LibGuides: Shelton Family Settlement at Possum Trot: Pleasant Hill Church & School

Pleasant Hill Church & School

There are references to the building now known as Possum Trot was at one time known as Pleasant Hill. The 1876 plat related to the division of land owned jointly by Thomas J. Echols and Joel Branham, Jr. shows a "church and schoolhouse" in the southeast corner of lot 49. In subsequent deeds, this is referred to as Pleasant Hill School. There are few other references from the period to Pleasant Hill.

A Church & School

A Church & School, Lots 49 & 60

This 1876 plat related to the division of land owned jointly by Thomas J. Echols and Joel Branham, Jr. shows a "church and schoolhouse" in the southeast corner of lot 49. (Floyd County, GA Deed Book W, page 81, Aug. 15, 1876).

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A church & school on lots 49 & 60, Joseph G. Barker, E.S.A. James & Randolph Partlow to Trustees, Primitive Baptist Church, September 3, 1868
Barker, James & Partlow convey 1/2 acre from lots 49 & 60 for the purpose of a public school & church. They had purchased lot 49 from James M. Spullock in 1859. Filed December 5, 1903. Includes a transcription on p.3. (Floyd County deed book OOO, p.628)
1876 Thomas J. Echols to Joel Branham Jr
Division of land owned jointly by Branham & Echols - plat shows "church & schoolhouse" (Floyd County deed book W page 81)
Jane McCain to Eliga McCain, October 19, 1908
31 1/4 acres of lot 60, "excepting from said tract of land one 1/2 acres on the north side upon which the school house property is located." (Floyd County deed book 74 p.367)
Z. Elijah McCain to J.E. Burns, August 30, 1911
The sale of part of lot 60 "excepting from said tract of land one 1/2 acres on the north side upon which the school house property is located." (Floyd County deed book 74, page 367)
J.E. Burnes to the Trustees of the Pleasant Hill School, October 24, 1911
Burnes conveys 1.5 acres of lot 60 to the Trustees of the Pleasant Hill School, A.W. Davis, J.W. Burnes and Charley Manning. Filed February 18, 1919. (Floyd County deed book 101, p.331)
J.E. Burns to C.B. Jackson, November 1, 1913
The sale of part of lot 60 "excepting from said tract of land one 1/2 acres on the north side upon which the school house property is located." (Floyd County deed book 89, page 47)
C.B. Jackson to S.H. Trapp, December 24, 1919
S.H. Trapp purchases part of lot 60, "It being the same land deeded to Eliga McCain by Jane McCain on October 19. 1908." (Floyd County deed book 107, p.37)
S.H. Trapp to W.M. Dabbs, March 2, 1925
(Floyd County deed book 121, page 409)
W.M. Dabbs to the Berry Schools, April 6, 1927
(Floyd County deed book 129, page 228)
1925 February 5 Zack McCain (by attorney) to Martha Berry
43 acres, part of lots 48 & 49 were used to secure Zack McCain's warranty deed to Mary A. O'Neill on December 4, 1920. O'Neill transferred the deed December 23, 1920, and McCain died intestate, therefore defaulting on the loan. The property was offered for sale before the court house door with the winning bidder Miss Martha Berry of Floyd County. The deed excepts "about one and one half acres belonging to Pleasant Hill School." (Floyd County deed book 122 page 219)

Historic Newspapers

The Rome weekly courier, December 23, 1870, Image 3
Rome District First Round of Quarterly Meetings for 1871: Subligna at Pleasant Hill [church] March 4 & 5
The Rome tribune, August 16, 1894, Image 4
There will be an all day singing at Pleasant Hill church "out in the Flatwoods."
The Rome tribune, June 05, 1895, Image 5
Funeral of Mrs. E.M. Porter, wife of R.H. Porter, was at Pleasant Hill church, Rev. George Goetchius(1) officiating.
The Hustler of Rome, July 01, 1895, Image 4
Rev. Dr. Stephens of Martin TN will preach for the Primitive Baptists at Pleasant Hill.
The Rome tribune, July 02, 1895, Image 5
Elder J.R. Stevens of Martin TX will preach at Pleasant Hill at the Primitive Baptist church.
Rome Tribune, July 6, 1895
All day singing at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.
Rome Tribune, July 7, 1895, Image 7
Grand service of song at Pleasant Hill church, near the city. Mr. Jake Moore & others will go down from Rome.
Hustler of Rome, November 1, 1895, Image 5
Because of the funeral of Mrs. John Pinson no services will be held at Pleasant Hill meeting house.
"Colored Schools: Doing Good Work." Rome Tribune, May 26, 1896, p.3
Extensive information about Floyd County's schools for Black children. Provides a list of teachers in the district, including Estelle Rambo(2) at Pleasant Hill.
The Rome tribune, July 14, 1896, Image 8
Mr. R.B. Morrison is building up an excellent Sunday school in North Rome. His Sunday work at Pleasant Hill, near his former residence, is a monument to his devotion.

George Goetchius was a Confederate veteran and Presbyterian minister educated at Columbia Theological Seminary in New York. He became the pastor of Rome's First Presbyterian Church in 1884 and died in 1900.
Estelle Rambo, born in 1884, was the daughter of Cleveland and Naomi Porter Rambo. She died in 1930 and is buried in either Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church cemetery in Cartersville or Grove Spring Cemetery. Her sister Julia was also a teacher