John Tyler Attaway (1844-1922)

Introduction

I have a lot of family connections to Dale County (Danner, Hartzog, Zorn, Miller); however, one brick wall ancestor I have is John Tyler (J.T.) Attaway and his family. I had hoped that by ordering J.T.'s death certificate, that it would give some insight to his parents; however, his eldest son – Charles W. – didn't remember at the time he gave the information. 

I have exhausted online resources, and below is all the information I have as of this writing. 

Biological Narrative

Possible photograph of John Tyler Attaway.
Found in his son, Thomas J. Attaway's home. 

John Tyler (J.T.) Attaway was born in Madison, Morgan County in Georgia on Nov. 23, 1844. His parents or siblings are unknown. He is my 2nd great-grandfather. 

At the age of 17, he enlisted as a private in Company H, 54th Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry, C.S.A, Army of Tennessee, at Hardeeville, in South Carolina, on May 12, 1862. Members of Company H were recruited from Muscogee County, Georgia, and were known as the "Russell Guards." His leadership included Col. Charlton H. Way and Capt. Charles R. Russell. Capt. Russell surrendered at Greensboro, N.C., on April 6, 1865.

There are some inconsistencies with J.T.'s Confederate military record; however, and it may have something to do with the various spellings of his last name: Attiway, Attoway, and Alloway. Additionally, because some records of the Confederate States Army were lost or destroyed during the war and at its close, the compiled military histories of most units are incomplete. As a result I have not been able to find any actual records of his enlistment with the Russell Guards.  

While J.T. stated in a Confederate pension record that he didn't transfer or belong to another company or command from which he first enlisted; records indicate that a John Attiway, transferred to Company C, the 27th Battalion Georgia Infantry (non-conscript) on Nov. 1, 1863. The last roll on file, dated April 1864, states that he was discharged by writ of habeas corpus in March of 1864. 

In pension records, J.T. stated he was injured during the Battle of Peachtree Creek, Georgia, on July 20, 1864. He stated he was neither captured or imprisoned. Overall, it is possible that his total length of service was from 1862-1865. He stated that his service was over at the surrender of the war in North Carolina, and that he was paroled at the end. 

J.T. Attaway and Mary E. Hays Marriage License

After the war, at the age of 23, he married 18-year old Mary Elizabeth Hays on Dec. 6, 1867 in Cusseta, Chattahoochee County, Georgia, Mary was born on Oct. 7, 1849, in Chattahoochee County, Georgia. Her father was John Hays, and her mother is unknown.

J.T. and Mary had three boys and four girls Their first born son, Charles William Attaway was born on Sept. 23, 1868 in Georgia (9 months after their marriage). According to his obituary, Charlie spent his early life in Barbour County, Alabama, before the family moved to Dale County.

Next, my great-grandfather, Thomas James Attaway, was born on Oct. 20, 1870, in Georgia. Unfortunately, I have not uncovered any documentation of his early life. Then, Henry Grady Attaway was born in Georgia on Jan. 21, 1873. Lena Foy Attaway followed in 1877, and she was also born in Georgia. 

Three years later when Leila Mae Attaway was born on Aug. 27, 1880, the family had moved to Alabama. Ida Elizabeth Attaway was born in February 1887 and then Ora Cornelia Attaway was born on June 22, 1889. J.T. was aged 44 and Mary was aged 39.

There is a 10-year gap between the birth of their last child and application for C.S.A. pension records in Dale County, Alabama. There is a strong possibility that they lived in Barbour County, Alabama, before moving into Dale County. 

On July 1, 1899, during a physical and oral examination board for Confederate pensioners in Ozark, Alabama, the below is documented: 

John Attaway received a slight flesh wound in the middle 1/3 of left leg. Also lost the first toe of same foot. Has hemorrhages and night sweats as evidence of phthisis pulmonalis (i.e., tuberculosis). Has nasal catarrh and sub-acute prostatitis. His general health is not very good. 

At age 55, J.T. applied for a Confederate pension in Dale County, and to be placed in Class 4 on July 18, 1899. In the application, he stated that is now unable to make a living by manual labor due to the wound in his left leg and disease. At this time, their post office address was Charlton (present day Ariton), Alabama, and their annual income did not exceed $400. His business is listed as farming, and that his taxable property consisted of nothing.  

1900 U.S. Federal Census, Skipperville, Dale County, Alabama

The first census record that I could find with J.T., Mary or their children is on the 1900 U.S. Federal Census. On the enumeration date of June 27, 1900, J.T. and Mary are living in Precinct 11 in the small town of Skipperville, which is located in Dale County, Alabama, with daughters Ida and Ora. According the census J.T. and Mary had a total of 8 children, but 7 were only living. Their last name is spelled as Ataway. Their first born son, Charley, is listed as living next door with his wife, Ada, and sons George and Ravon. 

1910 U.S. Federal Census, Barnes Crossroads, Dale County, Alabama

Ten years later, J.T. and Mary, with daughter Ora, are living on Blue Springs Roads within the Barnes Crossroads area in Dale County, Alabama as recorded on April 16 in the 1910 U.S Federal Census. Mary is named "Mollie" here and Ora is "Osa."

On Jan. 9, 1914, John received notice from the Pension Bureau that he was ineligible for a Confederate pension in Alabama because they determined that his military record was vague, uncertain and inaccurate. 

John was able to gather witness and submit an application for reinstatement on the pension roll. He is listed as class 3 on the 1915 Dale County Confederate Class lists (Order No. 826).

1920 U.S. Federal Census, Ozark, Dale County, Alabama

On the 1920 U.S. Federal Census, J.T. and Mary are renting a house on Eufaula Road in Ozark, Alabama. They are living next door to daughter Ida and her husband, James Childree, and seven children.

In 1921, they listed their address as Route 1, Ozark, Alabama, and he is a farmer living with his wife. He is a registered voter of Precinct B1 in Dale County,  His pension roll number is #3058

J.T. Attaway died on July 11, 1922, and is buried in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Arguta, Alabama. Mary is also buried in Pleasant Ridge in an unmarked grave.

A Card of Thanks - J.T. Attaway

Published: Wednesday, Aug. 2, 1922

Southern Star Newspaper, Newton, Alabama

We wish to thank our many friends for their kindness shown to us during the sickness and death of our beloved husband and father which sad event occurred at his home the 12th of July 1922, He had been a sufferer for many years but he bore it all with patience and never made a complaint and we feel that he is now at rest and hope to meet him in a better brighter world. May God's richest blessings rest on each and every one is our prayer.

                               -  Mrs. J.T. Attaway and children

Widow Continues Filing for CSA Pension

Mary continued to receive a CSA pension. In her application filed on Nov. 4, 1922, she gave the following information on their personal property:

• No real estate
• Household furniture: $200.00
• Hogs: $50.00
• Cattle: $75.00
• Watches and Clocks: $200.00

Possible Ancestors

While searching through J.T.'s Dale County, Alabama, Pension Records, I recorded people who knew J.T., and had vouched for him as witnesses in his CSA pension dispute. 

J.W. Coggin and A.H. Coggin Witnesses

Out of the list, I noticed that there were two members that had the same last name: J.W. Coggin and A.H. Coggin, who knew J.T. when he lived in Barbour County, Alabama. I did a search on both of those names, and noticed a possible connection. Allen Henry (A.H.) Coggin and John William (J.W.) were both sons of Mary Hattaway and Henry Coggins. 

Mary Hattaway was also born in Morgan County, Georgia, the same place as J.T. 

Additionally, using DNA to connect with possible Coggin/Coggins relatives, I have matches that link up with a Sterling/Starling Attaway/Hattaway being a possible ancestor, sharing segments with possible distant cousins descended from Mary Hattaway, who may be J.T.'s sister. 

In order to find more, I plan on taking trips to Georgia to dig dipper in the records of both Morgan and Muscogee counties.