• the son of Zilpha Elender (Emily?) Eddins Pope Freeman
• the grandson of James A. Eddins and Nancy Ann Hendrix
• the great-grandson of John and Zilpha Eddins
He might have been odd. Certainly odd things happen with ol' W. H.
He was born between 1840 and 1845 in Alabama. His daddy was William H. Pope, probably Sr. WHP was out of the picture sometime after Jr.'s death from death or divorce, though I haven't discovered which, yet. He had two older siblings, Martha Jane and Francis Marion. Mother Zilpha married Francis M. Freeman in Tallapoosa County in 1849. Apparently not a popular choice, because the kids buried her as Elender Pope in the 1890's.
No trace of Mom, Stepdad, and the kids in the 1850 Census yet.
How odd.
But later it gets worse. Much worse.
In the 1855 AL State Census, one presumes that William is living with Zilpha and Francis Freeman because there are several males of the right age in the household:
In the 1855 State Census for AL, Frances Freeman is living in Tallapoosa County. In the household are four males under 21(Frances, 20; Frances Marion, about 17; William H., about 15; plus another male), 0 males over 21, two females under 21(Martha Jane, about 19, and unknown female), one female over 21(Zilpha Elender, 30-34), and three children between ??? (can’t read). On the same beat: G. Pullin, Freeman Pullin, Edward Rix, King Hiram Davis, Abraham Pullen.
http://search.ancestry.com/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=1576&path=1855.Tallapoosa.24&sid=&gskw=Frances+Freeman
Here’s William Henry in the 1860 US Census for AL: In the 1860 US Census for AL, William H. Pope is living near the Realtown P.O., Western Division, Tallapoosa County, AL. He is 19, born AL. Also in the household are mom Zylpha E. (Eddins Pope) Freema, 39, born AL, living in the household of Francis M. Freema, 28, a mechanic, born Georgia, $300; Martha T., 23, and Francis M., 21, a farmer. They are living next door to Ann Susannah Eddins Rice (Rix) and family. Peter Eddens, 16, is up the street. Neighbors: McKissack, Summers, Haywood, Echols, Harrison, Martha (Helton) Freeman, Nancy Freeman, Susan Freeman.
You’ll note that the Popes are living right next door to the Summers. W.H. marries Sarah Summers in 1866. Also note that his age is listed as 19.
http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=View&r=an&dbid=7667&iid=4211198_00208&fn=Zylpha+E&ln=Freema&st=r&ssrc=&pid=12719406
His Civil War Service:
Enlisted as a private in Company G, 37th AL, on 2 March 1862. Honorably discharged Winter 1864. But he's badly injured in a railroad collision near Jackson, MS. A broken thigh and “breast injury” leave him with a horrible limp. He became a shoemaker after the War. Documented by pension application in 1893.
http://search.ancestry.com/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=1677&path=Alabama.P.Pool%2c+W·+H·+-+Potter%2c+William.667&sid=&gskw=W+H+Pope
In the 1866 AL State Census, one assumes that William is near Zilpha and Francis in Tallapoosa, but it's certainly not clear:
Francis Freeman is living in Tallapoosa County. In the household are one male under 10, one male 10 - 20 (William???), one male 20 - 30 (Francis), one female 20 - 30 (Zilpha), and one female 50 - 60 (Nancy Ann Hendricks Eddins). One soldier killed. Neighbors: Nancy Freeman, Rebecca Gunter (Rebecca Ann Eddins??) McKlusky, Chelton, Harris, Brice, J. F. Freeman, Walls, Gibson, Smith, Vines, Vincent, M. N. Hendrix, Miles Whilles, Abrahm Pullen, George Pullen.
http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=View&r=an&dbid=1576&iid=31075_174439-00540&fn=Frances&ln=Freeman&st=d&ssrc=&pid=354092
There is a W. H. Pope in 1866 Shelby County, but the oldest male doesn't seem to be the right age for William:
http://interactive.ancestry.com/1576/31075_174438-00074/433710?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3dAlabamaCensus%26gss%3dangs-d%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26msT%3d1%26MS_AdvCB%3d1%26gsfn_x%3d1%26gsln%3dpope%26gsln_x%3dNS%26msrpn__ftp_x%3d1%26msypn__ftp_x%3d1%26_83004002%3dwhite%26_83004002_x%3d1%26msrdy%3d1866%26msrdy_x%3d1%26MSAV%3d2%26uidh%3dwy5%26gl%3d%26gst%3d%26hc%3d50%26fh%3d150%26fsk%3dBEEgT4gIgAAGKAAFNhE-61-&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults
So he's disappeared again. How odd.
It's logical to think that William is in or near Tallapoosa in 1866 because he got married:
Marriage license between Wm H. Pope and Sarah A. Summers bonded October 17, 1866, in Tallapoosa County, AL, issued by Allen D. Sturdivant. The parties were married on October 18 by E. M. Smith, J.P. Bondsmen were William H. Pope and Benjamin F. Freeman.
William H. Pope is listed in the 1867 Voter Registration list at ADAH in Chambers County....
http://www.archives.alabama.gov/voterreg/images/12_V1_PG59.pdf
...And also in Tallapoosa:
http://www.archives.alabama.gov/voterreg/images/62_V1_PG37.pdf
How odd.
By the 1870 US Census for AL, W. H. Pope is in Opelika, Lee County. He is 28, male, white, making shoes, born AL, a male citizen. Also in the household are S. Pope, keeping house, born AL; and son J. W. Pope, 2, male, white, born AL. Neighbors include Cunningham, Smith, Conner, Robinson, Smith, Bonnar, Peterson. His family of origin living next town over in Oak Bowery, Chambers County, AL.
I know this because I missed the route sign in Anniston, went straight instead of left, and wound up driving through Oak Bowery and an extra hour out of my way to Opelika.
The spirit of W. H. in action. How odd.
In the 1880 US Census for AL, W. Henry Pope is living on Tallassee Beat 3, Elmore County, AL. He is male, white, 37, a shoemaker, born AL, father born GA, mother born AL. Also in the household are wife Sarah Ann, 36, keeping house, lung disease, born GA, father born GA, mother born GA; son John W., 12, a “scolar,” attended school in the last year, born AL, father born AL, mother born GA; Lula May, daughter, 9, “scolar,” born AL, father born AL, mother born GA, attended school; and Lucy White, black, 70, a servant. Neighbors: Smith, Glover, Reynolds, Harris, Barnes.
War wounds and pension here in document from Lee County dated 1893. If he’s back in Lee County, it’s likely that Sallie and Lula have already died. Lists $30 in goods and furniture. Pension approved 1899, when he lists his age as "57."
http://search.ancestry.com/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=1677&path=Alabama.P.Pool%2c+W·+H·+-+Potter%2c+William.667&sid=&gskw=W+H+Pope
In the 1900 US Census for AL, William Pope is 54, born November 1845, a shoemaker, single, living with brother Marian Pope and sister Jane Pope in Precinct 21, District 2, Opelika, Lee County AL. He is born AL, father born SC, mother born AL. No Sallie, Lula, or John W. in the household. We know that Sallie and Lula died, but what happened to John W.? Neighbors: Mullins, Lewis, Johnson, Key, Irvin, Tucker, Finch.
http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=View&r=an&dbid=7602&iid=004119993_00054&fn=Marian&ln=Pope&st=r&ssrc=&pid=34561966
Oh, wait, here's something odd:
His birth year keeps changing.
• In 1860 he's 19, indicating a birth year of 1841.
• 1870, 28, 1842
• 1880, 37, 1843
• 1899, 57, 1842
• 1900, 54, 1845
• 1870, 28, 1842
• 1880, 37, 1843
• 1899, 57, 1842
• 1900, 54, 1845
And finally, in this ever-changing world he lived in, the Genealogical Society of East Alabama's publication TAP ROOTS has this information:
• 1906, 66, 1840
The listing reads:
W. H. Pope
Co. G 37th ALA - C S A
1840 - 1906
He is buried in Block 17 of Rosemere Cemetery in Opelika, AL. Also in the block are brother F.M. Pope, wife Sallie Pope, daughter Lula Pope, sister Martha Jane Pope, mother Ellen Pope, aunt Ann Eddens, and several Gibsons. It looks like Sallie Pope and Lula Pope are on the reverse side of his grave.
TAP ROOTS: Epitaphs in East Central Alabama Cemeteries, Vol. 3, Rosemere Cemetery, Opelika, AL, by Robert C. Horn and Mariemma Fuller, et. al., Copyright 1985 by the Genealogical Society of East Alabama, Inc., P.O. Box 84, Dadeville, AL 36853.
Kind of a sad, occasionally odd life. First he's born and his father disappears. Then his mother remarries a step-dad only 10ish years older. Then he fights in the War and is so severely wounded he limps and has to work sitting down as a shoemaker. Of all his sibs, he's the lucky one who marries and has kids; but his wife gets lung disease. She and at least one kid die before him. Then he's so poor he has to move back in with his sibs. Life sucks and finally he dies, too.
In conclusion:
A guy runs into a bar. Ouch!
I had to end this with a joke. Anything else would be too depressing. Onward.
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