USA > Georgia > Irwin County > History of Irwin county > Part 33
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418
HISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
Many Irishmen were in Irwin County and desiring to become citizens of the United States of America the following at the October term, 1841, of Irwin Superior Court, petitioned the court to become naturalized citizens of the United States.
James Aylward came to the United States in 1839; John Maddon in 1834; Michael Droughon, 1839 ; Dennis Walsh, 1839 ; Michael Mahn, 1836; John Hogan, 1839; Jeremiah O'Brien, 1840; Walter Dumpley, 1837; Patrick Slymm, 1839; Owen Earley, 1838; John Malloy, 1838.
The following were admitted at the April term, 1842: John O'Donall came to the United States in 1838; Hugh McCartney in 1838; Owen Duffy, 1839; Michael McCade, 1836; James Golden, 1836; Thomas Brady, 1836; Patrick Gough, 1839; John Coong, 1841; John Brady, 1839; Michael Doyle, 1841; John Farrell, 1836; Michael Obgean, 1835; Robert Donnelly, 1839 ; Thomas Lowry, 1839; James Brady. 1836; Timothy Ward, 1841; Patrick McDonald, 1834; Thomas Maolony, 1836; Samuel Kagan, 1840; Bernard Kernan, 1836; Bernard Coby, 1836; Michael Moore, 1836; Francis Cannon, 1836; James Graham, 1836; John Farley, 1836; Jeremiah Harrington, 1837; John Bailey, 1837; Thomas Ward, 1836; James Ronan, 1837; William Connell, 1837.
The following were admitted at the October term, 1841; Terrence Bennett came to the United States in 1836; Thomas Mathews in 1837; Michael Keating, 1834; Philip Smith, 1828; Patrick Moneygan, 1833; John Sullivan, 1839 ; Edward Morgan, 1837; Patrick Duff, 1835; Michael King, 1836; Andrew Butler, 1835; William Connell, 1837; Michael Cuddahy, 1839; Joseph Caldwell, 1839; John Barden, 1836; Michael Daldon, 1839; James Rowe, 1835; Patrick Mathews, 1836; William Guilfoys, 1838; James Moore, 1836.
At the October term, 1842, the following was admitted: Robert Reiley came to the United States in 1829.
At the October term, 1844, the following were admitted : Hugh Burns came to the United States in 1841; James Rowe in 1841.
The following was admitted at the April term, 1845 : Timothy Ward came to the United States in 1841.
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RAILROADS
At the September term, 1849, the following was admitted : Thomas Golden came to the United States in 1841.
At the October term, 1853, the following were admitted : Earnest Curtoy came to the United States in 1849; James Parsons in 1847.
GEORGIA, SOUTHERN AND FLORIDA RAILROAD.
The next railroad to touch Irwin County after the Brisbane Road was the Georgia, Southern and Florida which passed through the western side of the county from Macon to Palatka and was built through the county about 1888. The building of this railroad caused numerous developments and many new enterprises along its line. There sprang up the towns of Sycamore, Inaha and Chula in Irwin County.
HAWKINSVILLE AND FLORIDA SOUTHERN RAILROAD.
Some years after the construction of the Georgia, Southern and Florida railroad a railroad was constructed and operated from Worth, Georgia, to Hawkinsville, with a line from Worth to connect with main line to Hawkinsville, which line ran south to within three miles of Irwinville. After being operated for several years this road was discontinued and taken up.
BRUNSWICK AND BIRMINGHAM AND ATLANTA, BIRMINGHAM AND ATLANTIC.
About 1890 a railroad was built from Brunswick with Birmingham as its western terminus. It was completed from Brunswick to a point three miles west of Irwinville and trains were operated from Brunswick to Irwinville. About the same time a railroad was being constructed from Waycross through Irwin County, these two roads crossed each other at Nicholls in Coffee County, the latter road passing through Fitzgerald, Cordele and Atlanta. About the time the latter road was completed to Fitzgerald they bought the road from Brunswick to Irwinville, also the road from Thomasville to Tifton and from Tifton to Fitzgerald which also passed through Irwin . County and extending their road from Manchester, Georgia, to
420
HISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
Birmingham, Alabama, the line of road from Nicholls to Irwin- ville was discontinued.
About 1908, that enterprising citizen of Ocilla, IIon. J. A. J. Henderson, built a railroad from Nashville to Fitzgerald and extended it to Hawkinsville and Perry; he also built a line from Ocilla to Broxton and leased the road from Bushnell to Irwinville. These roads were operated by him for several years but were finally abandoned and the rails were taken up and sold, leaving only the A. B. & A. and Seaboard Air Line railroad touching what is left of originally Irwin County during the year 1930.
CHAPTER 11. EDUCATION.
An act of the Legislature approved December 21, 1821, provided that the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,- 000.00) be and the same is hereby set apart, the one half for the support and encouragement of free schools and the other half for the permanent endowment of county academies; and the further sum of five hundred thousand dollars is set apart for the internal improvement of the State.
Section 2. That the said sum of five hundred thousand dollars first above named shall be denominated the school fund and shall be composed of two hundred thousand dollars of the stock of the Bank of Darien, two hundred thousand dollars of the stock of the State Bank and one hundred thou- sand dollars of the Bank of Augusta.
Section 3. That the principal sums set apart as aforesaid shall at no time or for any purpose be appropriated or used ; but the interest arising thereon shall be applied to the purposes herein mentioned as the Legislature may from time to time direct.
Section 4. That it shall be the duty of the treasurer, comp- troller general, trustees or commissioners of county academies and the Inferior Courts of the several counties in this state to- gether with the Senators of said counties to examine and make full and accurate report to the next Legislature of the amount received by said counties respectively in confiscated property or other endowments and when such returns are made and in- formation obtained the dividend yielded by the one half of school fund aforesaid shall be apportioned, and paid semi- annually to the several counties as a future Legislature may direct. It shall be the duty of all trustees, commissioners, courts or agents receiving any portion of the funds aforesaid to keep regular statements and interest of the manner in which the same may be disbursed and make an annual return thereof to the Senatus, Academicus on the second Monday in No- . vember.
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HISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
IRWIN COUNTY ACADEMY.
The following resolution was approved by the Legislature December 22, 1823: "Resolved that John Joyce, James Crumb, Ezekial Jernigan, Assa L. Renphro and John S. Gilder be and they are hereby appointed commissioners of Irwin County Academy."
An act approved December 24 provided that all the funds heretofore set apart for the Academy of the county of Irwin be added to the free school funds of said county subject in every respect to the laws enforced.
An act approved December 19, 1827, provided that Isaac Stevens, Jacob Young, William Bradford, Daniel McDuffie and Nathaniel Gronto be appointed trustees of the poor school funds for the county of Irwin with full power to receive of the commissioners or trustees of the academy of the county aforesaid and from the treasurer of the state, money now be- longing to or hereafter to belong to the poor school fund and academical funds of said county; and that the said Isaac Stevens, Jacob Young, William Bradford, Daniel McDuffie and Nathaniel Gronto and their successors in office are hereby declared to be a body corporate under the name and style aforesaid to hold property and choses in action of all kind.
Section 2. That the trustees aforesaid shall appoint a treasurer who shall not be one of the trustees aforesaid and who shall give bond to the trustees aforesaid and their suc- cessors in office in sufficient sum to secure the amount to be placed in his hands for the faithful performance of the trust reposed in him.
Section 3. That the children entitled to the benefit of the poor school fund of this state by an act to alter and amend an act passed twenty-third day of December, 1822, to distribute the bank dividend and other net proceeds of the poor school fund among the different counties of this State shall receive the benefits of this fund according to the manner pointed out in this act so far as it does not militate against this act.
Section 4. That when any vacancy shall occur by death, resignation or removal without the county, of any of the trustees of said poor school funds it shall be filled by the re- maining trustees provided that a majority of the votes of all
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EDUCATION
the trustees for the time being shall be necessary to constitute a choice any law to the contrary notwithstanding.
An act approved December 26, 1831, provides that it shall be and may be lawful for the treasurer of the poor school fund for the counties of Irwin and Telfair to loan out at the rate of 8% interest all of the money that he may have in possession of said poor school funds.
Section 2. Whenever the treasurer shall or does loan any money aforesaid he shall take good securities for the same and in case he shall fail to take good securities he and his securities shall be held liable for the sum or sums so loaned.
Section 3. That the treasurer shall loan the money in the following manner, to wit: For the term of six months or more as will best promote the public good as in his discretion shall seem proper.
An act approved December 24, 1832, provided that no teacher of the poor children of the county of Irwin shall in future receive any money out of the poor school fund unless such teacher shall have been examined and found qualified by the justices of the Inferior Court of the county or a majority of them.
Section 2. That on application of any person to said justices or a majority of them the said justices shall examine said person and if found qualified shall give such person a certificate from under their hands.
Section 3. That the treasurer of the poor school fund shall not pay any person out of said fund unless such person pro- duces to the treasurer the certificate above described.
An act approved December 26, 1837, provided for consolida- tion of academic and poor school funds also with interest on one third part of surplus revenue derived to this state from United States and heretofore set apart for that purpose shall compose a general fund for common school. The act also provided for the election in each county of five school commis- sioners who will have the management of the schools of the county.
An act approved February 16, 1854, provided that all teach- ers of poor children in Irwin County are authorized to furnish
424
HISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
such books and stationery to any poor children as may attend their schools as pupils as shall be necessary for their successful instruction and who on account of the poverty of themselves or parents are unable to obtain the same and said teachers are authorized in their accounts for tuition of any poor children to charge so much as they paid and no more for said books and stationery and the ordinary or commissioners of poor school fund in said county are required to pay for same out of any funds on hand for the education of the poor. Said accounts to be sworn to and to be examined by ordinary or commission- ers of poor school funds and to pay so much as seem reason- able and just.
The records for 1829 show the following list of notes belong- ing to poor school funds of Irwin County : Daniel McDuffie, $30.00; James Allen, $20.00; Ludd Mobley, $11.25; John Joyce, $22.75; John C. Love, $99.26; James Hall, $21.00; Gilder and Fussell, $20.00; Ruebin Marsh, $15.00; William Hall, $27.00; Redding Hunter, $25.00; William Hall, $25.00 ; William Fussell, $30.00; Dennis Allen, $23.00; Joyce Notes, $83.00, total $452.76.
At the July term, 1823, the Inferior Court appointed Silaway McCall to take number of children and their ages in the first district, Elishua Winslow for same purpose in Captain Town- send's district and John B. F. Dixon for same purpose in Cap- tain Gilder's district and return same to the court soon as possible.
TRUSTEES OF POOR SCHOOL FUND.
William Sloan was trustee of poor school fund in 1834. John McDermitt was appointed trustee at February adjourned term, 1838. At July term, 1849, James Paulk was appointed treas- urer for the poor school fund.
COMMISSIONERS FOR POOR SCHOOL FUND.
At March term, 1841, Miles Adams, Daniel Luke, Jacob Paulk, Jeremiah Baker and George Willcox were appointed commissioners for poor school fund.
In 1837, the Legislature passed an act requiring the Inferior Courts to appoint five persons in each county to act as commis-
425
EDUCATION
sioners of common schools. Agreeable to this act of the Legis- lature the Inferior Court at March term, 1839, appointed Wil- liam Bowen, John Henderson, Joseph Sumner, Jacob Barrentine and James Paulk.
At January term, 1840, William Bowen, John Henderson, James Paulk, Jacob Barrentine and Duncan McDermitt were appointed.
At March term, 1873, T. D. Willcox, William O. McRae, M. Henderson and J. J. Henderson were appointed.
On May 21, 1873, James Fletcher was appointed.
At March term, 1874, Reason Paulk was appointed.
At March term, 1876, John McMillan was appointed.
At September term, 1876, the Grand Jury in their present- ments say : "The subject of a Board of Education has hereto- fore been neglected, we hereby recommend the following gentlemen to constitute a Board of Education to wit, Thomas D. Willcox, Micajah Tucker for term ending 1878, John J. Henderson, John McMillan for term ending 1880.
At March term, 1878, T. D. Willcox, John L. Mixon and J. W. Whiddon, Sr., were appointed.
At March term, 1880, John Walker, David Clements, John McMillan, D. J. Henderson were appointed.
At the April term, 1881, Wiley Whitley was elected county school commissioner.
At April term, 1882, James H. Fletcher and J. W. Paulk were appointed on Board of Education.
From the report of County School Commissioner to the Grand Jury, there were sixteen white schools and four colored schools in the county. Two hundred and forty-two white pupils, eighty-five colored pupils, monthly cost for pupil $1.60. Number of pupils taught spelling was three hundred and four ; reading, two hundred and fifty-nine ; writing, one hundred and ninety ; English grammar, thirty-three; geography, forty-one; arithmetic, one hundred and forty-seven. The school fund for that year was $790.54.
At April term, 1883, John W. Tomberlin was elected member of the Board. From the Grand Jury presentments, 1883, it ap- pears that there were twenty-six white schools and four colored schools in the county, cost per pupil, $1.80, amount
426
ILISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
paid by the state, ninety-four cents. The total school fund for the county was $1044.61.
At March term, 1884, Ben W. Williams, Elbert Paulk and John Clements were appointed on the Board of Education.
At September term, 1884, A. E. McCloud appointed member of Board.
At April term, 1887, M. T. Paulk appointed member of Board.
According to the report of school commissioners to the Grand Jury at this term of court, 605 white children and 104 colored children attended school during that year. Monthly cost per pupil, $1.301/2.
Increase in taxable property, 1884, over 1883, was $28,983.00; polls increase, fifty-two; property, 1884, was $708,212.00.
At April term, 1888, J. W. Paulk, James H. Fletcher, John W. Tomberlin, Elbert Paulk and J. P. Williams were ap- pointed members of the Board.
At April term, 1890. J. W. Tomberlin, H. T. Fletcher and John Y. Fletcher were appointed members of Board.
At September adjourned term, 1890, W. L. Pierce appointed member of the Board.
At October term, 1891, Marion Dixon and John Clements were appointed members of the Board.
At the April term, 1892, John Y. Fletcher elected county school commissioner and J. B. Clements member of the school Board.
At October adjourned term, 1893, S. E. Coleman, L. D. Tayler and L. R. Tucker were elected members of the Board.
At April term, 1894, M. Dixon, Wiley Whitley, Sr., and Lott Warren were appointed on the Board.
At April term, 1896, Lucious Paulk, John Clements and Green C. Ball were appointed on the Board.
At April term, 1898, R. L. Henderson, George W. Fletcher and Green C. Ball were appointed on the Board.
At April term, 1900, Lucious Paulk and John Clements were appointed on the Board.
At the January adjourned term, 1901, Daniel Tucker was appointed on the Board.
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EDUCATION
At the September term, 1901, T. J. Luke was elected on the Board.
At the March term, 1902, Jacob Hall, Joshua Troup and Daniel Tucker were appointed on the Board.
At the September term, 1902, Z. Bass and L. Robtiztch were elected on the Board.
For the year 1902, there was received as school funds, $9,- 176.28; there was paid the teachers, $7,725.00; salary of county school commissioners, $450.00; school buildings and supplies, $221.15; other expenses, $213.00.
At the March term, 1904, Z. Bass and Lucious Paulk were appointed on the Board of Education.
At the March term, 1905, J. W. Weaver was county school commissioner.
In 1904 there were fifty-five white and twenty-five colored schools in the county, 1664 white pupils, 846 colored. There were twenty-four white schoolhouses and one colored school- house in the county belonging to the Board of Education, value $4,100. Value of all other school property belonging to county, $1600.00. Value of schoolhouses not belonging to county, $4,- 900.00; amount of money received from all sources for school purposes, $19,667.66; amount disbursed, $14,900.24. Studies taught: orthography, reading, writing, geography, English grammar, arithmetic, history, physiology, agriculture, civil government.
September term, 1905, Wiley Whitley, Sr., L. Robitzsch and W. H. Holliday were appointed on school Board.
At March term, 1907, Warren Fletcher, Daniel Tucker and J. A. Tomberlin were appointed on the Board of Education.
At March term, 1908, Lucious Paulk and John A. Tomberlin were appointed on the Board.
At March term, 1910, Marcus Fletcher, Warren Fletcher and Daniel Tucker were appointed on the Board of Education.
At the same term of court the Grand Jury recommended the levy of a tax of thirty cents on each one hundred dollars worth of property for school purposes.
At September term, 1911, M. R. Jowers was appointed mem- ber of the Board.
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HISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
At the March term, 1912, O. N. Harper, J. A. Bussell and Jesse Luke were appointed on the Board.
On May 17, 1913, J. E. Jones was appointed on the Board.
At April term, 1914, T. M. Paulk and Aubrey Harper were appointed on the Board.
At April term, 1916, Wiley Y. Harper and R. L. Tomberlin were appointed on the Board.
October adjourned term, 1892, S. E. Coleman, L. D. Tayler and L. R. Tucker were appointed on the Board.
From report of J. W. Weaver, County School Commissioner, to the Grand Jury at April term, 1916, it appears that there were 1,379 white children, 1,054 colored who attended school in 1915. Number of days of free school, 120. There was received from the state, $9,494.15; from local taxation, $10,803.60 ; total, $20,297.75. Paid out for teachers, $13,365.00; paid for build- ings, $1,948.40 ; average monthly salary, $60.00 and $48.00.
At the April term, 1918, T. M. Paulk, Dr. Aubrey Harper and J. E. Jones were appointed on the Board.
At the March term, 1921, T. M. Paulk was appointed on the Board.
At the March term, 1922, Dr. A. Harper, J. E. Jones and T. M. Paulk were appointed on the Board.
At the March term, 1923, James B. Tucker was appointed on the Board.
At the November term, 1926, W. Y. Harper, J. B. Tucker, R. T. Turner and Aaron Yarborough were appointed on the Board.
At the April term, 1927, J. E. Jones and H. C. Troup were appointed on the Board.
At the February term, 1929, H. C. Troup was appointed on the Board.
At the November term, 1930, J. E. Jones, W. Y. Harper, Dr. A. Harper and J. B. Tucker were appointed members of the Board.
In 1924, Philip Newbern was elected county school commis- sioner, which position he holds to this date, January 1, 1931.
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EDUCATION
POOR SCHOOL FUND.
There was apportioned to Irwin County for poor school fund in 1824, $99.50; in 1825; $99.50; 1827, $99.55; 1830, $173.21; 1831, $486.60 ; 1832, $35.00; 1833, $63.00; 1843, $126.96; 1835, $59.70; 1836, $59.70 ; 1837, $63.96; 1838, $63.96; 1839, $303.08; 1840, $303.48.
There were 113 poor children reported from Irwin County to the Executive Department in the year 1842.
COUNTY SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
Since 1880 the following gentlemen have held the position of County School Commissioners for Irwin County.
Hon. Wiley Whitley, from 1880 to April, 1892.
Hon. John Y. Fletcher, from 1892 to February, 1896. Hon. M. Dixon, from 1896 to May, 1901.
Hon. John Clements, from 1901 to April, 1904.
Hon. J. W. Weaver, from 1904 to January, 1921.
Hon. Philip Newbern, from 1921 to January, 1933.
SCHOOLS.
During the year 1930, there were in the county five one-room white schools, three two-room white schools, two four-room white schools, two five-room white schools, one six-room school, one ten-room white school, making the total of sixteen white schools, with an enrollment of 2,223 pupils. There is also one independent white school in the city of Ocilla with an enrollment of 271 scholars. In this school are employed eleven teachers.
COLORED SCHOOLS.
There are twenty-one colored schools in the county with an en- rollment of 948 pupils.
There are nine consolidated school districts in the county having a local tax for maintenance of from two to
Philip Newbern, Present School Superin- tendent.
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HISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
five mills. There is also a county-wide tax for maintenance of the schools of five mills.
There was received from the state general common school funds from July 1, 1930, to July 1, 1931, the sum of $17,434.98. There is also due the county from general state school funds for the years 1928 and 1929, the sum of $10,000. There was also received the year 1930 from the state equalization fund the sum of $15,146.70 and there is still due from this state fund to the county for the year 1931 a considerable balance.
If all amounts due the county school board was paid in by January 1, 1932, the county would not owe one penny for school purposes but would have to its credit approximately $6,000 besides all of 1931 tax as well as local districts tax upon which to operate the schools.
CHAPTER 12.
PUBLIC SITES, IRWINVILLE, FITZGERALD, OCILLA, TIFTON AND NORTHEASTERN RAILROAD, SEA- BOARD AIR LINE RAILROAD, CREATION OF NEW COUNTIES, COURTHOUSE REMOVALS.
PUBLIC SITES.
The first public site for Irwin County was at the house of David Williams on lot of land number 147 in fourth district.
SECOND SITE.
At the July term, 1822, of the Inferior Court, the following order was passed. The Inferior Court feels that it is proper to move the place of holding court for the county of Irwin up to Murdock McDuffie's schoolhouse on lot number 147 in fourth district from this time forward and also all county elec- tions to be held at same place.
THIRD SITE.
An act of the Legislature, approved December 23. 1830, provides: That from and after the first Tuesday next the public site of the county of Irwin shall be and it is hereby permanently fixed and located on lot number 255 in fourth dis- trict of said county ; but provided the commissioners herein- after named cannot obtain indubitable titles to lot number 255 in fourth district of said county, they shall be authorized to purchase any lot or part of any lot within two miles of said first mentioned place and to proceed as hereinafter prescribed.
Section 2. That the said public site be and the same is hereby named Irwinville.
Section 3. That Robert H. Dixon, Jacob Young, William Bradford, Daniel Luke and Ruebin Marsh be and they are here- by appointed commissioners for said town of Irwinville with full power and authority to lay off the same into lots and ex- pose the same to public sale in such manner and under such re- strictions as they in their judgments deem best calculated to promote the interest of the county and town aforesaid.
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HISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
Section 4. It shall be the duty of the aforesaid commission- ers to apply the proceeds of the sale of said lot or so much thereof as may be necessary to defray the expense of a court- house and jail in the town of Irwinville in the county of Irwin.
Section 5. That the commissioners aforesaid shall proceed as soon as the said lot in the town of Irwinville is sold to let the building of a courthouse and jail in the county aforesaid for the use and benefit for the county of Irwin.
Section 6. That the place of holding the Superior and In- ferior Courts and elections shall be at the present or usual place of holding courts and elections for said county until there is a courthouse built at the place that is contemplated by this act.
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