A trip of fancy concerning West Armuchee Valley, Walker
County, Georgia.
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We have come to the Valley a million years ago, more or less, as the peaks of the
mountains, which surrounds the valley, began to appear above the water. We lighted on a
point South of Shiloh, and watched the waters outside of the mountains, rush off to fill
the deep pits of the earth, prepared for them. With a mighty roar they were gone, which
made an inland Sea of West Armuchee Valley, walled in by mountains, the height of which we
could tell by one side; but the depth of the valley, we knew not. We noticed, the water
kept rising, as if fed by internal springs. Soon a branch was running through a low place
on the mountain top, near us. Dirt began to fall in, a creek was formed, a river took its
place; then an avalanche of water, cut through, until it found its present level. Then
West Armuchee valley came in view. Then the mountains were higher, and the valley lower,
but the mountains came down to make the valley higher, till present conditions are fixed.
When the Indians were removed from North Georgia, and warranty deeds could be bought
from the Goverment for the land of West Armuchee Valley; the founders of Shiloh Church
came in onmasse, with their culture and wealth, part of which were negro slaves, bought
the valley land, each had a farm; and soon the valley was blossoming with peace and
plenty, and a prosperous Church. Shiloh Church was not the result of a protracted meeting,
missionary effort, but the combining of what they had brought with them. The genesis of
Shiloh Church is unique, cannot be duplicated on earth to day; no virgin valley like
Armuchee was; no wealthy slave owner Baptist to fill it up, and form a church, with the
first things they did. I hope not, but it is possible, that these original members of
Shiloh Church, had more spiritual stamina, than any generation of members, since. When I
was a boy, I saw none of these men, all dead, but I remember, Jane Suttle, and was at the
burial of Elizabeth McWilliams, consort of John McWilliams. I feel honored to reach back
that far, and to help carry on their work, the Kingdom of God, in this world to day.
After 37 years I got in touch with my Mother’s grave at
Shiloh. In 1906, I went to the Southern Baptist Convention, in Chattanooga Tennessee, and
on my way home, I stopped off at LaFayette, Georgia to meet Dan. Fortune whom I had never
seen, son of my mother’s only brother, who had married John Suttle’s sister.
While in LaFayette, I noticed a tombstone shop, and engaged Dan. Fortune to have one
placed at mother’s grave, pointed out by Jane Bomar, daughter of Spencer Bomar.
Randal Little, son of William Little, hauled it over, and set it up. John Bomar, grandson
of Spencer Bomar, and of Betsy Bell, sister of my mother’s father, kindly placed the
additional marks to my mothers grave. Kind of these four friends to do for mother, that
which I was too far away to do for her. All of these four are no more, but John Bomar. A
good deed done for my mother, is appreciated more, than if to me.
