RICHARD MINYARD was born about 1807 in Georgia. He married
REBECCA CHANDLER, daughter of JAMES & REBECCA (???) CHANDLER
on October 24, 1827 in Franklin County, Georgia. REBECCA was
born about 1809 in Franklin County, Georgia. This couple had
three children:
RICHARD left Franklin County, Georgia shortly after he was
married and they are found living in nearby Troup County in
1830.
It is uncertain exactly when they left Troup County, but, it
is believed RICHARD may have won some land in the 1832 Gold
Lottery and may have left at this time for Cherokee County to
occupy the land. He is not found in census records again
until 1850 when he shows up in Talledega County, Alabama.
No date of death or place of burial has been determined
for RICHARD or REBECCA (CHANDLER) MINYARD.
- James Minyard bn:bet 1828-30 dd:
- Mary Rebecca Minyard bn:bet 1828-30 dd:
- William Mordica Minyard bn:11-12-1834 dd:07-30-1906
William Mordica
&
Julia Josephine (Mitchell) Minyard
~ Generation Two ~
WILLIAM MORDICA MINYARD was born November 12,1834 in
Georgia. He enlisted on November 25, 1861 as a private into
Company D, 1st Alabama Cavalry under CAPT. JOHN G. STOKES.
During his civil war service, he participated in the Battle
of Shiloh, Chickamauga and Murfreesboro and traveled from
Dalton, Georgia to Atlanta. The nature of his duty was forage
master.
His Company D was placed in Company C, 1st Alabama Cavalry
under COL. JAMES CLANTON of Montgomery, Alabama, Wheelers
Division.
In 1863, he was recommended for Judge Advocate for GENERAL
HARDEE. WILLIAM MORDICA MINYARD was paroled as a prisoner of
war on June 14, 1865 at Talladega, Alabama and was mustered
out of service on November 25, 1865. He was Lt. Col. of the
1st Alabama Cavalry at the time he left service.
He married first to JULIA JOSEPHINE MITCHELL, daughter of
WILLIAM MANDON ALEXANDER and JULIA ANN (SHACKELFORD)MITCHELL
on November 12, 1865 in Dadeville, Tallapossa County, Alabama.
JULIA was born 1844 in Alabama.
About 1868, the family moved to Brenham, Texas and is
believed to have stayed there for 3 or 4 years. They moved
to Belton, Texas about 1873 and WILLIAM MORDICA MINYARD
became the Mayor of the town at that time. In 1878, he
became the Judge of Bell County, Texas and held that office
from 1878 until 1884.
JULIA JOSEPHINE (MITCHELL) MINYARD died in 1880 during
the birth of the couples fourth child in Belton, Bell
County, Texas. This child died at 4 months of age.
This couple had the following children:
- Maude Minyard bn:12-18-1870 dd:09/00/1946(47)
- William Alexander Minyard bn:10-08-1872 dd:07-17-1935
- Ida Merl Minyard bn:02-18-1876 dd:08-03-1925
- ??? ??? Minyard bn:00-00-1880 dd:00-00-1880
After the death of his first wife, WILLIAM married a
second time to ADDIE DOWNS in Weberville, Travis County,
Texas in 1881. The family moved to Dallas, Texas on
July 9, 1886 where he worked in the real estate business for
one year. He had received a law degree from the University of
Alabama at Tuscaloosa and practiced law from 1888 to 1904.
WILLIAM MORDICA MINYARD died July 30, 1906 in Dallas,
Dallas County, Texas of Bright's Disease.
WILLIAM MORDICA and ADDIE (DOWNS) MINYARD had two children:
- Finis D. Minyard bn:03-07-1882 dd:
- Sidney O. Minyard bn:06-16-1885 dd:
