Columbia County GA

Biography of Howard G. Cook

Howard G. Cook, born October 20, 1881, in Georgia, is a distinguished patent attorney in St. Louis. The youngest of five, he was educated in Georgia and moved to New York at seventeen to work. After graduating from Benton College of Law in 1905, he specialized in patent law and co-founded Cook McCauley in 1920. Married to Jennie B. Wells in 1913, they had two sons. Cook is active in Masonic organizations, the Bar Associations, and is known for his dedication and professional success in law.

Slave Narrative of Nancy Boudry

In an interview, Nancy Boudry, a former enslaved woman from Thomson, Georgia, reflects on her life under slavery, highlighting the hard labor, meager rations, and lack of education she experienced. She recounts her difficult plantation days, poor treatment, and the struggles of raising children. Despite her hardships, Nancy describes a sense of community among enslaved individuals and recalls her life after emancipation, including her work as a midwife and her pride in her quilting. Nancy’s recollections illustrate the complexity of her experiences and relationships with her former masters.

Slave Narrative of Ellen Claibourn

Ellen Claibourn, born in 1852 in Augusta, Georgia, reflects on her life as a slave on Mr. Hezie Boyd’s plantation. At the age of seven, she became a maid and nurse for her young mistress, shaping her articulate speech. Ellen recalls the Confederate War, her grandfather’s eventual freedom, and the community’s resilience. She highlights the differences in conditions between house servants and field hands, and discusses family, religion, and the care provided during the war. Ellen’s narrative emphasizes a complex mix of hardship and care in her experiences.

Biography of Jones, Randall, Capt.

Captain Randall Jones was born on August 19, 1786, in Georgia and moved to the Mississippi Territory in 1810. He served as a captain in the War of 1812, notably fighting in the Canoe Fight. Post-war, he engaged in trade with Native Americans and established a store in Nacogdoches. In 1819, he joined General James Long’s forces and later settled in Fort Bend County, Texas, where he participated in local defense against Native American attacks. He passed away in Houston in 1873, leaving a legacy of nine children.