BIOGRAPHIES

CULLODEN, WILLIAM.   (Please note: This is not an official biography but a collection of various references to William Culloden in
Monroe County. E. Robertson. The information is taken from various sources. Feb. 22, 2008, As you read this you will see there is conflicting information. The original inquiry on William Culloden stated:   " I believe he had two sisters, Rebecca who married a Benjamin ENGER or EAGER, and Jemima who married a Andrew English. I would be interested in hearing from any members of those families.

4 William is said to have been involved in an Indigo plantation in India.
My 3Xgreat-grandfather, John CULLODEN was a merchant in India and mentions a
nephew William in his Will. I suspect William of the town of Culloden was
not the nephew but I would be interested if anyone has any information about
William's time in India.)" (This query was from Rosemary Tearle, Northland New Zealand)
    William Culloden's will is in Book A, Page 15. The will was dated Feb. 3, 1830 but the probate date is not shown.
Listed in the will are: Sister, Rebecca Culloden (w/o Benj. Enger); Neph: Andrew English (s/o Jemima Culloden English);

On Page 69 of the book "Monroe County, a History", it states: "William Culloden, the Scottish trader and merchant for whom Culloden is named, never married and so left no children to perpetuate his name.

On Page 122: "Fourteen miles south of Forsyth, on Highway 83, is a town that antedates it by 43 years. Culloden was founded in 1780, and has an interesting history of its own. U. S. Postal service here dates from March 29, 1825, when William Culloden took office as its first postmaster.

Page 192: (Subject Culloden Schools)... It was in 1780 that William Culloden, a Scottish Highlander, began merchandising there. By that time many wealthy Virginia planters moved to the Culloden community. ....Culloden's store became the Indian trading post and station for the stage coach lines. Hence, the settlement received its name from William Culloden..."

Lynn Cunningham http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00011.html#0002535 February 22, 2008, 8:32 am

The Macon Telegraph February 22, 1892

Some of the Memories Which Hang Around the Place
Culloden, Feb. 20. - [Special]

Culloden is one of the quaint towns of Georgia. Her people make money, but
take the world easy, and thus there is about them a charming sociability.
Culloden boasts of the first brick church ever built in the state. It is in a
splendid state of preservation and the basement is used for school purposes.

The house where Nat Hammond was reared has now been replaced by a modern
cottage, but a widespreading magnolia marks the spot where stood his and his
father's law office.

The old blacksmith shop still stands where Governor Milton Smith served his
apprenticeship when a boy, and there, too, is the old shoe shop erected by Tom
Norwood's father, and where the ex-senator himself learned the trade.

Culloden is the old home of Judge Robert Trippe, and the room where Judge
Emory Speer was born is pointed out with pride to the visitor.

Culloden has just now a most interesting visitor. It is Mr. William L.P. Eager
of Toronto, Ont., who came to Culloden to visit the grave of his uncle,
William Culloden, after whom the village was named. Andrew Culloden,
grandfather of William, was a Scotchman, and fought at the celebrated battle
of Culloden. After the battle, disastrous to his side, he went to Ireland.

William Culloden was born at Mullinger, Ireland. His father, John Culloden,
possessed large estates in Hindoostan (sic), went out there, engaged with a
rich Italian, Col. Finch, in the indigo business. This firm failed, and
William sought the inviting fields of the new country. He came to Savannah in
1818, and then settled in Monroe county. He owned a farm and ran a country
store, and in time the place took his name. He died in 1832, and the law firm
of Poe & Nisbet of Macon represented the estate. Mr. Eager, an old man
himself, intends visiting Macon, and made inquiries about the descendants of
his uncles attorneys. His visit to Georgia is one of love.

Mr. Eager praises enthusiastically his adopted country, Ontario. The condition
of farmers there, he says, is better than in the South - and yet they raise no
cotton.
-------------------------

One thing further on William Culloden. The 1828 Tax Digest for Monroe County transcribed by LeRoy Gardner and Carolyn Floyd Beck in 1999, states the following:
"The following are deceased persons that someone else returned their taxes. The dates are
death dates or will/probate filing. No death record could be located for those with no date."
William Culloden, Feb 1836, Feb 3, 1830." Return to top

SUTTON , (Monroe Advertiser, April 15, 1910.) (File contributed by Jane Newton, transcribed by E. Robertson)
"...OUR ANCESTORS..." by Frances M. Smith
       The Suttons were Normans in the beginning and before anybody had surnames in the modern sense. It is one of the few names
which are practically without variants, although one New England forbearers tried "Sutten"---apparently, however, with indifferent success, as few, if any, of the family now spell it with an 'e'. The first Sutton was a Norman, and in the train of William the Conquerer when he started out upon his never-to-be-forgotten expedition. Sutton-upon-Trent was granted to him as his share of the spoils, to have and hold forever, and so the Norman became English Sutton.
    Sud-ton, meaning a place for dwelling in the South, is the original form of Sutton, and is the name of a large number of towns in England.
    More than 50 coats of arms have been granted to the family, which indicates their rank among the English gentry. There were the Suttons, of Sutton, in Holdernesse; The Suttons, of Sutton-Madec, in Shorpshire, and the Suttons, of Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.
These were three among the many branches of the family tree planted in England by the Norman founder.
    Norwood Park, Nottinghamshire, was one seat of the Suttons. Richard Sutton, of Norwood Prk, was created a Baronett in 1766. He descended from Roland, son of Harvey de Sutton, of Sutton-upon-Trent, who lived in the thirteenth century.
    Sir Richard left a large family by his three wives - nine children. He was son of Sir Robert Sutton, Privy Councillor, who in 1725 married Judith Countess-Dowager of Sunderland and the daughter of Benjamin Tichborne.
    James Sutton, the Virginia colonist, is said to have been of this lineage. One of his ancestors was Sir William Sutton, Knight of Aram, who had four sons, Robert, Richard, Henry and George.
    Of these Robert, for devotion to the royal cause, was created Lord Lexington of Aram by Charles I.
    James Sutton, who is called the forefather of the Southern line, was living in Wicomico Parish, Northumberland County, Virginia in 1874. Traditions regarding James are misty and uncertain - just enough to lend an air of romance to the tale, but he was a vestryman of the parish.
    He is supposed to have had a brother, and either he or his brother had the honor of leading the fair Miss Coppage to the altar. Seven children were born of this union. All married and lived in Virginia, with the exception of one son, Lewis Sutton, who married Miss Dorsey and settled in Maryland. John Sutton, perhaps of this branch of the family, was Deputy Recorder of Maryland.
    Taylors of Virginia and Terrells of North Carolina married into the Sutton family.
    Of the Suttons of New England and New York, the historical of the clan, quoting Chaucer, says: "
This firate stock was full of righteousnesse. True of his word, sober, pious and free"
    What is said of the first generation may truthfully be repeated of generations all along the line.
    John of Hingham, Mass., is a forefather of the Northern Suttons. He came over in 1638, in the Diligent with his wife, Julien; a son, John, and three other children. He is thought to have had three daughters born here. - Esther, Anne and Margaret.

    George Sutton, of Seituate, Mass., 1683 married Sarah Tilden and left issue. William Sutton was living in Cape Cod in 1666.
    The Suttons of New York place Thomas Sutton, Cavalier, at the top of their family chart. In 1647 he was living on Long Island.
    A line of descent from him is through Thomas, his son; Thomas, the third of the name; Benjamin and Byron, who married Caroline Sears, of the seventh generation from Richard Sears, the colonist. Byron and Caroline had nine children.
    Thomas of the second or third generation, born on Long Island, at a place which rejoiced at the title of "Madman's Neck" went to Greenwich, Conn., and in 1718 bought 200 acres of land at Rye, N. Y. With Joseph Sutton, who was, doubtless, his brother, he bought land in Newcastle on the Byram River, paying F64 for 38 acres and F27 for 16 acres. Joseph is regarded as the founder of the Newcastle branch.
    The Suttons were among the principal proprietors of Newcastle, together with the Haights, Hyatts, Kipps, Reynolds, Kirbys, Davenports, Van Tassels and Secors.
    The 'oldest inhabitant' cannot remember when the Suttons did not own land on Byram river, and 'along King street". Descendants are now living in part of the old property. One of this lineage owns the old family Bible, which has records going back to 1722.
    Greenwich records mention old houses and mills built many years ago by the Suttons.
    Marriage connections of the Suttons include such well known New York families as Haight, Underhill, Sands, Cornell, Carpenter, Griffen, Kingsland, Richardson, Palmer, Hyari and Field.
    Lieutenant Thomas and two Benjamins - father and son - of this line were soldiers of the revolution. Among those of the Southern branch of the family English Suttons who fought for our freedom where Lieutenant James Sutton, of North Carolina, and Paymaster John, of Virginia.
    The arms used by the family of New England and New York are illustrated. Their blazon is: or, on a chevron between three annulets gules as many crescents of the field.
    Crest: A grayhound's head couped ermine, collared gules, garnished and ringed, or on the collar three appulate of the last Fidelis usque ad mortem.
    The coat-of-arms of the Suttons of Virginia quarters the Lexington arms and is blazoned: Quarterly; first and fourth argent, a canton stable, for Sutton; a second and third argent, a cross fiery azure, for Livingston.
    Crest a wolf's head, erased gules,
    Motto: Toujours prest - "Always ready."
    The motto is given in old French as is not infrequently the case in arms of ancient grants. Return to top

_________________________________________________________________________________________
SPAIN, BENJAMIN (File contributed by Gerry Hill, November 2006)

ANDERSON REDDING (File contributed by Carol Garrett ckgleo@aol.com September 5, 2005, 9:39 am)
                                        Author: Carol Garrett

Anderson Redding, Rev. War Sol., b. 1764, VA, d. 1843 in Monroe Co., GA and
buried in Salem Church Cemetery. When a very young man he enlisted in the
Contiental Army as a private soldier and served throughout the Revolution,
being present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. Married Delilah
Parham.

Children:

1. William Chambless, mar. Margaret Flewellyn (d/o Abner Flewellyn, Rev.
Soldier).
2. Elizabeth, mar. John Green
3. Rowland
4. Thomas (1794-1877); mar. Maria Searcy
5. Lourania
6. Mary
7. James M.

Note: John H. (Hunt) Greene (1792-1877), s/o Rev. Myles Greene (1767-1853) and
Elizabeth Hunt (1769-1809), Hancock and Baldwin Cos., GA, married Elizabeth H.
Redding (1795-1883), Monroe Co., GA, d/o Anderson Redding, Rev. War Sol. and
Elizabeth Delilah Parham, Monroe Co., GA.

William C. (Chambless) Redding (?-?), s/o Anderson Redding, Rev. War Sol. (1764-
1845) and Elizabeth Delilah Parham (1773-1835), Monroe Co., GA, married
Margaret Flewellen (?-?), d/o Abner Flewellen and ???.

GA D.A.R. Rev. War Records (pp. 193-194)

William Redding, b. in VA, 1736; d. in GA, 1822. Served with VA Troops and
received bounty land in GA for his services. Moved to GA 1785. Married Patty
Parham.

Children:
1. Charles, b. in VA, 1756; d. in GA 1815. A Rev. Soldier, married Edith ____.
2. Arthur, mar. Frances Wynne
3. Anderson, b. 1764 in VA; d. 1845 in GA; a Rev. Soldier, married Delilah
Parham

Note: The GA D.A.R. records has Anderson Redding's (RWS) year of birth to be 1764.
However, the records of Thomas Slade and Jean S. Willingham (1961) are showing
Anderson Redding's date of birth to be 1765, dying at the age of 80 yrs of age.
If this was the correct age of his death when he died then his birth would have
been in 1765 (NOT. 1764).

Anderson Redding's, RS, Pvt., wife, Elizabeth Delilah Parham, d/o Henry
Parham and Agnes ???.

Children (additional info.):
Mary (Polly) Redding (1791-?), m. Gideon Johnson (1786-1839) and he is buried
in Salem Methodist Church Cemetery (Pea Ridge Rd., nr. Boringbroke, Monroe Co.,
GA).
Thomas Redding (1792-1877), m. Maria Searcy
Lourania Redding (1803-1884), m. Henry Wyche Walton (both buried in Salem
Methodist Church Cemetery).

Additional Comments:

Macon Messenger 24 Aug 1843

The plantation where the late Anderson Redding, of Monroe County lived, eight
miles from Forsyth, on the road leading to Clinton by way of Dame's Ferry. It
is situated in a good neighborhood, and healthy; the tract contains about
thirteen hundred and fifty acres -- about 680 of which is woods, the balance is
under good fencing, a considerable portion of which is fresh and but a small
portion worn out. There is a good two story Dwelling, with shed rooms and
porch, all finished; a good framed work house and meat house, (all new) an
excellent set of negro houses, built of logs with brick chimneys, large framed
stables, &c. The land lies in good bodies of cultivation, and is considered
one of the best farms in the county. It will be sold at private sale. For
further particulars, call on either of the undersigned.

John H. Greene
William C. Redding

Anderson Redding, Revolutionary Soldier, died 9 Feb. 1843, Monroe County, GA.
(See obituary: Macon Georgia Telegraph 21 Feb. 1843; Macon Messenger 9 Mar
1943)(1843?)
Macon Messenger
Anderson Redding, Revolutionary Soldier, died 9 Feb. 1843, Monroe County, GA.

Additional Comments:
Anderson Redding, Rev. War Sol., b. 1764, VA, d. 1843 in Monroe Co., GA and
buried in Salem Church Cemetery. When a very young man he enlisted in the
Contiental Army as a private soldier and served throughout the Revolution,
being present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. Married
Elizabeth Delilah Parham, Monroe Co., GA

John Arthur Roberts, born September 22, 1854 in Cabaniss, Monroe Co, GA; died June 25, 1921 in Jasper Co, GA. He was the son of Wiley Jones Roberts and Mary Ann Spires. He married Martha (Mattie) Malinda Simmons December 03, 1874 in Monroe Co, GA. She was born December 25, 1855 in Monroe Co, GA, and died September 25, 1940 in Monticello, GA. She was the daughter of Marcus (Mark) DeLafayette Simmons and Sara Jane Johnson.

John Arthur Roberts’ parents gave him his grandfather Roberts name. My great grandfather Roberts lived for around forty years in Monroe County, but for some reason the family moved from Monroe County to neighboring Jasper County in 1896. In 1894 according to the Monroe Co, GA tax digest his family lived with his mother on 85 acres of land that his father Wiley J. Roberts purchased in 1839. At the time John Roberts had a net worth of $161. He owned this land in 1905/6 as a nonresistant according to the county tax digest. The 1880 Monroe Co, GA census and the 1900/1910/1920 Jasper Co, GA censuses listed him and his family: as a farmer living in a rented home with his wife and two/four/three children, respectively in 1880/1900/1910. In 1920 he and his wife Mattie lived with their son Zeph and his family. John purchased land and farmed it in Jasper County. The courthouse books on deeds list a purchase of lots #11 and #12 in Washington Park in Monticello on December 21, 1912 for the sum of $342.00 [Jasper County Deed Book R p41], 165 acres on 10/11/15 [Deed Book S p36] for $2000. He purchased of 50 acres east of Public Rd. on 12/14/1904 [Deed Book N p 25] for $300 and sold the land on 1/24/21 [Deed Book U p259] for $2140 paid over five years. His family sold the 165 acres on 10/26/39 for $1200 [Deed Books A-4 p579 and A-6 p86], which was $800 less than the land cost twenty-three years earlier.

I do not believe my great grandfather could read. He enjoyed attending functions such as county fairs and liked to have a drink at times according to his granddaughter Martha Lois. His youngest son Bridges died in France during World War 1 in 1918, and my great grandfather never fully recovered from his son's death. According to John A. Roberts’ death certificate he became ill in early 1920 and died from heart disease in 1921. During the time of his illness several of his out-of-town relatives visited him on his farm. His will is on file in Will Book #15 p160 at the Jasper County courthouse. He left everything to his wife and named his son Z.T. executor of the estate. The family buried him in West View Cemetery in Monticello, GA.

Mattie Simmons, named for her paternal grandmother Martha Malinda Dennis, grew up during and after the ravages of the Civil War. After the war she would not stay alone in her house and refused to sleep in the bedroom by herself because of a frightening incident that happened. In the latter part of the Civil War, while her father served in the Confederate Army in Virginia, Yankee soldiers, who were a part of Sherman’s Army that marched to the sea through Georgia, broke into her parent’s home at night in November or December 1864. At least one soldier entered my great grandmother's bedroom while she slept, crawled across her bed, and kidnapped a female slave who also slept in the room with her. The northern troops most likely took everything of value in the house, including any food and animals, as well as any other slaves living there. They may have even burned my great grandmother’s home as well. Can you imagine the fear a young girl experienced with such a sudden evasion into her life, when she was only ten years old? No wonder she lived with such fear the rest of her life.

In love at the age of 18 she married John Arthur Roberts on December 3, 1874 in Monroe Co, GA. Between her marriage and 1894 she gave birth to eight children of which five lived to be adults. Grandmother Mattie lived and worked hard on the family farms first in Monroe Co, GA and later in Jasper Co, GA. She, also, found time to be active in civic and religious affairs and to minister to the sick and needy. In 1918 her youngest son Bridges (see pages 14 – 18) died in France during World War I as a result of a machine gun wound to his abdomen, followed two and half years later by the death of her husband from heart diseases. I can only imagine how the deaths of these two family members and caring for the three young children so close to her must have affected her life. To add to her grief her granddaughter Mattie, who was named for her, shot and killed herself in 1931 and her son Will murdered a man in 1937.

In 1921 Mattie Roberts moved with her son Zeph, my grandfather, to Monticello and lived with his family until her death. Being a strong willed, likable woman she ruled the household, which must have made for a difficult situation for her daughter-in-law and my grandmother Bessie. In her later years she spent much of her time working on some sort of knitting or crocheting making small gifts for relatives, friends or her preacher who visited her. She would not let them leave without taking a small gift. She rarely left her home after her husband and Bridges deaths. When she did leave she visited the cemetery. After the death of her husband in 1921 one of her grandchildren always slept in the room with her. None of the grandchildren, including my father, seemed to mind sleeping in her room for they had a great affection for her. My parents named their youngest daughter Martha Malinda.

She died in 1940 and was buried beside her husband in West View Cemetery in Monticello, GA. Even with the tragedies in her life she lived an upbeat life to the age of 84.

Picture of Mattie and John Roberts taken around 1920. File submitted by Tom Roberts (Return to Top)

1. Wiley Jones Roberts, born February 27, 1812 in Caswell Co, NC; died June 17, 1893 in Monroe Co, GA. He was the son of 2. John Arthur Roberts and 3. Nancy Hargis. He married Mary Ann Spires March 08, 1840 in Monroe Co, GA. She was born October 28, 1821 in GA, and died May 11, 1905 in Monroe Co, GA. She was the daughter of Hezekiah Gaither Spires, Jr. and Marguerite (Margaret) McCorkle.

I do not know where his parents got Wiley’s first name, but his middle name Jones came from his material grandmother Mary Jones. I believe that both he and his future wife Mary Ann lived with his brother Jesse Hancock Roberts (see his write-up on page 46) after both of their fathers died and Jesse married Mary Ann's mother. The four of them moved from Lincoln Co, GA to Monroe Co, GA sometimes between 1825 and 1830. The Creek Indians in the Treaty of 1821 at Indian Springs agreed to cede the land between the Ocmulgee and the Flint Rivers in Georgia to the U. S. Government. This land included what is now Monroe County. Settlers mostly from eastern Georgia poured into the area including the Roberts. According to the 1850 census over 6,800 whites and 10,100 blacks lived in Monroe County. The Monroe County 1830/1840 census listed Jesse H. Roberts with children or young adults the ages of Wiley and Mary Ann.

In 1835 Wiley enlisted in the Indian War from which he drew a land lottery in Forsyth Co, GA. He enlisted in the Civil War in 1864 as a Militiaman. On 12/31/1839 Wiley Roberts purchased about 100 acres (lot #148) in Monroe County for $475 located nine miles north of Forsythe, GA on the Cabinness and Indian Springs Road. His family lived in a home on this property until after 1900. On February 11, 1889 he and his wife sold twenty acres of lot #148 to a second party for $158.40. Son J. A. Roberts witnessed the sale. The 1850 Monroe Co, GA census list his wife, three children and spelled his name Roberds. The 1860/1870/1880 Monroe County census listed him as a farmer living with his wife and six/five/one children, the value of his real estate $1000/500/? and the value of his personal estate $450/450/?. He was also listed in the 1853 Monroe County Tax Digest as owning 103 acres of land with a whole value of $1215. I could not find his or his wife's will. He and his wife were buried in Paran Baptist Church Cemetery, Blount, Monroe County on Indian Springs Road or Georgia Highway 42. On his grave marker it states, "Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace."

The spelling of Mary Ann’s last name on her marriage license appears to be Squires but the spelling of her name on the estate records of her father is Spires. Her mother Margaret McCorkle Spires married Jesse H. Roberts (Mary Ann’s future husband’s brother) after Mary Ann's father died. The court first appointed James McCorkle and then Samuel McCorkle as Mary Ann's guardian [Minute Book V 3/3/1823 p23 in Lincoln Co, GA courthouse] after her father died. Somehow Samuel became insolvent; therefore, the court named Jesse H. Roberts her guardian on November 2, 1835 [Guardian's Bonds Book, 1831-1857 Monroe Co, GA courthouse; Annual Return Book #4 1838-1847 p193+260 1/23/1841 and 4/18/1842 in Lincoln Co, GA courthouse]. That Monroe county record indicated she was the orphan child of Hezekiah Spiers. A record dated February 1838 in Court of Ordinary Annual Returns Book C 1831 - 1856 Monroe County confirms Jesse as her guardian.

The 1894 Tax Digest for the Cabaniss District, Monroe Co. GA showed her living on 85 acres of land valued at $320 with her son John's family. She had a net worth other than the land of $90. She and her husband were buried in Paran Baptist Church Cemetery in Monroe County. On her grave marker it states, "She has gone to her home in Heaven, And all her afflictions are over." She most likely lived a hard life and must have suffered in her last years.

Children of Wiley Roberts and Mary Spires were: James Monroe Roberts, born March 15, 1843 in Monroe Co, GA; died October 08, 1929 in Coffee Co, AL; married Martha Elizabeth Castleberry December 07, 1865 in Monroe Co, GA; born April 27, 1848 in Butts Co, GA; died February 03, 1921 in AL.

In September 25, 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate Army at Jackson, Butts Co, GA. He was in company B (later A), 30th regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry, Army of Tennessee, Butts Co, GA "Bailey Volunteers." He achieved the rank of 4th Corporal on September 25, 1861 but was listed as a private in 1862. The regiment was organized on October 7, 1861 and consolidated with other regiments during the war. They fought in sixteen battles including Vicksburg, Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Atlanta. He caught typhoid fever and recovered in a hospital in Forsythe, GA. After he recovered he went back into service but was wounded on July 22, 1864 on top of his shoulder near his neck in the battle of Atlanta. By the time he recovered the war was over and he returned to his home. Sherman's army had come through and desolated the area. Some people said the union troops left that part of Georgia in such poor condition that a crow could not find enough to eat. The poverty in some areas of the south was so bad that many people moved to other states. Perhaps for this reason in 1871 his family moved to south Alabama near his uncle Jessie H. Roberts. He is listed in his brother John Arthur Roberts' obituary on page 40 as living in Enterprise, AL. His will is on file in Coffee Co, AL, and he left his estate to his children. He and his wife are buried in the Damascus Baptist Church Cemetery located in Coffee County.

George T. Roberts, born Abt. 1847 in GA.
Margaret or Rebecca Roberts, born Abt. 1849 in GA; died after 1921; married Stanford T. Pirkle
John Arthur Roberts, born September 22, 1854 in Cabaniss, Monroe Co, GA; died June 25, 1921 in Jasper Co, GA; married Martha (Mattie) Malinda Simmons December 03, 1874 in Monroe Co, GA
Eliza J. Roberts, born Abt. 1857 in GA; died after 1921; married Ed Wooten
Susan E. Roberts, born 1859 in GA.
Ella Roberts, born Aft. 1860; died Aft. 1921. Ella and Eliza are listed in Wiley and Mary Ann son John Arthur Roberts' obituary living in Jackson, GA, and Margaret is listed as living in Enterprise, AL.
Willie Ann Roberts, born July 27, 1863; died June 15, 1946; married George William Colbert

John Arthur Roberts, born Abt. 1766 in Charlotte Co, VA or Orange Co, NC; died 1822 in Lincoln Co, GA. He was the son of 4. David Montgomery Roberts and 5. Caroline Mills. He married 3. Nancy Hargis March 25, 1789 in Caswell Co, NC. Nancy Hargis, born Abt. 1766 in Danville, VA; died Abt. 1864 in Lincoln Co, GA. She was the daughter of Richard Nalley Hargis and Mary Jones.

Children of John Roberts and Nancy Hargis were: Quisenbury Roberts, married Mary Cates; Sarah Roberts, married John Peed 1821 in Person Co, NC.; Mary Roberts, married Thomas Farrar; Nancy Roberts, married John Hunt; Celia Roberts, married Thomas Wynne 1847. ; Lavinia (Viney) Roberts, born August 13, 1797 in NC; died October 27, 1862 in Lincoln Co, GA; married Zachariah Spires 1817; born August 31, 1794 in Lincoln Co, GA; died April 27, 1866 in Lincoln Co, GA.; Jesse Hancock Roberts, born 1800 in Person Co, NC; died July 07, 1884 in Pike Co, AL; married (1) Marguerite (Margaret) McCorkle November 02, 1825 in Lincoln Co, GA; born Abt. 1801 in GA; died 1870 in Pike Co, AL; married (2) Mary W. Whaley 1871 in Pike Co, AL; born Abt. 1818 in GA.

[He was an adventurer. During the 1820's Jesse rode horse back from Lincoln County to visit his grandfather in Lowndes Co, AL and later to Lee Co, GA to look at some land. During the latter trip Indians shot him but he escaped. In 1836 he enlisted in the Indian Wars. While living in Lincoln County Graves Military District he won a land lottery in 1821 in Monroe Co, GA (#193/15). After his marriage in 1825 and before 1830 his family moved to Monroe County. He was listed in the 1830, 1840 and 1850 Monroe County census living with his wife and children and in the Monroe County Tax Digest in 1853 where he owned over 400 acres of land, four slaves and had a whole property worth of $5985. During the 1850’s his family moved to Alabama, where he and his wife Margaret were listed in the 1860 and 1870 Pike Co, AL census. According to these censuses he farmed the land and could not read but the value of his real estate/personal was $1440/$7800 and $1000/$500. In 1860 he owned seven slaves living in one slave house. The 1880 census listed him and his second wife Mary W. In 1884 he died of paralysis from a fall and left no will but there are numerous probate records in box 51 at the Pike County courthouse naming his children and listing his assets of $1000. ]

Francis (Fanny) Roberts, born 1803; died 1869 in Thomson, GA; married John Crawford March 14, 1821 in Lincoln Co, GA.; Haywood D. Roberts, born 1804 in NC; died 1863 in Bullock Co, GA; married Rhoda Bohler December 28, 1826 in Lincoln Co, GA; born Abt. 1810 in GA.

Living in Lincoln County Graves Military District when he won a land lottery in Union or Lumpkin Co. (#722/21). Greenwood W. Roberts, born Abt. 1806 in NC; married Mary Anne Ramsey November 08, 1836 in Lincoln Co, GA; born Abt. 1823 in GA.; Rebecca (Bicky) Roberts, born Abt. 1810 in NC; married John M. Eubanks December 03, 1832 in Lincoln Co, GA.
Wiley Jones Roberts, born February 27, 1812 in Caswell Co, NC; died June 17, 1893 in Monroe Co, GA; married Mary Ann Spires March 08, 1840 in Monroe Co, GA.
(Return to Top)

Martha (Mattie) Malinda Simmons, born December 25, 1855 in Monroe Co, GA; died September 25, 1940 in Monticello, GA. She was the daughter of Marcus DeLafayette (Mark) Simmons and Sara Jane Johnson. She married (1) John Arthur Roberts December 03, 1874 in Monroe Co, GA. He was born September 22, 1854 in Cabaniss, Monroe Co, GA, and died June 25, 1921 in Jasper Co, GA. He was the son of Wiley Jones Roberts and Mary Ann Spires.

Marcus (Mark) DeLafayette Simmons, born January 19, 1834 in Putnam Co, GA; died July 19, 1881 in Monroe Co, GA. He was the son of Dudley L. Simmons and 5. Martha Malinda Dennis. He married 3. Sara Jane Johnson September 19, 1854 in Monroe Co, GA. Sara Jane Johnson, born March 30, 1838 in Monroe Co, GA; died July 15, 1883 in Monroe Co, GA. She was the daughter of Ahab Johnson and Lucretia Davenport.

Mark D. Simmons and Sara Jane Johnson Simmons

Marquis de Lafayette (the French General) spoke in Clinton, Jones Co, GA on March 19, 1825. Marcus' parents must have been in attendance and impressed because they named their fourth son after the famous French general. Most young men in the south at the time of the Civil War felt it their duty and an honor to volunteer for service in the Confederate army. Mark at age eighteen, therefore, joined Company D, 45th regiment Georgia voluntary infantry Army of Northern Virginia, Confederate States of America, Monroe Co. GA, McCowan guards as a Private on March 4, 1862. The regiment, organized on March 15, 1862 under the command of Colonel Thomas Hardeman, was sent to the killing fields of northern Virginia where they fought in some of the bloodiest battles of the war. The 45th fought in twenty battles including the second Bull Run, Harpers Ferry, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg and surrendered at Appomattox Court House, VA on April 9, 1865. One can only guess the hundreds of miles he marched to get from one battlefield to another. In units like his the men faced the shadow of death during every battle, and they became very close because of all the time they spent with each other and all the campaigns they fought in together.

In 1862 the Army appointed Mark Simmons 4th Corporal. For 36 days ending on May 10, 1862 Mark was on sick furlough. On June 30, 1862 the doctor admitted Mark to Chimborazo Hospital No. 3 in Richmond, VA due to a gunshot wound in the head. On July 6 he returned to active duty, but the army readmitted Mark to a hospital from October 7 to 13, 1862 for observation. From May through August 1864 he missed service because he was on sick furlough due to paralysis. He returned to his unit in September 1864. He was allowed to return home for some period of time in October of 1864 because his daughter Isadore was born in July 1865. He returned to Virginia and surrendered at Appomattox with General Lee’s Army. Fortunately he lived through all of his sicknesses and injuries, although around 25% of the southern men his age died during the conflict. If he had not survived the injuries many of his descendants reading this history would not be alive today. After the war he trudged most likely by foot from Virginia all the way back to his home in central Georgia. Along the route he must have stopped at farmers homes for food, to rest and to relieve his pain from his battle wounds. When he returned to Monroe County he found most of the area totally devastated because of Sherman’s march to the sea where 62,000 Yankee troops destroyed the land across a sixty mile wide path from Atlanta to Savannah.

Many returning solders left Georgia after the war because of the devastation, but his family stayed. He was listed as Mark D. Simmons in the 1870 and 1880 Monroe Co, GA census and as Marcus Simmons in the 1860 Monroe County census. Daughter Mattie M. was listed in the 1870 census in her parent’s household but in the 1860 census in the John R. Wyche household. Most likely she was visiting the neighbor at the time the census taker came by. The censuses listed his occupation as a farmer. He and his wife both died early and were buried in Hollygrove Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery on Dames Ferry Road near Rum Creek in Monroe County. His early death may have been due to his extensive Civil War injuries.

Sara Jane was an invalid when her husband died, and her children at home cared for her until she died two years later. Children of Marcus Simmons and Sara Johnson were:

Martha (Mattie) Malinda Simmons, born December 25, 1855 in Monroe Co, GA; died September 25, 1940 in Monticello, GA; married John Arthur Roberts December 03, 1874 in Monroe Co, GA.; Augustus Simmons, born 1858; died 1861; William (Sid) Sidney Simmons, born September 16, 1860 in Monroe Co, GA; died April 24, 1926 in Macon, GA; married Olive Dee Tyner February 17, 1889; born April 05, 1870; died September 12, 1944 in Macon, GA.; Isadore (Dode) Simmons, born July 18, 1865 in Monroe Co, GA; died December 01, 1954 in Monroe Co, GA; married John Michael Browning December 03, 1885 in Monroe Co, GA.; Augustus Ahab (Gus) Simmons, born March 29, 1868; died July 11, 1913; married Mary Lizzie Maynard; born 1876; died 1965.; Vallie Lucille Simmons, born April 01, 1871; died March 08, 1957 in Jasper Co, GA; married John Joseph King; born August 02, 1864; died February 11, 1910.Walter Matthew Simmons, born May 12, 1874; died January 25, 1911; married Lillie Florence Smith; Katherine (Kate) Lena Simmons, born April 28, 1877; died Aft. 1971; married James Andrew King January 21, 1894 in Jones Co, GA; died December 12, 1912 in Jones Co, GA.

Dudley L. Simmons, born January 02, 1803 in GA; died April 16, 1877 in Williamson Co, TX. He was the son of Benjamin Simmons and Sarah. He married Martha Malinda Dennis September 15, 1825 in Hancock Co, GA. He married Sarah Alice Caldwell Smith December 04, 1854 in Monroe Co, GA. She was born August 10, 1830 in GA; died June 06, 1890 in Williamson Co, TX. Sarah Caldwell previously married a Smith.. Martha Malinda Dennis, born Abt. 1805; died Aft. 1841. She was the daughter of Joseph Dennis and 11. Ellendor or Ellenor.;

Dudley lived in Putman Co, GA in 1830 and 1840 with his family according to census data and lived in Monroe Co, GA with wife or maybe a relative Caroline according to 1850 census, occupation farmer. Neither he nor Caroline could read or write. In 1840 a woman age 70 to 80 lived with him, which most likely was his mother-in-law Ellendor Dennis (see page 79). The Monroe County Tax Digest listed him in 1853 as owning 111 acres with an $800 value on his whole property. Some time after 1854 he and his family moved to Tallapoosa Co, AL. In 1860 the family was listed (wife Sarah) in the Tallapoosa Co, AL census. They moved back to Georgia after 1860. Following the Civil War at the request of Dudley’s Uncle William C. Simmons the family left Georgia for Texas. They most likely made the difficult trip by boarding a steamboat at West Point, GA and traveling down the Chattahoochee River to the Gulf of Mexico. They crossed the gulf and landed at Galveston, TX. From there they moved by wagon to Williamson County. They went to Texas to help take care of his old Uncle. In 1873 Dudley’s uncle deeded 100 acres of land in Texas to him for his help.

Children of Dudley Simmons and Martha Dennis were: Alburtus J. Simmons, born October 02, 1826; married Sara Jones December 23, 1844 in Jones , GA.; William Capers or Copus Simmons, born February 21, 1829 in GA; died 1884 in Putnam Co, GA; married Mary Jane Frances Branham November 09, 1848 in Putnam Co, GA. Sidney Boulevar Burris Simmons, born January 13, 1833 in GA; died Aft. 1906 in Bibb Co, GA; married Mary T. White November 26, 1866 in Putnam Co, GA. ; Marcus (Mark) DeLafayette Simmons, born January 19, 1834 in Putnam Co, GA; died July 19, 1881 in Monroe Co, GA; married Sara Jane Johnson September 19, 1854 in Monroe Co, GA.; Ruphus J. Simmons, born March 08, 1838 in Putnam Co, GA.; Samantha J. Simmons, born March 08, 1838 in Putnam Co, GA; married James W. Garner; Mary E. Simmons, born 1841 in Putnam Co, GA.

Children of Dudley Simmons and Sarah Caldwell were: Dudley L. Simmons, Jr., born Abt. 1856 in Camp Hill, Tallapossa Co, AL; died 1931; married Julia Brenhan; Green Duncan Simmons, born October 15, 1857 in Camp Hill, Tallapossa Co, AL; died March 25, 1955 in Thrall, TX; married Emma Giles Williams; born 1862 in TX; died 1952.; Thomas Perry Simmons, born May 27, 1859 in Camp Hill, Tallapossa Co, AL; died March 27, 1927 in Thrall, Williamson Co, TX; married Amanda Ellen Barber August 01, 1881 in Lee, TX.; Eugene Bedford Simmons, born March 05, 1861 in Monroe Co, GA; died 1886; married M. A. Allcorn; born 1865.; Carsa Augusta Simmons, born October 27, 1864 in Monroe Co, GA; died 1940; married Milly; Lula Forence Simmons, born April 14, 1865 in Monroe Co, GA; married J. Washington Smith; born 1852 in TX; died 1906.

Ahab Johnson, born October 14, 1801 in Newberry Co, SC; died February 1874 in Monroe Co, GA. He was the son of Daniel Johnston and Sarah Hill. He married Lucretia Davenport Abt. 1826 in Newberry Co, SC. Lucretia Davenport, born January 25, 1811 in Newberry Co, SC; died February 23, 1894 in Monroe Co, GA. She was the daughter of Raymond Davenport and Patise Adams.
Ahab Johnson and his wife moved to Georgia in 1828, and the Jones/ Monroe Co, GA census listed them in 1830/1850. In 1830 the census listed his occupation as a farmer and in 1830 he owned three slaves. In 1850 the value of his real estate was $500. His will and a listing of his estate are on file in the Monroe Co, GA courthouse. He left all to his wife and the value of his estate was $674 including 85 acres of land valued at $350. Son-in-law M. D. Simmons was noted in the accounting of his inventory of assets.

Lucretia was the mother of 3 boys and 8 girls. Widowed living with daughter Sara’s family in 1880 (census). She was buried near the Hollygrove Primitive Baptist church cemetery in Monroe Co, GA.

Children of Ahab Johnson and Lucretia Davenport were: Louisa Johnson, born Abt. 1830 in GA.; Mary Johnson, born Abt. 1832 in GA. Martha Johnson, born Abt. 1834 in GA.; William Johnson, born 1838 in GA.;. Sara Jane Johnson, born March 30, 1838 in Monroe Co, GA; died July 15, 1883 in Monroe Co, GA; married Marcus (Mark) DeLafayette Simmons September 19, 1854 in Monroe Co, GA.; Lucy Johnson, born Abt. 1840 in GA.; Emeline Johnson, born Abt. 1846 in GA. Elizabeth Johnson, born Abt. 1849 in GA
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JAMES MADISON SIMMONS AND HIS SIMMONS ANCESTORS File submitted by Tom Roberts

James Madison Simmons, born May 03, 1843 in Monroe Co, GA; died December 14, 1922 in Attala Co, MS. He was the son of John William Simmons and Bethiah Middlebrooks. He married (1) Sarah Jane Jenkins February 11, 1864 in Jasper Co, GA. She was born May 06, 1846 in Jasper Co, GA, and died March 29, 1877 in TX?. She was the daughter of Francis M. Jenkins and Elizabeth (Elmira) Pye. He married (2) Nancy Jane Newby February 14, 1878 in Jones Co, GA. She was born June 04, 1851 in GA, and died January 28, 1897 in Attala Co, MS. She was the daughter of Daniel Jefferson (Jeff) Newby and Sarah Elizabeth (Betsy) Cleland. He married (3) Annie Murphy Holly April 18, 1898. She was born June 16, 1858 in MO, and died January 28, 1913.

CIVIL WAR SERVICE

Most young men in the south at the time of the Civil War felt it their duty and an honor to volunteer for service in the Confederate Army. They believed that foreigners from up north were invading their country. On March 18, 1861 young James at age seventeen, therefore, joined as a private along with his brother Robert, Company K, 1^st Regiment, Georgia Infantry, Confederate States of America. Around 1200 soldiers enlisted from Monroe County. A company had from 60 to 100 solders usually from a single county and many times had a name like Quitman Guards. An elected captain led the company. About ten companies usually from the same geographical region made up a regiment led by a major. In units like this, the men became very close because of all of the time they spent with each other and all of the battles they fought in together. Volunteers made up the 1^st Infantry Regiment, which organized on April 3, 1861 at Camp Oglethorpe in Macon, GA. The 1^st regiment Company K volunteers officially mustered into Confederate service at Pensacola, FL on April 16, 1861. The Confederate Army first assigned his company to the Pensacola area and later to the Army of the Northwest. They fought in two battles: Corrick's Ford and Greenbrier River.

James Simmons mustered out at Augusta, GA on March 18, 1862 because the regiment disbanded and then reenlisted as a 4^th Corporal in Company K (Monroe County Quitman Guards), 53^rd regiment Georgia Infantry on May 6,1862. The Army promoted him to 2^nd Corporal in October 1863 and 1^st Corporal in August 1864. For some unknown reason two months pay was deducted by sentence of Court Martial on March 17, 1863, and he was placed "in arrest" on February 28, 1865. Since no details exist about his pay deduction and the “in arrest” on his war records, they must have been for minor offences.

The 53^rd Infantry Regiment was organized on May 12, 1862, and they boarded a train bound for Richmond, Virginia on June 20, 1862 to serve with the Army of Northern Virginia and fight in McClellan's Peninsula campaign. The regiment arrived in Richmond on June 25, 1862, combined with other regiments and camped at the old fairgrounds north of the city. On July 2 the 53^rd fought in the Battle of Malvern Hill north of Richmond. They with stood heavy shelling and charged through the woods, briars, bushes and swamp knee deep with water and mud to rout the Yankee soldiers. After the battle the Regiments slept in the pouring rain with no tents while listening to the moans of wounded soldiers.

In the fall of 1862 they marched north into Maryland and fought in the Battle of Sharpsburg. The Regiment lost twelve killed and sixty-three wounded, and their elected Colonel Sloan died of his wounds. At times they survived long marches with little food and at other times they received plenty of food and rest. After a return and some rest near Richmond the Regiment fought in the Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville Campaigns before marching towards Gettysburg in June of 1863. The 53^rd suffered heavy casualties during the campaigns. After returning to Richmond by foot they boarded a train in mid September for Atlanta and on to Chattanooga arriving on September 20.

Starting in November they fought in the Tennessee Campaign under cold adverse conditions and suffered a large number of casualties. On March 30, 1864 the Regiment marched from their camp at Greenville, TN up the railroad to Bristol and then by train to Gordonville, VA to rejoin the Army of Northern Virginia for the Wilderness Campaign. They fought at Spottslyvania, Cold Harbor and other Battles before returning to Petersburg and Richmond in early August. In Late August the unit returned to northwestern Virginia and took part in battles including Cedar Creek and again returned to Richmond. The Army of Northern Virginia surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. Less than 120 men were left in the 10^th and 53^rd combined down from more than a 1000 men at the beginning of the war.

James was wounded twice first at Cedar Creek in the Shenandoah Valley of Northern Virginia on October 19, 1864 and then April 6, 1865 near Appomattox in Virginia. Both were flesh wounds. He was not listed as a parole of the Army of Northern Virginia issued at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865. This must have been due to his injury on April 6.

At the end of the war he trudged most likely by foot from Virginia back to his home in central Georgia. Along the route he may have stopped at farmer’s homes for food and to rest to relieve the pain from his battle wounds. When he returned to Monroe County he found many homes and mills destroyed by the union troops although the county was not pillaged as much as some just to the east. Most of Sherman's army moved to Savannah from Atlanta through Milledgeville rather than Monroe County. He later received the Southern Cross of Honor from the United Daughters of Confederacy. Somehow he lost his cross and on September 10, 1919 he applied and was approved to receive a new one.

Only Confederate Veterans were awarded the Southern Cross of Honor. Mrs. Mary Ann Erwin conceived the award to be given from the United Daughters of the Confederate to solders to honor their service to the south. The metal was in the shape of a maltese cross and is shown to the left.

AFTER THE WAR... James Simmons was listed in the 1870 Monroe Co, GA census with wife Sarah J. and two children, in the 1880 Jones Co, GA census with his second wife Nancy J. and five children, in the 1900 Attala Co, MS census with his third wife Annie and six children, and in the 1910 Attala Co, MS census just with wife Annie. His occupation was listed as a farmer. Family tradition says he and his family moved to Texas in the 1870's where Sarah Jane died in 1877. Before 1880 they moved back to Georgia. Back in Georgia he married Nancy Jane Newby.

Sometime around 1889 the family moved from Jones County to Attala Co, MS most likely for new better farmland. On September 2, 1903 he applied for a pension as an indigent solder of the late Confederacy under Chapter 73, Acts of 1900. He claimed that he was a farmer and unable to support himself. At the time he did not own any property and lived in a rented place. The pension application asked if he had any sons sixteen to twenty-one years of age? He answered, “two, but both left me and one of them is cripple.” Late in life he lived with his son Oscar’s family on a farm outside of Kosciusko, MS and spent some considerable time with his son Alva and daughters Bessie and Eula in 1917 and 1918. He died on December 12, 1922 from cancer of the bladder according to his death certificate. He had suffered from bladder problems and rheumatism for several years. His family buried him in Center Point Cemetery near the home of his son Frank in Attala Co, MS three and one half miles west of Kosciusko on Highway 19. I have found no picture of him, and the only information that I have on his looks is that he grew a long white beard late in life.

There is a marker in the cemetery with his, Nancy J, and son Preston's names on it. Each death date on the marker does not agree by two to five days with the dates used here which came from the bible records in reference 17 and his death certificate. On the marker he is listed as a Rev. with "Thy Will Be Done" under his name. No church records in this area of Mississippi mentions him as a preacher. His daughter and my grandmother Bessie Mama always claimed he was a Primitive Baptist minister. The Center Point School House held church services at times. This school was next to were he was buried; therefore, maybe he preached at the school on some Sundays.

Sarah Jenkins was born on May 6, 1846 in Jasper Co, GA, married James Simmons on February 11, 1864 in Jasper Co, GA and died on March 29, 1877 in TX.

Nancy Newby died on Jan 28, 1897 three months after her last child, Preston was born. Her family buried her at Center Point Cemetery, Attala Co, MS.

Annie Holly was born June 16, 1858 in Missouri and died on Jan. 28, 1913. She and James had no children. Her father was born in Ireland and her mother in Mississippi.

2. John William Simmons, born May 28, 1809 in GA; died January 11, 1873 in Monroe Co, GA. He was the son of 4. William Simmons and 5. unknown. He married 3. Bethiah Middlebrooks September 11, 1827 in Monroe Co, GA. Bethiah Middlebrooks, born January 14, 1811 in Monroe Co, GA; died June 03, 1877 in Monroe Co, GA. She was the daughter of Robert Middlebrooks and Nancy Talbot.

John Simmons became the Primitive Baptist preacher of the New Hope Primitive Church (organized on Feb. 6. 1813) on Caney Creek Road in northwestern Jones Co, GA in 1858 and served until 1871. He, also, preached at the Ephesus Baptist Church in Monroe County at least in 1866 and 1869 and belonged to the Towaliga Baptist Association from 1848 - 1856 and the Ocmulgee Baptist Association. Reverend Simmons and his wife lived on Julliette Road outside of Forsyth, GA, and the Monroe Co, GA census listed the family in the 1840, 1850, 1860, and 1870. In 1840 they owned one female slave. In 1850/1860/1870 his real estate/ personal property values were $3000/?, $10000/$10500 and $2300/$830. Also, two of his late brother James' children lived with his family in 1860, and the county appointed he and his brother-in-law Alfred Middlebrooks guardians of at least two children [Guardian Bonds 1837+1841 Monroe Co, GA courthouse].

John W. Simmons was listed in the 1828 and 1853 Monroe County Tax Digests located in the county courthouse. In 1828 he had no net worth, but in 1853 he owned over 600 acres, ten slaves and had a whole value of $11239. He bought and sold number of land plots in Monroe County from 1833 to 1869 including transferring land to his children. In addition, he was the administrator for his brother James estate in the 1850's.

He died intestate and the court appointed his son James M. Simmons and brother-in-law Alfred Middlebrooks administrator of his estate. He owned 516 acres of land at death (value about $7 per acre) and he was worth $5035 [Monroe County Minutes - Court of Ordinary Book D 1869-1877 p 268, Annual Returns Book O p 682 - 688 and Letters of Administration 1856 - 1920 p 64, Monroe Co, GA courthouse]. Descendants indicated that John William Simmons, his wife, and daughter Caroline were buried in unmarked graves off of Edwards Road near the marked grave of son-in-law Hiram Edwards. Three of his sons were reported to be very tall. See the picture of New Hope church above.

Bethiah Middlebrooks died intestate and the court appointed her brother Alfred Middlebrooks administrator of her estate [Letters of Administration 1856 - 1920 p 92, Monroe Co, GA courthouse].

Children of John Simmons and Bethiah Middlebrooks are: Nancy Simmons, born 1828 in Monroe Co, GA.; John William Simmons, Jr., born 1830 in Monroe Co, GA; died May 12, 1863 Spotsylvania, VA; married Sophronia (Sarah) Ann Pitts January 06, 1847 in Monroe Co, GA; born Abt. 1829. He and his wife Sarah had six children and were listed in the 1860 Monroe Co, GA census. He worked as a farmer. He joined Company D 45^th Regiment McCowan Guards, Confederate States of America and was a private on March 4, 1862. The company was made up of soldiers from Monroe County. He was killed in battle at Spotsylvania, VA.; Andrew Simmons, born 1832 in Monroe Co, GA; died 1832 in Monroe Co, GA.; Anna Caroline Simmons, born May 6,1834 in Monroe Co, GA; married J. Hiram Edwards 1855. The 1860 and 1880 Monroe County censuses listed them. He worked as a farmer and she at keeping the house. ; Missouri Jane Simmons, born July 19, 1834 in Monroe Co, GA; died October 22, 1886 in Navarro Co, TX; married Thomas Jefferson Cannon on April 10, 1853; born February 18, 1829 in Jasper Co, GA; died September 30, 1913 in Houston Co, TX.; James Robert Simmons, born 1838 in Monroe Co, GA; died January 08, 1863 in Fredericksburg, VA; married Elizabeth Chambliss in 1862; born December 12, 1841 Monroe Co, GA; died September 17, 1907 Monroe Co, GA.

The 1860 census listed him as a farmer/ laborer. On March 18, 1861 Robert enlisted as a private along with his brother James M. into Company K, 1^st Regiment, Georgia Infantry, Confederate States of America. On October 10, 1861 the Army appointed him 2^nd Sergeant. He mustered out at Augusta, GA on March 18, 1862 and reenlisted as a 2^nd Sergeant into Company K, 53^rd Regiment Georgia Infantry on May 6, 1862 along with his brother James. He died of smallpox at Fredericksburg, VA in 1863. ; Columbus Simmons, born 1839 in Monroe Co, GA; died 1859 in Monroe Co, GA.;
James Madison Simmons, born May 03, 1843 in Monroe Co, GA; died December 4, 1922 in Attala Co, MS; married (1) Sarah Jane Jenkins February 11, 1864 in Jasper Co, GA; married (2) Nancy Jane Newby February 14, 1878 in Jones, GA; married (3) Annie Murphy Holly April 18, 1898.; Adeline Bethiah Simmons, born 1845 in Monroe Co, GA.; Mary (Polly) E. Simmons, born 1846 in Monroe Co, GA; died 1906 in MS; married M. H. Thompson; Jefferson Simmons, born 1847 in Monroe Co, GA; died 1847 in Monroe Co, GA.; Josephine Simmons, born 1849 in Monroe Co, GA; died after 1917. Palestine (Pallie) Leigh Simmons, born September 08, 1851 in GA; died 1886 in Lindale, Smith Co, TX; married Samuel Jackson Williamson April 09, 1872; born April 08, 1851 in GA; died April 11, 1919 in Monroe Co, GA.; Frank Monroe Simmons, born 1853 in Monroe Co, GA; died 1902 in MS; married (1) Flora Bef. 1876; married (2) Mary J. Prather November 19, 1876.; Abye Roberta Simmons, born May 26, 1856 in Monroe Co, GA; died January 28, 1918 in Monroe Co, GA; married Samuel Jackson Williamson January 29, 1888 in Jones Co, GA; born April 09, 1851 in GA; died April 11, 1919 in Monroe Co, GA.

William Simmons, died 1825 in Jones Co, GA. He married 5. unknown. She died before 1814. He married Rachel Simmons October 26, 1814 in Jones Co, GA. She died after 1832. The 1820 Jones Co, GA census listed two William Simmons. Our William Simmons (1) died intestate in 1825 and a division of his estate was recorded in the Annual Returns Book F 1825 - 28 on page 23 dated January 4, 1826. The record listed Rachael as his widow and the county appointed trustees assigned her one slave. The record also listed Elizabeth Simmons as receiving about one hundred acres of land while Sophia, John and James Simmons each received one slave. George Washington Cook the husband of Ruth Simmons also received one slave. The record does not list them as his children, but one must conclude that the five Simmons were indeed his children by his unknown wife. The two children of Rachael born after 1814 were minors at the time and therefore not listed. See the write-up on Sophia and James below for confirmation that the seven were indeed brothers and sisters.

From examining the probate records it appears that Rachel married or was the only child of another William Simmons (II). This William died intestate most likely in early 1814 and a list and deposition of his estate was recorded on September 9, 1814 in the Jones County Record Book A page 127. Rachel received most of his estate, but there was no mention of their relationship (wife or daughter or other). Later in 1814 she married William Simmons (1) in Jones County. After he died in 1825 she was listed in the deposition of his property and in the 1830 Jones County census but not in the 1840 or 1850 Jones County censuses. On December 9, 1831 Alfred Middlebrooks sold Rachel one hundred acres of land for $344 [Jones Co, GA Deed Book P 1831-39 p50]. This land was likely the same one hundred acres Alfred's wife Elizabeth Simmons received from her father William in 1826. Rachel did not remarry in Jones County.

Children of William Simmons and unknown are: Elizabeth Simmons, born in GA; died July 26, 1854 in GA; married Alfred E. Middlebrooks March 08, 1831 in Jones Co, GA; born January 30, 1809 in Monroe Co, GA; died July 26, 1887 in Forsyth, Monroe Co, GA.;

The 1860 census listed him as a farmer with a personal wealth of $22,500. He fathered
ten children by Elizabeth and ten children by his second wife Nancy. Sixteen of the children lived to be adults and they produced a total of sixth-eight grandchildren for Alfred. Two of Elizabeth’s sons served for the Confederate States of America, and one, Calvin, was killed in action at Ocean Pond, FL in 1864.; Ruth Simmons, born in GA; married George Washington Cook Bef. 1826.; Sophia Simmons, born Abt. 1806 in GA; died May 05, 1873 in Jones Co, GA; married John S. Middlebrooks June 30, 1831 in Jones Co. GA; born Abt. 1807 in GA; died Bet. 1860 - 1870 in Jones Co, GA.

She and her husband lived on a farm and had no children. Their wills were recorded in Jones Co, GA. He left his estate to his wife and some nephews, and she left her estate to her brothers, sisters and one niece. She listed the names of her brother John W. and half brother Thomas, two sisters Ruth Cook and Elizabeth (deceased wife of Alfred Middlebrooks), half sister Adaline Pledger of Alabama and niece Elvina Stubbs (daughter of her brother James). She did not list her late brother James. Her will was written in 1868 but she was listed in the 1870 Jones County census age 64 working as a domestic. [Will Book E p 62 and 116-7, 1864 -1890, Jones Co, GA]

John S. Middlebrooks was Alfred Middlebrooks double first cousin; he was the son of Sims Middlebrooks (the brother of Robert who was Alfred’s and Bethiah’s father) and Elizabeth Talbert/Talbot (the sister of Nancy who was Alfred’s mother).

John William Simmons, born May 28, 1809 in GA; died January 11, 1873 in Monroe Co, GA; married Bethiah Middlebrooks September 11, 1827 in Monroe Co, GA.

James Simmons, born 1810 in GA; died Abt. 1850 in Jones Co, GA; married Piety Hart December 20, 1835 in Jones Co, GA; born Abt. 1812 in GA.

The court appointed James' brother John W. Simmons, brother-in-law John S. Middlebrooks and a Joseph Messer on January 14, 1850 to handle his estate [Bonds Guardianship and Administration Book B, p 164, 1841 - 1858, Jones Co, GA]. The Jones County 1850 census listed Piety as age 38 with her five children aged two to twelve.

Children of Rachel and William Simmons are: Thomas Simmons, born in GA; died Aft. 1868 in GA.;. Edaline or Adaline Simmons, born Abt. 1820 in Jones Co, GA; died in AL. She married (1) Elias Mims February 12, 1838 in Jones Co, GA; died Bef. 1850 in Jones Co, GA. She married (2) William M. Pledger Aft. 1850; She and her husband Elias are listed in the Jones County 1840 census. After her husband died sometimes between 1845 and 1850 she and her three children moved in with half sister Sophia per the 1850 Jones County census.

J. T. CASTLEBERRY, merchant, Cabaniss, Monroe Co., Ga., is a son of Jephtha and Susanna F. (Bass) Castleberry, and was born in Monroe county, April 24, 1845. His father was born in Warren county, Ga., and went toMonroe county about the time he reached his majority. He married soon afterward and engaged in farming, which he continued in Monroe county until 1856, when he removed to the vicinity of Indian Springs, in Butts county, where he died April 27, 1866. His wife survived him about twenty years, dying July 30, 1887. Of ten children there are now living: Mrs. Mary A. Tingle, Mrs Martha E. Roberts, Jeptha T., Mrs. Savannah F. Scarborough, William P., John P., Theresa M. and Mrs. Carrie O. Scarborough. As the civil war was precipitated about the time Mr. Castleberry reached the age when the blood runs hottest and the impulses are strongest, he hastened to volunteer as a member of Company A., Thirtieth Georgia regiment, and did his duty as a private in the Western army. He participated in the battles about Jackson, Miss., at Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, and was with Gen. Johnston as he retired before Gen. Sherman. In the memorable and bloody battle of July 22, 1864, his brother was mortally wonded, from which he died at La Grange on July 28, and he was himself severely wounded in the right leg below the knee and left on the field of battle. He was taken prisoner and kept within the enemy’s lines, most of the time at Chattanooga, until the surrender. Mr. Castleberry is the merchant at Cabaniss, a prosperous community in the northeastern portion of Monroe county, where he has been doing business since the war. His fine business ability and his great popularity in that section has attracted to him the large trade he enjoys. He is also conducting a quite large planting interest and operating three public ginneries at different points. Mr. Castleberry began his business life in 1868 as a clerk for Steele & Watson. In 1871 he bought an interest in the business, the firm then being Steele, Watson & Castleberry. In 1873, Steel & Castleberry bought out Mr. Watson, and in 1874 he (Mr. Castleberry) bought out his partner, and for the last twenty years has been sole proprietor. He carries a $2,000 stock of merchandise and plantation supplies and does a nearly cash business. Mr. Castleberry was married in Butts county, November 28, 1872 to Miss Maggie L., daughter of Richard W. Willis, a pioneer and substantial citizen of Butts county. They have had but one child, James E., nineteen years of age and a law student at Forsyth. Mr. Castleberry is an ardent democrat and a Missionary Baptist, and a reliable working member in each cause.

WILLIAM H. CASTLI N, planter, Culloden, Monroe Co., Ga., son of John and Eliza (Goodin) Castlin, was born near Taylorsville, Hanover Co., VA., Jan. 27, 1827. His grandfather, John Castlin, was a native of Wales, and came to America and settled in Virginia before the revolutionary war, he being a soldier in the patriot army. He had two sons, Andrew and John. Andrew died, and John, after his marriage, came with his family to Georgia and settled on the Flint River in Upson county. In 1845 he moved to Monroe County and settled where William, the subject of this sketch, now resides. In 1856 he removed to Macon, Ga., where he died in January 1861, aged seventy-three years. He started a very poor boy, but was a model farmer and manager, and left a quite large estate. He reared a family of ten children: John, Gold Hill, Ala.; Sarah, widow of a Mr. Coffin, Thomaston, Ga.,; W. H. the subject of this sketch; Flemming, physician, deceased; Ann, wife of Peyton L. Cocke, Bolingbroke, Ga.,; Edwin, White Bluff, Chatham Co., Ga.; Bradford, Thomaston, Ga.; Marcellus, merchant, Thomaston, Ga., ; Catherine, wife of Addison P. Cherry, South Mills, Camden Co., N. C.; Caroline, wife of John S. Timberlake. His wife died June 10, 1887 aged eighty-seven. Mr. Castlin was reared, and has continued to be a planter. In 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company D, Thirteenth Georgia regiment, and went to Savannah with the regiment. His health failing he returned home, and went into a regiment of state troops. He was again discharged on the ground of disability. About 1852 he removed from Monroe to Upson county, where he lived some years, then returned to near Culloden. After a brief stay he went to his Upson plantation again, where he remained until 1870, when he moved back to his present location. Mr. Castlin was married on the line of Monroe and Crawford counties, December 13, 1852, to Miss Mary A. daughter of Irvin H. Woodward. She was of an old and prominent family, and had two brothers of great influence, and who wwere high-toned, honorable gentlemen. To Mr. And Mrs. Castlin ten children have been born: Irvin H., drummer for Tidwell & Pope, Atlanta; Willie, wife of Charles Gray, Fort Valley, Ga., ; John H. deceased; Eugene, deceased; Woodward, at home; Sallie M., deceased; Clifford and William, both at home. In the suburbs of the far-famed old school town, Culloden, in an old-time southern mansion, Mr. Castlin is spending his declining years on a plantation of 1,600 acres. He has another in Upson county of 300 acres. He is a democrat and a master Mason. He is a member of the Methodist Church.
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WILLIAM P. CLEMENTS, merchant and postmaster, Brent, Monroe Co., Ga., son of Wesley and Jane (Smith) Clements, was born in Muscogee county, Ga., March 19, 1855. His grandfather, Davis Smith, one of the earliest settlers of the county \, was the son of Dixon and Elizabeth Smith, and was born in Washington county, Ga., in 1793. Early in life he engaged in merchandising in Dublin, Laurens Co., in which he was very successful. During this period Mr. Smith married Mrs. Elizabeth Jordan, and , in 1820, moved to Forsyth. Son afterward he acquired possession of the 400-acre tract of land on which William P. Clemments now lives, between five and six miles southwest of Forsyth. In 1825 he moved and settled upon it, and established a planting and mercantile interest which laid the foundation of a fortune. He carried on his business, and was a central figure in the community for a lifetime. He became one of the largest land and slave-owners in that locality, and attained to a strong and wide influence. At one time he owned 2,000 acres of land, and when emancipation was proclaimed he had some hundred slaves. He was elected colonel of militia, then regarded a distinction, and being a strong whig partisan and politician was elected several times to represent the county in the general assembly.

He was a Missionary Baptist, and began early in his Christian life to speak in public, and for the greater part of his lifetime was a local preacher of that denomination, Col Smith died in 1867, and his wife in 1868. They reared nine children: Miranda, widow of Orlando Holland, Monroe county; Mary, deceased; T. T., retired merchant, living at the old homestead; Davis, Habersham county, ga; Elizabeth and John D., both deceased; James, Macon, Ga.,; Judson, killed in the last battle of the war, at West Point, Ga.; Jane, married to Wesley Clemments, who was killed while in the Confederate service. By Wesley Clements she had three children: William P., the subject of this sketch; Thomas, in railway service, Athens, Ga., and Lizzie, wife of J. E. Chambliss, Macon, Ga., After the war Mrs. Clements married Thomas Y. Brent, formerly of Louisville, Ky. But now a merchant, Macon, Ga. By this last marriage she has two children: Taylor Y., plant, Monroe county, and J. I., merchant, Macon, Ga., William P. Clements was reared on a farm, in the community of which he is now a member. At the age of nineteen he embarked in the mercantile business, for which he has shown such remarkable aptitude, and in which he has been so successful. Besides the store he has large planting interest. Through his instrumentality the postoffice of Brent was established, of which was made postmaster. The firm is Brent & Clements, and carries a stock of $3,000, but Mr. Clements has the sole control and responsibility. The management of these three interest- plantation, store and postoffice - requires good business capacity, energy, close attention and up-to-date information, and all those Mr. Clements gives and displays. He evidently inherits the superior business sagacity and judicious enterprise of his grandfather Davis, combined with hustling activity, else he would prove unequal to his work. Politically Mr. Clements has always been devoted to the democracy, and feels that he is yet, so far as Jeffersonian principles are concerned. He ardently favors the reform embodied in the platform of the people’s party, and is giving his influence to its success. Mr. Clements was married Oct. 28, 1885, to Miss Sallie, daughter of Mrs. Julia D. Thweatt, of Forsyth. She was born in Columbus, and by her name will be recognized as a member of an old and very prominent family. Fourt children have been born to thenm: John Brent, deceased; Julia Thweatt, Jennie Brent and Marie Keto. Mr. Clements and his wife are active, enthusiastic Methodist; and he takes great interest in all church work, especially the Sunday school, of which he has been superintendent four years.

W. C. CORLEY, planter, Forsyth, Monroe Co., Ga., son of Austin W. and Margaret N. (Matthews) Corleyt, was born in Troup county, Ga., Oct. 24, 1838. His grandkfather, Austin V. Corley, of Irish descent, was born in South Carolina in 1745, and was a soldier in the revolutionary war. By his uprightness and thriftiness he attained to considerable influence, and was repeatedly elected a member of the legislature. Later in life he removed from South Carolina to Troup county, Ga., and thence, after some years, to Meriwether county, where he died in 1850 at the advanced age of 105 years. His wife, also very old, died about the same time. Both were devout, consistant members of the Missionary Baptist church. His father was born, reared and married in Richland Dist,m S. C., and the next fall after his marriage he removed in wagons to Troup county, Ga., and settled. The Indians were still there, and he helped to move them. He was absent thirty-six days during which time his wife and child were entirely alone. His parents lived in Troup county about twenty years, and then moved to Meriwether county, where his father died in 1868 and his mother in 1872. Although his father began life quite poor, he succeeded by his industry and frugality and good management in accumulating a comfortable fortune. He was a democrat and a warm partisan; himself and wife were active and prominent Missionary Baptist, and did much toward upbuilding and advancing the denomination wherever they lived. They reared seven children: J. E., planter, Baker Co., Ga.; Martha E. deceased; W. C., the subject f this sketch; S. M. single lady at home; Robert B., deceased; Simeon B. , deceased; Austin V., enlisted in Confederate armn, and was killed in battle of Perryville, Ky. Mr. Corley was reared partly in Troup and partly in Meriweather counties. When eighteen years old age went to Cuthbert, Ga., and became one of the firm of John R. Hull & Co. wholesale grocers. Several years afterward he went to Doughterty county and engaged in planting in that and in Calhoun county. The war between the states occurred while he was in business in Cuthbert and he enlisted in the Randolph Light guards, was made second sergeant, and while stationed at Pensacola participated in the Santa Rosa fight. His command did guard duty about Savannah for a time, was in the conflicts of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, was in the Georgia campaign, and finally surrendered at Bentonville, N.C. In 1877 he went to Monroe County, where, October 24 he was married to Miss Ellen S., daughter of Thomas and Sena Dewberry. This family was among the pioneers of the county, having settled in it in 1825, moving from Warren county. He was a wealthy planter before the war, worth probably $300,000, largely in several valuable tracts of land. Their children were: Madison, deceased; Thomas, Jr., deceased; William F., planter, Monroe county; Martha, deceased; Mary, widow, in Alabama; Sarah F., deceased; Jane, deceased; Amanda, deceased; Ellen S., deceased; Moses J., Monroe County; Berry w., Monroe county. Capt. Corley’s wife died childless, Feb. 25, 1894.* Her demise was sudden and unexpected, occasioned by internal hemorrage. She was reputed to have been one of the most beautiful ladies in the county, which was emphasized by a very delicate organization bordering on the ethereal. His delightful home is about six miles south of Forsyth, and contains 700 acres; and he has another tract of 800 acres near by. In addition he has 330 acres with half a mile of the city limits of Columbus, Ga. He is a great lover of fine stock, and is perfecting arrangements to establish a stock farm on the property near Columbus. Capt. Corley is a democrat in politics, and a Missionary Baptist. He is also a master Mason.

{*Note: I assume this means she outlived all of her children since were 11 listed)
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G. W. HEAD , planter and merchant, High Falls, Monroe Co., Ga., son of Dr. J. D. and Nancy H. (Underwood) Head, was born in Monroe County, Dec. 18, 1847. Mr. Head’s great-grandfather emigrated from England to Georgia before the revolutionary war, during which he served in the patriot army. On one occasion a band of tories visited his home and drove off all the stock. The old patriot visited his home soon after, and being told of the raid went to the tories and at the point of a pistol made them return the spoils. William Head, his grandfather, raised his family in Clarke county, Ga. Mr. Head’s father was a physician of no inconsiderable prominence, and married his wife in Putnam county. They raised a family of five children; Thomas j., planter, near Griffin, Ga., and a Primitive Baptist preacher; Savannah E., widow of Dr. L. J. Dupree, Milner, Ga., G. W., the subject of this sketch; Hattie H., single; Emily E., wife of R. F. Strickland, Griffin, Ga., His father died in 1882, and his mother in 1888. When he was six years old Mr. Head’s family moved to Butts county, where he was raised and educated. Not being old enough to enter the regular service during the war, he joined a cavalry troop of Georgia reserves and was principally with the scouting forces, where his experience oftentimes was very exciting, to say the least of it. On one occasion, when out on a scout, he fell in with the Texas brigade that surrounded the Union Gen. Kilpatrick, and was present when he broke through. He was about Atlanta on the same duty when Gen. Sherman held the city, and would often run into his scouts. He took the measles a little later, and was at home at the time of the surrender. After the war Mr. Head spent four years in the west, from Texas to California and Mexico, in stock business and mining, and one year in Pike county. He then returned to Butts county and engaged in farming with the most satisfactory results. He started with very small means, but prospered beyond his most sanguine expectation. He has added merchandising to his planting interest, and is one of the largest land-owners in Monroe county, owning 2,200 acres, and occupying a spacious brick dwelling near High Falls. The immediate surroundings are wildly beautiful and romantic in the extreme---few localities in Georgia surpass the locality in this respect. The name "High Falls" is derived from falls on the Towaliga river near by, the scenery presented to view being thus described in W. C. Richard's Georgia Illustrated, published half a century ago: "So fine is the view afforded from many different points that it is difficult to decide which is the most attractive; and passing from rock to rock the beholder is ever delighted with new features. This variety is the greatest charm of the scene. The river above the falls is about 300 feet wide, flowing swiftly over a rocky shoal. At its first descent it is divided by a ledge of rock, and forms two precipitous falls for a distance of fifty feet." The Towaliga is a stream of large volume and constant flow, and at this point has a fall of 100 feet within one-fourth of a mile. Great as the water-power is there is but one small grist-mill on it. Mr. Head was married in Monroe County, March 14, 1875, to Miss Carrie, daughter of J. G. and Eliza (Stewart) Phinazee, who has born him nine children: Lucy, Hattie, James P., Robert T., Nancy E., George D. , Carrie, Philip and Benjamin. For many years Mr. Head has been aflicted with rheumatism, and has to use an invalid wheel chair. Notwithstanding his affliction he is genial, jovial and hospitable, and hence, very companionable. He is an ardent populist, and a master Mason, member of Patillo Lodge No. 360.
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R. C. MCGOUGH, planter, and member of general assembly of Georgia for Monroe County, 1894-1895, son of Bob G. and Sandal (Cabaniss) McGough, was born Sept. 24, 1831. The McGoughs are of Scotch-Irish blood, whose ancestors were colonized in the north of Ireland during the protectorate of Oliver Cromwell. About 1760, Matilda Carson McGough, a widow with five or six children, in company with other emigrants, relatives and neighbors, settled in North Carolina. John McGough, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, though still a minor, enlisted in the patriot army under Col. William Washington and participated in the battles of Brandywine, Eutaw Springs and Saratoga, where he saw the proud Burgoyne surrender to Gen. Gates. He was twice wounded, once on the head by a saber in the hands of a British officer, and once by a gunshot. Soon after the revolution he was married to Margaret Mill and settled in Edgefield district, S. C. from which place he moved to White Plains, Greene County, GA. where he died in 1847, at the ripe age of eighty-six. Mr. McGough's maternal grandfather, George Cabaniss, was of a French Huguenot family, which settled in Maryland or Virginia early in the last century. About the beginning of this century he, G. C., came to Georgia, settled for a while in China Grove, in Oglethorpe county, from whence he moved to Jones county, where he farmed, merchandised and traded with the Indians from across the Ocmulgee river. Robert McGough, father of R. C., was born in Edgefield district, S. C. March 28, 1876 and was soon after brought by his father to White Plains, Ga., where he grew to manhood. In early life he settled in Jones county, where in 1810 he was married to Miss Sandal Cabaniss. To them were born ten children, six boys and four girls:
John, merchant, Columbus, Ga., accumulated quite a fortune in ante-bellum days, now deceased; Matthew O.., was never married, deceased; Sarah B., married to Jacob A. Clements, Buena Vista, Ga., ; Matilda died unmarried; Elizabeth, wife of Ezekiel Hollis of Brundidge, Ala., deceased; William T., mortally wounded at the battle of New Home Church, died in Atlanta, July 1864; George L., merchant, Columbus, Ga., deceased; Mary A., deceased, married to Robert Minten, Buena Vista, Ga.; Robert C., farmer, Marion county, Ga; C. C., entered First Georgia regiment, 1861, and after his time of enlistment expired joined the Forty-fifth Georgia, was made first lieutenant for gallantry on the field of battle, in 1862, and was killed leading a forlorn hope at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863. Robert McGough was a soldier in the war of 1812, and for his services drew a pension. He moved from Jones county, where he was married, to Monroe in 1823, clearing out a road through the primeval forest to his new home on Little Tobesofkee creek, where he opened a good plantation, reared and educated his children, and spent the remainder of his life. He was what is termed a good liver and accumulated a handsome property. Though he never connected himself with any church and did not believe in any creed except that of right conduct, he was always partial to the faith of his mother, who was a devout Presbyterian. He died without recantation, March 10, 1882, aged ninety-six years, lacking eighteen days. R. C. McGough received a preparatory education in the schools of the state in 1852, graduated in 1855, taught school the next year at Brownwood academy, LaGrange, then a flourishing institution under the management of Hooten & Cox, and the next two years at Russellville, Ga. He studied law under the Hon., Cincinnatus Peeples and was admitted to the bar in 1860; but war coming on immediately, he was engaged in the service of the Confederacy either as soldier, enrolling officer, or tax assessor during its whole continuance, and after its close retired to his farm. He served as postmaster under President Cleveland's first administration, but resigned in favor of the present incumbent before the expiration of his term.
Mr. McGough was married Jan. 10, 1860, to Maggie Hollis, daughter of one of the most successful farmers and earliest pioneers of Monroe county. His wife died April 9, 1871. To them were born five children: Thomas H., now a merchant at Leavenworth, Wash. ; Maud, Nell and Robert at home,; and May, wife of Dr. F. L. Cato, DeSoto, Ga. Robert was graduated with the degree of A. B. at the Georgia university in 1890.
Mr. McGough after the death of his consort, devoted himself to the rearing and education of his children, endeavoring to supply the place of both father and monther. He has a good library and devotes much of his time reading and tries to keep in full accord with the progress of the age. He has an interesting family and kind and appreciative neighbors. He is a rationalist, believing that faith should be subordinate to reason. He is a true democrat, who thinks as long as reason is unfettered, humanity will advance; that all repressive laws that cannot be enforced are mischievous, the parent of crime, and the greatest government is the greatest individual liberty consistent with the rights of others. Top of Page

E. M. MOORE, planter, Forsyth, Monroe C., Ga., son of John and Nancy (Curry) Moore, was born in Monroe county, June 15, 1827. His grandfather, Elijah Moore, migrated from Maryland to Georgia in the latter part of the last century, and settled in Baldwin county, where he died