701 i.
[infant] WALDROP. 313. Simeon Newton WALDROP
was born on 13 Jun 1860 in Randolph, Chilton Co., AL.. He died on 28 May
1949 in Randolph, Chilton Co., AL.. Six children by Sarah Houldrich. Simeon
had 1 daughter by Susan Hines but her name is not known. Susan diviorced Simeon
because she did not want to have the child. She put the child up for adoption
without Simeons's approval. Simeon never saw the child and Susan wouldn't give
him any information. Birth and Deaths obtained from the Waldrop Family Cemetery
and Bible of Simeon Newton Waldrop. Burial of Simeon and Pedelia are in the Waldrop
Cemetery, Rt. 1, Randolph, Chilton Co., AL.
Article written by Grace Marsh 22 Apr 1998 in AWAKE "Our Fight for the Right
to Preach"
"I was born 1906 in Randolph, AL....a fourth-generation Bible Student, as
Jehovah's Witnesses were then known. My great-grandfather Lewis Waldrop and
my grandfather Sim Waldrop were baptized as Bible Students in the late 1800's.
Sim Waldrop's son Joseph was my father. Joseph made an impression on a girl
named Belle by giving her a booklet that exposed the church teaching of hellfire.
Belle was so delighted ....that she shared it with her father, who was also
intrigued by it. Later Joseph married Belle, and had 6 children. I was the second
oldest. [Compiler's notes: HLW-- This story tells of the discrimination and
imprisonment of Simeon Newton Waldrop for his preaching the doctrines of the
Jehova's Witnesses] In 1920 our family moved to Robertsdale, a small town east
of Mobile, AL. Five years later, I married Herbert Marsh. Herbert and I moved
to Chicago, IL. and our son Joseph harold was born there soon afterward....At
a convention in Columbus, OH. in 1937, I made up my mind to become a pioneer,
as full-time ministers of Jehovah's Witnesses are called. In 1941, I received
an invitation to serve as a special pioneer in Brookhaven, MS. ... in December
of 1941...things changed. Because of our political neutrality, people were suspicious
of us, even accusing us of being German spies.
In February of 1942, Herbert and I were arrested...placed in a filthy, cold cell
for 11 days. Finally, at the trial, the judge dismissed all charges. In 1943,
we were given the assignment closer to home, Whistler and Chickasaw, small towns
near Mobile, AL. I returned to Chickasaw time and again, arrested each time,
but each time released on bond. On 27 Jan 1944, the cases of 6 Witnesses arrested
on 24 Dec 1943 were tried together, and my testimony was considered representative
of the other defendants. Even though the triel revealed open discrimination
against Jehovah's Witnesses, I was found guilty....I was guilty of traspassing....we
turned the tables on our accusers by filing a civil suit against E.B. Peebles
and his allies in the sheriff's department. I had smuggled out a paper signed
by Deputy Chatham, chargins us with trespassing. When this evidence was presented
in court, Sheriff Holcombe jumped to his feet and almost swallowed his cigar!
The trial....ended with a deadlocked jury. In my more than 90 years, I have
learned never to fear what man can do...
Philippians 1:7.
[Compiler's Note: HLW--In 1995, Merlin Owen Newton wrote "Armed with the
Constitution" a book that documents the role of Jehovah's Witnesses in clarifying
the application of the First Ammendment. At that time, Mrs. Newton was associate
professor of history and political science at Huntingdon College in Montgomery,
AL. One of the Supreme Court cases involved Grace Marsh].
Simeon Newton WALDROP and Susan HINES had the following
children:
701 i.
[infant] WALDROP.
He was married to Sarah Jane HOULDRICH on 18 Dec
1879 in Chilton Co., AL.. Sarah Jane HOULDRICH died
before 1889 in Chilton Co., AL.. Simeon Newton WALDROP and Sarah Jane HOULDRICH
had the following children:
702 i.
Enoch Newton WALDROP was born on 15 Dec 1880 in Jemison, Chilton Co.,
AL.. He died in 1883 in Jemison, Chilton Co., AL..
+703 ii.
Joseph Franklin WALDROP was born on 22 Jan 1882 in Jemison, Chilton Co.,
AL.. He died on 14 Oct 1945 in Robersdale, Baldwin Co., AL..
+704 iii.
Bama Drusilla WALDROP was born on 6 Jun 1883 in Jemison, Chilton Co.,
AL.. She died on 13 Nov 1973 in Bessemer, Jefferson Co., AL..
+705 iv.
Maude Elizabeth WALDROP was born on 17 Feb 1884 in Chilton Co., AL..
She died on 21 Feb 1941 in Chilton Co., AL..
706 v.
[infant] WALDROP died in 1887 in Chilton Co., AL.. He was born about
1887 in Chilton Co., AL.. Stillborn.
He was married to Pardelia Ann SMITH
(daughter of Joseph SMITH and Sarah
Elizabeth "Duck" MARTIN) on 16 Aug 1888 in Chilton Co., AL..
Pardelia Ann SMITH was born on 12 Dec 1869 in Randolph, Coosa Co.,
AL. She died on 31 Jan 1908 in Jemison, Chilton Co., AL.. Also found as Perdeler
Ann Smith on some group sheets. Simeon Newton WALDROP and Pardelia Ann SMITH
had the following children:
707 i.
James Noah WALDROP was born in 1889 in Chilton Co., AL.. He died in 1890
in Chilton Co., AL..
+708 ii.
Roberta WALDROP was born on 30 Oct 1890 in Chilton Co., AL.. She died
on 21 Jul 1977 in Jefferson Co., AL..
+709 iii.
Beadie Ann WALDROP was born on 24 Jan 1892 in Jemison, Chilton Co.,
AL.. She died on 24 Dec 1958 in Randolph, Chilton Co., AL..
+710 iv.
Rollie Wesley WALDROP was born on 2 Dec 1895 in Chilton Co., AL.. He
died on 8 Jan 1972 in Chilton Co., AL..
+711 v.
Benjamin Leroy "Roy" WALDROP was born on 1 Mar 1898 in Jemison,
Chilton Co., AL.. He died on 23 Apr 1987 in Alabaster, Shelby Co., AL.. Benjamin
died at Shelby Memorial Hospital. Source: Benjamin Leroy Waldrop's family bible
records. Union Springs Baptist Church Cemetery records, Chilton County, Alabama.
Personal interview by U.V. Waldrop. Buried at Union Church Springs Cemetery,
Randolph, Chilton Co., AL.
Information from U.V. Waldrop 1998:
Benjamin LeRoy (Roy) Waldrop was the son of Simeon Newton Waldrop and Pedelia
Ann Smith. She was his second wife. He was their fifth child. He was known
as Roy by his family and as Ross by his friends. He didn’t remember who
gave him the name Roy.
He worked on his father’s farm when he was growing up. He worked as a farm
hand in 1918, for Tobe Posey, and then he worked for his Uncle John Waldrop on
the farm, in his gristmill and his blacksmith shop in 1919. He worked as a farm
hand in 1920, for GATT Smith. He is listed in the 1920 census records with this
family. He went to work for Lon Brown’s saw mill in 1921. He went to work
with the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Co. in 1922. He bought him a horse
and buggy when he was working as a farm Hand. He bought him a model "T"
Ford when he went to work for the railroad.
He had a cousin Ike Waldrop that he visited lots with his two brother’s
Rollie and Perry Waldrop. They met a girl Emmie Angeline Smith who lived next
door to their cousin Ike. She was the daughter of Lawrence Jason Smith and Frances
(Fanny) Euginia Crumpton. Roy Waldrop began dating her when she was 13 and he
was 18. They were riding in his buggy on Sunday afternoon and Roy decided to
make the horse run in the ditch making Emmie fall over on him. He kissed her
and she got very mad. She jumped out of the buggy and told him to go home.
He refused. She followed behind him in the buggy. He told her he was taking
her home. When they got near Ike Waldrop’s home they saw a bunch of their
friends there. He asked her to get in the buggy so that they wouldn’t be
laughing at them. She got in the buggy and let him take her home.
Emmie was mad at him for several days. Roy’s brother Perry Waldrop asked
her for a date. She went out with him for a few weeks then went back to dating
Roy. This switch went on for several months. Perry was killed in a hunting
accident in 1922. This drew Emmie and Roy closer together. Roy asked Emmie
to marry him in 1923. They set their wedding date for the fall of 1923. Emmie’s
mother became sick and the wedding was put off until the spring of 1924. Emmie’s
brother Milford Smith became very sick and she put the wedding off for three
months. Roy was hoping there wouldn’t be any more delays. They decided
to get married August 16, 1924.
They went to Centerville, Alabama on Friday August 14, 1924, to get their marriage
license and their wedding clothes. They went by to see two of Emmie’s cousins
Monroe Crumpton and Myrtle Dawson to tell them the wedding would be Sunday at
her home. The four decided to go to Pink Gentry’s store to get something
to drink. Emmie told Roy she wanted to sit in the car as her feet were hurting.
She asked him to get her a coke. Roy went in and talked to Mr. Gentry about
the wedding plans they had made for Sunday. He told him he was so afraid there
would be another delay. He asked Mr. Gentry if he would marry them now if he
could talk Emmie into doing it. Mr. Gentry told him to go talk to her. Roy
asked him to go with him. Mr. Gentry walked out and told Emmie that Roy was
ready to get married today if she would agree. She asked Roy if he had lost
his mind. He jumped up into the Model “T” Ford and told her how he
loved her and the fear he had of another delay. He just couldn’t stand
to wait another day. Emmie agreed. She told Roy she would marry him sitting
in the car. He told her that was fine. Mr. Gentry went back in the store to
get his Bible, his wife and the two cousins. They stood by the car as the wedding
was performed.
Emmie was anxious to go tell her parents. When they started to her home she
began laughing. She asked Roy if he realized their wedding clothes were under
their seats. She told him we could say we married sitting on our wedding clothes.
Emmie told her parents. The visited for a little while, then Roy told her they
needed to go. He told her he had made arrangements to spend the night at his
Uncle John Waldrop’s home. She said you had this planned all the time.
He told her his Uncle John had a bedroom on the back of his home. They could
park the car behind his house where no one could find them to play a prank on
them. The next morning he informed her they were going to Gulf Shores, Alabama,
to visit his father and sister Maude Waldrop. They took off for Gulf Shores,
Alabama.
Roy had a half brother Joseph Waldrop that lived in the area. He had five daughters
and one son. The girls were close to Emmie’s age. They had a great time.
Emmie couldn’t believe you couldn’t see across the Gulf of Mexico.
They returned home and picked up her clothes and went to Flat Creek, Alabama
to their first home. All the railroad people came out to greet them. The foreman’s
wife had arranged a coffee gathering the next day for Emmie to meet all the wives.
She was thrilled but still couldn’t believe Roy had made all the plans
without her knowing it.
Sources: Bible of Benjamin LeRoy Waldrop; Union Springs Baptist Church Cemetery
REcords of Chilton Co., AL. Personal interviews with B.L. Waldrop.
+712 vi.
Hardie Dewight WALDROP was born on 8 Feb 1901 in Jemison, Chilton Co.,
AL.. He died on 7 Aug 1998 in Birmingham, Jefferson/Shelby Co., AL.?. Hardie
D. Waldrop died 7 Aug 1998 at age 97. He fell and broke his hip and suffered
a stroke during the surgery for hip repair. Funeral was held in Birmingham,
AL.
713 vii.
Perry Vanus WALDROP was born on 6 Jun 1903 in Jemison, Chilton Co., AL..
He died on 29 Aug 1922 in Selma, Dallas Co., AL.. Died at the Selma Hospital.
+714 viii.
Bessie Mae WALDROP was born on 8 Nov 1905 in Chilton Co., AL.. She
died on 5 Apr 1996 in Jemison, Chilton Co., AL.. Buried in the Jemison Cemetery.
715 ix.
[infant] WALDROP was born on 31 Jan 1908 in Chilton Co., AL.. He died
on 31 Jan 1908 in Chilton Co., AL..
He was married to Hattie I. Burkhalter BELL on 2 Nov 1935 in Chilton Co., AL..
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