12-19-06

I received a special Christmas card this season from Sue and Wayne Pierce. Some of the family members still live on the land that was owned by James A. Harmon when he first settled in Onega back in the mid 1800's.

Granny Rachel Harmon lived on this land and raised her family after her husband died from a spider bite. When he died, he left Granny and two small boys named Jim and Arthur Harmon.

Sue Harmon Pierce and her attractive family is a typical example of the Cherokee descendants that settled in the area when the town was first settled.

At about this same period of time just before the Civil War broke out, my Grandfather’s Grandmother, Eliza Wood Williams, and her husband John Cebe Williams were beginning their journey from Onega, Georgia. Eliza was a photography teacher in the prison system in Onega, Georgia.

The Williams family and Harmon family became friends after settling in Aubrey. My Great Great Grandmother, Eliza Wood Williams set up a photography lab in the attic of Granny Harmon’s home. Eliza was blind and relied on Granny Harmon’s eyes to help her process the film and make photographs.

Tears come to my eyes every time I think of these two women traveling the Trail of Tears. I think of the great talent and education that the Cherokee women possessed.

Within 500 feet of where the Pierce family lives was where the many of the photos that have been passed down to me were processed. Incidentally I have the enlarger that could have very well been the one that my grandmother and Granny Rachel used. The enlarger will process up to 30 inch by 30 inch photos (if you can find photo paper that large).

I certainly cherish the photo of the Wayne and Sue Pierce family. The beloved relatives in the photo are local cabinet builders.

Granny Rachel lived to be almost 100 years old, and Grandmother Eliza Wood lived to be 104 years old. I am so happy for the photos that these two women have passed down to the current generation.

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