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 41
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EARLY SETTLERS .- Mr. John Dillon, Mr. Williams, Mr. Edward Coffee, Mr. David Mosely, Mr. Benjamin Odell, and others.
AVERAGE PRICE OF GRAIN, PROVISIONS, &C .-
Corn averages 30 cts. per bushel.
Oats
30
60
Rye 66
50 66 66
Wheat " from 75 cts. to 1 00
66
Irish potatoes average 40
66
Sweet .
·
50
66
486
RABUN COUNTY.
Pork averages
31
pound.
Bacon
9
Beef 66
23
66
Eggs 66
6
dozen.
Chickens “
1 00
66
Turkeys “
75
66 66 66 66 cts.
pair.
Board can be had at $4 to $8 per month.
CLIMATE, DISEASES, LONGEVITY .- The climate is cold in winter, but pleasant and bracing in summer. The diseases are such as usually occur in mountainous districts. The fol- lowing are the cases of longevity which we have been able to ascertain. Mr. Williams died in this county at the age of 110 years, and was a drummer in the revolutionary war. Mr. Wall is now living, over 80 ; Mr. John Steele, over 80 ; Mr. Josias Callahan, 80.
MOUNTAINS, VALLEYS. -- Rabun is a county of moun- tains. In whatever direction the eye is turned it beholds ridges of mountains, one behind the other, " like a dark blue sea of giant billows, instantly stricken solid by nature's magic wand." The different peaks are named Bald mountain, Screamer, Pinnacle, Tallulah, &c. The valleys are Tennessee, War Woman, Persimmon, Tiger Tail, and Simpson's creek.
ROADS AND BRIDGES .- A resident of the county informs the author that the roads are bad, bad as roads can be. The turnpike road extending from Habersham to North Carolina, runs through Rabun, and is now in a very bad condition. There are no bridges or ferries. When the waters are too deep for fording, the people are compelled to wait until they subside.
CAVES, FALLS .- In the county are several caves, but none particularly celebrated. Ten miles N. E. of Clayton is a beautiful fall, called Eastatoah, and about four miles from Clay- ton are the Stekoa falls, which many persons think superior in beauty to the far-famed Toccoa falls.
MILLS, DISTILLERIES .- The water-power in this county is equal to any in the State. Saw-mills, 3 ; grist-mills, 10 or 15; distilleries, 6.
FOREST TREES, FRUITS .- The forest trees are hickory, oak, poplar, pine, walnut, maple, fir, spruce pine, chestnut,
487
RABUN COUNTY.
cedar, &c. Apples grow in great abundance, and of superior quality. The farmers carry large quantities below, for which they obtain means to procure sugar, coffee, and salt.
ANIMALS, FISH .- There are vast numbers of deer in the mountains ; also bears and wolves. The streams are well supplied with fish ; there are, however, no large fish except in the rivers. Here can be had to great perfection the delicious mountain trout. A very peculiar fish, called the " jumping mul- let," is caught in great numbers at a shoal on War Woman's creek. The process of catching them, as it has been de- scribed, is this. The fish in immense numbers come up to the foot of the shoal and attempt to jump over the obstacle ; not being sufficiently active to reach the top, they necessarily fall back, and in their descent are caught in baskets held by the fishermen for the purpose.
RELIGIOUS SECTS, TEMPERANCE, EDUCATION .- Baptists and Methodists ; the former are the most numerous. The tempe- rance effort has been productive of good. In almost every settlement there is a school, in which the common branches are taught. Number of poor children, 435. Educational fund, $377 28.
CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE, AMUSEMENTS .- If the records of the court in Rabun be any criteria by which to judge the character of its population, then we are prepared to say that the character of the people is good as to morals and punctu- ality in personal matters, as there are not a dozen cases, in- cluding civil and criminal, returned to the court in a year. The amusements are hunting and fishing. Indeed, we have been informed that hunting is the principal business of many. Energy and industry are much wanted.
VALUE OF TOWN LOTS, &c .- The value of town lots is $3,825. Value of stock in trade, $2,500. Money at inte- rest, $1,495.
NAME .- This county was named after William Rabun, formerly Governor of the State of Georgia. He was born in Halifax county, North Carolina, on the 8th of April, 1771. He came to Georgia with his father, Matthew Rabun, in 1785, who, after residing in Wilkes one year, removed to Hancock. Mr. Rabun was not favoured with a good education, but em-
488
RABUN COUNTY.
braced every opportunity of improving his mind. At the age of seventeen he became a member of the Baptist church, and continued a zealous and exemplary Christian to the end of his life. In all the benevolent operations of the day, he took a leading part ; indeed, to promote the interests of his fellow- men, appeared to give him real enjoyment. In Hancock he was very popular, for although he never urged any claims that he might have to the consideration of the people, he was for many years their representative and Senator in the Legisla- ture, and was never defeated for any office for which he was a candidate. He became President of the Senate, and upon the resignation of Gov. Mitchell, acted as Governor of Geor- gia from March, 1817, to November of the same year, when he was elected Governor by the Legislature. During his administration, a correspondence took place between Gen. Andrew Jackson and himself, relative to an attack upon an Indian village, called Chehaw. It appears that a Captain Wright had destroyed the village just named, being a violation of the orders which he had received from Gov. Rabun. This was done after Gen. Jackson's assurance to the people of that village that they should be protected, and whilst their warriors were fighting with Jackson against the common enemy. This provoked the General's ire, and accordingly he addressed the Governor of Georgia the following letter :
ON MARCH TOWARDS PENSACOLA, 7 miles advance of Fort Gadsden, May 7, 1818.
SIR,-I have this moment received by express the letter of Gen. Glascock (a copy of which is enclosed), detailing the base, cowardly, and inhuman attack on the old women and men of the Chehaw village, whilst the warriors of that village were with me fighting the battles of our country against the common enemy, and at a time too when undoubted testimony had been obtained and was in my possession, and also in the possession of General Glascock, of their innocence of the charge of killing Leigh and the other Georgian at Cedar creek. That a Governor of a State should assume the right to make war against an Indian tribe in perfect peace with, and under the protection of the United States, is assuming a responsi-
489
RABUN COUNTY.
bility that I trust you will be able to excuse to the government of the United States, to which you will have to answer, and through which I had so recently passed, promising the aged that remained at home my protection, and taking the warriors with me in the campaign, is as unaccountable as strange. But it is still more strange that there could exist, within the United States, a cowardly monster in human shape, that could violate the sanctity of a flag, when borne by any person, but more particularly when in the hands of a superannuated Indian chief, worn down with age. Such base cowardice and mur- derous conduct, as this transaction affords, has not its parallel in history, and shall meet with its merited punishment. You, sir, as a Governor of a State, within my military division, have no right to give a military order whilst I am in the field : and this being an open and violent infringement of the treaty with the Creek Indians, Capt. Wright must be prosecuted and punished for this outrageous murder ; and I have ordered him to be arrested and confined in irons, until the pleasure of the President of the United States is known upon the subject. If he has left Hartford before my orders reach him, I call upon you, as Governor of Georgia, to aid me in carrying into effect my order for his arrest and confinement, which I trust will be afforded, and Capt. Wright brought to condign punishment for this unparalleled murder. It is strange that this hero had not followed the trail of the murderers of your citizens ; it would have led to Mickasucky, where we found the bleeding scalps of your citizens ; but there might have been more danger in this, than attacking a village containing a few superannuated women and men, and a few young women, without arms or protectors. This act will to the last age fix a stain upon the character of Georgia.
(Signed) ANDREW JACKSON.
To this letter Gov. Rabun sent the following answer :
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, GEORGIA, Milledgeville, 1st June, 1818.
SIR,-I have lately had the honour to receive yours of the 7th of May, founded on a communication from Gen. Glascock, relative to the attack recently made on the Chehaw village.
490
RABUN COUNTY.
Had you, sir, or Gen. Glascock been in possession of the facts that produced the affair, it is to be presumed, at least, that you would not have indulged in a strain so indecorous and unbecoming. I had, on the 21st March last, stated the situa- tion of our bleeding frontier to you, and requested you, in respectful terms, to detail a part of your overwhelming force for our protection, or that you would furnish supplies, and I would order out more troops, to which you have never yet deigned to reply. You state, in a very haughty tone, " that I, as Governor of a State under your military division, have no right to give a military order whilst you are in the field." Wretched and contemptible indeed must be our situation, if this be the fact; when the liberties of the people of Georgia shall have been prostrated at the feet of a military despotism, then, and not till then, will your imperious doctrine be tamely submitted to. You may rest assured that if the savages con- tinue their depredations on our unprotected frontier, I shall think and act for myself in that respect. You demand " that Capt. Wright be delivered in irons to Major Davis, your agent." If, sir, you are unacquainted with the fact, I beg leave to inform you, that Capt. Wright was not under your com- mand, for he had been appointed an officer in the Chatham county militia, which was drafted for the special purpose of assisting Gen. Gaines in reducing Amelia Island. That object having been accomplished before our militia had taken the field, Gen. Gaines, as soon as their organization was com- pleted, assumed the right of ordering them to the frontier, with- out even consulting the State authority upon the subject. Capt. Wright being at that time in a state of debility, failed to march, and of course was not mustered into the service of the United States. He however followed on to Hartford, where, finding himself not likely to be received into the service of the United States, he tendered his services to command the contemplated expedition, which were accordingly accepted. Having violated his orders by destroying the Chehaw village, instead of Hoponnis and Philemmis towns (against which the expedition was directed), I had previous to receiving your de- mand ordered him to be arrested ; but before he was appre- hended agreeably to my orders, he was taken by your agent,
491
RABUN COUNTY.
and afterwards liberated by the civil authority. I have since had him arrested and confined, and shall communicate the whole transaction to the President of the United States for his decision, together with a copy of your letter.
(Signed) WM. RABUN.
To this letter Gen. Andrew Jackson made the following reply :
HEAD QUARTERS, DIVISION SOUTH, Nashville, Ten., August 1, 1818.
SIR,-Your letter of the 1st of June was not received until this day, though a gasconading notice of such a commu- nication having been written appeared long since in the Georgia journals. I am not disposed to enter into any con- troversy with you relative to our respective duties, but would recommend an examination of the laws of our country before you hazard an opinion on the subject. " The liberty of the people prostrated at the feet of a military despotism," arecant expressions for political purposes ; the better part of the com- munity know too well that they have nothing to apprehend from that quarter. The military have rights secured to them by the laws of our country as well as the civil : and in my respect for those of the latter, I will never permit those of the former to be outraged with impunity. Your letter of the 21st of March, on which you, and the journalists, dwell with so much force, you must have been aware could not have reached me in time to produce the object required. " The situation of our bleeding frontier" at that period was magni- fied by the apprehensions of a few frontier settlers, and those who had not understanding enough to penetrate into the designs of my operations. You have forgot that Col. Hayne, with 300 or 400 Tennesseans, made a movement for the security of the pretended assailed point in Georgia, and did not pursue me until satisfied of the perfect security of that frontier. Whilst you are so tenacious of your own executive powers, it may be necessary to explain upon what authority Capt. Wright received instructions to call for a reenforcement from Fort Early, garrisoned by militia, who, you will not deny, were at that time in the service of the United States, and under my command.
(Signed) AND. JACKSON.
492
RABUN COUNTY.
To the above, Gov. Rabun sent the following reply :-
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, GEORGIA, Milledgeville, Sept. 1, 1818.
SIR,-I have lately had the honour to receive your letter of the 1st ult. I supposed that our correspondence on this subject had finally terminated, but the renewal on your part has induced me to make this short reply. I find that the same angry disposition, which no doubt dictated your letter of the 7th of May last, is still rankling in your breast. It is very certain that I have never intentionally assailed your feelings, or wantonly provoked your frowns ; and I flatter myself that it is equally certain that I shall never find it necessary to court your smiles. You are not disposed to enter into a con- troversy with me relative to our respective duties, but recom- mend " an examination of the laws of our country before I again hazard an opinion on the subject." Your advice is good, and should be attended to (at least) by all public offi- cers. I hope that you will now permit me in turn to recom- mend to you, that before you undertake to prosecute another campaign, you examine the orders of your superiors with more attention than usual. You assert " that the better part of the community know too well that they have nothing to apprehend from a military despotism"-and in proof of the assertion it might have been well for you to have called my attention to your late proceedings at St. Marks and Pensacola, as affording conclusive evidence on that point. The situation of our bleeding frontiers, you say, was magnified by the ap- prehensions of a few frontier settlers, and those who had not understanding enough to penetrate into the designs of your operations. Indeed, sir, we had expected that your presence at the head of an overwhelming force would have afforded complete protection to our bleeding and distressed citizens, bordering on an extensive and unprotected frontier ; but our prospects were only delusive, for it would seem that the laurels expected in Florida were the objects that accelerated you more than the protection of the " ignorant Georgians." If Col. Hayne, and his 300 or 400 Tennesseans, made a movement for the security of the pretended assailed point of
493
RANDOLPH COUNTY.
Georgia, it was certainly a very unsuccessful one. When you shall have explained to me by what authority you sent Major Davis into this State with orders to apprehend Capt. Wright, (who was not under your command,) and place him in irons, &c., then I shall deem it my duty to explain to you the motives which induced me to call for a reenforcement from Fort Early. WM. RABUN.
Mr. Rabun died whilst Governor, at his plantation, 24th of October, 1819, a few days before the expiration of his office. The message which he had prepared for the Legislature was sent to that body, Matthew Talbot being Governor pro tem. The message concludes thus : " Upon a strict examination I trust it will appear to the satisfaction of my fellow-citizens, that in every situation in which I have been placed, my highest object and only aim have been, to promote the interests and prosperity of our beloved country." We believe that the people of Georgia will confirm the truth of this declaration.
RANDOLPH.
BOUNDARIES, EXTENT .- This county is bounded N. by Stewart, E. by Lee, S. by Early and Baker, and W. by the Chattahoochee. Laid out from Lee, in 1828. Length 40 miles, breadth 27; square miles 1,080.
POST OFFICES .- Cuthbert, Brooksville, Cotton Hill, Eutaw, Georgetown, Lowell, Pataula, Pumpkintown.
POPULATION, TAXES, REPRESENTATION .- In 1845, the po- pulation of this county was 11,084; of these, 7,131 were whites, and 3,953 blacks. State tax for 1848, $3,480 37 cents. Sends two representatives to the Legislature.
RIVERS, CREEKS .- The Chattahoochee separates the county from Alabama. Pataula, Ocetahnee, Tobenanee, and Cemoche- chobbee creeks, flow into the Chattahoochee ; Pachitla, and Fushachee flow south, and empty into the Ichawaynocha- way, which discharges itself into the Flint river. The smaller streams are Sandy, Pumpkin, Hodchodkee, and Socohachee creeks.
32
494
RANDOLPH COUNTY.
TowNS .- Cuthbert is the seat of justice. It has a brick court-house, handsomely arranged ; cost $16,000 ; a jail, con- structed of wood ; two churches, Methodist and Baptist ; three hotels, two academies, one resident minister, one Masonic Lodge, and one Division of the Sons of Temperance. The streets are regularly laid off, and are shaded with China and mulberry trees. The water, although slightly impregnated with lime, is good. Population 500. This is a thriving town, doing business to the amount of $80,0.00 per annum. It was made the county site in 1831 ; incorporated in 1834, and nam- ed after the Hon. J. A. Cuthbert, of Mobile. It is 150 miles from Milledgeville, 22 from Lumpkin, and 40 from Americus.
Georgetown is a small village on the Chattahoochee, N. W. of Cuthbert. It has a warehouse, four stores, one gro- cery, and two blacksmiths. Four thousand bags of cotton are received here in a year. Population 100.
ROADS, BRIDGES .- The roads are excellent ; the bridges are kept in tolerable repair.
MILLS .- Grist-mills 18, saw-mills 12, merchant mill 1. The streams afford every facility for manufactures, and it is hoped that the citizens will soon turn their attention to this subject.
RELIGIOUS SECTS, EDUCATION .- The Baptists stand first in point of number. There are Methodists, Presbyterians, Epis- copalians, and a few Universalists.
Education is on the advance. The people are anxious to have good schools.
CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE, AMUSEMENTS .- The population of this county is highly intelligent. Hunting, fishing, shooting matches, and dancing, are the chief amusements.
REVOLUTIONARY CHARACTERS .- Peter Bucholter, 77 ; Eze- kiel Bryan, 75: John Brown, 77; Thomas Davis, 85; Ri- chard Darby, 102.
CLIMATE, DISEASES, LONGEVITY .- The climate is mild. There are but few diseases, and it may be called a healthy county. Mr. Love died a few years since at the advanced age of 117. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and was an active man, though blind for 30 years before his death. Mrs.
495
RANDOLPH COUNTY.
Darby is now living, aged 105 years ; she enjoys good health, and can walk 15 or 20 miles in a day.
ANIMALS .- Bears, deer, foxes, wolves, wild cats, otters, minks, beavers, &c.
NATURE OF THE SOIL, VALUE OF LAND .- This county contains a large quantity of rich land, capable of producing al- most every thing.
Lands of the first quality are worth $7 per acre; do. se- cond, $4 do. ; do. third do. from 50 cents to $1.
CAVES, FALLS, SPRINGS .- Several extensive caves are in this county. Falls are numerous on the small streams. At Lowell, on Pataula creek, the stream bursts its way through a ledge of rocks for 600 yards, exhibiting a very picturesque scene, and well adapted for a factory. Large lime springs are very common.
MARKETS .- Appalachicola is the chief market.
PRODUCTIONS -Cotton, corn, wheat, oats, rye, sugar cane, &c. Many of the planters make their own sugar. Rice is cul- tivated in sufficient quantities for domestic use. Fruits thrive ; melons are delicious.
AVERAGE PRODUCT PER ACRE .- Cotton on the first quality lands will average 1200 pounds per acre ; corn, 30 bushels per acre ; wheat, 15 bushels per acre. On the second quality lands, cotton averages 700 pounds per acre ; corn, 20 bushels per acre ; wheat, 10 bushels. Third quality will average 300 pounds of cotton ; corn, 5 bushels ; wheat, 5 bushels. Ten thousand bags of cotton are made in one year.
IMPROVEMENTS WANTED .- Manufactures ought to be intro- duced. Attention ought to be paid to the raising of sheep.
VALUE OF TOWN LOTS, &C .- The value of town lots is $32,980. Value of stock in trade, $25,850. Money at inte- rest, $31,898.
NAME .- In 1807, the Legislature of Georgia named that portion of the State, now known as Jasper, Randolph ; and, in 1812, for reasons stated in the preamble of the resolution, the Legislature enacted, " that the county of Randolph shall be called and known by the name of the county of Jasper." Six- teen years afterwards, viz., 1828, the Legislature resolved " that this division of the State shall be called Randolph, in honour of
496
RANDOLPH COUNTY.
John Randolph of Roanoke." This gentleman was born June 2d, 1773, in Prince George county, and was descended, in the seventh generation, from Pocahontas, the celebrated Indian princess. His mother was a very pious woman, and endea- voured to bring up her son in a strictly religious manner. His education was conducted in a very irregular way-first at a country school, and then at three different colleges-Prince- ton, Columbia, and William and Mary. He read law in the office of Edmund Randolph. It does not appear that John Randolph made any great proficiency in law reading. Black- stone and Coke were laid aside, and Chaucer, Shakspeare, and Milton substituted in their place. When about 26 years of age, he commenced his political career, and met the celebrated Patrick Henry, then in his 67th year, and held a long and animated discussion with him. The scene has been thus described :*
Mr. Henry, enfeebled by age and ill health, with a linen cap upon his head, mounted the hustings and commenced with difficulty ; but, as he proceeded, his eye lighted up with its wonted fire, his voice assumed its wonted majesty ; gradually accumulating strength and animation, his eloquence seemed like an avalanche threatening to overwhelm his adversary. In the course of his speech he said, " The alien and sedition laws were only the fruits of that constitution the adoption of which he opposed. . . . . If we are wrong, let us all go wrong together"-at the same time clasping his hands and waving his body to the right and left, his auditory unconsciously waved with him. As he finished, he literally descended into the arms of the obstreperous throng, and was borne about in triumph, when Dr. John H. Rice exclaimed, " The sun has set in all his glory !" As Mr. Henry left the stand, Mr. Randolph, with undaunted courage, arose in his place. He was of a youthful and unprepossessing appearance. The audience, considering it presumptuous for him to speak after Mr. Henry, partially dispersed, and an Irishman present exclaimed, " Tut ! tut ! it won't do ; it's nothing but the bating of an old tin pan after hearing a fine church organ." He commenced-his singular person and peculiar aspect, his novel, shrill, vibratory intona-
* William Wirt.
497
RANDOLPH COUNTY.
tions ; his solemn, slow, marching and swelling periods ; his caustic crimination of the prevailing political party ; his cut- ting satire ; the tout ensemble of his public debut, soon calmed the tumultuous crowd and inclined all to listen to the strange orator, while he replied at length to the sentiments of their old favourite. To Mr. Henry this was a new event. He had not been accustomed to a rival, and little expected one in a beardless boy. He returned to the stage and commenced a second address. In the course of his remarks he frequently alluded to his youthful competitor with parental tenderness, complimented his rare talents, and while regretting what he deprecated as the political errors of youthful zeal, actually wrought himself and audience into an enthusiasm of sympathy and benevolence that issued in an ocean of tears. Mr. Ran- dolph never forgot this occurrence. Eighteen years after- wards, in Congress, speaking of the General Ticket law, which was carried by the Democratic party by a majority of five votes only in the popular branch of the Virginia Assembly, he said, " Had Patrick Henry lived and taken his seat in the As- sembly, that law would never have passed. In that case, the electoral vote of Virginia would have been divided, and Mr. Jefferson lost his election. Five votes ! Mr. Chairman, Patrick Henry was good for five votes." Mr. Randolph was a mem- ber of Congress, at different intervals, for about 24 years, and at all times commanded respect for his talents and eloquence. He belonged to the republican party. He was opposed to the war with Great Britain, but offered himself for any post which might be assigned him. In the administration of Mr. Monroe he opposed the Greek resolutions and the internal improvement system of the general government. During the administration of John Quincy Adams, he was elected senator, and it was at this time that he used remarks which led to the duel with Mr. Clay. The meeting between Mr. Clay and Mr. Ran- dolph is thus described by General James Hamilton, the se- cond of the latter: " The sun was just setting behind the blue hills of Randolph's own Virginia. Here were two of the most extraordinary men which our country in its prodi- gality had produced, about to meet in mortal combat. While Tattnall* was loading Randolph's pistol, I approached my friend
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