Sterling Gardner Culpepper

Male, #9542, (11 Mar 1851 - 21 Nov 1907)

ParentGardner Culpepper of Thomas Co., GA (11 Dec 1810 - 22 May 1868)
ParentCaroline Jones (28 Apr 1815 - 18 Nov 1885)
Sterling Gardner Culpepper|b. 11 Mar 1851\nd. 21 Nov 1907|p9542.htm|Gardner Culpepper of Thomas Co., GA|b. 11 Dec 1810\nd. 22 May 1868|p9479.htm|Caroline Jones|b. 28 Apr 1815\nd. 18 Nov 1885|p9480.htm|Nathan Culpepper of Warren Co., GA|b. 5 Mar 1779\nd. 21 Jul 1825|p9466.htm|Frances Gardner|b. 12 May 1789\nd. 13 Jan 1861|p9467.htm|Henry Y. Jones|b. say 1785\nd. Sep 1867|p37630.htm|Nancy Stewart|b. say 1792\nd. Sep 1867|p37631.htm|

Birth*11 Mar 1851 Sterling was born at Lee Co., Georgia, on 11 Mar 1851. The 1880 Thomas Co., GA census shows his birth as 1849 in GA. The 1900 Hamilton Co., FL census shows his birth as Mar 1852 in AL. The 11 Mar 1851 birth was found in the Alma Elaine Payne Culpepper family bible. The birth in Lee Co., GA is assumed from where his parents were believed to be living at that time..1 
 He was the son of Gardner Culpepper of Thomas Co., GA and Caroline Jones. 
(Family Member) Relocationcirca 1853 He was an accompanying familiy member in the relocation of Gardner Culpepper of Thomas Co., GA circa 1853 at Boston, Thomas Co., Georgia.2 
(household member) 1860 Census1 Jun 1860 Sterling was listed as a household member living with Gardner Culpepper of Thomas Co., GA in the 1860 Census at Thomas Co., Georgia.3 
(household member) 1870 Census1 Jun 1870 Sterling was living with Caroline Jones on the 1870 Census at Boston, Thomas Co., Georgia.4 
(Orphan) Guardian4 Jul 1870 He declared as orphan(s) at Gardner Culpepper of Thomas Co., GA's death and Caroline Culpepper was appointed as guardian on 4 Jul 1870 at Thomas Co., Georgia.5 
Event-Misc*29 Nov 1873 Elected officers in the United Friends of Temperance. On 29 Nov 1873 at Boston, Thomas Co., Georgia.6 
Biographybetween 1877 and 1878 From Thomas County newsclippings, we read:
     26 May 1877: S. G. Culpepper elected secretary of Democratic Party meeting.
     15 Dec 1877: S. G. Culpepper elected officer of Horeb Lodge F&AM.
     15 Dec 1877: S. G. Culpepper elected officer of Boston Grange.
     11 May 1878: S. G. Culpepper is a road overseer.
     14 Sep 1878: S. G. Culpepper has started building his new house.
     30 Nov 1878: S. G. Culpepper took premiums at the Fair.
     30 Nov 1878: Sterling G. Culpepper and Susie E. Foy married Thursday evening, Nov 21, at residence of bride's mother.
     4 Jan 1879: S. G. Culpepper elected officer of Horeb Lodge F&AM.
     19 Apr 1879: A boy plowing a mule is killed on S. G. Culpepper's farm.
     8 Jan 1881: S. G. Culpepper elected "Outside Watchman" of the Boston A.O.U.W. Society.
(Names referenced above: Sterling Gardner Culpepper Sterling Gardner Culpepper).7 
Marriage*21 Nov 1878 He married Susie Elizabeth Foy at Boston, Thomas Co., Georgia, on 21 Nov 1878.8 
Biographybetween 1878 and 1879 From Thomas County newsclippings, we read:
     30 Nov 1878: S. G. Culpepper took premiums at the Fair.
     30 Nov 1878: Sterling G. Culpepper and Susie E. Foy married Thursday evening, Nov 21, at residence of bride's mother.
     4 Jan 1879: S. G. Culpepper elected officer of Horeb Lodge F&AM.
     19 Apr 1879: A boy plowing a mule is killed on S. G. Culpepper's farm.
(Names referenced above: Sterling Gardner Culpepper Sterling Gardner Culpepper).7 
1880 Census*1 Jun 1880 Sterling was listed as the head of a family on the 1880 Census at Boston, Thomas Co., Georgia.9 
Biographybetween 1881 and 1888 From Thomas County newsclippings, we read:
     8 Jan 1881: S. G. Culpepper elected "Outside Watchman" of the Boston A.O.U.W. Society.
     13 Oct 1883: Susie Culpepper (age 21 months), daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. G. Culpepper, dies and was interred at Presbyterian burial ground, Boston, on Sunday afternoon (7 Oct 1883).
     13 Oct 1883: Dr. J. T. Culpepper and his brother Sterling left for the Louisville Exposition on Tuesday (9 Oct 1883).
     17 May 1884: S. G. Culpepper has 12 acres of watermelons.
     7 Jun 1884: S. G. Culpepper expects to have a (rail) carload of watermelons ready for shipment in a few days.
     19 Jul 1884: S. G. Culpepper and J. T. Culpepper are founding members of the Boston Gun Club.
     6 Jun 1885: S. G. Culpepper has 10 acres of melons in cultivation. Others named in the article have from 6 to 25 acres of melons.
     9 Jan 1886 S. G. Culpepper and J. T. Culpepper elected officers in Horeb Lodge F&AM.
     20 Mar 1886: S. G. Culpepper has contract for making brick for new store for Mr. J. W. Taylor.
     22 May 1886: Ben Hill Culpepper (age 8 months), the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. S. G. Culpepper, died after a short illness on Thursday, May 21. Interred in Presbyterian Cemetery.
     18 Dec 1886: J. T. Culpepper elected Worshipful Master and S. G. Culpepper Junior Warden of Horeb Lodge F&AM.
     19 Mar 1887: S. G. Culpepper posts notice forbidding hunting and fishing on his land.
     11 Jun 1887: Mrs. S. G. (Susie E. Foy) Culpepper (age 38) died at home on Sunday last (5 Jun 1887). Burial same day at Presbyterian Cemetery.
     8 Sep 1888: S. G. Culpepper a member of the Democratic Campaign Committee, Boston precinct.
(Names referenced above: Sterling Gardner Culpepper Sterling Gardner Culpepper).10,7 
Marriage*11 Jun 1889 He married Clara Belle Simms at Guadalupe Co., Texas, on 11 Jun 1889.11 
Deed8 Jan 1894 A deed was granted to him on 8 Jan 1894 at Alachua Co., Florida.
(George W. and Ann E. (wife) Oglesby of Whitfield Co., GA to S. G. Culpepper of Boston, Thomas Co., GA for $7,500, 150/2000 interest in 2,000 acres of undivided lands in Townships 8 and 9 in Ranges 16E and 17E (very complex description of land provided in deed) in Alachua County, Florida, previously owned by B. T. Boyd Bachelor. Alachua Co., FL Deed Book 41-468, Recorded 16 July 1894.).12 
Deed4 Jul 1894 He granted a deed witnessed by Charles Lawrence Simms on 4 Jul 1894 at Alachua Co., Florida.
(Sterling G. and Clara B. (wife) Culpepper of Thomas Co., GA to Imperial Phosphate Company, a Florida Corporation, for $7,500, 150/2000 interest in 2,000 acres of undivided lands in Townships 8 and 9 in Ranges 16E and 17E (very complex description of land provided in deed) in Alachua County, Florida.  Witnesses for Clara included C. L. Simms and James M. Jones. Witnesses for Sterling were A. T. Green and R. M. McCarthy. Alachua Co., FL Deed Book 40-426. Recorded 16 Jul 1894. (This is the final of three deeds involved in the sale, and this one appears to be a summary of the earlier two, in which the second corrected an error in the first. The first was dated 8 Feb 1894, only one month after the date that Sterling had purchased the land)).12 
Relocation*circa 1896 He, accompanied by family member(s) Clara Belle Culpepper, Charles Simms Culpepper, Harry Stuart Culpepper Sr., Clara Belle Culpepper, John Gardner Culpepper and Mary Foy Culpepper, relocated circa 1896 at White Springs, Hamilton Co., Florida. 
Guardian*3 Feb 1896 Apparently in connection with his relocation to Hamilton Co., FL, Sterling Culpepper had J. C. Stanaland appointed as guardian for his minor children, Foy and John Culpepper, who must have remained in Thomas Co., GA. On 3 Feb 1896 at Thomas Co., Georgia.13 
1900 Census*1 Jun 1900 Sterling was listed as the head of a family on the 1900 Census at White Springs, Hamilton Co., Florida.14 
Deed*8 Apr 1904 He granted a deed on 8 Apr 1904 at White Springs, Hamilton Co., Florida.
(S. G. Culpepper and wife sell for $100, a 1 acre lot in White Springs (in Sec 12, T.2 S.R. 15-E) to B.F. Camp. Lot bounded by lots owned by L. C. Williamson, B.F. Camp and S. G. Culpepper. Witnessed by W. G. Cate and G. S. Mobley.).15 
Deed*1 Mar 1905 He witnessed a deed grant on 1 Mar 1905 at White Springs, Hamilton Co., Florida.
(B. F. Camp and his wife Annie S. Camp sell a 1/2 acre lot (in Sec 12, T.2 S.R. 15-E) to E. E. Jackson. Witnessed by S. G. Culpepper and G. S. Mobley.).16 
Deed29 Dec 1905 He granted a deed on 29 Dec 1905 at White Springs, Hamilton Co., Florida.
(S. G. Culpepper and Clara B. Culpepper, his wife, sell for $800, five lots of Block 18 in White Springs (in Sec 12, T.2 S.R. 15-E) to Annie S. McAlfred(?). Lot bounded by lots owned by Pritchard, Barton, Alley and Bridges. Witnessed by M. Swires(?) and B. F. Bullock.).17 
Deed10 Sep 1907 He granted a deed to Clara Belle Simms on 10 Sep 1907 at White Springs, Hamilton Co., Florida.
(S. G. Culpepper sells for $100, a 1 acre lot (in Sec 12, T.2 S.R. 15-E) to Clara B. Culpepper. Lot bounded by lots owned by Denure and John Quincy. Witnessed by W. G. Cate and G. S. Mobley.
     S. G. Culpepper sells for $100, Lots 11 & 17 in Block 114 & 97, and lots 2 - 2 in Block 105 & 56 in town of Mystic, Irwin Co., GA, to Clara B. Culpepper. Lot bounded by lots owned by Denure and John Quincy. Witnessed by W. G. Cate and G. S. Mobley.
).18 
Death*21 Nov 1907 He died at Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas, on 21 Nov 1907. 
Burial*circa 24 Nov 1907 His body was interred circa 24 Nov 1907 at Oak Cliff Cemetery, Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas.19 
Biography* As a small child, Sterling moved with his family to Boston in Thomas County, GA. As an adult, he became a farmer, was active in the community, an in 1878 married Susie Foy. During the four year period of 1883-1887, three of Sterling and Susie's five children died young and Susie died as well.
     In 1889, Sterling married Clara Belle Simms of Troup Co., GA, the sister of Charles Simms, a newsagent who had recently relocated to Boston, GA, where Sterling and his family lived. For an unknown reason, the marriage to Clara Belle occurred in Guadalupe Co., TX. Prior to 1900, Sterling and Clara Belle relocated to a turpentine farm on the Suwanee River in White Springs, Hamilton Co., FL. They had five children, and happily, these were all healthy and lived eventually to have families of their own.
     In 1907, Sterling became quite ill and traveled to Dallas, TX. There, he had access to good medical care and was taken care of by his daughter, Mary Foy. He died a short time afterwards in her home and was buried in what, a century later, is deemed to be a beautiful historic cemetery in the heart of Dallas.
(Names referenced above: Sterling Gardner Culpepper Sterling Gardner Culpepper). 
Descendant* See footnote for the name and contact info of a descendant of Sterling Gardner Culpepper who would like to communicate with other descendants.20 

Family 1

Susie Elizabeth Foy (25 Jun 1848 - 5 Jun 1887)
Marriage*21 Nov 1878 He married Susie Elizabeth Foy at Boston, Thomas Co., Georgia, on 21 Nov 1878.8 
Children

Family 2

Clara Belle Simms (2 Feb 1866 - 28 Jan 1955)
Marriage*11 Jun 1889 He married Clara Belle Simms at Guadalupe Co., Texas, on 11 Jun 1889.11 
Children

Charts Descendants of Benjamin Culpepper of Edgecombe Co., NC (Six generations)
Descendants of Sterling Gardner Culpepper of Thomas Co., GA
Warren Culpepper's Ancestry Chart
Last Edited 8 Nov 2007

Citations

  1. Harry Stuart Culpepper and Alma Elaine Payne Ancestors, Culpepper/Payne Family Bible, Steven Edward Culpepper, owner, Sandy Springs, GA, (2005).
  2. 1853 relocation is based on the fact that in that year, Gardner and Caroline had only moved to Lee County in 1848, were still there at the time of the 1850 census, and then in 1853 they became founding members of a church in Thomas Co.
  3. 1860 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 24, Boston, Thomas Co., GA
    Gardner Culpepper, 49, M, GA, Farmer, $4,000/$11,000
    Caroline Culpepper, 45, F, GA
    J. G. Culpepper, 17, M, GA
    W. H. Culpepper, 15, M, GA
    M. N. Culpepper, 13, F, GA
    S. G. Culpepper, 9, M, GA
    J. S. Culpepper, 4, M, GA.
    S. Brinkley, 12, M, GA.
  4. 1870 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 100, Boston, Thomas Co., GA
    Caroline Culpepper, 54, F, GA, $2,000/$1,069
    Sterling G. Culpepper, 19, M, GA
    James T. Culpepper, 15, M, GA.
  5. Thomas Co., GA Letters of Guardianship, Book I-24.
  6. Tad Evans, compiler, Thomas County, Georgia Newspaper Clippings, Volume 1, 1857-1875, Abstracted from The Southern Enterprise and The Thomasville Times, 1995.
  7. Tad Evans, compiler, Thomas County, Georgia Newspaper Clippings, Volume 2, 1876-1881, Abstracted from The Thomasville Times 1995.
  8. Joseph E. Craigmiles III, Thomas County, Georgia Marriages (1826-1925), Thomasville, GA: Craigmiles & Associates Publishing/Printing, 1991.
    S. G. Culpepper and S. E. Foy on 21 Nov 1878 in Thomas Co., GA, Book I-309.
  9. 1880 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 451B, Boston, Thomas Co., GA
    Sterling Culpeper, Self, M, Male, W, 31, GA/GA/GA, Farmer
    Susan E. Culpeper, Wife, M, Female, W, 32, GA/NC/GA, Keeping House
    Mary F. Culpeper, Dau, S, Female, W, 6M, GA/GA/GA.
  10. Tad Evans, compiler, Thomas County, Georgia Newspaper Clippings, Volume 3, 1882-1888, Abstracted from The Thomasville Times 1996.
  11. Texas Department of State Health Services, compiler, Texas Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2002, Online database at Ancestry.com, 2005.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8795
    Sterling Culpepper and Clara B. Sims, Guadalupe Co., TX, 11 Jun 1889.
  12. Volunteer Compilers, compiler, Alachua County, Florida Deeds, 1826-1914, Alachua County Clerk of the Court, Jan 2005.
    http://www.clerk-alachua-fl.org/archive/AncientJ/FrontPage.cfm?BID=602
  13. Thomas Co., GA Letters of Guardianship, Book J-160.
  14. 1900 Federal Census, United States.
    ED 41, sheet 20; Page 283a, 65 River Street, White Springs, Hamilton Co., FL
    Ancestry.com Image 40 transcribed by Warren Culpepper
    S. G. Culpepper, HH, W, M, Mar 1852, 48, Md 11 yrs, AL, GA, GA, Land agent
    Clarabelle Culpepper, Wife, W, F, Feb 1869, 31, Md 11 yrs, GA, GA, GA
    John Culpepper, Son, W, M, Apr 1883, 17, Sng, GA, AL, GA
    Charles Culpepper, Son, W, M, Oct 1890, 9, Sng, GA, AL, GA
    Harrie Culpepper, Son, W, M, Aug 1892, 7, Sng, GA, AL, GA
    Clarabelle Culpepper, Daughter, W, F, Dec 1894, 5, GA, AL, GA
    Francis L. Culpepper, Daughter, W, F, Aug 1897, 2, GA, AL, GA
    Lucy Willis, cook, B, F, May 1833, 62, M, Ch: 13/9, GA, GA, GA
    Rebecca Cooper, Visitor, W, F, Apr 1874, 26, Mar 3yrs, Ch: 1/1, TN, TN, TN
    Margaret Cooper, Visitor, W, F, Jul 1897, 2, GA, TN, TN.
  15. County Clerk, Hamilton Co. FL, Deed Book, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. Film 1,940,621.
    Book P, Page 330.
  16. County Clerk, Hamilton Co. FL, Deed Book, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. Film 1,940,621.
    Book P, Page 337.
  17. County Clerk, Hamilton Co. FL, Deed Book, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. Film 1,940,621.
    Book P, Page 340.
  18. County Clerk, Hamilton Co. FL, Deed Book, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. Film 1,940,621.
    Book P, Pages 338 and 346.
  19. Tombstone.
    Oak Cliff Cemetery, Dallas, TX:
    S. G. [Sterling Gardner] Culpepper, 11 Mar 1851 – 21 Nov 1907.
  20. Warren L. Culpepper, Publisher of Culpepper Connections, See link below for e-mail address.