Clinch County, Georgia - Chapter 1, 1916

Chapter 1

Ceding of the Lands Which Now Comprise Clinch County. - Origin of Appling County. - Origin of Irwin County. - Origin of Ware County. - Origin of Lowndes County. - First Settlers. - Primitive Condition. - Indian Troubles. - Growth of the County. - "Olden Times." - Land Grants.

THE lands which now comprise Clinch County, were ceded by the Indians by a treaty made at Fort Jackson, in the western part of this State, August 9th, 18 14. There was no stipulated sum paid for the land, this being the only cession of lands by the Indians which the government did not have to pay for. This treaty was the culmination of a war caused by Indian outrages, which had been raging for about three years. General Andrew Jackson's crowning victory over them at Horse-Shoe Bend on the Tallapoosa River in Alabama, caused them to sue for peace and the treaty of Fort Jackson was the result. Besides the lands ceded which lie now in Clinch County, other territory was ceded out of which about twenty counties in South Georgia have since been made.

Four years after the treaty was made, Appling County was created by an Act of the Legislature approved December 1 5th, 1 8 1 8. This county took in not only what is now Clinch County, but also Ware, Coffee and parts of several other counties. At the same time Irwin County was created. Two years later the first election for county officers was held in Appling County. The following were elected: William Carter, sheriff; John Bailey, Clerk of the Superior Court;

James Mixon, coroner and Daniel S. Whitehurst, surveyor. Appling County was named for Col. Daniel Appling, a noted soldier of the Revolution.

Irwin County was created at the same time Appling County was, and was named in honor of Governor Jared Irwin, of this State. The first county officers were not commissioned until 1820. Originally the line between Irwin and Appling Counties, extended along the line dividing the seventh and twelfth land districts of Ware County from the tenth and eleventh land districts of Irwin County. This caused most of the present Mud Creek district to be in Irwin County, as was also the Stockton district.

Ware County was created by an Act of the Legislature approved December 15th, 1824. It was created out of lands theretofore situated in Appling County, and was named for Hon. Nicholes Ware, a United States Senator from this State. Early in the year 1825 an election was held in the new county for Justices of the Inferior Court, which at this time had charge of all county matters. The following justices were elected and were commissioned March 2nd, 1825 : William Smith, Solomon Hall, John L. Stewart, Jr., Philemon Bryan and Absalom Thomas. The election for county officers was not held until the next year, when the following were elected: William G. Henderson, sheriff; Joseph Bryan, clerk of the Superior and Inferior Courts; Zachariah Davis, surveyor, and Joshua Sharpe, coroner. At the same time that the Justices of the Inferior Court were elected in 1825, Philemon Bryan was elected the first State Senator from Ware County, while John L. Stewart was elected the first representative.

By an Act of the Legislature approved December 23rd, 1825, Lowndes County was created. This county was created from lands formerly in Irwin County, which extended to the line dividing the tenth and eleventh land districts of Irwin from the seventh, twelfth and thirteenth land districts of Ware or formerly Appling. The new county was named for Hon. William L. Lowndes, a distinguished statesman of South Carolina. The first county officers were commissioned May 29th, 1826, and were: William Hancock, sheriff; Samuel M. Clyatt, surveyor; Henry Blair, clerk of the Superior and Inferior Courts; and Malachi Monk, coroner. The first State Senator from Lowndes was William A. Knight, while the first representative was Jonathan Knight, a notable instance of father and son being first representatives of a new county in legislative halls.

First Settlers

The first settlers in what is now Clinch County, that any authenticity can be vouched for, settled in the Mud Creek district, then a part of Irwin County, in December, 1822. They were John, William, and Moses Tomlinson, brothers; Josiah Sirmans, Sr., and his sons, and David Johnson. William Smith, a pioneer minister of the Primitive Baptist Church, also settled here about the same time, settling on Red Bluff Creek, then in Appling County. Very soon the Newberns, O'Steens, and Paffords settled here. Within a few years, came John Bennett, Benjamin Cornelius, Jeremiah Chancey, Lawrence Smith and Samuel Register. All of the families named are still represented in this county by numerous descendants.

Primitive Condition

The primitive condition of the county before the whites became numerous, might easily be imagined. Forests of giant trees were everywhere, while game was in abundance.

Indians roamed here and there with no permanent habitation. No such timber as could be found then can now be found. It has fell under the chopper's ax and has been the source of much profit and occupation.

At the time Ware and Lowndes Counties were created, this part was very sparsely settled. Settlers were few and Indians were many. Gradually the country grew, but it was not until the advent of the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad, just before the Civil War, that any progress was visible outside of the increasing population. In the absence of railroads, paths and community roads were used. In the course of time, a stage road was opened through from Waresboro by Magnolia and into Lowndes County, "while another stage road reached from Troupville, in Lowndes, through Mud Creek and connected with the road to Waresboro.

The oldest militia district in the county is the 586th, known as Mud Creek. From the records at Atlanta it is found that Hudson Tillery and James O. White were commissioned Justices of the Peace in this district, February loth, 1829. It was at that time a part of Ware County, and reached up into Coffee County.

Indian Troubles

Troubles with the Indians began to take definite shape about 1836. It seems that the trouble originated in the State of Alabama on Terrapin Creek, and was caused by the efforts of the Creeks to join the Seminoles in Florida, who were about to take up the hatchet. The war lasted for about two or three years, when practically all the Indians in Georgia were deported to the West.

During these troublous times, the whites built a fort about two miles north of Cane Creek and about six miles northeast of where Homerville now is. It covered about two acres of ground and was built by picketing pine poles about twenty feet long in the ground, side by side until an inclosure was made. These were braced together and made as impreg- nable as possible. Inside, small houses were built and the fort was otherwise made as much a home as possible for the refugees. The settlers also had a place of rendezvous at the home of Benjamin Sirmans in the Mud Creek district. Settlers would often make their clearings as near the forts or places of safety as possible in anticipation of any expected attack by the Indians.

Several expeditions were made against the Indians as far down as the Suwannee River and the Florida line. Tom Fulwood, a member of one of the expeditions, was killed on one of the expeditions, and scalped by the Indians. His body was recovered by his companions and buried some three or four miles from where Henry Lee now lives in this county.

There were several companies of volunteers organized in this section for service against the Indians. A company of "scouts" headed by Captain Knowles did valiant service in this war; also companies under Captain John J. Johnson, an Englishman, and Captain John J. North, who subsequently became a citizen of Clinch, saw much service. Towards the Allapaha River, Captain Levi J. Knight commanded the pioneer troops as major and colonel.

The following narrative of an engagement with the Indians, is given on authority of Mr. Bryan J. Roberts, a wealthy pioneer citizen of Lowndes County, which is corroborated by others :

"Some time in the fall of 1836, a squad of Indians raided the home of Mr. William Parker, not far from where Milltown now is. They carried his feather beds out in the yard, cut them open, emptied the feathers and appropriated the ticks. They also robbed him of provisions, clothing and money in the sum of $308. Captain Levi J. Knight, in whose command Mr. Roberts was, was soon on trail of the squad and overtook them near the Allapaha River, not far from the Gaskins mill-pond. The sun was just rising when the gallant company opened fire on the savages. A lively fight ensued, soon terminating in the utter rout of the Indians, who threw their guns and plunder into the river and jumped in after them. A few were killed and a number wounded. One Indian was armed with a fine shot-gun; this he threw into the river. He also tried to throw into the stream a shotbag, but it was caught in the limb of a tree and suspended over the water. Strange to say, it contained Mr. Parker's money, every cent of which was recovered. The fine shot-gun was fished out of the river and afterwards sold for $40, a tremendous price for a gun in those days.

"Having driven the Indians from the dense swamp beyond the river, Captain Knight marched his company as rapidly as possible in the direction of Brushy Creek in the southwest part of the county (Lowndes). In the distance they heard a volley of small arms. On arrival, they found that a battle had already been fought and the volley was only a last tribute of respect over the grave of a comrade-in-arms, Pennywell Folsom. Mr. Robert Parrish, who later became quite prominent and lived near Adel had his arm broken in this fight. Edwin Henderson was mortally wounded and died near the battlefield, and there were two others killed. The Indians lost twenty-two killed, besides a number wounded. The battle was fought in a swamp where Indian cunning was pitted against Anglo-Saxon courage, and in five minutes after the engagement opened, there was not a live redskin to be seen.

"From this place Captain Knight marched his company across the Allapaha River into what is now Clinch County. The Indians after the last engagement had crossed the river and took a course southeastward to Cow Creek, about three miles below where Stockton now is. The whites traced them and found them near the creek. They surprised the savages at breakfast and the Indians, abandoning what little effects they had except their guns, hurriedly crossed the "Boggy Slue" and then went over the creek. The slue which had been so easy for the Indians to cross, delayed the whites, but finally crossing it they caught up with the Indians on the other side of the creek, where a short engagement occurred. Bill Daugharty had his horse shot from under him in this engagement by a very large Indian, and just as the Indian was about to fire at him, Mr. Daugharty shot the Indian. The Indian's body was not found until after the engagement was over, when it was found in some bushes. In this short engagement three Indians were killed and five made prisoners. No whites were killed, but Mr. Barzilla Staten was dangerously wounded from which he afterwards recovered."

Captain Knowles' company assisted in driving the last Indian from the great Okefinokee Swamp, and camped on one of the islands in the swamp for about three months, leaving the swamp only for provisions. A narrative is given on authority of Mr. Jesse Smith, who was in Captain Knowles' company, in which Mr. Smith relates an adventure with the savages. It was as follows :

After the company had lost trail of a party of Indians whom they were hunting, Mr. Smith was in the lead of the whites that night. The night was very dark, and after having searched all day the search was almost given up, when in the grass not ten steps ahead, Mr. Smith saw the fire sparkle from the old flint and steel rifle, and he knew that they were in the midst of the Indians. The Indian's gun failed to fire and they saw it was a hand-to-hand battle in the darkness. Before Mr. Smith had time to move, the Indian sprang up and threw his arms around the horse's neck and held on. The fight seemed to be between the horse and the Indian, when the horse finally became so frightened that he dashed away. The horse ran until the clinging Indian was forced to give it up, and when Mr. Smith got his wits together again he was miles away from his companions, with both hands clinched in the horse's mane. Then he had a task to find his comrades, which he did just about daylight.

The great Okefinokee Swamp served as a place of refuge for the Indians during this war, and here they hid themselves when hard pressed. General Charles R. Floyd made an expedition against the savages in the swamp and drove them totally out of the swamp and Into Florida. It had always been a mystery to the whites how the Indians were able to exist under circumstances of the most adverse character in the swamp, until one day an entrance to the "cow-house," an elevated fertile Island, was discovered by the scouts of General Floyd's army. Through an opening the Indians had driven a number of small, black cattle, which was found to be so numerous in this section when the whites first settled here. This solved the mystery, and the island has since been known as Floyd's Island.

In 1838 fourteen thousand Indians were conveyed to lands beyond the Mississippi River, and after this the county enjoyed comparative peace from Indian troubles. It was very seldom after this that an Indian was seen.

After the Indian trouble ceased, this section began to grow. The citizens began to widen out their farms, settlement roads were made, new settlers came and several churches were organized.

The only way in that day to get produce to market centers was to carry it In great caravans of wagons and carts drawn by oxen. The people of the community through which it passed would often load their produce or marketable stuff on these wagons and carts, giving the owner a part of the proceeds to carry it to market. A stage road which was built about this time from Holmesvllle in Appling County, to Troupvllle In Lowndes County, served as the principle highway. The principal person to engage in this business was James C. Smith, a wealthy pioneer citizen. He would often make Darien his destination, although Savannah and other ports were reached occasionally. The slow trip would consume as much as two or three months sometimes. In returning the wagons would bring such things as were needed by the settlers in their homes and on the farms.

John C. Kirkland

Waresboro was then the county seat of Ware County, and Troupville of Lowndes County. To these places the people of this section journeyed to attend court and to other such matters. The stage road led to Waresboro, while another one led to Troupville. The court-house at Waresboro in those days is described as being a large one-story log house with two small siderooms as offices; and during court the jury in a case would go off in the woods nearby in the charge of a bailiff, to make up their verdict. Since that time, Waresboro has decreased to a mere village and Troupville is almost forgotten, and other cities have arisen to which the county seat has been moved.

During those days, the people lived in log houses with hewn floors and wooden shutters for windows. Everything bore a distinctly home-made appearance. The main portion of the people were not rich but a more honest and hospitable set could not be found. Among the wealthier families would be found from twenty-five to fifty slaves in each family. The white families living oftentimes miles apart, were of the kindliest disposition to each other.

The people of what is now Clinch County, were not rich. The settlers were plain men, honest and thrifty. Their houses were simple buildings, situated generally near the few roads there were. The people did all their work except those who were fortunate enough to own slaves. Clothes were made of cloth manufactured by themselves. The women carded the cotton or wool with hard-cards into small rolls. These rolls they spun on spinning wheels into thread, which they dyed whatever colors they desired, and they wove the thread into cloth on home-made looms. Such looms and spinning-wheels have disappeared from usage and almost from existence although one is occasionally found in the homes of the people of Clinch County where it is kept as a rehc of the past, and an object of curiosity to the young.

As has been said, the houses of the settlers were generallybuilt of logs and had but one room, the floor of which was made of split logs with the faces smoothed by an ax or hatchet. There were no lamps and candles were not often used. Blazing pine-knots in the fire-place generally served both for light and heat. In the summer season the people would go to bed early, almost with the coming of darkness, and in this way save building a hot fire for light and also to escape the mosquitoes. Likewise they rose early in the morning with the "break of day," often before daylight, and began the day's work. The children of the family, after working all day, would at night lie down in front of the pineknot fire and learn to read and write. Many of the older citizens of the county still vividly remember those days.

Cooking in those days was done in large, open fire-places in which was a crane for holding kettles and pots over the fire. When meat was roasted it was roasted on a spit hung before the fire.

There were no railroads here in those days, and traveling long distances was usually done by means of vehicles called stage-coaches. The mails were carried in these vehicles. At certain places were kept relays of horses which the drivers of the stage-coaches used.

Land Grants

About that time great areas of land were granted by the State to individuals. In what is now Clinch County the lands were surveyed about 1822 and cut into squares of 490 acres each, which were later granted by the State under the lottery system. It was sold on an average of five dollars per lot, and could be paid for by the installment plan, if desired, - one-fourth down and the rest in equal payments. These lots or squares of land of 490 acres each, were run into districts, each district containing from 500 to 650 lots. That is the present system of defining land in this county.

this county, were Hon. John Forsyth, Sylvanus Hitch, a citizen of Jones County, Ehjah Mattox, of Waresboro, Simon W. Nichols, of Jones County, James D. Shanks, of Lowndes County, and WilHam Lastinger, of Lowndes.