Eslie: That info on Franklin does help. I'm working on the Jackson brothers (Matthew and Daniel) who were commissioned to cut roads from Franklin into the interior of Henry County. Matthew built a home in Franklin while Daniel's family stayed in Early County Georgia until later. Please feel free to share any of that extensive library anytime you'd like. I'd love to see this county's message activity pick up a bit! Jeffrey ENordan@aol.com wrote: > > Hi, > The following is a copy of page five of "HENRY THE MOTHER COUNTY" by > Dr.Hoyt M. Warren. I obtained from the now defunct Henry County Historical > Society. Published by Warren Enterprises, PO Box 1725, Auburn, AL. 36830, > dated 1976. I am sure the Abbeville Public library has a copy in their > research room. > > "We learn from some of the writings of 'old settlers' in an 1873 issue of > the HENRY COUNTY REGISTER that, "In January 1816, before there was any Alabama > organized or any Henry County, and while the land was still inhabited by wild > beast, fowl, and indians, George Gamble, the father of James William, John L., > and Robert Gamble, togeather with one, William Brown, undertook to 'spy out > the land', and crossed the Chattahoochee River with their families at what was > later Fort Ganes and Old Franklin." > They settled on the south side of what afterwards was called Patterson's > Mill Creek --still later McRays Mill Creek-- about two miles below the point > of crossing. They made a crop that year (1816) on an old field already cleared > but abandoned b the Indians." > According to the 'old settlers' "These were the first whit men to come > over into (Henry County) thew area, but in the spring of that year, Col. > Robert Irvin, Jarred Patterson, Edward S. Cox, George Keith, Jonah Keith, and > James Keith came across the river and setteled in the same neighborhood. Irvin > and Pattrson made a crop that year where Franklin was later located. Edward > Cox and James Keith setteled south just below a small stream later known as > Watsons Branch. Jonah Keith settled above the mouth of the creek only a mile > below the point of crossing." > > Not too long after that my GGGGrandfather Thomas crosed the river and > settled by Line Creek in what became Screamer, AL. > I hope this helps. If you have any more questions about Henry County, I > have a fairly extensive library on the County, maybe I can help. > Eslie