Elbert County GaArchives: First Cousins Maxwell, Rucker, Bond, Norman Date of Photo: ca 1905 View Photo at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/elbert/photos/Cousins2.jpg ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Chandler Eavenson http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00030.html#0007294 11 February 2004 In the 18 Nov 1980 edition of “The Elberton Star” was an article entitled “First Cousin Photo Intriguing” by Irene Wilcox. It begins by stating “The men in the picture accompanying this article are all first cousins; some are brothers also; all are descended from families in Elbert in its earliest years; six of them have descendants still living in the county.” The article further states: “Reverend Thomas Maxwell was a Baptist minister born in VA. He suffered imprisonment for his religious beliefs in what has been termed the reign of persecution. ‘He preached through the gates of his prison and in his anxiety to see his congregation he bruised his nose against the iron bars until it would bleed,’ according to a GA historian. Another writer said he bore the scars until his death. Three of his descendants compiled the book published in 1956. They were Annie Norman, Helen Maxwell Longino and Annie Lou Maxwell. The foreword was written by Another descendant, Mary Thomas Maxwell, who taught at GA State College for Women for years and then became Dean of Women at the College. “Thomas Jessie Maxwell, born in 1874, was always known as Jesse. He was a farmer who married Sarah Mize, known as Sallie. Reverend George Bond was born in 1878. He was mail carrier before entering the ministry. He had a splendid voice and was called on to lead the singing at many evangelistic meetings while still a carrier. Long after his marriage, he prepared for the ministry. His wife was Cora Eavenson whom he married in 1904. Martin Maxwell Norman was born in 1874. In 1937 he was named Master Farmer of GA. For forty-one years he was superintendent of the Sunday School at Bio Baptist Church. He never married. Dr. Thomas Willis Bond, born 1874, married Lizzie Carpenter in 1905. For a long time they lived not far from Concord Methodist Church, but later moved to Elberton and lived on College Avenue. “Torrence Mansfield Maxwell, born in 1871, married Willie Teasley in 1910. He was a farmer and lived near Concord Methodist Church. They had no children. Thomas Martin Maxwell, born in 1869, married Janie Hulme in 1900. He was for years a member of the firm of M. E. Maxwell & Company, supply merchants in Elberton. Their only child was Mary Thomas Maxwell who never married. “William Albert Rucker, born in 1862, married Annie Martin Bailey in 1901. He was familiarly known as Uncle Billy to hundreds of our citizens. He and his wife were faithful members of the First Methodist Church and their children all remained in Elberton. Mr. Rucker was the efficient Clerk of Elbert County Court from 1901 to 1945. He was succeeded by his son Charles who serves efficiently at present. “James Thomas Maxwell, known as Jim, was born in 1869. He was a farmer who married Lillian Busha in 1916. Reverend W. Albert Maxwell, born in 1882, married first Bessie Eavenson and second Mrs. Sarah (Banks) Odom. He died in 1933, having served churches in the North Georgia Conference of the Methodist church for a number of years.” [Submitted by: Chandler Eavenson]