USA > Georgia > Greene County > History of Greene County, Georgia, 1786-1886 > Part 37
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The Augusta Chronicle of April 9, 1796 had this article : J. Gunn challenged Abraham Baldwin to a duel in a letter dated March 11, 1796 because of a political dispute about correspondence between the State of Ga. and Washington.
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This duel did not take place, or no record could be found that it did.
Patrick Calhoun, grandson of the famous John C., and J. R. Williamson were to have a duel and that was known to be the last duel fought in Ga. this was in 1889. Hammerless Smith and Wesson pistols carrying five bullets were to be used. Williamson fired five times rapidly but Calhoun fired once and then unloaded his pistol, but asked for the apology from an insult offered him by Williamson. This he refused to do, saying, "You have four shots left, I will not apologize, you will have to use them." Calhoun hesitated a moment went over and the two shook hands. Both admitted they had been too angry and there was a reconciliation effected and the parties returned to Atlanta.
WHEN FORGERY WAS PUNISHABLE BY DEATH WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF CLERGY
On December 14, 1792 the Georgia Legislature passed an act entitled : "An Act for the more effectually preventing and punishing forgery." This act is recorded in Watkins' Digest, page 467. And the punishment prescribed upon conviction, was death by hanging and without the benefit of clergy. Forged land-warrants, deeds, notes, orders for goods, etc., seemed to be quite common prior to the year 1800. And any one found guilty of any kind of forgery, was not only hanged but was de- nied a Christian burial.
If any one has any doubt about this law being enforced, just read the proceedings of the Greene County Superior Court for the September term for the year 1800, which reads as fol- lows :
The State vs. Steven Heard and William Heard, Ind't for forgery.
Verdict of the jury, Guilty with a recommendation to mercy. "You Steven Heard, and you William Heard are to be conducted from this Bar to the place from whence you came, and there be safely kept until Friday the twenty-sixth day of the
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month, on which said twenty-sixth day of September instant. You Stephen Heard and You William Heard are to be taken out, by the proper officer, and to be conducted to a gallows previously to be erected, in or near the Town of Greensboro and then, and there between the hours of ten o'clock in the forenoon and two o'clock in the afternoon of the afore- said twenty-sixth day of September instant, You Stephen Heard and William Heard are severally and each and both of you to be hung by the neck until you are dead. And the Lord have mercy on your souls.
The minutes of the same term of court also shows the following :
The State vs. John McAdams and Robert Hobbs Indc't for forgery. Verdict of the jury, Guilty with a recommenda- tion to mercy. Both of these men were sentenced to be hanged on the twenty-sixth day of September also, and the wording of the sentence was exactly the same as that of Stephen and Wil- liam Heard.
The Judge did not deny the convicted men the benefit of clergy. This was probably due to the fact that the jury recom- mended mercy. The law as it appeared on the statute books, did not allow the Judge any discretion, as death by hanging, was the only punishment prescribed.
Although the Court records do not show it, tradition says, that neither of the convicted men were hanged.
Judge Columbus Heard, who was at one time a partner of Governor McDaniel, and one of the ablest lawyers in the State, became interested in the history of this case. And claim- ed to have unraveled the story. His version was as follows : He became interested on account of one of the defendants being named Stephen Heard, and as he was a descendent of General Stephen Heard of Wilkes county, he wanted to find out if these men who were convicted of forgery, were any kin to him. His investigations revealed the fact, that they were not related to General Stephen Heard. And that the forgery consisted of the changing of land-warrants, or the forgery of deeds to certain lands in Greene county that they wanted. Judge Heard also
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said, that some prominent people became interested in the case and secured the names of the Jury, Judge, and many citi- zens to a petition to the Governor to commute the sentence to life imprisonment. And that a number of Greene county citizens went to Louisville to see the Governor and present the peti- tion. And that after much pleading, Governor Josiah Tattnall granted the request to spare the lives of the forgers. He also found that the time was so short, that it would require great haste in order to place the Governor's order in the hands of the Sheriff in time to prevent the execution. And that it would be necessary to travel both day and night, and get fresh horses along the way, and that had not the Sheriff anticipated favor- able action on the part of the Governor, and delayed the hang- ing until the last hour, the order would have reached him too late.
There is no record to show where these men were ever pardoned, and it is presumed that they spent the rest of their lives in prison.
Hangings were public events in those days, and men, women and children traveled many miles in wagons, ox-carts and on horseback in order to see an execution. The public gal- lows for Greene county was located about one mile from the court house, and was near what is now Greensboro's Aviation field.
BANKS-1857
Copied from the Temperance Crusader of Nov 26, 1857.
"In the Senate, the bill legalizing annual sessions of the legislature was passed by a vote of seventy-one yeas to seven- teen nays.
The Senate also passed a bill directing Tax collectors to receive in payment of taxes, all bank bills in general circulation at the time of payment, and the State Treasurer, County Trea- surers, and officers of the State road were also directed to receive the same kind of currency.
We must not lose sight of the fact that, 1857 was one
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of the worst panic years that this country ever had. Condi- tions were so bad that the charters of all the banks in England were canceled.
Georgia had only a few banks and all of them issued bills or notes that circulated freely. Some of these bank bills were almost worthless, while others were worth anywhere from 25 cents to 75 cents on the dollar.
The total amount of Taxes collected by the State of Geor- gia in 1857 was only $595,000.00, and one newspaper made this comment on the extravagance of the State: "For Heaven's sake let this be the first source of extravagance to spike."
Banks were failing everywhere that year. One Greens- boro Bank failed, and brought forth the following comment from the Temperance Crusader: "Amid the almost univer- sal suspension and crash of Banking Institutions, the above wild-cat concern (the Greensboro Bank), on Thursday night, broke too, and has not been heard of since. The whole concern left under cover of night at railroad speed, and we guess their exchange (of climate), is not yet suspended. We do not think they had a great many notes in circulation in this section nor in this State. Attachments have been levied on all of the furn- iture which they left, but it will not amount to a great deal we presume."
No doubt some of the bills of this defunct bank were used to pay Taxes that year under the above Act.
The instability of other banks of that period, is reflected in the following statement of another Greensboro Bank just a few weeks after the above failure :
"Statement of the Bank of Greensboro at the close of business on Tuesday 24th day of November 1857."
Assets
Liabilities
Notes Discounted
$90,000.00 Capital Stock Subscribed $200,000.00
Expenses, Salaries etc,
3,688.62
25% paid in 50,000.00
Office Furniture
417.42
Circulation 60,599.00
Paid for Engraving and
Profits on Interest & Exc. 5,289.27
printing notes etc.
1,782.23
Due from Banks
4,879.00
Specie
15,121.00
$115,888.57
Due Depositors 0,000.00
$115,888.27
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS
B. B. Wight
285 Shares at $100.00 per share
$80,000.00
Charles W. Keith
800 Shares at $100.00 per share 50,000.00
H. B. Godard
500 Shares at $100.00 per share
28,500.00
B. B. Wight
285 Shares at $100.00 per share
23,000.00
W. M. Keith
280 Shares at $100.00 per share 28,500.00
T. Chittenden 285
$200,000.00
This bank seems to have had no deposits, and their cir- culation exceeded their paid in capital by $10,599.00. Many of their beautifully engraved bills or notes are scattered all over the United States.
This old "Wildcat" bank was chartered in 1856, operated until November 1857; folded its tent and its owners fled be- tween suns. They carried their printing outfit with them and flooded the country with worthless notes. The bank did not function, in Greensboro, Ga. after November 1857, therefore this note, and many thousands like it, were not printed in Greensboro. The names that appear on the notes, J. H. Stevens and O. S. Stevens, were not the original owners who fled in November 1857. The Stevens have been identified as citizens of the State of Maine. The names of the officers and owners of the bank that functioned in Greensboro up to November 1857, are as follows :
Charles W. Keith, H. B. Godard, B. B. Weight, W. M. Keith and C. Chittendon. They are the ones who fled and, the presumption is that they sold their charter, lithograph plates and printing press to the two Stevens, and the Stevens boys are the ones who flooded the country with these worthless notes.
None of the original owners were natives of Greensboro, and are supposed to be adventurers who came here from some- where in "Yankeyland."
The original charter bore the names of some of Greens- boro's finest citizens; such as William C. Dawson, Yelverton P. King, Francis H. Cone and others; but several of these men died about the time the charter was issued, and they never actually opened the bank. The assumption is that Messers
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
Keith, Godard, Weight and Chittendon were looking for an opening, heard that a charter had been issued, came here and bought, or otherwise acquired the charter and proceeded to open and operate the bank for about two years. A statement of the condition of the bank was published in the Temperance Banner, at Penfield, Ga. in November 1857, and indicated that the bank had made more than Fifty Thousand dollars ($50,000.00) up to that time. The paper stated that only a few of the bank's notes were in circulation, here, at the time it failed. The only note, that I have seen, that bore the names of the original owners, was a $10.00 note that was owned by the Aetna Insurance Company, it was printed from the same plate that later $10.00 notes were printed from-a different design from the $5.00 notes. $1.00 and $2.00 notes that were printed after the bank failed, bore the name of O. O. Norton, Cashier. Several of these have turned up in Bridgeport, Conn. At least three other presidents and cashiers names appear on notes that were issued at different times, but all that I have seen, bear date of Dec. 7, 1858. This date was engraved on the plates and had nothing to do with the actual date on which they were printed.
STORES AND BANKS 1857-90
Comparatively few changes took place in the business houses of Greensboro between 1886 and 1890. The town rock- ed along pretty much in the same old way, with the same muddy streets, the same old kerosene street lamps that often requir- ed a lantern to find them, the same old horse rack and mulberry tree, and the same old public well.
Back in those days the town had only one marshal, and he was an expert whittler. There was no trash wagon or street- cleaning service of any kind. When the stores were swept out in the morning, the trash was burned, usually in front of the stores. This created mounds of ashes, and when they got too large, the marshall made the store owners cart them away, or scatter them.
Practically all of the business changes took place in the 1880's were the changes that took place in the ownership of
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what was known as the "Davis Store", and later known as the "Big-Store", now occupied by M. R. Binns Company, J. H. McCommons Co. and the Herald-Journal.
It seems to have been the custom of Mr. Charles A .. Davis, Sr. who was the most successful merchant that Greens- boro ever had; to sell the privilege of doing business in this store, to his employees who showed marked ability. This sale of privilege seems to have been for periods of five years, and at the expiration of that time the store reverted to Mr. Davis And he would sell it to another set of men. This plan seems to have proven profitable both to Mr. Davis and the men to whom he sold the privilege of operating the store. During the 1880's this store was operated alternately by McCall-Copelan & Co. Copelan-Seals & Armor, and Davis Bros. & Seals. The two Davis brothers; Charles 1. Jr. and Oscar, are still living, and are among Atlanta's successful business men. They are the only ones now living of the Merchants who did business in Greensboro prior to 1886.
In 1889 Mr. E. A. Copelan opened the first real bank that Greensboro ever had. There had been at least two banks that issued private currency many years before Mr. Copelan established his bank, which was a private institution, but did not issue currency. Back in those days the State permitted in- dividuals or firms that did a legitimate banking business to call themselves Bankers. But under the present law governing banking; all Banks must have a definite paid in capital, and be Chartered by the State, and governed by a board of direct- ors. And must be examined by Bank Examiners at regular intervals, and subject a rigid enforcement of the State's Bank- ing Laws. While private bankers did not have to make re- ports of their condition to the State or Government.
The so-called currency issued by private banks many years ago, was in reality nothing but notes issued by the banks, and were payable on demand of the holder without interest. One of these old bank notes issued in 1857 by a bank that was called The Bank of Greensboro, was sent to the present Bank of Greensboro some time ago to find out if it had any value now.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
The Five dollar bill, or note that was issued before the war between the states, and sent by a Chicago Bank to the present Bank of Greensboro for information; was printed on one side only. The face of the note was beautifully engraved, and showed a sheep-shearing scene in one corner, a timber- cutting scene in the center and a corn-gathering scene in another corner.
The Bank of Greensboro replied to the Chicago Bank that sent the note as follows :
Gentlemen :
We thank you for sending us the $5.00 note issued by the Bank of Greensboro on December 7th, 1858 for redemption.
We are not disposed to figure the compound interest on the amount, but straight interest for 72 years at 8% per an- num to $28.80, and the face value of the note being $5.00, brings the total up to $33.80.
We do not believe in being close and stingy in a trans- action of this kind, therefore, we are going to show you how liberal we Greensboro people are, by enclosing you 1-$100.00 bill, 1-$20.00, 1-$10.00 and 1-$5.00, making a total of $135.00 in full payment of the $5.00 note that you sent us.
We interpret the pictures on the note that you sent us to mean that the Bank at that time had some sheep to shear, lots of timber to cut, and corn to gather. And the assumption is, that these items were the security offered to him who ac- cepted the note.
From the best information that we can gather, there was a man by the name of Sherman, who passed through this part of the country soon after this note was issued, and gathered up the sheep and corn to feed his army. The timber was cut into lumber to build houses. And the a-fore-said Sherman came along and burned the houses after he had "sacked" their con- tents. And we have an idea that one or his soldiers found this note among other things that he "salvaged" before applying the torch.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
Had Mr. Sherman not been so careless with fire on his famous march, the Bank might have realized on the assets de- picted on its notes, and retired them long ago.
Of course this is only a by-play on a bit of history that brings sad memories to both those who wore the "blue and the grey," and none are farther from "waiving the bloody-shirt" than we are.
To be serious, the note that you sent us is of no value, as the Bank that issued it ceased to function during the War Be- tween the States. The present Bank of Greensboro has no con- nection with the bank of the same name that existed at that time. The present Bank of Greensboro was organized in 1926.
We would like to keep the note you sent us as a souvenir, but unless you are perfectly willing for us to have it, we will return it.
You may keep the Confederate bills that we enclose whe- ther you accept them in exchange for the note that you sent or not, as the writer has more of them (face value) than he has in the coin of the realm under the present regime.
We greatly appreciate your sending us the $5.00 note. Also your courteous letter making inquiry about its value etc.
Yours very truly, T. B. Rice
Chapter XIII DIXIANA THE OLD OUTHOUSE
Robert Burns, James Whitcomb Riley and other poets have written unpublished poems of the old "outhouse" of our fore- fathers. Now, the passing of this important institution, due to the sanitary age, the future generations will not know about.
This relic of the past was an adjunct to a home built soon after the Pilgrim fathers landed, and indeed in Greene County from its beginning in 1786 for many years to come.
This small house about six by six feet had a door with an inside latch, a string tied across one corner with old papers and magazines folded over it, and a seat with usually three holes. Long ago Nature's calls were just the same as now and it re- quired a brave soul to venture out to a vine-covered privy in the garden alone before retiring for the night. As a boy, I remember walking in the night with stomach cramps from eating too many green plums or apples, and call and call someone to accompany me to the garden at the dead hour of midnight.
Now the privy-builder is an artisan comparable to the vil- lage blacksmith and the buggy-whip manufacturer, well nigh extinct. Modern plumbing has reached the country districts and in the next few years there may not be an outhouse left.
It was there I read my first horoscope, farm periodicals, Sears Catalog, garden seed catalogues and patent medicine ad- vertising.
The wealthy planters sometimes painted their outhouses white and wall papered the inside, put a grass rug on the floor and had five holes in the seat.
During the 30's it was the job of the W. P. A. privy expert to talk people into building screened and pit outhouses and using a desirable location, be that as it may, no one can appreciate indoor plumbing who hasn't gone out on a freezing night down the garden path and had to break the icicles from over the door to get in and then felt the freezing blast from the north.
463
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
GEORGIA HOSPITALITY IN 1790
Georgia Scenes by Longstreet
I quote the following from Georgia Scenes, and later "The Turn Out," on page 80. I visited my friend Captain Griffen, who resided about seven miles to the eastward of Wrightsboro, then in Richmond, but now in Columbia county. I reached the Captain's hospitable home on Easter, and was received by him and his good lady with a Georgia welcome of 1790. It was warm from the heart, and taught me in a moment that the obligations of the visit were upon their side, not mine. Such receptions were not peculiar at that time, to the Captain and his family; they were common throughout the state. Where are they now, and where are the generous hospitalities which invariably followed them? I see them occasionally at the contented farmer's door and at his festive board, but when they shall have taken leave of these, Georgia will know them no more."
I doubt if a clearer description of genuine hospitality, was ever written. And Judge Longstreet's prophesy that it would become a lost art, has almost come to pass.
Towns and small cities, held few attractions over what the country residences had. All the young people of the country found ample sport and recreation at home. The means of trans- portation were: open and closed carriages; buggies; sulkies; road-carts, and fine saddle horses. The ladies used side-saddles in those days ; and many of them were splendid horseback riders. Every home had a horse-block for the ladies to mount their steed. Some of these horse-blocks were made of stone, and a few are still to be seen around some of the old country homes.
Tuesdays and Saturdays were the days that most of the people went to town to do their shopping, and attend to bus- iness. Most of the ladies went on Tuesdays, for the reason that most of the "riff-raff," went on Saturdays. The people were very social in those days, and when the men got through with their business, they usually met in groups at their favorite haunts. Certain groups would meet at some lawyers office. Others met in certain offices at the court-house. Most of the
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business houses fitted up loafing places for their friends and customers to meet. Those who were careless about their drink- ing habits, met in the bar-rooms, and spent most of their time there. This class usually went home drunk, and often, had to be carried home.
Sunday was a day of rest, and worship. Nearly everybody went to church. Every community had its churches; and the people flocked there in great numbers. The ladies sat on one side of the church, and the men and boys on the other. The side on which the men sat, was furnished with foot-rests and spit- boxes. Most of the men chewed tobacco during church services. After preaching; everybody, invited everybody else to go home with them for dinner, and what dinners they did have! After dinner, everybody took a nap. A favorite place for the men was, on the floor in the hall. A straight chair was a favorite head- rest, and the way it was used, was to lay it on the floor by pull- ing it forward so that the front of the seat, and the posts at the back would touch the floor. This would form a head-rest of about 30 degrees ; then a feather pillow was put under the head. There were few, if any, fly-screens in use in those days, and it was customary for each sleeping guest to have a little "darkie" fan the flies off. After the "siesta", everybody would bathe their faces with fresh water from the well. (Of course this pic- ture is for summer-time visitors). And after they were refreshed, the next stop was to cut and eat water-melons. No guest was ever served with less than a half of a melon. And these melons that did not look, and taste just right, were fed to the hogs, and the process of cutting was continued, until each guest had a choice piece. I have seen as many as a dozen melons cut, before one was found to suit the host; when any one of them looked good to me.
After the feast of melons and fruit, horses were saddled; and host, and guests, rode over the plantation to look at crops, and compare conditions; while the ladies duscussed the things that were of special interest to them.
Most of the large farms were looked after by "Overseers", who were in reality, farm managers; and were responsible for the success of the farm. Many of them were good business men
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
who, through force of circumstances, were not land, and slave owners. In most cases, the overseers were not permitted to pun- ish the slaves. That right rested with the Master alone. After the war of 1861-5 ended; few of the planters were able to cope with the new conditions. Some of them recognized that fact early, and either sold, or rented their lands to overseers, or sold it on such terms as they could and moved to town.
Many large land owners, either sold, or gave small tracts to their former slaves. All contracts pertaining to the rental or purchase of land, were expressed in bales, or pounds of middling cotton. Corn, hay, wheat and other farm products were never mentioned; and the importance of planting plenty of cotton was always stressed. Supply merchants did the same thing. And in this way, cotton became the one money crop in Greene County.
Naturally, these overseers knew more about handling negro tabor, than their former owners did; and they gradually became owners of much of the land. Many of these former overseers became prosperous farmers, and are among Georgia's best citizens.
A striking illustration of the neighborly esteem that existed between planters in the early days of Greene County, is shown by the following true story : Colonel Richard Willis, and Judge Thomas Stocks were near neighbors and very fond of each other. Both were large land and slave owners. Colonel Willis moved to Greene, from Wilkes county and bought a large tract of land from a Mr. Mathews. This farm consisted of some six thousand acres, and lay broad-side of the Oconee for many miles. Much of it was virgin land; and the money consideration was some forty thousand dollars. Colonel Willis had been a large planter in Wilkes county for a number of years, and the citizens of Greene were very anxious to have him locate here. Colonel Willis did not have enough ready money to pay for the land, and carry on his farming operations ; so he paid about half of the amount cash, and gave a series of notes for the balance. It is said that Joel Early furnished the money to complete the payment for the land, and that, he agreed for Colonel Willis to take as much time as he wanted to pay him. Some years later Colonel Willis defaulted on one or two payments on account of
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