Enecks Stories

Table of Contents
Thomas Enicks, 1755-1802
Colonel Tarlton Brown, 1757
Captain Robert Bradley c 1760-1816
Olinda Brown Bradley
Sarah Duke Bradley Enicks, c1788-1865
Thomas Llewellyn Enecks, 1st, 1807-1843
William Robert Enecks, 1st, 1810-1894
William Robert Enecks
Mary Oswald Enecks, 1818-1877
Sarah Emily Enicks Boykin 1815-1859
Andrew Simpkins Enicks, 1831-?
Catherine (Kate) Eliza Enecks, 1842-1922
William Weightman (Billy) Enecks, 1844-1916
Robert Gilmore Sims Enecks, 1846-1907
Mary (Mollie) Enecks 1847-1909
James Osgood Andrew Enecks, 1851-1923
Anna Sarah Christie Enecks, 1853-1892
Irene Louisa Christie Enecks, 1855-1898
Lena Elizabeth Bryan Enecks, 1870-1947
Thomas Jefferson (Page) Enecks, 1852-1929
Thomas Llewellyn Enecks, 2nd 1873-1935
Mary Helen Enecks Laffitte. 1881-1913
Gordon Bowie Laffitte,1876-1966
William Robert Enecks 2nd, 1884-1956
Anna Floerl Enecks Smith 1893-1972
James O. Enecks, 1886-1952
Kathleen Enecks
Marion Smith Enecks, 1892-1973
Arthur LeGrand Enecks, 1904-1927
Mary Roberta Enecks Conley, 1906-1964
Ellis Bryan Enecks, 1910-1940

    Passages and comments shown in italics are written by Suzanne Smith Belcher, 2002

Thomas Enicks, 1755-1802 
"In 1784 Thomas Enicks, planter was having land surveyed on the Lower Three Runs, a stream located in the vicinity of what is now Barnwell, S.C. The 1790 census shows him as a resident of the South Part of Orangeburgh District, an area that was later to become Barnwell District, S.C. Based on data obtained from the 1800 census, he was born after 1755, undoubtedly between 1755 and 1760, and therefore, was less than 47 years of age when he died in October, 1802." 
From "Lest We Forget: A History of the Enicks Family" page 1, by Milton Harden 

Colonel Tarlton Brown, 1757 
Tarlton Brown was "born April 5, 1757 in Albemarle County, Virginia, the son of William and Sarah Brown. Moved with parents to South Carolina in 1769. Planter at Boiling Springs. Married first Amelia Matthews; second, Mrs. Judith (O'Bannon) Cook, widow of Wilson Cook.. Served in Revolution under Capt. William Harden; private, 1776; lieutenant, 1778; captain, 1781; Coroner, 1788; sheriff, 1789- 1790. S.C. House of Representatives, 1792-1798. Trustee for establishing public schools in Orangeburgh District, 1798; S.C. Senate 1798-1799; sheriff, Barnwell District, 1800-1803. Author of Memoirs of Tarlton Brown, one of the few firsthand accounts of the Revolution. Died Sept. 4, 1845, in Barnwell District; buried in cemetery at Boiling Springs on land given by him for a church.” 
Taken from "County Offices and Officers of Barnwell Co., S.C. 1775-1975" , p36-37 
Colonel Tarlton Brown was the son of William Brown of Virginia and brother of Olinda Brown Bradley who was the mother of William Enick's wife, Sarah Duke Bradley. He wrote a small book about his experiences as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, "The Memoirs of Tarlton Brown.", published by the People Press, Barnwell, SC. in 1894. He was a Colonel in the Army and later was a plantation owner in Barnwell District. He is mentioned in land transactions recorded there. An oil portrait of Captain Brown was purchased from his grandchildren in Screven County by children of William R. Enecks and hung in the Enecks home as for many years.
(Tarlton Brown's will was dated June 9, 1843 and recorded in Barnwell Co. Records, SC Sept. 19, 1845) 
"I married and settled myself between the Sand Hill and Cedar run Branches, waters of the Lower Three Runs, Barnwell District" (the place was named Fork Mills) "From this place I moved to Boiling Springs, where I have lived and enjoyed fine health many years" "Memoirs of Tarlton Brown" page 28 

Captain Robert Bradley c 1760-1816 
"Robert Bradley was born about 1760 and died Aug. 1816 (will recorded Feb. 7, 1817) Married 1 st, 1781, Emelia Brown. Married 2nd, Olinda Brown, sister of Emelia, both were sisters of Tarlton Brown. William B. Bradley, son, was executor of estate." 
Taken from "Book XII of Barnwell County Records", compiled by Edna A Manning and W.H. Manning, Jr., dated March 25, 1964 . 
(There is a copy of this book in the Ladson Genealogy Library, Vidalia, Ga. It lists the children of Robert Bradley as Robert. D. Bradley, Jr, William B. Bradley, Paul Bradley, Fan Bradley, Wilson Bradley, Emelia Bradley, Sarah D. Bradley b.1790 m. William R. Enecks and Mary Bradley b. 1791, m John Snelling. This is in error because I have a copy of Robert Bradley's will, which shows Paul, Fan and Wilson to be negroes willed to Robert's son William.) Zan 
"Don't know as he was a native or emigrant from some other place or country, rather think the former though as I heard of him as a resident only of Barnwell County, South Carolina, in or quite near the vicinity where I first saw the light myself. Furthermore, there were old landmarks known in and about that neighborhood ever since my father's earlier recollection, as "Bradley's Branch", "Bradley's Ford", "Bradley's Meeting House," etc. 
But I think I can safely say this, that I don't know my grandmother's father's given name, but she called him "Captain Bradley" and he must have been quite a fine gentleman, and of some prominence and wealth for those days, as she spoke of his hospitality and entertainment of the gentry, and of the carriage horses, servants, etc., and of her school days and other social and religious advantages that were not very common or usual among the poorer classes of that time. Don't know why he was a captain or what of, but think he must have been a merchant tailor for one thing, some time during his life, as she often spoke of his business in that line, and of the young "journey men" in his employ. He was a Baptist himself, I think she said, but built the first little Methodist church that was ever known in that region of the country, and which my grandmother joined and partly supported afterward, and which reason, I suppose, must have made the division in the family of Baptist and Methodist. 
Captain Bradley married Olinda Brown, (sister as I said, to Colonel Tarleton Brown, Virginians by birth, I think, but at that time and so long as he lived afterwards, they too were neighbors and residents of the same place) by whom he had four children, Robert D. Bradley, (your grandfather), William Bradley, (Herbert's grandfather), Sarah D. Bradley, (my grandmother), and Amelia "Milly" Bradley, an unmarried and imbecile daughter, who died in my father's house when I was about two or maybe three years old, as he was her guardian and his house her home. I heard tell of no other children, so suppose these four to have been all. 
I might have said further back there, that I very frequently heard grandmother speak of her "Aunt Parker" and "Aunt Campbell" and their children and affairs and they must have been her father's sisters as I don't think Colonel Brown had but the one, Olinda. That is, none other that I can now call to mind. I remember that I myself at some remote period of my life, have seen and known some of the Campbell descendants, and doubtless the Parkers too, but time has partly defaced this recollection, and where they may all be today, eternity only knows." From Kate Enecks’s letter to S. W. Bradley, 1902 --- 

Olinda Brown Bradley 
"Captain Bradley married Olinda Brown, (sister as I said, to Colonel Tarlton Brown, Virginians by link, but at that time and so long as he lived afterwards, they too were neighbors and residents of the same place) by whom he had four children"….
….. "there was, so far as I know, no record kept, and never a picture in the world that I ever saw, save a painting of old Colonel Tarlton Brown of Revolutionary fame, and own uncle to my grandmother, her mother OIinda, or Olindy, being his sister, and which picture one of my brothers purchased at sale in the home or at the home of his grandchildren in this county, some two years ago." 
from Kate Enecks’s letter to S. W. Bradley, 1902 --- 

Sarah Duke Bradley Enicks, c1788-1865 
"…. leaves Sarah, married to William Enecks, (my grandfather and grandmother) to whom there were five children born, three boys and two girls, one of the latter died in childhood ...
…… I had my grandmother Enecks (Sarah Duke Bradley) with me some twenty-three years of my life. Sixteen in her own home in South Carolina, in one short mile of me, and the other seven right here in this same house with me in my Georgia home, and in my own bedroom where she slept, and talked, and laughed and made merry, happy company, for she was a jolly, pretty, and smart old soul. And so courteous and entertaining. Could have kept company with any of the fine and cultivated ladies of the present time. Or men either, for that matter. And my, what a mind she had, and what a store of knowledge you might gather from her, were she alive today. And what a conversationalist, never at a loss for inclination, and a memory that scarcely ever knew forgetfulness, an unexcelled housekeeper, a fine and prosperous business woman, and a model church and Christian lady. Loved as well to read as to talk and kept herself well-posted in all the leading matters of her time. 
" I do verily believe that she could almost verbatim, repeat every sermon of any note that she ever heard preached, or had read, and the text and author. Knew almost entire Mr. Wesley's and Mr. Baxter's writings, and all others of that class. In fact, knew and read lots and lots of men and things and the doings from directly after the Revolutionary War, until the close of the Civil War, at which time she died, in the fall of 1865, aged as nearly as my father could estimate (we had no precise date) about 77 years. 
"Indeed, my grandmother was a very wonderful woman, as I feel and know it now, for at 77 she was certainly a much younger and superior woman in every respect to what I am at 50, and as the doctors said at the time, and as we have often thought since, had it not been for imprudence and needless exposure, she could easily have lived according to her mental and physical strength, many years longer. It did seem such a pity for her to die while life was yet so worth the living, and she so capable still of enjoying it. I was mighty fond and proud of her, and thought her so nice and smart and cannot, to this day, recall a single fault or weakness that belonged to her, unless it was her care and indulgence and devotion to that youngest and wayward son of hers, whom some of your people used to know long years ago, (before you were born perhaps) and did as you see, not only sustain the loss of her presence and good in so many others ways." Now I want to go back there a little way and take up the three older of my grandmother's children again, and then I am done, as this desultory epistle is already entirely too lengthy, and I am afraid, will be much more confusing than instructive, but I have done "the best I can." I say older children, because 
Uncle Tom was two years the senior of my father, father five or six years older than Aunt Sarah, and she fifteen when Uncle Sims was born. Strange, wasn't it? Four years difference between the first two, and twenty-one between the last three " 
From Kate Enecks letter to S. W. Bradley, 1902 --- 
(In 1860 census Sarah had seven slaves) 

Thomas Llewellyn Enecks, 1st, 1807-1843 
"Thomas, who married Miss Mckinzie, died about fifty-eight years ago, leaving the wife and four little children, one boy and three girls, but all, married and single, have since died, the widow and mother the first day of this last December, leaving not a descendant except one grandson whom I reared from infancy, and who lives in a stones throw of my old shanty, and the author of those one or two letters of Miss Mamie Bradley some time back. His name is Enecks because both of his Grandfathers were Enecks, and own brothers, and his father and mother first cousins." 
From Kate Enecks letter to S. W. Bradley, 1902 
(The grandson she mentioned was Thomas Llewellyn Enecks 2nd) 

William Robert Enecks, 1st, 1810-1894 
William R. Enecks was born in Barnwell District, S. C. Oct. 10, 1810, died at his home in Screven County, GA, Sept. 23, 1894 and was buried in the family cemetery across the road from his home. He was a descendant of the Brown and Duke families of Virginia and was married in Augusta, Georgia in May, 1 840, to Miss Mary Oswald of Charleston, South Carolina. He moved in 1 848 with his wife, four small children and several slaves, from South Carolina to Screven County, Georgia, where he bought a prosperous plantation. Two of his sons fought in the Civil War and returned home safely. Two sons and two daughters lived in the home with him until his death and two others married, built homes near their father's and raised their families there. All are buried in the Enecks Cemetery. 
"…….. notwithstanding the opportunities of fifty years spent with the ancestors and other kindred (and some twenty years of the fifty dwelt right in the old home) and amid the scenes and memories of my people for the time since the Revolutionary War and perhaps long years before were not appreciated and improved upon as they might and ought have been, and which great and irretrievable loss I have regretted and sorrowed for many a time since my father's death seven years ago. 
"For I might so easily have learned it all just for the asking and the keeping of a journal, as I had him in close and constant fellowship with me night and day for fifty-two years. And his head and heart so full always of the recollections and bygones of his eighty-four years, the living of which was ever fresh and clear to his mind and so constantly and so happily lived over again and intelligently narrated to his children and others. For my father had a bright mind and so retentive in memory as to be a fund of almost inexhaustible knowledge and information…..  "….. when my father died he left a good-sized trunk full of papers and letters of every description, for he carefully filed and preserved every letter and instrument of writing that ever came into his possession, and as he had the keeping of all of his father's old time papers and records ahead of him, and was himself a man of considerable business transactions, having managed his father's, Aunt Millie's, Uncle Sims' and one or two others, besides all his own affairs, which of course made a deal of aged and valuable matter " William, who married Miss Oswald, had nine children; three died during childhood, and the remaining six, four boys and two girls, are now alive and live right here in sight of each other. Misses Kate (the writer of this) and Mollie, and two of the boys dwell together in the old homestead, and the other two brothers each have homes and families of their own." 
From Kate Enecks letter to S. W. Bradley, 1902 

William Robert Enecks 
"William R. Enecks was born in Barnwell District, S. C. Oct. 10, 1810 and died at his home in Screven County, GA, Sept. 23, 1894. In seventeen days more he would have lived 84 years. He moved from South Carolina to Screven County, Georgia in 1858. Since then he has been a worthy and exemplary citizen of this county. He was a descendant of the Brown and Duke families of Virginia and was married in Augusta, Georgia in May, 1840, to Miss Mary Oswald of Charleston, South Carolina, the almost incomparable mother of the nine children born to him, of whom six are living, who are sad over their loss. 
"His education, so far as scholarship and textbook, was very limited indeed, as he first saw the light at a very early stage of our country's opportunities and progress. He was, notwithstanding, a man of no ordinary mind and of no little knowledge of men and events, as his acquaintances and conversations could attest, and was a man of extraordinary energy, ambition, and industry, as his success in life has proven, notwithstanding the crippling and disqualifying physical disabilities extending over 55 years of his life. He was an indefatigable and constant worker up to the very beginning of his last illness. As a competent and efficient business man he certainly excelled, as his perfect knowledge and complete control of all his farm and financial affairs showed to the very last. 

"The most extraordinary characteristics of all were the tenacity with which he clung to life and the very wonderful constitutional strength and endurance that made him, even after a severe and wasting illness of two months, hopeful and helpful, lasting to the very end. His mind was as clear and active up to the very last moment as ever in life, and just a few seconds before the end he sat up on the bedside, asked for the time of night and that "Tommy must be called" and seeing that we were all present, said "Farewell, children, farewell. Put me down on my pillow", and with just a gentle breath or two, was dead. 
"He died as he had lived, an honest, just and conscientious Christian gentleman, at peace with his Lord and with all the world- with every single detail of his business affairs settled and arranged and with not many, if a single, blot or regret to mar and disturb the end of a life so long and useful and well spent and so fully appreciated and enjoyed. He was a kind and affectionate husband and a firm friend. There is a vacant chair around the fireside, a void in a happy home that can never be filled. The loved father has gone and another link binds us to meet our loved ones in the hereafter. 
"Mr. Overstreet, here are a few facts in the life of my father and if you have space to give it insertion in your paper, please make it newspaper shape, longer or shorter as you see fit. I have not said nearly all that is in my heart to say But any shortening that you may see proper to make will be all right. You knew him by reputation and your Grandfather knew him from boyhood and as a schoolmate and life-long friend and, I believe, were born in South Carolina. Anyway, there's a feeling of kinship. You need sign no name but this comes from yours very truly, RGS Enecks " 
(Written by Bob, son of the deceased and submitted to the editor of Sylvania Telephone, Mr. Overstreet, 1894. I typed this from Bob's handwritten draft copy [The write-up published in Southern Christian Advocate captioned "An Aged Saint" was essentially the same but there were some differences.. Zan) 

"There was an old, old man, over six feet even in old age, and his four sons, Billy, Bob, "Colonel", and Page, allover six feet, all lean, sallow, and cadaverous; all kindly, honest, earnest, deeply religious, narrow- minded, and extremely lovable. There were also two daughters, Kate and Molly, to whom apply all the adjectives used in lining up their brothers." 
(Excerpt from letter by Kate Laffitte published in Sylvania Telephone,1939) 
Census, 1860, showed W.R. Enecks was head of household, having farmland valued at $9,550.00, with 17 slaves. This was two years after moving to Georgia in 1858. 

Mary Oswald Enecks, 1818-1877 
"Mrs. Mary Oswald Enecks was born in Charleston, SC in 1818 and died Sept. 17, 1877 in Screven County, Georgia, after an illness of only a few days. 
Being left an orphan at a very tender age, she was adopted and reared by a kind friend to whom she became as dear as an own child and with whom she lived until married. In early girlhood she became a member of the M. E. Church. Yet before the Christian graces were added, she was remarkable for her great amiability and general worthiness and throughout all her life has been a beautiful example of "the pure in heart". No living creature within her reach escaped her kindness--she loved to minister--her sympathetic heart was moved with pity for any object of suffering and her tears would flow at the least recital or sight of distress. A more devoted wife and mother never lived, nor one who was more abundant in kindness to relatives, neighbors and servants. God's loving favor was shown her throughout life and most mercifully evidenced in her death. She had often expressed a hope that no sickness of wearisome days and nights be appointed for her last and as she wished, the earthly tabernacle was dissolved so gently as not to cause any physical or mental suffering. A devoted husband and six lovely children deeply mourn her departure. She led them all to the Savior and they are trying to serve Him faithfully that with their saluted one they may praise Him in yon heavenly home forever. M.W.W. “
From Southern Christian Advocate Vol 40 Nov. 13, 1877 
(Letter to Mary's daughter, Kate, from J.W. Wightman states that Mary Oswald was a ward of Bishop John Wightman in Augusta when she married William Enecks. She and her brother, Robert, also a ward of Weightman, were from Charleston, SC) 

Sarah Emily Enicks Boykin 1815-1859 
" Sarah, grandmother's only daughter to live to womanhood, and who married Mr. Boykin, has been dead ever since 1859, and her husband the year before, but they left seven children, five now living, (all married save two) and lots of grandchildren. Some of the latter fine young fellows, editors of newspapers, book-keepers, farmers, etc." 
From Kate Enecks letter to S. W. Bradley, 1902 --- 

.."Mrs. Sara Boykin died in Screven County, Georgia, Jan. 31, 1860, aged about 38 years …. joined M.E. Church in her 16th year at Binnaker's Campground in South Carolina. After the death of her husband two years ago she had the care of seven children..." 
From Marriage & Death Notices, Southern Christian Advocate, (in Brent Holcomb, Vol 1, 1837-1860... 
(Mrs. Lucy Lee, a descendant of Sarah who lives in Sylvania, Ga, told me that Emaline Boykin was the oldest daughter of Sarah E. Boykin. Wesley Lee of Screven County, is her son or grandson. His children were Lucille Slater, J. W. Lee, Margaret Parker, and Evelyn, who married Willie D. Newton. Mother, (Floerl) knew these people as she was growing up. Zan )

Andrew Simpkins Enicks, 1831-? 
Sim Enicks was born in 1831. His father died when he was ten years old and his brother, William R. Enecks, became his guardian. In 1856 he was married to Julia Thigpen and living in Brooksvilie, Fla. In March of 1862 his address was Patriot, Fla. On June 21, 1862 he enrolled in the army at Bay Port, Fla for a period of three years or more and was assigned to 1 Corp Co. C, 6 Battalion Florida Infantry (age 32). In 1863 he was "detached to Capt McKay". June 25, 1864, from Brooksville, Fla., he wrote, 
" Dear Mother, This will inform you that I am well and hope to find you all the same. My company has gone to Virginia but I am detailed to stay here and hunt beef cattle for the government and won't have to go off with them. Julia and all the negroes are well and doing well. You must write to me, direct your letter to Brooksville, Fla, don't put the name of my company as it might go to Virginia. I will write to you again soon. You must write soon to me A.S. Enecks 
." Andrew Simpkins, whom your father and aunties know well, because he lived out there with them a good long while, and finally after a good long life of idleness and waste and worry and trouble to his mother, and others too, married a Miss Julia Thigpen, and at last got away down somewhere among her people, I think, and there died and left one son, whom we used to hear from occasionally, but latterly have heard nothing whatever. 
Poor old Uncle Sim, he was a complete failure in every respect except a good kind heart, and did love his people, and I would so much like to have known where, and when, and how he died, and been near him to put my hand in his and loved and comforted him a little. He was mighty fond of my mother and her children, because she never chided, and was ever kind and gentle with him. And so did he love "Brother William" as he called my father, but the latter's patience and forbearance was so taxed at times that he could not refrain from remonstrance and reproof. But oh my, there are many just such in this big world, and some mother or some one else loves them, and I know God does, for He made them and knows better how to pity and have mercy." 
From Kate Enecks letter to S. W. Bradley, 1902 --- 

Catherine (Kate) Eliza Enecks, 1842-1922 
"Kate was the neighborhood oracle; her wisdom, her kindness, her gentle counsel, never failed, and back of her stood her family, a solid phalanx of uprightness and godliness, whose influence in that county shall never die …..  Kate and Mollie made their own clothes, dresses much like the popular dirndl of today, straight, tight little bodices sewed on to full circular skirts. They saved their basting threads and used them again and again. Their summer dresses were made of unbleached homespun, buttoned with little pearl buttons. The button holes were miracles of beauty……  When Sherman himself had ridden down that road, Kate Enecks, a slender, lively girl, stood boldly by the road to watch him pass; he called her to him and gave her his broken guitar. She treasured it until she died; wrapped in faded silk, it found a place in her attic ……….Miss Kate was post-mistress; the post office was in her own dining room……….. I am the proud owner of Kate's famous scrap book, given me by young Tom before he died two or three years ago" 
Excerpt from letter by Kate Laffitte published in Sylvania Telephone,1939 

William Weightman (Billy) Enecks, 1844-1916 
William Wightman Enecks, the oldest son of W. R. and Mary Oswald Enecks, fought in the Civil War and letters he wrote home from the front are still preserved. He was wounded and the story is told that when he returned home and his uniform was removed, it was so stiff with blood that the pants stood alone. He married his first cousin, Melissa Independence Enicks, from Barnwell District, SC. Soon after their son was born, Thomas Llewellyn Enecks 2nd, Melissa died and Uncle Billy later married Anna Jane Rahn of Springfield, Effingham Co. Ga. and they had two children that died as infants and one daughter, Lucie. 
A note written by mother (Floerl) states that Billy was too young to enlist for the Civil War, but did so anyway. (He was 17 in 1861.) The Roster of Confederate Soldiers of Ga, Vol. III, lists him as a private, May 9, 1862, surrendered, Greensboro, N.C. on Apr. 26, 1865. Brown Light Infantry (I never heard of his being a prisoner, and I think he was relieved from duty by the volunteering of his younger brother, Bob, before 1965.) 
Several letters Billy wrote home while at war are preserved in the Archives Library at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, and I have copies. There is also correspondence concerning arrangements for Bob to take his place so that he could come home, of which I have copies. Zan 

Robert Gilmore Sims Enecks, 1846-1907 
Uncle Bob signed his name R. S. Enecks. He died at Parkview Sanatorium in Savannah in 1907, the first of the six brothers and sisters to die. He remained a bachelor all his life. The story is told that he was to be married but on his wedding day his sister Kate became so emotionally upset that he cancelled the wedding and never married. He fought in the Confederate Army. He died without any debts and did not leave a will, but left a paper witnessed by brothers and sisters disposing of his property, as follows: 
To Will and, 310 acres known as the Roberts or Ferry Land; to John Fulford, --_? land west of Augusta Road; to Kathleen and Dorothy, 265 acres known as Chase Land; to Robert S. Enecks_____ ?the Smith Land, also, his interest in homestead; to Lucy, his silverware; to his sisters, all his possessions other than land. 
Kate Laffitte said of him, "Bob wrote the Enecks column for the county paper and, to all his clan, his column was a miracle of erudition and style." 
Letters I have read written to Bob from Tom Enecks, a nephew, and Helen Enecks, a niece, indicate that he was especially loved by all of his nieces and nephews. Zan 

Mary (Mollie) Enecks 1847-1909 
"Miss Mary Enecks was born in Barnwell District, SC, Dec. 2, 1847, and died in Screven Co. Ga Dec. 13, 1909. She was baptized by W. C. Kirkland of the South Carolina Conference, in 1848. She joined the Methodist Church under the ministry of N. D. Morehouse of the South Georgia Conference in 1899. One who knew her as no one else said: "From that day on, she never faltered or fell back a single step, but went faithfully and steadily on to the perfecting of all the graces of the Christian religion and all other qualities that go to make up an admirable and honorable womanhood." 
"Religiously trained, she very early in life imbibed the principles of our holy religion. Her love for God and religion began when scarcely beyond her babyhood. She was a most amiable character, the embodiment of kindness. 
"Nineteen months before she left, it was known by her and her relatives that she was surely and inevitably slipping away. The writer never knew a more patient sufferer. She talked of death as one would of going on a visit to friends and loved ones. A month before her death, she said, "Come to see us when you get back form Conference, but I may be in heaven before that time." When I saw her again, she seemed to be unconscious, but she recognized my presence, spoke to me, and requested that we pray together, and there with a number of friends and relatives we bowed and prayed with the dying saint. In a few hours her happy spirit left us. We buried her remains in the family cemetery near the old home. She leaves three brothers and one sister, who are looking forward with faith in God, to a happy meeting in heaven. T. I. Neace 
From The Southern Christian Advocate, Vol 74 Feb. 25, 1910 
Mary Enecks had two nicknames-- "Mollie" and "Dahl" She signed her name Mary. Her sister and brothers called her Mollie and her nieces and nephews said" Aunt Dahl" 
"Kate and Mollie made their own clothes, dresses much like the popular dirndl of today, straight, tight little bodices sewed on to full circular skirts. They saved their basting threads and used them again and again. Their summer dresses were made of unbleached homespun, buttoned with little pearl buttons. The button holes were miracles of beauty………….
………… On the big road, a little to the right of the big house, was a family graveyard, with its simple stones of granite or marble, and among them, one to the memory of Mollie's Yankee sweetheart, a soldier found wounded by the road-side after Sherman had passed that way, and whom she had nursed and tended until he died, adoring her." 
Excerpt from letter by Kate Laffitte published in Sylvania Telephone,1939 

James Osgood Andrew Enecks, 1851-1923 
J.O.A. Enecks was born in Barnwell District, SC, the seventh child of William Robert and Mary Enecks. They named him for a Methodist Bishop, James Osgood Andrew. When he was seven years old, he moved with his family from South Carolina to Screven County, Georgia, near the small town of Newington. The Civil War began three years later, and his two older brothers went away to war. He barely escaped the war, being 14 years old when it ended in 1965. He stayed at home and, no doubt, worked very hard to help his family manage the plantation. Although he was too young to fight, his life was changed forever by the war. Expectations of living the traditional plantation life in the manner of his ancestors were gone with the wind. 
Life was very hard in the aftermath of the war and the family struggled to produce enough food, but managed to hold on to the land. By 1880, at age 29, he could afford to "take a wife" and he married Anna Sarah Christie, daughter of Robert Christie of Effingham County, Georgia. The biggest influence by far in the life of the Enecks children was religion and the Church. So it was natural that they often went south along the old Augusta-Savannah dirt road to Effingham County to attend Springfield campmeeting. My mother thought it was there that Colonel and Anna met. As a young man J.O.A. was known as "Dude" and later everyone called him Colonel.     Zan 
"As my father carried the mail on what was known as a Star Route then, and he was also county road commissioner, he was away from home many days in the year. I remember hearing the older ones tell how on one of his long trips over the county (Screven County) on a cold winter day, he nearly froze in the open "road cart" he rode in, driving his loved buggy horse, Shelly. Shelly was a red mare, gentle, and could maintain a gait of six miles an hour for a full day's travel. On this extremely cold day, when he and Shelly came into the side entrance to our yard, my father was so nearly frozen that he had to be lifted out of the cart and taken into the house. He was put in a chair in front of the open fire where "back logs" and fat light-wood pine knots were used as fuel. His socks were burned before anyone realized what was happening. The frost bite that resulted from that day's ride cause him to suffer with aching feet for the rest of his life." 
(From memory of Floerl Enecks Smith) 
"Colonel carried the mail, fifteen miles to the county seat and back, in a little two-wheeled sulky." 
(Kate Laffitte) 

When Colonel’s first wife died in childbirth in1892, he married her sister, Irene Louisa Christie.  They had one daughter, Floerl.  Irene died in 1898 and later he married Lena Bryan.  They had five children—Elizabeth, Roberta, LeGrand, Bryan and Jarrell.

Anna Sarah Christie Enecks, 1853-1892 
Anna was the daughter of Julia Weitman and Robert Christie who lived in Effingham County. Her mother, Julia, was a direct descendant of Salzburgers who arrived in Georgia in the 1740s and had lived in the area continuously from that time. Her father's ancestors came from Scotland. He owned a sawmill and made his living cutting timber. Anna married J.O.A Enecks in 1880, age 27. She was married 12 years, had three children, and died in 1892 at the age of 39. 

Irene Louisa Christie Enecks, 1855-1898 
Mrs. Irene L. Enecks, nee Christie, was born April 3, 1855, in Effingham County, Ga., and died at her home in Enecks, Screven County, Ga., September 7, 1898. She was happily married to J.O.A. Enecks, November 13, 1892. She was converted and united with the M.E. Church, South, under the pastorate of Rev. J. S. Jordan, August 12, 1875, of which she remained a faithful and consistent member until she departed to join the triumphant church above.. A most unselfish Christian, she lived to help and bless others. She administered to others "in the name of a disciple" and has gone to receive the reward of a disciple. She leaves a devoted husband, one child of her own, three stepchildren, other relatives, and many friends who miss her much here, but they expect after a while to join her in the eternal home of the good. 
J. B. Griner- Wesleyan Christian Advocate Oct. 12, 1898 
Since her sister, Anna had married Colonel Enecks in 1880, Irene had spent much time in their home helping take care of the babies. When Anna died in 1892 she was by her side and promised that she would take care of the three children. Later that year she wrote a letter to her brother, Cuthbert Christie, in Savannah?? which reveals how difficult she was finding it to keep her promise. For the sake of appearances, it was necessary to find a chaperone to stay in the Enecks home.. For this reason, at least in part, Irene agreed to marry Colonel only four months after Anna died. She wrote  letter below to her brother, Cuthbert, explaining this situation.  Zan 
Enecks, Oct 11, 1892 
My dear Cuthbert and Carrie, 
Please do not think hard of me for not answering you before this. I suppose You know that I am with the children again. Helen taken fever and was real sick. Col. telegraphed for me to come, that he would meet me at Oliver, so we came through Macon instead of Savannah. May is staying this week with me. When she goes back I am going for Ida Parson. She will stay as long as I want her to. 
Dear Cuthbert and Carrie, I promised sister Anna more than once before she was taken sick that I would stay with the children and raise them if anything happened to her. It was really her request then and after she got so low that no one could understand what she wanted to say. I heard her say "hear?? to sister" so many times but could not understand what she was saying. I guessed one request was for me to be with the children, so I promised her that I would stay and raise them. That was the last thing that was said or promised her. 
Now, what do you think of my marrying Col. I am sure that he will be kind and do for me all that he can. He is going to Savannah next Thursday 1 3 on the South Bound and is anxious to see you. If he gets through, will come back that evening, if not, will come out on the boat next day. Please write me soon. col's father is very anxious for him to be married at his house as he is too feeble to go to Savannah, where I would like it to be with you if you did not object, and I do not think you would. 
When May goes back I'm going to send for Frank to come up here. I have not time to write any more. My love to all of you and Mrs. Hattie and your mother. Lovingly, Irene 
This letter was written in October and one month later, Nov. 12, 1892, she and Colonel were married. She was 37 years old. Their only child, Anna Floerl Enecks, was born a year later, Oct. 16, 1893. Irene died five years later at the age of 43. Zan 
The 1880 census shows that Irene Christie, white female, teaches school, age 24, born, Ga, boarder in household of Benjamin A. Porter family. 

Lena Elizabeth Bryan Enecks, 1870-1947 
Mrs. Lena Bryan Enecks, 75, wife of the late J. O. A. Enecks, died yesterday morning in an Atlanta hospital after a long illness. Mrs. Enecks was born in Screven County, where she lived most of her life. For the past few years she has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. George Conley of Reidsville. 
She is survived by three daughters, Mrs. George Conley and Mrs. J. M. Smith of Reidsville and Miss Elizabeth Enecks of Miami, Fla; three sons, Jarrell Enecks of Newington, Wm. R. Enecks of Rockyford and J. O. Enecks of Savannah; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Blount and Mrs. J. W. Edwards of Savannah. Funeral services will be held at the graveside in the Enecks family cemetery near Newington at 2 p.m. today, with the Rev. J. Loy Scott, pastor Garden City Methodist Church, Savannah, officiating. Wall Funeral Home of Sylvania is in charge of arrangements. 

Thomas Jefferson (Page) Enecks, 1852-1929 
He was listed in 1910 census of GMD 1676 as living in household #91 - head of house, Catherine Enecks
The paragraph  below was taken from a  column, submitted to the Sylvania Telephone by Kate Enecks, a friend of the family.
"The last of the older set of the Enecks family passed away in the death of Mr. T .J. (Page) Enecks last week at his home near Newington. They have been a notable family in our county--pioneers in a sense, and all of them honest and God-fearing men. They had their peculiarities as a family--they were all fond of talking and good conversationalists, but among them all one trait stood out preeminently and was known to all, and that was that they never owed a man a cent that they did not pay. ……… And so this, the last of them, is gone after waiting patiently for many months and never dreading but looking gladly for the end to come. And to write of all of them as we have is to write of him, for they were all alike in honesty and righteousness. 

Thomas Llewellyn Enecks, 2nd 1873-1935 
"Mr. Thomas Llewellyn Enecks, one time a resident of Millen, more recently of Savannah, died last Thursday night at a Savannah hospital, following a few day's illness. He was born near Newington, Ga., sixty- one years ago and spent most of his life there in sight of where he was born. Reared in the days following the war, on one of the old time plantations amid luxury and refinement, he was a typical gentleman of the old school. He was a friend in the truest sense of the word and so long as he had a dollar no friend of his could be needy. 
"Surviving him are three children: Miss Kathleen Enecks, Mrs. Grady Marchman and Robert L. Enecks, all of Savannah, and two grandchildren, Llewellyn and Thomas Marchman. 
"Funeral services were held at the Baptist church near Newington with interment in the cemetery close by where his wife was buried. Services were conducted by his Millan pastor, the Rev. H. E. Stipe, who paid a beautiful tribute to him." The Millen News, February 21, 1836 

"We were saddened last week when the news reached us that our good friend, Mr. T. L. Enecks, had passed away in Savannah. When he lived in Millen he rarely missed a day coming to the office to see us; when he left we missed his visits for he always brought with him an atmosphere of gentleness and sweetness, of courtesy and kindness and, with all, he had a rare conception of the finer things of life. His was a soul attuned with God, but in sympathy with man. Some months ago he said one day that there were a number of things that he wanted to tell me so that when he passed on I might write something about him.. He failed to tell me the things that he wanted to tell me but he told me during the years of our acquaintance enough that I need know nothing else to be able to say that I never knew a finer gentleman. I wish that I were gifted enough to pay him the tribute he deserves, for his presence was an inspiration and his prayers a benediction. A friend has preceded us; his place will not be filled, but his passing was just a happy exchange from this world, where change we battle, for existence in that peaceful home over there 
"All that remains for me to say to my friend is goodbye, as we have so often said in the days that are gone, not to return, but thou hast but wrapped thy mantle around thee and taken thy light to shine amid the stars while we remain to work and struggle, that our light, too, may some day be bright enough to join the light that shines forever. Associate editor, Millen News 

Mary Helen Enecks Laffitte. 1881-1913 
Mary Helen Enecks was born Dec. 16, 1 881 in Screven County, Georgia, the first born child of J.O.A. (Colonel) and Anna Christie Enecks. Their home was in the Enecks community within sight of the home in which Colonel grew up, and in which Helen's grandfather, two aunts and two uncles still lived. The only other grandchild, Tom Enecks, was already eight years old, so Helen, as a baby, was the center of a great deal of loving attention. However, life would not be easy for this little girl. Her mother died when she was eleven and six years later her beloved "Auntie", Irene Christie Enecks, who was also her stepmother, died, leaving Helen with three younger brothers and sisters, Will, Osgood and Floerl, to care for. 
We have a copy of an eight page letter that Helen wrote to her Uncle Bob (R.S. Enecks) when she was attending Winthrope College at Rockhill, SC. in 1897. She lived in dormitory room 24 on the third floor. Her handwriting is bold, even, and clearly legible. At the time she wrote the letter the school was in turmoil. She said  "Julian Johnson went to Atlanta and caught smallpox at a circus. The girls have been and are perfectly wild".  She goes on to describe the panic, as telegrams fly and fathers come for their daughters and efforts are made to close the school for two weeks and other efforts made to keep it open.  Finally a quarantine is declared and all the girls are vaccinated, more than 165. Other subjects she wrote about were Bob's recent trip to Savannah, where he "saw all the preachers" -- evidently he attended a Methodist annual Conference, because she goes on to discuss appointments;  the fact that Kate has "changed her mind" about wearing black and not leaving home for six months after a parent died; lectures she has attended which Uncle Bob would have enjoyed;  examinations coming up;  disappointment that Tom has not written her to describe his trip;  that if school had closed she would have "boarded downtown" until it opened again; that she is reading Thackery and likes it very much;  that she has an actress as a friend, a catholic and "a tender-hearted girl though a little fast";  that Christmas is coming and she will be lonesome as she can't go home.  She mentions Auntie (my grandmother Irene) and her father, (spelled "Poppa)" 
This letter, written in December of 1897, three days before her sixteenth birthday, shows Helen, even though so young, to be a self-assured and intelligent young lady, very articulate and with an excellent command of language. It also shows that she loves her many relatives and is interested in people, opinions and ideas. We . have no record of how long she was at Winthrope but most likely she left when "Auntie" died in September of 1898 and went home to help her father with the three children. She took loving care of my mother, Floerl, who became five years old in October of that year, and as Floerl grew older, continued to watch over her as if she were her own child. 
The only other example of her writing that has been saved that I know of is a note written to Aunt Kate when Helen's children were small. It was written on the backs of four checks and mentions a Jones family in Bladen N.C., probably Enecks ancestors, of interest to both her and Kate. 
It would be so nice to have more details about her courtship and marriage. She did not marry until after her father had married again. In 1905 she married Gordon Bowie Laffitte, who lived in Screven County several miles north of the Enecks community. Gordon's father was Charles Atkins Laffitte and his mother was Martha Boston Laffitte. The old Laffitte home, at Poor Robin Cross Road, on the Augusta-Savannah Road, was a fine two story house built high off the ground and put together with wooden pegs. The front part of the house had five large rooms plus the entrance hall and an open upstairs, and was entirely separate from the kitchen and dining room. Later, the two sections were joined by a "dog trot". 
Helen and Gordon first lived in a small house about one-fourth mile south of his parents home, then built a house with four big rooms with a hall down the middle and a big front porch, across the road from the old home. The family went to church at Buck Creek Methodist Church about 4 miles north of the home. Jackson Baptist church was about 2 miles north on Savannah-Augusta Road. This was also the site of the school the Laffitte children attended, a two-room building named Jackson School. 
Charles Laffitte, Gordon's father, was a large landowner but did not own slaves. His leg was crippled for some reason forgotten. (These notes were given to me from the memory of two of Helen's daughters, Christie and Sydnor.) Charles died first, leaving his wife a widow. One of Gordon's brothers, Tucker Laffitte, took her to live with him at Estell, SC, even though she did not want to go. 
Helen and Gordon had four children, Sydnor, Mary, Hawley and Christie. They would often hitch up the horses and drive "down the road" to visit the old Enecks home where Helen's aunts and uncles still lived, and her father's home, where he and Lena lived with their children, who were near the age of Helen's own children. Then in 1913, Helen died in childbirth, when her youngest, Christie, was just one year old. Helen's brother, Will Enecks, newly married to Marion Smith, lived across the road from the Laffittes and Osgood and Floerl lived with them. Will is listed in 1910 census of GMD 1676, Screven Co., Ga, as head of household #123, 26 years old, wife, Marion, 18; brother, James 0 Enecks, 23; sister. Floerl, 16. Together, they were able to help Gordon with the children. Floerl, nineteen years old, took over most of their care until Gordon married his second wife, Ola Lester. So Floerl, in turn became" Auntie" to four motherless children and to the end of their lives all four continued to think of her as their second mother. 
Recorded by Zan in 1984 from conversations with Sydnor and Christie Laffitte 

"Fading away like the stars of the morning, 
Losing their light in the glorious sun 
Thus would we pass from the earth and its tailings 
Only remembered by what we have done" 
"If the above be true, then the subject of this sketch will be remembered for the accomplishments of tasks so very difficult that I have often wondered if she did not wish to lay her burden down. Bereft of her mother when quite young--during the tenderest years of her life, when she needed mother so much, there came into her young life this greatest of sorrows "But the Healer was there pouring balm on her heart" and in a short while gave to her " Auntie"  for a step-mother. Auntie was so kind and gentle and companionable, that the little grief stricken heart was soon soothed from its grief. 
"It was not long, however, before Auntie slipped away to find treasures new; and Auntie left a little girl, the tender care of whom was left to the twice made orphan. Helen loved "Auntie's girl", and by her tender ministrations to the little sister and her little brothers, they became her very own precious darlings. None knew but those who loved her best, how she struggled along with all the vim and energy and strength she had for their happiness and welfare. It would have been a task worthy of the efforts of one more mature than Helen, but never for one moment did she falter or complain. When I think of the conditions that confronted her, and how bravely she struggled through, I wish that I was capable of paying the high tribute she so richly deserves. 
"She grew into a modest, refined lady, endowed with more than ordinary gifts, and through the trying years which she had passed, she measured up to the full stature of competent glorious womanhood. Another step-mother-a gift from God-- came into the home and the day she was to come to bless and brighten it with her presence, Helen devoted to glad preparation for her coming. 
"Not very long afterwards there came into her life a joy unspeakable, she was married to Gordon B. Laffitte, of whom she was very fond. She liked to tell me what a good husband she had found--"Gordon is so good to me". The union was blessed with four bright children--the youngest about ten months of age. How sad she must have felt to leave Gordon and the babies! But one Sabbath evening, "Mother kissed her in her dream" and she went to heaven--"There'lI be no sorrow there". She sleeps in a "grave on the green hill side" near mother and auntie in the Enecks cemetery. 
"Helen was a member of the Methodist Church, which she loved, and she lived up to its doctrines and ordinances--a faithful little woman. "Auntie's little girl" has assumed the great responsibility of caring for the motherless children--this will be a labor of love, for sister walked that way in days gone by. May the bereaved ones be as ready as was Helen. when the "Messenger" comes." 
'They too must come to the riverside, they are nearer its waters each eventide: 
But Jesus will point out the bright silver strand, and lead them through storms to peaceful lands.' 
The author of the above is unknown, but evidently it was written by one who knew Helen well and loved her, possibly one or her aunts or Uncles or perhaps her Cousin Tom. 

Gordon Bowie Laffitte,1876-1966 
"Funeral services for Mr. Laffitte will be held 11 a.m Thursday at the Buck Creek Methodist Church with interment in the Enecks Cemetery in Screven County. Officiating ministers will be Rev. John Taylor assisted by Rev. M. T. Gunter. Active pallbearers are Dr. H. L. Laffitte, Dr. Tucker Laffitte, Charlie Laffitte, Montague Laffitte, Fred Belcher, Emerson Mock, Othel Burns, Ed Bodiford." 

William Robert Enecks 2nd, 1884-1956 
William Robert Enecks, 2nd, born April 14, 1884 in Screven County, Georgia, was the second born child of J.O.A. (Colonel) and Anna Christie Enecks. His parents home was in the Enecks community within sight of the home in which Colonel grew up, and in which Will's grandfather and great aunts and uncles still lived. His mother died when he was only eight years old and six years later his beloved "Auntie", Irene Christie Enecks, who was also his stepmother, died. Like his sister Helen, who was two years older, Will early developed a sense of responsibility for family which never left him, and he continued to do all in his power to counsel and support the younger members of his family, brothers and sisters as well as his own children. 
His daughters told me that when Will was15 years of age, he boarded one year at Springfield, Ga. to attend school. Then he went to Milledgeville, Ga. to attend GMC,~~ two years of high school and two years of college. 
Will married Marion Smith and they established a home in Screven County. He is listed in 1910 census of GMD 1676, Screven Co., Ga, as head of household #123, 26 years old, wife, Marion, 18; brother, James 0 Enecks, 23; sister. Floerl, 16. He and Osgood farmed together. For some years they lived across the road from the Laffittes and after their sister, Helen, died, Will and Marion and Floerl helped Gordon with the care of his children. Later Will and Marion moved to a home in Newington, where several of their children were born. In 1920 they moved to Rocky Ford, where Will carried a rural mail route, and they lived there until 1955. 
Statesboro, Ga. May 14~~ William Robert Enecks, 72, died Sunday in a Bullock County hospital after a long illness. Born at Newington, Georgia, he was a son of the late J.O.A. Enecks and the late Anna Christie Enecks. He went to Rocky ford in 1920 as a rural mail carrier, where he remained until 1955. . He retired as the result of ill health several years ago. He had resided at Statesboro for the past few months. He was a Mason and a member of the Statesboro Methodist Church. 
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Marian Smith Enecks of Statesboro; four daughters, Mrs. D. W. 
Cunningham of Pahokee, Fla. Mrs. Shelby Monroe and Mrs. Bill H. Simmons, Jr., of Statesboro; and Mrs. Robert F. Jenkins, Jr., of Munnerlyn; one son, Parnell Enecks of Charleston, SC; three sisters, Mrs. Floerl Enecks Smith of Ocilla, Mrs. Horton Penrose of Miami, Fla and Mrs. George Conley of Reidsville: one brother, Jarrell Enecks of Newington; 17 grandchildren, one great-grandson and several nieces and nephews. 
Masonic funeral services wi11 be held at 11 o'clock Tuesday morning at the graveside in Enecks Cemetery, near Newington, with the Rockyford Masonic Lodge in charge. 
Resolution In Memory of Brother Wm. Robert Enecks 
" Bro. Enecks was made a Mason in Newington Lodge #503 on Sept. 10, 19? and affiliated with Rockyford Lodge # 37 FVAM on Feb. 27, 1923. We acknowledge our debt of gratitude for our brother's life and devotion to duty and his service to Masonry. He was a Past Master of this lodge. We his brethren, will feel keenly the loss of our beloved brother. He was an upright citizen, a devoted husband and father, and a tried and true friend. We cherish his memory by living Masonry as was exemplified in the life of our brother. 
Therefore, be it resolved that a copy be sent to Sylvania Telephone for publication Respectfully submitted, George N. Thomas, T. M. Lee and J. B. Lee." 

Anna Floerl Enecks Smith 1893-1972 
When Floerl Enecks, my mother, was born Oct. 16, 1993, in Screven County, Georgia, she was welcomed by a loving family. The tiny dark-haired, dark-eyed baby girl was the only child born to her Mother, Irene. Her father, James, known as Colonel, already had three children, born of his marriage to Anna Sarah Christie, who was Irene's beloved older sister, and Irene loved them as if they were her own. Helen, the oldest, was only eleven years old when Floerl was born, Will was nine and Osgood was seven. To understand circumstances preceding Floerl ‘s birth, read "Enecks Stories, Colonel, Anna and Irene". 
The family lived in a large, white, clapboard house set in a grove of the biggest, tallest pine trees I ever saw. I was still a very young child when it burned, but I remember exactly how it looked. It faced the old red clay road which followed the Savannah river from Savannah to Augusta, and was less than a mile from the river. At this time parts of that road are still in use and still unpaved. Their home was one of five residences, all within a mile of each other, which made up the Enecks community. Down the road was the family cemetery. Uncle Billy's home (W,W, Enecks was the closest and, when I came along, it belonged to his daughter, Lucie Enecks Hodges. I remember looking up the huge pine trees which seemed to reach right into heaven as I walked on a small woods road from Grandfather's to I” Cousin Lucie's" house to visit her daughters Anna Belle, and Mary Lou, about my age. My main memory of that house was the vine-covered arch over a gate into the side yard. The only family group picture that we have of my grandfather with his brothers and sisters and their children was made in the front yard there. For a description of the neighborhood and buildings see “Enecks Stories, The Community." 
Floerl was born at home, as was the custom at that time. I have never heard, but I feel certain that her birth was attended by a doctor or midwife as well as one or more relatives, probably by Colonel's sister Kate or sister Mollie or by his brother Billy's wife Nana, all of whom lived close by. Irene's own mother, Julia Weitman Christie, had died in 1877. 
At my insistence, Mother once began, in later life, to write down some of her memories. The following paragraphs in her own words give an all too brief glimpse of her early years: 
“One day or night, I have never known which, on the 16th of October, 1893, I was born. They have told me that I was a very ugly, yellow morsel of humanity, that came into this world two months too early. I really do not remember much about the event but to my mother, father, sister Helen, and brothers, Will and Osgood, I think it was a right important occasion. The next four years and eleven months of my life were as happy as any little girl could wish for. I can remember sitting in my father's lap and listening to him sing to me as he would rock me to sleep, sitting on the long side porch onto which his and my mother's bedroom opened. He would also take me with him up the road that led to my Uncle Billy's and Nana's home where I spent so many happy hours of my life. He would take me on his back often (piggy-back, as he called it) and how close we were to each other then. If that closeness could only have continued through the rest of his life!   He would sing to me such songs as ”Froggie Went A-courting" and “My Grandmother lives on Yonder Little Green", as well as the old hymns.  Among his favorites were “Give Me the Old Time Religion", “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder" and “I am bound for the Promised Land." 
“As my father carried the mail on what was known as a Star Route then, and was also county road commissioner, he was away from home many days in the year. I remember hearing the older ones tell how on one of his long trips over the county (Screven County) on a cold winter day, he nearly froze in the open "road cart" he rode in, driving his loved buggy horse, Shelly. Shelly was a red mare, gentle, and could maintain a gait of six miles an hour for a full day's travel. On this extremely cold day, when he and Shelly came into the side entrance to our yard, my father was so nearly frozen that he had to be lifted out of the cart and taken into the house. He was put in a chair in front of the open fire where "back logs" and fat light-wood pine knots were used as fuel. His socks were burned before anyone realized what was happening. The frost bite that resulted from that day's ride cause him to suffer with aching feet for the rest of his life. 
"In those first four years of my life, I also remember how my Mother used to rock me in a low, armless rocking chair that always stayed on the small porch that connected the four back rooms of our home to the four front rooms. She would rock me and call me her "heart strings" . Among the few things I remember about her is that one day while I was in the kitchen while she was preparing dinner, she poured some milk into a saucer for the cat to drink. The milk spilled and she remarked that it was overflowing. I asked what overflowing meant. She then gave me a piece of plum pie which I took out to the porch to eat. I sat on the steps that led toward my grandfather's home and tried to eat my luscious pie but alas, the " 
Alas for us, her written record came to an end at that point. She had a special talent to make any story dramatic and funny, and if only she had written a full account of her life, it would have been a treasure to us. She loved to tell stories of her childhood and told the plum pie story to me more than once. So I can tell you that the cause of her distress was that a fighting rooster, of whom she was much afraid, came up the path and took her pie away! 
Floerl 's first years were spent in security in this home, rich with loving relatives, grounded in the Methodist religion, with friendly neighbors and a social life that centered in the churches of the community. To this was added the bounty of the vegetable and flower gardens, the farm animals, and the fish and game of woods and river. All of the Enecks men were huntsmen from an early age and with the Savannah River so near, were fishermen as well. 
But the idyllic early years changed abruptly when Floerl ‘s mother, who was carrying another child, died in September of 1898. Helen, who had been at Rock Hill South Carolina attending Winthrope College, took her place as "woman of the house" when she was not quite seventeen years old. will was fourteen, Osgood twelve, and Floerl almost five. Helen was a wonderful mother to her, with the help of several aunts, for the next four years. Colonel married Miss Lena Bryan, a school teacher, in 1902, and soon after that, Helen married Gordon Laffitte. The first child of 
Colonel's third marriage, Elizabeth, was born in 1903. Between then and 1914, when the youngest was born, Mother acquired five more brothers and sisters. They were Elizabeth, LeGrande, Berta, Bryan and Jarrell. So it was now Floerl ‘s turn to help take care of the younger ones. 
Mother's closest companion as she was growing up was her cousin, Lucie Enecks. Although Lucie was 12 years older, they enjoyed being together and mother loved her very much. Together they would roam the woods around their homes and back toward the river hunting sweet gum to chew and other treasures. Mother would often mention Lucie's mother, whom she called Nana, and I think she spent much of her time with Lucie and Nana. Mother told me that she and Lucie would go to "Aunt Kate's" to get milk, butter and other foods and would play in the red velvet upholstered carriage in the carriage house. Lucie's brother, Tom, had always lived in the old house with his grandfather and four single aunts and uncles. Tom was a very creative, artistic and witty person and had much influence on Floerl. 
My Aunt Elizabeth (or Lib, as we called her) told me some stories about Mother's teen age years. She said that Floerl had many good games with which to entertain the younger children. Lucie would spend the night with Floerl and all the young ones would come into their bedroom to let Floerl tell their fortune and tell them fairy stories, or make shadow figures with her hands that would talk. As the children grew older, they would often have parties at their house for the young people of the church and community. Lib told me that she and Berta and Floerl would divide the yard into thirds for sweeping, that they rotated household tasks, and worked well together. 
At various times the family employed governesses to live in the homes and teach the children, but I am not sure whether or not this was still occurring after Floerl reached school age. She told me many times about her teacher, Mrs. Smith, who was principal of Blue Springs school. She must have been a truly great teacher--she taught much more than the book lessons. All of the younger children attended this school, which was fairly typical of the rural South Georgia schools of the time. An old book which evaluated Georgia schools (name unknown) described it as follows: two class rooms, insufficiently lighted: no cloak rooms: one room only painted: building in good condition and well kept: value, $750: located in grove, unimproved: yards fenced and well-kept up: playgrounds small: school gardens: water at pump on grounds: two teachers: 7 grades: 56 pupils: no organized clubs: 24 weeks school year. A horse drawn cart or wagon would transport the children to school. 
After Helen married, Floerl spent much of her time in the Laffitte home. By 1906 she was boarding in the home of a friend of Helen in Sylvania to attend school there. I am not sure how long she stayed there, but not long enough to complete high school. She went back to live with Helen and help her with the four babies that were born to Helen and Gordon, beginning with Sydnor in 1906, Mary Page, 1908, Hawley, 1910 and Christie, 1912. When Floerl was about 16 she passed the teacher's certification exam and began teaching at Jackson school, walking about 2 miles each day from the home across the road from Helen and Gordon where she lived with her brothers Will and Osgood and Will’s wife Marion.. Written by Suzanne Smith Belcher 
To be continued 

James O. Enecks, 1886-1952 
Walterboro, S..C., May 16, 1952 James Osgood Enecks, 66, of Cottageville, S.C., died at the Colleton County Hospital early this morning after a long illness. 
A native of Screven County, Georgia, he was the son of the late Col. J. O. A. Enecks and Mrs. Anna Christie Enecks. He was a retired lumber dealer and a member of the Newington, Ga., Methodist Church. He had moved to Cottageville several years ago from Newington. 
Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Patty Addison Enecks, Cottageville; one son, Robert Enecks, Savannah; three daughters, Mrs. Brooker Kemp, Savannah, Mrs. Corley Rahn, Springfield, and Mrs. George Lang, Anchorage, Alaska; two brothers, W. R. Enecks, Rocky Ford, and Jarrell Enecks, Newington; three sisters, Mrs. Floerl Smith, Savannah, Mrs. Elizabeth Penrose, Miami, and Mrs. George Conley, Reidsville, and a number of nieces and nephews. 
Funeral services will be held tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock at the Fred Parker Funeral Home Chapel in Walterboro. Rites will be conducted by the Rev. Kenneth C. Davis and the Rev. W. R. Brown. Burial will be in the Enecks family cemetery in Newington. A committal service will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 0' clock at the cemetery. 

Kathleen Enecks 
Miss A. Kathleen Enecks, 78, of 8704 Hurst Ave., died Saturday at St. Joseph's Hospital after a long illness. The Screven County native had lived in Savannah most of her life and was a member of Grace United Methodist Church. 
Surviving are a sister, Mrs. Dorothy Enecks Marchman of Savannah; a niece, Mrs. Mary Llewellyn Snyder of Mechanicsburg, Ind; a nephew, Thomas A. Marchman of Savannah; and several grandnieces and grandnephews. 
Graveside services: 2 pm Monday in Greenwich Section of Bonaventure Cemetery. Fox and Weeks 
Funeral Home. Obituary, probably Savannah Morning News 

Marion Smith Enecks, 1892-1973 
December, 1973 "Mrs. Marion Enecks, 81, died Monday night in Pahokee, Fla. after a long illness. She was a resident of Pahokee and a former resident of Statesboro and Rocky Ford. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Pahokee. Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. D. W. Cunningham of Pahokee, Mrs. S. H. Monroe of Valdosta, Mrs. Bill H. Simmons of Statesboro and R. F. Jenkins, Jr., of Waynesboro; three brothers, W. D. Smith of Waycross, H. O. Smith of Birmingham, Ala, And E. N. Parnell of Lake Placid, Fla; 17 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. 
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Enecks Cemetery. Barnes Funeral Home of Statesboro is in charge. " 
Pahoke or Statesboro Newspaper? 
OAR Marker Is Placed on Mrs. Enecks' Grave-- 
"An official insignia OAR marker was placed at the grave of Mrs. W. R. Enecks on Sunday afternoon, April 20, 3:00 PM at Enecks cemetery near Newington Following the opening Ritual, personal tributes were given by Mrs. Walton D. Smith of Lymen Hall Chapter OAR, Mrs.W. G. Townsend of Waycross, a cousin, and Mrs. Elizabeth Penrose Enecks, a sister-in-law. Mrs. Smith said, "Marion Smith Enecks was born April 21, 1892, in Screven County, Georgia. She was the daughter of Oswell Bones Smith and Walton Katherine Archer Smith; the granddaughter of David Isaiah Archer and Sarah Jane Hodges Archer of Screven County, and William Smith and Emma Eve Smith of Augusta, Georgia "In her tribute Mrs. Townsend told of the fine qualities she possessed, wonderful Christian and one who loved her family and home very dearly. Mrs. Penrose told of the early gjrlhood of Marion Smith, a sweet, lovely girl, who was always the center of attraction because of her beauty and her talent in music. She also told of the courtship and marriage of Marion and will, a beautiful romance, which lived on and on until death parted them. She also spoke of the Christian home, with its daily family devotions, the love of a mother who controlled her children in a soft, quiet manner. The home was always opened to friends and particularly young people. 
"Mrs. Enecks daughters, Mrs.. William H. Simmons, Jr. of Statesboro and Mrs. Robert F. Jenkins, Jr., of Waynesboro were present, along with other family members and friends. Two other daughters, Mrs. David W. Cunningham of Pahokee, Florida and Mrs. Shelby H. Monroe of Valdosta were unable to attend. Her sons preceded her in death, Parnell, Walton Wightman, and Will R. Jr." 
Sylvania Telephone, May 1, 1973 
Dear People, 
We saluted a lovely, gracious lady today. It was bright and crisp-- the kind of morning I'm sure she had enjoyed many, many times. The drive over to Newington was beautiful-- some fields freshly ploughed, others bright green with new shoots of winter rye. Around the river the trees were heavy laden with moss. Several pecan orchards still held their green leaves, a sigh of a good crop next year, so they say. 
The cemetery was charming- no house or church in sight, many proud monuments to the Enecks who over the years had come to this place-- Laffitte, LeGrand and Rahn- made one think the Enecks had met and loved and married some French Hugenots. The old hollies were red with berries and the grounds were freshly raked. 
While the minister spoke his words a rooster crowed and a mother hen chucked to her young. It was a fitting day and an appropriate place for Mrs. Enecks.. 
All the Scotts send best love and all good wishes, Emily, 12'14'73 
Author unknown 

Arthur LeGrand Enecks, 1904-1927 
The death of Arthur LeGrand Enecks, which occurred at the hospital in Savannah June 2nd, brought sadness to the hearts of many friends in this county where he was so greatly esteemed. In the home circle, where he was not only son and brother, but looked to as guide and counselor as we", it leaves a vacancy that cannot be fitted. 
He had not yet reached his twenty-third birthday, and a bright and useful life seemed to stretch before him, when he was called from its activities. When the young die, then it is that the mystery of death seems greatest. We expect that. the old will pass away, for this is the way of nature--but we cannot understand why bright and useful young life should be taken from us, and then it is that rebellious thoughts rise up against those providences, as we are sometimes pleased to call them. But it is a consolatory thought that in God's eternal plan there is nothing lost--that each life is to fit into a plan somewhere in His universe~-that what to our eyes seems darkness, to Him is light--our sorrow, is happiness in some other sphere--what we call loss here, a gain in the great plan of the Father. As the poet has beautifully expressed it-- 
"That nothing walks with aimless feet, that not one life shall be destroyed, Or cast as rubbish to the void, when God hath made his pile complete." 
We do not know why the young are taken and the old live on, and to our finite minds the threads of fate seem tangled; but we know that the All Father doeth all things well and that He had a use for this boy or he would have been left to friends ~nd loved ones. 
LeGrand was a young man of high ideals and noble qualities. In the brief time that was vouchsafed him here, he had shown that, had he lived, he would have fulfilled the fond hopes of his mother and that his life would have been an honor to the memory of his good father who had passed on before him. On account of the death of his father, he was called upon early to assume the responsibilities of life and to meet those duties that do not usually come to boys of his age. But he met them well and manfully, and his mother and the young children trusted him for counsel and advice. The burden did not seem too heavy for him, and he would gladly have carried it on except that in the eternal plan he was called upon to lay it down. 
In the old Enecks cemetery, where his father and grandfather have slept in peace these many years, his young body was laid to rest, while his spirit has found a home in that green country, "Where falls no shadow, lies no stain, where those who meet shall part no more, and those long parted meet again" 
The funeral services were conducted by Rev. L. E. Pierce, while Rev. Thad Nease, life long friend of the family, spoke words of comfort and cheer over the young form even as he had over those, the noble ancestors around him, whose silent company he had joined. 
Sylvania Telephone or Southern Christian Advocate 
A. LeGrand Enecks of Oliver, died yesterday morning in a local hospital after an extended illness. Mr. Enecks was the son of the late J.O.A. Enecks. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Lena Enecks; a grandmother, Mrs. Ann Bryan; three sisters, Miss Elizabeth Enecks and Miss Roberta Enecks of Oliver, and Mrs. J. M. Smith of Manassas; four brothers, W.R. Enecks of Rocky Ford, J. O. Enecks of Newington, E. B. Enecks and Jarrell Enecks of Oliver. The remains will betaken by hearse to Oliver this morning, where funeral services and burial will be hald this afternoon at the residence at 3 o'clock. Rev. l. E. Pierce will conduct services. Burial wi" be in the family plot on the plantation. Pall bearers, B. C. Russell, Frank Smith, Victor Heath, Paul Pryor, Thomas W. Evans and John Edwards. Sipple Brothers will handle all arrangements. 

Mary Roberta Enecks Conley, 1906-1964 
"We, the members of the Woman's Society of Christian Service of the Shiloh Methodist Church, Reidsville, Georgia, were shocked and grieved to learn that our beloved member, Mrs. George Conley, was killed in an automobile accident on Sept. 30. In her passing we lost a devoted member and friend. 
"Mrs. Conley was the former Roberta Enecks, daughter of the late Lena Bryan and James Osgood Andrew Enecks of Screven County. She attended Andrew College, Cuthbert, Georgia, and Asbury College, Wilmore, Kentucky. She taught school in Tattnall County. There she was married and reared one daughter, Grace Conley Bland. 
"Early in life she joined the Methodist Church and was a member throughout her life. Her going leaves a real vacancy in her church and community as well as the woman's society. She ably filled many official positions in the church the society, and the Tattnall County Home Demonstration Council. She will be missed especially among the shut-ins, to whom she so often ministered. We pay tribute to her loyalty and benevolence. Her wit and wisdom are missed in all our work." 
Respectfully submitted by committee:, Mrs. Harry Wilkes, Mrs. Ernest Conley. ( Wesleyan Christian Advocate 
Reidsville-- Mrs. Mary Roberta E. Conley, 58, was killed in a head-on automobile accident near Reidsville Wednesday morning. 
A native of Screven County, she was a daughter of the late J. O. and Lena Bryan Enecks and was a member of the Shiloh Methodist Church. Survivors are her husbandj George Conley of Reidsville; a daughter, Mrs. Bobby Bland of Reidsville: Mrs. Floerl Smith of Nashville, Ga; a brother, Jarrell Enecks of Newington, and a grandchild. 
McCall-Trapnell Funeral Home of Reidsville is in charge. 

Ellis Bryan Enecks, 1910-1940 
Kildare, Ga. April 3-- Ellis Bryan Enecks, 29, who died in an Atlanta hospital yesterday, will be buried at the Enecks Cemetery near here after services at the grave Thursday afternoon. He succumbed to injuries received in an automobile accident last Thanksgiving Day. The son of the late J.O.A Enecks and Mrs. Lena Bryan Enecks, he had spent most of his life here, moving to Atlanta several years ago. 
Surviving besides his mother are three sister, Mrs. J.M. Smith and Mrs. George Conley of Reidsville and Miss Elizabeth Enecks of Blue Springs; and three brothers, Osgood Enecks, Savannah, Will Enecks, Rocky Ford, and Jarrell Enecks, Blue Springs. Services will be conducted by the pastor of Blue Springs Methodist Church, of which he was a member. 

Jarrell Enecks was the youngest child of J.O.A Enecks and. Lena Bryan Enecks, was born in 1914 in Screven County, Georgia  He never married and lived in  his home community near Newington, most of his life. He lived in Atlanta with his mother and siblings for a year or two as a teenager, but they returned to the homeplace where they lived until fire destroyed it.  In his last years he lived in Statesboro in an assisted living facility with his sister, Elizabeth Penrose.