Enoch and Biddy Seale

Enoch Seale, was born about 1811 in South Carolina, died July 9, 1892 in Shelby County Alabama. The obituary, The Shelby Chronicle, Columbiana, Alabama, dated July 13, 1892, "Enoch Seal. Like a sheat of wheat, ripe for the harvest, this venerable man past quietly and peacefully from earth to heaven on the 9th inst. at the home of his son, W.M. Seal, near Hotspur, in this county. Mr. Seal spent the most of his long life to this town where he was loved and respected by all who knew him. Mr. S. attained more than the age allotted to man, being 80 years of age at the time of his death. He had been a consistent member of the M.E. church from his youth, and found comfort and consolation in the dying hour, in the truths of that religion he had so long professed. Mr. S. had been honored by the people of this county several times by being elected tax collector, which office he filled to the entire satisfaction of the people. His remains were brought to this place for interment and on Sunday a large concourse of his friends followed his remains to their last resting place. After a long life well spent, he has been gathered to his fathers, respected, honored and loved by all." His wife, Biddy Seale, born March 10, 1812 in South Carolina, died November 8, 1884 in Shelby County Alabama is buried in Columbiana Cemetery in Shelby County Alabama. The obituay, The Shelby Sentinel, Calera, Alabama, Thursday, November 13, 1884, "Columbiana. Died - at her home in this place on Monday last (November 3, 1884), after a protracted illness, Mrs. Biddy Seale, wife of Enoch Seale, Esq., aged about seventy-three years. The deceased was a most excellent lady, and during a busy life was honored, respected and loved by a large circle of friends and relatives. She leaves a devoted husband behind, who has for a long number of years walked beside her, and a number of descendent children and grandchildren. The sympathy of the entire community goes out to the aged husband bereaved as he is of the companion of his youthful as well as of his mature years, and also to the stricken relatives. But their loss is her eternal gain. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. J.W. Jones at the cemetery, in accordance with the request of the deceased, on Sunday morning last (November 9, 1884), and all that was mortal of a loved wife and mother was laid to rest beneath the sod."

Enoch Seale was first enumerated in the 1840 Shelby County Alabama census records, at which time he and his wife, Biddy, had 2 boys and 3 girls. In 1857 he was appointed administrator of the estate of Charles W. Seale, deceased. Charles W. Seale was a son of Charles and Eleanor Seale. On March 20, 1870 in The Shelby County Guide it was indicated that he was a "retailer in spiritous liquors." As indicated in The Shelby County Guide on April 2, 1871, "Enoch Seals announces himself as a candidate for office of Tax Collector of Shelby County" ... and he won the election. In 1874 at a meeting of the town council, Enoch Seale was unanimously elected Mayor to fill the unexpired term made vacant by the resignation of Mr. Slaughter. As indicated in The Shelby Sentinel dated October 11, 1883, "We regret to learn that Mr. Enoch Seale is quite sick". Strange Occurance, as noted in The Montgomery Advertiser, (Montgomery, Alabama), dated Saturday, May 3, 1884, "Columbiana Chronicle. Several days ago Mr. Enoch Seale, who is an old gentleman living in town, felt a strange sensation in his side, and on examination found a needle and thread working out. He must have swallowed them in childhood, as he has no recollection of having done so since. The strange part is that it was so long in working out, and that he has never felt any pain from it before." On July 13, 1892 in The Chronicle, "Vincent, Mr. Enoch Seale, father of Mr. Mack Seale, died near here on Sunday, in his 81st year. His remains were carried to Columbiana for interment." There are eight possible known children of Enoch and Biddy Seale. (1) Unknown Female Seale, born 1826-1830 in Tennessee. Her daughter, Mary Willson/Wilkon, born about 1855 in Alabama, was indicated as living with Enoch and Biddy Seale in the June 14, 1880 Shelby County Alabama census records. Also, the 1830 Warren County Tennessee census indicates an Enoch Sell, born 1801-1810, and his wife, born 1801-1810, with two females under 5 years of age. Should this be the same Enoch Seale, the other female as indicated in the 1830 census must have died before the 1840 Shelby County Alabama census. (2) William Mack Seale, born March 7, 1833 in Alabama, died November 24, 1899 in Shelby County Alabama. On November 1, 1857 in Shelby County Alabama he married Jane Martin, born February 15, 1828 in Alabama, died March 12, 1889 in Shelby County Alabama. Her parents were William and Edna Martin. William Mack and Jane Seale had three children, George Enoch Seale, William Thomas Seale, and Charles Wesley Seale, a Methodist Minister. The second marriage for William Mack Seale was in Shelby County Alabama on November 10, 1889 to Sarah L. Holmes, born January 3, 1848 in Alabama, died April 28, 1899 in Shelby County Alabama. Her parents were William S. Holmes and Louisa Reinehardt. William Mack Seale, "Private, Company I, 18th Regiment Alabama Infantry, C.S.A." and his two wives are buried in Macedonia Cemetery, near Vincent in Shelby County Alabama. (3) Unknown Male Seale, born 1831-1835 in Shelby County Alabama. (4) Unknown Female Seale, born 1836-1840 in Shelby County Alabama. (5) Mary E. Seale, born December 8, 1838 in Alabama, died June 22, 1861 in Shelby County Alabama and is buried in Columbiana City Cemetery next to her mother. She married in Shelby County Alabama on February 23, 1860 to Fielder Holley, born February 14, 1835 in Georgia. He was a brother to Sarah Jane Holley, 1828-1913. Sarah J. Holley first married in Shelby County Alabama on September 22, 1859 to Michael R. Reinehardt, died April 5, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi, at the age of 22 years, a Confederate soldier. Their son, Jefferson Calloway Reinehardt, 1861-1929, married in Shelby County Alabama on May 24, 1885 to Madora Olivia Seale, 1867-1944, daughter of Stephen Harmon Seale, 1829-1908, and Elizabeth Bridges, 1837-1871. Stephen H. Seale was a son of Abraham and Clarissy Seale. The second marriage for Sarah J. Reinehardt, later divorced, was to Henry Martin Seale, son of Green Berry Seale and Sarah McCants. (6) Ellen W. Seale, born April 28, 1843 in Shelby County Alabama, died March 1, 1927 in Jefferson County Alabama. As indicated on November 11, 1860 in Shelby County Alabama Ella Seal married Thomas T. Gardner, born June 29, 1837, son of Daniel Gardner. Thomas T. Gardner enlisted in Columbiana, Alabama on March 1, 1862, Co. "C", 25th Alabama Infantry, C.S.A., and died at Rock Island, Illinois on April 10, 1865. He is buried in Rock Island, Illinois in grave #1938. Her second marriage in Shelby County Alabama on October 28, 1866 was to Walter G. Baker, 1839-1920. They are buried in Columbiana City Cemetery in Shelby County Alabama. As noted in her obituary, Shelby County Reporter, March 3, 1927, "Mrs. Ellen Baker, mother of postmaster J.F. Baker, of Columbiana, died of pneumonia at the home of her son, J.E. Baker, in Birmingham, Tuesday night, at the age of 81 years. She had been in failing health for some time but was seriously ill for only a few days. Mrs. Baker had lived in Shelby county all her life until the death of her husband, W.G. Baker, in 1920, when she went to make her home in Birmingham. She was the daughter of Enoch Seale who was a prominent citizen of Columbiana and who served the county as tax collector, and is the last of a large family...." Their children were *Biddie R. Baker, 1869-1909, married William Henry Farr *Joseph Enoch Baker *James Franklin Baker. (7) Thomas L. Seale, born November 6, 1844 in Alabama, died November 20, 1903 in Shelby County Alabama. He is buried near his mother, Biddy Seale, in the Columbiana Cemetery in Shelby County Alabama. As indicated in the obituary, The Peoples Advocate, December 3, 1903, "... Mr. Seale was a well known citizen of Shelby county, having been reared from early childhood in this county, and was at one time Deputy Sheriff of the county, and for many years resided in Columbiana. At the time of his death he was 59 years old. He leaves a wife and two sons ...." On September 17, 1868 in Shelby County Alabama he married Paralee Pope Nelson, 1849-1927. Pope Seale died September 1, 1927 in Jefferson County Alabama. Her parents were Hardy S. Nelson and Sarah A. Elliott. Pope, and their youngest child, James E. Seale, 1880-1942, are buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham, Jefferson County Alabama. Their other child, William Jefferson Seale, 1869-1951, is buried in Childersburg City Cemetery, Talladega County Alabama. (8) Jane "Jennie" Seale, born about 1847 in Alabama, died August 5, 1890 in Shelby County Alabama. The obituary, Shelby County Chronicle, Columbiana, Alabama, dated August 6, 1890, "Died. At Kelley's Creek, this county, on Tuesday, Aug. 5th, Mrs. Jennie Duran, formerly of this place, aged about 34 years. Her remains will be interred in the cemetery in this place this afternoon." Janie Seale married Willis F. Duran on August 17, 1869 in Shelby County Alabama. In 1874 The Shelby County Guide indicated W.F. Duran was elected as councilman for the town of Columbiana. The obituary of Willis Franklin Duran indicates that he was born February 7, 1848 in Tallapoosa County Alabama and died in Shelby County Alabama on March 27, 1881. His parents were George and Millie Duran. At the time of his death, he and Jane Duran had eight children born, seven children that were still living, "one of whom is greatly afflicted". Their son, Joe Duran, died January 3, 1879 in Shelby County Alabama. The obituary, The Shelby Sentinel, Columbiana, Alabama, dated Thursday, January 9, 1879, "A sad accident occurred at the residence of Mr. W.F. Duran, near Ft. Williams Ferry, on the Coosa river, on Thursday last, the 3d inst., by which a little son of Mr. Duran's, aged about three years, lost his life. Mr. Duran and one of his hands were engaged in building a poultry house and were handling a heavy piece of timber, carrying it from one place to another. Just as they threw it down, little Joe who was playing about the yard and unperceived, walked up behind them and immediately in the way of the descending piece of time, which struck him on the head and caused his death a few moments afterwards. We sympathize with the grief stricken parents who have thus been deprived of one of their dear little ones." Their son, Willis Franklin Duran, Jr. married Mary Jane Martin in Shelby County Alabama on December 23, 1894. They had two children, *Hubbard Chandler Duran and *Kyle Hobson Duran. After the death of Willis F. Duran, Jr. his wife, Mary Jane, married Luther Calvin Clifton. The 1910 Shelby County Alabama census indicates that Chandler Duran and Kyle Duran name was spelled "Durant". Hubbard Chandler Durant died in Jefferson County Alabama on August 23, 1957 and Kyle Hobson Durant died on February 14, 1974 in Jefferson County Alabama. The remaining children of Willis F. and Jennie Duran were *Beulah Duran, *Thomas W. Duran, *Ella Duran, *Robert Duran, *Richard Hubbard Duran, a.k.a. Richard Hubbard Durant, 1877-1935, *Enoch E. Duran. If anyone can supply further information on this family please contact Bobby Joe Seales.