mountain heritage The Gilmer County Genealogical Society, Inc. September 1, 2015 Volume 3, Issue 3 The asdf Sons of James and Mary Bevel Researched & Contributed by Scott A. Martin Eventually every genealogist encounters the proverbial brick wall. We become frustrated when we are unable to determine the next generation for a given ancestor. We attempt to locate all known sources of information, conventional and unconventional, become frustrated and eventually give up. However, persistence does yield its own reward. Such was the case with the family of my great-great grandfather, William Edgar Bevel (7 March 1830 18 October 1908). The earliest census record I could locate for William Bevel is the 1850 Gilmer County GA census. His mother Mary (age 37 born SC) is head of household, with sons William (age 13 born AL), James age 10 born AL) and Henry (age 3 born GA). In 1860, Mary Bevel (age 45) is residing in Gilmer County, Photo submitted by Scott Martin with sons Henry (age 14) and a fourth son, George (age 7) while the elder sons William Bevel (age 21) and his brother James (age 18) are residing in Milledgeville, Baldwin County GA. In 1870, Mary Bevel (age 55 born SC) and sons Henry (age 21 born GA) and George (age 16 born GA) are enumerated in Gilmer County GA. During the Civil War, both William Bevel and James enlisted in Company I, 39th Georgia Infantry. Private William Bevel joined Company I on April 4, 1864 by transfer from Company A, 4th Georgia Calvary. James Bevel enlisted March 4, 1862 in Company I, 39th Georgia Infantry and served as a Corporal. He was killed at the Battle of Baker s Creek (MS) on May 16, 1863. A memorial marker for James Bevel was placed at Patton s Chapel Cemetery, Hoover, Jefferson asdf County AL. Continued on Pg. 2 In this quarterly issue: The Sons of James and 1 Mary Bevel GCGSI Needs You! 3 In Focus: Pleasant Grove 3 School Early 1950 Last Quarter Highlights 4 and GCGSI Picnic Pics Annual Picnic Photos 5 First Families 6 President s Desk 6 Family Research Center 7 New Research Link 8 Remember When: 8 Hamby s Hardware Bulletin Board 9 American Pioneers: Flapjacks. Albert, D. Beyond the Mississippi. Hartford, CT: American Publishing Company, 1867.
Page 2 The Sons of James and Mary Bevel (Cont. from Pg.1) Determining the name of William s father was a challenge. I was unable to locate information when I visited the Gilmer County Courthouse in Ellijay, Georgia (in August 1997). However, a visit to the Georgia State Archives four years later did provide the answer. I found an apprenticeship record for William Bevel, dated 3 November 1851, which reads in part The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the Court aforesaid has this day bound unto the said Josias Withrow an orphan of said Gilmer County by the name of William Bevel son of James Bevel deceased, of the age of fourteen years, for seven years or until he shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years. I also found a James Bevell of Elbert County GA who participated in the 1832 Cherokee County Land Lottery (shortly after the 1832 Lottery, Cherokee County was divided into ten counties, one of which was Gilmer County). He drew a lot from the 23rd District, Second Section, which is now located in present day Gilmer County GA. This James Bevell was the son of Thomas Bevell, born 15 November 1780 (married twice, first to Nancy Keeton 26 January 1797 VA; second to Elizabeth Cunningham in Elbert County GA 26 November 1807). Thomas Bevell was a brother to William Bevell, born 1 January 1779 VA, married to Nancy Prewitt in VA 22 December 1800. This William Bevell eventually migrated to Shelby County AL where he died in 1840. Thomas and William Bevell were sons of John Randolph Bevell, Revolutionary War Patriot. I believe my James Bevel and James Bevell, son of Thomas Bevell, are the same person for the following reasons: (1) The Cherokee Land Lottery of 1832; (2) The relation to William Bevell who died in Shelby County AL in 1840 (I think there had to be some type of connection to Shelby County AL, because my William Bevel later moved to Chilton County AL in 1870); and (3) The brother of my g-g-grandfather, William Bevel, is named Henry Randolph, incorporating the same middle name as John Randolph Bevell. Of course I am not completely certain of this, but as every genealogist knows, you must first formulate a hypothesis and then collect data to either prove or disprove that hypothesis. As noted above, my g-g-grandfather, William Bevel had three brothers: James (1840 16 May 1863) died Battle of Baker s Creek MS; Henry Randolph Bevel (14 March 1847 28 October 1925 buried Tarrant County TX), married Jane Atheline Cox and settled in Moody, McLennan County, TX; and George Clarence Bevel (1853-1899), married America Roberts and settled in Cherokee County AL.
Page 3 GCGSI NEEDS YOU! The Gilmer County Genealogy Society would love to have you serve on the GCGSI Board! The Board meets right before the monthly meeting. Put your talents to use for us. Our positions include: President, Vice President, Second Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Event Chairman (3 of these), Membership Chairman, Publicity Chairman, Publications Chairman, and Historian. Board Members serve for 1 year. Please consider serving with us! Send your name and nominations to gcgsi@hotmail.com. The confirmation of officers will be at our Annual Christmas Dinner on December 10, 2015. In Focus SUBMITTED BY GLADY SPIVEY Pleasant Grove School Early 1950 Front row seated: Phillip Puckett, Jimmy Sanford, Ernest Pritchett, Cecil Mulkey, Helen Pritchett Stephens, McNoel Davis, Newell May, Shirley Pittman, Ruby Scott Crump, Ethel Newton, Roy Scott, Charles Sanford. Back row: Mrs. Gladys Crooke teacher, Paul Pittman, Winston Newton, Calvin Ratcliff, Burley Pittman, Truman Sanford, Love J. Mulkey, Henry L. Burgess, Alice Puckett, Henry Pittman, Bonnie Mulkey Pierce, Gladys Dotson Spivey, Hayden Osborne, Grady Dotson, John Osborne and Mr. Bryan Parks County School Supt.
Page 4 Last Quarter Highlights June and July 2015 Monthly Meeting: No monthly Meeting was held. August 2015 Monthly Meeting: The Annual GCGSI Picnic was the meeting for August. GCGSI members brought covered dishes to the ETC Pavillion. A great time was had by all! More pics can be found on our Facebook Page. Click here to view. PHOTOGRAPHS BY KATHRYN WATKINS
Page 5 GCGSI Annual Members Picnic (Continued from Pg 4) A Big Thank you to our wonderful photographer, Kathryn Watkins! More pics can be found on our Facebook Page.
Page 6 First Families of Gilmer County The purpose of the First Families program is to honor the pioneers who were settled in Gilmer County in 1840 or before, and to recognize those descendants who become members of this program. We encourage anyone who is directly descended from early citizens listed on the 1840 Gilmer County Census to apply. Applicants are not required to be currently residing in Gilmer County. For more information, please visit our website at: http://www.gcgsi.org/firstfamilies.html. The purpose of the First Families program is to honor the pioneers who were settled in Gilmer County by 1840 or before and to recognize those descendants who became members of this program. New Members Added: Pauline Dotson Price Sherry Lynn Price Sebastian Alexander Price Leslie Barker Thomas President s Desk BY KAREN TITUS The book committee is still going strong on a book about the first families in Gilmer County. Even if you have not signed up for the committee, your help would be appreciated with research, layouts, art ideas, etc. We resume our monthly meetings on September 10th. The annual picnic was fun with lots of good food. Special thanks to Gladys Spivey, Sylvia Johnson, John Davis, Karla Duke and all the others who helped set up, clean up and brought delicious food to share. Come join us and maybe you will find a cousin.
Page 7 Family Research Center A monument was to be installed for Andrew Jackson Fore. He is Susan Nole s 3x great uncle. Does anyone know if it's already been installed? If not, please email Susan at susan@bobnoles.com. She and a cousin would love to attend! Susan Withrow Lauderdale would like information on her grandfather John Grady Withrow. Her mom was from Ellijay. Her name was Mable Stover Withrow. She would also like information on her mom and grandmother Rachel Arizona Kimmons Stover. Please contact her at lauderdalesusan@bellsouth.net. Paulette Johnson-Powell is trying to find her 3rd grandparents. Their names are William and Nancy Logan born in S.C. They were in Gilmer County in the early 1840's. Contact Paulette at 619-787-0319 or email her at brbrarav2@yahoo.com. Patsy Davenport Bailey is researching the Gibson, Gipson family. Her phone number is 706-293-4321. Judy Ngy is researching the Turner and Dodson families from Yorkshire England. Email her at judysgarden@hotmail.com. Rebecca Goble is looking for information on Harold Goble, Lola Milton Goble, Noah Goble, and Mary Lanning Goble. Her email is beckygoble147@gmail.com Nicole Kinser, coleykinser@yahoo.com, is researching the Kinser, Green, Falls, Colwell, German, Tankersley and Ledford Families. Danny Ross Stephens is interested in finding out more about the Stephens Family. His email is dans8824@comcast.net. Susan Beaudry is researching Jeremiah and O. Martin. Her email is copertuz@gmail.com CS Burrell, csburrell565@gmail.com, is looking for information on Melvin B. Burrell, Spencer Burrell and Mourning Dove Burell. Kathy Kelly Green is researching the Dillard, Patterson, Kincade, Hogan, Morris and Stewart families. Her email is kellygreena2@windstream.net.
Page 8 New Research Link This link was found and submitted by Patricia Henson. Gilmer County, Georgia Genealogy Links: http://www.georgiagenealogy.org/gilmer/links.htm Information found on the website includes links to: Gilmer County Cemeteries, Gilmer County Marriages (1834-1900), Gilmer County Census (1834, 1840, 1850, 1880) and Gilmer County Obituaries. Remember When Submitted by Hollyanna Hardy White This photograph was printed in the 1994 Historical Calendar (month of January) published by the Gilmer Arts and Heritage Association. The calendar was in the collection of Carlton Hardy of Ellijay, Georgia. Hamby Hardware Company A wide selection of merchandise was featured at Mr. Hamby s store, located on Dalton Street in a building adjacent to First Baptist Church. Shown in this photograph, made probably in the early 1920 s, are Andrew Stephens and (on the right) J.L. Hamby, the owner and operator
Page 9 Bulletin Board September: Library Closed on September 7, 2015. September Meeting of GCGSI will be held on September 10, 2015 at the Gilmer County Library at 2 PM. Speaker: Steven Purvis with Huff Drugs, will speak on the important role of the small town pharmacist over the years especially when many communities did not have a full time doctor. Research Assistants available on Fridays from 10 AM 3 PM in the Genealogy Research Center at the Gilmer County Library. Research Assistants for September: Karla Duke, Patricia Henson, Sylvia Johnson and Karen Titus. October: October Meeting of GCGSI will be held on October 8, 2015 at the Gilmer County Library at 2 PM. Speaker Beth Bice. She is descended from several prominent Gilmer County pioneers including the Perry, Tabor and Cox Families. Beth will be sharing stories from over the years. Research Assistants available on Fridays from 10 AM 3 PM in the Genealogy Research Center at the Gilmer County Library. Research Assistants for October: Gladys Spivey, Karla Duke, Shirley Sluder and Becky Burrell. November: Library Closed on November 11, 2015. Thank you Veterans! November Meeting of GCGSI will be held on November 12, 2015 at the Gilmer County Library at 2 PM. Speaker: The Speaker of the House for Georgia, David Ralston. Research Assistants available on Fridays from 10 AM 3 PM in the Genealogy Research Center at the Gilmer County Library. Research Assistants for November: Karla Duke, Eurilla Hyatt, and Patricia Henson. Library Closed on November 26 and 27, 2015. Happy Thanksgiving! Mark Your Calendars: Annual Christmas Luncheon and Installation of Officers at the Shriner's Lodge on Dec. 10, 2015. More information will be provided in the next newsletter and on the website!
P. O. Box 919 Ellijay, GA 30540 The Gilmer County Genealogical Society, Inc. Page 10 The Gilmer County Genealogical Society, Inc. P. O. Box 919 Ellijay, GA 30540 We re on the web! www.gcgsi.org Contact email: gcgs@etcmail.com What Is Available Online? GCGSI Membership First Families Application Genealogical Links Officers Book Order Form 1834 and 1840 Census Contact Information Research Resources Receive your newsletter via email. Send your email to gcgsi@hotmail.com