Walton County

I am searching two lines of my maternal ancestors in Walton County.

First - my maternal grandfather's mother's line. My grandfather, Lucillous Hosch, and his brothers, Will and Hosea, were reared by their maternal grandparents, Wyatt and Alice Rome (their parents died when they were little boys). Wyatt's mother was Eliza Stoval. My granddad had an uncle named Henry Rome (Mammie). He also had a cousin Henry (Henry and Mammie's son) that later migrated to Michigan (died in 1991). Through all the "misspellings" of the Rome surname, I've been able to find my great-great grandparents on every census between 1870 and 1910 (Alice died sometime between 1900 and 1910). Have not checked the slave schedules, yet, but based on the 1870 census it appears that the Romes / Stovals did not take on the name of their last owner. So, I need to establish the last owner then go from there. Also, would like to reconnect with other descendants of Wyatt and Alice that could possibly still be living in Walton County.

Second - my great grandmother (grandmom's mom), Fannie ???? Pierce. I'm not sure that she was originally from Walton county. Her surname was White at the time she and my great-grandfather, Cornelius Pierce were married. They married in 1889 in Walton County. Based on stories handed down from my grandmother, her surname was Henry. It could also be Henyard. So I think there was possibly a marriage before great-granddad. My grandmother also handed down that one of her grandmothers was 1/2 White and 1/2 Indian. Obviously have not come across evidence to support or reject the story. mtDNA for Fannie's line shows Haplogroup M. As of yet, no exact matches and no good matches to any indigenous groups. Have only found Fannie on the 1900 and 1910 census at which time she and great-granddad are married. She's my current brick wall for this line. I've attached a pic of Fannie with my post. It's the only picture the family has of her. Should also add that my great-grandfather died in 1910 and Fannie remarried shortly there after (possible surname Sanford). Fannie is thought to have died around 1916 (my grandmother passed down to mom that she was pregnant with one of my uncles when Fannie died. My uncle was born in 1916).