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 39
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462
OGLETHORPE COUNTY.
access to a complete account of this distinguished personage that we give the following particulars. The founder of the colony of Georgia was the son of Sir Theophilus Oglethorpe, and was born in London on the 21st of December, 1688. At the age of sixteen, he was admitted a student of Corpus Christi College, but it does not appear that he finished his studies, the military profession having more charms for him than literary pursuits. His first commission was that of Ensign. In 1714, he was Captain Lieutenant in the Guards of Queen Anne. After her death he withdrew from the British army, and took service with Prince Eugene, and was with him when he crossed the Danube, and defeated the Grand Vizier Ali at Peterwaradin, in 1716; and also in the following year, when Eugene besieged and took Belgrade. On these occasions his active services gained him the appro- bation of his commander. Shortly afterwards he returned to England, and at twenty-four years of age he was brought into Parliament from Hashmere, in Surrey ; and he continued to represent that borough by successive elections for thirty-two years, during which time he distinguished himself by several able speeches : and in the laws for the benefit of trade many salutary regulations were proposed and promoted by him. In Parliament he introduced a motion " that an inquiry should be instituted into the state of the jails in the metropolis. A committee was appointed to attend to this matter, of which he was chairman ; and it is said " that the effects of this interposition have been felt ever since by the unhappy prisoners." In 1732, he made an effort in Parliament to restore a constitutional militia, and to abolish arbitrary impressment of seamen. As a member of the British Parliament, he was- always found on the side of justice and humanity. In the year 1732, Oglethorpe planned a colony, unlike any other that had its origin among men. Twenty-one gentlemen, con- curring with his views, petitioned the king for a grant of lands in South Carolina, and liberty to lay out such charities as they themselves should give, or receive from others, in con- veying over and establishing unfortunate families in America ; and that the charity collected may not terminate in the per- sons first relieved, but extend itself to the latest posterity.
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OGLETHORPE COUNTY.
The petition was received, and a charter of incorporation granted. The patent was dated 9th of June, 1732, and the colony was called Georgia.
In November, 1732, Oglethorpe, with 116 settlers, em- barked for Georgia; and on the 13th of January, 1733, the ship dropped anchor outside of the bar, at the port of Charles- ton, South Carolina. After having been received in the kindest manner by the Governor of the Province, and aided by many of the inhabitants of Carolina, Oglethorpe proceeded on his voyage, and arrived at Yamacraw, and fixed upon this place as the most convenient and healthy situation for the settlers. Here they marked out a town, and called it Savannah.
After he had placed his colony in as good a situation as cir- cumstances would allow, he secured the good will of the In- dians. A general meeting of the chiefs was held in Savannah, and a treaty of friendship made with them. Oglethorpe then re- turned to England, carrying with him Tomachichi, his queen, and several other Indians, who were received by the king of England with marks of great respect and kindness. From the time that Oglethorpe returned to England, which was in the spring of 1734, to the end of the year 1735, he was assiduously employed in advancing the interests of his colony. Upon his return, he visited Ebenezer, where the Saltburghers were set- tled, the Highland settlement on the Alatamaha, and St. Si- mon's Island. Upon this island he laid out a fort, with four bastions, which he named Frederica. Anticipating difficulty between England and Spain at this time, on account of cer- tain unreasonable demands on the part of the Governor of St. Augustine, he embarked for England, for the purpose of induc- ing his government to adopt measures to protect the colony. Oglethorpe was appointed Brigadier General, and was directed to raise a regiment for the protection of Georgia. After spend- ing some time in recruiting and training his men, on the 1st of July, 1738, he left England, with a regiment consisting of 700 men, and arrived on the south end of St. Simon's Island, on the 19th of September. A month after his arrival he vi- sited Savannah, where he was received with every demonstra- tion of respect. He did not remain here long, but set out on
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OGLETHORPE COUNTY.
a journey over 300 miles, to Cowetah, one of the principal towns of the Creek Indians, where all the chiefs were to be assembled. He was received by the Council with the warm- est friendship ; and they renewed and confirmed all the trea- ties which they had formerly made with him. He then re- turned to Savannah, and was present at the funeral solemni- ties of his tried and beloved friend, king Tomachichi, and then proceeded to Frederica. It was about this time that an inva- sion of Florida was determined upon. Oglethorpe went to Charleston, and by his representations the Assembly voted £120,000, and 400 men, to aid in the enterprise. The regi- ment of Carolina arrived at Darien the 1st of May, and was joined by Oglethorpe's favourite regiment, the Highlanders, all destined against St. Augustine. Space is wanted to detail all the incidents connected with this expedition. We have only room to remark that it proved unsuccessful, owing to circum- stances which Oglethorpe could not foresee, and to disap- pointments which he least expected. In 1741 he resided at Frederica. His homestead consisted of a cottage, a garden, and an orchard for oranges, figs, and grapes. This cottage, and fifty acres of land attached to it, were all the landed domain Gene- ral Oglethorpe reserved to himself. After the General went to England, it became the property of the father of Thomas Spal- ding, Esq. Scarcely a vestige now remains to tell where Ogle- thorpe lived. In 1742, the Spaniards sent 3,000 men to drive Oglethorpe from the frontiers. The General had with him only 700 men, and his situation was very critical ; but by measures which reflected the highest honour upon his character, he en- tirely defeated the expedition. In conformity to positive or- ders from the English government, he left Georgia in 1743, to answer charges preferred against him by Lieut. Col. Cook ; and soon after his arrival a court-martial was called, which, after the most dispassionate deliberation, declared the charges brought against him to be false, malicious, and groundless, and consequently, Cook was dismissed from the service. In March, 1744, he was appointed one of the field officers, under Field Marshal the Earl of Stair, to oppose the expected inva- sion from France. On the 15th of September, 1744, he mar- ried Elizabeth, the only daughter of Sir Nathan Wright, a lady
465
PAULDING COUNTY.
to whom he had been long attached. McCall, in his History of Georgia, says, " At the commencement of the American war, being the senior officer of Sir William Howe, he had the prior offer of the command of the forces appointed to sub- due the rebels. He professed his readiness to accept the ap- pointment, if the ministry would authorize him to assure the colonies that justice should be done them." General Ogle- thorpe closed his useful life on the 1st of July, 1785. For 74 years he had been in the British army, and at his death was the oldest officer in the army .*
PAULDING.
BOUNDARIES .- This county is bounded N. by Floyd and Cass, E. by Cobb, S. by Carroll, and W. by Alabama. Laid out from Cherokee, and organized in 1832.
POST OFFICES .- Van Wert, Cedar Town, Huntsville, New Babylon, Pumpkin Pile, Yellow Stone.
POPULATION, TAXES, REPRESENTATION .- In 1845, accord- ing to the census, the population was 3,664 whites, 775 blacks; total, 4,439. Amount of State tax for the year 1848, $1,078 76 cents. Sends one representative to the Legislature.
RIVERS, CREEKS .- The Tallapoosa river has its source in this county. The creeks are Pumpkin Vine, Little Cedar, Day, Floyd, Hill's, Camp, Euharlee, Raccoon, and Sweet Water.
TOWNS .- Van Wert, in the valley of Euharlee creek, is the county site. It has the usual public buildings, one church, two hotels, one academy, two or three stores, mechanics' shops, &c. Population 100. The water is bad, and the vil- lage is said to be unhealthy. Distance from Milledgeville, 108 miles N. W .; from Villa Rica, 24; from Rome, 22; from Cedar Town, 13; from Cave Springs, 22 ; from Cartersville, 18 ; and from Marietta, 34.
Cedar Town is in the middle of Cedar Valley, in a rich section of country, twenty miles south of Rome. It has a fine church, female school, and one of the best limestone springs
* Spalding's Life of Oglethorpe, in the Collections of the Georgia Histo- rical Society.
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PAULDING COUNTY.
in the State. The valley is filled with an intelligent and thrifty population.
NATURE OF THE SOIL, VALUE OF LAND .- There are some fine lands in this county, especially on Pumpkin Vine, Euhar- lee, Tallapoosa, and Raccoon creeks, adapted to corn, wheat, and tobacco; valued from $10 to $15 per acre. The gray lands are worth $2 to $10 per acre. The ridge lands can be bought for almost any price.
MOUNTAINS .- The Dug Down mountains cross the county from east to west.
ROADS AND BRIDGES .- The roads are neglected, and many of them are very bad. There are but few bridges.
AVERAGE PRODUCT PER ACRE .- Corn averages. 6 barrels per acre; wheat, 12 bushels do .; cotton, 700 pounds do. Five hundred bags of cotton are annually produced.
MINERALS .- Gold has been found 10 miles from Van Wert, and other places ; also iron, and many of the minerals com- mon to the adjoining counties. Some curious fossils have been found near Van Wert, on Mr. Jones's plantation.
EDUCATION, RELIGIOUS SECTS .- Little attention is paid to education. We anticipate with pleasure the period when the citizens of this county, as well as of others, aided by the mu- nificence of our Legislature, will take measures to improve the minds of their children, and thus fit them to value their political rights, and make them useful members of society. Number of poor children, 508. Educational fund, $440 57. The religious sects are Missionary and Anti-Missionary Bap- tists, Methodists, Christians, and Universalists.
CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE .- Industry and enterprise are wanted. A kinder people cannot be found in Georgia.
CLIMATE, DISEASES, LONGEVITY .- The climate is similar to that of the adjacent counties. There are some localities re- garded as most subject to fevers. The instances of longevity are the following: Mr. Brooks is now 88; Mr. Hillbune is over 89 ; Mrs. Butler 81.
EARLY SETTLERS .- Mr. Whitmael, A. Adair, the For- syths, the Yorks, the Philpots.
VALUE OF TOWN LOTS, &c .- The value of town lots is $4,000 ; value of stock in trade, $6,495 ; money at interest, $22,334.
467
PAULDING COUNTY.
NAME .- This county received the name of Paulding in honour of John Paulding, one of the captors of Andre. He was born in the village of Peekskill, New-York, in 1759. Va- rious accounts have been given of the capture of Andre, but we think the most authentic is contained in the History of Westchester County, New-York, by Robert Bolton; a work evincing, on the part of the author, much ability and research. It appears that Williams, Van Wert, and Paulding, were on a journey to see some relations. The three were seated beside the road, in the bushes, amusing themselves at cards, when their attention was arrested by the galloping of a horse. On approaching the road they saw a gentleman riding towards them, seated on a large brown horse, which was afterwards ob- served to have marked on the near shoulder U. S. A. The rider was a light, trim-built man, about five feet nine inches in height, with a bold, military countenance, and dark eyes, and was dressed in a round hat, blue surtout, crimson coat, with panta- loons and vest of nankeen. As he neared them, the three cocked their muskets and aimed at the rider, who immediately checked his horse, and the following conversation ensued :
Andre-" Gentlemen, I hope you are of our party "
Paulding-" What party ?"
Andre-" The lower party."
Paulding-" I do."
Andre-" I am a British officer; I have been up in the country on particular business, and would not be detained a single moment." He thereupon pulled out a gold watch, and exhibited it, as an evidence that he was a gentleman, and re- turned it again to his fob. Paulding thereupon remarked, " We are Americans." Andre-" God bless my soul ! A man must do any thing to get along. I am a Continental officer going down to Dobbs' Ferry to get information from below." Andre then presented a pass from General Arnold, in which was the assumed name of John Anderson. Seizing hold upon the reins of the horse, they ordered him to dismount. Andre exclaimed, " You will bring yourself into trouble." " We care not for that," was the reply. They took him down ten or fif- teen rods, beside a run of water, and Williams proceeded to search the hat, coat, vest, shirt, and pantaloons, in which they
468
PAULDING COUNTY.
found $80 in Continental money, and at last ordered him to take off his boots. At this he changed colour. Williams drew off the left boot first, and Paulding seizing it, exclaimed, " My God! here it is." In it three half sheets of written paper were found, enveloped by a half sheet marked " Contents, West Point." Paulding again exclaimed, " My God ! he is a spy." On pulling off the other boot, a similar package was found. Andre was now allowed to dress, and they marched him across the road into the field, about 20 rods. The young men winked to each other, to make further discoveries, and inquired from whom he got the papers. " Of a man at Pine's Bridge, a stran- ger to me," replied Andre. He then offered them, for his liberty, his horse, equipage, and one hundred guineas : this they refused to take, unless he informed them where he ob- tained the papers. He refused to comply, but again offered his horse, equipage, and one thousand guineas. They were firm in their denial, and he increased his offer to ten thousand guineas and as many dry goods as they wished, which should be deposited in any place they desired; that they might keep him and send some one to New-York with his order, so that they could obtain them unmolested. To this they replied, that it did not signify for him to make any offer, for he should not go. They then proceeded to the nearest military station, which was at North Castle, about twelve miles distant, and deli- vered him to Colonel Jameson, commanding officer. The con- duct of Paulding was the theme of admiration throughout the whole country. For his services the State of New-York pre- sented him with a farm, situated within the town of Cortlandt. Congress also voted him a silver medal and an annuity for life. The medal was presented by General Washington, in presence of the whole army. On one side of the medal was inscribed, " Fidelity," and on the reverse, " Vincit amor Patria." A few minutes before this patriot expired, he called Dr. Fountain, his medical attendant, to his bedside, and thus addressed him : " Doctor, please tell all those who ask after me, that I die a true republican." He died on the 18th February, 1818. A handsome monument, erected by the Corporation of New-York, marks the spot where he is interred. On the front of the pedestal is the following inscription :
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PAULDING COUNTY.
" Here repose the mortal remains of JOHN PAULDING, Who died 18th February, 1818, In 60th year of his age. On the morning of the 23rd of September, 1780, Accompanied by two young farmers of the county of Westchester, 1 Whose names will one day be recorded on their own deserved monuments, He intercepted the British spy, Andre. Poor himself, He disdained to acquire wealth by the sacrifice of his country. Rejecting the temptation of great rewards,
He conveyed his prisoner to the American camp, and, By this act of self-denial, The treason of Arnold was detected, The designs of the enemy baffled, West Point and America saved, And these United States, Now, by the Grace of God, free and independent, Rescued from the most imminent peril."
On the fourth side of the pedestal :
" The Corporation Of the City of New-York Erected this tomb As a monument sacred To Public gratitude."
Efforts have been made to prove that the three captors of Andre are not entitled to the praise which has been awarded to them. In the Congress of the United States, a member as- serted that the character of these men was infamous. He accused them of being as often in the camp of the enemies of their country as in our own ; of being destitute not only of patriotism, but of common honesty and honour ; of belonging to that detestable gang usually known by the name of Cow Boys.
470
PIKE COUNTY.
These charges have been fully refuted, and we believe that our countrymen are prepared to accord to the captors of Andre the fairest page in the annals of freedom.
PIKE.
BOUNDARIES, EXTENT .- Pike county has Fayette and Henry on the N., Monroe and a part of Butts on the E., Upson on the S., and the Flint river and Line creek on the W. It was laid out in 1822, and before portions of it were added to Upson " it commenced at the centre line of the eleventh district of Monroe, running west on the line dividing Houstoun and Mon- roe to the corner of the first and sixteenth districts of Hous- toun ; thence in a direct line to the mouth of Big Potato creek; then up the Flint river to the county line dividing Monroe and Fayette; then on said line east to the county line of the third section of Monroe ; then south on said line and the centre lines of the seventh and eleventh districts of Monroe, to the beginning." It lies within the granite region, and is 23 miles long and 17 miles wide, embracing 391 square miles.
POST OFFICES .- Zebulon, Griffin, Barnesville, Liberty Hill, Milner.
POPULATION, TAXES, REPRESENTATION .- In 1845 Pike had 7,921 whites, and 3,473 blacks ; total, 11,394. The popula- tion has doubtless increased since that time. Taxes returned for 1848, $4,489 18. Sends two members to the Legislature.
RIVERS AND CREEKS .- The Flint river forms a part of the western boundary, and is remarkable for the rich lands on its borders. The other streams are Big Potato, Elkins, Birch, Flat, Grape, Honey Bee, Sunday, Wasp, Fly,and Rose creeks.
TOWNS .- Zebulon, a quiet and pleasant village, is the county seat. It is distant 77 miles W. of Milledgeville, 27 from Fayetteville, 10 from Flint river, 17 from Thomas- ton, 25 from Forsyth, 50 from Macon, and 12 from Griffin. The court-house is built of brick, and cost $8,000. The jail is a plain building, constructed of wood. A tolerable fair business
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PIKE COUNTY.
is done. There are two churches, two academies, &c. The capital was formerly Newnan, but in 1825 this honour was conferred upon Zebulon.
Griffin, called after Gen. L. L. Griffin, its founder, is situ- ated on the Macon and Western Railroad, at the extreme northern boundary of the county. This town was commenced in 1840, by the Monroe Railroad and Banking Company. Mr. Wm. Leake bought the first lot for $1,000, June 8, 1840. Griffin is the market for Meriwether, Henry, Pike, a por- tion of Troup and Fayette, a part of Upson, Monroe, and Butts. A large amount of business is transacted. Probably over $400,000 worth of goods are annually sold. The town is improving in every respect. At present there are three churches, three or four hotels, five large warehouses, forty or fifty stores, besides a large number of mechanics' shops, &c. The population exceeds 2,000, and for orderly conduct and moral habits cannot be surpassed in Georgia. Every thing connected with this place affords proof of the energy and enterprise of the citizens. The comfort of many of the hotels, the number and excellence of the schools, the success of the temperance effort, the various mechanical operations recently introduced, and the quantity of goods in spacious brick stores, all indicate that Griffin is destined to vie successfully with many older places.
A company has lately been organized, called the Griffin and West Point Plank Road Company, designed to con- nect the two places by means of a road constructed of plank. Should this work be accomplished, it will not only greatly contribute to the prosperity of Griffin, but afford superior faci- lities to the planters for the transportation of produce. The town of Griffin is healthy, the water good, and being the cen- tre of a large extent of country, will undoubtedly become a place of great importance. The municipal regulations are rigidly enforced, and in no town of the same size are there less intemperance and disorder. The citizens take much interest in the Sabbath school system, and their schools are well at- tended. The Southern Mutual Insurance Company originated in Griffin, and its operations have been conducted with great success.
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PIKE COUNTY.
Barnesville is a thriving little village, named after Mr. Barnes, who first settled here. It is on the Macon and West- ern Railroad, 18 miles from Griffin. It has two hotels, four or five stores, a church, school, &c. It is the point from which the Columbus stages depart. More business is transacted in Barnesville than one would suppose, and the population will not suffer by a comparison with any in Georgia.
Milner, on the railroad, 12 miles below Griffin.
Liberty Hill, 13 miles S. E. of Griffin.
MILLS .-- Nine saw-mills ; 14 grist-mills ; 4 flour-mills.
MOUNTAINS. - The Pine mountains are in the southern part of the county.
BRIDGES AND ROADS .- The roads are fair, although some are very bad. The people of Georgia are not in the habit of keeping their roads in a good condition. The bridges are in good order.
MAIL ROUTE .- New-York and New-Orleans Mail Line, owned by Richard Peters, E. L. Ellsworth, and D. E. Beman. On this line are 18 stages; 240 horses, besides a number of extras ; 15 drivers ; 8 agents. Staging reduced to 93 miles ; running time, 18 hours between Griffin and Opelika. The route passes through Greeneville, La Grange, and West Point. Extra coaches are always ready to carry forward in fast time any number of through passengers, without detention. The roads are excellent, the agents are accommodating, the coaches new, horses good, and the drivers temperate and experienced. Indeed, this is one among the most superior mail routes in the United States. The average number of passengers each way per day, is 10. About 48,000 bushels of corn, and over 1,152,000 pounds of fodder are consumed by the horses con- nected with this route, per annum. Contract for carrying the mail, $6,000 per annum.
MINERALS .-- Beautiful rose-coloured quartz at Mr. John Lamar's, three miles west of Griffin ; also smoky quartz, tour- maline, beryl, iron, &c. In the banks of the railroad a species of white clay is found, used very frequently by some medical gen- tlemen in the place of magnesia, and said to be superior to mag- nesia as an antacid. In the vicinity of Barnesville and near the Baptist Church, beautiful crystallized quartz is found, and near Zebulon are rare specimens of quartz and other minerals.
473
PIKE COUNTY.
RELIGIOUS SECTS, EDUCATION .- Methodists, Baptists, Pres- byterians, Universalists, a few Episcopalians, and Christians or Disciples of Christ. Education, although generally not com- manding sufficient attention, may be said to be on the ad- vance. In Zebulon, Griffin, and other places, are excellent schools. Number of poor children, 447. Educational fund, $387 67.
CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE, AMUSEMENTS .- Religion and morals are highly appreciated, and in no portion of Georgia has the temperance effort been crowned with greater success. The clergy have been indefatigable in their labours, and much of the great improvement which has taken place in the character of the population is to be attributed to the influence of religion. The amusements are hunting, fishing, &c.
VALUE OF TOWN LOTS, &c .- The value of town lots is $119,000. Value of stock in trade, $116,670. Money at interest, $257,315.
CLIMATE, DISEASES, LONGEVITY .- The climate is mild, and generally healthy. On the creeks diseases of a bilious kind occur. Judging from the number of old persons now living in this county, we should say that it is decidedly favourable to longevity. Mr. Adam Cooper is now living between 90 and 100-a very remarkable old man, who has had his coffin made for eight years past, as well as his shroud, both of which he keeps under his bed. Mrs. Crawford is 105 years old. Mr. Harper, recently deceased, was 90. Mrs. Lushlin was over 90. Mr. William Nelson died a few years ago at the age of 100; and there is a church in the county, called Century Nelson, in memory of the fact that he had numbered 100 years.
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