The death date on his headstone is incorrect. The correct day is the 18th per; 1-the Lincoln Co. death report. 2-his dated suicide note. 3-The Alabama Courier, Vol 32. #35, June 26, 1912, article on his death "Last Tuesday morning about ten o'clock ." The 18th was a Tuesday. The 12th was a Wednesday.
BROTHER of John Arthur & George Elzie. 1/2 BROTHER of Alvie Clifford, Daisey Carlena ("Carie", m. Neal Smith), Eula Pearl (Whitt), Elbert Thomas, Buford, Katie Mae (Thornton, Pendergraft), Ila Lucille (Ferguson), Delma (Mealer).
"Hugh" Hopwood and Emma "Lee" McGuire are the (unmarried) parents of Jessie Huston, born McGuire (later used his step-father's last name, Shannon, but was not adopted by him).
Hugh was also believed to be the father of a baby by Myrtle Davis, who was also born after Hugh's death. Oral family history is that this infant was either stillborn or died very soon after birth.
Hugh is sometimes shown as the husband of Myrtle Davis. However, it was not a legal marriage. Although a ceremony was performed 22 March 1912 in Limestone Co., AL, Hugh was a kidnap victim and underage (ie-not legally able to marry without his parents consent). Both Hugh and the person performing the ceremony were being forced at gunpoint. Hugh and Myrtle never lived together. He was held one night (March 22-23) at Myrtle's under threat of death, before he was able to get away. Kidnapping, fraud and other charges were filed against her family (and others) and that matter was pending in the courts at the time Hugh took his own life.
*****
The Alabama Courier Vol 32 # 35, April 3, 1912 -- FORCED TO MARRY Hugh Hopwood Forced at the Point of Shot guns to Wed a Daughter Jas. Davis.
WARRANTS SWORN OUT.
In the last issue of the Courier we made a short notice some trouble at a school house in the northeast part of the county in which a young man named Hopwood was taken from the school house and forced to marry a daughter of Jim Davis, a citizen of that section.
Following close on the heels of this episode, things became extremely interesting in that community. Men were aroused and people grew excited Sheriff Colbert sent his chief deputy, Orange Strane there to serve warrants which had been sworn out for Davis, his son and three sons-in-law, charging them with kidnapping and forcing a man to wed, perjury and other charges. When Strange reached that part of the county he says he found public sentiment terribly aroused people up in arms and things looked bad for the parties charged with having taken the young man by force and made him marry. It is further charged that some of the local justices of the peace were either intimidated or what was worse refused to issue warrants for the guilty parties, and it was made necessary for the young man and his friends to come to Athens for official papers.
Hopwood claims he is innocent of any charge brought. He says that while at the school house enjoying the entertainment one of the accused came to him and asked him to go outside and take a drink. This he declined to do, and then he was told that a man outside wished to see him. He went and as he stepped out of the door he was covered with guns a hand clapped over his mouth and dire threats were made as to what would follow if he made any sort of outcry. He was told to march and he obeyed. He was taken to the home of Davis where he and the guards and a daughter of Davis, who is said to have been betrayed, were put in a wagon and all went to the home of Squire George Johnson, Sr. where under protest, is said to have been forced to wed the girl. Squire Johnson officiating and then forced so the boy says, to pay a dollar for the fee, and ordered to pay for the license which had been procured by Davis and son-in-law, a man named Barnett, in Athens Friday the men alleging that Hopwood was twenty-one years of age, making oath to this fact, when it is shown by the record that Davis (sic) will not be eighteen until April 8th. They were then taken to the home of the girls parents and locked in a room for the remainder of the night. Hopwood was allowed to go to the home of Mr. Whitt, where he resided next morning with the assurance hanging over him that if he was not there by nightfall Saturday that he would be killed. He and his friends came to Athens and secured papers looking to the arrest of the men engaged in this affair.
Davis and his son were arrested in Athens, where they came to seek legal advice. The others were sought by the deputy sheriff but not found but the father-in-law, assured the deputy that they would be in Athens Friday for preliminary trial.
The parties all appeared for trial Friday, as follows: Jas R. Davis, J.W. Davis, Albert Barnett, W. A. Roper, Loy Phillips and Frank Hargroves.The defendants asked for a continuance and it was granted by Judge Turrentine until Tuesday. The father of the girl and her brother were arrested and required to give peace bonds of $300 each, which they did.
Strane says he never saw such a determination on the part of the people to take the law into their hands as he found in the neighborhood. They were determined that if Hopwood was not guilty that he should be defended and that the men chargeable with this terrible outrage should be prosecuted. Money was freely offered the young man and assurance that he would be given every protection by the people among whom he was reared.
The grand jury will evidently have a hand in this unfortunate and ugly affair.
BROTHER of John Arthur & George Elzie. 1/2 BROTHER of Alvie Clifford, Daisey Carlena ("Carie", m. Neal Smith), Eula Pearl (Whitt), Elbert Thomas, Buford, Katie Mae (Thornton, Pendergraft), Ila Lucille (Ferguson), Delma (Mealer).
"Hugh" Hopwood and Emma "Lee" McGuire are the (unmarried) parents of Jessie Huston, born McGuire (later used his step-father's last name, Shannon, but was not adopted by him).
Hugh was also believed to be the father of a baby by Myrtle Davis, who was also born after Hugh's death. Oral family history is that this infant was either stillborn or died very soon after birth.
Hugh is sometimes shown as the husband of Myrtle Davis. However, it was not a legal marriage. Although a ceremony was performed 22 March 1912 in Limestone Co., AL, Hugh was a kidnap victim and underage (ie-not legally able to marry without his parents consent). Both Hugh and the person performing the ceremony were being forced at gunpoint. Hugh and Myrtle never lived together. He was held one night (March 22-23) at Myrtle's under threat of death, before he was able to get away. Kidnapping, fraud and other charges were filed against her family (and others) and that matter was pending in the courts at the time Hugh took his own life.
*****
The Alabama Courier Vol 32 # 35, April 3, 1912 -- FORCED TO MARRY Hugh Hopwood Forced at the Point of Shot guns to Wed a Daughter Jas. Davis.
WARRANTS SWORN OUT.
In the last issue of the Courier we made a short notice some trouble at a school house in the northeast part of the county in which a young man named Hopwood was taken from the school house and forced to marry a daughter of Jim Davis, a citizen of that section.
Following close on the heels of this episode, things became extremely interesting in that community. Men were aroused and people grew excited Sheriff Colbert sent his chief deputy, Orange Strane there to serve warrants which had been sworn out for Davis, his son and three sons-in-law, charging them with kidnapping and forcing a man to wed, perjury and other charges. When Strange reached that part of the county he says he found public sentiment terribly aroused people up in arms and things looked bad for the parties charged with having taken the young man by force and made him marry. It is further charged that some of the local justices of the peace were either intimidated or what was worse refused to issue warrants for the guilty parties, and it was made necessary for the young man and his friends to come to Athens for official papers.
Hopwood claims he is innocent of any charge brought. He says that while at the school house enjoying the entertainment one of the accused came to him and asked him to go outside and take a drink. This he declined to do, and then he was told that a man outside wished to see him. He went and as he stepped out of the door he was covered with guns a hand clapped over his mouth and dire threats were made as to what would follow if he made any sort of outcry. He was told to march and he obeyed. He was taken to the home of Davis where he and the guards and a daughter of Davis, who is said to have been betrayed, were put in a wagon and all went to the home of Squire George Johnson, Sr. where under protest, is said to have been forced to wed the girl. Squire Johnson officiating and then forced so the boy says, to pay a dollar for the fee, and ordered to pay for the license which had been procured by Davis and son-in-law, a man named Barnett, in Athens Friday the men alleging that Hopwood was twenty-one years of age, making oath to this fact, when it is shown by the record that Davis (sic) will not be eighteen until April 8th. They were then taken to the home of the girls parents and locked in a room for the remainder of the night. Hopwood was allowed to go to the home of Mr. Whitt, where he resided next morning with the assurance hanging over him that if he was not there by nightfall Saturday that he would be killed. He and his friends came to Athens and secured papers looking to the arrest of the men engaged in this affair.
Davis and his son were arrested in Athens, where they came to seek legal advice. The others were sought by the deputy sheriff but not found but the father-in-law, assured the deputy that they would be in Athens Friday for preliminary trial.
The parties all appeared for trial Friday, as follows: Jas R. Davis, J.W. Davis, Albert Barnett, W. A. Roper, Loy Phillips and Frank Hargroves.The defendants asked for a continuance and it was granted by Judge Turrentine until Tuesday. The father of the girl and her brother were arrested and required to give peace bonds of $300 each, which they did.
Strane says he never saw such a determination on the part of the people to take the law into their hands as he found in the neighborhood. They were determined that if Hopwood was not guilty that he should be defended and that the men chargeable with this terrible outrage should be prosecuted. Money was freely offered the young man and assurance that he would be given every protection by the people among whom he was reared.
The grand jury will evidently have a hand in this unfortunate and ugly affair.
The death date on his headstone is incorrect. The correct day is the 18th per; 1-the Lincoln Co. death report. 2-his dated suicide note. 3-The Alabama Courier, Vol 32. #35, June 26, 1912, article on his death "Last Tuesday morning about ten o'clock ." The 18th was a Tuesday. The 12th was a Wednesday.
BROTHER of John Arthur & George Elzie. 1/2 BROTHER of Alvie Clifford, Daisey Carlena ("Carie", m. Neal Smith), Eula Pearl (Whitt), Elbert Thomas, Buford, Katie Mae (Thornton, Pendergraft), Ila Lucille (Ferguson), Delma (Mealer).
"Hugh" Hopwood and Emma "Lee" McGuire are the (unmarried) parents of Jessie Huston, born McGuire (later used his step-father's last name, Shannon, but was not adopted by him).
Hugh was also believed to be the father of a baby by Myrtle Davis, who was also born after Hugh's death. Oral family history is that this infant was either stillborn or died very soon after birth.
Hugh is sometimes shown as the husband of Myrtle Davis. However, it was not a legal marriage. Although a ceremony was performed 22 March 1912 in Limestone Co., AL, Hugh was a kidnap victim and underage (ie-not legally able to marry without his parents consent). Both Hugh and the person performing the ceremony were being forced at gunpoint. Hugh and Myrtle never lived together. He was held one night (March 22-23) at Myrtle's under threat of death, before he was able to get away. Kidnapping, fraud and other charges were filed against her family (and others) and that matter was pending in the courts at the time Hugh took his own life.
*****
The Alabama Courier Vol 32 # 35, April 3, 1912 -- FORCED TO MARRY Hugh Hopwood Forced at the Point of Shot guns to Wed a Daughter Jas. Davis.
WARRANTS SWORN OUT.
In the last issue of the Courier we made a short notice some trouble at a school house in the northeast part of the county in which a young man named Hopwood was taken from the school house and forced to marry a daughter of Jim Davis, a citizen of that section.
Following close on the heels of this episode, things became extremely interesting in that community. Men were aroused and people grew excited Sheriff Colbert sent his chief deputy, Orange Strane there to serve warrants which had been sworn out for Davis, his son and three sons-in-law, charging them with kidnapping and forcing a man to wed, perjury and other charges. When Strange reached that part of the county he says he found public sentiment terribly aroused people up in arms and things looked bad for the parties charged with having taken the young man by force and made him marry. It is further charged that some of the local justices of the peace were either intimidated or what was worse refused to issue warrants for the guilty parties, and it was made necessary for the young man and his friends to come to Athens for official papers.
Hopwood claims he is innocent of any charge brought. He says that while at the school house enjoying the entertainment one of the accused came to him and asked him to go outside and take a drink. This he declined to do, and then he was told that a man outside wished to see him. He went and as he stepped out of the door he was covered with guns a hand clapped over his mouth and dire threats were made as to what would follow if he made any sort of outcry. He was told to march and he obeyed. He was taken to the home of Davis where he and the guards and a daughter of Davis, who is said to have been betrayed, were put in a wagon and all went to the home of Squire George Johnson, Sr. where under protest, is said to have been forced to wed the girl. Squire Johnson officiating and then forced so the boy says, to pay a dollar for the fee, and ordered to pay for the license which had been procured by Davis and son-in-law, a man named Barnett, in Athens Friday the men alleging that Hopwood was twenty-one years of age, making oath to this fact, when it is shown by the record that Davis (sic) will not be eighteen until April 8th. They were then taken to the home of the girls parents and locked in a room for the remainder of the night. Hopwood was allowed to go to the home of Mr. Whitt, where he resided next morning with the assurance hanging over him that if he was not there by nightfall Saturday that he would be killed. He and his friends came to Athens and secured papers looking to the arrest of the men engaged in this affair.
Davis and his son were arrested in Athens, where they came to seek legal advice. The others were sought by the deputy sheriff but not found but the father-in-law, assured the deputy that they would be in Athens Friday for preliminary trial.
The parties all appeared for trial Friday, as follows: Jas R. Davis, J.W. Davis, Albert Barnett, W. A. Roper, Loy Phillips and Frank Hargroves.The defendants asked for a continuance and it was granted by Judge Turrentine until Tuesday. The father of the girl and her brother were arrested and required to give peace bonds of $300 each, which they did.
Strane says he never saw such a determination on the part of the people to take the law into their hands as he found in the neighborhood. They were determined that if Hopwood was not guilty that he should be defended and that the men chargeable with this terrible outrage should be prosecuted. Money was freely offered the young man and assurance that he would be given every protection by the people among whom he was reared.
The grand jury will evidently have a hand in this unfortunate and ugly affair.
BROTHER of John Arthur & George Elzie. 1/2 BROTHER of Alvie Clifford, Daisey Carlena ("Carie", m. Neal Smith), Eula Pearl (Whitt), Elbert Thomas, Buford, Katie Mae (Thornton, Pendergraft), Ila Lucille (Ferguson), Delma (Mealer).
"Hugh" Hopwood and Emma "Lee" McGuire are the (unmarried) parents of Jessie Huston, born McGuire (later used his step-father's last name, Shannon, but was not adopted by him).
Hugh was also believed to be the father of a baby by Myrtle Davis, who was also born after Hugh's death. Oral family history is that this infant was either stillborn or died very soon after birth.
Hugh is sometimes shown as the husband of Myrtle Davis. However, it was not a legal marriage. Although a ceremony was performed 22 March 1912 in Limestone Co., AL, Hugh was a kidnap victim and underage (ie-not legally able to marry without his parents consent). Both Hugh and the person performing the ceremony were being forced at gunpoint. Hugh and Myrtle never lived together. He was held one night (March 22-23) at Myrtle's under threat of death, before he was able to get away. Kidnapping, fraud and other charges were filed against her family (and others) and that matter was pending in the courts at the time Hugh took his own life.
*****
The Alabama Courier Vol 32 # 35, April 3, 1912 -- FORCED TO MARRY Hugh Hopwood Forced at the Point of Shot guns to Wed a Daughter Jas. Davis.
WARRANTS SWORN OUT.
In the last issue of the Courier we made a short notice some trouble at a school house in the northeast part of the county in which a young man named Hopwood was taken from the school house and forced to marry a daughter of Jim Davis, a citizen of that section.
Following close on the heels of this episode, things became extremely interesting in that community. Men were aroused and people grew excited Sheriff Colbert sent his chief deputy, Orange Strane there to serve warrants which had been sworn out for Davis, his son and three sons-in-law, charging them with kidnapping and forcing a man to wed, perjury and other charges. When Strange reached that part of the county he says he found public sentiment terribly aroused people up in arms and things looked bad for the parties charged with having taken the young man by force and made him marry. It is further charged that some of the local justices of the peace were either intimidated or what was worse refused to issue warrants for the guilty parties, and it was made necessary for the young man and his friends to come to Athens for official papers.
Hopwood claims he is innocent of any charge brought. He says that while at the school house enjoying the entertainment one of the accused came to him and asked him to go outside and take a drink. This he declined to do, and then he was told that a man outside wished to see him. He went and as he stepped out of the door he was covered with guns a hand clapped over his mouth and dire threats were made as to what would follow if he made any sort of outcry. He was told to march and he obeyed. He was taken to the home of Davis where he and the guards and a daughter of Davis, who is said to have been betrayed, were put in a wagon and all went to the home of Squire George Johnson, Sr. where under protest, is said to have been forced to wed the girl. Squire Johnson officiating and then forced so the boy says, to pay a dollar for the fee, and ordered to pay for the license which had been procured by Davis and son-in-law, a man named Barnett, in Athens Friday the men alleging that Hopwood was twenty-one years of age, making oath to this fact, when it is shown by the record that Davis (sic) will not be eighteen until April 8th. They were then taken to the home of the girls parents and locked in a room for the remainder of the night. Hopwood was allowed to go to the home of Mr. Whitt, where he resided next morning with the assurance hanging over him that if he was not there by nightfall Saturday that he would be killed. He and his friends came to Athens and secured papers looking to the arrest of the men engaged in this affair.
Davis and his son were arrested in Athens, where they came to seek legal advice. The others were sought by the deputy sheriff but not found but the father-in-law, assured the deputy that they would be in Athens Friday for preliminary trial.
The parties all appeared for trial Friday, as follows: Jas R. Davis, J.W. Davis, Albert Barnett, W. A. Roper, Loy Phillips and Frank Hargroves.The defendants asked for a continuance and it was granted by Judge Turrentine until Tuesday. The father of the girl and her brother were arrested and required to give peace bonds of $300 each, which they did.
Strane says he never saw such a determination on the part of the people to take the law into their hands as he found in the neighborhood. They were determined that if Hopwood was not guilty that he should be defended and that the men chargeable with this terrible outrage should be prosecuted. Money was freely offered the young man and assurance that he would be given every protection by the people among whom he was reared.
The grand jury will evidently have a hand in this unfortunate and ugly affair.
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