Henry County Families Published

Henry County Families Published

January 16th, 1994

HENRY COUNTY FAMILIES PUBLISHED

The Genealogical Society of Henry and Clayton Counties, Georgia, has just published a very ambitious project, the “First Families of Henry County, Georgia”.  This large-sized, over 750-paged book contains in-depth information about hundreds of families, arranged in alphabetical order and cross-referenced with a full-name index.  The introduction was written by Joseph H.H. Moore, who previously authored a history of Clayton County.  Moore writes a brief overview of the towns in the county and includes a number of clear maps showing how Henry County is divided.  Each family story concludes with a list of sources and has its own numbering system.  Anyone with a link to Henry County should find many clues herein.  This book and earlier ones on the county provide a rich body of research information.  Other counties with active historical and genealogical societies should take note, since this same type of work could be produced on other counties.  The book is available for $65 plus 5% sales tax and $5 postage from the society at P.O. Box 1296, McDonough, GA 30253.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

February is Black History Month and on Saturday, February 5^th there are a number of events planned at the Atlanta History Center, 105 West Paces Ferry Rd., NW, Atlanta.  A number of important speakers are scheduled, including Herman “Skip” Mason, historian, who operates a research service and recently authored “Going Against the Wind”, a photo-history of Black Atlanta.  There will also be a lot of exhibitors.  For further information for that day as well as other events there during the month, call 814-4949.

RELIGIOUS SCENES

Paul Kwilecki’s recent “Lowly Wise:  Book One:  Scenes of Religion In and Around Decatur County, Georgia” is a photo-history of churches and religious activities in this south Georgia county.  While black and white activities are shown, most photographs are of black churches.  The photographs are not identified until the end, leaving the reader to study the photograph without being distracted by a caption.  The author also gives his observations as a conclusion to his photographic history.  This is a slim volume but the photographs starkly capture many rural religious events and is a worthy record.  The book is available for $16.95 plus $3.50 shipping and sales tax from Paul Kwilecki, P.O. Box 5, Bainbridge, Ga. 31717.

BEGINNERS CLASS

“Beginning American Research” taught by Joye L. Quinn.  7 PM-9 PM.  January 25 – March 1, 6 Tuesdays.  $32.  Parkview High School, 998 Cole Rd., Lilburn, Ga. 30247, off US 78 East, at Hugh Howell Exit.  Call (school) 921-9461 after 4, (teacher) 931-1839.

CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS

Frank M. McKenney has just published “The Standing Army, History of Georgia’s County Confederate Monuments”, the bulk of the book is devoted to each Georgia county’s major Confederate monument, arranged in alphabetical order by the counties which erected them.  Seventy counties never erected a monument, although Gwinnett dedicated theirs this past September and Madison is still planning.  The author has included information about the patriotic groups such as the UDC who got many monuments erected as well as the monument construction companies such as McNeel Marble of Marietta.  The first county monument, that in Baldwin County, was put up in 1868.  Each county monument is documented by references and some are photographed.  One chapter is devoted to the few monuments honoring women.  The book is an important reference for anyone interested in the Civil War and especially in travelling about Georgia observing historical markers and monuments.  Published through W.H. Wolfe Associates, the volume is available for $19.50 plus $3 shipping from Frank M. McKenney, 302 Oldham Bldg., Macon, GA 31201.

VIRGINIA GENEALOGY

“Virginia Genealogy:  Sources and Resources” by Carol McGinnis is a new volume which looks at Virginia’s records from both the state-wide aspect as well as on a county-by-county level.  It should answer any questions anyone has on Virginia.  Sample chapters discuss migration patterns and reasons for settlement.  Alternate sources, census records and their substitutes, all help make up for the loss of records.  The different “people of Virginia” are covered in one chapter as are African-American research sources.  The chapters on each county and city (Virginia has many cities which keep their own records) are perhaps the most valuable.  The bibliography is also arranged by counties, providing a great checklist of books.  Anyone with Virginia research needs could not go wrong checking this book.  It is available for $35 plus $3 from Genealogical Publishing Co., 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, Md. 21202

WARNER ROBINS

Warner Robins is one of Georgia’s most recent cities, having been created in 1943 in Houston County, at the site of the town of Wellston.  The new town was named for General Augustine Warner Robins who died in1940.  Now comes Claire M. Dixon’s “Warner Robins:  The Second 25 Years” sponsored by the city itself.  The book covers the history of the city in some depth since it covers such a short and recent period of time.  Of interest to genealogists are the chapters on churches and the one on obituaries from 1969-1992 of certain key figures as well as reminiscences.  Published through W.H. Wolfe Associates, it has a full-name index, and is available from Mayor’s Office, 700 Watson Blvd., Warner Robins, Ga. 31093 for $18 plus $3 postage.

RELATIVES ALWAYS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE

While beginning genealogy researchers should always canvas and interview the appropriate relatives to get some information with which to start, one should never stop returning to those who have helped. One never knows when some new bit of information might surface, or when one story or discovery might trigger a deep memory. Many times a relative can add background information as to how a family lived, or how they felt about certain social issues, such as education or race relations. And you usually cannot interview them enough.

A case in point is my own maternal grandmother, Helen Russell Brooks, whose sudden death in December at age 88 left me with many unanswered and unasked questions, even after thirty years of discussing family history with her. Her memory never faltered. Her older sisters had passed already, so with her goes the memory of a generation and the only person who could recall certain aunts and cousins. So do your interviewing. Tape it, or better videotape it, and then go back for more. Sometimes it’s important to ask questions when you are totally alone with them, so that others don’t overhear or challenge the facts. For once they are gone, they are gone forever.

ANCESTORS WORKSHOP

“Do you Want to Know More About Your Family?” Rita B. Worthy, 9:30-2:30 (with a lunch hour), Sat., January 22, one day workshop. $40 members, $45 nonmembers, Atlanta History Center, 130 W. Paces Ferry Rd., Atlanta, 30305. Checks to Albert P. Boykin Genealogical Fund Workshop, or call 814-4040. Class limited to 25. Registration required.

METHODIST DEATHS

Brent H. Holcomb, prolific author and editor from South Carolina, just published the third volume in his Methodist series: “Death and Obituary Notices from the Southern Christian Advocate, 1867-1878”. This volume follows two earlier ones that covered marriages and deaths from 1837-1866. Marriages were not included in the current volume due to the size of the project. Holcomb abstracted the material from microfilm, recording pertinent material as well as the date of the issue where found. Microfilm of this newspaper can be found at Emory University’s Theology School Library. This volume completes the abstracts from the “Southern Christian Advocate” when it was the conference newspaper for South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, for in 1878, the newspaper split and the Georgia edition became the “Wesleyan Christian Advocate” as it remains today. The book contains lots of material on strong Methodist families, but could also contain material on others, from the above mentioned states as well as others that border Georgia. So it’s worth a check for anyone you are searching. The full-name index covers any name found in the obituary. It is available for $40 plus $2 postage from SCMAR, P.O. Box 21766, Columbia, S.C. 29221. Update: Address still valid 2011 and the marriages were published in a separate volume.

HOGANSVILLE

“History of the Town of Hogansville, 1830-1970” is a short, 50-page work edited by Jane Strain about this west Georgia town in Troup County. It covers the town in chronological order up to 1970. No illustrations but the cover and no index. For anyone with roots or interest in this area, it will be useful. Any town would be proud to have such a history. It is available for $6 plus $1 postage form the Troup County Historical Society and Archives, P.O. Box 1051, LaGrange, GA 30241. They have a list of other books and issue a newsletter. The archives current project is indexing the Troup County newspapers. If you have any, let them know.

REUNIONS

“Reunion Planner” by Phyllis A. Hackleman is the second printing of a very useful guide to its subject. The author discusses all aspects of a gathering, not necessarily just a family reunion. These include cost estimates, choosing a program, notifying, promoting, electing a place, forming a committee, and just about any aspect you can think of. This practical effort is something that could help anyone trying to plan any event, but especially a first time family reunion planner. She even includes samples of her own efforts and numerous checklists. There is an index. The book is available for $12.95 plus $3 postage from Clearfield Co., 200 E. Eager St., Baltimore, Maryland 21202.

DAR LIBRARY

The Daughters of the American Revolution Library in Washington, D.C. has recently begun a newsletter, “Continental Columns”. Each issue discusses news about the library, access, collections, etc. This past fall it listed state by state, periodicals they want for their collection. For Georgia, they need back issues of the “Georgia Historical Quarterly” from 1917-1972; and many issues of the “Georgia Genealogical Society Quarterly” before 1975. They also announced that a new edition of the “DAR Patriot Index” is in preparation, for $75, in early 1994. Their address is NSDAR, 1776 D Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006-5392. The library is a must for genealogists going to the nation’s capital.

SOUTHWEST GEORGIA

The “Journal of Southwest Georgia”, published by Albany State College and the Thronateeska Heritage Center, has entered its eighth volume. Edited by Lee W. Formwalt, many issues contain important background articles on local history. The current issue includes interviews with blacks who worked on hunting plantations near Thomasville, and who discussed Emancipation Day celebrations on May 20th. This new volume and al previous ones are worth checking for anyone researching in Southwest Georgia. The editor, Dr. Formwalt, can be contacted at the Department of History, Albany State College, Albany, Ga. 31705.