Family Biographies
Monroe L Corbitt
(1836-1921)
Monroe L. Corbitt was born in Hamilton County, Tennessee, in 1836, the 8th of 9 children and youngest son of Elisha Corbitt and Mary Gann. Monroe’s father, Elisha, died before 1850. Mary and her remaining children moved to Clinch County, Georgia1 in 18532. Several members of the Corbitt extended family had moved to Clinch County years earlier.
Monroe enlisted in the Confederate Army, Company E, 29th Infantry Regiment, as a Corporal, on September, 1 1861 at Savannah, GA, along with his older brother Colonel Washington Corbitt. He was promoted to Full Corporal on October 24, 1861. He served until being wounded and captured by the enemy at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on December 7, 1864. Monroe became a POW first at Louisville, KY then was transferred to the Camp Chase, Ohio, POW camp. He was paroled at Nashville, TN on May 02, 1865, and released on May 19, 1865 at Thomasville, GA.
In the census of 1870, Monroe was living in Berrien Co, GA with Emily Corbitt, age 13, and two boarders. The relationship between Monroe and Emily is not absolutely known, but it is believed she was the daughter of Allen Corbitt, making her Monroe’s niece.
On Feb 16, 1873, Monroe married Sophronia Summerlin, daughter of Allen and Anna Atwood Summerlin, in Coffee Co, GA, at the age of 37.
Monroe and Sophronia had the following children:
1. Lamar C Corbitt, born September 10, 1874. (married Arkansas Smith)
2. Mattie Lee Corbitt, born February 25, 1875. (married Rufus Joseph Thompson)
3. Ola Mae Corbitt, born March 12, 1881
4. Minnie Corbitt, born March 10, 1882 (married Joseph Lafayette Corbitt)
5. Preston Alexander Corbitt, born August 7, 1885 (twin) (married Ida Amerson)
6. Ethel Corbitt, born August 7, 1885 (twin) (1st md Henry W Newberry. 2nd md Lemuel Wyatt Westbrook)
The family is missing from the 1880 Census. Countless searches have failed to produce a location, but we suspect the family was living in Texas, or was in transit. Daughter Ola Mae was born in Llano County, Texas. Based on the birth dates and birth locations of the children, it can be determined that the family left for Texas as early as 1875 and returned as late as 1882. Family legend says that the family left Texas after Indians killed their neighbors and a pet deer.
In 1900, the family is located in Mud Creek, Clinch County, GA. By this time, only the twins, Ethel and Preston, age 15, are at home, along with granddaughter Ada Belle Corbitt, age 3, (daughter of Minnie and unknown father). Son Lamar and his wife Arkansas (Smith) Corbitt live next door. Daughter Minnie and her husband Joseph Lafayette Corbitt are living on the other side of Monroe and Sophronia. Daughter Mattie and her husband Rufus Thompson were married in Clinch County in 1892, but were living in Jakin, Early County, Georgia in 1900. Ola Mae had died in 1894.
In 1905, at the age of 69, Monroe applied for a Civil War pension, citing “age, infirmity and poverty” as basis for the payments. He also states that he suffered from frostbite and dyspepsia during the war, which left him barely able to work. He claims support “partly by my own exertions part by the Masonic Lodge and part by friends” during the years 1899-1902. Apparently Monroe was required to explain his absence during the later part of the war to qualify for the pension. He recounted his story of becoming captured by the enemy. His brother, Colonel Washington Corbitt (CW) also provided sworn testimony to questions about his brother’s war service for which he could elaborate. CW provides the same information, with an added flavor showing his apparent dislike of the process, the questions, and possibly the outcome of the war. When asked if he was present at the surrendering of his regiment, CW replies that the command was not surrendered, but, rather, was “squandered”.
In his 1905 pension application, Monroe lists dependents as his wife and two children. This is consistent with the fact that Ethel and Preston were still at home in 1905, because Ethel married and moved to Early County sometime late in 1905 or early 1906.
By the 1910 census, Monroe and Sophronia had moved to Pearson, Coffee County, GA. Only granddaughter Ada Belle remains with them. Daughter Ethel had married Henry W Newberry and was living near sister Mattie and her family in Early County, GA. Son Preston lives with Ethel and Henry. Daughter Minnie, husband Joseph and family were living in Pearson, not far away from Monroe and Sophronia.
For the census of 1920, Monroe and Sophronia were still living in Coffee County. No children.
We have a physical description of Monroe, but no photographs. His parole paperwork from the Union prison, in 1865, lists him as 5’-6”, with dark hair, light skin and blue eyes. Regarding his height, whoever filled out the paperwork for this parole made an error. According to his obituary below, as well as family recounts, Monroe was 6'-5" tall.
Monroe died in Atkinson County, at the home of his son, Lamar, on August 12, 1921.
Sophronia applied for and received Monroe’s pension until her death in 1923.
James Donald Thompson, Jr.
Great-great grandson
Footnotes:
1. “Early Hamilton Settlers.” John Wilson, 2001, Sheridan Books.
2. Monroe Corbitt Civil War pension application.
Pearson Tribune, Pearson, Georgia, August 19, 1921
Another Landmark Passed
Death of Hon. Monroe Corbitt,
Aged 93
One by one, the doughty pioneers who faced the dangers and vicissitudes of frontier life and won from savagery and wild animals this goodly land for their descendants, are passing to their reward.
So it is in the death of Hon. Monroe Corbitt at the home of his son, Mr. Lamar Corbitt, about five miles southwest of Kirkland, on last Friday. He was born in 18281, in Hamilton county, Tennessee, and came to this section of the country with his parents2 when he was a mere boy. The country was infested with savage Indians and all sort of wild animals.
In 18483, he joined the local military company for the purpose of protecting his home, relatives and friends from the attacks of the red man who had gone on the warpath and gave the settlers trouble for several years-- really until the creation of Clinch county, in 1856. He was in the battle of Kettle creek near Waycross and Cow creek, near Stockton. In all the skirmishes and battles he was in with the Indians, he came out unscathed. For this service he was drawing a pension from the United States government of $24 a quarter.
In 1861, or about 10 years later, he answered the call of his State to defend his country against the aggressions of Northern fanaties and abolitionists. He remained in the Confederate army until it's surrender to the overwhelming number of the enemy4. He took part in numerous skirmishes and battles and came out without a scratch. For his service he has been receiving a pension from the State of Georgia.
Mr. Corbitt was not an educated man--he had learned to read and write, and was a man who loved to read and a good patron of the local newspaper--he has been a subscriber to the Tribune ever since it has been published under the present management. He had no superior in native ability.
He was one of a family of nine children--six boys and three girls. His brothers were Allen, Henry, Calvin, Colonel and Thomas; his sisters were Mesdames Eliza Haskins, Nancy Bostwick and Wealthy Newbern. All have passed away except Mrs. Newbern.
He intermarried in 18715 with Miss Sophronia Summerlin and to this union were born four or more children. His aged wife and three children--Lamar and Preston Corbitt and Mrs. Jodie L Corbitt survive him6.
He was a man of splendid physique, tall (about six feet and five inches) straight and well proportioned. He was a great fisherman and hunter, especially the later and during his life had slain many deer and other wild animals.
He had known very little sickness in his long life. About a year ago, old age creeping upon him, he began to show signs of weakening, and about six weeks ago, he was stricken with paralysis, which hastened his death.
He had never concerned himself on the subject of religion or his duty to embrace Christianity until about two weeks before his death. He then united with the Methodist church at Kirkland, and was baptized by immersion, owing to his helpless condition, in a large bathtub, at the hands of Rev. N. T. Pafford, of McRae.
He departed this life, aged 937, on the 12th day of August, 1921, and the funeral and interment took place at Live Oak Methodist church and cemetery two days later.
Corrections to obituary:
Monroe was born in 1836 according to tombstone.
Monroe's father, Elisha was dead before 1850 and did not make the journey to Georgia.
The family came to Georgia in 1853, according to Monroe's pension application.
Monroe was captured in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in 1865 and was not present at the surrender of his regiment.
Marriage to Sophronia was in 1873.
Also survived by children Ethel Corbitt Westbrook, and Mattie Lee Corbitt Thompson.
Monroe was about 82 at the time of his death.