Harbin Family Genealogy Page
Descendants of Robert Harbin
Generation No. 1
1. ROBERT1 HARBIN was born 1528 in Weeke Gillingham England, and died December 24, 1621 in England. He married MARGRET MOUSELL. She was born 1537 in Blanford Dorset England, and died 1567 in England.
Child of ROBERT HARBIN and MARGRET MOUSELL is:
2. i. JOHN2 HARBIN, b. Abt. 1560, Somerset England; d. March 09, 1624/25, England.
Generation No. 2
2. JOHN2 HARBIN (ROBERT1) was born Abt. 1560 in Somerset England, and died March 09, 1624/25 in England. He married BRIDGET DREURY. She was born 1565 in Yeovil, Somerset, England, and died 1625 in England.
Child of JOHN HARBIN and BRIDGET DREURY is:
3. i. ROBERT3 HARBIN, b. 1589, Yeovil, Somerset, England; d. March 14, 1657/58.
Generation No. 3
3. ROBERT3 HARBIN (JOHN2, ROBERT1) was born 1589 in Yeovil, Somerset, England, and died March 14, 1657/58. He married ELIZABETH GERTRUDE STOCKER 1610. She was born 1590.
Child of ROBERT HARBIN and ELIZABETH STOCKER is:
4. i. CHRISTOPHER4 HARBIN, SR., b. January 30, 1623/24, London, England; d. July 13, 1685, England.
Generation No. 4
4. CHRISTOPHER4 HARBIN, SR. (ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) was born January 30, 1623/24 in London, England, and died July 13, 1685 in England. He married ALICE UNKNOWN. She was born 1652 in England, and died 1705 in Somerset England.
More About CHRISTOPHER HARBIN, SR.:
Fact 1: possible death date of 1698
Children of CHRISTOPHER HARBIN and ALICE UNKNOWN are:
5. i. WILLIAM5 HARBIN, b. 1675, Yeovil, Somerset, England; d. Aft. March 25, 1733, Prince George's County, Maryland.
ii. CHRISTOPHER HARBIN, JR.
Generation No. 5
5. WILLIAM5 HARBIN (CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) was born 1675 in Yeovil, Somerset, England, and died Aft. March 25, 1733 in Prince George's County, Maryland. He married (1) ALICE UNKNOWN in England. She was born 1685 in Yeovil England, and died 1724 in Prince George County MD. He married (2) MARY UNKNOWN.
More About WILLIAM HARBIN:
Fact 1: Served as Yeoman of the 300 acre Gleaning Plantation in Prince Georges Co, MD
Child of WILLIAM HARBIN and ALICE UNKNOWN is:
6. i. JOHN6 HARBIN, SR, b. August 20, 1711, Qaueen Anne Parish, Prince Georges Co. MD; d. May 01, 1795, Camden Sc.
Generation No. 6
6. JOHN6 HARBIN, SR (WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) was born August 20, 1711 in Qaueen Anne Parish, Prince Georges Co. MD, and died May 01, 1795 in Camden Sc. He married (2) JOHANNA JONES. He married (3) CATHERINE UNKNOWN. He married (4) ELIZABETH ANN UNKNOWN Abt. 1739. She was born Abt. 1720.
Child of JOHN HARBIN, SR is:
7. i. NATHANIEL7 HARBIN, b. 1747, Maryland, USA; d. 1838, Habersham County, Georgia.
Children of JOHN HARBIN and ELIZABETH UNKNOWN are:
ii. JOHN7 HARBIN, JR.
iii. MARGARET HARBIN, b. 1741, Virgina; d. July 16, 1839, Dekalb Co Georgia; m. WILLIAM SUTTLE.
More About MARGARET HARBIN:
Fact 1: Buried in Atlanta Fulton County
More About WILLIAM SUTTLE:
Fact 1: Buried in Utoy Baptist Church Cemetery
Generation No. 7
7. NATHANIEL7 HARBIN (JOHN6, WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) was born 1747 in Maryland, USA, and died 1838 in Habersham County, Georgia. He married SARAH PARKS Bet. 1773 - 1805 in Maryland, USA. She was born 1745, and died 1848.
Notes for NATHANIEL HARBIN:
Some sources say he died Salem, Pendleton District, South Carolina, in 1827.
Children of NATHANIEL HARBIN and SARAH PARKS are:
8. i. JESSE8 HARBIN, b. 1769, Dorchester County SC; d. April 16, 1857, Walker County, Georgia.
9. ii. THOMAS HARBIN, b. 1780; d. 1832.
iii. ANNE HARBIN, b. 1775; m. UNKNOWN BOONE.
10. iv. MARTHA PATRICIA HARBIN, b. May 27, 1783, South Carolina; d. 1853, Montgomery POlk County AR.
Generation No. 8
8. JESSE8 HARBIN (NATHANIEL7, JOHN6, WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) was born 1769 in Dorchester County SC, and died April 16, 1857 in Walker County, Georgia. He married SARAH BOONE January 01, 1801, daughter of NATHANIEL BOONE and UNKNOWN UNKNOWN. She was born July 16, 1784 in Augusta, Richmond County GA, and died July 06, 1857 in Walker County GA.
Notes for JESSE HARBIN:
The old German personal name (Haribert or Herebert) was the parent of this name-Harbin. The meaning is "army-bright."
St. Haribert, Archbishop of Cologne around 1000 AD made the name popular among the French nobility. The name was shortened to Herbert and then to Harb and Herb. To these shortened forms, the French added their diminutive suffixes -en, -et, -ette, -in etc to give the meaning "little Herb' and "son of Harb" or "son of Harb."
Indications are that these names were introduced into England by the Normans who had adopted many of the French forms of the name, such as Harbin, Herbin, Harbert, Harbelot, Herbelen, and Herblot.
Burkes General Armory lists the arms granted to Robert Harbin, Esquire of Newton, Somerershire, in 1618.
Three families of the name Harbin were living in the Piedmont area of North Carolina in 1790.
More About JESSE HARBIN:
Fact 1: some sources say born sept 12, 1771
Children of JESSE HARBIN and SARAH BOONE are:
i. WYLIE H9 HARBIN, b. 1801.
11. ii. NATHANIEL B H HARBIN, b. January 10, 1802.
iii. SARAH HARBIN, b. 1803.
iv. MARY POLLY HARBIN, b. 1805.
v. SUSAN HARBIN, b. 1808.
vi. NANCY HARBIN, b. 1810.
vii. MARY JANE HARBIN, b. 1811.
viii. ABRHAM HARBIN, b. 1812.
ix. FRANCIS M. HARBIN, b. 1814.
x. ANNA F. HARBIN, b. 1816; m. UNKNOWN.
xi. MARTHA J. HARBIN, b. 1818.
xii. JESSE WASHINGTON HARBIN, b. 1820.
xiii. JAMES L. D. HARBIN, b. 1822.
12. xiv. ELVIRA MARINDA AMERICA HARBIN, b. 1828.
9. THOMAS8 HARBIN (NATHANIEL7, JOHN6, WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) was born 1780, and died 1832. He married (1) HESTER BOON, daughter of RATCLIFF BOON and NANCY HARRIS. She was born February 05, 1789 in Pickens Co., Sc., and died 18251. He married (2) HESTER BOONE Abt. 1815, daughter of DANIEL BOONE and SARAH LEWIS. She was born Aft. 1794.
More About THOMAS HARBIN:
Fact 1: died 1825
Child of THOMAS HARBIN and HESTER BOONE is:
13. i. NATHANIEL PARKS9 HARBIN.
10. MARTHA PATRICIA8 HARBIN (NATHANIEL7, JOHN6, WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) was born May 27, 1783 in South Carolina, and died 1853 in Montgomery POlk County AR. She married BENJAMIN GOSS 1798 in Anderson SC. He was born November 06, 1777 in Granville Co NC, and died September 27, 1857 in Montgomery POlk County AR.
Child of MARTHA HARBIN and BENJAMIN GOSS is:
14. i. ELIZA SELINA9 GOSS, b. March 01, 1822, Habersham County, GA; d. Unknown, AR.
Generation No. 9
11. NATHANIEL B H9 HARBIN (JESSE8, NATHANIEL7, JOHN6, WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) was born January 10, 1802. He married ELIZABETH ANN UNKNOWN. She was born 1816 in South Carolina.
Children of NATHANIEL HARBIN and ELIZABETH UNKNOWN are:
15. i. OLIVER WYLIE10 HARBIN, b. June 16, 1835, Dalton, Georgia; d. November 29, 1910, Atlanta,Ga.
ii. NATHAN BOONE HARBIN, b. 1839, Kentucky.
12. ELVIRA MARINDA AMERICA9 HARBIN (JESSE8, NATHANIEL7, JOHN6, WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) was born 1828. She married DAVID GAY.
Child of ELVIRA HARBIN and DAVID GAY is:
16. i. SARAH ELIZABETH10 GAY.
13. NATHANIEL PARKS9 HARBIN (THOMAS8, NATHANIEL7, JOHN6, WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) He married UNKNOWN UNKNOWN.
Child of NATHANIEL HARBIN and UNKNOWN UNKNOWN is:
i. WILLIAM NATHANIEL10 HARBEN, b. 1858; d. 1919.
14. ELIZA SELINA9 GOSS (MARTHA PATRICIA8 HARBIN, NATHANIEL7, JOHN6, WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) was born March 01, 1822 in Habersham County, GA, and died Unknown in AR. She married JOHN WASHINGTON DILBECK January 02, 1840 in Lumpkin County GA. He was born Abt. 1817 in SC, and died 1890.
Child of ELIZA GOSS and JOHN DILBECK is:
17. i. BENSON GREENBERRY10 DILBECK, b. February 17, 1843, Lumpkin County GA; d. December 07, 1899, Tupelo OK.
Generation No. 10
15. OLIVER WYLIE10 HARBIN (NATHANIEL B H9, JESSE8, NATHANIEL7, JOHN6, WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) was born June 16, 1835 in Dalton, Georgia, and died November 29, 1910 in Atlanta,Ga. He married MARY ANN CARLTON July 20, 1854 in Floyd County GA, daughter of JAMES CARLTON and LUCINDA YATES. She was born July 23, 1836 in Carlton Plantation, Greensboro, Georgia, and died December 12, 1912 in Atlanta,Ga.
Notes for OLIVER WYLIE HARBIN:
INFORMATION FROM UNCLE ALBERT TO AUNT AGNES
Oliver Nathaniel Harbin's parents refugeed from Rome. Georgia to the Carlton Plantation, Green County (Oconee River) when Sherman came to Georgia. Oliver Nathaniel was born at this old home place of his mother, Mary Ann Carlton. Oliver Wylie Harbin obtained a box car from Rome RR of Georgia, put his wife and children and their possessions in the box car, from Rome to Kingston, over the Rome RR of Georgia, then from Kingston to Atlanta over the Western and Atlantic, then the Georgia RR from Atlanta to Greensboro, Georgia where Oliver Nathaniel was born April 3, 1865. After the war was over, they went back to Rome, lived there until they moved to Tunnel Hill, Georgia, and years later to Atlanta to live with their daughter, Mamie Moody, wife of Bedney Moody, also a railroad man (NC & ST.L.). They lived on Luckie St. until their deaths. Then the Moody's moved to Ontario Ave, West End, Atlanta.
More About OLIVER WYLIE HARBIN:
Fact 1: buried Westview Cemetary, Atlanta Georgia
Fact 2: 1835 Dalton was Murray later Floyd co
Fact 3: nicknamed Paw Harbin
More About MARY ANN CARLTON:
Fact 1: buried Westview Cemetary, Atlanta Georgia
Fact 2: have copy of death certificate
Fact 3: nicknamed Maw Harbin
Children of OLIVER HARBIN and MARY CARLTON are:
i. WILLIAM HARRY KREWSON11 HARBIN, b. September 28, 1855, Dalton, Georgia; d. 1855.
ii. ALIDA PANOLA ELIZABETH HARBIN, b. June 01, 1858, Dalton, Georgia.
iii. ANNIE HARBIN, b. August 27, 1861, Dalton, Georgia.
iv. JENNY ELIZA HARBIN, b. November 10, 1862, Rome,Georgia; m. ALBERT LUMPKIN.
18. v. OLIVER NATHANIEL HARBIN, b. April 03, 1865, Carlton Plantation, Green county Ga; d. December 03, 1933, Atlanta,Ga.
vi. MARY LEILA HARBIN, b. December 03, 1867, Rome,Georgia; d. April 08, 1942, Atlanta,Ga; m. (1) UNKNOWN MOODY; m. (2) BEDNEY MOODY.
More About MARY LEILA HARBIN:
Fact 1: buried Westview Cemetary, Atlanta Georgia
Fact 2: nicknamed Mamie
16. SARAH ELIZABETH10 GAY (ELVIRA MARINDA AMERICA9 HARBIN, JESSE8, NATHANIEL7, JOHN6, WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) She married SAMUEL ALEXANDER BROOKS.
Child of SARAH GAY and SAMUEL BROOKS is:
19. i. ARTHUR ALEXANDER11 BROOKS.
17. BENSON GREENBERRY10 DILBECK (ELIZA SELINA9 GOSS, MARTHA PATRICIA8 HARBIN, NATHANIEL7, JOHN6, WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) was born February 17, 1843 in Lumpkin County GA, and died December 07, 1899 in Tupelo OK. He married SUSAN REED February 17, 1843 in Tupelo OK. She was born February 23, 1845 in OK, and died October 23, 1919 in PASCILS HOME.
More About SUSAN REED:
Fact 1: nicknames Sarah
Child of BENSON DILBECK and SUSAN REED is:
20. i. ELIZABETH FRANCIS11 DILBECK, b. January 26, 1869, AR; d. March 08, 1967, Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Kiowa County, Oklahoma.
Generation No. 11
18. OLIVER NATHANIEL11 HARBIN (OLIVER WYLIE10, NATHANIEL B H9, JESSE8, NATHANIEL7, JOHN6, WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) was born April 03, 1865 in Carlton Plantation, Green county Ga, and died December 03, 1933 in Atlanta,Ga. He married WILMA ELIZABETH ROCKFIELD May 12, 1884 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, daughter of MARTIN ROCKFIELD and MARY CAHOE. She was born October 15, 1863 in Xenia OHIO, and died December 12, 1941 in Atlanta,Ga.
Notes for OLIVER NATHANIEL HARBIN:
He worked for York Ice Machinery.
We have a History Book of the American Revolution, given to O.N. Harbin by his grandmother, Mary Ann Carlton. The book belonged to his grandfather, James Carlton. The book was handed down to Bill Surls.
Dr. Winfield Sharp was one of Taddy's first cousins. He was one of the founders of Rhinehart College.
More About OLIVER NATHANIEL HARBIN:
Fact 1: nicknamed "Taddy"
Fact 2: buried Crestlawn Cemetery, Atlanta GA
Fact 3: nicknamed Ollie
Notes for WILMA ELIZABETH ROCKFIELD:
The small tintype picture of girls on hammock are Mammaw and Aunt Byrd.
Mammaw's obituary reads:
MRS. HARBIN, CIVIC AND CLUB LEADER DIES
Born in Ohio, she came to Georgia 30 years ago. Former secetary of the Fourth Ward Progressive Club, she was long identified with civic affairs. Born in Xenia, Ohio she moved to Rome, Georgia more than 30 years ago. She later lived in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and came to Atlanta about 20 years ago.
Mrs. O. N. Harbin died Sunday at the residence of her son, Harry Lee Harbin, at 933 Lawton Ave., SW.
More About WILMA ELIZABETH ROCKFIELD:
Fact 1: Buried Crestlawn Cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia
Fact 2: nicknamed Mammaw
Fact 3: we have a copy of her death certificate
Fact 4: see notes by Horace Philpot
Fact 5: nicknamed Bess
Children of OLIVER HARBIN and WILMA ROCKFIELD are:
21. i. ALBERT MARTIN12 HARBIN, b. July 31, 1887, Rome,Georgia; d. March 1974, Forest Park, Georgia.
22. ii. ROSAMUND BURCHETT HARBIN, b. March 12, 1893, Vicksburg,Missisippi; d. April 14, 1930, Birmingham, Alabama.
23. iii. HARRY LEE HARBIN, b. June 03, 1899, Tunnel Hill, Georgia.
19. ARTHUR ALEXANDER11 BROOKS (SARAH ELIZABETH10 GAY, ELVIRA MARINDA AMERICA9 HARBIN, JESSE8, NATHANIEL7, JOHN6, WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) He married OVIE MAE ROBERTS.
Child of ARTHUR BROOKS and OVIE ROBERTS is:
24. i. JOHN HERMAN12 BROOKS.
20. ELIZABETH FRANCIS11 DILBECK (BENSON GREENBERRY10, ELIZA SELINA9 GOSS, MARTHA PATRICIA8 HARBIN, NATHANIEL7, JOHN6, WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) was born January 26, 1869 in AR, and died March 08, 1967 in Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Kiowa County, Oklahoma. She married ISAAC NELSON BROOKS May 20, 1888 in Chismville LOGAN CO AR. He was born November 10, 1867 in Logan County AR, and died April 16, 1934 in Chickasha, Grady County, Oklahoma.
More About ELIZABETH FRANCIS DILBECK:
Fact 1: nicknamed Eliza
More About ISAAC NELSON BROOKS:
Fact 1: nicknamed Tike
Child of ELIZABETH DILBECK and ISAAC BROOKS is:
25. i. JAMES CHARLES12 BROOKS, b. February 22, 1892, Overbrook Nowata Co Chickasaw Nation(now Oklahoma); d. December 27, 1977, Midwest City OK.
Generation No. 12
21. ALBERT MARTIN12 HARBIN (OLIVER NATHANIEL11, OLIVER WYLIE10, NATHANIEL B H9, JESSE8, NATHANIEL7, JOHN6, WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) was born July 31, 1887 in Rome,Georgia2, and died March 1974 in Forest Park, Georgia2. He married AGNES URANIA CUNEO March 21, 1911 in Rossville, Georgia. She was born June 17, 1893 in Vicksburg, Mississippi3, and died October 31, 19893.
Notes for ALBERT MARTIN HARBIN:
They lived in Chattanooga after married, then came to Atlanta in February, 1915.
Albert Harbin was a Mason. Member of Palestine Lodge, Atlanta, 1915, High Priest in East Point Lodge, diameted to College Park.
More About ALBERT MARTIN HARBIN:
Fact 1: buried College Park Cemetery, College Park, Ga
Notes for AGNES URANIA CUNEO:
INFORMATION FROM FRANK HARBIN TO AGNES HARBIN OVER THE PHONE
Frank Harbin was a business man, owning a marble works on Piedmont Ave, Atlanta, at the time of the conversation. He felt there was a close relation but did not know.
INFO=In 1679, three Harbin brothers came from England on a ship, "Thomas Henry Taverner" from Barbados, English Island, South America.
Joseph Harbin, wife, three children, one servant, and eight Negroes.
Alexander Harbin, wife, and one Negro.
Peter Harbynn and wife- name spelled differently so children wouldn't get confused as to parents.
Land grant Berkley Co, SC, 2000 acres 100 years before "Swamp Fox", Moncks Corner.
One son of Joe's named John 300 acres land grant from England 1700.
They originated in Yeovil, England, Bristol Bay.
First coat of arms 1612, made of marble and colored.
Brinkney, France, moved to England in 1200.
Norwegian name, Normandy, conquered England 1066.
Sir Henry Harbin (bachelor)
Eldest son married 1846 to Ann, daughter of James VI. A son, Andre wrote the city directory of London.
Yeovil Harbins- this family went to Barbados as "People of Quality", free men only.
Parents owned Walhalla, SC.
MORE FROM AUNT AGNES
This is a copy of part of a letter I found among some old papers in the "trash" that I scavenged from Mammaw's old "junk". Mrs. Harbin was trying to settle her part of an inheritance from her father, Martin Luther Rockfield.
"Our old family says it is spelled "Rockinfield."
Aunt Alice's address is 165 Eagle St. and is very poorly at this time. Aunt Libbie Tritt is dead, so is Charley and Ed. We know very little of their families so could not find out very much by writing to them. We don't know Cora's address as she lives with her son and moves around so much. But Della Grey's address is 30 Horizon ave, Venice, California. I do hope this little information will not be too late. Kate and I are just tolerable well and hope when these few lines reach you they will find you and your......"
On a little slip of paper is this information copied from the tombstone:
Mary E. wife of M.L. Rockfield
died Sept 1, 1879
age 39 yrs and 16 mos (note the 16 mos)
Martin L Rockfield
1833-1903
In Mrs. O.N. Harbin's writing is this memo:
Monument of M.L. Rockfield and Mary E. Rockfield at Fairfield, Ohio.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN AUNT AGNES AND C. M. CARTHEW-YORSTOUN
Dallas, Tx
August 17, 1960
Dear Mr. Harbin,
I have a copy of births taken of the children of Oliver Wiley Harbin, June 16, 1835. Is this Oliver Wiley Harbin the son of Jessie Harbin 9-12-1771 who married Sarah Boone 7-15-1786?
Jessie Harbin had a son Wiley, born Jan 10, 1802. Oliver Wiley may be the son of this last. (He is the son)
My Grandmother was Frances Matilda Harben. Her brother was William Nathaniel Harben, the writer.
If your line of Harbins is the same, then I would like to obgtain further data so I can include in the Harbin
chart,-Harbin/Harben. Change of spelling some time back, but same family. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
C.M. Carthew-Yorstoun
5953 Joyce Way
Dallas, Texas
5953 Joyce Way
Dallas Texas
August 29, 1960
Dear Mr Harbin,
Your kindness in taking the trouble to type up the data recently received on the Harbin family was gratefully received.
I have checked out everything with my original Harbin/Harben chart except your family. Since several of the earlier Harbin fanukues have not been checked out, I am left with a member of our Harbin/Harben family which could mean I have failed to get all the names or brothers of one family.
The attached chart gives the names of the families, as I have it, drawn in essence from my master chart. Realizing the ever changing new information and errors in names, dates etc. I, myself, have made and those of others, I know it is a process of constant correction and additions.
I believe if you can trace out who were the brothers and sisters of Oliver Wiley Harbin- your Grandfather, we can tie in to one of the branches of the Harbin/Harben stemming from Grandfather Nathaniel Thomas Harbin who married Sarah (Sallie) Parks. My great grandfather Nathaniel Parks Harbin was named for his father Nathaniel, and his mother's maiden name, Parks.
Nathaniel Thomas Harbin had two sons, Jessie Harbin and Thomas Harbin. Jessie (Jesse) married Sarah Boone, daughter of Nathan Boone, brother of Daniel Boone. Thomas Harbin married Hester Boone, daughter of Daniel Morgan Boone, 4th son of Daniel Boone.
There has been considerable confusion in the dual names of Thomas Harbin and Thomas Wylie Harbin. I am of the opinion that there were two sons of Nathaniel Thomas Harbin having the name Thomas and if this is the case, then Thomas Wylie Harbin is the third son from whom the Harbin's in Rome, Ga. stem from.
The connection with the English Harbin/Harbens came about through my mother, Mrs Nellie Harbin Knight, who married LtCol. M. E. Carthew-Yorstoun, while she was visiting Sir Henry Harben in England. Sir Henry Harben was a distant relation with the Harbins of Newton House. Through this relationship, Will N. Harben, the writer, and my mother did considerable research when Uncle Will visited my mother in Europe. My Godmother is Miss Katherine Harben, daughter of Sir Henry Harben and several years ago I, with my wife, stayed with Lady Harben and Kitty.
As you know, my mother was Nellie Harben Knight, born in Dalton, Ga. in the house constructed by Nathaniel Parks Harben, with handmade brick. My grandmother was Frances Matilda Harben, sister of William Nathaniel Lewis Harben, the writer who was a reporter and close friend with Joel Chandler Harris, both working for the Atlanta Constitution. Will was a very good friend of Mark Twain and attended his 70th birthdat party dinner in N. Y. C. Will N. Harben's grandsons, my sons have seen recently.
William Nathaniel Harben of the State Department and George Harben who works for the bond and stocks company of "We The People" in N.Y. Uncle Will's daughter Elizabeth married Edwin Cox of Darien, Conn. The Cox's and W. N. Harben visited my sister in the South of France last year.
Several years ago I made a Harben chart with the purpose of sifting out and creating renewed interest in the Harbin/Harben families. After this chart, I had to leave the country so the Harbins could cool off, but now, I am back at it again searching for more data.
The data you sent me, I would like to keep with the idea that you would let me have additional data which we can tie in closer and I would like to have your grandchildren so I can draw off a chart of your family. Many Harbin/Harbens have migrated to Texas and I am constantly being written for their connection.
In the old days, there were so very few records, but now, the larger libraries have developed considerable research departments bringing together data heretofore not available. I feel the Harbin/Harben families, that is, the early settlers from whom they stem, should pursue and strengthen their posterity.
I deeply appreciate your visit with me through your letter and data contained and hope we can continue our correspondence to mutual benefit and relationship.
Sincerely,
C.M. Carthew-Yorstoun
5953 Joyce Way
Dallas, 25, Texas
Dec 15, 1960
Dear Mr Harbin,
Thank you and your wife for your letter, undated, just received with wonderful tree.
I have drawn off names, dates etc., onto a family working chart and am enclosing photo copies along with your typed data, You may wish to keep your typed data for one of your children.
If my mother were alive, she would know just exactly the family tie-in. She had a marvelous memory, even better than Uncle Will, as to the family and their connections. Unfortunately, she never put it down in writing.
Now that we have traced out the Reinhardt family Bible records, which gives certain information, I would like to suggest another possible avenue towards obtaining valuable information in which you may help.
Mrs A.A. Jonesm deceased, (Katherine, Kate) Harbin and sister of Uncle Will, was in correspondence with me at the beginning of World War II. I was in London and helped get her son back after he had been wounded the second time. She told me she was sending to me a manuscript which was a life story of her's in Georgia and contained many family references. However, her daughter sent this manuscript to Mrs Alleen Felkner Alley. I wrote to Mrs Alley, whose address is 306 Sevidge St, Dalton, Ga. She sent me a picture of her home. The house was the old Harbin home, built of hand-made brick, a beautiful place. Aunt Kate's daughter thought this manuscript should be associated with the house. I was told the manuscript had been lent to some professor who was intending to write a book on it. I have written to Mrs Alley, but have had no reply. I fear she may have passed away. However, Mrs Ogburn C Alley is her daughter. What I wanted, was this very manuscript so I could photo copy and return. It may be you could obtain this data. If Mrs Alleen Felknew Alley is still alive, she may recall your Uncle Nattie.
Mrs Agnes Harbin Elrod, 300 Elrod Cir., Anderson, SC is a genealogist, who seems to know her way around. In a copy of a letter from her to Mr Reinhardt, dated Jan 14, 1953 and sent to me, you will note in the seventh paragraph, she believes the Franklin County, Ga. (now Oconee Co, SC) are in the Georgia Archives Department on Peachtree St, there in Atlanta. If it were possible to check for Harbins and Boones, it may bring out many of the things we are looking for.
I feel sure Mrs Elrod could trace your grandfather, Oliver Wiley Harbin and make the tie-in between Nathaniel Parks Harbin of Dalton, Ga. born June 21, 1819, married Aug 17, 1844, died Jan 14, 1884 and the Rome, Ga line. As you say, since they were cousins, it should not be too hard to trace from where you are. I certainly want this wonederful family of yours tied in on my chart. It is a MUST. It seems you tie into Dalton, Ga. In reviewing your letters and attachments, I do not have the date Oliver Wiley Harbin died- in Atlanta?
I would suggest your wife writes the United Nations, asking who she might write to for information on her family in Holstein, Germany. They may have made exhaustive tabulation of families and know where centralized files may be kept. Wilamena may lead to Holland too.
Thank you for the clipping on the death of Mrs Edith Harbin of Rome, Ga. I am retaining the clipping. If you wish me to return it, I will, as with any other material you have been so kind to let me have. I know how hard it is to abstract and type up data. Also, thank you for the copy of letter written by Early Harbin to Mr Reinhardt dated Aug 12, 1954.
You certainly have a marvelous family. All the Harbins are exceptional people. As I have said before, I remember Uncle Will, the writer, well. I have one of his books called "Abner Daniel", set in North Georgia. This book was published in 1898. It is written in the North Georgia hill language used about the time of the Civil War and strange to say, reminds me of the present "Little Abner" funnypaper language. This book was presented to me by a Dallas lawyer who critized the book for Uncle Will when he lived here in Dallas and had a little store on Elm St, called the "Emporium".
I have written Mrs W. B. Sharp concerning the date on the Boone family which you were so kind to pass on to me. She had also, given to Mrs Early Harbin, friend of mine in San Antonio, Texas, a series of Boone family connections which I submitted to the Boone Family Association as Thomas Harbin married Hester Boone and Jessie Harbin, his brother , married Sarah Boone. The Boone Family Association gave me a provisional membership after considerable research, based on Hester Boone. The provisional status is based on me obtaining additional information which I wrote Mrs Sharp for. So far, I have not been able to obtain more direct or solid data, but at least we are all much closer than heretofore. Unfortunately, the writing of letters and research is difficult. Possibly, you could telephone Mrs Sharp, who has already been so kind, and probe her memory. It helps when one is talking about relatives, to expand on various bits of family life. I am sure you are as interested as I am, once one of us is established, we all are.
Your copy of letter written by Mrs Agnes Harbin Elrod to Mr Gus Reinhardt, Jan 24, 1953, attached there, was a diagram of the children of Mary Witherspoon, Thomas Harbin and Nathaniel Harbin who married Sarah (Sallie) Parks. On the right hand border, running lengthwise, was the following note; "One genealogist states the father of Thomas and Nathaniel Harbin was Major Joseph Harbin of Rowan County, NC. On 1775m in Salesbury District, NC Minute Men, Revolutionary War. No proof of his being father.
Who was the genealogist? Did this come from Mrs Elrod?
Again thanking you and your wife and wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Sincerely,
C.M. Carthew-Yorstoun
Morden Carthew-Yorstoun
Children of ALBERT HARBIN and AGNES CUNEO are:
i. FRANCIS KEMPER13 HARBIN, b. April 05, 1912, Chattanooga, Tennessee; d. April 04, 1964, Forest Park, Georgia; m. (1) MARTHA HARTT, January 28, 1934; m. (2) EDNA TURNER, November 10, 1944.
More About FRANCIS KEMPER HARBIN:
Fact 1: nicknamed Frank
Fact 2: buried College Park Cemetery, College Park, Ga
Fact 3: nicknamed Billie
ii. RHEBA INEZ HARBIN, b. October 11, 1916, Atlanta,Ga; m. ANDREW JAMES WOOD, August 28, 1934.
iii. DORIS MARGARETTA HARBIN, b. September 01, 1920, Atlanta,Ga; m. JOSEPH CHAFIN COMER, JR, June 28, 1941.
More About JOSEPH CHAFIN COMER, JR:
Fact 1: Joe was a marine for 22 years
iv. ALBERT NATHANIEL HARBIN, b. December 15, 1923, Atlanta,Ga; d. December 26, 1925, Atlanta,Ga.
More About ALBERT NATHANIEL HARBIN:
Fact 1: only lived 2years 11days
Fact 2: buried Crestlawn Cemetery, Atlanta GA
v. AGNES JULIA HARBIN, b. December 07, 1928, Atlanta,Ga; m. JOHN WRIGHT SIMMONS, July 25, 1948; d. July 15, 1958.
Notes for AGNES JULIA HARBIN:
Letters to Aunt Agnes:
5953 Joyce Way
Dallas, 25, Texas
Aug 29, 1960
Dear Mr Harbin,
Your kindness in taking the trouble to type up the data recently received on the Harbin Family was gratefully received.
I have checked out everything with my original Harbin/Harben chart except your family. Since several of the earlier Harbin fanukues have not been checked out, I am left with a member of our Harbin/Harben
vi. BEVERLY RUTH HARBIN, b. December 18, 1930, Palmetto, Georgia; m. ERNEST CALDWELL SMITH, JR, March 09, 1951.
More About BEVERLY RUTH HARBIN:
Fact 1: called Ruth
vii. LAWRENCE STEPHEN HARBIN, b. October 30, 1934, Atlanta,Ga.
More About LAWRENCE STEPHEN HARBIN:
Fact 1: Born Grady Memorial Hospital
22. ROSAMUND BURCHETT12 HARBIN (OLIVER NATHANIEL11, OLIVER WYLIE10, NATHANIEL B H9, JESSE8, NATHANIEL7, JOHN6, WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) was born March 12, 1893 in Vicksburg,Missisippi, and died April 14, 1930 in Birmingham, Alabama. She married SAMUEL JOSEPH LOWENTHAL August 1911, son of KARL LOWENTHAL and LULA HARRIS. He was born October 04, 1892 in Griffin,Georgia, and died April 04, 1923 in Birmingham, Alabama.
More About ROSAMUND BURCHETT HARBIN:
Fact 1: She is buried in Crestlawn Cemetery in Atlanta
Fact 2: named for Dr Burchett who delivered her
Fact 3: taken to Blanchard's Funeral Home
Fact 4: nicknamed Rose
More About SAMUEL JOSEPH LOWENTHAL:
Fact 1: buried Crestlawn Cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia
Fact 2: engineer for Southern Railroad
Fact 3: taken to Blanchard's Funeral Home
Children of ROSAMUND HARBIN and SAMUEL LOWENTHAL are:
i. MAMIE LILLIAN13 LOWENTHAL, b. October 05, 1912; d. September 28, 1990, Cedartown,Georgia; m. HORACE RONIE PHILPOT; b. November 18, 1907, Haralson County, Georgia4; d. June 11, 1995, Cedartown,Georgia4.
Notes for MAMIE LILLIAN LOWENTHAL:
Wilma's sister.
She was fairly short, had blue eyes and dark hair which turned grey not long after Wilma's did. This seems to be a family trait.
She and Horace lived in Cedartown, Georgia where they owned a motel and ten cent store.
She liked to sew, crochet, do needlepoint, and read. She was a member of several civic clubs and an active member of the First Baptist Church of Cedartown.
Notes for HORACE RONIE PHILPOT:
From Uncle Horace-
The first time the train crossed the trestle on Tallapoosa River in Harrelson County, Oliver Nathaniel Harbin was the engineer. Mammaw went with him. The trestle was unfinished and Mrs Harbin walked across and he drove the engine across. In 1887. the hills were covered with people in wagons and buggies that had come to see the train come across. There was a shopper's train that ran from Cedartown to Chattanooga for the people to do their shopping. It went up in early morning and came back into Cedartown about 7 pm. Mammaw would meet Taddy where they turned the train on the "Y" and ring the bell. The people, (a few), complained to the railroad officials that the bell ringing was keeping them awake (7pm!). The officials told them that if they were asleep at 7 pm they shouldn't be and if the bell ringing was offensive, they would take off the shopper's train. They kept the train. Mammaw was visiting Lady (firstname) Whitehead in Rome when she met Taddy. Mammaw went to a music conservatory (college) in Dayton and met Lady there. Mammaw's Daddy owned a hotel in Xenia, Ohio. They had Irish girls for maids.
ii. WILMA ELIZABETH LOWENTHAL, b. October 19, 1914, Chattanooga,Tennessee5; d. February 20, 1987, Atlanta,Ga5; m. JOSEPH PLEAS SURLS, SR., April 11, 1937, Centre, ALABAMA; b. April 18, 1909, Ceadartown, Georgia6; d. January 05, 1980, East point Georgia6.
Notes for WILMA ELIZABETH LOWENTHAL:
She had dark brown hair, that turned grey, then white, at an early age. She was medium height and had blue eyes.
Mother's father died when she and Aunt Lillian were young. Rose traveled and remarried a man named Hezekiah_______. He was an alcoholic and after he went through her inheritence he treated her badly. Wilma and Lillian finally took it on themselves to call the police and have him thrown out of the house. Rose was not in good health and after she died Wilma and Lillian went to live with Mammaw and Taddy. Lillian married first and while Wilma was visiting her and Uncle Horace in Cedartown, she met Joe at a basketball game. They were married in Centre, Alabama on April 11, 1939. Mammaw went with them and when they returned to Atlanta they stayed awhile with her. Evidently Mammaw fully intended to stay in the same room as she had with Wilma, but Joe put his foot down and told her, "Now Mrs. Harbin, Wilma and I are married now and I'm going to sleep with her," With that he shut the door and so began 43 years of marriage.
Wilma and Lillian were brought up in the Methodist Church but when she married and they bought the house in East Point, she was baptized in the Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of East Point.
She worked for 5 years for Belk-Gallant, then worked for 27 years at Merritt's Drug Store in East Point.
She loved to travel, liked to read, sew, and crochet. She made most of Linda and Becky's clothes when they were little, and she and Cora made extensive wardrobes for the "Toni" dolls Santa brought them.
She was most happy when the family was gathered together.
More About WILMA ELIZABETH LOWENTHAL:
Fact 1: February 22, 1987, buried Greenwood cemetery, Cedartown, Ga
Fact 2: copy of death certificate
Fact 3: December 14, 1952, Baptised 1st Baptist East Point Ga
Fact 4: Dr. W. A. Duncan baptised her
Fact 5: called Nana by grandchildren
Notes for JOSEPH PLEAS SURLS, SR.:
He was born in a railroad section house, then lived in the old family house at 115 Broad St., then on the corner of Fletcher St. for years.
When he married Wilma, they lived with Mamaw from April 1939 to September 1939 on Westview Dr in Atlanta, then bought the house at 430 Kimmeridge Dr, East Point, Ga. Now numbered 2918 this remained the Surls residence until 1995.
He was baptised in 1925.
He graduated from Cedartown Highschool in 1928, then did odd jobs, hoboed, operated an ice plant, was a short order cook in a cafe, worked in a grocery store, worked in a dye mill (United States Finishing Company), worked in a filling station, delivered groceries, was in the National Guard for 7 years, went to work for Motor Parts & Supply Co on Octobeer 3, 1933, worked there until 1961 when they were bought out by Perrin Auto Supply, continued in same job until June 1975, retired because of age and health, kept grandson, Gene, at home while Becky worked.
Service Record: serial number 34832892, classification job 1736 heavy tank crewman, served cadre armor instructor on all track laying vehicles and all wheel vehicles and taught concurrent subjects. Contributed to the tank training manuals. Held rank of Sargeant 2 years. Had 7 1/2 years National Guard service, earned rank of Sargeant at end of each 3 years term. Inducted into Army December 1943 and discharged Nov 22, 1945. Training camp was at Ft Knox, Kentucky Armored School. He was in the largest company in history of US Army, designated as "Service Company C", 2nd Regiment Tank Training Battalion averaged 725 enlisted men and 45 officers. There was no immediate commanding officer, it operated as an individual unit, responsible only to Plans and Training. He had 2 promotions in same number of months, from Private to Corporal to Sargeant. He was discharged at Ft Knox, Kentucky.
INFORMATION FROM BECKY VESSELL AS TOLD TO HER BY JOE P SURLS SR
When I was little, Daddy used to tell me stories of when he was little, and Papa and Mama would take them on the train over to Alabama to see their grandparents. He spoke of Grandpa Britt who was tall and quiet, with ice-blue eyes. Daddy said that all the cousins would be running around yelling and cutting up. The women would try to make them behave, but as with most kids, they ignored them. He said Grandpa Britt would sit on the porch and watch them awhile, and then when they finally got out of hand, he would get up, walk down the steps and just LOOK at them. IMMEDIATELY everyone would stop, shut up, and start behaving. Daddy said he never remembered Grandpa Britt striking anyone, that just seeing him stare at you with those ice-blue eyes was enough. I asked him why he had that effect when all the kids knew he wouldn't hurt them? He thought a minute, and said he wasn't really sure, except that you knew you wanted that man to think well of you, and more than anything else, you didn't want him mad at you. He said the girls wore feed sacks with only slits cut in the sides and top for arms and neck, maybe a rope for a belt, and no underwear, and of course, no shoes. He said Uncle Marion would usually take the older boys squirrel hunting for stew for supper, but the middle group of kids would run off in the woods to go "flying". When I asked him what he meant by going "flying", Daddy just laughed and with a sparkle in his eye, he told me about "flying." He said what you did was look for a sapling that was not too big, but not too small. Then, several of the kids would climb up the tree to the top, then another would climb up, then another, and so on until the tree was weighted down at the top and bent over to the ground. The kids on the ground would grab hold of the tree and help hold it down while the foolhardy soul who was to "fly" would grab hold of the tree trunk and hold on with a bear hug. The others would let go and POW! Of course, the tree would flip back and forth before it would finally straighten out and whoever was "flying" looked a lot like Olive Oyle in the cartoons, but it sure was fun!! And Daddy would laught until tears rolled down his cheeks. I, of course, never really believed him, because I could never quite see my Daddy pulling such a stunt, he was always so very careful of our safety, he would certainly never let any of us do anything like that. Then Mother, Mildred, Cora, Gene and I went to Alabama, to Jackson Gap, in search of family history. We went to Rock Springs Church and cemetery, and in an old house behind the cemetery, we met Jessie Milner Vines, Aunt Lula's daughter. She was so excited to see us, she grabbed me by the arm and said over and over, "Oh, you're Joe P's daughter! Oh, you're Joe P's daughter!" Then she grinned and said "I well remember him visiting, and we'd all go "a'flying" in the trees!" Well, it's a good thing I didn't have false teeth, because I'd have dropped them then and there. When we got home and I told Daddy about it, he just laughed and said, "Of course we did! Would I tell you a lie?", and laughed some more.
MASONIC HISTORY OF JOSEPH PLEAS SURLS SR, INFO TAKEN FROM HIS BIBLE
Entered Apprentice October 18, 1935
Fellow Craft December 20, 1935
Master Mason February 6, 1936
Caledonia #121 F&AM
Cedartown, Georgia Raised by W P Surls
Mark Master
Paster Master
Most Excellent Master
Royal Arch Mason Thanksgiving Day 1943
Courtesy of East Point Royal Arch Chapter
Located at Hapeville, Georgia
Adoniram Chapter #41 Cedartown, Georgia
Knight of Red Cross March 14, 1946
Knights of Malta March 21, 1946
Knights Templar April 11, 1946
Rome Commandry #8 Rome, Georgia
Created a Noble of Ancient Arabic Order
Nobles of Mystic Shrine in Yaarab Temple
Atlanta, Georgia May 15, 1946
Raised William J Surls to Master Mason January 13, 1962 in
Blue Mountain Lodge #38 Faud A M, Dahlonega, Georgia
Certificate of Good Standing to East Point Lodge #288
With Dues Paid to December 31, 1977 on March 1, 1977 for
Purpose of Transfer of Membership
Dated March 10, 1977 Petition to East Point Lodge #288
F&AM on March 15, 1977 and Affiliated with
East Point Lodge #288 on April 19, 1977
Crispin Surls acted as Senior Deacon at this Affiliation.
SURLS HISTORY TOLD TO BECKY SURLS VESSELL, BY JOE P SURLS, SR, MAY 1978
transcribed from cassette tape
BECKY-Tell me the story of the powder horn,
DADDY- The powder horn or the charger?
Becky- Both,
DADDY- Well, the hunting horn was used by my Great grandfather Zimri Roberts, to hunt and call in the hunting dogs with, to signal from one hunter to another, and to signal from one farm to another in case there was some kind of emergency. They had an agreement as to how many blasts of the hunting horn that would denote a fire, rabid dog, posinous snake, or somebody that was ill or injured, and they could come and help each other. That was the horn that dates back in the early 1800's.
Becky- That's the bone colored one?
Daddy- That's the hunting horn. Now the powder charger, there's two powder chargers. One is made out of pewter that was used in the War of the Revolution by some of Zimri Roberts' ancestors. That was used to charge the muzzle loading rifles that were used to fight the British in the War of The Revolution in 1776, and the other powder charger is cut and sized from a deer antler that was used in a hunting rifle and was also used in a muzzle loading rifle that was used in the War Between the States 1861-1865. Now, who used it in the War Between the States, I don't know whether it was brother George or brother Will, but one of them used it to load his rifle in the War Between the States, and that is called a "powder charger" and it measured the amount of powder that went into the rifle to make the muzzle loading rifle shoot.
Becky- That's the one that looks like a deer antler?
Daddy- Made from a deer antler with a rawhide thong on it.
Becky- Tell me about the Masonic Ring you handmade for your Daddy.
Daddy- Well, the Atlantic Coastline Railroad scraped some locomotives that were obsolete, and on these locomotives that were to be scrapped was a instrument called a dynamo, that was operated by steam and the steam boiler. Inside this dynamo was a piece of Mormel Steel, which is very much like white gold and is very dense like platinum, and it's impervious to acids and the things that corrode ordinary metal. And at that time, which was in the early 1900's, it was a new metal that was being used for practical purposes. It had qualities that were good enough for jewelry and ornamental work. And so, Ruffin made the ring by hand for Daddy and gave it to my Daddy and he kept it and highly prized it for years and years, up until now and I got from Mamie and Mamie had kept it through until after her death and Mildred gave it to me. And I in turn gave it to Cris.
Becky- What about the ring you made your Mother?
Daddy- Well, I made it out of silver coin. When I was a young boy, it was fashionable to make jewelry for people that you liked and loved, so I wanted to make my Mother a ring, so I made her one by beating it out of a silver coin by hand and gave it to her.
Becky- Tell me about the "Pirate Pistol." Where did it come from?
Daddy- Well, I had a friend in Rockmart, Georgia that about 30 years ago that I helped him in his business a little bit. I gave him some advice and told him how to do some things that he didn't know about. And so he came by that pistol from an old lady that liked him and he had done her a favor and disposed of an old automobile for her and she told him he could have that old muzzle loading pistol, horse pistol, or boarding pistol that was used on some Navy ships if he wanted it. He told her he didn't want it, but he'd get it for me. So he bought it from the old lady for fifteen dollars and sold it to me for fifteen dollars. The gun is of a manufacture about 1835 and it has a barrel on it similar to a shotgun and it can shoot a handful of slugs or bolts, nuts, or rocks or whatever you want to pour in it and it has a spreading effect of whatever you want to shoot in it. That's why they used it on a horse so you'd be sure of hitting what you were shooting at. Or as a boarding pistol off of a ship to make sure you could shoot good every time you climbed up on a ship and hit them.
Becky- Tell me about the Grandmother Clock.
Daddy- Well, that clock was smuggled into the state of Alabama about 1824. At that time to raise taxes to operate the various government agencies and so forth and pay salaries and all that sort of thing, they placed heavy taxes on clocks which were begining to be a luxury item. So, the clockmakers up in Connecticut had the New England states in order to sell their merchandise, they resorted to smuggling. And they smuggled clocks in from up in the east in Alabama and some of the southeastern states to avoid paying the heavy tax. This clock was smuggled into Alabama and sold for at that time was twentyfour dollars, chich was a real fortune at that time. Twentyfour dollars was a magnificent sum, and that;s what the clock cost. It was smuggled into the State of Alabama about 1824.
Becky- Well, who bought it?
Daddy- I don't know who bought it. I imagine Zimri Robert's family, some member of that family bought it, but my Grandmother told me the story of it, that's what she told me.
Becky- Who was it that was the Indian Fighter?
Daddy- Well, the applications for pensions from the people that fought in the Indian Wars were Zimri Roberts and C N Freeman and they applied for pensions. Now, the others, I don't know who they were. But you do have the applications for their pensions.
Becky- C N Freeman fought in the Indian Wars?
Daddy- Yes.
Becky- Now tell me about when you were little and going to Alabama on the train to see your Grandfather Britt.
Daddy- What do you mean?
Becky- When you "played in the trees."
Daddy- Oh well, we went to Alabama to visit my Grandaddy Britt when he was sick. We rode on a pass on the Central of Georgia Railroad. We didn't go direct, because we had passes that carried us to Montgomery and then to Alexander City, and Dadeville and to Jackson Gap. One of the trains we rode on was the Cherokee Limited, a luxury passenger train operated by the Central of Georgia. In order to get on the train when we left, Jackson Gap was a flag stop and my Daddy, being a railroad man, he flagged the train at Jackson Gap and we got on the train there. When the train came around the curve, it was late in the evening and it had an enormous steam locomotive with high driving wheels, and the engineer say my Daddy flag him. When he put on the brakes, and the sparks from the brakes on the wheels was like and electric grinding wheel, throwing off big showers of sparks and it was like a Fourth of July fireworks exhibit. It scared me. I hid behind my Mama. We got on the train and came back home. On the Cherokee Limited partway.
Becky- Now tell me about your visit.
Daddy- Well it was out in the woods. They had everything that was necessary to operate a farm of about 180 acres. They had a smokehouse that had meat in it and they had "hills", where they had potatoes stored against the weather, that was built like an Indian tepee, built out of dried cornstalks and that was covered up with thick layers of earth and even though it rained on it, it wouldn't go through the cornstalks. It was perfect insulation and it kept the potatoes. They had pumpkins and cashaws and watermelon and various things kept in sand right on up to Christmas. They had a cottonseed house. They had turkeys, ducks, guineas, and a big old white mule that was very old and he was sick with old age and they gave him to me. I petted him while I was there and I owned a mule for that time. A big old white mule. They played some strange games of all kinds. They made their own bows and arrows and tipped them with rocks. They'd shoot at the chickens and different things like that. They'd throw corn cobbs at chickens and hit them and make the chickens flop around. The one I think you're talking about is the trees, being a stranger and a city boy, they wanted to play a trick on me. So, they took me out and some of the girls talked me into holding to a tree and they got a tree, climbed up and bent it over, and told me to hold onto it and wrap my legs around it. I did and they turned it aloose and the tree whipped me back and forth and they thought that was great fun. I thought it was too, when they got somebody else on it. It wasn't funny when I was on it., cause I didn't know if I was going to land in the next county or in the Tallapoosa River, five miles distant. But it was a big adventure. And then they had mules they were not being used because Grandpa was sick, we had to take the mules to water them, so they'd get a sting of them mules, each boy and girl would get on a mule and ride it to the spring and water them. I was on a mule and he stepped on a yellowjacket. The yellowjacket stung him on the ear, and I had a time getting that mule stopped before he got to the spring. He jolted me up pretty good. Mules are not easy to ride, they have a gait all their own, their back and bodies are built different from a horse. They're not too comfortable to ride on bareback. If one has got a hornet or a yellowjacket in his ear, why, he's hard to control. But we had fun. We dug up sugar cane that they had stored. Blue Ribbon sugar cane, and chewed that. But it was great. My Uncle took me squirrel hunting one morning, right at daybreak and shot squirrels and then on the way home he carried me to some of the neighbors to introduce me to them. He stopped in front of their house and waited a good ways our and hollered "hello". They cane out and this man came out first and my Uncle told him that he wanted him to come down there and see my Daddy's boy. He called him "Shorty." He said come and see "Shorty's" youngest boy. So he came out and he called his wife and they were backwoods people, so he came out and his wife came out behind him and stood about three or four feet behind him, and the two girls came out and stood behind them. The ground was spewed up about three inches in ice on the ground and they were all barefooted. They stood there and talked and then introduced me to all of them. The two girls were about twelve and fifteen years old. They only had one garment and it was made like a pillowcase. It had three holes cut in the top of it. One for the head and one for each arm. You could easily see that was the only garment they had on and they were barefooted. They had haircuts that looked like they had bowls put down over their heads and scissors run around to trim it off. But they were well fed and healthy looking. These people were prominent people, leaders in the community, but that's how they lived. My Greatgrandaddy had bought land from them. These people were names White. The head of the household was named Mally White. He was a well respected man in the neighborhood, people thought a great deal of him. He was friends and his family was friends to our family for generations back, but I've never seen any people like that before. It was quite an adventure to see those people. Especially the way they were dressed, how they talked, and how they acted, but they were great people. Good people.
Becky- Which Uncle was it?
Daddy- My Uncle Marion, Mamma's brother.
Becky- He was the one that lived there?
Daddy-Yes, he lived there with them. It was my Grandfather Britt's place.
Becky- Richard Lewis, right?, your Grandaddy Britt.
Daddy-That's right, Mamma's Daddy.
Becky- Tell me about him.
Daddy- Well he was the one fought in the Alabama infantry and he acted as a scout for General Robert E Lee. He wasn't a general or nothing like that. He was a scout. They called them sharpshooters. He did scouting, which was considered to be the same as a spy, and they had a rifle and a little bag like a schoolbook satchel. In that they carried what they called their "possibles." It was called a "possible bag". It had parched corn and whenever they could get it a little piece of dried side meat or other meat and nuts if they could get them. Hickory nuts, peanuts, peanuts or whatever they could get, and parched corn. And they had a belt knife and powder and shot. He went and spied on the enemy and counted them, found out how many there were, where their supplies were, what direction they were going and then reported it back to whoever was in charge of them. But the general consensus was, if you caught an enemy sharpshooter, or scout, he was considered a spy and you shot him right on the spot. Instant death. That's how they ran it and that's what he was. When he was discharged from the army, he was discharged at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia and he walked home from Appomattox, Virginia and brought one of his buddies along with him who was wounded in the side of the head. He brought him to his house and treated him and he stayed there until he got well. He went on to his house in Mississippi. And you oftentimes, hear people, say about, "oh, he's a brave man, he's got fortitude, he's got guts", and I just wondered if people really know what it is to have determination and fortitude, to be able to do that. That's not unusual with people of that sort, because we have an uncle that WALKED to the Petrified Forrest.
END OF TAPE
More About JOSEPH PLEAS SURLS, SR.:
Fact 1: buried Greenwood cemetery, Cedartown, Ga
Fact 2: copy of death certificate
Fact 3: May 1925, Baptised East View Baptist Church, Cedartown
Fact 4: Dr. K. C. Baker Pastor
Fact 5: called Pop by grandchildren
23. HARRY LEE12 HARBIN (OLIVER NATHANIEL11, OLIVER WYLIE10, NATHANIEL B H9, JESSE8, NATHANIEL7, JOHN6, WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) was born June 03, 1899 in Tunnel Hill, Georgia. He married HELEN WILLABELLE WING.
More About HELEN WILLABELLE WING:
Fact 1: nicknamed Billie
Children of HARRY HARBIN and HELEN WING are:
i. HARRY LEE13 HARBIN, JR., b. October 19, 1923.
ii. BEVERLY HARBIN, b. 1940.
iii. BETTY HARBIN, b. November 1942.
iv. BARBARA HARBIN, b. November 1942.
24. JOHN HERMAN12 BROOKS (ARTHUR ALEXANDER11, SARAH ELIZABETH10 GAY, ELVIRA MARINDA AMERICA9 HARBIN, JESSE8, NATHANIEL7, JOHN6, WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) He married CARRIE OLETHA MURRAY.
Child of JOHN BROOKS and CARRIE MURRAY is:
i. BABARA ANN13 BROOKS, m. JIMMIE DEE MARTIN.
25. JAMES CHARLES12 BROOKS (ELIZABETH FRANCIS11 DILBECK, BENSON GREENBERRY10, ELIZA SELINA9 GOSS, MARTHA PATRICIA8 HARBIN, NATHANIEL7, JOHN6, WILLIAM5, CHRISTOPHER4, ROBERT3, JOHN2, ROBERT1) was born February 22, 1892 in Overbrook Nowata Co Chickasaw Nation(now Oklahoma), and died December 27, 1977 in Midwest City OK. He married STELLA MAE GILLEY October 12, 1925 in Hallet OK, Or Cleveland OK. She was born July 24, 1905 in Mena, Polk Co, AR, and died July 20, 1988 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
More About JAMES CHARLES BROOKS:
Fact 1: nicknamed Charley
Child of JAMES BROOKS and STELLA GILLEY is:
i. WILLIE CHARLENE13 BROOKS, b. December 07, 1935, Roosevelt, Kiowa Co, OK; d. December 20, 1986, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma; m. DOYLE LAVERNE CARROLL.
Sources:
Some of the sources used were Audio transcriptions, Family Bible's of Joseph Pleas Surls Sr., amd other reference material donated by other researchers. To all those that contributed to this information I thank you from the bottom of my Heart. Some information taken from the Social Security index and the Mortality Schedules of the United States along with LDS records.