submitted by: Mary Frances (Bennett) Keyes, May 2004
updated Jan 2008
-------------------------------------------
Robert Solomon “Sol” Ham born 16 Feb 1848 in Randolph County, Alabama. Son of William J. Ham and Eliza Morton. His family moved into Perry County, Alabama sometime after 1850. Sol married (1) Ellen M. Ratliff on 1 April 1866 in Perry County, Alabama. She was born 28 Feb 1846 to John Ratliff and Cynthia Fowler of the Sprott Community. Ellen died 25 March 1920 and she and Sol are buried at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Sprott, Perry County,Alabama.
Sol and Ellen’s children were: John Harrison Ham married Rachel Emily Caroline “Carrie” Hughey, Columbus F. “Lum” Ham married Matilda Jane Church, Joseph Benjamin “Ben” Ham married (1) Emma F. Mitchell (2) Audrey Mae Davis Hunter, Robert Sanders Ham married Levvie Dunkin, Homer F. Ham married Dovie Dunkin, Ella J. Ham married Sample Hughey, Millie Ham married Bill Fowler, Jessie Calvin Ham married Georgia Ann Hughey,
You will notice three Hughey intermarriages and two Dunkin intermarriages. Making all the children double first cousins.
Sol Ham was granted a divorce from Ellen Ratlif Ham on 1 Jan 1894. He then married Mattie Rivers Bentley on 7 Jan 1895. Their children were: James William Hamm, Anne Geneva Hamm, Howard M. Hamm, and John Morgan Hamm.
There are more children for Sol Ham, but I do not have all the names. If you are part of this family please notify me so I can add you to our family tree.
From family stories I have been told “Ole Sol” was not only a well known potter, but quite a busy man in other facets of his life. I was told he died from head injuries he sustained while playing his fiddle in a “Beer Establishment”. If you have any additional information or corrections, please contact me below.