James Solomon Zant, Jr., called "Jim," was born in Beaufort County, South Carolina, September 26, 1839. He was the son of James Solomon Zant, Sr., and Rebeckah Lineen Thiess.

On December 22, 1859, in Whitfield County, Georgia, he married Margarete Elizabeth Smoak, who was called "Marza." The two families lived very near each other at the Conasauga River near present-day Brown's Bridge. The main river crossing there was called Zant's Ford. The Smoak family operated a ferry nearby. Printed references that call it the Smokes Ferry should be Smoaks Ferry, for the family that ran the service.

James and his younger brother, Josiah, enlisted in the Confederate Army, Co. B, 3rd Battalion Georgia, in 1861. Both were members of several other units before the war ended.

In 1963, while the sounds of war could be heard from Chickamauga to Spring Place, the Zants sold their farm in Murray County and moved to Dooley County, Georgia, about 100 miles south of Atlanta. Their neighbors, the Smoak family, moved with them.

Children of James and "Marza" were: John Solomon, called "Johnny," (1860-1940); Julie Elfe (1863-1902); Mary Emma "Mamie" (1866-1930); James Henry "Jimmy" (1868-1890); Rebecca Lineen "Becky" (1870-1938); Margarete Annie (1872-1957); Sarah Alice "Addie" (1874-1899); Perry (1877-1877); George Asberry (1879-1916); and Josiah Thomas "Joe" Zant (1882-1918).

The family moved to Texas about 1878. They lived in Stephens County, Texas when James died, March 29, 1915.

Note: Much of the above was extracted, with permission from a website: http://www.thezants.com

Murray County Families