James Merriman Alston

Photograph of the time around his marriage, saved by daughters Genie Mae A. Branscomb and Alma Alston. Given to his grandson Alston Branscomb.

James Merriman Alston

James Merriman "Tobe" Alston's obituary, A Tribute of Memory
There passed away from life's selfish scenes to a place where the soul is said to dwell, one of Nature's noblemen, James M. Alston, who died April 17th, 1902, at his home in Montgomery, Ala.

The writer had the privilege of his best friendship in those tragic days following the close of our great war, in which he was a gallant and conspicuous actor.

Laying down our arms as Confederate soldiers, only to resume them again in defense of a principle that could not rest in abeyance, we were thrown much together in that section of Georgia, of which the Counties of Lee, Sumter and Dougherty were the centre, to which as to all the South, the theatre of war had been transferred in another form.

Often I have met him, in those times of trial. His home was our castle, our place of refuge. There he and his three brave brothers lived. Young, attractive, by birth and education, loyal to the last degree, fearless to a thrilling audacity, their home became a shrine to which our hearts turned when pressed by dangers too severe to meet alone.

There men went, who had won the honor by some overt act, pursued by armed minions of the Government, knowing they would find an asylum from which no rescue could be made except at the death of these glorious friends of the South.

James M. Alston, "Tobe," as his friends knew him, was the next oldest of the four brothers, and as I see him now down the vista of those eventful days, he was a hero among heroes, a born cavalier. Wherever he was liberty abided, faith was made more enduring, courage was exalted, and devotion to friends and country immortalized.

His material success in life was hindered by his heroic ideals, but he has left in the hearts of his friends a memory doubly dear by reason of the sacrifice made to preserve a far better heritage than he lost.

If flowers could spring from his deeds of virtue, of sacrificial allegiance to the highest form of human duty, and bloom upon his grave, his last resting place would present a gem to earth, to consecrate it with its best possession - the body of a brave man.
R. G. H.

Obituary saved by Eugenia "Genie Mae" Norwood Alston [Branscomb] and then given to and saved by his grandson Alston Branscomb.

Alston-Branscomb-Turman plot

ALSTON Jas. M. - Co. B 2 Battalion Ga.; Camp Lomax UCV Monument Montgomery Ala.

Camp Lomax UCV Monument located at Oakwood Cemetery, dowtown Montgomery, Ala.