In Honor of Women's History Month Historical Women of Cherokee County

By Meghan Quinlan

Dont tell me women are not the stuff of heroes, Qui Jin, Chinese Revolutionary (November 8, 1875 July 15, 1907).

There are countless female heroes in Cherokee Countys past and present pioneers, business owners, educators, nurses, and community leaders. Throughout history (and even today), being a woman meant always being in an uphill struggle for recognition or to have their voice heard. Women have shaped civilization in countless ways, even though their contributions arent recorded in the annals of history. Mary Franklin, Magnolia Thomas, and Mary Elizabeth Wheeler are three Cherokee County women who made their mark on history and were each the hero of their own story.

Mary Franklin
During Cherokee Countys settlement, Mary Franklin of Clarke County won a forty-acre gold lot in the Cherokee County gold lottery of 1832. Previous accounts describe a demure widow who arrived at her property on her little gray mule. Most, if not all, records never gave a full account of Marys work as a business owner or her life as the matriarch of her family. Mary was born to a prominent southern family in 1782, got married in 1800, and had five children by 1815. She lost her husband in 1816 when her youngest was only a year old. She became the head of a wealthy, prominent family, and by the time she drew the lot near Ball Ground, GA, all of her children had reached adulthood. When she arrived in the Yellow Creek community, she hired someone to be caretaker until she could return. Over the next 25 years, she ran one of the most successful and largest mining operations in the state. She was shrewd in business and dutiful in recording the daily activities of the mine. She continued to work even while her health was failing and while nearby mines shut down due to lack of profit. By the time the Franklin Mine sold, it was over 1000 acres. Mary Franklin died in 1858. Her gravestone reads, She left no duty undone.

Magnolia Thomas
At the tail end of the nineteenth century, Cherokee County saw unprecedented growth and development, especially with the advent of the railroad in 1879. Magnolia Thomas, born in 1890 in Canton, grew up during this time of development, but also lived under the harsh realities of the Jim Crow Laws. Magnolia was one of seven children, and she lived with her mother, Caroline Thomas. Her brother purchased land in Woodstock and built the family home. She attended Spelman Seminary in Atlanta, graduating in 1918 when she was 28 years old. Magnolia soon became a teacher, and she taught students for years in Woodstock and Hickory Flat. She lived and worked at a time when segregation was the norm in the south. She taught at a segregated school. She lived and worked in a community where she could not eat or shop in the same places that white people could. These racist laws shaped her life and the lives of countless other African Americans in the south. Despite this, Magnolia nurtured thousands of students over her teaching career. She worked with limited resources and inferior supplies to educate students from all around the area. Some of her students walked over two miles to attend school, and the letters that she kept from former students are a testament to her impact. She was also dedicated to her church and a beloved community leader.

Mary Elizabeth Wheeler
During World War II, women went to work in droves to support the war effort. Cantons Mary Elizabeth Wheeler was no exception. She was a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, and she served three years during the war, including a year overseas in Africa and Sicily. Lt. Wheeler received two battle stars for her service. She later recounted that her division landed two days after the invasion of Sicily, and she and other nurses waded ashore with whatever supplies they had. The hospital was next to the fighting lines and covered an area of four city blocks. In her account, she said air raids happened daily, and personnel could see at night from the light from artillery bursts. The hospital was never struck, although bombs did land on the outskirts. Lt. Wheeler said the soldiers were all dirty, cold, and badly wounded when they arrived at the hospital. She and other nurses tried to raise morale by wearing lipstick, collecting rations of cigarettes, and by providing wholesome meals of fresh vegetables and protein. Lt. Wheeler stated the patients and doctors drew courage from one another and took all of the pain and suffering on the chin. When she returned home from the war, Lt. Wheeler continued to work for the Red Cross and serve her community.

The lives and stories of these women are encouraging. They struggled through adversity, hardships, separation, and loss, and yet they persevered. Their strength is a communal thread in our history.

Meghan Quinlan is the program manager of the Cherokee County Historical Society. 770-345-3288. RockBarn.org