Photo from Concord Methodist Church, Villanow, GA
It’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything here at Jordan’s Journey. Life happens, things change, and I just have not had the time to put into creating new content for this blog. I’m keeping it online for now as I think the posts are a valuable archive. People still visit the site, and I am grateful for that, even though I’m not sure when/if I will have the time to pick it back up and update regularly like I did in the beginning. That’s why I’m so thankful when readers want me to help them share information for the greater genealogical good. One such reader is Rhonda Locke.
Rhonda Locke is a fellow researcher of Armuchee Valley families, particularly those associated with Concord Church (on Concord Road in Villanow, GA). As a fellow descendant of the Keown family, she’s also my distant cousin (as I have always said–we’re all connected)! She sent me this wonderful photo and asked me to share it with you.
Locke also put together this description of the photo (with sources at the bottom of this post):
This photograph of a gathering at Concord Methodist Church in Villanow, Georgia was found among the Hegwood/Keown family photos. It offers a rare glimpse of some of the members of the church in the early 1900’s including several members of the Hegwood, Rainey and W.H. Gray families as well as the sons of William Marbry Morgan. The youngest child is Moody Morgan, born Oct 12, 1902 (Walker 299). He appears to be between 5 and 6 in the photo, which means it was probably taken circa 1907 or 1908. Another possibility is that it was taken on Homecoming in May 1908. Families involved with Concord Church who may also be represented are the Holcombs, Tates, and Keowns, among others.
Ms. Locke has attempted to identify as many people in the photo as possible. “This is all about starting a conversation,” she says, “sharing and illuminating the past and involving folks who might have some information on who these people are.” This version of the image documents her detective work:
Below is another photo, also from Concord Church, that Ms. Lock has shared, including her description:
A second photo was also found among the Hedwood/Keown family photos. This second photo is of a group of people, including James Wiley Hegwood (seated), his second wife Bettie Edwards Rainey Hegwood, her two sons Granville and Mack Rainey, youngest daughter Nannye (Nancye) Rainey, and eldest daughter Ollie Mable Rainey Farr with her husband, Charles Cornelius Farr. This second picture is possibly a wedding photo of Mable and Charles Farr. They were married on Easter Sunday, April 19, 1908 (Plemons 39). Both images are the same size and have identical mats. It seems reasonable to suppose they were taken on the same day since, according to The Far Flung Farrs, Charley lived in Chattanooga and courted Mable by letters (Plemons 49).
And here’s a cropped and labeled version of the same photo:
If you have any information about these photos, these families, or Concord Church, please comment below!
Rhonda Locke’s great-grandmother was Viola Beatrice Hegwood Keown (1877-1958), daughter of James Wiley Hegwood (1854-1945) and Clorinda “Katie” Thornton (1860-1896), his first wife. Viola (referred to as “Domma” by her grandchildren) was one of eleven children, nine of whom lived to adulthood. She lived in North Georgia, mostly Walker County, all her life. She was married to Warren Judson Keown (1879-1940). His grandfather was Issac Newton Keown 1822-1895. The Hegwood family included farmers and community servants, and were active as well in Concord Methodist Church.
NOTE: The Holcomb family associated with Concord Church has no known connection to my Holcomb family (from Dirt Town Valley in Chattooga County). I’ve searched far and wide for any connection but have never uncovered one!
SOURCES
Plemons, Joe, comp. The Far Flung Farrs. Richmond, IN: Board of Home Missions of the Five Years Meeting of Friends, 1996. 39. PDF.
Walker County History Committee, comp. Walker County Georgia Heritage, 1833-1983. LaFayette, GA: Walker County History Committee, 1984. Print. WorldCat.
Take a trip into the past
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Thomas Hegwood is my great uncle. My g r and mother Pearl Holcomb Warnook was Clara Holcomb Hegwood’s sister. My grandmother more t her could be one of the Holcomb girls with no first names listed.
Hi Tricia! Thanks for your comment. That’s very interesting. Yes, maybe it could be your grandmother Pearl Holcomb Warnook! Do you know who was Pearl and Clara’s parents?
I can’t remember but I have it written down, will try to find it. He was married twice, will give you both names.
Hi Jordan and Tricia!
So glad to have a response to the photos!
I have the names of Augustus Hignon Holcomb’s 2 wives. According to the Walker County Georgia Heritage book, his first wife was Emma Eaton 1868-1894. Their children who survived to adulthood were Clara, Pearl, Mabel and Myrtle. Augustus then married Mary Elizabeth Rainey 1859-1942, who was the aunt of the Rainey siblings in these two photos. They had 1 daughter who survived, Mary Lee Holcomb
clara holcomb hegwood was my great grandmother on my mothers side. lafayette, ga.my great great grandfather was augustus hignon holcomb.
Seeking information about my paternal grandmother Mary Ella Hamilton who was the school teacher in Subligna GA in the late 1800’s. Her family preceded her to Texas. She was conducting classes at a “Normal School”, now called Teacher’s College,during the summer and followed her family to Texas at the end of the term. If there is any information about her and her family in the town or county records please let me know. Also, please include information on how and where to request copies of available information, and costs that may be incurred to get copies of records and information.
Thanks for any help you can provide. This is the “hole” in the background of my paternal side of the family.
Tonie Elliott, 4520 Rugby Lane, Grand Prairie TX 75052
BILL JORDAN’S FARM BORDERED CONCORD CHURCH ON ALL SIDES.
Hi, my husband Terry L Hampton has a great great great Grandfather, Hugh Harrison Hampton born-1833 died-1910, that is buried in the cemetery. We are doing the genealogy for the Hampton family.
Do you have any information on any Hamptons?
Thank You for your time,
LaVonne
Hi Lavonne,
I’m afraid I don’t know anything about the Hamptons, as they are not one of the lines I descend from and I don’t have them connected anywhere else in my tree either. I wouldn’t be surprised if they do connect somehow, but I just don’t know how/if they do.
Best of luck in your search!
Jordan
Hugh Hampton was my great grandfather my grandmother Lucy Hampton was his daughter. She showed me around the old homesite when I was about 20.
Hello! I am a descendant from Hugh Hampton. He is my great great great grandfather. Was your grandmother Lucy “Francis Elizabeth”? Her brother James David is the family I descend from. I would love to know where the old home place use to be. Any and all information and pictures/stories would be greatly appreciated.
Hello, I am a descendant from Hugh as well. I have been doing the genealogy and would love to catch up on information with you.
We own that house. The address is 1918 E Armuchee Rd. It’s right around the S curve. Less than 2 miles away from the old general store headed towards Rome.
Hi Scott,
I’m not sure if this is your house, actually. I know my grannie (Mary Pope Jordan) was born in your house in 1913. Ben Pope was Mary’s father so would have owned it at the time. I think he bought the house from his brother Daniel Pope, though I am not 100% sure of this history. We would need to examine the deeds to figure out the exact history of ownership. While there are architectural similarities to your house, I think the above photo is a different house in a different location. If you have the deeds and can help piece together a more reliable history of ownership back that far, that would be awesome!
Best,
Jordan
Hi Scott!
I’ve been looking at your house on Google maps and comparing it with the Hegwood/Rainey photo and it looks like it could be the same house to me also. It looks like the windows and the roof line lines up, especially the way the edge of the roof is shorter next to the chimney than it is on the right side of the house. I’ve put them on my computer screen together and the proportions all look the same. The images aren’t quite from the same angle but they are so similar. It would be definitive to compare the rocks from the chimney in both photos (unless it had been rebuilt at some time), but the photo on Google is too fuzzy to do that.
I’d originally thought my photo might have been taken at the Holcomb house (which was right across the road from Concord Church) because one of the ladies in the church photo (# 20), who I thought might be a Holcomb, is on the porch in the Hegwood/Rainey photo. But, who knows? I could easily have the ID wrong. Or there may have been a professional traveling photographer set up at the Pope house. People visited a LOT back then; there could be any number of reasons they had their picture made at the Pope house.
I’m glad you responded. That’s what is so good about this site, it gets these vintage photos out for sharing and the crowd-sourcing of information.
Thanks Scott and Jordan!
Rhonda
Member since ,1960 son of Mitchell L Manning and Eula Mae (Goodson) Manning
I have a direct line through the Rainey’s into the Hegwood family. My grandmother was Emolyn Rainey. Daughter of Granville, who was the Son Of Thomas C. Thanks so much for the info and pictures. I do believe I have more pictures from the church at my mothers house!
Hi, Jason! My grandmother is Sue Rainey (Emolyn’s sister). I am working on my family genealogy and would love to get some Rainey information and pictures from you if you have any. Thanks!
I am related to the Tates