Important events in history are often shaped by common, everyday individuals. The story of the South's struggle to industrialize is no different. After the Civil War, hundreds of impoverished farmers and their families migrated from all over Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, North and South Carolina looking for work in the mills. The families who came to Banning dedicated years of hard labor, putting in twelve hour days or more in the loud, stuffy shop floors. Because of their determination, Banning, even as a small, rural factory, takes its place along side the hundreds of other mills which transformed the South into an Industrial society. We may not know the names of all the individuals who contributed to Banning's success, but we recognize their contributions none-the-less. Below are a few profiles of families who made up the tight-knit community at Banning while participating in a phenomenon which would push the South into the 21st century.Each family tree has been constructed with the aid of oral histories, photographs, census data, and newspaper articles.
Below the visitor will find biographical information about the Brown and Thompson families through the eyes of Paul and Minnie. In addition to their helpful oral histories and shared photographs, information pulled from the 1930s census assists in building a more complete story of these two families.
Paul Brown was born on January 25, 1922 in Spalding County, Georgia. His father, David Wilson Brown was born September 29, 1873 in Carroll County, Georgia. David made his living as a hosiery mill operator until the Depression. Between 1911 and 1915, he was the Superintendent at Banning’s hosiery mill, known then as Sock Town. On March 17, 1895, David married Mattie Gray. Mattie was born June 10, 1879 also in Carroll County, Georgia. After they were married, Mattie worked as a homemaker. David and Mattie had five children; Chester Glen, William Herbert, Exer Erline, and Paul were all born in Carroll County. One son, Benjamin Frank was born in Maryville, Tennessee.
When their children were growing up, the Brown’s lived on a farm near Clem, Georgia. (Not far from Banning). In 1941, when Paul was 19, he went to work at Banning as a machine operator. In his own words, Paul “operated machinery which twisted threads together. The thread was placed on cones by what is known as winders that made it ready for shipping.” Paul earned $15 a week. |
 |
