From "Memories of
Georgia, Vol II" Published by Southern Historical Association, c. 1895
Howell C. Standridge, ex-teacher and farmer, Hiawassee,
Towns Co., Ga., son of Henry B. and Satirah (
Kimsey)
Standridge, was born in what is now
White County,
Ga., in 1851. His paternal grandfather, Samuel
Standridge, was a native of
South Carolina, and was born about 1774. After his marriage he came to
Georgia and settled in what is now
White County - a pioneer - where he died in 1876. Mr. Standridge's father was born in
Habersham County in 1830, where he was reared a farmer, and where he married his wife - a daughter of the Rev. Thomas
Kimsey - by whom he had four children:
Howell C., the subject of this sketch; Junius H.; Martha C., wife of Samuel Brown, White County; and Mary A., wife of A. Stringer. He enlisted as a private in the Forty-third
Georgia regiment, assigned to the western army, and was present at Vicksburg, where he died at the close of the siege. His widow died in
Douglas county,
Ga., in 1892. Mr. Standridge received his primary education in the common schools of the county, and completed his literary studies at the North
Georgia Agricultural college at Dahlonega,
Ga. After leaving college, he taught school twenty years with great success and profit, establishing an enviable reputation as an educator. In the meantime he read law, and about 1880, was admitted to the bar at
Cobb county superior court. In 1885, he was appointed postmaster at Hiawassee, and served until 1889, discharging the duties of the office with fidelity and acceptability. He was a gentleman of culture, of extensive reading and information, and varied literary attainments. For the past three years his secular pursuit has been agriculture, in which he takes a special pride and interest. Mr. Standridge was married in 1878 to Miss Mattie, daughter of Rev. Elisha
Hedden, an old settler of Hiawassee, and a
Baptist minister for Sixty two years. Of the children born to them, five are living: Agnes,
Branson, Gordon, Mamie, and
Pink. Mr. Standridge has been a consistent and active member of the
Baptist church for eighteen years; and in 1888 was regularly ordained as a minister, and in which capacity he has devotedly and usefully served the church since.
