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 17
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DE KALB COUNTY.
receive balls with it." In 48 hours the treaty was concluded, upon terms never before granted to a Christian power. He then went to Tunis and Tripoli, and by a similar process obtained redress; after which he returned home, and was appointed one of the Board of Navy Commissioners. Whilst in the discharge of these duties, he was challenged to single combat with pistols, by Commodore James Barron, and was mortally wounded on the first fire. His death produced a great sensation through the country.
DE KALB.
BOUNDARIES, EXTENT .- Bounded north by Cobb, east by Gwinnett and Newton, south by Henry and Fayette, west by Cobb and Campbell. Laid out in 1822. Its medium length is 25 miles ; breadth 19 miles, containing 475 square miles.
POPULATION, TAXES, REPRESENTATION .- According to the census of 1830, the population was 10,042 ; in 1840, 10,- 467; in 1845, 11,055. The next census will doubtless exhibit a greater increase. Amount of State tax returned for 1848, $3,536 88. Sends two members to the State Legislature.
POST OFFICES .- Decatur, Atlanta, Cross Keys, Lithonia, Panthersville, Stone Mountain, and Utoy.
RIVERS AND CREEKS .-- The Chattahoochee is the chief stream. One of the head branches of the Ocmulgee is in this county. Nancy's, Peach Tree, Utoy and Camp creeks, empty into the Chattahoochee. Shoal, Snap Finger, and Pole Bridge, empty into South river.
TOWNS .- Decatur is the seat of justice. It is a pretty village situated on a ridge, dividing the waters of the Chattahoochee and South rivers; 95 miles northwest of Milledgeville, 30 from Covington, 24 from Lawrenceville, 8 from the Stone Moun- tain, and 28 from McDonough. This place is proverbially healthy. The court-house is a neat brick edifice, and cost $5,100. A jail constructed of granite is under contract .- There are two churches, Presbyterian and Methodist; the for-
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mer is built of brick and is a handsome structure. It has two ho- tels, two flourishing schools, several stores, &c. Population 600. Amount of business done in Decatur is not so great as former- ly. Incorporated in 1823.
Atlanta is a new place, formerly called Marthasville, but in 1847 it was incorporated, and its name changed to "The City of Atlanta." It has a mayor and six councilmen, clerk of council, treasurer, city marshal, &c. The population may be put down at 2500, and this number is constantly augmenting. Atlanta is situated on a high ridge 6 miles west of Decatur, 101 miles northwest of Macon, and is the point at which the Western and Atlantic, the Macon and Western, and the Geor- gia Railroads connect. This has made Atlanta a place of bus- tle and business. At this time there are four churches, and another will be erected in the course of the year ; six schools, about twenty dry goods and grocery stores, &c .-- Immense quantities of produce pass through Atlanta. Amount of busi- ness done is over 200,000 dollars.
Stone Mountain, formerly called New Gibraltar, is a very thriving place ; has four hotels, eight stores and several me- chanics. Population 300. A stage from Gainseville comes to this village three times a week.
FACE OF THE COUNTRY, NATURE OF THE SOIL, AVERAGE PRO- DUCT PER ACRE, VALUE OF LAND .- The face of the country is undulating. Much of the soil will hardly repay the labour of cultivation. The rich lands are on the Chattahoochee and South rivers, Peach Tree, Nancy's, and Utoy creeks, and have been known to produce from 1000 to 1500 pounds of cotton per acre, and from 8 to 12 barrels of corn per acre. Wheat is rather an uncertain crop. The gray lands will produce from 500 to 700 pounds of cotton per acre, from 5 to 8 bar- rels of corn per acre, and from 15 to 25 bushels of wheat per acre. Lands of the first quality are worth from 20 to 25 dol- lars per acre ; the other lands from 3 to 10 dollars per acre.
PRODUCTIONS .- Cotton, wheat, corn, rye, oats, potatoes, &c. The county is celebrated for fine fruits, particularly apples. These sold in Savannah last year, at five dollars per barrel, and were said to be superior to the northern article. A small quantity of silk is manufactured.
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DE KALB COUNTY.
MINERAL SPRINGS-Within the incorporated limits of At- lanta, there is a fine chalybeate spring, and another one and three-fourths of a mile south of Decatur.
MINERALS .- Some gold has been found in the vicinity of Rockbridge, near Yellow river, and on Nancy's creek ; asbes- tos in large quantities at the plantation of John Evans, Esq .; granite in quantities sufficient to supply the State of Georgia for a century to come ; tourmaline, quartz, iron, &c.
MANUFACTURES, MILLS, DISTILLERIES .-- Two wool carding- mills, about 25 saw-mills, 35 grist-mills, 2 merchant-mills, 2 distilleries.
ROADS AND BRIDGES .- The roads and bridges are not kept in the state which the comfort and convenience of the citizens require.
RELIGIOUS SECTS, EDUCATION .- Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Catholics, Episcopalians, and Christians. In Atlanta and Decatur are good schools. The subject of education begins to be more appreciated than formerly.
CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE .- We hazard nothing in saying that the citizens of this county are generally industrious and temperate. The farms are not kept with that neatness which could be wished. Some improvement in agricultural imple- ments is much wanted.
CLIMATE, DISEASES, LONGEVITY .-- The climate is remark- ably healthy. Indeed, the united testimony of intelligent men who have given this subject special attention, declares De Kalb to be unsurpassed for health by any region in the world. It is not pretended that there are no diseases, but these are very few. A number of persons have died in this county at a great age. A few, only, of their names are inserted. John Biffle, 106 ; D. Greene, 90 ; Mr. Brooks, 92; Mr. Rooks, nearly 95; and there are now living, Wm. Terrell, 90; Mrs. Biffle, 100; and a great many between 80 and 90.
ORIGINAL SETTLERS .- William Jackson, George Heard, William Terrell, Judge Cone, Mr. Scaife, and James Mont- gomery were among the first who settled in this county.
ANTIQUITIES .- There is a mound near Montgomery's Fer- ry, and what may be called an intrenchment six miles west of Decatur, on the Chattahoochee.
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DE KALB COUNTY.
MOUNTAIN .-- The Stone or Rock mountain, as it is some- times called, is one of the greatest curiosities which can be found in this or any other country. It is said to be 2,226 feet above the creek, and is seven miles in circumference. This wonder of nature is visited by thousands during the summer season.
NAME .- In the Revolution which gave birth to American freedom, many foreign officers of distinction, impelled by the love of liberty, attached themselves to the American army. Among these was the Baron De Kalb, to commemorate whose gallant conduct this county was named.
This meritorious officer was a German by birth, and came to America in 1777 or 1778, with recommendations to Con- gress as an experienced soldier, entitled to their confidence. He was immediately appointed a Major General, and was placed at the head of the Maryland division of the army. For about three years he served in the American army with great reputation, winning many friends by his simple manners and amiable disposition. He fell in battle on the 19th of August, 1780. The incidents of this battle deserve to be remembered, and we extract the following account from a work recently published. " At the battle of Camden, De Kalb commanded the right wing of the American army. In the commencement of this action, the American left wing was charged by the British infantry with fixed bayonets. This part of our army was composed of militia, who were unable to stand the attack, and threw down their arms, flying precipitately from the field. The continental troops here, though inferior in numbers to the British, stood their ground manfully, and maintained the con- flict with great resolution. The British had the advantage of superior cavalry, and notwithstanding the brave example of De Kalb, who encouraged his men not only by words, but by deeds, they succeeded in gaining the day. The saddest loss was sustained in the death of the gallant De Kalb. In his last attempt to secure a victory, he received eleven wounds, and fell. He was caught by his aid, Lieut. Col. Du Buysson, who rushed through the clashing bayonets, and spreading his own form over that of the prostrate hero, received the wounds in- tended for his fallen commander, exclaiming, as he fell beside
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DOOLY COUNTY.
him, "Save the Baron De Kalb ! save the Baron De Kalb!" On hearing his name, the British officers interposed, and res- cued them both from the fury of the men. The former sur- vived but a few hours. The British officer who had him in charge bestowed upon him every attention. As he condoled with him in his misfortune, De Kalb extended him his hand in gratitude, saying, "I thank you for your generous sympathy, but I die the death I always prayed for, the death of a soldier fighting for the rights of man." His last moments were spent in dictating a letter to General Smallwood, in which he expressed an affection for his soldiers, and his confidence in their valour. Gen. Washington, it is said, when he visited Camden, inquired for the grave of De Kalb, and upon its being pointed out to him, observed with great emotion, "So, there lies the brave De Kalb, the generous stranger, who came from a distant land to fight our battles, and to water with his blood the tree of our liberty. Would to God he had lived to share its fruits." Lee, in his memoirs, says "that the Baron De Kalb was sober, drinking water only ; abstemious to excess ; living on bread, sometimes with beef soup, at other times with cold beef; industrious, it being his constant habit to rise at five in the morning, light his candle, and devote himself to writing."*
DOOLY.
BOUNDARIES, EXTENT .- Bounded N. by Houstoun and a portion of Macon ; E. by Pulaski and a part of Irwin ; S. by Irwin and a part of Baker ; and W. by Sumter and Lee. Or- ganized in 1821. Length 35 miles, breadth 32; area 1,120 square miles.
RIVERS AND CREEKS .- The Flint river traverses the western line of the county. The streams of less importance are the Pennahatchee, Hogcrawl, Lampkin's, Limestone, Cedar, and
* In a work entitled Sketches of North Carolina, there is an interesting account of the last moments of De Kalb, given by the Rev. Humphrey Hunter, an eminent Presbyterian minister, who was a revolutionary charac- ter, and witnessed the death of the brave soldier.
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DOOLY COUNTY.
Gum creeks, all of which are tributaries of the Flint; there are several other creeks which have their origin in this county, flow east, and discharge themselves into the Ocmulgee.
POST OFFICES. - Vienna, Cedar Creek, Traveller's Rest, Milwood, Hollidaysville.
POPULATION, TAXES, REPRESENTATION .- This county has been steadily increasing in population. The census of 1840 gave it 4,427 inhabitants, and the census of 1845, 6,247, exhib- iting an increase of 1820 inhabitants. Amount of taxes for 1848 returned is $2,005 59. Sends one representative to the Legislature.
CLIMATE, DISEASES, LONGEVITY .- The climate is temperate. Remote from the water-courses the country is regarded healthy. The diseases are such as usually occur in the autumn. There are one or two instances of longevity in the county.
FACE OF THE COUNTRY, NATURE OF THE SOIL .- The face of the country is level. Much of the land is productive, particu- larly on the river bottoms and hammocks, finely suited for cot- ton, corn, and sugar-cane. The pine lands are remarkably fertile, adapted to cotton, grain, and potatoes. There is a large quantity of common pine land, scarcely fit for cultiva- tion without the aid of manure.
AVERAGE PRODUCT PER ACRE .- Cotton averages 600 pounds per acre, corn 12 bushels, wheat 10.
TOWNS .-- Vienna is the county town, situated on the wa- ters of Pennahatchee creek. Population about 100. It is dis- tant from Milledgeville 95 miles. The situation of Vienna renders it unhealthy.
Drayton, 12 miles from Flint river, 30 miles from Americus, and 27 from Starkville ; considered healthy.
Traveller's Rest is in the northwest corner of the county.
ROADS AND BRIDGES .- The roads are excellent, but there is not much attention given to the bridges.
RELIGIOUS SECTS, EDUCATION .- Baptists and Methodists are the most numerous. Education has been much neglected, but, as in other sections of Georgia, it is beginning to awaken attention.
CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE, AMUSEMENTS .- Kindness to strangers is a prominent trait in the character of the population.
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DOOLY COUNTY.
Irregularities are sometimes committed, but generally speaking, the people are honest, orderly, and industrious. More atten- tion ought to be paid to their buildings by the farmers. There is too much anxiety to make cotton, and domestic comforts are neglected. Hunting deer is the chief amusement. Parties are frequently made up, which leave home and spend a week in hunting, and return laden with spoils.
PRODUCTIONS, MARKETS .- Almost every thing grows well. Cotton succeeds finely, as well as corn, potatoes, sugar-cane, &c. Little attention has been paid to the cultivation of fruits, but there can be no doubt of their success with due care. The county was once fine for grazing, but it has been injured by fires. Planters carry their crops to Macon and Hawkins- ville.
MILLS .- Five saw-mills, five grist-mills.
MINERALS .- There are no very valuable minerals in this county. The calcareous formation of the country furnishes a great variety of fossils.
NAME .-- The family of the Doolys originally came from Ireland and settled in North Carolina. Colonel John Dooly, from whom the name of this county was derived, settled in Lincoln county about the beginning of the American Revolu- tion, and received a commission as Captain in the Georgia continental brigade. His brother, Captain Thomas Dooly, a gallant officer, was murdered by the Indians under circum- stances so aggravated, that he determined, regardless of con- sequences, to embrace the first opportunity to revenge his death. The circumstances were these : Early in a skirmish with the savages, on the twenty-second of July, 1776, near the Oconee river, Captain Thomas Dooly received a most severe wound ; but indifferent to his sufferings, he continued to encourage his men, and actually fired two shots at the enemy after he was wounded. His junior officer, more intent upon his own safety than upon his duty, neglected his commander, and was one among the first to leave the ground. Captain Dooly, in an agony of suffering, implored his men not to leave him in the power of his enemies ; but seized with consterna- tion, and following the example of their lieutenant, they left him to his fate, and when last seen he was in the act of defend-
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DADE COUNTY.
ing himself with the end of his gun. He was afterwards murdered by the foe, and Captain John Dooly concerted a plan to attack the Indians at Galphinton, after propositions of peace had been made by the constituted authorities. The plan was discovered, Captain Dooly was arrested, and a court martial ordered, but he gave up his commission, and was shortly afterwards appointed colonel of militia in Wilkes county. His conduct on all occasions was that of a brave and active offi- cer, anxious to be employed in cases where danger was to be incurred. The Indians were aware of his determination to punish them for the murder of his brother, and the mere men- tioning of his name would create terror among them. Colonel Dooly was conspicuous in the various skirmishes on both sides of the Savannah river, above and below Petersburg. At Kettle creek he commanded the right wing of Colonel Clarke's force, and contributed to the victory which declared itself in favour of the American arms. After this signal action, he was engaged for a length of time in affording protection to the frontiers, in which harassing duty he gained much credit. In 1780, this brave officer came to his death by the hands of a party of tories, who entered his house at midnight and mur- dered him. He left several sons, among whom was Judge Dooly, one of the ablest men in Georgia.
DADE.
BOUNDARIES .-- Bounded N. by Tennessee, E. and S. by Walker county, and W. by Alabama.
RIVERS, CREEKS .- Lookout creek is the only stream of any size.
POST OFFICES -Trenton, Wauhatchee, Rising Town.
POPULATION, TAXES, REPRESENTATION .- In 1845, the popu- lation was 1,924 whites, and 103 blacks ; total, 2,027. Amount of State tax for 1848, $280 29. Entitled to one representa- tive to the Legislature.
COUNTY TOWN .- Trenton is the seat of justice, situated on a stream known as Town creek, on a considerable eminence mid-
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DADE COUNTY.
way between the Raccoon and Lookout mountains. It is a small place, having an inferior court-house and jail, and two or three stores. The population is perhaps 250. Good water and excellent health may be considered as the principal attractions of Trenton. It is 231 miles N. W. of Milledgeville, 21 miles from La Fayette, and 35 from Summeville.
NATURE OF THE SOIL, PRODUCTIONS, VALUE OF LAND .-- Dade can boast of lands equal in fertility to any in Georgia, producing with little labour abundant crops of corn, wheat, oats, &c. Corn on the bottoms often grows to the height of twenty feet. The main productions are corn, wheat, rye and oats. Irish potatoes succeed well. Cotton does not seem to thrive, and very little is planted. Vegetables of almost every descrip- tion grow most luxuriantly. The best lands are valued at $10 per acre.
MOUNTAINS .-- Raccoon and Lookout mountains.
AVERAGE PRODUCT PER ACRE .- Cotton has been known to yield 1,000 lbs. per acre ; corn averages 40 bushels per acre ; wheat 20 bushels per acre. About 100 bags of cotton are raised in the county per annum.
FOREST TREES .- The oak, hickory, cedar, poplar, gum, pine, walnut, chestnut, locust, elder, mountain birch, and all trees peculiar to mountain districts.
ANIMALS .- Deer in abundance, wolves, bears, and panthers in the mountains, foxes, rabbits, &c.
BIRDS .- Wild turkeys, quails, ducks, woodcocks, &c.
CLIMATE, DISEASES, LONGEVITY .- The climate is cold in winter, but pleasant and invigorating in summer. Fever and chills prevail in the valleys, and many of the diseases can be traced to exposure and irregularity of living. The instances of longevity are the following : Mrs. Cartwright, over 80 years ; Mrs. Carr, 80 ; Richard Cox, 85.
AVERAGE PRICE OF GRAIN, PROVISIONS, EXPENSE ( F LIV- ING .- Corn averages $1 per barrel, but has often been sold at 50 cents per barrel. Wheat, 40 cents per bushel ; turkeys, 50 cents per pair; fowls, 10 cents per pair ; eggs, 5 cents per dozen ; pork, $3 per cwt. ; beef, 2} cents per pound ; bacon, 7 cents per pound. Negro men are hired by the year at $100; women, $50. White labourers have $8 per month. Board may be had for $4 per month.
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DADE COUNTY.
MINERAL SPRINGS .- Near Trenton is a sulphur spring, and several chalybeate springs in various portions of the county.
CAVES .- Dade abounds with caves. One mile and half west of Trenton is a large cave, known as the Saltpetre cave. Wauhatchee cave is very extensive.
MINERALS .- The mineral resources of this county are im- mensely great. Bituminous coal abounds in the Raccoon and Lookout mountains. Dade is destined to furnish the State with coal. Iron ore of excellent quality, and other valuable minerals, exist in various sections. A very pure variety of plaster is found on the plantation of Col. Robert H. Tatum.
CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE .- In this county, the refine- ments of polished society do not exist. Isolated from the world, the people seem to care for nothing except the supply of their immediate wants. Hospitality is eminently their cha- racteristic. The stranger is greeted with a hearty wel- come, and his conversation listened to with evident signs of pleasure.
MARKET .- Chattanooga is the market.
ROADS .- For a mountain country, the roads are fair.
MANUFACTURES, MILLS .- In the Lookout valley, 3} miles S. of Trenton, are iron works, which manufacture 400 pounds of iron per day. The ore is very fine, and the establishment supplies the whole Lookout valley with iron, as well as Wills valley in Alabama. Fifteen hands employed. Capital in- vested $2000. Saw-mills, three ; grist-mills, five.
RELIGIOUS SECTS, EDUCATION .- There is a great variety of religious sects. Several kinds of Baptists, Christians, Me- thodists, Universalists, Cumberland Presbyterians. Pious and educated ministers are much needed. Education is at a low ebb.
ANTIQUITIES .- On the farm of Col. Perkins there is a stone fort, inclosing three or four acres, of which the Indians were unable to give any account. More than fifty mounds are in the county, and many of the rude cabins in which the red man once lived, are still standing, and are occupied by the farmers.
EARLY SETTLERS .- This county is mostly settled by per- sons from Tennessee.
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1 DADE COUNTY.
NAME .- We have a distinct recollection of the grief with which the people of the United States were overwhelmed, up- on the receipt of the melancholy intelligence that a gallant and chivalrous band of soldiers had been attacked and cut to pieces by the Indians of Florida. All felt that the country had lost some of its noblest defenders ; and the circumstances under which they fell, roused the indignation of their countrymen, and a general desire was expressed to avenge the cruel mas- sacre of as brave men as ever drew the sword. Major Francis Langhorne Dade was the commander of the detachment, to whose mournful destiny we have just alluded, and to perpetu- ate whose memory this county received its name. Citizens of Dade ! ye may well be proud of the name which your beautiful county bears. The Dade family came from England as early as 1662, and purchased lands in Virginia, near what was called the " Townshend Patent." The subject of this memoir was the son of Major Townshend Dade, and was born on the 22d of February, 1791, in Prince William county, Va. He received his education under the care of the Rev. M. L. Weems, well known as the author of the lives of Washington and Marion, together with several other smaller works. Upon leaving
school, Dade became a student of law in the office of his cousin Gen. Lawrence Dade, of Orange county, Virginia; but a mili- tary life seemed to have been his ardent desire, for which his subsequent career proved that he was pre-eminently fitted. He relinquished the law, and entered the army, in 1813, and was for some time engaged in the recruiting service. His kindness of heart was exemplified whilst employed in this duty. At Louisa Court House, his drummer, who was a little boy (son of a widow), whom he had pledged his word he would protect as his own son, was drying the head of his drum by the fire in the tavern, when the landlord, who was a violent opposer of the war, came in and commenced beat- ing him. Dade hearing it, came in, whereupon the man, a great burly fellow, attacked him, and he was compelled to resort to his sword to defend himself. In the scuffle, Lieut. Dade cut off the right arm of the landlord. The matter was subjected to a judicial examination, and Lieut. Dade was ho- nourably acquitted of all blame. With his early military
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DADE COUNTY.
career we are not much acquainted, but we are able to state that in 1814, he received the appointment of Second Lieutenant in the 12th regiment of infantry,-was made Captain in the 4th regiment of infantry, to rank as such on the 24th of February, 1818 ; and the rank of Major, by brevet, was con- ferred upon him February 24, 1828. With the exception of the time that he spent under Colonel, now Major General Scott, on the frontiers of Canada, two years in Louisiana, where he commanded a military post below New Orleans, one year in Virginia on the recruiting service, and one year on the same business in New-York, the last 20 years of his life were spent in Florida. In most of the difficulties and skirmishes in Florida he was engaged, and acquitted himself to the entire satisfaction of his commanders. His knowledge of the country, of Indian character and habits, was acknowledged to be superior to that of any officer in the army; and hence it was that he was constantly engaged in active service. He was with Gen. Jackson at the change of flags in Pensacola, and officer of the day when Col. Calava, formerly Governor of Flo- rida, was put in prison for refusing to deliver up certain docu- ments, particularly of judicial records relating to the titles of individual property. In his prudence and firmness Gen. Clinch had the greatest reliance, and charged him with the protection of the inhabitants who resided between Tallahassee and the Suwanee. In this responsible duty he distinguished himself for promptness, energy, and decision. On one occasion, he learned that the savages were on their way to burn Mr. Bellamy's house, and scalp and murder the inmates. Without a mo- ment's delay, with only a few men, he rapidly pushed on, over- took and captured the Indians. Two lovely young ladies were at Mr. Bellamy's house at this time ; one a daughter of Mr. Bellamy, the other Miss Duval, a daughter of the Governor. Major Dade arrived at the house the next day, covered with dirt from head to foot, and with a beard which had not been shaven for several days, and made his respects to the ladies, who met him as their deliverer, and overwhelmed him with their thanks. In compliance with orders received from Gen. Clinch, dated October 17, 1835, directed to Brevet Major F. L. Dade, commanding, Key West, he proceeded with his com-
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