Miles, Lucretia Ellen

girl silhouette
Lucretia Ellen Miles
b: 15 FEB 1837
d: 3 NOV 1916
Biography
See 8 Feb 1908 letter: BIA Enrollment No.6316; signed name LucreacyEllen Bryars


Here is a chronicle of this remarkable and determined wife''s ride of over300 miles on horseback during the Civil War.

From: Dan Ward
To: John Reed
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2005 7:43 PM

John,

This is an excerpt from a book I wrote on the Davis Family (my maternalfamily) during the Civil War and contains the story of Benjamin Bryars:

"And it was at Chicamauga that another Alabamian was shot resulting in aheroic odyssey that would end in the Pine Barren Cemetery nearDavisville, Florida north of Pensacola. When Confederate Private BenjaminH. Bryars was severely wounded during the battle, his commanding officersent word home to his wife Lucretia. She was living south of Canoe nearthe Florida State line at the time when she received the message that herhusband was in critical condition. At the time they had three childrenwith the youngest one only six-months old. She carried their two olderchildren to her sister’s home and made preparations to join her husbandin Tennessee.

The determined woman saddled her blaze-faced pony with her sidesaddlethen packed a large lunch and clothing in the saddlebags. Fodder for thehorse was tied behind the saddle and she took her still nursing baby inher arms and rode north to find her husband amongst the thousands ofwounded soldiers dressed in blue and gray. With her billowing skirtdraped over the horse and her leg crooked over the saddle horn shetraveled all day and into the nights. Luckily she was able to findcompassionate people all along the way who provided her and her son withshelter and food.

When she arrived south of Chattanooga at the Confederate army’s makeshifthospital she found her husband with his pillowcase covered with clottedblood. There were no clean ones and it was easy to see that her husband’spillow had not been changed since he had been wounded. Mrs. Bryars madepillowcases from her own white petticoats and made her husband ascomfortable as possible. When she had nursed him back to health she madethe arduous journey back to Canoe to reunite with her other two children.Ben recovered, and returned home after the war where he became the fatherof seven more children before he was laid to rest in the Pine BarrenCemetery following his death on February 28, 1920. There he joined hisbeloved Lou who had preceded him into the pale nations on November 13,1916."
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From: [email protected]
To: John Reed
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 6:22 PM
Subject: Re: Katrina
John, This is some info on gggrandmother Ellen Lucretia Miles:
Ellen Lucretia Bryars, daughter of James Lazarus Bryars and his wife ErinElizabeth Miles, was born in Atmore, Alabama. The following is recordedin "History of Escambia County Alabama" authored by Annie C. Waters,pages 226 and 227.
"The development of Atmore churches coincides with the development of thetown; they stand today as monuments to the forethought of early Atmorepioneers.
J. L. Bryars, a Baptist pastor at Pine Barren Church in Florida, walkedfour and one-half miles with a twenty-one month old baby and five otherchildren to Williams'' Station to conduct the area''s first preachingservice.
Mrs. R. W. Brooks, the second oldest of these children, has to becredited with the following memories. She was the wife of Rev. R. W.Brooks, the grandmother of Hugh Esneul, Mrs. Stewart Hoomes, and Mrs.Charles Lowery of today''s Atmore. We owe so much to her and herlong-missing scrapbook, to say the least of her keen sense of humor, muchless her loving to tell things as they were. This trait she passed on toMrs. Essie Esneul, the late mother of the three above mentioned.
Anyway, Mrs. Brooks would tell how she, as a girl of eleven, and an oldersister swept out the old sawmill which was operated by John Roberts,while her father stood pine blocks upon end and laid rough slabs acrossthem to seat the congregation. This initial church service was held aboutwhere Biggs Boarding House now stands.
The little cedar log church that was the first built in Williams'' Stationdidn''t last too long. The community outgrew it, and just a few yearsafterward a second church was erected. This building was located in whatis now Mrs. H. H. Dees'' backyard.
It too gave way to a larger First Baptist Church just across the street.This old building still stands and today is known as the PipkinApartments. Examine its lines when you pass; a picture of a church willsoon come to mind. Rather a large building for so small a town.
The new edifice on South Main and Horner Streets was dedicated in 1917, abeautiful building with its curved sanctuary, its balcony, its originallandscaped sidewalks, its coal burning furnace, yes, and its piles ofcoal and our Sunday best clothes that didn''t go together at all.
This church has a wonderful history and heritage of its own. From such ahumble beginning to the present day, truly its congregation and the Cityof Atmore have been blessed. There was just one Baptist church then--nowthere are several--all, I''m certain, with histories of their own."
Thanks for any info you can send me on the Lowery children. Jay
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Facts
  • 15 FEB 1837 - Birth - ; Atmore, Escambia, Alabama
  • NOV 1916 - Burial - ; Big Pine Barren Baptist Church Cemetery, Pine Barren, Escambia, Florida
  • 1850 - Census - U.S. ; Escambia, Florida
  • 1870 - Census - U.S. ; Escambia, Florida
  • 1880 - Census - U.S. ; Escambia, Florida
  • 1900 - Census - U.S. ; Escambia, Florida
  • 3 NOV 1916 - Death - ; Escambia, Florida
Ancestors
   
?
 
 
James Miles
1798 - 1868
  
  
  
?
 
Lucretia Ellen Miles
15 FEB 1837 - 3 NOV 1916
  
 
  
 
 
Lucretia Ellen Franklin
1804 - AFT 5 JUL 1870
  
  
  
 
Family Group Sheet - Child
PARENT (M) James Miles
Birth1798South Carolina
Death1868 Alabama
Marriageto Lucretia Ellen Franklin
Father?
Mother?
PARENT (F) Lucretia Ellen Franklin
Birth1804South Carolina
DeathAFT 5 JUL 1870 Canoe, Escambia, Alabama
Marriageto James Miles
FatherThomas Jefferson Franklin
MotherElizabeth Sizemore
CHILDREN
FErin Elizabeth Miles
Birth1836Wawbeek, Escambia, Alabama
Death20 AUG 1868Wawbeek, Escambia, Alabama
Marriage1 MAR 1857to James Lazarus Bryars at Escambia, Florida
MBurgess Miles
Birth27 NOV 1825Alabama
Death21 NOV 1903
Marriageto Frances A.
FMargaret Miles
Birth
Death
Marriageto James Monroe Williams
MJohn P. Miles
BirthABT 1830Alabama
Death
Marriageto Laura E.
FIrena Miles
BirthABT 1832Florida
Death
Marriage5 JAN 1851to Merida Beasley at Escambia, Alabama
MWilliam Zebedee Miles
Birth1834Florida
Death1876Alabama
Marriageto Sarah Jane Leatherwood
MFrancis Marion Miles
BirthFEB 1841Florida
Death30 SEP 1916Escambia, Alabama
Marriageto Marzilla Ann Hammac
Marriage1910to Mary Ann Beasley
FTeresa Anette Miles
BirthABT 1843Florida
Death
FLucretia Ellen Miles
Birth15 FEB 1837Atmore, Escambia, Alabama
Death3 NOV 1916Escambia, Florida
Marriage20 MAR 1859to Benjamin Henry Bryars at Escambia, Alabama
Family Group Sheet - Spouse
PARENT (M) Benjamin Henry Bryars
Birth6 NOV 1836Baldwin, Alabama
Death28 FEB 1920 Escambia, Florida
Marriage20 MAR 1859to Lucretia Ellen Miles at Escambia, Alabama
FatherCharles Edward Bryars
MotherCatherine Margaret Hubbard
PARENT (F) Lucretia Ellen Miles
Birth15 FEB 1837Atmore, Escambia, Alabama
Death3 NOV 1916 Escambia, Florida
Marriage20 MAR 1859to Benjamin Henry Bryars at Escambia, Alabama
FatherJames Miles
MotherLucretia Ellen Franklin
CHILDREN
FMildred Theresa Bryars
Birth9 MAR 1860Davisville, Escambia, Florida
Death6 DEC 1952Escambia, Alabama
Marriage19 SEP 1880to Andrew Martin Lowery at Escambia, Alabama
MCharles Edward Bryars
Birth28 NOV 1861Davisville, Escambia, Florida
Death9 AUG 1949
Marriage17 MAY 1885to Mary Hattie Thomley at Baldwin, Alabama
MarriageABT 1897to Rhonda Gibson at Alabama
Marriageto Henrietta Georgia Boone
MLewis Lorenzo Bryars
Birth29 JUL 1863Davisville, Escambia, Florida
Death15 JUN 1943
Marriageto Hattie Stewart
MJames Henry Bryars
Birth8 JAN 1866
Death11 JAN 1943Escambia, Alabama
FElizabeth Ellen Bryars
Birth23 DEC 1867Escambia, Florida
Death23 NOV 1949Escambia, Florida
Marriage5 AUG 1894to James Wesley Barclay
FVallie Virgie Bryars
Birth20 SEP 1868
Death7 NOV 1951East Brewton, Escambia, Alabama
Marriage5 JUL 1891to Oscar Robert Lowery
MWilliam Martin Bryars
BirthABT 1869
Death
MFrancis Oliver Bryars
Birth27 DEC 1872Davisville, Escambia, Florida
Death5 OCT 1956Escambia, Florida
Marriageto Bettie Patrick
MBenjamin Cellie Bryars
Birth6 MAY 1875
Death12 MAY 1959Escambia, Florida
MBurgess Miles Bryars
Birth2 APR 1877Davisville, Escambia, Florida
Death28 APR 1959Davisville, Escambia, Florida
Marriage16 APR 1899to Emma Estelle Watkins at Davisville, Escambia, Florida
Marriage3 SEP 1938to Lela Mae Boggan
FGertrude Delee Bryars
Birth11 FEB 1880Davisville, Escambia, Florida
Death9 MAR 1908
Marriage16 JUL 1898to Ralph Norman McCoy
Evidence
[S273]Cemetery Record
[S265]Photograph
[S266]Find A Grave
[S260]Census
Descendancy Chart
Lucretia Ellen Miles b: 15 FEB 1837 d: 3 NOV 1916
Benjamin Henry Bryars b: 6 NOV 1836 d: 28 FEB 1920
Mildred Theresa Bryars b: 9 MAR 1860 d: 6 DEC 1952
Andrew Martin Lowery b: 21 JUN 1855 d: 22 JUL 1938
Bertha Irene Lowery b: 12 SEP 1881 d: 21 OCT 1897
Lula Estelle Lowery b: 2 JUN 1883 d: 27 MAR 1967
Andrew Martin Lowery b: 21 JAN 1885 d: 11 AUG 1969
Mattie Ola Dunaway b: 25 FEB 1888 d: SEP 1965
Infant Son Lowery b: 18 MAY 1887 d: 18 MAY 1887
Stella Alyne Lowery b: 3 JAN 1897 d: 2 JUN 1981
Simon C. Wilson b: 24 AUG 1890 d: 22 SEP 1977
Ethel Lucille Lowery b: 1899 d: 27 SEP 1946
Charles M. Neal b: 1890 d: 1965
Charles Edward Bryars b: 28 NOV 1861 d: 9 AUG 1949
Mary Hattie Thomley b: 1868 d: 18 APR 1897
Oscar Bryars b: MAY 1886
Rhonda Gibson b: 1875 d: 1 AUG 1900
Annie Lou Bryars b: 15 MAY 1898
Henrietta Georgia Boone b: 1885 d: SEP 1933
Alton Parker Bryars b: 14 AUG 1904 d: 16 DEC 1999
Loree Franklin b: 7 AUG 1915 d: 22 JUL 1991
Myrtle Bryars b: 1908 d: 1965
Lewis Lorenzo Bryars b: 29 JUL 1863 d: 15 JUN 1943
Hattie Stewart b: JAN 1860 d: 14 MAR 1924
Earl Aubrey Bryars b: 2 JUL 1899 d: 22 FEB 1975
Verdie Estelle Jones b: 18 AUG 1903 d: 24 APR 1966
James Henry Bryars b: 8 JAN 1866 d: 11 JAN 1943
Elizabeth Ellen Bryars b: 23 DEC 1867 d: 23 NOV 1949
James Wesley Barclay b: 29 OCT 1858
Fennere Floumay Hubbird b: 13 SEP 1888
Infant Barclay b: 1897
Vallie Virgie Bryars b: 20 SEP 1868 d: 7 NOV 1951
Oscar Robert Lowery b: 15 JAN 1866 d: 16 MAY 1954
William Martin Bryars b: ABT 1869
Francis Oliver Bryars b: 27 DEC 1872 d: 5 OCT 1956
Bettie Patrick b: 5 OCT 1878 d: 14 SEP 1945
Ruth Bryars b: 13 APR 1904 d: 11 SEP 1990
Mary Lou Bryars b: 10 NOV 1909 d: 5 JUN 1972
Francis Oliver Bryars b: 12 OCT 1912 d: 3 AUG 1990
Christine McDuffie b: 3 NOV 1916 d: 30 JAN 1973
Benjamin Henry Bryars b: 1 FEB 1916 d: 5 JUN 1919
Gilbert Arnold Bryars b: 9 SEP 1901 d: 25 AUG 1973
Benjamin Cellie Bryars b: 6 MAY 1875 d: 12 MAY 1959
Burgess Miles Bryars b: 2 APR 1877 d: 28 APR 1959
Emma Estelle Watkins b: 19 NOV 1879 d: 6 SEP 1964
Lloyd Thomas Bryars b: 14 FEB 1900 d: 11 AUG 1977
Catherine Margaret Howell b: 15 FEB 1900 d: 8 NOV 1996
Floyd Llewellyn Bryars b: 18 FEB 1901 d: 16 MAR 1986
Annie Mae Davis b: 18 NOV 1907 d: 18 DEC 1986
Delbert Ray Bryars b: 28 FEB 1903
Bessie Lucretia Bryars b: 22 JUL 1904 d: 13 JUL 1938
Floyd Knox Hubbard b: 22 MAR 1891 d: 15 MAR 1972
Lena Estelle Bryars b: 26 APR 1909 d: 2 MAY 1994
Ernest Gary Dennis b: 19 MAY 1905 d: 8 JAN 1974
Minnie Esther Bryars b: 22 SEP 1912 d: 7 AUG 1986
John Cecil Irwin b: 7 MAR 1906 d: 28 MAR 1973
Lela Mae Boggan b: ABT 1900
Gertrude Delee Bryars b: 11 FEB 1880 d: 9 MAR 1908
Ralph Norman McCoy b: 21 FEB 1878