USA > Georgia > Jones County > History of Jones County, Georgia, for one hundred years, specifically 1807-1907 > Part 45
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COURAGE AND PATRIOTISM OF OUR ANCESTORS By S. H. Griswold
Going back to war times, and when Sherman made his raid on Macon, news of his approach was carried from neighborhood to neighborhood by mounted citizens and the cry of "the Yan- kees are coming," startled the peaceful inhabitants, frightened the women and children, and worried the men. The news had reached the Fitzpatrick neighborhood in Twiggs County, below Griswoldville. A courier from Macon came, and the men at this community formed a company to go to Griswoldville and help defend it and Macon. They were elderly men and planters with many slaves, some were, Tom Jones, Methtin, Nelson, Chappell, Epps, Burkett, Nash and others. They were armed with shot guns with a very few old long-barrelled rifles. Some of these guns were good and some bad. They carried powder in gourds strung over their shoulders, buck shot and bullets in a bag, with paper for wadding and caps for tubes. Some had taken the joint of a reed, just the size of the bore of their gun and had melted small shot and what lead they could find, even melting the pen- dulum of their clocks, and had poured it into these reed joints, and made a round lead which they cut into half-inch lengths,
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rolled these under a heavy plank, made a bullet which when rammend down in a shot gun would carry well, penetrating an inch plank from a long distance.
Thus armed and equipped with a haversack of provisions and a quilt rolled and tied hanging over their shoulders like a collar, mounted their horses midst the weeping of their families, put out to find the raiders and fight them from their homes. On the way to Griswoldville they passed a few of Wheeler's Cavalry who laughed at the "Quilt Brigade" but congratulated them on their patriotism and hailed them with delight. Mr. Sam Gris- wold had them to sleep at his house, did all he could for their comfort and appreciated them, coming to help defend his place.
The Yankees did not come that night, as they found resistance at Macon and were too hard pressed to get there, although Griswold was turning out ammunition and guns for the Con- federacy. After it was ascertained that Sherman had fallen back, some of these men followed them to Sunshine Church where Stoneman was defeated and captured.
This is a good illustration of the courage of these men during the war. These were old men with only lads who had done the best with what they had, and went voluntarily to the aid of their neighbors, to fight if needs be.
Griswoldville and the railroad were safe this time but not long, another came a few months later and destroyed both. You have an account of the Battle of Griswoldville or the Duncan Place. Before the real battle, there were skirmishes between a few of Wheeler's Cavalry and a contingent of Yankee Cavalry. When the skirmish began a Yankee had gone in Griswold's house and ordered Mrs. Griswold and daughter Mrs. Stubbs to go down into the basement. A Confederate soldier in the back yard was shot down from a Yankee on the railroad embankment. A Yankee came down and ordered Mrs. Griswold to find bandages for the wounded, which she did. A Capt. of Wheeler's Cavalry from Texas was killed and buried there, I don't think he was ever moved. The Yankees had set fire to the places all around and they were beyond help, but as fast as they set fire to the buildings, a Negro slave would put it out, his name was Owen Bostic, a trusted negro man whose wife was a maid in the home.
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They cursed and threatened him and called him a "rebel negro" but he stood his ground and kept the fires put out. He was a fine carpenter and built many homes for the whites, also Pitts Chapel at the Cross Roads. He voted and stood with the whites at re- construction and was respected by all.
When the Yankees came into the village, Col. E. C. Grier and Capt. R. W. Bonner were in the Griswold house they escaped down the road toward Gordon on their horses to the old Paul Mill Pond on Big Sandy Creek. There they stopped behind some trees, along came two Yankee Cavalrymen riding carelessly along. Col. Grier jumped in front of them with a cocked re- volver and demanded they surrender, they were so surprised, they wheeled their horses to the right, put the spurs to them, ran into the swamp, muck, mud, and jumped off their horses and escaped but the horses could not be gotten out and died there. After the skirmish the Yankees left and Gen. Wheeler came, he made his headquarters in the Griswold's house. The little grand- son Henry Bonner listened to the talk of the staff, walked up to Gen. Wheeler and said, "Mister ain't you a third Lieutenant" The Gen. smiled and said "Yes." "I thought so," said Henry. Really Gen. Wheeler was small and young looking so Henry reasoned he must be just that. Uncle Henry Roberts lived 3 miles away made very fine peach brandy, and grape brandy. When Sherman came through, they wanted his brandy, but they got only a small quantity which he left out on purpose, for he had buried 4 barrels of his best brandy in a new ground and had burned trash on top of it. The Yankees searched and search- ed plowing the ground with their ramrods and bayonets in the hope of finding it, but the old man was too cunning for them. He got plenty of money for that brandy after the war.
INCIDENTS OF WAR TIMES IN JONES COUNTY By S. H. Griswold-1908
During the Civil War, Perry Finney and his family lived in Clinton, and a Negro woman whom had cooked for them some time, put poison in their food and the whole family was very sick. Fortunately they all recovered except one child who died. The Negro was arrested, tried and sentenced to be hung. She
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was in the Macon jail, when Wilson's army came at the close of the war. The jail at Clinton had been burned by Sherman, and only the four rock walls were standing.
Sheriff Smith brought her to Clinton for the hanging and stationed guards all around the walls to keep the curiosity seek- ers out. As the trap was sprung, a negro man who had climbed up in a high pine tree over the enclosure, fell out of the tree to the ground and there was considerable excitement.
F. S. Johnson, Sr. was the Confederates' agent at Clinton for collecting tithes for Jones County. The Government had passed a tax requiring one-tenth of all provisions raised for the support of the armies. This tenth was brought by the agents to the court- houses and stored by them until sent to the proper authorities. These agents were under bond and responsible for all that they received. After the surrender of the armies, Mr. Johnson had a lot of provisions stored at Clinton. Rumors reached him that the soldiers' hungry wives in the county would make a raid on these provsions and take them, in fact a demand had been made for them and he refused. He sent to General Wilson of the North to Macon to take charge of them, which he did. There was some feeling at Clinton against Johnson for this action that he took, but as sober thoughts returned, they acknowledged that he was right. He was custodian of these supplies and under bond and he was correct in believing that he was entirely responsible. and it was his duty to protect his bondsmen.
He would would like to have had the hungry families to use these supplies, but had no right to do so. Other counties had the same problem.
Federal soldiers came to Clinton to protect these stores and there were several encounters, as one pushed Bob Kingman and he retaliated, he then tried to shoot Bob but another soldier told him to let the Reb alone, after considerable give and take, the Federals left and the officer in charge told Bob that he admired his bravery but not to push them too far. This was the first of many Yankee squads to be stationed in Clinton.
There were troublesome times after that, and a Ku Klux Klan was organized, in which the Negroes were in mortal fear. John Speer lived at the old Hart place. At a settin' up one night
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at the old Hitch place they heard that the KKK's were coming, however it was really a bunch celebrating the wedding of the Hart girl and one of John King's boys, so the Negroes deserted the corpse and ran away, some falling into the gully back of Morgan's.
I recollect that Sam Morgan had a Remington pistol and dropped it in Johnson's store and it discharged almost striking Col. Hamilton. Col. Hamilton said, "I have been through the war and had many close shaves and here you are so d - - - care- less that you almost killed me." He made Morgan cringe with his sarcasism, of which he was an expert.
GENERAL JOHN B. GORDON By S. H. Griswold
General John B. Gordon was a great man ,one of magnetic personality ,a good soldier and leader. I remember him coming to Clinton to make a speech for Gen. Colquitt's election for Governor. He was met at James station by Gus Bragg, with a fine buggy and two spanking black horses. The county, as well as Gus, was proud of that turnout he had. It was a sight to re- member when Gus came riding into Clinton with those two high- stepping horses and the shining black buggy and General Gor- don beside him. They went directly to Judge Johnson's home, then he was escorted to the courthouse by Judge Johnson, Col. A. S. Hamilton, and others where the bunting and stars and stripes waved. A large crowd had assembled.
A state convention had been held of the democrats in Atlanta to nominate a candidate for governor. At that time a rule re- quired two-thirds of the votes to nominate, Gen. Colquitt had a majority in the convention but could not get the necessary two- thirds, so no nomination was made, but his friends by a ma- jority vote, passed a resolution recommending him as the can- didate. The opposition contended that this was not a nomina- tion and that the party wasn't bound by it, and Hon. Thos. Nor- wood of Savannah was announced as candidate against him. The campaign was hot and General Gordon took the stump in behalf of his friend Colquitt.
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Jones County was in favor of Norwood, so when Gordon spoke in Eatonton, they liked him so much they made a date for Jones County.
In the courthouse at Clinton, Gordon met many citizens and old soldiers, among them Bill Morris with only one leg and using crutches, he hugged Bill and asked, "Where did you lose your leg"? God bless you my boy. I honor you for what you did for your south." This brought down the house and after his eloquent appeal for Colquitt, Jones went for him.
General Robert Lee had been quoted as saying, that Gen. John B. Gordon from Georgia was an able leader and a gallant soldier. He recalled his leadership on May 12, at Spottsylvania and how he helped put Howard's Corps to flight at Chancellors- ville by going around Hook's flank. Men who fought with Gor- don loved him. Men felt that President Davis made a great mistake when he failed to recognize Gordon's and Gen. Forrest's greatness before it was too late. Had Gordon been in Early's place, there would have been but one day at Gettysburg, and that a victory for the Confederates. Four times did Early send orders to Gordon to stop driving the enemy before he would stop, and then only because he was told that Lee did not wish to bring on a general engagement. He saw that Cemetery Ridge and Round Tops were the keys to that situation and was push- ing the enemy, with the intention of occupying these points. At the Wilderness he plead with Early all day, for permission to attack Burnside's flank which was in the air. Late in the after- noon he got to Lee and obtained permission, the attack succeed- ed and Grant swung to Spottsylvania, where he again stood ready to bar the way. Gordon, Lee and Henry Grady did much to restore a better understanding between the North and the South after the war than anyone else. I followed Gordon through the war and kept up with him after the war and personally I think the General was great in war and great in peace and that he was a Georgian to be remembered.
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A VISIT TO CLINTON By S. H. Griswold
A short time ago, I made a short visit to Clinton, the place where I lived in my early childhood and in my young manhood days. How quiet and sad it appeared to me, and I could scarcely realize that this was the place, that once the home of a refine and elegant people, (those who still live there are chips off the old block), whose homes were elegant in that day where things looked alive, where the men sat in the shade under the mulber- ries and played backgammon and checkers; where lawyers, doc- tors, merchant and clerks were up and doing; where the silver mounted carriages of Steven and Clower with its polished and shining body sitting high above its wheels on great curved leather springs, with its seat on top for the driver to his cutaway coat and brass buttons and its place outside in the rear where the black in his livery stood hanging on by straps, with its folding steps which had to let down for entering. Four proud horses were hitched to it, harnesses in silver mounted harness, used to travel its streets as well as similar vehicles of many wealthy families, minus the two lead horses and footman, as they bore the ladies of the families when shopping, calling or to worship, and the belles and beaux to the entertainments and balls-the latter usually given in the dining room of the two hotels, where they met and danced to the tune of old Jim Weather's fiddle. The sporting men had their places in the back room of the gro- ceries, and the click of the poker chips could be heard with the call of the farrar dealer; where the rowdy and the bully raised cain; where the practical joker got in his work.
Was this indeed the same Clinton? One of the old prominent land marks of Clinton's life was the Baptist church, of which there is not a sign or trace left. There are not many now living who knew the church, when it had a congregation and was in good repair. It was back in the 50's when this was the case, and long before it was torn down, it stood a quiet and desolate, grad- ually going to decay unoccupied for several years. It stood on the right side of the road to Macon, some 300 yards above where Judge Johnson now lives, and the road or street made a gradual
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bend where it stood, leaving its side to it, while its front faced the street below the bend, and looking up from downtown it seemed to stand almost in the middle of the street. It was of good dimensions with a front veranda supported by columns, a high steeple overhead containing a bell. The windows were large and wide with outside blinds to them and diamond-shaped at their tops. It was nicely finished inside. Had two doors, and aisles leading from each of these down to an altar, which sur- rounded the pulpit. The pulpit was a great high box-shaped affair. On each side of these aisles and next to the walls were rows of short benches and in the center between the aisles were long benches, divided in the center by petitions. The ladies sat on one side of the church and the men on the other. The benches or pews were nicely made and were very comfortable. A gallery which was reached by steps from the front veranda extended over the front part of the church and was for the use of the negro slaves. It was a nice and good appearing building and up-to-date at its time. Mrs. R. V. Hardeman was its most faith- ful member, and by her energy and liberality kept it going for a long while. The Reverend Jessie Campbell, who was one of the leading pastors of Georgia, was its pastor for a long while, and Jesse Mercer, the great light of the Baptist church, has deliv- ered some able sermons in it. It was torn down several years ago and a new crop of cotton and corn is now growing where it once stood and there is nothing left to mark its sight.
The other old church (the Methodist) still stands, although it has been cut down and remodeled until it does not resemble itself. The cemetery is there and natural as ever, with the ex- ception of the decay and touch of time. The wooden pailing enclosing most of the graves have rotted and fallen away, and a wilderness of bushes and briars have grown up above the graves and even great trees have grown up in some of the en- closures, and their roots and branches have even prized apart the large cemented rocks which composed the walls of some of these enclosures. Here and there is an iron fence, and even they are not spared by the hand of time and decay. In several places their panels lie rusted and broken, and occasionally a headstone or monument is found broken or fallen to the ground. Here
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under all this wilderness of growth and the large magnificent forest trees, which have been here from the beginning of time lie the bodies of some of the best citizens of Georgia-the men and women, who in their time made of Clinton and Jones Coun- ty a refined and prosperous community. Robt. Vines Hardeman, who was an able and honorable lawyer, and who had been Judge of the Ocmulgee circuit, together with his wife, who was a lead- ing woman in the Baptist churches of Georgia and a lady in every respect, are buried here. Their graves have been neglected but are protected by an iron fence. Dr. Asbury Kingman, the Chesterfield of Jones County, with his wife, are, I think, buried in this Hardeman lot. Captain Jack Pitts, his wife and children are in the walls of the Pitts lot, and all show neglest. Immense trees have grown up among them and now shade their tomb- stones. James M. Gray is buried in a small lot all to himself, with a good iron fence around his grave. It too has been ne- glected and briars and bushes have grown above his monument. Here in Jones County's most prominent man in his time. One who so loved it and his people as to leave most of his estate as a fund to educate the poor boys within it, and made it possible for many of them to prepare themselves for usefulness in life lies in utter neglect. It would be a fitting tribute to his memory and an expression of gratitude and appreciation upon the part of some of the beneficiary of his bounty if they would have his grave cleaned, and deposite a few fresh flowers thereon.
Samuel Griswold, his wife, Giles Griswold, his wife and son Will, were buried in a lot with part of a fence around it, and their graves are neglected, the briars and bushes have grown above the monuments and the ground is covered with vines. F. S. Johnson, his wife and his sons, Sam, Cater, Hortis, Willie, Eliah and Dorsey are in a lot enclosed by an iron fence, and they too are neglected. Daniel Newman Smith, his wife and infant chil- dren are nearby in neglected graves, broken fence and head- stones covered with weeds and briars. Austin Stubbs and wife are also here in neglected graves. Peter L. Glover, Sr. his wife and his three old bachelor sons, Stephen, Green and Peter Lee, Jr. together with his grandson, Col. A. S. Hamilton, are buried in the Glower lot, which is enclosed by a massive granite wall.
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Large bushes, briars and weeds fill this enclosure. Dr. Horatio Bowen, the most popular physician of his day, together with his wife and son, Dr.Abb Bowen, are buried in their lot, and bushes and briars cover their graves. Charlie McCarthy, who was so long clerk of Jones Superior Court, lies in a grave walled in by solid granite blocks, which is filled by a growth of large bushes. Elbert Hutching is here in a neglected grave. Dr. Jas. F. Barron is nearby in a lot that has some care and attention. Wm. G. Morgan with his wife, his son, William, and his son-in-law, Perry Finney, and Wiley Holsenbeck are in the Morgan lot, which is also well kept. Roland T. Ross is in his lot, and R. W. Bonner, his first wife and son, Giles in theirs. These two lots are in good shape.
Near the church is a grave between four fanite posts con- nected by iron rods or bars in which sleeps Wesley P. Arnold, one of the best men Georgia ever produced, and one of the lead- ing ministers during a long life in the Georgia conference of the M. E. Church south. He died while stationed on the Clinton circuit, and was buried near the door of the church which he loved. He was well beloved by our people, and the writer has a special place for him in his heart, as it was he who united him and his wife into the holy bands of wedlock, in Nov. 1866. Joseph Chiles ,one of the county's most progressive and intelli- gent planters with his wife is in this cemetery, and their graves are also in a neglected state. Capt. Robert H. Barron and his wives, Ellen and Lula, are near the church and their graves are enclosed in a neat iron fence. Major Wiley Pope and his wife are also here in graves that show decay and neglect. Maj. Pope for a long while kept the hotel in Clinton, and was a well known citizen.
Some of the older graves are as follows: Cullen Murchison died June 30, 1823 ; Eliza Bettie Bray died Dec. 10, 1825 ; Jno. M. Davis died Sept. 17, 1822; Henry H. Sowers, native of Greenville, Mass., died in 1822; Peter Pease, native of Enfield, Conn., died June 16, 1827.
The following are in the old cemetery on the Hillsboro road nearly opposite where Mrs. Ross lives; W. D. Bunkley died Sept. 13, 1812; Jas. Billingslea 1829, Amanda Sims 1826, Ab-
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ner Slatter 1829, Eliza H. Justice 1828, Jenkins D. Weather 1829, J. A. Billingslea 1859, this was Mr. Gus Billingslea, a young man well known in Clinton and well liked. Jno. T. Bar- row died in 1856, he was teaching school in Clinton at the time of his death, and was a man much respected and admired by the community. I think he lived in Morgan County somewhere near Madison. I think he died either at Mrs. Lowther's or Madam Parishes, and was buried in their lot. Their burying place was the old cemetery and the most of the above were their people. I think Capt. and Madam Parish, and Samuel Lowther are also in this lot, but I am not certain as there is no headstones that mark their graves. The two or three lots in this old place are surrounded by granite walls and great scrub cedars sending out a wilderness of branches tobether with briars, weeds and vines, and but fo rthe solid walls of heavy granite they would have been obliterated from the face of the earth.
Many old graves in both cemeteries are unmarked and are utterly obliterated so far as any outward signs or marks are con- cerned. The list I have given to show a few of the first that were buried shows that in the early 20's the cemetery back of the church was used, and as far back as 1812 the old cemetery was used. Among those recently buried here are Henry S. Greaves and his good wife. They were worthy and well beloved citizens of the old village who had lived a long while in its pre- cincts, and who did good in their day and loved the old town with an abiding and loyal affection. Dr. Geo. Pursley and his good wife were also long residents of the old town and well be- loved by their neighbors.
There is no one now living that can tell of all those who were in the humbler walks of life and who are buried here with no monuments to mark their graves. Zackariah Thigpen, his good wife and his brilliant son, Gilbert, are somewhere in this cem- etery, I don't know where. They were long and honored citizens of the town. I don't wish to be understood as criticizing anyone when I mention the condition of the graves in the cemetery. I set out to record what facts I found in remembrances of old land marks and to give them. I don't wish to wound any one's feelings.
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THE PAST AND THE PRESENT By S. H. Griswold - 1909 - Jones Co. News
How altered the country in Jones around Gray and up the railroad toward Hillsboro as to what they were before the war. There were fields of cotton, corn, fruit trees, green gardens and flowers, snow white houses. As I passed here on the train a few years ago it was the loveliest spot in Georgia, there were fine milk cows, fat sleek mules, fine hogs and everything was so pros- perous. Leaving Gray, Dr. Bowen owned the land to the public road and on to Briar Lane. Some of this land was cultivated, some was in fine pines, oaks, hickory. On the right hand going up was a large acreage of original woods known as the May woods. Calamus grew in the marshy places and was used for medicinal purposes and I think Dr. Bowen had it planted for his use, before the war or the former owners, May's had planted it.
Take the place where John Winters, Allen Wheeler and part of the Glawson family now owns, it was all Dr. Bowen's a few years ago and in original pine timber. I have hunted squirrels, wild turkeys and quail through these woods where they were very abundant. The woods below Allen Wheeler's and next to the Glawson's was known as the Smith woods and was good hunting grounds. Judge Johnson said before he could pull his trigger so many squirrels appeared that he could never decide which to shoot.
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