throwing up breastworks. Then we moved about ten miles, to the James River, where we spent
two months more in drilling; after which we went into winter quarters about twenty miles east of
Yorktown.
Early in the spring of 1862, we left winter quarters for Dams Nos. 1 and 2, in the Peninsula,
where we spent a short time without any occurrence worthy of mention, except a little
engagement, which, in the light of subsequent experience, we have always regarded as a very
small affair. During
Clasping Hands with Generations Past
by Hazel Hightower
Texas gained her independence on March 2,1836, and its vast new territory beckoned to many of
the pioneer families that had pushed their way down from the Virginias, through the Carolinas
and the overland road through Tennessee and across Mississippi's Natchez Trace was frequented
with long wagon trains creaking their way to this new land. Families with all their earthly
belongings, including slave property, joined the trek as it moved through the states.
And so it was, this cold dreary winter of 1839-1840. A group that had joined the train in
Tennessee, stopped off at Shreves Port, Louisiana and camped on the banks of the Red River. A
dispute over slave property had developed enroute and the matter had to be settled before the
slaves could be transported out of the United States into the Republic of Texas. Their
destination_a day's travel west_seemed now as far away as did their home in Tennessee. Perhaps
the only one in the group unaffected by the turmoil was a happy little four-year-old, blue-eyed
boy, playing about the camp. Were it not for him, this story would not be possible.
Our story has its beginning in the State of Tennessee, near Somerville, in Fayette County, on
December 26, 1829. One Drury S. Field, because of the love and affection he had for his brother,
James A. Field, deeded 300 acres of land and two slaves, Bob and Diana, for his use and benefit,
as well as that of his wife, Sally (also referred to as Sarah) and their five children, Stith,
Alexander S., Caspor Wistor, Drury and an only daughter, Jane Anderson Field. A Peter R.
Bland was named trustee. The instrument carried a provision that the land could be sold and
monies derived therefrom used for the use and benefit of the family as James A. Field so
directed.
The 1830 census of Fayette County records the household of James A. Field and wife, Sally,
with a daughter between 15-20 years of age; two sons between 10-15 years of age and two sons
under five years of age.
Six years pass before we find another link in our story. Drury 5. Field, again feeling
magnanimous, deeds a slave boy, Alexander, nine years of age, to his namesake, Drury, youngest
son of his brother, James A. Field. The instrument has a provision that Caspor Wistor, next to the
youngest son of James A. Field, have possession of the slave boy should his brother, Drury, die
prior to age 21 years. The document was dated December 12,1835, and was witnessed by three
men, one of them signing as R. S. Hightower
According to the next authentic documents, it has been ascertained that the acreage covered in
the original deed of trust had been sold and the monies derived therefrom, $2, 200. 00, paid to
Drury 5. Field for eight slaves, with a balance outstanding of $ 1, 900. 00, to be paid as the
slaves earned the money through their labors. The document was dated December 23,1835, and a
clause therein substituted Robert S. Hightower as trustee instead of Peter R. Bland. The
recipients are spelled out in this instrument as in the original deed with the exception of Jane A.
Field; her name is written Jane Anderson Field Hightower. This is the first record we have that
Robert and Jane are married.
On May 24, 1836, a son, Richard Levesly Hightower, was born to Robert Smith and Jane
Anderson Field Hightower in Fayette County, Tennessee. From all indications, Robert was well
accepted by his wife's people and the next three years found him busy, not only looking after the
welfare of his wife and son, but also that of his wife's parents, James A. and Sally Fields along
with four younger brothers. Two of these brothers were pursuing a formal education; Caspor
Wistor preparing to become a doctor and Drury in the study of law.
Jane A. Field Hightower negotiated to purchase land in the Republic of Texas from James
Shandoin of Shelby County, Texas. Certificate of Headright #499, dated June 8, 1835. It was
agreed that he would sell her a league and labor of land 4, 605. 5 acres when she appeared in
person to consummate the transfer of title.
Much thought and time went into the preparation of this move. This change of residence would
not only affect her own home but that of her parents and her brothers. It also meant the moving
of all the<. slave property belonging to her parents and brothers. Nevertheless, in the spring of
1839, all had been readied and their wagons, heavily laden, joined an already too long wagon
train headed for Texas.
The trip was a long and tedious one, especially for Jane. Only a few weeks away from
Tennessee, Jane learned she was again with child. In spite of her frail stature, she had
determination and a strong will power. Traveling in the same train was Jane's Uncle Drury S.
Field. Uncle Drury's patience and betterside was no longer showing after a few weeks on the
trail. He did not feel so magnanimous anymore. Instead, he began to feel I remorse over having
sold the eight slaves under ~he condition that he did, ie: The balance was to be paid as the slaves
earned their keep.
Uncle Drury complained to Jane and to her husband. Hardheaded young Robert contended that a
deal is a deal and that he positively refused to pay for the slaves other than as spelled out in the
deed. Uncle Drury shouted that the slaves could not be taken out of the United States into the
Republic of Texas until they were paid for in full.
The train was moving at a snail's pace across Louisiana. Finally. Iate in October, 1839, it reached
Shreve's Port on the east bank of Red River. When the wagon train moved on west, the FieldHightower clan remained in camp. No settlement had been reached. Too, Jane had given birth to
their second child, a girl, who was given the name of Sarah P. Hightower. After a few weeks'
discussion over the possibility of settling permanently in the vicinity of Shreve's Port(now
Shreveport, or going on to Texas, it was decided that the climate would not be best for Jane's
health, and Texas remained their destination.
Since nothing could be amicably agreed upon between her husband and her uncle to the slaves,
Jane decided to take matters into her own hands. Lifting her full top skirt to the knee, she
extracted a money purse from her petticoat pocket, counted out nineteen one-hundred-dollar
bills, paid Uncle Drury 5. Field in full for the eight slaves and had all three instruments
pertaining thereto recorded in the Conveyance Records of Caddo Parish, Louisiana, Book "A",
Pages 231-237.
And so it was, this cold dreary winter of 1839-40, the families traveling the Shreveport-Grand
Bluff Road west from Shreve's Port, Louisiana arrived at their destination_then a wilderness,
identified to them only by surveyor's stakes_ but a Utopia to this group of weary and roadworn
travelers. Little did Jane know that the place she had bargained for would be the birthplace of her
firstborn son's fifteen natural children and become known to all as the Hightower community.
The first dwelling was a log house. The site was chosen for the abundance of timber and it was
about one mile north of the Shreveport-Grand Bluff Road, approximately four miles east of the
present town of Elysian Fields, Texas. The balance of the year 1840 was used getting the
families housed and clearing land for the next year's crop planting.
1841 was the year that legal title to the acreage was acquired. James Shandoin deeded the
property, situated in Harrison County, to A. Field Hightower for a cash consideration of $909.
00. This also was the year the permanent homestead was built. The building was located in the
corner of the section where the Shreveport-Grand Bluff Road intersected the little-traveled road
to the town seven miles to the north Waskom, Texas.
It is assumed that the family occupied the new homestead in late 1841 or early 1842, and that the
third child of Robert 5. and Jane A. was born in this house. James F. Hightower was born
February 1, 1842.
The next four years could very well have been spent clearing, crop raising, and generally getting
settled in their new world. Nothing is actually known of the activities of the family during this
period. Taken from Bible records of one of the descendants, it was learned that Jane A.
continued to fail in health that she again became pregnant and soon thereafter developed
tuberculosis.
Now that Richard Lee was married and head of a household, he filed for and was successful in
securing a partition of the estate of his parents. To the union of Richard Lee and Martha A.
Powell Hightower were born the following named children: Hannah , Edgar Wallace, Malcolm,
Harriet Ella, Sallie ~ William.
During 1858, Richard Lee's sister, Sarah P., died The exact date and cause of death is unknown.
She was eighteen years of age and had never been married. Her property was divided between
her two brothers, Richard Lee and James F. Hightower. On April 3,- 1863, James F. Hightower,
a bachelor, living in the Hightower homestead with his brother, Richard Lee, deeded all of his
right title and interest in all real and slave property that he owned to his sister-in-law Martha A.
Powell Hightower.
This family progressed in the farming industry as well as could be expected during the Civil War
and the years to follow. When its slaves were freed they chose to remain with this family and
both prospered.
Tragedy struck this family around 1869. Martha, the beloved wife and mother, died leaving six
children. the oldest, Hannah, approximately fourteen years of age and William only four.
Richard Lee Hightower, a widower at the age of 33 years, was undaunted by the hardship. Even
though this was quite a blow to this ambitious young lawyer and surveyor, he was determined
and of strong will. Hannah, his fourteenyear-old daughter, was a great comfort to him. She
helped with the management of the household and cared for her little brothers and sisters, with
the help of servants, of course. This type of family life was trying and Richard Lee felt that he
must find a wife for himself and a mother for his children. On June 15, 1870, he married the
widow of the late Douglas J. Rogers, Martha E. Fortson Rogers, with three children, namely:
Joseph E., John and a girl, Willie. These children were around the ages of Richard Lee's three
oldest. Very little information could be obtained on the third child, Lee. Therefore, it is assumed
that he died in infancy. Taken from the records of the fourth child, Cora, her mother died of
childbirth, only two weeks after she was born_October, 1878.
Less than ten years had passed and again Richard Lee found himself in somewhat the same
predicament, only more complicated. Five of his children by his first marriage, two of his three
stepchildren and three little ones of his second marriage, all in his household without a mother.
By the same source of information, it was determined that Robert decided to return to Tennessee
for recuperation. Early in 1847, Robert and Jane A. Ioaded up their wagon and set out for
Somerville, Fayette County, Tennessee, leaving their three small children with Jane's parents,
James A. and Sally Field, in the Hightower homestead.Jane's health did not improve and it is
assumed that the child was born and\ died in infancy and buried in Fayette Couny. Robert S. had
instructed the family that when he died, he wanted the grave to be large enough to accommodate
the bodies of both he and his wife, Jane. He selected the site for the family graveyard, which was
only a few hundred feet to the north of the homestead. He designated the spot he desired that he
and Jane be buried at the base of a young, trim Cedar Tree. So it was, in 1849, Robert and Jane
A. Field Hightower were laid to rest in their own private cemetery, sharing in death the same
grave as they had shared in life the same bed.
According to the 1850 census of Harrison County, James A. and Sally Feld were maintaining the
Hightower homestead and the three children of Robert S.. and Jane A. Hightower were with
them. The oldest, Richard Leevesly Hightower, was fourteen. His sister, Sarah P., ten years old
and their younger brother, James F. was eight years old. Even though Richard was young in
years, he was mature in his way of thinking. He had diligently applied himself during there years
to his studies, especially the study of law and survey. Tutors were hired to come live in at the
homestead to teach the children.
Robert and Jane A. Field Hightower left no wills_this gave generous Uncle Drury a chance to
step into the picture again. He promptly had himself appointed administrator of the then large
estate of Robert and Jane A. Field Hightower. Young Richard was aware of the manner in which
his uncle was handling the affairs of his late mother and father and squandering moneys that was
rightfully his as well as his younger brother and sister. He was very displeased. The state
continued to dwindle the first four year, after the death of Robert S. Richard (who now preferred
to be called Richard Lee) was mentally mapping out his plan of action to salvage as much of the
estate as he could. When he reached the age of eighteen years, he t.took himself a wife, He
married Martha A. Powell on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1854. W. W. staples, minister,
officiated.
Judge Hightower. as he was then called, was 42 years old and very active practicing attorney, as
well as carrying on a lucrative survey business. Even though farming was the backbone of the
financial structure of this family, loyal freed slaves relieved the strain and burden somewhat. His
brother, James, and oldest son, Edgar, son, Joseph and step-son, John, looked after the
management of the crops and bringing in supplies. Hannah, his oldest daughter, again, assumed
the role of mother and housekeeper, and promised her father if he would not remarry that she
would remain single and care for the children for him. He though it over but felt the sacrifice on
Hannah's part would be too great; that she needed to make a life of her own. this was not in
keeping with what Hann had expected and proved to be a great disappointment to her at the time.
This decision perhaps led to more than one early marriage of the older children. Hannah married
his step-son, Joseph E. Rogers, and the second daughter, Harriet, married J. Brooks Rogers(no
relation to his step-child It was along about this time that the second step-son, John married
Mattie. Shortly after this rush of weddings, Richard Lee won the hand of pretty, 2-year-old, Miss
Alice Marion Fortson of Keatchie, Louisiana. She was the daughter of F. Marion Fortson and
Frances Ann Spence.
In spite of the extreme hardships and grief of his life, Richard pressed on, achieving recognition
as one of the best defense lawyers in East Texas. He was known far and near for his legal
expertise and his services were widely desired. One of the more prominent cases of his career
was the Diamond Bess Murder Trial. Diamond Bess(Bessie Moore) was murdered in a lonely
heavily wooded area on the outskirts of the then thriving and booming town of Jefferson, Marion
County, Texas. Her husband, Abe Rothschild, was accused of her murder. Abe's wealthy family
resided in the Boston area. They had a squad of lawyers representing him in the courts of Marion
County but the young Man seemed doomed to hang. Some of the members of his family, having
heard of Judge Hightower's fame, sought his counsel. After much thought and some delay, the
Judge accepted the case, provided the hearing could be held in Marshall, Harrison County,
Texas. He felt that his client would receive a fair trial in a county removed from the scene of the
crime. The motion was granted and Richard Lee was successful in securing a "Not Guilty"
verdict for the accused. The murder is unsolved to this date.
Richard L. Hightower was serving in the State government in Austin as a senator during his
whirlwind courtship and marriage to Alice. Each year, for many years now, the Jefferson
Pilgrimage, held in May, stages a play with the reenactment of the courtroom scene of the trial.
A player portrays Judge Hightower wearing a high- topped hat and frocktailed coat, as did the
Judge in the day and time of the trial.
The winter of 1889-90 was a bitterly cold one. It was during these chill months that Richard Lee
was doing extensive survey work, necessitating his being out in the weather for long periods of
time. Combined with overexposure to the severe weather and extra long working hours, he
became ill and confined to his bed at his homestead. The doctor attending him was unable to
control the high temperature without using cold, wet applications. Richard Lee's weakened
condition caused him to develop pneumonia and he died on April 5, 1890 at his homestead at the
age of 54 years. He was survived by his third wife, Alice Fortson Hightower, twelve of his
fifteen natural children(Malcolm, Sallie and Lee deceased), three stepchildren, and sixteen
grandchildren. He was buried on April 6, 1890 in the Hightower Cemetery to the right of his
second wife, Martha E. Fortson Rogers Hightower. In reading the diary of one of Judge
Hightower's neighbors, Judge W. J. Owens, the writer found the following entry: April 6, 1890. I
had to go dig ole man Hightower's grave this morning. Got it done
The Hightowers
of Cedartown, GA
I was headed south this past fall, it was raining like a Florida hurricane and the leaves were
changing color as I passed through the Smokey Mountains. But as I drove farther south, in the
direction of Atlanta, there was barely a hint of autumn. When I turned off the interstate in the
direction of Rome, GA, I was headed for Morgan Valley in the northwest Georgia foothills.
I love these Genealogical treks into the deep south because I can always find real pork barbecuenot the kind Yankees make, the kind that drips with southern flavor-you just can'tget that sort of
thing north of the Mason-Dixon line. Leaving Rome, old highway 27 winds its way over to
Cedartown, GA, a place where Elias Dorsey Hightower made his home in 1846.
Elias bought a wooden grist mill here in Polk County that had been built a decade earlier by a
Mr. John Wilson. The mill was constructed near a waterfall on the banks of a small stream which
flowed into Euharlee Creek. The area would come to be known as Hightower Falls. According to
a story in the Northwest Georgia News by Gordon D. Sargent, the first mill was built while
Cherokee Indians still inhabited the area.
Hightower converted the old grist mill into a cotton gin, and nearby built a three-story mill out of
native stone. The stone walls of the mill remain today. The mill was used to grind corn and
wheat; on the second floor was a carding machine for making wool from sheep raised on the
Hightower farm.
Sargent records in his article: "About ten years after construction of the mill, its operations were
rudely interrupted by the conflagration known as the U.S. Civil War. Thomas Hightower, the son
of Elias Dorsey Hightower (see Letters of Thomas Hightower, Hightower News, vol. 8), served
in the 21st Georgia Volunteers, and on the 7th of December, Lucelia, his wife, had recently
moved from Polk County to a spot east of Atlanta know as Powelton, to be with family for the
birth of the couple's first-born. As the U.S. Civil War swept toward his falls, Elias Dorsey
Hightower had cause for concern. General Sherman had ordered his troops to destroy all
factories in Georgia, but he had specifically exempted 'small flouring mills, manifestly for local
use.' His troops, however, often failed to follow these orders, and many a mill was burned to the
ground as a result. Elias's mill and operations were soon to be put to the test.
Hightower had already endured much of the tortures of war. Two of his four eldest sons had
enlisted at the start of the war. One had died of wounds at the Battle of White Sulfur Springs,
Virginia (now West Virginia) early in 1863. Elias undoubtedly was greatly concerned for the
safety of his son Tom too.
Sherman was marching to the sea down through the Dalton-Atlanta corridor, and in November of
1864, he razed much of Cedartown. In mid-November, Lee McCormack, a school teacher who
lived with the Hightowers, brought the frightening news when he visited Tom Hightower in New
Market, Virginia. On November 28th, Tom passed the news to his wife in Powelton: "They
burned every occupied Court House, all the storehouses, grocers, blacksmith shops and every
house that there was no person living in. Burnt old Bill Peek's dwelling and all of his outbuildings. They take and kill everything as they go, killed all the stock, ducks, chickens, etc ."
Thomas Hightower, however, was helpless to come to the aid of his family at Hightower Falls.
As more detailed accounts filtered in, he must have grown more worried with each passing day.
According to Hightower's greatgrandson, Charles N. Carter, Union troops did visit the mill, and
helped themselves to corn meal, baked corn bread, and even "killed one of Grandpa's pigs," to
make supper. The hogs had been driven up into the hills beyond the falls for protection, but one
old sow apparently had wandered back down just as the Yankees arrived, and met its fate shortly
thereafter. Possibly mellowed from a full meal and a good night's sleep, the troops spared the
home and mill from the torch, and moved on.
Following the war, rebuilding must have been slow and tedious as the lives of Polk County
residents slowly returned to a semblance of normality. "Judge" Elias Hightower (as he had
become known), served in the Georgia General Assembly in 1873 and 1874. In Cedartown, he
was a partner in the law firm of W.M. Phillips & Company.
Business undoubtedly picked up at Hightower Falls following the war. Aside from the cotton gin
and wool carding operation, Hightower also had a tannery, a sorghum mill, honey bee hives and
he had a plantation to manage.
When the Hightowers came to the Polk County area in 1846, they lived in a house at the end of
what is known today as Hightower Falls Road, near the mill. In 1857, A. H. Wood built a new
home for Elias further down the road from the mill. The old homestead where the Hightowers
raised their eleven children stands unchanged today, except for the removal of the front porch."
Elias Dorsey Hightower died in 1892 and the Cedartown Standard had this to say about him:
"...Reporting the death of one of Polk's oldest and best citizens, Judge Hightower. He ably
represented this county in the state legislature in 1872-73. He was a devoted member of the
Methodist Church for 50 years and often spoke of his approaching end saying he was ready to
go. For over fourscore years he has walked an upright, blameless life and at the age of 83 he bid
farewell to life and went to his reward."
In Cedartown today, only a local lumber store retains the Hightower name and only the native
Georgia stone walls of the mill remain to remind us of a page of Hightower history almost lost in
time.
First Families of Georgia
by Joseph Henry Hightower Moore
Towaliga Farm, GA
William Hightower, b. Bute Co., NC, 1778, d. Fayette Co., GA, 1851, m. GA, c. 1798, ?Sarah?
Fann, dau. of Jesse Fann, Sr., and wife Wilmouth. She was b. in Bute/Warren Co., NC, c.1778, d.
Fayette Co., GA, 1840-1850. Sarah Fann (first name not proven) is currently traced in descent
from William and Sarah Stone of North Farnham Parish, Richmond Co., VA, whose dau. Mary
Stone married John Fann. A probable son, name unknown, married Judith, who as Judith Fann
appears in the North Farnham Parish Register as the mother of two children including
Willoughby Fann who moved to Chatham Co., NC, where he died in 1785. Jesse Fann, Sr.,
named a son Willoughby and appears to be a brother of Willoughby Fann of North Carolina. It is
likely that Jesse Fann and wife Wilmouth lived in a Virginia county whose records are destroyed,
and from there went to Bute and Chatham Counties, NC. Between 1790 and 1793 they moved to
llancock Co., GA, then to Greene Co., and by 1801 were in Clarke Co. Jesse Fann, Sr., died
about 1815 and Wilmouth Fann died after 1823. By descent from William and Sarah Stone of
Richmond Co., VA, William Hightower and his wife Miss Fann would have been third cousins.
William Hightower came to Georgia about 1797 and very soon married and settled in Clarke Co.
The lands of himself and several children, as well as his Fann in-laws, were near the Jackson Co.
Iine on Bear Creek and McNutts Creek of Oconee River, and near the main road from Athens to
Jefferson. William Hightower was a captain in the Clarke County Militia in 1821. As a resident
of McElroy's District, Clarke Co., he drew lands in Monroe and Houston Counties in the 1821
Georgia Land Lottery, but did not settle either tract.
In 1826 the family moved to Fayette Co., where William Hightower settled in Land Lot 108, 5th
District, and in 1832 paid tax on adjacent Land Lot 118 (or 108), 5th District. In old age he lived
in the household of his son Isaac Hightower on the main road between present Inman and
Woolsey (present State Highway 92), Fayette Co., and died there. He was buried, by family
tradition, in the Bishop Family Graveyard near his original Fayette Co. homestead. William
Hightower left no document naming all his children. The following list is derived from records
of his descendants who were personally acquainted with several of his children, and from other
sources.
1. Raleigh Hightower.
2. Isaac Hightower.
3. Lucinda Hightower, b. c. 1801, d. DeKalb Co. by 1840, m. Clarke Co., 25 Mar. 1819, Stokely
Evans, who d. DeKalb Co. also by 1840. They lived in Clarke and Fayette Counties before going
to DeKalb after 1830.
4. Jonathan Hightower, b. 1802-04, m. Clarke Co., 5 Oct.1824, Mariah Wiggins.
5. Jesse Hightower, b.1806, d. Hunt Co., TX, after 1867, m. (1) Clarke Co. 28 Aug.1823, Mary
Cagel, b.1806, d. after 1860, (2) Hunt Co., TX, 23 Aug. 1867, Mrs. Mary Ann Darling. Ple
settled in Fayette Co. where he was 1st lieutenant of militia 1831- 1833,and captain of militia
18331834. He then moved to upper Henry Co. where he was captain of militia in 1838, and
commissioned Justice of the Peace in 1839. He was a farmer in Henry Co. in 1850, but by 1860,
had become a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church and had moved to Randolph Co., AL,
where lived several families of his liightower cousins, children of Thomas and Elizabeth
(Pollard) [Hightower formerly of Clarke Co., GA. Jesse Hightower afterwards went to Hunt Co.,
TX, where he is presumed to have died before 1870.
6. Sarah Hightower, b. by 1810, m. Fayette Co., 29 Mar. 1827, Jonathan Mitchell, son of
Hinchey Mitchell of Henry County. (See Mitchell).
7. John N. Hightower, b.l807-10, d. Fayette Co.1832, m. Fayette Co., 24 Dec. 1829, Elizabeth
Hunter, who died by 1840 leaving an orphan son, Millard [lightower, who lived with his older
first cousins, William G. and Jane (Hightower) Edwards, and is presumed to have moved with
them to Ashley Co., AR, after 1850.
8. James C. Hightower, b. 27 Nov. 1813, d. Inman, Fayette Co., 29 Apr. 1891, m. c. 1834,
Manervia Ann Armstrong,b.9 June 1813,d.30Mar.1889. He owned lands on the north side of
Inman eventually totalling to some 732 acres and his home there, built between 1847 and 1849,
remains in the possession of his McLucas descendants. He was a founding trustee of Liberty
Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church near his home and was a lay reader, or exhorter, whereby he
occasionally preached at Liberty Chapel and other churches in Fayette and surrounding counties.
He was a charter member and officer of the Pine Grove Masonic Lodge in Bear Creek Station
(Hampton), Henry Co., in 1853. He was the ancestor of the llightower family of Jonesboro,
Clayton Co. (See Joseph Henry llightower Moore, "Hightower (Clayton County Branch," in
Ancestors Unlimited, Inc., The History of Clayton County, Georgia, 1983, pages 285- 291.)
9. George Carroll Hightower,b.1818, d. Fayette Co., Sept., 1850, m. Fayette Co., 3 Jan.1834,
Sarah Eliza Grimn, b. 12 May 1820, d. 7 Aug. 1889. Raleigh [lightower, the founder of the main
line of Henry Co. Hightowers, was b. in Clarke Co. in 1799 and d. in Henry Co. in 1856.
The House name is found in Virginia and in some of the same NC counties through which the
Hightowers migrated. Raleigh Hightower owned land on Bear Creek and McNutts Creek of
Oconee River in Clarke Co. He sold out in Clarke in 1825 and no doubt came to Henry Co. by
1826 when his father and brothers went to Fayette. (Raleigh had drawn Land Lot 98, 9th District,
Fayette Co., in the 1821 Land Lottery, and Land Lot 117, 9th District, Henry Co. (later Newton],
but did not settle either tract. ) His first Henry Co. land purchases were not recorded, but it is
known that his home was near Concord Methodist Episcopal Church which was organized in
1829 and of which he was a strong member and perhaps a trustee. The Henry County
Agricultural Census for 1850 shows him with 302 acres of land which was undoubtedly his
homeplace tract.
The first deed in which he appears is a sale of Land Lot 123, 12th Dist., on present Stagecoach
Rd. just beyond Concord Church, north of present Stockbridge, in 1838. In 1851 he bought a
total of 607 acres. This property was in two parcels, one belong present Stockbridge on present
Rock Quarry Rd., and the other some distance northwest of Stockbridge. It is doubtful that he
lived on either tract,but is most likely that his homeplace remained just above Concord Church.
[lelefta comfortable estate when he died and with his wife was buried in a nowunmarked grave in
the old Hightower lot at Concord Church Cem. Raleigh Hightower and wife Elizabeth House had
the following issue, born in Clarke and Henry Counties:
1. Dr. Richard House Hightower, physician, b.4 Mar. 1820, d.3 July 1897, m. Henry Co.,18
Feb.1849, Mary Ann Chapman. He was an early doctor in Henry Co. and about 1861, moved to
Jonesboro, his home until the end of the Confederate War, in which he servcd, when he returned
to Henry Co. and settled in Stockbriclge. He was sheriff of Henry Co. in 1860,1866.
2. James Cook 15 Nov. 1842 Co., 1 July 1865, Sarah A. Patillo were living in Fayette (now
Clayton) Co. in 1851, when he was a farmer. He worked as town marshal and railroad
superintendent for the Macon and Western Railroad. After service in the Confederate army he
moved back to Henry Co. and lived near Stockbridge.
3. William Hightower, married twice (names presently unknown) and lived in DeKalb Co. or in
Atlanta. He presently has descendants in Atlanta.
4. Mary A. Hightower, b. 1826, m. in Henry Co., 8 Nov. 1846, Isham H. Hightower, her first
cousin, son of Jesse H. Hightowerand his (1) wife Mary Cagel. They lived in Henry Co. in 1850.
Soon thereafter they moved to Hunt Co., TX, where Isham Hightower was first a farmer, but
soon became a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
5. Sarah Hightower, b. 1829, never married.
6. Paschal H. Hightower, b. 1830, d. Hilton Head Island, SC, 20 Feb.1865, Confederate soldier.
He m.7 Nov. 1854, Margaret P. Crockett, b. 8 July 1835, d. 25 Jan. 1915, dau. of James Walkup
Crockett and wife Malissa Mcacndon of Henry Co. and a descendant of the noted Pickens family
of South Carolina. (See Crockett.) She later m. (2) Mr. Fraser.
7. Winfred Hightower, b.l832, m. Henry Co., 25 Sept.1853, Jesse Newt George.
8. Elizabeth T. Hightower, b.l833, m. Henry Co. 18 Sept. 1853, James M. Patillo.
9. Caroline Hightower, b.l839, m. Henry Co.,13 Dec. 1855, Johnson C. Turner.
10. Dr. Raleigh Hightower, physician, b. 1840, d.l912. Dr. Hightower was a minor when his
father died, whereby he was adopted by his older brother Dr. Richard House Hightower, 4 Oct.
1856. He m. (1) 7 Dec. 1865, Catherine Watts Elliott,b.5 July 1840, d.23 Apr.1891, dau. Of
Hiram C. Elliott and wife Mary Ann Atkinson of Henry Co. (see Elliott). Dr. Raleigh Hightower
m. (2) 2 Feb.1893, Mary Orlenza (Crumbley) Morris, widow of John Morris and dau. of William
H. Crumbley and wife Fannie A. Walker (see Crumbley). He served as a captain in the
Confederatearmy, Co. E (later Co. D, 30th Ga. Regt. (See A. P. Adamson, Brief History of the
Thirtieth Georgia Regiment, Rex, 1912, page 72.) His home was at WhiteHouse near
Stockbridge. Dr. Raleigh Hightower b.1840 and d. 9-8-1912, and Catherine Elliott Hightower b.
7-5-1840, d. 4-23-1891.
11. John Nelson Hightower, b.l844. With his brother Dr. Raleigh Hightower, he was adopted, 4
Oct.1856, by his older brother Dr. Richard House Hightower. He was a Confederate soldier and
m. in Henry Co., 13 July 1865, Sarah Green Chapman.
12. Martha Hightower, b. l 845. It was said she never married, but in Henry Co. on 15 Dec. 1859,
a Miss M. J. Hightower was married to R. T. Carroll. Whether this was Martha or one of her
nieces is not known by this compiler.
Joseph has contributed Hightower family histories in the First Families of Henry County, GA,
published in 1993 and A History of Clayton County, GA, published in 1983. Both lines of
Hightowers come from William Hightower (1778-1851).
Thomas Jefferson Hightower
As a progressive businessman and a thoroughly conscientious and upright citizen, this gentleman
has always enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the community. Thomas was born in
Parrotsville, East Tennessee, on 29 October, 1829. His grandfather, Thomas Hightower, was a
native of South Carolina, and a gallant soldier in the American Revolution. His father, Allan
Hightower, was also a native of South Carolina and a very successful planter and stock-raiser of
that state. The maiden name of Mr. Hightower's mother was Louisa Jefferson. She was a native
of Virginia and a member of the distinguished family to which the illustrious Thomas Jefferson
belonged.
The boyhood and early youth of Mr. Hightower were spent in his native village in Tennessee,
and from the institutions of that neighborhood he derived a common school education. At the age
of eighteen he began to shift for himself and settled in Dahlonega for the purpose of digging
gold. He failed, however, to gratify his ambition in this direction and decided to abandon the
enterprise, because of ill luck. He clerked for a year in a grocery store at Dahlonega, and then
located in Forsyth County, a few miles distant, where he found work as a clerk for four years.
After this he clerked in a grocery store in Rome, GA for two years. He was then overtaken by the
gold fever a second time and set out for the mountains of California going by the way of the
Isthmus of Panama and taking a two month's trip. After a rugged experience of two years in the
west, he returned to Georgia in 1854. He was then united in marriage to Miss Eliza E.
Henderson, a loveable and gentle lady. In 1854 the year of his marriage, Mr. Hightower opened a
general store in Cherokee County which he operated until the spring of 1862. He then sold out
his business for the purpose of accepting an appointment under the Confederate government in
the quartermaster's department. He remained there until the close of the war.
After the war he engaged in the grocery business in Atlanta, the firm being that of Ford,
Hightower & Co. Their place of business was on Mitchell Street. Mr. Hightower served as a
member of the state senate during the sessions of 1850-1860. He prefers the uneventful life of a
busy merchant to the more conspicuous role of a public servant. Mr. Hightower is a Blue Lodge
Mason and a consistent member of the First Baptist Church.
I was returning home from an academic conference in Myrtle Beach, SC in winter- if you could
call what they have on the beach in Carolina-winter. Shortsleeve sunny with a warm ocean
breeze, I almost forgot it was late February as I was driving inland but the snow covered
Appalachians in the distance, reminded me. I wondered why a number of our Hightower
ancestors would abandon a warm, beautiful place like South Carolina to go west. Some went
west and pioneered Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and other southern states all the way to Texas.
In this issue we will explore those ancestors, The Carolina Hightowers.1812, with 63 members
and representing in the Green River Association. The first house of worship was a log building.
By 1846 another building was in use-a brick building. The present building was built in 1866."
Reverand John Hightower
From Baptist Church Records of South-Central Kentucky and the UpperCumberland of
Tennessee 1799-1899 published in 1985 we learn more of this pioneer preacher: "In 1798
County. He also organized Bethlehem Baptist Church located north of Scottsville in Allen
county near Difficult Creek. 'I remember,' said an aged citizen, 'to have been present at a meeting
where Hightower preached a long sermon and Logan followed him with an exhortation of twenty
minutes during which about twenty sinners fell as dead men.'
John Hightower helped organize Buck Creek Church in Spartanburg in 1779. After the
reconstruction period that followed the Revolutionary War in 1792, John Hightower and Thomas
Burgess also organized Boiling Springs Baptist church. The church was a crude log structure
with a chimney at one end, it was replaced by a frame building in 1842 (see photo).
He and wife Cristina left District 96 sometime after 1793 bound for South Central Kentucky. We
believe he spent one or two years in the Knoxville area perhaps with Abijah Hightower, relation
unknown. He was in Logan County, Kentucky by 1795. J.H. Spence records in A History of
Kentucky Baptists, published in 1886: "At the beginning of the year 1795, the gloom was still
deepening over religious circles in the Ohio Valley. Religion was now at a lower ebb in
Kentucky than at the darkest period of the Indian Wars. Reverend Hightower was a man of
tireless zeal in the cause of his Master. John Hightower, Joseph Logan and Alexander Devin
were instruments in raising up most of the early churches in that region. In the year 1795, he and
a number of others formed a settlement on the Middle Fork of Drakes Creek, in what is now
Allen County. Here he spent the remainder of his days.
During the great Revival his great zeal so carried him away that his feet were severely frost
bitten. From this circumstance he was unable to walk for about a year. But as soon as he was
able to sit in a chair, he made appointments for preaching at his house, and continued preaching
with much fervor sitting in a chair, till he was able to walk again. He continued to preach with
zeal and faithfulness till the Lord took him to himself about the year 1826." Reverand Hightower
was regarded a strong doctrinal preacher for his day, although he held some loose notions about
keeping the Sabbath according to more fundamentalist believers. Spence says that he did not
wholly discard the obligation to keep the day holy, but he held it very lightly, and broke the
Sabbath himself for very trivial causes. "The effect of his teaching was such, that many,
otherwise pious and devout Christians, has no conscientious scrupples about fishing, hunting or
attending to any pressing business, on Sunday. It appears that most of the Baptists from South
Carolina, at that period, held similar views to those of Mr. Hightower. The effects on the people
were very pernicious, and even to the present day, the results of this teaching are manifest in
some portions of Southern Kentucky." There are no records available to show how many
members there were in the constitution of Old Union Church. The records from 1795 to the late
1830's are missing. According to the History of the Baptists by Benedict and printed in 1813:
Hightowers of South Carolina
by Ted Hightower
The family from whom, the current Hightower families in Barnwell, Bamberg, and the
Orangeburg Counties, S.C. descend arrived here in the 1780's. They settled in an area that at the
time of the 1790 census was Orangeburg District, South Part. Later it was a part of Barnwell
District and is now Bamberg County. The local is several miles south of Denmark, east of US
Highway 321 on the waters of Lemon Swamp; a tributary of the Little Salkehatchie River. The
earliest Hightower records here were recorded in Orangeburg. They were destroyed in February,
1865 by the invading army of William T. Sherman during his march through the Carolinas near
the end of the War Between the States. (I reckin these records must have put up a powerful
defense since they suffered near one hundred percent casualties.) The earliest records that
survived were recorded in Barnwell. The citizens of Barnwell removed their records before
Sherman's arrival and hid them in a swamp until his army was gone.
The 1790 census records Joshua Hightower as a head of household, in the Orangeburg District,
South Part. He had established his family before their arrival. Living with him were two free
white males older than sixteen, one free white male under the age of sixteen, three free white
females, and one slave. To date, no actual records have been found regarding this Joshua. Land
plats have been found showing the property of Joshua Hightower as a neighbor. He doesn't show
up in the 1800 census of Orangeburg District, thus presuming him dead by this time; though not
substantiated.
The 1800 and 1810 census records are confusing regarding the Hightower family in this area.
The 1800 census records three Hightower families; two with the first name of Thomas in
Barnwell District and one with the first name of William in Orangeburg District(A Hightower
mill is depicted in the map on this page in the Edgefield District. The map is from a survey in
1817 and shows a mill site with the identification: W. Hightower mill. It is believed that one
Thomas and William are the sons of Joshua. The remaining Thomas is unknown at this time.
parts of the district, and very possibly could have been counted twice. The 1810 census records
four Hightower families; two with the first name of William, and one with the first name of
Thomas in Barnwell District and a John in Colleton County. It is believed that William and
Thomas in Barnwell District and John in Colleton County are the sons of Joshua. The remaining
William is unknown at this time.
The Hightower families living in this area who are traceable were established here by 1820. The
1820 census records William and Thomas Hightower in Barnwell District and John Hightower in
Colleton County. It is believed that these three men are the sons of Joshua based on association
and records.
Thomas moved and settled in the northwestern portion of the District in an area called the Lower
Three Runs. This area is now located on the Savannah River Site. There are a will, census and
land records that establish him and his descendants. Thomas died in January, 1830
Few records have been found regarding John even though he had a large family. He is absent in
the 1830 census and is presumed dead by this time. He married, Mary, a daughter of John and
Sarah Guess. Little else is currently known about John and his descendants except that his son,
Jesse, moved to Florida by 1850 and remained there.
William remained on or near the original Hightower land. He and his descendants left the most
complete and continuous Hightower records in the area. It is believed that most Hightower
descendants living in this area today descend from Thomas and William. William (born between
1770 and 1780, died in December 1836) married Catherine Zorn (b. about 1766, d.15 January
1851) a daughter of Henry Zorn, one of his neighbors. By 1800 he had purchased and recorded
some of the first land in the newly formed Barnwell District.
To them, six known children were born: Mary (b. about 1810, m. James C. Tant), Susan (b. ?, d.
Oct.1842, m. Francis Hadwin), Nancy (b. ?, d. before Jan.1851, m. ? Cummins), Henry, (b. ?, d.
about Dec. 1836), and Levionah, (b. 1825, d. ?). Research has revealed some knowledge of
William and his family.
He was educated. This is based on the fact that his well- composed signature is recorded on
various legal documents, and the estate papers of one David Lightsey named William as the
teacher of his children. William's estate papers indicate he accumulated considerable wealth
during his life. His land holding was about 1000 acres. An estate sale netted the family over
$9000.00 in cash. The inventory of his estate reveals many interesting insights into the personal
property of people of William's time. It includes a listing of his livestock, farm implements,
home furnishings, supplies necessary for the sustenance of both his family and livestock, and
personal items as his mirror and Bible. It also included 10 slaves that research has revealed to be
primarily one family. Correspondence and conversations with a descendent of this slave family
have revealed that William apparently held different ideas from most other slave owners of his
day. He allowed the head of his slave family to retain his African name in a time that others were
"Christianizing" their slaves and requiring them to take Christian names According totheir oral
history, slaves owned by the family were married at Ghents Branch Baptist Church near
Denmark. Additionally, research has revealed that this Hightower family had divested
themselves of all slave holdings by the 1850's. Another tribute given to William and his family
was that after gaining their freedom, their former slaves honored them by taking the name
Hightower as their own even though they had not been family property for years.
The land acquired by William during his life and the proceeds from the sale of his estate
essentially supported his entire family, including his widow; his daughters, their husbands and
children; and his grand children and their families, until the late 1850's many years after
Catherine's death.
Thomas H. Hightower
by Ted Hightower
Thomas was born in 1821 in Barnwell District, SC. He was the son of Henry Hightower (b. ?, d.
about December 1836). He was also the grandson of William and Catherine Hightower. The
mother of Thomas is currently not known. He had one sister, Eliza (b. 1827), who married
William Tant. Thomas married Morning Rhoden (b.1820, d.1902) before 1845. To this marriage
eight children were born: Elizabeth (b. September 3,1845, d. March 1, 1905), married H. Nick
Hadwin, Eliza (b.1849), Henry (b. 1851), Harriet (b.1854), Hardy Elijah (b. November 3,1855, d.
August 16,1928) first married Susan Washington Dyches (b. about 1858, d. March 9,1880),
second married Martha Blume nee Abstance, at that time a widow, third married Julia Hutto,
Robert James (b. March 28, 1857 d. January 27,1933) first married Lavinie Nix, second married
Beulah Grimes, Owen, (b.1860, d. 1933) married Amelia Barr, and John (b.1863).
For most of his life, Thomas was a planter. He lived on and farmed a portion of the land that was
acquired and left to the family by his grand father William Hightower. On September 4, 1863, at
the age of forty-two, records show that Thomas enlisted, however he was probably conscripted,
into the army of the Confederacy at McClellanville, SC, for the period of the war. He was
assigned to Company I, Fifth Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry. This unit was known as Butlers'
Brigade, Hampton's Legion, Army of Northern Virginia. After receiving their training, Thomas
and his unit was ordered to Virginia. While there, Thomas' records show the following events:
sick in quarters on November 1, 1863, on furlough for 20 days from February 25,1864, on
furlough for 30 days from April 29, 1964, sick in Jackson Hospital from July 5 through 9, 1864
with intestinal problems and diarrhea, and received clothing for fourth quarter on November 2,
1864. At some time around January 1864, General Hampton and his troops were ordered back
home to secure provisions. They arrived in time to help in the final struggle to stop General
Sherman's march through the Carolinas. Thomas and his comrades participated in the
confederate's last stand against General Sherman's army at the battle of Bentonville, NC, the
final major battle in the war between the states. The final tribute paid Thomas' regiment was that
the Fifth Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry or what was left of it was selected as the escort for
General Joseph E. Johnston at the surrender of this army to General Sherman at the Bennet
House near Durham, NC. Thomas was a participant and witness to this historical event. It is also
a documented fact that the Fifth South Carolina Cavalry was never surrendered. Instead, their
commander escorted them about fifty miles south of there and ordered them to return home
along with their horses and weapons with a statement to keep them for they might be needed at a
later date. Therefore, Thomas was never paroled. After the war Thomas returned to civilian life
in Barnwell district and lived peaceably until his death in 1900. He and Morning are buried at
Ghents Branch Baptist Church near Denmark, SC.
The Hightowers of Caswell County
by Walter A. Walker
Editors Note: It is exciting that the lead article of this year's Hightower News is written by a
family genealogist who began researching the Hightower line in 1921. A newspaper man by
trade, each summer he and his wife would set out in their auto to some county courthouse and
there do tedious, basic genealogy research. His personal letters from which the story on this page
was taken, are all carefully dated and documented. He never guessed about lineage, I have never
found Mr. Walker to be mistaken in his research. All that and he didn't even have the advantage
of a census summary or the internet!
Caswell County deed records show that one, Epaphroditus Hightower, son of Joshua Hightower
of Richmond and Amelia County, VA, 1695-1772. bought land in Caswell County in October,
1780, more in October, 1784 and another tract in January, 1785. It may have been at about 1789
that John Hightower went to Caswell, for he was married there March 22, 1790, to Agnes
matlock. And John's sister Mary and her husband Jackson also seem to have moved to Caswell
County, for in July, 1791, John Hightower bought 300 acres of land from Thomas Jackson, and
both are described as "of Caswell County, N.C." Epaphroditus (see story, page 54, Hightower:
An American Family since 1650) bought his land on Country Line Creek, a little southeast of
yanceyville, and others bought on North Hyco Creek and its branches, but living a short distance
away from Epaphroditus and Elenor. At this time Joshua Hightower, Sr., bought 179 acres of
land on North Hyco, a part of the land of Robert Culbertson. He is described as "of Notoway
County, Virginia."
John Hightower died in Caswell County, N.C. in the fall of 1816, and it may be that while in
Caswell on the occasion of his death and burial, that Joshua and William decided to move there
also, where most of the others had settled. Records show that both Joshua and William did buy
land and move to Caswell about that time. It is with William, son of Joshua, of Nottoway
County, VA, that we are more concerned in Caswell County, because his descendants remained
tin the county, near the old settlement; and many of them are still living there.(as of this writing,
Spring, 1955.)
Volume 6 of a History of northa Carolina, [published in 1919 by Lewis Publishing of Chicago,
has the following passage: "William Hightower, the Hightower family of North Carolina was
established in Caswell County, in the early years of the nineteenth Century, by William
Hightower, who was a born in Virginia, the son of Joshua Hightower. William Hightower bought
land in what is now hightower Township of Caswell County, and was a planter and slaveholder
there until his death. He married Mary Anderson, who was born in Orange County, NC. They
reared sons named Joshua, William, John A. and Daniel, and three daughters named Elizabeth,
Jane and Parmelia.
Hightowers on the Vietnam Veterans Wall
Cpl. James Larry Hightower of Brownsville, KY killed in 1966
Sgt. George Malcolm Hightower of Seattle, WA killed in 1966
Sp4. Alfred Hightower, Jr., of Waynesville, NC killed in 1968
The following was published in the Terre Haute Tribune Star after the author visited the
dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
By PAUL HIGHTOWER
WASHINGTON - It was my intent to visit the memorial for a few minutes. I stayed for eight
hours. Thousands of people-mostly Vietnam veterans and their friends and survivors-came here
from all over the country to see the unveiling of the statue by Frederick Hart titled "Three
Servicemen." One grips an M-16 rifle, another carries an M-60 machine gun and the third,
presumably an officer, has a .45-caliber pistol strapped in its holster.
The statues depict three Vietnam-era soldiers, who look as if they have just emerged from the
stand of maple and oak trees near the Lincoln Memorial. They could be returning from a patrol
as they cast a glance at "The Wall"-the two-year-old monument including
the names of all soliders killed in action in the Vietnam War.
Since its dedication, almost 2 million people have visited the wall to pay respects to all the
names inscribed in black granite.
The day was chilly and windy as people inched by the memorial, some in battle fatigues, others
in three-piece suits and some much too young to have been a part of the Vietnam experience.
Many taped flowers to the wall or left a small American flag near the name of a fallen friend or
loved one. Soldiers tossed their battle insignias at the base of the statues.
At the wall, one very old man with white hair was bent and crying. His friends urged him to
leave and to remove his fingers from the name of his son, but he would not.
Small groups of people were hugging each other crying and offering mutual comfort. Work War
Two veterans hugged Vietnan veterans.
A group of White-House press corps photographers laughed and joked with each other,
seemingly untouched by the experience. But they were very young and from different time. To
someone from the Class of 1965, the experience brought back the years of Vietnam and the
memories of high-school friends who never made it back--except as names on a wall in
Washington D.C.
Hightowers Township, NorthCarolina
Hightowers is located in the southeastern part of Caswell County at the crossroads of N.C. 86
and N.C. 119. The settlement was named for Daniel Hightower, who moved to the area from
Virginia in 1795.A post office was established here in 1830 and served this community for about
100 years.
Hightowers was among several new voting places opened in 1841 for the next election of
congressmen. It has continued to be the precinct voting place throughout the years.Hightowers is
in the center of a very prosperous farming region. Tobacco was and still is the chief money crop,
cotton was grown at one time, corn and several other varieties of grain fill out the needs of the
people.For a while Hightowers had a tobacco manufacturing company located south of the
crossroads. John Love lived near Hightowers between Hyco and Panther Creeks and operated a
grist mill below his house on Panther Creek. He was listed as a whiskey distiller in Branson's
North Carolina Business Directory in 1884. Also listed as offering liquor for sale at Hightowers
were J.T. Baynes and T.Y. Banes. Hightowers was among the many Caswell County
communities who organized a chapter branch of the Red Cross after the start of World War 1.
Among their efforts were supplying clothing for war ravaged countries of Europe, rolling
bandages and preparing ''comfort kits'' for soldiers.Daniel Lorenzo (5/28/1909).
Staunch Methodists, the Hightowers were leading members of Bethel M.E. Church, South. There
was no high school in the community then, so Clara and Mary boarded in Cedar Grove and went
to school there and later taught in Caswell County. Gurney went to Trinity College, now Duke,
Clara went to college in Greensboro, and Louise went to business college in Raleigh.
When Ralph died after a brief illness in 1910, he had a few coins tied in a little bag in his pocket.
His father carried this same bag in his pocket for the remainder of his life. When Della died in
1915, leaving young children, the older sisters helped theirfather keep the family together.
Gurney was married to Bessie Howell in 1918, Clara to Howard Price Hodges in June, 1923, and
Mary to John Clinton Long in October, 1923. Palmetta died of tuberculosis in 1926. Louise had
come home from Raleigh to help nurse her. Louise married Asa Conally Long at the home of her
aunt and uncle, Joe and Eugenia Smith, in Leasburg in 1927. Daniel married Sue Clayton in
January, 1928.
Gurney, Clara, and William moved to the Washington, DC area. Gurney was chief photographer
at the Smithsonian Institution for a number of years. Clara, a woman ahead of her time, worked
at General Accounting. Mary, Louise and Daniel remained in Caswell County. Mary and Louise
were active in the community and church. In 1938, Julia, a nurse, died in January, William "Bill"
married Leah Frances "Pat" Patterson in August, and John S. Hightower died on November 30.
William served in the navy in World War 11 in the Pacific area. Mary, who had always loved
Christmas, was ill for several years, and died on December 21, 1965. In 1974, Daniel died
suddenly and the next year, on Sept. 22, Clara died. She was returned to her beloved Caswell
County to be buried in the cemetery at Hebron Methodist Church. William and Frances moved to
Florida around 1980 to be near their sons's familyr Louise is the only member of this generatior
now living in Caswell County.The Hightower family has left these legacies to their descendents:
love of God, love of family and community, determination, perseverance, thrift, and hard work.
Sources: Vol. V1 - History of N.C., Lewis Publ. Co. Chicago & N.Y., 1919.; Will on file Cou
N.C. Office c Archives & History material compiled by Mary Deste Hightower, 1971; family
member - Louise H. Owen, Caswell County records; family Bible and personal know edge.
The Hightowers of Caswell County:
The Hightower family of North Carolina was established in Caswell County in the early years of
the nineteenth century by William Hightower, who was born in Virginia, a son of Joshua
Hightower. William Hightower bought land in what is now Hightower Township of Caswell
County, and was a planter and slave holder there until his death. He married Mary Anderson,
who was born in Orange County, N.C. They reared sons named Joshua, William, John A., Daniel
and Stephen, and four daughters named Elizabeth, Jane, Sally, and Permelia.
William Hightower's will of October 18, 1850, reads in part as follows: 1 st I bequeath my
mansion house and land that I now live on to my two daughters to be equally divided between
Jane and Elizabeth for a home free from all claims forever and ever - And I further wish and
bequeath to Jane and Elizabeth a bed and clothing a piece and one cow and calf a piece and a
sow and pigs . . . " John A. Hightower (1814 or 1819-1869),one of William Hightower's sons,
inherited land and bought more land in Hightower Township, and spent his life there as a farmer.
On November 9, 1843, he married Mary Jackson, a native of Caswell County, daughter of Daniel
Jackson, who was born in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. According to the family, the Jacksons
were said to be directly related to the famous Confederate general, "Stonewall'' Jackson.
John A. Hightower and Mary Jackson Hightower (1822-1890) reared eight children. They were
William Daniel, Susan Ann, Alexander Corydon, Sarah Jennie, James Rainey, John Stephen,
Mary Francis "Fannie," and Bettie. The oldest son, W. Daniel (1844-1925), enlisted in Company
B of the fourth North Carolina Regiment on January 1, 1863. He was with that regiment in many
of its battles including the great conflict at Gettysburg. He was captured near Petersburg when
Lee surrendered. After his parole, he returned to Caswell County, was identified with farming
there, and later removed to Rockingham County where he was prominent as a farmer, merchant,
and holder of several public offices, including Deputy Register of Deeds. Two of the daughters
Susan and Jennie, never married and con - tinued to live at the old family homeplace in the
Ridgeville community of Caswell County. Susan died in 1919 and Jennie in 1922, but the house,
though unoccupied, remains standing today and is known as "Aunt Jennie's" place.
John S. Hightower (b. 6/30/1855). the youngest of John A. Hightower, married Della Susan
Smith (b. 10/28,1868), the daughter of William Henry Smith and his wife, the former Mary
Dameron, of Hightowers, N.C. on November 20, 1892, in a home ceremony. Della had attended
school at Guilford College and John was known to have "a good head for figures." A prosperous
farmer, John built a new home for his family on the Ridgeville road near the old homeplace. He
and Della were the parents of nine children. They were Gurney Ivey (8/20/1893), Mabel Clara
(5/3/1895), John Ralph (7/13/1897), Mary Lollis ( ' 1/9/ '899), Berta Louise (1/16/1902),
Palmetta (12/23/1903), Julia Esther (9/28/1905), William Franklin (7/19/1907), and
The Hightowers of Alabama
The buttercups were in bloom at the small crossroads at Hightower, Alabama. The area is not
even marked with a sign, if you hadn't seen the official Alabama State map that indicates the tiny
hamlet, you might miss it. This past year I visited Hightower, Alabama with its rolling hills,
small farms and trees laden with Spanish Moss. When I am in a "Hightower" neighborhood like
The North Farnham Parish, or Hightower, NorthCarolina or here in Hightower, Alabama, I feel
like I am on special land-land where Hightowers pioneered, built homes, farmed, raised families
and worshiped more than 200 years ago. Yes, it is a special place. And here in Hightower,
Alabama, I talked with some of the oldest residents of the area and they did not know where the
Hightower name came from. Recently I was reading a letter from Hightower researcher, Walter
A. Walker: "Lewis Buckner Hightower was born in Florence, Alabama, served in the
Confederate Army, was an attorney, 30 years a district judge, town of Hightower, AL, named in
his honor" (See story James Buckner Hightower, the Davey Crocket of East Texas, The
Hightower News).
Hightower, Alabama
by Roland Smith, Huntsville, Al
This brief treatment covers some of the early personalities of Cleburne County. Of the many
notable people harbored in this county from the 1800's to the present, this narrative mentions a
few naming only men. Please note that family women deserved as much (if not more) credit for
influencing the community. In the late 1800-early 1900 period there were two doctors in
Hightower who also were brothers. They were Doctors Jerry and Henry LINDSEY and their
practices covered quite a large area surrounding Hightower. They often performed their
necessary services without pay, money was often scarce during their tenure in Cleburne County.
The Lindsey brothers willing, diligently and faithfully delivered babies and treated the ill and
infirm
J.R. Doc Hightower
J.R. Hightower was born February 10, 1845 in Pike County, Alabama to Gregory D. and
Rebecca Hightower. He served in the Confederate Army. He enlisted in Company I, 22nd
Alabama regiment on January 15, 1862 and served until August 18th, 1864. He was wounded
and thought dead until one of the fellow soilders noticed he was able to blink his eyes. He was
then taken to the army hospital. His stay in the hospital must have been very instructive as in
years to come he was called "Doc" and did doctor everyone in the community and surrending
area. J. R. Came to Madison County, Texas in 1876. He left home with 36 head of cattle and one
other rider. They had started out for free range and water but the weather in north Texas, where
they spent the first winter, was too cold, so they continued their drive south. He purchased land
in Gum Springs,Cnncord Community and aquired a large estate of land and cattle. He was said to
ride his horse sitting very streight and always wore a starched and ironed shirt even to work
cattle. He is said to like to ride a mule on trips and he once owned a large amount of donkeys that
had free range between Larrison and Myrtle creeks.
On August 12, 1885 he married Emma Green Spell the daughter of Henry and Martha C. Spell.
Henry died shortly after his return home from the Civil War and Martha C. Married H. S.
Wallace. Emma came to Madison County with her mother and Mr. Wallace.
J. R. and Emma G. had seven children:
Willie Rebecca Ruth was born December 30, 1886 she married Luther Floyd son of Ira and
Pauline (Daniels) Floyd on December 22, 1907. They had two sons to live to be grown, Nolan
and Luther Buran.
Susan Stella was born September 14, 1888 she married Andrew Hager. Their first child Kern
died at an early age and their daughter billie Esther, married Fletcher Arterberry who came from
Oklahoma. They had two children: Mattie Sue and James Wesley. Stella lived to be 92 years old.
She and Andrew are buried in the Greenbrier Cemetery along with their son, son-in-law and
grandson-in-law.
Henry Gregory was born august 2, 1893 he married Pearl Driver daughter of Will and Mary
Driver. They lived in the old Hightower home for a few years and then built their home on land
that he had inheirted. He used some of the lumber from the original school house in the Concord
Community. Greg was a good farmer and trader, but as he got older and his health and eye sight
failed he sold his farm and moved to Madisonville. He died on February 8, 1970 and is buried in
the Madisonville City Cemetery. Greg and Pearl had three children: Eugene, Sherman and
Doris.Sally Katherine was born July 2, 1891 and married W. Charles Kunze on December 19,
1912. Rev. W. C. Kunze was an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church. He served several
churches in Texas and one in Ohio. He died while at the church in Canyon, Texas. Katherine
continued to live there for about 25 years and then returned to Madisonville where she died as
the results of an auto accident on July 30, 1962. She and Rev. Kunze are buried in the
Madisonville City Cemetery. They had no surviving children. Winnie Feddie was born October
27, 1896 she married Emmet C Colwell. Bertha Annie was born December 20, 1898. She was
the sixth child of J. R. and Emma G. Hightower. Her first marriage was to Cleve D. Burke ,a
September 7, 1918. they had one child from this marriage, Armeda who was born August 29,
1919. Armeda graduated from Madisonville High School in 1935. She then attended West Texas
State Teachers College in Canyon and then Sam Houston State Teachers College. She taught
school one year at Madisonville Elementary School. She married Vernon Robinson and they
have one daughter, Marianne. Marianne is married to Kirby Lynn Nash and their two children
are: Kirby Lynn, Jr and Sara Ann. Cleve died and is buried in the Madisonville City Cemetery.
Bertha then returned home and attended Sam Houston Teacher's College and taught school in the
Jenkins Community. While there she met Thomas Moore Williams of North Zulch, and.they
were married on February 10, 1926. She had three children from this marriage: Mavis born
December 30, 1926, She graduated from Madisonville High School in 1944 and went to work in
Houston. She married E. Ray Morris they had three sons; Gaylon Ray who married Peggy
Connevey and they have one child Warren Ray; then Mavis and Ray had twins, Dean Thomas
and Gene Patton.
Joshua Hightower-Bad Guy?
Joshua was a magistrate in Randolph County, Alabama. He was a state representative from
Randolph County in the 1859-60 legislature and was a Captain in the Civil War under Colonel
Jefferson in Falkner's Battalion. The following excerpt is from Historical Records of Randolph
County, Alabama 1832-1900. It gives insight into Joshua's community service, his dedication to
his cause and his forceful, and perhaps controversial, personality. Since it is such a rare find, this
information is quoted here in its entirety: "Joshua Hightower was a farmer, an extreme
Democrat, an old settler, 45 years of age, and lived in Jenkins beat. He was a brother of William
Hightower, Randolph's first Sheriff (see story page 4).Mrs. Hightower was said to be an
exceptionally good lady. But the honorable Joshua Hightower was a Breckenridge Democrate
and voted for secession. He made up a company of Home Guards and was its captain. He was
arrogant, selfish and egotistical, and said to be tyrannical and oppressive during the latter part of
the war, persecuting men and women who differed with him politically, or in any way showed or
expressed their sympathy for the Union cause.
It was said, and from personal knowledge, it is believed that Captain Hightower was in command
of the squad of men who were detailed by Captain Robinson, commander of the post at
Wedowee, to carry Bone Trent and Dock King to Talladega conscript camps, which they never
reached nor were seen alive afterwards, but were said to have been found by Captain E. B. Smith
sometime afterward."
The above narrative was written in 1894-1896 by J.M.K. Guinn. It is not knnown how accurate it
is or if the accusations made against Joshua are true. If so, he was a very tough customer. If not,
he at least had a very negative reputation in the community. It is true that Joshua left Randolph
County after the Civil War.
James Monroe Hightower (1850-1940) remembered Joshua in a letter dated 3 March, 1937. The
letter said, "My Grandmother, Sallie E. Hightower had brothers Raleigh, Joshua and William.
This Raleigh I recall seeing oftentimes and the Joshua and his family lived several years within
two miles of us in Calhoun County, Mississippi, just prior to their leaving for Texas.
Joshua was not found in the 1870 census, making it difficult to identify children born between
1860 and 1870. Family legend says that Joshua's youngest daughter, Trecy Luella, was taken to
the home of her oldest sister, Melissa Frances Herring, to be raised by her. By this we might
assume that Joshua's wife, Nancy, died around 1870. The 1880 census shows Tracey Luella
living in the Herring home as their eldest child. What happened to some of the other children
remains a mystery.
Hardy Hightower
Hardy Hightower was born 29 December, in1779 Buncombe County, North Carolina. He was
the son of John Oldham Hightower, a Revolutionary War veteran and his wife, the former Sarah
Jane Parker. Hardy was married to Hariett Margaret Neill, born in Burke County, NC. They were
married 14 March, 1811 in Buncombe County. Hardy had already moved along with his parents,
from North Carolina to Giles County, Tennessee in 1808. The first six of Hardy's and Hariett's
eleven children were born in Giles County, Tennessee where Hardy owned land along a 2 1/2
mile stretch of land on the Tennessee River. The family then moved to Lauderdale County,
Alabama where the last five were born.
In 1841 Hardy and his entire family moved to Walker County, Texas. They made the move to
Texas in a wagon train made up entirely of their families, including eight slaves.
Their first child, Jane S. and her husband, Almon H. Mason came to Texas with them and
acquired acreage that they would subsequently sell to William S. Bolding and his wife, the
former Cynthia Lowe after they came to Walker County with the Bowden and Lowe children,
1855. The masons had planted a double row of cedar trees in a straight line from the front steps
to what is now referred to as the Old Huntsville Rd. The home was eventually called "Cedar
Hill" The site commands the finest view of any in the surrounding area.
Catherine Hightower born 19 May, 1813, married Samuel W. Probasco on 10 August 1837 in
Florence, Alabama. He was an attorney from Ohio. The couple had no children of their own, but
when Hardy and harriett cames they left their tenth child, Caroline M. Hightower to make her
home with her aunt.
The Texas home that Hariett and Hardy Hightower had built following the clearing of a
sufficient area of land was a rather large, two stuse, the upper floor of which was never
partitioned off. There were sleeping areas for the unmarried sons, but the remainder of the space
was converted into a ballroom. The columns that extended across the front of the house were
felled and heand-hewn there on the place.My father told me that in order to have obtained six
such perfectly matched columns, six completely straight pine trees sixty feet in height would
have had to be located and painstakingly handled. After the completion of the house and other
necessary outbuildings, including slave cabins sufficient in number to house the eighty slaves, a
work platoon was assigned the task of digging an extensive drainage ditch around a large section
of property.
When the next planting season came, another platoon of workers was put to the task of planting a
large, horshoe-shaped driveway from the Old Huntsville Road to the front yard. About 400 cedar
trees were planted in double rows around the driveway, to mark the four corners of the yard.
They planted crepe myrtle between every tow trees, thus assured of an evergreen approach and
colorful flowerings to the yard.
Many years later Mrs. W.O.B Gillespie would tell about attending balls at the Hightower
Plantation, of driving up the long and always lovely driveway, of being"handed down" from the
carriage by a liveried footman, who stood waiting to receive the occupants of all vehicles due to
arrive for the evening's revelry. But the cedar drive has now gone with the wind that swept
through Texas as well as through Georgia.
Thomas Hightower, M.D
.
Thomas A. Hightower, physician and surgeon of Hot Springs, Ark, was born on the state line
between Tennessee and Alabama, in the town of Bethel, June 20, 1850, and is the son of James
and Lucy Westmorland Hightower, the former a native of Albemarle, VA, while the latter was
born in Giles County, Tennessee. In young manhood the father made his way down through
Kentucky to Tennessee, where he was married and took up his abode, locating just across the
line in Limestone County, Alabama. There he engaged in farming.
The son, Dr. Thomas A. Hightower, was educated in the rural schools of Alabama and
subsequently took up the study of medicine in the medical department at the University of
Tennessee, from which he received his professional degree in the year 1873. He began practice
near Courtland, AL and in 1879 went to Arkansas, locating in the village of De View, where he
remained in active practice for a quarter of a century. He next removed to the town of McCrory,
building the first house in the town following the advent of the railroad. His practice to that point
grew beyond his ability to care of it individually and he was forced to leave in order to preserve
his health, so great were the demands made upon his time and energy. In 1905 he moved to Hot
Springs.
In 1875 Dr. Hightower married to Miss Emma K. Simpson of Courtland, Alabama, and to them
were born six children: Issac R residing in El Paso, Texas; James B., a resident of Jonesboro,
Ark'Katie, who is the wife of Tine Coppage of Jonesboro; Thomas W. living in El Paso, TX;
Gladys, the wife of H.W. Schleicher of Jacksonville, FL; annd Linnie, the wife of Lt. C.C. Quinn
of the U.S. Army.
Mrs. Hightower died in 1905 and the Doctor was married to Mrs. Ella Hollingshead of East
Liverpool, Ohio. Mr. Hightower belonged to the First Methodist Church and his life in all of its
relations was guided by his religious belief. Thus it is that Dr. Hightower holds to the highest
standards of conduct and is regarded as a most conscientious physician, as a faithful friend and a
loyal and progressive citizen.
Sheriff William Hightower
Sheriff William Hightower was the oldest proven son of Thomas and Elizabeth Pollard
Hightower. He was a War of 1812 veteran and the first Sheriff of Randolph County, Alabama.
He was affectionately known as "Uncle Bill" by the people of Randolph County. His wife was
known as "Aunt Liza", and they apparently had no children of their own, although they cared for
other young people in their home as various census records indicate.
There are various records that possibly refer to this William Hightower in the area that his family
lived. For example, on June 25,1818, in Clarke County, Georgia, a William Hightower was paid
to guard a prisoner named William McClendon. Could this have been the beginning of William's
career in law enforcement? Then in 1827, a William Hightower was mentioned in family deeds
in Newton County, Georgia, while relatives were living there. Of course, there were many men
named William Hightower living at the same time, making it difficult to be certain whic!
William Hightower each record referred to.
Randolph County, Alabama, was organized on December 18, 1832, and William Hightower was
said to live in the area before that time. William was the county's first Sheriff from October 8,
1833 - October 11, and tax collector in 1835.
He built the county"s first courthouse of logs in 1836. It had three hole windows, I door, dirt
floor and no furniture. William held court proceedings on Poplar bark as the first jail was a
hollow Poplar tree. He built a new jail in 1837 and a new courthouse in 1839.
J.M.K. Guinn, an early Randolph County, Alabama, historian recorded much about Sheriff
William's life and character in the book Randolph County, Alabama, Sixty-Two Years Ago the
Red Man's Home, The White Man's Eden 1894-I896. The entire portion referring to William will
be quoted here because it is the only glimpse into William's character that has been found. Guinn
wrote, "Sheriff Hightower, tradition says, was a bachelor when he came to the county. He was
here when the county was first organized and had been for some time previously. He was elected
in August 1833, to the Sheriff's office. He was rough, wild and mischievous, playing tricks on
the credulous. Uncle Bill was perhaps as good material as the county had at that time for
Sheriff."
Tradition further said, he was the original owner of the present site of Wedowee. "When we first
got acquainted with him he was married and lived on the old McIntosh road about two miles
west of GoldRidge, and with the exception of two or three he lived in Wedowee in 1857-8, his
home was at the old home place until his death . He was forty three or four years of age when he
came to the county, and in 1880 he was 92; this made him near 100 when he died. When he lived
here in Wedowee in 1857, and kept a hotel, we got well acquainted with Aunt Liza, his wife.
They had no children. They lived where Sheriff Willoughby now lives. Ira Culbreath had the
house built and Uncle John Spence hewed the sills and logs.''
"Uncle Bill was a terror to evil doers. He had the first Court House built, it was a log cabin, on
lot 108 near R.T. West's present store house. He had a jail too, but the hand of man did not
fashion it, except the door. This jail may have been as long in construction as Noah"s Ark, being
an old and very hollow poplar tree, and from the best information known by the writer was on lot
number 116, near the foot of
the hill east of the present jail and on the bank of Frog Level branch."
"While Sheriff, Uncle Bill had to carry a prisoner to another county. He had one guard in a two
horse wagon, went into camp on their trip and after supper, the guard wanted to know which one
would guard the prisoner in the forepart of the night. Uncle Bill said I'll fix that when bed time
comes. The time came after a while and Uncle Bill took the bed off, turned it bottom side up, put
the prisoner under it. He placed his and the guard's beds on top --- the prisoner was on hand next
morning."
This insight into Sheriff William Hightower"s life in early Randolph County Alabama, is a
remarkable find and gives a priceless look into the life of this rugged pioneer.
In the Randolph County Census of 1840, William and his wife had a female aged 10-15 living
with them. in 1870 a "Samford" aged 12 lived with them, and at another time a "Margaret" born
in 1836 lived with them. Since it,was said that they were relatives, they had no children, perhaps
these were orphans or taken in by William and Liza. On March 1, 1875, property belonging to
William Hightower was sold at public auction to the highest bidder for back taxes at the
Wedowee Court House."
One record that verifies Sheriff William"s relationship to Thomas and Elizabeth Pollard
Hightower's family is the War of 1812 Pension File of his brother Charnell's widow. The
affidavit says, "...Charnold (sic) Hightower was a soldier under the command of Cole Jenkins in
Cole Jenkins Regiment and Captain Starns Company and volunteered about the 12th day of Aug.
1812. He volunteer enlisted for six months, was discharged at Miledgeville, Ga. about the first of
March 1813 in General Charles Floyd's Army --- this 3rd day of Aug. 1881" signed with an "X"
by William Hightower of Randolph County, Alabama. Charnell's widow was refused a pension
because there was no record of his service. Her lawyers replied on October 9, 1881,
"...Hightower's Brother who is now in Alabama and who served in the same Company is now
living on a pension." This pension file proves the connection between my Charnell and Sheriff
WIlliam. This information is in the War of 1912 Service Pension #39883. On January 1, 1883,
William Hightower was listed as a survivor of the War of 1812 living in Wedowee, Randolph
County, Alabama. He was receiving an $8.00 pension dating His pension file is #7295."
Another piece of information that links Sheriff William to his brothers and sisters is in the letter
dated,March 1, 1937, which has been quoted previously, written by James Monroe Hightower
(1850-1940). The letter States, "My Grandmother, Sallie E. Hightower had brothers Raleigh,
Joshua and 1 think a William."
Jordan Hightower
Jordan Hightower born in Lunenburg, Co, VA, in 1776. We believe his parents were Presley,Sr
and Elizabeth Jordan. He married Cassia Hazelwood in Lunenberg, County, VA where Jordan
was not very successful as a planter. He bought land on Hitto Creek in 1800. The two moved to
Kentucky before arriving in Limestone County, AL. He built this single-pen house of logs in the
traditional manner. Their children were Elisha, born in VA, James Jordan, b.Feb 15, 1814 in KY.
And Osborne, Lucretia and Elizabeth, though little records are found of the last three. James
Jordan was married to Ann Booth and had Mary Ann. He also married Lucy Morris
Westmorland and had John Calvin.
Martin Charnel Hightower
Joshua Hightower, (1670-1726), clan patri arch, and wife, Elinore, lived in Richmond County,
Virginia, March 1698. Court records indicate he paid every fine, penalty, or debt in "good, sweet
smelling tobacco". Their descendants were: John, Joshua, Austin, Charnall, and Thomas. Our
ancestors, (hereafter underlined), Charnall and Sara (Glascock) Hightower, migrated to
Brunswick County, Virginia. Court records show that he and brother Austin frequently sued each
other. Charnall's son, Joshua, (1739-1841), was a recognized Revolutionary War veteran who
died in Marengo County, Alabama, at age 102. Charnall and Sarah's children were: Elizabeth,
Sarah, Charnel, Rawleigh, Joshua, Gregory, John, and Thomas. Our ancestor, Joshua's son,
Charnel, was born in North Carolina. His son, our ancestor Aaron, was also born (1801) in
Caswell County, where he married Dinah. Their son, John T Hightower (GA, 1827), married
Anna (Reede) Hightower, September, 1847, in Benton County, Alabama.
Their son, Martin Charnel Hightower, (AL, 1854-1942), married and homesteaded the last of the
Indian Lands opened in Cleburne County in 1886. He and his first wife raised six children:
Ruben, Nora, Nancy, John, Asa, and Fannie. In 1885, Martin married Pollie Ann (Coleman)
Hightower in Cleburne County Their children were: George, Arab, Pearl, Isaac Clinton, Louetta,
and Grady. Father Isaac Clinton (1909-1982) married Eliza Magnease Davidson, the daughter of
Charlie Theodore Davidson; granddaughter of Ashford Turner Davidson (1861) and Mary
Roxanne Elizabeth Jane Hart (1862) from Georgia. Most of them lived in the Oak Level
Community. Mother, Magnease, (now in Heflin), was the daughter of Lora Gurtrude (Tanner);
daughter of Harrison Tanner and Eliza Jane Elking, (Mars Hill Community); granddaughter of
McDaniel D. Tanner, a Cherokee Indian (1826) from North Carolina. It is not known how he
evaded the roundup of Cherokees who were marched west to Oklahoma in 1838-39 via the "Trail
of Tears", but his knowledge of woods, wildlife, and hunting, helped us survive the rigors of life
in Cleburne County.Clint and Magnease Hightower raised four boys in Cleburne County. Clyde
Martin and Isaac Claude were born near Oak Level; Simon Clifford was born on Granddad's
homestead
G.R. Hightower
Mississippi You're On My Mind
I think I see a wagon rutted road
With the weeds grown tall between the tracks
And along one side runs a rusty barbed wire fence
And beyond sits an old tar paper shack
I think I hear a noisy old John Deere
In a field speckled with dirty cotton lint
And beyond that field runs a little country stream
Down there you'll find the cool green leaves of mint
I think I smell the honeysuckle vine
It's thick sweetness about to make you sick
And the dogs, my brood, they're hungry all the time
And the snakes are sleeping where the weeds are thick
I think I feel the angry oven heat
The southern sun just blazing in the sky
And the dusty weeds and old grasshopper jumps
I wanna make it to that creek before I die.
Mississippi you're on my mind
Mississippi you're on my mind
Oh Mississippi you're on my mind.
I visited Mississippi last year in March-driving across the delta I could smell the new mown hay,
which was a real change from the snow back home in Indiana! I was taking pictures on the G.R.
Hightower plantation and the smell of honesuckle reminded me of my childhood and of the Jesse
Winchester song, Mississippi, You're on My Mind.It is interesting the way I arrived at the
Hightower plantation in Mississippi. While doing research a few years ago in the Mississippi
State Archives in Jackson, I came across the story that follows. Last spring I started looking for
the Selsertown plantation. The story said it was about 10 miles North of Natachez on highway 61
near a town called Stanton. The story was written more than three quarters of a century ago and
lots can change in that time. But I found a couple of elderly ladies who lived in the small town of
Stanton, and who had heard of Selsertown, though it was not called that today. Sure enough, I
found the descendants of G.R. Hightower and made some wonderful friends of our Hightower
cousins. The story begins...
After devoting the major part of his life to the service of his fellow-men as a statesman, educator
and philanthropist, George Robert Hightower is engaged in the operation and improvement of
the plantation, Selsertown, which he owns and operates. After devoting the major part of his life
to the service of his fellow-men as a statesman, educator and philanthropist, George Robert
Hightower is engaged in the operation and improvement of the plantation, Selsertown, which he
owns and occupies and which is situated ten miles northeast of Natchez on Highway 61 at
Stanton. It is fitting that at this time he should have the opportunity of furthering his own
interests, as through so many years he had devoted himself almost exclusively to the upbuilding
of the state, contributing in notable measure to its material, intellectual and civic progress. He
has resided in the Natchez area since 1916 and upon his plantation of 3,000 acres since 1920.
Mississippi proudly claims him as a native son. He was born at Smith's Mills, in Grenada
County, on the fifteenth of October, 1865, a son of George and Fannie (Kirby) Hightower. The
father, who was a prominent farmer of Grenada County, was a native of Tennessee, as was his
wife, and in 1836 they came to Mississippi. George Hightower was a son of William and Martha
(Dawson) Hightower, both were born in Tennessee in the early part of the nineteenth century,
and were there reared and married. The Hightower family came originally from England, having
been associated with the history of the South from almost the earliest period of the development
of this part of the country. George Hightower, father of G. R. Hightower, served in the
Confederate Army through the entire period of the Civil War and died of illness in the spring of
1865 just before the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox. His family numbered a son and
daughter yet living, the latter being Mrs. Mattie Mullen, widow of the late Felix Mullen, of
Starkville, Mississippi.
George Robert Hightower grew to manhood in Grenada County, Mississippi, and there began his
education in the public schools, while later he attended Normal College at Buena Vista,
Mississippi, for three years, graduating in 1889. He then took took up the profession of teaching,
which he followed for one year in his native county, after which he taught in the Abbeville
Normal School of this state for three years. He next spent a year as instructor in the Grenada
Female College at Grenada, Mississippi, and Subsequently accepted a teaching position in the
public schools of New Albany, this state, where he was later made principal and so continued for
two years. In 1895 he retired from teaching to engage in farming in Lafayette County,
Mississippi, and while there residing he was elected county superintendent of education in 1898
for a four- year term.
Appreciation of his worth as a citizen and of his devotion to the public good led to his election to
the state legislature in 1904 and after serving for one term as a member of the House of
Representatives, he was elected to represent Lafayette County in the state Senate in 1906,
followed by reelection. After serving a part of his second term however he resigned to become
state president of the Farmers Educational Cooperative Union of America, a national farmers'
organization, which position he occupied with great credit to himself and his associates until
1912. He resigned to become president of the Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College
at Starkville, now the Mississippi State College. He remained at tile head of that institution from
1912 to 1916, during which time he greatly furthered the interests of the college and in moulding
the lives of thousands of young men and women of this and other states, helping them to become
useful and influential men and women. This is attested by the high scholastic standing accorded
the institution in national educational circles. Mr. Hightower made notable contribution to the
development of the school and to upholding its principles and its purposes. In 1914, while
serving as its president, he inaugurated a department of markets, which was the first of the kind
to be established in any similar institution in the United States. The department of business of the
college was also inaugurated at the college during Mr. Hightower's administration as president
and is now one of the most important departments of the institution. He was also instrumental in
beautifying the college campus and planting the water oaks and elms, which are today the
wonder and admiration of all who behold them.
While Mr. Hightower was a member of the state legislature he was the active spirit in having a
state department of agriculture created and in securing the passage of a bill reducing the legal
rate of interest from ten to eight per cent per annum. Another public office which Mr. Hightower
occupied and in which he discharged his duties in a most creditable and beneficial manner was
that of state tax commissioner, to which he was appointed in January, 1924, by Governor H. L.
Whitfield, soon after his induction into office. Mr. Hightower served under Governor Whitfield's
administration and also under Governor Murphree, who became chief executive Of the state
upon the death of Governor Whitfield March 18, 1927.
During the time when he was president of the Farmers Union of Mississippi, He devoted his time
almost exclusively to the work of promoting the organization and as the result of his unceasing
efforts, energy and tact the Mississippi Union became one of the strongest in the national
organization. The Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union had as its chief objectives the
promotion of farm welfare and cooperative buying and marketing. There was both a state and
national organization and under the guidance of Mr. Hightower the state organization became
one of the strongest organizations among farmers in the entire country. The work of Mr.
Hightower in its promotion commanded such wide recognition among its officers and also from
government officials that in 1908 he was appointed a delegate to the International Cotton
Conference held in Barcelona, Spain, which he attended in company with Harvey Jordan of
Georgia, representative of the National Cotton Association of the United States and James H.
Brooks, who represented the United States Department of State. Mr. Hightower was one of the
leading delegates at the conference and took a prominent part in its debates, deliberations and
recommendations. He is a man of clear and sound judgment who never jumps to hasty
conclusions, but carefully considers the matters under discussion and reaches decisions which
are usually correct. However, when once he reaches a conclusion he always as the strength of
character to act upon it. His strongly marked qualities, as outlined in this review, have naturally
made him a leader in educational and business circles, in civic affairs, in statesmanship and in
politics, so that men in all walks of life look to him for counsel and direction, while men
prominent in state and national affairs have sought and profited by his opinions.
After many years devoted to public service, Mr. Hightower became identified with plantation
interests in his own behalf and is now engaged in the cultivation of more than 3,000 acres of
land, specializing in raising long staple cotton, in which he is very successful. He is also largely
interested in the breeding of pedigree horses and cattle and has some of the finest stock in the
state.
On the eleventh of February, 1892, Mr. Hightower was married to Pearl Bishop, a daughter of
M. P. Bishop, a wealthy and prominent planter of Abbeville, Mississippi. They are the parents of
three sons. George Bishop Hightower, the eldest, born April 1, 1893, married Meta Perkins,
daughter of John Perkins, a leading merchant of Starkville, and they now have one daughter,
Meta Hightower, 17 years of age, who is now a student at Mississippi State College, of which
her grandfather was formerly president. George B. Hightower is a graduate of Mississippi State
College and also a graduate of the law department of the University of Mississippi and is now
engaged in the oil business at Jackson. Lynwood, the second son, born June 25, 1905, is now his
father's partner in the operation of the home plantation and in the breeding of fine stock. He
married Mary Edgecombe, of New Orleans, Louisiana, and they are the parents of two sons,
Marion and Lynwood, aged five and three years. Dr. Robert Beall Hightower, born August 14,
1907, is assistant health director of the District of Columbia located in Washington, D. C. He is a
graduate of Jefferson Military College of Washington, Mississippi, of Mississippi State College
at Starkville, and of the University of Virginia, where he pursued his medical studies.
Mr. Hightower is an active member of the Jefferson Street Methodist Church of Natchez and also
belongs to Harmony Lodge, No. 7, F. & A. M. of Natchez, and to the Woodmen of the World.
He takes an active part in both county and state affairs and thus continues his work of promoting
public progress, in which he has been so long engaged. He has given his service to the people
conscientiously, graciously and helpfully and without fear or favor and there is perhaps no man
in the state who has rendered more practical or beneficial aid to his fellowmen, whom he has
inspired with much of his own zeal and enthusiasm and in whom he has awakened higher ideals.
As one of Mississippi's representative men his name should be among the foremost.
Stephen Hightower
Stephen Hightower was born 3 October, 1777, in Mecklenburg County, VA. He moved to Panola
County, Mississippi about 1836. He acquired two sections of land from the Chickasaw Indians
for $7,000. Much of the present town of Sardis was built on this land. The Hightower family
owns deeds showing that Mr. Hightower donated land for the Methodist, Baptist, and
Presbyterian Churches and the first public school of Sardis.
While living in Giles County, he was a man of manny accomplishments. He built the first mill on
Bradshaw Creek(see Hightower News-A Compilation) soon added burr stones for wheat, then
the first saw mill. He built a cotton gin, blacksmith shop and distillery.
In 1855 Stephen Hightower and his son John Deveraux built a house (now called "The Oaks"
photo on this page) in Sardis which is one of the present day showplaces in the town. Hightower
Street in Sardis is about a half mile in length running east off Main Street.
This Hightower story was written about 1930 by Stephen Hightower and was published in "The
Panola Story" in 1984.Stephen Hightower (see Stephen Hightower story on page2) was born 3
October, 1777. Stephen Hightower died 31 July 1860.He married Tabitha Baugh 21 July 1808.
Tabitha Baugh Hitghtower died in 1832 (Cemetery records record 1852).They were b oth buried
in the old family cemetery one mile north of Sardis, MS. The Baugh and Hightower Families
came from Mecklenburg, VA to middle Tennessee. The Hightowers moved from Tennessee to
Panola County, MS in 1832.
Their family is as follows:James B Hightower (11'291809-7/28/1828) Agnes B. Hightower
10/30/1811-9/22/1831, Sallie Hightower 5/19/1814-12/28/1889; Joshua Hightower 7/9/1816;
Stephen A Hightower 7/15/1819; Tabitha A. Hightower 4/23/1822;Martha E. Hightower
2/11/1825-9/9/1845; John Devereux Hightower 8/14/1832-7/31/1899. Agnes married William
Butler, Sallike married Henry Laird, Tabitha married William Smith. After the year 1832 the
family lived in Sardis and when they died were buried at the old home place one mile north of
town. The Hightowers were very religious and were old school blue stocking Presbyterians. My
father, John Devereux Hightower, born 8/14/1832 and died 7/31/1899. He was born near Sardis,
MS andied there while on a visit in 1899.
My, was considered a very very pretty and accomplished woman. She was very religious and
contracted a cold while attending a revival being held by a presbyterian minister. She later died
from the effects. She was a graduate of Martin College for Women. She was a musician of talent.
My father was a graduate of the University of Virginia. He was a well read man, a Bible student.
His liberality was his worst fault, and before he died, had given away a personal fortune.
After I was old enough to remember, we spent quite a good deal of the summers in and around
Pulaski, Tennessee. One of my uncles lived on my grandfather's homestead, the home of many
fine horses and I think the prettiest place in middle Tennessee.
Martha Almarine Hightower
Most of the stories we find in genealogical research seems to be the stories of Hightower men.
But this is a wonderful story of a strong Hightower woman. I found this story doing research in
the Mississippi State Archives. It was written by an unnamed granddaughter and portions of the
handwritten story were not legible.
John Puckett Hightower got killed by a neighbor in October, 1844 in a dispute over land. Sarah,
his wife was distraught so she left her home and came to Mississippi with some of her relatives .
She was 65 years old when she left home. They stopped in Randolph County, Alabama to stay a
few months with the Hightowers who lived there.
When Grandma, Martha Almarine Hightower, was in her 80's she would tell of her early life.
She was born while the Hightower klan were staying in Randolph, about May 13, 1846, she was
grandchild of John Pucket and Sarah Elizabeth Hightower*. Her parents were Thomas
Hightower and Keziah Anderson. She moved with her family while yet an infant to Houston,
Mississippi.
Grandma said they always lived on a farm near Houston and had about 14 slaves of varied sex
and ages. She went to a private school run by a preacher during the week. Her main companionn
was her sister Frances who was two years older than she. In 1851, when she was only 4 years
old, her mother died.
I do not know much of her early life, but when she met Grandpa they were married and lived on
a farm near Houston, MS. The next Saturday afternoon after she was married, Grandma was
playing cards with some cousins. They had not left for their homes and in uncle came and took
the cards away from her. He told her since she was now a married woman she should not play
cards any more. Grandma said she never played cards again.
Although Grandma has left no picture of her as a young woman, she must have been very pretty.
She had the Hightower brown eyes and brown hair and creamy complexion.
In 1866 times were really hard. Grandma and Grandpa had this farm in Calhoun County, what is
called Skuna Bottom, that is the name of the river that runs nearby. Schools were few and far
between. Mississippi tried to restore order following the Civil War, but times were very difficult.
Grandma loved flowers In her home at Pontotoc there were lots of hyacinths, daffodills that
came out every spring. Once I asked her what her favorite was and she said Hydrangeas. There
were a lot of Walnut and Cedar trees in their yard.
Grandma was a good cook. She did all the cooking on her wood stove. When dinner was served,
she would sit at the end of the table and serve all and pour the milk and coffee.
On Christmas they always had a big tree in the living room. They would have lots of candles lit
on the tree.
While she lived in Pontotoc, Grandma had all her teeth pulled. The dentist came to the house
where they gave her chloroform. I visited her a few weeks before she died. She suffered a stroke
and in a few days she died. She was a wonderful woman.
John C. Hightower
Kidnapped by Indians
It is believed that John C. Hightower was born in the year 1810. Around 1820, when he was ten
years old, he was kidnapped by Indians. We do not know what tribe took him or the
circumstance in which he was taken, but it seems as though he was taken peacefully or quietly.
Perhaps he was out exploring like any young boy. The Indians took him and used him as a slave.
It was also common for a tribe to trade their slaves, so our John C. was traded from one tribe to
another over the duration of his captivity. In this way he not only learned to speak the language
of the tribe that took him, but also the languages and dialects of other tribes.
In 1830 he was with a tribe in the Dakotas or Montana when he and another slave made their
escape. They escaped when their hunting party came upon some trappers. The trappers had some
liquor and when all bedded down for the night, the two slaves, not bound as tightly as normal,
made their escape.
After growing into manhood with Indians, John Carol Hightower looked like an Indian, so when
a band of cavalry came upon the two escapees, they shot at them. Somehow John Carol made his
way back south to Texas where his family was living.
Unfortunately, after living as an Indian for so many years, John Carol was no longer able to live
with the white man. He left his family and never returned or had any communication with them.
The next 24 years of his life and travels is shadowy until he married our great-grandmother
Rebecca Norris in Travis County Texas (FT. Worth) in 1854. He was apparently working for the
Army because of his skills with the languages and dialects of the Indians, however he does not
appear on the lists of U.S. Army Scouts that I have had access to as of yet. In the 1860 Census
for Texas, John Carol's occupation was listed as "day laborer."
John and Rebecca had a child in 1858 and they name him George Washington Hightower. He
was born in Stephens, TX. They have a second son, William Norris while living in Breckinridge,
TX. Their third child was Mary Jane and fourth son was John C.
In 1881, when our subject was 71 years old, he moved his family to the New Mexico Territory
where he would live out the remainder of his life. On September 29,1910, the rest of the family
gone to El Paso, TX, on covered wagons for supplies, John Carol was on the way to the barn and
corral to help his daughter-in-law feed the cattle. He said he didn't feel well and went back to the
house. She found him lying on his pallet in front of the fireplace. He had died in the only bed he
had ever known, a pallet thrown on the floor, eleven days before his one hundredth birthday.
Elias Hightower of Ray
County, Missouri
Elias Hightower pursued animal husbandry to improve his domestic animals on his Ray County
Farm, on section 10, township 53. His father, Joseph Hightower, was born in South Carolina in
1808, and was the son of Thomas Hightower, a hero of the War of 1812, who took part in the
battle of New Orleans under General Andrew Jackson.
Joseph Hightower removed from his native state to Virginia and when twelve years of age went
to East Tennessee, where he grew to manhood, receiving instruction in the common schools of
the country. In Tennessee he married Miss Elizabeth Clevenger, daughter of Elias Clevenger,
also one of the soldiers of the War of 1812. After a year had passed, he brought his wife to Ray
County, Missouri with their child , Nancy, and settled near Missouri City in the river bottoms.
After remaining there a short time, he went to Caldwell County, where the Mormons drove him
out (see sidebar: The Mormon War on page 11). Joseph returned to Ray County, where he
located on a farm about two miles south of Vibbard, soon buying the farm upon which he
afterward lived and finally died, it being about six miles south of Vibbard. He was the father of
twelve children and a farmer throughout his entire life and was very successful in his work. He
was a member of the Batptist Church, being a deacon; his wife was also a member, and cooperated with him in religious work.
Elias was reared in this county and received a common-school education. In the year 1853, he
drove an ox-team across the plains to California, requiring three months and twenty days for the
journey. Many hardships were encountered, but were successfully resisted and when he reached
his destination he engaged in mining with fair success. Returning to Missouri, he married Miss
Nancy Ann Wyman, who died within a year. Immediately after he was married he settled upon
the place where he now lives, and which has been his continuous residence to date. Hightower
was married in 1857 to Miss Mary F. Wyman, the sister of his first wife, and a native of Ray
County, MO. Her mother, Christian Wyman, was born in Kentucky, January 12, 1800, and came
to Ray County, Missouri about 1842. Hisfather, Hezekiah Wyman, was one of the brave soldiers
of the War of 1812. He died in Ray County at the age of 83 years. His beloved wife departed this
life when about the same age as her husband. Her maiden name was Maria Rouner, and she was
a daughter of Jacob and Nancy (Harden) Rouner, the latter a cousin of old Gov. Harden of
Missouri.
Elias was the father of twelve children, one by his first wife and eleven by his second: Nancy
Ann, who married Thomas P. Munford, a prominent author; Cornelia J., wife of Oliver Wood;
Fanny E., who died when 12 years old; William A. who died at the age of 8 months; Colonia,
who died at the age of 6 months; Robert E., married and living near Vibbard; Lizzie, wife of
Joseph C. Hill, residing in Ray County; Harriet, wife of John Cox, living one mile from Elias;
Maggie wife of Q.A. Harris, living in Ray County; Lee, married and a resident of Ray County;
and Ethel.
The farm belonging to Mr. Hightower consists of two hundred and five acres, and is in a good
state of cultivation; upon it the owner is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He is a
member of the Harmony Lodge no 384 F. & A.M., being the Senior Warden. Our subject is a
devoted member of the Baptist Church, being faithful to its teachings and an active worker in its
behalf. In politics, he is a Democrat, and firmly adheres to the teachings of the party as
proclaimed in its platform. He is a member of the Grange and Treasurer of the Farmer's Mutual
Benefit Association. To Elias belongs the distinction of being one of the oldest settlers of Ray
County now residing within its boundaries.
Battle of Hightower Town
More than 40 years prior to the "Trail of Tears', and the founding of Rome, GA, north western
Georgia was Cherokee and Creek Indian Territory. Among the principal Cherokee towns were
Ustanali(near present day Resaca, GA), Chatuga(today's Summerville, GA), and
Hightower(Rome, GA).
In September, 1793, elements of the Cherokee force under the leadership of the King Fisher
arrived at Cavett's Station, a small settlement just a few miles from Knoxville. The residents'
three men and eleven women and children were garrisoned in a blockhouse(a small sturdy fort
like building designed especially to withstand Indian attacks). The small force held off the
raiders for several hours, during which Alexander Cavett and five Cherokees were killed. Given
assurance by the Indians that they would be released unharmed, the defenders in the blockhouse
eventually surrendered. As they emerged from their protective enclosure, however, and laid
down their arms, the enraged Indians killed all but one.
Word of the deaths spread quickly. Revolutionary War hero John Sevier organized an army of
800 volunteers and set out in hot pursuit of the raiding Indians.
A letter written by Sevier describing the situation:
"We made some Cherokee prisoners, who informed us that John Watts headed the army lately
out on our frontiers...that the same was composed of Indians, more or less from every town in the
Cherokee nation, and had made for a town at the mouth of the Hightower River."
An interesting aside here is the origin of the name "Hightower." Examples of the interactive
usage of these words include the Etowah River which is still referred to by some old-timers as
the Hightower River, and the northwest area of Lumpkin County known as the "Hightower
District," where the Etowah rises. The names are also cross-identified in numerous other spots,
such as the Hightower Trail, a former Indian route to the Etowah River.
It was at the Indian town of Hightower at the mouth of the Etowah River that the Tennesseans
finally caught the Indian raiders on a fateful autumn day. During the skirmish, the King Fisher
attempted to rally his men, but was shot and killed.
After the battle, the Tennesseans pursued the Cherokees and, somewhere west of the forks,
crossed the Coosa River. Sevier describes the chase in his report:
"We crossed the main Coosa where they had thrown up some breast works and evacuated. We
proceeded on our way down the main river near Turnip Mountain, destroying in our way several
Creek and Cherokee towns, which they had settled together on each side of the river and from
which they have all fled with apparent precipitation, leaving almost everything behind. We
destroyed near three hundred settlements."
The Tennesseans, satisfied that they had eliminated the Chrokee and Creek threat, began their
long march home, where Sevier resumed his political career.
Louisianna Hightowers
The way I found the Richard Whites of Ruston, Louisianna is a story in itself. Last summer
while doing research in Ray County, Missouri, I found a letter in a local genealogy library. The
letter was from a Mary Hightower White, Box 846, Ringgold, LA.and dated, 1988. The letter
inquired about a number of Hightower relatives of Ms. White. Knowing that I was going to visit
Louisianna the following spring, I filed the address. And on the way to New Orleans a few
weeks ago, I stopped by Ringgold, LA, population 400 or so and tried to find Ms. White. I knew
she might have passed away because the letter had been sent fifteen years ago. But I got a
Ringgold phone book, parked in the local Dollar Store parking lot and started dialing all the
"Whites" from the book on my cell phone. I knew this wasn't going to be easy, since there was
no "Mary White." I finally dialed a lady who knew a Mary White who had died. She said Mary's
husband was also dead, but a son, Richard White lived in Ruston and worked at the local
Walmart as a Pharmacist. I had been to that very Walmart earlier in the day, I drove there and
checked with the pharmacy. Mr. White was off for the weekend, but the relief pharmacist gave
me his address. I called and said, was your mom, Mary Hightower White, and bingo, there was
our Hightower descendent! And Richard White is the nicest man you could ever want to meet.
He and his lovely wife shared lots of genealogy data with me, including the wonderful photo of
his great grandad(page 129)Richard R. Hightower, Tax assessor of Lincoln Parish and the page
from an old family Bible. One of the greatest things about doing genealogical research in
addition to finding our dead relatives, is finding our terrific live ones! Richard is still sifting
through his mom's genealogy files and says he will share his future findings with The Hightower
News.
I hope you enjoy The Hightower News Online
Paul H.