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 50
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DARKEYS OF ROME, OLD-TIME. -Among the "segashuating corporosi- ties" of the older colored folk of Rome may be mentioned the following, as mostly supplied by Richard Venable Mitchell :
Lewis Barrett: "Veteran barber, while an old timer, he says he is never too tired to entertain his friends."
Jack Battey: "The body-guard of Dr. Robt. Battey in the Civil War. Jack had charge of 'Fleeter,' Dr. Bat- tey's faithful mare, which safely swam with her master across the Potomac River at night in 1863 in the Gettys- burg campaign. 'Fleeter' was given shortly afterward by Dr. Battey to the Sproull boys on the Kingston road, and was put to plowing, which she had never done before. She was a small gray mare, almost white, and a fine pacer; she went through the Battles of First Manassas, the Wilderness,
Gettysburg, Richmond and others, without a scratch, although a cannon ball once knocked dirt upon her and Jack and an iron gray pack horse which Jack rode. Jack died in 1912 at Chattanooga. He had been employ- ed in a hotel restaurant by Sam P. Light. On one occasion he had a ter- rible fight with another cook over the question of who could make the best chicken chop suey. He was a con- temporary of two other servants of Dr. Battey: Jim Hagan, who drove the one-horse wagon, and 'Aunt Che- ney,' an old slave. 'Aunt Cheney's' only picture was taken by W. Kennedy Laurie Dickson, assistant to Thos. A. Edison, while he was sojourning in Rome in 1890 after a siege of work on the motion picture invention."
Gus Carlton: "Retired blacksmith, with age about 95, and slightly bowed from bending over the hind hoof of many a 'jarhead.' Resides on Tower Hill and is now blind."
Chubb Family: "These darkeys were farmers around Chubbtown, near Cave
Spring and the Polk County line, whose industry and thrift enabled them to ac- cumulate considerable property, gins, mills, houses, etc. They are law-abid- ing, respected by the whites and gen- erally good citizens. Their master set them free before the Civil War."
Allen Collier: "His occupation is that of a cook. He knows how to pre- pare something that will satisfy one's bread basket. His wife, Alice Collier, washed many a garment in her younger days, but as she was suffering from the white swelling, she retired about 15 years ago and has always lived with her old man. She never knew she was an offspring of one of Col. Alfred Shorter's slaves. Allen does not belong to the aristocratic Shorter crowd, how- ever."
Charlie Coppee: "Retired drayman. Some eight years ago Charlie quit and has since been doing pretty much as he pleases as a butler in a good family on West Eleventh Street, Fourth Ward. He is 80 years old. His team con- sisted of a small flat-top wagon drawn by a slow-moving 'hard-tail.' He leaped to this city in 1885 from Athens. When he talks to you he squinches out of one eye and smiles out of one side of his mouth. He can still do a plantation breakdown if you give him a young enough partner and a shot of mean licker. In size he is very low and stumpy, but can cover ground. His home is in the rear of the place where he works."
Lou Cothran: "For 25 years cook and nurse for the Moultrie family and now nurse of the Ernest E. Lindsey children."
Ellen Pentecost Daniel: "A slave of Col. Alfred Shorter. She died in Octo- ber, 1914, at the ripe old age of 73. One of the most appetizing cooks in her day. She was my nurse and I understand held the bottle for quite a number of Romans, all of whom re- member her affectionately. Poor old soul; she never rusted, but wore her- self out."
Steve Eberhart (or Perry) : "Pro- fession, whitewasher. Steve came to Rome about 20 years ago from Athens, where he was the slave in the war of Col. Abraham Eberhart. He is the mascot of the Confederate Veterans of Rome, and in his attempts to attend every reunion of the Boys in Gray collects a lot of money under various false pretenses, and gets away with it. Some of his whitewash might well be used on himself, for he is as black African midnight and nearly as as
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OLD-TIME DARKIES WITH THEIR "HABITS ON."
The South owes much to its ante-bellum population, and will always remember them with deep affection. In this group we get a glimpse of a number of well-known characters caught here and there. Included are the old sprinkler sprucing up the yard of the First Presbyterian church; Steve Eberhart in a "fowl escapade," "Aunt Martha" Stevenson, "Aunt Cheney," Augustus Sams, Bob Lake and others.
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY.
small as a chinquepin, but he carries himself with an erectile strut that im- mediately becomes a dissembling sham- ble when he wants to pass around the hat. At reunion time he puts on his artillery uniform of red and gray, and lays a barrage of profanity that with- ers every new-fangled darkey that crosses his path. Under his arm is his pet rooster, borrowed from a conven- ient hen-house, and such feathers as are missing from the fowl's tail can be found in Steve's beaver hat. Steve is on the shady side of 80. His side- line is collecting clothes from the white folks so the women can wash 'em, and on his shiny dome he can balance a bag of clothes nearly as well as a wa- termelon. He is of the aristocracy, having been just after the war valet at Athens to Henry W. Grady and Ben Hill. He is a powerful orator, with 'Fiddling Bob' Taylor's ability to cry on occasion, and if his education had not been cut short by Mr. Grady's graduation from the University, he might have been the Daniel Webster of his race. While he has never been ordained as a minister, he can preach with the best of them. He served with his 'marster' in the war on the west Coast of Florida, and there learned how to fish."
Lena Hudson: "Age about 70; oc- cupation, sick nurse."
Ned Huggins: "Retired Arm- strong Hotel barber and retired sex- ton of the First Presbyterian church. His good word was always 'Call again.' "
Bob Lake: "Bob is only middle-aged but has old-fashioned ways. He still works when there is a chance to make an honest living. At Christmas time he helps the Rotary Club distribute baskets to the poor, and totes home a well-filled basket for himself. He is the handy man at Judge Harper Ham- ilton's on East Fourth Street, but for 30 years has 'drayed' for the Simpson Grocery Company and is an expert at handling salt meat with a cotton hook."
Henry Little: "Farmer; bachelor; his home is one quarter of a mile north of the city limits, near the old Ridge place, on the Oostanaula River road. His complexion is slate color and hair and mustache a dark gray; he is tall, comports himself like a soldier and has a pleasing address. Henry still wears his clod-hoppers at 73, and says he can see a boll weevil as far as any man, but is wise enough to try corn and wheat."
Pomp Lovejoy: "Faithful standby
janitor of the N., C. & St. L. passen- ger depot for 37 years. He swears he never used an oath or an alcoholic bev- erage. Is a native of Floyd Springs and resides in 'Tim-buck-too,' where he has a fine home."
Mack Madison: "An old-time farm- er who can always get together a mess of vittles like ham, cracklin' bread, pot licker and turnip greens, in spite of the boll weevil and potato bugs. He is a shy old rascal, and when he comes to town, which is not often, he keeps out of the way of the police. If you eye him too closely or try to question him, he gets off like a rabbit through a brier patch. He has a sweet tooth, so keeps a bee gum, and is as industrious as anybody in the hive. Once he ignored a summons to court, and two officers brought him in. Asked by a friend why he finally went, he said his legs got in motion and his body had to go too."
West McCoy: "Retired plasterer ; uncertain age. He winks out of one eye because he has lost the other. He sits around on garbage boxes and holds out his hand for a penny, saying, 'It takes only 100 to make a dollar.' "
Pomp Moseley: "Lives with his wife, Lucy, 72, in South Rome. Always con- nected with the furniture business, and he hung many a shade and stretched many a carpet before the days of rugs and waxed floors. He carries his age of 76 as lightly as a man of 40, and withal is as quiet and polite as a basket of chips, being one of the Shor- ter slaves. He carries a yard stick for a cane, to advertise his business."
Carrie Mullen: "Lives on Gibson Street and is 80 and highly respected."
Flora Payne: "Cook for the Wade S. Cothran family. Long since gone to her reward."
Harrison Payne: "Retired teamster; occasionally is seen at the curb mar- ket with his spring wagon full of veg- etables at reasonable prices. His nag is an old-fashioned high stepper, but now somewhat broken down."
Hamp Pentecost: "The bodyguard of Col. Chas. M. Harper during the Civil War. He was one of the blue- blooded darkeys of Rome, having be- longed to Col. Shorter, and was faith- ful to the last. For a long time he was assistant boss of Ed. L. Bos- worth's dray line, and could always be depended upon."
Taylor E. R. Persons: "Died at the age of 72. He was discovered in 1882 by City Clerk M. A. Nevin, who re-
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quisitioned his services to fight cob- webs and dust at the old City Hall, and to plaster up rat holes. He was a stout darkey and was often called upon by the police to help put an unruly character into the 'jug.' He made such a favorable impression upon Rev. Jas. W. Lee that when Dr. Lee was trans- ferred in 1885 to the pastorate of the Trinity Methodist church in Atlanta he made a special trip to Rome and borrowed Taylor to fill a sexton's place. Taylor did not come back to Rome until Dr. Lee tried to take him to Missouri. On returning, he assumed his old posi- ion, and when the City Hall was moved to its present location, he went along, and served there until age caused him to be 'let out.' He took a vacation once in 1898, and remained away until after the Spanish-American War, where he acquired quite a military presence. It gave him great pleasure to crack his heels together and salute any of the white folks who asked him a favor; and he was well cared for in his old age. He was a pillar in the Upper Broad Street Colored Methodist Episcopal church."
Jim Ponder: "Has been dead about 20 years. Used to haul slops from the Battey Infirmary. He was a sort of doctor among his people; buried buz- zards in large frying pans, and when the grease ran out used it to cure rheumatism."
Tol Reed: "Had a white beard and could cover lots of ground. His neph- ew was hanged near the old Rome rail- road above the Southern crossing about 1900, and he was run out of Rome and is supposed to have died in Atlanta. He sometimes went by the name of Dr. Potter. He was a mortar mixer and boasted loudly that he helped build the Armstrong Hotel. His hobby was fine horseflesh, on which he was an au- thority."
Alice Richardson: "Resident of Pen- nington Avenue."
Anna Richardson: "Once residing in West Rome, but moved away to a better opportunity in Atlanta."
Palmer Rix: "Retired from farming to gardening; aged 76, and still active on his trade. He resides near the Oostanaula on West Second Street, to the height of where the stream when it is too full does not quite reach and disturb his comforts."
Andy Robinson: "Aged 90 and re- sides at 605 W. Second Street. He re- members the founders of Rome and the Indian chiefs; says Col. Chas. H. Nelson gave passes to Ross and Ridge
and moved 500 Indians from Cave Spring to Red River, Ark., in wagons."
Augustus Sams: "Business is wood- chopper and age about 80. He chops wood all around the country, and for the want of a conveyance sometimes walks to Cedartown for a job, and then walks back. He will not quit chop- ping wood except to go 'possum hunt- ing or to eat a watermelon. He wears a black felt hat with a curve in it, only needs a turkey feather to make him look like a Dutch admiral; and he carries his lunch in a crocus sack. He has a keen sense of humor, but oc- casionally when outraged rears back on his dignity like an angry porcu- pine."
Mary Sheppard: "Aged 80; resides on Blossom Hill."
"Mink" Sims: "A darkey of 25 years ago who hunted and fished a great deal, but was never known to hit a lick of work. He used to sing a song that started 'Rabbit and the Hash,' and which brought in the pole- cat, the jaybird and the other birds and animals of the menagerie."
"Tip" Smith: "Passed to the other world Jan. 25, 1911, at the age of 77. He was an old slave who had belonged to Maj. Chas. H. Smith ('Bill Arp'). After he got his freedom, he took up the trade of carpet and mattress stretcher and house cleaner, and made a very useful citizen. He hung shades, did wall-papering and generally helped many a housewife of Rome. At enter- tainments he was indispensable, wheth- er it was freezing the pineapple sher- bet or handing the guests their hats and coats; and many a grateful Roman said if he could have 'Tip' around at the final trumpet call, he would not bother to summon an undertaker. 'Tin' lived in peace and African plenitude on the gentle slopes of Blossom Hill."
Martha Stevenson: "She is short and dark and wears a turban. For a long time she cooked for Mrs. Seaborn Wright, then served Mrs. Bessie B. Troutman at Pope's Ferry, then was cooking for Mrs. Robt. Battey when Mrs. Battey died and now is indispen- sable at Mrs. Evan P. Harvey's. She is nigh onto 75 and spry as a cricket, but occasionally complains of the misery in her side."
Mark Taylor: "Veteran barber, long since dead. Ned Huggins start- ed with him as a bootblack, and he trained many others in the tonsorial art. Mark never used vulgarity or profanity, nor would he allow any roughhouse in his shop."
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY.
"Shem" Thomas: "Not particular- ly old, but exceedingly old-fashioned. Janitor at Darlington School. Though not a millionaire, he gave $25 to the Greater Darlington Endowment Fund in 1922. He is sure to pass through the pearly gates."
"Uncle Towns :" Never seemed to have any other name, but worked many years around yard and flower garden of the I. D. Fords on Second Avenue. He wore a heavy gray beard, and his old back was bent from much cutting of grass and pruning of shrubs. He bore a closer resemblance to a certain large creature of the jungle than any- body in Rome. His fondness for lit- tle children was well known, but such as he didn't like he would scarce with a fiendish grin."
Lewis Venable: "The male cook of Dr. and Mrs. Robt. Battey on First Avenue. Every time the Rome rail- road trains would pass, Lewis would climb to the barn roof, dressed in a Japanese gown, with a crimson sash around his waist and a feather-dec- orated silk hat on his head. Thus ar- rayed, he would dance to the delight of train crew and passengers. He has long ago gone to his Heavenly Master. He was hired by the Venable family of Atlanta before coming to Rome."
Annie Walker: "About 80; lives on Reservoir Street."
Caleb Walker: "Perhaps the oldest person in Rome; born in 1824, as well as he remembers, and is consequently 98. He began to feel a bit old last year, and cut him a hickory stick in the neighborhood of his home at 114 Chambers Street, Sixth Ward; but he can get about like a cricket when he sees greenback or coin for light car- pentry work. He has always been fair and square, and is thoroughly con- firmed in his ways of thrift and hon- esty. He claims to have been a soldier in 1864 and 1865, though in just what capacity he does not make clear."
William Walker: "Not less than 80, but gets about like a man of 45. He is a retired plasterer and his earth- ly home is in Hell's Hollow. He says he has mixed lots of Etowah River sand and slack lime for buildings in Rome, has always served the Lord and expects to make the acquaintance of St. Peter instead of the devil."
DEBTS OF LONG AGO .- Members of the City Commission and others who speak in whispers of Rome's aw- ful $40,000 overdraft might do well to peek into the records for the year
1875, when $450,000 hung above the heads of the city fathers like the quiv- ering Sword of Damocles. Included in this was $100,000 in Memphis Branch Railroad bonds; $100,000 in North and South Railroad bonds; $107,500 in wa- ter works bonds; $65,000 in currency bonds; $32,000 in floating debt bonds; and accrued interest making up the balance. In 1877 and 1878 this debt had been reduced to $337,100, and in 1884 it stood at $312,000. The an- nual income from all sources in 1888 was about $60,000 and expenses un- der prudent management about the same.
Says an old clipping of 1888: "Since the new bonds were issued in 1877, never has the city been an hour in default in meeting her interest. Every obligation to creditors has been prompt- ly met, and so firm is the standing of the city in the financial world that not even her 5 per cent bonds can be purchased at less than par, and her other bonds command from 1.06 to 1.16.
"A large part of our city debt arises from investments in railroads that were never built. The hearts of Rome's people always went out to those who proposed to develop her resources and asked her aid. To say that she was imposed upon is putting it lightly. But she has never faltered; she has cheer- fully undertaken to pay this $200,000 for which she has never received one dollar's benefit, and now goes on to fight greater battles. Victory has crowned her on every field, and still beckons her on.
DESOTO, SUBURB OF .- Named after Ferdinand DeSoto, Spanish cav- alier, who is supposed to have pitched camp on the spot in June, 1540, for about 30 days. Located west of Rome proper and across the Oostanaula River. The heart of it is known as the Fourth Ward, containing about 160 acres of land, most or all of which was owned up to 1835 by John Ross, the Indian chief, then became the prop- erty of Jno. B. Winfrey. Mr. Win- frey sold 60 of the 160 acres to Dan'l. R. Mitchell and 60 to Col. Alfred Shorter. The part bought by Col. Shorter contained the John Ross home, which stood in the rear of the site of the J. M. Bradshaw home at 505 Fifth Avenue. To the Ross house in 1845 Col. Shorter brought the J. M. M. Cald- wells, and they taught school there for some time prior to establishment of the Rome Female College on Eighth Avenue.
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PRACTICAL LESSONS IN DEMOCRACY.
Here are views which will demonstrate that Berry School boys work hard and fruitfully. Miss Martha says the sons of the rich must eventually profit by the wholesomeness of some form of manual labor. At the top is the Mountain Farm school for small boys, who are seen in the oval; the lake, the cow barn, the well-drilled milkers and a Ford tractor in a furrowed field are also presented.
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY.
DeSoto was once a separate town from Rome, and came into the city cor- poration under an act of the Legisla- ture of 1884-5 which abolished its char- ter. Most of the DeSotans fought in- clusion strenuously, and to win out, Rome was forced to grant liberal tax and improvement concessions. The con- tract in the bill was drawn by Attor- ney J. I. Wright, of the law firm of Alexander & Wright. It provided that no saloon license should ever be grant- ed in DeSoto. The population then was about 500, and now it is estimated at about five times that figure. The land is flat and low, and the citizens han- dle themselves very nimbly when the rivers overflow.
DeSoto has furnished some of Rome's leading citizens. It was the birthplace of Milford W. Howard, of Los Angeles, Cal., formerly Congress- man from Fort Payne, Ala., who used to wield a powerful axe in the forests nearby that he might sell wood and complete his education. Its mayor for several terms was D. R. Mitchell, the grocer, who was a nephew of Col. Danl. R. Mitchell, one of the found- ers of Rome. J. H, Lanham was once the postmaster.
DeSoto (or the Fourth Ward) con- tains Hamilton Athletic Field; the North Georgia Fair Grounds; the Trin- ity Methodist Church (founded by Rev. Sam P. Jones) ; the Jones residence; the Fifth Avenue Baptist and Sec- ond Christian churches; the Fourth Ward Public School, and the homes of J. A. Glover and Mrs. Hiram Hill, also a thriving business section on Fifth Avenue at the Oostanaula River bridge. The Stone Quarry hill, Sum- merville Road, was used by the Con- federates and was known as Fort At- taway.
ELKS' CLUB (B. P. O. E.)-Rome Lodge No. 694 was organized July 25, 1901, and surrendered its charter June 14, 1918. Its motto was "Fidelity, brotherly love, justice." At one time it, boasted a membership of 250. At the time of ceasing operations, it had the following names on the "Red, White and Blue Roll :"
A. A. Antognoli Isaac May
A. E. Anderson
J. P. Broyles
Geo. H. Magruder J. D. McCartney
W. T. Brown Robt. H. McGinnis
Hiram M. Bobo R. V. Mitchell
Wesley O. Connor, Wm. J. Nunnally J. S. Cleghorn R. Sewell
J. Ed. Camp Ray G. Stewart
W. M. Carey Hart H. Smith
Lloyd Damron Joe H. Sulzbacher
Paul Duke Joe Spiegelberg Wm. Siglin
Wm. H. Ennis
Augustus A. Fite W. J. Shaw E. A. Green, P. E. Roy R. West
John M. Good
A. C. Williamson
F. L. Godwin
Nathan Harris
R. H. West Phil S. Wilby
Horace C. Johnson Moses Wright Ben Watts
J. N. King
Clifton H. Lansdell R. W. Watts Moultrie S. Lanier Arthur West
The death roll showed the following names : 1903-Maj. Wm. A. Patton, Sr., and Gordon Tatum; 1904-J. H. Sanders; 1905-J. W. Grant; 1906- Halsted Smith, Sr .; 1907-M. C. White, J. C. Lewis, Wm. J. West; 1909 -C. N. Patterson; 1910-Mark G. McDonald, Robt. Yancey and J. H. Roberson; 1911-E. B. Marshall, J. L. Young, W. B. Everett, B. F. A. Saylor and C. A. Woods; 1912-M. B. Gerry, Wurts W. Bowie, A. S. Gresham, W. Chinnick, Gordon Wheeler; 1914-Dr. Thos. R. Garlington; 1915-J. Lindsay Johnson, Sr., Arthur R. Sullivan, Jr .; 1916-Thos. Evins; 1917-N. J. Steele; 1918-Geo. H. Magruder.
FIRE COMPANIES IN 1888 .- "The fire department of the city of Rome consists of three companies: Rainbow Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 1, Moun- tain City Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 2, and Citizens' Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1. The membership of the whole is 165 men-the most gallant and cour- ageous in the city. As an illustration of their promptness and discipline, an instance is characteristic of the depart- ment: An old fire trap in the rear of a saddle shop on Broad Street, con- taining about 2,500 bundles of fodder, caught fire, and whilst all the ends of the bundles were burned, not a whole bundle was destroyed. The work of extinguishment was done so quickly by one company that the other company, 400 yards off, was cut out from fire plugs and could not throw any water upon the fire, much to their chagrin. Each of these rival companies accuses the other of keeping men at the reel houses, ready to turn out for a fire. Further proof of their gallantry and skill is seen in the fact that the ac- tual losses from fire in the city of Rome have not averaged $1,500 per year for the last ten years. This fact is the more remarkable because it is a volunteer department, the members themselves bearing a goodly share of the expenses of their organizations. Not a single Georgia pine building of one story has burned to the ground in 15 years. In 1884 the fire loss was
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$2,580; in 1885, $167, and in 1886, $6,780.
"Each of the companies has substan- tial trophies of the victories gained in speed contests abroad, and no city in the country can show as effective a fire service by any paid department." -Tribune of Rome, Anniversary and Trade Number, Oct. 2, 1888.
FIRESIDE DEFENDERS .- This Civil War company was organized Aug. 4, 1861, at Spring (or Silver) Creek, near Lindale, by Robt. H. Jones, who later became a wagon and buggy manufacturer at Cartersville. There were 95 original members and 26 re- cruits; total, 121. Mrs. John Reese sent the boys away with a stirring speech and the gift of a beautiful flag. She was well qualified for this duty, as may be judged by an incident of a few years before. Mrs. Reese was the wife of a well-known physician; as a girl she was Elizabeth Hills, grand- daughter of old Dennis Hills, a "down East Yankee" from Leominster, Mass. She was sent to school in New Eng- land at the age of fifteen. One day in chapel or class a teacher addressed the pupils on the subject of slavery in the South. "The Southern people," de- clared the teacher, "drive the poor ne- gro to the plow, and shut him up in a crib and feed him raw corn."
Little Miss Elizabeth jumped to her feet, her face aflame with indignation, and cried, "That is a lie!" She was allowed to return home to continue her studies, and she became one of the most steadfast advocates of the South- ern cause.
By way of putting fire into the Fire- side Defenders, Miss Elizabeth said:
"Soldiers of the Fireside Defenders: On behalf of the ladies of Silver Creek and vicinity I am before you today to ask the acceptance of this flag. You are all aware that every nation on earth has its ensign. This, my brave friends, is the ensign of the Southern Confederate States of America. It is needless for me to retrospect the his- tory of this nation, to tell you why the flag of the Union no longer floats over the land of sunshine and flowers or why the crashing of musketry and the booming of cannon is heard in our border states. Suffice it to say that our cause is a just one, and on present- ing these colors to you, you have a testimony of the spirit which governs the women of the South.
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