Bio – Lura Scroggins (1906-1949)

Adair Project

AH-05 – Lura Scoggins

6 October 1906 – August 1949

Lura Scoggins was born on 6 October 1906 in Georgia[i],[ii]; she died in August 1949 in Georgia, at age 42.[iii],[iv] She was buried in Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, Austell, Cobb County, Georgia[v],[vi].

She is the third child and third daughter of George Scoggins (1875-1955), aged 31, and Minnie Estelle Jackson (1880-1978), aged 26. Her two older siblings were Bertha (b. 1901) and Nora (b. 1903).

“Historic” Milton County, Georgia, c. 1910 Map courtesy Georgia Info

In the 1910 Census, “Lurie” is living with her father, mother, and three sisters. A third sister, Fannie Lou, was born in January of 1910. Her father rented and farmed in Crossville, Milton County, GA. (Milton County was abolished and merged into Fulton and Cobb counties in 1932.)[vii] Also, living with the family was George’s brother, Choice.

Also of interest, is that the 1910 Census (15 April) reported that Lurie was four-years-old, implying she was born in 1905. This is inconsistent with all other information regarding Lura’s birth. I believe this implied birth year to be in error even though I usually consider the first census a person is recorded in as correct regarding birth year.

Over the next decade three more siblings were born. First Cleo in 1912, then Lee Bell in 1914, and finally a brother, James S was born in 1917.

The 1920 Census finds Lura’s father renting and farming a farm on Crass Road in Gritter Township, Cobb County, Georgia. The family consisted of George and Minnie and five of the children; eighteen-year-old Bertha is no longer at home. It is interesting to note that although the three oldest children can read and write, none of the four school-age children are attending school. ,[viii]

The 1920s must have been good to the Scoggins family; George earned enough to be able to buy a farm on Brownsville Road in Powder Springs, GA, where they were enumerated in the 1930 Census.,[ix] Another sister, Lillian, was born in 1923. 1930 finds Lura and two of her sisters were working the farm while the three youngest siblings were attending school.

The 1930s turned into a trough time for Lura. Actually, she had one of the roughest lives of anyone I’ve ever researched. She married[x] Elmer Adair (~ 1910-?) in Cobb County, Georgia, on 15 April 1931.[xi] That August, Elmer went to prison for a year. After his release, Lura began having children – four of them before Elmer abandoned her. In 1939 Elmer went to prison for another year, this time for abandonment. Elmer escaped the minimum security facility and was then arrested for another crime while an escapee. He was returned to prison.

During the 1940 Census, the 31-year old (she’s getting younger) Lura is living with her parents and is identified as a widow. Her husband is actually alive but in prison. With her are four of her children. Also living with George and Minnie is Lynell Bell, a grandson who is apparently daughter Lillian’s child. Lura is listed as working as farm labor.[xii]

Another three children, all boys, are born for a total of seven children, four boys and three girls to Elmer and Lura,

In 1945, Elmer and Lura are back together and living at 553 Washington, SW, in Atlanta. Elmer is a driver for the Benton Transportation Company. [xiii] Benton Trans. Co was an over the road trucking company.

Lura died in 1949. Funeral services were held at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church on 7 August 1949. Internment was to be at the church cemetery.

Children of Elmer and Lura were:

Ruth Adair (1934-????).[xiv]
Geraldine Adair,, (1935-????)
Living Adair. [xv]
Wilma Adair (1939-????)
Troy D. Adair (1941-2011)
Living Adair.
Living Adair.

ENDNOTES