JASPER COUNTY, GEORGIA
(The following article was written August 10, 1929 by Estelle Loyd Stone, Mrs. Bill McDowell and Mrs. J. T. Thomason)
Transcribed by Suzanne Forte (suzanneforte@bellsouth.net) based upon information furnished by Benny Hawthorne
Bethel Church was once an Arm of Hopewell Church, for a few years time meeting in a log school house just in front of the old Zed Piper place known as "Skin-Pole". Several members were taken into the church, among them, Mrs. M. E. Thomason, Mrs. Jessie Steele, John Minter, Mrs. Narcissus Clegg, and others in 1852 and 1853, but the church proper was constituted and a site purchased from Captain William J. Steele where the present church house now stands. Lodebar camp ground was also over on the Zed Piper place.
In 1865 the first building was erected by Marion Ward and John Minter, as workmen, and was organized and dedicated in June 1855, with some twenty members in the organization. The citizens then were Captain William J. Steele, Gerald Malone, John Minter, Simeon Williams, William D. Hardy, Marion Shaw up the Key's Ferry road. Other early settlers were Luke Williams who settled what is now the Pink Persons Place. Philip Pritchett lived on what is now known as the old Elder place. Johnny Faulkner, father of Peter Faulkner, settled the old Faulkner place. Peter Faulkner was the father of C. M. and H. D. Faulkner. Billy Steele, father of the late Mrs. Sallie Lindsey, settled just below Bethel Church. One of the oldest settlers was John Maddox, father of Sim Maddox, who was the owner of the old Maddox place, now owned by the late Ossian Benton's family. One of the first schools was named, "pinch-um-Quick" (if that is the way to spell it), just down the road from what i now the Payne home. Had public school in a log house with the teacher named Miss Nicky Quick and also had a big Sunday school there with Mr. Jim Maddox as Superintendent.
Another prominent citizen was Judge J. M. Williams, who lived on what is now the F. M. Payne home place. This place was settled by Mr. Betts. Mr. Williams was then Clerk of the County Court. Dr. James W. Payne was named for Judge James Williams. Rev. Washington J. Oxford settled the old Oxford home later owned by Ed. J. Oxford his son (deceased) and is not the James E. Oxford home. Major Middleton Hartsfield settled what is not known as the Stone place on the Jackson road below Bethel church. Richard Minter settled the old place near the home of the late James A. Stone, now occupied by J. Tom Chaffin. He raised a large family there. He was the grand father of Mr. Thomas C. Minter, Sr., now a resident of this community. Later settlers were W. P. Persons, John Stone (who was killed in the war). Jos. K. Polk, E. I. Lindsey, Will Malone, Jack Thomason, A. J. Thomason, Judge J. C. Rowe, Ossian Benton, Sim Maddox, John Barnes, James A. Stone, F. M. Payne, G. P. Loyd, J. B. Persons, C. W. and P. L. Oxford, John M. Phillips, father of Honorable Monroe Phillips settled the place what is now known as the B. Persons Country Home. Just below here is the Bailey Freeman Place.
Many years later in 1868 or 69, the first real school house was built on Oxford Hill, just below the old Oxford home and the next one is the present Masonic Lodge, which was moved a short distance to give room for the present new school building. The Masonic Lodge was moved from Concord Church to Rether in 1884 of 85. When a post office was erected here it was called "Winfred" in honor of Winfred W. Loyd, son of G. P. Loyd. Mail was brought to the office twice per week in a road cart with a horse (or mule) hitched to it and driven by the carrier. People were "thrilled to death" over having mail so often", out of town" G. P. Loyd erected the first gin house, which contained one gin (later 3 gins) run by steam. Also had the first team saw mill here, near the gin, house and ran a big country store and had the post off ice in one side, he serving as post master.
I will make mention of some of the present settlers as follows, Jim Thomason (t the old Thomas Thomason Place), Jack Marks (at the old Olin Minter home), Sam Minter (at the Jas. W. Minter home), Steve Malone (at the old Randolph Persons place, W. C. Cornwell (at the E. I. Lindsey home place, Aubie Good(?) at the Hartsfield-Stone place, L. B. Minter (at the J. E. Polk home) , Joel Cornwell (at the Zedock Piper Home), J. Oscar Thomason ( at the Jack Thomason home), O. D. Price (at the old Jim Benton home place, once owned by Abbie Benton), J. E. Oxford (at the W. J. Oxford home), James A. Stone (at the G. P. Loyd home), Loile Huff (at the old Pritchett place or Elder place), G. M. Faulkner (at the Maddox Place), R. H. Oxford (at the home of the late James A. Stone), Marvin Flournoy (at the Barnes home place) and other citizens here at present as James C. Smith, Jep Chaffin, T. C. Minter, Sr., Louis Huff and Rodd Huff, R. F. Cook, Alfred Floyd, Walter Evens, Sr., and Tom Chaffin.
This Community has always had a good store. Several years ago, Mr. J. T. Chambers now of Flovilla, erected a store (a wooden structure) and sold groceries, dry goods, etc, for some time. Then later, he decided to move and sold out to Mr. L. Stone, who built a nice brick store and also a modern residence with electric lights installed in both. He also runs a garage. We have a good school, and a good church, also splendid citizens. Our present teachers are Miss Irene Underwood of Mystic, and Miss Lucy Malone, of this place. We have a Missionary Society, also a good P.T.A. Organization. In every respect, we feel as if we have a community worth of praise, and May God Bless the editors of the dear old Monticello News and all of its readers; I'll bid you all adieu.