Three Children Drowned!

Southern Watchman, Apr. 5, 1860
We learn from the Washingtion Independent that a negro woman belonging to Mr. James M. Lankford, of Penfield, threw her three children into his well on Tuesday night of last week, and to make sure of their destruction she descended herself by means of the rope. She was drawn out next morning, and turned over to the authorities.

Charles L. Lankford

Charles L. Lankford, born August 25, 1842 in Greene County, Georgia, was the son of William A. Lankford and Nancy Goodman. He lived in Georgia his entire life and was a farmer.

He enlisted as a private in Company C (Dawson Grays) of the 3rd Georgia Infantry, Confederate States Army, on September 1, 1861. He claimed residence in Greene Co., GA and was enrolled by Capt. McWhorter for a period of one year. The engagements at which he was present include Second Manassas, Malvern Hill, Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Virginia, the siege around Richmond, and Petersburg, Virginia.

Charles appears on a register of the Episcopal Church Hospital in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1862. He was admitted with Ty Fever on May 10, 1862 and returned to duty on June 26, 1862. On July 15, 1862, Charles was discharged as over age, but reenlisted. Charles was paid by Capt. Philips on October 31, 1862. He appears as present on a Company Muster Roll for November and December 1862. Charles appears on a Register of Receiving and Wayside Hospital, or General Hospital No. 9, Richmond, Virginia, on February 8, 1864. He then appears on a Company Muster Roll for April 30 to August 31, 1864. Charles was again paid by Capt. Philips on April 30, 1864. He was paid by Capt. Keith on June 30, 1864. He appears as present on a Company Muster Roll for the period September and October 1864. Charles was paid by Capt. Stone on October 31, 1864. He last appears on a Company Muster Roll for the period January and February 1865. On April 10, 1865, Charles appears on a "List of Prisoners of War belonging to the Army of Northern Virginia, who have been this day surrendered by General Robert E. Lee, C.S.A., commanding said Army, to Lieut. Genl. U.S. Grant, commanding Armies of the United States. Done at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, April 9, 1865."

Charles filed for a confederate pension in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia. A 1894 pension application states that "applicant aluminous nephritis, suffered all the time with his kidneys, in almost continuous pain in his back day and night or ("chronic lumbago,") which disqualifies him for all manual labor by which he can earn a support.

A record dated September 17, 1901 shows that he was admitted to the Confederate Soldiers' Home of Georgia. He died in October 1901.

Dessie Church

Dessie Church, born February 23, 1889 in Wetzel County, West Virginia, was the daughter of Robert Church and Lucinda Murphy. She descends from Henry Church Sr., AKA "Old Hundred" for whom the town of Hundred, West Virginia was named. Henry fought for the British Army under Cornwallis and was captured by American troops under Gen. Lafayette. He died in 1860 at the age of 109. Dessie married Charles Homer Murphy on December 16, 1914 in Hundred. Dessie and Charles raised five children in Littleton, West Virginia where she died on November 24, 1940. She's buried at the bottom of the hill at Thomas Chapel Cemetery in Littleton.