A few weeks ago, we lost an individual that was instrumental to the creation of James County Historical Society. Polly Watkins Donnelly, a retired teacher and historian, died January 25, 2013 in Florence, South Carolina after an extended illness. She was a long-time resident of Cleveland, Tennessee.
She was the founder of our James County Historical Society and was significantly involved in our publication of JAMES COUNTY: A LOST COUNTY OF TENNESSEE in 1984. We would like to thank her for all of her hard work. Without her, we would not be here today.
As an active historian, she was a Regent of the Ocoee Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution. She was also involved with the First Families of Franklin, as well as, many other historical societies.
You can read all about the wonderful life that she led in her obituary from the Morning News in South Carolina. There will be a memorial for her in Cleveland with a date to be set later. Rest in Peace, Polly.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Saturday, January 26, 2013
2013 Winter Meeting
The next quarterly meeting for James County Historical Society will be held
February 3, 2013. The meeting will be held at the Ooltewah United Methodist
Church in Ooltewah, Tennessee at 2:30 p.m.
Everyone is always welcome. It is always free.
Our speaker will be Doug Roy. He will present a program about the history of the Roy Family that lived in the area. Roy Lane, north of Ooltewah, bears the family's name.
Come learn about your neighbors and James County. Also, remember to follow James County Historical Society and "like" us on our Facebook page located here.
Everyone is always welcome. It is always free.
Our speaker will be Doug Roy. He will present a program about the history of the Roy Family that lived in the area. Roy Lane, north of Ooltewah, bears the family's name.
Come learn about your neighbors and James County. Also, remember to follow James County Historical Society and "like" us on our Facebook page located here.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Out with the Old and In with the New
Before I got too involved with items that are scheduled for 2013, I thought that I would tell you what happened here in 2012 at the James County Historical Society.
Even though, I began the process to start the blog in 2011, it did not really begin as an educational tool until the beginning of 2012. I did a presentation to the society explaining the concept of social media and how this blog can keep people informed and educated. Since the beginning, in one year's time, we have had over 2400 hits on this blog. The stats show that almost all of the people that had found our site were actually searching for information about James County. Who Knew! I can only think of a few instances where a search for something unrelated showed up on our site. Those are amazing statistics!
The most popular post was "A Mystery Solved" followed closely by "A Census Listing for 1880-part 1". Right behind were "The Crime of Lewdness" and "None Whatsoever". Three fourths of the searches came from Google. Thank you Google for putting us at the top of the list for James County searches. The remainder of the people found us through Facebook, Geneabloggers or by typing in the name of the blog. Friends, these are amazing stats for the first year of the blog concerning a topic that most people don't even know about.
The Facebook page was then created. This also has drawn alot of traffic. It has been read by alot of people, even though there are not many "likes" on the page. When you "like" a page on Facebook, it automatically puts any posts from that person or entity onto your home page. You do not need to keep looking at it for new content. Every time the page is updated, the new content will be sent to your homepage. As the page gets more "likes", Facebook has special perks for that page. Let's start a campaign to get more "likes" in 2013.
I have begun to scan and archive some of the photos and documents that are in the Historical Society's possession. I also have begun to scan the same items that are in the possession of some of our society members and others that are willing to share their documented histories that are in their homes. I would like to personally thank everyone for sharing and being patient with me as I work on this project. It is a very large undertaking. I am looking forward to sharing some of these items with you in the very near future. If you know of anyone that has photos, documents, books, heirlooms that they would like to share, please let me know and I will contact them and get those items archived before something happens to them. Mother Nature is very unpredictable these days!
I have also been working on a new logo for the society that we can include on the blog, Facebook page, and brochures. The brochures that are almost done will be ready for distribution at the local libraries, workshops and other areas of interest around town. I will be posting a copy of the brochure here on the website shortly for viewing or printing. The hope is that more people will know that there is an active Historical Society and that we do have meetings. This should encourage more people to attend and will increase our membership. This will mean there will be more stories that can be shared and allow for more interaction between members. This is a win-win situation for everyone involved.
I have also attended 2 national conferences concerning genealogy and societies. I took many classes and learned about how societies are having to make changes in order to accommodate the growth in technology and a demographic change in its membership. You can read all about it here in my blog post. I hope to put many of these ideas into use in the coming year.
The other addition that I have included in this blog is giving you notice of some of the other historical and genealogical events happening around the area. This way, you could be involved in other parts of this genealogical community, as well. I have notified you of workshops, genealogy meetings, festivals, and conferences. I will continue to do this for your benefit.
I have many other pots in the fire and will talk to you about them later. But if you have any other ideas that you would like to see included, please let me know. Also, if you have any questions that maybe I can research, I will be happy to do it. If I can not, I will put the question out on the blog and maybe someone in the this vast community will have the answers that you seek. Let's use this blog as a tool and work together.
Hope everyone had a great 2012 and will have even a better 2013! Help us to spread the word about James County.
Even though, I began the process to start the blog in 2011, it did not really begin as an educational tool until the beginning of 2012. I did a presentation to the society explaining the concept of social media and how this blog can keep people informed and educated. Since the beginning, in one year's time, we have had over 2400 hits on this blog. The stats show that almost all of the people that had found our site were actually searching for information about James County. Who Knew! I can only think of a few instances where a search for something unrelated showed up on our site. Those are amazing statistics!
The most popular post was "A Mystery Solved" followed closely by "A Census Listing for 1880-part 1". Right behind were "The Crime of Lewdness" and "None Whatsoever". Three fourths of the searches came from Google. Thank you Google for putting us at the top of the list for James County searches. The remainder of the people found us through Facebook, Geneabloggers or by typing in the name of the blog. Friends, these are amazing stats for the first year of the blog concerning a topic that most people don't even know about.
The Facebook page was then created. This also has drawn alot of traffic. It has been read by alot of people, even though there are not many "likes" on the page. When you "like" a page on Facebook, it automatically puts any posts from that person or entity onto your home page. You do not need to keep looking at it for new content. Every time the page is updated, the new content will be sent to your homepage. As the page gets more "likes", Facebook has special perks for that page. Let's start a campaign to get more "likes" in 2013.
I have begun to scan and archive some of the photos and documents that are in the Historical Society's possession. I also have begun to scan the same items that are in the possession of some of our society members and others that are willing to share their documented histories that are in their homes. I would like to personally thank everyone for sharing and being patient with me as I work on this project. It is a very large undertaking. I am looking forward to sharing some of these items with you in the very near future. If you know of anyone that has photos, documents, books, heirlooms that they would like to share, please let me know and I will contact them and get those items archived before something happens to them. Mother Nature is very unpredictable these days!
I have also been working on a new logo for the society that we can include on the blog, Facebook page, and brochures. The brochures that are almost done will be ready for distribution at the local libraries, workshops and other areas of interest around town. I will be posting a copy of the brochure here on the website shortly for viewing or printing. The hope is that more people will know that there is an active Historical Society and that we do have meetings. This should encourage more people to attend and will increase our membership. This will mean there will be more stories that can be shared and allow for more interaction between members. This is a win-win situation for everyone involved.
I have also attended 2 national conferences concerning genealogy and societies. I took many classes and learned about how societies are having to make changes in order to accommodate the growth in technology and a demographic change in its membership. You can read all about it here in my blog post. I hope to put many of these ideas into use in the coming year.
The other addition that I have included in this blog is giving you notice of some of the other historical and genealogical events happening around the area. This way, you could be involved in other parts of this genealogical community, as well. I have notified you of workshops, genealogy meetings, festivals, and conferences. I will continue to do this for your benefit.
I have many other pots in the fire and will talk to you about them later. But if you have any other ideas that you would like to see included, please let me know. Also, if you have any questions that maybe I can research, I will be happy to do it. If I can not, I will put the question out on the blog and maybe someone in the this vast community will have the answers that you seek. Let's use this blog as a tool and work together.
Hope everyone had a great 2012 and will have even a better 2013! Help us to spread the word about James County.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Chattanooga Delta January 2013 Meeting
Tuesday, January the 8th of the brand new year of 2013 will be the first meeting for Chattanooga Delta Genealogy Society. The meeting will be held at the Rossville Public Library at 7 pm. I will be introducing you to the educational platform of a "webinar". A webinar is a class that is conducted on the internet through presentation slides. Topics of webinars can range anywhere from technology lessons to resources and databases.
Come see what new ideas and/or resources will be examined tomorrow. Look forward to seeing you there.
Come see what new ideas and/or resources will be examined tomorrow. Look forward to seeing you there.
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| 504 McFarland Avenue Rossville, Georgia |
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
A Memorable Meeting
Our last meeting was well attended. People were sharing their memories of what it was like when they were growing up in Birchwood, Ooltewah and Harrison. It was an open forum and there was so much to be said. Congratulations to all who attended and shared. What a great meeting!
I also scanned most of the pictures that people brought in. If there are any that you saw and would like a copy, please notify me and I will email it to you right away. I will begin to put some of those photos here on the blog for all to see. Please comment on the photos and share what you remember concerning those photos. If everyone has a piece of the puzzle, we'll piece it together and come up with a good story about that photo. Participate by commenting here on the blog.
I also scanned most of the pictures that people brought in. If there are any that you saw and would like a copy, please notify me and I will email it to you right away. I will begin to put some of those photos here on the blog for all to see. Please comment on the photos and share what you remember concerning those photos. If everyone has a piece of the puzzle, we'll piece it together and come up with a good story about that photo. Participate by commenting here on the blog.
Monday, October 29, 2012
November 2012 Meeting
The November meeting is coming up. It is this coming Sunday, November 4th. Be sure to put it on your calender. As usual, it will be held at the Ooltewah Methodist Church at 2:30 p.m.
The program topic is "Merchants, Stores, and Filling Stations of Past Years".
We will have speakers from Apison, Birchwood and Ooltewah that include Kay Roark, Mary and Carl Tallant, Steve Wolf and Herbert Hooper.
We hope to have an open forum. Bring your memories and photos to share with everyone. I will be there with my scanner and will scan your photos so that you may have copies of your loved ones and their memories. So bring any photos of buildings, such as, stores, banks, hotels, mills, etc from the James County area.
As always, everyone is welcome at no charge. I have included a map for your convenience.
We will have speakers from Apison, Birchwood and Ooltewah that include Kay Roark, Mary and Carl Tallant, Steve Wolf and Herbert Hooper.
We hope to have an open forum. Bring your memories and photos to share with everyone. I will be there with my scanner and will scan your photos so that you may have copies of your loved ones and their memories. So bring any photos of buildings, such as, stores, banks, hotels, mills, etc from the James County area.
As always, everyone is welcome at no charge. I have included a map for your convenience.
Look forward to seeing everyone Sunday afternoon!
.
.
Friday, September 28, 2012
A Mystery Solved!
I received a question from a reader that I thought I would share with you. She asked if I knew who the people were that worked at The James County Times. She believed that her ancestor, William Oscar Watts moved to Ooltewah from Floyd County, Georgia to work for the paper. They say he worked for the Atlas Powder Mill in 1900 per the United States Census for that period. He became a merchant, attended law school, and later became a member of the Hamilton County Court. But where did the newspaper come into play?
As far as I know, there are only 6 dates of the newspaper that are known to exist.
Jan 18, 1912 the Editor was Jno. N. Clements
Dec 2, 1914
Aug13, 1913, The James County Times Booster Edition
Jan 13, 1915
Mar 20, 1916 the Editor was Ellsworth Wilson for this and the above 3 dates
Feb 23, 1917 the Editor was W.B. Cleage
The puzzle pieces are all here, we just have to put them together.
Prior to 1912, W. O. Watts, along with Eli Scoggins had a store which carried various items from dry goods and general merchandise to plows and wire fencing. In 1912, Scoggins sold his interest in the store to Watts who continued in the mercantile business. He became one of the leaders of the community.
The James County Times Booster Edition was published in August of 1913 by Editor, Ellsworth Wilson, with the assistance of several county leaders. It was an effort to attract investors to the James County Area.
In 1913, there was an Ooltewah Board of Trade that met every Monday night. The officers were Ed Robinson, President; Samuel Newton, Past President; P. M. Cate, Vice-President; and J.K. Lewis, Secretary and Treasurer. The Executive Committee included: Samuel Newton, Hunter Furches, H.L. Guille, W.O. Watts and J.D. Thatcher. One activity of the club was to assist in publishing The James County Times Booster Edition that very same year.
Hallelujah! There it is! He may not have moved here to work for the paper, but he definitely did help publish the Booster Edition with other county leaders to help promote James County. At this time, James County was struggling to stay afloat. They needed businesses to move to the county to help with the tax base. However, this Booster Edition was not enough. Six short years later, James County dissolved and joined with Hamilton County.
As far as I know, there are only 6 dates of the newspaper that are known to exist.
Jan 18, 1912 the Editor was Jno. N. Clements
Dec 2, 1914
Aug13, 1913, The James County Times Booster Edition
Jan 13, 1915
Mar 20, 1916 the Editor was Ellsworth Wilson for this and the above 3 dates
Feb 23, 1917 the Editor was W.B. Cleage
The puzzle pieces are all here, we just have to put them together.
Prior to 1912, W. O. Watts, along with Eli Scoggins had a store which carried various items from dry goods and general merchandise to plows and wire fencing. In 1912, Scoggins sold his interest in the store to Watts who continued in the mercantile business. He became one of the leaders of the community.
The James County Times Booster Edition was published in August of 1913 by Editor, Ellsworth Wilson, with the assistance of several county leaders. It was an effort to attract investors to the James County Area.
Hallelujah! There it is! He may not have moved here to work for the paper, but he definitely did help publish the Booster Edition with other county leaders to help promote James County. At this time, James County was struggling to stay afloat. They needed businesses to move to the county to help with the tax base. However, this Booster Edition was not enough. Six short years later, James County dissolved and joined with Hamilton County.
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