Langford - Witherington Family
LANGFORD & WITHERINGTON Familiesof Darlington District, SC; Conecuh County, AL,
and Union & Calhoun Counties, Arkansas.
Judge William Christie Langford & Martha Louisa Rachel Witherington (daughter of James Witherington & Mary King)
Generation No. 1
1. William Christie2 Langford (Jarvis1) was born September 03, 1826 in Dallas County, AL, and died January 17, 1891 in El Dorado, Union CO, AR.
He married (1) Martha Louisa Rachel Witherington November 27, 1851 in Union County, AR (Source: Union County Marriage Records.), daughter of James Witherington and Mary King. She was born April 15, 1836 in Conecuh CO, AL (Source: Blanche McCreary, Mobile, AL.), and died July 02, 1862 in Union CO, AR (Source: Goodspeed's 1890 History of Sou Arkansas (Union County).).
He married (2) Martha A. Chandler March 11, 1866 in El Dorado, Union CO, AR (Source: Al Bollinger information (1998).), daughter of William Chandler. She was born Abt. 1841 in Perry County, AL, and died Unknown.
Notes for William Christie Langford: From 'Goodspeed's 1890 History of Southern Arkansas' (Union County): William C. Langford came to Arkansas with his parents in 1841, coming from Alabama. In 1854 he was elected a justice and held the office for six years. In 1860, he was elected county judge on the Whig ticket, being one of that party to secure office. He served in the Confederacy as a Captain of the commissary in Col. Slemmon's brigade, and was in Texas at the surrender.
1860 Union County Census, FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP- CHAMPAGNOLLE Post Office
Family # 433/380
Langford W C 33 m farmer Alabama
M L 24 f '' (Martha Louisa Witherington)
M J 6 f Ark
W H 4 m Ark
John 2 m Ark
Goodspeed's <1890> History of Southern Ark, [page 848-849)states:
"William C. Langford was one of the founders of the Champagnolle A.M. & F.M. Lodge that met at Union Church in Champagnolle." Another founder mentioned was A. L. Witherington (Augustus Levan Witherington). This was during the 1850's period.
The Goodspeed article further said, "Judge Langford was married, in 1851, to Miss Martha Witherington, a native of Alabama. She died in July 1862 and left four children: IDA (m. H.E. Goodwin), WILLIAM H. of Pine Bluff, JOHN - Editor of the El Dorado Sentiment, and JAMES A. of Pine Bluff. At the outbreak of the Civil War, the Judge enlisted, and on the organization of the company was elected Captain. This, Company F, 19th Regiment Infantry, left El Dorado in March 1862, went to Corinth, and at the reorganization of the regiment was discharged and returned home.
In 1863 he re-enlisted and was appointed commissary officer of what was called Col. Slemmon's brigade, and held this position until the war closed. "Union County Land Records:
LANGFORD WILLIAM C 28 16S 14W 80 1849/11/01
LANGFORD WILLIAM C 34 16S 14W 40 1859/07/01
LANGFORD WILLIAM C 3 17S 14W 40.2 1860/04/02
LANGFORD WILLIAM C 3 17S 14W 42.76 1860/09/01
LANGFORD WILLIAM C 3 17S 14W 42.68 1896/08/04
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following info was provided by Bryan Howerton, Gerdes Civil War Researcher in message to Bill King dated 6-1-99:
William C. Langford, who enlisted in Co. F, 19th (Dockery's) Arkansas Infantry, at El Dorado, Arkansas, March 1, 1862, was elected captain on March 1, 1862, and was relieved of duty and discharged on June 3, 1862, when the company reorganized. He next enlisted in Co. F, 10th (Crawford's) Arkansas Cavalry, at El Dorado on October 6, 1863; shown as present for duty on February 29, 1864; appointed regimental commissary officer on September 1, 1864. He is listed in the Union County 1860 census, with wife Martha L. (Witherington), born in Alabama, c1827, occupation listed as farmer. Various land patents bearing his name are listed during the period 1849-1860. Cemetery records list him in Bethel Baptist Cemetery in Union county, born September 3, 1826; died January 17, 1891. In the census, his wife is listed as Martha L; however, in the pension index, his widow is listed as Martha A. She filed Arkansas pension application #4840 from Union county, approved August 15, 1907.
Bill King Note: Martha died in 1862 and is buried at the Wesley Chapel Cemetery (located a few miles east of El Dorado on State Hwy # 15).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: Al Bollinger <alboll@iop.com> Date: Friday, August 14, 1998 7:42 PM
Subject: Witherington Search
I have limited information on Martha Witherington She was born in 1836 in Al died in 1862 in El Dorado and married William Christie 'Judge' Langford in Nov 27, 1851. I assumed they were married in El Dorado, AR. She is my Gr-great grandmother.
Information on Judge Langford is: "At the outbreak of the Civil War the Judge enlisted, and on the organization of the company was elected captain. This, Company F, Nineteenth Arkansas Regiment Infantry left El Dorado in March 1862, went to Corinth and at the Reorganization of the regiment was discharged and returned home. In 1863 he re-enlisted and was appointed commissary of what was called Col. Slemmon's brigade and held this position until the war closed. He served in the Trans - Mississippi Dept, was with Gen Price in his Missouri raid, and was in Texas at the surrender.
In 1873 Judge Langford was appointed prosecuting attorney of the 13th District, served one term, and in 1882 was elected to the General Assembly, and re-elected in 1884. He has served as mayor of El Dorado and many years as school director. He owns two good farms of 581 acres, and the portions that are not cleared are covered with good timber. His home place, consisting of 24 acres in the corporation limits of El Dorado was purchased by the Judge in 1872. Member of the Baptist Church."
Source Goodspeed 1890.
Judge Langford remarried, to Martha A. Chandler in 1866 In El Dorado and he died in 1891.
"Perhaps Mary J.A. Witherington is my Great, Great Grandmother. I would appreciate any info you can give me on Mary J. A. Witherington. You might try looking At the Goodspeed records. I know that my El Dorado Ark relatives (mother's side) are in there, this includes Goodwins, Langfords, and Browns. Goodspeed is a 1890 publication in which leading Families paid to have their family history published. It is a good source of information since it gives family tidbits." Al Bollinger <alboll@iop.com>
Langford, William C., Judge, Union County, Arkansas
Submitted by: Barbara Lawrence, http://www.genexchange.org/bioregco2.cfm?ID=310&state=AR&County=Union#Start
Judge William C. Langford, attorney, El Dorado, Ark. Judge Langford is one of those men, too few in number, who fully recognize the truths so often urged by the sages of the law, that of all men, the reading and thoughts of a lawyer should be the most extended. Systematic reading gives a more comprehensive grasp to the mind, variety and richness to thought, and a clearer perception of the motive of men and the principles of things, indeed, of the very spirit of laws. This he has found very essential in the prosecution of his professional practice. Judge Langford was born in Alabama, September 3, 1826, and is the son of Jarvis and Mary (Christie) Langford. The father was born January 25, 1778, and in 1801 went to Georgia with his parents, where he followed farming and mill righting for many years. He was married three times, and his third wife was the Judge's mother. He became the father of three children by his previous marriages, all daughters, and by his third marriage ten children were born-eight sons and two daughters. In 1841 the father moved to Arkansas, landed at Scarsboro Landing, Union County, settled on a farm, and later engaged in merchandising, being the third merchant in that place. He built up a large business but withdrew in 1850, and the business was conducted by his two sons, James R. and Joseph Jackson. This firm continued as Langford Bros. until 1861, when Jackson died, and the other brother continued until 1885, when he also died, leaving four children well off. The father of our subject died March 20, 1859, at the age of eighty-two years. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, was with Gen. Floyd in Georgia, and his wife drew a pension until her death, which occurred in1882, at the age of eighty-five years. The paternal grandfather, Frank Langford, was a native of Maryland, and was an Irishman. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and served, probably, though the entire time. He died in Georgia at the age of ninety-four years. The maternal grandfather, Jeremiah Christie, was also in the Revolutionary and served principally with Generals Green and Morgan. He was at the battle of Guilford Court House and Eutaw, and was mustered out of service in South Carolina, where he remained and married. After his wife's death he commenced preaching in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and became one of the prominent characters in that locality. He lived to a ripe old age and died highly respected. Judge William C. Langford passed his boyhood and youth on the farm, and practically had no advantages for an education. He came with his parents to Arkansas in 1841, and so limited had been his education that he could scarcely read at that time.
While his father conducted the store, the responsibility of looking after everything fell upon our subject's shoulders and after his day's work was done he would study at night by the light of pine knots in the fire-place. After learning to read, he began the study of history and geography, later mathematics, and still later, Latin.
From this beginning he has been a student ever since. In 1854 he was elected justice, and though a Whit in politics and this a strong Democratic county, he held this office for six years. During the campaign of 1860 he made a canvass of the county for the ticket of Bell and Everett.
In the same year he was elected county judge on the Whig ticket, being one of that party to secure office. For a number of years previous to this he had been studying Blackstone and other works on law, and in 1860 he was licensed to practice in that profession, securing this principally for the transaction of his own business. Judge Langford was married in 1851, to Miss Martha Witherington, a native of Alabama. She died in July, 1862, and left four children: Ida (wife of H. W. Goodwin, of El Dorado), William H. (resides at Pine Bluff), John (editor of the Sentiment at El Dorado) and James A. (in Pine Bluff). At the outbreak of the Civil War the Judge enlisted, and on the organization of the company was elected captain. This, Company F, Nineteenth Arkansas Regiment Infantry, left El Dorado in March, 1862, went to Corinth, and at the reorganization of the regiment was discharged and returned home. In 1863 he re-enlisted and was appointed commissary of what was called Col. Slemmon's brigade, and held this position until the war closed. He served in the Trans-Mississippi Department, was with Gen. Price in his Missouri raid, and was in Texas at the surrender. He immediately returned to El Dorado and began the practice of law, and in connection with this he carried on agricultural pursuits. In 1866 he married his present wife, who was formerly Miss Martha A. Chandler, a daughter of William Chandler, one of the pioneers of Arkansas from Alabama. Mr. Chandler was a native of Georgia, and became a prominent and well known citizen of Union County. His death occurred in 1863. In 1873 Judge Langford was appointed prosecuting attorney of the Thirteenth District, served one term, and in 1882 was elected to the General Assembly, and re-elected in 1884. While in the Legislature he introduced the bill creating this judicial district, and many others of a local nature, many amendments which were of importance and benefit, and never missed a roll call. He has served as mayor of El Dorado, and many years as school director. And takes an active interest in educational matters. The Judge has resided in Arkansas since 1841, has been in nearly every county in the State, in most of which he has attended court, and has never carried a pistol. He owns two good farms of 581 acres, and the portions that are not cleared are covered with good timber. His home place, consisting of twenty-four acres in the corporation limits of El Dorado was purchased by the Judge in 1872, with the present time residence. He has been a Free Mason for thirty-nine years, and is one of the oldest in the county. He was master of Champagnolle Lodge No. 68 for eight years in succession, and of El Dorado Lodge No. 13 for seven years. He was also high priest of the Chapter No. 35 for six years, and district deputy grand master of the State for four years in the Fifth District. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and is superintendent of the Sunday-school, having filled that position for some time.
The Judge is one of the leading and progressive citizens of Union County, standing first in public estimation, in influence, in knowledge of men and affairs, in experience, in judgment and discrimination. He is a leader in all things. Source: Historical and Biographical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas, Chapter XXX, The Goodspeed Company, 1890.
More About William Christie Langford: Burial: Bethel Cemetery, El Dorado, AR.
Notes for Martha Louisa Rachel Witherington: Union County Marriage Records show: William C. Langford (25) to Martha Witherington (16), both of Union County Ark, November 27, 1851 by James Grumbles, JP. Marriage Book 'B', Page 53.
(Filed 5 Jan. 1852)
Note: She was actually married before her 16th birthday and died at age 26.
Following the death of her mother (Mary King Witherington), Martha lived with the family of Augustus Levan Witherington, younger brother of her father, James Witherington. Martha is buried at Wesley Chapel Cemetery, a few miles east of El Dorado, AR on State Hwy # 15.
More About Martha Louisa Rachel Witherington: Burial: Wesley Chapel Cemetery, near El Dorado. Gravestone Inscription: MARTHA L. LANGFORD, wf/o W. C. /G. Apr 15, 1836 to July 1, 1882
Notes for Martha A. Chandler: Info of Judge Langford's second marriage in 1866 was provided by descendant, Al Bollinger.
It is said that the Langford family didn't seem to like the second wife, Martha Anna Chandler. There was something about her getting rid of Martha Witherington's beautiful furniture, following her marriage to William C. Langford.
From Pam (2 Feb 2002) <PamG523@aol.com> : Do you have any information on Martha A. Chandler Langford's family? Martha A. is one of my ancestors. Her sister, Fanny Chandler, of El Dorado, AR is my great, great grandmother. They are the daughters of William Chandler. I first found William in Union Co., AR in 1846. He built and owned Chandler's Tavern ( which was a 22 room hotel at Main and Washington across from the courthouse) until his death in 1863. Sarah Chandler, William's second wife, sold the hotel to the Armstrong family. It then became known as the Armstrong Hotel. Fanny moved to Chandler, TX near her uncles and married Henry Thomas Ellis after the Civil War. I have been having trouble locating information on William Chandler's family. PamChildren of William Langford and Martha Witherington are:
+ 2 i. Mary Ida3 Langford, born July 15, 1854 in Champagnolle, Union CO, AR; died August 03, 1939 in Buried Arlington Cem., El Dorado, AR.
+ 3 ii. William Henry Langford, born June 06, 1856 in Champagnolle, Union CO, AR; died Abt. 1944 in New York, NY.
4 iii. John C. Langford, born 1858 in Near Champagnolle, Union County, AR (Source: Blanche McCreary, Mobile, AL.); died February 1901 (Source: Blanche McCreary, Mobile, AL.). He married Fannie M. McMurrain 1883; born Unknown.
Notes for John C. Langford: John was editor of the El Dorado Sentiment (1890-Goodspeed's History of Sou Ark, page 849).
The following was submitted by: Barbara Lawrence:
John C. Langford, editor and proprietor of the Public Sentiment, published at El Dorado, Ark., was born near Champagnolle, Union County, Ark., in 1858, and was the third in a family of four children born to Judge W. C. and Louisa (Witherington) Langford, the father a prominent attorney of El Dorado for many years [see sketch]. John C. Langford was reared to the onerous duties of the farm, and was educated in the schools of El Dorado until sixteen years of age. He then began learning the printer's trade in the Union County Times, and later on the El Dorado Eagle. In 180 he went to Blanchard Springs, and worked on the Blanchard Herald, from there he went to Farmersville, La., and there engaged in the publication of the North Louisiana Appeal for two years. In October, 1886, he came back to El Dorado and bought the Union Herald, which name was changed to the Public Sentiment, on March 27, 1888. Mr. Langford has always conducted his paper as an orthodox Democratic publication, advocating home interests and improvements. At the time of buying the Herald, its circulation was about 300 copies, and the Sentiment had a circulation at the present time of over 1,000. Although still a young man, Mr. Langford commands the good opinion of all around him, and since personal respect is the key to success in every department in life, journalistic no less than the legal or official, he has that assurance of success beyond peradventure. He was married in 1883 to Miss Fannie M. McMurrain, a daughter of M. B. McMurrain [see sketch], and three interesting children were the fruits of this union: Ellis Everett, Alice Idela and Myrtle. The family are members of the Baptist Church.
Source: Historical and Biographical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas, Chapter XXX, The Goodspeed Company, 1890.
Notes for Fannie M. McMurrain: John C. Langford was married in 1883 to Miss Fannie M. McMurrain, a daughter of M. B. McMurrain [see sketch], and three interesting children were the fruits of this union: Ellis Everett, Alice Idela and Myrtle. The family were members of the Baptist Church.
+ 5 iv. James Alvin Langford, born August 30, 1860 in Champagnolle, Union CO, AR; died June 1901 in Pine Bluff, AR.
Generation No. 2
2. Mary Ida3 Langford (William Christie2, Jarvis1) was born July 15, 1854 in Champagnolle, Union CO, AR, and died August 03, 1939 in Buried Arlington Cemetery, El Dorado, AR. She married Hugh Walter Goodwin December 15, 1874 (Source: Blanche McCreary, Mobile, AL.). He was born April 13, 1851 in Union County, AR, and died August 08, 1930 and is buried in Arlington Cemetery, El Dorado, AR.
Notes for Mary Ida Langford: A descendant of Mary Ida Langford is Melinda McGowan, who lives at 10031 Pine Springs Drive, Conroe, Tx. Houston Metro # (409) 441-0707. E-Mail: { Melinda @lcc.net }.
Notes for Hugh Walter Goodwin:
Goodwin, Hugh E. Birth : 13 APR 1851 Union County, AR
Marriage: 15 DEC 1874 Spouse: Langford, Mary Ida
Birth : 15 JUL 1854 Champagnolle, Union County, AR
Death : 3 AUG 1939 El Dorado, Union County, AR
Father: Langford, William Christy Mother: Witherington, Martha Louise Rachel
Children:
Goodwin, Walter Langford Birth : 22 JAN 1876
Goodwin, Rose Garland Birth: 2 NOV 1877
Goodwin, Martha Melinda Birth : 27 SEP 1879
Goodwin, James Alvin Birth : 4 DEC 1881
Goodwin, Julia Ann Birth : 11 MAR 1884
Goodwin, William Jarvis Birth : 16 SEP 1886
Goodwin, Alta Birth : 8 APR 1890
Goodwin, Ida Hugh Birth : 9 JUN 1893
Goodwin, Ruth Birth : 24 NOV 1895
Children of Mary Langford and Hugh Goodwin are:
6 i. Walter Langford4 Goodwin, born January 22, 1876; died October 13, 1948. He married Olive Suggs May 15, 1901.
7 ii. Rose Garland Goodwin, born November 02, 1877; died October 01, 1956. She married Simeon Thompson February 27, 1900; born December 13, 1877.
Notes for Rose Garland Goodwin: Children: Thompson, Lois (f) ; Thompson, Alvin (m)
Notes for Simeon Thompson: Father: Thompson, Abner Perry ; Mother: Murphy, Martha Rebecca
8 iii. Martha Melinda Goodwin, born September 27, 1879; died Unknown. She married Joseph B. Wharton.
9 iv. James Alvin Goodwin, born December 04, 1881; died August 18, 1963. He married Nina Bartlett.
10 v. Julia Ann Goodwin, born March 11, 1884; died January 22, 1965. She married Marion H. Geren February 15, 1911.
11 vi. William Jarvis Goodwin, born September 16, 1886; died April 02, 1932. He married Lela Brooks.
12 vii. Alta Goodwin, born April 08, 1890; died October 01, 1980.
13 viii. Ida Hugh Goodwin, born June 09, 1893; died November 13, 1951. She married B. H. Gailbraith.
14 ix. Ruth Goodwin, born November 24, 1895. She married Nat T. Dyer May 03, 1923.
3. William Henry3 Langford (William Christie2, Jarvis1) was born June 06, 1856 in Champagnolle, Union CO, AR (Source: Virginia Witherington Research Materials.), and died Abt. 1944 in New York, NY. He married Ida Speers. She was born Unknown, and died Unknown.
Notes for William Henry Langford: Lived in Pine Bluff. City Directory of 1894 shows W. H. Langford as President of J.B. Speers, Company. City Directory of 1898 shows W.H. Langford as President of Citizens Bank, residing at 321 W. 5th St., Pine Bluff.
Pine Bluff City Directory of 1913 shows Wm. H. Langford as a planter, residing at 1220 Missouri. Also shows Mrs. Ida S. Langford (J.B. Speers Co) r. NYC.
Child of William Langford and Ida Speers is:
15 i. W. H.4 Langford, Jr., born February 13, 1889; died May 14, 1895 in Buried Pine Bluff Cemetery (Old Part).
5. James Alvin3 Langford (William Christie2, Jarvis1) was born August 30, 1860 in Champagnolle, Union CO, AR (Source: James O King Information, June 1999.), and died June 1901 in Pine Bluff, AR (Source: Blanche McCreary, Mobile, AL.). He married Nettie Johnson. She was born 1865, and died 1901.
Notes for James Alvin Langford: Lived in Pine Bluff. P.B. City Directory of 1898 shows James as an agent, residing at 1820 Olive Street.
Child of James Langford and Nettie Johnson is:
16 i. Gladys4 Langford, born Unknown.
______________________
The following info was provided to me by Bryan Howerton, a Gerdes Civil War Researcher, in an e-mail message to Bill King dated 6-1-1999:
William C. Langford, who enlisted in Co. F, 19th (Dockery's) Arkansas Infantry, at El Dorado, Arkansas, March 1, 1862, was elected Captain on March 1, 1862, and was relieved of duty and discharged on June 3, 1862, when the company reorganized. He next enlisted in Co. F, 10th (Crawford's) Arkansas Cavalry, at El Dorado on October 6, 1863; shown as 'present for duty' on February 29, 1864; appointed regimental commissary officer on September 1, 1864.
He is listed in the Union County 1860 census, with wife Martha L., born in Alabama, c1827, occupation listed as farmer. Various land patents bearing his name are listed during the period 1849-1860. Cemetery records list him in Bethel Baptist Cemetery in Union County, born September 3, 1826; died January 17, 1891. In the census, his wife is listed as Martha L; however, in the pension index, his widow is listed as Martha A. She filed Arkansas pension application #4840 from Union county, approved August 15, 1907.
Bill King
Above info from the files of Bill King
Witherington Family Researcher
BillKing78@comcast.net
Telephone: 281-493-6767
14106 Carolcrest Circle, Houston, TX 77079