History of the Early Settlers of Nacoochee Valley

March 10, 1822

This history was furnished by Mrs. J. E. Wikle, Clarkesville, GA. Mrs. Richard Y. Thorpe originally made it public. It is said that a Vic Bristol was the original writer. It is undated but from reference made in it, it was probably compiled around 1922. Herbert B. Kimzey published it in 1972.

The following are the names of the different families who came to Nacoochee Valley, then Habersham County, Georgia, on March 1st, 1822, arriving at Nacoochee on the 10th, purchasing land from the Indians, who later, April 1837, were carried to Indian Territory.

There were sixty-one different families that came in two parties, one just one day behind the other, using the same camp fires, one party from Burke County, North Carolina, and one from Rutherford County, North Carolina. The first party led by Daniel Brown and Edward Williams left Burke County March 1st, and the second led by Rev. Jesse Richardson, Abraham Littlejohn and Adam Pitner left Rutherford County about the same time. Travel was made more difficult by reason of the fact that there were no roads a good part of the way and they had to cut their way through forests; also, they brought their cattle, sheep, hogs, goats, and chickens with them. They were the first white people in this county and bought the land from the Indians at one cent an acre.

Daniel Brown, father-in-law of Edward Williams bought many acres of this land, what is now knows as the Hardman place was his home site, 2000 acres for which he paid $200.   He lived there until his death in 1852 and is buried in Nacoochee.

Edward Williams -- In his will he mentions having given a "home and certain lands" to his son, Harwell Brown. He was quite a rich man for his times in both lands and slaves. One of the old salves, Aunt Phyllis, lived to be about 100 years old and died at the Starr place, as Edward Williams' place came to be known later.   Just how much land Edward Williams bought is not known, but he probably bought some and then his father-in-law gave him a large amount, so that he owned all from the Brown place to the lower part of Nacoochee Valley, and at his death it was divided among his children.

The third family in this party was Daniel Brown's daughter and her husband, Henry Conley, and their four children and slaves. They settled where Helen Station now stands and their old home was built in 1830 and was standing in 1913 when it was torn away to make room for the Marshall Hotel. All the land where the Town of Helen and the mill now stand was given them by Daniel Brown.

The fourth family was John Trammel and his wife, six children and slaves. He settled where Robertstown now stands and bought land from the Indians.

Fifth was the family of William Westmoreland, who had a big family and has many descendants in the county. He settled near Tray Mountain, near the head of the Chattahoochee River.

Sixth was Thomas Abernathy, who settled with his family near the foot of the mountain also.

Seventh, was David Huston, who was a very old man and who lived on the land of Daniel Brown. He had been a rich man in his younger days.

The eighth family was that of Benjamin Cleveland who was a General in the war of 1812 and whose father was a Colonel in the Revolution. He settled where the Conley house now is and owned quite a lot of land, but sold it and left very suddnely in the night and no one knew where he had gone or why. He afterwards was heard of in Texas where he died. The town of Cleveland was named for him.

The ninth family was Elisha Capps. He never did drink any water. Later it was told of him that he left and went to California in 1852, where he married and lived until his death. His place is still known as the Capps place on the river.

The tenth part was William Bell, wife and children. He settled on what is now known as Bell Branch of Buckhorn Mountain. It was named for him. He died there and was buried on what is known as Capps place or England Graveyard. He was the grandfather of Congressman Tom Bell of the Ninth Georgia District.

The eleventh party was of William England, wife, and family who settled on what i today known as the Dean Place, where Colonel Herbert Dean was born.

The twelfth family was that of William Alley, who settled first on what is known today as Eltwell's Blacksmith Shop and he went three miles above Clarkesville on the Soque river in 1828 and bought lands and build a home, where he lived and died.

The thirteenth party was Captain Wilber Lenard and family. They first settled across the river near what is known as the Robertson Mine place, but they later moved and settled on what is knows as the Dover Mill place, where he bui9ld a mill today known as the stovall mill.

The fourteenth family was Jesse Holcomb and his wife Peggy, who settled on what is known as the Peggy Holcomb Land," or near the nort of Mauldin's Creek and the Chattahoochee on what is known as William's Pasture.

The fifteenth was Thomas Mauldin who settled at what is known today as the Billy Hicks Place, or George Hicks. He build thehouse which is one of the oldest in the country.   Mauldin's Creek, the dividing line between Habersham and White Counties was named for him.

The sixteenth family was Jesse Loveland and family who settled near the Mauldins.

The seventeenth family was old Aunt Mary Foster. She died in 1827, 80 years of age, ten years younger than George Washington. She was buried in the old Baptist Meeting Ground and ahs a tombstone. She was the mother of Robbie Foster.

The eighteenth party was the Rev. William Crumley and family, grandfather of Rev. Howard Crumley. He settled up near the foot of Chimney mountain and the land is still owned by his descentants.

The nineteenth part was Adam Vandiver, wife and children, who settled near the foot of the mountain.

The twentieth party was John Gibbs, whose daughter Mrs. John Evans lived to be 107 years old and died in 1917, the last one of the original party. She had a good memory and was not sick but a few days.

The twenty-first party was Wash Evans and family who settled near the foot of the mountain.

The twenty-second family was James Foster and family, and Bob and Ben Foster, who settled near the foot of the mountain.

The twety-third family was Moses Hawshaw, who, tradition says, was the meanest man in the county to his slaves.

The twenty-fourth family was Job Sosebee and Abraham Sosebee and their mother, Aunt Patsy Sosebee, who had seven boys and four girls, who came with the party. They were the ancestors of the Sosebee families in Habersham and Stephens counties.

The twenty-fifth family was John Coker and family. They said his wife was a witch.   They settled on what is known as the Coker Field today on Lynch Mountain.

The twenty-sixth family was John Carroll and his wife. They settled on Daniel Brown's land.

The twent-seventy family was the widow Bennett and children, who settled on Sautee Creek on what is now known as the Harry Williams' place.

The twenty-eighth family was John Stovall and wife and Isaac Baker, who settled in the Blue Creek District.

The twenty-nineth was William Sumner, wife, and family, who settled on what is known today as the Houston Place. He was a cabinet maker.

The thirtieth family was John Kelly, who settled near Yonah Mountain.

The thirty-first family was Tom Edwards, who settled near the foot of Sal mountain.

The thirty-second family was William Merritt, who settled near Yonah.

The thirty-third family was John Carter, who settled near Yonah.

The thirty-fourth family was Wesley Henderson, who settled near Yonah.

The thirty-fifth family was John Fuller, who settled down near Cool Springs Church.

The thirty-sixth was John Martin who settled near Cool Springs Church. He killed his brother-in-law, Z. Fuller, and was sent to prison but was pardoned on condition that he leave the State and never come back.

The thirty-seventh was john T. [?] who settled near the foot of the mountain.

The thirty-eighth was Theron Wheeler and family, who settled on the Daniel Brown property.

The fortieth was Jim Black and family, who settled on the Littlejohn property.

The thirty-ninth was Major Frank Logan and family who settled near Cleveland.

The forty-first family was Benjamin Allison and family who settled near Loudesville.

The forty-second was Rev. Jesse Richardson and family, who settled near Duke's Creek.   He had three sons, Tom , Joseph, and John L., and one daughter, who married Abraham Littlejohn. He was a Methodist preacher and it took him a year to make his circuit.   He preached fifty-seven years and died in 1837. John L. Richardson settled near Duke's creeka dn build his house which is still standing. Near this house the first gold was found that was discovered in Georgia in 1828.

The forty-third family was that of Abraham Littlejohn, who settled near Rev. Jesse Richacrson, He later gave a large sum to the Methodist Church. He is the grandfather of Judge Littlejohn of Americus, Georgia.

The Forty-fourth Family was John [?]. They settled near Yonah.

The forty-fifth family was that of John Edwards, who settled near Yonah.

The forty-sixth family was Jim Shelnot, who settled near Blue Creek.

The forty-seventh was Jim [?] who settled on Edward William's lands.

The forty-eighth was Andy Jones, who settled in the Mountains.

The forty-ninth was John Adams, who settled near the foot of the Mountain.

The fiftieth was Allen Edwards, who settled near the foot of Lynch Mountain.

The fifty-first family was Benjamin West and Family and Frank West and Family.

The fifty-second was John Wilson, who settled near the foot of the mountain.

The fifty-third was Robert Trammell and John Adamson.

The fifty-fourth was Adam Pitner, who settled on what is known today as the Pitner or Capps place.

The fifty-fifth family was John Shellnut, and they settled on what is known as the Monroe place.

The fifty-sixth family was Jim Monroe, and that settled on what is known as the Monroe place.

The fifty-seventh was William York, who settled at the foot of the mountain.

The fifty-eighth was John Cantrell, who had 17 children, 12 boys and 5 girls.

The fifty-ninth was Virgil [?] who settled near the foot of the mountain.

The sixtieth was Peter Loggins. He was a shoemaker and lived to be 91 years old.

The sixty-first was Jim [?] He settled near the foot of the mountain.

This listing is taken from Early Genealogical & Historical Records, Habersham County, Georgia by Herbert B. Kimzey, Compiled by Nancy Kimzey Dempsey.

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