Robert Brown McAlpine

Robert Brown McAalpine, Presbyterian minister, was born January 25, 1848, near Rockford, Coosa County; son of Aurelius Emmons and Harriet Newel (Brown) McAlpine, the former a native of east Tennessee, born 1826, educated in Jacksonville, where his father resided in 1837, studied medicine in New Orleans, located in Three Creeks, Union County, Ark., where he died March 27, 1886; grandson of Rev. Robert and Mary E. (Temple) McAlpine, of Jacksonville and Coosa County, the former graduated at Greenville college, east Tennessee, under Rev. Charles Coffin, D. D., and was captain in the U. S. Army, under Andrew Jackson in the war with Great Britain in 1812, studied theology later and entered the Presbyterian ministry, conducted for a time in Jacksonville a classical school attended by Gen. Hindman, Gen. Forney and Dr. Curry, and of Duncan Brunn, who was a successful planter in Arkansas, whither he removed from Brunnsville, about 1855-56. The family came originally from North Carolina. Robert Brown McAlpine attended school at private institutions, Mt. Holly, Arkansas, of which Prof. Espey Watts was principal and at Three Creeks academy, Ark. He entered Davidson college, N. C., in 1867, graduated in 1870 with the degree of A. B., afterwards, for work done received the degree of A. M.; graduated from Theological seminary of Columbia, S. C., 1873; took post graduate course at University of Virginia, entering in 1874; spent nearly a year at Princeton seminary and university, entering in 1879; was ordained in the ministry, May 12, 1877, and held pastorates at Uniontown, Goldsboro, N. C., Columbus, Miss., and Gadsden. He taught theology for nine years, beginning August, 1889, in the Stillman institute for training colored ministers, under the care of the Southern Presbyterian church; has been chairman of committee on Christian education and ministerial relief and trustee in two institutions of learning for short periods. Married: June 2. 1880, at Selma to Mary Elvira, daughter of Hon. Benjamin Hogan and Eliza Reese (Tucker) Craig, of Midway, Ga.; granddaughter of Hon. James D. and Elvira S. (Berry) Craig of Cahaba, who removed to Selma after the War, and in the seventies to San Francisco, Cal., and granddaughter of Mary (Bivens) Tucker. Benjamin Hogan Craig was married to his wife December 4, 1856, at Midway, Ga., lived a while at Cahaba, moving to Selma in 1859; a member of the legislature of 1900-02, the constitutional convention of 1901; a lawyer and for many years register in chancery of Dallas County. Children: 1. Laura Craig, m. Frank Freeman, Birmingham; 2. Mary Kirby, Tuscaloosa; 3. Gertrude Elvira, Tuscaloosa; 4. Robert Brown, Jr., Meridian, Miss. Residence: Tuscaloosa.