John Howell Westberry, Sr.

JOHN HOWELL WESTBERRY, SR

(MILTON THOMAS3, JOSIAH2, MOSES1) was born November 11, 1863 in Wayne Co, Georgia, and died March 16, 1949 in Sylvester, Georgia. He married (1) MINNIE OLA CORAM, daughter of TOM CORAM. She was born February 1871. He married (2) MARY LOU POLHILL 1904. She was born 1869, and died June 10, 1943.

Notes for JOHN HOWELL WESTBERRY, SR:
1910 Census, Worth Co, Georgia.
Howell Westberry, 44; Mary L., 40; Laura Lee, 20; Gladys, 18; Meryl, 15; Ida, 11; John Howell, Jr., 5.
1920 Census, Worth Co, Georgia.
J. H. Westberry, 56; Mary Lou, 52; Meryl, 24; Ida, 21; J. H., Jr, 17.

Josiah S. and John H. Westberry comprise the firm of J. S. Westberry & Bro., leading merchants of the town of Sylvester, Worth Co., Ga. Their father is Milton Westberry, a farmer and miller of the same county. Josiah S. was born Dec. 11, 1852, in Appling County, Ga. He received a very limited education on account of the chaotic condition of the country at the time when he should have been in school. He early evinced an aptitude for business, and in 1868 began the manufacture of naval stores in Worth County. This he continued with varying success until 1890, when he, in company with Daniel McGirt started a mercantile business at Polen. The following year he and his brother began the present mercantile business, since which time the firm has remained as above. Josiah S. married Miss Sarah C. McPhaul, and is the father of four children: Florien, Malcolm, Willie H. and Katie H. He is a member of Worth Lodge, No. 191, A.F.& A.M., and of Jesup chapter. John H. Westberry was born Nov. 11, 1863, in Wayne County, Ga. He began his business career as a clerk for W. H. McPhaul at Sylvester in 1883, and in 1891 became a member of the present firm. He married Miss Minnie, daughter of T. M. Coram of Worth County, and has two children: Louise L. and Gladys. He is also a member of Worth Lodge of Masons, of which he has been senior warden two years, and belongs also to the chapter at Tifton. The Westberry brothers are regarded as shrewd and careful business men, and are in every sense worthy members of the community in which they live.
( Published by The Southern Historical Press, 1895. )

The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Ga., June 13, 1895.
At Sylvester, the large two-story building of J. H. Westberry & Bro. Was unroofed and their stock of goods was somewhat damaged by the rain, which fell in torrents. Other farmers and fruit growers in the same neighborhood suffered severely. The storm had some of the features of a cyclone and did its worst damage in the path of a cyclone of ten years ago.

Children of JOHN WESTBERRY and MINNIE CORAM are:

i. LOUISE LOVELACE WESTBERRY, b. April 1889.

Notes for LOUISE LOVELACE WESTBERRY:
The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Ga., August 29, 1915.
Engagements. Westberry-Godwin. Mr. and Mrs. John Howell Westberry, of Sylvester, announce the engagement of their daughter, Lovelace Louise, to Mr. Columbus Barnes Godwin, the wedding to take place in October. No cards.

ii. GLADYS WESTBERRY, b. December 1891.

Notes for GLADYS WESTBERRY:
The Constitution, Atlanta, GA., Sunday, January 9, 1910.
Sylvester, GA.
Miss Gladys Westberry has returned to Cox college after spending the holidays at home. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Westberry, Miss Gladys Westberry and Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Polhill spent Sunday at Flint, Ga.

iii. MERYL WESTBERRY, b. October 1894.

iv. IDA WESTBERRY, b. June 1898.

v. JOHN HOWELL WESTBERRY, JR., b. March 08, 1901, Georgia; d. October 07, 1973, Worth Co, Georgia.

One thought on “John Howell Westberry, Sr.”

  1. A message I received from Mr. Bill Darrow wmdarrow@gmail.com

    Hello, my great great uncle W.A. Jones and his wife Edna C. Jones were close friends of Mr. and Mrs. Howell Westberry in Sylvester GA around 1900. The descendants of WA Jones and I have been looking for descendants of the Westberrys. In the 1930s, after the premature death of WA Jones, his wife Edna C. Jones left Sylvester (after living there some 40 years) and followed her four children to Florida. Edna died in Florida in 1956. We have found in “Grandma Jones’s” papers a note saying that she left of trunk of material, containing family photographs and records, with her friend, Mrs. Howell Westberry in Sylvester. I know this is a long shot, but our family is wondering if there is any chance some Jones material survives? Edna Jones was born Edna Cox McMillan in Salem, New York, so some materials may reference the McMillan family.
    Thanks, Bill Darrow in VT.

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