Saran Ann Lamkin was born July 13, 1835, to Benjamin H. and Permelia (Niblack) Lamkin (also spelled Lampkin) of Lawrenceville, the county seat of Gwinnett County, Georgia. There were four boys and four girls in the Lamkin family, and Sarah was the oldest daughter. She grew up in Lawrenceville.
On the first of January 1857, when Sarah was 21 years old, she married Daniel Harris, son of Buckner and Mary (Cupp) Harris, who was also from the Lawrenceville area. Four years later, the Civil War broke out, and Daniel enlisted as a Private in Co. C, 10th Regiment Cavalry on August 1, 1863. As a member of a State Guards unit, Daniel survived the war, unlike two of Sarah's brothers, William and Robert. Daniel and Sarah never had any children though, and unfortunately, Daniel died on September 17, 1874, for reasons unknown now.
For a few years, Sarah was known as "the Widow Harris," and as widow of Daniel Harris, she owned a good bit of land in Gwinnett County. But then in 1877, Dr. William P. Bond from Lithonia in neighboring DeKalb County took an interest in her. Speculation about his visits actually made the local newspaper in Lawrenceville:
"We had the pleasure of meeting, at the camp meeting, Dr. Bond, of Lithonia. He is a widower, but we do not propose to tell just now what attraction brought him thus far from home." (Weekly Gwinnett Herald, August 22, 1877, page 3)
"A Lithonia Doctor seems to be building up a fine practice in Gwinnett. Why is this thus." (Weekly Gwinnett Herald, October 17, 1877, page 3).
The newspaper's suspicions were correct that Dr. Bond was courting Sarah; in fact, they were married on October 31st, 1877. Sarah went to live in Lithonia, and two years later, at 44 years of age, Sarah had her one and only child, Annie Parks Bond, who was born about the same time as her husband's oldest grandchildren from his first wife.
Sarah was a busy doctor's wife until July 1898, when William suddenly died. Afterward, she and Annie, who had just graduated from Wesleyan Female College, lived together with Annie running her father's quarry business. In December 1900 though, Annie married Arthur L. Matthews and moved to the little town of Redan. Sarah went to live with them, but it was only until August 1906, when she unexpectedly died.
Her obituary which appeared on page 4 of The Atlanta Constitution, August 3,1906:
"Mrs. Sarah Bond.
Redan, Ga., August 2--(Special.)--Mrs. Sarah Bond, formerly of Lithonia, Ga., but now residing in Redan, died in Redan, Ga., at 3 o'clock in the morning on August 2 at the residence of her son-in-law, A. L. Matthews. Mrs. Bond had been in declining health for some months, but her death was unexpected. She was a woman of the highest type of Christian character, holding an influence for good at all times in the community wherein she lived. She was 71 years of age and was a content member of the Methodist church for many years. The deceased was the widow of the late Dr. W. P. Bond, of Lithonia, who died several years ago. Only one child survives, being Mrs. A. L. Matthews, with whom Mrs. Bond has lived for the past several years. The funeral and interment will take place at Redan, Ga., August 3 at 11 o'clock in the morning."
Sarah's first husband, Daniel Harris, was buried in Pleasant Hill Methodist Church Cemetery in Gwinnett County. Dr. Bond was buried by his first wife, Sarah Ann (Born) Bond, in Rock Chapel Historical Cemetery in DeKalb County. Sarah Ann (Lamkin) Harris Bond was buried in Redan Cemetery, and eventually her daughter Annie and son-in-law Arthur were buried next to her.
Saran Ann Lamkin was born July 13, 1835, to Benjamin H. and Permelia (Niblack) Lamkin (also spelled Lampkin) of Lawrenceville, the county seat of Gwinnett County, Georgia. There were four boys and four girls in the Lamkin family, and Sarah was the oldest daughter. She grew up in Lawrenceville.
On the first of January 1857, when Sarah was 21 years old, she married Daniel Harris, son of Buckner and Mary (Cupp) Harris, who was also from the Lawrenceville area. Four years later, the Civil War broke out, and Daniel enlisted as a Private in Co. C, 10th Regiment Cavalry on August 1, 1863. As a member of a State Guards unit, Daniel survived the war, unlike two of Sarah's brothers, William and Robert. Daniel and Sarah never had any children though, and unfortunately, Daniel died on September 17, 1874, for reasons unknown now.
For a few years, Sarah was known as "the Widow Harris," and as widow of Daniel Harris, she owned a good bit of land in Gwinnett County. But then in 1877, Dr. William P. Bond from Lithonia in neighboring DeKalb County took an interest in her. Speculation about his visits actually made the local newspaper in Lawrenceville:
"We had the pleasure of meeting, at the camp meeting, Dr. Bond, of Lithonia. He is a widower, but we do not propose to tell just now what attraction brought him thus far from home." (Weekly Gwinnett Herald, August 22, 1877, page 3)
"A Lithonia Doctor seems to be building up a fine practice in Gwinnett. Why is this thus." (Weekly Gwinnett Herald, October 17, 1877, page 3).
The newspaper's suspicions were correct that Dr. Bond was courting Sarah; in fact, they were married on October 31st, 1877. Sarah went to live in Lithonia, and two years later, at 44 years of age, Sarah had her one and only child, Annie Parks Bond, who was born about the same time as her husband's oldest grandchildren from his first wife.
Sarah was a busy doctor's wife until July 1898, when William suddenly died. Afterward, she and Annie, who had just graduated from Wesleyan Female College, lived together with Annie running her father's quarry business. In December 1900 though, Annie married Arthur L. Matthews and moved to the little town of Redan. Sarah went to live with them, but it was only until August 1906, when she unexpectedly died.
Her obituary which appeared on page 4 of The Atlanta Constitution, August 3,1906:
"Mrs. Sarah Bond.
Redan, Ga., August 2--(Special.)--Mrs. Sarah Bond, formerly of Lithonia, Ga., but now residing in Redan, died in Redan, Ga., at 3 o'clock in the morning on August 2 at the residence of her son-in-law, A. L. Matthews. Mrs. Bond had been in declining health for some months, but her death was unexpected. She was a woman of the highest type of Christian character, holding an influence for good at all times in the community wherein she lived. She was 71 years of age and was a content member of the Methodist church for many years. The deceased was the widow of the late Dr. W. P. Bond, of Lithonia, who died several years ago. Only one child survives, being Mrs. A. L. Matthews, with whom Mrs. Bond has lived for the past several years. The funeral and interment will take place at Redan, Ga., August 3 at 11 o'clock in the morning."
Sarah's first husband, Daniel Harris, was buried in Pleasant Hill Methodist Church Cemetery in Gwinnett County. Dr. Bond was buried by his first wife, Sarah Ann (Born) Bond, in Rock Chapel Historical Cemetery in DeKalb County. Sarah Ann (Lamkin) Harris Bond was buried in Redan Cemetery, and eventually her daughter Annie and son-in-law Arthur were buried next to her.
