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The injection of '‘politics'
their public examinations by the
students dC Franklin College, after
wards the University of Georgia,
brought a sharp protest from the
Senatus Academicus. according to a
report of its secretary'- A Hull, pub
lished in the Georgia Journal of
Dec. 6. 1825.
This is somehow not surprising
when one reads on and finds the
name of Robert Toombs of Wilkes
County, in the roll of the Sopho
more class. Ezekial Lamar of Lin
coln county was listed as a senior,
and John Rutherford of Millcdgc-
ville, a junior. There were 21 stu
dents from other states, and one,
Hampden Carter, frem Massachu
setts.
The report set forth that as Frank
lin College. Athens, was “the only
publi ' institute in the state main
tained by public funds and owned
by her citizens in common," “It is
incumbent that the exercise of such
opinions should be controlled, as that
individual feelings should be respect
ed, and the laws of the college should
be preserved inviolate. That the
faculty should have refrained from
the inculcation of party politics, was
to have been expected." Evidence
of this conformity by the faculty
furnished by the President of the
College was gratifying, and a con
tinuance was urged. It recommend
ed that students be required to re
frain from expressions of any senti-
gcneral or local party poli
tics, .and that this recommendation
be made a part of the laws of the
college.
One can imagine the opinionated
young sophomore airing his views,
attending notable being highly
offended and lodging a complaint
against such an outrage in a state-
supported school, and the consequent
reprimand through the state's gov
erning boai*d. of which both the
August William H. Crawford and
Governor Troup were members.
Inhabitants
Seeking to know something of the
kind of people—the character, gather
of the masses of people—who in
habited the Milledgeville of the old
capitol era, you would undoubtedly
alight on this revealing passage in
Adiel Sherwood's Gazetteer of 1837
“Character, manners, customs, and
amusements.—The people arc gen
erally polite and affable in thei
manners, and hospitable even 'to
fault. The distinction into classes of
society, which obtain in the Northern
States, is unknown in Georgia: a
i homespun is as good as one
in silk or broadcloth. There iy a bold
independence of character among the
poorer classes truly republican and
praiseworthy. This trait, no doubt,
derives its perpetuity from that every
landholder, and has the
means of living in his own hands:
he is not compelled to submit to the
dictum of a lord of the soil for per
mission to work his lands.
“Drinking and cursing, and sab
bath-breaking, arc had habits among
us; but the former, within ter years
past, has greatly abated.
“Dancing, chicken fighting, and
horse racing, used to be favorite
amusements: the first two ar.e out
of fashion much now; the latter
seems to be growing again into
greater use. A vivid picture of our
fonner manners and customs may
i a work, published in Au
gusta two years ago, entitled ’Geor
gia Scenes and Incidents’, and ascrib
ed to the pen of Judge Lngstrec-t.”
This was written concerning the
people in general, but as Milledge
ville was the seat of government, her
people must have been no exception.
Seventeen years later in llf54.
White published a book of Historical
Collections, in which Sherwood
claimed he plagiarized, event to the
errors. In this, he paid his respects
to Milledgeville ih this manner:
“The climate is regarded healthy. 1
The cases of longevity that havi
to the compiler's knowledge arc. Miss
Martha Thomas, now living, aged
resolute, persevering man; Thomas
Fitch, an able lawyer, and df un
impeachable integrity; Dr. Samuel
Bovkin, a man of science. Drs. Fort
and White now reside in Milledge
ville. standing high in their profes-
and acknowledged by all the
citizens of Georgia to be upright
and kind gentlemen.
Most of these citizens have de
scendants or connections in Mil-
Icdgeville to this day. Miss Virginia
Ellen Cason, a senior at the Georgia
State College for Women, >s descend
ed from l)Oth John Howard and
John Rutherford, on her mother's
and maternal grandmothers’ side.
Seaton Grantland was Mrs.
David Ferguson’s great - great
uncle. Augustine Harris w
common ancestor of Dr.
Marshall Hall. Ia>uis Hall, Louis
Andrews and Charles H. Whitfield
and many other descendants. Walter
Gordy of Atlanta, a descendant of
General John Scott, married a
daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Brown
of Milledgeville. who is connected
her maternal side with the old
Whitaker family. Others better ac
quainted with affairs may know of
more connections.
General Scott built two of the
first frame houses in the county,
one in town, and one in the
try. He it was who figured in the
capture of Mexico in 1847. He also
is thought to have entertained
Aaron Burr on his ill fated trip. Ma
jor John Howard was a Revolution
ary soldier. His grave was in recent
years found in an old cemetery
the river covered with weeds and
grass, and was marked by the Mil-
Icdgcville D. A. R.
It is difficult to go to any gather
ing in Milledgeville without meeting
people with "ancestors” that go 'way
back. Recently at a small church
circle group at Mrs. D. W. Bran
non's home, there were three out
of seven women whose forefathers
were Milledgeville pioneers. There
was Mrs. C. S. Winn, whose great,
great, great grandfather. Goodwin
Mrs. Brannon
Thomas was
1817 the home in
iow living at Meri-
jt from Milledgeville.
t grand-'ather. John S.
in outstanding citizen
is to be # ound elre-
Klition. Mrs. Ram Pat-
. great grandfather.
' Andrew Jackson Miller, moved here
| from Glynn e<njntv. where he fought
” j Indians in the blockhouse.
Sherwood’s Data
'28-37
•ood's Gazetteer
in 1828, on Mr. Boykin’s plantation,
fine specimens of sugar cane, giv
ing assurance tc the inhabitants of
the Metropolis thet. in a few. years,
they need not go far for the luxury,
sugar. The North part is red clay.
“This country' was purchased from
the Creeks in 1802, and it extended
to High Shoals on the Appalachec.
The courts were hcid for some time
at Hillsboro, a small village now
containing a few log houses and u
dram shop, 8 miles E. of Eatonton."
“Census of 1821 (Baldwin): Total
population 7,437. Blacks. 4,374. Deaf
and dumb. 4; lunatics, 2; blind 4.”
"Oglethorpe University is at Mld-
MPledgeville." Corner
1837. Academy already in op
eration two vears College classes
January, 1838. Under direction
of Presbyterians. Faculty: Rev. C.
P. Beman, pres, and prof, of natural
philosophy and chemistry; E. A. Nis-
bet. Esq., v.p and prof, of belles
letters and mental philosophy; Rev.
C. W. Howard, chaplain and prof,
of moral philosophy and Evidence
of Christianity; Rev. S. K. Talmadge,
prof, of Ancient Languages; N.
Crawford, prof, of Math, and astror-
omy. Not yet filled: Modem langu
ages. geology, botany and mineral
ogy: rector of Midway Seminary and
ex-offido member of faculty;
competent number of tutors. Course
of lectures: Municipal, civil,
international lav, physiology
anatom**."
‘Price of eatables: Pork. S3
$4.50 per hundred. Pork was worth
S7 to $9 in winter of 1838 and ’37.
Dried bacon from 9 to 12 1-2 cents.
Butter from 12 1-2 cents to 25 cents.
Customary pric° in small villages,
18 3-4 cents. Chickens 12 1-2. Eggs
12 1-2.”
“List of Rond«: Milledgeville
Nickojack, M. to Augusta. M.
Tallahassee, Fla., (fare $25); M
St. Mary's. M. to Columbu6 (fare
$10 to Ft. Mitcheli. 11 miles below
C.); M. to Rock Mountain
Clayton; M. to Pensacola. M. to Ft.
Jackson; M. to Darien. M. to Lexing
ton and via Danielsville to Camos-
le.
“List of stages: from M. to Peters
burg. (Va.). via Eatonton, Greens
boro, and Washington, thence
Washington City by Salisbury. N.
C. and Fredericksburg. Fare
cents a mile, if over 200. To Athens,
three times a week, via Eatonton
and Madison; to Augusta, Macon and
Columbus, daily, fare $10 to' Au
gusta, 12 to Columbus: to Macon
every other day by Clinton. Ac
comodation."
The river opposite the t
550 feet wide, over which is
?llent bridge .private property, and
•hich cost about $20.000—the
for tolls is about $3,000."
warehouses 1 1-2 miles
from town, until lock constructed
—boats ascend to bridge—only 4,-
to 8.000 bags annually, though
center of cotton country—“i
spirit to invite planters here”—urges
better roads—fair prices, reasonable
freights from Savannah, then "hum
* Augusta and Macon"
heard on Wayne and Hancock streets.
,000 to 7.000 newspapers from
resscs. Bad streets. Mrs. Allen’s m
known as Status Rights Hotel. House
called Governor, more properly
Government house. Two new acad-
•rected on Penitentiary square
1835 from proceeds of lots oi
wn common.
Steamboat “The Wave” ran ii
1836. None for 15 or 20 years be
fore. To Darien in 2 1-2 to 3 day:
Milladgevillc contains a number
of largo establishments
ment, the most spacious of which
Lafayette Hall, of brick front
on both Jefferson and Hancock
10 feet, containing 31 rooms,
and cost about $25/000; Farmer’s
Hotel, to which is attached a Read-
loom. and Eagle Tavern,
tc Street, in the center of busi-
Capt. Jarrett’s, at the north
end of this street, near a spring
>f excellent water Jackson Hall. E
the State House; Mansion House
towards the bridge, and Planter’s
Hotel, lately re\
tentiary. There are some other
ems and seveial private boarding
The closing
“Tempera nc
f this fascinat-
rought wond- I
Horses = Mules “Cows
The Bank of Friendly Service
EXCHANGE BANK
3 Percent and Safety
This bank was established in June 1903 and
although young in years compared to Mil
ledgeville, it has kept abreast of the times and
contributed much to the progress and develop
ment of this community. Men who are lead
ers in the building of Milledgeville and Bald
win county founded and have directed the af
fairs of this bank through the years and are
today outstanding for their devotion to the
public welfare. This is a friendly bank.
We are proud to be a part of this community
and we look forward to the future with the
desire to continue our part in building a
greater city and county for a happier people.
We have paid our stockholdrs, practically all
citizens of this county, many thousands of
dollars, which has in turn gone back into the
channels of trade to build a greater city.
EXCHANGE
3 Percent and
BANK
Safety
OTTO CONN, President
DR. RICHARD BINION, Vice-President
H. G. BANKS, Cashier
DIRECTORS
Conn ri len, T D ^ Richard Binion > H - G - Bank s> Otto
Stanlev HaS ’ J ‘ C ° nn ’ Homer Bivins > w - L Ritchie, J. R.
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