JoAnne and Harrell Brogan found several photos, a Bible, and an old book containing a family record in a house at Cook School on Indian Creek many years ago.

The items have been donated to the Grainger County Archives.

An on-line family tree identifies the Bible’s owner as Elizabeth Rader Koch (Cook), born 20 Jun 1830 in Morganton, Burke Co., North Carolina; died 07 Jan 1912 in Grainger County.  She married Jesse Collins on 09 January 1853 in Hancock County.  He was killed in the Civil War.

The family information page from the Bible is transcribed below:

Elizabeth Collenses Bible February the 1st day 1855 (could be 1856)

Jonathan Riley Collens was Born December the 29th 1855 (corrected)

Mary Elizabeth was Born December the 4 1857

William Henry C was Born February the 16th 1859

Peter Rosancrants Collens was born Augusth [sic] the 19th 1862

Click here to view the original Bible page and the Indian Creek Photo Gallery