Every November, in celebration of Veteran's Day, U.S. flags are displayed on the main roads in Winchester and Decherd. Each flag holder has a Franklin County soldier's name and a date of service.
The names are down the road in alphabetical order. The information on each cross is readable from a slow moving car.
It's a treasure hunt looking for, and finding my 5th great grandfather, James Sherrod Williams. An unlikely game of hide and seek.
This year I found him in front of Wal-Mart, on the corner at the red light.
The good people at American Legion Post 44, in Winchester, put these flags out. It's their Memorial Flags of Franklin County project. They do an awesome job. To sponsor a flag or make a donation, or ask questions, call 931-308-8914.
James Sherrod Williams was born in 1776, and died in 1831. His military service was during the War of 1812.
This picture is from last November. He was in front of the high school on the bypass.
The names are down the road in alphabetical order. The information on each cross is readable from a slow moving car.
My mom, Carolyn, our cousin, Gaynell Garner Sakich, and my sisters, Melanie, and Sheri, know more family history than I do. Still, I find all of this interesting and worth learning more about.
That's the reason for this blog story. To park it somewhere safe, and visit again. It's good to be reminded of where we came from.
His name...
I wonder how they pronounced his name.
Was it just like it looks? "Sher-rod?" Then I met several people that live in William's cove. They say it different than I'd imagined. A couple of them said, "Shard." Like a shard of broken glass. Now, I imagine his name was somewhere between, "Sher-rod," and "Shard."
1815
A survey from 1815 listed Sherrod as living on land near the head of Norwood creek, a branch of the Elk River. Link to a google map... https://maps.app.goo.gl/avE8EaPj5J3oJsBU6
1830
For his service in the War of 1812, Sherrod got a land grant of 710 acres adjacent to his property on Norwood Creek. The cost was a penny an acre. This would later become Williams Cove. The land is south of Cowan, at the foot of the mountain.
The family line back to Sherrod...
Steve (me) married to Terri Jolley Stone
1 son, 2 daughters
Karen Stone Purdom, Robin Stone Fair, and William Stone
My sisters, Melanie Stone, and Sheri Stone Mason.
Our First cousins, Suzanne Williams Troeger, Taylor Judson Williams, and Erik Guess.
My mom, Carolyn Williams Stone married to S.W. Stone Jr.
Her brother Bill Williams, and her sister, Kay Williams Guess
Their father, Rufus Judson Williams, married to Ethel Adel Jones
His seven Brothers and sisters...Ella Ruth Williams Garner, George Jr., Winnell Williams Pittenger, Jemimah Williams Baughman, Cullie Williams Garner, Elizabeth Williams Hastings, and Charles Henry Williams. Affectionatley known as, "The Eight."
Their father, George H. Williams, Sr. married to Lela Belle Bryan
3 sons, 5 daughters. (above)
His father, John Williams. Married to Ella K. Corn
3 sons, 4 daughters
His father, Lent Williams, married to Violet Mcilheron
5 sons, 5 daughters
(Lent is listed as the 12th child of Sherrod and Mary Ann, "Polly" Looney.) https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Williams-8784
Finally...
His father, James Sherrod Williams, married to Mary Ann Looney
13 sons, 7 daughters.
Pretty sure that makes Sherrod, my 5th, Great Grandfather.
Another blog article dated 11-21-2024, has birth dates, dates of passing, and more specifics. It's a work in progress as I try to add details.
Finding Sherrod's flag at the redlight in front of Wal-Mart this year makes me smile...
I think about him being born in 1776, and passing away in 1831.
The first red light in Tennessee was in Brownsville, in 1935.
The first Wal-Mart in Tennessee may have been on Nolensville Road in Nashville in 1973.
The train from Nashville to Chattanooga made it's first trip through this area in the 1850's.
If Sherrod could see Franklin county today, what would he think?
Would he stop at Hardee's and visit with the farmers first thing in the morning over a biscuit and cup of coffee?
Be happy about self check out at Wal-Mart?
Would he appreciate the efficiency of the round about south of town.
What would he say about Tim's Ford lake and dam.
Would he recognize Norwood Creek, the Elk River, and what is now William's Cove, as he knew it in 1815?
Until next November, Shard.
Veteran's Day will roll around again.
I look forward to our next game of Hide and Seek.