The Echols, Johnson and Hollingsworth families

I'll wrap up the Echols family this week. I know you're probably tired of reading about them, but this family really captivated me and there is a wealth of information both online and offline about them.

I discovered a gold mine online in the Echols Family History written by Milner Echols in 1850. However, when I recently tried to pull the site up, the page could not be found. I did copy the history and saved it in an MS Word document. If anyone would like to have it, I'd be happy to e-mail you a copy.

Here's what Milner says about the Samuel Dorrell Echols family:

"Old Richard Echols third son was named James Echols, a very large man, had a very singular mark in his features. He had one black eye and one blue eye. He married Elizabeth Palmer, widow of John Palmer of Richmond County, Virginia. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Milner. By her he had five sons, three daughters.

"His oldest son was Milner, who married Susannah Sansom, had ten children.

"Their first son was Samuel Dorril Echols, who married Betsy Wood. By her he had four sons and four daughters.

"His first son was named Alfred. He married a girl named Thirston. They had one child and then they parted. (Note: Sally Ann Hairston and Alfred Echols were married in Coweta County on 7 Jan. 1841, according to the Coweta County marriage book.)

"His second son was named Wood Echols. He married a girl by name of Patrick, had three children, moved to Alabama and died shortly after he went there. I know nothing of his family.

"Third son named Winston M. Echols married a Miss Summer Cain, had one child and she died. He married again but I know not to whom. (Note: Sources say Winston Milner Echols' second wife was Barilla Summerlin and they had 12 children.)

"His fourth son is named John, a young man not yet married.

"His oldest daughter was named Maryan. She married Colo. Thos. J. Johnson, who lives in Herd County, near Franklin. They have children but I know not their names or how many.

"His second daughter was named Mahaley, married Mercer Babb, had one child and she died. Her daughter is a daughter named Antonett.

"Saml's third daughter Betsy Ann married a Mr. Hollandworth, lives in Heard County. They have one child. I know nothing of them.

"His fourth daughter Susannah not yet married."

There is a lot more and Milner covers the whole Echols family from the arrival in America of John Echols from England, his marriage to a "tall, redheaded woman" named Mary Cave, their children, and the migration of family members to Georgia.

While Ruth Wilson's story in the Heard County history book mentioned a lot about Samuel D. Echols' children, there were two which there wasn't much about: Elizabeth Ann who married Levi Hollingsworth and Mary Ann who married Thomas J. Johnson.

Elizabeth Echols and Levi Hollingsworth married in 1844, according to Mrs. Wilson's story, and lived all their lives in Heard County near the Chattahoochee River. They appear in the 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 censuses of Heard County, died, and are buried there. Censuses indicate the following children: Susan E. b. abt 1846; Antoinette J. b. abt 1850; J.D., b. 1852 (listed as Joseph in the census but actually was a female); William, b. abt 1857; James W., b. abt 1860; Camilla, b. abt 1863; Emma, b. 1865; Robert S., b. 1868; and Lela B., b. abt 1874. Levi and Elizabeth Echols Hollingsworth both are buried in the Hollingsworth Cemetery.

Mary Ann Echols married Thomas J. Johnson 11 Feb. 1834 in Coweta County and moved to Heard County. Censuses indicate they had the following children: Mary A., b. abt 1838; Emeley b. 1841; Antoinette, b. abt 1842; Amanda b. abt 1847; and Thomas J., b. abt 1850. Mary Ann Echols and Thomas Johnson moved to Bell County, Texas, and are found there in 1880 with their daughter, Mary A., a schoolteacher, age 41, who apparently never married. The Johnsons are buried in the Salado Cemetery there.

Other interesting Echols tidbits I came across when I was researching the family included the fact that the names of Alfred Echols, Wood Echols, and Thomas J. Johnson turned up on the 1836 roster of a cavalry unit from Coweta County who volunteered to fight in the Indian Wars.

Levi Hollingsworth, husband of Elizabeth Echols, built a 70-yard bridge across the Chattahoochee River which stood until the Civil War. Family stories say that Levi and his slaves destroyed the bridge to keep Sherman's army from advancing but the community was destroyed anyway. Levi later operated a ferry downstream from where the bridge had once been.

Samuel Dorrell Echols served in the Georgia state legislature for many years from Coweta County and also served as a judge of the inferior court.

Another interesting thing I noticed was in the 1820 Walton County census when I found Samuel and his family. Others in the same census who later turn up in Fayette, Coweta and Heard were Wilie Heflin, Tabitha (Glass) Wood, Manson Glass, and Wyatt Heflin.

If anyone has more about this family, I would love to hear from you.

Do you have an interesting story about your early southside Atlanta family?

I'd love to hear it. Send 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.)