Items 98-102

Early County News

Date: October 13, 1871

History of Early County.

Editors Early County News: - Believing that something of the early history of this county will prove interesting to your readers of the present day, and that some record thereof should be preserved for future reference, we have prepared the following sketch, which will, we hope prove of sufficient interest to secure its publication in your paper. There are, no doubt, many imperfections in it, and perhaps omissions, that might add to its interest. We beg to assure you that we have endeavored to write nothing but what is true. We have taken the liberty, occasionally, to introduce such scenes and incidents as we though would add interest to the work. We have attempted nothing more than a plain statement of facts and incidents as they occurred, so far as we have been able to gather them from the scanty material at our command.

The territory out of which Early county was formed was obtained by Gen. Jackson from the Indians, in 1817, at the conclusion of his march through the Indian country in Southern Georgia and Florida. He chastised the Indians in Georgia and pursued them into Florida, (though it belonged to Spain, a neutral power,) – blew up Fort Gadsden, on the Apalachicola river, and captured ST. Marks, where he arrested two men (Englishmen, we believe,) and had them tried for furnishing supplies contraband of war to the Indians. To their appeal to General Jackson to allow them to have a fair trial, he is reported to have said: “Yes, gentlemen, you shall have a fair trial, but by the Eternal, I will hang you both.” And he did.

The territory received the name of “Jackson’s Purchase,” and was contained in the following boundaries: Lying south and south-west of the Ocmulgee and Altamaha rivers, bounding on the counties of Wayne and Camden, and the East Florida line to the Chattahoochee river; up said river to the Creek Indian temporary boundary line, and with said line to the Ocmulgee river. The territory began to be settled in 1817 by a limited number; and in 1818, quite a number of persons took up their residence in it. The Legislature of Georgia, at its session of 1818, divided it into three counties, called Early, Irwin and Appling. The boundaries of Early county were described as commencing two and three quarter miles east of Flint river on the Indian boundary line, and running south to the Florida line; thence with said line to the Chattahoochee river; thence up said river to the Indian boundary line; thence with said line to the place of beginning. This territory was about sixty miles square, and was laid off into twenty-three districts, twelve and a half miles square, as near as possible. These districts were subdivided into four hundred lots each, as near as practicable fifty chains square, containing two hundred and fifty acres each, and disposed of to the people of the State by lottery. It received the name of “Early” in honor of Gov. Peter Early, one of Georgia’s purest and ablest statesmen of his day.

The territory originally included in Early now embraces the counties of Miller, Decatur, Baker, Daugherty, Calhoun, and parts of Thomas, Clay and Mitchell. No provision was made for the election of county officers until the session of the Legislature in 1819, when the following citizens were appointed commissioners to hold an election for five Justices of the Inferior Court, viz: Dr. Alexander M. Watson, Robert Jackson, John Brockman, Richard Grimsley, John McRed, Alsy Harris, Thomas Harvey, Hartwell Tarver, Thos. Carter and Isaac Ledbetter. The place appointed for holding the election was the house of Richard Grimsley, and that was made the place of holding courts for the time being. Richard Grimsley then lived between Pleasant Grove Church and the Bramlett or Whaley house, on the river road, in what is now part of the Whaley plantation. The Justices of the Inferior Court first elected were Richard Grimsley, Wm. McDonald, Stephen Williams, Chas. Thigpen and Henry Carr. The first meeting of that court was held in the home of Richard Grimsley, on the 27^th day of March, 1820. At this meeting the county was divided into two militia districts. District No 1 commenced at the Indian boundary line on the Chattahoochee, and run down said river to the mouth of Frying Creek; thence up said creek to its source; from thence to Blue Creek, and thence east to the Irwin county line. All the territory below that line was known as District No. 2. An election for county officers was ordered to be held on the 15^th of April, 1820, at the Court House, and an election for two Justices of the Peace for District No. 1, at the house of Jefferson Nichols, on the 18^th of April, 1820; and the house of Robert Jackson, on the 20^th of April, for two Justices of the Peace for District No. 2. A.B. Matthews was appointed to register the names of persons entitled to draw in the approaching land lottery.

(to be continued.)

October 20, 1871

History of Early County – Continued from our last.

The Court being unwilling that the people should be hindered from obeying the Divine injunction to multiply and replenish the earth, appointed Richard Grimsley Clerk of Court of Ordinary to issue marriage licences [sic], until a Clerk was regularly elected and commissioned. Even with this provision, it must have required considerable resolution in parties living in what is now Thomas, Mitchell, Daugherty, &c., to make up their minds to get married.

On Monday, May 20, 1820, Jesse Williams was sworn as constable of District No. 1, and ____ (this was a blank in the newspaper) Jones for District No. 2. They certainly deserve credit for their patriotism, being willing to make such sacrifices for their country’s benefit. Think of an officer of that grade starting from Colomokee creek and riding beyond Flint river, in the absence of bridges, and almost of roads, and the many larger creeks, and perhaps the river to cross! The principal route of travel lay through the Indian Nation, in what is now Lee, or perhaps partly through Terrell county, so as to avoid, as much as possible, the Itachawaynotchaway and Chickasawhatchie creeks.

On Monday, June 5, 1820, Thomas Taylor was sworn as Clerk Superior Court and Court of Ordinary; Othniel Weaver, Clerk of the Inferior Court; Jefferson Nichols, Tax Receiver and Collector; Mark Cole, Coroner, and received their several commissions. Bryant Scholers and Clement Green were sworn as Justices of the Peace for District No. 1. The first Grand Jury for the county was drawn to-day, June 5, 1820. They were: Samuel Jackson, Jefferson Nichols, Solomon V. Wilson, John Sholers, Dr. A.M. Watson, Richard C. Spann, Jacob Murray, Othniel Weaver, Nevin McBryde, Thomas Taylor, Charles Thigpen, Joseph T. Reid, Clement Green, Thomas Harvey, Giles H. Bledsoe, Hartwell Tarver, Joel Porter, William Bowles, James Kelly, Sr., Bryan Sheffield, Robert Malone, William McDonald, John Griffith and Jesse Kelly.

On August 12, 1820, John Brockman was sworn and commissioned the first Sheriff of the county. Here is another instance of patriotism – to ride all over Early, Miller, Decatur, Dougherty and Calhoun, and parts of Thomas, Mitchell and Clay, to summons jurors, to serve a civil process, or perhaps arrest a criminal.

On the 10^th of July, 1820, the first Road Commissioners were appointed, whose duty it was to lay out a road from the Indian boundary line, near Fort Gaines, to the Florida line. They were: Bryant Sholers, Wiley Dean and Clement Green, for District 1; Richard C. Spann, William Tilly and ____ (blank in newspaper) Thomas, for District No. 2. At the same time Bryant Sholers, Dildatha Odom and Levi Smith were appointed commissioners to let out and superintend the building of a bridge across Colemokee creek, on the river road, at the place now known as Grimsley’s or Freeman’s Mills. This was the first bridge built by the county, and cost five hundred dollars.

There was no business transacted by the Inferior Court, so far as the record shows, from this term until April 2, 1821, when Bryant Sholers and Dildatha Odom were sworn and commissioned Justices of the Peace for the first district, and James Bush Tax Receiver and Collector. On the 9^th day of April, 1821, Benjamin Hodges and William Tilley were sworn and commissioned Justices of the Peace for District No. 2.

Commissioners were appointed by the Legislature, at its session in 1820, to obtain a temporary site for a Court House. There is no record of any action taken by them; but it is probable they did act, as we find the Inferior Court holding its session at the house of Robert Jackson, in Agust [sic], 1821, at which time and place Thomas Cook was appointed Sheriff in place of John Brockman, resigned. The commissioners were authorized to erect temporary public building. This duty they discharged by the erection of a cabin out of logs with the bark on. The changing of the place of holding court from Grimsley’s to Jackson’s, appears (so far as the record shows) to have suspended the labors of the Inferior Court. There is no record of any meeting of that body from August, 1821, until March, 1823, when a new court came into power, composed of Richard C. Spann, John Caddenhead, Frederick Porter, Benj. Hodges and Larkin Chivers.

The first Superior Court was held at the house of Richard Grimsley, on Monday the 9^th day of April, 1821, Hon. Thomas W. Harris, Judge of the Superior Court of the Southern Circuit, presiding; Thomas Taylor, Clerk, and John Brockman Sheriff. There was very little business done at this term, there being neither Grand nor Petit Juries empanneled. The next term of the court was held at Robert Jackson’s , the new Court House, on Monday, the 8^th day of October 1821, Judge Harris presiding; Charles Fenton Mercer Betton, Solicitor General, pro tem; Thomas Taylor, Clerk, N. McBryde transacting the business for him; Thomas Cook, Sheriff. L At this term of the court the first Grant Jury of the county was empanneled, and was composed of the following persons: Dr. Alexander M. Watson, foreman, Solomon V. Wilson, Isaiah Jones, Laddin Smith, Othniel Weaver, Jefferson Nichols, James West, Jesse Kelly, William S. Wilson, William McDonald, Reuben Smithwick, James Kelly, Peter Messer, John Dill, Joel Porter, Dildatha Odom, Richard Grimsley, Mark Cole and Henry Carr. Of the above nineteen Grand Jurors, Dr. Watson, Solomon V. and William S. Wilson, Othniel Weaver, Jefferson Nichols, James Kelly, John Dill, Dildatha Odom, Richard Grimsley, Laddin Smith and Mark Cole became permanent citizens of the county. The last named died in a year or two afterwards.

(to be continued.)

Oct5ober 27, 1871

History of Early County – Continued from our last.

The third term of the court was held at the same place, (which is now the family residence of Mrs. P. A. Porter, on her plantation, at Porter’s Ferry.) on the 9^th day of April, 1822, Judge Harris presiding; Thadeus Goode Holt, Solicitor General; Nevin McBryde, Clerk, and Wm. A. Carr, Sheriff. There does not appear to have been any Grand Jury empanneled [sic] at this term of the court. The following persons were sworn and empanneled [sic] the first Petit Jury of the county: Wm. W. Hair, John Porter, John Tilley, Sr., Aaron Dixon, Amos Lassiter, Thomas Taylor, Alexander Hays, Wm. Dixon, Absalom John Evans Anderson Jackson, Robert Malone, Wm. Bryan and Matthew Whidden. Of this number, Wm. W. Hair, John Porter, John Tilley, Sr., Alexander Hays, Wm. Dixon, A.J.E.A. Jackson and Aaron Dixon became permanent citizens of the county. Malone and Whidden became citizens of Decatur county, and Wm. Bryan, of Florida. Court was not held at the October term, 1822, in consequence of the nonattendance of the Judge.

The next Superior Court was held in June, 1823, Judge Harris presiding; T. G. Holt, Solicitor General; Nevin McBryde, Clerk; Wm. A. Carr, Sheriff; Dr. A. M. Watson, foreman of the Grand Jury. The first bills of indictment appear at this term of the court – two for perjury, two for simple larceny, and several for assault and battery. Out of the whole number only one was returned. That was the State vs. Levi W. Moore for perjury – but it does not appear that he was ever tried for the offense.

The members of the bar usually in attendance on the courts about this time, were Thomas W. Jarris, Judge; T.G. Hold, Sol. General; Lott Warren, Moses Fort, Cha’s. F. M. Betton, Samuel Gainer, and perhaps Wm. H. Torrence, Robt. Augustus Beall and Eli Warren. Two of this number are now living – T.G. Holt, in Macon, and General Eli Warren, in Perry. No doubt there were other members of the bar who attended more or less regularly, whose names we cannot recall.

The Southern Circuit to which Early county belonged at that time, was equal in territory, almost, to some of our States. It commenced with Twiggs county, and included Laurens, Telfair, Appling, Irwin, Early, Pulaski, and perhaps Dooly. This territory now contains upwards of twenty counties.

The next term of the court was held in January, 1824, Judge Harris presiding; Hold, Sol. General; W.A. Carr, Sheriff; McBryde, Clerk. There is no record of any juries being empanneled [sic] at this term, though several verdicts were returned signed by William Tilley, foreman of the petit jury. This term of the court, as well as all that preceeded it, adjourned on the second day. The administration of justice cost the people but little time in attendance upon the citings of the court, but this was abundantly made up by the time, labor and expense required to reach the place of holding court and to return home. This will be apparent to any one who will place himself at the house of Robert Jackson, (now Porter) and then look over the map of Decatur county, parts of Thomas, Mitchell, Worth and Clay and all of Early, Miller, Baker, Dougherty and Calhoun. It cost something to serve on a Jury in those days. This was before the time of compensating them by even a small allowance per diem for days actually spent in jury service. Many persons, no doubt, failed to obey their summons to attend court in consequence of their inability to pay their expenses to court and return. From this, or some other cause, the juries thus far appear to have been made up of persons who lived along the river, on the western side of the county.

At the session of the Legislature in 1823, a new county, called Decatur, was formed out of the southern part of this county. This necessitated another change in the location of the public buildings, and Samuel C.B. Jackson, Jos. Grimsley, Wright Sheffield, and two others, whose names we have failed to find, were appointed commissioners to select a new location, erect temporary buildings, &c. They selected a very pretty location on Pachitla creek, at the house of Jonathan Neal, now McLeary’s Mill. The public buildings were above the mill a few bundred [sic] yards, above the road as it now runs from Blakely to Morgan.

In March, 1824, David D. Smith was commissioned Sheriff. (He was the father of our fellow citizen, A. D. Smith.) At the same time Nevin McBryde was commissioned Clerk of Superior and Inferior Courts. In June, 1824, Judge Harris held his last court in this county in the new court house at Jonathan Neal’s; T.G. Holt, Sol. General; Smith, Sheriff; McBryde, Clerk, and Martin Wood foreman of the Grand Jury.

(to be continued.)

Date: November 3, 1871

History of Early County. - Continued from our last.

In 1822, election precincts were established at the house of Wm. Howard, in the 2d district; at John White’s, in the 20^th district, and at the Court House. In 1923, they were changed to the house of Richard Grimsley, in the 5^th district; at the house of John Tilly, in the 28^th district, and at Sarah Jackson’s, in the 26^th district. Col. Robert Jackson died in 1822, hence the place was afterwards called the house of Sarah Jackson. The house of John Tilly was in what is now Mrs. Cowdry’s plantation, much nearer the creek than where her house now stands.

In 1818, Mr. Jonathan Weaver and Mrs. Brown Liverman were killed by the Indians, near the mouth of Roaring Branch, below Fort Gaines. Miss Liverman, (now Mrs. Pierce) who was scalped by the Indians, is still living, or was a few years ago. Mr. Brown Liverman was killed a year or two later, say in 1820 or 1821, by one of his Negro men. The Negro was tried, convicted and hung, near the residence of Mr. Richard Grimsley, that then being the place of holding court for the county. The scene of the murder was in the upper part of what is now known as the Shackelford plantation. There is no record of the trial, conviction or sentence of the Negro, and we suppose the trial took place before the Inferior Court.

The first mill built in the county was built by Stephen Williams, the father of our former fellow-citizen, Dr. Jesse Williams, in 1819 or 1820, on the Roaring Branch, below the present Fort Gaines road. The next one was built, about one year later, by Jos. Grimsley, on Harrod’s Creek, where the grist mill of the Early County Manufacturing Co. now stands. His first mill dam was simply a log laid diagonally across the creek, so as to cause the water to flow principally to one point where he had his wheel placed. There being a considerable perpendicular fall, he was enabled to grind meal with this primitive fixture to some profit. In about a year thereafter, his brother, Richard Grimsley, put up a mill on Colemokee Creek, just above the bridge on the river road. Both these mills were fixed up for sawing lumber, as well as grinding corn. They both become places of some notoriety for several years. Each had a store and blacksmith shop. The store at Richard Grimsley’s mill was owned by John Jones, the father of our young fellow-citizen, Abner Jones. This was the most important election precinct in the county up to 1832. The candidates generally met there, as there were more votes polled there than at the Court House.

In 1831, the Legislature established an election precinct at Ft. Gaines, from which time Grimsley’s mills began to lose their importance, and for many years have had no more notoriety than any other mill. The store at Joseph Grimsley’s mills did not last many years; the blacksmith shop a few years longer, perhaps to 1834 or 1835. At one time there was a Baptist Church constituted there, but there was no building erected, and it was dissolved in a few years. This was at a later period than that of which we are writing – say from about 1828 to 1832.

The owner of the store at that mill was a Frenchman, rather past middle life, named Mathurin Simon, usually called Martin Seymore. He had quite an eventful life in this country. In the first place, his wife proved unfaithful, and he separated from her and sued for and obtained a divorce. Being a very excitable man, the people, who, as is generally the case with frontier men, were not more refined than they ought to be, annoyed him very much by teasing him in every way they could about this matter. In 1823 or 1824, he sued Frederick Porter for a considerable sum of money. At the January term, 1825, he obtained a verdict for a thousand dollars or upwards, from which an appeal was taken, which dragged itself along for ten or twelve years, and was finally decided by a verdict in favor of the executors of Porter for a small amount. His excitable nature was greatly disturbed by this interminable lawsuit, and produced many scenes that caused much amusement at the time. He removed from this county to Franklin, Ala, where, as usual, he got into a quarrel, drew his dirk, and attempted to strike a gentleman across the counter of his store. The gentleman drew a sword Cane, when Simon cried out, “stop, sir, you have the preference dirk.” We witnessed a little scene in the court house one day between Judge Lott Warren and his brother, Eli Warren, in regard to this Frenchman’s name. Some of his papers appeared to have been written Seymore and some Simon. General Warren, who represented Simon, wished to introduce some paper or papers in which his name was written Simon. The Judge objected to the use of the papers because the name was written Simon, when the other papers were written Seymore. The General insisted that his paper was Seymore, too. After several remarks by each, the Judge very seriously enquired: “General Warren, do you say, in your place as a lawyer and a gentleman, that the paper you hold is signed Seymore?” The General, with equal earnestness, promptly replied: “I do sir.” “How do you make that out, sir” said the Judge, apparently somewhat surprised. “Why, sir, it is a French name, and Si spells See, m-o-n mo, Semo, the n being silent, and the I having the sound of e.

(to be continued)

Date: November 10, 1871

History of Early County.

Continued from our last.

The first Minister of the Gospel who settled in this county was Elder Samuel Johnson, father of our respected fellow-citizen, Dr. W. J. Johnson, of Fr. Gaines. He settled a few miles below Fort Gaines in January, 1821. He was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of fair preaching ability, and of a genial and pleasant disposition. He remained in the county many years, but finally removed to Montgomery, Ala., or its vicinity, where he died a few years ago (from the effects of a fall from his buggy,) full of years and honors.

In 1822, the South Carolina Conference sent the Rev. John J. Trigg as a circuit rider. In 1823, he was returned with Rev. Jeremiah Slade as he colleague. In 1824, Slade was sent back alone. In 1825, Rev. Morgan C. Turrentine came upon the circuit, followed by Rev. John Wright, in 1826, and Rev. Jacob Ozier, now of Randolph county, in 1827. In 1828, Turrentine and Andrews, as collegues, [sic] came upon the circuit. In 1829, Rev. Mahlon Bedell was sent alone. He was a man full of anecdote. In 1830 the Rev. Tillman Douglass was sent, succeeded in 1831, by Rev. Mr. Crawford; and in 1832, Hunnicutt and Shanks, a double team, were sent. Whether two ministers were occasionally sent on account of the favorable or unfavorable report of their predecessors, we are not prepared to say.

In 1833, M. Bedell was sent back, we b elieve upon the application of the people of the circuit. During this year’s service he married, and settled in what is now Calhoun county, a short distance west of Whitney, near the road leading to Fort Gaines. As remarked above, he was a man over-flowing with good humor and a great lover of a joke. He moved from Calhoun county to Newton, in Baker county, where he seems to have been engaged in a variety of occupations. While living in Newton, the following story is related of him:

A young runaway couple seeking to get married came to the ferry at that place and called for the ferryman, when Bedell went and put them across the river. While doing so, the young man inquired for a blacksmith, as he wanted to have some repairs done on his buggy. Bedell replied, “I am a blacksmith and will repair it.” The young man next enquired for a hotel to stop at. Bedell replied, “come with me, I keep the hotel and will entertain you.” The next enquiry was for the Clerk of the Court of Ordinary, in order to procure marriage license. Bedell replied, “I am the clerk and can grant you license.” He finally inquired for a minister to perform the marriage ceremony. Bedell again replied, “I am a minister, and will perform the ceremony for you,” “Well, sir,” said the young man, “you are the greatest man I ever met with. I expected to call on four or five men at least, and I find you discharging the duties of all of them.” If this occurrence did not actually happen, it might have taken place, as he was a preacher, and while in Newton kept the hotel, was a good blacksmith and was clerk of the courts.

In 1822, Dr. David L. White, a physician and a local Methodist preacher, located five miles below Fort Gaines, on a part of the place now belonging to Richard B. Grimsley. At the close of 1823, he removed to Quincy, Florida. In 1824, Peter L. Jackson, a Unitarian preacher, located in the place vacated by Dr. White, and taught school. We shall have more to say about him when we come to speak of the educational interests of the county.

The first Baptist minister that we have any knowledge of, was Miller Brady, who located in the county in 1825, or ’26. In 1827-8, he was preaching in a private house near Blakely, now in Judge Ransone’s plantation, on the west side of the mill creek, above the road, in what is now known as the Walker old fields. The house was then occupied by a Mr. Hustus Studstill. He also preached at Mr. Joseph Grimsley’s mill, near the present Early County Factory. Amongst his earliest converts, were the late Judge James Bush, Wm. Phillips and his sister, Susan Hollimen, Philip Tyson, Thornton Fowler, and others whose names we cannot now recall. They were baptized in the mill creek, in Judge Ransone’s plantation. They put up the body of a log house for a church building, on the east side of the creek, near the bank, just above the mouth of the lane as you enter it to pass through Judge Ransone’s plantation. Mr. Brady was a man of very moderate ability and had but few advantages in the way of education. We think he organized a church called Smyrna, located near or on the lands of Dr. C. B. Holmes’ plantation. This church, in process of time, was moved near to the mill on Colomokee Creek, now known as Harrison’s mills, where it remained until recently, when it was dissolved and the building sold. It was a primitive Baptist church after the split in the denomination on the subject of missions. He also constituted a church at Grimsley’s mill, but it did not continue long before it was dissolved. Brady finally got into trouble with his denomination in regard to some heretical views adopted by him, the character of which we cannot exactly tell. The people used to call him and a Mr. Pace, who settled in what is now Calhoun county, “no-devil” preachers.

The Methodists organised [sic] a church in Fort Gaines in 1822, and services were held in the house of General Dill for many years. In 1830, a house was built for all denominations. In March, 1836, it was burned down, and some time thereafter the present church edifice of that denomination in Fort Gaines, was erected. The second Methodist church of which we have any knowledge, was located on the right of the road, a few hundred yards above the Pleasant Grove Church as it now stands, at what time we cannot state precisely, but previous to 1830.

Reverned [sic] William Hawthorn settled in what is now Decatur county at a very early date, say from 1818 to ’20. His son, Rev. Elias G. Hawthorn, used to preach in this county for the primitive Baptists. The Rev. William McElvy also settled in Decatur county at an early date, but we cannot say at what time. The second Baptist minister that settled in this county was Petot H. Edwards. He preached at Smyrna church and lived in that neighborhood. He was a very ordinary preacher, and we think soon lost character as a man of probity and honor. The above are the only resident ministers that we remember until 1830. In that year Rev. Lewis Everingham settled in Blakely as a school teacher. In 1836, Rev. Thomas Muse, now of Cuthbert, then a young man and merchant, settled in Blakely. About the same time, or a year or two sooner; the late Rev. Wm. Harrell settled at Maj. Joel Crawford’s plantation, on Spring Creek. Both were members of the Baptist church, and feeling the great need of preaching in the country, they both commenced trying to pray for and talk to the people. These services were usually held in the Blakely Academy building, then located in front of W. T. Robinson’s old tan yard. Some other Baptists having moved into the neighborhood, Mr. Muse, in July, 1837, succeeded in getting a Baptist church constituted at Blakely, (using the Academy as a church edifice,) with seventeen members, to wit: James Phillips and wife, John Steward and wife, Lee Walker and wife, Joseph A. Johnson and wife, Gooly Ann Jordan, John M. Cody, Thomas Muse, E. B. Lightfoot and wife, John J. Dickson, Sinia Cody, Kesiah McCormack and Sarah Stinson.

These parties had obtained letters of dismission from Smyrna church for the purpose of constituting this new church. By the first of June, 1838, they had erected a framed edifice, thirty by forty feet, on the same lot on which the present Baptist church edifice now stands. Rev. Peter Eldredge and Rev. Stephen Row composed the presbytery that constituted the church.

In January, 1838, Mr. Muse attended some missionary meetings in Cuthbert, where he met a number of ministers, some of whom he prevailed upon to make some appointments for preaching at Blakely – the first of which was on the third Sunday in April, at which time, the Rev. James S. Lunsford and Jushua [sic] Mercer came down and preached with great fervency for several days, but without any additions to the church. The regular monthly meeting was on the first Sunday and Saturday before in each month. On the first Sunday in May the Pastor, Rev. Wm. McElvy was absent in attendance on a political convention in Milledgeville – consequently there was no preaching. On the third Sabbath in May, Rev. Mr. Lunsford and the Rev. John Rushing came down and preached nearly a week, and had the happiness to baptize ten persons before they left. From that time, for ten or twelve years, the church might be considered in a state of revival – scarcely any month passing without some additions being made to it. From this small beginning, there has been enrolled on the church register, including the colored members, 1126 names. Pastor McElvy took umbrage at what he thought too great a freedom with his pastoral rights by the church and the visiting ministers, in consequence of which the relation was dissolved before the close of the year. Rev. James S. Lunsford, of Stewart county, was elected his successor, who served the church until December, 1839.

(to be continued)

Date: November 17, 1871

History of Early County.

Continued from our last.

The first application to the Court of Ordinary of this county for letters of administration was made by Mrs. Elizabeth Hays, on the 12^th day of August, 1820, for letters on the estate of her deceased husband, Etheldred Hays, the father of our late fellow-citizens, John and James Hays, who are no doubt remembered by many of our present citizens. There were several other brothers, and one sister, to wit: Wiley Hays, Seaborn Hays and Wm. Hays. The sister, Dicey Hays, married Peter Tatum. Etheldred Hays married the sister of our respected fellow-citizen, R. W. Sheffield, and she is still living.

January 21, 1821, letters of administration were granted to Dr. Alex. M. Watson on the estate of John McRea. If he left any family, they soon removed from the county, as we have been unable to find any tract of them. Sept 23, 1821, letters of administration on the estate of Brown Liverman, who had been killed by one of his Negro men, were granted to Robert Jackson. Liverman left a wife and some children, who were reared to man and womanhood in this county. On the same day, letters of guardianship for the person and property of Peter Grant, orphan of Andrew Grant, of Laurens county, were granted to Jas. W. Alexander. Grant left the county soon after arriving at man’s estate.

January 7, 1823, letters of administration, with the will annexed, were granted to Solomon V. Wilson, on the estate of John Griffith. He left a family that remained in the county, and the daughters, or some of them, married in Fort Gaines. On the same day, temporary letters of administration was granted to James Brown and Aaron Dixon, on the estate of Samuel Curry, dec’d. Permanent letters were issued on the 11^th day of July, 1823. Curry left a family, but they were thrown into Decatur county by the formation of that county in the year 1823. November 3, letters of administration on the estate of Elizabeth Sheffield, of Pulaski county, were granted to Isham Sheffield. Benj. Collier, James Miller, Andrew Blunch, John Tilly, and John E. Parramore were appointed to appraise her estate. We omitted the names of Jesse Brown, Matthew Hodges, Alsey Harris, Alexander Hays and Amos Lassiter, appointed to appraise the estate of Samuel Curry.

January 11, 1823, the last will and testament of Mark Cole was presented for probate by Othniel Weaver, the executor named therein, who was sworn and received letters testamentary at the May term, of the Court of Ordinary, in 1823, and David D. Smith, Richard Grimsley, Samuel Johnson, James Jones and Bryant Sholers were appointed to appraise the estate. Cole, we believe, was a Tennesseean, and his estate was removed to that State in a few years.

March 3, 1823, the last will and testament of Robert Jackson was presented for probate by Mrs. Sarah Jackson, the executrix named therein, who took the oath of office and received letters testamentary on the 7^th of July, 1823, and Matthew Hodges, Jesse Brown, Alexander Hays, Aaron Dixon and Nevin McBryde were appointed to appraise the estate. Col. Jackson left a family of several children, some of whom were grown and had families of their own. The most of them, or perhaps all, remained many years in the county. Col. J. was, at the time of his death, Senator elect to represent the county in the Legislature of the State, having just been elected for the third time to that office. He was one of the leading citizens of the county from its organization until his death.

Nov. 10, 1923, John Bruton, Sr., applied for and obtained letters of guardianship for Benjamin F. Bruton, Sarah Bruton and John A. Bruton, orphans of John Bruton, Jr. These children remained in the county until they were grown up and married, at least the two older ones. They finally moved west, and John A. was soon after killed by his Negroes.

There seems to have been no year 1822 in this county, so far as the Inferior Court or Court of Ordinary are concerned. The records of neither Court show any meeting during that year. The year 1823 was fruitful of business in the Court of Ordinary, as the above records sow.

September 5, 1824, Absalom J. E. A. Jackson was appointed administrator on the estate of Samuel C. B. Jackson, and Jesse Brown, Alsey Harris, Frederick Porter, Matthew Hodges and William Dickson were appointed to appraise the estate. Col. Jackson seems to have had a fancy for long names.

On the same day. Bethema (sp) Kelly was appointed administratrix on the estate of William Kelly, her late husband. Joseph Grimsley, John Hays, John Caddenhead, William Bowles and Dildatha Odom were appointed to appraise the estate. Mr. Kelly left six children – two sons and four daughters. Mrs. Kelly afterwards married the somewhat noted individual, Wm. F. Carrigan, who is no doubt well remembered by many of the present citizens, and of whom we may have more to say on a future occasion.

Sep. 5, 1814, Nancy Smith and Jeremiah Fowler were granted letters of administration on the estate of Ladin Smith, and Martin Wood, Joseph, Grimsley, Dildatha Odom, John Roe and John Caddenhead were appointed to appraise the estate. Mrs. Smith, before the end of the year, married our present fellow citizen, Philip Tyson, with whom she lived until her death. The Smith children grew up and married in the county, or most of them did.

March 5, 1825, Elizabeth Hays was appointed guardian for Seaborn Hays, James Hays and William Hays, orphans of Etheldred Hays. These men are no doubt remembered by the people of the county, especially the last two.

March 5, 1825, Joseph Grimsley was appointed guardian for Joseph Parmer, a man of unsound mind. He was a very peculiar character. He built his house and lived by himself; made shoes, and had a little field in which he raised fine potatoes, watermelons, peas and other vegetables, beside a little corn crop. He lived mostly under a shelter, where he kept a good fire, with a fine bed of ashes, in which, at the proper season, he nearly always kept potatoes roasting. We have enjoyed many a good potato with him under his shelter. He seldom opened his house to any body. He did the most of his work with his hoe; was a fine hand to split rails, and a pretty good hand at ordinary farm work. John J. A. Harrell was appointed guardian for Sarah Bell, a free woman of color. This appears to be the first appointment of the kind made in the county. Richard Grimsley, Solomon V. Wilson and Benjamin Hodges were appointed the first commissioners [sic] of the poor school fund of the county. The will of Frederick Porter was admitted to probate and John Porter qualified as executor.

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I want to Thank Alexandra Bakarich < lexel@earthlink.net > for Sharing these with us!