James Madison Darby

The information about James Madison ("Buck") Darby and his spouse/spouses is confusing. James is enumerated in his parents' household as "Madison J." and "James M" in the 1860 and 1870 census, respectively. "James B. Derby" married Margaret Pendley July 4, 1876, in Pickens County, GA. "James M." and Margaret Darby are enumerated in the 1880 Forsyth County, GA census with three children, Caleb, Narcissa A. [probably named after James' mother] and Minnie R. Darby. The next record of James is the 1900 Pickens County census where "James B. Darby" and his spouse, Martha, are enumerated with two children, Savannah C. and Farris C. Darby. The 1900 census also indicates that James and Martha had been married for 23 years (i.e., since about 1876) and had had 4 children, 2 of whom were still living (i.e., Savannah and Farris). The referrence to "married for 23 years" suggests that Martha was the same person as Margaret Pendley that James married in 1876. However, other information suggests that Martha was James' second wife. For example, the 1880 and 1900 census combined enumerate five children of James, not four as indicated by the 1900 census. In addition, Daniel Peardon reports that James may have had two additional children that were born and died in 1882 and 1884, respectively, and who are buried at Sharp Mountain Baptist Church Cemetery in Cherokee County, GA. It is also possible that these two children were grandchildren of Newton and Delilah Darby, through their sons Oliver and David. The two children are buried next to Oliver and David, but also near James' daughter, Savannah Catherine Darby. More research is need to determine the parents of these two children.

Although I currently have no conclusive proof, I believe that James first married Margaret Pendley in 1876. James and Margaret had at least three (and possibly five) children (i.e., the three enumerated in the 1880 census, plus possibly the two unknown children that were born and died in 1882 and 1884). Either Margaret died or James and Margaret divorced by the mid-1880s. James then married Martha (probably Bradford) by about 1887. James and Martha had at least four children (the two enumerated in the 1900 census, plus two unknown children that were born and died prior to 1900), and possibly five (the 1910 census indicates that Martha had had one additional child who was born and died between the 1900 and 1910 census). James died in Pickens County in 1905 and was buried at Four Mile Baptist Church Cemetery in Pickens County. After James' death, Martha married a widower, Daniel A. Tindle, in about 1908. Daniel and Martha moved to Falls County, TX by 1910, but returned to GA by 1920 (probably prior to Farris Darby's death in 1914). Martha died in Pickens County in 1936 and was buried next to James and her son Farris at Four Mile Cemetery (Mark Lawless)

CENSUS DATA FOR JAMES MADISON BUCK DARBY:

1860 Dug Road, Jasper, Pickens County, GA (at home, p. 885)

1870 Jasper, Pickens County, GA (at home, p. 13a)

1880 Hightower, Forsyth County, GA (p. 380a) -- James M. (21, GA), Margaret (28, GA), Caleb (5, GA),Narcissa A. (2, GA) and Minnie R. (7/12, GA) Darby, living near James' parents, James and Narcissa C. Darby,and their family

1900 Dug Road, Pickens County, GA (Dist. 899, p. 177) -- married 23 years [sic?]; 4 children, 2 living; James B.(Jul. 1857, GA), Martha (Oct. 1866, GA), Savanah C. (Jun. 1888, GA) and Farris C. (Feb. 1895, GA) Derby,living with James' mother, Caroline Derby (Sep. 1830, SC, widow), and his sister, Larceney Derby (Jul. 1862,GA) Derby