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History of Irwin County
B. CLEMENTS
1800
Class -298
Book.
I6766
Copyright N.ยบ.
COOK2
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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT
J. B. Clements, the son of R. W. Clements and Una Whiddon, was born at Irwinville, Ga., November 17, 1869. He graduated at Emory College, Oxford, Ga., June 26th, 1890. He received a medal for excellence in music.
In 1892, he was elected a member of school board for Irwin County. In 1892, he was elected and ap- pointed Judge of the County Court of Irwin County, which position he held for sixteen years. In the fall of 1912 he was elected to the lower House of the General Assembly of Georgia, sessions 1913-1914. He was re-elected in the fall of 1914 and served dur- ing the sessions 1915-1916. He was re-elected in the fall of 1916 and served during the sessions of 1917 and 1918. He also served at two extra sessions.
In the spring of 1919, he was elected to the State Senate to represent the 45th Senatorial District, this being a new district created the year previous, he be- ing the first Senator to represent this district, serv- ing during sessions 1919 and 1920. In the fall of 1924, he was elected to the State Senate to represent the 45th district in the State Senate, sessions 1925 and 1926. He was again elected to the State Senate in 1930 and served during the sessions of 1931 and 1932.
He joined Irwinville Lodge No. 315 F. & A. M. April 1893 and was elected Worshipful Master in 1894 and has held this position from that time until the present. In 1919 he was presented with a jewel by the Grand Lodge of Georgia for 25 consecutive years of service. In 1910 he was elected by the Grand Lodge a member of the Board of Trustees of the Masonic Home. In 1920 he was elected secretary and treasurer of this board which position he held to 1930. At session of the Grand Lodge held in the fall of 1923 he was given by the Grand Lodge a jewel for unusual merit and distinguished service to masonry which is considered one of the highest honors be- stowed by the Grand Lodge upon one of its members. He was the first native of Irwin County to take a full collegiate course and receive a diploma.
HISTORY
=O F
IRWIN COUNTY
BY J.B.CLEMENTS
Containing sketch of country obtained from Creek Indians, from which counties of Early, Irwin and Appling were created; copies of trea- ties with Indians ceding said territory; acts creating said counties and their organization; county officers, judges, senators and representa- tives; courts, grand juries; fraternal organiza- tions; war heroes, Indian trails, freaks of na- ture, slaves, marriages, railroads, county sites, churches, pioneer families and agriculture.
F1932]
F292 ILTCb
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Copyright 1932 by J. B. CLEMENTS
FOOTE & DAVIES CO , ATLANTA
OCIA 89395 FEB 12 1934
PREFACE
or
WHY THIS HISTORY IS UNDERTAKEN TO BE WRITTEN.
The General Assembly of the State of Georgia at its regular session in the year of 1929 passed by both houses the follow- ing resolution :
No. 36.
Resolved by the General Assembly of Georgia both houses thereof concurring herein, that the Judges of the Superior Courts of the State are hereby earnestly requested to give in charge to the Grand Jury of each county in their several circuits at the next term of the court therein, the urgent re- quest of this General Assembly that they will secure the con- sent of some competent person in their county to prepare be- tween now and February 12, 1933, being Georgia Day, as nearly a complete history of the formation, development and progress of said county from its creation up to that date, to- gether with accounts of such persons, families and public events as have given character and fame to the county, the state, and the nation. And said county histories be deposited on Georgia Day in 1933 in the State Department of Archives and History there to be preserved for the information of future citizens of the state and prospective biographers and historians. And this action is recommended to the Judges, Grand Juries and the people of all the counties of the state, for early procedure, because delay will leave action in this behalf too short a time for the necessary research and accumu- lation of data to make the county histories as full and ac- curate as they should be for full historic value.
By authority of the foregoing act of the Legislature, Hon. R. Eve, Judge of Superior Court of Tifton Circuit, presiding at Ocilla in Irwin County, Georgia, at the November term, 1929, in his charge to the Grand Jury called their attention to said resolution and requested their compliance with the same. Ac- cordingly in their General Presentments at the close of their labors submitted the following: "The General Assembly of the State of Georgia by resolution having made it the duty
of the courts of the several counties of the state to lay before the Grand Juries the necessity of historical data pertaining to our state, and his honor, Judge Eve, having so charged our body, and we deeming it of high importance that such valu- able data should be gotten up and permanently preserved, we therefore recommend that Hon. J. B. Clements be ap- pointed as County Historian, for the purpose of getting up such data and to do such other duties as is required in sup- plying such data. We wish to especially thank Judge J. B. Clements for the tendering of his services for this purpose, as we feel that he is the proper person to have this position, and as there is no compensation attached, we feel that it is loyalty upon his part to show such willingness to aid in the matter. We wish also to urge upon every citizen the neces- sity and the importance of such historical data, and we trust Judge Clements will receive the full co-operation of all that can be of assistance." (Extract from general presentments, November term, 1929.) Signed by Joe H. Little, Foreman.
G. L. Young, E. W. Wright, O. B. Hogan, J. R. Gibbs, A. V. Yarbrough, S. S. Harper, A. G. Shiver, Reason W. Gray, R. C. Roberts, Lucious Paulk, Need Harper, J. O. Sutton, W. B. Hawes, M. McMillan, Jacob A. Paulk, J. D. Dixon, T. L. Whit- ley, Richard Harper, J. B. Berry, A. S. Harris, M. D. Myers, E. W. Batts.
CONTENTS
PAGES
CHAPTER 1.
9-29
Indian Treaties 1814 and 1818 and Acts Creating Early, Irwin and Appling Counties, also Headright Counties.
CHAPTER 2.
30-63
Organization of Irwin County, Early Settlers, Indian Warfare, Courts and County Officers.
CHAPTER 3.
64-113
Superior Court, Presentments of Grand Jurors, Jury Com- missioners, Sale of Liquor, Paupers and Pontoon Bridges, Registration Laws, Juvenile Court, The Sligh Case, Pub- lication, Tax Assessors.
CHAPTER 4.
114-116
Masonic Lodges.
CHAPTER 5.
117-128
Civil War Heroes, World War Heroes, Letter from R. W. Clements to Jeliu Fletcher (Civil War).
CHAPTER 6.
.129-130
Indian Trail and Early Roads.
CHAPTER 7.
131-150
Freaks of Nature, Capture of Jefferson Davis, The Bost- wick Case, The Ross Lake, Coleman Pond, Bone Pond or Chrystal Lake, Wolf Pits.
CHAPTER 8.
151-213
Inferior Courts, Bonds, Election Districts, Roads and Commissioners, New Counties Created, Road Districts, Ad- ministrators and Executors, Physicians, Slaves, Wives and Children of Soldiers, Marriages of Colored Persons, Di- vorce, Tax Receiver, Tax Collector, Poor, Three-Day Election, Inquest and Lunacy, Commission of Patrols, Ferries and Fish and Mail Routes, Advertisements.
CHAPTER 9. 214-414 Marriages in Irwin County.
CHAPTER 10.
415-420
Railroads.
6
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 11.
PAGES 421-430
Education.
CHAPTER 12. 431-449 Public Sites, Tifton and Northeastern Railroad, Seaboard Airline Railroad, New Counties, Courthouse Removed, Hangings in Irwin County.
CHAPTER 13.
450-453
County Courts.
CHAPTER 14.
454-489
Churches, Newhope, Brushy Creek, Bethlehem, Mt. Zion,
Richardson, Union, Gilder's Bluff.
CHAPTER 15.
. 490-491
Commissioners of Roads and Revenues.
CHAPTER 16. .
492-537
Pioneer Families of the Original Irwin County.
CHAPTER 17.
538-539
Agriculture.
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Ten-Mile Trail and Map of Territorial Grant.
30
Old Log Cabin. 31
Old Log Cabin.
33
Map of Early, Irwin and Appling Counties
36
R. K. Brown, Clerk Superior Court.
40
D. A. McInnis, Ex-Sheriff
41
W. E. Tyler, Sheriff.
42
Group of State Senators 44
Group of State Representatives
46
Group of State Representatives
48
J. W. McMillian, Tax Receiver
49
Mose Daniel, Tax Collector
50
James Whitley, Ordinary . 55
Group of State Representatives 58
Group of State Representatives 66
Group of State Representatives 74
Tobacco Farm
106
Group of Confederate Veterans 118
Unveiling Confederate Monument. 120
Ross Lake
131
Coleman Pond
132-133
Bone Pond 133-134 Alapaha River 134
Spot Where Jefferson Davis Was Captured.
138
1000 Miles of Roads 139
Jersey Cow 141
Watermelon's 142
Corn Field and Converting Peanuts Into Cash
148
8
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Pecan Orchard and Peanut Field 155
Map of Irwin County. 160
Wolf Pit 163
Field of Tomatoes 166
Field of Potatoes. .169
Field of Soy Beans 173
Map of Irwin County . 181
Map of Irwin County 182
Map of Irwin County 185
Map of Irwin County
186
Map of Irwin County. 187
Philip Newbern, County School Superintendent 429
Courthouse at Irwinville. 434
Courthouse at Ocilla . .436
Jail at Irwinville. 438
Map of Irwin County 444
Map of Irwin County 447
Irwin County Jail, Ocilla. 448
Baptist Church, Ocilla. 449
Brushy Creek Church . 461
Methodist Church, Ocilla 487
Warren J. Paulk, County Commissioner .488
Group of Old Settlers. 494
Group of Old Settlers. 498
Group of Old Settlers. .504
Group of Old Settlers. . 528
CHAPTER 1.
When Oglethorpe landed at Yamacraw Bluff in February, 1733, he and the Trustees held a Grant from the British Crown to a very large tract of land, or territory, extending from the mouth of the Savannah River to the head of the northernmost branch of the same, which happened to strike the 35th parallel of north latitude, and thence on a straight line to the Mississippi River. The southern boundary was to follow the Altamaha River from its southerly branch to its source, and thence on a straight line to the Mississippi River.
The Trustees pursued a very wise course in dealing with the Indians, who were the actual owners of the land and in actual possession of the same. In October, 1733, the chiefs of the Lower Creek Nation all assembled at Savannah, Georgia, and there entered into a treaty with Oglethorpe the most interesting part of which is as follows: "Fourthly, we, the head men of the Coweta and Cusseta towns in behalf of all the Lower Creek Nation being firmly persuaded that he who lives in Heaven and is the occasion of all good things, has moved the hearts of the Trustees to send their beloved men among us, for the good of our wives and children, and to in- struct us and them in what is straight to do, therefore, declare that we are glad that their people are come here; and though this land belongs to us, the Lower Creeks, yet we, that we may be instructed by them, do consent and agree, that they shall make use of and possess all those lands, which our nation hath not occasion to use; and we make over unto them, their successors and assigns, all such lands and territories as we shall have no occasion to use; provided always that they upon settling every town, shall set out for the use of ourselves, and the people of our nation, such lands as shall be agreed upon between their beloved men, and the head of our nation and that those lands shall remain to us forever.
"Lastly, we promise, with stout hearts and love of our brothers, the English, to give no encouragement to any other white people, but themselves to settle among us, and that we will not have any correspondence with the Spaniards or French and to show that we both for the good of ourselves, our wives
10
HISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
and children, do firmly promise to keep the talk in our hearts, as long as the sun shall shine or the waters run in the rivers."
The treaty made in 1733 with Oglethorpe was ratified at Coweta Town in 1739 by the deputies of the Creeks, Cherokees and Chehaws.
Georgia was 102 years in a process of territorial expansion. It was interesting to know that under this territorial expan- sion Georgia grew from river to river. Originally from the Savannah to the Ogeechee, the Altamaha to the St. Marys, thence from Ogeechee to the Oconee and from Oconee to O(- mulgee, from Ocmulgee to Flint, from Flint to Chattahoochee and later from Chattahoochee to the Tennessee. Following each cession of land by the Indians or immediately preceding it, the Georgia General Assembly would create large counties, and after the treaty of 1804 these counties were immediately laid off in land districts and land lots.
On August 9, 1814, under the treaty at Fort Jackson, the Creek Indians ceded to Georgia, or to the United States for Georgia by virtue of the agreement of 1802, the lands between the Chattahoochee River and the western line of Wayne County bounded on the south by the Florida line, and on the north by lines starting from the Chattahoochee River near Fort Gaines and running due east to a point northeast of Isabella, and thence forty-five degrees northeast to the Ocmul- gee River, and thence following the Ocmulgee to the Altamaha River near Jesup where it intersected the western boundary line of Wayne County.
The treaty above referred to entered into August 9, 1814, between Andrew Jackson and the Creek nation which in- cluded the territory embracing originally Irwin County, reads as follows :
Treaty of 1814.
Whereas an unprovoked, inhuman and sanguinary war waged by the hostile Creeks against the United States hath been re- pelled, prosecuted and determined successfully on the part of the said states in conformity with principles of national jus- tice and honorable warfare, and whereas consideration is due to the rectitude of proceeding directed by instructions relat-
11
TREATY OF 1814
ing to the re-establishments of peace; Be it remembered that prior to the conquest of that part of the Creek nation hostile to the United States, numberless aggressions had been com- mitted against the peace, the property and lives of citizens of the United States and those of the Creek nation in amity with her at the mouth of Duck River, Fort Mims and else- where contrary to national faith and the regard due to an article of the treaty concluded at New York in the year 1790 between the two nations. That the United States, previously to the perpetration of such outrages, did in order to insure future amity and concord between the Creek nation and the said states in conformity with stipulations of former treaties fulfill with punctuality and good faith her engagements to the said nations.
That more than two-thirds of the whole number of chiefs and warriors of the Creek nation, disregarding the genuine spirit of existing treaties, suffered themselves to be insti- gated to violations of their national honor, and the respect due to a part of their own nation faithful to the United States and the principles of humanity by imposters denom- inating themselves Prophets, and by the duplicity and mis- representations of foreign emissaries whose governments are at war, open, or understood with the United States. Where- fore,
1. The United States demands an equivolent for all ex- penses incurred in prosecuting the war to its termination by a cession of all the territories belonging to the Creek na- tion within the territory of the United States lying west, south and southeasterly of a line to be run and described by persons duly authorized and appointed by the President of the United States. Beginning at a point on the eastern bank of the Coosa River where the south boundary line of the Cherokee nation crosses the same; running from thence down the said Coosa River with its eastern bank according to various meanders to a point one mile above the mouth of Cedar Creek at Fort Williams, thence east two miles, thence south two miles, thence west to the eastern bank of the said Coosa River, thence down the eastern bank thereof according to its various meanders to a point opposite the upper end of
12
HISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
the great falls called by the natives Woetumpka, thence east from a true meridian line to a point due north of the mouth of Ofucshee, thence south by like meridian line to the mouth of Ofucshee on the south side of the Tallapoosa River, thence up the same according to its various meanders to a point where a direct course will cross the same at the distance of ten miles from the mouth thereof, thence a direct line to the mouth of Summochice Creek, which empties into the Chatta- hoochee River on the east side thereof below the Eufaula town, thence east from a true meridian line to a point which shall intersect the line now dividing the lands claimed by the said Creek nation from those claimed and owned by the State of Georgia, provided nevertheless that where any possessions of any chief or warrior of the Creek nation who shall have been friendly to the United States during the war and taken an active part therein, shall be within the territory deeded by these articles to the United States, every such person shall be entitled to a reservation of land within the said territory of one mile square to include his improvements as near the center thereof as may be, which shall inure to the said chief or warrior and his decendants so long as he or they shall con- tinue to occupy the same, who shall be protected by and sub- ject to the laws of the United States, upon the voluntary abandonment thereof by such possessor or his decendants the right of occupancy or possession of said lands shall devolve to the United States and be identified with the right of prop- erty ceded hereby.
2. The United States will guarantee to the Creek nation the integrity of all their territories easterly and northerly of the said line to be run and described as mentioned in first article.
3. The United States demands that the Creek nation aban- don all communications and cease to hold any intercourse with any British or Spanish post, garrison or town; and that they shall not admit among them any agent or trader who shall de- rive authority to hold commercial or other intercourse with them by license from the President or authorized agent of the United States.
4. The United States demands an acknowledgment of the
13
TREATY OF 1814
right to establish military posts and trading houses, to open roads within the territory guaranteed to the Creek nation by the second article and a right to the free navigation of all its waters.
5. The United States demands that a surrender be im- mediately made of all the persons and property taken from the citizens of the United States, the friendly part of the Creek nation, the Cherokee, the Chickasaw and Choctaw to the respective owners; and the United States will cause to be immediately restored to the formerly hostile Creeks all the property taken from them since their submission, either by the United States, or by any Indian nation in amity with the United States, together with all the prisoners taken from them during the war.
6. The United States demands the capture and surrender of all the prophets and instigators of the war, whether foreigners or natives, who have not submitted to the arms of the United States and become parties to these articles of capitulation, if ever they shall be found within the territory guaranteed to the Creek nation by the second article.
7. The Creek nation being reduced to extreme want and not at present having the means of subsistance, the United States from motives of humanity will continue to furnish graciously the necessaries of life, until the crops of corn can be considered competent to yield the nation a supply and will establish trading houses in the nation at the direction of the President of the United States and at such places as he shall direct to enable the nation by industry and economy to pro- cure clothing.
8. A permanent peace shall insue from the date of these presents forever between the Creek nation and the United States and between the Creek nation and Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw nations.
9. If in running east from the mouth of Summochico Creek it shall so happen that the settlement of the Kennards fall within the lines of the territory hereby ceded, then in that case the line shall be run east on a true meridian line to Kitchofoonee Creek, thence down the middle of said creek to its junction
14
HISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
with Flint River immediately below the Ocmulgee town, thence up the middle of Flint River to a point east of that at which the above struck Kitchofoonee Creek, thence east to the old line hereinbefore mentioned, to wit: the line dividing the land claimed by the Creek nation from those claimed and owned by the State of Georgia.
The parties to these presents after due consideration for themselves and their constituents agreed to ratify and con- firm the preceding article and constitute them the basis of a permanent peace between the nations; and they do hereby solemnly bind themselves and all the parties concerned therein. In testimony whereof, they hereunto interchangeably set their hands and affixed their seals the day and date above written. Andrew Jackson, Major General, Commanding Seventh Milita- ry District ; Tustunnuggee Thlucco, Speaker for Upper Creek, his mark; Micco Aupeegan, of Toukan Batchee, his mark; Tustunnuggee Hopoice, Speaker of Lower Creek, his mark; Miceo Achulee, of Cowetan, his mark; Hopoiee Hutkee, of Asonwagoolo, his mark ; Hopoiee Hutkee, for Hopoiee, Yoholoof Somoagoola, his mark; Folappo Haujo, of Eufaulau on Chat- tahoochee, his mark; Pachee Houjo, of Appalachicola, his mark; Timpoeechee Bernard, Captain of Uchees, his mark; Uchee Micco, his mark; Yoholo Micco, of Kialijee, his mark; Socoskee Emantle, of Kailijee, his mark; Choocchan Hanjo, of Woccocoi, his mark; Esholoctee, of Nanchee, his mark; Yoholo Micco, of Tallapoosa Eufaulau, his mark; Stinthellis Hanjo, of Abecoochee, his mark; Ocfuskee Yohola, of Tont- cangee, his mark; John O'Kelly, of Coosa; Eneh Thlucco, of Immooksan, his mark; William McIntosh, Jr., Majro of Cowetan, his mark; Faue Emantla, of Cussatan, his mark; Toukanbatchee Tustunnuggee, of Hitchetee, his mark; Noble Kinard, of Hitchetee, his mark; Espokokoke Hanjo, of Wewoke, his mark; Eneh Thlucco, Hopoice, of Talessee, his mark; Efau Hanjo, of Puccaa Tallahasee, his mark; Tallessee Fixico, of Ocheebofan, his mark; Nomatlee Emautla, or Capt. Isaacs Connsoulee, his mark ; Tuskegee Emautla, or John Carr, of Tuskeegee, his mark; Alexander Grayson, of Hillabee, his mark; Lowee, of Ocmulgee, his mark; Nocoosee Emautlee, of Chustee Tallafan, his mark; William McIntosh, for Hopoiee
15
TREATY OF 1814
Hanjo, of Oosiochee, his mark; William McIntosh, for Spokokee Tustunnuggee, of Otellewhoyonnee, his mark.
Done at Fort Jackson in presence of Charles Casedy, Acting Secretary ; Benjamin Hawkins, Agent for Indians' affairs; Return J. Heigs, A. C. Nation ; Robert Butler Adjutant General, United States Army ; J. C. Warren, Assistant Agent Indian affairs; George Mayfield, Alex Curnells, George Lovett, Public Interpreters.
Before any new counties could be made in south Georgia it was necessary to have an additional treaty with the Indians as they still own some of the territory in the southern part of the state, therefore the following treaty was made with the Creek Indians at the Creek Agency on Flint River, Jan- uary 22, 1818.
"James Monroe, President of the United States of America, by David Birdie Mitchell, of the State of Georgia, Agent of Indian affairs for the Creek nation and sole Commissioner, especially appointed for that purpose on the one part, and the undersigned kings, chiefs, headmen and warriors of the Creek nation in council assembled on behalf of the said nation of the other part, have entered into the following articles and conditions :
Article 1. The said kings, chiefs, headmen and warriors do hereby agree in consideration of certain sums of money to be paid to the said Creek nation by the government of the United States as hereinafter stated, to cede and forever quit- claim to them and do in behalf of their said nation hereby cede, relinquish and forever quitclaim unto the United States all rights, titles and interest which the said nation have or claim in or unto the following tracts of land situated, lying and being within the following bounds, that is to say :
(a) Beginning at the mouth of Goose Creek on the Alta- maha River, thence along the line leading to the mounts at the head of St. Marys River to the point where it is intersected by the line run by the Commissioners of the United States under the treaty of Fort Jackson, thence along the said last mentioned line to a point where a line leaving the same shall run the nearest and a direct course by the head of a creek called by the Indians, Alcassalekie, to the Ocmulgee; thence
16
HISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
down the said Ocmulgee River to its junction with the Oconee, the two rivers there forming the Altamaha, thence down the Altamaha to the first mentioned bounds at the mouth of Goose Creek.
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