Story on pg 306 Murray Co Heritage: During the Civil War, Union troops converged on the Valley-perhaps aiming for the iron works and the mills. As the soldiers pillaged and plundered, they arrived at the Fout homestead. During their 4-day stay, the soldiers killed cattle and hogs, made the women cook round the clock, took the beds, crowded the fire, burned furniture, abused the children, and hanged Solomon Fouts from a tree in the yard. The soldiers then got into an argument (possibly because one soldier tried to end the mistreatment) and one man was killed. The men discovered that Mr Fouts was not dead and cut the rope so he could bury the dead Yankee. Mr Fouts did so and today the grave can still be seen on the north side of the Fouts Family Cem. When the soldiers departed the Fouts family was left with only a calf and a pig. Pg 307: The Valley was not without officials and a court ground (and a mill) were located near Mt Sumach church. Jim Arthur and John Langford were Justices of the peace at one time. Others were Sam Higdon (l893=l90l, L.M. Douthit (l893-97). Ben Fouts (l898-l904), A H Green and E C Arthur. Any medical services needed were provided by Doactors Parks and Gilbert from TN and Dr Kemp. Pg 308: Minerve Fouts deeded land to the trustees of a Methodist ch located on the east side of the Conasauga River in Land Lot l6l (27th dist) 2nd section. Pg 579: The Solomon Fouts Family. One of the early settlers of the alaculsey Valley n Murray Co was a bachelor named Feutz (later spelled Fouts) of German descent. He acquired a great part of the valley and set up three water-powered mills, one on Jack's River and two on the Conasauga. He also ran a woodworking shop, making furniture, etc. His lathes, saws and presses were run from power from the water wheel. Mr Solomon Fouts remained single until he was past forty. He had 60 slaves, including the slave children. He married Minerva Yants from Spring Pl. He took two horses and went for his bride. They were married and rode the horses back to the Alaculsey. Solomon and Minerva had eight children. Mary m Anderson Coxey; Jim was killed in a storm in Texas, Sarah m Boss Iendrik; Elizabeth m J.Houston O'Neal; Emma m James Hale; Benjamin m Mary Ann Arthur; Richard was Richar Kendrick's grandfather; Minerva md Loranzo Poteet. ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.