Thomas G. Ealum

by Ruth L. Hester

"Mr. Gieth " as he was known in the community was born, Thomas Gether Ealum in 1898. He lived at the foot of what was known in his grandfathers time as Ealum Hill. Mr. Geith and Miss Annie Wiggins married about 1921. I never heard of either of them speaking an unkind word about a neighbor. They spoke of something good about a person or they just didn't speak of them.

Thanks to the Ealum Family Genealogist , Darrel Ealum Bush of Albany , GA and the Andalusia News for sharing information on this great pioneer family that leads us to Mr. Geith's strength of character.

According to them, to land records , marriage records and a few other records we are able to place "Mr. Gieth" in his proper place among an old family who came and carved out a name among early settlers.

Thomas Gether had eleven siblings. One brother died with typhoid after a big flood and his mother and fourteen year old sister died by drowning in a rain swollen creek.
His father and mother were Joseph and Martha Ann Mosley. They owned his fathers old place at South Butler which consisted of over 300 acres when a flood destroyed his home Most of his children including "Mr. Geith " moved just over the line in Covington to what was once known as Ealum Hill. Ealum Post Office had been near Bethel Church location.

Joseph's father and mother, Joel and (his wife's name not found) were a thriving couple before the Civil War. Joel, (Mr. Geith's grandfather) died young around 39 yrs. old and left one son, Joseph and a "house full" of daughters. Joseph took responsibility and worked several jobs such as bee-keeping, farming his own plantation, rafting timber when the crop was laidby and working in his uncle Solomon's sawmill.
He finally had the family grown up and married when he was 30. He and Martha Ann had 12 children and still one of his sisters to raise. Joseph, Mr. Geith's father set a good example. He was a hard worker and well respected.

Mr. Geith and Mrs. Annie had three fine children. Herman Ealum m. Vera McCarter , Era Mae Ealum Lee(Leo) and Ima Faye Ealum Smith(James Douglas)

The Thomas G. Ealums were wonderful parents, friends and neighbors and made a significant impression upon the history of their community. They lived into their seventies and now rest in Bethel Cemetery.

Respectfully, Ruth

Bethel Cemetery (Bushfield)