Newspaper Page Text
The Jackson Herald
By Holder & Williamson
Origin of Jackson County Postoftices
The following has been received
from Mrs. Sarah H. Hall, editor of
Federal Writers Project, in which
she says, “Officials of the Federal
Writers Project have made plans for
compiling data explaining the origin
and meaning of places—names in
Georgia, and this material is to be
published in a booklet that will pro
bably be entitled, ‘Origin of Geor
gia Place—Names.’" We request your
assistance in securing necessary in
formation concerning the following
places in Jackson County.” Then the
list is given. The information that
will be furnished appears in this
column. It is printed because we
are convinced that our readers will
be interested in this information,
tt t t
She asks about this county. Jack
son county established in 1796. Was
named for James Jackson, Governor,
United States Senator and statesman
from Georgia. He resigned from
the United States Senate, was elect
ed to the Georgia House of Repre
sentatives, where he exposed and
defeated the “Yazoo Fraud.” Jack
son is a fine agriculture county, and
at one time stood first in cotton
growing. It produces successfully
other crops than cotton. It is be
coming a cattle and stock county.
It has cotton mills, and other kinds
of manufacturing. It has splendid
schools and churches, and has some
of the best citizens of which any
county may boast.
tt t t
The following places will be dis
cussed one by one. The first place
about which information is asked is:
“Constantine,” a discontinued
postoffice, located in Jackson county,
in the Holly Springs community.
In naming a postoffice at this place
the government could not give it the
nanfe Springs, as was wished
by the people there, because there
was in existence in Georgia a post
office in Cherokee county named
Holly Springs. So the name Con
stantine was used.
“Maysville.” The next place
named is Maysville. It was original
ly called the Brick Store, as only one
store was originally there, which
was built of brick. Much business
was done in this store. The place
developed. After the Northeastern
railroad was constructed a charter
was granted for the town, which was
named Maysville, in honor of one of
the citizens of the community, Mr.
Mays. Do not know his given name.
“Wilson’s Church.” A station on
the same railroad, and so named for
the church at the station. The
church and station received their
names from one of the pioneer
families of that community—the
Wilson family. Sanford Wilson was
a leader, as well as an official of
that militia district named Wilson’s
district, for the same family.
tt t t
“Talmo,” a station on the Gain
esville Midland. The first business
house was built there by J. C. Wood,
after which others came, among
Whom were Messrs. T. W. Murphy,
J. H. A. Simmons, W. H. Bridges, D.
E. Murphy, Dr. W. C. Kennedy and
others. An enterprising little town
has been built there, called Talmo.
On the Gainesville Midland north of
this place was a postoffice called
Motan, named for Mose Tanner.
This office was discontinued, and
when request was made for a post
office on this point of the Gainesville
Midland above mentioned, the peo
ple and the Postoffice Department
changed the name from Motan to
Talmo. At first it might have been
suggested that Tanmo be the name,
but Talmo is more euphonious, and
was accepted.
“Pond Fork” is not far away
from Talmo. It was once a post
office, which has been discontinued.
It has a school house. It is so named
because near by is Pond Fork creek,
or river.
“Pendergrass” is located on the
Gainesville Midland, seven miles from
Jefferson. It was named for F. L.
Pendergrass, one of the promoters,
builders and original directors of the
Gainesville Midland, formerly known
and chartered as the Gainesville,
Jefferson and Southern Railrq id,
which at first was a narrow gauge
railroad, but now a standard guage.
“Dry Pond,” a community with a
church of this name, also a school
house that bears the same cogno
men. It once had a postoffice, also
SINGLE COPY 5c
called Dry Pond, which has been
abolished. It once had a camp
ground, where some great revivals
were held. It has the name be
cause at one time there was a pond
about the center of the field near the
church, which land is now owned by
Mr. C. F. Porter. In the course of
time water disappeared, and the
name given to church, school, post
office and camp ground community
—Dry Pond.
“Apple Valley,” once a postoffice,
which has been abolished, because of
rural delivery of mail. It received
its name because of a beautiful
valley near by planted in apple trees
by Judge W. J. Colquitt. Now there
is a peach grove in the same valley,
owned by Judge Colquitt’s grand
son, William.
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“Commerce,” a city on the North
eastern Railroad, which originally
was named Harmony Grove, because
of the beautiful groves of trees, and
because of the fellowship and friend
liness of the people of the communi
ty. So it was called Harmony
Grove. It developed into a fine
business center, and the name was
changed. A name was given it to
reflect it as a business center. It
has cotton mill, oil mill, overall and
pants factories, banks, stores,
schools, churches, and is a place of
great business activity. Therefore,
named Commerce.
“Virgil,” once a postoffice at the
Niblack home, where Mr. V. A. Nib
lack was born and reared. It was
named Virgil, in honor of Virgil A.
Stewart, who won renown in helping
capture and overcome bandits, and a
native of that community.
“Academy,” once a postoffice there
by that name, but a church and
school were there long before a
postoffice was placed there by the
United States government. The
school house has been moved, but
old Academy church stifl stands
there, a religious monument to that
locality. It is about four miles from
Jefferson, near the Gainesville Mid
land Railroad.
“Thyatira,” a church, once a
camp ground. It is located on the
Jefferson and Commerce highway,
about two and a half miles from
Jefferson. The postoffice by that
name has been discontinued, and the
school consolidated with Jefferson,
but the church stands, which has had
within its walls the gospel proclaim
ed for nearly a century.
“Brockton,” located about five
miles from Jefferson, at Bethany
church. It was once a postoffice,
named Mozelle, for Miss Mozellc
Whitehead, now Mrs. W. T. Hamby,
but later changed to Brockton, for
Dr. C. 0. Brock, a physician and
leading citizen of the county. No
longer is it a postoffice.
♦tt t t
“Nicholson" and “Center,” both
on the Northeastern Railroad, and
located between Athens and Com
merce. Center is nearer to Athens.
Names were given these two rail
road stations, business points and
postoffices in honor of two merch
ants in Athens, both of whom were
members of the same firm, Center &
Nicholson. These two merchants
took an active part in the construc
tion of this railroad, that passes
through there.
“Junior State,” located between
Nicholson and Center, on the same
railroad. It was once a reformatory
for boys, but no longer used for
such a purpose.
“Attica,” located on the Gaines
ville Midland, between Jefferson and
Athens, about ten miles from the
first named. It has a church, school,
ginnery, store, and secret order
lodge. It is a Greek name, given to
the place by Colonel T. J. Shackel
forefc
“Clarksboro,” located on the
Gainesville Midland, about eight
miles south of Jefferson; was the
first county seat of Jackson, and the
first court house of the county was
erected there. It was once J. P.
court ground, and noted one time
for having gander pullings, horse
races, and some bloody battles. It is
now a quiet community.
“Tallassee” is an Indian name,
and made somewhat famous in the
“Early History of Jackson County,”
by Hon. G. J. N. Wilson. It is
noted for its water power, for
here is built a great dam by the
Georgia Power Company. It is
JEFFERSON, Jackson County, Georgia.
about two miles from Attica. It was
once a postoffice, but has none now.
“Red Stone,” on the Gainesville
Midland, about seven miles from
Jefferson. It has a depot, but no
postoffice. It was so named be
cause not far away is a little brook
with red round pebbles, or stones,
and this little stream is called Red
Stone, and the depot and militia dis
trict are given the same name. It ha?
also a church and school. Red Stone
stream was the only one between
Jefferson and Athens on the old
original “State Road.” It was a
well known watering place for stock
between these two places.
“Wilner” was a postoffice at the
home of the late W. T. and J. A.
Wills, and Mrs. Lona W. Colley,
their sister. It was first named Mc-
Elhannon, for Mr. C. C. McElhan
non, now deceased, but was later
changed to Wilner. It was given the
name in this way. The postoffice de
partment took the name of Miss
Lona Wills (Mrs. Colley), and by
using the Christian name Wills and
the last part of her given name, na,
in Lona, they had Willsna. But
they dropped the Is, and changed
the spelling of the last part from na
to ner, and so had Wilner. The
postoffice has been abolished. This
is known as the Lebanon Church
community.
“Seymour,” once a postoffice not
far from the bridge between Jeffer
son and Winder, over the Mulberry
river. It was named for William
Seymour, a leading citizen. Post
office is no more.
“Sells,” on the Gainesville Mid
land, between Hoschton and Winder,
near the Mulberry river, and named
for Hon. L. F. Sell. It is only a de
pot, and no postoffice. Mr. Sell’s
place of business is not on the rail
road. It is a splendid community.
“Marcus” postoffice was at the
home of the late A. M. Flanigan.
There was also a school house near
this postoffice, called by same name.
There is now neither postoffice nor
school house there.
“Hoschton,” town, depot and post
office, on the Gainesville Midland,
between Gainesville and Winder,
named in honor of the Hosch Broth
ers, natives of that portion of the
county, who were promoters and
builders of the railroad traversing
that section. A good town has been
built at this place. Business enter
prises, hospital, churches and
school.
“Braselton,” on the Gainesville
Midland, about one mile nearer
Gainesville than Hoschton. It was
named for Hon. Harrison Braselton.
It has depot and postoffice, and is a
center of great business and educa
tional activity. Braselton Brothers,
three sons of Mr. Harrison Brasel
ton, are the chief promoters, build
ers and operators of Braselton. It
is a progressive little city.
“Olix,” a discontinued postoffice,
located at Captain H. R. Howard’s
place, or near there, about four
miles from Jefferson, on the Jeffer
son and Braselton road.
“Cedar,” another discontinued
postoffice, in the vicinity of Walnut
near his home.
“Johnson’s Mill,” was a postoffice
at Mr. J. A. Johnson’s ginnery, and
near his home.
“Merk” was a postoffice located in
Harrisburg district, near or at the
home of Mr. Henry Merk, and not
far from Oconee Church.
“Mulberry,” once a station, post
office, store and home, on Gainesville
Midland, between Hoschton and
Winder, near Mulberry river. It is
discontinued as a depot, postoffice
and important business point. The
place was located and built by the
late D. R. Lyle. Later owned by
Rev. H. N. Rainey, and later by H.
N. Rainey 11. It was originally
Center, the name of a church there.
“Morris Store,” a postoffice at G.
C. Williamson’s, located a short dis
tance from Arcade. The postoffice
has been discontinued, because of
rural delivery.
“Jefferson,” county seat of Jack
son, named for Thomas Jefferson,
author of the Declaration of Inde
pendence. Widely known for its
achievement in education, as well as
business. Has a railroad, Gaines
ville Midland. It was the home of
Dr. Crawford W. Long, discoverer
of anesthesia; also, William Duncan
Martin, who endowed the Jefferson
Woman’s Club Meets at
Home of Mrs. J. C. Turner
A most interesting meeting of
the Jefferson Woman’s Club was
held on Monday afternoon at the
home of Mrs. J. C. Turner, with Mrs.
Stiles Dadisman, Mrs. E. H. Crooks,
Mrs. H. D. Dadisman and Mrs. Bill
Spratlin as assistant hostesses.
The meeting opened with the
singing of Christmas carols and the
salute to the flag. Mrs. 11. J. W.
Kizer then read an excerpt from
Henry Van Dyke’s book, “Keeping
Christmas.”
After the reading and adoption of
the minutes of the November meet
ing, departmental reports were giv
en.
Mrs. J. E. Randolph, treasurer, re
ported $34.60 in general fund, and
$27.46 in health fund.
Mrs. H. E. Aderhold urged that
the club co-operate with the school
children in selling Christmas Seals.
A certain per cent of the amount
raised from the sale of these is kept
in the club treasury to be used in
the fight against tuberculosis in our
vicinity.
Mrs. Stanley Kesler, fine arts
chairman, stated that the book, “Fa
mous Paintings,” had been present
ed to the Martin Institute Library
by her department.
Mrs. C. H. Legg, garden division
chairman, urged that other means of
Christmas decorations, rather than
holly, be used, thereby conserving
the holly trees, which are so fast
disappearing, and offered some
splendid suggestions as just how this
could be done.
Mrs. H. D. Dadisman read an ar
ticle on Christmas, by Henry Van
Dyke, from the Club Woman’s
Magazine.
The club librarian gave reviews of
several of the new books and gave
a list of books especially appropriate
for Christmas gifts.
Motions were made and passed,
as follows: That a box of gifts from
the club be sent the Veterans Hos
pital in Atlanta; that the club adopt
a needy family in this vicinity at
Christmas time, and that the club
set as their goal the gift of one dol
lar per member to Tallulah Falls
School.
At the close of the business meet
ing, Miss Joyce Storey presented
the following program:
Duet, Christmas Song, Misses
Lassiter and Reins.
Reading, Christmas Challenge,
Miss Mary Whitner.
Violin Solo, Angel’s Serenade,
Miss Alice Reins.
Reading, Good Old Santa, Miss
Sara Wills.
Solo, The Child Jesus, Miss Flor
ence Lassiter.
Another most interesting feature
of the program was a quiz on Christ
mas. A list of twenty-five questions
pertaining to the Yuletide season
were passed to the club members,
and endeavoring to get the correct
answers proved most interesting.
After adjournment, the hostesses
served delicious refreshments.
Those present, were: Mesdames T.
T. Benton, H. E. Aderhold, L. H.- Is
bell, Summie Kinningham, Stanley
Kesler, M. M. Bryan, J. D. Escoe, C.
H. Legg, J. E. Randolph, H. D. Dad
isman, Bill Spratlin, H. J. W. Kizer,
Harold Duke, Hubert Martin, C. B.
Lord, R. J. Kelly, M. L. Mobley, W.
T. Bryan, C. D. Cox, J. W. Jackson,
J. A. Wills, J. N. Holder, A. B.
Elizer, Herman White, Stacks, Miss
es Mary Whitner, Sara Wills, Joyce
Storey, Esther Kinney, Mabeth
Storey, Beth Bailey, Elizabeth Col
lins, Alice Reins, Irene Rankins,
Florence Lassiter.
EAST SIDE CHOIR AT BEREA
SUNDAY
You could enjoy yourself su
premely at the December meeting of
the East Side Choir, which meets at
Berea Baptist Church on the after
noon of the third Sunday, Decem
ber 14. The singing begins prompt
ly at one-thirty. Bring your latest
song books and enjoy every minute
of the occasion.
Claude Cleghorn, Pres.
Jewett Barnett, Sec’y.
School and the Jefferson Methodist
Church. Jefferson is one hundred
and thirty-two years old. It is a
little city of noble parts.
Of course, the information pub
lished is very brief concerning places
mentioned. It could not be other
wise when given in condensed form.
Thursday, December 15, 1938.
COUNTY AGENT’S
COLUMN
The Modern Water Diipotal Method*
Failure to provide for proper dis
posal of water collected by terraces
frequently results in serious damage
to farm lands. The modern water
disposal methods, now being demon
strated in erosion-control projects,
provide protected areas on which the
water concentrated in terraced
fields can be emptied safely.
The development of an effective
system of terraces and outlets re
quires definite planning in advance
of terracing, so as to take into con
sideration all the problems in drain
age and water disposal.
Advantage can thus be taken of
all the natural drainage ways in
planning the terracing system, and
where adequate vegetation is al
ready established in these natural
drainage ways, proper location of
terraces leading to these can be
determined, and these terraces can
be constructed as soon as desired.
With location of other disposal
areas determined by the water dis
posal plan, vegetation can be estab
lished on these locations before the
remaining terraces are built. Pre
treatment will greatly simplify the
water disposal problem.
Following a procedure of this
kind puts terracing in its proper re
lation to the entire water disposal
system, and removes one of the
principal causes of the development
of gullies along property lines, road
sides, and other areas on the farm
which are unprotected by vegetation
against the erosive effects of con
centrated terrace water.
A Good Forett I* Very Uieful
A good forest is one of the best
water reservoirs. The thick cover
on the forest floor slows down the
flow of water and checks soil losses
and prevents gullies.
Farmers are advised that trees
will grow on land too poor to pro
duce food crops. Trees will increase
the value of worn out land at a very
small labor cost. The forest adds
humus to the soil, which makes it
fertile for a future crop.
Everything in a forest is valuable,
and trees are of first importance in
every day life. Forest products
supply many of the commonly used
comforts, necessities and luxuries.
Dyes, paper, fuel, medicine, tan
nin, chemicals, food and many other
essentials of life are made from
parts of trees. This is one of the
reasons why every acre of timber
land should be kept productive.
One of the more important uses
of the forest is that it provides
homes and feed for game and birds
which, in turn, destroy hordes of in
sect pests. This helps to make pros
perous farmers, because better crops
are produced when pests are con
trolled.
When the tree crop is cut, labor
and machinery must be employed
and this releases large sums of mon
ey to merchants and local food pro
ducers. So the forest helps to in
sure continued prosperity too.
J. W. Jackson, County Agt.
Junior State Patrol
Organized in Jefferson
Trooper J. H. Strickland of the
State Patrol was in the city Mon
day, and addressed the school chil
dren at the Institute and organized
a Junior State Patrol, selecting the
troopers from the ninth, tenth and
eleventh grade boys. In his talk to
the boys he reminded them that 21
people are killed in automobile ac
cidents, and 1,000 injured each week;
that 70 per cent of these result from
speeding; 20 per cent from passing
cars on hills and curves; a large per
cent from drivers who have had a
drink. He stated that one drink of
beer makes a man at the wheel a
menace to traffic. He said all pe
destrians should walk on left side of
road. Stated that in Jefferson he
saw a small school boy riding on the
running board of a car—a practice
that endangers one’s life.
Quite a large number of boys
were given the oath of a Junior Pa
trol and presented with badges.
These boys will choose a captain
from their number, and will be di
vided into groups to patrol the
streets where school children cross.
A boy will also be assigned to each
school bus, and his duty -will be to
see that the children reach their
homes in safety.
Vol. 63. No. 27.
Practice Christmas Music
Friday Night at Christian
Church
On Friday evening at 7 o’clock
all the singers of Jefferson are invit
ed to meet at the Christian Church
for practice in singing Christmas
music. •
Prof. John W. Craft, director of
music in the Gainesville schools, will
have charge of the practice. About
20 towns of this area are having
part in the enterprise, which calls
finally for a mass concert at the
Gainesville Auditorium, Wednesday
night, December 21* when after
practice in the different towns all the
singers meet there under Mr. Craft’s
direction.
In Jefferson it is planned to sing
the songs practiced on the square
Christmas Eve night. This will be
under the direction of Mrs. L. H.
Isbell, and sponsored by the Wo
man’s Club. Rev. A. B. Elizer is
calling the practice for Friday night,
and is very anxious that the singers
join in the practice. He has asked
Mrs. L. H. Isbell, from the Christian
Church, Mrs. J. C. Turner, from the
Presbyterian Church, Misses Joyce
Storey and Alice Reins, from the
Baptist Church, and Miss Florence
Lassiter from the Methodist Church,
to urge all singers to come.
Pageant at Baptist Church
Sunday Evening
“The Way,” a beautiful and im
pressive pageant, will be presented
at the Jefferson Baptist Church, Sun
day evening, December 18, at 8-
o’clock. Preceding the program, P.
T. Pendergrass will give an organ
recital. Mrs. M. M. Bryan is direct
or of the pageant, and Miss Miriam
Bennett is pianist, which insures a
successful performance.
The complete personnel for “The
Way” is as follows:
The Voice, Miss Joyce Storey.
Abraham, H. W. Davis.
Moses, H. E. Aderhold.
Elijah, H. A. Stephens.
Isaiah, L. F. Elrod.
Mary, Mrs. Luther Lyle.
Angel of the Lord, Miss Cully
Roberts.
Heralds of the Angel, Mrs. Jack
Hardy, Miss Billie Hardy, Miss Beth
Bailey, Miss Mabeth Storey.
Three Shepherds, William Hardy,
Edmon Garrison, Southworth Bryan.
Three Kings, John Bailey, Jack.
Hardy, Storey Ellington.
Nations of the World:
China, Johnnie Ruth Hardy.
Japan, Dorothy Frazier.
India, Mrs. Ab Hardy.
Italy, Mrs. Harold Duke.
France, Mrs. John Hardy.
Belgium, Carolyn Lord. j
Germany, Betty Dozier.
Russia, Frances Staton.
England, Margaret Kelly.
America, Mrs. H. L. Bentley.
Jefferson Merchants Ready
to Serve Herald Readers
We call the attention of the Her
ald’s readers to the ads. of Jeffer
son merchants in this issue, and re
mind them that these stores have
attractive holiday stocks—useful*
colorful gifts, as well as the things
needed for regular wear. You will
profit by reading the ads. and trad
ing in Jefferson. Every day from
now until December 23 will be busy
days for the shoppers, and these
merchants are anxious to sell you
your Santa Claus, your gifts, your
holiday “eats,” your fruit cake in
gredients. Don’t wait too late, shoj>
early and get the pick of the varied
stocks of Christmas goods.
WHITNEY GIN HOUSE
FOUND BY WORKMEN 1
Augusta, Ga.—Drainage ditchers
on the New Savannah road, Rocky
Creek swamp, have unearthed the
remains of what was said to be the
structure which housed Eli Whit
ney’s first cotton gin.
The pine timbers forming the
foundation, though submerged, are
in a good state of preservation.
W. A. Legwen, sanitary engineer
in charge, said the boards were
either hewed or sawed from giant
logs with a crosscut saw. Parts
were numbered with Roman numer
als to aid carpenters in fitting the
mortised joints, which were attach
ed by wooden pegs and hand-made
iron spikes.