James Murphree Died March 14th

James M. Murphree was born near Blountsville, Blount county, January 28, 1845, and died at Cullman March 14, 1930 of pneumonia. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James M. Murphree, who were among the first settlers of Cullman county in the Bremen and Arkadelphia sections. The Murphrees came from South Carolina to Tennessee and from there to Alabama, about the time of the War of 1812. His grandfather, Allen Murphree, was an early settler near Blountsville and his great-grandfather, William Murphree was a Baptist preacher.

James M. Murphree lived in Cullman County over seventy-five years excepting three years 1862-65, when he was in the Civil War. He was in many of the bloodiest engagements of the war, having participated in the battles around Nashville, the battle of Murfreesboro, Chicamauga, Lookout Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain and the Atlanta campaigns. He served under General Rosencrans, Grant, Thomas, and was a member of Gen. William T. Sherman’s body guard. His father lost his life in battle as a color bearer. He was a member of Company I, First Alabama Cavalry and is one of the last survivors of this organization.

In March 1866, he and Mary Speegle were married and lived in the same home from 1868 to 1925 when Mrs. Murphree died and on last May he moved to Cullman to live with his son, A.B. Murphree. He spent his life in farming, was always deeply interested in schools and churches. He was a member of the Freewill Baptist church.

Funeral services were conducted by Revs. J.E. Marion and Harvey Edwards and he was buried at Brushy Creek in the old family cemetery. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. M.L. Aaron of Camp Hill, Mrs. M.A. Hodges of Dora, Ala., and one son, A.B. Murphree of Cullman.—Cullman Tribune.

Database created and maintained by Ryan Dupree.

Service records compiled by Glenda Todd and used with her permission. This and other information about the history of the First and the men who fought with the unit can be found in her book, First Alabama Cavalry, USA: Homage to Patriotism.

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