USA > Georgia > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson county > Part 5
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
The town was in the line of Sherman's march to the sea, and the usual plunder of homes and stock was suffered. A small skirmish occurred here in which one Yankee was reported killed. One of the early residents of the town was Captain I. F. Ad- kins, who served as captain in the Civil War. For a number of years, until his death, he was county surveyor. Others were Captain Douglas, J. T. Glover, Sr., T. J. Dickson, W. R. Hammet, James Denton, Aaron Denton, W. E. McNair, S. M. Mc-
89
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
Nair, William Clark, Jasper Vining and W. T. O'Neal. One of the prominent men of the town is David Denton, who served as lieutenant under Gen. Stonewall Jackson, in the army of Northern Virgin- ia. He was noted for his generosity, and it was large- ly through his efforts that the Baptist church was built. Also he was the largest contributor to the new school building.
STELLAVILLE
Stellaville, like several rural communities, grew into a town with the church and school as the life center, May 15, 1817. Years before the school came into existence, a Baptist church was built near Brushy Creek and called Darcy's Meeting House. This was later changed to Way's Church, and is one of the strongest country churches in the county. It has been served by the most noted Baptist ministers in the state, among whom, none were more beloved than Dr. W. L. Kilpatrick, who was pastor there for a long period. The congregation soon realized the need of Christian education, and discussed plans looking toward that end.
In 1868 Mr. Elkanie Rogers gave a good sized tract of land adjoining the church lot, on which a two roomed frame building was erected, and called The Stellaville High School. Homes were built
90
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
near the school, and families moved into them, boarding pupils who came from adjoining counties and South Carolina to attend this school, which took rank at once for its high ideals, and the Chris- tian character of teachers and pupils. The best teachers possible were secured, men with strong Christian characters. Rev. Milton A. Clark who, afterwards for thirty years, was a missionary and teacher for the Indians in Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, and Prof. V. T. Sanford, of the San- ford family of Mercer University, were among the teachers. O. C. Pope, Prof. Spurgeon Jackson, and Mr. H. E. Smith taught there also. An appreciable percentage of pupils who were in this school under those teachers developed into fine Christian char- acters.
Commencement occasions were events to be re- membered, lasting three days and nights. Large crowds of people attended, and dinner was served in the grove each day. A sermon by the best preachers that could be obtained, and a literary address by some brilliant lawyer, were features of marked in- terest. There was only one house in Stellaville when the school was established, and that was the dwelling of Mr. Bill Way for whom, through his generous benefactions, the name of the church was changed from Darcy's Meeting House to Way's Church.
91
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
Being off the railroad, it was never much of a business place, but the people were noted for their Christian character and abundant hospitality. It was said by Dr. Kilpatrick that in a radius of four miles there were more refined Christian homes, and better educated people than any place he knew. One event in the school life of the higher classes in the year 1872 will be recalled with amusement. The teachers decided to take the older pupils to Stone Mountain. They had to go in wagons to Thomp- son; there a train was chartered. It was an im- portant occasion. The young men of the school bought beaver hats to wear. By the time they all got back home, the young men were disgusted with beavers, as covered wagons and crowded trains were no places for such head-gear.
The church and the school worked for the good of the people, and so were a success. The old school building was burned in 1878, and a two-story house erected which has been improved and remodeled. Mr. Joe Oliphant built the first framed house near Stellaville in Jefferson County. When the school house was remodeled in 1920, the Woman's Club assisted in many ways by salvaging old window sashes-repairing them, painting the building inside and out. The men gave days of work. When the school was first established, John Jones, Joshua Jor-
92
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
dan, John Brinson and Noah Smith were largely in- strumental in maintaining the school, which for a long time was the only High School in the county or in this section, outside of Louisville.
The town was first called Sistersville, but in 1871 the name was changed to Stellaville, for Stella Brinson, the young daughter of John Brinson. It was incorporated as a town in 1892. One of the most loved men of the town was Dr. J. W. Pilcher, who literally gave himself, time and talent for the good of the community. A P .- T. A. works quietly but efficiently in school and community. The leading industry is agriculture.
MATTHEWS, AVERA
Matthews, and Avera are important towns of several hundred inhabitants each and situated on the Georgia and Florida Railroad. ad. They each have a fine school system, several mercantile houses and a bank.
WRENS
According to our oldest records, the land now embracing the town of Wrens was first owned by John Wren, grandfather of W. J. Wren, Sr. Tra- dition has it that he traded for the land, giving two blind horses, valued at $25.00, as full payment for the same.
93
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
During this early period the community center of this section was Pope Hill, an inn on the stage line of the old Quaker road leading to Savannah.
Wrens as a town had its beginning in 1884 with the building of the Augusta Southern railroad. At this time W. J. Wren, for whom the town was named, built a home here and a store. Dr. C. H. Raley, W. H. Beall, C. J. Fleming and others locat- ed here and the Wrens community life began its growth.
The town is located at the physical junction of the Augusta Southern, now the Georgia and Flor- ida, and the Savannah and Atlanta railroads, 32 miles from Augusta, 120 miles from Savannah and 148 miles from Atlanta. It is also on State High- way Routes, number 17 and number 24, Federal Routes, number 1, Woodrow Wilson Memorial Highway, Jeff Davis Highway, and Cotton Belt Highway. The town is just above the meeting of the Piedmont and Tidewater regions, on the great divide between the Savannah and Ogeechee rivers. This location gives it an altitude 300 feet higher than Augusta or Columbus, 110 feet higher than Macon or Milledgeville, higher than Athens and about the altitude of Rome. A resident physician said that if his practice depended alone upon the sickness of Wrens, he would starve to death.
94
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
Among the first buildings erected in Wrens was a building for the public school. For several years this building served the double purpose of church and school. The first church built in Wrens was built by the Associate Reformed Presbyterians in 1895, and the first sermon delivered in Wrens was preached by Dr. D. G. Phillips, Sr. The Baptists built a church in Wrens the following year, and the Methodists located a church here in 1904.
As the town has grown in population it has grown in industry. The first suction gin of Jefferson Coun- ty was located in Wrens in 1896. In 1900 a large roller flour mill was built in Wrens, a woodwork factory was added. And later to these industries were added a cotton seed oil mill, a machine shop, an ice factory, a lumber factory, a Coca-Cola bottling plant, etc.
Wrens has two depots, two automobile stations, stores, wholesale and retail, cotton warehouse, hatchery, and a weekly paper, The Jefferson Re- porter. The town is supplied with artesian water, and has electric current both for power and lights. The substation of the Aiken Railway and Electric Corporation is located here, also the exchange of the Bell Telephone System.
Perhaps the outstanding growth of Wrens has been in its school. Wrens Institute was organized
95
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
in 1899 and was accredited as a high school in 1909. In addition to the regular high school courses it now offers vocational work in Teacher-training, Home Economics and Vocational Agriculture. It has a faculty of fifteen teachers and an alumni of 340 members. The present school building was built in 1919 at a cost of $65,000.00.
In its short history Wrens has grown to a pop- ulation of 1,250, and is now the trade center of an extensive section so that such corporations as the Standard Oil Co., the Coca-Cola Co. and similar organizations are making it the distributing point for their products.
At this time the Georgia Cotton Growers Co- operative Association is locating in Wrens one of their Community Centers, and the Woodrow Wilson Highway is being paved through the town.
Location and healthfulness, a progressive people with the spirit of co-operation and Wrens has be- come a good town.
ZEBINA
Zebina, a town on the Savannah and Atlanta Railroad, is a rural school center-Matthews is on the Georgia and Florida railroad and has a good school system.
96
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
BETHANY
Just a mile north of Wadley is the small village of Bethany, an almost forgotten town, once the centre of culture, and a type of ante-bellum refine- ment. A large two story building in the middle of a spacious campus sheltered the school, presided over by some notable educators, among whom were Capt. Jack Cheatham and Col. James K. Kinman.
A Methodist church was near the campus and, in 1868, one among the first District Conferences was held here, at which time there was a great revival. Bishop Pierce and his father, Dr. Lovick Pierce, were among the pulpit orators. Great crowds at- tended, bringing provisions and using unoccupied rooms and dwellings, and the occasion was like a camp meeting.
During the war Mr. S. Z. Murphy, who had charge of the orphans in Savannah, refugeed with them to Bethany. Afterwards he made his home there. Capt. Eli McCroan, Messrs. Milledge and Nelson Murphy were also residents of Bethany. The Donovan brothers, Tim and William, lived in and near the town. Dr. William Hauser, Mr. Wil- liam Gary, Rev. J. M. Cross and Mr. William Brown were all residents of this quiet, peaceful, lit- tle town, in which the spirit of the old-time South
97
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
was shown in the exquisite courtesy and courtly man- ner of men and women of that day.
Later the town of Wadley, on the main railroad line, attracted the people, who gradually moved there or elsewhere, and now, with the exception of a few scattered homes, the place is a forlorn settle- ment, though tied to the heart-strings of many, be- cause it is the hallowed ground where rest the re- mains of loved ones.
History of Jefferson County
War Between the States
By W. L. PHILLIPS
One who never turned his back but marched breast forward, Never doubted clouds would break,
Never dreamed tho' right were worsted, wrong would triumph Held we fall to rise, are baffled to fight better, sleep to wake- -Browning.
Picture taken in 1863 of Jefferson County soldiers who were at home on sick leave. The Confederate uniform is shown.
CHAPTER II
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES
BY W. L. PHILLIPS
A HISTORY of Jefferson County would hardly be complete without giving some data as to the part played by the county in that momentous strug- gle, the War Between the States, but strange to say no one has ever given us any local information as to Jefferson's part in that most ferocious war of all history, and its stirring scenes are now so far back in the past that it is almost impossible to get first- hand information regarding it. Even those who have reached the days allotted by the Psalmist, three score and ten, were then too young to recall now what transpired in the sixties. More than half a century shields those awful days from the glare of real truth, and softens the memories that brood over them. But never in the history of all time will the world know or see again such a terrific struggle as that of the sixties. Georgia, as a State, stood most prominent in the stirring debates and public utterances of the years just preceding this great con- flict, because some of the most prominent and able men of that day were largely Georgians. The ques- tion of secession became a burning one and the most
(101)
102
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
prominent men of Georgia were arrayed on both sides of it. During the year 1860 several Southern States actually seceded from the Union and it be- came a serious question as to whether Georgia should take such action. In January, 1861, a Con- vention was held in Milledgeville, the capital of the State, at which this question was the all-absorbing topic. At noon, on Monday, January 21st, 1861, the Secession Ordinace was finally passed by this Convention. One of the most prominent members of that Convention was the member from Jefferson, Hon. Herschel V. Johnston. Hon. George Staple- ton was the other member from Jefferson. They both signed the Ordinance when finally passed, but the most bitter and forceful foe of the Secession move- ment was Ex-governor Johnston. He spoke against it and worked against it, and voted against it, with all the energy and eloquence of his soul, but when finally outvoted, he accepted the ruling of the majority, and signed the Ordinance as passed over his most earn- est protest. All other members did the same except six. These six signed the Ordinance as passed, but with their signatures they also filed their protest, which was made a part of the proceedings of the convention.
Georgia being the most prominent State at the time which had not already passed such an Ordi-
103
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
nance, her action was at once accepted by common consent as the signal for war. In fact, the war clouds were already fast gathering. Col. Alexander R. Law- ton, of Savannah, commanding the First Regiment of Georgia Volunteers, under orders from Governor Joseph E. Brown, who was at that time Governor of Georgia, had taken possession of Fort Pulaski. This was done on January 3rd, 1861, and the Ordinance of Secession was not passed until seventeen days later. Confederate and Federal preparations for war were being carried on rapidly, and it was less than six months before Jefferson County organized her first company to take active part in the great fratricidal conflict which was soon to drench the land with blood. On June 14th, 1861, Jefferson County organized her first company. It was known as "Jefferson County Guards," Company C, 20th Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry. The offi- cers were as follows :
Captain, Roger L. Gamble ;
Ist Lieutenant, Willis F. Denny;
2nd Lieutenants, Joseph H. Polhill (afterwards made captain) and R. W. Carswell.
Captain Gamble was a young physician just com- ing into prominence in the county, and was at the time engaged to a daughter of Richard Brown, a prominent farmer then living in the Ebenezer Settle-
104
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
ment. She was a sister of Mrs. F. A. Sinquefield, and an aunt of our fellow-townsman, Col. W. R. Sinquefield, and Mrs. W. A. Stone. There was a great demonstration in Louisville the day this com- pany was mustered into service. Captain, or Doc- tor Gamble as he was more familiarly known, and Miss Brown afterwards married. They had one daughter who lived to be a young lady, but died soon, outliving, however, both of her parents. Lieu- tenant Denny afterwards became Judge Denny, pre- siding over our first county court in Jefferson County after the war.
R. W. Carswell, 2nd Lieutenant, after the war, became judge of the Superior Courts of the Middle Circuit, and was known as a very prominent and successful lawyer also. He died while judge of our Superior Court. Captain Polhill, who still lives, and is the only surviving officer of all the companies organized in Jefferson County, has been in very feeble health and has not been able to leave his home for several years; but while in health and strength was one of the most prominent lawyers of this section of the state. He was at one time a member of the State senate and representative of our county. It is unfortunate that he was not in- duced to give first-hand information of Jefferson's part in that great struggle, while in his vigor and strength.
105
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
The next company organized in Jefferson was known as "Jeff Grays". It was Company I, 28th Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry.
The second company was organized Sept. 10th, 1861, with officers as follows :
Captain, J. G. Cain, afterwards Judge of County Court of Jefferson County and a lawyer of promi- nence in the State;
Ist Lieutenant, Isaac F. Adkins, afterwards Coun- ty Surveyor of the county for many years.
2nd Lieutenant, James Stapleton, for whom the present Town of Stapleton was named; a prominent and successful farmer.
2nd Lieutenant, Augustus J. Pughesley, a physi- cian for many years.
The next company was organized on Oct. Ist, 1861, and known as "Battey Guards," Company G, 38th Regiment of Georgia Volunteer Infantry.
The officers of this Company were :
Captain, William H. Battey, who was killed in the battle of Sharpsburgh in September, 1862.
Ist Lieutenant, John W. Brinson, who became prominent in politics in Jefferson County after the war, and was a great political leader.
2nd Lieutenant, Issac C. Vaughn, who practiced medicine and farmed in the county for many years after the war.
106
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
2nd Lieutenant, L. W. Farmer, Jr., who was killed in the battle of Spotsylvania, May 12, 1864.
The next company organized in Jefferson was known as "Jefferson Volunteers," Company E, 48th Regiment of Georgia Volunteer Infantry.
Organized March 4th, 1862. Officers as follows :
Captain, R. W. Carswell, elected lieutenant col- onel. Captain Thomas N. Polhill, killed at Gettys- burgh July, 1863.
Ist Lieutenant, W. A. Spier, killed at Chancellors- ville, May, 1863.
2nd Lieutenant, William J. Smith.
2nd Lieutenant, Jeremiah Winter, Jr.
What was known as the "Grubbs Hussars" was organized in July, 1861, and was composed largely of Jefferson County men, but men from both Burke and Emanuel were connected with this company.
This company was known as Company F, Cobb's Legion, Georgia Cavalry. Malcolm D. Jones of Burke county was Captain.
F. A. Sinquefield followed by Thomas Pierce of Jefferson was Ist Lieutenant, and William Boyd and Robert McBride of Jefferson were 2nd Lieu- tenants.
It would be quite interesting, indeed, to have be- fore us the names of the men who enlisted in these various companies, and likely, some day, we may be
107
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
able to resurrect, from old and long forgotten reg- isters, their names, so that many of their descend- ants may know just who they were and to what com- panies they belonged, where they served, and how they suffered for the cause they loved, and for which a great many of them died. It was a noble band of brothers which Jefferson contributed to this awful war, and it is consoling at least to know that if the advice and counsel of that noble son of hers, Ex- Governor H. V. Johnston, had been heeded, a dif- ferent record might have been written.
How earnestly and eloquently did that great quartet, Johnston, Stephens, Means and Hill, plead with the convention in the dawn of the sixties for conservatism and moderation, and picture the out- come if their advice should go unheeded ! Their judgment has been written into history as prophetic facts. No greater or more eloquent defender of the Union has ever lived than Jefferson's own son, H. V. Johnston.
History of Jefferson County
Historical Sketch
By HON. WARREN GRICE
"God save our native land and make her strong to stand For truth and right. Long may her banner wave, Flag of the free and brave! Thou who alone canst save, Grant her Thy might."-J. H. Seebye.
Historic marker before Court House commemorating the burn- ing of Yazoo Fraud papers.
CHAPTER III
HISTORICAL SKETCH
BY HON. WARREN GRICE
(We are glad to present this speech in written form to the people of Jefferson county. Those hearing Mr. Grice on the occasion of the unveiling of the historic marker at Jefferson county court house were much impressed with the scholarly dis- course and felt that the result of so many hours of research should be preserved in a permanent form. The address is given in full :)
ON N the chalk hills of Dover, near the English channel, there may be seen even at this day the carved figure of a gigantic horse, placed there cen- turies ago as a reminder of the Danish invasion, and of the heroic conduct of the English at that time. Once a year the people of that locality make a pil- grimage to the cliff, and take with them their chil- dren, and together they cut away the undergrowth that springs up annually and which tends to obscure the equestrian figure that typifies the heroism and the patriotism of their ancestors; and they fight the erosion that blurs the clear-cut outlines, in order that the picture may stand forth in all its pristine
(111)
112
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
clearness and beauty and grandeur, to make sure that they and those that should come after them shall not forget the record of their sires.
We do well to take the time, once in a while, to cut away the underbrush and to check the erosion that with the passing years may tend to obscure the true picture of one of the high spots in Georgia's history; and if a restatement of the facts surround- ing that episode be but repeating what you already know, it may serve nevertheless to re-kindle your own patriotism to contemplate again the acts and some of the actors that move across the scene that is commemorated by this tablet unveiled here today; for in every age of the world and among all peoples, memory of the heroic deeds of the past have afford- ed a strong incentive to the succeeding generations to do well their part.
It is well that we come with uncovered heads to this spot, for we stand upon ground hallowed by the deeds of brave men with hearts not only stout, but true.
For ten years this was Georgia's capital. The first legislature met here in 1796. The last one, probably in 1806.
Here convened two Conventions of the people of Georgia. The first, the Convention of 1795, pre- sided over by Noble Wimberly Jones, and in which
113
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
sat Josiah Tattnall, Jr., Thomas Gibbons, Joseph Clay, Jr., John Weareat, David Emaneul, Silas Mercer, and Stephen Heard. The second was the Convention of 1798. In it were James Jackson, James Jones, Thomas Spalding, Mathew Rabun, Peter Carnes, Jared Irwin, Arthur Fort, William Stith, Mather Talbott, Benjamin Taliaferro, and Jesse Mercer. They and their co-laborers framed a constitution-here at Louisville, almost on this very spot-under which Georgia experienced her golden period. It was the organic law until 1861, when we had to form another because we then became a part of a new government.
Georgia's Governors who from Louisville steered our ship of state were Jared Irwin, Josiah Tattnall, and John Milledge. Governor Irwin and Governor Milledge each serving more than one term.
Here resided the Governors and the State House officers. Here gathered the big men of the State who laid deep and imperishable the foundations of Georgia's future glory. Here policies were deter- mined. Here governors were made, and unmade. Here met the untrammelled representatives of a free people to discuss Georgia's affairs. Here were set in motion thoughts that made their impress on generations yet unborn.
In those early days of the Republic, a State was a
114
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
sovereign. Its government had control of the in- ternal affairs of the people. There were still in life many of those who had framed the Federal Con- stitution, and there also yet lived the spirit of those who had framed it. They knew the true character of the Federal Government. They knew that it was not intended to make of sovereign States mere provinces, or subdivisions of a nation. They knew that except as to those few matters which the States could better handle through a joint agent, the people could be better ruled, when ruled at home under laws made by the State. The sessions of Congress were therefore short. The people did not look to the Federal capital for the passage of laws which affected them internally, but to the Legislatures of the several States. The result was that the big men of the State, upon entering public life, filled the state offices. And here at Louisville, for ten years, they met, and wrought, and set in motion tides that have left their marks upon the shores of time.
The first state house ever erected by this Com- monwealth was here. This is the first place which Georgia designated as the permanent capital. The most dramatic scene in the public life of our State took place on this spot.
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.