Seeking southside Hardigree, Holland, Cox descendants

You all know how I have raved about those little family history books which give so many interesting, personal details on one or two families. Well, those come about when people swap, collect, and compare family information with living descendants. Then, some smart soul puts the information into book form, shares the book with other family members, and sends it to genealogy libraries all over the country.

I received an e-mail this week from Elaine Neal of Watkinsville who is seeking family information from descendants of the Hardigree and Cox families to update a family history book. Elaine writes:

"Dear Judy,

"Nova Lemons, of Dallas, Texas, is updating the Hardigree Family History and is interested in finding some branches of the Hardigrees who lived on the south side of Atlanta.

"Jonathan Hardigree, born about 1775 in Maryland, lived and married Patsey Cameron in 1797 in Caswell County, N.C. They moved to Oglethorpe County, Ga. by 1800. Jonathan and his wife had a large family in Clarke County. After she died, he married a second time to Mary 'Polly' Giles in 1814 and had more children.

"Jonathan and Polly moved to Heard County in 1850 where he is listed on the federal census at the age of 75 years. On the 1860 census, he and his wife are listed with his daughter Nancy Elder in Coweta County. Both probably died between 1860 and 1870 and are buried in unmarked graves, possibly in Elim Baptist Church Cemetery in Coweta County.

"Does anyone know when they died and where they are buried? Where are two of his daughters and their descendants?

"We are still looking for Frances 'Fanny' Hardigree, born in 1822, who married Moses I./J. Holland in 1838 in Clarke County, Ga. They moved to first to Heard County in 1850, then moved to Coweta County in 1860 with a large family, according to the federal censuses. By 1880 they lived in Carroll County. They sold some land in 1890 in Carroll County, according to deeds in the courthouse. When did they die and where are they buried?

"According to the censuses and family records they had the following children:

"1) William A. Holland, born 1840, who married Arletha Farmer in Coweta County and then moved to Alabama. There are many descendants from this couple; 2) Mary Holland, born 1842, who married James M. Moore in March 1864 in Coweta County; 3) Ann Holland, born 1843; 4) Nancy Holland, born 1844; 5) Martha Holland, born 1846; 6) John J. Holland, born 1847, who married Cardis E. Lenderman in Coweta County. Their large family is listed in the newly published Heritage of Carroll County, Georgia, 1826-2001; 7) Evaline Holland, born 1850, who married Lenderman(?); 8) Robert Holland, born 1852; 9) Frances Holland, born 1856; 10) Thomas Holland, born 1857; 11) Susan Holland, born 1860; and 12) Mark Holland, born 1867.

"What happened to Mary (Holland) Moore? Did she lose her husband during the war? She is back with her parents Fanny and Moses in 1880 with young children.

"What happened to Evaline? Did she marry a Lenderman?

"What happened to Ann, Nancy, Martha, Robert, Thomas, Susan, and Mark? There are many Hollands who live in Carroll County. Did these descendants of Fanny and Moses live there? Are they buried there? Did they move to Alabama? We would love to include them in the revised Hardigree family history.

"Thanks for your kind offer to (publish) genealogy (for families on) the southside of Atlanta.

"Elaine C. Neal, Watkinsville, Ga. and a Hardigree descendant."

I don't have space this week to include the entire second portion of Elaine's letter which gives details on the family of Sarah Hardigree Cox, but, to give you some lead information, Elaine says:

"Of all my ancestors, I think Sarah is probably one of the most interesting people I have discovered. She was born in 1804 in Georgia, the daughter of Jonathan Hardigree and his first wife Patsey. She lived in the southernmost part of what is now Oconee County, Ga.

"On 9 Sept. 1824 Sarah Hardigree married Edwin Cox, the Agent for James Poullain. They lived at Scull Shoals, a manufacturing town located where Oglethorpe, Greene, and Clarke (now Oconee) counties met. Scull Shoals, once the site of Georgia's first paper factory and other manufacturers on the Oconee River, is now a ghost town, archeological site, and park.

"Her husband, Edwin Cox, was active in the Christian Church at old Republican (Antioch Christian Church) in Oconee County and a member of the Masons in Madison, Morgan County. He died in February 1843, leaving her ten children to raise."

Elaine lists the children of Sarah and Edwin Cox given in a Bible record as: John Thomas Cox; Richard Adam Cox; William Boulding Cox; Hiram James Adolphus Brushrod Washington Cox; Edwin Jonathan Cox; Martha Ann Rebecca Cox; Robert B. Cox; Martin Van Buren Cox; Charlotte Ann Virginia Boulding Cox; and Nathan F. Cox. All these children were born between 1825 and 1843.

I'll give you more information on this Cox family next week.

I am grateful to Elaine for sending her family information. Those with information on these families may contact her at nealec@erols.com.

Do you have ancestors who lived on the south side of Atlanta? Send their stories to The Citizen, Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; E-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com.

Until next week, happy hunting!

(Judy regrets that time does not permit her to do personal research for others. She will willingly share research information on her own family lines, including collateral and allied lines.)