Personal Memorial Of William Cicero Mixson
Modified version by John Leslie Mixson

WILLIAM C. MIXSON, a prominent planter of Beat 12, Coffee County, Alabama, was born in Monroe County, Georgia, September 2, 1834. He is a son of William and Julia Harris Mixson, natives of Beaufort County, North Carolina, in which state they were reared and where they married. They moved to Georgia about 1832 and in 1853 they moved to Coffee County, Alabama, settling on an improvement where Mr. Mixson died October 9, 1880. Julia Harris Mixson died November 9th, 1894. Both wore Methodists from their youth up. Mr. Mixson was a farmer, a wagon maker, a blacksmith, and held local exhorter's license for his Church. He was a hardworking, industrious and prosperous man. His father, Elijah Mixson, died when the former was a child, was of English descent and also was probably a native of North Carolina. Grandfather Harris died in North Carolina. William C. Mixson was the third child of his parents, and he was the oldest of the five sons. There were two sisters older than he, and five sisters younger. Four of the sons were in the Civil. War; William C. Mixson; Barzillo H. Mixson (who was with the Western Army from, 1862, with the 53rd Alabama); Henry Joseph Mixson (who was a sergeant in the 54th Alabama, and in the Western Army from 1861 to the close of the War. He was captured at Island No.10, was imprisoned at Camp Douglas until the Fall of 1862, rejoining his Company when exchanged); John E. Mixson was in the 53rd Alabama mounted infantry all through the war. William C. Mixson was elected a Justice of the Peace in 1858 was reelected in 1862, but resigned in January, 1863, to join Company G, 57th Alabama infantry as Lieutenant, but commanded his Company the most of the time, and spent the first part of his service on the coast at Mobile, Pensacola, Pollard, etc. He then joined the Western army at Demopolis and fought at Resaca, on to Atlanta and Jonesboro, back towards Nashville, but in North Alabama he was taken sick and sent to a hospital in Montgomery. He later rejoined his Company and regiment at Corinth after the retreat from Nashville. He then went to North Carolina and fought at Kingston and Bentonville and surrendered with General Johnston. He was neither wounded nor captured during the war. After the war he returned to his home and resumed farming on his plantation of four hundred eighty acres about eight miles northeast of Clintonville. On this farm, which he acquired through his own efforts, he raises all needed supplies, corn, cotton, etc., and is considered one of the best farmers in the county. While his early education was some­what limited, yet by his contact with the world he has acquired a great deal of practical experience and is a man of rare common sense and sound judgment. While not an active politician, yet he is active in the support of his party. He is a member of Clinton Lodge No. 188 F. & A.M, and is lecturer of the Pea River Farmer's Alliance, He and his wife have been Methodists from their youth up. In 1891 he was instrumental in establishing Tabernacle Post Office at his house, and he is the postmaster. 

On January 19th, 1860, Mr. Mixson married Martha E. Law, daughter of Captain Isaiah T. Law. Mrs. Mixson was born September 18th, 1846, and she and Mr. Mixson have twelve children.  

Capt. Isiaah T. Law is one of the pioneer farmers and one of the most esteemed citizens of Coffee County. He was born in Sumter District, South Carolina, in 1820. He is the son of Isaiah and Margaret (Washburn) Law, the former a native of Sumter District, born in 1784, and the latter born in Rutherford County, North Carolina, in 1786. Mrs. Law died in South Carolina when Captain Law was eight yours old. Isaiah Law married again and in 1832 moved to Houston County, Georgia, and afterward to Macon County, where he died in 1840. He was a man of more than ordinary ability and was for some years associate justice of the inferior court of Macon County. His father, George Law was a native of Ireland. Gabriel Washburn was probably a native of England. He died in Rutherford County, North Carolina at an advanced age. Mrs. Law as born in Williamsburg District, South Carolina, in 1821, and is the mother of ten children (and is still living)*. In 1849 Captain Law came to Coffee County, Alabama, and a few years later settled on his present farm six miles north of Clintonville, where he owns 775 acres of land consisting of two tracts. He was a justice of the peace for nine years from 1850; was Tax Assessor and Collector during 1852 and 1853, and was County Commissioner for three years, 1872, 1873, and 1874. No case tried before him was ever appealed to the circuit court. He performed faithful service during the War of the Rebellion, first of Company F, Fortieth Tennessee, as first Lieutenant, and as Captain after his regiment was re-organized. He was taken prisoner at Island No.10 and served a time on Johnsons Island, and was captured again when Vicksburg surrendered to General Grant. He was paroled and exchanged and rejoined his Company. Before Atlanta he was again captured, and taken to Johnson Island for the second time, where he was kept until June 16, 1865. He reached home June 27, 1865. He has been a Mason since 1854, and is now a member of Clintonville Lodge No.188. Both he and his wife have been members or the Methodist Church for many years and stand deservedly high in the estimation of their friends and neighbors.  

On August 1st, 1892, William C. Mixson, was elected to represent Coffee County, in the State Legislature of Alabama.

*Note: Still living at the time the memorial was written.

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