USA > Georgia > Tift County > History of Tift County > Part 17
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The Woman's Club has thirty-six members. They helped in remodeling the ball shell. They sponsor the Youth's Canteen which meets once a week.
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The P .- T. A. is a very active organization, which has done mnuch for the school, especially for the lunch room.
Omega is said to have more paved streets to its size than any town in the United States.
(Some information used taken from article written by Louise Fletcher, granddaughter of the late G. W. Ridley.)
ABOUT TY TY
(by Mrs. Maude D. Thompson)
There is nothing unusual about Ty Ty, except its name, which one traveling man said was a town spelled with four letters-two capitals and no vowels. The story of the name is :
When the B. & W. railroad was being built in 1870 and trains began to stop at a sawmill sidetrack, in 1872, a small town was built, consisting of log houses, near a creek called "Ti Ti Creek" (later called "Ty Ty Creek"). The creek had been named for a small evergreen shrub with a white tassel-like flower, which grows profusely on this creek. A name for the town was the subject of much discussion at that time.
1A great many people sold hand-hewn cross-ties of pure heart pine to the railroads. So many accumulated that it was called a tie-town, just "ties and ties" all around. When the storekeeper "Daddy Jelks" wrote the post office department for a post office here, he suggested the name "Ty Ty." His spelling was a personal affair, and he liked the looks of big shaded capital letters. The name or spelling has not been changed. "Daddy Jelks" had no children. He was a very public spirited man and wanted a good town and worked for its good. Ty Ty is his only memorial.
2The first settlers came from North Carolina and Virginia. Their first enterprise was raising cows on an open range. The timber, then large, tall pines, was some of the best for lumber making, but the first homes were log houses, with "stick-and-dirt" chimneys. The houses were far apart, the markets and even the post office was some distance from home, and the mode of travel was "on horse back," in a horse cart, or an ox cart. When the men went to market they usually went in groups and "camped out," sleeping in the open at night. The trips from Ty Ty to Albany required two days.
3The names of the first settlers were Gibbs, Willis, Warren, Hannan, Sumner, Branch, and many others whose descendants remain in the county.
The little town grew rapidly, with a turpentine still, owned and oper- ated by Mr. W. E. Williams and Mr. George Warren, and a large saw-
1. As told by W. A. Nipper
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mill operated by a Mr. Waters. A great many transient people came just to make money and move on. Small stores sprung up rapidly, and they all sold whiskey, by the drink or any way the buyer wanted it. So, when Saturday and payday came times were exciting with fights and sometimes a murder. Women did not venture down town on the street on Saturday. There were always some good people who wanted a peaceful, law-abiding town, and worked to make that. They began getting a good school. The first school was a three-months school in 1872, and was taught in a log house near where Dr. Pickett's residence now stands. Mrs. Mary Boze- man, of Albany, attended the school. The next year in the middle of the term a frame building, with a "stick-and-dirt" chimney and puncheon seats, was finished. It stood where Mr. E. C. Parks' house now stands.
At this school house preachers began to come and hold meetings. All denominations were welcomed. At this school house the Methodist Church was organized.
*Just one mile east there was another town called "Hillsdale." There, Mr. Joel T. Graves was instrumental in organizing the Presbyterian Church and a Sunday School. In these days people began to talk of local option and prohibition of the liquor trade. A number of people began to canvass this district, which was then in Worth County, in the interest of closing the bar-rooms. Dr. J. H. Pickett practiced medicine all over this section, then he talked and plead with people he saw to let's try a dry town. Prohibition carried in 1883, to the utter surprise of many indif- ferent people.
The town behaved better and built rapidly, soon having three churches and a good school. After the town outgrew the one-room school building a neat school building was built just in front of where the cemetery is. It was called "Mayflower." Then, in 1905, the citizens built a concrete block building, by public subscription, on the present school lot. This building is still being used for a lunchroom and canning plant. The blocks of the upper story were removed recently, and used to make a school house for our colored children.
In 1931 a new, modern school building was put up with money obtained from bonds. Mr. W. E. Williams, father of Mrs. F. B. Pickett, contribut- ed to the building of four school houses in Ty Ty.
When Tifton grew large enough to want to be the county seat of a county and a new county was to be made, some of the most influential peo- ple wanted to be in the new county and even made trips to speak before the legislature, asking to be included in Tift County. That is why Ty Ty district is a jagged line into Worth County. We are still glad we are a part of Tift County.
2. As told by Mrs. Mary Bozeman.
3. As told to me by Mrs. Mary Bozeman.
4. As told to me by Miss E. R. Sutton.
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Ty Ty is only half as large as it was in 1920. The cotton warehouses all closed when the bank failed in 1926. The turpentine still closed, the gum is carried to another town to be worked. We still have a sawmill and a great many good farms around.
The growing of vegetable plants to be shipped to northern markets is quite an industry. We have some industrious, progressive men who ship plants and gladiolus flowers and bulbs. Among these are M. H. Evans, C. A. Harrell, and E. A. Gibbs.
Two young men, the Sledge Brothers, began a small dairy business near here a few years ago. Now they have a large herd of dairy cows and furnish milk to a firm in Albany. The pecan is only a side industry, but amounts to considerable income each year. The staple crops are corn, peanuts, and tobacco. Very little cotton is grown.
We have a good modern gin, owned and operated by W. H. Vance; a grist mill, automobile repair shop, drug store, and six grocery stores.
Thus the town, begun long ago, is still a small town, with people who love you and are kind and neighborly when you live among them, and our citizens are as content as those in any town I know. Our colored citizens are well behaved, as a rule, and have good churches and schools. Some of our colored people have contributed a great deal to the upbuilding of their own race. G. J. Lane, a colored preacher, has a wonderful influence for good over his people, and often helps keep peace between his people and his white friends.
We are proud of our large oak trees for shade, our small clinic, our good school, our three churches, and some noble citizens.
Many forgotten people were loyal to their community, and were builders for good in the early days. The early families came from North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina and built homes among the pines, and raised cows on wiregrass.
Among the first who built homes in and near Ty Ty were the Williams family, the children of Ezekiel Williams and Flora McDermit Williams, who came from North Carolina, and settled near Sparks. Three of their sons came to Ty Ty; they were John Williams, William Williams, and Edwin J. Williams. They all contributed to the progress of the community.
The Gibbs family was another very large family reared a few miles of town. The sons who settled near here were Elder James S. Gibbs, who preached forty years at Hickory Springs. Allen Gibbs' son, H. Grady Gibbs, lives here. Johnny E. T. Gibbs has five sons living here-Silas Gibbs, James Ernest, Edgar A., Carl and Clayton.
Mr. T. A. Inman came from South Carolina, married Miss Elizabeth Murrow, and they were some of our people who sacrificed and labored to make life better. Mr. Inman gave the land that the school house is built on, giving the major part of his land. He was a wonderful school trustee.
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visiting the school every week and always a friend to the teachers.
The Ford brothers came from Oakfield, and were intelligent men and successful business men. They were Robert James and Iverson L. Ford. J. C. Ford, who lives here now, is a son of James Ford, and Mrs. Lola Knight is a daughter.
Green S. Nelson had many friends here, and he built houses and had a mercantile business here. James Nelson, of Tifton, is his son. Mrs. Mary Nelson Woodham, of Fitzgerald, is his daughter.
Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Parks came from South Carolina. They accumulat- ed property and built a nice home and a brick store building. They were generous and loyal to their church and their friends, and left a family of sons and daughters. One son, E. C. Parks, and his family, live here still.
Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Dell came here from Sumter County, when there were no bridges across the streams. They were among the charter members of the first church built here, the Methodist Church. Mr. Dell kept prayer meeting going for thirty years, often walking several miles to be present.
Mr. Chas. W. Graves was a loyal church member, a man above the average in intellect and integrity. He was the first Ordinary of Tift Coun- ty, the office he held until he died.
W. C. Thompson was a pioneer citizen of this section. He was an active church member, genial, honest, and true, always helping his neighbors and friends; never losing patience with their faults, always seeing good in every one.
W. S. Scott was a Christian gentleman, always at work, whistling as he went. Suffering reverses with courage.
W. H. Davis came here from the West. He had lived in a number of states. He loved young people, and could interest most people with stories and philosophy. He was a watchmaker with personality.
Some of our citizens in business now are :
Dr. F. B. Pickett, who came here soon after he was graduated, to begin practice with his uncle, Dr. J. H. Pickett, the grandfather of Mrs. O. N. Dowd. Dr. F. B. Pickett was reared in Webster County, and began prac- tice here in 1895. He married Miss Martha Williams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Williams, in 1897. Dr. and Mrs. Pickett know by sight the names of more people in this section than any one here. They have both been very active in progressive moves and church affairs, both being officials in the Methodist Church.
The late Dr. R. R. Pickett came from Sumner here, and practiced medi- cine with his brother. Dr. F. B. Pickett. Dr. R. R. was very interested in progressive farming too. He married Miss Susie Grubbs. They had one daughter, who is now Mrs. C. A. Harrell. Mrs. Harrell was graduated from Wesleyan, and taught for several years before her marriage. She is now
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president of the Woman's Society of Christian Service. Her love for folks is very generous. Mr. C. A. Harrell was reared in Quitman, Ga. He is genial, pleasant and most industrious. His skill in the plant growing and shipping means much to this section. He even tried to outdo Mrs. Harrell in generosity.
Mr. Marcus H. Evans settled down on his farm after having attended college. He married Miss Maxine Walea. Mr. Evans cultivates and har- vests many different crops. He delights in growing gladioluses. He succeeds wonderfully in growing and selling tomato, pepper, and cabbage plants.
Mr. W. F. Sikes and his brother, Wylie J. Sikes, are two of the most accommodating people. W. F. has been rural mail carrier for 39 years.
Mr. Edgar Allen Gibbs married Miss Charlotte Alexander, of Nash- ville, Ga. Mr. Edgar Gibbs, a son of J. E. T. Gibbs, has a large farming interest, and has shown his neighbors that cattle raising is still profitable. He takes pride in his beautiful herd of cows, but is more proud of his lovely daughter, Miss Charlotte Gibbs, a teacher in Tifton High School. She is a graduate of Huntington, Ala., College.
Mr. Ebenezer J. Cottle and his wife, the former Miss Hudie Knight, have succeeded wonderfully with lumber business and a big farming inter- est. Mr. Cottle is deacon in Baptist church. Mrs. Cottle teaches adult Sunday School class at the Methodist Church.
Mr. W. H. Swain, a genial merchant, has been in his business longer than any other general mercantile business here.
Samuel H. Lipps, reared near Albany, Ga., came to this section years ago and farmed near here. Now he and his wife, the former Miss Minnie Conger, are the friendly people uptown with their store and business and they find time to investigate the needs of people in trouble and help, too. They are proud of their sons and daughters. Four sons answered their country's call to service.
Mr. W. C. McCormic was reared in North Carolina, moved here from Lenox, and is engaged in naval stores business. Mrs. W. C. McCormic is a teacher of outstanding ability in our public school.
Mr. M. D. Vinson has made the Gulf gasoline station very popular with his pleasant manners and his efficient work.
Mr. C. A. Arnold, who married Miss Ada Adams, is always smiling and accommodating, and very courteous in his business.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Walker live on their own farm, have more good things to eat-produced on this farm-than any one near. Charlie is deacon in the Baptist Church. His wife, Lula Mae DeVane Walker, can smile at her friends and help them in patience always.
Miss Emma Rebecca Sutton, daughter of Green Sutton and Rebecca Welch Sutton, was born in Albany, Ga., in 1848. She was one of our most public spirited women. She went to New York as a newspaper reporter
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years ago, when women had few fields of labor open to them. She wrote and made many researches for her employer, Mrs. Hallet, who wrote books, but always loved the South and South Georgia, frequently using her talent of wit and wisdom defending and complimenting. She was very loyal to her church, the Episcopal Church. She was a member of St. Anne Church, at Tifton, when she died in 1931. She made her home with her sister, Mrs. Francis Owens, after her parents died. In her last years she lived alone in her cottage on a small plot of land She had two nieces in Waycross : Mrs. R. H. Redding, and Mrs. Mary Watt. She was head of the Red Cross Chapter, at Ty Ty, when we had a chapter here, and was very loyal to it when it was moved to Tifton.
To her family she was always loyal. Though she suffered injustices often, seldom discussed it and never lost confidence in plain people and never thought an honest, Godly, person common.
CHAPTER XVII TIFTON AND TIFT COUNTY EDUCATION by Mrs. Nicholas Peterson
EDUCATION
In the early days of Tifton's existence there was no such thing as a public school system with any uniform length of term or any salary sched- ule for teachers then existing in Georgia. Only those who were able hired private tutors for their children. Occasionally one man or perhaps a group of men would hire someone to teach the children in the community for any length of time they could hire the teacher. The most of such schools ran from six week to three months duration. The buildings used were more often used for storing cotton and housing sheep than for school purposes.
The first official teacher that can be accounted for, who taught the chil- dren of this mill village of Tifton was a Mr. William Fish, a friend of the Tifts who came down from Mystic, Connecticut, and helped the Tifts organize a little school. It was taught in a one-room building located some- where in the vicinity of the present county jail. It was used for all public purposes, church, school, court and any other public meeting. Some of the pupils who attended this school are now living in Tifton and supplied me with this information : Mr. Jack Golden, Miss Leola Green, MIrs. L. C. Spires, and Mrs. Catherine Tift Jones. Capt. H. H. Tift, Col. C. N. Fulwood, E. P. Bowen, S. L. Herring, also gave much information.
After the Georgia Southern Railroad was completed through Tifton in 1888, Captain Tift laid out the city of Tifton. City officials were elected and Tifton began to make progress in earnest. One of the first acts was to call a mass meeting where a corporation was formed, and stock was sold to build Tifton's first real school building.
This building was erected on the corner of Tift Avenue where the Primitive Baptist Church now stands. It was called the Tifton Institute ; it was rather a pretentious looking building. It contained two very large class rooms, two cloak rooms, and one small room that was later used for a music room.
Mr. A. L. Murphy was the first teacher to teach in the new building. He was assisted by his daughter, Miss Mary Emma, who is remembered by several of Tifton's first music teachers. He taught from 1890-1892.
Mr. J. R. Hudgens of Mississippi succeeded Mr. Murphy for the next two years.
Mr. E. J. Williams was principal from 1894 to 1895. His sister Miss Martha (Mrs. Frank Pickett of Ty Ty) ably assisted him. Mr. Williams resigned to accept a position as bookkeeper for Capt. Tift, a position he
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Top-Tifton Grammar School Center-Tifton Junior High School Bottom-Tifton High School
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held until called into the Spanish-American War in 1898. He entered with the rank of first lieutenant, being a graduate of Gordon Military In- stitute. He chose to remain in the service of his country, seeing active duty in World War I. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before his death in November 1929. His body was interred with the nation's heroes at Arlington.
Professor John Henry O'Quinn succeeded Mr. Williams and came to Tifton in the fall of 1895. He was assisted by Miss Ina Coleman of Clarks- ville, Tennessee, during the first term. He was considered quite an educa- tor in this section, and several young men came from surrounding towns to study under his leadership. This move necessitated adding more teachers to his faculty. In the fall of 1896 Miss Edna McQueen of Nashville, Ten- nessee, was added as teacher of primary grades. Miss Myrtle Pound, of Jackson, Georgia, as music teacher, and Miss Sallie Perry, of Little Rock, Arkansas, as expression, or rather elocution as it was called in those days.
Miss Pound and Miss McQueen met their fate in Tifton during that year. In the summer of '97 Miss Pound married Mr. E. J. Williams, and Miss McQueen married Dr. Nichols Peterson. Mrs. Peterson is still liv- ing in Tifton with just as much interest in the schools of Tifton and Tift County as the first day she landed in South Georgia. Mrs. Williams spends most of her time in Jackson, Georgia, with her sisters.
Mr. W. L. Harman was elected to take Mr. O'Quinn's place during the summer of '97. He accepted on condition that he be allowed to bring his entire faculty from Chipley with him. Under his capable leadership the school was properly graded for the first time and competent teachers put in charge of each grade. The school had a phenominal growth during his four years administration. He was a born leader as well as a great educa- tor and endeared himself to all with whom he came in contact. All Tifton rejoiced when he returned after a few years absence to make his home un- til his death. He served as the very efficient Tift County School Commis- sioner from 1929-1934.
Emerson says: "History is but the biography of a few great men." Un- fortunately he did not tell us who were great. In that instance we shall draw our own conclusions as to whom to term great.
First, I shall choose Arthur J. Moore. This boy grew to manhood and received in a crude building all the schooling he got until after he was married. His schoolmates in the village of Brookfield enthusiastical- ly relate many of his pranks. They say that he was never known to open a book, yet he easily outstripped the most studious members of his class, so alert and active was his mind.
The picture of the school house he first attended proves that it is not at all necessary to have gilded halls and palaces in which to mold and shape human character. Does there exist a county, city, state or nation that would
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not be proud to claim him as a son? Surely Tift county is bursting with pride to know that it was our happy privilege to give to the world one of its greatest citizens-Bishop Arthur J. Moore.
TIFTON AND TIFT COUNTY EDUCATION ANNIE BELLE CLARK SCHOOL
by Mrs. N. Peterson 1906-1947
When this school opened its doors for its first term in the fall of 1906 it was known as Tifton High School. Tifton was proud of its first fine brick school building and thought it would serve for all time to come, so commodious did it seem in comparison with the old building, left behind on Tift Avenue. It remained Tifton's only high school until 1917 when the sides began to bulge with children crowded into every conceivable space. Another building was the only solution.
The new high school building was completed and the six higher grades bade farewell to the old school and moved in for the first term in the fall of 1917. The old school then became and was the Tifton Grammar School until 1943 when its name was again changed to the Annie Belle Clark School in honor of its faithful beloved teacher, who remained at its head for thirty-one years.
Miss Clark came to Tifton as teacher of the primary class in 1910. When the school had to have a new principal when the school was divided, the board did not hesitate to promote her to the position. Many changes were made in the building at her suggestion. She had the old basement remodeled and put in such good condition that they were able to have a nice assembly room, a large room for preparing and serving hot lunches daily by the P .- T.A., to the student body, also an extra class room. The P .- T. A. mothers were of great help in all of this improvement.
There was rarely a resignation or vacancy in her school. The teachers, as well as the children, were devoted to her. Miss Annie had only to speak and her request was granted. Several of the present faculty have been with the school almost as long as Miss Clark. In 1943 Miss Clark had a serious illness which was to such extent that it forced her to resign. Mrs. W. H. Walters and Mrs. G. O. Bailey were appointed to take charge until a principal could be secured. Miss Elizabeth Yow, of Martin, Georgia, was elected principal and began with the Annie Clark Grammar School in September, 1943. Many improvements have been made in the past three years. Five new teachers have been added to her staff, making twenty teach- ers in the school. Public school music is taught to all grades by Mrs. Agnew
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Andrews. Two new electric victrolas have been purchased ; each teacher is furnished with a pitch pipe for each classroom; art is also taught in each grade. Many new books have been added to the school library including a set of musical appreciation and other reference books for the use of the teachers, a new moving picture machine has been installed. Hundreds of dollars worth of playground equipment has been placed on the campus. Last, but not least, a new annex was added last year to take care of four of the grades. This building cost $26,211.00.
It has been said that a "nation moves forward on the feet of its children." If this statement be true, then surely Tifton school children are on the forward march.
G. O. BAILEY, JR. (Copied from the Tifton Gazette)
Mr. Bailey came to Tifton in July 1928, as principal of the high school and football coach. In 1931 he was elected superintendent and has held that position for fifteen years. Under his leadership much progress has been made by the schools. During his administration, the high school band, public school music, commercial courses enlarged, vocational agriculture, public school art, boys and girls glee club, physical education for all the students, full time librarian, lunch room program in all three schools in which 1,500 lunches are served daily, have all been added to the school system. Also during his administration the gymnasium, a vocational education build- ing, and a 4-room addition to the grammar school have been erected ; the high and grammar schools repainted and modernized; and the high school annual was reinstated, having been discontinued in 1916.
Since he has been in Tifton, the band, glee clubs, and athletic teams have attained an enviable position in South Georgia.
Mr. Bailey also values the audiovisual picture showing machine and program of study that was instituted in the school seven years ago and is proud of the fact that 1,500 students participated in the May Day festival this year.
Professor Bailey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Owen Bailey, Sr., was born at Turin. He is a graduate of Senoia High School, and Mercer Univer- sity. He is a member of the Kappa Delta Phi, national scholastic fraternity.
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