USA > Georgia > Dodge County > History of Dodge County > Part 11
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to bring in as parties all those, so far as known, who claimed to hold adversely, and on June 25, 1894, filed a bill of peace, naming as defendants three hundred and eighty-one persons.
It was alleged that the title and lands of Dodge were well known, and that a general scheme had been formed by the defendants to deprive him of the lands, by means of forged deeds and supported by false testimony as to possession. The jurisdiction of the court was seriously questioned by an able array of counsel. Particularly was it urged that the plaintiff could not join in one proceeding so many defendants, scattered over so great a territory and relying upon separate and unconnected claims of ownership. The bill, however, in effect charged a combination on the part of the defend- ants, thus raising an issue of fact rather than of law. After lengthy arguments, the jurisdiction was sustained.
The record of the pleadings alone covers twenty-two hundred pages. The evidence was taken by a commissioner appointed by the court. Hearings were had by him at Macon, Dublin, Eastman and McRae. In addition to a mass of documentary evidence, the com- missioner's report was filed in seven volumes.
Decrees pro confesso had been taken as to a number of defendants. With others settlements were made and consequent decrees taken. A final decree was entered in 1902 generally sustaining the contentions of the plaintiff.
The bill of peace was filed through Hill, Harris & Birch, and Marion Erwin, as solicitors for plaintiff, with whom were associated John F. DeLacey and James Bishop. Among the attorneys for the defendants were A. O. Bacon, A. L. Miller, William Brunson, Olin J. Wimberly, Clem P. Steed, Walter M. Clements, E. A. Smith, Tom Eason, B. R. Calhoun, F. R. Martin, J. W. Preston, and B. B. Cheney.
So great was the bitterness aroused by the conspiracy trial, so many the defendants and parties interested in the civil litigation, and such the supposed hostility to the Federal court on the part of the people who lived in the counties where the lands were situated, that for twelve years prior to 1907, there was placed in the jury boxes of the United States court at Macon the name of no man who resided in any of the great and populous counties of Laurens, Dodge or Telfair.
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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
The decrees on the bill of peace were not fully observed. Dodge had writs of assistance issued. A multitude of applications were made to the court to enjoin their enforcement by the marshal. The usual ground was that the party sought to be ousted was for some reason not bound by the decree. For the purpose of having com- plicated claims of this character determined, the executors of Nor- man W. Dodge, in 1908, filed a bill against several persons. The case was referred to a master. His reports were made from time to time over a period of six years. No exceptions were taken, and the conclusions of the master were embodied in decrees of court.
For the record we will state here that the commissioner who heard and reported the evidence on the bill of peace, and also the master in the litigation last mentioned was Judge J. N. Talley, of Macon, the author of this article.
A few years after the filing of the bill of peace, Walter A. Harris was admitted to the bar and became associated with Hill, Harris and Birch, the general attorneys for Dodge. Before the final announce- ment in that case was made by him as leading counsel for the plain- tiff, he had achieved distinction at the bar and served through the World War as Brigadier-General.
By 1917 the magnificent growth of long leaf pine had been re- moved. For years past as titles were settled by the decrees of court, the cut-over lands had been sold by Dodge in small parcels and to many purchasers. In that year the remainder of the Dodge lands was sold to Judge John S. Candler, of Atlanta. He in turn sold a large part of it to Walter M. Clements, J. H. and Paul Roberts, of Eastman, but also made gifts of substantial tracts to Wesleyan Col- lege, of Macon, and the South Georgia College at McRae.
This was not the first contribution made to education and religion from the wealth of the Dodge lands. Many years before, A. G. P. Dodge, Jr., of New York, a youth of about eighteen, while visiting the pine forests of Telfair County, decided to enter the ministry of the Episcopal church. Soon afterwards his marriage to a first cousin was the culmination of a youthful romance. The happy couple went abroad. In far away India the young wife died. She was buried at old Frederica, on St. Simons Island, and Christ Church there is her memorial. Her fortune was left to education and religion. To it was added that of the husband, who devoted his life to the service
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DODGE LANDS AND LITIGATIONS
of the church. It was authoritatively stated in 1910 that of the fifty-two mission stations in the Diocese of Georgia, thirty-nine owed their existence to the Dodge fund, and many of them to the personal exertions of that consecrated man.
Husband and wife, the grandchildren of William E. Dodge, now sleep on St. Simons by the sea. Near them also lie the murdered agent. John C. Forsyth, and his daughter, Nellie, who became the wife of Major Ernest Dart, of Jacksonville, formerly of the Bruns- wick bar. From beneath the gray moss of the live oaks, their last resting place looks across the Marshes of Glynn, immortalized by the poetic genius of Sidney Lanier, whose father, as counsel, signed the original bill which commenced the Dodge litigation.
All of the lands had passed from the ownership of Dodge. The occupation of his agents and woods-riders was gone. Thomas J. Curry and Ed McRae for twenty-five years had been on guard. They were men of high courage and character. The bill of peace had been verified by Ed McRae, he being the agent most familiar with the alleged trespasses of the hundreds of defendants. His father, John F. McRae, for forty-four years Clerk of the Superior Court of Tel- fair County, had, as a very young man, taught the children of the little Maine colony at old Lumber City. Oberly, the general agent, and Curry promptly obtained other employment.
Judge Emory Speer died in 1918. The Dodge litigation had ex- tended over his entire judicial tenure, and it is a remarkable fact that throughout its long course there was never an appeal from any decision he made and no final action of the court, when he was on the bench, was ever carried to a higher court for review. When Judge Speer was appointed in 1885, the Federal court was to the masses of the people of the Southern District a foreign, an unknown and an unpopular court. Speaking in the parlance of the business world, Judge Speer "sold" the Federal court to the people, and it is a tribute to his distinguished service when it can now be declared that there is perhaps no district court in the United States where the people are more attached to the Federal court than in the Southern District of Georgia, and that nowhere is the office of District Judge regarded as one of so much honor as by the people of the district over which Judge Speer presided for a third of a century.
The last contested case was on trial before Judge Beverly D.
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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
Evans, who had resigned as Presiding Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia to become District Judge of the Southern District. This was the case of Clark vs. Dodge, an aftermath of Dodge vs. Clark litigated many years before. Clark was represented by Charles Akerman, of Macon, and Judge R. Earl Camp, of Dublin, the nominal defendant, Dodge, by Walter A. Harris, John B. Harris and M. J. Whitman, and the real defendants, the purchasers, by John R. L. Smith and Grady C. Harris. The decision of Judge Evans, rendered in 1920, was affirmed by the United States Circuit Court of Appeals. (260 Fed. 784.)
When in May, 1923, Judge Barrett made the formal order remov- ing the litigation from the dockets of the court, Judge Erskine, and Locke and Speer, and Lamdin, and Evans had passed away, and of the great lawyers who, in their prime, had appeared for the parties contending in the original equity suit, in Dodge vs. Dodson, in the Hall contempt case, in the perjury case, in the great conspiracy case, and in Georgia vs. Kelly, only four-Nathaniel E. Harris, Marion Erwin, Charles L. Bartlett and James A. Thomas-accompanied by honor and "troops of friends," remained to "counsel and advise."
Jurors were again being returned from all parts of the district, and the United States Marshal who called them in court was George B. McLeod, of the old county of Montgomery.
A great population scattered over six counties had been made secure in their homes and lands by the effective decrees of the once hated Federal court, and upon the Dodge lands, so long in contro- versy, had descended the harbingered era of peace and prosperity.
Vanished long since are the tribes,
That once roamed over valley and upland, Yet lingers their speech, in the name of the fair sister rivers, Oconee, Ocmulgee and murmuring Altamaha.
Gone is the forest primeval, and silent forever its sighing Of music aeolian, that breathed over earth and to heaven.
And gone are the strangers who journeyed from out of the North- land,
To gather the harvest the pines had amassed through the ages.
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Yet lingers their memory still in the name of a county, In the names of the cities of Eastman and Chauncey forever. And where Lumber City looks out over rolling Ocmulgee, And Normandale nestles, their work will never be forgotten.
Instead of the croon of the pines or the wail of the sawmill, The song of the ploughman and the lowing of cattle are mingled, And where once was solitude, now are glad homes of contentment.
From out of the soil, men are reaping a harvest of gold, The past is forgotten and gone, like a story that's told.
THE EASTMAN SCHOOLS.
E ASTMAN'S first school house was built in 1873 by Mr. William Pitt Eastman and presented to the town. The foundation of the house was laid on Monday and on the following Saturday the build- ing was completed. Col. Luther A. Hall was the first teacher. His salary of $40.00 per month was paid by Mr. Eastman. The school was dependent on private donations for three years.
As Eastman began to increase in population the more liberally inclined citizens urged that a new and adequate building be erected. Several of the leading business men formed a corporation and peti- tioned the court for a twenty years' charter. In 1877, the Superior Court of Dodge County, in answer to the petitioners, granted the charter and incorporated the school under the name and style of "The Eastman Academy."
The stockholders constituted the board of trustees and adopted by-laws for its government. The trustees were as follows: Chair- man, James Bishop, Sr., H. J. Sapp, W. W. Ashburn, Wm. P. East- man and A. G. P. Dodge.
Prof. George A. Harrison was elected Principal of Eastman Acad- emy and under his wise management the school began its long period of struggle and growth.
After Prof. Harrison resigned other teachers followed in succes- sion until 1884 Prof. Reuben J. Strozier was elected principal. During his eight years of judicious management the school flour- ished. From 1892 to 1897 the succeeding principals were, respec- tively, as follows: Franklyn, Bradwell, Flanders, Robeson, Miller and Bryan.
In 1874 the trustees held a meeting and discussed methods for the enlargement of the school facilities. The town council and board of trustees held a joint meeting and appointed a committee whose duty should be "to consider the procurement of an eligible site for the erection of a larger building."
Eastman was growing in wealth and population. It became a necessity that some certain and positive steps be taken to provide better facilities for the education of the children. The old school building had served its day. It was urged by many that a new and larger one should take its place. Among the public spirited, who
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EASTMAN SCHOOLS
realized and demanded that Eastman should have a larger school building and adopt a better system of education, was Col. John F. DeLacey. He drafted a bill providing for the establishment of a system of public schools, and, at a public meeting of citizens, urged its adoption. The bill met with success and was made a law by the Act of the Georgia Legislature. Mr. W. W. Harrell, grandfather of M. J. W. and W. B. Daniel, donated the site for the new school building.
Bonds to the amount of $10,000.00 were voted by Eastman. The mayor and aldermen elected a board of education consisting of the following men: Col. John F. DeLacey, president; Milton Edwards, Sol Herrman, J. D. Page, L. M. Peacock, Mather Wynne and James Bishop, Jr.
In the fall of 1897 the foundation of a new building was laid and the building was completed and furnished in January, 1898. Prof. W. T. Gaulden was elected Superintendent of Eastman Public Schools and began his first session in the fall of 1897, and moved into the new building in January, 1898.
Before the public school system was put in operation, tuition ranged from $15.00 to $35.00 per annum, in addition to the amount paid from the public school fund of the State.
In 1899 Prof. N. W. Hurst succeeded Prof. Gaulden as Superin- tendent of the Eastman Public Schools, and during his administra- tion the curriculum was raised from ten grades to eleven, self- government system was adopted-which was later discontinued on account of objections from a few of the patrons. A school paper was published by the students, and a chemical laboratory was in- stalled.
The first graduates of the Eastman High School were Miss Monica McRae and Mr. Herrman Harris.
In 1902 Prof. Hurst resigned the superintendency to accept the position of vice-president of Gordon Institute at Barnesville, Ga.
Prof. J. D. Mcclendon was placed in charge of the schools of Eastman in September, 1902, and filled the position until critical illness in the following fall forced him to give up his work in East- man, which was his last work, as he died in October, 1903.
For several years after Prof. McClendon's departure, superintend- ents served for a short period of time each, and among them were
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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
the following, serving in rapid succession: Starr, Parker, Byrd and Smith.
In 1905 Prof. Mulloy was made superintendent, which position he filled most acceptably. During his administration the school grounds were improved considerably, the most notable improvement being a handsome private hedge in front of the old building.
In 1908 Prof. Hurst was again elected to his former position and during his term of eight years the school underwent many changes. An up-to-date high school building, with all modern improvements and full equipment was completed during his second year. Two new pianos, a planitarium, physical and chemical labatories were in- stalled and military training introduced. The teaching force was increased during these years, owing to the growth of the school.
Another innovation of this last period of our school was the Baloptican Lecture Course given by Prof. Hurst four or five times a year to the pupils free of charge, Prof. Hurst getting the machine for these pictures at his own expense.
In March, 1917, Prof. Hurst resigned his position as superin- tendent of the schools to place on the market his invention, "The Planitarium," a device for teaching Geography and Elementary Astronomy.
Prof. T. J. Sappington was elected as his successor, and under his administration the school continued to prosper.
Prof. R. J. Strozier returned in the fall of 1917, to the joy of the citizens of Eastman. Prof. Strozier had left the Eastman schools in 1892, after having served as superintendent for eight years. This joy at his coming was in a few months overshadowed with sorrow at the sudden passing of this great educator and godly man. Prof. Brindle, who was principal, was elected superintendent to finish the unexpired term of Prof. Strozier.
Prof. R. G. Hall was elected superintendent and served for two years. Other superintendents since the departure of Mr. Hall have been Guy H. Wells, who after serving the Eastman schools for a number of years accepted the presidency of the South Georgia Teachers College at Statesboro, Ga. Prof. Zack Henderson suc- ceeded Prof. Wells, and he too resigned to accept the position of dean of the South Georgia Teachers College at Statesboro. Prof.
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EASTMAN SCHOOLS
W. E. Queener succeeded Mr. Henderson. The present superintend- ent is Prof. Paul Long, and the Eastman school continues to grow. There are over a hundred in the senior class this year, which will be the largest graduating class in the history of the school.
EASTMAN'S FIRST KINDERGARTEN, BACK IN THE 80's.
THE COUNTY SCHOOLS.
THERE IS A VAST difference in the county schools of today as com- pared with those of the long ago. Then the schools were of the one room, one teacher to the school type.
In the minutes of the school board of July 2, 1878, the school board ordered and declared that the minimum number for scholars in Dodge County should not be less than fifteen pupils to any one school. It was reported at this meeting that there were 889 white children and 359 colored children between 6 and 18 years of age, a total of 1,248 children. Of this number only 512 white children and 145 colored children were in school, leaving a total of 591 who were not in school.
Trustees were appointed for the subdistricts as follows:
For Lee's subdistrict-James Bishop, three years; James M. Buchan, two years ; John J. Hamilton, one year.
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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
For Chauncey subdistrict-William K. Bussey, three years; Harlow Clark, two years; Levi Evans, one year.
Pondtown subdistrict-Peter H. Coffee, Sr., three years; William Studstill, two years; Joseph D. Bryant, one year.
Mitchell's subdistrict-J. M. Daniel, three years; John W. Bohannon, two years; William E. Lowery, one year.
Eddins subdistrict-J. M. Woodard, three years; C. D. Woodard, two years; S. B. Coody, one year.
Rawlins subdistrict-D. T. Douglas, three years; John S. Thompson, two years; Nicholas Rawlins, one year.
The school terms were three months each year. It was ordered that the County School Superintendent visit each school taught by a licensed teacher twice during the term of three months, the first time as near the commencement of school as possible, and the second time as near the close as possible. The average school attendance was 441 14/65, and 78 cents per child per month was paid out by the County School Superintendent.
In January, 1881, the minutes record that nearly three years later the average attendance was 449 27/65. Note the small raise. The following textbooks were recommended to be used in all the public schools of the county :
Spelling Books Webster and Swinton's.
Grammars American Series.
Arithmetics Sanford's Series.
Geography Mitchell's and Swinton's.
Writing Systems Spencerian or Appleton Model Copy Book.
July 16, 1879, on motion of H. Coleman, it was resolved that the school recently opened at the Eastman Academy by the Rev. Philip A. Jessup be entitled to the pro rata share of the public school money as the school has the minimum number of pupils, say fifteen or over.
January 2, 1880, the total amount received for school purposes for the year was $1,205.21.
In the minutes of December 17, 1878, we find the following in- teresting figures. Amount paid teachers for term of three months:
G. W. Fielder, Teacher Mitchell's subdistrict $32.00
Mrs. Mary V. Hayes, Lee's subdistrict 28.12
W. J. Bailey, Little Creek 70.70
Jas. C. Donaldson, Middle Ground 50.29
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COUNTY SCHOOLS
Sara T. Rawlins, Bethel-Rawlins
72.54
Lottie B. Horsford, Eastman subdistrict 10.08
John S. Thompson, Ocmulgee-Rawlins 44.64
Mrs. E. Bryant. Pondtown 37.69
George F. Harrison, Eastman
93.85
Eliza J. H. Harrison, Chauncey
39.24
Mary Cotlett, Dubois
49.39
D. T. Douglas, Macedonia
20.05
J. B. Mills. Eddins district
28.48
P. E. Jessup, Union Church
Charles J. Clark, Burch-Lee's subdistrict 35.24
35.96
Mollie C. Humphreys, Mitchell's-Daniels 33.01
J. F. Lee, Pondtown subdistrict 46.98
Mrs. Sallie M. Parker, Parkerson's-Lee's subdistrict 33.01
County School Superintendent for 22 days' service at $1.50 per day. 33.00
The county schools of today are modern, up-to-date buildings, with all modern conveniences. There are in the county at present fourteen consolidated school districts, with the cotton mills school extra. There are 3,400 white children enrolled in the schools now and 1,600 colored children enrolled. They are taught by eighty-five white teachers and thirty-seven colored teachers, all of whom are promptly paid. Forty-four modern school buses transport 2,000
-
DODGE COUNTY LIES IN THE LAND OF COTTON OLU TIME SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN STEIN HIGH SCHOOL FOR EVERY CHILD
S MOVE 'EM WITH A SMILE
PAKKERJONS
+
ONE OF DODGE COUNTY'S MODERN SCHOOL BUSES WHICH TAKE THE CHILDREN TO AND FROM SCHOOL.
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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
children every morning and afternoon to and from school. Every white child in Dodge County can remain at home, regardless of where they live in the county, and through the facilities of trans- portation finish an accredited four-year high school in Eastman, the accredited county high school. At this time, 1932, more than 150 country children are enrolled in the 10th and 11th grades in the Eastman school; each respective school district teaches the 8th and 9th grades, sending the two upper grades to Eastman. The income for school purposes is now $24,000.00 from the Equalization fund; $32,000.00 from the General State fund; $16,000.00 from the local tax fund, making a total of $72,000.00.
Present Superintendent and Board: W. C. Rozar, superintendent for past eight years; W. H. Smith, H. E. Hill, F. T. Parkerson, W. A. Willis, W. S. Wynne.
TOWNS IN DODGE COUNTY.
Empire.
EMPIRE IS SITUATED about thirteen miles north of Eastman on the Southern Railway, at which point the W. & T. Railway crosses the Southern Railway.
In 1885 Jim Few erected a sawmill at what is now the town of Empire. Then in the latter part of 1886 John Anderson and John W. Hightower bought the mill from Mr. Few and named the location Empire. They sawed the lumber at this mill with which to build the large one hundred thousand dollar nickel-plate lumber mill which they erected in 1887.
The depot was built in 1887 and a railroad agency established. A postoffice was also established here in that year. A Mr. Charlie Beaks was the first railroad agent, and a Mr. Dismukes was the first postmaster.
Like all sawmill sites of those times, likened only to the oil wells in Texas and other western states, a city sprang up almost over night, and we find that in 1888 the town was lighted with electric lights, also that a good water system, with deep wells, was put in. By the year 1890 there were in the mills and railroads both about 500 em- ployees. A good school was established, and Empire also built and donated to the Methodists a nice church building. It had a large membership and good congregations. The late Mr. C. C. Horsford,
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TOWNS IN DODGE COUNTY
of Eastman, was an important factor in the establishment of this church and a great church worker.
In the year 1888 the mill began building timber or tram roads out east of Empire towards what is now Younker, and later obtained a charter for the Oconee and Western Railroad. They continued to build the road farther east, building it more permanently, and this road is now a part of the W. & T. Railroad. In 1891 and 1892 the road was built in to Dublin and west to Hawkinsville under the supervision of Mr. A. T. Bowers. About this time a machine shop was erected to do all repair work of the rolling stock of the railroad and mill machinery. These shops were operated until the removal of the mill from here in 1898. During this time the population of Empire was around 500, but the town was not incorporated.
In 1910 a nice stock company ginnery was erected, and also one of the Walker banks. Both flourished for several years, but have long since been liquidated.
In 1911 the town was incorporated and the late Mr. P. T. Ether- idge was elected mayor, and Mr. R. H. Beauchamp was elected clerk.
Sad to relate, but the Empire of today does not in any way re- semble the Empire in the days when it was a flourishing town. It is still inhabited by some of the best citizens of Dodge County, some of whom are engaged in the mercantile and other lucrative busi- nesses.
Among the prominent citizens of Empire at present are: A. T. Bowers, J. H. Hall, O. E. Woodson, A. R. Johnson, W. W. Davis, H. A. Pearce, W. F. Phillips, John Dunn, E. L. Gore, R. P. Cooper, S. C. Harrison, R. N. Lupo, J. B. Phillips, Cliff Jamieson.
Gresston.
Situated about eight miles north of Eastman, on the Southern Railway, is the little town of Gresston.
This town was named for Mr. G. V. Gress, who in 1883 built one of the largest sawmills in the South at this point. In connection with the sawmill was a large dry kiln plant, the first of its kind in this section. Although here was the best yellow pine timber, which was both plentiful and cheap, the mills at that time were having trouble in disposing of their lumber, especially the boards and
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