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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.