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Early History of Chattooga County: First Inhabitants
BY WOODROW ESPY
(EDITOR’S NOTE. This
week, The Summerville News
begins a series of articles on the
early history of the area that is
now Chattooga County. The
articles will relate the period
when the Cherokee Indians
ruled supreme in the area and
the coming of the first white
men. They will also tell of the
creation of Chattooga County,
its formative years, and its
growth.
The material used here is
primarily based on a history of
the county compiled in the
early 1930’sby John H.Cook,
then superintendent of Sum
merville schools, and used as a
thesis for his master’s degree.
Mr. Cook, who spent many
painstaking hours in the prepa
ration of his historical record
of Chattooga County, has
graciously consented to the use
of this material.
VOLUME 88 — NUMBER 7
F ederal
Tax Bite
‘Heavy’
(Special to the News)
NEW YORK- What is it that
Chattooga Countys residents
pay three times as much for,
via their federal taxes, than aid
to education?
What is it that takes a bigger
piece out of their U. S. tax
dollar than federal spending for
pollution control, aid to hous
ing, price support for agricul
ture, manpower training, and
the space program, all com
bined?
Interest on the national
debt, that’s what.
Because the ceiling on the
national debt, $430 billion, is
about to be reached, the Nixon
Administration, faced with a
massive deficit in the next
fiscal year, has requested a
multi-billion boost in the legal
debt limit.
Since $430 billion is a sum
too colossal to grasp, it is
broken down for better under
standing.
If it had to be paid off at
this time and if everyone in
Chattooga County and in the
rest of the country had to chip
in an equal share to liquidate
it, it would require $2,160
from every man, woman, and
child, or more than SB,OOO per
family.
Since there is, of course.no
plan to pay off the debt, it
presents no immediate prob
lem. What is of concern, how
ever, is the huge amount of
interest that must be paid on it
annually.
It will total no less than
$21.2 billion during the next
fiscal year, second only to the
cost of national defense, the
new budget shows.
Residents of Chattooga
County will be paying approxi
mately $1,611,000 toward
these interest charges, in Une
with their normal share of the
overall tax load. Per local fam
ily, it amounts to some $240.
Since 1941, when Congress
moved to put a limit on federal
spending during FrankUn
Roosevelt's presidency, by
placing a ceiling on the na
tional debt, there have been
many changes in the ceiling
Congress has raised the legal
limit 23 times in the subse
quent years, as federal spend
ing continued to mount. As a
result, the ceiling is now many
times as large as it was initially.
The annual interest charges
have grown proportionately.
Since 1960 alone, they have
dimbed from $9.2 billion a
year to the current rate of
$21.2 billion.
Hospital Auxiliary
Plan* Bake Salt*
The Chattooga County
Hospital Auxiliary will
sponsor a bake sale be
tween 9 a m. and 2 p m
Saturday. March 25, in
front of the courthouse.
Ptes. cakes, cookies,
and iandy will be offered
for sale Pies and cakes can
be bought either whole or
by the slice Hot coffee
will also be available All
Items for sale must be in
place by 9 am.
Anyone having ques
tions about the sale may
call Mrs. Norman Bryant
at 857-1 135.
Other sources of informa
tion include: Acts of the Geor
gia General Assembly, Georgia
Department of Archives and
History, records in the offices
of the ordinary and the
Superior Court clerk in the
Chattooga County Courthouse,
The Chattooga News (July 27,
1888), The Summerville News,
The Chattanooga Times, and
Knight’s “Landmarks,
Memorials and Legends,” and
conversations with the late Col.
C. D. Rivers.
Some of the events narrated
here are based on legend and
may differ with other accounts
of the history of the period
covered. But this is inevitable
in compiling a history of any
o <5
g£ 2 1 is not known when man
“ c established a habitat in
£ £>at is now Chattooga
£ j mty-nor from where he
- re. It is possible that the
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CLUB WOMEN HEAR REP. SLOPPY FLOYD f
Rep. James (Sloppy) Floyd was the guest speaker
at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Summerville
Business and Professional Women’s Club at Riegel
dale Tavern. The veteran legislator, who is chair
man of the powerful House Appropriations Com
mittee, gave a summary of the 1972 session of the
General Assembly. Seated, left to right: Mabel Bal
lenger, pprogram chairman for the month who in-
General Assembly Session
Discussed By Rep. Floyd
Members of the Summer
ville Business and Professional
Women’s Club Tuesday night
heard a summary of the actions
of the just-ended 1972 session
of the Georgia General As
sembly.
Rep. James (Sloppy) Floyd,
chairman of the House Appro
priations Committee, told the
group that this was “the
hardest session” in all the 20
years “I have been in the
House."
Floyd gave these reasons:
“We had two budgets thrown
at us at the same time; we had
the entire reorganizations of
state government to consider;
and just before adjournment
Rep. Floyd Cited
By House Group
Chattooga County's repre
sentative to the Georgia Gen
eral Assembly has been rec
ognized by his colleagues for
honorable and distinctive serv
ice.
A resolution passed by the
House of Representatives on
March 9 reads:
"Whereas, for many years
Rep. Sloppy Floyd has served
with honor and distinction as
chairman of the House Appro
priates Committee, and
Whereas, during his tenure
as the chairman of one of the
General Assembly's most im
portant communities. Rep.
Floyd has won the admiration
and respect of his colleagues
for the effiaent and courteous
manner in which he has con
ducted the deliberations of his
committee, and
Whereas, the decorum and
effectiveness of the House Ap
propriations Committee and
earliest inhabitants were
wanderers from some of the
Aztec tribes of Mexico.
The Spaniards found the
Cherokees in the territory
when they passed through in
their eternal search for gold.
Legend tells us that the Chero
kees had driven the Muskogees
out of the area many years
before the coming of the first
white man. But, here, history
becomes close-mouthed and re
fuses to divulge the facts of
when this progressive tribe first
became established here.
The first white men to set
foot on the soil that was later
to become Chattooga County
was a band of Spanish
conquistadors led by Hernando
DeSoto.
Driven by the then-popular
motive of the three G’s-
Gospel, Gold, and Glory -
DeSoto obtained permission
from the Emperor Charles V to
SUMMERVILLE, CHATTOOGA COUNTY, GEORGIA 30747, THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1972
we had to reapportion 41
legislative districts. In sub
stance, we had more hard work
thrown at us that really took a
lot of digging and a lot of hard
work.”
The veteran legislator was
introduced in a novel manner.
Mable Ballenger, program
chairman for the month, had
fashioned six small lettered
signs which, when placed to
gether, spelled out the name
"Sloppy.”
Floyd said that Georgia is
moving ahead. "The record
speaks for itself,” he pointed
out. “I am not ashamed to tell
people that I’m from Georgia ”
In a tribute to his colleagues
the success which this commit
tee has enjoyed has been large
ly due to the talents and labors
of the distinguished representa
tive from the seventh district.
Now, therefore, be it re
solved by the House of Repre
sentatives that this body does
hereby commend and con
gratulate Rep. Sloppy Floyd
upon his many years of service
to the members of the General
Assembly and the citizens of
the state of Georgia and for the
splendid manner in which he
has chaired this important
committee of the General As
sembly."
House Resolution No. 961
was sponsored by Lewis of the.
37th district, Harris of the
10th, Williams of the llth,
Mrs Hamilton of the 112th,
Brantley of the 52nd. Dean of
the 19th, Dixon of the 65th,
and others.
conquer Florida, then a vast
unsettled region. Having served
well in the Spanish wars of
conquest in Mexico and Peru,
this Spanish adventurer was
well equal to the task.
With his royal wife, Dona
Isabel de Babadilla, 600
soldiers, 200 horses, and a herd
of swine for food, DeSoto set
sail from Spain in 1538. Ar
riving in Cuba after an unevent
ful sea voyage, he made final
preparations for the conquest
of Florida.
Leaving his wife to govern
Cuba during his absence,
DeSoto set sail from the island,
landing in (now) Tampa Bay in
May,1539.
The Spaniards soon heard
stories from the Indians about
a fabulous province under the
rule of a beautiful princess
named Cutifachiqui. The loca
tion of this interesting-sound
ing place was supposed to be
troduced the speaker; Rep. Floyd; Frances Holt,
club president; Hilda Hill, secretary, and Sally
Coulliette. Standing, left to right: Irene Doster,
Mable Maxwell, Wylene Selman, Jimmie Alexander,
Elsie Echols, Carrie B. Freeman, Olio Tutton, Be
atrice Baker, Omie Witherspoon, Madelyn Lowry,
Mary Weems and Catharine Burgess.
in Atlanta, Rep. Floyd said
that “some of the most dedi
cated people I know are in the
General Assembly. Have no
doubts, Georgia is in good
hands."
The Chattooga legislator
said his main concern during
the session, of course, was the
record budget of
$1,3)8,323,996. State spend
ing was increased to this figure
from $1.17 billion in the cur
rent year.
Floyd said that Georgia
schoolteachers this year were
granted the highest pay raise
ever received in one year. In
other areas of education, he
said that his number one
priority concerned the excep
tional children program.
Explaining his vote against a
pay raise for state legislators
and other state officials, Rep.
Floyd said th.it last year 8 I per
cent of Georgians who filed tax
returns had incomes of less
than SIO,OOO He said the
move to increase salaries of
state officials would have given
some of them increases of
SIO,OOO to $12,000 a year “I
just could not bring myself
around to voting for the
measure under those condi
tions."
In conclusion, Floyd said he
thought that asserting legis
lative independence was the
best thing that ever happened
in the political arena
After his speech, the veteran
legislator fielded a number of
Area Plan Group
W ill Mrrl Today
The monthly mcetmgof the
Coosa Valley Area Planning
and Development Commission
will be held at 10 30 am.
today at the Plantation House
Restaurant in Rome.
Jack Whelchel, executive
director of the Northwest
Georgia Regional Health
Advisory Council, Inc., will
present a program on the coun
cil's activities
near the present site of
Augusta, Ga. According to the
stories told by the Indians, the
Spaniards’ horses would break
their backs under the heavy
loads of pearls and gold to be
found there.
After an apparent unsuc
cessful search for this fabled
province, and after enduring
terrible hardships, DeSoto and
his men drove their way
through the area that is now
Georgia until they reached the
present site of Rome, which
DeSoto called Chiaha.
Some historians prefer to
think that this place was the
present Columbus, Ga. How
ever, a description of the
vicinity as taken from a transla
tion of an account written by
“The Gentleman of Elvas,” a
Portuguese who accompanied
the Spaniards on the expedi
tion, tends to confirm the
belief that Chiaha was the pres-
questions from members of the
club.
Items of business for Tues
day night’s meeting included
the presentation of a slate of
new officers by Madelyn
Lowry, chairman of the nom
inating committee, and the
consideration of two new
members.
The newly elected officers
are: Virginia Boney, president;
Sally Coulliette, vice president,
Mable Maxwell, second vice
president; Hilda Hill, corre
sponding secretary ; Wylene Sel
man, recording secretary; Olio
Tutton, treasurer; Frances
Holt, parliamentarian;Carrie B.
Freeman, public affairs and
news director
In addition to the guest
speaker, Woodrow Espy, also a
guest of the club, and 17 mem
bers were present.
Area Schools
Receive Grant
For Materials
The Appalachian Regional
Commission this week an
nounced approval of a
$143,947 grant for 47 school
districts located in the Appala
chian section of Georgia, ac
cording to Congressman John
Dam This grant will affect all
school districts in the seventh
district, except those in Cobb
County
The funds will be used for
the acquisition of construc
tional equipment and materials
for the schools They are
authorized under Title 111 of
the National Defense Educa
tion Act.
The total cost of the project
m $479J522, with the com
mission funding 30 per cent of
the cost The National Defense
Education Act will supply an
additional 50 per cent of the
cost, and the remaining 20 per
cent will come from local
sources.
ent-day Rome.
The account reads:
“On the fifth day of June,
the Gouvenour entered Chiaha
.... The towne was an island
between two armes of a River
and was seated high on one of
them. The river divideth itself
into these two branches, two
crosse-bow shots above town
and ineeteth again a league be
low the same. The plain be
tween both the branches is
sometimes one crosse-bow,
sometimes two crosse-bow
shots over. The branches are
very broad and both of them
may be waded over. There
were among them verie good
meadows and manie fields
sown with maize, etc.”
The Spaniards spent about a
month at Chiaha, sending out
scouting expeditions into the
surrounding territory. It is per
haps at this time that the
future Chattooga County was
Council Agenda
Heavy Monday
More Than Thirty
Topics Discussed
The Summerville City Coun- ।
cil waded through a lengthy >
agenda at its regular meeting
Monday night at City Hall.
More than 36 items were dis
cussed during the three-hour
plus meeting.
The relatively calm at
mosphere noted at the session
was in marked contrast to
several of the councirs recent
meetings, when the discussions
became quite animated.
As a result of a question
from Councilman Sewell Cash
at the council’s last meeting as
to why parking meter revenue
has shown a decided drop.
Patrolman Hinton Logan said
perhaps 100 meters are not in
proper working condition. He
recommended that new meters
be placed on Commerce Street
and the used meters in good
condition be moved to side
streets. It was decided that the
city would explore the poss
ibility of obtaining a number
of new parking meters.
The council accepted a low
bid of $3,219.15 for materials
from Southeastern Municipal
Supply of Birmingham for a
six-inch PVC water line to
Rose way Circle.
A lengthy discussion ensued
over a proposed Social Security
program for city employees.
City Clerk Bert Self appraised
the council of the progress
made in this direction. It was
decided to ask a Social Se
curity representative and a rep
resentative of the insurance
company handling city em
ployee’s pension plan to meet
with the mayor and council
and any city employees who
desires this information.
In other action, the council:
Agreed to provide water
for the sprinkler system at Oak
View Nursing Home at no
charge. It was pointed out that ;
this is normal procedure.
■ Agreed to discuss the
feasibility of having a complete
audit and inventory made and
of securing an updated cer
tified city map.
Agreed to withhold the
salary of any new city
employee until approved by at |
least three members of the
Hoard Member Leaves Post
Bill Stephenson, who repre
sents the Summerville District
on the Chattooga County
Board of Education, an
nounced his resignation from
the board at Monday night's
meeting The text of his letter
of resignation follows:
"My resignation from the
Chattooga County Board of
Education has been submitted
to Dr Jack P Nix. state school
superintendent. This resigna
tion becomes effective imme
diately following our regularly
scheduled meeting of March
13. As you may know, Bige
low-Sanford has requested that
I transfer to Greenville, S.C.,
to accept another position with
। council.
Prohibited the extension
of sewer or water lines outside
। the city limits until the needs
of city residents have been
! met.
-Limited the overtime pay
for dty employees to eight
hours a week without prior
approval of the council.
Limited filter plant employees
to 56 hours a week. The
garbage detail was excluded
from certain of these provi
| sions.
Require notification to all
city councilmen of the resigna
tion or termination of employ
ment for any reason of city
employees before they receive
their final salary check.
■ Prohibit heavy trucks
| from traveling Walnut and
(Continued on Page 10)
3 School Buses
OK’d By Board
The Chattooga County
Board of Education will meet
in special session at 7:30 p.m.
Monday, March 27, to consider
a replacement for Bill Stephen
son, who resigned from the
board this week.
Chairman Joel Cook asked
that any person interested in
being appointed to this I
vacancy, write a letter to him
expressing their interest in the
appointment.
In other action at its regular
meeting Monday night, the
board:
Accepted low bids from
Turpin Motors and Wayne
Body Works for chassis and
bodies for one 48-passenger
and three 66-passengcr school
buses The total cost will be
$14,217.31.
Ajpeed to accept bids on
re-roofing projects at Lyerly, I
the company.
“I wish to express my
thanks to all the members of
the board of education, the
county school superintendent,
and all other persons associated
with our Chattooga school
system for the work that has
been done in helping provide a
quality education program for
our system. It is my sincere
hope that this school system
will continue to experience
further improvements and
progress in our total educa
tional program.
“It is my understanding that
the board will appoint a person
to fill the unespired portion of
first tread upon by white men.
It was on one of these
scouting trips for gold that
DeSoto stumbled upon an
ancient city-the present site of
DeSoto Falls on Lookout
Mountain. No one knows who
built this secluded mountain
top city, but legend gives credit
to some pre-historic people be
fore the time of the Cherokees,
probably the Aztecs of Mexico
or the Incas of Peru.
After the Spaniards passed
through the Area, little is
known about the Cherokees
until about 1670 when they
began to come into contact
with English settlers from
South Carolina and traders
from the Spanish settlements
in Florida.
These traders introduced
such tools as the axe, saw, hoe,
and plow; domestic animals
such as the horse and cow. The
(Continued on Page 10)
Young People
Will Assume
Civic Duties
The Tri-Hi-Y at Chat
tooga High School will
sponsor its annual Civic
Youth Day Monday,
March 27, when CHS stu
dents will “take over” the
reins of government for
one day.
Local city and county
officials are cooperating
with the program and will
have a student as their
guest for the day.
The program will begin
at 9 a m. at the Summer
ville City Hall, where the
students will be "sworn
in” for their particular
office. The program will
conclude with a noon
luncheon at B’s Round
Table Restaurant at Penn
ville.
Menlo, and Pennville Ele
mentary schools.
Approved a request to
purchase additional lunchroom
tables for all county g hoots.
Passed a resolution requir
ing school bus drivers to attend
a training session on March 22.
Approved a request to
receive additional money under
the Instructional Assistance
Program.
Ronald Payton and Emory
Gilmer were named trustees at
Summerville Junior High
School and Mrs. Barbara Evans
was named trustee at Summer
ville Elementary School.
Present for Monday night's
meeting were Chairman Joel
Cook, board members Bill
Stephenson, Ray Hall, A. D.
Pledger, W M Jackson, and
Supt James Spence.
I my term. I would like to
recommend that the board
consider the appointment of
Jerry H. Johnston to this post.
Jerry is a qualified resident of
Chattooga County, has chil
dren attending our school
system, and is vitally interested
in the educational program
offered within the system. I
feel that Jerry would adequate-
I ly represent the views of the
people from the Summerville
District, and would face any
issue presented to the board on
an impartial, straight-forward
basis in an effort to make a
final decision which would be
beneficial to our school system
and the children involved."
PRICE 15c