Joseph Hardie Aplin
Deadly
Shooting by Betty Cope
Andrews
Below is the May 23, 1912 Andalusia Star's Account of the death of Joseph H.
Aplin which is located in The Andalusia Public Library Genealogy Section
Microfilm Roll # 17
Edward Wilks was at his home at this fateful hour. The store was dimly
lighted and Charlie Wilks was in an enclosure at the safe, near the rear
building. City Marshall Aplin entered the store, believing that Charlie Wilks
fired a shot from his revolver on Court Square, a few minutes previous.
Only a few words passed
between Charley Wilks and Joseph Aplin when
shooting commenced. Only one man witnessed the tragedy. He says Mr.
Aplin fired the first shot. Before his death Mr. Aplin stated that Mr. Wilks
fired the first shot. Today the shot is of small moment. All responsibility
is locked up in the grave. Mr. Wilks was hit four times and died instantly.
The body was immediately removed to the Wilks home on South three
Notch Street. Mr. Aplin received one shot in the abdomen. He walked
out of the store to a barbershop and then to a drug store. Later he was
carried to his home, where three or four doctors worked to save his life,
but at 10:30 o'clock he was dead. Early Tuesday morning the body of
Wilks was taken to Petrey for burial. The same day the body of Joseph
Aplin was interred in the Andalusia Cemetery with Masonic honors. Mr.
Wilks was an unmarried man about 22 years of age. He is survived by
three sisters and four brothers. Mr. Aplin is survived by a wife and two
children. Immediately after the shooting the homes of the two unfortunate
families were besieged with sympathizers, many going from one home to
the other to tender sympathy and assistance.
Charlie Wilks born 16 Dec. 1890, died 20 May 1912
"God gave, He took, He will restore" is inscribed on the tombstone
in Petrey Cemetery, Petrey, (Crenshaw Co.) Alabama.
Joseph H. Aplin is:
Joseph H. Aplin Born Sept. 24, 1868
Died May 26, 1912
"We shall sleep but not forever, There shall be a glorious dawn. We shall
meet to part no never on the resurrection morn.
"
The
graves of Joseph and Lydia Aplin are located in Magnolia Cemetery, Andalusia,
Covington County, Alabama behind the Courthouse.
Lydia Ann Hair Aplin
"Wife of Joseph H. Aplin"
March 23, 1869
Aug. 14, 1946
By Curtis Thomasson
The Andalusia Star-News
Around the turn of the century, Joseph Aplin was Marshall of Covington County. Some records indicate he was shot and killed while serving in this capacity in 1912. A marshall was the same as chief of police and in addition to law enforcement, the official was responsible for collecting taxes and keeping the streets in good repair.
Joseph was a descendant in the Aplin family whose ancestors moved into this area during the late 1840s. The earliest to purchase land was an earlier Joseph Aplin who acquired 320 acres in 1854. His place was in the New Hope or Green Bay community.
Joseph’s family is probably the one enumerated in the 1850 Census of Covington County. He is listed as a farmer at age 48 years, and his wife, Beadee, at 37 years of age. The children with them at this time were Emiline, 18; Polly, 14; Thomas, 12; William, 9; John, 7; Martha, 5; and Allen, 3. The parents were both natives of Georgia, but all of their children with the exception of Martha were born in Alabama. Martha is recorded as having been born in Florida.
In 1850, Joseph was appointed as a Justice of the Peace for Beat Number Three. He then served as a Vice Justice during 1851.
James S. Aplin, who was born in 1829 in Barbour County is most likely an older son of the above Joseph. He does not show up in Covington County until the 1870 census when he and his wife, Elizabeth, and their children are residing in the Green Bay area. Also, residing in their household is an elderly female, H. Rabb, at 85 years of age and listed as being a native of North Carolina.
James and Elizabeth reared the following children: William Joseph, b. 1860, d. 1925; Bedie, b. 1861, d. 1880, m. ? Hodge; Georgia A.E., b. 1863; Joseph Hardie, b. 1868, d. 1912, m. Lydia Ann Hair; James Marion, b. 1871, d. 1954; M. Caroline, b. 1874; and Mary A., b. 1878.
In 1864, when the Company of Covington County Militia (Second Class) was organized, James enlisted as a private at the age of 24 years. Serving with him under Captain J.T. Brady were Joseph, age 58; Jasper, age 34; and Allen, age 16. In his later years, in 1899, James was granted a pension for his military service. At his death in 1901, he was buried in the New Hope Cemetery. Elizabeth lived until 1919 at which time she was buried beside him.
James’s son, Joseph H., was married in 1890 to Lydia Ann Hair, daughter of Jonas and Alice Jane (Robbins) Hair who were residents of the Green Bay community. The couple had two children: Fannie Lou, b. 1892, d. 1978, m. John Walter Andrews; and Franklin Eugene, b. 1898, d. 1980, m. Cupid Mae Wyatt.
Thomas Aplin, son of Joseph, was born in 1839 and lived until 1900. The surname of his wife, Martha A., is unknown to this writer. Thomas was listed as a registered voter in Beat Number Five of Covington County in 1867. In the 1870 census, he and Martha are listed with one child, William, who was three years of age. Also, in their home was a 74 -year-old female named C. McKinney/McIney.
Also in the 1870 census was a William F. Aplin, age 50 years, and his wife Elizabeth, age 41 years. With them are the following children: William T., 20; David, 18; Catherine, 15; James J., 10; and Jane Gomillion, 78. This family was listed earlier in the 1860 census with an additional two older children: Nancy J., b. ca 1846; and Joseph H., b. ca 1848.
William F., who is probably a younger brother of Joseph, served in the W.B.T.S. as a private in Co. I, 4th. Regiment Ala. (Senior) Reserves. He was listed as 46 years of age, and having gray eyes, dark hair, dark complexion, and standing six feet in height. Following the war, he was listed in 1867 as a registered voter in Beat Number Seven.
In the 1860 and 1870 censuses, the Jasper Aplin family is enumerated. In 1870, he is listed at 45 years of age, and his wife, Frances A., at 36 years of age. Children in their household included the following: Nancy A., 18; Martha E., 12; Adeline, 10; Francis J., 8; Nicey A., 5; and William T., 3.
Today, there are a number of Aplin descendants residing in Covington County. A majority of them lives in the Gantt and Florala communities. Also, a number of families are located just across the state line in northwest Florida. They are proud of their family heritage and would appreciate learning any additional genealogy that might be shared by anyone else.