As a boy fascinated by occasional visits to the Okefenokee Swamp, I was in awe of the name Hamp Mizell (1884-1948). Dr. Delma Presley told stories of his legendary two-mile swamp holler in Okefinokee Album [this recording is of another famous swamp family, the Chessers]. Coincidentally, I knew his daughter Montine Mizell Matthews, whose husband Harold worked with my father on the railroad, but did not know at the time that she was a Mizell. I regret missing the opportunity to talk about her father with her.
It was wonderful to visit Suwannee Lake, on the edge of the great swamp, since it has always been associated with Mr. Mizell. It’s not a big fishing hole, but nonetheless revered by fishermen in the know. Judging from satellite images, I believe it’s an oxbow of Suwannee Creek which runs from the west into the swamp. A. S. McQueen noted in his History of Okefenokee Swamp, 1932: [Mizell] is the owner of the beautiful Suwannee Lake, on the north side of the Okefenokee Swamp, one of the most famous fishing places in Georgia. A record was kept of the fish caught in this lake, and one season, 41,618 fish were caught by the hook and line method. During one day 35 fishermen caught 1,471 fish by actual count.
does anyone have any info on Jack Mizelle. His daughter was Laura Mizelle and from family stories, he was Hamps brother. My husband was Laura’s son and we called Jack, Grandpa Jack.
I am Hamp Mizell’s great grand-daughter and loved this story. My grandmother Alice Mizell Steedley took me here while I was a little kid to pick wild flowers. She would tell us stories and you could just imagine all the fun Saturday Nights of fiddle playing, swamp hollerin, and barn dancing. My favorite story was about the Tar Baby and Link a Pink a Hi Ola!!! A black pnather who muddied up the well water at Mr. Hamps and the Tar Baby Hamp made to catch him. Sure miss all the gold ol swampers we would visit and check in with ocassionally. I once drove Granny Alice and Okefenokee Joe deep in the swamp to ask all the swampers if GA Public TV could make “Swampwise”.
I’m not sure if you will see this but I am also Hamp Mizell’s great granddaughter! Rhoda Barber was my grandmother and I love learning about my family and my name!!
I grew up at glenmore 3 miles from manor Evey one new of what we called the big lake/ mizell lake, best catfish hole and jack fish hole in South Georgia my dad always stopped by on the way out to talk to ol man mizell and his wife very good people,he always talked of the deer eating his garden and the bears messing things up. They were the last of the good ol swamp people living the simple life. I think of them every time I ride down there and see the old place all grown up it would be nice to see it preserved
Hi Brian, Thank you for this article and the recording of the swamp holler. I am amazed that this is the first time I have seen this article. Hamp is my grandfather and you mentioned my mother and father in your article. I know that my mother would have loved to talk with you about her father, Hamp. She and her sisters would tell us stories about growing up at Hamp Mizell Lake on their homestead, their pet alligator named Big Red, the black bears getting into their honeybee hives, their home that didn’t have any nails, the hoedowns that occurred at their home site with Hamp playing banjo and A. S. McQueen calling the dances. They also spoke of how Hamp could name every bird in the swamp. I still have a recording of her sister, my aunt Rhoda Barber, with my mother, telling me the story of when Hamp’s father, Josiah, while serving in the Civil War, became a prisoner of war after being captured in Petersburg in 1865. She said that after being released, he walked back to Waycross where he ran into Obadiah Barber, who gave him his horse to ride home. Your work in preserving these old, historical sites, people and folklore is priceless and much appreciated. Thank you again.
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That clip of the ‘Swamp Hollering’ was incredible! My mother got a job working on the railroad in the swamp when she was only 16. (Edna Maxine Johnson of Quitman, GA 1928-2005) She said to stay awake overnight, she would go out and walk the tracks. Heard bobcats and all sorts of weird noises…could have been swamp hollerin’!
Supposed to holler back
I just had to say that I have so enjoyed the photos that have been shown
in the last weeks. How nice to have these buildings remembered via your
excellent photos and commentaries.
Thanks, Marty. I’m grateful for your kind words.
Back in the 70’s I would come home on leave and we would go jack jumping at Hamp Mizell. We stopped one time at the old house pictured and an older gentleman told us we found our way in and could find our way out. Back then all the dirt roads were named. Some of the names were. Seldom Seen, another one was Never Heard Of. Once we followed roads just to see where we would come out and we actually came out on 441 close to the fire tower. We had a lot of fun fishing the creeks and lakes. There is a big concrete bridge out there and don’t know when it was built. Never saw a date on it to indicate when it was built.