USA > Georgia > Floyd County > Rome > A history of Rome and Floyd County, State of Georgia, United States of America; including numerous incidents of more than local interest, 1540-1922, Volume I > Part 29
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"In the morning he mentioned that among the Creek Nation women are monthly put out of the house to purify,
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ANECDOTES AND REMINISCENCES
and at these seasons men do not ap- proach them, even to speak, except from a distance. Adultery in high or low degree is punished with beating until the criminals faint, and then cut- ting the ears off. Formerly, passing between a woman and the wind or bathing higher up a stream at the same time with her was held adultery, com- munieated of the water or the wind. After punishment is inflicted, how- ever, the offender resumes his rank, and if he can escape until after an an- nual jubilee, he may save himself en- tirely from punishment.
"A married man may have as many wives as he pleases, if they are not the wives of others. The ladies have not that privilege."
WHEN THE RED MAN LEFT .- (By Jno. W. H. Underwood, in The Cartersville Courant, 1883) . - The County of Floyd is perhaps the most interesting locality of this section of the state. Situated on the confluence of the Oostanaula and Etowah rivers, it has attracted the attention of many people. It was the favorite resort of the Red Man, and when the treaty of Dec. 29, 1835, was made, the influx of population was greatly increased.
The Cherokee country was surveyed by the authorities of the State of Georgia in 1830 and 1831. The lots were 160 acres and 40 acres in size. That supposed to be the gold region was laid off in 40-acre lots, and that where there was supposed to be no gold was laid off in 160-acre lots. The whole of the Cherokee country com- prised in the chartered limits of Geor- gia was made into one county, called Cherokee County. The extent of the territory embraced was very consider- able, beginning at the point where the 35th parallel of N. Latitude comes in contact with a point on the Blue Ridge fixed by James Blair and Wilson Lump- kin that now divides Towns and Ra- bun counties, running thence west to Nickajack Cave, the northwest corner of Georgia, thence due south, nearly in the direction of Miller's bend, on the Chattahoochee River, two miles south of West Point, Ga., until it strikes the north of Carroll County, thence east until it reaches the Chattahoochee River, thence along said river to the mouth of the Chestatee, thence up the Chestatee River to the head and then
due north to the top of the Blue Ridge, then in an easterly direction to Hick- ory Gap, then with the meanders of the Blue Ridge to the beginning.
Cherokee County was organized early in 1832. The courthouse was located where the town of Canton now is. A judge and solicitor general were elect- ed. The Hon. Jno. W. Hooper was the first judge of the Superior Court. He was the father of Mrs. Thos. W. Alex- ander and John W. Hooper, long a resident of Rome. Hon. Wm. Ezzard was elected the first solicitor general. He now resides in Atlanta, Ga., a hale and hearty, well-preserved man be- tween 80 and 90 years of age, an orna- ment to mankind, an honor to his race, a connecting link between the past and present. Jacob M. Scudder, who had long resided among the Indians as a licensed trader, under the new inter- course laws of the United States, res- ident in the nation, was elected sena- tor, and a man by the name of Wil- liams representative. Scudder was a highly intelligent and able man, and very soon made a favorable impres- sion upon the legislature. Early in the session he introduced a bill to lay off the country into ten counties, as follows : Forsyth, Cobb, Lumpkin, Union, Gilmer, Cherokee, Murray, Cass, Floyd and Paulding. Murray County embraced the territory that is now in Whitfield, Catoosa, Walker, and one-half of Chattooga. It would per- haps have been best if the original counties had remained as they were, with slight exceptions. Mr. Scudder laid off Floyd County with the view of the existence of a city where Rome now is. John Ross, the principal chief of the Cherokees, resided immediately north and opposite the junction of the rivers, and called his place "Head of Coosa." I have seen his letters to my father often.
Major Ridge, who was made a major by Gen. Jackson at the Battle of the Horseshoe on the Tallapoosa River, in Alabama, for gallant conduct, resided up the Oostanaula River nearly two miles north of the courthouse, on the east bank of the river. Major Ridge's son, John, was educated at Princeton, N. J.,* and John's sister, Sallie, at Mrs. Elsworth's School. John Ridge was the great rival of John Ross, and Sal. lie Ridge was the first wife of George W. Paschal, deceased, who was once one of the judges of the Supreme Court of Texas. Ridge Paschal, their son, is a distinguished lawyer in Texas.
There exists no record of the first settlers of Floyd County. The site
*Not at Princeton University. It is generally accepted that he attended the mission schools at Spring Place, Murray County, and at Corn- wall, Conn.
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
was at first located down the Coosa River, ten miles from Rome and called Livingston. In 1834, however, there was a very heated contest, and the seat of justice, the courthouse, was moved to the junction of the rivers and the place named Rome. Among the early settlers were the two Hemphills- James and Philip W. Hemphill. One of them resided at the Mobley place, now owned by Col. Yancey, and the other in Vann's Valley, at what has been for many years known as the Montgomery farm.
Walton H. Jones was the brother- in-law of Hemphill and was an early settler. So was Edward Ware, who resided eight miles south of Rome, where Mr. Alexander White now lives. Joseph Ford, the father of I. D. Ford and Arthur Ford, was another, and resided in Vann's Valley where Mr. W. S. Gibbons now lives. He built the brick residence there. John Rush was another early settler, and resided on the Calhoun Road, seven miles north- east of Rome. Joseph Watters was an early settler, settling eight miles north- east of Rome at the "Hermitage." Wal- lace Warren was here early, and re- sided on the west side of the Oosta- naula six miles from Rome. Dr. Alvin Dean, the grandfather of Linton Dean, was another one of them. He resided about nine miles down the Coosa at the residence of John W. Turner, who married his daughter. Thos. S. Price was another striking man, for sixteen years sheriff and deputy sheriff with Thos. G. Watters, now of Rome. The Loyds were heard of at an early date, and so were Thomas and Elijah Lump- kin. John H. Lumpkin was here in 1834. Joseph Watters was many times a senator from Floyd. John H. Lump- kin was for three terms a member of the Superior Court. Among the men of mark who were here at an early day may be mentioned Daniel R. Mitchell, Wallace Mitchell, A. T. Har- din, Elkanah Everett, and Thos. Sel- man, the father of the numerous and highly respected Selmans.
Perhaps the most far-seeing man devoted to the interests of Rome that ever lived in our midst was William Smith. He was of great energy and very full capacity, with the will and courage of Andrew Jackson- warm in his friendships and attach- ments. He saw at an early day the prospective commercial importance of Rome. He was very far in advance of the place and the people. He caused to be projected and built the first
steamboat. He was born to command and generally had at least one-half of the voters of the county under his control. He was often honored with positions of trust by the people of the county, and was once state senator. He died at comparatively an early age. He was a close and intimate friend of Col. Alfred Shorter.
Of the earliest settlers, few if any remain-alas, alas! they have gone to that bourne whence no traveler re- turns ! Melancholy reflection ! The writer knew them all-they were his friends and are now in the grave.
Among the later settlers were Wm. H. Underwood, Dr. H. V. M. Miller, A. D. Shackelford, Wm. T. Price, R. S. Norton, Wm. E. Alexander, Pente- cost and Ihly, the Alexanders, the Smith family, Col. Alfred Shorter and Wade S. Cothran, active-minded and public-spirited men.
A. B. Ross, clerk of the Superior Court, the father of our present clerk, was here at an early day. He held the office of clerk until his death, and was as good a man as ever lived in the county.
Jobe Rogers, John DeJournett, Ewell Meredith and the Berryhills were sterling men. The Rev. Geo. White, of Savannah, Ga., published two books, history and statistics of Geor- gia, and there is very little said of Floyd County. Floyd is now the fifth or sixth county in point of population, and Rome is the sixth city in the state. The future of Rome is very promis- ing. The growth has been gradual and it is a remarkable fact that Rome has built up by money made in the place principally. Very little capital from abroad has been used.
Rome ought to be the great manu- facturing, commercial and financial center of this northwest Georgia. We have considerable manufacturing in- terests here now, and with the ore, slate, marble, and other precious and valuable stones near enough to us, the future of Rome must be upward and onward.
There is no collision of interests be- tween Rome, Dalton, Rockmart and Cartersville. The interest of one is the interest of the whole. Let there be no jealousy and no rivalry. Let each and all push forward the wheel of our progress, and make this section in point of fact and development what the god of nature intended, the most prosperous and lovely section of this great country.
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ANECDOTES AND REMINISCENCES
AN OLD RAMBLER .- The follow- ing Floyd County humor is from Bill Arp's Scrap Book, Chapt. 1, The Orig- inal Bill Arp, by Chas. H. Smith, At- lanta, Jas. P. Harrison & Co., 1884:
"Some time in the spring of 1861, when the boys were hunting for a fight and felt like they could whip all crea- tion, Mr. Lincoln issued a proclama- tion ordering us all to disperse and retire within 30 days, and to quit ca- vorting around in a hostile and bellig- erent manner. I remember writing an answer to it, though I was a good Un- ion man and a law-abiding citizen, and was willing to disperse, if I could, but it was almost impossible, for the boys were mighty hot, and the way we made up our military companies was to send a man down the lines with a bucket of water to sprinkle 'em as he came to 'em, and if a fellow sizzed like hot iron in a slack-trough, we took him, and if he didn't sizz, we dident take him; but still, nevertheless, notwithstanding, and so forth, if we could possibly dis- perse in 30 days we would do so, but I thought he had better give us a little more time, for I had been out in an old field and tried to disperse myself and couldent quite do it.
"I thought the letter was pretty smart, and read it to Dr. Miller and Judge Underwood, and they seemed to think it was right smart too. About that time I looked around and saw Bill Arp standing at the door with his mouth open and a merry glisten in his eye. As he came forward, says he to me, 'Squire, are ye gwine to print that?'
reckon I will, Bill,' said I. 'What name are ye gwine to put to it?' said he. 'I havent thought about a name.' Then he brightened up and said, 'Well, Squire, I wish you would put mine, for them's my sentiments!' And I promised him that I would.
"So I did not rob Bill Arp of his good name, but took it on request, and now at this late day, when the moss has covered his grave, I will record some pleasant memories of a man whose notoriety was not extensive, but who filled up a gap that was open, and who brightened up the flight of many an hour in the good old time, say from 20 to 30 years ago.
"Bill Arp was a small, sinewy man, weighing about 130 pounds, as active as a cat, as quick in movement as he was active, and always presenting a bright, cheerful face. He had an amiable disposition, a generous heart and was as brave a man as nature
makes. He was an humble man and unlettered in books; never went to school but a month or two in his life, and could neither read nor write; but still, he had more than his share of common sense, more than his share of ingenuity, and plan and contrivance, more than his share of good mother- wit and humor, and was always wel- come when he came about.
"Lawyers and doctors and editors, and such gentlemen of leisure as who used to, in the good old times, sit around and chat and have a good time, always said, 'Come in, Bill, and take a seat.' And Bill seemed grateful for the compliment, and with a conscious humility squatted on about half the chair and waited for questions. The bearing of the man was one of rever- ence for his superiors and thankful- ness for their notice.
"Bill Arp was a contented man- contented with his humble lot. He never grumbled or complained at any- thing; he had desires and ambitions, but they did not trouble him. He kept a ferry for a wealthy gentleman who lived a few miles above Rome, on the Etowah River, and he cultivated a small portion of his land; but the ferry was not of much consequence, and when Bill could step off to Rome and hear the lawyers talk, he would turn over the boat and poles to his wife or children, and go. I have known him to take a back seat in the court- house for a day at a time and with a face all greedy for entertainment, listen to the learned speeches of the lawyers and charge of the court, and
THE ORIGINAL BILL ARP.
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
O.K.
TESTING THE ROME BOYS FOR WAR DUTY.
"Bill Arp's" book, "Peace Papers," tells how the recruiting officers at Rome poured water on candidates who were hot over Mr. Lincoln's "disarmament proc- lamation." If "sizzling" resulted, they were sworn in. The author's several books reflect vividly the humorous incidents and philosophy of the times.
go home happy, and be able to tell to his admiring family what Judge Un- derwood said and what Judge Wright said, and what Col. Alexander said, and what the judge on the bench said; and if there was any fun in anything that was said, Bill always got it, and never forgot it. When court was not in session, he still slip- ped off to town and would frequent the lawyers' offices and listen to 'em talk, and the brighter the talk, the
faster Bill would chew his tobacco, and the brighter his little, merry eyes would sparkle.
"He had the greatest reverence for Col. Johnston, his landlord, and always said he would rather belong to him than to be free; 'for,' said he, 'Mrs. Johnston throws away enough old clothes and vittles to support my chil- dren, and they are always nigh enough to pick 'em up.'
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ANECDOTES AND REMINISCENCES
"Bill Arp lived in Chulio district.# We had eleven districts in the county, and they had all such names as Pop- Skull, and Blue Gizzard, and Wolf- Skin, and Shake-Rag, and Wild-Cat, but Bill lived and reigned in Chulio. Every district had its best man in those days, and Bill was the
best man in Chulio. He could out-run, out-jump, out-swim, out- rastle, out-ride, out-shoot anybody in Chulio, and was so far ahead that everybody else had given it up, and Bill reigned supreme. He put on no airs about this, and his neighbors were all his friends.
"But there was another district ad- joining, and it had its best man, too. One Ben McGinnis ruled the boys of that beat, and after a while it began to be whispered around that Ben wasn't satisfied with his limited terri- tory, but would like to have a small tackle with Bill Arp. Ben was a pre- tentious man. He weighed about 165 pounds, and was considered a regular bruiser; and he, too, like Bill Arp, had never been whipped. When Ben hit a man, it was generally understood that he meant business, and his adversary was hurt, badly hurt, and Ben was glad of it, and vain of it. But when Bill Arp hit a man he was sorry for him, and if he knocked him down, he would rather help him up and brush the dirt off his clothes than swell around in triumph. Fighting was not very common with either. The quicker a man whips a fight, the less often he has to do it, and both Ben and Bill had settled their standing most effec- tually. Bill satisfied with his honors, but Ben was not, for there was many a Ransy Sniffle ** who lived along the line between the districts and car- ried news from the one to the other, and made up the coloring, and soon it was norated around that Ben and Bill had to meet and settle it.
"The court grounds of that day con- sisted of a little shanty and a shelf. The shanty had a dirt floor and a pun- cheon seat and a slab for the Squire's docket, and the shelf was outside for the whisky. The whisky was kept in a jug-a gallon jug-and that held just about enough for the day's busi- ness. Most everybody took a dram in those days, but very few took too mnuch, unless, indeed, a dram was too
much. It was very uncommon to see a man drunk at a county court ground. Pistols were unknown, bowie-knives were unknown, brass knuckles and sling-shots were unknown, and all other devices that gave one man all artful advantage over another. The boys came there in their shirt sleeves and galluses, and if they got to quar- reling, they settled it according to na- ture.
"When Col. Johnston, who was Bill Arp's landlord, and Maj. Ayer *** and myself got to Chulio, Bill Arp was there, and was pleasantly howdying with his neighbors, when suddenly we discovered Ben McGinnis trapoosing around, and every little crowd he got to, he would lean forward in an in- solent manner and say, 'Anybody here got anything agin Ben McGinnis? Ef they have, I golly, I'll give 'em five dollars to hit that; I golly, I dare any- body to hit that,' and he would point to his forehead with an air of defiance.
"Bill Arp was standing by us, and I thought he looked a little more se- rious than I had ever seen him. Frank Ayer says to him, 'Bill, I see that Ben is coming around here to pick a fight with you, and I want to say that you have got no cause to quarrel with him, and if he comes, do you just let him come and go, that's all.' Col. Johnston says, 'Bill, he is too big for you, and your own beat knows you, and you haven't done anything against Ben, and so I advise you to let him pass-do you hear me?'
"By this time, Bill's nervous system was all in a quiver. His face had an air of rigid determination, and he re- plied humbly, but firmly, 'Col. John-
- MOSEN
BEN MCGINNIS.
* According to Miss Virginia C. Hardin, of Atlanta, Chulio was called after an Indian sub- chief who lies buried on the Stubbs place, ad- joining the Hardin plantation, near Kingston. ** A busy-body character in Longstreet's "Georgia Scenes."
*** W. Frank Ayer, once Mayor of Rome.
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
Moser-84.
BILL ARP, OF CHULIO, TRIUMPHS OVER BEN M'GINNIS.
stone, I love you, and I respect you, too; but if Ben McGinnis comes up here outen his beat, and into my beat, and me not havin' done nothin' agin him, and he dares me to hit him, I'm gwine to hit him, if it is the last lick I ever strike. I'm no phist puppy dog, sir, that he should come outen his deestrict to bully me.'
"I've seen Bill Arp in battle, and he was a hero. I've seen him when shot and shell rained around him, and he was cool and calm, and the same old smile was on his features. I've seen him when his first-born was stricken down at Manassas, and he was near enough to see him fall headforemost to the foe, but I never have seen him as intensely excited as he was that moment when Ben McGinnis approach- ed us, and addressing himself to Bill Arp, said, 'I golly, I dare anybody to hit that!'
"As Ben straightened himself up, Bill let fly with his hard, bony fist right in his left eye, and followed it up with another. I don't know how it was, and never will know; but I do know this, that in less than a second, Bill had him down and was on him, and his fists and his elbows and his knees seemed all at work. He after- ward said that his knees worked on
Ben's bread basket, which he knew was his weakest part. Ben hollered enough in due time, which was con- sidered honorable to do, and all right, and Bill helped him up and brushed the dirt off his clothes, and said, 'Now, Ben, is it all over 'twixt you and me; is you and me all right?' And Ben said, 'It's all right 'twixt you and me, Bill; I give it up, and you are a gentleman.' Bill invited all hands up to the shelf, and they took a drink, and Bill paid for the treat as a gen- erous victor, and he and Ben were friends.
"I was not at the big wrestle be- tween Bill Arp and Ike McCoy, and had heard so many versions of it that one night, while we were sitting around the camp fire in Virginia, I insisted on hearing it from Bill's own lips. Said he, 'Well, gentlemen (he always accented the men), my motto has been to never say die, as Ginrul Jackson said at the Battle of New Or- leans, and all things considered, I have had a power of good luck in my life. I don't mean money luck by no means, for most of my life I've been so ded pore that Lazarus would have resign- ed in my favor, but I've been in a heap of close places, and somehow al- ways come out right-side-up with care.
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"'You see, Ike McCoy was perhaps the best rasler in all Cherokee, and he just hankered after a chance to break a bone or two in my body. Now, you know I never hunted for a fight nor a fuss in my life, but I never dodged one. I didn't want a tilt with Ike, for my opinion was that he was the best man of the two, but I never said anything, but just trusted to luck.
" 'We was both at the barbycu, and he put on a heap of airs, and strutted around with his shirt collar open clean down to his waist, and his hat cocked on one side of his head, as sassy as a Confederate quartermaster. He took a dram, and then stuffed himself full of fresh meat at dinner. Along in the evening it was norated around that Ike was going to banter me for a ras- sle, and shore enuf, he did. The boys were all up for some fun, and Ike got on a stump and hollered out, 'I'll bet ten dollars I can plaster the length of any man on the ground, and I'll give, Bill Arp five dollars to take the bet!'
""'Of course, there was no gettin' around the like of that. The banter got my blood up, and so, without wait- in' for ceremony, I shucked myself and went in. The boys was all powerfully excited, and was a bettin' every dollar they could raise, and Bob Moore, the feller I had licked about a year before, said he'd bet twenty dollars to ten that Ike would knock the breath outen me the first fall. I borrowed the money from Col. Johnston, and walked over to him and said, 'I'll take that bet!' "
" 'The river* was right close to the spring, and the bank was purty steep. I had on an old pair of copprass britches that had been seined in and dried so often they was about half rotten. When we hitched, Ike took good britches-holt and lifted me up and down a few times like I was a child. He was the heaviest, but I had the most spring in me, and so I jest let him play around for some time, lim- ber like, until suddenly he took a no- tion to make short work of it with one of his back-leg trip movements. He drawed me up to his body and lifted me into the air with a powerful twist. Jest at that minit his back was close to the river bank, and as my feet teched the ground, I give a tremendous jerk backwards and a shove forwards, and my britches split plum open in the back and tore clean offen my bread basket, and Ike fell from me
backwards and tumbled down the bank into the river-kerchug!
"'Sich hollerin' as them boys done I reckon never was hearn before in all them woods. I jumped in and helped Ike out as he riz to the top. He had took in a quart or so of water right on top of his whisky and bar- bycu, and as he set upon the bank, it all come forth like a dost of ippe- cack. When he gotten over it he laughed sorter weakly and said Sally Ann told him afore he left home he had better let Bill Arp alone, for no- body could run against his luck. Ike always believed he would have thrown me if britches holt hadent broke, and I reckon he would. One thing is cer- tain; it cured Ike of braggin', and it cured Bob Moore of bettin', and that was a good thing.'
"Bill was full of mischief and his indulgence in practical jokes some- times led him into trouble, but he al- ways managed to get out. Col. John- ston says that one time a young man stayed over night at his house, and had occasion to cross the ferry next morning. He was from Charleston,
MOST:
BILL ARP "LOW RATES" M'COY.
. * Etowah.
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
-
Moser-84.
THE YOUNG MAN FROM CHARLESTON.
and had on a pair of fine boots and a fashionable hat and a white vest and kid gloves, and was altogether quite dandy-like in his appearance. Bill came over with the ferry boat and eyed the man with a look of surprise and contempt. The young man asked him if his boat was entirely safe, and insisted on having every drop of water bailed out for fear of muddying his boots. Bill showed great alacrity in complying, and when the boat was nearly across, and the young man was standing near the gunnel, looking down into the water, the long pole that Bill was managing came sudden- ly against his shoulders and keeled him overboard. Bill did not hesitate a moment, but jumped in after him, and quickly pulled him up into the boat again. The youth was dread- fully alarmed and grateful for his safe deliverance. He went back again to the Colonel's house for some dry clothes, but before he left he insisted on rewarding Bill for saving his life, but Bill modestly refused to receive anything.
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