When one approaches the Chattahoochee River going south on Medlock Bridge Road in Johns Creek, the last house on the right is the home of Mildred (nearly everyone calls her Millie) Moore. The house sits on the banks of the river, next to a beautiful historic red barn and close to a once-white rectangular building with its own history. I have known Millie since I wrote the book “Barns of Old Milton County” 12 years ago. Her red barn slice of history is the first picture in the book. It is a pleasure for me to revisit the property and to write about Millie and her fascinating family.
The first Medlock in North Fulton County was Isham Medlock (1777-1852), who came to this area in 1818 from South Carolina. Millie’s grandfather William Oliver Medlock (1866-1934) was a descendant who built the original house, barn and various long-gone outbuildings and the rectangular building that remains on Millie’s property. He and his wife Louella-Hamilton Medlock (1867-1938) raised eight children on their 9- acre cotton and wheat farm. William Oliver’s father Robert Medlock Sr. (1832-1919) was born in Gwinnett County, and his wife Selma McDonald Medlock (1896-1974) was from Jefferson. All the generations had multiple children, so the Medlock’s have deep roots in this area.
Unfortunately, the original house on Millie’s property burned to the ground in 1913. The Atlanta Constitution reported that the fire started in the stove flue, and that only a piano and a few minor items were saved. Mr. Medlock was out on the farm at the time of the fire.
In 1886, William Oliver established a ferry service to carry farmers and their wagons across the Chattahoochee. His customers took produce and livestock from their farms in north Georgia to Atlanta to sell in exchange for “store-bought” clothing, kitchen utensils, tools and other household items….
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