Cullman Senior Magazine Summer 2020 | Page 34

Having always had a love for history, he said that the time spent researching his family’s geneology has been worth every second spent. to by her dad, who was the youngest son of George Washington Kilgo. “However, I just didn’t want it to end there. I wanted to research some of the other interesting things we picked up from family members and get them all down so she could have the chance to read them also.” Covering the incident at Looney’s Tavern and in- corporating Kilgo’s friendship with “Black Fox” Bill Looney, the book series is historical fiction based on true events and real people. “The story follows George Washington Kilgo from before the start of the Civil War through his ordeal as a Union soldier, a scout, and a recruiter, and his being on the run from Confederate loyalist. It takes us through the death of his wife, who was forced to flee the Home Guard, and his journey to re-assem- ble his scattered family after the ravages of war had displaced them from their Free State of Winston home. “When you really start delving into the two books, if you know anything about Cullman County histo- ry, you will find there are several factual events tied in,” Brock said. “For example there was a hanging in Baileyton, of a father and son who were accused of a crime spree in the area. They were arrested and put in a storage room for safe keeping until the judge arrived but a mob broke them out and strung them up.” In this particular incident, when my grandmother was a little girl, she saw them hanging from the tree,” he said. “They were coming through the area and her dad made all the girls get down where they wouldn’t see, but she peeked through the crack in the wagon bed and saw them.” Brock included that in book two of The Black Hawk series. You will also see a lot of incidents with the Klan and Home Guard from Winston County. “Book Two is mostly fiction, even though it is a reconstruction of what George Washington Kilgo 34 | SUMMER 2020 might have encountered with the Home Guard and the Klan during those days.” Brock explained, “When the war was over and the Union soldiers returned home to Winston County, the home Guards went from doing the hunting, to being the hunted. There is a lot of factual events tied in throughout my research and writing. It has been fascinating to discover the truth about some of the incidents.” Having always had a love for history, he said that the time spent researching his family’s genealogy has been worth every second spent. And that is why he is looking forward to finish- ing up the editing process on the second book and watching it hit the book shelves. The Black Hawk and the Life and Times of Tom Hayes are currently available at Amazon Books, as well as locally at the Brandin’ Iron Steak House, Campbell’s Grocery at Spring Hill, Berkeley Bobs, WaterValley Grocery and Karma’s Coffee House. The Black Hawk Book Two: Mad Dogs and Mad Men is currently available in Kindle form from Am- azon Books and should be available in paperback by press time. Photo of Brock’s relatives who are featured in the books. CULLMAN COUNTY SENIOR MAGAZINE