Major Robert Aaron Dean
The following is a write-up on him.
His b'day is December 29, 1836.
Lewis Shell, Mississippi, Dec. 29,
1836. He was a son of Russell and Louisa Ann (Alsup) Dean. His
paternal ancestors were English and his maternal were Irish and
Welch. Elizabeth (Edmonson) Dean, was the first white child ever
born in Huntsville, Alabama.
Major Dean was educated in the public
schools of his native county and engaged in farming during his long
public life. He enlisted as Sargeant, in 1861, with the Marshall
county riflemen at Chulahoma, Mississippi, and was soon assigned to the
19th Mississippi Regiment of Infantry, in the army of North
Virginia. Here he was soon promoted to 3d Lieutenant and 1862, 2nd
and then ed Lieutenant. In 1863 he was made captain of his company
and before the close of the war he became Major of the 19th Mississippi
Regiment.
After the war he settled in the north
western section of LaFayette county near the home of his
childhood. Here he retired to a quiet successful farm life where
he became a valuable leader and a deacon in the Primitive Baptist church
at Glenville in Panola county. In 1878 he became a member of the
state legislature and served one term.
He became a member of the Senate in
1886 where he remained until 1896. He served as a member of the
Constitutional Convention of 1890 and was the chairman of the committee
of the penitentiary which recommended the abolition of the convict
leasing system and authorized the legislature to purchase farms, which
soon lead to our present penal farm system. Major Dean also served
on the Franchise, Apportionment, and Election Committees. He had
not asked for re-election to the Senate but expressed a desire to retire
from public life but as a result of his proven ability and his
reputation for honesty, he was unexpectedly called, by Governor A. H.
Longino, to serve as a member of the committee which supervised the
creation of the new State Capitol from 1900 - 1903. His last
public service was in the state Senate 1908 to 1912. He was a
loyal Democrat, a Mason, and a deacon of his church. He was
married Feb. 2, 1864 (Roland-must be an error) to Lucy Ann Langston a
daughter of John! McClure and Anner (Hudspeth) Langston of Panola
county. There were eight children: Russell Langston, Thomas
Greenwood, Joseph James, Robert Aaron, Jr., Louianna (Dean) Cavitt,
Georgia (Dean) Waldrip, Minnie (Dean) Davis, and Hardy Mott.
Submitted by:
DEFAULTLLS@aol.com
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