Taylor County Georgia Bios James Monroe Layfield File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Carla Miles. Email address: grmiles1@bellsouth.net Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/taylor.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm James Monroe Layfield James Monroe Layfield, son of Levin and Lucretia, was born in May of 1849 in Marion County, Georgia. He first appears with his family in the 1850 Marion County Census when he was one year old. I’ve not located any information regarding his childhood years. He married Mary Elizabeth Watson on October 19, 1867 in Taylor County, Georgia. She was the daughter of Perry M. Watson and Martha Hart. Mary was born on April 3, 1848 in Marion County, Georgia. When they married, James was eighteen and Mary, nineteen. They first appear together in the 1870 Taylor County, Ga. Census, and lived in the Howard District. They had no children at this time, and the Census states that James “works at anvil”. James and Mary lived in Taylor County the majority of their married life. All of their children were born there. They had a large family, nine children in all: Levina Lee (most likely named after her grandfather Levin), Mary Elizzie (probably named for her mother), Clevander, Georgia Thomas, Burrell Alberta, Emily Maude, Edia, Ruby, and Rufus. While living in Taylor County, Jim Layfield (as he was known) was a blacksmith and woodworker. He built furniture, wagons and buggies. Jim was a charter member of Harmony Baptist Church in 1900-1901, Harmony membership became Mauk Baptist Church when the Railroad was put through western Taylor County in 1905-1906, and the town of Mauk, Ga. was born. The Layfield family moved to Junction City, Ga. most likely around 1907. Jim Layfield was listed as one of the first members of Junction City Baptist Church and is mentioned in the church minutes on two occasions. On October 10, 1908, he made acknowledgement for non- attendance, and he was honored with a Resolution in 1921 after his death. Mary wasn’t included in the membership list of Junction City Baptist nor was her son Ed Layfield. They must have had their memberships elsewhere. Some of the Layfield’s other children were listed in the membership roll at Junction City Baptist - Maude, Ruby, Rufus and his wife Lizzie, and Ed’s wife, Susie Clyde. In 1910, the Layfields lived on Broad Street in Junction City according to the Talbot County Census. At this time, Jim was 62 years old and working as a blacksmith at the local coffin factory in town. He and Mary had been married for 42 years. Several of their children were still living at home at this time. Maude, 28 years old, who was an invalid; Ed who was listed as Edgar, 24 years old and working as a shaper at the coffin factory; and Rufus, 20 years old, who was also working as a sander at the coffin factory. Working at the factory was definitely a family affair! On February 11, 1913, there is a mention in the newspaper that “Messrs. Moore and Layfield have just completed their blacksmith shop and will be glad to have their friends call and give them a trial.” It is unknown if Jim continued to work at the coffin factory as well as run the blacksmith shop. At some point during 1918-1919, the Layfields moved to Brunswick, Ga., where their son-in-law Mack Mrozkowski and daughter Ruby were living. Several of their other children followed them and by 1920, Ed and Susie, and Rufus and his family appear in the Glynn County Census. Maude was living there as well with Ruby and her family. Mary Layfield died of Gastro Enteritis on December 30, 1919 in Brunswick, Ga. and was buried the following day at Pine Level Cemetery in Mauk, Ga. At the time of her death, the Layfields lived at 1510 Stonewall Street. Jim Layfield is not listed in the 1920 Brunswick, Ga. Census. There is no death certificate for him in Brunswick, so he must have died elsewhere. It is possible he went to live with some of his other children before his death. Jim is buried beside Mary. His death is mentioned in the minutes of Junction City Baptist Church dated December 5, 1920. Beside his name on the membership list of the church it states that he died in June of 1920. There was a resolution written for him and another member of the church that had passed away. It’s included below: Resolutions, In Memoriam In as much as God, who doeth all things well hath in His wisdom seen fit to call from among us Sister A.C. Adams and Bro. Jas. M. Layfield and transplanted them into the home of eternal bliss: Therefore be it resolved: First, that we humbly bow in submission to God’s Will. Second: That this church has lost two of its faithful members, and the cause of Christ on earth to valiant soldiers. Third: that we extend our sympathy to the families and loved ones, and point them to risen Lord, who says, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.” Finally, we urge that a copy of these resolutions be sent the bereaved families, and also that they be included in the minutes of this church. Junction City Baptist Church Committee Junction City, Ga. Mrs. C.W. Moore, Chairman January 2nd, 1921 R.P. Blythe J.J. Greene 1850 Marion County Census 57th Division Census taken on 8/23/1850 Page 227 and 228 #44 Levin Layfield, 40 years, Farmer, Born Ga Lucretia, 38 years, Born Ga All children born in Ga Sarah Ann, 18 years Washington, 17 years, Laborer Wm, 15 years Mary Ann, 13 years Nancy, 10 years Nicy, 8 years John, 6 years Frances, 4 years Hetty, 2 years James, 1 year (This is James Monroe Layfield) Unable to locate the Layfield family in the 1860 Census - checked Alabama and Georgia Index 1870 Taylor County, Ga. Census Post Office: Howard Census taken on 7/22/1870 #9 James Layfield, 20 years, works at anvil, Personal Estate 100, Born Ga Mary, 20 years, keeps home, Born Ga No children listed 1880 Taylor County, Ga Census Census taken on 6/4/1880 Howard District 853, Page 36B (Western Side of County covering most of Land District 12. Probably originally Marion County prior to 1852) Layfield, James M. w m 31 Mary E. w f 30 keeps house Mary E w f 7 at home Clevanda A w f 5 at home Georgia T. w f 3 at home Burrel H. w m 1 son at home 1900 Census of Taylor County, GA, Howard District #853 Census taken on June 22, 1900 Dwelling #123 James Layfield, head of household, white male, DOB May 1848, 52 years old, married for 35 years, birthplace: GA, birthplace of parents: GA, Occupation: Blacksmith, can read and write, rents home Mary, wife, DOB April 1848, 52 years old, married for 35 years, birthplace: GA, birthplace of parents: GA, can read and write, mother of how many children: 9, how many children living: 8 Maude, daughter, DOB Feb 1880, 20 years old, single, birthplace: GA, can read and write Eddie, son, DOB April 1884, 16 years old, single, birthplace: GA, can read and write, attended school 5 months this year, occupation: farm laborer Ruby, daughter, DOB June 1886, 13 years old, single, birthplace: GA, attended school 5 months this year, can read and write Rufus, son, DOB March 1890, 10 years old, birthplace: GA, attended school for 5 months this year, can read and write, occupation: farm laborer 1910 Census for Talbot County, GA Census taken on April 15, 1910 Militia District, #886 Harts, Junction City, GA The Layfield family lived on Broad Street. James Layfield, white male, 62 years old, married for 40 years, birthplace: GA Birthplace of parents: GA, Occupation: Blacksmith at Coffin Factory Owns home, can read and write Mary, wife, 60 years old, married for 40 years, birthplace: GA, states her father was born in SC and her mother born in GA (the 1900 census stated both parents born in GA) Maud, daughter, 28 years old, single, birthplace: GA, can read and write Edgar, son, 24 years old, single, birthplace: GA, Occupation: Shaper at Coffin Factory Rufus, son, 20 years old, birthplace: GA, Occupation: Sander at Coffin Factory Unable to locate James and Mary Layfield in the 1920 Census Additional information for the children of James and Mary Layfield: Levina Lee Layfield, Born 10/6/1870, Died sometime before 1880 Mary Elizzie Layfield, Born 11/26/1872, Married Julius Stone on 3/27/1892 in Taylor County, Date of death is unknown Clevander Layfield, Born 12/12/1874, Married John Robert Blair on 12/8/1895 in Taylor County, Date of death 5/28/1906 Georgia Thomas Layfield, Born 3/23/1876, Married James Vol Schrimshire on 2/25/1894 in Taylor County, Date of death 11/5/1950 Burrell Alberta Layfield, Born 3/3/1878, Married Marion Jinks on 1/27/1900 in Taylor County, Date of death 9/30/1963 Emily Maude Layfield, Born 2/8/1880, Date of death 10/23/1961 Edia Layfield, Born 4/28/1884, Married Susie Clyde Blythe on 1/1/1911 in Talbot County, Date of death 7/15/1962 Ruby Layfield, Born 6/9/1886, Married Thaddeus Mrozcowski on 11/11/1906 in Taylor County, Date of death 8/30/1958 Rufus Layfield, Born 3/4/1890, Married Lizzie Boswell - date and location is unknown, Date of death is unknown This biography was written by Carla Miles. 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