Lauderdale County, Alabama
Threet (Threet's Crossroads)
The following community description is quoted/excerpted from A Walk Through the Past: People and Places of Florence and Lauderdale County, Alabama by the late William Lindsey McDonald (copyright 1997) with permission of the book's editor Robert Torbert and with the utmost honor and respect for Mr. McDonald's research and dedication to preserving the history of Lauderdale County. If you have additional historical information about this community, please email lauderdalealgenweb@gmail.com.
[NOTE: Unfortunately, much of the following biographical information regarding the Threet family is incorrectly stated in Mr. McDonald's book. Please see the notes following the text for corrections.]
"Threet's Crossroads was originally known as Russell's Crossroads. It is located a few miles south of Kendell and a few miles north of Cloverdale. John Perry Threete, born near Kennedy, Alabama, in 1826 [See NOTE 1], was an early settler here. He was a son of Joshua Threete [See NOTE 2]. John was married to Margaret Terrell [See NOTE 3]. The Threets are believed to be descended from, or related to, John Thweatt of Virginia who became an early settler of Newberry County, South Carolina [See NOTE 4]. It was written of John Thweatt that he was "beyond doubt one of the most witty men who ever lived in this land." A post office was established at Threet in 1893, with James C. Bevis as postmaster. It was discontinued thirteen years later. At sometime around World War I, before or after, the cotton gin at Burcham Creek was moved in part to Threet's Crossroad, perhaps on Lindsey Creek.
"Robert Austin purchased land here from the Federal Government on March 1, 1854. He shod horses at this blacksmith shop during the Civil War. Family sources claim that Robert, born about 1819, was the first white child born in Florence. John Austin, who was born about 1789, was living near Threets Crossroads in 1850. He was a native of Virginia. His wife, Martha, was born in South Carolina. Austin Cemetery is located on the Robert Austin homestead where members of this family are buried. A number of Threets are also buried here. Other early burials include: Dr. S. O. Paulk, born in 1842, and died in 1916; Reverend J. H. McCorkle, born in 1826, and died in 1919; Nellie Adeline Bevis, born in 1823, and died in 1892; and John T. Darby, born in 1831, and died in 1902.
"Liberty Baptist Church, one of the county's historic congregations, is located in this community. Originally organized in 1852 as Liberty Baptist Church of Christ on a knoll near the Natchez Trace, it was moved to its present location in 1893."
NOTE 1: John Perry Threet was born 18 May 1825 per his gravestone in Austin Cemetery; there is no known recordd of John Perry's city of birth although it is believed that he was born in Lauderdale County
NOTE 2: John Perry Threet was the son of John Threet per father John Threet 1854 Probate Record Packets, No 2096-2168, T
NOTE 3: John Perry Threet was married to Mary Waldrop per Lauderdale County marriage records, John Threet probate records and Mary Waldrop Threet obituary (below)
NOTE 4: There is no known evidence of a relationship between the Threets of Lauderdale County and John Thweatt of Newberry County, SC
THREET FAMILY OBITUARIES
Contributed by Patricia Hartley, December 2016
Mary Ann Elizabeth Gray Threet (1859 - 1930)
Source: Florence Times, January 6, 1930
Mrs. Threet Succumbs to Lingering Illness
Funeral Services Will Be Held Tuesday Morning
Mrs. Mary Threet, aged 72, died this morning at 9:30 o'clock at the home of her daughter Mrs. Thomas Gibbons, on West Tuscaloosa street, Florence, following a lingering illness of ten months. Surviving in addition to her daughter, Mrs. Gibbons, are another daughter, Mrs. Nelson High, of Henley, Texas and one son Floyd Threet, of Florence; two brothers, John Gray, of Florence and J. J. Gray, of Olney, Texas; and two sisters, Mrs. Belle Phillips and Mrs. Martha Holleman, both of Florence. Funeral services will be held tomorrow morning at 1 o'clock at the North Wood Avenue Methodist church, Florence, with Rev. T. H. Johnson, pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in Florence cemetery with Brown's in charge. Pallbearers will be Robert Butler, J. H. Roden, H. L. Emmerson, Leo Willey, M. H. Garo and Wesley Smith.
John Perry Threet (1825 - 1888)
Source: Florence Gazette, Nov 3, 1888
We regret to announce the death, Monday, of one of the oldest and cleverist citizens of our county, Mr. John P. Threat, Rawhide Beat. He was about 70 years of age and had been a sufferer for some time from an affection of the heart.
Mary Waldrop Threet (1823 - 1910)
Source: Florence Times, July 8, 1910
Death of Mrs. Threet
Mrs. Mary Threet, a venerable lady living at Threet, and widely and affectionately known throughout that section of the county as Aunt Polly Threet, died at the home of her son-in-law Mr. W. G. Roach, on Sunday morning last at the advanced age of about 85 years. Mrs. Threet was a member of one [of] the most widely known families of Lauderdale county, and her death removes a landmark in her community, a faithful "mother in Israel" who in all the walks of life attained the highest standard of Christian womanhood. She is survived by three sons and three daughters, Messrs. James, Weakley and Colu[m]bus B. Threet, and Mrs. W. G. Roach, Mrs. William Whitsett and Mrs. Turner Whitsett. The interment took place in the Austin cemetery on Monday.
Source: Florence Times, July 29, 1910
A Mother in Israel Gone to her Reward
In the quiet hours of the Sabbath day, July 3d, 1910, the spirit of Mrs. Mary Threet took its flight to the land of rest. Mrs. Threet was a daughter of the late William Waldrip, and in young womandhood became the wife of John Perry Threet, who preceded her to the grave by several years. Both the Threet and Waldrip families were pioneer setters of Lauderdale county. Mrs. Threet was born in this county on the 20th day of March, 1823, having attained the age of 87 years. She died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. G. Roach, within four miles of her birth place. She was a most noble woman, and left to her children the legacy of a good example of loyalty, honesty, piety and kindness that is well worthy the emulation of them and of all who knew her. The writer has known her from his earliest childhood and made many a pleasant visit to her hospitable home, where the children and young folks of the neighborhood delighted to congregrate [sic] for pleasure and enjoyment. Her motherly advice to the children who visited her home was always safe and worthy of acceptation. She always condoled with those how were in distress and did what she could to relieve suffering humanity. She had been a consistent member of the Baptist church for a number of years. In her illness she was patient and submissive to the will of the Master. Kind hearts and willing hands did all they could to palliate her suffering, but her time had come and she died as she had lived, in peace with all mankind. J.L.A.
John Alonzo Threet (1860 - 1906)
Mr. J. A. Threet Joins Silent Throng
Mr. J. A. Threet, who has been ill for seven weeks at the home of Mr. George Gresham, at Mars Hill, passed into eternity at 11 o'clock Wednesday morning, aged 47. Mr. Threet was a popular tobacco drummer, with a wide circle of friends who will regret to hear of his death. He was seized with a fatal illness seven weeks ago while on a visit to friends at Mars Hill, and when he realized his critical condition he was married to Miss Virgie Simmons, who before the wedding and after faithfully and devotedly attended him. He was of an enterprising disposition and by wise investments had amassed a handsome property estimated at from $25,000 to $50,000. Mr. Threet is survived by his mother, Mrs. Pallie [Polly] Threet, four sisters, Misses Jane, Mattie, Amanda and Ida Threet, and three brothers, Messrs. James, Weakley and Columbus Threet, and his wife of only a few weeks.