Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - The Occupations of Your 2nd Great-Grandfathers

 From Randy (my cousin) over at Genea-Musings:

it's Saturday Night - 

time for more Genealogy Fun!!!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:

1)  Our ancestors had to work to support themselves and their families. Do you know what occupations your 2nd great-grandfathers had?  Tell us about them. If one intrigues or mystifies you, ask a free Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool to tell you more about the occupation in that place and time.

2) Tell us about the occupations of your 2nd great-grandfathers (and any AI created description of those occupations) in your own blog post, in a comment on this post, or in a Facebook post.  Please leave a link on this post if you write your own post.

Here's mine:

I went about answering this question by hand-drawing a spreadsheet with census years down the left side, and the names of my 2nd great-grandfathers across the top.  Then I checked every census each one would have been enumerated in after becoming an adult to the end of their life.  I filled in the squares with what the census listed as their occupation for each year.  So the census years ranged from 1850 - 1910.   

My eight 2nd great-grandfathers and their occupations are as follows:

    *  George Washington Tapley (1814-abt 1880), Georgia, occupations included blacksmith, carpenter, and farmer.

    *  Solomon Page Jr (1800-1860) was a farmer in Georgia.

    * James William Drake (1829-1908) from Georgia was a farmer most of his life until 1900 when he is listed as a Preacher. (Of course, he could have been doing both the whole time.)

    * William Robert Harrell (1838-1908), Georgia, was a farm hand, farmer, and a merchant.

*  James Madison "Jim" Tapley (1847-1912), Georgia, was a farmer most of his life. In his later years, he was a laborer on a farm.

    

* George W. Schwalls, Sr. (1837-1908), also from Georgia, was a farmer and then a day laborer in his later years.  Of course, he is missing on two censuses!

   

 * Comfort Ranney (1838-1920) was a farm laborer before he became a lumberman and ran a mill with his brother-in-law in Ohio.  Then during the last 30 years of his life, he was a farmer, first in Ohio and then in Michigan.

    *  Charles Kelso Carter (1843-1916) was a farm laborer and machinist in Ohio. Then he moved to Iowa and became a jeweler.  

Perhaps you have the same question that I did:  "What is the difference between a farmer, farm hand, and farm laborer?"  They sounded about the same to me.  However, ChatGPT educated me and explained why they are all very different.

My query:  "In the 19th century in south and middle Georgia, what was the difference between a farm laborer, a farm hand, and a farmer?"

ChatGPT replied:

In 19th-century South and Middle Georgia, the terms "farm laborer," "farm hand," and "farmer" had distinct meanings, reflecting social and economic differences:

1. Farmer:

• A farmer was typically the owner or manager of a farm.

• They usually owned the land and resources and made decisions about planting, harvesting, and managing livestock.

• Farmers could range from small subsistence farmers to large plantation owners.

• They often had a higher social standing compared to laborers and hands, especially if they were successful landowners.

2. Farm Hand:

• A farm hand was an employee who worked on a farm.

• They were typically hired laborers who lived either on the farm or nearby.

• Farm hands were usually paid wages or received room and board in exchange for their work.

• Their tasks were diverse, from plowing and planting to feeding livestock and performing general maintenance.

• Unlike laborers, farm hands were often semi-permanent workers and might work on the same farm for many years.

3. Farm Laborer:

• A farm laborer was generally a temporary or seasonal worker.

• They often performed manual, unskilled labor, such as picking cotton, harvesting crops, or clearing fields.

• Farm laborers could be tenant farmers, sharecroppers, freedmen, or migratory workers (especially after the Civil War).

• Laborers were typically paid by the day or task, and their employment was more unstable compared to farm hands.

• Socially, farm laborers were considered at the bottom of the rural economic ladder.

Key Differences:

• Ownership and Control: Farmers owned or managed the farm; farm hands were hired workers; laborers were often temporary or hired by the day.

• Stability: Farm hands had more stable and possibly longer-term employment than laborers.

• Social Status: Farmers held the highest status, followed by farm hands, then farm laborers.

• Economic Relationship: Farmers profited from production; farm hands earned steady wages; laborers were often paid per job or task.

In summary, the distinctions reflected both employment stability and social hierarchy, shaped by economic realities of the region, especially in the context of agricultural practices and labor systems of the time."

So I definitely learned some things about the social hierarchy of farming and my 2nd great-grandfathers doing this exercise!

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Did Your Ancestor Have a "Different" Occupation? Try "Sam the Digital Archivist" on ChatGPT

  From Randy (my cousin) over at Genea-Musings:

it's Saturday Night - 

time for more Genealogy Fun!!!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:

        1) Did one (or more) of your ancestors have a "different" occupation? If so, try to find out more about that occupation in Steve Little's "Sam the Digital Archivist" custom prompt using the free ChatGPT4 artificial intelligence tool.  Click on the "Exploring unique ancestral occupations?" button and tell "Sam" in the "Ask anything" box to define and/or describe the occupation.

       2)  Tell us about your ancestor's "different" occupation, and what "Sam" had to say about it in your own blog post, in a comment on this post, or in a Facebook post. Please leave a link on this post if you write your own post.

Here's mine:

I have been trying to avoid ChatGPT.  I don't know exactly why.  Perhaps it gives me a foreshadowing of machines taking over the world.  But now Randy has dragged me right to it, and you know what? I liked it!  

I didn't really have any drastically "different" occupations in my family tree.  Of course, another deficit has been highlighted in my research - I have not been collecting occupations from the census.  (Don't come for me; I will do better!) So I didn't have a huge pot to pull from, but I ran a few through "Sam" and the answers made me laugh out loud at times, but also learn some things.  

My prompt for "Sam the Digital Archivist" was "John Mullis Fields was a constable in Vidalia Georgia between 1917-1918.  What was he doing?"

"Sam" provided this information:

    Ah, so John Mullis Fields was a constable in Vidalia, Georgia, between 1917-1918? Well, that means     he was basically the small-town law—think "Old West sheriff" but with less horse-chasing and             more paperwork.

What Would a Constable Be Doing in 1917-1918?

1. Keeping the Peace – As a constable, Fields would have been responsible for handling local disturbances, breaking up bar fights, and making sure folks weren’t causing too much trouble. Small-town life didn’t mean small-town crime—especially during World War I, when tensions ran high.
2. Serving Warrants & Summons – He’d be the guy knocking on doors with legal documents, telling people they needed to show up in court. In some cases, he might have had to escort them there himself.
3. Prohibition-Related Enforcement – Georgia had already enacted statewide Prohibition in 1908 (a full decade before national Prohibition in 1920). That means Fields might have been dealing with illegal moonshine operations—because let’s be real, folks in rural Georgia weren’t just drinking sweet tea.
4. War-Time Duties – With the U.S. entering WWI in 1917, local law enforcement had additional responsibilities, including enforcing draft registration laws. If a young man in town tried dodging the draft, Fields might have had to go have a stern chat with him.
5. Enforcing Racial & Segregation Laws – Unfortunately, being a lawman in the Jim Crow South also meant upholding deeply discriminatory policies. If there were any racial tensions in Vidalia (which, given the era, was likely), Fields’ role would have been complicated and, in some cases, troubling.
6. Handling Livestock Problems – In rural Georgia, “law enforcement” often included rounding up escaped pigs, dealing with disputes over cattle, and stopping farmers from letting their livestock trample their neighbors’ crops. Less “crime-fighting,” more “animal control.”
7. Assisting the Sheriff – If Toombs County’s sheriff needed backup, Fields would have been one of the first on the scene, whether that meant pursuing criminals, transporting prisoners, or guarding the courthouse.
8. Tax Collection – Some constables had duties related to collecting unpaid taxes, which probably made them very unpopular around town.

 I really liked the way "Sam" gave specifics for Georgia and the era I was referencing.  Makes it so much more interesting to read!

I chose this occupation because I haven't heard the South or even the United States reference a constable.  To me a constable was in Canada.  We have police officers, police chiefs, sheriffs, and deputies.  So I was curious if there was a difference.  After searching Google, I found out that the difference is that constables enforced both criminal and civil laws whereas police officers enforce criminal and traffic laws.  

John Mullis Fields (1883-1957) was the husband of my 3rd cousin, 2x removed, Mayme Lorena Dukes (1886-1938).  She and I are related on the Tapley branch of my tree.  

After getting this information about a constable, I asked "Sam" to create a description of an image that would show John Mullis Fields as a successful constable.  Here is what "Sam" created:

   The scene is a bustling Main Street in Vidalia, Georgia, circa 1917, lined with brick storefronts, wooden sidewalks, and a few early automobiles parked alongside horse-drawn wagons. At the center of the image stands John Mullis Fields, a commanding yet approachable figure in his well-pressed dark uniform with a brass star-shaped badge pinned to his chest. His neatly combed hair and serious expression give off an air of quiet authority, though there’s a slight upturn at the corner of his mouth—suggesting he’s well-respected, not feared.

To his right, a group of townspeople—shopkeepers, farmers, and a few young boys in suspenders—watch as he speaks to a man, possibly settling a minor dispute. His leather belt carries a revolver and a baton, but his hands remain at ease, showing that his presence alone is enough to maintain order. Behind him, a wanted poster for a local moonshiner flutters on a wall, a reminder of Georgia’s prohibition era, a law he was sworn to enforce.

In the background, a 1910s-era courthouse stands proudly, symbolizing justice, while a telegram office and a general store hint at the town’s daily rhythms. Perhaps a newspaper headline in a storefront reads, "Constable Fields Thwarts Local Disturbance," further cementing his reputation.

This image captures John Mullis Fields in his prime—a steadfast, fair-handed constable who kept the peace in a growing Southern town, ensuring law and order with both wisdom and strength. 

Now I don't know if that describes John Fields at all, but it sure paints a flattering picture!

OK, after reading Randy's comment, I decided to go for it and see if ChatGP4 would help me out with an image.  It did and here you go:

He looks a lot like the speculator from Randy's post!  Must be a cousin! LOL.  But it's pretty good!

Workday Wednesday: My mother's career with the telephone company

In 1963, my mother was a 20-year-old "newlywed" living in Jacksonville, Florida.  Her cousin, Mary Ann, worked as an operator for Southern Bell and gave my mother an introductory card, which was a form of recruitment the company used in those days.  She went downtown and took all of the tests required for the job - spelling, writing, simple arithmetic - and did well.  Once she got a copy of her birth certificate from California and the company spoke with her husband - she would be working nights and they had to make sure that was alright with him - she began work in January 1963.

Her first job was as a long distance operator.  She worked split shifts:  10:30 am - 2 pm and then 7 pm - 1:30 am.  She took the bus, my father drove her to work, or she took the company taxi.  She did this for over two years. 

Then she became a Service Order Typist in the Assignment Office.  Her job was to run the tapes through and if there were any changes on the service order, she had to stop the tape and make the changes.  At the end of the tape, she had to put in information as to who did the installation, time of completion, and subscriber information.  She was in this job for only six months because she and my father then moved to Augusta, Georgia.

Mom transferred to Augusta as a Service Order Typist.  She started there the first week of October 1965.  She was in this position for about two years.  She had been promoted to Dispatch Clerk when she found out she was pregnant with me.  She took five months of maternity leave and when she returned to work, the company put her in a lower grade position.  Mom filed a grievance and won back her Dispatch Clerk position. 

She continued in that position for about two more years.  Since she was working six days a week with a lot of overtime, my father wanted her to put in for a position in the Business Office.  She got that position about 1969-70.

Then my father lost his job.  He wanted to move back to Jacksonville.  Mom got a transfer in October 1971.   She worked in the residential business office for two years.  That department put more and more emphasis on selling, which Mom didn't like, so she put in a request for business orders.  She worked there for approximately two years.

Then my father wanted to leave Jacksonville.  They considered moving to Swainsboro, Georgia next to my grandparents, and Mom even applied for a transfer to the closest business office in Dublin.  However, that plan was scrapped, and she had to rescind her transfer request.

In November of 1973, my grandparents passed away.  It soon became apparent that my grandmother's sister, who had been living with my grandparents, was unable to live on her own.  So my father and I moved to Swainsboro in August of 1975.  Mom came up every weekend from Jacksonville - a four hour drive each way.  She applied for a transfer to Dublin and it finally came through in April 1976.

The opening in Dublin was in the Engineering Department as an Engineering Clerk.  It was a 70 mile round trip.  She worked as an Engineering Clerk and then a Drafting Clerk (which was a higher grade) for four years.  Then she put in for the higher grade position of Engineering Assistant and because of her seniority within the company, she got the job.

The phone company broke apart in 1983, and Mom chose to go with BellSouth.  She was able to continue to work in Dublin as an Engineering Assistant until 1990 when the company closed the Dublin office.

Thus began the era of reshuttling/closing offices.  It happened every few years like clockwork.  The company would spend no telling how much refurbishing an office to turn around and close it in just a couple of years.

My parents had purchased a lot and built a house on Lake Sinclair in Milledgeville, Georgia.  So after the Dublin office closed, they moved there, and Mom transferred to Macon (another 70 mile or so round trip).  She worked there as an Engineering Assistant for almost five years when the company announced there would be changes in the Macon District.  All those who had worked in Dublin could either return there or transfer to Augusta.  If Mom had chosen to return to Dublin, she would have had to go back to being a Drafting Clerk (a lower grade job).  If she chose to transfer to Augusta, she would transfer as an Engineering Assistant and would work under someone she liked very much, Kathy Reese.  She chose Augusta, with my father's agreement, and they moved in 1995.

Mom (on the right) with Kathy at Mom's 40th anniversary recognition

In Augusta, Mom worked as a Subscriber Advocate in the SAC until she transferred to EWO when it moved from Atlanta to Augusta.  Then BellSouth did some redistricting AGAIN and moved the Augusta office across town, and Mom had to transfer back to SAC.  She worked there until 2007 when BellSouth closed that office.  Rather than transfer to Atlanta, Mom chose to retire.  She remained in the job bank for a year and officially retired in April of 2008.  She retired with 44 years of service to the telephone company.

Mom in her cubicle on Walton Way Ext in Augusta, right before she retired.

Workday Wednesday: Law Enforcement and Judicial System

 Since I now work with the Judicial System in North Carolina as a Deputy Clerk of Court, it occurred to me recently that several members of my family have served in law enforcement or the judicial system.  Can choice of career run in families?

James L. "Jim" Tapley, my grand uncle
 Deputy Sheriff, Johnson County, Georgia
    I don't know exactly how long Uncle Jim was a Deputy Sheriff, but at least from 1918-1930, probably longer.  I know he was a Deputy Sheriff in 1918 because he was mentioned in the FBI reports on his son, Gordon, when Gordon went AWOL during World War I.  Then in 1920, he ran for Johnson County Sheriff:

From "The Wrightsville Headlight," January 1, 1920

  He lists his occupation as "Deputy Sheriff" on the 1930 census.


Bentley Allen "B.A." Lampp, 1st cousin
  Deputy Sheriff, Jefferson County, Georgia

 

  B.A. retired as a Deputy Sheriff sometime before 1998.

 Gilbert Earl Tapley, my father
  Deputy Sheriff, Emanuel County, Georgia

Daddy became involved in law enforcement later in life.  When I was 18 and left for college, he joined the Sheriff's Department in Emanuel County as a prisoner transport deputy.  He enjoyed it immensely.  

 He was also an "honorary" Johnson County Deputy Sheriff:

James Thomas Drake, Great grand uncle
  Officer, Adrian Police Department, Adrian, Georgia

He was an officer for 25 years, retiring at the age of 80.

  Warden, Macon County Work Camp, 1910-1912

    - from The Wrightsville Headlight, Wrightsville, GA, Thursday, May 8, 1958, Centennial Edition, page 1.

Ellen Tapley Young, 2nd cousin
  Probate Judge, Washington County, Georgia

Ellen is Uncle Jim's granddaughter. 

George Washington Tapley, 2nd great-grandfather
  Magistrate and Justice of the Peace, Johnson County, Georgia

Patricia Tapley, 2nd cousin
  Clerk of Court, Johnson County, Georgia

Solomon Page,  2nd great-grandfather
  Judge, Inferior Court, Johnson County, Georgia, 1859
 
    - from The Wrightsville Headlight, Wrightsville, GA, Thursday, May 8, 1958, Centennial Edition.  Reprinted from the Johnson County Court Records dated May 5, 1859.

There are probably several more that I don't even know about!

Workday Wednesday: Gilbert Tapley

My father, Gilbert Tapley, held many different jobs during his lifetime. I believe the main reasons he changed jobs so much were (1) he was restless and (2) he had a hard time taking orders from a boss. He quit working when I was 6 years old, about 1973, and did not return to the workplace until I was 18, about 1985. So I had a stay-at-home-dad.

Here is a resume from about the mid 1960's that I found in his belongings:

As you can see, at different times in his life he was a: mechanic, truck driver, heavy equipment operator, self-employed businessman, and carpenter.

When I was born in 1967, he was working for the city of Augusta, Georgia. (I believe the above resume was prepared when he applied for the job there.) I am not sure of all the positions he held while there, but I do have newspaper articles chronicling his selection as one of the City's Custodians of Vote Recorders.



I also know that as a child and teenager, he was a farmhand; he worked at a mill when he was in his late teens; and in his later years, he was a sheriff's deputy in Emanuel County, Georgia. His job was transporting prisoners to court, medical appointments, or to other prison system facilities.

So my father wore many different hats in his lifetime. I think he did well enough for himself considering he only had a 7th grade education.

I think, like him, I crave different experiences. I, too, am restless. I "come by it honest"!