Early History-Whitehead
The following is present in storybook form as told to Ella Cooper Garner by the descendants of Joseph and Mary Whitehead and is used by permission. Mrs. Garner wrote a regular column for the Toccoa Record and also hosed a local radio program. She collected information on the history and traditions of Toccoa and Stephens Country.
"Two age-old headstones stand in an ancient burying ground near the site where Bending Hickory Schoolhouse once stood. They tell a story that warms the heart of every red blooded American.
Born Died
Joseph Whitehead 1779 1858
Anne Smith Nails Whitehead 1781 1876
Anne Whitehead lived eighteen years longer than her husband. Her ninety five years of vigorous life were filled with the hard work of the pioneer woman. She knew the Indian as friend and foe, and would tell to her children and grandchildren the story of the great wilderness that once was Northeast Georgia. When a very young child, Anne's mother died. A devoted sister begged a cruel husband to give her the privilege of caring for the young child. The man, whose name was Nails, allowed the girl to come into his home, treating her as a bond servant. She worked by the side of his slaves with never a day to call her own. Young Joseph Whitehead, who lived in the same comment as the Nails, was attracted to the pretty girl, and when she was seventeen and he nineteen, they decided to marry. Fearing the iron hand of her brother-in-law, the couple was aided in eloping by the sister. They mounted young Joe's horse and rode to the nearest preacher, where they married. Leaving word for the tyrant brother-in-law not to follow if he cared for his life.
For weeks upon weeks the young couple traveled; the first part of their trip being made by night, so if the man they feared did follow they would have the advantage. Joe had friends among the Indians, some of whom had told him of a great waterfall but that was a long way off. Could he trade the wild animals that roamed the forests, and the unfriendly Indians with his bride? They went farther each day. Often times they had to take the hatchet and the ax to cut a path. Many times they thought they would have to lead the flax wheel or some of the bedding Anne's sister had given her. Not often would Anne dare ride the horse that carried her side saddle, for fear an Indian would reach out from a bush and snatch her. She was after holding to her man on his horse. Only to rest the horse would she leave him that far.
After weary weeks they found the great falls. Fifty miles they had come. In the year 1798, the year of their marriage, that was a distance of unbelievable travel. Traveling through dense wilderness, facing an almost certain death by wild animals or Cherokee Indians, from way down in Elbert county, took the courage of people like Joseph and Anne Whitehead. The big child of the Cherokees was friendly with the young couple and led them to the great falls that had a sheer drop of 186 feet. The word the Cherokee used to express The Beautiful was Toccoa. Two miles and a half about this beautiful waterfall young Joe build his cabin. He soon traded with the chief and before long he owned a plat of land that ran a five mile radius in every direction, thereby becoming the first white property owner in the whole section of the country. He was a great land owner; standing on the far edge, his property measured ten miles to the other side.
There was, across country, a stage coach stop know as Traveler's Rest. Someday they would travel over to see the coach come in. The Waltons keep the inn and took in the tired travelers who came by coach. Their dream was never realized, for a band of Indians caught the Waltons on the stair case of the big house and murdered them. Anyway Anne soon became busy having children and making a home. She gave birth to four husky sons and five daughters. She did not tarry long at this job, as she had to help Joe build more room to the house, till the land, wash the clothes, milk the cows and cook the food.
For years there stood in the middle of the field a huge tree that had been hollowed out by the Indians to give them shelter before a substantial house was built. Anne was glad Joe died before a fire broke out and burned it down. It would have been hard to see it go. The Cherokee Chief had asked that it never be hewn down. Good steady names, like Arch, Jake, Bill and Joseph were given the boys while the daughters were named Allie, Susan, Nancy, Polly and Amy. The Cherokees aided the growing family in accumulating good furniture for the house which was being enlarged until it was taking on the looks of a southern plantation. There came a time when others cut their way into the jungle; Joe began to sell his land to good neighbors and we wonder at what date and to whom he sold the Toccoa Falls. Great strides were being made for there was a trading post opened down the road about four and a half miles near where the Presbyterian Church now stands.
Allie married a man named Dodd, Susan became a Yearwood, Nancy married a Mills, Polly a DeFoor and Amy remained single. In the years that passed Anne thought of her sister who helped them escape her overbearing husband. Did he kill her as he offended threatened? She never knew. No letter were written or sent in those days.
The offspring of this couple who silently sleep in the burying ground spread over the nation. The blood of adventure flows thru their veins. When Anne grew too old to do much else but sit by the fireside she told her grandchildren of Toccoa's beginning. One of her grandchildren who bore here name married a Thomas and lived at the old home. The old flax wheel brought with them from the low country and Anne's side saddle were both burned in a fire which took the home and later the barn. Other descendants and pioneer settled bore the names of Thomas, Price, Davis, King, Scott, Dover, Jackson and hundreds of other who can trace their ancestry to the dust that is entombed here. Their spirit lives on. This is hallowed ground."
By Ella Cooper Garner