Since the ancestors from the Stone and Chastain families settled and primarily stayed in the North Georgia region, it is only fitting to begin with when the eldest traceable family members settled in Georgia. But before going into the details of the family, it is important to explain the turmoil and tragedies of the North Georgia region during this time in history.
The Cherokees were displaced from their ancestral lands in North Georgia and the Carolinas in a period of rapidly expanding white population, a situation as well as a gold rush around Dahlonega, Georgia in the 1830’s. Various official reasons for the removal were given. One was that the Cherokee were not efficiently using their land, and the land should be given to white farmers.
Not all of the eastern Cherokees were removed on the Trail of Tears. William Holland Thomas, a white store owner and state legislator from Jackson County, North Carolina, helped over 600 Cherokee from Qualla Town (the site of modern-day Cherokee, North Carolina) obtain North Carolina citizenship. As citizens, they were exempt from forced removal to the west. In addition, over 400 other Cherokee hid from Federal troops in the remote Snowbird Mountains of neighboring Graham County, North Carolina, under the leadership of Tsali (the subject of the outdoor drama Unto These Hills held in Cherokee, North Carolina). Together, these groups were the basis for what is now known as the Eastern Band of Cherokees.
In 1803, the Cherokee Indians were persuaded to allow the building of a Federal Post Road through their territory, finally built between 1812 and 1820. Two of the stations along that road were at the Carmel Mission in what became Talking Rock, and the Harnage Inn, located where the Tate House now stands.
The Cherokee, somewhat unified and confined to North Georgia and the surrounding mountains, formed the Cherokee Nation with its capital at New Echota (located in the present day city of Calhoun in Gordon County), and developed an assimilated culture with its own Legislature and Supreme Court.
Sequoyah's "Talking Leaves" gave the Cherokee a tool with which to create the first American Indian newspaper, The Cherokee Phoenix. In 1826 the Cherokee Council approved the construction of a printing office. The first issue of The Cherokee Phoenix rolled off the presses on February 28, 1828 and had an international circulation.
But with the discovery of gold in Georgia in 1829, there were again increasing intrusions from white settlers.
In 1830, the United States Congress had passed the "Indian Removal Act," allowing the removal of Native Americans to lands in the west.
In a Supreme Court case, the justices ruled in 1832 that the Cherokee Nation was sovereign, and not subject to Georgia law. The ruling was never enforced by President Andrew Jackson, who coveted the Cherokee property. Georgia ignored the ruling, and set up a public lottery system to distribute the land in their “Cherokee County.”
That same year, 1832, Lumpkin County was created from parts of Cherokee, Habersham, and Hall counties from Cherokee Indian lands. Discovery of gold led to removal of the Native Americans from North Georgia. The county seat and only incorporated community is Dahlonega. The name is derived from an Indian word, "Taulonica," that means "yellow gold." The Stone family first moved to Lumpkin County from South Carolina prior to 1844.
Gilmer County was created in 1832 from part of Cherokee County. Ellijay was the site of an Indian village and bears an Indian name meaning "earth green there." Cherokee Indians lived in this area until their removal in 1838 to Oklahoma via the Trail of Tears. The Brooks family moved to Gilmer County sometime before 1846. The Chastain family was also in Gilmer County on April 2, 1846 for the marriage of James Witt Chastain and Jane Aljaline Powell.
Also in 1832, Sam Tate, a settler from Gainesville, won parcels of land in Pickens County during the land lottery. Packing twelve children and his wife in a wagon, Tate moved to the county and built a home.
On May 17, 1838, General Winfield Scott marched into Georgia with a force of seven thousand men and began the forced relocation of the Cherokee to Oklahoma. The Cherokee were first housed in Fort Newnan in Talking Rock and Fort Buffington near Canton. On this march, now known as the Trail of Tears (1838), one in four of the 17,000 Cherokee died from hunger, exposure, or disease. Once in Oklahoma, most of the signers of the Treaty of New Echota were killed.
As settlers moved into the area, removal forts were built for the express purpose of housing the Cherokee before their removal. Sources list the following forts (Counties are listed based on present political boundaries):
Pickens
County: Fort Newnan (Talking Rock Fort)
Cherokee County: Fort Buffington
(East of Canton), Fort Sixes (Camp Hinar Sixes)
Forsyth County: Fort
Campbell, Fort Scudders (Fort Eaton, Frogtown)
Lumpkin County: Fort
Dahlonega (or Fort Embry)
Towns County: Fort Chastain (Fannin or Towns) in
what is today Mineral Bluffs or Hiawassee
Walker County: Fort Cumming (LaFayette)
After the formal acquisition of the Cherokee lands, North Georgia was subdivided into increasingly smaller counties. In 1853, Pickens County was created from parts of Cherokee and Gilmer Counties.
In 1853, shortly after the discovery of copper in the area of McCay (now McCaysville), Benjamin Chastain introduced a bill to create Fannin from portions of Gilmer and Union counties, which passed and was signed by Gov. Hershel Johnson in Jan., 1854. This county was named for Colonel James W. Fannin of Georgia, who, with approximately 350 volunteers, fought in Texas' War of Independence from Mexico. The last remnants of the Cherokee Nation found shelter in the mountains of Fannin County before their removal.
In 1858 the legislature enacted a law providing that education be made free to all white children between the ages of eight and eighteen. The Ludville High School, established in 1877, was the first school for advanced grades in Pickens County. Colonel Sam Tate built a school house at Tate in 1866, and this institution was important in the life and progress of its community.
Then, in 1883, the Marietta and North Georgia Railroad reached Pickens County. Although this gave local farmers an additional outlet for the agricultural products raised in the area, moonshine would be economically important well into the 20th century. About this time Stephen Tate, son of Sam Tate, began to mine significant amounts of marble.
By 1899, after the coming of the Marietta and North Georgia Railroad, things had changed. Talking Rock literally moved east to meet the rail line, leaving Blaine to occupy its former site.
Updated Oct. 2009
Beginning in 1810 through 1840, we find Samuel Stone living in Fairfield,
South Carolina. He was born in approximately 1790 and believed to have died
between 1841-1849. On August 30, 1818, Samuel Stone and Catherine Washington
were married. Sourced by the Supplement to South Carolina Marriages, 1688-1820.
Terry Crockerll, Robert Know, trustees; Reuben Pickett, Micajah Pickett; wit.
REF Fairfield Deed Book BB, pp.148-149.
The 1850 Federal Census shows Catherine living in Roberson, Lumpkin County, Georgia with what appears to be a blended family. Her children; Rebecca age 20, Benjamin age 19, Jasper age 17, Betsy age 16, Jordan age 14, Lucinda age 6, Anderson age 3 and Newton age 2 are all listed in this order. Then her eldest child, Elizabeth age 21 is listed last. Interestingly, there is another Elizabeth age 5 listed in her household, possibly a grandchild. Her oldest son, Benjamin age 19, is listed as a farmer for the family. Living immediately next door is another farmer named Robert Stone, age 21, living with yet a third woman named Elizabeth Stone, age 26. All this information leads to the notion that Catherine’s husband died before 1850, when this census was taken.
Records for Catherine and Samuel's children indicated the following; Lucinda Catherine Stone married Alfred Wehunt on August 24, 1857 in Lumpkin County, Georgia. Rebecca Stone married Jasper Evans. Andreson Pickens Stone married Nancy A. Mull on November 27, 1870 in Fannin County, Georgia.
The 1860 Federal Census shows James Jasper Stone (1833- est.1909) was living in Dawsonville, Dawson County, Georgia with his mother, Catherine Stone and his younger brother Anderson (1847- est.1886) and his sister Lucinda (1844-1895). He was listed as head of household, age 24 and a farmer.
In 1870 Catherine Stone lived with her daughter Rebecca Stone-Evans. Rebecca's husband Jasper Evans served in the Civil War and was a prisoner of war at Camp Morton in Indiana. Some reports indicate he died there. Also in 1870, records show James Jasper Stone and his wife Selia Ann Young-Stone lived in Jasper, Pickens County, Georgia with three of their children.
The 1880 Caldwell and Mobile of Fannin County Georgia Census record indicates that Catherine was living with her son, James J. Stone at that time. It is believed she died that same year. This census shows James Jasper Stone (1833- est.1909) and his wife Selia Ann Young Stone (1841-?) had six children; Louiza (1867- est.1935), Rebecca Derinda (1869- est.1937), Amanda (1871- est.1940), William (1873- est.1940), Alfred (1875-1934) and Harrison Benjamin Stone who was born April 25, 1875 and died February 18, 1946.
Records for James and Selia's children are as follows; Sarah C. Stone (1862-1909) married John W. Timms in 1897. Alfred R. Stone married Bertie Mae Hicks and later Elizabeth Prather. Little details are known about the other children.
In 1910 Federal Census, Harrison Benjamin Stone (1875-1946) was listed as head of household, able to read but not write, and was a farmer in Ludville, Pickens County, Georgia. He was only 14 at the time. He lived with his mother, Selia Ann Young Stone whose name was spelled Celia A. Stone on this census report. Also living with them was his brother-in-law John W. Timms and his four Timms children. Both Selia Stone and John Timms were listed as widowed on the census indicating that James Jasper Stone died before 1910. Interestingly, the Young family is listed on the same census report as living very close to the Stones.
The 1930 Federal Census for the Big Ridge District of Pickens County, Georgia offers a lot of information about familiar names within our family. First on Big Ridge Road, seven households appear; Stone, Young, Townsend, Tippens, Gibson and Hudson (from Tennessee). Also listed on this census are Chastain, Turner and Watson. Starting with Harrison Benjamin Stone (1875-1946), he is listed as 53 years old, head of household, renting a home and not living on a farm, occupation is marked as “none”. The report shows he is living with his wife Callie D. Stone who is 36 years old and she indicated her age at her first marriage was 18. This would date her first married to be in 1912. Harrison Benjamin Stone must have been married before as he indicated his age at his first marriage was 24 which would date his first marriage at about 1899. The census report lists their children as Jasper H. Stone (1914-1960), Carter T. Stone (1919-1992), William G. Stone (1924-1977), Living Stone (1925-), and Fain L. Stone (1927-1994). Another living Stone was born in 1930. According to records, Donie Mae Brooks (1891-1974) was married to Harrison Benjamin Stone and is the mother of all the children listed above. Perhaps Callie was her nickname. The report goes on to list Joseph A. Stone with wife Emily and son Jesse as also living on Big Ridge Road noted as “Ludville -Talking Rock.” Joseph Hudson from Tennessee and wife Ida along with their four daughters lived on this same road.
Harrison Benjamin Stone married Caldona Donie Mae Brooks and they had six children; Jasper Harold Stone (1914-1960) who married Mary Chastain, Carter Tate Stone (1919-1992) who married Margarett E. Chastain (1917-2004), William G. Stone (1924-1977), Fain L. Stone (1927-1994) and two other living Stones.
Carter Tate Stone (1919-1992) was born on February 25, 1919 in Pickens County, Georgia. He married Margaret E. Chastain (1917-2004). They had a total of eleven children. All are living with exception of Homer Harold 'Tommy' Stone (1941-1959) and Billy Joe Stone (1959-1960).
Updated
Oct. 2009
Although our Chastain lineage dates back to the 1600’s in France, I am
focusing on the Chastain family members who moved to Georgia. That honor goes to
James Witt Chastain (1826- est.1900-1910) who was born in South Carolina and
died in Pickens County, Georgia.
On April 2, 1846, James Witt Chastain (1826-?) married Jane Aljaline Powell (1830-1880) in Gilmer County, Georgia. Source is Georgia Marriages to 1850 record.
The 1850 Federal Census for Division 12 of Gordon County, which was just being organized as a county in 1850, shows James Witt Chastain (1826-?) as head of household with his wife Jane age 20 and his children; Mary E. Chastain age 3 and E. G. Chastain age 1, all living with him.
The next census report in 1860 indicates the Chastain family lived in Truck Wheel, Pickens County which is located in today’s Talking Rock.
Furthermore, on this same census report are listed neighbors of James Witt Chastain (1826-?) . This includes James’ brothers David Marion Chastain/Chasteen (1830-1908) and William Jefferson Chastain (1813-1883) who were farmers, along with their families. These three Chastain brothers owned a considerable amount of land. Equally interesting is that William Stone, age 30, and his wife Mary Stone along with their sons James H. Stone, age 4 and John Stone age 2 lived nearby. Finally, Dudley Mulkey and his family also farmed in the same area.
The 1870 Federal Census report for Jasper, Pickens County lists not only the Chastain family but also the Mulkey, Young, Nelson and Powell families. Of most interest is Daniel Powell, age 54, from North Carolina and his wife Mary Powell, age 49, from South Carolina. James Witt Chastain’s wife is Jane Aljaline Powell (1830-1880) from South Carolina. At this point in time she is 41 years old suggesting that Daniel Powell might be her brother.
As for James Witt Chastain’s family on this census report, aside from James and Jane; Elizabeth, David, Mary, William, Miles, Benjamin, Rebecca, Amelia and Thomas are all listed. Their last child, Abraham Joseph Chastain (1871-1953) obviously wasn’t born yet.
Sometime between 1870 and 1880, the family moved to Cullman County, Alabama where Jane later died. It is reported that Jane is buried in Powell's Chapel Cemetery in Cullman County, Alabama.
The 1880 Federal Census report for Alabama indicates that they lived in the Township 9, Range 4 District and were neighbors with the Duckett family. James Witt Chastain’s name is misspelled as Chasteen which is a version more commonly found out west and specifically with one of his sons, Miles Tilman Chastain who died in Oklahoma. On this census report James and Jane have Miles age 20, Benjamin age 15, Thomas age 12 and Abraham age 10 living with them.
This explains why both Miles and Benjamin married in Alabama. They both eventually moved to Oklahoma and are buried there.
Miles Tilman Chastain (1857-1939) married Martha Mahalla Charlotte Duckett (1865-1931) in Cullman County, Alabama in 1883. Miles was about 26 years old at the time. They must have moved out west before 1887; the birth of their first child in Oklahoma. They went on to have a total six children; two born in Grady County, Oklahoma, one born in Brazoria County, Texas and another born in Caddo County, Oklahoma. It should be noted that Oklahoma did not become a state until 1907. Their youngest child was born in 1902. Both Miles and his wife are buried in Amber County, Oklahoma. Their name is misspelled on their tombstone as Chasteen.
It appears that Miles and his family stayed ‘out west’ unlike his brother Benjamin who moved between Alabama and Georgia several times before eventually moving to Oklahoma.
Benjamin Pickney Chastain (1860-1937) married Mary Francis Howell (1852-1932) in Morgan County, Alabama in 1885. Benjamin was about 25 years old at the time. They apparently did a fair amount of traveling. As with Miles, we know many details about their children. For our purposes here, I will simply outline the dates.
Ben and Mary had their first child in 1886 although we do not know where. Their second child was born in Pickens County, Georgia in 1887. They then moved back to Alabama before 1889 to have their next three children with the youngest being born in 1895.
Although we do not know when Ben and his family moved to Oklahoma; we do know Ben died in Oklahoma County in 1937, his wife in Apache County in 1932 and one of his sons died in 1936 in Oklahoma. He also had a daughter who died in San Diego, California in 1968. This was obviously a well traveled family for their day.
Of the two youngest brothers who lived with their parents in Alabama, James Thomas Chastain (1865-1937) moved back to Pickens County where he married Louise Young in 1888. J.T., as he was known, was about 23 at the time he married. They both died in Pickens County, Georgia. There is no indication that J.T. moved anywhere else.
As for Abraham Joseph Chastain (1871-1953) , we know that Abe moved back to Georgia prior to 1892 when he married Rosa Lee Mulkey. Abe was 20 years old at the time. On July 4, 1894, he and Rosa had a daughter named Susan Savanna Chastain in Talking Rock, Georgia. It is not certain when Abe and Rosa separated. Interestingly, Abe raised both children with his second wife, Dovie Roselee Long whom he married on February 29, 1909. Wilbur Mullinax became known as Wilburn Chastain as a child, but is indicated on census reports as Abe’s stepson.
On December 16, 1898, Joseph Chastain aka Abraham Joseph Chastain (1871-1953) was appointed a Pickens County Postmaster as indicated on The National Archives Records of Appointment of Postmasters, micro-publication M841, on reel 24. Abe was listed as postmaster for the Blaine, Georgia Post Office. Blaine at that time was the new name for the original city of Talking Rock. When the railroad was built in Pickens County, the city of Talking Rock moved closer to the railroad.
Margaret E. Chastain (1917-2004) shared stories of how her father, Abe, went out west. With all of the shuffling and moving around amongst the four Chastain brothers who once lived in Alabama, it is very likely that Abe, did have the opportunity to travel and experience life in the west.
Between 1900 and 1910, James Witt Chastain died. He was living with his son Abraham Joseph Chastain (1871-1953) at the time of his death.
The 1910 Federal Census for Ludville, Pickens County indicates Abe J. Chastain aka Abraham Joseph Chastain (1871-1953) is head of household, a farmer and able to read and write. It stated that he was married for the second time to Dovie R. who was listed as being 25 years old and married only once. The report lists that three children are in the household; Wilburn Chastain age 6, Lula B. Chastain and Susan S. Chastain.
The 1920 Federal Census for the Big Ridge District shows Joseph A. Chastain aka Abraham Joseph Chastain (1871-1953) living with his wife Dovie, his stepson, Willurn Mullinax (1903-1990), and his other children; Lula B. Chastain (1910-1990), Dora J. Chastain (1911-1981), Mary Chastain (1914-1990), Margaret E. Chastain (1917-2004) and Homer E. Chastain (1919-1965). His brother, James Thomas Chastain, lived next door to him along with his wife and two children. Also two other young Chastain couples lived nearby.
Finally, on the 1930 Federal Census for the Big Ridge District we find, living on Big Ridge Road, two Chastain families along with the Mulkey, Young and Long families. Abraham Joseph Chastain (1871-1953) is listed as head of household living with his wife Dovie R. Chastain and their children; Mary C. Chastain (1914-1990), Margaret E. Chastain (1917-2004), Homer E. Chastain (1919-1965) and Maud M. Chastain (1922-2003).
Updated
Oct. 2009
David H. Brooks (1826- est. 1909) married Louisa M. Long (1855-1957) and they
had a daughter, Donie Mae Brooks (1891-1974) who married Harrison Benjamin
Stone. Their children are listed in
The First Stone Family in Georgia.
Updated Oct. 2009
For more information about our Long family roots visit
Long Research - Georgia.
Drury Long (1813-1877) born in Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina married
Margarett Peggy Garrett (1810-1881). They had four sons and possibly other
children as well. I am focusing on the sons; Peter A. Long (1837-1884), Joseph
Crayton Long (1841-1905), William G. Long (1843-1897), and George Washington
Long (1845-1930).
Peter A. Long married Harriet M. Smart on September 13, 1857 in Fannin County, Georgia. Census reports show they lived in Fannin and Gilmer Counties in Georgia. The Civil War Pension Index lists Harriet M. Long as a widow of Peter L. B. Long. He was a soldier for the Union in the 5th Tennessee Cavalry. Peter died on May 9, 1884.
Peter and Harriet had six children; five girls and one boy. Louiza M. Long-Brooks (1855-1957) mother of Donie Mae Brooks-Stone (1891-1974), Drury Washington Long (1856-1947) who is the father of Dovie Roselee Long-Chastain (1884-1955), Emily D. Long-Garrett (1857-1887), Jospehine Long-Beck (1868- est.1950), Mary A. Long (1873- est.1940), and Margaret Adline Long-Bradley (1874-1949).
Louiza M. Long (1855-1957) married David H. Brooks (1826- est1909) in 1887 in Lumpkin County, Georgia. They had eight children including; Charles Luther Brooks (1886-1968) who married Viola Pack, Benjamin Brooks (1889-1985) who married Amanda L. Stone, Mary Jo 'Josie Brooks-Wooten (1891-1982), Caldona 'Donie Mae' Brooks-Stone (1891-1974), Grover N. Brooks (1893-1917), Margaret 'Belle' Brooks-Mulkey (1897-1983), Michelle Brooks (est 1900-1970), Martha M. Brooks-Stone (1904-1964).
Caldona 'Donie Mae' Brooks married Harrison Benjamin Stone (1875-1946) in Georgia. Their children are listed in The First Stone Family in Georgia.
Drury Washington Long (1856-1947) was born in Fannin County, Georgia and married Mary A. Puckett (1868-1936) on September 11, 1883. They lived in Gilmer, Pickens and Gordon Counties in Georgia. They had a total of ten children including; Dovie Roselee Long-Chastain (1884-1955), John William Long (1885-1964), Dora Long-Prather (1890-1967), Mary Jane 'Janie' Long-Young (1892-1963), Dessie Long-Moss (1895-1920), Homer R. Long (1899-1976) who married Omie Moss, Margarett Long (1899-1987), Drew Washington Long (1902-1983), Hester Lovone Long-Gravley (1905-1934) and Bunyan Monroe Long (1907-1997) who married Arry Bell West. Dovie Roselee Long married Abraham Joseph Chastain. Their children are listed in The First Chastain Family in Georgia.
by Sherri Raffety Hale
copyrighted: cannot reproduce for profit
More information at the Raffety Family Tree Website: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~raffety/