The History of The Elms
Built in 1836 by Absalom Jackson, The Elms the largest remaining home of the era in Elmore County. The home is 2-story with Egyptian and
Greek architectural influences. The Elms operated as a cotton
plantation for 100 years and covered 16,000 acres
From the published history provided by Gladys Stovall Armstrong on the following website: http://members.aol.com/imabr/page/index.htm
The Children of James Jackson & Temperance Motley
1) Nancy Daniel, b. 2 Jan. 1797, Wilks County GA. died 15 April 1858, Millbrook, AL.
2) Harriet Clark (Nothing Known)
3) Mary Ann, (Nothing Known)
4) *Absolom, an attorney, born 26 Feb 1805, Wilks County, GA. married Emma Bolling HALL, daughter of Bolling HALL And Jane ALBERCROMBIE, 28 September 1826 at his wife's home, "Ellerslie" in Autauga County (now Elmore County) He built his plantation, "The Elms" in 1837, which has been restored, on 1500 acres. Absolom died 22 Sept. 1870, Autauga Co.
5) Walter Clark, , b. 7 Sept. 1808, Balwin CO GA. married Francis Bibb Saffold. died 7 Sept 1826, Ellerslie Plantation, Now Elmore County AL. He was a medical doctor and died while attending school. Buried Jackson Cemetery.
Crawford Motley, born 1817, Wilks County GA. Represented Autauga County in the Ligislature from 1843 - 1845, and again frm 1855 - 1857 and was Speaker in 1857, he was a Democrat and was in the Creek Indian War in 1836, He never married and entertained with lavish and style.He died 27 Feb 1860, Coosada, Autauga County, AL.
Children of Absolom Jackson & Emma Bolling Hall:
1)Walter, Born 14 July 1827, Ellerslie, Plantation, died 22 Sept 1907, Montgomery, Al
2) *James Wesley, born 9 November 1828, Autauga County, AL, Married Louisa Pairlee COTTON, daughter od Charles K, Cotton and Rutha Mahan (Mahon) , 27 August 1853 in Palestine, Anderson County, Texas.
3) Jane Abercrombie, born 1 March 1829, Autauga County Al
4) Temperance (Tempy) born 7 Feb 1831, Autauga County Al, md. William J. Ivey, died 12 Nov 1883
5) Maru Ann, born 1835, Autauga County, Al,( nothing known)
6) Bolling Hall, born 9 March 1937, Autauga County AL. Md. Mary Gonzales, died 1876
7) Crawford Motley , born 19 july 1840, never married, died 11 Aug 1897, Montgomery, Al.
8) Absolom JR, born 26 Jan 1842, md. # 1. Lelia M. Gilder, Md # 2. Laura Scott, Autauga County, AL.
9) William Holt, born 29 oct 1843, Autauga County, Al. Md. Ellen Wells Thompson 25 Feb. 1869
10) Emma Bolling, born 5 May 1845, Autauga (nothing known)
11) Amanda, born 22 Sept 1846, Autauga County, Al , Md. Gribsby T. Long, 27 Oct 1864, Autauga County, died 6 Dec 1866, Autauga County, Al
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12)Martha J., born 25 march 1848, Autauga County, Md Henry Horton, died 26 March 1871, Autauga County, Al.
Bolling Hall (1767 - 1836)
A Representative from Georgia; born in Dinwiddie County, Va., December 25, 1767; pursued classical studies; served in the Revolutionary War at the age of 16; moved to Hancock County, Ga., in 1792; held several local offices; member of the State house of representatives 1800-1802 and 1804-1806; elected as a Republican to the Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Congresses (March 4, 1811-March 3, 1817); retired to private life; moved to Alabama in 1808 and engaged in planting near Montgomery; chairman of the reception committee to welcome General Lafayette in 1824; died on his plantation, “Ellerslie,” in Autauga (now Elmore) County, Ala., February 25, 1836; interment on his estate.
(http://groups.msn.com/AutaugaatWar/colbollinghalljr.msnw)
Bolling Hall, the grandfather of Col. Bolling Hall, Jr. CSA, came to Alabama from Georgia, along with his brother, Dixon Hall, about 1818. Both Bolling Hall and Dixon Hall were Revolutionary War veterans, having served in the Virginia Line. Dixon Hall established a plantation in the area that is now the Gunter Industrial Complex, where his grave can still be seen. Bolling Hall built his home "Ellerslie" in Millbrook, where it still stands toady. It is said that he brought with him glass for the windows of his new home, a first for this part of Alabama. It was in this home that Bolling Hall, Jr. was born, raised, and returned from war to die. An adjacent cemetery is the final resting place for Bolling and many of his family.
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000045
The Elms was built during the 1830's by Absalom & Emma Hall Jackson, aunt & uncle of Bolling Hall, Jr. Bolling Hall, Sr. purchased this home circa 1890 from Absalom's son Walter Clark Jackson. W.C. Jackson was a Confederate doctor.
Clockwise above, left to right: The Elms, Temperance Motley, Absolam’s mother; James Jackson, Absolam’s Father; Bolling Hall, Jr. , son of Absolam & Emma Jackson
The History of The Elms
The Elms In The News
COPYRIGHT 2006 Montgomery Advertiser
Byline: Crystal Bonvillian
Dec. 27--COOSADA -- Peter Waldo never expected to move back to his native Alabama, much less as the owner of a historic -- and some say haunted -- plantation home.
Waldo and his wife, Janet, this month bought The Elms, a historic 1836 home along Lindsey Road in Coosada. They purchased the house from Jeanne Hall Ashley, a descendant of the family who created the plantation in the former Indian territory, Absalom and Emma Bolling Hall Jackson.
The home has a long and illustrious history. Absalom Jackson was the son of James Jackson, one of the signers of the Alabama Constitution, Ashley said. Emma Jackson's father was Bolling Hall, a Revolutionary War soldier and three-term U.S. congressman.
Ashley, who also owns Ellerslie, a circa-1818 home in nearby Millbrook, said she is disappointed to lose The Elms.
"It turned into an enormous financial and emotional drain," Ashley said. "It was too much for even a whole family to take care of without help. I finally saw the handwriting on the wall."
Ashley decided to keep Ellerslie and sell The Elms and another property. When it came to The Elms, she wanted to find a buyer who would cherish the home as though they were part of the original family.
That's where the Waldos of San Diego came in.
The couple and their two children, Graham, 7, and 5-year-old Elizabeth, came to the area in August to visit Peter Waldo's brother, the Rev. Mark Waldo Jr., pastor of St. Michael and All Angels Church in Millbrook. The minister lives across the street from The Elms.
"When we came here at the end of August, Janet said, 'You know we're not moving to Alabama, right?' " Peter Waldo said. "I said, 'Yeah, I know.' I thought I was a lifer in California after 25 years."
The couple began to warm toward the idea of Alabama life after just a few hours on Lindsey Road.
"We were just laying there, floating in the pool and listening to the cicadas," Janet Waldo said. "I said, 'You know, we could sell our house in San Diego.' " Mark Waldo, who knew Ashley was interested in selling The Elms, jumped out of the pool and set up a walk-through for that afternoon.
"We made an offer on the spot," Janet Waldo said. "We just knew it was the right decision."
The Waldos said they are looking forward to doing the renovations Ashley was unable to complete.
"This house belongs to the community," Janet Waldo said. "We feel an obligation."
The Waldos hope to open The Elms for tours, weddings and other events once the renovations are finished. "It would be cool to have some sort of carnival here at Halloween," Janet said. "I would love to do something like that."
Ashley said several families who have rented rooms in the house over the years have reported seeing ghosts. The Waldos said they will not be deterred. "If it's haunted, though, it's haunted with good ghosts. There is such a good feeling in that house," Janet Waldo said. Her husband agreed. "It just feels like it has good bones," he said.
Ashley said the Waldos are the perfect people to take over The Elms. The Waldos feel the same way. "Peter's family is descended from Pocahontas and John Smith," Janet Waldo said. "When we were talking to Jeanne, we found out that she is, too. In some twisted way, The Elms is still in the family. It's a distant, distant connection, but it's there."
Copyright (c) 2006, Montgomery Advertiser, Ala.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
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