Captain Henry Penn Oden (1823-1863), born in Jones County Georgia, married twice and fathered six children before joining the Confederate army at the onset of the Civil War.

Oden purchased a marble quarry in Talladega County, Alabama in 1859 from the Herd Brothers, however, Oden’s marble career was cut short when he was killed in action in 1863 at the age of 40 in the siege of Vicksburg “faithfully discharging his duty as Capt. Of Co. A, 30^th Regt Ala. 3.”

Virtual Cemetery for Gantt, Herd and Oden on Find A Grave.

When Oden and his business partners James Huey and A. W. Bowie purchased one of the Herd quarries in 1859 they advertised in the Democratic Watchtower “having purchased the steam Mills and Marble quarry lately owned by Herd & Brothers, we are now prepared to execute all orders, either for monuments or ornamental marble work with neatness and dispatch.

Oden’s partner A.W. Bowie continued the business after Oden’s death.

Oden owned a plantation near Winterboro in Talladega County, Alabama called “Mountain Springs”. The Greek Revival home, built in the mid-nineteenth century was eventually donated to the town of Sylacauga for public use.

Oden was the sheriff of Talladega County before the CIvil War.