The Gomillion name is presumed to be a derivation of Gmelin or Gamalon. Various records suggest the family originated in the country of France or Germany and later migrated to Holland or Scotland. After several generations, some members of this family immigrated to the United States.

One of the earliest Gomillions to be born in this country was Christian who was born in 1750 in South Carolina. According to the 1790 federal census, he was residing in Edgefield County and then, Barnwell County in 1820. He died in Barnwell sometime before 1824. His will was administered on April 30, 1824, stating that he was deceased.

Some researchers of this family believe there were Christian Gomillion, Sr. and Christian Gomillion, Jr., but this question has not been resolved. The above Christian ‘s will named the following children: Andrew, Bartlett, Diney, Elder, Jesse and Nancy as well as his wife, Catherine.

The second oldest son, Bartlett M. (Martin ?) Gomillion, was born in 1802 in South Carolina and eventually made his way to Covington County where he died in 1876. He was buried in the historic Gomillion Cemetery in the South community. He was married in 1835 in Stewart County, Georgia, to Dicey Audolph (1810-1850s). In 1840 and 1850, they were residing in Stewart County, but Dicey had died before 1860 in Georgia or Alabama. Bartlett received a military grant in Covington County in 1853, so his family was here when the 1860 census was taken.

Bartlett and Dicey had the following children: Francis M. “Bud,” b. 1836, d. 1901, m. 1861 Butler County Nancy Jane Stewart (1838-1906); Lucy J., b. 1838, d. 1915; Henry C., b. 1839, d. 1916, m. (1) 1860 Jane Beck (1838-1970s) (2) ? (3) 1900 Emma Singleton (1843-1921); John Clinton, b.1842, d. 1915, m. Mary Frances Dukes; Julius C., b. 1844, d. 1897; Daniel P., b. 1846, d. 1906; and Dicey Ann, b. 1849, d. 1910. All the children were born in Georgia and died in Alabama.

The oldest son, Francis M. “Bud” Gomillion, came with his family to Covington County during the early 1850s. When the 1860 federal census was enumerated, Bud was residing in the household of a Hendricks family and was listed as a lawyer. He was in the county until he was enumerated in Butler County in 1880 and 1900. In 1870, he homesteaded a farm of 160.10 acres in the Pigeon Creek Township. In 1883, he received a land patent for 160.1 acres in the same area, which would have been near the Butler-Covington County line.

Bud was married in 1861 in Butler County to Nancy Jane Stewart. They reared the following three children: Frances Abigail “Abbie,” b. 1863, d. 1928, m. James Hudson (1858-ca 1889); Andrew Jackson, b. 1866, d. 1927, m. Elizabeth Johnson (1865-1901); and Alexander B., b. 1867, d. 1886, single. Bud and Nancy Jane were buried in the Elizabeth Cemetery in Butler County.

Bud’s oldest child and only daughter, Frances Abigail Gomillion, was married in 1878 to James Hudson. This could be the Nancy Hudson who homesteaded 80.13 acres in 1883 in the Rawls Township. After she became a widow during the late 1880s, she lived near her parents and brothers. She and James had the following children: Mollie, b. 1880, d. 1916; Hillary Herbert, b. 1885, d. 1961, m. Lilla ?; Joseph H., b. 1888, d. 1964; and two infants who died young. In Hillary’s registration for World War I, he listed himself as a carpenter at Chickasaw Ship Builders in Mobile. He stated his mother was his next of kin and that he was tall and slender with blue eyes and brown hair.

Bud’s older son, Andrew Jackson Gomillion, was married in 1889 to Elizabeth Johnson who died fairly young in 1901. Andrew was listed as a widower in the 1910 census and was living alone in the Brooks community in 1920. At that time he was listed as a merchant operating a general store. He died there in 1927. Andrew and Elizabeth had the following three children: Gracie Pauline, b. 1891, d. 1955; Emma B. (Runie ?), b. 1821, d. 1932, m. Ed Beasley; and Thaddeus Jackson, b. 1894, d. 1969.

Bartlett M. Gomillion’s second son, Henry C. Gomillion, was living in his family’s home in Stewart County, Georgia, in 1850. He moved with them to Covington County during the early 1850s. In 1861 or 1862, when he was about 22 years old, he enlisted in the Confederate Army at Leon. He was mustered in at Auburn on May 13, 1862, and served as a private in Company C, 37th Alabama Infantry Regiment. On July 9, 1863, he was captured as a prisoner of war. At the time, he was described as standing five feet, eight inches tall with light hair, blue eyes, and fair complexion. He was discharged April 1865.

In the 1870 and 1880 censuses, he was enumerated as being back home in Covington County. In 1882, he homesteaded 160.70 acres of land in the Pigeon Creek Township. Also, in 1883, he received a land patent for 160.66 acres in the same area. On January 15, 1887, Henry was appointed Post Master for the Shrive Post Office. He was succeeded in 1891 by George W. Lee. By 1900, he was residing in the household of his son, Franklin M. Gomillion in Clarke County. Around 1900, he was married to his son’s mother-in-law, Emma Thompson, who was also living in the same household. At his death, he was buried in the Hollingsworth Cemetery in Clarke County.

Henry C. Gomillion and his first wife, Jane Beck, were married in 1860 and had the following children: John H.C., b. 1860, d. 1910-20, m. Ellen Fields; James B., b. 1862, d. 1934, m. Nellie Vilator Gorum; Franklin M., b. 1865, d. 1918, m. Dalilah Lorraine Thompson (1868-1943); Catherine Elizabeth, b. 1867, d. 1900-1906, m. 1892 Smith Warner Baldwin; Laura Alice, b. 1868, d. 1939, m. James Cleghorn; and Ella, b. 1869, m. 1899 John P. Mosley.

Considerable genealogy on this family has been compiled by Pamala Celeste Nolan for a good friend who is a Gomillion descendant. Appreciation is expressed to Pamala for sharing her records for this writing on the Gomillion family. Coverage of this family will be continued in next week’s column.

Anyone who might have any correction to the above facts or additional information on this family is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-222-6467; or E-mail: cthomasson@centurytel.net.

MEMORIAL SERVICE: The Thomasson Randolph Thomasson Chapter of the UDC and the Covington Rifles Camp of the SCV is assisting the Garrett family in conducting a memorial service at the gravesite of Confederate Veteran John Garrett who was buried in the Jordan Cemetery. The ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Sat., March 20.

Those interested in Confederate heritage are urged to attend and support this family.