In approximately 1820, Abraham Lemon and his wife Elizabeth embarked on a journey into the untamed wilderness of Butts County, GA. This area, sparsely populated, immersed the Lemon family in the raw beauty of nature, with only a few trails left by the recently displaced Creek Indians. Today, our focus turns to their two sons, Abel and Alexander Lemon, who, in their early teens, navigated the challenges of settling in this new region and shouldered responsibilities in aiding their parents with both family establishment and the essential farming for sustenance and income.
By the 1830s, Abel and Alexander sought to forge their paths in the newly established county of Henry. Alexander, marrying Sarah Benning in 1831, faced the tragic loss of Sarah during childbirth in 1847. Remarkably, less than a year later, Alexander entered into matrimony once again, this time with Nancy Crockett, daughter of John and Dorcus Crockett from Northern McDonough.
Having settled in McDonough, Abel emerged as a prominent figure in county politics, actively contributing to the formation of current county institutions and establishing one of the first Masonic lodges. Abel's financial success enabled him to acquire the Beck house, now the site of the Henry County PAC, purchased from attorney Erasmus Beck. In 1847, Abel married Minerva Mann, 18 years his junior. Despite the tragedy of losing their first child, Edmond, in 1849, the couple went on to expand their family.
Abel's involvement in local politics deepened as he secured the judge seat for the Court of the Ordinary. This position granted him authority over county affairs, including running the probate court with its multifaceted responsibilities. Abel's prosperity extended to his plantation within McDonough, where he owned a substantial number of slaves. Notably, his relationship with a servant named Classie resulted in the birth of a son, Augustus, in 1844, as documented in the 1850 Slave Census Schedule.
Following the deaths of Abel in 1886 and Alexander in 1874, the direct white male lineage of the Lemon family in Henry County neared extinction. However, the legacy of Abel and Alexander endured through their numerous daughters, whose descendants carried on their commitment to politics and civic duty. Meanwhile, the African American branch of the Lemon family thrived, producing entrepreneurs and educators who continue to achieve success in the present day.
