Oglethorpe-Talbot-Upson County GaArchives Biographies.....Hargrove, Maria Smith September 10, 1801 - September 21, 1899
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
T. Bradford Willis http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007638 September 5, 2013, 11:23 am

Source: The Centennial Anniversary of Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church, by Rev. Clement C. Cary in 1920
Author: T. Bradford Willis


Maria Smith Hargrove (September 10, 1801 - September 21, 1899) was the
sister of Charles Lee Smith, Sr., a pioneer of Talbot County, Georgia.
They were the children of Larkin Smith, Sr. (March 6, 1760 - October
20, 1834) and Avey/Ava Bradley Smith (April 6, 1767 - October 10,
1807).  Their father, Larkin Smith, Sr., was a veteran of the American
Revolution and has a memorial VA marker at the Mt. Pleasant Church
Cemetery.

In 1920, the Rev. Clement C. Cary wrote the following about the Smith
and Hargrove families
in his Centennial Anniversary of Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church,
Oglethorpe County, Ga:

"In the early part of the eighteenth [sic] century several families
emigrated from Virginia and North Carolina to Georgia.  Among those
who came from Virginia were the Smiths, Englands, Andrewses and
Arnolds.  Those from North Carolina were the Hargrove family, and all
these settled in Oglethorpe County, Ga., moving their membership in
the Methodist Church to an old Church named Prospect, located about
one mile north of the present location of Mt. Pleasant Church.

In 1820, what is now known as Mt. Pleasant Church, was organized,
these people moving their membership to this Church, where the
descendants of the Smiths, Hargroves, Englands, and Colquitts now have
their membership.

Larkin Smith, [Sr.], one of the Smiths above named, was the father of ten
children, nine of whom lived to the age of accountability, all of whom
were charter members of Mt. Pleasant Church.

One daughter, Maria Smith, married Charles G. Hargrove, and she
remained a member of Mt. Pleasant Church till her death, living to the
ripe old age of 98 years.  To that union were born eight children, of
whom six lived to adult age.  One son, Robert A. Hargrove, was
accidentally killed in 1861.

Another son, William H. Hargrove, died in the Confederate Army in 1861.

The oldest son, Richard L. Hargrove, served through the civil war four
years, coming home at the close of hostilities, to make his home with
his old father and mother, living at the old Hargrove place, which is
about three and a half miles from what is now Crawford.  He lived with
and took care of these parents the remainder of their declining years.
He was a dutiful son, and was a member of Mt. Pleasant Church, having
joined in early manhood.  He succeeded his father as Church Secretary,
and at his death was Secretary of the Church, Trustee and Teacher of
the Bible Class in the Sunday School.  For over forty years he was
known as the preacher's friend.  His home was the preacher's home.

In 1892, he and Miss Sarah M. Hawkins were married, and she, with a
daughter, survive him.  He was full of love and devotion.  It is said
of him in his career as a Church member, that he never missed a
service at his Church unless providentially kept away.

The oldest daughter of Charles G. and Maria Smith Hargrove was Mary
Elizabeth, who gave her heart to God and joined the Church when she
was a little girl.  She and Francis Colquitt were married in
September, 1852, rearing a large family of children.  Her husband
entered the Confederate Army, and died during the civil war, leaving
her with six small children, but with the energy and faith in God so
characteristic of that family, she reared these children to be model
men and women.

Two of her children have gone with her to their reward in heaven.
Four are left on earth.  These are:  Mrs. James R. England, who is
loved by all who know her; Sallie W. Colquitt, who has never married,
a friend indeed to everybody when sickness and sorrow overshadows
them.  None can be depended upon for help more than this godly woman.

Two sons yet live:  Charles R. and W. A. Colquitt.  Charles R.
Colquitt joined Mt. Pleasant Church when a mere boy, and at the death
of his grandfather, Charles G. Hargrove, was made a steward in his
place, in which position he served his Church acceptably for many
years.  It may be said in some of the lean years of Mt. Pleasant
Church, had it not been for "Uncle Charlie Colquitt," and a few more
like him, the nice Church building in which the people now publicly
worship God, of which the congregation is proud, would not have been
possible.  He knows no sacrifice when it comes to his Church.  Surely
the Scripture is true, "By their fruits ye shall know them."

One more son of Mary Hargrove Colquitt is W. A. Colquitt, who is
married, and has reared a large family of children, every one of whom
is a member of the Methodist Church.

The second son of Charles G. and Maria Smith Hargrove was Charles S.
Hargrove, who with his young wife, Mary A. Guill, very early in life,
joined the Methodist Church.  He could always be depended upon for
anything for the upbuilding of his Church.  He volunteered in the
Confederate Army in 1861, and left with the very first company for the
seat of war.  He was Corporal in the Army, and was Secretary to
Colonel Colquitt.  He has the distinction of being the first and only
Postmaster appointed by the Postmaster General of the Confederate
States of America, his commission bearing date of October, 1862, being
now in the possession of one of his sons.  It can be truly said of him
that he was a man of God.

The second daughter of Charles G. and Maria Smith Hargrove was Avie
Maria, who united with Mt. Pleasant Church when a girl.  At the age of
twenty years, she and Dr. Richard B. McRee were married, and to this
union one son was born, Ford McRee, who was licensed to preach and
entered the North Georgia Conference.  No higher eulogy can be passed
upon this good woman than to say through her training and example such
a good and useful man as Ford McRee could have been produced.  He
never knew a father's love.  Like his ancestors, he received his first
religious impressions
and his life was largely shaped by his connection with Mt. Pleasant
Church.  His father died when he was an infant, and his training
devolved upon his widowed mother and his grandfather and grandmother,
whose home was the house of God, and where family prayer was the rule
night and morning.  Ford McRee's early life was touched by Methodist
preachers, for in the old home one room was known as the "Preacher's
Room," and even till this day the same room bears this distinctive
name.

This article would not be complete without mention being made of the
"Old Hargrove Place," which was settled in 1803 by Richard Hargrove,
the father of Charles G. Hargrove, and the grandfather of Charles S.
Hargrove, and great-grandfather of Charlie Blue Hargrove.  Charles G.
Hargrove lived at this old home till his death, then Charles S.
Hargrove, and now Charlie Blue Hargrove makes this his home.  This
place, therefore, has the distinction of being owned by and as being
the home of four generations of Hargroves, all members of Mt. Pleasant
Church.  God has been recognized within the walls of that old home for
over a century, and He has been served by the heads of these four
generations of Methodist people.

Robert O. Hargrove was the son of Charles S. and Mary A. Hargrove, and
was never married.  He united with Mt. Pleasant Church early in life,
and was a loyal and consistent member till his death.  Upon the death
of his uncle, Richard L. Hargrove, he was chosen Secretary of his
Church, in which office he served his Church till his departure for
the eternal world.  Bob Hargrove's friends were numbered by his
acquaintances, as was attested by the beautiful floral offerings when
he was buried, his grave being entirely covered with flowers.  It may
be said that the office of Church Secretary at Mt. Pleasant has always
been filled with a Hargrove.

At the "Old Hargrove Place," in the rear of the home, is the family
burial ground, where are interred Richard Hargrove, who settled the
place, coming from North Carolina; Charles G. Hargrove and his wife,
Maria Smith Hargrove; and Charles S. Hargrove.

Charlie Blue Hargrove, so well known and so well beloved by Mt.
Pleasant Church, is the fourth Hargrove in this Church, being the
great-grandson of Richard Hargrove, while at the same time he himself
is a grandfather, being the father of Joe Hargrove, the latter with
his excellent wife being the parents of the two pretty little twin
girls.  So that really there have been six generations of the Hargrove
family connected with Mt. Pleasant Church."

Additional Comments:
This article was printed in the Talbotton New Era on September 5, 2013.


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