Isaac Benton Maddox was born on April 16th 1844 in Lincoln County, Tennessee. He was the second of eight children born to Thomas and Anna Amelia Maddox. In October of 1861, Benton enlisted in the Confederate Army in Delrose, Tennessee at Camp Trousdale. He was a private in Company A of the 44th Tennessee Infantry, when the infantry was consolidated he joined Company F. On December 31, 1862, the company muster roll listed him as �killed or captured at the Battle of Murfreesboro�. He was actually captured and then he was quarantined after being exposed to small pox. In the June Roll Card he was said to have �deserted his command at Wartrace May 2nd 1863 and then dropped from the roll by special order of General Bragg dated January 28th 1863.� On December 31st 1863 he was again recorded as a prisoner of war at Stone�s River. One of his extra duties of the Regiment was to make collars. According to the 1907 Census of Confederate soldiers he remained a member of the Confederate Army until the surrender in 1865.
On February 12, 1867 Benton married Amanda Blue in Lincoln County, Tennessee . They had four children: Watler, Arkansaw, Lena, and Suada.
MaRinda Y. Cadon was born the 12th of August 1865. She had three sisters. One of her sisters was Claudia Heneretta Cadon, she married a Maddox (related to Benton). Her parents were Irish. Her mother had already died by the time she was married. On November 13th 1878 R. M. Woodward, Minister of Gospel married Isaac Benton and Rinda Cadon in Lincoln County, Tennessee. Have you done the math? He was 34 years old and she was only 13 years old!!
On June 18th 1880 they were recorded in the Census of Tennessee. The listing included I. Benton Maddox a 39 year old farmer, his wife Marinda, 16, keeping house; his stepsons Walter, 15 and Arkansaw, 13; his 2 daughters from his previous marriage Lena, 10 and Suada, 8.
MawMaw said that Rinda told her she would make mud pies in the front yard with Benton�s other children.
They continued to live in Lincoln County Tennessee until at least 1900. By 1902 the family was probably living in Huntsville�s Dallas Mill Village because Annie was recorded as being born in the village. By 1907, Rinda and Benton were definitely living in Huntsville. They had ten children: Charlie, Murphy, Hence, Baddie, Edward, Emma, Ben, Ermie, Coy, and Annie.
Benton was a shoemaker, this was the occupation listed for him in the 1910 Censuses. In 1911, the year of his death he was listed in the Huntsville Directory under �shoemakers and repairers� at the address of 5th at the corner of Humes Avenue.
Rinda did a lot of work for the family. She had two cows; she used their milk to make butter and buttermilk to sell. One day a lady came to buy milk and Rinda saw her steal a pound of butter. She didn�t say anything to the lady; she waited until the next week when the lady came to buy more milk. She gave her a pound of butter and told her she saw her steal one the previous week, so this week she would not have to steal.
Rindy also made all of the families� clothes and she didn�t even have to have a pattern. Rinda also kept boarders that worked at the mill. Rinda could not read or write but taught herself how, Maw Maw said, �She learned to print real good.�
Rinda and Benton�s Children
1. Charlie McBenet was born February 15th 1882. On June 4th 1906 Charlie was recorded as working in the Dallas Mill in the spinning room at age 24. By 1910 he had married Ella Mayes and they were living next door to Rinda on Dallas and Ella�s mother lived with them also, she had been widowed . From 1911 to 1916 it appears he was working as a carpenter. By 1920 he was a grocer and had a taxi cab service on Meridian Street. In 1922 he worked at the Stegal Hotel where he and Ella also lived. In 1924, Charlie worked at Hotel Yarbrough Cigar Stand and Transfer & Taxi Co., they were borders at the hotel. In 1931, they were rooming at 303 E Eustis and had no children . Charlie died on March 4th 1937 at the age of 54 of the flu and pneumonia . He is buried at Maple Hill Cemetery lot 14 plot 32.
2. Murphy Maddox was born 26 or 7 October 1886 in Lincoln County, Tennessee. He married Cordelia (�Delia�) by 1916. Murphy worked as a tinner for London P & E Company. Later he worked as a tinner at Hutchens Company . In 1924, they were living at 305 Humes and Murphy was working at G R Maples as a tinner. They had a son, Clifford.
3. Hence Maddox was born June 16th 1889. He married Eula Vann.
4. Edward �Eddie� Maye was born January 1st 1891 in Blanche, Tennessee. At the age of 15 he was recorded as working at the Abingdon Mills and at the age of 16 he was recorded as working at the Dallas Mill . Charles Maddox listed as guardian. On December 29th 1908 he began working in the spinning room of the Dallas Mill at the age of 17. He was again recorded as working at the mill weaving in July 1909. He died September 28th 1917. There is an Ed Maddox buried in Maple Hill that died on Jan 1st 1917 that died at the age of 30.
5. Baddie D. was born December 15th 1893. On June 19th 1906, he was working in Dallas Mill in the spinning room; he was only 13 years old. In 1916 Baddie was working as a carpenter. He married Francis Brosmere. In 1931 they were living at 1407 Ward Avenue and had three children. Baddie was working as a carpenter. They had five children: Rachel, Helen, Christine, Evelyn, and Calvin (�Sonny�).Francis died on December 20th 1965 at the age of 66. He died at the age of 84 on October 5th 1978. They are buried together at Maple Hill, lot 79, block 104.
6. Emma Sue was born December 3rd 1895 in Blanche, Tennessee. At the age of 15 she was recorded as working at the Dallas Mill and at the age of 16 she was recorded as working at the Abingdon Mills . On September 19th 1912 she was recorded as working at the Dallas Mill in the finishing room at the age of 16. In 1916, she was living with Rinda at Dallas and Humes. In 1920 she lived next door to Rinda at 509 Church Street. She married twice but never had any children. Her first husband was Jim Johnson; he worked on the Railroad in Mobile. They had a wedding supper on Church Street. After Jim died she married Bennie Barnes they moved to Mobile, his mother became ill so they went to Iowa to take care of her. Bennie�s niece eventually came to take care of his mother and Bennie and Emma moved back to Mobile. After Bennie died she moved back to Huntsville. She died November 12th 1976 and is buried at Maple Hill Cemetery. (Block 32, lot 14).
7. Ben was born February 1st 1897. At the age of 12, he was recorded as working at the Abingdon Mills , at the age of 13 he was recorded as working at the Dallas Mill and at the age of 16 he was recorded as working at the Huntsville Cotton Mill . In 1924 he was living at 206 Cleveland Street with Rinda. Maw Maw said he had eyes just like Rinda�s, very dark brown, almost looked black and he had black hair. He never married and he �liked to run around with carnival people.� He died December 23rd 1931 at the age of 32 of epileptic convulsions. At the time of his death he was living in Tuscaloosa but is buried at Maple Hill at an unknown location, probably in the family plot where Benton and Rinda are buried.
8. Coy was born January 4th 1900 in Blanche, Tennessee. At the age of 12 He was recorded as working at the Abingdon Mills and at the age of 14 he was recorded as working at the Dallas Mill . In 1922 he was living with Rinda at 507 Church Street. In 1924, he was working as a carpenter and was living at 206 Cleveland with Rinda. He went to Florida when Hence�s family went. MawMaw said �Popa put him to work as soon as he got there.�
9. Annie Bell was born on August 1st 1902 in the Dallas Mill Village . She worked at the mill. Annie had been working at the mill all week and was sick. Rinda tried to get her to stay home but she worked anyway. On Friday she came home folded her apron and gave it to Rinda she said she wouldn�t be wearing it any more. On October 1st 1918 she died of pneumonia , she was only 16 years old. She is buried at Maple Hill at an unknown location, probably in the family plot where Rinda and Benton are buried.
10. Ermie was born May 11th 1907 . In 1922, �Earnie� was listed as a helper at the Hutchenson Company and was living at 507 Church Street with Rinda. He married Bertha Gains. They had two children. He later married Clara.
On June 25th 1911, at the age of 67 Isaac Benton Maddox died. At the time he was living on Dallas Street and it was said the he was carried from there to Maple Hill Cemetery.
After Benton�s death Rinda lived several different places. In 1916, Rinda was living at Dallas Avenue near Humes Avenue. Beaty and Emma were also living at this same place. Beaty was working as a carpenter. By 1920 Rinda was living at 507 Church Street; this house has since been torn down. Emma lived next door at 509 Church Street. In 1922 Earnie (working as a helper at The Hutchenson Company), Coy, and B. C. were also living at 507 Church Street . In 1924, she lived at 206 Cleveland with her son�s Ben, Ermie and Coy. In 1931 she lived at 1000 O�Shaugnessy.
About 1935, Rindy became ill with pneumonia. Dr. Brooks came to check on her and he said that she would be dead by midnight. The whole family prayed for her and by morning she was well. She said the Lord healed her.
MaRinda died on December 12th 1938 and is buried at Maple Hill Cemetery next to Benton.