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1800
Class Fz
Book 655Hg
Copyright Nº.
COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT.
Very July, Folks Deux force
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JAMES W. STATEN First Representative from Clinch County.
History of
Clinch County, Georgia Revised to Date
Giving the early history of the County down to the present time (1916) ; also complete lists of County Officers, together with minor officers and also sketches of County Officers' Lives; with chapters on the histories of old families of Clinch County ; also other information as is historical in its nature
Compiled and Edited by FOLKS HUXFORD
FAX: .055MQ
COPYRIGHT APPLIED FOR 1916
1916 The J. W. Burke Company Macon, Georgia
$1.75
DEC 30 1916
OCA453398
FOREWORD
I N the Fair Southland, fanned by the gentle sea breeze, musical with the song of the pines, where plenty of peace and con- tentment abound, no more favored section can be found than Clinch County. What hidden treasures, what immense pos- sibilities yet undeveloped, she offers to all who diligently seek them here! Her wealth lies not in mineral deposits, nor great water power, but in a salubrious climate, pure water, a fertile soil capable of the highest state of cultivation, good ranges for live stock, timbered lands, and a people than whom no better can be found anywhere in all our fair land. Many adverse cir- cumstances have retarded the development of the natural re- sources of the County, but the sun of a better day has already risen for her, and is scattering the mists before it and flooding the land with the rays of hope and prosperity.
cher
PREFACE
'N the preparation and compiling of this book, containing the history of Clinch County, I have done so with an eye single to the welfare of the County, a true exposition of the County and its history, and with the hope that in years to come it may, in the absence of any other book on the subject, be a reference book of Clinch County and her people.
There are many details given in the following pages, which will, to the reader on first thought, appear to be superfluous and unnecessary, but the author recognizes the fact that details are often necessary to a com- plete understanding and an exhaustive review of a subject. I have endeavored to resist the temptation to extenuate, and the reader will pardon the author if it becomes wearisome in reading this book because of so many minor details given.
A word in explanation of some of the chapters:
In Chapter I, also in Chapter XIII, much is said concerning Irwin, Lowndes, Appling and Ware Counties, but the author is of the opinion that this is necessary as it relates to the early history of this County before its formation.
In Chapter II, and in Chapter III, extended remarks are made on the earlier settlers of the County. This data is based on information gathered from descendants of these settlers and from other parties. I would not have the reader think that the settlers named in this connection, were the only ones living here at the time; far from that.
In Chapter V is given information as to the soldiers who served in the Confederate Army from Clinch County. The author does not vouch for the correctness of all of this information, as it was by the merest chance and the hardest of investigating and inquiry, that these names were obtained. The names were given mostly by survivors now living of these companies, and the list of officers and men in each company will not be found complete, due to the obvious impossibility of the recollection of so many names that far back.
In regards to Chapter VIII, treating on educational subjects, it was very difficult to obtain what information is given as the author had no access to the old minutes of the Board of Education further back than
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Preface
1892. The information given is chiefly from the different acts of the Legislature right after the war, and from scattered papers in the Ordi- nary's office, while the list of members of the Board of Education is taken from the Grand Jury presentments.
In presenting church history and family histories, the author has endeavored to be as correct, fair and authentic as possible. In the prep- aration of family histories, only a few are given, such as the larger fam- ilies of Clinch. County, although the ancestry of a few others are given, which reach very far back.
The author offers no apology for the extensive chapter on the lives of Clinch County's officers. I believe this will form a valuable addition to this book, especially to a future generation. I believe that unless this information is given, those who follow after us will look back on the official list of county officers, and ask "Who was this officer? I never heard of him and do not know any of his people." This question is true to-day for I have been unable to find out anything about some of our earlier officers.
Also I believe that the appended lists of minor officers, such as district road commissioners, jury commissioners, justices of the peace, etc., will be found interesting.
I have been hampered in this undertaking by more than one obstacle. This is an undertaking never before undertaken in this County. I have found some people very skeptical about the idea of writing a history of our County. I have found some who are wholly indifferent to the past. I was also hampered by the loss of our court-house records which go no further back than 1867, and many of the books and records for many years after then were very poorly kept.
The author has devoted a great deal of his time for the last two or three years to this undertaking, and has endeavored to eliminate all mis- takes, but this is very near impossible. Without the kind assistance of the following named patriotic citizens, I do not believe I could have com- piled this work. To them I am deeply grateful for their sympathy and help. I refer to the following residents of Clinch County :
James R. Dickerson, Argyle; Charlton H. Smith, Homerville; W. H. Chauncey, Lyken; Lee L. DuPont, DuPont; Moses Tomlinson, Stockton ; John G. Griffis, Argyle; Ezekiel Mathis, DuPont; Mrs. Seward Smith,
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Preface
Homerville; Mrs. Elizabeth E. Gary, Homerville; Irwin Corbitt, Pearson, R. F. D .; Bankston E. Mattox and wife, Homerville; John J. Drawdy, Homerville; R. G. Dickerson, Homerville; James B. Cornelius, Homer- ville; Mrs. Nancy Griffis, Lyken; P. M. Lee, DuPont, and Mrs. H. A. Mattox, Argyle.
Out of the County residents:
Judge J. L. Sweat, Waycross; Joseph E. Bass, Kissimmee, Fla .; Mrs. F. D. Clifton, Hahira; Lucian L. Knight, Atlanta; Mrs. M. S. Corbitt, Pearson; George A. Dame, Inverness, Fla .; Mrs. B. P. Jones, Valdosta; Mrs. Mary A. Ray, Ray City ; J. G. King, Arcadia, Fla .; Mrs. A. J. Caswell, Jacksonville, Fla .; Mrs. R. F. Laslie, Tarver; John L. Morgan, Lakeland, Fla .; Perry G. Ramsey, Gainesville, Fla .; John L. Smith, Screven; Jona- than O'Steen, Kirkland; Mrs. Sherod Smith, Tampa, Fla .; W. P. Smith, Nacogdoches, Texas; C. Strickland, Valdosta; N. A. Sirmans, Milledge- ville; S. C. Townsend, St. Marys; W. H. Tucker, Bradentown, Fla .; D. C. Carmichael, Manor; and "The Valdosta Times," Valdosta, the last named of which I had access to their files dating back to 1868; and Mrs. J. N. Griffin, Valdosta.
Besides these, there are numerous others, which space forbids me to name.
FOLKS HUXFORD.
Homerville, Ga.,
July, 1916.
History of Clinch County, Georgia
CHAPTER I.
Ceding of the Lands Which Now Comprise Clinch County .- Origin of Appling County .- Origin of Irwin County .- Origin of Ware County .- Origin of Lowndes County .- First Settlers .- Primitive Condition .- Indian Troubles .- Growth of the County .- "Olden Times."- Land Grants.
T HE lands which now comprise Clinch County, were ceded by the Indians by a treaty made at Fort Jackson, in the western part of this State, August 9th, 1814. There was no stipulated sum paid for the land, this being the only cession of lands by the Indians which the government did not have to pay for. This treaty was the culmination of a war caused by Indian outrages, which had been raging for about three years. General Andrew Jackson's crowning vic- tory over them at Horse-Shoe Bend on the Tallapoosa River in Alabama, caused them to sue for peace and the treaty of Fort Jackson was the result. Besides the lands ceded which lie now in Clinch County, other territory was ceded out of which about twenty counties in South Georgia have since been made.
ORIGIN OF APPLING COUNTY.
Four years after the treaty was made, Appling County was created by an Act of the Legislature approved December 15th, 1818. This county took in not only what is now Clinch County, but also Ware, Coffee and parts of several other counties. At the same time Irwin County was created. Two years later the first election for county officers was held in Appling County. The following were elected: William Carter, sheriff; John Bailey, Clerk of the Superior Court;
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
James Mixon, coroner and Daniel S. Whitehurst, surveyor. Appling County was named for Col. Daniel Appling, a noted soldier of the Revolution.
ORIGIN OF IRWIN COUNTY.
Irwin County was created at the same time Appling County was, and was named in honor of Governor Jared Irwin, of this State. The first county officers were not com- missioned until 1820. Originally the line between Irwin and Appling Counties, extended along the line dividing the sev- enth and twelfth land districts of Ware County from the tenth and eleventh land districts of Irwin County. This caused most of the present Mud Creek district to be in Irwin County, as was also the Stockton district.
ORIGIN OF WARE COUNTY.
Ware County was created by an Act of the Legislature ap- proved December 15th, 1824. It was created out of lands theretofore situated in Appling County, and was named for Hon. Nicholes Ware, a United States Senator from this State. Early in the year 1825 an election was held in the new county for Justices of the Inferior Court, which at this time had charge of all county matters. The following justices were elected and were commissioned March 2nd, 1825 : Wil- liam Smith, Solomon Hall, John L. Stewart, Jr., Philemon Bryan and Absalom Thomas. The election for county of- ficers was not held until the next year, when the following were elected: William G. Henderson, sheriff; Joseph Bryan, clerk of the Superior and Inferior Courts; Zachariah Davis, surveyor, and Joshua Sharpe, coroner. At the same time that the Justices of the Inferior Court were elected in 1825, Philemon Bryan was elected the first State Senator from Ware County, while John L. Stewart was elected the first representative.
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
ORIGIN OF LOWNDES COUNTY.
By an Act of the Legislature approved December 23rd, 1825, Lowndes County was created. This county was cre- ated from lands formerly in Irwin County, which extended to the line dividing the tenth and eleventh land districts of Irwin from the seventh, twelfth and thirteenth land districts of Ware or formerly Appling. The new county was named for Hon. William L. Lowndes, a distinguished statesman of South Carolina. The first county officers were commissioned May 29th, 1826, and were : William Hancock, sheriff; Sam- uel M. Clyatt, surveyor; Henry Blair, clerk of the Superior and Inferior Courts; and Malachi Monk, coroner. The first State Senator from Lowndes was William A. Knight, while the first representative was Jonathan Knight, a notable instance of father and son being first representatives of a new county in legislative halls.
FIRST SETTLERS.
The first settlers in what is now Clinch County, that any authenticity can be vouched for, settled in the Mud Creek dis- trict, then a part of Irwin County, in December, 1822. They were John, William, and Moses Tomlinson, brothers; Josiah Sirmans, Sr., and his sons, and David Johnson. William Smith, a pioneer minister of the Primitive Baptist Church, also settled here about the same time, settling on Red Bluff Creek, then in Appling County. Very soon the Newberns, O'Steens, and Paffords settled here. Within a few years, came John Bennett, Benjamin Cornelius, Jeremiah Chancey, Lawrence Smith and Samuel Register. All of the families named are still represented in this county by numerous de- scendants.
PRIMITIVE CONDITION.
The primitive condition of the county before the whites became numerous, might easily be imagined. Forests of giant trees were everywhere, while game was in abundance.
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
Indians roamed here and there with no permanent habita- tion. No such timber as could be found then can now be found. It has fell under the chopper's ax and has been the source of much profit and occupation.
At the time Ware and Lowndes Counties were created, this part was very sparsely settled. Settlers were few and Indians were many. Gradually the country grew, but it was not until the advent of the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad, just before the Civil War, that any progress was visible outside of the increasing population. In the absence of railroads, paths and community roads were used. In the course of time, a stage road was opened through from Waresboro by Mag- nolia and into Lowndes County, while another stage road reached from Troupville, in Lowndes, through Mud Creek and connected with the road to Waresboro.
The oldest militia district in the county is the 586th, known as Mud Creek. From the records at Atlanta it is found that Hudson Tillery and James O. White were com- missioned Justices of the Peace in this district, February 10th, 1829. It was at that time a part of Ware County, and reached up into Coffee County.
INDIAN TROUBLES.
Troubles with the Indians began to take definite shape about 1836. It seems that the trouble originated in the State of Alabama on Terrapin Creek, and was caused by the efforts of the Creeks to join the Seminoles in Florida, who were about to take up the hatchet. The war lasted for about two or three years, when practically all the Indians in Geor- gia were deported to the West.
During these troublous times, the whites built a fort about two miles north of Cane Creek and about six miles northeast of where Homerville now is. It covered about two acres of ground and was built by picketing pine poles about twenty feet long in the ground, side by side until an inclosure was made. These were braced together and made as impreg-
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
nable as possible. Inside, small houses were built and the fort was otherwise made as much a home as possible for the refugees. The settlers also had a place of rendezvous at the home of Benjamin Sirmans in the Mud Creek district. Set- tlers would often make their clearings as near the forts or places of safety as possible in anticipation of any expected attack by the Indians.
Several expeditions were made against the Indians as far down as the Suwannee River and the Florida line. Tom Fulwood, a member of one of the expeditions, was killed on one of the expeditions, and scalped by the Indians. His body was recovered by his companions and buried some three or four miles from where Henry Lee now lives in this county.
There were several companies of volunteers organized in this section for service against the Indians. A company of "scouts" headed by Captain Knowles did valiant service in this war; also companies under Captain John J. Johnson, an Englishman, and Captain John J. North, who subsequently became a citizen of Clinch, saw much service. Towards the Allapaha River, Captain Levi J. Knight commanded the pioneer troops as major and colonel.
The following narrative of an engagement with the In- dians, is given on authority of Mr. Bryan J. Roberts, a wealthy pioneer citizen of Lowndes County, which is corrob- orated by others :
"Some time in the fall of 1836, a squad of Indians raided the home of Mr. William Parker, not far from where Mill- town now is. They carried his feather beds out in the yard, cut them open, emptied the feathers and appropriated the ticks. They also robbed him of provisions, clothing and money in the sum of $308. Captain Levi J. Knight, in whose command Mr. Roberts was, was soon on trail of the squad and overtook them near the Allapaha River, not far from the Gaskins mill-pond. The sun was just rising when the gallant company opened fire on the savages. A lively fight ensued, soon terminating in the utter rout of the Indians,
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
who threw their guns and plunder into the river and jumped in after them. A few were killed and a number wounded. One Indian was armed with a fine shot-gun; this he threw into the river. He also tried to throw into the stream a shot- bag, but it was caught in the limb of a tree and suspended over the water. Strange to say, it contained Mr. Parker's money, every cent of which was recovered. The fine shot-gun was fished out of the river and afterwards sold for $40, a tremendous price for a gun in those days.
"Having driven the Indians from the dense swamp be- yond the river, Captain Knight marched his company as rapidly as possible in the direction of Brushy Creek in the southwest part of the county (Lowndes). In the distance they heard a volley of small arms. On arrival, they found that a battle had already been fought and the volley was only a last tribute of respect over the grave of a comrade-in-arms, Pennywell Folsom. Mr. Robert Parrish, who later became quite prominent and lived near Adel had his arm broken in this fight. Edwin Henderson was mortally wounded and died near the battlefield, and there were two others killed. The Indians lost twenty-two killed, besides a number wounded. The battle was fought in a swamp where Indian cunning was pitted against Anglo-Saxon courage, and in five minutes after the engagement opened, there was not a live redskin to be seen.
"From this place Captain Knight marched his company across the Allapaha River into what is now Clinch County. The Indians after the last engagement had crossed the river and took a course southeastward to Cow Creek, about three miles below where Stockton now is. The whites traced them and found them near the creek. They surprised the savages at breakfast and the Indians, abandoning what little effects they had except their guns, hurriedly crossed the "Boggy Slue" and then went over the creek. The slue which had been so easy for the Indians to cross, delayed the whites, but finally crossing it they caught up with the Indians on the other
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
side of the creek, where a short engagement occurred. Bill Daugharty had his horse shot from under him in this en- gagement by a very large Indian, and just as the Indian was about to fire at him, Mr. Daugharty shot the Indian. The Indian's body was not found until after the engagement was over, when it was found in some bushes. In this short en- gagement three Indians were killed and five made prisoners. No whites were killed, but Mr. Barzilla Staten was danger- ously wounded from which he afterwards recovered."
Captain Knowles' company assisted in driving the last Indian from the great Okefinokee Swamp, and camped on one of the islands in the swamp for about three months, leaving the swamp only for provisions. A narrative is given on authority of Mr. Jesse Smith, who was in Captain Knowles' company, in which Mr. Smith relates an adventure with the savages. It was as follows :
After the company had lost trail of a party of Indians whom they were hunting, Mr. Smith was in the lead of the whites that night. The night was very dark, and after hav- ing searched all day the search was almost given up, when in the grass not ten steps ahead, Mr. Smith saw the fire sparkle from the old flint and steel rifle, and he knew that they were in the midst of the Indians. The Indian's gun failed to fire and they saw it was a hand-to-hand battle in the darkness. Before Mr. Smith had time to move, the Indian sprang up and threw his arms around the horse's neck and held on. The fight seemed to be between the horse and the Indian, when the horse finally became so frightened that he dashed away. The horse ran until the clinging Indian was forced to give it up, and when Mr. Smith got his wits to- gether again he was miles away from his companions, with both hands clinched in the horse's mane. Then he had a task to find his comrades, which he did just about daylight.
The great Okefinokee Swamp served as a place of refuge for the Indians during this war, and here they hid them- selves when hard pressed. General Charles R. Floyd made
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
an expedition against the savages in the swamp and drove them totally out of the swamp and into Florida. It had always been a mystery to the whites how the Indians were able to exist under circumstances of the most adverse character in the swamp, until one day an entrance to the "cow-house," an elevated fertile island, was discovered by the scouts of General Floyd's army. Through an opening the Indians had driven a number of small, black cattle, which was found to be so numerous in this section when the whites first settled here. This solved the mystery, and the island has since been known as Floyd's Island.
In 1838 fourteen thousand Indians were conveyed to lands beyond the Mississippi River, and after this the county enjoyed comparative peace from Indian troubles. It was very seldom after this that an Indian was seen.
GROWTH OF THE COUNTY.
After the Indian trouble ceased, this section began to grow. The citizens began to widen out their farms, settlement roads were made, new settlers came and several churches were organized.
The only way in that day to get produce to market centers was to carry it in great caravans of wagons and carts drawn by oxen. The people of the community through which it passed would often load their produce or marketable stuff on these wagons and carts, giving the owner a part of the proceeds to carry it to market. A stage road which was built about this time from Holmesville in Appling County, to Troupville in Lowndes County, served as the principle highway. The principal person to engage in this business was James C. Smith, a wealthy pioneer citizen. He would often make Darien his destination, although Savannah and other ports were reached occasionally. The slow trip would consume as much as two or three months sometimes. In re- turning the wagons would bring such things as were needed by the settlers in their homes and on the farms.
JOHN J. DRAWDY Born March 17, 1830. Settled in Clinch County in 1869. A former Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff J. M. Nelms.
JAMES C. SMITH An early settler of Clinch County. Died 1894.
JOHN C. KIRKLAND First Clerk of Superior Court of Clinch County. This picture was taken about 1850.
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
Waresboro was then the county seat of Ware County, and Troupville of Lowndes County. To these places the people of this section journeyed to attend court and to other such matters. The stage road led to Waresboro, while an- other one led to Troupville. The court-house at Waresboro in those days is described as being a large one-story log house with two small siderooms as offices; and during court the jury in a case would go off in the woods nearby in the charge of a bailiff, to make up their verdict. Since that time, Wares- boro has decreased to a mere village and Troupville is almost forgotten, and other cities have arisen to which the county seat has been moved.
"OLDEN TIMES."
During those days, the people lived in log houses with hewn floors and wooden shutters for windows. Everything bore a distinctly home-made appearance. The main portion of the people were not rich but a more honest and hospitable set could not be found. Among the wealthier families would be found from twenty-five to fifty slaves in each family. The white families living oftentimes miles apart, were of the kindliest disposition to each other.
The people of what is now Clinch County, were not rich. The settlers were plain men, honest and thrifty. Their houses were simple buildings, situated generally near the few roads there were. The people did all their work except those who were fortunate enough to own slaves. Clothes were made of cloth manufactured by themselves. The women carded the cotton or wool with hard-cards into small rolls. These rolls they spun on spinning wheels into thread, which they dyed whatever colors they desired, and they wove the thread into cloth on home-made looms. Such looms and spinning-wheels have disappeared from usage and almost from existence al- though one is occasionally found in the homes of the people of Clinch County where it is kept as a relic of the past, and an object of curiosity to the young.
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
As has been said, the houses of the settlers were generally built of logs and had but one room, the floor of which was made of split logs with the faces smoothed by an ax or hatchet. There were no lamps and candles were not often used. Blazing pine-knots in the fire-place generally served both for light and heat. In the summer season the people would go to bed early, almost with the coming of darkness, and in this way save building a hot fire for light and also to escape the mosquitoes. Likewise they rose early in the morning with the "break of day," often before daylight, and began the day's work. The children of the family, after working all day, would at night lie down in front of the pine- knot fire and learn to read and write. Many of the older citizens of the county still vividly remember those days.
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