Below is a reprint from the book 'HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF GEORGIA", originally published in 1855 by George White (1802 - 1887). These are pages that refer to Monroe County. Thanks to Tim Stowell, the State Coordinator, for making this material available for our County's page.
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Laid out by the Lottery Act of 1821, and a part set off to Butts, 1825, and named after James Monroe, President of the United States. Length, 21 m.; breadth, 16 m.; area square miles, 336.
The Ocmulgee forms the eastern boundary. The Towaliga empties into the Ocmulgee. There are several creeks, viz., Tobesofkee, Crooked, Shoal, &c.
Extract from the Census of 1850. --- Dwellings, 1,194; families,
1,194; white males, 3,472; white females, 3,338; free coloured males, 2; free
coloured females, 3. Total free population, 6,815; slaves, 10,170. Deaths, 210.
Farms, 746; manufacturing establishments, 2. Value of real estate, $2,580,103;
value of personal estate, $5,684,909.
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The soil is various, combining the best and the worst. The lands on the
water-courses are rich, dark, chocolate soil, well timbered, and admirably
adapted to the cultivation of cotton. The mulatto and gray lands are tolerably
productive.
Forsyth is the county town, situated on a ridge dividing the watars of Rum and
Tobesofkee creeks, 50 miles W N. W. of Milledgeville.
At this place is located the Forsyth Female Collegiate Institute. The wealthy
and intelligent citizens of Forsyth, and Monroe County generally, having felt
for some years the inconvenience and impolicy of sending their daughters far
from home to obtain a suitable education, determined to change their course, and
throw themselves upon their own resources.
(FORSYTH
FEMALE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE)
Accordingly, the citizens of the county and village determined to establish a female school of high order. Au act, incorporating a college seminary at Forsyth, passed the State Legislature in 18t9, which was at once carried into effect by the Mends of the enterprise. The brick building known as the Monroe Railroad Bank, owned by the Masonic Fraternity, was repaired and enlarged with a Third story, at a cost of several thousand dollars so as to accommodate a school of seventy or eighty pupils.
The Board of Trustees chose the Rev. E. J. C. Thomas Principal during the year 1850. He was succeeded by the Rev. William C. Wilkes, who entered upon his duties with a determination to elevate the institution to a rank equal to any in the South. He well knew the difficulties to be encountered; but with prudence, en and a full board of efficient assistants, the College was soon p1aced in a position to secure confidence and command extensive patronage. The annual increase of pupils has been over twenty-five per cent.
In two years, under its present organization, the increase of pupils was so great, and the audiences which attended the commencement occasions were so large, that the Trustees were convinced other and more extensive arrangements should be made to meet the wants of the institution.
The old Southern Botanic College building, a large and imposing edifice in an unfinished condition, was purchased and completed for a sum little less than $10,000, and is now an ornament to the town, and well suited to the purposes contemplated.
The principal and nearly all his assistants reside in the College. Connected with it are a good library, a well-selected chemical, philosophical, and astronomical apparatus, and a mineralogical cabinet, with some of the rarest and finest specimens.
Culloden is a quiet and pleasant village, 32 miles west of Macon. It was selected by gentlemen of wealth having large families to educate on account of its healthiness. It is named after Mr. William Culloden, one of the first settlers of the county. At this place there has been for several years an excellent seminary for young ladies.
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Gulletsville, or New Market, is twelve miles north of Forsyth.
Russellville is eight miles northeast of Culloden.
Prattsville is nine miles from Forsyth.
On the Towaliga River are the falls known as the Towaliga Falls. In the "Illustrations of Georgia," by William C. Richards Esq., they are thus described :—" The pleasing impressions first received were continually enhanced by successive and varied views, which may be obtained at will. Indeed, so fine is the view afforded from many points, that it is difficult to decide which is the most attractive; and passing from rock to rock, the beholder is ever delighted with new features. This variety is the greatest charm of the scene. The river above the falls is about three hundred feet wide, flowing swiftly over a rocky shoal. At its first descent it is divided by a ledge of rock, and forms two precipitous falls for a distance of fifty feet. The falls are much broken by the uneven surface over which the water flows, and on reaching their rocky basin are shivered into foam and spray."
GEORGIA EPISCOPAL INSTITUTE.—The Episcopal Church is chiefly indebted to the liberality of G. B. Lamar, Esq., formerly of the city of Savannah, now of the city of New-York, for this invaluable seminary. It is located at Montpelier, in this county, about seventeen miles from Macon, fourteen from Forsyth, and six from the Macon and Western Railroad. Its advantages are not surpassed by those of any school in the United States. Until the property was purchased by Mr. Lamar, it was a favourite resort for invalids, who were attracted by its medicinal springs, healthful climate, and delightful tem-
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perature. Its natural beauties, which are rarely equalled, have been improved with the finest taste. The visitor needs only to see its extensive lawn, majestic groves, shady walks, beautiful gardens, and spacious buildings, to be in love with the spot. The course of instruction is thorough and complete, embracing every item that can contrbute to fit a lady for the first stations in society. Its teachers are persons of high character and first-rate abilities. It may be truly said that in this school true religion, useful learning, and polished refinement, are inseparably united.
Among the early settlers were, 0. WOODWARD, B. ROGERS, P. Lacy,Rev. 0. ROGERS, Job TAYLOR, T. HARPUE, A. PONDER, Mr. LESTER,WILLIAMSON MIMS, JOHN BROWN, E. BROWN, A. CHAPMAN. Lockitt, A. REDDING, THOMAS HOLLAND, SIMON BROOKS, Thos. DEWBERRY, JOSIAH HORTON, A. Davis, Joseph DUNN, MOSES DUMASBenj. DUMAS, D. PONDER, T BATTLE, E. JACKSON, A. CHAFELL,W. P. HENRY, WILKINS HUNT, ANDREW WEST, Rev. G. CHRISTIAN,Dr. BROWN, Dr. E. W. JONES, DAVID MCDADE, Dr. LAW, Geo. W.GORDON.
The following instances of remarkable longevity have come to our know tedge
JESSE POWELL, 81; Mrs. SARAH WOODWARD died at 84; Mrs.BROOKs died between 80 and 90; JOHN CHAPELL at 80; JOHN KING,84; Mrs. BLOUNT, 80; EDEN TAYLOR, between 80 and 90; W. A.WHEELER, over 83; JOHN WATSON, 86; AARON JORDON, 82; Benjamin HAYGOOD, 83. Three years ago there were living, Rev. RICHARD HOLMES, aged. 80; Mrs. RICHARD HOLMES, 80; Mrs. JOINER, 80;PHILEM0N LACY, 80; SIMON BROOKs, 90; Major SULLIVAN, 80; Mr.HARPUE, 90.
Mrs. HAY000D, aged 93, recently died in this county. "She was born on Christmas, married on Christmas, and baptized on Christmas." She was 69 years a member of the Baptist Church.
ANDERSON REDDING died. on the 9th of February, 1843, in the 80th year of his age. No sooner had he arrived at the vigour and elasticity of manhood, than he was enrolled among those of the New World who determined to be free, and contended against the tyranny of British oppression. He served under his country’s banner with a patriot’s zeal and. devotion. He. was present at the consummation of American liberty, the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. The recollections of that glorious day lingered long in his memory, a rehearsal of which often caused him to feel as though the ardour and buoyancy of earlier days were yet fresh upon him, while a big round. tear would fall and. moisten the old man’s cheek
Rev. ISAAC SMITH died. in this county in. 1834, aged 76 years. He was a soldier in the Revolution under Washington, and. was
Page 564 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF GEORGIA.
present at most of the principal actions which were fought by his distinguished leader, and although his term of service expired before the close of the war, yet he was present as a volunteer at the capturing of Cornwallis at Yorktown; after which he retired from military life, and was soon after, under the preaching of the Methodists, awakened and converted, and called of God to preach deliverance to the captives and the opening of the prison doors to those that were bound by the fetters of sin.
METEORIC Stone On the 8th of May, 1828, a meteoric stone fell• near Forsyth. About four o’clock a black cloud appeared south from Forsyth, from. which two distinct explosions were heard in immediate succession, followed by a tremendous rumbling or whizzing noise, passing through the air, which lasted about four minutes. This uncommon noise was on the same evening accounted for by Mr. Sparks and Captain Postian, who were informed by some negroes working in a field one mile south of Forsyth, that they had seen a large stone. descending through the air, weighing, as it was afterwards ascertained, thirty-six pounds. This stone was in the course of the evenings, or very early the next morning, recovered from the spot where it fell. It had penetrated the earth two feet and a half. The outside wore the appearance as if it had been in a furnace. It was covered about the thickness of a common knife-blade with a black substance, somewhat like lava that had. been melted. On breaking the stone, it had a strong sulphureous smell, and exhibited a metallic substance resembling silver. A fine specimen of this aerolite may be seen in the cabinet of Franklin University.
THE first Superior Court in Monroe County was held on the 3d day of June, 1822, at the house of H. H. Lumpkin, Esq., nine miles northwest of Forsyth, by the Hon. C. B STRONG and A. G. SAFFOLD, Esq., Judge and Solicitor of the Ocmulgee Circuit.
GRAND JURORS.
GEORGE CAVANISS DAVID DUMAS,
ISAAC WELCH , ROIAND PARHAM,
ABNER LOCKETT, WILLIAM SAUNDERS,
JAMES D. LESTER, JOHN HAMIL,
HUGH W. ECTOR, J SLATTINGSLEMUEL GRESHAM JOSEPH YOUNGBLOOD,
HENRY WIMBERLY WILLIAM D. WRIGHT
jOHN O. WILLIS WILLIAM BELL
THOMAS WYNN JESSE EVANS
WOOD MORELAND
