Pebble Hill Plantation, Thomasville
Thomas Jefferson Johnson was the son of James Johnson, who removed from South Carolina to Pulaski County, Georgia, and later, in 1820, removed to Early County and settled six miles from Thomasville on the Tallahassee Road. Thomas was married to Jane W. Hadley in 1827, and their youngest daughter married John William Henry Mitchell, who became the heir to Pebble Hill Plantation The first known owner of Pebble Hill Plantation in Thomasville was Thomas Jefferson Johnson who built the home in 1827. In 1850, the original house was replaced with a European-designed mansion. In 1865 the husband of his daughter, Julia Ann, died and the plantation went down hill rapidly. Sixteen years later Julia Ann died. In 1896, Pebble Hill was sold to Howard Melville Hanna form Cleveland, Ohio. In 1901, the property was given to his daughter, Kate Benedict Hanna Ireland and before her death in 1936 she had expanded the acreage of the plantation. In 1934, a fire destroyed a portion of the Main House, but the Loggia wing, added in 1914 was saved and included in the plans for the new house. In 1936 Kate died, and her daughter, Pansy, became the plantation owner. Pansy lived at Pebble Hill till her death in 1978. During her time as the plantation owner Pansy married Parker Poe, became a world-renowned horsewoman and polo player, and maintained a steady supply of guest at the plantation as her mother did. In 1950 Pansy established the Pebble Hill Foundation, which she endowed. When she died she left the Plantation in her will to become a museum open to the public. In October 1983 Pebble Hill plantation was open to the public, so visitors could take a look in the past and observe all the vintage beauties the plantations has to offer.
