More About the Bomars (and Rices)

In that last post, "First Mention of the Bomars," I included a link to a Douglas County, Georgia history column in a local newspaper (http://douglasville.patch.com/articles/yankees-sing-dixie-in-douglas). The author of that article is Lisa Cooper. I sent an email to her through the "Email the Author" link on the article page.

Here is what I wrote to her:

I am a genealogist researching my husband's family. Following up on some information I found about Armstead Bomar, my husband's 4th great grandfather, sent me on a search for the Bullard-Henley house that he once owned (before it was the Bullard-Henley house). A Google search led me to your April 25, 2011, article "Yankees Sing 'Dixie' in Douglas." I enjoyed reading it very much and was elated with the comment at the end written by Jeff Champion. What he wrote about A. R. Bomar and the Rices confirmed the information I have about the house and family. Parker Merimoth Rice bought the home from the estate of Armstead Bomar. According to my information, Parker Rice sold it four years later (perhaps to Mr. Bullard?). Armstead Bomar's daughter, Leah Armstead Bomar Rice, my husband's 3rd great grandmother, owned the ferry until her death in 1906. She lived in Douglas County at the time of her death. I am wondering if you have any information on the Bomars or can guide me to other resources. Also, do you have any other photos of the Bullard-Henley house besides the one in your article? Do you know Jeff Champion who wrote the second comment? If you have a way to contact him, I would appreciate you giving him my email address as I would like to find out other information he might have about the Bomars. Could you give me the name of the Organic Farm on the north side of Hwy 166 that is connected to the Rice Family. Queen Victoria Rice Parker, daughter of Leah Bomar Rice, is my husband's 2nd great grandmother. Thank you for taking time to read my email. I look forward to hearing from you. Karen Howard, Murphy, NC

I was very excited to receive an answer from her. Here is her reply:

Hi Karen.....-

Thanks for contacting me.  I love writing about history and your email is one of the reason why I enjoy doing it so much....being able to connect people to the missing pieces they need.  :)

I will contact Champ1964 aka Jeff Champion and let him know you need to reach him. 

The Bomar-Bullard-Henley home is a fascinating bit of history.   I believe I have some images of the home I actually took from a book.....I'm bad about using my iphone to snap pictures of pages and then cropping the picture down.   :)   I'll look for the pictures I have and send them under separate cover. 

A Henley family member was very good at documenting some of the family lore concerning the home.  It can be found at the Douglas County Library.....I'm right before typing it up for my own personal use with my Douglas County history site, and when I have it done I can forward it to you. 

Also I've written about the Rice family connection a little bit in a new article.    In January, I stopped posting my columns at Douglas Patch and went to a stand-alone site you can find at this link:

http://douglascountyhistory.blogspot.com

The particular article that mentions the Rice family connection is found here:

http://douglascountyhistory.blogspot.com/2012/03/green-rice-mill-on-anneewakee-creek.html

The above article mentions Zechariah A. Rice or A.Z. Rice...he was a grandchild of A.R. Bomar and took over the Green Mill along Anneewakee Creek close to the Bomar-Henley-Sprayberry home.   He was a Major in Cobb's Legion and during the siege of Atlanta he was in charge of the home guard in Atlanta.  Prior to the war I found a reference that said he was a slave dealer as well.

The Glover family.....owns what is left of the property from what I understand.   I think there is a website for their family farm....I'll see if I can find it. 

The person referenced above, Jeff Champion, contacted me. Here is what he wrote (edited):


Hello, There is not much I can tell you but Skip Gxxxxx 770-920-xxxx, lives at the Farm. His Grandmother was a Rice and he owns the last bit of where the Rices lived, including the old Mill property. The Bomars still live in the area, too. AR Bomar died in 1840 and I assumed that the Rices inherited the place from them. AR had run the Ferry and owned the properties. Then it became the Rices'. There is an old Parker Wilson cemetery close by, too. May be of relation. A friend of mine has all the old family photos of the Bomars and Henleys at his home. They grew up near the old house.

Here is the link to see the house now http://maps.google.com/maps?q=33.665531,-84.673101&hl=en&ll=33.665546,-84.672891&spn=0.002737,0.004823&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=42.495706,79.013672&t=h&z=18

You can do a street view, etc.

Here is the Ferry location. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/10941816
You can zoom and see back in time to 1938.

Sorry, I don't have more to offer. Attached a few photos From AR Bomar Cemetery. There are only 3 scribed stones. The rest 80 or more are just rocks. The stones are broken up due to pulp wooding and trees falling, etc.

Armstead Bomar SR. Departed this life Jan 15 1840 in the 72nd year of his age

Elisha P Bomar Departed this life July 29 1839 in the 23rd year of his age

Fielding B Rice - Son of Parker M and Mary Rice Oct 22 1825 - Nov 30 1833.

Armstead Bomar, Sr. Burial Place, Austell Plantation Cemetery, Campbellton, Georgia

Here are the comments Jeff Champion wrote about this photo (above):

champ1964, on May 7, 2009, said:
Franklin Garrett Surveyed this Cemetery January 13, 1934. His notes listed the Location as: "On Old Austell Plantation. Campbellton Road between Camp Creek and Deep Creek, About 2 miles from old Campbellton" The Cemetery is situated on what at the time was the Austell Plantation (1870 - 1945). Previously this had been the Gorman Plantation since 1837 until Gorman's Death in 1869. It is likely that Armstead Bomar was the previous owner of this Property prior to his death in 1840. There are dozens of graves here, Some marked with stones, some not. There are three scribed markers and one base without the rest. The scribed stones are: Fielding B. Rice - Son of Parker M. & Mary Rice - Born: Oct 22, 1825 - Died: Nov 30 1833. Elisha P. Bomar - Died: July 29, 1839 at age 23. Armstead Bomar SR - Died: Jan 15, 1840 at age 72

champ1964, on May 11, 2009, said:

Armstead Bomar Sr. owned the first Ferry (1835) from Old Campbellton Georgia across the Chattahoochee River to What is now the Douglas County side.

Street View, Armstead Bomar, Sr. Burial Place, Austell Plantation Cemetery, Campbellton, Georgia

Here are the comments Jeff Chamption wrote about the above photo:


 champ1964, on May 7, 2009, said:

Old Austell Plantation Cemetery rest beneath the canopy of trees you see here. Marked by a Man Hole Culvert and a 25 mph street sign. From Old Campbellton Square it is a 2.5 mile drive. Leaving the Square, you are following a dirt road, you will cross a wood bridge over Deep Creek then the road will become paved. Cross a open area and look to the right where the trees start back, you are there.

champ1964, on May 7, 2009, said:

For those that remember this Cemetery being on the River side of the road, well that is because it was the old road bed which rests just east of the Cemetery. No travel on it for a long time now.

champ1964, on May 11, 2009, said:

There is a well defined pre civil war road bed that lies on the east side of the cemetary. The road is slightly visible in 1938 aerial photos but hasn't been a main ford for over a century.

If you're wanting to read/see more, check out the links above and also this one that has many more photos of the area:  http://www.panoramio.com/user/570043?comment_page=1&photo_page=1


I am very appreciative to receive information on Jim's family from Lisa and Jeff. I've found history buffs and genealogists to be generous in sharing their information. These two have opened up new horizons in my research.