Newspaper Page Text
Butts History
Cont. from page 4
This is what Peggy - or was
it Susannah?-writes: “When
you see this letter stained
with the blood of my
husband, the last drop of
which is now spilt for the
friendship he has shown for
your people, I know you will
remember your pledge to us
in behalf of your nation, that
in the worst of events, you
would assist and protect us.”
“And when I tell you at
daylight on Saturday last,
hundreds of the hostiles
surrounded our house and
instantly murdered Gen.
Mclntosh and (I can’t make
out this name in the letter) by
shooting near one hundred
balls into them. Chilly
escaped by the window.
Indians commenced plunder
ing the most unprincipled
way. So that I am driven
from the ashes of my
smoking dwelling, left with
nothing but my poor little
naked, hungry (sic) children.
I need some immediate aid
from my white friends.
“The same morning, the
Creeks caught and tied Col.
Samuel Hawkins, kept him
tied until 3 p.m. when their
chiefs returned and ordered
his execution. They refused
to cover his body, which is
exposed to the fowls and
beasts of the forest. Jenny
(Note -Jane, I think) and her
child are here and in the
same condition we are. If you
people do not assist us, God
help us. We must die either
by sword or famine.”
Then the letter tells of the
coming of Gen. Ware, who
will “in a few minutes start
with a few men and friendly
Indians to try to get a little
something for us to eat. Lay
this before the Governor and
President that they may
know our miserable condi
tion.”
She goes back a little to the
tragic dawn:
“I followed the Indian
hostiles to their camp about
Vfe mile to beg of them
something to cover the dead,
but it was denied me. I also
tried to get a horse to take
my little children some
provisions and to get to the
white settlement. This was
given me, but taken back.”
Then she tells of some white
men who came in and
assisted them in burying
their dead, and later getting
to the white settlement. If it
had not been for them, she
writes, “we would be even
worse off than we are now.”
Whoever wrote the letter
sounds like a college grad
uate, except for two small
misspelled words. But why
does she never say “we”
when the letter is signed by
both wives?
The whole tale-finale to a
tragic drama - is part of a
long story.
The big best purpose that it
serves is to send those of us
who read it off to the history
shelf to learn more about our
fascinating state. We have
lately come upon the stage.
What happened in the first
act, and the second?
Bruce Catton -and many
1 r
On July 4, 1776, Congress adopted the Declaration
of Independence, a document proclaiming that the
colonies be “free and independent states.”
W. L Holloway’s Storo
Indian Springs
other historians - points out
that we cannot cope intelli
gently with the future unless
we know what happened
yesterday.
Every now and then when I
am prying into what went on
before I got here, I come
upon a story like this. And to
some brave woman or man
who was in on the first act,
my heart takes off its hat, as
it does now to these
Antigones of an early
Georgia.
(Permission secured by
phone;
By Bernice McCuller,
Atlanta Journal Constitution
1-11-1959.
High Water
. . . “Traffic was sus
pended on the Southern
Railroad between Atlanta
and Macon for three days
this week” . . . Waters
covered the railroad track
four feet.
At Dames Ferry, in
Monroe County the red
water of the Ocmulgee river
covered the tracks to a depth
of seven feet.
The recent heavy rain also,
washed out six bridges in the
county. These were: “Mc-
Cord, Hodges, Barnete, Ed
dlemans, Weavers and Hen
ley’s.
Jackson Argus, Feb. 6,1900
Jackson Baptist Church
will have own missionary in
China. Dr. (Robert J.)
Willingham stated the salarv
for a missionary in China is
SSOO per year. This amount
was subscribed.
Jackson Argus, Feb. 16,1900
Population News: We are
authorized by Supervisor,
Joseph Thihidean to publish
an approximate estimate of
the population of Jackson.
The figures have not been
added up, but we are allowed
to say it will be between 1,000
to 1,100 souls. This is a
wonderful increase over 10
years ago, as at this time we
had only 242.
Middle Georgia Argus,
July 22,1900
Mr. J. C. Maddux of
Flovilla, County Surveyor for
many years, gives interest
ing information concerning
the county. He said, “There
are five incorporated towns,
eight militia districts, 13 post
offices, one cotton mill, two
flour mills, several mills of
power on the Ocmulgee
River, inexhaustable sup
plies of granite and other rich
resources.”
The Jackson Argus,
Nov. 23,1900
The following advertise
ment was seen in The
Jackson Argus, December
1900:
W. A. Wagner, Florist
McDonough Road, Phone 94
Butts County Gets First
Free Rural Delivery: “The
new system of rural delivery
for Butts County will be put
THE JACKSON PROGRESS-ARGUS, JACKSON, GEORGIA
into operation on the second
day of January, 1901. Tom
Cawthon has been appointed
carrier at a salary of SSOO per
year, with his father as
deputy carrier . . . The
route is from Jackson to
Island Shoals via Stark and
Worthville, and the route is
twenty miles in length. One
hundred families will be
served with a population of
500 people.”
The Jackson Argus,
Dec. 5,1900
Jackson Baptist Church
donates $2,000 to build a
chapel in China where the
gospel can be preached by
the missionary which the
church has there.
Headlines The Jacksen
Record, May 25, 1905
..Water Works and Electric
Lights: There have been
frequent discussions about
the need for electric lights
and waterworks for the city
since 1898. It has been the
subject of Council meetings,
mass meetings and editorials
since then. Asa result of this
hard work, the happy an
nouncement follows: “Last
week Mayor J. B. Wall,
closed the contract with
Robinson and Humphrey of
Atlanta where they will take
over the $20,000 worth of City
bonds voted in 1898.”
The Jackson Record,
Dec. 1,1905
An interesting ad because
of the age limit included:
HELP WANTED
12 years to 60 years
Both Male and Female
Pepperton Cotton Mill
F. L. Alien, Supt., A. H.
Smith, Treas.
The Jackson Argus,
Sept. 26,1906
Note: Mrs. A. H. Shaver,
Prop. & Editor
“Waterworks Complete:
Jackson gets first squirt of
water.
The Jackson Record,
April 12,1907
Hon. Joseph M. Brown,
Gov. Elect, Will be Distin
guished Guest of Chamber of
Commerce.
Mr. Brown will arrive by
train tomorrow at 9 o’clock
from Macon, and will be met
by the following committee
from the Chamber of
Commerce:
Mayor S. O. Ham, O. B.
Willis, J. D. Jones, William
T. Powers, Judge J. H. Ham,
Col. W. E. Watkins, F. S.
Etheridge, Prof. W. R.
Lanier, A. HxCarmichael, T.
H. Buttrill, Col. C. L.
Redman, J. H. Carmichael,
B. F. Moon, S. H. Thornton,
George S. Hanes, Dr. J. B.
Hopkins, T. j. Dempsey', J.
B. Settle, H. L. Daughtry, E.
L. Smith, J. M. Currie, and
Mack Goodman. (Two names
were ommitted on notes.)
Butts County Progress
Feb. 5,1909
Other distinguished Butts
Countians and Georgians
were guests at the Chamber
of Commerce’s Banquet
tended Gov. Elect Brown.
The (Newly formed) Central
of Georgia Power Company
has chosen for its first
development its power site
on the upper Ocmulgee river.
Butts County Progress,
April 1,1910
Social News, April 10, 1910
“The Chautaugua was a
great success in every way.”
It is said the attractions were
good and it was largely
attended.
Sports News, AprH 10,1910
The great automobile races
“The course began near
the Southern Railroad track
and extended for seven
eighth of a mile long to Third
St. There were nine entries in
the race . . . The entries
were from Barnesville, Mc-
Donough, Macon, Jackson,
and Atlanta.”
City and County news taken
from the local papers:
Butts County Progress-Argus
Rural Telephone Service
will be Established: The new
lines and number of phones
are: Webbs,line4s; Watkins,
line 6; Taylor, 25; Stark, 7;
and Ellis, 10.
April 10,1910
South Crippled by Big
Snow: Snow fell here Monday
in considerable quantities
while the: entire South
shivers in biting cold.
April 19,1910
Another First for Jackson:
“Free Delivery goes on in
May.” A formal order by
Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General for the establish
ment of village mail service
in Jackson, beginning May
1.”
March 30,1917
Butts County reports 250
cars. Of the total number, 138
are Fords. “These are put
down at $390 each . . .
From a Great American Manufacturer
by permission of THE BETTMAW ARCHIVE
181 7: The world’s biggest ditchdiggers.
We’ve built canals before. Little ones. But who'd think of a canal to connect the
Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean? A man named Elkanah Watson would.
And New York’s Governor De Witt Clinton agrees, even though some, includ
ing Tom Jefferson, call it madness. The federal government won't back it. So
New York starts alone, with the help of the strong backs and great courage of
thousands of Irish immigrants. "Clinton’s Ditch” will be 383 miles long, 40 feet
wide and only four feet deep. But it will help us settle upstate New’ York,
Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. It will cut freight travel by many
miles and many dollars. It w’ill help make New York City America's giant. And
when, in 1825, Governor Clinton empties a keg of Lake Erie into New
York Bay, we'll know his value. And the value of his Erie Canal. $
THE KYM CO.
THURSDAY, JULY 1, 1976
There are 112 of all other
makes—these are estimated
at $900.”
June 27,1917
New War Taxes will reach
rich and poor. “Effective
November Ist, postal rates
will increase from 2 to 3 cents
for letters and post cards
from l to 2 cents.
November 26,1917
Local Papers Consolidate:
The Jackson Argus, estab
lished in 1873, and The Butts
County Progress, established
in 1883, were consolidated
under the name of The
Progress-Argus July 1, 1915.
January 1,1917
The Jackson Progress-
Argus Begins a New Volume:
The paper is one of the oldest
weekly newspapers in the
State. It was first published
at Indian Springs, later at the
Camp Ground and then
moved to Jackson.
January 4,1918
War News:
. .National Guardsmen to be
Home Soon —Troops Ordered
From Border: Georgia
soldiers will be sent to Macon
and disbanded .... Butts
County plans reception for
Jackson Rifles. A barbecue is
to be featured. Patriotic
organizations will decorate
and meet soldiers at the
depot....
On the same page wel
coming the soldiers from El
Paso the following headline
appeared: “NAVY BEING
RECRUITED TO FULL
STRENGTH." “President
issues orders placing United
States on war footing.”
The Jackson Progress-Argus
March 30,1917
Increased Pay for Enlisted
Men: The House provision
would make the pay for
enlisted men S3O a month,
and the senate bill would fix
the pay at $29 a month. The
Present pay is sls.
The Jackson Progress-
Argus, May 4,1917
Butts County citizens show
their patriotism Tuesday;
1,114 registered.
Butts County Boys in
Foreign Service: William
McClure and Lee Roy
Settle lands safely with 17th
Engineers. They were among
the first Americans to land
on foreign soil.
The Jackson
Progress-Argus,
August 31,1917
“138 Stars in Service Flag
Unveiled in Jackson
Saturday:” The flag was
made by Miss Sarah Smith,
Elizabeth Fletcher, Sarah
Allen, Bessie Compton, and
Annie B. Smith. They are
Butts County students at the
State Normal School at
Athens.
The flag contains two Gold
Stars, in honor of two
deceased soldiers.
The Jackson
Progress-Argus,
April 12,1918
Butts County citizens have
been following the big battle
raging between Soissons and
the Rheims with breathless
interest...”
The Jackson
Progress-Argus
August 9,1918
Butts County Blood Red
dens Sunny France: Joe T.
Watkins of the Rainbow
Division wounded July 28.
1918.
The Jackson
Progress-Argus,
October 11,1918
Allies Captured 254,000
Prisoners.
Influenza Still Raging: A
heavy toll of life has already
been taken by the new
malady (Spanish Influenza).
A large per cent of the deaths
were in the army camps. (It
was extremely bad in most
sections of Georgia. Almost
every pregnant woman who
had it died. In some areas,
two, three, and in some
instances more died in one
family.)
War Over: Armistice sign
ed Monday 6:00 a m. A big
celebration was staged Mon
day. The county went wild
over the War’s close. It was
the world’s greatest jubilee
celebrated. Cars honked,
whistles blew, and the
courthouse bell rang continu
ously for several hours.
Patriotic speeches stirred
one of the largest crowds
ever seen in Jackson.
The Jackson
Progress-Argus,
November 15,1918
Influenza Epidemic:
Washington, November 17,
1918, states the recent
influenza epidemic caused
more deaths than occurred
among the American expedi
tionary forces from the time
the first unit landed in
France until hostilities
ceased.
The Jackson
Progress-Argus,
November 22,1918
Women to Pay SI.OO Poll
Tax: All who desire to take
part in elections will have to
register and pay a dollar fee.
The Jackson
Progress-Argus,
September 30.1921
I have not permitted
myself, gentlemen, to con
clude that I am the best man
in the country; but I am
reminded in this connection
of a story of an old Dutch
farmer, who remarked to a
companion once that it was
not best to swap horses when
crossing a stream.-Abra
ham Lincoln.
While the people retain
their virtue and vigilance, no
administration, by any ex
treme of wickedness or folly,
can very seriously injure the
government in the short
space of four years.-Abra
ham Lincoln.
Holiday Plan
Begins June 7
Much Interest Shown
Jackson to Join Other
Cities in Having
Weekly Half Holiday
—Closing Hour Is
One O’clock
One week from Wedensday
—June 7 being the date—the
half holiday plan will be
put into effect in Jackson. All
the stores that signed the
agreement will close at 1
o’clock on Wednesday after
noons and remain closed
during the rest of the day.
The business men who
have entered into this agree
ment have advertised the
movement thoroughly and
extensively and everybody
throughout this section will
be acquainted with the
closing by June 7. It is not
thought the half holiday plan
will inconvenience shoppers,
as people will soon adjust
themselves to the order of
things.
This movement, it is
pointed out, has been widely
endorsed and commended by
the people of the community.
Several of the county’s best
known citizens have given
the plan their undivided
approval.
Information gathered from
all over the state shows that a
large and grow-ing number of
cities are joining the move
ment for a holiday once a
week. As the project works
well in other places it is held
that it will work satisfac
torily in Jackson.
Wednesday afternoon.
June 7, marks the beginning
of the weekly holiday
movement and stores and
business houses will close on
each Wednesday afternoon
thereafter up to and in
cluding Aug. 30. Jackson
Progress-Aegus. June 2.1916.