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I (Marty Grant) am a Great Grandson of Marvin and Lilly Grant.
Marvin Roosevelt Grant was born 13 Jan 1902 in the Grassy Branch area of Swain Co, NC. This is in Nantahala Township and is today mostly under the waters of Fontana Lake. I don't know the origin of his name "Marvin", for no one else in the family had that name prior to him (except for some distant cousins, who probably were not known, or well known to this branch of the family). His middle name "Roosevelt" was in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt who was then President. The name "Marvin" continues in the family to this day. Marvin had two grandsons named for him (my father being one of them), and I was named after my father, so indirectly after my Great Grandfather.
Marvin R. Grant's mother was Hattie Thermudas Grant. She was not married when Marvin was born. She and two of her sisters were continuing a long Grant family tradition of having children out of wedlock. Many folks today assume (incorrectly) that is a more modern phenomena, but it has been happening for centuries. We can only imagine what kind of stigma might have been attached to it.
Marvin's father was Carroll Alonso "Lon" Patterson, who was a neighbor of the Grant family in Swain County. I've never found any documentary evidence to prove this relationship, but Marvin told me himself that this was his father. The evidence is clear that the Patterson family lived there by the Grant family, so it is certainly feasible for Lon to be Marvin's father. Since this sort of thing was usually not discussed openly, the family generally told people (years later) that Marvin's father died while he was young, so he "took his mother's name" (which of course makes no sense). The law was clear in those days, that a child born out of wedlock would take the mothers name, not the fathers. Even if the father and mother later married, the child would still have the mothers name, unless legally changed. This did not stop illegitimate children from using both names though, as often happened. However, this did not happen in Marvin's case. He always went by "Grant", and the Patterson connection was mostly forgotten (except by him).
Marvin also told me that he was raised by his grandparents John P. Grant and Darthula Evans. Other family members told me that Marvin and his mother Hattie had a very strained relationship, but I have no details on that.
In 1909, John P. Grant moved his family from Grassy Branch in Swain County, down to Union Co, GA. They lived in the Gum Log region near Ebenezer Baptist Church. Most of John's children came with him, but some remained in Swain Co, NC. John's daughter Hattie, and her son Marvin came to Georgia with them.
Marvin R. Grant was listed on the 1910 census in Union Co, GA residing with his grandparents John and Darthula Grant. His mother Hattie was in the household as well.
When Marvin was about 12 years old, his mother married Thomas Joshua Gilbert in Union Co, GA. This was ca 1914. This union produced five half brothers and sisters for Marvin.
My Grandparents (Garland and Luella Grant) told me that when Marvin was a teenager, he was working as a laborer (either for the Railroad, or for the Highway Department, I can't remember now). While working in North Carolina, he "met" his father Lon Patterson who was also working on the same project. This was their only meeting as far as anyone recalls. They spent a few minutes talking, but that was all. They possibly could have spent more time together later in life, except that Lon died when Marvin was 20 years old. (He died in 1922 at the age of 41). So, whatever chance they had to get to know one another, was denied them.
Marvin R. Grant was probably listed on the 1920 census in Union Co, GA, but I haven't checked yet. His grandparents were both dead by then, and his mother had married, so I don't know where he would be living, or who with.
Marvin R. Grant married Lilly Belle Gilbert on 11 Nov 1920 in Union Co, GA. Lilly was a 1st cousin to Marvin's step-father Thomas Joshua Gilbert.
Lilly Belle Gilbert was born 10 May 1902 in Union Co, GA, a daughter of Noah Washington Gilbert and Ibiline Henderson. Lilly was born and raised in the Gum Log area. When the Grant family moved in 1909, they moved in next to Lilly's family. This is obviously how Marvin and Lilly met (as children).
Marvin and Lilly lived in Union Co, GA until ca 1924 when they moved to Murphy in Cherokee Co, NC.
They left Murphy for Robbinsville in Graham Co, NC ca 1926 and remained there for a number of years. I'm not sure where they lived at first, but they later lived on Eller Branch.
On 14 Sep 1940 Ronald and Bessie Holland sold Marvin and Lilly 1 acre on Eller Branch. The land was described as bordering Frank James and Lon Brown. (Graham Co, NC Deed Book 43 page 602).
In April 1941, Ronald and Bessie Holland sold Marvin and Lilly another 1 acre on Eller Branch. (Graham Co, NC Deed Book 46 page 594).
On 29 May 1943, Perlie and Theat Hill sold Marvin and Lilly 1/2 acre of land adjoining where they already lived.
On 19 Nov 1946, Marvin and Lilly sold a portion of their Eller Branch land to their son Garland Grant and wife Luella. (Graham Co, NC Deed Book 50 page 242).
On 2 Feb 1948, Marvin and Lilly sold more Eller Branch land to Garland and Luella. (Graham Co, NC Deed Book 51 page 407).
On 12 Jul 1955, Marvin and Lilly sold their remaining land (in 3 tracts) on Eller Branch to C. N. George and Margie E. George (their daughter). (Graham Co, NC Deed Book 55 page 534).
I'm not sure if it was in 1955, but at some point around then, Marvin and Lilly moved from Robbinsville, NC to Marietta, Cobb Co, GA where they remained the rest of their lives. They lived at 183 Blackwell Lane. I remember visiting there a few times as a child.
Marvin Grant was a Furniture Maker and made a lot of finely crafted furniture. Lilly was a Home Maker.
Lilly died on 4 Nov 1983 at the Kennestone Hospital in Cobb Co, GA. She was buried at the Kennesaw Memorial Park Cemetery in Kennesaw, Cobb Co, GA.
Marvin suffered a series of strokes in the 1980's, after Lilly's death. He lived his remaining years in a Nursing Home in Marietta, GA. I took my grandparents (Garland and Luella Grant) to visit Marvin in 1989, 1990 and 1991. Though he was in very bad shape then, he recognized Garland right away. He didn't recognize me at first, but after they told him who I was, he told me I looked just like my dad (which is true).
Marvin died on 4 Apr 1992 at age 90 at the Kennestone Hospital. He is buried beside Lilly at the Kennesaw Memorial Park in Cobb Co, GA.
Marvin and Lilly had six children. All but two are living, and generally doing well. I'll not provide any family details in order to protect their privacy. One of their children was my grandfather Garland S. Grant.
Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list:
No register report for this family to protect privacy.
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