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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.