Alabama Photo: Former Slaves of General Cantey

At the Alabama State Archives site linked below, we are given the following information about this photo:

"Winter Cantey, 85, and his wife, 83, at Fort Mitchell, former slaves of General Cantey. Winter served as his master's bodyguard in both the Mexican and Civil Wars." The date range given is 1900 to 1919. Hmm....Let's investigate. 

James Cantey served as an officer in the Mexican-American War and a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army. He died in 1874. An historical marker about him near his grave site, seen below, has this to say:

"Cantey fought in the Mexican War and received near mortal wounds. He was left among the dead but was rescued by his body servant whose plans were to bear him home for burial. The slave's detection of a faint sign of life caused heroic action that revived his master. For this deed the servant was offered his freedom which was refused."

So, was Winter Cantey the "body servant" who found his master near death and save his life? Perhaps so. I found this story in the Wikipedia entry on James Cantey linked above, which cited the historical marker as its source. The marker gives no source, so further research on that is needed. 

I did find a bit of further information on Winter. 

In the 1870 U.S. Census he is listed as Winter Canty [sic], born in South Carolina about 1825, a mulatto living at Fort Mitchell with wife Fannie. He was a farmer and six children were listed in the household ranging from 2 to 16 years of age. Winter and Fanny also appear in the 1900 U.S. Census; the couple is listed as being married 50 years. Winter is also listed in Russell County in the 1866 Alabama state census; females in the household are not named, just numbered. The two are also listed as registered voters in Russell County in 1867

I did not find Cantey or his wife at Find-A-Grave. At the U.S. wills and probate records on Ancestry.com I did find a will for Winter Cantey and a probate record. You can see it below. The will was dated February 15, 1913, and probated that same year on December 8 in Russell County. Winter and Fannie were living in Muscogee, Georgia at the time the will was written. I have found no other information about Winter's death, so presumably he died in 1913 after February 15. I've found nothing on Fanny. 

More comments below. 

Fannie and Winter Cantey 

Source: Alabama Dept of Archives and History

Winter left everything to his wife Fannie; daughter Lizzie Cantey is named executrix. Unfortunately, the will contains no inventory of property. 

These images are from the Historical Marker Database. The marker is located in the Fort Mitchell Historical Landmark Park in Russell County, at the Cantey family cemetery. 

Brig. Gen. James Cantey, CSA

Source: Wikipedia