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History of Baldwin County Georgia
By Mrs. Anna Maria Green
Cook
Anderson S.C. Keys-Hearn Printing Co. 1925
Submitted by Nancy Piper
Historical Sketches
Page 16-21
History, it has been said, is a recital of facts; biography, the
picturing of a life. History answers the question, What things have
been done? Biography, by what kind of men and women these things were
done.
Now it is our purpose to endeavor to make plain, as far as practicable,
what has been done in Baldwin County from its earliest settlement.
"Lest we should forget," where memory should fondly linger, to tell
something of the people who have made history in Baldwin County.
To have even a general idea of the conditions at the settlement of
Baldwin County it is necessary to know something of the Indian tribes
"the native holders of these rich lands and luxuriant forests."
The tribes holding this section which was afterwards middle Georgia,
was the Creek nation of Muscogees. The name Creeks was said to have
been given by the English. They were a powerful tribe that had come
from the far West, and had builded settlements and mounds in which were
buried bones and skeletons, their rude weapons of warfare, and many
Indian antiquities. In White's Historical Collections of Georgia we
have short accounts of treaties with the Creeks; covering a period of
nearly a hundred years.
At the close of the Revolutionary War, the small Colony of Georgia, now
an independent state, was involved in one war after another with the
Indian tribes. Following the protracted Oconee Wars, by treaty with the
Creek Indians, Georgia acquired tracts of land afterwards divided into
three large counties: Baldwin, Wayne and Wilkinson. This treaty was
between the Federal government and the Creek nation. Commissioners from
the United States: James Wilkinson, Benjamin Hawkins and Andrew
Pickens. The treaty was signed by forty chiefs and warriors. This
treaty took place at Ft. Wilkinson on the Oconee River, the 16th of
June 1802. Ratified January 11th, 1803. The Fort was well garrisoned
and put under command of Major Samuel Beckham. Several years later,
when forays from Indians had ceased, the garrison was removed to Ft.
Hawkins, near Macon.
An old citizen of Milledgeville writes in the Recorder in 1819: "I was
attracted to Ft. Hawkins by the assembling of the Creeks in the
neighborhood to receive the annuity due them by the government of the
United States. David Brydie Mitchell was there as Indian Agent."
"On my arrival I was the big warrior, the most striking specimen of
Indian greatness, and their wonderful orator, "The little Prince" and
McIntosh their most gallant chief in consultation with the Agent about
the affairs of their nation."
"In the morning of the next day I crossed the Ocmulgee River and went
into the encampment of the Indians who had been assembled to be fed by
the government and receive their share of the annuity. It was a forest
of tall spreading trees which covered the hills and valleys along the
river. There was no under growth to mar the beauty of the landscape.
Many thousand Indians were standing or squatting in little groups
around the fires, which the coldness of the morning made necessary."
The first and only instance of the Indians ever keeping a record of
their history was discovered by LeClere Milford, a young Frenchman, who
was a man of high character and intelligence, who lived twenty years
among the Creeks. Milford was associated with that extraordinary chief,
Alexander McGillivray and married his sister.
Baldwin County was laid out by the Lottery Act of 1803, or rather that
part of it lying on the West side of Oconee River. The East side had
been bestowed upon individuals by land grants for notable services
during the Revolutionary War.
The County was settled in 1803, organized in 1805, named for Abraham
Baldwin, who was born at Guilford, Conn. In 1784 he came to Georgia by
advice of Gen. Nathaniel Green to practice law.
His scholarship brought him at once into prominence and he was elected
to Legislature in three months after his arrival. He drew a charter for
a complete system of education and was the founder of the State
University and for fourteen years was at its head.
Few parts of the state were more quickly populated or better class of
people than Baldwin. The part beyond the Oconee River was thickly
populated before the County was laid out. A town, Mount-Pelier was
projected as early as 1801, and an Act by Legislature that, "all
persons able to work on public roads residing within five miles of the
Oconee and Altamaha Rivers from Mount-Pelier to Darien, shall work on
said river for the improvement of the navigation thereof five days in
each year." John Miles was commissioner from Mount-Pelier.
In 1808 an Act was passed to make distribution of late cession of land
obtained from Creek Nation. This Act directs that the part of said
territory lying South of the Oconee to be divided by a line to be run
according to the true meridian from the Oconee at Ft. Wilkinson, south
to forty-five degrees, west to the Indian boundary line, into two
counties. The eastern to be called Wilkinson the western to be called
Baldwin.
The counties to each be divided into five districts. These districts
were further divided into lots of 202 ½ acres each. Tickets were
made and numbered of these lots and Acts passed giving regulations as
to the drawing of these lots by citizens of at least one years
residence in the state.
The amount paid into the Treasury ranged from ($9.00) nine dollars per
hundred acres to ($0.25) twenty-five cents per acre. River bottom lands
bringing the highest. The fortunate drawers received grants issued
under the hand of his Excellency, the Governor with attached seal of
the state investing in them fee simple titles.
The commissioners appointed by act May 11th 1803 fixed the site and
laid off the town of Milledgeville. December 12th 1804 the General
Assembly appointed Howell Cobb, John Rutherford, Littleberry Bostwick,
Archibald Devereaux, George M. Troup, John Harbert, Oliver Porter,
commissioners to sell lots in the town of Milledgeville not exceeding
twenty, of one acre each.
"Money from sale shall be, and hereby is, appropriately to defray
expenses of erecting a state house in said town for accommodations of
the General Assembly of the state."
The following is taken from the Louisville Gazette, Louisville, Georgia:
"Friday, October 9, 1807. Yesterday 15 wagons left this place for
Milledgeville with the Treasury and Public Records of the State. They
were escorted by the troop of horses from Washington who arrived here a
few days since for that purpose."
At same session an Act passed "incorporating a company for improvement
of that part of Oconee river between Big Shoals and John Barnett's and
the town of Milledgeville, all obstructions to be removed, and when a
boat carrying a burden of 8 hogshead to tobacco, when the water is at
ordinary height, the company may charge toll.
For every hogshead of tobacco, .50 cts
For every barrel of flour , .18 ¾ cts
For every bale of cotton, .25 cts
For every cask of other articles .12 ½ cts
For every thousand feet of lumber, .25 cts.
"Whereas it is necessary and expedient that the counties of Balwin and
Wilkinson be organized as speedily as possible; therefore be it enacted
by the Senate and House of Representatives, of the State of Georgia in
General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by authority of the same
that Samson Harris, Archibald Devereaux, Benjamin Tarver, Stephen
Nobles, and Edmund Lane be and they are hereby appointed justices of
the Inferior Court of the county of Baldwin; and Samuel Beckham,
William Randolph, Lewis Lanier, Wm. O'Neal, and Thomas Gilbert be and
they are hereby appointed Justices of the Inferior Court of the county
of Wilkinson."
It may seem tedious and unnecessary to give these details but they give
us official records of the names of the men of those early days who
were men of affairs, engaged in laying the foundations of the site of
our county.
Dec. 8th, 1806, an Act was passed appointing the following persons
commissioners of the town of Milledgeville: David Fluker, Jett Thomas,
Uriah Thweat, John W. Devereaux, Thompson Bird. These commissioners
were given their appointment until first Monday in January, 1808.
"Thereafter the citizens of Milledgeville entitled to vote for the
members of the General Assembly shall choose by ballot, five persons to
succeed them as commissioners of said town; and they shall have and are
hereby vested with full power and authority to make such by-laws and
regulations and inflict or impose such fines, penalties and forfeitures
and doing other incorporate acts as in their judgment shall be
conclusive to the good order and government of said town of
Milledgeville."
On Dec. 10, 1807 an Act was passed to lay out and identify five new
counties out of the counties of Baldwin and Wilkinson: Morgan,
Randolph, Jones, Putnam and Telfair. It was then enacted that "the
counties of Green, Morgan, Baldwin, Wilkinson, Laurens, and Telfair
shall form a judicial circuit to be called and known by the name of
Ocmulgee circuit."
"Whereas, a number of citizens of Washington and Hancock have
petitioned the Legislature praying to be added to the county of
Baldwin: Be it therefore enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the State of Georgia in Assembly met and by
authority of the same, that all that part of Hancock and Washington
hereinafter described be added to and become part of Baldwin county
to-wit: Beginning on Aaron McKinzie's ferry on Oconee river, thence a
straight line to Holt's Mills on Town creek with the meanders thereof
to Harris's upper mill on said creek. Thence straight line to Oconee
river opposite the Mouth of Little River, thence with the Oconee River
to the beginning."
In 1809, an Act passed incorporating Planters Bank at Savannah and
apportioning the shares, five hundred shares were allotted to
Milledgeville under superintendence of Zacariah Lamar, Archibald
Devereaux, and Jett Thomas. Dec. 10th, 1807, an Act passed authorizing
commissioners to sell and lay out lots for academy and churches or
meeting houses - Thompson Bird, Zacariah Lamar, Elijah Clark, John
Devereaux, and Augustine Harris - Court house on southeast corner, jail
on northeast corner." The square had been previously set aside for
these buildings.
Dec. 12, 1809, an Act to prohibit dueling. Any person or persons who
shall give, bear, or accept a challenge, knowing it to be so, in
writing or otherwise, or having given, borne or accepted a challenge,
or in any way connected therewith either as second or principal in the
promotion of a duel and being thereof duly convicted either as second
or principal, shall not thereafter be capable of holding any office of
honor, trust or profit, within this State. Benjamin Whitaker, Speaker;
Henry Mitchell, Pres. of the Senate.
David Brydie Mitchell, Governor, Dec. 15th, 1810 a Act to charter a
company for improvement of Oconee river from Fishing Creek, near
Milledgeville, to Big Shoals at John Barnett's. Dec. 15, an Act to
appoint Commissioners for the better regulation and government of town
of Milledgeville. The town to be divided into four roads, intersection
of Washington and Jefferson streets. At this date Milledgeville had two
representatives. Dec. 13, 1810, an Act for better regulation of tavern
and shop-keepers to prevent their trading with slaves.
In 1810, the population was 3, 809 whites and 2,250 slaves. The slave
population increased rapidly and in 1850 there were 4,602 slaves. Most
of them were out on large plantations but among them were many skilled
workmen, and work of public buildings went on rapidly.
Forts
Page 21-24
In White's Historical Collections of Georgia we have short accounts of
treaties with the lower Creeks, embracing a period of nearly a hundred
years. One treaty after another was made with the Indians by
commissioners from the State and the United States government. The
death of Alexander McGillivray left the Creeks disorganized, unfriendly
and indisposed to yield any more of their land. In all the treaties,
right was reserved by the United States government to establish Trading
Posts and Forts.
Ft. Wilkinson, on a bluff of the Oconee River, was built early in the
century, as the condition of the country left the settlers exposed to
attacks from the Indians. The treaty of limits between the United
States and the Creek nation, as mentioned before, was held there June
16, 1802, and was ratified January 11, 1803. The commissioners from the
United States were: Gen. James Wilkinson from Maryland, Benjamin
Hawkins from North Carolina and Andrew Pickens, South Carolina.
In 1807, Benjamin Hawkins selected the site on the Ocmulgee River near
Macon for Ft. Hawkins. One hundred acres were reserved for the fort.
Within the stockage were fourteen acres where was built the block
house, twenty feet square and thirty-four feet high. It was surrounded
by watch towers and consisted of two stories and a basement. The
basement was built of stone eighteen inches thick and ten feet high.
The second story projected over the first story for three feet on all
sides. There were holes in the floors so that if the Indians reached
the house and attempted to scale the stone basement in order to set
fire to the wooden part they could be shot down from the projecting
floors.
Block houses of this type were used for soldier's quarters, and for
storing provisions and factory goods to be sold to the Indians, for
which peltries were received in turn. The ninety-six acres surrounding
the Fort were cleared so that in case of attack the Indians could not
find protection behind trees.
In 1807, Ft. Hawkins was garrisoned by the removal of the troops from
Ft. Wilkinson. In March 1807, Aaron Burr while under guard crossed the
river near Ft. Hawkins. Burr and his guard were drenched and chilled by
freezing rains when they reached the river. He had been captured below
the Tombigbee River in Alabama. The guards with their prisoners crossed
all the rivers in canoes in which their camp equipage was placed. Their
horses swam until they reached the Oconee River, where at Ft. Wilkinson
they crossed in the first ferry boat they had seen on the whole route.
A few miles beyond the Oconee they were sheltered by the first roof, a
house of entertainment, kept by Mr. Bivins. Burr and his party remained
a day and night at Ft. Wilkinson before proceeding on their way to
Washington.
There was no serious trouble with the Indians until the war of 1812
with England, when the Indians were induced to take part against the
Americans. The British sought and obtained a powerful ally in the
renowned Indian warrior Tecumseh, the Shawnee Chief. From Canada to
Florida, he, with his brother, the prophet Francis, exhorted the Indian
tribes to reclaim their original lands. It is not in the scope of this
history to give an account of the terrible Indian wars that followed.
Tecumseh was slain in the battle of the Thames fought by Gen. Harrison.
His death was unknown by the southern tribes and a fearful massacre
occurred at Ft. Mims, Alabama, where three hundred women and children
were killed.
There is a reference to Tecumseh as a boy in a sketch by Col. Samuel
Davis Irvin, uncle of Mr. S. A. Cook. He says: "My great grandfather
and mother were slain by the Shawnee Indians in one of their forays
into the newly settled territory of Kentucky. Their children were taken
captive and carried back to Indian territory near the Great Lakes. My
grandfather, Samuel Davis, then a boy of fourteen years, (who was born
in Scotland) ran the gauntlet and fell in the allotment of captives to
a squaw, the mother of Tecumseh. He and Tecumseh were thrown in
constant companionship for three years. At the end of that time a
treaty of peace was made with the Indians by which they agreed to
surrender all captive whites held by them. Samuel Davis was returned to
Kentucky, an older brother made his escape from the Indians a year
before, but the sisters of the family were never heard from. Samuel
Davis lived to a great age, a well preserved old man, giving recitals
to children and grandchildren of his life of privation and hardship
among the Indians, and showing them the hole in his nose between the
nostrils where hung a gold ring, the custom of that tribe. The ring had
to be filed off when he was released."
To return to Ft. Wilkinson. After the removal of the garrison to Ft.
Hawkins, Ft. Wilkinson was garrisoned by militia under Maj.-Samuel
Beckham, a revolutionary soldier, until all danger from Indian forays
had ceased. The Creek Nation had yielded step by step to the
encroachment of the white man, and by treaties dimly understood had
been forced to surrender their hunting grounds, until within half a
century there remained no Indians in this section of the state.,
However, there were 'some descendants of the Indians left. Among them,
Judge Iverson Harris, first cousin to William McIntosh, the noble half
breed, who was martyr to his loyalty at the Indian Springs' Treaty. The
latter's son, Chilly McIntosh, was educated in Milledgeville in the
school of Dr. William Green.
The fort was abandoned, going into decay. The level site furnished
dancing ground for the young people of the country for miles around. It
was the rendezvous for picnickers and pleasure seekers. Before the days
of automobiles, wagons taking large crowds of young men and maidens and
matrons to its groves brilliant with dog-wood and fragrant with crab
apple, honey suckle, and sweet shrub. The couples of young people ran
down the steep hillsides to the bold spring under the beeches on which
were carved the names of sweethearts, and their pulses quickened with
other emotions than fear of some silent, grim Indian warrior appearing
suddenly from the dense woods.
Milledgeville 1815-1825
Page 24-29
In examining old files of the Georgia Journal, there will be noticed a
number of parties failing to pay for their town lots, and therefore the
resale of the lots. There was a sale by the heirs of Benjamin Howard of
202 ½ acres on Black Creek with 500 bearing peach trees,
adjoining the' lot of' Wm. Bivins nearScott's ferry.
Among the merchants we find Farish Carter, Z. Lamar and John Critcher
and Co., who received. an assortment of goods, viz.:
Black and blue broadcloth.
Black and blue cassimere,
1 trunk of calicoes.
4 by 4 and six by four plain, figured, and needle-worked linens.
Figured jaconet muslins.
Book muslin, Lace handkerchiefs.
4 by 4 and 6 by 4 Damask shawls.
Black and green Bombasets.
Colored shirting.
Marseilles vestings.
This assortment of goods brings before us the well dressed lady in
mourning-the indespensible black bombazine, and long crepe veil-the
poke bonnet altogether different from the fashions of my lady today.
"The improvement of Milledgeville in spite of every obstruction is a
source of gratification to all who feel an interest in its welfare. Two
years ago a third of the dwelling houses were vacant, all fit to
receive families are now occupied. Among several new houses recently
erected is the Penitentiary or State Prison. This stupendous building
adds greatly to the appearance of the town; as also does the enclosure
of the State House Square, and the avenue of trees planted in it, which
in a few years will form a beautiful promenade. With its rapid increase
of population Milledgeville has acquired many worthy inhabitants.
"The return of peace has given trade its usual activity. There is a
flattering prospect of our mercantile capital being much increased.
Being the seat, of government since 1807, and situated on a navigable
river, in a prosperous neighborhood, and possessing an extensive and
fertile back country, Milledgeville must eventually become a place of
considerable commercial importance.
"To hasten this desirable object two things are necessary-the
establishment of banks and the improvement of the navigation of the
Oconee. Nine or ten years ago, the spot on which it stands was waste,
wild and uncultivated, the abode of ruthless savages, it is now a
flourishing town, contains near two thousand inhabitants, presents a
pleasing scene of industry and wealth; the seat of social refinement,
of personal charms and polished society." So says the Editor of Georgia
Journal of 1815.
But human predictions often fail in the effort to foretell the progress
of towns and cities. The railroads, banks, schools, and churches, and
christian citizenship brought the desired prosperity and advancement.
Some of the best schools in the State were here. The schools differed
from the educational methods of today, but the scholarship was
thorough, often producing intellectual giants. As an example of these
schools we give advertisement of Dr. Wm. M. Green:
"The Subscriber, recently Professor of Mathematics, Chemistry, and
Natural Philosophy in the University of Georgia proposes opening an
Academy on First Monday in September next in the town of Milledgeville,
in which with suitable assistants he will conduct the education of
youth from the first rudiments to its completion. Mrs. Green will also,
on first Monday in November, open a school for the instruction of young
ladies in the usual, appropriate and liberal branches of female
education.
"The most scrupulous attention will be exercised with respect to the
manners, and also the moral and religious instruction of their pupils.
The system of .instruction that will be pursued in this institution
consists of the Preparatory Department, the Classical and Scientific"
and that of Moral Philosophy and Belle Lettres. The first comprehends
the Greek, Latin, and French Languages, an abridged course of Ancient
History and Ancient Geography. Those desirous of further information,
are respectfully referred to His Excellency, the Governor, and Major
Howard in Milledgeville, and to Gen. Scott, Hines Holt, and Boling
Hall, Esqr. in the neighborhood." Boys of eight or ten or even younger
were, required to study Latin and Greek.
Milledgeville as laid off by the original plan contained twenty
streets, to most of which were given the names of distinguished
patriots. The first building constructed of logs was erected on
Franklin Street, on Mr.' Baxter's lot. The first frame house put up by
Gen. Scott in 1805, and is now (1816) standing-a two story building on
the corner of Franklin and Elbert Streets. For some time most of the
buildings were put up and business done East of the State House, but
traveled westward form the atmosphere of the Oconee river and Fishing
Creek, In 1815, Milledgeville contained 170 occupied houses, 1,59-9
inhabitants, 14 dry goods stores, twenty groceries, wholesale and
retail, and offices.
The State House stands on an eminence three quarters of a mile from the
river, exhibiting a grand appearance of Gothic architecture. The
Representative Hall is sixty by fifty-four feet, ornamented with full
length portraits of Oglethorpe and Lafayette -the Senate Chambers with
those of Washington and Jefferson.
In the Executive office is an' old portrait of Oglethorpe sitting
dressed in an antique costume, and examining a, map of Georgia. . This
building with, wing erected at north end. in 1828 cost $15,000.00. The
cost of, clock in cupola was $1,000. The other public buildings are a
State Arsenal, three' stories high, containing implements of war, the
Governor's House, houses of worship-Methodist and Presbyterian-a market
house, containing room for meeting of police, Penitentiary, Court
House, Jail, Academy, and three banks.
Milledgeville contained: a large number of houses of entertainment, the
most spacious of which was La Fayette Hall, corner of Hancock and
Jefferson Streets (where the Catholic Church now stands). It was a
substantial brick building three stories high, one hundred and ten feet
front. It had a long porch without balusters, extending across the
front. For a number of years it was kept by a Mrs. Haynes and was the
principal house of entertainment in the city.
On the corner of Wayne and Green Streets stood the wooden building
known as the Old Hotel. This building was put up about 1825 after the
seat of government was removed from Louisville to Milledgeville. The
first proprietor, Mr. Robert McComb, kept one of the best hotels in
this section. Prominent members of the Legislature had their rooms
here. In a rear room, at the southern end of the hotel, Alexander
Stephens, a youthful member of the House of Representatives, lay
hovering between life and death of typhoid fever. He often said that if
his services had been of any value to his state and country, they were
indebted to Dr, Thos. F. Green, to whose untiring attentions he felt
under God he owed his recovery.
On a spot in front of the hotel, at the intersection of Wayne and Green
Streets, was erected a grand stand from which Henry Clay proclaimed his
magnificent speech, thrilling the hearts of the people, the majority of
whom were his staunch advocates for the presidency. At the close of the
speech a little girl stepped up and handed him a large red rose. Henry
Clay raised her in his arms and kissed her. This incident, she, now an
old lady, relates with pleasure.
These houses of entertainment were open generally in winter for the
accommodation of the members of the Legislature. They were usually
advertised in similar manner: "Tables well supplied with best the
county affords. Stables well filled' with, provender." Members often
came 'in their own vehicles. Among these were the houses of David
Martin, John Lucas, Myles Green, Samuel Buffington, and others. These
parties always stating that they were supplied with the best of
liquors-hence, no doubt, the legislative act for better regulation of
taverns.
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