Dallas and Autauga County, Alabama African American Research

I am beginning to research my father's families in Dallas & Autuaga counties, AL. The surnames I'm researching are Lanier, Callines/Callins/Callen, Smith and possibly Parker. According to oral family stories, my Callins family has ancestors who originated in Haiti and East Africa. I've enjoyed interesting family stories and memories over the years of unique incidents and professions of family members, my grandmother Lucy and her mother Lucy stand out in my mind. If anyone is researching these Alabama family surnames, please post a message here as I would like to contact all potential family members as possible. Thank you in advance,

Family Griot

Tags: Africa, Autauga, County, Dallas, Haiti, Slave, trade

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Emiko L Lanier on September 29, 2010 at 9:56am

The Lanier history that was passed down from Felix Robinson Lanier in 1930s stated that Burwell Lanier and his brothers and sisters were orphaned after their father's death. Sampson Lanier was Burwell's uncle and raised Burwell Lanier in his home. He was Sampson's nephew instead of a son. I have to get back into that history again. My computer crashed and I lost the ancestry listing compiled by Felix Lanier. I need to get back into the original manuscript. I will get back on this later. Emiko

Permalink Reply by Thomas J. Miree on October 30, 2010 at 8:54pm

I am a descendent of an Daniel Lanier, an African American, born into slavery about 1823, The 1870 census shows that he was born in Alabama and his father and mother were born in North Carolina. His wife is listed as Nancy, surname unknown, also born in Alabama and her father and mother were from South Carolina. I have reached the point in my research where I need to examine the white Lanier Family estate inventories, Wills and other estate records. I would like to know the migration timeframe of the Lanier family before thet arrived in Autauga County Alabama. Daniel Lanier lived close to Clem G. Lanier, a big land owner, in the 1870 census. Daniel was the father of several girls who married into the Chappel, Love, Morten(Moten),Nunn, Motley and Kirkland families. I am also interest in comparing oral history with any descendents of Daniel Lanier also.

Thomas J. Miree
c

Permalink Reply by Family Griot on October 31, 2010 at 7:23am

A side note: when I first started this search into the Lanier family, I thought to myself it would be fairly easy to trace since Lanier is an uncommon surname among AA. I see that I was wrong! Thomas there are a lot of Lanier's out of Alabama specifically Autauga Co. and Madison Co. attached to various white Lanier families. Best of luck in your search.

Permalink Reply by Emiko L Lanier on October 31, 2010 at 7:58am

I wish I had more information on the Clement Lanier family estate. My great grandmother came from Clement Lanier family farm. She was given to Dr. Isaac D Lanier as nurse helper from his uncle Clement Lanier. However in those days in 1950, female slaves became a property of the master who owen them. She had at least 4 known children from Isaac D. Lanier. My grandfather born 1955 was the first born son to white Isaac D Lanier. All his mulatto brothers and sisters grew up in the Isaac D Lanier home since he was very possessive man, slave owner and father. There may be many other Black/Mulatto Laniers born to the White Lanier familes. We are able to carry the story since it was past down by oral history both from white and black side of the family. Census also identifies them growing up together in the same household.
The Clement Lanier's family moved from North Carolina with the aquired slaves. However there were other slaves that came from South Carolina, flesh from the slave boats. It is possible your great great grand parents had children from North and South Carolina, since they use to be afraid of marrying the kins. Some slaves, I believe were with the Lanier family since they lived in PA or VA.

Emiko Lanier
great grand daughter/(grand daughter) of Isaac D Lanier (William H Lanier) and William Pen Taylor Dabney (Elizabeth Dabney Lanier)

Permalink Reply by Thomas J. Miree on October 31, 2010 at 6:58pm

Thanks for your encouragement.
I looked at the 1860 slave census(schedule) and found that Clem G. Lanier owned 65 slaves. It appears that these slaves could have been family units based on the census grouping. Clem was born abt. 1805 and was living with a young man with the surname Love. Since Clem was one of the largest slave owners in that Milton District of Autauga County, I am working under the assumption that Daniel Lanier was connected to Clem G. or another slave owner Lanier. in Autauga County.

Permalink Reply by Family Griot on February 16, 2011 at 7:53pm

I know that this is late, but have any of you looked in the slave narratives for some of these people? I know that I was in the library here in NY a few weeks ago and came across a narrative in the WPA works for a woman who had been enslaved in Dallas Co., but lived in Oklahoma after the Civil War. She belonged to a Clem Lanier I believe. I will have to check my resources on that. But it was one of the first slave narratives I'd read on this particular day.

Permalink Reply by Lisa A. (Thamm) Spegal on February 18, 2011 at 1:05am

I just found this and thought it was interesting as we have been discussing the Lanier's in madison co and the Mary McCray that was working on the Lanier Plantation. Her sister Winnie married a Donegan:

Mary Donegan

Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974

birth:	Al
spouse:	Wm. Lanier


record title:	Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974
name:	Robt. Lanier
death date:	26 Dec 1932
death place:	Huntsville, Madison, Alabama
gender:	Male
race (original):	Colored
race (standardized):	Black
age at death:	20y
birth date:	Aug 1912
birthplace:	Al
marital status:	Single
father's name:	Wm. Lanier
father's birthplace:	Al
mother's name:	Mary Donegan
mother's birthplace:	Al
occupation:	Farmer
street address:	RFD 4 B.413
residence:	Huntsville, Madison, AL
cemetery:	Fennell
burial date:	28 Dec 1932

Permalink Reply by kenya parker-ball on January 21, 2012 at 4:11pm

I am the great, great, great grandaughter of Jacob and Annie Parker of Milton, Autauga, Al. Their daughter Nancy Parker married a Burl Lanier (1865), their children name were Charlies S .(1894), Bertha (1892), Henry L.(1894).

Permalink Reply by Family Griot on January 22, 2012 at 9:31am

I'll have to ask about that. Its common knowledge in my family (Lanier) that we are related to the Parkers, but no one really can identify how. I personally think that its a mixture of family members who perhaps may have been sold to an enslaver surnamed Parker and marriage. You'll see Burrell Sr. Had two sets of children. Lots of intermarriage between the black people of this county.

Permalink Reply by kenya parker-ball on January 23, 2012 at 8:47pm

thanks, their is a lot of great informatioin on this site. Please let me know. There are only 2 siblings of my grandad left and they have gotten in age. Any information would be appreciated.