 Wesley O. Connor family papers
Collection DescriptionHistorical NoteWesley Olin Connor (1841-1920), son of John Wesley Connor (1800-1857) and Henrietta Mayson (1807-1894), was born in Anderson District, South Carolina. He came to Cave Spring, Georgia in 1849 to live with his married sister. In 1857 he began working as an assistant teacher at the Georgia Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb (later named the Georgia School for the Deaf). At the beginning of the Civil War he enlisted in the Cherokee Artillery and served throughout the war in campaigns in Vicksburg, Cumberland Gap, Resaca, Atlanta, Franklin and Nashville. In April 1865 he was captured at Salisbury, North Carolina and held prisoner at camp Chase near Columbus, Ohio. After the war, he returned to Cave Spring and the Georgia School for the Deaf, where he became Principal and then Superintendent from 1867 until 1916. The Cherokee Artillery unit was organized on Aug. 10, 1860 and, in April of 1861, were ordered to join Gen. Phillip's Brigade of Georgia Troops at Big Shanty. On June 13, 1861 they were mustered into state service for the war as Co. A of Stovall's Battalion of Artillery (later known as the 3rd Georgia Battalion). During October and November, 1861, the Cherokee Artillery was stationed at Goldsboro, North Carolina, and from November, 1861 until September, 1862, they served in eastern Tennessee guarding against Union and Pro-Union forces. In September and October, 1862 they were involved in the Kentucky Campaign, though not in action. Then, sometime during October or November, 1862 they returned to eastern Tennessee. Sons of Confederate Veterans website. (http://www.scvcamp469-nbf.com/cherokeeartillery.htm) Retrieved 10/5/2009. Northwest Georgia's picturesque Vann's Valley is the home of the Georgia School for the Deaf, Georgia's only residential school serving Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students. GSD was established in 1846 on the grounds of the Hearn Academy by one of its teachers, O. P. Fannin. A log cabin and a $5000 legislative grant began a more than 160-year-long tradition of service to children across the state. GSD was the eleventh residential school for the Deaf established in the United States. GSD has an expansive campus of over 300 acres in the small community of Cave Spring. The relationship between Cave Spring and GSD is unique because many residents and business owners are able to communicate with sign language. Georgia School for the Deaf website. (http://www.gsdweb.org/History/history.html) Retrieved 10/5/2009. Scope and ContentThe collection consists of Connor's diaries (1861-1866) with transcripts, genealogy, photographs, Cherokee Artillery roll, printed material of the Georgia School for the Deaf, and newspapers. Administrative InformationPreferred CitationWesley O. Connor family papers, ms3102, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries. Finding Aid PublicationFinding aid prepared on: 2009 November 13. Related Materials and SubjectsSubject Terms | ||||||||||||||||||