This manuscript has been broken into three parts (for computer presentation), and otherwise I have done my best to maintain the file as received:
***** [Manuscript page] 26 *****
his father until he was 21 years of age, before he was of age he and
grand father made one year a large sweet potato crop or it was a large
one for those days they made 4 hundred bushels hauled them to town and
sold them at one dollar per bushel making 4 hundred dollars out of their
potatoes crop. I recollect well of father carrying his family to see the
connection up in Habersham in 1837 one year before Lumpkin county was
organized, the Baptist Association that year convened at the church to
which my grand father and grandmother were connected, the church build?
ing being a hewed log house was not large enough for the community and
the delegation, so logs were cut and hauled and laid in rows for seats,
some slabs from a sawmill was brought from a saw mill and a stand was
made for the preachers. I recollect that uncle Charles and George were
the leaders of music for the congregation. I don't recollect whether or
not they had any brush harbor over them, I don't think they had that time
though it was common to have some brush over head to protect them from
the sun, they opened the services with singing and prayer as is common
now then the first preacher would preach probably one and a half hours
or 2 hours then he would ask another brother to follow the second one
would talk probably half an hour then a third one would follow in a short
talk than if another had anything on his mind which he wished to say they
were all ready to hear him, no intermission had been given but it was
not thought a breach of good manners not disinteresting, the worship of
god to get up and retire, it was not expected of us children to remain
so long, my little cousins and myself when weary would go back to grand?
pa's it not being more than a fourth of a mile, the services would close
about 3 o'clock or later, then dismiss, a large number of the delegates
would come to Grandpa's it would require the rest of the evening to get
the crowd fed, the diet consisting of corn bread fresh beef well par?
boiled and then rosted or in other words baked., then some peach or
apple pies to finish up on Grandma always made the best of coffee for
***** 27 *****
herself and her guests and in those days it was not common to have it
but once a day and some people had coffee only for a sunday morning but
Grandma must have it 3 times a day when she had company. I was weakly,
sickley child, I thought grandma could have the best vituals because her
coffee was so good and I could eat something when I was unwell if I could
get good coffee, for I loved it dearly, as soon as dinner was over the
people would gather at grandpa's for a night service then we would have
some good music. I dont know whether it would be called good now or not
but I would like to hear some of it again. I know it was more devotional
than our church music now, there was more of the spirit and power of the
gospel in it, I have heard these grand old pieces of music sung with
melody and in power of the spirit that the people would shout for the
prospects of the divine glory that it seemed to bring you, you may say
you do not believe in shouting that does not have anything to do with t
the sublime music and spiritual devotions of our fathers for a more pious
people will not likely ever live this meeting at my grandpa's became
sterotyped in my memory for it was in great contrast to the presbyterian
church in Guinnett county where my father and mother were members, it
was near the county site Lawrenceville and there was considerable wealth
around there and quite an number of the wealthy were members of Fairview
church where my parents worship, they had for those days a fine church
building and a fine educated preacher and was considered a good theolog?
ical divine, he was a good hand to condense a great deal into a short
sermon from 30 to 40 minutes was as long as he would preach, their pastor
before him would preach 2 hours, while he was a good preacher they liked
the man the best who preached the shortest sermons the best, I suppose
the rich men had a controling interest in the church as well as in civil
matters, so our services at church after sabbath school closed would last
about one hour except on communion seasons then they would be engaged
about 2½ hours, it seemed to me to be a heap better meetings at fathers
church than at grandpa's church in Habbersham because we were made to sit
***** 28 *****
still until preaching was over which did not weary us and the fine
clothes and nice department of the people all made a fine impression on
my mind and my grand father Saye was very particular about us keeping
the sabbath quiet, while these people in the mountains were not cultiva?
ted in manners and etiquette yet they were the most honest in what they
believed to be right and many of them were devogidly pious, that fall
uncle George Barnes went to the Seminole war as first Lieutenant in Captain Barkers company of volunteers. I will skip over his campaign as I
must give captain Barkers as he married my Aunt Ruth when he returned.
The Captain served in two campaigns in Florida the first was a years
campaign, this one which uncle Charles and George served was six months.
Uncle George came with his brother charley to Cherokee county in the
fall of 1839 settled on little river 8 miles south of Canton the county
seat of Cherokee he was more fortunate than uncle charles he paid out of
for his land he lost a horse in Florida and got good pay for his horse
just in a time when he most needed the money as he had been put in great
straits for to get his land paid for, his father in law hope him some
he married a Miss Maize of Hall county they were married in march 1842
He made a thrifty farmer added to his farm and gave one thousand dollars
for a negro man about 3 years before the great civil war, like other men
he lost property in the war besides his negro man after the war he became a thrifty cotton raiser set his children up very well, his wife was
a presbyterian I think that kept him from joining the church for a while
of course Aunt had rather he would have joined with her but it seemed he
could not consensiously do so, she joined the Baptist church in 1859
after he had joined the year before. I have never seen any two couple
get along so smoothe and even through life as uncle and aunt did, there
never was known to be a cross word between them, their life was so even
and smoothe it was talked of by the neighbors, I believe he served the
church as Deacon most all the time which was near 40 years, he died
March the 13th 1898, he passed peacefully away as one going to sleep
***** 29 *****
with a bright prospect of a joyous immortality beyond. Aunt and her you?
ngest son are on the old homestead where they will remain the youngest
son will buy the other childrens part and finally own the place, I think
he can do it he is a good manager, when I was over there to see your old
grandma I visited the cemetery where your grandpa As Saye was burried
and where your grandma Ricks was burried and where my grand father and
mother Barnes was burried, my father lies near them, your grand mother
Ricks some 25 yards from them, your cousin Zulah went with me to show me
where uncle George was laid, it was down in the flat south side of the
yard near a hundred yards below where your grandma Ricks is sleeping,
cousin Munroe Barnes lies up near where grand father and mother sleeps,
others of the connection are lying aroung awaiting the day when the Arch
Angel shall awaken them to the great judgement day, these are solem ref?
lections. Oh let us be prepared for that great day as I came back to
Mamies I stopped at Fairview church in Guinnett county and went into the
grave yard soon found uncle Noel's grave and Aunt Betsy's but not knowing
whether grand fathers and grandmothers were marked with marble slabs or
not I did not see them at least did not know it, there was many fine
monuments over the graves at Fairview in memory of distinguished citiz?
ens who had lived but now had passed away forever, the place that once
knew them would know them no more for ever, how short is life yet it is
long enough to make the great preparation for vast eternity. I spoke of
Monroe Barnes grave he was uncles son he was a promising young man took
typhoid fever and died his death occured in August 1881 uncle George
lost two other children a little girl in 1859 one little infant sometime
before that he has 3 boys and 2 girls living all doing well. Aunt Ruth
married Captain Obediah Barker in august 1838 my father took mother and
the youngest child and went to the marriage, I recollect he procured a
fine carriage to go in it seemed to be womewhat a curiosity in those days
near the blue ridge from what they said when they got home, father left
my brother who is older than myself, my sister who was younger than me
***** 30 *****
to go to school while they were gone we was left at grandpa Sayes to be
taken care of, we went to school and at that time had a good school tea?
cher we progressed finely or at least I still think so, of course we con?
tinued at school after fathers return I think he was the best teacher I
ever went to but he was very immoral when away from the school house that
prevented him from getting another school uncle Barker settled in Forsythe
county about 25 miles from where father settled in cherokee Captain Barker
was a brother to Aunt Miriam uncle John Barnes wife they had been living
that is the Barker family near grandfather Barnes for several years and
was well acquainted with each other, uncle Barker went to Florida early
in the year I believe in 1836 but lost his health so he was sent home
before the year was out, he recovered his health and in the fall of 1837
made a company of which he was to take command as Captain I don't know
whether the other officers was elected or whether the Captain had chosen
them and the men understanding that their officers were already chosen I
think uncle George was chosen too and did help make up the company with
the understanding that he was to be first Lieutenant, I know he served as
first Lieutenant. They were mustered into service at Miledgville where
enough of companies met to form a regiment a Colonel and regimental offic?
ers were to be elected a young lawyer from the mountain he probably was
Captain of one of the companies he wished to aspire to the command of the
regiment.,there was also another young man from the middle part of the
state who the companies was thinking of trying to elect for their colonel
Chastain for that was the name of the young man from the mountains and
seeing his chances were growing uncertain in and among the different com?
panies for his election, he and captain Barker being intimate and good
friends proposed to uncle if be would move about among all of the compan?
ies that if he could turn the tide in his favor and secure his election
he would give him the chance to make the first appointment in the regiment
of its officers, uncle had a brother in his company who was a private, he
wanting to help him up, agreed to help chastain all he could and as uncle
***** 31 *****
had seen service in Florida and being a tall erect man had quite a comm?
anding appearance he told me after I grew up that he walked the lines of
the regiment and pleaded for Chastain to be made their Colonel, though he
honestly confessed to me he believed the other gentleman would have made
the best commander, uncle succeeded in getting Chastain elected, good as
his word he asked uncle who he would have for quartermaster he said to the
Colonel you appoint Rufus Barker, it no doubt was a good appointment
Rufus Barker was a good business man I was employed by him in my young
days awhile, there was a company made up in Guinnett county near where
my father lived that made a part of Chastains regiment one of fathers
near neighbors by the name of Inzer commanded it he made a Baptist preacher afterwards, a good influential man althrough life, afterwards. He
died at a good old age in Talacoga county Ala., his son in our great
struggle for southern independence when his regiment became surrounded in
the great battle of Chickmauga he raised his sword as high in the air as
he could then dashed it to the ground determined never to hand it to
a Yankee, there was a company raised in Cass countynswar now Bartow, some
of the officers of that company were special friends of my father while
the indians were not yet removed Cass was settling up fast, there was
some missionary stations in that county and the whites and indians had
become endeared to each other very much, but to return to my story the
regiment was made mustered into service at Millegeville appropriations
made by the state for them at once for the Legislature was in session at
the time but yhere was strong opposition in the Legislature for Georgia
go make appropriations for troops entering the United States services.
Mr. Jenkens afterwards defeated for governor of the state by Hershel V.
Johnson was the leader of the opposing party to the appropriations given
by the state at the time, he was late in life made Governor of the state,
he was a leading man of the state for many years, when he was defeated for
the office of Governor uncle Barker took strong ground against him for
opposing the soldiers appropriation bill for uncle had never forgiven him
***** 32 *****
for being so bitterly opposed to them receiving state Aid. There was
always trouble in such cases about the rights of states exercising sov?
ereign rights as they had not delegated but limited powers to the Federal
government, the federal power had called out troops over Georgia's part?
icular wishes lest the Federal government support them in full, hence the
constant trouble for many years before the great civil war between the
states not delegated was what was the rights of the states not delegated
to the Federal government, and what powers was delegated to the Federal
government over the states, about eleven years before this governor troops
was having some trouble with the creek indians within the limits of Georgia
he called out some militia of the state to quell the disturbance, Presid?
ent Adams generously sent some Federal troops to his assistance, he ordered them out of the state, wrote to the President when he needed Federal
help he would let him know, this fiction so annoying to Federal and states
was realy more the cause of the war than the negro, though the slave was
set free as a consequence of the war, but I find myself wondering off
from my narative four or five regiments were made a Brigadier General,
I don't know whether President Vanburen made the appointment or whether
the regiments elected him at least Charles E. Nelson was the fortunate
man I think he lived in Cass county at least he soon settled there after
the war, he commanded a regiment in the Mexican war afterwards, he was a
not
very immoral rough man but I suppose a good soldier. he did/command the
respect of all his men the command was early sent on to Florida, the
regiments sent to different Forts and to scout by companies or batallions
as was thought prudent, scouting was fine sport for some men, others
could not enjoy it so well they would try to reach the Fort at night if
possible, they were stationed near Tampa Bay awhile about Chripstmas we
heard they had a dreadful fight that Nelson had lost 100 men Killed and
50 wounded, it caused great solicitude among friends and connections of
the soldiers, I recollect mother was fearful that her brother might be
among the slain ones, none of Nelsons brigade was near the engagement
***** 33 *****
it was Colonel Taylor with some of the united States troops, of course
General Nelson's command were United States Troops but for only a limited
term of six months, those enlisted for 3 years was called regulars in th?
ose days. Colonel Taylor was commanding the regulars, was penetrating far
into the indian recesses they retreating before him to get him into their
net they had spread for him as they had 2 years before for Major Dade.
Taylor soon found he was caught for it was hard to understand military
tactics of the indians he had 1100 men he managed the battle well under
the circumstances, be lost 138 killed on the field, but his wounded suffered greatly trying to get back to the Fort which was over 100 miles.
Colonel Taylor being a very determined man to accomplish what he undertook
had penetrated into the swamps and everglades too far and it appeared to
those that were acquainted with the country to have been reckless upon
his part not counting the cost as he should have done, though I never
heard that the Government at Washington criticizing his movement against
the indians as imprudent or rash, Colonel Taylor in his report stated
that the Indians loss was more than his the Indians were defeated in their
plans of massacreeing his command and they felt defeated badly, there was
only 380 Indians in the battle, this was the last bloody battle of the
war though it lasted until 1842, this battle was fought near Obeechobee
Lake, the report was soon corrected and our friends and relations found
that General Nelson had been ordered near to Tampa Bay some distance from
where Colonel Taylor was operating, this was the T aylor that immortalized
himself in Mexico in 1846 and 7 and in 1848 was elected President of the
United States more upon his war record than any thing else, being in the
Army almost all his life he had but poor opportunities to become a statesman, uncle continued on the scout almost all the time he was in Florida
he never run upon any body of indians that made fight, they would capture
stragglers sometimes, uncle Charles he generally remained in the Fort to
cook and wash for the company hence his fine mare was not broken down by
the campaign much, I have heard uncle George laugh over an experiment that
***** 34 *****
Lieutenant McGee made one night for they could hardly rest for the mos?
quitoes McGhee conceived the plan that they could get above the mosquitoes by fixing them up a platform up in the timber under the long moss so
he carried his plan into execution got up into his supposed secure retr?
eat for a good nap, it was not long before he was slapping at the mosquitoes and hollered they are here Lieutenant, he soon got down and perferred to risk the camp fire and smoke for protection from his enveierate
enemies, time wore along and the joyous time came to start homeward, it
seems from what uncle has told me that he was to bring up the rear of
the command and in leaving one Fort would try to reach the next Fort in
one days travel, uncle George was sent on ahead with a prisoner or probably several but the one he conversed with most was a negro I don't know
how many men uncle George had with him likely half of their company some
tiem in the day as Lieutenant McGhee was coming up with a squad of men
they were fired into by the Indians but killed none, a man by the name
of Taylor was shot 6 times the ball lodging in his body some of the men
helped him on his horse they all made their way back to the Fort from
which they had started, uncle Charles Mare being the best Animal in the
company Captain picked her out to make the trip but did not want to pick
out any particular man to ride her he wanted a volunteer, uncle Charles
preferred going himself to try to save her, he was a small man weighing
about 120 pounds he told the Captain he would go for the Surgeon if he
could send one other with him a man by the name of Hunt volunteered to
go as I stated in Uncles history it was 30 miles to where they would
find a surgeon to extract the bullets from Taylors body, they made the
trip that night made the 60 miles in the Florida swamps in 12 hours of course in Texas that would not be very extravagant but in the everglades
of Florida it was wonderful, the negro told uncle George that the Indians lay so close around they knew of every movement , knew that they
were going home and that some of the men would get down to dring at the
spring where they shot at Taylor and McGhees party while refreshing
***** 35 *****
themselves they were giving captain Barkers company a parting Salute in
as warm a manner as one enemy is apt to give another when they are parting forever, Taylor got well Captain Barker lost but one man he sickned
and died they all returned but the one. Captain Barker told me that he
would not rush his man into too much danger, he said he was cautious he
wanted to return his man to their homes, they were mustered out of service at Gainesville the county seat of Hall county. Dr. Barker early in
life removed from Walton to Floyd county settled in Vans Valley 7 miles
south of Rome, in his old age he lost his sight but passed away some
years ago, the reason I have spoken of him at such length was because he
was one of my fathers particular friends, they were often together in
early life, he was often at my fathers when young, when he was peddling,
he commenced very poor but soon acquired a compentency, he run his farm
with his own negroes before the war, he always was gratified to hear of
my fathers prosperity after he built his mills and thought now that
father had the big wheel to turning, I was about as glad to see Rufus B
Barker come to our house when I was small as my own uncles, so it seems
to me to be given part of my fathers history, he sold Dr. Barker medicines
for him as a local agent, I traveled for him awhile as his traveling
Agent distributing his medicines to the local Agents and collecting the
money for the medicines sold, I will now return to uncle Barker, he did
not live many years in Foreyth county, sold out his little farm and removed to Walton county to take care of his parents in their old age,
after their death he removed to Floyd county near to where his brother Rufus lived, he there run a good farm but never acquired property like his
brother Rufus but lived well, he had poor health for many years before hiss
death so he was not able to work, that made very much against him, he raised good boys to work they would go and work in the field as well without their father as with him, they always made good crops, uncle loved to
trade on horses, at different times in my life I have called at my uncles
***** 36 *****
spending a pleasant night with him some times I would remain longer, he
would get up a horse swap, we generally traded before I left, he always
gave me a good swap, he did not want to make anything off of me, he liked
the fun of swapping, I traded horses very little never followed the business but uncle and me could have our fun at it. I settled in Mississippi
several years before the war and after I was discharged from the service
and got back home near me became a battle ground and I was oblige to go
back into the war, I could not think of leaving your mother where she could not have any protection, I got up oxen and wagon and slipped out from
between the contending armies for their pickets were close around me, for
a long time I made my way through the Mountains of North Alabama in as
timely settled section of the country as I could, for I did not want to
meet Federal nor Confederate, for either might pick me up carry me off
leaving your mother with your oldest sister then not one year old among
strangers to take care of herself. I wanted to get along faster than I was
with my ox team and having a good young mule along that we had to liad I
concluded to swap my oxen for another mule and get on faster and save us
the trouble of leading the mule, I swapped for a great big likely old mule
put him to the wagon my young mule was too fast for him, first one would
pull then the other. I got along badly so I concluded to buy another yoke
of oxen and did so having a negro woman that I was bringing to Georgia for
another man for I never owned one, we put your mothers side saddle on one
of the mules while this negro woman could ride and lead the other, we got
on then very well for I bought a large fine yoke of oxen that traveled
well my route lay by my uncles, I drove up my wagon the negro woman came
up riding one of the mules and leading the other. I had not been with my
uncle long before he was noticing my old mule, he did not pay any attention
to my young mule, he asked me how old my old one was I told him as near as
I had learned, I told him I met a man the next day after I traded for him
that he had known the mule for 35 years, and be thought he was 3 years old
when he became acquainted with him, I had found before I met this man he
***** 37 *****
was old enough to sleep by himself, that suited uncle after laughing over
my learning the mules age so well he proposed a swap to me, he had a good
blind mare and a fine cow with a young calf, he said he would give me for
the mule and also 25 dollars of confederate money, it was all the money
we had in circulation then and it was still a right smart at that time,
he began to puor down lots of salt in his trough where he kept his fine
mule and curry and rub him up for of course we traded, I was well pleased
with my trade and uncle seemed well pleased with his trade, he fattened
him up and traded the old fellow off for a fine young horse, I could at
one time have sympathized with the poor fellow who got the mule if I could
have seen him, he would not take any advantage in a trade with me but
take any advantage in a trade with men around him that was fond of trading they had better have watched the old Captain when they were coming
around proposing to swap horses with him, not long before I got to his
house this time he had lost a son in the war his son was killed at Nashville in Tennessee in one of the battles around there, this was late in
the fall of the year 1862 uncle was bitter against the war did not like
for his son to volunteer but conscription had passed upon us and young
men could not keep out honorably, it hurt uncle very much the loss of his
son, it was in the days of much mourning your uncle Edward had just been
killed before I left Mississippi your uncle Byers Stearns was killed abo?
ut the time uncle Barkers son was killed, to look back at those dark days
causes the tears to come in my eyes, and always will, God was very merci?
ful to me in protecting me in those darkest days of my life, uncle had
another son that got old enough to go to the war but he managed to keep
him out he prospered after the war very well, my Aunt was a very pleasant
woman to get along with she died of cancer in January 1873, uncle removed
out of the valley down on the coosa river and spent several of the last
years of his life down there, he died in 1885 his death was sudden, he
died in the communion of the primitive Baptist church so did aunt Ruth
also, his children have removed to Alabama living near and in the town
***** 38 *****
of Anniston or at least most of them, I do not know how they are getting
along, Solomon Barnes the youngest son of Grandpa Barnes he left his father at the age of 18 and remained away from us 35 years we had given him
up as dead many years before we met with him it nearly killed grandma,
his going off and never hearing of him but one time after he left home
he wrote once or 2 or 3 tmonths after he had gone, but we never heard of
him until he came to my house one day to my great surprise he had married
and raised his family in South Carolina near Hamburg, that is just across
the Savannah River from Augusta, he had removed to Columbus Ga., he had
removed to Columbus sometime before he come to my house, he never did
well through life he raised one son who became a fine hand in the weave
shops of our cotton factories, made a good wage but took to drink and was
doing no good when I last knew him, his sisters was good industrious women, I know nothing of them now. I will now give some account of Aunt
Nancy she grew up with my mother married in march 1826 five weeks before
my father and mother, she married Newton Flemming a brother to Harvey
Flemming who married fathers sister, uncle was raised in Franklin county
his father had moved to Hall county about the time that grandfather Barnes
had removed from Tennessee, both settling near their respective county
lines, they soon became acquainted with each other, uncle Newton in early
life went down into Alabama settled about Tuscaloosa, he remained there
but 3 years lived in Hall near his fathers for several years then removed
to murry county stayed there about 3 years then emigrated to Arkansas
than living there until the spring of 1852 he emigrated to California in
search of gold, he had followed a gold digging a great deal about the
Delonega Gold mines and loved that pursuit better than anything else
though he farmed sufficiently to make a good living, he did not live long
after he got to California, he died in 1854 of typhoid fever, he raised
2 boys, I can recollect playing with them when we were very small, George
followed gold digging both in California and North in the British possessions john followed sheep raising and I suppose farming some at least he
***** 39 *****
he succeeded well as living in a fine mansion in San Francisco overlooking
the Bay, Aunt once made a voyage to the Sandwich Islands for her health I
am not sure but one of her daughters lived there awhile, Aunt has been
dead several years, I have not the date of her death, they left one daugh
ter married in Arkansas, she has several daughters in California but I do
not know anything of their locations. Aunt Nancy Flemming was a very small
woman but could work as fast and do as much as any woman it was a serious
trip to emigrate to California in wagons what was then called the overland
route large caravans of wagons and people would locate at some appointed
place then a company of United States Troops would be sent through with
them, uncle went to one of these appointed places and set out with one of
these great caravans of emigrants, the company of soldiers with them thought they had a good pilot with them but at least he made one mistake, one
course on the plains led through the country where they could find water,
other routs would be dangerous, the pilot took the wrong route they traveled until the 10 days when they could not have traveled any longer for
burning thirst, uncle had killed one yoke of his oxen and they had drank
the blood to try to save life, Aunts tongue had bursted open in places,
the awful crying for water among men women and children could not be described so uncle wrote to father and it is wonderful they lived 10 days
without water, the place was surrounded where they found water to prevent
them from drinking too much, it was issued to them in small quantities
until they were satisfied, if any died of the company I don't recollect.
Uncle wrote that they started in the spring and made the trip some time in
the fall, I am sure Aunts history would be interesting but we have no way
of getting at it so we will have to close for the want of the material information. I will now give a little more history of my great grand mothers
religious connection, she was a member of the Athens Presbytery for so long
a time she was among them until her death which occured either in 1830 or
1832. We have a large connection grown out from a cousin William Saye that
lived in Madison county he was about the age of my father, there is some 12
***** 40 *****
or 14 men in the city of Athens of our name well to do men of his decen?
dents 2 of their boys are in the Army in Cuba at this time several of th?
em in Atlanta, I have become acquainted with some of them all well to do
in that city, but not acquainted with them well enough to give any hist?
ory of their affairs, their occupations are generally Machinest in the
Railroad shops. Now I will return nearer home, my brother is in the habit
of giving mother a fine birthday dinner, some one gave a notice of her
last dinner in the Cherokee Advance the organ of Cherokee, it says they
celebrated her 90th birthday. "One of the most pleasant occasions the
writer has had pleasure of attending for some time was at the home of Mr.
and Mrs T.J.Saye tuesday the 15th day of the present month it being the
90th birth day Anniversary of Mrs Elithebeth Saye, there were 28 of her
nearest relation and a few of her many friends present while grandma Saye
as she is familiarly called was celebrating her 90th Anniversary she seemed almost as young as any present, and made the day most pleasant and h
enjoyable for all, she is quite stout and very active for an old lady and
has a smile on her face and a kind word for everyone, the dinner was very
sumptous and the table artistically arranged, it was a feast of which a
king might boast, and did much credit to our hostess in its preparation.
Messers Blackwell and Allen were present with their Graphaphone and the
crowd was highly entertained by them for some time, the occasion was one
long to be remembered by all present, and we trust this dear old lady
will live to celebrate many such occasions pleasantly" one who was present"
This is now the 73rd year since mother united with the Fairview congregation
in Guinnett county which was in 1826. My oldest brother married Amos Basseltons daughter, has lived in Cherokee ever since father moved there only
a short time that he was in white County, he raised his family in one old
neighborhood 2 of his daughters husbands moved to Colorado in 1870 one of
them dying out there the other came back and brought the 2 little children
of her sister, Robert McCollum the husband of the one that returned has
raised his own family ander the 2 motherless ones he brought back.
***** 41 *****
He had the misfortune to loose his only son 2 years ago he died of typhoid
fever, McCollom and all his family are doing well, brother lost his only
son at the same place that McCollum lost his , he let his son in law have
the place, his son also was young when he died, also the man who owned the
place before my brother had but one son he lost him in early life. My
brothers son in laws are doing well. Brother lost his wife by death in
1884, he married a second wife a Miss Beneday of White county, he returned
and taking care of my mother now, he was born June the first 1827, my old?
est sister was born the 25th of March 1832, we grew up together. Sister
died the first of September 1895 in her sixty fourth year of her age.
Brother George was born June the 9th 1836 but lost his health studying, he
gave that up married a Miss Spears, he went to farming but his wife quit
himm he then took to traveling, the war broke out he volunteered his serv?
ices to his country while in the State of Arkansas, was a commissioned
officer his command was captured at Port Hudson on the Mississippi River
carried down to New Orleans, was wounded in the seige before the place
surrendered, got about well of his wounds then took the flux and was reco?
vering from that, taken the Earciplis and died the 3rd of September 1863,
he was born the stormy days of the Indian war and his life went out in the
dark days of the confederacy, his wife died 3 months after him, she died
of congestion of the brain, sick but a few hours, she left one son then a
little fellow about 3 years old, his grandpa Spears raised him, he is now
practicing medicine at Ball Ground Cherokee county Ga., he is doing well.
My second sister was born April 30th 1839 she grew up with very limited
chances for an education as the others had done, married in January 1859
her husband doing well when the cruel war came upon us he volunteered and
went in the 28th Georgia Regiment of volunteers was killed in the battle
of Malvern Hill which was the last day of the seven days fighting near
Richmond Virginia in 1862, he left 2 little children one died in infancy
one is living and married to J. W. Flemming doing very well, sister has
***** 42 *****
married a second time, married Samuel McCleskey they are doing well.
William M. Saye my youngest brother born November 1843, he grew up just
in time when young follows could hardly keep out of the great civil war,
he volunteered early in the year of 1862 went with a batillion of calv?
ery, while a batillion of infantry was attached to his command it was
known as Phillips Legeon the calvary was thrown with the calvary serving
in Virginia under the great General Stewart who was one of the best and
most consumate Generals in the confederate Army, my brother managed to
dodge all the yankee bullets up to the last and came home without being
hurt much, , he went to Colorado some time after the war not liking there
he made his way to Texas went to Uncle Charles Barnes and was living
with him when he was murdered for his money, he remained there until 1873
when he came back to take care of father and mother in their old age, he
married soon after his return to Georgia raised his family on a part of
the old homestead has one son now in the Spanish war, the children is still all with him except the one in the Army, brother William's wife
was a Miss Jane Dean he and family are doing well. I have now give you
a short account of my brothers and sisters I will now speak of myself, I
was the second child born as I have before stated on May the 19th 1829,
I was always a weakly child, I was very often so weakly I did not enjoy
the usual sports of boys. I went to Mississippi in my 23rd year stayed
there 14 months came back and lived with my grandpa Saye in 1853, traveled for Rufus Barker that fall as his traveling Agent for his medecines
collecting money for what was sold and distributing more for sale, in
1854 I tried the water system of practive for my health, I went to the
city of Griffin for to be treated, there is no doubt but it has been a
benefit to me althrough life, in the fall of that year I went back to
Mississippi and on the 19th of February your mother and I married, I
was teaching school when married, I dismissed my school in the spring
and made a crop then finished out my school term after crops were laid
by, I was living with your grandma Ricks, moved to myself in the fall
***** 43 *****
after I had gathered my crop farmed the next year then the next I sold
medicines and groceries in the town of Carrolville which has now been
swallowed up by the town of Baldwin on the Mobile and Ohio RR. that fall
becoming dissatisfied I removed back to Georgia but returned to Mississippi with 2 years, there I contracted on the Mobile and Ohio RR. while
it was building that wasq in 1860, that fall Abraham Lincoln was Elected
President of the United States by a party that was sectional with which
caused cesscession of the southern state from the Federal Government,
I volunteered and went to Virginia early in 1861, would have been in the
first great battle of Manassas if an engineer had not made a collision
with the trains. My health not being good I was discharged in the fall
of that year, had settled on a little farm near the Railroad that I worked
on before the war, the Federals soon took the country around me and as
I would have to serve with them or the confederates one I concluded to
get your mother and sister which was then not one year old to a place of
safety so I fixed up as best I could and got out from among them, made
my way to Georgia expecting to leave my little family where they could be
taken care of go into the war again, but fathers mill was without a miller
and men were exempted that kept a mill for the public good, I went to the
mill, however I served six months in the State service before the war ended, though I could have stayed in the mill , after the war I engaged in
mill work for a time after I sold out I moved to Alabama in St.Clare county I made a poor move when I went there and a poorer one when I came back
to Georgia, I should have went to my home in Mississippi. I lost my place
there by it being sold for tax when I thought I had a friend paying tax on
it. Since the war I have lived most of the time in Georgia until our
removal to Texas, it is not best to run about so much as I have done yet
it was a good move when we went to Texas, it is a good country and we found
good people in it, people that was both social and generous, it is a fine
place to make a living easy, my life has been uneventful generally except
in the dark days of the great civil war of which you have heard more of less
***** 44 *****
?? ---James Saye's Family-????
James Saye married in the year 1800, Mary born in 1801 married Allen Sanford
raised 3 children, we know nothing of them now, sally never married one died
in infancy, John married a miss Averhart, six living, four living in Athens
one born blind has been educated in the blind Asylum she has a good mind.
James Averhart raised six children, lost two boys in the great civil war two
still lives in Hall county, one married Elijah Pool, William never married,
Sally and William both died at their sister Adalines house, Elithebeth never
married died in Arkansas, Martin was born in 1813 married Catharine McCoy,
Martin lost four boys in the confederate war, one died soon after four are
yet living also his two girls. Mr. Averhart raised a large family. Epheriam
married a Miss Blackstock raised a large family, I am acquainted with two
of the boys John and Daniel, Nancy married Allen H. Deal raised seven child?
ren. Robert married a Miss Dickerson, who died, he then married Elisa King
he raised several children, lost one son in the war, raised no children by
his last wife. Adaline born 17th of November 1823 married the 2nd day of
January 1845 raised seven children lost the oldest son in the great civil
war, her husband was of her own name distantly related, five living now
Richard born in January 1825, he married a Miss Elisa Saye a distant relative
four children by the first wife she dying he married a Miss Sarah Edwards,
two children by the last wife.
????-Wm.H.Saye's Family?????
William Saye was born January 3rd 1803 married in 1823 raised eight children
by first wife, first wife was Miss Agness McCurdy, three by the last she
was a Miss Landers who had married a Thompson, he dying in the war. Wm.Saye
married her after the death of his first wife, he died in 1883, the fourth
August. John his oldest son born in 1824 the 28th of June married the second day of January 1845 to Miss Adaline Saye a distant relative. Richard born
1826 married Jane Cathright, she dying he married a Miss Harwell, he had
children by both wives,. James born June the 26th 1828 married but had no
children.
***** 45 *****
Elisa Caroline February 1830 married in 1846. Newton born in 1832
he married a Miss Elisa Woods they are living in Atlanta, raised but
one child, she died of consumption. Elithebeth born October the 12th
1844, she died some years ago, she married a Mr. James Cleveland, he is
married again.
( Early Settlers of Cherokee County )
Daniel H. Bird, John P. Brook, John Wagner, Gen. Eli McConell, John B.
Garrison, R. T. Daniel, James Daniel, William Crishom, John Eperson,
Washington Lumpkin, Henry Cobb, Charles Christian, John Maddox, Thomas
Johnson, Wm. Greene, Samuel Tate, Peter, Henry Rendall, John Tever,
Joseph S. Dial, Martin Evens, John M. Chambers, Joseph Donalson, Dr.
Merick Ford, Elias Putman, G. Chambe, M M. Chanlee, S. Rucker, James
Doris, David Rusk, John Huntson, John Leonard, James A Maddox, John
Mullins, John Henson, John Wheeler, Henry Wheeler, Peter C. Boger,
Elisha Dier, Amos Braselton, Thomas Johnson, Allicy Camp Sen, Joseph Trippe
Burlee Dobbs, Balem Dobbs, William Johnson, Andy and Charles Scott, Elijah
Chaffin, Killis Durham, John and William McCandless, Thomas Hunt, James
Ramsey, Mandly Brown, Stephen Camp. Madison McAfee, John Tate, James
Kuykendall, Demcy Medford, his father and brothers, Joseph Fincher, Stokes
Elliott, Robert Hawkins.
