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 23
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GILMER COUNTY.
lature of Georgia has competent authority to pass laws for the government of the Indians residing within its limits : however courteous the manner and conciliatory the phraseology, cannot but be considered exceedingly disrespectful to the government of the State. No one knows better than yourself, that the Governor would grossly violate his duty, and exceed his autho- rity, by complying with such a suggestion ; and that both the letter and spirit of the powers conferred by the constitution upon the Supreme Court, forbid its adjudging such a question. Your suggestion is but an evidence of the state of that contest in which the advocates of power are exerting themselves to increase the authority of the departments of the General Gov- ernment; whilst the friends of liberty and the rights of the people are in opposition, endeavouring to sustain the sove- reignty of the States. It is hoped that the efforts of the Gene- ral Government to execute its contract with Georgia, to secure the continuance and advance the happiness of the Indian tribes, and to give quiet to the country, may be so effectually success- ful, as to prevent the necessity of any further intercourse upon this subject.
Yours, &c., GEORGE R. GILMER.
WILLIAM WIRT, Esq.
Whilst Mr. Gilmer was Governor, in 1837 and 1838, the Indians were removed from Georgia, and we have no doubt that by their removal their condition has been greatly im- proved. Mr. Gilmer has retired from public life, and holds no appointment except that of trustee of Franklin College. He resides in Lexington, Oglethorpe county, and devotes his time to the cultivation of a farm. For recreation he has explored much of the country in the vicinity of Lexington, and has collected a most beautiful cabinet of minerals and Indian relics. In stature he is about five feet nine inches-com- plexion sallow-piercing eyes. In his dress plain, and what some might consider unfashionable. His manners are pecu- liarly fascinating. His mind is filled with immense stores of historical lore. His conversational powers are uncommonly great, and no one can be in his company without forming the conclusion that he possesses no ordinary powers of mind.
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GLYNN COUNTY.
We are not acquainted with Mr. Gilmer's religious opinions, but we know that he holds in high regard the institutions of Christianity ; that he possesses a generous heart, which leads him to aid the wretched and relieve the needy. "Serus in cælum redeas."
GLYNN.
BOUNDARIES, EXTENT .- Bounded N. by McIntosh ; E. by the Atlantic ; S. by Camden, and W. by Wayne. It is one among the oldest counties in Georgia, being first laid out into two parishes, viz., St. Patrick's and St. David's, in 1765, al- though extensive settlements had been made many years ante- rior to that period. In 1777 the parishes above named were formed into the county of Glynn. Length 22 miles ; breadth 18; square miles 396.
RIVERS, CREEKS, SWAMPS .- The Alatamaha, Turtle, Little St. Illa, McCoy's, and St. Simon's, are the chief streams. The creeks are Academy, Fort's, Gibson's, Cowpen, Burnett's, Ten Mile, Wallace. There are many large swamps, such as Buf- falo, Little Buffalo, College and Turkey.
POPULATION, TAXES, REPRESENTATION .- In 1840 the pop- ulation of the county was 5,302 ; in 1845, 4,327; of these 617 whites, 3,710 blacks. Amount of state tax returned in 1848, $2,674 03. Sends one representative to the Legislature.
POST OFFICES .- Brunswick, Bethel, Frederica.
FACE OF THE COUNTRY, NATURE OF THE SOIL .- The face of the country is broken by extensive swamps, which, when drained, become the most valuable lands in the county. The soil may be thus described : First, the pine barrens, having a light sandy soil unfit for cultivation unless highly manured. Second, hammock lands, light and sandy but fertile, peculiarly adapted to the cultivation of cotton. Third, tide lands, which consist of river swamp lands within the limits of the proper rise and fall of the tides. These constitute the fertile rice lands of the Alatamaha. Fourth, inland swamp, consisting of a rich clay soil, productive if drained and embanked. The swamp lands bordering the Alatamaha in some places are two miles wide and of inexhaustible fertility. The product of rice
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is from 30 to 80 bushels per acre. Corn upon hammock lands averages 15 bushels per acre. When manured they have been known to yield 50 bushels per acre. Pine lands average 8 bushels per acre. Cotton averages about 125 pounds clean per acre. The islands have a gray soil, and produce cotton, corn, potatoes, peas, cane, &c. Apricots, figs, oranges, and some other tropical fruits grow to great perfection. Olives too are successfully cultivated, and oil made from the olive grown upon St. Simon's has been pronounced by competent judges to be inferior to no article of the same kind made in Europe. As it is the opinion of many intelligent persons that the olive can not only be successfully but profitably cultivated in our State, we here insert copious extracts from a letter on this subject written by James H. Couper, Esq., one of the most scientific planters in Glynn, and who has had much experience in the culture of the olive. The letter was originally addressed to the Hon. Mitchell King, of Charleston, who read it at a meet- ing of the South Carolina Agricultural Society. Says Mr. Cou- per : " The first and all-important question which presents itself is whether our climate is adapted to the olive tree. The facts which will be presented are, I think, decisive that the immediate seaboard of South Carolina, Georgia, and the whole of Flori- da, and the borders of the Gulf of Mexico, are as suitable for the cultivation of the olive as the south of France." After proving from a variety of facts that the climate of the olive region in France is no milder than the maritime districts of South Carolina, Georgia, and the whole of Florida, Mr. Cou- per proceeds thus : " The actual growth of the olive tree itself proves this most conclusively. At Dungeness, on Cumberland island, Georgia, a number of trees bore abundantly before .the fatal spring of 1835. In 1825 my father imported, through a French house in Charleston, two hundred trees from Provence, via the Languedoc canal and Bourdeaux. They were five months on the way, and did not arrive until May ; notwith- standing which a very few only failed to grow. These trees were planted at Cannon's Point, his residence, on St. Simon's Island, lat. 31° 20', and had borne several crops of olives when the severe cold of February, 1835, (8º of Fahrenheit,) injured them so much that it was necessary to cut them down to the
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GLYNN COUNTY.
ground. They all threw up shoots from the old stumps ; and many of them have now attained to a diameter of nine inches. For the last two years they have produced some fruit ; and this year about one half of the trees are bending under the weight of an abundant crop. About one hundred trees raised from cuttings, are also beginning to bear. It is now twenty- one years since the importation of these trees, and with the exception of the destructive season of 1835, they have never in the slightest degree been injured by the cold. The last winter was one of unusual severity ; the thermometer having sunk to 19º Fahrenheit; and although the sweet oranges on the same plantation were much injured, some having been cut down to the ground, I could not perceive that a single leaf among 250 olive trees had been touched by the frost. This experience is certainly very satisfactory, the more particularly as it is certain that the season of 1835 was the coldest known on this coast for at least one hundred years, as is proved by the destruction of orange trees on St. Simon's Island, which had stood since the occupation of that island by Gen. Ogle- thorpe, and of others at St. Augustine, which dated still farther back. The effect of one such disastrous year should not dis- courage the introduction of so valuable a tree. In the south of France they have persevered in its cultivation, although in 1709 and 1788, almost every tree was destroyed to the ground, and they were severely injured in 1740, 1745, 1748, 1755, and 1768. It may be doubted whether the olive tree can be culti- vated beyond the influence of the sea air on the coast of Caro- lina and Georgia with the varieties at present known. But it may be hoped that this plant will in-time become acclimated ; and that by pursuing the plan of raising from the seed, which has been found to produce hardier plants, new kinds adapted to a greater range of climate may in time be introduced. The gradual extension of the olive from the southern to the northern shores of the Mediterranean would encourage this expectation. The southern coasts of Italy and Spain, which are now the great oil markets of the world, were destitute of the olive du- ring the early periods of Roman history.
" The suitableness of the soil of our southern coast to the olive tree, admits of no doubt. It thrives in every soil which
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GLYNN COUNTY.
is not wet. That the sandy lands of our seaboard are adapt- ed to the olive, needs no other proof than the luxuriant growth of the trees on St. Simon's and Cumberland islands. Should the olive become acclimated to the interior of the States of South Carolina and Georgia, it will find in the open and gravelly soil of the tertiary slope, between the granite ridge, and the tide water, its most congenial soil. The next question which presents itself is the introduction of that tree, likely to prove such a source of profit to the agriculturist as to be worthy his attention. A calm examination of this part of the subject, will probably disappoint those whose standard of pro- fit has been the exaggerated hopes of the cotton culture, and who tolerate no delay in reaping the reward of their labour ; but it may present a sufficient inducement to devote some time and expense to the subject, to a class of persons less im- patient of growing rich, and who believe that the direction of a part of the agricultural labour of the Southern States to new objects, is called for by the excessive production of a few staples, and that the introduction of a new plant affording a wholesome and nutritious article of food, and which is impor- tant to many valuable manufacturers, will add very materially to the wealth, happiness and independence of the country. The distance at which the olive trees are planted is regulated by the circumstance, whether the ground is to be devoted solely to them, or is to be cultivated at the same time in grain. In the first case they are placed nearer, and in the latter far- ther apart. It may be assumed as a safe ground of calcula- tion, that 25 trees may be planted to the acre, when the land is cropped, and 50 if devoted exclusively to the olive. The product of oil varies very much with the size of the tree, the character of the soil, and the fruitfulness of the season. In France, we are informed that at Toulon they have great trees that are known to yield 20 to 30 livres a tree, (40 to 60lbs., or from 5} to 84 gallons of oil). When they give a crop, which is once in two years, and sometimes once in three, small trees yield 3 livres (6 lbs.), 5 livres (10 lbs.), and 6 livres (12 lbs.) each. 'In Languedoc, olives pay in general 3 livres (6 lbs.) each tree per annum, some 5 livres (10 lbs.). At Pingean, some large and fine trees are known to give 84 lbs. of oil, or
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GLYNN COUNTY.
11} gallons, as the gallon weighs 7} lbs. ; but they reckon that good trees give 6 livres (12 lbs.) one with another." In the article Olive, in Michaux' North American Sylva., vol. 2, page 196, Mr. Hillhouse observes, ' the mean produce of a tree may be assumed in France, at 10 lbs. (1} gals.) ; and in Italy at 15 lbs. (2 gallons,) ; but single trees have been known in the productive season to yield 300 lbs. (41 gallons). Young states the produce of a field of 209 trees in Tuscany to have been in
1786,
· 30 barrels, (150 lbs. each) or
615 gals. 61
1787,
3
66
66
66
66
164
1789, 25
66
512
66 barrels,
1352, " or
average per annum of 338 gallons, being 13 gallons per tree. On a very bad stony soil, though in the plain, I found it took 20 trees of 25 years' growth to yield a barrel of oil (20} gal- lons) ; but in a fine soil and with very old trees, a barrel per tree has been known.'
"From these statements, assuming that the district to which I have conjecturally limited the olive culture has a climate as favourable for it as that in the South of France, we may place the product of a tree in full bearing, as giving a mean annual yield of one gallon of oil, or 25 gallons to the acre, when the land is cultivated at the same time in some other crop, or at 50 gallons if exclusively devoted to the olive. Estimating the oil at the moderate price of 75 cents per gallon, and the value will be in the former case, $182 per acre, and in the latter, $37}. But to the first must be added the value of the corn or other crops cultivated on the same land; and which may be put down at nearly a full crop every second year, as the trees are reckoned in Italy to diminish the grain crop only one- fifth.
" If the facts given above are sufficient to prove the impor- tance and practicability of cultivating the olive among us, no impediment is presented by the difficulty of propagating it, as it is readily increased by seed, by cuttings, suckers, portions of the root, or by grafting. The mode of raising by the seed
1788, 8
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GLYNN COUNTY.
is only resorted to in order to produce new varieties, or as stocks for grafting, as the fruit from seedlings, although yield- ing an oil of a more delicate and higher flavour, is usually very small. Grafting improves the quality of the fruit ; but is not so generally resorted to as propagation by suckers and cuttings. The last is the most practised. Limbs from an inch to an inch and a half in diameter, are cut in lengths of from twelve to fifteen inches. Trenches five feet apart and six to eight inches deep being prepared, the cuttings are placed in them, about eighteen inches apart, and in an oblique position, so that when the earth is filled in, from one to two inches will remain above the ground. On the exposed end a little gardener's cement should be smeared, to exclude the water ; and over the whole some moss or loose sand is drawn, for some time, to diminish the evaporation. In dry weather the cuttings should occasionally be watered, until they have taken root. Until the third year nothing more is required than to cultivate among the young plants, and to trim them to a single stem. When three years old, the young trees should be planted out in the usual way, at distances of from thirty to forty-eight feet. The holes should be made large and deep, and had better be dug several months before the trees are put out. The subsequent cultivation consists in removing the suckers, trimming out the dead wood, in manuring moderately once in three or four years, digging around the roots annually, and in ploughing once a year the intervals, unless a crop of grain is cultivated among them. Much difference of opinion exists in France, on the subject of pruning ; but unless it is deemed desirable to keep the trees low for the facility of gathering the fruit, or to diminish the risk of their being blown down by high winds, all that appears to be necessary is to re- move the decayed wood, and to keep the head of the tree mo- derately open, for the free admission of light and heat. With us, the liability to severe gales of wind, will recommend low trimming : and the same evil will probably lead to the practice of grafting on seedling stocks, the tap root of which will in- sure the stability of the future tree. From cuttings, in thin soils, the roots will be too superficial for safety.
" The manufacture of this oil is extremely simple ; and re-
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GLYNN COUNTY.
quires no very complicated or expensive machinery. The latter consists of a mortar, a revolving stone, or some other contrivance for separating the pulp from the stones, and of rendering it a paste ; a revolving stone, like a bark or cider- mill for crushing the stones; a lever or screw press for the pressing of the oil from the pulp and stones ; bags of coarse cloth or hair to contain the pulp ; and wooden or earthen- ware vessels for receiving the oil from the presses, and for se- parating it from the mucilage.
" As soon as the olives are ripe, which is indicated by their becoming of a dark colour and soft, they are gathered by hand, and spread out over floors to the depth of a few inches. In this situation they remain three days, being turned daily, and the decayed berries carefully picked out. They are then placed in the mortar or under a stone, and moderately triturated, until the pulp is reduced to a paste, and is detached from the stones. The stones having been removed, the pulp is then put into coarse and strong bags, and placed under the press, which should be worked very slowly at first. From the press the oil mixed with mucilage runs into wooden vessels, half filled with water. After standing from twelve to twenty-four hours, to give time to the mucilage to separate from the oil, the latter is decanted into other vessels, and remains undisturbed for about twenty days. It is then ready to be decanted again, and finally put into barrels, in which it is to remain. During this repose, nearly all the mucilage will have been precipitated ; but the oil is still liable to be troubled until it has been exposed to the cold.
" The oil from this expression is of the first quality. The pulp or cake remaining in the bags from this first pressure, is then broken up, moistened with warm water, returned to the bags, and again pressed. The oil from it is nearly equal to the first, and may be mixed with it.
" The stones having been reduced to a paste by grinding under stones, are pressed in the same way, and yield an in- ferio oil, of a harsh taste, and running rapidly into a state of rancidity. The refuse of the manufacture forms a valuable manure.
" The above is a mere outline of the mode of cultivating the
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the olive, and of extracting the oil. To enter fully into the subject, would occupy many sheets of paper; and such de- tailed information is probably foreign to your purpose, which, it is presumed, is to recommend it to the attention of the South, by presenting for consideration its most important features ;- and to go no farther into minutiæ than may be necessary to an accurate knowledge and correct appreciation of it.
" The experiment made by my father-who, though 88 years no longer allow of his taking an active part in field operations, is still deeply interested in the subject-has proved so satis- factory, that it is my intention to prosecute it on a larger scale. We have succeeded perfectly in pickling the olive, and in mak- ing from it the finest oil I have ever tasted. This season I ex- pect to make several hundred bottles of oil ; and if I am not disappointed by a hurricane, I hope this winter to submit a sample for your critical judgment. Having now about 250 trees of various ages ; and intending to increase them, I hope in a few years to be able to test conclusively the question of the olive culture in Georgia. The experiment will not be a costly one, as the ground occupied by olives is cultivated at the same time in other crops."
Some years ago sugar was made to some great extent in Glynn, but its culture has been discontinued for sale, except on two plantations.
EARLY SETTLERS .- A long list of the early settlers might be inserted, if space permitted. We will mention only the names of a few : Major Horton, John Couper, William McIn- tosh, James Harrison, Moses Burnett, John Piles, William Clubbs, John B. Jirardeau, Thomas Spalding, and others.
RELIGIOUS SECTS, EDUCATION .- Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, and Episcopalians.
Besides the County Academy, which is well endowed, there are a few district schools of an elementary character. The wealthy classes employ private tutors for their children.
CLIMATE, DISEASES, LONGEVITY .- The climate is warm. The temperature is, however, moderated by the sea breezes, and the thermometer rarely exceeds 90º.
In the summer and autumn fevers and agues occur in the lower lands. The islands are regarded as desirable places of
283
GLYNN COUNTY.
resort during the sickly season ; in very wet seasons they are occasionally subject to light cases of fever.
A large number of persons have lived to a great age in this county. On St. Simon's, there are, in a population of 80 whites, six heads of families who are more than 75 years of age. Mr. P. Grant was 84 when he died; was at the battle of Bloody Marsh under Gen. Oglethorpe. The wife of this gentleman died at the age of 80. Captain Christopher Poullain Dubignon died at 87 years. Mr. John Couper is now living, who has reached more than 90 years, possessed of great conversational powers, extraordinary memory, and whose mind is stored with highly interesting incidents con- nected with southern Georgia. This gentleman and the Hon. Thomas Spalding, of the adjoining island of Sapelo, are the only two surviving signers of the Constitution of Georgia.
MINERALS, ROCKS, FOSSILS, SHELLS .- There are no miner- als or rocks in this section, but a great variety of interesting fossils have been found in different places. In the Brunswick canal, during the years 1838 and 1839, a large quantity of fos- sil bones was discovered.
This county has acquired much celebrity among the na- turalists of Europe and this country for the number of beau- tiful and rare shells which have their habitat in its rivers and creeks. Among these is the Unio spinosus, said to be found only in the Alatamaha river, and which is esteemed very highly by the lovers of Conchology. A reference to the Cata- logue of shells found in Georgia, will show that this county is peculiarly rich in unios, anadontas, ampullaria, &c.
CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE .- Intelligence is a leading trait in the character of the people. Many of the planters have been educated in northern colleges, and their minds have been enriched by foreign travel. In polite literature, in philosophy, in political knowledge, some of the citizens have gained a high reputation. Their writings have not only ornamented the pages of scientific works in the United States, but also those of Europe, and have received the unqualified approba- tion of learned societies on both sides of the Atlantic. Hos- pitality also eminently characterizes the people of Glynn. The well furnished house of the planter is always open to the
284
GLYNN COUNTY.
traveller, and the offer of compensation is almost regarded as an indignity. Properly introduced, the stranger is made to understand that he is at home. Horses, guns, boats, and well- stocked libraries are at his command, and he soon feels that he is amongst those whose principal gratification is derived' from seeing him happy. No one can spend a week in Glynn without coming to the conclusion that he is in no ordinary society.
AMUSEMENTS .-- The amusements are hunting, dancing, visit- ing, and fishing. Boat-racing is also a favourite pastime with the inhabitants of the island. In nothing do the planters pride themselves more than in their boats, which are constructed with a special view to elegance and lightness. Washington Irving says, that when in England he heard gentlemen dwell on the shape and beauty of particular trees on their estates, with as much pride and technical precision as though they had been discussing the merits of statues in their collection;" and the same remark is applicable to the islanders of Glynn, that, in- stead of discussing the merits of trees, they discuss the merits of their beautiful boats. These boats have generally fancy names, such as Lady Love, Star, Lightning, Lizard, &c. A boat race is an exciting occurrence to all classes, but especial- ly to the slaves, who really think that the reputation of the plantations to which they belong, depends upon the swiftness of their masters' boats.
TOWNS .- Brunswick is the seat of justice for this county ; situated on the east bank of an arm or branch of Turtle river, 201 miles S. E. of Milledgeville, 80 S. S. W. of Savannah, 8 miles from St. Simon's lighthouse, and about 13 miles from St. Simon's bar. " The site of the town is a beautiful bluff of close sand ; the soil is perfectly dry and very eligible for a large city, being elevated from eight to twelve feet above high water, and extending itself up and down the river for upwards of two miles, affording a delightful situation for a town of the largest extent. The beauty of its location, its splendid river, and circumjacent islands, make it altogether the handsomest site we have seen on our coast for the erection of a commercial emporium and naval depot." Three naval officers, appointed by Congress to report on the comparative advantages and faci-
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