Guthrie Family Group 5 – Branch G
GEORGE W GUTHRIE and ELIZABETH ‘BETTIE’ ABNER
of Newton, Baldwin, Cobb, Carroll and Fulton Counties, Georgia, USA

GEORGE W GUTHRIE
Parents: Henry Guthrie (c1812GA-1855GA) and Manerva Lyon (c1813GA-1896AL)
Birth: 22 June 1839
Birth Location: Newton County, Georgia, USA
Marriage: Elizabeth Abner about 1868 in Georgia, USA
Occupation: Laborer; Shoe & Boot Maker; Groceryman
Military Service: Yes – Civil War – CSA – Garrard’s Light Artillery
Death: 17 Feb 1905
Death Location: 107 Kirkwood Avenue, Atlanta, Fulton, Georgia, USA
Burial: Cemetery in Acworth, Georgia, USA

ELIZABETH ABNER aka “BETTIE”
Parents: Stephen Andrew Abney and Susan Collins (Unverified Ancestry Hint)
Birth: April 1846
Birth Location: Georgia, USA
Guthrie Children: Yes
Death: Unknown, probably 1900-1910 before the 1910 census
Death Location: Unknown, probably in Georgia, USA
Burial: Unknown, probably in Georgia, USA

NOTES:

George W Guthrie stated in his Confederate Pension Application that he was born on 22 June 1839 in Newton County, Georgia. His father died in 1855 when he was about 15 years old making him the eldest of Manerva’s eight children. He worked as a laborer, but encountered some trouble prior to the 1860 census. He is listed by name with the family, but the comments show that George was a “convict” at that time. He is also found listed in the 1860 census of the Penitentiary for the State of Georgia located in Milledgville, Baldwin County, Georgia. “G Guthrie, 21, M, common laborer, born: Georgia, cannot read, Condition: Larceny from House (Burglary). The Georgia Central Register of Convicts, 1817-1976 lists George Guthrie, 21, born 1839 Georgia, Received 27 April 1860 – Term of 3 years – Crime: Larceny from House – Conviction County: Fulton – Occupation: None – Age: 21 – Height: 6′ – Race: Fair, Hair Lt.

It is unknown whether George W Guthrie served out his full sentence or if he was released to join the Confederacy for the state of Georgia during the Civil War (1861-1865). His stated enlistment year was 1863 at Savannah, Georgia. He enlisted with Garrard’s Light Artillery serving until Johnson’s surrender at Greensboro, North Carolina in April 1865. Discharging at Greensboro, NC in April 1865.

George W Guthrie married Elizabeth Abner, known as Bettie. Their exact date and the location of there has not been found, but is presumed to be in Georgia before the birth of their eldest son in 1869. They were listed as married on the 1870 census. George took up the trade of his father becoming and shoe and boot maker.

At the time of his pension application on 8 Jan 1897, he listed ‘shoemaker’ as his occupation with annual earnings of about $150.00, stating his reasoning for requesting a pension: “I have not been able to do but very little work for several years. My infirmity consists of general debility and breaking down of my physical being and my partial blindness one eye totally blind the other. Owns no property. Lists his wife, a daughter 14 years old, and a boy 18 years old as his dependents. No homestead. No other source of pension. Note that the pension appears to have been denied.

Between 1897 and the 1900 census, George’s occupation changed to that of a grocer. Perhaps less strain on his failing eyesight than cobbling shoes and boots.

The family lived for a few years in Blount County, Alabama, but primarily in Carroll County, Georgia and later in Atlanta in Fulton County.

Guthrie Children: 4
Y-DNA Project Participants: NONE
Autosomal DNA Participants: NONE

CHILD 1: JOHN C GUTHRIE
Born: June 1869 AL – Died: 19 Apr 1914 GA @ Age: 46
Spouse: Emma G Boggus
Occupation: Grocer / Farm Laborer
Guthrie Children: 3
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Daughters Only
Autosomal DNA Participants: NONE

Notes:
“John Guthery” was 11 months old at the time of the 1870 census taken on the 17th day of June 1870. The census also reveals his birth month was June placing his birth date sometime after June 17th 1869. He was born in Alabama, likely Blount County where the Guthrie family had been living. They had moved to Carroll County, Georgia prior to 1870. He attended school and could read and write.

If the following news clipping applies to this J C Guthrie, he attempted to occupy himself as a grocer, but the business failed.

On 3 August 1892, J C Guthrie married E G Boggus in Carroll County, Georgia. His bride was Emma Gertrude Boggus, a daughter of Jeremiah and Eunice (Scarborough) Boggas. They moved to Atlanta Georgia where he again worked as a grocer. They were living on Berean Avenue during the 1900 census, which reveals that Emma had given birth to 3 children and that all 3 were living. The census identifies: Myrtle, 5; Effie, 3; Jessie 5/12.

John and Emma’s relationship appears to have become abusive. The police arrested him in March 1904, an action that Mrs Guthrie had not requested. She refused to testify against her husband at the inquest.

Sometime between 1904 and the 1910 census, John and Emma separated and/or divorced. The 1910 census finds John C Guthrie living in Floyd Springs, Floyd, Georgia, and working as a general farm laborer. He is listed as ‘widowed’ which is a typical option rather than claiming divorce. Living with him is his eight year old daughter, Jessie R Guthrie. The whereabouts of Emma and the other two daughters are not known.

John died at the home of his brother George in Rome, Floyd, Georgia on 18 April 1914. He had been suffering from pellagra, which is a systemic disease caused by severe vitamin B3 deficiency affecting the whole body. Can cause dementia, diarrhea, and dermatitis, and is usually caused by poor dietary intake of Niacin or the body’s inability to appropriately absorb it.

Prior to 1920, Emma married widower Hilliard C Bales. They lived in Anniston, Calhoun, Alabama. He had a son, Hubert Bales, from his first marriage to Annie Smith. Hillard died in 1933 after which Emma remained a widow. She lived for another twenty years. Her death came on 2 April 1953 in Calhoun County, AL.

1.) Myrtle Guthrie: 13 Oct 1894 GA – ?1973 Saskatchewan, Canada? m.1912GA George Curtis
2.) Emma Exer ‘Effie’ Guthrie: 18 Mar 1897 GA – Feb 1991 OK m.1918AL William Earle Parkhust
3.) Jessie Pearl Guthrie: 19 Dec 1900 GA – 26 Jun 1987 AL m.1924AL Roy DeWitt Mitchell Sr

CHILD 2: JESSE E GUTHRIE
Born: Sep 1873 GA – Died: 10 May 1917 GA @ Age: 43
Spouse: Lielie Agricola aka ‘Lillie’
Occupation: Grocer / Butcher
Guthrie Children: None
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – No descendants
Autosomal DNA Participants: N/A – No descendants

Notes:
Jesse E Guthrie was born in Georgia during the years of Reconstruction. He lived in Atlanta the majority of his life and worked in the grocery or butcher business. He was robbed in 1901 having all of his groceries, meats, and tobacco. Despite this huge setback, Jesse remained in the business, but apparently struggled with finances. He put pressure on customers who owed him money for unpaid bills, and in at least one instance in 1903, took them to court. Finally, in 1905, he was forced into bankruptcy.

The above article is lengthy. J.E. Guthrie, grocery merchant, brought a case against A.L. Fuss who owed him for an unpaid grocery bill. The judge permitted the case to be settled.

On 3 April 1907, Jesse E Guthrie married Lielie Agricola, a daughter of Herman Agricola and Lena Kreiss. She was born in Georgia, but her parents were immigrants from Germany and France. Lillie worked as a stenographer prior to her marriage to Jesse. They had no children.

The widow remarried prior to the 1920 census to Jesse Wilburn Hornsby. He died just three years later. They had no children. Lillie’s death came on Christmas Day of 1950.

CHILD 3: GEORGE HOLLAND GUTHRIE SR
Born: 2 Jun 1878 GA – Died: 16 Dec 1930 GA @ Age: 52
Spouse: Lynette Agricola
Occupation: Grocer
Guthrie Children: 6
Y-DNA Project Participants: NONE
Autosomal DNA Participants: NONE

George Holland Guthrie was born in Georgia and lived in Carrol and Fulton Counties spending the majority of his adult years in Atlanta. In 1900, George was seriously injured as the surrey he and three others were in overturned due to a runaway horse. “Guthrie came near being killed. His collar bone was fractured in two places and his shoulder blade broken. He will be confined to his bed for several weeks.” (The Atlanta Constitution, Mon., Oct 22, 1900, p.10 – Newspapers.com)

At the age of 24, he married Lynette Agricola on 10 Dec 1902 at the Methodist parsonage of Decatur. Five years later his brother Jesse would married Lynette’s sister, Lillie Agricola.

George worked in the grocery business for a time, but became a long-term employee of the Fulton Bag & Cotton Mills. Six children were born to George and Lynette between 1906 and 1924. Sadly, their youngest son, Herman died in his infancy.

George H Guthrie Sr died at 52 years of age on 16 Dec 1930.

Lynette (Agricola) Guthrie died on 14 Oct 1952 in Atlanta.

1.) George Holland Guthrie Jr: 22 Aug 1906 GA – 9 Mar 1965 GA m.1926GA Odessa Howell -no children
2.) Emmett Garrett Guthrie: 17 Dec 1907 GA – 26 Apr 1976 GA m.1928GA Gladys Edna Galloway +children
3.) Edward Clifford Guthrie: 22 Oct 1911 GA – 16 Jan 1991 GA m. Bessie Lee Westmoreland +child
4.) Lena Elizabeth Guthrie: 7 Jul 1917 GA – 7 Mar 1995 GA m1. Earnest Franklin Shepard +children, m2. (FNU) Davis -no children.
5.) Julius Earl Guthrie: 28 Feb 1919 GA – 29 Dec 1960 GA – Unmarried.
6.) Herman Guthrie: 20 Jul 1923 GA – 12 Mar 1924 – died in his infancy

CHILD 4: EFFIE EXA GUTHRIE
Born: Oct 1881 GA – Died: 25 Aug 1910 @ Age: 28
Spouse: Bert M Mitchell
Mitchell Children: 2
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: NONE

Exa’s name is rare but not unique to the times. Note that her marriage record to Bert Mitchell is recorded as “Ascsal Guthery”. She was the only daughter of George W and Bettie (Archer) Guthrie. According to the 1900 census, her DOB was in October 1881. The age listed in her obituary at her death is 26, which would alter her birth year to 1884, which is the birth year recorded at Find-a-Grave. Chances are that 1881 is the more accurate number.

Bert and Exa married on 23 Nov 1905 in Fulton County, Georgia. The obit credits her with two of Mitchell’s children: George Charles Mitchell (1909) and Jessie Roy Mitchell (1910). Exa (Guthrie) Mitchell died on 25 August 1910. Bert remarried to Eugenia Echols on 29 June 1912 by whom he had several more children. Eugenia passed away in 1941 and Bert in 1956.

READING and RESOURCES

NEWSPAPER SNIPPET: The Carroll Free Press, Friday, 2 Sep 1887, Page 3. Digital Repository: Newspapers.com

NEWSPAPER SNIPPET: The Carroll Free Press, Friday, 25 January 1889, Page 3. Digital Repository: Newspapers.com

DOCUMENT: Indigen Pension Application, 1897 – Geo. W Guthrey – Fulton County, GA, Georgia, US Confederate Pension Applications. Digital Repository: Ancestry.com

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE: Bad Money Freely Passed – Police and Secret Service Men have made an Important Arrest – The Atlanta Constitution, Sat., 22 Mar 1902, Page 7. Digital Repository: Newspapers.com
The end of the article includes a statement: The police have learned that a counterfeit quarter was also passed on Mrs. G.W. Guthrie, who conducts a store at 108 Pearl Street.

DOCUMENTS: Obituaries for G. W. Guthrie – Digital Repository: Newspapers.com

DOCUMENTS: Civil War Service Records – Guthrie, George W.
Digital Repository: Fold3
IMG 1: Guthrie, George W. Capt. Gerard’s Battery, Georgia Light Artillery. (Confederate). Private.
Card Numbers (listed)
See Also: Co. A “Siege Train”
IMG 2: G.W. Guthrie, Pvt., Capt. John M Guerard’s Company, Light Artillery
Company Muster Roll for Oct. 16 to 31, 1863
Enlisted Feb. 23, 1863, Where: Savannah, By Whom: Lieut. McManus, Period: 3 years or war. Last paid To What Time: Aug 31, 1863. Present or Absent: Present. Remarks: Transfer from Co. A Siege Train by special order no. 279 par XIII dis. of Gen. to take effect from October 15, 1863.
IMG 3: G.W. Guthrie, Pvt, Capt. John M Guerard’s Company, Light Artillery
Company Muster Roll for Nov & Dec 1863
Last paid: Oct. 31, 1863. Present or Absent: Absent. Remarks: Absent in arrest.
IMG 4: G.W. Guthrie, Pvt, Capt. John M Guerard’s Company, Light Artillery
Company Muster Roll for Dec 31, 1863 to Apl. 30, 1864
Last paid to Dec 31, 1863. Present or Absent: Absent. Remarks: Absent in Arrest.
IMG: 5: Geo. W. Guthrie, Pvt., Capt John M Guerard’s Company, Light Artillery
Company Muster Roll for May & June 1864
Last paid to Oct. 31, 1863. Present or Absent: Present.
Remarks: Pay & allowances forfeited except necessary clothing & dues of laundress for three months under G.O. no. 19 De__ So. Car. Ga & Fla.
IMG 6: Geo. W. Guthrie, Pvt., Capt. John M Guerard’s Company, Light Artillery
Company Muster Roll for July & Aug 1864
Last paid Dec 31, 1863. Present or absent: Present
Remarks: Three months pay stopped under Genl. Order no 19 Dept SC GA FLA
IMG 7: Geo. W. Guthrie, Pvt, Capo John M Guerard’s Company, Light Artillery
Company Muster Roll for Sept & Oct 1864
Last Paid June 30 1864. Present or Absent: Present. Remarks: (None)
IMG 8: Geo. W. Guthrie, Pvt, Capo John M Guerard’s Company, Light Artillery
Company Muster Roll for Nov & Dec 1864
Last paid Oct 31 1864. Present or Absent: Present. Remarks: (none)
IMG 9: Geo. W. Guthrie, Pvt, Capo. Guerard’s Light Battery.
Muster Roll of Officers and Men paroled in accordance with the terms of a Military Convention entered into on the 26th day of April 1865 between General Joseph E Johnston, Commanding Confederate Army, and Major General W.T. Sherman, Commanding United States Army in North Carolina.
Roll dated Near High Point, NC, April 28, 1865
Paroled at Greensboro, NC, May 1, 1865
Enlisted: Feb 22, 1863. Where: Savannah. By Whom: Lt. McManus. Period: War. Present or absent: Present. Remarks: (none).
IMG 9: Guthrie, G.W., Pvt. Guerard’s Btry. Subject: Prisoner. Title of Record: S.O. No. 10/5.
Military District. of GA-Mercer. Date: March 1/64. This record contains information relative to the above named man, upon the subject stated. (Confederate)

CIVIL WAR BIOGRAPHY: Brigadier General George Thomas “Tige” Anderson