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 32
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379
LIBERTY COUNTY.
wind then suddenly shifted S. E., and soon began to moderate. The rain, or rather mist, that fell had a saltish taste for miles in the interior, evidently being mixed with spray from the sea- water. The appearance of desolation that was presented to the eye the next morning was awful in the extreme."
ISLAND .- St. Catherine's Island is about 13 miles long and one and a half miles wide. The soil is sandy, and is ca- pable of the highest cultivation by the application of manure. Sea Island cotton, corn, sugar-cane, peas, potatoes, are the pro- ductions. The yield of cotton is from 150 to 200 pounds per acre. Corn 20 to 25 bushels per acre. Potatoes 400 bushels per acre. It is high, dry, and healthy. The island is owned by three gentlemen, who cultivate it with 300 slaves.
St. Catherine's Island is celebrated as being formerly the residence of that celebrated half-breed Indian woman, Mary Musgrove, who married the Rev. Mr. Bosomworth. She was styled and recognized by General Oglethorpe as queen of the Creek Nation. She was artful, perfidious, and ambitious, and exerted a despotic sway over the tribe. She asserted claims to the site of Savannah and the surrounding country, and threatened the infant colony with her vengeance, and was ap- peased only by concessions to her of the islands of Ossabaw, St. Catherine's, and Sapelo. Twenty years since, the man- sion in which Bosomworth and his queen resided, was stand- ing. It was singular in its construction and appearance, being wattled with hickory twigs, and plastered within and without with mortar made of lime and sand, and surrounded by spa- cious piazzas. Tradition designates the spot where this extraor- dinary woman was buried.
HISTORICAL NOTICES .- Liberty county was the theatre of many important events during the Revolution. We can only name a few. At a meeting held in the city of Savannah to decide whether deputies should be sent to join the de- puties of the other colonies, at the general Congress, it was decided in the negative, and St. John's parish, now Liberty county, dissented from this negative, and resolved, "that if the majority of the other parishes would unite with them, they would send deputies to join the General Com- mittee, and faithfully and religiously abide by and conform to
380
LIBERTY COUNTY.
such determination and resolutions as should be entered into and come from thence recommended ;" and the articles of the Continental Association, emanating from that body, were adopt- ed by the people of St. John's. On the 23d of January, the forty-five members of the Provincial Congress entered into a non-importation, non-consumption, and non-exportation asso- ciation. To these proceedings the people of St. John's took exceptions, and their Committee withdrew from the Provincial Congress. On the 9th of February they addressed a letter to the General Committee in Charleston, praying to be received into their association ; but their petition was refused. On the 25th of March, they met and elected Dr. Lyman Hall
as a delegate to Congress. At this period the parish of St. John's possessed nearly one-third of the entire wealth of the province, and its inhabitants were remarkable for their upright and independent character. " Alone she stood, a Pharos of Liberty in England's most loyal province, renouncing every fellowship that savoured not of freedom, and refusing every luxury which contributed to ministerial coffers. Proud spot of Georgia's soil !"
The decided conduct of the people of St. John's exposed them to great suffering, for the enemy laid waste all before them .* Several engagements occurred in this county. At Bulltown Swamp, Col. John Baker, with a party of mounted militia, fell into an ambuscade, in which he, Captain Coop- er, and William Goulding, were wounded. About one mile and a half south of Midway church, the brave General Scrivent fell into an ambuscade and was mortally wounded. At Sunbury, and at several other places, the patriots of Liber- ty displayed a courage which would have done honour to any people. The following is taken from McCall's History of Georgia :
" On the 4th of June a party of British officers were en- gaged 'to dine with Mr. Thomas Young, at Belfast, on the river Medway, to celebrate the King's birth day ; Capt. Spen- cer, who commanded an American privateer, got intelligence
* See Biography of General Daniel Stewart. + See Biography of General Scriven.
381
LINCOLN COUNTY.
of the intended feast, and prepared to surprise them. He pro- ceeded up the river in the evening, and landed with 12 men ; and between 8 and 9 o'clock at night, Spencer entered the house and made Col. Cruger and the party of officers prisoners of war. As Spencer intended to carry off some negroes, he kept his prisoners under a guard until the morning, when he re- ceived their paroles and permitted them to return to Sunbury. Col. Cruger was soon after exchanged for Col. John McIntosh, who had been taken prisoner at Brier Creek."
In the year 1788 the inhabitants suffered much from the depredations of the neighbouring Indians. Several skirmishes took place, in which the Indians were generally worsted. Colonels Stewart and Maxwell, Lieuts. Way, Winn and Jones, and many others, were active soldiers during these trying times.
LINCOLN.
BOUNDARIES, EXTENT .- This county is bounded N. by El- bert, N. E. and E. by the Savannah river, S. by Columbia, W. by Wilkes. Laid out from Wilkes, in 1796. It is 22 miles long and 9 miles wide, containing 198 square miles.
RIVERS, CREEKS. - The Savannah river separates the county from South Carolina, Broad river from Elbert, and Little river from Columbia. The creeks are Fishing, Mills, Pistol, Gray's, Lloyd's, Cherokee, Shivers, Soap, Dry Fork, &c.
POST OFFICES .- Lincolnton, Double Branches, Goshen.
POPULATION, TAXES, REPRESENTATION .- In 1845, the po- pulation was 7,899; of these 4,383 were whites, and 3,526 blacks. State tax returned for 1848, $2,228 29 cts. Sends one representative to the Legislature.
TowNS .- Lincolnton is the seat of justice, situated on the waters of Soap creek, in the centre of the county, having a brick court-house, built in 1823 at a cost of $4,000, a jail, one church, common to Methodists, Baptists and Presbyterians, one academy for children of both sexes, one store, two black- smiths, one wheelwright, four lawyers, two doctors, and two
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382
LINCOLN COUNTY.
or three societies, among which is a division of the Sons of Temperance, and which has wrought marvellous changes in the habits of the people. Lincolnton is distant 90 miles N. E. of Milledgeville, 18 from Washington, 36 from Elberton, 22 from Appling, 40 from Edgefield, 37 from Abbeville, 7 from the Savannah river, and 27 from the Georgia Railroad. Popu- lation, 150. Incorporated in 1817.
Lisbon, on the south side of Broad river, was laid out as early as 1786. Small place.
Goshen, 6 miles N. of Lincolnton, having a church, hotel, school, and several mechanics' shops.
Leathersville, 6 miles S. of Lincolnton.
CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE .-- A great change has taken place in the character of the people, the effect we are told of religion and temperance. A few persons are still to be found regardless of morality and order ; but upon the whole the citizens of Lincoln will not suffer by a comparison with those of any section in the State.
CLIMATE, DISEASES, LONGEVITY .- The climate is healthy, although within the last four or five years there has been much sickness in this county. There are several instances of longevity. Absalom Tankisley, is over 80; Peter Guice, over 80; Mrs. Linville, over 90; Emily Glaze, over 80; Mrs. Betsey Paradise, 85; Mrs. Crossin, 81 ; Abraham Booth, a soldier of the Revolution, died at the age of 100; John Matthews died at 84-was at the battle of Brandywine; William Nor- man, also a revolutionary soldier, died at 79 years of age ; Mrs. Hill died in this county at the age of 100. Seven of her sons were captured by the Indians, and six of them stoned to death.
FACE OF THE COUNTRY, NATURE OF THE SOIL, AVERAGE PRODUCT. - The face of the country is hilly, and liable to wash into gullies after a rain. The lands on the Savan- nah and Little rivers and Fishing creek are productive; dark mulatto soil, adapted to corn ; producing from three to five barrels per acre. The red and gray soils are adapted to cotton; but much broken and easily washed. Most of the county is under culture. In addition to cotton and wheat, the land produces peas, tobacco, and potatoes ; cotton averages 500
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LINCOLN COUNTY.
pounds per acre ; corn two barrels, wheat five bushels. Very little attention is paid to orchards.
MARKET .- Augusta is the market. Between 4 and 5000 bags of cotton are annually produced.
MINERALS .- A variety of minerals is found in this county. Gold on Mr. John Benson's land, on Fishing creek, two and a half miles from Danburg, and in two or three other places. Novaculite is found on a hill two miles from Lincolnton. It is seen projecting above the surface of the earth through four or five acres of ground, and is therefore probably quite exten- sive. It is found very much inclined, or nearly in a vertical direction. There are several varieties of colour in the same locality. That which is found exposed to the atmosphere is mostly of a yellowish straw-colour, but that which is taken from beneath the surface is mostly of a greenish white .* Ame- thystine quartz, on the plantation of Mr. Hogan, 6 miles from Limestone. Iron ore and granite in every part of the county.
ROADS .- The market roads are kept in good order ; the others are much neglected.
MILLS, DISTILLERIES .- Saw-mills, 8; grist-mills, 12 ; flour- mills, 2; no large distillery.
RELIGIOUS SECTS, EDUCATION .- Methodists, Baptists, Pres- byterians, Universalists, and Roman Catholics. There are six Methodist, seven Baptist, and two Union churches. Some attention is paid to education, but not as much as is necessary.
AMUSEMENTS .- The amusements are few ; pony racing in some sections, dancing and hunting.
MOUNTAIN .- Graves" mountain, near the line of Wilkes and Lincoln, six miles S. W. of Lincolnton, 300 feet high. Fine view from the summit.
EARLY SETTLERS .- Among the early settlers were the Graves', Suttons, Bussys, and Bentleys.
EMINENT MEN .- Col. John Dooly, an officer of the Revo- lution, resided in this county. (See biography of Dooly, page 210.) Thomas W. Murray lived in this county, and repre- sented its interests in the Legislature.
MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS. - At Lincolnton, at various
* Silliman's Journal, vol. xvi. p. 185.
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LINCOLN COUNTY.
times for the last five years, curious sounds, resembling those of distant thunder, have been heard. The noise has been so great as to produce a shaking of the glasses, fences, &c.
There is a young gentleman now living in this county, Mr. Sterne Simmons, who is 25 years old and weighs 504 pounds.
NAME .- Major General Benjamin Lincoln, to commemo- rate whose worth this county was named, deserves a high rank in the fraternity of American heroes. He was born in Hing- ham, Mass., January 23, 1733, in the same house in which he died on the 9th of May, 1810. . He was not favoured with a good education ; but by reading, compensated in a great mea- sure for this defect. For forty years he followed the occupa- tion of a farmer, although during this period he was honoured with many civil and military offices. Having taken a firm stand in favour of his country, he determined to devote himself to her liberties ; and Washington, knowing his integrity and abi- lity, recommended him to Congress as an excellent officer, and he was appointed by that body a Major General in the conti- nental establishment. He was in several engagements with the enemy, in one of which he received a severe wound, which occasioned lameness during the remainder of his life. Wash- ington selected him to take the chief command of the southern department. Upon coming to Charleston, in 1778, he found himself embarrassed by circumstances which would have en- tirely discouraged any man not possessing unconquerable energy. In the attack upon Savannah in 1779, in conjunction with the French, he was repulsed. At the siege of Yorktown he distinguished himself, and his name is to be found among those of the general officers whose services were particularly mentioned. In 1781 he was chosen by Congress Secretary at War, which he resigned, October, 1783. In 1786-7, he was appointed to command a detachment of militia to oppose Shay's insurrection ; and by his prudent measures the insur- rection was suppressed. In 1789, Washington appointed him Collector of the port of Boston, which office he held until within two years of his death. In Lincoln's character strength and softness, the estimable and amiable qualities, were happily blend- ed. His mind was quick and discriminating. As a military commander he was judicious, brave, and indefatigable. From
385
LOWNDES COUNTY.
early life he had been a communicant of the church. He was about five feet nine inches in stature ; his face round, his eyes blue, and his complexion light. He wrote essays on va- rious subjects. He was a man of true piety. All his trusts he performed with incorruptible integrity .*
LOWNDES.
BOUNDARIES, EXTENT. - Bounded N. by Irwin, E. by Ware, S. by Hamilton and Madison counties in Florida, and W. by Thomas. Laid off from Irwin, and organized in 1825. Its length from N. to S. is 52 miles, breadth 40, and contains 2080 square miles.
RIVERS, CREEKS .- The rivers are the Allapahaw, Little, and Withlacoochee. Among the creeks are the Allapahoo- chee, Ocopilco, Allapacoochee, Cat, Camp, Mule, &c.
POPULATION, TAXES, REPRESENTATION .- The population has been steadily on the increase. The census of 1845, gave this county 4,437 whites, 1,662 blacks; total, 6,099. Amount of State tax for 1848, $2,169 91 cents. Sends one representa- tive to the Legislature.
POST OFFICES .- Troupville, Allapahaw, Ocopilco, Piscola, Sharp's Store, Flat Creek.
TOWNS .- Troupville is the seat of justice, immediately in the fork made by the confluence of the Withlacoochee and Little rivers. It has the usual county buildings, three hotels, two churches, four stores, several mechanics' shops, two physicians, and four lawyers. It is distant from Milledgeville 180 miles S. ; 40 from Thomasville; 75 from Waresborough, and 75 from Irwinville. It is a healthy and pleasant village. Population about 20 families. Made the county site in 1828. Named after George M. Troup.
EARLY SETTLERS .- Rev. William A. Knight, Benjamin Serman, Bani Boyd, William Smith, and others.
RELIGIOUS SECTS, EDUCATION .- Methodists, Baptists, and a few Presbyterians. There are churches in almost every
* Thatcher's Journal. Sullivan's Letters. Sanderson's Lives.
386
LOWNDES COUNTY.
neighbourhood. The people have, until within a few years back, been rather unmindful of the great blessings of education, but are now beginning to be more solicitous for the welfare of their children, and schools are springing up in various parts of the county. Number of poor children, 307; educational fund, $266 24 cents.
ROADS, BRIDGES .- These are generally good. Almost all the roads are natural ones, depending but little upon the labour of the inhabitants for their good qualities.
MILLS .- 16 saw and grist-mills, 8 grist-mills, 2 rice-mills.
FACE OF THE COUNTRY, NATURE OF THE SOIL .- The ge- neral face of the country is level. The land is divided into pine and hammock. Of the former, there are 629,629 acres ; of the latter, 43,000 acres. The whole of the land is produc- tive, and some of the hammock lands produce as well as any land in the State. The southern and western portions con- tain the largest bodies of good land.
PRODUCTIONS, AVERAGE PRODUCT PER ACRE .-- Rice, cot- ton, corn, wheat, and indeed almost every thing grows finely in this county. It is supposed the product of cotton per acre stands thus : from 800 to 1,000 pounds of black seed, and from 1,000 to 1,400 pounds of green seed. Corn produces from 15 to 20 bushels per acre.
MARKETS .- The farmers usually carry their produce to Newport and Columbus in Florida, Centreville and the bluffs of Ocmulgee in Georgia. The want of a convenient market is the most serious inconvenience under which the farmers labour.
SPRINGS. - The beds of almost all the streams abound in springs, impregnated with various mineral substances, chiefly sulphur. One of these, discovered in the bed of the Withlacoochee, has been turned to account by some of the citizens, and is now a place of considerable resort. Around it a small village has sprung up, containing a store, church, and fine school. The village is called Boston, after the disco- verer of the spring, Thomas M. Boston.
MINERALS .-- The rocks which are found are chiefly sand- stone, limestone, and flint.
MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS .- Almost every stream of note in this county has some natural curiosity connected with it.
387
LOWNDES COUNTY.
Many of the streams disappear and are not seen for miles, when they again make their appearance, and flow as tran- quilly to their destination as if nothing strange or unusual had happened to them. Others present caves in their banks, into which a part of the stream is diverted, and at the entrance you will often find a thriving mill. Among the curiosities of this county may be placed the large open ponds, covering some six square miles, without any tree or stump in them. A portion of the surface of these ponds is covered with beautiful and rare botanical specimens. The streams and ponds abound in fish of various kinds. The woods are filled with game of all sorts.
VALUE OF TOWN LOTS, &C .- The value of town lots is $9,162. Value of stock in trade, $18,035. Money at interest, $37,434.
ANTIQUITIES .-- Within a few miles of Troupville are the ruins of an old town. Large live oaks grow in front of the ruins in straight rows, and so regular in their distance that it is scarcely probable they are of spontaneous growth. Roads are also discernible. These are wide and straight.
NAME .-- William Jones Lowndes, in honour of whom this county is named, was the youngest child of Rawlins Lowndes, by his second wife, a native of Georgia. His father we be- lieve was born in South Carolina. For talents and integrity Rawlins Lowndes was one of the most distinguished men in South Carolina before, during, and after the Revolution. His son, Wm. J. Lowndes, was born in or about the year 1781, and received his education altogether in Charleston. The first school in which his talents became remarkable, was that under the care of the Rev. Mr. O'Gallaher, a Catholic priest of great learning and liberality. After a while this seminary was ex- tended by a junction with two other schools, one under the Rev. Arthur Buist, a Presbyterian, and the other under the Rev. Henry Purcel, an Episcopalian. In this academy Lowndes was decidedly the best scholar, and the most dis- tinguished for exemplary deportment. At the close of one of the terms, Addison's Play of Cato was performed by the stu- dents with great applause, and Lowndes acted the part of Juba.
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LOWNDES COUNTY.
He studied law in Charleston, and when admitted to the bar, associated himself with the late John S. Cogdell.
In the year 1807, when the frigate Chesapeake was attacked by the Leopard, a British 60 gun ship, all Americans were fired with indignation. About this time Mr. Lowndes raised a uniform company, called the Washington Light Infantry, and was elected their first Captain.
In 1812 Mr. Lowndes was elected a member of Congress for Charleston District, and soon acquired distinction. He grew up very rapidly ; his figure was tall, his health impaired by study, and his voice feeble. His first speech was not gene- rally heard in the House, but when published, was read and admired. After that it was remarked that the members of both parties in Congress, when he was speaking, would quit their seats and crowd around him, to listen and profit by his strong arguments, urged in the best forensic language. Mr. Lowndes united cordially with the Southern delegates in every motion for carrying on the war with England, with all possi- ble energy, both by sea and land. At the close of the war, when the first bill was brought forward for chartering the Bank of the United States, in January, 1815, he voted against it, believing that it placed too much patronage in the hands of the President.
In 1818 he became Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, and so continued until he resigned his seat in Con- gress in 1822, on account of ill health. He had served ten years in that body, during one of the most eventful eras in American history. Mr. Lowndes's speeches have been pub- lished in most of the newspapers in the United States, and still may be read with interest ; but his official reports, while Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, are consi- dered to be of the highest character and authority. In the winter of 1821, the members of Congress and other influential citizens, began to discuss the relative merits of men who would be suitable candidates for the next Presidency. The Legisla- ture of South Carolina was then in session ; the members of that body felt a lively interest in the result of that election, and in a conclave with the influential citizens who generally visit Columbia upon such occasions, met and nominated Mr.
1
389
LOWNDES COUNTY.
Lowndes, to be supported by them as a candidate for the Pre- sidency. Other States and districts adopted the suggestion ; and in his answer to the communication sent to him, he made the memorable remark, "that the Presidency was an office which no man should either seek or decline ;" a maxim that should ever be in the minds of American statesmen. It was an opinion then expressed by many of the best informed poli- ticians, that had Mr. Lowndes's health enabled him to remain in the United States, he would have been most probably elected President. At that election there were very serious and strong objections made to the other two candidates, but to him none could be offered. Mr. Lowndes had hoped, by re- tirement, to recover his health, but the prostration had gone too far, and his physicians, finding that there was no improve- ment in his health, recommended a sea voyage and change of climate. He accordingly sailed in October, 1822, for Europe ; but his disease was too deeply seated, and he died on the voyage. The newspapers of the day spoke highly of his character.
" He was mild and unobtrusive. In modesty, unequalled. Whilst living he would have rebuked the faintest expression of praise. He lived for the happiness of those around him. He was a great man. Wisdom and virtue gave him a moral and political power."
Mr. Taylor, of New York, said of him, in his place in the House of Representatives of the United States, " that the highest and best hopes of the country looked to Mr. Lowndes for their fulfilment. The most honourable office in the civilized world, the chief magistracy of this free people, would have been illustrated by his virtues and talents."
Mr. Lowndes was remarkably happy from his youth in all his domestic concerns, being always associated with nume- rous friends and affectionate relations. He married early in life the daughter of Thomas Pinckney, who still survives him. He left three children, two sons and a daughter, now the wife of Lieut. J. Rutledge, of the U. S. Navy.
For the above sketch of Mr. Lowndes, we are principally indebted to Dr. Joseph Johnson, of Charleston, S. C.
390
LUMPKIN COUNTY.
LUMPKIN.
BOUNDARIES .- Bounded N. by Union, E. by Habersham and Hall, S. by Forsyth, W. by Cherokee and Gilmer. Laid out from Cherokee, in 1838.
POPULATION, TAXES, REPRESENTATION. - The census of 1845 gives to this county 8,979 whites, 1,175 blacks ; total, 10,154. Amount of taxes paid into the State treasury, for 1848, $1,689 66. Sends two representatives to the Legislature.
POST OFFICES .- Amicalolah, Auraria, Barrettville, Calhoun, Crossville, Dahlonega, New Bridge, Pleasant Retreat, Me- chanicsburg.
RIVERS AND CREEKS .- The rivers are the Etowah, Ches- tatee, Tesnatee; the creeks are Yellow, Amicalolah, Shoal, Nimble Will, Cain, Yahoola, Town, &c.
MOUNTAINS .- The Blue Ridge is in the northern part of the county ; Walker's mountain in the eastern part.
RELIGIOUS SECTS, EDUCATION .- Methodists, Baptists, Old and New Presbyterians, Universalists, Episcopalians, and Ro- man Catholics. Education has been very much neglected, but recently a new spirit has been awakened on this subject, and efforts are making to introduce schools in every section of the county. According to the Digest of the State for 1848, the number of poor children in this county was 958. The educa- tional fund is $830 85.
ORIGINAL SETTLERS. - The original settlers were C. J. Thompson, Colonel Riley, Gen. Fields, Lewis Rolston, Mr. Leathers, and J. Blackwell.
CLIMATE, DISEASES, LONGEVITY. - The climate of this county is pleasant, but subject to great and sudden changes. Some fever prevails on the water-courses. Lumpkin can show a long list of persons who have attained to a great age. Mrs. Young, now living, is over 100. John J. Williams is over 90-was in the battle at King's Mountain. Mr. John Hames is over 100; Samuel Evans, 85 ; Mr. Harper, 89 ; John Alex- ander, 84. Mr. Allen died in this county at the age of 115 years ; Mr. Watts died at the age of 90; Mr. James Boyd was over 100 years, and his wife, Nancy Boyd, over 94 years. Richard Ledbetter, a revolutionary soldier, at his death was
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