Martha Caroline Hyer Worsham

Family of Thomas and Martha Hyer of Covington, Georgia

The pioneer Hyer families found in Orlando directories, histories, and census records were direct descendants of Thomas and Martha Hyer of Covington, Georgia.

The 1860 U.S. Census of Covington, Newton County, Georgia (NARA Series M653, Roll 133, Page 427) shows family of Thomas [Farr] Hyer – age 42, wife Martha [Caroline Stewart] – age 40, sons: W.S. [William Stewart] – age 17, E.F. [Emory Few] – age 15, Alex M [Alexander Means] – age 13, Th [Thomas] Goodrich – age 11, Edward H P [Henry Pringle] – age 9, Joseph S – age 7, Martha C [Caroline “Aunt Carrie”] – age 5, Joseph O A – age 1.

The 1870 U.S. Census of Covington, Newton County, Georgia (NARA Series M593, Roll 168, Page 67) shows family of Martha C, Hyer, widow – age 49, with children Thomas [Goodrich Hyer] – age 20, Edward P [Henry Pringle] – age 17, Joseph M [Michael] – age 15, Carrie [Martha Caroline] – age 12, and Robert L [Lee] – age 8.

The 1880 U.S. Census of Covington, Newton County, Georgia (NARA Series T9, Roll 160, ED 100, Sheet 94B, Page 2B) shoes the family of Martha C. Hyer age 59, daughter Carrie age 21, occupation: school teacher and son Robert Lee age 18, occupation: carpenter.

Thomas Farr Hyer Family Bible

Progeny Record of John Henry Hyer Charleston, S.C., Hatabel Hyer, 1971.

Offspring:

1.William Stewart Hyer
2.James Henry Spencer Hyer
3.Emory Few Hyer
4. Alexander Means Hyer[“Doc”]
5.Thomas Goodrich Hyer
6.Edward Pringle Hyer [“Pring”]
7.Joseph Michael Hyer
8.May Susannah Hyer
9.Martha Carolina Hyer[“Auntie”, “Carrie”]
10.James O. Andrew Hyer
11.Robert Lee Hyer[“R.L.”]

Martha Caroline Hyer “Auntie” “Aunt Carrie” Worsham was born 7 June 1858 in Covenington, Newton County, Georgia. She married John William Worsham around 1888. They had two daughters. Ethel Worsham was born 12 March 1890, maried Garfield Burton Rosse on 30 June 1920 and died on 4 November 1938. Ruth Worsham was born 29 August 1892 and never married.

Edward Pringle Hyer’s wife Josephine died 31 Mar 1903. Her death appears to the catalyst for the break up of their family. Letters written to Hatabel and Edna Hyer beginning on 16 September 1903 at Statesville Female College in Statesville, North Carolina indicate the two girls had just arrived at the school and that their 8 year old sister Mary Hyer and her 6 year old brother E.P. Jr. were living with Aunt Hennie, Uncle Bob, and cousin Lillian Hyer in Orlando. Other letters written in October 1903 indicate that Uncle Bob – R.L. Hyer – took E.P. Jr. to live with Aunt Carrie Hyer Worsham’s family in Covington, Georgia. Uncle Joe Hyer’s wife died in 1889, and the letters also mention that Estelle “Essie” Hyer is living with Aunt Carrie’s family.

The 1900 U.S. Census of Newton County, Georgia (NARA Series T623, Roll 214, ED 92, Sheet 20B, Page 253B), shows John Worsham age 43, occupation – railroad agent, Auntie Carrie age 41, daughters Ethel age 10, Ruth age 7 and 10 year old niece Estelle [Essie] Hyer.

Obituary – The Atlanta Constitution, 3 Mar 1904, p 2

Covington, GA Mar 2

Mrs. Carrie Hyer Worsham, wife of superintendent J. W. Worsham, of the Covington cotton mills, and one of the most prominent citizens of Covington, is in a precarious condition at her home in this city, the result of an accident which occurred to her at the Covington cotton factory just before noon today.

Mrs. Worsham was in the basement of the mill looking after the removal of her hot house flowers, which she had stored there during the winter. While stooping to remove a box from under some belting on the moving machinery her hair was suddenly caught up by the belting, which completely scalped her from her nose to the back of her neck. Her right arm was broken in several places, one finger badly mutilated. A little girl whom she had been assisting her in her work was powerless to render any aid except to give the alarm to the workmen in an adjoining apartment, who immediately stopped the machinery and ran her to rescue. When they reached her she was conscious of her awful situation, recognized her rescuers and told them of her injuries.

She was quickly carried to her home nearby, and physicians at once called in. The result of her injuries cannot be foretold, though little hope is entertained for her recovery. Mrs. Worsham has for a number of years been closely identified with religious and social life of the town.

Letters written to Hatabel Hyer and Edna Hyer at Statesville Female College reference her accident but never described the severity. These are Hatabel Hyer’s personal notes to the letters which were transcribed by her nephew Robert H. Newbanks in 1971.

Martha Caroline “Auntie, Aunt Carrie” Hyer Worsham- Mrs. James William Worsham. of Covington, Georgia; sister of Edward Pringle, Joseph, Alexander, and Robert Lee Hyer.

“Auntie was injured [2 March 1904] watering her plants in cotton mill basement – was scalped lost finger – 4 or 5 bones broken – died after nine months [23 Nov 1904]. Cousins Essie and Laulie Hyer gave skin for scalp grafting – none of which took.” –Hatabel Hyer

Obituary – The Atlanta Constitution Nov 24 1904

Covington Nov 23
Mrs. Carrie Hyer Worsham, wife of superintendent J. W. Worsham, of Covington cotton mills died at 2:30 o’clock this afternoon, after an illness lasting eight months. Mrs. Worsham, it will be remembered, was a victim of a frightful accident at the mills of which her husband is manager, on the 2d of last March. While removing some hot house flowers from the basement of the mill her hair was suddenly caught up by the shafting of the moving machinery, tearing the scalp completely from her head and inflicting other serious injuries about the body. She was unconscious for several days after the accident and for months was in precarious condition. The patient was attended by the best medical staff obtainable until complications took place a few days ago which caused death.

Mrs. Worsham was one of the best known and most widely beloved women in Covington. She is survived by her husband and two children, Ethel and Ruth, besides five brothers and numerous other relatives. Her brothers are Joseph, Robert, Pringle and Doc Hyer, of Orlando, Fla. and Thomas Hyer, of Atlanta.

Funeral services will be conducted at Midway Methodist church, Friday, by Rev. George W. Duval, the internment being in Oxford.

The 1910 U.S. Census of Newton County, Georgia (NARA Series T624, Roll 204, ED 138, Sheet 10B, Page 121B) shows John Worsham age 52, widowed, occupation – superintendant cotton mill and daughters Ruth age 17, and Ethel age 20.

* Family history created by Hatabel Hyer indicates Carrie’s date of death as Nov. 11, 1904 but based on obituaries in several papers, this appears to be incorrect.

VIEW IMAGES and DOCUMENTS below under Attachments.