52 Ancestors – Elizabeth Jones (week 44 – 2015)

Elizabeth Jones Burnette

Elizabeth Jones, daughter of Henry Clayborn Jones, Sr. and Sarah Elizabeth Tuck, was born on October 21, 1872 in Loganville, Walton County, Georgia. She came from a large family of 11 children of which I only know the names of 10—Henry Clayborn Jones Jr., Martha Jane Jones, Elizabeth A. Jones, Bartow Jones, Midda A. Jones, Susanah A. Jones, James William Jones, Scion Jones, Elizabeth Jones, and Mary Jones. The 1900 census record for the Vinegar Hill District of Walton County recorded Elizabeth’s mother Sarah as the mother of 11 children, 10 of which were living. This has been the only record I’ve found for this child so I don’t know whether it was a boy or a girl or what its name was. Elizabeth went by Lizzie and she was my great-grandmother.

On June 8, 1880, Lizzie and her family lived in the Lindleys District of Walton County. Her father was a farmer and her mother was keeping house, common occupations for that period.

Lizzie married Thomas Terrell Burnette, son of Samuel Pride Burnette and Millicent Virginia Overton, on December 10, 1893 in Walton County. The ceremony was performed by W. J. Bennett, Walton County’s Justice of the Peace. Together they had 13 children—Luther Terrell Burnette, Eva Drucilla Burnette, Floria Mae Burnette, Jesse Burnette, twin to Jesse, Willie Loyd Burnette, Prince Albert Burnette, Claudia Burnette (twin), Maudie Burnette (twin), Henry T. Burnette, Eleanor Estelle Burnette, Samuel A. Burnette, and Julia Virginia Burnette. She was recorded as Miss Lizzie Jones on the marriage record.

 

On June 26, 1900, Lizzie and her family lived in the Vinegar Hill District of Walton County. She and Thomas, a farmer, had been married for six years. The census enumerator recorded Lizzie has having had five children and that all five were living. However, there are only four children listed in the census record—Luther, Eva (enumerated as Ever), Flora, and a son named Jesse (age 1, born January 1899 in Georgia). According to my father, Lizzie had two sets of twins. One set survived (Claudie and Maudie) but one set died at the age of one. This census record is the only time I find a child named Jesse listed. Where is the fifth child? Is that child Jesse’s twin? If the family history is true, Jesse would have died shortly after this census was taken.

Lizzie and her family attended a Jones family reunion in 1908. The group photo below was taken that day.

They took advantage of a photographer being available and also took an individual family photo.

Thomas Terrell Burnette family, ca. 1908

Lizzie’s father Henry died at the age of 78 in Between, Walton County, Georgia on January 7, 1909. Just over a year later, her mother Sarah died at the age of 79 in Walton County on January 21, 1910. Both were buried in the Jones Cemetery in Between.

On April 28, 1910, Lizzie and her family lived in Greshamville, Greene County, Georgia. Her husband was enumerated as Tom and was still farming. The enumerator recorded Lizzie as having had 10 children, 8 of which were living. This leads me to believe the twin story is true. Still at home are Luther, Eva (again enumerated as Ever), and Floria; they’ve added five more children to the family—Willie, Prince (enumerated as Price), twins Claude and Maud, and Henry.

By February 13, 1920, the family had moved to the Walkers District of Greene County. Thomas was still farming on a general farm. Ten children now lived in the home. Two years after Henry was born, Elizabeth gave birth to Eleanor, followed by Samuel (enumerated as Sammie), and rounding out the family was Julia. As often happens, her father-in-law Samuel, age 78 and widowed, now lived with the family. Her son Luther and his wife Etta Belle lived next door.

Lizzie’s brother Henry died in the Vinegar Hill District on February 9, 1921. He was buried at New Hope United Methodist Church Cemetery in Between. Her brother Bartow died on November 22, 1925, in Walton County when Lizzie was 53 years old. He was buried at Bay Creek Cemetery in Loganville.

Lizzie and her daughter Floria Mae Burnette Lankford (my grandmother)

On April 14, 1930, Lizzie and her family still lived in the Walkers District. Only three of their children lived in the home now—Henry, Sam, and Julia. Everyone in the house was able to read and write. Her son Luther and his family still lived next door and had added two daughters to their family—Hazel and Francis. Thomas was still farming and now had Henry as a helper.

Lizzie’s husband Thomas died at age 71 on February 6, 1940 in Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia. He was buried at Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery in Greensboro. His death certificate listed the cause of death as chronic myocarditis, an inflammation of heart muscle.
On April 26, 1940, a widowed Lizzie lived on Veazey Road in the Walkers District. Only two of her children were left at home—Henry and Julia. Lizzie had no occupation listed but both Henry and Julia were laborers on a farm.

Lizzie’s sister Susanah A. Jones Wade died in 1948 when Lizzie was 76 years old. She was buried at Bay Creek Cemetery in Loganville.

Lizzie’s brother James William (Will) Jones died on June 1, 1952, in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia leaving Lizzie and her brother Scion as the surviving members of the Henry Jones family. Will was buried at New Hope United Methodist Church Cemetery in Between.

Her son Henry died on December 31, 1955, in Putnam County, Georgia. He was only 47 years old. Henry was buried at Pine Grove Cemetery in Eatonton, Putnam County, Georgia.

Lizzie died on December 2, 1956 in Greensboro. She was buried beside her husband at Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery in Greensboro.

Lizzie’s brother Scion, the last member of the Henry Jones family, went on to live to the ripe old age of 99. He died on April 24, 1970 in Walton County.

52 Ancestors – Otis Elmore Lankford – (week 43 – 2015)

Otis Elmore Lankford, son of William Mell Lankford and Nancy Ella Young, was born on April 28, 1902 in Greene County, Georgia. He was the youngest child of nine—Grover Bennett Lankford, Howard Young Lankford, Annie Lou Lankford, Vesta Bell Lankford, Robert Chester Lankford, Masina Elizabeth Lankford, Pauline Lankford, William Reese Lankford, and Otis Elmore Lankford. His oldest brother Grover, born on October 8, 1884, died on July 12, 1885 in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia before his first birthday. Grover was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery.

On April 20, 1910, Otis and his family lived in Bairdstown. His father was a farmer on a general farm. Tragedy stuck the Lankford family in 1914 when Otis died suddenly on December 29 in Bairdstown. The news articles below provide an accounting of his sudden death.

The Atlanta Constitution, December 31, 1914: Practical Joke That Caused Death to Boy, Athens, Ga., December 30.—(Special.) Thirteen-year-old Robert [sic] Langford, near Bairdstown, was shot and instantly killed by Hugh Arnold, a young man just grown, member of a prominent Oglethorpe county family. The boys are alleged to have been tricking young Arnold, who was returning from a call on a young lady, and he opened fire with an automatic pistol, with the above result.

Oglethorpe Echo, Friday, January 8, 1915: A MOST LAMENTABLE KILLING LAST WEEK AT BAIRDSTOWN—Young Man Fires Pistol Aimlessly and Kills a Boy Some Distance Away: One of the most lamentable affairs we have ever had to record occurred at Bairdstown on the night of December 28. A party of boys were out engaged in a common kind of mischief of rocking other boys that were calling upon some young ladies. Hugh Arnold, a son of Mr. Berrien B. Arnold, a young man about grown, knew of this mischief and hearing them at the mischief some distance away decided to “turn the joke” by firing off his pistol to frighten them. When he had shot twice one of the boys in the rocking party called to not to shoot any more as he had hit one of the party. The boy that was hit was Otis Lankford, a fourteen-year-old son of Mr. Will Lankford. The ball struck him in the head and he survived for only a few hours. Young Arnold was dumfounded that the shot from his pistol had found a mark among the party of boys. He says he had no idea that he was shooting even in their direction and shot merely to frighten them. The boys were not rocking him and he had no reason to shoot any of them. The shooting occurred just across the line in Greene county. Young Arnold has been arranged upon preliminary trial and bound over to the Superior court under a bond of four hundred dollars. The affair is one that is deeply lamented by the families of both the boys and their friends. From the best information we can get it is but an affair of thoughtlessness upon the part of the boys.

Eatonton Messenger, Eatonton, Georgia, January 8, 1915: Greene County: News reached Greensboro from Bairdstown that Otis Lankford, the young son of Mr. and Mrs. Will Lankford, died Tuesday from the effects of a pistol shot fired Monday night by Hugh Arnold, son of Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Arnold, prominent citizens of that section. From all accounts of the shooting, it appears that young Arnold was returning home in a buggy after calling on a young lady when several young boys began to rock him rather vigorously. Arnold drew an automatic pistol and fired into the crowd, young Lankford being shot through the head and dying in a few hours. The funeral and interment of young Arnold took place Wednesday afternoon at Bairdstown. An investigation was held and young Arnold placed under a $400.00 bond.

Otis was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery with his brother Grover. Otis’ grandfather, Robert Chester Lankford and many other Lankford family members are buried at Bairdstown Cemetery as well.

The theme for week 43 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge is “Oops. An ancestor who made an “oops,” or one that you made while researching one of them. (We’ve all done it, believe me!).” This “Oops” happens to be a sad, tragic one.

52 Ancestors – Virginia Kimmel Johnston – (week 42 – 2015)

Virginia Kimmel Johnston, daughter of John Frank Johnston and Emma Agnes Uncapher, was born January 14, 1903 in Pennsylvania. She was the third child of six—Thomas Frederick Johnston, Kathryn Louise Johnston, Virginia Kimmel Johnston, Joseph Pierpont Johnston, Emilie Elizabeth Johnston, and Margaret Meredith Johnston.

Virginia never knew her oldest brother Frederick who was born in 1900 and died in 1901. He was buried at Apollo Cemetery in Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. Virginia’s brother Joseph, born a year after Virginia, died on January 15, 1911 in Vandergrift, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. He was also buried at Apollo Cemetery. Joseph was just six years old. The New Kensington, Pennsylvania, City Directory recorded Virginia’s parents living at 181 Washington Avenue in New Kensington, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in 1911. Her father worked in brick manufacturing. They lived in the same home in 1915. Her father worked in “billiards” at 120 Grant Avenue.

On January 3, 1920, Virginia and her family lived on North Fourth Street in Apollo. Her father worked in real estate and insurance. Virginia, a member of the class of 1921 at Apollo High School, was featured in their yearbook during her senior year:

From the “Classified Section” of the same yearbook:

Dedicated to Virginia Johnston, ’21.
She is a very modest girl
     She certainly is shy
She wears smoked glasses, so she won’t
     Expose her naked eye.

About 1925, Virginia married John Thompson Smith, son of John Milton Smith and Amanda Larimer Horne. Together they had two children—Lois Kimmel Smith and Russell W. Smith. Virginia and John welcomed Lois to the family in September 1928. They gave Lois the middle name of Kimmel which was also Virginia’s middle name. Virginia’s paternal grandmother was Sarah A. Kimmel so this was a nice way to carry on a family name.

On April 12, 1930, Virginia, John, and Lois lived in Paulton, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The census enumerator recorded Virginia as 22 and John 23 when they married. They owned their home valued at $5,000. There was a radio in the house that year. Her husband John was a clerk in a steel mill. Virginia’s mother Emma, who had been sick four years, died in Apollo on November 4, 1933 of melanotic sarcoma. She was buried at Apollo Cemetery. Virginia must have been pregnant at the time of her mother’s death as her son Russell was born in Apollo on May 27, 1934.

George Nelson Smith, Verda (Hilty) Smith, Virginia Kimmel (Johnston) Smith,
and Bertha Edna (Smith) Athya

On April 5, 1940, Virginia and her family lived in Paulton with John still working as a clerk in a mill office. They had boarders living in the home named Grace Gally and Mary Witherspoon. Both were teachers in the Washington Township which is not surprising as Virginia was a teacher herself. Virginia’s father died of coronary occlusion on July 10, 1942 in Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania after a fall. He was buried at Apollo Cemetery. He lived at 500 North Fourth Street in Apollo at the time of his death.

Virginia Kimmel (Johnston) Smith, John Thompson Smith, Verda (Hilty) Smith,
Bertha Edna (Smith) Athya, George Nelson Smith

Virginia’s husband John died at the Belair Nursing Home on September 23, 1969 in Lower Burrell, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He was buried at Greenwood Memorial Park in Lower Burrell. Virginia moved to Florida after John’s death to live with her daughter.

Virginia died at the age of 83 in Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida on March 12, 1986. She was brought home to Pennsylvania and buried at Greenwood Memorial Park beside her husband.

52 Ancestors – Minor Lankford Braden – (week 41 – 2015)

Minor Lankford Braden

Minor Lankford Braden, son of Robert Mansfield Braden, Sr. and Rhoda Lankford, was born in Tennessee on May 16, 1822. He was the middle child of three—Rufus Middleton Braden, Minor Lankford Braden, and Robert Mansfield Braden II.

Minor was just a young boy when he was forced to learn the hard facts of life. Tragedy stuck the Braden family in 1827 when his father died on January 24 in McMinn County, Tennessee, leaving his mother alone to care for three small children. Later that year, Rhoda moved her family to Gwinnett County, Georgia where her widowed mother Marion (or Meron) Caldwell Lankford and many other Lankford family members lived. Census records from 1830 show Rhoda and her mother living next door to each other so I’m sure they were supporting one another.

In 1840, Minor was employed by the principal keeper of the penitentiary where he gathered convicts on horseback and in stage coaches. Finding this job monotonous, Minor “concluded to follow the fortunes of war” and enlisted in Company F of the Palmetto Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers at Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama on January 10, 1847 to fight in the Mexican-American War. Company F, commanded by Colonel Butler, sailed from Mobile on a merchant vessel on January 15, 1847 bound for Vera Cruz. Eighteen days later they landed on the island of Lobos, 60 miles off Vera Cruz and joined General Winfield Scott on the land and water attack of Vera Cruz until the city surrendered. After the surrender, General Scott’s army moved to the city of Mexico where they fought in the battles of Contreras, Churubusco, Chapultepec and Garita de Belen. In a June 1, 1901 interview with the Sunny South, Minor stated “At Churubusco, Colonel Butler, Lieutenant Colonel Dickinson and a great many of the Palmetto regiment were killed, but we won the battle and captured a great many prisoners, among whom were 30 deserters from the American army, all of whom I saw hung at one time.” Minor was selected to be part of the storming party at Chapultepec. The company fought until they were able to plant ‘Old Glory’ on the ramparts. He was present when the American army took possession of Mexico. Minor stayed with his regiment from the time he enlisted until he mustered out of service in 1848, returning home ill from the tolls of the war. Years later, The Atlanta Constitution reported in the obituary they ran for Minor on February 2, 1913 that he was “Worn out with the long fights and marches, he fell ill and had to be brought back to his native country in a wagon.” He received a silver medal for honorable service in the war and drew a government pension of $20 per month until his death.

On August 2, 1850, Minor lived with his mother and brothers in Berkshire, Gwinnett County, Georgia. The boys, now men, were all farmers. Minor would celebrate Christmas that year with his new bride, Mary Jane Milligan, whom he married in DeKalb County, Georgia on December 19, 1850. Mary’s parents are unknown to me. Minor and Mary never had children.

On July 31, 1860, Minor and Mary lived in Stone Mountain, DeKalb County, Georgia. Minor was a farmer with real estate valued at $1,200 and a personal estate valued at $1,480.

In 1862 with America at war again, on April 9 Minor enlisted with Company C, Twelfth Georgia Battalion-Light Artillery in Stone Mountain. First Lieutenant Braden served until July 18, 1862 when he resigned his command on wounded/sick furlough under the authority of General J.P. McConn in Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee. Minor wasn’t home long when his older brother Rufus, an M.D., died in DeKalb County on May 7, 1862. Rufus was buried in what would become the Braden Family Cemetery, a small cemetery in DeKalb County, four miles from Stone Mountain off Tucker Road. Only four known graves can be found in this cemetery.

Minor and Mary lived in Stone Mountain on August 3, 1870. His mother Rhoda lived with them. The census taker enumerated her as 84 years old although she was actually 74 having been born in 1795. The census taker also enumerated as her as “Infirm.” Minor’s real and personal estates were both valued at $800. Minor continued to earn a living by farming.

The following news item ran in The Atlanta Constitution on October 9, 1876—“Sheriff’s Sale. Will be sold before the Court House door in the town of Decatur, in DeKalb county, on the first Tuesday in November next, one hundred and thirty acres of land, parts of lots of land number two hundred and eighteen (218) and fractional lot number two hundred and nineteen (219), in this eighteenth district of originally Henry, now DeKalb county, Said lands being the lands and plantation upon which Miner L. Braden now resides. Said lands levied on as the property of said Miner L. Braden, by virtue of an execution from the Superior Court of DeKalb county, in favor of William Leltch against James Millican and Miner L. Braden. October 9, 1876. James Hunter, Sherif DeKalb county.”

Minor’s younger brother, Robert, died in DeKalb County on November 14, 1878. He was buried at the Braden-Hudgins Cemetery in Lilburn, Gwinnett County, Georgia.

On June 4, 1880, Minor and Mary lived in Stone Mountain. His mother lived with them and for the second time, was enumerated as 84 years old—this time though it was true. Rhoda died in DeKalb County on October 31, 1881. She was buried in the Braden Family Cemetery with her son Rufus.

On June 7, 1900, Minor and Mary still lived in Stone Mountain. They had been married for 49 years. This census record confirms that Mary never had children stating that she was the mother of zero children.

In a June 1, 1901 interview with the Sunny South, Minor stated “I am nearing the eightieth mile post having come on the stage of action in 1822. I have been variously employed during this long period. I have spent the greater part of my life in DeKalb County, Georgia and have resided on my present farm near Stone Mountain, for forty-eight years. I have been in every county in the state.” He further stated “Let me say in conclusion that I have been greatly blessed in life, whether at home or abroad, on the land or on the sea. I have always had genial friends and kind neighbors to associate with, and a good wife who has shared the joys and troubles of life with me for fifty years. I think we have the best government the sun shines on, and that the late civil war was brought about by misguided minds.” I wonder what Minor would think of our government today!

On November 4, 1908, Minor owned 100 acres of land valued at $1,000. His personal property was valued at $300. Sometime after that, he sold the 100 acres to Mr. F. M. Mansfield for $1,200 to pay his debts.

Minor’s wife Mary died in DeKalb County on June 15, 1909. She was buried at the Braden Family Cemetery with Minor’s mother and brother.

Minor apparently liked to keep up with the news and on July 15, 1909, published the following in the Atlanta Georgian and News: To the Georgian: I am in my eighty-eighth year and I have discontinued all of the newspapers but the Georgian, and I can not possibly do without it. I close, wishing you great success. Yours very truly. M. L. Braden. R.F.D., Tucker, Ga., July 10, 1909.

Minor, now a widower, was a boarder in the home of John D. Kimbrell on May 7, 1910. The home was located at Lawrenceville and Decatur Roads in the Berkshire District of Gwinnett County.
Minor filed an Application for Soldier’s Pension in Gwinnett County on August 29, 1910. He lived in Tucker, Gwinnett County, Georgia. His personal property was valued at $25. At this stage in his life, he had no income other than a pension of $20 per month that he drew from the government for his service during the Mexican War. His application was disapproved on November 25, 1910.

Minor died on January 31, 1913 at the home of Mrs. F. M. Mansfield, a cousin, in Gwinnett County at the age of 92. He was buried in the Braden Family Cemetery. It’s believed he was the last survivor of his Palmetto Regiment.

I note a couple of discrepancies that appear in Minor’s obituary published in The Atlanta Constitution on February 2, 1913. The obituary states “He was born on May 16, 1822, in North Carolina, and moved to Georgia with his father when he was 6 years of age.” As far as his birthplace, all census enumerators recorded Minor’s birthplace as Tennessee, not North Carolina so I’ve chosen to go with Tennessee until I find another record that convinces me otherwise. As far as the death of his father goes, I found a War of 1812 Pension Application Files Index card on ancestry.com that records the death of Mansfield Braden on January 24, 1827 in McMinn County, Tennessee. In Minor’s Confederate Pension application he stated that he had been a resident of Georgia since 1827. Minor was born in May 1822 so he would have only been 4 years old in January 1827, not 6. Based on this fact, and the fact the Mansfield died in January, I’ve concluded that his mother moved the family after the death of her husband. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong.

I've blogged about Minor before but this time have told everything I know about him.

Sources:

1. Georgia Marriages to 1850.
2. Georgia, Confederate Pension Applications, 1879-1960.
3. U.S. census records—1830, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910.
4. War of 1812 Pension Application Files Index, 1812–1815.
5. Sheriff’s Sale, Atlanta, Georgia, The Atlanta Constitution, October 9, 1876.
6. Miner L. Braden, Mexican Veteran, The Sunny South, June 2, 1901.
7. Atlanta Georgian and News, July 15, 1909.
8. Mexican Veteran Died on Thursday—Miner L. Braden Was With Army That Captured City of Mexico, The Atlanta Constitution, February 2, 1913.

52 Ancestors – William Charles Holland – (week 40 – 2015)

William Charles Holland

William Charles Holland, son of Leroy Thomas Holland and Amanda Elizabeth Scott, was born September 27, 1877 in South Carolina, most likely Anderson County. Charles was the youngest child of 11 born to Leroy and Amanda—Eliza Ann Holland, Marion Scott Holland, John Newton Holland, Thomas N. Holland, William Harrison Holland, John Louis Holland, Brown Lee Holland, Maggie Idora Holland, Elijah Jeffers Holland, Andrew Turner Holland, and William Charles Holland. Four of his siblings died before he was born. Throughout the years, I see his name listed as William Charles, Charles William, W.C., W. Charles, and sometimes just Charles. But he went by Charlie.

Charlie never knew his mother. He had less than three months to spend with her before her death on December 18, 1877. She was buried at Neal’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Anderson along with four children who died before her. Amanda, who was just 38 years old, had given birth to 11 children in 23 years. I don’t know what caused her death at such a young age but perhaps her body was just worn out. Charlie’s father Leroy didn’t stay a widower long—why would he with seven children to raise alone. On August 3, 1879, Leroy married Cindarilla Darliska Amanda Hall, daughter of Aaron Hall and Clementina Norris Hall, at the old home place in Anderson County, South Carolina. Leroy and Amanda would add three additional children to the family—Aaron Hall Holland, Lawrence Lafayette Holland, and Joseph Norris Holland.

On June 1, 1880, Charlie, his father, stepmother, and brothers Harrison, Brown, Elijah, and Andrew lived in Broadway, Anderson County, South Carolina. He was enumerated as Charles Holland that year. Charlie lost a sister in the fall of 1883 when Eliza Ann Holland died on September 10. She was buried at Neal’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

The spring of 1890 brought death again twice to the Holland family. On March 26, 1890, Charlie’s brother William Harrison Holland died at the home of Jap Vandiver. Another brother, Brown Lee Holland, died on April 5. Both died in Broadway, Anderson County. The Anderson Intelligencer published the following article on April 10, 1890—Last week we chronicled the death of Mr. Harrison Holland, which occurred on the 25th ult., and now it is our sad duty to note the death of his younger brother, Mr. Brown Holland, who died last Saturday afternoon at the home of Mr. A. A. Carpenter, in Broadway Township. He had attended the bedside of his brother very closely during his illness, and on Sunday after the latter was laid away in the grave, he was stricken down with pneumonia, which gradually grew worse until death came. Mr. Holland was about 21 years of age, and was an upright, worthy young man, whose death is deeply regretted by a wide circle of friends. His remains were laid to rest by the side of his brother in the Neal’s Creek Churchyard on Sunday afternoon, Rev. C. B. Smith, of this city, conducting the funeral services.

After losing their land in the early 1890s, Leroy decided to give the family a new start and moved everyone to Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia. He contacted a friend named George Brownlee there and made a deal to buy a tract of land from him. Leroy purchased an additional 80 acres adjoining the Brownlee land. Around January 1891, the Holland family took a train from Anderson County to Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia. They spent the night in Atlanta and left the next morning for Dalton where they met Brownlee. Brownlee was kind enough to let the whole family stay at his home in Deep Springs for two weeks after their household goods were held up in transit from South Carolina. Once they moved into their new home, they settled in and went about the business of farming the land. Charlie’s brother Andrew was unhappy in Georgia and returned to South Carolina a short time after the move. He eventually moved to Washington, DC where he worked as a government clerk.

Leroy worked hard—cutting trees and clearing land—and the crops did well that first year. That was short-lived though when in late spring 1892, Leroy came down with pneumonia and died on May 4 in Beaverdale, Whitfield County, Georgia. He was buried at Deep Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Dalton.

In January 1895, Charlie’s stepmother Amanda and his stepbrothers Aaron, Lawrence, and Joe moved to Alief, Harris County, Texas. They had come on hard times in Georgia after Leroy’s death and her brother Lawrence Peak Hall offered to furnish all of their food, free of charge, as well as a house and half of what they produced if they moved to Texas.

By the summer of 1900, Charlie had moved to the 10th District of Murray County, Georgia. On June 5, 1900 he was living in the home of Samuel and Mary Wheat as a lodger and working as a farm laborer. That year he was enumerated as Charles Holland. Samuel and Mary Wheat were the parents of Charlie’s future bride—Sarah Elizabeth Wheat. Both Charlie and Sarah (she went by Sallie) were single. Charlie and Sallie were married about 1901. Together they had two children—Thomas Glenn Holland in 1902 and Mary E. Holland in 1905.

On April 19, 1910, Charlie, Sallie, and their children lived with her widowed father Samuel Wheat in the 10th District of Murray County. Charlie and Sallie had been married for nine years according to the census enumerator. He was enumerated as William C. Holland that year and was a farm laborer.

On December 20, 1914, Charlie’s stepmother Amanda died in Houston, Harris County, Texas. She was buried at Italy Cemetery in Italy, Ellis County, Texas. Two months later, his brother Elijah died in Dalton on March 4, 1915. Elijah was buried at Deep Springs Baptist Church Cemetery. Two weeks after Elijah’s death, his brother Andrew died in Washington, DC on March 18, 1915. He was buried in an unmarked grave beside his infant daughter at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC.

Charlie registered for the World War I draft as Charles William Holland on September 12, 1918. He listed Sarah Elizabeth Holland as his nearest relative. Both lived in Crandall, Murray County, Georgia. Charlie was a self-employed farmer. He was tall and slender; he had blue eyes and brown hair.

On January 10, 1920, Charlie and his family lived on Dalton Road in the 10th District of Murray County. His 54 year old sister-in-law Susie Wheat lived with them. Charlie was a farmer on a general farm. He was enumerated as Charles that year. His son Thomas was working as a farm laborer on a home farm, probably helping his father. Charlie’s stepbrother Joseph Norris Holland died in Alief on February 26, 1920. He was buried at Alief Cemetery. His brother Marion Scott Holland died in Anderson, Anderson County, South Carolina on February 5, 1928. He was buried at Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery in Belton, Anderson County, South Carolina.

Charlie’s father Leroy served in Company L, Second South Carolina Rifles, Jenkins Brigade, C.S.A. during the Civil War and I’m sure Charlie heard many war stories before Leroy’s death in 1892. Charlie apparently wanted to honor his father’s military service and submitted an application to the War Department on July 20, 1929 for a headstone to mark his grave at Deep Springs Cemetery. It was shipped a year later and still marks his grave.

On April 15, 1930, Charlie and Sallie lived on Beaverdale Road in the 10th District of Murray County. He was enumerated as William C. Holland that year. His son Thomas, daughter-in-law Kathleen, their 25 year old daughter Mary, and Charlie’s sister-in-law Susie were all living with Charlie and Sallie. Both Charlie and Thomas were farmers.

Charlie’s stepbrother Lawrence Lafayette Holland died in Alief on August 17, 1934. It’s believed he was buried at Alief Cemetery.

Headstone photo taken by Kari; shared by CADprofessor, Dalton, Georgia.

On April 8, 1940, Charlie and Sallie lived with their son Tom and daughter-in-law Kathleen in the 10th District of Murray County. He was enumerated as William Charles Holland that year. He was unemployed. The highest grade he had completed was the 6th. Just two months after this census was taken, Charlie died at his home near Beaverdale on June 16, 1940. He was buried at Sumach Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery in Crandall, Murray County.

Out of 14 children born to Leroy Holland, most died young. Only three lived past the age of 60—Charlie, Marion, and Aaron.