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 33
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LUMPKIN COUNTY.
100 years old ; Mrs. Smith lived to the age of 103 ; Mrs. Sally Bright died at the age of 112.
CHARACTER, AMUSEMENTS .- The gold mines have brought together a large number of persons, and consequently the population of this county is composed of a great diversity of character. Many of the operatives in the mines are dissipated and regardless of the future. The permanent inhabitants are intelligent and spirited. Fishing, dancing, hunting, and pic- nics, are the favourite amusements.
NATURE OF THE SOIL, PRODUCTIONS, AVERAGE PRODUCT, FRUITS .- Some fine bodies of land are on the rivers and creeks. The soil is dark and easily cultivated, peculiarly adapted to corn and wheat, worth $20 per acre. The hickory and oak lands have a mulatto soil, producing corn, wheat, and tobacco, valued at $5 per acre. The ridge lands are valuable only for timber and mining ; value $1 per acre. Average pro- duct of corn per acre, six barrels. The crops of wheat and rye are uncertain. Apples succeed well. Some attention is paid to horticulture. Dr. Singleton has raised oranges and lemons of remarkable size in his garden at Dahlonega.
GOLD MINES .- Dr. Singleton's mines embrace 2,080 acres in the vicinity of Dahlonega, most of which were originally purchased for farming purposes, but subsequently found to contain gold. Some have been profitable, others would hardly pay the cost of working. On one single branch, known as Stover's Branch, more than 150,000 pennyweights of gold have been found. Some of the branch mines have been worked over, three or four times, and proved a source of profit to the operators.
We consider this an appropriate place to give a general account of the gold mines in Cherokee Georgia, for which our thanks are due to Dr. Stevenson, formerly of Canton, a gen- tleman of science, and perfectly familiar with the mining ope- rations.
" The first discovery of gold in this State was made on Duke's creek, Habersham county, in 1829. The mass weighed three ounces. After this, discoveries were rapidly made in all directions from Carolina to Alabama, and some of the mines were immensely rich. The gold obtained for the first few years was from the alluvion of the streams; after which many
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LUMPKIN COUNTY.
diluvial deposits were found, and subsequently many rich veins. The gold in the veins is generally embedded in sul- phuret of iron and quartz, sometimes in quartz alone, and in a few instances in micaceous and talcose slate, the auriferous pyrites being interspersed in minute crystals through the slate. The first mentioned class are common, and abound every where, running parallel with the formation of the country, the general direction of which is N. E. and S. W., corresponding with the Alleghany chain of mountains. These veins are usually enclosed in micaceous or talcose schist, some in chlo- rite and hornblend, rarely in gneiss or granite. In some in- stances the root of the vein is slate, and the floor granite or gneiss. The decomposition of the different strata varies from 50 to 100 feet, and decreases as you near the mountains, where the overlaying rocks terminate and the veins cease to be auriferous. A few veins have been found which traverse the formation in which they are enclosed, and in every instance the gold is found to contain from 15 to 66 per cent. of silver, whereas all parallel veins are alloyed with copper, from { to as, and without a trace of silver. Of the former class is the Potosi mine, in Hall county, which runs N. W. by W., is one foot wide (average), and was immensely rich in pockets. The first cropped out and extended about 12 feet deep by 15 laterally, yielding over 10,000 dwts. Some 10 feet from that, another pocket occurred, much richer, the gold being enclosed in felspar with octahedral crystals of quartz radiating from it, without a particle of gold. These veins are evidently of comparatively recent formation. Ore which yields 25 cents per bushel is considered profitable, provided the veins are large enough to furnish abundantly, and there is no extra expense. Where there is much water it requires expensive machinery, and the ore must be rich, and the vein of considerable size, to justify it. Many mines have, and do yet yield much more-from 50 cents to 100 cents per bushel, and a few even more, even reaching to several hundred dollars per bushel. Of such are the Calhoun and Battle Branch veins, and also the celebrated 1052 mine near Dahlonega. These are technically called pocket veins, as the gold is found in limited portions of them, the rest with- out any. The greatest depths yet reached do not exceed 80
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LUMPKIN COUNTY.
feet below the water level, nor more than 140 feet below their outcrop; whereas, in the old world, they have gone more than 2,000 feet. We consequently can form no opinion relative to their productiveness. Generally the mines are abandoned as soon as the water appears ; the operators being men of but little capital, and ignorant of the proper mode of working be- low the water level. Another and more powerful reason is, that, with but few exceptions, the veins become poorer as you descend, and below the water very poor. The mode of work- ing the mine or ores is by amalgamation. The ore is first reduced to powder, either wet or dry, by the action of stamps or pestles, weighing from 100 to 500 pounds; after which it passes through different sized screens or grates, and then through various amalgamating machines, by which the quick- silver is made to take up the particles or dust of gold, forming an amalgam, which is distilled in a retort, saving the quick- silver for further use, and the mass of gold is melted in a cru- cible, into bars or ingots for coining. Its average fineness is 23 carats. From the best information I possess, the amount obtained from 1829 to 1838, was 16,000,000 dwts., and from that time until now, 4,000,000; every year diminishing, not- withstanding the great improvements in machinery and in- creased practical knowledge. I am of the opinion, however, that by introducing the smelting process, as practised in Russia, the mines of Georgia and North Carolina could be made to yield several millions per annum with the same force that now digs but half of a million. Mr. Van Buren, while Presi- dent, was kind enough to send a special despatch to the Em- peror of Russia, at my request, for information on the subject, which only confirmed me in the opinion I had formed. The result of over a hundred trials, made here and at the north, on auriferous pyrites, gave a mean yield of 42 times as much as by the best system of amalgamation extant. This seems ex- travagant, but nevertheless it is true. I speak of sulphurated ores-iron or copper pyrites, in which the gold is in a state of chemical combination, without metallic properties-a salt, on which quicksilver cannot act ; and, having no specific gravity, it is impossible to save it ; nor do we get any except such as have been revived by volcanic heat, and aggregated, so as to
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LUMPKIN COUNTY.
give it gravity. I have tried some such ores, which yielded 66 times more than we got by mills. I have known many miners to work over their sand five or six times, and still make a profit. Now, by working by fire, the mines would last longer and pay much larger profits. It certainly would be bet- ter to make $100 per day from three bushels of ore, than from 100 or 200 bushels. It is true, the expense is greater, but the profits may be made to reach fivefold more than they do. See the Russian statistics, and you observe that, previous to the introduction of this system, the government mines yielded but from ten to twelve millions ; and since, with a less number of hands, they yield from 60 to 120 millions."
The following are the principal gold mines in Lumpkin county :-
Singleton's mines, near Dahlonega, embracing more than 2,000 acres.
Calhoun's mine, on the Chestatee river, has yielded enor- mously.
J. E. Calhoun's mine, on the Chestatee river, five miles from Dahlonega, has been a very rich deposit mine, and is not yet exhausted.
Cain creek and Yahoola creek are celebrated localities. On the latter is the famous lot, 1052, which once created such a sensation among the gold speculators.
In almost every portion of this county gold exists. Evi- dence of its existence meets the eye of the traveller in every direction. Since this was written, several valuable mines have been discovered. A correspondent of the National Intelligencer thus describes the appearance of things in this county. "On approaching Dahlonega, I noticed that the water-courses had all been mutilated with the spade and pickaxe, and that their waters were of a deep yellow ; and, having explored the coun- try since then, I find that such is the condition of all the streams within a circuit of many miles. Large brooks, and even an occasional river, have been turned into a new channel, and thereby deprived of their original beauty. And, of all the hills in the vicinity of Dahlonega which I have visited, I have not seen one which is not actually riddled with shafts and tunnels." No section of Georgia deserves more attention than the gold region of Lumpkin county.
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LUMPKIN COUNTY ..
TOWNS .- Dahlonega, the capital of this county, is situated 14 miles from the Blue Ridge, on a high hill, commanding a view of Walker's, Mossy Creek, and Yonah mountains. It is 141 miles from Milledgeville, 25 from Gainesville, 30 from Clarkesville, 30 from Cumming, 35 from Blairsville, and 35 from Ellijay. The court-house is constructed of brick, the jail of logs. It has eight or ten stores, four groceries, two capital hotels, three churches, Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian, one market-house, one engine-house, one academy, one ma- sonic lodge, one printing office, in which the Dahlonega Watch- man is published, &c. Dahlonega is a thriving place. The amount of goods sold is stated to be $75,000 per annum. The character of the population has undergone a great change within a few years. Religion and morality have warm advocates ; and a more orderly population cannot be named. Gold is often found in the court-house square, particularly af- ter a shower; and the little boys often pick up pieces of gold, weighing from ¿ of a dwt. to one dwt. Population about 1,000. The town was incorporated in 1833, and became the seat of the public buildings in 1835. The U. S. Branch Mint establishment is located in this town. The building is quite large, and cost $70,000, and the machinery $30,000. Dr. Singleton was the first superintendent appointed by General Jackson. The Indian name for Dahlonega was Tau-lau-ne- ca, meaning yellow money.
Auraria, alias Nuckollsville, is situated six miles from Dah- lonega, on the road leading to Gainesville.
Leather's Ford is situated on the Chestatee river, 11 miles below Dahlonega, inhabited mostly by persons engaged in mi- ning operations. Population about 30.
MINERALS .- Besides gold, magnetic iron exists in great quantities on the head waters of Amicalolah creek ; native cop- per in Singleton's mines ; small particles of silver are some- times found; also lead, antimony, cyanite, rubies, asbestos, sulphate of iron, quartz, granite, pyrites, &c.
ROADS, BRIDGES .- When the nature of the country is taken into consideration, the roads may be said to be good, al- though there is room for great improvement. There are seven or eight bridges in the county.
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LUMPKIN COUNTY.
MISCELLANEOUS .- The value of town lots is $34,505. Va- lue of stock in trade, $29,360. Money at interest, $12,366.
FALLS .- Amicalolah Falls are 17 miles west of Dahlonega, near the road leading to Tennessee. The name is said to be a compound of two Cherokee words, " ami," signifying water, and " calolah," rolling or tumbling. A writer* in the Orion, vol. ii., page 352, thus describes these falls : " The view from the top does not (as is the case at Tallulah) comprehend the whole extent of all the cascades ; but, on some accounts, is preferred. The range of mountains to the south and west, as it strikes the eye from the summit of the falls, is truly sub- lime ; and the scene is scarcely surpassed in grandeur. The view from the foot embraces, as strictly regards the falls them- selves, much more than the view from above, and is therefore perhaps the better ; both, however, should be obtained, in or- der to form a just conception of the scene; for here we have a succession of cataracts and cascades, the greatest not ex- ceeding 60 feet, but the torrent in the distance of 400 yards descending more than as many hundred feet. This creek has its source upon the Blue Ridge, several miles east of the falls ; and it winds its way, fringed with wild flowers of the richest dyes, and kissed in autumn by the purple wild grapes, which cluster over its transparent bosom ; and so tranquil and mir- ror-like is its surface, that one will fancy it to be a thing of life, conscious of its proximate fate, rallying all its energies for the startling leap; and he can scarcely forbear moralizing upon the oft recurring and striking vicissitudes of human life, as illustrated in the brief career of this beautiful streamlet."
NAME. - This county was named in honour of Wilson Lumpkin. This gentleman is a resident of Athens, Clarke county, Georgia, in the enjoyment of fine health, and devoting himself to the pursuits of agriculture. From memorandums obligingly furnished us by this distinguished gentleman, we are able to furnish the people of Georgia with the follow- ing memoir. Mr. Lumpkin was born in Pittsylvania coun- ty, State of Virginia, on the 14th January, 1783. When he was one year old his father removed to Georgia, and settled
* General Hansell, of Marietta.
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LUMPKIN COUNTY.
in that part of the State then known as Wilkes county, now Oglethorpe county. At this period the means of education were very limited, there not being a good grammar-school within twenty miles of his residence; and being unable to send his children from home to be educated, they received no other instruction than that which is acquired in a common country school. When young Lumpkin was fourteen years old, his father held the office of Clerk of the Superior Court of Oglethorpe county, and knowing that many advantages would be enjoyed by his son in an office of this kind, he em- ployed him in copying, writing, &c. This was of incalculable benefit to his son, compensating in no small degree the want of a regular education, and introducing him to many gentle- men of the legal profession. He imbibed a great fondness for reading, and during the time that he continued in this office he devoted all his leisure moments to reading law. A short time after he was twenty-one years of age, he was elected a member of the Legislature for Oglethorpe county, by almost an unanimous vote, and for several years continued a mem- ber, discharging his duties with zeal and fidelity. He served for several years both as a member of the House of Representatives and Senate of the United States. When he was solicited to become a candidate for the office of Governor of Georgia, he reluctantly consented, and was elected, and at the close of his executive term was re-elected. Mr. Lumpkin has filled many other responsible offices, but the limits fixed to these sketches will not allow us to enumerate all of them. We cannot however consent, in justice to a faithful public servant, to omit the following. In 1823, Mr. Lumpkin was commis- sioned by President Monroe to ascertain and mark the bound- ary line between Georgia and Florida. Under a commission of General Jackson, he was one of the first Commission- ers appointed under the Cherokee treaty of 1835. The records of the country will bear testimony to the ability and justice with which he discharged that delicate and difficult trust. When the Legislature of Georgia created a Board of Public Works, with a view of commencing a systematic course of Internal Improvement, it provided for a Board to
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MACON COUNTY.
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consist of six members. Of this Board, Mr. Lumpkin was ap- pointed a member. The act also directed that a civil engi- neer should be appointed, to take a general survey of the State, with a view to report upon the expediency of canals and railroads ; and it also directed that a member of the Board should accompany the engineer. Mr. Lumpkin was selected, and in his report he recommended a route, which varied very little from the present location of our railroads. It will be seen from this short sketch, that Mr. Lumpkin has been an active man all his life. To the interest of this State he has devoted much labor. He enjoys better health now than at any period before he was sixty years old, works every day, and reads more than at any former period of his life. He never had a lawsuit or arbitration. He has been a member of the Baptist church for nearly fifty years, and is an active and liberal supporter of many benevolent institu- tions.
MACON.
BOUNDARIES .- It is bounded N. by Crawford, E. by Hous- toun and a part of Talbot, S. by a portion of Dooly and Sumter, and W. by Marion.
RIVERS, CREEKS. - The Flint* river flows through the county, and has the following tributaries : viz. Beaver, Juni- per, Horse, White Water, Buck's, Buck Head, Spring, and Beaver creeks.
POPULATION, TAXES, REPRESENTATION .- In 1845, the popu- lation as given in the census was 3,324 whites, 1,870 blacks ; total, 5,194. Amount of taxes returned for 1848, $1,701 82 Sends one representative to the Legislature.
POST OFFICES. - Lanier, Grangerville, Hamburg, Mar shallsville, Martin's Store, Horse Head, Newson's Mills, Fredonia.
TowNS .- Lanier is the seat of justice, situated on the
* The Indian name of Flint river is Thronateeska.
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MACON COUNTY.
west side of the Flint river, 80 miles from Milledgeville, 22 from Perry, 25 from Knoxville, and 25 from Americus. It has the usual county buildings, two churches, two hotels, three stores, &c. Population about 200. It is a very pretty village.
FACE OF THE COUNTRY, NATURE OF THE SOIL .-- The coun- try is level. The eastern bank of the Flint river averages from 100 to 200 feet high, for several miles. West of the Flint river, pine land mostly prevails, the greatest part of which is fertile. East of the Flint river, the lands are mixed, generally productive.
PRODUCTIONS .- Cotton, corn, wheat, and other products peculiar to this section of Georgia.
EDUCATION, RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS .- Education is not neglected, although more attention ought to be paid to it. Number of poor children, 295 ; educational fund, $255 84. Methodists and Baptists are the prevailing denominations.
ROADS AND BRIDGES .- The roads and bridges are gene- rally kept in good order.
CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE .-- This county has an intelli- gent population.
MARKET .- Macon is the market.
ROCKS, MINERALS, FOSSILS, MOUNDS .-- Marl exists in con- siderable quantities on the plantation of I. E. Helvenstein, Esq., Buck's creek. The banks of the Flint river contain numerous interesting localities, in which are found curious fossils. On the Flint river are several mounds.
VALUE OF TOWN LOTS, &c .-- The value of town lots is $7,825 ; value of stock in trade, $7,704. Money at interest, $18,690.
MISCELLANEOUS .- There are several fine hedges of the Che- rokee rose in this county. Col. John Young has his entire plantation enclosed by hedges of this description, and all his cross-fences are of the same. He has now almost eight miles of fence of this kind on his plantation. Col. Young was the first gentleman to introduce these hedges in Macon county, and many are following his example.
NAME .- The Hon. Nathaniel Macon, whose name this county bears, was one of the few patriots of the American Revo- lution who survived to tell the trials of that day to the present
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MACON COUNTY.
generation. In the memorable year 1776, then not 18 years old, and while a student at Princeton, New Jersey, burning with youthful ardour, and fired with holy enthusiasm in the cause of public liberty, he abandoned his collegiate studies, and performed a short tour of duty in a company of volun- teers ; thus in his youth evincing an attachment to those prin- ciples which in after life he supported with so much firmness, ability, and undeviating consistency. After his return from New Jersey, hearing of the fall of Charleston, South Carolina, in the spring of 1780, he joined the militia troops of his native State, as a common soldier, and continued with them until the provisional articles of peace were signed, in the fall of 1782. During this eventful period, he gave proofs of that in- difference for office and emolument, and that unaffected de- votedness to his country's good, which his future history so conspicuously illustrated. He served in the ranks as a com- mon soldier, and though command, and places of trust and confidence, as well as of relative ease and security, were often tendered him, he invariably declined them ; desiring only to occupy the station, and to share the hardships and perils com- mon to the greatest portion of his fellow soldiers. And al- though in very humble circumstances as to property, he never would charge or consent to receive one cent for such services. He gave his heart and soul to the cause in which he embark- ed. He loved his country, and like a dutiful son gave her in time of need-'twas all he had-his personal service. And even when that country smiled with prosperity, and, with a munifi- cence deserving all praise, made liberal provision for the soldiers of the Revolution, he declined the proffered bounty. Often has he been heard to say, (disclaiming all imputation upon others,) that no state of fortune could induce him to ac- cept it. In those times, too, were developed those noble traits of Roman character which attracted to him the confidence and esteem of his countrymen ; and becoming generally known throughout the State, they won for him a popularity to which his country is indebted for his long, useful, and illustrious services in the public councils. His countrymen elected him while yet in the army, and scarcely twenty-four years of age, a member of the Legislature, without his solicitation or even
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MACON COUNTY.
knowledge ; and, reluctant to part with his comrades in arms, he was induced only by the persuasions of his commanding officers to accept the station. After serving in that capacity many years, he was chosen, at the age of thirty-two, a member of Congress, in the House of Representatives, and took his seat at the first session of the second Congress, in 1791, which he filled uninterruptedly, under successive elections, till the winter of 1815, when he was chosen by the Legislature a Se- nator in Congress, without his solicitation, and in one sense against his wish ; for his maxim was, "frequent elections and accountability at short intervals." In January, 1816, being then at Washington in the discharge of his duties as a member of the House of Representatives, he resigned his seat in that body, and assumed his new station as Senator. On that oc- casion he declined and rejected double pay for travelling, al- though abundant precedents entitled him to it. The Legis- lature continued to him his honourable distinction and high trust, until November, 1828, when he was induced, by a " sense of duty," springing out of his advanced age and infirmities, to resign, resigning also at the same time his offices as Justice of the Peace, and Trustee of the University of North Carolina, both of which he filled for many years. During his congres- sional career, he was chosen in 1801, at the first session of the seventh Congress, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and continued to preside over the deliberations of that body, until the tenth Congress. The duties of the chair were dis- charged by him with distinguished abilities, and an impar- tiality which secured the esteem and affection of his political friends, and won the confidence and admiration of his politi- cal adversaries. Not being able from severe indisposition to attend at the commencement of the tenth Congress, a new in- cumbent was elected to the chair. He was several times elected President pro tem. of the Senate, and the last time chosen to that station he declined its acceptance. The office of Postmaster-General was twice offered him. But office however high, or emolument however great, had no charm for him. His engagement was always to his constituents, and that he was determined to fulfil to the letter. No lure could tempt him to lay it down. His was the ambition that
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MACON COUNTY.
prompted only to virtuous deeds. He sought with great earnestness and untiring industry the path of duty, and fear- lessly pursued it-obliging no one from favour or affection, and yielding nothing to the suggestion of resentment or en- mity. Indeed, there was no passion he would gratify at the expense of duty. In 1835, his fellow-citizens again called him from his cherished retirement, by electing him a member of the Convention, charged with the important duty of revising and reforming the Constitution of his native State, of which body he was chosen President by unanimous suffrage. In 1836, he was chosen an elector of President and Vice-Presi- dent-on the Republican ticket-and at the proper time re- paired to the seat of government, and performed the duty re- quired of him. This was the closing act of Mr. Macon's pub- lic life.
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