Minnie Permelia Hanson

Minnie Permelia Hanson was born around 1859 in Morgan County, Georgia, to Robert “Bob” Hanson and Lucretia Chambers. She was the youngest of 12 siblings, growing up in a large family. Her brothers and sisters included Thomas J. Hanson, Mary Hanson, Virginia Hanson, Joel Branham Hanson, Robert Hanson, Isaac Newton Hanson, John Hanson, James O. Hanson, Amanda Hanson, George W. Hanson, and Francis “Fannie” Hanson.

Minnie was the wife of my 1st cousin, 4x removed, William A. Lankford. Although we share no common ancestors, our family lines connect through her marriage to William. He was the son of Curtis Caldwell Lankford, who was the brother of my 3rd great-grandfather, James Meriweather Lankford. 

On August 1, 1860, Minnie, listed as “Permelia” in the census, resided in the Adsboro District of Morgan County, Georgia, with her family. Her father worked as an overseer and held a personal estate valued at $200, while her mother, originally from South Carolina, managed the household. Five of the Hanson children—Robert, Isaac, James, Amanda, and George—had attended school within the past year. However, Francis, at age five, and Minnie, just one year old at the time, had not yet begun their formal education. 

Minnie was just two years old when the Civil War began in April 1861, a conflict that would shape her family’s history. In July of that year, her brother Joel enlisted as a private in Company G of the Infantry Battalion of Cobb’s Legion, Georgia Volunteers. He sustained serious wounds to his abdomen and left hip during the Battle of South Mountain at Crampton’s Gap on September 14, 1862, during the Maryland Campaign. Sent home on furlough to recover, Joel later returned to service, where he was assigned to the President’s Guard and remained in duty until the war’s end.

When Minnie was three, her brother Isaac answered the call to arms. In March 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company I, 44th Infantry of the Georgia Volunteers. Sadly, Isaac did not survive the war. He succumbed to pneumonia on January 4, 1863, while hospitalized at Chimborazo Hospital Number 1 in Richmond, Virginia. His final resting place is at Oakwood Cemetery in Richmond.

On July 1, 1870, the Hanson family was recorded as living in Madison, Morgan County, Georgia. By this time, Minnie’s father, Robert Hanson, had transitioned from working as an overseer to farming, while her mother managed the household. Her brothers, James and George, contributed as farm laborers. Census records indicate that Robert was unable to read or write, and the family’s surname was documented as “Hinson.” A notation that appears to be the word “leased” was marked in the real estate column next to Robert’s name, suggesting he did not own the land he farmed but was instead leasing it.

The 1870s proved to be a turbulent decade for the Hanson family. On October 7, 1874, tragedy struck when Robert was shot during a family dispute in Ebenezer, Morgan County, Georgia, by his son, J. O. Hanson. He sustained two gunshot wounds—one to the neck and another to the bladder—injuries deemed fatal by his physician, Dr. Pleasant Wilson. Despite efforts to save him, Robert survived for three days before passing away on October 10. That same day, Minnie’s brother, Joel, arranged for their father’s burial, purchasing a coffin for $25. The incident made headlines, not only in Georgia newspapers but also in publications as far as Memphis, Tennessee. The dispute occurred on election day, and reports suggest that alcohol—specifically whiskey—played a role. In the aftermath, James fled the area on horseback, leaving behind a family shaken by grief and scandal.

During the September 1874 term of the Morgan County Superior Court, an indictment for murder was issued against James, though he had not yet been arrested. The case remained active in the courts for several years, and while evidence suggests the charges may have been reduced to malicious mischief, I have not located official court records or newspaper accounts confirming the final outcome.

In September 1878, Shadrach Dawson was indicted for assaulting Minnie’s brother, Joel, with a club axe—a brutal attack that initially led to charges of attempted murder. However, Dawson later pleaded guilty to assault, resulting in a sentence of either a $50 fine or one year in the chain gang if the fine remained unpaid. Despite the severity of the assault, Joel survived and took legal action, ensuring the case was brought before the courts.

On June 2, 1880, 18-year-old Minnie lived in the Buckhead District of Morgan County, Georgia, alongside her widowed mother, Lucretia (65), and her sister Amanda (22). With her husband gone, Lucretia assumed the role of head of the household, managing daily affairs with the support of her two adult daughters. 

The following year, Minnie married William A. Langford, son of Curtis Caldwell Lankford and Nancy A. Elizabeth McCarty. Their wedding took place on August 15, 1881, in Morgan County, in a ceremony officiated by G.F. McCowan.

Marriage license

Before his marriage to Minnie, William was employed as a servant in the household of Asbury Almond, a farmer in the Martins District of Morgan County, Georgia.

Together, Minnie and William built a family, raising five children: Wade Hampton Langford, Benjamin Hill Lankford, Essie Lou Lankford, Lovie Lee Lankford, and Gertrude Elizabeth Lankford. As was common with the Lankford surname, variations in spelling appeared in records, sometimes written as “Langford” with a ‘g’ rather than a ‘k.’

In May 1890, Minnie’s husband William signed a sharecropping agreement with his landlord, W. A. Almand. A tenant farmer, William promised to pay Almand $90 for provisions that were provided to help grow crops that year, with payment due by November 1, 1890. As security for this loan, William gave Almand a legal claim on half of all cotton he grew on the land (20 acres) known as the Weaver place. The first cotton produced and ready for market would be used to settle the debt at market prices. W. A. Almand may very well have been Asbury Almond, the farmer William worked for prior to his marriage to Minnie.

While no definitive records confirm the circumstances of her passing, it is believed that Minnie died in childbirth with her daughter Gertrude. Gertrude was born in Morgan County on either September 7, 1895 or 1896. Her obituary lists her birth year as 1895 and states she was 81 at the time of her passing. However, her tombstone records the year as 1896. Given that she died in July, the 1896 birth year seems more accurate. Minnie was laid to rest at Sugar Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Madison, though no marker stands at her grave.

Following Minnie’s death, William remarried and had four more children. Curiously, Gertrude was not living with William and his family in 1900, and no census record for her during that year has been found. By 1910, at age 14, she was residing with her sister Lovie and Lovie’s husband, Henry Taylor.

References

• Bob Hanson Sr., The Northeast Georgian, Athens, Georgia, October 21, 1874.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/233140902/j_newton-hanson: accessed April 19, 2025), memorial page for Pvt J. Newton Hanson (unknown–4 Jan 1863), Find a Grave Memorial ID 233140902, citing Oakwood Cemetery, Richmond, Richmond City, Virginia, USA; maintained by Dig Up (contributor 47525629).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48172597/gertrude-whitley: accessed June 4, 2025), memorial page for Gertrude Lankford Whitley (7 Sep 1896–24 Jul 1977), Find a Grave Memorial ID 48172597, citing Harrell Grove Cemetery, Douglas, Coffee County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Douggie (contributor 51050912).
• Georgia Items: Tragic Affray, The Northeast Georgian, Athens, Georgia, October 14, 1874
• Georgia News, Rome Tri-weekly Courier, Rome, Georgia, October 17, 1874.
• J. (Isaac) Newton Hanson, U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861–1865.
• Joel B. Hanson, U.S., Civil War Soldiers, 1861–1865.
• Joel B. Henson, U.S., Civil War Service Records (CMSR) - Confederate - Georgia, 1861–1865.
• Latest Georgia News, The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, October 30, 1874.
• Morgan County, Georgia, Court Minutes 1871–1877, image 199, FamilySearch.
• Morgan County, Georgia, Court Minutes 1871–1877, image 200, FamilySearch.
• Morgan County, Georgia, Court Minutes 1877–1881, image 48, FamilySearch.
• Morgan County, Georgia, Court Records 1858–1882, image 332, FamilySearch.
• Morgan County, Georgia, Mortgages 1890, images 289–290, FamilySearch.
• Robert Hanson, Morgan County, Georgia, Bonds 1845–1878, 1878–1912, image 223, FamliySearch.
• Robert Hanson, Morgan County, Georgia, Probate Records 1869–1878, image 459, FamilySearch.
• The Georgia Press, Georgia Weekly Telegraph and Georgia Journal and Messenger, Macon, Georgia, October 20, 1874.
• U.S. Federal Census, Adsboro District, Morgan County, Georgia, 1860.
• U.S. Federal Census, Buckhead District, Morgan County, Georgia, 1880.
• U.S. Federal Census, District 62, Morgan County, Georgia, 1850.
• U.S. Federal Census, Madison, Morgan County, Georgia, 1870.
• U.S. Federal Census, Martins District, Morgan County, Georgia, 1880. 

Vesta Bell Lankford

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.

Vesta Bell Lankford, born on August 12, 1898, in Stephens, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, was the daughter of William Mell Lankford and Nancy Ella Young. The Lankford family had nine children: Grover Bennett Lankford, Howard Young Lankford, Annie Lou Lankford, Robert “Chester” Lankford, Masina Elizabeth Lankford, Vesta Bell Lankford, Pauline Lankford, William Reese Lankford, and Otis Elmore Lankford. Vesta is my 2nd cousin 3x removed, with our nearest common relatives being Charles L. Lankford and Miss Moore, my 4th great-grandparents and her great-grandparents.

On June 21, 1900, the family, including Vesta (enumerated as Vester), lived in Fluker, Greene County, Georgia. Her father worked as a farmer, her brother Howard was a farm laborer, and sisters Annie and Masina were in school. Vesta’s maternal uncle, Jim Young, also lived with them and worked as a farm laborer. The census recorded that Vesta’s mother had eight children, seven of whom were living, accounting for the death of Vesta’s brother Grover, who passed away as an infant in 1885 before Vesta was born. Her parents had been married for 17 years.

By April 20, 1910, the Lankford family had relocated to a rented farm on Bowling Green Road in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. Vesta’s mother had given birth to another child since the 1900 census. Her father continued to work as a general farmer, and her brother Chester worked as a laborer on the home farm. Vesta, Pauline, William, and Otis were all attending school. Everyone except William and Otis could read and write.

On the night of December 28, 1914, in Bairdstown, a tragic incident occurred involving a group of boys engaged in mischief. Hugh Arnold, a local young man, fired his pistol aimlessly to scare the boys, accidentally hitting Vesta’s 14-year-old brother, Otis, in the head. Otis succumbed to his injuries a few hours later. Arnold, shocked by the unintended consequence, claimed he had no intention of harming anyone. He was later bound over to the Superior Court under a $400 bond. Otis was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery.

In the fall of 1914, Vesta took part in a subscription contest organized by The Athens Banner newspaper in Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. Contestants earned points by securing payments for new newspaper subscriptions. Additionally, they could submit coupons published in the newspaper to earn votes, provided they adhered to strict submission guidelines. The Banner awarded over $2500 in prizes and cash commissions to more than 100 young women.

In June 1917, Vesta and her sister Masina, residents of Bairdstown, traveled to Athens to visit Miss Ida Power, repeating the visit in September. Athens is roughly a 30-minute drive from Bairdstown. By 1918, Vesta had started her career as a schoolteacher in the community of Dorsey, Morgan County, Georgia. She attended the University of Georgia’s summer school that year while living in Stephens. In April 1919, Vesta and her sister Pauline, also a teacher, took a weekend trip to visit Mrs. W. E. Monroe, attending both the Minstrel and the Teachers’ Institute. Later, in July 1919, Vesta visited friends in Stephens, and attended a Masonic barbecue in the town of Bostwick, nearby in Morgan County, Georgia.

On January 6, 1920, the Lankford family resided on Lexington Road in Bairdstown. Vesta’s father owned the home outright. Alongside 24-year-old Vesta, three of her adult siblings lived there: Masina (28), Pauline (22), and William (20). Their single, 62-year-old paternal uncle, Charles F. Lankford, also lived with them. Uncle Charles worked as a house painter. Vesta’s father and brother William both worked as farmers on the home farm, while Vesta was a common school teacher, and Pauline taught high school. A common school teacher was an educator who taught in a “common school” during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Common schools were the earliest form of public schools in the United States, offering free education to all children in the community. These teachers were responsible for teaching a variety of subjects to students of different ages and skill levels, often in a single classroom setting.

Next door, Vesta’s brother Robert lived with his wife Mendie (Hayes) and their eight-month-old son Robert. Robert, too, was a farmer on his own farm. The census was enumerated by William M. Langford, possibly Vesta’s father, despite the slight variation in spelling (Langford vs. Lankford).

On January 30, the Madisonian reported that Vesta, residing in Dorsey, was visited by her brother ‘Willie’ from Stephens. In February 1920, Vesta attended a ‘popcorn popping’ at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Bailey in Dorsey.

Vesta, described as “a popular teacher of the county” by the Madisonian, visited Madison in Morgan County, Georgia, in September 1921. She also made a trip to Athens with her sister Annie and a Mrs. Stephens. During the 1921–1922 school year, Vesta taught at Greenwood School in Morgan County, boarding with Mrs. Jim Thomas. In November 1921, she was appointed to a Harris district committee of the Morgan County Relief Association.

In 1923, Vesta lived briefly in Union Point, Greene County, Georgia, where she renewed her newspaper subscription to the Madisonian. By the mid-1920s, several Lankford family members, including Vesta, relocated to Gary, Lake County, Indiana. Vesta’s brother Howard had moved there earlier, likely prompting the family’s move. In 1925, Vesta, her parents, brother William, and sister Pauline lived at 457 Fillmore Street, while Howard and his wife resided at 408 Fillmore Street. Vesta worked as a clerk, her father as a bricklayer, William as a millworker, Pauline as a stenographer, and Howard as an assistant superintendent at the United States Steel Corporation.

Vesta returned to Crawford, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, by August 1927, attending a wiener and marshmallow roast at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Crawford. During the 1928–1929 school year, she taught at a Bibb City School in Muscogee County, living in a boarding house at 96 40th Street in Bibb City, owned by Eva Gardner.

Vesta continued to reside at Eva Gardner’s boarding house as of April 5, 1930, while teaching at a public school. The boarding house was quite large, housing 15 other boarders, mostly teachers, with one social worker. During the holidays, Vesta visited Misses Sara Anderson and Jean Walker at Winnie Griffith’s home. She spent another week with Winnie in June 1931 before returning home to Crawford.

In June 1932, Vesta was an honored guest at a bridge party hosted by Mrs. E. H. Griffith. The home was beautifully decorated with summer flowers, and an ice course, likely including ice cream or frozen sherbet, fruit salad, and ice-cold beverages, was served after the games. Vesta taught grammar school in Watkinsville, Oconee County, Georgia, during the 1933–1934 school year.

Vesta's mother, Ella (Young), passed away at her home in Crawford on December 9, 1933, after a short illness. She was laid to rest at Bairdstown Cemetery following a funeral service at the Crawford Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Alton Glazier, a Presbyterian pastor, and assisted by Rev. F. J. Hendrick, a Baptist pastor. At the time of her mother’s death, Vesta was living in Crawford.

In January 1934, Vesta attended a dinner at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Shannon Elder in Watkinsville. In March, she spent a weekend visiting Laura Ware in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia, and made a shopping trip to Athens. In May, Eliose Sewart spent the weekend with Vesta in Crawford. In July, Vesta visited friends in Watkinsville. During the 1934–1935 school year, Vesta taught 7th grade classes and served as the principal of a grammar school in Watkinsville.

In August 1934, Vesta visited Winnie Griffith in Butler, Taylor County, Georgia, likely to attend a bridal kitchen shower for Wynnita Taylor at Mrs. S. B. Liggin’s home. Guests wrote recipes for a cookbook for the bride-elect, followed by gift openings and lunch. Vesta also spent a day in Athens with her friend Connie Hopkins. Later in August, Vesta attended a bridge party for bride-elect Dorothy Little at Connie’s home in Crawford, where she won top score. Guests enjoyed a salad course after the game. In December, Vesta, her sister Masina, and friend Connie spent the Saturday before Christmas shopping in Athens.

In March 1935, Vesta attended a dinner party at the home of Mrs. Harvey Downs in Watkinsville. In July, she spent several days with Mr. and Mrs. Jim Jones, also in Watkinsville. That same March, she served on the Library Committee for Oconee County High School. In August, Vesta went on a shopping trip to Athens with her sister Pauline and friend Connie Tomkins.

Vesta attended a bridge party hosted by Connie Hopkins in honor of her sister Pauline, who was visiting from Indiana. Connie’s home was adorned with summer flowers, and guests enjoyed a salad course after playing 12 hands of Contract Bridge—a competitive game where scoring is based on the contracts bid and fulfilled by players.

In September, Vesta and her sisters Masina and Annie hosted a bridal shower for newlywed Mrs. Ernest Rice. The event included a game of bridge, the opening of gifts, and a salad course. The Lankford sisters decorated the home with a variety of floral arrangements.

In February 1936, Vesta attended a miscellaneous shower hosted by Mrs. R. E. Rice and Connie Hopkins in Crawford, celebrating her nephew James Howard Mayo’s new bride, Mary Helen Smith. James was the son of Vesta’s sister Annie, who married John Francis Mayo. The home was adorned in valentine colors, and guests enjoyed a variety of games. Vesta won a prize for preparing and packing the bride’s traveling bag, while her sister Masina won for composing the best limerick of good wishes. After the games, a delightful salad feast was enjoyed. A few days later, Vesta hosted James and Mary for dinner at her home.

In February 1937, Vesta attended a finance committee meeting of the Watkinsville Civitan Club, featuring guest speakers Track Coach Weems Baskin, world champion hurdler “Spec” Towns, and sprint artist Bobby Packard. Baskin was a legendary track and field coach at the University of South Carolina from 1948 to 1969 and an outstanding hurdler at Auburn University. Forrest Grady “Spec” Towns, a Georgia native, was a renowned American track and field athlete who won the gold medal in the 110-meter hurdles at the 1936 Olympics and set the world record three times, winning more than 60 consecutive races during his prime.

Later that month, Vesta attended another bridal shower, this time in honor of Mrs. Ferdinand Johnson and hosted by Mrs. Albert Elder. The event featured a game of bridge, followed by the bride opening gifts, which were presented in a special ceremony by a young girl and boy dressed as a bride and groom, marching in to a violin rendition of the wedding march played by Eloise Stewart. After the gifts, guests gathered in the dining room for refreshments, with the home decorated in silver and white.

In May 1936, Vesta was appointed as one of the Oconee County grammar school heads. In April 1937, she represented Oconee County at an event in Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia. By December 1937, Vesta, who had been teaching in an Atlanta school, resigned her position to accept a new role in Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia.

Vesta’s brother, Chester, who suffered from heart disease, passed away in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 22, 1938. His body was returned to Georgia, and he was laid to rest three days later at Bairdstown Cemetery following a funeral service at Bairdstown Baptist Church.

On December 5, 1939, Vesta attended a Watkinsville Civitan Club meeting aimed at organizing support for new uniforms for the Oconee High School girls’ basketball team. In 1935, Vesta lived alone in a rental home in Watkinsville and continued to live there when the 1940 census was taken on April 4, 1940. She remained a public school teacher during this time.

In August 1944, Vesta received a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Georgia and became a member of Kappa Delta Pi.

Vesta’s father, William, passed away at his home in Crawford on October 6, 1944, after a short illness. His obituary described him as “one of the best known influential men in Oglethorpe County.” William was laid to rest on October 8 at Bairdstown Cemetery, following a funeral service at the Crawford Baptist Church.

In mid-October 1944, Vesta and her sister Masina visited Athens. Vesta’s brother William, who lived in Gary, Indiana, visited her in August 1946, and she accompanied him to Athens. In late November 1946, Vesta attended a Clarke County Georgia Teachers’ Association meeting at the Holman Hotel in Athens. She visited Athens again in August 1947.

Sometime between late 1947 and early 1950, Vesta lived in St. Louis, Missouri. By early August 1949, she was back in Georgia, visiting her sister Pauline in Athens.

On April 4, 1950, Vesta lived in Crawford with her sister Masina, who was head of the household, and her sister Annie and Annie’s husband John. Vesta was a county high school teacher, Masina an elementary school teacher, and Annie a grammar school teacher. John, Vesta’s brother-in-law, was the city police chief.

In April 1951, Vesta co-organized the Winterville PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) birthday meeting. Attendees were asked to bring a dish for supper, and they gathered in the school gym for an evening of food, fellowship, and fun. Participants were seated at tables according to their birth month. Pennies were collected for each year of an attendee’s age, with the funds intended to help send two outstanding members of the school patrol on an annual trip to Washington, DC, as school representatives.

In May 1955, Vesta assisted James Coile in creating a backdrop for a piano recital for his mother’s students. The backdrop featured a black background with Mount Fuji at its center, viewed through the Prayer Gate of a Shinto Temple. Red gladioli adorned the tops of the two pianos, while potted palms flanked the stage entrance.

The 1955–1956 school term began on September 6, 1955. Back in 1906, the portion of Winterville in Oglethorpe County was transferred to Clarke County. However, in August 1955, the Clarke County school superintendent announced that Winterville students residing in Oglethorpe County would need to transfer to schools within their home county. Vesta and her sister Masina, who were assigned to Winterville Grammar School, were affected by this change. For the 1956–1957 school year, both Vesta and Masina were assigned to Winterville Elementary School.

In April 1957, both Vesta and Masina received approval to continue teaching the following year. While they were currently assigned to Winterville School, their assignments for the next school year were subject to change.

In late June to early July 1958, Vesta embarked on the trip of a lifetime, traveling to Southampton, England, on what appears to be a school-sponsored trip abroad. The RMS Queen Mary’s passenger list for the return journey, arriving in New York on July 8, 1958, included multiple teachers and students. While in London, Vesta stayed at the Bonnington Hotel.

Incoming passenger list for the RMS Queen Mary, 1958

In March 1959, Vesta, along with several family members and approximately 170 other guests, attended the golden wedding anniversary reception for Judge and Mrs. W. W. Armistead in Athens. The home was beautifully adorned with an array of floral and candle arrangements. Refreshments were elegantly served on silver platters. The highlight of the celebration was a three-tiered wedding cake, decorated with lily of the valley and topped with a bride and groom. Even the cake knife was beautifully adorned with ribbon and lilies.

In early November 1959, parents and students were encouraged to attend a Winterville School PTA meeting, where Vesta gave a presentation on her European travels. She shared color slides, highlighting the memorable experiences from her summer trip.

On January 23, 1960, Vesta joined family and friends for a luncheon celebrating the golden wedding anniversary of her brother Howard and his wife, Alma (Webb). The event was held at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education in Athens, affiliated with the University of Georgia. The tables were decorated with yellow mums and King Alfred jonquils, and the centerpiece was a three-tiered wedding cake featuring a white and yellow theme.

Vesta dedicated 44 years to teaching in Morgan, Clarke, Oglethorpe, Fulton, and Rockdale counties. In June 1961, the Winterville school community honored Vesta, her sister Masina, and Connie Hopkins for their remarkable combined teaching service of nearly 100 years.

Masina, Vesta, and Connie Hopkins (photo from Athens Banner-Herald,
REM Studio, 1961)

In June 1963, Vesta was a patient at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens. She passed away on Christmas Day 1963 in Oglethorpe County. Vesta was laid to rest on December 27 at Bairdstown Cemetery, following a service at Crawford Baptist Church officiated by Revs. Hoyt Miller, William Gafford, and Dan Jordan. She was survived by her sisters Masina, Annie, and Pauline; brothers Howard and William; sister-in-law Mendie (Hayes) Lankford; and several nieces and nephews. Vesta was a member of Lexington Presbyterian Church.

Lankford family plot, Bairdstown Cemetery

In a will filed in June 1958 in Oglethorpe County, Vesta bequeathed her entire estate to her sister Masina, whom she also named as the executrix.

References

• 100 to Finish at University, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, August 20, 1944.
• Around the County, The Taylor County News and the Butler Herald, Butler, Georgia, June 14, 1963.
• Bishop News, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, August 9, 1934.
• Columbus, Georgia, City Directory, 1928.
• Coming Events, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, November 1, 1959.
• County Schools Set Opening Date, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, August 31, 1955.
• Death Takes Mrs. Ella Lankford at Home in Crawford, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, December 10, 1933.
• Dorsey Social News, Madisonian, Madison, Georgia, July 25, 1919, January 30, 1920, and February 20, 1920.
• Dr. Stump, Guest Speaker at Clarke Teachers Meeting, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, December 4, 1946.
• Education Board Approves Teachers for Next Year, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, April 17, 1957.
• Forrest Towns; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrest_Towns.
• Funeral Notices, Lankford, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, October 23 and 24, 1938.
• Gary, Indiana, City Directory, 1925.
• Goldstein, Evelyn, The Public School in the United States: A Documentary History, 2001.
• Gordon, Felton, Schools Opened at Watkinsville: Three Hundred and Thirty-Two Enrolled as Term Opens Monday, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, September 5, 1933.
• Greene County, Eatonton Messenger, Eatonton, Georgia, January 8, 1915.
• Grover B. Lankford tombstone, Bairdstown Cemetery, Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.
• History of Winterville, Georgia; https://www.cityofwinterville.com/history. 
• Judge and Mrs. Armistead Celebrate Golden Anniversary, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, March 22, 1959.
• Keeping in Touch: Mr. and Mrs. H. Y. Lankford, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, February 5, 1960.
• Lankford Rites Planned Friday, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, December 26, 1963.
• Last Rites Held Sunday for Howard Langford, Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, November 2, 1967.
• Lexington Personal and Social News, The Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, August 31, 1927.
• Local Teachers Report for Duty: Registration of Students Taking Place as Scheduled, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, August 30, 1956.
• Miss Hopkins is Hostess at Home to Mrs. English, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, September 4, 1935.
• Miss Little Guest at Bridge Party: Miss Connie Hopkins Entertains Bride-elect at Crawford Home, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, September 6, 1934.
• Miss Vesta Langford, Madisonian, Madison, Georgia, May 5, 1922.
• Misses Langford Entertain Recent Bride at Shower, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, September 4, 1935.
• More Than 800 Young Women in Attendance at the Summer School, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, July 20, 1918.
• More Than One Hundred Representatives Qualify in The Banner's Great Contest, The Athens Banner, Athens, Georgia, September 27, 1914.
• Morgan County Relief Association, Madisonian, Madison, Georgia, November 25, 1921
• Mr. Chester Lankford, Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, October 27, 1938.
• Mrs. C. S. Coile Presented Pupils in Recital Friday, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, May 29, 1955.
• Mrs. E. H. Griffith Honors Visitors, The Butler Herald, Butler, Georgia, June 16, 1932.
• Mrs. James Mayo is Party Honoree, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, February 16, 1936.
• Oconee County High School: School Bits, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, March 17, 1935.
• Oconee School to Open Next Monday: Phillips Announces Opening Exercises at Watkinsville for Monday, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, August 27, 1934.
• Otis Lankford Dead from Pistol Wound, newspaper and date unknown.
• Our Honor Roll, Madisonian, Madison, Georgia, February 16, 1923.
• Our People, Madisonian, Madison, Georgia, April 11, 1919.
• Out in Society, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, September 21, 1917.
• Personal Mention, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, March 20, 1934, December 23, 1934, August 27, 1935, October 15, 1944, August 7, 1946, and August 6, 1947.
• Personal visit to Bairdstown Cemetery, Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.
• Personals, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, August 7, 1949.
• Prof. Roy David Elected Superintndent [sic] of Oconee County High School at Recent Meeting of Watkinsville School Trustees, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, May 3, 1936.
• Reynolds Department, The Butler Herald, Butler, Georgia, December 6, 1928, December 4, 1930, and June 18, 1931.
• Reynolds Department: Shower for Bride-Elect, Butler Herald, Butler, Georgia, August 23, 1934.
• Robert Lankford, Missouri State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death no. 36755, 1938.
• Rocked by Boys, Kills One; Is Held for Trial, The Atlanta Georgian, Atlanta, Georgia, January 8, 1915.
• Saye, Wade, County Schools Set Opening Date, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, November 1, 1955.
• School Teachers: Morgan County, 1918–1919, Madisonian, Madison, Georgia, October 18, 1918.
• Society, Madisonian, Madison, Georgia, September 16, 1921.
• Tyack, David B., The One Best System: A History of American Urban Education, 1974. 
• U.S. Federal Census, Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1910, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Bibb City, Muscogee County, Georgia, 1930.
• U.S. Federal Census, Crawford, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Fluker, Greene County, Georgia, 1900.
• U.S. Federal Census, Watkinsville, Oconee County, Georgia, 1940.
• Vesta B Lankford, Georgia, U.S., Death Index, 1919–1998.
• Vesta Bell Lankford, Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records (1958, Oglethorpe County), 1792–1992.
• Vesta Lankford, Southampton, England, 1958; UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878–1960.
• W. M. Lankford Dies Home Friday Funeral Held Today, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, October 8, 1944.
• Watkinsville News, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, July 1, 1934, March 31 and July 21, 1935, February 20, 1936.
• Watkinsville News: Mrs. Johnson Honored, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, February 2, 1936.
• Watkinsville Social News, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, April 25, 1937, and December 12, 1937.
• Watkinsville, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, January 24, and March 25, 1934.
• Watkinsville, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, May 2, 1934.
• Weemie “Weems” Baskin, USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame Special Inductee; https://cahof.ustfccca.org/award-winner/weems-baskin-ustfccca-special-inductee. 
• White School Teachers: Morgan County, GA, 1921–1922, Madisonian, Madison, Georgia, November 18, 1921.
• Winterville PTA Plans Supper Meeting Thursday, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, April 10, 1951.
• Winterville School Community, The Athens Daily Herald, Athens, Georgia, June 27, 1961.
• Winterville, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, September 21, 1917.
• Winterville, The Athens Daily Herald, Athens, Georgia, June 15, 1917.
• Woods, Sam, Visitin’ With the Watkinsville, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, December 10, 1939.
• Woods, Sam, Woods Covers Two Dinner Meetings: Banner-Herald Writer Enjoys Kiwanis and Civitan Meetings Wednesday, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, February 3, 1937. 

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. 

Robert Harrison Wilson

Robert Harrison Wilson, son of Oliver Porter Wilson and Jane Elizabeth Johnson was born in Greene County, Georgia on December 13, 1858. He was the youngest of four children—Martha Jane Wilson, William Oliver Wilson, Mary Ann Wilson, and Robert Harrison Wilson. Robert is my 2nd great grand uncle. Our nearest common relatives are his parents, Oliver and Jane. His sister Mary, who married James C. Lankford, is my 2nd great-grandmother.

On June 5, 1860, one-year-old Robert and his family lived in Penfield, Greene County, Georgia. His father was a wagoner with a personal estate valued at $300. Martha, William, and Mary were attending school and Robert’s mother was unable to read and write. They lived next door to Nathan Augustus Hobbs Jr. and his wife Harriet (Tiller). Nathan was the son of Nathan Augustus Hobbs Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Lankford. His sister was Caroline B. Hobbs, my 3rd great-grandmother. Three years after this census was taken, Nathan would be gone—killed on July 2, 1863 in Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania while serving with Company C of the Georgia Third Infantry Regiment during the Civil War.

By July 24, 1870, Robert was the only child left in their Penfield home. Robert’s father worked as a carpenter, his mother kept house, and Robert at age 11, was a day laborer. At age 19, Robert married Martha C. Backus, daughter of Augustus “Gus” Backus and Mary A. Partee, in Greene County on February 24, 1878. Together had nine children—Augustus Oliver Wilson, Jasper Alford Wilson, Warren Thomas Wilson, Walter Adolphus Wilson, Charles “Charlie” Carson Wilson, Clifford Robert Wilson, Sarah “Sallie” L. Wilson, Wiley Barton Wilson, and Martha Leila Wilson.

Robert Wilson and Martha Backus' marriage certificate (click to enlarge)

On June 23, 1880, Robert and his family lived in Skull Shoals, Greene County, Georgia. They lived next door to his maternal grandmother Mary (Partee) Backus and her mother Elizabeth (Carr) Partee. Robert’s parents, Oliver and Jane, lived next door to Elizabeth Partee. Robert was a farmer while Martha kept house.

On June 21, 1900, Robert and his family lived in the Seats District of Morgan County, Georgia. Robert worked as a farmer with Gus, Jasper, Warren, Walter, and Charlie as farm laborers. Clifford and Sarah were both at school. Martha was enumerated as having had nine children, all of which were living. Everyone except for the two youngest in the house, son Wiley and daughter Martha, could read, write, and speak English.

On April 28, 1910, Robert and his family lived at Long Shoals and Greensboro Road in the Hutchinson District of Greene County, Georgia. Robert now, like his father, worked as a carpenter, building homes. His sons Charlie and Clifford both worked as laborers in a saw mill. Martha was again enumerated as the mother of nine children, all of which were living. Everyone in the house were able to read and write. Sarah, Wiley, and Leila were attending school. In 1919, Robert worked as a carpenter for the Union Seed and Fertilizer Company in Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia. On June 30, while doing repair work on one of the Union Seed buildings, “he lost his balance and fell” from a 12-foot scaffold. Although rushed to University Hospital, Robert received a fracture at the base of his skull and died shortly after arrival. He was 60 years old. 

The Augusta Herald, July 1, 1919

Following a funeral service held at his home on July 2, Robert was buried at Westover Memorial Park in Augusta. An obituary published in The Augusta Herald noted that Robert was survived by six sons (Charles, Clifford, Wiley, Augustus, Jasper, and Warren) and two daughters (Sarah and Leila). The death certificate listed his marital status as “widowed.” To date, I have been unable to determine when his wife Martha and son Walter died.

References

• Charlie Carson Wilson and Clifford Robert Wilson, U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/57730537/robert-harrison-wilson: accessed 27 March 2022), memorial page for Robert Harrison Wilson (13 Dec 1858–30 Jun 1919), Find a Grave Memorial ID 57730537, citing Westover Memorial Park, Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Darleen Miller (contributor 47198771).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35331087/walter-adolphus-wilson: accessed 05 April 2022), memorial page for Walter Adolphus Wilson (12 Apr 1885–8 Jan 1952), Find a Grave Memorial ID 35331087, citing Oak Hill Cemetery, Griffin, Spalding County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Darleen Miller (contributor 47198771).
• Jasper Wilson, Commonwealth of Kentucky, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death no. 30984, January 1938.
• Robert H. Wilson and Martha C. Backus marriage license, State of Georgia, Greene County, February 1878.
• Robert H. Wilson Falls to His Death, The Augusta Herald, Augusta, Georgia, July 1, 1919.
• Robert H. Wilson, Georgia State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Standard Certificate of Death no. 8177.
• United States Federal Census, Hutchinson, Greene County, Georgia, 1910.
• United States Federal Census, Militia District 160, Greene County, Georgia, 1870.
• United States Federal Census, Penfield, Greene County, Georgia, 1860.
• United States Federal Census, Scull Shoals, Greene County, Georgia, 1860, 1880.
• United States Federal Census, Seats District, Morgan County, Georgia, 1900.

Grady Ernest Arthur

Photo by P. Moon

Grady Ernest Arthur, son of Seaborn Arthur and Mary Eugenia “Jennie” Ruark, was born on February 25, 1895 in Greene County, Georgia. He was the sixth child of seven—Wade Hamilton Arthur, Clarence R. Arthur, Lorry M. Arthur, Nora Lee Arthur, Joel T. Arthur, Grady Ernest Arthur, and Gladys M. Arthur. Grady is the husband of my 2nd cousin 3x removed, Iona Lankford. We have no common relative.

On June 5, 1900, Grady and his family lived in Greshamville, Greene County, Georgia. His parents, who had been married for 22 years, had seven children, all of which were living. Grady’s father was a farmer. His brothers Wade and Clarence were both helping their father on the farm while Lorry and Lenora were both going to school. At age five, Grady apparently hadn’t started going to school yet. Grady’s father Seaborn died on January 31, 1906. He was buried at Watkinsville Cemetery in Watkinsville, Oconee County, Georgia.

On April 15, 1910, Grady, his widowed mother, brother Joel, and sister Gladys lived in the Fairplay District of Morgan County, Georgia. No one in the home worked. Grady’s brother Clarence and his family lived next door. Clarence earned his living as a cotton farmer.

The year 1915 didn’t start out well for Grady. The “Madisonian” reported on January 29, 1915 that Grady was “suffering from a case of mumps.” By February 12, “The Madisonian” reported that Grady had recovered. The year ended on a high note though with Grady taking a bride—he married Arvie M. Doster, daughter of William Thomas Doster and Nancy Elizabeth (last name unknown) on November 6 in Morgan County, Georgia. The “Madisonian” reported the marriage on November 12:

Married, last Sunday morning at 10 o’clock on the public highway near the Stallings old home, across Hard-Labor Creek, in the middle of the road, Miss Arrie Doster to Mr. Grady Arthur. The ceremony was performed by Judge Squire James W. Curtis, of Rutledge. To the contracting parties, May the Lord bless and abundantly pardon.

By the end of the month, Grady and Arvie had “moved to their new home south of Madison” according to the “Madisonian” on November 26. They welcomed their only child, a son they named Ernest G. Arthur, on May 5, 1916.

Grady registered for the World War I draft in Morgan County on June 5, 1917. He noted that he was a farmer, working for C. F. McDonald near Bostwick. Grady claimed exemption from the draft, most likely because he had a wife and child. Grady was of medium height, slender, had grey eyes, and dark hair.

Grady, Arvie, and Ernest were living at 430 Main Street in Madison, Morgan County, Georgia on January 9, 1920. Grady was a farmer. A month later, Grady lost his wife Arvie when she unexpectedly passed away at home in Madison following a brief illness. She was just 24 years old. Arvie was buried at Watkinsville Cemetery in Watkinsville. The “Madisonian” reported her death on February 13:

Death of Mrs. Arthur—Mrs. Grady Arthur died at her home in Madison Wednesday morning, after a brief illness. She was a daughter of Rev. and Mrs. W. T. Doster, of Drexel. She leaves a husband and one child, father, mother and several brothers and sisters to mourn her untimely death. The funeral was held yesterday, and the body of Mrs. Arthur carried to Watkinsville for interment. The “Madisonian” extends sympathies to the bereaved ones in this hour of deepest distress.

Arvie’s church remembered her in the “Madisonian” on February 20:

Baptist Church Notes (from Church Bulletin, Feb. 15) Mrs. Grady Arthur was buried at Watkinsville last Thursday afternoon, the funeral service being conducted by the pastor. To the husband and other relatives, the pastor and our membership give Christian sympathy.

Grady took a second bride on December 28, 1923 when he married Iona Lankford, daughter of William A. Lankford and Mollie Finch. Grady was 10 years older than 18-year old Iona. Grady and Iona welcomed a daughter they named Frances on August 5, 1925. During the mid-1920s, Grady turned to the food industry for work. In September 1924, he set up a meat market on First Street in Madison with a man named Bob Jackson. In 1927, he set up space with the Jago Supply Company on First Street selling groceries and fresh meats. In 1929, he was a meat cutter in the meat market of Harold Higginbotham’s store.

On April 10, 1930, Grady, Iona, and daughter Frances lived at 117 Plum Street in Madison, Morgan County, Georgia. Grady was enumerated as a salesman in a meat shop. In December 1930, he and his family moved “to the Jackins farm on the Greensboro highway, where he will farm the coming year, and also continue to furnish meats for his regular customers” according to the “Madisonian” on December 12. A tragic event occurred on November 24, 1932 when Grady’s brother Clarence apparently didn’t check for traffic before stepping into the road to cross the street. A car was coming and was unable to avoid hitting him. Clarence was taken to the hospital in Athens with two broken legs, a “couple of severe gashes across the skull, and other minor injuries.” He died several hours later without ever regaining consciousness. It was Thanksgiving Day. During happier times in September 1934, Grady and his family were making “rocking chair memories” (as my Mama likes to say), spending September 2 in Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia. They were probably celebrating the Labor Day holiday weekend and while there, Iona and Ernest “had the pleasure of going up for a ride in an airplane” according to the “Madisonian” on September 7.

Arthur family plot at Watkinsville Cemetery
Photo by P. Moon

On May 17, 1940, Grady and Iona lived in the Martins district of Morgan County, Georgia. Grady was a farmer on his own farm. His mother, sister Gladys, and niece Katherine lived next door. Grady’s 24-year-old son Ernest was still living at home—but not for long. On June 18, 1941, Ernest married Annie Ruth Burch, daughter of Mattie Burch—a happy time for the Arthur family. The end of the decade brought sad times for the Arthur family however. Grady’s mother died at home in Madison on March 28, 1949. They held her funeral the next day with burial at Watkinsville Cemetery in Watkinsville. By July 28, 1949, Grady found himself in a Madison hospital. Five days later, Grady died at home in Morgan County on August 2, 1949 following an illness of several months. His funeral service was held the next day at Hemperley’s Chapel with the Rev. J. R. Keene officiating. “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere” and “The Old Rugged Cross” were sung at the service. Grady was buried at the Watkinsville City Cemetery. He was a member of Sandy Creek Baptist Church and was 54 years old at the time of his death.