Unwrapping Christmas gifts

For this last post of the year, how about a short walk down memory lane before the holiday season ends. I recently found a few more slides to convert and one was the first photo below, taken at our Macon Drive house in Atlanta on Christmas morning 1959. The two men in the photo are my Daddy, Sam Lankford (on the left), and my step grandfather, Hoyt Vest. Hoyt and Granny often traveled from north Georgia to spend Christmas Day with us. Opening the gifts are (from left to right) my sister Bonita (or Bonnie), brother Michael, sister Jennifer, and me. I can read the word STAR on the box Bonnie is opening so looks like she got a pair of roller skates. Michael got a racecar, Jennifer some kind of book, perhaps a coloring book, and my gift looks like a game of some sort, perhaps a mini pinball machine.  

Although there is no evidence of Christmas in the photo above, I remembered sharing another photo of the four of us on this blog which you can see in the photo below. In this photo, we have the same clothes on and you clearly see a Christmas tree behind us. Since there are still presents to be opened, the toys we are holding must have been from Santa Claus. Presents under the tree were not opened until after we had a big breakfast and the dishes done, and Mama and Granny took their sweet time doing both! 

Jennifer, me, and Bonita holding Michael

Willis, servant to William N. Williams, takes a new wife

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

From the minutes of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Penfield, Greene County, Georgia.

Shiloah Church, January 16, 1859

Church met in conferrance for the benefit of the collerd members. J. R. Young, Modr. opened the dore of the church for the reception of members. No applicant. Willis, servant to Wm. N. Williams made application the church to to take a wife as he had been separated from his wife for some time and no expectation of ever being with her anymore. The church granted him the request. No other business. Conference adjourned.

Wm. N. Williams, C.C. J. R. Young, Modr.

click image to enlarge 

Willis was included in a previous post; however, I thought the piece of information about his wives was interesting.

Note: Transcribed as written, including misspelled words.

Reference

• Shiloh Baptist Church Minutes from 1839 to 1959, image 120; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C34J-3Q8Z?i=119&cat=193117 (free registration required).

Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti

First of all, I want to thank my friend Stacey for sharing this recipe with me several years ago. Her mother was visiting and had made dozens of Christmas cookies so Stacey very nicely brought some to the office to share. I had never had biscotti before and am actually surprised I tried it. A picky eater, I am not good about trying new things. But in this case, I am glad I did! Because the cranberries are red and pistachios green, this is a good cookie for Christmas. So, since I have now shared this recipe with a couple of family members, and I know at least one has made them, I decided to add it to my family recipes on this blog. I can’t take credit for it though. I didn’t have the recipe Stacey’s mom used but googled it and found one on the internet that was just as good. My version of Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti is below. You can find the original version by Gerry Meyer on the allrecipes.com website.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup light olive oil
• ¾ cup white sugar
• 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract (Gerry used 2 teaspoons vanilla and ½ teaspoon almond extract)
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup dried cranberries
• 1 ½ cups shelled pistachio nuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 300° and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Mix the olive oil and sugar together until well blended. Stir in vanilla, then the beaten eggs. You can use a wooden spoon to do both steps, no mixer required.

Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Gradually combine with the above mixture. Fold in pistachios and cranberries using a wooden spoon or your hands if necessary. It will be thick.

Wet your hands with cool water (it will be sticky) and divide the dough in half. Form each half into 12x2-inch logs and place side by side on a cookie sheet. 

Bake 35 minutes in a preheated oven (until light brown). Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 275°. Cut the logs on the diagonal into 3/4-inch-thick slices. 

Lay the cookies cut side down on a second cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake 10 minutes until dry. 

Cool and store in a sealed container.

I made a gluten free version this past Fall for my brother-in-law and it turned out great. Just substitute the all-purpose flour with your favorite gluten free flour and add a little extra olive oil—just a couple of sprinkles. My brother-in-law and sister liked it so much, she is now making it herself. Since she doesn’t like to cook, that says something!

Enjoy and Merry Christmas to all! 

Shiloh Baptist Church: A list of 114 coloured female members

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

The minutes of the Shiloh Baptist Church contains a list of male and female “coloured members” dating from 1839 to 1874. Notes written in the front section of the minutes show the dates covered are August 31, 1839 to March 5, 1859, however, several items are dated as far out as 1874. Below is the list of the coloured female members. 

A list of Coloured Females

page 1
Mary, servant to Broughton – Dead 
Molley, servant to J. Watson – Dead 
Hester, servant to O. Porter – DL
Patience, servant to J. K. Daniel – DL
Selia, servant to Wm. Sanders – Dead 
Ester, servant to R. Hobbs – DL, 7th Jany 1863
Malinda, servant to Maj. Morley – DL 
Lavina, servant to Maj. Morley – DL
Amey, servant to S. Baldwin
Mary, servant to J. K. Daniel – DL
Rachel, servant to W. Findley – DL
Ginney, servant to G. Mathews – DL
Charety, servant to Maj. Morley – DL 
Mariah, servant to Maj. Morley – DL
Rachel, servant to R. Hobbs – DL 7th Jany 1863
Mickey, servant to Mrs. Peek
Judy, servant to Wm. Porter – Dead
Dinah, servant to J. H. Daniel – DL
Aggry, servant to T. Stocks – Dead
Phenby, servant to Mrs. Williams – Dead
Betsy, servant to T. G. Janes – DL
Nancy, servant to W. Sanders – Dead 
Betsey, servant to T. Stocks
Sophiah, servant to S. Gresham – DL 
Jane, servant to S. Gresham – DL
Milley, servant to E. Price – DL
Ester, servant to J. T. Wright – DL, Dead
Pheby, servant to G. Mathews – DL
Nelley, servant to D. R. Malone – Dead
Lucy, servant to J. Cutliff – Dismissed by letter
Nancy, servant to J. M. Porter – Removed
Rebecca, servant to Mrs. Cox – Removed 
Vina, servant to J. Boswell – Excluded
Chanty, servant to F. West – Dismissed by letter
Pham, servant to E. C. Shackelford – DL
Lucy, servant to F. West – DL 
Hanner, servant to J. Harris, Born

page 2
Lecia, servant to Wm. Sanders – Dead
Melvina, servant to T. G. Janes – DL
Nancy, servant to J. Cheney – Born
Amey, servant to N. Thompson – Dead
Anney, servant to T. G. Janes – DL
Samey, servant to T. G. Janes – Dead
Eliza, servant to L. Peek – Dead
Mary, servant to J. Cocroft – Born
Lucy, servant to T. G. Janes – Dismissed by letter
Lilley, servant to A. G. Saffold – Dead
Isabell, servant to T. M. Findley – Dead
Rachel, servant to E. Price – DL
Elila, servant to O. Porter – DL
Orra, servant to Wm. Watson
Rachel, servant to J. Branch – Dead
Fam, servant to L. Green – Born
Amey, servant to T. Stocks – DL
Tabitha, servant to T. Stocks – DL
Jinney, servant to John Malone – DL
Betsey, servant to James T. Findley – Dead
Patsey, servant to L. Green – DL
Hannah, servant to T. G. Gresham
Rachel, servant to N. Baldwin – Dead
Matilda, servant to J. H. Porter – Born
Cassy, servant to J. Early – Dismissed by letter
Sucky, servant to Ellington – Dead
Nancy, servant to Ellington – Dead
[Unreadable], servant to Daniel – [Unreadable]
Stephanie, servant to R. J. Willy
Abbey, servant to R. J. Willy – Dead
Susan, servant to P. Northern – Dismissed by letter
Shandriell, servant to B. M. Sanders – Dismissed by letter
Milliy, servant to Wm. W. Williams – Exd
Dinah, servant to B. M. Hubard – Dismissed by letter
Betsey, servant to [Unreadable] – Dismissed by letter
Jane, servant to J. Davant – Dead
Penny, servant to R. Roberts – Dismissed by letter

page 3
Penny, servant to B. Brantley – DL
Harriet, servant to L. Green – Born
Aga, servant to V. Brown – Dead
Mary, servant to P. Northern – Born
Peggy, servant to Wm. Hubbard – Dismissed by letter
Mary, servant to B. M. Hubbard – Born
Joanna, servant to B. M. Hubbard – Born
Maria, servant to Simon T. Peek
Chloe, servant to V. Brown
Sarah, servant to R. J. Willis
Caty, servant to J. T. Willis – DL
Annis, servant to Thos. Stocks
Fannie, servant to Thos. Stocks – Exc.
Jane, servant to John Branch – DL
Filles, servant to Johnson Boswell
Sofiay, servant to Wm. Sanders – Exc. 10 Oct 1859
George, servant to Daniel
Elva, servant to O. P. Daniel
Charaty, servant to O. P. Daniel
Patience, servant to O. P. Daniel
Abriler, servant to estate of Elington
Gronganna, servant to estate of Elington
Arkey, servant to estate of Elington
Harriet, servant to O. P. Daniel
Harrietann, servant to O. P. Daniel – Ech 24/64
Sillar, servant to W. N. Williams
Mary, Cary, Fanie, Emeline & Dinah, servants to B. J. Willis
Mahada, servant to William Moncrief
Mary, servant to William Moncrief
Carolina, RS Dec 21 1862
Sopily, servant to S. Gresham – RS 21 Dcr 1862
Harriet & Delotha, servant to William Moncrief
Mariah, servant to W. B. Johnson
Mantrval, servant to Wm. Moncrief
Rufus, servant to Y. F. Gresham
Ann, servant to W. B. Johnson
Rebecker, servant to Sallie Greer

page 4
Harriet, servant to estate of Elington
Vicktorion, servant to estate of Elington
Mahaly, servant to Moncrief – Exc June 18, 1865

The estate of Elington may have been William B. Ellington who died in 1848. The list of appraisements found in Williams’ estate papers included a list of slaves he owned. I found several names from the appraisements list on the Shiloh Church members list—Harriet, Sucky, and Nancy. This is not confirmed however. I did not find Mr. Ellington on the list of male members.

I tried my best to read the writing but may have a few names wrong. When in question, please review the images provided. Click on each image to enlarge. You may have better luck than I did at reading.

Legend:
DL may stand for Dismission Letter, Dismissed by Letter, or Letter of Dismission.
Excl. stands for Excluded.
RL may stand for Received Letter.
RS may stand for Resolved.

References

• Shiloh Baptist Church Minutes from 1839 to 1959, images 21 - 23; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C34J-3QWS?i=20&cat=193117 (free registration required).
• Wm. B. Ellington (1848), Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742–1992.

Christmas table scarf

This Christmas table scarf makes an appearance on my dining room table every year from late November through the end of December. I was recently asked whether I made it, so thought it important to document its origins for my family.

I wish I could take credit for its creation, but no, I did not make the scarf. Instead, it was hand made by a co-worker and dear friend. We worked very closely together for many years and at some point, started exchanging Christmas presents. She was a very crafty person so hers were often hand made. I do not remember the year I received the table scarf, but estimate it was during the early 2000s. The table scarf is 18” x 23” and reversible. One side contains patchwork squares and the other a floral print. All the fabric is some sort of holiday print except for the solid red, green, and ecru pieces, which of course are Christmas colors. I prefer the patchwork side so if you come to my house during the holiday season, that is what you will most likely see on my table. I do not know much about fabric, but if I had to take a guess, would say it is cotton. The scarf, which I consider to be a family treasure, is starting to show some wear. I think about my friend with fond memories every year when I place it on my table. 

Shiloh Baptist Church: A list of 70 coloured male members

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

The minutes of the Shiloh Baptist Church contains a list of male and female “coloured members” dating from 1839 to 1874. Notes written in the front section of the minutes show the dates covered are August 31, 1839 to March 5, 1859, however, several items are dated as far out as 1874. Below is the list of the coloured male members. 

Males—A list of Coloured members

page 1
June, servant to Wm. Cook – DEAD
Jerry, servant to J. K. Daniel – Born
Lewis, servant to J. M. Porter — DL – Dead
Sam, servant to Maj. Morley – DL
Pedegru, servant to Mr. Pope – Dead
Ben, servant to D. C. Watson – Dead
Muphry, servant to Wm. Porter – Dead
Eli, servant to Maj. Morley – Dead
Jim, servant to E. Price – DL
Jerry, servant to Wm. Sanders – DL
Muphry, servant to T. Stocks – DL
Mingo, servant to T. Stocks – Dead
Mark, servant to Mary Jenkins – Ex
Dembo, servant to Mary Jenkins – Dead June 16, 1853
Davy, servant to F. West – Dismissed by letter
Peter, servant to B. M. Sanders – Exct 26th June 1841 – Dismissed by DL, restored 25 March 1863
Ben, servant to J. Cutlipp [or Cutliss] – DL
David, servant to J. Watson – Dead
Charles, servant to W. E. West – DL
Bob, servant to S. Baldwin – Dead
Harry, servant to Wm. Sanders – Dead
Frank, servant to E. Price – DL
Giles, servant to J. Cheney – Dead
Jerry, servant to Wm. Price – DL
Tom, servant to L. Peak – Excluded restored Jan 17th, 1847
Phil, servant to T. G. Janes – DL
Jeffrey, servant to J. K. Daniel
Lewis, servant to E. Price – DL
Kent, servant to S. Anderson (Rest) Excluded – Dead
Sandy, servant to T. G. Janes – DL
Elijah, servant to John Malone – DL
Cyrus, servant to L. Green – DL
Dick, servant to R. Hobbs – DL 7 Jany 1843
Peter, servant to A. King – Excluded
     - - - T. Craddock
     - - R. T. Willis

page 2
Abram, servant of Jacob Broughton – DL
Daniels, servant of John Branch
Charles, servant of Johnathan Kenedy – Restored – Dead
Richard, servant of T. Stocks – DL
Leonard, servant of S. T. Peak
Alleck, servant of Sanders
Joe, servant of Edminson
William, servant of J. Boswell
Charles, servant of A. H. Randle – Dead
Tom, servant of Rev. J. S. Baker – DL
Dary, servant of John Broughton – Dead
Gilbert, servant of James Devant – RL DL
Dump, servant to the estate of Elington
Adam, Excluded. RS of Nov 2, 1862
Henry, servant to Br. J. Willis, RS Nov 7, 1862
[Unreadable] servant to the estate of Elington, Nov 7, 1860, Excluded, [Humphrey]
Alford, servant to W. N. Williams, Exc.
Augustus, servant to W. B. Johnson
Isac, servant to O. P. Daniel
Marshel, servant to O. P. Daniel, RS Dec. 21, 1862
Aaron, servant to J. Boswell, RS Dec. 20, 1862, Exc. 64
Green, servant to Sterling Gresham, RS 20, 1862
George, servant to S. Patrick, Exc. Mch 27th, 1864
Rufus, servant to Y. F. Gresham
Oliver, servant to Johnson Boswell
Aron, servant to W. B. Johnson
Sterling, servant to Mayon Anson, Excl. July 25, 1863
Crawford, servant to the estate of Elington, Exc. Dec 1864
--thern, servant to the estate of Elington
Sam, servant to the estate of Elington
Dennis, servant to the estate of Elington
George, servant to J. Patrick, Excl. 27/64
Phelix, servant to W. Sanders, RS 16th, 27/64 – DL
Willis, servant to W. N. Williams
Jackie, servant to W. N. Williams
Burry, servant to the estate of Elington, Exc. Dec. 1864

The estate of Elington may have been William B. Ellington who died in 1848. The list of appraisements found in Williams’ estate papers included a list of slaves he owned. I found several names from the appraisements list on the Shiloh Church members list—Crawford, Dennis, Humphrey, and Burry [may be Barry]. I did not find Mr. Ellington on the list of male members.

I tried my best to read the writing but may have a few names wrong. When in question, please review the images provided (click on each image to enlarge). You may have better luck than I did at reading.

Legend:
DL may stand for Dismission Letter, Dismissed by Letter, or Letter of Dismission.
Excl. stands for Excluded.
RL may stand for Received Letter.
RS may stand for Resolved.

References

• Shiloh Baptist Church Minutes from 1839 to 1959, images 20 - 21; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C34J-3QDX?i=19&cat=193117 (free registration required).
• Wm. B. Ellington (1848), Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742–1992.

Vintage Ceramic Christmas Tree

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know many of you reading this have one of these ceramic Christmas trees. Obviously, I do as well so why not take the time now to document its origins.

I moved from Georgia to Virginia in 1979, after five years of encouragement from a friend I grew up with in Atlanta. In the early 1980s, I often spent weekends at her mother’s house, about 20 minutes from mine. Her mother had her own ceramic studio set up in the basement, including a kiln, molds, and all the supplies needed to make Christmas themed items. She allowed me to make whatever I wanted, and I paid her for supplies and the use of her electricity. Late summer, my friend and I met at her mother’s house to start pouring whatever pieces we wanted to make that year. While we worked, we played Christmas music and sang along at the top of our lungs. It was the only way I could listen to Christmas music earlier than late November and we really had a good time!

We started by mixing the slip with water until the consistency was right, then poured the slip into the molds for ornaments, Christmas trees, and other decorative pieces. We next bound the molds with large rubber bands and set them aside to dry. Once dry, we scraped and sanded the rough edges of the mold seams, and then cleaned them with water and a sponge until each piece was smooth and clean. Small items like ornaments dried quickly, but larger pieces like the tree took longer, so we often poured on one weekend and cleaned on another. We had to remember to poke holes in the ornaments for the hooks and on the trees for the lights, although I do not remember if that was done while the slip was wet or dry. If I recall correctly, we only fired the tree once, vs. firing to bisque, glazing with the green paint, and then firing again. You had to be very careful when handling the tree before it was fired though, as it was very fragile at the point. One wrong move and a finger might go through the piece, forcing you to start all over again. The firing process took several hours and was not done until the kiln was full, so we usually left our pieces and my friend’s mother fired them before we returned the next weekend. Once fired, the tree was assembled with the electrical parts and lights. The tree itself consists of two pieces, a base, and the tree. When you turn the light on that is hidden inside the tree, the plastic lights shine in all different colors. 

I remember making two, one for myself and one for my mother-in-law. My oldest son now has one of the two. Mine sits on top of a dark red doily my mother made several years ago and I consider both the tree and the doily to be family treasures. 

As mentioned above, we made hundreds of ceramic Christmas ornaments, which were shared with family and friends. Many still hang on my tree today. You can see five of them on a December 2016 Christmas tree of memories blog post (a little past mid-way through the post). I also bartered a deal with a co-worker when I needed help with sewing a cross-stitch Christmas stocking I made for my oldest son Chris. I made her 12 ceramic Christmas ornaments and in exchange, she turned my work of art into a stocking. It was a deal made in heaven for me. You can see Chris’ Christmas stocking on a December 2015 blog post.

Tom, Lucinda, Jonas, Ella, and Gus—property of Ann E. English

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, December 20, 1856

Administrator’s Sale.

Will be sold on the first Tuesday in January next, before the Court House door in the city of Greenesboro, between the usual hours of sale, the following Negroes, to wit: Tom 17 years old; Lucinda, 22; Jonas, 10; Ella, 10; Gus, 6. All sold as the property of Ann E. English, deceased, under an order from the Honorable Court of Ordinary of Greene county, for the benefit of the legatees of said deceased.

WM. ENGLISH, Adm’r.

Nov. 11, 1856 45

All five were listed, with an appraisal amount, in the inventory included as part of Ann English’s estate.

Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate of Ann E. English, deceased.

No. 1: Negro man Tom 17 years old - 1000.00

No. 2: Negro woman Lucinda 22 years old – 900.00

No. 3: Negro boy Jonas 10 years old – 425.00

No. 4: Negro girl Ella 10 years old – 525.00

No. 5: Negro boy Gus 6 years old – 325.00

$3175.00

The final payment for the five slaves was $176 more than the appraisal—$3351 vs. $3175. The next portion of the estate record tells us who each slave was sold to.

Wm. English, Admr.

To Estate of Ann E. English decd Do

To amt Sale of the following negroes sold Tuesday January 1, 1857 on a credit to November 25, 1857.

Negro boy Tom sold to Wm. O. Cheney for $1000.00

Negro woman Lucinda sold to Thos. S. Gresham for 991.00

Negro boy Jonas sold to A. J. Watson for 410.00

Negro girl Ella sold to Elizabeth English for 525.00

Negro boy Gus sold to J. H. English for 425.00

Total amt for negroes - $3351.00

Due 25 Nov 1857

Georgia, Greene County. Before me the Ordinary in and for said State and county personally came William English, Administrator upon the Estate of Ann E. English deceased, who being duly sworn deposes and says that the above is a just and true Return of the sales of the negroes belonging to the estate of said decd. 

William English

Sworn to and subscribed before me January 27, 1857.

Eugenius L. King, Ordinary

References

• Administrator’s Sale, Temperance Crusader, Penfield, Georgia, December 20, 1856.
• Ann E. English, Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742–1992, Ancestry.com. 

Nathan Augustus Hobbs Sr.

Nathan Augustus Hobbs Sr., son of Joel Garner Hobbs and Louisa Frances Escoe, was born in Jackson County, Georgia on January 3, 1867. There were eight children in the Hobbs family—Patrick Henry Hobbs, Nancy E. Hobbs, Missouri Letitia Hobbs, Malicia Crawford Hobbs, Rebecca Frances Hobbs, Mary C. Hobbs, Nathan Augustine Hobbs, and Castilla Tiller Hobbs. Nathan is my 1st cousin 4x removed with our nearest common relatives being Nathan Augustus Hobbs Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Lankford who married 1812 in Greene County, Georgia.

At least eight other men in the Hobbs family line carried the name Nathan Augustus Hobbs.

On August 2, 1870, Nathan and his family lived in Maxeys, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. His father worked as a farmer, had real estate valued at $1000, and a personal estate worth $450. His mother Louisa kept house while sisters Nancy and Letitia were “at home.” The census enumerator noted that Nathan’s parents and siblings Henry and Nancy could read but not write. Letitia and Crawford were unable to read or write. Neither box was checked for Mary (7), Rebecca (6), and Nathan (3) but all were too young at that point in time. The family suffered a loss in 1878 when Nathan’s sister Nancy died of typhoid fever in Oglethorpe County at the age of 22. The Oglethorpe Echo published a death announcement on January 25, 1878:

A Sad Death. We regret to announce the death of Miss Nannie Hobbs, a most estimable young lady, which occurred on Friday night last. She had been quite ill for several weeks with typhoid fever. Her bereaved family have our sympathy.

On June 4, 1880, the Hobbs family lived in the Simston District of Oglethorpe County, Georgia. At age 12, Nathan was working on the farm. His father was a farmer and mother kept house. Two male boarders lived in the home with the family, a 52-year-old named Peter Cauble who worked as a blacksmith and a 50-year-old named Robert Tyake who worked as a miner.

Nathan married Mary Elizabeth Pitts, daughter of Drewry Young Pitts and Isabela Bolt, in a ceremony performed by Justice of the Peace J. W. Jarrell on Christmas Day, 1887. 

Fourteen children were blessed to this union—John “Henry” Hobbs, George Hobbs, Nathan Augustus Hobbs Jr., Joel Garland Hobbs, Robert Lee Hobbs, William “Willie” Drew Hobbs, Eula Bell Hobbs, Reuben Hobbs, Mary Lou Hobbs, Nancy Harriet (or Hart) Hobbs, Edna Elizabeth Hobbs, Twin Hobbs, Charles Belton Hobbs (twin), and another infant that did not survive. A word of caution though as I have no documentation for the two infants that did not survive. The information regarding the twins and infants was obtained from other researchers. If you have documentation and would be willing to share, I would love to hear from you.

The 1890s decade was a busy time for Nathan, growing his family and business. We learn a lot about him from the bits of information often published in the local news section of The Oglethorpe Echo. Nathan was apparently a good turkey hunter and was the “go to” person if you wanted lessons. He also hunted raccoons and was known to catch one every night. His son Nathan Jr. was born in Point Peter, Oglethorpe County, Georgia on October 14, 1892. The Oglethorpe Echo reported it on October 21:

White Oak Pickings. Nathan Hobbs is all smiles now. It’s a fine boy.

Nathan “made a flying trip to Athens” in January 1893. Whatever that means, it was apparently cold. A favorite food of Nathan’s was roasted potatoes. In August 1893, one of the Hobbs children had “been quite sick for the past day or two.” The article did not specify which child though. In March 1894, Nathan and J. W. Baughn helped Gus Stevens do some carpenter work near Indian Creek Church. His wife Mary was “quite sick” in April 1894. Nathan again worked with J. W. Baughn in 1894 to build a new house for the Hobbs family in the Prospect Academy community. It was nearly completed by Christmas 1894. Nathan “and two other members of the family” were sick for close to 10 days in September 1895. He was sick again in January 1896 with a severe case of the measles. The measles hit the Hobbs home again in June 1896 when a man living in their home named Wiley Baughn died from an intermittent fever following a case of the measles. More than likely, this was J. W. Baughn who Nathan often did carpentry work with. Nathan apparently was a very social person and often hosted barbecues at his home. In August 1898, friends “enjoyed a royal feast of mutton.” Nathan was sick again in May 1899. He had recovered enough by June 1899 and was able to go on a camp fish with friends on Broad River. It was reported they caught “some fine fish, among them a gar-fish three feet long.” Nathan apparently caught an eel as well. He hosted another barbecue in June 1899, again serving mutton. The Oglethorpe Echo reported the event as “a day long to be remembered and never to be forgotten.” November 1899 was a busy month for Nathan, making a trip to Madison and Elbert counties, taking a crop of cotton to Comer with a man named A. L. Clark, and a business trip to Athens with Mack Esco. John Pitts, Nathan’s brother-in-law, also visited the home for several days. Nathan spent part of December 1899 “building a carriage house in Lexington for Mr. T. W. Crawford.” 

Life for Nathan and his family continued to be busy during the next decade. In January 1900, he visited relatives in Penfield, Greene County, Georgia and made a business trip to Washington, Wilkes County, Georgia. By this time in his life, he was apparently enjoying being a father. On January 19, 1900, The Oglethorpe Echo reported “If you want to know what Nathan Hobbs is looking so pleasant about just ask him and he will say that he is the father of six boys.” March 1900 was another busy month with Nathan making business trips to Salem in Upson County and Comer in Madison County, Georgia. Nathan and Mack Esco hauled guano to Crawford in Oglethorpe County. Of course, I had to look up the definition for guano, a fertilizer made from the excrement of seabirds and bats. He and A. L. Clark traveled to Washington, Georgia to attend the Gulley trial. The State vs. Robert Gulley, who was on trial for the killing of George Bolton, was an important case before the Superior Court at the time. On June 26, 1900, Nathan and his family lived in Simston where he was working as a farmer. He and Mary had been married for 12 years. Mary was enumerated as having had six children, all of which were living. Three of the children—John, George, and Nathan—were attending school. Only John was able to read and write. A June 1900 article published in The Oglethorpe Echo referred to Nathan as “a prosperous Flatwoods farmer.” In this article, Nathan disagreed with the weather bureau after a heavy rainfall that lasted five hours. It was his opinion that they did not measure the rain correctly. In August 1900, Nathan built a buggy house for Dan Lumpkin. In late October, he killed a rattlesnake in his field. As often done in November, families spent time together. Nathan’s nephew Joe Esco and brother-in-law Dave Pitts visited, Nathan and Mary traveled to Penfield to visit relatives, and Nathan visited Mary’s family, only to find them sick in bed with fever. Mid-November, “the little babe,” was sick. That was probably the youngest of the Hobbs children, William. Nathan’s wife Mary was sick mid-April 1901. In July 1901, Nathan appeared before the courts on a charge of disturbing the peace. According to The Oglethorpe Echo, during “some disagreements concerning who should be teacher at Prospect academy and the running of the school,” several “patrons became divided” and said Nathan “threatened to shoot them.” With no evidence to prove the charge, Nathan was cleared and the case dismissed. Nathan hosted another barbecue in late July, perhaps to celebrate the court dismissal. In August 1901, Nathan visited friends and relatives near the Glade. He was also involved in “a very painful accident” involving a horse. The harness broke and the horse began to kick. Nathan “got between the crosspiece and axle and was kicked several times.” He was more worried about “his only Sunday coat” getting “torn to pieces” than he was any injuries to himself. About October 1901, Nathan and his family moved to a farm in the Wesley Chapel community of Oglethorpe County. The farm had been in the J. O. Crawford family for 79 years. Nathan came down with a case of “grippe,” commonly known as the flu, in February 1902. Later that month, two “newsworthy” events took place—the purchase of a new mule and the birth of his seventh child. Eula, finally a daughter for the couple, had six big brothers to look after her as she grew up. In April 1902, Nathan traveled to Watson Springs, about 10 miles from Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia, “and carried Mr. J. O. Crawford’s goats.” In July 1902, Nathan and Dozier Johnson spent a morning in Watson Springs building a cottage. I wonder if this was for J. O. Crawford as well. In late July 1902, Nathan attended a church revival in the Wesley Chapel community and was moved enough to join the church. In September 1902, Nathan made a business trip to Athens, Clarke County, Georgia, bringing Dozier Johnson back with him to look after his farm while Nathan did some carpentry work in Lexington, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. Sometime in early- to mid-December, Nathan and Mary traveled to the Glade to visit his sister Rebecca Hobbs Bell and her family. Two of Rebecca’s children were extremely ill and one, Hopie (or Hoppie), was not expected to survive. Hopie did in fact pass away on December 10. In February 1903, despite suffering from a cluster of boils in his left hip, Nathan was able to make a train trip to Athens, Georgia. He recovered enough by mid-March 1903 to take an unsuccessful fishing trip with friends Mr. and Mrs. Webb and Dozier Johnson. Nathan was sick again in early June 1903, having to spend some time in bed. His daughter Eula must have caught whatever Nathan had and she was sick in late June 1903. Nathan made a “trade for the place on which Mr. Tom Graham now lives” in August 1903, staying in the same community. He was “under the weather for some time” in mid-September 1903. In October 1903, Nathan visited his sister Rebecca in the Glade, and then went to the fair in Athens. Nathan made another trip to Penfield in December 1903 to visit his sister Malicia.

A sad event occurred on October 12, 1907 when Nathan’s son Reuben died from a membraneous croup. The Oglethorpe Echo reported his death on October 18, 1907:

After a short illness, with, the death angel came Saturday night to relieve the suffering of Reuben, the sweet little son of Mr. and Mrs. N. A. Hobbs. Although less than four years old, little Reuben possessed the intelligence of a much older person and by his sweet winning ways won the hearts of all who knew him. On Monday afternoon the funeral services were conducted by Rev. M. S. Weaver and the remains laid to rest in the Colquitt burying ground.

They buried Reuben at Colquitt Cemetery in Sandy Cross, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. The epitaph inscribed on the back of his tombstone reads:

We had a little treasure once
He was our joy and pride
We loved him oh perhaps too well
For soon he slept and died

On April 20, 1910, Nathan and his family lived on Plantation Road in Simston. Nathan was farming on a general farm and the marriage was now in its 22nd year. Mary was enumerated as having had 10 children, 9 of which were living. Sadly, we know that accounts for the death of Reuben. George, Joe, Robert, and Willie are all farm laborers on the home farm. The baby, born in 1909, was Nancy. If the researchers mentioned earlier are correct about the twin sons, they were born on April 24, 1915 in Point Peter, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. One was named Charles and the other (name unknown) did not survive. Since Nathan was living in Point Peter when his son Robert registered for the World War I draft in September 1918, the second infant, born/died 1917, would have been born there as well.

On January 22, 1920, the Hobbs family lived in the Glade District of Oglethorpe County, Georgia. Nathan worked as a machinist at a saw mill. Six children were still living at home—Nathan, Eula, Mary, Nancy, Edna, and Charles. Nathan Jr.’s wife, Lethia Ollie Kendall, was also living in the home. Nathan Jr. worked as a farmer on a general farm. Nathan’s son Henry, a veteran of World War I, died from pulmonary tuberculosis in Oglethorpe County on June 21, 1922. He was buried at Glade Baptist Church Cemetery on June 22. Henry was survived by his wife and two small children. Nathan lived in Point Peter at the time. 

On April 4, 1930, Nathan and his family lived at Vesta and Glade Roads in the Glade community of Oglethorpe County. He worked as a farmer on a general farm and was the only person in the home working. Four of his children were still at home—Mary Lou (age 22), Nancy (age 20), Edna (age 17), and Charles (enumerated as Charlie, age 15). Edna and Charles were both attending school. Nathan, his wife Mary, and daughter Mary Lou still lived in the Glade community in 1935. 

Nathan, Mary, and Mary Lou were living in the same Glade house on May 8, 1940. Nathan continued to work full time as a farmer. Nathan’s wife Mary died in Oglethorpe County, Georgia on March 31, 1941 at the age of 69. She was buried at the Hobbs Family Cemetery in Oglethorpe County. When Nathan’s son William Drew Hobbs registered for the World War II draft on February 15, 1942, he listed his father as the person who would always know his address. Nathan still lived in Point Peter at the time.

On April 11, 1950, a widowed Nathan and his daughter Mary Lou lived on a farm located on Millstone Road in the Glade community. Neither had an occupation listed on the census record so must have retired.

At the age of 94, Nathan died at his home in Oglethorpe County (near the Glade) on July 10, 1961 following an extended illness. He was survived by four daughters, six sons, one sister, and many grandchildren, great, and great-great grandchildren. Nathan was buried in the Hobbs Family Cemetery in Oglethorpe County following a service at the Glade Methodist Church officiated by Revs. Gordon Fincher and C. W. Davis. His obituary stated “he always radiated sunshine everywhere he went with his cheerful disposition and ready wit.”

Photo from Allen Hobbs

References

• A Sad Death, The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, January 25, 1878; https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn85027057/1878-01-25/ed-1/seq-3/. 
• Buffalo Valley, The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, May 9, 1890.
• Guano; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guano.
• Gully Case Postponed, The Macon Telegraph, Macon, Georgia, November 11, 1901.
• Hobbs Family Cemetery photo from Allen Hobbs.
• John Henry Hobbs Standard Certificate of Death no. 15812, Georgia State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1922.
• Mary E. Hobbs, Georgia, U.S., Death Index, 1919–1998.
• Mr. Henry Hobbs obituary, Oglethorpe Echo, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, June 1922.
• Nathan Augustus Hobbs Sr. obituary, Oglethorpe Echo, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, July 13, 1961.
• Nathan Hobbs and Mary Pitts, Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Nathan Hobbs obituary, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, July 11, 1961.
• Prospect Academy, The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, September 20, 1895.
• Prospect, The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, May 26, June 9, June 23, November 17, and December 15, 1899; January 12, March 19, August 24, November 2, and November 16, 1900; April 19, July 19, August 2, August 9, and October 25, 1901; January 10, February 14, February 28, April 4, July 25, August 1, September 19, and December 12, 1902; February 13, March 20, June 5, June 26, August 7, September 11, October 9, and December 4, 1903. 
• Purely Personal, The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, June 29, 1900.
• Reuben Hobbs obituary, The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, October 18, 1907.
• Robert Lee Hobbs, World War I draft registration card, September 12, 1918.
• U.S. Federal Census, District 145, Greene County, Georgia, 1850.
• U.S. Federal Census, District 230, Oglethorpe County, Georgia 1880.
• U.S. Federal Census, Glade, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia, 1860.
• U.S. Federal Census, Maxeys, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1870.
• U.S. Federal Census, Simston, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1880, 1900, 1910.
• Wesley Chapel, The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, June 19, 1896; August 26, 1898; and June 2, 1899.
• White Oak Pickings, The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, October 21, November 4, 1892; January 13, January 20, August 11, 1893; March 2, April 27, and December 21, 1894.
• William Drew Hobbs, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• Wise, The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, January 31, 1896.