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 38
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PRODUCTIONS, AVERAGE PRODUCT PER ACRE .- Corn, cot- ton, wheat, rye, oats, and barley, are the chief productions. Few experiments have been made with the grasses. Peaches are excellent. Vegetables succeed when attention is paid to them. Small quantities of rice are made. Corn averages 2} barrels, wheat 6 bushels, and cotton 400 pounds per acre. Between 8 and 10,000 bags of cotton are made in one year.
NATURE OF THE SOIL .- The land is generally undulating. East of the Alcovi it is level. The most productive lands lie on the rivers, and are adapted to grain and cotton; average value $6 per acre. On Yellow river the soil is rather sandy, adapted to wheat and cotton; average value, $6 per acre. Lands upon the creeks are worth $4 per acre. The ridge lands are valued at $3 per acre, according to locality.
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NEWTON COUNTY.
AMUSEMENTS .- In the lower part of the county, there is some horse-racing. Hunting, fishing, and parties are the prin- cipal amusements.
CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE .- The people are generally well informed. In the late war with Mexico, many of the citizens of this county did themselves much honour. The Legislature of 1847, passed resolutions expressive of the thanks of the people of Georgia, " to the brave and gallant officers and privates of the Newton County Cavalry." (See Acts for 1847.)
CLIMATE, DISEASES, LONGEVITY .- The climate is salubri- ous, although there is more sickness in particular sections of the county, than formerly. Congestive fevers and pneumonia are the prevalent diseases. The instances of longevity are the following : Mr. Richmond Terrell is living, aged 89 years ; Mr. Robert Pullen, is 80; Jim, a free coloured man, is 100 ; Mrs. Weathers, who was over 90, died last year ; Mrs. Bowery, died at the age of 94; Mrs. Shell, over 90; Mrs. Bass, died over 90; Mr. Thomas McClean, over 100; Char- lotte, belonging to Rev. Mr. Saunders, died in 1847, at the age of 120 years ; Mr. Tretwell, died at the age of 100.
RELIGIOUS SECTS. -- Methodists are the most numerous, There are also Missionary and Anti-Missionary Baptists, Pres- byterians, a few Episcopalians and Roman Catholics. There are in the county 13 Methodist Episcopal churches, and 3 Reformed Methodist churches.
EDUCATION .- This important subject is better attended to than formerly. Number of poor children, 481. Educational fund, $418 04 cents.
ORIGINAL SETTLERS .-- Rev. Charles H. Saunders, Dr. Con- yers, Dr. Bates, Cary Wood, Judge Sims, Moses Milton, J. P. Henderson, Daniel Kelly, Henry Talley, Rev. Mr. Colley, and George Cunningham.
TOWNS .- The county town is Covington, situated upon Dried Indian creek, 67 miles from Milledgeville, 18 from Mon- roe, 28 from Lawrenceville, and 40 from Atlanta. Population between 5 and 600. It has a brick court-house, jail, one female academy, one church, eight stores, &c. About 120,000 worth of goods are sold per annum. The place was named after General Leonard Covington, an officer of 1776. Incorporated in 1822.
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Oxford is a beautiful village three miles from Covington, having a population of about 450 ; and is known as the seat of Emory college. Many wealthy persons, influenced by a desire to have their children educated, have removed to Oxford. It is one among the most healthy spots in Georgia. The lots were sold with the express understanding, that if ardent spirits should be sold upon them, they should be considered as for- feited.
Sandtown, 12 miles from Covington, on the road to Mil- ledgeville, has a church, school, and several mechanics' shops. About twelve families reside here.
Oak Hill, 10 S.W. of Covington, on the McDonough road, has a church, school, and store ; and is inhabited by a very moral people.
NAME .-- The compiler of this work feels much regret, that owing to his inability to procure information concerning Ser- geant John Newton, his notice of him must be necessarily brief. His father was the Rev. John Newton, once minister of a Baptist church in Charleston, and who came to Georgia soon after the American Revolution, and settled in Jefferson county, where he devoted his time in attending to the duties of his sacred calling. He died in 1790. Sergeant John Newton, it is probable, was born in Charleston, and entered the army in the early period of the revolutionary war, and continued in it until his death. We have in our memoir of Jasper, given an account of the capture of a British detachment, two miles from Savannah, by himself and Newton, a deed which will cause the names of these dauntless soldiers to be remembered as long as there are hearts capable of appreciating true courage. At the surrender of Charleston, Newton was taken prisoner, and soon after died of small-pox.
OGLETHORPE.
BOUNDARIES, EXTENT .-- This county is bounded North by Madison and Elbert; East by Wilkes ; Southeast by Talia- ferro ; South by Greene, and West by Clarke. It lies within the granite region. Laid out in 1793, and since that time por-
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OGLETHORPE COUNTY.
tions of it have been added to Greene, Madison, and Taliaferro counties. It is 28 miles long, and 16 miles wide, containing 448 square miles.
RIVERS, CREEKS .-- Broad river separates the county from Elbert, and the Oconee forms part of its western boundary. Beaver Dam, Little Clouds, Groves, and Little Beaver Dam creeks empty into the south fork of the Broad river; Til- let's, Millstone, and Goose Pond into Broad river, together with others, viz .: Hanson, Town, Troublesome, Buffalo, Indian, and Dry Fork. Several streams of a less size, in the west part of the county, are tributaries of the Oconee.
POST OFFICES .- Lexington, Bairdstown, Bowling Green, Goose Pond, Millstone, Philomath, Salmonville, and State Rights.
POPULATION, TAXES, REPRESENTATION .- In 1840, the popu- lation was 10,868; in 1845, 11,001. Of these, 4,338 were whites, 6,663 blacks. There is now less emigration from this county than formerly. Amount of tax returned for 1848, $4,257 and 35 cents. Sends two members to the Legislature of the State.
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TowNS .-- Lexington is the county seat. It is situated 3} miles E. of the Athens branch of the Georgia Railroad, 64 miles N. N. E. of Milledgeville, 25 from Washington, 75 from Augusta, and 26 from Elberton. Lexington is not the busy, thriving place which it formerly was. Its declension is owing to its proximity to Athens. It has a neat court-house and jail ; two churches; one academy ; one female school, of a very superior character; one Masonic Lodge ; one Odd Fellows' Lodge ; one Division of the Sons of Temperance; three doc- tors ; six lawyers ; one minister ; two teachers ; four stores ; cabinet-makers, blacksmiths, and other mechanics. Amount of goods sold per annum, $70,000. Lexington has been pre- eminent among the villages of Georgia for its highly culti- vated state of society. Many of the most distinguished men in our State have resided in Lexington. Among them, Hon. William H. Crawford, Judge Cobb, and Stephen Upson, Esq. Governor Gilmer is now a resident of the village .*
* Since the above was written, we understand that Lexington is improving. Every house is occupied.
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OGLETHORPE COUNTY.
Bowling Green is eight miles southwest of Lexington, con- taining a population of about 50.
Bairdstown is 16 miles south of Lexington, on the Athens branch of the Georgia Railroad, and seven miles from Union Point. It contains an extensive carriage factory and a goor school, &c. This is a flourishing village, surrounded by a fin, country.
Woodstock, 14 miles southeast of Lexington, near th Taliaferro, Wilkes, and Greene line, beautifully situated on ridge dividing the waters of Long creek and Little river. 1 has an excellent school, one store, one tan-yard, one blacksmith, one tailor, one wheelwright, and one church. Population, nine families. A steam, saw, grist, and flour-mill is in the progress of construction.
Woodlawn, celebrated as being the residence of Hon. Wm. H. Crawford, 23 miles from Lexington.
EDUCATION, RELIGIOUS SECTS .- Education is appreciated by the people of this county. The seminaries of learning in Lexington formerly were very celebrated, and good schools still exist in this and other places. The male academy in Lexington was built in 1806 or '7, with funds left by Mr. Francis Meson. This gentleman was from Ireland, and after accumulating some money by teaching, he commenced a store in Lexington, and, by industry and economy, he succeeded in making $40,000. At his death, besides several legacies to his friends, he bequeathed $11,000 for founding an academy. The Legislature directed that the name of Oglethorpe County Academy should be changed to that of Meson Academy, which name it still retains. The venerable Dr. Cummins was once the Rector of this institution.
Number of poor children in the county, 156; educational fund, $135 28 cents.
The religious denominations are, Baptists, Methodists, Pres- byterians, and a few Episcopalians and Swedenborgians. I. the county are nine Methodist churches, ten Baptist, and tv. J
e ; byterian.
ROADS AND BRIDGES .- Some of the roads are kept in fine order, and others are very much neglected. The bridges are few.
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OGLETHORPE COUNTY.
MILLS .- Flour-mills, 4; saw-mills, 14; grist-mills, 10 ; and one steam, saw, grist, and flour-mill.
FACE OF THE COUNTRY, NATURE OF THE SOIL, PRODUCTIONS. -The county is hilly : the western part is red land, the cen- "al gray, and the eastern partakes of several varieties. The inds upon Goose Ponds have long been noted for their fer- tility. The productions are cotton, wheat, oats, rye, &c. The Average product per acre of cotton, is 500 lbs .; of corn, 2} @arrels. Wheat is only raised for home consumption, and probably averages seven bushels per acre. Between 12 and 15,000 bags of cotton are annually produced.
VALUE OF TOWN LOTS .- The Digest of 1848 values the town lots at $24,200. Value of stock in trade, $24,200. Money at interest, $207,998.
CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE, AMUSEMENTS .- The citizens of this county are sociable, well informed, and patriotic. Among the amusements are hunting, fishing, and parties. There is a beautiful spot on Millstone creek, 12 miles north of Lexington, embracing about one hundred acres, called Jesa- mine Grove, at which splendid pic-nics are often held.
EARLY SETTLERS .- Governor Matthews, T. M. Gilmer, Frank Meriwether, John Gilmer, John Lumpkin, Mr. Collier, Mr. Hugh McGehee, John Thomas, and others.
ROCKS, MINERALS, &c .- There is an abundance of fine granite in this county. On the farm of Gov. Gilmer, there is an immense mass of granite, so nicely balanced on another mass of the same material, that a child can move it. Near Lexington is a small cove surrounded by hills, which shut it out from observation. Here Gov. Gilmer found a pile of rock, wrought into different forms, affording evidence that it was intended as a place for religious worship. The above-named gentleman has removed many of these rocks to his garden. Gold has been found on Long creek, and in one Or two other places. A great variety of beautiful quartz, par- ticularly of the amethystine species, felspar, jasper, agate, auri- ferous copper, barytes, iron ore, and many other minerals exist in various parts of the county. Cherokee Corner and the vici- nity of Lexington, are interesting localities. Gov. Gilmer
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devotes his leisure moments to the study of the antiquities and mineralogy of Oglethorpe county. His cabinet is filled with the choicest specimens, and the walks of his garden are ornamented with the beautiful amethystine quartz.
CLIMATE, DISEASES, LONGEVITY .- The climate is mild and healthy. A few cases of fever occur in the fall. Mr. Daniel Dupree, 80 years of age, and Mr. Jacob Eberhart, over 90, are now living. Mr. Clifford Woodruff died over 104 years of age; Mrs. Taylor, over 90. Mr. Charles Strong, who was at the taking of Cornwallis, died at the age of 84 ; his wife, Mrs. Sarah Strong, is now living, over 80.
EMINENT MEN .- This county boasts of having furnished Georgia with several men who stand high on the list of her sons, such as Judges Lumpkin and Cobb, Hon. Mr. Upson, Gov. Gilmer, and Hon. W. H. Crawford.
The celebrated George Matthews, formerly Governor of the State, resided in this county. He was the son of John Matthews, who emigrated to Virginia from Ireland, in 1737, and settled in Augusta county. From his youth he was accustomed to danger. The Indians west of the Ohio river, the most warlike of all the aborigines of Ame- rica, made frequent incursions into western Virginia, from 1754 to 1774. In George Matthews they found a formi- dable enemy. In 1761 a family not far from his father's resi- dence was murdered by the savages. He and two or three of his relations, supposing from the firing that there was a shooting- match among some of the neighbours, went to join in the sport. On riding up to the place, they saw dead bodies lying in the yard. Matthews immediately perceived their danger, and wheeled his horse for flight ; the Indians rose from their concealment and fired; Matthews, however, effected his escape, collected as soon as possible twenty of his neighbours, pursued the Indians, overtook and killed nine of them. Capt. Mat- thews acted an important part in the battle which took place on the 10th of October, 1774, at the junction of the Ohio with the Kenawha, the greatest ever fought between the Virginians and Indians. The fight commenced at sunrise and continued until evening, when Capt. Matthews,
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OGLETHORPE COUNTY.
Capt. Shelby, (afterwards Governor of Kentucky,) and Capt. Stewart were ordered by General Lewis, the officer in com- mand, to proceed up the Kenawha river and Crooked creek, under cover of the bank and bushes, and attack the Indians in . the rear, and they were driven across the Ohio.
Soon after the commencement of the revolutionary war, George Matthews received substantial proof of the high esti- mation in which he was held by his countrymen for the ser- vice he had rendered Virginia by the defence of the frontiers against the savages. In 1775 he was elected Colonel of the 9th regiment of the Virginia troops on the Continental estab- lishment. For nearly two years Col. Matthews and his regi- ment were stationed on the eastern shore of Virginia. In 1777 he was ordered with his command to join the army un- der Gen. Washington. Our great chief knew well the value of Col. Matthews' services, his own experience being acquired on the frontiers of Virginia. As soon, therefore, as the con- test of the Revolution assumed the shape of a war in earnest, Washington ordered Col. Matthews to join him. He did so, and took part in the battle of Brandywine. At the battle of Germantown, Col. Matthews and his regiment attacked suc- cessfully the British troops opposed to him, pushed on to the middle of the town, and captured a regiment of the enemy. After this, in a skirmish, he was knocked down by the enemy, and received a very severe wound with a bayonet. He was confined on board the British prison-ship in the harbour of New-York, where he endured the most severe sufferings. Mr. Jefferson, then Governor of Virginia, in a letter to Colonel Matthews, says, " We know that the ardent spirit and hatred of tyranny which brought you into your present situation, will enable you to bear up against it, with the firmness which has distinguished you as a soldier, and look forward with plea- sure to the day when events shall take place against which the wounded spirit of your enemies will find no comfort, even from reflections on the most refined of the cruelties with which they have glutted themselves." Col. Matthews was not ex- changed until the termination of the war, when he joined the army under Gen. Greene, as commander of the 3d Virginia regiment. Whilst in the South he purchased a tract of land
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OGLETHORPE COUNTY.
called the Goose Pond, on Broad river, and removed to it with his family in 1785. His high reputation in the late war made him at once the principal man in Georgia. In 1786 he was elected Governor. He was the first representative of the people of Georgia in the Congress of the United States, under the present Constitution. He was again Governor of Georgia in 1794 and 1795. In 1811 a class of men who called them- selves patriots, obtained the ascendency in Florida. These men threw off the Spanish yoke, and declared themselves free to do what they pleased. They petitioned the United States to make Florida a portion of its territory, and Gov. Matthews was appointed agent to negotiate with the constituted authori- ties of Florida for the annexation of the country to the United States. Governor Matthews made a treaty, which was, however, strongly remonstrated against by the Spanish Gov- ernment, and finally disavowed by the President, Mr. Madison, as not having been made with the constituted authorities of Florida, according to the terms of Gov. Matthews' instructions. The disavowal of Mr. Madison enraged Gov. Mathews to such a degree, that it is said he started for Washington to sub- ject Mr. Madison to personal chastisement. He swore that he would expose the whole affair to the world. His high state of excitement, added to the fatigue and exposure he had undergone, brought on a fever whilst on his way to Washing- ton to execute his threat, and of which he died in Augusta, Georgia, March, 1812.
Gov. Matthews was a short, thick man, with stout legs, on which he stood very straight. He carried his head rather thrown back. His features were full, his hair light, and his complexion fair and florid. His looks indicated a perfect free- dom from fear, and he felt himself equal to any man. He ad- mitted no superior but George Washington. He spoke of his services to the country as unsurpassed, except by this great chief. His dress was in unison with his looks and conversa- tion. He wore a three-cornered cocked hat, fair-top boots, a shirt full ruffled in front and at the wrists, and occasionally a long sword at his side. It was during Gov. Mat- thews' second term of service as the Chief Magistrate of Geor- gia, that the land speculators, after many years of effort, suc-
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OGLETHORPE COUNTY.
ceeded in procuring the passage by the Legislature of an ope- rative law for the sale of the Western Territory of the State.
When Gov. Matthews read, it was always aloud, and with the confidence which accompanied the consciousness of doing a thing very well. He pronounced fully the l in would, should, and ed at the termination of words, with a long drawling accent. He spelled coffee thus, Kauphy. When Governor, he dictated his messages to his Secretary, and then sent them to Francis M. Simmons, to put them in grammar. He wrote Congress with a K. His memory was very retentive. Whilst he was a member of Congress an important document which had been read during the session was lost. He was able to repeat its contents verbatim. Whilst Sheriff and Tax Collector of Augusta, Virginia, he knew the name of every man and woman in the district.
Mr. Adams, when President, nominated Gov. Matthews to the Senate for Governor of the Mississippi Territory, and afterwards withdrew the nomination upon finding the oppo- sition to his appointment very great, on account of the Yazoo Act. When Matthews heard of this, he immediately set out for Philadelphia, where Congress sat, to chastise him. Upon his arrival in Philadelphia, he made directly to the President's house, hitched his horse, and went to the door, his revolution- ary sword at his thigh, his three-cornered hat on his head, and gave a thundering knock at the door. Upon the servant opening the door, he demanded to see the President. He was answered that the President was engaged. He replied to the servant, " that he presumed his business was to carry mes- sages to the President. Now, if you do not immediately in- form him that a gentleman wishes to speak to him, your head will answer the consequences." The servant returned and in- formed the President, that a very strange old fellow wished to see him, and would take no denial. Mr. Adams directed that he should be admitted. Upon Gov. Matthews entering the room where the President was, he said : " I presume you are Mr. Adams, President of the United States." The President bowed. The Governor continued : "My name is Matthews, sometimes called Gov. Matthews ; well known at the battle of German- town, however, as Col. Matthews of the Virginia line. Now,
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OGLETHORPE COUNTY.
sir, I understand that you nominated me in the Senate of the United States, to be Governor of the Mississippi Territory, and that afterwards you took back the nomination. 'Sir, if you had known me, you would not have taken the nomination back. If you did not know me you should not have nomi- nated me to so important an office. Now, sir, unless you can satisfy me, your station of President of these United States shall not screen you from my vengeance.", Mr. Adams, ac- cordingly, set about satisfying him; which he did with the more good will on account of the Governor being known to be a stanch Federalist. Upon inquiring after Gov. Matthews' sons, and receiving a most laudatory description of them, he promised to appoint his son John supervisor of the public re- venue in Georgia. Upon which the Governor expressed him- self as content, saying, "My son John is a man about my inches, with the advantages of a liberal education, and for his integrity I pledge my head."
The first business before the Legislature of 17-, after the organization, was to determine whether Gov. Matthews was to be considered Governor. Whilst engaged in this discussion, the Clerk of the House went into the Executive Office ; the Governor accosted him, saying-" What are these fellows about that they do not let me know that they are organized and ready to receive my message ?" The Clerk told him the members were discussing whether they should recognize him as Governor. "By the Eternal !" exclaimed the Governor, " if they don't I will cut an avenue from this office through them."
In the life of Greene, by Johnson, the salvation of the Ame- rican army at Brandywine is ascribed to the good conduct of two regiments, one of which was commanded by Matthews. A county in Virginia was named after him.
MANUFACTURES .- The war of the Revolution left the people of Virginia penniless, and restless in spirit. They had made great exertions, and sacrificed much to obtain independence. Most of the luxuries, and many of the necessaries of life, had been derived from abroad, purchased by their tobacco and flour. The war cut off exportation. The merchants owned but few trading vessels, and these few their country could not defend.
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OGLETHORPE COUNTY.
The hope of great blessings to be derived from the right of self- government had stimulated the people to make the exertions necessary to obtain their object; and when the independence of the United States was acknowledged by Great Britain, the blessings which they expected to follow appeared for a while to be deferred, or not to be obtained. The capital with which trade had to be carried on was exhausted by the war, and it required time to create it anew. The means of making capital were obstructed by Great Britain by restrictions upon the trade of the States. How to improve their condition was a question which they anxiously sought to solve. At this time Georgia held out to emigrants from other States the most seductive offers of land to those who would take pos- session. The officers and soldiers who had served during the war had formed the most favourable opinion of the fertility of its soil. Gov. Matthews had served in Georgia during the war. Soon after peace he made preparations for removing to a tract of land, then and yet known as the Goose Pond,-a dis- puted title to which he had purchased whilst in the army. Influenced by his judgment, Francis Meriwether, Benjamin Taliaferro, P. Gilmer, and John Gilmer, visited Georgia in 1784, in search of suitable lands for settlement. They were pleased with the lands in, the vicinity of the Goose Pond, and pur- chased them. Gov. Matthews, Francis Meriwether, John Gilmer, and Benjamin Taliaferro, removed to Georgia imme- diately afterwards, with their families. From 1785 to 1795 the lands on Broad river were settled chiefly by the relations or friends of these first emigrants. They formed a society of the greatest intimacy and cordiality, mutual wants making the surest foundation for the interchange of mutual kindness. It is difficult to obtain materials to give a full account of the first settlers of the Broad river country. Few letters can be found, or manuscripts. Although they left no written memo- randums of themselves, the evidence of their energy may be found in every part of the southern and western country.
NAME .- Oglethorpe county bears the name of the illustrious founder of Georgia. The history of General Oglethorpe has been compiled by several authors in England and in this country, and it is for the benefit of those who may not have
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