Morgan-Meriwether County GaArchives Biographies.....Campbell, Carter & Wittich/Williams Families 1786 - 1838 ************************************************ 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: Larry Knowles http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00012.html#0002854 September 5, 2009, 4:31 am Source: Larry Knowles Author: Larry Knowles CAMPBELL / WITTICH / WILLIAMS OF MORGAN & MERIWETHER COUNTIES IN GEORGIA Charter Campbell was born in Virginia c.1786, likely in Amherst Co. He died in Madison, Morgan Co. GA, March 26, 1838. He is believed to be the son of Revolutionary Soldier John Campbell, who came to Georgia about 1800 with his brother, Catlett Campbell. John Campbell obtained bounty land, but in Nov. 1802 bought 160 acres in Wilkes Co. on both sides of Newford Creek-from a John Wittick(Wittich)which he promptly resold to Joseph Burkes. In Feb. 1804 Earnest Wittick bought 199 acres on Pistol Creek-land adjacent to John Wittick, Smith, Saffold, and others[all land in Wilkes-Deed Book UU]. It is believed that Charter Campbell married Elizabeth Wittich in Wilkes Co. about 1806. Shortly thereafter Charter and his brother-in-law, Ernest C. Wittich, began to purchase land in Greene Co. Earnest bought at least three town lots in Greensboro from the President and Trustees of the University of Georgia(2-/$35 & 1-/$20). Charter later bought a larger Greene Co. lot from the same source, then used it as collateral on a $1000 loan from the University, to be paid in annual installments-final in December 1820. In Greene Co. on Nov. 19, 1808, an eleven year old(unnamed)son of John Campbell was indentured to Ernest C. Wittich, until the age of 21, for the purpose of learning the trade of tailor. It is quite likely that this was Charter’s younger brother, Catlett, who was born in Virginia in 1797-and died in Meriwether Co. GA in 1862. On October 3, 1809, a Charles Campbell of Greene Co. bought lot #93/4D. in Morgan Co.(Book A-pg. 349)-on the courthouse steps(highest bidder-$75)-the land of John Campbell, as levied against him in a civil suit-vs. John Scott on April 24, 1807 in Elbert Co. Ernest C. Wittich witnessed this deed. The March 31, 1815 issue of “The Friend and Monitor”, a Wilkes Co. newspaper, noted 200 acres(or 1/3 dower)on Newford Creek taken in a Sheriff’s Sale as property of Elizabeth Young, to satisfy an execution in favor of Earnest C. Wittich and Charter Campbell. The Feb. 5. 1814 will of John Wittich[Greene Co. Will Book E-pg. 131]notes his wife Dolly, son Ernest C. Wittich, and daughter Elizabeth Campbell. A Nicolas Howard was a witness on his will. He was probably the same man who married a Judith Campbell in Clarke Co. on July 6, 1812. Any Campbell kinship is unknown, but many folks believe that Rev. Soldier John Campbell’s wife was named Judith. Nicolas Howard, as the Sheriff of Greene Co. during this period, often witnessed many documents. He also ran the “Greenesborough Hotel”, where in 1828 he sold it, having moved to Columbus GA to run the hotel “Muscogee Hall” at the corner of Broad and Crawford Streets. He posted a notice in the Georgia Journal to that effect, Oct. 2, 1828. His Greene Co. successor noted that he had taken the hotel previously run by General Nicholas Howard. “The Athenian” of Athens- Nov. 23, 1827 issue, stated that Col. Nicolas Howard of Greene had been promoted by the State Legislature to Brigadier General of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division(Georgia Militia). Nicolas Howard died in Columbus on November 1, 1849*. His obituary stated that he had come to Georgia from Virginia in 1812, and had married Judith Campbell(shortly thereafter). Could Judith have been a Mrs. Campbell, widow of John Campbell? Though Charter and Ernest C. Wittich were listed in an 1816 deed in Greene Co., among trustees for the Methodist Society of Greensboro, both were listed on the 1817 Morgan Co. tax digest, and their moves seemed to be permanent. Charter was soon involved in various business activities in Madison, many with an Adam G. Saffold. Wife Elizabeth died in Madison shortly after the birth of the couple’s fourth-or fifth (known)child-Emaline Sophia Campbell, January 27, 1820. Charter returned briefly to Wilkes Co. where he married Sophia Foster on July 22, 1822. She unfortunately died in October. In Morgan Co. he married Lucinda Stringfellow on October 28, 1824. Ernest C. Wittich died in Madison on February 21, 1825-“..in the 48th year of his age”. A Jacob(?)Wittich, then a Joyce H. Wittich, were given administration letters on his estate, to be quickly followed by Lucius L. Wittich(de bonis non)-and, as guardian of Ernest’s orphans: Louis(or Lovie), Caroline L. and Harriet H. Wittich. The January 3, 1826 issue of the Milledgeville paper- “Georgia Journal”, noted that Charter Campbell had “taken the house..(of)Captain Simeon Walker..West corner of the Pubic Square..(known as the Planter’s Hotel)..and having the same thoroughly repaired..(had added)additional.. rooms, calculated for the accommodation of ladies and families”. In the April 24, 1827 issue, Charter thanked his guests for “16 months” of patronage, and stated that he would continue-“...to render those comfortable who may favor me with their company”. The Athens newspaper, “The Athenian” in its Dec. 22, 1829 issue reported the: “loss by fire of the house of Charter Campbell Esq. in Madison, with all the immediate stores from thence to the end of the square”. The hotel was evidently quickly rebuilt. The 1850 Morgan Co. census shows widow Lucinda Campbell in the hotel, with three of her sons: Charter, Porter H. and Lucius L. (T.)Campbell. She also had a daughter, Virginia, and a son, M. Lafayette(who had died very young). Charter’s oldest son, from his first marriage, Charles Ernest Fredrick Wittich Campbell, graduated from the Medical College of Charleston on March 8, 1833. He married Mary Ann Foster Ponder on Oct. 18, 1836 in Newton Co. GA. Her obituary said that on March 19, 1838 she died; that her parents were Abner and Janet G. Ponder of Oglethorpe Co., and that she left a husband and an “infant”*. Charles Campbell’s father-Charter Campbell, died in Morgan Co. a week later. Both obituaries were published in the April 10, 1838 issue of the Southern Recorder(Milledgeville). C. E. F. W. Campbell remarried in Covington on October 23, 1839-Elvira W. Gay. The couple obviously soon moved to Jasper Co. Charles Campbell was listed as Worshipful Master on the rolls of the Alcovia Masonic Lodge at Newton Factory in 1854, but is shown on Jasper Co. censuses in 1840, 1850, 1860, and 1870. Widow Elvira W. Campbell is listed in the house of her son, Richard Campbell, on the 1880 census. An online Georgia Supreme Court appeal-January Term 1876(Jackson vs. Campbell)upheld a decision in Jasper County Superior Court. It is unclear whether Charles was living at that time, but Elvira was noted in the initial legal summary. The matter involved a supposed debt of $1069.70[probably owed to the firm of Bostwick & Graham]. In the appeal, a Jackson Graham was named as plaintiff. C. E. F. W. Campbell had been given power of attorney by an H. M. Gay(the original debtor) in Jasper Co. to act as his agent-and as trustee for his(Charles’)wife and children, to handle or dispose of Gay’s real estate in Newton and Jasper Counties. The Gay relationship is unclear, but it appeared that he had moved to Texas, and that the Civil War had delayed litigation. Charter Campbell’s second son, William Hillard Campbell was born Sept. 12, 1811, and became a Methodist Preacher. He too moved to Newton Co. Any earlier union(s)are unknown, but in Newton Co. about 1847, William married an older woman, Nancy H. Jones, widow of Rev. James Jones, who had died in 1842. Nancy died July 7, 1857*. Wm. H. Campbell died January 17, 1869. All are buried in the Oxford City Cemetery in Newton Co. Charter and Elizabeth Campbell’s first daughter was Catherine, who married in Morgan Co. March 11, 1830, Erasmus C. Alford-[as named in Charter’s will]. It is not clear who made the first move to Meriwether Co., but it appears that Emaline Sophia Campbell, who married C. W. Williams in Morgan Co. in January 1839, either followed her uncle Catlett Campbell, or her husband’s older brother, Clark Taylor Williams. Clark T. and Carver Willis Williams were sons of John* and Lilly(Taylor)Williams of Clarke Co., who lived near Farmington (later Oconee Co.)just north of Madison. They had married in Oglethorpe Co. in 1803. Her parents were Clark and Elizabeth(Whitehead) Taylor, who had come to Georgia from Virginia(Lunenburg Co.-or adjacent Mecklenburg Co.)in the early 1790s. Clark Taylor was a Revolutionary Soldier(see attachment for more). Catlett and Susan P. Campbell raised a large family in Meriwether. Four children were still at home in 1850: Earnest C.-21, Sophrona-18, Uginia-14, and Nicolas C.-12. An E. C. Campbell, 29-is listed on the 1860 census with wife Elizabeth-25, and children: Catlett-7, Charter-4, Lula-3, and John-1. In 1870 in Meriwether Ernest Campbell-41 is listed with wife Elizabeth-35, and children: Catlett-17, Charter-13, Lula-12, Willie-6, Beulah(?)-5, and Cora-3. By 1880 Ernest C.-51 and Elizabeth Campbell-45 had moved to Polk Co. GA.-there, listed with children: William-18, Bulah-16, Cora L.-12, and Clifford-10. Son, Charter Campbell-25, wife Fannie-24; children: Eugene E.-4 and Lilie B.-2, are listed right next-door. Susan P.(Harris)Campbell died in Meriwether Co.* April 23, 1858. Husband Catlett Campbell evidently remarried, widow Jane(Stiles) Penny, before his death in 1862. She died in Liberty Co. in March 1889(these facts unverified). Catlett and Susan Campbell’s son, Nicolas C. Campbell became a doctor and remained in Meriwether Co. Physician “Charter” Campbell was listed on the 1870 Meriwether census in the-1st District, Warm Springs-[see more on his family in his brief biography, taken from “Memoirs of Georgia”-Vol. II-1895- on the Meriwether Co. GenWeb site]. Catlett Campbell’s daughter, Caroline M., wife of M. A. Boykin, died in Montgomery Co. AL, Oct. 10, 1860.* Carver Willis and Emaline Sophia Williams apparently raised only daughters. In birth order: Elizabeth married G. W. Smith, Sarah Ann m. Thomas G. Alexander, Virginia C. m. Jessey H. Jordan, Eudoria m. David T. Pope, Harriett m. John W. Peavy. Marital status of youngest child, Frances C. is unknown. The 1815 Clarke County deed of Clark Taylor to son-in-law John Williams, and the latter’s Clarke Co. will-probated in 1858(see attachment)-combined to identify thirteen or fourteen of Carver Williams’ siblings. Some may have come to Meriwether County. A William T. Williams is shown next to Clark T. Williams on the 1860 census(obviously not his son). William T. had a son named Clark, and a daughter, Harriet. * Indicates Southern Christian Advocate obituaries-[I did not check all names]. Comments: I am not a descendant of any of these individuals. In the early 1990s I finally talked my best friend, Harry Alexander, into researching his family. Recently, I did a summary of our “adventures” for the Rockdale County(Georgia) Genealogical Society newsletter. The attachment, which is one of those pages, covering these counties, did not capture the incredible way that we uncovered his family facts. Even more recently, I found additional information that we did not discover-or fully scope(most of our research was done in courthouses and at the State Archives). Several publications compiled since our period of research were very helpful in doing this summary. The abstracts of newspapers by Faye Stone Poss; Wilkes Co. 1810-1815, & her Athens GA newspapers(two volumes to 1829)were very enlightening; as was her Clarke Co. marriages records, 1803-1909. Freda R. Turner’s books on Greene Co.: “…Land Records- Deeds, 1785-1810”, and Greene Co. “Wills-1786-1877” were quite useful. A very large volume of abstracts from the Milledgeville newspaper-“Georgia Journal”-by Fred R. and Emily K. Hartz, was extremely helpful. Most of the people named in this summary were of the Methodist faith, so many of their obituaries came from the Methodist Church newspaper-the “Southern Christian Advocate”-abstracted by Brent H. Holcomb(1978). This great book also includes marriages. As with all secondary sources, such as these, original documents should be checked for accuracy and completeness. Two obituaries listed here were noted as having “long accounts or eulogies” in the original issues. The obits of Charter Campbell, and daughter-in-law, Mary Ann(Ponder)Campbell(abstracted from the Southern Recorder)-and the Georgia Supreme Court appeal in 1876-(from published “Court Reports”)-were the only major facts, other than censuses, that I found on the Internet. Graduation of C. E. F. W. Campbell was found in Southern Recorder abstracts-book unrecorded. Larry C. Knowles- Conyers, Georgia, August 31, 2009 P.S. Many names and facts are repeated here since the attachment is a scanned document(photo)-and as such, is not accessible to search engines. Always include details of online images in attached text files! P.P.S. For what its worth: I found a Catlett Campbell(b.1798)-on the 1850 Amherst Co. VA census. I also found that a Lawrence Campbell(c.1735-1814)had married a Henrietta Catlett. He had moved to Amherst Co. from Spotsylvania Co.- [I did not find the date or the deed source-as likely recorded in Amherst Co.] Last minute facts: William H. Campbell was listed with wife Nancy-(as a minister & “blind”)on the 1850 Newton Co. census. Within three weeks of her death, he sold a ¾ acre town lot in Covington and a larger parcel near town. He married Cornelia A. Stewart by 1860, when the couple is found on the Henry Co. census with son, Wm.-1. In 1870 widow Cornelia Campbell and William(J. C. H.)-11 are back in Newton Co. Cornelia died in 1894 and is buried beside her husband in Oxford with a infant son, Charles John(1864-1865). Jane Campbell’s Meriwether Vindicator obituary [Meriwether-GenWeb]said she was the widow of “Judge” Catlett Campbell -I did not consider that this might have been the older man’s son! See John W. Peavy family bible on the Meriwether GenWeb site. Campbell & Williams family members moved from Morgan Co. GA in the late 1830s Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/morgan/photos/bios/campbell360bs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/morgan/bios/campbell360bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 14.7 Kb