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Note: Jefferson Barrow of the 1850 Conecuh County, AL Census was my gg grandfather, through his son Thomas Jefferson Barrow. The following is an entry from the Family Bible of my grandmother, Ruth Roberta Barrow Whatley, daughter of Thomas Jefferson Barrow.
"Great Grandfather Barrow owned a jug making business near Flomaton, Ala. during the civil war. He made and supplied jugs for the army. We knew little of the Barrow family. Papa's father was not a civil war soldier, sickly from youth, he helped with the jug business. At that time, everything in the way of food, water, milk, salt, etc. were kept in jugs. He supplied jugs for a big salt making company near Jackson, Ala. During the civil war, salt mines flourished in Ala. Clay jugs were used in many ways, a very necessary commodity. Grandfather Barrow later went into the log rafting business, logs were floated down river to Pensacola, Fla. and sold there. Papa often told of exciting experiences the boys had, camping in the woods, bears raiding the camp at night. On one occasion a big ham was stolen during the night. To protect it, it was wrapped up in a cloth & used for a pillow, next morning it was gone. Along with it were all the nice biscuits our grandmother had made for them to eat during the trip. Papa said bears were their great worry, next to bad weather. There were several boys and girls too in the family, all of which were victims of a serious epidemic (either yellow fever or smallpox) in Pensacola at that time. The whole family was wiped out within one year, all except Papa, his oldest bro. Henry and youngest sister Molly. Two brothers survived the epidemic but died of other causes, an unknown fever, while living with Papa and Mama. Grandmother Barrow died one day, Grandfather died the next. He nursed her through her illness, collapsed to his death. Family Bible records very little, very brief.
Also in my grandmother's Bible was an envelope that used to hold photographs (the photos were missing) and bearing the following inscription:
"All of Papa Barrow's family died almost within a year of yellow fever in & around Pensacola, Fla. & Flomaton, Ala. (Except oldest Brother Henry, and youngest sister Molly Hendricks) Two younger brothers died at Papa's house of an unidentified fever, probably typhoid, both young, in early 20's. Gene the youngest. My Grandpa Barrow was a semi-invalid. He and his boys were loggers--floated them to Pensacola. He also operated a jug factory near Flomaton during Civil War. The Barrow family was originally from N.C."
Brewton Banner, September 29, 1883 A malignat type of malarial frver si prevailing in this section. There were five deaths reported for Escamia last week, two in addition to the three published, the deaths of Mr. Jeff Barrow and wife living between Pollard and WHiting, complete the majority statistics for the past seasons.
Note: Records on file in Ala. Christian Advocate office shows a great epidemic of yellow fever in and around Pensacola, Fla. in 1888. Smallpox claimed many victims about this time too. The Barrow family survived these, however. No cure, little relief. It also took its toll."
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