Last updated on March 4, 2013
Rod Stewart said, “Every picture tells a story, don’t it?” Furthermore, the cliché goes that a picture is worth a thousand words. In this case, the axioms must be true. This picture was taken at a Cunningham Family Reunion in Oglethorpe County, Georgia in 1951. The man on the right is my great-great-grandfather Amos Blakey Cunningham. He was born in Oglethorpe County, Georgia in 1871, but his family moved to Texas in about 1880. He went back to Georgia for the first time on the occasion of this reunion. It was the first time he’d seen his sister Lizzie Burkhalter since the family left for Texas.
The man on the left is Johnson Franklin Cunningham. He was named for Amos’s father, Johnson Franklin Cunningham. He was born in about 1868, also in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, to former slaves named James and Charlotte Cunningham. I believe that James Cunningham had been owned by Amos’s father, and I feel quite certain that Charlotte was. I posted about some of my findings previously, so I won’t duplicate the entire post here. I have always been told by Amos’s grandchildren, including my grandfather and his cousin Mary Elder, that when they were little, the two men in the picture were playmates.
News broke recently that due to research efforts by Megan Smolenyak, Reverend Al Sharpton’s roots may be traced to a slave owned by relatives of Strom Thurmond. I found the story very interesting. I would like to find out what happened to the descendents of slaves owned by my own family, but I’m not sure how to go about it. First of all, the issue is sensitive, and rightly so, and I don’t want to offend anyone. Secondly, records are so sketchy, even after the Civil War.
My husband recently had to go to school to deal with a discipline issue regarding our kindergartner, Maggie. Her principal’s name is Mr. Huff, but he is a tall, distinguished African American. Apparently at one point, Steve and Mr. Huff broached the awkwardnes of the situation, and my husband asked Mr. Huff where his family was from. Mr. Huff told Steve, “Actually, my great-great-grandfather was white.” Steve replied, “Well, knowing my family, who knows?”
I would like to invite anyone who believes they have traced a connection to any of the lines I’m researching to contact me.
Technorati Tags: Al Sharpton, Strom Thurmond, genealogy, slavery
I am a descendent of Thomas huff whom was a slave. We have traced our roots back to pea hill plantation.
Where did you find Jane’s death certificate?
Hello Dana. My great grandmother was Ellen Huff. She married Peter McCrary. They were from somewhere near Taylor County, Ga. I don’t know much about her. Her son , my grandfather name is Clifford McCrary.
Hi, I know I may be way off a bit, I’m a descendant of Susan Sudie Buckner (Huff) My family was Mulatto.(Mixed)
Buckner is My Great grandfathers people in Milledgeville, GA
I’m am the granddaughter of Early and Beatrice Huff, daughter of Bessie Mae Huff Galloway of Oglethorpe GA. Aunts Janie Lee Huff, Minnie Huff, Sarah Huff, Mattie Bell Huff, Uncles James Huff, J.D. Huff(Johnnie) Early Huff Jr.
I have a 5th great grandfather Charles Huff, listed on the 1880 federal US census not as B (black) but Mu (mulatto). He was 40 at the time. (I have the photos as evidence if you’d like another piece to the puzzle) He had a wife named Sarah…. I’m lead to believe that your Charles huff may very well be his father or uncle.
I am genetically German. I no solid proof of preternatural but the pieces do align. Ive been following your page for a while trying to solve the mystery myself.