Bruce Eldredge Woods of Hillcrest Cemetery

This sketch highlights Bruce Eldredge Woods who is buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in East Point, Fulton County, Georgia.

Photo from beiningn77 via Ancestry.com

Bruce was born in Fulton County, Georgia on December 20, 1900 to James Samuel Woods and Amanda Elizabeth “Lizzie” Pilgrim. Besides Bruce, his parents had three other children—Rader Harmon Woods (born 1895), Myrtle Lee Woods (born 1897), and Brady Lee Woods (born 1913).

On May 10, 1910, Bruce and his family lived at Hanceville and Garden City Road in Hanceville, Cullman County, Alabama. His father worked as a farmer on a general farm. Bruce’s mother and brother Rader both worked as farmers.

On January 22, 1920, the Woods family still lived in Hanceville and Bruce’s father continued to work as a farmer on a general farm. Rader was no longer living in the home. At age 22, Bruce married 20-year-old Violet Sarah Myrick on July 23, 1925 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. 

Bruce and Violet's Marriage Bond (click to enlarge)

Their marriage was blessed with three children—Wennell Woods (born 1926), Charles Eldredge Woods (born 1928), and Colton C. Woods (born 1931). By 1928, Bruce had moved his family to Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia and rented a home at 583 Glenn Street SW. He supported the family working as a huckster, aka a peddler. They moved to 583 Ocmulgee Street SW by 1929 and Bruce worked as a produce peddler. 

On April 15, 1930, Bruce and his family lived in a rental home at 587 Ocmulgee Street in Atlanta. His parents and brother Brady lived next door at 583 Ocmulgee Street. Bruce was working as a produce salesman and Violet as a spool winder in a wood mill. They moved again by 1932 and were living at 600 Glenn Street SW. His brother Brady shared the house with Bruce and his family. Bruce continued to earn money as a peddler. But that is not all he did. Bruce, who was physically disabled, was also a musician who played the banjo. He and his friend Emmett W. Hazel, a blind accordion player, performed with a group in the streets of Atlanta and at private parties. Early morning April 16, 1933, Bruce and Emmett were traveling to Bruce’s home in Egan Park, a community in East Point, Fulton County, Georgia. On the way, the car had a flat tire so they stopped on Stewart Avenue at Lakewood. Bruce was attempting to repair the tire with Emmett standing beside him when they were struck by a speeding car. The driver left the scene of the accident. Both men were picked up by a passing driver who took them to Grady Hospital in downtown Atlanta. Emmett was listed in critical condition with his leg injured so badly it had to be amputated. Bruce sustained lacerations on his head and his right leg was broken. He died at the age of 32 at the hospital from his injuries on April 17. His death certificate lists the cause of death as fracture of right femur, left pubis and right scapula as well as skull fracture and shock. A funeral service, officiated by Revs. J. H. Morwell and J. M. Standridge, was held at Stewart Avenue Baptist Church on April 20, followed by burial at Hillcrest Cemetery in East Point. 

Photo used with permission of Cynthia Jennings, Find A Grave ID 48321835

References

• Atlanta, Georgia City Directory, 1928, 1929, 1932.
• Blind Musician’s Leg Broken by Hit-Run Car, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, April 17, 1933.
• Bruce Woods Certificate of Death no. 33 10461, Georgia State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
• Bruce Woods, Alabama, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1805-1967.
• Burial in Hillcrest for Mr. Bruce Woods, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, April 20, 1933.
• Colton Clayton Woods, U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1861–1985.
• Cripple, Hit by Auto, Succumbs to Injuries, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, April 18, 1933.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63674226/colton-c-woods: accessed 17 September 2023), memorial page for T/SGT Colton C Woods (29 Jan 1931–21 Jul 1961), Find a Grave Memorial ID 63674226, citing Hillcrest Cemetery, East Point, Fulton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by East Point Historical Soc (contributor 50779333).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141459919/bruce-eldredge-woods: accessed 21 August 2023), memorial page for Bruce Eldredge Woods (20 Dec 1900–17 Apr 1933), Find a Grave Memorial ID 141459919, citing Hillcrest Cemetery, East Point, Fulton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by To Die for Images (contributor 48321835).
• George Wesley Farr, Brady Lee Woods, and Charles Eldredge Woods, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• Rader Harmon Woods, Tennessee, U.S., Marriage Records, 1780–2002.
• Run Down by Car, Blind Man Dying: E. W. Hazel, Musician, and Crippled Friend Victims of Hit-Run Auto, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, April 17, 1933.
• U.S. Federal Census, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, 1930, 1940.
• U.S. Federal Census, Hanceville, Cullman County, Alabama, 1910, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Militia District 642, Carroll County, Georgia, 1900. 

Tom, servant of Rev. J. S. Baker

This post is part of an ongoing project to record names of enslaved people of Greene County, Georgia I find in historical records. 

Shiloh Baptist Church Minute Extracts 

April 1st, 1848

The Baptist Church at Shiloh met in conference, brother J. Howell Moderator. 1st Invited visiting brethren to seats with us. 2nd Opened the door for the reception of members. None came forward. 3rd Called for references, the reference with regard to brother Wm. Sanders application for membership in this church. Was taken up agreed to lay over the case for our next conference. On Sunday the 6 of March the church met in conference at the water and received Tom a black man servant of Rev. J. S. Baker. The committee appointed to wait on brother Porter report that they have discharged their duty and brother Porter informed them that he had not received a letter of dismission. No further business, conference closed.

J. Howell, Moderator

Reference

Church records, 1839-1859, Greene County, Georgia, Shiloh Baptist Church Records, image 70 of 122; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C34J-3QX5?cat=193117 (free registration required). 

Eugene Gilliard Gregory

Eugene “Gene” Gilliard Gregory, son of Julia Virginia Burnette and Ernest Moody, was born in Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia on July 18, 1938. The only information I have for his father, which came from my daddy, Sam Lankford, is that Julia never married him. Gene was Julia’s only child and she apparently called him Sonny. He is my 1st cousin 1x removed with our nearest common relatives being my great-grandparents, Thomas Terrell Burnette and Elizabeth Jones.

Gene would have been two years old when the 1940 census was taken but I have been unable to find him. I did find his mother Julia living with her widowed mother and brother Henry in the Walkers District of Greene County. They were the only three people in the home that day, the same home they were living in in 1935. Julia was working a 40-hour week as a farm laborer. I did find a Moody family in Greensboro with a two-year-old son living next door to Julia’s sister Claudie Burnette Peek, but his name was not Eugene or Gene. 

Eugene Gregory

About 1942, Gene’s mother married Jerry Meyer Gregory, son of John W. Gregory and Cleo McLain. There was a 31-year age difference between Julia and Jerry. When they married, Gene gained a step brother, John (Buck) Gregory, and step sister, Anna Mae Gregory. Jerry adopted Gene in Atlanta and he took the Gregory name at that time. Daddy once told me that Jerry was a good man—good to everybody. Daddy also said Jerry treated him as if he were his own child. Daddy lived with the Gregory family for two to three years, probably in the mid-1940s. I imagine that Jerry treated Gene that same way he treated Daddy, probably better. In 1944, the Gregory family lived at 714 Central Avenue in Atlanta. Julia worked as a packer for the Bullock Manufacturing Company and Jerry, a plumber, ran his business, Gregory’s Plumbing and Supply Company, in Atlanta. My aunt Betty, who would have been Gene’s first cousin, remembered her aunt Julia bringing Gene back to Greensboro a few times a year, taking him to a barber shop there. She thought the barber shop was named Moody’s but was not sure.

On April 7, 1950, Gene (age 11), his mother and Jerry lived on Central Avenue in Atlanta. His mother worked at a potato chip company, packing potato chips and Jerry worked as a plumbing contractor. I do not know when Jerry started the business, but he owned and operated the Gregory Plumbing Company in Atlanta in the 1950s. In fact, Jerry taught my daddy how to be a plumber. 

My daddy, Sam Lankford (3rd from left) standing in front of Gregory Plumbing (other men unknown)

Sometime after the 1950 census was taken, Gene’s mother and Jerry divorced. My guess is the divorce happened by the end of 1950 because Julia was not listed with Jerry in the 1950 Atlanta city directory, whereas she had been in past years.

Gene attended Hoke Smith High School in Atlanta, Georgia (near Grant Park) from 1952 to 1956. 

Eugene (1953)

Gene, pictured far right in the photo below, was an officer in Hoke Smith’s Legislators Club in 1956.

He was the co-captain of the football team in 1956, playing the position of halfback.

In 1956, Gene was the only senior on the basketball team and considered “one of the city’s most outstanding guards” according to the Hoke yearbook. That year, the team missed the state tournament by one game.

Eugene pictured holding the basketball (click to enlarge)

He played third base on the baseball team in 1956. Gene is standing in the back row, first on the left, in the photo below.

(click to enlarge)

It was no surprise to find Gene was voted “Most Athletic” in the 1956 yearbook. The many articles in the sports pages of The Atlanta Journal newspaper for the three sports Gene played backs this accolade up.

When Jerry Gregory died in May 1956, Gene was not listed in his obituary, as a son or otherwise. The obituary did indicate there was a “Mrs. Gregory” however. I thought it odd that Gene was not listed since I was told Jerry adopted Gene. Then when Jerry’s ex-wife Mary died in 1957, her obituary listed her as “the widow of Jerry M. Gregory, a plumbing contractor.” Had Jerry remarried Mary and she chose to not include Gene in the obituary? Pure speculation on my part as I find no record to prove that. Later that year (1956), Gene was married at the Grant Park Baptist Church in Atlanta. In this case, the engagement announcement recognized Jerry by stating “… Eugene Gillard Gregory, son of Mrs. Julia Gregory and the late J. M. Gregory of Greensboro.” 

Gene’s marriage was blessed with two children. Because they are most likely alive today, the names of his wife and children will not be included here. One of the two children was born in June 1960. The same day Gene’s wife was in the hospital going through what would end up as 30 hours of labor, Gene was sitting in the waiting room with another man who was becoming a father again for the first time in 19 years. The Atlanta Journal had a reporter there to do a “Father’s Day” story on the other man and he took a few minutes to interview Gene as well. Gene’s thoughts on becoming a father were in an article published on June 19. Gene told the reporter “Getting to be a father is the greatest feeling I’ve ever had in my life” … “And, you know, you really find out who your friends are at a time like this. Two of our friends came down here at 2 o’clock and stayed with us till 9 this morning. They had to go to work at 9—but they’re worrying about me even now.” The other man’s baby weighed in at 12 pounds, Gene’s weighed nearly 10. 

Tragically, Gene’s life was cut short when he was killed at the age of 38 in a four-car accident in DeKalb County, Georgia on September 30, 1976. Daddy told me that Gene was killed instantly by a teenage drunk driver who ran a stop sign. He remembered hearing about it on the radio the day it happened. An October 1 article published by The Atlanta Journal reported that Gene was killed “when a car containing six juveniles ran a red light …” so that corroborates part of the story. The article goes on to report “… the car driven by the juvenile touched a second car, then struck Gregory’s car in the side, forcing it into a fourth vehicle.” It never mentions anything about a drunk driver, nor do I find another article in the days after, so am unable to confirm that piece of information. Gene, who lived in Decatur at the time, was buried on October 2 at Crestlawn Memorial Park in Atlanta following a service officiated by Dr. Richard M. Thompson at Ward’s Glenwood Chapel. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and mother Julia (Burnette) Stroud.

Gene spent 18 years working as a meat manager at Colonial Stores. He attended and was a member of Indian Creek Baptist Church in Decatur. I do not recall ever meeting Gene. If I did, I was too young to remember. But from all accounts, it sounds like he was a good man.

References

• [Redacted]-Gregory Engagement Announcement, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, August 5, 1956.
• Atlanta, Georgia, City Directory, 1942 to 1951.
• Decatur Man Killed in Wreck, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, October 1, 1976.
• Eugene Gregory, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, October 2, 1976.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202316022/eugene-gilliard-gregory: accessed 23 September 2023), memorial page for Eugene Gilliard “Gene” Gregory (18 Jul 1938–30 Sep 1976), Find a Grave Memorial ID 202316022, citing Crest Lawn Cemetery, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by BARBARA LANGLEY SMITH (contributor 49682481).
• Hoke Smith High School Yearbooks, Atlanta, Georgia, 1952–1956.
• James, Hunter, Just Like New: After 19 Years, He’s Daddy Again, The Atlanta Journal, June 19, 1960.
• Jerry M. Gregory, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, May 12, 1956.
• Mrs. Mary E. Gregory, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, December 7, 1957.
• Personal memories of Sam Lankford and Betty Lankford Elrod.
• U.S. Federal Census, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia, 1940. 

Exeline—property of Mr. Boswell

This post is part of an ongoing project to record names of enslaved people of Greene County, Georgia I find in historical records. 

Penfield, Jan. 13th 1850.

The African Branch of the Church met in conference. Bro. Sanders acted as Moderator. Exeline, a maid servant of Mr. Boswell’s was reported as having violated, by an act of adultery, one of the precepts of the Sacred Decalogue. The Deacons were appointed to make the necessary inquiries concerning the case. 

The Church adj. W. Davis Clk. pro. tem.

Penfield, March 24th 1850.

Conference of the African Branch. Bro. Wm. Davis presided. Exeline Boswell was excluded from the church. Changed the time for the meetings of the conference to the third Sunday night. 

Granted Sister Phoebe a letter of dismission. 

Adjourned 

G. R. McCall C. p. tem

Reference

Penfield Baptist Church Minutes: 1839 – 1885, Penfield, Greene County, Georgia, pp. 139-140. 

Samuel Y. Young

This blog post is another in a series connecting the dots in my tree to the souls buried at Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.

Samuel Y. Young was born in South Carolina on September 6, 1824. I am unable to verify who his parents are but another researcher records them as being John Robert Young and Elizabeth Price. The same researcher also records two siblings that I am unable to confirm—David Wesley Young and Martha Caroline Young. I include them here as a hint should I continue to research Samuel, who was the father-in-law of my 1st cousin 4x removed. Samuel’s daughter Martha Elizabeth Young married John Wesley Lankford and daughter Nancy Ella Young married William Mell Lankford. Both John and William were sons of Robert Chester Lankford, brother of my 3rd great-grandfather, James Meriweather Lankford. We have no common relative.

Samuel married Mariet Masena Morgan in Gwinnett County, Georgia on August 10, 1848. Other researchers record Masena’s parents as George Brown Morgan and Rebecca Bonham, but this is another pair that I am unable to confirm. Samuel and Masena had six children together—Amandeline “Amanda” O. Young (born 1849), John Melvin Young (born 1850), George Young (born 1854), Joseph Jerrigan Young (born 1855), James Walton Young (born 1857), and Nancy Ella Young (born 1859).

Samuel and Masena's marriage certificate

On October 31, 1850, Samuel, Masena, and Amanda (age 1) lived in the Goodwins District of Gwinnett County where he worked as a farmer. The head of the household was a 50-year-old widow woman with six children named Sarah Collins. Samuel was unable to read or write. The Thomas D. Young family lived next door. Thomas was 24 years old and born in South Carolina so it is possible he connects to Samuel but I have not found a link yet. If Samuel’s parents and siblings noted above are in fact correct, then his 15-year-old sister, Martha Caroline Young, died on May 10, 1852 and his father, age 62, on August 12, 1852. Both died in Georgia and Find A Grave shows they were buried at the Young Family Cemetery in Four Points, Macon County, Georgia.

Samuel’s wife Masena died in Greene County, Georgia at the age of 32 on January 27, 1860. Her death followed an eight-month illness of scrofula, a form of tuberculosis. Masena was buried at the Young Family Cemetery, but this one on Road 140 in Greene County, just .4 miles from the Oglethorpe County line. There are approximately 50 unmarked graves in this cemetery according to E. H. Armor’s book The Cemeteries of Greene County Georgia. Her tombstone reads: At rest, each of us hopes to join you at last on that beautiful heavenly shore.

Samuel did not wait long before he took a second wife. He married Matilda H. Guill, daughter of Augustus Guill and Martha Milner, in Greene County on March 11, 1860. I guess he needed help with his six children who ages ranged from 11 to 1.

Samuel and Matilda's marriage license

Samuel and Matilda added to the family with four more children—William Henry Young (born 1860), Lula Jane Young (born 1863), Wesley Bluford Young (born 1865), and Martha Elizabeth Young (born 1867). On June 2, 1860, the Young family lived in Woodville, Greene County, Georgia. Matilda’s parents lived next door. Samuel worked as a farmer and had a personal estate valued at $1000. Amanda (enumerated as Mandy), George, and Joseph (enumerated as Jerrigan) were attending school. They shared their home with a 17-year-old female named Jane Morgan and an 18-year-old male named Charles Bagby. Charles worked as an apprentice farmer. 

In April 1862, Samuel enrolled as a private in Company E of the Third Regiment, Georgia State Guards, Carswell’s Brigade, in Lexington, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. He appeared on the muster roll as absent, sick at home, for the period September 15, 1863 to January 31, 1864.

On June 10, 1870, the Young family lived in Maxeys, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. Samuel worked as a farmer and had a personal estate of $300. Matilda was keeping house and Amanda “at home.” John and George both worked as farm laborers. James, Ella (Nancy), and William were attending school. A 24-year-old female named Nancy Young was living in the home. I have not determined how or if she connects to the Young family at this point in my research. 

On June 2, 1880, Samuel and his family lived in District 137 of Greene County. Samuel continued to work as a farmer while Matilda stayed home keeping house. Seven of their children were still living at home, four of them adults in their 20s. Daughters Amanda, Nancy, and Lula were enumerated as “at home.” Sons Joseph, James, and Wesley were working as farm laborers. Martha was attending school. Lula, Wesley, and Martha could write but not read. A 23-year-old male named Charles Lankford, with the relationship to Samual enumerated as “employee” and working as a farm laborer, lived in the home. He was most likely the son of Robert Chester Lankford, born April 1857. Samuel was listed on the Woodville, Greene County property tax digests for the years 1880–1883. His household goods were valued at $25, livestock at $100, cotton and corn crops at $10, and the value of property of defaulters not doubled was $10 for a total of $145. He paid $100 in taxes for that period. Samuel was listed on the Bowling Green district, Stephens, Oglethorpe County real estate rolls during the years 1883–1887. His household furniture was valued at $25 and his livestock at $120 for a total of $145 personal estate. There was no real estate listed on the rolls for Samuel at that time so he mostly likely rented his farm.

Samuel submitted a Confederate Pension Application in Oglethorpe County on October 11, 1890. At the time, his doctor swore on oath that when he met Samuel (about 1886), “he was afflicted with asthma and permanently, essentially, substantially, and absolutely unable to do any work whatsoever.” Several members of his regiment signed a certified oath in October 1890 stating that Samuel had no disease when he went into the service. Samuel received an annual pension of $50 until his death in Oglethorpe County on July 31, 1893. His illness began with shortness of breath, first noticed while engaged in the siege of Atlanta. This complaint was caused by exposure from constant confinement in the ditches which could not be covered in the summer of 1864. Samuel was diagnosed with severe asthma and bronchitis. The asthma produced dropsy and heart disease some years prior to his death, rendering him helpless for a long time before he died. Samuel was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. Samuel and his wife Matilda were apparently well thought of in the Bairdstown community. When their daughter Martha died in 1922, a burial notice published in the Oglethorpe Echo on June 2 stated, “Her father was S. Y. Young and her mother was Matilda Guill whom most of the older citizens remember with great pleasure.”

Matilda submitted a widow’s pension application in Greene County after Samuel’s death and received a pension of $60 every January, most likely until her death in 1911.

References

• Armor, E. H., The Cemeteries of Greene County Georgia, p. 85, Agee Publishers, Inc., 1987.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52991536/samuel-yancy-young: accessed 15 September 2023), memorial page for Samuel Yancy Young (6 Sep 1824–31 Jul 1893), Find a Grave Memorial ID 52991536, citing Bairdstown Cemetery, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Samuel Taylor Geer (contributor 46925792).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54397860/john-robert-young: accessed 15 September 2023), memorial page for John Robert Young Sr. (1790–12 Aug 1852), Find a Grave Memorial ID 54397860, citing Young Family Cemetery, Four Points, Macon County, Georgia, USA; maintained by C. T. Lewis (contributor 46817020).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54397842/elizabeth-young: accessed 15 September 2023), memorial page for Elizabeth Price Young (1 May 1793–3 Jun 1875), Find a Grave Memorial ID 54397842, citing Young Family Cemetery, Four Points, Macon County, Georgia, USA; maintained by C. T. Lewis (contributor 46817020).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54397790/martha-caroline-young: accessed 15 September 2023), memorial page for Martha Caroline Young (28 Sep 1836–10 May 1852), Find a Grave Memorial ID 54397790, citing Young Family Cemetery, Four Points, Macon County, Georgia, USA; maintained by C. T. Lewis (contributor 46817020).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39937348/david-wesley-young: accessed 15 September 2023), memorial page for David Wesley Young (15 Nov 1831–15 Jul 1918), Find a Grave Memorial ID 39937348, citing Winters Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery, Doraville, DeKalb County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Chrysé Wayman (contributor 47104160
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53848096/mariet-masina-young: accessed 16 September 2023), memorial page for Mariet Masina Morgan Young (4 Nov 1826–27 Jan 1860), Find a Grave Memorial ID 53848096, citing Young Family Cemetery, Bairdstown, Greene County, Georgia, USA; Maintained by Samuel Taylor Geer (contributor 46925792).).
• Massinah Young, U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850–1885.
• Matilda Young, Georgia, Confederate Pension Rolls, 1879–1920.
• Matilda Young, Georgia, U.S., Confederate Pension Applications, 1879–1960
• Mrs. J. W. Young, Oglethorpe Echo, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, June 2, 1922.
• Samuel Y. Young and Masena Morgan, Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Samuel Y. Young and Matilda Guill, Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Samuel Y. Young, Georgia, U.S., Confederate Pension Applications, 1879–1960.
• Samuel Y. Young, Georgia, U.S., Property Tax Digests, 1793–1892.
• Samuel Y. Young, U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850–1880.
• Samuel Y. Young, Woodville, Greene County, Georgia, U.S., Property Tax Digests, 1793–1892.
• Scrofula, Cleveland Clinic; https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/25156-scrofula. 
• U.S. Federal Census, District 137, Greene County, Georgia, 1880.
• U.S. Federal Census, Goodwins, Gwinnett County, Georgia, 1850.
• U.S. Federal Census, Maxeys, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1870.
• U.S. Federal Census, Woodville, Greene County, Georgia, 1860.
• William Henry Young, Certificate of Death 30-3911, Georgia State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
• Wm. Henry Young, Fulton and Campbell Counties, Georgia, Cemetery Records, 1857–1933. 

Humphrey, Dick, and Harriett—property of George W. Slaughter

This post is part of an ongoing project to record names of enslaved people of Greene County, Georgia I find in historical records. 

Temperance Crusader, Penfield, Georgia, March 15, 1856

Greene Sheriff’s Sale.

WILL BE SOLD before the Court House door in the town of Greenesboro’, Greene county, on the first Tuesday in May next, within the legal hours of sale, the following property, to wit:

Three beds and bedsteads and furniture, one Negro man named Humphrey, about 50 years old, one man by the name of Dick, about 45 years old, and a woman by the name of Harriett, about 40 years old, one road wagon, one two horse wagon, one hundred barrels of corn, more or less, one black horse, about 10 years old, one set of blacksmith’s tools—levied on as the property of George W. Slaughter, to satisfy one mortgage fi fa from Greene Inferior Court in favor of James Smith, vs. G. W. Slaughter. Property pointed out by pltff.

Also, at the same time and place, two mules, one sorrel and one clay bank, and one gray horse—levied on as the property of George W. Slaughter to satisfy one mortgage fi fa from Greene Inferior Court in favor of Curtis Parrott vs. G. W. Slaughter.

GARRETT WOODHAM, Sheriff.

March 1, 1856 8

Reference

Greene Sheriff’s Sale, Temperance Crusader, Penfield, Georgia, March 15, 1856. 

Charles N. Bryant

Charles N. Bryant, son of William H. Bryant and Elizabeth Ann Lankford, was born in Greene County, Georgia on October 3, 1853. He was born into a large family of at least 10 children—Sarah T. Bryant, Samuel R. (or John) Bryant, Rebecca M. Bryant, William H. Bryant Jr., Alexander Hamilton Bryant, Charles N. Bryant, Martha Bryant, Eugene Herbert Bryant, Jasper M. Bryant, and Mary Bryant. It is possible there was an 11th child, but more work needs to be done before I can confirm that. John may be the 11th. He went by Charlie and is my 1st cousin 4x removed. Our nearest common relatives are my 4th great-grandparents, Charles L. Lankford and Miss Moore.

On June 29, 1860, the Bryant family lived in the Millstone community, District 238 of Oglethorpe County. The enumerator spelled their last name “Briant.” Charlie’s father was a farmer with a personal estate valued at $300. A two-month-old male infant was enumerated as “unnamed.” Elizabeth had recently given birth to a son they named Jasper so that was probably him. In this census record, there is a brother named John, but not Samuel. Of the eight children in the home, only Rebecca, William, and Alexander were attending school.

In late 1862 or early 1863, the entire Bryant family contracted smallpox after Charlie’s father introduced the highly contagious disease into the home. His parents were forced to burn and destroy bedding and clothes to prevent it from spreading further in Greene County. Afterwards, Charlie’s father petitioned the Courts to recover the value of the destroyed property. 

On June 1, 1870, the Bryant family lived in Maxeys, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. Three of his brothers were enumerated by different names than they appeared to go by—Alexander as Adam, Eugene as Henry, and Jasper as James. Neither Eugene or Jasper were able to read or write. Charlie’s father, who worked as a farmer, had real estate valued at $2000 and a personal estate valued at $1000. Charlie’s mother was keeping house, sisters Sarah and Martha at home, and Charlie (age 16) and brothers William and Eugene were farm laborers. I found another Charles Bryant (age 16) living in Penfield, Greene County, Georgia with the William Smith family. This Charles was also 16 and worked as a farm laborer. It is possible he was enumerated twice in 1870 but I am not sure.

Charlie married Sarah “Sallie” R. Epps, daughter of Marshall Epps and Almarine T. Cramer, in a ceremony performed by B. P. Taylor, J.P., at her father’s Oglethorpe County home on December 17, 1874.

Charles Bryant and Sarah Epps marriage certificate

The Oglethorpe Echo carried a short announcement on January 15, 1875:

Marriages.—On the 17th of December last, at the residence of the bride’s father, by B. P. Taylor, J. P., Charles Bryant and Miss Sallie Epps.

Charlie and Sallie had 14 children together—Nathan Bryant, Leonard Durham Bryant, Eddie Bryant, Maud Bryant, Blanche Elizabeth Bryant, Charles Thaddeus Bryant, Will Bryant, Marshall William Bryant, Legare Bryant, Sallie M. Bryant, Fredrick Bryant, Guy Howard Bryant, Jasper Bryant, and one unnamed child. 

On May 1, 1875, Charlie experienced something no one wants to go through—a tornado. An article published in the Oglethorpe Echo on May 7, 1875 reported the tornado “entered the western part of the State in Harris county, and traversed the entire breadth of the State, crossing into South Carolina from Lincoln county.” Residents of Bairdstown were in the storm’s path as it headed for Maxeys where Charlie lived with his father-in-law on his plantation there. The newspaper reported that Charlie narrowly escaped the tornado. “The house he lived in was made of logs, and at the time the storm struck it he, with his wife’s relatives, were in this house. They all got under the beds, and the house was blown to pieces and the logs tumbled about in every direction, leaving it only five logs high, and yet not one of them was hurt or even received the slightest bruise.” Charlie was one lucky person that day. Click here if you would like to read the Oglethorpe Echo article.

On June 30, 1880, Charlie and his family lived in District 141 of Greene County, Georgia. Charlie worked as a farmer. He and Sallie had two children at the time—Nathan (age 6) and Eddie (age 2). This is the only record I find for Nathan. 

By June 7, 1900, the Bryant family have moved to Monroe, Walton County, Georgia. Charlie, who it appears spent most of his life working as a farmer, was working as a carpenter. Sallie was enumerated as Sarah and as the mother of 14, 12 of which were living. Charlie’s son Eddie worked at what looks like the Patterson Handle Factory. Both Blanche and Thad worked as laborers at a handle factory (maybe the same as Eddie), while Marshall and Legare worked as day laborers. This is the last record I find for Maud. Charlie’s mother died in Maxeys on November 29, 1905. She was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.

On May 4, 1910, the Bryant family lived in Siloam, Greene County, Georgia. Charlie worked as a farmer on a general farm. His home, which he rented, was classified as a farm. Sallie was enumerated as Sarah R. and as the mother of 14 children, 10 of which were living. The census record shows that Charlie and Sallie had been married for 34 years. Four children were still living in the home—Sallie (20), Fredrick (17), Guy (14), and Jasper (11). Daughter Sallie was unemployed and the three boys all worked as farm laborers on the home farm. A 22-year-old male named Charles M. Suddeth lived in the home as a boarder. He worked as a farm laborer on a general farm. Sons Thad, Will, and Marshall had left home and were living as boarders with Leonard and his family. Everyone in the home could read and write. The three school age boys were not attending school at the time, which may have been out for the summer. Charlie’s father died in Maxeys, Oglethorpe, Georgia on June 2, 1911. He was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery with Charlie’s mother. When son Guy filled out his World War I draft registration card on June 5, 1917, he listed his father, C. N. Bryant of Greene County, as his employer. Guy was a farmer at the time.

Charlie died of senility contributed by old age in the Shepherd District of Morgan County, Georgia on February 4, 1920. He was a farmer at the time of his death. His death was reported in the Madisonian on February 6, 1920. His name was listed with the middle initial of “M” vs. “N.” 

Death of Mr. C. M. Bryant

Mr. Charles M. Bryant died at the home of his son, Mr. Leonard D. Bryant Tuesday, and was buried at Greshamville Wednesday afternoon at 2:30. The funeral was conducted by Rev. W. J. Williams of Buckhead.

Mr. Bryant was ill for many months. He was 69 years old and is survived by his wife and eleven children.

Mr. Bryant was friendly, genial, social and fond of a good story. He was loyal no [sic] to his friends and faithful to his country, a loving father and a devoted husband. He read a great deal and was well informed on current affairs. He will be sorely missed by his family and large circle fo [sic] friends.

A “Card of Thanks” was published below his obituary in the Madisonian:

Card of Thanks

We desire to extend our sincere thanks to those friends who ministered to us and him during his illness and sympathized with us after the death of our loved one, Mr. Chas. M. Bryant. May God’s richest blessings ever abide with each and every one of you. 

Mrs. C. M. Bryant and Family

L. D. Bryant and Family

Charlie was buried at Greshamville Cemetery in Greshamville, Greene County, Georgia. I believe the birth year on Charlie’s tombstone should be 1853, not 1852. I base this on the fact that his death certificate shows he was 66 years old (his obituary said 69) at the time of his death. Subtract 66 from 1920 and you get 1854. Since Charlie had not celebrated his birthday yet (October), that would make his birth year 1853, which is what the 1900 census record shows. His death certificate has his father recorded as Billie Bryant and his mother Sallie Epps. Since his father was William Bryant, that would be accurate. However, his wife was Sarah “Sallie” R. Epps and his mother was Elizabeth Lankford so it appears there was some confusion by the informant.

Photo by Pat Sellers Gillespie from Find A Grave memorial 91717785
(permission to use on her profile page)

I found Charlie’s widow Sallie in the 1920 census, enumerated on March 3, 1920, living with their son Leonard and his family in Morgan County, Georgia.

Charlie’s middle initial switches from “N” to “M” in various records. I found no record that listed his full middle name cannot confirm which is correct. 

References

• C. N. Bryant, Standard Certificate of Death no. 05582, Georgia State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1920.
• Death of Mr. C. M. Bryant, Madisonian, Madison, Morgan County, Georgia, February 6, 1920.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/91717785/charlie-n-bryant: accessed 12 September 2023), memorial page for Charlie N. Bryant (3 Oct 1852–4 Feb 1920), Find a Grave Memorial ID 91717785, citing Greshamville Cemetery, Greshamville, Greene County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Pat Sellers Gillespie (contributor 46926725).
• Greene County, Georgia, Special Proceedings Records 1860–1866, 1866–1870, pp. 347–349; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3M5-L3NQ-V?view=explore&groupId=TH-909-81741-95149-73. 
• Guy Howard Bryant, World War I Draft Registration Card, June 5, 1917.
• Marriages, The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, January 15, 1875; https://gahistoricnewspapers-files.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn85027057/1875-01-15/ed-1/seq-3.pdf. 
• Mr. Charlie N. Bryant and Miss S. R. Epps, Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Mr. Leonard Durham Bryant, Standard Certificate of Death no. 4327, Georgia State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1927.
• The Cyclone: The Storm King Again Abroad in the State—Bairdstown, The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, May 7, 1875; https://gahistoricnewspapers-files.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn85027057/1875-05-07/ed-1/seq-3.pdf.
• U.S. Federal Census, District 141, Greene County, Georgia, 1880.
• U.S. Federal Census, Division 66, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1850.
• U.S. Federal Census, Maxeys, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1870.
• U.S. Federal Census, Militia District 228, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1860.
• U.S. Federal Census, Militia District 238, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1860.
• U.S. Federal Census, Militia District 419, Monroe, Walton County, Georgia, 1900.
• U.S. Federal Census, Shepherds, Morgan County, Georgia, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Siloam, Greene County, Georgia, 1910. 

Peter and Scott—property of G. W. Slaughter

This post is part of an ongoing project to record names of enslaved people of Greene County, Georgia I find in historical records. 

Temperance Crusader, Penfield, Georgia, March 15, 1856

Greene Sheriff’s Sale.

WILL BE SOLD before the Court House door in the town of Greenesboro, on the first Tuesday in April next, within the legal hours of sale, the following property viz:

One house and lot in the Town of Greenesboro, containing three-fourths of an acre, more or less, joining the lot of A. Conner and D. W. Reed—levied on as the property of Constantine Vontrieau, to satisfy one fi fa from Greene Inferior Court in favor of C. C. Norton, vs. Constantine Vontrieau. Property pointed out by Plff.

Also, at the same time and place, the following property: one negro man named Peter, about fifty years old, one negro man named Scott, about thirty-two years old, a good shoemaker—levied on as the property of G. W. Slaughter, to satisfy sundry fi fas from Greene Superior and Inferior Courts, one in favor of Bones & Brown, one in favor of McCord, Hart & Co., one in favor of Z. McCord & Co., one in favor of Hickman, Wescott & Co., two in favor of D’Antignac & Barry, one in favor of Stephen B. Marshall, one in favor of Wiley G. Johnson, one in favor of Dunham & Blakeley, one in favor of Francis Holman & Co., one in favor of Clark Ramsey & Co., vs. G. W. Slaughter.

T. F. FOSTER, D. Sheriff.

March 1 8

Reference

Greene Sheriff’s Sale, Temperance Crusader, Penfield, Georgia, March 15, 1856.