David C. Neyman

4 Feb 1836 – 23 Jan 1878

David C. Neyman was born in Cherokee County , Alabama .  He was the son of Jacob Neyman (Nighman) and Mary Pugh.  David married Nancy Elmira Hawkins of Town Creek , Alabama , on 19 March 1854.   David and Nancy had 10 children.  The first two do not have definitive places of birth, but the last eight were all born in Town Creek , Alabama (see below)

     David enlisted in the Confederate Army in Floyd County , Georgia (just across the state line from Cherokee County , AL ), on 24 Jun 1861, as a private in Captain Hart’s Company Georgia Infantry.  His brothers, William G., Jacob T., and Joseph K., also enlisted at Floyd County and served with him.  David was promoted to the rank of Corporal on 1 April 1863.  He remained on the muster roll record, receiving pay for use and risk of his horse until 31 December 1863.  No records are available after that, and we assume that he stopped serving in any capacity on 1 Jan 1864.

     David is listed as a member of the Town Creek ( Alabama ) Masonic Lodge No. 361 in 1872.  He served as Junior Warden from 1871 to 1872, and as Senior Warden from 1872 to 1877.  The Lodge was still in existance in the 1970s.

     David died on 23 Jan 1878, in Town Creek, and was buried at the Masonic Lodge.  Edwin C. Neyman, of Memphis , TN was the first descendant to locate David’s grave.  In passing through Town Creek he stopped at a service station and asked an elderly gentleman if he knew anything about the “Neymans.”  He said yes, David C. and 3 others were buried behind the Masonic Lodge.  The Lodge’s back yard backed up to the house where he used to live on the adjoining street.  David Neyman had a store facing the highway and the Lodge was on the corner next to it.  In 1878, there was a yellow fever epidemic and most people left town.  Mr. Neyman had yellow fever and and old African-American man stayed to help care for he and his family.  As they died, he took them out and buried them in the back yard.  There used to be four monuments, but by the time that Robert D. Neyman visited, the only monument left was David’s, and it was in the middle of a garden.  Mr. and Mrs. Neyman went back on 5 August 1974, and bought a plot in the Town Creek Cemetary, and with the help of the Mayor moved this monument there.

David is listed at home with his father in 1850 Census of Cherokee County

David and family is listed in 1860 Census of Lawrence County, Alabama

David and family is listed in 1870 Census of Lawrence County

Elmira and 7 of his children are listed in 1880 Census of Lawrence County

Children:

Name                     Birthdate         Birthplace             Death Date      

Contributed by Joyce L. Neyman.