I have a pretty good grasp of the various McCollum families who lived in Cherokee County from the 1840s onward, but I can't seem to sort out their relationships to each other. Here's what I know about one of the families: The John Washington McCollum and Hannah Cantrell Family (Born in the Old Pendleton district of South Carolina; Buried in the Landmark Baptist Church Cemetery, Cherokee County, Georgia) John Washington McCollum and Hannah Cantrell were born in the Old Pendleton District of South Carolina in present day Pickens County near Easley. Based on the age of their eldest child, they were married about 1823 and moved on to Habersham County, Georgia in February 1826. A Bill of Sale dated September 19, 1823 from David McHenry to John McCullum for household and kitchen furniture suggests John and Hannah were married about this time. (Source: South Carolina Department of Archives and History Series S213003, Volume 005A, Page 00008). Census records from 1830 to 1850 show that they had six sons and four daughters between 1823 and 1846. The first census to name all family members was in 1850. By that time the four eldest sons were no longer in the household, so their identities are a matter of conjecture, supported by census and other records. Confirmed children are: Perilla Elizabeth, born in 1832. Married John W. Freeman in Cherokee County on August 17, 1854. Rutha J., born in 1834. Married Robert Montgomery Thompson in Cherokee County on March 3, 1854. Moses D., born in 1838. Married Sarah E. Hughes in Cherokee County about 1860. Enlisted in Company B, 34th Infantry Regiment Georgia on 13 May 1862 Died of disease on 07 November 1862 in Loudon, TN. Moses was described as having blue eyes, light hair and complexion, and was 5' 11" tall. He had been a farmer before enlisting in Canton, Georgia. His widow, Sarah E. McCollum, filed a claim for any and all allowances due him on March 5, 1863 and a John McCollum, who said he had known Moses for more than 20 years, attested to their marriage. The final settlement was reduced by $4.25 to cover the cost of a hat and shoes he had been issued. Mary L., born February 26, 1841. Married James Temple in Cherokee County on August 27, 1871. Francis Evaline "Eva", born December 11, 1842. Married Henry Jordan Ellison in Cherokee County on December 29, 1885. Had a son, William E. Mccollum, out of wedlock on November 12, 1867. Samuel H., born July 5, 1846. First married Theresa Artilla Wheeler on September 8, 1864 in Cherokee County. Next married Caroline Melissa Smith on December 25, 1873 in Cherokee County. Children identified in the census, but not named: A son born between 1821 and 1825 (age 5-9 in 1830) Two sons born between 1825 and 1830 (under age 5 in 1830) A son born between 1830 and 1835 (age 5-9 in 1840) James Washington McCollum, born August 11, 1824 in the Pendleton district of South Carolina, appears to be the son born between 1820 and 1825. He married Mary M. Martin in Cherokee County on February 12, 1847 and the family was enumerated in the 1850 census of Cherokee County. William McCollum, born about 1826 in South Carolina may be the first of the two sons born between 1825 and 1830. He married Lydia A. Martin in Habersham County, Georgia on November 25, 1845 and was enumerated in the 1850 census of Cherokee County, Georgia. In 1860 the family was in the acrea of Summit, Blount County, Alabama. William apparently died during the Civil War, because his widow and children were back in Cherokee County in 1870. The second of the two born between 1825 and 1830 is almost certainly John Wesley McCollum, born December 16, 1827 in Habersham County, Georgia. In August 1860 John, his wife Frances, and their three oldest children lived in the Sallacoa District of Cherokee County, where John worked as a miner. After his wife died in childbirth with their fifth child in 1865, his son John Mike Beam McCollum was raised by John and Hannah. He appeared in their household in the 1870 and 1880 censuses and was identified as their grandson in 1880. The unidentified son born between 1830 and 1835 may be David A. McCollum, born in Habersham County, Georgia about 1830. He married Matilda Findley in Cherokee County on August 1, 1859. However, he didn't appear with the family in the 1850 census. He and Matilda did not appear in the 1860 census, but his Civil War service record shows that he was a private in Company I, 23rd Georgia Infantry and later in Company D. He enlisted August 9, 1861. According to his widow's pension application, David was placed out on picket near Richmond and never returned to his command. He died in a US Army prison hospital in Hampton, Virginia on December 26, 1863. Matilda was notified of his death by letter from E.P. Roe, chaplain, U.S. Army, and had the letter when she applied for the pension in 1891. Matilda collected a Confederate widow's pension of $100 per year from 1891 until at least 1902. I would appreciate any information to confirm or refute that the above named sons are children of John and Hannah. In subsequent e-mails I'll talk about the Jesse Miller McCollum family, the William W. McCollum family and the George W. McCollum family. W. McCollum --------------------------------------------------------------------------------