George Hambright and Ann McClary

1833
George Hambright was born in Tennessee in January 1833. His father was from Virginia; his mother was from South Carolina. (1900 census)

George may have had a sister, Lucy Hambright. She was listed on the 1870 census for Bradley County living with her sons: Joseph, age 4 and James, 9 months old. Celia Hambright, a 60 year old black female, is also living with them. On the 1850 and 1860 slave schedules for Bradley County, Benjamin Hambright is holding slaves whose gender and ages fit Celia, George, and Lucy.

Lucy Hambright married Jonas Hoyl on October 9, 1868 in Bradley County. On June 28, 1870, she filed for divorce in Bradley County (Chancery Court Case Number 1080: Lucy Hoyle vs Jonas Hoyle). Celia Hambright is subpoenaed and Lucy’s sons Joseph Washington and James Samuel are mentioned. Lucy married George Quinn on October 16, 1870, and Alexander Campbell on December 25, 1873. No further information has been located on Celia, Lucy, or her children.

1868
On January 1, 1868, George Hambright married Ann McClary in Bradley County, Tennessee.

1870
On the 1870 census (taken on August 11), George is listed as a mulatto. He was a farmer; the value of his personal estate was $400 (about $5200 today), and this was just five years after slavery ended. He is listed as being 36 years old; Ann is 35. She is also listed as a mulatto; she is keeping house. There are two children living with them: John McClary, born about 1861, and Mary McClary, born about 1863. The family is living in the 10th Civil District of Bradley County, Tennessee (Cleveland Post Office).

1880
On the 1880 census, George Hambright and his family are living in District 7, Bradley County, Tennessee. Hambright is spelled “Hambight”. George is listed as black, age 48, farmer; Ann is listed as black, age 41, keeping house. The children are: Darthala (possibly Mary on the 1870 census?), age 17 at home; Henry (possibly John on the 1870 census? John Henry?), age 15 works on the farm; Peter, age 6; Hettie, age 5; and Belle, age 4. Everyone in the family is listed as being born in Tennessee. There is also a boarder named Joseph Hambight, 16 years old, born in Georgia (as are both of his parents), who is working on the farm.

1900
On the 1900 census, the George Hambright family is still living in District 7, Bradley County, Tennessee. George cannot read or write, but he owns his own home and farm “free and clear”. The census entry for the Hambright family seems to be full of errors. Ann is now listed as “Eliza”, but this must be Ann McClary because George and Eliza state that they have been married for 32 years. George says he is 67, and Eliza (Ann) is listed as 58. Eliza cannot read or write. They say that only three of their children are still alive. (Those children are Hettie, age 24, school teacher, listed on this census as living with them; Bell, living next door with her husband John Bates and their children; and Peter Hambright, in Cuba, with the 10th Cavalry.) The census entry says that Nellie Hambright, daughter, born January 1890, and Girtie Kimbrow, grand-daughter, born January 1891, are living with George and Eliza (Ann) Hambright. Nellie must be Nellie Kimbro, because there are only three Hambright children still alive in 1900, and also, based on Ann’s age on the 1870 census, Ann / Eliza would have had this baby when she was past 50 years old. There is no further information about a Girtie Kimbrow other than what is found on this census. However, a Curtis Kimbrough, born about 1891, died in Bradley County in 1911. Perhaps Girtie was really Curtis.

George Hambright died on October 4, 1901. His obituary appeared in the Cleveland, Tennessee, Weekly Herald (11 Oct. 1901, pg. 8):

George Hambright, one of the best colored citizens of this country, died at his home, four miles north of Cleveland, Saturday last. 1901

George’s wife Ann is listed as a widow on the 1910 census and is not found on the 1920 census. She must have passed away between 1910 and 1914, when death records began to be kept in Bradley County.

The Children of George Hambright and Ann McClary

Peter Hambright

In 1898, Peter Hambright was a private in the U.S. Army, serving in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. The 1900 census of the Military and Naval Population lists Peter Hambright as a Corporal, formerly living in Memphis, Tennessee, born in July of 1874, whose parents were also born in Tennessee. He is a member of Regiment C of the 10th Cavalry, serving in Manzanillo, Cuba.

In 1910, Peter is single and working as a mail clerk for the railroad in Billings, Montana. In 1918, he filled out the World War I Registration card. Peter gives his birthday as July 25, 1874. He is married to Mattie L. Hambright and is residing at 202 N. 17th Street, Billings, Yellowstone County, Montana. He is a mail clerk for the US Government who works between Billings and Casper, Wyoming.

On the 1920 census, he is listed as a Railway Postal employee. He is living at the same 17th Street address with his wife Mattie L., age 37, who was also born in Tennessee. They have three children: son, Herbert S., age 7; son, Winford P., age 6; and a daughter, Marian, age 2. All of the children were born in Montana. The entire family is listed as mulatto.

On the 1930 census, Peter Hambright and his family are living at 6754 S. Champlain in Chicago, Illinois. He is working as a railway postal clerk. On October 28, 1956, his obituary was published in the Chicago Tribune.

HAMBRIGHT

Peter Hambright, age 82, Oct. 25, at Hines Hospital, of 6437 Langley, beloved husband of Mattie L.; loving father of Herbert S., Winford P., and Marian Fuqua; three grandchildren. Resting at funeral home, 730 W. 63rd Street. Services Monday, 10 a.m., at St. Edmond’s Episcopal Church, 61st and Michigan. Interment Mount Glenwood. Spanish War veteran and retired railway mail clerk. Member of V.F.W.; John R. Tanner Camp U.S.W.V. and N.A.P.E.

Peter’s son Herbert Stafford Hambright, was born March 31, 1912 and died in March of 1974. His son Winford P. Hambright, was born October 20, 1913 and died June 8, 2004 in Chicago. It is not known what happened to his wife or to his daughter Marian.

Belle Hambright

Nora Bell Hambright married John Bates on January 1, 1896, in Bradley County, Tennessee. On the 1900 census, she and her husband John, born in 1871, a day laborer, are living next door to her parents with their two children. Daughter Mary, age 3, was born in May, 1897. Son Elmer, age 1, was born in May of 1899. John cannot read or write, but Bell can. John says he owns his own home “free and clear”.

An assumption could be made that Bell Hambright Bates died between 1900 and 1910. On the 1910 census, the Bates children are living with their grandmother, Annie L. Hambright, in the 3rd Civil District of Bradley County. Annie states that only one of her children is still alive. Since Peter Hambright was alive in 1910 and living in Billings, Montana, all of the other Hambright children must have passed away before the 1910 census. The grandchildren living with Annie are May E., age 13; Elmore, age 11; Henry, age 8; and Hettie, age 6. The whole family is listed as mulatto.

On December 12, 1911, John Bates married again in Bradley County. His new wife was Zina Parker. The marriage lasted only a few months, because on May 8, 1912, John Bates died. The May 10, 1912, edition of the Cleveland Journal and Banner, page 3, reports that John Bates was drowned in a work accident while building the new Hiwassee Bridge.

In 1912, a lawsuit was brought on behalf of the Bates family (Circuit Court Civil Case File No. 950: W.F. Barrett vs Virginia Bridge & Iron Company). W.F. Barrett, the administrator of the estate of John Bates, deceased, sued the company for twenty-five thousand dollars. The next of kin are listed as his widow, Sina Bates, and his children Mary, Elmore, Henry and Hettie Bates.

The lawsuit stated that the company built a runway structure, supported by pine poles set about 18 feet apart, leading to a site about 100 feet out in the river where a concrete pier was to be built. The workers used this runway to carry concrete sacks to the place where the concrete was to be poured to construct the pier. When John Bates and several other workers were about 60 feet out from the bank of the river, the structure gave way, and they fell 20 feet into the river. John struggled to save himself, but ultimately drowned and was carried by the current about 3 miles down the river, where “his bruised and mangled body was, ten days later, found and recovered from said river, and carried back, and buried.”

There was a petition to move the suit into a District Court, since John Bates, his family, and his administrator were citizens of Tennessee, but the company was incorporated in Virginia. Virginia Bridge & Iron Company countered with an offer to settle the suit for five hundred dollars.

Hettie Hambright

As mentioned earlier, in 1900, Hettie Hambright is a 24 year old teacher living with her parents in the 7th District of Bradley County, Tennessee. On the 1900 Bradley County census, there is a John McClelland living with his parents Richard and Tinie McClelland. He is a single, 27 year old black male. On February 24, 1901, a John H. McClelland married a Hettie Hambright in Bradley County.

George Hambright’s daughter Hettie is not found on the 1910 census, because only one of Annie L. Hambright’s (her mother’s) children was still alive in 1910 (Peter). On the 1910 census, a John McClelland, age 28 (38?), black, male, who works as a moulder in a foundry, is listed as a widower. He is living with his 25 year old sister Mary Bradford, who is a widow; Mary’s six year old daughter Della Bradford, and his 58 year old aunt, Hulda Montgomery, also a widow. It seems likely that Hettie did marry John McClelland, and that she died before 1910.

On August 31, 1913, in Bradley County, a John McClelland married Maggie Goode (Gude). On June 9, 1918, John McClelland, age 45, born in Tennessee to Richard and Tinie McClelland, passed away. On the 1920 census, Maggie McClelland is listed as a 25 year old widow with a 2 year old son named John H. McClelland. She is living with her parents Richard and Lizzie Gude. The family is listed as mulatto.

Henry Hambright

After his appearance with George Hambright family on the 1880 census, no further information on Henry Hambright has been located.

John Kimbrough

On the 1870 census, there is a child named John R. Kimbro, mulatto, age 9, living with his mother Caroline in the 7th Civil District of Bradley County, Tennessee. Other children living with Caroline were George M. Kimbro, age 12; Charlotte Kimbro, age 7; Sarah E. Kimbro, age 4; and Luke Kimbro, age 1. All were born in Tennessee.

The parentage of these children is addressed in Case File 1169 of the Chancery Court of Bradley County: William Davis vs George Henderson. In this case, testimony was given that Caroline’s two older sons were fathered by “the slave Craigmiles”, while the younger children were fathered by a freeman named Wash Henderson.

Testimony was given by numerous witnesses; many were former slaves. One witness, Ben Day, said Caroline Kimbro “was living down on Mouse Creek before and during the war”. He said that after being arrested during the war, Wash “was down in there a while keeping out of the way of the Confederate Army”. He said that Caroline claimed two of her children were “by Craigmiles and four … by Henderson”.

No information has been located to show which Craigmiles was the father of George and John (Craigmiles) Kimbrough. In 1850, there were two slave owners with the surname Craigmiles residing in Bradley County that had male slaves in their possession. Joseph Craigmiles owned two male slaves, ages 20 and 17. P.M. Craigmiles owned four males, ages 44, 27, 26, & 26.

Witness Lottie Davis (Charlotte Kimbro) stated that Caroline Kimbrough, who belonged to slaveholder Thomas Kimbrough, was her mother. She testified that Wash Henderson lived with Caroline Kimbro during the Civil War and Lottie agreed that their relationship was “like the colored people did during slavery and that he claimed her as his wife”. Lottie further testified that Wash was her father, as well as the father of Sarah, Luke and Callie. Lottie said she and Sarah were born on the Kimbrough farm below Charleston. She said her birth date was 27 March 1863 – that “white folks we belonged to found it in a Bible”. She remembered living with her mother on the Harry Wilson farm on Wash Henderson’s place for about five years, and thought that was probably where Callie and Luke were born. In 1871 or 1872, when Caroline Kimbro died, she was living in Charleston. Wash Henderson brought Lottie and her siblings to his home to live. Lottie and Sarah lived there until they married. Callie died, and then Luke left. Lottie did not know what became of him. When Lottie was asked if she had any other siblings, she stated that she had two half-brothers, George and John Craigmiles, but they used the last name of Kimbrough. She said she had not seen her half-brothers for about 30 years (since approximately 1880).

In 1880, there is a John Kimbrough, age 19, born in Tennessee (mother born in Tennessee) working as a laborer. He lives with William Deboze, black, age 29, laborer, born in Virginia, parents born in Virginia; and William’s wife Fannie, mulatto, age 23, born in Georgia, father born in Tennessee and mother in Georgia. Fannie keeps house. They reside in the 1st Ward, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee.

John Kimbrough and Dolly Hambright

1833
On March 23, 1883, Dorthulia Hambright and John Kimbrough applied for a marriage license in Hamilton County, Tennessee. On March 28, 1883, Dorthulia (Darthala) Hambright married John Kimbrough in Hamilton County, Tennessee. John Kimball, colored, is listed in 1883 Chattanooga City Directory, as living at 114 Strait, rear. He is a porter for D.B. Loveman and Company, a dry goods store, selling wholesale and retail on Market Street. In the 1884 – 1885 Chattanooga City Directory, he is listed as John Kimbro, colored, still at the same address on Strait Street, and working as a driver for D.B. Loveman.

1886
Dorthulia Hambright filed for divorce from John on August 20, 1886, in Cleveland, Bradley County, Tennessee. She is called Dolly Kimbrough in the petition and states that John abandoned her one year after they were married, without any just cause. He also has failed to “provide her with support and maintenance. She was forced to return to her father and live with him with the exception of what time she was hired out as a servant”. It says that John “sent word to her father to come and get her, that he would not live with her any longer”. The petition states that Dolly wants custody of their three year old son named George Henry. Dolly made her mark (X) on the petition and states that “owing to her poverty, she is unable to bear the expenses of a suit” in the Circuit Court against John Kimbrough. John Kimbrough’s lawyer said that the suit should have been brought in Hamilton County, since that is where John and Dolly lived after their marriage. However, John and Dolly must have reconciled, since several children were born after the lawsuit was filed.

1887 – 1891
John Kimbrough, colored, is listed in the 1887 and the 1889 Chattanooga City Directory as living at 114 Forest Avenue, rear. He is still a driver for D.B. Loveman & Company.

Listed in the 1890 – 91 Chattanooga City Directory is John Kimbrough, driver for D.B. Loveman and Company, living at 51 Strait Street, rear, in Chattanooga.

The 1890 census was burned in a fire, so no federal information is available on the Kimbrough family for that year. There is no mention of John and Dolly Kimbrough on the 1900 census. Dolly, and perhaps John, probably passed away between 1892 and 1900.

Children of John and Dolly Kimbrough

Nellie Robert Kimbrough had several siblings who passed away at a young age. The Death Record for the City of Chattanooga, Tennessee, lists a one month old female black infant who died of bronchitis on October 29, 1887. The name of her father was given as John Kimbrough. Later, the Birth Record for the City of Chattanooga shows a daughter being born to John and Dolly Kimbrough, living at 51 Strait Street in Chattanooga, on January 12, 1889. However, the Chattanooga Death Record for January 14, 1889, shows that this daughter died when she was 25 hours old.

On May 23, 1911, a Curtis Kimbrough, age 19, single, black, born near Cleveland, Tennessee, died of ptomaine poisoning in Parksville, Tennessee, where he was a laborer. This may have been one of Nellie’s siblings.

Nellie’s brother George Henry, the child mentioned in the divorce case between John Kimbrough and Dolly Hambright, survived. On the 1900 census for Hyde Park Township, Chicago, Illinois, there is a George Kimbraugh, black, born in April, 1884, in Tennessee to parents who were both born in Tennessee, who is working as a musician in a saloon. George is boarding at 5536 Lake Street with a Frank Brooks, age 32, who was born in Arkansas.

On the 1910 census for West Baden, French Lick Township in Orange County, Indiana, there is a George Kimbelow, born in 1887 in Tennessee, single, black, working as a pianist in a hotel. He is boarding with John and Lula Averitte, a married black couple. John Averitt was born in Tennessee and working as a waiter at the hotel. His wife was from Kentucky. In 1917, George Henry Kimbrough listed Nellie Gollston, sister, living in Charleston, Tennessee, as his nearest relative on his World War I registration card. He is living in West Baden, Orange County, Indiana, and gives his birthdate as February 15, 1884.

On the 1930 census for Portland, Oregon, there is a George Kimbrough, black, born in 1884 in Tennessee, working as a musician in an orchestra. Both of his parents were also born in Tennessee. He was married at age 39, but is divorced on the census. He is boarding with several employees of a hotel.

A George Kimbrough, who was called “Sparrow”, was also included in a list of ragtimers who played in Chicago around the turn of the century. Virginia Goldston Thompson recalls George Henry Kimbrough visiting her family in Tennessee. She remembers him playing the piano and describes his hands as being very large. She said he brought phonograph records with him for the family. No information has been located to determine when or where George Kimbrough died.

Nellie Robert Kimbrough

On Nell Robert Goldston’s application for a social security number in 1951, she listed John Kimbrough and Dolly Hambright as her parents. She says her birthday is January 2, 1891, and that she was born in Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee.

1910
In 1910, Nellie R. Kimbro, mulatto, age 20, is working as a cook for Elmore McClelland, black, age 23, born in Tennessee, father born in North Carolina and mother in Tennessee; he is a laborer on the railroad who owns his own home “free and clear” in the 3rd Civil District of Bradley County, Tennessee. His wife is Annie W. McClelland, mulatto, age 21, born in Tennessee, father born in Virginia and mother in Tennessee. They have been married two years and have one child Richard, mulatto, who is 11 months old.

William Condon Goldston

William Condon Goldston was born October 17, 1890, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. His parents were William Goldston and Carrie Osborn (from his social security application dated March 18, 1939). His father was from South Carolina; his mother was from North Carolina (from the 1910 census).

On the 1870 census, there is a Caroline Osborn, black, age 3, living in Long Creek Township, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, with her father Alex Osborn, black, farm worker, age 40, born in North Carolina, and her mother Sallie, mulatto, 38, born in North Carolina, who is keeping house. The other children in the house are Monroe, 18, mulatto, farm worker; Ann, 14, black, farm worker; Dick, 13, black, farm worker; Dovie, 10, black, farm worker; Lucy, 6, black; and Steven, 5, black. All were born in North Carolina. This may be William Condon Goldston’s mother’s family, but it has not been proved.

1900
William Condon Goldston’s mother, Carrie Osborn Goldston, must have passed away before 1900. He had a brother Elihue Goldston, and two sisters, Barbara and Elizabeth Goldston. The children are not living together in 1900.

On the 1900 census, William Golston, black, 11 years old, is boarding with Charlie Mee, black, farmer, born 1823 in Virginia, and his wife Harriet, black, born 1833 in Tennessee. Also living in the house is their grandson Joseph L. Mee, black, born in 1896. Charlie and Harriet have been married 45 years. They have had 4 children, and 3 are still alive. On this census, William and both of his parents are listed as being born in Tennessee.

On the 1900 census, Condon’s brother Elehue Goston, born 1885, is living in the 2nd Civil District of Polk County, Tennessee, with Nat and Fannie Wesfield and their children Mollie, age 9; Ralph, age 6; and Elehue, age 2. He is listed as a servant doing farm labor. The entire household is listed as black.

Also on this census, Lizzie Goston, a black female orphan born in April 1894, is living with Horace and Dora J. McClary, their son William and daughter Joe. Horace’s 80 year old grandmother, Philas Coleman, is also living with them. The entire family is listed as black.

Barbara was not found in 1900, but in 1910 she is listed as Bobbie Gholston, age 13, living in the 2nd Civil District of Polk County with Antony and Fannie Westfield and their children Mollie, age 19; Ralph, age 17; Elehue, age 12; and Reese, age7.

1910
On the 1910 census, Condon Gadston, black, 19, is living in the 5th District of Polk County, Tennessee. He can read and write, and he is working as a railroad laborer. He is living with Arch Hall, black, age 24, railroad worker; Sam Tucker, black, 47, railroad laborer; Arch Lovejoy, black, 48, railroad laborer; Gus Mee, black, 35, railroad laborer, and Joe Cate, black, 31, railroad laborer.

1911
Nellie Kimbrough (spelled Kimbrought) married Condon Goldston (spelled Golston) on April 27, 1911, in Bradley County, Tennessee.

1918
By the time Condon Goldston filled out his World War I Registration Card, he was married and had three children. His occupation was given as “farmer”.

Condon and Nellie had nine children, eight of whom survived to adulthood. Their children were:

Name:	Date of Birth:	Date of Death:
Clarence Goldston	24 September 1911	22 December 1979
Coy Robert Goldston	12 September 1912	7 April 1984
Velma Louise Goldston	15 October 1915	2 September 2001
Mary E. Goldston	28 November 1917	28 August 2004
Henry Albert Goldston	15 March 1920	25 July 1972
Zilla Goldston	31 May 1922	7 November 2003
Ruth Laura Goldston	10 December 1924	25 December 1990
Hellen Goldston	unknown	5 December 1925
Virginia Goldston

 

Condon and Nellie Goldston were longtime residents of Charleston, Bradley County, Tennessee. In his book Charleston on the Hiwassee, author Eric Landers lists Condon and Nellie Goldston as among “the black founding fathers of Charleston”. The Goldston home was on Church Street, between Wool Street and Worth Street.

Condon was active in Green’s Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church (originally the Charleston Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church, organized in 1885), where he served as an officer. The church is located at the corner of Wool and Church Streets in Charleston. It was named for Elder Luther J. Green, who donated the land where the church was built.

William Condon Goldston passed away on November 18, 1966. Although the early census records give Condon’s occupation as doing general farm work, his death certificate lists his usual occupation as a laborer for the railroad. Nellie Robert Kimbrough Goldston died on July 11, 1983. Both are interred at Charleston Community Cemetery.