Georgia:  Coweta County:  Biography of JOEL J. HERNDON 

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JOEL J. HERNDON, one of the early settlers of this section, is the grandson 
of a Virginian who came more than a century ago to Elbert county, Ga. Here 
he founded a home, and here in 1793 his son Edward was born. The latter was 
a soldier in the war of 1812, in lieu of payment for which he drew a piece of 
land in Meriwether county, Ga. He married Miss Nancy Brown, like himself 
born and reared in Elbert county, where, Oct. 19, 1829, their son, Joel J., 
was also born. In 1834 Mr. Herndon went out to his newly acquired property 
in Meriwether and built a log cabin, preparatory to removing his family 
thither, which move was accomplished the next year, and upon the farm which 
he there cleared and cultivated he reared his family of ten children. Here 
Joel grew up, attending school in the old log schoolhouse. On May 11, 1862, 
he enlisted in Company G, Fifty-third Georgia regiment, under Capt. Robert 
Taylor, Col. Doyle being in command of the regiment which was a part of the 
force commanded by Gen. Hall J. Simms. Mr. Herndon was in many of the 
hardest fought and most important battles of the war, among them Malvern 
Hill, Gettysburg, the battles of the Wilderness and thence to Petersburg, an 
almost continuous conflict. He was slightly wounded at Gettysburg, but was 
in every battle in which his regiment was engaged in 1864, and was at the 
general surrender at Appomattox. At the close of the war he made his way 
home on foot and returned to the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, to which 
he has since devoted himself. The war left him -- as it did many others -- 
almost destitute, and with the necessity of making a new start in life. He 
had his land, an old wagon and two small mules, but also a debt of $1,000, 
for which he offered his land in payment. But he had the courage and 
resolution which overcame all difficulties, and so he went to work with a 
will, paid his debts and continued to add to his substance until today he is 
reckoned one of the most successful men and best esteemed citizens of his 
county. 

His wife, Elizabeth Kempson, to whom he was married Dec. 9, 1852, is 
the daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Long) Kempson, both natives of South 
Carolina, who came to Georgia about 1840 and settled in Meriwether county. 
Mrs. Herndon was born in Edgefield, S. C.; she is a member of the Lutheran 
church, her husband being a Baptist. Of the nine children which have blessed 
their marriage four are now living: Amanda F., wife of James Moody; Laura, 
Ella and William.

Transcribed from MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA published by the Southern Historical 
Association, 1895.