USA > Georgia > Jones County > History of Jones County, Georgia, for one hundred years, specifically 1807-1907 > Part 21
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Mrs. Elizabeth Slatter Lowther built a beautiful home which has since burned. She was a woman of wonderful energy and business acumen. The home was known as "Lowther Hall."
Other prominent residents of those early days were, Col. R. V. Hardeman, James H. Blount who served for twenty years as U. S. Congressman; Col. Isaac Hardeman, who went as 1st Sgt. of the Jones County Volunteers to Richmond, Va. and was placed in the 12th Ga. Regiment. He served throughout the Civil War and came home a Colonel. Sylvanaus Hitch lived on the hill going toward Gray, but moved to South Georgia. Major Williams lived there before he moved to Baker County. He had two sons, J. H. and W. W. Williams who later moved to Macon and had a jewelry store. He was a progressive and popular citizen and was prominent in Baker County.
Clinton was noted for the fun and practical jokes played by its young men, so much so that the answer; "I've been to Clin- ton," was all that was necessary to explain any unusual appear- ance of animal or person, having recently come from its direc- tion.
A temperance lecturer drove from Madison to Clinton with horse and buggy and put up at Mrs. Gibson's tavern and stable.
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While delivering his lecture at the church in the evening, mis- chievous and fun-loving boys of the town were in the stables painting stripes on the horse like a zebra. The man was very angry the next morning when his buggy was brought around for him to leave, and he discovered the zebra-striped horse. Of course no one knew anything about it, and he had to leave as it was. When several miles out on his return road, he met a man who in his surprise at seeing a zebra hitched to a buggy, said, "Mister, what is the matter with your horse"? "Been to Clin- ton," was the reply, with flick of a whip on his horse.
Stephen Clower was fond of display, and being wealthy, pur- chased one of the finest carriages, to which he drove four horses. He had a negro coachman and footman. This carriage was mounted with silver and furnished with fine brocaded silk inside. Its body was swung high on great leather straps which served for springs, and had folding steps which were let down in order to get into it.
Taylor Gibson, whose wife had been the widow, Sarah Greaves Chiles, was also a citizen and had a lovely family. The home of Richard Hutchings on Madison St. was a two-story frame structure with which columns that extended up two stories to support the porch roof. The stoop was gained by a few steps of solid stone, with a foot-scraper on each end. Solid wooden built- in benches with high backs flanked the stoop, and there was be- neath the roof a second-story balcony. An old-fashioned brass door knocker of a shell design with hands clasped in friendship, was on the door.
Clinton did not escape the ravages of war, though it was a long distance from a railroad it was in the middle of a prosper- ous farming district and was visited by many raiding parties from Sherman's Army, seizing food, stock, valuables and burn- ing. Wheeler's Cavalry Brigade was doing as much as a small force could to oppose and harass them.
This account of Stoneman's visit is a reprint from the county news :
"Deposition of William Wiley Barron given at his home in Clinton, Georgia on August 5, 1930. "I, William Wiley Barron was Sheriff and Tax Collector of Jones County from 1887 to
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1892, Clerk of the Court from 1893 to 1905. I was born Feb. 6, 1857 in Clinton. My father was Dr. James F. Barron, who married Joannah Shropshire in Jasper County in 1852. My old- est brother, James H. Barron was born in Jasper County in 1854. Father moved to Clinton bought the large white house on the east corner of Macon and Monticello road, originally known as Gibson's Tavern or Hotel. Gibson sold it to Ben Mason, and he sold it to father. I was born in that house, also my broth- ers Robert Benjamin a doctor in Macon, Jackson Clay Barron, lawyer, Abbington Bonaparte LaFayette Barron and my sister Sallie (Mrs. Ellis) .
"I went to school first to Z. D. Harrison at the Academy above the spring during the war. In school were my brothers James H. and R. H. Bonner. The first Company that left Jones County in 1861 was Co. B, 12th Ga. Reg. under Capt. Peyton Pitts. They were mustered in here in Clinton and camped around the Clinton Methodist church, before the grounds were filled with graves. Capt. Pitts was an old man and soon retired from the army, and Isaac Hardeman, a lawyer here in Clinton was elected Capt. of Co. B, and later became a Colonel. I remember that Jim and I went over to the camp.
"I well remember when Gen. Stoneman came through. It was on Friday at dinner and we were all eating. Some of our sol- diers came down the Hillsboro road by our house and shouted, 'The Yankees are coming' ! and dashed on towards Macon. The ones I remember were Bill Morton, Sam Barron, and Capt. Roland T. Ross. General Stoneman stopped at our house and asked father about getting to Macon. Father told him there wasn't any bridge over the Ocmulgee river, that he would have to cross on a flat. Stoneman was a fine looking man, he was very tall with broad shoulders and wearing a tremendous black hat. The Yankee soldiers began coming up in large numbers, so moth- er said to Jim and me, 'Run over to Aunt Nancy's,' and she sent a colored boy with us. Aunt Nancy Morrow was a Barron, father's aunt, and she lived in a large two-story house called the Hitch house up on the hill above the Love Place on the Milledge- ville road. We stayed all afternoon until mother sent for us. While we were there about fifteen or twenty Yankee soldiers
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came and asked uncle James for his watch and money. Aunt Nancy had sent her silver off by a negro to the dense woods back of her house. Uncle could not understand the soldiers who were foreigners. They thought he was pretending and threatened to shoot him.
"That was on Friday afternoon late in July, 1864. On Saturday afternoon a scouting party of Gen. Iverson's forces went up the Hillsboro road and kept straight down the Lite-and-Tie road past the Lowther place. Going north the road was called the Hillsboro or Monticello road but going south from Clinton it was called the Gordon and Lite-and-Tie road. Soon the Confederates came dashing back up the road with the Yankees behind them and bullets flying everywhere. As Stoneman's men were firing on the scouting party they would turn in their saddles and fire back as they kept on toward Gen. Iverson's camp. The Yankees had been defeated at Macon and were retreating on Saturday afternoon when they met the scouting party below Clinton. In pursuing the scouting party through Clinton, they passed on and met General Iverson's forces Saturday night near Sunshine Church, near Round Oak. The next day, Sunday, General Stoneman was captured. Monday morning, August 1, 1864 suddenly soldiers began pouring into Clinton, Yankees and Confederates. I went out on the porth with father and Gen. Stoneman rode up. He said, 'Doctor, what you told me was true. The bridge was gone.' Father offered him refreshments but he would not go in, so mother sent a glass of buttermilk out to him. The captured Yankees and the Confederates returned to Macon right through Clinton past the courthouse square.
"In November, 1864, the Yankees again came to Clinton. Gen. Sherman himself did not show himself in Clinton. The Yankees were under Gen. Kilpatrick. He had his headquarters right next to us in Richard Hutchings' house, the old Jonathan Parrish place. Mrs. Hutchings was Cornelia Greaves, Henry Greaves' sister. Soldiers were all over town. Passing constantly down the road by our house, going through Clinton toward Griswoldville and Macon. I sat on the gatepost and watched them pass and one soldier pinched my ear. Gen. Kilpatrick gave each house a
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guard, but all the supplies were taken. All we had left was a jar of lard which mother had hidden under the bed."
W. W. Barron-August 5, 1930, Jones County News.
In the old days Christmas was the gala holiday of the year. It was the time when the accounts were settled and money was in circulation. Cotton, the principal cash crop was marketed in the fall and goods and supplies were sold by the merchants on credit and the accounts were settled up at that time. In anticipa- tion of the holiday the stores were stocked with goods suitable for presents, and such luxuries as, oranges, English walnuts, Brazil nuts, Malaga grapes and raisins, not on sale at any other time of the year. Best grades of wine, imported, rum and brandies helped to add cheer to the Christmas dinner. On the plantations vast preparations were started weeks in advance. Quantities of mincemeat for pies were prepared, fruitcakes, and pens of turkeys and geese cooped up to fatten. Hog killing time usually occurred the first part of December and spareribs, hams, fresh and smoked sausages in long chains of links, were plenti- ful. There were pans of fresh brown cracklings and shortening bread. Eggs had been saved and kept cool. A huge farm wagon made a trip to town and returned with mysterious boxes, bales and packages, which were unloaded into a locked storeroom and no one but the mistress could go in. Extra logs of wood for the big fireplaces was stacked in the back yard, for Christmas fires. Evergreens and holly boughs were used to decorate the house.
Everyone to the smallest pickaninny was on the qui vive for the day to come. When the first streaks of dawn appeared in the east, an onlooker might have thought a riot was being staged. The negroes old and young crowded to the back door, the old ones with their sticks and the young ones hopping up and down in excitement. The first to arrive pounded on the door shouting, "Christmas giff !" There was no denying them, they did not have to wait as the cook and help were in the dining room with huge bowls of hot whiskey punch, enough for everyone to have a cup- ful. The children were given peppermint candy.
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They went into the house for their presents, and one would hear the older negroes say, "Git back thar chile, whar you be- longs, ain't you got no manners?" Each one got their refresh- ments, and packages with their names on them and as they passed out they would curtsey and thank the master for them.
After this the houseman would prepare a big bowl of eggnog, a ceremonial rite, without which it would not be Christmas. This nog contained no milk. This heathen practice might be com- mitted in other places but not in Georgia. The master would have hung his head in shame if it had been necessary to eke out the quantity by diluting it with milk. Never! He would as soon tolerate the mint being bruised in his julep as to allow anything in his eggnog but well beaten eggs, sugar and whiskey or brandy, mixed with rum and he ate it from a spoon of silver as a gentle- man should.
As soon as breakfast was over the house was quickly put in order, the fires mended to glow brightly in every downstairs room. More punch was concocted and fresh eggnog made for guests were expected and healths must be quaffed appropriately. This is one recipe the oldtimers used, for eggnog. Into an earth- en bowl place the yolks of six eggs. Add six level tablespoons of granulated sugar and stir with a silver spoon until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved and smooth. Add six or seven tablespoons of whiskey or half rum and half brandy. Stir well. With a silver fork whip the egg whites stiff, fold in gently the yolks, sugar and whiskey mixture but do not agitate more than necessary for thorough blending. Serve in a silver cup or glass goblet with a silver spoon. The recipe serves four.
Another great dessert was sillybub in those days. It is a drink much esteemed in ancient England. According to Halliwell the name was originally sillibouke; its derivation being silly (i.e. happy or jolly) and bouk (belly). It was originally made there by mixing ale with cream and milk but in later years wine took the place of ale. Southerners had a sillybub churn or it was whipped until stiff.
When the little old Indian fort, Hawkins, on the Ocmulgee river came to be abandoned, the town of Macon began to grow and in a few years drew heavily upon Jones County for its citi-
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zenry. Many of Clinton's finest citizens moved to Macon, Clin- ton, because of no railroad, and war destruction, the need of transportation, schools, colleges, and business opportunities soon the town became the deserted village.
The Macon Telegraph of August 25, 1935 in a feature article says : "Further loss to Clinton came when the Athens branch of the Central of Ga. Railroad ran two miles away and a small station known as Gray began to grow. In 1905 it was voted to moved the county seat to Gray and a new courthouse was built there. Unfortunately the old courthouse at Clinton was allowed to fall down and the room where Benjamin H. Hill, Aleck Stephens, L. C. Q. Lamar and Robert Toombs had practiced law are gone forever. The boulders however which made the county jail 1843 were removed to build the retaining wall around the courthouse at Gray. Jake Huchings', negro, helped build the jail in Clinton and it was built so well, it was a hard job to tear it down.
"Clinton became a town with a past and only a place of remi- niscences. I shall never forget the smell of the boxwood borders, the roses, tea olives, rosemary, heliotrope, lavender, and jas- mine and other fragrances mingled with it. Clinton enjoyed an ideal village life before the war, a place of culture and refine- ment."
The impress of the distinguished people who settled and reared their children there, is left upon their descendants. There are many who still cherish its associations and traditions.
Quoted from the book written by Dr. Richard Henry Hutch- ings, "An Intimate Family History" 1937.
DeWitt Clinton
The fact that the county site of Jones County's name was changed from Albany to Clinton after only two years of existence makes for interest in the name of Clinton. Albany was changed to Clinton in 1809 for that distinguished gentleman, DeWitt Clinton of New York, who was an outstanding Mason, and who rendered invaluable services to his city, state and nation.
DeWitt Clinton was born in 1769 and graduated from King's College (now Columbia University) in 1878 at the age of eight- een. His rise to fame was meteoric. He was elected to the legis-
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lature in 1797, to the U. S. Senate in 1801, and Mayor of New York in 1803-1814. It was while he was mayor that he was in- strumental in founding the public schools for the whole state, instead of only New York City. He had a bill introduced in the legislature asking for state aid and it was voted to give $12,000 immediately. From this came the millions now used to run the complicated school system of New York.
He was Grand Master of Masons in New York from 1806 to 1820, and Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of New York from 1816-1826. He was Thrice Illustrious Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the U.S.A.
In 1817, Clinton was Governor of New York, and then he urged upon the Legislature that they authorize the construction of the Erie Canal. The bill was passed, and in 1825, Clinton was transported on a barge through the Erie Canal and was given a great ovation all along the way. He was re-elected Gov- ernor in 1826 and died Feb. 11, 1828.
Masonry had a conspicuous and important role in furthering our various public school systems. Washington, a Master Mason founded in Alexandria one of Virginia's first free schools. Jeffer- son was the founder of Virginia's Free Public School System, Benjamin Franklin, a Master Mason, founded the first Free Public School in Philadelphia, Pa.
And so, DeWitt Clinton played his role as a leader with courage and ability just at the time when Jones County was formed, and no doubt the founding fathers of this town, set a shining example, when they decided to name their growing village for such a man as DeWitt Clinton of New York.
Copied from original manuscript in Ordinary's Office Jones County Incorporation of Clinton by Neddy Pennington-1816.
"The Corporation of the town of Clinton called upon their Marshal, Neddy Pennington, to pay over the first money he had collected from the inhabitants of the corporation it conceiving it had a right to do so inasmuch as they have the power to charge taxes and collect fines from the inhabitants of said corporation by a charter from the legislature of the state; in pursuance of that charter they enacted by laws for the regulation of the town of Clinton among which they payed one subjecting to a fine of
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one dollar any person living in the corporation who neglected to work on the public streets of said town that they had passed a law ordering the marshal to pay over all taxes and fines collected by him to the Treasurer of the corporation all which will appear by an exhibit herewith filed. And the said marshal in violation of the ordinances before stated collected the fines from the in- habitants of said corporation and paid them over to the Com- missioners of roads.
"I certify that this is a correct statement of fact in the above case given under my hand and - - - there being no seal of office-"
E. I. Bowen, Clerk
Blountsville
Blountsville is in Pope's District and Military District No. 358 and was named for the James Blount family of N. C., Geor- gia and Jones County. Blountsville, a stage coach station and a post office was a flourishing center of cultural and educational training before the War Between the States. The old Blountsville Academy was chartered in 1834 with Allen Drury, William E. Ethridge, John W. Stokes, Francis Tufts and John W. Gordon as trustees.
Blountsville is situated at a junction of roads from Clinton to Eatonton, and from Milledgeville to Monticello, it is ten miles from Clinton and sixteen and one-half miles from Mil- ledgeville. From Milledgeville to Monticello are two roads the one by way of Blountsville is best for it crosses no large water- courses. The other goes by way of Low's Mill on Cedar Creek and Half Acre.
This village at the junction of two stagecoach routes, had a buggy, carriage, and wagon shop, a wagon factory, stores, and an outstanding Academy. This village was the center of a wealthy and aristocratic citizenry. Some of the families who lived here were: Blounts, Tufts, Milners, Dumas, Miller, McCullough, Hurt, Clark, Williams, Drury, Gordon, Ethridge, Farrars, and Smiths.
Rev. Benjamin Milner, son of John Milner of North Caro- lina was one of the early Baptist preachers of the County. His daughter, Mary Parks Milner married Major John Francis
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Tufts. She gave the land for the Baptist church, and shared most of the expense of building it, donating a large Bible for the pul- pit. Some of these Milners settled at Milner, Georgia which is named for them.
Charles Gatchet lived near Blountsville before going to Barnesville. Papers show that-Grant No. 1-13012 acres in Baldwin County was surveyed for Charles Gatchet July 3, 1805. Grant No. 2, surveyed July 23, 1805. Grant No. 4, 1841/2 A. Baldwin County, surveyed July 23, 1805. Grant No. 209, sur- veyed March 4, 1807. Grant 224 surveyed June 20, 1807. These two signed by Jared Irwin.
June 5, 1809 bought of Jonathan Thomas July 1808 by Chas. Gatchet land in Baldwin County Sept. 3, 1830 Chas. Gatchet sold land to Wyatt Ford. The old plats of these land grants showing boundaries and corners marked by a pine, oak or sassa- fras, the Indian boundary, and "Old Path," are very interesting. Blountsville was one of the most wealthy and aristocratic vil- lages in Jones County. Charles Gatchet had a home there.
Thomas Bog Slade, Baptist minister, and head of the Clinton Female Seminary and later teacher at Wesleyan married Miss Ann Blount of Blountsville. The late Miss Alice Mccullough of Round Oak, whose family lived in Blountsville said that the married daughter of the Slades came to visit the Blounts here, and their only child, a little girl became ill and died; she was buried in the flower garden back of the house. The little marble slab may still be found in the tall shrubs and bushes of the once beautiful gardens.
There was an old tavern, a large two-story building with an outside stair to the upper story where the men travelers stayed. This had no connection with the lower floor where the ladies stayed. The building stood on high granite pillars with a retain- ing wall of granite slabs. In the yard was an old well sweep.
Strange to say that at this writing there is not a vestige of the once flourishing village, only a nice State historic marker shows where the town was.
Mrs. W. J. Morton
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Bradley
When the Central of Georgia railroad came through what is now the town of Bradley, August 9, 1886, there was only a pine thicket. Just beyond the station to the northeast was a rather thickly settled community, among whom were: John Bradley, John Wiley Bradley, T. F. Bradley, W. H. Mulligan and J. J. Glawson. This community was named Franks for the grand- father of John Wiley Bradley. Wiley Franks was the largest land owner in this section and it is said here that he was one of the signers of the Ordinance of Secession. He died in 1865. From Wiley Franks descended the Bradleys, the Barnes and the Mulligans. These three having married his daughters. John W. Bradley and Allen Wheeler gave the right of way for the rail- road, they and their families were given passes on the trains. Mr. Bradley became the first depot agent, later Joe Burney was the depot agent for many years. The first store was built and operated by J. W. Bradley. This building was later converted into a dwelling and is now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Claude Glawson and family. Other early merchants were M. H. Mulli- gan, G. W. Gordon, A. L. Harris and Warren Winters. Dr. B. I. O'Kelly was the first physician in Bradley.
The first school was a one room house near the home of J. J. Glawson which also served as a meeting house. Later J. W. Bradley gave the land for a church and school at the station. The deed of land was given for the church on July 16, 1897 and the church completed in the early spring of 1898. John Bradley father of J. W. Bradley was one of the largest contributors. He gave the building and wrote the data which was placed in the cornerstone.
The school was built on adjoining property and school began there in the fall of 1906. At one time it was one of the largest schools in the county from the standpoint of pupils and teachers, and boasted a high school as well as a grammar school. The early teachers here were : Miss Alice Taylor, Miss Josie Baxley, Miss Sallie Slocumb (Mrs. Ben Winters), Mr. and Mrs. Asbury Greene, Frank Greene who later became one of the three state supervisors of education, Miss Mattie Middlebrooks, Miss Mary Jo Barron and Miss Frances Solomon. In 1929 this school
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was consolidated with Gray and the building torn down and moved to Gray where it was made into a gymnasium. The prop- erty was given to the church, Nov. 4, 1930.
When J. W. Bradley founded the town, he had the land sur- veyed and off into lots a plat which may be found in the county courthouse. The Bank of Bradley was established in 1920. This bank closed during the depression of 1929 when the Fourth National Bank in Macon closed. Bradley has had spurts of industrial growth. First were the cotton gins, which did a thriving business when cotton was king. The Bradley Gin and Milling Co. flourished for a number of years. Then came the peach industry, and Bradley became one of the largest shipping points for peaches not only in the county but in this section of the state. Refrigerator cars were lined on the sidetracks as far as the eye could see. Often thirty cars were packed and shipped in one day. Among the largest growers and packers were: S. B. Hungerford, R. L. Bradley, W. W. Barron, Sr., J. J. Barron, A. L. Harris, G. B. Slocumb, B. F. Winters, W. D. Winters, J. J. Glawson, J. E. Glawson, T. F Bradley, S. H. Thornton, H. L. Wheeler and J. J. Mercer.
A more recent industry was the Cherokee Products Co. a can- ning plant operated at Bradley by the Bloodworth Brothers until it was moved to Haddock. Bradley can boast of the first and largest Jones County Fair ever held. The exhibits from this fair were carried to Macon and displayed at the State Fair. It had the largest horse race track and some fine horses. This track was owned by John Bradley, father of the founder.
By Gladys Spear Barron
Fortville
Among the old landmarks of Jones County is the "Old Fort," sometimes called "The Fortification," the site of an early Indian trading post or fort. Now referred to locally as Fortville, it is located in Pope's District, Military District No. 358. It was located at the crossing of the upper stage road from Milledge- ville to Macon by Clinton and on the Garrison Road to Blounts- ville and Eatonton. It was also the crossing of two old Indian trails between Ocmulgee and Oconee Towns on to Eagle Rock in
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