2013 Sep GSGSI Newsletter · appointed 5th Sgt. in January 1863 and then promoted to 3rd Sgt. later in 1863. He was on wounded furlough for 20 days in 1863, and drew .25 cents a day

BY ANITA NEWSOM NAIL

James “Jimmy” Blair was a

Revolutionary War soldier and father

to a First Family in Gilmer County. He

was born on 06 Mar 1761 in Augusta

County, Virginia. His parents are

thought to be Colbert and Sarah

Morgan Blair. In 1778, when James was

17, he enlisted in the Colonial Army in

Burke County, North Carolina. He

served as an orderly, ensign, sergeant,

and Indian scout. He fought in the

Battle of Sumter’s Defeat, the Battle of

Ramsour’s Mill, and served as a spy in

The Raft Swamp Campaign. At 19, he

was badly wounded while serving as an

“Express Rider”, alerting the patriots

that Ferguson was approaching. The

gathering of The Kings Mountain men

was made possible by sending these

riders in all directions to notify

J a m e s B l a i r - R evo l u t i o n a r y Wa r S o l d i e r In this quarterly issue:

James Blair -

Revolutionary War

Soldier

1-2

Larkin Sisson - Civil

War Soldier

3-4

Family Research Corner 5

In Focus: Ralston School

in 1912

6

Last Quarter Highlights 7

North Georgia

Memories

8

New Books In The

Genealogy Research

Center

10

Bulletin Board 11

The President’s Desk 11

Why Should I Join A

Genealogical Society?

9

Upcoming Events For

2013

10

The Gilmer County Genealogical Society, Inc. September 1, 2013 Volume 1, Issue 3

Major Battles of the Revolutionary War: On the

Battlefield at Monmouth. Benson J. Lossing, Our

Country. New York: Johnson and Bailey, 1895.

mountain heritage

patriots of the rendezvous location. A

seven stanza poem, “The Ride of the

Rebel”, written by John Trotwood

Moore, describes James as a historic

horseback courier.

After the war, James was appointed as

an Indian agent for the Cherokee

Nation. Also, as a surveyor, he was

responsible for settling some boundary

lines with the Indians. In The Treaty of

July 8, 1817, he surveyed the line that

separated Habersham County from

Indian Lands, which became known as

“The Blair Line”. He was credited with

helping settle and lay out Union

County, Georgia. The county seat of

Blairsville is named for him.

James first moved to Rhea County,

Tennessee, then to the Pendleton

District of South Carolina, then to

Franklin County, Georgia, and finally

settled near Clarkesville in Habersham

County, Georgia, where he was a

Senator and Representative in the

Legislature for 27 successive years.

———————————————————

See James Blair - Revolutionary War

Soldier, Page 2

Backwoods Girl. Edward

Eggleston, A First Book In

American History, 1889.

Page 2 The G i lmer County Genea log i c a l Soc i e ty , I nc .

Continued from Page 1

James married Elizabeth Powell around 1782. She

was born on 16 Apr 1765 in Orange County,

North Carolina. They moved to Pickens County,

Alabama in 1838. Devout Baptists, they raised a

large family. Elizabeth died on 26 Mar 1839 and

James died five days later on 31 Mar 1839.

Elizabeth and James are buried in Old Mt. Moriah

Cemetery in Pickens County, Alabama, but the

actual gravesites have not been discovered.

Mahala Blair was the third child born to James and

Elizabeth. Mahala was born around 1791 in South

Carolina. She married Larkin Holt on 23 Apr 1805

in Franklin County, Georgia. He was born

about 1786, and a veteran of The War of

1812. He died on 22 Jan 1855 in Gilmer

County, Georgia. Their children were

Lucy A., Elizabeth, Seaborn, Osborn B.,

Elijah, Mary, Martha Ann, William, James,

and John L. Holt. Mahala died about 1872

in Gilmer County, Georgia.

Robbie Shepard owns the burial property

in Pickens County, Alabama. Several years

ago, she found Elizabeth Powell Blair’s

tombstone on the ground. Robbie leaned

Elizabeth's tombstone against a sapling and it

eventually grew around the monument. There was

no sign of James' tombstone. It is thought that

James’ monument was destroyed in a tornado that

had previously gone through the area. There are

many Blair, Powell, and Holt descendants still in

Gilmer County and surrounding areas. If you are

interested in contacting the author call

(662) 332-3305 or email [email protected].

First Family Ancestral Line:

- James (Jimmy) Blair + Elizabeth Powell

- Mahala Blair + Larkin Holt

- Osborne B. Holt + Hannah E. Patterson

- Sarah R. Holt + William Braxton Painter

- William Jasper Painter + Mary Matilda Elliott

- Clarence Shuford Painter Minton +

Juanita Victoria Henson

- Hilda Elizabeth Minton +

Walter Decell Newsom

- Anita Lynn Newsom + Steven Ford Nail

James B la ir - Revo lut ionar y War So ld ier


BY KATHERINE COMBS BRAY

Larkin Sisson was born in North Carolina on 3 Dec 1814. He married Elizabeth Deal and the couple is a First Family of Gilmer County. The couple had 10 children. On 4 Feb 1842, Larkin and Elizabeth had their second child, a son, William Dyke Sisson, who was born in Gilmer County, Georgia. Larkin and William Sisson both served in the 38th Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry, Evans Brigade, Gordon’s Division, Wright's Legion, Army Northern Virginia, C.S.A., Oglethorpe County. William joined Company E as a Private on 29 Sep 1861. Larkin joined the confederacy as a substitute for Oliver H. P. Arnold of Oglethorpe County. In 1862, most substitutes received $300.

Larkin Sisson was killed at the Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) in Virginia on 28 Aug 1862. He was 48 years old. He was buried in a large common grave at the site. At the time of his death, his eldest child, a daughter, was married. In the Wilkes County Court of Ordinary, Elizabeth, his widow, applied to be administrator of his estate.

William was on wounded furlough in October 1862 (after the Second Battle of Manassas) and drew .33 cents a day. He was appointed 5th Sgt. in January 1863 and then promoted to 3rd Sgt. later in 1863. He was on wounded furlough for 20 days in 1863, and drew .25 cents a day. On 21 May 1864, The Richmond Examiner, printed that 4,419 soldiers had been admitted to the Receiving and Wayside Hospital, also called General Hospital #9, since May 6th. Wounded were received and dispatched to other hospitals. William was admitted to Receiving and Wayside on 23 May 1864. On 6 Feb 1865, he was admitted to Jackson Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. William was wounded at Petersburg, Virginia on 3 Apr 1865. He was furloughed from General Hospital #7 in Richmond, Virginia on 17 Mar 1865. He is listed on the roster of Confederate Soldiers of Georgia, Volume 4, Page 164. On 20 Dec 1866, William Sisson married Margaret Garrard. She was the daughter of Allen T. and Nancy Maddox Garrard. Allen served in the War of 1812. William and Margaret lived in Wilkes County. He was a farmer and, at one time, was a guard of convicts. In 1870, William and Margaret were living in Wilkes County with two children. In 1871, they had a daughter named Kate. They had more children, but then Margaret died in 1876.

———————————————————

See Larkin Sisson - Civil War Soldier, Page 4

Lark in S i sson - C iv i l War So ld ier

United Daughters of

the Confederacy

Manassas Battlefield: Quaker Guns at Centreville, Virginia.

Benson J. Lossing, The History of the Civil War. New York:

The War Memorial Association, 1912.


Continued from Page 3

Elizabeth, Larkin’s widow, died in 1877. Her son Thomas was the administrator of her estate which consisted of 158 acres of land with an appraised value of $550. William’s sister, Louisa, married Thomas F. Combs. Louisa died in 1892, and left Tom with four small children ranging in ages from one to eight. William sent his daughter Kate to help her uncle-in-law raise the small children. Tom Combs and Kate Sisson married. She raised Tom’s children, her first cousins, and two sons that she and Tom had together. Tom’s children always called her "Cousin Kate”. The children were half-siblings and second cousins.

William was living in the Devereux, Hancock County, Georgia in 1900. The United States Federal Census listed him as a widower. Other individuals residing in the household included Martha Smallwood, a sister-in-Iaw, and Florence Lunceford, a granddaughter. In 1987, Eugenia Fox Trawick published a book of memories about Devereux. She described Mr. Sisson, the driver of the school wagon, as a jolly old man. In the 1910 census, William listed his occupation as school bus driver and veteran of the Confederate Army. He later lived in the homes of his children. William

died in 1913 and is buried in the Wall-Sisson Cemetery in Hancock County. First Family Ancestral Line: - Larkin Sisson + Elizabeth Deal - William Dyke Sisson + Margaret Garrard - Kate Sisson + Tom Combs - Lewis Thomas Combs + Harriett Pentecost - Katherine Combs Bray

Lark in S i sson - C iv i l War So ld ier

William Dyke Sisson, 1842—1913

HOLDEN & BEARDEN: Kathy Watkins is looking for the father of Lydia Bearden Holden who was born Dec 1825 and died on 13 Jun 1900. She is buried at New Liberty with husband, Rev. John William Holden. He was born in 1822 and died in 1894. He is the son of Uriah and the twin of Ozias Holden. There were four Beardens in the 1840 Census. The father could be Willouby, Thomas, or Jacob Holden. If you have wills, obituaries, letters, Bible or church records, please contact: Kathy Watkins at 706-273-2526 or [email protected] DO YOU KNOW THESE PEOPLE? Hannah Swindoll is attempting to obtain any possible information on the individuals in the picture shown below. If you have any information on the individuals portrayed in this photograph, contact Hannah at 423-894-8762 or 719 Astor Ln, Chattanooga, TN 37412-2907.

WEBB & TIDWELL: Lee and Roxanne Johnson are looking for information on William Webb who was born about 1854 in Georgia. His wife was Emily Matilda Thurman–Webb. She was born in 1855 in Tennessee. William’s children: David Ralph Webb (b. 23 Aug 1882 in Georgia); David Thurman Webb (b. 1917 in Emory, Raines, Texas - d. Sep 1963 in Tahlequah, Cherokee, Oklahoma); and Lee Johnson Webb. William’s mother was Sallie Tidwell (b. about 1925), and she was the Daughter of John W. Tidwell and Lucy Adair Tidwell. Contact Information: Lee & Roxanne Johnson, 1401 Chickasaw, Enid, Oklahoma 73703, Cell: 580-402-3861, [email protected] CANTRELL, BATES, EVANS, FORRESTER:

Tina Peavy is looking for a connection between

Hiram King Evans and Benjamin Evans. Please

contact Tina if you have any documents, a Bible

entry, or Church record linking the two men. She

is also looking for information on Mary Ann

Cantrell. Mary Ann married James M. Bates in

Gilmer County, Georgia. Her parents were James

Clayton Evans Sr. and Cintha Jane Bates. Other

family Members are Charles C. Cantrell and

Elizabeth Forrester. Phone: 678.231.5050, E-mail:

[email protected]

Amos, Davidson, Holiday, Winkler, & Wall: A new member needs assistance to start a family tree for Martha Amos, Thomas Franklin Amos, Sally Davidson, Doc Holiday, Florence Inez Winkler, and William Hubert Walls. If you have any information on these individuals or families, please contact: Deborah Joy Walls Kenny at 678-232-6695 or [email protected]

Fami ly Research Corner



In Focus : Ra l s ton School in 1912

This photograph, Memories, appeared in The Times-Courier on 24 Jun 1976. The article stated that the picture

was in the collection of the late Mrs. Anna Kimmons and obtained by her son, John R. Kimmons, for Everett

Weeks. Ralston School was about 12 miles out on Big Creek Road across from the Briggs Garland farm.

First Row (l-r): Bessie Anderson, Floyd Cantrell, Bluford Cantrell, Lola Holt, Mamie Cantrell, Daisy Cantrell,

Nettie Kimmons, Rosalie Cantrell, Delia Weeks, Neva Garland.

Second Row: Gomer Kimmons, Lawrence Anderson, Blummer Southerland, Veliva Lowman, Mae Cantrell,

Tamer Holt, Everett Weeks, Lola Cantrell, Unknown, Lane Weaver.

Third Row: Zelma Cantrell, Lewis Garland, Willa Anderson, Lillian Cantrell, Claude Garland, Clora Garland,

Ella Garland, Unknown, Oliver Akins – teacher.

Fourth Row: Western Cantrell, Waldo Cantrell, Grady Cantrell, Crawford Kimmons, Rubin Cantrell, Home

Kimmons.


Last Quar ter High l ights

June 22, 2013: A fun and educational program, Digging into Your Family Roots, was presented by Karen Titus at the Gilmer County Library. June 24, 2013: Leslie Thomas gave a wonderful presentation for a Children’s Program at the Gilmer County Library about Native Americans with crafts. July 11, 2013: The GCGSI held their annual picnic and First Family Induction ceremony at the ETC Pavilion. After socializing and a delicious picnic, First Family of Gilmer County presented certificates and pins to Tina G. Peavy, Lillie M. Jones Haire, Laurel Brenda Hardy Cochran, and Kathryn Watkins accepting certificate and pin for Alesha Suzanne Hurst. Not pictured: John L. Hyatt, Lillie Evelyn Anderson Canup, Cheryl Mathis Felker, Michael Carlton Hardy, Andrew Clark Johnson, Britani Victoria Johnson, Jennifer Fayth White Babb, Johnathan Shawn White, Madison Brooke White, Carla Fay Hardy Johnson, Hollyanna Kim Hardy White, Margaret Eloise Jones Champion, Adam Stanley Childress, Joy Lee Cantrell Childress, Louise H, Rhodes, Jane Linton Teeter, Dennis Craig Stewart and Linda Whitener Wolfe. The First Family inductees are descended from ancestors that were settled in Gilmer County by the 1840 census. Everyone who is a descendant of early Gilmer County settlers is welcome to apply. August 2013: Scrougetown Church Cemetery was mapped with an updated burial list and headstone locations. Ten of the unidentified fieldstone graves were identified. Thanks to all of the individuals who participated and to those who identified the unmarked graves!

Kathryn Watkins

accepting a First

Family certificate

and pin for

Alesha Suzanne

Hurst.

Lillie M. Jones

Haire receiving a

First Family

certificate and

pin.

Laurel Brenda

Hardy Cochran

receiving a First

Family

certificate and

pin.

Tina G. Peavy

receiving a First

Family

certificate and

pin.


Nor th Georg ia Memories

BY GLADYS ELIZABETH DOTSON SPIVEY

We moved back to the Wimpey Place in 1945. That Christmas Aunt Pearl took me and Grady to the Christmas program at Cross Roads School, they had the school dark with just candle light. Someone played fiddle music and there was singing. Someone was dressed up as Santa Clause. Gifts were passed out. I remember I got a big bag of candy. I was almost 8 years old. Grady was 6 years old.

We started to school the next year. We had to walk form the Wimpey Place to the school at Cross Roads. That was a long walk for two small children with all of the wild animals roaming around. I reckon we made so much noise nothing bothered us. The school house was located just before the church, when the church was located on the right of the road. The school was a two room building. Rev. John Quarles and his daughter Odell was my first teacher. I got a whipping my first week of school. We had to sit two to a desk. The girl I was sitting with was talking and said I was talking when the teacher

asked who was talking. We had to carry water to drink from the spring. During the summer they would have revival at the church and us kids would play church at school. We would sing and preach like they did at church. In the winter we had wood heat, the boys would carry in the wood for the fire. We carried our lunch in a syrup bucket. Our lunch was a meat or jelly biscuit and baked sweet potato. We would stop at grandpa and grandma Miller’s house and get a jar of milk for lunch. Don’t know how we kept the milk from spoiling. Some times after school Grady and I would stop by Uncle Emery and Aunt Mary Sanford’s and play a while with their kids. They had a big rope swing in a big tree they would swing us so high I would get scared.

American Pioneers: A Prolific Country, Albert D. Richardson,

Beyond the Mississippi. Hartford, CT: American Publishing

Company, 1867.

Gladys Elizabeth Dotson Spivey and her husband Weyman Spivey

Grady Dotson


Why Should I Jo in A Genea log ica l Soc iety?

By KATHLEEN W. HINCKLEY

1. I was no longer alone. I was researching in a vacuum until I discovered a network of local genealogists. There were more than 300 genealogists within a few miles of my home. I can now share my passion with others, and I am plugged into a network that alerts me to the latest products, news, and opportunities.

2. I learned new research skills. The guest speakers at monthly meetings and annual workshops taught me how to prepare a research plan, how to evaluate evidence, and techniques to discover new sources.

3. I learned how to evaluate genealogical software. One of the most frustrating decisions for a genealogist is deciding upon the right software for their specific needs. Our society created a Computer Interest Group and sponsored educational seminars and hands-on learning workshops. Without their guidance and instruction, I would have floundered within the world of computer genealogy.

4. I improved my skills in reading old handwriting. My personal research included transcribing old documents, but until I became involved in a society project, I didn't realize that my skills were elementary. Ten Reasons to Join A Local Genealogy Society This article has been reprinted with permission from the author.

5. I learned from other members. Our society encouraged members to share their latest breakthrough or discovery at our local meetings. This sharing was not only fun, but gave me ideas on how to solve my own brick wall research problems.

6. I did not find a cousin, but someone else did. I'm always amazed at the odd connections that are made at meetings. For example, someone will casually mention they are researching the Watson family in Kentucky. Another member will answer that they are too. After comparing notes, they discover they are related six generations back into time. Believe me, it happens more often than you may think. Members will also find others researching the same geographical area and can help each other with resources, etc.

7. I developed lifelong friendships. Common interests create friendships, and I have gathered many through genealogical connections. Can you imagine what it might be like if you didn't have an understanding genealogical friend to call when you make a major discovery or solve the problem you've been working on for several years?

We Welcome You to Invite Others to Join the Gilmer County Genealogical Society

It is a Treasure Hunt!

Did you know that Genealogy is one of the top hobbies in America, as well as, one of the fastest growing? We collect, preserve, and disseminate genealogical data with a focus on Gilmer, Pickens, Fannin,

Murray, and surrounding North Central Georgia Counties. We provide local access to genealogical materials and instructions in genealogical techniques. We are staffed entirely by volunteers and are the Gilmer County Library every Friday. Exciting new projects with forms and guidance to work on your family tree or other projects. Send inquiries to [email protected] and go on-line: http://www.gcgsi.org/ for an application.

BY BETTY RIDDLE

We will gather in November to decorate our Christmas Tree for the Sequoyah Library Systems Festival of Trees. A theme will be announced. This is another fun gathering where ideas are exchanged and future plans are laid. Before December 19th, we will remove the tree and all are invited to lunch at a local eatery. We end our year with an Annual Christmas Luncheon which will be at the Shriner's Building. This is a festive time to mingle, eat, and install our officers, for the coming year. It's a good time to exchange ideas and lay plans for a great

New Year — the date and time will be announced. We look forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming events. Just speak up if you would like to be involved in any of these events. We are always looking for fresh ideas and involving more of our members. See the quarterly schedule on Bulletin Board, page 11.

Upcoming Events For 2013

History of Farming: Farmer’s Cradling the Wheat. William H. Mace, A School History of the United States.

Chicago: Rand, McNally and Company,1904.


BY BETTY RIDDLE

This is a wonderful donation of research and photographs. The GCGSI has added several books to the Gilmer County Library in the Genealogy Research Center. The books were donated by Scott Logan in his mother's memory, Winnie Genell Rackley Logan:

The history of Macedonia Church Nov. 3, 1853 - Aug. 8, 1907

Rackley - A Southern Colonial Family Cantrell - Through the years

New Books In The Genea log y Research Center

Newsletter Published By Hollyanna Hardy White

and Laurel Brenda Cochran, Publishing Chair

September: September 12th: Society Monthly Meeting, 2 p.m. Speaker – Leslie Thomas, Using DNA to Break Though the Brick Wall Genealogy Research Center volunteers: Trish Henson, Linda Wolfe,

Rebecca Burrell, & Eurilla Hyatt October:

October 10th: Society Monthly Meeting, 2 p.m. Speaker – Russell Hood from ETC, Veteran’s I Have Interviewed Genealogy Research Center volunteers: Shirley Sluder, Rebecca

Burrell, Gladys Spivey, & Betty Riddle November:

November 7th: Leslie Thomas, Pioneers of Gilmer from the Indians to the early settlers. 6 p.m. Gilmer Library

November 14th: Society Monthly Meeting, 2 p.m. Election of officers and Ellijay Lions Club “White Christmas.” Please bring gifts for children ages 0 –11 yrs

Speaker - Vicki Stephens, Restoration and Editing of photos for Your Family Tree/Album

November 19th: Decorate our Christmas tree for the Sequoyah Library Systems—Festival of Trees

Genealogy Research Center volunteers: Gladys Spivey, Rebecca Burrell, John Davis, Gloria Beaudet, & Linda Wolfe

Bul let in Board


to the public with the Gilmer Library Summer Program. Both were well attended. Leslie Thomas also provided a program to children. Our annual picnic also allowed us to welcome many new First Family members to the group. Many of our members are working on local

history projects. There is always going to be more to do in the future but we are moving right along in our goals for this year.

BY KAREN TITUS So far this year we have accomplished some of the goals we set in January. We planned to be more active in saving Gilmer history and have done that by having a photo scanning day at the Gilmer Library which was a great beginning. There are ninety new ancestor and locale photos in our archive. We plan to hold a second one this Fall. Both Leslie Thomas and Karen Titus have presented history and genealogy related seminars

The Pres ident ’s Desk

Colonial People: Costumes of a

Young Lady & a Businessman, Circa

1770, Elisabeth McClellan, Historic

Dress in America 1607 - 1800.

Philadelphia: George W. Jacobs &

Company, 1904.

We’re on the web!

www.gcgsi.org

Contact email: [email protected]

The Gilmer County Genealogical Society, Inc.

P. O. Box 919

Ellijay, GA 30540

GCGSI Membership

First Families Application

Genealogical Links

Officers

What I s Ava i lab le Onl ine?

The Gilmer County Genealogical Society, Inc.

P. O. Box 919

Ellijay, GA 30540

Book Order Form

1834 and 1840 Census

Contact Information


Documents

2013 Sep GSGSI Newsletter · appointed 5th Sgt. in January 1863 and then promoted to 3rd Sgt. later in 1863. He was on wounded furlough for 20 days in 1863, and drew .25 cents a day