Zula Orlena Brown - 4th Generation

Born: 13 Nov 1868 In: Miller Co., Georgia. ⁽¹⁰¹⁾
Died: 27 Oct 1947 In: City, State, Country⁽¹⁰²⁾

Profession: Teacher, Founder, Owner & Publisher of Newspaper "Miller County Liberal"

Married: Tony Cook on 27 Jun 1891 in Miller Co., Georgia. ⁽¹⁰⁷⁾

She was Married: to Joe Toole on 18 Apr 1901 in Miller Co., Georgia. ⁽¹¹¹⁾
Joe Toole was born on 21 Aug 1857. He died on 12 Aug 1917. He was buried in Colquitt City Cemetery, Colquitt, Miller Co., GA.⁽¹¹²⁾

Zula Orlena Brown sources: ^(99)(100)

The origin of her name "Zula"
While at the LeGrange Female College her mother Eldorendo roomed with Augusta Evans, later Augusta Evans Wilson of "St. Elmo" fame. They took Greek together and in a required reading story the principal characters were "Zula" and" Ixonia". They liked the names so much they agreed to name their daughters after them, if they had any. Eldorendo had two daughters and named them after the two characters in the book. Augusta Evans Wilson named her son "St Elmo" from her novel. She never had any daughters.

Zula was educated at Troy State College in Troy State, Alabama. ⁽¹⁰⁵⁾ She also was educated at Andrew College in Cuthbert, Randolph Co., Georgia.⁽¹⁰⁶⁾

She was a Founder, Owner, Editor & Publisher of "Miller County Liberal". in Colquitt, Miller Co., Georgia. ⁽¹⁰⁴⁾

Newspaper Article:

The "Miller County Liberal" was an established paper and the official organ for Miller County. Although there are no available copies prior to 1907, in 1900, the ordinary's minutes noted that 'Mrs. Zula B. Cook was paid $10.50 for advertising presentments;' in 1901, 'Zula B. Toole was paid $5.00 for publishing grand jury presentments' and in 1904, Joe Toole was paid as the "Liberal" editor.
Zula Brown, daughter of Virginia and Morgan A. Brown, was born November 13, 1868, in Decatur County, Georgia, and became a resident of Pondtown prior to 1880. She received her elementary and high school education in Decatur County, later attended Andrew College, Cuthbert, Georgia and obtained her teachers certificate from Troy State Teachers College, Troy, Alabama.
Zula Brown Cook served as postmistress (probably from her home) at (new) Light from 1893 to 1898. During these years, she also began her teaching career of about forty years and decided Miller County could afford a newspaper. She rode a bicycle throughout the county to obtain five hundred necessary signatures to secure a newspaper franchise, moved to Colquitt, bought a flat-bed George Washington press, and other necessary equipment and established the "Miller County Liberal".
'Miss Zula' was married twice and the mother of two daughters and two sons.
From the first edition in 1897, the "Liberal" was the official organ of Miller County. The loss of early editions of the "Liberal" is regrettable since social and economic growth is easily traced through items carried as news and local advertisements. Zula B. Toole wrote in the same vein as all publishers of her day-the unvarnished truth with her ideas and beliefs paramount. She remained editor and publisher until 1933, and died October 1947. Throughout the years, the "Miller County Liberal" has belonged to the descendants of the founder with her grandson, George Terry Toole, the editor and publisher in 1980. It is believed locally that Zula B. Toole is the first successful female founder and owner of a weekly newspaper.
End of Article.

Zula Orlena Brown was Interned at ⁽¹⁰³⁾
Cause of Death: Breast cancer