A recent article in the Rome News-Tribune about the county wanting to close the railroad crossing at McFry Lane brought to mind my family connection to that area.

My great-grandfather, Burwell Pope Aycock, and his first cousin, Houston Aycock, were early settlers of Floyd County. They purchased adjoining property in 1835, soon after the 1832 land lottery in what was later known as the Watters District. My great-grandfather bought five land lots, approximately 800 acres, and Houston Aycock bought three land lots, approximately 480 acres.

At that time they lived in Newton County. Joseph Watters was also from Newton County and had recently married their cousin Elizabeth Aycock. They encouraged him to move to the newly opened territory. He took their advice and purchased land nearby.

They all prospered in their occupations. Houston Aycock was a farmer and was elected sheriff of Floyd County in 1840 and 1844. Burwell Aycock, my great-grandfather, was a successful farmer. Joseph Watters was a farmer, statesman and large landowner. Their nearby neighbors were Thomas N. Pinson and John Rush, among others.

They all suffered heavy losses from the marauding Yankee Army during the Civil War.

What is now known as McFry Lane was formerly known as the Aycock Road, as was the Gaines Road. The Aycock family cemetery, located on what is now the Gaines Road, has shrunk from a one-acre plot to less than a quarter-acre by greedy landowners. Also, vandals have played havoc with the grave markers and monuments.

In 1838, five of the early settlers on becoming acquainted found they were of the Methodist faith and started planning for a church building. These five families were Mr. and Mrs. Houston Aycock, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Walters, Mr. and Mrs. John Rush, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Lester and Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Davenport. They secured an acre of land and built a small log church known as Rush Chapel. The log building was later replaced and enlarged.

Houston Aycock suffered the loss of his wife and child that died from the result of childbirth in 1861. Both wife and child are buried in the Rush Chapel church cemetery. He also lost three sons in the Civil War. They were Joel, George and William. After this tragic loss he decided to move to Sumter County to live with relatives. He sold most of his property in 1863 to W.A. Gaines.

Burwell Aycock lost most of his livestock and other possessions to the Yankee invaders and was left with a large family of twelve to feed and only one work ox to plow the fields. He had to sell many acres of his land to support his family and buy farm supplies and a horse to replace that which foragers of the Union Army took. He also lost a son, Henry, in the Civil War. He managed to recover from his losses and lived to a ripe old age.