Nathan Bryan Whitfield. Born in North Carolina in 1799. Had finished course work at Chapel Hill by age 17. Later moved to Marengo County, AL and built Gaineswood. Gaineswood is considered the grandest home in Marengo County (Demopolis) and perhaps the finest example of Greek Revival architecture in Alabama. The staggering power of this accomplishment lies partially in the fact that everything to build the house was put together on the land itself. The bricks, the rafters, the carving, lintels, doors, windows, all made on the place. And it was all designed by Nathan Bryan Whitfield.
My grandfather married a Whitfield in 1934 after the death of his wife, Gladys Parmelee in 1930. So I always considered the Whitfields cousins. Several years ago I went to Demopolis with Bryan Morgan. There I met Bryan Whitfield Compton, former commander of the U. S. S. Nimitz and colleague of John McCain. Also, they took me to meet an elderly lady in her 90s who looked me up and down with suspicion until Bryan said something that sounded right to her, she brightened up and exclaimed “You’re a member of the family!”
One night Bryan Whit as they call him said we’re going out to a South Alabama juke joint. We headed south I think until we reached a place called Faunsdale. We got in the place and it was packed with University of Alabama students, and some Auburn out for a good time. Lots of cowboys. Incredible band up front. A memorable time.