BIOGRAPHY:  JOHN R. GUNNELLS, Madison County, GA

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Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net
and Jeanne Arguelles - ejarguelles@msn.com
17 April 2002
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"Memoirs of Georgia: Containing Historical Accounts of the State's Civil,
Military, Industrial and Professional Interests, and Personal Sketches
of Many of Its People" Vol. 1 & 2, Atlanta, Georgia:  The Southern 
Historical Association, 1895 

JOHN R. GUNNELLS, farmer, was born in Oglethorpe county in 1837, and 
was the son of W. M. and Lydia N. (Thomas) Gunnells. W. M. Gunnells was 
a native of this county and was the son of John Gunnells, an early 
settler and a veteran of the war of 1812. W.M. Gunnells was a prosperous
farmer and moved to Madison county in 1843. He was married to a daughter
of Stephen and Margaret (Thomas) Thomas. The father was a native of 
Virginia and moved to Georgia, where he died. Mr. John R. Gunnells was 
brought up on the farm and his educational opportunities were limited to
a few weeks of schooling in the winter and what his mind stored from 
reading the books of the scant libraries in the neighborhood. In 1862 he 
enlisted in the war, Company C, Seventh cavalry, under Capt. Burk, 
later Capt. Flint. He fought in many battles and was in the engagements
at Petersburg, Burgess Mill, Gatlet's farm, Fort McCray, Bentonville, 
Columbia, Charleston, Orangeburg, C. H., Galesburg, Raleigh. In 1859 
he married Mary E. Nelms, daughter of John and Fannie (Denney) Nelms. 
He was a native of Elbert county and engaged in farming and milling. 
Mrs. Gunnells was born in Elbert county in 1840, and died in 1864, 
leaving one child, James M. In 1866 Mr. Gunnells was married to Julia A., 
daughter of Harman and Amelia (Williams) ToIlet. Mr. ToIlet was a native
of North Carolina, but moved to Georgia about the time of the birth of 
Mrs. Gunnells in 1830. Mr. and Mrs. Gunnells are members of the Baptist
church and he has 10ng belonged to the I.O.O.F. M. Gunnells owns a fine 
farm and an excellent mill and gin. He is one of the substantial citizens
of the county and lives in a nice home near Neese.