My Genealogy Hound

C. A. Otey, attorney-at-law of Marianna, is a native of Madison County, Ala., and spent his early boyhood days in the southern part of the State, but the death of his father necessitated his return to his native county, where he remained for some time, while preparing himself for entering the military school at La Grange. He attended that institution only a short time, as the Civil War broke out shortly after his entering college, when he immediately joined the Confederate army, enlisting in the Fourth Alabama Infantry, which was attached to Johnston’s division of Confederate States troops and Bee’s brigade. The Fourth Alabama distinguished themselves at the first general engagement, but it is to be regretted that they lost their gallant commander, Col. Jones, who sacrificed his own life as well as many of his command to save the day. Gen. Bee, after Jones had fallen, came up, and saying, “Fourth Alabama! I have seen your gallant fighting from yonder hill, and your ranks mowed thin while you held your position against fourfold odds! Follow me; Jackson has arrived, and he stands like a ‘stone wall.’ Let us go to his relief.’’ So Jackson received the immortal soubriquet of Stonewall, while Bee was leading the Fourth Alabama in that charge, and he who knighted him, the immortal Bee, fell shot through the heart a few moments afterward. The Fourth Alabama erected a monument on the spot. The false accusation that Gen. Bee was intoxicated, which was the cause of his reckless bravery, is explained by our subject by the fact that he was seen to drink repeatedly from a flask during the engagement, but which he knows contained water, as he himself filled it for him at a spring. Mr. Otey was wounded at the battle of Gaines’ Mill by a bullet, breaking his arm, which laid him up for about three months; rejoining his regiment at the battle of Antietam, he was captured at the battle of Lookout Mountain, and was a prisoner for one year, before being exchanged. At the close of the war he came to Arkansas and located at Helena, where he commenced the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1871, and later admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court. He then commenced the practice of law at Helena, and was shortly after elected prosecuting attorney, having filled the office of city attorney two terms. He was editor of a daily and weekly newspaper during two campaigns, from 1874 to 1879, and was in the legislature in 1887. Having become largely interested in real estate in this county, he moved to Marianna in 1883, where he has since lived. He now owns 4,000 acres of land, including a large plantation, on which is situated a general supply store, a saw-mill and steam cotton-gin, all under his general supervision. Mr. Otey was a son of Christopher and Emily (Smith) Otey, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. He was married in the State of Arkansas to Miss Kate McAnulty, a native of this county. Mr. Otey is well known and highly spoken of by all who are acquainted with him.