James Madison Cloud was born in Fairfield County, South Carolina around 1818. He was the child of William Cloud and Sarah (unknown).
We know in past blogs regarding the father William Cloud that the family moved to Madison County, Alabama in the 1820's and settled in an area that became known as Cloud's Town named for his father who was one of the first merchants in the area. The town was renamed to Vienna in 1832. This portion of Alabama was still considered property of the Cherokee Indian tribes. It wasn't until 1830 that this area of Alabama was open to settlers - so the Cloud clan were essentially squatting until that time.
The Federal Census of 1830 we find a record for William Cloud, head of household, in Madison County, Alabama. It is assumed that James was one of the male children listed in the household at that time. James would have been 12 years old and probably working on the farm as they were farmers. James mother is not listed in this census so it is also assumed she has passed away prior to 1830.
The 1840 Federal Census is much the same - William Cloud is listed as head of household and we assume one of the adult males ages 20 to 29 is that of James Madison Cloud. At the time of the 1840 Census William Cloud had 16 slaves living on his property. James's father, William, passes away in 1846 in Tennessee. In William's Will he specifically notes that his slaves shall go free and he leaves it up to his executor to make it happen - or move them to a free state if he cannot. In regards to James he does mention something that I don't quite understand. In William's Will it states:
"ITEM OF SECOND. It is my wish that James M Cloud have Mary Chains daughter for living with, and taking care of me and managing my business for me till my death."
One can make a few assumptions from this statement. First was that James Madison Cloud must have been helping run the family business - it is believed that William was still running a merchant business of some sort. Second is that James stayed with his father until his death. There is also the mention of Mary Chains and/or her daughter - were these slaves that weren't set free but given to James? James staying with his father and running the business may be the explanation for his age when he first marries.
James Madison Cloud marries Louisa Marie Mann. James was 27 years old when he first marries - quite old in those times. Louisa was only 16 years old - an average age for a girl to marry. They are married in Madison County, Alabama 26 October 1845.
James and Louisa have their first child, Sarah Elizabeth Cloud, in Nashville, Tennessee. So James and Louisa must have resided there during that time - even though they were married only a year and half earlier in Alabama. Maybe James was traveling between Madison County, Alabama and Tennessee? We know that his father, William, owned property in both locations.
By the 1850 Federal Census we find James and Louisa living back in Madison County, Alabama. They have two children living at home - Sarah and Louisa. I don't ever see a Mary Chains or a daughter of Mary. Maybe James opted for Mary Chains and her daughter to go free. Living next door to James and Louisa is James's brother, Durgan, and his family. On the other side of James are the parents and family of Louisa Mann - William Mann and Lucinda (McKinney) Mann. On the other side if the Mann family is a McKinney family - believed to be the parents of Lucinda - so these would be the grandparents of James's wife Louisa.
Louisa and James have two more children, Maria in 1851 and William Adrain Cloud in 1852. Louisa passes away in August of 1853, leaving James with four very young children. James remarries only a few months later on 2 January 1854 to Mary Caroline Hammons. Both marriages can be found online at the Madison County Records Center at http://www.co.madison.al.us/mcrc/index.shtml under the Holdings tab. James and Mary have two children, James Madison Cloud Jr and Martha Ellen Cloud.
We find the family in the 1860 Federal Census in South Eastern Madison County in the New Hope Post Office. This record is slightly confusing. There are two extra children here that I don't have listed for James - they could be children of a relative or another child of James and Mary. I will post a copy of the record below. The first one is an Ellich Cloud age 15. We know Ellich is not a child of James and previous wife Louisa or he would have been in the 1850 Census. James's second wife, Mary, would have been only 8 years old at the time of Ellich's birth - so it is not a child of hers either. Another researcher noted this child as Erick Elliott Cloud - adopted son. I haven't found anything to help prove or disprove that - and I cannot find Ellich in any future records. The second extra child is Macha Cloud age 1. This could definitely be a child of Mary and James due to the age. I am just not sure - as Mary's children with James are listed last - and Macha is listed before them indicating they were not hers?
UPDATE: After finding the obituary for Louisa Marie Mann I believe the extra child is actually Maria Cloud - child of James and Louisa. I believe the age is just incorrect. I had originally believed that Maria had passed away before 1860, and before Louisa's death, but her obituary stated all four children were still living. Just an assumption. So I believe that Macha is Maria.
UPDATE II: I found a death record for a John E Cloud on the familysearch website (www.familysearch.org). This record states that the parents of John were Jim Cloud and Caroline Hammonds. His birth is listed as June of 1860. I believe this to be another child of James Madison Cloud and Mary Caroline Hammons. This John Cloud can be found living with relatives in the 1870 and 1880 censuses (he was living with half sister Sarah Elizabeth Cloud in 1880). I've wondered who this John Cloud was and now he fits in!! He was not born yet in the 1860 Census.
Also in the 1860 Census is a Jane Vann and presumably her son, Jerry, living with the Cloud family. Their relation, if any, is unknown. Could they have been slaves given to James by his father? Their race is not noted either.
His second wife's death date is unknown.
By the 1870 Federal Census none of the individuals listed above can be found except for Sarah Elizabeth Cloud and Martha Ellen cloud - Sarah Cloud is married to George Washington Parker. Martha Ellen Cloud can be found living with a Hornbuckle family, relation, if any, unknown. William and Louisa show back up in 1880. None of the other individuals can be located after this 1860 record.
James Madison Cloud and Louisa Marie Mann had the following children:
1. Sarah Elizabeth Cloud - born 5 May 1847 in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee. Dies 5 July 1919 in Paul, Minidoka County, Idaho. Marries George Washington Parker.
2. Louisa Jane Cloud - born about 1848 in Madison County, Alabama. Death Unknown. Marries John Sullivan.
3. Maria Cloud - born about 1851 in Madison County, Alabama. Death unknown.
4. William Adrain Cloud - born December 1852 in Madison County, Alabama. Dies 1923 in New Hope, Madison County, Alabama.
James Madison Cloud and Mary Caroline Hammons had the following children:
1. James Madison Cloud - born about 1855 in Madison County, Alabama. Death unknown.
2. Martha Ellen Cloud - born about 1857 in Madison County, Alabama. Death unknown. Marries cousin Waddy Cloud.
3. John E Cloud - born June 1860 in Madison Coounty, Alabama. Died 9 Nov 1934 in Hobbs Island, Madison County, Alabama. Married Angie Elizabeth Sewell.
I loved it. Thank you Steven for all your hard work that you do. The Parker family sure is hard to research. And all of the people that they marry. Great work, and I had alot of fun reading it. I need to add this to my family tree. Your cousin Bonnie
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