John Wesley DuBose

JOHN WESLEY DuBOSE, A.M., was born in Marengo County, Ala., October 31, 1849, and is a son of Joel C. and Esther G. (Cleland) DuBose, natives of Darlington District, South Carolina.

The senior Mr. DuBose was a merchant in early life at Charleston, S. C. He came to Alabama in 1838, settled in Marengo County, and as he owned a large number of slaves, turned his attention to farming. He served his county in various offices, and was a very popular Whig in politics. He was the only member of that party ever elected to office in that county. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They reared four sons and three daughters, to-wit: Joseph L., served in Stewart's Cavalry during the war and died in the West; Maybank D., teacher in Alabama, served in General Rhodes' Brigade in Virginia, and was wounded at Spotsylvauia and Snicker's Gap; Abner G., a farmer and merchant near Corsicana. Texas; and the subject of this sketch. Mr. DuBose died in 1858, at the age of fifty-six years, and his wife in 1864. Mrs. Du Bose was of Scotch-Irish descent.

The subject of this sketch was reared in his native county, attended schools near Linden, and when a youth was sent to Goodman Institute, where he remained several years. The Southern University of Greensboro, Ala., in 1874, conferred upon him the Master of Arts degree. Since 1880 to the present time he has been continuously in charge of the Gadsden Public Institute.

Professor DuBose before coming to Gadsden was Superintendent of Sumter County, and since coming here, he has been Superintendent of Etowah County. He was married in October 1877, to Miss Lizzie Lake Cobbs, the accomplished daughter of Judge James Cobbs, of Mobile, Ala., and has had born to him four children: Edgar L. (deceased), Maggie C., John W., Jr., and James Guerin.

Professor DuBose and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Professor is of the Masonic fraternity.

Source: McCalley, Henry, Northern Alabama : historical and biographical.  Birmingham, AL: Smith & De Land, 1888, pp. 835.