Callaway Family


The author's Callaway ancestors settled in Wilkes County, Georgia in the late 1700s.  These Callaways are a very well researched family and there is even an organization devoted to our Callaway family's history - the Callaway Family Association (CFA).  The author suggests that any Callaway family researcher visit the (CFA) website and peruse the large amount of research that has been collected.  Please also see the book "The Callaway family of Virginia and some Kentucky descendants, 1600-1927" by Mrs. A.F. Hart.  Since there already is a great deal of research available, the author will only "hit the high spots" and instead focus on the Georgia Callaway descendants.


CALLAWAYS OF ENGLAND

Before arriving in American, our Callaways were likely in England.  The likely immigrant was Colonel William Callaway who was probably born 1690-1700.

 

CALLWAYS OF MARYLAND, VIRGINIA and NORTH CAROLINA

According to the CFA and the research of Robert Mercer Callaway [1], our Georgia Callaway family descends from Peter Callaway who lived in Onslow County, North Carolina prior to the Revolutionary War.[2]  This is somewhat at odds with previously published research that claims we are descended from the Bedford County, Virginia Callaway family.[3]  However, both might be correct if DNA can prove that we are all related.  Peter Callaway may not have ever lived in Bedford County – he may have moved directly from Maryland to North Carolina.  But this does not necessarily mean that he is not closely related to the Bedford County Callaways. 


Interestingly, the author's Talbot ancestors of Wilkes County, Georgia were also from Bedford County, Virginia prior to their arrival in Georgia.  These Talbots were probably in Maryland before moving to Virginia – much like the Callaways.  It is very likely that these Talbots and Callaways knew one another, and possibly intermarried with one another before moving to Georgia.  This proven relationship makes the Peter Callaway connection with the Bedford County Callaways more likely.  The author's 6th great-grandmother (Bethany Callaway) was a descendant of Peter Callaway and she married Joseph Hale Talbot who was a descendant of Matthew Talbot of Bedford County, VA.[4]  We also have documents that show a Francis Callaway in both Bedford County, Virginia and Wilkes County, Georgia.  These same records show Francis Callaway, Matthew Talbot Jr. and Charles Talbot listed in the same documents (See below). 


The author's ancestor, John Callaway, is shown to have owned land in Wilkes County, Georgia that was owned by a Francis Callaway: John Callaway and his wife Bethany sold land to John Hanson, 200 acres of land granted to Francis Callaway on August 17, 1785. (Wilkes County Deed Book QQ, page 27).  See also the land record dated Nov. 3, 1792 where Joshua, Job and John Callaway and Francis Callaway are all mentioned in the same land transaction between Sier Stallions(sp?) and John Callaway.(Deed book H, page 412).


The following images are from the book "Historical Sketch of Bedford County, Virginia".  Note the names of Matthew & Charles Talbot, William, Richard and Francis Callaway.  Charles and Matthew Talbot were brothers, sons of Matthew Talbot and Mary Anne Williston.  Another son of Matthew and Mary Anne was John Williston Talbot and he moved to Wilkes County, Georgia. [5]  The Wilkes County, Georgia Talbots descend from Matthew and Mary Anne.  Whether the Wilkes County, Georgia Callaways descend from and/or are related to the Bedford County, VA Callaways has yet to be proven.








 

The most famous of the Bedford County, Virginia Callaways was Colonel Richard Callaway who was a contemporary of Daniel Boone [6] and the two men apparently were fellow trail blazers in the strictest sense of the term.  It has been said that Richard was a close friend of then General and later President George Washington and he likely was known to Thomas Jefferson.

Historic road sign – Richard Callaway and Daniel Boone
(Historical Marker Database; Duane and Tracy Marsteller, 2021)





Historic road sign – Col. William Callaway
(Historical Marker Database; J.J. Prats, 2013)

 

CALLAWAYS OF WILKES COUNTY GEORGIA

There have been several books written about the Wilkes County Callaway family.  Four of the better ones are "Callaways of Western Wilkes County, Georgia", "Agrarian Arcadia" and "Fuller E. Callaway, Portrait of a New South Citizen" and "Heritage of Wilkes County".[7]  One can also find quite a bit of information on the CFA website.  


The Callaway family of Georgia is noted for having numerous ministers of faith, mostly Baptist.  There are also numerous descendants who have made a substantial contribution to society in other ways: As businessmen, politicians, military leaders, medical doctors and philanthropists.


It appears that the progenitors of the Georgia Callaways were the sons of Edward Callaway who was the grandson of Peter (noted above).  However, there are records for a Francis Callaway that arrived earlier than these sons of Edward and it is highly likely that Francis and Edward are related (see discourse above).


*Peter Callaway (1640-1719) – immigrant to America, married Elizabeth Johnson.

*Peter and Elizabeth had son John Callaway (1685-1770) who married Mary Gould.  

*Peter and Elizabeth had son Edward Callaway (1711-1769) who married Elizabeth (lnu) and they had five sons, four of whom immigrated to Wilkes County, Georgia. [8]  Most, if not all, of these men were soldiers in the Revolutionary War.

Sons of Edward Callaway and Elizabeth:

1.     Isaac married Elizabeth Arnold.  They remained in North Carolina.

2.     Joshua Callaway – (1757-1816). Married Isabella Henderson.  



Rev. Joshua Callaway, Jr.
Son of Joshua and Isabella

3.     Job Callaway – (1741-1803) 

4.     Joseph Callaway – (1754-1821) Married Sabrina Morgan. 




Jesse Callaway, son of Joseph Callaway
(Historical Marker database)

5.     John Callaway –(1746-1821) married Bethany Arnold.   Bethany and Isaac's wife Elizabeth were probably sisters.  Some researchers claim that they are related to the famous Arnold and Greene families of Rhode Island (Benedict Arnold and Gen. Nathanael Greene being two of the more prominent men of these families).  Indeed, judging by some of the descendants of John and Bethany, one might not be surprised to find this link to be true. 

John was probably born in Somerset County, Maryland.  He is buried in the Callaway family cemetery near the Rayle community in Wilkes County, Georgia.  In Lucien Lamar Knight's "Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia" John is listed as a Major in the Bedford County, Virginia Militia during the Revolutionary War.  He participated in the Battle of Kings Mountain.  After the war, he settled in Wilkes County, Georgia about 1783 on land that was granted to him for his service.  It has been estimated that he owned at least 2000 acres of land, some of which is still in the Callaway family today.  He was a member of the Sardis Baptist Church, a church that is still thriving today.



John Callaway and Bethany Arnold    
Rayle, Wilkes County, GA    
(Author photo)  



Known children of John and Bethany per John's Will:

        1. John married Tabitha Lawrence (1st) and Rebecca Simmons (2nd).  Moved to nearby Putnam County, Georgia.
        2. Job married Mary Milner (1st) and Matilda Paige (2nd).  Moved to Alabama.
        3. Enoch married Martha Reeves. A noted Baptist preacher. (See more info below).
        4. Nancy married Daniel Carrington.
        5. Bethany, married Joseph Hale Talbot (See more info below).
        6. Betsy, married George Jarrell.
        7. Phoebe, married Reuben Strozier.  Moved to Meriwether County, GA.  Rueben was the son of Rev. Soldier Peter Strozier and his wife Margaret Dozier.  Peter was a German immigrant.
        8. Mary, married Christopher Thrash.
        9. Lydia, married Valentine Thrash.
        10. Adda, married John B. Milner.  Moved to Floyd County, Georgia.
        11. Esther married Arnold or Isaac Whitaker.



More on the descendants of Bethany Callaway and Joseph Hale Talbot

The author descends from John and Bethany's daughter Nancy Talbot who married Spain Colley.  Nancy's brother was John R. Talbot.  John R. Talbot married Lucy Jane Jackson who was a descendant of the author's Jackson and Wise families of Wilkes County.[9]  Two of their sons were Civil War soldiers of Alabama.  Former longtime Florida Senator Claude Denson Pepper descends from John R. Talbot and Lucy Jackson.



Enoch Callaway was the executor of his father's estate (John Callaway, Sr.).  This document shows Joseph H. Talbot signing for his wife's share (Bethany) of her father's estate - Enoch being her brother.
(GA Archives)


Please see the author's research on the Talbot family HERE.


More on Rev. Enoch Callaway and Martha Reeves and their descendants



Rev. Enoch Callaway


Rev. Enoch was the longtime pastor of Sardis Baptist Church in the small community of Rayle, Georgia where he performed numerous marriages over the years.  Rev. Enoch and Martha have descendants that have made significant contributions to society and the business world.  Here are a few of the most notable.  Also please visit this link.

The early 1800s era home that Enoch built is still standing today and occupied by descendants of the Callaway family.  The home is very close to the Callaway family cemetery where Enoch and many Callaway family members are buried.  The Sardis Baptist Church is also close by.


Early 1800s home of Rev. Enoch Callaway
(Author photograph)



Notable descendants of Rev. Enoch Callaway

  • Ely Reeves Callaway Jr. (1919-2001), great-grandson of Enoch and Martha.  Ely was the founder of the Callaway Golf Company that currently is the largest producer of golf equipment in the world.  He also started Callaway Vineyards winery.  A graduate of Emory University in Atlanta, he gave millions to the school.  At least one building on the school campus is named for him.  Ely's mother is said to have been a cousin of the famous golfer Bobby Jones.



    Ely Reeves Callaway, Jr.



    Ely Reeves Callaway, Jr. building at Emory University
    (Emory University)


  • Fuller Earle Callaway (1870-1928) grandson of Rev. Enoch Callaway.  He was a prominent businessman of LaGrange, Georgia.  The "Hills & Dales" mansion/estate was built by Fuller and today this estate is operated as a sort of museum by the descendants of Fuller.



    Fuller Earle Callaway     




    Fuller Earle Callaway
    (Historic signs database)          



    Hills & Dales estate, LaGrange, Georgia      
    (Hills & Dales) 



  • Cason Jewell Callaway (1894-1961) son of Fuller Earle Callaway, he married Virginia Hollis Hand. [10] He was a prominent businessman and philanthropist in LaGrange, Georgia.  He and his wife were the founders of Callaway Gardens.



    Cason Jewell Callaway    




    Callaway Gardens     
    (Historic signs database)    



  • Howard "Bo" Callaway (1927-2014)  son of Cason Jewell Callaway.  He was a West Point graduate, businessman and a politician.  Among his many accomplishments, he helped his parents develop Callaway Gardens and he was Chairman and President of Crested Butte resort in Colorado.



    Howard "Bo" Callaway      
 
  • Col. John Wilson Callaway (1919-2010) 2nd great-grandson of Rev. Enoch Callaway.  He was a West Point graduate and a career soldier holding numerous positions during his career.  During WWII, he was in the pacific theater and he commanded a battalion during the Korean war.  He was an instructor at Fort Benning as well as the Commanding officer of Fort McPherson in Atlanta.



    John Wilson Callaway     
    West Point photo        


  • Dr. Enoch Callaway Jr. (1892-1961) great-grandson of Rev. Enoch Callaway.  He was a noted medical doctor of Lagrange, GA.  There is currently a building named for him in LaGrange.



    Wellstar Enoch Callaway Cancer Center       


  • Dr. Enoch Callaway III (1924-2014) son of Dr. Enoch Callaway, Jr..  A psychiatrist, he was a pioneer of biological psychiatry and a Professor Emeritus at the University of California at San Francisco.



    Dr. Enoch Callaway III     



_____________________

[1] "The Lineage of Peter Callaway and Related Families"
[2] According to Charles D. Saggus, our Wilkes County ancestors were in Somerset County Maryland and then Anson County North Carolina. Per his book entitled "Agrarian Arcadia"
[3] "History of Henry County, Virginia".  This book may contain inaccuracies.
[4] "Historical Sketch, Bedford County, Virginia"
[5]  See the author's research on the Talbot family.
[6] While the Callaways and the Talbots are the author's paternal ancestors, Daniel Boone also happens to be the author's maternal 1st cousin, 7X removed.
[7] Authors are Stephen Taylor Geer, Charles Danforth Saggus and Buckner F. Melton, Jr. & Carol W. Melton and The Washington-Wilkes Foundation, respectively.  The Wilkes County public library has a wealth of information regarding the Callaway family (as well as other families).
[8] Son Isaac appears to have remained in North Carolina.
[9] John R. Talbot is the author's 3rd great granduncle and Lucy Jane Jackson is the author's 1st cousin on 2 different lines: Jackson and Wise.
[10] She was probably a descendant of Moses Hollis who died in Wilkes County, GA in 1794.  Moses was likely related to the Hollis family of Fairfield District, SC of whom the author also descends.


This page was updated on 2/24/2025

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