USA > Georgia > Jones County > History of Jones County, Georgia, for one hundred years, specifically 1807-1907 > Part 16
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On March 4, 1837, General Jackson invited his successor, President Martin Van Buren, to a seat with him in this carriage, and they proceeded alone in it from the White House to the capitol, where a procession was formed in the Senate chamber and marched to a rostrum erected in the eastern portico, where Van Buren was inaugurated. Few people would ever dream that this old carriage, with its old folding steps and old-fashioned build, was rolling over our streets Tuesday. It is well worth a long visit to see. (Telegraph-1884-Jan. 2.)
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CHAPTER XIII.
The Gay 90's
A hammock swung in a shady nook was the favorite courting spot of flaming youth in the gay 90's. It required a lot of skill to recline gracefully in a hammock and get in and out without exposing an ankle-which was most immodest.
Some hammocks were net, with fringes, some made of barrel staves and rope. The girls would nestle in the hammock while the boys sat around on the grass and would sing and sing, all of the songs they knew.
And buggy-riding in the 90's! One could hang the reins over the whip-socket on the way home in the dusk and let the horse take his own time. A few of the wealthier planters' sons sported a pair of Kentucky thoroughbreds with long manes and tails. They would take the girls riding far out on the leafy country roads. Buggies were kept shining and mostly done in green and black and a few red ones, the rubber tired ones came in during the 90's and that was a thrill.
There were livery stables that had buggies and horses to rent if you were visiting or didn't own a turnout. These were used far into the days when the first automobiles came throbbing along, scaring teams, and breaking down from unknown ailments peculiar to the early cars. The bystanders would delight in yell- ing, "Get a horse" ! and a lot more gibes at the fellow whose car stalled.
Along the gay 90's there were huge double four poster beds, with feather mattresses, bolsters, no springs, dark closets, open fires, and a few brass beds. You could smell the fragrant soap in a dish on the washstand where the bowl and water pitcher were. The bed was covered with a knitted counterpane with initials of the happy pair entwined and surrounded by a wreath in turkey-red thread. The huge pillows were covered in the day time by "shams." Sometimes these had verses embroidered on them such as, "I slept and dreamed that life was beauty, I awoke
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and found that life was duty." Under these two pillows was a long firm roll called a bolster.
Some of these two or three mattresses and feather beds, rested on slats, some on "bed cords" in the form of stout ropes criss-crossed through side holes in the bed frame.
There were trundle beds on small rollers that rolled under the big bed in the day and were pulled out for the children at night.
Some old four-posters had "palanquins," of silk in the form of curtains to be drawn every night, as night air was considered very poisonous.
Select boarding houses conducted by gentlewomen, such as Madame Parrish's house in Clinton had their beginnings in Colonial times, when travel was by stage coach, saddle-horses and gigs. Men would put up in the noisy taverns but ladies pre- ferred the boarding houses. The large parlor bad a gilt mirror, and the sofa and armchair had mats of crochet on the arms and backs. There was the marble top table with the fancy globe lamp on it in the hall.
The nicest places had mosquito netting draped over the beds as there were no screens. There was the chandelier hanging in the center of the room with crystal pendants.
The time of the leg-o'mutton sleeves, psyche knots, tableaux, crinolines, and "hoops," were in the 90's. Mothers sewed late at night to make the tucks, and ruffles for the sunburst shirt- waists and dresses for their daughters. The newspapers criti- cized the full skirt and the psyche knot, as much as later on, the bobbed hair and knee length skirt.
CHAPTER XIV.
A New Century-Twentieth-1900
A new century and a New Year. The removal of the county site from Clinton to Gray was being agitated. A vote was taken in 1900 and failed. In this year a man could buy a serge or flannel suit for $6.00 and salaries were $40.00 up to $60.00.
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As always politics was an important issue in Jones County. Some of the incumbents of that year were: Representative, Jackson Clay Barron, Judge of the Ocmulgee Superior Court was John C. Hart, Clerk of the Court was W. W. Barron, E. T. Dumas was Judge of the County Court, Ordinary, R. H. Bonner, Sheriff, R. N. Ethridge, J. J. Henderson, Tax Rec. F. M. Stewart, County Treasurer, Chas. Kinslow, Coroner, J. R. Van Buren, Senator.
The second County Fair was held at Round Oak in 1900, Sept. 18. It was given under the auspices of the Grain Growers' Club. The General Manager was John T. Williams of Ethridge; Mark C. Greene of Gray, Sec. and Treas. The Executive Com- mittee was : Jesse M. Hunt, Rev. E. W. Sammons, J. C. Barron, W. F. White, F. M. Stewart, J. H. Meeks and W. A. Bragg. Chairman of the Needlework Com. was Miss Lula Bragg of Gray, Mrs. F. M. Stewart was Chm. Breads, Pickles and Pre- serves. Mrs. J. T. Creigh was Chm. of Arts and Flowers. There were departments of manufacturing, of livestock, sheep, hogs, cattle, horses and mules. Prizes were offered for agricultural implements made at home such as ox yokes, plow stocks, hoe handles, axe handles, cotton baskets, brooms, horse collars, sin- gletrees, two chairs, etc. There was a department on horticul- ture, poultry and dairy products, needlework, water colors, oil paintings and pastel paintings. Prizes were offered for the best declamation of a boy or girl under fifteen. E. W. Sammons offered a prize for the best milker (cow to be milked on the fair grounds). Mrs. R. J. Smith offered a prize for the best elocu- tionist and the best mathematician under fifteen. The best horse- back rider under fifteen got a new saddle. The best pair of knitted socks from sheep grown on the farm received a prize. J. T. Glover offered a prize for the best harness colt. W. F. White offered prizes for the best pair of fox hounds. Other prizes went for drawnwork, autograph quilts of silk, pillow shams, knit spreads, tatting, home made jeans, carpets, suits, tapestry work and quilts. The premium lists contained sixteen pages, and this affair was a red letter day for Jones Countians. Speeches were made by Ex. Gov. Joe Brown, Sen. Clay and Guerry.
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In 1901 Teddy Roosevelt became President and Alice Roose- velt set the styles for American girls. The bustle was gone but the figure was still a substantial set of curves and the willow plume on the large hat was very stylish. A typical turn of the century dress was of black lace with a red satin inset down the front. The jet bead trim was as popular as rhinestones are today. A ballroom dress was made of cream satin with mousquetaire sleeves and a fishtail train. A typical morning dress was of watered silk with insets of silk and a finely tucked yoke. In that day a lady dressed like a lady and was quite elegant and fastidi- ous. A lady never thought of going out in the daytime without her hat, gloves and usually a parasol to protect her lovely skin from sunburn and freckles. In 1903 Orville Wright flew the first plane at Kitty Hawk, N. C.
In 1905 again a vote was taken to move the county seat to Gray from Clinton and the tabulation was 1289 for and 51 against. The fourth courthouse in a century was to be built and a new jail. The day that the cornerstone was laid was a gala occasion with about 4,000 people gathered at the grove in front of the new building for the ceremonies. A huge platform had been built, decorated with bunting, smilax, flowers and ferns. On one end of this was the piano with Mrs. George Gordon as pianist. After the prelude of music, the Editor of the Jones County News, Mark Greene, represented the County Commis- sioners and made the speech of welcome. He introduced Captain WV. A. Davis of Macon, Grandmaster of the Masonic Fraternity who delivered the address. Miss Margaret Finney (Mrs. Joseph Middlebrooks later) from Haddock gave several solos and then directed the choir in patriotic songs.
The following articles were placed in the cornerstone: A history of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 176 and Sincerity Lodge No. 430, a number of Confederate bills, a list of mem- bers of the Grand Lodge, a story of the trial of Jesse Bunkley by Mrs. F. M. Stewart, an old style penny by A. J. Hodge, a copy of the new Testament, an examination paper in arithmetic by F. M. Stewart, Jr., a list of pastors, attorneys and physicians in the county, a roster of the Edward Willis Camp United Con- federate Veterans, a nickel coined in 1905 given by C. L. Balk- com, a copy of the Jones County News and the Macon Tele-
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graph. The inscription on the cornerstone was as follows : Erect- ed A.D. 1905, County Commissioners : Joe T. Glover, Chm., J. H. Meeks, J. H. C. Ethridge. Architects were J. W. Golucke and Co. Robert F. Hemphill, Pres. and Treas. L. J. Isbell, Vice- Pres. and Gen. Mgr.
At noon when the exercises were over the crowd assembled at long tables in the cool shade of the great oak trees in the square in front of the new building. B. M. Green had supervised the barbecuing of sixty-two pigs, lambs and several kids and he had done an excellent job. The tables were laden with the barbecue, Brunswick stew, cakes, pickles, pies, salads and chicken. At in- tervals along the tables were great tubs of ice cold lemonade. The day was long remembered as an important as well as a happy occasion.
Jones County-One Hundred Years Old-1907
No bells were rung and no songs were sung to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of Jones County and probably few even thought of their county passing the century mark. From a wilderness and the Creek Indians in 1807 through three wars, one so disastrous that all of the cultural and economic develop- ment of the county were blotted out, to the present, Jones County had come back from the ashes of Sherman's armies to the year 1907. She had rebuilt her homes, roads, churches and schools. Jones County as always was keenly interested in county, state and national politics. Theodore Roosevelt was saying, "Speak softly and carry a big stick, you will go far."
As the year 1907 came in, these are some of the news notes :
The delegation going up to Atlanta to the Gubernatorial Con- vention were : Capt. F. S. Johnson, J. R. Van Buren, J. W. Slo- cumb, R. H. Kingman, Sr., T. W. Duffy, J. H. Moring, S. H. Haddock, and J. T. Williams.
A petition was circulated in Gray requesting the County Com- missioners to buy the square of land in front of the courthouse to be beautified by the women of the county and to eventually place a Confederate monument. This was to prevent buildings from being erected and lots sold which would ruin the looks of the new town.
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Joseph Benjamin Jackson had been unanimously nominated for State Senator at the Senatorial Convention held in Gordon.
Delegates to the Decatur-Oxford District meeting at Oxford were : Capt. F. S. Johnson, R. H. Kingman and Luico Godard.
A peach cannery had begun operations at Round Oak, with these families moving in : Squire, Searly and Walls. Mr. Magioni from Port Royal was buying the peaches. 3000 cases of peaches were canned and 50 cars were shipped in 1907 from Round Oak.
An advertisement from S. H. Haddock's store in Haddock reads : Calico, yellow homespun and bleaching for five cents a yard.
Physicians and Surgeons at Gray were : Dr. O. C. Webb and Dr. J. Will Anderson.
The phonograph with the morning-glory horn was the Edison Model D made about 1908. That same year Ford brought out his puddle-straddling Model T with a sturdy frame and mag- neto-fired engine. He sold 15,000,000 before this model was discontinued in 1927. There was a crank to start the engine which was four-cylinder and twenty horse power and the ellip- tical springs over axles gave flexibility over rough roads. Most cars had the steering wheels on the right but Ford put it on the left.
By 1907 Jones County boasted of two cars, one of these owned by Stephen Jarrell, was powered by a single-cylinder motor located under the seat and steered with a tiller. This car was made by Olds. John Bradley owned the other bright red car, with no doors to the front seat but one for the back. These cars cost around $1,000.
There were no garages or filling stations. The car was put under the buggy shed and the only gas available was found at a drugstore or general store and used for cleaning purposes. The wholesale price was three cents and the retail price was five cents (no taxes). These cars with one cylinder going 25 miles per hour used very little gas. Roads were so rough that the owner "had to get out and get under" many times to fix the chain-driven cars. This chain went from the motor to the rear axle and when it broke the poor driver had to crawl under in the red dust and a hot and greasy motor to do this unpleasant job.
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People driving their high-spirited horses dreaded to hear a car coming, as the driver would have to get out and hold to the bridle as the horse reared and plunged to get away.
With the year of 19.07 ends one hundred years of the County of Jones, in the heart of Georgia. A story of a warm-hearted people mixed with fiery courage and a quiet courtesy. A story of people and places, of cotton, slavery, war, peace and plenty and hard times. A story of failures and successes but always striving to do better. From its borders have gone out soldiers, statesmen, educators, judges, doctors, lawyers, preachers, governors, poets, merchants and architects.
Jones County's soil is red, Jones County's blood is red and Jones County's Americanism is still untainted and unsullied by Communism. She stands today for the principles that her pio- neers made and upheld, she does not and will not forget her past although she presses on to progress in agriculture and industry and in no county are newcomers given a heartier welcome. At the end of a hundred years and fifty we find grass, cattle, peaches and pines are the mainstays of the land.
Some of the treasures still found in Jones County are, hurri- cane lamps, pewter candlesticks, Paul Revere lanterns, patch- work quilts, homespun blankets, knitted afghans, spinning wheels, looms, candle molds, a quill pen, iron cooking pots, a wooden latch, handwrought silver spoons, an ancient mirror and cross- stitch samplers. In the attic we often find an old trunk filled with cherished memories; a gray uniform, an old sword, a tattered battle flag, daguerreotypes, a spray of pressed flowers and fern in an old Bible, a high-heeled white kid slipper, a lace handerchief, kid gloves, a pack of old letters tied with a faded blue ribbon and other keepsakes.
I have a feeling that the true Jones Countian, despite the modern day tendencies, still stands for a gentle way of life and has that inborn chivalry of the old days which no true Southerner ever forgets or forsakes.
People here still invite people to take "pot-luck," supper. ("Pot-luck" usually consists of roasted chicken and sedgy dress- ing, and carvings from an old country ham, watermelon rind preserves, four vegetables and a poundcake.) Customs which
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grew up in the 1840's still linger, although the white-faced beef cow now grazes where cotton was king. The Colonial mansions have been replaced by compact and convenient houses and where the boys used to play "Crackaloo" (pitching coins at a crack ) they now match for cokes.
CHAPTER XV. "The Scrapbook"
There was a flourishing trade at Fort Hawkins and Roger McCall and Harrison Smith had built their homes on nearby Swift Creek where McCall had a sawmill. They built three large flat bottom boats in 1818 and loaded them with Jones County cotton and carried them down to Darien. The trip to Augusta was 100 miles so by 1826, Jones County was sending 17,000 bales of cotton in this manner.
Simri Rose who married Ann Blount of Blountsville lived at Fort Hawkins, and had a printing press. He published a news- paper, "The Messenger" which was widely read in this county. In 1825 they moved to Macon, which had just started.
Jasper County called Randolph in honor of John Randolph who denounced the Yazoo Fraud, in 1812 changed its name to Jasper, because Randolph severely denounced Thos. Jefferson. Jefferson was immensely popular in Georgia and Randolph op- posed the War of 1812. Jasper was then named for Sergeant Jasper of Revolutionary fame.
Rev. John McKenzie born March 7, 1780 came from North Carolina to Wilkes Co., moved to Jones Co. in 1804 and preach- ed here 20 years and then moved to Houston Co.
"The Jones County Searchlight," was one of the first county papers and was published at Clinton, and most of it written by Mrs. Ellen Griswold Hardeman. The next paper for Jones County was established at Gray by Mark Greene in 1895. He was born Sept. 5, 1855 and died Sept. 19, 1928, and he was an ardent Jones Countian. He was assisted in getting out the paper by his own family and it was a good one.
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George Grier in 1807 (the year when Jones County started) , published his first Almanac, which he called "The Georgia and South Carolina Almanac," in Augusta, Ga. It was called "Grier's Almanac," after he died at the age of 66.
In a piece in the Atlanta Journal by Evelyn Hannah, many years ago, she state that the Confederate Gen. John B. Gor- don's father and mother lived in Jones County and were married here in 1826, the Rev. Zachary Gordon and Malinda Cox. They moved to Upson County about six miles south of Thomaston where Gen. John B. Gordon was born, Feb. 6, 1832. (See mar- riages. )
Charles J. McDonald, later Gov. of Georgia, lived at Clinton and was a Trustee of the Clinton Seminary. He moved to Macon in 1824 and was a Trustee of the first Acadamy there.
S. F. Slater of Clinton in Sept. 1824 built, "The Mansion House," a new hotel in Macon, and he also became Solicitor General of Superior Court, and he and James Smith both law- yers from Jones County were the first lawyers in the new town of Macon.
Thomas Woolfolk of Jones County bought 100 acres of land for $2,151 around Fort Hill on Oct. 1, 1828. This bill of sale is still in the Stewart family. At this time the land of the Indian Mounds was sold.
In Adiel Sherwood's Gazeteer of Georgia he names these creeks in Jones County, Allison's, Black, Fishing, Camp, Cedar, Commissioners. He also named U. S. Post Offices as, Clinton, Blountsville, Grab-all, Griswold, Poverty Hill.
Sherwood's Gazeteer says that Jones County's population was 13,345 and that Clinton Baptist Church was built in 1836.
In Sherwood's Gazeteer on p. 67 he says, "In 1811 the State Senator from Jones County was William Jones and there were three Representatives, Thomas Blount, John Bayne, and Wilkins Jackson.
Clinton was incorporated in 1816. An epidemic of smallpox swept Georgia in 1836 and Jones County had many cases of the dread disease. In 1845 there were 20 churches in Jones County and 25 schools.
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As pioneers, we find these names in an old clipping; William Butler, Samuel Dale, Roger McCarthy, Robert Cunningham and John B. Gregory.
First peaches here were the Flewellen yellow peaches, the old Red Indian peaches, a large clingstone variety, later the white English freckled peach cling. It was about 1855 before grafting was used.
Commissioners Creek was so named because there Commis- sioners met to sign treaties with the Indians.
Ethridge was a village in northeast Jones County near Blountsville.
Grab-all was a village in the northwestern corner of the County.
Woolen Factory was southeast near the Wallace Post Office.
Blountsville was a post office on the Eatonton road, 10 miles northeast of Clinton and 1612 miles west of Milledgeville.
Griswold was a post office 9 miles east of Macon on the southern line of the county. Here the first depot from Macon was made on the Central of Ga. railroad.
Leonidas Smith of Blountsville, born Dec. 17, 1840 was in the Confederate Army, Co. B, 12th Ga. Reg. under Lee and Jack- son. He rendered heroic service to his country. In 1857 he mar- ried Mary M. Tufts. They had ten children.
John C. Green born April 11, 1831, mar. Henrietta Hathorn, May 8, 1856. They had eleven children : B. M., C. L., J. E., Asbury, Mrs. A. C. Roberts, Mrs. C. C. Childs, Minnie and Julia Green. John C. Green died Thursday, May 7, 1908.
Sam Griswold, Jr., died May 28, 1908. He was prominently connected with the railroad in Atlanta, and died at the home of relatives, Mr. R. H. Kingman at James. Rev. Cantrell preached the funeral.
The first boy born in Clinton was Elbert Hutchings, who later became Clerk of the Court and a leading citizen.
Hiram Warner taught school at the Fortville Academy and- later moved to Meriwether County and became Chief Justice of Georgia Supreme Court.
Gilbs Wright, father of Col. A. P. Wright of Fortville moved to Thomasville and became a leading banker there.
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Hon. Mark Blanford lived at Fortville, later moved to Co- lumbus and became Judge of the Supreme Court of Georgia. His Jones County plantation was bought by Gus Pitts and later by Davis.
Benjamin V. Iverson and wife Juliet Ann Smith from Jones County in 1862 built a fine home in Macon on Washington Ave. at Poplar St. and had something unusual in that day; a famous sunken garden, which attracted much attention.
Alec Roquemore married Emily Hall and had a daughter Sara Jane. They moved to Bibb County. Sara Jane lived to be 91 and was buried at Doles Methodist church, where she was a member.
University of Georgia had its first commencement on May 31, 1804, although it was chartered in 1784. These exercises -were held under an arbor erected on the campus. There were nine graduates. The college actually started in 1801. The first Pres. was Josiah Meigs from Yale College. The Indians stood on the outskirts of the campus looking on in awe, at the graduation.
Advertisement in Jones County News : A good Texas horse- shoer-Call on me. W. H. Carter-1904.
In 1845-1861 Putnam and Jones constituted the 25 Senatorial District.
Population of Georgia 1840-210,604 white males; 197,161 females ; 1,374 free colored males; 1,379 colored females ; 139,- 335 slaves males ; 41,609 slaves females-Total 691,492.
Henry Greaves settled a fight between Abb Barron and Henry Finney.
Jim Cain kept a bar near the old blacksmith corner.
Crawf and John Newton were noted fighters.
Jeff Williams lost a leg by a shot from Jim Cain.
Bill Brooks and Clark Dumas had a fight back of F. S. John- son's store. Johnson broke it up by using an axe handle.
Sam Kingman was called the most mischievous boy in Clinton at one time.
Advertisement : Clinton's exclusive store-Juhan and Clow- ers .- 1830.
Advertisement : Choates' Mill, situated on Flat Shoals and
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Commissioners Creek, a two-story building with a rock base- ment, grinds corn and wheat-1818.
Col. Hamilton was with Hood's Army. His wife was former- ly Mrs. Swanson nee Miss Sallie Bowen.
Jones County Census : 1850-1,972 white males; 1,927 white females; free colored males 17; free colored females 29; total free population 3,945-Slaves 6,279. Deaths 85, farms 405, manufacturing establishments 15, value of real estate $1,373,625, value of personal property, $3,525,464.
Henry Whidby shot and killed Jim Woodall on the corner of the Courthouse square in Clinton. Whidby went to Texas and never stood trial.
Roland Ross suggested naming the new town near Clinton, Gray, for his good friend and outstanding citizen, James M. Gray, in 1905.
Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Hodge's beautiful new home at Dames Ferry was named "The Cedars"-1888.
Teaching at Dames Ferry in 1899, Miss Clay, Miss Willie Zellner, and Miss Ocie Hodge. Miss Mae Hodge taught school in Atlanta.
Mr. Hodge Zellner went to Thomasville to work.
Captain J. R. Bonner's son Ralph C. Bonner from Cleborn, Texas visited relatives in Jones County-1900.
Mrs. G. T. Dismuke of Milledgeville visited Mrs. M. M. Williams of Blountsville.
John Bradley owned one of the first cars in Jones County, a red four-seated machine, Jim Butler the second car called Jack- son, 18 m.p.h .- 1907.
H. S. Greaves, b. Ala. April 17, 1830, mar. Miss Martha Stewart on Dec. 3, 1857 died, Clinton Jan. 18, 1908. Was Treas. of Jones Co., Clerk of Com., Lieut. in Anderson's Battery, Co. B, fought at Murfreesboro, Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga, Atlanta and Griswoldville. Leaves a wife, a daughter, one grandson and a sister.
In 1908 between 500 and 600 Reuben Roberts' relatives had a family reunion. Reuben Roberts came from North Carolina in 1750 from the Pee Dee river section. A Revolutionary sol- dier, died in Jones Nov. 20, 1843.
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