This manuscript is in two parts, and I have done my best to maintain the file as received. Donald M. Ricks:
"The following document is one of two documents originally written by my great-grandfather Asbury Washington Saye. I acquired a few copies of the original document from different sources but they were all poor quality copies and difficult to read. I decided to retype the document using a computer word processor with the intent to make a document as exact as possible to the original. So using the copies I had I attempted to make each line and each page duplicate the original including all spelling and punctuation errors as well as all crossed out text. Where it was possible to read I typed the crossed out text with strikeout text. There were a few places in the copies that the exact character or characters were not decipherable so I made a best guess in those situations. My intent in duplicating the document in this way was to allow readers to experience the exact feeling and intent of the original writer and to see the sometimes unusual spelling of many of the words.
Asbury W. Saye was the father of Amanda Emeline Saye Sellers who was the Mother of Auda Angline Sellers Aposhian who was my mother. I am the sixth and last child of George Moses and Auda Aposhian.
This document was retyped using Wordperfect 5.1 on an IBM PC compatible computer. It was printed using Courier font which most closely matches the original type. If anyone would like a copy of either the printed text or a computer disk please contact me.
I hope readers will enjoy reading this fascinating history as much as I have enjoyed retyping it.
***** [Manuscript page] 1 *****
To my dear Children:
I will now try to write a little history of the Saye family,
as promised you before I left Texas. I know I am not capacitated to
to do it as it ought to be done, but I will do the best I can.
My Great Grand Father come over from England about the year
1760 was six weeks making the Voyage, which was not uncommon in those days. The Emigrants that came over with him and he with them,
settled in Pennsylvania. He there married Miss Mary Hodge, who come
over in the same Vessel with him, though I do not know wheather they
became acquainted on the Voyage or not, they may have known each other
before leaving England. Soon after their marriage they emigrated to
south Carolina, settled in what is now Union County, there became a
thrifty farmer, and was doing well when the Revolutionary war broke
out, and like all Presbyterians of the Colonies, he volunteered his
services to his adopted country to defend her rights against British
oppression, the causes of which you are acquainted with. He fell at
the seige of Savanah, August 1779., he left a widow with seven children, three boys and four girls, the boys were named James, William
and Richard, who was named for his Father, he being born in the year
1777, he was my Grand Father. My Great Grand Mother raised her fami-
ly in Union County. About the time her youngest children were grown
she removed to Wilks County Georgia, which was about 1796 or 7. Herself and family connected themselves to the oldest Presbyterian chur?
ch in North Georgia, organized by the Rev. John Newton the first Presbyterian Minister who settled in North Georgia. The church was org-
anized October 1788 in Wilks County, then Elbert County now Madison
County, though the Church is still on the same ground it was first
built upon. The oldest son James married a Miss Caruthers, he first
settled in Jackson, he settled on the north fork of the Ocone River
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ultimately in Hall County, he died in 1850. His children have all passed away but two Richard Saye of Atlanta and his sister Adaline are
still living. William Says went to Missouri in early life of the family, I know but little, I know he raised one son Benjamin, my father
and him once kept up correspondence. Two of my Great Grand Mothers
girls married men by the name of Thomson, James Thomson was a soldier
in the Revolution, was in the battle of Kings Mountain, hip pantaloons
was worn in those days and kept up with draw strings, drawing them to
the back, his draw string was cut to pieces by a ball from the British
lines. James and Robert Thomson's raised their families in what is
now Madison County but I know nothing of their families. one of the
girls married one William Hodge a distant relative of her Mothers. I
became acquainted with one of his sons who lived in Cobb County Georgia. The other daughter never married. My grand Father Richard Saye
married a Miss Gardner, her Father served three years in the Revolut
ionary War. He was then living in Pennsylvania, soon after the war he
emigrated to wilks County, now Madison county., Not long after Grand
Fathers marriage he and Christopher Gardner his Father-in-law removed
to Franklin County where he raised his family, also Grand Father Gard
ner raised a large family. My Grand Mother was the only child by his
first wife. That part of Franklin County where Grand Father lived is
cut off to Banks County, Banks was organized in 1858. My Father was
raised in Franklin, joined the Hebron Church which of my Grand Father
was an Elder. I passed the church yesterday for the first time in my
life, and I will not likely ever pass there any more, but I was glad
to see the place hallowed by the associations of so many of my kindred.
The church was organized over one hundred years ago, my father united
with the church in 1823 or 4. My Grand Father raised 7 children 4
girls and 3 boys, William was the oldest son, he was my Father, James
was the second. John Brown was the third, the girls was Mary, Elithebeth
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Perdella Newton named for their Pastor who preached at Hebron for them
for a number of years, Juliett Wilson named for Dr. Wilson pastor for
a long time at Lawrenceville, and Fairview and other churches in Guinnett county. Dr. Brown was also their pastor at Hebron for w while,
his name was attached to the third son. My Grand Father removed to
Guinnett in 1825 and became an Elder of the Fairview congration. I
don't know wheather Uncle James had joined the church before Grand
Father removed to Guinnett or not, but it was not long before he became
an active member and wanting to preach, he was assisted by Dr. Wilson
and others until he acquired a Collegiate Education, then was sent to
Columbia to the Seminary to finish his Theological course, then he was
ordained to the full work of the Ministry, he preached one year in
McDonough in Henry County Georgia, then went back into South Carolina
married Miss Rebecka McJunkin, his labors in the Ministry was confined
to the Northern part of South Carolina, he labored in the Ministry for
about sixty five years, he died in November 1892 at the advanced age of
eighty four years. Uncle James had a son in Texas Teaching in one of
the Colleges there sickned and died, his death occured in 1884, his oldest son that is Uncles, he died near Manassas in Virginia in 1861 near
the place where our first Great Battle was fought for Southern Independence. I was near where he died but did not know that my cousin was in
the Army until I heard of his death. Uncle James has two other sons,
one is practicing medicine, the other is Farming, taking care of his
old mother on her farm in her declining years. Uncle also raised several daughters, they and their families live in South Carolina, except
the oldest one Margaret Shaw, her husband is practicing medecine at
Ocosaville, eleven miles below Rome in Floyd County Georgia. Their
oldest son I hear is in Texas practicing medicine, his name is William
Shaw, if you should by any means meet up with him please make his acq-
uantance. While I am so journeying back in Georgia, My Uncle John Brown
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Saye when he grew up up he also made a preacher, he received his edu
cation in Marysville Tennessee, he after finishing his course of study
was ordained to the full work of the Ministry, settled in East Tenness
ee married a Miss Hart, not remaining long there he and his father-in-
law moved to Indiana and finally removed to Springfield Illinois. Uncle John raised 3 children, one son Thomas I don't recollect the girls
names, uncle died about the year 1874 or 5 if we heard correctly. A
little while before General Lee's surrender when all appeared to be
lost one of my cousins left Lee,s lines went over to the Federal lines
told them he had give up and wished them to send him to Springfield
Illinois, which they generously did without making him a prisioner of
War. He was carried to Springfield, there he hunted up our Uncle, the
family was much surprised and glad indeed to see one of their fathers
connection but astonished to think he or their kin could have been
fighting on the confederate side, they would say to him and cousin
John a cecescionist., cousin would frankly tell them he was to their
great surptise. They would have been as he was if Uncle had have removed back to Georgia instead of going North. It was the school North
and South that was teaching the great sectional principals that so divided the two great sections of our country, that brought about the
great struggle for Southern Independence. Both sides fought as they
thought for their own existance. Before I proceed further I will try
to explain why Presbyterians and Baptist were generally found on the
Whig or Rebel side in Colonial times. England in establishing and Governing her Colonies extended her civil and Ecclecitstical laws alike.
That placed the Episcopalion church in all the civil authority so far
as the clergy had to do in executing the laws, hence the Presbyterian
or Baptist could not marry the young people of their own congregations
they were looked upon as Illegal bodies of worshipers, and to have the
marriage vows performed legally they were required to get the
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Episcopal Clergy, their ceremonies were long and out of place as these
dissenting bodies of worshippers believed, some parties would not consent to all of the ceremony believing it taught Idolity of the Bridegrooms body to that of the Bride, some times the Bridegroom would stop
the Minister and tell him he would not consent to such an obligation,
they would stop and compromise by the minister telling them he would
leave out that part of the ceremony that was obnoxious to them, not
being recognized as lawful bodies of worshippers caused them to have
no love for England and was ready to take up arms in defence of their
liberties., and other bodies of dissenters also were ready to take up
arms in defence of Colonial rights. The first Declaration of Independence was gotten up by a body of Presbyterians in Mecklinburg county
North Carolina in 1774.But to return to our History. Fathers oldest
sister Mary always known to us as Aunt Polly was married in 1823 to
Harvey Flemming of Hall County, but was raised in Franklin county in
the neighborhood of my Grand Fathers, he died in Cobb county Georgia
in 1848, leaving a large family to the care of his wife which she managed well, her children have been found among the Judicinal and executive bodies of the State. Aunt died In 1879, was born in 1802.
Fathers second sister was Married to Major Azeriah Noel in 1828, they
riased a large family of which only 3 were boys, the two boys living,
one in Texas, the other in the Indian Territory, one died in the confederate war. Three of the girls have moved to Texas, one of them have
died since her removal, one died in childhood, another died after she
had arrived at womanhood, four of them are still living in Georgia, but
none of them on the old homestead, they are all doing well, and are
raising high toned families. Uncles family feels very near to me as
we were raised up so much together. My third Aunt was married to one
William Braselton in 1844, they raised their family in Cherokee county
Georgia, the only son living is in Louisana. I don't know how he is
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doing, his sisters are doing very well, Aunt Perdilla Baselton died in
1889, born in 1817. I omitted to state that Aunt Elithebeth Noel died
in 1884, was born In 1811. My fourth Aunt Juliet was married to Allen
Dodds, they were raised up in sight of each other and of course knew
each other well, they were married in 1850 emigrated to Arkansas in
1855, Uncle Allen Dodds died about 3 years ago about 68 years old,
Aunt Juliett Dodds is living yet so far as I know if living she is the
only one living of my Grand Fathers family, is 73 years old. My Grand
Father was born in 1777, I suppose married in 1801 died in 1867. My
Grand Mother was born in 1782 in Pennsylvania, removed in early life
to Georgia died in 1858. Since we removed to Texas quite an excitement has gotten up among our kin about an enormous amount of wealth
which is ready for us if we can prove that we are the legal heirs to
Lord Sage's money which has been resting in the V aults of England for
150 years, fathers cousin Richard Saye has been doing his best to see
if we are not the right ones but he is giving it up as helpless as he
can not find out whether William Saye who should have been a brother
to our Great Grand Father was the Lord Saye or not of England, neither
could he hear where these rich Vaults of money were kept. I have not
believed in the story at all, have never give it any encouragement, I
could not see any face of reason in it, money is not apt to rest so lo
long for the want of an owner, and then if we are the decendents of
the Lords of England we certainly have gone to seed., so I have given
the report no credit at all. I will now proceed to give you some
account of your Grand Father, my Grand Fathers oldest son. Fathers
life was a varied one, I suppose all mens lives are, fathers probably
not more then others. He was bron the 5th of October 1804, I do not
know whether he was carried to Franklin in his infancy or born in
Franklin county, the place where my Great Grand Mother settled was
then Wilks county , when Elbert was made she was found in Elbert county, when madison was made she was found in madison county, though
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living all the time on the same farm, if my father was born down there
it was Elbert county at that time, Madison was organized in 1812 when
my father was 8 years old, my Grand Father was a Gun Smith so it was
very natural for my father to learn the use of tools, he kept Black
Smith tools, some times employed a black smith, did not like to work att
the trade himself, preferred being on his farm or at his mill. Father
when grown left his father and went to live with his brother in law
Harvey Flemming in Hall county that was in 1824, returning to his fath-
ersers he assisted him in moving to Guinnett county, the next year and
assisted him in opening up his farm that year, while living with Uncle
Harvey Flemming in Hall he became acquainted with my mother living in
Habbersham county, they were married the 26th of April 1826, it is now
White county where they were married, father brought my Mother to Guinnett county and continued to open up Grand Fathers farm that year, in
the fall of the year he removed to Hall county where he was struggling
along as most young man have to do that are poor, in 1828 gold was discovered over among the Indians not far from where my father was living
a little stream known as Chestatee River was the line between the
whites and Cherokee Indians, all eager to make some money rushed over
the river and went to digging gold without asking permission of the
Indians, they of course did not want to be intruded upon, began to
grumble about their treaty not being respected by the whites, they
would have gone to war but Governor Gilmer sent Major Wayne with some
troops drove the intruders back across the Chestatee to their own side,
but it was not long until another treaty was made which gave all the In
Indian country lying within the boundry line of Georgia to the whites,
where the intrusion took place is now Lumpkin county. Some Histories
state that some of the Intruders was put in prison, but my father seemed
to know nothing of tha-t. There was a law passed soon after this trouble that all persons found on Indian Territory should be imprisioned
***** 8 *****
for four years some of the missionaries that was preaching to the
Cherokees was arrested tryed and found guilty, but as their homes had
been among the Indians for a long time, they sued the State for Damages but before they had a trial for damages they acknowledged the Authority of the state, wrote to Governor Gilmer to release them which
he did. My father made some gold in the intrusion which started him
up some. Three of fathers brother-in-laws, my Mothers brothers also
dug gold in time of the intrusion and made good wages. Uncle Harvey
Flemming was among the first of the intruders, none of my connection
were molested, but when the order to retire from the Indian grounds
was made they all went to their homes without molestation. In time
of the gold digging on May the 19th 1829 your father first light on
that beautiful May morning that puts men now in my seventieth year,
near the alloted days of man. In my earliest recollection in 1833 my
father removed to Guinnett county bought part of his fathers farm to
help the old man get out of debt, which he succeeded in doing. On
account of the treaties of Georgia with the Indians, and the United
States treaties with them, they were often perplexed and incensed at
the Whites. It seemed that hostilities would take place, though the
Cherokees killed some of their Cheifs for making the treaties they
made, they continued peacebly with the whites and was finally removed
to their present territory in 1838., from the time of my Fathers marrigge until their removal to the west he was often among them trading
withthem for they were great hands to traffic, he was once relating a
foot race he was almost forced into to keep them in good humor, he
had went over the Chestatee River among them to buy some hogs, they we
were buisy hunting the hogs, when one of the young Indians who thoug-
ht he could run very fast proposed a foot race with father, so the
ground was marked off the length of race agreed, upon the signal giv-
en they started with all speed, father had laid off his hat,at the end
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of the race father was found to be a little ahead, he turned around a
and pointed to fathers head said it was not fair as he had thrown away
his hat so the race must be run over, so putting on his hat they ran
again, father made out to beat him a little, that satisfied him then
they went on in the best of humor hunting their hogs, father made a
good trade for some of their hogs very pleasantly. I give this incident merely to give you an idea of the pleasant social relations that
was existing up to their removal.In 1835 father carried his brother
John to Maryville Tennessee to school, they had to go through the
Blue Ridge Mountains, the white settlements were far apart, they often
had to lodge with the Indians, and the Indians living in the mountains
were very poor living in pole cabbins with dirt floors with no furniture but having a big pot to boil their homminy called by them connehony
with large blue beans boiled with their corn made it look very unpalateable especially when they had to beat the dogs off with their homminy paddles, but it was that or nothing, but travel all day without
food they could take enough of it to travel on the next day. If uncle
could have waited until now he could have went in one day without being either hungry or tired, when bedtime came a deer skin was thrown
down, they would place their saddle blanket on it, their pillow was
their saddle, the Indians would then look around and give the Indian
grunt of satisfaction looking on them as well fixed. What wonderful
changes has taken place since my recollections, the advancement in the
Arts and scenes have been so great, I leave the subject to men to give
who are capacitated to give for it would take volumes to give as we
ought to have it. When the Creeks Indians made their Treaty they included the Seminoles of Florida consisting them runaways, the word
Seminole means runaway, it was partly true for some of the dissatisfied Creeks had runaway to Florida,many years before this, the Seminoles were runaways from several tribes and had formed an alliance with
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each other to make one Nation and quit a number of negro slaves at different times made good their escape from their masters, some of them
became servants to the Indians, more of them maintained their independence with them married among the Indians until they were living together as one people, so they had become politically and secondary a
part of the runaway or Seminole tribe, the owners of those slaves would sometimes hunt them out and return them to their plantations. That
was very expensive to both Indian and Negro and when the Creeks made their treaty to move beyond the Mississippi in 1835 they declared war
as they were not recognized as a tribe and had not been given any territory. Before this General Wiley Thomson had been sent to Florida as
the Agent of the United States to settle all difficulties that might
arise, he was to settle the vexed question often occuring about the
title of Negroes who had ranaway from their masters, some of these
Negroes had been there for a long time and some one would come and
claim them and if it was a woman and had married and boren children
the children also became legal property to the claiment. I have no
doubt that some of these claims to this kind of property was incorrect
though Gen. Thomson was trying to do right but had to give a verdict
according to the testimony in the case this caused him his death, there
was a many by the name of powell who was an Indian trader, married an
Indian woman raised a son down there among the Indians, this young man
became a leading Indian among them he married a woman who had some
Indian blood and some Negro blood, a man came and claimed that she
was his property, the evidence being in his favor he taken young
Powells wife with her children and returned to his home in Georgia if
he had one, this all hapening in the fall of 1835 when there was already a great deal of discontent among them, not being recognized as a
seperate tribe in the treaty stipulations, young Powell swore vengance
against Gen. Thomson after loosing his family, he lay around the Fort
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seeking a chance to kill Thomson, the General seeing discontent among
the Indians and fearing an outbreak he made some arrangements to Garison
the Fort Stranger, in so doing he would have to send a party of his troops through the everglades to Tampa Bay for reinforcements and it was a
man living in the neighborhood of the Fort who owned a Negro man who had
piloted some parties through the country to Tampa Bay, he let the Indians know it and made arrangements with them to ambush and massacre the
troops, he would pilot through and picking out the place for them to do
their bloody work he was to drop out just before he should get to that
place and turn around and help them do their work, it worked as they had
agreed to do, the place of the massacre was not far from the Fort they
were coming to strengthen , but far enough to keep them from hearing
evening
their guns, the same/ening of the massacre it being the 28th of December
1835, young Powell shot and killed General Thomson and one of his officers while they were walking out for recreation outside of the Fort.
Powell then made his escape to the Indians as they were making their
Jollifications over their Victory and massacre over Major Dade and his w
whole command, but one man escaped to tell the story. This young Powell
became the dreaded Oceola the Great Chief of the Seminole, for he certainly revenged himself for the loss of his wife and children, if revenge
could satisfy the mind, after this they turned themselves loose and devasitated 80 miles of the frontier country of Georgia and Florida, before
aid could be sent to their relief. Several bloody battles were fought at
different times but the Indians could hide in the Everglades and continued to out do our troops who were sent after them. Becoming tired of so
fruitless a war our troops procured one of their Chiefs and persuaded
him (his name was Wild Cat) to go to the Indian Territory and see it and
return and let his subjects know about the country and if he liked the
new home in the west to persuade his subjects to remove there, and as he
was promised separate Territory for the Seminoles by the Cherokees
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Indians they agreeing to divide theire lands with them until the United
States would grant them a separate Territory, Wild Cat returned give his
subjects a history of the west and prevailed on many of the Indians to
remove to the Territory. Some of our troops committed a very ungenerous
Act about this time, some of them sent a messenger to Oceola to come to
their camp for they wanted to make a treaty of peace if possible or something looking to that desireable end for both sides were growing tired
of War, this was early in year 1838. Oceola not expecting any traiterous
designs, met in conference, the whites, as soon as he came some of the
soldiers took hold of him and put handcuffs on him, he was sent to Charlestown South Carolina put in prison, he died that spring, possibly of
a broken heart. ,deprived of his family then betrayed. If he had outlived his prision confinement he had had enough to make him an inveterate enemy to the whites., all his life. Most of the Indians were gotten
up through friendly measures toward them than by fighting, for they could
evade our troops in the everglades and long moss. The Seminoles were
finally removed and given territories to themselves, the war ended with
them in 1842, it lasted seven years costing the United States 40,000,
000 forty millions and removed less than 3 thousand Indians. You may
ask what had the war to do with my fathers History. I will answer he
lived in six miles of the Cherokees many of them were dissatisfied, did
not want to go west, did not want to give up the Home and land of their
fathers, for they are a very sensitive people, and when the Creeks commenced Hostilities in the spring of 1836 down the Chattahooche River
near Columbus. The people was in great consternation comparisons being
made up to check Indian invasion and go punish those who had come over
the Chattahooche and killing all where they went, men, women and children,
to bring the country into a state of defense was necessary while companys
were being made to meet the Indians, Guinnett started a company quickly,
Decalb another, that was soon on their way to the seat of war, uncle
***** 13 *****
Harvey Flemming went in the Decalb company, he had moved before this from
Hall to Decalb the company from Guinnett county soon engaged in battle
with the Indians at Shepards Plantation Captain Garmany seems to have
made a mistake by having his men to dismount and penetrate into the swamp
where they believed the Indians were, they soon flanked and made a race
for Garmanys Horses and was cutting them loose when the Captain with a
few of his men got back, I just in time by hard fighting to save his horses,
some of his man were chased by the Indians until dark Garmany lost 8 men
in the skirmish, your Uncle George was born the same evening of the battle which was the 9th of June 1835. Garmany was attached to his name.
Farmany was badly wounded, he returned at the time of his enlistment made
up another company which my Father joined but were not called into service.
The creeks soon became tired of war, came in and gave up and were sent
west. Three of my Uncles went to the seminole War and I recollect what
rejoicing when they returned, the Seminole war lasted seven years and cost
our Government 40 million dollars, you see it affected the interest of
every one and of course affected my Fathers interest besides the uneasiness and discomfort of the situation, I know I was afraid to work in the
field out of sight of my father for fear the Indians would come and kill
me, though I was very small at that time but father put his children to
work early in life and accustomed us to it, until it seems now a part of
our nature. I am satisfied now that children are never put to work too
early in life. In 1838 the Cherokees were removed to their present home
in the west. Wild Cat and all the Indians he could control were soon after
transferred also. Oceola being capturedd it was thought that the war was
about ended, but it was found that another war like Chief with a formable
party was still making inroads on the settlements and prowling abouts the
Forts causing trouble and some times skirmishing making attacks and than
running to their deep marshes and hide. This Chiefs name was Billy Bowlegs
there were other Chiefs who took part in the bloody balltes of the first
***** 14 *****
two years of the war but I forget their names. The bloody battles were fought within the first two years of the war, Billy Bowlegs and his subjects were not removed until 1842, about the time of the removal of the
Cherokees, there was found a formable organization of horse thieves, they
stole a good horse that spring 1838 from my father when he was about 40
miles from home trying to collect some money that was due him, these
parties had removed into the New Cherokee purchase, some of these new
counties had been organized in 1832 and civil jurisdiction extended over
them, but these bandits could hide out among the Indians until they were
removed, after this they were more easly gotten hold of, my father came
home on foot he then procured a horse and planted his corn then went
back to hunt for his horse, fortunately he got on trail , come upon his
horse and demanded his horse, the fellow told father he must go and get
proof that the horse belonged to him, father told him if he put him to
that trouble he would make him prove how he had come in pocession of him
the fellow thought to be put to any trouble about it he would give him
up, father come home with his horse and about this time two of my Uncles
came by our house on their return from Florida. I recollect how we run
from the field where we were at work and what Joy it gave my mother to
know they had got back safe. My father would sometimes take his cotton
crop to the Blue Ridge Mountains and exchange it for hides, tallow,beef,
wax and peltries in general and sell out to the Tanneries, he also hauled flour to the Delonega Gold mines about sixty miles from where we
lived. Delonega was the name for gold in the Cherokee Language it is
now the name of the county site of Lumpkin county. The county was organized in 1838, that part of Habersham where Grand Father Barnes lived
was cut off to Lumpkin county the year 1839, was one of the most plenteous years I have any recollection of in my life, the winter was rather
dry, the spring continued dry having light rains sometimes, but not
enough to stop our plows, the spring was mild giving us a fine fruit
***** 15 *****
Year, I recollect of hearing my Grand Father saying that he never saw
every kind of fruit so plentiful,all kinds of wild fruit, and berries,
of all kinds in rich provisions, there was a great deal of Brandy made
that year and drank freely at the corn shuckings but none of my kinfolks
would have it about them, did not make nor have it at their gatherings,
I have reason to bless God that I was raised by religious parents who
taught us temperance in all things, and to be extreamly temperate in
whiskey and Brandy. My father never had any fears to send my brother a
and myself to a neighbors corn shucking where Brandy was plenty, he
knew we would come home as sober as we had gone, because we was going
to do as father wanted us to do, it was looked on as a disgrace to drink
but little and too bad to get drunk. The next year was as sorry a crop
as could be made out with we had floods of rain in the spring washing
away fencing and preventing us from planting corn until late, the
spring of 1840 was when Augusta was so innundated so with water destroying so much goods and property, I have often thought it was because
people did not appreciate the great blessings God had so bountifully
blessed them with the year before, the year 1839 continued dry until
December, it became so dry the creeks and Rivers almost dryed up, my
father had to go thirty five miles up the Chattahooche to get his corn
and wheat ground, the stream had so nearly all failed the mills could
not run, father had made an unusual amount of corn and wheat and the
year 1840 was as poor for it.In 1841 the crops was still poor. Father
removed to Cherokee county in the fall of this year and two years later
moved on to the farm that my mother is living on now, she has now made
55 crops there, she is now in her 91st year but can get about pretty
well. My Father settled where my mother lives in December 1843, there
was a house and about 8 acres of land cleared on the place when my father
bought it, we went into the River bottom to clearing land and in the
course of a few years opened up a good farm, father than built a mill
***** 16 *****
both saw and grist so when the great civil war broke out he was running
a farm and grist and saw mill also blacksmith shop, seven men left his
employ in the beginning of the war but only one returned, that was your
Uncle Willie, Father was in favor of prosecuting the war to its bitter
end but when it ended he attempted the situation adjusted himself to the
situation was one of the first advocates to set up schools for the
freed men, if they had to be citizens, make them as good ones as possible
he had althrough life wanted to see their condition bettered, my grand
father in Franklin while living there he had opened up a sunday school
for the Negroes but soon after this or about this time a law was passed
prohibiting the Negrom from receiving any education whatever, this law
no doubt injured us instead of being a benefit, so my father althrough
life had been taught to have sympathy for the poor africans cast upon
our shores without their consent and often toiled in drudgery all their
days with only their clothes and food for pay. That was often all his
labor was worth, but some hard masters drove them to hard and did not
feed and clothe as well as they ought to have done, my father expressed
satisfaction at the progress of the colored race in their literary and
sabbath school attainments, father had trouble over a damage suit made
against him about raising the water on the river over his neighbors land
his neighbor failing to prove that he was injured, father of course
gaind the suit but it cost him trouble and some money, after the war he
let his mills go down attended only to his farm, he had worked very hard
injured himself so that in his latter years he suffered severly with
piles urinary and kidney troubles, the last seven years of his life he
suffered greater pain at times was intensely so he died the 9th of June
1878 nearly 74 years of age. It would not be doing justice to my grand
mother without saying something about her father her mother dying before her recollection, as I have before stated her father served 3 years
in the revolutionary war he then living in Pennsylvania, he was of Irish
descent. The Irish are very determined characters in what ever they
***** 17 *****
engage in so I suppose his 3 years was the time of his enlistment but
ready to do service at any time when necessary, in 1784 or 5 he come to
Georgia my grand mother used to tell us that she thought she could recollect of coming over the Rock Bridge in Virginia though she was only in
her third year, the Rock Bridge spans a creek 215 feet above where a
small stream is running through below it is one of natures curosities,
he settled in Wilks county the Indians were troublesome on those days,
they lived in a Fort for a good while to protect themselves from the
Indians, grandmother used to tell us that her and other children would
be playing outside the Fort and imagining they heard or saw Indians would
run into the Fort for safety, after she grew up and married, her father
Christopher Gardner and her husband Richard Saye removed to Franklin
county where they raised their families, grandmother had 3 half brothers,
Asa, John and Thomas, Asa in early life settled in Jasper county but I
think emigrated to Arkansas Territory before it was admitted to the
Union as a state, he was killed by one of his mules kicking him, his
death occured in 1848, I have become acquainted with only one of his
children, John after leaving Franklin moved I think to Henry county then
to Cass which is now changed to Bartow county then went to Texas before
it was annexed to the United States, but stopping where there was a great
deal of sickness he retraced his steps to North Mississippi settled in
Tippah county he had lost his wife while living in Bartow county Ga.,
his children some of them being nearly grown up he would not marry any
more, he said he did not want to scatter his children which I think is
often done by indiscreet widowers. He finally settled in Ittawamba county he lived a well to do farmer, his boys were blacksmiths they were
thrifty men, John Gardner died in 1863 in the darkest days of the war
around him. As I return to Texas I will stop at Corinth go down the Mobile and Ohio railroad to Baldwin to see if I can find any of your
mothers people and if any of my great uncles children are living.
***** 18 *****
I will give them a place in my narative because my early associations with
them has been pleasant it was to Uncle John Gardners I went to in Mississippi in my young days when I first set out for myself, there in that section of country I became acquainted with your mother, your grand mother
Ricks had just moved out there the same fall that I went to Uncles it was
in the fall of 1857 but I have wondered from my subject. Thomas Gardner
lived and died in Henry county Georgia of his family I know but little, I
hear of some Gardners still in that county I suppose his sons or grandsons, grand mother had 8 halfsisters Rebecka married John Dodson he was a
successful farmer settled first after leaving Franklin in Henery county then removed to Chattooga county after the last purchase of lands from the
Indians, there he done well raising stock on the Lookout mountain, he also
run a good farm in the valley one of his grand sons is a poet, you have
the Book yet.One of Uncle Dodsons boys is at the head of the college at
Oxford Alabama of them in general I know but little, Elithebeth married a
William Gillispie, they remained in Franklin county raised their family
there and have passed away one of their sons Thomas was killed the 17th of
September 1862 in the hard fought battle of Antetiam or Sharpsburg where
your uncle Edward Ricks was killed, another of the brothers married Aunt
Caroline Barnes sister, Amanda Maize, they are living about the line of
Hall and White counties, but of the Gillispie family further I know but
little. Catherine married a John Underwood, they removed from Franklin to
Guinnett county, from there they removed to Walker county before the
Indians were removed, I played with my uncle Underwoods children in Guinnett county before he went to Walker county and I thought I would be afraid
to go with them for fear the Indians killing me, they removed up there in
the stormy days of the Seminole war but fortunately the Cherokees kept
peaceably, those of the family I recollect was Thomas, Walker and William.
I made Williams acquaintaince after we were grown, he came to Mississippi
after I had settled there, though he did not stay long but returned to
Georgia. I know nothing of them now only that
***** 19 *****
the old people have passed away according to the course of nature. I
suppose most of the children are gone before this time. Clarissa married
Thomas Caruthers he also moved into Guinnett county he removed to Walker
the same time with Underwood they settled on Peavine Creek or a valley
of that name, Samuel Caruthers another of my playmates before leaving
Guinnett county made a lawyer by profession and was practicing law I
believe in Dalton Georgia when he took the fever and died he died in
early life, with regard to his brothers and sisters I know nothing. Mary
married a many by the name of Bowden he was very well educated for the
times then taught school and was called a good teacher, a man of good
intellect could have been a useful man but let Whiskey get the better of
him, he became a regular drunkard after settling first in Henry county
they removed to Guinnett settled about 8 miles from my grand father but
Bowden being so unlike my grand father they did not visit nor have anything to do with each other, I called on uncle Lot Rowden twice while I
was traveling for Dr. Barker collecting money and putting out his medecines for sale, the first evening I called there was a corn shucking in
the neighborhood uncle and all of his boys that was still at home for
some of then had grown up before this time and had left the parental
roof they were all going to the shucking of course I must go too, we had
as usual on such occasions a pleasant time the gentleman of the house
treated us to a good supper and plenty of whiskey I think the whiskey
has something to do with my old Great Uncles going for the boys would
have been enough to have went old uncle Lot enjoyed the evening and night
by getting pretty lively on whiskey, I suppose it was midnight when we got
back to his house and he was so lively he did not let me sleep much that
night, I called on him again about christmas one of his boys had come to
see him and his son loving whiskey as well as his father, they were taking
advantage of the christmas times as it is generally called were embibing
very freely when I got there, they prevented Aunt Mary and me from getting
a good night sleep they were too lively for us, it caused aunt polly as
***** 20 *****
she was generally called a great deal of trouble to see her husband and
sons drinking so excessevly the family have all passed away except one
daughter, if I have heard correctly the daughter I think is doing well
Nancey married a man by the Name of Brawner, they had removed from Guinnett county to Mississippi, one year before I went out there Uncle William
Brawner was a hard working man but a poor hand to manage, Aunt Nancy died
in 1858, Uncle married again but did not live agreeable with his last
wife, none of uncles children did very well, Jussie Brawner his second
soon died in the war in Virginia. Sally Inzer I should have said Sarah
married a man by the name of Inzer, of them I know nothing. Jane Mrs.
Stephenson the younger of my grandmothers half sisters I forgot her given
name they lived in Carrol county Georgia I know nothing of the family
they may have raised I can recollect of seeing all of my great Aunt except
Mrs. Inzer I suppose I have seen her but I was small. I can recollect
seeing my great grandfather Gardner he would visit my grandpa Sage and I
would be running about over there sometimes he would tell me he would
get him a bag and put me in it and carry me home with him that would
scare me very much the idea of being carried off in a meal bag for I did
not know there was any other sort of bags, frightened me very much and I
was a little glad when I heard of his death, he died in 1836 people ought
to be careful about teasing and scaring little children the recollections
of my great grandfather was never pleasant long after his death. Now
before I go further I must not neglect my mothers side of the house,
religeously they were all Baptist, my mother was born in Wilks county
North Carolina she was nearly grown when her father removed to East Tennessee into Rhea county but did not stay there but one year hearing of the
lands to be drawn for they removed to Habersham county I don not know
whether grandfather Barnes settled the land he drew or not I don't think
he did he lived there over 20 years than moved up near the Blue Ridge in
his old age. his children removed him to Cherokee county where 3 of his
children were living. he lived near them until his death which occured
***** 21 *****
in September 1854, both of my grandfathers were born in the stormy days of
the Revolution, grandfather Barnes was born in 1779, my grandmothers were
born in 1782. I am not right sure grandma Barnes was born in 1782 but
think I am correct, they were born after the fighting had ceased but before the Independance of the Colonies were acknowledged and recognized by
Great Brittian, my grandma Barnes was a Swain, I have no history of their
views in the days of the Revolution nor the part they took for or against
the Independence of the colonies, one of grandmas brothers commanded a
company of volunteers from Wilks county North Carolina in the second war
against Great Brittian and was in the bloody battle of the Horse Shoe
against the Creek Indians or at the battle of New Orleans, I am not sure
which, grand Ma's youngest brother emigrated to Mississippi, I once knew
3 of his boys they were a well to do family, my great uncle George Swain
was a Baptist preacher of good standing some of my grandmas brothers emigrated to Indiana also some of grandpas removed there in early life of
there decendance I have no account. In time of out great civil war some
scouts captured some of the enemy they guarded their prisoners one night
in my fathers yard, my mother learning they were from Ohio told them some
of her uncles had moved to that state for some of them had stopped in
Ohio, one of the prisoners told her he knew some people by the name of
Swain, one of our guards says madam would you not feel bad if we have
caught up some of your connection, there was not much talk between mother
and the prisoners though mother was feeding them just as well as if they
just had been fighting on our side, I suppose prisoners do not feel like
talking much, my grandfather Barnes while living in North Carolina followed wagoning to Charleston, it seems now a long ways to haul produce 3
hundred miles then bring merchandise back, it seems that the people must
have done with very little of the commodities and luxeries that we now
enjoy. It took 4 weeks to make a trip, the feeding of a team and at times
the road very bad rivers swolen bridges sometimes washed away so that the
***** 22 *****
waggoner had any thing but a bed of roses and freights must have been
enormous to have paid enough to have kept men wagoning all the year round
grandma would have his corn planted for him if he was over his time, one
time he started with a load of goods to the Duck river settlements in
middle Tennessee I suppose a distance of 6 hundred miles it may not have
been quite that far to have passed through the white settlements in western Georgia then through the Cherokee Nation which was near 2 hundred miles
then down into the duck river settlements in middle Tennessee, he made the
trip in 8 or 9 weeks, my mother says they were planting corn when he arrived home they dropped their tools and ran for joy to know that Pa had got
home safe to think of such a trip now would be apalling, I have heard my
grandpa talk of his trips, but I never heard him speak of carrying a
weapon of any kind, I have no idea he ever carried a weapon not even
when he was in the Indian Nation and yet we talk about religeon and morality being on the increase when now many cowardly young men carry pistols to church, there is a great increase in the religeous line but no increase of piety. My mother says her father owned a better farm in North
Carolina than he ever owned in Georgia, I know his land in Habbersham had
but thin soild he turned his attention to raising apples for market, I
recollect father getting 2 loads of him , not the same season, one load
he sold in Lawrenceville the other he took to Macon, Apples are not much
cheaper now than when they were hauled in waggons through commodities and
merchandise in general are more than 5 times as cheap as before the days
of Railroad facilities, grandfather had bean settled 2 or 3 years in
Habbersham before my father became acquainted with my mother, she had
one older brother then herself, mother being the 3rd child, one had died
when small, my mother was born in February 1808, Uncle John was born in
1804 or 5, not having their record I may not recollect correctly. I
suppose my grandparents were married in 1801 or 2, Aunt Nancey was born
in 1811, I think. I recollect the dates of Uncle Charles and George
Charles was born in 1813 and uncle george was born in 1816 aunt Ruth I
***** 23 *****
think in 1820, Uncle Solomon born in 1825 or 6 he was the youngest, I
omitted to state the birth of Aunt Hannah she was born I suppose in 1818
unfortunately she was an idiot she died about 1858 or 9 Uncle John married
a Miss Barker he was married in 1827 the day before he was married uncle
Charles was sent to the mill with a turn of grain on one of their horses
it was a common way of carrying grain in those days to mill, I suppose it
must have been a windy day as he was returning home with his turn of meal
or flour a tree fall across the road it was forked one fork fell in front
of him the other falling at his back bruised him almost blocked, kk killed
the horse Uncle lay there helpless until he was found he had to be brought
home on a litter with bedding on it he suffered greatly for some time but
finally recovered, Uncel John married while uncle Charles was lying crippled uncle John settled near grandpa, moved but once that was only a little
up the creek but his first settlement remained apart of his farm for life.
He made some money gold digging in time of the intrusion he was a great
hand to raise fruit and vegetables, for the Delonega gold mines and as the
town grew to importance it became his market, he raised a large family,
his boys all served in the confederate army except one I think he served
on detached service at or near home he lost one son in the war, cousin
Pinkney was in some of the bloodiest engagements of the war. Uncle John
lost his wife in 1856 I believe that was the year,he after the war married
a miss Keneday by her he raised 2 children son and daughter, the son is
living on the old homestead with his mother the daughter is married and do
doing well, uncle died in 1887 or 8 being about 83 years of age, uncle Charles was married in December 1835 to a Miss Stover he also settled near
his father, I think it was before he was married that he came near loosing
his life in the Chestatee River, he had drove over to Delonega with oxen
and wagon for the family often carried over some produce for sale, it
rained while uncle was selling out his load which took him until near
night to get through trading , he started not thinking of the river rising from the rain it must have rained more up the river than at town it
***** 24 *****
was dark before he got to the river and he was so accustomed to fording
day or night for they lived in 2 miles of the River he thoughtlessly
drove in the oxen was soon swiming around as best they could, he washed
off of his vehickle that he was in and could not swim a lick, he floundered around a little and fortunately got hold of some limbs that reached over in the stream some distance, he climed up the limbs until he
got hald of the trunk of the tree and came down it in safety and on the
home side of the river the oxen was also fortunate, they swam to the
ford and got out. At another time he also came near loosing his life
he and a man one day was proposing to swap horses Uncle sprang on the
fellows horse the horse started at full speed uncle found he could not
control him in the least, the horse soon ran against a tree and killed
himself and came very near killing uncle, there never had been any one
on his back before, it seemed the man wanted uncle to break him for him
and so he did by breaking his head open, the man had the audacity to
want uncle to pay him for the horse uncle had the audacity to tell him
he would never do it, uncle did not get severely hurt but it is a wonder
he had not been killed. Nothing more of intrest in uncle charles life
occured until he enlisted as a soldier in the Seminole war he joined
Captain Barkers company. Uncle George Barnes was made First Leutenant,
uncle Charles was third Lieutenant, this was in the fall of 1837, the
company was made to serve six months, they went down into the Florida
swamps and scouting in the everglades and among the long moss was always exciting but probably the most trying time with uncle one night he
with only one man with him was sent 30 miles after a surgeon to come
with all speed for one of their men had been badly wounded by the Indians having six balls to extract from his bleeding body, uncle and his
comrade started just at night it was 30 miles, they returned after serving their term, uncle Charles rode 75 miles the day he got home, he
arrived about one or two oclock at night, of course it was the begining
of the next day.In 1839 he removed to cherokee county, a great many
***** 25 *****
panics took place about this time so much so that uncle failed to pay
for the place he had bought, he struggled along until 1852 finding he,
could not succeed he emigrated to Texas settled near Austin went into
the stock raising business and farming and was doing well when one night
returning from Austin home he was killed by some Robbers for his money,
this was in the spring of 1871, his widow is still living on the farm
uncle owned when he was murdered, he raised 3 boys and several daughters
2 of the boys are dead the living one is on his mothers farm taking care
of her, the daughters are married and living around that country. Uncle
George Barnes grew up with uncle Charles, their association together was
always very pleasant until uncle Charles removed to Texas, they never
met any more. Uncle George was larg enough to dig gold also in time of
the intrusion was but 12 years old but made a pretty good hand, I have
heard my mother say that when they were panning their gold away from
their long tom for that was the name of their wooden trough set on
rocks to separate the rocks and gravel from the fine sand and gold, when
uncle George would begin to see the yellow shining gold in the pan he
would throw or hold his tounge to the corner of his mouth and work with
greate activity. Grandpa put him to shearing sheep one day and as he
had never done such work he was progressing slow, father happened to go
over on some business and saw that my uncle was making poor speed he set
in to helping him, after awhile they finished the job, came down to the
house he told his mother he was done, she was surprised at his fast work
he said he had got through with what little brother william had hope him
uncle had a pleasant way of joking for or against himself. Father no
doubt had sheared 2 to his one or maybe more. Uncle was agreat hand to
work with horses, he loved a fine horse when he would procure one he
would pamper him up too much, he lost one by running away with the plow
and jerking himself down over a sharp stump, he had him in too fine condition to have risked him in the plough until he had used his other ways
and got him accustomed to work, uncle continued to work on the farm with
