Newspaper Page Text
tyudd ^pifitd/id /tad Tttone /tt...
Wingfield Ag & Lawn
% r- .--i
GUARANTEED GRINS
rON CHRISTMAS MORNING
WITH THESE GREAT GIFTS!
OLF CARTS
Starting At Only
Used 1998 Electrics.
Used 1999 Gas
Starting At Only $2,695
GO-KARTS
Start
At
Only
MINI-BIKES
4 HP
Only
6 HP
Only
GREAT GIFT IDEAS FOR HIM...
See Our Wide
Selection Of
Sprayers!
15 Gallon
Sprayer Only...
We Ship Your Holiday Gift Packages
Let Our UPS Service Take Out The Hassle
Page 8C - The Lee County Ledger, Thursday, November 29,2001
336 U.S. 19 South
Leesburg (Next to Region's Bank)
759-9125
The Unveiling Exercises at Chehaw
The Legacy Of The Chehaw Monument
4’-$479 5’-$550 6’-$650
4’-$795 5’-$875 6’-$925
On February 12,1825 the Creek
Indians signed a treaty which in
cluded the land which was to be
come Lee County. On June 9,
1825, Lee County was created by
an official act of the Georgia Leg
islature. Based on old maps, prior
to 1825, the Indians had many
village sites in our area. Most of
the sites were located near creeks
or major springs and of course
along the Flint River. One of the
most important t owns of the Con
federacy of Creeks was known as
Che-au-haw or Cheraw by the
Indians. Traders called the town
Au-muc-cul-le or as we know it,
Chehaw.
In 1818, General Andrew Jack-
son visited Chehaw on his way to
fight the Seminole war in Florida.
Here, at Chehaw, the future Presi
dent of the United States rested
his troops and
received provi
sions. Forty of
the Chehaw
braves joined
General Jack-
son and headed
south to
Florida. Later
that year, the
Chehaw vil
lage, by mis
take, was at
tacked by
Georgia troops
lead by Captain
Obed Wright.
Seven Indians
were massa
cred during the
attack and the
i C h e h a w
Affair! re
ceived national
attention. It
took over 90
years, but the
chain of events
surrounding
the town of
Chehaw had to
be remem
bered. So, in
1912, the site of
this old Indian
village was marked with a large
engraved stone, placed there by
the Daughters of the American
Revolution. There seems to be a
lot of history behind this Lee
County historical monument.
In the June 13,1912 issue of the
Lee County Journal, Miss Willie
Rutherford, Historian of the
Council of Safety Chapter,
Daughters of the American Revo
lution, wrote an authoritative
compilation of facts concerning
the ancient Indian village of Che
haw, in Lee County. This fairly
long article was a prelude to an
open invitation to local citizens to
view the unveiling of the stone
marker. The announcement was
as follows: “The memorial exer
cises in honor of the erection of a
memento to the friendship of the
Chehaw Indians, will take place
Friday as heretofore announced in
the Journal and all who can
should attend. There will be an
address by Mr. Shipp, of Ameri-
cus, a brass band to dispense
music and there will be a barbe
cue”.
In the next issue of the paper,
June 20,1912 the story of the un
veiling was announced. When
reading this article, one can sense
the importance of the event.
“These exercises, in memory of
the always friendly Creek Indians,
were had on the 14th inst. Con
cisely expressed, the Council of
Safety Chapter, Daughters of the
American Revolution, with a
commendable, patriotic spirit,
seeks to perpetuate the constant
friendship of the Creek Indians.
This undertaking should meet the
cordial sympathy and co-opera
tion of all, and more especially the
citizens of Lee County. The stone
to perpetuate the memory was
unveiled on this occasion in a
most appropriate spot in the cen
ter of a circular grove of young
live oak trees, 150 to 200 feet
across. These young trees are
from the parent oak (now dead)
which marked the location of the
Creek village. The exercises com
menced at 12 M. after music by a
band from Bronwood, headed by
Current Photo of Chehaw Monument
Henry Witt. After a brief invoca
tion by Rev. J.M. Stokes, pastor
of the Presbyterian Church, of
Americus, Miss Annie May Bell,
of Americus, in a few well timed
remarks, introduced Mrs. W. L.
Peel, of Atlanta, vic-pres. gen. Of
the Daughters of the American
Revolution, taking occasion to
refer briefly to her valued services
in this cause.
“Mrs. Peel, without effort to
make display, made a most inter
esting and appropriate address,
which deserves to be recorded.
Mrs. Peel is the daughter of Genl.
Phil Cook and sister of Sec. of
State, Phil Cook, two well known
and highly esteemed former citi
zens of Lee County.
“Miss Anna Benning, of Colum
bus, was the next speaker, and
though a stranger to our people,
gave wholesome advice along the
line of preserving our records.
Mrs. J.S. Harmon, state editor of
D.A.Rfs impressed very forcibly
the inspiration born of these oc
casions and acts.
“Mrs. Chas. A. Fricker, regent
of the Council, briefly reviewed
the circumstances connected with
this movement, and the liberality
of Mrs. M. B. Heath, who donated
the ground and introduced the ora
tor of the occasion, Mr. J.E. D.
Shipp, of Americus, who deliv
ered an address, well worthy of
the occasion”.
On the monument are carved
these words:
CHEHAW
Large Indian town, home of the
Chehaws, a friendly agricultural
tribe, who aided early settlers.
They contributed men, food and
horses, to subdue the hostile
Seminoles.
Here Andrew
Jackson rested
with his starv
ing army and
was given help
in 1818. Here
also, in 1818,
through misun-
derstanding,
were massa
cred seven of
this tribe by
Georgia
troops, for
which all pos
sible amends
were made.
Erected in
1912 by Coun
cil of Safety,
Chapter,
D.A.R.
A photo
graph of the
1912 event is
shown in the
1991 book,
Abbeville to
Zebulon, Early
Post Card
Views of Geor
gia by Gary L.
Doster. In the
photo, you can
see the large crowd, which in
cluded many children, all dressed
in their best clothes. On the monu
ment is a large wreath and in the
background is a circle of small
trees. Ifm sure somewhere out of
view in the photo is the brass band
and long tables of food. Today,
after almost 90 years, the monu
ment still stands, surrounded by
very large oaks covered with
moss. As you stand reading the
engraving on the stone, you might
think back to the time of the un
veiling. While you don ft hear the
music and canft smell the barbe
cue of that day long ago, you do
appreciate the significance of this
isolated spot in Lee County. Km
sure none of those in the photo
graph are still with us today, but
we can be thankful for their ef
forts to leave us a reminder of the
importance of our past.
Directions to the Chehaw
Monument: From Leesburg, go
north on Highway #195 (Leslie
Highway) cross the Muckalee
Creek and turn right on New York
Road. Go 8/1 Oth of a mile and the
marker in located in a grove of
trees on your right.
ffiifiF /lff/innf'n
UiJiiim UmmUm / Lii
The World’s Fastest Lawn
HUSTLER
Starting
At Only
1 73 Society Street
Leesburg, GA 31 763
Buttons
Bovs
Vaycare anp Learning Center
Hours:
6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
owner/director: Michelle Peterman
(229) 759-8008
Historical HappeningsT^.
by Lee Stanley
