Paul Lester Abbott grew up in Pickens County, Georgia, son of Georgia Abbott, and grandson of Sloan H. Abbott, Pickens County Confederate soldier.

He attended Mica School in the Conn's Creek District of Cherokee County. In an 1895 photograph of Mica, he is pictured with his classmates; those identified are John Sams, Thad and Callie Sperin Ridings, Rilla Dinning Lawson, Tinsley, Voyles, Willis Sperin, Guy Roberts, Will Sams, Cora Sperin Wood, Si Lawson, Jeff Holden, Jack Lawson, Susan Sperin Padgett, Sara Sperin Padgett, Amanda Denning, Josie Pearson, and Jack Wood. Edna Ferguson was their teacher. By the year 1900 Paul had become a teacher himself.

Knowledge was so important to him that he walked from Marble City, Pickens County, to attend North Georgia College in Dahlonega to further his formal education. His routine was to leave school on Friday, go home and spend the weekend with his family, then return to school on Sunday. Paul was an avid reader and taught himself many subjects such as Greek, Latin, Graham's Synopsis of Standard Phonography (a forerunner of Gregg's Shorthand), and Graham's Brief Longhand. He set aside two hours every night to read and/or study.

By profession of faith, Paul joined Four Mile Creek Baptist Church in Pickens County, Georgia, July 30, 1898; he withdrew his letter June 14, 1902. His mother withdrew her letter the same date according to church minutes. Paul joined Concord Baptist Church in Forsyth County by letter March 4, 1905, and withdrew March 3, 1906. He rejoined Four Mile Creek May 10, 1906, and withdrew his letter February 16, 1907.

In 1905, Paul was teaching in Auraria, Lumpkin County, Georgia. One of his pupils was Belle Christian, who later became his bride. V.Z. Higgins, M.G. joined them in marriage June 4, 1905.

After they married, Paul and Belle moved to Ball Ground, Cherokee County, where he taught at Flat Bottom School. While living there they lost their first child, Albert, sixteen days before his sister, Pauline, was born. Albert died the fifth day of the fifth month and was five hundred and fifty-five days old. Later the family moved to Marble City, in Pickens County, where Paul taught school and their third child, Edna Belle was born. Hugh Lester, their fourth child, was born in Tate, Georgia.

Paul, a humble, Godly man, and Belle were members of Cool Springs Church in Tate for many years, where he was active in Sunday School and church activities. He was so knowledgeable about the Bible that he could turn to any scripture passage within seconds of the specific passage request.

Eventually, Paul went to work in the supply house for the Georgia Marble Company in Tate. He and Belle lived in several different sections of Tate with the unique names of Mud Head and Double Branches. While living across from the depot their house burned, along with the drug store, in 1939. With the help of friends, neighbors and family they moved up the road north of the depot and lived there until Paul's death at the age of 72. Paul died in Atlanta at the home of his daughter, Pauline.

--excerpts from articles "PAUL LESTER AND BELLE CHRISTIAN ABBOTT", page 69, and "ABBOTT PART II", page 70, Pickens County Georgia Heritage 1853-1998, Walsworth Publishing Company, 2007. "PAUL LESTER..." was compiled by Mrs. Sara E. Sperin, Tate, Georgia, and submitted by Michael Winslow Abbott, Cleveland, Georgia. "ABBOTT PART II" was compiled by Mrs. Sara E. Sperin, and submitted by Benjamin Alan Abbott, Watkinsville, Georgia.