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The Banner-Messenger. VOLUME VIII. * BUCHANAN ' AND HARALSON COUNTY, GEORGIA. / LEADING CITIZENS ✓ AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING. The history of all great nations shows tliat at some period there was an event upon which the weal or woe <>f the whole nation hung, and the turning point of victory or defeat was a mere incident The building of great towns and cities have in many instances grew out of the actions of a single man—the erection of one brick block has caused the building of a dozen brick blocks. An event is just now upon us that means more for Buchanan and Haralson county than anything that has ever oc¬ curred during the history of the county. (Wo would put iu here, if the people would eml)race the opportunity, but there are no “ifs” about it; they are go¬ ing to do it.) This is the one opportunity for Buch¬ anan, and the right blow must be struck. Her citizens are now begining to awaken to the fact that “now is the golden op¬ portunity," and an earnest manifestation of this fact is beginning to kindle within the breast of every citizen who feels that interest iu the welfare of Buchanan that he should, and they arc now on the alert to i mo rove and build up the county seat of the grand old county of Haralson, whicli town every citizen should feel in terested in. The event we have reference to is that of the building of A NEW CO CUT HOUSE, a representation and description of which. we give «.,r rcadt iu tin, Ha: Niii Mei sender to-day. The court house ques tion has retarded the growth of an, from the fact that some thought it possible for the county sent to be moved. But this question is settled, and Buchan an will remain the county seat of Ilaral- 1 son county, as the building of a 820,000 : court house goes to prove. BUCHANAN AND HARALSON COUNTY. Since the relcmmendation of a new court house for Ilaralson county by the grand jury, Buchanan lias manifested a deeper faith in her future prosperity than at any other period in her history, and since the work of our Ordinary and the committee ■that was appointed by the grand jury to assist him in getting on foot the erection of a new court house, Buchanan has put on new life. The weather-beat¬ en front of the old wooden building is being relegated to the rear and already the clinking of the stone cutter’s chisel is heard while he is placing down the foun¬ dation for the handsome two story brick. Like a mist before the sun’s rays these old buildings will soon vanish befor the mason’s trowel. There is not a town in all Western Geor gia beautifully located . than . Buch- , more anan, and for good health, good water and a salubrious climate generally,Buch anan is not to be beaten. The health re Bucltauan will tear compa.i.o,, \vi,L that *it any town iu Western Georgia, a section fames for its health record. Pure free sroue water B 0 sl.es on. from tile many bilbside, that hover aronnd her and trickles it. way down the snnn, slopes into the fertile valleys of the Tab lapoosics, Beech Creek, Walker’s Creek and many other large streams upon whose banks all the rich viands of a southern soil are harvested in great profusion. The premium corn of the Piedmont States, shown at the great Exposition in Atlanta, was raised by Mr. J. F. Aldridge in two miles of Buchanan. The soil of Haralson county doesn’t only produce premium corn, but premium grain of all HUGH.WAN, GEORGIA, THURSDAY JUNE 4, 1891. kinds, cotton, vegetables and fruits. Haralson county, as is known everywhere, is the home of the celebrated Golden ap¬ ple, the best and most extensive winter fruit in all our markets, and it is said that the pebbly bills of Haralson produce grapes equal in quality and quantity to grapes produced upon the sunny slopes of Italy. But we haven’t the space to enumerate and describe the fullness of all the cereals adapted to our soil, but suffice to say that anything from a pea¬ nut to a mule colt can and is being suc¬ cessfully raised in Haralson county. All the grasses do well here. Clover itself can be seen growing within the incorpo ate limits of Buchanan that would com¬ pare favorably with Tennessee and Ken¬ tucky clover fields. .Stock farming is a new enterprise here, but some of our farmers are making a success at raising stock, and all Haralson county needs to make her the banner farming county in Georgia is diversified fanning, for her soil is specially adapted to such farming. The progress of Haralson county is phenomenal indeed. .She is one of the youngest counties in the state. In 185(1 Haralson was made a county, and Pearce ville, now Buchanan, was laid oil as the county seat, being on land lot No. 48, which is near the center of tho county. Thompson Moore, a Justice of the Peace administered tho first oath of office to! Kinneth Merchison and Martin Hoi-j combe a< Justices of tie Inferior court. ! who then swore in the following officers:, T. Speight and Jas. II. Murphy Justices of the Inferior courtj^Van A, Brewster, clerk Superior court; Geo. It. Hamilton, ordinary; Alfred II. Green, tax collector; .lessee M. Jeans, clerk Inferior court; John K. Holcombe, Sr., sheriff; Hiram Ray, tax receiver and John Mc Clung, coroner. The following is a list of the first grand jury: Thos Philpot, Henry R. Goodwin, Jack sou Chandler, Richard Jordan, Dudley Rowell, .Sandy Merchison, J. B. Gentry, Albert G. Story, Jas. II. Rogers, John Lewis, Adam Steadliam, Jefferson Dean, Wm. Clements, Austin Ayeis, Mark A. Wimpee, John Aldridge, Jas. Hales, Ran some R. Thompson, Lewis Price, Jas. M. Holcombe, Jas. Wadkins, Martin Ayers, Sr., II. J. Mann and W 111 . Walton. These were among the pioneers of Haralsor county/anil as • death has claimed many of them, they are being held more and more in reverence. The old court house was erected in 1857 and 58, and torn down in May. 1801, and a handsome new house, as shown in an other place, will soon take the plact. of the old one, which is an example of the true inwardness . of Ilaralson county thnmo . hout V. . ... ” -* county ‘ officuks. ‘ ' XU** «•"» » **** a tet.rr „a„,o «,a„ a rleaa, .„b,ta„. «*■ •» >“»' »*•"*• b™»'- - *“>' “ -V admrmstratlon, Haralson count, «» »' » W * »•>» "« ever on tb. alert to her host interest. .tudob s. M. haven-pout.. Here is a name, if not a man, familiar to every household in Haralson county. Judge Davenport was a resident of Har alsoncounty atthetnneofherorganiza tion, .and with the exception of about two vea rs, he has lived within her borders ever since. He was born in Munroecouu ty Tennessee in 1882. moved to this conn-1 in 1850 and is 50 of ' try now years age. At haralson county court house. K tblal : i '■ | ! y '•■.y IS i •hr. S m fc: sis m in ■V ’ | SB ^ ill Si iflgl jffiijS i ;i M F»g f.v nJ i ~ EE5 ^p v oc.f ; The following is a description of the above new court house for Haralson county as given by Bruce & Morgan, architects: The dimensions on tie ground are 64x92 feet, arranged as follows: The front central enbame into broad vestibule is tiled with Georgia marble from which we enter fourteen foot corridor extending through the h On each side of the corridor are the several offices of the county, large and well lighted. The largest rc»m is given to the Ordinary for business and court pur- | poses. Joining the On inary and Clerk's offices are the fire proof record rooms, amply large, well lighted and fitted with iron shutters, vault doors, iron floors and ceilings. From t ie first entrance vestibule are wide, easy stairs built of oak leading to secono •i- entering a large lobby from which we enter tj, e 5,). perior Court room; ste$* 44x60 inches in the clear, only 22 i'cet. high. Large space is given to the bar and jury boxes and the balance in seating, on raised floor, from 250 to 800 persons comfortably. The Grand jury room, Solicitor’s, jury and Judge’s rooms are conveniently located with the bar, fitted with all modern conveniences, The rear stairs are located so as to reach the bar and jury rooms without coming in contact with those in the seats and lobby. The Judge’s stand is large and conveniently airanged for the dispatch of court busi ness. C’ourt and jury rooms all wains cotted. Wood ceiiings to the first floor rootns. The exterior, as shown by the above picture makes a very neat and attractive building with large corner tower about 110 feet high, and on other corner a small round turrett, and the several ’stairway landings arc neatly finished up in good taste and proportions. The construction is convenient and substantial in ' eve.y department. the expiration of his present term, Judge Davenport will have served eight years as ordinary of Ilaralson county. He repre¬ sented the county in the State Legislature in 1884 and 85, and has never been defeat¬ ed in a single race for any office. He has also been a member of the council of Buchanan a number of times, and is at present Mayor pvotem. As long as the financial affairs of the county are placed in the hands of Judge Davenport we leel that they will he economically and judi ciouslly administered. wm. .Johnson, „„ JR., ... shemfk One of the most important and respon Bible offices of any county is that of the sheriff The very name itself carries witI , H ,„ e ira|H)r „„c, „f tei„ s a man , )ut How th „ C( „„,. dI L „ imlnora l law breaker must sl „„, lim . t v er, name. UR W. h!>y0 Haralson count, just t|l0 VVm . John ^ slle ,.„ ............. „ , county mau by birtU . H e was raised on the farm and owns a good farm in the coun t ' v at this time. lie served as depu ^ she rilf under Ml , vv> A . Goldiu , whe n doubtle “ he concluded that he ^ ldd like to be high sheriff of Haralson ty, and when he asked the people for the ««?«. they gave it to him by n huge ma jority. J. li. REEVES, DEPUTY SHERIFF. The business of the sheriff of Haralson county requires the assistance ofadepu ty. I 11 selecting his deputy, Sheriff Johnson could not have found a man bet ter qualified to render him such assist¬ ance as he may need. Mr. Reeves is a man well versed in the duties of a sheriff, and is known far and wide for his detec¬ tive ability, and courage in hand cuffing any anil all foes to law arid order. Mr. Reeves has and will render Haralson county much good service as a peace of fleer while acting as deputy sheriff. DR. F. R. SMITH, TREASURER. The public funds of no county ever res¬ ted in the hands of a safer nuffi than Dr. F. li. Smith, and the county has just cause to lie proud of him as an officer. Dr.Smitli has met with many reverses dur inglife.He was shot in the knee at the hat tie of Chicamauga in 1863, which vender ed him a cripple for life, and in 1884 his house was consumed by fire, then in 1886 he lost an arm. But with these cripples and losses none were so severe as that of losing his companion last March. Dr. Smith commenced the practice of medi¬ cine in 1872, but lmd to abandon his pro fession on account of being so badly evip pled. He was elected ordinary in Octo I ber 18S7 to fill the unexpired term of j : Judge tion of Miles Ins term Edwards, of office and as at ordinary the expira- he NUMBER 20. ran for the tcasurer’s office and was t leo ted. llisfirst term as treasurer rohilt reil 1 him more popular with the people 'than ever, as the vote he received for a second term, which he is now filling, goes to prove. J. S, M. tlldOKHS, VI.EUK. We find hut few men with more energy and a business tact to grasp anything that may present itself than .1. 8. M. diggers, clerk Superior court of ilaralson county. Mr. 1 Jiggers is now serving his second term of office as clerk, and we have never know n a man to give more general sntis faction, not to have any more experience in this important office, than has Clerk Bigger*, even during his first term. Mr. diggers is a “home-raised” hoy if you will’. allow the expression. He w as reared in a pioneer family of Haralson county, and is known to he among the very best fami¬ lies of the county to-day. Like a goodly number of our great and good men he first learned to wield the hoe and pV \v. lint while doing this lie never neglected' the important duty of cultivating his mind, vis has been shown in the school room as teacher and is now being shown in the clerk's office as clerk of the Supe rior court of Haralson county. HENRY t . HEAD. No better proof can be found as to l ,1c \ prosperity and upbuilding of Marais ’* county than that of the work that is K ing done in the clerk's office. Besides a steady application to his business, the clerk has an assistant in the person of H C. Head, whom Georgia knows no b clerk. Mr. Head lias served as cl the Superior court of Haralsor. ten years. He was elected to thi in 1875 and served eight years in si He was again elected and se another term in 1885 and 86. It gi without saying what Henry Head don know about the clerk's office is not w • > gnd honest, kmnvinj, amove • cer never graced the clink's oi vai ttiiv county. Honesty and right between man and man have been the great crowning traits of his private as well as his. public career. .TOE W. KKI.I.EY, VAX OOM.KUTOR. Fora model of honesty, qunlificatic and of merit there lives not a man to honored more for these traits than Collector Joe \\. Kelley. Mr. Kel raised a poor farmer hoy, and • i his own exertions he has obtaine® | ularit >' am011 * the voters ,,f 10 county unexcelled by no man wjj limits. IIis first election to the : tax collector was a sweepping viefj tl’ e ability to fill the office was, whclmingly endorsed when he offei name for a second term having rec more votes than was ever received by a. . one man for office in Haralson county. and that over a good man in the field against him. JIAUVY I>. I.ASSKTKU, TAX RECEIVER. 1 lie election of an officer the second. 01 . tbinl or fourth time as the case may bo by an intelligent people, as those of Haralson county, is evidence sufficient t show clearly that such an officer has ’ faithful to bis trust. The same car. ' )C truthfully said of Havvy T). Lasseter. I'ax Receiver of Ilaralson county. Mr. Lasfleter is a yoimg man of sterling elnu actor, and upon receipt of his “digests tl |C Comp troller Gen. never fails to con. j pliment him for the neatness and accn j racy of his work. Harvy is a ehristia I gentleman and his friends arc niimhon • by the scores in Haralson county. GEO. W. GENTRY. SURVEYOR. For a genuine Haralson county man wl would point you to Mr. G. W. Gentry surveyor. As an officer he is the embody moat of every qualification that goes to make a good and faithful officer, and a a citizen and neighbor the golden run! (Continued on fourth page., ^