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SUMMERVILLE AND ITS FAIR ENVIRONS
QUEEN OF THE HILLS
The Comely Capital of Grand Old Chat*
tooga County.
ITS SCENERK AND SURROUNDINGS
Industries and Enterprises
That Add to Its Attractions.
ITS EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES
_______________ #
What the Energetic Men of Summerville
Are Doing and Have Already Done
for Their Town.
No county in the state of, Georgia has
sustained a fairer reputation than the
grand old county of Chattooga. Sum
merville is its capital aftd is one of the
most prosperous and charming places in
North Georgia.
One and a half miles to the Eastward
lies Taylor’s Ridge, great and glorious
scenery and seven miles to the Westward
lies the Lookout range in all its pictur
esque and enchanting loveliness. These
with their foot-hills intersect the county
with the pleasant and fertile valleys ly
ing between, making this one of the finest
agricultural sections in Georgia.
'• The reputation of its people for thrifti
ness, intelligence and sobriety is one of
its chief boasts and they have sustained
this through evil as well as good report
ever since the county was organized.
It has been a common saying among
the merchants of Rome that a Chattooga
county man never fails to pay his debts,
and the farmers from Chattooga can always
secure credit to any amount with the mer
chants where their reputation for strict
integrity and honesty is known and ap
preciated. This is a proud legacy handed
down from father to son from which they
have never departed.
Summerville was the county site of
Chattooga in 1838 upon the organization
of the county and has ever since that
time borne a fair reputation as a good
business point with no untoward inci
dents to detract from its peaceful history.
It has a population of about twelve
hundred people and is growing steadily,
handsome residences and business he uses
going up year by year, and it is one of the
prettiest, cleanest and most attractive
looking towns to be found anywhere. It
is located in the heart of a rich valley and
at the same time on a gentle eminence
which gives it perfect drainage, and its
inhabitants breathe the pure mountain
breezes and drink of its healthy and
never-failing waters and are peaceable,
contented and happy.
The scenery around Summerville is sim
ply superb and there is no finer point to
which to go to find rest and recreation
during the long, tedious summer months.'
The people of the town and county are
noted for their robust health, cheerful
ness and strength of character. Their en
vironment is such that they could not be
otherwise. They live in a land of peace
and plenty and have everything that
tends to make life happy and enjoyable,
and they would be an ungrateful people,
indeed, were they not fully conscious of
the blessings which God his bequeathed
them.
One remarkable thing about Summer
ville is the splendid character of its beau
tiful business houses, and for the size of
the town there is no finer array of elegant
brick houses to be found anywhere.
The residence portion of the town is
beautiful and the homes of its inhabitants,
surrounded by beautiful grounds and
flower gardens render it the realization of
an artists’ dream for at least nine months
out of the year. Even during the short
winter so genial is the climate that there
are few days in which out door work can
not be done.
ITS MANUK ACTURIES.
Summerville is located right in the
center of a splendid manufacturing region.
Raccoon Mills is located three miles South
and Trion Factory five miles North and
both of them are kept under full headway
all the time and their products are sent
out all over the world. It is only a ques
tion of time till there will be others
equally successfully conducted, owing to
the splendid water power that only waits
developement along the streams that
traverse the valleys of Chattooga.
A well-equipped stave mill has recently
been rebuilt after having been burned
down, and turns out a vast deal of build
ing material.
One of the biggest tanneries and shoe
factories in North Georgia is located here
and has been successfully conducted by
G. J. Moyers for many years. The pro
ducts of Mr. Moyers’ tannery meet with
ready sale at remunerative prices in all
the big markets of the country owing to
the superior quality and finish of the
leather which he turns out.
In his shoe factory he employs several
skilled shoe makers all the time and the
demand for his goods is steadily on the
increase as their splendid quality becomes
more generally known.
Mr. Moyers also engages in bee-keep
ing on (juite a large scale and his success
in this line shows what can be done in this
line of profitable and pleasant employ
ment.
Summerville has a first-class creamery
which only needs well directed energy
combined with a knowledge of the busi
ness to make of it a splendid success. The
land for miles around the town are pre
eminently adapted to the cultivation of
grass and grain and the raising of fine
stock and cattle which thrive on the
natural pasturage for the greater part of
the year, thus making it an ideal country
for dairying and stock raising.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
Located in the Eastern part of the town
on a beautiful, rising ground stands the
Summerville Academy, one of the best
school buildings in North Georgia, which
is furnished and equipped for the accom
modation of at least two hundred pupils.
It is in charge of Prof. J. C. King, as
sisted by Prof. P. J. King and Miss Anna
Crozier, and they have now an attendance
of about one hundred and fifty pupils.
Prof. J. C. King is an accomplished
gentleman and a skilled and experienced
teacher of the English branches, while
there is no finer teacher of the classics,
phonography and book-keeping than
Prof. Palemon J. King who has devoted
his life to educational work. Miss Cro
zier is an accomplished teacher ot elocu
tion, music and art, and the school is
fortunate in such an equipment of talent
ind energy.
The Professors King are both natives
of Greene county, Georgia, and have bui|t
up splendid reputations as able educators
They have been in charge of this school
for four years and have brought it up to
a very high standard of excellence and
efficiency.
There are three attractive church edi
fices for whites and two for the colored
people, all of the good buildings and at
tended by large congregations.
A BREEZY PAPER.
One of the institutions ot Summerville
is the Chattooga News. It is well edited
by Mr. John W. Cain, who is one of the
best newspaper men on the weekly press.
His talented daughter, Miss Edna
Cain, is a journalistic genius, of a very
high order. Her mother died when she
was twelve years old, leaving her to look
after a large family of small children and
as a consequence she was not given the
advantages of such an education as many
young ladies receive, but she makes un
in natural good sense, fine judgement
and a literary capacity of a high order,
for what she lacked in a technical edu
cation. She is valued contributor to the
columns of the Tribune.
summebville’s business.
One of the leading business enterprises
of Summerville is the Commercial Bank,
which has been in existence for several
years and has ample capital and a large
growing list of depositors, makes close
collections, and is a flourishing institu
tion on a good, solid financial basis. It
dots an extensive business and has been I
of a vast deal of benefit to the farmers of
this section in the cultivation and hand
ling of their crops and produce generally
besides being of untold conveniences to
the merchants of this thriving town.
The cashier is Mr. Bitting, who is one
of the leading citizens in Summerville,
and has other important interests out
side of the bank in and around town,
one among which is the livery business
of Kirby & Bitting, the best equipped
stables in the town.
Mr. Bitting was born in Whitfield
county, Georgia, on a farm where he was
brought up, and educated at the Joe
Brown Tniversity at Dalton. He is, how
ever, principally a self made man, young
in years but of splendid business qualifi
cations. He has from time to time been
connected with some of the leading finan
cial institutions of North Georgia, nota
bly the First National Bank of Rome and
the First National Bank of Cedartown.
He was also connected with the Morris
Mining Company, of Birmingham, Ala.,
for some time and for quite a while was
paymaster of the Chattanooga, Rome and
Columbus Railroad.
Tne livery stable with which he is con
nected is well equipped with fine turn
outs, good stock and elegant rigs, the
equal of any in North Georgia.
His partner, Mr. H. B. Kirby, is an
experienced man in the business, and is
one of the most popular men In North
Georgia. They are liberal in the support
of any public enterprise, and they are
thorough going business men.
THOMPSON HILES & CO.
One of the oldest mercantile establish
ments in the town was opened by Capt.
Thompson Hiles in 1860 on a small scale.
He ran the business alone until 1880, when
he took in Mr. E. N. Martin as partner
under the firm name of Thompson Hiles
* Co. In 1880 Mr. E. W. Sturdivant
was taken in as a third partner. The
house is one of the largest mercan
tile establishments in Summerville, with
a splendid stock of goods, complete in
everv department. The building is sev
enty by one hundred feet in dimensions,
two stories in height. The denartments
being first, dry goods, fine domestics,
silks and imported goods; second, the
clothing department, which is full and
complete in every particular. In the third
department is an elegant stock of queens
ware, glass, tinware, and house furnish
ing goods: in the fourth are boots and
shoes of all styles at the lowest prices;
the fifth is the saddle and harness de
partment with everything conceivable in
that line, and thoroughly up to date.
The sixth is the millinery department,
elegantly furnished, in charge of a skilled
milliner, and kept in touch with all the
latest styles and fashions. The sev
enth is the grocery department where are
handled all sorts ot groceries, canned
goods and farm supplies, in which tney
enjoy a large trade. The eighth is de
voted to the handling of buggies,
wagons, lap robes, whips, and everything
else in that line. The ninth comprises a
stock of agricultural tools, plows, hoes,
plow gear and all sorts of implements of
husbandry..
Capt. Thompson Hiles having removed
to Rome, this great business here is under
the personal direction of Mr. E. N. Mar
tin and Mr. E W. Sturdivant. Mr.
Martin was born in Walker county in
1850, educated in the common schools,
and has risen to his present standing by
his own unaided efforts and his natural
talent for business. Mr. Sturdivant was
born in this county near Summerville,
and is one of the finest all-round busi
ness men in North Georgia. He js a man
of never-failing activity and well directed
industry, and to a charming personality
adds the finest of business capabilities.
H. H. ARRINGTON, SEEDSMEN.
|I On a prominent corner of the public
square stands a handsome and imposing
TRADS EDITION-ROME TRIBUNE. DECEMBER. 1895.
brick structure, twenty-eight by one
■ hundred feet, with three floors space
■ room, of H. H. Arrington, seedsman
and druggist, whose success in life has
been something phenomenal.
From a small beginning Mr. Arring
ton has built up an enormous trade, mak-'
ing a specialty of Georgia watermelon
seed, and seed for forage crops, seed
corn, peanuts and chufas. He also deals
extensively in clover and the various
grasses, and garden seeds, either in bulk
■or packages. •
He handles all the leading varieties of
potatoes, making a specialty of the Look
out Montain potato, very fine in quality
and one of the heaviest producers known
to the gardener. These potatoes keep
without difficulty for a year when planted
in the proper season, July being the best
month.
His trade is very extensive, covering
all the southern states from the Atlantic
t* the Pacific, and he receives large or
ders from even as far away as California.
The basement of his large store is com
pletely filled with potato and onion sets
to supply his enormous trade.
The second floor is divided into two
apartments, the front being used for the
retail trade and the rear as a shipping
room. The third floor is used for the
storage and packing room, and here pack
ages are made up for all parts of the
United States. Aside from his seed busi
ness he does one of the largest drug bus
iness in North Georgia, and handles
everything in the line of drugs , medi
cines and druggist’s sundries.
JUDGE SAMUEL HAWKINS.
The Hawkins House, of Summerville,
has a reputation al) over the country
among traveling men, and its genial pro j
prietor is one of the finest samples of the ’
old time Georgia gentleman now in ex- 1
istence.
Judge Samuel Hawkins was born in
Madison, Morgan county, Ala., in 1820,
but was carried by his parents to Decatur
Ala., when but seven years old. He was
educated in the common schools and re
ceived a practical education in the busi
ness affairs of life. He came to Summer
ville in 1845 at the age of twenty-five,
and opened a cabinet business.
He has always taken an active part in
political affairs and represented the county
in the legislature for a number of years,
occupying prominent positions on various
committees, and served a term as state
* senator from the district to the entire
satisfaction of his constituency.
He occupied the position of Ordinary
of Chattooga county for twelve vears
prior so reconstruction times, and has
always been prominent in county affairs.
About ten years ago he opened the
hotel of which he is now proprietor, and
in the conducting of which he has been
eminently successful. The reputation of
the house has gone abroad among the
traveling public, and traveling men are
always glad of an opportunity tb stop at
the Hawkins house.
Judge Hawkins is a man of broad and
liberal mind, and his genial character and
love of a good joke, together with his
superb qualities as a story teller, render
him one of the most companionable of
men. He was an intimate acquaintance
and associate with such men as Bob
Toombs, Ben Hill and Alexander)
Stephens, and is a fine type of the real
old Georgia gentleman.
The hotel is a well furnished hostelry
with airy rooms, clean beds and a table
that is the equal of any hotel in the
country. Those who go to Summerville
will always find a cordial welcome and
the best of treatment there. The hotel
is under the management of the Misses
Hawkins, most excellent ladies, who un
derstand the true art of conducting a
hotel on the home comfort plan. This
delicate touch is apparent throughout
the establishment.
j. w. PITTS.
Summerville and Chattooga county has
no more progressive citizen than Mr. J.
W. Pitts, whose store has become the
headquarters for those who wish to get
their goods at the cheapest prices possi
ble and yet get an excellent quality. Mr.
Pitts has made a specialty of the cash
trade and in this way has been able to
turn his money to capital very rapidly
and sell at prices generally recognized as
the lowest that can be afforded. As a
man he looks after the interests of his
customers while caring for his own and
makes it a rule to send out nothing
shoddy and nothing that he is not sure
will please his patrons. There are few .
men as popular in the county and he con
tinually adds to the number of his friends
by following the golden rule and doing 1
to them as he would be done by He i
handles a full line of dry goods, dress |
goods, notions, and the like, besides a'.
most excellent stock of groceries. In fact
everything usually kept in a first general j
store is found there, and the store grows
in popularity every day.
For twenty years Mr. Pitts has been in
business in Summerville and few men
have so many friends as he. Mr. Wheeler
and the others in the store with him are
genial gentlemen, and it would be hard
to find a better organized and more ex
cellent force.
M. G. MERRITT.
One of the popular merchants of Sum
merville is Mr. M. G. Merritt, a business
man who knows how to please his patrons
and keep them his friends. His grocery
store is one of the neatest and best kept
in the county. It is conveniently located
and he keeps an excellent line of goods
embracing confectioneries, canned goods,
fruits and similar articles, besides the
heavy goods necessary to such an estab
lishment. He has a fine line of fancy and
family groceries which he offers to the
trade at exceedingly low prices. By good
business methods, excellent goods, close
attention and courtesy to customers, he 1
has established himself well within the !
confidence of the people.
He is also proprietor of the Merritt I
House, which is one of the best furnished
and finished hostilries to be found any
where in a city the size of Summerville.
The table is supplied with all the sub
stantiate and luxuries that markets as-
ford. The greatest attention is paid to
the comfort of the guests. It has sprung
into great popularity and receiving a lib
eral patronage from the public.
HOLLIS & HINTON.
I No city can boast of a firm which is
livelier, stronger, more progressive or
pushing. Messrs. Hollis & Hinton are
young men, popular, brimming over with
energy and control a large and constantly
: increasing trade. Their store is one of
the handsomest and best appointed in
North Georgia. Their stock embraces
the latest and most stylish designs in dry
goods, dress goods, silks, satins, notions,
hosiery, underwear, etc., and they buy
from the first hands and carefully select
their Stock in person. They also handle
the latest style shoes for men, boys and
ladies, clothing and all fancy and stand
ard articles of dress. Their grocery de
partment is full and complete, consisting
of supplies of all kinds in groceries, pro
visions, flour, lard, syrup, corn, meal,
etc. They also carry a large line of hard
ware, crockery and house-furnishing
goods. These gentlemen are richly de
serving of the splendid trade which they
receive from Chattooga and other coun
ties. They have ample capital, are
splendid business men,polite, genial, and
it is indeed a pleasure to trade with them.
They are heartily commended to Tribune
readers.
Any city would be proud to have such
citizens and such a splendid establish
ment as they conduct.
THE COUNTY OFFICIALS.
The sheriff of Chattooga county is J.
C. Penn; John Mattox is ordinary; J. V.
I Wheeler, clerk; B. L. Knox, tax col
■ lector; Rad Wyatt, tax receiver; Bob
Dorsett, treasurer; J. A. Branner, sur
veyor; J M. Bellah, judge county court.
All of these men are able and popular.
Judge Mattox has been ordinary for
twenty years, and, judging from his
present popularity, will keep the office as
long as he wants it. He is an exceed
ingly pleasant gentleman, and an ex-Con
federate soldier whose empty sleeve tells
the story of his bravery.
Mr. J. V. Wheeler, the clerk of the
Superior court, has very few equate over
the state in his work, which is highly
complimented by all lawyers and others
who see it. He is a hard and conscien
tious worker, and is now serving his
third term. His popularity is wide, and
everybody who knows him .ikes him.
He is one of Chattooga’s most enterpris
ing sons, and, as a man, his record stands
out in bold relief as one of the best.
The county is and should be proud of
him and his work, and that they appre
ciate him is shown by the fact that there
is no talk of opposition.
THE CITY OFFICIALS.
Capt. J. S. Cleghorn is mayor of Sum
merville, and one of the most prominent
men in Northwest Georgia. He conducts
a large general merchandise store, and te
president of the Raccoon Cotton Manu
facturing Company.
The councilmen are J. K. Bitting, J.
A. Branner, M. G Merritt, J. W. Pitts,
and At Kirky. J. T. Megginson is re
corder, and E. C. Smith, marshall. All
| excellent men, among the best to be
i found anywhere.
SOIL AND CLIMATE.
The soil and climate of Summerville
and Chattooga county is simply incom
parable. The character of the people
for industry and sobriety, and their sup
port of religious and educational institu
tions is most admirable, and places them
among the front ranks of pprogressive
Georgians.
For the cultivation of fruits and veg
etables this section of .the country is ad
mirably adapted, and there is no section,
for diversified farming that will pay more
abundantly than here. It is also finely
adapted lor stock raising, which is largely
on the increase. It is well watered by
innumerable springs and never failing
streams, and large forests of splendid
timber.
To sum it all up there is no more de
sirable country on the face of the earth
in which to make ones home than among
the rolling hills and pleasant valleys of
Chattooga.
A SPLENDID INDUSTRY.
Something About the Success ot the Rome
Cotton Factory. -
One of the splendid enterprises in or
around Rome is the Rome Cotton Factory,
which has enjoyed a uniform success
since its establishment a number of years
ago.
The officers are Mr. Henry Harvey,
president and treasurer, Mr. C. E. Mc-
Lin, secretary and superintendent, and
there are included in its board of direc-
rTTWffy ' " ’K-r-
... ..J ■. ■
‘TUTI
THE TOWERS & SULLIVAN PLOW FACTORY, ROME, GA.
tors some of the most prominent and in
fluential men in the country.
The company owns quite a large tract
of land with ample trackage facilities on
the Rome railroad. Their buildings are
. large and commodious and furnished with
every modern convenience, well lighted
and ventilated.
Their tenements are constructed with
a view to the comfort of their tenants to
whom they rent them at a very moderate
price.
From a modest beginning the business
of the company increased so rapidly that
in 1887 they were compelled to double
their capacity to meet the demand for
their products.
They now run 108 looms and 51,050
spindles, driven by a big 150 horse power
engine, employing from 150t0|175 hands.
They manufacture cotton duck, osnaburgs
knitting cotton, carpet warp, cotton bat
ting, and a very superior article of wrap
ping twine.
The factory has been running on full
time during this year, and never within
its history was the outlook for the future
brighter or more promising than it is to
day. The men in charge of it are thor
ough going and progressive and consider
ate of their employees, and the Rome
Cotton Factory is up to date in every
respect, and its products are in demand
in all the markets of the country.
FINE FARM.
I have one of the most desir
able creek and river bottom
farms in Floyd county. I had
to take this farm in payment
of a debt. lam no farmer,
and want to sell, and will give
long time and easy terms.
The farm contains 690 acres,
has water power for mill and
gin. Price $9,000. See or
address Jas. B. Hill, Rome,
Georgia.
She Tricked the Burglar.
“Taka him all around, the burglar
has as much human nature in him as
the average man. It cuts the profession
al to the quick to be called a sneak thief.
There are just three things he will run
from—a hysterical woman, a small dog
and a revolver. If a burglar gets into
your house remember that discretion is
the better part of valor. Sometimes di
plomacy is better than either.
“So far a woman carried the blue rib
bon on diplomacy. The lady, hearing
some one in the dining room, thought it
wan her husband, and slipped down to
pour a glass for him. She confronted a
burglar, who was making a vigorous
search of the sideboard. She stepped to
a closet and brought out a heavy basket,
saying: ‘Here is the silver. Now, do'
go away, my good man, becauso I hear
my husband at the front door and he
carries a pistok ’
“Tho burglar fled with the basket,
and the lady fainted. When her husband
revived her, she told the tale and ex
plained that the basket contained an
immense malteso cat that slept in it.
She fainted again sos- the possible fate
of pussy. The next morning the cat
scratched at tho basement door. It looked
no worse for the adventure, and it boro a
note tied around its neck which convey
ed the compliments and admiration of
her victim the burglar.”—Chicago
Times-IZvrald.
Sarah Rcruhardt’s View of Dase.
An amazingly clever woman is Sarah
Bernhardt. Cornered by an indiscreet
interviewer with the question, “What
do you think cf Signora Duse?” she re
plied: “That clever Signora Dusel She
is a great artist, and will become one of
the greatest actresses of the modern
stage. She is a true artist in sentiment,
and has very largely tho faculty cf rep
resenting the truth without exaggera
tion. Oh, yes! Signora Duse will be
come great—very great.” Could any
thing be moro adroit? There is no dis
paragement, no criticism, only q bland
assumption that Eleonora Duse is a
promising beginner —a mere novice,
whose achievements are all in the fu
ture. “I do not know,” Sarah went on,
“why Signora Duse has never acted in
Paris. It is a great baptism. ” What ex
quisitely feline courtesy 1 To the inter
viewer it meant, “You see, sho dares
not meet me on my native heath,”
while in her soul, no doubt, Sarah was
saying: “Bah I No words of mine will
either bring her to Paris or keep her
away! Better play tho beau role in
seeming to iiiviio her. ” If the contest
were cue of diplomacy, Duse would cer
tainly stand a po«r chance.—London
World.
When you want the best
brand of cigars in the market
give Paul O. Jack <fc Co. a call.
Silver
Novelties
Wedding
Presents
Christmas
Presents
New Year
Presents
I have just received one
of the handsomest lines
of bridal gifts and holi«
day presents ever seen
in Rome. I carry a com
Diamonds,
Watches
.Jewelry.
If you want an elegant
present for birthday,
bridal, silver or golden
wedding occasions you
are certain to find just
tbe thing by looking
through my stock
The wonderful cheap*
ness of these goods put
them within the reach
of all and are no longer
the expensive Luxuries
for the rich alone, but
may be secured from the
slenderer purses of those
in more moderate cir
cumstances. Jt is worth
your while to drop in
and look through our
superb "stock, for noth
ing like [it was ever
brought’to Rome before, j
J. K.
Williamson's
Jewelry
Store.