USA > Georgia > Greene County > History of Greene County, Georgia, 1786-1886 > Part 16
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Present in their gorgeous uniforms would be officers of the State Militia such as: John Floyd, David Meriwether, Gov. Mitchell and John Clarke.
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As the plantations produced most of their food, and cot- ton was a surplus crop, they had plenty to eat, plenty to wear and the planters had elegant homes and were attended by well trained servants. The family rode to town and to church in a carriage drawn by fine horses. House parties were fre- quent and hospitality was lavish. A traveler was never refused a night's lodging and if he was a man of respectability and character he was a welcome guest. (Ga. History by Cooper Vol. 11 p. 240-
From, "Georgia and States Rights," by Phillip we find "The line of separation between the classes was vague and vary- ing. The great bulk of slave holders were slave holders in a small way. It was their ambition to own more slaves and more land and the hope of the poor whites to own slaves and land. Professional men and merchants as a part of the population tended to prevent exclusive ranking of citizens by their hold- ing of land and slaves."
"The contrast between extremes and poverty in the South has been exaggerated. The land lottery system had given each man a homestead, outright, and most owned their farms and cattle and had the necessities of life. He had fruits and melons of his own growing, also game which he killed, and liquors of his own distilling". "The social system was by no means rigid in the cotton belt. Such wealth as the planters had gained was of too recent acquisition to permit their being supercilious about manual labor. They often encouraged the negroes by leading the row in plowing or hoeing and the planter respected his hard working foreman."
In 1837 the railroad came into Greene County, a univer- sity was founded and three cotton factories were built. The newest census showed forty-three industries in the county and they were striding ahead into the period of peace and plenty. People enjoyed a great measure of culture and good living.
Clouds Gather - 1860
After 1853 the rift between the North and South began to widen. Really from 1832 on to 1861 was a long period of a
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cold war. The North wished to buy cheap and sell high, they became envious of the wealth and prestige of the South and the New England clique in press and pulpit were not content to mind their own business but must attempt to reform their neighbors, so they started a campaign of villification and mis- representation against the South which finally exploded into a clash of arms, unleashing a horror of four years of bloodshed and destruction. The cost of a small part of this would have paid for the value of the slaves many times to say nothing of the wanton destruction and the pensions incurred for 100 years.
According to the laws of the United States, the slaves were property as much as real estate. Remember that the Southerners neither stole or captured these slaves, bear in mind that they bought them from the Northern slave importers and paid large sums of money for them.
Of course slavery was an ugly blot on American history and many slaves were owned here and so we deserve our share of the blame. The Southerners however did not think it right that the North, which had grown rich by the traffic, should undertake to free them by force, without repaying to their owners one cent of the purchase money.
There were fanatics in the North who were unwilling to work out a plan to gradually free the slaves without bringing ruin to the South. The fire-eaters preached hatred of the South- ern people and slavery, they encouraged the millions of slaves to rise against their masters and burn and murder at will. This prospect brought terror to the South as with one third of the people, slaves, an uprising would have been terrible.
This, with other acts of an unfriendly section, led the Southerners to leave the Union to form their own government, one which would give protection to their homes and families. Propaganda helped to bring about the Civil War as much as anything else. Yes, the Southerners were haughty and proud and little disposed to consider the institution of slavery a per- tinent topic to be discussed only among themselves. It was a question that might have, with calm deliberation, been amicably settled by statesmen, but the agitation was begun and carried
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too far by rabid preachers and agitators and when an attempt was made in the eleventh hour to avert the impending catastro- phe, too much passion had been aroused on both sides for a settlement to be possible.
The war was a clash between divergent civilizations and rival economics. Northern powers seeking to exploit the South as a colony, which they did for ten years after the South had conceded defeat.
"In early days Georgia had forbidden slavery and had looked on it as an evil, but she held to States rights to deal with it in her own boundaries. To the South it was a matter of honor, dignity and equality in the Union and the safety of her citizens. As the North and South arrayed themselves against each other they lost their reason, they no longer sought to understand each other. They even parted their Christian union and sought God in opposite directions. The Union was divided in politics, religion and every feeling of regard, even families were divided." (History of Ga .- E. M. Coulter)
Georgia's golden age in the nation's history was to fade away with the rest of the Southern states as the bonds of friendship snapped and a four years of bitter war was fought followed by ten blundering years of the most tragic era of all called "Reconstruction".
The South had a legal right in a great wrong, it was real- ly a conflict between a legally fortified wrong and unconstitu- tional and high-handed right. Someone has said the Provi- dence gave the victory to civilization, against the forms of law, heroic devotion to a beloved duty, and as grand a chivalry the world has ever known.
The South drank the bitter cup of reconstruction after defeat which was to poison the South as well as the North for a hundred years. I have always thought had Pres. Lincoln lived and the radicals had not taken over at this period, in the gov- ernment, the country would have been reunited and the period of the tragic reconstruction with its evils would never have been.
C. W. Williams
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RECREATION AND CLUBS
GREENSBORO & GREENE COUNTY'S FIRST FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION RECORD, 1791
Less than two years after General George Washington had been anaugurated President of these United States, the citizens of Greene County met in the village of Greensboro, and held a Fourth of July celebration. This event took place on July 4th, 1791. Unfortunately, the names of those who made speech- es and offered toasts were not recorded; but we will be safe in saying that Major Oliver Porter, Alexander Gresham, Andrew and John Armor, William Greer, Jonas Fauche, Nathan Bar- nett, Isaac and Samuel Pennington, Thomas Houghton, Ezekiel E. Park, Nathan Peeples, Isaac Stocks, James Nisbit, William Daniell, Robert McAlpin, D. W. Foster, Benjamin, Fitzpatrick, William Melton, Sam Dale, and many others were present. How do I know this? The answer is easy : all of these men were either county officers, or doing military duty along the Oconee River and protecting the early settlers against Indian raids, at this time, and their patriotism demanded their presence on this occasion.
The south and west bank of the Oconee was thronged with Indians who felt that the citizens of Greene were occupying lands of which they had been robbed; and they took advantage of every opportunity to retaliate. Murder and robberies were frequent, and the people were appealing to the state for many forts to protect them; and those who were able to do so built forts of their own. But in spite of all this, we find their man- ly spirit reflected in the following, which was taken from The Augusta Chronicle of July 30, 1791.
"Toasts at Greensboro on July 4th, 1791."
1. The glorious and memorable 4th of July.
2. The United States of America.
3. May the Union last forever.
4. The Governor and the State of Georgia. (Telfair was Governor)
5. Brigadier-General McGillvray.
6. The President of the United States and Federal Officers.
(George Washington was then President)
7. May Knownothing blunders never more be admitted to Constitutional records.
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(The "Knownothing" party had caused much trouble)
8. Tribute to the memory of General Greene. (The Postoffice Department. had not sliced off the "e" at the end of his namesake-Greensborough.)
9. May the next Indian treaty not require a Continental Tour to make it palatable. (Probably, referred to President Washington's Tour through Georgia, in May of the same year)
10. Tribute to the memory of General Elbert.
11. The great minority in the Federal Senate that voted against (Two words illegible. They seem to be "fees of")
12. General James Jackson-Three cheers.
13. May Continental inhumanity act as a stimulus to the feelings His Excellency, our Governor, in his exertions for the relief of our fel- low citizens, captives in the Creek Nation.
14. To the memory of those heroes who fell in endeavoring to support the Declaration of Independence.
15. Efco-lon Ifchey The Indian manner of drinking your health seems to be the meaning of these words, which were given two different versions of the spelling. (There may have been some Indians present)
In the very early Fourth of July celebrations it was cus- tomary to give thirteen toasts, one for each of the thirteen origininal states; but since Vermont was admitted to statehood on March 4, 1791, the Greene County patriots took the new state into the fold; and, no doubt, the fifteenth toast was a stroke of diplomacy to please the Indians who were present on this occasion.
While Georgia was the youngest of the thirteen original Colonies, she was the fourth to have her Constitution ratified and be admitted to full-statehood; and Greene County was two years old when Georgia became a full-fledged state, Greene hav- ing been made a county in Feb. 1786, and the state constitution ratified in Jan. 1788.
In order to visualize conditions in Greene just a few months prior to the above Fourth of July celebration, I will quote from Governor Telfair's proclamation dated Nov. 27, 1790; which was also taken from The Augusta Chronicle of that date :
"Governor Telfair's proclamation dated Nov. 27, 1790, lamented the hostile disposition of some of the Creek Indians. The Governor mentioned that a boy named James Rorey was murdered on or about Nov. 4, 1790 by a party of Indians at a plantation lately oc- cupied by James Scarlett, deceased, in the county of
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Greene-that several valuable horses had been taken off and a rifle-gun forcibly taken by Indians supposed to have been of this tribe. '
"John Bradshaw and three other persons chosen by and accompanied by Daniel W. Easley (who had ob- tained my passport to go into the Creek Nation in quest of horses stolen from his neighborhood) after they had arrived in the said nation and received a pass from Alexander McGillvay, Esq., who was at Tucka- batchee, supposing it to be an additional protection to their persons, as they had been informed their lives were in danger, were twice fired upon by a party of Indians the second night after leaving the afore- said Tuckabatchee.
The Governor requested all military officers and oth- ers in frontier counties to give notice to the Indians regarding the recent treaty and new boundary lines, and warn them not to come armed into settled por- tions of the state."
Judge George Walton, one of Georgia's signers of the Declaration of Independence, presided over the first term of the Superior Court ever held in Greene County, in January 1790; and his charge to the Grand Jury, called attention to the fact that certain lawless citizens of Greene County, had without cause, fired upon a Cusseta Chieftan, and barbarously and wantonly murdered, and wounded another Indian of the Cusseta tribe. Governor Edward Telfair offered a reward of 100 pounds ($500) for the apprehension of the man, or men who perpetrated this dastardly act, which he said was com- mitted on Town Creek, in Greene County, about six miles from the Oconee River.
Thus did the wanton acts of some of Greene-and other counties-bad citizens aggravate, and prolong the strife between the Indians and whites from 1786 to 1802, when the Indians were pushed back across the Ocmulgee River.
During the formative period of Greene County-1786 to
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1789-it operated under a board of Commissioners composed of the following men : Davis Gresham, William Greer, Thomas Harris, William Fitzpatrick, and Robert Greer.
The Augusta Chronicle of Dec. 26, 1789 says : "Appoint- ment of county officers in act passed by last General Assembly of Georgia, listed officers for Greene County :
Sheriff, John Cessna; Clk. Superior Court, John Bradley ; Clk. Inferior Court, Rhene Fitzpatrick; Tax Collector, Oliver Porter; Tax Receiver, Brice Gaither; Register Probates, Wil- liam Phillips; Surveyor, William Greer, Coroner, Thomas Harris.
The Augusta Chronicle of Feb. 20, 1790, published the following list of Justices of Greene County : Thomas Harris, Thomas Horton, Davis Gresham often spelled David Gresham, Wm. Fitzpatrick, Henry Graybill, David Love, Oliver Porter, Walton Harris, John Bailey, Charles Cessna, Thomas Baldwin, Mathew Rabon, John George, Alexander Reid, Michael Rog- ers, David Dickson. (Name was also spelled Dixon)
GREENE COUNTY'S SECOND JULY 4TH
In last week's Herald-Journal, I told of Greene County's first celebration of the Glorious Fourth of July; but since that article did not tell where the festivities took place, or the names of anyone present, the following sketch enables us to visualize the scene more clearly; and I call your attention to the fact that, the "Town Spring" was none other than the spring that is now a valuable adjunct to Greensboro's City Waterworks, and known as "Love's Spring." Prior to this second Fourth of July Celebration, this very spot had been used as a "Field of Honor," where Major Jonas Fauche de- fended his honor under the "Code el Duelo," and killed his opponent who had criticised his vote in the Legislative Act known as "The Yazoo Fraud," for which Fauche voted. There fore, without taking undue credit, the writer will quote from The Augusta Cronicle of July 14, 1792 :
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"GREENSBORO, Georgia, July 7. Wednesday last being the 4th of July, a number of Ladies and Gentlemen convened at the Town Spring to celebrate the anniversary of American Independence. At 3 o'clock they sat down to an elegant dinner. Colonel Henry Karr, president, and Dr. Elihu Lymann, vice-president, when the following toasts were given under a discharge of the cannon, viz.,
(1) The fifteen United States. (Kentucky had just been admitted)
(2) The President.
(3) The Senate and House of Representatives.
(4) May this Anniversary be remembered with honor to the latest ages.
(5) May Congress relinquish their oppressive grasp of the territorial The Commander in Chief of the Western Army.
(6)
(7) The Governor, State, and fair sisters of Georgia.
(8) Louis, 16th, and National Assembly of France.
(9) The Marquis de la Fayette.
(10) The author of the Rights of Man.
(11) The memory of General Warren.
(12) The memory of General Nathaniel Greene.
(13) The memory of Dr. Benjamin Franklin.
(14) The memory of those brave heroes who fell in the cause of LIBERTY. (Revolution)
(16) The County of Greene.
The day was spent in festivity and mirth."
After a lapse of one hundred and forty-six years since this memorable Fourth of July Celebration, Greene County has given much of her territory to form Hancock, Oglethorpe, Clark, Taliaferro, and what is now, Oconee County; and if we do not watch our "P's & Q's" some upstart may make the effort to carve out another county to be named for some far lesser light than General Nathaniel Greene; and, unless our people become more history minded that very thing is liable to happen.
"Time Marches On;" and if we do not keep step in know- ledge and patriotism we will be swallowed up by those who do.
WHITE PLAINS INDEPENDENCE DAY PROGRAM IN 1826
The following was taken from The Georgia Reporter and Christian Gazette Vol. 1 No. 14, Monday July 10, 1826. B. Gildersleve & Co., Publishers, Sparta, Hancock County, Ga.
White Plains, Greene County.
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"The anniversary of our National independence was cele- brated by a large and respectable number of citizens at White Plains, with unusual demonstrations of joy and gratitude. The citizens met as early as ten o'clock, and assembled at the church where the exercises of the day were opened by a pray- er from the Rev. E. Battle. The Declaration of Independence was then read by Benjamin Colquitt, and an Oration truly patriotic and eloquent was delivered by William McGibboney Esq., which received the unanimous applause of the hearers.
The company then retired to a dinner prepared by Ab- solom Baugh, Esq., at which Richard Baugh, Esq. presided, assisted by Mr. Lewis Hines, as Vice-President. The unanimity and good feeling which prevailed on this occasion will long be remembered by all who were present with the greatest pleasure. The cloth being removed the following toasts were drunk.
(1) The Day We Celebrate-The anniversary of the Declaration of the rights of man.
(2) George Washington-To his worth language denies a proper eulogy but in grateful silence we muse his praise.
(3) The Constitution of the United States-If it were construed according to its meaning, it would be the ark of our safety.
(4) The Declaration of Independence-May it never be forgotten by a free people.
(5) Our Country and its Laws-Love for the one, and submission to the other.
(6) The Confederation of '76-Distinguished for its vision, venerated for its patroitism.
(7) Hon. John Forsyth-His zealous exertions in Congress entitle him to the highest honors of our State.
(8) The Citizens of Georgia-Free, honest and enlightened may the pre- judice of education or the force of party never make them guilty of treason against themselves.
(9) The General Government-So long as it was administered by wise and impartial hands, so long and no longer, were individual states bound to respect and submit to its decrees.
(10) The Heroes of '76-May their virtues and patriotism ever be perpetuat- ed by the annual testimonials of a grateful posterity.
(11) Campbell and Merriwether-The people of Georgia are not forgetful of your services and will vindicate with firmness, your honor and integrity, even though impeached by such scoundrels as Crowell, Hamby and others.
(12) Governor George M. Troup-The incorruptible politician, the indefatig- able supporter of the rights of Georgia. Like Shaderach, Meshah and Abednego, he has passed unhurt through the firy furnace.
(13) The Fair-Without the smile from partial beauty won, O, what were man ?- a world without a sun.
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VOLUNTEERS
By the President-To John Quincy Adams-May his political days be few and another take his office.
By the V-President-May Old Bachelors be double-taxed for the support of Old Maids.
By Wooten O'Neal-The State of Georgia. Rich in resources, Demo- cratic in principle, may strong powers than are at the head of the general government vindicate her struggle.
By Captain William Vincent-Representative Democracy. The strongest and purest government on earth, may it speed on its course until every na- tion shall be in the enjoyment of a charter, which shall make the peoples' good, the only object of the government, and the common good the only object of the people.
By E. McGibboney-The Fair Sex-We know their worth and we adore, and wish there were as many more. That modest worth might get a wife, and bachelors go into a lonely life.
The above was copied verbatim, and no effort was made to streamline it to fit the situation as we find it in the year ninteen-thirty-eight.
Note: This patriotic gathering of the people of White Plains, in 1826, is characteristic of her citizenship as it is in 1938. They stand true to the ideals of their forefathers. T. B. R.
P. S.
The account of the celebration of Independence Day at White Plains on July 10, 1826, is the earliest news item that we have found in any of the old newspapers, concerning that town.
It will be noticed that there were thirteen toasts. It was customary then to have thirteen toasts, one for each of the thirteen original states on patriotic occasions. These were usually followed by volunteer toasts. Toast No. 11 shows the resentment felt toward certain people involved in questions regarding removal of the Indians and other ques- tions pertaining to Indians, particularly the Creeks who were to be re- moved in 1827 and certain dealings with the Cherokees. The toasts pro- posed at the celebrations in Powellton and Sparta in the same year, reflect the same spirit of resentment toward Crowell, Hamby and others. The celebration at White Plains is one of the few where a toast to William H. Crawford was not included in the thirteen formal toasts.
In all probability, the William McGibboney who delivered the patriotic address, was the ancestor of our own greatly beloved citizen, T. H. McGibbony; the two Baughs mentioned were most certainly related to Hal and Bethea Baugh and their sister, Mrs. Fred Hunter: and Charles O. G., and Miss Annie Baugh are also descendents. Captain William Vincent was the grandfather of the late Mr. C. C. Vincent and his brother, Luther.
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ST. MARINO LODGE NO. 28, F. & A. M. LATER, SAN MARINO LODGE NO. 34 F. & A. M.
Charter issued March 1, 1822, at Savannah, Ga., and sign- ed; Thomas U. P. Charlton, Grand Master; Jeremiah Cuyler, Grand Senior Warden; Paul P. Thomason, Grand Treasurer; Jacob De La Motta, Grand Secretary.
Officers named in Chapter, Gustavus Fillmore, Worshipful Master; Thomas J. McLeskie, Senior Warden; Thomas B. Smith, Junior Warden.
Charter issued Jan. 24, 1844, at Milledgeville, Ga., and signed William C. Dawson, Grand Master; Joseph Adkins, Grand S. Warden; Grand J. Warden; E. P. Prince, A Grand Secretary.
Officers named in Chapter, Yelverton P. King, Worship- ful Master; James M. Porter, Senior Warden; William C. Dawson, Junior Warden.
No minutes of the original Lodge can be found, and the Grand Secretary is unable to give me any information relative to the twenty-two years of the existence of the St. Marino Lodge No. 28, F. & A. M., or as to why we have two Chapters, although, the Minute Book started on May 25, 1843, shows where the representatives to the Grand Lodge made an effort to get the matter of the suspension of the original Lodge straightened out. This, they seemed unable to do; and, the original number (28) had been given to another Lodge.
The first minutes recorded by San Marino Lodge No. 34, show that the meeting was held under Dispensation granted by William L. Mitchell, Deputy Grand Master, and those pre- sent at that meeting were: Yelverton P. King, W. M. James, M. Porter, Senior Warden; William C. Dawson, J. W., W. W. D. Weaver, James W. Godkin, James Twilley, James M. Davidson, Jesse M. Wilson, John S. Wright, Joseph Murphey, W. P. Arnold, and Henry Sanford.
Thus it will be seen that, San Marino operated under Dispensation from May 25, 1843, to January 24, 1844.
Neither of the three officers named in the original Chart- er (Gustavus Fillmore, Thomas J. McLeskie, and Thomas B. Smith ) appear on the roll in 1844. However, we must assume that all of those present at the first meeting held under Dis-
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pensation on May 25, 1843, had all been members of the orig- inal Lodge and in good standing. Georgia Masonic Historians are unanimous in the opinion that, William C. Dawson was probably the greatest Grand Master that Georgia ever had; and held office longer than any other Grand Master. This was not due to his efforts ; but to the spontaneous desire of his brethren who knew his worth to the craft.
Dawson became Grand Master during the most turbulent period of anti-Mason hatred; and the craft in Georgia, had dwindled to a mere handful. The Morgan expose had reached nation wide proportions; and the presidential election hinged on Masonry and anti-Masonry. Masonry was charged with having put into practice all the penalties that Morgan claimed their oaths prescribed, and he painted a diabolical picture that many newspapers gave wide publicity. This had a most disaster- ous effect upon Masonry, and it took such giants as William C. Dawson and other great leaders to combat it; and nobly did he undertake the task. It is said that William C. Dawson's funeral attracted the largest crowd that ever attended any funeral in Georgia, up to that time.
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