Cynthia Rosers receives DNR-HPD Preservation Award

Cynthia Rosers, 2003-2004 Director of "The Coweta County African American Heritage Museum and Research Center" received a Historical Preservation Award from the Department of Natural Resources- Historic Preservation Division for her work in preserving Coweta Counties African American History.

http://hpd.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=215

Slave Cabin to be rebuilt on Museum property

This picturesque little cabin does not look as if it could be more than 150 years old. This picture taken in 1978 during an unusual snowy winter day gives the idea of a "play house" for children rather than a home for servants on a plantation. We are about 90% sure that it was Daniel Jackson, a former slave of Hugh Buchanan and Edward Story, who lived in the cabin during and after the Civil War. He went to war with Hugh as a servant.
Check out the website for more information about the cabin.

http://www.westga.edu/~history/centerslavecabinproject.htm

Cassandra Hollis speaks to AAGHS in Atlanta

On April 24, 2005 Cassandra Hollis spoke at the AAGHS membership meeting in East Point Georgia. Her topic was "Documenting Your Family History on Video".

One Buffalo Soldier was from Newnan

There was one Buffalo Soldier who was from Newnan and we are in the process of doing research on him. This is the exhibit that was on loan from Don North of Carrollton, President of the Grierson Soldiers.
The exhibit on display at the Coweta County African American Heritage Museum and Research Center includes: An authentic Saddle from the 1904 regiment; Model of a Guide on (the flag used circa 1877); A hat (circa 1870's before they switched to the brown hat's used today); A pistol belt (circa 1865) and books about the Buffalo Soldiers.

http://www.georgiainformer.com/2005-07/buffalo_soldiers_will_ride_again.htm

http://www.prnewsnow.com/PR%20News%20Releases/Art%20And%20Entertainment/Museums/Buffalo%20Soldier%20Exhibit%20Debuts%20At%20MetroAtlanta%20Museum

Getting Started with Family trees online

Don't forget there are numerous ways of getting your name out there on the net so others can help you with your family history. Especially if there are people you can't find.
There are also many places to place your family tree so others can contact you.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ga/coweta.htm

http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi

http://www1.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=cowetafamilies&rand=65071

To find out if some one has died, check the Social Security Death Index
http://ssdi.rootsweb.com/?o_xid=0028727949&o_lid=0028727949&o_xt=28727949

World War One Draft Card Records Available

Marion Washington Couch was my great grandfather (1884-1970).
The Draft Card tells their name, birthday, address, occupation, employer, race, height, weight, eye color, hair color, next of kin, and has their signature on it.

Marion's father was John Andrew Couch (1858-1937), his grandfatherWilliam Washington Couch born about 1816, his gg gdad, Levi born about 1791, and his ggg dad Benjamin Couch ca 1753 SC. I wonder what life was like back then. How they would feel with all the inventions we have now. Why they came to Gwinnett and Coweta Counties GA from South Carolina. And how they would feel knowing 'we' (everyone in general) don't know that much about their families. And if they would be mad at us for watching tv or being in front of the computer all day long, instead of visiting relatives.....

We have had a family reunion for as long as I could
remember, and always thought it was for my great
granddaddy's family Marion (Mern) Washington & Effie
Hubbard Couch. They had 13 children, 12 lived.
So with so many people there, I was satisfied knowing that.

But now to find out it was a reunion for his father,
John Andrew & Marietta {9 children (& later Hattie {2 children)
Couch, and their 11children. NOW we're cooking with gas!
When you're younger, you can't conceive who belongs
to who, you just play.

I just wish when I stayed under the adults feet,
and they would tell me to go play, I could
have remembered more! I played asleep so many times
so I could hear what was said. But I get my nosiness
the old fashion way, from my grandma. She knew every
thing about everyone from here to yon.
I just wish my dad would not have thrown out
her obituary collection. If I had only known.......

We also used to have Easter dinner and an Easter egg
hunt at Mama & Papa Couch's house (Mern & Effie).
This one was just their grandchildren and great
grandchildren. I don't know why I didn't notice
there weren't so many people. But we had some of the
best 'cousin' times there at Papa Couchs. They always
had a hog in the pen, pecans on the ground, and we just
loved to run around in the pecan orchard.
We would chase the cow, and probably would have
played with the hog if they would have let us get dirty.

One of my favorite great uncles, was Luke. He had been
in Korea, and would tell us stories (I think were more
like fabrications) but we didn't know the difference.
He would always help me find a prize egg when I was
smaller. I used his uniform for a project in school, and I
don't remember what happened to it. But he had about
6 different kinds of medals on it, but I didn't know
what they were for.

We lived next to Papa and Mama Couch for a year or so
when I was little (1968-70). It was in a small 4 room
house with no running water. We had to go out to the
outhouse, which was the scaryist place in the world!!!
Especially at night when you couldn't see the bugs.
We did have a 'slop jar', but I didn't like it either.
It was always as cold as an Alaskan's igloo.

My dad met my mom when stationed in Alaska in the
Air Force. She was born in Iowa, but grew up in Nebraska.
He always called her "A flat footed yankee".
I didn't know he was serious, until the Dr told me
I was flat footed. I thought it was a term of endearment.
And I know Nebraska is not yankee, but her family
was originally from PA-CT- area…

Anyway, Mama Couch would watch us when Mom went
to work. She always had biscuits, and didn’t mind if
we ‘rambled’ around, long as we ‘didn’t migrate it’.
Her words for take it home. She had the neatest stuff.

We would always take her to the cemeteries to clean
the graves. We have a couple of pictures of us with
her at Papa’s grave. She still talked to him as if he
was still alive.

When I started researching, and finding Papa’s 1st cousins' children, they always said, “Oh yeah, Uncle Mern would come to eat with us on Tuesday”, or “Cousin Mern would eat with us every Friday on his way home from work”.
You would have thought Papa was 500 lbs, from as much as he ate around town. But he looked like a stick man. He said it was because he worked hard all day long. I wish that was true, cause I work all the time too, but am not a stick lady!!!!

P.S. I polled about 20 people (10 male & 10 female)in a local restaurant.
45% could not tell me their grandparents names,or could only remember one name.
75% could not tell me their great grandparents names.
90% could not tell me the maiden names.
Lots of them said "They were dead when I was born".
Or "their name was Granny, or Mema Lastname".

Three Generations of the Rowe/Redwine Family visit Museum

Hilda Rowe, Renee Hathman Cook, & Renee's dtr.
Descended from Hillard Rowe who married Nancy Redwine.
Nancy is connected to the Redwine Family Plantation.

Nathan Arnold lives to be 107 years

Nathan Arnold's tombstone says he lived to be 107 years old, his wife Adelaide's tombstone says she lived to be 105 years old, and both are buried in Grantville City Cemetery, Grantville Georgia.
--The 1870 Coweta Census reports that Nathan was born around 1840 in North Carolina, and Adline his wife was born about 1844 in Virginia. Nothing else is known about their life before they came to Georgia or even how they got here. It also says that Adline was mulatto, and they had Malinda 7yrs, Joshua 5yrs, Frances 3yrs, and Nathan 2yrs.
--The 1880 Coweta Census reports that Nathan and Adlaid (name was different on each census) were 40 and 37, and children Joshua 15, Nora 9, Laura 7, John A 6, Robert L 4, Pearley 2, and Clauda 4 months.
--The 1890 Census burned in the Nations Capital not many sheets from Georgia survived.
--The 1900 Coweta Census reports Nathan 60 yrs born NC, Adlade 57 born VA, Otis 20, Ben F 17, Leona 14, and Eddy R West a 10yr old grandaughter living with them, Res#72-75.
--1900 Coweta Census Winney Arnold is next door, Res#76, born GA in 1870Apr widowed, Elizabeth 1889, Eli? 1890Dec, Morgan 1892May, Jake? 1894Nov, Asbury1898July, Josh 1900Apr.
--1900 CowetaCensus John Arnold 27, Kate 28 (md 5y 4/4), Eula 3, Marshall 2, Jessie 3mo, Clessie 3mo; Res#78-84 Cedar Creek.
--1900 Coweta Census Nora Arnold 30yr widow, born GA in 1870Apr, had 2 children 1 living; Res#342-364 Grantville.
--1900 Coweta Census Frank Arnold 30Ga, Carrie29 (md7y 6/5), Joe 12, Norman 8, Rozella 6, Emily 5mo; Res#28-30 CedarCreek. (is this Frances?)
--1900 Coweta Census Emily born 1862, widow 8children 4living, Frances 17fe, Beulah 12; Res#29-31 Cedar Creek (is this Malinda?)
--1900 Coweta Census Minnie Arnold 22, widow 3 children, George 4, Selima 2, Etta 8mo; Res#29-23 CedarCreek (is this Pearlie or Malinda?)
--The 1910 Coweta Census reports Nathan 69, Adlaide 67, they have been married for 40 years and had 14 children and 9 are living in 1910, also Wiliam 26 son, Ama Stinson 24(m1 11y 3/3), Laura10, Beola 8, Jennie 6 all granddaughters, & Edward Cleveland 5 grson.. Res#9-9 Grantville
--1910 Coweta Census Jno Arnold 37, Kate 28 (m1 14yrs 4/3), Eula M 13, Marshall 11, Jesse 10; Res#62-62 CedarCreek (everyone but John mulatto).
--1910 Coweta Census Emily Arnold 65? mother in law, Bula 20 sil, Willie C 7mo nephew of Aaron Echols 22 & wife Francis 28 (m1 7y 8/6); Res#143-145 Cedar Creek. (Emily is getting older and older?? why?).
--1910 Coweta Census Frank Arnold 34, Carrie 40 (m1 15yrs 8/6), Rosetta 15, Emily 11, Norman 17, James 8; Res#264-268 Dist 645.
--1910 Coweta Census Joshua Arnold 40, Minnie 38 (md 22y 12/9), Elizabeth 20, Sarah 18, Morgan 17, Jacob 15, Asbury 11, Eddie 8, Berther 4, Early 2, Ona 1; Res#111-112 MD755 (is this Joshua from 1870 census?).
--1910 Coweta Census Otis Arnold 30, Minnie 28, Hugh E 8, Myrtie M 7; Res#120-121 MD755.
--the 1920 Coweta Census reports Nathan 85NC, Adlaide 77VA, Annie Butler, a 40yr old widowed dtr; Laura Brown a 21yr old grand dtr; Josephine Brown 2yr2mo great-great gdtr; and Jimmie L Stinson a 19 yr old grand dtr living with them; Res#85-85 St Charles.
--1920 Lee Arnold 47, Julia 46, Cora Newell 25neice, James3y3m nephew, Annie 5mo neice; REs#86-86 St Charles.
--1920 Coweta Census Josh Arnold 60, Winnie 54, Eddie 19, Berthula 14, Earlie 12, Ora11, Elizabeth Redan? 29dtr; Res#59-59 St Charles.
--1920 Coweta Census William P Arnold 40, Annie M 30, William C 13, Syl V 11son, Annie 9, MildredL7, Cora O 5, Millard W 3y3m, Levi 10 & L M 7 COUCH stepsons; Res#80-80 St Charles (is this Pearly from 1880 Census?).

-Son Joshua married Winnie Watkins on Jan 23 1887; and by the 1900 Census he may have died, because Winnie was alone 30yrs, with Elizabeth 10yr, Salie M 9yr, Morgan 8yr, Jake 5yr, Asbury 1yr and Josh 1 month. By the 1920 Census, Josh 60yr, Willine 54, Eddie B 19, Burthula 12, Earlie 12y, Ora 11, and Elizabeth Redin 29yr old dtr living with them.

-Daughter Frances may have married William Elder on Dec 24 1904 in Coweta Co.

-Daughter Nora married Robert West on Oct 02 1887 in Coweta. And by 1910 She was widowed, living alone and had had one child. Up the street was Robert West 20yr with wife Arbele 21y, married 3yrs, (Arbelle had 2 children and 2 living). Robert and Arabelle married on May 26 1907 in Coweta Co.

-Son Otis married Winnie Harris on Dec 24 1901 in Coweta Co. On the 1910 Census, Otis was 31y, Minnie 28y (married 8y, 2children, 2living), Hugh E 8yr, and Myrtis M 7yr.

-Did daughter Annie marry a Butler?

-Daughter Leona married John Jennings on May 23 1915 in Coweta Co.

Obituaries can be a goldmind in family research!

Obituaries are very helpful in family history research.
We would hope that they would include full birth name and all married names.
Full names of parents (including mother's maiden name);
Children and siblings are usually listed in birth order.
Full names of brothers and sisters (siblings); (not just Mrs. John Brown, this tells us who she married, but not her name);
Full names of the children/grandchildren, usually done in order of birth.
If they are to be buried somewhere other than the family church cemetery in which the funeral is taking place, please tell the name of the church they were a member of and the name of the cemetery with city and state.
(buried at Ebenezer Cemetery...does not tell us what city or state).

I know newspapers charge for obituaries now, but please pay a little more and help your future descendants find more information about you and your family.

"Uncle John Brown's celebration of life will be March 8, with burial in the family cemetery"
This does not tell us where the family cemetery is, or what day that Uncle John died.
When someone starts to look for Uncle John it will be easier with a little more information.

1911 Newnan First National Bank Note

This is a note that is from the First National Bank of Newnan.
Federal Bank number is 1861. The date on the bill is July 28, 1911. You can see that they were hand signed. It must have been a hard job to sign each and every one of them.

Come on over to the museum and see the two Confederate Bills from 1863.

Circles and Family History

Attempting to get people to start their family histories is sometimes like pulling teeth. They know it has to be done, but they would rather be "dead" when it happens.

In the last month or so, it seems as if everyone who comes in is related in some way.

The last visitor, who came to the Awards Banquet, and visited the Museum for the first time, is just this way. I received a call for 4 tickets to the banquet. Mr Alton Kirby said his daughter told him to call and reserve the seats. Then at the banquet, we spoke to them about the museum. They called Cynthia (the director) and set up a time for an interview with Mr Kirby, his wife and his brother.

When the interview was happening, I couldn't help but hear it, it's a small place. And every name I heard, I had already researched for someone else.
So I bided my time, and when there was a lul in the air, I placed my notes on the table in front of his daughter.
-I had researched the Kirby and Huling for the Sutton family.
-I had researched the Cook family for the Wesley Chapel Church Cemetery info.
-I had researched the Stegall family for the Ballard Family Cemetery and then for 3 other families that tied in.

This day was exciting and wierd. We got back to slavery on three different sides, but I already had the research done. The "Powers That Be" work in very mysterious ways indeed.

Tuskegee Airmen Bob Brown & Wilbur G Mason

Bob Brown and Wilbur G Mason enjoy banquet in Newnan. They were there to accept the award on behalf of the Tuskegee Airmen from the AAA.

Tuskegee Airman Bob Brown & Sutton Family

Members of the Robert Welcome Sutton family on hand at the 2004 Awards Banquet, spending time with Tuskegee Airman Bob Brown. Who as always was cordial and wonderful dinner guest.

Two at banquet who were with MLK in Washington.

Ms Rush (on left), one of two at Banquet who was at Washington at the 'I had a Dream speech'. Of coarse, the other was Congressman John Lewis.
We all had a great time, and enjoyed Mr. Lewis's acceptance speech.

John Lewis in Newnan to receive award from AAA

“Embracing Our History…Preserving Our Heritage”

The African American Alliance, Inc. (AAA) invites you to join them in the first Freedom Day Celebration (formerly Juneteenth) the weekend of August 27, 2004 through August 29, 2004. The Freedom Day Celebration is a community event that commemorates the emancipation proclamation freeing the slaves by the city of Newnan in 1865.

The celebration will start with the Freedom Day Awards Banquet held at the Newnan Country Club on Friday, August 27th at 7:00pm. There will be five award categories covering the tenets that represent the core values and mission statement of the AAA. An elegant evening of entertainment is planned including a full course meal and a live jazz band. The awards and this year’s winners who also will be in attendance to accept their award are:

The Robert Welcome "Papa" Sutton Lifetime Achievement Award - The Honorable Congressman John Lewis

The Legacy Award - The Tuskegee Airmen

The Torch Bearer’s Award - Representative Lynn Smith

The Light Award - United We Stand

The Ministry Award- Awarded on Sunday, August 29 to Newnan Chapel Church, to be presented during the 11:00 am worship service at Newnan Chapel Church on Sunday, August 29th, 2004 as we join the 50th class anniversary of the Warner High School class of 1954.

****
It was a wonderful night, and we thank all who donated thier time, money or other resources to help make this a successful event.

This is a few of Lynn's 200 antique hats.

The event went very well, and we made a few dollars for the Museum.

Thanks so much to Representative Lynn Smith for the use of her
home and for showing us her hats.

Genealogy is not that hard, from an obituary to slavery

Genealogy is not that hard, it just takes someone who wants to do some detective work if yours is not already published for you in a book somewhere.

Someone brought an obituary to the museum for Mr. George Goolsby III 1945-2004. So, we can assume that his father and grandfather were Georges' also. (even though assuming is genealogy is like thinking you can beat the train to cross the railroad tracks)....
But turns out his father and grandfather were both George's. George I, born around 1867, was in Fulton County Georgia on the 1930 Census. It was reported he was 62yrs old, wife Hattie 53, children: Jesse 23, Ola 17, Alzora 15, Nithona 13son, and a grandson George Howard 7yrs. So, George II must have already been married, will keep looking for him.

George III's mother a Finley. I found her father and mother on the 1930 Coweta Co GA Census Jesse 25 and Tommie 20 Fendley. Thus, we know there were at least four different ways to spell Findley on Coweta Co documents.

George III's mother remarried to a Hall, and she had several more children. Mr. Hall's father was also named George. I found him on the 1920 and 1930 Coweta Co Census: George born about 1875, Hattie born about 1880, Annie M, John A, Clinton, George W, David, Lenson, Enoch, Amos, Anderson, and Ola.
Then I found George with his father on the 1880 Troup Co GA Census. Phillip Hall born about 1831 was probably a slave and I will look in Troup to see if there were any Hall plantations to see if I can find where he was before the Civil War. Phillip's wife Susan born about 1843, Jessie? dtr, Philip Jr, Martha, Thomas, George, Lettie, and John.

Within about 10 minutes, I had found two probable slaves from one obituary someone brought to our attention, maybe because they knew the person, and felt we would do something with it. I could have just let it lie in the "In" box until someone else did something with it, maybe research, maybe throw it out.

One never knows when they go about their day, what will fall in their laps. The "powers that be" have things in store for us that we know nothing about. Things happen to us for a reason, we should be open to the many opportunities that jump in our path each day, and make the most of them......

Thompson Story and dog makes an appearance.

If you have never spent a few minutes with Thompson Story, you have been slighted.
This elderly gentleman is a delight and full of knowledge of Coweta Co history.
He was a carpenter in his heyday, and worked on houses in and around Coweta. He worked a lot for Mrs Banks in Grantville.
He never stops talking, I needed my tape recorder bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He talks so fast I can't even write hardly anything down. I can type 100wpm, but I can't listen and write much of anything. Especially around him cause he is cracking jokes too. His memories jump around so fast too, that I have to say wait a minute tell me that again...... He is one character I wish I would have known when he was younger. I've known him about 4 years, thru his daughter's family whom I'm in Boy Scouts with.

Thompson Story is a desendant of the Banks family of Fayette Co, his ancestors traced out in the book by Frances Banks Story of Newnan GA. (book is "Grandpa's Family")
He is the son of Calvin C & Lonnie Mae Lyle Story'; grandson of John Addison Storey who served with the 13th GA Volunteer Calvary Reg, Co F, and Susan Elizabeth 'Betty' Kidd; great grandson of George & Mary Legg Storey; gg grandson of John Storey (1750-1920); ggg grandson of George (1725-1805) and Nancy Cantor Storey.

He also said he dated Miss Caldwell. The lady who owned and lived in the house the museum is in now. Well Miss Caldwell, you let a good one slip through your fingers when you let Mr. Story go.....

Col. M L Chalder Visits

Colonel M L Chalder visited the museum the other day.
He talks so fast, I didn't get all of it, but I assume he was Air Force, cause he loves Newnan High School, and they have AF ROTC.
He said he volunteers with them some. He is also very interesting.
I enjoyed the time he was here, and hope he brings his wife up too.
He said he used to own an antique shop in North GA, but it burned.

And of coarse, we had taken our military exhibit down to change everything out for our Anniversary. But he said he would come back on military holidays.
Hopefully he will come and tell us some stories about his adventures in life.

Retired Foreign Service Officer Visits

During our Anniversary July 10th, Mr. & Mrs Timothy Edwards (wife Bennie) and two of their friends visited. Mr. Edwards is a descendant of a slave named Adam Nelson.
As far as he knows they were from Dooly County Georgia.
Adam was born 1834 and died 1896. He married Harriet, she was born 1843 and died in 1917.
To this union there was birthed: Bartow, Lee, William, Johnson, Isaiah, Lank, James A, Gilbert, Emma, Clara, Anna, Mary Lou, Amanda, Elizah, Susan and Rosa.
Mary Lou lived to be 96 years old, and was the longest living survivor.
Mr. Edwards is the grandson of Bartow born 1862. Bartow married Lodusta Moore. Their daughter Christine married Joseph Edwards, thence Timothy was born.

Mr. Edwards served in foreign service for 30 years. Part of that time was spent in Africa.
I will get all the details the next time I speak with him, and let you all know how many countries he served in. I do believe he said he speaks at least 5 different languages.

He is an amazing man. I hope we get the time in the near future to fully interview him about his foreign service.

There were many other interesting people at our First Anniversary Celebration, I just felt Mr Edwards was very interesting, and spent a few more minutes speaking to him. But unfortunately I only speak "southern English".