Project Report by Carole Harper 03/27/09 From Monticello to the Hill Country The story of Solomon & Edith Jefferson Freed slaves of President Jefferson Chattahoochee Hills Historical Society Solomon & Edith Jefferson Family 03/27/09 Page - 1
From Monticello to The Hill Country The story of Solomon & Edith Jefferson Freed slaves of President Jefferson The Civil War ended in 1865 leaving slaves everywhere with no place to go and no place to call home. Monticello was no different. Solomon and Edith Jefferson were among this distraught group. Knowing they had cousins in a place called Savannah, Ga. they put their belongings in a wagon and along with their four children left Charlottesville, Va. forever, destined for a place they had only heard of, but with great determination to try and find. On the way out of town a man in Charlottesville stopped them and wanted to know if they knew where they were going and their story was related to him. Understanding that they knew nothing about this place called Savannah, he explained to them how to get to a town in Ga. called Atlanta and from there how to find a small settlement called Palmetto. He told them about a man he was in the war with who lived there and they should find him and he would help them. He was Capt. Levi Ballard. This journey took three years because of all the hardships and they spent almost all of that time in Charlotte, N.C. After arriving in Atlanta, they were told how to get to Palmetto and within three days they found Capt. Ballard. He took them in and he gave them a place to live, gave them jobs, and organized a school for the children called Ballard Springs School. Edith was given a place of importance in his home to work as long as she was physically able. She became a much loved lady in the community. She organized a church at Ballard Springs and they worshipped under a Brush Arbor and used an old mill stone for the pulpit. She became a charter member of Ramah Baptist Church when it was built in the 1880 s. This church is still active on its original site on Spring Street. Mama Edie as she was called by her family lived to be 103. ~~ This story was told to me by Inez Jefferson, a granddaughter of the Jefferson s. She also related to me that one of Edith s granddaughters, Eloise Williams, interviewed her grandmother and wrote her life s entire story down in a ledger book. We are still searching for this and one day we hope to find it. As told to: Carole Ann Harper 9890 Hutcheson Ferry Rd. Chattahoochee Hills, Ga. Chattahoochee Hills Historical Society Solomon & Edith Jefferson Family 03/27/09 Page - 2
Solomon Jefferson Family Louvenia Williams gave the following information about her in laws for the book, Palmetto: A Town and Its People. Many years later the rest of the story was told by Inez Jefferson. Solomon and Edith Jefferson came from Charlotte, North Carolina in a wagon train to Atlanta in late 1866 looking for work. They stayed in Atlanta two days before they met Mr. Levi Ballard, who brought them to Palmetto to live and work for him. They had thirteen children, all but four of whom were born on the Ballard place. Edith worked for some time in the Ballard home. She was one of the founders of the Ramah Baptist Church on Spring Street. Her children are all deceased now. Mrs. Maggie J. Williams was the last one who departed this life Oct. 10, 1978. 1. Lucinda 2. Martha 3. John 4. Robert 5. Earl 6. Joe 7. Maggie 8. Hattie 9. Will Edith Jefferson Edith Jefferson had 3 children by her first husband, to a man named Roberts. They were Mary, Royce, and Bill Roberts. Edith s son John has three children who still live on the Ballard place, just as did their grandmother. They are Fannie, Bessie Amoss Jefferson, and John Jefferson, Jr. Ballard Plantation Captain Levi Ballard Chattahoochee Hills Historical Society Solomon & Edith Jefferson Family 03/27/09 Page - 3
Edith Jefferson s Grandchildren Front Row: Mozell 'Duce' Williams, Claude Ware, Frank 'Duck' Jefferson, Haywood Williams, Jean Jefferson, Aileen Williams. Second Row: Albert Woodward, Melvin Williams, Charles Jefferson. Third Row: Edith Jefferson, George Williams, L.C. Williams, Tom Williams, Lucile Jefferson, Annie Cochran, Snowdy Lee Cochran, Elgin Jackson, Jewel Cochran, Maggie Williams, John Jefferson, Jr. Fourth Row: Edna Mae Jones, Bessie Jefferson, Bessie Ware, Climan Jones, Elizabeth Jefferson, Inez Jefferson, and Alice Jackson Teacher. Two generations later, Captain Ballard opens Ballard Springs School on his plantation for the Jefferson grandchildren. Chattahoochee Hills Historical Society Solomon & Edith Jefferson Family 03/27/09 Page - 4
Frank Jefferson (grandson) Fred Jefferson (grandson) John Jefferson, Jr. (grandson) John Jefferson, Jr. as a boy Chattahoochee Hills Historical Society Solomon & Edith Jefferson Family 03/27/09 Page - 5
Lucile & Jean (granddaughters) Bessie Jefferson (granddaughter) Inez Jefferson (granddaughter) Maggie & Willie Solomon on Wedding Day (granddaughter) Chattahoochee Hills Historical Society Solomon & Edith Jefferson Family 03/27/09 Page - 6
As some of the Hill Country s most deep rooted residents, Jefferson family descendants, now into their fourth generation, play a significant role in the community. Robert Jefferson son Maggie Jefferson Williams (daughter) Clarence Jefferson Chattahoochee Hills Historical Society Solomon & Edith Jefferson Family 03/27/09 Page - 7
Can you guess who this young Jefferson is? Chattahoochee Hills Historical Society Solomon & Edith Jefferson Family 03/27/09 Page - 8
Groundbreaking for the New Church Building Charter Member Edith Jefferson and grandchildren L.C. Williams and Jean Jefferson Groundbreaking Ceremony at Ramah Baptist Church in Palmetto Ramah Baptist Church in Palmetto held groundbreaking ceremonies Sunday, July 19 (year?), for a new sanctuary. Participating in the ceremonies: John M. Jefferson, head usher Board; Mozell Williams; J.C. Summerlin; G.A. Adams, asst. Pastor; J.W. Beavers; J.S. Hammonds, pastor; Andy Domineck, Deacon; Clyde Collier; Harry Reese; Jacob Garrison, and Johnny Dyer. Located on cemetery Street, the church has had but one pastor since 1919 Rev. Hammonds. Ramah has seen five ministers under his leadership and the church has been remodeled twice. Progressing from coal heaters to gas and from gas lamps to electric lights. The congregation has now begun construction on a brand new church. One of Ramah Baptist Church's founding members was Edith Jefferson, who started the first church under a brush arbor on Wilkerson Mill Rd. A mill stone was used for the pulpit and this place of worship was used until the members built the first building on Cemetery Street. Property was donated by Mr. L.G. Griffith. Chattahoochee Hills Historical Society Solomon & Edith Jefferson Family 03/27/09 Page - 9
Jean Jefferson and nephews Ralph & Royce Brown (granddaughter) Harry & Virginia Slaughter (granddaughter) Dorothy Thurman White (granddaughter) Maggie Jefferson Williams and granddaughter Sara Jones Maggie Solomon and father Mozell Williams (granddaughter) Chattahoochee Hills Historical Society Solomon & Edith Jefferson Family 03/27/09 Page - 10
Church Members attending the Dedication Service Chattahoochee Hills Historical Society Solomon & Edith Jefferson Family 03/27/09 Page - 11
The Family at the 2008 Chattahoochee Hills Birthday Bash This picture shows the grandchildren, great grandchildren and gr. gr. grandchildren of Solomon & Edith Jefferson. Seated is granddaughter, Inez Jefferson. Left to right standing is Valerie Ann Williams, Angela Dotson and baby Grayson, Alice Reese, Arlene Williams, Rev. Lawrence Williams, and Alice W. Hayes. Reading the display about their ancestors are Alice Williams, Rev. Hayward Williams, II, Rev. Lawrence Williams, and Sharon Williams Love. Arlene, the wife of deceased grandson, Melvin Williams, and their daughter Valerie Ann. A family from the Serenbe Village, Tommy & Ann Jackson introducing their daughter, Sara Grace to Inez Jefferson. Chattahoochee Hills Historical Society Solomon & Edith Jefferson Family 03/27/09 Page - 12