The public is invited to a panel discussion of the pioneer days in Hall County by descendants of the Gaines family.

The program will take place at Curt's Cafeteria in Oakwood, beginning at 7 P.M. on Thursday, May 12th. There is no charge and children are invited. A dutch treat dinner will precede the program beginning at 6 P.M.

The program is sponsored by the 27th Georgia Regiment, Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1404 of Gainesville which is named in honor of the Hall County regiment.

Participating in the discussion will be great grandchildren of Ira Pinckney and Nancy Hawkins Gaines. Most of the panelists are now in their sixties, seventies and eighties. These panelists are also grandchildren of John Gaines who pioneered early education in Hall County as well as operating a mill. Gaines Mill, and a ferry, Gaines Ferry, with roads still named for his enterprises. John Gaines served as Hall County Sheriff for five terms and two terms in the Georgia legislature.

The participating panelists plan to exchange versions of family stories, some serious, some humorous which they learned from their grandfather and wish to pass on.

Four of the Gaines sons enlisted in the 27th Georgia Regiment when it formed at Redwine Methodist Church during the War Between The States. The 27th Georgia fought in over forty major engagements, including seven classified with the heaviest casualties of the war. John Gaines survived wounds in four separate battles.

Their mother, a full blooded Cherokee, travelled alone on horseback to Pennsylvania battlefields to deliver food and clothing to her sons.

Questions will be accepted from the audience and members of the news media attending the event. Recording will be permitted for those who set up early.

Jeff Davis
Chairman, Georgia Heritage Council