The Old Homestead

Homestead of James & Sarah Bartley, photo late 1910's

Week 13's prompt for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is "The Old Homestead".  When I started communicating with a distant cousin, Dolores Ramsey Ham, she shared with me many photos, including photos of my 4x great grandparents homestead.

James Bartley and Sarah Faries Speak were married in 1829 in Lee County, Virginia.  They raised 10 children together in the home above:  Eliza, Nicholas, Eleanor, John, Francis, William, Nancy, Emmeline, Frances (Fannie) and Samuel.   James was a farmer, Sarah kept the home.

When the children grew and started their own families, Eliza and Nancy stayed in Lee County.  John eventually moved to Hancock County, Tennesssee.  Nicholas, Eleanor, Francis, Emmeline, Fanny and Samuel moved on to Brown County, Kansas.  In 1883, James and Sarah traveled to Brown County to visit their children.  It is said they found themselves physically unable to return to their home in Virginia.  They built a home on son, Nicholas', land and lived there until Sarah passed in 1889 and James in 1891.

Homestead of James & Sarah Bartley, about 2009 or so

James and Sarah's home still stands to this day, although it is no longer inhabited.  Dolores has told me it is in pretty rough shape at this time.  I will make it to Lee County eventually and can only hope it is still standing when I get there.

I am so appreciative for the photos and stories my distant cousins have shared with me.  To see the home my 4x great grandparents raised their family is amazing.  It helps to make James and Sarah so much more than just names on my family tree.