By Mike Parsons

A. Bennezette Hurt (James Mann Hurt, Sr.7; Philemon6; Moza5; Philemon4; John Jr.3; John Sr.2; William1), son of James Mann Hurt Sr. and Martha Patricia (Patsy) Marshall was the youngest of twelve children. He was born May 2, 1842, on his father’s farm near McLemoresville, Carroll County, Tennessee. He died on his own farm near Milan, Gibson County, Tennessee on August 24, 1883, (no will recorded) and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Milan, Tennessee in the Collins family plot beside his wife and their four children who died in 1908 or before (the three others are buried elsewhere in Oakwood Cemetery). He was married near McLemoresville by Presbyterian minister Howard, on October 12, 1867, to Sophia (Monie) Collins, daughter of William Price Collins and Sophia (Sarah) Ford, and sister of A. Bennezette’s sister Sarah’s husband Elisha Abner Collins. (This marriage was supposedly against the wishes of Monie’s parents.) Monie Collins was born in Lexington, Henderson County, Tennessee, March 16, 1850. She died in Milan on November 4, 1920.

He was remembered as a fine looking man. “He had a weakness to strong drink, but he resisted it in his last years by not going where he could get it. In fact, it was recalled most all the Hurt family had a weakness for tobacco and whiskey, though respectable in it all. They were the aristocracy blood of old Virginia. (Recorded in 1908 from the recollections of a cousin, Robert Greer, in his 81st year.)

On all military records, he is recorded simply as A. B. Hurt. His first name is recorded as Anthony on Monie Hurt’s application for a widow’s pension in 1906. In surviving family records, however, his first name is often listed as Albert. On his 1867 marriage license, he was listed as A. Benny Hurt. It is believed he was generally known as Ben.

In July 1864, his brother, Joe David Hurt, was killed in Confederate service at Peach Tree Creek north of Atlanta, GA. Joe David’s wife, Louisa Ellen Jordon Hurt died on December 31, 1876. After her death, Ben and Monie took in David and Louisa’s son William, age 14, and possibly their son Albert, age 27, who died less than six weeks later on February 10, 1877. Support may also have been provided to a third son, Philemon, who was near age 23 at the time. Ben Hurt was a farmer and was said to have studied law. He was raised on his father’s farm near McLemoresville, TN. Probably after the Civil War, bought a small farm near Milan, TN. After his death, his widow Monie sold this property for about $2,000.

Military Service

Barely age 19, A. B. Hurt volunteered for service in the Confederacy in the 22nd Tennessee Infantry Brigade, later consolidated into the 12th Tennessee Infantry Brigade. He served from July 1861 through the end of the war when his unit was paroled in the field at Greensboro, North Carolina in May 1865. His unit saw action in battles at Belmont, MO; Shiloh, TN; Richmond, KY; Murfreesboro, TN; Chickamauga Creek; GA; Missionary Ridge, GA; Retreat to Atlanta, GA; Franklin, TN; and Bentonville, NC. The unit was in reserve at Perryville, KY and in rear guard at Nashville, TN. He was “slightly wounded” at Murfreesboro. For his service, Sophia (Monie) received a Confederate widow’s pension beginning in 1906. Read about A. B. Hurt’s military service.

Children

1. Joseph Albert Sidney, b. September 23, 1868; died unmarried in 1934. Retired from the Illinois Central Railroad after 41 years service. He wrote numerous letters to family members, including young nieces and nephews and visited them often. His name is likely derived from two Confederate commanders: General Joseph Eggleston Johnston, commander of the Army of Tennessee in early 1864 during its retreat toward Atlanta and again at the end of the war; and General Albert Sidney Johnston, commander of the Western CSA army who was killed at the battle of Shiloh.
2. Sophia Marshall, b. February 7, 1870; married Reverend J. F. Tull, July 9, 1896; d. July 10, 1897; No children.
3. Mary Eliza (Mamie), b. August 14, 1871; d. April 30, 1953 Married 1) Allen Quincy Pearce, November 26, 1889. Issue: a) Bennezette Killough b) Sidney Hurt c) Mildred Anderson. Married 2) James Edgar Fields, August 28, 1919; No children. Mamie is remembered for her wit, intelligence and charm. She was religious and a faithful tither. She had a great laugh, a lot of energy, enthusiasm and fun about her. She had great love and respect for her family, and when she was with her favorites she enjoyed giggling, laughing and having a great time. When she wanted to do something she would “generally go right on and do it”. She maintained strong ties to the Hurt and Collins family descendents throughout her lifetime.
4. James Collins, b. July 23, 1874; d. March 19, 1876.
5. Minnie, b. May 29, 1877; d. May 10, 1908. Married 1) Charles Lorimer Anderson, October 7, 1896. Issue: a) Mamie S. b) Sophia E. c) Charles Jr. (no descendents from these children). Married 2) F. E. Johnson, August 6, 1903. No children.
6. Fred Surrey, b. May 20, 1880; d. May 1, 1881.
7. Samuel Hurlbert Hurt, b. November 11, 1882; d. July 21, 1957. Married Florence Maxie Pearl Seward, 1920 Issue: a) Charles Sidney b) Mildred Elizabeth. Enlisted in U.S. Army on September 27, 1912, age 29 (claimed he was 26). In Coast Artillery Command for all 32 years service. Served at Fort Strong, MA; spotted artillery bombardments in France in World War I; served on the Mexican border; served at Ft. Hancock, NJ; Ft. Totten, NY; Ft. Sherman, Canal Zone; and in 1930 was transferred to Ft. Crockett in Galveston, TX. From here he retired in April 1944 as Master Sargent. Afterwards moved to Phoenix, AZ to assuage wife’s arthritic condition.

©2007, Karen Furst. Please feel free to link to any of these pages. This information is for personal use only. Please do not copy, publish, or distribute it elsewhere.