HISTORY of COLUMBUS MUSCOGEE Georgia

HISTORY of COLUMBUS *MUSCOGEE* Georgia

www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG CONTENTS

CHAPTER I-A Center of Indian Life ...... Page 7

CHAPTER 11-Columbus is Laid Out ...... Page 24 CHAPTER 111-The Frontier Town ...... Page 39 CHAPTER IV-The Creek War ...... Page 50 CHAPTER V-The City of Columbus ...... Page 63 CHAPTER VI-Georgia Military Headquarters for Mexican War of 1846 ...... Page 74

CHAPTER VII-Industrial Progress ...... Page 79

CHAPTER VIII-States' Rights and Secession ...... Page 92 CHAPTER IX-A Confederate Center ...... Page 1 16

CHAPTER X-The Last Battle and the End of the War .... Page 131 CHAPTER XI-The Ashburn Case and the Fourteenth Amendment ...... Page 15 5 CHAPTER XII-Governor Smith From Columbus ...... Page 173

CHAPTER XIII-Industrial Recuperation ...... Page 192

CHAPTER XIV-A Military Center in 1898 ...... Page 2 15

CHAPTER XV-Twentieth Century Expansion ...... Page 225

CHAPTER XVI-Hydro-Electric Developments ...... Page 242 CHAPTER XVII-The Water Works Becomes a City Property ...... Page 257

CHAPTER XVIII-Columbus During the World War .... Page 269

CHAPTER XIX-Fort Benning is Established ...... Page 280 CHAPTER, XX-Commission Government and City Expansion ...... Page 291 CHAPTER XXI-The Centennial Closes a Century of Progress ...... Page 3 12

CHAPTER XXII--Persons. Places. and Interesting Events . . Page 342 www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

INTRODUCTION

BY A. W. COZART

Schlegel says: "A historian is a prophet looking backwards." Voltaire said: "History is only the register of crimes and misfortunes." Robert G. Zngersoll said: "History is a chronological arrangement of events which rzever happened." Arzother defined it as "his story". All of these defi1zitiorz.r are wittier thalz wise aad triter than trzce. . Car- lyle, in one breath, said: "History is a distillation of rumor", and i~ another breath, he sa,'.l: "History is the essence of biographies". In writing the History of Columbus, Nancy Telfair has kept in mind he lives of the great men and women who made Columbzcs. .She being related by consanguinity and affinity to at least four of the great Columbus- building families, the Redds, the Gunbys, the Jordans and the Howards- is well pualijied by birth, by irtspiration and by education to write the history of this city, and she has produced a work which is as romantic as it is authentic, as facinating as it is romantic, and as remarkable as it is facinating.

Patriotism is love of home writ large. ' If the Christ loved Judea and the Jordan so much that he made them live in his divine words, if Burns and Scott placed in ever-living lines "Ye banks and braes o'bonnie Doon" and the Highlanders of Scotland, shozcld we not perpetuate the deeds and names of those who were born and those who were nurtwed hard by the Chattahoochee? Literature ma~tnot be permitted to forget what she owes to Augusta Evans Wilson. Poetry mzcst sing of Lamar, O'Hara, Oliver, and Ticknor. The god of War must pronounce each reczcrring year the name of Beaning. Ptiilanthrophy must show her gratitude to Peabody and McllPcenny. Commerce and Indastry must name the names of the Strws Brothers and Samuel Spenc~r. The Law must give recognition to Walter T. Colqzcitt, Martin J. Crawford, James Milton Smith, Mark H. Blandford, Lollis F. Garrard, TVilliam Augustus Little, and a host of others. Every resident of Columbus sho.uld know her history first. It is more important to know your hitistory than the History of Rome. It is better to know about your own streets than about the Appian Way. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

Who knows that our Thirteenth Street concrete viaduct is the longest in Georgia,-1,8 8 8 feet long and 5 0 feet wide? Who knows that three Ex-Presidents-Polk, Fillmore, and Roosevelt, and two Presidents-Taft afid Harding, visited Columbus? Who knows that Henry Clay, the Whig Candidate for President, visited Columbus March 11, 1 844? Who knows that Columbus was the first city in the world to establish an indzcstrial school as a part of her pablic school system? Who knows that the first ice-machine was made at Columbus Iron Works Company? Who knows that Columbus Manufactwing Company was the first plant in the world to use hydro-electric transmitted power and that the Eagle b' Phenix Mills were the first to ase electricity for lighting? Who k~owsth~t a CoLumb~sdruggist was the first to prepare the formula for Coca-Cola? Who knows that our Fort Benning is the greatest infantry school of arms in the world? Who knows that we have 1 0 0 industrial plants and'that the Bibb Man- tcfacturing Company has a mill with thirty-five acres of floor space? Who knows that the greatest woman literary character ever produced by the South, Augusta Evans Wilson, was born here? Who knows that the Chattahoochee is the largest and longest river in Georgia afid one of the 200 navigable streams of America? Let our children forget Rome and Athens wtil they remember Colzcmb~s. I know of no history of any city comparable to the one written by Namy Telf air, and our School Board could not do a better thing than to place k is ow High School czlrriczllzcm. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

CHAPTER I

A Center of Indian Life

HE tinkle of the little brass bells on the heavily laden packhorses of Indian traders has long been lost in the siren of the thunder- ing locomotive, and the creak of the ox-drawn covered wagons of expectant pioneers has vanished in the whizz of impatient motor cars. The pony express has long since passed away and even its swift successor, the mail train, is giving away to the timeless air- plane. The mild hum of the hand run loom has been hushed by the powerful grind of the cotton mills, and the dark rough streets of a frontier village have vanished in the paved thoroughfares of an industrial capital that calls the lightning her willing slave. It was only a hundred years ago that Columbus, "The Industrial Cap- ital" of Georgia, began to take form, and from a sprawling trade settlement of three hundred' souls inaugurated a phenomenal history of commercial, military, political and educational growth.

The city of Columbus was laid out in ' 1828 at the order of the governor of the state, but long before that time it was a center of human activities. The earliest accounts of this historic place point to a capital of wealth among aborigines of about the same culture and civilization as the ancient Toltecs, and in fact, a contemporary and similar tribe of inhabitants. Prof. James Mooney, an archeologist of note, claims that De Soto, the Spanish explorer, who came up from Mexico to these parts in 1540, was led to make the expedition on account of the stories he heard in that country of the fabulously wealth "Chiaha". This city was on the site of the present Columbus, it is held, and Professor Mooney contends that De Soto, instead of taking the Connasauga and Oostanaula route to where the present city of Rome is, descended the Chattahoochee river to Coweta Falls and thence went westward to the Mississippi. To be sure, he did not find the wonderful city he anticipated, for even had it once been here, it would have long disappeared before his day. However, in the Alabama burial mounds near Columbus and in the mounds in Georgia there have been found many evidences of an older Indian civilization, as shown by the various articles excavated indicating sun and serpent worship, and a high degree of skill in the workmanship of metals and textiles. In such arts were the ancient inhabitants of Mex- ico adept, and their religion was centered around the sun and serpent. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

8 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

When De Soto and other European explorers descended' on the Amer- ican shores, much of the older Indian civilization had passed away, and that which was in existance was a poor reminder of its former glory. Smaller tribes of Indians, powerful warriors of a lower order of intelligence and much less advanced in the arts of civilization, had risen and were continuing to conquer and absorb their ancient predecessors. The center of the older tribes was in Mexico when the Spaniards arrived and their plundering only served to hasten the already inevitable extinction. In this section of the new world, the Indians told of an older civilization but the accounts existed in more or less obscure forms of myth and tradition. No explanation of how they had succeeded to the possession of the land was adequately given. They planted' their crops of maize and hunted on the ancient burial mounds, knowing that they existed and asserting that they had always been there. They had no art of weaving beyond that of primitives, nor was their pottery of as fine 'and delicate a type as that found' in the graves of those whom their ancestors had conquered. They worshiped a Great Spirit and gave no thought to the powerful sun and serpent deities of their forerunners. These Indians belonged to numerous small tribes, such as the Uchees, Hitchitees, Cussetas, Eufaulas, Alabamas and many others. For some hundreds of years they existed. They were found here by Spanish, French, and English explorers. It was about the time of the settlement of the Plymouth colony in Massachusetts, in 1620, that these little individualistic tribes of Indians in the southeastern part of the new world were in their turn conquered' by a tribe of newcomers from the shores of Mexico. This was a strong nation of warriors, the Muscogees, and in coming up from the south they subdued and absorbed the weaker tribes along their path and on their border. In this way the many little groups were organized into what was called the Creek Confederacy by the whites, the name Creek being given because of the number of small streams running through the country possessed by that nation. "Creek" is also said to be the English translation of "Coweta". In Alabama were the Upper Creeks, in South Georgia, the Lower Creeks, in Florida, the Seminoles, and in North Georgia, the Cherokees. All of these divisions were really part of the Muscogee Nation, and their territory extended even further to the west and north. The Muscogees held sway for nearly two hundred years when, in their turn, they were conquered by a stronger and more civilized people. In the early 1800's the last of their famous race found a new homestead in the United States Indian reservation beyond the Mississippi. The story of the coming of the white man, his establishment, and finally of the departure of the redskins in this section of the country would have been very different, and no doubt prolonged with much more war and bloodshed, had it not been for the establishment of Columbus, the last www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG A CENTER OF INDIAN LIFE 9

frontier town of the original thirteen colonies of the United States. A hundred years of trade and travel from Charleston in South Caro- lina and Mobile, the French city, in what was later to be Alabama, had prepared the way and made necessary a strong center of white civilization, where Columbus is now built. As early as 1707 a horse path was in use along this route, and indi- cations are that it had been in use many years earlier. It was over this path that John Musgrove, Sr., and John, Jr., his son, came through the Creek nation in 1716 to Coweta. This town was the oldest known city in North America, just south of present day Columbus on the western bank of the Chattahoochee. Here the two Musgroves met the chief's daughter, Mary. The younger, John, was so enamored of the sixteen year old princess that he persuaded her to become his wife. The Princess Mary was no ordinary Indian girl. She had been educated in the colonies by her father, and had only recently come back to her people. She was an accomplished linguist, it was said, andoquite attractive in many ways. Shortly after their marriage they moved out of the Lower Creek nation, over the same path which had brought the ardent young John to his bride, and in 1723 they were settled on Yamacraw Bluff on the Savannah river. For so.me years they lived the life of Indian traders, though during this time the influence of the Princess Mafy was spreading wide and deep among her countrymen. In 1733 when, with Gen. James Oglethorpe at their head, the English colonists arrived on the shores of Georgia, and landed a few miles up the river at Yamacraw Bluff, they were met by the Princess Mary, among others from the South Carolina colony. It was a great surprise to General Oglethorpe that he should find someone who could speak his own language and who had an education. She became his intrepreter to her people, and it was largely due to her influence that the affairs between the early colonists of Georgia and Indians were conducted so peacebly. It was General 0glethorpe9s desire to treat the Indians fairly and' with as little bloodshed as possible in the matter of giving the newcomers a good home and establishing the boundaries of the colony as described by the King, George 11, of England. Toward this end' he entered into councils and made treaties with the red men, to their own satisfaction and that of the colonists. Mary Musgrove was of untold help in these trans- actions. Pursuing his course of moderation and justice _as he saw it, in the spring and summer of 1739, he made his way, with a few attendants, into the great Creek Nation. He followed the tradersy route, leaving Savannah July 17th, and at Kenard's Ferry, at the intersection of Eroad- way and Fourth Street in Columbus of the present day, he crossed the Chattahoochee river, and treated' with the chiefs of the nation at Coweta Town, the capital of the powerful nation of warriors. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG 10 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

This treaty was signed August 21, 1739, and was one of the most important documents concluded between the Indians and colonists. By it, the Indians were prevented from alliance with Spain and France and ceded the territory between the Savannah and Altamaha rivers without

Here General Oglethorpe crossed the Chattahoochee river, and at Coweta Town, southwest of this point, signed the famous treaty with the Indians, August 21, 1739. conflict. The grant from King George was to the effect that the new colony would be bounded by those two rivers to their sources and from there the land was to extend' to "The South Seas7'. Later some could not decide whether the South Seas meant the Mississippi river or the Pacific Ocean. At the time it seemed to be very ill defined in the minds of the authorities themselves. However, be that as it may, the whites were to settle only a small portion of it, the rest to be held and occupied by the www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

A CENTER OF INDIAN LIFE 11

Indians. The treaty included the signature of Chiefs of the Creeks, Cherokees and Chickasaws. General Oglethorpe was accompanied by Lieu- tenant Dunbar, Ensign Leman, Cadet Eyre and a few servants. In 1736, John Musgrove died, and' shortly afterward his widow married Capt. Jacob Matthews. When six years had passed, he too died and left Mary free to marry the Rev. Thomas Bosomworth, a rnis- sionary to the Indians in the Savannah colony. Due to his influence, Mary's character seemed to reverse itself and' for many years she gave the colonists almost as much trouble as in former times she had given favors. The old Coweta Town, which was so important in the history of the young colony and so intimately connected with the history of Columbus, was often referred to by early travelers along the trade route. This route extended from Charleston in South Carolina, to Augusta on the upper boundary of Georgia, thence to Milledgeville and' on to Coweta Town. All who passed through this section of the Creek Nation had to follow its route. From Coweta it passed further into the nation and on to Mobile. From that city in 1714, Bienville, its French founder, came up with his friend, Le Moyne, to treat the Indians and secure their alliance with France. But the Creeks preferred the arrangement whereby the English permitted them to retain their independence, and' so did not accede to the French king's desires that they become his subjects. Other travelers along this route were James Adair, the Scotish historian, who is notable as a chronicler of the Indians, and William Bartram, the English botanist, who journeyed in the Nation in 1773-1777, and who carried his plant specimens on two pack mules. Bartram's accounts are most interesting. One of the notable discourses concerns the common buckeye of this section. He discovered it near Fort Mitchell and gave a long account of it in his botanical journals. Aaron Burr, following his capture in Alabama in February, 1807, was returned to Wash- ington along this route. Lorenzo and Peggy Dow also traveled by it. No doubt Lachlan McGillivary and Lachlan McIntosh both found their way into the Creek Nation by this route and their coming has left indelible impression on this part of the country. In 1745 young McGillivray, recently arrived from Scotland at Charleston, took up his life as an Indian trader and went westward to the Chattahoochee river. There he met Sehoy Marchand, half French and half Indian, of the family of the Wind and ~owerfulin the affairs of the Nation. Following their marriage young Alexander was born to them, . and he was educated in Savannah and Charleston. ' Not until 1776 was he heard' of in this section. But from that time - on he was head of the Creeks. Presiding at a great war council at Coweta he inspired his countrymen who fell under the spell of his powerful and persuasive eloquence. Here he began a friendship with Leclerc Milfort, a young Frenchman whose writings furnished further illumination on the www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

12 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS. GEORGIA

life of that time. Young Milfort later married a younger sister of McGillivray's and was active in his brother-in-law's efforts against the Georgians. McGillivray's influence among the Creeks was so great that four nations spent much effort, time, and money in securing his friendship. Successively, he was an officer in the British, Spanish, and American armies, with more substantial recognition. In 1793, some years after com- pleting a treaty of peace with the United States, McGillivray died. Largely instrumental in concluding the treaty was Col. Marinus Willett who in 1787 was sent as a secret agent by president George Washington. He was for some time within the bouads of the Creek Nation and visited Coweta. Colonel Willett addressed a large gathering of Creek chiefs at Coweta, where they had come at McGillivray7s request. An interesting ancedote of the Chattahoochee river is told as occurring during these times, just after the close of the American revolution. In the eastern part of the state a family named Tyner lived, near the Indian settlements. Richard Tyner, the father, leaving home one day, had entrusted his family of two little girls, Mary and Tamar, a small boy, Noah, and the baby to his wife. An elder son was in Savannah. During the father's absence the redskins attacked the home, killing the mother and baby, and kidnapping the two little girls. Noah escaped by hiding in a hollow tree, which was afterward called "Noah's Ark". Mary and Tamar were brought into the Creek Nation by the warriors and for several years lived at Coweta. Here Mary was found by a trader who took her home, with the permission of the Indians. Tamar, however, was not allowed to accompany her sister, though the offer was made to purchase her from her captors. Sometime afterward, she was informed by a friendly old woman of the tribe that the Indians were preparing to burn her at the stake, suspecting her of attempting to escape. This fearful news was followed by an offer of assistance from the old woman, who told Tamar that she had concealed a canoe in the bushes of the river, and that by hiding during the d'ay and using the boat at night she would be able to get away. The canoe was found, full of provisions, and Tamar escaped to the Gulf of Mexico, where, by the aid of friends, she was enabled to reach her home in what is now Elbert County. A year before McGillivray made his spectacular debut as the Talley- rand of the Creek Nation, young William McIntosh was born of an Indian mother and Capt. William McIntosh at or near Cusseta, a few miles from Columbus. The boy grew up and was given an education with his white relatives. He was a first cousin of Gov. George Troup whose contemporary he was, and during whose administration as Governor of Georgia, General McIn- tosh was successful in establishing permanent peace between the Indians and the whites, as far as this state was concerned. During McIntosh's boyhood and before he was grown, there was www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

A CENTER OF INDIAN LIFE 13

ons st ant warfare between the two peoples. Harassed by the French, Spanish, British and Americans, then overtured by each for friendship, all the while inspired for his own selfish purpose by.the artful McGillivray, the Creek Nation would make and break numerous treaties with the Georgians. The Lower Creeks, of which McIntosh grew to be chief, never had the animosity toward the Georgians which the Upper Creeks developed. Meanwhile, another factor entered to complicate matters. The Federal Government and the state of Georgia were disputing as to the handling of the Indian affairs. Agents for the Indians were sent out by the central government, some of whom were effective in establishing and holding peace between the factions and some of whom were not. Chief among the former was Col. Ben Hawkins, who was put at the head of affairs for the Creeks in this section in 1796. He was from North Carolina and' was largely responsible, with General McIntosh, for the final settement, in 1827, of the Indian troubles in this state. He was frequently at Coweta in this connection. In 18 1 1, when Great Britian was stirring up strife along the southeast borders of the United States, this section of the country took hand in aiding communication between the state of Georgia and the territory of Alabama. The horsepath was enlarged so that stages could pass over it. In 1805 General McIntosh, at the head of a Creek delegation, had arranged for the United States Government to have this "h~rsepath'~,rights for which had been granted by the Indians for certain considerations in money, and other things, the Indians at the same time making designated cessions of land. In 18 1 1 the government obtained further permission from the Creeks and named Lieut. J. N. Luckett to have charge of improving the route for the accommodation of vehicles. Shortly afterward, it was opened, and the Indians along the route agreed to provide shelter and transportation across the streams. As a military road in the Creek War of 18 13 it was of untold help in facilitating the movement of troops. By some it is said that a trail through this section was used by General Jackson's troops during the Indian wars. In an account of the celebration of the centennial of Randolph county in a newspaper article it was stated that the Jackson trail was actually blazed by a detachment of troops under Colonel Haynes in 18 17- 18 18. A paragraph from the war records of 18 17, filed in the war department's state and military affairs, is quoted in the article as follows: ('General Jackson called for volunteers from Tennessee and Ken- tucky to join him on his march to Florida to put down the outbreak of October 30, 18 17. This they did. General Jackson himself did not travel www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

14 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

with his troops, but proceeded direct from Nashville with a few mounted soldiers to Fort Hawkins (Macon) where he arrived February 9, 18 18, while a detachment of troops, consisting of Tennessee and Kentucky volunteers under command of Col. Arthus P. Haynes, of Tennessee, left Nashville with General Jackson, but going a different route, proceeded through Alabama to Fort Mitchell, then passed into Georgia, marching south to Fort Gaines, and' securing supplies for his troops after scouring the country. They then proceeded along the Three Notch Road through Early county to join General Jackson at Fort Scott, in Early county.'' Further proof of the course of the route laid out, the article stated, is found in an old map of 1827 which shows "the only road through this section, coming straight from Muscogee county, down through what is now Stewart-then Randolph-into Randolph and passing into what was in that year Early County and joining the Old Hartford road which led straight from Fort Gaines to Fort Early, and over which it has been proved that the troops of Colonel Haynes passed." The name of "Three Notch Road" is of interest, too, it being said that when General Jackson passed with his men through this section of the country for the first time, he notched the trees in three places so that those behind him would recognize his marks and would be able to follow. The trail was later made into a road, and today "Three Notch Road" leads out from the communities across the river. Fort Mitchell, some ten miles south of Columbus, was the head of the Agency of the Creeks. For many years after its establishment as the last in a chain of forts to protect the whites against the Indian raids, it was supported by a body of United' States soldiers. It was built in 1813 during the administration of Gov. David Mitchell, for whom it was named. John Crowell, Indian agent, at this time was Alabama's territorial delegate and first Congressman. He was well known in Columbus' early days and members of his family still reside here. The enlargement of the horsepath into the Federal Road, as it was called, did much to increase the dissension between the Upper and Lower Creeks, the former being continually inspired by their leaders in inciting the hostility of the Georgians. Gen. John Floyd with his secretary, young W. H. Torrance, was having a great deal of trouble, and finally the whole Upper Creek Nation engaged in the outbreak, which was not quelled until Andrew Jackson secured t heir surrender. From early records and reports of Columbus we hear of both General Floyd and John Clark, son of Elijah Clark, among the Indians in this locality. While the Georgians and Alabamans were trying to keep peace with their too near Indian neighbors, and while many of them were living in constant fear after the dreadful massacre at Fort Mims, Governor Troup was trying to survey the Indian lands ceded in 1802. President Monroe, www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

A CENTER OF INDIAN LIFE 15 influenced by ill-placed sympathy of northerners who had forgotten their bloody frontier days, was offering resistance by taking sides with the Indians. Finally, in February 1825, following vehement pleas from Gover- nor Troup, President Monroe called a meeting for the Creek and Cherokee chiefs to be held' at Indian Springs. The government was represented by Duncan G. Campbell and James Meriwether, both of Georgia, the Indians favoring the treaty by Gen. William McIntosh, and those in opposition by Ho-po-eth-le-ye-ho-lo, who represented Big Warrior, chief of that faction. In part McIntosh said, addressing the gathering. "Will you go and live with your people, increasing and happy about you? This mighty nation has become dwarfed. It will be only a matter of time when there will be no game in the country and they will be without food. Some of the young men have been to look at the proffered land beyond the great river. It is good and game is abundant. Will you stay and die with them here and leave no one to follow you, and go to your grave and weep over your chief? Beyond the great river is the bright sun, and the sky is as blue and the waters as clear and sweet as they are here. To love the ground is mean, to love the people is noble." Big Warrior's representative answered: "Leave to us what little we have. We sell no more. Let us die where our fathers died. Let us sleep where our kindred sleep. And when the last has gone, then take our lands, and with your plows tear up the mold over our graves and plant your corn above us. There will be no one to weep for the dead; none to tell the traditions of our people. Who says it is mean to love the land and keep our hearts in the grave as we keep the Great Spirit? It is noble to love the land where the corn grows, and which was given to us by the Great Spirit. We are few and weak, you are many and strong and can kill us and take our homes, but the Great Spirit has given us courage to fight for our homes. We will do it. This is our talk, and our last talk." On concluding this speech the defiant chief wrapped his blanket around him, and with his followers, departed. Four days later McIntosh and the remaining chiefs of the Creeks and Cherokees concluded the treaty. This document provided that the Indians cede all remaining lands in ~eor~iaand vacate them by September 1, 1826. Though high in favor with some of the Indians, this treaty inspired revenge on the part of Big Warrior and the others who opposed General McIntosh. Finally, in the early morning of May 1, 1825, after having been condemned to die at a secret meeting of the Indians, Gen. William McIntosh was killed at his home in Carroll County near the Chattahoochee river. The following account of his death was given some years ago by a www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

16 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

prominent citizen of Carrollton: c'One hundred and seventy warriors were chosen to execute the sen- tence. One-half of these were from the town of Okfuskee and were led by Manowa, an old fighter who had encountered Jackson at the Horse Shoe. The other half were from the town of Took-ba-ta-chee and were led by Tus-ke-hod-je. Their route lay across the country from the Talla- poosa at a point four miles south of Whitesburg in Carroll county. They followed the old McIntosh trail, now the McIntosh road. They came afoot and on the evening of the second day arrived within a short distance of McIntosh's home, but as each warrior had at the beginning of the journey been given a bundle of sticks and instructed to throw away one each day and when the last was thrown away they were to know that this was the day of the assassination, and they, having one stick left, secreted themselves in the woods near the old Springer place, until the following morning. At three o'clock on the morning of the first of May, they very cautiously surrounded the McIntosh home. They carried with them James Hutton, an interpreter, to converse with any whites that they might chance to meet, and to assure them that their lives and property would not be molested. They knew that General McIntosh kept 'open house' and that many whites often found lodging in his home, so they sent Hutton, the interpreter, and two Indians to reconnoiter and ascertain if any whites were in the home. They found an old peddler sleeping in an outhouse with Chilly, the son of the General. As soon as they were aroused, Chilly, with the unerring instinct of his race, apprehending trouble, jumped out of a window and fled towards the river, and though many shots were fired at him, made his escape by swimming the stream. "No other whites were found about the premises, and the peddler and his wares being removed from the outhouse, it was fired. The main body of Indians had by this time surrounded the main dwelling, which was occupied by General McIntosh, his two wives, Peggy, a Creek, and Susannah, a Cherokee, and by his trusted friend, Toma Tus-ti-noo-gee, another chief. "The main dwelling was fired by means of pine fagots previously provided for the purpose. McIntosh was awakened, and in the lurid light of that early May morning, saw too well the awful fate that awaited him. He and Tus-ti-noo-gee barricaded the outer doors and prepared to defend themselves to the last. Soon these doors were broken in and a volley of shots fired into the building. Tus-ti-noo-gee was instantly killed. McIn- tosh, with four guns, retired to the upper story of the building while his wives were taken to a point of safety. He defended himself from an upper story window until he was driven by flames and smoke again to the lower story, where his body was instantly riddled with bullets and dragged into the yard, where a dagger was driven to the hilt into his body, piercing his heart. The old chief raising himself upon his elbow and facing his assassins with a look of defiance, died as he had lived, unterrified and www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

A CENTER OF INDIAN LIFE 17 unafraid. "Thus died the brave and gallant McIntosh, a martyr to Georgia and the nation. His body was buried but a few feet from where he fell, and his last resting place is unmarked until this d'ay save by concrete posts at the head.and foot of his grave." The importance of General McIntosh's influence in the establishment of a permanent peace between the Indians and the states of Alabama and Georgia can hardly be estimated. He was a martyr to the American cause, in as true a sense as any soldier on any battlefield. In the same year that McIntosh was killed, another leader, of another country, who was of inestimable aid in winning American independence was the guest of the United States and a visitor in these parts. General LaFayette, as an old man, had returned to the United States and was traveling through the young country malring acquaintances with the people and looking over the land he had aided in the fight for freedom. From Milledgeville, where he was entertained and to which center enthusiastic Georgians gathered from hundreds of miles, the Marquis turned his entourage over the Federal Road toward Montgomery, the capital of Alabama, which had been a state only six years. Gen. Thomas S. Woodward, of Alabama, who was appointed by Governor Piclrens to meet the French general and his party at Fort Mitchell gives the following graphic account: "At the time LaFayette was expected, General Taylor was absent, I think, in Mobile. The Indians were a little soured, from a treaty that had been, or was about to be made with the Georgians. Governor Pickens requested me to take an escort and conduct LaFayette through the nation. The Hon. James Abercrombie then commanded the Montgomery Troop, and General Monroe of Claiborne, commanded the Monroe Troop, both of whom volunteered their services. Before the escort left Alabama (which then extended only to Lime Creek), General Taylor arrived and took the command. "That was before the day of platforms and conventions-men lived on their own money. You must guess then there was some patri0t.i~feeling along, for there were between two and three hundred persons, all bearing their own expenses. Some in going and coming had to travel 400, and none less than 200 miles. ~esidesthe military, there were a number of the most respectable citizens of Alabama-among whom were Boling Hall, ex-member of Congress, ex-Governor Murphy, Jno. D. Bibb, Jno. W. Freeman and Col. Jas. Johnston, one of the best men that ever lived or died. If there are any such men these days, I have not had the pleasure of their acquaintenance. "Our trip to the Chattahoochee was pleasant indeed. We made our headquarters three miles from Fort Mitchell, on big Uchee Creek, at Haynes Crabtree9s. Had there been a war and if it had continued to the www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

18 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

present day, all of that crowd that's now living would' be soldiers. After some three or four days' stay at Crabtree's we learned that General Lar Fayette had passed White Water and we knew at what time he would reach the river. "The Indians seemed to take as much interest in the matter as the whites. All hand's mustered on the west or Alabama side, where we could see the Georgia escort approach the east bank of the Chattahoochee, with their charge. On the east bank, General LaFayette was met by Chilly McIntosh, son of the Indian General McIntosh, with fifty Indian warriors, who were stripped naked and finely painted. They had a sulky prepared with drag ropes, such as are commonly used in &awing cannon. The general was turned over by the Georgians to the Indians. That was the greatest show I ever saw at the crossing of any river. As the ferryboat reached the Alabama side, the Indians, in two lines, seized the ropes, and the general seated in the sulky, was drawn to the top of the bank, some eight yards, where stood the Alabama delegation. At a proper distance from the Alabama delegation, the Indians opened their lines, and the sulky halted. "Everything, from the time the general entered the ferry, till this time, had been conducted in the most profound silence. As the sulky halted, the Indians gave three loud whoops. The general then alighted, took off his hat, and was conducted by Chilly McIntosh, a few steps, to where stood Mr. Hall, with head uncovered, white with the frosts of age. I knew Mr. Hall from my boyhood. He always showed well in company; but never did I see him look so finely as on that occasion-he looked like himself-what he really was-an American gentleman. As McIntosh approached Mr. Hall, he said 'General LaFayette, the Americans' friendy- 'Mr. Hall, of Alabama,' pointing to each as he called his name. Mr. Hall, in a very impressive manner, welcomed LaFayette to the shores of Alabama, and introduced him to the other gentlemen. Dandridge Bibb then addressed the general at some length. I heard a number of persons address LaFayette on his route through Alabama-none surpassed Dand- ridge Bibb, and none equalled him, unless it was Hitchcock and Dr. Hustis at Cahaba. I have always been looked upon as rather dry-faced; but gazing on the face of the most distinguished patriot that it had ever fallen to my lot to look upon, and the feeling remarks of Mr. Bibb on that occasion, caused me, as it did most others that were present, to shed tears like so many children. "After the address at the river, all marched to Fort Mitchell hill, where there was an immense crowd of Indians, the Little Prince at their head. He addressed the 'French Captain', through Hamley, in true Indian style. I could understand much of his speech, but cannot begin to give it as Ham1e.y could. The prince said that he had often heard of the French Captain, 'but now I see him, I take him by the hand, I know from what I see, he is the true one I have heard spoken of; I am not deteived- www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

A CENTER OF INDIAN LIFE 19

too many men have come a long way to meet him. He is bound to be the very man the Americans were looking for.' The prince, after satisfy- ing the general that he (the prince) was satisfied that the general was the true man spoken of and looked for, then went on to say, that he had once warred against the Americans, and that the French captain had warre'd' for them, and of course they had once been enemies, but were now friends; that he (the prince) was getting old, which his withered limbs would show -making bare his arms at the same time-that he could not live long; but he was glad to say, that his people and the whites were at peace and he hoped they would continue so. "But he had raised a set of young warriors, that he thought would prove worthy of their sires, if there should ever be a call to show themselves men; and that as a ball play was, outside of war, the most manly ex- ercise that the Red Man could perform, he would', for the gratification of the general and his friends, make his young men play a game. The old man then turned to his people, and said to them-they were in the presence of a great man and warrior; he had commanded armies on both sides of the Big Water; that he had seen many nations of people; that he had visited the Six Nations, in Red Jacket's time (the general told the Indians that he had visited the Six Nations), that every man must do his best-show himself a man, and should one get hurt he must retire without complaining, and by no means show anything like ill humor. The speech ended, about two hundred stripped to the buff, paired themselves off and went at it. It was a ball play sure enough, and I would travel farther to see such a show than I would to see any ~therperformed by man, and willingly pay high for it, at that. The play ended, and all hand's went out to headquarters at Big Uchee, where we were kindly treated by our old friend Haynes Crab- tree. "There was a man, then living among the Indians, Captain Tom Anthony, who long since found a last resting place in the wilds of Arkansas. He was a man of fine sense and humor. There was also an Indian known as Whiskey John. John was the greatest drunkard I ever saw; he would drink a quart of strong whiskey without taking the vessel that contained it from his lips (this is Alabama history, and there are plenty now living that have seen him do it). To see John drink was enough to have made the fabled Bacchus look out for a vacancy that frequently occurs among the Sons of Temperance. Captain Anthony told' John that all hands had addressed the French Chief, and that it was his duty to say something to him on behalf of those that loved whiskey. John could speak considerable English in a broken manner. It so happened that the general and others were walking across the Uchee Bridge when John met them. John made a low bow, as he had seen others do. The general immediately pulled off his hat, thinking he had met with another chief. John straightening himself up to his full height (and he was not very low), commenced his speech in the manner that I will try to give it to you. 'My friend, you French www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

2 0 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

Chief! me Whiskey John7, (calling over the names of several white persons and Indians); 'Colonel Hawkins, Colonel Crowell, Tom Crowell, Henry Crowell, Billy McIntosh, Big Warrior Indian, heap my friends, give me whislrey, drink, am good. White man my very good friend me, white man make whiskey, drink him heap, very good, I drink whiskey. You French Chief, Tom Anthony say me Whiskey Chief. You me give one bottle full. I drink him good.' The general informed him that he did' not drink whiskey, but would h~vehis bottle filled. John remarked, 'Tom Anthony, you very good man, me you give me bottle full. You no drink me drink all, chaw tobacco little bit, give me some YOU.' Now the above is an Indian speech, and no doubt will appear silly to some who have not been accustomed to those people. Should it, however, fall under the eye of those who were along at that time, they will recognize John's speech, and call to mind our old friends, Captain Anthony and' Col. James Johnston, who was the life of our crowd.'' he treaty referred to by General Woodward was no doubt that signed at Indian Springs which resulted in the death of General McIntosh. General McIntosh believed in the individual rights of the separate Creek tribes, it seems, while his chief opponents were those who supported a more strongly centralized federation. The Lower Creeks were inclined toward the former doctrine and the Upper Creeks at that time were more attracted by the latter. That the various tribes composing the Creek Nation were individualistic is shown in an old legend concerning the enmity between the Cussetas and the Cowetas, the scenes of the story being on the Georgia side of the C.hattahoochee river and the climax occurring at a point in the present city of Columbus. During the early part of the eighteenth century the power of the Creek Nation began to be centered in the stalwart Cussetas and Cowetas, both tribes having domain on the banlts of the Chattahoochee river. As first the rivalry between them was peaceful and during that time, the beautiful dark eyed Mohina, youngest child and only daughter of the Chief of the Cussetas was betrothed to young Eagle, popular arid handsome Chief of the Cowetas. Mohina's father was old even then, and as the years passed and enmity entered the hearts and councils of the two powerful tribes, his sons were all taken from him, so that by the time his daughter reached the age for marriage she was all that was left to him. Though the warriors of the Cowetas and Cussetas were constantly fighting and ill feeling had long since taken the place of friendship and peace, the love which had been born in the hearts of Chief Eagle and the lovely Mohina grew, and seemed to increase with the hatred of their tribes- people. For a while their affection was not suspected, but bye and bye, prying eyes discovered them as they met in their forest trysting places. This was all unknown to the lovers who never thought of others while they were www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

A CENTER OF INDIAN LIFE 21 together. Finally, the angry braves of the Cussetas decided to put an end to the love of their chieftain's daughter and the hated rival, so one day, knowing where and when they were to meet, they lay in wait. Unaware of the danger in store for them the young Chief Eagle and Mohina strolled through the woodland. Suddenly they seemed almost surrounded by angry braves. There was only one path over which they might flee, and they in their fear of being parted, had forgotten whence it led. Hand in hand they raced', the Cusseta warriors close behind. Mohina stumbled, but her lover gathered her in his arms and continued his mad flight. At last the path came out of the forest on a high hill. The pursuers paused and let a whoop of delight. The young Eagle, still holding his burden, looked about him. The path he had taken was ended at the top of a high precipice over- looking the swirling rock infested waters of the Chattahoochee. To jump meant certain death. But to remain also meant death, for the triumphant Cussetas were slowly hemming the couple in. As the circle narrowed a desperate resolve entered the heart of the young Coweta chief. Gazing into the eyes of his beloved, he knew that she had had the same thought-that death was better than, capture and separation. So, with a triumphant smile, he clasped her closer and leaped into the rock strewn waters. Surprised and angered the pursuers reached the edge of the cliff. Sor- rowfully they saw the lovely Mohina tossed around in the current, held close in the arms of her lover. As they looked the pair were borne on down the stream, in and out among the rocks, out of their sight. Slowly, the disappointed braves made their way to their old chieftain wondering how he would accept their tidings. Already bowed' with age and grief at the loss of his sons, he was overcome by the news his braves brought. Never again did he enter the councils of his tribe but stayed within the walls of his house until the Great Spirit called him. And this is how Lovers' Leap came to be named. The Chattahoochee river, by the way, was very different at that time from the present stream. Due to the widening of the channel, the building of dams and the erection of cities along its banks, its waters have been muddied until it is hard to imagine that it was ever clear. Some accounts hold that it was the Creek name for flowering rock, and so called from a varicolored stone up the river, while others assert that it was so named for the many hued clays of the river banks. However, it is told in Columbus by a descendant of one of the first settlers here that the Indians called the stream the Chattahoochee because of its remarkable clarity, which permitted the pebbles in the bottom of the stream to appear as multicolored flowers when the water passed over them. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

22 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS. GEORGIA

One of the last of the notable events of this section of the country before the city of Columbus was laid' out was the famous duel between George W. Crawford and Thomas E. Burnside. This occurred at Fort Mitchell, January 25, 1828 with a fatal outcome for Mr. Burnside. Both principals were prominent young lawyers of Appling in Columbia County. An article appeared in an Augusta newspaper containing what Crawford considered slurring references to his father, Peter Crawford. It was un- signed but Burnside accepted the responsibility for what was said. On learning of this Crawford promptly challenged him to an affair of honor. Burnside seemed to have a premonition as to its outcome, for the night before his death he wrote a note to his wife telling that he did not expect to survive. Burnside was interred in the private burial ground of Colonel Crowell at Fort Mitchell, and when his wife was informed of his death nearly two weeks after its occurrence, she suffered a nervous breakdown from which she was long recovering. This duel is said to be largely responsible for the rise of public opinion in Georgia against this manner of settling disputes. That Crawford always regretted it was widely testified, and many acts of kindness to the bereaved' family of Burnside were the result of his interest and activity. He became governor of the state and later Secretary of War in the cabinet of President Taylor. He served Georgia capably and faithfully for many years. When the hold of the white man on the newly ceded Indian territory grew firmer, the aborigines gradually took on the characteristics of their conquerors. For many years the game supply of the forests had been depleted, and from nomadic bands of hunters and warriors the red men " began to turn to agriculture and to the establishment of towns. Before the white settlements were founded at Augusta, Milledge- ville, or Macon, there were prosperous Ind'ian towns on those sites, and Coweta, just across the river from Columbus, was said to be the largest and oldest of the Indian centers. At times there were as many as 15,000 inhabitants, old chronicles state. All up and down the Chattahoochee river were villages of various sizes and importance. They were structurally about the same, it was said, and the description of one might do for that of any. The very familiar method of building a town around the court house square, from which the country roads and highways radiate is direct- ly traceable to the old Indian method of having all the paths into the wilderness lead to the council fire of the tribe, around which the town was built. William Bartram, who traveled in these parts previous to the exodus of the Indians described a Uchee town or village about six miles below Columbus, and Coweta was said to be practically the same. Bartram said', concerning this town of the Uchee Indians "it is the largest, most compact and best situated Indian town I ever saw; the habita- www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

A CENTER OF INDIAN LIFE 23 tions are large and neatly built; the walls of the houses are constructed of a wooden frame, then lathed and plastered inside and out with a red- dish well tempered clay or mortar, which gives them the appearance of red brick walls; and these houses are neatly covered with cypress bark or

shingles- of that tree." In 1826, a few months after the conclusion of peace between the Indians and whites the state of Georgia enacted a bill providing for the establishment of the counties of Lee, Troup, Carroll, Coweta and Mus- cogee. This bill read: "An Act to Organize the Territory lately acquired from the Creek Indians, lying between the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers and west of the Chattahoochee river.)) Those sections which relate di- rectly to Muscogee county are as follows: "That all that part of said territory lying between the rivers afore- said, and known as the second section, shall form one county, to be called' Muscogee. "That the place of election in the county of Muscogee shall be at the home of William C. Osborne. "And be it further enacted that the five aforementioned counties, with the counties of DeKalb and Fayette, shall form a new circuit to be called the Chattahoochee circuit. "That the time of holding the superior Courts in the Chattahoochee Circuit, shall be as follows: In the county of Muscogee, on the Thursday after the fourth Monday in June and December. "That the time of holding the Inferior courts in the Chattahoochee Circuit shall be as follows: In the county of Muscogee on the fourth Monday in August and February. "And be it further enacted, that the place of holding the Superior and Inferior Courts in the counties of Lee, Troup, Muscogee, Coweta and Carroll, shall be the places designated in this act for electing county officers until the justices of the Inferior court shall select sites for the public buildings in the several counties.'' The following November the last Creek-Georgia treaty was concluded, whereby harmony was established between all factions, the Indians, Georgians and Federalists. A month afterward, on Christmas Eve, the state adopted measures for the laying out of Columbus, in a bill entitled: "An Act to lay out a trading town, and to dispose of all lands reserved for the use of the state near the Coweta Falls on the Chattahoochee River, and to name the same." www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

CHAPTER I1 Columbus Is Laid Out

UST how early there was a settlement of whites in this locality is not recorded, but prior to the formal establishment of a town here in 1828, there were at least three hundred inhabitants. No doubt there was a center of trade here many years previous, as the English colonists are known to have referred to a point nearly opposite Coweta, on the east bank of the river as the "Falls of the Chattahoochee". Governor Forsyth recognizing the importance of strengthening the borders of the state with the withdrawal of the Indians and promptly turned his attention toward that end. He named five commissioners, prominent in the social and political life of the state, and gave them entire charge of laying out and disposing of the lands in the Coweta Reserve, plans for which were to include a trading post to be named "Columbus". The commissioners named were Col. I. A. Few, elected chairman or "president", Dr. E. L. deGraffenreid, Gen. Elias Beall, James Hallam, and Col. Philip H. Alston. They held their first meeting as a board of commissioners in Milledge- ville on January 16, 1 8 2 8. Edward Lloyd Thomas was secured as surveyor of the proposed town, and Sowell Woolfolk was named secretary to the board. This meeting adjourned "to the town of Columbusn to be called again January 2 8. On coming to Columbus, the commissioners spent several days in selecting a site for the town, and for that purpose the whole tract of the reserve was surveyed. At that time the settlement of whites was south of the city that was to be and consisted of a few stores, a hotel, and rough houses along the branch of the Federal Road. As soon as the town was laid out and' lots sold, the settlers moved up within the corporate limits. Where the business section of Columbus now is, was little more than a flat swamp, grown up thickly with underbrush and tangled vines among undisturbed forests trees. For many years after the town had grown into a flourishing city a large body of water occupied the present site of the Racine Hotel and a swift stream ran down Fourth Avenue. As late as the early seventies, the water standing on the streets was one of the unsolved problems of the city fathers. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG COLUMBUS IS LAID OUT 25 The scenery in this location was said to be very beautiful. There were extensive groves, the river was clear and the channel deeper than at present. Martin, in his history of the city says of the river at this time: "The rocks that presented themselves for some distance above the steamboat landing or head of navigation nearly extended across the river in places, with channels or pools between, from which nearly all the

EMBRYO TOWN OF COLUMBUS varieties of fresh-water fish were taken in abundance. It was interesting and amusing to see the Indians catching shad in the spring of the year. They used dip-nets, made of wahoo bark split in small strips. The net was fastened to the ends of two large canes, about fifteen feet long. They would' arrange themselves in a row, five to fifteen in number, on the edge of the place where they wished to dip. They would then dip their nets in regular order, one net following right after the other. When one caught a fish he would throw it out of his net behind him, and never lose more than one dip. The whole party would yell every time there was a fish caught." From the time that plans began to take shape for the town, hundred's of interested parties came into the reserve to look over the proposed site. Capt. Basil Hall, of the British Royal Navy, traveled through this section during that spring and in his accounts describes the "embryo city". The sketch varies in few points from the Commissioners' records, but is interestingly told. He says: "On the 28th of March we travelled onward to the west, till we reached the old Agency, a station on the Flint river, the first stream we came to which empties itself into the Gulf of Mexico. Till within these last six or seven years, the country 'over which we passed had been inhabited www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

26 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

exclusively by the Creek Indians. For a considerable time the Flint river had been their eastern boundary, but they had recently been removed still farther to the westward, and, at the time of our visit, the Chatahoochie river was the dividing line between them and the Georgians. The detail of the proceedings, by which these aboriginal inhabitants of the soil were dispossessed of their property, and obliged to go in search of fresh homes, forms one of the most painful chapters in the history of America. "This part of the journey through the Indian nation, as it is still called, we had often been told in the North, was likely to prove the most formidable part of our enterprise. But we had recently been subjected to so much severer discipline in the way of road's, fare, and accomodation, in our passage through Georgia from the coast, that we considered this quite luxurious travelling. "On the 31st of March we reached the Creek Agency, lying on the right or western bank of the Chatahoochie, and from that point made an expedition to a very curious place. "About a year before the period of our visit, that is to say, in the course of the year of 1827, an arrangement was completed by the government of the United States, by which the Creek nation of Indians were induced to quit the territory lying between the Chatahoochee and the Flint rivers, and to move westward within the limits of the State of Ala- bama; thus leaving the vast intermediate district of country at the disposal of the Georgians. It seems that according to the laws of Georgia, any land so acquired, by what is called the extinction of the Indian claims, is divided by lottery, amongst the inhabitants of the State. Every citizen 21 years of age has one draw, as it is called, a married man two draws, a married man with a family, three. I forget the further particulars, and have mislaid the act of the legislature upon the subject. I believe, however, that the lots were of 202% acres each. Be these details, however, as they may, the whole of the country, formerly occupied by a few Indians, was no sooner acquired that it was dividkd, in the way I have mentioned, amongst the people of the state. "When this distribution took place, however, the State government reserved a portion of the country, five miles square, upon which they proposed to found a city. The situation chosen for this purpose was a spot on the left bank of the Chatahoochie, which is the boundary line between the State of Georgia and Alabama. The new city was to commence at the lower end of a long series of falls, or more properly speaking, rapids, over which this great river dashes for some miles in a very pic- turesque manner. The perpendicular fall being about 200 feet, an immense power for turning mills is placed at the disposal of the inhabitants of this future city, within the limits of which, the whole of this valuable portion of the river has been included. All the way down to the Gulf of Mexico also, the navigation of the Chatahoochie is unimpeded, so that several steamboats had' already made their way up to the spot I'm speaking of. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

COLUMBUS IS LAID OUT 27

"By a law of the State of Georgia, it was arranged that 60 days should elapse, after this portion of land reserved for the city was completely surveyed, before any of the buildings could be sold. These lots were to consist of half an acre each, and the whole five miles square was to be distinctly marked out in streets, on paper, and being numbered and lettered accordingly, they were so advertised for sale over the whole union. These sixty days were considered sufficient to enable adventurers, settlers, land speculators, merchants, and all others so disposed, to come to the spot preparatory to the auction. "The project took like wildfire; and the advantages of the new city being loudly proclaimed over the land, people flocked from all quarters to see and judge of it for themselves. We arrived, fortunately, just in the nick of time to see the curious phenomenon of an embryo town- city as jet without a name, or any existence in law or fact, but crowded with inhabitants, ready to commence their municipal duties at the tap of an a~ctioneer~shammer. "On leaving the Creek Agency, we drove for some miles along the Indian, or Western side of the river, and then crossed by a ferry to the left bank. In order to see things better, we sent on the carriage, and walked towards Columbus, which, it was understood, was to be the future name of the future city. "A gentleman-one of the assembled inhabitants-had been kind enough to accompany us from the agency, to show off the Lions of this singular place. The first thing to which he called our attention, was a long line cut through the coppice wood of oaks. This, our guide begged us to observe, was to be the principal street; and the brushwood having been cut away, so as to leave a lane four feet wide, with small stakes driven in at intervals, we could walk along it easily enough. On reaching the middle point, our friend, looking around him, exclaimed, in rapture at the prospect of the future greatness of Columbus-'Here you are in the centre of the city!' In a very short time, he assured us-it would be no longer a mere path, but a street sixty yards wide and one league in length! By keeping a bright lookout as we proceeded, we could detect other similar cuts into the forest, branching off at right angles to this main avenue--as it was to be called. As yet, however, these cross streets were only indicated by a few stakes driven in by the surveyors. "After threading our way for some time amongst the trees, we came in sight, here and there, of huts made partly of planks, partly of bark, and at last reached the principal cluster of houses, very few of which were above two or three weeks old. These buildings were of all sizes, from a six-feet box or cube, to a house with a half-dozen windows in front. There were three hotels, the sign belonging to one of which, I could observe, was nailed to a tree still growing untouched, in the middle of the street. Another had glazed windows, but the panes of glass were fixed in their places merely for the time, by a little piece of putty at each corner. Every- www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

28 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

thing indicated hurry. The direction and width alone of the future streets were adhered to, but no other description of regularity could be discovered. As none of the city lots were yet sold, of course no one was sure that the spot upon which he had pitched his house would eventually become his own. Every person, it seemed, was at liberty to build where he could find room, it being understood, that forty days after the sale would be a12 lowed him to remove his property from the ground on which it stood should he not himself become its purchaser. In consequence of this understanding, many of the houses were built on trucks-a sort of low, strong wheels, such as cannon are supported' by-for the avowed purpose of being hauled away when the land should be sold. At least sixty frames of houses were pointed out to me, lying in piles on the ground, and got up by carpenters on speculation, ready to answer the call of the future purchaser. At some parts of this strange scene, the forest, which here- abouts consist of a mixture of pines and oaks, was growing as densely as ever; and even in the most cleared streets some trees were left standing, 1 do not know why. As yet there had been no time to remove stumps of the felled trees, and many that had been felled', were left in their places; so that it was occasionally no easy matter to get along. Anvils were heard riilging away at every corner; while saws, axes and hammers were seen flashing amongst the woods all round. Stage coaches, travelling-wagons, carts, gigs, the whole family of wheeled vehicles, innumerable, were there. Grocery stores and bakeries were scattered about in great plenty-and over several doors were written 'Attorney at Law'. "One of the commissioners, from the State of Georgia, who had the management of this extraordinary experiment in colonization, assured me, there were upwards of nine hundred inhabitants already collected together, though it was expected that four months must still elapse before the sale could take place, or the city have any legal existence! Many of these people being without houses, or even sheds, were encamped in the forest. Some lived in wagons, and many persons strolled about, to pick up quarters and employment as best they could. As all sorts of artificers were in great demand; it was a fine harvest for carpenters and blacksmiths. I was told that upon a moderate computation there would probably be assembled, on the day of sale, between three and four thousand people, ready to in- habit the new city. I can well believe this, for, during the short period we were there, many new comers dropped in from different directions, out of the forest-like birds of prey attracted by the scent of some glorious quarry. "It must have been a curious sight after the auction, to witness the scatter which took place when the parties came to claim each his own prop- perty-to demolish or remove the old and raise the new dwellings-to say nothing of the entangled machinery of police and other municipal arrangements-the mayor and aldermen to get up,-the town taxes to levy; -the school,-the jail,-the court house,-the church, all to be erected. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

COLUMBUS IS LAID OUT 29

In other places, these things rise up by degrees-but here they must have taken their date all at once, and all in a body." Captain Hall's spelling and punctuation are preserved in the above extract. And thus was born the infant, Columbus, lusty and vigorously alive. 'The enthusiasm, the faith in the growth and success of the new city that was held by the early settlers bas in no way decreased, but in every way has Columbus been characterized by the same verve and enterprise. On February 7th, the commissioners reported that a plot of 1200 acres had been decided on for the new town and the surveying of the lots began. At that time, Mansfield Torrance was the agent for the state in this section of the Indian lands. He was a son of W. H. Torrance, secretary to Gen. John Floyd during the Creek War of 1813, and otherwise prominent in state affairs. The young Torrances settled near Columbus on the Talbotton road. When the plans for the new city were under way, Dr. Robert A. Ware was called in for consulation with Dr. deGraffenreid as to the best way to insure a healthy city, and it is said that the broad streets of which Columbus is so proud, were the results of the conference. By the middle of February the streets were planned and named. They were as follows: NORTH AND SOUTH Present Old BayAvenue ...... Bay Broadway ...... Broad First Avenue ...... Oglethorpe Second Avenue ...... Jackson Third Avenue ...... Troup Fourth Avenue ...... Forsyth Fifth Avenue ...... McIntosh EAST AND WEST Fourth Street ...... Covington Fifth Street ...... Fulton Sixth Street ...... Early Seventh Street ...... Few Eighth Street ...... Baldwin Ninth Street ...... Thomas Tenth Street ...... Crawford . Eleventh Street ...... St. Clair Twelfth Street ...... Randolph Thirteenth Street ...... Bryan The north and south streets were to range from 132 feet to 165 feet in width, and those crossing them were to be ninety feet wide. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

30 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

Jackson street was named for Gen. James Jackson, notable in Georgia history for burning the bill for the Yazoo affair with "fire sent from hea- ven,'. Thomas street was named for the surveyor, Edward Lloyd Thomas. Few street was named for William Few, uncle of one of the commissioners, who played a large part in the affairs of the state as a delegate to the convention which framed the Constitution of the United States. Later, Front street was added' and Mercer street, the latter being named for Gen. John Mercer of Revolutionary fame. This street was later changed to Sixth avenue. Plots were reserved for municipal buildings, churches, schools, and cemeteries as the state had required, and on the northern boundary a plot of ten acres was set aside for county buildings. This was later included in the city and two streets added, Bridge and Washington, or Fifteenth and Sixteenth, as they are now called. A Female Acadamy was to be situated on the block bounded by Troup, Forsyth, St. Clair and Crawford streets. It is interesting to know that ever since the plans for the city were made, this plot has been devoted to educational purposes. Though various buildings have succeeded one another, a school is still located on that plot. At present the Eleventh Street Grammar school, which succeeded the High school, continues the tradition. The Male Academy was to be located two blocks south, on the block bounded by Troup, Forsyth, Thomas and Baldwin streets. The municipal buildings were to be on the block bounded by Ogle- thorpe, Jackson, Crawford and Thomas streets where the present court house square is located. The county offices were to be located on ten acres between Oglethorpe and Troup streets, north of Bridge and south of Washington streets. This plot of land is even now referred to as "the old court house surveyn. This continuance of reference to the original land division is characteristic of the entire Coweta Reserve, where all kinds of changes have occurred, but the original land plots remain the same. The churches were given plots of land, also. The Methodist and Baptist churches still retain their original holdings in the block bounded by Jackson, Troup, St. Clair and Randolph streets. Another street, named Church, was laid immediately through the block, and this ninety foot strip still remains in the possession of the state of Georgia. Reservations for the Catholic and Presbyterian churches were given in the block bounded by Jackson, Troup, Baldwin and Few streets. This plot was likewise divided by a street running east and west, and was called Chapel street. The cemetery for the white people was located on the northeast corner of the city, east of Mercer street, between Franklin and Bridge streets. In -March a young son of Surveyor Thomas died and was buried there. The negro cemetery was to be east of Mercer street, between Few and Early streets. The Methodist denomination was the first to be organized in the new www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

COLUMBUS IS LAID OUT 31 city. Missionaries had been sent to the traders located here and the Indians by Bishop Capers, prior to 1826, and meetings were held either in the open or in a bush arbor located where the present Georgia Home Insurance Building is. The first Methodist society was organized in 1828 by James Stockdale. It was during February of 1828 while the commissioners were busy ,I; planning the city that the first steamboat, the "Steubenville", made its way i up the river as far as the Falls. It was enthusiastically received, and its ' captain, E. I. Wood, received a letter of commendation from the commissioners. The letter was as follows: Capt. Wood: "Sir: The Board of Commissioners appointed by the Governor for the purpose of laying out and selling the lots in the Town of Columbus have instructed me as their Chairman to congratulate you on the Successful experiment which you have made in Navigating the Chattahoochee River, and believing that the enterprising Spirit which led to the experiment and the accuracy and Skill which have directed your examinations of the River will produce results important in their influence on the future prospects of this town, they are desirous of giving you this testimonial of their approbation. They also request that you will, if possible, in the course of this day (or as soon as you conveniently can) proceed to the head of the navigation ~;~ositethe town and take the soundings of the River. "Respectfully I. A. Few, Chairman. "Columbus, February 2 1st, 18 2 8." The Steubenville remained in Columbus about ten days to make some repairs, when some interested parties arranged for a pleasure trip. One Sunday the boat was filled with sightseers, and started down the river. It reached Woolfolk's Mound going easily with the current and prepared to turn around for the return, when the enthusiastic passengers were informed by the captain that it was impossible to get up enough steam for the trip back to Columbus. So the crowd of excursionists had to trudge all the way home. Next morning they were cheered by the firing of the guns announc- ing that eventually enough steam had been gotten up and that the Steuben- ville was at the wharf. The Chattahoochee river is the largest in the state, and is one of ths. two hundred navigable streams in the United States. As a source of ship- ing it was early recognized as one of the most attractive propositions presented by the new city. By the end of June in this year, the plans for the town had been completed and the date of sale of the lots set for July 10th. The meetings of the commissioners held at this time record many details which make the scene of the sale very vivid and real. The exact location of the house from which the sale was conducted was not recorded', www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

32 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

though it is said to have been in the lower part of the city. This house was provided by W. D. Lucas, the attorney for State Agent Torrance, and the auctioneer stood in a window facing the crowd. Within the room were the commissioners and Surveyor Thomas, who had heen engaged as secretary during the sale. "Three ink stands, a bottle of ink, a pen knife and some quills", also a "blank book for recording the sales daily" were secured. The hours for the sales were set from nine to eleven o'clock each morning, and two to five 07clock each afternoon, later being changed so that they would begin at eight o'clock each morning. Notices of the terms of sale were posted on the house in advance, and Mirabeau Lamar was en-

Lgaged to print notices, giving terms of sale, etc. Some time prior to this date the commissioners had sent out advertise- ments. At the session when they were made up, Chairman Few was absent and General Beall was acting in his stead. For this reason Mr. Few's name was omitted from the document. The notices of the sale were ordered by the governor to be published at least sixty days before its occurrence in all the state "Gazettes", and in Charleston, S. C. and Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The advertisement read as follows:

In conformity to an act of the Legislature of this State passed on the twenty-fourth day of December in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven to Lay Out a Trading town and to dispose of All the Lands reserved for the use of the State near the Coweta Falls on the Chatt- ahoochee River in the town of Columbus will be sold on Thursday the Tenth day of July next. Six hundred and fourteen Building Lots of half an Acre each in the Plan of said Town. Twenty-five gardening Do. of Ten Acres each on the North East and South of the Square reserved for the town and Common and adjoining of the same, Twenty Do. of Twenty Acres each, and Thirty-one fractional Lots of Sur- vey. The local advantage of this town, the rich and extensive back country it has already at command and' increasing importance it will derive from the cession of lands on the West of the Chattahoochee River, will ensure to it a degree of commercial prosperity not surpassed by any other Town in Georgia. The Town is situated on the east bank of the river immediately below the Falls which admit of a safe and con- www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

COLUMBUS IS LAID OUT 33 venient Navigation for Steam Boats from thence to the Apalachicola Bay. Terms will be one-fifth of the purchase money in cash or Current Bills of the Chartered Banks of this State. The balance in four equal annual installments. The Sale will commence on the day above mentioned and continue from day to day until all the Lots are disposed of.

Elias Beall, Philip H. Alston, James Hallam, Edwin deGraff enreid.

Evidently this handbill was effective, for on the day of sale nearly a thousand interested persons and prospective purchasers gathered on the scene. Men of all classes and professions were on hand at the auction. Some were wealthy planters from other states, looking for new lands, others were interested in river traffic, and others had foresight for the manufacturing possibilities of the water power of the falls. A great many of the newcomers were from Greene and Columbia counties in the eastern part of the state. Besides the business men and planters, there were numbers of solaers and pioneers who had followed the westward movement of the frontier, and also there was a good sprinkling of adventurers and speculators. The Indians who attendkd could remain on the Georgia side of the river only until nightfall, when by agreement with the state they must return to their homes on the opposite bank. Governor Forsyth with a considerable retinue attended the sale and camped out in the woods south of the wharf, near one of the numerous springs that issued from the river bank. Many who came for the event had to bring their own outfit and camp out. Bidding commenced at nine o'clock the morning of July 10th and continued lively and steadily through July 23rd. By that time 488 of the 632 building lots of half an acre each had been sold. The remaining 144 were to be placed on sale the following March, the commissioners declared at their last meeting, dated July 23rd. The sale of the remaining lots brought $4,585.00 during February of the next year. The total amount brought by the auction was $130,991, one-fifth paid in cash. The highest price paid for a lot was said to be $1,855, the land being located on the southwest corner of Broad and Crawford streets the purchasers being Nicholas Howard, of Greensboro, and Peter Dudley. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

34 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

They immediately built the "Columbus HotelJ'. The early settlers of Columbus went about building the town as soon as the lots were sold. During the sale a Fourth of July celebration was held and shortly afterward an entertainment was given in a theatre which was erected for the occasion. Brief sketches of the five Commissioners follow : Ignatius Alphonso Few was one of the five commissioners Governor Forsyth appointed to have charge of laying out and disposing of the lots in Columbus. Dr. Few came of a notable Revolutionary family. His grandfather, William Few, of Maryland', moved to North Carolina in 1758, where, with his four sons, he lived until one of the sons, Capt. James Few, was hanged by British soldiers after the battle of Alamance, which North Carolinians claim to be the first fight of the Revolution. Soon after that tragedy Mr. Few moved to what is now McDuffie County in this state. His three remaining sons, Benjamin, William, and Ignatius all served in the American army, the latter being successively Lieutenant, Captain and Brevet Major. This latter was the father of I. A. Few, the commissioner. Both William and Benjamin became famous in the Revolutionary annals of Georgia, ~illiarn-beingone of the state's two representatives after the close of the war, to accede to the adoption of the constitution. Ignatius A. Few was born in Columbia County, April 1 1, 1790. As his father was a man of means he received the best education the country could offer, and with others from that county entered Princeton. After his graduation there he took up the study of law. In 18 12 he was made a colonel in the United States army. It is said that for a while he was inclined toward atheism, but, in 1829 he became Converted to the Methodist Faith. As one of the Columbus commissioners, he was elected president of the board and was also made treasurer. He was particularly interested in education during his middle life, and it was largely due to his efforts that Emory university was organized. The conference in 1836 voted to establish this institution and it was opened on September 10, 1838. He held the position as president of Emory for only a short while, ill health forcing him to resign in his second year as head of the new college. He died in Athens, November 28, 1845. He left no children. For several years after the founding of Columbus, Dr. Few lived here. He was pastor at St. Luke's, and also served as a presiding elder. While here he was interested in the projects of community welfare and social betterment. It was during his pastorate that the Indian wars of 1836 occurred, and on one occasion, following an attack on a river steamer, the news of an expected' fight reached the city in the midst of one of his services. He organized the men who were present into a company for defense and dis- www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

COLUMBUS IS LAID OUT 35 missed the congregation when the message was delivered to him in the pulpit.- - Of James Hallam, another of the commissioners, there is less known than about any of the others. There was some discussion as to whether his name was really Hallam, or Hallman, but from records in the office of the state historian it is found that "James Hallam, of Muscogee," was named as one of the commissisoners by Governor Forsyth in 1827. Very likely Mr. Hallam was one of the group of planters and traders who were living here before the Indians formally ceded and vacated this section of the state. His appointment is noted in the Executive Minutes of the Governor, as follows: "Wednesday, December 26, 1827. "Ordered, that Ignatius Few of Richmond, Edwin L. deGraffenreid of Greene, James Hallam of Muscogee, Philip H. Alston of Elbert and Elias Beall of Monroe be appointed Commissioners to lay out and dispose of the Town of Columbus at the Coweta Falls on the Chattahoochee, according to the provisions of an Act of the General Assembly assented to on the 24th inst., and that Commissioners attend at the Executive office on the 15 day of January next for the purpose of entering into Bond that they may proceed forthwith in the execution of their duty under said act." All of the commissioners were under bonds of $1 0,000, and for their services were to receive $5.00 per day with an additional appropriation for supplies and secretarial services. Philip H. Alston was probably the oldest of the group of five commissioners. He was a Colonel in the Creek Wars of 18 13, it is thought, and at the time of his appointment as a commissioner, lived in Elbert county. The Alstons of Elbert county were originally from South Carolina, tracing their family to a branch related to Gov. Joseph Alston, husband of Theodosia Burr, Aaron Burr's lovely and accomplished daughter. The Alstons also were descendants of one of the seven Lords Proprietors, to whom King Charles of England granted North and South Carolina. Among the Alstons of Elbert county were John, James, and William, besides several sisters. The Georgia State Department of Archives and History has on file a letter from Philip H. Alston to Governor Troup, dated August 18,1825 and written from Warrenton, North Carolina. At this time, it seems that he was one of the Georgia surveyors. The letter asks for command of the troops in case they could be called out for the protection of the surveyors. Colonel Alston makes the request and states his reason "as I am one of the oldest officers of my grade." By comparing dates of the letter with events in Georgia history, it is seen that during August of 1825, Governor Troup was having certain Indian land's surveyed, though the Federal government was opposed to www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

36 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

his action and a large number of Indians were hostile. Therefore, it seems logical to suppose that Colonel Alston was a member of Governor Troup's party. Colonel Alston was one of those who aided in the actual work of surveying and laying out the streets of Columbus, as this fact is recalled today by those who learned it from his brother many years ago. Col. Philip H. Alston was married in Columbus, July 2 8, 182 8 to Miss Sarah D. Parks, and after remaining here a few years removed elsewhere. He had no children. His brother, William Hinton Alston, was one of the pioneer citizens of Columbus. The Alston home, where it is said that Philip lived, and where his brother is known to have lived, is still standing. Formerly it occupied the northwest corner of Fifteenth street and Second avenue, but when Mr. Richard' Needham's present home was built, the older structure was moved west on Fifteenth street and is now immediately in the rear of Mr. Needham's home. Mr. W. H. Alston was the forefather of several present day Colum- busites. His son, Philip Henry Alston, who was prominent as a cotton factor and owner of the Alston warehouse, was a member of the local Lula Guards of the Confederate army. He never married, and died' about 1880. This Philip Alston is sometimes confused with his uncle, the commissioner. Gen. Elias Beall, another of the commissioners named by Governor Forsyth to have charge of planning Columbus, was a member of a large family of Bealls who originated in this country with Ninian Beall, of Scotland, who had to flee from that country on account of religious persecution in 1617. Ninian was married twice and from his first marriage came the line of which General Beall was a representative. General Beall's father, Thaddeus, was an officer in the American Revolution. He married his first cousin, Ann, and for a while lived in Virginia, coming to Georgia and settling in Hancock county where he died in 1794. Elias was born in Virginia in 1780. He was prominent in botKmilitary and political affairs of the state, having held office as follows: Representative from Oglethorpe county 1808, 1809, 18 10 ; Presi- dential elector from Monroe county, 1824 and 1832; Senator from the Thirty-third District, 1849- 1850. He command'ed the Georgia militia in the Indian wars, and was with Gen. Winfield Scott in the Florida campaign. He was also active in the War of 18 12. He was made a Brigadier-General October 3 1, 18 14. General Beall married a Miss Mary Neal, and had several children. He removed to Texas in his later life, two of his brothers having already emigrated to that state sometime previous. He died in 1866 & ~razis county, Texas, and is buried there. In Columbus General Beall is represented by a grandson, H. G. Beall and his family. Mr. H. G. Beall's father, named Elias also, was a www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

COLUMBUS IS LAID OUT 37

son of the general. He was married' twice and died when his second wife's children were quite young. Dr. Edwin Lewis de Graffenried, the fifth of five commissioners appointed by Governor Forsyth to have charge of the laying off and disposing of the lots of the city of Columbus, and the Coweta Reserve, was a native of Virginia. He was a descendant of Baron Christopher de Graffenreid of Switzerland who brought a colony of sufferers from religious persecution to the new world and settled in Virginia. Dr. de Graffen- reid was born June 4, 1798 in Luenburg county in that state. He married Patsy Kirkland, of a prominent Scotch Presbyterian family of North Car- olina, when he was twenty-five years old and she sixteen. They removed to the Coweta Reserve, later to be known as Columbus, in 1825, having lived for a short period in North Carolina and in Greensboro, Georgia. Dr. de Graffenreid was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania 2nd was widely known as a brilliant scholar and a man of great capabilities. He was a friend of Daniel Webster and carried on a correspondence with him, some of which is now in possession of his descendants. A portrait shows the physician to be somewhat of the corpulent build of a great statesman, and the possessor of large, intelligent eyes, the whole atmosphere of the portrait being one of calm self-possession and marked ability. Dr. de Graffenreid had twelve children, four of whom died in child- hood. Most of his descendants moved to Alabama, though some remained in Columbus, and his eldest son lived in Macon. His children who reached maturity were: William Kirkland' de Graffenreid, born in North Carolina, 1821. He was notable as a lawyer. His daughter, Miss Mary Clare de Graffen- weid, was known far and wide as the author of books dealing with life in this state. Edwin F. de Graffenreid, born in Greensboro, Georgia, in 1823, was a prominent physician in Columbus and a surgeon in the Civil War, being a member of the Fourth Alabama Regiment, and he was captured at the fall of Richmond. Jane Strange de Graffenreid, born in 1825 (probably in Columbus) and married to Judge Leslie Thompson of Galveston, Texas; Boswell Baker de Graff enried, born in Columbus in 182 7 ; Marshall H. de Graff enreid, born in Columbus in 1834; Adelaide Victoria de Graffenreid, born in Columbus, in 18 3 6, and married Maj. James Fleming Waddell ; Ermine Martha de Graffenreid, born in Columbus in 1844, and married William Lewis, of Louisiana; Mary Lucian de Graffenried, born in Co- lumbus, in 1847, was not married. Although there have been found no records to afim the fact, it is probable that Dr. d'e Graffenreid was appointed by the governor as a member of the commision because he was a physician, had lived near the Indians for several years, and was thoroughly capable on account of his good judg- ment and experience to deal with such matters as the health of a new city www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

38 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS. GEORGIA

would call forth. In the act providing for Columbus, it was particularly brought out that the town should be located with a view to the health of the prospective inhabitants. Dr. de Graffenreid was the possessor of a fortune for that day and time, and invested heavily in the real estate of Columbus. He made large purchases on First avenue, expecting that that street would be the main thoroughfare. His home, which was located on the site of the present post office was said to be the first brick building in the city, three years being required for its construction. He and his family occupied it in 1831, though it was not completed at that time. This home was on the eastern limits of civilization, all beyond being a dense woodland. During the early years of the city he was very active in work among the Indians across the river in Alabama. He helped many of them and was most kind to them during an epidemic of smallpox. They considered him as an almost celestial benefactor, and' were never tired of sounding his praises. Many times, groups of Indians would gather in the woods behind his house and chant in their solemn, ghostly manner, their thanks for his benefactions. Mrs. de Graffenreid was also a good friend to the Indians, teaching them many practical things about the home. The physician, as most of his family, was a staunch Episcopalian. It was largely due to his efforts, that this denomination was begun in Co- lumbus at such an early date. The parish was organized in 1834, and two years later the church was built. The original structure is still standing, having been remodeled' and is used by Eugene F. Gray Auto Truck Co., at 1 1 15 First avenue. No doubt it was Dr. de Graffenreid's influence that caused the location to be on this street. Though an ardent Episco- palian himself, he did not persuade his wife to become a member of his church but left her to her own Scotch Presbyterianism. After a long life as an active and useful citizen, Dr. de Graffenreid died December 7, 187 1. His wife died January 16, ,1877. They are buried in Linwood' Cemetery. Dr. de Graffenreid's home was in existence until the government bought it in 1892 and tore it down in order to erect the present Federal building. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

CHAPTER 111 The Frontier Town Y December 1828, when Columbus was incorporated as a town there were about a thousand inhabitants, and in spite of its raw youthful appearance, it was an enterprising, hustling center of civilization. Columbus' most notable characteristics of the present day began to be evident even that early. Steamboats plied the river, and trade was attracted from nearby towns and counties. Two stage routes were opened and there was a great deal of travel. A turning lathe was put into operation and discussion was begun as to the utility of the waterpower. Two more hotels were built, and the small rough houses of the pioneers gave way to the more substantial brick buildings. The fall term of Superior Court of the Chattahoochee Circuit was held here in 1828, and Judge Walter T. Colquitt presided. Judge Walter T. Colquitt was born in Halifax County, Virginia, December 27, 1799, his father being Henry Colquitt. The family moved to Hancock county and settled near Mt. Zion when he was a young boy. There he went to school to a Mr. Beman. He also attended Princeton University, and afterward read' law with Col. Samuel Rockwell in Mil- ledgeville, being admitted to the bar in 1820. Upon the organization of the Chattahoochee Superior Court Circuit, he was appointed judge and presided over the first session ever held. His appointment was made lDkcem- ber 15, 1826. In 1829 he was re-elected to this office for three more years, after which he retired. From 1834 to 1837 he represented Muscogee County in the State Senate, and was elected' to the House of Representatives in Washington in 1838, 1840, 1842. He was elected a United States Senator in 1842. Judge Colquitt was known far and wide for his vigor and tempera- mental outbursts before the jury and among the legislators. His brilliance as a lawyer was widely commented upon. As a delegate to the second Nashville convention held in November 1850, he supported the cause of State Rights. At this convention Judge Colquitt, inspired and excited by his cause, urged secession and called on "every Southern State to be moulding bullets, casting cannon, and filling their arsenals, if need be, in order to defend their rights". However, at the time his sentiments were not reciprocated and the fires smouldering for another decade. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG 40 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS. GEORGIA

In the early days of Columbus he would pursue his legal activities during the day, and at night would conduct services at the new St. Luke Methodist church. He died May 7, 18 5 5 in Macon but his remains were brought back to Columbus and he now lies buried in an unmarked grave in the Jeter lot in Linwood Cemetery. Judge Colquitt was married three times and had twelve children, eight of them surviving him. His two most prominent sons were Alfred H. and Peyton H. The former was notable in Baker county affairs, becoming a general in the Con- federate army and one of Georgia's most famous governors. Peyton H. Colquitt was one of Columbus' Confederate heroes, dying as an acting Brigadier General on the Chicamauga battlefield. The Colquitt home was located on the corner of what is now Third avenue and ~welfthstreet, where the Sisters of Mercy now conduct their school. President Polk was entertained there on his visit to Columbus in 1849. Among the early enterprises of the city which could not wait the building of the town before they began their work was the "Enquirer", the weekly newspaper. Its founder was Mirabeau Bonaparte Lamar, and the first issue came out during the last week of May 1828. This paper has continued in circulation since that time, having had many influential editors, prominent in lines of other activities as well as journalism. General Lamar had charge of the '(Enquirer" for two years, when he sold his interest to James Van Ness, and a few months her it was bought by Henry W. Hilliard and James H. Bethune. For several years General Lamar was influential in local and state politics, but following the death of his wife in 183 0 he made plans to go to Texas, then beginning the war for independence from Mexico. Mrs. Lamar (nee Tabitha Jordan) died August 2 1, 183 0 and is buried in Lin- wood Cemetery. The inscription on the white marble shaft over her grave is: "Erected by Mirabeau B. Lamar in memory of his wife whose death has left him no other happiness than the remembrance of her virtues." No name, nor date, nor any other information as to her identity is given. Later he married a daughter of the celebrated minister John ,Maffitt. In 1834 General Lamar was in Texas and was constantly rising in the affairs of the young republic. A large number of young men from Georgia went out to Texas at the same time to fight against Santa Anna and the Mexicans. Among them was young James W. Fannin, Jr. Mr. Fannin was a merchant in Columbus in 1828, according to ad- vertisements, and for several years he was interested in local affairs. He www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG A FRONTIER TOWN 41

was very young at the time, having been born in 1800. He was a close friend of Lamar's and went with him to Texas, where he also became prominent. Early in 1836, Fannin led a party of about 300 against the Mexicans at Goliad. He was completely outnumbered and after being wounded surrendered his company only on certain conditions, among them that his men should' be returned to the United States. The prisoners were placed in confinement and after some days, following an ordkr of Santa Anna, they were led out of the prison on a false pretext, and every man shot in spite of assurance on the part of the Mexicans that they would be treated properly as prisoners of war. Fannin was the last to be killed. It is said that before the Goliad engagement a small party of scouts was sent out by Fannin and these escaped the final massacre. Among this body of scouts was a young man, John Turner, uncle of the present tax collector of Muscogee county. A month after the tragedy General Lamar led his forces against Santa Anna, and on March 6 occurred the battle of San Jacinto which caused the Mexican leader's surrender and the final separation of Texas from that country. The famous battle cry was "Remember Goliad; Remember the Alamo !" When Texas was organized Lamar was made Secretary of War and later commander-in-chief of the army. Four months later he was vice- president, and in 1838 was elected without opposition as President of the republic. Upon his retirement from this office he entered the United States diplomatic service and served as Minister to Argentina, Nicarauga and Costa Rica. He died in 1 859, age 6 1, and was buried in Richmond, Texas. He was a frequent guest in Columbus and much ado was made of his visits to this city. Me is also noted for his poems and other literary productions. During the very early days of Columbus, constant care had to be taken in dealing with the Indians. The "Frontier Guards", A. Y. Gresham, Captain, and the "Colum- bus. . Fencibles", were local companies organized for the protection of the When the town was incorporated Ulysses Lewis was elected Intendent, or mayor, and six commissioners were named as follows: Samuel B. Head, James Van Ness, Ira Scott, Simon L. Smith, George W. Dillard and Thomas G. Gordon. The first churches in Columbus were organized in 1829, the Metho- dist and Baptist. The latter, in order to have the number of members necessary f& the granting of .a charter, included "a man of color". The Methodist pulpit was occupied at times by Judge Colquitt, who presided over the superior court during the day, and preached at night. Henry W. Hilliard, editor of the "Enquirer", also preached there at times. Mr. Hilliard, following his residence here, moved to Alabama where www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

42 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS. GEORGIA

he was elected to represent that state in Congress, and also became a notable writer. He married Miss Mary Bedell of Columbus. Mr. Hilliard was noted as a lawyer, clergymen, author and diplomat. He was born in 1808 at Fayetteville, North Carolina, and educated at the University of South Carolina. After editing the "Enquirer', in Columbus in the 'thirties, he went to Alabama and taught in the university of that state. He was Charge dJAffaires in Belgium for the United States in 1 842-1 844 and for the next six years represented Alabama in Congress. He opposed secession on principal, but he accepted the post of commissioner to Tennessee and was appointed a brigadier-general in the Con- federate army. He is not known to have played a conspicuous part in any military engagements. He became a Republican under post bellum issues and under Hayes was appointed minister to Brazil. As an orator he is said to have "contested the palm with Yancey". He died in Atlanta, 1892. Among his published works are ('De Vane, a Story of Plebeians," "Politics and Pen Pictures at Home and Abroad", and "Speeches and Addresses." Another early citizen who was prominent in politics was Thomas Flournoy Foster, who was a member of Congress from Greene county prior to moving tp Muscogee, and who was elected to represent this county when he moved here in 1829-'3 1, and also 1833-'35. Major Thomas Mandiut Nelson, also an early resident of Columbus, had been a member of the national law making body, representing Virginia, his native state, in Congress. He was a major in the War of 18 12. He served as a statesman from Dec. 4, 1 8 16 to March 3, 18 19 and' declined renomination. He died in Columbus, or rather, in Linwood which was later incorporated in Columbus, Nov. 10, 1853 and is buried in the Robert Carter lot in Linwood cemetery. An early visitor to Columbus describes the city as it appeared in 1832. "It may already be called a flourishing town. The population ex- ceeded 2,000, and among them were several that might be denominated wealthy. The number of inhabitants is augmenting monthly, and the increase of commerce, I was assured, was in the same proportion. Carpenters, masons and workmen of every kind were never without employment and could not erect houses fast enough. Streets which in 1828 were only marked out were now so filled with loaded wagons that it was next to impossible to pass. The principal street which traverses the city, following the course of the river, is like the rest, not paved, but has so many shops filled with a variety of goods, such a number of neat houses and finally in the morning, such a concourse of people, Christians and Indians, that it can hardly be believed that it is the same street which was only marked out in 1828." The Presbyterian church was organized in 183 0, with fourteen members and in twojears the first building was erected od the corner of what is now Tenth street and Second avenue. For the next four years Columbus continued to grow in all directions. A bridge was built, banks were established, more churches and schools www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

A FRONTIER TOWN 43 begun, and new residents were constantly seeking the advantages of the thriving young city. Very little trouble was had with the Indians at that time, though other-localities reported brutal murders and small uprisings. However, local citizens were always prepared for. trouble from this source and two military companies were kept on hand. The "Frontier Guardsy' were succeeded in 1831 by the "Columbus Volunteers", A. S. Rutherford, Captain. An interesting event in this connection was the marriage on September 6, 1828 of Maj. Rufus M. Farrington and Sarah, daughter of Gen. William McIntosh, the noted Indian leader who had been killed' three years previous. Although there was a form of city government at this time, it existed for the most part on paper. It seems that every one had the power to settle disputes as he saw fit. And so there are numerous accounts of duels, fights and killings. One of the most famous of the duels at this time occurred between Gen. Sowell Woolfolk, state senator, who had been secretary to the original board of commissioners, and Maj. Joseph T. Camp, a young lawyer of Columbus. It resulted in the death of General Woolfolk on January 23rd. In August of the following year Major Camp was killed by Col. John Milton, the latter being acquitted after investigation by authorities. A great many of the disputes were caused by the political tension. In those days before the South was Democratic in its vote, a man's political opinions were sacred and often resulted in mortal fighting between individuals. Julius C. Alford was a citizen of Columbus for a few years, moving to La Grange in 1839, where he was elected to Congress. While here he was prominent in local politics. Mr. Alford was known far and wide as "The War Horse of Troup", his impetuosity and impulsiveness in de- bate, making him a mark of attention on the part of all who were near him. When in Congress he was called upon once to answer a northern member who was defending the Indians in the south and blaming the whites for the troubles. Jumping to his feet he let out a great Indian war whoop startling the said Congressman and impressing upon them that his opinions were based on first hand knowledge of the red men and their ways. The year of 1834 was notable in Columbus, not only for what actually occurred, but because during that year many things of far reaching importance were begun. Minor happenings included the first cargo of ice, the establishment of the Episcopal Church, and the first bank failure. There were major happenings: the beginning of the cotton mill industry, the organization of a States Rights Association, and activities on the part of the Indians which finally resulted' in the Creek War of 1836. The Columbus Cotton Factory was begun in 1834 but was not completed until four years later, due no doubt to the Indian war and conse- www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

44 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS. GEORGIA

quent business depression. Three years later Adiel Sherwood mentions a cotton mill "three miles above Columbus on the Chattahoochee". Martin, however, in his history refers to the uColumbus Cotton FactoryyJ being in operation in 1838 and White says in his statistics that it was begun , in 1834. \ Already, Columbus as a shipping point was growing, and steamers I loaded with cotton from nearby counties, plied the river. The "States Rights Auxiliary association^^ was organized in 1834 and numbered among its officers those who were to make history. They were : President, Allen Lawhon; Vice-Presidknts, G. E. Thomas, J. S. Cal- houn, M. B. Lamar, N. Howard, A. S. Clifton; Secretaries: R. N. Carnes, Garret Hallenbeck ; Treasurer : Samuel W. Flournoy ; Printing and Cor- responding Committee: M. Torrance, E. S. Shorter, W. T. Colquitt, H. J. Harwell, W. B. Tinsley, John Milton, J. N. Bethune; Committee on Orators: U. Lewis, J. A. Urquhart, C. L. Bass, Wm. P. Malone, Thomas C. Evans, Wm. D. Hargrove, A. K. Ayers, Jos. T. Kilgore, H. A. Thornton, E. L. Wittich. Three of the above named had been active in the Anti-Tariff convention which had met in Milledgeville in 1832. Allen Lawhon and A. S. Clifton had officially represented Muscogee county and Mansfield Torrence had been secretary. Columbus and Muscogee county were divided on the issue and this difference of sentiment on the question of nulli- fication was evident up to the time of the war between the states and even afterward. But everybody was not engaged in those times with politics and fighting. The majority of the citizens were peaceable and attended to the interests of the fireside with only occasional interruptions. With the establishment of the city, the surrounding farm lands were divided and sold. South of the city many east Georgians and Carolinians settled. Among the former was the Lamar family. James S. Lamar, who was one of the children, has written an account of the early life of Colum- bus and this section. The Lamars came in November 1829 from Columbia county at which time no schools nor churches had been built. Once in three or four weeks a Methodist circuit rider would come through and conduct services. The houses of the time were for the most part, built of logs, dressed lumber being hard to obtain and very high. Later the log houses gave way to weather boarded structures. The money in current use was Spanish and sometimes English coin- age was in circulation. As the population increased it grew more necessary to provide an education for the children and the noted Old Field Schools were built. They were of the roughest construction imaginable, erected in a deserted www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

A FRONTIER TOWN 45

field, often covered with rocks and stubble. Split logs with the bark still on them served for benches and the young citizens were thought to be loitering unless they were studying out loud at the top of their voices. The teachers were often ignorant and entirely incapable of imparting more than the most rudimentary instruction. Frequently their poor discipline caused the boys to wreak revenge on them and chase them out of the community. "Turning out the teacher" seemed to be the usual way of getting a holiday. The board to whom the teacher was responsible held him ac- countable for each day's work and he had to forfeit his pay if the holiday were given on his own initiative. However, if the pupils decided they did not want to recite on a certain day they would lock the teacher out so they would get their holiday and he would not lose his pay. Amusements at that time were in keeping with the rest of the life of the pioneers. Townball, the sport of the school boys, had been learned from the Indians. Log rollings and corn huskings were popular when land was to be cleared or a neighbor was ready to shuck his crop of corn. House raising was more or less a social way of helping a friend who wanted a new house. There was also dancing and much drinking of spirits. Often- times the negroes were called in to give their aid to the amusements by singing and dancing. They also had their own entertainments which were copied as closely as possible from those of their masters. The roads leading into Columbus were filled with wagons from Oc- / I tober to March or April. There were large and small vehicles, drawn by ! six or four or two horses. All were carrying cotton to Columbus, to be shipped down the river to Apalachicola. They returned, laden with all/ kinds of supplies and provisions for the planters. The wagons would take several days to make the trip, and when night fell, the drivers and teams would camp out in the woods. The roads-were in very bad condition due to the heavy hauling. Ruts and holes were so frequent and so deep that often the highways were im- passable. Of course this caused great delay in all sorts of traffic, but the mails suffered most. The express mail from New York to New Orleans passed along this route, and if a letter were five minutes late for the post, it had to wait weeks sometimes before it could be again started to its desti- nation. The mail riders brought news they had gathered en route and were the centers of large throngs of people who wanted to hear the happenings of the day from the postmen as they paused on their way to the next town. The Indians at that time were a source of great inconvenience to the Georgians, though their organized activities began sometime later. They were allowed in Columbus only during the day, but they took advantage of this privilege to its full extent. They would cross the river in large companies, men, women and children of all ages. Before the www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

46 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

bridge was built they came by ferry or in boats. They turned into Broad street and regardless of the mud or slush marched single file up the middle of the street, looking neither to the right nor the left. They were poor and oftentimes nearly starved. Disease and fighting had thinned their numbers and many of them had moved to the government reservation west of the Mississippi. The residents of Columbus and nearby were frequently alarmed to find Indians about their premises, though it was rarely for anything more than petty thefts or something to eat. On approaching a home often they would leave their rifles at the gate, and ask for food from the householder. In Alabama, just opposite the city and extending south, so many of the Indians had departed that the lands were opened up for further settlement by the whites. The county of Russell was organized in 1832 and two years later Girard, originally Browneville, was incorporated. Girard was laid out by a company of Columbus real estate speculators. They had purchased a large tract of land called Marshall's Reserve from Ben Marshall, a friendly half-breed Creek, and after having laid it out in 500 building lots, proposed to sell it to interested parties. The purchase was made by Col. Daniel Mc Dougald, of Harris, and Dr. Robert Collins, of Macon for $35,000.00. It was planned that Girard be a rival to Co- lumbus in the matter of river transportation. As result, extensive building began in the young city. For some years the two towns were known as "twin cities", though the names "Sodom" and "Gomorrah" were often applied to them. For the first bridge to connect the two cities, Columbus was given aid 11y the state of Georgia. The bridge was built by John Godwin of Cheraw, S. C., who came to Columbus after his bid had been accepted at $14,000.00. He and others had their homes in Alabama, but conducted their business in Columbus. Mr. Godwin built several bridges for the city and was an zble citizen in other lines. He died in February 1859 at the age of 61 years, and is buried in Godwin's Cemetery in Girard. A monument was erected to his memory by Horace King, his negro slave, to whom he taught his art of bridge building. The bridge disputes arising over the discussion as to whether the western end was in Alabama or Georgia, and as to who should pay taxes and tolls, began upon the completion of the structure and lasted for many years. The first bridge was where the present Dillingham span is. The first Columbus bank was organized in 1829 and the first bank failure was in 1834. During 1834 the Columbus race course was opened. This was in the southern part of the city and is said to be the oldest municipal race track in the world. From that time on for many years horse racing was a prominent factor in the life of Columbus, many famous contests being held here. Eloquent of the times, too, was the cock fight which began on July www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

A FRONTIER TOWN 47

1st and continued for three days. Gouging affairs were still more brutal, hut they had their place also in the early life of the community. One of the earlier events of Columbus' social history was the visit here of Sol Smith's theatrical company in 1832. Some years afterward Smith published his personal recollections of life as a trouper in the undeveloped sections of the Southern States with other reminiscences. His stay in Columbus must have been more than entertaining, both to himself and others. On arriving here he found no theatre in which to give his performance, but that did not daunt him. He called for the ablest contractor of the new town, Mr. Asa Bates, and told him what was wanted. Mr. Bates got busy with his workmen on Manday morning cutting down trees and preparing them for building. By Thursday night the structure was completed and Sol Smith with his troupe presented "Pizarro", a d'rama dealing with South American Indians, to a large and enthusiastic audience. For a number of extras Mr. Smith engaged a body of Creek Indians. They were to take the part of Peruvian Soldiers. "The effect was very striking, but there were some unrehearsed effects not set down in the bills. I had bargained with a chief for twenty-four Creek Indians-to furnish their own bows, arrows, and tomahawkmt fifty cents each and a glass of whiskey. Unfortunately for the entire success of the performance, the whiskey was paid and drunk in advance, causing a great degree of exhilaration among our new supes. They were ranged at the back of the theatre building, in an open lot, during the performance of the first Act, and on the commencement of the second they were marshaled into the back door, and posted upon the stage behind the scenes. The entrance of Rolla was the signal for a 'shout' by the company, carpenters, and sceneshifters; the Indians, supposing their time had come, raised such a ell as I am sure had never before been heard inside of a theatre. This outburst being quelled, the scene between Alonzo, Cora, and the Peruvian Chief was permitted to ~roceed'to its termination uninterrupted; but when the scene changed to the Temple of the Sun, dis- closing the troops of Rolla-his brave associates, partners of his toil, his feelings, and his fame--drawn up on each side of the stage in battle array, the plaudits of the audience were answered by whoops and yells that might be, and no doubt were, heard a mile off. Order being partially restored, Rolla addressed' his army, and was greeted by another series of shouts and yells even louder than those which had preceeded. "Now came my turn to take part on the unique performance. As High Priest of the Sun, and followed by half a dozen vi~insand as many priests, with measured steps, timed to slow music, I emerged from behind the scenes, and with solemn march ~erambulatedthe stage, in dumb show calling down a blessing on the swords of King Ataliba and General Rolla; and in the usual impressive style, looking up into the front gallery, com- www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

48 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

menced the Invocation of the Sun. Before the time for the joining in of the chorus, I found I was not entirely alone in my singing. A humming sound, at first low and mournful and rising gradually to forte, greeted my ear; and when our chorus did join in the strain, it was quite overpowered by the rising storm of fortissimo which were issuing from the stentorian lungs of the savages; in short, the Indians were preparing for battle by executing, in their most approved style the Creek war-song and dance! ''To attempt stopping them we found would be a va?n task so that, after a moment or two of hesitation, the virgins made a precipitate retreat to their dressing-rooms, where they carefully locked themselves in. The King, Rollo, and Orano stood their ground, and were compelled to sub- mit to the new order of things. The Indians kept up their song and war- dance for full half hour, performing the most extraordinary feats ever exhibited on a stage, in the& excitement scalping King ~taliba(taking off his wig), demolishing the altar, and burning up the Sun! As for Lem and I (Solla and the High Priest), we joined in with them and danced until the perspiration fairly rolled from our bodies in large streams, the savages all the time flourishing their tomahawks and knives around our heads, and performing other little playful antics not by any means agreeable or de- sirable. At last, to put an end to a scene which was becoming more and more tiresome as it proceeded, an order was given to drop the curtain. This stroke of policy did not stop the ceremonies which proceeded without intermission until the savages had finished their song and dance, when, each receiving his promised half-dollar, they consented to leave the house, and our play proceeded without them. "~extnight the same troupe came to the theatre and wanted to assist in the performance of 'Macbeth', but I most positively declined their valuable aid." Following the engagement an editorial by Mirabeau B. Lamar appeared in the "Enquirer" which is considered a just estimate of Smith's ability. It also gives a light on the type of theatrical entertainment which was then enjoyed by the pioneers in the frontier region. .. This is the editorial : "Now then for 'Old Sol.' But, before entering upon the trial of this head' and front of the battalion, it may be proper to settle a preliminary question upon which his acquittal or condemnation chiefly rests. The heart will sometimes laugh in defiance of the sober degrees of the head, and when this is the case, which is in the right? Who has not had his risibility irresistibly excited by a joke which his juc!gl'licnt could not sanc- tion? Shall the joke therefore be condemned? .That is the question. We answer, No. Now this is exactly Old' Sol's situation. His acting we cannot approve as being always in good taste, yet he will exhort the laugh from 11s in spite of our disapprobation. Shall we therefore condemn him? We answer, No. Our objection to him as an actor is, that he often lowers comedy to a farce, and brings farce to the borders of buffoonery. The www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

A FRONTIER TOWN 49

approbation which we have to bestow is that which we have just admitted- his absolute domination over our risible propensities. He never fails to accomplish the end and aim of all comic performances, that of exciting involuntary laughter and applause. "This, however, is not his only merit. He posesses a lively fancy and a good fund of original wit, which enable him to introduce any seasonable jokes, acceptable to all and offensive to none. This practice, it is true, is liable to abuse, and stands reprobated by authority no less than Shake- speare; but, with all due deference to the Bard of Avon, we must still adhere to our infallible rule: to censure, nothing and prqise all that pro- duces a happy effect; by virture of which Old Sol is entitled to our high commendation and a full absolution for all faults, which we do hereby freely award him." The above account is taken from "The Actor's Heritage" by Walter Prichard Eaton. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

CHAPTER IV

The Creek War

RIOR to 1 835 Columbus had not suffered materially from In- dian depredation, though news had come of hostilities in other sections, mainly in Alabama. In 1832 the Indians had made a treaty with the Federal government whereby they agreed to move from Alabama to their reserve beyond the Mississippi within five years. As the time limit approached they were less desirious of going and some of their leaders urged them to remain. The fact that already large numbers had gone to the reserve and left the remaining ones weak did not deter them from their intention to stay in Alabama as long as possible. The outrages of this party were not confined only to the whites, but were committed also on the members of their own race who favored the treaty. The Columbus paper recorded that Rev. Mr. Davis, Presbyterian minister, had been wounded in the shoulder by Indians, as he was riding a few miles from town, and further reports told of other shootings and of the butchering of a young farmer boy nearby in Russell county, Alabama. The result of these outrages was that the people of Columbus grew alarmed and began to organize the city for a possible attack. A mass meeting of citizens was held here in the court house on April 25th, over which Grisgby E. Thomas presided. Numerous addresses were heard and following their presentation to the assembly by E. L. Wittich, resolutions concerning the protection of the city were adopted. They were: "Whereas, recent acts of hostility upon the part of the Indians in the Creek Nation have induced the Grand' Jury of this County to investigate the subject, to devise means to put the town of Columbus in a more complete state of defense, in case of actual danger and alarm; and whereas the Committee appointed by the Grand Jury and the Columbus Guards have met and consulted upon the best means necessary to be adopted in the present unprotected state of the town, have thought proper to call a meeting of the citizens generally, and propose for their adoption the following resolutions: "Resolved, That the citizens present enroll their names in alphzbedcal ord'er, and that they be divided into companies of ten each, commencing at the first name on the list-one of whom shall be captain. "Resolved, That it shall be the duty of each company to patrol the www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

THE CREEK WAR 5 1

town from 9 o'clock at night until daylight in the morning, for one night in regular order, commencing with the first company. c'Resolved, That each member when on patrol be required to be armed with a good gun and a sufficient quantity of ammunition. "Resolved, That when an alarm is given by the guard, each citizen repair forthwith to the City Hall, armed for active service." On motion of J. P. H. Campbell, Esq., the following resolutions were adopted: "Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed for the purpose of submitting the proceedings of this meeting to the citizens of the town who are not present, and request them to enroll their names.', Messrs. E. L. Wittich, E. S. Shorter and M. R. Evans were appointed on this committee. The following resolutions, introduced by the Hon. E. S. Shorter, were adopted: "Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the Chair, to correspond with the Governor of Georgia, to apprise him of the actings and of the present state of our Indian relations, and respectfully request him to place a sufficient proportion of the military force of this part of the State in a situation for immediate service, and to place them under orders to resist and punish any aggressions which may be committed by the Indians upon the property, habitations or persons of our citizens, committed within our own limits, and if necessary to pursue them within the limits of Alabama. "Resolved also, That the same committee be instructed respectfully to request the Governor to correspond with the Governor of Alabama, and to assure him of the perfect willingness of the people and authorities of Georgia to cooperate with the authorities of Alabama in any measures which may be deemed necessary in repelling any and all aggressions of the Indians and punishing the offenders." Messrs. E. S. Shorter, A. Iverson, and J. P. H. Campbell were appointed on the committee.

Gen. Daniel McDougald- introduced the following resolution, which was adopted: "Resolved, That this meeting recommend to our fellow citizens of Russell County, Alabama, to organize a force for the purpose of scouring the County, demanding of the Chiefs in the different towns the murderers of those of our fellow-citizens who have been, or may be killed; should any emergency arise requiring additional force, we pledge ourselves to render them efficient aid." On motion of Mr. E. L. Wittich, it was: "R,esolved, That Gen. D. McDougald be appointed to apportion the citizens enrolled in companies and to take charge of them in case of an emergency. The officers of the Columbus Guards, previously elected, received www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

52 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS. GEORGIA

their commissions a few weeks afterward in May and entered the service of the state in December under Gen. Daniel McDougald. On January 1, 1836 they were mustered into the United' States service and honorably discharged eight months later. The roll of officers and enlisted men was as follows: Officers- J. A. Urquhart, Captain ; Robert A. Ware, First Lieutenant; Burton Hepburn, Second Lieutenant; Hines Holt, Third Lieutenant; P. A. Clayton, Fourth Lieutenant; John Jones, First Sergeant; Samuel M. Jackson, Second Sergeant ; David Hudson, Third Sergeant ; Robert S. Flournoy, Fourth Sergeant; H. S. Wimberly, Fifth Sergeant; Henry B. Milliken, First Corporal; Geo. W. Martin, Second Corporal; William L. Jeter, Third Corporal; John S. Allen, Fourth Corporal; William Butts, Drummer; John Thompson, Fifer. Privates-- C. Anderson, Allen G. Bass, Chas. L. Bass, Asa Bates, G. W. E. Bedell, Jos. Bender, Ransom Bird, S. R. Cashien, John E. Davis, Alphonso Delauney, M. R. Evans, A. L. Grant, Jos. B. Greene, E. S. Greenwood, J. D. Greenwood, Thos. B. Goulding, Thos. G. Gordon, Thos. P. Grimes, William Harper, Jas. L. Hill, J. P. Hitchcock, Henry Hodges, Jas. R. Houghton, Theobald Houghton, Jas. D. Johnson, Jacob M. Johnson, Andrew P. Jones, George W. Jones, John H. Jones, John D. Jordan, Henry P. Lathrop, Q. A. Lawhon, John H. Love, Lewis Livingston, Ben F. Malone, R. T. Marks, Henry Matthews, B. Matthew- son, Allen Mims, William Mitchell, Monroe Mitchell, James S. Moore, Jacob I. Moses, Richard W. Morris, Josiah Morris, E. Sigourney Norton, C. S. Pryor, Henry H. Randall, James H. Reynolds, Francis Ruse, Thacker V. Rutherford, Thomas J. Shivers, William Salisbury, Chas. H. Stewart, John St. John. Thomas E. Taggert, Washington Toney, David E. Walker, -John T. Walker, W. C. Williamson. As the ~ndiansleft the Alabama territory the whites pressed further into the evacuted lands. Often they encroached on the ~ndians'property and the government seemed unable to restrain them and this only incited the red men to further hostilities. In February 1836 Columbus began to be a center of refugees fleeing from the Indians. Fifteen miles below the city occurred the battle of Hitchity, in which the whites were led by Col. J. H. Watson of Co- lumbus. A newspaper account of this battle follows: "There has been considerable excitement for a week or two past at Columbus, and in the vicinity, from apprehension of hostile intentibns on the part of the Indians of the neighborhood, and rumor has thrown in its usual contribution in making up all that was lacking in fact. On Thurs- day of last week it was understood that 500 Indians had crossed the Chat- tahoochee at Bryant's ferry, fifteen miles below Columbus. A detachment of twenty-two men, headed by Mr. John Watson, proceeded to the place to ascertain particulars. They there found forty armed Indians, who were www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

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returning to the ferry, who took cover and commenced firing. After some firing on both sides, two white men, Mr. Josiah Johnson and Mr. McBride, were killed, and two wounded, and the whites then left the field, and the Indians probably returned home. "From all that we can learn from people well acquainted with the Indians, we should not judge that there was a hostile disposition on the part of those Indians generally, but that there are outlaws and marauders who are ready to rob and plunder principally for provisions and to fight whenever it becomes necessary. This we believe to be the fact, both with regard to these Indians and those residing below." Immediately after the affair two more military companies were formed here under the command of Alexander McDougald and J. H. P. Camp- bell. Other companies subsequently organized were: An artillery company under Captain Hoxey; the Cadet Rifles, under Capt. T. C. Evans; the Muscogee Blues, under Capt. P. T. Schley. All of these troops and the Columbus Guards were active in the In- dian troubles. Newspaper accounts of various engagements show the beginning of what was to be the final end of the Creek hostilities. On the 14th of April, the Macon Messenger said: "The Creek Indians, below Columbus, are said to be almost without provisions, and in a sullen, discontented mood. They are very much dissatisfied at not being permitted to hunt in Georgia (where game is much more plentiful than in Alabama) and declare thkir intention to do so at any risk so soon as the leaves put out." From the same paper, May 12th: "Our accounts from Columbus are of a most alarming character. A war has already commenced, and a number of citizens killed. The Creek Indians, below the Federal Road, are all in arms and killing every white person they have met. There has been less known of the hostility of those above, but it is most probable that all are combined, and that the movements are simultaneous through the whole Nation. They commenced their general work of slaughter on Monday, the 10th inst. Previous to this, on the 5th of May, Maj. William B. Flournoy, late of Putnam county, in this State, was killed and scalped a few miles below Fort Mitchell. A letter from Colonel Crowell, the Agent at Fort Mitchell, dated the 9th, says that 'four persons have been killed and many negroes taken off within a few days'; that he had sent a messanger to some of the principal chiefs, who had returned him word that their young men were bent on war,' and have assembled in the swamp near the Federal Road to attack any troops that march into the Nation. "The Indians have taken possession of Hardaway's Ferry, eight miles above Columbus. Word was sent into Columbus by Ben Marshall, a half- breed, that the Indians intended to burn that place on Tuesday night. Dr. Ingersoll, an enrolling agent, who was in the Nation, at or near Talladega (not the present town of that name), found them to exhibit so much hostility that he was compelled to leave and come in to Columbus. Great www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

54 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

numbers of people, supposed to be about 2,000, who reside west of the Chattahoochee, had come to Columbus for protection. A company of about twenty men, who went out of Columbus on Monday a few miles, to protect and bring in some families, returned in safety and effected their purpose. Another company of about one hundred men, on Tuesday, went into the Nation eight miles to the Uchee bridge, on the Federal Road, and brought in some straggling settlers, but did not see any Indians. Fifteen dead bodies were seen by the fleeing inhabitants, who had been shot by the 1nd;ans and were lying in the road, five of which were brought into Columbus. Of course, all is confusion and dismay.'' During the same month shortly after the above events, a party of In- dians fired on the steamboat Hyperion, headed for Columbus, the Indians being on the Alabama bank opposite Woolfolk's Bend, about eight miles below the city. "During this fire',, Martin continues the account "the pilot at the wheel, a brother of Captain Brockway, was shot dead at his post, and the engineer and one or two others were wounded. Fortunately the boat drifted to the Georgia shore and thus escaped capture. The surviving officers and crew came up on the Georgia side to town, and reached here shortly after dark on Sunday night. The news spread rapidly and created a big sensation and terrible scare in Columbus. Rev. Mr. Few received the news while preaching at the Methodist Church. He came quietly out of the pulpit, broke the tidings gently to his congregation and advised all to remain cool and self possessed. A volunteer company was formed in the church, and the preacher was elected captain. This company was detailed for a special guard of the town during the night, and arrangements were perfected on the spot for stations, posting guard's, relief of sentinels, etc. W. B. Mitchell was made night officer. This company remained in this service four or five days and were then disbanded." An attack on the stage coaches on the Columbus-Montgomery road created a great sensation and aroused more fear than any previous act of the Indians. Two stages carrying the United States mail were held ~;pin May about eighteen miles from Colun~busen route to Tuskeegee, Alabama. "The Indians killed Mr. Green, one of the drivers, and two horses, and' robbed the mail. The next day a party of fifteen men started to come through to Columbus with two stages. Some of these men were passengers and others volunteers who accompanied the stages to assist in their protection. Among the later, was young Samuel G. Hardaway, late of Mont- gomery, Alabama. At the same place where the stages had been attacked the day previous, this party was also attacked by a body of Indians who had been following for some distance. The horses took fright at this place, ran out of the road and got entangled, and then the Indians came up and commenced the attack. Two of the men were riding on horseback, and kept on. The others got out of the stages to fight the Indians, but most of hem unhitched and mounted the stage horses and ran off, Hardaway and two www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

. THE CREEK WAR 55 others, on foot, followed behind. The Indians got ahead of them and fired, killing McKay and another man, a New Yorker. Hardaway was not hurt, but ran towards a swamp, two Indians following. He shot one and' reached the swamp. The other Indian followed, and Hardaway shot and killed him. He remained in the swamp, with the dead Indian, three days, eating only young and green whortleberries. When the buzzards began to swarm around the dead Indians he left the swamp and struck the road where the two white men lay dead. The Indians soon pursued him into the swamp again. The next night he went back into the road, where the two men were lying, scalped, and took the road for Tuskegee. On the outskirts of Tuskegee he was hailed by Gen. Thomas S. Woodward, and hospitably received. The party on horseback came through to Columbus safey', the account continued. Alexander H. Stephens had just finished a trip through the Creek Xation into Alabama and en route to Washington where he was to serve as a Congressman he met some of the survivors of the hold-up. He got their version of the story and reported it to President Jackson. The account is: "On taking the stage at Washington, Georgia, several parties announced the startling intelligence of the outbreak of hostilities in the Creek Nation, and the massacre of the passengers on several of the United States coaches coming through. The passengers who got out at Washington were in the only coach on the train that escaped. "Early in the morning after his arrival at the capital, Mr. Stephens called on the President to pay his respects. The General cordially shook hands, and insisted on his taking a seat. He was sitting alone by a fire, the morning being raw and cold, in his dressing-gown and slippers, his silver pipe laying by him on the floor. His first inquiry after his guest was seated was, 'What is the news in Georgia'? Mr. Stephens said' there was nothing of public interest, except an outbreak of Creeks, who had massacred the passengers of seven or eight coaches in the Creek Nation, between Columbus and Montgomery; an outrage which had created great excitement at Columbus. 'Yesy, said Jackson, 'I have just got a letter by mail-the lower route-telling me the alarming state of things in Colum- bus. In the name of God', wherels Howard?, (Maj. John H. Howard, whom the legislature had put at the head of a battalion to repel any outbreak of the Indians on the western border.) Mr. Stephens replied, 'He was down about Florence or Roanoke by last advice.' 'Why don%he move his forces at once across the river?, 'I don't know; there may be some question of jurisdiction, his being Georgia forces, under control of Georgia authorities.' 'Jurisdiction, by the Eternal! when the United States mail is robbed and citizens murdered! ' and springing to his feet, 'In the name of God, how big a place is Columbus?' 'About three thousand inhabitants.' 'Why don't they turn out in force and drive back the Indians? Here I have letters calling on me for aid, and telling me the whole population is www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

5 6 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

flying to the interior!' The General then grew calmer, inquired the distance of Florence from Columbus and the point of Massacre, and asked about the Indian country.'' At that time communication was so poor that President Jackson really did not know what was going on. Refugees from the north, south and west were pouring into Columbus fearful of the Indians. Major Howard was at Roanoke following up the Indian outrages in that section, details of which will be given later. Then too, the Federal government and the states of Georgia and Alabama were not co-operating as they should have been in the defense of the lives and property of the citizens. In May about 1200 soldiers had gathered' in Columbus and reports were had of several hundred friendly Indians under their own leaders who were prepared to aid the whites when called upon. The Oglethorpe House, not yet quite finished, was used as military headquarters and barracks. It was located on the site of the present Masonic Temple. Later when the situation became more tense the women and children were required to repair to the Oglethorpe House at nightfall and the men were assembled in the First Baptist church square to be organized in case of attack. ~lf The outrages were daily and hourly increasing in Alabama and hundreds of frightened refugees were fleeing into the city. No doubt it was the sight of this throng that caused Mr. Stephen's informer to state that the citizens of Columbus were "fleeing into the interior". In May the "Enquirer" told of the situation: "A large body of Indians, variously estimated at from 500 to 1500 warriors, have congregated about twenty-five miles southeast from this city, and are scouring the country in all directions from their hiding place, 'or headquarters, indiscriminately butchering our neighbors, men, women and children, plundering their houses, destroying their stock, and laying waste their farms. On Monday last this city presented a scene of confusion and distress, such as we never before witnessed. Our streets were crowded with wagons, carts, horses and footmen, flying for safety from the rifle and tomahawk of the Indians-many of them having left behind their all of earthly possessions, and some their protectors and friends, husbands, wives and children, who had fallen before the murderous savages. We have been unable to ascertain with any certainty the number of chose who have been murdered by these lawless savages. William Flournoy, Hammond, McKissack, wife and overseer, Davis, Hobbs, several negroes, and in all probably many others (we fear Doctor Wellborn among them) have been killed, and the Indians are yet pursuing their bloody work." The next day the paper further stated: "Previous to our last publication all the settlers below the Federal Road have come in. Since that time the Indians have destroyed a family (Mr. Davis', consisting of seven persons), a few miles above the Federal www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

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'Road, and many of the settlers in that neighborhood have fled to town. The plantations below Fort Mitchell have been burned and a few negroes are missing. Several large buildings on these plantations were burned to the ground on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. The bridges on Big Uchee and Little Uchee have also been burned. The furniture of all the deserted houses, which have been visited, is destroyed and cattle killed. "A scouting party of fifty men went out yesterday, but returned without finding Indians, except a small party of friendly Indians, who were coming in for protection. Last night it was expected that the plantations in Broken Arrow Bend, from three to seven miles below this, would be burned. A party of forty whites and fifteen friendly Indians, repaired to the place to defend the plantations. They returned this morning. The Indians did not show themselves. This morning a letter was received from Marshall's settlement, fifteen miles above this, containing information that the neighborhood had yesterday embodied themselves, (thirty in number) ; they had a small brush with about fifty Indians, killed one and wounded' several others. So that it is certain that they are hostile above the Federal Road also. From all that we can learn, the Hitchetees, Uchees and Tallassees, are all hostile. This is the opinion of Nea-Micco, the head chief ." The Macon Messenger said: "The city and vicinity of Columbus present a truly distressing scene. Hundreds, probably a thousand, are encamped-some occupying warehouses, and every description of building that could be furnished, and many others with scarcely any protection from the elements. Those who have the means, or friends within reach, have retired' to the country. The corporate authority of Columbus has furnished assistance to the destitute; but the source is precarious, for a scarcity of provisions must ensue as forces cumulate to carry on the war." In command of the troops here was Winfield Scott with General Jessup, next in command. The latter with 200 men left early in June for Tuskegee, Alabama. The Georgia troops made their camp on the west bank of the Chattahoochee. In all, the friendly Indians were said to be about 1,000 and the hostile force was about 6,000. Governor Schley was in charge of the Georgia troops. The military companies arriving in Columbus from other parts of the state were forty in number, four other companies being composed of Colum- bus and Muscogee citizens. Capt. Robert Toombs was in command of the Wilkes Volunteers. As the fighting continued it became the purpose of the whites to keep the Creeks from pushing into Florida and joining the Seminoles. Many from Columbus accompanied expeditions which prevented' the alliance from taking place. Chief among this city's particular fears was that concerning an expected attack by Jim Henry, a half-breed, who was frequently a visitor www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

58 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS. GEORGIA

to the business section before the outbreak, and was well known here. Concerning him the Herald said: "A half-breed, by the name of Jim Henry, at the head of 150, all like himself choking for the blood of white men, has been prowling the nation like a hungry wolf, and committing depredations wherever he went. On Saturday last a rumor reached the city that himself and band were within twelve or fifteen miles of the river. General McDougald promptly called for volunteers to cross the river at 11 o'clock at night, and they came forward with alacrity from the Columbus Guards, and Captain Evansy Rifle corps, to the amount of eighty or one hundred men, who marched into-the nation at the hour of midnight in search of the savage foe, and after having traveled all night without being able to discover the enemy, returned to their encampments the next morning. The following night Jim Henry and his gang approached within six miles of the town and burned the Uchee Bridge, crossed to the Georgia side of the river, and committed depredations by killing and destroying the horses and property of Mr. John Victory, whose plantation is about twelve miles below Co- lumbus." And the "Enquirer" further reported: "Since our last publication nothing of much importance has tran- spired worthy the attention of our readers. Troops are arriving daily, and every preparation seems to be making for an active and vigorous campaign and we indulge the hope that in a few weeks our savage foe will either be exterminated or made to succumb to the brave and patriotic troops who are anxious to be the avengers of the murdered women and children who have fallen victims to savage barbarity. We have understood that orders have been received to make no treaty with them that does not have for its basis their immediate emigration. to their destined homes in the West. We subject below such items of intelligence as have come to hand. "On Thursday morning last, Scipio, a negro fellow well known to the citizens, arrived in town, having made his escape from the Indians the night previous, he stated that the Indians to the amount of about three hundred were assembled between the Big and the Little Uchees, under the notorious Jim Henry, a half-breed, known to have been the leader of the party who attacked and burned Roanoke. They have with them a large quantity of plunder, negroes, etc., which they have stolen from the whites. "Two other negroes attempted to make their escape with Scipio, one of whom came in with him, the other separated froG them, and was probably shot by the Indians who pursued them. "On Saturd'ay night the Guards and Riflemen, under Colonel Bates, crossed the river about 11 o'clock, and proceeded about two miles west of Girard, on the new road. The object of the expedition was to arrest any Indian spies that might attempt to come near Columbus. They were so stationed as to command every pass to this city; but returned on Sunday morning without seeing the least sign of an Indian. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

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"An express reached' here on Sunday morning, that the Indians had crossed the river about one mile of Fort McCreary, and burned' and destroyed the plantations of Mr. Quarles and Mrs. Brewer and murdered the overseer of the former. The express stated that it was evidently their intention to retreat into Florida, and that they could be traced on their march for some distance in that direction. The Upson Cavalry were ordered immediately to march to their assistance, and unite with the troops already there under Major Howard, who will scour the countxy in all directions." A few days later, a fierce and spirited battle took place three miles above Fort Jones. Colonel Jarnigan and Captain Garmany commanded the whites who were out-numbered by the Indians. Twelve whites were killed and four wounded, including Captain Garmany. Meanwhile, General Jessup continued his activities within the Creek Nation. He was joined by General Woodward and more than 3 00 friendly Indians who being eager for war had to be given the lead. This expedition resulted in the capture of several hostile chiefs. The Troops from Georgia, then about 2,500, were commanded by Major-General Sanford and he went down the river in June to join General Jessup. This campaign of General Jessup resulted in the surrender of about 2,000 Indians and left only a few others whose activities were confined to small but sometimes murderous attacks. Chief among those yet giving trouble was Jim Henry. He was captured in late June and surrendered to Alabama authorities who confined him with several others in the jail in Girard. Numbers of other Indians were charged with capital offenses and brought to Columbus for trial. However, they were not convicted, and upon their release they went to the West. Though Jim Henry's capture brought relief to the fearful citizens of this locality, the work of gathering up and transporting the Indians to the reservation was not carried on without hostility. A body of about 200 Indians and 98 whites under Major Alford had a sharp fight at Quarles plantation, about twenty-two miles below Colum- INS. The whites gave out of ammunition and retreated, leaving the Indians victors. They crossed the Chattahoochee and entered the interior of Georgia scattering ruin in their path. A detachment of cavalry in command of Col. Thomas Beall was sent in pursuit. Later a battalion of volunteers, made up of the Artillery, Guards and Cadet Riflemen of Columbus were sent to reinforce him. Accounts of their activities follow: "About three miles below Roanoke we struck the trail of the Indians, and pressed them over hill and dale, through swamp and quagmires, through the lower part of Stewart, Randolph and Lee, and finally to Chick- zsawatchee swamp in Baker county, where, after ascertaining their position www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

60 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

as well as we could with the aid of our guides, we prepared for the attack the next morning, and leaving a sufficient guard to protect our horses, we dismounted, hauled off our coats, tied up our head with handkerchiefs, and into the swamp we rushed. After three or four miles through briers, mud and water, sometimes up to the neck, we came in view of their encampment, situated on an island two hundred yards off, which they occupied as a depot for their goods, wares and merchandise, which they had taken from Roanoke. We commenced the attack by charging through mud and water, and notwithstanding they had the decided ad'vantage of us in point of position, we continued the charge with such spirit and determination that we could not be successfully resisted, and after killing and wounding a number, they dispersed, leaving behind all their ill-gotten plunder. Seven of our small army were wounded, some severely, but one mortally. "Our friend, Maj. John H. Howard, was with us, and was among the first, if not the first, who planted his foot upon the island, and acted with great bravery, as I was certain he would whenever an opportunity presented." Another account says: "After the battle in the swamp, very few Indians have been seen, not more than two or three at a time. It was believed they had left the swamp, and had broken up into small parties of three to five, and that they were endeavoring to make their way to Florida. The swamp was scoured for five days, but no Indians found in it. Several small trails have been traced to the Flint river, and it was believed that the Indians traveled principally in the night. They committed no further mischief after the battle. They must be in an entirely destitute condition, as they were driven from their camp naked, and left all their provisions, plunder and spare ammunition. Major Alford's detachment arriving with the three Columbus companies, and thirty or forty Indians under Paddy Carr, Colonel Beall's command returned to Columbus. All the drafted and volunteer infantry (except the Columbus companies) have been discharged. It is believed, according to the calculations of the best informed, that there are about two hundred hostile Indians who have not yet surrendered'." An official dispatch gives further details as follows: "Headquarters, near Chickasawatchee Swamp, Baker County, "Sir:- In obedience to orders I have pursued the Indians to this place, where I find them encompassed in a swamp, said to be twenty-five miles long, and varying from one to four in width. At 12 o'clock A. M., the first instant, I learned that the Indians were encamped within four miles of this place, but was unable to reach them short of sixteen miles march. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

1 THE CREEK WAR 6 1

On yesterd'ay about 10 o'clock A. M., I made an attack upon the enemy, succeeded in driving them from their camp, with the loss of nine that were left dead, and from the sign of blood, I suppose twenty to thirty killed and wounded. The Indians fled precipitately in every direction, but I was unable to pursue them in consequence of the denseness of the bushes through which they retreated, the exhaustion of our men, and the state 03 our wounded, having seven of them, and two I fear mortally. I think there is no doubt that the Indians are still in the swamp, and from the most intelligent persons here, I am induced to believe they design remaining. "We need one hundred friendly Indians commanded by Paddy Carr, to pursue the Indians and ferret them out, and shall be gratified to receive them as early as practicable. In consequence of the incessant rains we. have had, and having fought in water, we need 3,000 cartridges. "In the meantime I may take the liberty of saying that the expedition will be brought to a close, and so soon as it is, a full report will be made as early as practicable. "(Signed) Thomas Beall, '

62 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

Jim Henry's chief enemy seemed to be Paddy Carr, also a half-breed, who was friendly to the whites. Paddy Carr was the son of an Irishman who had married a Creek woman who lived near Fort Mitchell, Alabama. As a boy Paddy was taken into the family of Col. John Crowell, the Indian Agent for the Federal government. In 1826 he accompanied a delegation to Washington, which was headed by Ho-po-eth-le-yo-ho-lo, as an interpreter. In the Creek War of 1836 he was most active in his aid to the whites. The hostile Indians destroyed a great deal of his property and' took off his slaves, of which he possessed between seventy and eighty. He was interpreter for General Jessup and as a guide and leader of friendly Indians he did much toward the establishment of peace. One activity of his in this connection was the leading of 500 warriors to Florida to prevent a union of the Creeks and Seminoles. Paddy Carr was well-to-do, as life went in his days. He had property and slaves and was well thought of. He had three wives, according to the polygamous custom of the redskins, one being the daughter of Col- onel Lovett, and another, a daughter of General McIntosh. His first two children were twin girls and out of appreciation of Colonel Crowell's interest in him named one, Ari, and the other, Adne, for Colonel Crowell's daughter, Ariadne. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

CHAPTER V

The City of Columbus

EFORE 1836 the government of Columbus was largely in the hands of individuals and the punishment of offenders was decided by the state courts. Although the authority was nomin- ally vested in the intendant and his commissioners who were elected when the town was incorporated, it was not until Co- lumbus was made a city that complete jurisdiction in municipal affairs was put into local hands. At that time the first mayor was elected in the person of John Fontaine, and six aldermen were also given office as follows: Thomas G. Gordon, George W. Dillard, Hampton S. Smith, E. Sigourney Norton, Thos. C. Evans and Earnest L. Wittich. This election occurred January 2, 1836. Immediately upon taking office they set about organizing other city departments and inaugurating an extensive improvement program. This latter called for erection of a guard house, purchase of two fire engines, and a contract for lighting the streets by means of oil lamps. A city watch, or police force, was also organized, composed of a captain, lieutenants and privates. Michael N. Clark was the first to be named captain. Among other duties these men patrolled the streets, calling the hours and telling the citizens the great happenings or singing out "All's well" if everything were quiet. Other city improvements beginning at that time included a sewerage system and water works. Fisheries were rented variously and gravel rights sold to interested parties. In 1838 the city issued its own money in the form of charge bills or "shin plasters" of denominations from 6% cents to $2.00. The amount was $50,000. Two years later the city issued $20,000 in small notes for change on bridge tolls, the engraving costs being $525.00. For a long time Columbus put out its own currency, as did other cities, and even private establishments in the city. This specie gave a great deal of trouble to all concerned and of course was finally abandoned. Martin says of the banks in 1840: "All the Banks of the State were required to make periodic reports of their condition for publication. It used to be said (perhaps maliciously) that the wheelbarrow acted an important part in these showings, in cities which had more than one bank; that after the specie had been counted in one bank it would be wheeled' over to another to be reported in its assets www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

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also, and thus give to the whole of them a fictitious strength. This year the Columbus Bank had' $377,218 of bills issued, and $163,29 1.58 of deposits, and due other banks $74,289.00-$6 14,79 8.63. Due by other banks and agents $220,000.82; species, notes of other banks, etc., $21 7,- 297.26, $437,228.68. The St. Mary's Bank reported $29,915 of notes in ~irculation, and $14,555.52 in specie; the Chattahoochee Railroad and Banking Company had $109,420 notes in circulation and $62,110.87 in specie. The Insurance Bank of Columbus had $5,289 in circulation and $25,790 in specie. All these Columbus banks afterwards bioke, but they were paying specie this year and very few banks in the state were doing so." In 1844 the principal city taxes were as follows: ('On every $1 00.00 worth of town property, stock in trade, capital employed by brokers or exchange merchants, stock in bank, insurance or trust company, or money loaned, 25 cents; on each negro slave, 25 cents; free persons of color $6.00 ; practitioners of law, physic, factors or brokers, $4.00 each ; retail liquor license $25.00." The assessed valuation of the real estate of the city was given as $1,266,055.00 The first contract for the water works was condud'ed between the city and Col. John H. Watson on April 10, 1844. Colonel Watson to receive toll from the citizens. During 1836 occurred the death of Judge Eli S. Shorter, aged 44 years, who was prominent in state politics and whose ability as a lawyer was widely known. He is buried in Linwood cemetery under a shaft with the following . inscription : "The eminent distinction of Judge Shorter was founded in the hap- piest union of the social, kindly, and intellectual elements of character; profound and distinguished as a jurist, ardent as a friend, and kind as a citizen, his name will be long reverned in the great circle of his acquaintance, and his memory be forever embalmed in the hearts of his bereaved family." With the quartering of troops here during the Indian war, the business of the city had increased to such an extent that the nationwide panic of 1837 did' not affect Columbus nearly as much as other Georgia cities. The coming of settlers into the territory after the evacuation of the Indian was another great factor in keeping up the remarkable business activities of the city. Thousands of newcomers passed through Columbus en route to their prospective homes in the recently abandoned lands, and many of them decided to remain in the city rather than push into the interior. At that time First avenue or Oglethorpe street was expected to be the main throughfare of the city and most of the northern traffic used it in preference to Broad. However, some enterprising property owners, among them John Warren, decided to deflect the stream of wagons and' so, cut a street diagonal across the block bounded now by Broad, Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets and First avenue. It is still called Warren street in the www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

THE CITY OF COLUMBUS 6 5 directory, but is more widely known as Triangle, and some times is referred to by older citizens as "Dog Alley". In 1840 the city authorities requested' Congress to make Columbus a port of entry for foreign ships. The court house was begun in 183 8, the contract price being $30,000 and the work given to W. and J. Godwin. The city was to pay one-third and the county agreed to finance the balance. Some months later the old court house was burned, and it was generally thought to be the work of an incendiary who had a case slated for the next term of court and who wanted to destroy the record's. As the structure was the old court house, its loss was considered slight, but the destruction of the Clerk's office and many valuable documents caused the mayor to post a reward of $500.00 for the guilty party's capture, Jacob Cunningham being the suspected person, was arrested a few months later. This fire was the first large blaze Columbus had, though numerous business houses had been burned and a few residences. There was apparent- ly some agitation on the part of citizens to have a large fire department at- tached to the city but until several years afterward, the government did not see fit to add it to the program. In 1842 Columbus suffered from a large conflagration and had piti- fully inadequate means of fighting the flames. It occurred on Tuesday night, March 15th, and originated in a frame building on the west side of Broad street which was occupied as a grocery and drygoods store by Rosseau and Choate. Many business concerns were destroyed, the total loss being about $100,000 with very little insurance. This fire was also thought to be of incendiary origin. Even then the city did not take further definite steps to procure fire engines, and not until 1843 was the first company organized. The first engine was bought the following year, and though it was brought out immediately at the first alarm, the water pressure was so poor that the machine was useless. Several small fires occurred during that year. Fires were not the only source of widespread misfortune to Columbus at that time. Floods did their part to deterthe progressive young city. In March of 1841 occurred the noted "Harrison Freshet" so called on account of the election of President Harrison. Martin describes the flood: "On the 1 lth of March of this year the city sustained a great pecun- iary loss in the destruction of the bridge by what was termed the 'Harrison Freshet'. The 'Enquirer' of the 17th of that month, gives but a shore account of this disaster. It says that on Tuesday evening of the week previous, rain commenced descending and continued to fall in torrents for forty-eight hours, with slight intermissions. The city looked like it was built on a lake. On Wednesday the Chattahoochee began to rise rapidly. The falls and rapids disappeared, and the turbid waters swept on their www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

66 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS. GEORGIA

course. Whole trunks of trees with their roots entire were borne on the current. It had already risen within a few feet 'of our noble bridge' when a portion of the no less costly bridge at the factory, a few miles above, was seen descending the stream. It was caught, as it swung around in an eddy, by citizens, and anchored to a tree. The weatherboarding was knocked off the city bridge to save it. The river continued to rise Wed- nesday night and Thursday at daybreak one end of the structure floated off the pier and dropped down the river, and 'never was there a more ma- jestic sight than the departure of that noble bridge on its remarkable voy- age.' Several parties walked across it a short time before it was gone. The river was then flowing over the flooring. The stage had just reached the Girard side-having passed over-when the bridge floated off. Its course, after leaving the piers, was uninterrupted until it reached Woolfolk's plantation, eight miles below, where it took up new moorings in the centre of a large cotton field, on which the river had never before been known to encroach." John Godwin was given the contract for a new bridge and had it nearly completed in November, though it had been used in part since July. Several years later, in 1844, the river rose to such an extent following hard rains, that the stages running from Columbus east to Madison and west to Franklin were stopped for a week by high water. Enterprising citizens were interested in the proposition of bringing I-ailroads to the city, increasing the navigation on the river, enlarging the anking facilities, building cotton warehouses, and most of all, the establishing of manufacturing plants on the river. In 1830 there were only fifteen business houses in Columbus, and by 1844, this number had increased to 207. There were five cotton warehouses, four of which were fire-proof and had an aggregate capacity of 54,000 bales. The river trade was one of the greatest inducements to cotton ship- pers and was largely responsible for the great quantity of cotton brought to the city before the advance of the textile industry. Numbers of steamboats plied the river, laden with cotton and naval stores. When com- Ipetition was begun between rival boats in 1830, the new "Georgian" was met at the wharf by a large delegation of citizens enthusiastic for the increase tn business that rivalry was expected to engender. Pole boats were also used successfully in river trade for many years. For sometime, plans for extending the traffic above the city were con- templated, and in the very early history of the city a commission was appointed to look into the matter. However, as time passed, it became evident that the river falling three hundred and' sixty feet in about thirty miles rendered the scheme rather impracticable. Besides, the coming of the rail- roads did much to end the discussion. The remarkable water power afforded by the river was early recognized by interested parties as the chicf reason for the establishment of a www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

THE CITY OF COLUMBUS 67

substantial and perpetual foundation for a successful financial center. In 1827, W. H. Young, a young New Yorker, visited the site for the proposed city and made plans which were to result some decades later in the Eagle Factory. In 1838 the Columbus Factory was in operation, "spinning cotton yarn and carding wool." The dam for this establishment was a tree cut down, thrown over a gorge, and planked up. This was surely a modest beginning for the activities of the present day. A few months prior to that time a civil engineer, James Clarke, had been employed by the city authorities to make plans for the draining of #he streets, and in order to do so, he was called upon to make a survey of the city. His report concluded : "It is but a few years since there was a wilderness, where is now a large, flourishing city, the mart of an extensive and rapidly populating territory, abounding with vast agricultural and mineral riches, which, as developed, must greatly augment its commercial importance and prosperity; added to which, the immense and valuable water power within its environs will undoubtedly be appreciated and attract to it a large amount of manufacturing capital and industry. With the knowledge of these resources, and of what has already been accomplished by the enterprise and intelligence of her citizens, we may reasonably anticipate that Columbus will soon earn a rank among the most important and beautiful cities of the Union." In August of 1838 the local press took up the matter of boosting the city, with a special view of attracting capital interested in ,utilizing the water power. Martin writes; "A writer signing himself 'a Friend to Manufacturers' declared: cL '1 see a great source of wealth looming up to the people of this section, both in the corporate limits and above the city. I was actually aston- ished in viewing the splendid estate of Mr. James C. Cook, extending one mile on the meandering river, and within that distance it has been actually surveyed by a competent engineer, and that it has a fall of one hundred and seventy-five feet, and to all appearance it cannot be less. Every one hundred feet, by acqueducts which appear to have been forced through the solid granite by some mighty convulsion of nature, a splendid location for factories could be selected. It would' well compensate any one to go and behold what nature has done, and what art and the superior genius of man permits to lie idle and waste, except the piscatory pleasures which its hospitable owner occasionally derives in drawing from its pure waters the numerous family of the finny tribe, from the bream, trout and shad' to the rock.' " Three years later the city leased certain water lots to interested parties and the cotton mill industry was at last under way. A writer thus gives the account: www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

68 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA "In the year 1841, the city made a contract with John H. Howard and Josephus Echols, looking to the construction of a dam across the river within the city limits. The river front from Franklin Street, on the north, to Crawford Street, on the south, was laid off in thirty-seven lots, each lot seventy-two feet wide. Every alternate lot, of even number, from two to thirty-six inclusive, was deeded to Messrs. Howard and Echols, (on condition that they could construct a dam across the river, and a safe and well constructed canal, or race, so as to allow a sufficient head at low water along all the lots, and to keep the dam and' race forever in good repair.) The contract further provided that the dam was to be started within a year from June 1, 1841, and that within twenty-seven months -lot number one was to be in shape for machinery. The lots designated by odd numbers from one to thirty-five inclusive were put on sale. By the middle of the year 1834 all the lots had been sold to John H. Howard, with the obligation on the purchaser to erect on them within a fixed, but short period, machinery to be run by water power. Howard & Echols, in 1845, reported to council the factory completed under their contract, said factory employ- ing 1 100 spindles and 20 looms. This of course meant that the dam called for by contract was likewise completed. This dam did not extend entirely across the river. It was built about five hundred feet in length and in such a way as to "pond" the water, and make it available for power for factories. This dam was extendkd by the Eagle Manufacturing Company from bank to bank across the river in 1857." The completion of the Howard & Echols dam and factory quickly attracted the attention of capitalists elsewhere and it is noted in the 'En- quirer', in December 1845 that: "Col. Farish Carter, of Scottsboro, and Dr. Baird, of ~tlanta,have purchased large interests in factories here. They now have 1200 spindles at work; very soon they will have 3,500. They will proceed to erect: additional buildings, and in twelve months will have from 10,000 to 15,000 spindles in operation." A concise account of the first move for a railroad is given in Hinton's manuscript history as follows: "In December 1836 the Western & Atlantic Rail Road' was chartered, and in 1837, construction was commenced on the line from what is now Atlanta to Rossville. The effect on Savannah, Augusta, Macon, and Co- lumbus was instantaneous, either in arousing active interest and enthusiasm for railroad construction where none had manifested itself before, or in giving renewed impetus and inspiration to enterprises of this nature, which had already been begun. A project to connect Columbus with the southern terminus of the State road, was at once promoted in Columbus. A cor- poration called the 'Chattahoochee Railroad and Banking Company', was or- anized in 1837. The City Council early in the year 1838, subscribed to two thowand shares of stock in the company, giving a mortgage on the Chat- tahoochee bridge to secure payment of twenty-five per cent of the sub- www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

THE CITY OF COLUMBUS 69 + scription. The city also issued $750,000.00 in bonds, the plan being to lend these bonds to subscribers, who had paid in twenty-five per cent of their subscriptions in cash or its equivalent. The scheme certainly seemed promising, but like many another enterprise in the south during that period, and throughout the country, it could not weather the financial storm that depressed the country for nearly ten years, following the year 1837. The city bridge was swept away, in what is generally referred to in accounts of our southern rivers as the 'Harrison Freshet'. The Chattahoochee Rail- road & Banking Company, in March 1841, returned to the city its bonds and surrendered the mortgage on the bridge. The collapse of this enterprise, so wise in its conception, and so alluring in the bright prospects it presented for the future of Columbus, discouraged all railroad ventures for a while. We have referred to these facts, merely to show that Colum- bus, then as now had men 'with a vision', and that in sagacity, and in liberal support of all progressive measures, the city was quite abreast of her sister cities of Savannah, Augusta, Athens and Macon, and of the State of Georgia itself, all of which had built, or were then building their own rail- roads. "For four years the record's are silent, as to any suggestion of railroad building. Early in 1845 we find the papers urging that a railroad be built from Auburn, Alabama, to Columbus, to connect the city with the Montgomery & West Point Road, which at that time was not built beyond Auburn, thirty-five miles distant from Columbus." The political situation in Georgia between 1835 and 1845 was ably participated in by ardent Columbusites. The States' Rights party and the Unionists both had fervent supporters among the prominent citizens. Due to the fact that this section was largely agricultural in its settlement, the trend toward the former party was more pronounced though the Unionists at times held the balance of power. Walter T. Colquitt and Mark A. Cooper, both of Columbus, and members of Congress were of the former element. Cooper was a candidate for governor but was d'efeated by George W. Crawford, due to a split in the Democratic party following disturbances among the Whigs and States' Rights factions. At this time the question of the annexation of Texas was one of para- mount importance. Henry Clay, opposing, was nominated by the Whigs in 1844, and James C. Polk, favoring annexation, was nominated by the southern Demo- crats. The latter obtained a small majority in the Georgia election, due no doubt to Clay's personal popularity. Both politicians visited Columbus. Clay's visit is thus described: "On Monday, March 1 lth, Henry Clay, the Whig candidate for President of the United' States, visited Columbus. He came in a stage- coach from Montgomery. When near here he was welcomed by Major W. B. Harris, and the Russell County Clay Club escorted him to the city bridge. Major James Holland was Marshal. An immense multitude, www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

7 0 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

with Col. A. K. Ayer, met him. Mr. Clay was put in a carriage drawn by six cream horses, and amid shouts of welcome was carried to the old Ogle- thorp Hotel. He was escorted to a platform in front, where he was welcomed in a long speech by Col. Hines Holt, to which he eloquently replied. Thousands were present. In the afternoon Mr. Clay received his friends. A daughter of the late Dr. A. L. Acee, of Talbot county, then not thirteen years of age, presented him with a beautiful and highly finished lance. Mr. Clay remained in Columbus two days and then went on his way to Wash- ington." It is said that Mr. Clay brought with him a huge wheel device used as a medium of advertising his campaign but that it became caught in the crossing of the river and was left in the covered bridge for many years. Polk's election was celebrated in Columbus with an illumination of the houses of the Democrats and "other demonstrations of delight". After his term as President he came here on his tour through the South. On March 15, 1849, he, with his family, arrived in a pouring rain having come from Harris county accompanied by a large crowd. He was met by a procession led by a brass band and was conducted into the city in a carriage drawn by four horses. Immediately following him were his wife and nieces in a carriage drawn by four gray horses. He was welcomed at the court house in an address by Col. Seaborn Jones and he made a brief reply. During his visit here he was entertained at the home of Judge Col- quitt, then located on the south-east corner of Twelfth street and Third avenue. The ex-President was entertained' at a big dinner at the Oglethorpe House with many toasts and speeches. Mrs. Polk and her nieces were guests at a supper in Council Chamber given by the ladies of the city. Upon the conclusion of peace and the evacuation of this section by the Indians in the 'thirties, the local military companies did not disband. They engaged in all of the patriotic celebrations and many of them later went to Texas where trouble with Mexico was in progress. In 1839 the local military companies were the Columbus Guards, Columbus Blues and Muscogee Hussars. In 1842, the thirty-eight men, calling themselves "Coon Hunters" left Columbus by way of Apalachicola, for Texas und'er Maj. J. B. Hoxey. The social and educational life of Columbus did not develop much until after the cessation of Indian hostilities, but from then on, the citizens had more leisure time to devote to the finer impulses. Besides patriotic celebrations on Washington's birthday and July Fourth, notable visitors were always given a "public dinner" at one of the hotels. Numerous addresses, etc., were delivered in enthusiastic style. In 1837 a "new and' fashionable" theatre was opened on Crawford street, to accomodate some four hundred people. The "St. Andrew's Society," John Bethune, President, and the L'Hi- www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

THE CITY OF COLUMBUS 71

bernian Benevolent Society" existed in 1 84 1. Already a 'LTemperance Society" and a Debating Society" had been organized. There were numerous religious revivals among the churches during this period. Prominent ministers from over the state and the South were in Columbus. It was in 1838 that Dr. Few, the commissioner of 1828, was made first president of Emory university, for the founding of which he was largely responsible. In 1844 when the Methodist church in the South severed its connection with the northern branch, Columbus passed strong resolutions fauor- ing the separation. The Methodkt conference was held here in that year, Bishop Soule presiding. In the educational development of Columbus there were many private schools. The first free school was established in 183 1. In 1828 John R. Page, later city treasurer, was a teacher in Columbus, though records do not show whether he taught boys or girls. Mrs. Jane L. Marks was listed as a teacher in the following year, as was a Miss Kingsbury in 18 3 0. In 1831 Miss Frances Gunby from Richmond county, established a school, and it is said that she made no charges for tuition. At this time Garrett Hallenbeck also taught here. The establishment of a debating society in 1831 and a circulating li- brary at the same time show that Columbus was fast losing the raw new- ness characteristic of a trading post and assuming the amenities of civilization. In July of 1832 the Columbus Female academy was in full sway on the plot-of -land set aside for its erection when the -city was incorporated. Miss Frances Gunby and Miss Griggs had charge. Provision was made at that time for Rev. John Baker to have charge of the boys' education, though no evidence is given of the location of the boy's school. It was begun in December. For the next few years teachers appear from all quarters. Among them were the following: Mrs. E. J. Smith, who conducted a music and painting school; G. J. McClesky, "an infant school;" Mrs. H. Blome, H. R. McClintock, Miss Hannah Briggs who later became Mrs. John Johnson, Mrs. Talley, Charles H. LaHatt, Mrs. Leigh, Mrs. Seaman, and Miss Anderson. In 1839 a school committee was appointed and was composed of John Bethune, W. S. Chipley, 0. Eley, John Patterson, and Joshua R. McCook. At that time the teachers in the Female academy were Prof. W. L. Cairns, principal, assisted by Mrs. H. C. Tichnor, Mrs. M. J. Coolridge and A. joerson. In January of the following year Rev. Dr. Thomas S. Goulding of the First Presbyterian church opened a "select school" for boys, and a month later Mr. Wayland, "graduate of an English university" opened a www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

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high school for boys. Academies were opened in Wynnton, which was a separate community, during the next year. Teachers in Columbus at that time were Prof. F. A. Halleter and W. J. Willis. In Wynnton Prof. R. W. B. Munroe had charge of the Wynnton Female Academy which, continued for many years. The Wynnton Male Academy was conducted by J. N. Roodale, according to accounts of the year afterward. Other teachers were Mrs. Doqier and J. M. Hampton, who was head of the Columbus Female seminary. Rev. Thos. B. Slade opened a school also which continued for some time. The establishment of the Columbus Female Asylum for orphans in 1844 through the efforts of prominent women of the Methodist church resulted in a school for the children at that institution, although the educational feature was later discharged due to lack of funds. Mr. Slade meanwhile had organized a High School that was noted for its thoroughness. The Muscogee Female Seminary began its operation about that time under the management of Mrs. James N. Bethune, who had formerly been Miss Frances Gunby. She was assisted by Mrs. Janette Bethune. Other teachers were Dr. Andrews, who with "his lady", opened a school for boys, and Prof. H. H. McQueen who conducted an English and classical school. Prof. W. B. Leary conducted a classical and mathematical school, and Mr. O'Hara with his daughters also had classes for a limited number of pupils. In 1845 the Slade Female Institute, was one of the most prominent of the schools in Columbus. Colonel Weeden was music instructor, and there was a number of other teachers. On July tenth a class of eight girls was graduated, all but one of whom read a composition as part of the grad- uating exercises. Illness prevented the eighth composition. In January of this year the Presbyterian church was dedicated at the corner of what is now Third avenue and Tenth street. Upon the organization of the public schools twenty-two years later this building was purchased for the first unit of that system. It was called the Male Public School No. 1, and was used until 18 8 8 when the Tenth street school was erected'. It was in use until the beginning of the 1927- 1928 school term. In 1849 the Temperance Hall on First avenue between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets was erected. It served as the first school for negroes when the city provided educational facilities for them in 1872. During the Civil War it was used for hospital purposes for the wounded and sick soldiers. Racing was probably the most popular of the sports of the day and Columbusy race track attracted a good many notables of the turf. In 1839 the Columbus Lyceum was organized with Dr. Hoxey for president. It was formed for instruction and entertainment of the public and was responsible for many able addresses. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

THE CITY OF COLUMBUS 73 ? 1 Accidents and personal feuds had as much a part in the life of the clay then as now. Accounts are given of the sinking of boats, drowning of numerous persons, and shooting and' stabbing afftays. January 5, 1843 recorded a tragedy in Gen. Daniel McDougald's office in the Insurance Bank, he being president of the institution. In self-protection, it was said, he killed Col. Burton Hepburn. A few months later great excitement was created over the robbery of the Western Insurance and Trust company. A large amount of money was taken and a number of arrests followed out of which arose several tragedies. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

CHAPTER VI

Georgia Military Headquarters for Mexican War of 1846 OLUMBUS had always been interested in the Texas war with Mexico and when the question of annexation of that state to the union arose, was ardently in favor of it for the most part. Pres. M. B. Lamar of Texas was considered a Columbusite, and was a frequent visitor here where his sister, Mrs. A. H. Chappell, lived. Col. James W. Fannin, martyred leader of Goliad' fame had also lived in Columbus and only six years before the outbreak of the United States' war with Mexico, thirty-eight prominent young men had gone down to aid in the fight. The first flag of Texas, designed and made by a Georgia woman was presented here in Columbus at that time. Miss Joanna E. Troutman, of Crawford county, later Mrs. Vinson, ma& a silk banner of a blue star on a white field and gave it to Lieutenant-Colonel Ward, when he was enroute to this city. Here Colonel Ward presented it to the soldiers before their departure for the border. Ward was later killed in the Fannin Massacre. So, it was with a great: deal of pride that Columbus received the selec- tion as headquarters for the mustering of the Georgia troops during the first year of the war. The press carried weekly calls for volunteers and told of the troops quartered' here. As the war progressed, reviews of the happenings in Mexico were read with a great deal of interest. On June 28th, the City Light Guards, a Columbus company, was organized. The officers were as follows: A. H. Cooper, Captain; D. P. Ellis, First Lieutenant; A. G. Redd, Second Lieutenant; S. K. Hodges, Third Lieutenant; William H. Pruden, First Sergeant; F. C, Johnson, Second Sergeant; J. N. Hughes, Third Sergeant; R. B. Kyle, Fourth Ser- geant; A. C. Brown, First Corporal; R. R, Hudgins, Second Corporal; John Wilmer, Third Corporal; J. A. L. Lee, Fourth Corporal. Gov. George W. Crawford called for volunteers to form a regiment and upon their arrival in June from all over the state they were reviewed by the Governor. Officers of the regiment were as follows: Henry R. Jackson, of Savannah, Colonel; Thomas Y. Red'd, of Columbus, Lieutenant-Colonel; Charles J. Williams, of Columbus, Major; John Forsyth, of Columbus, Adjutant; James Kellogg, Colonel's Private Secretary; S. M. McConnel, of Cherokee, Sergeant Major; B. F. McDonald, of Marietta, Quarter www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

Master Sergeant; Drs. J. J. B. Hoxey and W. E. Beall of Columbus, Surgeon and Assistant; Rev. Mr. Caines, Chaplain. Ten companies made up the regiment and besides those from Colum- bus, were as follows: Richmond Blues, Augusta, D. W. Dill, Captain. Macon Guards, Macon, Isaac Holmes, Captain. Jasper Greens, Savannah, J. McMahon, Captain. Sumpter County Volunteers, J. A. S. Turner, Captain. Fannin Avengers, Pike county, H. J. Sargent, Captain. Kennesaw Rangers, Cobb county, A. Nelson, Captain. Canton Volunteers, Cherokee county, K. Gramling, Captain. The regiment which was composed of 893 men left on Sunday, June 28th, marching out of the city by way of the lower bridge where crowds of interested spectators bid them farewell. The city council voted $3 00.00 for the Columbus Guards. The Georgia troops remained in Mexico about a year and although they were not engaged' in the major battles, saw much fighting in smaller skirmishes. Many died of disease, however, due fo the location of their camp. While the soldiers were here they were presented with a United States flag by Miss Mary Ann Howard. It.was received by Colonel Jack- son; Maj. Charles J. Williams was among the offlcers of the regiment, and later Miss Howard became Mrs. Williams and both she and her husband were prominent in the Civil War period. The Columbus troops who went to Texas were as follows: COLUMBUS GUARDS John E. Davis, Captain John Forsyth, First Lieutenant C. P. Hervey, Second Lieutenant R. Ellis, First Sergeant J. King, Second Sergeant W. C. Holt, Third Sergeant W. C. Hod'ges, Fourth Sergeant W. G. Andrews, First Corporal V. D. Thorpe, Second Corporal James Hamilton, Third Corporal R. A. McGibony, Fourth Corporal Martin Hettrick, Musician Francis Gerbode, Musician There were 87 members of this company, the privates being as follows: PRIVATES Francis J. Abbott Enoch H. Adams William Boland Bailey B. Light Malcolm F. McNeil William P. McGehee www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

76 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS. GEORGIA - - Elijah N. Boland William W. Crenshaw Joseph Shippey H. L. McGehee Snowden Roberts Lafayette M. Harwell John C. Blackman John F. Daniel Charles Smith .Patrick McDonald Francis W. Davidson Absalom Hollingsworth James M. Bregg Thomas Y. Redd Nathaniel S. Turner Phillips Mooney Ethelridge A. Dye John E. Hagan Robert Boseman Erastus Roland billiam Woods William W. McCall William F. Ruff 1George A. Huckaby John B. Buflkgton John B. Elam Augustus Woods William H. Mitchell Hugh Reese James B. Hickey Michael Claff y John G. Eubanks John Wood Marion Mallsby Lewis Rix William W. Huff James Curley Charles S. Fontaine Randal H. Wood Alfred Mays Cyrus Robertson Calvin A. Hearne William E. Cropp Daniel Finnegan R. W. J. Wright Thomas Mulligan John T. Sledge John R. Ivey Freeman W. Clem Solomon Gowan John B. Weems James E. Commack Asberry Seats M. Johnson George Pervis Benjamin F. Graves Osborn J. Wells Wesley G. Cox Edward R. Sloat Marks Kanz Gustavus A. Parker William B. Gillian William Kayler Rpbert W. Coleman William Sells William P. Martin P. D. Roberts William H. Hallman COLUMBUS LIGHT INFANTRY J. S. Calhoun, Captain E. R. Goulding, First Lieutenant H. C. Anderson, Second Lieutenant W. B. Phillips, First Sergeant Asa B. Hoxie, Second Sergeant W. T. Smith, Third Corporal M. H. Blandford, Fourth Sergeant R. R. Howard, First Corporal A. Scott, Second Corporal H. Reynolds, Third Corporal George Lindsay, Fourth Corporal William McCullough, Musician James M. Stonaker, Musician There were 91 members of this company, the privates being as follows: PRIVATES E. C. Allen Thomas R. Flournoy Charles J. Barrow Michael Fitzpatrick James Arledge Albert L. Garrard James T. Rogers Richard Fox Lindsay Showse Lucius A. G. Allen Joseph T. Robinson Leonidas T. Belk www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

Thomas Gilbert William Kelley William Myrick Samuel B. Spencer Thomas B. Teate Nathan B. Duke William Blankenship .Cicero J. Clarke Duncan H. Nix Obad'iah B. R. Graham Joseph Kelley Gilbert J. Wright George W. Bronson William Wilton James F. H. Ellington Jackson M. Greenlow David S. Cooper Henry C. Overton Zachariah Boothe James Kellog John H. Ellis Sidney Grigg Thomas R. Wilson Henry S. Orr Lawrence A. Wright Joseph Crepps J. Thaddeus Thompson Amor Boyd John Law William Forsyth James R. Hanson Lucius C. Saunders Andrew J. Pickens Samuel Sledge James T. Cunningham Bryant ~armer Frederick E. Brooking Robert D. Lee William V. Porter Upton S. Heath John R. Cushing William H. Trawick Jesse S. Bryan James Love William Farmer William M. James Charles R. Wiggins Lincoln Preble Calvin Bryant Stephen Daniels James S. Wells John G. Jones Alexander Lowther Peter F. Farrar William M. Rogers Richard Delaney John W. Park Young G. Burke John R. Moore Micajah W. Thweatt James E. Johnson Francis M. Whithurst Jesse B. Reeves Lewis Chandler Absalom M. Dennis Granville L. Robinett CRAWFORD GUARDS John Jones, Captain R. G. Mitchell, First Lieutenant J. S. Dismukes, Second Lieutenant T. Schoonmaker, First Sergeant H. S. Tisd'ale, Second Sergeant A. M. Sauls, Third Sergeant D. A. Winn, Fourth Sergeant John May, First Corporal John Lochaby, Second Corporal James B. Wells, Third Corporal N. J. Peabody, Fourth Corporal William M. Champion, Musician Joseph T. Hodson, Musician There were 83 members of this company, the privates of which were: PRIVATES Matthew Allen Wesley R. Bradford Daniel Crane William Barbaree Joshua Carter U7.G. Cunningham Charles L. Bass Thomas Carter John H. Davis J. R. Beck Edmund Christian John C. Davis Tryon Best Reuben T. Clayborne W. C. H. Doyle A. Blake Richard C. Clarke David B. Edwards www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

7 8 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

Theophilus Fowler Elijah Martin Milton Rose George W. Farrar Patrick McCabe Thomas J. Salter Samuel D. Gamble John R. McCorkle C.hristopher Salvo William B. Garrett Hezekiah McGraw Allen W. Sanders Calvin Going William Misenheimer William Slaughter John Hancock William Moody Abner Smith Sterling E. Hannah Martin Mooney Thomas J. Stockton John R. Hall James Moran John Sullivan Richard W. Hinton Andrew L. Mott Coleman B. Tait Robert H. Hood Patrick O'Haire Samuel L. Taylor Matthew A. Hubert Gustavus A. Palmer William H. Tillotson David Huson William B. Parker John F. Turner Joseph T. Hyde Joseph Perdue James Welden Cader C. Knowles James Pettitt Thomas White Moses Land Elbert Presly Uriah Williams Arthur Lawrence Mitchell Ralston T. H. Wooteri John Leigh Harvey Rice John Magner Thomas R. Robinson www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

CHAPTER VII

Industrial Progress

HE year 1845, was probably the most pronounced twelve months of commercial advancement in the earlier history of the city. Before that time forces had been at work that were to result in the more or less sudden awakening; and afterward, further in- fluences entered to broaden the range of activities so that by the time the disastrous Civil War laid low the business of the south, the possibilities of Columbus' natural resources and advantages were established facts. Following the opening of the Howard and Echols cotton factory in that year, outside capital was attracted to Columbus, and the further movements toward securing railroad terminals increased that interest. Among influential and wealthy newcomers were Mark A. Cooper, Col. Parish Carter, John G. Winter, and W. H. Young, with his brother Ed- ward B. Young. Mr. Winter loaned the city a large amount of money in the early 'forties and was several years in being repaid. He was elected mayor in 1845 and 1846 and during his two terms, Columbus made great industrial progress. Mr. Winter was also deeply interested in the railroad movements, and at one time was president of the Muscogee railroad company. He was also a member of several concerns beginning to manufacture cotton goods, and was head of the Rock Island paper mills. Besides the local concerns, Mr. Winter had business affairs elsewhere, including certain banking interests in St. Mary's, Florida. He issued a large amount of notes or "shin plastersn, and Columbus had a great deal of trouble in dealing with those who used them for currency. Editorials during the 'forties severely censured' this procedure and finally payment in this specie had to be forbidden by the city council. In 1852 Colonel WinterJs bank in St, Mary's suspended specie pay- ments and at that time the circulation was reported to be about $350,000. Local improvements as part of the program of the city government continued to arouse the enthusiasm and co-operation of patriotic citizens. In 1844 the debts of the city amounted to some $40,000, the annual income being about $20,000, with $5,000 or $6,000 being paid out for expenses of running the municipal affairs. The advantages of the city were beginning to be appreciated and it was said that ('nothing but judicious management is necessary to give a www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

80 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS. GEORGIA

proper direction to the natural resources of Columbus, to develop its business energies, and to double its wealth, trade and population, in a few years." The first Mayor's (or Recorder's) Court came into existence in 1846 following an enactment of the state Legislature and further rules were passed for this court three years later. The mayor presided at that time, but later a recorder was appointed and he now has charge of that department of the city. The Chamber of Commerce was organized in 1845 and known as the Board of Trade. Henry King was made chairman and C. E. Mims, secretary. Though Columbus was thriving from a commercial standpoint, her local affairs still presented problems that had been cause for discussion since the beginning of the city. The streets, the sewerage, the water works, etc., were all propositions to be cleared up. In 1845 the city marshal was instructed to have a ditch dug so that the stream running through Randolph and' Forsyth streets could be turned into the larger ditch "back" of the city. For many years the city streets were sloped toward the center so as to allow the water to drain into ditches constructed in the middle of the thoroughfares. Randolph and Forsyth streets later were renamed Twelfth street and Fourth avenue. In 1847 the city council was approached on the matter of subscribing to funds for financing a plank road to Greenville and Lumpkin. Though the city declined to take stock, numbers of private citizens invested their money in the project. During the same year the establishment of a "rope walk" in Girard is recorded. Truly the art of constructing streets and roads has improved. The sale of slaves was another interesting matter of the days before the 'sixties. The dealers were allowed to bring the negroes into the city during the day, but at night were required to take them beyond the limits. Usually a camp was established on the south commons, and the slaves were quartered in a sort of stockade affair. At this time Columbus was served by two fines of stage. Col. John Mustian and R. L. Mott operated one line. The two mail routes ran to Talbotton, Newnan, etc., and to Milledgeville, Macon, Augusta, etc. Mail was often delayed and to the angry remonstrances of the citizens, the local papers brought out the reminder that mud and deep holes along the roads were the cause and that the mail coaches were serving the public remark- ably well under the circumstances. By the end of 1853 a system of waterworks had been established. It was begun some years before and was frequently considered by the city fathers. A committee of council in 1851 reported that the most feasible plan was to run water from springs on Summerville Heights across the river, and by the use of an extensive piping system to conduct it to private estab- www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS 8 1 lishments. The following year there was talk of boring an artesian well. The "Times" of November 9th says: "We do not know a community that is so poorly supplied with this necessity for health, comfort and cleanliness (water) as Columbus. There -re many families in the city who have no regular and certain source from which to derive their daily supply of this precious element, and whose servants are actually obliged, at every turn of the water-bucket, to go forth on a foraging expedition in search of it. The water works are as good as used up. No attention is paid to the pipes furnishing the supply, and it is only occasionally that some half a dozen hydrants in very low localities, run. Those in more elevated positions are as dry as the miraculous rock hefore Moses touched it with his rod." A poor system of wooden pipes and hydrants furnished private parties willing to pay for the water that came from "Leonard's Spring" located about three miles east of the citv. The next year Judge 1verson proposed to sell this system to the city. It was favored by the council at first but was later tabled. Meanwhile such citizens as could, continued to use the water. Another matter of vital interest to the citizens as a whole was the introduction of the gas lighting system. . A Mr. James Hoy of Trenton, N. J., appeared before the city council in 1852 and presented a proposition to install a gas system. The council appropriated $1 0,000 to the capital stock of the company and the organization of the 'cColumbus Gas Light Association'' was formed. John Forsyth was chosen president, and Henry T. Hall, secretary. The year following the city council subscribed $10,000 more to the stock of the gas company, payable in bonds in 25 years at seven per cent interest. Thus was begun the oldest branch of what is now the Columbus Electric and Power Company. John Forsyth, menGonid in this connection, later moved to Alabama and became prominent in politics in that state. In 1856 President Pierce appointed him on a special commission to Mexico. From 1845-1 853 the progress- of Columbus was several times halted by disasters of fire and floo& Many of the fires were thought to be of incendiary origin. In 1845 a whole business block was burned, the loss amounting to $150,000. This section was said to be "one of the busiest in the city." The fire covered that area between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets and Broadway and First avenue. A year later occurred the "Great Fire" as it was called. It originated, on the morning of October 9th, in the wood and blacksmith shops of Mar- cus D. Jones on Oglethorpe street, northwest of the court house square, extended to and consumed the two blocks between St. Clair and Crawford, and Oglethorpe and Front streets, except the Fontaine House, and thence westward to the river. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

8 2 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

The loss was given at $250,000 and of the 700 fire sufferers, 400 were badly injured. Many buildings in other sections of the city were burned'. The heat on Broad street was said to be so intense that goods caught fire after being removed from the stores. Large amounts of money were offered by frantic merchants for drays to haul off their wares before they were burned. There was only one fire engine and it was nearly burned. The volunteer fire company with the aid of citizens was the means of saving the rest of the city. The wind was blowing and scattering the sparks for blocks, and numbers of structures were blown up with dynamite in an effort to check the flames. Girard was threatened for a time. Following the fire, conditions were found to be so bad among thoLse who were left destitute by the fire, that the city council made a special ap- peal to the ~ublicfor relief for the fire sufferers and Acting Mayor John Quinn issued' a proclamation to that effect. A special committee was organized to secure aid, and later, in money and goods, $1,603.75 was obtained. Three days after the fire, October 12th, that committee reported that eighty people had been supplied with food due to its efforts. Other cities and friends sent contributions to be used for _the fire sufferers. From Savannah came $1,400; from Macon, $505 ; from Mont- gomery, $493.40 and from the Astor House in New York city $50. The governor of Georgia made a special ruling that delay should be given in the collection of taxes. With such help and encouragement the city set about to rebuild the ruined places, and for some months was relieved at the comparative freedom from fire. Still the city possessed only the one fire engine, to replace the burned parts of which, $155 had been appropriated. The city had scarcely recovered from this disaster when in March of the year following two more destructive fires took their toll of property. The first fire occurred the night of March 1st on Broad street half way between Randolph and St. Clair streets, and thence to Oglethorpe. Some twelve business establishments and several wooden houses on Ogle- thorpe street were destroyed'. The "Enquirer" press room was blown up and the Episcopal church caught fire several times. The loss was reported at $80,000 and the insurance half that amount. Hardly three weeks afterward another fire broke out. It was in the warehouse and wholesale district and the loss was estimated at $60,000. The fire was thought to have been started by an incendiary and the city council at its next session offered a reward of $1,000 for the arrest and conviction of the guilty party. It was said that the one fire engine "did all it could", and later $300 was appropriated for the purchase of another. The following year another fire ocurred in the business district, and numerous other large conflagrations aided in consuming the wooden build-

INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS 83 ings of the business district. Twice during this period the river rose to such an extent that parts of the city were flooded. In November, 1852, the river rose some thirty feet, and several oi the local industries were badly affected'. "A section of the east wall of the reservoir extending from the Eagle Factory to the Palace Mills and Variety Works, gave way under the pressure of water, and carried with it the flume of the Palace Mills and the bridge which connected the Variety Works with the shore. "Fifteen men and a boy were in the Works at the time, and these were cut off from the main land by a current which no boat could cross. The river was still rising at the rate of three feet an hour. After a number of unsuccessful efforts, communication was established by means of a light cord and weight at first, and' then by ropes passed, connecting the second story of the Variety Works with a pile of rocks on shore. A basket was made to slide up the ropes, drawn by cords, and in this frail conveyance the people in the Variety Works were taken from their perilous position to the land. Mayor J. L. Morton fell from a rock into the river, swam thence to another rock, where he had to remain until communication was in like manner established with him and he was rescued. The damage done to all the factory business was very great. The machinery in the Variety Works, the Palace Mills, and all the factories except the Coweta, which stood at the dam (now known as the old upper dam) were stopped. Four or five hundred operatives and their families were temporarily thrown out of employment.'' Heavy rains followed again the next March causing a railroad trestle to give way, some eight or nine miles from Columbus. A train of cars was on the trestle at the time and although Engineer Charles D. Schoonmaker and Fireman Gilmore were instantly killed, no passengers were killed. The Muscogee Railroad was owner. This flood caused the breaking of the river dam and for two months the factories had to suspend their operations until the dam could be repaired: The Palace Mills were likewise affected. During the same March a severe wind storm damaged numerous structures to the extent of more than $50,000. No lives were lost. Surely, at this time Columbus had her share of disasters caused by fire and flood. In spite of it all, though, she made remarkable progress in her business affairs. The developement of manufacturing interests was beginning to prove her title of "The Lowell of the South." In December, 1845, one of the newspapers came out commenting that ('the manufacturing excitement is largely on the increase. Messrs. Howard, Bridges, Carter, Baird and Jeter are pushing their improvements ahead. Messrs. Van Leonard and others, are also erecting a factory a mile or two above our city. Messrs. Clapp, Chandler and Stewart are successfully and most profitably employed in manufacturing several descrip- www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

84 HISTORY OF- COLUMBUS, GEORGIA tions of cotton goods. We have heard of other companies formed or to be formed". The Howard Manufacturing company was organized the following year for the purpose of building a cotton factory. Already the Coweta and Columbus factories were in operation. The new building was to be 125 by 48 feet, five stories high and to run 5,000 spindles. The directors were as follows: Van Leonard, J. C. Cook, E. T. Taylor, Harvey Hall and J. I. Ridgway. The president was, Van Leonard, and the superintendent, Jonathan Bridges. In 1849 many other new enterprises had been firmly established. White, in his statistics of Georgia gives the following summary: "Columbus is destined to become one of the largest manufacturing towns in the Southern country. The citizens have been aroused to a sense of their advantages, and have invested capital in manufactures. Should the railroad, designed to connect Columbus with the Macon and' Western Railroad at Barnesville, ever be completed, it will place her on the line of northern travel, open a communication with Macon, Savannah, Augusta, and Charleston; and upon completion of the Tennessee road, it will afford the most expeditious route from Nashville to New Orleans. "Manufacturers-As has already been stated, this country possesses great facilities for manufacturing purposes. The effective fall of the Chat- tahoochee at Columbus is 14 feet; the length of the dam is 500 feet, and the depth of the water on the dam at usual low water mark is 16 inches- which, by calculation, shows that 2620 cubic feet of water per second will affort 2777 horse power; which amount of horse power will turn 72 over- shot or breast wheels, each 14 feet long, which will drive 194,877 frame Spindles, with corresponding looms; which amount of spindles will con- sume 48,800 bales of cotton per year-there being 12 to 15 per cent, waste on the cotton will make the amount rather larger. The spindles and looms mentioned will employ 6,431 operatives, to pay which $31,180 per week ~villbe necessary. uColumbus Factory: Capital $50,000; situated three miles from Co- lymbus, at the head of the falls, having 50 feet of fall within 300 yards; commenced in 1834. Spindles ...... 180 0 Looms ...... 32 Wool-carding machines ...... 2 Pounds of cotton spun per day ...... lo00 Number of operatives (chiefly girls) ...... 80 Wages of operatives, per month, from $10 to $12 "The goods are sold principally in Columbus. The owners speak highly of the conduct of the operatives. "Coweta Falls Factory; capital 8 80,000 ; situated in Columbus ; corn- menced operations in 1844. The whole proceeds of the concern since that ~eriodhave been appropriated to the furnishing of the building with ma- www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS 85 chinery, which has been made on the spot with Georgia iron. Spindles ...... 3,700 Looms ...... 45 Pounds of cotton used per day ...... 900 Hours of work per day ...... 12 Operatives ...... 75 Amount of wages per annum ...... $6,000 Cost of machinery and machine shop. ...$60,000 "The goods are sent to Eastern Georgia, Western Alabama, New Orleans and Mobile. "Howard Manufacturing Company; located in Columbus, capital, $85,000 ; designed for 5,000 spindles and 75 looms, and will employ 100 hands. Manufacturing sheetings, shirtings, and yarns. "Carter Factory; belonging to Colonel Carter, of Milledgeville; intended for 5,000 spindles and 100 looms; not yet completed. "Variety Works; situated in Columbus, owned by Winter and Brooks; manufacturing woolen articles; capital employed, $30,000 ; hands employed, 60. LLWinter'sMerchant Mill; now in process of erection; eight stories high, and, with the machinery to be put in it, costing $30,000. There is a factory department connected with this establishment calculated for 3,000 spindles, to employ 75 hands, and will manufacture yarns exclusively. Capital estimated at $30,000, when spindles are all up and in operation. "Rock Island Paper Manufactory. This establishment, now in process of erection, is situated on the Chattahoochee two and one-half miles above the city. The building is constructed of wood, 160 feet long, with rock basement, part one story and part two stories, to contain four engines, one Doudronier and one cylinder machine, and capable of working up a ton of material per day. Will manufacture printing, writing, and wrap- ing paper. Machinery driven by two of Rich's centre-vent wheels, 30 horse power. Owned by a joint stock company. Capital $40,000. "Cotton Gin Factory; E. T. Taylor & Co.; steam power, capital $40,- 000. Brick building, 44 by 96 feet; three stories high. Employs 40 hands in the various departments. Manufactures about 18 gins per week, and is prepared to manufacture 50 per week. uColumbus Iron Foundry; William R. Brown & Co. proprietors; capital $5,000. Amount of work turned out annually, $8,000 to $10,000. "Manufactures steamboat work, mill gearing, water-wheels, gin gear, and gudgeons, cast iron railing for graveyards, machinery for factories, etc. "In connection with the above is Cary and Stanford's finishing shop; capital $3,000. Amount of work turned out annually, $5,000 to $6,000. Steamboat repairing, mill irons, iron doors, wrought iron railing, etc., and all kinds of finishing manufactured. "Janney's Iron Foundry and Machine Shop; manufactures same as the two preceding. Has an engine of ten-horse power; employs six hands, www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

86 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS. GEORGIA

and turns out $6,000 to $7,000 worth of work per annum; about that amount of capital invested. Manufactures steam engines complete, except boilers. "In addition to these establishments, there is the old City Mill, with four run of stones for the manufacture of meal and flour, situated above the Coweta Falls factory. A company is forming, with a capital of $100,- 000, to build a cotton factory, to occupy three lots between the Howard Company lot and Mr. Winter's" The advance of industry and transportation are naturally dependent each on each. So it was in this city. The establishment of railroad facilities in the late 'forties and early 'fifties was considered one of the prime problems to be settled' by the city fathers. Local appropriations added to private subscriptions aided in put- ting through the first train. The first train to give Columbus rail connection with other sections came into the city May 20, 1853. All the citizens turned out to join in the celebration which reached a climax when "the Mayor produced some water from the Atlantic ocean and mingled' it with the water of the Chattahoochee, in typical union." Previous to this, in 1851, numerous women became so enthusiastic over the railroad scheme that they held a fair in March to aid in the purchase of an engine which was called "the ladies' engine". It was put on the Columbus end of the road' which extended at the time out to Fayette- ville. The second railroad to Columbus was begun in the 'forties as was also the third. The Mobile and Girard Railroad company was chartered in 1846 as the Girard Railroad Company and the survey for the roadbed was commenced four years later. The city of Columbus subscribed $150,000 and issued bonds to pay this subscription. Another like amount was subscribed in 1853 on condition that it be used exclusively between Columbus and Union Springs. This railroad was completed to Guerryton, Alabama, 38 miles away, in 1857. Although the work on the bridge across the Chat- tahoochee was begun in 1860 it was not completed until after the Civil War. The third railroad into Columbus was locally known as the Columbus and Opelika. Far the accommodation of passengers the Muscogee station was erected on the east common between Randolph and Bryan streets. The present union station is on this site. Another large business enterprise of Columbus is thus reviewed by White: " From 60,000 to 78,000 bales of cotton were annually received, i 2nd it commands much of the trade of Troup, Meriwether, Harris, Tal- bot, Stewart, Marion and Randolph Counties in Georgia, and a portion of Eastern Alabama. There are generally about sixteen steamboats plying www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS 87

between Columbus and the bay. These boats on an average carry about 900 bales of cotton. Freights vary according to the state of the river, and the quantity of cotton on hand. Seventy-five cents per bale, is the usual freight to Apalachicola. Insurance three quarters per cent. The boats run from the first of November to the first of June." Among the boats plying the river was the "H. S. Smith". It was built in Columbus and launched November 27, 1847. This steamboat was engaged in river traffic three years, until 1850, when with a cargo of a thousand bales of cotton it was burned at Fontaine's landing. General Irwin, aboard at the time, was drowned when he jumped overboard and three negroes were either drowned or burned. At a christening of a new boat, many of which were held then, a newspaper account speaks of plenty of "champaigne and' musicy9but no women were invited. For some years the proposition of the electric telegraph had held the attention of interested citizens, many of whom were skeptical of its efficiency. In 1845 there were plans to connect New York, and Columbus by way of Mobile and New Orleans. Three years later it did reach Columbus, during the same time it was introduced in Macon. David Griffin was mainly responsible for the ex- tension of the line to Columbus. David Griffin was one of Columbus' most enterprising citizens. He held many local offices and was largely interested' in the industrial development of the city. Of the $10,500 which was subscribed in order to establish the telegraph lines here, he subscribed $6,500. The line was completed through from New York to New Orleans July 19, 1848, and was 1716 miles in length, which was the longest in the world at that time. Until the time of the Civil War it was the main line of communication between Wash- ington and New Orleans. In September, 1848 when the stockholders met and organized, Daniel Griffin was made president of the company. The invention of the telegraph is claimed by a Columbus citizen. Dr. S. M. Ingersoll, who had interests in Columbus, although he lived across the river, asserted that he gave Morse the idea which resulted in the telegraph, during a stage coach ride from Columbus to Montgomery. It is said that Mr. Morse made known the fact that improvements had been suggested to him during a trip he made in this section. Dr. Ingersoll was a citizen in these parts for many years being an enrolling agent during the Creek War and having extensive property in the new lands prior to that. He was related to the noted agnostic, Robert Ingersoll. His name is perpetuated in the present day by Ingersoll Hill, opposite Columbus, in Alabama. The following notice concerning Dr. Ingersoll appeared in one of the local papers: "The person who claimed to be the inventor of the electric telegraph www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

8 8 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS. GEORGIA

was a Columbus man, Dr. Stephen Miles Ingersoll. Dr. Ingersoll was a pioneer citizen of Columbus coming here just as the town was laid out. He bought thousands of acres on the Alabama side and built a magnificent home on the crest of one of the noble Alabama hills. His grist mill on the Chattahoochee river at this point was the first manufacturing industry in what is now justly called the 'Lowell of the Southy. While history gives Professor Morse the credit of the invention of the electric telegraph, local tradition has given it to Ingersoll. It is said that Dr. Ingersoll gave the idea to Professor Morse while traveling in a stage coach from here to Montgomery." In 185 1 the United States government made a census of the country and reported for Columbus a total population of 5,942, of which the free population was rated at 3,684, and the slave at 2,258. Muscogee county was credited with a total of 18,623, of which 10,447 were white and 8,176 slave. Of the total amount of capital invested in manufacturies, which was $841,5 17, that in the cotton and wool industry was listed' at $493,000. Prior to this time many forward looking citizens had thought to organize agriculture societies for the mutual interests of the planters, farmers, and business men. Several were formed. In 185 0 it was decided to hold an Agricultural Fair in Columbus and November 20th, 21st and 22nd, the first fair in these parts attracted much interest from nearby communities. A large number of prizes were offered for the older contestants and numerous silver cups and other trophies were awarded younger entrants who were not considered old enough to be the recipient of money prizes. Awards were made very much for the same things that bring prizes at present day fairs, except that the children were encouraged to write themes on topics which were assigned by interested parties. After 1850 the Fairs became an annual event for some time. They were sponsored by the Georgia and Alabama Agricultural Society, one of the oldest and largest of such organizations. The growth of Industry in the 'forties was not the only advance in the life of Columbus citizens. In religious, educational, and social life the city was fast getting accustomed to being civilized. An interesting event of 1849 was the establishment of the first negro church. The city council authorized the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church in Columbus to build a meeting house for the negroes on the east common opposite the south corner of St. Clair and Mercer streets. Objection was filed before the council by a property holder that the church would be a nuisance and the matter of securing an injunction was carried to the superior court. It was not granted and the church was built. Numerous revivals were held among the white population and the Methodists reported a great increase in membership. In April, 1852 the Baptist state convention was held in Columbus, www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS 89

and Thomas Stocks, Esq., was Moderator. Socially, Columbus as a whole continued to be interested for the most part in horse racing, many of the lead'ing families possessed fortunes in blooded horses and entries in the races were made from all over the United States. Visitors to the city were entertained in the numerous hotels, one of which was the City Hotel. Prices for entertainment were quoted in an advertisement in 1846 as follows: Board and lodging per month ...... $20.00 Board per month ...... 14.00 Board per week ...... 7.0 0 Dinner boarders per month ...... 8.00 Man and horse for the night ...... 1.50 Single meals ...... ,375 Lodging per night ...... 25 Murry, Reed Isaac Mitchell The completion of the Temperance Hall in 185 1 marked the opening of a structure which was to play a great part in the suP sequent life of the city. Many of the older citizens recall entertainments and services held there. It was located on First avenue between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets. The night of its "dedication" a most inspiring and thrilling address was delivered to a large audience by "Uncle Dabney Jones, the Apostle of Temperance." The Temperance Society was one of the oldest organizations in the city, its first meeting dating back to 1829 when it was formed with Dr. E. L. de Graffenreid, one of the five original commissioners, as president. James W. Fannin, of Texas fame was recording secretary. The Temperance Hall, whose opening was marked by exercises sponsored by the society, was the scene of many amateur theatricals among the social elite before the Civil War, and during the war it was used for political gatherings. After the war the first negro school was established there, and continued until a more suitable structure could be erected. Another interesting building completed about this time was the old Odd Fellows Hall. It was dedicated in 1848, on Friday, November 17th. The chief address was delivered by Col. S. R. Blake, of Macon, and the exercises were followed by a supper prepared by the ladies for the benefit of the organization. The corner stone of the hall was laid January 29th. www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

9 0 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS. GEORGIA

This building served the organization until 1925, when it was torn down and the present brick structure substituted. When the old corner stone was removed there was widespread interest in the relics contained in the crevice. They formed part of the Centennial historical exhibit. he building is located on the west side of First avenue next to the store at the Eleventh street intersection. Among the social organizations of Columbus then was "The His- trionics", a dramatic club, composed of a large number of the residents. From time to time they arranged an evening of entertainment, the funds to be used for various purposes. One of their important members was Mrs. Caroline Lee Hentz, who was living in Columbus at the time, having moved here to take charge of a school. On April 2, 1852 the Histrionics put on "Lamorah, or the Western Wild" a drama written by Mrs. Hentz. It received a great deal of commendation and was said to be extraordinarily well produced. Caroline Lee (Whiting) Hentz was for a number of years a teacher here in Columbus. She was a native of Lancaster, Mass., having been born there in 1800. In 1834 she married Nicholas Marcellus Hentz, a teacher, and shortly afterward they came South to begin joint careers as instructors. For a while they were in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I11 18 3 0, while residing in Kentucky, Mrs. Hentz won a prize with '(De Lara; or, The Moorish Bride; A Tragedy". Later another success "Lamorah; or, The Western Wild3' followed. In 1834 the Hentzes moved to Florence, Alabama, where they lived nine years before going to Tuscaloosa. Two years later found them in Tuskegee. It was in 1848 that Mrs. Hentz came to Columbus and while here published "The Mad Cap". Mr. Hentz died shortly afterward and Mrs. Hentz continued her work. "LindaJJ was also brought out during the four years she made her home here. Mrs. Hentz died in 1856 in Marianna, Florida, where she had gone to live with her two children. She was one of the notable women writers of her day, and her works furnished a great deal of entertainment for a large part of the public. A happening of more than local importance occurred in 1849 when Gen. D. McDougald died at his home here. He is buried in Linwood cemetery in the Dixon enclosure. "Gen. Daniel McDougald was a native of North Carolina. He removed to Washington county, Georgia, when only eighteen years of age, and thence to Western Georgia. Before settling in Columbus he represented Harris county in the Senate of Georgia. He was for many years a Major-General of the militia of Georgia. Removing to Columbus, his www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS 9 1

fine abilities and popular manners made him at once a favorite of the people. He was, as is shown in preceding pages, several times elected to represent Muscogee county in the Legislature, of which body he was one of the shrewdest and most influential members. He was a man of generous and impulsive disposition, of enlarged charity and patriotic public spirit. Few men had warmer or more devoted friends, though he had also some enemies, chiefly because of his activity and zeal as a politician. He was an excellent judge of human character, and seldom made mistakes in his estimates of men. He died on the 8th of September, 1849, in the 5 1st year of his age." The above is taken from Martin's "History of Columbus". www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

CHAPTER VIII

States' Rights' and Secession

HE BAR of Columbus in the 'forties, 'fifties and 'sixties of the last century was noted for the number of able, forceful lawyers who were prominent in the politics of the state and the nation. Other sections of Georgia had single legal lights which shone in the turbulent time of States' Rights and kept their brilliance through the subsequent storms of secession and war; but, for a group of capable leaders of high integrity and loyalty to principal, those members of the Columbus bar could not be equalled. Some of the younger men, making their debut before the end of the careers of the older generation, added to the power and reputation already in the ascendancy of this body of barristers. Many of them were called from their practice to undertake highly responsible offices which they held with great efficiency. Among the number were Congressmen, Diplomats, members of special Federal, Confederate and state commissions, and two governors of the state, besides a supreme court judge and judges of superior and inferior courts. There were among the members of the local bar, Walter T. Colquitt and his son, Peyton; Seaborn Jones and his son-in-law; Henry L. Benning; Martin J. Crawford, Alfred Iverson, R. J. Moses, Hines Holt, James Johnson, Porter Ingram, Mark Blandford, J. N. Ramsey, P. W. Alexander, A. H. Chappell, R. E. Dixon, James M. Smith, and others, who were contemporaries, and known beyond the borders of their native or adopted city. Not only was Columbus the home of famous lawyers but as a center of influential newspaper activity was constantly in the minds of politicians of the state and nation. Among the editors of the papers here were those who found prominence in other lines and events. Tenant Lomax, chairman of the State convention which nominated Joe Brown for the first time, was editor of "The Enquirer". A. R. Lamar, also an editor of the same paper at a later date, was secretary to the States' Rights convention of '61 which resulted in the secession of Georgia. Peyton Colquitt, too, found time to occupy the editorial chair before he was called to the colors at the outbreak of the war. In 1854 "The Corner Stone", the first real Statesy Rights paper of Georgia, was established here, and for some time it was the only newspqpepr in the South to advise the immediate dissolution of the Union. Gen. James N. Bethune, the founder and editor of the organ, was a www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

lawyer as well as the head of numerous enterprises. A Mr. Reynolds was associated with him in the "Corner Stone". At a previous time General Bethune was editor of "The Enquirer" and on several occasions he was a participant in local political campaigns. In 1859 his temerity and determination were neatly illustrated. A "Market Ordinance" was passed by city council compelling hucksters to carry their produce to the municipal market for sale only at a certain time each day. General Bethune led the opposition to the ordinance and disregarded it for which the authorities undertook to punish him. Undaunted, he carried the matter to the Supreme Court, argued it himself and obtained a ruling that the ordinance was illegal and the action of the council unwarranted. As the author of "Mistakes of Ingersoll" General Bethune attacks the noted agnostic on all sides, displaying humor and a great determination of opinion. "Now I am far from asserting that Colonel Ingersoll would flee under such circumstances, though Redpath reports him as having made good time on one occasion, when Ned Forrest was after him, though it was of no avail, as in consequence of a mistake of his horse in falling down, Forrest caught him, and after keeping him a while discharged him on his parole, and he never went back. Redpath says: iIngersoll said' to me of his career, "I was not fit to be a soldier; I never saw our men fire but I thought of the widows and orphans they would make, and wished they would miss." ' No doubt, Ingersoll is a good kind-hearted fellow, but I should not be surprised if he was thinking as much of the widows and orphans that might be made by the other fellows, as by his own men." In 1855 Thomas DeWolf established '

94 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

The famous son of Dr. and Mrs. Pierce was named for her father, and was born February 3, 18 11. He became Bishop Pierce and was Robert Toombs' most intimate friend. Dr. Pierce in 1812 served as a delegate to the General Conference of his church, and' as the years passed he grew more prominent in the affairs of the Methodist denomination. It is said that he was never formally licensed to preach. In appearance Dr. Pierce was a very handsome man, "always neat in appearance, sparely built, black hair, hazel eyes, and weighing about one hundred and forty-five pounds." He died in Sparta, Georgia, November 9, 1879, at the home of his son. His grave is marked by a tall, white marble obelisk. It was during Dr. Pierce's pastorate at the St. Luke church here that the trees to which so much of the beauty of the grounds is due, were planted. With such ability at her command it was no wonder that it fell to Columbus to play many leading parts in the upheavals of StatesyRights and secession. In the conference of Southern States meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1 850, Georgia was represented by Henry L. Benning, M. J. Crawford and J. N. Ramsey. All of these were from Columbus, though the last named was not a resident of the city all of his life. With the fires of secession burning high it was apparent to the states- men of Georgia that strict measures must be undertaken in order to preserve the integrity of the state in the Union. It was the main desire that Georgia should remain in the Union if she could do so with honor and self- respect. New territories entering the Union as states were constantly bringing up the issue of slavery before the people. The compromise bills of 1850 were more or less acceptable to the Whigs and Democrats whose foremost desire was to preserve the Union of the states as long as possible. On returning from the stormy sessions of national politics, Howell Cobb, whose able leadership as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the National Congress in 1849 and 1850, had won him praise from both factions, with Alex Stephens and Robert Toombs, realized that it was their business to establish the feeling of preservation of the Union in this state. Several of the Southern States during the summer had already held meetings that brought secession out as the only remedy for the exist- ing ills. These three men went about the state holding meetings and addressing large audiences. Two results came from this campaign: Unionists were elected to the National Congress and other important political offices, and a convention was called for December 10 th to be held in Milledgeville. Henry L. Benning and James Johnson, both of Columbus, were can- www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

didates for Congress. The former was an ardknt secessionist and the latter advocated the preservation of the union. Johnson was elected after a strenuous campaign. On ~ecembir10th of the same year the representatives of the people of Georgia held a convention in Milledgeville and adopted the set of articles known as the Georgia Platform. The committee, headed by Charles J. Jenkins to draw up a report, submitted statements, the main purpose of which was to the effect that Georgia did not desire secession, that the state regretted the agitation caused by the question of Slavery but insisted' on the right of each state to settle the matter for itself; that the state was willing to abide by the compromise measures of Henry Clay. It was further asserted that the "State of Georgia ought to and will resist any action of Congress that would disturb the safety and violate the rights and honor of the slave-holding states." The result of this convention was that the other Southern states sub- sided in their ardor for secession and for the time being the union remained intact. Between sessions of the meeting another political party was formed in the state. It was the "Constitutional Union" party and was opposed by the "Southern Rights" faction led by ex-Governor McDonald. For four years there was comparative peace between the North and South on the subject of slavery, but in 1854 the Kansas-Nebraska acts in the National Congress re-opened the issue stronger than ever. In the free states there had been organized emigrant aid societies to help the settlers desiring to make their homes in the new states and soon it was realized in the South that some counter move on the part of the slave-holding section was necessary in order to influence the new territory to enter the union with slaves. So for the purpose of increasing the vote of those in favor of slavery in Kansas, bodies of emigrants were formed in Georgia, Alabama and other states who would move into the new territory. Large private donations were made and the legislature of Georgia passed a measure to give free transportation to such emigrants on the Western and Atlantic railroad which was-owned and' operated-by the state. The largest of these companies was that of Major Buford, of Eufaula, Alabama, which came through Columbus, April 4, 18 5 6. Already with a big body of emigrants, he was joined here by forty or fifty more. Liberal material aid was given the travelers and they were speeded on their way to their new homes. These bodies of new comers caused a preponderance of the pro-slavery element in Kansas for a while. In the midst of these struggles came the presidential campaign of 1 856. The Republican candidate was defeated by the Democrat nominee, James Buchanan, of Pennsylvania. Georgia was represented in the new cabinet by the President's appointment of Howell Cobb as Secretary of the Treasury. In -1 855 the legislative of Georgia elected Iverson, a strong Southern www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

9 6 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

Rightsy leader to succeed William C. Dawson as United States senator. Iverson was a prominent attorney of Columbus and Judge Dawson was the father of Edgar Gilmer Dawson, a local lawyer, and Mrs. Joseph B. Hill, both very well known in this city. Alfred Iverson was born December 3, 1798 at Midway in the Dor- chester community near Savannah, and was fifty-seven years old when elected Senator. He graduated at Princeton in 1820 and on completion of his law course established himself in Columbus. For seven years he was judge of the Superior Court of the Chattahoochee Circuit. This was a more important position at that time than now, because the state supreme court had' not been formed. Judge Iverson was a Democratic Elector at large when Polk was made President. In 1846 he was elected a representative to the Thirtieth Congress. Following his election as United States Senator in 1855, he served with Robert Toombs until they resigned their seats in 1861. While in Congress, Senator Iverson was chairman of the committee on claims and a member of the commitees on military affairs, and the Pacific Railroad. He died in Macon, March 4, 1873, aged seventy-five years. A notable son of Senator Iversonys was Alfred, Jr., who, after decid- ing not to enter his father's law office, joined the United States Army. He was a First Lieutenant in the cavalry and was made an officer in the Con- federate Armv uDon the declaration of war between the two sections. He rose to the rank'of Brigadier General. Following the war he moved to Florida. Senator Iverson was destined to play a big part in the history of the state before the final severing of the ties of union. An account of this prominent statesman was recently published in a local paper and is partly as follows: "Alfred Iverson, Senior, was a member of both houses of congress. He was a member of the House of Representatives from March 4, 1847, until March. 3, 1849. He was elected a member of the United States senate and served from March 4, 18 55, until January 2 8, 18 6 1, when he resigned and came back to Georgia casting his fortunes with the Southern Confederacy. He and Robert Toombs were colleagues in the United States senate. "There was much in the life and public service of Alfred Iverson, Senior, that was interesting and at times exceedingly dramatic. Perhaps the most dramatic incident in his public life was his speech in the United States senate, delivered either in 1859, or 1860, in which he threatened that the Southern States would secede from the union. This was the first open utterance on the part of a Southern member of the United States senate voicing the feeling aqd the intention of leading Southerners to bring about secession. "This speech made a tremendous sensation, not only in the senate but in Washington and throughout the country. Harper's Magazine published www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

STATES' RIGHTS AND SECESSION 9 7 an editorial denouncing Senator Iverson for his utterance, coupling him with Mason and Slidell as 'the three arch conspirators' of the secession forces. When this speech was delivered, the late Rev. Dr. Isham Richardson Branham (Senator Iverson's son-in-law), who was then living in Washington, preparing himself for admission to the Georgia bar, was in the senate chamber, and afterward gave a vivid description of the tense moments that followed this dramatic utterance. Senator Bob Toombs walked hastily to his colleague's desk, put his right hand on Senator Iversony shoulder, and exclaimed: 'Iverson, do you mean to ruin us? You are premature!' The two senators had been very warm friends up to this occurence, but thereafter they were estranged. "It is said that at the time Senator Iverson delivered his secession threat in the senate opinion in Georgia was quite evenly balanced for and against secession. Some of the strongest political leaders in the state attacked the senator bitterly. He left Washington and came to Georgia to defend himself for his course. "Friends put Alfred Iverson, Senior, in the race for the senate of the Confederate States. He led on the first ballot, but his vote decreased on the second ballot, and onthe third he withdrew from the race. He was never again in public life. "Alfred Iverson, Senior, never was an officer in the Confederate States army. He was a private in the battle that took place at Columbus at the close of the War between the States-the last battle of the war-using a double barreled shot gun as a weapon in defense of the bridge across the Chattahoochee river. "Alfred Iverson, Senior, was twice married; first, to Caroline Holt, who died quite young and was buried in Clinton. She was the mother of General Iverson and of Julia Iverson Branham. Alfred Iverson married the daughter of John C. Forsyth as his second wife. She was the mother of Col. John F. Iverson and of Mrs. Callie Daniel, both of whom are buried in Linwood cemetery. "Alfred Iverson Branham, of Atlanta, son Isham Richardson Branham and Julia Iverson Branham, is a grandson of Alfred Iverson, Senior. Mr. Branham is prominently connected with the American Book Company." In 1857 when Joe Brown's name was presented for nomination as governor after three days of balloting, the president of the convention was Tenant Lomax, editor of the Columbus "Times", "a gentleman of fine attainments." Muscogee county was represented by C. J. Williams and Peyton Colquitt, of Columbus. General Williams put the name of H. G. Lamar before the convention, but after several ballots it was withdrawn. The name of J. N. ~ethune,of Columbus was also mildly suggested. Lamar's name was again put up by General Williams but no decision could be reached. Finally, Joe Brown's campaign manager suggested the appointment of a committee to name a candidate and he was careful to see that Brown's www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

'9 8 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS. GEORGIA

allies were placed on the committee, the three members from his district, being friends of his man. Brown was nominated as a result of this move. At this convention resolutions of commendation were ~assedin behalf of President James Buchanan, Gov. H. V. Johnson and Senators Robert Toombs and Alfred Iverson. During this time the Know-Nothing party was prominent in Georgia politics. Among the leading men in the state to join this body was James Johnson of Columbus. The nominee of that party to oppose Brown was Ben Hill. R. J. Moses of Columbus was also notably anti-Brown. During the campaign both candidates spoke in Columbus, meeting here on one occasion. Of that event Avery says: "Columbus is a very fastidious place used to city manners and college graces. Mr. Hill therefore suited better the ideas of such an audience with his more showy declamation and impassioned utterances. Judge M. J. Crawford tells the good ancedote that while the Know-Nothing side was endeavoring to depreciate Brown for his plain ways and homely talking, Mr. Porter Ingram came to the rescue and turned the tables by saying earnestly that Brown was 'd--d sound in his doctrine', unconscic?usly put- , ting the invincible excellence of the man into the terse brevity of an axiom." The results of the campaign were the election of Brown and the end of the Know-Nothing party in this state. During Governor Brown's first administration a Southern Commercial Convention was held in May, 1858 at Montgomery, Alabama. He appointed the leading men of the state to represent Georgia, and from Co- lumbus there went Hines Holt, M. A. Cooper, and A. H. Chappell, as delegates at large, with A. R. Lamar, T. Lomax, P. W. Alexander, and J. N. Bethune as district representatives. "Mark A. Cooper was a wealthy iron manufacturer, who was very prominent in Georgia politics. He was one of the famous trio of Colquitt, Cooper and Black that in 1840 revolutionized the politics of the state, and established the Democratic party in power. He was a leading candidate for governor at one time. His large fortune was ruined by the war, and for many years he has been passing his old age in quiet retirement. A. H. Chappell was a noted man for many years, a distinguished Congressman. He was known for his long speeches, which tradition says he used' to recite in advance of their delivery to his faithful horse in his rides horseback. A. R. Lamar has been for the last twenty-five years one of the conspicuous editors of this state, conducting the Savannah 'Georgian' and the Columbus 'Times'. Few men can equal him in his command of a pure, forcible and elegant style of writing. He has been one of the men who have labored long for his party without reward. P. W. Alexander was a power as a journalist, editing the Savannah 'Republican'. As a war correspondent he was the most famous one we had in the South. His war letters were www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

models of critical accuracy, and clear forcible descriptiveness." (Thus Avery describes those from Columbus.) Mr. Alexander was a member of the Columbus bar before he moved to Savannah. At this convention Mark A. Cooper was elected one of the vice- presidents. When Governor Brown was nominated in 185 8 for the second time Porter Ingram represented Muscogee and was one of the committee to inform him of his nomination. The Columbus "Times" was an ardent supporter of the governor for a second term. At the same time Martin J. Crawford and Gen. J. N. Bethune, both of Columbus, were in the race for Congress. Crawford was the successful candidate. Meanwhile, though Georgia was having interesting and heated political battles within her borders, the main national issue of States' Rights was not forgotten. It was renewed with greater vigor than ever before as the time approached to elect a presidential successor to Buchanan. The John Brown raid and the Dred Scott case had inflamed the dissension between the two sections. In 1859 Alexander H. Stephens announced his intention of retiring from public life and his farewell address delivered in Augusta, spoke of his conservatism and an outlook for an era of peace and prosperity with a triumph for the South and undissolved union. A few days afterward Senator Iverson returned to Georgia from Washington and in a speech at Griffin, July 14th, made the most aggres- sively States' Rights address yet delivered in the state, entirely opposing Stephens' idea of pacification. His theme was "Slavery, it must and shall be preserved". Although his address cost him his re-election to the Senate, it developed into almost prophetic utterances. Senator Iverson asserted that the presidential campaign approaching would result in the election of the free soil candidate and the consequent separation of the slave-holding states from the Union. In no equivocal manner did he say that such an election would only mean the declaration of war on the part of the North against the institution of slavery, and he declared that the time was drawing near when measures of compromise would no longer serve the purpose of keeping peace between the two sections. He said compromises had only postponed the inevitable time when the slave states must come out and assert their rights to equality and the protection of their property. These utterances resulted in the political downfall of their author. The majority of Georgians preferred the milder, more conservative attitude of Stephens, and although there were many who felt as Iverson did, it was the general sentiment that the slave-holding section could stay in www.gagenweb.org COPYRIGHT ELECTRONIC 2005 GEORGIAGENWEB.ORG

100 HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

the union with self-respect and equality. Later, when secession did come, the advice of Iverson was followed and the attitude of his speech was recalled, but the Senator's prestige as a statesman had departed. The December after this speech of Iverson's saw a convention in session at Milledgeville. Judge Benning was elected delegate to the National Democratic convention but refused to serve following a protest against the Georgia meeting in which the delegates were appointed. C. F. Williams, of Columbus, was one of those making this protest. The following March a regular state Democratic Convention was called in Milledgeville and 90 of the 132 counties were represented. From Muscogee there went: Porter Ingram, John A. Jones, and Peyton H. Colquitt. Toombs was the leadlng figure of the convention. A month afterward the National Democratic Convention was held in Charleston, April 23rd - May 2nd. Henry L. Benning was one of the delegates from Georgia. The Charleston convention resulted in a split of the party. The majority report on platform supported non-interference with slavery by Congress, in the territories, and asserted it to be the duty of Congress to protect slave property in such districts. Two minority reports were presented resulting in the adoption of Stephen A. Douglas' "squatter sovereignty" program. With the acceptance of the latter platform, several of the Southern states withdrew their delegations and that from Georgia split into two factions. The Georgia minority delegation, though not agreeing with the main action of the convention declined to desert the convention and disrupt the party. However, the majority led by Benning, chairman of the delegation, called for another state convention to elect delegates to the session to be held' in Baltimore and Richmond. Such a convention was called for June 4ih, to be held in Milledgeville. The leaders of the state were divided into opposite groups on the matter and much conflict of opinion and rhetoric ensued. The opposition had already held a convention, May 2nd' when the above was called to order. Grigsby E. Thomas from Columbus was among the delegates and Hines Holt was appointed on the executive committee. The June convention, of which A. H. Chappell was a member, appointed the delegation which had represented the state at Charleston, to go to Baltimore and instructed them to go to Richmond if the platform were not adopted. This was the action of the majority. The minority thereupon organized again appointed other delegates. Thus two delegations were instructed to report at the Baltimore convention. The seceding faction led by Benning was admitted while the national delegation, led by James Gardner, was rejected. Meanwhile the Republican party in the Chicago convention had nomi-