This is where it all began. The Golden Family. The beginning of the love and the nurturing that so many descendants have learned and have passed on to their children and grandchildren. The story of a neverending family.

 

Horace, Annie, and Esther Golden were born to the union of Wilson and Caroline Peoples Golden. Esther had no children. Annie had one child, Caroline, who was reared in the home of Annie's brother, Horace. Caroline married Arthur Brown and they had five children: Dillard, Arthur E., Annie Mae, Carolyn, and Helen. Caroline (Aunt Luxie), became a teacher and taught in Monroe County, Alabama for fifty or more years. She taught her children and many of her nieces and nephews. They all said that she was one of the best teachers they ever had. Aunt Luxie was a strict disciplinarian as well as a demanding teacher. She and Uncle Arthur Brown are buried on the grounds of Morning Star Baptist Church.

Horace Golden married Malinda Knott. Malinda was born on October, 1, 1864 in Mount Pleasant, Alabama. Horace and Malinda ran away to marry, for Malinda was only fourteen years old in 1878 when they married. Horace was known to all as "Bubba" and Malinda was nicknamed "Sissy." They lived in Pensacola, Florida for a short time. They returned to Alabama, to a place then named Nero; later named Uriah, Alabama. There they lived the remainder of their lives. They were faithful members of the Mount Gilead Baptist Church in Perdue Hill, Alabama. They are buried on the land of the "Old" Morning Star Church grounds near the old Merritt property.

The fourteen children of Horace's were named: Charlie, Nancy, Cassandra (a male child), Violet, Horace, Wilson, Robert, Hester, Cornelius, Frank, Herman, Annie, Carrie, and Theodore. According to the national census report of 1900, the birth dates and ages of eight of the children were as follows:

In 1900:

Violet was 17; she was born October, 1882.

Horace was 17; he was born March, 1883.

Wilson was 15; he was born March, 1885.

Robert was 10; he was born October, 1889.

Hester was 8; she was born February, 1892.

Cornelius was 6; he ws born March 1894.

Frank was 3; he was born June 1896.

Annie was 1; she was born June 1898.

Carrie and Theodore were not born at the time of the census.

(The above census information on Horace and his immediate family was researched in August, 1981, at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. It was complied by descendant Violet Golden Lowery.)

Hoarce earned a living as a timber man and employed as many as thirty men to aid him as a logger along the Alabama and Tombigbee Rivers. He purchases an unknown acreage of land in the Uriah, Alabama area.

In Monroe County, as well as other areas in Alabama, Grandpapa (as his grands referred to him) was well known. He was small in stature, (Grandpapa wore a size 5 she), but "big" in pride. This pride in his family and in Blackness was passed to his children and to the generations that followed. This is evident by the fact that the family meets for this reunion.

Grandpapa lived in what was called the "Big House." This home was later purchased by his daughter Hester and her husband Dave Johnson. Grandpapa's children and grandchildren lived near the home; which became the meeting place for the family.

Horace-"Bubba"-Grandpapa was known for several firsts in the Monroe County area:

He was the first Black man to own a car in Monroe County. He won this car in a raffle. It was a black Buick.

He had his own chauffer.

He was the first man in the Uriah area to have a Deico lighting system. (Delco was a system whereby a power house was built with a generator which lighted the house.)

He had a private school in his home for his children. The teacher lived in and was a member of the household.

Charlie, the oldest of the children, became a farmer. He married Mammie Marshall. To this union, one child died. The following is a listing of their offspring: George Lee, James, Charles, Gladen, Delphine, Mary, Mammie, Burney, Claudette, and Lillian. Uncle Charlie and Aunt Mammie lived and reared their children in Uriah, Alabama. Shortly after Aunt Mammie's death, the children moved Uncle Charlie to Pontiac, Michigan to live with his daughter, Delphine. He died there, but his body was returned to Uriah, Alabama for burial.

Uncle Charlie and Aunt Mammie were both quiet and loving individuals. Their home was always one of comfort. They are both buried on the grounds of Morning Star Baptist Church. Three of their children, James, Gladen, and Lillian area also deceased.

Nancy married Herman Warren. They lived in Uriah, Alabama. They had two children, Frank and Ida. Frank resides in Detroit, Michigan and Ida is deceased.

Violet married Horace Sullivan. He was a farmer. Violet was a seamstress and a cook. They had no children; however, two nieces and one great, great niece were named for her. Violet is buried on the grounds of the "Old" Morning Star Church. Sullivan is buried on the grounds of Shiloh Baptist Church.

Hoarce, Jr. left home as a teen to live in Virginia. He returned home as an adult. He never married. His nickname was "Bossy." He died in Uriah and is buriend on the grounds of the "Old" Morning Star Church.

Wilson was a farmer. He married Mary Brown. He was tall in stature and as he aged, he used a cane for walking-every day except Sunday. To Wilson and Mary Brown, the following children were born: Arthur (Mark), Wilson (Bud), Ferrol Mae, Agnes, Frances Lynn, Annie Bee, and Sherman. Uncle Wilson and Aunt Mary also helped rear one of their grandsons, James Collins (Billy). Wilson's children and Hester's children spent a great deal of time together because they lived within walking distance of each other. As their grandchildren were born, they too spent a great deal of time together. They spent many summer days with their grandparents. Uncle Wilson spent many a summer evening walking his grands and his great nieces and nephews from home to home by the light of a lantern. Uncle Wilson, Aunt Mary, and their youngest child, Sherman, died in a car accident on December 26, 1957. The three of them are buried in Uriah on the grounds of Morning Star Baptist Church. Of Wilson's children, Arthur, Wilson, Ferrol Mae, Agnes, and Sherman are deceased.

Robert was known as "Robbie." He married Mary Hollinger. He lived in Mobile, Alabama for a short time, but later moved to Atmore, Alabama. He became a farmer. Family members who lived in Uriah spent many Saturdays with Uncle Robbie and Aunt Mary for they often journeyed to Atmore (about 30 miles) to shop. Uncle Robbie smoked a pipe and always wore a hat. Robbie and Mary had seven children: Frank, Neil, Robert, Mammie, Ray, John, and Bessie. Uncle Robbie and Aunt Mary were members of the Mount Triumph Baptist Church. Aunt Mary died shortly after hearing of the deaths of Wilson and Mary Golden. In later years, Uncle Robbie married Lillian America. She is the mother of five children. Both Uncle Robbie and Aunt Mary are buried in Atmore, Alabama. Of their children, Neil, Mammie, Ray, and John are deceased.

Hester married Dave Johnson. He was a farmer. Hester never worked outside the home. She was know to be an "excellent" cook. She spent her days caring for her children and later her grandchildren (Jean, Loretta "Retta", and Rochester "Butch"), the children of her daughter, Violet. To Dave and Hester, thirteen children were born; several of the children died shortly after birth. Of the children who died in their youth, Minnie Lee and Helen are remembered most by their brothers and sister. Helen was always spoken of fondly. She was nicknamed "Red." The other children were named Horace, George, Violet, Dave, Charles, and Esther (Girlie). Violet died in the car accident with her Uncle Wilson, Aunt Mary, and cousin Sherman in December of 1957. Hester, Dave, Violet, and Helen are buried on the grounds of the family church, Shiloh Baptist Church.

Cornelius was called "Billy." He married Gertrude Frounder. He lived his adult life in Chicago, Illinois. Gertrude was from Clarke County. Her father was a minister. Cornelius worked for the Armor Meat Packing Company of Chicago. Their children were named Cornelius, Amelia, and Theodore. Uncle Cornelius was buried in Uriah. Their son, Cornelius, is also deceased.

Frank was nicknamed "Chuppie." He married Geneva McWilliams from Atmore, Alabama. They moved to Middletown, Ohio. When Frank became ill, Uncle Theodore (the youngest of Horace's children), journeyed to Ohio to bring Uncle Frank home. His children were named Frank, Jr. ("June Bug"), and Marguerite. Marguerite resides in Ohio. Frank, Jr. is deceased. Heis buried in Gary, Indiana.

Annie married Henry Williams. They lived their married lives in Mobile, Alabama. Of their four children, a daughter, Malinda, is deceased. Aunt Annie was known to be a "great" cook. Her home was home for many of her family members. Often the family gathered there for the holiday season. She was the Aunt who always kept everyone laughing. She was also the one who hated to see any family member leave her home. If you ever went to her home, you know that often times you had to slip away in order to keep her from crying. She and Uncle Henry had three sons; Henry, Joe, and Curtis. They were affiliated with the Roman Catholic church. Both Uncle Henry and Aunt Annie are buried in Mobile, Alabama.

Carrie married Osman Hendrieth. Osman's home was Brewton, Alabama. They lived for a while in Mobile, Alabama; but later moved to Detroit, Michigan. It is here that they raised their family. Aunt Carrie never worked outside the home. Uncle Osman retired from the Chrysler Corporation. To the union of Aunt Carrie and Uncle Osman, five children were born: Georgia, Osman, Jr., Carolyn, Norville Lee, and Delores. One son, Norville Lee, is deceased. Aunt Carrie always prefaces the names of her brothers and sisters with the word "MY." (Example: "My Sister Annie and My Brother Theodore). It was always a big event, on the part of her sisters and brothers, when Carrie came home to Alabama.

Carrie made it a point to always come HOME. She is a faithful member of her church. New Mount Zion Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan and is the ONLY LIVING CHILD OF HORACE AND MALINDA GOLDEN.

Theodore married Willie Dean. They made their home in Mobile, Alabama. Uncle Theodore retired from the Mobile Aluminum Plant. Aunt Wille never worked outside of her home. She spent her days providing a good home life for her husband and children. Their children are named Ella Mae, Theodore, Jr. (Br0), Edward (Little Ed), Violet, and Ollye Marie. Uncle Theodore spent much of his time in his youth with his nieces and nephews because he was the youngest child and not much older than some of his nieces and nephews. His nieces and nephews tell many stories that include Uncle Theodore as a part of their childhood pranks. Uncle Theodore passed away on Christmas Day, 1995. Aunt Willie lives in Mobile and is a faithful member of the Mount Zion Baptist Church.

Herman and Cassandra died as children. Herman died from a back injury at the age of one and is buried on the grounds of "Old" Morning Star in Uriah, Alabama. Cassandra is buried at a site called the "Bluff."

The first grandchildren of Horace's were Frank McKnight, Ida Lee McKnight, and Arthur Golden. The first grandchild of Annie's was Dillard Brown.

This is the earliest history compiled to date on the Golden Family. It was compiled from the memories of Aunt Carrie, Aunt Annie, and recollections of many other descendants of Wilson Golden. May we all strive to be true to our great heritage and to the legacy that has been set before us.

 

(THIS INFORMATION CAME FROM THE 2000 GOLDEN FAMILY REUNION BOOK)