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 37
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We found among some old papers the following letter, addressed by General Morgan to the refugees of Georgia :-
" GENTLEMEN,-Having heard of your sufferings, your at- tachment to the cause of freedom, and your gallantry of address in action, I had formed a pleasing idea of receiving in you a great and valuable acquisition to my force. Judge, then, of my disappointment when I find you scattered about in parties, subjected to no orders, nor joining in any general plan to promote the public service. The recollection of your past achievements, and the hope of gaining future laurels, should prevent your acting in such a manner for a moment. You have gained a character, and why will you risk the loss of it, for the most trifling gratifications ? You must know that in your present situation you can neither provide for your safety, nor assist me in annoying the enemy. Let me then entreat you, by the regard you have for your fame, by the love for your country, repair to my camp, and subject your- selves to order and discipline. I will ask you to encounter no dangers or difficulties but what I will participate. Should it be thought desirable to form detachments, you may rely in being employed in that business if it be more agreeable to your wishes ; but it is absolutely necessary that your situa- tion and movements should be known to me, so that I may be enabled to direct them in such a manner that they may tend to the advantage of the whole.
" I am, gentlemen, with every sentiment of regard,
" Your obedient servant,
" DANIEL MORGAN.
" Camp on Pacolet, Jan. 7th, 1781."
Lee, in his Memoirs, thus describes General Morgan :- " He was stout and active; six feet in height, strong, not
439
MURRAY COUNTY.
too much encumbered with flesh, and was exactly fitted for the toils and pomp of war. His mind was discriminating and solid, but not comprehensive and combining. He reflected deeply, spoke little, and executed with keen perseverance whatever he undertook."
MURRAY.
BOUNDARIES .- This county is bounded N. by Tennessee, E. by Gilmer, S. by Cass, and W. by Walker. Laid out from Cherokee, and organized in 1832.
POST OFFICE .- Spring Place, Coosawattee, Dalton, Holly Creek, Red Clay, Pleasant Valley, Red Hill, Sugar Valley, Tunnel Hill, Resaca, Twinersville.
POPULATION, TAXES, REPRESENTATION .- In 1845, the cen- sus gave to this county 6,160 whites, and 518 blacks ; total, 6,678. The population is rapidly on the increase. Taxes returned for 1848, $2,199 65. Sends one representative to the Legislature.
RIVERS, CREEKS .- The county abounds with fine streams, the chief of which are the Connasauga and Coosawattee. The minor streams are Holly, Swamp, Sugar, Sumac, Rocky, Mill's, Othoogata, Cooyehuttee, and others.
MOUNTAINS .- The Chattoogata Ridge, in the western part of the county.
TowNS .- Spring Place is the county town, situated a mile and a half E. of Connasauga river, 230 miles N. W. of Milledge- ville, 12 from Dalton, 40 from Lafayette, and 30 from Ellijay. The scenery around this village is beautiful, the Cohuttah mountains being in full view. It was formerly a missionary station for the Cherokees. It contains the usual county buildings, 2 hotels, 1 academy, 4 stores, 3 groceries, 1 saddler, 1 carriage-maker, 2 blacksmiths, 2 tanyards, 3 lawyers, and 2 physicians. Population, 250. The water is excellent and abundant, there being 40 springs in the compass of half a mile. Incorporated and made the county site in 1834.
Dalton, formerly called Cross Plains. It received its pre- sent name in honour of Mr. Tristam Dalton, an eminent
440
MURRAY COUNTY.
merchant of New England. The lots were sold in 1846, by Mr. Edward White, who was sent out by a company who had previously purchased the land. Since that period, the population has increased to 1,500. It is well situated on the Western and Atlantic Railroad, 100 miles N. of Atlanta, and 35 S. E. of Chattanooga. It is environed by mountains, from the summits of which the eye is regaled with the grandest scenery. Much money and labour have been expended in grading the streets. It is a place of considerable trade, being at this time the market for a large portion of East Tennessee, South western Virginia, Western North Carolina, and a large part of Northeast Georgia. Immense quantities of produce are brought here by wagons. It has one church, three or four hotels, eighteen stores, seven groceries, one cabinet-maker, one jeweller, ten or twelve carpenters, two painters, three bricklayers, one candle factory, one large candy manufactory, one tinner, three law- yers, four doctors, two schools, several societies, one newspaper, one extensive cooperage, and one wheelwright. The weather here is sometimes very disagreeable. The water is inferior, although near the town are some fine springs, particularly Thornton springs, and a spring on the farm of Colonel Ha- milton.
RELIGIOUS SECTS, EDUCATION. -- The religious sects are Missionary and Anti-Missionary Baptists, Cumberland Presby- terians, Methodists, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, and Uni- versalists. The inhabitants are beginning to interest themselves in the subject of education. Number of poor children, 322; educational fund, $279 26.
CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE, AMUSEMENTS .- Murray county is settled by persons from different parts of Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia, and it is therefore difficult to say pre- cisely what are the peculiar traits in their character. Upon the whole, we think we may venture to state that religion and morality are on the advance. Practices which were formerly countenanced, have now but few advocates. The amuse- ments are dancing, racing, cock-fighting, gander-pulling, and bear-fights.
MINERAL SPRINGS .- Cohuttah springs, 10 miles from Spring Place, on the waters of Sumac creek. The water is said to be
441
MURRAY COUNTY.
strongly impregnated with medicinal properties, and the place is beginning to attract the notice of the public. Arrangements are being made to accommodate visiters. There are fine springs in almost every section of the county.
FOREST TREES, FRUITS .- The forests abound with valua- able trees, such as the oak (various species), hickory, maple, black walnut, sycamore, birch, locust, pine, &c. The fruit trees are the peach, apple, plum, and pear. Nuts and berries are abundant.
MINERALS .- Gold, lead, silver, zinc, hydraulic limestone, fluor spar, and graphite. Organic remains are abundant.
FACE OF THE COUNTRY, NATURE OF THE SOIL. - A con- siderable proportion of the county is mountainous. A view of the country from one of the peaks of the Cohuttah moun- tains, near Spring Place, is calculated to fill the mind with wonder at the grandeur of nature's works. Here can be seen Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee, and at a distance a continuous ledge of mountains. The lands of this county are generally very fertile, producing all the comforts of life. The lands on the rivers are very valuable, and command high prices.
The following analysis of the soil of the plantation of Richard Peters, Esq., in the Oothkolaga valley, was made by Dr. Antisell, Chemist to the American Agricultural Associa- tion, and is applicable to much of the soil in Murray county, as well as other portions of Cherokee Georgia.
The constitution of 1,000 parts of the surface soil con- sisted of
Moisture, 195.7
Vegetable matter,
73.9
White silicious sand, 630.0
Alumnia and protoxide of iron, . 94.8
Carbonate of lime, 1.2
Magnesia, 0.3
Saline substances, soluble in water, as chloride of sodium, 2.1
Gypsum, and lime with organic acid, 2.0
Potash and phosphoric acid, . traces.
1,000.0
1
442
MURRAY COUNTY.
PRODUCTIONS. - Corn, wheat, rye, oats, Irish potatoes, beans, and indeed almost every thing will grow in this highly favoured region. Industry and perseverance will make it one of the garden-spots of Georgia.
VALUE OF TOWN LOTS, &c .- According to the Digest for 1848, the value of town lots is $74,690. Value of stock in trade, $31,227. Money at interest, $7,802.
ROADS AND BRIDGES .- For a mountainous and new coun- try, the roads are fair. There are five or six good bridges in the county.
MANUFACTURES, MILLS .- Allaculsa iron works do a good business. Fourteen saw-mills ; 20 grist-mills ; 3 merchant- mills.
CLIMATE .- The climate is subject to great changes, but cannot be considered more unhealthy than the other portions of upper Georgia. Many of the inhabitants are regardless of the precautions absolutely necessary in a climate so change- able, and therefore suffer considerably from sickness.
ANTIQUITIES .- On the Cohuttah mountains are the remains of an ancient fort, but when and for what purpose constructed, we are unable to say.
NAME .- This county was named after Thomas W. Mur- ray. He was the son of David Murray, who came from Prince Edward county, Virginia, and settled in Wilkes county, just after the revolutionary war. He was born in Lincoln county, in 1790, and received his education at Dr. Waddel's school, Wellington, Abbeville District, South Carolina, and studied law in the office of Mr. George Cook, of Elbert county. About 1819 he became a public man, and acquired distinction, not so much for the brilliancy of his talents, as for his honesty and independence. He was for several years a member of the Legislature, and once Speaker of the House, which office he filled with great dignity and impartiality. He was a candidate for Congress, but died before the election, of a disease of the heart. Mr. Murray belonged to what was called the Clarke party, but did not always vote with it. His opinions were formed after much deliberation, and when formed, were difficult to be changed. The petty artifices sometimes resorted to by politicians, met with no encourage-
443
MUSCOGEE COUNTY.
ment from Mr. Murray. He believed that virtue could be found among enemies, and therefore treated them with justice. In stature he was five feet eleven inches, with remarkably large features.
MUSCOGEE.
This county is bounded N. by Harris and a part of Talbot, E. by Marion, S. by Stewart, and W. by the Chattahoochee, which separates it from Russell county in Alabama. Laid out in 1826, and portions of it set off to Harris, Talbot, and Ma- rion, in 1827. It is 23 miles long, and 18 miles wide, contain- ing 414 square miles.
POST OFFICES .- Columbus, Halloca, Shell Creek, Upatoi, Roland, and Bald Hill.
POPULATION, TAXES, REPRESENTATION .- The census of 1845 gave to this county a population of 9,711 whites, 6,632 blacks ; total, 16,343-being at that time the most populous county in the State, with the exception of Chatham and Mon- roe. Amount of State tax for 1848, $11,517 43. Entitled to two representatives to the Legislature.
RIVERS, CREEKS .- No country is more highly favoured with extensive water facilities than Muscogee county. The prin- cipal stream is the Chattahoochee, affording to the inhabitants a steamboat navigation to the Gulf of Mexico. The distance to its confluence with the Flint is 300 miles ; to the Appala- chicola Bay, 430 miles. The smaller streams, all of which empty into the Chattahoochee, are Upatoi, West Upatoi or Randall's, Nocheefaloochee, Bull, Standing Boy, and West End creeks.
TOWNS .- Columbus is the seat of justice, situated at the foot of the falls, on the east bank of the Chattahoochee river. It was laid out in 1828, and is the third city in the State. Immediately before the town rugged and large rocks rise over the whole bed of the river, and convert it into a succes- sion of rapids. It is laid off in oblong squares of four acres, each divided into eight square lots of half an acre. Its length,
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MUSCOGEE COUNTY.
parallel with the river, is a mile and a quarter; in breadth, a little more than half a mile. Columbus is divided into six wards, named Franklin, Randolph, St. Clair, Thomas, Few, and South. The position of the city in relation to some im- portant places in this State and Alabama is as follows :- From Milledgeville, it is 128 miles, W. S. W .; from Fort Mitchell, 11; from Newnan, 69 ; from Lumpkin, 35; from Macon, 90 ; from Augusta, 220; from Savannah, 290 ; from Montgomery, in Alabama, 90; from Eufawla, 45. The present population is 5074 ; or 1701 white males, 1543 white females ; 1522 slaves, owned by residents, 266 by non-resi- dents ; 15 free persons of colour, males ; 27 free persons of colour, females. The value of real estate, as assessed on the 1st of January, 1848, was $1,402,815. Amount of taxes received the same year, $21,000.
The city officers are, a Mayor, twelve Aldermen, Clerk of Council, Treasurer, Marshal, Deputy Marshal, City Attorney, City Physician, Sexton, Bridge Keeper, Hospital Keeper, Board of Health, Port Wardens, Fire Wardens.
There are several fine public buildings in Columbus ; among these, the most prominent is the Court House, one of the most elegant edifices of the kind in Georgia. The churches are seven in number ; Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist, Presby- terian, Roman Catholic, and two for coloured persons. The Methodist Church is an elegant structure, built at an expense of $10,000. The Odd Fellows' Hall is a plain but substantial brick building, in which there is an excellent school, under the direction of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Many of the private houses are large and beautiful, enclosed by grounds adorned with shrubbery, trees, &c. Like all other places in our State, Columbus has a number of Benevo- lent Institutions, among which are the Orphan Asylum, the Hibernian Society, &c. There are two military companies, viz., the Columbus Guards, and the City Light Guards. The city is as healthy as any place in the same latitude. About seventy deaths probably occur in a year. The hotels are well conducted. Columbus does a large amount of business. From 60,000 to 78,000 bags of cotton are annually received, and it commands much of the trade of Troup, Meriwether,
445
MUSCOGEE COUNTY.
Harris, Talbot, Stewart, Marion, and Randolph counties in Georgia, and a portion of Eastern Alabama. There are gene- rally about sixteen steamboats plying between Columbus and the bay. These boats on an average carry about 900 bales of. cotton. Freights vary according to the state of the river and quantity of cotton on hand. Seventy-five cents per bale is the usual freight to Appalachicola. Insurance three-quarters per cent. The boats run from the 1st of November to the 1st of June. There is a handsome bridge over the river belonging to the corporation of Columbus, which cost $40,000, and yields an annual income of $10,000. No place in the United States possesses greater advantages for manufacturing purposes than Columbus. Capt. Hall, of England, during his visit to this town, observed that the value of its water power could not be estimated. The present improvements of this water power were commenced in, the spring of 1845 by the Water Lot Company, composed of four persons, and which has since been incorporated by the Legislature of Georgia. There are thirty-six building lots, one half of which are improved by a large canal, or aqueduct, built of granite, with walls 9 feet thick, and 1130 feet long .; and an average width of 90 feet between the walls.
Columbus is destined to become one of the largest manufacturing towns in the southern country. The citizens have been aroused to a sense of their advantages, and have invested considerable capital in manufactures. Should the railroad, designed to connect Columbus with the Macon and Western Railroad at Barnesville, ever be completed, it will place her on the line of northern and southern travel, open a communication with Macon, Savannah, Augusta, and Charles- ton; and upon the completion of the Tennessee road, it will afford the most expeditious route from Nashville to New Orleans.
MANUFACTURES .- As has already been stated, this county possesses great facilities for manufacturing purposes. The effective fall of the Chattahoochee at Columbus is 14 feet ; the length of the dam is 500 feet, and the depth of the water on the dam at usual low water mark is 16 inches,-which, by calculation, shows that 2620 cubic feet of water per second
29
446
MUSCOGEE COUNTY.
will afford 2777 horse power ; which amount of horse power will turn 72 overshot or breast wheels, each 14 feet long, which will drive 194,877 frame spindles, with corresponding looms ; which amount of spindles will consume 48,800 bales of cotton per year,-there being 12 to 15 per cent. waste on the cotton will make the amount rather larger. The spindles and looms mentioned will employ 6,431 operatives, to pay which $31,180 per week will be necessary.
Columbus Factory ; capital $50,000 ; situated three miles from Columbus, at the head of the falls, having 50 feet of fall within 300 yards ; commenced in 1834.
Spindles 1800
Looms 32
Wool-carding machines 2
Pounds of cotton spun per day 1000
Number of operatives (chiefly girls) . 80
Wages of operatives, per month, from $10 to $12.
The goods are sold principally in Columbus. The owners speak highly of the conduct of the operatives.
Coweta Falls Factory ; capital $80,000 ; situated in Colum- bus ; commenced operations in 1844. The whole proceeds of the concern since that period have been appropriated to the furnishing of the building with machinery, which has been made on the spot from Georgia iron.
Spindles, 2,700
Looms, 45
Pounds of cotton used per day, 900
Hours of work per day, 12
Operatives, . 75
Amount of wages per annum, . $6,000
Cost of machinery and machine shop, $60,000
The goods are sent to Eastern Georgia, Western Alabama, New Orleans, and Mobile.
Howard Manufacturing Company ; located in Columbus ; capital, $85,000 ; designed for 5,000 spindles and 75 looms, and will employ 100 hands. Manufactures sheetings, shirtings, and yarns.
Carter Factory, belonging to Colonel Carter, of Milledge-
447
MUSCOGEE COUNTY.
ville ; intended for 5,000 spindles and 100 looms ; not yet com- pleted.
Variety Works, situated in Columbus, owned by Winter and Brooks ; manufactures wooden articles ; capital employed, $30,000. Hands employed, 60.
Winter's Merchant Mill, now in process of erection; eight stories high, and, with the machinery to be put in it, costing $30,000. There is a factory department connected with this establishment calculated for 3,000 spindles, to employ 75 hands, and will manufacture yarn exclusively. Capital esti- mated at $30,000, when spindles are all up and in operation.
Rock Island Paper Manufactory. This establishment, now in process of erection, is situated on the Chattahoochee, 2} miles above the city. The building is constructed of wood, 160 feet long, with rock basement, part one story and part two stories, to contain four engines, one Foudronier, and one cylin- der, machine, and capable of working up a ton of material per day. Will manufacture printing, writing, and wrapping paper. Machinery driven by two of Rich's centre-vent wheels, 30 horse power. Owned by a joint stock company. Capital, $40,000.
Cotton Gin Manufactory ; E. T. Taylor & Co .; steam power; capital, $40,000. Brick building, 44 by 96 feet, three stories high. Employs 40 hands in the various departments. Manufactures 'about 18 gins per week, and is prepared to manufacture 50 per week.
Columbus Iron Foundry ; Wm. R. Brown & Co. propri- etors ; capital, $5,000. Amount of work turned out annually, 8 to $10,000. Manufactures steamboat work, mill gearing, water-wheels, gin gear and gudgeons, cast iron railing for grave-yards, fencing, machinery for factories, &c.
In connection with the above is Cary & Stanford's finish- ing shop; capital, $3,000. Amount of work turned out annu- ally, 5 to $6,000. Steamboat repairing, mill irons, iron doors, wrought iron railing, &c., and all kinds of finishing manufac- tured.
Janney's Iron Foundry and Machine Shop; manufactures same as the two preceding. Has an engine of ten-horse power ; employs six hands, and turns out 6 to $7,000 worth of work
448
MUSCOGEE COUNTY.
per annum ; about that amount of capital invested. Manufac- tures steam engines complete, except the boilers.
In addition to these establishments, there is the old City Mill, with four run of stones for the manufacture of meal and flour, situated above the Coweta Falls factory. A company is forming, with a capital of $100,000, to build a cotton factory, to occupy three lots between the Howard Company lot and Mr. Winter's.
MINERALS .- From the very partial observations which we made when we visited this section of the State, we have no doubt that it is rich in minerals. Near the river, at Colum- bus, we noticed masses of granite and gneiss. In the vicinity of Columbus are found iron ore in small quantities, rose quartz, agates, and beautiful jasper ; felspar in abundance, carnelian, hornblend, epidote, and pyrites. In other parts of the county have been found pitchstone, hornstone, sulphuret of iron, preh- nite, lignite, cyanite, black, green, and white mica, kaolin, pipe clay, garnets, chalcedony, talc, gibbsite, &c. The vertical rise and fall of the Chattahoochee is no less than 60 or 70 feet in the course of the year. When the river is low, there is ex- posed to view not only the horizontal tertiary strata, but the subjacent cretaceous deposits, containing ammonites, bacu- lites, and other characteristic fossils .* At Snake and Upatoi creeks, organic remains are found.
NATURE OF THE SOIL, PRODUCTIONS .- The nature of the soil is various, from the richest vegetable mould to the poor- est sand. Cotton, corn, rye, oats, potatoes, and wheat, are the chief productions.
CLIMATE, DISEASES, LONGEVITY .- The climate is variable. Along the creeks fevers prevail in the summer; but generally the county may be considered healthy. Mrs. Clara Meigs died at the age of 89; Philemon Hodges at 83; Richard Christmas at 77. Mrs. Gaillon is over 87.
ROADS .- The roads are not kept in the best order.
RELIGIOUS SECTS. - Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Roman Catholics.
EDUCATION, LITERATURE .- Columbus has a number of fine
* Dr. Lyell's Second Visit to the United States.
449
4
NEWTON COUNTY.
schools, in many of which a thorough education may be ob- tained. Number of poor children in the county, 485. Edu- cational fund, $420 63 cents. A taste for reading is daily in- creasing. The newspapers of Columbus are well conducted. Many of the citizens take an interest in natural science. The late Dr. Boykin devoted much time to botany and other branches of natural history. Several gentlemen are now form- ing cabinets of minerals and shells. In the departments of theology, medicine, and law, there are many gentlemen in Columbus who have acquired celebrity.
CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE .- No people surpass those of Muscogee in hospitality ; and for intelligence they will not suffer by a comparison with any community. The citizens of Colum- bus are particularly noted for their attention to strangers.
MARKET .- Columbus is the chief market for the county.
NAME .- The name of Muscogee is given to this division of the State * to perpetuate the name of a tribe of the Creek nation. .
NEWTON.
BOUNDARIES, EXTENT .- This county is bounded N. by Walton and Gwinnett ; E. by Jasper and Morgan; S. by Butts and Jasper, and W. by Henry and De Kalb. It is 22 miles long, and 15 miles broad ; containing 330 square miles.
RIVERS AND CREEKS .- The rivers are Yellow, Ulcofauha- chee, and South. The Bear and Cornish creeks empty into the Ulcofauhachee river ; Gun, Big Haynes, Little Haynes, and Beaver Dam, empty into Yellow river ; Snapping Shoal, Wild Cat, and Honey, empty into South river.
POPULATION, TAXES, REPRESENTATION .- In 1845 the po- pulation was 7,765 whites, and 4,324 blacks; total, 12,089. Amount of taxes returned for 1848, $4,115 70 cents. Sends two representatives to the Legislature.
POST OFFICES .- Covington, Conyers, Leaksville, Newborn,
* See page 28.
450
NEWTON COUNTY.
Oak Hill, Oxford, Newton Factory, Sheffield, Starnsville, Rock Plains.
SPRINGS .- Many of the springs in this county are said to have mineral properties, but none have acquired notoriety.
VALUE OF TOWN LOTS .- The value of town lots, accord- ing to the Digest of 1848, is $97,417. Value of stock in trade, $41,620. Money at interest, $175,721. Capital invested in manufactures, $45,000.
. MINERALS .- The county abounds with fine granite. On Rev. Mr. Rogers' plantation, there is a quarry that supplies the county with granite for sills, &c. Gold in small portions is found. Iron ore is abundant.
MANUFACTURES, MILLS .- Cedar Shoals Factory, on Yel- low river, three miles from Covington ; owned by Philips & Dearing. Capital invested, $40,000. Spindles, 1184; looms, 10; bunches of yarns made per day, 80; yards of Osna- burgs made per day, 400 ; pounds of cotton used per day, 600; number of operatives, 45 ; wages of do. $5 75 per month. One flouring-mill, one saw-mill, shingle and lath-mill.
Newton Factory ; manufactures cotton goods. In the county are 7 saw-mills, 12 grist-mills, 4 flour-mills.
ROADS AND BRIDGES .- The roads are generally as good as those of the surrounding counties, but sufficient attention is not paid to their condition. The bridges are in bad repair. There are five bridges over the Yellow river, and four over the Alcovi.
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