History of Jones County, Georgia, for one hundred years, specifically 1807-1907, Part 4

Author: Williams, Carolyn White, 1898-
Publication date: 1957
Publisher: Macon, Ga., J.W. Burke Co.
Number of Pages: 1142

USA > Georgia > Jones County > History of Jones County, Georgia, for one hundred years, specifically 1807-1907 > Part 4

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Some prominent men and women from Jones County that contributed to leadership in Georgia were: Charles J. McDon- ald, Gov. of Georgia at one time; Samuel Lowther, Gen. Alfred Iverson, C. S. A .; Sen. and Gen. Alfred Iverson, Sr., R. V. Hardeman, Joseph Day, Speaker of the House for five terms ; William Flewellyn, Thomas Slade, Prin. of the Clinton Semi- nary; Peter Clower, Francis Ticknor, poet; Daniel Pratt, archi- tect and builder ; Samuel Griswold, gin maker and industrialist; Robert Hutchings, Joseph Winship, Capt. Jack Pitts, Capt. Jon- athan Parrish, Capt. R. W. Bonner, James Madison Gray, James H. Blount, F. S. Johnson, Sr., Dr. Jas. F. Barron, Dr. Asbury Kingman, Benjamin Reynolds a Revolutionary patriot; John Lamar, Dr. Hamilton, Gov. William Northern born in Jones County ; Dr. Polly Stewart, and others.

In 1886 the railroad was built through the central part of the county going from Macon to Athens. It came through Gray in-

HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY

stead of Clinton, also Clinton had suffered from the Civil War destruction and over at Fort Hawkins the settlement spread into what is now the City of Macon. Clinton could not stand all of these reverses, so Gray became the county site in 1905. It was named for James Madison Gray who had left an educa- tional fund for the worthy boys of Jones County to go to Mercer University. A contract for the new courthouse was let on July 25, 1905 for $35,000.00. The stone from the old jail in Clinton was put into the foundation and the retaining walls of the new structure.

The Clinton Methodist church is one of the oldest Methodist churches in this section of Georgia. The land was deeded in 1821, but the church started in 1810. Sunshine Church near Round Oak was burned by Sherman's forces in 1865 and in 1875 was rebuilt at Round Oak. There was a Baptist church opposite and beyond the Johnson home in Clinton, which was destroyed dur- ing the Reconstruction period (built in 1836).

We can hardly visualize Jones County as she stood head and shoulders above the surrounding territory from 1827 to 1840 in leadership, slaves, wealth and production. She sent three and four Representatives to the legislature and her leading city of Clinton boasted 12 industrial plants, with a capital of $55,625.00 with over $100,000 in annual products, tanned hides, farming implements, lumber, corn, meal, flour, wagons, ox carts, 900 cotton gins annually and lumber products. There were three large taverns, two hotels, cotton warehouses, a photograph gallery, churches, schools, silversmith shops, saloons, blacksmith shops and stores. Sherwood says in his Gazateer of Georgia that there were over 55 homes in Clinton. In the thirty-year period until the War Between the States, she continued to grow and prosper.

The 1850 census shows 6,325 valuable slaves and 3,899 whites, the real estate value was $1,373,625 and personal prop- erty (slaves) valuation was $3,525,464. Some of the leading planters of that period and their possessions at one time were : Thomas Bowen, 3,800 acres, value $18,000, 51 slaves.

Peyton T. Pitts, 2,600 acres, value $10,000, 84 slaves.

Joseph G. Stiles, 3,000 acres, value $15,000, 44 slaves.

Elizabeth Lowther, 4,200 acres, value $20,500, 91 slaves.

HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY

Peter L. Clower, 3,600 acres, value $28,800, 26 slaves.

Thomas Moughon, 3,850 acres, value $16,000, 106 slaves. Mary Lamar, 1,900 acres, value $10,000, 42 slaves. Dennis Lester, 1,587 acres, value $7,935, 55 slaves. Thomas Blount, 3,000 acres, value $11,000, 50 slaves. Benjamin Hawkins, executor made bond for $80,000 in 1816. William Jones, executor made born for $80,000 in 1816. Robert Ousley, executor made bond for $30,000 in 1814. Anderson Comer, 4,000 acres, assets $30,000, 1812. George Cabiness, 4,000 acres, assets $30,000.

Thos. W. and Palatea Stewart, 2,000 acres, 51 slaves.

Benjamin Barron, 4,000 acres, assets $30,000, 106 slaves. Hugh M. Comer, executor made bond for $80,000, 1827.

George McKay, 3,000 acres, 35 slaves.

Benjamin Milner, assets, $60,000, 1829.

Joseph Day, 3,000 acres, assets, $12,000, 53 slaves.

Samuel Griswold, 2,000 acres, assets, $50,000, 91 slaves.

Thomas White, 3,000 acres, 50 slaves.

James M. Gray, 3,000 acres, 64 slaves.

March 6, 1809 the Inferior Court passed an order which read, "Ordered that John Bayne, Daniel Lowe, Peter Clower, and James Jones be appointed overseers of the poor in this county, and appropriating $40.00 to the use of William Burge, Jr. to be paid for the care of James Drawn (min. Inf. court county affairs, 1808-1823, p. 30). This system of care for the poor prevailed until 1830, on that date an order passed that Charles McCarthy, County Treasurer would pay to Alfred Iver- son $500.00 for land purchased by the directors for a poorhouse and the deed is dated June 21, 1830, for 200 acres, lot 19, 9th Land District (Deed Book Op. 327). In 1841 the system was again changed, and the clerk was given authority to pay out certain funds for the support of individuals. In 1850 there were 17 paupers, and $561.00 for support.

The Academies of Jones (found in another chapter) were : Clinton Academy, Fortville, Farmers (later called Planters), Union Hill, Prof. Dykes School at Plentitude, Flat Shoals, Blountsville. The Slade's Clinton Academy is best known. His school was known as "The Clinton Female Seminary." This

HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY

school besides being a success was in a way the forerunner of Wesleyan College in Macon. For in 1839 when the college was established, Professor Slade was called to Macon as a leading instructor and he was a moving spirit in the new college. He carried thirty of his students and two teachers from Clinton. It is said that he wrote the first diploma ever delivered to a woman.

This county was famous for the scene of the Bunkley trial (1837). Jesse Bunkley, a profligate young man of large prop- erty, left Jones and went no one knew where and for years was not heard from. At last people believed that he was dead and his estate was divided among his relatives. Long after this division was made, a man who bore a striking resemblance to him appeared and declared that he was Jesse Bunkley. Many who had known Bunkley swore to their belief that he was not speaking falsely, and many refused to admit his claim. It was finally charged that the alleged Bunkley was a man named Bar- ber, and on the prosecution of Barber as a swindler and imposter the case was brought before a jury. It was proven to its satis- faction that he was Elisha Barber, an imposter, and he was sent to the state prison; but many clung to the belief that he was Jesse Bunkley, whose only crime was that he sought to recover property in the hands of others. (See Jesse Bunkley trial.)

The construction of railways to Savannah, Athens, and Au- gusta, all of which pass through Jones, has given the county good railroad facilities, and a number of stations, Griswoldville, James, Haddock, Gray, Round Oak, Bradley, Wayside and Juliette.

Jones County was settled by many Revolutionary Soldiers of which a list is in this book. Some of the very early ones to settle here were: John Lamar Esq. whose record in the war was a brilliant one. There was another Rev. Soldier named Oliver H. Morton who came from North Carolina to Jones County in 1807 and settled. He was a native of Boston. During the strug- gle for independence he and his father Silas both fought for the colonies. He was carried a prisoner to England and a record states that he followed the sea for 28 years. John Lowe and Alexander Dunn were both patriots of the Revolution and were early settlers of Jones County. James Comer, a Rev. Soldier

HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY

came here and settled and lived to be 108 years old. His grave is substantially marked, near Clinton.

Jacob Martin was an eminent lawyer and an early settler who served in the House and Senate of Georgia.

Gen. David E. Blackshear was an early settler and died at Clinton but was buried in Laurens County.

Capt. H. B. Ridley, a political leader and prominent in public affairs lived in northwest Jones County.

Fort Hawkins was in Jones County, 1/2 mile east of the Oc- mulgee river, here also was Col. Benjamin Hawkins who lived in Jones for several years.

In 1811 the Senators from Jones were: William Jones and Thomas Blount, the Representatives were John Bayne and Wil- kins Jackson.

Hugh M. Comer the railroad Magnate of Savannah was a native of Jones County.

U. S. Senator, Alfred Iverson, for many years lived in Clin- ton, and here his son Alfred Iverson, Jr. was born. Both father and son became Brigadier Generals in the Confederate Army.

Isaac and Joseph Winship, Reuben Roberts, and Samuel Bar- ron came in the first few years. Robert Vines Hardeman came from Lexington to Clinton as a young man. He was an able lawyer and jurist. He died in the prime of life in 1871. His son, a distinguished man, Col. Isaac Hardeman was born at Clinton, but later moved to Macon.

One of the most noted Chief Executives of Georgia, Peter Northern was born and reared in Jones County. William S. C. Reid was a brilliant lawyer who lived at Clinton, acquired in- temperate habits and died at thirty-seven in Monroe County.

Veteran of the Revolution, Benjamin Reynolds, died in Jones County at the age of seventy-three. A native of Caroline Co., Va., then of South Carolina and later of Jones County.

James Smith is listed in Jones County in 1811 and was a prom- inent lawyer and trustee of the Clinton Female Seminary. He moved to Macon about 1840 and at death had an estate valued at more than $100,000. He was a lawyer in the famous Jesse Bunkley case in 1837.

We would do well to cultivate an awareness and appreciation

HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY

of all that is indigenous and idiomatic to this heart of Georgia which is Jones County so that our sense of culture will come out of a desire to make our own contribution richer and finer for our county, state and nation. To quote Woodrow Wilson in "The New Freedom": "When I look back upon the processes of history, when I survey the genesis of America, I see this written over every page: that the genius which springs up from the ranks of unknown men is the genius which renews the youth and energy of a people. Everything I know about history, every bit of experience and observation that has contributed to my thought has confirmed me in the conviction that the real wisdom of human life is compounded out of the experiences of ordinary men. The utility, the vitality, the fruitage of life does not come from the top to the bottom; it comes like the natural growth of a great tree, from the soil, up through the trunk into the branches, to the foliage and fruit. - - - A nation is great, and only as great, as her rank and file."

CHAPTER IV. SETTLERS

Some pioneers came into upper Georgia long before the Rev- olution ; some came up the rivers from the coast after Savannah was founded, others drifted down from the Carolinas and Vir- ginia. Although the country was then owned by the Indians, they seemed to have tolerated the presence of these white men. In favorable locations along the rivers, they cultivated patches of land. They grew tobacco in order to trade it for rice and weapons. Some of these whites traded with the Indians for furs. There were probably over a thousand of these pioneers in the colony when Gov. Bullock secured a treaty with the Indians in 1773, for lands between the Savannah and Ogeechee rivers. As a rule these people were illiterate and some were Tories in 1776, but after the war, the Whigs punished these Tories so severely, that they moved on, to get away. Now a different class of people came into Georgia, from the older colonies, after the surrender

HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY

at Yorktown of Cornwallis and the British forces. These men were not pioneers, but settlers who brought their families and came with the determination to build homes and become citizens of the new state.

The motive of the pioneer was a desire for economic security, and to gain it, he placed himself in physical insecurity. He rarely lived long enough to enjoy the fruits of his labors. The pioneer was unsettled, restless, adventuresome, brave, improvident and lacking the home making instinct. He was usually a rover and not a settler.

The settlers built homes, churches and schools and set up an established government with courts and officials. This is a picture of a civilization unique in the annals of history, and one out of line with the melting pot of the industrial states to the north, for there was little or no immigration from European countries just at this time in the South.

As soon as the act of the legislature authorizing the boun- daries of Jones County was passed on December 10, 1807, there was a rush of settlers. As Jones was cut out of the county of Baldwin, there were already many families living in the eastern part, while Indians were still in the western part of the new county. These first settlers came on horseback with scant pro- visions, a long-barrelled flint-lock rifle for protection and for the killing of food. There were also outlaws and Indians to watch for. He fed his horse on the wild oats and clovers which grew abundantly.

The settlers' first thought was to find a spot convenient to a trail and water, and there build his log cabin. This cabin was usually one large room with either a dirt floor or one of hand-hewn puncheons, with a mud and stick chimney or field rock. The logs were dove-tailed together and the cracks were chincked with mud. It was not until later that boards were used for ceilings and floors. The log house was sometimes enlarged by adding rooms or a second story. Another type of log building was the blockhouse, a two-story square structure with a stone foundation. Some cabins had an open space between two rooms called a dogtrot or breezeway.

After the settler had built the simple cabin, the fields were

HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY

cleared. The Indians had burned the small shrubs, so the huge pines and oaks were felled. Some trees were cut around and they had logrollings to get the logs out of the way to plant fields. Rail fences were built to mark boundary lines and to fence in cattle. Some of these fences of hickory lasted more than fifty years.

These cabins were provided with heavy furniture, much of it homemade. There were feather beds, pewter plates, spinning wheels and simple kitchen utensils for cooking over the open hearth and occasionally a few books.

The settlers, once located, found deer, rabbits, squirrels, tur- key, and quail for food. The streams were full of fish and there were wild fruits. He planted patches for cotton and corn and grew sheep for wool. The wife with her spinning wheel and clumsy loom made the clothes for the family. Luxuries were unheard of, there was no tea, coffee or sugar. There were no doctors for most people in those early days, and they had to rely on home remedies such as roots and herbs for relief. There were no teachers or schools and until enough people had come in to set up some kind of law and order it was every man for himself, with his trusty rifle. This settler was fortunate indeed if he had a good wife for there were not enough women to go around. So he kept his gun clean and his wife protected because these were his priceless possessions. The couple was lucky if half their children survived infancy.

Amusements of the early period of the county were: gander pulling, wrestling, shooting matches, chicken fighting, horse racing and country dances. Each man owned a rifle with a long barrel, a delicate trigger and an accurate sight and could shoot it expertly, as he was accustomed to shooting from boyhood. The crowd met at the crossroads store to shoot for a beef. They would pay 25 cents each as a fair share of the worth of the beef and a target was set up. The best shot won the beef. There was a quarter- mile track set out for racing, and usually the bets were a quart of whiskey or peach brandy. Horse trading was a fine art and some men prided themselves on being able to palm off a poor plug on an unsuspecting victim.

"To distill corn whiskey and peach brandy was accepted in

HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY

the best of families and most people drank, many to excess, and nearly all moderately. These settlers feared no peril and shrank from no hardship, as most of them had been brought up on the frontiers of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, and were accustomed to fighting for their very lives. They had never known restraint and were as free as a deer on the hills. They were considerate of women, made good fathers, as a rule, and good husbands."

(White's Collections of Georgia. )

The rudeness of those first years was gradually replaced by more comforts and even a few luxuries. The cabins were re- placed by better homes and living was simple.

Jones County being a frontier county for several years, was in danger of Indian attack. The first church services were held in homes until a church was built. The people coming in from Virginia and the Carolinas brought along some culture and wealth into the wilds of this Indian country, and eventually bought up large acreage of lands.

The slave ships owned in Boston and New England emptied their cargoes on the wharves at Savannah with fearful frequen- cy. Most of these new slaves were bought by the rice planters on the coast but the slaves in Jones County came in from the Carolinas, Virginia and Maryland and were about four genera- tions removed from the savage African Negro. The slaves here were greatly improved by food, clothes, climate, and knowledge and were docile and intelligent.

Soon after the county of Jones was named, Justices of the Inferior court were named, Hugh M. Comer, William Jones, James Jackson, William Binion and John McKenzie. They were told to select some central place in the county for a county site to hold courts and to mark out the Militia Districts, to fix the date for a county election, to name the place for voting, and to advertise it. Inferior courts consisted of five Justices, serving for four years. The terms of this court were two in each year, with concurrent jurisdiction with the Superior court. They han- dled actions of debt when same did not exceed thirty dollars, trespassing, with supervisory power over bridges, ferries, roads and public buildings. It also had powers of the court of Ordinary

HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY

in all matters in relation to the estates of the deceased persons and in some instances they granted citizenship papers. They had jurisdiction in the care of the poor and in all actions other than those in which the titles to lands were involved. Justices' courts consisted of two Justices for each Militia District, elected by the people.

In frontier days the pine knots served for both heat and light, when placed in the crude fireplace. After working all day in the fields, it was not unusual for boys to lie in front of the fire at night and learn to read and write. Many of these very boys be- came leaders of our county and state.

The "logrollings," where the huge logs were cut and rolled into piles and often burned, were affairs where the neighbors pitched in to help. The land was cleared for more cotton. These logs later on were worth many fortunes. On these occasions feats of strength were a part of the program. The man who could pull his man down at the end of a hand stick under the great logs or could out-wrestle or out-run another was regarded as the best man in the settlement. He was greeted by shy ad- miring glances from the girls and usually got to ride home with the prettiest one, occasionally on the same horse.

Wrestling matches were common after the first few years of the new county. People stood around taking sides and edging them on, with no holds barred. They fought until one was de- feated. It was not unusual to get an ear yanked off, teeth knock- ed out or an eye gouged out.

More land was cleared and as the grain ripened, the husky settler and his son wielded the scythe : some tied bundles of the golden grain while others put up shocks with an extra bundle on top to keep out the rain until the threshers could come. This was a red letter day; the barefoot boy would run in breathless and announce in an excited voice that the "thrashers" were com- ing. There was a hurry and a bustle; everyone was getting ready for a busy day. The women had to work to feed the hungry men and often there were visitors to be fed as well. By dinner the hearty appetites were appeased by food that would "stick to the ribs." After a short rest period everyone was out and after the job of threshing. By night the laborious day was ended. The

HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY

tired men ate a hearty supper followed by a well-earned sleep.

There was the fodder pulling, the hay cutting with scythes, the making of roads and filling up the holes in the old ones by hand. In autumn the cotton picking was done.

These days are gone with their toil and labor, and the pleas- ures of that time, but they will live on in the memories of the people of the South.

The following letter was written by an early settler of Jones County in 1822, and is now in my possession. Joseph White evidently thought that Jones County was a good place to live and wanted his sisters and brothers to come here, too. Following this letter is a story of the trip these settlers took from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and other states.

Clinton, Georgia June 6, 1822.

Dear Brother and Sister,

It is a long time since I had the pleasure of seeing any of your handwriting. I have heard from you once in a while by our nephew, son of our brother Oliver. I received a letter from him. He is in New Orleans, but did not like the place, he said that his time there would be out the last of May, then he would come to Georgia.

I want to hear from you, I want you to write me word what you are doing. I hear that Lucy has been married twice and don't live with her last husband. The reason I can't find out. I want you to let me know the reason, be it good or bad. Please let me know the worst of it.

I want you to come to Georgia to live. It is a fine part of the world to live in. It won't take you all of your time to get wood and feed your cattle. There is rich land enough to be had on good terms, if you will come. I will find you land enough to tend as long as you will tend it. I will find you plenty to eat for one year. My wife says come, the children say come, and God says come out from among them.

You can make cotton a plenty, flax grows well, sheep wool is cheap; and it's a fine place for peaches and apples and all kinds of garden truck grows well. This part of the world is not

HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY

more sickly than where you live. It is believed by many that if any comes to the southward they will die. The reason is because when they come, they say the water is so bad, and for fear the water should make them sick, they take too ardent spirits and the dissipation kills them. Any person that believes in God dare not say that He will punish anybody for going to any part of the world to get a comfortable living. I want you to write as soon as you get this and say you will come this fall. If you come by water to Savannah, I will find some way to get you up the country. But if you don't like to come by water, get you a wagon and two horses, you can come in six or seven weeks. Start the first of September, it will be a fine time for man and horses. Take your bed and clothes, a small pot, a teapot, kettle and coffee pot, your wagon will sell for more here than it cost you there, so that you will get the use of it for naught. If that part was as much better to live in, than this is better than that, I would take my bundle on my back and walk there.

As I can't be with you, may God be with you is the prayer of your brother.

Joseph White Jones County, Ga., Clinton, June 6, 1822.

The Journey

On the road coming down from Virginia to Georgia we might see a caravan of twelve or more covered wagons drawn by four to six mules or oxen. Numerous boys and men, white and black on horses and on foot accompanied this caravan. They were dressed in buckskin breeches, coonskin caps, leather jackets, and home-made boots. The men and older boys each carried a gun on his shoulder, many of them had hunting knives in their belts, and a few carried the crude single-shot pistols with flint locks which were the best weapons to be had at that time.

In the wagons were the furniture, household equipment, and supplies for food for the eight or ten families who made up the party, each family having a wagon to itself in which rode the women and children. One wagon had hogs, chickens, and geese as progenitors of a well-stocked barnyard down in Jones

HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY

County. Another wagon was filled with food for the animals, with seed corn, oats, wheat, rye and other seed for next year's crop.

The last wagons were followed by livestock driven by Ne- groes. These cattle were necessary for milk and food, mutton and beef for subsistence of the travelers.

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History of Jones County, Georgia, for one hundred years, specifically 1807-1907, Part 4

Author: Williams, Carolyn White, 1898- Publication date: 1957 Publisher: Macon, Ga., J.W. Burke Co. Number of Pages: 1142

Author: Williams, Carolyn White, 1898-
Publication date: 1957
Publisher: Macon, Ga., J.W. Burke Co.
Number of Pages: 1142