Bio Sketch by B. Bradford (updated 2-27-2023)

Mary Ann "Granny Pop" Naillon was the youngest known daughter of Patrick Nailon and Mary Catherine (surname unsure) born 1817 in Rutherford Co., NC. Her parents separated in Rutherford Co., NC and she moved to the Hot Springs area of Buncombe (now Madison) Co., NC where her sister Catherine Naillon-Fox and her father lived. Granny Pop's brothers remained in Rutherford with their mother. Her father Patrick "Nailand" is noted in the 1830 Buncombe Co., NC (now Madison Co., NC) Census living with his newly acquired family with Frances Russell-Sutherland. Frances had 3 daughters and a son with her 1st husband, Preston Sutherland, who died about 1822. Preston had a son from a prior marriage who was living in this household. Patrick and Frances had on son together, Elijah Washington Naillon. There were 9 people in Patrick and Frances' household to include Granny-Pop who was noted in the 10-15 age group. It seems plausible for her to move with her father be near her only sister, Catherine, who was already married to Jesse Fox at this time and they lived a few doors in the Spring Creek area south of Hot Springs, Buncombe (now Madison) per the census. The Colwells also lived nearby which explains how Granny Pop became acquainted with Levi Belese Coldwell, son of James Colwell who was a resident of Spring Creek. She and Levi married about 1836 most likely in Buncombe Co., NC. This assumption is based on the birth of their first child as no marriage record has been found. Shortly after they married, she and Levi moved with her father-in-law to settle permanently in the Cataloochee, Haywood Co., NC where they raised 12 children together from 1837-1864. During the outbreak of the Civil War, many of the local men of the Cataloochee area went to Waynesville to enlist for the 62nd NC Regiment CSA leaving old and infirm men, women and children alone to defend themselves. Levi served as a home guard protecting the local area. Most neighbors at this time were CSA sympathizers. Sometime in 1863, Levi and his youngest son Hiram were captured by Union Forces which passed through Cataloochee. Hiram got away, but Levi was taken prisoner and forced to walk to Tennessee. Levi was shackled, exposed to poor conditions and became sickly but managed to escape and found his way back home. He died November 4, 1864, most likely from the effects of being a prisoner and the long journey home. Mary Ann was left with several young children to take care of after his death. Levi died without a Will which took over 12 years to settle the 150 acre estate in Haywood Co., NC among the surviving children and as wife the dower. There is an extensive estate file available on Familysearch.com.

Several of Levi and Granny Pop's sons and sons-in-law also served in the war, as well as Granny Pop's half brother Elijah Washington Naillon. William Hiram Colwell enlisted at age 18 on July 12, 1862, as Private for Co. A., 62nd Infantry, in Waynesville by Asbury T. Rogers for 3 years. He was present in the muster rolls from July 1862 through June 1863. The unit was deployed to Cumberland Gap where the 62nd was captured - some escaped but many went on to the POW camp in Illinois. Hiram was noted on the POW roll as being captured at Cumberland Gap and forwarded to Camp Douglas Illinois from Louisville, KY on September 24, 1863. He remained at that awful place along with brother- in-laws Corporal Daniel J. Cook (husband of Harriett Elizabeth Colwell), and Pvt. Creighton M. Bennett (husband of Matilda Louise Colwell) who also served in the same unit. Hiram and Daniel miraculously survived the camp and their military records show they were released on June 15, 1865, taking the Oath of Allegiance in Greenville, TN and went home. Hiram received final payment of $9.60 for his service. Creighton "Crater" Bennett did not survive the camp and is buried in Illinois. In January 1865, two of Levi and Granny Pop's other sons, Andrew C. Colwell and David M. Colwell joined the Kirk Raiders, Co. H, 3rd NC Mounted Infantry as privates and served through Aug 8, 1865. On February 1, 1865, the 2nd NC Mntd Infantry lead by George W. Kirk came through the area of Cataloochee from Waynesville, NC, terrorizing the area, burning down Young Bennett's house and a nearby school being used as a hospital. Levi was already dead at this time and widow Mary Ann had to deal with the horrors of war protecting and supporting her family. After the war was over, Andrew received $100 from the Southern Claim Commission for use of his Mare. There is a document in which "Mary Ann Woody" attested to this claim.

Granny Pop remarried to widower Jonathan Huff Woody (1812-1894; first wife was Malinda Plemmons) who had children of his own to take care of and they combined their households. No marriage record has been found for this union but they were married by 1870 per the census. They did not have any children together. No one knows why Mary Ann was called "Granny Pop". Folklore claims that during the Civil War she had to be both Mom and Pop, or then after the war, when she was raising fourteen children, maybe if they did not obey her, she gave them a "big pop" on the rear.

Member of ME Church South.