Cusseta, and some of Its
Settlers; Things of Interest in Chattahoochee Cusset. Ga March 30
(Special Correspondence) Cusseta which is the county seat of
Chattahoochee county, Is on the Seaboard Air Line, nineteen miles from
Columbus. The oldest inhabitant of Cusseta is found in the person of
Mr. O. M. Osteen. who came here March 1st. 1831, with his father.
Jesse Osteen, from Monroe county. Georgia. He but two years of age at
the time. The old gentleman made a clearing and put up a log cabin on
what is now the Ochillee road, three-quarters of a mile from the court
house. Mr. G. M. Osteen, his son, has lived in the neighborhood ever
since. Mr. Osteen likes to talk of those early days. and his
reminiscences are extremely interesting. His father had moved from
Monroe county because he complained of being "crowded." and wanted to
settle in a country where he could have plenty of breathing room.
Mr.
Osteen's life has been co-incident with that of Chattahoochee County.
In 1834, four other settlers, who, like the elder Mr. Osteen, have long
since been gathered to their fathers, arrived in the neighborhood and
made clearings. They were: Charlie King, father of Mr. Joseph King, of
Columbus, and grandfather of Charlie King. of Halloca: John McCook
father of ex-Representative J. F. C McCook. of Cusseta, (who is one of
the most prominent men in the county, and who now has on hand 400 bales
of cotton) and Alexander Mars, who died in 1857. Mr. Osteen married
In
1852 Miss Z. A. Fussell, sister of Judge D. J. Fussell, of
Cusseta and
the venerable couple expect to celebrate their golden wedding next
year, with all their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren
present. The kindly feeling of the couple is well illustrated by an
incident last Monday, during the storm —the hardest rain, by the way.
they had ever seen during; their wedded life the gauge in their yard
showing a fall of 11 1-4 inches. Mr. Osteen stood at the gate while
Mrs. Osteen stood at the door, and none of the passersby were allowed
to proceed on their journey but were told to come In and enjoy the
hospitality of their home while the storm raged outside, and this was
kept up until the house was filled with people and the stables with
stock. In 1853 Chattahoochee county was formed from the counties of
Muscogee, Marion and Stewart, the largest population coming from the
section formerly in Muscogee county The court house and little jail
which stand today were then built. One of the best known citizens of
the county is the venerable Sheriff LaFayette Harp, who, in all, has
seen sheriff of the county nearly thirty years. He was senator from
this district four years Another is Dr. F. M. Gordy. who for six years,
has been both clerk and ordinary of Chattahoochee, and who is conceded
to be one of the best officers in the state. Mr. W. E. Miller, the
excellent treasurer of the county. does not rely altogether upon his
office for his living for he has a large blacksmith ship in which he
himself is an indefatigable worker. S. R McMurran is tax collector. B
T. Bagley is tax receiver, R. W. Christian is surveyor and A. P Molder
is coroner.
Sheriff Harp's father. Mr. A. D Harp is one of the
landmarks of the county, and has hosts of friends In every portion of
it. Cusseta has three church—the Methodist. Rev. E E Garner pastor,
with a membership of 150, and a flourishing Sunday school of 60
scholars, of which Judge D J Fussell Is superintendent: the Primitive
Baptist. established in 1835 with Rev.. H. Bussey. of Columbus, who
preaches once a month, pastor, and a membership of 50; and the
Missionary Baptist, with a membership of 75. Rev. B. B. Williams, of
Columbus, who preaches here once a month, pastor. Mr. C. M. Cordy Is
superintendent of the Missionary Baptist Sunday school, which numbers
40 pupils. Deacon G M Osteen was ordained a deacon in it in 1949 and
continues to fill the duties of this position to this day. The Hickey
House, kept by Mrs. Laura Hickey, daughter of Sheriff Harp, assisted by
her charming daughters. Misses Estelle and Katie Belle. is a neat
three-story building, and is conducted so nicely that it is a favorite
with the traveling public. The Stephens House, kept by Mr. John
Stephens, is also first-class, while the service at Mrs. Holder's
boarding house is neat and pleasing. Mr C. C. Minter Is the only lawyer
in Cusseta. Mr John Stephens is the oldest merchant here, and the other
stores are kept by Messrs. W. M. Gordy, T. A. Gordy. C. B. Cook and
Mcatorrtla's.
One of the neatest kept post offices in the Columbus
district in the our conducted here by Miss Sallie B. Brown, There is a
strong sentiment in this county in favor of a rural delivery route, but
no action has been taken by the people along the proposed route, which
will be necessary before the postal authorities will do anything.
Recently such a route was established at Chewacla. Ala., and the writer
suggests that the people along the proposed Chattahoochee route can
obtain full information about how to obtain rural delivery by
corresponding with the post master at that point on the subject. Dr. C.
N. Howard. Sr. and Dr. C. N. Howard Jr., father and son, are the two
physicians of Cussta, and have a large practice in the county. W.M.
English is the courteous telegraph operator and express and railroad
agent When Judge D. J. Fussell completes his present term be will hare
been Justice of the peace here for 28 years. The office has its
disadvantages, for when they do say that when Judge Fussell starts to
run for a higher one the people refuse to vote for him on the
ground that he can't he spared from his present office. Mr. J. P.
Brooks is notary public here. This is the only town anywhere around
Columbus that does not seem to expect the B. & B. road; however,
the people in the eastern part of the county say that if Buena Vista
gets the road it will pass through that part of the county, and they
will be benefited thereby Mr. John Stephens has a first-class ginnery
and grist mill here Each of the Baptist churches has a neatly kept
cemetery. The first person buried (since the place was settled by the
whites), was Sam Beck, who was laid to rest in the Primitive Baptist
cemetery in 1835. The Enquirer-Sun has finite a number of subscribers
here who hare been taking the paper over fifty years. J. S. S. Date:
1901-03-31; Paper: Columbus Daily Enquirer
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