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. 

Ralph Millard Epps

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.

Ralph Millard Epps, son of Oscar Swain Epps and Nellie Lou Epps, was born in Madison County, Georgia on May 10, 1925. He was the 5th child of 6—Nezzie L. Epps, Louise Epps, Robert L. Epps, Stella Mae Epps, Ralph Millard Epps, and Martha Epps. He is my uncle, husband of my aunt Floria “Lucile” Lankford. We have no common relative. 

On April 3, 1930, the Epps family lived on Park Avenue in Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. The home, a rental, was valued at $800. Ralph’s widowed uncle Luther Epps and his children, a daughter named Wreatha and a son named Wesley, lived in the home as well. Everyone employed outside of the home worked at the cotton mill. Ralph’s father was a picker, sisters Nezzie and Louise spoolers, uncle Luther a carder, and cousin Wesley a quill cleaner. None of the children were attending school. Ralph’s parents, siblings Nezzie, Louise, and Robert, and cousins were able to read and write. By 1935, the family had left Athens and moved to Penfield, Greene County, Georgia.

On April 23, 1940, the census enumerator found the Epps family still living in Penfield. Ralph and his sister Martha were both attending school. His brother Robert, now married to Viola, lived in the home as well. Robert and Viola had a seven-month-old son named Robert Epps Jr. Ralph’s father worked as a farmer; his mother and brother Robert both worked as farm laborers.

Ralph’s World War II registration card, dated May 21, 1943, shows he was 18 years old and lived in Union Point when it was filled out. Ralph listed his father as the person who would always know his address and that he was employed by J. T. Conger in Penfield. 

WWII registration card

Ralph married my aunt, Floria “Lucile” Lankford, daughter of Carroll Harvey Lankford and Floria Mae Burnette, on June 18, 1944 in Union Point, Greene County, Georgia. The ceremony was performed by Mr. B. D. Watson and witnessed by Ruth Wray and Elmer Harrington. They had three children together—Linda Lucile Epps, Nancy Wanda Epps, and a third daughter whose name I will not share here because she is living.

Ralph and his wife Lucile (Lankford) Epps

Ralph enlisted with the U.S. Army at Fort McPherson in Atlanta on July 12, 1944. His enlistment record shows he had a grammar school education. He was admitted to a station hospital in April 1945 with a case of dysentery. Ralph was discharged from the Army on August 29, 1946 with the rank of Private First Class.

On April 24, 1950, Ralph, Lucile, Linda, and Nancy lived in Penfield. Ralph worked as a tractor driver on a farm. He had worked 55 hours the week before the census was taken. The census enumerator did not record an occupation for Lucile so we can assume she was a housewife. They lived three houses from the James E. George family, who connects to our Lankford and Hobbs families. At some point after the 1950 census was taken, the Epps family moved to Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, about six miles from Penfield.

In September 1969, my grandma Lankford was diagnosed with cancer which led to her and grandpa Lankford moving from their home in Penfield to a nursing home. They hated it there so Ralph and Lucile welcomed them into their home where Ralph was able to help Lucile take care of them. When my grandparents needed money to pay medical expenses, my father hired a local lawyer to transfer their Penfield property from grandma’s name to Ralph’s, who then sold the property in lots to pay grandma’s medical expenses. Grandma lost her battle with cancer on March 3, 1970 and was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery, just down the road from the Epps home. The photo below was taken the day of her funeral.

Ralph Epps, his brother-in-law Sam Lankford, nephew Michael Lankford,
brother-in-law Clark Lankford, and father-in-law Carroll Lankford

Grandpa lost his will to live after grandma died and told Ralph he was ready to join her “up on the hill” on a visit to her grave. He died from a stroke on May 7, 1970 a few days later and was laid to rest beside her at Bairdstown Cemetery.

In addition to driving a tractor on a farm (per the 1950 census), Ralph worked for Mary Leila Cotton Mills and Union Manufacturing Company during his lifetime. He and his family attended Bairds Baptist Church there in Bairdstown. I remember going to a homecoming with the Epps family at the church once when I was younger. I have very fond memories of visiting the Epps home which was in a very rural area. It was quiet and peaceful. The home had big rooms and a long front porch, at least from what I remember. His third daughter and I are the same age and I once spent a week there when I was a teenager. Growing up in Atlanta, it was a bit of culture shock for me, but I remember having a good time. 

Ralph at my daddy's retirement party

Carroll and Floria Lankford had eight children and every September held a family reunion at their homeplace in Penfield to coincide with grandpa’s birthday. The reunion was moved to Ralph and Lucile’s after the death of my grandparents. 

Lankford siblings left to right: Carroll Jr. (Sport), Grover, Betty,
Lucile, Sam, Liz, Clark, and Alice (photo taken at the Epps homeplace)

Ralph died in Greene County, Georgia at the age of 70 on October 4, 1995. He was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery on October 6 following a graveside service officiated by Rev. John Lance. He was survived by his wife, three daughters, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. 

References

• Personal information provided by family members.
• Personal visit by Denise Murphy to Bairdstown Cemetery.
• Ralph M. Epps obituary, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, October 6, 1995.
• Ralph M. Epps, Georgia Deaths, 1919-98.
• Ralph M. Epps, U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946.
• Ralph M. Epps, U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010.
• Ralph M. Epps, U.S., World War II Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954.
• Ralph Millard Epps, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947.
• U.S. Federal Census, Athens City, Militia District 216, Clarke County, Georgia, 1930.
• U.S. Federal Census, Danielsville, Madison County, Georgia, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Penfield, Greene County, Georgia, 1940, 1950.
• U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007.