USA > Georgia > Greene County > History of Greene County, Georgia, 1786-1886 > Part 38
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49
467
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
bad crop years, and Mr. Early refused to extend the payments, and threatened to sell the land. This naturally upset Colonel Willis, and he went to confer with his friend, Judge Stocks. The thought of losing his friend and neighbor, caused him a restless night, and he rode over to see Colonel Willis early the next morning. And together, they called on Mr. Early. Mr. Early was firm in his demand for the payment of the balance due him. Whereupon; Judge Stocks pulled out his wallet, and paid the entire amount due by Colonel Willis, and had Mr. Early make a straight deed to Mr. Willis. Judge Stocks is said to have re- fused to take a note, or any other evidence of the debt from Colonel Willis.
Those who knew the facts, related this incident to me. And it is said that two years later, Colonel Willis paid Judge Stocks back every dollar that he had advanced for him, but that Judge Stocks declined to accept any interest. And that Judge Stocks remarked; that it was worth more to him to have a friend, and neighbor like Willis, than the interest on a few thousand dollars.
This drew these two men together even closer than they had ever been. And it is said, that no day ever passed that they did not see each other.
Their homes stood on elevations, about one mile apart, and were surrounded by beautiful magnolias, and stately forest oaks. Their yards were beautifully laid out, and bordered with shrub- bery of many kinds; gravel walks led among the flowers, which bloomed in profusion throughout the year. Among such sur- roundings, they entertained their hosts of friends.
So solicitous were they of each other's welfare, they had an avenue cut between their homes, 60 feet wide, in order that their view of each others home might not be obstructed. Both kept field-glasses, in order that they might see more clearly.
Colonel Willis died soon after the Civil War. Judge Stocks died in 1876. Colonel Willis' son, Captain L. B. Willis lived in the old home until the late 1890's, and the writer visited his home many times. Much of its beauty remained; and the old- time hospitality lived on as long as Captain Willis had anything. Captain Willis died about 1900. The old Willis home was oc-
468
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
cupied by Negroes for many years, and was burned a few years ago. Some part of the old Stocks home is still standing, but is also occupied by Negroes. The magnolias, the oaks, the shrub- bery and the flowers are all gone; and nothing remains but a faint memory in the minds of a few, who knew, and loved these beautiful old homes of the long-ago.
On a recent visit, the writer stood in front of these two old land-marks with bowed-head, and uttered a silent prayer of thankfulness, that he had been permitted to see some of their beauty, and partake of some of the hospitality of the former owners.
Judge Stocks' liberality was not confined to Greene county alone. He seems to have had friends all over Georgia, who were the recipients of his generosity. The writer has a file of corre- spondence between him and Mark A. Cooper of Etowa, Ga. dating back to about 1840.
Sometime in the 1830's Mark Cooper built the first Iron Works in Georgia. And it seems that he became heavily involved in the late 30's. He appealed to his friends throughout the state both in person and by letter. His appeals must have been very eloquent, as he secured a loan of $10,000 from Judge Stocks, and his endorsement for $100,000 in addition. This old file of correspondence shows that the entire obligation was paid in full a few years later. As evidence of his appreciation of his friends, Mr. Cooper erected, what is said to be, the only monument ever erected in honor of his living friends. This monument stood in a little park, in front of his office on the Etawa river, near Cartersville, Ga. And the names of his friends who came to his relief in the time of his distress, were carved on the four sides of a beautiful shaft of marble.
General Sherman destroyed the Cooper Iron Works during the war between the states, but the monument was left standing. A few years ago, the Cartersville Chamber of Commerce, and the United Daughters of the Confederacy, had the old monu- ment brought to Cartersville, and set up in a little park in front of the hotel. The unveiling ceremony was quite an occasion, and a great-granddaughter of Mr. Mark Cooper, pulled the cord
469
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
that veiled the monument. The writer presented the Chamber of Commerce, and the Cooper family with photostat copies of the correspondence looking to the re-financing of the enterprise.
SHORT PARAGRAPHS FROM OLD NEWSPAPERS
By T. B. Rice
A cave near Wrightsboro, Ga. described in the Temperance Crusader, Penfield, Ga. Dec. 3rd, 1857, is said to have a paved chamber 40 feet long and the walls are carved in hieroglyphics.
THE DAILY LOCOMOTIVE: a paper published in Atlanta, Ga. in Jan. 1860, by John Soals.
THE WEEKLY GAZETTE: In the third year of its age threw off its swaddling clothes and became THE PLANTERS WEEKLY on March 21, 1860. F. C. Fuller had been its editor.
A former Greene County man declines the nomination as vice- President of the United States:
The Greensboro Planters Weekly of June 20, 1860 says:
"We see from our exchange that Benjamin Fitzpatrick, the nominee for the Vice-Presidency the rump convention has declined the nomination, and that ex-Governor H. V. Johnson of Georgia has been nominated by the Douglass Executive Committee, was nominated in the place of Mr. Fitzpatrick."
Benjamin Fitzpatrick was a resident of Greene County, Georgia, before moving to the new State of Alabama, where he became one of the South's greatest statesmen. His father owned what is commonly known as the Billups place, and erected a private Fort for the protection of his family against Indian attacks. Fitzpatrick's fort is shown on a Military map of Greene County that bears date of 1793.
According to the GREENSBORO PLANTERS WEEKLY of July, 4, 1860. "Greensboro preacher objected to an increase in his salary.
From the PLANTERS WEEKLY of Oct. 10, 1860: "Davis & Bro- meaning Charles A. Davis, Sr. and his brother, William S. Davis, moved into their new store (known now as the "Big Store") during this week"
The same paper tells of the completion of the beautiful residence of Wm. S. Davis (the home now owned by Mr. Hugh Evans), the new brick store of Winfield, Jackson &
470
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
Co. (now owned by Charles Poulos), and the new brick store of Mr. Zimmerman (now occupied by the Western Auto Ac- cessories Store). About this same period a number of other brick stores were built on Main Street in Greensboro.
Good Bye Tallow Candles
The following advertisement appeared in The Greensboro Weekly Gazette of Dec. 1, 1859:
"KEROSENE OIL"
"As artificial light is indespensible and every one wants a beautiful, clear and brilliant one, we would recommend them to use Kerosene Oil, as it is, in our opinion, far superior to anything ever before brought to light.
(Signed) J. Henry Wood
Note :- Mr. J. Henry Wood, at that time, operated a drug store in Greensboro. Later, he became associated with Mr. Charles A. Davis, Sr. in the General Merchandise business, under the firm name of Davis, Wood & Johnson. This firm succeeded C. A. Davis & Bro.
CHATTAKANOYA
Back in the 1790's the Indians occupied the territory beyond the Oconee River and made frequent trips to Greensboro to trade. At that time, all merchants sold whiskey this is clearly proven by Greene County records that show the names of those who held license to sell liquor). When an Indian entered one of these stores for the purpose of refreshing himself he said, "CHATTAKANOYA-ONE-DOLLAR- HUN-KEE."-meaning that he wanted one dollar's worth of whiskey.
Note :- One dollar would buy a gallon of whiskey, back in those days, and was enough to put the devil in ten or twelve Indian bucks. When thus fortified they would slip across the river, at night, and make raids on iso- lated homes of pioneers. Sometimes, they gathered a few scalps as well as horses and cows. This made it necessary for the Georgia Legislature to pass a law prohibiting the sale of liquor to Indians: but then, as now, some dealers loved the dollar so well that they disregarded the law. Early Greene County Court rec- ords are teeming with indictments against merchants and individuals for illicit sales to Indians.
Greene County's First Court
Contrary to the belief that Greene County's first term of the Superior Court was held in January, 1790. I have the original presentments of the Grand Jury at the May term of the Greene Superior Court held in May, 1787, just a few months after Greensboro was burned by the Indians. Unfortunately, no other record of that court is in existence. However, many of Greene County's early records are in the Archives of Duke University. How did they get there?
471
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
Taxes
According to the Greensboro Gazette of June 1, 1859, the greatest amount paid for taxes by any citizen of the United States was $85,000 .- 00, the amount paid by Wm. B. Astor of New York.
Atlanta Hotels
According to The Greensboro Gazette of Feb. 1859, "Cousin" John J. Thrasher was operating The Washington Hotel in Atlanta. "Cousin" John could not compete with the TROUT HOUSE so he moved to Griffin.
DR. BOYD and THE TROUT HOUSE were "played up" by Editor John Seals in his CRUSADER of Feb. 4, 1859.
He said, "Dr. Boyd has long been proprietor of The Charleston Hotel. Editor Seals had just moved his TEMPERANCE CRUSADE from Penfield to Atlanta and, for some reason, he dropped the "Tem- perance" and called it THE CRUSADER. He boarded with Dr. Boyd, and I suspect Dr. Boyd's Bar did not fit in with the original name of his paper.
The Christian Index
The Christian Index was published in Penfield up to November, 1861, when it suspended publication. So says The Crusader.
The Christian Index resumed publication under Dr. H. H. Tucker after Atlanta dug out from under the ashes left by Sherman's army, changed hands a number of times, and is now one of the greatest religious pub- lications in the South.
The Will of Peter-the-Great, of Russia.
The Will of Peter-the-Great was published in The Greensboro Gazette of Oct. 26, 1859.
Item 3. says, "On every occasion take a part in the affairs and quarrels of Europe; above all, in those of Germany, which country being our nearest, more immediate concerns us."
(Stalin seems to be carrying out Peter's instructions)
Item 5. says, "Take as much as you can from Sweden and cause yourself to be attacked by her, so as to have a pretext for subduing her; to accomplish this, sever Denmark from Sweden, and Sweden from Denmark, carefully keeping up rivals.
Item 7. says, England requiring us for her Navy, and she being the only power that can aid in the development of ours, seek a com- mercial alliance with her, in preference to any other. Exchange our wood and the productions of our land for her gold.
472
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
PRESIDENT JEFFERSON DAVIS AT PARK'S MILL
Many stories have been written concerning the last Cabinet meeting of the Confederacy at the home of General Toombs, in Washington, Ga., the flight of President Jefferson Davis and his arrest a few days later at Irwinsville, the female garb that they say he wore at the time of his arrest; and the robbery of the Confederate wagon-train as it passed through Wilkes county. All of these stories are more or less conflicting, therefore, all of them cannot be true. However, there is one unpublished story that was often told by the late Judge James B. Park, Sr., father of Judge James B. Park, who has presided over the Ocmulgee Circuit for many years ; and he too, recalls the incident related by his father.
The story is as follows: Using Judge Park, Sr.'s own words-"When I reached home one evening about dark, I found my wife greatly excited over the arrival, a short time before, of a distinguished looking, mysterious stranger who asked to spend the night, but wanted to go to his room immediately, and wanted his horse and the horses of his companions to be fed, but wanted the bridles and saddles left on them. In addition to this request, he asked that he not be disturbed, and stated that he would leave before light the next morning." "When I reached home," quoting Judge Park, 'my wife told me of the mysterious stranger and his request. I was anxious to find out who my guest was, and to render him such assistance as I could, so I went to his room and knocked on his door. When he opened the door I told him I was his host and anxious to do what I could for his com- fort. There was no light in the room, and I could only get a faint outline of my guest. He assured me that he had everything that he needed, but would like some directions as to how he could reach Eatonton without following the main road." "After securing this information, he further asked that his horses be securely hidden and that his attendants be shown just where they were, and how to make a quick get-away. I hid the horses in my blacksmith shop, and gave explicit directions as to how to avoid the main Eatonton road. He informed me that they were being pursued, and asked I evade any questions asked by his pursuers. No names were given and no direct questions asked.
473
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
My guests departed at an early hour, and, soon after they left, a number of federal officers rode up to the ferry and de- manded to be put across the river at once. The flat was on the opposite side of the river from the officers, and I had previously instructed my ferryman to find some excuse for delaying them, consequently, some time was consumed in ferrying them across. They immediately began asking questions as any strangers who had passed that way etc, etc. I assured them that this was a public ferry and that many people were constantly crossing, and that many of them were total strangers to me, and that I rarely paid any attention to the people who came by unless, they had some business with me, personally. Several roads centered at that point, and they asked about each of them. I anticipated that they wanted to go in the direction of Eatonton, and I purposely pointed them to the longest route, which they took. After several hours, they returned but had no prisoners. They asked many more questions, but I do not think they ever suspected me of harboring the objects of their search, and went back toward Greensboro.
Two days later, Mr. Davis was arrested at Irwinsville, and I will always believe that President Jefferson Davis was the mysterious stranger who spent the night in my home as he fled from Washington on his way to Irwinsville.
In the fall of 1934, a middle aged man dropped into my office and introduced himself as Mr. His card indi- cated that his business was that of tree-surgery, and while his office was in Chicago, he told me that most of his time was spent in Clearwater, Fla. He said he was greatly interested in the history of the Confederacy, and that he had been informed that I was the Historian for Greene County; and that he had been directed to me for information.
He seemed particularly interested in the story of the rob- bery of the Confederate treasure-train as it passed through Wilkes County, and asked what I knew about it. I related the version that had been handed down to me, which he said was about the same as he had heard before; but, that he did not believe the 'oft told story of the robbery near Washington. Then he proceeded to tell me this story: He said, "an old ex-Con-
474
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
federate soldier died in Indiana about a year ago, and that he claimed to be a native of middle-Tennessee, but had been living with his daughter in Indiana for some years. In discussing the War of 1861-65, he said," I was a Cavalryman and spent much time around Richmond, Va., and when the Confederacy was about to fall, I was detailed as one of the wagoners to convey the treasure from Richmond to Nashville. We proceeded with- out mishap and finally reached Washington, Georgia, where we unloaded the gold and silver which were in kegs, in the vault of the bank at Washington, and rested there a day or two. We learned that we were being pursued by the Yankees, so we made a hurried get-away with the gold and silver and went on through Greensboro and in the direction of Park's ferry. Mr. Davis ac- companied us in-cognito, and as we neared Park's ferry, we learned that we were being pursued, so we turned into the woods and drove somewhere below the confluence of the Appalachee and Oconee rivers, and there we buried the treasure. We then retraced our steps for some distance, unhitched our teams, burned the wagons, each man selected a good horse or mule, turned the surplus animals loose, and it was a case of "each man for himself and the devil get the hindmost". Here Mr. Davis left us and we never knew what became of him until we got the news of his arrest. I went to my Tennessee home and have never been to Georgia since, nor have I ever seen or heard of any of the men who were with me on that trip.
If this story be true, President Jefferson Davis was less than three miles from the home of Judge Park when the wagons were abandoned; and, as Park's ferry was a good day's drive from Washington, he would have reached the Park home just about sundown. The only two direct routes from Washington to Milledgeville, would have been via Crawfordville, Powelton, Sparta and across the Oconee at Milledgeville, or via Greens- boro, Park's ferry, Eatonton and on to Milledgeville; and the latter route would have been better and more practical.
This 'oft repeated story by Judge James B. Park, Sr., dovetails so well with the account given by one of the teamsters of the treasure-train, that there must be something to it. Some Wilkes County people resent the implication that the robbery occured there; while others boldly claim that it was a fact. The
475
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
late Judge Emory Speer is credited with having made the state- ment that, "he knew it was a fact, and that he got some of the money." However, the Judge did not say that he was present, and the inference is, that some of the money was paid to him as a fee.
Let us hope that the treasure-train did reach Greene County safely; and there is much golden treasure buried under the old red hills along the Oconee, and that some one will be lucky enough to find it, someday.
CRACKER'S NECK
The first tragedy of record, in Cracker's Neck, was re- corded by the Augusta Chronicle in 1793, when a woman was scalped by the Indians at Parkers' Fort, near where Mercer Reynolds' "Lingerlonger" now stands. So numerous and hostile were the Creek Indians on the south bank of the narrow Oconee River, that the early settlers along the east bank had to build forts for the protection of their families and property; and these forts were garrisoned by troops that served for stated periods. Armor's Fort, Gresham's Fort, Parker's Fort, Kim- brough's Fort, Foster's Fort and several other forts for the exclusive use of soldiers, were all located in Cracker's Neck, along the Oconee; but even these precautions did not prevent the Indians slipping across, burning houses and murdering the people and stealing their Negroes and livestock. Much of this occurred during the occupancy of the west bank of the Oconee by Elijah Clark's "Trans-Oconee Republic (1793-4), and it was not until 1802, when the Indians were pushed back across the Ocmulgee, and Baldwin County was organized when the danger of Indian raids ceased entirely, and the early settlers could de- velop their lands without fear of molestation.
Tin' n'aved an important part in the food for these early settlers, and they very soon organized two fisheries above and below the mouth of Richland Creek. One of these was incor- porated under the name of the "Yazoo Fishery," and the other, the "Methodist Fishery." Each had twelve stockholders-one for each month in the year, and in this way, the traps were
476
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
looked after by each shareholder during his term. When high water damaged the traps the man in charge for that month, notified the others to send hands to repair the damage. Those who failed to send help forfeited their rights for twelve months. The name Yazoo cut a big figure in Georgia at that time; and as Cracker's Neck was a hot-bed for Methodism, they named their fishery for the Methodists. Some of the names of share- holders in the Yazoo can be traced to Baptist and Presbyterian Churches, but the other seems to have been composed entirely of Methodists. Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians were not on the best of terms back in those days-the Baptists and Pres- byterians seemed to feel it their duty to combine against the Methodists.
Bishop Warren Candler is a by-product of Cracker's Neck; his grandmother was a Miss Slaughter, and is said to have lived in Cracker's Neck.
Richard Lake was a very early settler in Cracker's Neck. His eldest son, Abraham, was born in New Jersey, and came with his father to Greene County, Ga., about 1793. His grand- daughter, Emily Hill, married the late Captain James Warren English of Atlanta, Ga., therefore, all of her children and grand- children are by-products of Cracker's Neck. Captain English organized the Fourth National Bank, which was consolidated with The Atlanta National Bank, and is now the First National Bank of Atlanta. Mr. James D. Robinson, now vice-president of The First National, married a daughter of Captain English. Back in the 1880's our own Mr. Charles A. Davis, now of At- lanta, but who was born in Cracker's Neck, became a partner in the Wholesale Dry Goods business with Mr. Robinson's father. Many other prominent Atlantans and Georgians can trace their ancestors back to Cracker's Neck.
Simon Lake, the inventor of the submarine cannot be claim- ed as a by-product of Cracker's Neck, but he is mighty close kin to the Lakes who came here from New Jersey. Dean Crain said-"If you will just give Rice time, he will prove that Noah's Ark landed in Greene County."
Devereaux Lake, President of the Sandusky, Ohio Found- ary Company, is a descendent of Richard Lake of Greene
477
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
County (Cracker's Neck), and he was the first man in "Yankee- land" to raise his voice in protest over Collier's "Devil in de Cotton" that appeared in Collier's issue of Jan. 1, 1938. Mr. Lake immediately wrote the Greene County Historian and said-"Skin the dirty muckrakers for defaming the county where my ancestors lived," which I did. (see the Congressional Record of Feb. 9, 1938.)
Judging from letters that I have received from people throughout these United States, making inquiry concerning their ancestors who once lived in Greene County, I am thoroughly convinced that Greene County had much to do with populating the entire South and West, therefore, if Greene County and Cracker's Neck could corral their by-products, there is no telling what we could claim and do.
Note: Mrs. W. G. Armor, of Greensboro, is the author of my informa- tion through his father, the late Judge W. M. Weaver, then late W. H. M. Weaver, of Macon, Ga., told me of how Scull Shoals Factory was saved from the torch. He got the informa- tion through his father, the late Judge W. M. Weaver, then whom, no one knew more about Greene County and her people. The Lake-English information was taken from a book entitled "THE LAKE FAMILY" by Deveraux Lake, who was kind enough to send me an autographed copy with his compliments.
T. B. R.
Mr. Charles A. Davis, Sr. was born there; but both father and son sold merchandise to several generations of Cracker's Neckers, and much of their fortune came from there. Veazy Rainwater went direct from Cracker's Neck to Atlanta, and since all Cracker's Neckers are strong on Coca-Cola, we hope Veazy will not forget his first-love.
Antebellum customs survived longer in Cracker's Neck than any other part of Greene County. As a matter of fact, Mrs. Sallie Kimbrough's old home is still the "Big-House," to a few of the old slaves and many of their descendents. The back-yard kitchen with its immense fireplace, potrack, spiders and other open-hearth cooking utensils have been preserved; and the old weave-house, shoe shop and Doctor's office are still standing, and just back of them is the family burying ground where every member of that once proud and wealthy family are buried. The
478
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
old home is now owned by Miss Mildred Monfort, a neice of Mrs. Kimbrough. Miss Monfort has spent most of her life in this home, and she take pride in preserving the customs and traditions that connect it with the past.
"LINGERLONGER," IN CRACKER'S NECK
In a recent article, I tried to tell of Cracker's Neck as it was in days long gone by, and if you gathered the impression that the descendants of those early settlers did not linger around the old roof-tree, your interpretation is eminently correct. Scrub- by pines have taken the place of corn and cotton; foxes, rabbits, quail and rattlesnakes have a free range and the settlers are few and far between. The old Curtright Factory has tumbled down ; the canal that supplied water from the Oconee River to turn its machinery is cluttered with rock and dirt, and even the site of the magnificient home of its owner can scarcely be located. But, Mercer Reynolds, inventor, industrialist, capitalist, splendid citizen and friend to many, is not only the owner of some seven- thousand acres of land, but has built a Chateau and named it "LINGERLONGER," and is again making that section "blos- som like a rose."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.