Newspaper Page Text
In the issue of August 11, we notice
that Dr. M. R. Mallettee had located
in Ocala, Fla.
The'Times published the text of the
new constitution in Its issue of Sept.
S, and endorsed same most heartily in
its issue of the 22nd.
On Saturday, Dec. 8, Messrs. John
L. Linton and Frank Jones were out
hunting and Mr. Linton's son. Law-
son, about eight years old, was rid
ing his father’s horse and leading the
one of Mr. Jones. The child had his
feet in the stirrup leathers, and not in
the stirrups, and in some way was
pulled from the saddle, a foot catching
in one of th* stirrup leathers. Mr.
Linton, seeing that his son’s life was
in danger, shot the horse with both
barrels but oMy succeeded in making
the horse run away, killing the little
boy.
In the issue of the Times of March
23. 1878. it appears from cards writ
ten by tourists, and copied in the lo
cal paper, that the place was being
advertised more and more as a health
HISTO
Charles DU
away; Dun)
John Harr]
Pringle; To
Henry Sanf
OF THOMAS COUNTY.
f Coyle, Henry
and James R. Hard-
nville district, Capt. Doss,
John Slater and Rett
district, John Linton,
. Walter Jones and Wil-
Lam 'Smith;] Ways district, Dud Pea-
cock, John A. McKinnon, Henry Vann
and Abraham Forman; Boston dis
trict, Robert McMurray, Needham
Stan aland, Rioses Butler James
Wilson; Glasgow district, E. L. Neel,
. Dan.Forest, 7 George Swift and John O.
Carroll; Cairo district, John Paulk,
W. J. Lewis, John Powell and D. R.
Roddenberfy; 17th district, J. A Bul
loch, J. dJa. Johnson, Reuben Brown
and Robert Dekle; Murphys district,
James Barrow, George Ricks, Tom
Carlton and William Parker; from the
county at large, John Smith.
In the issue of June 7, 1873, we
notice another card from a winter vis
itor, Mr. William Hewitt, who com.
pared Thomasville and vicinity very
favorably with the St. Johns River
vicinity in Florida. The editor com
mented on Mr. Hewitt’s opinion and
announced that the Gulf Roadhouse
and the West Inn House would give
guests the next-winter as good ac
commodations as could be found in
the South. The editor said very ex
ultantly that the West Inn House
could accommodate one hundred
guests.
On June 21 there is a letter from
Mr. William R. Radcllffe, another
northern visitor, and an editorial an
ticipating accommodations and great
growth for the city of Thomasville as
well as a park for the city. The edi
tor preferred the park to be located
adjacent to Young’s College, where
there were ten or twelve acres of
vacant land, but the location was not
insisted upon.
On early Monday morning of June
29, 1873, occurred the most disastrous
flye that Thomasville had had up to
that time. The fire was in the busi
ness section and those burned out
were as follows: Davies and Co., J.
Watt, X. HIrt, J. T. Cartman, A. and
R. Smith, Peryear and Hunt, Lohen-
steln and Steyerman, Kirksey and
Scott, Joseph Fass, S. J. Cassels, Rush
ing and Outten, B. Goldberg, Ains
worth and Finn, besides others locat
ed upstairs.
In the issue of July 19, we notice
that Messrs. McIntosh and White have
purchased the Quitman Banner and
Col. W. B. Bennett will edit same.
On Aug. 23, we notice that Mr.
James Watt would commence business
in Thomasville on or about Sept. 15,
in the Remington block.
We also notice in this issue that
Maj. Elijah Remer Young having
provided in bis will for a sum of
money to go to the St. Thomas Ma-
Bouic Lodge, Hie corner stone for a
new building was laid on Aug. 19,
1873. A. Q. Moody, Grand Master of
St. Thomas No. 49, officiated.
In the issue of Sept. 20, we notice
that Misses Sarah Norris and Ella Ball
were drowned In the Ochlocknee River
near the rhilroad bridge.
In the same issue we notice that a
severe storm had struck Thomasville
and had destroyed the new work on
the Masonic building on the corner of
Bro'ad and Jefferson streets.
On Nov. 1, there was excitement in
Thomasville on account of the yellow
fever at Balnbridge.
In the issue of March 14, 1874, ap
pears another card from a visitor
commending its climate and compar
ing it favorably with Aiken. S. C.,
and St. Augustine, Fla. The corres
pondent thought the court house the
most imposing structure in Thomas-
ville and that the Gulf House was a
good hotel. The editor endorsed the
correspondent and -urged the building
of a hotel to accomodate the would-
be winter visitors.
In the same issue appeared a card
from James J. Scarborough, Esq., of
St. Paul, Minn. Among other things,
the correspondent said: “I located in
Thomasville in January, 1831. My
first child was born there. found
many true friends, among whom
were Nathaniel R Thomas. Richard
and Taylor Mitchell, Litileton, Thom
as and Henry Wyche, James J. and
Thomas E. Blackshear, Col. Michael
Young, Thomas and Mitchell
.’ones, Edward Remington. Donald
und Ewen McLean, Simeon Alexan
der Smith, Daniel MacIntyre. James
L. Seward, the McKinnons and Mc-
Aulays.”
The correspondent did not say
when he left Thomasville nor had he
heard about Thomasville’s good cli
mate because he spoke of the wonder-
\tp\ climate of Minnesota without
saying a word about South Georgia.
' The child mentioned was the first
white child born in Thomasville. She
became Mrs. Thompson, and her sons
Messrs. Horace and Charlie Thomp
son, became winter residents
Thomasville. Mrs. Thompson how
ever was not the first white child
born In the county. This honor be
longed to Mr. Jno. W. Dekle. With
the issue of March 21, 1874, J. R.
Christian retired from the Times, leav
ing Capt. Triplett, as 30le editor and
proprietor.
Ou Saturday, March 21, the Och
locknee Light Infantry of Boston,
elected the following officers: Cap
tain N. R. Spangler; First Lieutenant.
William Steele; Second Lieutenant,
J. M. Simmons; Third Lieutenant
Robert C. McMurray; First Sergeant,
J. T. Culpepper; Second Sergeant,
W. H. Ward; Third Sergeant, J. M.
Barrow; Fourth Sergeant, R. A. Wel
don; First Corporal. Robert Stansell;
Second Corporal, J. M. Taylor; Third
Corporal, E. K. Smith; Fourth Cor
poral, M. Y. Stephens; and Secretary
and Treasurer, J. H. Whitfield.
On April 4. the editor of the Times
u-ged the building of a cotton factory
In Thomas* Hie.
• On Apr. 17, 1874, there occurred the
most sensational legal hanging since
the hanging of the Indians in 1827.
On Nov. 25, previous, Mr. Juniper
Hall, while returning to his home on
the Tallahassee road was murdered.
Three negroes, Emanuel McCormack,
Charles Ponder and Nimrod Austin,
were hanged for the crime. Byrd
Blackshear, a very old negro, and
Mingo Washington, a very young one
were sentenced to the penitentiary
for life.
Mr. Hall was murdered a little
yond the eight-mile post and his
. mains were found, exactly two monti
after the crime in a deep bay^t
of the Braswell place.
On Monday Apfll 20, a
was held in Thomasville to
a memorial society. CoL
Glashan was chairman anc
McSwain, secretary of the meeting.
A committee on permanent organ
ization was appointed as follows:
Ladies: Mrs. D. 8. Brandon. G. W.
V, Parnell, O. D. Scott, P. McGlashan,
T. S. Paine, Q. P Hansell and Misses
,'Iattie^S reward and Cynthia ___
John Tripli
ayies.
Keys of Forsyth, to build a brick
hotel to he known as the Mitchell
House and to be completed by’Nov.
1, thereafter.
In the issue of July 11, appears a
copy of an editorial from the “Florid
ian.” of Tallahassee, in which com
ment is-made of the new .Seventy-five
Thousand dollar hotel in progress of
construction.
On Nov. 7, 1874, appears .an edi
torial on the Democratic success
Thomas county for members of the
Legislature. Among other things,
the editor said: “To the noble band
of colored Democrats who stood by
us and with us through the thickest
of the fight: Tooke, Cray, Leek.
Cone, Caleb, Hardaway, Davis Bun-
yon and Smitl Young and others too
much praise cannot be given. Let
Jtbe white men of this town and coun
ty remember t'lese men and not only
them but every colored man who had
the manliness to come out and stand
by us.”
While Thomas county went Demo
cratic as to other candidates. Whlte-
ly, Republican candidate for Con
gress, carried the county by seven
teen votes hut was defeated in the
district by Smith, the Democratic
candidate. Whitely carried Deca
tur. Dougherty, Thomas. Randolph
and Calhoun, Smith carrying the oth
ers.
On the 6th of January, 1875, the
election for county officers for Thom
as County was held, resulting as fol;
lows: For Clerk of the Superior
Court, John Few, colored, 625; J. W.
Groover, 527. For sheriff: D. F. Luke
834; R. P. Doss, 289. For tax receiv
er, H. M. Chastain. 1057; for tax col
lector, Lebbeus Dekle, 1038; for coun
ty treasurer, W. W. Williams 614;
W. R. Pittman 514; surveyor, H. A.
Carr 514; Henry Rogers, 470; Coron
er H. Butler 493; S. Chastain 492.
and G. W. Royal, 101.
On April 3, 1876, It was announced
that the Mitchell Hotel had been com
pleted and that the owner was per
fectly satisfied with the Job. The edi
tor announced that this was the only
hotel in Georgia equipped with elec
tric communication between the of
fice and the rooms. He told of the
wonderful system by which one could
push a button on the third floor and
signal the office.
In the Thomasville Times of May
8. 1875, appears a copy of a letter
from ex-Congressman A. T. MacIn
tyre to Hon. John Jones, Treasurer
of the State of Georgia, enclosing a
check for $3,930.80 which had been
delivered to Col. MacIntyre as a re
sult of an act passed while Mr. MacIn
tyre was in Congress and which was
opposed by him. The act was known
as the Back Pay Bill and Mr. MacIn
tyre thought it retroactive and uncon
stitutional.
The ex-Congressman found himself
in possession of a perfectly good
check to which he made no moral
claim; but, as he considered that the
United States government rightfully
owed the state of Georgia on account
of the Civil War and reconstruction,
he did not return the check to the
U. S. Treasurer, but gave it to the
state of Georgia instead and the
same was so received and credited
by Treasurer Jones.
Another prominent citizen of Thom
as county died on May 19, Rev. R. H.
Lucky.
In the issue of June 12 there is an
editorial and a copy of an editorial
from the Monticello. Florida, Consti
tution, both of which urge the build
ing of a railroad from Thomasville to
Monticello.
On June 22, 1875, Drs. J. A. Butts
and W. J. Harrell of Decatur, and
Drs. T. S. Hopkins, J. T. Moore, T. S.
Dekle, E. R. Young. A P. Taylor and
W. A. Pugh of Thomas county, met
in Thomasville, for the puroose of or
ganizing a South Georgia Medical So
ciety.
On Sept. 10 1875, G?n. John C.
Vaughn, aged 51 years. 5 months and
14 days, died on his plantation. Capt.
Triplett was at his best in writing a
eulogy for Gen. Vaughn. Both were
East Tennesseans. Bott: were prac
tically expatriated from East Ten
nessee as a result of their joining the
Confederate army. However. Gen.
Vaughn returned to Tennessee after
the Civil War and was elected to. and
continued up to the time of the
earthquake in the ’90’s.
A convention for the Second Con
gressional district met in Albany on
April 26th to Meet delegates to the
National Democratic Convention.
H. W. Hopkins, J. H. Stephens. John
Triplett and W. EL Davies represent
ed Thomas County.
The? national delegates selected
H G. Turner and E. C. Bower. The
alternates were Messrs. R. N. Ely and
James H. Spence.
The Georgia State Baptist Con
vention convened in the chapel of
Young’s College April 27, 1876. The
usual business was transacted.
In the issue of May 20, A. D. Patter
son, Clerk of the Superior Court of
Colquitt county, stated that the deed
records of Colquitt county were prac
tically worthless and advised all par
ties holding deeds to land in Colquitt
county, whether they . purported to
have been recorded or not, to be for
warded for record, excepting only
deeds j-ecorded by the writer.
On Saturday June 23. the directors
of the Immigration Society met in
Thomasville for the principal purpose
of getting out a pamphlet showing
the merits of Thomasville and Thom
as county. Rev. J. A. McKee was ap
pointed tor the Society on his trip
through the North and the commit
tee were instructed to get out the
pamphlet as quickly as possible.
In the issue of Nor. 11, we notice
that the presidential election will be
controlled by the result in South
Carolina, Louisiana and Florida, eith
er one of which going Democratic
would elrst Tilden. ^ *
The editor said that two hundred
fifty troops had been ordered from
Atlanta to Tallahassee, and admon
ished his Florida neighbors to treat
the representatives of the Federal
Government kindly and have no fears
of the result.
On Dec. 13, there was a Democratic
primary for county officers and the
following were nominated: Ordinary.
J. S. Morrill; Clerk of the Superior
Court; J. W. Grover; Sheriff, R. W.
Faison; Tax receiver, J. F. Kelly;
Tax Collector, P. S. Heeth; County
Treasurer, Trav Singletary; Public
Administrator, T. B. Whitfield; Coun
ty Surveyor. Henry Rogers; Coron
er, S. A. Johnson.
ThS county election was held Jan.
3. 1877, and the full Democratic tick
et succeeded. N
The issue of Jan. 27 published the
arrivals at the Mitchell Hotel. About
four-fifths were transient guests and
the rest appeared to be tourists:
In the issue of Feb. 3, the ^ditor
calls attention to the fact that the
Democratic Georgia Legislature un
seated a white Democrat and gave
his place to the colored Republican,
Blue. The editor thought that this
showed that the Democrats tried to
be fair.
The same thing was done in the
summer of 1907 when Rogers of Mc
Intosh county, the last negro to serve
in the Georgia Legislature, retained
his seat over a white Democratic con
testant.
/On Friday, Feb. 16, Mrs. Elizabeth
Gaulay died at the home of her son-
in-law, Maj. B. F. Hawkins.
On Mar. 12, 1877, Mr. Henry Kinch-
en, who lived on the plantation of Col'.
W. D. Mitchell, was out turkey hunt
ing and, mistaking Ben Goldwire, col
ored. for a turkey, shot and killed
him.
On Saturday, March 19, the first an
nual meeting for the election of di
rectors was held by the Library As
sociation. Visitors stopping at the
Mitchell House and the public gen
erally were invited by a card in the
paper to patronize the library.
On Wednesday, March, 21, the Bos
ton “Grange” met and appointed a
committee to solicit subscriptions for
the sufferers from the recent storm.
The committed was composed of J.
G. Dekle, J. A. Mallette, Joshua Car-
roll, H. H. Sanford. R. W. Heeth.
James Nesmith and J. N. Barrow.
There was another storm on Sunday
morning, April 8, which caused con
siderable damage in the county
|PfS»
4
asville Cadets, was organized on June
6. The following officers were elect
ed: Captain, E. M. Smith; First Lieu
tenant, L. S. McSwain; Second Lieu
tenant, T. £L Paine; Third Lieutenant,
T. N. Hopkins; First Sergeant, R. L.
Rockwell; Second Sergeant, James H.
Everett; Third Sergeant, M. hi.
Stapler; Fourth Sergeant, E. T. Shef-
tall; First Corporal, F. R. Hubert;
Second Corporal, R. S. Rowland;
Third Corporal, W. H. Brandon;
Fourth Corporal, William Sparks.
At the regular July meeting of the
County Commissioners it was decided
to build another bridge across the
Ochlocknee River, at or near Groom’s
Ford.
Ojk August 24, it appears that the
Union Bines, a colored military com
pany, had just been organised. The
officers were: v Captain, E. Hamilton;
FlAt Lieutenant, F. Paine; Second
Lieutenant, G. N. Royal; First Ser
geant, R. D. Brown; Second Sergeant,
R. P. Mitchell; Third Sergeant, J. H.
Mitchell; Fourth Sergeant, W. Aus
tin; Fifth Sergeant, William Reed;
First Corporal, S. Nicholson; Second
Corporal. R. Monroe; Third Corporal,
H. Carry; Fourth Corporal, Shadrich
Anderson.
On Thursday, September 5, Capt.
Amos J. Love died at the age of thirty-
six years.
In the issue of September 7, it was
stated editorially that CaL James L.
Seward had announced himself as ah
Independent candidate for Congress
against Hon. William E. Smith, the
Democratic nominee. The editor was
hopeful that Col. Seward would recon
sider and not make the race.
In the issue of the 28th there is
printed a card from Messrs. Arthur P.
Wright, A. T. MacIntyre, Augustin H.
Hansell, A. T. MacIntyre, Jr., Thomas
C. Mitchell, Thomas E. Blackshear
and Robert G. Mitchell to Col. Seward
requesting him, in the interest of par.
ty harmony, not to make the race.
The Colonel replied very cordially
that while he maintained his princi
ples he did not wish to cause dissen-
tion in the ranks and withdrew from
the race. The editor complimented
Col. Seward very highly for the patrio
tic position he took.
In the issue of Sept. 28, the editor
called attention to the fact that, until
recently, Georgia, nearly always voted
for the successful candidate for Presi
dent, there being two exceptions prior
to 1860. Georgia voted for William H.
Crawford, of Georgia, in 1824, and for
Hugh L. White, of Tennessee, in 1836.
In the fail elections in 1878, the full
Democratic ticket was elected, the
county officers being the following:
Clerk of the Superior Court, Groover;
Sheriff, Coyle; Tax Receiver, Kelly;
Tax Collector, Heeth; County Treas
urer, Sydney Williams; Surveyor,
Rogers and Coroner, Dickey. ,
On Wednesday, March 5, 1879, Mr.
P. S. Heeth and Miss Florida Mallard
I were married at the residence of Mr.
S. L. Mallard, Rev. R. P. Kerr officiat.
ing.
In the issue of March 15, 1879, we
learn that Mr. E. S. Cox killed Robert
S. Alston who had many relatives in
this county and vicinity. The shoot
ing took place in the State Treasurer’s
office in Atlanta and was very sensa
tional. The trouble originated in a
dispute about the convict lease.
Col. Alston, at the time of his death,
was a member of the House of Repre
sentatives from DeKalb County and
was very prominent socially and poli
tically in Georgia.
In the same issue we notice that
Lieut. Henry Ossin Flipper, U. S. A.,
had written an autobiography which
the editor thought very interesting.
Lieut. Flipper “was a recent graduate
of West Point and a resident of Thom
asville where his father was a shoe
maker. He was the first colored
—
Judge Bryan said that no
re on duty at the tl
bond to prc
practicable
were on
fce gave bom
soon as
■t to*.
This interview is verified b
marriage license record which
a license issued to L. Bryan and
beth Wyche, Sept. 4, 1826. The date
of the marriage, as shown by the re
turn, is Jana. 3L 1826. The marriage,
therefore, occurred eight months and
four days before the license was fa
ted.
On Sept. 4, Hon. Cadar Powell died
at Cairo at the age of seventy.
In the issue of Jan. 24, 1880, we
notice that Mr. Henry Sanford has
just received five thousand seedling
pear trees from France. He intended
to graft same.
In the issue of Jan. 3L it appears
that there were three newspapers in
Thomasville: The Thomasville Times,
the Southern Enterprise and the Post,
a tri-weekly.
In the issue of the Times tor Mar.
30, 1880, Dr. J; G. Hopkins suggested
that the city cease planting, oak trees
for shade and p!ant pines instead.
On March 27. it appears that
Messrs. A. Wetherington and Redden
Smith had orange trees blooming;
that Messrs. John Watt, Willie Davies
and W. C. Pittman were preparing to
build new homes; and that the price
of cotton was from 10*4 cents to 11%
cents. •
On March 27. Mr. J. L. Linton gave
the first picnic of the season at his
millpond two miles south of town.
In the issue of April 24, Dr. J. E.
Chancellor of Charlottesville. Va., had
enthusiastic article endorsing
Thomasville as a health resort.
In the same issue there is an edi
torial headed “Piney Woods Hotel,”
iu which the editor urged the needs of
the city for another tourist hotel, sug
gesting the title which headed the
editorial.
On April 23, Mr. Rainey Chastain
had started to Thomasville. from .his
home and, when near the four-mile
post, he was shot off of his horse by
Mr. Berry Scoggins on account of an
old grudge which dated back some
nine years when Mr. Scoggins was in
Mr. Chastain’s employ.
Mr. Cnastam was taken to the resi
dence of Mrs. Fleetwood and died on
Monday morning thereafter.
On the next morning after the
shooting. Sheriff Coyle and Marshal
Speer, with a posse composed of E.
B. Allan. Tom .Taylor, Ben Lewis,
Homer Carter and Nathan Jones,
came upon Scoggins sitting beside the
Boston road between the Speer and
Harrell place.
Marshal Speer rode ahead to within
fifty or sixty yards of Scoggins and
demanded his surrender. Scoggins
Immediately fired at the marshal who
saved himself by jumping from bis
horse. . .
Scoggins reloaded his gun. jumped
over the fence and, with the fence be
tween himself and the posse, proceed
ed toward them.. In the fight which en
sued, Scoggins was killed.
On Saturday afternoon. May 22.
there occurred a very heavy rainfall
and Dr. R. J. Bruce became uneasy
about his son. Archie, who had gone
to his farm above town after a load
of oats. Procuring a buggy, he cross
ed the Bryan Branch, on the Albany
or county line road, and drove one
mile beyond to Mr. Johnson’s place
where he learned from Mr. George
McMath that Archie had returned to
town.
The Doctor returned toward town
and, in his effort to recross Bryan
Branch, was drowned, the horse es
caping.
In the issue of June 12, we notice
account of the death of two promi
nent citizens. Messrs. Thomas Grace
m
the issue ot Feb. 5, 1SS1.
that a. Thomas and (
it the dregstoro ot Mr.
by the
Oa April
cattet to graduate from West Point.
In the issue of April 12, we learn jand Eugene H. Smith,
that Mr. E. R. Pringle was accidently ■ in the Issue of June 19. we notice
shot on Lake Iamonla and that the account of the death of Mr. A.
Confederate monument, to be erected , Thomas Taylor.
at the corner of Broad and Fletcher j We notice also that the census of
streets, had arrived. 1880 gave Thomasville a population
On Monday. April 14, Capt. Edwin of 2,557 as against 1.651 in 1870.
T. Davis, prominent attorney, died in We also notice that Mrs. S. Bow-
Thomas ville and was buried in the ; or has leased the Mitchell House for
On the 12th of May. a Democratic ; family cemetery at Greenwood. a term of years,
mass meeting was held to select dele- j In the issue of May 10. we learn that j n the issue of July 31. we notice
gates to the district senatorial conven- j Cox was convicted of murdering Als- : in at Hon. R. G. Mitchell, who had been
tion to be held at McDonald (now ton and recommended to life imprison- endorsed by the Democracy of Thomas
Pavo) on the 19th inst. merit by the jury. Mr. Alston was!County, failed to get the nomination
me v.».. *.«. - The McDonald convention nominat-: the author of the bill permitting this > a t the’Dawson convention which nomi-
becam° President of the State Sen- ed Mr. G. F. Walker, of Colquitt Coun-I and his slayer was the first to benefit Inated Hon. Henry G. Turner instead,
ate but soon returned to Thomas {ty. for the Senate to succeed Hon. by the new law. j Both Mr. Mitchell and the editor
county. j.Tames McDonald, deceased. Hons.:. In the issue of May 17. we learn of tendered their most earnest support
p.. Vnmrhn surrendered his com-11*5 me8 „Sew ard Augustin H. the death of John A. McIntosh, father to the successful nominee.
. ■ t Wishincton in Wilkes Coun- i hansell, °* Thomas County, Mr. J. B. ! of Dr. T. M. McIntosh. Edward Me j i n the same issue. It appears that
m : d 1 shington. Creech of Brooks, and Mr. Henry Gay, Intosh and Miss Emma McIntosh. Capt. L. L. Varnedoe. who moved
of Colquitt, were nominated as dele- j in the same issue we learn that the . f rom Liberty County to Thomas in
■ iirtmna ■ nnniv ii „ " ^ BOtne CUttingl
In-law of Mr. Tom Jones.
25, 1881, the courthouse i
Moultrie was horned aad every i
of toe county was destroyed
the book in which marks and
rere recorded.
In toe Issue of March 18. there Is
editorial advocating toe band
ing
railroad.
8priog term et Colquitt
Court ,u held la • smell
watch the clerk. Mr. A. & Fat-
— — antral,
la the Thomas mi. Ttaaa at Setttr-
day. Mar IX. 1M, there appear* a
dippta* tram the Atlanta CoasUtuUag
y, on May 11, 1865. which was the
or Colquitt, were nominates as dele-. In the same issue we learn that the f rr , m Liberty Countv
last, eas* of the '! lss '* alp P [ ' j gates to the constitutional convention. Board of Trustees of the South Geor- is6“ brought with him
surrender Gen. \aughn was .i son- The election in Thomas County was ! gla College had been organized and j ro „ “ po ar tree whicl
of the square after the lire.
In the issue of April 9. we learn that
Mr. James Watt has bought too Gulf
House and that Prof. L H. Jones,
Assistant Professor of Chemistry at
the University of Georgia, would de
liver a series of lectures at'the Sooth
Georgia College; also that the Georgia
Medical Association was aboat to hold
its annual meeting In Thomas viHe.
The latter event brought forth a
long and enthnsalstic editorial com
menting upori the changes in Thomas-
ville since the last time the Georgia
Medical Association met here in 1874.
On April 28, Miss Emma Williams
was married to Judge William D.
Mitchell at the Baptist church.
In the issue of May 14. we notice
that the Mitchell House will soon have
an extension. Mr. S. L. Moore being
the contractor!.
This brought forth an editorial in
the issue of May 28, to the effect that
when the Mitchell House was first
built msny thought it would be a'
white elephant and so predicted when
the first brick was laid oa Monday,
June 15. 1874.
However, the success of the hotel
was such that the addition, fronting
forty-seven feet on Madison street,
and running back one hundred eigh
teen feet, adding sixty-four rooms,
and doubling the rooming capacity of
the house was thought wise by the
owner.
On July 16, the Thomas County
Stock Breeders Association met at the
office of Judge H. W. Hopkins and the
following were elected as the execu
tive committee: H. W. Hopkins. H.
J. MacIntyre, E. L. Neel, James S.
Smith. R. G. Mitchell. L. A. Varnedoe.
T. C. Mitchell. W. H. Mitchell and J.
T. Chastain.
On August 31. the new cotton ware
house ot A. B. Wright and Co. was
completed in lieu of the one burned
on July 23.
In the issue of October 22. we find
the editor urging the city to plam new
shade trees in place of the ones which
had died from the planting twe years
before.
On November 24. while Mr. J. M.
Clewish was absent from his home
near Antioch Church In the southern
part of the county, hie wife aud three-
year-old daughter were murdered and
a few trifling articles about the house
stolen.
Andrew Rogers, colored, was sus
pected and bound over for the crime.
He was taken to Valdosta but died
before ever being tried.
The Waverly House formally open
ed on Monday. December 19. Mrs. Pe
ters being propritress.
On the same day. Mr. Thomas P.
Jones died on his plantation at the
age of thirty-six.
In the Issue of January 7. 1882. we
note that the South Georgiu Agricul
tural and Mechanical Association had
gone out of business and that the old
hrick store on the Mitchell House
block had been purchased by Mr.
Mitchell, giving him ownership of the
entire block, all of which be proposed
to utilize in connection with the hotel.
In the Issue of Januury 14, we no
tice the organization of a cotton seed
>11 mill with a capital of $25,000. be
ing the first to operate in the county.
On February 19. the Church of Ht.
Augustine, Catholic, was duly dedi
cated. the Right Rev. Bishop Gross
officiating and the Rev. C. C. Preuder-
grass being the first priest.
On Sunday. February 28 Dr. J. P.
Turner, prominent citizen and phyai.
clan. died.
In the Issue of March 25, 1882. we
notice that the trustees of the South
Georgia College had sold that portion
of the college property lying south of
College avenue, containing about one
hundred acres, to Mrs. M. A. Lester.
On Wednesday. April 5. there was
the first serious fire in some time.
Messrs. R. Thomas and Company and
Col. McGlaakan lost heavily. For
some time, the flames were alarming
but were soon under control. For a
which had been in itime It looked as if the Mitchell House
against the constitutional convention. | the subscription list had been opened trodeced ,j„ Liberty County in 1536. j ,-ould burn’ and many guest* made
, " , ; 1 uc ruum,. not. nau uccii [rod “Ceil .ID 1^1 Deri V l
On Nov. 13. 1875, there was a new | Messrs. Hansell and Seward of Thom- . to assist in starting and equiping the bv Mai John LeC'onte
• -. w n, Paten »YI HHVPS' 1 oe Praaah nf Dennlro and Pav nf Pnl. ' L , ' -' 1
county meeting at Cairo, in Hayes’j as, Creech of Brooks, and Gay of Col
Hall. Mr. Wylie Pierce nominated I quitt. were chosen as delegates.
Mr. K. Powell for chairman of the j in the issue of January 30, the editor
meeting which was carried. Mr. A. W. called upon the Constitutional Con-
Ivey was secretap*. Mr. B. L. Hearn (vention to submit to the peoffle the
moved that a committee of three be | issue as to whether Atlanta of Mill-
appointed to solicit subscriptions for j edgeville should be the Capital of the
the new county movement. istpte.
In the winter of 1876. Robert H.f the same issue the editor sug-
Harris edited the Cairo Department seated the name of Judge Hansell as
for the Times. At that time the offi
cers of Cairo were os follows: May
or. William Powell: Aldermen. J. H.
Hayes. S. A. Roddenbery. B. L. Hearn
and M. L. Griffin; Clerk and Treasur
er. J. J. Mash. Jr.; Marshal J. K. Rod-
denbery: Justices of the Peace. W. T.
Rigsby and J. H. Hayes.
At t le same time A B. Carson was
editor of the Boston Department. The
Board of Commissioners of Boston
were- William M. Jones President:
John W. Taylor. W. H. Rivers and
M. L. Cooke; Secretary and Treasur
er. William M. Brooks; Marshal. D. C.
Clarke.
At this time the officers of Thom.i
asville were Hon. C. P. Hansell May
or; Aldermen. T. C. Mitchell. A. P.
Wright. Joseph Jerger. Redden Smith.
M. Isaac and R. H. Hardaway; Clerk
and Treasurer Amos J. Lore: Mar
shal, John Speer. John Starke was
Chief of the Fire Department. H. W.
Hopkins. Assistant Chief and L. S.
McSwain, secretary. Eugene H.
Smith was foreman of the Neptune
Fire Co.; W. E. Davies of the Rescue
^ ook and Ladder Co., and M. C. Dav
is of the Vigilant Fire Co.
On Feb. 14, 1876. there was a pre
liminary meeting to organize a li
brary association. A Board of Direc-
rs was elected as follows: John R.
exander, O. D. Scott, John Starke.
. C. Mitchell. A. P. Wright. H. W.
opklns Samuel Goldstone H J. Mac-
tyre and S. G McLendon
On Monday March IS, 1816. about
nr oclock In the afternoon, the
some old residence of Major
was burned at Duncanville,
the Issue of April *. we nc
Judge Bell of Monticello. pis..
again been searching for the
irlda volcano'* the origin of pu*-
I smoke, which tor years there-
i never found. Many old_
living have seen this smoke
president of the approaching conven
tion. The work of the convention was
done mainly by thirteen committees.
Judge Hansell being chairman of the
committee on ‘'Education." and
James L. Seward of the committee on
"Bill of Rights.”
T. C. Mitchell
B. F. Hawkins
250.00
E. L. Neel
100.00
K. L. Taylor —
200.00
P. McGlashan
H. B. Ainsworth
100.00
100.00
W. N. Davis ......
100.00
100.00
H. J. and A. T. MacIntyre
On June 16. 1S79. the
monument was unveiled
ol Broad and Jefferson
Thomas ville. Ga. At 10 o
Mitchell. Chief Marshal.
Confederate
the corner
streets In
clock. R. G.
formed the
Maj. LeConte found the tree i
or' hern nursery* where it was laiiell- j
d “Chinese Sand Pear" and
j their exit without having made much
a preparation.
In the is«ue of May 6. it eppears
it ; that although Thomasville possessed
to ms niece, sirs, naroen, in LiDerty j the Mitchell House, the Gulf House.
County. It appears ’.hat the fruit was the Waverly and Yonng Houses, nev-
very promising and many of our citl- ertbeless there was a widespread de-
zens expected great results iromjmand for a new hotel,
same. j on Tuesday, May 16. the handsome
It appears, in the Issue of August country residence of Mr. T. J. young.
14, that Dr. S. J. Jones had the oldest I six and one-half miles southwest of
bearing LeConte pear tree in the coun- Thomasville. was destroyed by fire.
ty and he had exhibited some of tb
fruit at a meeting of tbe State Horti
cultural Society. The pears attracted
generous attention and were most fav
orably spoken ot
In tbe Issue of Sept. 11. It appears
that the McDonald (now Pavo) Con
vention had nominated Hon. E. P. S.
Denmark, ot Qnitman. for state sena
tor from this district.
On Oct. 6. Uncle Henry Murphy, an
old citizen of tbe coanty which wax
cot off when Colquitt was created,
died at the age of ninety-two. a
In the Issue of Dec. 18. it appears
that Jndge R. H Hardaway had serv
ed as Superintendent of the Methodist
Sunday school tor twenty-nine years
as was re-elected for another year.
In the Issue of Jan. 8. It appear,
zat the full Democratic ticket for
coanty officers was elected, to wit:
Ordinary. J. S. Merrill: Sheriff. J. A.
Horst; Clerk. J. W. Groover; Tax Re
ceiver, G. L Player; Tax Collector.
P. 8. Heeth: Coanty Treasurer; 8. A
Williams: Public Administrator. R. B.
Madre; Coroaer. 8- A Johnson; Sur
veyor, W. H Rogers.
On Jan. 15. there appears aa edi
torial headed -Fifty Tear, Ago."
As a result of the conduct of Mr.
R. C. Balfour at the Bra oa the night
of April S, tbe citizen, of the town
presented him with , handsome gold
medal.
On August 31. there was a Demo
cratic mass meeting la the coart house
of Thomasville to select candidate,
for the Legislature. Mr. W. R. Mac
Intyre was chairman of the meeting
and J. T. Chastain secretary.
Mere. 8. G. McLendon. X. K.
Spangler. Arthur Patten and O. H.
Cook were the leading candidate, la
bat. n in receiving
a majority of the vote,, the Chairman
ruled that there were mo nomination.
Judge Hopkins offered a raaotatloa
that the matter be aahmltied to a
coanty primary which wax done and
Messrs. Arthur Patten and N. B.
of.* wrllKp ot Thamuvilla by Henry
W. Grady.
Within twelve month before. Dr. J.
W. 8. Arnold, wham Mr. aredy do.*
scribed aa the toramoat phyMologb t
in America, had resigned his prof*,
torahlp la the Uulvvrelty of New Jc
my and had located In Thcmmvllic
with a fine boom and a thirty thou
•and dollar laboratory. Caring the
warn time, Jadgu Maynard. Mwnre.
Metcalf*. Haddock. .Hunt and Fcata
had all located la Thounuvlll,.
The Mitchell Hooae was soon to
hare sixty-two additional room, and
the new hotel aboat to be built, front
ing Paradise Park, was to have on#
hundred seventy rooms.
Mr. Varnedoe had the only matured
bearing LeConte pear trees. He had
gathered thirty-three baskets from one
tree and had cleared a trifle over fire
hundred dollars from the fruit ot
twenty treat.
The Varaedoaa and Messrs. Sanford
and Blackshear were selling thou
sands of dollar, worth ot pear cut.
tings. There waa considerable ills-
cuaslon aa to th, probability ot blight
but the pear ladastry was, neverthe.
leu. oa a boom.
Mr. T. E. Blackshear had twenty
acre, planted la strawberries and was
gathering one thoauad quart, per
‘sre.
Messrs. T. C. Mitchell and Heyward
Ainsworth both had fin, sublet of
trotting horses. From Mr. tiredy,
enthusiasm I Judge that there could
have been no other such horses In th.
South.
Dr. Hopkins had a Guinea cow. fair-
ty-fiv. Inches, high, which gave two
gallons ot milk with tho first calf.
There was a big demand for Guinea
cow, and one hundred could Imvo
been sold If they could have been
bad.
The correspondent thought Thomas
County perfect In every reepect ex
cept that the fish always bit just be
fore one’s arrival or Just after one’s
departure, and never while one was
actually visiting the vicinity.
On May 20. just at dawn. Csblawn.
four miles south of ThomaavU!» on the
new Monticello road, was burned.
ThU was the home ot Mrs. Elisa Price
Jones, arldow ot Mr. Mitchell a
Jones, and daughter of Jaiv.es and
Sarah Young Price.
On May 28. an onthaaUe-.iL- meet
ing of prominent citizens was held to
discuss building a new hotel: and. on
Wednesday. June 13. about 835.006
had been subscribed and the name
"Piney Woods", and Ibe lot of Mr. 8
Alex Smith on South Brasil street,
had been determined upo».
On Thursday. August 2. 1S8S. the
far-famed Mitchell House In Thomas-
ville was totally destroyed by fire.
The hotel being closed, the merchants,
business and professional men occupy.
Ing the ground floor were the chief
losers.
The loss of the Mitchell House
seemed to lie a great calamity lo she
town and county and made certain
the building of the Piney Woods Ho
tel which had already been planned.
On Tuesday, September IK. ground
was broken for the building ol the
Piney Woods Hotel which was the
greatest event In the hlatory of Thom
asville since the laying ot the flrit
brick In tbe Mitchell House in 1873.
On Tuesday. October 16, another old
citizen. Mr. Jt W. Heeth died a( ttt*
age of aUly elght. The deceased had
lived in Thomas County since 1825.
On October 20, Col. William J.
Young died at the age ot (Illy five
years and leo days. He was a promi
nent soldier and citizen.
In the Issue of October 27. of the
Times, we notice that the ie-t'on-e
pear trees wore supposed to be
blighted, which was giving horticul
turists some alarm.
Wo also notice that Mr. Hampton
B. Hammond, father of Hon William
M. Hammond, had died on tbq !9:b
Inst, in Chariot to, X. , at the age of
seventy-seven year*, six months and'
fifteen days.
On December 2. another oid citizen.
Mr William E. Hayes, died.
On January 2. 1*84. there was a
decide wedding In Thomaavllle. .Visa
Nannie J. Coyle married Mr. George
F Coyle and Miss Nellie C. Mebane
married Mr. John P. Parker.
In the Issue of January 12. It ap
pears that Ibe Piney Woods Hotel
would not be completed to opes until
the following season. It appeared
that M. A. Bower would he the lessee
sad Mr. L. H. Humphreys axnsfsr of
tbe nsw hotel.
In the Issue of February * lot«, t<
appeared that the following citizens of
Thomas County were drawing pensions
aa a result of the War of Ui2 John
Blackshear. survivor, living si McDon
ald: Mary Cardins CuaaeL wldos, of
Cairo; Martha Lacey. Haphrecla
MltchelL Railb Watson sad Rerah M
Qnarterman. widows, of Thomasville.
Oa March 11. Mr. Fames J. Hazier
led.
. In tbn laenn of March fit.
H. W. Hopkins has bought
acres of tbn Young remain
•pnrty. framing on the rail-
Paradise Park.'and will cut
lots.
31. Mr. Peter Pierce, so-
zee. died at kin home t B
neighborhood la tha eighty,
of kin age
of April i and April
that tbn Mitchell Hoc,*
the work haring been
with Mr. Kam, •_•»* cou
th* ground. As alaboratn
la gtvaa of tha hotel u It
when complete, iaforma-
■htilnil from Architect
Al 1:25 PL gL. on Monday. May lx.
56*4. Manna dsp. radar tha dfraeioa
of Mr. Jadd Eaves, tha tastreetor. laid
tho flret brick te Gw new Mllrhell