Phelan Tidwell 1847-1933 #52Ancestors #30

Phelan was born September 27, 1847 in Blountsville, Blount County, Alabama. He was the son of Rowan and Cynthia Ann "Cincianna" Cornelius Tidwell. He was the second of seven children.

I have been unable to find the family on the 1850 census. In 1860 they were living in Village Springs, Blount County:
Rowan Tidwell 40 M W Farmer Value of personal estate 50
Cinciana 41 F
Louisia 14 F
Fielding 12 M [Phelan]
Harriet 10 F
Beverly 8 M
Hampton 5 M
Rowan 7/12 M

The Civil War began, and Phelan's father Rowan went to war. He served July 01, 1862 - August 31, 1863 in Co. I, 49th Alabama Infantry.

Phelan ran away from home to join the fight per his daughter Ella. He enlisted at Blue Mountain in Blount County September 9, 1862.  He would have been almost 15. He joined the 19th Alabama Infantry, Company B, 7th Regiment. It was later attached to Hood's Battallion.

The 19th Alabama saw some heavy combat. Just a few months before Phelan joined they were in the Battle of Shiloh and lost 219 killed and wounded.

Phelan would have been in the battles at Murfreesboro, Tullahoma, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge in Tennessee, and then in Georgia at Dalton, Resaca, Cassville, Kenesaw, Peachtree Creek, the battle on the Decatur road, Ezra Chapel, Jonesboro, and Lovejoy's Station. The regiment went with General Hood into Tennessee, and fought at Franklin, Nashville, and also at Bentonville, North Carolina.

Phelan was discharged in April of 1865.

Phelan rejoined his family and they moved to Marion in Perry County, Alabama. Here they are in 1870:
TIDWELL RION 50 M W AL Farm Laborer AL can't read & write
Sincina? F can't make out age Keeping house AL can't read & write
Fielding 22 M Farm Laborer AL can't read & write [Phelan]
Beverly 17 M Farm Laborer AL can't read & write
Hampton 14 M Farm Laborer AL can't read & write
Rowin 10 M Attended school within the year can't write
Brecusie 8 M Attended school within the year

In 1880 Phelan was working as a farm laborer for his uncle, Benton Cornelius in Chepultepec, Blount County:
Benton Cornelius 42 Farmer AL, both parents born SC
Elisabeth Cornelius 32 Keeping house, she & both parents born AL
Guye H. Cornelius 13 son
John L. Cornelius 10 son
Emartta Cornelius 6 daughter {looks more like Cinthella in orig. image}
Bennarick Cornelius 5 son
Tiny E. Cornelius 2 daughter
Pheba Cornelius 65 Mother
Phelan Tidwell 35 Farm Laborer

Phelan married Sarah Elizabeth "Bettie" McCullough of Perry County September 13, 1881 in Jefferson County, Alabama.

The T's weren't crossed on the marriage certificate for Bettie

They raised nine children:
McKesterson "Kess" born July 9, 1882
Zada Belle born December 1883
Zola Mae born March 1885
Martha Jane "Mattie" born August 1886
Beverly Clinton born October 8, 1888
Ella Debaugh born September 22, 1890
Madeline Virginia born 1891
Phelon Thomas Young born July 22, 1894
Deforest born July 25, 1898

Tidwell family about 1891
From left: Zada, Phelan, Ella, Kess, Beverly, Sarah, Mattie, Cynthia "Cincianna" Cornelius Tidwell, and Zola

I got lucky and have the 1890 census! Perry County has some of the only remaining census fragments.  The family was living in Perryville, Perry County in 1890:

Tidwell, Phelan, Head, Age 44, Born AL, Farmer, can read & write
Elizabeth 33, 5 children born, 5 living, Born AL, can read & write
McKetron (McKesterson) , son, age 9, born AL
Zada, daughter, age 7
Zola, daughter, age 5
Martha J, age 4, daughter, born AL
Beverly C, age 2, son, born AL

In 1900, they were still in Perry County, living at Oldtown. The census taker had the last name as Phelon:
Phelon, Tidwell 53 M W AL Sept 1847, 57, Married 19 years, Farmer
Phelon, Sarah E, Dec 1857, 42, 9 children, 8 living, born AL, Father TN, Mother AL
Phelon, Kessie, July 1882, 17, Farm Laborer
Phelon, Zada B, Dec 1883, 16
Phelon, Zola M, Mar 1885, 15
Phelon, Mattie J, Aug 1886, 13
Phelon, Bevley C, Oct 1888, 11
Phelon, Ella D, Sept 1890, 9
Phelon, Phelon, July 1894, 5
Phelon, D. Forest, July 1899, 11/12

In 1910, they had moved to Kingdom in Bibb County, Alabama:
Philan Tidwell 64
Bettie Tidwell 53
Clinton Tidwell 21
Ella D Tidwell 19
Phelen Tidwell Jr. 15
Forrest Tidwell 10
Married 30 years, 9 children, 8 alive
Indicates Civil War service

Bibb County, Alabama

Phelan Tidwell 1920s?

Phelon's wife Bettie died in 1913. I'm not sure where he was in 1920, as I can't find him in the census.
In 1930, Phelan was living with his granddaughter in Bessemer, Jefferson County, Alabama:
Bentley, Lucille B, Head, Rents, $40, Divorced, AL, parents AL, Occupation none
Bentley, Harlow B, son, 6, AL, parents AL
Tidwell, B. Clint, uncle, 39, single, AL, parents AL, contractor house, WW veteran
Tidwell, Phelan, Gr Father, 83, widowed, odd jobs, CW veteran

I was told Phelan went door to door and sharpened knives in Bessemer, Alabama

Phelan and his son Beverly Clinton, Bessemer, Alabama

Phelan died September 6, 1933 at Hillman Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama (now UAB Medical Center)

He is buried at Mt Carmel Cemetery, West Blockton, Bibb, Alabama in an unmarked grave.