John Austin Darden

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Founder of the annual homecoming at Poplar Springs Baptist Church and Flint Hill Methodist Church, both located in Coosa Co., AL.

"Argusites: Prof. J. A. Darden paid us a visit last week, and also he subscribed to The Argus. The professor will return to the State University and finish up his law course." (1)
(1) The Coosa Argus; Friday, July 12, 1901. Page 3. Researched by Ron Bridges at the Alabama Department of Archives and History, Montgomery on 3 Jan 2004.

Local and Personal
"The formal announcement of John A. Darden, of Goodwater, for representative in the legislature is expected within a short time."(1)
Local and Personal
"Hon. John A. Darden, candidate for Representative in the legislature, was looking after business in the probate office Monday, and incidentally shaking hands with our people."(2)
(1)The Chronicle, Local and Personal, 2 Jan 1914, p. 5. Printed in Rockford, Coosa Co., AL. Microfilm: Located in the Alabama Archives and History, Montgomery, AL.
(2) The Chronicle, Local and Personal, 30 Jan 1914, p. 5.

"JOHN A. DARDEN CONDITION IS FAIR

The condition of John A. Darden, local attorney, confided in the Russell Hospital at Alexander City, is slightly improved. Mr. Darden's hip was broken just below the joint. His leg has been placed in a plaster cast and will have to remain that way for some time. He is able to see visitors and many friends have gone down to see him. Dr. T. H. Sreet is the attending physician." (1)

(1) The Goodwater Enterprise, John A. Darden Condition Is Fair, 1 Jan 1937, p. 1.

John ran an advertisement in the Rockford Chronicle on 1 Feb 1940, page 3, as the agent in Goodwater, Coosa Co., AL for The Royal Insurance Co., LTD. of Liverpool.

"John Austin Darden was born at Bentleyville, Coosa County, Ala., on the 2nd day of April 1879. He is the son of John Alexander and Georgia Elizabeth (Webb) Darden. His father and mother were born and reared near Hanover, Coosa County, Ala. His paternal grandfather, Uriah Addison Darden, was a native Georgian and moved to Talladega Ala., about 1845, and in 1850 to Coosa County, where he died in August 1903, at the age of seventy-nine years. His paternal grandmother was a Miss Mary Logan, daughter of Alexander Logan, one of the veterans of the War of 1812, and one of the earliest settlers of Coosa County, where his daughter was born. Austin Pain Webb, who was also a native Georgian and an early settler of Coosa County, was his maternal grandfather. His maternal grandmother was a Miss Mary Elizabeth Thomas, daughter of Stephen Thomas, who came to Coosa County soil in early pioneer days. John Alexander Darden, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a teacher by profession, and spent his life in Coosa County, dying on Jan. 20, 1885, leaving his wife and four children, John Austin, William Anderson, Georgia Hester, and Annie Alexander, the oldest being only 6 years of age. He was a Democrat and identified himself with the Baptist church, of which his wife was a member. In 1890 the mother of John Austin died. After the decease of the mother the brother and sisters, together with John Austin, made their home with their grandfather Darden. John Austin, the subject of this article, had very meager opportunities for schooling; being the oldest, he was the mainstay for helping his widowed mother to make a living on the farm, where he plowed from the time, he was 8 years old. After the death of his mother, he continued to work on the farm as before with his grandfather. In the meantime, he had studied diligently the two or three months he was permitted to attend school and between schools he continued his studies daily at home, sitting up late at night Lincoln-like. At the age of 17 he hired a hand to help gather the crop, so he might attend one full term of winter school at Andrews' Chapel. Here he had only attended a month when his uncle, Addie Darden, who was teaching school in the community where young Darden was living, was taken sick and John Austin was selected temporarily to teach his school until the recovery of his uncle. His uncle failed to recover for several months, and the patrons continued their neighbor boy in the school for the remainder of the session and as long thereafter as they could secure his services. In the following spring, young Darden, then eighteen, asked his grandparents the permission to attend school, having missed his winters schooling, whereupon they told him if he could make his own way he might attend, as they were unable to aid him. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he entered immediately the Flint Hill high school at Bentleyville, where, under the direction of Prof. A. R. Jones, he prepared himself for college. The next fall he enters the sophomore class of the Fourth District Agricultural college, where he attended for 3 sessions, teaching in vacation, and graduating in 1900. In 1901, Mr. Darden entered the University of Alabama, taking the degree of Bachelor of Laws, 1903. He is now practicing his chosen profession at Goodwater, Coosa County, Ala., where he enjoys a lucrative practice. He is a true Democrat, a Knight of Pythias and a consistent member of the Baptist church. On Sept. 23, 1900, Mr. Darden was married to Miss Vashti Olie Sellers, of Nixburg, Coosa County, Ala., daughter of Sampson Elija and Martha J. Sellers. Mr. Sellers move to Coosa County form Georgia when a small boy; died in 1903 at the age of 79. Mrs. Martha Jane (Johnston) Sellers survives. Mr. Darden carried his wife with him when he took his law course, and she assisted him in paying his way by taking boarders. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Darden: Mabel Clara, born Oct. 2, 1901, and Eschol Sampson, born Jan. 9, 1903." (1)

(1) Hon. Joel C. DuBose, Notable Men of Alabama: Personal and Genealogical with Portraits, Vol. II (Atlanta, GA: Southern Historical Association, 1904), pp. 430-431.

Sketches of Representatives. Coosa County: "JOHN AUSTIN DARDEN, of Goodwater, representative in the Legislature, 1915, from Coosa County, was born April 2, 1879, near Rockford, in that county; is the son of John Alexander and Georgia Elizabeth (Webb) Darden, the former a farmer and livestock trader, and a teacher for a number of years. His grandparents, Uriah Addison and Mary (Logan.) Darden and Austin P. and Ann Webb were all of Scotch-Irish stock, natives of Ga., but later residents of Coosa County. Uriah A. Darden was a member of Cop. A 46th Ala. Inf. Regt., C. S. A. and served with his command as private and corporal until his capture at the battle of Lookout Mountain, after which time he remained a prisoner until the close of the war. Austin P. Webb entered the Confederate Army at the beginning of the war and fought until captured at the battle of Missionary Ridge. Representative Darden was left an orphan at an early age; received his early education in the rural schools of Coosa County: graduated from the 4th District Agricultural School, 1901; and entered the Law School of the University of Ala. the same year and graduated June 1903, with a degree of LL. B. He was admitted to the bar Jun 1903, at Goodwater, where he has since practiced. He has been a justice of the peace, a notary public and a town attorney. He is a Democrat; member of the Missionary Baptist Church: and a Columbian Woodman. He was married Sept. 23, 1900, near Nixburg, Coosa County, Ala., to Vashti Olie, daughter of Sampson Elijah and Martha Jane Sellers of that place. His wife's father was a native of Ga., who removed to Ala. early in life, and although he did not believe in secession, enlisted in the defense of his country as a member of the 34th Ala. Regt., C. S. A., and fought with his command until its surrender with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston in N. C. in 1865." (1)
(1) Alabama Official and Statistical Register - 1915, complied by Thomas M. Owen, LL. D., Director (Montgomery, AL: Brown Printing Co., 1915), p. 108.

Lawyer in Goodwater, Coosa Co., AL. He owned a 1912 Buick.

28 September 2000
Cousins and Sons,
The article that I sent you yesterday about our grandfather, John A. Darden, contained a reference to a Prof. A. R. Jones. I remembered discussion about this man and the fact that I had a letter from him to my grandmother. I have transcribed the letter and am attaching it hereto. At the time of the writing of this letter, 1954, Mr. Jones had to be in his 80's. Papa Darden entered high school when he was eighteen or in 1897. I thought that you all might like to have a copy of this letter as a testament to what Papa's teacher thought of him.
Sincerely, Lee Head

Electic, Ala Mar 26, 1954
Dear Mrs. Darden:
Years ago I should have written you what I want to say now. Like everybody else I have been too busy.
Your husband, John A. Darden, "Son" we called him, was one of the best boys, and one of, if not the most outstanding characters I have ever known. No children ever had a harder and more discouraging life when young than did John, his brother Anderson, and his two sisters, Hester and Alexander.
John A. Darden had a love and an appreciation for humanity not found in many men. He did all in his power, and did naturally help and uplift all with whom he came in contact. It is a pity this world is not filled with such men as John A. Darden.
Mrs. Darden I am writing this with the hope that you will show it to each of your children. I want them, and would be glad every member of the family, could know how I have always felt toward them. They lived in sight of our home. I taught every one of them, and I have known them as probably no one else did.
Mrs. Jones and I would be glad to have you and your children visit us at any time.

With best wishes for each and all,
I am yours truly, A. R. Jones

This is a true copy of a letter written by Mr. A. R. Jones to my grandmother, Vashti Olie Sellers Darden. Mr. Jones was John A. Darden's teacher in high school. I first transcribed the letter in 1971. I have repeated the transcription from the original on 28 September 2000. I am A. L. Head, Jr., grandson of John A. and Vashti Olie Darden.

Contributor: Ronald Davis Bridges (46931837) •