Asa Chandler Fortson

All that was mortal of Mr. A. C. Fortson passed into the great beyond yesterday morning, just as the sun was ascending the eastern horizon, consumption being the cause. About a year ago, Mr. Fortson contracted a severe case of the grip, which settled on his lungs, and which finally developed into tuberculosis. Since that illness he has been gradually sinking, but for the past two months he has been confined to his bed. He was a man fifty-eight years of age, and leaves a wife and eleven children, to-wit: Mrs. A. C. Fortson, Mrs. Gussie Conwell, Mrs. Emma Vickery, Misses Sallie Lou, Edna and Jessie Fortson, and Messrs. T. J., James M., Willie, Joe, George and Fred Fortson. Mr. Fortson was a man well known throughout the county for his quiet, unassuming manner, but was, nevertheless, considered a man of a very strong character. He was a member of the Baptist Church at Harmony, and died a confirmed believer in that faith. The interment will take place this afternoon at the Hall burying ground. Mr. E. L. Sisk will conduct the funeral services. Mr. Fortson resided near Goss, where his family were surrounded with all the conforts of life-his slogan being to properly care for his family.

[Submitter's notes: Asa Chandler Fortson, a Confederate soldier, was born 21 May 1847 in Elbert Co., the son of Jesse Marion Fortson and Frances Mills, daughter of William Mills and Nancy Brown. His wife was Louisa Catherine Hall (1855-1927), daughter of Lt. James C. Hall (CSA) and Mary Adaline Loftis. James C. Hall was the son of John Pryor Hall (1797-1838) and Mariah Louisa Turman (1808-1881), daughter of George Turman and Viletta Higginbotham. William Mills was the son of Revolutionary Soldier Moses Mills and wife Keronhappuck Rather. Viletta Higginbotham was the daughter of Revolutionary Soldier Samuel Higginbotham and wife Jane Satterwhite.]

Asa Chandler Fortson was born on 21 August 1847 in Elbert Co., GA, the son of Jesse Marion Fortson and Frances Mills. As A. C. Fortson, age 16 years and 4 months, he was on a Militia Enrollment list for District 193, Elbert Co., as required by the Act of 14 Dec 1863 for re- organizing the militia of the State of GA. According to the Fortson Family History by John W. Boyd, pub. 1973, he entered the Confederate Army on 25 Jul 1864 and remained in service until the close of the war, serving in the battles of Jonesboro, Honey Hill and Atlanta. On 18 May 1865 at Gaines Mill, GA he signed as A. C. Fortson a Parole from the Headquarters, 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, District of East Tennessee, which read:” I, the undersigned Private of the 3rd Regiment of GA Militia, do solemnly swear that I will not bear arms against the United States ofAmerica, or give any information, or do any military duty whatsoever until properly released from this obligation.”

During the war his father died in Elbert Co., three of five brothers who served in the Confederate army died, as well as his future wife’s father, Lt. James C. Hall. On 8 Feb 1870 in Elbert Co. he married Louisa Catherine Hall (1855-1927), daughter of James Chambers Hall and Mary Adaline Loftis. Asa and Louisa raised their eleven children at the old Hall homeplace at Goss, Elbert Co., situated on land previouly owned by her parents, her grandparents John Pryor Hall and Mariah Turman, and great grandparents George Turman and Vileta Higginbotham. Those eleven children were Augustus “Gussie” Franklin, James Marion, Thomas Jefferson, Mary Emma, William Asa, Joseph Brown, Sallie Lou, George Harold, Jessie Adeline, Fred Hall and Edna Elizabeth Fortson.

Asa Chandler Fortson was a farmer. A receipt shows he sold 6 bags of cotton in 1871 for a total of $311.10. In 1883 he was member of the Doves Creek Grange of the Elbert Co. Co-Operative Association, Order of Patrons of Husbandry, He was also a Masonic Lodge member. In 1892 and 1894 he paid Elbert Co. taxes on property returned at $1990. In 1891 he was President of the Singing Society of Dewy Rose, GA when he signed a letter to the Elbert Co. Singing Convention recommending they urge upon the singing people of Elbert Co. the necessity of church music.

He died on 34 Jan 1906 in Elbert Co. An obituary the following day in the Elberton Star newspaper stated that about one year earlier he had contracted a severe case of the grip which settled into his lungs and which finally develooped into tuberculosis, confining him to bed for two months prior to his death. He was described as a man well known throughout the county for his quiet, unassuming manner, but was, nevertheless, considered a man of very strong character. He was buried in the Hall-Conwell cemetery which is located directly in front of the location of the old Hall homeplace at Goss. On 4 Aug 1906 a resolution in his memory was passed by the Harmony Baptist Church in which he was described as a member who was true to his convictions and faithful to his obligations.

His widow, Louisa “Lutie” Fortson maintained the homeplace and farm with the aid of the older children until around 1914 when she moved to Atlanta and operated a boarding house on Capitol Avenue where the Atlanta Braves stadium later stood, many of her boarders being from Elbert Co. On 4 Oct 1927 she died from pneumonia after having broken her hip in a fall. She was buried in the Hall-Conwell cemetery at Goss.