USA > Georgia > Wilkinson County > History of Wilkinson County > Part 12
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Upon the severing of Twiggs from this county, it be- came necessary for a new county site to be selected for Wilkinson. Thus on the 14th of December, 1809, the leg- islature appointed Stephen Johnson, John Eady, Sr., Elk- anah Lofton, Philip Pitman, and William Crawley (or Cawley), as commissioners to fix a site for the public build- ings, to purchase for the county's use not less than one hundred acres and not more than two hundred, two and one-half acres, to lay out what number of lots they may think proper and sell on twelve months credit, the proceeds of which to be used in the building of a court house and jail, any overplus to go to the county. (Clayton's Digest, p. 566.)
This body seems to have had much trouble agreeing upon a site and probably all resigned in a body for we find that no action had been taken in 1810. On December 15th, 1810, the following Commissioners were appointed to carry out this duty : John Hatcher, Abram Lewis, Matthew
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Carswell, William Stubbs, and John Horne, the act pro- viding that the place selected should be "within two miles of the most convenient place in the county for same." (Clayton's Digest, p. 623.)
Information handed down to the author by Hon. John W. Lindsey, says the spot where the home of T. A. Brund- age now stands was used as the place of holding the courts and for other county purposes.
In December, 1811, no action having been taken to make permanent the county site, the legislature passed the following act :
An Act to make permanent the site of the public build- ings in the county of Wilkinson.
Sec. I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- resentatives, That the seat of the public buildings for the county of Wilkinson be, and the same is hereby declared to be permanently fixed upon tract or lot of land, number eighty-three, fourth district of Wilkinson County (pro- vided, good and sufficient titles can be procured for the same, within the term of six months from the passing of this act; the titles to be made and executed to the Inferior Court of said county and their successors in office, to and for the use of the county aforesaid, which said public site shall be called and known by the name of Irwinton.
Sec. 2. That John Proctor, Robert Barnett, John Speight, John Ball and Daniel Hicks, be, and they are hereby appointed commissioners fully authorized to lay out and sell whatever number of lots they or a majority may think proper, in the following manner, to wit: one- fourth part of the purchase money payable in twelve months from the day of sale; one-fourth part payable in two years; one-fourth part, payable in three years, and the remaining fourth part in four years thereafter; and shall take notes from the purchasers with approved per- sonal security, made payable to the Inferior Court and their successors in office, as well as a mortgage on the prem-
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ises, executed to said courts ; and the money arising from the said sales is hereby appropriated to the building of a Court house and jail, under the direction of said com- missioners, who are hereby authorized and empowered to contract for the same, as soon as they or a majority of them may think proper, or deem it expedient, first giving thirty days public notice in one of the Milledgeville Ga- zettes, and at three or more public places in the county, which shall be let out to the lowest bidder at public outcry ; the undertaker or undertakers shall be bound in a bond with approved security, in double the amount of the sum or sums undertaken for, to the Inferior Court and their successors in office, for a faithful compliance to such con- tract, entered into with the commissioners aforesaid.
Sec. 3. That the said commissioners or a majority of them shall lay out and reserve one or two lots as they may think most proper in an eligible part of said site for the purpose of erecting a Court house and jail thereon, first strictly observing that in laying out the lots intended to fix the public buildings upon, or those to be sold for county purposes, they shall be so arranged as not to interfere with the lines or lands of any other tract or lot of land, except said lot, number eighty-three, or to be so near thereto as to require any part thereof to complete any lots ever con- templated to be laid out for county purposes.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That in case the said commissioners should fail to procure the titles to tract or lot number eighty-three, in the fourth district as afore- said, within the time allowed them by this act, then and in that case, they or a majority of them are fully authorized to purchase not less than one hundred acres, or more than two hundred two and a half acres, within two miles of the centre of said county, and proceed as before pointed out in all respects; and in all cases it shall be the duty of the Inferior Court of said county to give such aid to said com- missioners as may most facilitate the completion of the
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public buildings, or so far as they may have the power of public funds.
Sec. 5. That the courts, elections and other county busi- ness shall be held at the house erected for that purpose, on the tract or lot number eighty-three in the 4th district as aforesaid, until the Court house is completed, and the same reported to the Inferior Court by the commissioners appointed to superintend the building of the same. (Acts ISII, p. 123, Laws 1811-20 p. 191) December 16, 1811.
We find this act was later amended by John T. Fair- child in the form of a resolution December 4, 1812, ap- pointing in addition to those already appointed in the act, William Wicker, William Lord, John Smith, and Charles Culpepper, with powers same as the other commissioners. (Laws 1811-20, p. 1119. House Journal, 1812.)
CHAPTER XXII THE MILITIA ORGANIZED
W ITH the extension of her lines to the Ocmulgee river, the filling up of the territory with new settlers, and the proximity of those living near the Ocmulgee to the Indian towns west of the Ocmulgee, there was the neces- sity for adequate protection. Bitter experience had taught the hardy frontiersmen that their best hope for protection was in their own well-trained yeomanry, for Washington City was too far away to depend upon in case of sudden emergencies and the band of federal troops located on the frontier was entirely too small.
Thus, immediately, the militia districts were fixed and in each a well-organized company of militia under the command of a captain solved the problems of defense. These companies were also organized into battalions and regiments. Once a year there was a muster day at the county site when every militia man was expected to lay down everything and attend, armed and equipped as if ready for active service. During the period that Twiggs county was a part of Wilkinson the old drill ground for the militia of the county to use on General Muster Day was near the present home of W. T. Chappell, in Twiggs county, a short distance from the old county site. Necessity compelled a rigid observance of the military laws for the lives of the families, the homes of Wilkinson depended upon her strong battalions. Hence, at these musters, the old drill ground was covered with companies of militia from each section of the county, with cavalry companies, with brilliantly uniformed officers. Stories of the old Muster Days have been handed down to the author by I. S. King, of the pride Wilkinson County took in her splendid military organizations, of the commanding ap-
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pearance her officers would make in the parades on such days : how, after the drills were over, the indulgence in the beverages which were always dispensed on such oc- casions could always be depended on to produce a general hilarious condition among them : of the diversity of opin- ion that would arise as to the physical strength of the strong man of each company ; the fights that would arise to determine who was the strongest man ; which fights would sometimes spread among the sympathizers and a general civil war threaten.
The growing seriousness of the international situation which was drawing America into war was fully realized in Wilkinson, and every precaution was being taken to pre- vent the recurrence of the terrible massacres of 1792-1793. The Colonel commanding the militia of the county was under orders that if Wilkinson County should be invaded by a hostile force he must first call out, instantly, every company of the whole county or as many as necessary to repel the enemy. Should he deem his own forces inade- quate to cope with the situation he must at once call upon the commanding officers of the adjoining counties for such aid as he might think necessary, and they were under or- ders to assemble their men and lead them against the enemy.
Many of the men subject to military duty were not able to own a rifle such as would be needed in case of war com- ing on. Thus as the war-clouds continued to rise, the State of Georgia hastily purchased ten thousand stand of small arms, accoutrements, artillery and ammunition and had them distributed where needed. (Clayton, 363, 444.)
Upon the severing of the territory of Twiggs county from Wilkinson, many changes were necessary to be made in regard to the militia. The annual musters were then held at or near Irwinton.
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MILITIA DISTRICTS
Immediately after Twiggs county was cut off, Wilkin- son consisted of eight militia districts. North of Commis- sioner there were two, 328 and 329. The 328th district corresponds to what is now 328 and 1505, the latter being cut off after the War Between the States. Bloodworth re- ceived its name from Captain Henry Bloodworth. The 329th district in much of the earlier records is referred to as Fork district ( from its being located in the fork formed by Commissioner Creek and the Oconee River, now known as Passmore in honor of Alexander Passmore a prominent planter. The territory lying between Big Sandy and Com- missioner Creeks was divided into three militia districts : 327th, now known as Irwinton district; 330th now Lord's; and 331st, Ramah; Irwinton District of course derived its name from the town of Irwinton ; Ramah, from Ramah Church; and Lord's, in honor of William Lord, Sr., the Revolutionary veteran and well-known Baptist who settled in this district, dying there several years later. The line separating Ramah and Irwinton has never been moved, except when Bethel district was formed. How- ever, the line separating 327 and 330 has been changed more than once. Originally, it is said on good authority, that the line crossed the Ball's Ferry road in the bottom just beyond the home of T. A. Brundage, probably striking the stream on the west side of that road and following that branch to Big Sandy Creek. Later this was moved by the Inferior Court at least twice, once being on account of the citizens living in the upper section of Lord's which was a "Fence Law" district, petitioning the County Com- missioners to change the line, so as to include them in Ir- winton district which was done. The territory south of Big Sandy was also divided into three militia districts, 332, 352 and 353. The 332nd district is often referred to as Griffin district in honor of Captain Jonas Griffin who lived there. The 353rd or Turkey Creek district, of
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course, gets its name from the stream that runs through its central parts. It was a compartively easy matter to mark off these districts by streams, roads and an occasional land line, but when this was done there was left a long strip of territory. This was 352. Some called it "Frac- tions' district on account of its being composed of so many fractions of land districts and fractions of land lots.
It has also been often referred to in the earlier records as High Hill district and now goes by that name. It was aptly named High Hill, and we can easily picture the early settlers of this district naming it thus on account of the steep hillsides bordering on the creeks, from the Twiggs County line to the Griffin district line. The scenery along the roads of this district in a great many places give one the feeling of being on the top of a high hill. After the War Between the States there was a re-alignment of dis- tricts. Bethel was carved out of Irwinton and Ramah. The territory lying between Big Sandy and Porter's Creek was joined to Irwinton district.
THE MILITIA CAPTAINS
The earlier records often cannot be well understood on account of their referring to certain militia districts under the name of the Captain who was then commanding the militia of that particular district. The only way it can be determined is by knowing what section the particular Cap- tain lived. Thus in 1812, there were eight militia districts. and they are referred to in the report of John Hatcher, Jr., R. T. P. in the following clipping of the Georgia. Journal :
Georgia Journal, Oct. 21, 1812.
Agreeable to the returns made to me by the Captains. commanding the several company districts in the county of Wilkinson, the following is a list for the year eighteen hundred and twelve.
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CAPT. KETTLES' DISTRICT (330)
Reuben Kemp, William Holder, Robert Warren, Wiley Jones, Francis Williamson, Elijah Jones, Samuel Oliver.
CAPT. GILBERT'S DISTRICT (329)
John Dominy, Isham Payne, Jesse Gilbert, William Wright, Robert Saulter, Daniel Wise, Joseph Rye, James Taff, Wiley Ogletree.
CAPT. HOLLAND'S DISTRICT (353)
William Slawter, John Gary, Jr., Sanders Colley, Pow- el Brown, Mark Brown.
CAPT. JOHNSTON'S DISTRICT (327)
William Davis, William John, Hector Bowie, Ebenez- er Dunham, Wilson Williams, Adam Kimbrough, Thomas W. Mtichell, Colson Copeland, Jonas Mathis.
CAPT. SPEIGHT'S DISTRICT (328)
Moses Smith, Nelson Thompson, James Couie, Joshua Spears, John Brown, Frederick Lord.
CAPT. BURNEY'S DISTRICT (352)
John Turner, Jonathan Childs, Anthony See, James Dennard, Nathan Hudson, Jesse Dennard, Charles An- derson, Elisha Hogan.
CAPT. RUSSELL'S DISTRICT (331)
James Johnston, Samuel Brewer, James Richardson, Shadrach Adams, Jesse Sampford, William Darby.
CAPT. WRIGHT'S DISTRICT (353)
William Oglesby, William Taylor, Clem Grizzle, Pres- ly Mathis, Alexander Adams, James Robinson, James Low, John Shepherd, Joel Miller, John Dixon.
Oct. 13. John Hatcher, Jr., R. T. R.
(The numbers in parenthesis indicate which Militia District is evidently indicated. )
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THE VIRGINIA AND CAROLINA SETTLERS
The fame of the virgin fertility of the lands lying be- tween the Oconee and Ocmulgee had spread into the States to the North, and the climate, water, game and other re- sources made these lands very desirable. As was natural, owing to the proximity, the Carolinas and Virginia fur- nished the greater numbers, and such was the hegira from these States that there is hardly a descendant of any pio- neer family now living in the county but can claim descent from these settlers. The Carolinas furnished the great majority, but Virginia was well represented. Many had recently moved to the eastern counties of the State and lived there long enough to acquire citizenship and thus qualify to draw for a lot.
Among these Virginians may be mentioned a settlement around the present site of Toomsboro, where it seems that there was an entire community which was composed of. Virginians and it is probable that Charles Culpepper and his brother, Sampson Culpepper, Joel Culpepper, John Ross, James Ross and others came in a body from that State and purchased lands near each other.
The Virginians seemed to have formed one clan while the Carolinians seemed to have formed another in the earlier days. The Virginians prided themselves upon the blue blood and stressed the education of their children possibly more than the Carolinians and the native Geor- gians. The Virginians adhered to the Crawford, Troupe and succeeding parties, while the Carolinians rallied to the Clark party. The Carolinians so vastly outnumbered the Virginians that the party factions in Wilkinson during the first years did not develop that intensity which they did in other counties. Virginians whenever more capable were elected to office in preference to their fellow Carolinians. Hence the lists of early officers show a great many Vir- ginians, as a result of their superior educational qualifica- tions.
CHAPTER XXIII EARLY CHURCHES
THE EARLY BAPTIST CHURCHES
F NOR several years following the settlement of Wilkin- son County, there were no organized churches. Every- body were so busy getting their homes in livable condition, that little time could be found for the building of churches. Large numbers of the settlers had their membership in the community from whence they had moved. The lottery plan of distributing the lots had widely scattered the mem- bers of the various denominations, and before particular churches could be organized it was usually necessary to bring together several who were already members of that particular denomination. The many dangers faced by these pioneers, the wars and rumors of wars, the presence of the Indian Nation just across the Ocmulgee, the great crisis which every one realized was fast approaching when the American government must inevitably be drawn into the conflict then raging in Europe, was stirring the people of this section and none but the stoutest hearts escaped the dark mantle of dread that enveloped the whole people. All this tended to bring the citizens to a more religious frame of mind. Spiritually, Wilkinson was ripe for a great revival.
There was another aspect which paved the way for the building of churches, the dire need of a meeting house for social intercourse on Sundays. The loneliness of these fron- tier settlements, the utter impossibility of going long dist- ances, made imperative that each community have some central place where not only the younger people but the older ones as well, could meet. Thus Wilkinson County was indeed ripe for the advent of the missionary.
Thus, two Baptist preachers, Charles Culpepper and
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John Ross, sensed the great opportunity which was ly- ing before them. Moving to the county and making it their home, they at once became valiant crusaders for the Bap- tist faith. From one community to another they went vis- iting the ones already members of this church, and using these as nuclei, began having services, inviting the neigh- borhood to take part. Others would join and soon there would be a sufficient number to organize a church. Mt. Nebo was the first church of any denomination to be or- ganized in the county, according to tradition, this being in 1808. Rapidly following this, during the following year, churches at Ramah, Big Sandy, Cool Springs, besides many others in the nearby neighboring counties, were organized. In 1812, Myrtle Springs church was organized by Charles Culpepper and Rev. Shirey.
This was the day of the itinerant preacher, the various churches preferring this plan to the local preacher method. The plan was for the preachers to go in couples from church to church and hold services. Culpepper and Ross were the ones living in Wilkinson County who for years followed this arrangement. To these two men the Baptists of Georgia are greatly indebted.
The religious fervor of the times continued to increase with the rapid growth of the Baptist churches. As the turbulent conditions incited by Tecumseh in the Indian nations and the religious fanaticism broke out among the red men, the people realized more than ever that the Great Crisis was fast approaching. Days for fasting and prayer were set aside and rigidly observed. The dread was height- ened in many people by an earthquake and the appearance in the heavens of a comet, which was firmly believed to portend dire events. The date of the Declaration of the War of 1812, was fixed as a day of fasting and prayer. Likewise the date Washington City was captured and burned by the British was so set apart.
So numerous became the churches of this denomination
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that the Ebenezer Association was formed in March, 1814, at Cool Springs church at Allentown, in this county, by fourteen churches, dismissed from the Ocmulgee Asso- ciation and the Hepzibah Association. The Hepzibah sent Charles Culpepper, George Franklin, N. Robertson and J. Shirey ; the Ocmulgee appointed Joseph Baker, V. A. Tharpe, D. Wood, H. Hooten, and Edmund Talbot, as presbyteries. (History of Georgia Baptists. )
EARLY METHODISM IN WILKINSON
While Charles Culpepper and John Ross were busily sowing the seeds of the Baptist faith, the Methodist church was not idle. Prior to the settling of the county, Lorenzo Dow's fiery eloquence in the counties east of the Oconee had won numerous converts, and as they scattered through- out Wilkinson County, they clamored for organizations of their own belief. In 1805, the Oconee District was created by the Georgia-South Carolina Conference, which extended from the Ogeechee River to the Indian Boundary Line, and Samuel Cowles was appointed Presiding Elder. Following close on the heels of the extending of Wilkinson County's territorial limits to the Ocmulgee and the carving out of other counties in 1807, the Ohoopee Circuit was created composed of this county and the counties to the south and southeast. Angus McDonald was sent hither as a missionary. This was the day of Camp Meetings and Shouting Methodists. Methodist Camp Grounds sprang up throughout the section. One of these was near Camp Ground Branch not far from the site where the first court was held. From this camp ground sprang Poplar Springs Methodist Church. Another Camp Ground is on Big Sandy Creek, at the spring above the road near Thompson's Bridge. From this Camp ground sprang the Irwinton Methodist church. Another Camp Ground was near the old County Site not far from the Twiggs County line, and it is probable that Ball's Church resulted from this. The
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work of McDonald must have borne fruit, for in 1808 the Ocmulgee Circuit was created largely taking the place of the Ohoopee Circuit, Jones County being added to the circuit, while Laurens was placed elsewhere. Lovick Pierce was appointed the Presiding Elder.
The early Methodist meetings in Wilkinson were large- ly dependent on local preachers or exhorters. The vast territory which the "circuit rider" had to cover made it impossible for him to give these meetings the needed at- tention. He was expected to devote his full time to work and usually had enough appointments on his circuit to give but one day in each month to each community. The meager salary allowed as well as the hardships incident to such a strenuous life tended to discourage many from entering the ministry as a life work. Hence, many would locate and would then be at liberty to preach when and wherever they chose.
The Camp meetings were great events and would al- ways be attended by large crowds who would come for miles and remain for days at a time, spending the nights on the ground or at the homes of the nearby citizens.
The continued growth of this denomination made nec- essary a reduction of the territory of the circuit rider and in 1816 the Ocmulgee circuit consisted of Wilkinson and Twiggs and parts of Jones and Pulaski counties. Charles Dickenson was assigned here that year and James Dun- woody was his helper. There were twenty-eight appoint- ments for these two men to meet each month. (History of Georgia Methodism. )
For many years after the town of Irwinton was built there was no organized church here, the members attend- ing nearby churches. The Methodist Church was the first to be organized at Irwinton, and in all probability about 1 820, as tradition handed down by B. Wynn is to the effect that Salem Church, which was organized in 1818, was the first Methodist church to be organized in the county.
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Mention is made of the Methodist Chapel at Irwinton in 1829. So rapidly did Methodism take hold in and around Irwinton that in 1834, Irwinton was taken from the Oc- mulgee Circuit and made a separate charge, with Rev. James B. Payne as pastor. In that year the membership of the church here was given as being five hundred, seventy- seven members. The Methodist church probably owes as much to Payne as does the Baptist church to Charles Cul- pepper and John Ross, for the dissemination of its teach- ings. Smith in his History of Methodism says of Payne : "From his entrance into the ministry James B. Payne had a wonderful success in winning souls."
CHAPTER XXIV THE SCHOOLS OF WILKINSON COUNTY
EARLY DEVELOPMENT
A S to what the people of Wilkinson county were doing towards educating their children during the first few years after the settlement, we have no means of knowing. All written records covering this particular phase seem to be destroyed. In all probability, however, there were but few who received any education during the first few years after the settlement, for this was a period when everyone was being strained towards 'getting fields cleared, houses built and the new homes in a condition fit to dwell in. Education was looked upon more as luxury than as a necessity. Money with which to pay teachers was scarce. Markets for produce were in far away Augusta and Savannah, and tutors could not well accept produce as pay.
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