James Theopholis Leeper (1832 - 1888)

Born 23 Sep 1832 in Moulton, Lawrence, Alabama, United States

Husband of Antoinette (Bandy) Leeper — married 1 Nov 1857 (to Aug 1888) in Shelby County, Alabama, United States

Descendants

Died 13 Aug 1888 at age 55 in Columbiana, Shelby, Alabama, United States

Biography

James Leeper is Notable.

Judge Leeper was a prohibitionist, a Mason, and an Odd Fellow.

James and Nettie's children are 1.Samuel B, 2. James T, an attorney at Columbiana Shelby Co Al. 3. Olive m. Frank Nelson of Birmingham 4. Charles Stone , Birmingham Banker 5. Lucille m. Andrew Grizzard Patterson of Falkville, last known residence .

"JAMES THEOPHALUS LEEPER

June 1869-August 1888

Judge James Theophalus Leeper, 1832-1888, and Judge John Samuel Leeper, 1843-1895, were brothers. They both died while serving in their term of office as Shelby County Probate Judge. Their parents were Samuel Leeper and Elenora Stone. [As noted in the Shelby County Guide, Columbiana, Alabama, Thursday, August 24, 1871, "We are pained to note the death of Samuel Leeper, Esq., of Shelby County, who died at the residence of his son Judge Leeper, in Columbiana, on Thursday last. Mr. Leeper was one of the early settlers of Talladega County. He aided in establishing and was the first superintendent of the Sabbath School ever organized in the county. Mr. Leeper was in every respect a good man. He was an active, useful citizen in the community which he resided and his influence was always for the right. He had been a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church for more than forty years, and died as he had lived a true Christian, an upright man and an honored citizen."]

The October 28, 1850 Talladega County Alabama census indicates Theophalus Leeper, "Clerk", age 17 years, born in Alabama, living in household with Alexander J. Cotton, "Judge of Probate Court", and family and Seldon H. Eason, "Clerk", age 21 years. The October 15, 1850 census indicates Samuel Leeper, "Lawyer", age 49 years, born in Georgia, and his wife, Elenora, age 34 years, born in Virginia, and their six children, all born in Alabama were living in Shelby County Alabama. Two of their children were James T. Leeper, "Clerk", age 18 years, and John S. Leeper, age 10 years.

The Shelby County Guide, Columbiana, Thursday, June 3, 1869, "The following named attorneys were admitted at Montgomery, last week, to practice in the U.S. District Court ... James T. Leeper."

He was appointed Probate Judge of Shelby County Alabama by Governor William H. Smith on June 21, 1869. The Shelby County Guide, Columbiana, Alabama, Thursday, June 24, 1869, "Mr. Jas. T. Leeper our present efficient Register in Chancery has received the appointment of Probate Judge of this county, vice Judge Mardis whose disabilities had not been removed. A word of praise from us in favor of Mr. Leeper would be superflous. He is well known to the people of Shelby as a consistent union man, and represented them in convention of 1865, and will fill the place he is about to assume with credit to himself and fidelity to the people." [The Shelby News, dated November 3, 1892 indicates the county officers as Probate Judge, John S. Leeper; Circuit Clerk, W.R.A. Milner; Register in Chancery, D.R. McMillan; Sheriff, H.W. Nelson; Tax Collector, A.F. Smith; Tax Assessor, John H. Hammonds; County Treasurer, W.A. Thompson; Superintendent of Education, E.O. Dawson; County Solicitor, J.L. Peters; County Commissioners, James McGowan, Rufus Walker, Richard Griffin, A.M. Jones."]

The June 23, 1870 Columbiana, Shelby County Alabama census indicates James T. Leeper, "Judge of Probate", age 36 years, born in Alabama, and his family were living in same household with his parents, Samuel and Elenora Leeper. [The July 6, 1860 Shelby County Alabama census indicates Samuel Leeper, "Attorney at Law", age 60 years, born in Georgia.] The June 14, 1880 census indicates James T. Leeper, "Judge of Probate", [age 48 years, born in Alabama, his father born in Georgia, his mother born in Virginia] and family were living in Columbiana, Shelby County Alabama. His daughter, Olive Leeper, married in Shelby County Alabama on May 21, 1890 to Frank A. Nelson. [He was the son of Hardy Sanders Nelson and Sarah Ann Elliott.] Their son was Frank Nelson, Jr. (1896-1970), owner of the Frank Nelson Building, a 10-story skyscraper located at the corner of 20th Street and Second Avenue North in downtown Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, It was originally completed in 1903 as the headquarters for the First National Bank of Birmigham and is considered Birmingham's third skyscraper.

Obituary

Shelby Chronicle, Columbiana, Alabama, Thursday, August 18, 1888, "On Monday, August 13, at 12:30 o'clock, Judge Jas. T. Leeper quietly and peacefully passed from time to eternity. His death was not unexpected, and his preparation for the event was full and complete. Death had no terrors for him. That faith which he had exemplified through life sustained him in the last trying hour, and he passed into the dark valley, his mind clear and calm, leaning upon the almighty arm of Him whom he had trusted and faithfully served through life. "Mark the perfect man; and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace." James T. Leeper was born at Moulton, the capital of Lawrence county, Alabama. In his extreme youth his parents removed southward to Talladega county, where their son was given a common school education. In 1848, Mr. Leeper moved to Shelby county, but, in 1850, returned to Talladega to be employed as clerk in the Probate office there. This position he held for a year and a half. Coming again to Shelby he was employed in the same capacity. He so economized his time under Probate Judge Miles H. Pope, as to prepare himself for the bar. In 1854, he was examined by John T. Morgan, J.L.M. Curry and John J. Woodard at a term of the St. Clair Circuit Court, Hon. George D. Shortridge presiding, for admission to the bar, and was by them passed upon as prepared. In 1855, Mr. Leeper assisted M.H. Cruikshank, Register in Chancery for Talladega, with the duties of his office. The next year he was himself appointed Register for Shelby county by Chancellor Jas. B. Clark, of Eutaw. In connection with his duties as Register, he entered upon the practice of law, in co-partnership with his father, Samuel Leeper, who was one of the most successful practitioners in this circuit. On November 1, 1857, Mr. Leeper married Miss M. Antoinette Bandy [they married in Shelby County Alabama on November 1, 1857], and has continuously since then lived happily and and comfortably in Columbiana. A large family has sprung up from this union. Mr. Leeper was elected a member of what is known as the "Parson's convention" of 1865. He took a conservative stand as a democrat in that body, whose object was to re-organize the political life of the state. In 1865, Mr. Leeper was appointed by Gov. Parsons Solicitor for this circuit, and stood for election by the legislature for the same office, with Alberto Martin, of Jefferson, and B.B. Lewis, of Shelby, as rival candidates. Martin was elected. In 1866, he formed a new partnership with Mr. Lewis. Two years later, he was appointed Register in Chancery for the district of three counties, Jefferson, St. Clair and Shelby, by Chancellor Woods, afterwards Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the U.S. The year following, that of 1869, Mr. Leeper was appointed Judge of Probate for Shelby, by Gov. W.H. Smith. He has held the office continuously since by three popular elections, and has occupied that and other important positions of trust and emolument for the greater part of forty years. In 1867, Judge Leeper joined the Presbyterian church, and four years later was made an elder of the same, which position he has filled with that dignity and singleness of purpose which distinguishes his life. Judge Leeper was frank, open, easy and social in manner. His courtesy was never varying; his sincerity self-vindicating, and the native courage of his life attracted men of all degrees and conditions. No man ever lived in the county who carried a wider personal influence than he. The popular vote which fixed the county on the side of prohibition, was the result of his calm but firm espousal of that policy. He acted only after mature deliberation, and seldom changed his opinion. As a Judge of Probate, Judge Leeper possessed the unbounded confidence of his constituency. His rank in that office was second to none before the Supreme Court. Prior to the war of the state, Judge Leeper was an active Whig in politics. He canvassed his county for Bell and Everett in 1860, opposed by B.B. Lewis, who advocated the election of Breckenridge and Lane. Immediately after the close of the war, Judge Leeper alligned himself with the democrats, the political situation then having been reduced to white control of the state or negro supremacy, aided by federal legislation and the federal army. He has been a consistent democrat since that time, supporting the party organization and voting the party ticket. Where the party has been divided on the question of finance and taxation, he has espoused the cause of low tariff. The fact need especially to be signalized that Judge Leeper was not only an able officer, industrious and attentive in the minutest details of his office, but of incorruptible integrity and immovable firmness - a breakwater between careless or negligent administrators and guardians and widows and orphans. He loved the church and the honor of his Redeemer, and was a conspicuous example of the saying "Strength and beauty are in the sanctuary." True men trusted and confided in him to the last degree, and will mourn over him as one mourns over a brother by blood. On Tuesday afternoon at three o'clock, the funeral services were conducted at the Presbyterian church by Rev. H.A. Smith, assisted by Rev. G.T. Lee and Dr. E.B. Teague, who added a high tribute to the virtues of Judge Leeper. All business houses in town closed as soon as the death was announced, and all business was suspended until the funeral was over. This is a mark of respect seldom shown any one in this place, and shows in what high esteem Judge Leeper was held by the people among whom he has lived. His place will not be easily filled, and his sad death will not soon be forgotten by the people of Shelby county."

Buried in Columbiana City Cemetery, Shelby County Alabama are James T. Leeper, born September 23, 1832, died August 13, 1888, "Born in Moulton, Lawrence County, Alabama", and his wife, Nettie Leeper, born February 14, 1836, died November 26, 1915, "Wife of James T. Leeper", and Samuel Leeper, "Son of J.T. and Nettie Leeper", born March 3, 1867, died June 15, 1890, and J.T. Leeper, born January 4, 1869, died March 12, 1930."

Sources

• [ http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~alshelby/ProbateJudges.html ]

Name James T. Leeper Spouse's Name Antenett A. Bandy Event Date 01 Nov 1857 Event Place , Shelby, Alabama

"Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQJG-RN5 : 9 July 2015), James T. Leeper and Antenett A. Bandy, 01 Nov 1857; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 1571844 IT 1-5.

Shelby County, Alabama, USA

• [ https://books.google.com/books ]

History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, Volume 4 By Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen Page 1032 lower right

• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=41197331

"Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKC-RBCG : accessed 20 February 2016), James Theopolis Leeper, 1888; Burial, Columbiana, Shelby, Alabama, United States of America, Columbiana Cemetery; citing record ID 41197331, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

Alabama State Census, 1866," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V6PK-PDL : accessed 20 February 2016), James L Leeper, Shelby, Alabama; citing certificate 20658, p. 34, Department of Archives and History, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1,492,022.

"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHDV-L96 : accessed 20 February 2016), Jas T Leeper, 1860.

"United States Civil War Confederate Papers of Citizens or Businesses, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VW13-8C3 : accessed 20 February 2016), James T Leeper, 1861-1865; from "Confederate Papers Relating to Citizens or Business Firms, 1861-1865," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M346 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 579.

"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH54-K68 : accessed 20 February 2016), Theophalus Leeper in household of Alexander ? Collin, Talladega county, Talladega, Alabama, United States; citing family 592, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).