James Thomas CASEY

     James Thomas CASEY, son of Romelus CASEY and Mary "Polly" McNeal, was born on 30 January 1848 in El Dorado, Union County, Arkansas.¹

James began military service at age 15 on 17 November 1863 in Talladega, Alabama, when he enlisted in Co. A 62nd Alabama Infantry. He was recruited by Capt. J. L. Davidson. He was serving as a private in the provost guard 20 February 1864 when he was admitted to the hospital at Selma for measles. He returned to duty 13 March 1864.² He saw further military service on 1 January 1864 in Centreville, Alabama, where he re-enlisted as a private in Co. A 1st Alabama Reserves and continued until surrender 9 April 1865. He was paroled at Marion, Alabama.³ He was the owner of a general store and rooming house. The two-story rooming house was located next to the county jail and on the site of the present day Probate Office. in Centreville, Alabama.

James married Almira Jane BROWN, daughter of Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr. and Mary CAMP, on 18 February 1869 in Bibb County, Alabama.⁴

James Thomas CASEY and Almira Jane BROWN appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1880 in Bibb County, Alabama. The household was listed as Thomas Casey, age 34, farmer, born Arkansas, father born North Carolina, mother born Georgia; wife Almira J., age 27, she and mother born Alabama, father born Tennessee; and daughter, Dovie, age 4, born Alabama.⁵

James Thomas CASEY appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 2 June 1900 in Centreville, Bibb County, Alabama. The household was listed as James T. Casey, a 54-year-old merchant, born January 1846 in Arkansas; his daughters Dovie, 24, and Mary 17; brother-in-law, Elijah Barnes, 86, born May 1814 in Tennessee; and sister-in-law, Addesue Barnes, 65, born Jan 1835 in Alabama.⁶

James Thomas CASEY appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 19 April 1910 in Centreville, Bibb County, Alabama. The household was listed as J. Thomas Casey, 64-year-old widower and retail merchant, and his daughters Dovie, a 34-year-old sales lady in her father's dry goods store, and 25-year-old Mary who was not working at that time. Living with them was James' sister-in-law, Addie Barnes, a 78-year-old widow with no children.⁷

James Thomas CASEY appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 14 January 1920 in Centreville, Alabama. The household was listed as James T. Casey, 70 widower and owner of a retail grocery; and his two daughters: Dovie, 44, and Mary, 37, who were sales ladies in his store. James owned their home on Court Street.⁸

James Thomas CASEY appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 9 April 1930 in Centreville, Alabama. The household was listed as J. Thomas Casey, 78, a widower and owner of a general store; and his two daughters and sales ladies, Dovie, 52, and Mary, 45. James owned their home on Court Street which had a value of $4,000. He was listed as a veteran of the War Between the States.⁹

James Thomas CASEY died on 15 February 1931 in Centreville, Bibb County, Alabama, at age 83. The cause of death was bronchial pneumonia.^10,11 He was buried in Centreville Memorial Cemetery.