This is an article taken from the Walker County messenger, April 26, 1912. It was written by Capt. J.Y. Wood:
"I write without records and make many mistakes. Late in the year 1836 my father Constantine Wood settled in West Armuchee Valley. At that time the forest, was occasionally broken by a crude log cabin. Deer, wild turkey, pheasants and almost every variety of birds and small game were abundant. The Cherokee Indians still roamed through the forest and procured a meager support for his family. It has been said there are two things an Indian could never learn: to fear death or to work. One thing, however, can be said of him. He was not destructive; with him the tribe was everything, the individual was nothing. The land and all living things belonged to the tribe. Hence, under their unwritten law, no one would kill more game than satisfied his present wants.
The county was organized 1832. The first mail route in the county ran from Chattanooga to Rome, Georgia. The first mail carrier was Ab Wisdom. He made the trip from Chattanooga and returned once a week. LaFayette was the first post office in the county. My father at that time took a newspaper which he read and loaned to his neighbors among whom it was circulated until it was worn out. Mail matter was 5 or 6 weeks old before it reached its destination.
In the early day there was a stage line from Augusta to Knoxville, Tennessee which carried the mail. About the year 1840 a mail route was established from LaFayette to New Town, a point in Gordon County on the road above named. This route was by Villanow, through a populous community, and though the mail was carried only once a month it was a great convenience.
Roads were rapidly opened and churches were organized in almost every neighborhood. Humphrey Posey, A missionary appointed by the Philadelphia Association to preach to the Cherokee Indians, organized Shiloh (1837 or38) and other Baptist churches in the county.
The first courthouse after the organization of the county was held in a little log cabin near Chickamauga at which two Indians, Pocketbook and Cash were tried for murder and both were convicted and hung. In 1838 the courthouse was finished and the first court in that building was presided over by Judge Hooper who resided in LaFayette at the time.
The old brick academy was also built about the same time and some of the first classes in the county were taught here. Spencer Marsh, John Caldwell, Samuel Farris and some others were prominent in managing the affairs of the county. Marsh was among the first merchant to open a mercantile business the new town. At that time dry good were bought in northern cities and shipped to Augusta. They were hauled in wagons from that place to almost all parts of the state.
The Indians were carried from the state in 1838. They were all collected in this section and guarded in a fort a short distance northwest of LaFayette where the Union Cotton Mills now stand. My father and mother had some warm friends among them and took their little family to bid them farewell. Those poor children of the forest were grief stricken at the thought of leaving their native hills. When the last handshaking took place all parties gave expression to their grief; many fell prostate on the ground and begged the soldiers to shoot them so they might be buried in the land of their birth. The line of march to the West was marked by their graves.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Jack Puryear, Villanow, GA
Carrie Oxford Wilson is the lady with the hat. Her husband, J.C. Wilson made the picture.
It is noted that the chain swing was made from a chain picked up at the site of a federal camp nearby.
In Mother's notes she says that Grandmother Morgan use to talk about Uncle Jack astride his horse galloping to the the post office for the mail before carriers.
The other notations about this branch of the Puryear family revolve around the three daughters who all married, but only one, Pallie, stayed with her husband for any length of time. The other girls returned to their father's home. Lucy went out West visiting, probably her brother Franklin Pierce Puryear. She had been keeping company with a Mr. Ballew. As she boarded the train to return home to Villanow, he persuaded her to marry him. He came to Georgia with her for a visit. When they were preparing to go back out West, Lucy wanted to take Dollie*, mother of Bertie, with her but her husband refused. Lucy refused to go without her; they separated then and there. (Mother said this was a quote from someone, but did not name the source.)
*In the quoted material it says "the darkey Dollie."
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Letter from Lee Norman Shahan 1909
This is a letter written by Lee Norman Shahan, father of Maxwell Lee Shahan, to his father, James A. Shahan who lived in Villanow. Dated September 25, 1909, Daddy would have been about four months old at the time.
In the 1912 Engineering Directory, page 127, Mill Supplies, Vol 1, Shahan Corley Co. is listed as having been incorporated by J.W. Cavender, Lee N. Shahan, A.J. Corley, W.J. Shahan, and W.B. Garvin with a capital of $30,000 to manufacture and sell saw mills, pea hullers, hay presses, and other farming machinery and mill supplies.
Today Corley Mfg. Co.'s website says FOR OVER 100 YEARS CORLEY HAS SUPPLIED RUGGED, UP TO DATE, dependable machinery to the sawmill industry and backed it up with fast reliable service. Since 1905 we have focused our efforts exclusively on serving sawmillers. This experience has enabled CORLEY to develop sawmill machinery that is uniquely suited to your needs. CORLEY is carrying on this tradition today with our skilled and experienced team of engineers, service technicians, sales reps, production workers and management personnel.
Dear Father:-
Could not get the painted roofing and just had them put all in of the Galvanized, think it cheaper any way in the long-run, my experience with the painted is that it is poor roof to put on especially in town may be a litter better in country where not so much acid and gasses from smoke, any way did not think (you) would want to leave it off for the few dollars difference in the price and they say will be Monday before could give it to us, hope will be all right.
The pumps they have only the one size and made in wood and steel frames or body and say they sell more of the wood so am sending the wood, price of it is $8.00 complete, will bring bills of pump and roofing when come down, have not got the roofing figured out yet, will look after check soon as can get to bank and think it is all right.
We have been trying to get ready to get off down there for two or more weeks and think will make it perhaps last of next week if weather is favorable, have had some matters to look after here and could not well get off last week or this week, but think have it in shape where Jap can handle it a few days and we will try to get off next week sometime if weather is favorable.
Cotton keeps climbing, reached highest yesterday think 13.60 for some of the future months, looks like would bring 15 cents if crop is as short as some of them claim, however do not think it will go much higher now rather think it will go down after a little this rise has been on account of the Storms over the Cotton belt and too soon for a permanent rise and would not be surprised to see it take a slump next week if weather continues good.
We are all well and the Boy is getting along fine weighs 15 pounds and never been sick except the Colic and that seems to make him grow, Martha is all right and wants to go to Villanow, hope to see you soon,
Monday, February 4, 2013
LAD & JOE, family dogs
Probably the favorite of us kids was Joe, the Wonder Dog, who was given to the family in May of 1944 by the McDaniels, another army family also stationed at Warner Robins. A mixture of rat terrier and police dog, Mother wrote in her diary, "he is no bigger than my hand and the boys are overjoyed."
Hospital Bill for Judy's tonsillectomy 1950
I was more fortunate than Lee or Larry as far as serious illness or accidents went. This was my only hospital visit until my children were born. Wondering what the 10 cents drug was and what do you figure the doctor charged?
Mother's Notes about Larry and his broken leg
Taken directly from Mother's notes:
Larry had frequent bouts with high fever, headaches, legs hurting, and sometimes delirium during 1944 - 45. The army doctors there at the hospital in Warner Robins didn't diagnose it as anything. I wondered at the time if it could be rheumatic fever, and told them so.
Years later when taking his physical for football as a freshman at Maryville High, Dr. Callaway discovered a heart murmur and wondered if he had had rheumatic fever earlier in life. He said Larry couldn't play because of it--this was a blow to his ego--so much so that I talked Dr. Callaway into letting him play.
In October he sustained a crushed knee in scrimmage. His cleat caught in the turf as someone tackled him.
He was not taken in the ambulance to the hospital. Instead I was called to pick him up in the car. I was called at 5;00 p.m.; it was 9:00 p.m. before Dr. Proffitt got around to setting the knee. Blount Memorial Hospital was overflowing and he had to spend the night in the hall.
Max was at his mother's in Chattanooga attending two weeks Army Reserve summer (? my question mark) school, due to be through in three days. I called him the next morning and told him to wait the three days to come home.
This must have been on Wednesday too. (Lee's meningitis). Maybe it is an unlucky day of the week. I think he was in the hospital for two months, home on crutches several weeks. A home bound teacher, Mr. Largent, was his teacher at the hospital and at home.
Larry had frequent bouts with high fever, headaches, legs hurting, and sometimes delirium during 1944 - 45. The army doctors there at the hospital in Warner Robins didn't diagnose it as anything. I wondered at the time if it could be rheumatic fever, and told them so.
Years later when taking his physical for football as a freshman at Maryville High, Dr. Callaway discovered a heart murmur and wondered if he had had rheumatic fever earlier in life. He said Larry couldn't play because of it--this was a blow to his ego--so much so that I talked Dr. Callaway into letting him play.
In October he sustained a crushed knee in scrimmage. His cleat caught in the turf as someone tackled him.
He was not taken in the ambulance to the hospital. Instead I was called to pick him up in the car. I was called at 5;00 p.m.; it was 9:00 p.m. before Dr. Proffitt got around to setting the knee. Blount Memorial Hospital was overflowing and he had to spend the night in the hall.
Max was at his mother's in Chattanooga attending two weeks Army Reserve summer (? my question mark) school, due to be through in three days. I called him the next morning and told him to wait the three days to come home.
This must have been on Wednesday too. (Lee's meningitis). Maybe it is an unlucky day of the week. I think he was in the hospital for two months, home on crutches several weeks. A home bound teacher, Mr. Largent, was his teacher at the hospital and at home.
Mother's account of Lee & his bout with Spinal Meningitis 1950
Taken directly from Mother's notes:
Lee, in the 7th grade at Maryville High School, had been complaining a week or more with his neck being sore and a headache.
I took him to Dr. James Proffitt, our physician; he dismissed it as a normal headache. A week or two later, the school office secretary called me about 1:30 p.m. to say Lee was in great pain and was sick.
I went to school immediately to get him. He was lying on the grass in front of the school. I knew then he was really sick. He talked on the way home of the possibility it might be polio. I had already thought of that.
On reaching the house (202 Hemlock Ave.) I called Dr. Proffitt to get a recommendation of a doctor at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville. I planned to put him on a plane for Nashville as soon as I could get a flight out.
Just before calling the airport I decided to call Dr. Jack Chesney, Knoxville Pediatrics, who had treated Larry for bladder trouble which was corrected.
Over the phone Dr. Chesney diagnosed Lee as having meningitis; he had worked with it during the war. He told me to rush him to Knoxville General Hospital by ambulance as soon as possible. I left word with Avery Dixon (next-door neighbor) to tell Larry & Judy when they came in from school. She kept them and fed them supper that night.
Lee & I arrived at the hospital about 3:00 p.m. I had called Max before we left home, hoping he would meet us at the hospital. He didn't get there until 9:00 p.m. He was in an Alcoa car pool to TVA and wouldn't have thought of letting one of them drive the car home. When he got home, he ate supper. He never once rose to the crisis. I had it alone the whole way.
Lee talked in the ambulance of polio. He spoke in very grave tones. I was numb with fear. When they took him for a spinal tap, I had to go in another direction. I felt that was the last time I would ever see him alive.
Five hours later he was in the isolation ward behind several walls of glass. I could stand in the hall and see him; he looked like he was miles away.
Three doctors told me he had meningitis, and I remember saying, "I'm glad it isn't polio." I had never heard of meningitis. An hour later Max got to the hospital. When we got home I had to call everyone he had been in contact with during the last 3 or 4 days. Maryville was thrown into a panic.
The next night was Wednesday night, prayer meeting night. I sat in the hall looking at Lee through all those glass walls and praying so earnestly, "Dear God if it be thy will may he live." Nearby Broadway Baptist Church was playing chimes, Sweet Hour of Prayer. Never have I felt so close to God. As we left the hospital at 8:30 p.m. we passed by the church, as we waited beside it to get into the main street, I turned to see a lighted stained glass church window, depicting Jesus sitting with outstretched arms. He was literally beckoning. At that moment I knew Lee would live.
Lee was in the hospital 2 or 3 weeks. His girlfriend, Marilyn Hill, later Mrs. Roger Elliott whom she divorced when her two children were teenagers, Marilyn went to the hospital with us every time. We could only send notes to Lee. He couldn't hear us talking through the glass.
At the end of his stay everything in his room had to be burned.
He was out of school 6 weeks altogether. Larry & Judy had to stay home the first two weeks. After the 6 weeks for Lee, we had a high school girl come every afternoon for two weeks to "catch him up" on his studies. He recovered fine with no ill effects. How blessed we have been.
No other case of meningitis was reported in Maryville then or later. Lee is the only one so far as I know in all of Maryville to have it. Most meningitis cases are fatal.
Lee, in the 7th grade at Maryville High School, had been complaining a week or more with his neck being sore and a headache.
I took him to Dr. James Proffitt, our physician; he dismissed it as a normal headache. A week or two later, the school office secretary called me about 1:30 p.m. to say Lee was in great pain and was sick.
I went to school immediately to get him. He was lying on the grass in front of the school. I knew then he was really sick. He talked on the way home of the possibility it might be polio. I had already thought of that.
On reaching the house (202 Hemlock Ave.) I called Dr. Proffitt to get a recommendation of a doctor at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville. I planned to put him on a plane for Nashville as soon as I could get a flight out.
Just before calling the airport I decided to call Dr. Jack Chesney, Knoxville Pediatrics, who had treated Larry for bladder trouble which was corrected.
Over the phone Dr. Chesney diagnosed Lee as having meningitis; he had worked with it during the war. He told me to rush him to Knoxville General Hospital by ambulance as soon as possible. I left word with Avery Dixon (next-door neighbor) to tell Larry & Judy when they came in from school. She kept them and fed them supper that night.
Lee & I arrived at the hospital about 3:00 p.m. I had called Max before we left home, hoping he would meet us at the hospital. He didn't get there until 9:00 p.m. He was in an Alcoa car pool to TVA and wouldn't have thought of letting one of them drive the car home. When he got home, he ate supper. He never once rose to the crisis. I had it alone the whole way.
Lee talked in the ambulance of polio. He spoke in very grave tones. I was numb with fear. When they took him for a spinal tap, I had to go in another direction. I felt that was the last time I would ever see him alive.
Five hours later he was in the isolation ward behind several walls of glass. I could stand in the hall and see him; he looked like he was miles away.
Three doctors told me he had meningitis, and I remember saying, "I'm glad it isn't polio." I had never heard of meningitis. An hour later Max got to the hospital. When we got home I had to call everyone he had been in contact with during the last 3 or 4 days. Maryville was thrown into a panic.
The next night was Wednesday night, prayer meeting night. I sat in the hall looking at Lee through all those glass walls and praying so earnestly, "Dear God if it be thy will may he live." Nearby Broadway Baptist Church was playing chimes, Sweet Hour of Prayer. Never have I felt so close to God. As we left the hospital at 8:30 p.m. we passed by the church, as we waited beside it to get into the main street, I turned to see a lighted stained glass church window, depicting Jesus sitting with outstretched arms. He was literally beckoning. At that moment I knew Lee would live.
Lee was in the hospital 2 or 3 weeks. His girlfriend, Marilyn Hill, later Mrs. Roger Elliott whom she divorced when her two children were teenagers, Marilyn went to the hospital with us every time. We could only send notes to Lee. He couldn't hear us talking through the glass.
At the end of his stay everything in his room had to be burned.
He was out of school 6 weeks altogether. Larry & Judy had to stay home the first two weeks. After the 6 weeks for Lee, we had a high school girl come every afternoon for two weeks to "catch him up" on his studies. He recovered fine with no ill effects. How blessed we have been.
No other case of meningitis was reported in Maryville then or later. Lee is the only one so far as I know in all of Maryville to have it. Most meningitis cases are fatal.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
John Shahan's 50 acres in Sevier County, TN
Mother left this note that she had made from records in the Sevier County Courthouse. She didn't leave any other information that I could find so I went last year to the courthouse to see if I could discover anything else about the location.
In 1856 the courthouse burned and the only records saved was the one book that has this information in it, but nothing that identifies exactly where it is.
Ration Book 1943
In her diary entries Mother doesn't say that much about rationing during the war except for the usual shortages of meat, and apparently ice cream was hard to find at times. She does mention going to Miami to see the gas ration board and being rejected, but Daddy got tickets for 5 tankfuls at the army office. She also wrote of making sure to use up points before they expire.
She does talk about the hardship of trying to set up housekeeping for the family when their furniture was in storage in LaFayette. In Warner Robins, where Daddy was sent in 1943, she says they lived in a hastily constructed 4 room house with a coal burner in the hallway. For furniture they had 2 wood yard chairs, a barrel with a lamp on it, a card table and 4 small nail kegs for chairs, twin army cots, and wooden shelves for clothes; no rugs and unfinished floors.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Granddad Morgan (Roy Austin) 1909 Post Office Convention
Roy Austin Morgan (left kneeling on second row) at a Rural Mail Carriers Convention. It was held at the Hotel Dalton, Dalton, GA, probably 1909, 1910.
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