Life History

Notes

• 1880 Federal Census, Blount County, Alabama, 16 June, District 13, page 11, Hse/Fam #61
  Blevins, Arm.  W M 30 Husband Farming AL AL AL b abt 1850]
  Blevins, Julia  W F 29 Wife Keeping House AL AL AL [abt 1851]
  Blevins, Peggie W F 9 Dau AL AL AL [abt 1871]
  Blevins, Jackson W M 7 Son AL AL AL [abt 1873]
  Blevins, Mary W F 5 Dau AL AL AL [abt 1875]
  Blevins, Benjaman [sic] W M 4 Son AL AL AL [abt 1876]
  Blevins, Merrenia  W F 3 Dau AL AL AL [abt 1877]
  Blevins, John W M 2 Son AL AL AL [abt 1878]
  Blevins, Byard W M 1 Son AL AL AL [abt 1879]
  
  In 1920 much of the family is still together in neighboring households.  Two unmarried sons are still in Arm and Juleyann's hosuehold and two others are living nearby in their own households, Genearl Jackson and Arm," Armistead Alzie.
  
  1920 Federal Census, Cullman County, Alabama, 25 January, Antioch Precinct, District 171, pages 3B-4A, Sunnyville & Jasper Rd, Hse/Fam #59
  Blevins, A E [Armistead Elzie] Head Owns Free & Clear M W 78 Married AL AL AL Farmer (abt 1842)
  Blevins, Julia [Juleyann] Wife F W 78 Married AL GA GA (abt 1842)
  Blevins, Joe Son M W 36 Single AL AL AL Farmer (abt 1884)
  -- page 4A --
  Blevins, Dillard Son M W 34 Single AL AL AL (abt 1886)
  
  1920 Federal Census, Cullman County, Alabama, 25 January, Antioch Precinct, District 171, page 4A, Cold Springs Rd, Hse/Fam #61
  Blevins, G J [General Jackson] Head  Owns Mortgaged M W 50 Married AL AL GA Farmer (abt 1870)
  Blevins, Tildie Wife F W 45 Married AL GA GA (abt 1875)
  Blevins, Irene Dau F W 7 Single AL AL AL (abt 1913)
  
  1920 Federal Census, Cullman County, Alabama, 25 January, Antioch Precinct, District 171, pages 3B-4A, Cold Springs Rd, Hse/Fam #64
  Blevins, Arm [Armistead Alzie] Head Owns Free & Clear M W 32 Married AL AL GA Farmer (abt 1888)
  Blevins, Mary Wife F W 28 Married AL AL AL (abt 1892)
  Blevins, Robert Son M W 1yr6mos Single AL AL AL (abt June 1918)
  
  -----------------------
  Rev Armstead Elza "Uncle Arm" Blevins, Jr
  Birth Feb 17, 1844 Walker County, Alabama, USA
  Death Dec 15, 1924
  
  Private-Company L 1st Alabama Cavalry USA.
  3/1/1865 Enlisted Stevenson, AL
  4/18/1865 Mustered In Nashville, TN
  4/20/1865 Sick in Hospital Nashville, TN
  10/20/1865 Mustered Out
  
  Service records compiled by Glenda Todd and used with her permission. This and other information about the history of the First and the men who fought with the unit can be found in her book, "First Alabama Cavalry, USA: Homage to Patriotism".
  From The Cullman Democrat 18 Dec 1924
  Submitted by Robin Sterling
  
  Pioneer Minister Buried
  
  Rev. Arm Blevins, one of the oldest and most respected ministers in the county, died at his home on Bremen Route 1, on Monday. He was 83 years of age at the time of his death. He was preceded in death by his wife, who passed away two years ago. Mr. Blevins spent his long life mostly in this county. The funeral was conducted by the Masons and he was buried Wednesday in the Blevins cemetery in Bremen.
  
  From "Mama White" Cynthia Almeadia Blevins: Armstead Jr. was her grandfather and says that he wanted badly to go to war but his parents and his brothers wouldn't let him go. So he ran away, traveled up the Sipsey River to the Tennessee River where he swam across and joined the Union Army. He spent only about 8 months however, in the army and most of that was in a hospital in Nashville.
  
  From History of Methodism in Alabama and West Florida, by Marion Eliza Lazenby, 1960, North Alabama Conference and Alabama-West Florida Conference of the Methodist Church, page 698
  Submitted by Robin Sterling
  
  A.E. Blevins enlisted March 1, 1865, in the Union Army and was mustered out in October 1865. In 1867 he was born of the spirit and united with the M.E. Church. He was licensed to preach in 1890. He served from 1897 until 1913, when he retired. He loved the church and went cheerfully to every charge to which appointed.
  Buried Blevins Family Cemetery, Cullman Co., AL
  
  A letter from Keener Barnes, The Director of Archives and History for The United Methodist Church, North Alabama Conference wrote a letter of reply on Jan 7, 1971 to Mrs. Lee Blevins 405 White Circle, Cullman, AL and relayed this info:
  
  "In 1867, Armstead E. Blevins was recorded in the history of the Methodism Episcopal Church. He was licensed to preach in 1890. He served from until his retirement in 1913. "He loved the Church", the historian Dr. M. E. Lazenby stated, and "went cheerfully to every charge to which he was appointed." This would seem to explain why his name was not listed on the Centennial program in Gadsden, Nov 16, 1970 as he was not licensed to preach until 1890."
  
  The 1860 Census shows the family living in Winston County, AL and that all the children were born in AL. They homesteaded 160 acres of land in the eastern section of Winston County in the southern part of Flat Rock Community near Rock Creek, now Smith Lake.
  
  Armstead Jr. (later Reverend), enlisted in the Union Army when he was about 18. The History of Methodism in Alabama and West Florida by M.E. Lazenby has the following to say about "Uncle Arm":
  
  In 1867, Armstead E. Blevins was born of the Spirit and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, licensed to preach in 1890, joined the Alabama Conference in 1897, he served charges from 1897 until 1913 when he retired. He loved the church and went cheerfully to each charge to which he was appointed."
  
  "Uncle Arm" as he was called by his friends, faithfully served the Flat Rock Charge from 1907 to 1912. Eldredge Thomas had this to say about "Uncle Arm":
  
  "He was a minister I always enjoyed hearing preach. He would tell jokes part of the time and war stories. He would always spend the night with Uncle Tom Morrow and they would talk most of the night about their experiences in the Civil War."
  
  FROM papers given to me by Mickey Campbell and his father:
  
  26 May 1888: Declaration of Invalid Pension: A.E. Blevins, Jr. contracted rheumatism caused from chronic diarrhea and chills and fever while stationed at Hodge's Springs near Mouton, AL, in the swamps; also contracted measles at Nashville, TN, about 25 Mar 1865 resulting in impairment to his eyesight. Not treated for rheumatism but treated for diarrhea in camp and for measles in General Hospital No. 14, Nashville, TN.
  
  26 May 1888: Post office address: Garrison's Point, Blount Co, AL. Residence: County of Walker, now Cullman County.
  
  19 Feb 1892: Takes oath that he contracted hernia or…while on duty in the army in year 1865. That he was not much disabled…until about 3 years ago, when it got so bad that he could hardly walk or ride, and in place of getting better, it is getting worse. And it is so now that he is fully ¾ disabled. He further states that said disease was contracted while in the army and that it still exists in a greater degree--is not the result of any vicious habits or intemperance.
  
  Served in Co. L, 1st Regiment Alabama Calvary, Co. Lt. H. L. Boulton (Bolton) 1 March 1865-20 Oct 1865. Enlisted at Stevenson, AL, in hospital at Nashville 20 Apr 1865, Present for Muster Roll May, June, July and August.
  
  Address 2: June 1915 Route 1, Bremen, AL
  Address at Enlistment: Houston P.O. Box Winston County, AL
  
  27 April 1912 says scar on back of neck or "carpunkel," 5' 10" Tall, fair skin, color of eyes: grey, Hair: dark
  
  In 1924 was paid at a rate of $50 per month pension.
  
  Reverend Armstead was married on Oct 28, 1868 to Juleyan Campbell, daughter of Adam and Lucretia Green (a Cherokee). She is reported to have had red hair like her father. She applied for citizenship for her sons in the Cherokee nation. Known children are: General Jackson (probably named for Juleyan's brother General Campbell), Peggy, Minolevia 'Minnie", Dillard, Byrd Bartimus., John Robert, Armstead Alzie, Mary, Benjamin F., and Joseph.
  
  Parents:
  Armstead Elza Blevins (1812 - 1882)
  Celia Cranford Blevins (1812 - 1890)
  Spouse Juleyan Campbell Blevins (1844 - 1921)
  
  Children:
  General Jackson Blevins (1870 - 1949)
  Byrd Bartimus Blevins (1878 - 1950)
  John Robert Blevins (1879 - 1959)
  Joseph Blevins (1881 - 1957)
  Dillard E Blevins (1884 - 1963)
  Armstead Alzie Blevins (1888 - 1959)
  
  Siblings:
  Dillard Blevins (1836 - 1862) Half-sibling
  John Blevins (1837 - 1863) Half-sibling
  Joseph S Blevins (1840 - 1876)
  Sarah Jane Blevins Campbell (1845 - 1922)
  
  Inscription: A E Blevins
  Feb 17, 1844
  Dec 15, 1924
  Co. L 1st Reg U.S. Army
  
  Burial Blevins Family Cemetery, Cullman County, Alabama, USA
  
  Maintained by Deborah J Thompson, Originally Created by Hutch May 10, 2011
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #69617691, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=69617691
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Sources

• 1. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 2. 1880 Federal Census, Blount County, Alabama
  • 16 June, District 13, page 11, Hse/Fam #61
• 3. 1920 Federal Census, Cullman County, Alabama
  • 25 January, Antioch Precinct, District 171, pages 3B-4A, Sunnyville & Jasper Rd, Hse/Fam #59
• 4. Alabama, Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974
• 5. 1900 Federal Census, Cullman County, Alabama
  • 21 June, Livingston, District 56, Page 14B, House/Family #237
• 6. 1920 Federal Census, Cullman County, Alabama
  • 25 January, Antioch Precinct, District 171, page 4A, Cold Springs Rd, Hse/Fam #61
• 7. Ancestry Trees
• 8. 1920 Federal Census, Walker County, Alabama
  • 1 February, Empire, District 115, page 25A, Hse #457, Fam #455
• 9. 1900 Federal Census, Walker County, Alabama
  • 9 June, Turpentine, District 149, Page 4B, House/Family #73
• 10. 1920 Federal Census, Cullman County, Alabama
  • 25 January, Antioch Precinct, District 171, pages 4A, Sunnyville & Jasper Rd, Hse/Fam #59
• 11. 1920 Federal Census, Cullman County, Alabama
  • 25 January, Antioch Precinct, District 171, pages 3B-4A, Cold Springs Rd, Hse/Fam #64
• 12. Email Sources