Jessie 'Jess' FIELDS

                   James G. Fields was a tax collector for Union Co.,Ga.  He was physically handicapped and could not enlist in the Civil War. He was said to have been very patriotic, however, serving his country well at home.
A SHORT SKETCH OF JAMES G. FIELDS
James G. Fields, oldest son of Jesse Fields, was born in Buncombe County , North  Carolina on June 20th 1835. At the age of two years, his father moved to  Union County, Georgia near what is now Blairsville, where his father helped to  hew out the logs to build the first courthouse ever built in Union County.
At that time the Indians were thick all over the country  and his father  helped to round them up for their long trip to the Indian reservation -  then  the Indian territory - now Oklahoma.
He grew to manhood on the farm, acquiring  a good common school education,
At the age of 22 he married Miss Sarah Sparks, age 19. He and his young wife immediately went to work to build and feather  a nest they could call home and by hard work and close living they soon acquired their home.
On September 5th 1858 this home was brightened by the  birth of a son William, familiarly called Billy. The birth of this son  gladdened the hearts and added new energy to this young couple and for nearly  2 years this boy was the light of this household and the bright star in
their  lives.
On April 15, 1860 great joy again came to this young couple by the birth of another boy, Thomas, and on February 10, 1861, another boy was born -  Jesse Bartow. In this year
1861 the great Civil War broke out, but being crippled he did not have to enlist. He contributed great service to his  country in other ways
About this time he took interest in the merchants mill  and the carder that had been installed in the town with the mill. Here he  served the people by grinding their corn, wheat, and carded their wool,  looking after the welfare of them as best as he could.
On one occasion during  the war,he brought to his place some meat. A band of bushwhackers and outlaws  came and demanded the meat and threatened to kill him if he didn't give it up.  He had previous notice they were coming and he had moved to an old still
house up the river, consequently they searched every nook and corner of the  mill and his house, but failed to find him.
While serving as miller for the  public he got his first backset. He had bought the carder and was running it  as his own, and a great rise came in the Nettle River and washed the carder
away. He therefore lost all he had put into the enterprise but he was not to  be  discouraged. After that he placed his savings in a farm not far from  Blairsville and erected him a nice home, put in a nice orchard and that  stands and bears great abundance of fruit today to his memory.
While tending  the mill an incident happened worthy of mention. There being no foot log
or  any other way to cross the river, only by boat, two men, Jack and John Rich,
undertook to cross the mill pond in theirs boat, contrary to the advice of  him, the river being greatly swollen. waters tore the boat to pieces and they  were soon pounded to the bottom of the river. Although he was a cripple he  could not stand by and see these two men drown without making some effort to  save them so he plunged in and soon had them both on dry land. John Rich was  so far gone it was necessary to roll him across a barrel to get the water
out  of him and then he failed to come to life. After long efforts he did finally  revive and in after years when Jim Fields ran for county treasurer those same  men voted against him for the sake of their party, they being Republicans.
On  another occasion when he tried to cross the river himself, the boat got out of control and he drifted to the very edge of the mill dam, thereby giving  him a scare he never forgot.
On April 15th 1864 he had another boy born to  him - Roe - this making four boys and no girls. By this time he could see a great  future for help, but his wife did not see it that way. She had decided help  for her in her household duties were getting slim, she had become gloomy so  to speak but her heart was gladdened when on January 4th, 1866 there was born  to them a girl  - Martha. This added new life and new energy to this young  mother, and she fondly gathered this young babe to her breast and sang sweet  songs the angels loved to hear.
On April 19, 1868 this home was again  gladdened by the birth of another boy  - John. and on December 28, 1869 the fond  dreams of the mother were again rewarded with another girl Mary or Molly  as she was called. Again the tide turned and there was born to them four
boys  in succession, James Harley born January 31, 1871, Robert Lee, November 9th,  1873, Charley, September 27th, 1875 and Sam T., November 9th, 1877 and then  another girl, Emma, was born September 19, 1879.This was a Christian family  and he and his good wife belonged to the Baptist church and all his family  joined the church, and he and his good companion brought their family up in  the way they should go. He joined the Baptist church and was baptized 1875  and still lives in the faith. He is a Mason, joining the Allegheny Lodge at  Blairsville in the year 1885.
He served as a Coroner in Union for 4 years, having 2 cases. One was when Bill Townsen was stabbed to death and another when  John Freeman was killed by lightening. He served as Deputy County Treasurer  for 4 years and was elected to that office and served 12 years. He made an efficient county treasurer and only retired on account of poor health.
He was  a farmer and a mechanic. He ran a cabinet shop for many years and there are
now many pieces of furniture in use that he made.
He and his first wife lived  happily together for 48 years and in 1905 the greatest sorrow of his life came  to him when the death angel visited his home and took from him his dear
companion. As stated above she was a Christian woman and lived to raise all  her family of boys and girls to manhood and womanhood and knew they were all  Christians this being her prayer since the birth of her first child.
After  the death of his wife , his daughter Emma Lewis and her husband kept house  for him till he again married.
In 1903 he sold his home place near Blairsville  and moved to Oglethorpe county, where he and his wife lived till her death.  He then broke up housekeeping and now lives with his children at Arnoldsville  Georgia.
Each year they give him a birthday dinner and all the children and kinfolks are invited to attend. This is a day of rejoicing and happiness to  him, to again meet at one place, all his children and friends.
The writer of  this sketch had the pleasure of being at his last birthday dinner where  about 250 of his kin and friends were in attendance. The day was made a  delightful one
He is now rapidly approaching his 89th year, he can look back  to his boyhood days, where at that time the hills and valleys were dotted with Indian villages. He can see even now the savages roaming ore the hills  hunting deer , turkey and all kinds of game. They appeared peaceful , but were  just waiting to scalp the settlers. He can well remember the horrid
storied  of Indian raids on the settlers. Where once stood the Indian wigwam, now  stands schools and churches. He can well remember the early days of Georgia  where now and then there was a settlement, and the entire population was only  a few. He has lived to see great cities grow form small villages, railroads  where were once ox trails, telephones, where in his boyhood days, the only way  of carrying news was by courier. He has lived to see the advent to the  automobile which has brought good roads all over the country.
In his boyhood  days the only means of going to and from and moving fright was by ox
teams.  In his boyhood days there were only scattered settlements here and there in  the state but he lived to see this the Empire State of the South. He loves  the good old hills of North Georgia, where he lived more than 3 score years, and had the wings of the great eagle and could fly from the topmost peak of  Georgia (mount Enota) ore the snow-capped mountains ore the great valleys  of the growing golden grain and white fields of cotton,
He would say I love  the best, the good old hills of North Georgia
As stated above, he lives with  his children at Arnoldsville where he is well cared for in his old and infirm  days. This speaks well for his children, as no greater duty can any man  perform here, than takes care of, and look after the needs of their parents in their old days
He has living, 2 brothers, one half brother and 2 half sisters. He is the father of 12 children, 10 now living, 7 living close to him  and three in the west. He has 85 grandchildren and 81 great grandchildren.
The writer of this sketch wishes for him many more birthday dinners, many more  happy years and the blessings of God, the giver of all things good.  This the 5th day of January 1924.
Note: The writer of the sketch is unknown but the original sketch is in the possession of and was contributed by the following: Michelle Pits (Mchele1989@cs.com)  and Tonda Thomas (gregthomas@bluebonnet .net)  Some of the spelling has been edited. The grammer has not.
                  

                   THE BIOGRAPHY OF MARY ELIZABETH FOSTER
(BETTIE)
(Notes were taken from this biography of Mary Elizabeth Foster and used in a Genealogy Article by Sybil McRay. It was printed in The Daily Times, Gainesville, GA.)
Mary Elizabeth (Bettie) The daughter of Jesse, and Catherin, Fields was born enroute from Pickens County South Carolina to Union County, Georgia where her parents were emigrating from the former to the latter place, it is not known by the writer just what State, County, or town she was born in, however she was born on the 6th day of February, 1837 and arrived in this (Union) county soon after her birth, and located in the little town of Blairsviiie, just, four years after Union County had been layed off and incorporated as a County, they moved in to a house, part of which is still standing et this writing (1926 and in a stones throw of the Court House where the writer is typing this sketch) her father helpt to cut the logs, and build the first Court House Union county ever had, the same has long since went up in smoke, and where it stood, now stands a $50000.00 brick Court house.  After a short stay in the town of Blairsville, her father rented a small farm near town and went to farming for a living, Bettie grew up like most other poor girls in her day and time without much education her father being too poor too pay for her school-ing, which he would have had to do, it being before, the days of free schools, however, by diligent study at home at her leisure time when she was not in the field helping her father, she  learned to read and write, which proved a source of great pleasure to her in her after life.  When she was 17 years of age, she married George Smith, on the 14th, day of June 1855.  They made this (Union County) their home for some few years after their marriage.  To this union there were born four children., three boys and one girl, the girl and one of the boys died in infancy, two boys lived and is alive to this date 1923. The older one, Louis W. Smith was born in 1858 In Union County Ga. Joseph W. Smith, her next oldest son, was born in 1860 at the same place. About this time she moved with her husband to Tennessee(either Polk or McMinn County) the country at that time, from one side of the United States to the other) was unsettled, and in great trouble on account of the civil war, which was being agitated and talked of by every one you met.
The much talked of war finely came, with all of its heart breaks, sufferings and disappointments and the second child of Jesse fields, was destined to be in the midst of it all, and to stand what looks like no human could not stand.  Her husband was born and raised in the south, and loved the south, but he thought the country would be safer in the Union than out of it and the climax finely came when he would have to take choice of sides, fight for the south land and against what he thought was right, or against the south land and the land of his birth, and for what he thought was right and just, his concience told him that he never could make a good soldier and fight for something he thought was wrong, so one sad day he left his wife and little children to join the Union army and fight for what his heart told him right, but alas he never returned and was killed or died in the cruel war, but Bettie lived in hopes of his return, and fought the battle against poverty and suffering, working almost day and night to keep herself and little ones from cold and hunger, always with a prayer on her lips for the safty of her husband, and her two favorite brothers, (John and Thomas) as she call them who had saw fit to aline their selves with the Southern army.  Oh how she did suffer, her husband whom she loved and her dear brothers whom she had helped to raise and loved as only sisters can love brothers, alined against each other in deadly battle, husband on one side and two brothers on the other. We can never know what she suffered both mentally and physically but she was brave and of a stock that never gave up, and day after day as she worked and strove to keep herself and little children with food and clothes their was always a prayer on her lips asking the great God whom she trusted to help her bear her burden and she was sure he would, and at last the sad day came when she was told that her husband had crossed the great divide. How sad and lonely she felt, in a strange land without any kindred or friends to comfort her in her bereavment.  But all things must finally have an end although sometimes it seems a long time coming but her troubles in some extent was relieved by the help of her good neighbors, after they saw the distress she was in, and how faithful she had striven and how devoted she was to her master and the good fight she had made against poverty and distress, they all came to her aid and assistance and was relieved to a great extent of the hardships she had born.
In 1901, just 37 years after the incidents related above her five sons,, Louis W. and Joe Smith, Ulyssys G. William R. and Edmund L. Foster, all visited the old house in Tennessee where our mother lived during the war, the little log house was still standing but it had almost rotted down, we all went in and viewed the ruins, and let our imagination run back to the time when she was there alone.  It made our hearts sad, and as we departed from the old log hut we did so with tears in our eyes for we all knew from hearing her relate her war experience just what she had suffered in that old log house.
The war finally ended and in 1866 she met Charles Edmund Foster, a dashing young soldier who had served as a non-commissioned officer in the Union army, they both fell in love at first sight, and soon their love affair became real and in the course of a few months they got married.  Her husband at the time of their marriage was 24 years of age, had no property whatever and was very unexperienced in the way of making a living, he had a very good education for that day and time. He taught school and farmed for a living for some years after the war. The next event worthy of note, was the birth of their first child Ulyssus Grant Foster, which occurred on the 28th, day of February 1867, some time not long after the birth of Ulyssus the family moved to Georgia, and in to Union County where Edmund her husband engaged in farming.  Some time in the Seventies her husband Charles Edmund Foster, was elected to the office of Clerk of the Superior Court, which office he held at intevels until his death in 1887.  In the mean time. her second child by her last marriage William Robert Foster was born on October llth, 1869. Her life about this time was like the ordinary poor woman of the country always having a hard times to keep her children in school as much as possible in making and mending their clothes, cooking, carding and spinning and weaving the cloth that made the clothes, that her and her family wore, the young people of this day and age cannot realize the hardships that was placed upon their grandmother during and after the civil war. On October 26th in the year of our Lord  One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy-Three (1873) Edmund Lee Foster the third son of Chas. E. and Mary E. Foster was born.  She being at that time about 36 years of age, in 1877 her first daughter by her last marriage Eva Eldorado Foster was born and two years later about 1880 Fleta Jane Foster her last child was born, making in all nine children born to her all of which as far as known by the writer is alive at this  date (December 13th 1925) except the two little ones that died in infancy, mention, having already been made of them.
In the year 1884 her husband together with their oldest son Ulyssus made a trip to Texas with the Expectation of locating there but after a stay of six months he came back contented to make Georgia his home which pleased her to know that the rambling disposition of her husband was over and it was over for in the March 1887 he took sick while attending his duties as Clerk of the Superior Court and was never off his bed again, dying on the 16th, day of October 1887 leaving her with the four younger children, the rest having married off, to support and in almost destitute circumstances she again, faced what seemed almost an impossibility at her age and almost broke down but she always said where there is a will there is a way, so she again picked up courage to fight the battles against poverty, always looking to the higher power for guidance, she never forgetting to pray and to ask the Lord to help her raise her children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, for she was a devout Christian having joined the Baptist church at an early age in life and lived it ever afterwards.  How often I remember while gathered around our fire side, she would admonish us children to live clean lives. be honest, sober and upright in every respect live in a way that would be pleasing in the sight of the Lord, some of her advice we would take but like most all children there was some we would not take, but it was like bread upon waters cast what we failed to see but we have seen later and until yet her advice of years ago is heeded.
She was a sweet singer, and often she would gather us children around the fireside after her husband died and sing us sweet songs and when the two children of her brother (Thomas) came which they often did (they Leila and Virgel) would always have her sing, although her sweet voice has been stilled in death and her body has been mouldering in the clay for many years, I can almost hear her sweet melodies as she sang to us children around our humble fireside. We will never hear it here on earth any more, but thanks be to God the great giver and preserver of all things, I know he has preserved her soul in a better world and some day if we live as she lived we will be permitted to hear that sweet voice again where parting will be no more.
The latter part of her life was made more easy, in 1890 she was allowed a United States Pension as the widow of her late husband (Charles E. Foster).  After that she bought her a little home on the banks of the Notla River, in Union County 2 Â[1/2] miles south of Blairsville and there is where she lived when the summons came for her to join the redeemed ones above and on the 6th morning in May 1908 when the beautiful flowers of spring was budding forth surounded by her children, friends and loved ones she died at the age of 72 and was buried at the Harmany Grove Church yard by the side of her husband and near her father and many of her kindred that has gone on before. (BLESSED ARE THEY THAT DIE IN THE LORD)
This sketch was written by her son, Edmund L. Foster, December 12, and 13th, 1923.
Recopied by Florence Braun.. 2/28/35.
_________________________________________________________
                  

                   John A. Fields served in the Civil War. He was listed as a Brigidier Wagon Master and signed up to serve three years. He was to have been slightly wounded.
The marker on John A. Fields grave is inscribed: J.A. Fields May 1, 1840 - March 28, 1915.
A member of the Baptist Church 40 years. He was beloved by God and man.
                  

                   Thomas J. Fields served in the Civil War as a bugler. He was wounded and was reported to have been killed. Two years went by, as his wife struggled to provide for her family. One spring day she was trying to plow a bull and the bull sulled up in the creek. As she pitted her strength against that of the animal, she looked over the split rail fence and saw her husband coming home from the war. She thought he was a spirit and said, Is that you, Thomas?
He replied This is very much me. This is Thomas Fields. It is said that she fainted and fell into the creek. He brought with him, from the war, his uniform, his rifle and other items. These were kept in a closet that he called his 'Relic Room.'
Thomas J. Fields became a doctor. He perfected a cure for skin cancer and had quite a thriving practice. He lived in Union County, Ga., but moved to Mt. Airy to be near a railroad, since many of his patients were traveling by train. His son, Virgle, (and sometimes Virgle's wife, Stella), as well as his son W. Hershel, who lived in Gastonia, NC, knew the formula and also treated patients. The formula is unknown today, but family members say it consisted of camphor gum and herbs.
After his death, Dr. Thomas Fields' home in Mt. Airy burned to the ground and all his personal effects, including Civil War memorabilia was destroyed. All  that was left was the marble that topped some of his antique furniture. This was taken by some who lived close by.
Inscribed on Dr. Thomas J. Fields memorial is the following Blessed are the dead who in the Savior died.
                  

                   	2  SURN BILLIE