Elbert County GaArchives Newspaper
Highsmiths of Elbert-Hart Cos. 


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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Chandler Eavenson
http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00030.html#0007294

Newspapers 

Highsmiths of Elbert-Hart Cos. 

The following article appeared in The Times, Gainesville, GA
on 8 May 1994 and was authored by Sybil McRay, genealogical 
columnist for the newspaper: 

"In the northern part of Hall county just off GA 52 from Lulu
to Clermont is an old family cemetery which has two graves 
marked with headstones. I remember walking through the yard
of a home to record these inscriptions: 

"Pollie Highsmith, born May 6, 1794, died May 28, 1873. 
Elizabeth Melvanus Highsmith, infant of J. C. and Sarah L. 
Highsmith, born April 13, 1856, died August 15, 1856.

"Pollie is a nickname for Mary and because of burial date
of infant, this burial ground was used as early as 1856.
There are possibly other unmarked graves. The Highsmiths 
have many descendants in Hall County. The local familis 
descend from Highsmiths of Virginia and Halifax Co., NC. 

"The Pollie who was buried in 1873 was the wife of John 
Highsmith and was nee Mary Cason. Their son, John Cason
Highsmith, was born Jan 16, 1816 in Elbert Co., and died 
Feb 28 1901. He was married Aug 26, 1847 in Elbert Co. to 
Sarah L. Brown, daughter of Dr. Hiram Brown and Sallie 
Harben. She was born Jan 16, 1824, Elbert Co., and died 
Sep 7, 1881. John C. and Sarah are buried in Holly Springs
Church cemetery. 

"John C. and Sarah Brown Highsmith were parents of nine 
children. The first three were born in Elbert Co. and the
other six were born in Hall Co. 
1. Mary Angeline Highsmith was born June 24, 1848. She 
   married James Newton Miller. 
2. John Hiram Highsmith was born March 18, 1850 and was 
   married first to Missouri Ann Davis. His second wife 
   was America Priscilla Allen. 
3. Sarah Cornelia Highsmith was born Dec 5, 1853. She was
   married to Gibbs Rogers.(There are several intermarriages
   with the Rogers family.) 
4. Nancy Ophelia Highsmith was born March 3, 1855 and was 
   married to M. Heden Miller. 
5. Elizabeth M. Highsmith was the infant, buried in family 
   graveyard where later her grandmother was interred. 
6. Robert Adam Monks Highsmith was born Sep 15, 1858. He 
   married Myrtle Bell Gibbs. 
7. Laura Ann Perlany Highsmith was born Dec 5, 1860. She 
   was married in November 1901 to Van Lomax. 
8. Thomas Edward Highsmith, born April 1, 1863. He was 
   probably named for a brother of his father who was born 
   1827 and was married in Elbert Co. to Mary Ann Thornton. 
   A death record of Thomas E., son of John C. and Sarah, 
   gives this information; Thomas Edward Highsmith was a 
   farmer, born in Hall County. He died March 25, 1931. His
   father 'Cason' was born in South Carolina, and his mother
   Sarah or 'Sallie' was born in Hart Co
9. Milly Melissa Jane Highsmith, born Feb 4, 1868, and 
   married John Bartow Skelton. 

[Submitter's notes: Mary Ann Thornton, born 27 Sep 1830, 
was the daughter of Rev. Benjamin Thornton, Jr. and his first
wife Nancy Payne. Mary Ann first married on 19 Nov 1846 in 
Elbert Co. to Thomas E. Highsmith and married 2nd on 18 
Dec 1864 in Hart Co. to Jacob Siler.]

Submitted by: Chandler Eavenson