Newspaper Page Text
HISTORY OF THOMAS
became captain. To this company be
longed Lieutenants T.. S. Payne, Leb-
beus Dekle, R. G. Mitchell. and ’ Ser
geants G. W. Parnell,'D. E. Fondren,
S. S. Little, J; E. McLean and Cor
porals W. A- Pugh, W. H. Reynolds,
J. C. Smith and J. E. Dicky.
The privates iri Company E, of the
2Dth Regiment, were Martin Adams,
S. A. Ammons, D. W, Alddrman, H.,D.
Baggett, J. D. Baggett, Eli Beasley, A.
C. Brinson, J. T;' Browning, J. R. Bras-,
well, 'M. P. Braswell, J, T. Barges,
Stephen Burges, G. A. Barton, W. A.
Burton, James C. Carroll,‘Simeon Car-
roll, John T. Culpepper, W. H. Culpep
per, Abram Daniel, John B. Davis, Al
phas Dekle, J. C. Daniel, F. M. Dixon,
J. B. F. Dixon, Lewis’ Ebbinger, John
Elliott, Emile Fletch, Patrick Fitzger-
alo, J. G. Fondren, Edward Griffin,
James W. Groover, W. H, Gunn, Lewis
B. Haddley, S. H. Haddley, A. Huitt,
S. A. Hall, G. S. Hayes, George Har
lan, Hardy B. Howard, Hardy Ham.
cock, W. H. Hancock, R. T. Hicks, J.
T. Hinsley, *Wily Hodges, A. Home-
ister, B. D. 4 porn, John T. Jourdan,
James Johns, T. S. Jones, Joseph Jer-
ger, Jacob Kichltcher, Dave Lammons,
John B. Layton, John M. Lightfoot,
George McCall, John B. McCall, Wil
liam McCall, W. P. McClamma. W.
yv. McGriff, Alex McDougald, H. H.
McKinnon, John A. McKinnon, Pat
rick McKinnon, Thomas J. McKinnon,
Thomas' P. McKinnon, R. A. McKin
non, W. J. McKinnon, D. W. Massey,
W..N. Mitchell, J. J. S. Mills, James
Mims, D. S. Monroe, Simeon Moncrief,
A. B. Moore, D. C. MacIntyre,* P. R-
Moore, P. T. Moore, Joseph Newman,
W. J. Powell, W. G. Price, W.-A. Pugh,
H. A. Ramsey, R. A. Reid, Samuel
Reid, W. J. RIghy, W. H. Revels, Ed
ward Ratchford. M. Rosenfield, J. C.
Ross, W..T. Ross, H. H. Sanfard. H.
H. Seward, James A. Slater, Achillls
Smith, J. W. Stansell, Asariah Stall
ings, Josiah Stringer, J. N. Thompson,
Samuel Thomas, -James N. Winn,
Mathew Williams, M. H. Young, Pat;
riciv Linsy, A. Q. Moody, Thomases'
Jones and James A. McKinnon.
Confederate. Veterinary Hospital.
On Oct. 16, 1864, Capt. R. P. Doss
established a .Confederate veterinary
hospital on the north side of the Meri
dian road on the old Atkinson place,
adjoining that of Judge James
Hayes.
There were about rour hundred
horses of which about one hundred
died with glanders. The balance ex
cept a few which died from other
causes were surrendered by Capt
Doss ta the Federal authorities after
the close of hostilities.
Confederate Prisoner* Brought
Thomasville.
About Jan. I, 1864, the Federal
prisoners remaining at Andersonville
were moved to Thomasville and a
prison camp located on the hill west
of town, now know as Dewey City.
Capt. S. D. Nutt of the 3rd. Ga. Reg.,
commanded the prisoners ’who march
ed from Albany on foot and so return
ed after Sherman had passed.
The residents of Thomasville re
ceived the prisoners with Interest and
sympathy. At least two of the in
mates escaped from the camp be
cause of the lenient gnd indulgent
methods of those in charge.
One oi tnese escaped prisoners
approached a merchant, who resided
in his store in town, at night, and ap
pealed to him, as a Masonic brother
for assistance. The merchant was
agitated by a conflict of emotions
but the fraternal feeling finally pre
vailed and the distressed soldier was
seen safely through the line.
; Many of the sick prisoners were
removed from the camp and quarter
ed in the Methodist Church where
they received many delicacies and
attentions from the local people.
4- ,While attending sick prisoners, Dr.
D. S. Brandon observed a patient
whom he thought would die with ordi
nary treatment. The sick man was
carried to the doctor’s home in
Thomasville, where, notwithstanding
the change and good treatment, he
died on Oct. 4, 1S65.
There may now be seen In Green
wood cemetery, on the old plantation
belonging to Dr. Brandon’s father-in-
law, Mr. Tom Jones, and now own
ed by Mr. Payne Whitney, a tomb
stone at the head of a grave with the
following inscription:
E. W. CLARK
of •
Paris, Maine.
Dec. 1, 1815
■w Oct. 4, 1865
Herald of Peace.
The only copy of this interesting
publication in existence is No". 11, of
Vol. 1, dated at Thomasville, Ga.,
Saturday March 25, 1865. and publish
ed every Saturday.
It was edited and published by C. P.
Jones, the subscription price being
$1.00 per inonth and no subscriptions
being taken for longer than the period
ending July 1, 1865.'
The little sheet is a single page of
paper with four columns on either
side, six columns of which are read
ing matter.
The editor announces that he has
been* compelled to reduce the size of
the paper and that he will have to dis
continue altogether unless subscrip
tions increase.
In the paragraph column is a short
verse, apparently written by the edi-
• tor, as follows:.
“Among the pitfalls in our way.
The best of us walk blindly,
So. men, be wary, watch and pray,
And judge your brother kindly.*
There are legal advertisements by
J. G. McCall, Ordinary of Brooks coun
ty, and H. H. Took, Ordinary of Thom
as* County.
There is practically no news about
the war except that It appears
that Sherman had reached Fay.
ettoville, fifty-six miles- from Ral
eigh, on the 11th inst Another force
of federal troops was marching from
Newburri towards Raleigh- A severe
engagement was in progress on the
19th and 20th, inst near ' Bentons-
ville, only thirty-five miles from Ral
eigh, and the editor did not know the
result nor did, he have any news'trom
Richmond or the west.
There appeared a notice from Maj.
Gen. .Howell Cobb, publishing an or
der from Gen. Lee pardoning all sol
diers who had left one command
join another and informing them that
they would be prosecuted as deserters
if they did not accept the pardon by
joining their original command at
once.
H. M. Sykes, Co., H. 29th Ga., Cav
alry, advertised for a horse which
had either strayed or had been stolen
from Capt Wades Camp near the
male academy in Fletchenrille.
1 M. C. Lee Co., wanted to exchange
a seventeen ■ year old negro boy for
three hundred bushels of corn.
R* K. Hines, Capt P. front his
office in Albany* Ga.. ndtified all per
sons in default as to tithes for the
year 1863-64, that they could deliver
same within thirty days without pen
alty. He also notified farmers that
unless they made reports as to tithes
due for the year 1864-65 at once that
they would be assessed fivefold, the
excess being a penalty. The descrip
tion called for small grain, wool, corn,
bacon, tobacco and all other articles.
|An obituary notice appears of the
death of Mrs. Mary A. West, daugh
ter of John. Browning, at Centersville.
Leon County, Fla.
County Named for Gen. Thomas.
According, to Knight and / other his
torians, Thomas, County was named in
honor of Gen. Jett Thomas. However,
there is a local tradition that this
name was suggested by the prominent
Toms resident in the new county at
the time of its creation! Among these
were Messrs: Tom Dekle, Tom Wyche,
Tom Adams, Tom Johnson, Tom
Mitchell and others.
About Gen. Thomas^
. The following is taken from
Knight’s Georgia’s Landmarks, Me
morials and Legends:
"Major-General Jett Thomas, an of
ficer of note in the State militia, was
by profession a contractor, who after
erecting the original L /uctiire in
which Franklin College at Athens was
first housed, also built the famous
old State House at Milledgeville, the
storm centre in after years of the
great debates on secession. I
while engaged upon the former en
terprise that Dr. Meigs, the president
of Franklin College, gave him access
to the library; and, devoting what lit
tle time he could spare after a hard
day’s work to mental culture, he ac
quired the love of books which made
him in time a man of wide informa
tion. General Thomas was a native
of Culpepper County, Va., where
was born, on May 13, 1776, but the
family originated among the Welch
mountains. Coming to Georgia with
his parents at the close of the Revolu
tion, the subject of this sketch lived
for a while* in Oglethorpe; but when
Athens was laid out in 1801 he pur
chased one of the first lots in the fu
ture town.' At the outbreak of the war
of 1812, he became captain of an ar
tillery corps, under General John
Floyd, in the latters campaign
against the Creek Indians; and his
skill as an engineer was frequently
employed iu the construction of forts.
Characterised by the highest type of
courage, he won the praise of his su
perior officer by his gallantry on the
field. Moreover, the Legislature
Georgia, in recognition of his services
tendered him a jeweled sword and
made him a Major-General in the
State Militia. Unfortunately he was
soon afterwards attacked with can
cer of the eye, a malady which ter
minated his useful career, on January
6, 1817, at his home In Milledgeville,
when not quite forty-two years of age.
in the mature prime of his intellec
tual powers. He was buried in the lo
cal cemetery, where a handsome shaft
of marble rises above his ashes. Gen
eral Thomas accumulated a snug for
tune as the result of professional skill,
supplemented by wise investment. 1
"One of the early pioneer families
of Thomas was the Hansells. Years
before the war—so the story goes—
two members of this noted' household,
Augustin H. Hansell and Andrew J.
Hansell, a pair of gifted brothers, both
of whom afterwards became famous,
dissolved a partnership which they
had formed for the practice of law.
Andrew was mainly concerned for his
health. He did not consider the cli
mate of the low cqimtry around Thom
asville conducive to long life, and
accordingly he changed his place of
residence to the little town of Ros
well, on the banks of the Chattahoo
chee River, in the Georgia uplands,
Under the leadership .of Roswell King,
a colony of settlers, most of whom
were from *he coast, had been planted
here among the old haunts of the
Cherokee Indians; and they had built
a factory at the water’s edge in this
remote part of the wilderness. On
leaving home, Andrew said to Augus
tin:
“ ‘From a monetary standpoint, I
may not be doing the wise thing, but I
will gain In health what I lose In mon
ey, by going to Roswell. You will get
rich, but I will live longer.’
“There was an irony of fate in this
parting interview between the broth
ers. What happened was just the re
verse. 1 General Andrew J. Hansell, in
the course of time, became president
of the great industrial plant which
Roswell King had founded. He ac
cumulated a fortune, built a beautiful
old Colonial home, and dispensed a
royal hospitality to his guests, bu^ie
died in middle life, when his splendid
sun was at the zenith. Judge Augus
tin H. Hansell continued to. reside
where the climate was thought to be
unwholesome but where the prospect
of earning a fortune was far brighter
than among the hills. He failed to
gather gear to any great extent.
Money did not come his way in quan
tities large enough to cause him any
embarrassment. But he lived to be
more than eighty-five years of age;
he occupied a seat on the Superior
Court bench for more than half a cen
tury, barring a few short intervals of
retirement; his mind was- clear and
vigorous to the very last; and he left
at death a record for continuous ser
vice which has never .been paralleled
and which will doubtless never be
surpassed in tlie history of the com
monwealth.
"It was in the neighborhood of
Thomasville that the famous Le Conte
pear was first cultivated on a scale
which began to attract the attention
of fruit growers in other parts of the
world. Colonel L. L. Varnedoe, a na
tive of Liberty County, Ga., purchased
a plantation near Tubmasville at the
close of the Civil War, and on remov
ing to this plantation he brought with
him a cutting from one of the pear
trees, called a Chinese Sand Pear, on
which John Le Conte had been experi
menting. Ytolonel Varnedoe’s success
was phenomenal, and from this one
cutting has come a yield whose value
and extent defies the mathematician.
Judge John L. Harden,, of Savannah,
a kinsman of the Le Contes, is Quoted
by the late Dr. Stacy, of Newn&n. on
the subject of the Le Conte pear, to
the following effect:
“ ‘In 1850 my great nncle, John Le
Conte, purchased from Thomas Hogg,
a nurseryman of New York, a small
pear tree. He was told by Mr. Hogg
that the fruit was of inferior quality,
and fit only for preserving; that it
would not mature its fruit so * far
north as New York, but that it might
do so in the South; that it wasnhe
Chinese Sand Pear. The tree was
given to my motherland when it grew
large enough it produced fruit which,
to our surprise, was of excellent quali
ty. The original tree is forty-five
years/old, 1895, and is stOl productive
and vigorous, although. sadly neglect
ed. It has borne twenty bushels lb
one year, after allowing for what
might have been stolen.*
“Al the dose of the late war, the
people of Liberty County were in
straightened circumstances, .and quite
a number of them emigrated to south
western Georgia. Among them was
Colonel Leander L. Varnadoe, a native
of the county and a member of the
old church. Upon the suggestion of
his uncle, Mr. William Jones, that the
tree might be propogated from the
cutting, and that the fruit might be
profitably raised in the section whith
er he had moved, Colonel Varnadoe
secured quite a number of cuttings
and took them with him and planted
them at his home near Thomasville.
He. was soon delighted to see that the
Idea was a happy one, and to find him
self the owner of an orchard of vigor
ous trees, yielding abundantly of; Ins.
clous .fruit for the market. Cuttings,
were soon in great demand; and from
this little beginning the whole South-
as Scott, Louis Jerger, T. N. Hopkins,
Wm. Spencer and Heiss.
era country has been covered with Le
Conte pear trees. Many have made
not only livings, but even fortunes, Jby
investing in them.
"To.give some idea or the impover
ished condition of our people at the
close of the war and to show what a
happy hit was the idea of promoting
the cultivation of this pear from cut
tings, I narrate the following inci
dent: On the return of Colonel Var
nadoe from the war, it is'said that
his first bill of fare was so meagre
and uninviting that he jocosely re
marked to his wife:
"'Annie, if you can, you may do so,
but I cannot say gra<& over such a
dinner.’
"Some few years arter his removal
to Thomasville, he was offered $10,-
000 cash for his pear farm, which he
very wisely refused. The old mother
tree, from which the millions now in
cultivation throughout the Southland
have sprung, was seen by the writer
some time ago. It is sixty inches in
circumference, and twinty-four feet
In height. Until recent years it has
shown no symptoms of blight. Such
a tree is not only worthy of mention
but deserves a conspicuous place in a
collection like this:'
After the suspension of the South
ern Enterprise with Vol. 4, No. 38, on
Wednesday, December 25, 1861, the
next issue In existence is Vol. 5, No.
21, November 15, 1865.
We notice in this issue that Gen.
Davis Tilson publishes a circular ad
vising all the freedmen to make con
tracts for another year and giving a
Written form to evidence such con
tracts. The proclamation recites that
any employers not using this conrtact
will be held for the maximum amount
of wages in the vicinity.
We notice that a state election was
being held and that Messrs. Cohen
of Chatham, Styles and Brooks
Hopkins of McIntosh were candidates
for Congress; Messrs. W. D. Mitchell
and Fletcher MpLean were candidates
for the Georgia House of Representa
tives and Messrs. B. B. Moore, of
Thomas, and Peter Owing, of Colquitt,
were candidates for the Georgia Sen
ate.
In the issue of Nov. 22, 1865, we no
tice an account of the execution of
Capt. Wirz, late Confederate-comman-
er, at Andersonville, prison.
An editorial appears commending
the appointment of Maj. G. A. Hast
ings of the 12th’ Maine Volunteers as
chief of the Freedmen s Bureau of
Southwestern Georgia, he having been
previously, favorably known as Pro
vost-Marshal of Thomasville.
There appears the notice, of the
death of Mr. Sheldon Swift, age fifty
years, after a five days’ illness.
Swift came to Thomasville many
years before from New Haven, Conn.,
and became a wealthy and typical
Southern slave owner. He was the
father-in-law of Messrs. Jno. I. Parker
J. S. Montgomery, Sr., and Joseph M.
Massey. Many of his descendants now
reside in the countv.
There is a notice of tne new mer
cantile store of Hardwick and Davis,
which opened up directly in front of
E. Remington and Son.
There appears an editorial com
mending the speech of Capt.. C. C.
Richardson delivered November 12, to
a large ■audience of freedmen. The
editor thought the Captain’s speech
highly practicable and urged both
freedmen and employers to use for
bearance toward each other.
There is no other issue of the En
terprise until January 2, 1867, when,
notwithstanding the unsettled condi
tions of the times, the proprietor be
gan a semi-weekly publication and
was generously patronized by adver
tisers.
In this issue appears the announce
ment of the marriage of Miss Saliie
Swift to Mr. William Bibb.
An editorial appears advising all
freedmen tc make contracts for an
other year and to do taithful work,
explaining to them that the only way
an employer c.ruid afford to pay them
was for productive work.
In the issue of January 5, Governor
Charles J. Jenkins publishes a procla
mation declaring that the new survey
by W. Whitner and J. G. All was to
be, by agreement, the slate line be
tween Georgia and Florida.
There are advertisements of Fletch
er Institute and the Cuthburt Baptist
Female College.
It appeared that Col. C. W. Styles
had retired as editor of the Quitman
Banner and was succeeded by Mr.
Filds, the proprietor.
.The application of the Neptune Fire
Engine and Protection Co., in and for
the town of Thomasville, to be incor
porated appeared.
The petition was signed by John
Triplett, Chief Engineer; W. M. Smith,
Assistant Engineer; George H. Jeffers,
Foreman; Thomas S. Paine, Assistant
Foreman: Lebbeus Dekle. Secretary:
W. F. DeWitt, Treasurer; H. B. Ains
worth, George B. Adams, T. C. Brace-
well. Samuel J. Cassels. S. J. Coalson,
W. E. Davies, E. T. Davis, Mar Frank-
hill, C. P. Hansell, S. L. Hayes, R. H.
Harris, William Hopkins, T. S. Hop
kins. Octavius Hopkins, John C. Hodg
kins, F. H. Jeffers, John Lawrence;
S. S. Little, George McKinnon, B.
McIntosh, K. T. McClean, W. D. Mitch
ell, J, T. Pittman. Archilles Smith, D.
J. Sheffield, Joe P. Smith, A. T. Tay.
lor, I. Kubitshek, Thomas A. Young,
P. N. Vickers, John M. Lowry, R. J.
Bruce, J. R. Reid, Jasper Miles,* W. L.
Thomas; Geo. R. Rice, T. N. Hopkins
and R. W. Baston. *The committee was
composed of Robert H. Harris. Charles
P. Hansell and Lebbens Dekle.
Fire Department Organized]
The Neptune Fire Engine and Pro
tection Co„ had been organized ia
June 1S6S. and was expected to supply
fire and other protection to their fel
low citizens.
The members or the company at
their organization meeting which re
sulted in the application above :
tioned, were:
John Triplett. Foreman.
C. P. Hansell, Ass’t. Foreman.
X. Hirt, 2nd. Asst. Foreman.
W. E. Davies, Secretary.
Geo. McKinnon, fireman.
L. A. Dryer, fireman,
and Privates: H. M. Butler, H.
Hopkins, Wm. Miles, John Sheffield,
James Brooks. A. Homiester, A. J. bridge -was
Taylor, K. T. Maclean, E. Bird, J. much to the
Love, Henry Ladson, T. S. Paine, along the
O C. Hopkins, \Tobe Ainsworth,
dolph Jerger, Andrew Taylor, T,tom-
City Election Year 1867.
In the January election, 1867, for
the City of Thomasville, Robert H.
Harris was elected Mayor and
J. R. Reed, Dr. P. S. Bower, Dr. W. F.
DeWitt. Messrs W. M Hammond,
Joshua Taylor and C. P. Hansell were
elected aldermen.
On Jan. 7, 1867, the Mitchell county
court house burned, destroying all the
records except those in the clerk's
office which Hon. John W. Pierce,
C. S. C., rescued at great personal
risk.
In the issue of Feb: 1, there appears
an obituary to Mary Gertrude Hard
wick, only daughter of T. W. and M.
Hardwick. Mr. Hardwick, was the
grandfather of Gov. T. W.* Hard<rick
In the issue of Feb. 19,-,It appears
that the Tallahassee.Florida Sentinel,
with Capts. J. B. Oliver and J. B.
Buckalew at the helm, had been en
larged. -
On Saturday, March 2. 1867, a mass
meeting was held in Thomasville to
discuss the views .of Horn Joseph E.
Brown, Hon. J. R. Alexander and Hon.
James L. Seward as to the ratification
by. the Southern states of the Thir
teenth amendment to the Const! tutiQn
of the United States. Robert H. Harris
was chairman and Lebbeus Dekle,
secretary of the meeting.
Resolution were adopted declaring
that the Southern states had made
mistake in rejecting the constitution
al amendment offered by the Thirty-
ninth Congress for the reason that
Congress and the people of the North
would tihve considered ratification as
an evidence erf loyalty and the sus
pense of reconstruction would have
been more nearly brought to a close.
The mass meeting feared that the
South might yet have to accept worse
and requested Gov. Jenkins to con
vene the Georgia Legislature in extra
ordinary session that they might rati
fy the Federal amendment to the con
stitution forthwith.
On March 12, it was decided tk
build a new brick courthouse at Ca
milla and a brick building for Young's
College in Thomasville.
In the issue of March 29, we notice
that Maj. P. C. Pendleton had launch
ed the Valdosta Times and that
George Padrick was editor of the
Southern Georgian, of Bainbridge.
In the issue of April 2, tnere ap
pears a notice of the organization of
the Colored Baptist Association, com
posed of churches of Thomasville,
Bainbridge, Quitman, Valdosta and
Clinch county.
In the issue of April 26! 1867, the
editor copied a notice from the Bain
bridge Argus to the exect that Thom
as County was in favor of ratifying
the new constitutional amendment.
Editor Bryan said that Editor Rus
sell was mistaken if he thought :he
Enterprise favored .such action and
that furthermore, it was very likely
that a majority of the people in Thom
as County disagreed with the mas.
meeting.
In the issue of May 3. the editor
states that he understands Hon. Jam
es L. Seward has been tendered the
governorship of Georgia by Gen. Pope
and that Gov. Jenkins would be dis
placed if Co}. Seward would accept
the position. The editor understood
that Col. Seward had declined to ac
cept the place, under the circumstan
ces for very proper reasons.
In the issue of May 7, 1867, we no
tice an account of the marriage of
Miss Mattie Jones, daughter of Mr.
Thomas Jones, to Capt. E. T. Davis.
In the issue of May 10, we notice
that Gen. Pope had tendered to Hon.
James L. Seward the position of Sup
erintendent of Registration for Geor
gia, which Mr. Seward declined,
saying that he was disfranchised and
ineligible to hold the position.
On July 2, 1867, an election was
held in Thomas County to determine
whether or not the county should
subscribe $200,000 in bonds for the
building of the G. & F. R. R. The re
sult of the election was 412 for and
127 against.
In the issue of Oct. 8, there appears
a card, signed by the prominent col
ored men of the county, stating that
the colored citizens were in favor of
electing delegates to the Constitution
al Convention, which was to be con
vened by order of Gen. Pope, by mass
meetings or conventions; and that,
furthermore, they were in favor
the colored citizens co-operating with
their more experienced white friends.
The card stated that the white peo-
e did not altogether understand the
freedmen’s point of view, who was not
nearly so radical as many white peo
ple believed.
Those signing -the card were Frank
Tooke, Robert Ponder, William Hen
derson, Thomas Banty. Henry Wil
liams, Joseph Took, Spitts Love, Mack
C. Davis, Frank Cray, Barney Thomp
son, Zell Butler, Arch Brandon. Sim
on Sharpe. Frank Payne, Jackson
Gibson and Samuel Johnson.
In response to the wishes of the
signers of the card, a convention was
held In Thomasville on the 12th in
stant, Brooks and Colquitt Counties
participating.
The Enterprise stated editorially
Oct. 15 that a large portion of the col
ored men present at the convention
were in favor of electing exclusively
white men of recognized ability to the
Constitutional Convention. Joseph
Cooper, fir., was chairman and Mack
C. Davis secretary of the meeting.
Hon. James L. Seward, by request,
addressed the convention and Milton
C. Smith and William C. Carson, of
Thomas County, and J. L. Cutler, of
Brooks, were nominated as delegates
to the State convention.
In the issue of Oct. 18, there ap»
pears an account of the death of Maj.
William Y. Hansell. age eighty years.
Maj. Hanaell was the father of Jndge
A. H. Hansell and Gen. A. J. Hansell.
In the issue of Oct. 25, it appears
that there was no opposition to the
candidates of the Thomasville conven
tion to the State Constitutional Con
vention and the editor advises the
voters to vote promptly and orderly.
This being the first election in
which colored people participated,
there were many amndng Incidents.
The editor stated in the issue of
Nor. L that very few white men voted
and that the colored voters would get
along better if the few white radicals
would let them alone and
take care of their own
While In Thou
ties only a few
fair,5 between employers and employ- j
ees. Messrs. A*. T. MacIntyre. William
Stejiall, Ansel Dekle, Joshua Taylor
and Daniel A. Horn were appointed a
committee to propose business for the
meeting, Hon. B. H, .vioire and Hon.
L. C. Bryan having been chosen, re
spectively, chairman and secretary.
While the committee wa® out
Messrs. J. K Whaley ami J. L. Seward
addressed the meeting and, upon ms*
$ion of Mr. George Patten, a commit
tee waa appointed, composed of George
Patten, J. H. Whaley, Thomas E.
Blackshear. James L. Seward and
James H. Hayes, to organize an agri
cultural association for Thomas Coun
ty- '
The meeting appointed a committee
'to meet and, as for as they could, car
ry, out the original purpose of the mass
meeting.
The. committee was composed of
George Patten, - J. _ D. Dekle, from
Thomasville; J. H. Whaley and J. J.
Everett, AuciUa; W. C. Mitchell and
C. W. Powell. Kelly’s District; Rob
ert Raines and William Howard, Dua-
canville; E. Ward and John Hinson,
18th; Joseph Singletary, and John
Hurst, 17th; P. Hutchinson and
James Morrow, Murphys, and James
McDonald and Addison Way, Ways. *
The next issue of the Enterprise in
existence is that of Jan. 5, 1870,
which is announced the sale of the
business of E. Remington & Son to
Remington. McKinnon & Co. It is also
announced in this issue that Mr. Sam
uel L .Hayes had become a member of
the firm of Hardaway & McKinnon.
It appears too that the John Robin-
n Circus was advertised for Jan. 13.
this being the first circus advertis-
ment to appear in a Thomasville news
paper.
On Jan. 19, it’was announced # that
Sheriff Latimer of Thomas County
had resigned and that Hon.
Tooke had appointed Mr. H. M. Chas
tain to fill the unexpired term.
In the issue of Feb. 23, it is announc
ed editorially that the adoption of the
Fifteenth amendment had entirely
changed the form of government un
der which the people lived, the sever
al state government’s being succeeded
by a central government.
On March 23. Messrs. R. H. Harris,
R. G. Mitchell. M. C. Smith Abel John
son, and T. P. Perry had returned
from a hunt in Mitchell County where
they killed seven deer.
On July 6. editorial mention was
made of the commencement exercises
of the Springhill Academy, Prof. In
gols being Principal. There was a
barbecue, tournament, etc., and every
body had a good title.
In the issue of July 27, we notice
that the committee had selected a lo
cation for the fair grounds the same
being on the south side of the Irwin-
ville road, about a quarter of a mile
from Tockwatton.
It also appeared that the Metha
dists of the district were attempting
to resuscitate Fletcher Institute,
new Board ‘of Trustees being elected
as follows: Rev. J. M. Austin, Rev.
A. J. Dean, Rev. J. H. McFarland.
Rev. J. T. Ainsworth, R. H. Harda
way, J. N. McKinnon, Joshua Taylor,
L. C. Bryan and W. E Hayes.
On Aug 6. a mass meeting was held
in Thomasville to select delegates to
the Conservative convention to be
t u’ lie administrator and H nry But
ler defeated A. J. Douglas for corou-
held in Atlanta on the 17th of that
month. Col. B. B. Moore was chair
man and Robert H. Harris, secretary
Col. W. D. Mitchell explained the ob
ject of the meeting
A committee on nominations was
appointed, consisting of Col. W. D
Mitchell, Hon. A. H. Hansell. Capt,
E. T. Davis, R. H. Bower and T. B,
Whitfield. While the committee was
out preparing their report Col. S. M
Strong made a patriotic speech.
The committee selected the follow
ing delegates: Hon. J. L. Seward,
Col. S. M. Strong. Jlon. A. H. Hansell
and Col. A. T. MacIntyre, whose nam
es were approved ,by the mass meet
ing.
When the delegates to the Conser
vative convention went to Atlanta,
Messrs. Hardaway and Bower accom
panied them to assist in looking after
the railroad interests of Thomas
county in the Legislature and Messrs
W. D. Mitchell. Davis and Thomas % B.
Jones went along to attend the State
Agricultural Convention.
In the issue of Sept. 28. 1870, • the
editor strongly endorsed Col. A
MacIntyre, who had been nominated
for Congress from the first district
by the Democratic convention which
convened at Blackshear.
In the issue of Oct. 5, the editor an
nounces that CoL "Macltnyre had ac
cepted the nomination for the Forty-
second United States Congress and
would proceed to make a vigorous
campaign.
In the issue of Nov. 30. it appears
that the Radicals had made the follow,
ing nominations for county officer*:
For representative, Fred Atkinson and,
Jasper Battle, both colored; for sher
iff. M. C. Davis, colored; tor clerk of
the Superior Court. John Few, color
ed; for tax receiver, H. M. Chastain,
white; tax collector J. T. Kotman-
white; treasurer, J. W. Seward white;
county surveyor, Samuel W. Baker,
white; coroner, Henry Butler, color
ed; and for public administrator Al
derman Wilson, white. Not all of the
nominees possessed radical views.
Some named were without opposition.
From the issue of Dec. 21. it ap|«ars
that Thomasville had suffered from a
large, fire, places of business occupied
by the following being, horned “
Remington, brick store and irare-
house; Remington. McKinnon tc Co.
W. M. Smith. John P. Arnold, A. Hom-
ister. K. Wolfe fc'Bro.
In the same issue we notice that
the election, managers for Thomas
County, *were as follows: Thomas-
ville. E. G. Ponder sad Joshua Tay
lor, Democrats, and Marins Parson.
Francis Payne aft! M. C. Doris Radi
cals: Boston, .J. B. Everett, Democrat,
and Watkins Hadley, James McDnffl$4
B. G. McDuOie and C. J.
Radicals; Cairo, J. J. Ragan
Joshua P. Smith, Democrats.
Charles Dryson. William Cannon and
Francis Gray, Radicals
The resalt of the election in given
in the Issue of Jan. 4. 1871. Thomas
County having gone, except in several
instances.^against the
nrmineeSL A. T. MacIntyre was de
feated tn the county for Congress by
Virgd HSOyer and W. B. Bennett for
the state senate byW.L Clarke. Fined
Atkinson and Jasper Battle, both ©ol
ored. defeated R. O. _ 1
ML C. Smith for the Legislator*: John
Few. colored, defeated T. H “ “
S. W. Baker, a staunch Democrat j
was elected county surveyor without
opposition, and William sterail, an
ther uncompromising-Democrat de
feated T.JP. Perry'for sheriff:
At the January election far mem
bers of the school hoard. Augstna^H.
Hansell, J. L. Seward. W. P. Hubert,
white and'Josh Goneky colored were
elected for the city and T. S. Hopkins.
W. C. Smith White, and Frank Payne,
colored, were elected for the «Tth
district G. M. ^
At the city, election in Thomasville.
held on Saturday/ Jan. 14, Judge
A. H. Hansell was elected Mayor and
the following were elected Aldermen
William Stegall* John Stark. Joseph
Jerger, J. G. Pittman. J. L. Finn and
W. E. Davies.
In the issue ot Jan. 25th. a notice of
the consolidation of the congression
al election-returns appears. For the
long term, the candidates were Mac
Intyre, HiUyar and Bradley and, tor
the short term Payne. White and
Bradley, Messrs. MacIntyre and Payne
being the regular Democratic nomi
nees.
It seems that there sms no election
in several of tho counties and the
ejection was irregular in several oth
ers but the Democratic nominees, Mes
srs. MacIntyre and Payne, were elect
ed and, at the proper time, both took
their seats.
Qn Feb. 8, we notice that the pre
vious census of Thomas County show
ed a total population of 14,523, an in
crease of 3,757 over 1860. The popula
tion was 10.103 in 1850 and 10.766
I860, Colquitt and Brooks counties
having been crested between 1850 and
1860.
At the Agricultural Convention,
which met in Thomasville on Feb. 28.
a resolution was parsed asking the
city of Savannah to remove tho tax of
twenty-two cents per bale on all cot
ton brought from the interior to Sav
annah.
In the issue of April 12, the editor
commented upon the fact that the
colored coroner and. colored clerk of
the Superior Court had obtained
white bondsmen.
On June 7. we notice that the Sum-
merhill school had very elaborate
commencement exerciser.
On June 14, the editor announces
that as a result of Increasing the Ju
rors’ pay from one dollar to three
dollars that a very undesirable class
was found on the jury, referring to
them as professional Jurors.
On July 19, the editor announced
that labor was so scarce in Thomas
County that the Agricultural Assocla
tkm had authorized Rev. M. C. Smith
to make arrangements to bring five
thousand Swedish laborers to Thomas
County. C. H. Dupont of Quincy- and
T. J. Perkins & Co., of Tallahassee,
were agents for bringing in the
Swedes. Mr. Dupont was President of
the Immigration Association of mid
dle .Florida and made addresses
Thomasville and other towns, urging
th? trial of Swedish laborers.
On Sept. 13, it seems that there was
a movement on to build a railroad
from Thomasville to Tallahassee.* A
barbecue and booster meeting was
held at Centerville, Fla. Messrs.
Seward, MacIntyre and Smith of
Thomasville, addressed the meeting,
as did Messrs. R: B. Hilton, J. J. Wil
liams and a colored man, named Toer.
of Tallahassee. ,
On Nov. 15. 1871, the editor spoke
approvingly of the recent act of eman
cipation of the slaves in Brazil.
In the issue of Dec. 13, the editor
defends Judge Alexander who had
given Jimsy A. Hunter of Brooks
County, a life sentence instead of let
ting him hang. The Quitman Banner
had attacked th.» Judge very severly
as had the Savannah Republican.
In the issue of Jan. 10, 1872, it seems
that the people of the western part of
Thomas County and the eastern part
c f Decatur County were making an ef
fort to have u new county created,
with either Cairo or Whigham as the
county site. The editor was opposed
to the movement and, among other
reasons, said that Big Creek, between
Cairo and Whigham. w*a» often im
passable; that the new county was
not prepared to stand the expense of
starting business; that the votes in
the territory to be cut off were needed
in the old counties to prevent Radical
domination.
On Feb. 14. we notice that the City
Hall was in course of construction
and there was a discussion
whether to have the stairway from
Jackson or Crawford streets. Hand,
some market stalls were being pre
pared for the first floor.
On March 27, there was an editorial
urging a cotton factory for Thomas
ville. Col. MacIntyre had visited sev
eral factories in the North and under
stood that they all paid.
In the same issue, there was an
editorial urging that a new and Urge
hotel be built.
In the issue of Apr. 3. we find the
editor aroused because the census bad
In the fcsu * of Sept 11,
that Col. MacIntyre was
>■ in the w-* sec ! <
district *s.
First; and, offer
lots at the Albany <
behind end Gen. G. w
Dougherty, was declared pi Demo,
cratte nominee on the AtgMfti ballot.
The next lsstn o| the 9obtlterii Se
terprise in existence ia tifiti of Jan.
17, 1876, in which Messrs. W. E.
Davies and C. P. Hansell, Vs editors,
announce that they have {purchased
the Enterprise from Mr. Bryan end
will conduct a weekiypapeA the cam*
to be published by John T. (mastain.
Mr. Deries continued an Associate
Editor until May 31, 1876, after which
C. P. Hansell became sole editor,
a meeting at Thomasrilte on
Feb. 2, 1S76, the Fruit and Vegetable
Growers' Association, appointed the .
following cdmmltee to attend the Flor
ida State Fair at JacksoariUe: Dr. T*
& Hopkins. H. H. Sanford. Joshae Car-
roll, J. P. Arnold, H R Hardaway
L. U Varnedoe, B. T. Daria, J. N. Mo
Kinnote W. D. Mitchell, Dr. J. P.
Turner, Joshua Barrow gad John
Starke. ,
On Apr. It, 1S7C, It wee announced
that Mrs, Sara Everett Young, widow
of CoL Michael Young, had died aa a
result ot a runaway horse, which she
was driving, throwing her from the
buggy. Mrs. Everett was 77 year* old,
with all the virility of youth. Her
mother, Jane Carter Everett, wife of
Joshua Everett,-lived to be 17 years
old and her grandmother. Tincy ECUia
Everett, lived to be over 106 years old.
Mrs. Young’s brothers and sitters
were: John Carter Everett, William
Everett, Josiah J. Everett, Aaron B.
Everett. Cassle Everett Tillman, Bfi-
babeth Everett Ellis, Annie Jane
Everett, Joshua B. Everett. John
Everett and PamlUa Everett Williams.
In the issue of May 17, there ap
pears a petition tor charter by the
Ciceronian Debating Club. The peti
tioners were H. J. MacIntyre, 8. G.
McLendon, K. T. McLean. A. T, Mac
Intyre. Jr.. W. E. Davies. E. H. Smith,
M. Y. MacIntyre, J. A. Brandon. W.
hi. McLendon. Jr.. Charles P. Hansel),
John C. Parnell, James T. Alexander,
D. L. Galdin, A. T. Taylor, A. J.
Turner, John H. Robinson. D. L Mac
Intyre and Walter C. Lightfoot.
At a mass meeting of Democrats at*
the courthouse on Saturday. Dec. 2,
1876, It was decided to have a Demo,
•cratic primary election In all the pre
cincts of the county for county of
ficers.
The Thomasville Times
On Saturday. March 22, 1873, ap
peared the first issue of the Thomas
ville Times with John R. Christian
and John Triplett aa editors and pro.
prletors. Mr. Christian remained with
the paper for only a short time but
Capt, John Triplett continued aa the
personification of the newspaper un
til he sold out to J. D. McCartney and
Wilson Hardy In 1902. U. S. Senator
R. M. Johnson ot Texas, son of F.
Walker Johoson, the proprietor of the
old Georgia Watchman, was visiting
Thomasville at the time and helped
set type for (lie first Issuw of th#
Times.
Capt. Triplett said In his first edi
torial :
perior Court; J. 1
T. 8. P*Jf*e tor
R'X. Chastain defeated J.
tor tn receiver; James T.
B. Had re for tax
ited iL 1
2L
given TbomaiTille only 1.S57 inhabi
tant, '
In the laane of Apr. 17. 1872. we find
an editorial which ahows that Dr.
Ezra R. Polling bad written a paper
for the New York Medical Journal. Is
which it was shown that the pine belt
was peculiarly farorable tor persons
afflicted with pulmonary consumption.
The editor thought that Thoausvllle
waa right In the uld.t of the pine belt
and In every way fitted to be a resort
for such people. .
On Aug. 7. 1372. the officers ot th*
Thomasville Guard, were as fellows:
Captain. R_ G. Mitchell: First Un
tenant, c. P. Hansell; firmsnl Use*
tenant. K. T. McLean; Third Uamea-
ant. Eugene flafil
On Ang. 24. 1872. a very heated poll,
tlcal mass meeting took place at the
co^thoaae in Thosaaavllle. Mr. B. L
Hawkins was chairman and L C.
Bryan secretary of the meeting. Hon.
A. T. MacIntyre, by- request of the
chairman, explained the object of the
‘Avoiding all personalities, xri pro
pose discussing all questions that may
arise In', legitimate manner without
resorting to any vulgarism, vitupera
tion or abuse which has ever proven
the bane of the press, believing that
alt the alms ot Journalism should be
high and noble and above the petty
personal differences that unhappily
mar too often the columns ot the
press. We shall strive to pursne the
course above Indicated unswervingly."
How well the editor lived up to his
proposed policy all ol the older citi
zens of our vicinity can testify.
Capt. Triplett waa a unique char
acter tn any community. He ran a
good newspaper and was jk prominent
citizen; yet. so tar as tho writer
Itnowe, he never had an enemy. He
never sought or held public offleo hut
when be died, iu 1918. at the Old Sol
diers' Home, there waa a spontaneous
demand on the part of the people or
Thonuuvllla to bring his body borne
and build a monument to bis msmory
on the courthouse square.
We have bad many citizens who
were the pride of the community but
no man ever reached the heart of our
people as did Capt. John Triplett.
In the first Issue, we notice profes
sional cards from the following law.
yens: Charles P. Hansell, Hopkins
and Hopkins. Joseph P. Smith, Mitch
ell and Mitchell. J. R. Alexander. Ham
mond and Darla. James U Seward and
K. T. McLean of Thomasville: A. P.
Adams. R. A. Lester. Henry H.
ThompkJns, Howell and Denmark, and
Smith and Beaks of Savannah.
Dm. D. 8. Brandon. A. P. Taylor,
John H. Coyle and H. J. Royal, of
Savannah, tho latter two being hen.
Hats, alto have professions! cards.
Many Savannah merchants and bus
iness men carried advertisements Is
the first Issue.
Among the local advertisements am
L. J. Spitz. Joseph Jerger. E. Reming
ton mad Son. T. S. Payne, T. Payne. X.
Hire Mine Addle McClellan. John
Stark, J. N. McKinnon, Wall Dekle.
r. McClaahaa. Taylor and Ladsea. W.
M. Smith. A and & Smith. PHunan
Bran, A Honto later. C. B. Thompeon,
L P. Thompson. Hardaway. McKiaaoa
and Company, Young Dual, College
aad Fletcher Institute, B. F Fudge.
Dories aad Co, mad Wright aad MU
CfiO.
In the next fame. K Wolfs aad Bro.
and I- Levy invite the patronage ot
the public.
In the tsetse ot April *, we Pad sack
mention made of a new soda tonal is
the dreg store of Dories aad Co. Ap
parently this Is tho Brat elaborate soda
fount pat ap la tho city.
In the fame of April 12. we Sad that
Mr. Soraaei J. fiwtl. tfnmfrV 2ft-
rites Use patronage of the pahUc,
la the Inane of April 38, 1872, we
Dotice a card irons Rev. D. Smart. JF.
I aa endorsing ndMnrM. h
that Dr. amwt-har hsan re.
stand to health whits vMttng Thom-
said that If It wen
meeting he wanted to participate hot
If It wen only a Gnety aad Brown
ding he was aw, as ha preferred
Gnat to Greely.
Messrs. B. N. Ely aad J. at Wright.
ot Albany, aad H G Tamer, oi Quit
bmw adfreaaofi the mciftlat. aa dUI
Horn. William D. MUckdl and Hot. R.
Ge MftcML
C. Bryaa. J. P. Smith. A.
J. Cass sis. W. D.
i P, r
lag the haBdfcwaC an
aright come to ha daaa tUa.
3. we notice oat the e>nr-