Mattie Ellen Arthur

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.

Mattie Ellen Arthur, daughter of George Hugh Arthur and Mary Caroline S. Johnson, was born in Greene County, Georgia on October 13, 1874. She was the oldest child of 10—Mattie Ellen Arthur, Anna Belle Arthur, William “Henry” Arthur, Sarah Elizabeth “Bessie” Arthur, Julia “Agnes” Arthur, John “Johnnie” Gordon Arthur, Maggie Love Arthur, Mamie Arthur, Georgia “Lucile” Arthur, and one unknown child. Mattie’s connection to me is aunt of wife of nephew of husband of 2nd great-aunt. You can see the path below. 

Note: Carroll Harvey Lankford is my grandfather, not father. 

On June 5, 1880, the Arthur family lived in the 138th District of Greene County. Mattie’s father was a farmer while her mother kept house. Mattie’s maternal grandmother Caroline Ellen Johnson, a 54-year-old widow, lived in the home. Brother William was enumerated as Infant Arthur, age 8/12, born in August. 

It’s possible the unknown child was an infant daughter named Mary Frances Arthur, born November 2, 1893 and died in infancy, but I can’t confirm that at this point. The spring of 1895 was a tragic time for the Arthur family. On March 15, 1895, the Oglethorpe Echo reported the news that Mattie’s great-aunt died at the Arthur home:

Died, at the resident of her nephew, G. H. Arthur, last Thursday morning, March 7th, Miss Mary Ann Hogg, after a protracted illness. She had been blind for several years. She was seventy seven years old and oldest daughter of the late Hugh T. Hogg.

The family suffered another loss when Mattie’s infant sister Mamie died on April 23, 1895. Mattie’s mother was apparently very sick during this time as well. The Oglethorpe Echo published two news articles announcing the child’s death and mentioned her mother’s illness:

April 26, 1895. We were sorry to hear of the death of the child of G. H. Arthur last Tuesday morning and also of the extreme illness of Mrs. Arthur. We extend our sympathy to the family in their sad affliction and hope for Mrs. Arthur’s speedy recovery.

May 3, 1895. We take this method in behalf of the people along the river to extend our sympathy to Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Arthur and brothers and sisters in the death of sweet little Mamie. Yes, indeed she was a sweet and lovely child.

Oglethorpe Echo, April 26, 1895

On June 7, 1900, Mattie (age 25) lived with her family in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. Mattie’s father worked as a farmer, as did her brother Henry. Agnes, John, and Maggie were attending school. Mattie’s mother was enumerated as having had 10 children, 8 of which were living. And in fact, all 8 were living at home. Caroline E. Johnson, Mattie’s maternal grandmother, lived in the home as well. 

On April 16, 1910, the Arthur family lived on North Main Street in the town of Maxeys, located in the Falling Creek District of Oglethorpe County. Her father was now running a boarding house and had five boarders living in the home—John B. Witcher, A. G. Thaxton, T. B. Kimsey, Robert Marable, and Charlie Sherrer. Five of the eight children were still single and lived at home—Mattie (age 35), Anna (age 32), Bessie (age 27), and Maggie (age 18). Bessie, the only of the Arthur children working, was a dressmaker at home. All the boarders worked—John was a house contractor, A. G. Thaxton a house carpenter, T. B. Kimsey a public-school teacher, Robert a department store salesman, and Charlie a dry goods store bookkeeper. 

Mattie’s mother died suddenly in Maxeys on October 20, 1915. The Oglethorpe Echo published the following death notice on October 22, 1915:

Announcement of the sudden death of Mrs. George Arthur, of Maxeys, Wednesday was indeed sad news to her many friends over the county. She was in apparently her usual health up until a few hours before her end came when she was taken with something like acute indigestion. She was a woman beloved by all who knew her, a true Christian, a true wife and a fond mother. She is survived by her husband and eight children. Her remains were laid to rest a Bairds church, of which she was a member, yesterday.

On January 3, 1920, 46-year-old Mattie, sisters Anna and Bessie, and brother John all lived with their widowed father in the same North Main Street home in Maxeys. Her father still ran the boarding house and John worked as a department store salesman. The three daughters were not enumerated as working but one would assume they were helping their father maintain the boarding house. As in 1910, there were five boarders, although different people now—Susie Jackson was a department store saleswoman, E. F. Campbell a general merchandise salesman, Sidney Callahan a dentist, John Copeland a bank cashier, and Ramond Winters a bank assistant cashier.

Mattie’s father died in Maxeys on September 20, 1924. His death certificate states the cause of death was “dropped dead sudden, supposed to be rheumatism of the heart” or rather rheumatic heart disease caused by rheumatic fever. George was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown. The Oglethorpe Echo published the following death notice on September 26, 1924:

Our little town (Maxeys) was again brought to sadness last Saturday morning at 8 o’clock by the sudden death of Mr. George H. Arthur. He had been in declining health for some weeks but he was about his daily duties Saturday morning, expressing himself as feeling better. He went up town, did some buying for the boarding house and on going home and delivering the purchase and coming into the back porch was seized, falling to the floor and in a minute was dead. His death ends a long and useful life. He was in his seventy third year; was raised and lived in this community all his life and had the utmost respect of everybody who knew him. For sixteen years he had been running a boarding house here. His wife preceded him to the grave three years ago. His body was tenderly put away at the Bairdstown cemetery Sunday afternoon after services by Rev. Carswell. His children who yet remain are Mrs. N. J. Burgess, Henry and John, Misses Mattie, Annie, Bessie and Lucille.

Mattie’s brother Henry died on December 2, 1925 following appendix surgery. The Oglethorpe Echo reported the following on December 11:

A very sad occasion was the burial here (Bairdstown) last Thursday of Mr. Henry Arthur. He died at St. Mary’s hospital after undergoing an operation of appendicitis. He leaves a large family of children to whom we extend our heartfelt sympathy.

On April 2, 1930, Mattie, Anna, and Lucile lived in Maxeys, on the east side of Railroad Street. Mattie, the head of the household, owned the home which was valued at $1000. She was enumerated as a boarding house keeper and her sister Lucile as a boarding house helper. If the house they lived in was in fact a boarding house, there were no boarders living there at the time the census was taken. The house appears to be different than the one she lived in with her parents.

On April 29, 1940, Mattie, Anna, and Lucile continued to live together in Maxeys, only now Anna was the head of household. Neither Mattie nor Lucile was employed outside of the home. Anna worked as a cook in the school lunchroom. All three women were single.

Mattie’s brother Johnnie died at his home in Orlando, Orange County, Florida on December 9, 1946. He was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery following a December 12 funeral service officiated by Dr. John D. Mell, Rev. D. M. Joiner and Rev. Slay. 

Mattie, age 74, died in Clarke County, Georgia on October 20, 1948 after having a stroke. She was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery with her parents and siblings following a graveside service officiated by Revs. Duvall, Johnny Barrett and Slay. Mattie was survived by five sisters and two brothers. According to her obituary, she “had lived for 41 years in Maxeys, where she was loved by all who knew her.”

References

• Announcement of the Sudden Death of Mrs. George Arthur, Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, October 22, 1915. 
• Death of G. H. Arthur child, Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, April 26, 1895.
• Death of George H. Arthur, Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, September 26, 1924.
• Death of Mary Ann Hogg, Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, March 15, 1895.
• George Hugh Arthur, Georgia State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Standard Certificate of Death no. 28225.
• Henry Arthur burial, Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, December 11, 1925.
• Mattie E. Arthur, Georgia, U.S., Death Index, 1919-1998.
• McRee Jr., Fred W., Oglethorpe County, Georgia Deaths 1874-1938.
• Miss Mattie Ellen Arthur obituary, Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, October 28, 1948.
• Miss Sarah Elizabeth (Bessie) Arthur obituary, Oglethorpe Echo, February 4, 1965.
• Mr. Johnnie Gordon Arthur was found dead, Oglethorpe Echo, December 19, 1946.
• U.S. Federal Census, Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1900.
• U.S. Federal Census, District 138, Greene County, Georgia, 1880.
• U.S. Federal Census, Falling Creek, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1910, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Maxeys, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1930, 1940.