History of Atlanta, Georgia, ______With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers
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THIS FILE IS PLACED ONLINE BY GAD, PERMISSION IS NOT GRANTED TO REMOVE FROM THIS SITE. YOU ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO COPY THIS FILE,, ETC. THIS IS PLACED HERE FOR RESEARCH INFORMATION ONLY IN THIS DIGITAL LIBRARY OF MEDIA. ___________________________________________ HISTORY OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ___________________________________________ WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS. _______________________ EDITED BY: _________________ WALLACE P. REED. __________________________ SYRACUSE, N. Y. D. MASON & CO., PUBLISHERS, 1889. _______________ PREFACE. THE fact that Atlanta is comparatively a young city will doubtless lead many to the conclusion that her annals are short and simple, and in such shape as to give a historian very little trouble. It did not take' long for the author of this work to find that it was a more .difficult matter to obtain the facts and figures illustrating the growth and progress of Atlanta than would have been the case if he had attempted to write the history of a much older city. The presence among us of many of the old pioneers and early settlers, strange to say, has heretofore stood in the way of a systematic record of the city's onward march. Various suggestions, made from time to time, in regard to the organization of a Historical Society met with but little favor. Few citizens recognized the benefit of such a society, when they and their neighbors recollected nearly every important event that had occurred since the settlement of the place. In the older cities and towns the matter is viewed in a different light. In many instances no pains and expense have been spared to collect and preserve in permanent form the facts of history, and some of the societies organized for this purpose even in some of the flourishing Western cities not much older than Atlanta, have accumulated such a mass of valuable printed material that a stranger having access to it would find the work of writing a history almost purely mechanical. The absence of these societies, and the scarcity of printed information bearing directly upon the subject matter, have made t necessary for the writer to see and confer with nearly all of the older citizens. The notes of their statements then had to be compared, and frequently the same person had to be visited several times, when there was a conflict of recollection concerning certain incidents, names and dates. Naturally, the first step in the preparation of such a work was to ascertain what had already been written and published upon the subject. White's Historical Collections of Georgia, Colonel I. W. Avery's. History of Georgia,. The Commonwealth of Georgia, and various pamphlets and reports were .collected and duly consulted. All of the books named have been of substantial assistance, and Colonel E. Y. Clarke's History of Atlanta was found to be so accurate that it has been freely quoted in this book. A graphic sketch 6 PREFACE. of the city, written many years ago by Colonel G. B. Haygood, an eminent lawyer of the antebellum period, for a city directory, has also been utilized. The space devoted to the war period of Atlanta history is not more than that stirring era deserves. It would have been out of the question to make this portion of the work sufficiently full and complete, if it had not been for the thoughtful kindness of Mr. Julius L. Brown, who is the owner of the office files of the Atlanta Daily Intelligencer, reaching from early in the fifties down to 1872. Mr. Brown courteously gave the writer access to these files, and they were freely and exhaustively drawn upon for several of the most interesting chapters in this chronicle. Without the information furnished by Mr. Brown's newspaper files the story of Atlanta from 1860 to 1865 would have been incomplete and unsatisfactory. Among the other newspapers that were found helpful may be mentioned the New Era, Southern Confederacy, Sun, Herald, Journal, and the Constitution. General Sherman's Memoirs, and Mr. Joseph M. Brown's Mountain Campaign should not be omitted in this list of authorities. The latter work in particular deserves to rank high as a valuable contribution to our war literature. Among the persons who took an active interest in this work, and were frequently consulted, the writer feels especially indebted to the Hon. Jonathan-Norcross, Colonel Z. A. Rice, Sidney Root, Dr. T. S. Powell, the late I. O. McDaniel, Judge C. H. Strong, Mr. Thomas G. Crusselle, Mr. William Markham, Mr. D. N. Sloan, the Hon. Frank P. Rice, Colonel George W. Adair,. Er Lawshe, Colonel L. P. Grant, Captain John Milledge, State librarian, Rev.. George L. Chaney, Mr. A. C. Briscoe, Miss Field, libraria!1 of the Y. M. L. A., and William H. Parkins. Judge S. B. Hoyt rendered a highly appreciated service in writing the chapter on .. The Bench and Bar, and Judge Howard Van Epps's graceful pen must be credited with the biographical sketch of Hon. O. A. Lochrane. To close this paragraph without acknowledging the patient and admirable work of Messrs. O. F. Vedder and J. Wooldridge, would been just as well as ungracious. These gentlemen during the past few months have given their entire time to the History, and many or the historical, statistical and biographical chapters were written by them, entirely or in part. Among Southern histories that of Atlanta deserves a unique place. The' rapid growth of the city before the war; its rough experience between contending armies; its heroic defense in a siege of forty days; its occupation by Sherman; its complete destruction by his troops; its rebuilding; its active part in reconstruction, and its solution of the material, economic, and educational problems, incident to all cities, cannot fail to interest thoughtful readers. I t will be impossible at a glance through these pages without recognizing the foresight of the great Carolinian, John C. Calhoun, who more than half a. century ago predicted that the little hamlet in the woods would one day grow into a large and prosperous commercial center. His prophetic vision has been! PREFACE. 7 more than realized. The public spirit and energy of our people, and the wise counsels of our leading citizens, the story of whose lives wi11 be found in this volume, have pushed Atlanta onward and upward until her commerce, industries, and her press and her literature have become positive factors in the progress and development of the New South. The writer, as a matter of course, does not claim that this history contains an absolutely complete record of Atlanta's remarkable career. It has been his purpose from first to last to present his readers with an impartial and authentic narrative dealing with such matters as properly come within the province of a composition of this kind, and which are sufficiently important to be preserved in this permanent shape, for the benefit of posterity. How well he has succeeded must be left to the judgment of the people whose cordial indorsement -of the plan of the work and generous encouragement and aid will always be gratefully remembered. ATLANTA, February, 1889. WALLACE P. REED. CONTENTS . CHAPTER T. INTRODUCTORY. Atlanta a Historic City-Growth of the Colony Founded by Oglethorpe-The Quickening Agitation of a Civil War-The Lessons of War-Predictions of John C. Calhoun. 16 CHAPTER II. NATURAL ADVANTAGES. Situation of Atlanta-Geological Formation of Fulton County-Climate of AtlantaAdvantages of Atlanta's Railway System- Water Power-The City's Onward March in 'Wealth and Population. 20 CHAPTER III. REMOVAL OF THE CHEROKEES. Story of the Adjustment of the Difficulties Between the Early White Settlers and the Original Proprietors of the Region Around Atlanta-Character of the Cherokee Indians -How Their Removal was Effected.,.. 23 CHAPTER IV. EARLY 'WHITE SETTLERS. Henry Ives-.Tohn Thrasher--The First Store at Terminus IIW. Carlisle-Jonathan Norcross- Major Stephen Terry-James Collins-William Kile-Wilham Crawford -Joseph Thomasson-A. B. Forsyth-Hardy Ivy-Harrison Briant-Dr. George C. Smith-James Boyd-Character of the Early Settlers-Names of Settlers from 1844 to 1850-Experiences of Early Settlers. 2, 26 10 CONTENTS. CHAPTER V. TERMINUS, MARTHASVILLE AND ATLANTA. The First Church at Terminus-Legal Fight for the Land Upon which a Large Part of Atlanta Now Stands- Why the Settlement was Originally Called Terminus -Incorporation of the Town Under the Name of Marthasville-Appearance of the First Newspaper-First Railroad ,to Marthasville-Changes the Iron Horse Brought About -A Plentiful Period after the First Railroad was Built-Appearance of Marthasville-Interesting Accounts by Early Residents-Adoption of the Name of Atlanta--How the Name was Suggested-Trade of Atlanta-Visit of General Kossuth-Character of its Early Citizens-Growth of the City-The Panic of 1857- Condition of the City in 1859..,...,... 34. CHAPTER VI. THE MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF MARTHASVILLE AND ATLANTA BEFORE THE WAR. Act Incorporating the Village of Marthasville--Act Incorporating the City of Atlanta-Election of the First City Officers--First Criminal Prosecution-Agricultural Fairs -- Atlanta Cemetery--Erection of a City Hall-Resignation of Mayor Nelson-Financial Condition of the City in 1857--Condition of the Streets in 1852-City Officers from 1848 to 1861. ..5 CHAPTER VII. THE WAR PERIOD. .Origin of the Civil War-Excitement in Atlanta over the Admission of Kansas in the Union- Resolutions Adopted in Atlanta at the Kansas Meeting in 1856- Views of the Intell1gencer on the Situation--Attitude of the People upon the Political Questions which Agitated the Country from 1856 to 1860--Trade with Northern Merchants Stopped-. Mercantile Association Formed-Order of the Knights of the Golden Circle-Visit of Stephen A.