The Walton Family Website

The oral history of the Walton family dictates that the family originated from Alexander City, Alabama likely in the mid to late 1800s.  Census records dating back to 1870, the first census to include African Americans, have yielded no trace of the Walton family in Alexander City or otherwise.  The first Walton to appear on census records was actually a Hawkins – Thomas Hawkins – in Russelville, Alabama with his wife, Mary Napier, in 1900.

Hands down, the most crucial document to the Walton family has been the death certificate of Oliver Walton.  Oliver is the son of our forefather, Billie Walton.  Oliver’s death certificate confirmed four crucial factors:  (1) The first name of Billie’s wife, Julia; (2) Julia’s surname of Burney, (3) the place of Oliver’s birth, Tallapoosa County; and (4) a date that places the Walton family in Alexander City, September of 1871.

The link below will detail the first three known generations of Walton ancestry.

Descendants of Billie Walton

In the 1890’s, Thomas Hawkins took a wife, Mary Mattie Francis Napier.  Mary is a descendant of John Napier, who first surfaced on the 1880 Census of Madison County, Alabama. 

It took extensive research and a lot of prayer to trace this family line.  The results printed here are due to the unrivaled determination of Anna Williams.  The mere connection of Mary to her ancestors was more instinctual than fact.  And, after two years of research, recently discovered land deeds confirmed Mary’s heritage.  Unfortunately, other than Mary’s lineage, no other living direct descendants of the Napier family have been located.

Descendants of John Napier

Barbara Parker married Robert Lee Hawkins, the son of Thomas and Mary.  Barbara’s ancestry was primarily an oral history.  She knew the name of her grandfather, Sol Parker, and another man, Ben Cotton.  Barbara did not know the relationship between the two men.  As fate would have it, the death certificate of Sol, or Solomon, would reveal him to be the son of Mack Parker & Charity Cotton, presumably Ben’s daughter.  This information came to light one day after Barbara’s funeral.

 Descendants of Ben Cotton

The Lindsey sisters are said to be the core family that gave rise to he United Family.  These sisters, and their brother Will, would marry, introducing the Davis, Monticure, and Vines surnames to the United Family.  Research would reveal other surnames to arise from this group of nine siblings.  However, the tree presented here does not reflect newly discovered data as of October 2006.  These changes will be profound, adding multiple limbs to the family tree and redefining its roots.

Descendants of Frank Lindsey

The most legendary ancestor to come out of Alexander City is Frank Tuck.  Oral history suggests that Frank fathered over 40 children.  These children and their descendants would connect the Smith, Wright, and numerous other surnames to the United Family.  In addition to his children, Frank left a mystery as well.  Frank appeared twice on the 1920 Census, each time in a household with children presently documented as his own.  The research continues…

Descendants of Frank Tuck