Re: SOLVE THIS POE MYSTERY!!!!!!!!

I was in Fayette, AL today and copied the following from a book by Mr. Sullivan, "The History of Newtonville and Its Pioneer Citizesn" Sorry, I did not get the publication date.

Page 23Simon Poe

"Simon Poe, probably the largest landholder of his time in this community, was one of the first men to enter land in Newtonville; in 1826, he and a group of friends and relatives made the trip from Anson County N.C.

He made a cedar chest large enough to make a bed for his aged father to ride in and brought him along; we are corresponding with Mrs. Livingston of Little Rock, AR who has this chest in her possession at this time; she is a great granddaughter of Simon Poe.

His father Major James Poe, lived only a short while after his arrival here, and is buried in the Poe family cemetary, located on what is known as the Hayes place.

The 1850 census gives him as owning 1000 acres of land and 11 slaves; does not mention any other property except a store in "The Town of Newtonville".

After the war he begun selling his land, some of the buyers were Dr. W.W. Jones, T.M. Whitney, J.M. (Mart) Shepherd, and Issam Freeman.

Simon Poe was a great man in church and civic affairs; he did a lot to help make Newtonville the important community it was.

A story was told, that during the war he had two of his negros carry a trunk to the cemetary told the negros not to watch him and never tell about it, he soon returned to the house with his shovel; it was thought he buried his money to keep the yankees or home guard from taking it.The negros told the story after his death.Many years later two of the graves were dug into, and I am told other spots were found on the farm where people had dug holes hoping to find buried treasure.

He died in 1875 and was buried in the family cemetary, there are several graves there but no markers, they have all been destroyed.

His children were:
Calvinmarried Anna Willingham
Simon
Peninahmarried Martin Nall
Marthamarried Issac Shepherd
Apsymarried Francis Price
Marymarried Edward Lowery
Gatsymarried Thomas Lucas

I hope this helps you in some way.

Jo Dunn Sheppard