George J. Windham

George J. Windham was born March 18, 1851 in Macon County, Georgia and died February 18, 1920.  He was the son of John J. Windham and Mary Lavinia Underwood Mitchell.      

Some sources state that George was born in Taylor County, Georgia, which is next to Macon County, but Taylor County was not formed until 1852.  The area where his father resided was commonly known as Hicks District and remained a Macon County district for all the years that John J. remained there.   So I think it is highly likely that George was born in Macon County, whether or not it was Hicks District.

I have firmly established that Mary Lavinia was indeed George's mother by marriage date of 1842.  I always find it best to do this when a second marriage has taken place.  

In 1860, George is listed on the Macon county census, in the household of John J. Windham.   The Windham residence is listed as being in Hicks District, Macon County, Georgia.  House number 282 and Family number 282.

1860 Macon County Census

John H., 40

John , 5

Eliza, 17

Lavinia, 47

Isaiah, 13

James, 11

Sarah, 10

Amanda, 6

Emma, 2

James Goodwin, 21 farm laborer

George also resided in his father's household in 1870

1870 Macon County Census, Hicks district conducted Junly 15, 1870

John J., 50, Farmer

Lavinia, 58 

Sarah J., 20

George, 18

Amanda, 16

John F., 14

Emma, 12

Charles D., 10

On February 21, 1875, George married Harriet J. Poole in Taylor County, Georgia.  Harriet was the daughter of John F. Poole and Ann Galloway.

In 1880, George is listed as an overseer on a farm in district 1002 in Macon County.

1880 Census, Macon County Georgia

George 28

Hattie J., 26

Anna C., 4 (Annie Clyde aka Clydie), 4

Margaret L., 3

John P/B(? unreadable) 9 months

1900 Taylor County census, 741 District, Reynolds

married 25 years

George, 49

Hattie J., 46

Annie C., 24

Maggie L., 23

Emma, 19

Vera H., 17

Ellis G., 14

George G., 12

Isaiah H., 9

James, 6

Hattie R., 1

1910 Reynolds, Taylor County, Georgia

George, 59

Hattie, 56

Ellis, 23

Hoke, 19 (listed as Isaiah on previous census)

Jim, 16

Rubie Hattie, 11 (listed as Hattie R. on previous census)

Georgia, 9

1920 Reynolds, Ga. Ridge Rd.

George 68

Hattie 65

Ellis G., 34

Hoke, 28

James G., 24

Ruby, 20

I don't always take time to list house/family number or dates of census but I sometimes find that information when I'm researching further and will add it as I come to it.  I did make a note here on the 1920 census that the census must have taken place early that year, because George J. Windham died  February 16, 1920.   There was a brief mention in the Butler Herald stating 'wife surviving'.

Later on Thursday, February 19, 1920 the Butler Herald posted a full obituary on page 2:

Coming as a distinct shock to his many friends and relatives in Reynolds and vicinity was the sudden death of Mr. George Windham, which occurred about 2 o'clock, Monday afternoon at his home, two miles south of Reynolds.  Heart failure caused his sudden passing which came upon him while working on the premises of his home.

Mr. Windham was 68 years of age and a resident of this county all his life.  He was a consistent member of the Primitive Baptist Church (New Hope Primitive Baptist now called Heritage Baptist), a good farmer and neighbor, affable and popular citizen.

Besides his wife he leaves 5 daughters and 4 sons.  Mrs. Clyde Eubanks (she is my great grandmother), Mrs. Vera H. Eubanks, Mrs. Hugh Windham, Miss Ruby Windham all of county and Mrs. Maggie McCrary of Geneva.  Messrs. Jim and Hoke Windham of this county, George of Cordele and Ellis of Ft. Valley.

He is survived by his brothers, Messrs. Frank and C.D. Windham of Reynolds, and three sisters whose names we cannot recall.  Funeral and interment, which was attended by a large gathering of sorrowing friends and relatives too place at New Hope Cemetery, Tuesday afternoon.

It appears in reading back over the censuses after reading his obituary that he lost small children: namely Georgia who is listed in the 1910 census and John who is listed in the 1880 census.  There is a grave in New Hope Cemetery, child sized, for a John F. Windham, in New Hope Cemetery.  We can't know if a child or children were also lost in the 1890's  as I have found no family records to indicate what happened in those lost census years.

In a future post or posts I will also list the children who did survive and their marriages or issue as best as I have been able to find them.