USA > Georgia > Jones County > History of Jones County, Georgia, for one hundred years, specifically 1807-1907 > Part 22
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Putnam, "Choctaw Trail." At intervals through this section and up near Cedar Creek were large Indian mounds said to have been built for giving signals. Now demolished through years of cultivation of the land, traces of these mounds are still distin- guished. Arrowheads abound in this vicinity. A fine spring in a sheltered spot at the foot of a steep dropoff of thirty or more feet near one mound made it an ideal spot for an Indian camp or village.
An act incorporating Fortville Academy was passed on Dec. 9, 1822. The trustees were : Robert Hutchings, Chr., John W. Gordon, Thomas Jefferson, William Harris, and Robert Brown. Children were taught here before the day of free public schools. Almost opposite the Indian mounds a Methodist church was es- tablished in 1832 on land given by John W. Gordon. For many years this church was the largest and most progressive rural church in middle Georgia. In 1879 the old church was torn down and replaced by a comfortable chapel, later moved to Haddock. Trustees of the church property as named in the deed made Sept. 2, 1879 (Deed Book U, page 50), were : B. F. Ross, W. A. Chambers, John R. Bonner, James Finney, J. L. White, James D. Godard and John S. Lewis.
Some of the settlers here were the following families : Hutch- ings, Pratt, Singleton, Brown, Lester, Moughon, Stewart, Pitts, Davis, Mercer, Gordon, Catching, Morris, Low, Lamar, Jar- rett, Blandford, Wright, Tufts, Woodall, Bonner, Moore, Mil- ler, Barfield, Bullington, Roberts, Godard, Blow, Holt, Wright, Clark, Masterson and Smith.
When Sherman's forces marched from Round Oak to Mil- ledgeville, they stopped at Blountsville and divided into two groups, sending one by Fortville where they camped in the yard of the Robert Hutchings' home and foraged on the land. Several hundred bales of cotton were burned that night. Mr. Hutchings was owner of the local store, which housed the post office and the stagecoach station.
Robert Hutchings' son became the noted mental specialist of Ogdensburg, N. Y. Judge Le Roy Singleton married Ellen Hutch- ings, daughter of Robert Hutchings and lived in the beautiful old Hutchings home near the Moughon place. Judge Singleton
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had a daughter Harriett by a former marriage who married Thomas Morris and is the grandmother of Hon. Carl Vinson, M.C. from the 6th District who is affectionately referred to by his associates as, "The Admiral."
Dr. Francis Ticknor, father of Francis Orray Ticknor, author of "Little Giffen of Tennessee," lived near Fortville.
Daniel Pratt the famous architect, married Miss Esther Tick- nor, the sister of Dr. Francis Ticknor while he was living in Fortville, which was his residence for twelve years. Pratt came to Milledgeville in 1821, built Lowther Hall in Clinton in 1822, the John W. Gordon house near Haddock in 1824-28 (known as the Bowen-Blount house), and Westover near Milledgeville for Benj. S. Jordan around 1830. He bought John W. Gordon's home site in Fortville in 1825 and sold it to Thomas Moughon in 1828. Thos. Moughon was a cousin of Benj. S. Jordan and John W. Gordon and the three vied with each other in building their stately homes.
In 1885 there were five nice homes still standing in Fortville, where today there is little to remind one of its splendid pros- perity of a bygone century, and unless posterity is careful to preserve records and mark locations, the historic places will not even be a memory.
By Louise Morton East Juliette (Glovers)
The topography of the land in the section of East Juliette is hilly and rolling. In about 1825 when the Creek Indians were pushed across the Ocmulgee river, white settlers moved in where the famous Indian trail "Horse-Path" crossed, some settling on the east side in Jones County, and some on the west side in Mon- roe County. For many years a ferry was used to cross this river, until a toll bridge was built.
It is said that Mike Dennis erected the first gristmill at Juli- ette.
East Juliette, located on the Ocmulgee river, in northwestern corner of Jones County was first called Glover's Mill, until about 1925 when the post offices of Juliette on the west side of the river in Monroe county and Glover's Mill on the west were consolidated.
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It was when the Southern railroad was built that the little settlement became known as Juliette, and tradition says that the name was in honor of the first white woman to cross the river to make her home on the west side. Another story states that someone suggested that the two settlements, one on the east side and one on the west side be known as Romeo and Juliette.
In 1872 Nathaniel Glover bought a mill from West Smith, a native, and builder of the mill. Glover set up a sawmill and cut lumber to build a store. Later he cut, molded and burned the brick with which to build the factory. In 1898 a log dam was constructed on the river to furnish power with which to run the textile mill and a gin.
After Nat Glover's death his two sons came into possession of the property. These sons were Jack and Dr. W. P. Glover. Jack was drowned and Dr. W. P. Glover became owner and con- trolled the entire estate. Dr. Glover gave up his practice to su- pervise the mill, which was more profitable. He was a shrewd businessman and accumulated a fortune, however he was out- witted by a business deal and lost controlling interest of the businesses. He sold out and the mill fell into other hands.
In 1898 a church was organized and a building erected to serve as a meetinghouse and a schoolhouse. It was thus used until 1915 or 1916 when it burned. Then a separate school, credited to John N. Birch of the Juliette Milling Co. was built, and playground equipment installed. J. Neville Birch followed in the footsteps of his father, by helping in the making of a new school in 1939. Across from the old school, an interdenomina- tional church was built by the Juliette Milling Co. It is used mostly by the Missionary Baptists and the Primitive Baptists, but at times it has been used by the other denominations. Rev. Min- ter served the church for 20 years. Elder E. J. Maddox of Chester served as a Primitive Baptist preacher for 18 years.
The population of East Juliette is about 400. On the west side of the river in Monroe county, about 250.
Juliette Milling Company makes cotton yarns, has 185 em- ployees, 10% negroes, 8,400 spindles, works up about one bale of cotton per hour.
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This has been a rather isolated community, but now has two paved roads leading out and is easily accessible.
By Alline Jarrell
James
In the lower part of Jones County, six miles south of Gray, on the line between Davidson and Burden's Districts, on the Georgia railroad between Macon and Camak is James, Ga., Jones County. The population has never exceeded about 140 and most of the residents are related.
James' first inhabitants were the Indians of the Creek tribe. Many Indian relics, such as arrowheads, bits of pottery and beads attest to the fact that Indians were here and the Indian trail came through this place before the white men came, and was used as a road, later.
A fork off the Garrison Road leads from a mile southeast of Cumslo and a mile and a half southwest of James crossed the Ocmulgee at Tarver's Site according to an early map, this In- dian Trail was called "Tusco-Meco Path."
The old Clinton and Gordon road crossed what is now the Georgia railroad about 150 yards to the north of the present crossing of the railroad and followed its present route, except at Morton's it made a direct line to Clinton, a road which is nonexistent today.
James was founded after the Georgia railroad came through. This railroad was in process of construction for many years, from prior to the Civil War until its completion in 1871. Tom Woolfolk, Sr., owned all of this land and the first flagstop was called Woolfork.
Lemuel James was engaged in bridge construction for this railroad, bought some of this Woolfolk land and he and his wife Mary E. Chadwick built a home here. Soon a post office was built, a depot and telegraph office. The railroad officials named the place James, for Lemuel Photo James, Sr. There were many large plantations here and farmers came here to trade. Mr. Duffy was the Postmaster and storekeeper. There was a gin house and gristmill and a turntable beside the tracks for the engines to turn on. Lemuel James gave land for a school and a
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colored church. Elam church had been established many years before this and most of the people worshipped there, although some went to Salem and Pitts Chapel. Lemuel James later built a large eleven-room house in an oak grove which is still stand- ing. After his death Lemuel James, Jr. owned this, was as public- spirited as his father, represented his county, helped obtain elec- tricity for it and was made State Director of Department of Labor. He was Pres. of James Lumber Co. at Haddock at his death.
Other families at James were: T. W. Duffy moved from Clinton to James in 1884, Judge Peyton Pitts in 1885 built a home here, R. H. Kingman, Sr. built here in 1890 and was a peach grower, planter and a Christian, died in 1935. R. H. King- man, Jr. was later the leading merchant here. In 1927 J. C. Balkcom bought this store. Dr. O. C. Gibson and family were residents of James from 1890 to 1901. This home was later bought by Mrs. C. M. Ethridge and a daughter, Mrs. N. E. Valentine later lived here, as the Gibsons moved to Macon. J. C. Balkcom, Jr. now owns the store his father ran, and an- other family of Mitchells lived here.
The old church called Elam was built in 1810 and is the historic church of this vicinity (see picture under churches). At first this was a Primitive Baptist, but when a church schism arose later, it was changed to a Missionary Baptist church.
The first money order written in Jones County was written in James, Ga., and the first telegraph instrument put into use in Jones County was located here. The school built here in 1884 on land donated by L. P. James was burned.
There are only two people living here from a large family of James by that name, Misses Hattie and Alice James, daughters of Frank James. Although James never grew in size, the spirit of the first settlers remain.
Gray
Congressman James H. Blount once owned the site on which Gray now stands, and the name of Dollytown was suggested for the new village. Congressman Blount's home stood where Judge Holmes Johnson's old home is now. The survey you see
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
MAP OF BLOUNTSTON
Station No.
Situated on the
MACON & COVINGTON 1.8 Miles from Macon
Surveyed by JCW
Jones Ca
COVIN
NO CEM
RER
DEPOT
Ross
STREIT
CTON & MACON
RAIL ROAD
34
Map of Blountston later Gray, Georgia. Made in 1886.
in the book is dated Nov. 26, 1886 and the lots and streets are laid off as drawn by J. C. Wheeler and the name Blountston is used. He stated that the town was on the Macon and Covington railroad eighteen miles from Macon.
On Feb. 16, 1900 the Ordinary of Jones County ordered an election to be held on April 4, 1900 to vote on the removal of the county site from Clinton to Gray. In obedience to the said order the election was held with these results: For removal 359
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
as against removal 361 (minutes of Jones County Court of Ordi- nary 1891-1900 pp. 231-238).
Another election was held on June 27, 1905, with the follow- ing results : For removal 1289, against 51. (Min. of Ordinary 1901-1908.)
The legislature then passed a bill authorizing the removal of the county site from Clinton to Gray, which was duly signed by the Governor on August 9, 1905. (Ga. Laws 1905 pp. 118-119.) On August the 2nd, 1905 the county of Jones purchased from the Land and Improvement Co. all of lots three and four with a ten-foot alley between said lots in block 23 of the village of Gray. This appears on the Anderson Survey which is recorded in Book Z p. 434 of Jones County Superior Court. The said land contained about one and one-half acres and is bounded as follows : on the north by Clinton Ave., and for a few feet by Ross Street, on the east by Jefferson St. and on the south by a ten-foot alley running through said block from Jefferson to Cleveland St. and on the west by Cleveland St. (Deed Book Z p. 318.)
On July 25, 1905 the contract for the jail and courthouse was let to the Atlanta Fireproofing Co. for $35,000.00 (Min. Jones County Court 1892, p. 129). The County Commissioners were : John T. Glover, J. H. C. Ethridge and J. H. Meeks. The archi- tects were J. W. Golucke and L. J. Isbel, General Manager of the said Co. in Atlanta, Ga.
There were several homes already in Gray, most of them formerly residents of Clinton. New homes were going up and on Dec. 6, 1906, Rev. D. B. Cantrell got the Methodists inter- ested in building a "meeting house." Early in 1908 the work began and on Easter Sunday the church was dedicated. Dr. J. E. Dickey preached the dedicatory sermon. This church was de- stroyed by fire Jan. 3, 1915 and a new one started August 15, 1915.
The Baptist church was started in 1905 and finished on March 24, 1907. The first service was conducted by Rev. J. E. Cargyle of Macon. The presbytery was composed of Rev. E. W. Sam- mons, C. S. McCarthy and R. W. Thoit. This church burned later and the present handsome structure was built.
Ordinary of the Court, Roland Ross suggested naming the town Gray in honor of James Madison Gray who was for a long
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
time the outstanding citizen and a leader in Jones County. The said James Madison Gray had left a considerable sum to Mercer for the education of boys of Jones County. The name of Gray was thus given to the town which became the County site later and is today. Located near the center of the County in G.M.D. 450 Clinton District. The elevation is 605 feet and the eastern part of the town lies in Davidson's District.
Early citizens of Gray were the Mortons, Stewarts, Comers, Bonners, Greens, Turners, Ethridges, Johnsons, Godards, Pat- tersons, Braggs, Morgans, Blounts and Roberts.
The first school was a small wooden building built in 1897. Several schools have been built since then and the present mod- ern school plant was begun in 1936 and has been expanded to its present size. Grammar school and gymnasium 1929, Voca- tional building 1955.
Present population of Gray is 1,000.
The Mayors of Gray have been the following: J. M. Childs, George Wallace, J. L. Mercer, R. L. Turk, Ard Pulliam, M. L. Greene, W. E. Knox.
Highways Nos. 129, 11, 22, 44 pass through Gray. Macon is only twelve miles away and many people live at Gray and work in Macon. A new subdivision has been opened by Charles H. Washburn, Sr. and the lots are rapidly being filled with new homes. The only industry at present is the Washburn Lumber Company. Gray is the center of the peach industry north of Ma- con. It can boast a dry cleaning establishment, super market, pic- ture show, a modern bank, five filling stations, an ultra modern motel, shoe shop and freezer locker.
The large Jones County High School is located here and a football field. The colored High School (Maggie Califf) newer and larger than the white school was completed this past year. Headquarters for the Rural Electrification Association is housed in a neat attractive building.
Griswoldville
Griswoldville located in southern Roberts District, 304 militia district on the Central of Ga. railroad near the Twiggs County line was named for Samuel Griswold. He came from Burlington, Conn. about 1818. He first lived in Clinton where he had an iron foundry and manufactured cotton gins, but the business
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
grew to such proportions that he decided to move his factory on a railroad.
The Central railroad had just been completed to Savannah, so he bought 4,000 acres of land in lower Jones County through which the railroad ran. Here he built a mammoth gin factory, sawmill, a gristmill, a planing mill and a large brick foundry.
He erected a three-story residence of twenty rooms, with out- houses, servants' quarters, laundry, stables and barns.
Across the railroad was the Post office and fifty or sixty cot- tages with five or six rooms each for his white help and slaves. He also built a nice Church and a large store. He built his son a handsome dwelling nearby.
Gins were shipped from here to Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi.
In 1863 Griswold's gin factory was leased to the Confederate Government for the manufacture of army pistols. This factory which had turned out 900 gins in 1859 now was converted to the making of pistols. These weapons were calibre with rifled barrels and shaped like Colt's revolvers. The frames were brass which they could cast and work more easily. The cylinders were made of iron twisted to make it stronger. This metal was collected from all over Jones County, as the blockade had shut off imports. Most of the families in the county gave their metal from the homes and farms to be melted down for the use of the Confed- eracy. In 1864 Sherman's forces destroyed Griswoldville so thor- oughly that only the tall smoke blackened chimneys remained for the next fifty years, to show where this once thriving business was. The soap and candle factory here was also destroyed.
The Van Burens lived here at one time right where the gin factory was burned. A nice home was built, later by a daughter. Mrs. Wallace Hardeman lived here, the Striplings, Johnsons, and Wells lived here.
The Battle of Griswoldville is written up in another Chapter.
The story is told that the Johnson boys sold out about 1865 and went to Arkansas for they heard the tales about the rich lands out there. They wrote back glowing accounts of what they were doing, so several families sold out, among them the Strip- lings and Rufe Kelly from Gordon (the famous protector of Gordon against Sherman's thousands of Cavalrymen). When
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the migrants reached Little Rock, the Mississippi River was covering the earth, and many were almost on starvation includ- ing the Johnson boys. Within a week or two all of the crowd and the Johnson boys were on their way back to Griswoldville, Jones County, Georgia.
Haddock
Haddock is located in the eastern part of the County, on the Dixie Highway and the Georgia Railroad, in Pope's district, 358 military district. The railroad was one of the first in the county, being built in 1871. Convicts were used for labor. The highway was paved in 1928. The town is built in a valley with the his- torical old Bowen home on one hill and the Haddock Junior High School on the other.
Haddock takes its name from Caswell Haddock and his wife Milbry Barnes Haddock, the earliest settlers in this section and it was from a part of their plantation that Haddock was built.
Milbry J. Barnes, a daughter of James Barnes, was married to Caswell Haddock Jan. 13, 1835 by Nathan Pasmore, J. P.
Prior to her marriage Milbry lived with her parents on their plantation near Bradley. After her marriage to Caswell Had- dock, the couple moved to this plantation also owned by her father. This plantation contained 1350 acres of land. With her to her new home she brought a number of slaves also given to her by her father. At his death Mar. 10, 1859 James Barnes deeded this plantation to Milbry Barnes Haddock and her chil- dren.
Caswell and Milbry Haddock reared a large family. Their children were Jimmie (killed in the Battle of Bull Run), Vic- toria, Rebecca, Bluford, Jeannie, Thomas, Joseph, Ella, Chris- tianna and William.
Sherman passed through this plantation on his march from Atlanta to the sea, burning the warehouse where several years cotton crops were stored, killing livestock and plundering as he went. His army made its headquarters at the Bowen home about a mile away.
After the building of the Georgia Railroad Samuel Anchors and his family moved to Haddock, then only a flag station, John
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D. Anchors a son, started out west and stopping to tell his par- ents good-bye met and fell in love with Christianna Haddock, daughter of Caswell and Milbry. The plans for the trip west were abandoned and John D. Anchors and Christianna Haddock were married. They built their home near the railroad, this was really the first house ever built in the present site of Haddock. This house was built about 1872.
At the death of Milbry Barnes Haddock in 1885 the estate was divided among her children. At this time ten acres were sold at public auction, divided into lots for a section of the town of Haddock. This section was laid off in blocks and the streets named.
The first store in Haddock was built by Goldstein, this was followed closely by a Grocery Store owned by Caswell Haddock. Other early merchants were George Walker, John D. Anchors and Richard Bullington.
In 1882 Henry J. Finney moved to Haddock and was joined by his brother James T. Finney in 1884 when they jointly opened a mercantile business.
The first schoolhouse built in Haddock was built by John D. Anchors in 1884 as a semi-private school. The school was a one- room frame building, taught by Sue Norman whose salary was paid by John D. Anchors and Henry Newsome. Other children in this section were given the advantage of an early education.
As years passed and more families moved to Haddock this school no longer met the requirements and so in 1892 the Jones County Board of Education purchased a plot of land from Susie Phillips, daughter of Ella Haddock and a larger school was built. John D. Anchors and J. T. Finney were the first trustees of this school.
In time this school also proved insufficient and in 1908 David D .Batchelor gave one and one-half acres of land and a brick building was erected. Trustees at this time were E. W. Coleman, C. W. Middlebrooks and C. H. Keller. This building was used until 1934 when the county with the aid of the Federal Govern- ment built a model Junior High School which the citizens of Haddock prize highly.
The first cotton gin in Haddock was owned and operated by
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Robert Cox, this was a traveling gin. When all the cotton in one section was ginned he would take his gin apart, pack and move on to the next community. Thus he made his annual visit to each section.
The first gristmill in Haddock was owned by John DuPree. Cy Brown (negro) ran the first blacksmith shop.
The Blount home, so called for Colonel James H. Blount, who last made his home there is located about a mile from Haddock This is one of the oldest homes in the vicinity of Haddock and still retains much of its charm and dignity, the architectural plan is of colonial type and especially beautiful is the old winding staircase in the front hall. This home was built for General Gordon, by Daniel Pratt.
General Gordon sold this home to Thomas O. Bowen of Clinton. Thom. Bowen and his wife who was a Blount of Clinton made their home here. In November, 1864, Sherman made his headquarters here with this family. Mrs. Sally Mathis, one of our oldest citizens was then little Sally Bowen of about five years of age. Mrs. Bowen had two brothers who were outstanding citizens. James H. Blount who was for twenty-five years Con- gressman from this district and Dr. Horatio Bowen of Clinton. This home after many years was sold to Colonel James H. Blount later owned by his daughter Mrs. Walter D. Lamar of Macon.
Other early settlers in Haddock were the Lesters, Bonners, Godards, Chambers, Middlebrooks, Pitts, Morris, Phillips, Huffs, Califfs, Bivins, Andrews, Clarks, Mercers, Speights, Fin- neys and Pursleys.
At first there were no churches in Haddock. The Methodists attended at Fortville and the Baptists at Blountsville.
In 1900 the Fortville Methodist Church was moved to Had- dock. For several years the Methodists and Baptists held services in this church, some Baptist services were also held in the K. P. Hall. In 1912 the present Baptist church was built. This is of wooden structure and painted white.
In 1913 the present Methodist church was built. This church is built of brick and is much superior to the first building. The building committee were: J. T. Finney, J. A. Pitts, S. H. Had- dock, T. R. Turner and J. A. Middlebrooks. Augustus Ernest
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was pastor at this time.
The first peach orchard in Haddock was set out by John D. Anchors in 1903. A few years later J. T. Finney set out an orchard.
Around 1905 the town was incorporated. Henry T. Finney was the first mayor. The aldermen were: John D. Anchors, S. H. Haddock, T. R. Turner and C. W. Middlebrooks. Charlie Roberts was the first town marshal. Haddock is not incorporated today.
In 1910 Ross built the first telephone exchange. Daniel Had- dock succeeded him in this business. Today his niece Eillen Bon- ner is the owner. Haddock has always received excellent service from this company (now a part of county system owned by Ralph Lineberger) .
In 1912 a part of the business section of Haddock was de- stroyed by fire. The buildings lost at this time were stores owned by : H. J. and J. T. Finney, S. H. Haddock, H. C. Pearson and J. N. Holloway, R. H. Kingman and R. B. Bonner's Market.
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