Henry Newton Cochran's diary, part 4

Before I continue with Henry's fascinating story, I'd like to tell you about the opening of the Old Campbell County Historical Society's research room.

On Aug. 12, the OCCHS reopened its research room to the public. It will be open every Tuesday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. More days are expected to be added later as volunteers are secured.

The next meeting is this Sunday, Aug. 17, at 3 p.m., and meetings are always open to visitors. Meetings are held in the old courthouse across the railroad tracks from the main business section in Fairburn. You can't miss it.

Now, to continue with Henry Cochran's story.

Living on rented farmland most of his young adult life, Henry yearned for land of his own. Finally, in 1876, his dream came true. Henry writes:

"I had a desire to own a small farm and home of my own, and I made a trade with my Brother Felix for 25 acres of land on the back of his farm. (where we are now living in 1907 and also in 1917).

"We moved to a little house on Brother Georges farm, and cultivated part of his land and a part of the land I bought. This was in the year 1876, during the fall of this year we moved into the little house we called our own, that I had built durning the year. I set out a small cedar bush here that fall that is now 30 feet high (4-7-1907).

"On April 13th, 1878 our third daughter Lillie Eulalia and a baby boy were born. I am sorry to say, we did not have the pleasure of raising the boy. Lillie I suppose would have weighed 2 1/2 pounds. We had to nurse her on a pillow.

"Well, Brother Felix wished me to let him have the land back, as he said he could sell it to a better advantage with the balance of the farm. Well as I wished to please him I let him have it and I took a four year lease.

"After my lease ran out, we moved to a farm around by Mr. F. M. Collins, called 'California.' We moved there on January 5th, 1881. The first year we cultivated a crop and gave a 3rd & 4th. The next year Mr. Collins furnished me a mule and I gave him half. The next year Mr. Collins hired me at $.75 a day. I then bought the farm for $750 cash and 8% on the money(?). I bought his mule, wagon, farm tools, corn, fodder etc. all on credit and I was $60 in debt besides. I gave my notes to the amount of $1268.45. It took me ten years to pay for all of this and clear myself of debt. I wish to say right here and emphasis that F. M. Collins was the best friend I ever had. I was sick and unable to work, and he came to my house and gave me money to live on until I could get out again. God Bless Him.

"I paid Mr. Collins all I owed him and all that I owed anyone else and got the deed to my farm, which was a great satisfaction.

"I sold Mr. J.T. Maddox 60 acres of the land which became an eyesore to our peace and happiness for a number of years.

"After Brother Felix had placed his farm in the hands of a loan association he finally lost it, and it passed through the hands of Brother George, J.W. Eskew, and J.T. Haskins who became so invalued that he could not pay the interest. He sold my son Edgar 1/2 of his interest for $250. Edgar afterwards bought the other 1/2 interest and gave me $500 for it.

"When I bought back the 60 acres that I had sold to Maddox, ... he went to Texas. When Maddox first bought the 60 acres he paid $620 for it. When I bought it back I paid him-or his wife $330 cash.

"We had a great deal of sickness in our family for a number of years. Tilda (Matilda) was sick for 2 1/2 years and down in the bed for 10 months. She died at 12:10 on the 24th of June, 1899.

"She passed away as peacefully as a baby going to sleep.

"I think her death was hastened by exposure, waiting on Edgar and Dock. I forgot to say that our son Henry Henly (Dock) was born August 16, 1881. He was apparently as healthy a child as I ever saw for two weeks. He then went into spasms and was at the point of death for a long time. He averaged a dose of medicine during the day and night every 1/2 hour for 10 or 12 days. After which he was as limp as a piece of pliant leather for several years. He was never able to walk or use his left hand. His memory was of the best, but he was never able to learn his letters. I think the main problem was his eyes, he could not focus them on anything close to him.

"As he was unable to help himself, his mother was very much devoted to him and often done more for him than she was able ... she often over worked and exhausted herself more than she should have done.

"All of her children were very much devoted to her while she was down sick. Sometime before, she told me that she knew what was coming, and would talk of it as if she was going on a journey somewhere. She thanked me for my kindness to her during her sickness, saying that she was glad my health had permitted me to wait on her so well.

"Only a few moments before she died, she raised her arms and placed them about my neck. In a little bit they dropped to the bed, and she was never able to raise them again for her soul had flown to her God.

"So peaceful may I go when he calls me So may it be.

" ... Some weeks after she had been placed in the cemetery (Dock) was up there with me and he crawled up to her grave and sat there with an expression on his face that I can never describe. His devotion to her was almost superhuman."

We'll stop here and continue next week, when Henry remarries. His children were not happy. Thanks to Bill Cochran (saltercoc@aol.com) for this wonderful diary.

Send your south metro Atlanta family histories to The Citizen, Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; E-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com.

Until next week, happy hunting!

(Judy regrets that time does not permit her to do personal research for others.)