August | 2013 | Ray City History Blog

Twiggs Caulk Felled by Typhoid Pneumonia

August 29, 2013 at 12:36 am (Beaver Dam Cemetery, Boyett Family, Uncategorized)
Tags: Beaver Dam Cemetery, Edward J. Boyette, Emma L. Henderson, James Allen Caulk, Ray's Mill GA, Samuel Twiggs Caulk, Twiggs Caulk, Typhoid Fever, typhoid pneumonia

Twiggs Caulk

Samuel “Twiggs” Caulk was a son of Emma L. Henderson and James Allen Caulk, born in Madison, FL on December 31, 1889. His father died when Twiggs was about eight years old. When he was 15, his mother was remarried to Ray’s Mill widower Edward J. Boyette.

In the Census of 1910, Twigg’s mother and sisters were enumerated in the household of Edward J. Boyette at Ray’s Mill, GA. The Boyette home was on Jones Street near the home of Dr. Charles X. Jones. Boyette was a butcher, operating a meat market in Ray City on his own account. Twiggs Caulk was not enumerated in his step-father’s house, and his home at that time is not known.

The obituary below indicates that Twiggs Caulk contracted Typhoid pneumonia in 1911. In an apparent mis-print the obituary refers to E.J. Boyette as his father-in-law, rather than as his step-father.

Clements Lumber Company and the Company Town

August 24, 2013 at 12:34 am (Clements Family, Historic Businesses)
Tags: Bashey Basemore Wells, Bee Mannin, C.A. Reed, Clarence Jones Gray, Clements Lumber Company, Clements Sawmill, Daisy Pearle Clements, Elmore Medley, Freddie Andrew Wheless, Georgia and Florida railroad, Helen Elizabeth Clements, Henry Howard Thompson, Jackson Lumber Company, Jacob Ed Akridge, James Irwin Clements, John William Sims, Joseph S. Clements, Levi J. Clements, Lucius Jordan Clements, Luckie Lumber Company, Math Phillips, Melvin W. Rivenbark, Morris C. Sumner, Norton, Ples Philips, R. D. Ward, Ray City GA, Robert Christopher Powell, Samuel Arthur Ganas, Timothy Allen Washington, Tom Lott, Turpentine, Will Thomas, William F. Luckie, William Haines Joiner, Willis Gordon Hill

THE SAWMILL CENSUS OF 1920

In the early days of Ray City, GA, the economic engine of the community was sustained by farming and agriculture. Large stands of original growth yellow pine supported the development of turpentine and lumber industries in the area.

The Growth of Timber

“…in Southern Georgia there are millions of acres of magnificent yellow-pine forests suitable for general building purposes, shipbuilding, etc. Within the last few years, Turpentine Plantations have been opened in these forests, for the purpose of manufacturing naval stores. Large quantities of timber and lumber are being annually shipped from Brunswick and Darien, to Northern, European, and South American ports. In the south-eastern portion of the State, the Live Oak—a valuable wood for shipbuilding—abounds.”-1876 Handbook of the State of Georgia

Lumber and naval stores came to be among the most important historic businesses of Ray City. The opening of the Georgia & Florida Railway in 1908 spurred the growth of a sawmill that quickly became the major employer of the town.

The sawmill was the first large mechanized industrial operation in the Ray City area.

Atlanta Georgian and News,
Aug. 23, 1911 — page 13
Want Ad.

FIRST-CLASS circular saw filer wants a position; can give any reference concerning smooth lumber. No booze fighter.
C.A. Reed, Rays Mill, Ga. 26

In the traditional agricultural occupations issues like child labor or safety were personal matters. But as employment grew in the emerging industrial workplace the risks and concerns of the community also grew.

“A study of the sources of industrial hazards undertaken in the 1930s by the U.S. Children’s Bureau found “the first three industries in frequency of disabling injuries were logging, coal mining, and sawmilling.” Logging, coal mining, and fertilizer manufacturing were the only industries that exceeded sawmilling in the severity of injuries and the number of fatalities.” The Journal of Southern History , Vol. 56, No. 4 (Nov., 1990), pp. 695-724

In 1923, the Nashville Herald reported an industrial accident at the Clements sawmill. In early February of that year a young boy, son of Math Phillips, had his eye put out at the sawmill, leaving some to wonder if it was time for stricter enforcement of compulsory school attendance. Sawmills were dangerous workplaces and newspaper reports of more horrific accidents were not entirely uncommon. With the stockpiling of combustible materials, there was a constant ever present danger of fire – a threat that was magnified in steam-powered sawmills where boilers were typically fired with scrap material.

Clements Lumber Company

Over the years this sawmill was operated under three different owners. The big sawmill at Ray City first operated under the name Luckie Lumber Company, owned by William F. Luckie. It was a huge operation located about one mile north of Ray City on the rail line of Georgia & Florida Railway . About 1911, W. F. Luckie sold out to Levi J. Clements and his sons. The Clements Family had experience in the sawmill trade, and the Clements boys were college-educated businessmen.

Lucius Jordan Clements, with Helen Elizabeth “Betty” Clements and Daisy Pearle Clements. Image courtesy of Ron Yates http://www.yatesville.net

The Clements Brothers ran the company, Lucius J. Clements served as General Manager of the Clements Lumber Company, Irwin Clements was a manager at the mill, and Joe Clements was treasurer.

The superintendent of the mill was Melvin W. Rivenbark. Clarence Jones Gray was stenographer and bookkeeper for the firm. James Edmond Hall and John William Sims were Shipping Clerks and Chester Artemis Hall was an Assistant Shipping Clerk. George B. Norton was foreman of the planing mill. William Andrew Hendrix was an engineer and Samuel Arthur Ganas was employed at the mill as a stationary engineer. Morris C. Sumner was the assistant lumber inspector and Timothy Allen Washington was a lumber grader. Willis Gordon Hill was a stave miller. William Haines Joiner was a locomotive engineer and J. D. Melvin was a fireman. Jacob Ed Akridge was woods superintendent. Tom Lott and Elmore Medley were teamsters and Bee Mannin was a log chopper. Robert Christopher Powell was a skidder operator, Henry Howard Thompson was a skidder flagman, and Ples Phillips worked on the tram road. Will Thomas was a sawyer. R.D. Ward was a machinist. Bashey Wells was a contractor. Freddie Andrew Wheless was a carpenter. Many men and sometimes boys were employed as “sawmill laborers”, others worked as sawyers, teamsters, firemen, foremen, wheelwrights, commissary clerks, or marketmen. Many of the women worked out of their homes, in the occupation of “laundress.” By 1920, the sawmill had grown to a large industrial operation. A ‘sawmill town’ had grown up to house the sawmill workers and their families. The enumerator for 1920 US Census annotated the census forms to indicate the sawmill residents, showing that there were 78 households with 313 residents living in rented homes at the sawmill. More workers lived in the surrounding area and in Ray City.

While residents of the ‘sawmill town’ had access to all of the goods and services in Ray City just a mile south on the tracks of the Georgia and Florida, the sawmill company also operated a commissary where workers could shop. In the 1920’s the Clements sawmill provided a cold storage facility for curing meats as a part of the company operations. The cold storage was also available to the people of Ray City and the surrounding area.

NEWS ITEMS FROM RAY CITY

Nashville Herald, February 16, 1923

The few cold days we had last week were fine for people to hang up their meat. The Clements Lumber Company cold storage cured about 76,000 pounds, all of which was removed last week.

Before the widespread availability of electricity and electric refrigerators, cold storage of meat was an important service to the community. Poisoning could result from consumption of meat which was improperly cured or stored.

House at Clements Sawmill
Photographed in 2008, this log house was moved to the old Clements sawmill area around 1975-78 by John David Luke. The original structure was built with notched logs, the wing extending to the right, rear was constructed with sawn boards.

By 1923, the Clements were operating ten miles of tram road track to bring timber to the sawmill. The operation also included a lathe mill, and a planer. The mill had a inventory of sawn lumber on the ground with an estimated value of about $30,000. In 2013 dollar’s that would have been more than half a million dollars worth of lumber.

In 1923 the Jackson Brothers, owners of the Jackson Lumber Company purchased the entire mill operation from Clements Lumber Company for $75,000 in cash in what was described as “one of the biggest business deals pulled of in this section in some time.”

If the Spring of 1923 brought the town’s biggest economic boom, the fall of ’23 brought its biggest bust. For on November 6, 1923 fire struck the big sawmill at Ray City, GA devastating the operation and the local economy.

<strong>Clements Sawmill Site in 2008, Ray City, GA.</strong><br /> This view of the site of the Clements Sawmill, taken from the tracks of the Georgia & Florida Railroad, shows the location of the remaining foundations. In the distance a residential structure that was later moved to the sawmill site. The

Clements Sawmill Site in 2008, Ray City, GA.
This view of the site of the Clements Sawmill, taken from the tracks of the Georgia & Florida Railroad, shows the location of the remaining foundations. In the distance a residential structure that was later moved to the sawmill site. The “company town” which grew up around the sawmill once boasted a population of more than 300 people and 78 households.

Clements Sawmill Foundations, 2008, Ray City, GA.
Eighty-five years later, all that remains of the Clements Sawmill are a few concrete foundations in a cow pasture located about one mile north of Ray City, GA, on the tracks of the Georgia and Florida Railway. Protruding from these foundations are heavy steel anchoring bolts, perhaps used to secure cutting or planing equipment, or to support boilers used to generate steam power for the mill.

	THE SAWMILL AT RAY CITY, GA 1920 Census The enumerator for 1920 US Census annotated six pages of the census sheets indicate the sawmill residents, showing that there were 78 households with 313 residents living in rented homes at the sawmill.
	Name	Relation	Est.Birth	Birthplace	Race	Occupation
1	Walter Ferrey	head of household	abt 1885	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Lucia Ferrey	Wife	abt 1897	Georgia	Black
	Clifford Ferrey	Son	abt 1915	Georgia	Black
2	Will Goodman	Head of household	abt 1887	District of Columbia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Ola Green Goodman	Wife	abt 1879	Georgia	Black	laundress
	Charlie Smith	Grandson	abt 1915	Georgia	Black
	Henry Matchett	Head of household	abt 1876	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Rebecca Matchett	Wife	abt 1884	Georgia	Black
	Lenard Matchett	Son	abt 1901	Georgia	Black
	Elmo Medley	Head of household	abt 1892	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Josephine Medley	Wife	abt 1880	Georgia	Black
	Edmond Wilson	Head of household	abt 1857	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Emma Wilson	Wife	abt 1875	Georgia	White
	Harry Wilson	Son	abt 1901	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Burney Wilson	Son	abt 1902	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer-crossties
	Goldie Wilson	Son	abt 1904	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Pearlie Wilson	Daughter	abt 1906	Georgia	White
	Rollie Wilson	Son	abt 1908	Georgia	White
	Rossie Wilson	Son	abt 1910	Georgia	White
	Edna May Wilson	Daughter	abt 1912	Georgia	White
	Talley Wilson	Son	abt 1915	Georgia	White
	John Browning	Head of household	abt 1895	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Willie Browning	Wife	abt 1897	Georgia	White
	Moselle Browning	Son	abt 1914	Georgia	White
	Odell Browning	Daughter	abt 1915	Georgia	White
	Avanell Browning	Daughter	abt 1918	Georgia	White
	Eulis P Wallace	Head of household	abt 1889	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Louella Wallace	Wife	abt 1899	Georgia	White
	Eunice Wallace	Daughter	abt 1916	Georgia	White
	Willis G Hill	Head of household	abt 1890	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Leila Hill	Wife	abt 1899	Georgia	White
	Otis Hill	Son	abt 1918	Georgia	White
	Lon S Westbrook	Head of household	abt 1893	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Blonnie Westbrook	Wife	abt 1895	Georgia	White
	J Lester Westbrook	Son	abt 1914	Georgia	White
	Eanos H Westbrook	Son	abt 1915	Georgia	White
	Randall M Westbrook	Son	abt 1915	Georgia	White
	Myrtle J Westbrook	Daughter	abt 1918	Georgia	White
	Timothy A Washington	Head of household	abt 1886	Florida	White	Sawmill grader
	Viola E Washington	Wife	abt 1887	Florida	White
	Eulalie Washington	Daughter	abt 1911	Georgia	White
	Eunice A Washington	Daughter	abt 1912	Georgia	White
	M Grace Washington	Daughter	abt 1918	Georgia	White
	William A Hendricks	Head of household	abt 1879	Georgia	White	Sawmill engineer
	Loula Hendricks	Wife	abt 1882	Georgia	White
	Willie F Hendricks	Son	abt 1902	Florida	White
	Minnie M Hendricks	Daughter	abt 1904	Florida	White
	Jennie Vaughn	Head of household	abt 1878	South Carolina	White
	Horace Vaughn	Son	abt 1903	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Henry Vaughn	Son	abt 1906	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Edna P Vaughn	Daughter	abt 1909	Georgia	White
	Maudell Vaughn	Daughter	abt 1912	Georgia	White
	Leon Vaughn	Son	abt 1915	Georgia	White
	Leila Vaughn	Daughter	abt 1915	Georgia	White
	Annie L Snowden	Head of household	abt 1901	Georgia	Black	laundress
	Ed Miller	Head of household	abt 1859	Georgia	Black	Farmer -oa
	Jennie Miller	Wife	abt 1870	Georgia	Black	laundress
	Charity Adams	Daughter	abt 1879	Georgia	Black	laundress
	Lilla Adams	Granddaughter	abt 1907	Georgia	Black
	Marvin Adams	Grandson	abt 1909	Georgia	Black
	Deothia Graham	Granddaughter	abt 1906	Georgia	Black
	Howard Graham	Grandson	abt 1902	Georgia	Black	Farm laborer
	Frank Teacher	Head of household	abt 1871	United States of America	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Loue Ella Teacher	Wife	abt 1891	South Carolina	Black
	Arnie Mathis	Brother-in-law	abt 1900	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Warren P Wright	Head of household	abt 1863	South Carolina	White	Sawmill laborer
	C Elizabeth Wright	Wife	abt 1856	Georgia	White
	Henry C Smith	Brother	abt 1865	Georgia	White
	Jim L Dorman	Head of household	abt 1893	Florida	White	Sawmill laborer
	Abbie W Dorman	Wife	abt 1899	Florida	White
	J B Dorman	Son	abt 1915	Florida	White
	Arlie M Dorman	Son	abt 1917	Florida	White
	James P Dorman	Son	abt 1920	Georgia	White
	Early A Walker	Head of household	abt 1899	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Ruby M Walker	Wife	abt 1899	Georgia	White
	Helma C Walker	Daughter	abt 1917	Georgia	White
	Emma C Walker	Daughter	abt 1919	Georgia	White
	Isaac B Sirmans	Head of household	abt 1889	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Lucretia Sirmans	Wife	abt 1891	Georgia	White
	Jimmie L Sirmans	Daughter	abt 1913	Georgia	White
	Ida L Curry	Sister-in-law	abt 1907	Georgia	White
	George H Dorman	Head of household	abt 1887	Florida	White	Sawmill laborer
	Emma Dorman	Wife	abt 1897	Florida	White
	J Cullin Dorman	Son	abt 1913	Florida	White
	Ernest E Dorman	Son	abt 1915	Florida	White
	M Kathleen Dorman	Daughter	abt 1918	Florida	White
	I S Vaughn	Head of household	abt 1887	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Annie R Vaughn	Wife	abt 1894	Georgia	White
	Corley Luke	Boarder	abt 1886	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	I Lee Strickland	Head of household	abt 1898	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Ada Strickland	Wife	abt 1902	Georgia	White
	D Bash Wells	Head of household	abt 1878	Florida	White	Sawmill laborer
	Martha Wells	Wife	abt 1888	Florida	White
	Susie May Wells	Daughter	abt 1910	Georgia	White
	Ophelia Wells	Daughter	abt 1913	Georgia	White
	J B Wells	Son	abt 1915	Georgia	White
	Mack G Wells	Head of household	abt 1890	Florida	White	Sawmill laborer
	Emma Wells	Wife	abt 1895	Florida	White
	Carey W Wells	Son	abt 1914	Georgia	White
	Russell Wells	Son	abt 1915	Florida	White
	Jervel L Wells	Daughter	abt 1917	Georgia	White
	Frank M Hill	BrotherInLaw	abt 1860	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	James J Wells	Head of household	abt 1876	Florida	White	Sawmill laborer
	Annie Wells	Wife	abt 1887	South Carolina	White
	James C Wells	Son	abt 1913	Georgia	White
	Woodrow O Wells	Son	abt 1915	Georgia	White
	Thomas Harnage	Head of household	abt 1896	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Ostella Harnage	Wife	abt 1896	Georgia	White
	James Harnage	Son	abt 1914	Georgia	White
	Elwood Harnage	Son	abt 1915	Georgia	White
	Ruby Harnage	Daughter	abt 1918	Georgia	White
	Robert James	Head of household	abt 1870	South Carolina	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Loula James	Wife	abt 1878	South Carolina	Black
	Lewis Gordon	Head of household	abt 1888	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Mamie Gordon	Wife	Abt 1895	Georgia	Black
	Will Jordan	Head of household	abt 1869	North Carolina	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Mary Jordan	Wife	abt 1875	Georgia	Black	laundress
	Bennie Jordan	Son	abt 1901	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Rufus Jordan	Son	abt 1903	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Willie Jordan	Son	abt 1905	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Alice Jordan	Daughter	abt 1906	Georgia	Black
	Johnnie Jordan	Son	abt 1911	Georgia	Black
	Amos Jordan	Son	abt 1913	Georgia	Black
	Aaron Jordan	Son	abt 1915	Georgia	Black
	Daisy Jordan	Daughter	abt 1919	Georgia	Black
	Will Searcy	Boarder	abt 1876	United States of America	Black	Sawmill teamster
	George Emmett	Head of household	abt 1862	United States of America	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Anna Emmett	Wife	abt 1866	Georgia	Black
	Steve Brown	Head of household	abt 1885	United States of America	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Effie Brown	Wife	abt 1887	Georgia	Black
	S C Brown	Head of household	abt 1893	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Willie May Brown	Wife	abt 1903	Georgia	Black	laundress
	Abraham Brown	Son	abt 1917	Georgia	Black
	John H Green	Head of household	abt 1891	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Mattie Green	Wife	abt 1894	Georgia	Black
	Claudie Green	Son	abt 1911	Georgia	Black
	Lonie Green	Daughter	abt 1914	Georgia	Black
	Harry Bright	Head of household	abt 1880	South Carolina	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Josephine Bright	Wife	abt 1875	Georgia	Black
	Jim Grier	Head of household	abt 1900	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Mamie Grier	Wife	abt 1904	Florida	Black
	Rainey Medley	Head of household	abt 1885	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Florence Medley	Wife	abt 1881	Georgia	Mulatto
	Pearlie Medley	Brother	abt 1891	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer -crossties
	Lillie Medley	Sister-in-law	abt 1897	Georgia	Black
	Douglas Smith	Brother-in-law	abt 1880	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Frank Rines	Head of household	abt 1867	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Harriet Rines	Wife	abt 1870	Georgia	Black
	George Merritt	Boarder	abt 1920	United States of America	Black	Sawmill laborer
	George Davis	Boarder	abt 1856	South Carolina	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Riley Bryant	Head of household	abt 1892	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Hannah Bryant	Wife	abt 1898	Florida	Black	laundress
	Eddie Young	Head of household	abt 1886	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Mary Young	Wife	abt 1900	Georgia	Black
	Henry Lofton	Head of household	abt 1875	Georgia	Black	Sawmill sawyer
	Bessie Lofton	Wife	abt 1883	North Carolina	Mulatto
	Henry Lofton	Son	abt 1903	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	John Lofton	Son	abt 1905	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Cinthia Lofton	Daughter	abt 1910	Georgia	Black
	Willie W Wood	Head of household	abt 1890	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Viola Wood	Wife	abt 1895	Georgia	White
	G Willene Wood	Daughter	abt 1915	Georgia	White
	Mary N Wood	Daughter	abt 1917	Georgia	White
	Willie Bolar	Nephew	abt 1902	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Aurelia Goodman	Head of household	abt 1875	Georgia	Black	Innkeeper boarding house
	Joseph Jackson	Boarder	abt 1889	United States of America	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Handy Blue	Head of household	abt 1870	South Carolina	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Julia Blue	Wife	abt 1872	Georgia	Black	Laundress
	Lewis Banks	Head of household	abt 1864	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Easter Banks	Wife	abt 1857	Georgia	Black
	Elmer Ratliff	Granddaughter	abt 1912	Georgia	Black
	Abraham L Thomas	Head of household	abt 1872	Tennessee	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Angie Thomas	Wife	abt 1885	South Carolina	Black	Laundress
	Ruther Thomas	Son	abt 1912	Georgia	Black
	Malachia Thomas	Son	abt 1913	Georgia	Black
	Willie Thomas	Daughter	abt 1915	Georgia	Black
	Lillie Thomas	Daughter	abt 1916	Georgia	Black
	Abraham L Thomas	Son	abt 1918	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Robert Thomas	Son	abt 1918	Georgia	Black
	George Stokes	Boarder	abt 1888	United States of America	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Sam Brown	Boarder	abt 1876	United States of America	Black	Sawmill laborer
	John McQueen	Boarder	abt 1896	United States of America	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Ike Wilder	Head of household	abt 1870	South Carolina	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Emma Wilder	Wife	abt 1892	Georgia	Black	laundress
	Jesse Freelour	Head of household	abt 1868	Virginia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Ella Freelour	Wife	abt 1867	Georgia	Black
	B Manning	Head of household	abt 1890	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Wiley Brown	Roomer	abt 1901	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Arie Brown	Roomer	abt 1897	Florida	Black	laundress
	Mint Manning	Head of household	abt 1874	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Carrie Manning	Wife	abt 1870	Florida	Black	laundress
	Robert Blanks	Head of household	abt 1894	United States of America	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Ella Blanks	Wife	abt 1892	Georgia	Black	Laundress
	Carrie B Allen	Stepdaughter	abt 1910	Georgia	Black
	N G Goings	Head of household	abt 1866	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Mariah Goings	Wife	abt 1888	Georgia	Black
	Arthur Goings	Son	abt 1904	Florida	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Willie Goings	Son	abt 1906	Florida	Black
	Mamie Goings	Daughter	abt 1909	Georgia	Black
	Merritt Rouse	Head of household	abt 1863	Virginia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Estill Aaron	Head of household	abt 1876	Florida	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Ida Aaron	Wife	abt 1886	Georgia	Mulatto	laundress
	Inman Aaron	Son	abt 1909	Georgia	Black
	Sess Aaron	Son	abt 1915	Georgia	Black
	Henry Polite	Head of household	abt 1880	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Otella Polite	Wife	abt 1898	Georgia	Black	laundress
	Stella Polite	Daughter	abt 1918	Georgia	Black
	Bertha Carter	Head of household	abt 1898	Georgia	Black	laundress
	Willie Melvin	Roomer	abt 1902	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Sylvester Williams	Roomer	abt 1900	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Bud Lamb	Head of household	abt 1886	United States of America	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Tom Brown	Roomer	abt 1884	United States of America	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Mary Brown	Roomer	abt 1902	United States of America	Black
	Chester A. Hall	Head of household
	Kansas Hall	Wife	abt 1898	Georgia	White
	James A Hall	Son	abt 1918	Georgia	White
	Van J Pool	Head of household	abt 1883	Georgia	White	Sawmill –shingle mill
	Dora Pool	Wife	abt 1883	Georgia	White	Inn Keeprt – Boarding House
	Olya M Pool	Daughter	abt 1906	Georgia	White
	Erwin W Pool	Son	abt 1907	Georgia	White	Newspaper Boy
	Verdie K Pool	Daughter	abt 1911	Georgia	White
	R Edna Pool	Daughter	abt 1913	Georgia	White
	Charlie J Pool	Son	abt 1915	Georgia	White
	H M Dorsey Pool	Son	abt 1918	Georgia	White
	F K Hall	Head of household	abt 1856	Georgia	White
	J Hollis Ritch	Son	abt 1887	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Noah H Sumler	Boarder	abt 1895	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Thomas A Sheffield	Head of household	abt 1883	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Ida B Sheffield	Wife	abt 1892	Georgia	White
	Emma R Sheffield	Daughter	abt 1908	Georgia	White
	Thomas J Sheffield	Son	abt 1910	Georgia	White
	Laura A Sheffield	Daughter	abt 1913	Florida	White
	Harvey Sheffield	Son	abt 1915	Florida	White
	Annie Bell Sheffield	Daughter	abt 1917	Georgia	White
	Emory A Sheffield	Son	abt 1919	Georgia	White
	Gilfred Snowden	Head of household	abt 1890	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Maude Snowden	Wife	abt 1884	Georgia	Black
	Augusta Snowden	Daughter	abt 1907	Georgia	Black
	Sarah Snowden	Daughter	abt 1908	Georgia	Black
	Georgia A Snowden	Daughter	abt 1912	Georgia	Black
	Alice Snowden	Daughter	abt 1914	Georgia	Black
	Viola Snowden	Daughter	abt 1916	Georgia	Black
	Gilford Snowden	Son	abt 1919	Georgia	Black
	Willie Morgan	Brother	abt 1886	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Isaac Snowden	Head of household	abt 1887	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Clyde Spencer	Head of household	abt 1900	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Leetta Spencer	Wife	abt 1900	Georgia	Black	Cook-private family
	John Hardy	Head of household	abt 1891	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Ruth Hardy	Wife	abt 1888	Georgia	Black	Laundress
	Jeroel Hardy	Daughter	abt 1908	Georgia	Black
	Will Jones	Head of household	abt 1886	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Rosa Jones	Wife	abt 1895	Georgia	Black
	Handy Simpson	Head of household	abt 1898	United States of America	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Fannie Simpson	Wife	abt 1900	Georgia	Black
	Henry Wright	Roomer	abt 1903	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Charlie Melvin	Head of household	abt 1870	North Carolina	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Lissie Melvin	Wife	abt 1874	Georgia	Black	Laundress
	Ben Melvin	Son	abt 1898	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Joe Melvin	Son	abt 1902	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Annie Melvin	Daughter-in-law	abt 1900	Georgia	Black	Laundress
	Lonzo Williams	Roomer	abt 1870	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Bennie Bolar	Head of household	abt 1892	Virginia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Emma Bolar	Wife	abt 1897	Georgia	Black	Cook –private family
	John H Reed	Nephew	abt 1908	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	J Quinton Clements	Head of household	abt 1894	Georgia	White	Commissary Salesman
	Eva M Clements	Wife	abt 1892	Georgia	White
	Jerald C Clements	Son	abt 1914	Georgia	White
	Randall R Clements	Son	abt 1915	Georgia	White
	Connie C Devane	Roomer	abt 1885	Georgia	White	Commissary Salesman
	Willie Johnson	Head of household	abt 1895	Georgia	Black	Sawmill laborer
	Callie Johnson	Wife	abt 1897	Georgia	Black	Cook –private family
	Robert L McDonald	Head of household	abt 1873	Georgia	White	Sawyer
	Lilla M McDonald	Wife	abt 1876	Georgia	White
	W Lillian McDonald	Daughter	abt 1901	Georgia	White
	Eunice J McDonald	Daughter	abt 1907	Georgia	White
	W Talmage McDonald	Son	abt 1908	Georgia	White
	Lemuel C McDonald	Son	abt 1910	Georgia	White
	Isaac B McDonald	Son	abt 1912	Georgia	White
	Lois A McDonald	Daughter	abt 1914	Georgia	White
	Fred H Lemke	Grandson	abt 1916	Georgia	White
	James P Devane	Boarder	abt 1865	Georgia	White	Commissary Salesman
	Thomas N Crowe	Boarder	abt 1884	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Marion E Shaw	Head of household	abt 1893	Georgia	White	Sawmill Marketman
	Marion R Shaw	Wife	abt 1898	Georgia	White
	Kermitt A Shaw	Son	abt 1918	Georgia	White
	Perry Cook	Boarder	abt 1897	Georgia	White	Farm laborer
	Charles E Hughes	Head of household	abt 1871	Georgia	White	Sawmill Section Foreman
	Nettie Hughes	Wife	abt 1883	South Carolina	White
	Elmer L Hughes	Son	abt 1902	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Fred L Hughes	Son	abt 1904	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Mattie B Hughes	Daughter	abt 1906	Georgia	White
	Clyde R Hughes	Son	abt 1908	Florida	White
	Glenn C Hughes	Son	abt 1913	Florida	White
	Talmage R Hughes	Son	abt 1917	Florida	White
	Dave H Cowart	Head of household	abt 1893	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Laura Cowart	Wife	abt 1893	Georgia	White
	Donnald Cowart	Son	abt 1919	Georgia	White
	Russell Browning	Boarder	abt 1901	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Luke Browning	Boarder	abt 1899	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Manning A Cersey	Head of household	abt 1889	Georgia	White	Sawmill Fireman
	Lula Cersey	Wife	abt 1896	Georgia	White
	Vera J Cersey	Daughter	abt 1911	Georgia	White
	Clinton A Cersey	Son	abt 1913	Georgia	White
	Jewel T Cersey	Son	abt 1916	Georgia	White
	Robert C.C. Powell	Head of household	abt 1892	Georgia	White	Sawmill laborer
	Lovdie Powell	Wife	abt 1893	Georgia	White
	Corrie Powell	Daughter	abt 1915	Georgia	White
	Madge Powell	Daughter	abt 1918	Georgia	White
	R D Ward	Head of household	abt 1886	Georgia	White	Sawmill Machinist
	Mamie Ward	Wife	abt 1895	Georgia	White
	Arthur S Ganas	Head of household	abt 1892	Georgia	White	Sawmill Engineer
	Ruby H Ganas	Wife	abt 1900	Georgia	White
	Jaunita L Ganas	Daughter	abt 1919	Georgia	White
	Chester A Hall	Head of household	abt 1899	Georgia	White	Sawmill Foreman

5 Comments

Civil War Letters of William Washington Knight 1861-1863 in VSU Archives

August 18, 2013 at 12:53 am (Berrien Minute Men, Civil War, Knight Family, Uncategorized)
Tags: Anne D. Herrin, Company K 29th Georgia Regiment, Levi J. Knight, Mary Elizabeth Carroll, William Washington Knight

The Valdosta State University Archives has placed online new digital scans of Civil War letters written by William Washington Knight.

Civil War letters of William Washington Knight

Camp Near Savannah, Ga Oct 25th, 1862

Dear Mary, I have seated myself write you a few lines that you may know I have not forgotten you and the children…

William Washington Knight was the eldest son of Ray City pioneer settlers Levi Knight and Ann Clements/Herrin, and a grandson of Reverend William Anderson Knight. William W. Knight married Mary Elizabeth Carroll in 1855, a union of two influential families in Lowndes and Berrien county histories (The Knights and the Carrolls were cut from Lowndes County into Berrien County in 1856.) For more about William and Elizabeth see The Poetry of Mary Elizabeth Carroll.

This VSU Archives collection is comprised of 37 letters written from William W. Knight to his wife Mary E. Carroll and father Levi J. Knight.

The William W. Knight Collection is a series of Civil War Letters from William W. Knight, from Berrien County, a confederate sergeant who served in the 29th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Company K, to his wife Mary E. Carroll. The letters begin on October 12, 1861 and conclude on November 2, 1863 – shortly before William’s death on December 27, 1863. These letters offer a unique South-Georgian perspective on the Civil War. They highlight the domestic support soldiers received from home from their wives and loved ones and underscore the financial strain placed on the average confederate soldier and their family. Subjects include sickness and disease in army camps, southern agricultural practices and household economies, naval conflicts of the Civil War, and the Vicksburg Campaign. The collection has been digitized in full for your convenience and is available here.

^{Jun 28, 2013, by Dallas Suttles, VSU Archives}

2 Comments

Levi J. Knight Reports Indian Fight of July 13, 1836

August 14, 2013 at 12:53 am (Battle of Brushy Creek, Knight Family, Uncategorized)
Tags: Aaron Mattox, Alapaha River, Allappaha Swamp, Battle of Brushy Creek, Gaskin's Ferry, George Mitchell, Jesse Carter, Last Indian Fight in Berrien County, Levi J. Knight, Short-arm Bill Parker, William Anderson Knight, William Parker, William Peters, William Schley

The Ray City history Blog has previously reported various versions of the last Indian fights in Berrien (then Lowndes) County, the 1836 skirmish near Short-arm Bill Parker‘s place and the Battle of Brushy Creek, all published some 19 to 90 years after the fact.

Below is Levi J, Knight’s own account of the skirmish near William Parker’s place, written immediately after the encounter.

In 1830 William Schley became a member of the Georgia House of Representatives. In 1832 and again in 1834, he was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives. He resigned from that position to become the 36th Governor of Georgia from 1835 until 1837.

This letter, dated July 13, 1836, is from Levi J. Knight to William Schley, Governor of Georgia (1835-1837) is perhaps the only primary source documentation of the fight, written by one of the principal participants at the time of the event.

Knight writes from Lowndes County, Georgia to inform the governor of the defeat of a band of Indians 20-25 in number following their raid on the homestead of William Parker. Over a three day period from July 10 to July 12, 1836 Levi J. Knight and a party of about 75 men, pioneers of old Lowndes County, pursued and engaged the Indians near the Alapaha River. Knight reports that the engagement occurred on the banks of the Alapaha River about 10 miles above Gaskin’s Ferry. According to Knight, only six Indians escaped, the rest being killed in the skirmish. Knight’s group suffered one casualty; William Peters receiving two wounds in the encounter. This skirmish was a prelude to the Battle of Brushy Creek, which occurred some days later in the western part of the county.

Knight’s account of the skirmish made the national press, the content of his letter being published in newspapers all over the country. (Plain text transcript provided below image.)

July 13, 1836 letter from Levi J. Knight to William Schley, Governor of Georgia.

The Constantine Republican
Constantine, MI
September 21, 1836, Front Page

From the Standard of Union, August 22.

Lowndes Co., Ga. July 13, 1836.

To his Excellency William Schley:

    Dear Sir: – I hasten to inform you of a defeat met by the hostile Creek Indians, in trying to pass through our country. On the 10th of this instant a party of Indians, about 15, were discovered near Aaron Mattoxe’s, in the 10th district of this county, by two of his sons, and were travelling an east course, and on the same day about 8 miles from where they were then by Mattox, and in the direction they were travelling, three were seen by Mrs. Boyett and daughter; on the next day, Monday, a number of us, say 40, repaired to where they were discovered by Mattoxe’s sons, and took their trail; they travelled very near east to the Allappaha swamp, almost twelve miles, and passing them were discovered by Mrs. Boyett, about one mile south.
    Night setting in we were compelled to make up camp on the swamp of the Allappaha, and about dark, and in a few minutes after we had encamped, two runners came to us, stating that the Indians at two hours before sunset, were at Wm. Parker’s four miles above, plundering his house. In the morning of Tuesday, we divided our force, which had increased in the day to near eighty men, and sent all but 35 men over the river to rendezvous where they were expected to cross; we then repaired to Wm. Parker’s, found that they had robbed his house of every thing of value in it; had many other things about 25 lbs. of powder, 30 bars of lead, and 140 weight of shot, also $308 in money. We took their trail through a most desperate swamp – through lakes and creeks, several of them up to our arm pits, and bushes and briers almost impenetrable by any human being other than a savage, for two miles, when we came to their camp, on a large lake near the river bank, here the trail bore up the river, a north course to Gaskin’s ferry, eight miles of Parker’s; here we despatched a runner to our force, which had crossed the river, to recross, and come up to us, as the trail continued up the river, and now a little north west; our men pressed forward with a zeal and fierceness that would surmount any difficulty; by night we were so near them, that we knew where the camp was – about ten miles above Gaskin’s ferry – an open bluff opposite Mr. Mitchell’s, was examined by a party of our men after sunset, and found the Indians had not passed, and continuing up within two miles. Night now setting in our reinforcement coming up we encamped at Mr. Mitchell’s; in the morning at day break our party again divided, thirty-eight men were posted on the bluff, their left resting on the river bank, and their right extending about two hundred yards right out from the river, who were silently to await the approach of the enemy; Jesse Carter was chosen to command on the left, William A. Knight in the centre, and William Peters on the right; thirty-three repaired down to where we could again find the trail, and bearing up until we came in sight of our men that were posted at the bluff where we saw them charging down towards us, and bearing into a point of bushes, in a small bend of the river, a tremendous fire ensuing, our trailers dashed off at the top of their speed, and Mr. Peter’s company who were in the lead, dashed up among the enemy, who had selected their position in a clump of pines and bushes, at the river bank, fired at our men who were coming up with great bravery; Mr Peters was badly wounded in the right breast, and the left side of the abdomen; he fell, but cried out to his men to charge on the whole force, now bearing in from above and below, and but few had discharged their guns, reserving their fire to see an object to shoot at, and charging at the top of their speed, the Indians dropped every thing, throwing their guns into the river, and plunged in for life; our men ran to the bank and shot them while swimming; only six made their escape to the other bank, and from their trail two or three of them were wounded; there were about from 20 to 25, one squaw, was shot in the back with four buck shot, as we ascertained by the dress which she dropped at the edge of the water, and was perforated with holes; she was heard to make a noise until she arrived to the middle of the stream, when all was silent, as the warriors never yelled after they dropped their guns, 15 of their packs were found, and ten of their guns was got out of the river by our best swimmers, two of the Indians that were nearest the bank were got out, and left a prey to the buzzards and wild beasts on the bank. Parker’s property was nearly all obtained, and his money was found in one of the shot-bags found in the river in his own pocket book, his name being written in several places. On of the number of these marauders was from every appearance a white man, from his dress and complexion : it was in the shot-bag carried by him, that the money was found ; he was never seen to climb up the opposite bank, so he has paid for his treachery : the six that got across the river reached the bank naked, except their flaps ; we trust this rebuke will be a caution to the next party that may try to pass through our country.
     I have the honor to be your excellency’s most obedient and humble servant,

LEVI J. KNIGHT.

N. B. We had but two commissioned officers among us, and they both captains, who only filled the place of privates as the company claimed the right of choosing their own leaders. I forgot to state that myself was chosen to lead on the trailers, Ivy Simmons to second, and Wm. C. Knight third or in the rear.
L. J. K.

P. S. – Their guns and ammunition and property of every kind was sold on the spot, and the proceeds given to Wm. Peters, as he was the only sufferer – their property amounted to $170. They had some valuable guns.

Levi J. Knight states that about 80 men participated this engagement. The names of the following 50 participants have been gleaned from published accounts:

Jesse Carter
David Clements
James Edmondson
Harmon Gaskins
John Gaskins
William Gaskins
Frederick Giddens
Isben Giddens
Jacob Giddens
Moses Giddens
Thomas Giddens
William Giddens
George Harnage
Levi J. Knight
Aaron Knight
John Knight
Jonathan Knight
William A. Knight
William C. Knight
John Lee
Moses Lee
Sam Lee
David Mathis
Thomas Mathis
Archie McCranie
Daniel McCranie
Malcom McCranie
John McDermid
John McMillain
James Parrish
Robert Parrish
Zeke Parrish
James Patten
Alexander Patterson
Solomon Peters
William Peters
Elbert Peterson
Guilford Register
Bryan J. Roberts
John Roberts
Nathan Roberts
William J. Roberts
Levi Shaw
Martin Shaw
Jeremiah Shaw
Ivey Simmons
Daniel Sloan
Brazelias Staten
John Studstill,
Jonathan Studstill

4 Comments

Abraham Leffler ~ the Merchant from Bavaria

August 11, 2013 at 12:26 am (Uncategorized)
Tags: Abraham Leffler, Adolph M. Leffler, Adolphus Gomm, Alapaha Station, Berrien County GA, Berrien County News, Brunswick and Albany Railroad, Elizabeth Leffler, Henry Leffler, J. W. Talley, Jacob Leffler, James H. Carroll, Joseph Leffler, Julien Leffler, Leffler & Gomm Wholesale Grocers, Leffler Co., Lucy Slow, Mary Lilienthal, Max Leffler, Savannah GA, Susan Redock, Tebeauville GA, Victoria Brooks

Abraham “Abrum” Leffler was a Jewish merchant who prospered in Berrien County in the 1860s, and went on to lead a large wholesale grocery business in Savannah, GA.

Abraham “Abrum” Leffler was born in 1831 in Bavaria Germany. At the age of 20 he sailed to America, departing from the port of Bremen, Germany, arriving at New York City on April 16, 1851. He gave his occupation as tailor, and his destination as Philadelphia. Some time about or before 1854 he was married. His wife, Elizabeth, was also Jewish and from his native Bavaria. In 1855 two sons , Henry and Joseph, possibly twins were born to Elizabeth and Abraham in Philadelphia. It appears that some time before 1857, Abraham moved his family to Georgia where their third child was born. This according to the census of 1860.

In his 1867 sworn statement, Abraham Leffler attests that he arrived in Savannah, Georgia in 1852, where he appeared before the City Court of Savannah and became a naturalized U.S. Citizen. (There appears to be some confusion about the dates in this declaration, which also states that he had been in Georgia for 15 years and in Berrien County for 9 months. This statement conflicts with information from the 1860 census, which shows he was already a resident of Berrien County by that time. It seems possible that he actually arrived in Savannah in 1857, not 1852, and that he had been in Berrien County for 9 years, not nine months.)

At any rate, by 1860 the Leffler family was in Berrien County, GA where they were enumerated in the Census of 1860. The Census schedule of
“slave inhabitants” showed Leffler was a “slave owner” with two enslaved people an 18-year-old black woman and a one-year-old mulatto girl. Leffler was occupied as a merchant, with a personal estate valued at $200 and $6000 worth of real estate. In March of 1862 he appeared on the list of eligibles for military duty in Berrien County.

In 1867 Abraham Leffler was present in Berrien County, 6th Election District, 3rd Precinct, where on July 26, 1867 he signed the oath of fealty required by the Reconstruction Act to qualify as a voter. He further swore that his citizenship papers had been lost or destroyed during the war, and gave his place of birth as Bavaria. Apparently, his wife Elizabeth Leffler, died about or before 1864, and son Henry died some time before 1870 as they do not appear in the census of that year. While in his personal life Abraham suffered loss, in business his fortunes were better. The 1867 Berrien County tax digest shows that he owned town property valued at $350, had $1500 cash on hand, $6000 in merchandise, and $375 in other property, for a aggregate value of $8175. It appears that he paid a professional license fee of $1.00.

The 1870 census of the 1144th Georgia Militia District, Rays Mill District, shows he was a country merchant with a personal estate of $200 and real estate valued at $14,010. He had three children still in school, and a housekeeper, Miss Victoria Brooks.

Very shortly thereafter, Abraham Leffler relocated his family to Savannah, GA. The 1871 Savannah City Directory shows Abraham Leffler was in business with Adolphus Gomm, as wholesale grocers under the name Gomm & Leffler.

About 1873 Abraham Leffler married Maria “Mary” Lilienthal. Her family was also in the grocery business in Savannah. The 1872 Property tax digest for Berrien County, 1144th Georgia Militia District, Rays Mill District seems to indicate that J. H. Carrol was acting as an agent for Abraham Leffler there to handle his tax assessment. Leffler had $1800 in cash and solvent debts, $700 in merchandise, paid no professional license fee. In 1875, Leffler’s affairs in Berrien County were handled by J. W. Talley; Leffler continued to own a city lot in Berrien but had disposed of all other properties.

His Savannah business partner, Adolphus Gomm, died about 1877 and Leffler carried on. In 1877, Abraham Leffler sued a fellow grocer Julius Koox, first distributor of Eberhard Anheuser’s Lager beer in Savannah , and a Mrs. Helen Falligant who was boarding with Koox. The May 8, 1877 judgment was for the plaintiff, and Leffler was awarded $117.34 in costs and interest. This judgment turned out to be the least of financial woes for Koox , who committed suicide 90 days later.

The census of 1880, shows Leffler and the family in Savannah, GA where they had a house 173 Gordon Street next door to his wife’s relatives. The Leffler residence overlooked Chatham Square. Leffler continued in the grocery business and his son, Adolph, assisted as a grocery clerk. His wife, Mary, kept house according to the census, and the family also employed two servants, Susan Redock and Lucy Slow.

In Savannah, Abraham Leffler did not forget his old friends and business acquaintances from Berrien County. Savannah and Berrien County had been connected by railway lines by 1874. A stop named Alapaha Station had been established in northern Berrien on the Brunswick & Albany Railroad, connecting the county to Tebeauville (now Waycross, GA). From Tebeauville, the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad provided connections to Savannah; Levi J. Knight, of Ray’s Mill, GA, had been an investor in the construction of the A&G. The route opened the door for Leffler to trade in Berrien County. By 1881 he was advertising his wholesale groceries in the Berrien County News, the newspaper printed at Alapaha.

In 1891, the Lefflers were residing at No. 87 Charlton Street, Savannah, GA.

The Leffler family business continued to prosper in Savannah. Incorporated as Leffler Co. in 1899 with $100,000 in capital stock, by 1901 business directories listed Leffler Co., wholesale grocers, liquors, cigars, and tobacco, at 117-119 Bay Street West. The company also had cotton and naval stores factories at 122 Bay Street East. Abraham Leffler, President, resided at 125 Charlton Street. Adolph M. Lefflerwas vice president and general manager; Max Leffler, secretary and treasurer; Julien Leffler, shipper; Jacob Leffler, also with the company.

Abraham Leffler died October 5, 1911 in Savannah, GA

Cliff Brown and the South Georgia & West Coast Railroad

August 6, 2013 at 1:45 am (African American, Railroads)
Tags: Adel GA, Cliff Brown, Georgia and Florida railroad, Hampton Springs FL, Hampton Springs Hotel, James Oglesby, Ray City GA, South Georgia & West Coast Railroad, Zenas Oglesby

South Georgia & West Coast Railroad. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/147636

In the summer of 1917, Cliff Brown was a resident of Ray City, Berrien County, GA when he registered for the draft for World War I. Cliff Brown was African-American and, at age 22, he was of medium height and build, with black hair and black eyes. He was a native of Hawkinsville, GA born May 15, 1895.

An interesting fact from his draft card was that while a resident of Ray City, Brown was an employee of the South Georgia & West Coast Railroad. He gave his place of employment as “Adel, Ga. to Hampton Springs, Fla”

1917 Draft Registration of Cliff Brown, Ray City, GA

The South Georgia & West Coast Railroad was built by brothers Zenas and James Oglesby of Quitman Georgia, and ran from Adel to Hampton Springs, FL. In Adel, the line connected with the Georgia & Florida Railroad which served Ray City, GA, running from Jacksonville, GA to Madison, FL.

Hampton Springs, FL, the southern terminus of the South Georgia & West Coast Railroad, was the site of the famous Hampton Springs Hotel, once labeled “Dixie’s Famous Spa.” While the hotel was very popular with the railroad’s white passengers in the early 1900s, African-Americans like railroad worker Cliff Brown were no doubt denied access to the resort.

In its heyday, “The hotel was world renowned for its sulfur springs and baths known for their healing and medicinal powers. The luxurious hotel boasted lush gardens with elaborate fountains and planters. The resort had a covered pool with foot baths fed by the springs, a golf course, tennis courts, stables, casino, grand ballroom, outdoor dance pavilion, and railroad depot. The nine-hole golf course was among the first in the region. The hotel had its own bottling plant and shipped the healing sulfur water nationwide. It also had its own power plant and the majority of the food served in the dining room was grown and raised at the hotel farm. The hotel had a private hunting and fishing lodge on Spring Creek six miles from the hotel site and an excursion boat with a covered launch.”

Mary “Polly” Futch and John Webb

August 1, 2013 at 12:13 am (Futch Family, Outlaw Family, Webb Family)
Tags: Aaron Anderson Knight, Benjamin M. DeVane, Boyette's Pond, Chester Shaw, Dawson Webb, E. C. Morgan, Elizabeth J. Carter, Frances A. Webb, Frances Beall, Futch Cemetery, George M. Devane, George W. Carter, Georgia Devane, Isaac S. Weaver, James Alford Webb, Joel James Carter, John Baker, John L. Lindsey, John M. Futch, John Ray, John Thomas Webb, John Webb, Jordon Webb, Leona Webb, Louannie T. Webb, Luther A. Webb, Luther Americus Webb, Martha Mary Webb, Mary Delann Webb, Mary Devane, Mary Jane Albritton, Mary Jane Patten, Mary Polly Futch, Mary Webb, Millard F. Devane, Noah Webster Griffin, Pearlie Ann Register, Phebe Webb, Phoebe Jane Webb, Phoebe Mathis, Pleasant Church, Pollie Futch, Ray City GA, Reubin Futch, Shellie Loyd Webb, Sovin Knight, Sullivan Jordan Knight, Thomas W. Ray, Typhoid Fever, William Crawford Webb, William E. Fountain Jr, William H. Outlaw, William Malachi Jones, William Walters

Mary “Polly” Futch and John Webb were the parents of John Thomas Webb, and the grandparents of previous subjects, Shellie Lloyd Webb and William Crawford Webb. Mary Futch was a sister of Rhoda Futch.

John Webb and Mary Polly Futch. Image courtesy of Jimmie Webb.

Mary “Polly” Futch was born October 14, 1842 in Lowndes County (now Berrien) Georgia. She was a daughter of daughter of John M. Futch and Phoebe Mathis. On April 21, 1859 in Berrien County, Georgia she married John Webb, a landowner and planter of Berrien County, GA. John Webb, a son of Dawson Webb and Frances Beall, was born January 22, 1834 in Wilkinson County, Georgia.

Marriage Certificate of John Webb and Mary Futch, April 21, 1859, Berrien County, GA. Image courtesy of Jimmie Webb.

To any ordained Minister of of Gospel, Judge of the Superior Court, Justice of the Inferior Court, Justice of the Peace or any person by the laws of this state authorized to celebrate: These are to authorize permit you to join in the Honorable State of Matrimony Mr. John Webb of the one part and Mifs Mary Futch of the other part according to the constitution and laws of this State and according to the Rites of your church; Provided there be no lawful cause to obstruct the same and this shall be your authority for so doing.

Given under my and Seal this 20th day of April, 1859

John L. Lindsey, Ordinary

I hereby Certify that Mr. John Webb and Mary Futch were duly joined in matrimony by me this 21st day of April, 1859
Reubin Futch, J. I. C.

Recorded May 4th 1860 E. C. Morgan, Ordinary

The census of 1860 enumerates 26-year-old John Webb and 17-year-old Mary in Berrien County. John was a farmer with $1200 dollars worth of real estate and $450 worth of personal property to his name. According to the census neither John nor Mary could read or write, but later records would show he could at least sign his name. Enumerated near the Webbs were John & Elizabeth Baker, and Isham Clyatt.

The following spring,1861, Georgia plunged into the Civil War. By November 1861, Federal troops made their first invasion of Georgia, occupying Tybee Island with designs on Fort Pulaski and Savannah. That winter, John Webb joined the Primitive Baptist congregation at Pleasant church, located a few miles west of his farm. According to church minutes, John was baptized at Pleasant Church on January 1, 1862.

During the War, John Webb enlisted in Company E, 54th Georgia Regiment, along with his brother Jordan and other men of Berrien County. John went off to fight leaving Mary on the farm with a baby on her hip and another on the way. He fought with the 54th Regiment throughout the war, although he was on furlough home at the time of their surrender in April of 1865.

That October, perhaps in observance of John’s safely reaching the conclusion of the war, Mary Webb joined with Pleasant Primitive Baptist Church. Church minutes show she was baptized October 14, 1865.

Like other men of Berrien County, after the war John Webb swore an oath of allegiance to the United States and to faithfully support the Constitution, and returned to his farming. According to 1867 Berrien County tax records, John Webb owned all 490 acre of land lot 410, 10th Land District. His brother, Jordan Webb, owned 245 acres on the adjacent lot, 419. To the north, William Walters owned 612 acres on lots 373 and 374. Also on Lot 373 were John Ray, with 122 1/2 acres and David S Robinson with 60 acres. Parts of lot 418 were owned by Mary DeVane and Benjamin M. DeVane owned additional 525 acres of land on lots 418 and 419. John Baker was on 122 acres of lot 419.

The census of 1870, indicates the Webbs were getting by in the post-war period. Their land had a aggregate value of $2800, they had $754 in personal property, and now four young children.

By 1876 John Webb had acquired 1560 acres in lots 372, 409, and 410 in the 10th Land District. He owned $200 in household furniture, $454 in livestock,and $90 in plantation and mechanical tools.

The following year, 1877 John Webb had acquired all of lots 372, 409, and 410, 1470 acres in all. He had $150 in furniture, $335 in livestock, and $80 in tools. His wife, Mary Futch Webb had 180 acres in her own name in Lot 373, with $265 in livestock. To the south of the Webb place, on half of lot 419, was William Henry Outlaw, a Webb descendant on his mother’s side and a fellow veteran of Company E, 54th Georgia Regiment. Among the Webb’s other neighbors were David M. Roberson with 212 acres of lot 365 and David S. Roberson with 550 acres on parts of 373 and 364. William Walters was on Lot 374 and David J. McGee had 395 acres on lots 408 and 411. Miller F. DeVane and George M. DeVane with 165 acres each on 411 and 412. Mary DeVane had 7 acres on 418, Michael B. DeVane with 500 acres on 418 and 419, William DeVane on parts of 418, John Baker on 172 acres of 419.

The 1880 census shows the Webb family continuing to grow. The Webb sons, John Thomas and James, at least, were “at school”.

In 1890 John Webb had 1000 acres total on lots 372, 373, and 410 valued at $1500. From 1883 to 1890, a neighbor to the north was Noah Webster Griffin and his family on lot 371. John Webb’s son, John Thomas Webb was on 200 acres of the neighboring lots, 408 and 409. Son-in-law Malachi W. Jones was on 490 acres that included parts of 409 and 420, and son-in-law Joel J. Carter had 140 acres of lot 372. Elizabeth J. Carter had 240 acres on lots 365 and 366. George W. Carter had 40 acres straddling 364 and 365. Isaac S. Weaver was on 375 acres that included parts of 418, 419, and 411. John Ray was on 245 acres of 373, and Thomas W. Ray was on 125 acres of lot 364. Aaron A. Knight had 155 acres that included part of lot 374. Sovin J. Knight was on 365 acres of 364 and 365. The Devane land to the south was now in the possession of Georgia R. DeVane. George M. DeVane and Millard F. DeVane had the land to the west o Lots 411 and 412. William E. Fountain Jr. was on Lot 365 with 147 acres. H.H. Green had a piece of 364.

According to Shaw Family Newsletters, on November 5, 1898, Mary and John Webb deeded 350 acres in section 412 of land district 9 (presently under water at the southwest end of Boyette’s Pond in Cook County) to daughter Luannie Webb as a wedding gift. She had married Chester D. Shaw earlier that year.

John Webb died December 15, 1900 in Rays Mill, GA (now Ray City). He was buried in Futch Cemetery in present day Cook County, GA.

Children of Mary “Polly” Futch and John Webb:

Martha Mary Webb, b. April 10, 1861, Berrien County, GA; d. January 30, 1929, Berrien County, GA buried in Pleasant Church Cemetery; m. (1) Joel J. Carter, January 27, 1878, Berrien County GA; m. (2) William W. Parrish, August 10, 1899, Berrien County GA.
John Thomas Webb, b. January 15, 1863, Berrien County, GA; d. March 16, 1924, Ray City, GA buried in Pleasant Cemetery; m. Mary Jane “Mollie” Patten, November 2, 1882, Berrien County, GA.
Frances “Fannie” A. Webb, b. May 6, 1866, Berrien County, GA; d. October 3, 1909, Adel, GA buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Cook County, GA; m. Malachi “Mallie” W. Jones, December 24, 1885, Berrien County, GA.
Phoebe Jane Webb, b. May 23, 1869; d. October 10, 1870.
James Alfred Webb, b. July 03, 1871, Berrien County GA; d. September 30, 1938, Berrien County GA; m. Pearl “Pearlie” Register, January 18, 1894, Berrien County, GA from Marriage Certificate.
Mary Delann Webb, b. November 1, 1873; d. February 13, 1879.
Luther Americus Webb, b. October 5, 1875, Berrien County, GA; d. April 30, 1909, Berrien County, GA, buried in Pleasant Cemetery, Berrien County GA; m. Mary Jane Albritton, January 24, 1897, Berrien County, GA from Marriage Certificate.
Leona Webb, b. 1877, Berrien County, GA.
Louannie T. Webb, b. August 7, 1880; d. June 8, 1902, Lenox, GA from Typhoid Fever, buried in Pleasant Cemetery; m. Chester D. Shaw, March 16, 1898, Berrien County Georgia from Marriage Certificate.

The Valdosta Daily Times
March 11, 1926

Mrs. Webb Died at Ray City

Mrs. Mary Webb, widow of the late John Webb, died Wednesday evening at 7 o’clock at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Martha Carter, Ray City, after a short illness.
      Mrs. Webb was eighty-three years of age and until she suffered from an attack of flu, four or five days ago, had been in her usual good health. However, owing to her advanced age, she was unable to withstand the attack.
      Her husband preceded her to the grave twenty-six years ago and she has since made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Carter. Besides Mrs. Carter, she is survived by one son, Mr. J.A. Webb, of Ray City. The deceased was one of the pioneers of her section, and the family is well and favorably known throughout all of this section.
      Mrs. Webb was for more than 60 years a consistent member of the Pleasant Primitive Baptist church, near Ray City, and during her days of activity, was famed for her kindly acts and generous disposition, and her death brings great sorrow to her friends and those of the family. In addition to the surviving son and daughter, Mrs. Webb leaves thirty-five grand children. The funeral services were conducted this afternoon at 3:30 by Rev. Mr. McCranie at the Futch cemetery, near Ray City.

^{Transcript courtesy of Skeeter Parker}

Special thanks to Jimmie Webb for contribution images and portions of the content for this article.

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