Newspaper Page Text
In, 1824 there were three lawyers
in McDonough, Mr. Tuggle, Arthur
Patton and Mr. Steel.
At that time Dr. Tuggle was the
only physician in the place. The fol
lowing year Dr. Stokes came to
(McDonough.
Mr. Minor in 1828 edited a paper
called the Jacksonian and it is claim
ed that this was the first paper in the
United States that put the name of
General Andrew Jackson in nomina
tion for the presidency.
One of the most fiendish crimes ever
committed around McDonough was the
cold blooded murder of his wife by a
man named Jarrell. He was the first
white man ever hung in Henry Coun
ty. The gallows was erected on
Birch Creek near the Carmichael
home.
In 1830 a negro was hung on the
left side of the Covington road in the
field of Mrs. Charles Walker, and was
guarded to his death by a horse com
pany under the command of Col. Ben
nirg, the father of Capts. Theodore
and Augustus Benning of the English
marine.
The Gallows Field owned by Mrs.
Annie Nolan, now used as a ball
ground, received its name from the
hanging there of a negro by the name
of Cummings.
At one time McDonough was one of
the most important towns of middle
Georgia. The Georgia and the West
ern and Atlantic railroads were sur
veyed to this point forming a junctioni
where the old jail house or present
court house now stands. But the peo
ple violently objected to the roads
and they were never built. Many of
the inhabitants soon afterwards mov
ed to Griffin or Hampton so as to
have the advantages and conveniences
of a railroad. Several handsome
houses were torn down and moved by
wagons to Griffin. Where Mr. J. B.
Newman has just built, Mr. Billie
White had a house torn down and car
ried to Griffin. Dr. Bean moved a two
story house that stood on Dr. Scott’s
lot. Mr. Burns a two story house
that was situated north of the Brown
House. Almost opposite Mrs. Tye’s
residence George Clark lived and his
house was .among the number moved.
Mrs. Stanley moved a handsome resi
lence which stood on the site of Mrs.
Julia McDonald's home.
Among those who taught our par
ents and grand parents, were Mrs.
Marguret Turner, Mrs. Stokes, Aunt
Kate Piper, Miss Maggie Candler,
Miss Olive Markham, Miss Mattie
Cox, Miss Mary Ray, Mr. Hatch, Mr.
Shumate, Mr. A. M. Campbell, Mr. R.
L. Campbell and Mr. Newton.
The editors of a Students Journal
written by the school boys in 1855
were L. S. Jenkenes, Thos. Stokes,
Wm. Sloan, L. W. Jarrell, J. B. Man
son, Wm. Lowe, J. W. Dailey, John
Foster, E. S. Tomlinson and John
Doyai. I regret that space will not
allow the copying of seme of the ar
ticles written in this Journal.
The large wooden school building
erected where our present school
building stands was destroyed by fire
soon after the war.
I have now reached a period which
many of cur old people can remember
and will mention briefly some of the
public men of that time.
Dr. L. M. Tye was graduated from
the Medical college at Augusta, Geor
gia, and immediately began to prac
tice his profession in McDonough. For
thirty-five years he lived in the town,
loved and honored by all who knew
him. Twice he was elected to the
General Assembly of Georgia. In
1877 he was elected by the citizens
of the 34th Senatorial district as one
of the delegates for remodeling the
Constitution. For McDonough’s safe
ty during Sherman’s raid, we are in
debted to Dr. Tve’s diplomacy in
handling some sick federal soldiers.
Only one house was destroyed, Mr.
Dan Nolley’s situated in the eastern
part of the town. Dr. Tye married
Miss M. Crockett, whose home was
two ar.d one-half miles north of Mc-
Donough. Mr. John Crockett moved
to Henry county in 184 b.
Judge Able A. Lemon, when quite
a boy, came to McDonough to procure
an education. He was cf German ex
traction. His father moved to Geor
gia from South Carolina in 1813 and
settled on the Ocmulgee. This home
still remains in the family. Judge
Lemon married Miss Minerva Mann
in 1847. Early in life he was selected
for official station and without an in
termission was in public service to
the day of his death. For twenty
years or more he was worshipful mas
ter over Fraternal Lodge No. 37 F.
A. M. He was ordinary of the coun
ty for a number of years and was hold
ing the office at the time of his
death.
Judge Thos. M. Speer came to Mc-
Donough in the fall of 1852. For a
term of years he was one of the judges
of the inferior court. In 1857 he mov
ed from McDonough to the Jno. M.
Dorsey farm, subsequently known as
the Speer farm. This home was
known throughout the country as the
"Floating Place.” It is two miles
from McDonough on the Flippen road.
Six of Judge Speer’s sons fought in
the Confederate Army.
Mr. Levy Turner was reared near
Turner Church. In 18H5 he moved to
town, and lived in the house after
wards known as the Geo. M. Nolan
home, which stood at the corner of
Nolan street and Brown’s avenue. Mr.
Turner's wife was a Miss Harper,
whose father was one of the pioneer
settlers of the county and lived near
McMullen bridge. Mr. Turner was
sheriff, also judge of the county court
for many years. The last years of
his life were spent in a house which
stood where Mrs. Cam Turner no\v
lives. When quite a small boy Mr.
Turner helped to clear the ground
upon which the first court house was
built.
Mr. Alexander Price came to Henry
county in 1833 and built a beautiful
home four miles north of McDonough.
The family were originally from Vir
ginia. They made good soldiers in
the Confederate army. Some of the
descendants are now living near Flip
pen.
Judge Q. R. Nolan was a graduate
of Emory and Henry College, Virginia,
and Yale University. He located in
McDonough in 1846, and married An
toinette Campbell. Judge Nolan held
different offices of public trust during
his life. He was county school com
missioner, ordinary of the county and
was on Governor Brown’s staff. He
bought Dr. Gordon's home, which was
afterwards known as the Nolan home
and stood where Mr. Pullen is now
erecting a beautiful residence. Mr.
Geo. M. Nolan, the late mayor of Jack
sonville, Fla., was his brother, and
for many years he also lived in Mc-
Donough, and served the county as
ordinary.
The Copeland family of Henry coun
ty are of English origin moving here
from South Carolina in 1826.
Mr. W. M. Copeland was a
great friend of Joe Brown’s and serv
ed in the seigs of Atlanta, also Savan
nah. He married Miss Mary A. Green,
a daughter of one of the original set
-1 lea b.
Mr. .T. M. Carmichael moved to Hen
ry County about 1849, settling three
miles west of the town. He was fath
er of the Carmichael family now scat
tered over Georgia and Texas. Of Mr.
J. M. Carmichael there are now nine
ty-six living descendants. The great
grandfather, William Carmichael
fought in the Revolutionary war.
William Berry moved to Henry
county in 1836 and settled eight miles
west of McDonough. For a number of
years he served as justice of the peace
of the Sixth district. During the civil
war he represented the county in the
legislature. His oldest daughter mar
ried William Markham and moved to
the Brown House in McDonough. It
was while Mrs. Markham was living
there that his daughter, Mrs. Robert
,J. Lowry, of Atlanta, was born. Mr.
Markham built the Speer homestead.
John Wnrd moved from Pufnam
county in 1845. At first he lived in the
western part of the county near Love
joy. Later he moved to the old Doss
place nine miles west of McDonough,
and afterwards moved to Stockbridge.
His wife was Miss Margaret Berry.
Mr. Ward was prominent in the af
fairs of the county.
Maxwell Berry married Miss Hattie
Key, of McDonough in 1853. He moved
to Atlanta in 1854. S. W. Berry was
born in 1828. He with his family and
brother, J. A. Berry, was killed in 1864
at the battle of Decatur, Alabama.
John Stilwell lived four miles south
of McDonough on the Jackson road.
He came to Henry county about 1830.
James Knott was proprietor of the
Mansion Hotel, now known as the
Dunn Hotel. His son, Mr. David
Knott, and Mr. Allen Turner, built the
brick store now standing on the west
side of the square. Dr. Edward Knott,
and her son, acquired quite a reputa
tion as a physician and for a while had
a drug store in front of the Tye res
idence, known as “Knott and Tye.”
Mr. Healy married Miss Olive Mark
ham while living in McDonough. He
moved to Atlanta from here and ac
quired considerable property.
Mr. Tom Johnson had a son drowned
in the “Big Spring.” This happened
while he was living at the Cleveland
house.
Oliver W. Cox came to Henry coun
ty in the early thirties and settled in
McDonough where he engaged in the
mercantile business in the building re
cently occupied by Mr.' Cam Turner.
At one time he owned the plantation
known as “White Chimneys.” He
married Miss Harvey, of McDonough.
In 1840 he was elected senator. His
brother, John M. Cox, came to McDon
ough in 1838. He also went into the
mercantile business and for a number
f years was proprietor of the hotel
which stood on the southeast corner
of the square. While living here he
owned the plantation now known as
the Daily place.
Mr. D. H. Wall came to Henry coun
ty when quite a boy. He married Miss
Margaret Rosser, the daughter of one
of the earliest settlers. They made
their home near Locust Grove and the
old homestead is still occupied by
their descendants.
Benjamin and Burton Crabbe moved
from Wilkes county to Henry county
in the early thirties. Benjamin settled
near Shingleroof campground. For
many years he was tax receiver for
the county. Burton was proprietor of
a hotel in McDenough. His son,
James, owned the only carriage and
buggy repair shop in the town. This
shop stood on the present site of the
McDonough Buggy Factory, James’
first wife was Miss Crabbe, his second
v. ife was Miss Harrell.
The Clements family were originally
from Virginia. David Clements came
from there here scon after this coun
ty was organized, and took a promi
nent part in the early settlement of
the town. His home was on the spot
where the Presbyterian church now
stands. Mr. Clements owned the first
gin that wqs ever run in Henry coun
ty. After residing in the town for a
number of years he moved to his plan
tation on Walnut Creek.
Jonathan J. Brannon was born in
1830. He married Miss Barbary Crumb
ley in 1851. Mr. Brannon was an of
ficer in the Confederate army, was
captured at Knoxville, Tennessee, and
oied while in captivity.
Mr. John Dailey first lived at the old
Nolly homestead. Later he moved out
on his faint two miles north of Mc-
Donough where he had a large nur
sery. Mr. Daily lost about $30,000 in
the old Monroe railroad.
Mr. Johnnie Lowe was among the
pioneer settlers of McDonough and
lived in a house which stood on the
I-res nt location of Honorable Paul
Turner's residence.
Mrs. Pamelia Campbell moved to
McDonough in 1848 and lived in the
residence now occupied by Mrs. Flor
ence Harper. Six of her sons fought
in the civil war, one being killed in the
battle of Antietam. She was the moth
er of the late Dr. Campbell, also moth
er of Rev. A. M. Campbell, deceased,
whose wife is now a missionary in
Korea.
Miss Mary Ray came to McDonough
from Philadelphia and was one of our
early teachers. She married M-
Hall and was the mother of John I.
Hall, cf Giiffin.
Mr. A. It. Brawn was a merchant.
His store stood’between the Cornell
house and the old Alec Lemon home
on the cast side of the square. For
many years he was our postmaster.
He came to Henry county in 1873 and
mairied Miss Sallie Knott. After Mr.
Brown’s death Mrs. Brown ran a hotel
la own as the “Brown House.”
The Everetts lived near Tye’s resi
dence in the house that is now occu-
C. rd by Mr. Borders. Mr. Everett is
the father of Mrs. Margarett John
son.
Mr. Adam C. Sloan came to McDon
ough when sixteen years of age. His
wife was Miss Elizabeth Johnson, sis
ter of tx-Governor Johnson. He was
e successful business man. Where Mr.
BJi'y Bryant lives, Mr. Sloan had a
blacksmith shop that became a place
for the men to meet and discuss the
questions of the day. Hi s eldest son,
Thcmas Sloan, was lieutenant-colonel
of the Fifty-third Georgia regiment
and was killed in the battle of Spar
tanburg.
Thomas Russell moved here from
South Carolina with his family soon
after the county wag organ zed He
donated the ground upon which Tim
berbridge church was built and with
the help of Mr. Billie Green, John
Thompson and a few others built this
church.
Sheridan R. Brown was born in
1831. His wife was Miss Mary Lowe.
Soon after enl'sting in the army he
was elected captain 1 of Company F,
Fifty-third Georgia regiment. His com
pany took part in the following bat
tles: Malvern Hill, Harpers' Ferry,
Spartanburg, Salem Church, First Bat
tle of the Wilderness, Chancellorsvilie
and Gettysburg. Mr. Brown was elect
ed mayor, but, on account of a wound
received while in battle, was unable
to rejoin his command.
Mr. W. A. Stewart was born in
South Carolina in 1829, but came to
Henry county with his father when
only four years old. He lived near
Wynn's Mill and married Miss Sophia
McMullen. Mr. Stewart fought m the
war but did not receive the slightest
wound. He is now in his eignty-ninth
ar.
STEPHENS&SPEER;
DRUGGISTS i
1 <
I —” • ,
Successors to Smith & Woodman, No. 4 ( ,t King Street.
1 <
The Rexall Stores I
l • $
First Store \
FIRST STORE in number of Prescriptions. 1
: FIRST in size of General Stock. ;(
i FIRST in number of customers. u
FIRST in volume of business.
FIRST in advantages to customers.
I FIRST store from Alcazar and Ponce do Leon Hotels. |
; The Well Stocked ;
• DRUG STORE:
) 3
j THIS IS THE PLACE.
We carry everything a high-class Drugstore should carry.
) Choice, large assortment of Toilet Articles, Perfumes, ij
\ Manicure Goods and Sundries.
Sick Room Supplies of every nature.
Allopathic and Homeopathic Prescription Specialists.
) Our methods are modern, our service is right.
j We invite YOUR trade.
'<) _ (i
»Agency for
} (
Whitman’s and Huyler’s Candies
Eaton & hurlbut Stationery
Park & Tilford’s imported and Domestic Cigars
} Beri Olive Oil
Bowden Lithia Water
Poland and Clarendon Water
') Hurray’s Oxygen
P. D. & Co. Serums and Antitoxins
i 1 always on hand.
> <
Vinol Agency.
j) . I
j) A full line of Homeopathic Remedies
i Rubber Goods, Elastic Stockings
, Crutches and Trusses.
') m
Prompt Attention
| to Mail Orders.
US ain t Augustine, Fla.
i)
SPEER & SPEER
(SCI1 > ANI) JACK)
..Printers to the People.,
McDonough, ga.
William H. Peebles lived near
Hampton (then known as Bear Creek).
He was a practicing physician and left
a good practice to enter the Confeder
ate army. Soon after he entered the
army he was made colonel of the For
ty-fourth Georgia regiment. Mr. Pee
bles was captured at Spottsylvania
Court House. After his release he re
turned to his home where he resided
until his death.
Allen W. Turner was seven years
old when his father crossed the Oc
mulgee and made a home in tne new r
county. For sixty years he lived in
Henry county, during which time he
became an important factor in politics
also a great financier. He died in
1882. In early life he married the
daughter of Edward Lowe. His sec
ond wife was the daughter of Honor
able T. M. Speer.’
Among other families prominent
during the early days of our town
were Askew, Nolly, McDonald, C’orn
nell, Rodyhan, Terry, Setzer, Maxwell
Darbey, Hale, Goodwin, Pullen, Glenn,
Foster, Tidwell, Fargerson, Calloway,
Varner, McDaniel and Bennett.
Let me close this hurriedly written,
imperfect, sketch, gathered with diffi
cnlty from so many sources, with the
hope that it will be read with interest
by every reader of this issue of the
Weekly, and, notwithstanding its
crudeness, that it will be valued by the
surviving members of the families of
whom I have written, since it contains
facts which should be known to all
of our people, and which shoulu be pre
served for future generations.
Whites in Cuba Threaten to Bolt.
Advices from Havana state that the
white faction of Miguelistas headed by
Major Jose Castellanos, a gubernato
rial aspirant, announces that it will
bolt the party if the negro element
shall predominate at the primaries.
State Election Held in Louisiana.
Returns from Tuesday’s state elec
tion in Louisiana show that the dem
ocratic ticket, headed by J. Y. San
ders, for governor, has been elected
throughout.