Owens/Bolton Family History
(also Williams, Lecroy, and Grimes)
 

    I want to introduce you to W. T. and Emma Owens, my maternal grandparents. Unfortunately, neither is with us physically today, but they will always be with us in spirit. W. T. (Wiley Thomas - called Tommy) died in 1967 and Emma died in 1984. They are both buried in Forrest Cemetery in Gadsden, Alabama.

Tommy was born October 13, 1897, in Cleburne County, Alabama. His father was Arthur Green Owens, born February 1, 1874, died October 26, 1942; his mother was Sarah Elizabeth Williams born December 31, 1877 in Georgia, died October 10, 1948. The are both buried at Pine Grove Baptist Church cemetery in the Piney Community (outside Centre) of Cherokee County, Alabama.

Although my research is ongoing, I have received the following information from my great aunt, Willie Gray. Working our way back from my grandfather, W. T. Owens, we have:

   W. T. Owens - b. 10/13/1897, d. 11/20/1967

        Arthur Green Owens - b. 2/1/1874, d. 10/26, 1942
            m. 3/29/1893, Sarah Elizabeth Williams, b. 12/31/1877, d. 10/10/1948

            Belson Wiley Owens - b. 3/22/1842 in AL, d. 12/10/1910 in Cherokee Co., AL
                 m. 12/11/1859, Sarah Elizabeth Lecroy, b. 4/14/1843 in AL, d. 1/3/1914 in Cherokee Co., AL

                Arthur R. (Ross?) Owens - b. about 1815 in SC, d. before 1860 in AL
                      m. before 1842, Harriett ? - b. about 1823 in SC, died unknown

                    Alexander Owens - b. about 1790 in NC, d. unknown
                          m. unknown, Deborah ? - b. about 1795 in NC

                        Moseby Owen - b. unknown in NC
 

This is a picture of - from left to right - my great grandfather, Fitzhugh Bolton; my grandmother, Emma Bolton Owens; my mother, Sue Owens Harper; and my great grandmother, Amanda Grimes Bolton. Based on the dates of my great grandparents' deaths, this picture was made prior to 1946.

My grandmother was born Mary Emma Bolton on February 12, 1897 in Cleburne County, Alabama to Fitzhugh Bolton and Amanda S. Grimes. Emma died April 24, 1984 in Gadsden, Alabama. At present, the only information I have on the Boltons and Grimes' is that Fitzhugh was born in 1868 and died in 1946, and Amanda was born in 1869 and died in 1947. I got this information from their tombstone at the Pine Grove Baptist Church cemetery, located in the Piney Community (outside Centre) of Cherokee County, Alabama. So if you have any information that might help me, please contact me at suharper@bellsouth.net.