The Hannah’s Branch Community
Col. Tubb House at Hannah's Branch
Who Hannah was and why the branch was named for her is not known, but the area where some of DeKalb County's best land, and where a branch empties into Smith Fork has been known as Hannah's Branch for more than 200 years.
Many acres there were owned by Colonel James Tubb, who built his log home there in 1817. The house still stands, and is now occupied by the family of Jimmy Oakley. Before the Civil War, four slave houses stood behind it, occupied by Colonel Tubb's 22 slaves. The Tubb Cemetery lies behind this and contains some very unusual tombstones shaped like tree trunks. Colonel Tubb ran a distillery in 1817, and most of his neighbors bought whiskey, which was considered a necessity in every household.
By 1815, William Lawrence and his large family lived on Hannah's Branch. They were members of the Pisgah Methodist Church, which was established by 1852. Many of the church's members are buried in the cemetery by the church, including the Malones, Ellises, Closes, Smiths, Simpsons, Brattens and Hawkers. So many Caplingers lived near each other that one area was called Caplinger Hollow.
The Pisgah Church was unusual in that its interior was not only painted, but painted to create the appearance of clouds behind the pulpit. The church remains active today.
The school, like the church, was called Pisgah and was located near the church. In early times, the same building was very likely used for both school and church, but were apparently separate well before 1900. In 1940, the teacher was Clay Avant.
Hannah's Branch also had a store not far from the church, but it never had a post office. Hannah's Branch can be a surprising place. Just a few years ago, one of the farmers there had a large number of emus in a field by the road!
Many acres there were owned by Colonel James Tubb, who built his log home there in 1817. The house still stands, and is now occupied by the family of Jimmy Oakley. Before the Civil War, four slave houses stood behind it, occupied by Colonel Tubb's 22 slaves. The Tubb Cemetery lies behind this and contains some very unusual tombstones shaped like tree trunks. Colonel Tubb ran a distillery in 1817, and most of his neighbors bought whiskey, which was considered a necessity in every household.
By 1815, William Lawrence and his large family lived on Hannah's Branch. They were members of the Pisgah Methodist Church, which was established by 1852. Many of the church's members are buried in the cemetery by the church, including the Malones, Ellises, Closes, Smiths, Simpsons, Brattens and Hawkers. So many Caplingers lived near each other that one area was called Caplinger Hollow.
The Pisgah Church was unusual in that its interior was not only painted, but painted to create the appearance of clouds behind the pulpit. The church remains active today.
The school, like the church, was called Pisgah and was located near the church. In early times, the same building was very likely used for both school and church, but were apparently separate well before 1900. In 1940, the teacher was Clay Avant.
Hannah's Branch also had a store not far from the church, but it never had a post office. Hannah's Branch can be a surprising place. Just a few years ago, one of the farmers there had a large number of emus in a field by the road!