I can’t locate any historical background on this house, but surveys have dated it to circa 1830, making it likely one of the oldest houses in present-day Marion County. It’s a very well-proportioned example of the Plantation Plain style and appears to have been recently restored. Jodi Hancock shares that it was the home of Daniel James II (1804-1888).

The Draneville community had a post office from 1882-1907, but the area was a population center much earlier than those dates would indicate. In her History of Marion County, published in 1931, Nettie Powell wrote: Draneville is a growing village and has two good stores, a post office and a blacksmith shop. The farmers in this community are progressive and take a great pride in their commodious homes. This district has two nice churches, Mt. Carmel and Union. Professor Morgan Stevens teaches the school which is in a flourishing condition. Dr Samuel Hart is the physician in that section. This district was first known as the Cut Off and was changed to Jacksonville and during this period when the post office was established it was named Draneville. At the beginning of this decade this district had the largest population in the county, but when the railroad was finished to Buena Vista that section increased in inhabitants very rapidly.

Jodi Hancock writes: This is my grandparents house, on my father’s side. The family raised chickens and farmed many acres for years and the house was sold in 2020, and is currently listed for sale. My great aunt, Loxi Wells Jones, did extensive research on the Union United Methodist Church, in Draneville. The church was built in 1830 at the fork of Georgia Highway 41 South and Georgia Highway 30, 1/4 mile from the current church location. The church was rebuilt in its current location in 1888, on land donated by Daniel James, on September 9, 1857. Daniel James, II caused the church to be built so that he could see the front door of the church from the front door of his home and receive blessings. Daniel James then lived in the big, white two-story home that faces the Union Church. It is now known as the Joe Hancock home, in which his daughter, Jane Hancock Dunmon and her husband Ted, lived.