“Johnsie” Settle Smith

“Johnsie” Settle Smith is age 91, born in Butts County in 1918. Her parents were Esra Smith Settle and Ruth Blackmon Settle. She was one of three children including John and Esra, Jr.

On January 4, 1942 she married Sam Smith, Jr. of Monticello. She had just graduated from Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville. This was in the early war years and Sam had just entered the Army and they were stationed at Ft. Jackson, S.C. Her parents were living there also.

Sam and “Johnsie” had two children, Sammy and Ruth. Sammy had three children, Mike, Susanne and Matthew and they provided “Johnsie” with four great-grandchildren. Ruth also had three children, Ruth Ann, Adele and Pac and they provided her with six great grandchildren. She has 16 offspring in all and they all love the old farm.

After getting out of service they purchased a Dry Cleaning business on South Warren Street. This was later expanded to include a coin operated car wash, the first of its kind in Monticello. Sam later built a coin laundry.

Later they sold all of this property and retired to their farm on Seven Islands Road that they purchased in 1958. This was the old Stone place and contained a beautiful old two story antebellum home. Later a large lake was constructed on the property which is still enjoyed by the family.

“Johnsie” and Sam have been loyal and active members of the Monticello Baptist Church for many years. Sam’s farther was Dr S.J. Smith, a local dentist The old home on Seven Islands Road is still occupied by “Johnsie,” a wonderful lady.

Carroll Longfellow Hodge

Carroll Hodge is now age 97, born in 1912. His parents were Lee Hodge and Lola McClendon Hodge and they lived on Hodges Farm Road in Northern Jasper County where the family grew up.

There were four children, Joel, Carroll, Gladys and Bryan.
Carroll married Evelyn Moore in 1934 and they had three children, Marie, Sara and Judy. These daughters provide Carroll with four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren. This was 19 offspring from their marriage. What a record and a great family too.
Carroll went to school in the old Prospect School House until it burned when he was in the tenth grade. He said he had no transportation to Monticello to finish school so this ended his formal schooling.

Carroll was on the Monticello Police Force for 16 years, serving as chief for eight of those years. Prior to his police work and as a young man he worked at several jobs—farming, carpentry, sawmilling and on the Piedmont Project during the “New Deal” days. He finally retired after 31 years of work and now lives in retirement at his home on Barnes Mountain Road. His daughter, Marie Lewis, lives with him and cares for him since he does very little walking. He is a member of Rocky Creek Baptist Church.

Footnote

Books are selling great, we’ve ordered a total of 155 now and there are only a few left at Bank of Monticello, McIntosh State Bank, Chamber of Commerce and News office. If you live away from here just call 706-468-6688 and we’ll either save or get books to you somehow. We’ve mailed several. Get one for all the kids. Thanks for your support of the Museum.