Throwback Thursday: Hunter and in-laws in the Mountains of N. Ga

Gnome Front of Sautee Store 

Throwback Thursday.  On December the 9th, 1967, we stopped here at the Sautee Country Store.  We were on our way to Unicoi State Park for our honeymoon.  We told the proprietor we were just married and gave us a unique copper  candelabra.  She told us she also had a store nearer to us in Vinnings, drop by and see her sometime.

I did not know it at the time but the Sautee Valley, just a few miles outside of Helen was rich with Hunter DNA history.

Just down the road a mile or two is the Stovall Covered Bridge.  It served as a prop and backdrop in the movie, I'D CLIMB THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN, which hired many extras locally, which included some Hunters.

Stovall Covered Bridge

On back up the road, heading back to the Sautee store was the Stovall Bed and Breakfast.  I do not know if it had changed names or not since we were there about ten years ago.

The Stovall House's claim to fame is that it was once owned by Moses Harshaw, who was given the nickname "The Meanest Man in Georgia". 

He earned that nickname by how he treated his slaves.  When they became too old to be productive  and became liability he simply  snuffed their lives out by pushing them off nearby Lynch Mountain or shooting them by the grave he just made them dig for themselves.  Moses also would not allow a slave to ride in the same buggy.  He would harness their head in leather and they had to run behind the buggy.  Heaven help them if they tripped.

Moses was also a lawyer, and was charged with man slaughter, regarding his slaves a number of time.  I think he was probably his number one client.

My g-g-g grandfather John Hunter's son William Johnson Hunter married Margaret England.  His sister Harriet Hunter married Margaret's brother Daniel England.  Margaret and Daniel England's aunt is Nancy England.  Nancy was Mrs. Moses Harshaw.

Harriet Hunter and Daniel England

Speaking of the England family of that area, they are the founding family of Helen, Georgia.

Neighbor of Moses and Nancy England Harshaw was Leander Newton Trammell (1830-1900) is my 1st cousin, 4 times removed.

Moses Harshaw House, more recently Stovall Bread and Brealfast

Leander went on to law school, earned his degree, and became a state representative.  As a state legislator he and others  certain lawmakers tried to keep the blacks subservient.  Also as a state representative, technically he was governor of Georgia for one day, between an outgoing governor and an incoming governor.  The Trammell House on Trammell Street was his.

Leander N. Trammell

Below are some genealogical notes I made on Leander Newton Trammell:

Leander Newton Trammell was raised in the Nacoochee Valley in northst Georgia.    At age 15  he attended a boarding school at Bates Creek in the Tennessee mountains..  It eventually became Hiwassee College.  Upon finishing his studies, Trammell settled in Mississippi, where he built a schoolhouse and begin instructing children of plantation owners.  In 1856 he married Zenobia Barclay and enrolled in the school of law at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee.  He was prcticing law in Ringgold, Georgia, when he was elected to the state House of Represenatives and Georiga succeeded form the Union.  He joined the 39th Regiment of the Georgia Volunteer Infantry as a captain in the Quatermaster Corps.

- MARIETTA, THE GEM CITY OF GEORGIA, by Douglas Frey, p179.

/In the book LIVING ON THE UNICOI ROAD by Matt GEDNEY a L. N. TRAMMELL is mentioned that would fit about the same time and area for Leander:

     In 1887, Mrs. Maria A. Jacqness of London, England, bought the "Trammell Place"  from L. N. TRAMMELL.  600 acres for $7000 in the Helen Valley (now know as Helen, Ga.).  L. N. moved near Dalton, in Whitfield County, Georgia.

     The unanimous choice of this gentlemen to preside over this body of the Senate of Georgia, whilst a just cause of pride and gratification to the numerous friends of Mr. Trammell, is at the same timea compliment paid to his integrity, high character and ability rarely if ever converred on any one before.  We tender our congratuations, and frankly express our conviction that the confidence envinced in Mr. Trammell by so dignafied a body as the Senate of Georgia is an earnest of his future usefulness and advancement. - THE ATLANTA SUN, January 9, 1873.

     Part of article signed "Coosa" from ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, May 1874:

     If ambition is a fault, if to want political postion is a fault, these are not faults which can be laid at the door of Colonel Trammell. That Colonel Trammell has a proper appreciation of official promotion, and fully understands the honor that flows to one who discharges a public trust with fidelity, I have no doubt.  But what I say is, that if he still an example of public men.  I regret it is a calamity when public men of high position suffer themselves to doubt the truth, and avow their doubts in the presence of young men.  My revered friend was fixed in his faith, openly profession the same and ended life holding to the saving truth of the Gospel.

     As a public servant of the State his career in the duties of war and peace was so varied, so continiuous, so faithful to duty, and so intelligent, that it may be truy said the history of Georgia for forty years past could be gathered about the thread of his individual life. His latest service in the very responsible position of Chairman of the State Railroad Commission was distinquished by such ability, such wisdom, and such conservatism that he left behind and almost perfected system of State control of railroad interests.  I can not speak of the particulars of his useful life at this hour.  I know that he has a high place in the esteem of his people, and has secured an enduring name in his State's history.  Let me commend the consolation of our holy relition to the bereaved family.  At last, after all the eulogy on a well-spent life, the best that can be said is, "He died in peace with God, and has his great reward in heaven."

     Colonel Trammell was reared on a farm.  His boyhood and youth were passed in working and going to school alternately.  When nineteen years old, he entered a boardingschool at Bates' Creek, now Hiwassee College, Tenn.  After spending fifteen months there, he taught school for awhile, and then read law under Simpson Reid at Blairsville, Ga.

     When he was married in 1856, he took his young wife to Lebanon, Tenn.,a and was the first year of his marriage life was spent at Law school.

     Being admitted to the bar, he located at Ringgold, Catoosta County, Ga., entering the practice as the junior member of the firm McConnell & Trammell.

     In 1861he was elected to the Legislature from Catoosa and re-elected without opposition.  In March, 1862, he entered the Confederate service as quartermaster, with the rank of captain.  The auditor complimented him in a personal letter on the excellence of his reports and stated that this was the only letter of the kind he had the pleasure of writing.

     In 1866, Colonel Trammell resumed the practice of law at Calhoun, Gordon County.

     He was elected to the Constitution Convention of 1867-1868, where he died the State good service.  He was the recognized leader of the patriotic little band of fourteen in that body known as the "Hancock Democracy".  It was through their tireless efforts that white supremacy was secured to Georgia in those dark days.  At the next election succeeding, Colonel Trammell was tendered the nomination for State Senator, but declined it.

     In 1870, he was elected to the State Senate and made the president of that body.

     When in 1871, Governor Rufus B. Bullock resigned and left the State, Colonel Trammell was by right Governor pro tem., but Benjamin Conley, the former president, claimed the right to perform the duties of Governor during the interregnum.  Serious consequences were narrowly averted. Leading Democrats urged Colonel Trammell to assert his rights, but forseeing that it would lead to disorder, he declined to do so.

     He was re-elected to the Senate in 1873, without opposition.  In 1876 he was made he was made a Tilden elector.

     It was in 1876 that the Seventh Congressional district was thrown into the furor of excitment by the first of a series of memorable campaigns, in which the lurid eloquence of Dr. Willam H. Felton lighted up that picturesque region like a series of bonfires.

     Colonel Trammell was nominated for Congress by the Democratic Convention and Dr. Felton, who became and independent candidate, attacked him with much acrimony and vigor.

     This sort of a campaign was not to Colonel Trammell's liking, and he soon retired, giving place to Hon. W.H. Dabney, of Rome, who made a stoud defence of the organized Democracy, but was defeated.

     He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1877, serving on the Committee of Revision.

     In 1881, he was President of the State Democratic Convention, and in 1882-1883 served as Chairman of the State Democratic Executive Committee.

     On the fifteenth of October, 1881, Governor Colquit appointed Colonel Trammell a member of the Railroad Commission to succeed Samuel Barnett, who term expired.

     The appointment was confirmed by the Legislature of 1882, and Governor Alexander H. Stephens issued a commission to Colonel Trammell on November 7th of that year.  The term was for six years.

     In March 1890, Colonel Trammell was made Chairman.

Marietta Daily Journal, Nov 22, 2005:

Built on 4½ acres, it originally faced Powder Springs Street with a road leading to the home. In 1927, R.H. Hutcheson purchased and subdivided the property and reoriented the home by moving it on logs pulled by mules. It now faces north, 100 feet from its original location. The City of Marietta then extended Trammell Street to Wright Street. When Rachel and Douglas Frey purchased the house in 1998, it had been divided into three apartments. They have recently completed a five-year renovation, transforming it back to its original configuration. A portrait of Col. Trammell, hangs in the State Capitol, but will be on loan exclusively for the tour, courtesy of the Georgia Capitol Museum, Office of Secretary of State Cathy Cox.

In the spring of 1887, Colonel Trammell began construction on a $4000   "magnificent structure of 13 rooms" on land he purchased from J.R. Winters.  Modeled after his previous residence in Dalton and built in the exuberent Queen Anne style, the Trammell House was designed by Atlanta's preeminent architects, Bruce and Morgan.  In a little more than 5 months local contractors L. Black and Son completed the home, and the Trammell family took up residence.

After he moved to Marietta it wasn't long before he was soon elected to the board of directors of the newly established First National Bank and the Brumby Chair Company.

Leander N. Newton with family,  Trammell House

Trammell House in 2012, present owners Doug and Rachel Frye.  The people shown are friends, they were giving a party the day I took tis.