Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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-