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GIBSON RECORD
Published to Furnish the People of Glascock Coun ty a Weekly Newspaper dnd as a Medium for the Advancement of the Public Good of the County.
VOL. XXXVIII. No. 32.
Pioneer Johnsons –
Johnson Church In
County’s History
(From Warrenton Clipper)
(By Mrs. W. F. Wilhoit, County
Historian.)
In the eariy spring of 1792, j
two brothers, Willis and Wil
liam Johnson, came from South'
Hampton, county. Va„ to settle
claims granted them. I
Willis settled in wnal is now
McDuffie county, (then Warren)
hence the ancestor of the John
son's of McDuffie county. This
original grant was bought by: j
Isaac Hart and surveyed by E.
Thomas, Warren county’s sur
veyor in 1804.
William settled his claim :
about two miles south of John
son church, on Rocky Comfort!
Cteek, near the Stamp Branch j
(Storm Branch as it is generally
called.) This blanch derived its
name from the stamping of the
ponies caused by the nit-fly as
the Indians would camp at the
ford in their traveling to and
from Louisville, Ga.
These brothers cleared what
land they could, planted corn,!
peas, potatoes, etc., built thetir j !
little log cabin and, cribs! and
cultivated their crops. In the
fall they gathered their farm:
products and stored them away
in the log cribs. About the first|
of November they journeyed
hack to Virginia for their wives
and children.
In the spring of 1793, they
came back bringing their fami
lies and what household
they could on the backs of their
ponies to the little homes they
had prepared the year before.
‘
When William reached his
settlement he found that the In
dians in one of their
trjps had wandered from
camp and found his little home,
had stolen his crop and burned
his cribs
Reaching an unknown conn
try without anything except
your family did not daunt
of that day and time. He set
tied as he did the year before,
wenf to work with a greater de
tenninalion and in a few years
had gotten together and owned
most of the land from three
miles south of Warrenton to
Rocky Comfort Creek
There was several sons born
to this pioneer family. Among
them was Seaborn A minister I j
of the gospel for fifty years.
Randal, the father of Malissa
Johnson. Phoebe Johnson, Re
becca Draper, Nancy English, |
Katie Usrv. Polly Hart, Sallie
Swint and Absalom Johnson. Emily! j
Reece, the father of
Johnson, William Gosy John-! j
son, Penelope Johnson .■ and
Fountain Johnson.
Aaron, the father of Pollv
Pool, Martha Pool, Sallie Ad
aim, Nareksa Todd, Lucy En-!
glish, Sina Joanson, Celia
son, Janies Johnson. Freeman
Johnson and Asa Johnson. i
Lewis, the father of Narcissa 1
Neal, George Washington John
son, Rebeccf English, John !
Smith Johnson, John Chapel
Johnson, Elizabeth Johnson, i
Jesse Evans Johnson, James
Wesley Johnson and Lucy Ann 1
Johnson. Lewis was born in
South Hampton county, Va„ in
1783 and came to Warren coun
ty with his parents riding a
pony at the age of ten years.
James, the father of Rev.
Amos Johnson Dr. Reece John
son, Aaron Johnson, William
Johnson, Mary Neal, Eliza En -
glish and Rebecca Williford.
William, the father of James
Lawrence Johnson, Stephen
Johnson, Ellen Johnson an( j
Fanny Mathews.
Of this great family of chil
dren and grand children all have
passed away, only a small
her of the grand children
living today.
uft
gel his early training to
God. So in the early young
manhood of his large family of
boys, they cut forest pines,
hewed the logs, hauled them
about a quarter of a mile
west of the Columbus Fountain
Days We’ll Never Forget
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. oh hom . , lace and , ,, the
' » son e P re
b “ ll t a , Iaige , Iog church < llie sl . * e
,°. f , Oie . present Jonnson church,
the P ul P d was in the middle of
one * ide a door at cach end and
-
on e <acing lbe pu lpit ’
. U . ( the he , earned . , .his . .
was ? re
, ., to worsb, u . and those
P
%“* stilled m P nn these “P ,es childien S ° and "V
grand children, till several an
sw f cd the cal1 to the min.stry,
and onc son ,)rea€ ' cd lor * dly
years ’
M Joel _ . _ hngllsh .. . ..
rs ;
Becky) „ , as every one called
a granddaughter would walk
dlst f n f e wf s ! x Il nl es once a
week to ,. th,s church 1 1 ,or .
{> rayer I * 16 Hghls were
home candles.
There these old -saints of God
™>uld sing ’ P ray and
s ” ou ^ in “ ie an( *
th(?n walk lH " le - .Tim church
'T as glven l ? tbe iSorlh
Conference in the early part
lbe nineteenth century and has
been a 1>art tbe Warrenton
charge.
As the years passed chi Wren
moved *, urther away ’ th f old
church became a llitIe mcon '
venient to attend, , there was a
litlle discussion as to the
1>la< ‘ e lor a ne ™ andmore mod ‘
ern structure. God always
or the things that are sought
for m the right spirit, so
s f nt Rev ’ Davies to this
cbarg ® ln //h an< 17 77be
' h< ,lIgt| t ,. the place , of . W illiam
Joflnson . and Smuh Johnson s
se,ectlon the best. - Ihese two
men gave t en acr f of ’ a ' Kl1 fo r a
f hurch ? nd , cemetery (there , has
J ie en six and a half acres
* >ougbl sinc e) where) the pres
erd church at Johnson now
sta ^ ds '
Fvery one went . , to work , wit 1
Rev. Davies as leader. George
^ycens was given the contract,
' v,tb ',' m as main carjien
er -, ® silk were cut
bauled , by 1 1 t ase ^J ,r ? m ,c_
, ;.' i^ase er
°' v .', sry s mi
* aid , tb y would ., . last * over a
'thousand j years. E. J. Tliomp
son and J. L. Reese are the only
two living who helped in this
g ^ at work whlch was begun ,n
'
D^ies , . was transferred . r , to .
; hgfsScceeded ker succeeded 6 hfm him for for "the the year year
Toad —a _
lr0 ” J fir ‘J, lo ^ p,„
cemeterv jJ in J Februa
ry ’ ' Rev ’. Pal er a< ] e the C
comment during , ,, the f funeral n
“ r 'jJ e ^ ^
1 brigbt d day lor the cr(rvvd d > b Dut t
GIBSON, GA., WEDNESDAY,-JUNE 22, 1932.
dark for the widow,
In May the new church was
(completed, workmen discharged,
debts all paid. On Saturday,
18th. Rev. John R. Parker
preached the last sermon in the
old church, his text was 103
Psalm and 5th verse.
The fol,owing <> ay heing Sun '
day the community for miles
*
ar und gathered to hear Bishop
Karnaugh preach the dedica
ting sermon for the new church,
He preached one hour and fit
teen minutes from 2nd Chroni
c | es> sixth chapter and eigh
tccnlh verS e.
The stewards and trustees at
that , time wcre Tillman N. Pool
William Johnson, John Smith
Johnson and Jesse E. Johnson,
each holding these offices as
long as they lived,
In 1927 the conference sent
Rev E c Wilson lo this charge.
Hc w a t once our church
nce( j P ,i working over a good bit,
an( j tj,; s same spirit that existed
.towards the church fifty years
before, manifested its self again.
an(1 j n a few months of the late
summer of 1927 our church was
looking like new, painted
insitle and out with a new roof
and carpe t.
We fee! today that Johnson is
one of lhe pettiest country
e } lurc h es anywhere, and the
Cfmetery is also beautifully
kept lt is j ust r , vc mi ] e s south
of Warrenton on the Gibson
hjghway W.
The present trustees are
Fred j ohnson , who succeeded
his father, W. Pierce Johnson;
j^gar Shurl4y succeeded the
j ate t. A. English; J. J. Gunn
succee ded W. Parker Johnson;
q j { EoWe succeeded Herchel
Todd and C. J. English.
The stewards are Edgar Shur
j e y j j Gunn, R. P. Lowe, C. J.
English, Bennett Hart, J. Smith
j 0 j inson an( j yj rs Eena
p, or( ] erS
Among the Sunday School
have been Geo.
w. English, D. C. Johnson, T.
Tnglish, Seaborn Williford, W.
p arker Johnson, C. J. English,
E F . Thompson and Lena Hart.
The preachers who have
served this charge since 1839 are
as fol](>wg:
1839—Josiah Lewis.
184( ^ Leonar(] c peek
““■*«;
184445-W. H. Evans.
1846—W. P. Arnold,
1847-,Iohn W. Knight.
j j^Alien 84 #j__Allen ^urner^ Turner
1850—F. F. Reynolds and J.
H. Clark.
1851-52—David Blalock.
1853-54—F. F. Reynolds.
1855-50—Wm. J. Cotter.
.
1857-58—Josiah Lewis.
18514—W. P. Clonls.
iSW)-61—Wm, A. Florence.
1862-63—John W. McGahee.
1864— John H. Grogan.
1865- 66—James M. Dickey.
1867— Wm. H. Evans.
1868- 69-70—Thos A. Seals.
1871-72-73—Wesley S. Smith.
1874— J. Lewis.
1875— G. W. Hardaway.
1876— 77—F. R. Davies.
1878-79—John R. Parker.
1880-81-82—W. F. Hamilton.
1883-84-85—Geo. W. Duvall.
1886— .John A. Reynolds.
1887- 88—F. G. Hughes.
1889— L. P. Neece.
1890- 91—John H. Mashburn.
1892— W. T. Irvine.
1893- 94—John W. Stipe.
1895— R. P. Martin.
1896- 97-98—R. F. Eeaks.
1899-1900—Casper Wright.
1901-02—W. M. Wynn.
1903— J. A. Timmerman.
1904— J. T. Robins.
1905— W. A. Farris, of
W ood Circuit,
1906—A. G. Shankle.
1907-08—C. H. Branch.
1909-10—Wm. R. Foote,
1911-12—J. M. Turn 1 in.
1913-14—J. C. Atkinson,
1915-16-17—H. C. Emory.
1918--K. Read.
1919-20-21—J. O. Brand.
1922-23—H. L. Hendricks,
1924-25-26—W. S. Norton.
1927-28—E. C. Wilson.
1929-30-D. P. Johnston.
1931—J. McD. Radford.
1932--C. M. Haynes, our
ent pastor.
There has been preaching at
this church and the old one to
gether on the fourth Sunday and
Saturday before by the regular!
pastor since 1830, until Rev. E. j
Wilson changed the Saturday,
service for Sunday night in 1927.
Some of the local preachers to
preach on other Sundays have,
been Seaborn Johnson, Aaron
Johnson, Amos Johnson, An
thony Johnson, John R. Bate,:
Uriah Langford, John Purvis 1
Hu-j ,
Henry Fitzpatrick, R. W.
bert, William Johnson, W. H.
Cooper, Lillie Belle Williford'
.
” ogan - All these except Mrs.;
Hogan are in that eternal city
P. S.—This history was Johnson,! given.
by Mrs. W. Parker
great granddaughter of this
pioneer settler, and she would
appreciate any other important
facts if given before this paper )
goesi to the typist. *
SUBSCRIPTION $1.00 PER YEAR
Popular Hotel Man
Originates New Plan
Andrew A. Smith manager of
the Hotel Savannah and origi
nator of the Savannah Beat’ll
week-end plan, whic'h this news
paper heartily indorses as a
most economical and thorough
ly enjoyable short vacation plan
for South Georgians, is himself
a native of Southwest Georgia.
“Andy”, as he is popularly
known to his friends, is one of
m
X
Q: 1 §
-
*
‘
% 'U
m
ANDREW A. SMITH
Manager Hotel Savannah
the youngest prominent hotel
men in the country, having been
only thirty years old March 4th. !
He was horn on that date, 1902,l
in Donaldsonville, Sqminole,
county. Incidently, it was Hotel
Seminole in Jacksonville *that
served as a stepping stone to his i
becomming manager of the Hotel; !
Savannah. Previous to his con
nection with the Savannah hos
telery in November. 1929, lie was
for two years assistant manager
of the Aragon and Jackson hotels
of that city. He was educated in
the public schools of Florida,
aild Started in the hotel business
at the age of 18 in Ocala, where
finis family had moved, from
Georgia when he was a youth.
President of the greater organ
ization of Florida; vice-presi
dent of that organization in
Georgia, an officer of the Savannah! Georgia
Hotel Association, the
Exchange Club, the Savannah!
Chamber of Commerce, National! and the J
chapter there of lhe
Aeronautics Association, Mr . 1
Smith is admired by thousands
for llis courtesy and efficiency,
The $8.75 week-end rate,
which includes fifty-four hours!
room rental with hath, beginning;
either Friday or Saturday morn-i
ings, 7 meals, free theatre and !
Tybrisa dance pavalion tickets
laundry , and suit pressing, nisi, ;
tuted at the beginning of this
season at the Hotel Savannah bv
Mi. Smith, lvas proven a tremcn
dously popular idea among
ple of Georgia who wish to spend
three enjoyable days at Savannah
and Savannah Beach.
CANDIDATE FOR
GOVERNOR
Mi P life
M „ l ^l as
kk.-k m
F. B. SUMMERS
of Atlanta and Jonesboro, who of
is a candidate for Governor
Georgia,
Peculiar Defense
A gray-green fish, called the puffer,
defends Itself when in danger by sud
denly assuming the appearance of u
balloon.
GEORGIA
NEWS
Happenings Over
the State
Jenkins county commissioners are
installing a community canning plant
to be operated by It. E. Hughes, coun
ty agent.
Special schools (or the instruction
ot firemen as a means o£ cutting tire
losses was advocated by Chief D. W.
Brosnan, of the Albany fire depart
ment.
The annual summer meeting of
Georgia tobacco farmers was held
at the Coastal Plains experiment sta
tion at Tifton recently. Many tobacco
farmers were present.
Recent rains about Americus have
resulted In an abundant crop of black
berries, peas and snap beans, as a
result of which the local market is
flooded with these edibles.
The wool clip in south Georgia and
near Valdosta this year will be tho
smallest in tonnage in the history of
the industry. The present low mark
price of this staple is 6 cents a pound.
Thre e hundred farm women of
Georgia recently ended their annual
week’s short course at Camp Wilkins
on the campus of the Georgia State
College of Agriculture at Athens, with
a pageant.
Dr. James Holland Jackson, one ot
the leading physicians of Barnes
villo, received notice recently of his
appointment as first lieutenant in the
medical reserve corps of the United
states arm v
The fifteenth semi-annual session
ot tlle Third District Medical Asso
ciation was held at Montezuma re
cently when the association was en
tertained by the Macon County Med
ical Society.
With 1,255 students registered for
college credit courses during the first
three days, the University of Georgia
sgtnmer school enrollment is off only
D per cent, according to Dr. J. S.
Stewart, director,
Dr. Alice Brown, professor of biol
of Brenau College conservatory,
has announced that the Brenau ma
rine biological laboratory on St. Si
mons Island will be held this year
from July X to August 12.
Tiie stale tax ou insurance agents
was upheld by the Georgia supreme
court recently in the case of I.. S.
Brannan and others against Comp
troller General W. B. Harrison, ap
pealed from the Fulton superior
court,
The regular semi-annual dividend of
4 per cent on preferred stock and the
annual dividend of 8 per cent on
common stock has been declared by
the Merchants and Mechanics Loan
ami Saving company at Waycross
recently -
Tlie department of justice at Wash
lngton recently announced it had ap
lirovt ' a dU ® s 10 * 73 a crss o£ land a ?
quired ^ by Lt th l e federal , government f in
c 0 y from Mr. and Mrs. C. N.
Maleoff and Ida White. The land
is valued at $1,315.
Announcement was made recently
by st ono J. Crane, general field rep
resentative of the American Red
Cross, that during the past eighteen
months $104,354 16 had been spent
for relief purposes in Georgia by the
national headquarters of the Red
Cross.
“Two million persons could be
brought to Georgia to celebrate the
bl-cer.tcnnial anniversary of the
state,’’ said A. L. Rogers, of the Mas
sachusetts tri-centennial committee at
the meeting of the Georgia Hotel
Men’s Association recently at Sea Isl
and beach.
The State Hospital at Milledgeville
had total receipts of $1,505,037.16 for
the year 1C31. and spent $1,442,629.21,
leaving a balance of $50,404.63 be
longing to the hospital, and $11,968.27
belonging to the patients, on Cecem
h;;r 31, acccordlng to a report filed
with Governor Russell 1 .cently by
State Auditor Tom Wisdom.
How the American housewife can
heap relieve unemployment and speed
the return o” prosperity, is pointed out
by B. O. Sprague, president of the
Savannah Sugar Refining Corpora
tion, who declares that the housewife
should insist on buying goods manu
factured in the United States. He
states that roughly 30 uer cent of the
refined sugars sold in tho states of
Alabama. Tennessee, Georgia, Florida,
North Carolina and South Carolina
during 1931 were manufactured out
side of the United States, sold in com
petition with sugar refined by Amer
ican workmen, and with no saving to
the housewife in the purchase of that
(Continued on rage two)