USA > Georgia > Statistics of the state of Georgia : including an account of its natural, civil, and ecclesiastical history ; together with a particular description of each county, notices of the manners and customs of its aboriginal tribes, and a correct map of the state > Part 14
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* Extracts from MSS. furnished by the Hon. R. M. Charlton of Savannah.
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167
CHATHAM COUNTY.
" The people of Savannah may rejoice at the triumphs of her citizens in opening to the interior of the State a great highway, over which are brought to her wharves the various products of industry and of art, and upon which are daily returned to the doors of our people the necessaries, conveniences, and luxuries of life, which have been received in exchange for the fruits of their own labour."
TIMBER TREES, FRUIT TREES .- In this county are found most of the trees, shrubs, and vines, mentioned in our botani- cal catalogue. The season of flowering is very early. Con- siderable attention is paid to the cultivation of fruits, but ap- ples and peaches do not succeed so well.
LONGEVITY .- Instances of longevity are not rare. Mrs. Judy Minis died in 1826, at the age of 87. She and her mother were great whigs in the revolutionary war. After Savannah was taken, they were confined to their dwelling by the enemy, and were finally ordered to leave the town. Mrs. McGlauken died at the age of 99; Mrs. Maria Allard at 90; Peter Pourria at 97; John Cabos at 99; Richard Dowdy at 84; Mrs. Rhoda Stevens at 84; Johnathan Bryan over 80; Mrs. Elizabeth Box at 79 ; Peter Devaux, a revolutionary sol- dier, at 74; Pierre Constantine at 75; Dr. N. W. Jones over 80; Dr. George Jones over 80 ; Sheftall Sheftall, Esq., was over 80.
ANTIQUITIES .- In the vicinity of Hainer's bridge there is an Indian mound, also on the plantation of Mr. Nungazer at White Bluff, and in various places on the Savannah river. The one near Hainer's bridge is the largest.
MINERALS .- Bog iron ore is the only mineral found in Chatham. At Fairlawn it is abundant, as well as in some other places. The foundation of the old Guard House is said to be constructed of this material. Porcelain clay, it is prob- able is found near the Bluff of Savannah, for in 1741 China cups were made by Mr. Duchet from clay in the city, and the Trustees of Georgia gave the manufacturer £50 to encourage him in his enterprise.
FOSSILS .- Fossils have been found in several places. In 1823, Drs. Habersham and Scriven found upon Skidaway Island a number of bones of large size. At Hainer's bridge, several years after the above discovery, a large quantity of.
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CHATHAM COUNTY.
bones, supposed to belong to the Mastodon Giganteum, were found by Dr. Habersham and other gentlemen. In 1842, Major Williams also found a number of fossil bones near his plantation on Skidaway.
REMARKABLE PLACES .- The remains of Whitefield's Or- phan House are about 9 miles from Savannah. In 1740, the Orphan House was erected, with funds collected in England and America by the Rev. Geo. Whitefield. For some years it flourished, but owing to several causes it declined, and was finally destroyed by fire in 1770. The Countess of Hunting- don, an eminently benevolent lady, aided Mr. Whitefield in founding the Orphan House. In 1808, the property was sold by order of the Legislature of Georgia, and the proceeds applied to the Hospital, the Chatham Academy and the Union Society. Several relics of by-gone days have been found amidst the ruins of the Orphan House, among them a sun-dial of beautiful workmanship, and a medal struck in memory of Whitefield, now in the possession of the author of this work. Among the archives of the Georgia Historical Society is a document containing a list of the orphans at this establish- ment, which affords evidence that the ancestors of some of the most respectable families in Chatham, and other places in Georgia, were educated at this establishment.
Thunderbolt, 5 miles southeast of Savannah. According to Gen. Oglethorpe's account of Carolina and Georgia, this place received its name "from the fall of a thunderbolt, and a spring thereupon arose in that place, which still smells of the bolt."
Beaulieu, about 12 miles from Savannah, was formerly the residence of Col. William Stephens, celebrated in the early history of the State.
Bonaventure is 4 miles from Savannah, known as the seat of Gov. Tattnall, one among the most .lovely spots in the world. At the session of the Legislature in 1848, " The Evergreen Cemetery Company of Bonaventure " was incor- porated, the object of which is to establish a decent and suit- able place for the burial of the dead. An area of 70 acres has been enclosed and partially improved, with the hope that the citizens of Savannah will make it their burial ground.
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CHATHAM COUNTY.
Jasper Spring, about 2 or 3 miles from Savannah, near the Augusta road, is memorable for the rescue of some · American prisoners, by Sergeants Jasper and Newton.
At Gibbon's Plantation, 7 or 8 miles from Savannah, a battle occurred in 1782, between Gen. Wayne and a body of Creek Indians, commanded by Guristersigo. The Indians fought with much spirit, but finally were compelled to fly, leaving Guristersigo and 17 of his warriors dead upon the field.
Brewton's Hill, now the property of Dr. Scriven, was the place where a portion of the British landed preparatory to their attack upon Savannah in 1778.
Cherokee Hill, 8 miles from Savannah, Hutcheson's Island, opposite to the city, and many other places in this county, are associated with revolutionary incidents.
In this work we have described many events that occurred in Chatham, and we deem it unnecessary again to refer to them. We shall conclude our sketch of this interesting por- tion of Georgia with a few historical notices collected from various sources.
In the MS. account of benefactions made to Georgia, now in the executive department at Milledgeville, are the following entries :
"Mr. Hume gave a silver bowl and spoon for the first child born in Georgia, which being born of Mrs. Close, were given accordingly."
" Col. Bull came to Savannah with four labourers, and as- sisted the colony for a month."
In 1733, on Skidaway there were a village, guard-house, and battery of cannon.
The same year, Mr. Oglethorpe, to take off the terror which the people had for alligators, having wounded and caught one twelve feet long, had him brought up to the town, and set the boys to beat him with sticks until he was beat to death.
Mr. Oglethorpe agreed with Mr. Jonathan Bryan to furnish him with eighteen hands to assist him in cutting roads from the Savannah to the Ogeechee river.
In 1735, the courts in Savannah were held in a hut, thirty
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CHATHAM COUNTY.
feet long and twelve feet wide, made of split boards. In this hut also, divine service was performed.
Dec. 10, 1735, the trustees ordered Plato's Works, in Greek and Latin, to be bought for the use of the colony.
King Tomachichi died October 5, 1739, four miles from Savannah, aged 97. His corpse was brought to the city and buried in Percival Square with appropriate honours.
The following ecclesiastical returns of Savannah were sent to England by the Rev. Mr. Frink, in 1771 :
Church of England, 1185
Lutherans, . 193
Presbyterians and Independents, 499
Jews, 49
Negroes,
40
Infidels,
30
1996
In November, 1796, the first destructive fire occurred in Savannah. It broke out in a bake-house in Market Square, and destroyed 229 houses, besides out-houses, &c. Estimated loss of property, one million of dollars.
In May, 1814, arrived in the waters of Savannah, the U. S. sloop of war Peacock, Lewis Warrington commander, (now Commodore Warrington, the 5th on the present list of post- captains,) bringing in as a prize H. B. M. brig of war Eper- vier, Captain Wales, of eighteen guns. The Epervier had on board $110,000 in specie, which was condemned and dis- tributed according to law. She was built in 1812, and was one of the finest vessels of her class in the British navy.
In April, 1819, arrived the steamship Savannah, from New- York. This steamer was projected and owned in Savannah, and was the first steamship built in the United States, and the first that ever crossed the Atlantic. She left Savannah in May, for Liverpool, and afterwards proceeded to St. Peters- burg.
In May of this year, James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States, visited Savannah, accompanied by Mr. Calhoun, Secretary of War, General Gaines, and others. He was received with a southern welcome.
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CHATHAM COUNTY.
In December of this year, 1819, departed this life, in the fourteenth year of his ministry, and in the midst of his useful- ness, Henry Kollock, D.D., the esteemed and eloquent pastor of the Independent Presbyterian Church of Savannah. Dr. Kollock was indeed " a burning and a shining light," and faith- fully fulfilled the arduous duties of pastor and teacher to his large congregation.
In January, 1820, occurred the largest fire which ever rav- aged the city. It commenced on the east side of Old Franklin ward : 463 buildings were destroyed, besides out-buildings. Loss upwards of $4,000,000.
In March, 1825, General Lafayette visited Savannah. He was received with every demonstration of regard as the na- tion's friend in the time of need, and as the nation's guest.
NAME .-- The celebrated Earl of Chatham, after whom this county is named, was the son of Robert Pitt, Esq., of Boconnock, in Cornwall, and was born on the 15th of November, 1708. At the age of twenty-seven, he was chosen a member of Parlia- ment. His talents and eloquence soon opened his way to the highest distinction. In 1757 he became prime minister, and by his vigorous exertions raised his country to a higher degree of prosperity and glory than she had enjoyed at any former period. In the difficulties between Great Britain and her American colonies, he boldly advocated the rights of the lat- ter. His last effort in public was made on the 7th of April, 1778, when the subject of American affairs was before the House of Peers. Bending under the weight of years, and en- feebled by disease, he entered the House supported by his son and Lord Viscount Mahon ; upon which every nobleman arose to manifest their respect for one who had contributed so much to the glory of Great Britain. His pale and emaciated counte- nance, his enfeebled limbs, wrapped in flannel, formed a melan- choly contrast to the fire which still lighted his eye, and which this day's exertions were doomed to quench for ever. As soon as the House was recovered from the emotious which his en- trance had excited, the Duke of Richmond rose to move an address to the King on the state of the nation. The Earl of Chatham, in reply to the Duke, exerted himself with so much energy, that he fell exhausted into the arms which were held out to support him ; and after lingering a few weeks he died
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CHATTOOGA COUNTY.
on the 11th of May, in the seventieth year of his age. His re- mains were deposited with great solemnity in Westminster Abbey, where a monument was erected to his memory, with the following inscription :
Erected by the King and Parliament, as a testimony to The virtues and ability of WILLIAM PITT, Earl of Chatham, During whose Administration Divine Providence Exalted Great Britain To an height of Prosperity and Glory Unknown to any former age .*
A statue of this great man formerly stood at the intersec- tion of Meeting and Broad-streets, in the city of Charleston, but has been removed to the middle of the court, fronting the Orphan House.
CHATTOOGA.
BOUNDARIES .- This county is bounded N. by Walker, E. by Floyd, S. by Floyd, and W. by Alabama. Laid out in 1838, from Walker and Floyd.
POST OFFICES .- Summerville, Alpine, Dirt Town, Tryon Factory, Teloga Springs, Broomtown, Melville, Chattoogaville.
POPULATION, TAXES, REPRESENTATION .- According to the last census, the population was 2,237 whites, 732 blacks; total, 2,969. The amount of State tax for 1848 was $1475 01. Sends one representative to the Legislature.
RIVERS AND CREEKS .- The principal streams are Chattooga river ; Snake, Eukelanaquaw, John's, and Amuchee creeks.
TOWNS .- Summerville is the capital, situated in Chattooga valley, in the centre of the county, 195 miles N. W. of Mil- ledgeville, 25 miles from Rome, and 16 from Lafayette. It has a handsome brick court-house, jail, two hotels, five dry
* Allen's American Revolution. Mills' Statistics of South Carolina.
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CHATTOOGA COUNTY ..
goods stores, two or three churches, one or two schools. Po- pulation, 275. It is a healthy and pleasant village.
FACE OF THE COUNTRY, NATURE OF SOIL .- The face of the country is uneven, traversed by mountains and ridges running N. E. and S. W. Although a small county, it contains much good land. The bottoms are exceedingly fertile, with a very dark mulatto soil, covered with the largest trees. There is, upon the highlands, a soil called chestnut soil, which produces well for six or seven years ; and, if manured, will last much longer.
VALUE OF LAND .- Land is worth from 5 to $25 per acre, and is increasing in value every day.
PRODUCTIONS, AVERAGE PRODUCT PER ACRE .-- Corn, tobacco, wheat, oats, potatoes, cotton, and indeed almost every thing which is found in other portions of Cherokee Georgia. Cotton yields from 600 to 1000 lbs. per acre ; corn from 3 to 8 barrels per acre ; wheat from 10 to 18 bushels per acre. Hogs are raised in great numbers, and some mules and horses for market.
VALLEYS AND MOUNTAINS .-- Chattooga is a beautiful county, interspersed with rich and delightful valleys and mountains, unfolding picturesque and highly interesting scenery. The names of the principal valleys are Broomtown, Chattooga, and Armucha. The mountains are Taylor's Ridge and John's moun- tain ; there is also a very high peak which stands by itself, called Dirtseller mountain; the Indians called it Karte Kun- teesky.
MANUFACTURES, MILLS .-- Tryon factory manufactures cot- ton goods. Saw-mills, 8; grist-mills, 6; flour-mills, 4.
ORIGINAL SETTLERS .- Francis Kirby, Charles Price, John F. Beavers, Edmund Sturdivant, Nelson Allman, Hugh Mont- gomery.
RELIGIOUS SECTS, EDUCATION .- Missionary and Anti-mis- sionary Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians. Good schools, well supported, are in almost every part of the county. Edu- cation generally is on the advance.
CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE .-- This county is filled with an industrious and hospitable people, whose whole object seems to be, to labour for the comforts of life, and afterwards to enjoy them.
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CHATTOOGA COUNTY.
MINERAL SPRINGS .-- There are several fine mineral springs in the county, but none particularly celebrated.
CLIMATE, DISEASES, LONGEVITY .- The climate is healthy, and the diseases are similar in character to those which prevail in Upper Georgia. Joseph Pollard and Henry Laurence are over 80 years of age; Mrs. Margaret Middleton is 90 years of age.
MINERALS .- Limestone, iron, pyrites, marble, and various petrifactions of shells, encrenites, &c.
ROADS AND BRIDGES .- The roads are good, but the bridges are in bad order.
MARKET, COTTON .- Rome is the market. Between 2,000 and 3,000 bags of cotton are annually produced.
REMARKABLE PLACES .- Alpine, a beautiful seat, now the property of Mr. Force, a merchant of Augusta, was formerly the residence of Mr. Guess, the inventor of the Cherokee alphabet. Mr. Guess was once asked what induced him to form an alphabet, and how he proceeded in doing it. His re- ply was as follows :- " He had observed that many things were found out by men, and known in the world, but that this know- ledge escaped and was lost for want of some way to preserve it. He had also observed white people write things on paper, and he had seen books; and he knew that what was written down remained and was not forgotten. He had attempted, therefore, to fix certain marks for sounds, and thought that if he could make things fast on paper, it would be like catching a wild animal and taming it. He had found great difficulty in proceeding with this alphabet, as he forgot the sounds which he had assigned to marks, and he was much puzzled about a character of the hissing sound; but when this point was set- tled, he proceeded easily and rapidly. This alphabet cost him a month's study. He afterwards made an alphabet for the pen (that is, for speedy writing), the characters of which he wrote under the corresponding characters of the other."
The following interesting particulars are taken from the Missionary Herald, October 1828 :- Mr. Guess is, in appear- | ance and habits, a full Cherokee, though his grandfather on his father's side was a white man. He has no knowledge of any language but the Cherokee, consequently, in his invention of
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CHATTOOGA COUNTY.
the alphabet, he had to depend entirely on his own native re- sources. He was led to think on the subject of writing the Cherokee language, by a conversation which took place one evening at Sauta. Some young men were making remarks on the superior talents of the white people : one said that white men could put a talk on paper, and send it to any dis- tance, and it would be understood by those who received it. They all agreed that this was very strange, and they could not see how it could be done. Mr. Guess, after silently listening to their conversation for a while, raised himself, and putting on an air of importance, said : " You are all fools; why the thing is very easy ; I can do it myself;" and picking up a flat stone, he commenced scratching on it with a pin, and after a few minutes read to them a sentence which he had written, by making a mark for each word. This produced a laugh, and the conversation on that subject ended. But the inventive powers of Guess's mind were now roused to action, and noth- ing short of being able to write the Cherokee language would satisfy him. He went home, purchased materials, and sat down to paint the Cherokee language on paper. He at first thought of no way but to make a character for each word. He pursued this plan for about a year, in which time he had made several thousand characters. He was then convinced that the object was not attainable in that way; but he was not discouraged. He firmly believed that there was some way in which the Cherokee language could be expressed on paper, as well as the English ; and after trying several other methods, he at length conceived the idea of dividing the words into parts. He had not proceeded far on this plan, before he found, to his great satisfaction, that the same characters would apply in different words, and the number of characters would be comparatively few. After putting down and learning all the syllables that he could think of, he would listen to speeches, and the conversation of strangers, and whenever a word oc- curred which had a part or syllable in it which he had not before thought of, he would bear it on his mind until he had made a character for it. In this way he soon discovered all the syllables in the language. In forming his characters, he made some use of the English letters, as he found them in a
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CHEROKEE COUNTY.
spelling-book which he had in his possession. After commenc- ing upon the last-mentioned plan, I believe he completed his system in about a month. During the time he was occupied inventing the alphabet, he was strenuously opposed by all his friends and neighbours. He was frequently told that he was throwing away his time and labour, and that none but a de- lirious person, or idiot, would do as he did. But this did not discourage him. He would listen to the expostulations of his friends, and then deliberately light his pipe, pull his spectacles over his eyes, and sit down to his work, without attempting to vindicate his conduct. After completing his system, he found much difficulty in persuading the people to learn it : nor could he succeed, until he went to the Arkansas and taught a few persons there, one of whom wrote a letter to some friends in this nation, and sent it by Mr. Guess, who read it to the peo- ple. This letter excited much curiosity. Here was a talk in the Cherokee language, which had come all the way from the Arkansas sealed up in a paper, yet it was very plain. This convinced many that Mr. Guess's mode of writing would be of some use. Several persons immediately determined to try to learn. They succeeded in a few days, and from this it quickly spread all over the nation, and the Cherokees (who, as a people, had always been illiterate) were, in the course of a few months, without school or expense of time or money, able to read and write in their own language.
NAME .- This county derives its name from its principal river, Chattooga.
CHEROKEE.
BOUNDARIES .- Bounded north by Gilmer, east by Lumpkin and Forsyth, south by Cobb, and west by Cass. Organized in 1832.
POST OFFICES .- Canton, Boardtree, Ball Ground, Harnage- ville, Hickory Flat, Orange, Social Hill, Troy, Woodstock, and Varenees.
POPULATION, TAXES, REPRESENTATION .- In 1845, the pop-
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CHEROKEE COUNTY.
ulation was 8753 whites, 806 blacks; total, 9559. Since that period the population has increased 25 per cent. State tax returned for 1848, $1,818 97. Entitled to two representa- tives. .
RIVERS, CREEKS .- The Etowah river flows almost through the centre of the county. The Little river empties into the Etowah. The creeks are Cooper's, Sandy, Chicken, Ala- culsa, Mill, Cane, Long Swamp, Mountain, Shoal, &c.
TOWNS .- Canton is the seat of justice, on the southeast bank of the Etowah river, 130 miles northwest of Milledge- ville, 25 miles from Cassville, 21 from Marietta, 25 from Cum- ming, and 43 from Ellijay. The public buildings were located in Canton, in 1834, and consist of a handsome brick court- house and jail. Population 250. Amount of goods sold per annum, $50,000. The climate is favourable to health. Two deaths only have occurred among adults since the first settle- ment of the place.
FACE OF THE COUNTRY, NATURE OF THE SOIL, &C .- The portion of the county west of the Etowah, and south of Long swamp, is very hilly. The part that is traversed by Little river and its tributaries, is undulating. The section of the county east of the Etowah is hilly, except some portions con- tiguous to Forsyth. Lands of the first quality are on Etowah river and Long swamp, adapted to corn and wheat, valued at $30 per acre. The second quality embrace the uplands, hav- ing a gray and red soil, adapted to cotton, wheat and corn, worth $10 per acre. The balance of the land is hardly fit for cultivation. Cotton averages 700 lbs. per acre. Corn 20 bush- els per acre, wheat 10 bushels per acre. Oats do well.
MARKETS .- Charleston, Augusta, Marietta, and Etowah Iron Works.
MOUNTAINS .- Sharp mountain in the northwest part of the county, is remarkable for its peak running up like a sugar loaf.
Pine Log mountain, three miles north of Canton.
Pole Cat mountain, three miles west of Canton.
GOLD MINES, MINERALS .- Gold is found in several places. Pascoe's mines, on the Etowah river at the mouth of Sitting Down creek, 14 miles from Canton, are profitable.
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CHEROKEE COUNTY.
Sixes' Mines, six miles southwest of Canton, on the road to Allatoona. The gold found here is regarded the finest of any in Georgia, that of Carroll county excepted. First operated upon by the whites in 1831, and have yielded $200,000. Owned by Gen. Allen Lawhorn.
Williamson's Mines, on the waters of Little river, one mile from Sixes' mines, are regarded as rich.
Franklin Mines, on Etowah river, five miles from Frog Town.
The other minerals are iron, sulphate of iron, and sulphate of copper, titanium, quartz, granite and marble. Quicksilver and cobalt are said to exist.
On Long Swamp there are large quarries of marble, which are beginning to be a source of profit to the owners.
EARLY SETTLERS .- The early settlers were Reuben Dan- iel, Col. Brook, Joseph Donaldson, Phillip Croft, George Brock, and others.
ROADS AND BRIDGES .- The roads are fair. There are three public bridges over Little river, one of which is a toll bridge. One toll bridge over the Etowah, near Bell's Ferry. A bridge is in the course of construction over the Etowah, at the old Downing's Ferry, six miles southwest of Canton.
MANUFACTURES, MILLS, &c .- Cherokee county is favoured with great facilities for manufacturing purposes, but the citi- zens have not yet directed their attention to this subject. Grist-mills, 10 ; saw-mills, 14 ; flour-mills, 7 ; distilleries, 12.
CLIMATE AND DISEASES .- The climate is healthy. There are no local diseases except in the vicinity of the low grounds. There is some bilious fever, especially on Little river. Pneu- monia and pleurisies sometimes prevail.
LONGEVITY .- Mrs. Ruston died in 1847, over the age of 100. Mr. James Barren died over 100. Mr. Field is now living, aged 80. Mr. Dean is 80. Mr. James Leonard is over 80. Mr. Worthington died at the advanced age of 107 years.
RELIGIOUS SECTS .- Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Universalists.
EDUCATION .- Recently the subject of education begins to engage the attention of the citizens. The people of Canton
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CLARKE COUNTY.
are particularly noted for their liberality in supporting schools.
CHARACTER, AMUSEMENTS .- The people are industrious and hospitable. The amusements are hunting, dancing, and fishing.
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