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Who Shot J.R.?

Waldrop, that is Not Ewing. J.R. was My great grandpapa. He was a jack of all trades so to speak. He had about as many wives as he had professions.

This is a picture of J R taken at the Alabama State Capitol, in Montgomery. J. R. was State Rep. of Washington County, Alabama 1968-1870. He was also a registered Justice of the Peace, Minister, Physician, Retail Merchant and member of the KKK. J. R. was ambushed shot and murdered August 13, 1870. His death was ruled as a radical murder.

LETTER COPIED BY SANDRA LEE WALDROP DOOLITTLE, NOVEMBER 9, 2003, FROM JUDGE OF PROBATE J. W. GORDY TO GOV.W. H. SMITH , MONTGOMERY , ALABAMA CAPITAL MARCH 10, 1869. (COPIED FROM A COPY TAKEN FROM THE FILES OF GOV. W. H. SMITH.

PROBATE JUDGE OFFICE

ST STEPHEN

WASHINGTON COUNTY

His Excellency

W. H. Smith

Governor Montgomery, Alabama

March 10, 1869

Sir,

In obediance to your Private Secretary's letter of the with persons to fill the board of Commissising(spelling in copY of letter??) for Washington County.

District No. 1 John D. Stokes

District No. 2 Jackson W. Faith

District No. 3 Thomas R. Long

District No. 4 Joseph R. Waldrop***

I am opinion the above named gentleman will serve and make a good Board.

Your Obt. Servant

J. H. Gordy

Judge Probate

Copy of a copied letter from Joseph Ryan Waldrop written in 1856, on the eve he was getting ready to leave Martagorda, Texas and also leave Victoria K. Thomas and the baby she was going to have in a couple of months. Son Joseph Mark Henry Waldrop.

MCDONALD WALDROP

HENRY LOW WALDROP

NANCY CAROLINE WALDROP( MRS. SEABURN HIGGINBOTHAM)

CARE OF I. H. JACKSON

EXCT OF G. B. WALDROP DIS(??)

(G. B. STANDS FOR GREEN BERRY WALDROP , JRW'S PAPA)

FILED THIS 4TH DAY OF 1854

GEORGE ??? Martagorda, Texas

Oct 1, 1856.

Mr James Jackson will please remit to me in person of Postmaster and let him Register the same in the office the sume of two hundred and sixty dollars being amount due to me , and this shal nne a receipt in full for the five hundred dollars rec of my fathers, est. please remit the same in South Carolina as Lousiana Bills if convienent and do so by first mail if possiboe as I am on the eav of starting a journey to _____(?).

Joseph Waldrop

Give my respects to all friends I am in possession of Henry's lett and satified with the amount.

J. Waldrop *******************************************************************************************************

Found in Columbus Ledger Enquirer.

Joseph Ryan Waldrop 1826-1870

Information received from the Mobile Register Newspaper Mobile, Alabama, Mobile County. August 16, 1870 October 1, 2002. Copied October 2, 2002 Copied by Sandra Lee Waldrop Doolittle

Cobalt Blue Book 1832-1932 Columbus, Georgia Deaths Deaths Listed in Columbus, Georgia, Muscogee County Bradley Library, Archive Room Bradley Library Bradley Drive off Wynnton Road, Columbus, Georgia , Muscogee County.

October 4, 2002 (Copied by Sandra Waldrop Doolittle) Shared with Juanita Waldrop Hirsch, Tamworth, Stafford- shire , England-October 2, 2002.)

Murder in Washington County, Ala.

...The Mobile Register of the 16th inst., says Dr. Jere Saunders, of Washington County, has call on us this morning and placed in our hands the following state- memt concerning another atrocity of which a gentleman and a Democrat is the victim. Dr. Waldrop represented Washington County at the last session of the Legislature. The circumstances indicate with sufficient plainness the present deed as another Radical murder:

Escatawpa, Washington,Co. Ala.

August 16, 1870

Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus, Georgia

Bradley Library Page Two

A most foul murder was perpetrated on the person of Hon. J. R. Waldrop, of this County, on the evening of the 13th inst. near this place, and there no Officer near us to summons a jury of inquest. we have constituted ourselves committee of investigation and report the facts. of the case as need as possible.

On the evening the above stated, about half past 6 o'clock, as he was going home from his place of bussiness, Dr. Waldrop was ambushed and shot about one-third of a mile from his place. Thirteen large buckshots entered his breast ranging diagonally across from left to right. The party or parites who perpetrated the deed were not more than 12 yards distant.

We have exerated ourselves to the ut most of our ability, but can get no clue whatever as to committed the foul deed.

Committee....E. F. Kendall, chairman J. J. Laird, A. O. Donald, J. Davis, Geo. Pettus, P. Grimes, Jere Saunders, W. D. Wainwright, W. O. Norris, C. A. Buroh, J. Byrd, P. Lee, J. Rogers

J. A. Thomas, Clerk of Com.

COBALT BLUE BOOK 1832-1932 DEATHS IN COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, MUSCOGEE COUNTY. BRADLEY LIBRARY, BRADLEY DRIVE OFF WYNNTON ROAD.

COPIED : OCTOBER 2, 2002 BY SANDRA WALDROP DOOLITTLE.

WALDROP, HON. J.R. A STATE REPRENTATIVE, AMBUSHED AND KILLED; (13, AUG. 1870) WASHINGTON COUNTY, CO., ALA.

P> TAKEN FROM "THE HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY." BOOK. (ALABAMA) WRITTEN BY JACQUELINE ANDERSON MATTE.

Sandra Waldrop Doolittle and Juanita Waldrop Stone Hirsch's gr grandpapa.

The day my great grandpapa allegedly assaulted McCartney. the Judge of Probate in Washington County, Alabama, while still wearing his white sheet and hood.

Macartney was given thirty days to make bond and was to appear again on December 30, 1868 before Judge Elliot. He failed to appear and the office of Judge of Probate was declared vacant.

Macarthney wrote again to Secretary of State, C, A, Miller, on January 16,1869 explaning.

I wish to inform you-- returning from Mobile last Sunday 10th Inst. I was waylaid by a party of Ku klux Rebels, at Escatawpa,who followed me about a mile from the depot and one of them named Waldrop, assaulted me and drew his pistol, and put it to my breast and swore he would shoot me, and would have done so had it not been Mr. Moss prevented him, he then twisted my walking stick out of my hand and broke it over my head, and cut me badly and disfigured my face, so as I have not been able to do any thing.

J. W, Gordy was appointed Judge of Probate with the support of John Elliott and a petition with 38 signatures of whites and 31 signatures of freedmens.

C.C. Page had been elected representative to the Genersl Assembly in 1868, but did not get to serve in the capacity. Hon. C.C. Page was murdered and robbed on the road hom on December 23, 1869

Two reports were sumitted telling of Page's death and his replacement Joseph R. Waldrop, Reoresentiveto the State Legislature who received 379 votes having not opposition. R, L Bowling, Sheriff, signed one and J. W, Gordy, Judge of Probate and Clerk of the Circuit Court and Bowling signed the other. Local citizens were again in control of government in Washington County.

Notes: 273 Returns of votes, Washington County. This must have been the same Waldrop who allegedly assaulted McCartney.

UPDATE: Hon Joseph R. Waldrop was ambushed shot and killed August 13, 1870 In Escatawpa , Alabama, Washington County.. It was ruled a radical murder and never solved.

VICTORIA K. THOMAS DIVORCED JOSEPH RYAN WALDROP

Divorced: 1860 in Matagorda Co., TX,,, Note: Clayton Library in Houston. The book is called Matagorda Gazette 1858-1860, by Brown.

Victoria K. Waldrop vs Joseph Waldrop In District Court, Matagorda County, Texas Suit No. 1116, for Divorce.

She alleges in her petition, among , other charges, that she and the said Joseph entered into the bonds of matrimoney...on the 8th day of August, 1855 in the County of Calhoun, State of Texas; ...were residing in Grand Lake, Arkansas, to which place she had been carried by said husband, and that he then and there abandoned her and her infant child among strangers; .....has never returned to her or written or sent word to her....obliged to depend on charity for the means to return to her kindred in Texas... She also alledges that said Joseph is a traveling imposter, and that previous to his marriage with petitioner, he has been married to other women, and that one of his wives was then living, to-wit: Sarah Alexander, of Crittenden county, Arkansas, and that said marriage has not been dissolved, which facts were not known to petitioner until after her marriage." Then it goes on to say that Joseph is not a resident of the State of Texas and that there should be a posting in the newspaper for four consecutive weeks calling him to make an appearance in District Court in April. It is signed by D. E. E. Braman, Clerk, D.C.M.C. and issued 3 Jan 1860. Then, it shows received by Sheriff Jos. Theall and ordered published the same day.

JOSEPH RYAN WALDROP'S LINE

My Family Heritage Dr. Joseph Ryan Waldrop born in Georgia/Mississippi, in 1826. was living with his parents Rev, Green Berry and Elizabeth Ward Waldrop in Haris County , Georgia.

It's looking more and more like Joseph Ryan Waldrop might have been born in Georgia. His papa Rev. Green Berry Waldrop was in Harris and Muscogee from 1827-1840 and before that he was in Gwennette County from 1822 -1927. In the early 1820 Joseph's papa was living in Green County, Alabama

WHERE DID THE NAME JOSEPH RYAN COME FROM?

Rev. Green Berry Waldrop was born in Lauren District, South Caroina, April 29, 1794, made his public profession of religion in 1821, and was Baptized by Rev.Joseph Ryan into the fellowship of the Church called "Five Miles", Green County , Alabama.

Rev Waldrop and Rev. Ryan ministered together in Green County, Alabama, before Rev. Waldrop went back to Georgia, around 1825.

Could be, Green Berry and his wife Elizabeth Ward Waldrop named their son Joseph Ryan Waldrop after their close friend , Rev Joseph Ryan.

Hello Sandra

I have tried to discern the info you posted on your site about your ggf. I am only more baffled by your use of the term scalawag. Let me try to explain from my perspective. I do have much Mississippi kin and we seem to have some common lines together.

Scalawag is the term for a Southern traitor. I just do not understand how a Southerner can wear it as a badge of honour. Let me qualify myself with a bit of history. During the War in Eastern central Mississippi union General Sherman burned homes, churches and businesses. He stole all livestock, food, crops and anything of value. He raped women both slave and free. He poisoned the crop lands and poisoned the wells. Side bar: (One of our Doolittle ancestors, Elizabeth Doolittle in Newton, Mississippi made her home into a hospital where she cared for wounded Confederate soldiers. As the died with no place to be buried she had 100 of them buried in the Doolittle family cemetery in Newton, Newton County, Mississippi. )

Now it is 1865 the war should be over but reconstruction was instituted. Soldiers coming home from war had no guns, no food, torn families, no money, no clothes only to find what homes and lands were left was confiscated by carpetbaggers and scalawags. Southerners were not allowed to vote or run for office. Ex-slaves were appointed to elected government offices and law enforcement positions. They were given guns and ordered to shoot anyone still in a Confederate uniform and to shoot any Southern white person seen out after 10 o'clock at night. Thus the kkk was born. The kkk was the only way Southern white males could stay alive and provide for their families. They went after carpet baggers. They went after scalawags. They went after those exslaves who side with the traitors and northerners. In some places the fighting was so bad is was as if the War had not ended. Sidebar:(Kemper County Mississippi was so bad the called it bloody Kemper). Another thing these past Confederates did was to seize control of the Democrat party and chase out the socialistic Republicans. The tactics these past Confederates used to have the Democrat party as the only party were revolting. These tactics were so ingrained in the Democrat party they still exist today despite the party platform change to communism. As for being divorce four times If you lived in hell for years it would be difficult for you to have a lasting meaningful relationship. What is wrong with dueling? It not like he was going to get satisfaction through a corrupt judge. The carpetbagger/scalawag judge got what he deserved. Your ggf Joseph Ryan Waldrop was an honourable man you should treat him as such.

Harold

Unreconstructed in Georgia

HERE IS MY ANSWER TO HAROLD .

Hi Harold,

As hard as it may sound, I use my handle with loving affection, not the meaning of it but the loving meaning behind it,

My ancestors were all Southern being from Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.

In my grandparents and great grandparent's days, the worst thing you could call anyone was a *Scalawag*.

Here how the storie goes.

Every year since I was a small child until I was twenty, my parents would take me to Alabama and Mississippi to vist on a two week vacation wiht my dad's relatives. Each trip the first two weeks in June we would first swing over to Pensacola, Flordia to visit my gr aunt Fannie Masters, Barrett Sweeting.

Aunt Fannie must have been in her late seventies or early eighties. She was hard of hearing and she didn't want to miss anything my parents were talking about. My parents would always take a girl friend of mine along, my sisters were older than I and were married when I was about twelve years old. Mama and daddy would take one of my friends to keep me from talking and asking so many questions, like " Are we there yet?" and "When are we going to stop and eat?"

Back to story. We used to sit on the front porch and while Aunt Fannie was doing all she could to hear, we were sitting on the steps, giggling and talking, not thinking we were bothering Aunt Fannie. When we had gotten on her nerves, she would yell down at us, "Hush up, you little Scalawags" I don't think she meant it in a nice way. Then it was, everything we did , Aunt Fannie would call us those little Scalawags. It got to the point when she talked to my parents on the telephone she would how is that Little Scalawag. I still don't think she meant it with affection. Hence, I became the little"Scalawag".

When I first started researching my State Rep. Joseph Ryan Waldrop , I was so proud and dont't get me wrong, I love , adore and proud of him. But, when I found out he was a State Rep. of Washington County, Alabama, Minister , Physician and Justice of the Peace. He also owned a retail store . It was in front of his store that he was ambushed and killed. I just knew then we came from Class and Breeding. Then the stories go on he was married to Nancy Heard, Sarah Catherine Alexander, Victoria K. Thomas and Sarah A. Baxter , who was my gr grandmother, they married in 1867 in Washington County, Alabama. Two of his wives he wasn't divorced from. He had at least two children by all wives except Sarah Cathrien Alexander from Arkansas.

But he wasn't a bad man, he was in trouble when he was very young and had to keep moving. It was when Victoria divorced him when she found out he was still married to Sara Catherine Alexander.

I have his life story under Who shot J. R. (Our J. R.) I have letters from him and letters to him, some were copied from the Montgomery Archives in Montgomery, Alabama. He was welled loved and respected in Washington County. He was six foot and six inches. He was loved by the women and the men wanted to be just like him. Stories goes you either loved him or hated him. The only way a man could get up the nerve to kill him was to ambushed him , and they did. After the Civil War he fought for Washington County to clean out the Carpetbaggers and the Scalawags, he fought against the colored taking over and robbing and stealing. He fought Judges or anyone who got in his way to help keep the his part of the South from being taken over.

JRW went down to his knees, but it took a coward to take him down killing him in a ambushed. I love my gr grandpapa very much thru researching ,I have grown to know and love him.

So when I call him a scalawag, I use it with affection, My handle has special meaning for me. I still have tons of information to share about my gr grandpapa. He was was quite a fighter for what he believe, evern to the point while wearing his KKK sheet he beat up the Judge of Probate of Washington County, Alabama.

I loved your letter, would you mind if I use it on my Web page. Your remarks were very gracious towards my gr grandpapa. I would love to share the message you sent me today. Thanks Harold. During the county's early years trained medical doctors were few. The practice of medicine was done by lay people who used home remedies. As the county become more populated physicians began to settle in the area. They were among the few educated men of their time and were most often the leaders of a community. Two of these Medical Doctors were our own. 1885 thru 1904, Dr, John Henry Cooper, son of , Nancy Baxter and William J. Cooper. Nancy Baxter Cooper was the sister of our great grandmother Sarah Baxter Waldrop. Dr, Cooper was the fist cousin of our grandpapa James Harry ("Capt. Harry") Waldrop. also, Dr. Joseph Ryan Waldrop until he was ambushed and killed August 13, 1870. He is our gr grandpapa married to Sarah Baxter Waldrop and papa of our grandpapa James Harry Waldrop and Joseph Ryan Waldrop, Jr. Dr. Waldrop was killed in the fall of 1870 and Joseph Ryan Waldrop, Jr. wasn't born until the spring of 1871. James Harry must have been between a year or year and half when the baby was born. James Harry was born in 1869. Loper , Alabama.

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Email: scalawag1867@aol.com