Annira J. Culpepper

Female, #32487, (3 Dec 1849 - 10 Sep 1935)

Parent*Charles William Culpepper (16 Jul 1824 - 8 Jun 1900)
Parent*Mary Jane English (15 Oct 1830 - 19 Jan 1910)
Annira J. Culpepper|b. 3 Dec 1849\nd. 10 Sep 1935|p32487.htm|Charles William Culpepper|b. 16 Jul 1824\nd. 8 Jun 1900|p32277.htm|Mary Jane English|b. 15 Oct 1830\nd. 19 Jan 1910|p32278.htm|Joel Culpepper of Crawford Co., GA|b. 12 Mar 1795\nd. 6 Dec 1839|p32048.htm|Nancy Corley|b. circa 1798\nd. 22 Mar 1860|p32049.htm|William English|b. circa 1800|p35821.htm|Rebecca E. Hicks|b. circa 1802|p35822.htm|

Name Variation  Annira J. Culpepper was also known as Anna. 
Birth*3 Dec 1849 Annira was born at Coweta Co., Georgia, on 3 Dec 1849. 
 She was the daughter of Charles William Culpepper and Mary Jane English. 
1850 Census1 Jun 1850 Annira and Mary listed as a household member living with Charles William Culpepper on the 1850 Census on 1 Jun 1850 at Coweta Co., Georgia.1 
1860 Census1 Jun 1860 Mary, Annira, Elam, Sarah, Warner and English listed as a household member living with Charles William Culpepper in the 1860 Census at Haralson, Coweta Co., Georgia.2 
Marriage*19 Aug 1869 She married William Franklin Gay at Meriwether Co., Georgia, on 19 Aug 1869.3 
Married Name19 Aug 1869  As of 19 Aug 1869, her married name was Gay. 
Photographed*say 1885 She was photographed say 1885 at Sasserville, now Gay, Meriwether Co., Georgia.
Annira J. (Culpepper) Gay
Census1910 She was listed as a resident in the census report at Meriwether Co., Georgia, in 1910. 
Death*10 Sep 1935 She died at Gay, Meriwether Co., Georgia, on 10 Sep 1935. 
Burial*circa 12 Sep 1935 Her body was interred circa 12 Sep 1935 at Gay City Cemetery, Gay, Meriwether Co., Georgia. 
Biography* Mrs. W. B. (M. Louise Culpepper) Broach wrote 27 Sep 1978: When the [Charles William Culpepper] family moved from Haralson, his oldest daughter stayed and married a young man named Willie Gay. She was her father's heart's desire -- he called her 'Scrap' because she was a little person -- and he grieved over leaving her.
      Eleanor Culpepper Willingham visited the W. F. Gay home and saw a picture of Annira whom Eleanor described in a 13 Jul 1984 letter as "a rather plump lady, black hair, parted in middle - a very pleasant expression - round face." The dates given with the picture indicate that Annira was born in 8 Mar 1869 and died 10 Sep 1931 but she was listed in the 1850 census as an 8 month old child so the birth year is definitely incorrect. Annira was buried in the Gay Family Cemetery whose records indicate a birth 3 Dec 1849 and a death 10 Sep 1935.

The following is from a manuscript by Kathryn English Culpepper, as transcribed by Gayle L. Poole:

She was small and lively "the apple of her father's eye". She had nicknamed her "Scrap". She was in love with W.F. Gay, but Charles considered him a worthless fellow, who had not a dime, but when Charles decided to leave Coweta County "Anna" eloped with W. F. because she did not want to move.

W. F. resented her father's attitude and moved to show him he could take care of Anna. He wound up being the county's leading citizen, owned over 2,000 acres of rich farm land, built the town , which bears his name.

He had many tenant farmers working on his place, and ran a Commissary to take care of all their needs. He built a store "and sold everything from a row of pins to a two horse wagon. His store, which stands, today also houses the Post Office. He took his
young grandson Alvin Keith, as a partner in the store, named "Gay and Keith" and trained Alvin to run the business. Alvin lived with his grandparents and took excellent care of them. He ran the business until his death.

"Anna" was bright and cheerful and happy, and they had a happy family.

[Note from Dorothy Gay Poole and Gayle L. Poole. William Franklin Gay opened his Mercantile in 1890 in a 2 story wooden structure, and the 2 story brick building that stands there today was built in 1911. It was Joseph Roswell Gay that brought his nephew. Alvin Keith, into the business. On the 1900 US Census it shows that Joseph R. Gay had acquired some 10,000 acres of farm land, making him one of the largest land owners in Meriwether County. Alvin's grand nieces and nephews called him "Attie"]. 

Family

William Franklin Gay (17 Sep 1850 - 21 Oct 1916)

Charts Descendants of Charles William Culpepper of Gordon Co., GA
Last Edited 19 Sep 2004

Citations

  1. 1850 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 297, 19th Division, Coweta Co., GA
    Charles W. Culpepper, 26, M, Boot & Shoe Maker, $150, SC
    Mary J. Culpepper, 19, F, GA
    Ann Ira Culpepper, 8/12, F, GA.
  2. 1860 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 729, Haralson PO, Coweta Co., GA (ID: 32277)
    Charles W. Culpepper, 26, M, Farmer, $2000/$5191, SC
    Mary J. Culpepper, 29, F, GA
    Elmira Culpepper, 10, F, GA
    Elim Culpepper, 8, M, GA
    Sarah E. Culpepper, 6, F, GA
    Warner Culpepper, 4, M, GA
    English Culpepper, 2, F, GA (English was actually recorded at the bottom of the page, five families removed from this one, as if he were part of the Charles H. Pyron HH, but it seems likely that the enumerator subsequently discovered the omission of English from the Culpepper family and simply added English at the bottom of the page).
  3. Jordan Dodd, compiler, Georgia Marriages, 1851-1900, Online database at Ancestry.com, 2000.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/vital/gamarr/main.htm
    Anora Culpepper and W. F. Gay on 19 Aug 1869 in Meriwether Co., GA.