USA > Georgia > Clinch County > History of Clinch County, Georgia, revised to date > Part 4
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"And, Whereas, the Inferior Court have had executed to them a bond with good and sufficient security from one John
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
H. Mattox that the said removal shall be made without expense to the County of Clinch ;
"Section 1. The General Assembly of the State of Georgia do enact, That the Inferior Court of the County of Clinch, upon the passage of this Act, are authorized to remove the site of the public puildings of the County of Clinch from the town of Magnolia, in said county to Station Number II, on the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad, in said county, on lot of land number four hundred and ninety-eight (498) in the 7th district of said county, at such time and upon such terms as they may deem advisable, and to the best interest of said county of Clinch, and the convenience of the citizens thereof."
The court-house was moved to Homerville and rebuilt during the winter of 1859-60. John Moore and Martin S. Corbitt contracted to move the building to Homerville and Dr. Mattox employed Mr. Corbitt and Jackson S. Williams to rebuild it. The jail at Magnolia was not moved, and a new one was built at Homerville. The old jail which had only two rooms or cells, was built of good, sound logs and is yet standing on the site of old Magnolia, the most spectral of the relics of our old county site.
Among the new comers to Homerville was John C. Kirk- land, who was one of the first to build a little store house of logs; in this he kept a small stock of groceries and liquors. Also Joel Strickland, John L. Morgan, Sr., and John J. John- son built homes here about the same time. The first store house built of planks or sawed lumber was built by John Bryan and Hugh Tedder. In this they placed a good sized stock of merchandise and employed Dr. Mattox to run the business a while until they could arrange their other affairs. Immediately after this store was opened up, Joel Strickland built what in later years was called the Crum House. It had several rooms in it and was from the first used as a hotel. In later years considerable additions were made to it under other owners. Mr. Strickland also built a small store house at the
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
same time and a year later sold both the hotel and store to Charles Cowart, who ran them several years.
The need for a saw-mill nearby soon developed itself, and Dr. Mattox accordingly began to take steps to build one. He and Cyrus S. Graves, a newcomer, entered into partnership and the machinery was bought in Savannah and put into use in the winter of 1860-61. Dr. Mattox furnished not only the money to finance the undertaking, but also furnished the timber. The mill ran along very smoothly until the outbreak of the Civil War, in the summer of 1861, when Mr. Graves joined the Confederate Army. The mill stopped running for awhile, and Dr. Mattox sold it to a Mr. Latimer, of Savan- nah, who employed James M. Nelms to run it; and Mr. Nelms managed it three or four years when the mill was finally closed down indefinitely.
The beginning of the war cast a damper on the growth of the little town and for several years after Homerville was opened up there were only about two or three small stores, and perhaps eight or ten families who lived here. Many older residents of the county remember Homerville when it was only this big.
After the county site was moved to Homerville, it became necessary to lay out new public roads leading from the county site, and for this purpose the Inferior Court appointed Fred- erick J. Mills, Dr. Mattox and Manning Smith, who laid out the public roads leading out from Homerville, some of which are in use to the present day.
During the war, Dan H. Stewart refugeed to Clinch County from Savannah and settled at Homerville. He served as deputy clerk under David O'Quin, clerk of the Superior Court. He lived here a few years and removed back to Savan- nah after the war, where he died about 1868. Also there was William M. Austin, James C. Cooper, Sylvanus Hitch, J. L. Sweat, Zibe King, George Goette and his son, F. M. Goette, William W. Griffin, John W. Hodges, L. A. Sir- mans, James L. Mitchell, John L. Morgan, Andrew J. and
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
M. M. Caswell, who settled here either during the war or immediately following it.
Mr. H. A. Mattox established a store at Homerville about this time. Also A. Loeb and Joseph Wiles, both German Jews, came here and opened up a large mercantile business with a barroom in connection, and for two or three years did a flourishing business. However, they removed about 1870 to Jefferson County, Florida. Mr. E. T. Dukes came to Homerville in 1867, and entered the mercantile business.
Homerville's legal lights for a few years following the war were Charles S. Morgan, a young lawyer about 25 years of age, L. A. Sirmans, John C. Nichols, J. L. Sweat, who was admitted to the bar in 1869 and Simon W. Hitch, who was admitted in 1870.
About 1866, William M. Nichols, together with a part- ner, A. S. Bigelow, opened up a turpentine business about two miles west of Homerville on the south side of the rail- road. This business continued about two years and dissolved. So far as is known, this is the first turpentine still operated in Clinch County, at least in and around Homerville.
In 1866, another saw-mill was built at Homerville, on the south side of the railroad. It was owned by W. G. Norwood, while J. B. Porter managed the mill for Mr. Norwood. This business did not continue very long, and Mr. Norwood removed.
About 1868, Mr. John L. Morgan, Sr., together with his son, John L. Morgan, Jr., established a steam saw and grist mill at Homerville. It was situated on the town lot whereon Calvitt Huxford now lives. Later Mrs. Amanda R. Strickland and Thomas C. and William R. Morgan became partners in this business. The latter two were sons of John L. Morgan, Sr. This business continued for a few years and for a long time was the only milling place for this part of the county.
H. A. Mattox and H. P. Mattox, during the '70s, entered the turpentine and mercantile business in Homerville. At
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
first Charles F. Mattox was a partner, but he died in 1884. The business continued on under the name of H. & H. Mat- tox, and for many years was about the largest business in Homerville. Their two or three stills were situated a few miles from Homerville, while the store was in town.
Basil G. O'Bryan owned and operated a general store for a few years previous to his death in May, 1870. He was a native of South Carolina and married Miss Julia Mattox, a daughter of Elijah Mattox. After his death, Mrs. O'Bryan married John A. Whittington.
About 1875 a new turpentine business was opened up at Homerville by Holliday, Lane & Company, new comers from South Carolina. Joseph W. Holliday, George B. Lane and Richard Jordan were the partners and the capital invested was $12,000. R. Julius Evans was employed as general manager part of the time they were here. The partners all finally re- turned to South Carolina and removed their business about 1881 Their still was located on the railroad square in town.
Homerville's school system was very irregular prior to 1895. The schools were taught by different individuals and sometimes there would be two schools being taught at the same time. About 1894, a movement was started which resulted in the erection of a new school building, which was named DuBignon Institute, in honor of Hon. F. G. Du- Bignon, one of the State's most gifted sons. The land whereon it was built was deeded by Mrs. M. M. Caswell and W. T. Smith to the school trustees, to be used for school purposes. This building was burned down in 1909, and the land reverted back to the owners. More about this school will be found elsewhere in this book.
Previous to the erection of the new DuBignon Institute, a small frame house located on the Railroad Square, across the street from the Methodist Church, served as the school house. It was subsequently sold to the colored people, who removed it to another location and used it as a church. The location of this old building was very near a tract of land 105
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
feet each way, which was deeded by Dr. Mattox to some school trustees in 1861 for school and Masonic purposes. The deed is dated June 25th, 1861, and is made to Dr. L. C. Mat- tox, Jacob Watson and Robert F. Lanier as trustees, and the land is described as being on the south side of the east corner of the square belonging to the railroad company.
Homerville was first incorporated by an Act of the Legis- lature approved February 15th, 1869. The bill was intro- duced by Mr. Guilford Lastinger, who was then represen- tative from Clinch County. The Act named Allen (N.) Smith, Alfred Newbern, Joel Strickland, John J. Johnson and Basil G. O'Bryan as commissioners of the town to hold office until the first Saturday in January, 1870, at which time an election was to be held for their successors. These commissioners had all the power and authority that is usually vested in a mayor and council. They were to elect one of their number president of their body; after which they were to elect a marshal, treasurer and clerk. A feature about this Act was that all property owners as well as other qualified voters could vote for the election of the town's commissioners. The boundary or limits of the town by this Act reached one- half mile in each direction from the court-house, the boun- dary to be laid off square and parallel with the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad. The limit to which they could tax property in town was fifty per cent. of the State tax.
No records are available as to the successors of these com- missioners, other than scattering evidences. In 1876, the president of the commissioners was J. L. Sweat, and the other commissioners were : H. A. Mattox, George B. Lane, Josiah Sirmans, and W. A. Ecord. The clerk and treasurer was M. M. Caswell and the marshal was John A. Street. In 1883 the town commissioners were : J. L. Sweat, president; M. M. Caswell, W. H. Gary, W. A. Ecord and Sherod Smith. The clerk was Joseph P. Mattox, treasurer was W. T. Smith. Thomas Singleterry was marshal. In 1895 the town commis-
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
sioners were: W. H. Gary, president, B. A. Whittington, George M. Dame, R. G. Dickerson and J. D. Mattox.
Homerville was re-incorporated by an Act of the Legisla- ture approved December 23rd, 1896. The corporate limits were placed at three-fourths of a mile in every direction from the court-house, which is the present limits. Under this Act, W. H. Gary was elected mayor, and George M. Dame, R. G. Dickerson, J. D. Mattox and B. A. Whittington were elected councilmen.
The charter granted in 1896 remained in force until 1907, when a new charter was granted by the Legislature. Under this Act, Col. S. L. Drawdy was appointed mayor, and W. A. Ecord, W. T. Dickerson, J. T. Dame and S. A. Sweat were appointed councilmen.
The town owns the magnificent DuBignon Institute, in the western part of town, but the control of the school, such as the selection of teachers and the raising of revenue for school purposes, is vested in the local school trustees, an auxiliary of the County Board of Education. For the purpose of building this school building, a bond election was held in January, 1910, and as a result the issuing of about $8,000 in bonds was authorized with which to build it.
The following is a list of the mayors since 1896:
1896-1899-W. H. Gary.
1899-1905-R. M. Crum. 1905-A. H. Culpepper (resigned) .
1905-1906-G. H. Cornelius.
1906-1907-S. W. Register.
1907-1909-S. L. Drawdy.
1909-1911-H. J. Dame. 1911-1913-H. J. Peagler.
1913-1914-Flem C. Dame (resigned). 1915-1916-G. A. Gibbs.
The following is a list of town clerks since 1895.
1895-1896-J. D. Mattox.
1896-1897-R. G. Dickerson.
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
1897-1905-J. D. Mattox.
1905-1906-B. S. Guest.
1906-1907-R. G. Dickerson.
1907-1909-W. T. Dickerson.
1909-1911-J. F. Hughes.
1911-1916-A. J. Gibbs.
The present town council is composed of S. A. Sweat, G. C. Hughes, J. F. Barnhill and S. S. Dillon. The town treasurer and tax collector is A. J. Gibbs.
The Bank of Homerville is the only banking institution in the county, and was organized in 1903 with a paid-in capital of $15,000. Since then it has been increased to $25,000. The first officers of the bank were L. O. Benton, president; H. J. Peagler, vice-president; and M. A. McDowell, cashier. Its first directors were : L : O. Benton, H. J. Peagler, M. A. Mc- Dowell, George M. Dame, D. E. Kirkland, and S. C. Town- send. A year or so later Mr. Benton resigned as president and Mr. H. J. Peagler was elected in his stead. Col. W. T. Dickerson was then elected vice-president, which he has held ever since. Mr. Peagler served as president until his death in 1913, after which Col. R. G. Dickerson was elected in his stead, and he is the present president of the bank. The cash- iers of the bank have been as follows: M. A. McDowell, 1903-4; H. L. Lankford, Jr., 1904-5 ; H. J. Dame, 1905-7; H. M. Peagler, 1907-8; J. F. Hughes, 1908-11, and G. A. Gibbs, 1911-16. The present assistant cashier is H. C. Dickerson. The present board of directors are: R. G. Dick- erson, W. T. Dickerson, W. V. Musgrove, A. J. Gibbs, George M. Dame, J. T. Dame and S. A. Sweat. This bank is a strong institution and enjoys the patronage and confidence of the whole county. It is a State depository.
In a commercial way, The Hughes Company ranks among the first in the amount of its business. This concern is a cor- poration incorporated in Brooks County, where it carried on an extensive business prior to its removal here in 1911. G. C. Hughes, an extensive turpentine operator, and a native of
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
North Carolina, is president, and G. O. Carroll, a native of Lowndes County, is secretary and treasurer and general manager.
Another concern which carries on a large business is Dame Brothers, a partnership composed of Messrs. George M. and John T. Dame. This is the oldest existing establishment in Homerville, having been organized in 1890. Mr. J. T. Dame has served Clinch County as ordinary since 1905, while his brother has served two terms as county treasurer.
Other old establishments are Preston Williams, who has been one of the town's merchants since about 1904; and Homerville Drug Company, Dr. J. G. Colwell, proprietor, which has been in business here since 1906.
Besides these, there are S. A. Sweat & Company, general store; Sweat Feed Company, hay and grain; A. N. Cars- well, general store; R. M. Mclaughlin, market; J. Leon Pafford, market; Homerville Grocery Company, E. D. Brin- son, proprietor, groceries; Clinch County Drug Co., B. E. Blitch, proprietor ; Homerville Hardware & Furniture Com- pany, T. R. O'Steen, proprietor; and the City Bakery, Dr. L. S. Malone, proprietor.
A modern garage is operated by Mr. H. M. Peagler, who has the agency for the Ford automobiles for this county.
The town's telephone system was established in 1910 by H. J. Dame, who sold it out in January, 1914, to Claude Harvey, of Bronwood, Ga. Mr. Harvey removed here and took charge of the business. It is now under the manage- ment of the Homerville Telephone Company, a partnership composed of Mr. Harvey and W. J. Barlow. Their tele- phone lines penetrate Mud Creek district, and extend to every district in the county except Withers' and Moore's mill dis- tricts. There is also an automobile delivery business in con- nection with the telephone business.
In 1913-4, an electric light and water plant was installed by Messrs. J. F. Barnhill and J. H. Ferdon, two of the town's most substantial citizens. This need has been realized in
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
Homerville for several years and its advent was much desired. The water is pumped from a distance of about nine hundred feet beneath the surface of the ground. There are about twenty-six street lights, which are maintained by the town. As yet the town has no sanitary system.
Elsewhere in this work will be found descriptions of Homerville's two fine churches and of its magnificent school building. These buildings are monuments to the town and would be a credit to much larger towns.
Homerville's postmasters for the last twenty-five years, are few. Dr. Mattox, in the days of the stage-coach, was his own postmaster, before the town came into existence. For many years during and following the war, the two positions of postmaster and railroad and express agent was consoli- dated. Joel Strickland held this position here several years after the war, as did also Abraham Mallette. About 1875 to 1881, Josiah Sirmans was postmaster. After him was Sherod Smith, who died in 1891. The next postmaster was S. A. Sweat, who served until about 1894. Mrs. D. C. Gil- lican was postmistress until 1898, when D. E. Kirkland was was appointed. Mr. Kirkland was postmaster for fifteen years, or until his death, November 30th, 1913. Folks Hux- ford then served a few months as acting postmaster, when Flem C. Dame was appointed and took charge in April, 1914. He is the present postmaster.
THE LIFE OF JOHN H. MATTOX.
The founder of Homerville, John Homer Mattox, was a son of Col. Elijah Mattox, and was born in Tattnall County, March 26th, 1827. When he was quite a young boy, his father moved to Ware County, where they settled.
The country was then wild, having no railroads, and was sparsely settled, but under the lead of such men as John H. Mattox, has grown wonderfully and has been developed very much. Colonel Mattox (Elijah Mattox), in the course of time was granted much land from the State, lying in this
History of Clinch County, Georgia 55
county. Among his many lots were the two on which Homer- ville is now located. These two lots eventually came into pos- session of John Homer Mattox, at the death of his father, along with other lots. This was about 1857.
Homer Mattox doubtlessly saw the future of a town which might be built on this land. A railroad was coming its way and the site was very near the center of the county. About 1859 the town was begun.
Among his public gifts, Mr. Mattox gave six acres of land to the railroad as a means of inducing them to make his place a station. Another was the court-house grounds.
While he never practiced his profession very much, yet he was a physician of no little attainments. His brother, Dr. L. C. Mattox, lived near town, and was a physican also.
Dr. Mattox's home was a very unpretentious one, located in the southern part of town. It was built in a square shape, out of good lumber. The proof of the stability of the house is seen in the fact that it withstood the attacks of time for about fifty years. The land is now owned by Mr. J. F. Patterson.
Mr. Mattox's wife was Miss Lucinda M. Sheffield. Their children were: Ruby; Tonnie, who married W. A. Norman; Emma, who married Thomas Fogarty ; B. E. Mattox; Lucius W. Mattox; Belle, who married William Parker; Homer O. Mattox; Jefferson D. Mattox, and William S. Mattox.
His death occurred in Homerville, February 18th, 1895. He was buried in the Homerville cemetery.
1
CHAPTER V.
The Civil War Period .- Lists of Troops From Clinch County .- The Surrender .- Immigrants to Clinch County.
W HEN Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States in 1860, it became apparent that the North and the South was hopelessly divided. As a result the State of South Carolina seceded in December, 1860, and following this the Legislature of Georgia called a State convention of delegates to be elected by the people, to decide whether Georgia should secede from the Union or not.
In Clinch County, Hon. Benjamin Sirmans and Hon. T. G. Ramsey were elected as delegates to the convention and instructed to vote for secession. These gentlemen were prom- inent citizens of the county and had the welfare as well as the rights of their State and county at heart. Mr. Sirmans was an early pioneer of the county, settling here in 1822, and was a former State senator, while Mr. Ramsey had been living here since 1853, and was subsequently a justice of the In- ferior Court.
When the convention met at Milledgeville on the 16th of January, 1861, with ex-Governor George W. Crawford as president, eloquent and fiery speeches were made for and against secession. On the final test vote, it was found that 164 delegates favored secession, while 133 favored co-oper- ation with the fifteen other Southern States in securing con- stitutional guarantees for the protection of their rights and property. Following the result of the vote, Georgia was then declared a free and independent republic, while the peo- ple saw that an inevitable war would soon be on hand. In February, 1861, the Southern Confederacy, ill-fated though it was, was formed and Georgia entered it and thus became one of the Confederate States.
It having become apparent that war was at hand, com-
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
panies of volunteer troops were organized over the State. In Clinch County, a company was formed at Stockton in July, 1861, which left for the front on July 31, 1861. It was attached to the 29th Georgia Regiment and known as Co. "H." Francis M. Jackson was elected captain.
A few months later another company was formed of Clinch and Ware County men. It was under the command at first of Col. William A. McDonald, and attached to the 26th Georgia and known as Co. "K."
Still a few months later another company was formed of Clinch County men at Homerville. It was organized March 4th, 1862, and left for the front the 3rd of April. This company was under command of Captain John Riley O'Steen and was designated as Co. "G," 50th Georgia Regiment.
On the Ist of January, 1863, another company was made up at Homerville, which was attached to the 4th Georgia Cavalry and known as Co. "I." It was under the command of Col. John C. Nichols, who served throughout the war in this capacity.
Other companies in which many Clinch County men en- listed were: Co. "G," 29th Georgia; Co. "I," 29th Georgia ; Co. "C," 22nd Georgia Artillery; Co. "G," 51st Georgia Regiment ; Co. "H," 4th Georgia Cavalry, and Co. "I," 12th Georgia regiment.
The 29th Regiment was under the command of Col. W. J. Young and later Col. R. Spaulding. The 50th Georgia was under the command of Col. W. R. Manning, later Col. Peter McGlashan. The 26th Georgia was under the command of Col. Carey W. Styles, later Col. Edmund N. Atkinson, of Camden County, and the 4th Georgia Cavalry was under the command of Col. Duncan L. Clinch, Jr., of Camden County.
During the war, this county was not invaded by any Fed- eral troops; no battles were fought here and in this respect the people fared better than those who lived in the northern part of the State. Many people came to this county from other sections, "refugeeing," as it was known. Supplies be-
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
came very scarce and great suffering was found on nearly every hand for the want of the necessities of life. The "women-folks" and the slaves had to attend to the farm and raise the crops.
Towards the last part of the great struggle, the age limit was extended out each way so as to take in all the available men of the Confederacy. Boys as young as sixteen, and men as old as sixty, were taken into the army, and many of our older men of the present day joined the Confederate Army when only lads.
In 1863, when President Lincoln issued his emancipation proclamation, setting free the slaves of the seceding States, many of the slaves on the farms of Clinch County refused to go, and stayed on with their old masters. Among the slave-owners who were heavily effected by the freeing of the slaves were James C. Smith, William Register, Robert B. Crum, Benjamin Sirmans and his sons, John Tomlinson and Charles Strickland.
LISTS OF TROOPS.
The lists which are herewith given of the different com- panies that went from Clinch County, is given as gathered from various sources. It will be found to be reliable and in practically all cases is authentic.
Those which are marked with an (*) were killed or lost in the war. Clinch County lost many good men in this war. Their ashes rest on the battlegrounds of the past and the memory of their heroic and patriotic devotion to a lost cause will serve to ever keep alive in the breasts of Clinch County men and women, love and reverence for the cause in which they and their comrades fought and died, and also to perpet- uate in the hearts of our people the memory of the glorious deeds and examples of self-sacrifice which were done and made time and again in the interest of their cause and their country.
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History of Clinch County, Georgia
CO. "G" 29TH GEORGIA INFANTRY.
This company was organized of men, chiefly citizens of Berrien County, but had several Clinch County men in it. Only the names of a few privates from Clinch County are given :
Captain :
Levi J. Knight, later Edward Carroll.
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