The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-10
JELKS, THE GOVERNOR,
 HIS WORKS AND WAYS
Alabamas Chief Executive Was But a Sturdy Young Journalist Three Years Ago---His
 Career and Character.

along its way with distinguishing char desp down into the years that have gone to find the reason for what appears to the superficial mind to have been the meteoric continuation of the ambition of a talented young man Not sso with Governor Jeiks. He has the native force l of chsfsct and the brilliant intellect bosn to great men. While these accomp- l lishments were born in him Governor Jelks has in a large measure carved his way to success with his own energy. 1 Cold printers type cannot adequateiy 1, portray the romance of his life. little Stand was the place of his birth No- vember 2, 1855 Warrior Stand was in that part of Russell County which is now Macon County; s, His o,tar }a.ner a was Jsne S l Gocdrum Frazer before her marriage. On his paternal side he is descended from a collateral branch of the family of Oli- was connected with some of the distin- guished persons of early Georgia and Alabama.
 When Governor Jelks was years old his father died and he was reared without 1 the guiding hand and stern influences or | a paternal parent. His mother was de- voted and tender. She was his sweet l companion and her influence has doml- | mated his life
 | Runag ging through old papers on file in his office Hon. Thomas M. Owen. State Director of the Department of Archives | of J. w. D. Jelks, father of Governor Jelks. He was a gallant soldier and death came to him while serving his State as an officer in the Confederate l army.
 This obituary was found in the columns of The Southwestern Baptist of Novem- Der 9th. 1862. It was published at Tus- kegee by Rev. Sam Henderson and Rev I A J. Battle. MT Henderson is dead. Mir. Battle is now principal of a girls school in Anniston. The obituary of J. W. D. Jelks shows the character of the father of Governor Jelks and gives an insight into the inherent traits of the present Governor of Alabama.
 The following is a literal copy of the
 Died. on the soth June, 1862, at the residence of MT. Hitchcock in Richmond, Va. J. w. D. JeiSs, In the 4Ath year of his age. It is with great sorrow of heart that we are called upon to record the un- expected death of our beloved Bro. Jelks; more especially as there comes crowding in upon our memory. those noble charac- teristics of a Christian gentleman. that so endeared his association to us. Not only were they bright and cheering in the domestic cir cle. but were seen and felt in the friendly walks of life.
 Perhaps there was no man since this war began. that has manifested so much interest in the veal of his country or
 more willingly underwent self-denial and made sacrifices to advance her real good
 With great personal activity and energy he raised a company in the early his- ! tory of the war which with nearly a regiment was disbanded for the want Of l arms. He returned home with his tner- g'es unabated and labored continuously and zealously. with great personal priva- tion, until he was permitted to see a company under his command. to which ] position he was unanimously electeD mustered into the service of his country. He left home about the middle of r April, tSG2, but was never permitted to
 lead that company on to drive back the | rtIfI hof n a our firesides. An! he was soon dischdrg- ed. by the Invincible Enemy of us all, , from the duties of soldier, and borne to the realm of intending Peace, where the : clangor of arms shall never more be ] heard. He gave a large place in his heart to the love of country undaunted by disappointments and difficulties, he
 ended his service to his country by de- voting his life to her cause. And to his
 whole character tho religion of Jesus Christ, which he espoused at the age of
 20 years, gave luster and brightness, causing his conduct to be a truthful com mentary of his character.
 Honest, ingenious and kind in all his relations; gentle and affectionate to the loved ones of home; human and Chris tian-like in the government of his house.
 hold. Ever ready to sympathize with the sorrowing. and to lend his hand to help the distressed. A member of the Baptist Church, he entered with zeal into every work of Christian oenevolance in lueu- rated by the denomination. He felt and
 took lively interest in all that pertained to the welfare of Zion and the glory Of the Redeemer.
 Though he lived among us but a short time, yet his honorable and unassuming bearing. dignified by a Christian walk, endeared him to the hearts of the com | munity. With a sad, yet joyful heart, we all bade him adieu, when he left his home. his wife and little ones to meet the ene- | my on our borders. Alas little did we think we should so soon be called by an inscrutable Providence, to shed tears of sorrow OCT the bier Of our departed friend and brother. Another true soldier | IS added to the swelling list. We bless the Lord that he lived and died Chris tian; and though he has been removed | from us, we know that he is among that | happy throng that have fought the good fight, and now wears a crown of rejoic- | ing. Bereaved loved ones. you have much to comfort you :n this great loss; it is his everlasting gain; it Is the Fathers will. | and he will solace your hearts with the consultations of his Grace Look to God for help. and to Heaven for rest, for
 Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can | not heal"
 70! God shield the loved ones from every stormy blast and when they shall all pass away from earth. may they con- stitute an unbroken family in Heaven forever" H.
 Tracing the antecedents of Governor Jelks 1t is found that his father J. w D: Jelks. was son of Robert Jelks and Matilda Crowell. Robert Jelks was d native of Halifax County. North Caroli- na. He migrated to Alabama and settled in Russell County shortly after the re- moval to the westward of the Creek In dians. He was a prosperous planter. a good citizen and Christian gentleman. The mother of J. w. D. Jelks. father of Governor Jelks, was a daughter of Ed ward Crowell by his second wife. She was a half sister of John Crowell, the first member of Congress from Alabama territory, and first member of Congress from the State of Alabama.
 Wheeler's Historical Sketches of North Carolina relates that Matilda Crowell, grandmother of Governor Jelks on his paternaI side. was a descendant of dE- | ward Crowell who was a brother of Oli- yer Cromwell. John Crowell and Ed ward CroweH came to America in 1874
 Their ancestors were originally called Cromwell and the Annalist of Phil adelphia asserts that they were brothers of Oliver Cromwell. They fled from England on account of the politi- cal storms that impended over the name and house of the Protector, and settled in New Jersey. Fearing that persecution would follow them they resolved to change their name. This was done with a solemn ceremony on the vessel while crossing to America. Each Cromwell wrote his name on a piece of paper and cutting the letter "M" therefrom cast it into the sea Thereafter they were known as Crowell.
 John Crowell remained in New Jersey. Edward Crowell located in North Caro-