The James Newton Earle Family

James Newton Earle (1862-1937) son of James C. Earle, married Althea Templeton (1867-1945), a daughter of David Green Templeton. He was born and reared in old Jacksonville and spent his entire life in this area. For three years, 1895-1898, in new Jacksonville he was a partner with Dr. J. B. Fuller in the drug business. Yearning to return to farm life, he moved his wife and four children to a new home in the New Hope area where he soon had a peach orchard along with other farm products in abundance, and like his father he resumed the tradition of lending money to his neighbors, continuing the Gum Creek banking.

Soon after establishing this new home, J. N. Earle with assistance of other men of the neighborhood, erected a school and a church for the community.

Two of his six children were born at New Hope, Hubert L. Earle, longtime banker in Jacksonville and Lucille Ragsdale Stevens. Other children were Ruby (Mrs. G. C. Walker), who is the only surviving child, and who resides in Jacksonville; Edgar, who married Louide Crain; Mattye, who married B. W. Cocke; Roland, who married Mattie Spivey. Hubert married Edna Bush; Lucille married Wallace Ragsdale and after his death married Dr. T. A. Stevens.

Descendants now known to reside in Jacksonville and vicinity are Mrs. Ora Gray Ford, Mrs. Lolita Gray Sanders, Mrs. Thelma Gray Bollinger, Mrs. Ruby Earle Walker, Mrs. Opal Teal, Mrs. Bertie Moore, S. L. Benge, Edwin Earle, Neal Earle, Arlon Earle, Jess Earle, Howard Skelton and Mrs. Marilyn Ragsdale Wallace.

Mr. and Mrs. James Newton Earle in front of family home in New Hope community.