USA > Georgia > Coffee County > Ward's History of Coffee County > Part 13
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The funeral being over, the congregation was asked to pass around and look on Brother Ike for the last time in this world, and also drop a nickel in the hat to help pay the funeral expenses.
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Meningitis Epidemic
In February, 1870, Meningitis was epidemic in Coffee County. Old man Dan Newbern and his wife and four children died in six days. Old man John Lott lost two sons and a son-in-law, Mr. Moore. Old man Alfred Peterson lost some members of his family. Old man Jack Vickers, the preacher, lost some of his children. There were several persons who had it and lived. But most of them were dumb, deaf and blind.
There has never been as much excitement over any disease before or since as was over this epidemic. When the news went abroad that old man Dan New- bern and his wife and four sons had died within six days the people were dumbfounded and began to use all sorts of remedies. They made smokes around their premises out of pine tops, tar, pitch and other things. Turpentine and asafoetida was used in profusion on the persons and about the premises, where the diseases were located. It was thought to be very contagious. One case is noted that of Mr. Johnie Moore, who passed through the lane of old man Dan Newbern and he took the disease and died before he got home.
It is not known for certain how the disease got to Coffee County, but it is thought by some that the dis- ease was brought here by strangers who were working on the new railroad between Hazlehurst and the river bridge. It is said that several negroes died there with the disease.
The county was in a most horrible situation and everybody was afraid of everybody else. But there is one instance that I wish to mention of a certain man, now deceased, who was a hero in that awful time of
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trial. When the disease broke out at old man Dan Newberns and he and his wife died, the family was like a bunch of sheep without a shepherd, they did not know which way to turn, no doctors nor any nurses nor any one who knew anything about the disease. It was at this critical time that old man Dan Gaskin, then a young man, and a relative to the Newberns, went to the Newbern home and took charge of things. At least one member of the family died in one day and once two members of the family died in one day. The sick had to be looked after and the dead had to be buried. Brothers and sisters had to bury their own brothers and sisters. Children had to bury father and mother. And so it went on for a week when six members of the family filled new made graves. No one will ever know the horrible situation endured by this family through the long winter nights. Scarcely any light in the house, with now and then one to be heard in the struggle of death.
It is said that a patient would be taken with a very high fever. His head would be drawn back and soon the patient would become unconscious and die within a very few hours.
At the cemetery at old Lone Hill Church, ten miles northeast of Douglas there stands six tombstones all in a row. They mark the last resting place of Mr. New- bern and his wife and four boys.
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The Big Four
Reading from left to right; the two men standing, the first is Daniel Gaskin, the second man is R. S. Smith. Seated, read- ing from left to right, first man is Dan Newbern, Elias Lott. Daniel Gaskin, Dan Newbern, R. S. Smith, and Elias Lott THE BIG FOUR were known as the "Big Four." These men were about the same age and were all related. The mother of Elias Lott and the father of Daniel Gaskin were brother and sister. R. S. Smith mar- ried a sister of Daniel Gaskin.
Neither of these men was old enough to go into the Confederate Army. They were young men at the close of the war. They were all at home during the war and were worth a great deal to the widows and children of the communities where they lived.
Daniel Gaskins married Miss Aleph Hinson. They have two children ; Bell, and Fisher. Mr. Gaskins was a good farmer and stock raiser. He was a large sheep owner and had plenty of hogs and cows. He was a hard working man and one of the best neighbors I ever knew. He was tax receiver in 1871 and tax collec- tor in 1875 and County Commissioner in 1911.
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Mr. R. S. Smith married Mary Gaskins, and had the following children: Monroe Smith, Sampie Smith, and Dr. John Smith. The girls are Mrs. John Peterson, Mrs. Levi O'steen. Mr. Smith was a very successful farmer. He was a hard worker and a fine man in every way. He was a member of the Methodist church and was a devout christian. He belonged to that old school of Methodists and had family prayer at his home every night. He was superintendent of the Lone Hill Sunday School for twenty years or more.
Daniel Newbern married Miss "Pet" Fussell. They have several children: William Newbern, Daniel New- bern, Jr., and Jesse Newbern. The girls are : Mrs. Mica- jah Vickers, and Mrs. W. T. Cottingham. Mr. Newbern was a good farmer and a fine man in every way. He was one of the few men who spent half his time attending his own business and the other half of his time he spent letting other people's business alone. He was tax re- ceiver in 1878.
Mr. Elias Lott, the last man in the group, married Tempie Douglas. They have the following children : James Lott, Dan Lott. Girls : Mrs. E. R. Cross, Mrs. James Jardine and Mrs. Johnson. Mr. Lott is a wealthy land owner. He was a good farmer and stock man. He has always been a prosperous business man. He is a good hand to keep all his "Ducks in a row" and has many kinds of interest in Coffee County. He is now living and is more than 75 years old and is the only one of the "Big Four" now living. He was a member of the Georgia Legislature in 1911-12.
These men in early life, with their families, lived in the same locality and were always the best of friends. They assisted each other in every possible
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way. They always had plenty of this world's goods and some to spare. They teased and joked and had bushels of fun among themselves. When one passed through "The valley of the shadow of death" they all came to his rescue with money and sympathy and every needed help. They were an example of true friend- ship and relationship.
We shall never see their like again in Coffee County.
Friendship between men is said to be deeper and more lasting than friendship between women. Jona- than and David, characters from the old Testament, are given as examples of true friendship for man for man. An instance of Modern Times is the friendship between Damon and Pythias.
The friendship between the Big Four was a friend- ship like unto the friendship of those named above.
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The Banking Business
The Union Bank- ing Company of Douglas, Ga., is the oldest bank in the county. It was found- ed in 1898 and has continued to grow and expand up to this date, 1930. The Union Banking Com- pany has branches in Broxton and Nicholls with plenty capital J. M. ASHLEY to do a real banking The Man Who Built the Union Banking Co. business. Two other banks were organ- ized in Douglas but did not succeed. At one time in Coffee County there was a bank at Pearson, Ga., Willacoochee, Ga., and Ambrose, Ga. The bank at Ambrose has gone out of business. Willacoochee and Pearson have prosperous banks but they are now in Atkinson County, having been cut off from Coffee County with the creation of Atkinson County.
It is said the great success of the Union Banking Company is due to the men back of the Institution. The officers of the bank, the Cashiers and the Directors are men of character and good business qualifications.
Fraternal Orders
The first Masonic Lodge in Coffee County was estab- lished long years ago at Pearson, Ga. Several of its
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charter members lived near Hazlehurst and were faith- ful and regular attendants. The Lodge is still in a flour- ishing and prosperous condition. Lodge No. 163 is named Satilla, F. & A. M.
Broxton Lodge is No. 147 F. & A. M. Then the fol- lowing Masonic Lodges: Douglas No. 386 F. & A. M .; Lax No. 556 F. & A. M .; Ambrose No. 658 F. & A. M .; Wilcox (at Douglas) No. 668. Only one Royal Arch Chapter in the county, which is Douglas Chapter No. 49 F. & A. M. at Douglas.
The Blue Lodges of the County are affiliated with the Eleventh District Masonic Convention which meets an- nually. The Royal Arch Chapter is also affiliated with the district convention, which meets annually.
We also have a tri-county Masonic Convention which meets quarterly, alternately with the different Lodges of the counties with which we are affiliated.
Satilla Lodge, No. 163, F. & A. M. was first estab- lished at a point on Satilla River, ten miles north of Pearson and six miles south of Douglas and, at the time, the only fraternal order in Coffee County. But soon afterwards members retired to organize lodges more convenient to them elsewhere. The date of its organization was prior to the Civil War. William Ashley was the first Worshipful Master.
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Ladies' Clubs
Christian work has ever been the forerunner of civic and social organizations among women, and it is fitting that this should be in the history of Coffee County.
The Ladies Aid Societies of the town were strong organizations of the early church life here, leading ultimately to the broader work of Missionary Societies that have furnished inspiration, information and a social contact among the church women.
Mrs. Sadie Powell, Mrs. R. T. Relihan and Mrs. S. M. Roberts of sainted memory, Mrs. F. M. Appleby, Miss Dollie Freeman, Mrs. Hoke Davis, Mrs. E. L. Tanner, Mrs. Turner Brewer were among the faithful women of the Baptist denomination who steered the organization through the transition period to a larger work. Mrs. L. A. Hill, Mrs. C. N. Fielding, Mrs. J. A. Daughtrey, Mrs. A. W. Haddock, Mrs. J. S. Lott, Mrs. L. E. Heath, Mrs. C. A. Ward and Mrs. W. P. Ward, Sr., of sainted memory, were among the loyal workers of the Methodist Missionary Society in its early days. Mrs. J. W. Quincey and Mrs. M. D. Dickerson have through loyalty and sacrifice built up a strong Epis- copal auxiliary, and a good auxiliary at the Presby- terian Church stands as a memorial to the work of Mrs. T. S. Hart, Mrs. Clara LaPrade and Mrs. W. P. Bellinger.
Mrs. S. H. D. Barnes was for many years the leading spirit in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, organized in 1908.
The first civic organization in the town was the City Improvement Club, organized in 1907, with Mrs.
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L. E. Heath president. This later became the Douglas Woman's Club with Mrs. J. C. Brewer president.
The United Daughters of the Confederacy was or- ganized in 1906 and is still a flourishing organization. Mrs. W. W. McDonald was first president.
Three literary clubs, The Outlook Club, The Review Club, The Research Club, have been contributing fac- tors to the intellectual life of the town.
One of the strongest and most helpful organizations of the town is the Parent-Teachers' Association of the Douglas High School, organized in 1925, with Mrs. T. H. Clark, as president.
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Public Health Work
A full time health officer has been employed in Coffee County since July 1927. The general consensus of opinion amongst the tax payers appears to be that the money spent on health service has yielded an adequate return.
Here, as elsewhere, the health officer has two cardinal duties (1) The control of communicable diseases; (2) Elevation of the health standard, especially amongst the school population.
Our school population numbers over 3,000. Of these 31 per cent. were found under the standard weight, and 41 per cent handicapped through the presence of hook worm. Since the health work started in Coffee County there has been over 3,000 children treated for hook worm, and their parents given literature telling the source of infection and means of preventing re-infec- tion.
Malaria is not a serious problem in Coffee County, however, the city authorities of Douglas don't take anything for granted. They appropriate money every year to carry on draining and oiling the streams and ponds in and near the city. By this constructive work Douglas is practically free from mosquitoes.
The evidence of physical defects in school children has been on a parity with that observed in other South Georgia counties. In this connection a notable task has been performed through the collaboration of Parent- Teachers' Association and the medical and dental pro- fession. A series of tonsil and dental clinics have been held and a total of 275 patients operated upon.
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A sentiment prevails in the county that something worth while has been accomplished in the way of public health. This happy state of affairs is in the main due to the spirit of the people. Perhaps there is no other section of the State in which there is a community more ready to back any project designed for the common good.
WARD'S HISTORY OF COFFEE COUNTY 239
The Boy Scout Movement
It was evening in London. The day had been unusually foggy, even to such an extent that the street lights were turned on before noon.
Mr. William Boyce, Chicago publisher and traveler, was seeking a difficult ad- dress in old London.
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---
ARCHIE BAGWELL
A boy approached and said, "May I be of service to you, sir ?" "Yes, show me to this address."
At the desired location, Mr. Boyce tossed the boy a shilling. "Thank you sir, but I am a Scout and Scouts do not accept tips for courtesies."
Mr. Boyce became immediately interested in Scout- ing. He went to the office of Sir Robert Baden Powell, founder of the British Boy Scout Association and gathered all the information he could concerning Scouting.
In February 1909, he and some associates launched the movement in the United States. By 1926 over 3,- 000,000 boys became Scouts. Statistics show that al- most 50% of the present college men of America have been Scouts. Scouting now embraces 57 nations.
The Scout movement hit Douglas in 1918. Prof. C. M. Williams was Scoutmaster. Meetings were held in
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the school houses. Mr. Williams was succeeded by Dr .. W. C. Bryan, who in turn was succeeded by Mr. F. C. Wilson.
In 1922 Fred Brewer became Scoutmaster and the Scout Hut was built on Pearl Street.
Rev. B. W. Smith and Archie Bagwell met a tragic and heroic death off Sea Island Beach near Brunswick, Ga., August 4th, 1926.
The scouts were taking an outing on the beach August 4th, 1926. They were all in bathing and were coming out. Mr. Smith, the Scoutmaster, remained in the water until the last scout was safe on shore. It was then discovered that he was in some sort of trouble and was drowning in the ocean. Archie Bag- well, age fifteen, stout and strong, went to the rescue of the drowning Scoutmaster and so they both went down and gave up their lives in an heroic effort to save the lives of others.
I think a monument should be built to both the scout and the Scoutmaster, but as this has not been done and probably will not be done, I am inserting the picture of one of these heroes that the memory of their lives shall not perish upon this earth.
Harold Adams next became Scoutmaster. He was succeeded by J. E. Crabb who was succeeded by Rev. M. P. Cain.
In November 1929, Prof. T. A. Clower became Scout- master. Under his leadership, the scout movement in Douglas reached its zenith. It is now the prize troop of the Okeenokee Council, and one of the best in the State.
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History of the Bright Tobacco in Georgia
Tobacco has been grown in Georgia since the State was first settled, but not on a commercial scale until recent years. In 1910 only 2,000 acres of tobacco were grown. Most of this in Decatur County around Am- sterdam. It was cigar filler and Sumatra wrapper types.
In 1914 through their agricultural and industrial departments the Central of Georgia, A. B. & C. and S. A. L. Railroads began to encourage the tobacco in- dustry and to give the farmers assistance. Through the efforts of these roads tobacco was grown in Early, Stewart, and Wilcox Counties. The following year, 1916, Sumter County grew a little tobacco, and through the efforts of the A. B. & C., G. & F., and S. A. L. Railroads, and a few men who had moved in from the Carolinas the acreage in Coffee and adjoining counties increased. During this period tobacco prices were low and the farmers were slow to try a new crop that did not offer good opportunities for profit. In 1916 the tobacco acreage was materially increased in Coffee County and the counties adjoining.
In April 1917 a meeting was held in Fitzgerald, Geor- gia, for the purpose of discussing the advisability of establishing tobacco markets in Georgia. This meet- ing was composed of agricultural and industrial agents of the various railroads operating in South Georgia, of farmers and business men, and a tobacco ware- houseman from South Carolina. This was the begin- ning of the permanent warehouse development in the
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State. As a result of this meeting The Georgia Tobacco Company was organized at Douglas, and a warehouse was built. Through the aid of Georgia and Florida warehousemen as well as buyers, were secured from the leading tobacco companies. The second warehouse in Georgia was opened at Douglas, July, 1917. The sales that year were very satisfactory and compared favorably with those of the Carolinas. About 355,000 pounds was sold.
In 1918 the agricultural and industrial agents of practically every railroad operating in the southern half of Georgia made a special effort to induce the farmers in that section to plant more tobacco. Ex- perienced tobacco growers were procured from North Carolina and South Carolina to supervise tobacco for the growers. Tobacco seed was distributed free to the farmers by railroad agents and tobacco warehouse- men. As a result of this effort between 5,000 acres of tobacco was grown in 15 counties which prices ran about 34 cents, which was above the normal price. The average yield per acre was about 750 pounds, although yields as high as 2,000 pounds were reported. The same year, in addition to the warehouse built in Douglas, tobacco warehouses were built in Nicholls and Abbeville and markets established at these places.
In 1919 the Georgia State Agricultural College found it possible to employ a field agent to devote most of his time to this crop. The high prices obtained for tobacco and the damage done to cotton in 1918 by the boll weevil caused a wide increase in tobacco, so much in fact, that it was necessary to discourage the planting of a large acreage of individual farms. About 30,000 acres of tobacco were planted in 1919 in 45 counties
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which yielded 10,327,530 pounds of tobacco, which was sold at an average of $17.73 per hundred pounds. Warehouses were operated at Douglas, Abbeville, Nicholls, Fitzgerald, Blackshear, Nashville, Ashburn, Tifton, Vidalia, Hazlehurst and Valdosta. The coun- ties that grew the largest acreage were Coffee, Wilcox, Berrien, Ben Hill, Tift, Irwin, Turner, Jeff Davis, Pierce and Lowndes.
Douglas led the State's markets in tonnage for the season, with 10,940,937 pounds sold there at an aver- age price of 18.65 cents a pound, bringing $2,021,339.17. Nashville ran high in the matter of average price with 21.10 cents a pound, at which rate 7,623,089 pounds which brought an aggregate of $1,608,848.29.
Douglas sold more than twelve million pounds of tobacco during the year 1930.
It is worthy of note that this country was in the tobacco business as far back as 1619. When there was sent from London to the first colony, ninety women, "young and incorrupt" and two years later sixty more maids of "virtuous education, young and handsome" also seeking husbands under a forced social order. The first feminine arrivals were consigned to Virginia bachelors, each for a hundred and twenty pounds of native tobacco. The second group of English ladies was bartered for a hundred and fifty pounds of air- cured tobacco.
It is also worthy of note that in the early days of Virginia, tobacco was the currency of the realm.
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Automobiles
There are now hundreds of automobiles in Coffee County. There are many kinds, including trucks of many kinds.
So far as we can learn, the first automobile in Coffee County was brought to Douglas by Dr. W. F. Sibbett about the year 1900. The name of the automobile was a Schat. It was a strange looking vehicle. It had high wheels and looked like an old-time buggy. The machine cost six hundred and eighty dollars. It was a strange looking sight on the streets of Douglas and on the roads of Coffee County.
It is strange what a great influence automobiles have had upon Coffee County. They have changed the habits of the people. Persons can now go as far in an hour as they used to travel in a whole day long. It has brought the people and their business closer together and has increased business to a large extent.
It is a question whether the automobile is an asset or a liability to the country.
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Lawyers
Chastain & Henson, R. V. Chastain, Douglas, Ga .; Slater & Moore, Rufus Moore, John R. Slater, Doug- las, Ga .; Quincey & Quincey, S. O. Quincey, Hately Quincey, Douglas, Ga. ; Mingledoff & Gibson, George H. Mingledoff, John Gibson, Douglas, Ga .; L. E. Heath, Douglas, Ga .; Herman Barnes, Douglas, Ga .; Dave Sapp, Douglas, Ga .; Elisha Grantham, Douglas, Ga .; J. A. Roberts, Douglas, Ga .; Miss Clyde Wheeless, Douglas, Ga .; Kelley and Dickerson, Lawson Kelley, M. D. Dickerson, Douglas, Ga .; Will Dickerson, Doug- las, Ga .; B. G. O'Berry, Jr., Douglas, Ga .; J. H. Wil- liams, Douglas, Ga .; W. P. Ward, Douglas, Ga.
Doctors
Medical Doctors
Dr. A. S. M. Coleman, Douglas, Ga .; Dr. I. W. Moor- man, Douglas, Ga .; Dr. Will F. Sibbett, Sr., Douglas, Ga .; Dr. Will A. Sibbett, Jr., Douglas, Ga .; Dr. T. H. Clark, Douglas, Ga .; Dr. John Smith, Douglas, Ga .; Dr. S. E. Vinson, Douglas, Ga .; Dr. B. O. Quillian, Douglas, Ga .; Dr. A. D. Bennett, Douglas, Ga .; Dr. Hughs, Douglas, Ga .; Dr. J. J. Lott, Broxton, Ga .; Dr. D. H. Meeks, Nicholls, Ga .; Dr. Hall, Nicholls, Ga .; Dr. Harper, Ambrose, Ga.
Dentists
Dr. Lewis Davis, Douglas, Ga .; Dr. M. H. Turrentine, Douglas, Ga .; Dr. M. H. Turrentine, Jr., Douglas, Ga.
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Cotton Picking Time in Georgia
Sitting at my window this beautiful October day I see loads and loads of cotton coming to market. It makes me think of childhood and home when I was a little boy on the farm. Most of this cotton comes from country homes and much of it is picked by coun- try boys and girls. They have worked hard all the summer, chopping, thinning, and hoeing the cotton, and now they have "picked it out," as we say, and it is now being sold; and I wonder, yes I wonder, what are all these boys and girls to get out of it ?
Long time ago when I was a little boy on the farm my mother would tell me if I would be smart she would buy me something pretty when the cotton was sold. And all through the long summer days, as I worked I would think of something to buy. The first gun I owned, Brother Frank and I went partners. We "took in" the land and made the cotton and bought it all by ourselves. But the biggest thing I ever owned was an iron handle knife with "I. X. L." on the blade and on the handle. Uncle Dunk Douglas said it meant :
"Iron handle and pewter blade, Sorriest knife was ever made."
But my knife was alright. I took it to bed with me when I went to sleep. That night I dreamed I lost it. I was so scared I waked up. I felt for my knife and found it and held it in my hand 'til daylight.
I wonder what the boys and girls are getting out of all this cotton? I hope all the fathers and mothers will be good to the boys and girls and get them all something nice. And let me beg this one favor. Let
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each boy and girl have some one thing that they wish most. Don't make them have what you wish and nothing else. Let them make one choice and then you get it, makes no difference what it is.
Writing these thoughts makes me hungry to be a boy again, out on the farm, free as the air, living in peace with God and all mankind and owing no man anything but to love him.
God bless the little boys and girls, the little cotton pickers of Coffee County. Fathers and mothers, give them a chance; they are worth more and much more than all your cotton. Give them a chance.
Their friend,
W. P. WARD.
From Ward's Scrapbook, 1905.
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The Boll Weevil
The boll weevil made its first appearance in Coffee County in the year 1917. His coming was an epoch in the history of Coffee County. The farmers of Coffee County had never been hit so hard before. They were dumbfounded. They did not know which way to turn or what to do. Many of our farmers were not able to pay off the mortgages on their farms, and for lack of being able to make cotton their farms were lost. As an example of the awful destruction of the farming interests I will give you the figures of one of our best farmers, which will give you a good idea of what happened to all the farmers.
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