Compiled and Edited by Herbert W. Stanford III

28 January 2022

By 1920, for African-Americans in the South, the optimism of the Reconstruction era had turned into 30 years of Jim Crow disenfranchisement and race-based violence.  To escape this terror and to hopefully find a better life, the “Great Migration” by African-American Southerners began during World War I.  While African-American migration slowed considerably in the 1930s during the Great Depression, it picked up again with the coming of World War II and the need for wartime production labor and continued during the booming post-War economy period until about 1970.  Overall, about 6,000,000 African-American Americans relocated from the South to the North, West, and Mid-West during this period.

The Wikipedia entry for Vale, North Brook Township, Lincoln County, North Carolina reports that Vale was the destination for some 50 or so African-American families during the first phase of the Great Migration, most migrating from Half Acre Township [AKA “Stanfordville,” “Stanford’s Half Acre,” and/or “Hell’s Half Acre”] in Putnam County, Georgia between 1920 and 1930 to escape the violence in Georgia and to work on the farms of rural western Lincoln County.  Wikipedia reports that these migrants established three churches [now identified as Indian Creek Primitive Baptist Church and Mount Olive Primitive Baptist Church in Lincoln County and Pine Grove Primitive Baptist Church in Cleveland County].  Wikipedia goes on to report that most of these families had moved out of Lincoln County by the 1970s.

To evaluate the validity of the Wikipedia entry, a preliminary global search of the 1920 and 1930 census records was undertaken to find those African-Americans [designated as “Black” or “Negro” in the records], who were born in Georgia and were living in North Brook and Howards Creek Townships.  This first quick search found none living in the county in 1920, but over 250 African-Americans who had been born in Georgia, the vast majority in Putnam County, were found living in these two townships in 1930!

Putnam County, Georgia, located in north-central Georgia west of Augusta, was named in honor of Israel Putnam, a hero of the French and Indian War and a general in the American Revolutionary War and was created on 10 December 1807.  The invention of the cotton gin in 1794 enabled American farmers to profitably process short-staple cotton and Putnam County was ideal for cotton cultivation of that type, which thrived in the upland areas of Georgia.  Plantations were developed for cotton production, worked by the field labor of thousands of African-American slaves.  In 1850, almost 75% of the total population of Putnam County were enslaved African-Americans.

On top of the impacts of Jim Crow laws, the economic base for African-American life in Putnam County took a blow in 1915 when the boll weevil infestation led to a precipitous drop in cotton production.  Then, that same year, following an incident in nearby Jenkins County, Georgia, race-based violence erupted in Georgia.  By 1918, Georgia led the nation in the number of lynchings of African-Americans.  During the spring of 1919, there were numerous incidents of racial violence in Putnam County, including an arson attack by a white mob during which a dozen or more black community buildings were burned, including six black churches.  Armed black and white mobs reportedly began to patrol the area in fear of each other.  As a result of all this, beginning in 1920, thousands of African-Americans began to leave the state of Georgia and, particularly, Putnam County.  The population of Putnam County, Georgia dropped by 45% between 1920 (15,150) and 1930 (8,367) due to the out-migration of over 7,000 African Americans in that 10 year period.  A portion of these migrants came to Lincoln County, North Carolina.

Joshua Stanford [my fourth great granduncle] was born on the Eastern Shore of Maryland about 1740, fought in the Revolutionary War, and moved to Warren County, Georgia (along with numerous other family members) sometime before 1803.  His oldest son, Leven Stanford, also born in Maryland, moved with his father, married in Warren County, Georgia, and settled in Putnam County, Georgia, near the town of Eatonton, before 1820.  There, he farmed and later opened a general store, a saloon, and (reportedly) a “house of ill repute.”  The area became known as Stanfordville and he was appointed its first postmaster.  The 1850 Slave Census lists Leven Stanford and his three sons (Joseph, Nehemiah, and Nathaniel David) living in Half Acre Township (District 70), Putnam County and owning 27 slaves between them (a small number compared to the 300-500 slaves owned by some land owners in the county at the time).  Leven died in late 1850 and both Joseph and Nehemiah moved away from Putnam County before 1860, but it is this tenuous connection between my family and the African-Americans who moved to Lincoln County, North Carolina, where I now live, that triggered my interest in resolving the details behind the Wikipedia report.

Examination of census data for 1930 and 1940; marriage, birth, and death records; burial memorials; and newspaper obituaries has allowed development of the following list, in alphabetical order by head of household, of these African-American families from Georgia found living in the two western Lincoln County townships by 1930.  Census data and other records from 1930 onward show that the majority of these migrants and/or their children ultimately moved on (typically during and after WWII), some to the north (Ohio, Michigan, Maryland, etc.), but most to surrounding areas having more industry and jobs, including Hickory, Shelby, Gastonia, Charlotte, Kannapolis, etc.  This list is probably incomplete since census records from the period, especially those for African-Americans, were too often missing, incomplete, or have data quality issues, but clearly the Wikipedia report was accurate.

• Charlie Franklin Banks was born in Jasper County, Georgia on 19 Aug 1907 and died in Hickory, Catawba, North Carolina in 1989.  He married Nannie Lee Farley in Lincoln County in 1926.  On the basis of his registration for the WWII draft, we know he was still living in Lincoln County in 1940.

•  Jack Banks, born 15 Aug 1902 in Jasper County, Georgia, is found living in Lincoln County in 1930 with his wife Inez, born about 1906 in Georgia.  In 1942, Jack registered for the WWII draft in Vale, North Brook, Lincoln, NC.

•  Sam Barnes, born about 1896 in Georgia, is found living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC with his wife Lady B. Smith (b. Jun 1898, Georgia) and their three children in 1930.  By 1940, they are found living in Atlanta, DeKalb, Georgia.

•  William “Will” Bass (born about 1902 in Georgia) is found living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC with his wife Ella (born about 1904, Georgia) in 1930.  No additional records for this family have yet been found.

•  James Bowden, the son of Taylor and Fannie Bowden, is listed in 1930 living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC with his first wife Essie Mae Phelps (born about 1904, Georgia).  Essie died in 1931 and James remarried to Fannie Thomas (born about 1908, Georgia), the daughter of Lewis and Anna Thomas.   No additional records for this family have yet been found.

•  Elbert C. Bullard (born about 1911, Putnam County, Georgia) is found in 1930 living with his uncle and aunt Connie and Cora Maddox in North Brook, Lincoln, NC.  He was the son of John Wesley Bullard and Lula Maddox, Connie’s sister.  By 1940, Elbert had returned to live in Putnam County, Georgia, where he died on 16 Jan 1940.

•  Homer Byrd was born on 4 Jun 1900 in Georgia and died on 14 Feb 1970.  In 1930, Homer was living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC, but by 1940 had moved to Lawndale, Cleveland, NC.  He married (first) Bessie Mae Young (1906-1958) and then (second) Daisy Mae Vinson (1903-1992).  All of Homer’s children moved away to Hickory, Drexell, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland.

•  Lump (Lumpkin?) Levi Catlin was born on 29 Mar 1900 in Monroe County, Georgia and died on 25 Dec 1989 in Montgomery County, Ohio.  According to newspaper obits, the family moved to Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio about 1959.  Lump married Dannie Mae Selmon (1902-1978) who was born in Georgia and died in Ohio.

•  Charlie Clemons (born about 1900, Putnam County, Georgia) moved from rural Putnam County after 1935 and is found living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC in 1940 farming rented land.  Charlie married Mattie Lou Farley (1904-1995).  Charlie and Mattie were living in Maiden, Catawba, NC when they died in Hickory, Catawba, NC.

1. George Washington Clemons (born 1 Jun 1872 in Putnam County, Georgia), his wife Clara LNU (born in 1880 in Putnam County, Georgia) and their six children are living in North Brook, Lincoln, North Carolina in 1930.  At the time, George was farming and the older children in the record are listed as “farm laborer.”   He died on 2 Apr 1946 in Durham, Durham, North Carolina, but was a resident of Lincoln County at the time.  George and Clara were the founders of the Indian Creek Primitive Baptist Church and are buried there with most of his children.  While George and Clara lived in Lincoln County until their deaths, their children, both male and female, migrated to Hickory, Catawba, North Carolina and/or Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina.

1. James Clemons (born 29 Sep 1900 in Putnam County, Georgia), his wife Roberta LNU (born about 1903 in Georgia), sons James (born about 1925) and Bennie (born about 1929), and daughters Garris (born about 1922) and Bernice (born about 1928) are listed living in North Brook, Lincoln, North Carolina in 1930.  At the time, James was farming and the older children in the record are listed as “farm laborer.”  By 1942, when James registered for the WWII draft, the family was living in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, where he died on 31 Dec 1976.

1. Crockett “Crock” Clemmons (born 29 Apr 1903, Putnam County, Georgia) and his wife Beulah Mae Hunt (born about 1901 in Georgia) were listed in 1930 in Howards Creek, Lincoln, North Carolina, where he was farming on rented land.  He died on 14 Jun 1957 and is buried at Indian Creek Primitive Baptist Church.  In 1940, the census record for Crock lists him and Beulah Mae living in North Brook, Lincoln, North Carolina with their children Eula B. (9), Bessie L. (6), and Crock Jr. (4). All three children ultimately moved out of Lincoln County.

1. Fred Douglass Craddock (born 1 Oct 1902 in Jackson County, Georgia), his wife Velma (born about 1904 in Jackson County, Georgia), son J.C. (born about 1924), and daughters Kate (born about 1926) and Lizzie (born about 1928) lived in North Brook, Lincoln, North Carolina in 1930.  At the time, he was farming on rented land.  By 1942, when Fred registered for the WWII draft, the family was living in Baltimore, Maryland.  Later, he moved to Atlanta, Fulton, Georgia, where he died on 14 May 1966.

1. Joseph “Joe” Dennis was born on 15 Apr 1904 in Mason County, Georgia and evidently died in Florida.  He married Mattie Bell Powell (1911-1996).  Based on the 1935 Florida State Census, the family moved to Clearwater, Pinellas, Florida by that date.  In 1955, the City Directory of Clearwater, Florida lists Joe and Mattie living there.

1. Charles “Charlie” Dorsey was born about 1905 in Bishop, Okonee, Georgia and was living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC in 1930.  He married Mollie B. LNU, born about 1912 in South Carolina.  When Charlie registered for the WWII draft, he was working as a farm laborer and living in Lawndale, Cleveland, NC.

1. Model “Mose” Duncan was born on 15 Nov 1895 in Screven County, Georgia and evidently died in Ohio.  He married Marie Bland (born 1908 in Georgia, died 1993 in Jones County, Georgia).  Before 1940, the family moved to Warren, Trumball, Ohio and the census record for that year lists Charlie as a laborer in a steel mill.

1. David “Dave” Farley was born on 12 Jun 1904 in Georgia and died on 9 Aug 1984 in Lincolnton, Lincoln, NC (though he was living in Maiden, Catawba, NC at that time).  He married Emma Kate Brown (born 1909, Georgia, died 1998, Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio, having moved there to be close to her children after Dave’s death).  In 1940, the census lists the family living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC.

1. John Thomas Farley, born on 4 May 1898 at Eatonton, Putnam, Georgia, is found living in Howards Creek, Lincoln, NC in 1930 with is first wife Clara Bell Phelps (born 1903 in Stanfordville, Putnam, Georgia).  Clara died in 1939 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan.  She and John had moved to Detroit sometime in the 1930s, but in 1941 John moved back to Lincoln County where he registered for the WWII draft.  He remarried to Dorothy Bowden (1917-2010).  John died on 20 Dec 1976 in Hickory, Catawba, NC, but was living in Maiden, Catawba, NC at the time.

1. Jonah Farley was born on 10 Apr 1897 in Putnam County, Georgia and died on 4 Nov 1940 at Shelby, Cleveland, NC as a result of an auto wreck.  The 1930 census lists the family living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC, but the family had relocated to Bandy, Catwba, NC by 1940.  He married Elizabeth Whitaker, born Dec 1908 in Georgia, who died on 12 Apr 1990 in Cherryville, Gaston, NC.

• Joseph S. Farley, born about 1890 in Putnam County, Georgia is found living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC, where he is farming rented land.  He married Cora B. Lamar, born 25 Mar 1894, who died in Thomas County, Georgia in 1968.  In 1940, Joe is found still living North Brook, Lincoln, NC, but, evidently he and Cora had separated by this time since Joe is living with his son Arthur at the time and is listed as a “widower.”

• Lewis W. Farley was born on 26 Jun 1902 in Putnam County, Georgia and died on 10 Nov 1973 in Hickory, Catawba, NC.  He registered for the WWII draft in 1942 at Fort Bragg, Fayetteville, Cumberland, NC, where was working in construction, and entered the U.S. Army soon afterward.  He married (first) Annie L. Williams (1906-1940) and then Pauline Hill (1925-1988).

• Benjamin “Ben” Gardner, born in May 1873 in Jasper County, Georgia, died in Lincolnton, Lincoln, NC on 23 Oct 1939.  In 1930, he was living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC farming rented land.  He married (first) Creasie Lawrence (born 1878, Putnam County, Georgia, died 1926, North Brook, Lincoln, NC) and then (second) Mary Rivers (born 1884, Jones County, Georgia, died 1951) before 1930.  Ben appears to have been living in Lawndale, Cleveland, NC when he died.

• Thomas “Tommy” Lee Gardner was born on 17 Oct 1899 in Putnam County, Georgia and died on 16 Nov 1935 in North Brook, Lincoln County.  He was the son of Benjamin Gardner and Creasie Lawrence.  He married Clyde (?) Bostick on 20 Dec 1920 in Anderson, Anderson, South Carolina.  Clyde was born in 1906 in Georgia and died in 1978 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg, NC.

• Willie/Will Walker Gardner, son of Benjamin Gardner and Creasie Lawrence, was born on 26 Apr 1901 in Eatonton, Putnam, Georgia.  In 1942, he moved to Kings Mountain, Cleveland, NC and died there on 24 Nov 1992.  He married Lottie Mae Alexander, born 1905 in Georgia, died 1954 at Kings Mountain, Cleveland, NC.

• Milton Garland was born about 1877 in Jones County, Georgia.  In both 1930 and 1940, the census finds Milton living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC, farming rented land.  His first wife was Lila Ridley (born Mar 1878, Jones County, Georgia).  After her death, Milton married Louisia Ridley (born about 1889, Georgia) about 1910.  No death record for Milton has yet been found.

• Willie Garland, born about 1905 in Georgia, with his wife Victoria, born about 1907 in Georgia, is found living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC in 1930, where Willie is farming rented land.  No records after the 1930 census have yet been found.

• Julius Griggs was born on 25 Dec 1902 in Jasper County, Georgia and died on 27 Jul 1944, in Lincoln County, NC.  His wife, Mary Vinson, was born 16 Apr 1905 in Jasper County, NC and died on 6 Mar 1944 in North Brook, Lincoln, NC.  The couple is found living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC in both 1930 and 1940 census records, where Julius is farming rented land.  According to Mary’s death certificate, the couple moved to Lincoln County in 1928.

• William Grier Griggs was born on 11 Dec 1879 in Putnam County, Georgia.  He married Virginia Laster, born about 1885 in Georgia.  The 1920 census finds the family living in Half Acre, Putnam, Georgia, but living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC in 1930.  In 1940, the family is found in Double Shoals, Cleveland, NC.  No records after 1940 for this family have yet been found.

• Wilber Hopper, born about 1881 in Georgia is found in 1930 living in Howards Creek, Lincoln, NC with his wife Angie Johnson, who was born about 1885 in Georgia.  No other records for the family have yet been found.

• Burke Lawrence, born about 1906 in Georgia is found in 1930 living in Howards Creek, Lincoln, NC with his wife Julie, who was born about 1912 in Georgia.  No other records for the family have yet been found.

• Albert Lee, born about 1875 in Georgia is found in 1930 living in Howards Creek, Lincoln, NC with his wife Mary, who was born about 1885 in Georgia.  No other records for the family have yet been found.

• Connie Maddox was born in 1893 in Putnam County, Georgia.  He registered for the WWI draft there in 1917 and the 1920 census lists the family living in Donegal, Putnam, Georgia.  His wife Cora was born in Georgia about 1884.  In 1930, the census lists the family living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC, where Connie is farming on rented land.  No records after 1930 for this family have yet been found.

• Dock Maddox, was born in 1888 or 1889 in Eatonton, Putnam, Georgia and died on 1 Sep 1971 at Oteen, Buncombe, NC at the VA hospital there.  Dock served in the U.S. Army during WWI.  In 1920, the family was living in Half Acre, Putnam, Georgia, but, in 1930, Dock lived in North Brook, Lincoln, NC, farming rented land.  He first married Ethel LNU, born about 1895 in Georgia and died before 1929.  Second, he married Estelle Kinlow, born 1 Dec 1915 in South Carolina, died in Lincolnton, Lincoln, NC on 26 Nov 1958.  At the time of her death, Estelle was living in Lawndale, Cleveland, NC.

• Mack Henry McCoy was born on 8 Apr 1879 in Walton County, Georgia and died in April 1973 in Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio.  He married Ammazona Thompson, who was born about 1880 in Georgia and died on 3 Jun 1964 in Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio.  In 1920, the family was living in Buncombe, Walton, Georgia, but they moved to Lincoln County, NC before 1930 when they are found living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC.  By 1943, the family moved on to Kannapolis, Cabarrus, NC by 1943.  Evidently, they moved to Dayton, Ohio about 1944.

• Major Joseph “Joe” McMullen was born on 15 Jan 1896 in Half Acre, Putnam, Georgia and died on 30 Dec 1949 at Lawndale, Cleveland, NC.  He served for a short period in the U.S. Army near the end of WWI.  On 23 Dec 1945, he married Maudie Davis in Gaston County, NC.  Maudie was born on 15 Dec 1908 in South Carolina and died on 24 Apr 1963 at Lawndale, Cleveland, NC.

• Philip Mitchell was born on 7 Dec 1887 in Jones County, Georgia and died on 5 Mar 1965 in Hickory, Catawba, NC.  He married Katie Ponder (1898-1980) before 1917 in Georgia.  In 1930, the family is found living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC, farming rented land.  However, sometime after 1935, but before 1940, they moved to Double Shoals, Cleveland, NC and then on to Hickory, Catawba, NC before 1957.

• “Toad” Money and was born about 1892 in Georgia and in 1930 was living in Howards Creek, Lincoln, NC with his wife Roberta (born about 1910) and children, farming rented land.  [This 1930 census record appears to be riddled with errors, including Money’s first name, and no additional information on this family has yet been found.]

• Joseph Montree and was born about 1885 in Georgia and in 1930 was living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC with his wife Ruby (born about 1890) and children, farming rented land.  [This 1930 census record appears to be riddled with errors and no additional information on this family has yet been found.]

• Oscar Nichols was born on 26 Apr 1899 in Putnam County, Georgia and died on 22 Dec 1969 in Gastonia, Gaston, NC.  He married Mary Eliza Farley, who was born on 26 Apr 1900 in Putnam Clounty, Georgia and died on 28 Nov 1954 in Newton, Catawba, NC.  In 1930, the family is found living in Howards Creek, Lincoln, NC, but had moved on to Cleveland, Rowan, NC by 1940.

• Richard N. Nichols was on 4 Apr 1875, probably in Putnam County, Georgia, and died on 12 Feb 1955 in Lincolnton, Lincoln, NC.  He first married Georgia Lawrence (1879-1920) in Putnam County, Georgia and then Leona LNU, who was born about 1904 in North Carolina and died on 22 Oct 1938 in Vale, Lincoln, NC.  The 1930 census lists the family living in Howards Creek, Lincoln, NC, but in 1940 Richard was living in Lincolnton, Lincoln, NC.

• Johnnie Lincoln Norris was born on 29 Jn 1903 in Green County, Georgia and died on 7 Nov 1983  in Cabarrus County, NC.  He was married to Mattie Mae Griggs, who was born on 1 Apr 1903 in Half Acre, Putnam, Georgia and died on 8 Apr 1998 in Kannapolis, Cabarrus, NC.  In 1930 and 1940, the family was living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC, but moved to Kannapolis, Cabarrus, NC after 1942.

• Harper Odom (who surname was often listed as “Odoms”) was born on 23 Dec 1895 in Putnam County, Georgia.  He married Minnie Phelps, also born in Putnam County, Georgia about 1889, who died on 26 Mar 1936 in Howards Creek, Lincoln, NC.  The 1930 census lists the family living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC farming rented land, but after Minnie’s death Harper moved to Lincolnton, Lincoln, NC, where in died on 7 Oct 1964.

• Benjamin “Ben or Bennie” Phelps was born on 1 Aug 1875 in Eatonton, Putnam, Georgia and died on 12 Feb 1940 at Vale, Lincoln, NC.  He married Daffney Coates, who was born on 5 Feb 1890 in Georgia and died on 5 Nov 1964 in Shelby, Cleveland, NC.

• James Willis “Jim” Phelps was the son of Ben Phelps and Daffney Coates, born on 20 Jul 1907 in Georgia, died 5 May 1960 at Vale, Lincoln, NC.  He married Minnie Singleton in 1927 in Lincoln County, NC.  Minnie was born on 20 Aug 1910 in Jones County, Georgia and died on 27 Jan 1942 in Lincolnton, Lincoln, NC.  Jim Phelps was a farmer all of his life.

• Joseph E. Phelps was born 16 Dec 1888 in Half Acre, Putnam, Georgia and died on 7 May 1952 in Lincolnton, Lincoln, NC.  In 1917, in Putnam County, Georgia, he married Carrie Bell Lasker, who was born on 16 Sep 1893 in Putnam County, Georgia and died on 1 Aug 1996 in Maiden, Catawba, NC.  Both the 1930 and 1940 census records list the family living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC, farming rented land.

• Samuel “Sam” Phelps was born on 20 Sep 1899 in Putnam County, Georgia, and, after moving to North Brook, Lincoln, NC in the early 1920s, he married Lucy May Gardner, who was born in Putnam County, Georgia on 26 May 1907.  In 1942, Sam registered for the WWII draft in Lincolnton, Lincoln, NC, but moved to Detroit, Wayne, Michigan before 1921.  Sam died there in 1979 and Lucy died in Detroit in 2006.

• Jerry Ross was born 5 Dec 1899 in Putnam County, Georgia and died on 14 Mar 1988 in Salisbury, Rowan, NC.  In 1924, he married Annie Clemons in Lincoln County, NC.  Annie was the daughter of Georgia Washing Clemons and his wife Clara Lou and was born on 12 Jun 1906 in Putnam County, Georgia.  She died on 20 Jun 1996 in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio.

• Robert Ruff was born on 27 Oct 1900 in Georgia and died in Dec 1975 in Cook County, Illinois where he had moved before 1951.  His wife Adell LNU was born about 1913 in Georgia.  In 1930, the family is found living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC, but moved to Double Shoals, Cleveland, NC before 1940.

• Henry Sanford was born on 12 Dec 1893 in Putnam County, Georgia and died on 11 Aug 1949 in Lincolnton, Lincoln, NC.  He married Susie Nichols, who was born on 9 Jun 1901 in Putnam County, Georgia and died on 30 Jun 1992 at Lincolnton, Lincoln, NC.  Susie was the daughter of Richard N. Nichols and his second wife Leona LNU.

• Charlie Selman, Jr. was born in Walton County, Georgia in Sep 1865 and died in Bandy, Catawba, NC on 11 Mar 1934.  He married Sallie LNU about 1890 in Walton County, Georgia.  Sallie was born about 1874 in Georgia and died on 24 Oct 1959 in Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio.  In 1930, the family was living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC and Charlie was farming on rented land.

• Hezekiah E. Smith was born on 10 Feb 1895 in Athens, Georgia and died on 18 Apr 1984 in Bridgeport, Connecticut.  Hezekiah evidently first migrated to Atlanta, DeKalb, Georgia by 1917 and then to North Carolina before 1925.  He married Hattie Lawrence in Catawba County, NC on 7 Apr 1925.  Hattie was born on 8 Mar 1902 in North Carolina and died on 5 Nov 1985 in Bridgeport, Connecticut.  In 1930, the family was living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC where Hezekiah was working as a farm laborer.  Sometime before 1940, the family moved back to Georgia and for may years Hezekiah was the pastor at Travelers Rest Baptist Church in Scottdale, Georgia.

• Oscar G. Smith was born on 16 Jun 1897 in Baxley, Appling, Georgia. He married Iotis Ussery, born about 1899 in Georgia.  In 1930, the couple was living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC and farming rented land.  Before 1940, the couple moved to Sanders, Jones, Georgia and no record of them after that date has yet been found.

• Andrew Vinson was born about 1867 in Georgia.  Andrew married Lewis Odom in Putnam County, Georgia, in 1897, but she evidently died before 1915 when Andrew married Crecie Waller (1880-1948).  The 1930 census lists the family living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC, but records for Andrew after that date have yet been found.

• William “Will” Vinson was born on 1 Mar 1874 in Jasper County, Georgia and died on 18 Jul 1940 at Vale, Lincoln, NC.  He married Mary Coates on 3 Jan 1901 in Putnam County, Georgia.  In 1930, Will is listed living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC with his three son.  Evidently, Mary had died by this time.

• Bob Williams was born on 18 Apr 1896 in Wilkinson County, Georgia and died in Lincoln County, NC on 15 Dec 1942.  He married Odias LNU, who was born about 1902 in Georgia.  The 1930 census finds the family living in North Brook, Lincoln, NC  where Bob is farming rented land.  In 1940, the family was living in Hickory, Catawba, NC.