Henry Pryor Almand

H. P. ALMAND, the subject of this sketch, was born in Elbert County, Ga., January 7, 1821. His father, Thomas Almand, was born in North Carolina, August 16, 1779, and his mother was born in Virginia, August 9, 1785, her maiden name being Nancy David. They had born to them fifteen children, ten sons and five daughters. Fourteen of the lived to have families, and during the late war they had forty-five sons and grandsons in the service. Following is the generation of Thomas and Nancy Almand, viz: John, born April 9, 1802; Mary, August 12, 1803; Martha, April 3, 1805; Welcome, December 30, 1806; Annie, October 13, 1808; Sarah, September 27, 1810; Peter B., August 14, 1812; James F., October 18, 1814; David, September 7, 1816; Joseph H., November 13, 1818; Henry P., January 7, 1821; Simeon D., July 7, 1825; Graves B., June 18, 1827; Safronie E., June 18, 1827. When H. P. Almand was quite a small boy his parents moved form Elbert County, Ga., to Newton County, same State, and settled ten miles west of Covington. He lived there until November 25, 1838, when he was married to Selah Willson, of the same county. She was born in Warren County, Ga., December 3, 1819. H. P. Almand and Selah Almand had born to them nine children, four sons and five daughters—Harriett C., January 11, 1840, and died January 28, 1843; John W., born October 14, 1841; Henry F., May 14, 1843, and killed on June 27, 1863, in the battles around Richmond, Va.; Mary A., March 30, 1845; David M., February 24, 1847; Nancy J., February 24, 1849; Selah A., May 6, 1851; Thomas J., July 4, 1853; Susan F., March 16, 1855, and died March 23, 1855. Mrs. Selah Almand, wife of H. P. Almand, died March 27, 1855. On December 27, 1855, H. P. Almand was married to Zellah Ferrill. There were born to them three sons and three daughters—Judson, October 27, 1856; Susan J., April 7, 1859; Lula B., December 15, 1861, and died July 11, 1887; Savannah T., November 13, 1865; Henry P., October 7, 1868; Graves B., September 23, 1872. The occupation of H. P. Almand is that of a farmer and merchant. He started out in life quite young, and was married before he was eighteen years old. He had but little of this world’s goods, and his education was very limited. In 1845 he united with the Baptist Church and was ordained a deacon on May 1, 1870. He is liberal and devoted to his church and is always ready and willing to contribute to all charitable objects, especially to the poor and suffering. He is kind and affectionate to all, and makes friends wherever he goes. He is also a Master Mason. During the war he enlisted in the Forty-second Georgia regiment, and also had three sons in the Confederate army, one of whom was killed in the battles around Richmond, Va. In all his business affairs he was successful, but when he returned from the war he found nothing but desolation; but being a man of great determination he decided that by the help of the Lord he would rise, and success crowned his efforts. In 1878 he divided among his married children about $10,000, and again in 1885 he divided with his children $5000. He is now in his sixty-eighth year and is still engaged in the active business of life, and is more than ever persuaded that “life is real, life is earnest,” and nothing can be accomplished without great labor. Biographical Souvenir of Georgia and Florida by FA Battey & Co., 1889 Transcribed by LA Bauer