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Genealogy: Finding Your Folks

Wood, Butler, McChargue, Arnold, Banks families in the mailbag

By JUDY FOWLER KILGORE
jkilgore@thecitizennews.com

Once again I’d like to catch up on some of the mail that backed up this summer during the extended “Bethany” series. I sincerely thank those who have waited so patiently.

There were several queries about families we covered in past columns, most of them from those who read the column online.

If you read the column on the Internet (actually if you read any of The Citizen’s online stories), there is a link on the page which asks, “What did you think of this story?” This gives readers a chance to give us feedback on the articles we write.

Doris Wheeler answered that question, referring to a story I did quite some time ago on the Wood family who lived in Tennessee and whose descendants moved to Carroll County. These were descendants of the Rev. Richard Wood, a noted Baptist minister. These Woods are not, to my knowledge, connected to the Woods who were in Heard County and who also descend from a Richard Wood.

Doris writes:

“What did I think of this story? I was very interested since (the) Rev. Richard Wood was my 5th great-grandfather. I am descended from his son, William Wood, who was also a Baptist minister. Maybe it’s a coincidence and maybe not, but while Rev. Wood, one of my mother’s ancestors, was founding Baptist churches in Sevier Co., Tenn., just over the mountains my 5th great-grandfather on my father’s side was founding Baptist Churches, among them Beaverdam Baptist Church in Fair Play, S.C., which is still in existence. I say it is perhaps not coincidental because even though my parents’ families didn’t meet until over a hundred years (later) in Oklahoma, it may have been the Baptist culture which they had in common that brought the families together. My paternal grandfather was the minister at the marriage of my maternal grandparents.

“This is probably more than you want to know about my family. I just wanted you to know that I appreciate your article.

“Doris Edwards Wheeler (dwheeler21@adelphia.net).”

Doris, I have found that genealogy is so full of coincidences it’s not even funny anymore. I'm glad you found the column on the Woods interesting and helpful. Thanks so much for writing.

Another letter from Jeannie Weller Cooper of Florida asks questions about the Pike County families of Butler and McChargue.

Jeannie writes:

“Dear Mrs. Kilgore, Thank you so much for sharing your work in your column. I am from Atlanta but grew up in Kenwood and Fayetteville. I went to Georgia Southern College in 1983 and never returned to live. I am now in Panama City, Fla. and read the Citizen online. Do you know of any connection between Welcome and Welcome All Road, etc.? Is this a stupid question? I have only just begun to research Atlanta and the southside in the past several years, so I have a lot of catching up to do.

“I am very interested in the Pike/Talbot/Meriwether to Atlanta migration, specifically the women who worked in the East Point mills. I am looking for Delilah McChargue, born 1875 in Alabama, and her family. Her close relative John Butler and his wife died childless and are buried at Beulah Baptist Church in Pike County. Butler is the family name and I believe the matriarch of the circa 1900 generation was Virginia ‘Virgie’ Butler, born in Alabama.

“I’m enjoying your column so much and have to give credit also to RootsWeb in all those central Georgia counties. I have gotten much info from them and appreciate their sharing.

“Jeannie Weller Cooper, Panama City, Fla. (jwc1128@juno.com).”

I have already responded to Jeannie about Welcome, which is a community in Coweta County west of Newnan, and Welcome All Road, which is in South Fulton County near East Point. I have never heard of any connection between the two.

As for the Butler and McChargue families, they don’t ring any bells with me either, but I haven’t researched Pike County as deeply as I’d like to. If any of you out there can help Jeannie with her ancestors, please respond to her at the above e-mail address.

And last, but certainly not least, was a letter from Abigail Banks Dennison (related to me through the McWhorters) who referred to an old column about the relationship between William Glenn Arnold and Sarah Eleanor Arnold. Abigail said she believes they were brother and sister or cousins and says, “I believe William Glenn Arnold and Sarah Eleanor Arnold were either brother and sister or cousins. Here’s why: Thomas Leonidas Banks and his sister, Caroline Frances Banks were the children of Nathaniel Banks and Caroline Frances Hughes of Elbert Co., Ga. Nathaniel and Caroline died in 1843, both of them within months of each other.

"I read somewhere that my great-great-grandfather, Thomas Leonidas Banks was apprenticed to the father of Sarah Eleanor Arnold, he may have been the children’s guardian or some such thing. Anyway, Caroline Frances Banks married Wm. Glenn Arnold and Thomas Leonidas Banks married Sarah Eleanor Arnold. If I’m not mistaken one of their other sisters also married an Arnold. I cannot remember where I saw this but I do believe Wm. Glenn and Sarah Eleanor were brother and sister.”

Abigail added she was interested in making contact with Frances Banks Storey to discuss how their lines may be connected. Frances, if you’re out there, please respond to Abigail at abanks@dnet.net.

I welcome all letters and e-mails about genealogy and info on south metro Atlanta families. Send them to The Citizen, P.O. Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; e-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com. Any letters and/or e-mails I receive are subject to being used in the column.

Until next week, happy hunting!