Hello to All, I need information on Ace Simmon. 1930 Taylor County Census states: Ace Simmons (H) w m 52 ggg farmer Clara (w) w f 45 ggg Marriage Records Crawford County, Georgia Ace Simmon married Clara Long on 1-05-1906 Does anyone have any more information on Ace Simmon and his family? Thank you for your time and assistance, Brenda

After recently reading some of the Ebenezer Baptist Church minutes, I received these comments from Clarence D. White on his memories of Ebenezer Baptist Church and the surrounding area when he was a boy. I grew up on a farm less than a mile from Ebenezer in the '50s and '60s. Our landlord was Miss Mary Battle, a spinster who was Judge of the Ordinary/Probate Court of Schley County. These Battles owned over three thousand acres around Ebenezer. The mother, I believe, was named Josephine. We called her Miss Jo. She and Miss Mary lived in Ellaville and were members of Ellaville Baptist. Miss Jo had several children including a son who lived in So GA or Florida who would bring his buddies in fall and winter to the land for quail hunting. We often attended the black Ebenezer Baptist where there were a few members with the Battle name. C.T. Battle, who was schools supt. for Schley at the time, was Miss Mary's cousin. My mother and I always suspected that there was a connection between the Tazewell Battles and the Ebenezer/Ellaville Battles. As a boy I saw the tornado that destroyed the white Ebenezer Baptist in late 1954 or early 1955. We were standing mesmerized in a window and saw the tornado coming, with the church frame, cows, etc. swirling in it, headed straight for our house. It came within less than a quarter mile from us when it mercifully veered off across a field, where it dropped piles of church pieces and other debris. The twister skipped around Ellaville, killing 5, I think it was. Would be interested to know the names of any black members of Ebenezer that might come from the church minutes. Clarence D. White [email protected]

Ernest Chappel Stevens was the son of Robert Williamson Stevens and Alice Fulford. He was born 23 May 1908 and died 11 October 1996. His paternal grandparents were Putnam Sparks Stevens and Louisa Josephine Hurt Stevens. Paternal great grandparents were Hampton Stevens and Attalissa Sparks Stevens. Judy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harris Hill" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 4:50 PM Subject: [GAMARION] Drane/Stevens House Buena Vista > Here is some is info on one of the residents of the Drane/Stevens house > in Buena Vista, from Pat Lowe [email protected] > > I beleive this was the home of Ernest Chappell Stevens and Ann Ansley > Allison, dau of Charles Aaron Allison and Sophronia Ansley. I don't know > any more about his parents/siblings etc. > > But I do have some info on his wife, Ann Allison Stevens, who died, in 1952, > when her two sons were 3-4 years old. Therefore, her sister Miss LaVerna > Allison came to live with her brother in law to help raise the boys. Miss > LaVerna never married and was a school teacher in Buena Vista, Ga. > > Here is a little biography of her from > "Thomas Ansley, a history of descendants, Warren County, GA" > vol 1, p > 58-59 by Phyllis Ansley Griffin > La Verna Allison graduated from college in College Park GA. She was the > principal of the Lyons High School in Lyons, GA. She also taught school in > Buena Vista, GA in the Jr. High School and retired from teaching there. She > was > Superintendent of Sunday School at the Oglethorpe Ga, Baptist Church. She > also > ran a gift shop in Buena Vista GA. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma > sorority and Outstanding Teachers of the World. After her sister, Ann, died, > La > LaVerna helped to raise Ann's children. > > In her later years, LaVerna and her sister Katherine, then a widow, lived > together in the Atlanta area. I visited with them in their home in Marrietta > and found them to be very charming and gentile women. They were very well > educated and articulate women. Quintessencial southern women! > > They were able to confirm a few details for me about my (our) ancestor, > Henry L Allison and his three wives, Ann P Rainey, Mary Ann Lanier and her > sister, Ruth Lanier. They never knew he had 3 wives. They descend from the > middle wife, Mary Ann Lanier, but always thought that the last wife, Ruth > Lanier, was their grandfather's mother since apparently she raised the > younger children. > > My 2nd great grandfather is Francis Randolph Allison, (child of Henry L > Allison and Ann P Rainey, and their grandfather, William Peter Allison are > half brothers. > > Here are my sources for William Peter Allison > CENSUS: 1900 Marion Co Ga with Genie > 1850 Census Randolph Co Ga > 1860, 1870 Marion Co Ga > 1920 Marion Co ED 74-9 liv with wife Genie and grdau Rosie Nutt > MARRIAGE: Marion Co GA Bk b p 156 > FAMILY HISTORY: Info from Katherine Turner & LaVerna Allison grand daughters > say WP is buried in Providence Cemetary,Marion Co Ga > DEATH: WP was 83 year old when he died from general dability (sic), old age, > and worn out. Residence in 948th dist-Brantley Ga > FAMILY HISTORY:Uncle Leon told me that he read an article in the Atlanta > Constitution about WP Allison who was the oldest Baptist preacher in GA. > but since it is not indexed, I haven't found that article yet. > CHURCH HISTORY: Mercer University, Macon, Georgia; Baptist Ministerial > Directory 1899 by Lasher; > Note: William P Allison, born Terrell Co Ga, licensed in 1880, ordained Mar > 14, 1882, minister of New Providence Church 1883-85; Friendship Baptist > Association Union Ga 1885-92; (Mt Zion Missionary Baptist Church) Cusseta GA > 1890-1891; Emmaus 1887-98; Tazewell 1893-96; Brantley GA 1899. > > > > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > >

Hello List, I happened to notice a mention of William P. Allison in the email about the Drane-Stevens Home in Buena Vista. Rev. Allison was the Pastor of the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Chattahoochee County while my GGGGrandfather, William P. Fielder, was the Clerk of the Church. If anyone is interested, I transcribed the minutes of this church several years ago and they are posted on the Chattahoochee County page. The dates that Rev. Allison served at this church are listed below. Carla Miles THE CHURCH MINUTES OF MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH CHATTAHOOCHEE COUNTY, GEORGIA DECEMBER 31, 1882 - JULY 1, 1893 Pastors of the Church: G.W. Weekley, December 31, 1882 - January 6, 1884 W.P. Allison, February 3, 1884 - December 5, 1891 H.H.E. Hawkins, 1891 - July 1, 1893 (The book ends as of this date) -----Original Message----- From: Harris Hill [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 4:50 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [GAMARION] Drane/Stevens House Buena Vista Here is some is info on one of the residents of the Drane/Stevens house in Buena Vista, from Pat Lowe [email protected] I beleive this was the home of Ernest Chappell Stevens and Ann Ansley Allison, dau of Charles Aaron Allison and Sophronia Ansley. I don't know any more about his parents/siblings etc. But I do have some info on his wife, Ann Allison Stevens, who died, in 1952, when her two sons were 3-4 years old. Therefore, her sister Miss LaVerna Allison came to live with her brother in law to help raise the boys. Miss LaVerna never married and was a school teacher in Buena Vista, Ga. Here is a little biography of her from "Thomas Ansley, a history of descendants, Warren County, GA" vol 1, p 58-59 by Phyllis Ansley Griffin La Verna Allison graduated from college in College Park GA. She was the principal of the Lyons High School in Lyons, GA. She also taught school in Buena Vista, GA in the Jr. High School and retired from teaching there. She was Superintendent of Sunday School at the Oglethorpe Ga, Baptist Church. She also ran a gift shop in Buena Vista GA. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma sorority and Outstanding Teachers of the World. After her sister, Ann, died, La LaVerna helped to raise Ann's children. In her later years, LaVerna and her sister Katherine, then a widow, lived together in the Atlanta area. I visited with them in their home in Marrietta and found them to be very charming and gentile women. They were very well educated and articulate women. Quintessencial southern women! They were able to confirm a few details for me about my (our) ancestor, Henry L Allison and his three wives, Ann P Rainey, Mary Ann Lanier and her sister, Ruth Lanier. They never knew he had 3 wives. They descend from the middle wife, Mary Ann Lanier, but always thought that the last wife, Ruth Lanier, was their grandfather's mother since apparently she raised the younger children. My 2nd great grandfather is Francis Randolph Allison, (child of Henry L Allison and Ann P Rainey, and their grandfather, William Peter Allison are half brothers. Here are my sources for William Peter Allison CENSUS: 1900 Marion Co Ga with Genie 1850 Census Randolph Co Ga 1860, 1870 Marion Co Ga 1920 Marion Co ED 74-9 liv with wife Genie and grdau Rosie Nutt MARRIAGE: Marion Co GA Bk b p 156 FAMILY HISTORY: Info from Katherine Turner & LaVerna Allison grand daughters say WP is buried in Providence Cemetary,Marion Co Ga DEATH: WP was 83 year old when he died from general dability (sic), old age, and worn out. Residence in 948th dist-Brantley Ga FAMILY HISTORY:Uncle Leon told me that he read an article in the Atlanta Constitution about WP Allison who was the oldest Baptist preacher in GA. but since it is not indexed, I haven't found that article yet. CHURCH HISTORY: Mercer University, Macon, Georgia; Baptist Ministerial Directory 1899 by Lasher; Note: William P Allison, born Terrell Co Ga, licensed in 1880, ordained Mar 14, 1882, minister of New Providence Church 1883-85; Friendship Baptist Association Union Ga 1885-92; (Mt Zion Missionary Baptist Church) Cusseta GA 1890-1891; Emmaus 1887-98; Tazewell 1893-96; Brantley GA 1899. ============================== Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237

Here is some is info on one of the residents of the Drane/Stevens house in Buena Vista, from Pat Lowe [email protected] I beleive this was the home of Ernest Chappell Stevens and Ann Ansley Allison, dau of Charles Aaron Allison and Sophronia Ansley. I don't know any more about his parents/siblings etc. But I do have some info on his wife, Ann Allison Stevens, who died, in 1952, when her two sons were 3-4 years old. Therefore, her sister Miss LaVerna Allison came to live with her brother in law to help raise the boys. Miss LaVerna never married and was a school teacher in Buena Vista, Ga. Here is a little biography of her from "Thomas Ansley, a history of descendants, Warren County, GA" vol 1, p 58-59 by Phyllis Ansley Griffin La Verna Allison graduated from college in College Park GA. She was the principal of the Lyons High School in Lyons, GA. She also taught school in Buena Vista, GA in the Jr. High School and retired from teaching there. She was Superintendent of Sunday School at the Oglethorpe Ga, Baptist Church. She also ran a gift shop in Buena Vista GA. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma sorority and Outstanding Teachers of the World. After her sister, Ann, died, La LaVerna helped to raise Ann's children. In her later years, LaVerna and her sister Katherine, then a widow, lived together in the Atlanta area. I visited with them in their home in Marrietta and found them to be very charming and gentile women. They were very well educated and articulate women. Quintessencial southern women! They were able to confirm a few details for me about my (our) ancestor, Henry L Allison and his three wives, Ann P Rainey, Mary Ann Lanier and her sister, Ruth Lanier. They never knew he had 3 wives. They descend from the middle wife, Mary Ann Lanier, but always thought that the last wife, Ruth Lanier, was their grandfather's mother since apparently she raised the younger children. My 2nd great grandfather is Francis Randolph Allison, (child of Henry L Allison and Ann P Rainey, and their grandfather, William Peter Allison are half brothers. Here are my sources for William Peter Allison CENSUS: 1900 Marion Co Ga with Genie 1850 Census Randolph Co Ga 1860, 1870 Marion Co Ga 1920 Marion Co ED 74-9 liv with wife Genie and grdau Rosie Nutt MARRIAGE: Marion Co GA Bk b p 156 FAMILY HISTORY: Info from Katherine Turner & LaVerna Allison grand daughters say WP is buried in Providence Cemetary,Marion Co Ga DEATH: WP was 83 year old when he died from general dability (sic), old age, and worn out. Residence in 948th dist-Brantley Ga FAMILY HISTORY:Uncle Leon told me that he read an article in the Atlanta Constitution about WP Allison who was the oldest Baptist preacher in GA. but since it is not indexed, I haven't found that article yet. CHURCH HISTORY: Mercer University, Macon, Georgia; Baptist Ministerial Directory 1899 by Lasher; Note: William P Allison, born Terrell Co Ga, licensed in 1880, ordained Mar 14, 1882, minister of New Providence Church 1883-85; Friendship Baptist Association Union Ga 1885-92; (Mt Zion Missionary Baptist Church) Cusseta GA 1890-1891; Emmaus 1887-98; Tazewell 1893-96; Brantley GA 1899.

Marion County GaArchives Photo place.....Old Tazewell Courthouse (Nat'l Historic Register) ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Harris Hill [email protected] February 3, 2004, 5:55 am Source: "A History of Marion County, Georgia Motherland to Many" Photo can be seen at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ga/marion/photos/ph585oldtazew.jpg Image file size: 93.6 Kb This old courthouse later became the general store and post office. Records were found of the sale of it when the county seat was moved to Buena Vista, but none of the buyer. It belongs to Masonic Lodge # 14, established in 1838. ---------Marker---------- OLD COURTHOUSE - 1848 This courthouse built in 1848 at a cost of $1,637 replaced one built in 1839 and was burned in 1845. The courthouse now in use was built at Buena Vista, then Pea Ridge, in 1850 when the county seat was moved. The First court-house in Marion County was at Horry. Members of Marion Lodge No. 14 F. & A.M. established in 1840 have met in this old courthouse since its construction. Prior to this they met in the courthouse that was burned. This courthouse now marks the exact center of the new city limits established by incorporation in 1953. =========================================== Old Marion County Courthouse ** (added 1980 - Building - #80001116) GA 137, Tazewell Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event Architect, builder, or engineer: Wall,L.W. Architectural Style: Other Area of Significance: Economics, Architecture, Communications, Politics/Government, Law Period of Significance: 1825-1849, 1850-1874 Owner: Private Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Government, Social Historic Sub-function: Clubhouse, Courthouse, Department Store Current Function: Unknown Additional Comments: I would like to thank Rena Cobb, author of "A History of Marion County, Georgia Motherland to Many" for her willingness to allow use of this photograph. Photo has been resized for the GaArchives This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 2.3 Kb

Clarence White is working on a book on the history of the Samuel Chapel AME Church in Marion County. He is seeking add'l material for the book. If any of you might have material that would aid in the history, I know Clarence would be appreciative. His discussion of the book and the material he seeks is listed below. Harris History of Samuel Chapel AME Church, Marion County, Georgia For a history of the church, I would appreciate receiving any of the following items: memories and recollections, photographs, letters, programs, obituaries of members, funeral programs of members, minutes, ledgers, membership rolls, names of pastors and presiding elders with dates of service, family histories and biographical information of the Shipps and Hartages, historical information on the old Sales Chapel AME Church and on Mahala Chapel AME Church. Written anecdotes or memories of specific incidents or events would be especially welcome, as would audio tapes or video tapes of such recollections. I will acknowledge each source in the book. I also seek similar items on the old White Pearl Lodge #30 of the Mutual Benefit Society, which will be covered in a chapter of the book. Xeroxed copies of old material will be adequate. I will copy any original material shared and return it promptly to the owner. I plan to self-publish a soft cover history of 150 to 175 pages in 2005 or 2006 titled Gathered in His Name; A History of Samuel Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Marion County, Georgia. Clarence D. White 50 Belmonte Circle, SW Atlanta, GA 30311-2771 Tel. 404.753.8144 FAX 404.753.8144 E-mail: [email protected]

This from Norma Wilkinson of the Marion list on the subject of sporting. We speculated as to the meaning of this term as used in the Ebenezer minutes a short time back. Harris, a few days ago several of us joined in on the possible definition of 'sporting' mentioned in the church discipline. Shortly thereafter my Bible study in Genesis 26:8 (KJV) had this, "...Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife." This was after Isaac had told the king she was his sister. Norma That was from the King James Version. Additional insight can be gathered by reading the same passage from other versions. >From the New International Version: "When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Phiistines looked down from a window and saw Issac caressing his wife Rebekah." >From the New Living Translation: "But some time later, Abimelech, king of the philistines, looked out a window and saw Issac fondling Rebekah." >From the New American Standard Bible: "It came about, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out through a window, and saw, and behold, Isaac was caressing his wife Rebekah." It would seem that "sporting" is definitely not gambling. Harris

Marion County GaArchives Photo place.....Drane/Stevens Home (Nat'l Historic Register) ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Harris Hill [email protected] February 2, 2004, 8:48 pm Source: A History of Marion County, Georgia Motherland of Many Photo can be seen at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ga/marion/photos/ph583draneste.jpg Image file size: 91.2 Kb Morgan Towne House Restaurant and Bed & Breakfast of Buena Vista was the home built for Dr. W.A. Drane. The attractive old home is at the corner of Church Street and Fourth Avenue, Buena Vista. This was also the childhood home of Ernest Stevens and was refferred to as the Stevens House. Bob Swearingen boarded in the front upstairs bedroom to go to high school in Buena Vista due to lack of transportation from Tazewell. This home is onnthe National Historic Registry. Drane--Stevens House (added 1999 - Building - #99000899) Church St. bet. Fourth and Fifth Ave., Buena Vista Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering Architectural Style: Classical Revival Area of Significance: Architecture Period of Significance: 1900-1924 Owner: Private Historic Function: Domestic Historic Sub-function: Single Dwelling Current Function: Domestic Current Sub-function: Hotel Additional Comments: I would like to thank Rena Cobb, author of "A History of Marion County, Georgia Motherland to Many" for her willingness to allow use of this photograph. Photo has been resized for the GaArchives This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 1.8 Kb

Harris, a few days ago several of us joined in on the possible definition of 'sporting' mentioned in the church discipline. Shortly thereafter my Bible study in Genesis 26:8 (KJV) had this, "...Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife." This was after Isaac had told the king she was his sister. Norma

BlankMartha Rainey [email protected] thinks she knows who the H__ Battle was that was chosen on the committee to discipline Bro. ? Battle. "I think the H__ Battle was possible Hartwell Battle a half brother of Cullen L. Battle. I am so glad I did not live back then. It is unbelievable that they could excommunicate their own relatives. I wonder what they would think of the world today." June 9th 1855 Taken up the case of Bro. _?_ Battle for Drunkeness and expeled him wint into choise of delegate to _?_ meeting H__ Battle and Wiggins with _?_ for the association C. L. Battle

Uh!!...Oh!! This batch of minutes deals with church discipline again. I doubt the punishment for such offenses would be so severe today. I suppose that makes a statement in itself. It's a far different world we live in today. Harris begin 203-211 November 10th 1854 Baptist Church of Christ met in Conference, Jasper Hoge mod open the dore of the church for the Resption, recd none Call for Reffrence, take up and continued the case of Margann Countryman, committy C.L. Battle CC Decb 9th 1854 Baptist Church of Christ at Ebenezer met in Conference Bro. Jaspir Hog_ mod ( written above this name is _?_ Belcher) open dore for the Reseption of members, non Call for Reffrence when the church taken up the case of Margann Countryman for having a Basterd Child and excommunicated her Bro W.G. Davidon call for a letter of Dis for himself and wife C.L.Battle CC January 13 1855 Baptist Church of Christ at Ebenezer met in conference, Bro. I. Hart mod open the dore for the reseption of members, non Call for Reffrence _?_ the church chose Bro. Hart as pastor the present year C.L. Battle CC February 10th 1855 Baptist Church of Christ at Ebenezer met in Confrence, Bro. Hart mod open the dore Church for the Reseption of members 2 call for Reffrences when Bro. Hart agreed to serve the church present year March 10th 1855 Baptist Church of Christ at Ebenezer met in Conference, Bro. I Hart Mod open the dore Church for _?_ Reseption of Members 2nd call for Refference, taken up case of William Clements for Drunkness and appointed Bro.Battle and Barlow committy April 14th 1855 Baptist Church of Christ at Ebenezer met in conference, Bro. Hart mod open the dore of Church Reseption of members Call for Reffrence, taken up the case of William Clements. Committy reported unfavorable when the excommunicated him fo Drunkness and _?_ C.L. Battle May 12 1855 Baptist Church of Christ at Ebenezer met in Conference, I. Hart mod open the dore for the Resption of members when Sister Rogers com forward with a letter and was cordially Recd 2nd Call for reffence wen a committy Purifoy, Barlow, and Battle to see _?_ W. Robberts and E. Battle on public Reports June 9th 1855 Georgia Sumter Co. The Baptist Church of Christ at Ebenezer met in conference, Bro. Hart Md 1st open the dore of the church for the Reseption of member 2 call for Refference when the case of Brother Wm Roberts for Immoral conduct. _?_ Roberts being present give the church Satisfaction Taken up the case of Bro. _?_ Battle for Drunkeness and expeled him wint into choise of delegate to _?_ meeting H__ Battle and Wiggins with _?_ for the association C. L. Battle July 11th 185_ Baptist Church of Christ Ebenezer met in Conference, Hart mod 1 open the dore of the church for the Resption of Members Those minutes not having bin Incerted are lost or mislade end #203-211

Wasn't Clarence White's work so interesting to read? I'm hoping that others will have some information to share about these African-American families --- and especially the churches and cemeteries he mentions. Within his research he mentions the white families that they lived with -- so if you are researching those families, I'm sure that would also be of interest. We have one Battle bio online http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ga/schley/bios/bs39.txt If you have worked with any Slave Schedules and can identify even some of the slaves (listed only by ages)....we'd like to add that as well. =========== old Sales Chapel AME at Brantley (Old Red Bone area) Union Hill AME Church, later renamed Samuel Chapel after Samuel Shipp—father of the Shipp brothers African Methodist Episcopal church at the abandoned old Good Hope Church at Doyle in 1925 Mahala Chapel =================

Marion-Schley County GaArchives History .....Hardage, Battle & Shipp Families of Marion County, Georgia during slavery and reconstruction 1860-1880 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Charles D. White [email protected] February 1, 2004, 10:18 pm The African Hartage, Battle, and Shipp Families of Marion County, Georgia during Slavery and Reconstruction by Clarence D. White Presented to the Ninth Hartage Family Reunion Atlanta, Georgia August 8-11, 2002 When Rev. George W. Hartage and the Shipp brothers decided to organize a new African Methodist Episcopal church at the abandoned old Good Hope Church at Doyle in 1925, their work was probably easier than it might have been because they were all long-time friends. The Hartages and Shipps had known each other since slavery times and were from the same area of Marion County: the old Red Bone district. This colorful name was dropped in 1878 and the village became known as Brantley, according to Nettie Powell in her 1931 History of Marion County 1827-1930. Brantley is four miles north of Buena Vista on Highway 41 and adjacent to Tazewell, which lies to the east. George Hartage and the several Shipp brothers chose wives who were either from Brantley or nearby Tazewell. He wedded Laura Jane Battle whose family lived near Tazewell. Union Hill AME Church, later renamed Samuel Chapel after Samuel Shipp—father of the Shipp brothers, would probably never have happened without this shared history. The other enabling circumstance was that the Shipps had relocated at Doyle and the Hartages were living in the area as well. The Shipps apparently grew weary of the ten-mile journey to the old Sales Chapel AME at Brantley. George and Laura Hartage might have desired a church more convenient than Mahala Chapel AME, where they were members and which was about five miles away. In this paper I report on the history of these three families from the late slavery period until 1880, three years after the official end of Reconstruction. The reader will recall that Reconstruction began after the end of the Civil War in 1865 and extended to 1877. It was a period during which the Federal government controlled the governments of the states of the Southern Confederacy, which had seceded before the war, in order to implement certain political, social and economic changes following the end of slavery. These states were then readmitted to the union. My report relies mainly on census data. I examined these data against the background of Nettie Powell’s History of Marion County, together with historical maps, historical facts and other historical information for Marion County contained on the web site of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia in Athens. I looked at the entire census for Marion County for the following years: 1860—both the slave census and the census of free persons, 1870, 1880 and 1900. (The 1890 census for most of the U.S. was destroyed in a warehouse fire.) For a reality check I visited the Brantley, Tazewell, Mahala Chapel, and Doyle areas on Tuesday, August 6, 2002. The Hartages The history of the African Hartages in Marion County during slavery is easy to trace because there was only one: Webster Joshua, who was the only slave belonging to Zachariah Hardage and Delilah Hardage. (This is the usual spelling of this old English surname. When George, oldest son of Webster Joshua, learned to read and write, he changed the spelling, whether deliberately or in error is not clear.) The census of 1860 lists a nine-year- old black male slave living in the household of this couple at Red Bone along with their three children aged 4, 3 and 1. The slave censuses did not list the slaves by name, only the name of their owner, their sex and age, and the number of slave houses. We can be sure, however, of Webster’s identity because the 1870 census lists him by name, age 18, as living in the household of his former owners at Red Bone along with their five children. One wonders if Webster Joshua was an orphan or if he had been separated from his family through a sale. Zack and Delilah Hardage may have been able to afford only him. They were of modest means, owning 300-400 acres of land, according to the valuation in the 1860 census. So Webster Joshua would have been born in 1851 or 1852, according to the census data. He married Manerva Butts or Mathis in 1872. She already had two sons: Jonas Butts and a younger son named Bris or Briscoe. Webster Joshua accepted Bris as his own and gave him his surname. The couple’s first-born, George, issued in 1873. In the 1880 census, they were enumerated in the Tazewell district, a large area that stretched from Brantley all the way east to the Schley County line. It included the Mahala Chapel area, Doyle and Putnam. Whether they had already moved to the large farm near Mahala Chapel owned by one of the several Hoggs in this district and where the Hartage family lived for many years is not clear. The 1880 census indicates that neither Webster nor Manerva could read or write. In addition to Bris, 8, and George, 7, the couple had Martha or Mattie, 3, and Richard or Robert, 8 months. Webster Joshua died around 1887 at age 35 or 36. His grave location is unknown. Manerva, who died in 1927, is buried in Mahala Chapel Cemetery. Webster Joshua’s slave owners are buried at New Providence Baptist Cemetery at Brantley across the fence and about 25-30 yards from where Samuel Shipp and his sons are buried in the Shady Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. The Battles In 1860 there were three whites by the name of Battle who owned slaves in the Tazewell district: Rhody Battle who had three slaves in two houses, W.L. Battle who had 21 slaves in four houses, and John R. Battle who had 18 slaves in three houses. Henry Battle, the father of Laura Jane Battle who married George Hartage in 1896, could have come from either the W.L. Battle plantation or the John R. Battle plantation. He was born between 1832 and 1842. The census records for 1880 and 1900 are in sharp conflict as to his age and year of birth. (He could not be located in the 1870 census, which is not unusual because of the upheaval, displacement and dislocation in the aftermath of emancipation and the war.) The writer inclines toward the later date. By 1880 he was married to a woman named Tymy whose family is unknown. They had nine children: Ann, 14, Martha, 13, Pinkney, 12, Lucy, 9, Harrison or William Harris, 7, Lula, 6, Olela, 6, Oscar, 4 and Laura, 2. Neither Henry nor Tymy could read or write. Tymy passed around 1890. Henry remarried in 1899 after practically all his children had left the nest. He lived until 1927. The places of burial of Henry and Tymy are unclear. The Shipps Several families by the name of Shipp were among the earliest settlers of Marion County, which was created in 1827. They were from North and South Carolina, were for the most part wealthy planters, and they settled from Brantley west to the Kinchafoonee district and beyond. When Chattahoochee County was created in part from Marion County in 1854, some of the Shipp plantations were incorporated into the new county. When they arrived in Marion County to claim land that they acquired either through the land lottery or through other means, they would have brought their slaves with them. So like their masters, the slaves owned by the Caucasian Shipps most likely came from the Carolinas. The census of 1860 shows a David Shipp, 60, living with his wife, Lucina, 55, and a son David, 18, at Red Bone. He owned 2,500 to 3,000 acres of land but had only three slaves at his homestead. The slaves were living in a separate house. There was a female, 40, a male, 18, and a female, 12. When compared to age data in the 1870 census, it seems that the slaves would have been Samuel Shipp, his sister Louiza, and their mother. The 1870 census shows Samuel Shipp, 30, married to Carry (Mary) Bonnett or Barret, 25. Living with them were John R., 10, Ellen, 4, Emma, 3, and Albert, 1. Samuel’s sister Louiza, 23, was enumerated in the next house where she lived with Henry and Daffne Story, 23 and 18 respectively, and one Bradford Gray, 22. One could question whether John R. is the child of Samuel and Mary Shipp or whether his age is correctly stated. In any case, he was not enumerated with them in the census of 1880. Neither Samuel nor Mary could read or write in 1870. Although the 1880 census of the household of Samuel Shipp contains some obvious errors in age, the data will be reported as recorded. Listed were Samuel, 45, Mary, 35, Lula Barret--Mary’s daughter, 15, Albert, 14, James, 13, William, 11, Menzer, 8, Joseph, 6, Arto, 5, Ellen, 15, Emma, 14, and Louisa, 30. Samuel had learned to read and write by 1880; Mary could not. Samuel Shipp died some time after 1900; his wife Mary died in 1905. Conclusion Neither Samuel Shipp nor Webster Hartage was plantation-reared. They were both raised close to their masters as personal servants, which gave them an advantage and improved their social and economic chances and opportunities in life. Although Samuel was about 12 years older than Webster, in the close-knit slave community of Red Bone they would certainly have known each other, especially since they were from the same social class. Additional Comments: Comments by Harris Hill. This is not only an excellent piece of research on the families mentioned here but a very educational piece on some of the early African-American churches of Marion County. Any additional information or discussion is welcomed. This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 10.0 Kb

199-202 Saturday July 11th 1854 Baptist Church of Christ at Ebenezer met conferance 1 open the dore of the church for the reseption, recd no 2 called for refferance, non 3 call for new mater, non C.L. Battle Bro. Jasper Hog__ mod August 10th 1854 Baptist Church of Christ met in conferance 1 open the dore of the church for the reseption of members, recd none 2 called for refferances, non 3 call new matter, non C.L.Battle Clk Jasper Hog_ md September 7th 1854 Baptist Church of Christ at Ebenezer met in conferance _?_ Open the dore of the church for the reseption of members when Sister Mary Smith came forward with a letter and was recieved, also Martha Smith Recd on experance of Grace, Also John Young _?_ and 1 (one) collord Brother John Jackson restored to the church and his wife Elizabeth taken under the wach care of the church 3 went into the election of Delegates to Repsent us in the Columbus Association when Bro. Hart and C.L. Battle and N.A. Purifoy Alternate was choisen taking up publick report of Sister Countryman and appointed Bro. Battle, Purifoy and Barton committy to invistigate and report Agreed to send $1. 50 for minutes and $5 for Association puroposes C.L. Battle CLK Bro. Hoge mod Georgia Sumter Baptist Church of Christ mett in conference Bro. _?_ Hoyr mod appointed committy to investigate som reports and sight Morgeann Countryman Red the letter to association and recieved I. Hog_ md C.L. Battle CC October 11th 1854 No Meeting end 199-202

Marion County GaArchives Obituaries.....Mazie Halley 1912 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carla Miles [email protected] February 1, 2004, 12:27 am The Butler Herald, September 3, 1912 The Butler Herald Tuesday, September 3, 1912 Page Three Sad Death of Miss Mazie Halley Miss Mazie Halley, of Tazewell who had been in declining health for some time, died last Friday afternoon. She was buried in the Tazewell cemetery on Saturday afternoon. Funeral services were held at the home by Rev. A.G. Brewton, her pastor. A large attendance was at the funeral. The relatives have the sympathy of everyone in their sad affliction. – Buena Vista Patriot This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 1.0 Kb

Marion County GaArchives Obituaries.....J. Wick Nelson July 1912 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carla Miles [email protected] February 1, 2004, 12:17 am The Butler Herald, July 23, 1912 The Butler Herald Tuesday, July 23, 1912 Page Three Mr. J. Wick Nelson Dead We regret to chronicle the death Tuesday last, of Mr. J. Wick Nelson, of Buena Vista. Mr. Nelson had been in failing health for sometime and had recently gone to White Sulphur Springs, Fla., in hopes of being benefited, and it was at that place his death occurred. He was a brother of Hon. J.P. Nelson of this place, and has frequently visited here and was known by many of our people. He is survived by his wife, who was formerly Miss Lizzie Harvey. We extend our sympathies to the bereaved ones. – Macon County Citizen This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 1.1 Kb

We are up to 1854 now. Schley county was created Dec. 1857. begin #195-198 Geo. Sumpter Co. Sept. 11th 1852 The baptis Church of Christ at Ebineser met in conference, _?_ Rufs mod 1 open the dor of the church for the reception of members, recieved non 2 cawled for references when the leter to our association was read and adopted granted a leter to brother Morris Ansley N.A. Purifoy Clk October and November minuts mislaid Geo. Sumpter Co. 12th Decm. 1852 The baptis church of Christ at Ebeneser met in conference, brother mod present 1 open the door of the church for the reception of members, recieved none 2 cawled for references, none granted leters to brother William V__fe, sister Catherine Andrews, Sister Wells and servent brother Mackneal N.A. Purifoy (There are a 4 pages blank between this entry and the next) 1854 C.L. Battle Chs Clerk Georgia Sumter county The Baptist Church of Christ at Ebenezer met in conference 1 open the dore for the reseption of members when brethren Anderson Barlow, John E. Barlow, Garland Barlow, John T. Barlow and sister M.E. Barlow and Mahala Barlow and Thomas Barlow and his wife Mary Barlow cam forward with letters, Rec'd 2 caled for Reference, taken up _?_ went in to the choice of a minister to serve us the Remainder of the year. Chose Bro. Hog__ and appointed comitty to Wright, Battle, and Purifoy May 11th 1854 C.L. Battle Bro. Ansley mod Saturday June 9th 1854 Baptist Church of Christ met conference 1 open the dore for the Reseption of members, recd non 2 Caled for Refference C.L. Battle Clk Bro. Ansley mod end 195-198

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Rd.2ADE/334.1.2 Message Board Post: I am looking for information on Jane McClung who married Daniel W Jones (Maybe Daniel Wilbur Jones) They were from GA and then lived in Iuka, Mississippi, then Colbert CO AL. A Lottie Huff was married to their son, James Moore Jones. Searching for information on Lottie Huff. Think her father was Alanston Hough from Iuka, Mississippi. Thank you for any information

I guess we all wish that we could come across land sales altogether like this for our ancestor. Seems that these were all recorded at one time. Gives some interesting lineage on the Mulkey family. Hope this helps someone! pg 204 Burke County 14th April 1828 John Bates (Burke Co) to Samuel Fickling $65 12th Dis LL233 202.5 acres Wit: Mary Brigham, John Brigham, Isaac Mulkey, JP Recorded: Jan 29 1834 pg 205 Burke Co 31 Mar 1832 Samuel Fickling (Burke) to Moses Mulkey $132 12th Dis LL233 202.5 acres Wit: John Brigham, John S. Royal, JP Recorded: Jan 20 1854 pg 205 Marion Co 5 Nov 1850 Isaac Mulkey (Marion) and Homer V. Mulkey (Stewart) Executors of Moses Mulkey (late of Burke Co) and Benjamin F. Hurst (Marion) Court of Ordinary of Burke ordered to sell 12th Dis LL233 202.5 highest bidder $20 Benjamin F. Hurst Wit: Robert Elliston, B.P. Rouse, JP Recorded: Jan 20, 1854 pg 205 - 206 Marion Co 12 Aug 1851 Benjamin F. Hurst to Isaac Mulkey $50 12th Dis LL233 202.5 Wit: Henry W. Darden, B.P. Rouse, JP Recorded: Jan 20, 1854