Wilson House, Union County, GA

Photographer facing East

On the north side of Pat Haralson Drive, across from the rolling hills that are now home to Butternut Creek Golf Course, you may be able to find the remnants of Cicero and Roxie (Smith) Wilson's farm. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson raised four daughters and two sons along this road that is currently an area with commercial establishments (such as a dental office, the Sawmill restaurant, a town home development, Davenport Trucking), interspersed with single family homes, but in the early 20th century it was primarily farmland. The road begins in the city limits of Blairsville, and winds its way west until it brushes the eastern limit of Lake Nottely at Hwy 129 North.

Photographer facing NE

Born on March 25, 1885, in Hall County, GA, Mr. Wilson's family moved to Union County when he was five. Coincidentally, Pat Haralson Drive was named for the man that would become one of Mr. Wilson's teachers when he attended Fairview School.

Mr. Cicero Wilson

Roxie Smith was born September 27, 1887, and married Mr. Wilson in 1910. Their four daughters were Imogene, Montine, Ella Ree, and Audrey; the two sons were Woodrow, and James Ford.

Mr. Wilson worked for a time as the superintendent of the County's Pauper's Home (also known as The County Poor Farm), a place for indigent men to live out their lives. There is a good article about the Pauper's Home here, written by Ethelene Dyer Jones, a prolific author on Union County history.

At the age of 50, he took up farming, perhaps at the subject location in this post.  Sadly, Mr. and Mrs.Wilson twice had to face a parent's worst fear, the death of not one, but two of their children.

Back L-R, Montine, Ella Ree; Front L-R, Woodrow, Imogene

Wilson Farm Outbuilding, photographer facing north

Both Woodrow and James Ford served during World War II in Europe. Sadly, Woodrow was killed during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944, and Imogene passed away in 1963 at the age of 46.

The following quote is from the Union County Heritage book,

"When Grandpa Wilson was 11, he got kicked in the head by an old mare. The dent stayed in his head his whole life.....Whenever Grandpa Wilson bought anything, he paid the money all at once. He never owed any money to anyone. Once when he was small, he drank milk and got sick. He never again drank milk. All he ever drank was water and juice. He never drank coffee, tea, or soft drinks. Grandpa died in 1980 after his 95th birthday. Grandma Wilson died two years before him."

Charolette (Adams) Conley, one of their 33 grandchildren informed me that Mr. Wilson was a Mormon, and Mrs. Wilson was a member of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. He was also known to have never had a drivers license. If he wanted to go somewhere, he'd simply start walking in that direction, and eventually someone would stop and give him a ride. He could also cane the bottom of chairs and make cane baskets.

Wilson Family, back, L-R Montine, Ella Ree, Woodrow, Imogene, James Ford, Audrey, front Cicero and Roxie

As I mentioned above, with 33 grandchildren, and 63 great-grandchildren (as of 1980), I'd say the Wilson's certainly did their part in adding to the legacy of Union County.

Two-story Farmhouse, c.1848, Union County, GA

From John Smith Road East, photographer facing NW

At the edge of  a pasture in northern Union County, GA stands this magnificent, two-story wooden, L shaped home. Built circa 1848, the owner must have been of substantial means. The feature that stands out the most to me is the 2nd story porch that is located on the front of the home. Few homes built in the mid 1800s  had two stories, much less a second floor porch.

From John Smith Road East, photographer facing NE

The property where this home is located also includes a home that was built in the early 70s and is obviously the primary home of the land owner. So many homes like this, if they haven't been torn down, destroyed by fire, or simply collapsed due to age, are typically covered by vegetation. Invasive vines such as Kudzu, Wisteria, Virginia Creeper; thick growths of privet, or other shrubs, and sometimes trees growing up inches from the foundation cause serious damage to these old structures.Thankfully, the owner has made sure that these grounds are maintained around the old home, allowing any passersby a glimpse of the past.

In the second photo, you will notice the mountains in the background, as you look past the house over T Chapel Road, and Hwy 129. These are the peaks of Gumlog and Ballard Mountains. These peaks rise from the floor of Union County, and fall down to the border with Cherokee County, NC.  The individuals that settled the surrounding lands were the heartiest of individuals. This area is still quite remote with respect to the distance to the nearest grocery store. When this house was built, the trip to Blairsville, GA or Murphy, NC by horse would have been an all-day venture.

Northwest side of home, with side porch 

If you're heading up Hwy 129 north from Blairsville, turn left on T Chapel Road, look to the right across the pasture as you approach the stop sign at John Smith Road East. The view will give you a glimpse into the 19th century, and allow you to imagine how magnificent it looked when it was first built.  

Old Appalachian Building, Union County, GA

Ross Lane, photographer facing NW

A couple of months ago while driving west from Brasstown Creek towards Blairsville, GA on Hwy 76, this old weathered gray-sided building to the north caught my eye. It is located on the corner of Ross Lane and Old Smokey Road, just northeast of Blairsville.

This stretch of Hwy 76 connects Blairsville to Young Harris and Hiawassee, GA. The highway winds its way alongside Butternut Creek, just to the south of Ivylog Mountain, a range that includes from west to east, Anderson Knob, Atkins Knob, Stephens Ridge, Juber Knob, Lynn Knob, and Chestnut Flats, before finally ending with the Hullander Knobs at the Towns County line.

The structure is located between two landscape features that also bear the Ross name; Ross Gap on Ivylog Mountain between Juber Knob and Stephens Ridge, and Ross Ridge which is located on the south side of Hwy 76. It's apparent that the Ross family was one of the earliest and successful settlers of Union County.  I found a James B. Ross listed in the 1840 census.

I am unsure of the original function of this structure. It includes three doorways; one on the south side, and two to the north. There is also a larger opening on the eastern side of the home, almost like a small garage door. Was this a business or shop of some kind, or a residence? 

Hunter-England House, c. 1832 Union County, GA

Photographer facing NE from Hwy 129

These photos were taken on January 1, 2006. The home was built c. 1832 by John Hunter who migrated into  North Georgia from Buncombe County, NC after the Cherokee land lottery. It is believed to be the oldest dwelling in Union County, GA. It was constructed from poplar logs, with a stone pillar foundation. It was last used as a residence during the 1950s.

Photographer facing east from Hwy 129

The bad news is that the home no longer stands at its original location. The good news is that it is being dismantled piece by piece and re-built at a location less than five miles from the original. A 2008 posting on the storiesandevents.com website identified Clyde Smith of Cartersville, GA as being in charge of the project. As of the date of this post, I cannot  find any additional information about the completion of the relocation, though it's been seven years since the project began. Once I find the answer to this, an update will be posted.