USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume I > Part 62
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stopped, being only four miles from Troupville. it was very thought- fully determined to further honor the memory of that beloved man by bestowing on the new settlement the name given by him to his own home, and thenceforth it became the postoffice for Troupville, and Valdosta was made the county seat. It has grown to a remarkable. degree in recent years, and the total population in 1900 was 5,613. In 1910 the United States census showed an increase to 7.656. On account of its railroad connections it is bound to grow. and its merchants are alive to the fact that it is destined to be a city of great importance. Money invested there brings good returns, and its industries are of a costly nature and pay large dividends.
POSTOFFICE AND COURT HOUSE, VALDOSTA
In Lowndes county the town of Hahira is growing into a place of activity and general business success. It now has a population of 659.
TOWNS IN BROOKS COUNTY
Midway between Lowndes and Thomas counties lies the county of Brooks, which was laid off by taking the eastern portion of one and the western portion of the other and naming it for Preston S. Brooks of South Carolina in 1858. The court house of this county was named Quitman, for Gen. John A. Quitman, of Mississippi, and it has become a town of considerable importance. Its population in 1910 was 3,915. Its progressive spirit is shown by the fact that it has two banks with a capital of $175,000. and it has an electric light plant, an ice factory, water-works, and excellent schools. Its publie buildings are ornaments to the place, and it has a fine cotton-mill. The churches of all denomina- tions are well attended. Its rapid growth of recent years from 2.2$1 in 1900 to the present population proves that it is well located and that it has great business advantages.
Brooks county has other towns which, by the increase constantly
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being made in railroad facilities, are building up with wonderful rapid- ity. Among them may be mentoned Dixie. Morven, Pidcock, Barney and Barwick. Dixie now has 242 inhabitants. Morven 383, Pidcock 250, Barney 303, and Barwick 381.
THOMASVILLE
In 1825 a new county was laid off from Decatur and Irwin and called Thomas, in honor of Capt. Jett Thomas, who was an artillery officer under Gen. John Floyd. For the same patriot the court-house site was called Thomasville, which in 1900 had a population of 5,322 and now 6,727. It has three banks, with aggregate capital of $250.000. besides turpentine distilleries. shoe factories, mills and gins. There also are located the shops of the Atlantic Coast Line Railway. Its hotels are good and the town is becoming a popular winter resort. In and around
LOWNDES COUNTY COURT HOUSE
it are beautiful public drives, and its roads are always kept in good condition. Thomasville is noted for its beautiful flowers. cultivated by florists who know their business. Education is a matter that is by no means neglected. It is up to date so far as its public utilities are to be counted, and the religious character of the people is evidenced by the number of churches in the town of all denominations. Three other towns in Thomas county deserve mention as growing and prospective very important places. They are Boston, with 1.130. inhabitants and business requiring a banking capital of $25.000; Pavo, with a population of 572: and Meigs, with 697.
BAXLEY
In the county of Appling, in the southeastern portion of Georgia. named after Col. Daniel Appling, a distinguished soldier in the War of 1812, two towns of prosperity and thrift have taken rapid strides. .
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and deserve some notice here. The first is Baxley, where great results are obtained from a syrup refinery and where the people have that con- fidence in the future that should be met with wherever success is truly aimed at. The population. according to the last census. is 831. It is the court-house town of Appling county, and the most important place in it, and the people have nearly doubled in number in ten years, the population in 1900 having been 488. The next town we mention in this county is Rockingham which, with a population according to the census of 1910 of only 100. is a new place and is destined to become one of mark and will doubtless make rapid progress from this time forward.
SYLVESTER AND ASHBURN
A town that has made a remarkable showing in ten years of its history is Sylvester, in Worth county, which was created in 1856 and named for
YOUNG'S COLLEGE, SHOWING ANNEX, THOMASVILLE
Gen. William Worth of New York. The population of Sylvester in 1900 was only 552, and in 1910 it had grown to 1.447. It has a bank, a fertil- izer factory, two flour and grist mills, and other evidences of a fine business center. In this county another progressive town could be num- bered until very recently, when, by the forming of the new county of Turner, Ashburn was eut ont of Worth. In 1900 it had a population of 1.301 and was then the leading town of its county: but the census of 1910 gives it 2,214. It handles a good amount of cotton, and is other- wise a place of considerable industry.
ADEL AND NASHVILLE
. Berrien county has. besides others, two towns which have shown a most progressive spirit within the recent past, and are forging ahead through the vim and thrift of their industrious people. Adel in 1900
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showed a population of 721, and so much activity has been manifested in that section that ten years later it had increased to 1.902. Nashville in the former year had 293 inhabitants, while it shows by the census of the latter 990. The county is developing rapidly, and these two places, with others, are helping in the good work, thanks to the public spirit of the business men of that immediate section.
STATESBOROUGH
One of the old counties of the state is Bulloch, laid off in 1796 and named for that ardent patriot. Archibald Bulloch, who died soon in the struggle of his state for independence, and the seat of justice of the county is an old town. Statesborough. Railroad facilities and other contributing causes have given the town new life and its development is steady and rapid. The junction of the Central of Georgia with the
VASHTI INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL, THOMASVILLE
Savannah & Statesborough Railroad has done much to aid in the growth of the place. With a population in 1900 of 1.197, the increase has been so marked that the number in 1910 was increased to 2.529, and the good work still goes on. Religion and education go hand in hand with the good people who are to be congratulated upon the good work aecom- plished with the object in view of making the best citizens of the coming generation. The public buildings and stores of the place are evidence of the fact that the sturdy people of Statesborough are striving for the best in every way.
TOWNS IN TOOMBS COUNTY
By the recent creation of the county of Toombs two prosperous towns have been eut off from older counties and given the new one a most excellent send-off. Vidalia has been taken from Montgomery and Lyons
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from Tattnall. The former had within its limits in 1900 503 citizens, but ten years later that number ran up to 1,776; while the latter had in 1900 534 and now has 927. Both these towns are in process of healthy development; in them the places of business and edifices of a public character show the thrift and industry of the people. Montgomery still holds on to her seat of justice, Mount Vernon, which ships a good amount of cotton annually, and does a large business in other produce. Its popu- lation has increased from 573 in 1900 to 605 in 1910.
OTHER TOWNS
Many new counties have been formed in Georgia in recent years, and among them is that of Crisp, named in honor of one of Georgia's modern progressive congressmen, Charles F. Crisp. In the formation of this county Dooly lost a town which, while serious to her, proved to be a great gain and an important asset to its new patron. That town is Cordele. It had in 1900 a population of 3,473, but now has 5,883. It shows, therefore, that it is surely and steadily gaining wealth and prosperity, and. judging from the vitality heretofore exhibited, it will continue to thrive without cessation or halting. The town handles. besides other commodities, large amounts of cotton every year, and has three banks. Another town in Dooly which, however, was not cut off. is Vienna, with its two banks and good business activities, all prospering and making it apparent that the county growth is enhanced by its con- nection therewith. Vienna's population in 1900 was 1,035, but is now 1,564.
Wilcox county was formed in 1857 from Pulaski, Irwin and Dooly, and named for Gen. Mark Wilcox of Telfair county. We mention two towns of this county which are worthy of all the good things that may be said of them. Abbeville, the county site, is on the western bank of the Ocmulgee, and is connected with the outside world by excellent railroad service. Its population has increased from 1,102 in 1900 to 1,201 in 1910. In 1880 it had only 61 inhabitants. Lumber, rosin and turpen- tine are the chief articles of commerce. Rochelle is the other town we mention, which in 1900 had within its limits 793 inhabitants, but in 1910 had increased to 860. Both of these towns have all that could be desired in the way of religions and educational advantages, and are up to date in buildings, both of a publie sort and private residences.
From a portion of Lee county in 1831 a new county was formed. and it was called Sinter, after General Thomas Sumter, who, for his great fighting qualities displayed in the War of the Revolution, gained the nickname of "The Game Cock." From the very start the seat of justice, Ameriens, became a place of activity. In 1849 it was thus de- seribed by the Rev. George White: " "A pretty and thriving town on the waters of Muekalee creek. ' It contains the usual county buildings, three churches, male and female academies, two hotels, four dry goods stores. one drug store. three groceries, one tan-yard. two blacksmiths. two shoe and boot shops, nine lawyers, and six physicians. Population about 450. The town is well shaded with trees of natural growth." In 1900 it had
* Statistics of Georgia, p. 525.
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a population of 7,647; it is well provided with a fine system of public schools, has a costly court house, the postoffice is a building three stories high, has two hotels, an opera house, adequate railroad depot, four banks, many elegant private residences, three lines of railroad enter the city, and it is the location of railroad shops valued at $75.000. It has ten churches, and the census of 1910 gives it a population of 8.063.
Irwin county began its existence in 1818. and was named after Gen. Jared Irwin. a hero of the Revolution and subsequent Indian troubles. In this county is located the growing town of Ocilla which had in 1900 a population amounting to 805. but now increased to 2.017. Over 8,000 bales of cotton are annually handled at this place, and its commercial importance in other respects is not to be lightly estimated. In the same county until recently. when the new county called Ben Hill was estab- lished, was situated the town of Fitzgerald, then Irwin's principal place
事然露
DODGE COUNTY COURT HOUSE, EASTMAN
of business. Now Fitzgerald is the center of business of Ben Hill, and it is destined to be a city of great commercial prosperity and wealth. It had in 1900 a population of only 1.817, but so rapid has been its in- crease that now its people number 5.795. It does a large cotton busi- ness, and is fully up to date in public utilities and everything that could be expected in a wide awake city peopled with business men of push and indomitable energy. Its water works and electric light plant are owned by the city, and it has ample banking capital, and many pros- perous mercantile houses, and recently a cotton mill with a capital of $60,000 has been established here. Fitzgerald is well equipped with schools and with churches of the various denominations.
Until the recent creation of the county of Jeff Davis the Hourishing town of Hazlehurst was an important place of business in Appling
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county, but it now hears that relation to the former. It has grown from a town of 793 inhabitants in 1900 to 1.181, and its location and the deter- mination of its people to let nothing stand in the way of improvement give ample assurance that it is destined to occupy a prominent place in the state of Georgia.
The name of Gov. Edward Telfair was given to a Georgia county laid out in 1807. and the county site at this time is MeRae with a population of 1,160, which has grown to that extent from 1.020 in 1910. Among other influences for good extended by this flourishing town is the South Georgia College under the care of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, with 300 pupils in attendance. It is a town that has a great future before it.
Dodge county is a comparatively new one. formed in 1871 of por- tions of Telfair, Pulaski, and Montgomery, and honored with the name
STREET SCENE, DUBLIN
of William E. Dodge of New York, who invested largely in property in that section of Georgia. The seat of justice is Eastman. on the Southern Railway, a town that has shown remarkable powers in the way of growth and general improvement. With a population of 1,235 in 1900 it has become a large town of 2,355 and is developing in strength and pros- perity with rapid strides. It has a bountiful supply of water from arte- sian wells with a system of water works that would be creditable to a much larger eity. Its export trade exceeds $2.000,000, and 10,000 bales of eotton are shipped annually from that place. It has an excellent public school system. and religion is not neglected. It has churches of all denominations, and they are well attended. It is a pity that more spaee cannot be given to a description of this thriving city which deserves all the praise that can be bestowed upon it. It was named for William Pitt. Eastman of New York, who did much to aid in its development.
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As far back as the year 1807 a county was laid out in Georgia and named Laurens in honor of Lieut-Col. John Laurens of South Carolina. who was an aide to Washington and rendered distinguished service to the country in the War of the Revolution. Dublin has always been the seat of justice, and is situated only a half mile from the Oconee river, at the junction of the Macon, Dublin and Savannah Railroad with the Wrightsville and Tennille. It is destined to become a eity of great impor- tance, as is shown by its rapid growth. In 1900 its people numbered 2,987, and now the population amounts to 5,795. It has a cotton mill with a capital of $100.000 and has numerous factories and institutions of all classes. Its school system is excellent, and all the religious orders have churches architectually imposing. Its trade is valuable and of large proportions.
THE MANSION AT THE HERMITAGE, SAVANNAH
Portions of Lee and Randolph counties were cut off in 1856 to form a new county named Terrell, in honor of Dr. William Terrell. a promi- nent citizen of Hancock county and a representative of his district in congress from 1817 to 1821. Its county site is Dawson, a town of enter- prise and wealth. It is withal a rapidly growing place, increasing in ten years from 2.926 to 3.827. It has some imposing publie buildings and a number of fonrishing manufacturing establishments and mercantile honses. Commercially considered. Dawson is a city of very great impor- tanee, and an immense amount of business is annually done by the enter- prising merchants there. The people are to be congratulated upon the appearance of its streets and public buildings, of which we mention espe- cially the county court house and the public school building.
There are other cities and towns in the southern portion of the state of Georgia which might well be included in this history, but it would not be possible to do justice to them in a work of this kind which is
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intended more for the history of one city in particular than of all pros- pering places in its section. The following are, however, so closely iden- tified with our subject, and bear so close a relation to the city of Savan- nah, that we do not deem it proper to refrain from mentioning them as progressive and most active factors in the growth and prosperity of the section of the state of Georgia to which they belong. We mention, there- fore, Albany, Fort Gaines, Colquitt, Bainbridge, Cairo, Camilla, Newton, Morgan, Cuthbert, Georgetown, Leesburg. Preston, Buena Vista, Hawk- insville. Reidsville. Hinesville, Clyde, Springfield, Jesup, Darien, Syl- vania, Perry. Oglethorpe, Ellaville, Blakely. Tifton, Homerville, Staten- ville. Folkston, St. Mary's, Douglas, Meldrim, Clayton.
When the agitation of the subject of building the Central Railroad of Georgia was at its height. one of the most active citizens of Savannah in advocating the necessity of the measure was Capt. Richard W. Poole. He was appointed an agent to visit the counties through which the pro- posed road was to run, and his efforts were so highly appreciated that the first station after leaving Savannah in Chatham county was named in his honor, and the place has now been incorporated and is growing steadily. It has a population of 337, and the people are impressed with the fact that it is destined to become a place of importance. It has just determined to issue bonds for the establishing of a system of water works, and is showing the thirst for progress in other ways.
About two miles west of Savannah is the beautiful spot called the Hermitage. the property and for some years the residence of the Me Alpin family. It is visited and admired by nearly all tourists stopping in the city, but there is no historie incident connected with its history.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
The reader who began to read this history at the first chapter and has continued it to this point has seen the development of a small settle- ment of a handful of adventurers under the indomitable and intrepid Oglethorpe in all its stages to a eity which today counts its population up to a figure beyond 70,000; a city with streets and houses of beauty. comfort, and adequate proportions: a city with everything in the way of conveniences and utility that may be looked for in the wealthiest metropolis on the globe: a city that is admired by every one who has ever entered its gates : a city where may be found all that may be called for or heart may desire: a city that is all which its beautiful name of Spanish origin implies-Savannah. Futhermore. it is a city with limit- less resources and boundless territory from which it has drawn and will continue to draw to its doors prodnee of a large section of this great nation. and from which it sends annually vast amounts of staple articles of commerce, distributing the same to places all over the world in exchange for commodities such as we do not produce in this country. Savannah is today on a steady and constant upward move which seems to be destined to continue without cessation or interruption.
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