By Staff
Harold family arrived here from Germany
By LYDIA GRIMES - Features Writer
The Harold family that settled in Escambia County were from the area of Bavaria, Germany and were documented on the 1840 census for Conecuh County. George (Herauldt) Harold (1804-1883) and his wife, Elizabeth (1810-1874),were the first of the family to settle in this area. At the time of the 1840 census they were listed as having four small sons by by the time of the 1850 census, the sons were no longer listed so they must have died young. There were, however three more children listed as being in the family at the time of the 1850 census.
George's brother, Henry Harold, decided to also immigrate to the United States from German and around the year 1853, he and his family left Germany and landed in Pensacola.
The two brothers settled near each other on land close to Fort Crawford along in a section that would become known as Germantown as there were so many of German descent living there. Some of the other names were Schad, Zeppernick, Mantel, Deitz and Bower.
George and Elizabeth Harold had three children; Charles Ashley Harold (1841) who married Louisa Blum, Henry Harold (10 Oct 1843-1908) who married Lydia Adkisson and Elizabeth Harold (25 Feb. 1847-1911). Following the death of Elizabeth, George married Augusta Zeppernick. He died Sept. 13, 1883 during the yellow fever epidemic and was buried in the Harold family plot that is now located on Jefferson Smurfit property near the mill.
Charles Ashley Harold died at a young age soon after the birth of his daughter. He and his brother, Henry, were coon hunting in the Conecuh County swamp and cut down a tree with a coon in it. A tree limb fell on Charles and killed him.
Henry Harold and his wife built their home on what is now Ashton Street in East Brewton. The house was still standing until a few years ago and had the distinction of being the oldest in the city of East Brewton. Henry died Jan. 24, 1908 and is buried at Fort Crawford. He and Amanda had six children, Mary Elizabeth Harold (1 Dec. 1867-16 Apr. 1940) who married first Green Carnley, second Thomas J. Scott and third, William Buchanan Brantley, Charles Harold (12 Jan. 1869-17 Apr. 1916) who married 11 May 1893 Sarah Frances Blair, Lottie Delano Harold (11 Apr 1870-21 Aug. 1948) who married James Dan Brantley, Celia Dora Harold (22 Oct. 1872-30 Nov. 1920) who married Charles McArthur and George Britain Harold (20 Dec. 1874-21 Apr. 1903) who married Annie Lavisa Williamson and Lettie Amanda Harold (1 June 1878-23 Apr. 1940) who married William Harrison Travis.
Henry Harold (8 Apr. 1809-6 Oct. 1889) brother to George, married Dora Rehinhart (13 Aug. 1819-3 Sept. 1904) and migrated to what would become Escambia County. They were the parents of Eva Harold who married John Carlovitz, Margaret R. Harold (26 Aug. 1842-23 July 1895) who married Riley Franklin, Elizabeth Harold (12 March 1843-11 July 1917) who married John D. Franklin, Cournal Baeur Harold (1 May 1852-6 March 1922) who married James Martin Franklin, George C. Harold (14 Sept. 1846-26 Feb. 1932) who married Ann Mariah Weaver, Andrew Harold (Oct 1850) who married Malinda Oliver, Lucinda Harold who married William J. Jernigan, Pauline Harold and James Henry Harold (27 Sept. 1863-9 Feb. 1910) who married Arizona Lola Seal.
The Harold family was involved in the lumber and timber business. They built and operated a large sawmill and many acres of timberland. Their general merchandise store, which is now part of the Robbins and McGowins building downtown, was the first brick building built in Brewton. In addition, the Harold family owned and operated a large hotel in Brewton.
The Harold family is well represented in many families that still live in Escambia County. Many may not even be aware of the fact that they have good Harold blood running through their veins.
Happy Hunting!