USA > Georgia > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson county > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
YPOTY (
SON COUNT
1-3 % MRS AV. FROM
1800
S
THIE OLD SLAVE MARKET AT LOUISVILLE, BUILT IN 1758
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
By MRS. Z. V. THOMAS
Love thou thy land, with love far brought From out the storied past, and used Within the present, but transfused Through future time by power of thought. -Tennyson.
PRESS OF THE J. W. BURKE COMPANY MACON, GA. 1927
Fans JaFT5
- -
FOREWORD
IN gathering the facts for this little history of Jefferson County, I am indebted to Dr. Lucian Knight State Historian's "Legends and Landmarks of Georgia", Dr. George Smith's "History of Georgia", Evans' "History of Georgia", and to many friends for courtesies in helping me to sources of information. The history is very imperfect and abbreviated, but it is written in the hope that some other pen will record a fuller and more complete ac- count of our grand old county, which was the birthplace of Georgia's legalized capital, and the times following this history-making epoch.
-Z. V. THOMAS.
OLD SLAVE MARKET, LOUISVILLE, GA.
Come, my friends, 'tis not too late To seek a newer world-My purpose holds To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths of all the western stars- It may be the gulfs will wash us down; It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles
And see the great Achilles whom we knew Tho' much is taken, much abides, and tho' We have not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, We Are,
One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. -Tennyson.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
The Old Slave Market at Louisville Frontispiece
Jefferson County Court House IO
Louisville Academy-Stapleton School 58
School at Wadley-School at Matthews 62 J
Wrens School-School at Bartow 64
Confederate Soldiers in Uniform 100
Historic Marker, Commemorating Burning Yazoo Fraud Papers IIO
CHAPTER
I-Colonizing Georgia II
The Yazoo Fraud
67
Louisville 72
Wadley 79 1
Bartow
8I
Moxley
85
Stapleton 86 1 I
Stellaville 89
Matthews-Avera 92
Wrens 93
Zebina 95
Bethany 96
II-War Between the States, by W. L. Phillips 99 III-Historical Sketch, by Hon. Warren Grice 109
IV-Jefferson County's Part in the World War ,I37
I
JEFFERSON COUNTY COURT HOUSE
Erected in 1907, is built of cream colored brick. The massive white columns and dignified proportions are well suited to its setting in a large oak grove. The late Willis F. Denny, architect, was a Louisville citizen. It is situated on the site of the first capital of Georgia. During ex- cavations for the foundation, old brick and timbers were dug up, and the building outline of the old State House found.
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
CHAPTER I
COLONIZING GEORGIA
O VER in England there was a young officer by the name of Oglethorpe, who had distinguished himself in military service and was elected to parlia- ment. He became interested in prison conditions, and decided that a new country and new surround- ings would give many men, who were put in prison for debt, a new opportunity to make good.
He, with some influential friends, petitioned the king for a grant of land in the new country, America, upon which a number of the indigent people around London could be settled. The scheme being ap- proved, the charter of the Colony of Georgia was written and received the great seal of England June 9, 1732.
It has been idly charged that, in the beginning, Georgia's colonists were impecunious, depraved, law- less and abandoned; that the settlement at Savannah was a sort of Botany Bay, and that Yamacraw Bluff was peopled by renegades from justice. This is ut- terly without foundation. The truth is, no applicant
(11)
12
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
was admitted to the privileges of enrollment as an emigrant until he had been subjected to an exami- nation and had furnished satisfactory proof that he was fairly entitled to the benefits. Other American colonies were founded by individuals coming at will, without question, and bringing no certificate of pres- ent or past conduct. Oglethorpe permitted no one to join his colonists who was not, by competent authority, judged worthy of citizenship.
Four months were devoted to the task of select- ing the first settlers for Georgia. Only the best among the needy population of England were taken. No debtor was taken without the consent of his cred- itor ; no criminals were accepted; and no man was re- ceived whose object was to desert those dependent upon him for support.
At high noon, on November 16, 1732, the good ship Anne spread her white wings and began to plow the Thames on her perilous voyage across the Atlan- tic. There were thirty-five families on board, num- bering one hundred and twenty emigrants, under the personal care of the illustrious Oglethorpe himself. Over two months' time was consumed on the voyage, during which period prayers were offered each morn- ing and evening for Divine guidance that no mishap might overtake the passengers on board. On Jan- uary 13, 1733, the vessel dipped anchor in the har-
13
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
bor of Charleston, and the colonists were given a hearty welcome. It does not detract from the gen- uineness of this greeting to state that Georgia after- wards became a buffer between South Carolina and her enemies, the Spaniards and Indians. The next stop was at Beaufort, where the immigrants were provided with shelter until Oglethorpe, accompanied by William Bull and Jonathan Bryan, of South Car- olina, could visit the future settlement. They made the trip in an Indian canoe, and after winding in and out among the small islands at the mouth of the Savannah River, they saw, some distance up the river, a bluff crowned with pine trees, and at the western end a village, which they afterward learned was called Yamacraw. The chief of the tribe of In- dians living in Yamacraw was named Tomo-chi-chi. A trading post had been established there by a man named John Musgrove, whose wife, Mary, was a half-breed. The old chief at first refused to grant the request of the Europeans for land on which to settle but, through the good offices of Mary Mus- grove, he finally consented, after which the land was surveyed and the party returned to Beaufort for the colonists.
February 12, 1733, the little band of emigrants reached the bluff on which the infant colony of Geor- gia was to be cradled. Four large tents were spread.
14
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
By sunset the baggage was all ashore. Nightfall came,-prayers of thanksgiving were offered, and under the silent stars was spent the first night on Georgia soil. The leaders among the early colonists at Savannah were: General Oglethorpe, Captain Horton, Henry Parker, John Fallowfield, Col. Wil- liam Stephens, Patrick Tailfer, Thomas Jones, Thomas Chreistie, Richard Turner, Paul Amatis, James Burnsides, Peter Morel, Hugh Anderson, An- thony Camuse, P. Delegal, Walter Fox, Peter Gor- don, James Houston, Samuel Lacy, John Pye, Joseph Wardrope, Thomas Young, the Messrs. Sheftall and De Lyons, Noble Jones, James Habersham, John Milledge and Dr. Nunis.
In the next few months more ships bringing immi- grants arrived at Yamacraw, and Savannah was laid out into squares and building lots, and the streets named. The name of the town was changed from Yamacraw to Savannah. The large grant of land to Oglethorpe by King George II. extended from the Savannah River southward along the coast to the Altamaha River, and from the headwaters of these rivers westward, to what is called the South Seas. The country was divided into eight equal parts and was formed into the province of Georgia, named in honor of King George II. Religious liberty was given to the settlers except to those called Papists,
15
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
but the church of England was the leading religion.
The country was divided into parishes: Christ Church parish including Savannah; St. Matthew's parish, including Abercorn and Ebenezer; St. George's parish, including Halifax; St. Paul's parish, including Augusta; St. Philip's, including Great Ogeechee; St. John's, including Midway and Sun- bury; St. Andrew's, including Darien; and St. James', including Fredrica. These parishes were established in 1758, in order to facilitate and better regulate the government of the colony. Public wor- ship was ordered to be held at each settlement in these parishes. St. George's parish extended from the Ogeechee River on the west to the Savannah River on the east, and out of which, later, was formed Jefferson, Burke and Screven counties.
There was no fairer land in Georgia than that which was included in St. George's parish. Great bodies of cane stretched along the crystal streams in which the bear found his home; on the rich grasses thousands of deer fed; the hills were covered with a magnificent growth; the forests were like a king's park; there were streams and springs. The cattle needed no pasturage except what the woodlands furnished.
It is no wonder that as soon as the land was offered to settlers, they came in great numbers. The
16
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
new comer had only to select the place on which he wanted to settle, put down his stakes, and build his cabin. He filed an affidavit with the Governor's Council that he intended to settle in the colony, and an order was given to the surveyor to lay out two hundred acres of land for him, and an extra fifty acres for each additional negro he brought with him. The land was given away. Life with the early set- tlers was hard at first. There were no roads, and they came with their small supply of needful things on pack horses. The cabins were built of round logs and covered with split boards. At first the floor was of packed clay, the chimneys of sticks and clay. Oftentimes not a nail was used in the building. The furniture was scanty and made by hand. The long gray moss that hung like curtains on the trees in the swamps, furnished the couch for the sleepers. Augus- ta was the trading post, but very little money was in circulation. By carrying poultry to market, the pioneers secured powder, lead and salt. There was plenty game, and turkeys were so plentiful, they were caught in pens and their flesh dried. Immi- gration was large; as soon as the news of the rich land was told abroad, many Scotch-Irish people came directly from Ireland and settled in the part of St. George's parish that is now Jefferson County. Some brought over the spinning wheels they used in
17
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
Ireland to spin flax, and a few tried to grow flax, but the soil did not suit, or perhaps the rough new land was not adapted to the culture of flax. Ten miles south-east of Louisville stood an old trading post that ante-dates the coming of Oglethorpe to Georgia. The traditions of the locality indicate that at an early period there were Indian traders from South Carolina in this neighborhood, and if not the first Europeans to establish themselves upon the soil of the future colony, they, at least, penetrated fur- ther into the interior. George Galphin was one of this adventurous band. He lived at Silver Bluff, on the east side of the Savannah River, where he owned what was, at that time, an elegant mansion.
Galphin carried on an extensive trade with the In- dians, and was looked upon by them with awe and respect. They brought to him their disagreements for settlement, and whatever he advised them to do, was the final word on the subject. The trading post which he established on the Ogeechee River was called Galphinton. It was also known as Ogeechee Town, and after Louisville was settled, some ten miles to the north-west, it was commonly called Old Town to distinguish it from New Town, which the residents of the locality gave to the future capital of Georgia. In the course of time there gathered about the old trading post quite a settlement due to the
18
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
extensive barter with the Indians which here took place at certain seasons of the year; but time has spared only the barest remnants of the old fort. The following story is told of how George Galphin ac- quired the land on which the town of Louisville was afterwards built: Attracted by the red coat which he wore, an old Indian chief, whose wits had been sharpened by contact with the traders, approached Galphin in the hope of securing the coveted coat. Said he :
"Me had dream last night."
"You did?" said Galphin, "what did you dream about ?"
"Me dream you give me dat coat."
"Then you shall have it," said Galphin, and im- mediately suited the action to the word by trans- ferring to him the coat.
Quite a while passed before the old chief re- turned to the post, but when he again appeared in the settlement, Galphin said, "Chief, I dreamed about you last night."
"Ugh", he grunted, "what did you dream ?"
"I dreamed you gave me all the land in the fork of this creek", pointing to one of the tributary streams of the Ogeechee.
"Well", said the chief, "you take it, but we no more dream."
19
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
There is every reason to believe that the old trad- ng post at Galphinton was in existence when the tate was first colonized. The settlement which gradually developed around it may have arisen later, historians are not in accord upon this point. There were sundry settlers scattered among the Indians, nd it is probable Mr. Galphin had around his set- tlement at Galphinton some of his countrymen be- ore Oglethorpe came. As early as the time of Gov- rnor Reynolds, in 1752, there were grants made to nen in the part of St. George's parish that is now Jefferson County. Beyond question, Galphinton was the first locality established in Georgia by white men for commerce. At Galphinton, in 1758, a treaty was made between the state of Georgia and the Creek Indians, whereby the latter agreed to sur- render to the State the famous "Tallehassee Strip", between the Altamaha River and the St. Mary's; but the compact was repudiated by the Creeks under McGillivray who was leader in the long protracted Oconee War. By a treaty, in 1790, this strip was confirmed to the Indians, but in 1814, as a penalty for siding with the British in the war of 1812, the Indians were forced to cede it to the whites.
Some eight miles to the north-west of Galphinton, a trading post was established about the year 1769 by a band of Scotch-Irish settlers, who called the
20
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
place Queensboro, in honor of Queen Anne. It was located in an angle made by the Ogeechee River with a large creek which enters the stream at this point. This creek is Rock Comfort, which flows by Louisville. The locality was somewhat elevated and seemed to meet two requirements; a stronghold that could be made secure from Indian assaults, and healthy. In the immediate vicinity there was es- timated to be at one time two hundred families. It was sometimes called the Irish Settlement, or Irish Reserve, because the majority of the settlers were Irish, and most of them came directly or indirectly from the North of Ireland. George Galphin and John Rae were instrumental in getting them a res- ervation of fifty thousand acres of land which bordered on the Ogeechee River. They were Pres- byterians by faith. The town survived for a number of years, but when Louisville arose two miles off, it gradually declined in population until it finally ceased to exist. It was not until the Battle of Lex- ington that the Scotch-Irish settlers at Queensboro, in the parish of St. George, renounced allegiance to the crown of England. The reasons for the strong loyalist sentiment which prevailed in this part of the province were numerous.
The settlers lived on the frontier, constantly ex- posed to Indian attacks. They needed the protec-
21
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
tion of England. Quite a few were wealthy plant- ers, who possessed large estates; moreover, they re- sented a condition of affairs which were laid at the doors of the Puritans of Boston, and did not see why Georgia should become a party to New Eng- land's quarrel. So, following the famous meeting at Tondee's Tavern in Savannah, August 10, 1774, a protest meeting was held, in which the resolutions adopted at Savannah were condemned as reflecting improperly on the King of England and Parliament. This was signed by the freeholders and earliest set- tlers of what is now Jefferson County.
Jefferson County was laid out from Burke and Warren Counties in 1796, and was named for Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of In- dependence and President of the United States from 18OI to 1809. It lies in the eastern part of the state, and is bounded on the north and east by Rich- mond and McDuffie counties; on the west by Wash- ington, and on the north-west by Glascock and War- ren; on the south by Johnson and Emanuel. The Ogeechee River flows through the county and before the Central Railroad was built, was the principal medium of communication with Savannah. The sur- face of the land is elevated, gently rolling, giving fine drainage, splendid for farming. Being an old county, the soil has been reduced in fertility by in-
22
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
judicious farming, but the introduction of scientific methods in the last few years has restored much of the land to its primitive productiveness. Crops can be produced everywhere. The main crops are cot- ton, corn, peanuts, peas, velvet beans, grain of every kind, potatoes,-sweet and Irish,-tobacco, berries, and fruits of many kinds. Indeed, it would be dif- ficult to mention anything belonging to this latitude that cannot be successfully grown in Jefferson Coun- ty. Since the appearance of the boll weevil, farm- ers have diversified their crops, and give much at- tention to many products which are putting money into the homes. Lumber manufacturing has as- sumed immense proportions, and there are several mills in the county. Planting pecan groves is making a future bright with promise. Much hardwood tim- ber is shipped in round logs to various manufactur- ing plants. There are several farms of dewberries, whose owners enjoy a nice profit from their sales. Nearly every kind of fruit, except tropical, can be grown, and the swamps furnish a variety of wild fruits and nuts. The principal minerals are shell marl, limestone, burrstone, agate and chalcedony. There are several mineral springs. On the line of Burke and Jefferson in south-eastern section there is a big spring that covers nearly a quarter of an acre, and boils up in several places, a clear stream
23
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
of pure limestone water, with force enough to turn a mill. Near this spring there was a stone quarry operated by a Mr. Burr, but it has long since fallen into disuse.
Several fine streams of water are scattered over the county. Ogeechee River runs entirely through the county, from west to east, and has many tribu- taries. Briar Creek marks part of boundary line be- tween Jefferson, McDuffie, Richmond and Burke; Rocky Comfort, Big Creek, Reedy Creek, and Wil- liamson Creek are the largest streams, while numer- ous small streams abound. The Ogeechee River is navigable to Louisville. Near Wrens on the farm of Mr. John Radford, a bed of clay has been dis- covered which contains flint and pebbles, useful in making road-beds, streets, and for ballast on rail- road tracks. The stratum is about twelve feet deep and covers several acres. It yields about nine hun- dred cars per acre, and valued at six and seven hun- dred dollars for the acre.
The school system of the county is advancing rap- idly to the most practical and far-reaching plans which have matured in the minds of the best thinkers of the state. Consolidated schools are the rule, and the county is divided into school districts which have completed, or have in construction, the most modern and best equipped school buildings it is possible to plan.
24
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
The last census gives the county a population of twenty-two thousand six hundred and two, with an area of six hundred forty-six square miles. It is near the central eastern part of Georgia, and is near- ly twice as long as wide. The Central railroad runs through the southern part, the Georgia and Flor- ida traverses the northern portion, the Savannah and Northwestern runs north and south from Sa- vannah to Camack, while a short line operates be- tween Louisville and Wadley. This short railroad has the distinction of a Sabbath observance, a train never having been run on Sunday since the road was built and yet it is on a paying basis.
The old Indian trails leading from Louisville, Milledgeville and other points to Savannah and Augusta, are now splendid automobile highways.
The county uses the prisoners to work the public roads, and provides a permanent home on the high- way between Louisville and Wrens where good order, neat homes, with sanitary conveniences, and electric lights, mitigate the ignominy of their penal- ties. A home for the destitute and old is also pro- vided by the county, which is largely self-sustaining.
The Dixie Highway goes through the county, passing through Louisville on to Savannah, and the Jefferson Davis Highway is routed from Wrights- ville through Bartow, to intersect the Dixie at Bos-
25
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
tick's Mill, passing on to Louisville, Wrens and Augusta.
There are several historic churches in the county. Ways Church, one of the oldest, first called Darcy's meeting house, near Stellaville, was constituted May 15, 1817. The oldest church in the county, perhaps, is Old Bethel, constituted May 9, 1795. These churches were originally congregations belonging to the anti-Missionary Baptist church, but education and a broader love for humanity made a split among the members. The antis withdrew, and the Mission- ary Baptist church began her world-wide program. Ebenezer Church, on the road from Louisville to Wrens, Presbyterian, is another old church. Mt. Moriah, Methodist, in extreme northern part of the county, is noted for its camp meetings held every summer, including the third Sunday in August, where thousands assemble to hear the greatest pulpit ora- tors in the Methodist church. Here Bishop Pierce and his father used to preach, and here friends and old acquaintances met to renew friendships and memories of other days.
The leading denominations are Methodists and Baptists with Presbyterians in central part of county, Primitive Baptists in southern, and a few other de- nominations scattered over the county. Churches for these congregations are accessible, and every
26
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
section is blessed with some church as a community center. The Scotch-Irish Presbyterians had congre- gations before the Revolution, but churches were not erected. The Rev. Mr. Ronaldson was pastor, but was a Royalist and was taken captive. After being released he left Georgia and never returned. After the war ended, the Presbyterians sent to Ire- land and secured a pastor, Rev. David Bothwell, who came to Queensboro in 1790. His congrega- tion was large and embraced a large scope of country. Here he labored for many years, and died at the residence of General Jared Irwin, in Wash- ington County, and was buried there in the family burial ground in June, 1801, aged forty-five years. He was a man of medium size, rather stout, and was a clear, forceful speaker.
The Methodists and Baptists came after the war of the Revolution and so remarkably have they in- creased, that their followers exceed all others in numbers.
In the southern part of the county, Gen. Solomon Wood lived. His home was built on a high knoll a mile east of Bartow, on the farm now owned by Mr. J. R. O. Smith. Here he built a block house for the protection of the people from Indian raids, and had a bell made; the shape of this bell is like those used for cow bells, and it could be heard about two miles.
27
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
When signs of Indian trouble were seen or heard the bell would peal out its warning, and the people would seek safety in the fort. General Wood was a Revolutionary soldier. He lived to a goodly old age, but fell from a wagon while making a trip to Augusta or Savannah to exchange produce for plan- tation supplies, and sustained a broken leg, which caused blood poison from which he died. He is buried on the high knoll near the old home site and his grave is marked by a simple stone. His sons continued to live there, until one of the overseers began to use guano, when they said if the land was too poor to make a crop without guano, they would move away. They sold the place to Mr. Spier, who in turn sold it to Mr. Samuel Tarver, father of the late Judge A. E. Tarver. The bell was sold each time with the place, and is now in possession of Mr. S. B. Tarver, son of Judge Tarver. It has seen many changes. When its career began, this part of Georgia was almost primeval forest. Indians were numerous, and made the life of the settlers days of agony and nights of dread, unless they were for- tunate enough to make peace treaties with the chiefs; and even then, some unruly warrior would slip away at times to hold a war dance with himself, as he stealthily slipped up on some unprotected home and left a wife and child with bleeding scalps, to tell an
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.