Georgia Farmhouse from the 1870s Remains Mostly Unchanged
Tippins Home | Tattnall County, Georgia | c. 1870s
William Eason Tippins and his wife Martha Eason Tippins would build this house in the 1870s as their family grew to an eventual 7 children. The nation had just come out of a war and this family was doing what they could to move forward during undoubtedly difficult times.
The Tippins Family were some of the earliest settlers to this area and along with a handful of other families, established the community of Manassas in Tattnall County. They were farmers and merchants who traded with other locals and obviously found some success for themselves in the process.
In 1902, William Eason would pass away and this house passed to his eldest son, Henry Webster, who would continue to raise his family here.
Henry was a farmer and the postmaster of the town by this time and evidently, a popular local resident according to an article I found about his 47th birthday celebration.
Henry Tippins would live in the house until his death in 1924 at the age of 68. The home is still owned today by Henry’s descendants who now use it as a weekend hunting cabin. Very few upgrades have been done and it has never been painted, leaving it in nearly original condition.
Obituary: “Mr. H.W. Tippins Manassas Citizen Dies”
Mr. H.W. Tippins of Manassas died at his home last Thursday after a long illness. His death was not unexpected as he had been in failing health for some time. The many friends who held Mr. Tippins and his family in high esteem were saddened when the end came, and extend sympathy to his wife and children.
His remains were laid to rest on last Friday at Tippins cemetery. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. I.K. Chambers of Hagan and Rev. Dolphus. He was buried with Masonic honors being a member of the Claxton Masonic Lodge. Husband of Ella Monroe Tippins. Son of William Eason Tippins, Sr., & Martha Evaline Brewton Tippins. All of these are buried in this cemetery.
The Tattnall Journal – May 29, 1924
“she was a useful woman” hahaha I love reading old writings. With a cemetery on the property it will be expensive to sell. I know we had problems.
Yes I suppose that might make it difficult, but as far as I’m concerned, I’d LOVE to own a property with a cemetery on it. It would be such an honor to keep it up.
We bought a property with a family cemetary but some one had set limits on it and it could not be used anymore. We never denied family visits but glad we weren’t the one to set limit.
I would guess they set a limit so the previous owner’s family couldn’t continue to use it for burials after the property changed hands. It is legal to bury bodies on rural land in Georgia so one would think the land around it would allow for burials if the current owner wanted to.
We moved down here to southern Texas but don’t know if this area is really the what locals would call the Old South. When you think of the Old South you imagine Mississippi, Alabama or Louisiana. But we like Texas, we were deathly tired of Portland, Oregon, given its propensity for all manner of craziness. People down here are just the way we like it. Friendly, unpretentious, and sincere.
We like your website. Really nostalgic.
I live in Georgia…very familiar with these towns. I really like the stories
Thank you for publishing this newsletter.
What wonderful stories. Thank you for sharing your love of history.
Love this site and it’s amazing stories. The story about the railroad near Albany Ga and the Raines store near Cordele are familiar to me because we lived in Albany for 30 years and frequently took road trips to see the country with our kids. Keep it up because it’s our heritage and I love learning about every fact and structure you uncover.
That is a very typical southern farm house and I’m amazed that it is still in such good condition and still used occasionally by the surviving family.
so good to know that such an original treasure is still being enjoyed to this day.
Great story, great research, and great photographs!! The fact that this house has never been painted really strikes me! The original wooden shakes (is that the correct term?) are 150 years hardy! Could you say that new homes today are going to last that long?
What a beauty, thanks for sharing her story!
This is so interesting and fortuitous. My maiden name is Tippin (no s) but we crossed paths over the years with others spelled this way and that. What is really interesting is Tatnall County is just northwest of my husband’s hometown “roots” in Jesup, Georgia. Thank you so much, Kelly for all the research and curation that you do to allow these places to resurface for the public with their stories.
I know where this home is at
And the Tippins are in my Family tree my Ancestors