William Farmer and Family

So it has been more than a month since my last post. I have been feeling pretty good lately, just haven't felt like sitting still and typing... :)

William Farmer was born on June 22, 1801 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. I do not know anything about William's early life. I know he was 38 when he married his first wife, Frances St. John on November 7, 1839 in Newton County, Georgia. I have assumed that Frances was his first wife since I can find no evidence of a previous wife. I have been unsuccessful in locating William in 1850 or prior census records. Was he still in the Oglethorpe/Newton county areas or did he leave and come back? I really do not know. His wife Frances was born in 1820 in South Carolina. Together, they had 8 known children: John C., Samantha Anne Elizabeth, Sarah Emily, Salina Frances, William Thomas, Robert Hardin, Newton Andrew and Martha Eunice. Frances died on May 26, 1858 in Rockdale County, Georgia, when Martha was just 5 months old.
Shortly after the death of his wife, William remarried to a widow, Sarah Ann Boyd, whose maiden name was Goddard. Together, they had 2 children: Charles George and Virginia. A third child is sometimes attributed to them, John. I feel that John was a Boyd and not a Farmer and thus the child of Sarah's first husband. John would have been born in 1859, just shortly before she married William. In the Family Bible my dad has, it states that Charles's siblings were Jennie and John. If John was William's son, then based on the April 1, 1860 marriage date for William and Sarah, then John was conceived out of wedlock. In 1880, John is listed as a Farmer, but in 1900 he is listed as a Boyd with a birth recorded as happening in November of 1859, which was 5 months before the marriage of William and Sarah. Another mistake some researchers have made regarding the children of William and Sarah is assuming that Virginia had died young. Virginia was 16 years old in 1880 and living with her half-sister, Nancy Boyd (who married William Overton) and her family. Since no one could find her after 1880, the researchers assumed she had died. It wasn't until I began researching my Durrett family that I found out what happened to Virginia after 1880. Virginia had married in October of 1882 to Joseph Columbus Durrett, who was an uncle to her brother's (Charles) wife. The couple then moved with their 4 children to Texas and later to Florida, where Virginia died.
Sarah was first married to Robert J. Boyd. I know nothing about him but his name. I have been unsuccessful in finding him on any census records. He married Sarah on October 3, 1844 in DeKalb County, Georgia. They had 4 children: Nancy Ann, Sarah Ann, Ephriam, and the disputed John. Nothing is known about Ephriam. He appears on one census record then disappears. It is not known when Robert died or where he was during all the censuses. In 1850, Sarah is living with who we assume is Robert's brother or some other relative of his with her two daughters. Robert is no where to be found. Robert is presumed dead by 1860 since Sarah remarried.
William died on August 5, 1872 in Rockdale County, Georgia. After William's death, Sarah moved to Cleburne County, Alabama with her daughter, Nancy and her family. Sarah died on September 1, 1891. She is buried at Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery in Carroll County, Georgia in an unmarked grave. I visited the church cemetery about 5 years ago and could not locate her grave. There was a large field, but there were only 5 or six marked graves.

Ancestry Page

Sources:
Census Records: 1850 - Newton County, Georgia
Census Records: 1860 - Rockdale County, Georgia
Census Records: 1870 - DeKalb County, Georgia
Census Records: 1880, 1900 - Cleburne County, Alabama
Census Records: 1910 - Tarrant County, Texas
Census Records: 1920 - McLennan County, Texas
Census Reocrds: 1930 - Dade County, Florida
Death Records: Florida - Virginia L. Durretti
Farmer Family Bible
Marriage Records: Robert Boyd and Sarah Goddard

George Farmer

Well, I am feeling pretty good this morning. Perhaps it is true that things start to get better when you get close to the second trimester. I am going to try to get this new post up before I do start feeling bad.

George Farmer was born sometime around 1760 in Virginia, probably Chesterfield County. I do not have any proof as to George's father, but have seen references that his father's name was Elam Farmer. There were many Elam Farmers in Virginia who could be George's father, and so far I have not been able to pin point exactly which, or even if his father's name actually was Elam.
My records show that George married Nancy Hardin on May 15, 1794 in Lunenburg County, Virginia. There have been disputes as to the maiden name of George's wife, or if he in fact married two different Nancys, but according to he research I have done, I am most positive that Nancy Hardin was the wife, and only wife of George. Some researches believe that George Farmer married Nancy Bolling in Oglethorpe County, Georgia on April 17, 1798. If you look at the original records and not the transcripts, you will see that the George who married Nancy Bolling was a Farrar, not a Farmer. One can see how the names can be easily confused. Our George Farmer did move to Oglethorpe County, hence the confusion in his wife's name and the assumption that some researches make in stating that Nancy Hardin died and he then married Nancy Bolling.
George and his family were in Oglethorpe County, Georgia by 1800 where George is recorded in the Tax records and on the census with his wife, one son and two daughters in the household. George probably died in 1810, since he is recorded in the Tax lists but not recorded on the census.
George and Nancy had, according to the 1800 census, 3 children, and since Nancy is listed as 45+, it would seem unlikely that they would have many children after that census. In my records, I have children born up to 1809. Perhaps their was a mistake on the census or some of the children are actually grandchildren and their father is not known. I do not know for sure without looking for more records on the family. I have the following list of children of George and Nancy: Henry, Thomas, Elizabeth, Martha, William, Theodosia, George W., and Robert Hardin. Elizabeth and Martha were the daughters recorded in 1800 and Henry was most likely the son. In 1820, Henry is recorded in the Oglethorpe County census with a male and female between the ages of 10 and 15. They are most likely siblings of his, since they are too old to be his children. That would be there would be at least 5 children. Theodosia is probably the girl and either Robert or George the boy.
I would love to see more records on this family, as William would be my ancestor. I have proven my line up to William, but have not been able to find that record or link that truly connects William to his father, George. I feel very strongly that William is connected to this family. He has named a son Robert Hardin, and another son, my gg-grandfather, has the middle name of George. When I have more time, I will try to write a post on William, but for now, I must stop typing and get ready for work.

I have not added George to my ancestry tree since he is not proven yet to be my William's father, and he is not located on Find-A-Grave.com.

Sources:
Census Records: 1800, 1820 Oglethorpe County, Georgia
Tax Records: 1800, 1805, 1810 Oglethorpe County, Georgia
Marriage Records: George Farrar and Nancy Bolling

A New Generation

Well, I have not felt like typing any new posts lately. I had been typing a few and scheduling them to post on certain days. I found out about 3 weeks ago that I am pregnant with my first child and really haven't felt like sitting up at the computer. I've been very tired and nauseous. Hopefully, when the first trimester is over, I will be able to get more posts up. Supposedly you get more energy during the second trimester, which I hope is true! So, hopefully in the next two or three weeks I'll get some more posts out as I feel better. Thank you to all who have read my blog so far!

Moses Stamps Sr.

Moses Stamps was born in Virginia in 1772 to Thomas Stamps and Ms. Witt. Researcher Will Stamps believes that Moses's mother was Rhoda Witt, daughter of Charles Witt and Lavina Harbour, but offers no convincing evidence of this. There is also some dispute over Moses's name. Many researches have him listed as Moses Witt Stamps Sr., Witt being his mother's maiden name. One research, whose name I cannot remember or locate at this time, says that there is no record or evidence that Witt was his middle name. It is true that no record says his middle name is Witt, but there is some evidence that may suggest it. Moses had a son who he named Moses Witt Jr. Most of the time, a Junior has the same exact name as the father, so it is reasonable to assume that Moses's middle name may have been Witt as well. Since we do not know for sure, I have left out the Witt middle name from this article about Moses.
Moses married Sarah Ann Eason, a daughter of Moses Eason and Sarah Ann Rice some time before 1793, most likely in North Carolina. According to researcher, Muriel T. Cooter, "For her wedding gown, Sarah Ann carded and spun and wove her own material. It is said to have been so sheer that she could draw a width of it through her wedding ring." Sarah Ann Eason was born around 1770. By 1795, Moses and his wife and young child moved from North Carolina to Jackson County, Georgia. In 1803, he purchased 150 acres on Sandy Creek from William Stamps, son of Timothy Stamps and in 1804, he won a land lottery in Oglethorpe County, but he never lived there. Moses purchased a great deal of land in Jackson County, where he lived up until around 1820, when he moved his family to Gwinnett County, Georgia and then by 1825 his moved his family to Coweta County, Georgia.
Moses served in the War of 1812. He was appointed Captain after enlisting the 243rd District of Jackson County, Georgia on April 9, 1812. Besides a soldier, Moses was also a farmer, locksmith and blacksmith. Ann, as his wife was known, also held an occupation, quite unusual for a women in her days. "She was a doctor of note, receiving calls all over the countryside, traveling on horseback to her patients." (From: The Annals of Our Kin, by Mary Pearl Brown Price)
Moses and Sarah had at least ten children together. There oldest, Eason, was also a War of 1812 soldier and also fought in the Indian Wars of 1836. Other children are James Thomas, John Robert, Moses Witt, George Washington (who went to Texas), Mary A. F., Sarah, Louisa, Ann and Elizabeth.

Sarah died in 1847 at the wedding of one of her granddaughters. I do not know at which granddaughter's wedding she passed, but I can narrow down the possibilities. One is Sarah Ann Stamps, daughter of John Robert and Calla Castleberry Stamps. She was married prior to 1850 to Whorton Fletcher Ballard. A second possibility is Nancy Elizabeth Jane Stamps, daughter of Moses Witt and Sarah Freeman Stamps. She married on December 12, 1847 in Coweta County, Georgia to Joseph Baker Moseley. I do not know the husbands or marriage dates for all the granddaughters of Moses and Ann Stamps, so the list above may be incomplete. After his wife's death, Moses sold his land in Coweta County to Jacobus Gibson. Moses died in February 1850 in Carroll County, Georgia of "old age." He was buried at Indian Creek Baptist Church in Bowdon, Carroll County, Georgia.

Ancestry Page
Find A Grave Page

Sources:
1850 Mortality Schedule - Carroll County, Georgia
Census Records - 1820 Gwinnett County, Georgia
Census Records - 1830-1840 Coweta County, Georgia
Grave Photo - Thank you hmoore!
Land Deeds - Coweta and Jackson County, Georgia
The Annals of Our Kin, by Mary Pearl Brown Price
Research of Will Stamps, Muriel T. Cooter

The Stamps Quartet

History of the Quartet
Virgil Oliver Stamps founded the Stamps Music School in 1924 in Dallas, Texas. After his military service, his brother, Frank joined him and formed the Franks Stamps Quartet, which later was known as the Stamps All Stars and finally the Stamps Quartet. According to an article on the history of the Quartet, “The quartet underwent numerous personnel changes from its beginning in 1924 to the present, and, in fact, some other gospel groups would use the Stamps name whether or not they actually had any direct affiliation with the original Stamps brothers.” In 1926, Virgil went into business with J. R. Baxter and formed the Stamps-Baxter Music and Printing Company, which later became the most successful publisher of shape note hymn books in the United States.
The Stamps Quartet was the first southern gospel quartet to sign onto a major record company, and there first great success was “Give the World a Smile.” In 1937, the quartet began singing on a radio show based out of Dallas. They had one show each day, Monday through Friday and two shows on Sunday. When Virgil died in 1940, Frank took over his half of the Stamps-Baxter Music and Printing Company as well as continuing to travel and sing with the quartet. At some point, Frank pulled out from the Stamps-Baxter Music and Publishing Company and formed the Stamps Quartet Music Company. In the 50s, Frank decided to focus his efforts on publishing songbooks. In 1965, after Frank's death, the Stamps Quartet Music Company was sold to the Blackwood Brothers. The quartet continued to live on, and even performed as back up singers for Elvis in 1971, who idolized the singing and songs the group performed. Through the success of the quartet, they were able to open eleven singing schools. There attendance ranged from 500 to more than 1100 students at its height.
Virgil and Frank were inducted into the GMA Hall of Fame in 1973 and South Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1997. Both Virgil and Frank were songwriters, producers and music teachers outside of singing in their quartets.

Virgil Oliver Stamps
Virgil Oliver Stamps was born on September 18, 1892 in Texas to William Oscar Stamps and Florence Corine Rosser. He spend his younger days working in his father's sawmill and used his wages to buy song books. He attended Richard Morgan's music school and after graduating, he taught singing in part of his father's store.
On March 2, 1909, he married Addie Belle Culpepper in Upshur County, Texas. They became the parents of three children, Louise Elizabeth, Oliver Ware, and J. Weldon, who died as a young child. The young family initially lived in Virgil's hometown in Upshur County, Texas, they had moved to Shelby County, Texas by 1920 and later, by the 30s were in Dallas.
In 1914, he went to work with the James D. Vaughan Music Company based out of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. While employed at Vaughan, he also worked for the Tennessee Music Company and sang in a quartet owned by the Vaughan Company. "The Man Behind the Plow" became the first song that Virgil wrote. After Virgil formed the Stamps Music School, he published his first song book titled, “Harbor Bells.”
Virgil died on August 19, 1940 in Dallas, Texas of a heart attack. He was buried at Laurel Land Memorial Park in Dallas.

Songs Written by Virgil
"Love Is the Key,"
"Singing on My Way,"
"I Am Going."
”My Prayer”
“At Sunset I'm Going Home”
“Don't Forget to Pray”
“He Bore it All”

Music Written by Virgil
“When the Saints Go Marching In”

Ancestry Page
Find a Grave Memorial
Wiki Article

Frank Howard Stamps
Frank Howard Stamps was born on October 7, 1896 in Texas to William Oscar Stamps and Florence Corine Rosser. He was a younger brother to Virgil. Frank married first to Rhoda Mae Sanders on August 19, 1922 in Italy, Ellis County, Texas. A daughter, Dorothy Jane, was born to this union. This marriage did not last long. Frank would met his second wife in Fort Worth, Texas. Her name was Mary Naomi Marks, a daughter of a minister. Mary was only in Texas for a short while before she moved back to Florida. She and Frank corresponded by letter. Frank married Mary on March 8, 1931, at the campgrounds in Wimauna, Florida. To this union, one son, Robert Howard, was born. Frank changed his wife's name is Sally and until her death everyone who knew her, even her parents would call her Sally. Sally, like her husband was an avid music lover, and became known as the “First Lady of Gospel Music.” Frank and Sally worked in the singing schools established by the Stamps Publishing Company. Frank died on April 12, 1964 in Dallas, Texas and was buried in Laurel Land Cemetery.

Ancestry Page
Find a Grave Memorial

Sources:
Death Certificate of Virgil Oliver Stamps and Frank Howard Stamps
1910-1930 Census Records
Newspaper Article: The Gilmer Mirror; Gilmer, Texas Nov. 28, 1971
Marriage Record: Stamps-Sanders
Interview with Sally Stamps Dearman, Frank's second wife – 1987.

I'm My Own Grandpa

So, I never thought I actually find a family where a man became his own grandfather. It is a very interesting set of circumstances and I will endeavor to do the story justice.

John I. Burgess was born in December 24, 1829 in Gwinnett County, Georgia to John P. Burgess, a Methodist Episcopal Minister and his wife Clara. John I. lost his mother at a young age and then with his father moved from Gwinnett County, Georgia to Benton County, Alabama, where his father continued his ministerial work. On July 17, 1851, John married Nancy Ann Kemp, a daughter of James Kemp and Winnie Lott, who were early pioneers to Benton County, Alabama.
John I. Burgess was a very prominent man in the community where he lived. He was a Mason and held extensive amounts of land. He was know to buy and sell land when ever he knew a profit could be made. Though he owned so much land, he and his family resided in a log cabin on a farm near his father's home. John I. donated some of his vast holdings for a school and church and in 1904 the Oak Grove Baptist Church and School was built on that land.
John I. Burgess and Nancy Ann Kemp became the parents of three children: Ophelia Jane, Willis Anthony and Eliza Belzora Margaret. John I. and Nancy's only son died as an infant. John was very grieved at loosing his only son. He desperately wanted a male heir, so when his oldest daughter, Ophelia, was grown and married, he made a deal with the young couple to let him adopt their first born son. Ophelia's first child was a son, who was named John William Lafayette Pounds. John I. went and quickly had the adoption papers drew up so he could legally become the father of his first grandson. Just a few days after his birth, on July 6, 1873, John I. took his new son to his home to raise.

On June 6, 1894, Nancy Burgess passed away, as a result of the typhoid epidemic in the area. On May 8, 1895, John I. married Bettie L. Stamps, a daughter of George William Stamps and Jerusha S. Brown. John I. had made made an arrangement with Bettie to care for him in his old age and in return, she would receive a dowry of 300 acres of land. John I. liked to boast about his possessions and good fortune. He often bragged about his money and his beautiful young bride, who was almost 50 years younger than her husband. Bettie was not fond of these boastings and for a time left John I. She soon returned and fulfilled the arrangements of their marriage. John I. died on June 12, 1909 after suffering from deafness and lameness among other illnesses. John I. was buried next to his first wife and oldest daughter at Harmony Primitive Baptist Church in Cleburne County, Alabama.
John William Lafayette Pounds, the adopted son of his grandfather, John I. continued to live with his step-mother after the death of his father (grandfather). Now, John William was older than his step-mother, so to me, it would seem awkward for them to still be living together. However, less than 1 year after John I's death, his adopted son married his widowed wife. John William and Bettie L. were married on May 1, 1910. So, thus John effectively became his own step-grandfather, but since he was an adopted son of his grandfather, would be only be his own step-father?

John William and Bettie became the parents of one daughter, Lenora Aline, in 1912. Bettie died on October 8, 1935 in Edwardsville, Cleburne, Alabama. Bettie was buried at Oak Grove Church Cemetery in Helfin, Cleburne, Alabama, the same Oak Grove church whose land her first husband donated. John would go on to live until May 11, 1968. He was buried next to Bettie.

Above is a photo of Bettie L. Stamps with her parents, George William Stamps and Jerusha S. Brown and her little sister, Marion.

Ancestry Page of John I. Burgess
Ancestry Page of Bettie L. Stamps
Find A Grave Page of John I. Burgess
Find A Grave Page of Bettie L. Stamps Burgess Pounds

Sources
Census Records - 1880 Carroll County, Georgia
Census Records - 1880-1910,1930 Cleburne County, Alabama
Death Records - Bettie Pounds
Grave Stone Photos - Thanks to A Benefield and Stacey Bland!
Marriage Records - John I. Burgess and Bettie Stamps; John Pounds to Bettie Burgess May 3, 2012 - Update on this post Today I found the obituary of Bettie L. Pounds and learned that her middle name was Lenora. It was published in The Cleburne News on October 31, 1935. I also corrected her date of death from October 9, 1945 to October 8, 1935.

The Twilight Zone

Who ever thought my family history would lead me to The Twilight Zone!

O. C. Ritch was born in 1922 in California to Horace S. Ritch and Onan Alwilda Stamps. Not much is know about his early life. Before he turned 8 years old, his family had moved back to his mothers home state of Oklahoma.
O. C. Ritch was a writer, actor and screenwriter. He was very knowledgeable about motorcycle and mustang repairs and how the various systems in them worked. He wrote many books on the topic between 1960 and 1974. A list of his books will be listed at the end of this post. In 1961, he wrote an episode of The Twilight Zone titled 'Static' and in 1962, he was a ghost writer of The Twilight Zone episode 'Dead Man's Shoes.' Also in 1962, O. C. started as Jack Allardyce in the movie 'The Intruder.'
O. C. died in 1988 from lung disease. It is unknown whether or not he married and had children. It is also unknown where he is buried.

List of Books (This may not be all of them)
1960 - Care and Repair of Your Sports Car
June 1963 - Technical Editor of Clymer's Automobile Topics
1967 - Chilton's Yamaha repair and tune-up guide
1969 - Chilton's Honda repair and tune-up guide
1969 - Chilton's motorcycle electrical systems.
1970 - Motorcycle Electrical Systems
1970 - Triumph Motor Cycle Repair and Tune-up Guide
1970 - Suzuki Repair and Tune-up Guide
1971 - Harley-Davidson Repair and Tune-up Guide
1972 - Chilton's Harley-Davidson repair and tune-up guide
1972 - Yamaha Repair and Tune-up Guide
1973 - Mustang Repair and Tune-up Guide
1974 - The Lincoln Continental
Chilton's BSA motorcycle repair and tune-up guide.
Chilton's Japanese motorcycle repair & tune-up guide.
Chilton's motorcycle carburetion systems.
Chilton's motorcycle troubleshooting guide.
Chilton's Mustang repair and tune-up guide
Chilton's Suzuki repair and tune-up guide.
Honda Repair and Tune-up Guide
Motorcycle Troubleshooting Guide

Sources
Census Records - 1930 McCurtain County, Oklahoma
Amazon.com - book list
Various movie/TV sites show his Twilight Zone work and Movie appearance.
The Intruder Information

To China With Love

I have been working pretty exclusively with my Stamps family for the past couple of weeks and I have come across a really interesting couple, they are Drure Fletcher Stamps and Elizabeth Camilla Belk.

Drure Fletcher Stamps was born on November 11, 1885 in Georgia (most likely Carroll County) to Fletcher Moreland Stamps and Lani Mentori Hill. On September 26, 1913, Drure married Agnes Herron. Agnes died just 4 years after she was married. This couple also lost an infant son a few months before Agnes's death. On July 29, 1920 in Montreat, Bruncombe, North Carolina, Drure married Elizabeth Camilla Belk. Elizabeth was born on September 27, 1891 to George Washington Belk and Mary Thornton Blanton.
Both Drure and Elizabeth had a love for Christ, instilled in them by their parents. Drure's father donated the land that Salem Baptist Church was built on in Carroll County, Georgia. Elizabeth's father was a Presbyterian minister. Both Drure and Elizabeth went on to college to pursue higher education. In 1911, Drure attended Mercer College, and in 1914 he went on to receive his ThM. Elizabeth received a B.A. at Peace College in Raleigh, North Carolina. When World War I broke out, Drure served as a chaplain with the U.S. Army in France. When the war was over, Drure and his wife were sent by the South Baptist Convention to serve in China, particularly in Jiangsu Province. Sometime during their service in China, Drure returned to the States to receive a ThD from the Seminary in Louisville, known today as Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Elizabeth taught school while serving as a missionary. Drure and Elizabeth would continue to serve in China until 1949. During their time in China, they had three children: Margaret Drury, George Moreland and Winston Fletcher. Margaret and Fletcher would died before the family returned to the United States. In 1972, Elizabeth wrote a book about her life as a missionary in China titled "To China with Love." I would really like to read her book to know more details about what they did and the experience they had. If anyone knows where I can obtain a copy to read, please let me know!

After their service in China, Drure and Elizabeth were then called as missionaries to the territory of Hawaii until 1954. The couple settled in Waycross, Ware, Georgia after their service to missions. Drure died on December 11, 1982 and Elizabeth died a few years later in April 1986. The couple is buried in Greenlawn Cemetery in Waycross, Georgia.

Ancestry Page
Find A Grave Page


Sources
Census Records: 1900 Carroll County, Georgia
Grave Stone Photos
Marriage Record of Drure Fletcher Stamps and Elizabeth Camilla Belk
Stamps Research by Will Stamps

The Hale Family - Amos Pinkney Hale

Amos Pinkney Hale, my ggg-grandfather, was born on May 31, 1857 in Coweta County, Georgia to Rachel Lurania Melvina Hale. There are a lot of conflicting information on the birth date of Amos. His obituary states he was born on May 31, 1867 and his grave stone also gives this date. This date can not be correct. The obituary itself has a conflict in its information: Amos died in 1945 and the obituary states he was 87 years old, which would put his birth year as 1857(8), and not the 1867 as stated. The census records also indicate a birth date before 1860. I am assuming the '6' should have been a '5' and when the obituary was typed the error crept in. I believe that whoever placed the stone at Hillview Annex used the dates from the obituary and did not look up the information. The grave marker seems too new to be 65 years old. (Picture to the left is Amos and his brother Stephen.)

In late 1879 or early 1880, Amos married Mary Caroline Smith. Caroline, as she was known, was born in April 1864 in Georgia or Alabama. There is conflicting information on the parents of Caroline. One researcher claims that his family Bible indicates her parents are Henry Smith and Sarah, and that Henry helped to drive the Indians out of Georgia. He also claims that Caroline's parents are more specifically Henry Parks Smith and Sarah Sterling. Henry and Sarah do have a daughter named Caroline, but upon further research you will see her first name is Virginia, not Mary and that she was born in 1873, not 1864 which makes her nearly 10 years too young to be Amos's wife. I have recently found a Harry and Sarah Smith in Heard County, Georgia who have a daughter named Caroline born in 1864. Since Harry can be a nickname for Henry, this family seems to be a strong match to what we are looking for. Further research is needed into the family of Harry and Sarah to know for sure.

Nine children were born to Amos and Caroline. They are Lucius Joshua, William Stephen, James Grady, Elizabeth Pearl, Lucy M., Sarah, Birdie B., Susie and Leila. As the story goes, Caroline became ill sometime around 1900 and the couple hired Kate Walden, a 19 year old girl, to come care for Caroline and the children. As Caroline was dying, she asked Kate to marry Amos and care for him and the children. It is unknown what illness Caroline had, or how debilitating it was. After Kate lived with the family, Caroline still had children. It is unknown exactly when Caroline died, but her youngest child was born in 1905 and Amos married Kate on June 6, 1909 in Carroll County, Georgia. Kate was the mother of one daughter, Frasia.
Amos died on January 15. 1945 in Lagrange, Georgia. He was buried in Hillview Annex. Kate lived on to be almost 100 years old dying less than 1 month from her birthday on March 19, 1981.

Ancestry Page
Find A Grave Page

Sources:
Census Records - 1860-1910 Randolph County, Alabama
Census Records - 1920 Coweta County, Georgia
Census Records - 1930 Carroll County, Georgia
Grave Photos
Obituary - Amos Pinkney Hale, Lagrange Daily News
Social Security Application - Kate Walden

The Hale Family - Stephen T. Hale

Stephen T. Hale was born on August 14, 1861 in Randolph County, Alabama. He is the son of Rachel Lurania Melvina Hale. Stephen moved with his family from Randolph County, Alabama to Carroll County, Georgia sometime between 1870 and 1880 where he married Priscilla Jane Levens on March 3, 1889. Priscilla was born on March 18, 1853. After marrying, the couple moved back to Randolph County, Alabama, and by 1910 had moved to Heard County, Georgia. Later, they moved back to Randolph County, where Priscilla died on November 15, 1937. Stephen died on March 1, 1955 in Randolph County. Stephen and Priscilla had at least five children: Claudia, Stephen Ruge, Sarah, Isaac and an infant son.
Their oldest child, Claudia, was born in February 1890 in Alabama. In 1920, she was still unmarried and living with her parents. It is unknown whether she married after 1920 or when she died.
Stephen Ruge Hale was the oldest son and second child of Stephen and Priscilla Hale. He was born on October 31, 1893 in Alabama. He married Minnie Elizabeth Huddleston some time before 1923. Minnie was born on September 9, 1898. They became the parents of the following children: Lorell, Sally Mae, Lowell, Alears R. and Raye. Stephen died on May 14, 1934. Minnie died on September 11, 1984. They were both buried in the Shadowlawn Cemetery in LaGrange, Georgia.
On September 22, 1895, the couple lost an infant son, their 3rd child.
Sarah Hale was the 4th child of Stephen and Priscilla. She was born in March 1897 in Alabama. She married first to a Mr. Johnson and had a son named Ernest in 1916. She married second to L. J. Hale. I do not know when she died.
Isaac Hale is the youngest son of Stephen and Priscilla. He was born on May 16, 1900 in Alabama. He married a woman named Nancy. Ike, as he was known, died on December 1, 1992 and is buried in Shadowlawn Cemetery in LaGrange, Georgia.

Ancestry Page

Sources
Census Records - 1870, 1900, 1920-1930 Randolph County, Alabama
Census Records - 1880 Carroll County, Georgia
Census Records - 1910 Heard County, Georgia
Death Records - Cellia Hale, Infant Son Hale
Grave Photos (Shadowlawn Cemetery)
Obituary of Sally Mae Hale Hall (Lagrange Daily News)
Obituary of Raye Hale Sherrer (Lagrange Daily News)

The Hale Family - Daughters of Mahala Hale

Sarah Nancy Elizabeth Jane Hale was born on September 30, 1852 in Randolph County, Alabama, the oldest daughter of Mahala. Sarah, known as Sis, lived her whole life in Randolph County, Alabama, and like her mother and aunts, she had several children without marrying. Sis became the mother of one son and five daughters: W. Charles, Mary, Elizabeth, Ida, Julia L. and Josie. Sis died on October 19, 1923 in Randolph County, Alabama. Sis is buried in Prospect Congregational Methodist Church Cemetery in Randolph County, Alabama.
W. Charles Hale was born on February 11, 1871 in Randolph County, Alabama. In 1892, he married Nancy Ellen and had the following children: Bertha, Hattie, Millard M., Ethel, Annie, Stella, William G., Harvey and Leonard Howard. Charles died on November 5. 1914 in Randolph County, Alabama and is buried with his wife in Prospect Congregational Methodist Church Cemetery in Randolph County, Alabama.

Julia L. Hale was born in February 1882. She married Charles Monroe Hale, son of Rachel Lurania Melvina Hale, her grandmother's sister. Charles and Julia were the parents of the following children: William Oscar, Grady Monroe, Ida B., Edna M. and Charley L. The picture to the left was taken before Charley was born. Charles died when his youngest son was 5 months old, on December 26, 1906. Julia died a few years later on September 7, 1910. The couple is buried at Prospect Congregational Methodist Church Cemetery in Randolph County, Alabama.
Little is known about the other daughters of Sis. Josie and Elizabeth appeared to have died without marrying. Josie is buried at Prospect Congregational Methodist Church Cemetery in Randolph County, Alabama. I do not know anything about Mary.

Mary J. Hale, pictured left, was born in February 1862 in Randolph County, Alabama, the second daughter of Mahala. I do not know if Mary married or had children, or even when she died. I know she was alive in 1880, as she was living with her mother in Coweta County, Georgia. There is a marriage record in Coweta County, Georgia for a Mollie Hale and a Richard Thrower. They were married in May of 1884. I do not know if this is Mary. More documents are needed to know one way or another.

Frances Rebecca Hale was the third daughter of Mahala, born in 1863 in Randolph County, Alabama. Frances married Silas Olin Garrett on June 16, 1881 in Coweta County, Georgia. They had the following children: Fred Hill, William Homer, Andrew Levi, Reuben Jackson, Mirty Lou, Brillie Jane, Cora Levy, Johnny Herman, Grady Monroe and Edna Pinkney. I have not yet researched this family, so more details will be provided once I do. Frances died on January 16, 1926 in Roanoke, Alabama.

Georgia Ann Hale, pictured left, was the fourth daughter of Mahala, born in October 1865 in Randolph County, Alabama. On December 24, 1882 in Coweta County, Georgia, Georgia married Elijah W. Hammond. They became the parents of the following chilren: Homer Jackson, Noda Bell, Mary Ad, William Irvin, Milton, Georgia Brillie, Robert L., Lula M., Linnie A., Benjamin, Levi L., Charner M., Arnold W. and Exey. Georgia died in 1956 in DeKalb County, Alabama.

Lue E. Hale was the youngest daughter of Mahala. She was born in February 1875 in Alabama. Nothing further is known about Lue.





Sources
Census Records – 1860-1910 Randolph County, Alabama
Census Records – 1880 Coweta County, Georgia
Marriage Records – S. O. Garrett and Fannie Hale; E. W. Hammond and Georgia Hale
Research of Tim J. Hammond

The Hale Family - John Aron Hale

John Aron Hale was born on March 22, 1857 in Randolph County, Alabama. Elvie was born on May 5, 1871 in Randolph County, Alabama. The couple became the parents of seven children: Howard Glover, Garland R., Ella R., Bessie Lou, James W., Byron J. and Charlie Brewer. Elvie died on August 8, 1940 in Troup County, Georgia. John died on October 28, 1941 in Hogansville, Troup, Georgia. John was buried next to his wife at Shadowlawn Cemetery in LaGrange, Georgia.
In Coweta County, Georgia, there is a J. A. Hale who married a Carena Tennant and had the following children, G. W. A., Callie, Luther, Evie L., Parker L., Robert A., and Hattie M. Several researchers believe that J. A. is also John Aron and that he and Carena were divorce sometime between 1898 and 1904 and John then married Elvie Henson. It is entirely possible that this is the case, but more evidence is needed. In 1900, Carena is living alone with her children and is listed as a widow instead of divorced and John is in Randolph County listed as single. I need more records to know for sure, but I have not found anything conflicting with John being the husband of Carena, just no proof that he was the same John as the one Carena married.

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Children of John Aron and Elvie Henson

Howard Glover Hale was born on January 15, 1905 in Lamar, Randolph, Alabama. He died on January 15, 1975.

Garland R. Hale was born on July 14, 1906 in Lamar, Randolph County, Alabama. He died on December 7, 1967. He is buried in the Shadowlawn Cemetery in Lagrange, Georgia.




Ella R. Hale was born in 1909 in Alabama, most likely Lamar, Alabama.

Bessie Lou Hale was born on May 7, 1910 in Lamar, Randolph, Alabama. She died on January 4, 1988 in Hogansville, Troup, Georgia.

James W. Hale was born in 1912 in Alabama, most likely Lamar, Alabama.

Byron J. Hale was born in 1915 in Alabama, most likely Lamar, Alabama.

Charlie Brewer Hale was born on May 6, 1918 in Lamar, Randolph, Alabama. He died on May 29, 1977 in Hogansville, Troup County, Georgia. He is buried in the Shadowlawn Cemetery in Lagrange, Georgia.



Sources
Census Records – 1860-1870, 1900-1920 Randolph County, Alabama
Census Records – 1880-1900 Coweta County, Georgia
Census Records – 1930 Carroll County, Georgia
Grave Stone Photos
Marriage Record – J. A. Hale and Carena Tennant

The Hale Family - Andrew Jackson Hale Family

Andrew Jackson Hale was born on November 25, 1856 to Mahala Jane Hale in Randolph County, Alabama. Jack, as he was called, lived in Randolph County until his mother moved the family to Coweta County, Georgia. His family was in Coweta by 1880. On September 2, 1883, Jack married Lucy Permelia Vinna Norris in Coweta County. Lucy was born on May 12, 1864 in Georgia. They became the parents of eight children: John William, Della Modenna, Lena Bea Jackson, Pearlie Lugenia, Lucy Alvania, Lola Lee, Sally Vina Maybelle and George Belton. Andrew died on June 19, 1937 in Lagrange, Georgia. Lucy died on February 25, 1952 in Troup County, Georgia. They are buried in Shadowlawn Cemetery in LaGrange, Troup, Georgia.

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Children of Andrew Jackson and Lucy Norris Hale

John William Hale was born on June 14, 1885 in Randolph County, Alabama. He married Betsie Ann Henson on December 21, 1902 in Carroll County, Georgia. Betsie was born in February 1884 to Amos Henson and Joeanna Hale. Betsie's mother and John William's father were cousins. They became parents to the following children: Gleamer L., William J., Grady, Freeman J., Lelah O., and Johnnie L. He died on September 30, 1912 in Randolph County, Alabama.


Della Modena Hale was born on January 9, 1888 in Randolph County, Alabama. On May 7, 1905, Della married Josephus S. Henson in Carroll County, Georgia. Josephus was born in 1881. The couple had two children: Omaha E. and Leonard H. Della died on June 16, 1912 in Randolph County, Alabama.

Lena Bea Jackson Hale was born on June 18, 1890 in Randolph County, Alabama. On June 7, 1908, she married Alfred S. Henson in Randolph County, Alabama. The couple became the parents of the following children: Beryl, Bessie L., Alma, Leona, Beatrice, Tommi Lon, Edith, Helen, Audie and an infant daughter. By 1930, the family had left Randolph County and moved to Troup County, Georgia. Lena died on June 22, 1978 in Fulton County, Georgia.

Pearlie Lugenia Hale was born on May 27, 1892 in Randolph County, Alabama. She married George Henson on October 4, 1911 in Randolph County, Alabama. She died on March 27, 1985 in Fayette County, Georgia.

Lucy D. Hale was born on December 31, 1898 in Randolph County, Alabama. She married William Rufus Bowen on January 29, 1916 in Randolph County, Alabama. They became the parents of the following children: Ulyes, Birdie Mae, Zollie L., Adell, Grace Maybelle, Dorothy, Jeanette and Buford. She died on August 10, 1997 in Troup County, Georgia.

Lola Lee was born on August 20 1902 in Randolph County, Alabama. She married a Charles Sanford Williams. She died on August 4, 1965 in Troup County, Georgia.

Sally Vina Maybelle Hale was born on May 5, 1906 in Randolph County, Alabama. She married a Cotis C. Buchanan. She died on November 14, 1997 in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

George Belton Hale was born on May 10, 1910 in Randolph County, Alabama. On December 7, 1930, he married Lillian Odessa Askew in Troup County, Georgia. Lillie was born in 1911. They were the parents of 2 children: Nathan and Eris Rebecca. He died on December 3, 1990 in Troup County, Georgia. Lillie died in 2002.

Sources
Census Records: 1860-1870, 1910-1920 Randolph County, Alabama
Census Records: 1880 Coweta County, Georgia
Census Records: 1930 Troup County, Georgia
Death Records: J. W. Hale, Della Henson, Tommi Lon Henson,
Grave Stone Photos
Marriage Record - A. J. Hale and Lucy P. V. Norris
SSDI: Pearl Henson

The Hale Family – William Joseph Hale and His Children

William Joseph Hale is the oldest son of Mahala and oldest grandchild for William and Mary. He was born on January 19, 1850 in Randolph County, Alabama. On his death certificate, a father is recorded for him, but the name is not completely readable. It seems to read “La---d Hale.” There is never a father figure type person ever living with Mahala and her family in any census record. He lived his entire life in Randolph County, Alabama.
William married Zilpha Francis Dalrymple before 1879, most likely in Randolph County, Alabama. Zilpha was born on October 18, 1859 in Randolph County, Alabama. They became the parents of 11 children: Emily, Jackson Cicero, Alice, Arry Cathryn, Cornelia, Levada, Pink Malone, Nancy Rebecca, George Dewey, Joseph Leon and James Henry. He died on January 8, 1930 in Omaha, Randolph, Alabama. Zilpha died on February 24, 1949 in Randolph County, Alabama. Both are buried at East Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery in Randolph County, Alabama.

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Emily Hale was born in 1879 in Randolph County, Alabama. Nothing more is known about Emily at this time. (Further information found on March 25, 2013 -- I found the death certificate for Lou Ella Simpkins, that states her parents as W. J. Hale and Zilpha Dalrymple.  See further info on Emily Lou Ella here.)

Jackson Cicero Hale was born on June 14, 1882 in Randolph County, Alabama. He married Lizzie Ettie Daniels before 1903. He and Lizzie were the parents of 10 children: Loy D., Geneva V., Matthew Weldon, Eva Gladys, Howard, Lewis Denson, Irene, Otis Lee, Omie and Jackson Cicero Jr. Jackson moved his family from Randolph County to Troup County, Georgia some time before 1920. Jackson died on June 18, 1957 most likely in Troup County, Georgia. Lizzie died on January 29, 1986 probably in Troup County, Georgia. The couple is buried in Shadowlawn Cemetery in Lagrange, Georgia along with one son, Otis.

Alice Hale was born in February 1885 in Randolph County, Alabama. Nothing more is know about Alice.

Arrie Cathryn Hale was born on May 3, 1889 in Randolph County, Alabama. Arrie never married. She died on January 8, 1971 in Randolph County, Alabama. She is buried at Bethel East Cemetery in Randolph County, Alabama.



Cornelia Hale was born in March 1890 in Randolph County, Alabama. There is nothing more known about Cornelia.

Levada Hale was born in March 1893 in Randolph County, Alabama. She died on November 27, 1965 in Troup County, Georgia. It is unknown if she married or not.

Pink Malone Hale was born on March 18, 1896 in Randolph County, Alabama. He married Annie Eva Heard on October 29, 1922 in Troup County, Georgia. By 1930, Pink and his wife had moved back to Randolph County, Alabama and later moved again to Troup County, Georgia where Pink died on May 27, 1978. Annie died on July 12, 1989 in Georgia, most likely in Troup County. They were both buried in Shadowlawn Cemetery in LaGrange, Georgia. Pink and Annie had no children.

Nancy Rebecca Hale was born on November 1, 1898 in Randolph County, Alabama. She married Elmer J. Buchanan before 1930. Elmer was born in 1888 in Georgia. In 1930, she and her husband were living in Troup County, Georgia as boarders in the home of her brother, Jackson Cicero Hale. Nancy died on September 1, 1936 in Graham, Randolph County, Alabama. It is unknown whether Elmer and Nancy had any children.

George Dewey Hale was born on June 5, 1899 in Randolph County, Alabama. He married Jessie Heard after 1920. Jessie was born on November 12, 1910. George died on August 2, 1973 in LaGrange, Troup, Georgia. Jessie died on August 22, 1992. They are both buried in the Shadowlawn Cemetery in LaGrange, Troup, Georgia. It is unknown whether they had children.

Joseph Leon Hale was born in 1901 in Randolph County, Alabama. He married Eveline Cater after 1930. Eveline was born on January 28, 1908. Joseph died in 1973. Eveline died on July 20, 1988 in Troup County, Georgia. They are both buried in Shadowlawn Cemetery in LaGrange, Georgia.

James Henry Hale was born in 1905 in Randolph County, Alabama. Nothing more is know about James.

Sources
Census Records – 1850-1920 Randolph County, Alabama
Census Records - 1920-1930 Troup County, Georgia.
Photo of Grave Stones
Death Record – W. J. Hale, Nancy Rebecca Buchanan

The Hale Family - Rachel Lurania Melvina Hale Family

Rachel Lurania Melvina Hale was born on November 19, 1936 in Alabama or Georgia. In her later life, she was known as Melvina. She, like her two older sisters never married but had children. She was the mother of 5 children: Amos Pinkney "Pink", Nancy Josephine "Josie", Stephen T., Charles Monroe and Union Elizabeth "Lizzie." Melvina lived at home with her parents until after 1870. After her father died, she, her children and her mother moved to Carroll County, Georgia. Melvina died after 1900, probably in Carroll County, Georgia. The photo to the right is of Melvin with two of her great-grandchildren. The one in her lap is Ruge. I do not know the name of the one standing.

Nancy Josephine “Josie” Hale was born in 1859 in Alabama. Nothing more is known about Josie. Her younger sister, Union Elizabeth “Lizzie” Hale was born in January 1873 in Georgia. Lizzie married John C. Moore before 1893. There are 4 known children to the union of Lizzie and John: James A., Cicero Hampton, Stephen W. and Mary Rebecca. By 1920, John and Lizzie moved their family to Marshall County, Alabama. Lizzie died after 1930, probably in Marshall County.

Charles Monroe Hale was born in February 1868 in Georgia. He married his cousin, Julia L. Hale, a daughter of Sarah Nancy Elizabeth Jane 'Sis' Hale. Julia was born in February 1882 in Alabama. Five children were born in this marriage: William Oscar, Grady Monroe, Ida B., Edna M. and Charley L. Charles died on December 26, 1906, just 5 months after his youngest child was born. Julia died when her youngest child was just 4 years old on September 7, 1910 in Randolph County, Alabama. They are both buried at Prospect Congregational Methodist Church Cemetery in Randolph County, Alabama.

Further details into the lives and families of Amos Pinkney and Stephen T. Hale will be in a later post.

Ancestry Page

Sources:
Census Records – 1850-1870,1900 in Randolph County, Alabama.
Census Records – 1880 in Carroll County, Georgia

The Hale Family – Mary Rebecca Nancy Hale Family

Mary Rebecca Nancy Hale was born in 1835 in Alabama or Georgia. She is most often recorded as Rebecca in the census records so that is how I will refer to her in this post to avoid confusion with her daughter. She, like her sisters did not marry, but had children. There are 3 know children for Rebecca: Susan, Mary and Joeanna. Not a lot is known about Rebecca's life or even when she died. I know she passed away after 1910, as that was the last year I have found her on the census records.

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Susan is the oldest known child of Rebecca. She was born in 1852 in Alabama. Mary is the second daughter of Rebecca. She was born in 1854 in Alabama. Nothing more is known about these two daughters. I know that at least one of them had children. In 1880, there are three grandchildren living in the home of Rebecca. The three boys are named William Thomas (age 10), John H. (age 6) and John (age 1). I know that Joeanna is probably John H.'s mother.

Joeanna was born in 1859 in Alabama. Joeanna was the mother of 2 children, John Joseph and Betsie Ann. Their father was named Amos M. Henson. I am not sure that Amos and Joeanna were married since Joeanna was living with her mother in 1880 and John was born in 1875. Amos was living with Joeanna's cousin, William Joseph Hale, in 1880. Amos M. Henson was born in March 1859 in Randolph County, Alabama. Amos was married to Octava Watkins and had the following children: Elizabeth, Minnie, Walter B., Ida M., Verna, Claude, Joseph, Lillie Mae and Clyde J. I know Betsie was born after Amos married Octava. A granddaughter of Amos and Octava sent me the picture of Betsie, below, with a note saying that she was her mother's half-sister. Joeanna died on July 6, 1927 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Betsie Ann Henson was born in February 1884 in Alabama. She married John William Hale on December 21, 1902 in Carroll County, Georgia. John born on June 14, 1885 in Randolph County, Alabama to Andrew Jackson Hale and Lucy Permelia Vinna Norris. Further details on John's life will be in a later post when I discuss his family.

Sources:
Census Records – 1850-1910 in Randolph County, Alabama.
Death Record – Joe Ann Henson

The Hale Family – Mahala Jane Hale

Mahala Jane Hale was born in 1833 in Alabama or Georgia. The Hale family did not seem to care about reporting correct ages on the census records. The census records suggest a birth range of 1820-1835, though the 1870 census is the only record to place her birth date so early. In 1850 and 1860 Mahala stayed with her parents with her young children. It wasn't until around 1870 that she moved into her own home. She became the mother of 8 children: William Joseph, Sarah Nancy Elizabeth Jane, Andrew Jackson, John Aron, Mary J., Frances Rebecca, Georgia Ann and Lue E.

In 1880, Mahala had moved her family to Coweta County, Georgia. I have not been able to locate Mahala on the 1900 census record. Where was she? By 1910, Mahala had moved in with her son, John, who had moved back to Randolph County, Alabama. Mahala Hale died on November 11, 1913 in an unknown location, possibly Randolph County, Alabama. A cousin sent me a photo of her grave marker, but never told me which cemetery it was located in.

Ancestry Page

Sources
Census Records – 1850-1880 Randolph County, Alabama, 1880 Carroll County, Georgia.
Photo of Grave Stone

The Hale Family – William Walker Hale

The Hale family has been an interesting and somewhat difficult family to research. When I initially began my search on the Hale family, all I knew was what my father had written on his Family Bible. He had written that his grandmother, my great-grandmother was named Inez Hale and her father's name was Pink. It wasn't until after I began corresponding with other descendants of Pink that I was able to find his full name: Amos Pinkney Hale. This post and the next few will endeavor to display the research that has been done on this family. I will start at the earliest known Hale ancestor: William Walker Hale.

William Walker Hale was born between 1795 and 1806 in Alabama or Georgia. His exact birth date and birth town are not known at this time. Sometime before 1833, he married Mary. Some researchers believe that her maiden name was Parmer, but they do not offer any documents that prove this. Mary was born between 1789 and 1795 in Alabama or Georgia. William and Mary were the parents of three daughters, Mahala Jane, Mary Rebecca Nancy, and Rachel Lurania Melvina. By 1850, the family was living in Randolph County, Alabama in the town of Lamar. Do to lack of records, I do not know exactly when William or Mary passed away. William died after the 1870 census, probably in Randolph County, Alabama. After her husband's death, Mary lived with her daughter, Melvina, who had moved to Georgia. Mary died after 1880, possibly in Carroll County, Georgia or Randolph County, Alabama.

William and Mary, as well as their daughters, are often recorded as 'MU' or mulatto on the census records. It is not known whether they were recorded as mulatto for an African background or for a Native American background. From early photographs I have seen, it seems more plausible for the family to have Native American ancestry, since they are not as dark skinned as Africans and their hair seems to suggest more Native American. One researcher believes that William was a free African who married a white woman and therefore the family is recorded as mulatto. She has not found the proof yet of his ancestry, and it is entirely possible that there is African and Native American ancestry in this family. I know with 100% accuracy that some of William's grandchildren have Native American fathers, I just don't know their names.

Our William Walker Hale should not be confused with William Martsen Hale who married Sally Sterling. Yes, William and Sally had daughters named Mahala, Nancy and Melvina, but it is so clear from census records that they are not the same family. William and Sally lived in Blount County, Alabama while our William and Mary lived in Randolph County, Alabama. William and Sally had many more children, whereas we only know of three children for William and Mary. Some researches have merged these two Williams, and I want to make clear they are NOT the same.

One interesting fact about the three daughters of William is that none of them ever married. Each daughter had children, with various men, but never married to any of them. I do not know the names of any of the children's fathers, but I do know that some of their fathers were Indians, but from which tribes I do not know. I will focus on each daughter in her own section.

Ancestry Page

Sources
Obituary of Amos Pinkney Hale
Census Records – 1850-1880 Randolph County, Alabama, 1880 Carroll County, Georgia.

The Powers Family - Esther Henrietta Powers Walsh

Esther Henrietta Powers was born on April 13, 1845 in Killucan, Westmeath County, Ireland. She was a younger sister to the brothers; Michael, James and John. She came to America after her brothers and did not know where they were. It is not know where she was before she married or exactly when she came to America. It is also not know if she traveled alone or with other family. In 1900, she claimed to have come to America in 1870. In 1910, she claimed to have come in 1872. In 1920, she claimed to come in 1850. In 1930, she claimed to have come in 1868. Through these records, we know she was in America before 1872. It is possible she came after she married with her husband's family, or she married shortly after she arrived. Her first child was born in 1873.
According to the 1900 census record, Ettie (as she was called by her family) married Michael Walsh in 1872. Michael was born on June 10, 1850 in Ireland. He was the son of James Walsh. They resided in Salisbury, Litchfield, Connecticut for most of their lives. Ettie and Michael became the parents of eight children: James N., John P., Mary J., Michael, Nora A., William B., Henrietta M. and Richard.
In 1911, Ettie traveled by train from Connecticut to Newnan, Georgia after finding out her older brothers were still alive. She met with them during the big Powers reunion that took place at that time. As the story goes, she had just left Newnan and had arrived in Atlanta at the train station to return home when she received word that her brother, James, had died. She immediately returned to Newnan to be with her family.

Michael died on December 24, 1915 in Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut. Ettie died on January 2, 1941 Litchfield County, Connecticut. She and her husband are buried at St. Marys Cemetery in Salisbury, Connecticut.

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Sources:
Census Records - 1880-1930 Litchfield County, Connecticutt
Memories of Henrietta Tompkins Shaw, granddaughter of Ettie and Michael. As of this post, she is still living and is 106 years old.
Grave Stone Photos

The Powers Family - James M. Powers

The above Picture shows Michael Powers, James M. Powers and John Patrick Powers, the three brothers who came to the United States from Ireland.

James M. Powers was born on April 7, 1829 in Killucan, Westmeath County, Ireland. He was an older brother to Michael Powers. He came to America with his brothers and traveled with them as they came south to Coweta County, Georgia. He was the only one of his brothers to stay in Coweta County, settling in the town of Newnan.
On February 14, 1861, James married Sarah Jane Huggins. She was the daughter of Asa Huggins and Elizabeth Woody. Asa was an Inferior Court Judge in Coweta County, Georgia and also a deacon at New Hope Baptist Church in Coweta County. James and Sarah became the parents of eleven children: John H., Mary Isabelle, Marcella E., Sarah Luella, Ettie Dora, James Lawrence, Asa Thomas, William Patrick, Bridget Bessie, Infant Son and Jesse.

James fought in the Confederate Army with his brother, Michael. Shortly after his marriage, in May 1862, James enlisted in the Confederate Army in Newnan, Georgia. He claims he served until the war ended. On December 16, 1864, James was captured in Nashville, Tennessee and was a prisoner at Camp Chase in Ohio. After he returned home from the war, he added on two new rooms to the front of his home so he could give lodging to travelers. He wanted to provide a home for strangers who traveled because of his experience while he was traveling home from the war.

Sarah died on January 7, 1893. She was buried near her parents in their family cemetery. On September 13, 1906, James filed for his Indigent Pension Application. He claims, "For 10 yrs. have been so I could not labor; for the past 2 yrs. have been nearly blind in both eyes. Have rheumatism and kidney trouble. Generally broken down in health." James died on August 14, 1911 in Coweta County, Georgia, just months after his reunion with his brothers (detailed in the previous post). He was buried next to his wife in the Pike, Powers and Huggins Family Cemetery.

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Sources:
Census Records 1870-1910 Coweta County, Georgia
Indigent Pension Application
Grave Stone Photos - Thanks Barbara and Curtis Mealer!
Research of Earline Johnson Powers

The Powers Family - Michael Powers

This post is dedicated to Mrs. Earline Powers who spent many years devoted to researching the Powers family.  She had a dream of publishing a book on the family that included every known descendant of Michael and Nancy Powers.  Some of her closest relatives never wrote her back about their families.  I wish I could make this dream of Mrs. Earline a reality, but I do not have the resources that Mrs. Earline had.  Though I only knew her for a few weeks before she passed away, I know that she was a very sweet and kind lady who had  a passion for family history.

Michael Powers is one of the men who interest me the most in my genealogy.  I have done a lot of research on this immigrate ancestor of mine.  He was born in Killicun Parish in Westmeath County in Ireland on September 29, 1830 to John Powers and Margaret Marcella Cole.  As the story is told by Michael's descendants, three brothers, Michael, John and James, came to America from Ireland. They left from a port in Ashburton in Liverpool, England on June 26, 1848.  They landed in, probably, New York and from there the three brothers came to Georgia.  Initially, the three brothers were together in Coweta County, Georgia.  One brother, John, decided that the climate of Georgia was much too hot and he moved to Evanston, Illinois.  Michael settled in nearby Carroll County, Georgia and James stayed Coweta County.  Some relatives believe only two brothers and a sister came from Ireland, but from the research of Ms. Earline, it appears the sister came later and did not know where her brothers were.
Little is known about Michael's early days in America.  We know in 1860 he was living with W. G. Huckabee in Carroll County.  He states in his Pension Application he had lived in Carroll County since 1860.  His obituary states he lived in the north for “about a year” after he came from Ireland and then moved to Georgia.  According to an article about his brother, John, the brothers were in Georgia before 1855, since that is when John left Georgia for Illinois. We do not know where he was between New York and Georgia or exactly when he actually arrived there.

Just a short time after coming to Carroll County, Michael met Nancy Louisa Michael, a daughter of Peter Michael and Rebecca Martin.  They were married on November 27, 1860 by Henry Asberry, J.P.  Together, Michael and Nancy had 9 children.  They were: John Peter, Rebecca Marcia, Mary E. C., James Wilburn, Loretta, Patrick C., Michael Sylvester, Joseph Lawrence and Sally Lee.  Loretta is my great-great-grandmother.  She was named after her father's sister, Ettie.
When the Civil War broke out, both Michael and his brother James signed up and fought for the confederacy.  John, not wanting to fight against his brothers on the battle field, hired a man for $300 to fight in his place.   Michael entered the confederate army in the Spring of 1862 in Carrollton, Georgia.  He served in Co. F in the 19th GA Infantry.  He was wounded in April of 1865 at Bentonville, North Carolina.   He was sent to a hospital in Augusta, Georgia where he was given a 30 day leave.  The war ended before his leave was up.
In 1911, John P. Powers Jr of Evanston, Illinois set out on a quest to locate his father's brothers.  His father, John, left Georgia in 1855 and had not seen his brothers since.  John Jr. sent letters of inquiry to Georgia where he knew the brothers had last lived.  The sheriff in Newnan, Georgia and a daughter of James responded to the letters and set up a reunion in Newnan for the brothers to see each other.  The articles about the reunion made it to national newspapers.  Though the articles state that Michael was living in Albermarle, North Carolina, this is incorrect.  He never moved from Carroll County once he settled there.  It is possible that between 1855 and 1860 he had been in North Carolina, since we do not know where he was, but he did not stay there if he did.  Through the newspaper articles, their sister, Ettie, found out about the reunion.  She at the time was living in Connecticut.  She made the journey by train to met her brothers she had not seen since they left Ireland.  

Michael was a devout catholic and refused to step foot into a church that was not catholic.  His descendants recall stories of Michael playing his fiddle on the front porch of his home.  Michael was a farmer, like his parents in Ireland were before him.  Michael died on April 4, 1912 in Carroll County, Georgia.  He had been sick for sometime. A catholic priest came from Atlanta to preform the last rites since there were no catholic churches in Carrollton.  Michael refused to have his funeral at the Methodist church his children attended, so the ceremony was performed at his home.  Michael was buried in the Lee's Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery in Carroll County, Georgia.  All of his children, except one, are buried at Lee's Chapel.

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Sources:
1860-1910 Census Records: Carroll County, Georgia.
Obituary of Michael Powers - 1912
Atlanta Journal and Newnan Newspaper Articles – March 18, 1911 and April 18, 1911
Research of Mrs. Earline Johnson Powers – received June 2010.
Civil War Pension Application – filed August 23, 1910

Harold Eugene Swayngham

My first entry will be about someone very dear to me, my grandfather, the one whose name inspired the search that began my journey in genealogy. His name was Harold Eugene Swayngham. He was born in Pickens County, South Carolina on August 19, 1930 to Wade Hampton Swayngham and Beulah Reece. He was the only boy born to his parents, as he had 3 sisters, Evelyn, Syble, and Frances. Early on, this family suffered tragedy when his father passed away when he was only 4 years old on December 26, 1934. It was unknown at the time what had caused his death, but after a daughter suffered and died from a brain tumor, the family believed that is what caused his death as well. His mother had to go to work in the mills to be able to afford to care for herself and her 4 children. My grandfather also helped to work once be became old enough. His mother eventually remarried to William Earl Smith on July 1, 1944, by whom she had a 5^th child, Betty.

In 1946, he met his future wife, Barbara Mae Dorr. At the time, she was only 14 years old and he 16. They courted all through school and were married on August 5, 1952 in Pickens County, South Carolina. It wasn't the wedding my grandmother had dreamed of having. My grandfather had been sent to Korea with the military. We will go into more detail on that in the next paragraph. When my grandfather returned home from Korea, my grandmother was excited because she could finally plan her wedding. She had already picked out a wedding dress pattern to make. He went to visit her the day he got home. He told her he wasn't going to wait for her to plan a wedding, they were going to the preachers house and getting married. They got their licenses and as soon as it was approved, they were at the preachers house getting married. My grandmother wore a powder blue suit. I have seen the pictures, but do not know where they have gotten off to.

Now, I mentioned my grandfather was in Korea. If he had not shown up when he was drafted, no one would have known, the records showed he had died at birth. Anyway, he was chosen to serve in the war as a private and left on Tuesday, March 20, 1951. He and my grandmother wrote everyday. My grandmother became very worried at one point when she did not hear from him for a week. She though he had been killed. She finally received a very apologetic letter stating that he could not write because he was on the front lines. He told her not to worry if he didn't write, it was because he couldn't. When he got home from war he told my grandmother that if he was ever drafted again he would go, but he would be kicking and screaming a lot harder. He did not like war and being away from his family. He once told my grandmother that he never wanted to go farther away from home than he could drive in a day.

After my grandparents were married, they lived in a small home hear her parents in a home that my grandfather and great-grandfather built. My grandfather was in construction and built parts of Clemson University and various plants around the area. My grandfather worked for Daniels construction. With his work, he and my grandmother moved around to many different locations. The first place they moved to was Rock Hill, South Carolina. This was when my grandfather was promoted to supervisor. He told my grandmother that she was not to work anymore. She was only 25 years old and she did not work anymore. She worried about how they were going to make it, but soon she learned how wise my grandfather was with money and did not have to worry anymore.

Some time later, they moved to Wilmington, North Carolina where my mother was born on January 28, 1961. Her name is Sandra Lynn Swayngham. Shortly thereafter, the new family moved to Waynesboro, North Carolina where their second child, Carol Jean, was born on August 20, 1962. The family later moved to Kingsport, Tennessee where their last child, Barbara Susan, was born on November 14, 1964. After all the children were born, they family moved some more with my grandfather's job until they ended up in Carrollton, Georgia in the early 70s. My grandmother wanted the girls to stay in one school until they graduated and so my grandfather bought an arrow stream trailer to travel with his jobs. He would come home every weekend to see his family. Once the girls were grown and the two oldest married, they family began to move around with his job again. His new sons-in-laws were employed under my grandfather and thus the whole extended family moved together, first to Murphreesboro, Tennessee then to Pawley's Island, South Carolina. My grandparents, two youngest daughters and their families moved back to Carrollton, Georgia. He then began to have back problems. He was told to take some time off to heal. After two weeks, he went back to work and they told him to go back home because he was not better. My grandmother talked to him about retirement and he said he wasn't sure he would like retirement. He had a years worth of time he could take off. He took his time and decided he enjoyed being retired and so he did. They lived in Carrollton for the rest of their lives.

In 2001, another tragedy struck the family when the youngest daughter, Susan, died of a sudden heart attack at the age of 37. She had been sick for some time as a result of her diabetes. My grandfather took the death hard. He never spoke about her to anyone after her death. My grandmother believes that his youngest grandson saved him from becoming overcome with grief. He was just 6 years old when my aunt died and he attached himself to my grandfather. My grandfather's “little buddy” kept him going for many years.

My grandfather passed away on March 16, 2009 in his building while working on the lawn mower. He had a massive heart attack. My grandmother had gone to town and had gotten him a milk shake. When she got home, she hollered to him that she was home and had bought him something. When he hadn't come inside, she went out to check on him and that is when she found him in the building. My grandmother was very thankful that he did not die in the house. She did not know if she could have managed if he had. He was buried near his youngest daughter in Carroll Memory Gardens.

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