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 3 l&istore of Bomi* 
 
 Copy No ^85 
 
 Properly of 
 
 Date.
 
 FRIENDS, ROMANS, 
 COUNTRYMEN: 
 
 Help Yourselves! 
 
 This book has not been subjected 
 to the custom and formalities of 
 copyrighting. Persons who C07i- 
 sider parts of it worthy of repro- 
 duction are requested to make 
 suitable acknowledgment 
 
 IV.
 
 EXPLANATION OF PICTURES ON "JACKET" 
 
 The "jacket" or paper cover which encloses the cloth cover of the 
 book is made up of the following pictures: 
 
 At the top, a panoramic view of Rome taken about ten years 
 ago from Myrtle Hill cemetery, showing the castle-like spires of old 
 Shorter College, the city clock and the Floyd County court house; 
 to the left, the Oostanaula River, and in the "foreground, the Etowah. 
 This picture was obtained through courtesy of the Central of Geor- 
 gia Railway Company. 
 
 At the bottom are: Rome in 1864, shortly after Gen. Sherman 
 had captured the town; the Confederate Soldiers' section in Myrtle 
 Hill cemetery; the North Rome Baptist church; Broad Street and 
 a column of Boy Scouts ready for a hike. 
 
 On the front are: The grave of the first Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, 
 in Myrtle Hill; the chapel of the Berry Schools; entrance to the 
 old Rome driving park and fair grounds, near DeSoto Park; Rome 
 boys enjoying a freshet; Col. Thos. W. Alexander, commander of 
 the Berry Infantry. 
 
 On the back strip is a silhouette of Col. Jos. Watters, a planter 
 and state senator in the thirties. 
 
 On the back are: Gen. Charles Floyd, father of Gen. John Floyd, 
 for whom Floyd County was named (in the uniform of the St. 
 Helena Guards, of Charleston) ; Gen. Charles Floyd assisted in re- 
 moving the Indians from Cherokee Georgia (he is wearing in his 
 hat a crescent bearing the words "Liberty or Death," which is in 
 posession of Wm. G. McAdoo, a grandson several degrees removed) ; 
 Donald Harper, of Rome and Paris (France) ; the Baptist par- 
 sonage; Steve Eberhart (or Perry), mascot of Floyd County Camp 
 368 of Confederate Veterans; Maj. Philip W. Hemphill, one of the 
 four founders of Rome; left to right, little Misses Elizabeth Mor- 
 ris, Eleanor Fuller and Juliet Graves; entrance to the Battey vault, 
 in Myrtle Hill. 
 
 THE IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY 
 
 Biography is the only true history. — Carlyle. 
 
 History casts its shadow far into the land of song. — Longfellow. 
 
 Succeeding generations should tote their own historical skillets. — 
 
 COLEGATE. 
 
 History, like true intelligence, consists in old ideas wrought over. 
 — Oliver Wendell Holmes. 
 
 Each generation gathers together in history the imperishable chil- 
 dren of the past. — Bancroft. 
 
 Out of monuments, names, traditions, private records and passages 
 of books we do save and recover somewhat from the deluge of time. — 
 Bacon. 
 
 This I hold to be the chief office of history, to rescue virtuous actions 
 from the oblivion to which a want of records would consign them. — 
 Tacitus. 
 
 God is in the facts of history as truly as He is in the march of the 
 seasons, the revolutions of the planets or the architecture of the 
 worlds. — Lanahan. 
 
 History maketh a young man to be old, without wrinkles or gray 
 hairs, privileging him with the experience of age, without either the 
 infirmities or the inconveniences thereof. — Fuller. 
 
 An historian ought to be exact, sincere and sympathetic, free from 
 passion, unbiased by interest, fear, resentment or affection, and faith- 
 ful to the truth, which is the mother of history. — Nai'OLEON.
 
 THE CLOCK TOWER.
 
 A HISTORY OF ROME 
 AMD FLOYD COUNTY 
 
 State of Georgia — United States of America 
 
 INCLUDING NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OF 
 MORE THAN LOCAL INTEREST 
 
 1540 — 1922 
 
 Volume I. 
 
 By 
 George Magruder Battey, Jr. 
 
 AUTHOR OF -yO.OOO MILES ON A 
 SUBMARINE DESTROYER" 
 
 / 
 
 ATLANTA, GA. 
 
 The Webb and Vary Company 
 
 19 2 2
 
 DEDICATION 
 To the Boy Scouts 
 and the Girl Scouts of 
 Rome and Floyd County, whose 
 youthful enthusiasm and helpful, un- 
 selfish spirit of service promise so much 
 for the development of civic enter- 
 prise and the advancement of in- 
 terest in the wholesome life 
 of the Great Outdoors, 
 this book is affec- 
 tionately dedi- 
 cated by 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 VIII.
 
 Introduction 
 
 OW AND THEN a queen pawns her jewels to advance the 
 cause of civilization, and thus gives back part of what her 
 admiring subjects have offered up. Similarly has a queen who 
 wears no tiara or crown thrown herself into the breach and 
 made possible the completion at this time of the History of 
 Rome. Her rocking chair is "in soak" because she' believes 
 the enterprise is worth while. If we will redeem the chair 
 out of sales from the book, she will feel amply repaid, and can sit down 
 again. It will be possible through a little unselfish sacrifice on the part 
 of each and all of us. 
 
 One thousand copies of the book are included in the first l)inding. 
 More than half of these have been mailed to subscribers who spoke for 
 them in advance. Additional sheets have been printed so that other 
 Romans may have copies who desire them. Extra copies will be bound 
 in accordance with the demand, so that the total issue will be just what 
 Romans, former Romans and a select company of "innocent bystanders" 
 make it. The compiler hopes that many will avail themselves of the 
 opportunity to invest, for the double reason that the book contains a 
 wealth of material which everybody should have, and a subscription does 
 just that much to advance the interests of the town and section. He 
 does not urge any support in the expectation of making a profit, for he 
 has put far more into it these two years than he can possibly get out, 
 except in mental satisfaction. He wishes to sell the book not on personal 
 or sentimental grounds, but on the l)asis of whatever value the purchaser 
 may see in it. No doubt the edition will be cjuickly exhausted, because 
 material has been included which is expected to stimulate a heavy demand 
 outside of Rome. Then there will be no more copies, for the number is 
 strictly limited. 
 
 The excuse for this work was found in the fact that the historians 
 have systematically neglected the section known oi old as "Cherokee 
 Georgia." The compiler went back to his birthplace Oct. 21, 1920, to 
 supply whatever of the deficiency he could, realizing that he had had no 
 previous historical experience, but believing that the subject was worthy 
 of a literary masterpiece. He found a fertile field in which to labor ; 
 the legend of DeSoto's visit in 1540, the Indian occupation and removal, 
 the deeds of valor in war, the constructive enterprises following" the 
 war's wake, all supplied an inspiration that was irresistible. On begin- 
 ning his work, he saw the truth of the statement, "The South makes 
 plenty of history, but writes very little of it." His task, therefore, con- 
 sisted in laying a foundation as well as erecting a superstructure, and he 
 realizes the imperfections that such conditions necessarily impose, and 
 is fully conscious of his inability to handle the material as it deserves. He 
 only hopes that the work may be considered from cover to cover, and 
 thus criticized, rather than that any insignificant error of omission or 
 commission may be allowed to obscure the whole in the estimation of 
 the individual. 
 
 It is manifestly impossible here to devote much attention to the 
 entire Northwest Georgia section. Floyd's sister counties will no doubt 
 eventually write histories of their own. However, there are numerous 
 references to happenings elsewhere which are connected with cliaracters 
 
 IX.
 
 or events in Floyd, and in certain instances the material is quite general 
 in its character and application. 
 
 Since the greater part of Rome's history existed in tradition and in 
 scrap books and old records, it has been deemed advisable to go back 
 as far as possible, and rescue the fragments of early Rome before they 
 are lost in the dust of the past. The story of Rome's part in the removal 
 of the Indians has never been adequately told, nor has the picture of con- 
 ditions just before the Civil War lieen fully presented. The subject 
 of Rome's part in the war of 1861-5 is all but ignored. The duty is man- 
 ifestly to revert to the dim beginnings, to give "right-of-way" to the '"'old 
 settlers," to suggest that the present generation keep newspapers and 
 records liberally so our contemporary history may not suffer likewise. 
 
 So much material has been developed that the necessity of a second 
 volume is api)arent. Volume I contains half of the complete narrative, 
 a great many pictures and a vast amount of miscellaneous data. Its 
 faulty arrangement is due to the uncertainty, up to the last moment, over 
 what was to be used. Volume 11, which it is intended should be pub- 
 lished when conditions are more favorable, will contain many additional 
 pictures and such biographical sketches and miscellaneous items as could 
 not be included in the first. These two volumes will in a measure tell 
 the romantic tale. 
 
 The history started with a series of articles in the Rojne News, fol- 
 lowed by "Rambles Around Rome." It has been augmented from many 
 sources, and particularly from the files of the old Rome Courier, which" 
 was the forerunner of Rome's daily newspaper, The Tribune-Herald. 
 Both of these present-day newspapers have been unflagging friends of 
 the history. In the collection of material, chiefly of a statistical nature, 
 the most consistent individual has l)een Richard Venable Mitchell, of 
 Rome. I\Ir. Mitchell, has worked with splendid spirit and without hope 
 of reward ; Romans are certain to appreciate the accurate data he gives, 
 them in his lists of the natural resources of Floyd, and of the state, city 
 and county officials, various important and interesting dates and a vast 
 quantity of odd information. ]\Irs. Harriet Connor Stevens has 
 contributed liberally of her time in order that some of the Cave Spring 
 pioneers might be remembered. ]\Iiss FVances Long Harper has also 
 helped substantially at Cave Spring. In forcing the history upon public 
 attention, the most valiant supporters have been H. H. Shackelton, presi- 
 dent of the Chamber of Commerce ; Robt. H. Clagett, editor of the Rome 
 News; W. S. Rowell, editor of the Tribune-Herald, and Lee J. Langley, 
 writing for both papers. 
 
 Thanks are due Hooper Alexander, of Atlanta ; W. R. L. Smith, of 
 Norfolk. Va. ; Mrs. Mabel Washbourne Anderson, of Pryor, Okla. ; S. W. 
 Ross, of Tahlequah, Okla. ; Judge Henry C. Meigs, of Ft. Gibson, Okla., 
 and C. F. Hanke, chief clerk of the Indian Office, Washington, D. 
 C, for much of the Indian data. (The biographies of the Indian leaders 
 are omitted for further investigation of conflicting material). Substan- 
 tial assistance has been given by Miss Tommie Dora Barker, librarian of 
 the Carnegie Library. Atlanta, and by Miss Carrie Williams, of the ref- 
 erence department: Mrs. Maud Barker Cobb, state librarian, the Capitol, 
 Atlanta: Duncan Burnett, librarian of the library of the University of 
 Georgia, Athens; Dr. Lucian L. Knight, director of the State 'De- 
 partment of History, the Capitol, Atlanta, and Miss Ruth Blair, of the 
 same department. Dr. Knight's valuable books have been consulted 
 freely and credit generally given in each instance. Appreciation is like- 
 
 X.
 
 wise expressed herewith of aid rendered by the Daughters of the .Vmeri- 
 can Revolution and the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and of 
 the interest shown by Henderson L. Lanham, president of the Board of 
 Education of the City of Rome, by Prof. B. F. Quig-g, City Superintendent, 
 and Prof. W. C. Rash, County Superintendent, in a plan for teaching- local 
 history in the public schools. While nothing definite has been done, the 
 suggestion that a condensed school history be written out of the His- 
 tory of Rome is being considered, and already has the moral support 
 of at least one large Eastern publishing house. 
 
 !Most of the maps are from Rand-McNally & Co., Chicago. 
 
 The artistic pictures of the Berry Schools were taken by D. W. Dens- 
 more, faculty member, and a number of pictures of landmarks by R. V. 
 Mitchell. Several pictures and some text do not appear because they 
 have been lost or misplaced ; a few typographical errors herein like- 
 wise prove the intensely human character of the work of man. 
 
 Loans negotiated through the assistance of John M. Graham and 
 Wilson M. Hardy greatly helped the work at the outset, and $100 received 
 near the close from a group of Rome business men, headed by E. R. 
 Fishburne, averted an almost certain postponement. Air. W'alter D. Carr, 
 of Silver, Burdett & Co., Boston publishers, loaned the cuts of John Ridge 
 and Major Ridge. To all others who have helped wnth friendly advice, data 
 or money the heartfelt thanks of the compiler are herewith given. Rome 
 will thank them in her ow'n way. The list is a long one, and it cannot 
 be extended here ; it will appear, perhaps, in the proposed Vol. H. 
 
 There is a great deal that is left over for another volume simply 
 because no funds were in sight to print it. Ample warning of this situa- 
 tion was given from time to time. If Romans make Vol. II possible by 
 an underwriting plan, or if a single Roman desires the opportunity of 
 doing that much for the town he loves, the compiler will dig into his 
 files again. Undoubtedly some Roman who wishes a send-off here below 
 and a welcome above will remember Vol. II in his will. 
 
 The rules governing the history campaign were very simple. Prac- 
 tically everybody who showed as much as a passing interest has been 
 given some notice in the book, either for themselves or their ancestors. 
 Those who have ignored letters, personal or circular, or both, or have 
 refused to "weep" while w^e "mourned," have erected a temporary barrier 
 between us. Fortunately, there have not been many of these, alth>ough 
 more have sat on the fence. They will have another chance if they want 
 it — for Vol. II. No considerations of friendship have caused us to over- 
 look a flagrant neglect of Rome and the history by those wlio in our opin- 
 ion could have helped. At the same time, we feel friendly and hold the 
 door open — for Vol. II. We consider it a duty to speak plainly so Romans 
 will understand, and that we may do better next time. Let us make \'ol. 
 II surpass Vol. 1. 
 
 The original plan called for sections of text devoted to the Berry 
 Schools, Shorter College, Ilearn Academy, the Georgia Sch(wl for the 
 Deaf at Cave Spring, and the Floyd County and Rome public schools. 
 Failure of the leading institutions in this group to pay a cost price for 
 the printing (due largely to the general economic conditions) has put 
 these sections over for further consideration. 
 
 A few words about quoted articles. Most of the items with dates 
 from 1920-22 affixed are from The Rome News, i)rior to that, after 1886. 
 from The 'JVibune of Rome or The Trilnitie-Hcrald. and from 1850 to 1887 
 
 XI.
 
 frum The Runic Tri-Wcckly Courier or Weekly Courier. An understand- 
 ing of this scheme, it is believed, will assist the reader. 
 
 It is hoped that the history will please the sul)scribers as well as prove 
 of some use to them as a work of reference. A reading glass for aged 
 eyes is recommended where type and pictures are small. In practically 
 ail cases the biographies have been submitted to the families for correc- 
 tion and ap])roval. A committee of Romans has kindly gone over most of 
 the other data. Anecdotes are told — on our own clan, too — which we 
 hope will be received in good part, for there is no intention to offend 
 anyone. Romans are noted for speaking the truth fearlessly, and since 
 we arc all in one big family and are blessed with a sense of humor, we 
 can well afford to perpetuate the stories of our members for fireside en- 
 joyment. A colorless story of Rome would be of no good and would find 
 few willing consumers. 
 
 With this much said by way of introduction, we salute our sub- 
 scribers and friends, wish them a merry Christmas and a happy New 
 Year, and unreservedly place our literary fate in their tender hands. 
 
 GEO. M. BATTEY, JR. 
 81 W. 14th St., 
 Atlanta, Ga., 
 Friday, Dec. 1, 1922. 
 
 P. S. — Sinc-e the above was written, the decision was reached to include in 
 Vol. I. no biojjfraphical sketches. It was believed best to hold over for considera- 
 tion for Vol. II. all the 300 sketches rather than to print only a few to the ex- 
 clusion of the many. A little extra financial support would have made possible 
 the inclusion of all. Since it was not forthcoming, it seemed best to file this other 
 valuable material. The recent vote by mail, by the way, was overwhelmingly 
 in favor of holding the biogi'aphies for another time. The several persons who 
 advanced money for sketches will be reimbursed or given extra copies of the 
 present volume, as they prefer. We assure them and all others that we regret 
 our inability to use this excellent data, which can only be improved with age. 
 We will keep it intact in the confident hope that Romans will make its publication 
 possible at some day in the near future. 
 
 G. M. B. 
 
 XII.
 
 Contents 
 
 Frontispiece: THE CLOCK TOWER— By Virginia Robert Lipscomb, Girl Scout. 
 
 Part I, 
 
 Chapter Page 
 
 I. The Spanish Cavaliers and Their Quest for Gold 17 
 
 DeSoto lands at Tampa Bay. — Reaches the Savannah River. — Meets an 
 Indian princess. — Takes the princess along as a hostage. — She escapes. — 
 Arrival at Nacoochee. — Receives Indian dogs for his men to eat. — His 
 route discussed. — Spends 30 da,ys at Chiaha. — Enjoys pearl hunt. 
 
 II. John Sevier, John Floyd and the Indians 22 
 
 Hostile Cherokees in massacre. — Sevier puts them to flight and burns 
 their towns. — Gen. Floyd defeats the Creeks in Alabama. — Early laws of 
 the Indians. — The "Widow Fool" and the ferry. — Wm. Mcintosh killed. — 
 Sequoyah's alphabet. — Missionaries imprisoned. — Pressure on the Indians. 
 
 Pari II. 
 
 I. Rome's Establishment and Early Days Zi 
 
 Three travelers decide to establish a town.- — A fourth pioneer.- — County 
 site removal from Livingston to Rome authorized by legislature.- — The 
 homes of Ross and the Ridges. — The gander pulling and other early 
 amusements. — The Green Corn dances. — Geo. Lavender, trading post man. — 
 Pioneer days at Cave Spring. 
 
 II. The Great Indian Meeting- at Rome 43 
 
 The Cherokees' biggest pow-wow at Running Waters. — Speeches by the 
 Ridges, Ross afnd the United States agents. — The Indians withdraw to the 
 woods. — Government men continue to speak. — Mr. Schermerhorn's determi- 
 nation to have a treaty. — Major Currey reports to Washington. — Ross fac- 
 tion supreme. — Ridge's men listed. 
 
 III. John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard-- 53 
 
 "Home, Sweet Home" author bears letters to prominent Georgians. — - 
 Loves an Athens belle. — Departs for Indian country. — Is arrested with 
 John Ross and guarded at Spring Place. — "Big John" Underwood, Rome 
 grocer, one of his captors. — Payne's own account. — His arrest causes sen- 
 sation. — "Old Hickory's" contribution. 
 
 IV. Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair 75 
 
 "Rome Indians" in the Payne "picture." — Maj. Currey explains. — 
 Frelinghuysen, Everett, Polk, Calhoun, Bell and White active. — "Lumpkin 
 Press" lambastes Guard. — Legislature protests and Co). Bishop resigns. — 
 Payne's anonymous letter. — A tragedy at the Vann house.- -The Indians 
 removed and the Ridges and Boudinot slain. — A Payne memorial. 
 
 V. Growth from Village to Town 91 
 
 Pioneers establish bank, inn, newspaper, churches, schools and stage 
 lines. — John Ross converted to Methodism. — Alfred Shorter casts lot with 
 the new town. — William Smith and the scuttled steamboat. — E^arly political 
 campaigns. — Lumpkin, Miller, Underwood, Hackctt and Wright. — Pickett's 
 visit to Rome. — The Nobles, iron kings, aijpear. 
 
 VI. Views and Events Leading U]) to War 113 
 
 The slavery agitation and efforts to halt "gentlemen from the North." — 
 Warnings sounded by Dwinell and Stovall. — Mass meetings and resolu- 
 tions. — Trade boycott against the North. — Rome Light Guards active. — 
 Stephens, Iverson and Hill speak in Rome. — Secession strongly favored. 
 
 VII. Lincoln's Election Foretells Hostilities 125 
 
 Feeling at fever heat. — Mayor thanks voters for "sober election." — Dr. 
 Word elected. — Guns for Light Guards arrive. — Judge Wright on the in- 
 auguration of Jefferson Davis. 
 
 XIII.
 
 Part III. 
 
 I. Opening- of the Ci\"il War — First Manassas LV 
 
 Floyd companies depart.- Cannon and chvirch bells announce war. — 
 
 Casualty lists. — Incidents of the battle. — Capt. Matrruder and Jeff Davis. — 
 
 Death of Col. Bartow. — An illuminatinE letter from Richmond. — War 
 profiteers rapped by the "home gruard." 
 
 11. A Rome Rno-ine Chases the "General" 147 
 
 Andrews' "Wild Raiders" steal state road engine in dash to burn 
 bridges and tear up track. ^Fuller joins in thrilling pursuit. — "Wm. R. 
 Smith" takes up chase at Kingston and aids capture. — Fugitives abandon 
 engine.- — Are caught in woods. — Some are hanged and some escape. 
 
 HI. Activities of the Folks at Home 153 
 
 Women establish charity organization. — The Wayside Home. — A 
 young "Rebel" with smallpox spreads terror. — Hospitals removed from 
 Rome. — Hard times described back of the lines. 
 
 IV. Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest 161 
 
 Federal commander tries foray of destruction. — Is engaged by Forrest 
 with inferior force, and surrenders. — "Rebel" leader's strategy denounced 
 by captive officers, who see Rome for first time. — Admiring women snip 
 locks of Forrest's hair. — The "Battle of Rome," and John Wisdom's famous 
 ride. — Forrest dodges Rome picnic. 
 
 V. Sherman's Army Captures Rome 175 
 
 Three forts are silenced and Davis, Vandever and Corse establish 
 headquarters. — "Miss Lizzie's" adventure on Shorter Hill. — Sherman enters 
 Rome twice and pursues Hood, who crosses the Coosa at Veal's ferry. — 
 Hood flits through Texas valley. — Only a fiddle is needed as Rome burns. 
 
 VI. Sherman's Movements asTuld by Himself 181 
 
 The campaign outlined. — Movements around Dalton, Resaea, Cassville, 
 Dajlas and Rome. — Sherman's narrow escape. — Why Johnston refused 
 battle. — Corse at Allatoona. — Sherman on Fourth Avenue.--His message 
 from Rome brings orders to march to the sea. 
 
 VII. Extreme Desolation I^ictured in Diary 197 
 
 Bridges burned by retreating Confederates. — Church pews used for 
 pontoons. — Famine and despair.— Citizen killed by scouts. — Letter tells of 
 Romans' plight. 
 
 \'HI. Depredations of the Independent Scouts 205 
 
 John Gatewood invades northwest Georgia. — Jack Colquitt's band. — 
 John and Jim Prior take seven scout scalps. — "Little Zach" Hargrove 
 to the rescue. 
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 211 
 
 Miscellaneous 421 
 
 Map 
 
 s 
 
 The Heart of Cherokee Georgia 2)7 
 
 The World T 127 
 
 The United States of America 155 
 
 Rome in 1890 165 
 
 The State of Georgia 387 
 
 The Countv of Flovd 621 
 
 XIV.
 
 PART I. 
 
 THE DIM BEGINNINGS 
 
 1540-1834
 
 CHAPTER I 
 The Spanish Cavaliers and Their Quest for Gold 
 
 M 
 
 \XY years before the Eng- 
 lish settled the first perma- 
 nent colony in America at 
 Jamestown, Va., in 1607, 
 there existed a wild stretch of 
 country at the southwestern end of 
 the Appalachian Mountain chain, 
 encompassing' what is now Rome 
 and Floyd County, Ga., and which 
 was inhabited only by tribes of In- 
 dians who lived in wigwams made 
 of bark and skins, and huts of 
 rough pine and oak finished in red 
 clay mortar. The waters of this re- 
 gion, leaping through the moun- 
 tain gorges in slender, silken 
 streams, purled their way into the 
 valleys and found outlets in the 
 Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico. 
 They were alive with fish, especial- 
 ly the upland streams with trout, 
 and it used to be said that had the 
 Indian possessed a hat, in many 
 places he could have scooped up a 
 hatful at a time. 
 
 Large black bears went grubbing 
 over the mountain tops in search of 
 worms and roots, occasionally 
 shambling into the fertile valleys 
 below ; hungry wolves leaped free- 
 ly through the forest trails ; deer 
 penetrated the thickets and slaked 
 their thirst at the sparkling brooks ; 
 panthers and Avildcats slunk se- 
 renely fr(im feeding ground tc^ 
 cavernous lair ; snakes of huge size 
 and great number infested the 
 rocky fastnesses, the sun-baked 
 river banks and the grassy plains ; 
 wild turkeys clucked along the 
 leafy bowers and smaller birds of 
 l)eautiful plumage dotted the trees 
 of hillside, valley and swamp. 
 
 Upon this primitive stage at 
 some uncertain date had a])peared 
 the Indian, successor to the ill- 
 fated Mound Ikiilder of North 
 America. Agile, bloodthirsty and 
 possessing a keen appetite, the In- 
 
 dian pursued by foot and in his 
 swift canoe, with his trusty bow 
 and arrow, the animals, birds and 
 snakes, killed them and ate the 
 fiesh, sometimes cooked, some- 
 times raw, and made the skins into 
 rugs, wigwam covers, robes, ])a- 
 l>oose bags and numerous orna- 
 ments for his person. Idie Indian 
 painted his face and, his body with 
 a mixture of oil and clay, dressed 
 himself in a wampum l>elt from 
 Avhich depended a wildcat skin or 
 kilt of limljer grass or hair, and 
 with a headdress of feathers which 
 hung down to his waist he joined 
 in the big tril)al hunts or fared 
 forth to fight enemy tribesmen. 
 The Indian women, or squaws, did 
 the routine work about the hut or 
 wigwam settlements, took care of 
 the children and strung beads and 
 wove various materials into bas- 
 kets, rugs and articles of clothing, 
 and cultivated snirdl patches of 
 grain. 
 
 From the time when Christopher 
 Columbus discovered America in 
 1492 and took possession in the 
 name of the King and the Queen of 
 Spain, the Indian was forced to 
 count on tlie paleface as a po- 
 tential foe \\ho needed his himt- 
 ing grounds and his towns for col- 
 onization ])urposes. The Spanish 
 are regarded as the i)ioneer ex- 
 plorers of America through their 
 expeditions to Florida, the Land of 
 Flowers, whicli embraced vastly 
 more territory than tlie State of 
 Florida of the present day. juan 
 I '(Mice DeLeon explored the coast 
 of the Florida Peninsula in 151.\ 
 ])enetrate(l into the interior in 
 search of the Fountain of J'crpet- 
 ual Youth, engaged the savages 
 and was killed with a poisc^ied ar- 
 row. l'\)llowed the cruel Narvaez 
 to the west coast of the peninsula,
 
 18 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 where he set an example for the 
 savages hy loosing hloodhounds on 
 the aged mother of an Indian chief, 
 which tore her to pieces ; then he 
 cut off the chief's nose and sent 
 him to Cuba as a slave. The In- 
 dians avenged this atrocity by driv- 
 ing Narvaez to his ships ; a storm 
 hit the vessels and Narvaez and all 
 but fiiur '>\ his men were lost. 
 
 Next in importance was Hernan- 
 do (Ferdinand) DeSoto, who in his 
 search of the Chiahan Kldorado in 
 the hope of filling the treasure 
 chest (if the King oT Spain is sup- 
 posed to have spent nearly 30 days 
 on the present site of Rome. 
 
 DeSoto had fought successfully 
 in the Si)anish wars of conquest in 
 Central America and Peru, when 
 called by the king to cut a path 
 through Florida, to work the gold 
 mines and the pearl fisheries which 
 earlier explorers had assured the 
 king existed. Having recently mar- 
 ried Dona Isabel de Bobadilla, 
 member of tlie Spanish royal fam- 
 ily and his social equal, wdiose 
 father was his superior in wealth 
 if not in manhood, DeSoto set sail 
 from Spain on April 8, 1538, tak- 
 ing with him his wife, 600 soldiers, 
 200 horses and a herd of swine for 
 food. DeSoto's "noble vSix Hun- 
 dred" carried arquebuses, match- 
 locks, one cannon and a falconet 
 (small cannon in general use at 
 that time). The}' had plenty of 
 ammunition, and led by tethers 
 a pack of fierce bloodhounds. Plen- 
 ty of iron chains, collars and wrist- 
 lets were carried to put upon In- 
 dian prisoners. Swine and cattle 
 furnished a large part of the food, 
 -while pack mules bore the provis- 
 ions. The personnel was made up of 
 mechanics, l)uilders and smiths 
 monks, laymen and Catholic priests 
 in robes. (Juite a number of the 
 fighters wore light armor which 
 readily shed the sharp darts of the 
 red-skins. They landed at Havana. 
 Cuba, but after a sliort stay pro- 
 
 ceeded up Florida's west coast, 
 leaving Dona Isabel behind as gov- 
 erness of the island. On Friday, 
 May 30, 1539, DeSoto landed at 
 the present Tampa Bay, where he 
 took possession of Florida as Ade- 
 lantado (governor), and where he 
 wrote the city fathers of Santiago 
 de Cuba wdiat was supposed to 
 have been the only letter he sent 
 l)ack on his long and heart-break- 
 ing journey. 
 
 DeSoto immediately asked the 
 Indians where gold and precious 
 stones could be found ; they point- 
 ed northward. He fought and dip- 
 lomatized his way to the present 
 Georgia-Florida line, encountering 
 numerous physical difficulties ; 
 thence he proceeded northwest- 
 ward when told by a captured 
 scout* of a i)rovince ruled over by 
 a beautiful Indian princess, called 
 Cutifachiqui. where his beasts 
 might l)reak their backs under the 
 load of pearls and gold. The home 
 of the princess is supposed to have 
 been at Silver Bluff", Barnwell Co.. 
 S. C, 25 miles sovitheast of Au- 
 gusta, Ga., on the Savannah river, 
 where George Golphin later lived. 
 Here DeSoto was jjresented with 
 a handsome string of large pearls 
 by the Princess Cutifachiqui ; he 
 (lug heaps of pearls and relics out 
 of Indian mounds, which the In- 
 dians did not like, but they main- 
 tained an appearance of acquiesc- 
 ence. On leaving, he forced his gra- 
 cious hostess to accompany the ex- 
 ])edition as a guide and protection 
 against any possible attacks by her 
 tribesmen. The indian maid's 
 knowledge of trails and w'oodcraft 
 enabled her to escape in a few 
 days and return to her settlement. 
 DeSoto pressed northward in 
 forced marches to relieve his weary 
 and starving horses and men, and 
 to seize or unearth gold for the 
 king. 
 
 ♦Juan Ortiz, who had been left by Narvaez 
 and had since lived among the Indians.
 
 The Spanish Cavaliers and Their Quest for Gold 
 
 19 
 
 While accounts differ as to the 
 route DeSoto took through North 
 Georgia, the authorities generally 
 agree that after leaving Cutifachi- 
 qui, DeSoto went to the site of 
 Yonah Mountain, in Nachoochee 
 Valley, White County, where he 
 mined a while and the Indians gave 
 his troops many dogs to eat ; also 
 that he crossed the North Georgia 
 mountains to the Connasauga Riv- 
 er, thence followed the Oostanaula 
 River to the junction of the Etowah 
 River, where the Coosa forms, to 
 Chiaha province and town, the 
 modern site of Rome ; also that he 
 followed the Coosa southwestward 
 into Alabama, whence in time he 
 I)ushed on across West Tennesssee 
 and discovered the Mississippi Riv- 
 er, in which he was buried after 
 dying of fever in 1541. 
 
 It is possible to mention these 
 differences of opinion only in brief 
 here. James Mooney, a careful stu- 
 dent of the subject, held that De- 
 Soto followed the Chattahoochee 
 River headwaters down the val- 
 leys of Habersham County, sight- 
 ed Kennesaw (Kensagi) Moun- 
 tain in Cobb County, instead of the 
 Connasauga River, (passing near 
 the site of modern Atlanta), and 
 instead of visiting Chiaha, visited 
 Chehaw, a Creek town in Alabama 
 below Columbus. It may be signifi- 
 cant that Atlantans do not claim 
 that DeSoto passed near their land. 
 
 An understanding of the tojiog- 
 raphy of the country, the aims and 
 necessities of the expedition and 
 the reasonable probabilities arc 
 prerequisites to a reconciliation of 
 the viewpoints. Some aid may be 
 found in the reflection that DeSoto 
 often divided his force; inuloubt- 
 edly he let the main Ixxly follow 
 the rivers in tlic valleys, while 
 prospecting parlit-s i)enetrated 
 through the mountains. Thus it is 
 possible that his main force, with 
 the heavy equipment and pigs, 
 started down the headwaters of 
 
 the Chattahoochee in Habersham 
 County, bore to the northwest, 
 crossed the headwaters of the Eto- 
 wah and followed the Etowah to 
 Rome, discovering and exploring 
 the huge Indian mound on the 
 Tumlin i)lace three miles south of 
 Cartersville; also that the mining 
 group, after exploring the moun- 
 tains nearly to the Tennessee line, 
 came to the Connasauga River and 
 followed the Oostanaula River 
 down to Rome, where he joined 
 the other unit. Chiaha Town was 
 described by the early chroniclers 
 of the expedition as an island. That 
 impression might easily be made 
 on an explorer crossing the creeks 
 north of Rome whose headwaters 
 nearly touch, and passing on down 
 the peninsula to the water on all 
 sides. 
 
 It is quite possible, moreover, 
 that 382 years ago a canal con- 
 nected the Oostanaula and Eto- 
 wah rivers, passing through North 
 Rome and making an island of 
 the narrow neck of land between 
 
 
 FERDINAND DeSOTO, Spanish cavalier who 
 it is generally accepted visited the site of 
 Rome in 1510, searching for gold for his king.
 
 20 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 the streams at their junction. An- 
 other theory is that the DeSoto 
 district (now l)etter known as the 
 Fourth ward), which is sui)i)osed to 
 have been where the Spanish camp- 
 ed, was once an ishind, havinit>- l)een 
 cut off by a break in the Oosta- 
 naula near the mouth of Little Dry 
 Creek. which found its way 
 throui^h the lowlands and entered 
 the Coosa above Horseleg' Creek, 
 formings a l)ody of land of not less 
 than 250 acres. 
 
 JJoth of these suppositions hnd 
 encouragement in freaks of nature 
 Avhich are oliservablc in the life- 
 time of the average man. Less than 
 a decade ago Perkins Island, in the 
 Etowah River, near the foot of 
 Fifth Avenue, was yielding sand to 
 a concern which for many years 
 had sold to contractors who were 
 erecting the most substantialbuild- 
 ings in Rome. In 1920 suit was filed 
 in the Superior Court of Floyd 
 county by the Perkins heirs against 
 Mrs. J. Lindsay Johnson to prevent 
 her from removing the sand. Mrs. 
 Johnson's answer recited that the 
 island had stood opposite her East 
 Rome farm, separated from the 
 mainland by a narrow^ body of wa- 
 ter. Accretions of sand and silt had 
 filled up this channel and made the 
 island part of the mainland ; there- 
 fore, as she claimed, the former 
 island 1)elonged to her. 
 
 Another island A\hich has be- 
 come ])art of the mainland in like 
 manner was at Nixon's sand bar, 
 Coosa River, just below and across 
 from the mouth of llorseleg Creek. 
 There are no examples as con- 
 spicuous as these in which new 
 islands have been formed, but ex- 
 am])les are common elsewhere, 
 nota])ly in the Mississippi Valley. 
 
 Certain historians wdio do not 
 believe DeSoto camped at the pres- 
 ent site of Rome locate the island 
 down the Coosa in Alabama, near 
 the Georgia line. However, Pick- 
 ett, Jones, Knight and others hold 
 
 that Chiaha settlement and the 
 ])resent site of Rome are identical, 
 and that the route proceeded down 
 the Coosa. It is worthy of note 
 that DeSoto resisted the suppli- 
 cations of his men to turn back 
 toward his ships and first landing 
 place, and insisted on striking re- 
 peatedly northward in search of 
 gold. Although he follow^ed a zig- 
 zag course, his trail was generally 
 northwestward, allowing for a con- 
 siderable zag toward Mobile, where 
 he won a great battle with the 
 Indians. At Chiaha he dispatched 
 two cavaliers on a ten-day journey 
 northward. There appears to have 
 been no point in his going below 
 Columbus, where in July it is much 
 hotter than the North Georgia 
 mountains. 
 
 The Indians all along the route 
 had told DeSoto of the rich prov- 
 ince of Chiaha, the Eldorado of 
 his dreams. To the principal 
 towns of this province De- 
 vSoto had sent scouts to de- 
 mand of the chiefs a tw^o months' 
 supply of maize (Indian corn). On 
 June 4, 1540, DeSoto entered Chia- 
 ha Town via the valleys of the 
 west bank of the Oostanaula Riv- 
 er, camped his cohorts along what 
 has for many years been known as 
 the DeSoto Road of the DeSoto 
 District of Floyd County, and 
 crossed the Oostanavda River 
 (prol)ably in canoes) with his ad- 
 vance guard. Here he w\as warmly 
 received by the young chief, who 
 spake substantially as follows as 
 he handed DeSoto a long string of 
 perfect ])earls :* 
 
 Mighty Chief: Into this beautiful 
 and beloved country which our fathers 
 have hunted for the beasts and birds 
 of the forest and handed down to us 
 a long time ago, and in which we wor- 
 ship the Spirit of the Sun with all the 
 strength of our natures, we welcome 
 you as friends and brothers. Stay 
 
 ♦This speech is supposed to be more nearly typ- 
 icaJ of Indian nature and disposition than the 
 polished versions of the chroniclers, which are 
 unmistakably Spanish.
 
 The Spanish Cavaliers and Their Quest for Gold 
 
 21 
 
 with us as long as you desire; live in 
 our houses, fish and hunt with us in 
 our choice places, and accept our gifts 
 offered you from our hearts. Tell us 
 at once your mission, that we may 
 serve you with the fidelity of the stars. 
 You have asked of my good people 
 supply of maize to sustain your power- 
 ful tribe two months. Here you will 
 find 20 barbacoas (barns) bursting 
 with our best grain. Welcome ! May 
 your people and my people enjoy a 
 peaceful friendship that will be as 
 strong as the mountains and last as 
 long as the sun shines warm and the 
 rivers of Chiaha run cold. 
 
 Through an interpreter DeSoto 
 thanked the chief cordially, then 
 gave to him some trinkets and 
 coins. 
 
 "Chocklestee !— Sit down !" in- 
 vited the chief, and turning to a 
 group of copper-colored warriors, 
 
 he said : "Talahi— chetawga — chis- 
 (|ua !" The men ran to a picketed 
 enclosure and brought many fowls 
 and dogs for the hungry Spaniards 
 to eat, after which the young chief 
 announced that DeSoto would stop 
 at "akwenasa" (my home). 
 
 DeSoto is supposed to have spent 
 26-30 days in Chiaha, after which 
 he went through Alabama and 
 Western Tennessee and discovered 
 the Mississippi River at Chicka- 
 saw Bluff, below Memphis. He died 
 shortly after and was buried in 
 the Mississippi to prevent the In- 
 dians from destroying his corpse. 
 His wdfe died in Cuba of a broken 
 heart, following her husband short- 
 ly. She had had no word from him 
 since his departure.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 John Sevier, John Floyd and the Indians 
 
 I 
 
 \' SEPTEMBER, 1793, an 
 event was catalogued in 
 which the site of Rome was 
 l)rought to the attention of 
 the country. Gen. John Sevier* de- 
 scended upon Cherokee GeorQ-ia 
 from Tennessee, chasing with his 
 800 men 1,000 Indians who had 
 scalped and killed thirteen people 
 at Cavett's Station, near Knox- 
 ville, and had retreated southward. 
 Gen. Sevier swept out of his path 
 such resistance as was offered, and 
 burned a number of Indian towns. 
 Presently he arrived at Oostanau- 
 la, near the forks of the Coosa- 
 wattee and Connasauga rivers, and 
 after burning this village, divided 
 his force. With half he proceeded 
 dow^n the Oostanaula, while Col- 
 onel Kelly and Major Evans were 
 detailed to take the other half 
 down the Etow^ah river, and to de- 
 stroy such towns as they found. 
 On Oct. 17, 1793, the Battle of Eto- 
 wah was fought. 
 
 The Kelly-Evans force discov- 
 ered the main body of the fleeing 
 Indians at a rocky bluff across the 
 Etowah. Some say this was where 
 the Southern Railway now^ crosses 
 the river, about a mile above Rome, 
 while others hold it was quite a 
 distance farther down the stream. 
 The- Indians had felled numerous 
 trees and behind these had sought 
 protection, while a few hid in the 
 rocky fissures of the bluff". Many 
 others had been strung out down 
 the river bank to protect a ford. 
 A clever ruse dislodged the In- 
 dians and brought about their de- 
 feat. The two officers took their 
 force below the crossing point. Col- 
 onel Kelly and several others 
 plunged their horses in and swam 
 across. Thinking the wdiole force 
 was coming into the water and 
 hoping to shoot them with ar- 
 
 rows and guns before they could 
 get out, part of the Indians left 
 their protection and bore down 
 upon the Colonel and his squad, 
 who quickly dashed back into the 
 Etowah. In the meantime, Capt. 
 Evans had back-tracked his force 
 to the ford, and there crossing, fell 
 heavily upon the surprised foe, and 
 put them to flight with a heavy 
 loss. For many years later Indian 
 bones and relics could be found in 
 the crevasses of the hill. 
 
 Such of the Indians as escaped 
 -swam the river at Myrtle Hill 
 cemetery, and made a stand at the 
 western foot of it. Gen. Sevier hav- 
 ing come up with his force, the 
 frontiersmen inflicted terrible 
 slaughter upon the red-skins, and 
 drove them in contusion dowai 
 the Coosa Valley. Sevier is 
 also said to have destroyed Coosa 
 Old Town at this time. This was a 
 village which has been located by 
 certain people on the Nixon farm 
 and by others below it on the Coosa 
 River. 
 
 It so happened that most of these 
 Tennessee "squirrel hunters" were 
 volunteers who had had a friend or 
 relative killed at Cavett's Station, 
 and among them we find a youth 
 of tender years named Hugh Law- 
 son White.** Historians relate that 
 in this engagement the young pale- 
 face shot a minie ball into the 
 l)reast of Chief King Fisher, one of 
 the leaders of the Indian horde, 
 killing him instantly and causing 
 the Indian ranks to break in con- 
 
 *Gen. Sevier was a Tennesseean and the an- 
 cestor of the Underwoods, the Rowells, the 
 Novins, the Pattons. the O'Neills, the Wylys 
 and others of Rome. The Cherokees called him 
 "Nollichucky Jack." A monument glorifying 
 his exploit at the site of Rome was erected 
 at the western base of Myrtle Hill cemetery by 
 the Xavier Chat)ter of the Daughters of the 
 American Revolution. 
 
 **A kinsman of Dr. James Park, of Knox- 
 ville, and his descendants, including Mrs. B. I. 
 Hughes and Mrs. T. F. Howel, of Rome.
 
 John Sevier, John Floyd and the Indians 
 
 23 
 
 fusion. Forty-two years later Hugh 
 Lawson White became a noted man 
 in Tennessee — a_ judge, Senator 
 and friend and supporter of Presi- 
 dent Andrew Jackson, with many 
 of the Jacksonian attrilmtes. In 
 1835 he was nominated for presi- 
 dent by the Whigs, and carried his 
 own state over Martin Van Buren, 
 the Democratic nominee, by 10,000 
 majority. It was said that Jack- 
 son's support would have won for 
 judge \\'hite, but it was captured 
 by Van Buren. 
 
 A more complete account of the 
 Battle of Etowah is found in the 
 Tennessee Historical Magazine 
 (Nashville), 1918, Vol. IV, pages 
 207-9-10: 
 
 Finding the authorities powerless, 
 the patience of the Cherokees gave 
 v/ay, and the latter part of August, 
 1793, provided unmistakable evidence 
 of Indian hostility. The settlements 
 were put in a posture of defense. Gen. 
 Sevier was posted at Ish's station, 
 across the river from Knoxville, with 
 400 mounted infantry. . . . On the 
 evening of Sept. 24, John Watts, at 
 the head of a large body of Indians, 
 estimated at 1,000 men or more, com- 
 posed of Cherokees and Creeks, cross- 
 ed the Tennessee river below the mouth 
 of Holston and marched all night in 
 the direction of Knoxville. They avoid- 
 ed Campbell's station, passed within 
 three miles of Ish's, and daylight 
 found them in sight of Cavett's sta- 
 tion, eight miles west of Knoxville . . . 
 
 Col. Watts had with him some of 
 the most intractable chiefs of the na- 
 tion . . . The chiefs disputed whether 
 they should kill everybody in Knoxville 
 or only the men. Doublehead insisted 
 on the former. An altercation be- 
 tween Doublehead and Vann was long 
 and heated. Vann had a little boy, a 
 captive, riding behind him. Double- 
 head became so infuriated that he killed 
 the little boy. . . . 
 
 In sight of Cavett's station there 
 was a block house in which Alexander 
 Cavett and family of thirteen people 
 resided, only three of whom were gun 
 men. The three made a brave resist- 
 ance. Alexander Cavett, the father, 
 died with bullets in his mouth, which 
 he had placed there to facilitate load- 
 ing. Five Indians fell dead or wound- 
 ed before their rifles. This checked 
 
 the assaults and brought on a parley. 
 The Bench, Watts' nephew, who spoke 
 English, agreed with the besieged 
 that if they surrendered, their lives 
 should be spared, and they should be 
 exchanged for a like number of In- 
 dian prisoners. These terms were ac- 
 cepted and the little garrison sur- 
 rendered. 
 
 As soon as they left the blockhouse, 
 Doublehead and his party fell upon 
 them and put them all to death in 
 the most barbarous manner, except 
 Alexander Cavett, Jr., who was saved 
 by the interposition of Col. Watts, 
 though he . was afterwards killed in 
 the Creek towns . . . 
 
 Gen. Sevier being rernfoi'ced until 
 his army numbered about 700, he 
 marched rapidly southward until Oct. 
 14, 1793, when he reached the beloved 
 town of Estaunaula. The town was 
 deserted, but since it contained abund- 
 ant provisions, Sevier halted and rest- 
 ed his men. The Indians undertook 
 to disperse his camp at night, but the 
 attack was unsuccessful. From some 
 Cherokee prisoners taken at Estau- 
 naula it was learned that the main 
 body of the enemy, composed of Cher- 
 okees and Creeks, had passed the place 
 a few days previously, and were mak- 
 
 .^^ 
 n 
 
 \. 
 
 CKN. .JOHN SKVIKR, early jrovernor of Ten- 
 nessee, who in 1793 routed a band of Indians 
 on 'Rome's site and slew Chief KinBllsher.
 
 24 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 ing for a town at the mouth of the 
 Etowah river. After refreshyig his 
 troops, Gen. Sevier followed the enemy, 
 reaching the confluence of the Etowah 
 and the Oostanaula rivers on the eve- 
 ning of the 17th. 
 
 The Creeks and a number of Cher- 
 okees had intrenched themselves on 
 opposite banks of the Etowah, to ob- 
 struct its passage. A happy mistake 
 on the part of the guides, Carey and 
 Findleston*, saved the day for the 
 whites. They carried Col. Kelly's 
 force half a mile below the ford, 
 where he and a few others immediate- 
 ly swam the river. The Indians, dis- 
 covering this movement, abandoned 
 their intrenchments and rushed down 
 the river to oppose Col. Kelly. Capt. 
 Evans, discovering the error, wheel- 
 ed, and straining his horses back to 
 the ford, dashed into the river. The 
 Indians at the ford, under the com- 
 mand of King Fisher, a Cherokee 
 chief of the first consequence, saw 
 their mistake, and, returning, received 
 Capt. Evans' company furiously at 
 the crossing of the bank. 
 
 The engagement was hot and spirit- 
 ed. The King Fisher made a daring 
 sally within a few yards of H. L. 
 White, afterwards the distinguished 
 jurist and statesman. He and some 
 of his comrades discharged their rifles, 
 the King Fisher fell and his warriors 
 abandoned the field. The whites lost 
 three men in the engagement. This 
 campaign ended the war and closed 
 the military careers of Col. Watts and 
 Gen. Sevier. 
 
 Gen. Sevier's official report of 
 the battle follows :** 
 
 Ish's Mills, Tenn., 25 Oct., 1793. 
 Sir: 
 
 In obedience to an order from Sec- 
 retary Smith, I marched in pursuit of 
 the large body of Indians who on the 
 25th of last month did the mischief 
 in Knox County, Grassy Valley. . . . 
 
 We directed our march for Esta- 
 naula*** on the Coosa**** river, at 
 which place we arrived on the 14th 
 instant. . . . We there made some 
 Cherokee prisoners, who informed us 
 that John Watts headed the army late- 
 ly out on our frontiers; that the same 
 was composed of Indians more or less 
 fi'om every town in the Cherokee na- 
 tion; that from the Turkey's Town, 
 Sallyquoah, Coosawaytah and several 
 other principal ones almost to a man 
 was out, joined by a large number of 
 the upper Creeks, who had passed that 
 
 place on their return only a few days 
 since, and had made for a town at the 
 mouth of Hightower river.***** 
 
 We, after refreshing the troops, 
 marched for that place, taking the 
 path that leads to that town, along 
 which the Creeks had marched, in five 
 large trails. 
 
 On the 17th instant, in the after- 
 noon, we arrived at the forks of Coosa 
 and Hightower rivers. Col. Kelly was 
 ordered with a part of the Knox reg- 
 iment to endeavor to cross the High- 
 tower. The Creeks and a number of 
 Cherokees had intrenched themselves 
 to obstruct the passage. Col. Kelly 
 and his pai'ty passed down the river 
 half a mile below the ford and began 
 to cross at a private place, where 
 there was no ford. Himself and a 
 few others swam over the river. The 
 Indians, discovering this movement, 
 immediately left their intrenchments 
 and ran down the river to oppose their 
 passage, expecting, as I suppose, the 
 whole intended crossing at the lower 
 place. 
 
 Capt. Evans immediately w'ith his 
 company of mounted infantry strained 
 their horses back to the upper ford 
 and began to cross the river. Very 
 few had, got to the south bank before 
 the Indians, who had discovered their 
 mistake, returned and received them 
 furiously at the rising of the bank. 
 An engagement instantly took place 
 and became very warm, and notwith- 
 standing the enemy w^ere at least four 
 to one in numbers, besides the advan- 
 tage of situation, Capt. Evans with 
 his- heroic company put them in a short 
 time utterly to flight. They left sev- 
 eral dead on the ground, and were 
 seen to carry others off both on foot 
 and on horse. Bark and trails of 
 blood from the wounded were to be 
 seen in every quarter. 
 
 The encampment fell into our hands, 
 with a number of their guns, many of 
 vvhich were of the Spanish sort, with 
 budgets, plankets and match coats, to- 
 gether with some horses. We lost 
 three men in this engagement, which 
 is all that have fell during the time 
 of our route, although this last attack 
 was the fourth the enemy had made 
 upon us, but in the others repulsed 
 without loss. 
 
 *Richard Finnolson. 
 
 **Sevier's report was evidenth' made to Gov. 
 Wm. Blount. It is here presented from Ramsey's 
 Annals of Tennessee, ps. .587-8. 
 
 '**Several miles east of Resaca. 
 
 ****Now Oostanaula. 
 
 *****Site cf Rome.
 
 John Sevier, John Floyd and the Indians 
 
 25 
 
 After the last engagement we cross- 
 ed the main Coosa, then proceeded on 
 our way down the main river near the 
 Turnip' Mountain,* destroying in our 
 way several Creek and Chei'okee 
 towns, which they had settled together 
 on each side of the river, and from 
 which they have all fled with appar- 
 ent precipitation, leaving almost every- 
 thing behind them. Neither did they 
 after the last engagement attempt to 
 annoy or interrupt us on our march, 
 in any manner whatever. I have got 
 reason to believe their ardor and spirit 
 was well checked. 
 
 The party flogged at Hightower 
 were those which had been out with 
 Watts. There are three or four men 
 slightly wounded and two or three 
 horses killed, but the Indians did not, 
 as I heard of, get a single horse from 
 us the time we were out. We took 
 and destroyed nearly 300 beeves, many 
 of which were of the best and largest 
 kind. Of course their losing so much 
 provision must distress them very 
 much. 
 
 Many women and children might 
 have been taken, but from motives 
 of humanity I did not encourage it to 
 be done, and several taken were suf- 
 fered to make their escape. Your Ex- 
 cellency knows the disposition of many 
 that were out on this expedition, and 
 can readily account for this conduct. 
 
 The National Encyclopedia of 
 American Biography, Vol. II, page 
 395, gives Hugh Lawson White 
 credit for the death of the Indian 
 chief mentioned above : "A war 
 Avitli the Cherokees breaking out, 
 he volunteered under Gen. Sevier. 
 
 . . and at Rtowah shot and mor- 
 tally wounded the Cherokee chief, 
 King Fisher, thus ending the bat- 
 tle.'' 
 
 The next military event of im- 
 portance to Cherokee Ge(jrgia 
 was the invasion of Alabama by 
 Gen. John Floyd in 1814. Gen. Floyd 
 was a native of Sotuh Carolina and 
 a descendant of noted fighting men. 
 He owned Fairfield Plantation, 
 Camden County, where he died 
 June 24, 1839, after having served 
 in the State Legislature and in 
 Congress. He defeated the Creek 
 Indians, allies of the I'.ritish, at 
 
 *Site of Coosa villaRe. 
 
 Autossee, Fort Defiance, and Chin- 
 ibee, Ala., and so complete was the 
 rout that the warlike Creeks as 
 a nation never afterward became 
 dangerous along the border, and 
 the comparatively peaceful settle- 
 ment of Northwest Georgia was 
 made possible. 
 
 Another civilizing intluence 
 about this time was the invention 
 of the Cherokee alphabet of 85 
 characters by Sequoyah (George 
 Guess or Gist), an uneducated In- 
 dian who lived at Alpine, Chattoo- 
 ga County, and who was a fre- 
 quent visitor to Major Ridge's at 
 his home on the Oostanatila. Se- 
 cjuoyah wrote on bark with poke- 
 berry juice, instructed his little 
 daughter and any Indian who 
 wished to learn. He went west to 
 the Indian country in a few years, 
 and presently his alpliabet was 
 adopted by the Cherokee Nation 
 and was used along with English in 
 copies of the Cherokee Phoenix, 
 
 GEN JOHN KLOYD, Indian fiKhter and Con- 
 gressman, after whom in 1832 Floyd County 
 was named.
 
 26 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 the paper edited at New Echota by 
 Elias Boudinot. 
 
 Several glimpses into Indian and 
 frontier life are given in "The Laws 
 of the Cherokees," published by 
 the Cherokee Advocate at Tahle- 
 quah. Okla., in 1852. One of these 
 if contained in an order from the 
 chiefs and warriors in National 
 Council at "Broom's Town," Sept. 
 11, 1808. (Broom's Town was 
 probably Broom Town, Cherokee 
 County, Ala., in Broom Town Val- 
 ley, and about five miles from 
 Cloudland, Chattooga County, Ga.). 
 The order forms "regulating com- 
 panies" of one captain, one lieu- 
 tenant and four privates each, at 
 annual salaries of $50, $40 and $30, 
 respectively, for the purpose of 
 arresting horse thieves and pro- 
 tecting property. The i)enalty for 
 stealing a horse was 100 lashes on 
 the bare back of the thief, be he 
 man or woman, and fewer lashes 
 for things of less value ; and if a 
 thief resisted the "regulators" with 
 gun, axe, spear or knife, he could 
 be killed on the spot. 
 
 
 SEQUOYAH (Geo. Guess), inventor of the 
 Cherokee Alphabet, who was born in Chat- 
 tooga County, near Alpine. 
 
 This law was signed by Black 
 Fox, principal chief; Chas. Hicks, 
 secretary to the Council ; Path 
 Killer and Toochalar. These offi- 
 cials and Turtle at Home, Speaker 
 of the Council, drafted the follow- 
 ing law Apr. 10, 1810, at "Oostan- 
 nallah," a town supposed to have 
 been located about three miles east 
 of Resaca, Gordon County, on the 
 east bank of the Connasauga 
 (sometimes known at that point 
 as Oostanaula) River, near the 
 mouth of Polecat Creek : 
 
 Be it known that this day the various 
 clans and tribes which compose the 
 Cherokee Nation have agreed that 
 should it happen that a brother, for- 
 getting- his natural affection, should 
 use his hand in anger and kill his 
 brother, he shall be accounted guilty 
 of murder and suffer accordingly; and 
 if a man has a horse stolen, and over- 
 takes the thief, and should his anger 
 be so great as to cause him to kill 
 him, let his blood remain on his own 
 conscience, but no satisfaction shall 
 be demanded for his life from his rel- 
 atives or the clan he may belong to. 
 
 "Echota" was the Cherokee term 
 for "town." The first capital is said 
 by some authorities to have been 
 originally in Virginia, the second 
 in North Carolina and the third in 
 East Tennessee. Prior to 1825, it 
 appears, John Ross, principal chief, 
 lived at Ross' Landing, Tennessee 
 River, now Chattanooga. The first 
 mention in the Cherokee laws of 
 New Town (or New Echota) was 
 under date of Oct. 26, 1819. This 
 place was situated on the south 
 l)ank of the Oostanaula River, in 
 Gordon County, Ga., just below 
 the confluence of the Coosawattee 
 and the Connasauga Rivers and 
 presumably three miles south of 
 Oostanaula village. 
 
 On Oct. 28, 1819, at Newtown 
 the following order was passed: 
 
 This day decreed by the National 
 Committee and Council, That all citi- 
 zens of the Cherokee Nation establish- 
 ing a store for the purpose of vend- 
 ing merchandise shall obtain license 
 for that purpose from the clerk of the
 
 John Sevier, John Floyd and the Indians 
 
 27 
 
 National Council, for which each and 
 every person so licensed shall pay a 
 tax of $25 per annum, and that no 
 other but citizens of the Cherokee Na- 
 tion shall be allowed to establish a per- 
 manent store within the Nation. And 
 it is also decreed that no peddlers not 
 citizens of the Nation shall be permit- 
 ted to vend merchandise in the Nation 
 without first obtaining license from 
 the Agent of the United States for the 
 Cherokee Nation, agreeably to the laws 
 of the United States, and each and 
 everyone so licensed shall pay $80 to 
 the treasurer of the Cherokee Nation 
 annually. 
 
 This law was signed by John 
 Ross, President of the National 
 Committee ; Path Killer, Chas. R. 
 Hicks and Alex McCoy, clerk. 
 Three years later George M. Lav- 
 ender encountered its provisions 
 by establishing the first trading 
 post near Rome, at the old home 
 of Major Ridge up the Oostanaula 
 River. 
 
 The first reference to the pres- 
 ent site of Rome appears in a law 
 passed Oct. 30, 1819, at New Town, 
 as follows : 
 
 Whereas, the Big Rattling Gourd*, 
 Wm. Grimit, Betsey Brown, The Dark, 
 Daniel Griffin and Mrs. Lesley hav- 
 ing complained before the Chiefs of a 
 certain company of persons having 
 formed a combination and established 
 a turnpike arbitrarily, in opposition 
 to the interest of the above-named 
 persons, proprietors of a privileged 
 turnpike on the same road, be it now, 
 therefore, known 
 
 That said complaint having been 
 submitted by the Council to the Na- 
 tional Committee for a decision, and 
 after maturely investigating into the 
 case, have decided that the said new 
 company of the disputed turnpike shall 
 be abolished, and that the above-named 
 persons are the only legal proprietors 
 to establish a turnpike on the road 
 leading from Widow Fool's (ferry) at 
 the forks of Ilightower (Etowah) and 
 Oostannallah Rivers to Will's Creek by 
 
 *Tho Rigr Rattline Gourd wns a snl)-chief 
 whd lived at r.n«' tinip at Cave Si)ring. His wife 
 proved unfaithful to him and in a moment of 
 antjer he hit otf her nose and otherwise ro 
 maltreated her that she died. AccordinR to Mrs. 
 Harriet Connor Stevens, of Cave Sprinpr, Bho 
 was buried on the spot where th^ Cave Spring 
 postofRce now stands. 
 
 **General route of thp present Alabama 
 Road. Turkey Town was in P^towah County, Ala. 
 
 v.ay of Turkey Town;** and the said 
 company shall be bound to keep in re- 
 pair said road, to commence from the 
 first creek east of John Fields, Sr'a 
 home, by the name where Vann was 
 shot, and to continue westward to the 
 extent of their limits; and that the 
 Widow Fool shall also keep in repair 
 for the benefit of her ferry at the fork, 
 the road to commence from the creek 
 above named to where Ridge's Road now 
 intersects said road east of her ferry, 
 and that the Ridges shall also keep in 
 repair the road to commence at the 
 Two Runs, east of his ferry, and to 
 continue by way of his ferry as far 
 as where his road intersects the old 
 road, leading from the fork west of 
 his ferry, and that also the High- 
 tower Turnpike Co. shall keep in re- 
 pair the road from the Two Runs to 
 where it intersects the Federal Road, 
 near Blackburn's. 
 
 This law was signed by Ross, 
 Path Killer, Hicks and McCoy. 
 
 In 1820, also at New Town or 
 New^ Echota, a law was passed di- 
 viding the Cherokee country of 
 Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee 
 into eight territorial and judicial 
 districts : Amoah, Aquohee, Chal- 
 loogee, Chickamaugee, Coosewa- 
 tee, Etowah, Hickory Log and 
 Tahquohee. In a description of 
 the Coosewatee District the ferry 
 of the Widow Fool is again men- 
 tioned. 
 
 It would a])pear that for about 
 six years, from 1819 to 1825, the 
 Cherokee National Committee and 
 Council held their meetings at New 
 Echota. On Nov. 12, 1825, it was 
 resolved to establish a town with 
 suitalde buildings, wide streets and 
 a park : 
 
 That 100 town lots of one acre 
 square be laid off on the Oostannallah 
 River, commencing below the mouth 
 of the creek (Town), nearly opposite 
 to the mouth of Caunasauga River, the 
 public square to embrace two acres of 
 ground, which town shall be known 
 and called I]chota. There shall be a 
 main street of 60 feet, and the other 
 streets shall be 50 feet. 
 
 That the lots when laid off be sold 
 to the highest bidder, the second Mon- 
 day in February next, the proceeds
 
 28 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 to be appropriated for the benefit of 
 the public buildings in said town. 
 
 That three commissioners, Judge 
 Martin. George Saunders and Walter 
 S. Adair, superintend the laying off of 
 the lots. 
 
 That all the ground lying within the 
 following bounds, not embraced by the 
 lots, shall remain as commons for the 
 convenience of the town: beginning 
 at the mouth of the creek, opposite the 
 mouth of Caunasauga, and up said 
 creek to the mouth of the dry branch 
 on which Geo. Hicks lives, up said 
 branch to the point of the ridges, and 
 thence in a circle around along said 
 ridges, by the place occupied by the 
 Crying Wolf (lately occupied by War 
 Club), thence to the river. 
 
 Signing; tliis document were John 
 Ross, President of the National 
 Committee ; Major Ridge,* Speak- 
 er of the Council ; Path Killer. 
 Chas. R. Hicks,** A. McCoy, clerk 
 of the National Committee, and 
 Elias Boudinot, clerk of the Na- 
 tional Council. 
 
 Thus we see the Cherokees, driv- 
 en from j)illar to post by the en- 
 croaching pale-faces, marshaling' 
 their forces for a last ditch stand. 
 Their first expedient Avas to estab- 
 lish "a nation within a nation," 
 hence the concentration of power 
 in a Principal Chief, a National 
 Committee and a National Coun- 
 cil, and a regular seat of govern- 
 ment at New Kchota ; their second 
 expedient was resort to such force 
 as they could command — highway 
 assassination, attacks on isolated 
 families, tribal uprisings — and 
 finally, when state and federal gov- 
 ernment pressure became too 
 great, non-intercourse and passive 
 resistance. Their newspaper pr(n'ed 
 a feeble weapon. 
 
 As far back as the presidency of 
 George Washington (1794) we 'find 
 pow-wows in Philadeljihia (then 
 the national capital) with the Cher- 
 okees and other tribes of the va- 
 rious states in the east and the 
 southeast. In 1803 Thos. JeiYerson, 
 then President, suggested a gen- 
 eral movement westward. In 1817 
 
 and in 1819, during the Presidency 
 of James Monroe, important trea- 
 ties were signed with the Chero- 
 kees, involving cessions of land. In 
 1802, during the administration of 
 Mr. JelTerson, Georgia had ceded to 
 the United States government all 
 the land she owned westward to 
 the Mississippi River, now the 
 states of Alabama and Mississippi, 
 in exchange for the government's 
 promise to extinguish the Indian 
 title to land within Georgia's pres- 
 ent boundaries. Twenty years 
 passed ; nothing having been done, 
 (jOv. Geo. M. Troup pressed the 
 matter upon the attention of Presi- 
 dent James Monroe, and the Presi- 
 dent called a meeting in 1825 for 
 Indian Springs. Here the Lower 
 Creeks, led by Gen. Wm. Mcintosh, 
 ignored the hostile Alabama 
 Creeks, who did not attend, and 
 signed away their Georgia lands. 
 This act infuriated the Alabama 
 Creeks, and 170 men volunteered to 
 kill Gen. Mcintosh, who lived at 
 "Mcintosh Reserve,"onthe Chatta- 
 hoochee River, five miles southwest 
 of Whitesburg, in what is now Car- 
 roll County. The band lay in the 
 woods until 3 o'clock one morning, 
 ;ind proceeded to the Mcintosh 
 home with a cjuantity of pitch pine 
 on the Ijacks of three warriors. 
 Presently the pine knots were ig- 
 riited and thrown under the house, 
 and the structure blazed up 
 brightly. From the second story 
 Mcintosh fought ofif his enemies 
 with four guns, but eventually the 
 heat forced him to descend, and 
 when he exposed himself he was 
 shot, then dragged into the yard 
 and killed with knives. 
 
 The Alabama Creeks having 
 claimed the Indian Springs instru- 
 ment was "no treaty," the incom- 
 
 *Major Ridge was a powerful orator, but it 
 is said he was uneducated and could not write 
 his name. The state papers of the Cherokees 
 usually have after his name "his mark." Path 
 Killer also signed by touching the pen. 
 
 **Chas. R. Hicks became the first principal 
 chief after the Cherokees had set up their re- 
 vised structure of government at New Echota. 
 He was succeeded in 1828 by John Ross.
 
 John Sevier, John Floyd and the Indians 
 
 29 
 
 ing president, John Quincy Adams, 
 took their side and ordered Gov. 
 Troup not to survey the lands just 
 cedecl. The Georgia Governor de- 
 fied Mr. Adams and told him if 
 United States troops invaded Geor- 
 gia soil, Georgia troops would put 
 them off. Trouble was averted by 
 a new agreement in which the In- 
 dians were given about $28,000. 
 
 The Creek settlement furnished 
 a suggestion for the agents who 
 ten years later negotiated with a 
 minority faction of the Cherokees, 
 as will be told more fully herein 
 hereafter. Farther down, in South 
 Georgia and Florida, were the 
 
 such establishment. Samuel A. 
 Worcester, a native of Worcester, 
 Mass., had charge of a mission 
 at New Echota. Missionary 
 Station, at Coosa, Floyd Coun- 
 ty, was in the care of Rev. 
 and Mrs. Elijah Butler, who were 
 sent out from South Canaan, Conn., 
 by the American Baptist Commit- 
 tee on Foreign Missions. In 1831 
 Dr. Worcester, Dr. Butler and nine 
 others were sentenced to a term of 
 four years in the Georgia peni- 
 tentiary, at Milledgeville, and 
 served a year and four months. 
 They were charged with pernicious 
 activities among the Indians. 'IMieir 
 
 KsovJ du rthti^nv (3)wj Hyo e\)s. 
 
 THE CHEROKEE ALPHABFT 
 
 Seminoles, who gave considerable 
 trouble, but were generally less of 
 a bone of contention than the 
 Creeks and the Cherokees. 
 
 The clan system among the 
 Cherokees was abolished about 
 1800. The clans were W\)lf, Deer, 
 Paint, Longhair, Bird, Blind Sa- 
 vannah and Holly. Jno. Ross was 
 a Bird, Major Ridge a Deer and 
 David Vann a Wolf. 
 
 Prior to 1820 Congress appro- 
 priated $10,000 yearly toward the 
 maintenance of missions and mis- 
 sionaries among the Indians of 
 Cherokee Georgia and contiguous 
 territory. The P)rainerd Mission 
 was located on Missionary Ridge. 
 Tenn., and was pro])ably the first 
 
 release was brought al)out when 
 they agreed to lca\c tlic Slate. 
 
 Pressure on the IncHans may be 
 said to have been exerted from two 
 directions ; it proceeded from the 
 oldest section of the State, the 
 neighborhood of Augusta, Savan- 
 nah and Darien, in a generally 
 northwesterly direction, and from 
 South Carolina, in a westerly di- 
 rection. Various land si)eculators, 
 adventurers, criminals and good, 
 substantial ])eo])le began to over- 
 run the Ciierokee country. Under 
 letter date of Aug. 6, 1832, from 
 the Council Ground at Red Clay, 
 Whitfield County, the following 
 red-skins ])roteste(l to Lewis Cass,
 
 30 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Secretary of War, against the pale- 
 face encroachments :* 
 
 Richard Taylor, President of Com- 
 mittee; John Ridge. 
 
 Major Ridge, his x mark, Geo. M. 
 Waters, Executive Council. 
 
 Wm. Roques, clerk of committee. 
 
 John Ross, Going Snake, speaker of 
 committee; Joseph Vann, David Vann, 
 James Daniel, Thos. Foreman, Alexan- 
 der McDaniel, his x mark; Fox Bald- 
 ridge, Samuel Gunter; Chincumkah, 
 his X mark ; Young Glass, hix x mark ; 
 John Foster, Te-sat-es-kee, his x mark; 
 Ed. Duncan, John Watts, his x mark; 
 John Wayne, his x mark; Sit-u-akee, 
 his X mark; Bean Stick, his x mark; 
 Walking Stick, his x mark; N. Connell, 
 Richard Fielding, John Timson, Wm. 
 Doling, George Still, his x mark; Hair 
 Conrad, his x mark; Sleeping Rabbit,"* 
 his X mark; Archibald Campbell, his x 
 mark; The Buck, his x mark; White 
 Path, his X mark; John R. Daniel, 
 Ruquah, his x mark; James Speaks, 
 his X mark ; Sweet Water, his x mark ; 
 Peter, his x mark; Soft Shell Turtle, 
 his X mark; A. McCoy, George Lowry. 
 U. S. Agent Elisha W. Chester, wit- 
 ness. 
 
 It was not until Oct. 23, 1832, 
 however, that the situation became 
 so acute as to call for the most 
 delicate diplomacy from national 
 and state governments. Then it 
 was that the lottery drawings for 
 the Cherokee lands were held, and 
 the influx of settlers became gen- 
 eral. Like a plague of locusts the 
 new-comers alighted on the choice 
 hunting grounds of the Cherokees. 
 The territory was broken up into 
 counties, and thus was also broken 
 the friendship between the con- 
 tending parties, Avhich for so long 
 had been hanging by a slender 
 thread. John Ross directed a pro- 
 test to his tribesmen which caused 
 tliem to fast for several days. The 
 Indians assumed an ugly attitude, 
 ])ut it availed little, as we shall 
 ]^resently see. 
 
 *American State Papers, Military Affairs, 
 Vol. 5, ps. 28-9. 
 
 **It was at his one-room log cabin, in Ten- 
 nessee, that Jno. Ross and Jno. Howard Payne 
 were arrested Nov. 7, 1835. 
 
 <^i^ 
 
 111 
 
 3 9 ? a J g f
 
 PART II 
 
 'ANCIENT ROME 
 1834-1861
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 Rome's Establishment and Early Days 
 
 I 
 
 X THE spring of 1834 two 
 lawyers were traveling on 
 horseback from Cassville, 
 Cass County, to attend 
 court at Livingston, the county 
 seat of Floyd. They were Col. Dan- 
 iel R. Mitchell, a lawyer of Canton, 
 Cherokee County, and Col. Zacha- 
 riah B. Hargrove, Cassville attor- 
 ney, formerly of Covington, New- 
 ton County. The day was warm 
 and the travelers hauled up at a 
 small spring on the peninsula which 
 separates the Etow^ah and the Oos- 
 tanaula rivers at their junction. 
 Here they slaked their thirst and 
 sat down under a willow tree to 
 rest before proceeding on their 
 way. 
 
 Col. Hargrove gazed in admira- 
 tion on the surrounding hills and 
 remarked : "This would make a 
 splendid site for a town." 
 
 "I was just thinking the same," 
 returned his companion. "There 
 seems to be plenty of water round 
 about and extremely fertile soil 
 and all the timber a man could 
 want." 
 
 A stranger having come up to 
 refresh himself at the spring, and 
 having overheard the conversation, 
 said: "Gentlemen, you will par- 
 don me for intruding, but 1 have 
 been convinced for some time that 
 the location of this place offers ex- 
 ceptional opportunities for l)uild- 
 ing a city that would become the 
 largest and most prosperous in 
 Cherokee Georgia. I live two miles 
 south of here. My business takes 
 me now and then to George M. 
 Lavender's trading post up the 
 Oostanaula there, and I never pass 
 this spot l)Ut T think of what could 
 be done." 
 
 The last speaker introduced him- 
 self as Maj. rhilip Walker Hemp- 
 
 hill, planter. Learning the mission 
 of the travelers, he added : "The 
 court does not open until tomorrow 
 afternoon. You gentlemen are no 
 doubt fatigued by your journey, 
 and it will give me great pleasure 
 if you will accompany me home 
 and spend the night. There we can 
 discuss the matter of locating a 
 town at this place." 
 
 Col. Mitchell and Col. Hargrove 
 accepted with thanks. The three 
 left the spring (which still runs 
 under Broad street at the south- 
 east corner of Third Avenue), 
 crossed the Etowah River on John 
 Ross' "Forks Ferry," and proceed- 
 ed with Major Hemphill to his 
 comfortable plantation home at 
 what is now DeSoto Park. Here 
 they went into the question more 
 deeply. A cousin of Maj. Hemp- 
 hill, Gen. James Hemphill, who 
 lived about ten miles down Vann's 
 Valley, had recently been elected 
 to the Georgia legislature, and 
 could no doubt bring about a re- 
 moval of the county site from 
 Livingston to Rome ; he was also 
 commanding officer of the Georgia 
 Militia in the section. 
 
 After court was over, Col. Mitch- 
 ell and Col. Hargrove spent an- 
 other night witli Maj. llcmphill, 
 ;ind the next morning Col. Wm. 
 v'^mith ^vas called in from Cave 
 Spring, and l)ecame the fourth 
 member of tlie company. It was 
 there agreed that all availal^le 
 land would be acquired immediate- 
 1\'. the fcrr\- rights would be 
 !)ought and the ground laid olt in 
 lots. Gen. Hemphill was requested 
 to confer witli his compatriots at 
 Milledgcvillc and draw up a l)ill 
 for removal. The projectors wcnild 
 give sufiicient land for the imblic 
 l)uildings and in time would make 
 the ferries free and cause neces-
 
 34 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 sary bridges to be built, as well as 
 to lay out streets at once. A con- 
 tract along- these lines was signed 
 with the Inferior Court of Floyd 
 County. Since Col. Mitchell and 
 Col. Ilargrove were fairly well es- 
 tablished elsewhere, and it would 
 be some time before they could 
 move, they agreed to leave the le- 
 gal matters in the hands of John 
 II. I<uni])kin, of Oglethorpe Coun- 
 ty, who was ready to resign as sec- 
 retary to his uncle, Governor Wil- 
 son Lumpkin, and to grow uj) with 
 the new town. 
 
 These five i)ii)neers put five 
 names into a hat, it having been 
 agreed that the name drawn out 
 should be the name of the city 
 they were to build. Col. Smith 
 put in the name Ilillsboro, typify- 
 ing the hills, and this later became 
 the name of the suburb he develop- 
 ed. South Rome ; Col. Hargrove 
 suggested Pittsburg, after the iron 
 ?nd steel metropolis of Pennsyl- 
 
 DANIEL R. MITCHELL, lawyer and one of 
 four founders of Rome, who gave to the 
 young city its name. 
 
 \ania ; Col. Hemphill preferred 
 Hamburg, after the great commer- 
 cial city of Germany ; Col. Mitch- 
 cll, recalling the seven hills of an- 
 cient Rome on the Tiber, wanted 
 Rome ; and Mr. Lumpkin favored 
 Warsaw, after the city of Poland. 
 The name Rome was extracted and 
 became the name of the town. 
 
 Among other early settlers of 
 Rome or Floyd County were the 
 following : 
 
 Col. Alfred Shorter, who came 
 from Society Hill, Ala., to finance 
 the o])erations of William Smith, 
 on a half interest basis ; Joseph 
 Watters and John Rush, of the 
 Watters District ; John Ellis, Jos. 
 B'ord. judge W. H. Underwood, 
 Alford B. Reece, Thos. G. Watters, 
 Thos. S. Price, Wesley Shropshire, 
 Edward Ware, Thos. and Elijah 
 Lumpkin, Micajah Mayo, Elkanah 
 Everett, of Everett Springs; A. 
 Tabor Hardin, Wm. C. Hardin, 
 Nathan Bass, Thos. Selman, Rev. 
 Genuluth Winn, Dr. Alvin Dean, 
 Isaac and John P. Bouchillon, Wm. 
 Ring, John Smith, Shade Green, 
 Dr. Jesse Carr, Jno. W. Walker, 
 Henry W. Dean, Jno. Townsend, 
 Jeremiah L. McArver, Sam Smith, 
 Wm. Mathis, G. T. Mitchell, Fletch- 
 er Carver, J. W. Carver, J. D. Alex- 
 ander, Col. Jno. R. Hart, Gilbert 
 Cone, Dr. IL V. M. Miller, Thos. W. 
 Burton, A. D. Shackelford, Thos. 
 C. Hackett, James McEntee, Wm. 
 T. I 'rice, R. S. Norton, C. M. Pen- 
 nington, Rev. Shaler (i. Hillyer, 
 \\\u. E. Alexander, W. S. Cothran, 
 A. B. Ross, Jobe Rogers, Jno. and 
 Wm. Dejournett, Judge Jno. W 
 Hooper, Ewell Meredith, Col. Jas. 
 Liddell (or Ladelle), Alfred Brown, 
 James Wells, Jesse Lamberth, Ter- 
 rence McGuire, Dennis Hills, Dr. 
 Thos. Hamilton, Samuel Mobley, 
 Wm. Montgomery, Fielding Hight, 
 Green Cunningham and Samuel 
 Stewart. 
 
 Jackson County appropriately 
 bears the name "Mother of Floyd,"
 
 Rome's Establishment and Early Days 
 
 35 
 
 l)ecaiise of the number and promi- 
 nence of her citizens who settled 
 i;i Cave Spring, Vann's Valley or 
 Rome. Among these might be men- 
 tioned Mrs. Alfred Shorter, Major 
 Philip W. Hemphill and his brother, 
 Chas. Jonathan Hemphill ; Col. and 
 ]\rrs. Wm. Smith and her brother, 
 )no. Willis Mayo, and her kinsman, 
 Micajah Mayo, after whom the 
 Mayo Bar lock was named ; Col. 
 Smith's brothers, Chas., John and 
 Elijah A. Smith ; Gen. Jas. Hemp- 
 hill, Walton H. Jones, Peyton Skip- 
 with Randolph, Newton Green, 
 Col. James Liddell (or Ladelle), 
 and Wm. Montgomery. Most of 
 these settled in Vann's \^alley or 
 Cave Spring and thus furnished the 
 inspiration for Rome. Generally 
 they hailed from Jefferson, home of 
 Dr. Crawford W. Long. 
 
 In 1828 the Georgia Legislature 
 liad passed a law extending juris- 
 diction over the Cherokee country, 
 thus ending the "nation within a 
 nation" dream. On Dec. 3, 1832, less 
 than two months after the lottery 
 cu-awings, the Legislature passed 
 an act providing for a division of 
 Cherokee Georgia into ten large 
 counties : Floyd, called after the 
 Indian fighter, Gen. Jno. Floyd, 
 of Camden County ; Cherokee, For- 
 syth, Lumpkin, Cobb, Gilmer. Cass, 
 Murray, Paulding and Lnion. 
 Roughly speaking, this territory 
 lay northwest of tlie Chattahoo- 
 chee River, and was bounded on 
 the north by the Tennessee line, 
 nnd on the west b_\- the Alabama 
 line. Graduallv more and more di- 
 visions were made, until today the 
 territory is composed of the fol- 
 lowing additional ccranties : Dade, 
 Walker, Catoosa. Chattooga, ]^>ar- 
 tow, (jordon, Polk, Haralson, Car- 
 roll, Douglas, Milton, Dawson, 
 White, Fannin, Pickens, Rabun, 
 'J'owns and Habersham, and parts 
 of Hall, Heard and TroU]). 
 
 *Acts, 1833, ps. 321-2. 
 **Acts, 1834, ps. 250-1. 
 
 Floyd was surveyed by Jacob 
 M. Scudder, who in 1833 was em- 
 ployed by the United States gov- 
 ernment to ap])raise Indian lands 
 and improvements near Cave 
 Spring. Mr. Scudder's name ap- 
 pears on the early records at the 
 Floyd County courthouse in a real 
 estate transaction, but there is no 
 evidence that he ever lived at Rome. 
 Livingston, a hamlet located on 
 the south side of the Coosa River 
 at Foster's Bend, about 14 miles 
 below^ Rome, was chosen by legis- 
 lative act of Dec. 21, 1833* as the 
 county seat, and a log cabin court- 
 house was erected at which one or 
 more sessions of court, presided 
 over ])y Judge Jno. W. Hooper, 
 were held, and in which quite a 
 numl)er of Indians appeared as 
 jjrosecutors and defendants. 
 
 The removal of the county seat 
 from Livingston to Rome took 
 place under authoritv of an act 
 passed Dec. 20, 1834>* and was 
 
 PHILIP WALKER HEMPHILL, planter and 
 one of Rome's projectors, who in 1846 moved 
 to Mississippi.
 
 36 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 consummated in 1835. However, 
 a considerable settlement had 
 sprung up prior to this in Vann's 
 Valley. On the "pale-face side" of 
 the Chattahoochee a large and 
 restless element had been held back 
 by the existing conditions, but 
 when encouragement was given by 
 the Georgia authorities to en- 
 croachments on the Indian lands, 
 this tide overflowed into the Cher- 
 okee country. 
 
 The countv site was removed 
 to Land Lot 245, 23rd District, 3rd 
 Section, Head of Coosa, Floyd 
 County, the new place to be known 
 as Rome.* The first Saturday in 
 February, 1835, was set as the date 
 for selecting five commissioners 
 for one-year terms.** Parts of 
 land lot 244, east of the Oostanaula 
 and 276, north of the Hightower 
 (Etowah), were also reserved for 
 the growth of the town. The act 
 further stated that nothing therein 
 was to be considered in conflict 
 with a contract made previously 
 by Wm. Smith, ct al., with the In- 
 ferior Court. 
 
 An amendment*** to the act of 
 1834, passed Dec. 29, 1838, provided 
 for creation of the office of "in- 
 tendant," which means "superin- 
 tendent" l)y the dictionary, but 
 probably meant "mayor" in those 
 days; also included were commis- 
 sioners, clerk, marshal, etc., and 
 some salaries were fixed. 
 
 David Vann, a Cherokee sub- 
 chief, had settled near Cave Si)ring 
 in the valle_\' wliicli was given his 
 name, and in this valley between 
 the present Rome and Cave Spring 
 people began to "squat" several 
 years before there was a Rome. 
 In 1828, Major Armistead Rich- 
 ardson, father-in-law of the late 
 Judge Augustus R. Wright, of 
 Rome, removed to Vann's Valley 
 from Augusta and with the as- 
 sistance of a number of enthusi- 
 astic associates began preparations 
 
 for the establishment of Cave 
 Spring in 1831. 
 
 Ridge Valley, seven miles north 
 of Rome, had been settled simul- 
 taneously with the Vann's Valley 
 settlement. This valley was named 
 after another Indian leader, Major 
 Ividge. \vho is supposed to have 
 lived in it. at the present Rush 
 place, at Hermitage, a number of 
 years before moving to the Oosta- 
 naula near Rome. 
 
 The period of John Ross' resi- 
 dence in DeSoto (Rome's present 
 Fourth ward) has not been deter- 
 mined accurately. However, a sat- 
 isfactory conclusion may be drawn 
 from the fact that the Cherokee 
 chiefs had been meeting at the 
 New Echota Council ground since 
 1819. that New Echota had been 
 the capital since 1825, and Mr. Ross 
 found DeSoto ("Head of Coosa") 
 a central point to reside.**** Un- 
 doubtedlv Mr. Ross was influenced 
 
 *Acts. 1834, ps. 2.50-1. 
 
 **Jas. M. CunninKham's place, at or near the 
 present DeSoto Park, had been designated in 
 the act of Dec. 21, 1S33, as the place to hold 
 county elections. 
 
 ***Acts of 1838. 
 
 ****Persistent search has been made to reveal 
 who it was that turned John Ross out of Jiis 
 home, but his identity has net been estab- 
 lished to a certainty. However, it is on record 
 in the Secretary of State's office. State Cap'tol, 
 Atlanta, and an old book knowTi as the Cher- 
 okee Land Lottery says the Ross home site land 
 (Land Lot 237. 23rd district, 3rd section) was 
 drawn by Hugh Brown, of Beavour's district, 
 Habersham County. Floyd County Deed Record 
 D, page 40, recites that Brown sold the 160 
 acres Nov. 23, 1835, to Samuel Headen, of 
 Franklin County, for $.500 ; and on page 4.5 
 it is set down that Samuel Headen sold it 
 Feb. 21. 1844, for $3,000 to John B. Winfrey, 
 of Hall. John B. Winfrey was the father of 
 Jas. O. Winfrey, of Floyd. He sold 80 acres 
 of it to Col. Alfre<I Shorter and SO to Daniel 
 R. Mitchell. The part on which the Ross 
 house stood is now between Mrs. James M. 
 Bradshaw's home and Hamilton park, and in- 
 cludes the home of County School Superin- 
 tendent W. C. Rash. It is an eminence where 
 a large sugar berry tree and a walnut are 
 growing. Here, according to a memorial Ross 
 and others sent to the United States Senate in 
 183(5, was where one of his babies and his 
 beloved father, Daniel Ross, were buried. Since 
 Hugh Brown sold the land in November and 
 Ross was dispossessed in April, 1835, it is 
 likely that Brown was living there at the time 
 the Indian leader and his family were turned 
 adrift. Mr. Ross lived at Ross' Landing, Look- 
 out Mountain, now Chattanooga, Tenn., and 
 at Rossville, Walker County, Ga. He was 
 born Oct. 3, 1790 : some authorities say at 
 Rossville, some Turkeytown. Etowah Co., Ala., 
 and some Tah-nee-hoo-yah ("Logs in the Wa- 
 ter"), Ala., which last place and Turkeytown 
 were on the Coosa.
 
 Rome's Establishment and Early Days 
 
 37 
 
 Jlf /JCirkrijurJi I 
 
 1 / Gor.Jon Spring) T t_7 O,. ^^ Fotf I'^^Ai** 
 
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 Fjimace f-s0iTI'-- * '^ ' 
 
 ^/darGr.„/Xa \ ^a<""^ 
 
 lelJ-s mi^^'}^"'^]' '''^ "S Ca 
 
 Stark'S; 
 
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 •. ;R^J:-f^ro ^^Z^nj,la^ ^if'T'~\ 7G'~^^^'^''^oaTi %^f/,";i 
 
 P" \ • /(l^'alf'nnv^fbrc OA^m^n(;!0 "^ j B / A R T 
 
 I R fV, cf /.f^.^:^ ?Pvl, »if j-o-#. /""f •-^- / ii.r.'f Mill 
 
 ~Sharj> 
 OJall C:-. 
 
 
 I iims(^ Creel \^S -T-aL -'^co, '^'■'>., 
 
 ■Jnu 
 
 JioHins ( 
 
 "oouj 
 Ari 
 
 ^£tta 
 
 ■I- 
 
 
 1^ A U L 
 
 '•hW^' 
 
 «i 
 
 I- cOak Level 
 [tley ^ 
 
 -Ailor.^ 
 
 ■J? 7\Pop7c.r S!)ring\j '■''j-'' 
 
 Jtbseirooa. \ ' ■'^ ( -^ 
 
 Putnpli 
 
 N' G, 
 
 Snlt 
 
 '>V.,; 
 
 rftUStol 
 
 B 
 
 V'o-/j 
 
 THE HEART OF CHEROKEE GEORGIA. 
 
 (Scale of miles, 18 miles to one inch.) 
 
 by the fact that Major Ridge was 
 living about a mile away, and they 
 could hold their conferences much 
 more easily, jolm Ridge, son of 
 the Major and also a leader, lived 
 about three miles from Ross, at 
 "Running Waters," later the John 
 Hume place. New Kchota was 
 some 30 miles, and the Council 
 Ground at Red Clay, Whitfield 
 County, was 60 miles northward, 
 as the crow flies. Seciuoyah, the 
 
 man of letters and knowledge, was 
 25 miles aw;iy. Klias B'.)udinot, 
 Stand Watie and David Vann were 
 readily available. Assuming that 
 Ross moved to DeSot(-i in 1825, he 
 resided there ten years, until fmally 
 dispossessed of his home, lie used 
 to start his letters "Head of Coo- 
 sa." 
 
 It will be seen, therefore, that 
 the site of Rome was probably of 
 nitirc inii)ortancc between 1825 and 
 
 44G036
 
 38 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 the final removal in 1838 than even 
 the capital itself; but at best the 
 Indians were a nomadic race, liv- 
 ing here today and there tomor- 
 row, and their leaders hopped Avith 
 alacritv between Rome, New 
 Echota, Red Clay and Washing- 
 ton. 
 
 r.ut let us return to the pioneer 
 pale-faces. 
 
 Col. Mitchell surveyed the sec- 
 tion between the rivers and made 
 a map, dated 1834, copies of which 
 are in existence today. This work 
 was done from Third Avenue 
 northward, since the farm below 
 was owned by Col. Smith and at 
 that time was considered unsafe 
 for building on account of the high 
 waters ; furthermore, it was re- 
 served for race track and tourna- 
 ment purposes. Col. Smith was a 
 lover of horseflesh and he built a 
 half-mile cinder track around the 
 banks of the rivers, and placed his 
 grandstand near the spring alluded 
 to in tlie foregoing. There were 
 special races between the best 
 riders of the surrounding counties ; 
 the Indians, who usually rode bare- 
 back, carried off many a prize. 
 Tournaments were held now and 
 tlien, in which the riders, going at 
 full s])eed on their mounts, ran 
 tlicir lances through rings held 
 lightly by a projecting wooden 
 arm — the man who got the most 
 rings in the fewest runs av(mi the 
 contest. 
 
 Another diversion, of a highly 
 humorous nature, was the "gander 
 pulling." The neck of a live gander 
 was greased thoroughly and the 
 bird hung up by the feet to a limlj. 
 The game was to pull the gan- 
 der's neck oft* or Ijring him down 
 "whole." This was a (lifiicult feat 
 because the gander dexterously 
 dodged his head when the horse- 
 man was about to "pull." Still an- 
 other was the "greased pole." Any- 
 body who could climb 15 feet to 
 the top could have the bag of 
 
 money suspended therefrom. The 
 pole was of skinned hickory or 
 oak and would have been sleek 
 enough without any grease. If the 
 boys could not make it to the top 
 in a reasonable time they were al- 
 lowed in put sand on their cloth- 
 ing; then they went home to their 
 "maws." "Catching the greased 
 ])ig" was another sport. 
 
 In 1833 occurred an event which 
 made Indians and many supersti- 
 tious folk believe the world was 
 coming to an end. One night the 
 stars "fell." Such another display 
 of pranks in the skies had never 
 l)een seen ; for c^uite a while the 
 stars shot this way and that, in 
 graceful curves, then in uncanny 
 zig-zags, until it appeared that the 
 feeble little people of earth would 
 surely be covered in a shower of 
 stars. Indian mothers rushed about, 
 gathering up their oft'spring, and 
 rum old negro mammies and uncles 
 hid under beds and houses, shout- 
 ing, "Oh, Lordy! Oh, Lordy ! Dis 
 nigger's soul am pure !" 
 
 The task of forming the Rome 
 l)ar fell to Col. ]\Iitchell, who pro- 
 ceeded with a nucleus composed 
 of himself, Mr. Lumpkin and two 
 or three others. Tresently, in 1835, 
 fluids were raised and a brick 
 courthouse erected at Court (East 
 First) Street and Bridge Street 
 (East Fifth Avenue). Removal of 
 the courthouse did not exactly suit 
 Jackson Trout, who had built the 
 first wooden dwelling at Living- 
 ston. He kept up with the proces- 
 sion by skidding his house down 
 to the Coosa River, putting it on 
 a barge and polling it to Rome, 
 where he set it up again as the first 
 dwelling there. Others followed 
 suit, and they had considerable 
 trouble when they reached Llorse- 
 leg Shoals, which required "mule- 
 hauling" of a high order, to use a 
 nautical expression. 
 
 Rome at this time was a "forest 
 primeval." Everywhere were
 
 Rome's Establishment and Early Days 
 
 39 
 
 woods except at the forks, and 
 that was swampy and full of wil- 
 lows, with an occasional sturdy 
 tree and hungry mosquito. The 
 rivers were still alive with fish ; 
 wild turkeys and deer were often 
 seen ; snakes were numerous ; quail 
 were abundant and squirrels skip- 
 ped in their native element where 
 Broad Street now extends ; the 
 bushes were alive wnth wild birds 
 of beautiful color; on Mt. Alto 
 and Lavender Mountain, five miles 
 away, bears could be found ; and 
 at night the fiery gleam from the 
 eye of a wolf was a common sight. 
 It was a wild country, with trails 
 for roads, and few conveniences. 
 
 Squatters and Indians alike 
 pitched their tents in suitable spots 
 waiting" for some new word to 
 "move on" or "move ofif." Small 
 squads of Georgia Guardsmen, es- 
 tablished by act of 1834, or of Unit- 
 ed States soldiers, watching Guards 
 and Indians alike, camped a while 
 and then went on to other duty. 
 Trappers and traders did a thriv- 
 ing business ; so did the ferry- 
 men who set people across at the 
 forks or elsewhere. Everybody 
 seemed to be going or coming, de- 
 spite the efforts of the Town Com- 
 pany to halt them at Rome. The 
 Indians were unusually restless. 
 
 Along would come a white fam- 
 ily on horseback, carrying all their 
 worldly goods. They had traveled 
 from some neighboring county, or 
 perchance as far as from North 
 Carolina, ho])ing to better their 
 material condition. The man would 
 lead, the children would follow, and 
 the mother bring up the rear, rid- 
 ing sidewise. Any old port in a 
 storm looked good. 
 
 Many had definite ()l)jectives. 
 many did not and would "scjuat" 
 anywhere that looked like it held 
 promise for the future. Others 
 were definitely attracted by the 
 prospect of pioneering in a live 
 town. It is fair to sav that Rome 
 
 and Floyd County received, along 
 with many "floaters," a highly sub- 
 stantial and even aristocratic cit- 
 izenship. The founders were men 
 of character and iron will — accus- 
 tomed to blazing their way through 
 one kind of forest or 'another. They 
 started with little and made out of 
 it much. There were no luxuries to 
 be had, hence they worked with 
 the things of nature, and fashioned 
 out of them whatever they could. 
 
 The old Alabama Road forked 
 where the Central Railroad trestle 
 now crosses it. One fork led to 
 Major Ridge's Ferry opposite the 
 Linton A. Dean place, and the other 
 bent southeast to the Ross ferry at 
 the confluence of the rivers. At 
 the Ross ferry a man from Ala- 
 bama could gain the Ilillsboro side 
 or the Rome side, as he pleased. 
 A little later the traffic became so 
 heavy that Matt and Overton 
 Hitchcock built for Col. Smith a 
 covered wooden bridge at Fifth 
 Avenue (over the Oostanaula), and 
 from that point connected with the 
 Alabama Road. Agricultural busi- 
 ness gradually grew prosperous. 
 George Lavender's trading post did 
 a land office business. It used to be 
 said that Lavender kept his money 
 in a barrel or keg which was al- 
 ways fairly well filled with gold 
 and silver coin ; and that when his 
 partnership with Afajor Ridge and 
 Daniel R. Mitchell was dissolved, 
 thev cut a melon estimated at 
 $250,000 in 1922 coin. 
 
 Perhai)s 5.000 Indians patronized 
 this establishment, and they paid 
 an}' j^rice for \\hat they \vantcd. 
 They were especially fond of calico 
 garments, and would buy extrava- 
 gantly for their women, and often 
 include enough for an odd waist 
 ^vhich the women would make for 
 them. They wore outlandish 
 clothes, never matching in an_\- par- 
 ticular; buckskin or woolen trous- 
 ers, well worn or ])atched ; hats 
 that suggested the liat of today on
 
 40 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 a Chinaman, often with a squirrel 
 tail tacked on it and hanging ilown 
 the side or hack; some hats made 
 entirely of skin, and therefore very 
 warm in cold weather; moccasins 
 or discarded white man shoes cov- 
 ering their feet, but many l)are- 
 foot ; cheap jewelry and trinkets 
 whenever they could get it, which 
 was often ; sometimes a ([ueer tur- 
 han in place of a hat; usually no 
 coat or jacl'.et, except in winter. 
 
 The Indian was fond of tobacco 
 and liquor, but as soon as the lead- 
 ers saw what terrible inroads were 
 being made on Indian territory by 
 pale-face profiteers of various 
 kinds, a strong Indian organization 
 was formed to stamp out the evils. 
 Liquor was obtained from stores 
 that had a provision shop in front 
 and a barroom or "doggery" in the 
 rear, the entire establishment be- 
 ing dignified by the name "gro- 
 cerv." (ireen wooden screens ob- 
 scured the occupants of the bar- 
 room until a state law caused them 
 to be abolished, and then every- 
 body could peek in and see who was 
 getting "lit up." Around these 
 ])laces loafed a gang of shiftless 
 Indians and whites, bent on satis- 
 fying their aI)normal appetites, and 
 fit subjects for whatever mischief 
 might be suggested by the Demon 
 
 MA.IOR RIDGE, Cherokee chief, who, with 
 his son John, was murdered June 22, 1839, 
 in Indian Territory by vengeful redskins. 
 
 Rum. These gangs were extremely 
 j)rofane, and poisoned the atmos- 
 ])here for such a distance that 
 ladies and young ladies would nev- 
 er venture closer than across the 
 street. Knife and pistol scrapes 
 were frequent, especially late at 
 night after the more peaceful in- 
 habitants had retired to their beds. 
 A calaboose soon became a crying 
 necessity, and with it a town mar- 
 shal who managed to keep it full, 
 except when the inmates escaped 
 and turned the thing over on its 
 side. It was a log afifair, near West 
 Second Street and Sixth Avenue. 
 
 There is no certainty as to just 
 what the early city government 
 was like. Doubtless in the begin- 
 ning every man was a law unto 
 himself. Gradually, however, local 
 laws were passed and irresponsi- 
 l)le persons made amenable to 
 them. In the thirteen years that 
 Rome remained unincorporated it 
 is likely that the intendant or the 
 marshal acted as the executive ma- 
 jor domo, and certain that local or 
 inferior court judges meted out 
 justice. 
 
 Col. IMitchell, surveyor, evidently 
 had in mind a future instrument 
 like the automobile when he laid 
 out the streets of the town. He 
 made Broad Street and Oostanaula 
 Street (Fourth Avenue) 132 feet 
 wide, all other streets 66 feet w'ide 
 and lanes 33 feet. Some modifica- 
 tions of that scale, notably with 
 regard to Fourth Avenue, have 
 since been made, and a lawsuit of 
 some imi)ortance and interest has 
 resulted. 
 
 A few more stores and shops 
 s])rang up which carried every ar- 
 ticle that could be ol)tained in such 
 a limited market. The groceries 
 would also ofl^er a line of retail dry 
 goods, small farming implements, 
 plug and smoking tobacco, pipes, 
 lanterns and lamps, wax tapers, 
 matches, candles, novelties for the 
 Indians, snufif for the women, suits,
 
 Rome's Establishment and Early Days 
 
 41 
 
 hats and slioes, horse collars and 
 harness, nails, hand tools, occa- 
 sionally musical instruments. There 
 were no soda water, ice, silver ciga- 
 rette cases, bon-bons or chocolates, 
 nail files, lip sticks, rouge, hair nets 
 or beaver hats. Drug stores, banks 
 newspapers, steamboats, crocker- 
 ies and bakeries, schools and 
 churches were to come along later. 
 
 Gentlemen blacked their own 
 boots and cut out of the forest with 
 great cross-cut saws the wood that 
 went into their homes. The}' wore 
 the uniforms of the frontier and 
 assumed the manners of frontiers- 
 men. Rome was to 1:»e Iniilt, and it 
 could not ])e l)uilt with kid gloves. 
 
 The social life was very restrict- 
 ed at first. It consisted of calls 
 from neighbor on neighbor, afoot, 
 on horseback or by ox-cart ; or 
 maybe a country break-down on a 
 rudely improvised platform. Since 
 the Indians had no city to l^uild — 
 since they needed only to get a 
 little something to eat every day 
 and keep out of the way of land- 
 grabbers and the "state police"^ 
 they had more time for frolics than 
 the early whites. Around bonfires 
 in their villages the red-skins made 
 merry, rending the nights hideous 
 with their A\ar-whoops ; and on 
 these special occasions they put 
 aside their semi-civilized garb and 
 donned the ])uckskin, the flaming 
 headdress of feathers and all the 
 paint they could daul) on. 
 
 Each year in summer came the 
 Green Corn Dances at the various 
 villages. The late Mr's. Robert 
 Battey recalled one at Major 
 Ridge's, held when she was about 
 seven years of age. A large com- 
 pany of Inchans gathered, and one 
 thing that impressed lier j^articu- 
 larly was that some of tlie men 
 had mussel shells tied around tlieir 
 ankles and Idled with gravel that 
 
 'From this description it is evident that the 
 games were played on the low, level spot which 
 now comprises the campuses of Hearn Academy 
 and the Georgia School for the Deaf. 
 
 rattled when they danced. She re- 
 membered that several remained 
 over night until Sunday, and kick- 
 ed up their heels in George Laven- 
 der's store. Her impression of the 
 Indian was the same as that ob- 
 tained by anybody who knew his 
 nature ; he Avas a silent, taciturn 
 individual, deeply religious in his 
 own way, ever faithful to the pale- 
 face who befriended him and ever 
 ihe foe of one who played him 
 false. He seldom, if ever, broke a 
 promise.' 
 
 From Montgomery M. Folsom, 
 \vriting in The Rome Tribune Nov. 
 20, 1892, we have the following 
 contribution on the pioneer days : 
 
 I drove with Mr. Wesley O. Connor 
 out to see Mr. Wright Ellis, one of the 
 last of the old settlers of the Cave 
 Spring region, and Mr. Ellis told many 
 interesting stories of the early days. 
 Mr. Ellis came to Cave Spring with 
 his father as a little boy. Near his 
 house at the end of Vann's Valley 
 stood an old fort which pi'otected the 
 settlement. He told me of a wolf 
 found dead in the cave; it had lain 
 there several years, and the mineral 
 qualities of the cave had preserved 
 it perfectly, until one day a band of 
 Indian boys dragged forth the carcass 
 and tore it to pieces. 
 
 David Vann lived on the hill above 
 the spring and the Indians used to 
 congregate near his place for their an- 
 nual ball play, as they called it*. They 
 came from miles away to enjoy the 
 sport. They would also form in two 
 
 JOHN RIDC.K, who was also active in oppo- 
 sition to John Ross's attempt to block re- 
 moval of the Cherokeos from Georgia soil.
 
 42 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 lines (sides) and shoot arrows at 
 rolling stones. The side which scored 
 the most hits would win. 
 
 A short distance west of Cave Spring 
 was where the Indians of that neigh- 
 borhood held their Green Corn dances. 
 Mr. Ellis said he had seen crowds es- 
 timated at 1,000 to 5,000. Out in the 
 nearby mountains Capt. John Ellis, 
 his father, went with a small party 
 and captured two Cherokee chiefs who 
 were giving trouble during the re- 
 moval, and threatening a massacre. 
 The chiefs were sent west. As the 
 raiders approached, a sentinel cried, 
 "Eastochatchee soolacogee!" meaning 
 "much white man!" 
 
 These were the days of the "pony 
 clubs," whose members blacked their 
 faces and stole horses from whites and 
 Indians alike. A party of the law and 
 order element, known as the "slick- 
 ers," once caught two thieves and gave 
 them lashes on their backs with a 
 whip. 
 
 Mr. Ellis also told how Col. Wm. 
 Smith, known to the Indians as "Black 
 Bill," because of his dark complexion, 
 routed a crowd of drunken red-skins 
 
 at Major Wm. Montgomery's spring in 
 July, 1832. "Black Bill" lit into them 
 with a hame, knocked them right and 
 left and put them to flight. 
 
 Capt. John Townsend, Maj. Armi- 
 stead Richardson, William Simmons, 
 Jackson Trout, W. D. Cowdrey, W. K. 
 Posey, Carter W. Sparks, Major Wm. 
 Montgomery and Gen. Jas. Hemphill 
 were among the pioneers who possessed 
 the Cave Spring land ere the print 
 of the moccasin had faded from the 
 soil. 
 
 Life with the rugged settlers of 
 Rome was just one murder, liorse 
 theft or incendiary fire after an- 
 other. The country was overrun 
 with vigilance committees, out- 
 la\vs, land speculators, soldiers, un- 
 ruly Indians and plain people of 
 respectability who wanted to farm 
 and conduct their shops in peace. 
 Peace and the social order that 
 thrives in it was not to be attained, 
 however, until the Indians were 
 sent west lock, stock and barrel. 
 
 JUL
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 The Great Indian Meeting at Rome 
 
 THE following item from the 
 Georgia Constitutionalist, 
 of Augusta, July 24, 1835, 
 (Guieu & Thompson, pro- 
 })rietors), announced the date and 
 place of the important meeting of 
 Ridge and Ross forces and Geor- 
 gia Guardsmen and United States 
 troopers near Rome. This meet- 
 ing was vital because it paved the 
 way for the Council pow-wow at 
 Red Clay in October, which in turn 
 brought about the New Echota 
 meeting and treaty signed Dec. 29, 
 1835, the instrument by which the 
 Cherokees were removed :* 
 
 The Cassville Pioneer says John 
 Ridge and his friends will hold a Coun- 
 cil in Floyd County six miles north of 
 Rome 20th of July inst. It is expected 
 this Council will be numerously at- 
 tended. The cause of Ridge and his 
 party is going ahead. 
 
 The meeting actually opened on 
 the 19th, a day ahead of schedule. 
 
 The gathering was supposed, 
 prior to discovery of the above 
 item in an old newspaper file in 
 the Library of the University of 
 Georgia, to have been held at the 
 home of Major Ridge on the Oosta- 
 naula, but since the item says it 
 was to be held six miles north of 
 Rome, and several authorities as- 
 sert the place was "Running Wa- 
 ters," the conclusion is inevitable 
 th?t it was held at the home of 
 John Ridge, son of the Major, three 
 miles north of Rome, at the ])lanta- 
 tion later owned by John Hume, 
 and now the property of F. L. Fors- 
 ter. A bold spring at this domicile 
 caused the name "Tantatanara," 
 
 ♦Allowing for women and children, Georpria 
 Guardsmen, United States troops, officials and 
 onlookers, it is probable that .3.000 peoide at- 
 tended this meetinpr. It was estimated that 
 600-800 attended the Red Clav Council in Oc- 
 tober, 1835, and 300-.500 the New Echt.ta meet- 
 ing in December, 183.5, when the treaty was 
 accepted. 
 
 **Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee 
 Treaty (1835). ps. 390-2. 
 
 the Indian for "Running Waters," 
 to be applied. 
 
 All authorities agree that the 
 Running Waters pow-wow was the 
 largest the Cherokees had held up 
 to that time, and its importance 
 could not be overestimated. Major 
 Currey's special correspondence is 
 here given. 
 
 **Cherokee Agency East, 
 Calhoun, Tenn., 
 July 27, 1835. 
 Elbert Herring, Esq., 
 Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 Dear Sir : The people composing the 
 council called for the purpose of ob- 
 taining the sense of the nation on the 
 subject of the annuity convened on the 
 day before the period appointed. There 
 were between 2,500 and 2,600 Indian 
 men present. This number could not 
 by any previous measures or meetings 
 have been anticipated. Mr. Schermer- 
 horn was present and obtained their 
 consent to address them on the next 
 morning. The first day was consumed 
 in discussions, explanations and vot- 
 ing on a proposition to divide the an- 
 nuity among the people by ayes and 
 nays. 
 
 When the next morning arrived, Mr. 
 Schermerhorn had a stand erected, so 
 that he might by his elevation be the 
 more generally heard ; aided by the Rev. 
 Jesse Bushyhead, he went into a full 
 explanation of the views of the Gov- 
 ernment, and the relation in which 
 the different delegations stood to one 
 another; their people, the States and 
 the general Government; which was 
 listened to with much attention for a 
 period of three hours. In order to 
 insure attention, this resolution had 
 been so worded that it would not dis- 
 pose of the question further than the 
 single proposition was concerned; and 
 by addressing them before the vote 
 was finished, Mr. Schermerhorn had, 
 perhaps, the largest red audience of 
 adult males ever before assembled to- 
 gather in this nation at one time. 
 
 The Cherokees had, until a few days 
 before, been advised not to attend, but 
 when Ross found that the money would 
 be paid to the order of the majority
 
 44 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 attending, his head men were called 
 together at Red Clay, when I am in- 
 formed he told them the agents of 
 Government, and the disorganized at- 
 tached to Ridge, must be put down; 
 and in order to do this, all the men 
 of the nation must rally, and be there 
 to sustain their nation and treasury. 
 
 They came, some starving, some half 
 clad, some armed, and scarcely any 
 with provisions for more than one or 
 two days. Under these circumstances, 
 having a desire to be heard, Mr. 
 Schermerhorn promised them rations 
 for one day, on condition they would 
 hear him as commissioner. On exam- 
 ination, I found they might, under the 
 iJth section of the regulations for pay- 
 ing annuities, be furnished at public 
 expense, if circumstances rendered it 
 necessary. Arrangements were accord- 
 ingly made, and requisitions drawn on 
 Lieut. Bateman to meet the same. 
 
 I took occasion to say to the Cher- 
 okees, as they came up by districts, 
 that let them vote the money in what 
 way they would, it could not save their 
 country; that their party had been in- 
 vited to express their views and wishes 
 freely; instead of doing this they had 
 withdrawn themselves from the 
 ground, and been counselled in the 
 bushes. Why was this so? Were their 
 chiefs still disposed to delude their 
 people, when ruin demanded entrance 
 at the red man's door, and the heavy 
 hand of oppression already rested upon 
 his head? 
 
 To say the least of it, there was 
 something suspicious in their with- 
 drawal. The officers of Government 
 were bound to report their speeches to 
 the Secretary of War, and the chiefs 
 had shown contempt to the United 
 States by withdrawing themselves and 
 their people into the woods beyond 
 their hearing. If this was not the 
 proper construction to be placed upon 
 such a proceeding, the chiefs had cer- 
 tainly carried them off to feed their 
 feelings on false hopes and false prom- 
 ises once more. 
 
 When the resolution presented by 
 Smith' was disposed of, which stood 
 114 for and 2,238*'^ against, Gunter's 
 resolution to pay to the Treasury was 
 next in order. The whole people were 
 called up and the resolution read. Mr. 
 Gunter made a few remarks in its sup- 
 port, when Major Ridge offered an 
 amendment, directing that none of this 
 money should be paid to lawyers. This 
 was seconded by John Ridge, which 
 gave both these latter gentlemen a full 
 
 opportunity to be heard. They went 
 into a most pathetic description of na- 
 tional distress and individual oppres- 
 sion; the necessity of seeking freedom 
 in another clime; the importance of 
 union and harmony, and the beauties 
 of peace and of friendship; but said 
 if there were any who preferred to 
 endure misery and wed themselves to 
 slavery, as for them and their friends, 
 they craved not such company. 
 
 The Indians had, by districts, in 
 files four deep, been drawn up to vote 
 on Gunter's resolution, that they might 
 hear it read, and be counted the more 
 conveniently. But when the Ridges 
 were speaking, all the previous prej- 
 udices so manifestly shown by looks 
 appeared to die away, and the be- 
 nighted foresters involuntarily broke 
 the line and pressed forward as if at- 
 tracted by the powers of magnetism 
 to the stand, and when they could get 
 no nearer, they reached their heads 
 forward in anxiety to hear the truth. 
 After the Ridges had procured the de- 
 sired attention, they withdrew their 
 amendment, and the vote was taken 
 on Gunter's resolution, and carried by 
 acclamation. Mr. Schermerhorn then 
 requested each party to appoint com- 
 mittees to meet him and Governor Car- 
 roU*'''* at the agency on the 29th in- 
 stant. Ridge's party complied. If 
 the other party did, it has not been 
 made known to the commissioner. 
 
 By the next mail we will be able 
 to give information of a more sat- 
 isfactory nature, having reference to 
 the future. 
 
 I have no doubt, although the money 
 went into the treasury of the nation, 
 (as might have been expected from 
 a general turnout), still, the informa- 
 tion communicated in the discussions 
 growing up on the occasion will be 
 attended with the most happy conse- 
 
 *Archilla Smith, one of the leaders of the 
 RuIko Treaty party. He is referred to in Gov. 
 Wilson Lumpkin's book "Removal of the 
 Cherokee Indians from Georfria" as Asahel R. 
 Smith, of Lawrenceville, father of the well- 
 known Roman, Maj. Chas. H. Smith ("Bill 
 Arp"), but members of the "Bill Arp" family 
 state this was an error. The Smith resolution 
 sought to divide the annuity among the tribes- 
 men. 
 
 **Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee 
 Treaty (18.^5), ps. 399-447, lists the voters, 
 with their numbers, to a total of 2,27.3, but a 
 printer's note states there are only 2,200 names, 
 suggesting that duplications may have crept in. 
 This list gives all who supported the Smith res- 
 olution and 2,1.'J9 who voted against it, which 
 would make a total of 2,270. The difference 
 of three in two of the totals is the difference 
 between the Currey estimate of 114 aye votes 
 and the table's record of 111 votes. 
 
 ***Wm. Carroll, of Tennessee, co-commis- 
 sioner with Mr. Schermerhorn, whom illness 
 and a political campaign kept from acting.
 
 The Great Indian Meeting at Rome 
 
 45 
 
 JOHN ROSS, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Indians from 
 1828 to his death in 1866, who fought with admirable courage more than 
 25 years to keep his people in the hunting grounds of their forefathers.
 
 46 
 
 -A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 quences to the Cherokees, and great- 
 ly facilitate a final adjustment of 
 their difficulties. 
 
 It is a matter worthy of remark 
 that so great a number of persons of 
 any color have seldom if ever met and 
 preserved better order than was ob- 
 served on this occasion. 
 
 Most respectfully, I have the honor 
 to be, your very obedient servant, 
 
 BENJAMIN F. CURREY. 
 Supt. of Cherokee Removal and Act- 
 ing Indian Agent. 
 P. S. — The report required by the 
 regulations will follow this, so soon 
 as it can be made out. 
 Yours, 
 
 B. F. C. 
 
 *Cherokee Agency East, 
 Calhoun, Tenn., 
 July 29, 1835. 
 Elbert Herring, Esq., 
 Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 Sir: Enclosed I have the honor to 
 transmit copies of a report made by 
 Col. C. H. Nelson and Col. Nathaniel 
 Smith, who were appointed in June 
 last by me to take the census of the 
 Cherokees east, in conformity with a 
 verbal request from the Honorable 
 Secretary of War, as well as to com- 
 ply with the requirements contained 
 in a "circular" dated War Depart- 
 ment, Office Indian Affairs, May, 
 1835, addressed to me a short period 
 before this duty was commenced. 
 Runners were sent over the country, 
 and some of Ross' messages were seen 
 and read by the census-takers, direct- 
 ing the Cherokees not to allow their 
 numbers to be taken. 
 
 In 1819 John Ross notified the In- 
 dian agent that he had determined to 
 reside permanently on a tract of land 
 reserved within the ceded territory for 
 his use; and in contemplation of the 
 treaty, took upon himself all the re- 
 sponsibilities of a citizen of the United 
 States. Has he not, then, subjected 
 himself to the penalties of the 13th, 
 14th and 15th sections of "An Act to 
 regulate trade and intercourse with 
 the Indian tribes," etc., approved June 
 30, 1834? 
 
 One thing is very certain, that by 
 sending his messages and holding his 
 talks in the Cherokee settlements, he 
 more effectually disturbs the peace, and 
 defeats or delays the measures of the 
 Government of the United States, than 
 he could if he were the citizen of a 
 
 foreign Government, and much better 
 than one of our own citizens possibly 
 could do?** 
 
 Very respectfully, I have the honor 
 to be, your very obedient servant, 
 BENJ. F. CURREY. 
 
 ***Cherokee Agency East, 
 Calhoun, Tenn., 
 July 30, 1835. 
 Elbert Herring, Esq., 
 Commissioner Indian Affairs, 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 Sir: Enclosed, I have the satisfac- 
 tion to transmit to you a certified his- 
 tory of the proceedings of the Run- 
 ning Waters Council, held on the 19th, 
 20th and 21st instant, to determine 
 how the annuity of the present year 
 should be disposed of. 
 
 The names are recorded as the votes 
 were presented on Smith's resolution. 
 But all who were present did not vote 
 on either side, and many of those who 
 were in favor of dividing the money, 
 finding that their wishes could not be 
 caified, voted it to the treasurer. 
 Some of the voters in favor of a 
 treaty, having claims on the Cherokee 
 nation, voted, and influenced many 
 others to vote, in the same way; so 
 that the vote on Smith's resolutio»n 
 can not, properly, be considered a fair 
 test of the strength of the parties. 
 
 Ridge's party is increasing rapidly, 
 and will, by raising the proper means, 
 reach the majority of Georgia, Ala- 
 bama and Tennessee, long before the 
 adjournment of the next Congress. 
 
 Most respectfully, I have the honor 
 to be, your very obedient aervant, 
 
 BENJ. F. CURREY, 
 Superintendent, etc. 
 
 p, s. — Ross has failed to meet the 
 commissioners, for Jesuitical reasons 
 assigned. The commissioners address- 
 ed him a communication which has 
 produced a proposition in writing from 
 him on the Ridges to bury the hatchet, 
 and act in concert for the good of their 
 country, and inviting them to a cori- 
 vention, to be composed of the intelli- 
 gent of all parties, for the purpose of 
 considering their natural condition. 
 To this proposition Ridge's party have 
 yielded their assent; but in the mean- 
 time they are determined to redouble 
 
 *Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee 
 Treaty (1835), p. 392. 
 
 **Apparently the first open attempt to cause 
 the arrest of Ross. 
 
 *»*Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee 
 Treaty (1835), p. 395.
 
 The Great Indian Meeting at Rome 
 
 47 
 
 their zeal and diligence to accomplish 
 the removal of their people. 
 
 BENJAMIN F. CURREY. 
 
 *Running Waters Council Ground, 
 
 Floyd County, Ga., 
 
 Monday, July 19, 1835. 
 
 At an adjourned meeting, held pur- 
 suant to notice from the acting agent 
 of the United States for the Chero- 
 kees east of the Mississippi river, for 
 the purpose of ascertaining from the 
 Cherokee people their wishes as to the 
 manner and to whom their present 
 year's annuity should be paid, by com- 
 mon consent it was agreed and re- 
 solved that the meeting be opened with 
 prayer, and the Rev. Mr. Spirit and 
 David Weatie'"* (Cherokees) officiated 
 accordingly. 
 
 After the solemnities appropriate 
 to the occasion were performed, Benj. 
 F. Currey, United States Agent, aid- 
 ed by Lieut. Bateman, of the United 
 States army, fully explained the ob- 
 ject for which this meeting was call- 
 ed; all of which was again fully ex- 
 plained, in the Cherokee language, by 
 Joseph A. Foreman, the interpreter. 
 
 John Ross made some remarks in 
 reply; said he was sorry that the 
 agent had taken occasion to be per- 
 sonal in his remarks, but that he was 
 not disposed to take any notice of 
 these personalities at this time; that 
 he was aware that there was among 
 us a description of persons who were 
 called by party names; this he had not 
 discouraged; that as for himself he 
 was not disposed to quarrel with 
 any man for an honest expres- 
 sion of opinion, for the good of the 
 people (for the truth and sincerity 
 of which he called Heaven to wit- 
 ness) ; and that if gentlemen were 
 honest in their professions of benev- 
 olence, he was ready, at any time, to 
 co-operate with them, when it would 
 appear that they were right and he 
 was wrong. 
 
 John Ridge, in reply, stated that 
 so far as he was concerned he, too, 
 discarded party views and sinister 
 motives; that so far as he and those 
 with him acted different from Mr. 
 
 ♦Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee 
 Treaty (1835). ps. 396-8. 
 
 **David Watie (or Oo-wat-ie), full-blood 
 Cherokee and only brother of Major Ridge; 
 father of Elias Boudinot, editor of The Cher- 
 okee Phoenix, and of Stand Watie, only Indian 
 Brigadier General of the Confederate army, 
 who did not surrender until June 23, 1865, 
 nearly three months after the surrender of 
 Gen. Jos. E. Johnston. Authority : "Life of Gen. 
 Stand Watie," bv Mabel Washbouriie Anderson, 
 Pryor, Okla., (1915). 
 
 Ross and his chiefs, he had done so 
 from an honest conviction that it was 
 the only way in which the integrity 
 and political salvation of the Cher- 
 okee people could be preserved and 
 effected, and that he was at any mo- 
 ment ready to acknowledge Ross as 
 his principal chief when he (Ross) 
 could or would prove to him a better 
 plan. But till then, as an honest man, 
 sensible as he was of the difficulties 
 and hazards of the crisis that sur- 
 rounded them all, he must act on the 
 -suggestions arising out of the case, 
 though it should cost him the last 
 drop that heaved his breast; that he 
 had not understood the agent to in- 
 dulge in or intend personalities, but 
 his explanations, directed by the law 
 and instructions from the executive, 
 necessarily involved the actors them- 
 selves; that he had and at all times 
 would be open to conviction, when bet- 
 ter and more conclusive arguments 
 than his own were adduced on the 
 points of difference. But he did not 
 understand why it was, if Mr. Ross' 
 declarations were sincere, that large 
 bodies of Indians had been withdrawn 
 by their chiefs from the ground, and 
 were not permitted to hear. As for 
 his part, he wanted the whole na- 
 tion to learn, and be able to know their 
 true situation; that he was ready to 
 co-operate with Mr. Ross, or anybody 
 else, for the salvation of his bleeding 
 and oppressed countrymen. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Schermerhorn, com- 
 missioner on behalf of the United 
 States, took occasion, after being in- 
 troduced as such, to rise; read his 
 commission and expressed his satis- 
 faction and gratification at the pros- 
 pect of an amicable reconciliation of 
 all party strife and animosity, and so 
 far as he might be concerned in their 
 affairs, he did not intend to know any 
 party or distinction of parties; that 
 he only meant to know the Cherokee 
 people east of the Mississippi as one 
 party in this case; and that he would 
 avail himself of the present occasion 
 to request that during this meeting 
 they would select from among them- 
 selves a number of delegates, at least 
 twelve or more, or any other number 
 they might deem expedient, to meet 
 him and Gov. Carroll at the Chero- 
 kee agency on Wednesday, the 30th 
 instant, to arrange preliminaries neces- 
 sary to a convention for the adjust- 
 ment of their whole difficulties by 
 treaty; the basis of which had already 
 been fixed by Ridge, Ross and others, 
 which he presumed they were all ap-
 
 48 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 prized of; and suggested the impor- 
 tance of naming Ross and Ridge first 
 on said committee. The commissioner 
 then apprized the conductors of the 
 election that he would, with their con- 
 sent, occupy their time on tomorrow 
 morning, so far as to read over and 
 fully explain the treaty to be offer- 
 ed the Cherokee people for their ap- 
 proval, which was consented to by the 
 agents and the chiefs present; where- 
 upon, Commissioner Schermerhorn re- 
 tired. 
 
 The following resolution was then 
 introduced by Archilla Smith and sec- 
 onded by John Ridge : 
 
 "Resolved, by the council of the 
 Cherokee nation, that in consideration 
 of the poor condition of our people, 
 the aged, the infirm of both sexes, 
 men, women and children, that the 
 present annuity of $6,666.67 be now 
 divided equally to the people, and to 
 the poor particularly, as it is their 
 money, accruing from old treaties with 
 the United States. It is now a great 
 many years since they have received 
 the same." 
 
 In support of this resolution. Major 
 Ridge, John Ridge and Archilla Smith 
 spoke at considerable length, to the fol- 
 lowing purport : The people make a na- 
 tion; no nation ever existed without a 
 people. The annuity is payable to the 
 nation, and Congress has given to the 
 people full power to dispose of it as 
 they may think proper. Have the peo- 
 ple been benefited by the use made of 
 the money heretofore, by their chiefs? 
 Have those chiefs saved the country? 
 Have they restored to you your fields? 
 Have they saved your people from the 
 gallows? Have they driven back the 
 white settlers? No; but on the other 
 hand, have you not lost your laws and 
 government? Have you not been im- 
 poverished and oppressed? And are 
 you not bleeding and starving under 
 these oppressions? If this be the fact, 
 is it not time to take that which will 
 give you some relief from want, rather 
 than to vote it to those who can not, 
 or, if they can, will not afford you 
 relief? 
 
 All that we insist on is that you ex- 
 ercise your own choice in disposing of 
 this money. It was in our power not 
 long since, when but few attended at 
 the call of the General Government, 
 (last May council, held at Running 
 Waters) to have done as we pleased 
 with this money, but we would not 
 condescend to take advantage of that 
 absence which had been procured by 
 
 the other chiefs. We preferred to 
 have a full meeting of the people, if 
 practicable, and leave the question to 
 the majority. At that time our ap- 
 plication was made to this effect, and 
 agreed to by the agent for the Gen- 
 eral Government, which has been read 
 to you by him, and interpreted by Mr. 
 foreman. It is the will of our peo- 
 ple and not my will which it is now 
 wished should control this money. 
 While we make this declaration we 
 wish the yeas and nays taken and 
 registered, that all may have an op- 
 portunity of understanding the res- 
 olution; and that each and every one 
 may vote as Cherokees should learn 
 to vote, independently. 
 
 Edward Gunter then offered the 
 following resolution: 
 
 "Resolved, That the present annuity 
 now due to the Cherokee nation be 
 paid to John Martin, treasurer of the 
 Cherokee nation." 
 
 In support of this resolution he 
 ' made the following remarks: That 
 the nation was in debt; that their 
 faith as a nation was pledged for 
 money; that they had none wherewith 
 to redeem that pledge; that they could 
 not resort to taxation, for in that case 
 the State laws would interfere. He 
 hoped, therefore, they would vote the 
 money to the national treasury. 
 
 At this time a general call for the 
 vote from the crowd (consisting of up- 
 wards of 2,000 Cherokees) was made. 
 
 The Government agents then opened 
 the election to take the vote on Smith's 
 resolution; those in favor, in the af- 
 firmative, and those against, in the 
 negative. 
 
 (Here is omitted list of Indians and 
 how they voted. — Author). 
 
 The voting on Archilla Smith's res- 
 olution being gone through, and on 
 counting the state of the polls, it ap- 
 pears that 114 voted in the affirma- 
 tive, and 2,159'' in the negative; and 
 consequently, Smith's resolution was 
 carried.'-'* 
 
 Edward Gunter then called up his 
 resolution. It was agreed by the 
 agents of Government, as well as by 
 the Cherokee people present, that the 
 vote on this resolution be taken by ac- 
 clamation. Before the vote was taken 
 on Gunter's resolution. Major Ridge 
 offered the following as an amend- 
 
 *.Tohn Ross and his associates said 2,225 ; the 
 voting table, 2,273. 
 
 **"Losf' was evidently intended for "car- 
 ried."
 
 The Great Indian Meeting at Rome 
 
 49 
 
 ment of Gunter's resolution: "And that 
 the treasurer of the nation pay the 
 same to such persons of our nation 
 as we owe for money borrowed, and 
 not to the lawyers, which the nation 
 has employed, who can be paid at some 
 other time." In the discussion on this 
 amendment, Major Ridge and John 
 Ridge displayed their usual strain of 
 eloquence, making a deep impression 
 on a large portion of the crowd, if 
 we take for evidence the rivetted at- 
 tention and the press forward to catch 
 the words that dropped from them, 
 and more particularly that in the 
 course of that evening and next morn- 
 ing, the number who deserted from 
 Ross's ranks and enrolled themselves 
 with John Ridge and his friends for 
 the western country. 
 
 During the course of their remarks 
 they spoke of the false hopes excited 
 and the delusive promises held out by 
 their lawyers ; the obligations they 
 were under, first, to discharge debts 
 contracted, for which a valuable con- 
 sideration had been received by the 
 people, and then afterwards and last, 
 those which had been created without 
 the hope of returning benefits. But 
 discovering that the people had deter- 
 mined to vote down their proposition, 
 it was withdrawn. 
 
 After these individuals had spoken 
 generally of the causes which induced 
 them to secede from Ross and his 
 party, and the necessity of an early 
 removal of the tribe, the vote on 
 Gunter's resolution was taken, and 
 decided by acclamation in the affirm- 
 ative. 
 
 Cherokee Agency East, 
 July 30, 1835. 
 The foregoing is a correct state- 
 ment, so far as my memory serves 
 and my knowledge extends, founded 
 upon a constant attention, conjointly 
 with Benjamin F. Currey, Indian 
 agent, to the proceedings of the meet- 
 ing, as one of the managers. 
 
 M. W. BATEMAN, 
 1st Lieut., Inf., Disbursing Agent. 
 Cherokee Agency East, 
 July 30, 1835. 
 As Indian agent, under the direc- 
 tions of the War Department, I su- 
 perintended the foregoing election and 
 proceedings, and do hereby certify that 
 the election was as fairly conducted 
 as the situation and circumstances of 
 
 ♦Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee 
 Treaty (1835). ps. 449-50. 
 
 the Cherokee tribe would admit of, 
 and that the proceedings and speeches 
 by the chiefs are substantially cor- 
 rect, as detailed by D. Henderson, 
 secretary to the meeting. 
 
 BENJAMIN F. CURREY, 
 Indian Agent for the Eastern Cher- 
 okees. 
 
 Cherokee Agency East, 
 July 30, 1835. 
 I certify upon honor that in the 
 foregoing transcript, detailing the pro- 
 ceedings at the council called and held 
 at Running Waters council ground, 
 Floyd County, Ga., on the 19th, 20th 
 and 21st instant, the votes are cor- 
 rectly recorded and the speeches cor- 
 rectly detailed as to substance. 
 
 DANIEL HENDERSON, 
 Clerk for Managers of the Said Elec- 
 tion. 
 
 The enclosures of Maj. Currey 
 to the Commissioner of Indian Af- 
 fairs end here. To Washington Mr. 
 Schermerhorn wrote : 
 
 * Cherokee Agency, 
 Aug. 1, 1835. 
 Hon. Elbert Herring, 
 Commissioner Indian Affairs, 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 Sir : I have the honor to inform 
 you that I attended the meeting of 
 the Cherokee council at Running Wa- 
 ters on the 20th ultimo, and my pro- 
 ceedings there I will transmit to you 
 by the next mail. At the close of 
 that council I requested a committee 
 of the principal men from the Ross 
 and Ridge parties to meet the com- 
 missioners at the Agency on the 29th 
 ultimo, to see if they could, in con- 
 ference with each other, agree upon 
 some modification of the proposed 
 treaty which would be satisfactory to 
 all concerned. Ross and his friends 
 did not attend, and the commission- 
 ers wrote him immediately to know 
 whether he and his principal men 
 refused to meet them at the place 
 appointed, and also whether they were 
 determined not to accept the award 
 of the Senate, viz.: $5,000,000 in full 
 for the settlement of all matters in 
 dispute between them and the United 
 States, and for the cession of their 
 country. He evaded the last question 
 (as will be seen by his letter, a copy 
 of which will be forwarded to the de- 
 partment), and prevaricated in say- 
 ing that no notice was given of the 
 meeting at the agency, although it was 
 done in open council. He may, how-
 
 50 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 WHERE THE GREEN CORN DANCES WERE HELD. 
 
 »u u^**^ *'*l'''ill'''"^'n°," ^^^ Oostanaula river road, two miles north of the court house, was 
 the home of Major Ridge, and his lawn was the gathering place of hundreds of red-skir
 
 The Great Indian Meeting at Rome 
 
 51 
 
 ever, have meant he had no official 
 notice of the meeting in writing. He 
 sent a letter also to Major Ridge and 
 John Ridge, inviting them and their 
 friends to a conference with him and 
 his friends to settle all the difficul- 
 ties between them, and unite in pro- 
 moting the common good of their peo- 
 ple. This is an omen for good and I 
 have been laboring while here to ef- 
 fect this object. No doubt Ross has 
 been hard pushed on this subject by 
 his friends, and he is convinced that 
 unless a reconciliation takes place, and 
 a treaty is soon made, he will be for- 
 saken by them, and a third party arise, 
 who will unite with Ridge and carry 
 the proposed treaty. I can not now 
 go into detail, but will simply state 
 overtures have been made by several 
 of Ross's friends to unite with Ridge's 
 party if Ross refuses to come to terms 
 on the award made by the Senate of 
 the United States. 
 
 The best informed here entertain 
 no doubt but that a treaty will be per- 
 fected in the fall, if not sooner. 
 
 It has been thought best by the com- 
 missioners not to call a meeting by 
 the nation until November, unless 
 both parties should be brought to agree 
 to articles of the treaty to be sub- 
 mitted to the nation for their adop- 
 tion. Ross's council meets in Octo- 
 ber, and many of his principal men 
 have agreed, if he does not come to 
 terms by that time, they will leave him 
 and treat without him. 
 
 I have the pleasure to acknowledge 
 the receipt of several communications 
 from the Secretary of War, forward- 
 ed to me at New Echota in May and 
 July, and especially the last, contain- 
 ing the letter of Mr. William Rogers, 
 with the answer to it. I respectfully 
 suggest to the Department, should any 
 similar letters be received, whether it 
 would not be best to send them to the 
 commissioners, with such instructions 
 in reference to them as may be deemed 
 necessary, and refer the writers to the 
 commissioners for an answer. I make 
 this suggestion merely to prevent be- 
 ing embarrassed by the crafty policy 
 of the men we have to deal with. It 
 
 ♦Written June 28, 1835, from Chattahoochee, 
 and sugKested that "Mr. Ridge" was not the 
 only man of his party who could arrange a 
 treaty. 
 
 **With duplications omitted ; 114 was the 
 total. Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee 
 Treaty (1835). ps. 390-147. 
 
 ***Near Calhoun, Gordon County. 
 
 ****Site of Rome. 
 
 *****Coosa. 
 
 is believed Rogers' letter was written 
 at the suggestion and the knowledge 
 of Ross.* 
 
 With respect, your obedient servant, 
 JOHN F. SCHERMERHORN, 
 
 Commissioner. 
 
 The following 92** Indians lined 
 up with the Ridge party in support 
 of Arcliilla Smith's resolution, 
 which if passed would have dis- 
 tributed the $6,666.67 annuity 
 among the common Indians in- 
 stead of placing- it in the national 
 treasury : 
 
 Challoogee District — James Field, R. 
 Raincrow, Beans Pouch, Na-too, Stay- 
 all-night, Robin, Daniel Mills, Stand- 
 ing, Tac-ses-ka, Archy, Trailing, Hog 
 Shooter, Tais-ta-eska, Milk, Dick Scott, 
 Hair Tied, Uma-tois-ka, Dick, George, 
 Se-nah-ne, Owl, Chicken, Buffalo, 
 Parch Corn, Jim Bear Skin, Coo-los- 
 kee. Bread Butter, Stephen Harris and 
 Elijah Moore. Total, 29. 
 
 Cooseivattie — Charley Moore, Ham- 
 mer, Nathaniel Wolf, Baesling, Tara- 
 pin Striker, Te-ke-wa-tis-ka, John 
 Ridge, Carnton Hicks, In Debt, Day- 
 light, Matthew Moore, Standing 
 Lightning, Wake Them, Morter, All- 
 day, Bear Meat, Waitie, Mole Sign, 
 Wat Liver, Huckleberry, Coon, Isaac, 
 Ave Vann, Walter Ridge, Jac Nichol- 
 son, Six Killer, John, Collin McDan- 
 iel. Stand Watie, and Major Ridge. 
 Total, 31. 
 
 Hightowcr (Etoivah) — Ground Hog, 
 Ezekiel West, Spirit, Hammer, Jac 
 West, Catcher, Rib, Scou-tike, Road, 
 Chwa-looka, Standing Wolf, Dave 
 Scoute, John Wayne, Tookah, Frozen 
 Foot, Ease, Nelson West, Red Bird, 
 Wat Huskhe, and John Eliot. Total, 
 20. 
 
 Anioah — Jos. Foreman, Jac Bushy- 
 head, Wm. Reed and Jay Hicks. To- 
 tal, 4. 
 
 Aqnohee, ChirkcDi'ciiign avd Trihqun> 
 hee — None. 
 
 Hickory Log — Charles and Buffalo 
 Pouch. Total, 2. 
 
 Miscellaneous — D. J. Hook, Turkey 
 Town; J. L. McKay, Will's Valley; 
 Tesataesky, Springtown; Black Fox, 
 Oothcalouga**-; Henderson Harris, 
 Forks of Coosa*'"-'^' ; Jno. Fields, Sv.. 
 Turnip Mountain''^ '"•"■"■'. Total, (5.
 
 52 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 THE CENTRAL CHURCHES OF ROME 
 
 The "Hill City" has long been noted for the influence of its religious institutions, and 
 practically all denominations are represented. 1 — The new First Christian edifice. 2 — The 
 
 First Methodist. 3 — The First Baptist, in snow of January 27, 1921, minus steeple demolished 
 by lightning stroke in 1920. 4 — St. Peter's Episcopal. 5 — First Presbyterian.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard 
 
 OHN HOWARD PAYNE, 
 author of the famous song, 
 "Home, Sweet Home," and 
 a number of plays, got into 
 a peck of trouble when he came 
 to Georgia in 1835. He was plainly- 
 unaccustomed to frontier life and 
 the cruel ways of the Avorld. In 
 August, 1833, he had sent out from 
 New York, N. Y., to the newspa- 
 pers of the country (including 
 Georgia) a prospectus of a new 
 weekly magazine to be published 
 at London and to be known by the 
 old Persian title "Jam Jehan Ni- 
 ma/' or "The World From the Pn- 
 side of the Bowl." He had an- 
 nounced that he would visit every 
 state in the Union to collect ma- 
 terial on the wonders of nature, 
 and also to collect such subscrip- 
 tions as he could for this depart- 
 ure in journalism. His funds were 
 ample and the newspapers in many 
 instances carried his announcement 
 on their front pages, and com- 
 mented editorially upon it. He 
 traveled in style, and his own story 
 shows that he was not a partner 
 to rough treatment. 
 
 His song having been written a 
 decade before in Paris and sung 
 in his play, "Clari, or the Maid of 
 Milan," at the Covent Garden The- 
 atre, London, he was given quite 
 a reception on his return from the 
 old country to New York ; and in 
 certain of the larger cities on his 
 "experience jaunt" he was received 
 with a rousing acclaim — notably 
 at New Orleans. Into seven states 
 he went before he reached Geor- 
 gia; he came to Macon from the 
 Creek Nation in Alabama, and on 
 Aug. 9, 1835, wrote from that city 
 to his sister a long letter, elegantly 
 
 *Mr. Payne was then a bachelor of 4.3, far 
 from the ajie of insensibility to feminine charms. 
 
 **Also author of the Dickens-like book of 
 side-splitting comedy called "Georgia Scenes." 
 
 expressed and describing a green 
 corn dance held by the Creeks, at 
 which a strong fascination was 
 flung upon him by the beautiful 
 daughter of an Indian chief.* 
 
 At Macon he purchased a horse 
 and traveled toward Augusta, there 
 to confer with Judge Augustus B. 
 Longstreet,** editor of the States' 
 Rights Sentinel, with regard to 
 furnishing stories of his travels. 
 On the way he stopped at Sanders- 
 ville, Washington County, and Dr. 
 Tennille, a brother of Wm. A. Ten- 
 nille, then secretary of state, ad- 
 vised him to study the Indian re- 
 moval problem. First he went by 
 horseback to see the wonders of 
 North Georgia — the Toccoa Falls, 
 in Stephens County, and the Ami- 
 calola Falls, in Dawson County ; 
 visited Tallulah Falls and gazed 
 on Yonah Mountain (White Coun- 
 ty), from Clarkesville, in Haber- 
 sham ; inspected the gold fields of 
 Dahlonega, Lumpkin County, and 
 finally went to Cass (Bartow) 
 County and explored the Salt Peter 
 cave near Kingston. 
 
 It may be that Payne touched 
 Floyd County on this trip. An old 
 tradition has it that he and John 
 Ross spent a night or so at Rome, 
 and departing for New Echota, 
 camped in a beech grove at Pope's 
 Ferry, Oostanaula river ; and that 
 here Payne carved his name on a 
 beech tree. Also that they were 
 entertained in the home of Col. 
 Wm. C. Hardin, across the river. 
 It is known that Payne stayed with 
 the Plardins and played on the 
 piano for the little girls of the 
 family while they were stationed 
 at New Ivchota, but nothing yet 
 establishes that he visited Rome 
 and Pope's Ferry. 
 
 For a time it was l)clievcd he 
 attended the July liuhan meeting
 
 54 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 at "Running Waters," near Rome, 
 but since he did not enter the 
 state until early August, this was 
 impossible. He had a letter of in- 
 troduction from an Athens mer- 
 chant to a Floyd County lawyer,* 
 but evidently never presented it. 
 Presently, in September, he 
 shook the dust from his boots and 
 clothes in Athens, Clarke County, 
 having been taken there by a let- 
 tor to Gen. Kdward Harden, who 
 as a resident of Savannah some 
 time before had entertained Gen. 
 I.aFayette. Payne was received 
 into the Harden home, and quickly 
 fell in love with the General's 
 beautiful brunette daughter, Mary 
 Harden, to whom he gave some 
 handsome Indian relics from his 
 portmanteau, and later wrote a 
 number of impassioned letters tell- 
 ing of his love. Strange to say, 
 neither married, but that is an- 
 other story. The University of 
 Georgia was in session and Payne 
 and ]\Iiss Harden mingled among 
 the students on the campus. 
 
 Tu company with Gov. Lump- 
 kin, Gen. Harden and Col. Sam- 
 uel Rockwell, Payne set off for 
 the Indian country in the general's 
 two-horse carriage, and was ready 
 for the opening of the Red Clay 
 Council of Oct. 12 a day or two be- 
 fore it convened. John Ross 
 pressed them to stay with him, 
 and they did so. On Sept. 28 
 Payne rode into Tennessee, and 
 spent some days at the cabin of 
 Ross. Then he proceeded back to 
 Red Clay, arriving Sunday, a day 
 prior to the council opening. 
 
 Here it was that the well-inten- 
 tioned "Tray" got into company 
 of none too good standing, as the 
 Georgia authorities viewed it, and 
 with Ross was subjected to the 
 humiliation of arrest.** He was 
 taken in custody Saturday at II 
 p. m., Nov. 7, 1835, and released 
 Friday morning, Nov. 20, 12 ^/^ days 
 later. Ross was freed Monday 
 
 at 4 p. m., Nov. 16, hence had been 
 detained 9 days. The Red Clay 
 Council had adjourned Oct. 30, 
 after a session lasting 19 days. 
 
 Immediately after he reached 
 "civilization" (Calhoun, McMinn 
 County, Tenn.), Mr. Payne issued 
 the following statement to the 
 press, under date of Nov. 23, 1835 : 
 
 John Howard Payne to His Coun- 
 trymen — The public is respectfully re- 
 quested to withhold their opinion for 
 the few days upon the subject of a 
 recent arrest within the chartered 
 limits of Tennessee, by the Georgia 
 Guard, of Mr. Payne, in company with 
 Mr. John Ross, principal chief of the 
 Cherokee nation. 
 
 Mr. Payne can not of course iden- 
 tify the state of Georgia with this 
 gross violation of the Constitution of 
 the United States, of the rights of 
 an American citizen, and of the known 
 hospitality of the South to strangers. 
 But as he is conscious that every act 
 which can be devised will be resorted 
 to for the purpose of endeavoring to 
 cover such an act from public indig- 
 nation, he thinks it due to justice to 
 premise that a full and honest state- 
 ment shall be submitted the moment 
 it can be prepared. 
 
 Payne's own story of his trials 
 and tribulations is best told by 
 himself. So far as is known, this 
 account has never been reproduced 
 in any publication except the news- 
 papers and journals that carried it 
 at the time. It was found at the 
 University of Georgia Library, 
 Athens, in the Georgia Constitu- 
 tionalist (Augusta) of Thursday, 
 Dec. 24, 1835, having been reprint- 
 ed from the Knoxville (Tenn.) 
 Register of Dec. 2, same year. It 
 sets at rest certain discussions 
 l)caring on historic fact, and here 
 it is: 
 
 At the instance of Mr. Jno. Howard 
 Payne, I hand for publication his ad- 
 dress to his countrymen in the United 
 
 ♦Believed to have been Judge Jno. H. Lump- 
 kin, nephew of Gov. Wilson Lumpkin, of Ath- 
 ens. 
 
 **At the one-room log cabin of Sleeping Rab- 
 bit, an Indian underling of Ross. The spot is 
 located at Blue Spring (Station), Bradley Co., 
 Tenn., five miles southwest of Cleveland and eight 
 miles north of Red Clay.
 
 John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard 
 
 55 
 
 States, giving an account of his ab- 
 duction from the State of Tennessee 
 and of his imprisonment and brutal 
 treatment in this state by the Geor- 
 gia Guard. To none of his country- 
 men is it so important as to those of 
 Georgia to be acquainted with the 
 facts of this outrage. Every man of 
 patriotic feeling within its feel will 
 regret that any power with the sem- 
 blance of state authority should have 
 acted in such a banditti-like manner 
 toward the amiable and talented au- 
 thor of "Home, Sweet Home" and for 
 the credit of the state will desire that 
 the principal actors may be made to 
 suffer the punishment of crimes so 
 flagrant and disgraceful to the coun- 
 try. 
 
 ROBERT CAMPBELL. 
 Augusta, Ga., Dec. 18, 1835. 
 
 (From the Knoxville,* Tenn., Regis- 
 ter, Dec. 2, 1835.) 
 
 John Howard Payne to His Country- 
 men. — A conspiracy has been formed 
 against my reputation and my life. 
 From the latter I have just escaped, 
 and very narrowly. I would protect 
 the former, and therefore hasten to 
 acquaint the public with the truth re- 
 garding this extraordinary affair. 
 
 It has long been known that in Au- 
 gust, 1833, I published proposals at 
 New York for a literary periodical. 
 The prospectus stated as a part of 
 m^; plan that I would travel through 
 the United States for the double pur- 
 pose of gathering subscribers and ma- 
 terial; and especially such informa- 
 tion regarding my own republic as 
 might vindicate our national charac- 
 ter, manners and institutions, against 
 the aspersions of unfriendly travel- 
 ers from other countries. In the pur- 
 suit of these objects I have for up- 
 wards of a year been upon my jour- 
 ney. I have visited Ohio, Kentucky, 
 Missouri, Illinois, Mississippi, Louis- 
 ana and Alabama. In each of these 
 states I have been honored with the 
 most flattering hospitality and sup- 
 port. Some time in August last I 
 entered Georgia on my regular course 
 northward through the Carolinas and 
 Virginia. I was induced by the de- 
 
 *JudKe HukH Lawson White and David A. 
 Deaderick led a committee for a Payne mass 
 meetinK at Knoxville, but Payne declined ap- 
 pearing. He later attended a public dinner. He 
 went to Knoxville via Calhoun and Athens, 
 Tenn. 
 
 **Wm. A. Tennille, ancestor of the Savannah 
 Tennilles. 
 
 scriptions I had heard of the beauty 
 of its mountain region to turn some- 
 what aside from my road in order 
 to seek the upper parts of the State; 
 for I was anxious in anything I might 
 write hereafter to leave nothing which 
 deserved admiration untouched. I went 
 to Tellulah, Tuckoah, the cave in Cass 
 County, the Gold Region and the Falls 
 of Amacaloolah. A mere accident led 
 me among the Cherokees. The acci- 
 dent was this: 
 
 In the course of my rambles I met 
 Li. Tennille, of Saundersville, a broth- 
 er to the Georgia Secretary of State.** 
 This gentleman spoke to me of the 
 Cherokees. He suggested that their his- 
 tory for the last 50 years, could it 
 be obtained, would be one of extreme 
 irterest and curiosity, and especially 
 appropriate to a work like mine. I 
 knew next to nothing then of the Cher- 
 okees. I had been in Europe when 
 their cause was brought so eloquently 
 before the public by Mr. Wirt, Mr. 
 Everett and others. The hint I speak 
 of led me to ask about them. The more 
 I heard, the more I became excited. 
 T obtained letters to their leading men 
 and went into the nation. Circum- 
 stances, however, had induced me to 
 relinquish my first purpose of pro- 
 ceeding so far as the residence of Mr. 
 Ross, their Principal Chief. But I 
 was told Mr. Ross possessed a series 
 of letters which had been sent to him 
 by his predecessor in office, Chas. R. 
 Hicks, detailing memoranda for the 
 
 JOHN HOWARD PAYNE, author of world- 
 famous song, "Home, Sweet Home," who 
 was arrested by the (JeorKia Guard in 1835.
 
 56 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 earlier history of his country, and that 
 he himself had taken up the narra- 
 tive where it was discontinued by the 
 extending of it to the year 1835. I 
 was encouraged to believe that were 
 I to call on Mr. Ross he would not 
 only readily allow me the use of these 
 manuscripts, but be gratified in an 
 opportunity of seeing them made pub- 
 lic. I therefore resumed my original 
 intention and on the 28th of last Sep- 
 tember rode into Tennessee to the res- 
 idence of Mr. Ross. 
 
 By Mr. Ross I was received with 
 unlooked-for cordiality and unreserve. 
 I felt the deeper sympathy for him be- 
 cause I found him driven by the hard 
 policy against his nation from a splen- 
 did abode to a log hut of but one sin- 
 gle room, and scarcely proof against 
 the wind and rain. He had a part 
 of the letters by Mr. Hicks, but of 
 a continuation by himself I had been 
 misinformed. He told me, however, 
 that any or all of the documents he 
 had were at my service. I thought if 
 he were disposed to let me take these 
 with me and transcribe them at my 
 leisure, he would have proposed it; 
 but as he did not, I began to make 
 copies where I was — intending to con- 
 fine myself to very few. My first 
 calculation was to limit my visit to 
 a day, but I thought I should now be 
 warranted in prolonging it three or 
 four; my task, however, detaining me 
 longer than I expected, Mr. Ross urged 
 me to remain until the meeting of the 
 Council. He told me that he could 
 then show me all their leading men. 
 He thought besides that two gentle- 
 men who have made valuable re- 
 searches into the antiquities and the 
 language of the Cherokees would be 
 present. To the arrival of the Reve- 
 rend Commissioner, Mr. Schermerhorn, 
 I also looked with interest. I believed 
 him to be the same Mr. Schermerhorn 
 who was in an upper class when I 
 entered college' ; we had been intimate 
 there; I had not met him in five and 
 twenty years, and was solicitous to talk 
 over things long past. In addition to 
 these inducements, I felt a deep at- 
 traction in the opportunity of witness- 
 ing the last days on their native soil 
 of the nations of the red men. I de- 
 termined to see the opening of the 
 Council. 
 
 My stay with Mr. Ross having been 
 so unexpectedly protracted, of course 
 the range of my collections was ex- 
 tended. In addition to the literature 
 and the anecdotes of the nation I 
 
 involuntarily became well acquainted 
 with its politics, because I had tran- 
 scribed nearly all the documents rel- 
 ative to the recent negotiations for a 
 treaty. I thought these curious, not 
 only as historic evidence, but as spec- 
 imens of Indian diplomacy, more com- 
 plete than any upon record in any 
 age or country. I confess I was sur- 
 prised at what these papers unfolded 
 regarding the system used by the 
 agents and pursued by our govern- 
 ment, and I thought if the real posi- 
 tion of the question were once under- 
 stood by our own country and its rul- 
 ers, their ends would be sought by 
 different and unexceptional means. 
 Though no politician, as a philanthro- 
 pist I fancied good might be done by 
 a series of papers upon the subject. 
 I conceived as an American that it 
 was one of the most precious and most 
 undisputed of my rights to examine 
 any subject entirely national, espe- 
 cially if I could render service to the 
 country by such explanations as pecu- 
 liar circumstances might enable me to 
 offer. For this purpose I commenced 
 such a series as I have spoken of, but 
 having written one number, I thought 
 I would lay it by for reconsideration, 
 and forbear to make up my mind 
 finally until I saw how matters were 
 carried on at the Council then ap- 
 proaching. The number in question 
 was subsequently put aside and no sec- 
 ond number ever written. It was sign- 
 ed "WASHINGTON." The mention 
 was brief and incidental. It was such 
 a paper as we see hourly upon our pub- 
 lic affairs, only somewhat more gen- 
 tle and conciliatory. Among other 
 things, it mentioned of necessity the 
 Georgia Guard. It spoke of their out- 
 ward appearance as more resembling 
 banditti than soldiers, and alluded to 
 the well-known fact of an Indian pris- 
 oner who had hanged himself while 
 in their custody, through fear that they 
 would murder him. I wish the reader 
 to bear this paper in mind, for it will 
 be specifically noticed more than once 
 again ; and at the same time let it 
 be remembered that it was never print- 
 ed** nor made known in any way, but 
 kept among my private manuscripts 
 until the proper season for publica- 
 tion had gone by. Indeed, the very 
 plan of which it was meant for the 
 beginning was ere long merged in an- 
 
 *Union, Schnectady, N. Y. Mr. Schermerhorn 
 fjraduated in 1809. Payne entered in 1807, pre- 
 sumably in the Class of 1811. and left after 
 two terms and without completing his course. 
 
 **Mai. Currey claimed it was printed by the 
 Knoxville Register prior to the arrest.
 
 John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard 
 
 57 
 
 other. It had been suggested that 
 great service might be done by an ad- 
 dress to the people of the United States 
 from the Cherokees, explaining fully 
 and distinctly all their views and feel- 
 ings. I was told that no one had ever 
 possessed such opportunities as mine 
 had been for undertaking these. I 
 took the hint, and felt gratified in the 
 opportunity of enabling the nation to 
 plead its own cause. I promised to 
 prepare such an address, and if ap- 
 proved, it was to be sent around by 
 runners, for the signature of every 
 Cherokee in the country. I confess I 
 felt proud of an advocacy in which 
 some of the first talent of the land 
 had heretofore exulted to engage. I 
 only lamented that my powers were 
 so unequal to my zeal. 
 
 The Council assembled. One of the 
 first inquiries of the Reverend Com- 
 missioner was for his former friend; 
 and I felt happy to recognize in the 
 wilderness one whom I had known 
 so early in my life. I accompanied 
 him by his invitation to his cabin. I 
 found him strongly prejudiced against 
 Mr. Ross. He introduced me to Ma- 
 jor Currey, the United States' agent. 
 Major Currey, as well as Mr. Scher- 
 merhorn, proffered any documents or 
 books or other facilities which might 
 aid me in my search for information. 
 They urged upon me to read some pa- 
 pers they were preparing against Mr. 
 Ross and the Council. I did read 
 them. I entered into no discussion, but 
 then, as at all other times, briefly as- 
 sured Mr. Schermerhorn with the free- 
 dom of an associate in boyhood that I 
 conceived his course a mistaken one, 
 and that I was convinced that it could 
 not lead to a treaty. The same thing 
 had been said to him by many. He 
 replied in a tone of irritation that he 
 "would have a treaty in a week." 
 
 "John Ross was unruly now, but he 
 would soon be tame enough," and on 
 one occasion he asked a gentleman con- 
 nected with the then opposition party 
 in the nation "if the wheels were well 
 greased," and informed me that an 
 address in Cherokee was coming be- 
 fore the people, which I inferred from 
 his words and manner was expected 
 to produce a sudden influence fatal to 
 the cause of Mr. Ross. He also in- 
 troduced me to Mr. Bishop, captain 
 of the Georgia Guard, whose manner 
 then was perfect meekness. A few 
 half-jocose words passed between Mr. 
 
 *New Echota, Gordon County, where The 
 Phoenix was printed, was about 45 miles. 
 
 Bishop and myself. He asked me how 
 long since I "arriv," named the Cher- 
 okee question, and I replied that I 
 differed with him in opinion. 
 
 "That is the case of most of you 
 gentlemen from the north," he replied. 
 
 "It is not that I am from the north 
 that I think as I do," said I, "but 
 because I am jealous of our national 
 honor and prize the faith of treaties." 
 
 "You would feel differently if you 
 had the same interest we have." 
 
 "I should hope I would forget my 
 interest where it went against my 
 principles," I observed. 
 
 Mr. Bishop laughed and so did I, 
 and thus we parted. After this I ab- 
 stained from visiting the quarters of 
 Mr. Schermerhorn, not wishing as the 
 guest of Mr. Ross to expose myself 
 to the necessity of being drawn into 
 irritating discussions. The proceed- 
 ings took the very course I apprehend- 
 ed. Mr. Schermerhorn's plan defeat- 
 ed himself, and when I next saw him 
 it was upon the council ground; Lieut. 
 Bateman, of the United States army, 
 was standing with me when he came 
 up. The conversation necessarily turn- 
 ed upon the treaty. I repeated my 
 doubts as to the policy of his course, 
 and he again declared he would have 
 a treaty — and forthwith. I asked him 
 for some documents he had promised. 
 He said he would gather them and 
 send them to New York. I pressed 
 him for them at once, because I had 
 already everything from the other side 
 and wished the entire evidence, for I 
 meant to write a history of the Cher- 
 okees; and added I, laughing, "Don't 
 complain if I use you rather roughly." 
 
 I saw that he was chafed, although 
 he forced a smile. "No," replied he, 
 "and don't complain if I return the 
 compliment." 
 
 "Certainly not," said I; "if you can 
 show that I deserve it;" and he de- 
 parted in apparent good humor, and I 
 saw nothing more of the Reverend 
 Commissioner. 
 
 The negotiation was broken off. The 
 Council adjourned. Mr. Ross pressed 
 me to return to his house, which I did 
 for the purpose of awaiting the jour- 
 ney of a messenger whom he had prom- 
 ised to send some 80 miles across the 
 country'"' for a complete file of the 
 Cherokee Phoenix newspaper, which, 
 after long search, I had made the dis- 
 covery and had obtained the offer. 
 During the absence of the messenger 
 I renewed the transcriptions of docu-
 
 58 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 merits. I also completed the address 
 for the Cherokee nation. It was ap- 
 proved, and measures were to be taken 
 for obtaining the signatures of all the 
 people. It was now Saturday evening, 
 Nov. 7. I had determined on Monday 
 morning to depart, taking in on my 
 road back through Athens the Stone 
 Mountain of Georgia, a view of which 
 had been one of the leading objects 
 of my journey. Some bustle had taken 
 place that afternoon with a person 
 from whom Mr. Ross had purchased 
 his present place of refuge." The 
 man had returned to plant himself 
 within the boundaries of the estate 
 with which he had parted. Mr. Ross 
 sent out all his negroes and other men 
 to throw up a worm fence and mark 
 his limits; and some dispute was ap- 
 prehended. It was supposed that the 
 measure was a preconcerted one, for 
 the purpose of showing the Indians 
 that the threat of harrassing the In- 
 dians more and more was real. All, 
 however, seemed quiet enough. Mr. 
 Ross and myself were engaged the 
 v.-hole evening in writing. My papers 
 were piled upon the table, ready to be 
 packed for my approaching journey. 
 About 11 I was in the midst of a 
 copy from a talk held by George 
 Washington in 1794 with a delega- 
 tion of Cherokee chiefs. Suddenly 
 there was a loud barking of dogs, then 
 the quick tramp of galloping horses, 
 then the rush of many feet, and a 
 hoarse voice just at my side shouted 
 "Ross, Ross!" Before there was time 
 for a reply, the voice was heard at 
 the door opposite, which was burst 
 open. Armed men appeared. 
 
 "Mr. Ross." 
 
 "Well, gentlemen?" 
 
 "We have business with you, sir." 
 
 Our first impression was that there 
 had been a struggle for the boundary 
 and that these men had come to make 
 remonstrance; but instantly we saw the 
 truth. The room was filled with 
 Georgia Guards, their bayonets fixed, 
 and some, if not all, with their pis- 
 tols and dirks or dirk knives. An 
 exceedingly long, lank man with a 
 round-about jacket planted himself 
 by my side, his pistol resting against 
 my breast. 
 
 "You are to consider yourself a 
 prisoner, sir!" said he to Ross. 
 
 "Well, gentlemen, I shall not re- 
 sist. But what have I done? Why 
 am I a prisoner? By whose order am 
 I taken?" 
 
 "You'll know that soon enough. Give 
 up your papers and prepare to go with 
 us." 
 
 And then a scramble began for pa- 
 pers. I had not moved from my place 
 when the long, lank man, whom I after- 
 wards found was Sergeant Young,"'* 
 leader of the gang, began to rummage 
 among the things upon the table. 
 
 "These, sir, are my papers. I sup- 
 pose you don't want them," I observed. 
 
 Young, his pistol still pointed, struck 
 me across the mouth. 
 
 "Hold you damned tongue!" he vo- 
 ciferated. "You are here after no 
 good. Yours are just what we do 
 want. Have your horse caught and 
 be off with us. We can't stay." 
 
 It was useless to reply. I asked 
 for my saddlebags. They said I might 
 take them if there were no arms in 
 them. I said there WERE arms, and 
 my pistols were required. The ser- 
 geant took them and was at a loss to 
 manage the straps which confined them 
 under my vest. 
 
 "How the devil are these put on? 
 Come, put them on me!" he exclaimed. 
 
 This was too much. I turned upon 
 my heel and this unfortunate ci'ea- 
 ture seemed for a moment to feel the 
 reproof, and blundred into the para- 
 phernalia as best he could. A person, 
 whom I afterward learned was mere- 
 ly an amateur in this lawless affair, 
 Mr. Absalom Bishop, a brother of the 
 captain of the Guard, the one com- 
 monly called Colonel, was exceedingly 
 officious with Mr. Ross. He insisted 
 on the correspondence, especially the 
 recent letters of the Principal Chief, 
 and was peculiarly pert and peremp- 
 tory in handling the contents of Mr. 
 Ross's portmanteau. There was an- 
 other amateur in the affair, Mr. Joshua 
 Holden, a big, sanctimonious-visaged, 
 red-skinned man, whose voice I never 
 heard, but who, from the evening of 
 our capture I saw busy, moving to and 
 fro on all occasions, apparently as a 
 sort of factotum for the dirty work of 
 the establishment. 
 
 We set away. The greater num- 
 ber of the horses had been left at a 
 distance in the road. When we were 
 all mounted, our cavalcade consisted, I 
 believe, of six and twenty, Mr. Ross 
 and myself included, and we two were 
 permitted generally to ride together, 
 the Guard being equally divided in 
 
 *Sleeping Rabbit? 
 
 **His first name was Wilson.
 
 John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia'Guard 59 
 
 HOME OF JOHN HOWARD PAYNE'S SWEETHEART 
 
 "Harden Hoine," Athens (reconstructed), where Payne visited Gen. Edward Harden in 
 1835 and fell in love with Miss Mary Eliza Greenhill Harden. In the oval are Indian mocca- 
 sins, a beaded purse and a shark's tooth presented the young lady by her middle-aged lover. 
 One of the moccasins has been donated to Rome by Miss Evelyn Harden Jackson, of Athens. 
 
 front and i-ear of us. The earlier 
 part of the night was bright and beau- 
 tiful, but presently a wild storm arose, 
 and then rain poured in torrents. The 
 movements of our escort were ex- 
 ceedingly capricious; sometimes whoop- 
 ing and galloping and singing obscene 
 songs, and sometimes for a season 
 walking in sullen silence. During one 
 of these pauses in the blended tumult 
 of the tempest and of the travellers 
 I chanced for a while to find myself 
 beside the smooth and silky Mr. Ab- 
 salom Bishop. My mind was absoi'bed 
 in recollections of the many moments 
 when abroad I had dwelt upon my in- 
 nocent and noble country. I remem- 
 bered that in one of those moments 
 I had composed a song which has since 
 met my ear in every clime and in ev- 
 ery part of every clime where I have 
 roved. At that instant I was startled 
 by the very air on which I was mus- 
 ing. It came from the lips of my 
 companion. I could scarcely believe 
 my senses. It almost seemed as if he 
 had read my secret thoughts. 
 
 "What song was that I heard you 
 liumming?" 
 
 "That? Sweet Home, they call it, 
 I believe. Why do you ask?" 
 
 "Merely because it is a song of my 
 own writing, and the circumstances 
 under which I now hear it strike me 
 as rather singular." 
 
 My partner simply grumbled that he 
 was not aware that I had written the 
 song; but added knowingly that it was 
 in the Western Songster, and the 
 verses generally had the authors' 
 names annexed. 
 
 We halted at Young's. It happened, 
 curiously enough, that the Western 
 Songster was the first object that 
 caught my view upon the table, stand- 
 ing open at "Sweet Home," and for- 
 tunately for my character, with the 
 "author's name annexed." I pointed 
 it out to Mr. Ross, and we both smiled. 
 This man Young, at whose house we 
 halted, like others connected with the 
 Guard, keeps a tavern. Excursions of 
 this nature present favorable opportu- 
 nities for taxing the state for ex- 
 penses, and I am told they are seldom 
 overlooked. Our band of six and twenty 
 took supper at Young's. They had 
 scarcely entered the room when some- 
 one struck up : 
 
 "We're crosfiing over Jordan, 
 Glory Hallelujah!" 
 
 And our sergeant landlord sprawled 
 before the fire and began to talk liter- 
 ary. He reckoned I had heard tell of 
 Marryboy. I assured him I did not 
 remember any such author. 
 
 "What! Not his system of nater?" 
 
 I replied that perhaps he might 
 mean Mirabeau. 
 
 "Ah, yes, that might be. He and 
 Wolney and Tom Paine were great 
 authors. Was Tom Paine any kin 
 of yourn?" 
 
 Something was said of the Bible, 
 but of that our friend disclaimed much 
 knowledge. He didn't believe he had 
 ever read fifteen chapters, but Marry- 
 boy he liked of all things. 
 
 It was announced that we had lin- 
 gered long enough, and the horses 
 were brought out. Young himself re-
 
 60 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 mained at home, but most of the resi- 
 due dashed recklessly onward. Our 
 four and twenty miles through the 
 forest was completed by daybreak. All 
 were drenched in the heavy showers 
 and covered with mud. As we enter- 
 ed the enclosure, the Guard were or- 
 dered into line; their musquets were 
 discharged in triumph for their splen- 
 did crusade against one little goose- 
 quill, and we were directed to dis- 
 mount. We went to our prison; it 
 was a small log hut, with no window 
 and one door. At one end was what 
 they called a bunk, a wide case of 
 rough boards filled with straw. There 
 were two others on one side of the 
 room, and opposite to them a fireplace. 
 Overhead were poles across, on which 
 hung saddlebags, old coats and various 
 other matters of the same description. 
 In one corner sat an Indian chained 
 to a table by the leg, his arms tightly 
 pinioned. We found it was the son 
 of the Speaker of the Council, Going 
 Snake. They had charged him with 
 refusing to give in his name and the 
 number in his family to the United 
 States Census Taker. He denied the 
 accusation, but his denial went un- 
 heeded. He smiled and seemed pa- 
 tient; they removed him and left us 
 the only prisoners, but never alone. 
 The door was always open; the place 
 was a rendezvous for the Guard and 
 all their friends. Two sentinels with 
 musciuets loaded and bayonets fixed 
 kept us always in view. The place of 
 one was on the inside and the other 
 on the outside. I was wet to the skin, 
 fatigued and unconsciously sighted. At 
 that moment I saw two of the young 
 men exchange looks and laugh. 
 Throughout the day I heard dark 
 phrases which seemed to betoken some 
 intended mischief. Several people 
 came in to look at us and we were 
 shown the largest bunk, which was set 
 apart for our use, and there we tried 
 to sleep. Presently my saddlebags 
 were demanded, examined and after 
 a while returned. 
 
 I heard a guard say that not a soul 
 ought to leave the lines that day, that 
 all were bound to remain as witnesses. 
 Another asked a companion what he 
 would be doing were it not Sunday. 
 The companion made a motion of 
 wielding a scourge and with a grin 
 declared, "That, and glad of a chance, 
 too!" 
 
 "Where's Tom?" asked one. 
 
 "Gone to preachin'," was the reply. 
 
 "Oh, hell!" rejoined a third, and a 
 
 hoarse laugh followed. Then someone 
 struck up 
 
 "Jenny, will your dog bite? 
 No, sir, no!" 
 
 Which was responded to by 
 "Jesus the Glorious 
 Reigns here victorious!" 
 
 And from another side came 
 "I'll not go home 'till morning, 'till 
 morning, 
 
 "I'll not go home 'till ynorning!" 
 
 And then there would be a hud- 
 dling off to fire pistols, and thus pass- 
 ed the Sabbath. I ought not to forget 
 that in the course of the day I saw 
 Mr. Absalom Bishop talking to some 
 strangers. All stared frowningly to- 
 wards me and I heard Mr. Absalom as 
 I passed muttering low, "best leave 
 the country." 
 
 Towards evening I asked who was 
 the officer in command. I was told 
 the quartermaster. I sent for him, 
 and he answered that he was busy, 
 but would come by and by. When he 
 appeared I asked if he would send 
 a letter for us to an officer of the 
 United States troops at the agency, 
 provided we would pay the cost of an 
 express. He asked why we wanted to 
 send. I said perhaps a message would 
 be returned which might set our af- 
 fairs right. The quartermaster mut- 
 tered "That would be rather contrary 
 to o}'ders," gave a puff or two of his 
 pipe and walked away, all the rest in 
 the room following and leaving us for 
 the first time a moment by ourselves. 
 
 The long night came. Some ten 
 or twelve remained in our room, the 
 floor being paved with sleepers. I 
 heard an order spoken of that night 
 that nobody was to be allowed to en- 
 ter that room; but that when the drum 
 was tapped at daybreak, every man 
 was to fly to his gun. Long before 
 morning several got up and sat around 
 the fire, smoking and talking. 
 
 "Ah!" said one; "there must have 
 been some beautiful slicking* done last 
 night!" 
 
 "First one timber fell, and the fam- 
 ily tumbled on their knees." 
 
 "Ha, ha, ha!" 
 
 "And one began to beg." 
 
 Here was another roar. 
 
 "And the little ones squalled 'Mam- 
 my! Mammy!' " 
 
 Now they all mimicked crying chil- 
 dren. 
 
 ♦Refers to summary punishment administered 
 by vigilance committees.
 
 John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard 
 
 61 
 
 "And then the old woman fell to 
 praying." 
 
 Here was a deafening shout of 
 laughter, which was so long continued 
 that they became exhausted, and we 
 had some repose. Somewhere about 
 this time a house in the town had been 
 attacked, as far as we could gathet 
 by a mob, and violence committed; but 
 all knowledge of the rioters was de- 
 nied by the Guard among themselves, 
 though the attack was a constant theme 
 of conversation, and all the particu- 
 lars connected with it detailed. 
 
 The time dragged on most drearily. 
 In a day or two Young returned. He 
 seemed in better humor. He brought 
 me a couple of volumes of Gil Bias 
 and the "Belgian Traveller." He also 
 brought some clothes for Mr. Ross. 
 He said, too, he had my pistols, and 
 I could take them when I liked. He 
 told me he wanted to subscribe for 
 my periodical. He hoped if I ever 
 mentioned him I would speak well of 
 him. I assured him I would speak as 
 well as I could, but I must tell the 
 truth. 
 
 "Ah," said he, "you've abused us 
 already. We've got a letter where you 
 say the Guard look like banditti." 
 
 I replied that the letter was never 
 published, and of course could form 
 no part of the excuse for my arrest. 
 
 "No matter," added he, "you oughtn't 
 to have abused the Guard." 
 
 I need not remark that this was the 
 letter I have alluded to before. I 
 pressed Young to let us know on what 
 grounds we were arrested. 
 
 "Why," he said, "I can tell you one 
 thing they've got agin you, only you 
 needn't say that I told you. They say 
 ycu're an Abolitionist." 
 
 I could not help laughing at the ex- 
 cessive absurdity of this, and consid- 
 ered it as a mere dream of the man, 
 whose brain often seemed in the wrong 
 place. At the same time, he told Mr. 
 Ross that the charge upon him was 
 that he had impeded taking the Cen- 
 sus. Mr. Ross repelled the accusa- 
 tion vigorously, and required to be 
 heard, and to know his accuser. Young 
 said all he could tell was that Major 
 Currey gave him the order for our ar- 
 rest; that he had not only a written 
 but a verbal order, and upon that we 
 were taken. What the verbal order 
 was he would not tell to anybody. We 
 asked how long we were to be con- 
 fined. He said till Col. Bishop re- 
 
 *Wm. Carroll. 
 
 turned from Milledgeville. We re- 
 quested to know when that would be. 
 
 "About Christmas." 
 
 I then asked to write the President 
 of the United States. It was refused. 
 I asked to write to the Governor of 
 Tennessee. It was refused. I asked to 
 write to the Governor of Georgia. It 
 was refused. I was also denied my 
 request to communicate with my 
 friends at home. I asked Young if 
 he was an officer of the United States. 
 He replied that he was not. Mr. Ross 
 then asked him if he were not an of- 
 ficer of the United States, how he 
 came to obey the order of Major Cur- 
 rey by passing over the boundaries of 
 Tennessee. He replied that in Geor- 
 gia it was not law, it was all power. 
 I then observed that the rights of an 
 American citizen were sacred. They 
 were secured to him by the Constitution, 
 and that to trample upon them thus 
 wantonly would render his, or any 
 man's situation, a very dangerous one 
 with the people of a country like ours, 
 who must look upon it as their com- 
 mon cause. 
 
 "Pooh!" replied he; "that mignt 
 have done very well once, but Lord! 
 don't you know that's all over now?" 
 
 This was of course unansw'erable. 
 
 In the meantime, a suggestion was 
 made to us in a very unexpected way 
 of a plan of escape. We looked upon 
 it with suspicion, and thought it best 
 not even through curiosity to give it 
 encouragement. It appeared to us 
 that it might be a ])lan that, even 
 should it succeed, would make us seem 
 in the wrong; and we knew that at- 
 tempts of that nature, which had not 
 succeeded, had been fatal. We thought 
 it safer to be patient. 
 
 I contrived, however, to elude the 
 vigilance of our watchers. I found 
 among my clothes a letter of intro- 
 duction from one of the first mer- 
 chants in Athens to a lawyer in Floyd 
 County, Ga. There was blank room 
 enough in it to allow me to turn the 
 sheet and to write inside. I had a 
 pencil in my pocket. While pretend- 
 ing to read a newspaper I scribbled 
 by snatches an appeal to the Gover- 
 nor of Tennessee.* It was conveyed 
 out of the lines to a friend who inked 
 the superscription and made a copy 
 from the inside, which he afterwards 
 gave me, but I have mislaid it. An 
 express with the most kind friendship 
 flew across the country with this let- 
 ter to the Cherokee Agency, and thence 
 it was forwarded by another express
 
 62 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 to Nashville. I have not yet learned 
 the result. 
 
 We now heard that a brother of Mr, 
 Koss and another gentleman had in 
 vain sought to see us. We next ob^ 
 tamed information that a son and a 
 friend of Mr. Ross had arrived. After 
 much demur Mr. Koss was allowed to 
 speak with his son, provided he only 
 conversed on family affairs. The 
 father and son met at the steps of 
 one entrance to the enclosure. The 
 steps were filled with curious listen- 
 ers. When attempting to utter a syl- 
 lable of domestic incjuiry to his son in 
 Cherokee, Mr. Joshua Holden sudden- 
 ly interdicted Mr. Ross from proceed- 
 ing. 
 
 Une afternoon subsequently there 
 was an arrival which gave great joy 
 to Sergeant Young. Some guards re- 
 turned from furlough with Governor 
 Lumpkin's valedictory message, with 
 news that Mr. Bishop had got the bet- 
 ter of an old enemy in a street affray 
 at Milledgeville, and that a sort of 
 patron of Young, by the name of 
 Kenan,* had been elected Judge of 
 the Supreme Court of Georgia. At 
 this last intelligence, Young frisked 
 about like a lunatic. He drew my 
 pistols and fired them off in triumph. 
 He whooped, he laughed, he capered. 
 He ran into our room. 
 
 "Aha!" exclaimed he. "He's the fel- 
 low that will bring down the consti- 
 tution!" 
 
 I replied that I thought it would 
 have been much better to have found 
 a fellow that would bring it up — it 
 was down low enough already. But 
 Young seemed to look upon this elec- 
 tion, especially when coupled with the 
 appointment of two of his family con- 
 nection to high places in the state, 
 as a source of great hope for his own 
 advancement, and was perfectly be- 
 wildered with exultation. In the eve- 
 ning, a newspaper was produced, con- 
 taining Gov. Lumpkin's valedictory 
 message. There were some envenomed 
 passages in it against Mr. Ross. Young 
 had already put it into the hands of 
 Mr. Ross, and then desired me to read 
 it aloud. I objected. I appealed to 
 his own sense of decency, but he per- 
 sisted and when Mr. Ross united with 
 him, I read the passage and gave the 
 hearers full benefit of this petty 
 triumph over a prisoner in their power. 
 
 The next change which occurred was 
 the determination of the Sergeant to 
 post off to Milledgeville. When he 
 communicated this to us, Mr. Ross 
 asked to be conducted with him thither, 
 
 that he might learn from the Governor 
 of the State why he was detained, 
 and answer his accusers. This was 
 denied, but the sergeant promised he 
 would take a letter. Soon afterwards 
 the polished Mr. Absalom Bishop made 
 his appearance. He had understood 
 from Mr. Young that Mr. Ross wish- 
 ed to address the Governor. If on 
 seeing the latter, Mr. Absalom Bishop 
 should find it might facilitate the set- 
 tlement of the Cherokee question, he 
 would himself be the bearer. This 
 seemed to me, especially in an unoffi- 
 cial position, a piece of the most ar- 
 rant impertinence I had ever heard. I 
 took occasion myself at the same time 
 to repeat my request for leave not 
 only to write to the Governor of Geor- 
 gia, but to the Governor of Tennessee, 
 to the President and to my friends. 
 I received this extraordinary reply: 
 
 "Your fate will be decided and the 
 result made nublic before you can 
 reach either of the persons you have 
 named." 
 
 I pressed to know on what charge 
 I was imprisoned. Mr. Absalom Bish- 
 op remarked that I would learn ere 
 long from the proper authority, and 
 added with a simper. "Yon are not in 
 so bad a fix as Arthur Tappan, for 
 I see by the paners that they are 
 parading him with a halter around 
 his neck." 
 
 Mr. Ross, with some warmth, ex- 
 claimed, "I hope, sir, you do not com- 
 pare our case with his!" 
 
 "Indeed, sir," smiled the gentle Mr. 
 Absalom, "Mr. Payne has for some 
 time been under suspicion as an Abo- 
 litionist." And still the charge seem- 
 ed to me so ridiculous that I could 
 not but join Mr. Absalom Bishop in 
 his smile, and I answered: 
 
 "Oh, if that's all, it can soon be 
 settled!" 
 
 "No," replied my comforter, "that's 
 not the only charge, but you will know 
 in time, and a fortnight can not make 
 much difference." 
 
 Mr. Ross was now supplied with 
 paper, and Mr. Absalom Bishop re- 
 mained to watch him. When the let- 
 ter was completed, the Guards were 
 already crowding the doorway, their 
 eyes and ears and mouths distended 
 with curiosity. Mr. Ross folded the 
 letter and handed it to Mr. Absalom, 
 who very deliberately opened and read 
 it, and replied he thought it might 
 do; he then went out, followed by 
 Sergt. Young. After a while, both 
 
 *Owen H. Kenan, of Newnan, judge of the 
 Tallapoosa Circuit, Superior Court.
 
 John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard 
 
 63 
 
 returned. Mr. Absalom Bishop ob- 
 served that he wished a postscript, 
 more distinctly assuring the Governor 
 that he was desirous of making a 
 Treaty speedily, and that he urged a 
 release forthwith, merely in order to 
 accompany the delegation to Washing- 
 ton and accelerate the treaty. Mr. 
 Ross pointed out a part of his letter 
 Vi'hich already stated as much; but Mr. 
 Absalom Bishop thought a postscript 
 desirable, and so the postscript was 
 added and pronounced satisfactory, 
 and the letter and its bearer disap- 
 peared. I could almost fancy the 
 genius of this country exclaiming after 
 him, "Oh, Absalom, my son, my son!" 
 
 The departure was fixed for the 
 next day, but in the meantime there 
 arose trouble in the camp. Sergt. 
 Young heard a guard complaining of 
 him, and rushed at him with a club. 
 The guard struggled and Young drew 
 my pistol on him. The rest of the 
 troop caught Young's arm and saved 
 their comrade. Young afterwards 
 was grumbling at his failure. "I have 
 paid $1,500 already," said he, "for 
 shooting and stabbing, and I think I 
 can raise another .$1,500." He next 
 entertained us with a story of revenge 
 upon a negro slave of his whom he had 
 caught stealing. He had shaved the 
 fellow's ear off close with a razor, 
 "and the damned rascal," added he, 
 "said he never could hear after that, 
 and it was a damned of a while before 
 the place healed up." 
 
 I confess it somewhat annoyed me 
 to find my pistols in the constant 
 wearing of this person. I had fre- 
 quently given him hints after he had 
 promised to return them, but he took 
 no notice. One morning I remarked, 
 "Those pistol straps will be worn out 
 before I have a chance of putting them 
 on." "I reckon not," said Young, 
 "they'll last till spring, I take it." 
 
 But now that he was preparing for 
 a long journey and an indefinite ab- 
 sence, I thought it expedient to re- 
 quest their return explicitly. He de- 
 murred; would take it as a great favor 
 if I would lend them to him. He would 
 be back long before I could get out; 
 he would do as much at any time for 
 me. Then suddenly recollecting him- 
 self, he said: "I know I've behaved 
 like a damned mean man to you." 
 "Yes, you have," replied I; "you struck 
 me." "I know I did, and I've hated 
 it ever since." "I never named it," 
 I replied, "but I never forgot it." "But 
 you'd better let me have the pistols. 
 I'll buy them — what did they cost?" I 
 
 named the cost and he cried, "I'll leave 
 'em. I'll give 'em to the quartermas- 
 ter to keep." 
 
 The pistols were eventually sent out 
 of the lines to a son of Mr. Ross, from 
 whom I have since obtained them; but 
 their withdrawal seemed to sink deep 
 mto the Sergeant's mind. In speak- 
 ing of it to him I remarked: "My 
 own things may as well be under my 
 own command. I did not seek the pis- 
 tols because I thought them of any 
 great importance as a defense; what- 
 ever may chance, I suppose our lives 
 are safe enough." 
 
 "Maybe not," observed the Sergeant. 
 
 Soon afterwards, another conversa- 
 tion arose. "Did I understand you 
 rightly," observed I to the Sergeant, 
 "or were you only joking when you 
 said a while ago that our lives were 
 m danger here? You surely could 
 not mean that we are in danger." 
 
 "You see the sort of company you've 
 got into," replied he; "I can't an- 
 swer for anybody when I'm once away. 
 However, there's one honest man here 
 and I'll put you under his charge. 
 Riley Wilson's an honest man. I've 
 plenty of enemies in these lines, but 
 I'll not be made an instrument of by 
 any man. When I go away now, I'll 
 wash my hands of the whole concern. 
 No man shall make me an instrument. 
 I'll not bear the whole brunt of this 
 affair, I'll assure you." 
 
 I made a very serious appeal to him, 
 but he took no heed of it, nor did he 
 recall his words, but left us thus for 
 Milledgeville. He had not long been 
 gone when I chanced to fall into con- 
 versation with a young man of the 
 party, and asked him if there was any 
 prejudice afloat against us. If there 
 was, I should be glad to know what 
 it was and whence it arose. He in- 
 quired why I made the question. I told 
 him Young's assertion of our being in 
 danger. It flew like wildfire through 
 the lines. The room was filled in an 
 instant and I told the whole story, 
 which was confirmed by Mr. Ross. 
 Some proposed to pursue Young im- 
 mediately, tie him to a tree and "give 
 him the hickory." Others threatened 
 to fling him over the lines whenever 
 he should return. I assured them I 
 did not believe he meant more than 
 to annoy us; but they declared he was 
 too fond of tormenting prisoners; that 
 there was no person there at all in- 
 clined to impose on a prisoner but 
 Young, and it was time he be taught 
 better or withdraw. They asserted
 
 64 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 there was not a man on the hill but 
 respected both of us, and we might 
 rely on their support. The burst of 
 good feeling that appeared on this oc- 
 casion convinced me that most of 
 those persons, in conscientious hands, 
 might be moulded into valuable char- 
 acters. It is their misfortune to be 
 governed by men whose fitness may be 
 gathered from the facts I have detail- 
 ed, and youths, as many of them are, 
 of unformed principles and habits, can 
 not but be endangered by such direc- 
 tors, especially as their captain, for 
 electioneering purposes, cajoles them 
 into a blind devotedness to him and 
 to anything he may propose, no mat- 
 ter how outrageous. 
 
 They now seemed for a moment to 
 feel how much their reputation had 
 been darkened by their leaders. "Yes, 
 this is the way that that Indian lost 
 his life. He was told by a man that 
 talked Cherokee that the Guard meant 
 to come in during the night and cut 
 his throat, so he hanged himself on 
 the pole there that crosses at the foot 
 of your bed." 
 
 In the afternoon of this day there 
 came a great and unexpected revolu- 
 tion in the affairs of our little world. 
 There was a sudden announcement of 
 the arrival of the Captain-Colonel 
 Bishop. An express was instantly sent 
 off to recall Young and Absalom 
 Bishop, with their letter, from Mil- 
 ledgeville. Next morning at breakfast 
 time the mighty chieftain appeared. 
 He is a dapper and well-dressed and 
 well-made little man, with a gray head 
 and blue coat, well brushed, and bright 
 yellow buttons. I had already remark- 
 ed that this Bucephalus seemed train- 
 ed to curvet and plunge like circus 
 horses, with a great show of mettle, 
 but perfect safety to the rider. In 
 manner his grandeur was somewhat 
 melodramatic. 
 
 I have seen Napoleon Bonaparte, I 
 have seen the Duke of Wellington, 
 I have seen the Emperor Alexander, 
 the Emperor Francis, the King of Eng- 
 land, the King of Prussia; I have seen 
 Ney, Rapp, Blucher, Swartzenburg — 
 in short, I have seen most of the con- 
 temporary great men of Europe, as 
 well as America, but I have never yet 
 seen quite so great a man as the Tav- 
 ern Keeper, Clerk of the Court, Post- 
 master, County Treasurer, Captain, 
 Colonel W. N. Bishop. He was now 
 no longer the meek Moses of the Coun- 
 cil Ground. He was all emphasis and 
 frown to the poor prisoners in his 
 power, but with a peculiar affection 
 
 to his men of bonho)Ji))ue. He came 
 into the mess room, exclaiming, "Ah, 
 boys!" (for boys is the cant word by 
 which they speak to and of each other 
 in the lines). "Ah, boys, how are 
 you?" and he walked around shaking 
 hands with each of the boys, but to 
 both of us he was especially cold and 
 formal; to me he scarcely even deigned 
 a specific nod. 
 
 Mr. Ross expressed a wish, through 
 one of our sentries, for an interview, 
 but no notice was taken of the re- 
 quest. On the evening of that day, 
 as I was walking to and fro before 
 my prison, reading, a voice bawled 
 out, "Mr. Payne, that was a mistake 
 of yours about what I said," and I 
 saw Young bearing down upon me, 
 flourishing a club. Someone called to 
 the sentry, "Guard your prisoner!" 
 and the sentry closed up towards me 
 on one side, putting his gun in readi- 
 ness for action, and about 30 of the 
 Guard now drew nigh on the other. 
 I did not conceive that there was any 
 intention on the Sergeant's part to do 
 mischief, although the Guard thought 
 otherwise, and declared if he had 
 struck, it would have been the un- 
 luckiest blow of his life. He attempted 
 to deny a part of his words and then 
 to explain them away, but he saw it 
 was of no use, and so the matter 
 ended. 
 
 The Sergeant's revenge, however, 
 was rather amusing. He said Mr. Ross 
 and I should turn out of the bunk of 
 which he was part owner. The men 
 laughed and gave us one of theirs. 
 Here is another instance of their su- 
 periority to their officers. If we were 
 state prisoners, however, we ought not, 
 for our miserable straw, to have been 
 dependent, either upon the men or 
 upon the Sergeant. 
 
 Somewhere about this time a very 
 extraordinary incident took place. A 
 Dr. Farmer came into the room with 
 one of the Guard. After sitting a 
 while, he looked at me and said: 
 
 "Parlez vous Francais, Monsieur?" 
 
 "Qui, Monsieur," I replied. 
 
 The doctor and the Guard now ex- 
 changed looks, and both smiled. 
 
 "Je parle Francais," continued I, 
 "mais Je suis Americain." 
 
 The doctor mused for a while and 
 then departed with the Guard, leav- 
 ing Mr. Ross and me alone. I ob- 
 served, "This is a strange business. I 
 think that man has something to com- 
 municate which may be important, and 
 he wished to know if I could speak
 
 John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard 
 
 65 
 
 French that he might tell me his er- 
 rand more freely." 
 
 Mr. Ross asked me what he had 
 said. I replied that he only asked if 
 I understood French, and I answered 
 that I did, but was an American. Mr. 
 Ross observed that he knew nothing 
 of the man, but had heard bad stories 
 of his connections. It then occurred 
 to me that the doctor had merely 
 meant to try his French upon me, and 
 had soon got to the end of his stock. 
 Nor did the scene return to my mem- 
 ory until I heard, on my liberation, 
 that he had become one of my most 
 formidable accusers; that he had said 
 I confessed to him that my parents 
 were French, and that I myself was 
 an Abolitionist! The doctor must be 
 within reach of this narrative. If he 
 is innocent of the falsehood, it is due 
 to himself to seek and expose the in- 
 ventor. 
 
 The next thing we heard, Mr. John 
 Ridge was in the enclosure and closet- 
 ed with Col. Bishop. It was said that 
 he was at first denied an interview 
 with Mr. Ross, but at length Mr. 
 Ross was sent for to meet Ridge and 
 Bishop. After a few words. Bishop 
 suddenly arose and left them together. 
 When Mr. Ross returned, he exclaim- 
 ed, "It's all out now; we are both 
 Abolitionists and here for a capital 
 offense. We are the agents of some 
 great men, Mr. Clay, Mr. Calhoun, 
 Judge White, Mr. Poindexter, and the 
 Lord knows who; and we have both 
 plotted in concert with them to raise 
 an insurrection among the negroes, 
 who are to join the Indians against 
 the whites!" 
 
 I could not even yet regard the 
 charge as having been made seriously, 
 but Mr. Ross was assured it had been, 
 and he added: 
 
 "Bishop wishes to screen Currey 
 and take the arrest upon himself, so 
 we had better say nothing about that." 
 
 In the evening Mr. Ridge had an- 
 other interview, and on Monday, Nov. 
 16th, all were closeted for some hours. 
 About four, Mr. Ross entered the room 
 with a bundle in his hand. 
 
 "I've got my papers!" exclaimed he, 
 and dashing them into the bunk, we 
 went to dinner. Bishop and his broth- 
 er sat opposite. They were silent, 
 and all the party appeared nettled. I 
 will do the brace of Bishops the jus- 
 tice to own that they both, from first 
 to last, seemed in their hearts ashamed 
 to meet my glance, notwithstanding 
 much outward swagger. When dinner 
 
 was ended. Col. Bishop, giving a sort 
 of menacing look at me, exclaimed to 
 the sentinel with an emphatic gesture, 
 "Mr. Ross is discharged." 
 
 I walked back to my prison. Mr. 
 Ross, after some time, came for his 
 things. He said he was under the 
 necessity of getting home that night; 
 told me to make myself easy — all 
 would come out right. 
 
 "You have never published anything 
 about Bishop or the Guard in Lumpkin 
 County, have you?" was his only re- 
 mark. 
 
 "Not a syllable," replied I, "either 
 in Lumpkin County, or any other 
 county in Georgia or elsewhere." 
 
 "So I said," added he, "and you may 
 as well explain that when you see Col. 
 Bishop." 
 
 Mr. Ross seemed in haste. I imag- 
 ined he had been interdicted from com- 
 municating with me, and therefore 
 asked no explanations, especially as 
 the sentry was watching; nevertheless, 
 I requested he would solicit an inter- 
 view for me with Bishop, and ask a 
 speedy examination of my papers. He 
 went out and after some conversation 
 with Bishop came back, and stated 
 that Bishop had business that after- 
 noon which would prevent his attend- 
 ing to me, but the next day (Tues- 
 day) he would see me; and then my 
 companion mounted his horse and left 
 me alone and with feelings and un- 
 der a suspense and doubt by no means 
 to be envied. This event, I observed, 
 produced an instantaneous effect upon 
 the manner of the Guard towards me; 
 but ere long some of them seemed to 
 feel a deeper sympathy than ever, and 
 were marked, though silent, in their 
 civility. Others were unusually rude. 
 One man in particular, who was to 
 have been a sort of ruler during 
 Young's intended stay at Milledgeville, 
 became very coarse. 
 
 "Here!" he bawled one day across 
 the yard to me, after I had been for- 
 gotten at the first table for dinner. 
 "Here, you old prisoner you, come 
 along and eat!" 
 
 At one time I apprehended an in- 
 tention to increase the rigor of my 
 treatment. I heard one of the officers 
 calling for the Indian chain. "Where's 
 the Indian chain?" This is a chain 
 they keep expressly for the Indians, 
 and" the captive we found there, hav- 
 ing been dismissed, as he was taken 
 without law or reason assigned, the 
 chain had been thrown under one of 
 the bunks of our room and had been
 
 66 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 f 
 
 ^^ •^ ^1 111 
 
 INDIAN RELICS FOUND ON FLOYD COUNTY FARMS 
 
 The bludgeon, axes and short shaft spear at the top were used for war and other pur- 
 poses. The pestles in the center were employed to grind corn in wooden mortars. The bowl 
 was unearthed on the E. J. Moultrie farm in the Coosa Valley and the arrow heads picked up 
 in bottom lands and on hillsides here and there.
 
 John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard 
 
 67 
 
 a while without an occupant. But my 
 impression was not realized. The chain 
 was undisturbed. 
 
 Although friends and acquaintances 
 were rigorously excluded from my 
 prison, there seemed no exclusion of 
 any one who came out of mere cu- 
 riosity. A drunken countryman stag- 
 gered in one day. I was reading. 
 
 "I've spent all my money," said he, 
 "waiting in this town to see John 
 Ross and that other fellow." 
 
 I told him John Ross was gone. 
 After a while he gave me a knowing 
 wink and touched my elbow. "Aye, 
 aye, mighty good books — I like 'em, 
 too. I'm all for the ablutions." I ask- 
 ed him what he meant. He then hint- 
 ed that he had heard that John Ross 
 was one of the ablutions, and so was 
 he. I interrupted him; told him he 
 was mistaken in John Ross; that I 
 presumed I was "the other fellow," 
 and that the story he had heard against 
 us was all an invention, and if he 
 wanted ablutions, as he called them, 
 he must look for them elsewhere. 
 
 He begged a thousand pardons. The 
 Guard then said it was against or- 
 ders to talk to the prisoner, and my 
 friend of the ablutions reeled out, 
 bowing and hoping he "hadn't given 
 no offense to nobody, only he did just 
 want to have a look at the ablutions." 
 
 The time began to drag on more 
 drearily than ever. I had read up 
 all the books. I had no pen nor ink, 
 nor paper to write with. My only 
 amusement was parading before the 
 door and mentally composing a dog- 
 gerel description of my captivity, of 
 which even the little that I remem- 
 bered is not yet committed to paper. 
 Scenes of extreme confusion were oc- 
 curring hourly in my den. The eve- 
 nings were almost insupportable. The 
 room was thronged. A violin was tor- 
 mented into shrieks and groans which 
 were nicknamed music; there was 
 dancing and singing until tattoo; and 
 after that, conversation which ex- 
 ceeded in vulgarity, profanity and filth 
 anything I ever could have fancied. 
 Almost the only exceptions which in 
 the least could amuse were these : 
 
 "Where's that St. Helena," said the 
 Sergeant, "that Kill Blast belonged 
 to?" 
 
 "St. Helena," replied I, "is the place 
 where Bonaparte died. Gil Bias be- 
 longed to another part of the world ; 
 Santillane in — " 
 
 "Ah yes; well, you remember most 
 everything. I wish you'd remember 
 
 that I'm to take a dose of salts to- 
 morrow morning at four, and tell me 
 of it." 
 
 "Are you anything of a silversmith?" 
 asked one of the young men. "I want 
 to get some silver work fixed." 
 
 "Where's New York?" inquired an- 
 other; "England, ain't it?" 
 
 "No, it's the largest city in our own 
 country." 
 
 "But you must go to it over the 
 ocean, mustn't you?" 
 
 "You may if you go the right way 
 to work," I replied. 
 
 One day the sentry who was guard- 
 ing me in a ramble round the grounds 
 made a sudden halt, and dropping his 
 musquet abruptly, stared me fiercely 
 in the face. 
 
 "What do you follow when you're at 
 home?" 
 
 I paused, returned the fierce stare, 
 and replied, "Literature." 
 
 The man looked astounded. He stood 
 a while motionless, then took up his 
 gun. "Go on!" cried he, and we pro- 
 ceeded in silence, he no doubt imag- 
 ining that I had made a full confes- 
 sion of my sins. 
 
 One evening the importance of 
 knowing how to spell was discussed. 
 "There's no use in it at all," said the 
 oldest of the party, "because there's 
 two ways to spell everything." 
 
 "Yes," I observed, "there's a right 
 way and a wrong one." 
 
 "Come now," exclaimed one guard 
 to another. "How would you spell 
 axe? We'll leave it to the man (mean- 
 ing me) to say which way's right." 
 
 "Oh, that's easy enough : A-X." 
 
 "No," was the reply, doubtingly, and 
 with a glance at me. "There are three 
 letters," observed I, "in the word." 
 
 "I know," said a third: "W-A-X." 
 
 "That spells ivax!" exclaimed the 
 first in triumph. 
 
 "E-A-X!" cried a fifth. 
 
 "That's eax," called out the third, 
 with a laugh, and they all looked at 
 me. 
 
 "There's the number of letters and 
 the proper letters if they were only in 
 the proper places. The E is at the 
 wrong end," I observed. 
 
 "Ah, I know!" replied two or three, 
 clapping their hands. "A-X-E." And 
 so the contest ended. 
 
 The remainder of Monday, and then 
 Tuesday, and then Wednesday passed 
 off in the Colonel's paying arrearages
 
 68 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 to the men and settling accounts; and 
 the men themselves were engaged in 
 trafficking and settling up their lit- 
 tle bills among themselves, and swap- 
 ping. From first to last they had 
 been wishing to swap for everything 
 I had — my knife, my pistols, my horse, 
 my saddle, my watch; in short, every- 
 thing seemed to tempt them, but above 
 all, a buffalo hide which I used over 
 my saddle. My watch was a perpetual 
 torment to me. Every five minutes, 
 sometimes for hours, I was teazed to 
 tell what o'clock it was; and at night 
 I was desired to hang up my watch 
 that the two sentinels might regulate 
 their movements by it. Some of the 
 Guards borrowed money from me, but 
 except for a trifle, which was only 
 withheld, probably because my sortie 
 was unforeseen, all was punctually 
 repaid. During all the remainder of 
 the time, Bishop and his brother avoid- 
 ed meeting me at table or elsewhere. 
 And now all pretense of business 
 appeared at an end. Everything of 
 that nature seemed to wind up with 
 an auction, in which the Captain-Col- 
 onel performed as Auctioneer to his 
 men. Some rifles belonging to Indians 
 who had been shot in attempting to 
 escape capture were bid off; then a 
 coat; then the "boys" were asked if 
 they had anything else which they de- 
 sired to sell, and then the "gentlemen" 
 were thanked for their attention, and 
 dismissed. After this the Captain-Col- 
 onel seemed closeted upon secret busi- 
 ness. I inferred from some circum- 
 stances that he was making copies 
 from among the manuscript documents 
 I had transcribed regarding Cherokee 
 affairs. They were mostly the same 
 with the papers returned to Mr. Ross, 
 but fairly written and arranged in or- 
 der and therefore most convenient for 
 a transcription. During this employ, 
 a fine of $20 was proclaimed against 
 any guard who should approach the 
 door of the sanctum sanctorum, and a 
 sentinel was ordered to keep watch 
 and prevent intrusion. 
 
 All that I heard from without dur- 
 ing the week was that Mr. Ross had 
 sent a messenger, who was prevented 
 from seeing me; and a guard apprised 
 me that he had been requested by this 
 messenger to say "my friends had not 
 forgotten me; in a few days all would 
 come right." 
 
 I learned afterward that this in- 
 formant had proffered to convey to 
 me letters or papers, and a note was 
 consequently given to him, but it never 
 came to hand. I had been told that 
 
 Mr. Schermerhorn was expected about 
 this time, and I knew that if we met, 
 decency would have rendered it im- 
 perative on him to bring about my 
 release. I asked Young, and he pre- 
 tended not to know when the Rev- 
 erend Commissioner would appear, but 
 observed "he knew all about it, for 
 news was sent off to him at once." 
 
 On Friday morning, Nov. 20th, Ser- 
 geant Young told me he was going to 
 his home. I had already understood 
 that Col. Bishop was preparing for 
 a trip to Milledgeville. Young had 
 several times bantered me about "when 
 I expected my furlough" and "why I 
 didn't get on my horse and ride off." 
 He repeated his jeers this morning. 
 He asked me if I had not seen the 
 Colonel yet. I replied no; expressed 
 a wish to see him and desired Young 
 to name my wish. 
 
 "The Colonel's got nothing agin you 
 that I know of, except something you 
 writ about us in Lumpkin." I replied 
 I had written nothing in Lumpkin. 
 "Well, then, in Habersham, when you 
 was up there at Clarkesville." 
 
 I said that was equally a slander 
 and asked as a point of common jus- 
 tice, at least, to be shown the articles I 
 was accused of having written. But 
 Young evaded the request by saying, 
 "At any rate, you wrote a letter where 
 you called the Guard banditti, for we 
 found that among your papers; and 
 you ought not to have wrote such a 
 letter." 
 
 "Have I not a right to make what 
 private notes I please? The paper you 
 speak of was never published. Even 
 though it had been, no one can be 
 justified in complaining of me for only 
 exercising a privilege guaranteed to 
 me by the constitution of my native 
 country. But it was not published and 
 could form no part of the cause of 
 my arrest, nor of the pretext for my 
 detention." 
 
 "I mean to keep them letters," said 
 Young, "in case you should ever print 
 anything if you ever git out, so as to 
 prove it agin you. I don't give them 
 up. You oughtn't to have said the 
 Guard looked like banditti." 
 
 It was not above half an hour after 
 this when I perceived preparations for 
 something unusual. The men were all 
 summoned to be ready at the roll of 
 the drum. My horse was ordered out, 
 as I understood, to be taken to water. 
 But I was convinced from many signs 
 that I myself was the object of the 
 mysterious movements. A son of the
 
 John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard 
 
 69 
 
 Colonel kept staring around at me 
 with intense curiosity, and many oth- 
 ers looked on in silence, as persons 
 look upon any one about to under- 
 go some terrible ordeal. The Colonel's 
 horse was saddled and put in read- 
 iness, and another horse was also pre- 
 pared, and Mr. Joshua Holden ap- 
 peared, equipped for a campaign. At 
 length the drum beat. I heard the 
 sergeant say, recommending some one 
 to the Captain-Colonel, "He may be 
 trusted." 
 
 And now one of the Guard ran to 
 me: "Your saddlebags, your saddle- 
 bags." "Why?" "You're going out." 
 I went to the bunk. "Is there not 
 some mischief intended?" asked I. "I 
 can't tell, but you'd better make me 
 a present of that buffalo hide." "No," 
 answered I; "it was given to me and 
 has been too good a friend to me in 
 trouble." The guard took the saddle- 
 bags and buffalo skin, and with it 
 a very large and cumbersome cloak 
 and some loose clothes. I found them 
 heaped upon my horse. "The straps 
 to fasten these are not here." "I 
 can't help it," was the answer. "Get 
 on, get on!" "I can not over this 
 pile of things." "You must." "This 
 is not my bridle; mine was a new one 
 and double. Where are my martin- 
 gales, my straps?" "Get on, get on!" 
 I was compelled to mount, and the 
 m.ass of unfastened things was piled 
 up before me; the saddle was loosely 
 girted, and the horse was startled, and, 
 as if on purpose, covered with mud. 
 I still claimed my bridle, but was con- 
 ducted in front of the paraded Guard, 
 he who led my horse muttering as he 
 went, "That's the bridle they said was 
 yours." 
 
 The Captain-Colonel stood in front 
 of his men. "Halt your horse there, 
 sir, and beware how you speak a 
 word." I attempted to speak, but he 
 shouted : 
 
 "Be silent, sir; look upon them men. 
 Them's the men you in your writings 
 have called banditti." 
 
 Whether the eloquent Captain-Col- 
 onel imagined I meant to reply, I can 
 not say, but he repeated eagerly: 
 
 "Don't speak, sir!" 
 
 And I did not speak, but I did look 
 upon the men, and if ever I compared 
 them in appearance to banditti, the 
 glance of that moment made me feel 
 that I ought to ask of any banditti 
 the most respectful pardon. Spirit of 
 Shakespeare, forgive me too! For if 
 thy Falstaff and his ragged regiment 
 
 came into my mind at such a moment, 
 it was my misfortune, not my fault. 
 But I will proceed. 
 
 "You've come into this country to 
 pry, ever since you arriv, into things 
 you've no business with. You're a 
 damned incendiary, sir! You've come 
 into this country to rise up the Cher- 
 okees against the whites. You've wrote 
 agin these worthy men (pointing to 
 the Guards). You've wrote agin the 
 State of Georgia. You've wrote agin 
 the gineral Government of the United 
 States. Above all, sir, you've wrote 
 agin me! Now, sir — " 
 
 Then turning with an aside speech 
 to some bystander, I think it was Mr. 
 Joshua Holden, "Hand the things," 
 said the Captain-Colonel, and a bun- 
 dle with a loop, carefully prearranged 
 so as to let the arm through, was 
 given to me. 
 
 "Now, sir, take your papers; haug 
 'em on your arm, sir, and I order you 
 to cut out of Georgia. If you ever 
 dare agin show your face within the 
 limits of Georgia, I'll make you curse 
 the moment with your last breath. 
 With your foul attacks on me you've 
 filled the Georgia papers." 
 
 I could not well endure to hear as- 
 sertions so utterly unfounded, and took 
 advantage of the pause of the elo- 
 quent Captain-Colonel for breath, and 
 exclaimed rather vehemently: 
 
 "Upon my honor, no, sir!" 
 
 "Hold your tongue, I say," resumed 
 my jailor. "The minute you hear the 
 tap of the drum, I tell you to cut out 
 of this yard, and I order you never 
 while you exist to be seen in this state 
 of ours any more, for if you are, I'll 
 make you rue it! Let this be a lesson 
 to you, and thank my sympathy for 
 a stranger that you've been treated 
 with such extraordinary kindness; and 
 now, sir, clear out of the state forever, 
 and go to John Ross, God damn you!" 
 
 I looked on this pitiable exhibition 
 with more of passion than resentment, 
 and it seemed to me as if most of the 
 Guard felt sorry for their leader. 
 Never before did I so forcefully re- 
 alize the truth of that beautiful' pas- 
 sage — 
 
 Frail man, frail man, 
 Drcst in a little brief authority 
 Plays such fantastic tricks before high 
 
 Heaven 
 As make the angels weep ! 
 
 I claimed my bridle again, but in 
 vain, and I then moved of necessity
 
 70 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 slowly from the place, because I had 
 great difficulty in retaininp: the things 
 that had been piled upon my horse. 
 When I got outside the lines, some of 
 the affairs dropped off, and I stopped 
 to ask a person to hand them to me, 
 and at the same time to inquire the 
 route to Big Spring.* On turning a 
 corner a stranger told me I had bet- 
 ter stop and dismount and arrange my 
 baggage; and just then a gentleman 
 called to me that he wished a word 
 with me, and approached. He said he 
 had a letter for me. I asked him the 
 direction towards the residence of Mr. 
 Ross. I saw that the letter he hand- 
 ed me was from Mr. Ross, and related 
 to my route. At that moment Col. 
 Bishop and Mr. Josiah Holden dashed 
 up like fiends. Bishop cursed me, 
 threatened me, if I dared speak to 
 any "damned Nullifier," and menaced 
 to make an example out of me if I 
 did not get out of the State. I paused 
 to return the letter and to ask the 
 I'oad, but my pursuers continued to 
 execrate and to roar. I went on and 
 for the last time had the honor of 
 again hearing the Colonel's eloquence, 
 in a volley of oaths as he passed back 
 towards the camp, threatening my life 
 as a "damned old rascal" if he ever 
 caught me daring to speak to another 
 man in Georgia. 
 
 I turned abruptly, entirely ignor- 
 ant of the way, into a little wood. 
 Descending a slippery spot, my horse, 
 which had been startled by the rush- 
 ing of the pursuers, stumbled. The 
 saddle, which had been scarcely girt- 
 ed on, turned, the large cloak caught 
 around his legs and I found myself 
 equally entangled in its folds with the 
 horse, one of whose fore hoofs was 
 planted on my breast. He snorted and 
 stood in a sort of stupor of amaze- 
 ment, his mouth open and almost 
 touching mine, his ears erect, his nos- 
 trils distended, and his eyes staring 
 wildly into my eyes, for at least a 
 minute. It is singular enough that I 
 felt not the slightest sense of danger 
 or even uneasiness; I only thought it 
 best to remain quiet until I found 
 what the horse meant to do ; and then 
 I took his hoof, lifted it aside, dis- 
 engaged myself, arose and with some 
 difficulty got my cloak from around 
 his limbs. He did not even stiffen a 
 joint when I lifted his foot from my 
 breast, nor did I feel, while it was 
 planted there, the slightest pressure, 
 although the form of the hoof was by 
 the red clay in which he had been 
 tramping, so strongly defined upon 
 my shirt bosom that it might in New 
 
 England have answered for a sign to 
 keep away the witches. But no sooner 
 was the danger wholly past than I 
 felt feeble and faint and perfectly 
 unmanned. I had never, from the be- 
 ginning to the end of my misadven- 
 ture, experienced any sensation like 
 that which now came over me. 
 
 I could scarcely move. Before me 
 there was a muddy streamlet across 
 which there arose a hill with a hut 
 at its top. I determined to walk up 
 to that hut and there seek assistance 
 in adjusting my things for a journey, 
 and purchase cords or straps of some 
 sort. But I could scarcely drag my 
 horse through the stream. He was 
 ravenous for water and kept me stand- 
 ing in the middle of it while he drank. 
 The woman of the house was much 
 agitated by my appearance. She ask- 
 ed, trembling and in tears "if the 
 Guard would not come to her and hurt 
 her for speaking to me." She seemed 
 exceedingly anxious for me to get out 
 of sight. I answered that I could not 
 think they would be so brutal. I now 
 found that my buffalo hide was miss- 
 ing. I promised to pay another wom- 
 an for going back to look for it, as 
 it must have fallen close at hand. She 
 returned presently and said it was not 
 there. 
 
 I had by this time secured my things 
 with ropes. In paying the one woman 
 I gave silver to pay the other. I 
 could not help being struck by the cir- 
 cumstance, under all this alarm at 
 the hut, of my being called to by 
 the one of these people who had fail- 
 ed to accomplish her errand, to know 
 whether I had left any money for her 
 too. 
 
 It so chanced that I got upon the 
 direct road to McNair's, some 15 miles 
 off and within the chartered limits of 
 Tennessee. It is an Indian family. 
 Nothing could be kinder or more cor- 
 dial than my reception and treatment, 
 notwithstanding the strong probabil- 
 ity they fancied of my being still pur- 
 sued thither for fresh torment by the 
 Guard. They looked upon me as one 
 risen from the dead. At McNair's I 
 was for the first time fully apprised 
 of the dangers which had beset me and 
 which were still to be dreaded. I found 
 that during my thirteen days' captiv- 
 ity the most industrious efforts had 
 been made to excite the country against 
 me as an Abolitionist and a Foreign 
 
 ♦Now in Meigs County, Tenn., 25 miles north 
 of Blue Spring. He was trying to reach the 
 latter after he was liberated, hoping to rejoin 
 Ross.
 
 John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard 
 
 71 
 
 Emissary. The most important step 
 had been already taken. The minds 
 of the country people had been fa- 
 miliarized to the expectation of my 
 being hanged, and they only waited 
 for notice to assemble and enjoy the 
 execution. The wife of a tavern keeper 
 at Spring Place was reported to me 
 by a traveller as having been heard 
 to say I was a "very bad man," I was 
 "sure to be hung," and one man had 
 been hung thereabouts before for much 
 less than I had done. I deserved the 
 gallows and she herself would see me 
 swinging with much pleasure — that 
 she would, "wicked thing that I was!" 
 
 This may be taken, I presume, as a 
 fair specimen of the sort of excite- 
 ment which had been got up. Those 
 best acquainted with the neighborhood 
 and with the spirit prevailing looked 
 upon my situation from the first as 
 the more perilous of the two; but when 
 I was found to have been detained 
 after Mr. Ross, it was considered as 
 altogether desperate. That this was 
 no idle belief may be inferred from 
 a fact of which I was afterward ad- 
 vised. A paper, belonging, as I un- 
 derstand, to a friend of Bishop in 
 Cassville — the only paper of the re- 
 gion through which it was my long 
 avowed plan to return — had sent forth 
 the following tissue of impudent false- 
 hoods, during the earlier days of our 
 captivity, and the poison had taken 
 effect : 
 
 "Report," says the Cassville Pioneer 
 of Nov. 13th, "has just reached us 
 of the apprehension by the Georgia 
 Guard of John Ross, together with a 
 gentleman from the North. They were 
 pursued by the soldiers stationed at 
 Calhoun, Tenn., as far as the line of 
 this state, where the chase was taken 
 up by the Guard, who succeeded in 
 overtaking them at an Indian's by the 
 name of Sneaking Rabbit. The crime 
 with which they are chai-ged seems 
 to be an effort, making by them, to 
 arouse the Cherokees and negroes to 
 the commission of hostilities on the 
 white citizens of the Cherokee coun- 
 try. If information be true, the pa- 
 pers found in their possession go far 
 to prove the hostility of their designs. 
 Their communications had in a great 
 measure been carried on in the French 
 language. For want of a knowledge 
 of that language, the Guard was un- 
 able to comprehend fully their designs. 
 Time alone can develop the truth of 
 the report, but we trust for the peace 
 of the community at large that it may 
 
 *A long but harmless exhortation and appeal. 
 
 not prove as true as present appear- 
 ances seem to indicate." 
 
 On discovering these reports, I felt 
 some anxiety to examine the papers 
 myself, wondering what could have 
 created the French part of the charge. 
 I looked among the manuscripts re- 
 turned. The French papers which 
 have puzzled the Captain, Colonel and 
 the rest seem to have been these: A 
 numeration table, in Cherokee, by 
 George Gist, the native inventor of 
 the Cherokee alphabet ; a specimen of 
 Gist's handwriting in Cherokee and in 
 the characters he had invented ; an ac- 
 count of his life, also in the same lan- 
 guage and characters, and written by 
 his relation, George Lowry, second 
 principal chief; and a literary com- 
 position by Mr. Lowry, in Cherokee 
 words, but English letters, which I 
 preserved as a remarkable curiosity, 
 because Mr. Lowry had never learned 
 to read or write in any way, until 
 after he had attained in age nearly 
 half a century. 
 
 These were the French letters. This 
 was the French plot. And I have rea- 
 son to believe that in their eagerness 
 to get some evidence against us the 
 wiseacres by whom we had been kid- 
 napped sent far across the country for 
 some learned Theban to translate the 
 aforesaid French out of the original 
 Cherokee! 
 
 My other papers consisted of tran- 
 scripts of public documents, a book of 
 private memoranda, some specimen 
 copy books from the Missionary School 
 at Brainerd, appeals, the latter already 
 mentioned and never printed, signed 
 "Washington," and the address which 
 I had drawn up for the Cherokee Na- 
 tion to the people of the United States. 
 The former of these was not returned 
 to me. If stolen, I can not conjec- 
 ture wherefor. If it had been re- 
 turned, although the publication had 
 not been intended, events would have 
 induced me to have enabled the public 
 to judge of it, as I now enable them 
 to do of the other paper''', which was 
 meant for circulation, and only re- 
 strained by its seizure and our deten- 
 tion from being sent round for sig- 
 natures by all the people. My coun- 
 trymen will find it annexed. It will 
 show them how far my accusers have 
 been justified in attempting my de- 
 struction as an exciter of the Cher- 
 okees to rise and murder the whites ! 
 
 I must not omit here to mention 
 that often and often since this affair 
 have I blessed the chance which kept 
 out of my reach any of these aboli-
 
 72 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 tion pamphlets which have been so 
 much talked about. I have never seen 
 any and have had some desire to see 
 one for I am in the habit of gather- 
 ing scraps of that sort as curiosities, 
 and if one had come in my way I 
 should certainly have preserved it, as 
 valuable for a future illustration of 
 our times; and that would have sealed 
 my fate, for had the slightest docu- 
 ment of such a nature been discovered 
 in my possession, no explanation could 
 have saved me. A pretext, and not 
 the truth, was wanted; and such an 
 accident, and by no means an un- 
 likely one, could ere this have cost 
 my life upon a scaffold. 
 
 Before I close my list of escapes, 
 let me mention one more. Mr. Ross 
 had told me during our ride when first 
 captured how glad he was of the pre- 
 cautions which had been taken a long 
 time before to prevent any resentment 
 on the part of the Indians of any 
 wrong whatever to their nation or its 
 chiefs. Some indignity to him had 
 long been expected and he felt satis- 
 fied that the Cherokees would be dis- 
 creet. I learned afterwards, however, 
 that the indignation of some of them 
 at this enormity almost overpowered 
 the efforts of their leaders to keep 
 them patient. Had they attacked the 
 camp for our rescue I am convinced 
 that as a first step of the defenders, 
 we should have been shot. A scheme 
 was also on foot, I have been told, in 
 the bordering counties of Tennessee, to 
 raise a force and bring us and the 
 Guard back over the line, and there 
 punish the intruders. This attempt 
 would equally have exposed our lives, 
 and in either case we should have 
 been branded as having caused a civil 
 war, and the first bloodshed might 
 have been made an excuse to extermi- 
 nate the Indians. In more than one 
 instance during our imprisonment I 
 remarked some uneasiness in the camp, 
 but have only since learned whence 
 it probably arose. 
 
 But to resume my story. I sent a 
 messenger across the forest to Red 
 Clay, for the purpose of knowing what 
 had become of Mr. Ross. With the 
 messenger next day Mr. Ross and his 
 Assistant Principal Chief'' and Dr. 
 Butler** came to congratulate me on 
 my escape. Of Dr. Butler I ought to 
 make some special mention. He was 
 one of those who had been imprisoned 
 in the Georgia penitentiary under the 
 famous attack upon the Missionaries. 
 He had deeply felt my danger, had 
 written to my friends, though a 
 
 stranger to them, in order that the 
 result he secretly apprehended might 
 not come upon their knowledge too 
 suddenly, and had travelled a long road 
 through a dreary night to seek influ- 
 ence in my favor. His little family 
 had implored Heaven for me with their 
 prayers, and when I met them again, 
 welcomed me with a touching enthu- 
 siasm, which told the story of the peril 
 I had escaped. It was when I went 
 back with my visitors to the house 
 of Mr. Ross that I saw them, and 
 soon after, Mr. Ross and Mr. Lowry 
 accompanied me as far as the agency. 
 There the venerable Eena-tah-naah-eh, 
 commonly called Going Snake, speaker 
 of the Council, and one or two of its 
 other members were in waiting to con- 
 gratulate me. Old Eena-tah-naah-eh, 
 though he could not speak a syllable 
 of English, was eloquent with looks of 
 joy. He had told Mr. Ross when he 
 first called to see him after his eman- 
 cipation, "It makes me happy to find 
 you here. . But I am only half happy. 
 I do not see our friend. I look at the 
 chair where he used to sit, and it is 
 empty. I look at the door and he does 
 not enter. I listen for his voice, but 
 all is silent." 
 
 On hearing I was to be at the 
 agency,*** the old man hastened thither. 
 There, too, the officers of the United 
 States army hailed me with the cor- 
 diality of compatriots and gentlemen, 
 feeling that the republic had been in- 
 f:ulted in the treatment I had received, 
 a spirit which appeared to prevail 
 wherever I happened to pass people in 
 my lonely ride to Knoxville, where I 
 have had ample proof that Tennessee 
 disdains the baseness of which I have 
 been the victim within her sway. 
 
 It may be asked whence this high- 
 handed outrage of which Mr. Ross and 
 myself have been the victims arose. 
 There must have been some cause for 
 it. The only cause I can guess for 
 it is this : There was a wish to get 
 possession of certain documents re- 
 garding the treaty discussions from 
 Mr. Ross, which had been asked for 
 by the government agents and not 
 given. It was known that I had made 
 copies of all the recent public docu- 
 ments of the Cherokee nation. The 
 seizure of the papers of both Mr. Ross 
 and myself would probably supply all 
 that had been asked. Thei-e was no 
 
 * George Lowrey. 
 
 **Rev. Elijah Butler, who had charge of Mis- 
 sionary Station at Coosa, and who had spent 
 a year and four months in the penitentiary at 
 Milledgeville for "interfering" with the Indians. 
 
 ***Calhoun, Tenn.
 
 John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard 
 
 73 
 
 force sufficiently lawless to undertake 
 this but the Georgia Guard. Having 
 adventured on the step, it was re- 
 quisite to invent a pretext, and to 
 cover themselves from indignation by 
 keeping us out of view until the coun- 
 try could be excited against us. The 
 mad-dog cry of the day is Abolitionist. 
 That was the most obvious mode of 
 strangling complaint against the in- 
 jury, for it was the most certain to 
 get the injured themselves strangled, 
 and "dead men tell no tales." Besides, 
 if a mob rould be raised, mischief 
 could be done without responsibility. 
 In order to make "assurance doubly 
 sure"* the slander was heightened 
 by the imputations of a French and 
 Indian, connected with a negro plot, for 
 universal massacre. The scheme, how- 
 ever, did not take the effect expected. 
 Then was Mr. Ross set free, under the 
 plea, probably, that he had more 
 friends than I. He was even treated 
 at the dismissal with a show of court- 
 liness, that his story might discredit 
 mine. 
 
 I was probably detained after him 
 for two reasons. My papers contain- 
 ed fair copies of all such among his 
 as might be wanted. Mine were fair- 
 ly written and arranged and could 
 more easily be made use of by the 
 transcriber. It was convenient to keep 
 me until copies could be made of what- 
 ever Cherokee documents the parties 
 concerned might think useful. 
 
 The other reason appears very like- 
 ly to have been this : Alone and a 
 stranger in a strange place, I might 
 be made the readier victim could a 
 stir be raised against me, either with- 
 in the camp or within the neighbor- 
 hood. The frequent mention by the 
 officers of my having "abused the 
 guard" was intended to spirit them 
 to do me an injury. I heard one of 
 them intimate with some indignation 
 one day that he himself so understood 
 it. To them and to all, my continued 
 imprisonment was doubtless meant to 
 convey the idea of proven guilt. The 
 mode of my dismissal was evidently 
 intended to be understood as an en- 
 couragement to any violence that the 
 "boys" within might choose to perpe- 
 trate, and the hostile pursuit by threats 
 as an excitement to the "boys" with- 
 out. By crushing me, my persecutors 
 might crush a witness and prevent 
 future inquiry. Perhaps I was only 
 saved by taking a road which no one 
 
 *A favorite expression used by Woodrow 
 Wilson. 
 
 **So far as is known, Ross remained silent. 
 
 expected I w-ould take, though, in 
 truth, as I said before, I think the 
 "boys" considerably better than their 
 leaders. 
 
 But whatever the pretext for this 
 enormity, there can be no excuse. If 
 my visit to the house of Mr. Ross 
 was objected to by the government 
 agents, a hint would have been enough. 
 If doubt were entertained of the na- 
 ture of my memoranda, a request 
 would have opened them to examina- 
 tion. Violence would have been early 
 enough when a disposition had been 
 shown to respect gentleness. But that 
 I was re-ally engaged in any plot of 
 any sort, I am persuaded never was 
 believed by those who have commit- 
 ted this outrage. What could I gain 
 by the Cherokees? Every moment that 
 I have passed in their country has 
 been a loss to me and an inconven- 
 ience. Nothing which they can offer 
 can render me services, and men do not 
 contrive treason when they can gain 
 no advantage. I have been swayed in 
 the very little I have gathered re- 
 garding the Cherokees by a pure and 
 distinterested wish to render my own 
 country service, in leading it to be 
 simply just to theirs, and I have wish- 
 ed to' supply myself with such mate- 
 rial that the fairness which it might 
 be impossible for me to excite for them 
 from present legislation, I might my- 
 self bestow on them in future history. 
 In party questions I take no interest. 
 I repeat again and again that I have 
 looked into this matter as a philan- 
 thropist, not as a politician. 
 
 Mr. Ross will presently tell his own 
 story.** His affairs have prevented 
 him' from joining me here in time to 
 give it to the world with mine. I have 
 wished to put my portion of the facts 
 on record as speedily as possible, be- 
 cause I am aware that great false- 
 hood must be resorted to by my op- 
 pressors in order to prevent public in- 
 dignation against a great wrong. In- 
 deed, with such foes and such modes 
 as they adopt for gaining ends and 
 such a" long and lonely road to travel, 
 who knows how soon the complaincr 
 may bo yet silenced? It is but a week 
 since I was a prisoner. But whatever 
 may be the risk, I deem it a duty to 
 my' country not to shirk from speak- 
 ing the entire truth. 
 
 People of Tennessee, to you I appeal ! 
 I was a peaceful visitor to your state. 
 I had dwelt in it some weeks. A band 
 of armed men, who, in overpassing the 
 limits of their own region, surely ren- 
 dered themselves felons and banditti.
 
 74 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 burst into my retreat at midnight, 
 dragged me four and twenty miles 
 through a forest and during a drench- 
 ing tempest. I was denied to com- 
 municate with friends, with your gov- 
 ernment, with our common protector, 
 the President of the Union. I was 
 denied a knowledge of the charge 
 against me, or my accuser. After 
 nearly two weeks of imprisonment I 
 was insultingly and without examina- 
 tion ordered back into Tennessee by 
 the Captain of the outlaws who had 
 laughed at your power of protection, 
 your own chartered boundaries to 
 scorn. People of Tennessee, will you 
 bear these things? Will you see your 
 hospitality thus dishonored? Will you 
 know that the stranger who comes to 
 visit you can not be safe, even in his 
 blamelessness, from injury and in- 
 sult within your domain? 
 
 People of Georgia, I appeal to you! 
 I came among you as a fellow coun- 
 tryman. I came to make myself ac- 
 quainted with your history and your 
 character and with the numberless 
 natural beauties and with the count- 
 less riches of your domain. I came 
 under the guarantee of the compact 
 between the sister states of the Re- 
 public, which secures to the citizens 
 of each unobstructed communication 
 with all. I came relying upon the 
 spirit of hospitality which has distin- 
 guished the South. I have told you 
 how I have been treated. If any mem- 
 ber of the Republic has been especially 
 remarkable for her resistance to the in- 
 trusion of one state upon the rights 
 of another, it is Georgia. How, then, 
 can I believe that she will uphold her 
 officers, who have in the most glar- 
 ing and the coarsest manner been 
 guilty of such an intrusion? I do not, 
 therefore, identify the state with the 
 wrongs. I can not again enter the 
 state until the people do the justice 
 to tell me that I have judged them 
 fairly in believing they feel themselves 
 insulted by the insults which have 
 been heaped in their name upon a 
 neighboring power and upon the con- 
 stitution, our common protector — in 
 the person of a stranger, a country- 
 man, a friend. 
 
 My fellow citizens throughout my 
 native land! To all of you alike I 
 appeal, for there is not one in our 
 Republic to whom this case is not of 
 vital import. It is not a party, but 
 a universal question, and I doubt not 
 
 but that the Chief Magistrate of the 
 Republic, whose government has been 
 prophaned by being made by subal- 
 terns to seem the source of the wrong, 
 will be foremost in declaring this 
 enormity. Insulting inquisitions, dom- 
 iciliary visits, midnight intrusions into 
 the sanctuary of homes, seizure by 
 armed men of private papers, the im- 
 prisonment and secreting of citizens, 
 without the disclosure either of the 
 charge or the accuser, contempt of the 
 boundaries of the states, mockery of 
 the hallowed privileges of the consti- 
 tution — all these the worst deeds of 
 the basest despotism have been per- 
 petuated already in the instance now 
 before you, and if you do not rise like 
 men and declare such things shall not 
 be suffered, not a citizen among you 
 can say he sleeps in safety! 
 
 This is no idle declamation. It has 
 happened to me and it may happen to 
 any one of you. The Rubicon has 
 been passed. But think of me, think 
 of yourselves, think of those most dear 
 to you, to whom you would bequeath 
 the freedom you inherited. Not for 
 personal chagrin, but for the honor 
 of our country I will tell you, and oh! 
 let not posterity echo the assertion 
 as a prophecy, if tamely you look on 
 and see these things, unmoved ! I care 
 not for proscriptions nor for bayonets; 
 neither the Guards of Georgia nor the 
 denunciations of reckless and wily and 
 insidious hirelings shall frighten me 
 into silence; for I will tell you and 
 with my last breath, if tamely you 
 behold these things you are only slaves 
 — heartless, abject slaves, and un- 
 worthy of the immortal ancestors who 
 bravely fought and nobly died to make 
 their country free. But for this, I am 
 satisfied, you will give no cause. The 
 spirit of your fathers is not dead with- 
 in you. My country will not see even 
 the humblest of her sons oppressed. 
 JOHN HOWARD PAYNE. 
 
 Saturday, November, 1835.* 
 
 ♦Evidently Nov. 28. Since he was released 
 Friday, Nov. 20. he could not have reached 
 Knoxville, 125 miles, in less than four days. 
 Payne was born June S, 1792, at 33 Pearl St., 
 New York, N. Y., and died at 60 years of age 
 Apr. 10. 1852, while serving as United States 
 consul at Tunis, Morocco. He lay buried there 
 until W. W. Corcoran, of Washington, D. C, 
 brought his body back to his native land late 
 in March, 1883, and reinterred it in George- 
 town, a suburb of Washington. He corre- 
 sponded with such literary lights as Washing- 
 ton Irving (who also died a bachelor), Samuel 
 Taylor Coleridge and Chas. Lamb, and roomed 
 with Irving in Paris for a while.
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 Aftermath of the Payne- Ross Affair 
 
 THE arrest of Payne and 
 Ross stirred up a "hornet's 
 nest" in Georgia and Ten- 
 nessee and to a less extent 
 at Washington and throughout 
 the country. Governor William 
 Schley had just come into of- 
 fice at jMilledgeville as the suc- 
 cessor of Wilson Lumpkin, and 
 he was bombarded with protests. 
 President Jackson was bombard- 
 ed at Washington. A volunteer 
 force of soldiers was organized in 
 Tennessee to patrol "the border" 
 and keep the rambunctious Geor- 
 gians on their "own side." Con- 
 gress and the Georgia Legislature 
 prepared to review the case. The 
 Georgia Guard began to "spew 
 out." 
 
 Major Currey explained to Presi- 
 dent Jackson through Elbert Her- 
 ring, commissioner of Indian Af- 
 fairs, and called Payne a prevari- 
 cator. He was supposed to have 
 ordered the arrest, or at least to 
 have inspired it. Some said the 
 order came from Milledgeville. 
 Schermerhorn contended that he 
 was at Tuscaloosa, Ala., when he 
 heard the news ; had nothing to do 
 with it. l)ut \v(iuld have had Payne 
 arrested had he knoAvn of his de- 
 signs. 
 
 Two Indians from near Rome 
 figured in the afifair. Payne's ac- 
 count mentions that one of them 
 hung himself in the guard house at 
 v^pring Place, which became his 
 own "home" for nearly a fortnight. 
 Combatting Payne's statement that 
 the Indian was driven to despera- 
 tion by the Georgia Guard, Major 
 Currey offered this cxj^lanation : 
 
 *The Howling Wolf was oC the Chickamaugra 
 District, which included part of Rome. He was 
 no dout)t identical with Crying Wolf. Rohbin 
 was a member of Challoogee district, which in- 
 clude<l half of Floyd County. Goth attended the 
 Running Waters council in .luly, and Robbin 
 voted with the faction U'<l by Ridge. 
 
 The HowHng Wolf, charged with 
 stabbing an Indian for supporting the 
 treaty, and Lowny, or Robbin, charged 
 with killing and robbing a white man, 
 were being held at Spring Place. An 
 old man named Trigg was arrested 
 and confined with the Indians; he 
 told them their own people would shoot 
 them through the cracks of the cala- 
 boose in the early morning. Lowny, 
 or Robbin, tried to persuade the Howl- 
 ing Wolf that they should hang them- 
 selves. The latter refused, but the 
 former committed suicide by hanging 
 from a rafter with a small cord that 
 had been tied loosely to his arms.* 
 
 The occurrence was avcII calcu- 
 lated to inflame public oj^inion. 
 John Ross knew this, and he tact- 
 fully refrained from rusliing into 
 the discussion. Theodore Freling- 
 huysen, Edward Everett, Jas. K. 
 Polk, Jno. C. Calhoun, Sam Hous- 
 ton, John Bell, Plugh Lawson 
 White and other leading" friends 
 of the Indians took up the cudgels 
 at Washington. Mr. Bell, who be- 
 came the candidate of the Constitu- 
 tional Union party for President 
 in 1860 (with Mr.^ Everett in the 
 minor position) undertook to 
 bring abcutt a Cmigressional in- 
 vestigation. 
 
 The Georgia Journal, of Mil- 
 ledgeville, a consistent opponent of 
 CjOV. Lumpkin and his "strong-arm 
 gang," ])rinted tlie following pro- 
 test under date of Tuesdav, Nov. 
 24,1835: 
 
 A rumor reached us sometime since 
 of another outrage committed by the 
 Georgia Guard. It was vague and 
 uncertain, however, and as we did not 
 wish to array in the catalogue of vio- 
 lations of law committed by this arm- 
 ed force a single outrage that was not 
 .stated on good authority, we hesitated 
 to give it publicity. This rumor has 
 l)roved true. 
 
 It seems that this Guard, under the 
 command of one of the subalterns, 
 crossed the line of the State and kid- 
 napped from the State of Tennessee 
 John Ross, the principal chief of the
 
 76 
 
 A History of Rome and Fi.oyd County 
 
 A FEW THINGS THE INDIANS LEFT BEHIND. 
 
 Here is part of Wesley O. Connor's collection of relics at Cave Spring. These articles 
 were mostly uncovered on the Moultrie farm, Foster's Bend, Coosa River, in the freshets of 
 1881 and 1886. Included among the more obvious articles are a bone necklace, Indian money, 
 spear points and arrow heads, pipes, pestles and bits of pottery. The skulls are undoubtedly 
 Indian.
 
 Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair 
 
 77 
 
 Cherokees. They also arrested John 
 Howard Payne, a gentleman of great 
 celebrity in the literary world. 
 
 The pitiful reason urged to palliate 
 this gross enormity seems to have been 
 that Mr. Payne "was conspiring 
 against the welfare of Georgia." Mr. 
 Payne's real offense, in the eyes of 
 these vandals, was his copying certain 
 documents relative to the manners and 
 customs of the Indian tribes, which 
 their wiseacre of a leader construed to 
 be high treason against the State. 
 
 It was indeed time that this scourge 
 to the peaceful citizens of Murray 
 County was removed ; it is high time 
 the military rule and despotism was 
 made to give place to the authority of 
 the laws. We should like to inquire 
 of the Governor by what legal author- 
 ity these arrests were made, and why 
 on the receipt of information orders 
 were not immediately given for the re- 
 lease of the prisoners? 
 
 The officious members of this armed 
 force ought to be made to smart in 
 damages; an action on the case for il- 
 legal arrest and false imprisonment 
 will clearly be made against them.* 
 
 John H. Underwood, Rome gro- 
 cer, who was a member of the 
 Guard in the arrest, did not give 
 any interviews to newspaper ed- 
 itors, so all he observed is lost save 
 what little he told Bill Arp, wdiich 
 is to 1)6 found elsewhere herein. 
 Rut a number of others "writ upon 
 time's immortal scroll." 
 
 Thatcher T. Payne, a brother of 
 John Howard, penned the follow- 
 ing letter : 
 
 **New York, N. Y., Nov. 27, 1835. 
 Hon. Lewis Cass, 
 Secretary of War, 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 Sir: I have just received informa- 
 tion that my brother, John Howard 
 Payne, on the night of the 10th of 
 November,'^** inst., while in company 
 with John Ross, the Cherokee chief, at 
 his dwelling in the Cherokee nation, 
 
 ♦Payne's effort to have something definite done 
 at Washington failed, and in a letter from 
 New York to C.en. Harden at Athens in 1S36, he 
 said he would try to proceed against Col. Bishop, 
 Major Currey and Sergt. Wilson Young. 
 
 *'Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee 
 Treaty (1835), ps. 488-9. 
 
 ***.]ohn Howard's own statement says it was 
 Saturday, Nov. 7, near midnight. 
 
 ****The brother estimated 21 miles. Blue 
 Spring, Bradley County, Tenn., where the ar- 
 rest took place, is eight miles north of the 
 Georgia line, and about 10 miles from Spring 
 Place as one would travel by horseback in 1835. 
 
 was seized by a party of about 25 of 
 the Georgia Guard, and conducted by 
 them to their headquarters, at about 
 20**** miles distant from the place of 
 seizure, where, as I am informed, he 
 is now imprisoned. 
 
 Mr. Payne's general object, in a 
 tour through the western and south- 
 ern states, has been partly to obtain 
 subscribers to a periodical work in 
 which English and American writers 
 may meet upon equal ground, and 
 partly to collect such materials for his 
 own contributions to the woi'k as a 
 personal acquaintance with the various 
 peculiarities of our diversified country 
 may supply. To one acquainted with 
 his pacific disposition and exclusive 
 literary habits, the supposition of his 
 entertaining any views politically dan- 
 gerous, either in reference to Georgia 
 or the United States in their respec- 
 tive relations to the Cherokees if it were 
 not accompanied with results pain- 
 ful and perhaps perilous to himself, 
 would seem ludicrous. My informant, 
 a stranger, states that "it is there re- 
 ported that he is considered by the of- 
 ficers of Government to be a spy." 
 Whether by officers of Government is 
 meant those of Georgia or of the Unit- 
 ed States I am not informed. He like- 
 wise states that "Mr. Payne is sup- 
 posed to have had some influence in 
 producing the failure of a late treaty 
 v/ith the Cherokees." 
 
 In the present excited state of feel- 
 ing in that section of the country, on 
 subjects connected with the Indian re- 
 moval, there may, perhaps, be serious 
 danger to the personal safety of one 
 coming under suspicions of the char- 
 acter above alluded to, however 
 groundless. 
 
 I take the liberty, I hope not un- 
 warrantable, to request and urge a 
 speedy inquiry into the circumstances 
 of the case, and the use of the means 
 within the province of your depart- 
 ment of the Government to procure his 
 release, if, as will undoubtedly ap- 
 pear upon investigation, he shall be 
 found to have been wrongfully de- 
 tained. 
 
 I am, with great respect, your obe- 
 dient servant, 
 
 THATCHER T. PAYNE. 
 
 Payne himself was making (luill 
 and ink fly, to such an extent that 
 Col. ilishop resigned his commis- 
 sion in December. Soon thereafter 
 the Standard of I'nioii threw Bish- 
 op this l)ou([Uct :
 
 78 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Col. Bishop at Home. — Aftei' all the 
 abuse that has been heaped upon Col. 
 Bishop as a man and a public officer, 
 the people of Murray have given an 
 additional proof of their confidence in 
 his capacity and integrity to serve 
 them. From the returns of the elec- 
 tion in that county on the first Mon- 
 day in January last (1836), Col. Wm. 
 N. Bishop received for the office of 
 clerk of the superior court 158 votes, 
 and his opponent 12. We are sincere- 
 ly gratified at the support which Col. 
 Bishop has received from his country- 
 men, and hold it as the highest evi- 
 dence of his value as a private citizen 
 and a public officer. Well done, Mur- 
 ray County; you know you are right 
 — go ahead! 
 
 As for Georgia, "Never again !" 
 exclaimed the outraged playwright 
 and budding historian in a letter 
 of Dec. 5 from Knoxville to Gen. 
 Harden :* 
 
 My Dear Sir: You have no doubt 
 ere this heard of my adventures. I 
 sent you the statement by last post. 
 Have you ever known of a more im- 
 pudent enormity? There has been a 
 public meeting here, spirited and dig- 
 nified. The proceedings will, I hope, 
 be printed at Athens. This example 
 ought to be followed throughout the 
 Union ; I hope especially, for these 
 measures offer the only opportunity he 
 has of casting the blame upon the de- 
 linquents who deserve it. 
 
 I have no time to write now, but 
 could not allow myself to depart on 
 my way homeward without a card of 
 remembrance. It will perhaps be as 
 well for me not to make my line of 
 march generally known, but I want to 
 go to Hamburg''* because my trunks 
 are all in Augusta, Ga. I shall never 
 enter again without a formal public 
 invitation. I will go to the border and 
 look in.*** 
 
 It would give me sincere pleasure to 
 find a line from you at the Augusta 
 postoffice. 
 
 Mr. Ross and many of the delega- 
 tion are here. Many have made for- 
 mal protest against their mission from 
 Currcy, but of this they take no heed. 
 
 Mj way must be made alone and on 
 horseback. I should not wonder if 
 these scoundrels made my journey a 
 longei one than I have intended. But 
 no matter if the worst happens — I shall 
 not be the first who has not lived out 
 his time in a free country, and unless 
 
 the nation awakens, shall not be the 
 last! 
 
 Pray offer my best remembrances 
 to Mrs. Harden, your daughter, son, 
 to Col. Hamilton and family, to Judge 
 Clayton, in short, to all. 
 
 From Knoxville, Dec. 2, Payne 
 had written S. L. Fairchild, of Phil- 
 adelphia, Pa. :**** 
 
 (Private.) 
 Dear Fairchild : 
 
 I write to you in great haste, and 
 enclose the statement of a great wrong 
 I have suffered. I wish you to exert 
 your talent on this affair, not because 
 I have been personally insulted, but 
 because it is only by a strong expres- 
 sion of feeling that any man's liberty 
 can be secured. There is no freedom 
 in America if these things can be tol- 
 erated. 
 
 If I reach Charleston, S. C, in 
 safety, I shall be there just in time 
 to have your answer, provided you 
 wish further information. At any rate, 
 it will afford me sincere pleasure to 
 hear of you and your fortunes. 
 
 With regards to all at home, and 
 believe me, most truly yours, 
 
 JOHN HOWARD PAYNE. 
 
 In a communication from Wash- 
 ington on Mar. 3, 1836, to Secre- 
 tary of War Lewis Cass, Mr. 
 Schermerhorn commented as fol- 
 lows on the Payne-Ross af- 
 
 Permit me also to make a few ob- 
 servations in reference to the arrest 
 of Messrs. John Howard Payne and 
 John Ross by the Georgia Guard, 
 which, I perceive from the public pa- 
 pers, they charge or insinuate was 
 done by the direction of the commis- 
 sioner and agent of the Government. 
 
 Although the statements of Mr. 
 Payne in reference to myself were ex- 
 ceedingly unjust and incorrect, I could 
 not condescend to a newspaper con- 
 
 *Courtesy of Miss Evplyn Harden Jackson, 
 of Harden Home, Athens, a cousin of Miss Mary 
 Harden and author of an interesting booklet on 
 the love affair between the college beauty and 
 Mr. Payne. 
 
 ♦♦Hamburg, Aiken County, S. C, across the 
 Savannah river from Augusta. 
 
 ***Miss Jackson is authority for the state- 
 ment that Payne came back in 1842 to Athens 
 to "re-press his suit," but that he had no bet- 
 ter success than before. 
 
 ****Courtesy of Mr. G. H. Buek, vice-presi- 
 dent of the American Lithographic Co., New 
 York, N. Y., and owner of the old Payne home 
 (and collection) at Easthampton, Long Island. 
 
 *****Report of Secretary of War on Chero- 
 kee Treaty (183.5), p. ,5.38.
 
 Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair 
 
 79 
 
 troversy with him; therefore, I have 
 passed it by in silence; but lest my 
 silence should be interpreted by some 
 of the members of the Senate, as I 
 find it has been by some others, as 
 a tacit acknowledgement of the truth 
 of his statement, I now say that I 
 had no knowledge or agency, directly 
 or indirectly, in this matter. 
 
 The first information I received on 
 this subject was through the Geor- 
 gia newspapers, while I was at Tusca- 
 loosa, Ala.; and immediately on hear- 
 ing it I left there, to use my best en- 
 deavors to obtain their release, and I 
 arrived at the agency only a few days 
 after Mr. Payne had been liberated. 
 It was owing to my interference that 
 Mr. Ross was not taken by the Geor- 
 gia Guard last July,''^ for some vio- 
 lations of the laws of that State. 
 
 I must, however, say that it is evi- 
 dent from Mr. Payne's own state- 
 ments, which he has given to the pub- 
 lic, that he did interfere at Red Clay 
 in a very improper and unwarrantable 
 manner with the negotiations then 
 pending between the Government and 
 the Cherokee Indians, and I should 
 have been perfectly justifiable to have 
 had him arrested and removed from 
 the treaty ground; and if I had known 
 what he has since disclosed of the part 
 he acted there, I should have done it. 
 
 A Legislative conmiittee severe- 
 ly scored the C.uard :** 
 
 The committee to whom were refer- 
 red the several communications of His 
 Excellency, the Governor, on the sub- 
 ject of the establishment of the Geor- 
 gia Guard in the Cherokee Circuit, 
 have had the same under considera- 
 tion, and beg leave to make the follow- 
 ing report: 
 
 . . . Your Committee beg to proceed 
 now to the further discharge of their 
 duty, by enquiring, first, as to the con- 
 duct of the Guard in the recent arrest 
 and detention of John Howard Payne. 
 . . . Your Committee greatly regret 
 that they have not all the facts in 
 such a shape that implicit credit might 
 be given to them. They are compell- 
 ed then, in the investigation of this 
 branch of the subject, to discard all 
 the contradictory statements found in 
 newspapers, and to decide only from 
 such facts as have been legitimately 
 brought before them, in the commu- 
 nications of the Governor. 
 
 It is, however, admitted on all hands 
 
 ♦Concurrently with the pow-wow near Rome. 
 **House Journal (1835), ps. 427-433. 
 
 that the recent arrest of Mr. Payne 
 was made in the State of Tennessee. 
 Your Committee conceives that the 
 Guard transcended their power in 
 crossing the line of the State of Geor- 
 gia to arrest an individual out of the 
 limits of this State. And your Com- 
 mittee believes that it was an act of 
 which the sovereign State of Tennes- 
 see has just right of complaint against 
 the authorities of Georgia. The only 
 testimony before your Committee rel- 
 ative to the arrest of Mr. Payne will 
 be found in the communication of His 
 Excellency, William Schley, of the 10th 
 instant. ... It appears then to your 
 Committee that the Georgia Guard, in 
 the recent arrest of John Howard 
 Payne, trampled under foot the Con- 
 stitution of the United States. . . . How 
 long he was kept under guard before 
 the arrival of Col. Bishop at Spring 
 Place your Committee are uninform- 
 ed. . . . But the commander of the 
 Guard says, after examining his pa- 
 pers, and finding him guilty of no 
 offense for which he was answerable 
 in our courts, I, the commander of the 
 Guard, kept him in custody a few days 
 and then discharged him. 
 
 Your Committee would ask with 
 feelings of mortification, why he was 
 kept in custody one minute beyond the 
 time when it was ascertained he had 
 committed no offense. Was it to pun- 
 ish him for his indiscreet statements 
 in relation to the Georgia Guard? Per- 
 haps so. But in so doing the Guard 
 have violated every principle of the 
 Constitution, which guarantees liberty 
 and equal rights to the citizens of 
 this country. They have jeopardized 
 the character and reputation of the 
 state of Georgia abroad, by this act 
 of wanton and uncalled for vandalism, 
 and will bring down upon the people 
 of the State the inevitable and odious 
 charge of inhospitality and cruelty to 
 the stranger. . . . 
 
 Resolved, That the Legislature high- 
 ly disapproves of the conduct of the 
 Georgia Guard in the recent arrest 
 and confinement of John Howard 
 Payne in the Cherokee Nation. 
 
 Tlic ])n )-a(lministrati(>n press 
 sounded a diUc-reiil note tm tlie in- 
 cident. .\. Nashville Uaniier view 
 proved good enougli lor the Geor- 
 e-ia Telegraph (Macon) of Thurs- 
 day, Dec. 24. lS.i\ and The Tele- 
 graph reprinted it Ncrhatini : 
 
 Mr. John Howard Payne, who, to- 
 gether with John Ross, the Cherokee
 
 80 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 chief, was lately seized at the house 
 of the latter by the Georgia Guard, has 
 availed himself of the occasion to in- 
 flict upon the public eight mortal col- 
 umns of the dullest, most fatiguing 
 narrative it was ever our fortune to 
 encounter. A concise statement of the 
 principal facts connected with the out- 
 rage, if given in about half a column 
 of an ordinary newspaper, would have 
 been read with interest ; but to wade 
 through this mass of verbiage merely 
 to learn that Messrs. Ross and Payne 
 were seized by a party of desperadoes, 
 called the Georgia Guard, carried over 
 the Georgia line, kept under duress 
 for a day or two and then released, 
 would be paying quite too much for 
 the whistle. 
 
 If Mr. Payne succeeds in making 
 his intended "literary periodical" as 
 uninteresting as he has this account 
 of his capture, it will certainly be a 
 remarkable work! 
 
 Governor Lumpkin's explanation 
 admitted the illegality of the seiz- 
 ure, but gave Payne very much of 
 a left-handed vindication :* 
 
 It was while these efforts were mak- 
 ing to induce the Cherokees to emi- 
 grate that the literary pursuits of the 
 celebrated John Howard Payne led 
 him to visit the Cherokee people and 
 country. He was known to be strong- 
 ly opposed to the views of the Gov- 
 ernment in regard to Indian emigra- 
 tion and this led to his arrest by Col. 
 Bishop, the State's agent. The arrest 
 was both premature and illegal, but the 
 impertinent intermeddling of Payne 
 was very unbecoming a stranger, a 
 
 "BIG JOHN" UNDERWOOD, Rome grocer, 
 who was one of the Georgia Guard detail 
 which arrested Payne. 
 
 gentleman, or an author professedly 
 collecting facts for history. He was 
 the partisan, if not the agent, of North- 
 ern fanatics, whose avocation is to re- 
 pent for the sins of everybody except 
 themselves. 
 
 The charge made by Payne that 
 President Jackson (through his 
 agents) had offered Ross a bribe 
 stirred Washington as mtich as the 
 arrest itself.** This charge was 
 carried in an anonymous commu- 
 nication printed by several news- 
 papers in the "Pr.yne Free-Serv- 
 ice Syndicate," and is believed to 
 h.ave been played up especially by 
 the Knoxville Register, wi;h whose 
 editor Payne's liaison was com- 
 I'lete.*** The sum and substance 
 was that Ross could have had 
 $50,000 if he had stood out of the 
 way of the Cherokee removal ; a 
 Creek chief is said to have offered 
 it to him, and to have been ordered 
 from the wrathy presence of Ross. 
 
 Here is the anonymous communi- 
 cation attributed to Payne. It was 
 undoubtedly written from the Red 
 Clay Council ground in Whitfield 
 County, one day before the council 
 convened with Payne prominently 
 present : 
 
 ****Cherokee Nation, 
 Tennessee Border, 
 Sunday, Oct. 11, 1835. 
 
 Sir : I am no politician. Of this 
 you are aware. I generally avoid, if 
 possible, even thinking upon what are 
 called political questions. Their dis- 
 cussion is apt forthwith to become 
 personal, and instead of eliciting truth, 
 to produce brawls. But there are 
 points of policy upon which we are 
 sometimes forced to think; and when 
 we are called upon to detest the Mus- 
 sulman for his tyranny over the Greek, 
 and to pity the exile from what once 
 was Poland, we are at a loss to be- 
 lieve that there are scenes passing in 
 our free country at this very moment, 
 
 *Removal of the Cherokee Indians from Geor- 
 gia (Lumpkin), Vol. 2, p. 265. 
 
 **Authorities: Letter of Apr. 16, 1836, Major 
 Currey to Elbert Herring, Commissioner of In- 
 dian Affairs, and Exhibit 14 as inclosure of 
 Bame, both included in Report of Secretary of 
 War on Cherokee Treaty (183.5), ps. 549-590. 
 
 ***Payne asserted it was never published, but 
 Maj. Currey's report to Jackson claimed The 
 Register editor used it anonymously. 
 
 ****E.xhibit 14 of Currey inclosures.
 
 Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair 
 
 81 
 
 to which both the Turk and the Rus- 
 sian might triumphantly appeal, for a 
 sanction to the despotism at which all 
 have shuddered. Shall I tell you what 
 they are? 
 
 In travelling through Georgia I, of 
 course, heard frequent mention of the 
 Cherokees; but I took little heed of 
 what I heard. I considered the Cher- 
 okees as they had been represented, 
 as but the miserable remnant of a 
 broken race, given up to all sorts of 
 degradation; and I thought the sooner 
 they could be transported beyond the 
 bounds of civilization, the better for 
 the world. Accident, however, brought 
 me to some very different views of the 
 question. I inquired more thoroughly. 
 I determined to judge them with my 
 own eyes. I purchased a horse, trav- 
 ersed the forests alone and went among 
 them. 
 
 Still I was perplexed. I was desir- 
 ous of seeing the head men of the na- 
 tion ; I was particularly desirous of 
 seeing John Ross. Some Georgian told 
 me I ought not to see him, that he 
 was a selfish, and a sordid, and a si- 
 lent man, in whom I should take no 
 interest, from whom I should obtain 
 no information. At one moment I had 
 turned aside from my purpose, and 
 was proceeding homeward. But I felt 
 as if my errand would be a fruitless 
 one if I went away. So, little instruct- 
 ed, I changed my course, and travelled 
 the wilderness for three days to the 
 abode of Mr. Ross. 
 
 I found Mr. Ross a different man 
 in every respect from what I had heard 
 him represented to be. His person is 
 of the middle size, rather under than 
 over; his age is about five and forty; 
 he is mild, intelligent and entirely un- 
 affected. I told him my object. He 
 received me with cordiality. He said 
 he regi-etted than he had only a log 
 cabin of but one room to invite me to, 
 but he would make no apologies. If 
 I could put up with rough fare, he 
 should be glad if I would stay with 
 him. 
 
 From a visitor I afterwards learn- 
 
 *Fourth Ward, site of Rome. 
 
 ♦♦Lavender or Alto. 
 
 ***Al)out 10 o'clock, according to Ross. 
 
 ****SilaK and (um). W. R<jss were undoubtedly 
 born at Rome, and an infant died there and 
 was buried on the lot, as was Daniel Ross, 
 father of John. 
 
 *****Land Lot 237, Twenty-third, District 
 Third Section (160 acres) was drawn by Hugh 
 Brown, of Deavour's District, Habersham Co., 
 Ga. The office of the Secretary of State, the 
 Capitol, Atlanta, has the date Nov. 11, 183.'). 
 Most of the lottery drawings were held in Oc- 
 tober, 1H32. Land lot 244 was drawn by 
 Stephen Carter, of Robinson's District, Fayette 
 County. (The Cherokee Land Lottery, p. 288). 
 
 ed how the principal chief happened to 
 live in such discomfort. The story con- 
 tains the story at this moment of the 
 whole nation. Last winter he was 
 delegated with others to Washington, 
 in order to attempt a treaty upon 
 available terms — such terms as his 
 people would accept. He could not 
 obtain such. It was evening when he 
 had arrived, on his returning way, 
 within twenty miles of the dwelling he 
 had left, then a beautiful abode at the 
 head of Coosa'% upon a rising ground, 
 overlooking a luxuriant plain below, 
 and rivers running through it, and in 
 the distance a noble mountain.^'''' A 
 friend desired him to remain all night. 
 No, he was approaching home after a 
 long absence; he was impatient to see 
 his family. He hurried on. In the 
 dead of night''' ''''•' he aroused the house; 
 strange voices answered him. His fam- 
 ily had just been turned from the spot 
 where his children were cradled.**** 
 and it was occupied by a Georgian. 
 The land was drawn in the Georgia 
 lottery,***** and though not claim- 
 able until the Indians should be remov- 
 ed by treaty, was seized in his absence 
 to petition Congress for his country — 
 seized under the delusion of that way- 
 ward and selfish policy which has led 
 Georgia to defy the General Govern- 
 ment and all its solemn pledges to pro- 
 tect the Indians and vindicate its 
 honor, in not swerving from its treat- 
 ies. 
 
 It was this hard conduct which had 
 driven the principal chief to one of 
 the humblest dwellings in his nation. 
 But he made no complaint, even after 
 I had grown familiar with him. I 
 learned this wrong from other lips. 
 
 Some of your readers may have 
 glanced, but lightly, as I did, at the 
 real position of the Cherokee case. 
 Though so often and so eloquently 
 stated, I will recapitulate it in brief; 
 disputes between the General Govern- 
 ment and Georgia were a long time ago 
 compromised by an arrangement for 
 certain advantages for Georgia, in re- 
 turn for advantages given by her to 
 the General Government; and as a part 
 of the compensation from the Govern- 
 ment, Georgia was to receive the 
 Cherokee lands, as soon as the Indian 
 title could be peaceably extinguished, 
 and upon reasonable terms. But the 
 Cherokees are proverbial, and have 
 been so for ages, for a peculiar devot- 
 edness to their native soil. 
 
 "The Cherokees, in their disposition 
 and manners, are grave and steady; 
 dignified and circumspect in their de-
 
 82 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 portment; rather slow and reserved in 
 their conversation, yet frank, cheerful 
 and humane; "tenacious of the liber- 
 ties and natural rights of man; secret, 
 deliberate and determined in their 
 councils; honest, just and liberal, and 
 ready always to sacrifice every pleas- 
 ure and gratification, even their blood 
 and life itself, to defend their terri- 
 tory and maintain their rights." — Bar- 
 haiii's* Travels, 1791, London Edi- 
 tion, Page 483. 
 
 "It may be remarked that the Cher- 
 okees differ in some respects from 
 other Indian nations that have wan- 
 dered from place to place and fixed 
 their habitations in separate districts. 
 From time immemorial they have had 
 possession of the same territory, which 
 at present they occupy. They affirm 
 that their forefathers sprung from 
 that ground, or descended from the 
 clouds upon those hills. These lands 
 of their ancestors they value above all 
 things in the world; they venerate the 
 places where their bones lie interred, 
 and esteem it disgraceful in the high- 
 est degree to relinquish these sacred 
 repositories. The man who would re- 
 fuse to take the field in defense of 
 these hereditary possessions is regard- 
 ed by them as a coward and treated 
 as an outcast from their nation." — 
 Historical account of the rise and 
 progress of South Carolina and Geor- 
 gia, Vol. II, 201, London, 1777. 
 
 This was known to the Georgians. 
 This has been felt by the General Gov- 
 ernment in the extreme difficulty 
 which it has experienced in the at- 
 tempt to persuade the Cherokees to 
 part with their lands. Millions after 
 millions of acres were reluctantly 
 wrung from them, until at length 
 they came to a pause: "We have not 
 lands enough," exclaimed they, "for 
 ourselves; we part with no more land!" 
 A Creek chief endeavored to tamper 
 with their councils and offered a 
 bribe from the United States of many 
 thousand dollars to their principal men, 
 if they would countenance the sale of 
 the country to our Government; but 
 their principal men repelled the bribe, 
 and drove the Creek from their terri- 
 tory with scorn. 
 
 Threats and gold and persecution 
 and sufferings unprecedented have 
 been equally incapable of overpower- 
 ing their sacred love for the wild 
 wood of their birth and the resting- 
 place of their ancestors. Other Indians 
 have been lured away, but the Chero- 
 kee remains inflexible. And when the 
 Georgian asks, "Shall savages infest 
 
 our borders thus?" the Cherokee an- 
 swers him, "Do we not read; have we 
 not schools, churches, manufactures; 
 have we not laws, letters, a constitu- 
 tion; and do you call us savages?" 
 
 The Georgian can only reply by 
 pointing to a troop of border cavalry 
 whose appearance reminds one of ban- 
 ditti more than of soldiers, and ex- 
 claiming "dare prate to us and these 
 men's muskets shall be our spokes- 
 men!" 
 
 And true enough it is that they are 
 not savages. Never has a tribe of the 
 aborigines made such advances in civ- 
 ilization. They have even produced 
 among themselves an alphabet and let- 
 ters of a fashion entirely original, and 
 they have books among them printed 
 with their own letters in their own 
 language, and with this alphabet they 
 daily communicate from one end of 
 the nation to the other; they clothe 
 themselves in stuffs of their own man- 
 ufacture ; they have made roads, 
 bridges, established a seat of Govern- 
 ment. But Georgia has hated them 
 the more because of their civilization; 
 she has made it treason for them to 
 keep up their courts and councils and 
 laws; she has broken down their turn- 
 pikes and bridges, and denies them the 
 right of appearing to testify in her 
 courts against any insult or injury 
 they may receive. They have conse- 
 quently removed their seat of internal 
 government beyond her borders to the 
 corner of another State,** and the de- 
 crees issued thence are obeyed with rev- 
 erence even by the offender, who 
 knows if he were to resist, he would be 
 upheld by the stronger power, to which 
 he never will appeal, because he re- 
 gards it as the irreconcilable foe of 
 l;is country. 
 
 This state of things has convinced 
 all parties of the necessity for a set- 
 tlement of the question, by the re- 
 moval of the Cherokees from the neigh- 
 borhood of those whose interests will 
 not let them understand the Chei'okee 
 rights. The Cherokees themselves at 
 length acknowledge that it is better 
 for them to remove. "But let us not 
 remove," say they, "till we can be 
 assured of a kindlier dwelling place. 
 The Government of America has given 
 us no reason to confide in its power 
 to protect us against Georgia, and 
 therefore, we must remove, for if we 
 do not, we must perish. If we do re- 
 
 *Bartram's. 
 
 **Reference is to Tennessee, but the capital 
 after New Echota was wherever John Ross 
 happened to be.
 
 Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair 
 
 83 
 
 move, then let us remove not only 
 from the country where we are 
 wronged, but from the Government 
 where we can not get our rights." 
 
 The United States, on the other 
 hand, wish the Cherokees to go to a 
 country of their selection; they wish 
 the Cherokees to sell their own coun- 
 try (in which the United States are 
 solemnly pledged to protect them, un- 
 til they choose to select) upon such 
 terms as the United States think fit 
 to offer. 
 
 "Take our price for your land," says 
 Gen. Jackson, "and I will not insist 
 on governing you; buy another coun- 
 try with it." "We can not buy an- 
 other country and be indemnified for 
 our owTi by what you offer," says 
 the Cherokee; "give us our price and 
 you may have our land, if we must 
 go; but we do not wish to go; no 
 money can pay us for our homes." 
 "You ask too much," answers Gen. 
 Jackson; "you can not have your 
 price." "Then let us remain," replies 
 the Cherokee; "keep your money, and 
 give us your protection ; take all the 
 rest of the land we have, and leave 
 us such portions as are connected, 
 and incorporate us in counties with 
 the states on which these poor frag- 
 ments, which we ask to retain for our- 
 selves, border; and let us belong to 
 your nation, and send our representa- 
 tives, like other countries, to Congress; 
 and satisfy Georgia as you may for 
 her disappointment, from the impos- 
 sibility you find of purchasing all our 
 land from us, on such terms as we can 
 sell it for. Georgia has no fathers, 
 mothers, children buried in the land. 
 She has never seen it. She has no na- 
 tion to establish. She would rather have 
 money than the land. You can not 
 give her the land. Give her the money." 
 To this Gen. Jackson answers with a 
 peremptory "No!" 
 
 What is the next step taken? The 
 agents of Government tamper sepa- 
 rately with the Indians. They get to- 
 gether a few unauthorized Cherokees ; 
 make up a scheme of a treaty upon 
 their own terms, and endeavor to in- 
 veigle the men who possess the entire 
 confidence of the nation: First, they 
 withhold the annuity to the nation on 
 frivolous pretexts, thus taking away 
 their only resource for defiance in the 
 courts of law, and for remonstrance 
 in the House of Congress. A party 
 is attempted to be conjured up in the 
 
 *At Runnins Waters, near Rome. 
 **Refert'nce to Mr. Schermerhorn's harrangue 
 at Running Waters. 
 
 nation by the acts of the Government 
 agents; and twice attempts have been 
 made to parade that little and reluc- 
 tantly gathering party, and on both 
 occasions the people, the great body of 
 the people, have looked them down; 
 on the last, especially, not three months 
 since, when they poured their thou- 
 sands upon a plain, upon which the 
 agents of Government, with all the 
 magic of their promises and their pat- 
 ronage, could bring against them 
 scarcely more than a miserable hun- 
 dred.* 
 
 The immediate position of the na- 
 tion is this: The Government treaty 
 has been exhibited to the Cherokees, 
 and rejected. It has been attempted 
 to shake their confidence in their prin- 
 cipal chief, but in vain. The council 
 established a newspaper, and the Gov- 
 ernment agents have seized their press, 
 avowedly for the purpose of changing 
 it to a Government vehicle, for sway- 
 ing the people to such a treaty as Gen. 
 Jackson longs for. Here at once is an 
 acknowledgment how base is the pre- 
 tense that the Cherokees ought to be 
 dealt with as a separate tribe! Were 
 they truly looked upon as savages, 
 would any importance be attached to 
 their press? Were they not known to 
 be much advanced in civilization, would 
 the agents of the Administration have 
 entered upon the perilous extravagance 
 of seizing an instrument over which 
 they had no legal power, for selfish and 
 corruptive purposes? But the Jackson 
 myrmidons have the press; and pos- 
 session in law is like power in poli- 
 tics—it takes the place of reason and 
 of right. 
 
 Then let us leave our Government 
 the Cherokee national paper, however 
 disreputably obtained, and proceed to 
 the next point. Having juggled the 
 written power into their hands, the 
 agents are now seeking the oral power ; 
 they are wandering about with inter- 
 preters to talk up their cause. "You 
 may speak, if you like," say the In- 
 dians, "but must we listen?" "Let us 
 speak," is the reply; and the commis- 
 sioner rises, and the people walk away 
 and leave him to listen to himself.'- 
 The next measure is force; arrests 
 are made upon the most absurb pre- 
 texts; influential Indians are seized by 
 the Georgia Guard and detained, and 
 then set free, no reason being as- 
 signed either for the capture or for 
 the release. Some laugh and defy 
 their fate; some are driven to de- 
 spair, for the arrest is so often made 
 a punishment that an innocent Indian
 
 84 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 a few days ago actually hung himself 
 in the guard house* to escape the 
 torture apprehended from the guard. 
 
 But all the Indian hater's hate is 
 concentrated against the inflexible 
 chief of the Cherokees, John Ross. In- 
 timidation has been attempted against 
 him to no purpose; so has seduction. 
 He has resisted bribery in every in- 
 stance, even in one amounting to $50,- 
 000; rather than enrich himself by his 
 country's ruin, he will remain poor, 
 but honest. The agents insult him; 
 still he goes on. The Georgia guard 
 watches for a pretext to make him 
 l)risoner, but the pretext is not to be 
 found, and in some cases, where they 
 would not be deterred by the fear of 
 wrong, they are understood to have 
 been held back through the fear of the 
 people. It is rumored, however, that 
 some attempt of the sort is, even at 
 this moment, in contemplation. 
 
 Even the President himself has now 
 and then lost his temper because he 
 cannot shake Mr. Ross, and has called 
 the impoverished and discreet patriot 
 of the wilderness "wicked and selfish," 
 and has swo n if he does not forego 
 
 JOHN ROSS at age of (;:>, a lew years l>,-fore 
 he died in WashiriKton, D. C. (Picture loaned 
 by S. W. Ross, Tahlequah, Okla.). 
 
 his policy and do as Andrew Jackson 
 bids him, that Andrew Jackson will 
 never listen to the Cherokees, but give 
 them up to ruin. With internal dis- 
 sensions attempted to be fomented by 
 the agents of Government, and v/ith 
 incessant external attacks from Geor- 
 gia, and not only undefended by their 
 legitimate protector, the United States, 
 but threatened by the Chief Magis- 
 trate of those states, the Cherokee na- 
 tion now stand alone, moneyless, help- 
 less, and almost hopeless, yet without 
 a dream of yielding. 
 
 With these clouds around them, in 
 their little corner of Tennessee,*''' to 
 which they have been driven fi'om 
 Georgia for shelter, their national 
 council holds its regular annual con- 
 vention tomorrow. I can not imagine 
 a spectacle of more moral grandeur 
 than the assembly of such a people 
 under such circumstances. This morn- 
 ing offered the first foretaste of what 
 the next week is to present. The 
 woods echoed with the trampling of 
 many feet; a long and orderly pro- 
 cession emerged from among the trees, 
 the gorgeous autumnal tints of whose 
 departing foliage seemed in sad har- 
 mony with the noble spirit now beam- 
 ing in this departing race. Most of 
 the train was on foot; there were a 
 few aged men, and some few women, 
 on horseback. The train halted at 
 the humble gate of the principal chief; 
 he stood ready to receive them. Every- 
 thing was noiseless. The party, en- 
 tering, loosened the blankets which 
 were loosely rolled and flung over 
 their backs, and hung them with their 
 tin cups and other paraphernalia at- 
 tached, upon the fence. 
 
 The chief appi-oached them. They 
 formed diagonally in two lines, and 
 each, in silence, drew near to give his 
 hand. Their dress was neat and pic- 
 turesque; all wore turbans, except 
 four or five with hats; many of them 
 tunics and sashes; many long robes, 
 and nearly all some drapery; so that 
 they had the oriental air of the old 
 scripture pictures of patriarchal pro- 
 cessions. 
 
 The salutation over, the old men 
 remained near the chief, and the rest 
 withdrew to various parts of the en- 
 closure; some sitting Turk fashion 
 against the trees, others upon logs 
 
 *At Spring Place, where Payne was im- 
 prisoned a month later. 
 
 **Red Clay was so near the line, and the line 
 30 poorly defined, that the impression was often 
 given that it was in Tennessee. Ross had a hut 
 there as well as at Blue Spring, eight miles to 
 the north.
 
 Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair 
 
 85 
 
 and others upon the fences, but with 
 the eyes of all fixed upon their chief. 
 They had walked sixty miles since 
 yesterday, and had encamped last 
 night in the woods. They sought their 
 way to the council ground. It was 
 explained to them. At one moment 
 I observed a sensation among them, 
 and all arose and circled around their 
 chief. Presently an old man spoke 
 above the rest; each one went for his 
 pack, and all resumed their way. There 
 was a something in the scene which 
 would have subdued a sterner spirit 
 than mine. All who gazed stood rooted 
 to the spot with involuntary awe. 
 
 "Oh!" cried an old negi'o woman, 
 wringing her hands and her eyes 
 streaming with tears, "Oh ! the poor 
 Cherokees, the poor Cherokees; my 
 heart breaks and wnll not let me look 
 on them!" 
 
 Parties varying from 30 to 50 have 
 been passing the main road, which is 
 somewhat distant from the residence 
 of Mr. Ross, all day. All seem to con- 
 template the approaching meeting as 
 one of vital import. I myself, though 
 a stranger, partake in the general 
 excitement. The first movements, 
 which will probably be the most im- 
 portant, I will communicate to you; 
 perhaps I may find leisure to do more, 
 for I wish our countrymen to under- 
 stand this subject.* It becomes us 
 as Americans, devoted to our coun- 
 try's glory, not to slumber over the 
 wrongs of a nation within our power. 
 This people does not approach us de- 
 nouncing vengeance; they do not, like 
 the ferocious spirits we would repre- 
 sent them, avoid lingering extermina- 
 tion as exiles in the desert, by spring- 
 ing up in a mass, and inscribing them- 
 selves with a terrible lesson of blood 
 among the illustrious martyrs to in- 
 sulted liberty; but in the patient and 
 meek spirit of Christians they come 
 again, and again, and again, and 
 again, imploring humanity, implormg 
 justice, imploring that we will be hon- 
 est to ourselves. 
 
 Americans, turn not away from such 
 
 *Here is a hint that Tayne mado arranfce- 
 ments with certain editors to print his articles. 
 
 **Paync claimed this original article was 
 signed "Washington." 
 
 ***This is still standing in a good state of 
 preservation. It was literally a "House of Trag- 
 edies." On Sunday, Nov. S, 183.->. John How- 
 ard Payne and John Ross arrived as prisoners 
 of the Gua^d, and occupieii an outhouse used to 
 quarter troublesome Indians. On Dec. 16, 1836, 
 Major Henj. F. Currey, who had been active 
 against Payne and Ross, died in the house of 
 Vann or at a nearby house. 
 
 a spectacle; be not deaf to such a 
 l^rayer! 
 
 (No Signature).** 
 A true copy : 
 Dyer Castor. 
 
 The wilds of Cherokee Georgia 
 were getting more and more dan- 
 gerous as tlie whites sf|uatted upon 
 the Indian lands. Murders and 
 robberies were things of almf)st 
 every-day occurrence. Spencer 
 Riley, a sort of constable, formerly 
 of Bibb County, then of Cass, had 
 an exciting experience in 1835 with 
 Col. Wm. N. Bishop and the Geor- 
 gia Guard. It seems that Riley had 
 a lottery claim on the Vann 
 house*** near Spring Place, and 
 Bishop sought to dispossess him. 
 The Georgia Journal (Milledge- 
 ville) of Tuesday, Apr. 7, 1835, 
 printed Riley's side of the affair: 
 March 11, 1835. 
 To the Public: There being many 
 erroneous reports concerning the trans- 
 action detailed in the following state- 
 ment, I have deemed it necessary to 
 present to the public a succinct ac- 
 count of the facts. I can not for a 
 moment believe that this flagitious 
 outrage upon the rights of the citi- 
 zen under color of the law and under 
 pretense of executive sanction can be 
 viewed with indifference by my fel- 
 low citizens, or approbated by the Gov- 
 ernor. The facts are these: 
 
 I became a boarder of Joseph Vann, 
 a Cherokee residing near Spring Place, 
 in Murray County, in October last, 
 and continued to board with him up 
 to the 2d March inst., when the out- 
 rage hereinafter stated took place. 
 
 On the 23d of February last, Mrs. 
 Vann, in the absence of her husband, 
 received a written notice to quit the 
 possession of the lot, from Wm N. 
 Bishop, one of the agents of the State 
 of Georgia, appointed by the Governor 
 under the law of 1834. This was done 
 without the request of the drawer or 
 any person holding or claiming under 
 him. It was known that one Kinchin 
 W Hargrove, brother to Z. B. Har- 
 grove, had obtained a certificate from 
 Wm N. Bishop with the view of ob- 
 taining the grant from Milledgeville. 
 in consequence of which the grant is- 
 sued some time in February upon his 
 application. This lot on which Joseph 
 Vann lived is an Indian improvement
 
 86 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 and his right of occupancy is not for- 
 feited by any provision of the laws of 
 Georgia. It is known as Lot No. 224, 
 9th district and 3d section, and was 
 drawn by a Mr. Turley of Warren; 
 it contains a spacious two-story brick 
 house and many outhouses and is very 
 valuable, particularly as a public 
 stand. It had been returned as a 
 fraudulent draw by Major Bulloch, 
 ■whose scire facias had obtained pref- 
 erence by being first filed. It was 
 also returned by Z. B. Hargrove as 
 informer in a second scire facias. 
 
 Such was the situation of the lot 
 on the 2d of March, when W. N, 
 Bishop, as agent and acting under the 
 state's authority, summoned some 20 
 men and placed in their hands the 
 muskets confided to him by the Gov- 
 ernor for another purpose, and fur- 
 nished them with ammunition, came 
 over to Mr. Vann's at the head of 
 his guard, resolved to clear the house 
 and put his brother, Absalom Bishop, 
 in possession, who afterwards opened 
 a public house. Some articles of Mr. 
 Vann were allowed to remain in the 
 house and he was permitted to occupy 
 at sufferance a small room. I occu- 
 pied a room on the second floor at 
 the head of the stairs. This armed 
 force was accompanied by one Kinchin 
 W. Hargrove, a sort of deputy to 
 Bishop. When they approached the 
 house, I inquired of W. N. Bishop 
 what all of this meant, and stated 
 to him that he had given Mrs. Vann 
 until Saturday, the 7th, in which to 
 move. He replied that Joshua Holden 
 was the agent. This man Holden is 
 notorious in the upper part of the 
 state for his vices and subservience 
 to Bishop. Upon receiving this re- 
 ply from W. N. Bishop, I inquired 
 of Holden if he was the agent for 
 the drawer. He replied, "No, I am 
 agent for Mr. Hargrove, and have a 
 power of attorney from him." Mr. 
 Hargi'ove did not claim to have any 
 right or title to the lot as derived 
 from or through the drawer. Con- 
 vinced as I was that this was all a 
 trick to get Vann out of the house, 
 and to put him out unlawfully and 
 fraudulently, in order to get posses- 
 sion for Absalom Bishop, I demanded 
 of W. N. Bishop to see the plat and 
 grant and his authority for thus act- 
 ing. He stated that Holden was seek- 
 ing possession, but exhibited no au- 
 thority, and there was no agent of the 
 drawer or person claiming under him 
 seeking possession. 
 
 W. N. Bishop rushed into the house 
 
 with his guard and commanded them 
 to present arms. Having some things 
 in the room I occupied, I went up to 
 take care of them. I heard Bishop 
 demand possession of Vann, who an- 
 swered that he considered himself 
 out of possession from the Monday 
 previous. "Where is that damned 
 rascal Riley?" inquired Bishop. The 
 reply was, "He is in his room." By 
 this time I had got to the head of the 
 stairs* and called out to Bishop that 
 there was no use for any violent meas- 
 ures or for bloodshed, for if he would 
 acknowledge he had taken forcible 
 possession from me, he could throw 
 my things out of doors. His reply 
 was, "Hear that damned rascal; pre- 
 sent arms and march upstairs, and the 
 first man that gets a glimpse of him, 
 shoot him down." Upon hearing these 
 orders given to his guard, I thought 
 it high time to defend myself as best 
 I could, and exclaimed, "The first 
 man that advances to obey Bishop's 
 orders I will kill!" 
 
 One man named Winters, an itiner- 
 ant carpenter, advanced upstairs with 
 a loaded musket, and his valiant com- 
 mander behind him. As soon as they 
 saw me they fired upon me and fell 
 back ; I then fired, too. Their shot 
 slightly wounded me in my hand and 
 arms, and immediately after, ten or 
 twelve muskets were fired at me, but 
 being protected by the stairs, the shots 
 did not take effect. I being out of 
 sight, they aimed at the spot where 
 they supposed I was and shot the ban- 
 isters to pieces. I then presented a 
 gun in sight to deter their further ap- 
 proach, and prevent if possible the ac- 
 complishment of their murderous de- 
 sign. Then a rifle was fired by Ab- 
 salom Bishop; the ball struck my gun 
 and split, one part of it striking me 
 glancingly on my forehead just above 
 my right eye, and fragments of it 
 wounding me on several other places 
 on my face. I desired them to bear 
 witness to who shot that rifle, for I 
 had been severely wounded. Wm. N. 
 Bishop called out tauntingly, "The 
 State of Georgia shot the guns!" 
 After I was thus wounded and bleed- 
 ing freely, I opened the door of the 
 room and called out to them that I 
 was severely wounded, and they could 
 come and take my arms. As soon as 
 I showed myself, several more mus- 
 kets were fired on me. One shot struck 
 me on the left cheek, another wound- 
 ed me severely on the head and one 
 
 *A curious, winding architectural contraption 
 with no visible support.
 
 Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair 
 
 87 
 
 went through the dooi' over my head. 
 
 During this extraordinary outrage, 
 W. N. Bishop was heard frequently 
 exclaiming, "Kill the damned rascal ; 
 we've got no use for nullifiers in 
 this country!" and K. W. Hargrove 
 also often exclaimed I should come 
 down dead or alive. W. N. Bishop 
 procured a flaming firebrand and 
 threw it upon the platform of the 
 stairs, exclaiming that he would burn 
 him out or burn him up. After the 
 fire had made some progress, and 
 probably recollecting that if the house 
 was destroyed, Absalom Bishop would 
 have no house to occupy, Vann was 
 requested to go up and extinguish the 
 fire. 
 
 Being much debilitated by the loss 
 of blood, I laid down on the bed. They 
 soon after entered my room and seized 
 my desk and papers as if I had been 
 a malefactor. I desired them to per- 
 mit me to put up my papers in my 
 secretary and to lock it. Hargi'ove 
 replied, "Let him put what he pleases 
 in the desk, but don't let him take 
 anything out." I had $10 in money 
 in the desk. After I had locked it, 
 they took the keys from me and the 
 desk also, under the pretext that they 
 would secure the costs. The money I 
 never saw afterwards. 
 
 Just before the close of the con- 
 flict, Hargrove called out to me and 
 asked if I did not know that there 
 was an officer who had a warrant 
 against me. I answered, no, but if 
 such were the case I would submit to 
 the laws of my country and surrender 
 to the sheriff. Bishop then abused the 
 sheriff and cursed him. In a short 
 time the sheriff, Col. Humphreys, 
 came, and I was asked to show my- 
 self, which I no sooner did than sev- 
 eral muskets were levelled and fired at 
 me, but happily without much injury. 
 
 It afterward appeared that in order 
 to give their conduct the semblance 
 of law, they had procured this tool of 
 Bishop, Holden, to make an affidavit 
 to procure a warrant for forcible en- 
 try and detainer. Both affidavit and 
 warrant, upon being produced, proved 
 to be in the handwriting of Z. B. Har- 
 grove, and dated first in February, 
 but that month was stricken and 2nd 
 March inserted. It is believed that 
 this notable proceeding was planned in 
 Cassville, 4.5 miles oft', and given to 
 Kinchin W. Hargrove when he went 
 up to Spring Place. 
 
 After my surrender to the sheriff, 
 
 *SprinB Bank, the country estate of Rev. 
 Chas. Wallace Howard. 
 
 I was taken out of his custody, con- 
 veyed before a magistrate, also under 
 the control of Bishop, charged with 
 an assault with intent to murder, and 
 immediately ordered off in my wound- 
 ed condition, 45 miles, in a severe snow 
 storm under a strong guard, my 
 wounds undressed, and filched of the 
 little change I had in my pockets, and 
 lodged in the Cassville jail in the 
 dungeon. The guard received their or- 
 ders from Bishop and Hargrove not 
 to allow me to have any intercourse 
 with my friends, and so rigidly were 
 these orders observed that when I ar- 
 rived at Major Howard's" in the neigh- 
 borhood of my family and desired him 
 to inform them of my situation, and 
 not to be alarmed, the guard threat- 
 ened to use their bayonets if I did not 
 proceed. Bishop even designated the 
 houses at which we were to stop on 
 our way. I was placed in a dungeon 
 until my friends at Cassville, hearing 
 of my situation, relieved me on bail. 
 
 The foregoing statement can be at- 
 tested by many respectable witnesses, 
 and is substantially correct. The 
 transaction has created a great sen- 
 sation in Murray County, and must 
 have received the unqualified condem- 
 nation of every law-abiding citizen. 
 SPENCER RILEY. 
 
 In the same issue The Journal 
 commented editorially : 
 
 We had flattered ourselves that the 
 State had drained the cup of humili- 
 ation to the dregs and had suffered 
 all it could suffer from violence, fraud, 
 proscription and misgovernment. But 
 unhappily we were mistaken ; low Jis 
 we had sunken, we find that there is 
 a point still lower. The letter of 
 Spencer Riley, Esq., in this paper dis- 
 plays a state of things in a part of 
 the country where the dominant fac- 
 tion has had full sway that is abso- 
 lutely appalling. 
 
 We have personally known Mr. 
 Riley twelve years as a freeholder and 
 citizen, as deputy sheriff and high 
 sheriff of Bibb County, where they 
 have had no officer we know of whose 
 l)ublic services were more generally 
 approved. Since then, we understand, 
 he has held a commission of the peace 
 in Cass County, and his word, we 
 think, will hardly be doubted by any 
 to whom he is known. His statement 
 presents a picture at which the most 
 careless and the most thoughtless man 
 must pause. It is one of the consc- 
 (luenecs of subverting the judicial au- 
 thority throughout one whole circuit 
 in a new country.
 
 88 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Finally the toe hold of the Indian 
 bei?an to s^ive way. For a decade 
 the Indian^s had been going west in 
 small detachments, under the dip- 
 lomatic urge of the Ck)vernment. At 
 the slow rate of moving, it was cal- 
 culated that half a century would 
 be required to be rid of them all. 
 In 1829, the old records show, quite 
 a number of Indians enrolled with 
 the Government agents to go west, 
 received their bounty and then 
 failed to go, thinking, perhaps, that 
 they might successfully pass 
 around the hat again. Many of 
 these Indians appeared in 1835 at 
 the council at Running Waters and 
 voted for the annuity measure 
 proposed by John Ross. 
 
 But the patience of Federal and 
 State authorities was threadbare. 
 If the Indians would emigrate 
 peaceably, all well and good ; if 
 they balked, bayonets would move 
 them. The white man's necessity 
 under the program of civic and 
 
 DANIEL ROSS, Scotch father of John Ross. 
 He died in DeSoto (Rome) and was there 
 buried. 
 
 commercial progress was the red 
 man's misfortune. Gen. Winfield 
 Scott, of the United States army, 
 was selected to gather the Indians 
 in stockades. 
 
 Under the pressure from Gov. 
 Lumi)kin, Alajor Currey, Mr. 
 Schermerhorn and others, 2,000 of 
 the Indians prepared to depart by 
 Jan. 1, 1837; but the death of Ma- 
 jor Currey, Dec. 16, 1836, at Spring 
 Place, set the movement back se- 
 riously. Hence the general round- 
 up did not get under way until 
 May 24, 1838. 
 
 Numerous Indians submitted 
 without protest ; many others se- 
 creted themselves in the mountains 
 and in caves, and were vigorously 
 hunted out. A few resisted and 
 shot or were shot ; some commit- 
 ted suicide rather than leave the 
 lands they had learned to love and 
 the sacred bones of their departed 
 ancestors. 
 
 'i'he Rev. George White tells as 
 follow^s of the removal in his His- 
 torical Collections of Georgia (ps. 
 152-3) and incidentally, defends the 
 troopers who had this unpleasant 
 duty to perform : 
 
 Gen. Scott called upon the Governoi' 
 of Georg-ia for two regiments, to which 
 call there was an immediate response. 
 On Friday, the 18th of May, 1838, a 
 sufficiency of troops had arrived at 
 New Echota, the place of rendezvous, 
 to organize a regiment and warrant 
 the election of officers. On the morn- 
 ing of the 24th of May, the regiment 
 took up the line of march for the 
 purpose of collecting the Indians, Five 
 companies, viz. — Capt. Stell's, Dan- 
 iel's, Bowman's, Hamilton's, Ellis' 
 were destined to Sixes Town, in Cher- 
 okee County; two companies, Capt. 
 Story's and Capt. Campbell's to Rome; 
 Capt. Vincent's to Cedartown; two 
 companies, Capt. Horton's and Capt. 
 Brewster's, to Fort Gilmer. 
 
 The collecting of the Indians con- 
 tinued until the 3rd of June, 1838, 
 when they started for Ross' Landing, 
 on the 'Tennessee River, numbering 
 about 1,560, under the immediate 
 command of Capt. Stell. They arrived 
 at Ross' Landing at 10 o'clock, the 
 10th of June. The Georgia troops re-
 
 Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair 
 
 89 
 
 turned, and were afterwards regu- 
 larly dismissed from the service of the 
 United States. Both regiments were 
 commanded by Gen. Chas. Floyd.* 
 
 In small detachments, the army be- 
 gan its operations, making prisoners 
 of one family after another, and gath- 
 ering them into camps. No one has 
 ever complained of the manner in 
 which the work was performed.** 
 Through the good disposition of the 
 army and the provident arrangements 
 of its commander, less injury was 
 done by accidents or mistakes than 
 could reasonably have been expected. 
 By the end of June, nearly the whole 
 nation was gathered into camps, and 
 some thousands commenced their 
 march for the West, the heat of the 
 season preventing any further emigra- 
 tion until September, when 14,000 
 were on their march. The journey of 
 600 or 700 miles was performed in 
 four or five months. The best ar- 
 rangements were made for their com- 
 fort, but from the time — May 24 — 
 v/hen their removal commenced, to the 
 time when the last company completed 
 its journey, more than 4,000 persons 
 sank under their sufferings and died. 
 
 A tragic sequel followed the re- 
 moval and the stirring events pre- 
 ceding it. The anti-treaty or Ross 
 party of Indians did not bury in 
 the red hills of Georgia with the 
 hallowed dust of their ancestors 
 the resentment they felt toward 
 the men who had signed away their 
 lands. A band of several hundred 
 Indians took a secret oath to 
 kill Major Ridge and his clan 
 brother (nephew by blood) Elias 
 Lioudinot,*** and John Ridge, his 
 son. They bided their time, and 
 June 22, 1839, killed all three. 
 
 Major Ridge was wa}'laid on the 
 road 40 or 50 miles from home, and 
 shot. His son was taken from his 
 bed early in the morning and near- 
 ly cut to pieces with km'ves. Air. 
 Botidinot was decoyed away from 
 a house he liad ])een erecting a 
 short distance from liis residence, 
 
 *The father of Gen. .lohn Floyd, for whom 
 Floyd county was named. 
 
 **Numerous complaints are of record today. 
 The route has been called "The Trail of Tear^.'" 
 
 ***A native of Floyd county. 
 
 ****Stand Watie lived at Coosawattie Town, 
 and later near Rome. 
 
 *****Assuminf; that Ridge was born in 1771, 
 as usually stated, he would have been 68. 
 
 and then set upon with knives and 
 hatchets. One version lias it that 
 Boudinot was a sort of doctor, and 
 that several Indians came to him in 
 a friendly way and asked him to 
 get some medicine for a sick com- 
 rade. Thrown off his guard, he 
 A\'as an easy prey. 
 
 Mrs. Mabel Washbourne Ander- 
 son, of Pryor, Okla., daughter of 
 John Rollin Ridge, grand-daughter 
 of John Ridge and great-grand- 
 daughter of Major Rulge, tells on 
 ps. 11-12 of her Life of General 
 Stand Watie**** of this shocking 
 tragedy : 
 
 A demon spell now enveloped the 
 Cherokee country, as is ever the case 
 when feuds and factions arise within a 
 nation. The members of the former 
 Treaty party, headed by Ridge and 
 Boudinot, were called traitors by the 
 Ross party, and this continued "accu- 
 sation became the platform of strife 
 and bloodshed, turbulence and suffer- 
 ing for a newly-divided people in a 
 new land. Had bitterness and disa- 
 greement been forgotten and a united 
 effort made toward rebuilding the 
 broken fortunes of a broken people 
 the cruel history from 1838 to 1846 
 might never have been written. 
 
 If history had preserved for us a 
 record of the ''Secret Council" of 
 the anti-Treaty party, said to have 
 been held at Double Springs, near 
 Tahl.equah, in the spring of 1839, 
 much that will forever be a question 
 to the searcher for truth would be re- 
 vealed. 
 
 Passing hastily over this black page 
 of Cherokee history, so closely allied 
 with the life of Gen. Watie, it must 
 be mentioned that secret police forces 
 of 100 men each soon after this coun- 
 cil were organized by the Ross party, 
 with a commander for each company, 
 whose purpose was to extinguish the 
 leading men of the Ridge i)arty. And 
 the pages of Cherokee history will for- 
 ever be shadowed by the atrocious 
 tragedy that took place in the assassi- 
 nation in one night of Major Ridg", 
 an aged man of 75;***** his son, John 
 Ridge, and Elias Boudinot, three of 
 the most powerful and inlluential men 
 of the Treaty party. The murders of 
 these three men, which took place 
 within a few hours of each other, were 
 most systematically carried out, 
 though tliey were widely separated at 
 the time. John Ridge was slain on
 
 90 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Honey Creek, Cherokee Nation, near 
 the Missouri line; Major Ridge was 
 slain in the Cherokee Nation near Cin- 
 cinnati, Ark.; and p]lias Boudinot 
 near Park Hill, Cherokee Nation. 
 
 This opened an international wound 
 of sorrow and bloodshed for the Cher- 
 okee people, extending over a terrible, 
 dark period of eight or ten years, and 
 whose influence lasted for decades upon 
 this nation. Stand Watie, Jack Bell 
 and Walter Adair were slated to die 
 at this same time, but were absent 
 from home the night these foul mur- 
 ders were committed. Thereafter they 
 were constantly on scout and guard 
 against some hidden plot to take their 
 lives. A short time after this horrible 
 event. Stand Watie organized a mili- 
 tai'y force, stationed at Beattie's 
 Prairie, to oppose the Ross police 
 force. 
 
 Despite opposition and oppression, 
 Watie became after the assassination 
 of his kinsmen the most influential 
 man and the conceded leader of the 
 Ridge party. Among the incidents 
 current among his people today of the 
 bravery of Stand Watie is one con- 
 nected with this terrible tragedy. 
 When his brother, Elias Boudinot, lay 
 dead in the midst of his foes, Watie 
 silently rode up unarmed. The crowd 
 of his enemies suddenly drew back, 
 making way for this grim horseman. 
 Removing the sheet that covered the 
 face of his murdered brother, he 
 looked down long and earnestly upon 
 the still features. Then turning to 
 the crowd, he said in a voice that each 
 could hear, "I will give $10,000 to 
 know the name of the man who struck 
 that blow!" 
 
 All who knew Stand Watie were 
 aware of his ability to pay this lee- 
 ward, but not one in that guilty crowd 
 answered him, and he rode away as 
 fearlessly as he had oome, though 
 there were fully 100 men in that same 
 company who had sworn to take his 
 life the night before. 
 
 Thos. Watie and James Starr were 
 killed by the Ross party in 1845, but 
 the old tradition among the full-blood- 
 ed Indians that "No weapon was ever 
 made to kill Stand Watie," seemed 
 verily to fulfil itself, and he success- 
 fully passed through the dangerous 
 and trying years from 1838 to 1846. 
 
 A PAYNE MEMORIAL.— A patri- 
 otic service was performed Saturday 
 morning, Oct. 7, 1922, by the Old Guard 
 of Atlanta in the unveiling of a hand- 
 some marble tablet at Spring Place 
 
 to John Howard Payne. The exercises 
 had been planned for Friday, Oct. 6, 
 but bad roads delayed the party, trav- 
 eling in automobiles, and it was neces- 
 sary to postpone the aff'air a day. The 
 speaker of the occasion was Col. Geo. 
 M. Napier, attorney general of Geor- 
 gia and a member of the Guard. He 
 was introduced by Jos. A. McCord, 
 commandant of the Guard and Gov- 
 ernor of the Federal Reserve Bank in 
 Atlanta. Prof. Ernest Neal, school 
 superintendent at Chatsworth, Murray 
 County, recited his poem, "The Rivers 
 of Cherokee Georgia;" the poem will 
 be found in the poetry section herein. 
 
 The Payne tablet stands within 200 
 yards of the Vann house, at a con- 
 spicuous road crossing where it will 
 be beheld by thousands of tourists 
 yearly. It is of rough gray Elbert 
 County granite, mined at a place near 
 which Payne journeyed in 1835 on 
 horseback from Augusta to inspect the 
 natural wonders of Northeast Georgia. 
 It is sunk deep in concrete, and a 
 concrete platform six feet in radius 
 surrounds it. The inscrption follows : 
 
 "John Howard Payne, author of 
 'Home, Sweet Home,' suspected as a 
 spy of the Cherokee Indians, was im- 
 prisoned here in 1835, but released. 
 Erected by Old Guard of Atlanta, Oct. 
 G, 1922; Jos. A. McCord, command- 
 ant." 
 
 The Old Guardsmen were the guests 
 of Mr. McCord at his apple orchard 
 twelve miles to the north. Prominent 
 in their entertainment was the Gov- 
 ernor John Milledge Chapter of the 
 D. A. R., of Dalton, and Dr. T. W. 
 Colvard, at whose estate they enjoyed 
 a barbecue. Prior to the exercises they 
 inspected the home of Jos. Vann, the 
 Indian chief, near which, in a log hut, 
 Payne was incarcerated. It is said 
 this hut now stands in the park at 
 Chatsworth, near the L. & N. railroad 
 station, having been removed from 
 Spring Place. 
 
 Other Old Guard members who at- 
 tended were Robt. A. Broyles, Ossian 
 D. Gorman, Jr., Sam Meyer, Jr., H. 
 M. Lokey, G. A. Wight, W. E. Han- 
 cock, Dr. L. P. Baker, Henry C. Beer- 
 man, Fred J. Cooledge, E. H. Good- 
 hart, W. M. Camp, Peter F. Clarke, 
 W. S. Coleman, W. B. Cummings, Dr. 
 Thos. H. Hancock, W. T. Kuhns, Ed- 
 mund W. Martin, M. L. Thrower, Jas. 
 T. Wright, A. McD. Wilson, G. G. 
 Yancey, Jr., and Walter Bennett. 
 Others included Jos. A. McCord, Jr., 
 Walter Sparks, and J. A. Hall, of De- 
 catur, formerly of Calhoun, an author- 
 ity on Indian lore.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 Growth From Village to Town 
 
 O 
 
 NCE the Indians were out 
 of the way and their lands 
 thrown open to the white 
 settlers, Rome and Floyd 
 County began to grow with a vim. 
 As early as 1837, according to a 
 report from Capt. J. P. Simonton, 
 disbursing agent of the Cherokee 
 Removal, sent from New Echota 
 to the Commissioner of Indian Af- 
 fairs, and dated Sept. 27, 1837, Col. 
 Wm. C. Hardin was president of 
 the Western Bank of Georgia, of 
 Rome.* Col. Hardin and Andrew 
 Miller, agent of the Bank of Geor- 
 gia, of Augusta, loaned the Govern- 
 ment $25,000, transmitted through 
 the Rome bank, toward the re- 
 moval of the Cherokees. 
 
 The Western was undoubtedly 
 the first bank in Rome, and Col. 
 Hardin its first president. It was 
 located at the southwest corner of 
 Fifth Avenue and East First Street. 
 An old $10 bank note shows that 
 William Smith was president on 
 July 13, 1840, with R. A. Greene 
 as cashier. Zachariah B. Hargrove 
 had been connected with it prior 
 to his death in 1839. The Bank of 
 the Empire State, which also got 
 into financial difficulties and was 
 forced to suspend, was organized 
 much later. In 1851 the Rome 
 Weekly Courier expressed the hope 
 that a bank would soon be formed 
 at Rome. 
 
 The first inn was kept by Wil- 
 liam Quinn at "Cross Keys," as 
 the local neighborhood at the pres- 
 ent "Five Points." North Broad 
 Street, was then known. A Mrs. 
 Washington, descended from 
 
 *Report of Secretary of W^r on Cherokee 
 Treaty (1835), p. 995. 
 
 **Destroyefl in 1864 by soldiers of the Union 
 Army, accordintr to the late Mrs. Robt. Battey. 
 No reason can be assigned for the destruction 
 of this property except that Ross was in bad 
 odor with the United States Government at the 
 time. 
 
 George, kept the Washington Ho- 
 tel. The McEntee House was in 
 operation in 1845 when Rev. and 
 Mrs. J. M. M. Caldwell stopped 
 over in Rome on their way to Sel- 
 ma, Ala., where Dr. Caldwell had 
 been ofifered the pastorate of the 
 First Presbyterian church. James 
 McEntee, the proprietor, and oth- 
 ers persuaded the newdy-married 
 couple to remain in Rome, and 
 they taught one of the first schools 
 of any pretensions in a part of 
 their dwelling, the old John Ross 
 House,** in which they had been 
 temporarily settled by the owner. 
 Col. Alfred Shorter. Aftei* as- 
 suming charge of the Rome Fe- 
 male College on Eighth Avenue 
 in 1856, they taught on East Second 
 Street. 
 
 Another early hotel was the 
 Choice House, built l^y John 
 Choice, probably prior to 1850. This 
 was conducted from 1855 to 1857 
 by Wm. Melton Roberts, father of 
 Frank Stovall Roberts, of Wash- 
 ington, D. C. It was located where 
 the Hotel Forrest now stands. For 
 several years around 1857 it had 
 six colonial columns of white in 
 front. 
 
 The Ijuena Vista, at the south- 
 cast ct)rner of Broad Street and 
 vSixth Avenue, was built in 1843 b}' 
 an Irishman named Thos. Burke, 
 who soon got into a serious diffi- 
 culty and turned the property over 
 to Daniel R. Mitchell as a fee for 
 re|)resenting liim. 
 
 .\l)out 1850 Will. Kctcham was 
 pr(iprietor of the Ivtowah 1 louse, 
 scjutheast corner of I'.ro.iil Street 
 and Second Avenue, and in 1863 
 the pi"oprit.lor was (icn. Geo. S. 
 r.lack. 
 
 The Tennessee llouse was start- 
 ed at the end of the Civil War 1)V
 
 92 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Jas. A. Stansbury. It stood at the 
 northeast corner of Broad Street 
 and First Avenue, and later be- 
 came the Rome Hotel. 
 
 The first newspaper, according 
 to The Weekly Bulletin of Thurs- 
 day, Jan. 8, 1876, was the Western 
 Georgian, published by Gen. Jas. 
 Hemphill and Samuel S. Jack.* It 
 was started in 1837, and Mr. Jack 
 was the first editor. The location 
 was at 602 East First Street, wdiere 
 a hand ])rcss was installed. This 
 was (Ml tlic s])()t where Mrs. Naomi 
 P. Bale now lives. 
 
 Pisgah Baptist church at Coosa 
 is the oldest religious institution 
 of its kind in the county. It was 
 organized in the spring of 1833 by 
 Rev. Hugh Quin and associates. 
 
 The First Presbyterian of Rome 
 was founded at Livingston Oct. 
 29, 1833, and removed to Rome 
 Apr. 17, 1845, by Rev. J. M. M. 
 Caldwell. 
 
 The First Baptist is the oldest 
 
 REV. J. M. M. CALDWELL, Presbyterian 
 minister and for about 40 years teacher of 
 young women at Rome. 
 
 church in Rome, having been 
 founded May 16, 1835.** 
 
 The First Methodist was organ- 
 ized at Rome in 1840 by Mrs. Sam- 
 uel S. Jack, Mrs. James Hammet. 
 Mrs. Daniel R. Mitchell, Mrs' 
 Jesse Lamberth, Mrs. Samuel 
 Stewart and Miss Ernily McDow. 
 The location was the southwest 
 corner of Sixth Avenue and E. Sec- 
 ond Street. The circuit of which 
 Rome was an appointment in 1836 
 extended from Knoxville, Tenn., to 
 the Chattahoochee River, and Rev. 
 J. B. McFerrin, of Tennessee, stood 
 every four months on a stump at 
 Fifth Avenue and W^est First Street 
 (now the courthouse property) and 
 preached to mixed crowds of In- 
 dians, negroes and wdiites.*** On 
 one of these occasions Dr. McFer- 
 rin converted John Ross, wdio 
 thereafter spread the doctrines of 
 Methodism among his tribes- 
 men.**** It is considered w^orthy 
 of note in this connection that 
 Sam P. Jones, the Methodist evan- 
 gelist, went to preaching 40 years 
 later four blocks from this spot 
 and two blocks from the Fourth 
 W^ard home of Ross. 
 
 St. Peter's Episcopal church was 
 first located at Fifth Avenue and 
 E. First Street, and w^as establish- 
 ed Mar. 31, 1854, by Rev. Thos. 
 Fielding Scott, of INIarietta, and 
 associates. 
 
 The First Christian church was 
 organized Feb. 13, 1896. 
 
 Sardis Presbyterian church at 
 Livingston and churches in Ridge 
 Valley and Vann's Valley (such as 
 the Baptist, the Methodist and the 
 Episcopal at Cave Spring) and at 
 
 *Mrs. Naomi P. Bale states that Mr. Jack's 
 daughter, Amanda (the first white child born 
 in Rome), said it was the Rome Enterprise. 
 .J. O. Winfrey calls it the Northwest Georgian, 
 and says Miles Corbin was associated with Mr. 
 Jack. Mr. .Jack's father was a soldier in the 
 American Revolution. 
 
 **According to Acts, 1S37, p. 48, the trustees 
 of the corporation on Dec. 25, 1837, were Wes- 
 ley Shropshire, Elijah Lumpkin, Jobe Rogers, 
 Thos. W. Burton and Alford B. Reece. 
 
 ***Directory, First Methodist Church, His- 
 torical sketch by Mrs. Naomi P. Bale, 1918. 
 
 ****Authority : Belle K. Abbott in The At- 
 lanta Constitution, 1S89.
 
 Growth from Village to Town 
 
 93 
 
 Armiichee, Chulio, Everett Springs 
 and the other pioneer districts o-f 
 the county are also very old. Some 
 folks say Sardis Presbyterian is 
 older tlian Pisgah Baj)tist ; others 
 say it ain't. 
 
 The Episcopal church at Cave 
 Spring", by the way, was built 
 through the generosity of Francis 
 S. Bartow and his parents, Dr. and 
 Mrs. Theodosius Bartow, of Sa- 
 vannah, who maintained a summer 
 home there a number of years be- 
 fore 1860. The land for this church 
 was given by Maj. Armistead Rich- 
 ardson. 
 
 The Baptist church of Cave 
 Spring stands on the Hearn Acad- 
 emy campus. The brick it contains, 
 still in a fine state of preservation, 
 were made of Floyd County clay 
 by the slaves of Alaj. Armistead 
 Richardson, Alexander Thornton 
 Harper and Carter W. Sparks. 
 
 The Prospect Baptist church, 
 near Coosa, was foundefl in 1856. 
 
 Undoubtedly the oldest religious 
 agency in the county (now only 
 a memory) was the mission at Coo- 
 sa (then known as Missionary 
 Station). This was established 
 in 1821 by Rev. Elijah Butler and 
 his wife, Esther Butler, of the 
 North, who were succeeded in the 
 work by Rev. Hugh Ouin, about 
 1827. 
 
 Such business e.staljlishmcnls as 
 might be expected in a growing 
 town sprang up between 1834 and 
 1861. C<il. Alfred Shorter began to 
 trade in cotton, merchandise and 
 real estate, and was recognized as 
 Rome's leading financier ancl l)usi- 
 ness man. Col. Cunningham M. 
 Pennington, a civil engineer, ap- 
 peared on tlic scene as Col. v^hor- 
 ter's agent, and also gave consid- 
 erable attention to railroad enter- 
 prises. Chas. M. Harper, a ne])hew, 
 likewise was early associated with 
 Col. Shorter. 
 
 A postoffice was set u]) at a con- 
 venient s])ot in the center of t<nvn 
 
 and all the folks came for their 
 mail. Tlie streets were bad for 
 many years, and pigs and cattle 
 roamed over them at will, and 
 many a Roman of the period kept 
 a pig-sty in his yard. The thor- 
 ( ughfares were lighted at night 
 with oil lamps and the homes 
 v/ith lamps or candles, and early re- 
 tiring was the rule, and early ris- 
 ing, too. 
 
 Stage coach lines were estab- 
 lished, with thrice a week service, 
 leading to Cassville through North 
 Rome, to New Echota via Oosta- 
 naula River road, to Jacksonville, 
 Ala., and Cave Spring via the Cave 
 Spring road, to the towns of Chat- 
 tooga County via the Summerville 
 road, and to Livingston and points 
 beyond through the r)lack's B>luit' 
 road. 
 
 Practically all these roads of the 
 present were originally Indian 
 trails, notably the Alabama road, 
 which was the old Creek path from 
 
 MRS. J. M. M. CALDWELL, of the old Rome 
 Female CoIIokc, who taught Mrs. Woodrow 
 Wilson and many others.
 
 94 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Alabama through northwest Geor- 
 gia. These stages were joggling, 
 rickety affairs, pulled by four 
 horses. As we view it now, it was 
 worth a man's life to undertake 
 a long journey, but somehow they 
 always reached their destination 
 and the trouble of getting there 
 was forgotten in a delightfully 
 long sta}'. Mail was carried in 
 pouches and the stage driver was 
 res])onsil)le for its safe delivery. 
 To facilitate this object, the driver 
 usually went armed, and was sel- 
 dom molested. Among the early 
 drivers and proprietors might be 
 mentioned John H. Wisdom, who 
 in 1863 warned Romans of the 
 approach of Col. Streight's raid- 
 ers, and Esom Graves Logan, J. 
 R. I'owell, Jos. H. Sergeant and 
 other old timers. 
 
 Connections were made by stage 
 with more remote points, such as 
 Athens, Covington, Milledgeville, 
 Macon and Augusta. Atlanta did 
 not appear until Dec. 23, 1843, when 
 it was incorporated as Terminus.* 
 Her name was changed to Marthas- 
 ville, and then by an act approved 
 Dec. 29, 1847, it became Atlanta.** 
 Nine years before a village sprang 
 u]) on the site of Atlanta, Romans 
 had had a vision of a "terminus" 
 on their own jmrticular spot. Rome 
 was the frontier outpost of Chero- 
 kee Georgia, as far as the rest of 
 the state was concerned. It was 
 the connecting link between "Old 
 Georgia" and "Old Tennessee," the 
 clearing house for the cotton, corn, 
 wheat and produce of the rich Coo- 
 sa Valley and the northeastern 
 Alabama towns. 
 
 Rome's strategic position was 
 ])erhaps l)cst realized jjy William 
 Smith, who in 1836 was elected to 
 the State Senate with the idea that 
 he might have a bill ]xissed at Mil- 
 ledgeville which would cause the 
 proposed State Railroad io stop at 
 Rome instead of at some ])oint in 
 Tennessee, which later became 
 
 Chattanooga. The people were not 
 ready for such a radical step, how- 
 ever. The Steamboat Coosa had 
 ccMne all the way up from Greens- 
 port, Ala., had given the natives a 
 good fright, and this was enough 
 of transportation improvements for 
 a long time. When Col. Smith of- 
 fered for re-election, he was de- 
 feated by James Wells. Col. Smith 
 bided his time, unloosed a new sup- 
 ply of political thunder and defeat- 
 ed Mr. Wells in 1838. Success still 
 did not come, and in 1839 he was 
 defeated by Jos. Watters, who 
 served two years and then was 
 defeated by Col. Smith in 1841. For 
 tliree years, through 1843, Col. 
 Smith pushed this project and oth- 
 ers. He was given strong assur- 
 ance that Rome would be made 
 the terminus of the road, which 
 would certainly have caused the 
 place to boom like a mining town 
 of the far West. vSuch a strong 
 fight was made by Col. Smith dur- 
 ing these years that an association 
 of citizens at Chattanooga invited 
 him to come there to live in a hand- 
 some home that would cost him 
 nothing. He was too strongly com- 
 mitted to the place of his adoption, 
 and continued the fight for Rome. 
 
 When success seemed certain. 
 Col. Smith and another founder of 
 the town, Maj. Philip W. Hemp- 
 hill, built a steamboat in anticipa- 
 tion of the tremendous trade that 
 would be created. The hull of the 
 boat was made by William Adkms, 
 father of Wm. H. Adkins, of At- 
 lanta, formerly of Rome. It was 
 eased into the Oostanaula with ap- 
 propriate ceremonies and her flag 
 raised, bearing the name of ^er 
 projector, William Smith. The iv.a- 
 chinery was not installed for a 
 time, possil)ly due to a delay in 
 delivery, or the desire of the ovvn- 
 
 *Acts, 1843, p. S3. 
 
 **Acts, 1847, p. .50. It was by this act that 
 Rome advanced from the status of town to that 
 of city, and the city limits were extended to 
 include all territory in a radius of half a mile 
 from the courthouse.
 
 Growth from Village to Town 
 
 95 
 
 ers to see the l)ill pass before they 
 should increase their investment. 
 
 Something- went wrong at Mil- 
 ledgeville. The Whiteside interests 
 at Chattanooga, augmented by a 
 faction in Georgia who thought 
 better of the Chattanooga termi- 
 nus, proved too strong for the 
 Cherokee Georgia contingent. Tb.e 
 bill as passed included Chattatioo-- 
 ga. Rome was to be isolated to 
 some extent ; the road was to pass 
 16 miles away, through Cass Coun- 
 ty, from Marthasville northwest- 
 ward. 
 
 Col. Smith smiled his acquies- 
 cense, but there was no estimating 
 his disappointment. One night the 
 William Smith sank, at the point 
 wiiere tlie Central of Georgia tres- 
 tle crosses the Oostanaula. Prat- 
 tling tongues said Col. Smith bored 
 holes in her bottom. He would 
 never talk about it much, l)e- 
 } ond saying that the action of the 
 Legislature had greatly crippled 
 Rome. He did not try to raise the 
 boat, and up to 25 years ago her 
 muddy hull could still l)e seen at 
 "low tide." 
 
 In these days of slave labor, lim- 
 ited transportation facilities, heavy 
 crops and lack of industrialism, 
 the thoughts of the upper classes 
 naturally turned to politics. The 
 newspapers printed four pages of 
 six columns each once or twice a 
 week. The advertisements were 
 usually small and the other space 
 must be filled up. When people 
 married, they remained married, 
 and a divorce was a rarity and con- 
 sidered a disgrace. There were a 
 good many fights witli knives in 
 grog shops, and an occasional duel, 
 but news-gathering facilities had 
 not ])een developed, and the papers 
 were consequently filled with 
 "views." Every editor was a savior 
 of the countr}', and spread-eagle 
 literary efiforts readily found their 
 way into the newspapers from ])()li- 
 ticians or statesmen. Presidential 
 and Gul)ernatorial messages were 
 
 DR. ELIJAH L. CONNALLY, Atlantan, Floyd 
 County native, who as a baby was nursed 
 by Indian Chiefs Tahchansee and Turkey. 
 
 printed in full and were considered 
 choice morsels for the head of the 
 house. Greer's Almanac furnished 
 weather predictions for everybody. 
 Politics often consumed a page 
 or two, and communications on 
 topics that toda}- are of nnich less 
 consequence often ran into two or 
 three columns. As for the women, 
 tliey religiotisly read "("lodey's La- 
 dies' IU)ok," an eastern ])ul)lica- 
 tion which met needs like tlie La- 
 dies' Home Journal of today. 
 
 It is not necessarily a reflection 
 on Rome that in the lirst 26 years 
 of her existence, Irmn 1834 to 1860, 
 she elected more men to Congress 
 than has the Rome ot the S7 years 
 from 1865 to 1922. .V new country 
 always develops rugged leadership 
 and the fearless expression of opin- 
 ion that goes with a daily light 
 for existence, in this i-arly ])eriod 
 l^ome sent fonr men ti> Congress. 
 They were, in order, judge John 
 It. Lum]:)kin, who had ]>reviously 
 served his nncle, (lox'ernur Wilson
 
 96 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Lumpkin, as secretary, and had 
 gone to the legislature in 1835; 
 Thos. C. llackett. judge Lump- 
 kin's law partner, ^vho succeeded 
 him; Judge Augustus R. Wright, 
 who had removed to Rome in 1855 ; 
 and Judge ju". W. M. Underwood 
 who was a member of the Georgia 
 delegation which walked out of 
 Congress early in 1861 without 
 taking the pains to resign. Only 
 two men living in Rome at the time 
 of their election have since been 
 sent to Congress — Judson C. Clem- 
 ents and Judge Jno. W. Maddox. 
 Judge Lumpkin came near put- 
 ting Rome on the map as the resi- 
 dence of the Governor of Georgia ; 
 that is, assuming he could have 
 h.een elected over the eloquent and 
 ])olished Benjamin H. Hill. Also, it 
 is likely he would have been the 
 War (governor. On June 24, 1857, 
 the Democrats met at INlilledge- 
 ville to nominate a candidate to 
 oppose the new American or Know- 
 Nothing part}-. Lumpkin led the 
 balloting for some time, but he 
 could not get the necessary two- 
 thirds, and in a stampede, the nom- 
 ination went to Jos. E. Brown. 
 Alfred IT. Col(|uitt, later Governor, 
 also missed it narrowdy. In the 
 election held later, Brown defeated 
 Hill, the American party nominee, 
 by about 10,000 popular votes. 
 
 This convention attracted the 
 leading men of the state, and 
 Rome's re])resentatives were Judge 
 Augustus R. Wright, who on one 
 ballot received five votes ; Judge 
 Jno. W. H. I'nderwddd and Daniel 
 S. Printup. At all such gatherings 
 Rome was prominently ]nit for- 
 w^ard. Her leading men went to the 
 national conventions on an equal 
 footing with tlie large cities of the 
 state; and on numerous occasions 
 Governors, Senators and Congress- 
 men came to Rome to seek the ad- 
 vice of these noble Romans. Among 
 the Governors were Chas. J. Mc- 
 Donald, Llerschel V. Johnson and 
 Jos. E. Brown. When judge Lump- 
 
 kin died in the summer of 1860 at 
 the Choice House, he was in com- 
 pany with a group of statesmen. 
 
 Quite often the Romans suited 
 the convenience of their political 
 friends ; quite often also they wrote 
 a note saying, "Come up and let 
 us talk it over." The Choice House 
 veranda was a capital place for 
 these gatherings, but occasionally a 
 dignitary accepted an invitation to 
 a private fireside and was treated 
 t(^ social courtesies which had 
 nothing to do with ])olitics. 
 
 A contemporary writer said of 
 Rome's "quartette" and Dr. H. V. 
 M. Miller, United States Senator 
 elected in 1868 while residing in 
 Atlanta : 
 
 John H. Lumpkin was the candidate 
 of North Georgia, which section vig- 
 orouf.ly claimed the right to have the 
 Governor. Lumpkin had been a con- 
 gresFman and a judge of the Superior 
 Court and was a gentleman of excel- 
 lent ability. 
 
 Dr. Miller, though a physician, 
 won the soubriquet of "The IDemosthe- 
 nes of the Mountains" in his innumera- 
 ble political encounters, for which he 
 had the same passion that the Irish- 
 man is popularly believed to have for 
 a "free fight." Deeply versed in con- 
 stitutional law and political lore, a 
 reasoner of rare power and as fine an 
 orator as we have ever had in Geor- 
 gia, capable of burning declamation 
 and closely-knit argument, he was the 
 peer on the stump of any of the great 
 political speakers of the last half- 
 century in Georgia. 
 
 Unfortunately for him, he had two 
 perilous peculiarities — a biting sar- 
 casm that delighted in exhibition of 
 its crushing power, and that spared 
 neither friend nor foe, and a contempt- 
 uous and incurable disregard of party 
 affiliations. He never in his life 
 worked in harmony with any party 
 or swallowed whole any single party 
 platform. And no man ever had more 
 stubborn independence and self-asser- 
 tion.* 
 
 Judge Wright, of Eome, was one of 
 the brightest thinkers and most spark- 
 ling orators we had, but an embodied 
 independent."* 
 
 Judge Underwood was a racy talker, 
 
 ♦History of Georgia, 1850-1881, by I. W. 
 Avery, p. 40. 
 **Ibid, p. 33.
 
 l^!>'^MSk^^ 
 
 LITTLF, TEXAS^VALLEY— by Lillian Page C.ulrer
 
 Growth from Village to Town 
 
 99 
 
 a fluent, eff^ective speaker and a ^ood 
 lawyer, with a portly, fine presence 
 and manner; he would have made a 
 far more commanding figure in Geor- 
 gia politics, even, than he has with 
 the possession of a greater quota of 
 stability.* 
 
 An evidence of the manner in 
 which Romans kept pace with the 
 poHtical trend is furnished in the 
 following letter, dated at Rome, 
 Jan. 18, 1854, from Judge Lump- 
 kin to Howell Cobb :** 
 
 Dear Cobb: — I was with McDon- 
 ald*** a good deal while he was 
 here, and he was in fine health and 
 most excellent spirits. In fact, I have 
 never seen him when he was on bet- 
 ter terms with himself and the most 
 of the world. He has not much fancy 
 for our friend. Col. Underwood, and 
 I think he has not a great deal of re- 
 spect for Dr. Singleton. I had no con- 
 versation with him in regard to the 
 position of United States Senator, nor 
 did he give me any intimation that he 
 expected to go into Mr. Pierce's cabinet. 
 But William Fort, of this place, a 
 nephew of Dr. Fort, and who is the 
 intimate friend and supporter of Gov. 
 McDonald, informs me that Jefferson 
 Davis is in correspondence with Mc- 
 Donald, and that McDonald informed 
 him confidentially that he would go to 
 Milledgeville immediately this week, 
 and if he could conti-ol some three or 
 four of his friends and induce them 
 to go into your support for United 
 States Senator, that he would then 
 tender back to the party the nomina- 
 tion and go in publicly for your elec- 
 tion; and if this was successful, he 
 had no doubt of your election to the 
 United States Senate,**** and that 
 he would be appointed Secretary of 
 War in the place of Jefferson Davis, 
 would would also go into the Senate 
 from the State of Mississippi. He 
 further informed me that Brown was 
 an applicant for the Senate from Mis- 
 sissippi, and that this difficulty would 
 have to be accommodated by provid- 
 ing for Brown in some other way. I 
 feel confident that this arrangement 
 will be carried out, and if so, the i)arty 
 
 *Avery's History of Gcortria, p. ^2. 
 
 **Georgia Historical Quarterly, .June, 1922, 
 ps. 148-9. 
 
 ***Chas. J. McDonald, Governor from ls:V.) 
 to 1843. 
 
 ****The election was held .Jan. 23, 18.54. 
 Wm. C. Dawson, Whig incumbent, McDonald 
 and Cobb were lieaten by a Southern Ritjhts 
 Democrat, Alfred Iverson. of Columbus. 
 
 *****GeorKia's Landmarks, Memorials and 
 Legends, Vol. IL i>. 1.5. 
 
 in Georgia will be once more thor- 
 oughly united and cemented. 
 
 Locally, politics was active, but 
 it was not confined to local offices 
 or questions. The newspaper ed- 
 itors saw to it that their readers 
 were well posted on national mat- 
 ters and characters. To inspire 
 Georgians and Romans there stood 
 the examples of Wm. H. Craw- 
 ford, United States Senator and 
 minister to France, who might 
 have occupied the Presidential 
 chair except for an unfortunate 
 stroke of paralysis ;***** Howell 
 Cobb, Georgia Governor, speaker 
 of the National House, and Sec- 
 retary of the Treasury; John For- 
 syth, Governor of Georgia, United 
 States Senator and Secretary of 
 State ; Wm. H. Stiles, minister to 
 Austria ; Benj. C. Yancey, minister 
 to Argentine ; John E. VVard, min- 
 ister to China ; Herschel V. John- 
 son, United States Senator' and 
 candidate for vice-president on the 
 ticket of Stephen A. Douglas 
 against AI)raham Lincoln in 1860; 
 and a number of others Avho bore 
 Georgia's banner in the front of 
 the procession. Georgia did not 
 |)lay "second fiddle" to any state or 
 the village of Rome to any city. 
 
 Few of Rome's early records 
 \vere kept, and apparentl}' no news- 
 paper files before 1850 are in ex- 
 istence. Several copies of the Rome 
 Weekly Courier of 1850-51-52 were 
 made available through the cour- 
 tesy of IT. 11. \\'imi)ee, of South 
 Rome, and from these we get the 
 best view of the political condi- 
 tions up to that time, and looking 
 ahead into the dark days of 1861-5. 
 
 P.y 1850 wc lind the old Whig 
 party beginning to disintegrate, 
 but its adherents lighting grimly. 
 Tn that year its last President. Mil- 
 lard Fillmore, was inaugurated. 
 Democrats were holding their own ; 
 after iMllniore they elected I'rank- 
 Im I'ierce and James lUichaiian. 
 The Republican party was rising in 
 ])o\\er. The American 1\irty
 
 100 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 JOSEPH WATTERS, a member of the State 
 Legislature in the forties, for whom the 
 Watters District was named. 
 
 sprang up at the expense of the 
 Whigs ; they were the "middle of 
 the road" host, or "Know Noth- 
 ings." The States Rights Demo- 
 crats, often called "Fire-Eaters," 
 were a wing of the Democratic 
 jjarty, in the main. The Constitu- 
 tional Unionists were formidable, 
 North and South. Smaller factions 
 likewise existed. 
 
 An idea of the intense heat issu- 
 ing from the political pot may be 
 gained from the statement that 
 meetings at this time were at- 
 tended ^^y 10,000 to 20,000 people. 
 The slavery and states' rights is- 
 sues were fast coming to a head. 
 Elections held in Georgia showed 
 a large majority of people favora- 
 ble to maintaining the Union. On 
 Oct. 24, 1850, Jos. Watters and 
 Edward W^are received 882 and 809 
 votes, respectively, and Dr. Alvin 
 Dean 121 votes, in a Floyd County 
 election for two delegates to the 
 state convention Dec. 10, 1850, at 
 Milledgeville. Dr. Dean represent- 
 ed the disunionist element, or 
 "fire-eaters." The vote of the del- 
 egates on secession measures w^as 
 heavily in favor of preserving the 
 status quo. The eyes of the nation 
 were focused on Georgia, and a 
 difi^erent result, it is believed, 
 would have hastened the Civil War 
 by a decade. 
 
 The following political letters 
 were published in A. M. Eddie- 
 man's Rome Weekly Courier on 
 Thursday morning, Oct. 24, 1850: 
 
 Hermitage, 
 Floyd County, Ga. 
 Oct. 15, 1850. 
 To Messrs. H. V. M. Miller, Jno. H. 
 
 Lumpkin and W. T. Price, Union 
 
 Party Committee: 
 
 Gentlemen: Your letter of the 10th 
 inst., notifying me that at a very 
 large meeting of the citizens of Floyd 
 County, held in Rome on the 10th, I 
 was unanimously nominated as one of 
 the candidates to represent the coun- 
 ty in the convention which is to as- 
 semble in Milledgeville, Dec. 10, has 
 been received. You enclose a copy of 
 the resolutions adopted by the meet-
 
 3 
 O 
 
 
 
 
 P 
 
 O 
 Ui 
 
 I 
 
 O 
 H 
 
 < 
 
 H 
 iz; 
 P 
 O
 
 Growth from Village to Town 
 
 103 
 
 ing, expressing its opinion on the pend- 
 ing issues, and calling my attention to 
 them. 
 
 I have carefully examined the reso- 
 lutions and do approve of them as 
 adopted by the meeting. As such, I 
 accept the nomination received, and 
 should I be elected by the voters of 
 the county, I will oppose any measure 
 leading to a dissolution of the Union. 
 
 Should Congress at any time exhibit 
 its purpose to war upon our property 
 or withhold our just constitutional 
 rights, I as a Southern man stand 
 ready to vindicate those rights in the 
 Union as long as possible and out of 
 the Union when we are left no other 
 alternative. 
 
 Respectfully yours, 
 
 JOSEPH WATTERS. 
 
 ^Courtesy, Floyd Co., Ga., 
 Oct. 16, 1850. 
 To Messrs. H. V. M. Miller, Jno. H. 
 Lumpkin and W. T. Price, Union 
 Party Committee : 
 
 Gentlemen : I received your polite 
 note of the 10th inst. yesterday eve- 
 ning, informing me of my unanimous 
 nomination by a large and respectable 
 meeting of the citizens of Floyd Coun- 
 ty as one of the two candidates to 
 represent them at Milledgeville Dec. 
 10. I consent to represent them if I 
 should be elected. 
 
 I am requested by your honorable 
 committee to give a pledge to support 
 the resolutions submitted to me for my 
 consideration. I pledge myself to suu- 
 port no measure leading to a violation 
 of the Constitution of the United 
 States or dissolution of the Union. 
 
 Gentlemen, I have the honor to be 
 your most obedient servant, 
 
 EDWARD WARE. 
 
 Editor Kddleman was a staunch 
 Union man himself, and his views 
 were shared by many, as the fol- 
 lowing- editorial item from the 
 same issue of his paper will show : 
 
 Kivgston Maf<s Mcetivrj. — Let no one 
 forget the gathering of the friends of 
 the Union at Kingston on Nov. S. Am- 
 ple accommodation will be provided for 
 20,000 persons, and we hope to see at 
 least that number in attendance. The 
 noblest fabric of government ever 
 purchased by the blood of patriotism 
 or formed by the wisdom of man is 
 threatened with destruction. Is there 
 public virtue enough in the hearts of 
 
 ♦Supposed to have been located at Six Mile 
 Station, Vann's Valley. 
 
 the people to save it? If the assault 
 were made by a foreign foe, 100,000 
 bayonets in Georgia would bristle in 
 its defense. Shall the enthusiasm be 
 less warm, the determination less firm, 
 to hazard all in its protection, because 
 the enemy is in our midst? 
 
 Come out, then, to the meeting at 
 Kingston, and let us mingle our voices 
 in loud and long huzzas for the glo- 
 rious old government of our ancestors, 
 endeared to us as it is by the remi- 
 niscences of the past, the incalculable 
 blessings of the present and the bright 
 anticipations of the future — spreading 
 before the imagination a career of 
 prosperity, of greatness and grandeur, 
 to which all history affords no parallel. 
 Let us meet and firmly resolve at any 
 cost to maintain it pure and inviolate, 
 as we received it. Come, people of 
 Cherokee Georgia, and partake of the 
 hospitality of your fellow citizens of 
 Cass and Floyd. Come and listen to 
 the eloquence of Stephens, and Cobb, 
 and Toombs, and Andrews, and Petti- 
 grew, and a host of others who are to 
 be there to address you. Come and 
 enjoy a "feast of reason and a flow of 
 soul." Let the wisdom of age be there 
 to moderate and control the fire and 
 impetuosity of youth. Let the pres- 
 ence and the smile of woman, as in 
 every contest of patriotism the world 
 over, be ready to cheer and encourage 
 the hardier sex in the performance of 
 its duty. 
 
 Let no one stay away because of 
 the supposed weakness of our adver- 
 saries. They are more numerous than 
 many suppose. They have talents, 
 courage, cunning and money, and 
 evince a determination to spend them 
 freely in the desperate cause in which 
 they have embarked. Come and show 
 by your spirit and numbers your res- 
 olution to permit no sacrilegious hand 
 to render asunder the Glorious Flag 
 of your Country. It has formed the 
 winding sheet of many of your patriot 
 ancestors. It has been to Americans 
 in every land and on every sea, as far 
 as human foot has trod, the Aegis of 
 Safety. Proudly has it waved over a 
 thousand bloody but victorious battle- 
 fields, and it is for you to say whether 
 it shall be transmitted unsullied to 
 your posterity. Let there be for cen- 
 turies no stain upon it, no erasure; 
 but on its bright field let every STAR 
 and every STRIPE forever shine re- 
 splendently in glorious equality! 
 
 'I'hns were the war clouds as- 
 suming;- shape. The next ten years 
 was to l)e a period of preparation
 
 104 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 ill tliuught and to a considerable 
 extent at its close i)reparation in 
 arms and munitions of war. Some 
 years before this, statesmen and 
 military leaders saw the prospect 
 clearly! In 1844 Lieut. Wm. T. 
 Sherman, just out of West Point, 
 was ordered to go by horseback 
 from Charleston to Marietta to 
 assist in hearing claims of Georgia 
 volunteers in the Seminole War for 
 lost horses and equipment. After 
 finishing at Marietta, he passed 
 through Cass (now Bartow^) 
 Cdunty. and examined the Tumlin 
 Indian mound near Cartersville 
 with Col. Lewds Tumlin ; then pro- 
 ceeded to Bellefonte, Jackson Co., 
 Ala., to continue his duties. He 
 made a thorough study of the 
 country from the military stand- 
 point, especially Kennesaw Moun- 
 tain, Allatoona Pass and the Eto- 
 wah riv^er.* After spending two 
 months at Bellefonte, he returned 
 to Ft. Moultrie, Charleston Har- 
 bor, on horseback via Rome, Alla- 
 
 COL. ALFRED SHORTER, whom William 
 Smith induced to come to Rome from Ala- 
 bama, and who gave Dixie Shorter College. 
 
 toona. Marietta (and Kennesaw), 
 Atlanta, Macon and Augusta, fol- 
 lowing closely parts of the route 
 he took 20 years later on his 
 "March to the' Sea."** 
 
 x\nother distinguished gtiest of 
 Rome who came on a different 
 mission was Jefferson Davis;*** 
 and still another, on Tuesday, Oct. 
 29, 1850, was Col. Albert J. Pick- 
 ett, of Alabama, concerning whose 
 mission the Rome W'eeklv Cotirier 
 of Thursday, Oct. 31. 1850, printed 
 the following notice : 
 
 Col. Pickett On DeSoto's Route. — 
 Col. Albert J. Pickett, of Montgomery, 
 Ala., author of the History of Ala- 
 bama and incidentally of Georgia and 
 Mississippi, entertained a large num- 
 ber of our citizens for two hours Tues- 
 day evening at the courthouse, giving 
 an interesting account of the invasion 
 of Georgia by DeSoto, more than three 
 ctnturies ago. Col. Pickett is in pos- 
 session of a more minute account of 
 this remarkable adventure than any 
 man we have ever seen. Upon the site 
 of our city, he asserted, DeSoto en- 
 camped with 1,000 men for 30 days, 
 during which time a battle was fought 
 between the Spaniards under his com- 
 mand and the Indian tribes then in- 
 habiting this country. Evidences of 
 this battle still exist in the shape of 
 human hones dug out of a mound near 
 the junction of the Etowah and the 
 Oostanaula. 
 
 From 1840 to 1861 Rome grew 
 fast. Tn this period Wm. R. Smith 
 (called "Long l»iH" because he 
 wore his hair in a queue down his 
 back). Col. W^ade S. Cothran and 
 Col. Daniel S. Printup appeared. 
 All engaged in railroad enterprises, 
 and in addition. Col. Printup at- 
 tended to a large law business, and 
 Col. Cothran acc^uired an interest 
 in the steamboat lines, for wdiich 
 Capt. F. M. Coulter had built a 
 number of handsome and service- 
 able boats. 
 
 *Sherman's Memoirs, 1875, Vol. 11. 
 
 **U. S. Senate Documents, Vol. 40, "Sher- 
 man — a Memorial Sketch." 
 
 ***AccordinK to Mrs. Hiram D. Hill, Mr. 
 Davis visited her parents, Col. and Mrs. Danl. R. 
 Mitchell. Mrs. Mitchell was a member of the 
 Mann family, to whose members Mr. Davis was 
 also related. Mr. Davis and Mrs. Mitchell were 
 second cousins, according to Mrs. Hill.
 
 /L 
 
 y
 
 Growth from Village to Town 
 
 107 
 
 The Rome Railroad (originally 
 the Memphis Branch Railroad and 
 Steamboat Company of Georgia) 
 was chartered Dec. 21, 1839, and 
 the whole town turned out several 
 years later when the first train 
 pufifed in from Kingston, 16 miles 
 and a good hour away.* In 1855 the 
 Nobles came from Reading, Pa., to 
 give Rome a decided boost in iron 
 manufactures. The LeHardys ar- 
 rived from Belgium to found their 
 Belgian colony, an experiment 
 which added much to the agricul- 
 tural interest and the social, edu- 
 cational and cultural importance 
 of Rome. Major Chas. H. Smith 
 ("Bill Arp") moved over from 
 Lawrenceville in 1851, and thus 
 Rome accjuired a literary expound- 
 er who could proclaim her glories 
 abroad, a sweet-voiced singer who 
 could put her wonders into type 
 and an artist who could paint her 
 rude characters in the colors of 
 their native abode. 
 
 Rome soon acquired a case of 
 "growing pains." The editors began 
 to call for better things than what 
 Rome had had. The flickering 
 street lamps and the house lamps 
 and candles were an al)omination. 
 An enterprising firm advertised 
 "camphine" as better than any light 
 except the sun ; ten years later, in 
 1860, a local firm started selling 
 machines to make gas out of pine 
 logs. 
 
 In 1850 a volunteer fire company 
 was formed, with a reel that would 
 carry buckets of water. Robt. Bat- 
 tey was president and David G. 
 Love secretary. "Water, water" 
 was everywhere, but there were no 
 pipes to carry it in. and there was 
 no ])um]) to send it into a gravity 
 tank. Luckily, the early fires were 
 usually small, exccjit one in 1858, 
 which took most of the block on 
 the west side of Broad Street be- 
 tween Fourth and Fiftli Avenues. 
 
 The volunteers called for extra ap- 
 paratus, but none was forthcoming 
 for a while. Rome was not to be 
 built in a day. 
 
 Soda water and ice cream ap- 
 peared in 1850, and created a sen- 
 sation. There was no great de- 
 mand for them ; the people needed 
 such money as they had for more 
 urgent necessities ; most of all, per- 
 haps, they were new and untried. 
 In 1860 the druggists attempted to 
 make soda water go again, and 
 gave away quantities to introduce 
 it. The name of it at that time 
 was soda pop. The two drug stores 
 were conducted by Dr. J. D. Dick- 
 erson and Battey & Brother. The 
 senior member of the latter was 
 Dr. Geo. M. Battey, and the junior 
 member Robt. Battey. Dr. Dick- 
 crson not only ran his drug store, 
 but found time to act as the first 
 mayor, which position he filled two 
 terms, until December, 1850, when 
 he retired in favor of Jas. P. Per- 
 kins. Mr. Perkins was followed by 
 Nathan Yarbrough in 1852. Other 
 early mayors, of uncertain date, 
 were Wm. Cook Gautier Johnstone 
 and Jas. M. Sumter. In 1857 Judge 
 
 *JudKe John W. H. Underwood used to say 
 it was the only railroad in the country that a 
 man could ride all day for a dollar. 
 
 MRS. ALFRED SH0RTP:R, lonsr prominent in 
 the work of the 1st Baptist Church, and an 
 able assistant to her remarkable husband.
 
 108 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Robt. D. Harvev was mavor. and 
 in 1859-60 H. A. Gartrell,' lawyer 
 and uncle of Henry W. Grady.* Old 
 newspapers state that Dr. Thos. 
 Jefferson Word was elected mayor 
 in 1861 and succeeded liimself in 
 1862. 
 
 The proprietor of The Courier, 
 an occasional traveler, informed his 
 readers as follows, Jan. 30, 1851 : 
 
 Mail Change. — We are informed by 
 Thos. J. Perry, Esq., postmaster at 
 this city, that he has received a com- 
 munication from the Department at 
 Washington giving assurance of a 
 speedy and salutary change in the 
 transportation of the mail and pas- 
 sengers between this place and Gun- 
 tersville, Ala. A four-horse stage 
 coach will soon take the place of the 
 spring wagon. Very well. 
 
 And he piped this summarizing 
 panegyric to the young city under 
 date of Feb. 5, 1851 : 
 
 Rome, Its Prospects. — It is grati- 
 fying to watch the gradual but certain 
 growth of our young and vigorous city. 
 Buildings of various kinds are rap- 
 idly going up and valuable accessions 
 are being made to our population. 
 Since the completion of the "Rome 
 Railroad," business has steadily in- 
 creased, and under a wise and liberal 
 policy will be largely augmented dur- 
 ing the next few years. If we are not 
 greatly deceived, Rome will double its 
 population of more than 3,000 in the 
 next four years, provided its resources 
 are properly directed and its inter- 
 ests prudently fostered. Its popula- 
 tion with the exception of some 20 or 
 30 very clever doctors and lawyers, 
 (who, we are happy to say, have but 
 little to do), is made up mostly of sub- 
 stantial business men who are per- 
 manently identified with the place and 
 deeply interested in its prosperity and 
 reputation. 
 
 Surrounded by a country of unsur- 
 passed beauty and fertility, occupied 
 by an unusually dense and valuable 
 agricultural population — at the ter- 
 minus of railroad and steamboat 
 transportation — Rome is and must even- 
 continue to be a place of considerable 
 commercial importance. 
 
 We hope before the commencement 
 of another business season we shall be 
 able to record the establishment of a 
 bank in our City.** Such an institu- 
 tion under proper regulations will 
 greatly promote the convenience and 
 
 prosperity of every class of our citi- 
 zens. Our business men should take 
 this matter under immediate consider- 
 ation, or a large and profitable interior 
 trade may be forever diverted from 
 their control. 
 
 "Ye call us a small town?" cpioth 
 Editor Melville Dwinell Mar. 3, 
 1860. "Harken ye!": 
 
 A person living in Middle or Lower 
 Georgia, who has never visited the 
 "Metropolis of Cherokee," has an idea 
 that it is like all other up-country 
 towns, composed of a courthouse in the 
 center of a square, surrounded by two 
 taverns, a variety store, a ten pin al- 
 ley, a blacksmith shop and three gro- 
 ceries. He therefore expresses great 
 surprise on coming to our City for the 
 first time, to discover what an egregi- 
 ous mistake he has made. One eye is 
 opened slightly when he arrives at the 
 depot and beholds those city institu- 
 tions, church steeples, and an omnibus, 
 and by the time his baggage is seized 
 and violently tugged at by zealous 
 drummers, from our two large rival 
 hotels, that eye is wide open. The lids 
 of the other begin to part company, in 
 order to give a better view of the long 
 line of fine brick stores, stretching 
 away up Broad Street, at the head of 
 which, upon an eminence overlooking 
 the city, is the handsome residence of 
 our Ex-M. C.,*** and the imposing 
 building of "Rome Female College." 
 
 At night, when our stores and street 
 are illuminated with gas, the rays of 
 enlightenment begin to shine in upon 
 his benighted mind. 
 
 If he be here on the Sabbath, and is 
 not a "heathen or a publican," he at- 
 tends one of our four churches, and 
 finds it filled with an intelligent and 
 attentive congregation, and hears a 
 sermon that would be listened to with 
 interest and profit by any similar as- 
 sembly in the State. On Monday 
 morning, his curiosity being aroused, 
 he strolls down one side of Broad 
 Street, and up the other to observe the 
 style and extent of our business. While 
 he stands wondering at the number of 
 cotton and produce wagons "coming 
 to town," and our energetic business 
 men hurrying to and fro, if it be a 
 pleasant day, and he an unmarried 
 man, his heart leaps as he hears tiny 
 
 *This list of before-the-war mayors is the 
 completest and most accurate that it has been 
 possible to obtain. 
 
 •''Several small banks of a fly-by-night char- 
 acter had been established and had gone out of 
 business prior to 1851. 
 
 ***Judge John H. Lumpkin.
 
 BARNSLEY GARDENS (Bartow County)— by Lillian Page Coulter
 
 Growth from Village to Town 
 
 111 
 
 heels, (bless their little soles), patter- 
 ing on the pavement behind him. He 
 turns, and his gaze is fixed upon a 
 sweet and intelligent face, just as far 
 in advance of "a dear love of a bon- 
 net" as the most enthusiastic admirer 
 of "beauty when unadorned" could 
 wish. 
 
 If not transfixed, he, like one of 
 Dame Nature's loyal subject.^, obeys 
 her "supreme law," and immediately 
 steps off the sideivalk, to make room 
 for the widest circles of fashion that 
 are "trundling" his way. Drawn ir- 
 resistibly, he follows, and entering one 
 of our many large dry goods houses, 
 he sees several industrious and smil- 
 ing clerks, energetically employed in 
 pulling down and unrolling, and then 
 rolling and putting up again, an ex- 
 tensive assortment of calicoes, bereges, 
 silks, satins, muslins, delaines, etc., 
 etc., to accommodate the fair custom- 
 ers, who throng the counters "only to 
 see the latest spring styles." All doubts 
 that may have been excited by the in- 
 formation that Rome has furnished the 
 last three Congressmen from the Fifth 
 District* are dispelled, and he is 
 "convinced against his will" that we 
 have reached the highest point of civ- 
 ilization. 
 
 But he has yet to learn the impor- 
 tance of Rome, in a business point of 
 view; for although he has iobserved 
 that we have a number of fashionable 
 dry goods establishments, various 
 clothing stores, large grocery houses, 
 three livery stables, two extensive 
 hardware and four drug stores, also 
 one of jewelry, another of crockery and 
 a third of "books and stationery," he 
 is surprised to learn that besides the 
 "college," we have a "Cherokee In- 
 stitute" for boys and girls together, a 
 high school for the former by them- 
 selves, and two or three others, where 
 the younger ideas are just taking aim; 
 that we have two "carriage reposito- 
 ries," where fine buggies and other ve- 
 hicles are made, and that two cabinet 
 shops, with steam motive power, giv- 
 ing employment to about 50 hands, 
 are daily manufacturing on an exten- 
 sive scale neat and durable furniture 
 of the latest and best styles.** 
 
 Upon enquiring the cause of so 
 much blowing and whistling of steam 
 engines, some one of our obliging citi- 
 zens takes his arm and conducts him 
 down to the foundry*** and shows 
 
 *No\v thd seventh. 
 
 **Mayor Sumter conducted one of these. 
 ***Nobles'. 
 
 ****In 1847 it was 3,000. 
 
 *****From the Southerner and Advertiser of 
 alx)ut Aug. 26, 1860. 
 
 him a large number of mechanics 
 busily engaged in the manufacture of 
 machinery of all kinds. 
 
 He is informed that they built the 
 first, and one of the best locomotives 
 in the State, besides numerous engines 
 for mines, mills, steamboats, etc. He 
 is then taken to the "Nonpareil Mills," 
 and sees meal and flour in large quan- 
 tities, ground by machinery, set in mo- 
 tion by one of these same engines. 
 
 He is still unprepared for the most 
 astounding discovery of all. When told 
 that Rome, away up in the northwest 
 corner of the State, surrounded by the 
 mountains of Cherokee, is situated at 
 the confluence of two streams, upon 
 one of which, and upon the river which 
 they form, four steamboats are con- 
 stantly arriving and departing, he 
 smiles and shakes his head incredu- 
 lously. In order to convince him, it is 
 only necessary to take him down to 
 the wharves, and point with honest 
 pride to the floating witnesses. Three 
 of them, he is informed, make weekly 
 trips down the Coosa river, to Greens- 
 port, Ala., and the fourth, three times 
 a week, up the Oostanaula to Calhoun, 
 Gordon County. Each leaves her wharf 
 with a heavy cargo of merchandise, 
 and returns laden with cotton, grain, 
 lumber, etc., etc. 
 
 The "chief among us taking notes," 
 walks thoughtfully away with the con- 
 viction that Rome is "no mean city," 
 and if in the course of a year or two 
 he returns and hoars the "Iron Horse" 
 snorting through Vann's Valley, bring- 
 ing its living freight from Mobile and 
 New Orleans, on their way to the 
 Northern cities, he will find that it is 
 making rapid strides to the position of 
 influence and importance to which the 
 hand of Nature points. 
 
 The Tri-Weekly Courier of .Vti.s: 
 8, 1860, stated that the population 
 of Floyd County in 1840 was 4.441, 
 and presented the following census 
 table ci)mi)arisons :**** 
 
 Year. Whites. Slaves. Free. Total 
 18,50 5,202 2,999 4 8.205 
 
 1860 9,200 5,927 K? 15,233 
 
 James I. Teat, Floyd Comity tax 
 receiver, presented the tolU)\vinj:;' 
 county tax return figures for 1859 
 and 1860:***** 
 
 Number of polls in 1859, 1,651 ; in 
 1860, 1,738— gain, 87. 
 
 Legal voters over 60 years of age, 
 118. 
 
 Total number of voters, 1,856.
 
 112 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Lawyers and physicians in 1859, 57 
 in 1860, 56. 
 
 Free persons of color in 1859, 13 
 in 1860, 16. 
 
 Value of land in 1859, $2,652,003 
 in 1860, $2,807,435. 
 
 Town property in 1859, $446,680; in 
 1860, $537,951. 
 
 Value of slaves in 1859, $4,454,207; 
 in 1860, $3,755,184. 
 
 Amount of money, etc., in 1859, 
 $1,937,849; in 1860, $2,104,490. 
 
 Merchandise in 1859, $309,559; in 
 1860, $340,565. 
 
 Capital in steamboats in 1859, $6,- 
 400; in 1860, $14,910. 
 
 All other capital invested in 1859, 
 $23,776; in 1860, $11,784. 
 
 Household, etc., in 1859, $35,283; in 
 1860, $36,805. 
 
 All other property in 1859, $496,365; 
 in 1860, $524,667. 
 
 Total aggregate, 1859, $9,363,132; 
 in 1860, $10,133,791— total gain, $770,- 
 669. 
 
 Average value of land per acre, 
 $9.30. 
 
 Average value of slaves, $651.70. 
 Number of men over 60 years of age 
 in proportion to polls, 14%.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Views and Events Leading Up to War 
 
 LTHOUGH Floyd had been 
 overwhelmingly a "Union 
 county," her citizens, al- 
 most to a man, were willing 
 to go with the majority in any sit- 
 uation affecting the interests of the 
 South. Thus we see the local sen- 
 timent gradually changing, until 
 in 1860 the anti-secession forces 
 had lost considerable ground. This 
 was brought about in general by 
 the drift of the times, in particular 
 by the abductions of slaves, the 
 propaganda of traveling emissa- 
 ries, and the literary efforts of 
 Northern leaders opposed to 
 slavery. The w^ritings of Wm. 
 Lloyd Garrison, who edited an abo- 
 litionist paper, Harriet Beecher 
 Stowe, author of "Uncle Tom's 
 Cabin," and Hinton Rowan Helper, 
 author of "The Impending Crisis," 
 greatly inflamed sentiment and 
 tended to knit i)nl)]ic opinion more 
 closely. 
 
 The Rome Tri-Weekly Courier 
 gives a good view of some of these 
 influences and the incidents which 
 were the outgrowth of them. Says 
 Capt. Dwinell in The Courier of 
 Jan. 10, 1860: 
 
 Loolc Out For Him.— The Knoxville 
 Whig gives the following description 
 of an abolition emissary who, it says, 
 intends "spending the winter at the 
 South." His ostensible business seems 
 to be selling and putting up gas burn- 
 ers, and as Rome will very soon have 
 need of such articles, he may honor 
 us with a visit. 
 
 He is about 23 or 25 years of age, 
 weighs about 135, has light hair, sort 
 of gray> or blue eyes; his height is 
 about 5 feet, 6 inches; he is fond of 
 music, is a scientific fiddler; goes about 
 as an agent for gas burners; is an in- 
 cessant talker; is well informed for a 
 man of his age, talks up freely on all 
 subjects. Has letters addressed to 
 him at different points, sometimes Jolm 
 
 *John Brown ; hanged Dec. 2, 1S59, at Charles- 
 town, Va., for raid on Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Jenkins, at other times to J. P. Jen- 
 kins, and again to J. W. P. Jenkins. 
 
 The Whig says he spent some time 
 in Jacksboro, Tenn., and on his return 
 to his home, Brooklyn, N. Y., he wrote 
 a long letter on the subject of slavei-y 
 to a citizen of the former place. We 
 subjoin an extract, and hope a strict 
 watch may be kept for him: 
 
 "Depend upon it, when Brown* dies, 
 the ghost will haunt many that may 
 gloat upon the sight, or imaginary one 
 of Brown and his party, as they see 
 them dangling on the scaffold paying 
 their desire of revenge! And ere long 
 there will be a howling in their ears, 
 with thunder tones the snappings and 
 crackings of those long-forged chains, 
 until they awake as from a dream at 
 last, in which they shall see their folly 
 in having executed men for their feel- 
 ings of iDcnevolence. 
 
 "I see that the institution is getting 
 very sick. It has the ague in its worst 
 form in Virginia. It has the consump- 
 tion, and almost a galloping one, in 
 Missouri. So it has in portions of Ken- 
 tucky and many parts of the South. 
 The seeds of discontent are being 
 sowed broadcast, even to the most re- 
 mote regions. Not through the in- 
 fluence of emissaries from the North 
 particularly, but by the force of the 
 power of emigration and civilization." 
 
 There are too many of these scoun- 
 drels prowling about through the 
 Southern states. Their object is the 
 same as is proclaimed in the "Impend- 
 ing Crisis," and attempted to be car- 
 ried out by John Brown and his con- 
 federates—emancipation of our slaves 
 — attended by murder, arson and all 
 that is terrible and revolting in a ser- 
 vile war. We are no advocates of mob 
 law, but we believe in the first law of 
 nature, and in such instances as these, 
 freciuently our only safety is in sum- 
 mary proceedings. 
 
 We learn from the Atlanta i)aper9 
 that last week in that city one of these 
 vile incendiaries, named Newcomb, a 
 clerk in a dry goods house, drank a 
 toast to the health of John Brown, and 
 eulogized his character. He was al- 
 lowed to escape without just punish- 
 ment for his temerity. We are op- 
 posed to rashness and precipitancy in 
 such cases, but when guilt is fully es- 
 tablished, these fellows should hv dealt
 
 114 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 with in such manner as will cause them 
 to remember the lesson the balance of 
 their days, and enable them to recite 
 it with earnestness and eloquence to 
 such of their friends as may seem in- 
 clined to embark on similar enter- 
 prises. 
 
 The Impendmg Crisis. — We find the 
 subjoined extract from this notorious 
 book in one of our exchanp,-es. South- 
 erners can infer from it the purpose 
 and character of the work : 
 
 "So it seems that the total number 
 of actual slave owners, including their 
 entire crew of cringing lick-spittles, 
 against whom we have to contend, is 
 but 347,525. Against the army for the 
 defense and propagation of slavery, we 
 think it will be an easy matter — in- 
 dependent of the negroes, who in nine 
 cases out of ten would be delighted 
 with an opportunity to cut their mas- 
 ters' throats, and without accepting a 
 single recruit from the free states, Eng- 
 land, France or Germany — to mus- 
 ter one at least three times as large 
 and far more respectable, for its utter 
 extinction. We are determined to abol- 
 ish slavery at all hazards — in defiance 
 of all opposition of whatever nature, 
 which it is possible for the slaveocrats 
 to muster against us. Of this they 
 
 CAPT. MELVILLE DWINELL, native of Ver- 
 mont, bachelor and noted Rome newspaper 
 editor, who gave Henry Grady his first "job." 
 
 may take due notice, and then govern 
 themselves accordingly." 
 
 It is nothing more nor less than a 
 declaration of war against the South 
 and her institutions, in which we are 
 warned to "take due notice" that our 
 slaves will be given the opportunity 
 of cutting our throats. And this trea- 
 sonable document is recommended by 
 68 Northern men, including Congress- 
 men, Governors and clergymen. It is 
 endorsed by leaders of the Black Re- 
 publican party, among them John 
 Sherman, of Ohio, their speaker of the 
 House of Representatives ; Wm. H. 
 Seward.* Senator from New York, 
 says of it: 
 
 "I have read 'The Impending Crisis' 
 with deep attention. It seems to me 
 a work of information and logical anal- 
 ysis." 
 
 And Mr. Seward will in all proba- 
 bility be the candidate of his party for 
 the presidency. These facts will do for 
 Southerners to ponder well. 
 
 The Courier of Jan. 19. 186C, re- 
 prodticed the following from the 
 Montgomer}' Mail as embodying 
 its own sentiments: 
 
 Somefhivg, Something, Anything! — 
 Now that the state convention of the 
 dominant party has adjourned, the gen- 
 eral hope is that the Legislature will 
 do something — anything — by way of 
 preparing to meet the requirements of 
 the war that is almost upon us. Let 
 no man accuse us of disunion purposes. 
 The question is not, will not be, left 
 to the South for decision. The forces 
 of Abolition intend to leave us no op- 
 tion but to fight for our firesides, or 
 do as cowards do. As they moved at 
 Harper's Ferry, so they are prepar- 
 ing to move all over the South. Plots 
 have already been detected and stifled 
 in Missouri. "Irrepressible Conflict" 
 means the knife at your throat and 
 the torch at your house, reader, and 
 both at the dead of night. Whenever 
 you take up and drive off^ an Abolition- 
 ist fi'om your neighborhood, he goes 
 to the next county, and another takes 
 Ins place. The dead ones cease to act. 
 
 The following of Jan. 24, 1860. 
 illustrates a habit of traveling 
 salesmen from the North : 
 
 The Latest Dodge. — The Yankees are 
 never at a loss for expedients. During 
 this "impending crisis" they have se- 
 
 *Mr. Seward became Lincoln's Secretary of 
 War. As a young man ne taught school a 
 while at Milledgeville.
 
 Views and'^Events Leading up to War 
 
 115 
 
 ■'-r^^.^i.^i^^ 
 
 
 :mm. 
 
 A PAGE DEDICATED TO THE HORSE. 
 
 as a^'res'^Ht^ o?^h*l°"''' '""Z '''^ "'-/«V«^d predecessor, the ox. might become practically extinct 
 pfctures herewith ^ "?\ "'• '^^ ^^ton^obile and the flying machine, we present these 
 
 livin/ till in th. H °"r """^'•'"t'"" t° the perpetuation of his fame. No doubt men now 
 on'e^ode one of thos""'""' ""'"' °"* *° *''"'' '*'"''''^" ^"""^ '"''''■ "'^'' '""^ ^^•"^'■'^- "'
 
 116 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 cured a large amount of Southern cus- 
 tom by sending out their drummers 
 dressed in homespun! The ruse pays, 
 and as drummers are generally expect- 
 ed to be an accommodating set, per- 
 fectly free and perfectly persuasive, 
 they never lose an opportunity to talk 
 humorously conservative, as if the po- 
 litical hubbub now rampant was all a 
 meaningless fudge, and the North and 
 the South are as firmly linked as ever. 
 But yet, when a serious discussion 
 arises they are intensely Southern, and 
 their homespun is proof positive! — 
 Petersburg Express. 
 
 The Courier of Jan. 26, 1860, ap- 
 prizes us of an attack on "The Im- 
 pending- Crisis" from the floor of 
 tlie House by a Roman :* 
 
 The following is an extract from the 
 speech of the Hon. John W. H. Under- 
 wood, of Rome, in the House of Rep- 
 resentatives, Washington, on the 16th 
 inst. It places John Sherman's rela- 
 tion to the Helper book in a new and 
 strong light: "Mr. Clerk, when we as- 
 sembled in this hall on the first Mon- 
 day in December last, we found upon 
 the floor of this House 40 members who 
 had 'cordially endorsed' Helper's 'Im- 
 pending Crisis of the South,' a book 
 which proposes arson, murder, rapine, 
 insurrection and servile war. Among 
 the signers of that 'coidial endorse- 
 ment' is the honorable gentleman from 
 Ohio, Mr. Sherman, the candidate of 
 the Black Republican party for speak- 
 er. .. . That man Helper, 
 some months prior to this 'cordial en- 
 dorsement,' was exposed by the honor- 
 able Senator from North Carolina in 
 the Senate, and denounced as a thief, 
 and this was put into the records of 
 Congress; and not only that, this same 
 Helper assaulted a member of this 
 House (Mr. Craige, of North Caro- 
 lina) in his seat, about this same work; 
 and I respectfully submit, the hon- 
 orable gentleman from Ohio was too 
 careless, too unmindful of public events 
 when he endorsed this author's work 
 without knowing the contents of the 
 book. Sir, if ever there was a clear 
 case of criminal negligence, this is the 
 one, if it were a crime to endorse cor- 
 dially that Helper work!" 
 
 Judg^e Underwood shortly passed 
 throu.g'h Athmta : 
 
 We find the following in the 
 Atlanta Intelligencer and cheer- 
 fully transfer it to our columns as a 
 merited compliment to our immediate 
 representative and fellow townsman. 
 
 We commend the concluding paragraph 
 J to the consideration of the Floyd Cav- 
 alry, "quorum ille magna pars," and 
 also to those interested in the organi- 
 zation of the new foot company: 
 
 "Hon. John W. H. Underwood, the 
 representative of the Fifth Congires- 
 sional District, passed through our city 
 yesterday morning. He was looking 
 in fine plight, and so far as looks are 
 concerned, is an ornament to the Geor- 
 gia delegation in CongTess. But he has 
 mental ability as well as looks. More- 
 over, we find from his conversation that 
 he is fired up with a just sense of 
 the perils impending over the South. 
 He is in favor of arming the South, 
 and advocates on the part of Georgia 
 a preparation to meet the 'irrepressi- 
 ble conflict' which he says must sooner 
 or later come upon us. We cordially 
 respond to his recommendation. Let 
 the State of Geoirgia arm her military 
 forces, encourage volunteer companies, ' 
 provide arms and ammunition, and in 
 times of peace prepare for war. This 
 is what prudence demands. We are 
 for peace as long as we can preserve 
 our rights by adherence to it, but when 
 forbearance ceases to be a virtue, we 
 say let the fight come on. We have no 
 fears of the final result of such a con- 
 flict."— Courier, Feb. 9, 1860. 
 
 While the polemics of stump and 
 I^rinting- press were raging, the 
 boys were busy currying their 
 mounts and polishing their old 
 squirrel guns : 
 
 Floyd Cavalry — An Infantry Corps. 
 — The Floyd Cavalry, under command 
 of Capt. W. S. Cothran, paraded in 
 our streets on Saturday. We are glad 
 to see that notwithstanding the dis- 
 couragements this company have met 
 with, they have persevered in their de- 
 termination to succeed. Their ranks 
 were not very full, but we hope the 
 election of Col. Cothran to the cap- 
 taincy will excite additional zeal. We 
 a're rejoiced to learn that an infantry 
 company is about being organized in 
 this place. 
 
 We call the attention of all the citi- 
 zens interested in the safety of the 
 country to the fact. In the name of 
 patriotism and in view of the exigen- 
 cies of the times we entreat them to 
 render all the aid they can. The spies 
 sent out by the Abolition leaders of 
 the North to pry into the conditions of 
 our military system speak in the most 
 
 *Since this was launched a week before the 
 Georgia delegation left Congress, quite likely 
 it was Judge Underwood's parting shot.
 
 Views and Events Leading up to War 
 
 117 
 
 contemptuous terms of them. They 
 have doubtless thereby been embolden- 
 ed in their attacks upon our rights. 
 An ample preparation for the worst is 
 the surest way to avert it. Let us not. 
 be behind the rest of the state in the 
 work, but let us place these two com- 
 panies in a position second to none. — 
 Courier, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 1860. 
 
 Failure to recognize the South 
 as the "white man's country" 
 caused keen embarrassment to a 
 .sojourner in Rome, as told vmder 
 date of Feb. 9, 1860: 
 
 An Excitement. — An individual who 
 claimed to be a drummer for a New 
 York house arrived here from Mari- 
 etta Tuesday afternoon. He was un- 
 derstood by passengers on the car to 
 utter heretical sentiments on the sub- 
 ject of negro equality; and upon in- 
 formation being given to this effect to 
 some of our citizens, he was waited 
 upon and none too politely requested 
 t(t leave. He seemed to be very earn- 
 estly desirous of complying immediate- 
 ly, but was left by the evening train 
 and compelled to wait over until yes- 
 terday. At one time he was in im- 
 mediate danger of being roughly 
 treated, and was so badly scared that 
 he was heard to express a preference 
 for a climate usually considered much 
 warmer than the tropics. He evidently 
 thought Rome too hot for him! 
 
 It is a most astonishing thing to us 
 that a Northern man at this juncture 
 will permit an anti-slavery opinion to 
 escape his lips in the South. They must 
 be most stupid folks if they cannot 
 learn under the experience of such 
 teachings as they have had. 
 
 This incident suggested to the 
 citizens of Rome a mass meeting 
 two days later to pass resolutions 
 outlawing Northern-made goods. 
 The Courier account and its edito- 
 rial comment of Saturday, Feb. 11, 
 1860, are herewith presented: 
 
 Non-Interconrse Meeting. — In an- 
 other column we publish the proceed- 
 ings of this meeting held in the City 
 Hall on last Thursday. It is an impor- 
 tant step in the onward march of the 
 South to independence and greatness. 
 Now the question arises, do 
 we intend to abide by these resolu- 
 tions? Or will the persons, compris- 
 ing a large number of our wealthiest 
 and most intelligent citizens, who 
 adopted them with such unanimity, 
 utterly disregard them, as was inti- 
 
 mated in the meeting, whenever they 
 can save a few dimes by giving the 
 preference in the purchase of thein 
 goods to those merchants who may 
 bring them from the North? If so, the 
 whole affair will be a most absurd fail- 
 ui-e, a ridiculous farce. We have 
 greater confidence in the sincerity and 
 the self-sacrificing patriotism of the 
 people of Floyd County than to enter- 
 tain such a thought for a moment. 
 
 Citizens' Non»Intercourse Meeting. — 
 Pursuant to a call from a committee 
 made up of W. S. Cothran, J. H. Lump- 
 kin, J. R. Freeman, J. M. Spullock, W. 
 A. Fort, C. H. Smith, J. B. Underwood, 
 F. C. Shropshire, Alfred Shorter, Dr. 
 J. King, T. W. Alexander, Dr. T. J. 
 Word, Thos. G. Watters and J. H. Mc- 
 Clung, a portion of the citizens of 
 Floyd County met at 11 o'clock at the 
 City Hall, and on motion of Dr. Alvin 
 Dean, his honor the mayor, Henry A. 
 Gartrell, was called to the chair. The 
 chairman then stated the object of the 
 meeting to be to assert our Commer- 
 cial Independence of the North. On 
 motion of Hon. J. W. H. Underwood. 
 Dr. Alvin Dean and Col. Jos. Watters 
 were named vice-presidents, and J. W. 
 Wofford and Geo. T. Stovall were re- 
 
 MAJOR and MRS. CHAS. H. SMITH— "Bill 
 Arp's" "open letter to Abe Linkhorn" in 
 April, 1861, proved a sensation in the South.
 
 118 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 quested to act as secretaries. The 
 chairman appointed the following to 
 act as a steering committee: Thos. E. 
 Williamson, D. B. Hamilton, F. C. 
 Shropshire, J. R. Freeman, Green T. 
 Cunningham, J. F. Hoskinson, B. F. 
 Hooper, J. P. Holt, Jos. Ford, C. P. 
 Dean and B. F. Payne. 
 
 While the committee were out, Col. 
 Underwood set forth in an able and 
 eloquent speech the relations existing 
 between the two sections of the coun- 
 try — the aggressive and unconstitu- 
 tional policy of the North on the one 
 hand and the degrading dependence of 
 the South on the other, and earnestly 
 urged upon those present the duty and 
 importance of throwing off the finan- 
 cial shackles by which the South is 
 bound. 
 
 The following resolutions were 
 passed: 
 
 "Resolved, first. That the merchants 
 and mechanics of this city and county 
 be requested to patronize Southern 
 manufacturers. Southern markets and 
 direct importations to Southern ports, 
 to the exclusion of all others. 
 
 "Resolved, second. That in the pur- 
 chase of our dry goods, groceries, hard- 
 ware and other merchandi.se we will 
 support and sustain those who comply 
 with the foregoing resolutions. 
 
 "Resolved, third. That while we have 
 an abiding confidence in the patriotism 
 and fidelity of some of our Northern 
 friends, yet duty to the South requires 
 that we should stand to and abide by 
 the foregoing resolutions until the 
 Northern states demonstrate at the bal- 
 lot box their fidelity to the Constitu- 
 tion and the laws, by driving from our 
 national councils the leaders of that 
 demoniac crew known as the Black Re- 
 publican party, and by repealing all 
 their local laws which militate against 
 the common Constitution of our coun- 
 try. 
 
 "Reso/ved, fourth. That the people 
 of the whole country, irrespective of 
 party affiliation, are requested to meet 
 at the City Hall on the first Tuesday in 
 March, next, for the purpose of ratify- 
 ing the foregoing resolutions." 
 
 The resolutions were adopted with 
 only one dissenting vote. Mr. C. H. 
 Smith then offered the following res- 
 olution: 
 
 "Resolved, That all persons who 
 voted for the foregoing resolutions sign 
 the same." 
 
 Unanimously cai-ried. Messrs. W. 
 B. Terhune, R'. D. Harvey, G. S. Black, 
 H. Allen Smith, F. C. Shropshire, T. 
 
 E. Williamson and J. W. H. Undei-- 
 wood had discussed certain features of 
 the matter. Meeting then adjourned 
 after thanking the officers. 
 
 On Thursday, May 10, 1860, Capt. 
 Dwinell sounded this warning, 
 which, by the way, was highly 
 prophetic of 1922 : 
 
 There has, perhaps, been no time 
 since the organization of our govern- 
 ment when the public mind has been 
 so completely in confusion as it now is 
 throughout this section of the country. 
 The great party that has for years 
 claimed to be the only national one in 
 existence is disrupted and thousands 
 of its members now stand aghast, in 
 confused amazement and know not 
 what to do. A fearful struggle be- 
 tween love of party and patriotism is 
 going on in their breasts, and cow- 
 ardly demagogues with timid haste and 
 pale-faced alarm are clambering up on 
 the neutral fences and getting ready 
 at the first safe moment to jump to 
 the stronger side. The people should 
 mark these miscreant polti'oons who 
 now with cringing cowardice sneak be- 
 hind; they will soon appear upon the 
 side of the majority and ask to be made 
 leaders of the victorious hosts. 
 
 A fearful responsibility now rests 
 upon the shoulders of every citizen of 
 the South. Political parties are to a 
 great extent broken up and disorgan- 
 ized and every individual now has to 
 advise himself without the aid of po- 
 litical leaders. Under these circum- 
 stances every man should be cautious 
 and prudent, but unwaveringly deter- 
 mined to do right and perform his 
 duty whatever that may be. Old party 
 names and distinctions should be 
 thrown to the dogs, and, actuated by 
 pure patriotism, all men should buckle 
 on their armour and volunteer to fight 
 for our unmistakable constitutional 
 rights and the permanent prosperity 
 of our most sacred institutions. 
 
 In these times of political excite- 
 ment there is danger that the people, 
 being exasperated, may be carried to 
 extremes; therefore be on your guard, 
 and "let all the ends thou aimest at be 
 thy country's, God's, and truth's." Bear 
 in mind that you are now at least com- 
 pletely untrammelled, and it is your 
 most imperative duty, with patriotic 
 zeal, boldly to contend for justice and 
 the rights of your section. Think not 
 too much of "choosing between evils," 
 but rather make a determined choice 
 between right and wrong. "If the Lord 
 be God, serve Him, if Baal, serve him."
 
 Views and Events Leading up to War 
 
 119
 
 120 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 The election of President of the 
 United States was to be held Tues- 
 day, Nov. 6, 1860. The tickets in 
 the field were Abraham Lincoln, of 
 Illinois, and Hannibal Hamlin, of 
 Maine, nominated by the Repub- 
 licans, or "Black Republicans," as 
 they were called at the South ; 
 Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, and 
 Herschel \'. Johnson, of Georgia, 
 put forward by the "Squatter Sov- 
 ereignty"* hosts ; Jno. C. Breckin- 
 ridge, of Kentucky, and Jos. Lane, 
 of Indiana (a native of Buncombe 
 County, N. C), running on the 
 American or "Know Nothing" plat- 
 form ; and John Bell,** of Tennes- 
 see, and Edward Everett, of Mass- 
 achusetts, representing the Consti- 
 tutional Union party.*** 
 
 The Courier supported Bell and 
 Everett and carried Floyd County 
 for them ; the rival newspaper, the 
 Southern & Advertiser, backed 
 Breckinridge and Lane and got 
 them second place. Douglas and 
 Johnson were a poor third; they 
 split the Democratic vote of the 
 United States with Breckinridge 
 and Lane, else Lincoln might have 
 been defeated. 
 
 On Monday, Apr. 23, 1860, the 
 various factions held a national 
 convention at Charleston, S. C. 
 This proved to be a hot session for 
 the delegates; the disunionists 
 \vithdrew, and it was voted to ad- 
 journ the convention to Baltimore 
 Md., for June 18, 1860. Editor 
 Dwmell attended the Charleston 
 meeting, and sent back to his read- 
 ers some vivid accounts of the tur- 
 nioil and strife. 
 
 The Romans, always ready with 
 mass meetings and resolutions, met 
 Tuesday, May 3, 1860, to adopt a 
 policy. Here is an account of the 
 proceedings, as presented in The 
 Courier of two days later : 
 
 Democratic Meeting. — We publish 
 in another column the resolutions 
 adopted by the Democratic party of 
 Floyd County on last Tuesday. They 
 fully sustain the seceders from the 
 
 Charleston Convention and deal a 
 death blow to Squatter Sovereignty in 
 this county. 
 
 F. C. Shropshire, Esq., offered a 
 substitute, according honesty and pa- 
 triotic motives to the seceders, but re- 
 fusing to say whether they acted right 
 or wrong. Hon. J. H. Lumpkin re- 
 viewed the history of the party for 
 four years past; from the adoption of 
 the Cincinnati platform to the deser- 
 tion of Douglas ; from the rise of 
 Squatter Sovereignty to the adjourn- 
 ment of the Charleston Convention. He 
 gave a succinct, clear and correct re- 
 cital of the action of this body; the de- 
 termination of Judge Douglas' friends, 
 the enemies of the South, to force him 
 upon us, and repudiate the Constitu- 
 tional rights of the South so clearly 
 defined by the Supreme Court, and pre- 
 sented in the majority platform by 
 seventeen Democratic States — fifteen 
 of which were slave states. He showed 
 that no course was left for Southern 
 men who respected the rights and 
 equality of their section but to with- 
 draw from the Squatters. 
 
 Mr. Shropshire followed in support 
 of his resolutions. He exhorted Dem- 
 ocrats to harmonize. He told them 
 that the party had been pledged since 
 1847 to abide by the principles of non- 
 intervention by Congress with slavery 
 in any way, and they should be faithful 
 to their pledge, and stand by their 
 Northern friends who had stood by 
 them. He wound up with a most af- 
 fecting appeal. He assured them the 
 party would be ruined unless there was 
 a compromise; he begged his friends 
 opposed to him to yield a little — just a 
 little — and the great Democratic party 
 would once more unfurl its proud ban- 
 ner, etc., etc. 
 
 W. B. Terhune, Esq., made a few 
 pointed remai-ks in favor of the ma- 
 jority report; read the resolution 
 adopted by the December convention; 
 said the seceding delegates had acted 
 in accordance with the principles there- 
 in laid down and they should be sus- 
 tained by the party. He moved to lay 
 Mr. Shropshire's substitute on the ta- 
 ble, which was carried by an over- 
 whelming vote. 
 
 *According to Avery's History of Georgia, 
 p. 103, the "squatter sovereignty doctrine 
 claimed the right of territorial legislatures to 
 determine the question of slavery in the terri- 
 tories." 
 
 **As a member of Congress in 1835, Mr. Bell 
 was requested by John Ross to call for an in- 
 vestigation of the arrest of Ross and John 
 Howard Payne by the Georgia Guard. 
 
 ***It appears from this line-up that a delib- 
 erate effort was made to split the vote of the 
 South and throw the plum to Lincoln.
 
 Views and Events Leading up to War 
 
 121 
 
 The report of the committee was 
 then adopted with only four or five 
 dissenting voices. 
 
 We observed the same distinction 
 between the speeches of Messrs. Lump- 
 kin and Terhune on one side and Mr. 
 Shropshire on the other, which char- 
 acterized the debate in the Charleston 
 convention and the letters of distin- 
 guished Democrats in reply to the Ma- 
 con committee. 
 
 The two former spoke for principle, 
 for the Constitution and Southern 
 equality, while the latter spoke for 
 party and nothing but party. 
 
 Resolutions Adopted. — First. That 
 the protection of all the rights, both 
 of person and property of all citizens, 
 is the sole legitimate purpose for which 
 Grovernments are instituted. 
 
 Second. That the Federal Govern- 
 ment of the States of the Union is 
 bound, to the full extent of the powers 
 delegated to it by them, to protect all 
 citizens of all the states, in all 
 their rights of person and property, 
 everywhere, and more especially upon 
 the public domain, their common prop- 
 erty. 
 
 Third. That a large and increasing 
 majority of the people, under the 
 name of Black Republicans, of the 
 Eastern, Middle and Northwestern 
 States, are striving to get control of 
 the Federal Government, with the 
 avowed purpose of withholding this 
 protection from more than three thous- 
 and 7nillions of Southern property, and 
 of thus putting this property in a state 
 of outlawry, in a government which 
 derives from it more than two-thirds of 
 all its revenues. 
 
 Fourth. That, therefore, the demand 
 made by the Southern delegates to the 
 Charleston convention of a distinct 
 recognition of the equal right of South- 
 ern citizens and property to protection 
 by the Common Government, upo(n 
 common soil, was highly expedient, 
 reasonable and just. 
 
 Fifth. That the obstinate refusal of 
 the delegations from the sixteen States 
 now under the control of the Black 
 Republicans, to make this recognition, 
 demanded by the seventeen Democratic 
 States of the Union, and recognized 
 as just by many individual delegates 
 from all the States, gives painful evi- 
 rip.ric.e that a majority of those delegy 
 tions already sympathize with the 
 Black Republicans in their unrelenting 
 hostility to our Constitutional rights. 
 
 Sixth. That the withdrawal of a 
 large portion of the Southern delegates 
 from the convention upon this une- 
 
 quivocal manifestation of sectional 
 hostility to our rights was tvise, manly 
 and patriotic, and entitles them to the 
 thanks of the tvhole Southern people. 
 
 Seventh. That we will appear by our 
 delegates in the convention, to be' held 
 at Milledgeville, on the 4th day of June 
 next, to deliberate upon the course to 
 be pursued by the Democratic party of 
 Georgia, in the present condition of po- 
 litical affairs. 
 
 Eighth. That if a majority of that 
 convention shall deem it expedient that 
 Georgia should be represented at the 
 adjourned meeting of the Charleston 
 convention, to take place at Baltimore, 
 on the 18th of June next, we will con- 
 sent to it for the sake of harmony, but 
 upon the express condition that we will 
 not be bound by the action of that 
 body unless it shall give its assent in 
 sincerity of purpose and good faith to 
 the principles contended for by the 
 Democratic states at Charleston, and 
 give us in addition a sound candidate. 
 
 The lightning-rod salesman was 
 another "gentleman from the 
 North" for whom Floyd County 
 citizens kept peeled an eager eye. 
 The Courier of Aug. 30, 1860, stat- 
 ed that a correspondent of The Sa- 
 vannah News, writing under date 
 of Aug. 10 from the Steamship 
 Montgomery, declared a man on 
 board by the name of John Owens, 
 of Erie County, N. Y., who had been 
 putting up lightning rods in Geor- 
 gia and West Florida, had asserted 
 that John Brown died in a good 
 cause, and he (Owens) would be 
 \villing- to lay down his life for the 
 same ; also that he announced his 
 intention of returning to the South. 
 
 "Last year a man by the name 
 of Owens, selling patent lightning 
 rods, passed through this county 
 and met with considerable success," 
 continued The Courier. "He had 
 much to say against abolitionists, 
 wdiich was a suspicious circum- 
 stance. Let us be on the watch for 
 him, and when he returns, have an 
 investigation, ^^'ill not The Savan- 
 na li News olitain from its corre- 
 spondent a description of John 
 Owens, in order that he may be 
 identified on his return?"
 
 122 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 MINIATURE PORTRAITS OF TWO 'OLD TIMERS." 
 
 Dr. and Mrs. Jno. Wesley Connor, the parents of Prof. W. O. Connor, of Cave Spring. 
 Mrs. Connor was Henrietta Mayson, of Ninety-Six, S. C. As a girl she met Gen. LaFayette, 
 who pronounced her the prettiest young lady he had seen in America. She lies buried in 
 the Cave Spring cemetery. 
 
 A "Lincoln defeat" was seen by 
 The Courier of Thursday, Sept. 1, 
 1860: 
 
 Lincoln's Defeat Certain. — Hereto- 
 fore we had little hope that the Black 
 Republican candidate could be defeat- 
 ed. With the opponents of that party 
 divided and belligerent we saw no pos- 
 sible chance to avoid the disgrace of a 
 Black Republican Administration. But 
 our fears have vanished, for the defeat 
 of Lincoln is now fixed. 
 
 The Rome Light Guards received 
 their caps by July 4, 1860, and by 
 Sept. 22, 1860, one of the l)rilliant 
 sample uniforms appeared. This 
 uniform was of blue cloth, scarlet 
 fimmings and gold buttons, and 
 made the boys of the other com- 
 panies extremely envious of the 
 wearers. 
 
 The desire of the political lead- 
 ers for the Cherokee Georgia vote 
 was emphasized in the autumn of 
 1860 by the appearance in Rome of 
 some of the "biggest guns" in the 
 state and section. No such an ar- 
 
 ray of orators has ever declaimed 
 against Rome's mountain slopes. 
 
 On Thursday, Sept. 20, 1860, 
 Wm. L. Yancey, of Alabama, whose 
 speeches did as much as any other 
 agency to stir the war spirit in 
 the South, spoke at Kingston, and 
 a large crowd of Romans went on 
 a Rome Railroad excursion to hear 
 him. 
 
 On Thursday, Sept. 27, 1860, Sen- 
 ator Alfred Iverson, of Columbus, 
 addressed a crowd at the City Hall. 
 Alexander H. Stephens sat on the 
 platform at this meeting, but de- 
 clined to make a speech. He spoke 
 on the day following at a barbecue 
 at Floyd Springs, after an intro- 
 duction by Judge Augustus R. 
 Wright. 
 
 On Saturday, Sept. 29, 1860, Benj. 
 H. Hill spoke at Sloan, Berry & 
 Company's warehouse. On Mon- 
 day. Oct. 22, 1860, Mr. Hill spoke 
 again. On this latter occasion he 
 was proceeding to Cedartown to
 
 Views and Events Leading up to War 
 
 123 
 
 assist in the defence of Col. J. J. 
 Morrison, charged before the Polk 
 Superior Court with kilHng Thos. 
 W. Chisohn on the day of the last 
 general election. 
 
 On Monday, Oct. 29, 1860, Steph- 
 en A. Douglas ("The Little Gen- 
 eral"), spoke for his presidential 
 ticket at Kingston, and was heard 
 by many from Rome. 
 
 The county was on the brink of 
 the war precipice, ready for a head- 
 long tumble in. 
 
 From the Tri-Weekly Courier 
 of Tuesday morning, Dec. 4, 1860, 
 we quote to illustrate the rising 
 war sentiment : 
 
 "Georgia's Only Hope of Safety Is in 
 Secession.'' — A large portion of this 
 paper is devoted to an extract from a 
 letter with the above heading. We 
 publish this instead of the speech of 
 Judge Benning, believing that it pre- 
 sents a clearer and stronger argument 
 in favor of secession than the speech 
 alluded to. In the statement of our 
 grievances the writer makes out a very, 
 very strong case and proves very con- 
 clusively — what we believe most peo- 
 ple are ready to admit — that Georgia 
 ought to resist abolition encroachmerits. 
 
 Our Legislature in calling the con- 
 vention state that fact and we have 
 heard no man deny it; and the appro- 
 priation of a million of dollars, which 
 everybody favors, confirms the pur- 
 pose of a firm, deterfuhied resistance 
 on the part of Georgia. Now, if we 
 admit what the writer's argument 
 seems to imply, viz: that the entire 
 North is irredeemably demoralized and 
 not at all worthy to be trusted, then 
 how is it that separate State action is 
 to be more effectual against them than 
 the united strength of all the parties 
 aggrieved by their hostility? We are 
 as much in favor of )-esista}ice as this 
 letter writer or any one else, but for 
 our life we can see no sense in each 
 one of the fifteen States that have been 
 aggrieved, setting up a separate and 
 independent viode of retaliation; nor 
 any propriety in separately running 
 heiter skelter from the common enemy. 
 
 As the matter now stands, the entire 
 South is arraigned in solid columns 
 against the North. There are fifteen 
 independent brigades on our side and 
 eighteen of the enemy. The enemy 
 have been practicing a garilla warfare 
 upon us until "forbearance has ceased 
 
 to be a virtue," and now along our en- 
 tire lines there is such a state of con- 
 sternation and excitement as was never 
 before witnessed in trying to deter- 
 mine "what shall be done." Two or 
 three brigades seem determined, re- 
 gardless of the action of the others, to 
 break ranks and retreat immediately. 
 Nearly every brigade has called a coun- 
 cil of war, while all are arming them- 
 selves for a fight. 
 
 What say you, men of the Georgia 
 brigade? Will you retreat at once, and 
 without even consulting the other brig- 
 ades of this great army — those that 
 have protected your right and left 
 wings, that have been your "front 
 guard and rear ward" during a cam- 
 paign of 84 years? Most surely you 
 will not. The generous bravery that 
 swells the bosoms of Georgia's noble 
 sons would not allow them to be 
 treacherous to an enemy; then how 
 niuch less to true and long tried 
 friends. 
 
 This vexed slavery question must 
 and will be speedily settled, in some 
 way or another. But whatever is done, 
 let us not have a divided South. "A 
 house divided against itself cannot 
 stand." 
 
 Floyd County Meeting. — The follow- 
 ing are the resolutions passed in the 
 
 i^H>^ 
 
 HISHOP THOMAS FIEI.DINC SCOTT, of Ma- 
 rietta, who was the leadinK light in the es- 
 tablishment of St. Peter's Episcopal church.
 
 124 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 meeting of citizens at the City Hall, 
 on Monday the 3rd instant: 
 
 Resolved, That the time has arrived 
 when it becomes the duty of every 
 friend of Georgia to discard partizan 
 feelings and purposes, and unite in an 
 earnest effort to maintain her rights, 
 secure her liberties, and vindicate her 
 honor. 
 
 Resolved, That this Union of South- 
 ern heads and hearts being an indis- 
 pensable pre-requisite to efficient ac- 
 tion, v^^e pledge ourselves to do every- 
 thing in our povi^er to promote, estab- 
 lish and maintain it. 
 
 Resolved, That we recognize the 
 clearly expressed will of a majority of 
 the people of Floyd county as the rule 
 of action, binding upon their represen- 
 tatives, in any convention of the peo- 
 ple of Georgia. 
 
 Resolved, That we hereby request 
 our Senator and Representatives in the 
 General Assembly of this State' to pro- 
 cure the following demands by said 
 General Assembly to be made by joint 
 resolutions or otherwise, upon the Nor- 
 thern States, viz: 
 
 First. To repeal all personal liberty 
 bills and other Legislative enactments 
 to defeat the rendition of fugitive 
 slaves. 
 
 Second. The enactment in lieu there- 
 of of "efficient laws to facilitate such 
 recovery in accordance with their plain 
 constitutional obligations." 
 
 Third. The prompt and faithful sur- 
 render of all fugitives from justice and 
 violators of the laws of the slavehold- 
 ing states. 
 
 Fourth. The immediate release of all 
 Southern citizens unjustly imprisoned 
 for seeking to recover their fugitive 
 slaves. 
 
 Fifth. A distinct acknowledgement 
 and faithful observance of the right of 
 
 Southern citizens to settle with their 
 negro property in any territory of the 
 United States, and there hold it like all 
 other property under the protection of 
 just laws faithfully administered so 
 long as the territorial condition shall 
 last. 
 
 Sixth. The repeal of all laws giving 
 to free negroes the privilege of voting 
 for members of Congress or for Elec- 
 tors of President and Vice-President 
 of the United States. 
 
 Seventh. The co-operation of the Sen- 
 ators and Representatives of said 
 State in the Congress of the United 
 States in procuring the repeal of a 
 pretended law to prevent the slave 
 trade in the District of Columbia. 
 
 Resolved, That in the event the 
 states upon which these just and rea- 
 sonable demands shall be made by the 
 Legislative Assembly in the name, and 
 on the behalf of the people of Georgia, 
 shall give unmistakable evidence of a 
 determination to accede to them, in 
 good faith, by or before the 16th of 
 January next, Georgia shall abide in 
 the Union, otherwise secession is the 
 only adequate remedy left her for the 
 maintenance of her interests, rights, 
 liberties and honor. 
 
 Resolved, That this Assembly will 
 now proceed to select by general ballot 
 three candidates to represent the peo- 
 ple of Floyd County in a general con- 
 vention of the people of Georgia to be 
 convened at Milledgeville on Wednes- 
 day, the 16th of January next.* 
 
 The above resolutions, we are in- 
 formed, were unanimously adopted. In 
 accoi'dance with the last, the following 
 gentlemen were nominated, viz: Col. 
 Simpson Fouche, Col. James Word and 
 F. C. Shropshire, Esq. 
 
 *It was at this convention that Georgia se- 
 ceded from, the Union.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 Lincoln's Election Foretells Hostilities 
 
 HIC following" accounts from 
 The Courier set forth elo- 
 quently the final act pre- 
 ceding the war drama of 
 1861-5. They were written partly 
 by Mr. Dwinell, wdio had just re- 
 turned to the editorial sanctum 
 after a vacation at East Poultney, 
 Vt., and partly by his brilliant as- 
 sociate, George Trippe Stovall ; 
 and they are arranged chronolog- 
 ically as an aid to the reader. Mr. 
 Lincoln was elected Tuesday, Nov, 
 6, I860.' 
 
 It has been suggrested that the 11 
 O'clock service on Sunday, the 4th of 
 November next be devoted to repent- 
 ance, humiliation, and prayer to Al- 
 mighty God, in all the churches of the 
 land — that the country may be deliver- 
 ed from the terrible crisis which 
 threatens us, and that peace and har- 
 mony may be restored to all sections.— 
 Oct. 27, 1860. 
 
 A Final Appeal. — Before the next 
 issue of The Weekly Courier will be 
 printed, the die will be cast, and the 
 fate of this Union, it may be, will be 
 doomed forever. All our efforts for a 
 fusion in Georgia have failed, and now 
 there is no patriotic course left for 
 Union men but to concentrate their 
 strength, so far as they possibly can, 
 upon the best Union candidate that is 
 offered for their suffrages. Is there 
 any doubt but that this man is John 
 Bell of Tennessee? 
 
 Surely no candid and reasonable 
 man will allow himself to be deceived 
 by the numerous false and ridiculous 
 charges as to Mr . Bell's soundness 
 upon the slavery question. He is a 
 Southern man, and a large slave hold- 
 er, and a calm and impartial study of 
 his true record, while it shows him to 
 be a man of moderate and discreet 
 counsel, it demonstrates that upon the 
 question of slavery and Southern in- 
 terests he is unquestionably safe, 
 sound, firm and reliable. 
 
 We appeal to Democrats, why can- 
 not you vote for John Bell? We a.sk 
 you to support him not as a Whig, a 
 Know Nothing, nor as a representa- 
 tive of any of the old defunct parties, 
 
 but as a Constitutional man and a pa- 
 triot. "The Union, the Constitution 
 and the Enforcement of the Laws," is 
 the motto inscribed upon his banner. 
 Apart from his record it is his only 
 platform. And what more do you de- 
 sire than this? We know that politi- 
 cians try to ridicule and have sought 
 to throw contempt upon this platform. 
 But does it not contain all the South 
 has ever asked or desired? Such were 
 the principles on which the early Pres- 
 idents of the Republic were elected. 
 They had no long-winded platforms to 
 gull and to deceive the people. Why 
 should we want them? For 50 years 
 the Government was administered with- 
 out platforms, and all portions of the 
 country were harmonious and happy. 
 On the contrary, since the adoption of 
 platforms by party conventions, sec- 
 tional animosities have continually 
 harrassed the people, thousands of 
 demagogues have sprung up like mush- 
 rooms upon the body politic, the peace 
 of the country is destroyed, and 30,- 
 000,000 of people stand today trembling 
 in view of the impending crisis which 
 hangs like a muttering storm cloud 
 above them, threatening to pour out 
 upon the country at any moment all 
 the appalling horrors of civil war, 
 bloodshed and ruin! 
 
 This is no false picture, but an 
 alarming reality. Lincoln may, and 
 probably will, be elected, and in tliree 
 ueeks from today, little as you now 
 think it, we will probably witness the 
 outburst of the smouldering flames of 
 one of the most awful civil conflagra- 
 tions which the world has ever seen! 
 
 Voters of Georgia, Look to Yo2(r hi' 
 terest. — On next Tuesday, November 
 6th, by far the most important elec- 
 tion since the organization of our gov- 
 ernment is to take place. In former 
 strifes party success was the stake con- 
 tended for; but now the very existence 
 of the (jovernment is in jeopardy. The 
 question as to how a man shall vote, 
 always important, is now freighted 
 with fearful responsil)ility. Every 
 man should bring the question serious- 
 ly home to himself and vote from his 
 own conscientious convictions of duty, 
 just as if he knew the fate of this Re- 
 public depended on his individual ac- 
 tion. 
 
 The success or defeat of the Union 
 ticket, will — if civil war should hinge
 
 126 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 upon this fact, as it may — make a dif- 
 ference of at least 20 per cent in the 
 value of all kinds of property througrh- 
 out the country. A man then worth 
 $1,000 has at stake a pecuniary inter- 
 est of $200; if worth $10,000 he risks 
 $2,000. If a man is largely in debt he 
 will be utterly ruined; for, after the 
 depression of property he cannot pos- 
 sibly pay out. A laboring man will 
 find his wages reduced from a dollar 
 and a half a day to one dollar, and the 
 chances for getting work at all will 
 be greatly reduced. 
 
 It may be said that pecuniary con- 
 siderations are beneath the notice of 
 patriots. This may be true or it may not. 
 Interest should not be weighed against 
 principle. But that is not the case 
 now. We now have principle, patriot- 
 ism and interest all on one side of the 
 scales and on the other side, party ism, 
 sectional strifes and animosities, and it 
 may be civil war itself. No reasona- 
 ble man in his senses has a shadow 
 of a doubt but that John Bell, if elect- 
 ed, would restore peace and harmony 
 to the country by giving their consti- 
 tutional rights to all sections; and this 
 is all the South wants, or has ever 
 asked for. It is almost certain that 
 three-fourths of the Southern States 
 will cast their votes for this noble pa- 
 triot and pure statesman. Georgia can 
 be carried the same way. Union men 
 of Cherokee Georgia, what say you? In 
 other sections of the State our friends 
 ai-e striving earnestly and hopefully. 
 Let us faithfully perform our duty and 
 all may yet be well. 
 
 Judge Doufjlas at Kingston. — On last 
 Monday a large crowd, probably 3,000 
 men, assembled to hear the celebrated 
 "Little Giant" upon the political issues 
 of the day. The very crowded state of 
 our columns today prohibits any ex- 
 tended notice of his speech. We be- 
 lieve all parties were well pleased with 
 the entertainment as an exhibition of 
 popular oratory, were deeply impressed 
 with the greatness of the man, and de- 
 lighted at the beauty of his wife, who 
 accompanies him in his Southern tour. 
 
 The distinction between Squatter 
 and Popular Sovereignty, the latter of 
 which only he advocates, he made very 
 clear. His whole argument sustaining 
 his peculiar doctrines was, to say the 
 least, very ingenious and plausible, 
 and in many respects unanswerable. 
 Douglas' speeches are everywhere es- 
 sentially the same, and those who 
 would know his position should read 
 them in full.— Thursday, Nov. 1, 1860. 
 
 Let Not Rash Councils Prevail. — If 
 the election that takes place today re- 
 sults in the choice of Abraham Lincoln, 
 of Illinois, for President for the next 
 four years, there will then rest upon 
 the shoulders of every individual citi- 
 zen duties of fearful magnitude and 
 vital importance, both to himself and 
 the commonwealth. There will, in that 
 event, doubtless be a diversity of opin- 
 ion as to what the South ought to do.| 
 and every good citizen should calmly 
 and coolly investigate the whole subject 
 and decide for himself the proper 
 course of action. There will be no 
 need for hairbrained demagogues to 
 be attempting to "fire the Southern 
 heart." The chivalrous and patriotic 
 citizens of the South are not stupid 
 dolts that have to be "fired" up to a 
 realizing sense of their own rights, 
 honor or interests. The people need 
 the truth, the whole truth, and nothing 
 hut the truth, in order to arouse them 
 to any reasonable course of conduct. 
 
 The people should beware of rash 
 counsels, and not suffer themselves to 
 be inveigled into the support of im- 
 practical and foolish movements, or 
 "precipitated" into a revolution. If 
 revolution must come, let us go into it 
 deliberately, with clear heads and 
 steady nerves, and because we know it 
 to be our patriotic duty to do so. But 
 if Lincoln should be elected, he will not 
 have so much power as some people 
 suppose, and it is reported that he is 
 already tremendously frightened lest 
 he should he elected!— Nov. 6, 1860. 
 
 Fo)- Tax Receiver. — We are request- 
 ed to announce the name of H. P. 
 Lumpkin as candidate for Tax Re- 
 ceiver of Floyd County at the ensuing 
 January election. 
 
 For Solicitor General. — We are au- 
 thorized to announce the name of M. 
 Kendrick, of Newnan, Coweta county, 
 as a candidate for the office of Solic- 
 itor General of the Tallapoosa circuit. 
 Election first Wednesday in January 
 next. 
 
 H. A. Gartrell, Esq.— Mr. Editor: 
 Please allow us to announce the above 
 named gentleman as a candidate for 
 Solicitor General of the Tallapoosa 
 Circuit. MANY VOTERS. 
 
 Rome Market Nov. 7. — Cotton is a 
 little dull — 10 VL' cts. may now be con- 
 sidered the top of the market. 
 
 Unofficial Vote of Floyd Co.— The 
 following statement, though not offi- 
 cial, will probably not vary more than 
 two or three votes from the exact re- 
 sult:
 
 Lincoln's Election Foretells Hostitities 
 
 127
 
 128 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Precincts. Bell. Breck. Doug. 
 
 Rome 462 360 160 
 
 N. Carolina 55 66 21 
 
 Barker's 15 41 6 
 
 Livingston 26 50 
 
 Flat Woods 22 8 5 
 
 Cave Spring 64 60 34 
 
 Wolf Skin 63 60 34 
 
 Watters 70 39 6 
 
 Chulio 51 22 10 
 
 Dirt Town 4 35 13 
 
 Etowah 18 1 
 
 Total 848 756 286 
 
 We have compared the above with 
 the official vote and find it accurate. 
 
 A Card. — Mr. Editor: I desire 
 through the city papers to return my 
 sincere thanks to the merchants for 
 refusing to sell spirituous liquors on 
 the day of the election, but more espe- 
 cially to those gentlemen engaged in 
 the retail business. They closed their 
 doors and did no business whatever. It 
 was asking a great deal of all, it being 
 a public day and a good one for that 
 trade, but they made the promise and 
 adhered to it with fidelity. To them 
 we are mainly indebted for the peace, 
 quiet and good order that prevailed 
 throughout the entire day. Respect- 
 fully. H. A. GARTRELL, 
 
 Mayor City of Rome. 
 
 Polk County. — A gentleman who left 
 Polk County on Wednesday morning 
 informs us that all the precincts but 
 two had been heard from, and Bell was 
 66 votes ahead of Breckinridge. Doug- 
 las' vote would probably be 100. 
 
 Chattooga County. — Sufficient re- 
 turns have been received to make it 
 certain that Bell will carry this county 
 by a large plurality, probably 100 or 
 more. 
 
 Delegates. — F. C. Shropshire, Z. B. 
 Hargrove and M. Dwinell have been 
 appointed to represent the Rome 
 "Light Guards" in the Military Con- 
 vention to be held in Milledgeville on 
 next Monday. 
 
 The Evd. — The contest is over and it 
 may be that the destiny of this gov- 
 ernment is sealed. It now becomes us 
 to hope for the best, but at the same 
 time be making preparations for the 
 worst. We do not wish to intimate 
 that it is necessary to be organizing 
 military companies, or enrolling minute 
 men in case Lincoln is elected, with the 
 expectation of immediately fighting 
 our Northern enemies; but our prepa- 
 rations should be constitutional and 
 latvful in their character with a deep 
 and unswerving determination to 
 
 maintain our rights in the Union if 
 possible, out of it if we must. The 
 course pursued by the South should be 
 firm and determined, but so clearly 
 right and unavoidable for the main- 
 tenance of her honor and essential in- 
 terests that there shall be no division 
 among her own people, but that all as 
 one great harmonious whole shall in 
 thunder tones demand not only of the 
 North but of the entire civilized world 
 a recognition of her clearly defined and 
 unmistakable rights. 
 
 While no spirit of base submission 
 should be encouraged or even tolerated, 
 yet at the same time any course of 
 rash or precipitating conduct would be 
 equally reprehensible and injurious to 
 the prospects of our section. There 
 are many men in the South who have 
 for a long time believed that our sa- 
 cred rights and untarnished honor 
 cannot be maintained in the Union; 
 and that it is both the interest and 
 duty of the South to effect a separation 
 as soon as possible. Many of these 
 men are among our most wealthy, tal- 
 ented and most highly respected citi- 
 zens, and they are as conscientious in 
 their convictions of duty as any class 
 of men in the country. 
 
 This class of persons, however, we 
 believe is comparatively small and that 
 the great mass of the people still cling 
 to the Union, firmly believing that the 
 Constitution will be enforced and the 
 rights of the South maintained. This 
 being the case and it being well knovim 
 to all that these differences exist, it be- 
 comes the representatives of each of 
 these classes of opinions to be courte- 
 ous and kind to the other and studi- 
 ously avoid anything like crimination 
 or the impugning of their motives. No 
 class can rightfully arrogate to them- 
 selves all the patriotism or chivalry or 
 that they are more ready to make per- 
 sonal sacrifice upon the altar of our 
 section than others who do not agree 
 with them as to the best plan of se- 
 curing the greatest permanent good 
 of us all. 
 
 We have said this much to be, per- 
 haps, of service in case that Lincoln is 
 elected, because, if that is the case, we 
 desire above all things to see a united 
 South, and that the deliberations of 
 our section should be characterized by 
 high-toned statesmanship that may re- 
 sult in cool deliberations and harmo- 
 nious action.* 
 
 As it Should Be. — The election in this 
 place passed off as quietly and peace- 
 
 *This editorial and others like it caused Geo. 
 T. Stovall to resign as associate editor of The 
 Courier and buy the Southerner and Advertiser.
 
 Lincoln's Election Foretells Hostilities 
 
 129 
 
 ably and with as much good nature as 
 possible. Every grocery was closed, 
 and we did not hear of an angry quar- 
 rel or see a drunken man in Rome on 
 that day. Many men were much ex- 
 cited but their deep interest was ex- 
 hibited rather by their calm but firm 
 determination than by noisy outbursts 
 and senseless criminations of their op- 
 ponents. The beautiful quiet that pre- 
 vailed in our city was indeed a fact to 
 be proud of, and we most sincerely hope 
 that the same good sense and high ap- 
 preciation of dignity and decorum will 
 always prevail on similar occasions. 
 
 There were nine hundred and eighty- 
 two votes polled at this precinct, which 
 is nearly two hundred more than at 
 any previous election. — Nov. 8, 1860. 
 
 To Whom it Concerns. — All indebted 
 to us must pay immediately or be sued. 
 JONES *& SCOTT. 
 
 The Vote in Ga. — Of the 44 counties 
 heard from, the vote stands: For Bell, 
 20,483; for Breckinridge, 18,863, and 
 for Douglas, 6,918. 
 
 The Presbyterian Sabbath School 
 will hold its anniversary next Sabbath 
 afternoon at 3 o'clock in the Presby- 
 terian church. Exercises — short ad- 
 dress and singing. All are respect- 
 fully invited to attend. 
 
 Gordon Co. Vote.—BeW, 481; Breck., 
 874; Doug., 97. 
 
 ( Communicated. ) 
 
 Notice.- — All men, without distinc- 
 tion of party, who are opposed to Abo- 
 lition domination, and in favor of re- 
 sisting the same in such manner as the 
 sovereignty of Georgia may order and 
 direct, are requested to meet at the 
 City Hall in Rome on Monday, the 12th 
 inst., at 2 o'clock to consider what 
 course interest, duty and patriotism 
 require them to pursue as good citizens 
 and triie Soiithemers. 
 
 We are requested to publish the fol- 
 lowing ticket for Mayor and Council- 
 men : 
 
 FOR MAYOR 
 
 DR. T. J. WORD 
 
 FOR COUNCILMEN 
 
 First Ward 
 
 FRANK AYER 
 
 J. C. PEMBERTON 
 
 Second Ward 
 
 O. B. EVE 
 A. J. PITNER 
 
 Third Ward 
 
 WM. RAMEY 
 
 JOHN R. FREEMAN 
 
 The Die Is Cast. — The great strug- 
 gle is over and our worst fears are re- 
 alized. Abraham Lincoln, the sectional 
 candidate, who was nominated and 
 supported to a large extent because of 
 his hostility to the institutions of the 
 South, has been elected by a fair ma- 
 jority. The present indications are 
 that he will surely get 158 votes, and 
 possibly 169, whereas 152 would elect 
 him. 
 
 And now this state of circumstances, 
 for which the great mass of the people 
 are almost entirely unprepared, sud- 
 denly bursts upon them, and demands 
 at their hands an immediate solution 
 of a most difficult political problem 
 and one that will probably forever fix 
 the destiny of all this fair land of 
 ours. The idea of Lincoln's election 
 has been frequently talked about, it is 
 true, but it has always seemed to be 
 at vague distance with its hideous de- 
 formities, and has rather existed as a 
 creature of the imagination than as 
 one that could possibly have a reali- 
 zation in the practical working of our 
 Government. 
 
 But hard as it may be to appreciate 
 the hateful truth, yet it is a fact, and 
 with unmistakable sternness it stares 
 us in the face. The issue is upon us 
 and we have got to meet it. Every 
 man in Georgia has got a solemn duty 
 to perform and it is one that by its im- 
 mense magnitude makes small all the 
 other acts of his life. What shall be 
 done? is now the question of awful im- 
 port that hangs upon the mind of every 
 thoughtful man. Various plans for 
 relief have already been proposed and 
 they each have their advocates who ap- 
 ply themselves with zeal and earn- 
 estness. Discussion is altogether right 
 and proper, and is probably the most 
 effectual method of bringing out the 
 truth and correct principles. But there 
 is one thing that should always actu- 
 ate men in the discussion of any sub- 
 ject if they would be profited — that 
 they should be as willing to receive 
 truth as to impart it. Our relations 
 to the general government are very 
 complicated and few men can at a 
 glance take in all its various bearings 
 and dependencies and it may be that a 
 course of conduct supposed to be ad- 
 mirably adapted to our present exi- 
 gencies would be proved to be entirely 
 impractical because of the want of 
 some necessary element that had been 
 overlooked. Let us then not be rash 
 or inconsiderate, but calm, cool and 
 deliberate and in a free and friendly 
 manner counsel with one another in 
 regard to these momentous questions.
 
 130 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 The recommendation that has al- 
 ready been made, that a State Con- 
 vention should be called immediately, 
 we most fully approve and hope the 
 Legislature will at once issue a call 
 for delegates from every county. We 
 would suggest the number of delegates 
 be the same as the number of Senators 
 and Representatives in the Legislature. 
 Let such men as Joseph Henry Lump- 
 kin, Chas. J. McDonald, Alex H. Ste- 
 phens, Wm. Law, Robt. Toombs, Her- 
 schel V. Johnson, Hines Holt, Hiram 
 Warner and others of experience and 
 wisdom compose this Convention and 
 the people vdll be almost sure to rat- 
 ify their action, whatever it may be. 
 
 Things He Can't Do. — Bad as he 
 may be to our institutions, there are 
 many important things Lincoln can- 
 not do. As the Congress now stands, 
 there is a majority of eight against 
 him in the Senate, and, if the recent 
 telegraph reports are correct, 23 in 
 the House. It will be remembered that 
 all the appointments of Cabinet offi- 
 cers, Ministers to foreign courts, Con- 
 suls, Custom House officers, and all 
 other offices of any considerable trust 
 or profit in the United States have to 
 be filled "by and with the advice of the 
 Senate." The President recommends 
 men for all these various places, but 
 their appointment is not complete until 
 confirmed by the Senate. 
 
 The Black Republicans will not be 
 able, of their own strength, to carry a 
 single bill through either House of the 
 next Congress and it is thought by 
 some that in less than a year, even if 
 Lincoln should be allowed to go on 
 with his administration, that his party 
 would be torn to pieces by its own in- 
 herent fanaticism and corruptions. But 
 yet it may be better to secede than 
 to suffer the disgrace of a Black Re- 
 publican rule. If Georgia so decides in 
 her sovereign capacity we shall go with 
 her, heart and soul.— Nov. 10, 1860. 
 
 Mr. Dwinell: — Please announce the 
 following as the People's Ticket for 
 Mayor and Aldermen for the ensuing 
 year, and oblige, 
 
 MANY VOTERS. 
 
 FOR MAYOR 
 
 Z. B. HARGROVE 
 
 FOR COUNCILMEN 
 
 First Wa7-d 
 
 N. J. OMBERG 
 
 J. W. WOFFORD 
 
 Second Ward 
 
 O. B. EVE 
 
 JOHN NOBLE 
 
 Third Ward 
 
 A. W. CALDWELL* 
 
 A. R. HARPER 
 
 FOR MAYOR** 
 
 DR. T. J. WORD 
 
 FOR COLNCILMEN 
 
 First Ward 
 
 W. F. AYER 
 
 N. J. OMBERG 
 
 Second Ward 
 
 J. H. M'CLUNG 
 
 C. H. SMITH 
 
 Third Ward 
 
 A. W. CALDWELL 
 
 J. G. YEISER 
 
 —Nov. 13, 1860. 
 
 (From the Rome Southerner.) 
 
 Meeting of the Citizens of Floyd 
 County. — Below we publish resolutions 
 and preamble passed at the citizens' 
 meeting held in Rome on Monday, the 
 12th inst. 
 
 The attendance was large and very 
 general from all parts of the county. 
 We believe every district in the coun- 
 ty was represented. We never saw 
 resolutions pass more unanimously or 
 more enthusiastically. To some of the 
 resolutions there was one or two dis- 
 senting voices. Most of them, however, 
 passed unanimously. We were sorry 
 to see even a single person in that 
 large assembly who withheld his as- 
 sent. If there ever was a time when 
 the people of the South should be unit- 
 ed, now is the time. If the Southern 
 States, as one man, or even one or two 
 of them, will show unanimity of senti- 
 ment in opposition to Black Republi- 
 can rule, and even if they withdraw 
 from the Union as the last alternative, 
 no gun of coercion will ever be fired 
 by any power upon the face of the 
 earth. Horace Greeley has already said 
 in his paper, the N. Y. Tribune, that if 
 any of the Southern States leave the 
 Union by a vote of her people, he is 
 in favor of letting her alone! 
 
 Every man in the land, old and 
 young, great and small, rich and poor, 
 is interested in this question. Think 
 of it. And if you can't go with your 
 section, for Heaven's sake, and for the 
 sake of your country, don't go against 
 it! ' 
 
 The resolutions: 
 
 Whereas, the abolition sentiment of 
 the Northern States, first openly man- 
 ifested in 1820, has, for the last 40 
 years, steadily and rapidly increased 
 
 *Jno. M. Quinn was later substituted. 
 •*Dr. Word was elected.
 
 Lincoln's Election Foretells Hostilities 
 
 131 
 
 in volume and in intensity of hostility 
 to the form of society existing in the 
 Southern States, and to the rights of 
 these States as equal, independent and 
 sovereign members of the Union ; has 
 led to long-continued and ever-increas- 
 ing abuse and hatred of the Southern 
 people; to ceaseless v^ar upon their 
 plainest Constitutional rights; to an 
 open and shameless nullification of that 
 provision of the Constitution intended 
 to secure the rendition of fugitive 
 slaves; and of the laws of Congress to 
 give it effect; has led many of our peo- 
 ple who sought to avail themselves of 
 their rights under these provisions of 
 the laws and the Constitution, to en- 
 counter fines, imprisonment and death; 
 has prompted the armed invasion of 
 Southern soil, by stealth, amidst the 
 sacred repose of a Sabbath night, for 
 the diabolical purpose of inaugurating 
 a ruthless war of the blacks against 
 the whites throughout the Southern 
 States ; has prompted large masses of 
 Northern people openly to sympathize 
 with the treacherous and traitorous 
 invaders of our country, and elevate 
 the leaders of a band of mid-night as- 
 sassins and robbers, himself an assas- 
 sin and a robber, to the rank of a 
 hero and a martyr; has sent far 
 and wide over our section of the Un- 
 ion its vile emissaries to instigate the 
 slaves to destroy our property, burn 
 our towns, devastate our country, and 
 spread distrust, dismay and death by 
 poison, among our people; has disrupt- 
 ed the churches, and destroyed all na- 
 tional parties, and has now fully or- 
 ganized a party confined to a hostile 
 section, and composed even there of 
 those only who have encouraged, sym- 
 pathized with, instigated or perpetrat- 
 ed this long series of insults, outrages 
 and wrongs, for the avowed purpose of 
 making a common government, armed 
 by us with power only for our protec- 
 tion, an instrument in the hands of 
 enemies for our destruction. 
 
 Therefore, we, a portion of the peo- 
 ple of Floyd County, regardless of all 
 past differences, and looking above and 
 beyond all mere party ends to the 
 good of our native South, do hereby 
 publish and declare: 
 
 First. That Georgia is, and of right 
 ought to be, a free, sovereign and in- 
 dependent State. 
 
 Second. That she came into the Un- 
 ion with the other states as a sover- 
 eignty, and by virtue of that sover- 
 eignty, has the right to secede when- 
 ever, in her sovereign capacity, she 
 shall judge such a step necessary. 
 
 Third. That in our opinion, she 
 ought not to submit to the inaugura- 
 tion of Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal 
 Hamlin, as her President and Vice- 
 President, but should leave them to 
 rule over those by whom alone they 
 were elected. 
 
 Fourth. That we request the Legis- 
 lature to announce this opinion by res- 
 olution, at the earliest practicable mo- 
 ment, and to communicate it to our 
 Senators and Representatives in Con- 
 gress, and to co-operate with the Gov- 
 ernor in calling a Convention of the 
 people to determine on the mode and 
 measure of redress. 
 
 Fifth. That we respectfully recom- 
 mend to the Legislature to take into 
 their immediate consideration the pas- 
 sage of such laws as will be likely to 
 alleviate any unusual embarrassment 
 of the commercial interests of the 
 State consequent upon the present po- 
 litical emergency. 
 
 Sixth. That we respectfully suggest 
 to the Legislature to take immediate 
 steps to organize and arm foi-ces of the 
 State. 
 
 Seventh. That copies of the forego- 
 ing resolutions be sent without delay 
 to our Senators and Representatives 
 in the General Assembly of the State, 
 who are hereby requested to lay them 
 before the House of which they are 
 respectively members. 
 
 Obstructions in the Streets. — If it is 
 not the duty of the City Marshall, it 
 ovght to be, to see that the rubbish 
 about new buildings, old boxes about 
 the stores, and wood piles everywhere 
 in the streets, should not be left to 
 discommode the public, but should be 
 removed in a reasonable time. There 
 are a lot of old casks in front of Mor- 
 rison & Logan's stable that ought to 
 have been removed long ago, and there 
 seems to be unnecessary delay in re- 
 nioving fragments and other obstruc- 
 tions on the sidewalks about several 
 new buildings on Broad Street. 
 
 Good Gnns. — The arms for the "Rome 
 Light Guards" were received on last 
 Saturday. The guns are the Minie 
 Rifle, that has, we believe, the highest 
 reputation as an efficient weapon in 
 actual service of any gun that has been 
 tried. Only fifty guns are received, 
 and if there are men in this commu- 
 nity who desire to join the company 
 they will do well to make early appli- 
 cation. The company now numbers 
 45, and is, in every way, in a prosper- 
 ous condition. — Nov. 24, 1860.
 
 132 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 On Jan. 16, 1861, the Georgia 
 counties sent delegates to tlie fa- 
 mous secession convention at Mil- 
 ledgeville. On Jan. 18, Judge Eu- 
 genius A. Nisbet, of Macon, intro- 
 duced a resolution calling for the 
 appointment of a committee to re- 
 port an ordinance of secession. This 
 brought on a fight and a test of 
 strength between the union and 
 disunion factions. The resolution 
 passed by a vote of 166 to 130.* At 
 2 p. m., Jan. 19, 1861, the secession 
 ordinance was passed by a vote of 
 208 to 89, 44 anti-secessionists vot- 
 ing for the measure to give it force, 
 and realizing that further resist- 
 ance was useless. On this ballot 
 Benj. H. Hill voted for secession, 
 Ijut Alexander H. Stephens and his 
 brother, Judge Linton Stephens, 
 Herschel V. Johnson, Gen. W. T. 
 Wofford, Hiram Warner and oth- 
 er leaders opposed it. 
 
 South Carolina had seceded Dec. 
 20, 1860; Mississippi Jan. 9, 1861; 
 
 JUDGE JAMKS M. SPULLOCK. ,,nc,. mijhi-- 
 intendent of the W. & A. railroad and a 
 power in North Georgia politics. 
 
 Alabama and Florida Jan. 11, 1861. 
 Consequently, it was felt that 
 Georgia's action would either split 
 or cement the South. The forensic 
 giants were there — a galaxy never 
 seen before or since. Col. Isaac W. 
 Avery gives us in his History of 
 Georgia (ps. 149-50) a correct 
 ])icture of the scene, and incidental- 
 ly, emphasizes the opposition to 
 secession among the more con- 
 servative t3'pe of citizens : 
 
 The eyes of the whole Union were 
 upon this most august body. There 
 was an interest in its deliberations 
 that was both profound and wide- 
 spread. It was felt to be the turning 
 point of the real commencement of the 
 revolution. If staid, self-poised, delib- 
 erate, powerful Georgia held back from 
 the woi"k of disintegration, it would 
 have been such a substantial check to 
 the destructive movement as would 
 have done much to stop it. Georgia's 
 co-operation rendered the revolution, 
 sure. The Federal administration 
 looked anxiously to our State as the 
 crucial agency of the agitation. The 
 people of the North focalized their at- 
 tention upon this arbiter of an impend- 
 ing and incalculable convulsion. 
 
 It was known that a majority of the 
 people favored secession, but the mi- 
 nority in favor of co-operation and de- 
 lay was a very large and powerful 
 body of public sentiment, ably and pa- 
 triotically headed. The vote taken in 
 the election for members of the con- 
 vention showed an aggregate of 50,243 
 for secession and 37,123 against, giv- 
 ing a majority of only 13,120 for im- 
 mediate disunion, out of 87,366. This 
 was a much smaller majority than Gov. 
 Brown had obtained in his last elec- 
 tion. 
 
 In many counties the anti-secession- 
 ists had heavy majorities. Such strong 
 counties as Baldwin, Floyd, DeKalb, 
 Cass, Franklin, Gordon, Gwinnett, 
 Lumpkin, Murray, Walker, Walton 
 and others went some of them over- 
 whelmingly against disunion. In many 
 counties it was the closest sort of a 
 shave, giving either way only a vote 
 or two. The most one-sided secession 
 county in the whole state was Cobb, 
 Vv'hich gave 1,035 votes for and only 
 7 against disunion. Chatham was also 
 nearly unanimous for secession. In a 
 very few counties no opposition can- 
 didate to secession was run. In Tal- 
 
 ♦Avery's History of Georgia, p. 153.
 
 Lincoln's Election Foretells Hostilities 
 
 13 
 
 iaferro and Tatnall no secession can- 
 didate was put up. 
 
 These figures will show how much 
 the people were divided on this issue, 
 and yet, in the crazy fever of the war 
 excitement and the more noisy demon- 
 strations of the secession champions, 
 the opposition was almost unheard and 
 absolutely impotent. A few brave 
 spirits spoke out fearlessly, and cour- 
 ageously endeavored to stem the rush- 
 ing and turbulent tide of disunion. 
 But the generality of conservative men, 
 feeling powerless to do anything, and 
 unwilling to incur a certain odium that 
 clung to men alleged to be lukewarm 
 or opposed to Southern interests, went 
 quietly along simply voting in the op- 
 position. 
 
 The secession convention was the 
 ablest body ever convened in Georgia. 
 Its membership included nearly every 
 leading public man in the State, the 
 leaders of all parties and shades of 
 political opinion. 
 
 As for Georgia's contribution in 
 men to the Confederate cause, Col. 
 Avery's history (p. 267) states : 
 
 The Second Auditor at Richmond 
 published the following statement of 
 soldiers' deaths to Dec. 31, 1863: Geor- 
 gia, 9,504; Alabama, 8,987; North 
 Carolina, 8,261; Texas, 6,377; Vir- 
 ginia, 5,943; Mississippi, 5,367; South 
 Carolina, 4,-511; Louisiana, 3,039; Ten- 
 nessee, 2,849; Arkansas, 1,948; Flor- 
 ida, 1,119. 
 
 It was an old custom in Geor- 
 g-ia to illuminate houses brightly 
 at night on the receipt of good 
 news of a national or sectional na- 
 ture. Consequently, the houses of 
 Rome were Ht up, guns discharged 
 and the church bells rung merrily. 
 A few Northern families compro- 
 mised by lighting their candles, 
 and Mrs. Robt. Battey was said 
 to have been the only Southerner 
 whose house was dark. Gen. Brax- 
 ton Bragg soon passed through 
 Rome on a tour of inspection, and 
 meeting Mrs. Battey on Broad 
 Street, said : "I understand Mrs. 
 Battey is a Union woman." 
 
 "So I am, General," she re]:)lied 
 promptly. "I believe in fighting 
 this war under the United States 
 flag. Southerners were largely in- 
 strumental in foundino- our Gov- 
 
 ernment, and if anybody must get 
 out of it, I say let not the first oc- 
 cupants be the ones to go !" 
 
 "You are not far from right, Mrs. 
 I)attey," observed Gen. Bragg as 
 he hurried on about his business. 
 
 There were many such incidents, 
 and they showed the inherent in- 
 dependence of thought and action 
 of Georgians and the State of Geor- 
 gia — an independence that has al- 
 ways enabled Georgia to assume 
 the initiative among her sister 
 states, and to occupy a conspicu- 
 ous and respectable position in the 
 forum of the nation. Georgians 
 can always be depended upon to 
 fight among themselves (like Bill 
 Arp's Romans — old man Laub and 
 his wife and family), and to get 
 together at a moment's notice to 
 repel any foreign foe, such as In- 
 dians, Yankees, Spaniards, Ger- 
 mans or what not. 
 
 During three terms, covering the 
 Civil War, Gov. Jos. E. Brown, one 
 
 MRS. .lAMK.S .M. SrUl.LUCK, who assisted 
 her husband in the entertainment of some of 
 the most noted men in Georgia.
 
 134 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 of the most ])ci)i)ery "Rebels" on 
 earth, occupied the gubernatorial 
 throne. 
 
 "Cherokee" or Northwest Geor- 
 gia had not long before staged a 
 miniature war with the Indians, 
 and it is significant that the dele- 
 gates from the 21 counties in the 
 Cherokee nation voted 35 against 
 secession to 14 in favor, or 2% 
 votes to one :* 
 County. Yes. No. 
 
 Cass 3 
 
 Catoosa 1 1 
 
 Chattooga 2 
 
 Cherokee 3 
 
 Dade 2 
 
 Dawson 2 
 
 Fannin 1 1 
 
 Floyd 3 
 
 Forsyth 1 1 
 
 Gilmer 2 
 
 Gordon 2 1 
 
 Hall 3 
 
 Lumpkin 2 
 
 Milton - 2 
 
 Murray 2 
 
 Pickens 2 
 
 Polk 1 1 
 
 Union 2 
 
 Walker 3 
 
 White 1 1 
 
 Whitfield 1 2 
 
 14 35 
 
 It will be noticed by the above 
 table that Floyd and her neigh- 
 boring counties of Cass, Chattooga 
 Gordon, Polk and Walker voted 
 six for and ten against. The dele- 
 gates and the way they voted are 
 given below : 
 
 Cass— W. T. Wofford, No; H. F. 
 Price, No; Turner H. Trippe, No. 
 
 Chattooga — Wesley Shropshire, No; 
 L. Williams, No. 
 
 Floyd — Col. James Word, Yes; Col. 
 Simpson Fouche, Yes; Frank C. Shrop- 
 shire, Yes. 
 
 Grordon — Wm. H. Dabney, Yes; Jas. 
 Freeman, No; R. M. Young, Yes. 
 
 Polk— W. E. West, Yes; T. W. Du- 
 pree. No. 
 
 Walker— G. G. Gordon, No; R. B. 
 Dickerson, No; T. A. Sharpe, No. 
 
 A lively glimpse of the inaugu- 
 ration of Jefferson Davis as presi- 
 dent and Alexander H. Stephens 
 a'j vice-president of the Confeder- 
 acy was given by Judge Augustus 
 R. Wright, one of the organizers 
 of the Government, in a letter of 
 F'^b. 21, 1861 from Montgomery, 
 Ala., to his daughter, Mrs. Mary 
 Wright Shropshire, of Rome : 
 
 My Dear Daughter: — We had a gay 
 time at the President's inauguration. 
 The President and Vice-President rode 
 in a most superb carriage, glittering 
 all over with silver and drawn by six 
 iron gray horses driven by two coach- 
 men on the same seat. They** were 
 fiery and impatient and beautifully 
 caparisoned. The military companies 
 with full bands preceded the several 
 committees in fine carriages, and then 
 followed the crowd. 
 
 The Zouaves performed most won- 
 derfully their new military exercise of 
 vaulting, lying down and firing, falling 
 on their backs and loading, and divers 
 other most wonderful gymnastics. 
 
 The oath taken by the President in 
 the presence of that vast concourse 
 was most solemn. When Mr. Cobb, 
 who administered the oath, said, "So 
 help me God," the President lifted his 
 face to Heaven in the most solemn 
 and energetic manner and said, "So 
 help me God!" The band then played 
 the Marseillaise hymn, after which the 
 vast crowd gave three cheers for "Jeff 
 Davis and Alexander Stephens," and 
 began to disperse. 
 
 "Sic transit gloria mundi!" How 
 the mind turns from those pageants 
 and panoplies of war to that peaceful 
 reign of our King "when the wicked 
 cease from troubling and the weary 
 are at rest." 
 
 Affectionately your father, 
 
 AUGUSTUS R. WRIGHT. 
 
 *Georgia"s Landmarks, Memorials and Leg- 
 ends, Vol. II, ps. 567-570. 
 **The horses.
 
 PART III 
 
 THE CIVIL ^ArAR PERIOD 
 1861-1865
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 Opening of the Civil War^First Manassas 
 
 ^ 
 
 I 
 
 T IS memifestly impossible 
 in a work of this size to 
 present more than a 
 gHmpse here and there of 
 the wartime activities of Floyd's 
 military companies and life of the 
 people at home. All that can be 
 done is to hit the "high spots" and 
 trust that a historian will come 
 along some day who will devote 
 to the period an entire book. 
 
 The principal events of the 1861- 
 65 ])eriod herein treated are the 
 First Battle of Manassas (Va.), 
 July 21, 1861 ; the chase Apr. 12, 
 1862, after the Confederate engine 
 General, in w'hich a Rome locomo- 
 tive was used at Kingston ; the 
 capture of Streight's Federal raid- 
 ers Sunday, May 3, 1863, by an in- 
 ferior force under command of 
 Gen. Forrest ; and the defense and 
 occupation of Rome May 18, 1864, 
 by Gen. vSherman. 
 
 Rome itself was a concentration 
 point for recruits from Northwest 
 Georgia. Broad Street was a drill 
 and parade ground. The newspa- 
 pers and the churches were used to 
 inflame the war spirit, and we 
 have it on the authority of Hilliard 
 Horry Wimpee,* who was then a 
 boy of ten, that stump speakers 
 sought to dissipate the impression 
 of small numbers in the South by 
 the flamboyant declaration that 
 one "Reb" could whip ten 
 "Yanks." In some of these speech- 
 es the "Reb" could even suffer his 
 left hand to be tied behind him. 
 
 More than 2,000 men of Floyd 
 County (including an occasional 
 
 *Mr. Wimpce relates how he saw blood-drip- 
 ping freight cars come into Rome with hundreds 
 of wounded soldiers after the fall of Ft. Donel- 
 son. 
 
 **Co. G, First Ga. Cavalry. The name was 
 undoubtedly taken from a company which op- 
 erated under Gen. Jas. Hemphill and Maj. Chas. 
 H. Nelson in 1835 and captured Chief Fosach 
 Fixico. 
 
 contingent from an adjoining 
 county) went out to protect their 
 homes during the period of 1861- 
 65. Including the home guard of 
 ten companies (five of which were 
 from Floyd) there was a total of 
 20 companies of an average of 
 more than 100 men, including re- 
 cruits and replacements. The com- 
 panies went to the front in ap- 
 proximately the following order: 
 
 Floyd Infantry, commanded by 
 Capt. Jno. Frederick Cooper, who 
 died at Culpepper Courthouse, Va., 
 several weeks after he had received 
 a serious wound at First INIanas- 
 sas; Rome Light Guards, Capt. 
 Edward Jones Magruder ; Miller 
 Rifles, named after Dr. H. V. M. 
 Miller, Capt. Jno. R. Towers; 
 Floyd Sharpshooters, Capt. A. S. 
 Hamilton : Flovd Springs Guards, 
 Capt. M. R. Ballenger; Co. D, 65th 
 Ga. Infantry, Capt. W. G. Foster; 
 Berrv Infaiitrv, named after Capt. 
 Thos'. Berry, Capt. Thos. W. Alex- 
 ander ; Sar'dis Volunteers, 6th Ga. 
 Cavalrv, Capt. Jno. R. Hart ; Fire- 
 side Defenders, Capt. Robt. H. 
 Jones ; Mitchell Guards, named 
 after Danl. R. Mitchell, Capt. 
 Zachariah B. Hargrove ; Co. G, 
 1st Confederate regiment, Ga. Vol- 
 unteers, Capt. Jno. B. Bray; Co. 
 A, 8th Georgia Battalion, Capt. W. 
 H. H. Lumpkin; Floyd Cavalry, 
 Capt. Wade S. Cothran ; Gartrell's 
 Cavalry (in 1863 a part of Forrest's 
 command), Capt. Henry A. (.ar- 
 trell; Cherokee Artillery (later 
 Corput's battery), Capt. Marcellus 
 A. Stovall, Lie'uts. Jno. H. Law- 
 rence, Max Van Den Corput, J. G. 
 Yeiser and Thos. W. Hooper , sur- 
 geon. Dr. Robt. Battey, orderly 
 sergeant. T. D. Attaway ; High- 
 land Rangers (Cave Spring). Capt. 
 M. H. Haynie ; Highland Rangers**
 
 138 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 (Rome), Capt. J. L. Kerr; Booten 
 and Harkins' Cavalry Company, 
 Capt. Daniel F. Booten, Lient. Jno. 
 Harkins. The Rome Volunteers 
 was a company in existence before 
 tlie war. 
 
 When the fighting at Chatta- 
 nooga in 1863 threatened Rome, 
 five home-guard companies were 
 formed, and they were command- 
 ed by Capt. J. H. Lawrence, Jack- 
 son Trout, S. D. Wragg, Marcel- 
 lus L. Troutman and C. Oliver 
 Stillwell. 
 
 Few survivors came back from 
 any of the front line companies, 
 and the valor in no war of history 
 exceeded that of the Boys in Gray, 
 who fought wath extreme despera- 
 tion against overwdielming odds 
 in men and resources. The Floyd 
 Sharpshooters surrendered ten 
 men at Appomattox, whereas 110 
 had gone out. Of 24 Cherokee 
 Artillery members imprisoned at 
 Indianapolis, onl}^ eight answered 
 the roll call at Rome just after the 
 war, and most of the others are 
 supposed to have died in prison. 
 Jas. E. Mullen, late cemetery sex- 
 ton, was one of this command. 
 
 The Rome Light Guard organi- 
 zations kept going many years, 
 and the Hill City Cadets sprang 
 into existence and was active dur- 
 ing the Spanish-American war dis- 
 turbance. 
 
 The Floyd Cavalry was prob- 
 ably the first to ofi'er its services 
 to Gov. Jos. E. Brown. This was 
 done Friday, Nov. 9, 1860, as soon 
 as the members could hold a 
 meeting after the election of Abra- 
 ham Lincoln to the Presidency. 
 Three days before the First Bat- 
 tle of Manassas, the oflr'er having 
 gone by the board, the company 
 met and passed resolutions as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 Whereas, the Floyd Cavalry ten- 
 dered its services to His Excellency, 
 Jos. E. Brown, Commander-in-Chief of 
 
 the State of Georgia, on Nov. 9, 1860, 
 and 
 
 Whereas, the services of the com- 
 pany have not yet been called for, be it 
 
 Resolved, That in view of active hos- 
 tilities that the company renew their 
 tender with the assurance that it holds 
 itself in readiness to meet any emer- 
 gencies whenever and wherever they 
 may arise. 
 
 The officers at this time w^ere 
 Jno. R. Towers, captain ; E. W. 
 Hull, first lieutenant ; Dunlap 
 Scott, second lieutenant, and J. H. 
 Walker, third lieutenant. Contin- 
 ued inactivity caused the three 
 first named to transfer to the Mil- 
 ler Rifles in the same offices. Arm- 
 istead R. Harper took the place of 
 Lieut. Walker. 
 
 The Floyd Infantry left Rome 
 first; it went away May 10, 1861. 
 
 The Light Guards left Rome 
 Monday morning, May 27, 186L 
 after having heard on the day be- 
 fore an inspiring speech at the 
 First Presbyterian church by the 
 pastor, the Rev. John Jones. They 
 marched to North Rome and 
 caught their train, and half the 
 town marched with them, scatter- 
 ing flowers in their way and bid- 
 ding them God-speed \vith fervent 
 prayers from the women and lusty 
 huzzas from the "home guard." 
 Capt. Magruder, of this company, 
 was the first man in Rome to don 
 the blue cockade of secession. He 
 was among the first to marry, 
 choosing as his bride several days 
 before the departure the beautiful 
 Miss Florence Fouche, daughter of 
 Col. Simpson Fouche. When the 
 Guards left Rome, Mrs. Magruder 
 marched with her husband at the 
 head of the column, appropriately 
 rigged out for the occasion — pistol 
 and dagger in her belt, and a stride 
 full of belligerency. Let Miss Bes- 
 sie Moore (Mrs. Lawrence S 
 Churchill) describe the wedding: 
 
 It was a novel and inspiring cere- 
 mony, from all descriptions. The 
 handsome groom was in full dress mili- 
 tary coat, and his trousers were of
 
 Opening of the Civil War — First Manassas 
 
 139 
 
 PROMINENT IN REMOVAL OF THE INDIANS. 
 
 At left is Brig. Gen. Jno. E. Wool, U. S. A., of Troy, N. Y., who had charge of car- 
 rying out government policies prior to the exodus. In the center is Lewis Cass, Secretary 
 of War in Andrew Jackson's cabinet, who was the storm center of the diplomatic negotia-V 
 tions. Next is Gen. Winfield Scott, hero of the Mexican War and later adviser of the Union 
 War Department, who gathered up the red-skins in stockades at New Echota and Sixes Town 
 to facilitate removal. 
 
 white silk, brought from the Orient 
 by his friend, Col. Chas. I. Graves, in 
 a naval cruise. The blushing bride 
 was dressed in snow white, including 
 her veil. They rode up to the First 
 Baptist church (which was located at 
 the same site as today) in a carriage 
 pulled by two spirited white horses. 
 
 Descending from their conveyance, 
 they passed through an arch of up- 
 lifted sabres of 80 members of the 
 Guards. As the couple reached the 
 church door, they stood aside a mo- 
 ment; the Guards came in and formed 
 a second column, through which the 
 two again passed to the altar. Rev. 
 Chas. H. Stillwell, pastor of the church, 
 then made them man and wife. 
 
 Mrs. Magruder accompanied Capt. 
 Magruder to Orange County, Va., the 
 place of his birth, and took up her 
 lesidence with his people at "Fres- 
 cati" (the Italian for "Green Fields"), 
 the ancestral home. This mansion was 
 converted into a hospital for sick and 
 wounded Light Guards and other Con- 
 federate soldiers. 
 
 Orderly Sergeant Jim Tom 
 Moore, member of the Light 
 Guards and grand-father of Mrs 
 Churchill, was married shortly be- 
 fore the command left to Miss Le- 
 titia Hntchinsfs. The ceremony 
 
 was performed at the old Buena 
 Vista, which for a time was Rome's 
 leading hotel. Theie were numer- 
 ous other military marriages, and 
 some of the husbands came back 
 to their wives, and some did not. 
 
 The Rome \\'eekly Courier of 
 Friday, April 26, 1861, announced 
 the opening of the Civil War as 
 follows : 
 
 Glorious Neirs — Virginia Seceded. — 
 Gen. Scott resigns, and fighting at 
 Harper's Ferry and Norfolk! 
 
 The news of the secession of Vir- 
 ginia was received in Rome at 11:30 
 o'clock on yesterday, together with the 
 announcement that (Jen. Scott had re- 
 signed and was in Richmond and that 
 the Virginians had attacked the army 
 at Harper's Ferry and the United 
 States fort and navy yard at Norfolk. 
 
 This news caused the greatest ex- 
 citement we have ever seen in our city. 
 Cannons were fired and small arms 
 without number, and all the church 
 bells were rung, and all possible dem- 
 onstrations of extreme joy were every- 
 where to be seen. Not a few eyes 
 were moistened by the joyous overflow 
 of grateful feelings. The eighth star 
 was put upon it and the flag raised.
 
 140 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 On Tuesday morning-, May 28, 
 1861, the Tri- Weekly Courier bade 
 farewell to the Light Guards as 
 follows : 
 
 This company left our city yesterday 
 evening' at 6 o'clock. The muster roll 
 may be found in another column. Our 
 heart fails us as we attempt to write 
 upon the subject. The company is 
 made up almost entirely of young men 
 — only five married, and, with two ex- 
 ceptions, these quite recently. Most 
 of the members have lived in the city 
 or in the immediate vicinity; they are 
 connected with the best families and 
 of course are greatly beloved. 
 
 We are sure there will not be in the 
 army a more gallant company of brave 
 men than compose this corps. They are 
 armed with the Windsor rifle. They 
 have no accoutrements, but in all else 
 they are fully provided. The pro- 
 visions for health and comfort in camp 
 are quite complete. That they may all 
 safely return is the fervent and earn- 
 est prayer of the entii-e community. 
 
 The Courier Thursday morninq-. 
 May 30, 1861, gave the' Miller Ri- 
 fles this send-oft": 
 
 This company left yesterday at 11 
 o'clock on a special train for Richmond. 
 It consists of a larger number than 
 either of the other companies that 
 have left.* It is made up of the best 
 kind of fighting men, mostly from the 
 country, and though but little used to 
 drill at present, they are inured to 
 many hardships that will enable them 
 to drop into camp routine with com- 
 parative ease; and Capt. Towers is 
 just the man to make this company 
 one of the most efficient in the serv- 
 ice. 
 
 And now the author again steps 
 aside and l)o\vs to pens that are 
 more trenchant than his own. The 
 quotations are from The Courier, 
 with the dates as indicated : 
 
 Northern Men's Sacrifice. — Those 
 citizens of Northern birth who enlist 
 in our army and who demonstrate on 
 the battlefield their fidelity to our 
 cause are entitled to the lasting grat- 
 itude and remembrance of our people. 
 To the foreman and others in charge 
 of The Courier, it is a source of grati- 
 fication to hear on frequent occasions 
 the name of Mr. Melville Dwinell, now 
 in the army, who participated in the 
 recent glorious achievement at Manas- 
 sas, spoken of in terms of the warmest 
 
 respect and regard. He was in the 
 hottest of the column led by the la- 
 mented Bartow. We hope that he 
 escaped death. 
 
 We grieve to learn that Frank La- 
 throp, our young friend and fellow 
 citizen, from the house of Sloan, Har- 
 per & Co., is no more. He, too, was a 
 Northern man, and fell at Manassas, 
 battling for our rights. 
 
 Floyd Companies' Loss. — As there 
 has been no official report publkshed of 
 the killed and wounded of the Eighth 
 Georgia Regiment in the First Battle 
 of Manassas, we are only enabled to 
 give the following report from a list 
 sent by Rev. John Jones, pastor of the 
 First Presbyterian church of Rome, 
 who has been visiting the companies 
 and is now at Richmond: 
 
 Rome Light Guards — Killed: Chas. 
 B. Norton, Geo. T. Stovall, D. Clinton 
 Hargrove, Jas. B. Clark and Dr. J. T. 
 Duane ; badly wounded, M. D. McOs- 
 ker, J. H. Anderson (Ringgold), J. A. 
 Stevenson (Jacksonville) ; slightly 
 wounded, Capt. E. J. Magruder, G. L. 
 Aycock, A. J. Bearden, J. Dunwoody 
 
 Jones, J. F. Shelton, Shackleford 
 
 and Jett Howard; missing, John J. 
 Black, Wm. A. Barron, M. A. Ross and 
 John R. Payne. 
 
 Miller Rifles— Killed, Thos. Mobley, 
 Frank Lathrop and Lewis Yarbrough; 
 badly wounded, O. B. Eve, Thos. J. 
 Hills and Wm. A. King; slightly 
 wounded, John M. Berry, B. F. Cornut, 
 W. D. Corput, S. H. Chambers, M. D. 
 Funderburk, N. S. Fain, Maj. John 
 Minton, Jourdan Reese, T. C. Sparks, 
 J. H. Silvey, W. P. Trout, W. W. Ware, 
 the two Easons and D. C. Harper; sick, 
 W. J. Barrett, G. Carroll, R. F. Car- 
 roll, B. F. Price and T. R. Glenn. 
 
 Flovd Infantry — Killed, George 
 Martin, W. J. Chastain, A. W. Har- 
 shaw and J. H. Dunn; badly wounded, 
 Capt. Jno. F. Cooper. Full list not re- 
 ported. 
 
 Manassas Battleground Camp, Tues- 
 day, July 23, 1861, 8 p. m. 
 Dear Courier: Since writing this 
 morning I have gathered some particu- 
 lars of the glorious victory of July 21. 
 As the facts are made known, the com- 
 plete rout of the enemy and the utter 
 confusion into which they were thrown 
 becomes more and more evident. In- 
 stead of getting 42 of their cannon, 64 
 have already been brought in, and 
 there is reason to believe still more 
 
 *The Floyd Infantry, under command of Capt. 
 Jno. Fretlerick Cooper, is referred to here with 
 the Light Guards. It is supposed to have left 
 several days ahead of any other company.
 
 Opening of the Civil War — First Manassas 
 
 141 
 
 will be found, provided this number 
 does not include all they had. Our 
 troops detailed for that purpose have 
 been finding them all day, run off in 
 concealed places by the roadside. In 
 addition to the cannon, it is reported 
 that the road leading- to Alexandria is 
 literally lined with muskets, rifles, etc., 
 etc. This morning 27 of Lincoln's com- 
 missioned officers, including several of 
 the stafi:', were sent to Richmond as 
 prisoners of war. 
 
 The sneaking cunning and perfidious 
 meanness of our enemies was exhibited 
 on the day of battle by their use of a 
 flag, one side of which represented the 
 colors of the Confederate States and 
 the other those of the United States. 
 It was by the use of this that our regi- 
 ments were so badly cut up. The col- 
 umn that flanked us showed the Con- 
 federate flag until they got to the po- 
 sition where they could do us the great- 
 est possible injury, then turned to us 
 the Federal side of the flag. For doing 
 this when they sent a flag of truce to 
 Gen. Beauregard, asking for the privi- 
 lege of gathering up and burying their 
 dead, it was denied them. How can 
 they expect any courtesy when they 
 thus set at defiance all the rules of 
 civilized warfare? The low spirit that 
 governs them and their miscreancy 
 was also exhibited on the 18th, when 
 they made use of the truce in throwing 
 up barricades and breastworks. 
 
 A. J. Bearden was taken prisoner 
 and carried some four miles from the 
 battleground. This was after our reg- 
 iment had fallen back. He was car- 
 ried to the headquarters of the ene- 
 my, and there saw a large number of 
 gentlemen from Washington City, New 
 York and other places, drinking and 
 carousing over "their" victory. Not 
 long after, news came that their army 
 was retreating, with our cavalry in hot 
 pursuit. Then ensued a scene of in- 
 describable confusion among this white 
 kid gentry in their efforts to secure 
 their personal safety by flight. When 
 our cavalry came up, Bearden claimed 
 his own freedom, and took captive the 
 captain who had been guarding him. 
 Chas. M. Harper, of the Miller Rifles, 
 was taken prisoner, and with two or 
 three others was guarded by six of the 
 Hessians. After a while, more pris- 
 oners were put in care of the same 
 guard, so that their number exceeded 
 that of the hirelings holding them. Our 
 boys watched their opportunity, 
 snatched their guardians' guns and 
 took them all pi'isoners. Another in- 
 stance in which the tables were turned 
 occurred with a member of our com- 
 
 pany, Robt. DeJournett. He was on 
 the retreat when a mounted officer, 
 supposed to have been a colonel, rode 
 up to within 15 or 20 paces and cried 
 out, "Your life! Your life, you young 
 rebel!" DeJournett turned, raised his 
 gun and shot him through while the 
 officer was attempting to draw his pis- 
 tol. DeJournett made a hasty retreat 
 in safety, though a volley of muskets 
 was fired at him. 
 
 It is now certain that John J. Black, 
 Marcus A. Ross and John Payne were 
 taken prisoners and carried off. Mc- 
 Grath came in today, unharmed. This 
 accounts for all the Light Guards. No 
 prisoners were carried off from the 
 Miller Rifles. Seven of the Federal 
 prisoners have told us they expected to 
 be hung as soon as the battle was over. 
 They have been taught to believe that 
 the Southerners are a set of complete 
 barbarians. Geo. Martin, of the Floyd 
 Infantry, died last night. Howard Mc- . 
 Osker and Anderson, of our company, 
 have been sent to Gordonsville. They 
 were doing well. 
 
 Our regiment has not yet reorgan- 
 ized, and we did not move today, as 
 was anticipated. We were all very glad 
 to see Rev. John Jones when he came 
 into camp today. It is said that the 
 
 CE0H(;K TlillM'K STOVAI.l,. .'.iilor and 
 Methodist Siindjiy School superintendent who 
 was killed at l'"iisl Manassas.
 
 142 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Lincolnites have taken Washington 
 City. They certainly hold no place 
 this side of Alexandria. — Courier, 
 Aug. 1, 1861. 
 
 Thos. J. Hill'^. — History will delight 
 to honor the heroes of Manassas and 
 the bravery of our boys; "in the dead- 
 ly thicket" long will be a fireside 
 theme ! 
 
 In our exultation over the great vic- 
 tory at Manassas it is well to pay a 
 passing tribute to the memory of those 
 who freely gave their lives to gain it. 
 He whose name heads this article was 
 not among those whose life sped ere 
 victory was won; lingering until Fri- 
 day night, he died peacefully in the 
 full realization of the promises so 
 sweet to the Christian heart. 
 
 Of modest, unassuming manner, he 
 was well known only to his intimate 
 friends, who knew him but to love him. 
 As superintendent of the Sabbath 
 School at Running Waters (the Hume 
 place north of Rome), he had re- 
 cently entered upon a life of Christian 
 usefulness, where he was becoming 
 better known and more widely appre- 
 ciated. In him we mourn a devoted 
 son, an afl'ectionate brother and faith- 
 ful friend. Truly, death loves a shin- 
 ing mark, and in the loss of our prom- 
 ising young men we see God's ways 
 are past finding out. — M., Aug. 9, 
 1861. 
 
 Rehirned.— Gen. Geo. S. Black, Col. 
 W. A. Fort, H. A. Gartrell, N. J. Om- 
 berg, R. S. Norton and G. R. Sandefer 
 returned home a few days ago from 
 Manassas, where they had gone to visit 
 their sons and friends. 
 
 Wm. Higginbotham, a well-known 
 free man of color, also returned on 
 Saturday morning. He reached Ma- 
 nassas on the morning of the battle, 
 but was denied the privilege of taking 
 a gun and falling into the ranks. He 
 then assisted in removing the dead and 
 wounded, amid the shower of balls that 
 fell around. Such deeds are highly 
 meritorious and deserve much credit. 
 
 Accide7it on Rome Railroad. — On 
 Tuesday evening last, as the down 
 train reached a point about two miles 
 this side of Kingston, it struck a cow 
 on the track, which threw the engine 
 and part of the train off. The engi- 
 neer saw the cow, but too late to stop 
 the train, and fearing the result, 
 jumped off and broke his leg. This is 
 the only serious accident that has oc- 
 curred on this road for several years. 
 A number of the Cherokee Artillery, 
 vho were home on furlough, were 
 
 forced to walk from the spot to King- 
 ston, as their train from Rome could 
 not pass. They were going to Camp 
 McDonald, and thence will go to Vir- 
 ginia. — Aug. 9, 1861. 
 
 Soldiers Returned. — John M. Berry, 
 of the Miller Rifles, who had two of 
 his fingers shot off at Manassas, and 
 who received an honorable discharge, 
 returned a few days ago. M. A. Ross, 
 of the Light Guards, who received a 
 wound in his arm and hand, was taken 
 prisoner and escaped, arrived Thurs- 
 day on a two months' furlough. L. G. 
 Bradbury belonged to no company, 
 though fought with the rest of the 
 boys. He went out for the purpose of 
 joining the Light Guards, but was not 
 received on account of being a cripple, 
 it.— Aug. 16, 1861. 
 He went to see the elephant and saw 
 
 A survivor's account of the First 
 Battle of Manassas has l)een 
 gleaned from the records of the 
 United Daughters of the Confed- 
 eracy :* 
 
 It was on a bright, beautiful Sun- 
 day morning that one of the world's 
 most remarkable battles was fought. 
 Gens. Gustave T. Beauregard and Jos. 
 E. Johnston were the Confederate 
 leaders, and Gen. Winfield Scott com- 
 mander of the Northern army. Jef- 
 ferson Davis was on the field, cheer- 
 ing the hosts in gray. It was here 
 that Gen. Thos. J. Jackson got his nick- 
 name "Stonewall." Francis S. Bartow, 
 colonel of the Eighth Georgia Regi- 
 ment, had our command, and Gen. Ber- 
 nard E. Bee was also there, with his 
 South Carolina battalions. 
 
 Predictions had been made by the 
 Washington contingent that the flag 
 that carried in its folds the love of 
 these hotly patriotic Southerners would 
 be furled forever. A large crowd of 
 spectators came out from Washington 
 in their fine carriages, with nice 
 lunches and plenty to drink in cele- 
 bration of the expected Union victory, 
 and the festivities were to be continued 
 that night in the capital. 
 
 The tides of battle surged back and 
 forth. Units of the Southern army 
 were cut to pieces, and the remnants 
 retreated. Seeing some men turning 
 to the rear, the gallant Bee shouted, 
 "Look at Jackson there; he is stand- 
 ing like a stone wall!" The men ral- 
 lied. Reinforcements for us came up, 
 
 ♦Related by Virgil A. Stewart. He and B. J. 
 Franks, of Armuchee, are the only survivors 
 of the Rome Light Guards.
 
 Opening of the Civil War — First Manassas 
 
 143 
 
 FOUR INTREPID CONFEDERATE LEADERS. 
 
 At top, left to right, are Jefferson Davis, president of the Southern Confederacy, who 
 was captured near Irwinville, Ga., in 1865, after a flight from Richmond with Colonel and 
 Mrs. C. I. Graves, of Rome; and Gen. Jos. Eccleston Johnston, famed for his well-ordered 
 retreat from Chattanooga through Rome. At the bottom are Gen. Jno. B. Gordon, who 
 attended Hearn Academy, Cave Spring, and Gen. Jno. B. Hood, commander in the Atlanta 
 campaign, who crossed the Coosa River at Veal's ferry, Coosa Village. 
 
 and by 3 o'clock in the afternoon the 
 rout of the Union army was complete. 
 Beauregard and Johnston wanted to 
 push on to Washing:ton in the hope of 
 ending the war, but Davis said no. 
 
 Practically half of the Eighth's 
 1,000 Georgians fell dead or wounded, 
 or were captured or lost. The Fourth 
 Alabama was also well decimated. Bar- 
 tow led his men to an exposed emi- 
 nence which was too hot to hold. 
 
 When the command to retire was 
 given, I did not hear it, and soon found 
 mvself with none but dead and wound- 
 
 ed around me. I fell back to a thicket 
 and met Jim Tom Moore, who said he 
 did not know where were the rest of 
 the men. Ike Donkle sang out, "Rally, 
 Rome Light Guards!" About a dozen 
 came out of the thicket and were im- 
 mediately fired upon by a regiment in 
 a protected position. The Romans re- 
 turned the fire, then fell back to cover. 
 My hat and coat were well riddled, 
 but my skin was untouched. 
 
 Among our dead were Jas. B. Clark, 
 Dr. J. T. Duane, a native of Ireland, 
 who had come to Rome only a few
 
 144 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 years before and opened a dental of- 
 fice; Geo. T. Stovall, a bachelor, su- 
 perintendent of the First Methodist 
 Church Sunday School, and perhaps 
 the most beloved young man in the 
 town; Charles B. Norton, a clothing 
 merchant, and D. Clinton Hargi'ove, a 
 lawyer, my uncle and a brother of Z. 
 B. Hargrove. Charlie Norton was the 
 eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Reuben 
 Norton and a brother of Mrs. Wm. M. 
 Towers. Among our wounded were M. 
 D. McOsker and L. T. ("Coon") Mitch- 
 ell,* son of Dan'l. R. Mitchell, one of 
 the four founders of Rome. 
 
 When Charlie Norton was shot, he 
 pitched forward and fell across me, 
 for I was on my knees firing. He was 
 the first Light Guard member to be 
 killed. It was a horrible sight; men 
 falling all around, some dying quickly 
 and the others making the day hideous 
 with their groans. Considering that 
 so many were our boyhood friends, it 
 v/as all the harder to bear. 
 
 Bartow fell mortally wounded, and 
 was attended by Dr. H. V. M. Miller. 
 A short time previously he was at- 
 tempting to rally his men. Frenzied 
 at his heavy loss, he seized a flag from 
 the hands of a color bearer. It hap- 
 pened that these were the colors of a 
 South Carolina unit under Bee. The 
 incident was noticed by Bee, who 
 rushed up and snatched the colors from 
 Bartow. Bee also lost his life in this 
 fight. Had he and Bartow been spared, 
 it is quite likely they would have 
 fought a duel. 
 
 As the Eighth Georgia marched off 
 the field at the conclusion of the battle. 
 Gen. Beauregard saluted and cried: 
 "I salute the Eighth Georgia with my 
 hat off. History shall never forget 
 you!" 
 
 Capt. Magruder received two wounds 
 at First Manassas. Later, at Gar- 
 nett's farm, near Richmond, he was 
 wounded twice on the same day. Part 
 of his nose and right jaw were torn 
 away, and his shoulder was badly shot. 
 Having had his face bandaged, he was 
 rushing back to the front when a mid- 
 dle-aged man in homespun suit and 
 broad-brinnned hat stopped him and 
 said: 
 
 "Major, you are more seriously 
 wounded than you realize. You must 
 take my carriage and go to the hos- 
 pital." 
 
 Capt. Magruder pushed on abruptly, 
 telling the man to mind his own busi- 
 ness. A soldier who saw the meeting 
 asked Capt. Magruder a moment later 
 if he knew it was Jefferson Davis he 
 
 was talking to. Capt. Magruder turned 
 quickly and apologized, explaining that 
 nearly all the officers had been inca- 
 pacitated or captured, and that he 
 must take command. He went through 
 the thickest of the fight, fainted and 
 was borne from the field. After a while 
 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. 
 At Petersburg he was wounded twice; 
 once slightly and suffered a broken 
 arm. Surgeons insisted on amputa- 
 tion but he refused and his elbow was 
 always stiff thereafter. He was sent 
 to "Frescati," the Magruder home- 
 stead in Virginia, which he had helped 
 put in order to receive his wounded 
 comrades. 
 
 Judge Augustus R. Wright, 
 Federal and Confederate Congress- 
 man, contributed the following to 
 the discussion of intrigue at Rich- 
 mond : 
 
 Richmond, Va., Feb. 26, 1862. 
 
 Francis C. Shropshire, 
 
 Rome, Ga. 
 
 My Dear Frank: On Saturday last 
 we had the ceremonies of the inaugu- 
 ration. Imposing, very. A gloomier 
 day never settled upon the capital of 
 Virginia. The rain fell in torrents. 
 Notwithstanding, the crowd was im- 
 mense. President Davis made his 
 speech and took the oath at the eques- 
 trian statue of Washington. The com- 
 mending of himself and his country 
 into the hands of God at the conclu- 
 sion of the ceremony was a sublime 
 scene. Emaciated and careworn, with 
 a deep feeling of sadness pervading 
 his pale, intellectual features, there 
 v/as anearnestness and solemnity in 
 his mannr that satisfied the beholder. 
 His spirit was even then in deep com- 
 munion with his God. There were 
 no Christian doubts that he had prayed 
 before in the deep humility of a trust- 
 ing and faithful heart. 
 
 Mr. Davis, in my opinion, is a Chris- 
 tian President, and if he is, Grod will 
 take care of him and the young suf- 
 fering country which he rules for the 
 next six years. 
 
 The vileness of our race is being ex- 
 hibited here every day in the efforts 
 of some of those who were first to 
 overthrow the old Government,** to 
 shake the confidence of the people in 
 
 *Mitchell told later how Stovall had men- 
 tioned to him the night before the battle a 
 premonition of death. Stovall was humming 
 at the time his favorite song, "Jesus Lover of 
 My Soul." His last words were, "Tell my 
 mother I have gone to Heaven." 
 **Presuniably at Montgomery.
 
 Opening of the Civil War — First Manassas 
 
 145 
 
 their rulers in the hour of misfortune 
 and public calamity, the time when of 
 all others we should stand by the Gov- 
 ernment with the most heroic forti- 
 tude, and strengthen by every means 
 in our power the confidence of our peo- 
 ple in our rulers. 
 
 Some already declare Congress is 
 bound by no Constitution in time of 
 war, others that we must change the 
 organic law again ; the best way to 
 get clear of incompetent rulers is for 
 the people to rise in their might and 
 overthrow them. 
 
 It is fearful to hear the talk in Con- 
 gress and out of it. If we are not 
 careful, and meet with a few more re- 
 verses, we shall have the revolution 
 all over again. 
 
 I shall stick to the President because 
 it is right, because he is worthy, and 
 because it is the only course to secure 
 law and order and any Government 
 at all. 
 
 There are a great many currents 
 and undercurrents here — demagogues 
 v^orking like maggots on the body pol- 
 itic; the body of the people are like a 
 seething caldron — traitors in great 
 evidence that glory in the news of our 
 defeat. Upon requiring the office- 
 holders to take the oath of allegiance, 
 I understand there were 40 who re- 
 fused. 
 
 The situation at this time: The 
 Federal army numbers 500,000, the 
 Confederate army about 350,000. Mill 
 Spring surrendered Feb. 6; Gen. Jolli- 
 coffer, a favorite Southern general, 
 killed. Fort Donelson, on line of Mis- 
 
 sissippi River, surrendered Feb. 16, 
 with about 15,000 men. 
 
 "God is my refuge and my 
 sti^ength;" out of the darkness He will 
 bring light, and upon these shadows 
 His spirit will move in strength, and 
 we shall have a new Government to 
 shed its blessings, I hope, upon a free, 
 intelligent and Christian people. 
 Yours truly, 
 AUGUSTUS R. WRIGHT. 
 
 The Civil War, like every other 
 war, was not free of profiteering. 
 Occasionally the boys at the front 
 would write back their opinions of 
 money grubbing and hoarding, and 
 as early as a year after the open- 
 ing the home folks were sniping 
 at its pudgy form. The Tri-Week- 
 ly Courier of Tuesday, Apr. 8, 1862, 
 printed the proceedings of a county 
 mass meeting at the City Hall, in 
 which strong resolutions were 
 passed against extortionate prices 
 which were crippling the men on 
 the firing line and working a hard- 
 ship on non-combatants. Col. 
 James Word was chairman of the 
 meeting and R. D. Harvey secre- 
 tary. The resolutions were drawn 
 by a committee composed of Dan- 
 iel R. Mitchell, H. Aycock, B. F. 
 Hawkins, Kinchin Rambo and J. 
 W. Dunnahoo, and they were 
 I)assed unanimously.
 
 146 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 FINE DWELLINGS OF HILL AND COUNTRYSIDE. 
 
 The elegant simplicity of Rome homes has often been remarked. Here we see a few of 
 ihe finer structures in their artistic settings. At top, the Second Avenue home of C. Wm. 
 King; next, "Beverly Hall," the country estate of J. Nephew King, near DeSoto Park; center, 
 the Fourth ward dwelling of the late J. A. Glover. The two bottom pictures are of "Hill- 
 crest," East Rome dwelling of Jno. M. Graham.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 A Rome Engine Chases The "General 
 
 ALTHOUGH the story of 
 "Andrews' Wild Raid" of 
 Apr. 12, 1862, is well known 
 to followers of Civil War 
 history, the part played by a Rome 
 engine in the chase and capture 
 of this band of desperate men has 
 remained buried in oblivion. This 
 engine was the "Wm. R. Smith,"* 
 a small, "wood-burning" affair 
 named after Col. Wm. R. ("Long 
 Bill") Smith, first president of the 
 Rome Railroad. Her engineer was 
 Oliver Wiley Harbin,** and the 
 conductor of the Rome Railroad 
 train to which she was attached 
 and which awaited the arrival of 
 the Atlanta train at Kingston was 
 Cicero A. Smith, also of Rome, son 
 of Jacob Smith, an uncle of "Bill 
 Arp."*** 
 
 The following account is taken 
 partly from an illustrated folder 
 issued in 1903 under direction of 
 W. L.. Danley, of Nashville, Tenn., 
 general passenger agent of the N. 
 C. & St. L. railway, lessees of the 
 Western & Atlantic (state) rail- 
 road, and partly from "Georgia's 
 Landmarks, Memorials & Leg- 
 ends," Vol. H, ps. 230-234.**** 
 
 James J. Andrews, a Union spy and 
 contraband merchant of Flemingsburg, 
 Ky., was commissioned by Gen. O. M. 
 Mitchel to lead a raid into Georgia and 
 burn the railroad bridges between Big 
 Shanty (Kennesaw, Cobb County), 
 and Chattanooga, Tenn. Gen. Mitch- 
 el's division of Buell's Union army 
 was in camp near Shelbyville, Tenn., 
 and it was from this point that An- 
 drews took 21 men in civilian clothes 
 and made his way through the Confed- 
 
 *Georgia's liandmarks, Memorials & Legends, 
 Vol. n. p. 233. 
 
 ♦♦Authorities : Judge Jno. C. Printup, Mrs. 
 Susan Cothran Smith, of Birmingham, daugh- 
 ter of Col. Wade S. Cothran, superintendent of 
 the road ; H. H. Wimpee, of Rome. 
 
 *** Authority : Mrs. Smith. Cicero A. Smith 
 was a brother of Miss Mollie Smith, Henry A. 
 Smith and James Smith, of Rome. 
 
 ****Contributed by Willier (i. Kurtz, of Chi- 
 cago, who married a daughter of Capt. Wm. 
 A. Fuller, one of the principals in the es- 
 capade. 
 
 erate lines to Mar-ietta, seven miles 
 south of Big Shanty. Mitchel was to 
 capture Huntsville, Ala., on the same 
 day that Andrews' raiders were tear- 
 ing up the road, and supplies being cut 
 off from the South for the Confed- 
 erate garrison at Chattanooga, Mitchel 
 was to march from Huntsville on re- 
 ceiving word from Andrews, and over- 
 whelm the Tennessee town. Reinforce- 
 ments sufficient to hold Chattanooga 
 were to be rushed to Mitchel's aid. 
 
 Andrews was familiar with the road, 
 but heavy rains delayed him a day and 
 he decided to make his dash Apr. 12 
 instead of the 11th, reasoning that 
 the rains would hold up Mitchel's force 
 a day as well. Consequently, he did 
 not reach Marietta until the night of 
 Apr. 11. At Marietta the presence of 
 this group of strangers attracted some 
 attention, but they explained that they 
 were Southerners who had made their 
 way through the Northern lines and 
 wanted to join the Confederate army. 
 
 At 6 o'clock on the morning of Apr. 
 12 Capt. Wm. A. Fuller, conductor of 
 the northbound passenger train, pulled 
 the bell cord that sent the engine puff- 
 ing out of the Union Station in At- 
 lanta. This was the engine "General," 
 built by the Rogers Locomotive Works 
 at Paterson, N. J., in 1855, a trim 
 wood-burner with a sharp cowcatcher 
 and bellows stack, which for some 
 years has been on exhibition at the 
 Union depot, Chattanooga. The en- 
 gineer was Jeff Cain, and Capt. An- 
 thony Murphy, well-known Atlantan 
 and superintendent of the W. & A. 
 shops, went along. Three empty box 
 cars were carried next to the engine 
 to bring commissary stores from Chat- 
 tanooga to Atlanta. 
 
 When the train reached Marietta, 20 
 miles northwest of Atlanta, two of An- 
 drews' party for some reason failed 
 to get aboard, but the other twenty 
 clambered on, having bought tickets 
 for various points l)eyond Big Shanty. 
 It was customary foi- this train to stop 
 20 minutes at Big Shanty so the train 
 crew and passengers could get break- 
 fast at Lacey's Hotel. This was done 
 on this occasion, and Capt. Fuller sat 
 with his face toward his engine, where 
 he could see through an ojien window, 
 40 feet from the train. 
 
 In Andrews' party were four en- 
 gineers and firemen, some couplers and
 
 148 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 others familiar with railroad work, and 
 practically all of them were armed 
 with pistols, and several carried pliers 
 for cutting: telep:raph wires. Although 
 Big Shanty had 3,000 Confederate sol- 
 diers in training (at Camp McDon- 
 ald), it did not boast a telegraph sta- 
 tion. The commanding officer had i*e- 
 quested Capt. Fuller to take in tow 
 several deserters who might board his 
 train, hence when the conductor saw 
 the strangers uncouple the engine and 
 the three empty box cars from his 
 train and start off, he thought they 
 were Confederate undesirables. 
 
 "Some one who has no right to do so 
 has gone off with our train!" shouted 
 Capt. Fuller. The sixteen men in the 
 last box car waved defiantly as they 
 turned a curve and were lost to view. 
 The alarm was sounded through vil- 
 lage and camp. 
 
 A bugler called together the High- 
 land Rangers, a horse troop com- 
 manded by Capt. J. L. Kerr, a Rome 
 tailor, which was Co. G, of the First 
 Georgia Cavalry, commanded by Col. 
 J. J. Morrison, of Polk County. The 
 horsemen dashed away in hot pursuit. 
 Among them were four Roman broth- 
 ers, M. A. J. (Matt), Wm., George and 
 Dave Wimpee.* 
 
 Capt. Fuller used the tools at hand. 
 He pitted leg power against steam. 
 Mr. Cain and Capt. Murphy followed 
 closely. At Moon's Station, two miles 
 away, they got a hand car off a side- 
 track. The men at the station had 
 had their tools taken forcibly by the 
 raiders. They reported that the 
 strangers had cut 100 yards of wire 
 from the telegraph poles, and carried 
 it with them. Capt. Fuller then com- 
 prehended the design, and put new de- 
 termination into his efforts. He had 
 arrived here ahead of his companions, 
 so pushed the hand car back and picked 
 them up. Two of them shoved the rude 
 conveyance while the third rested and 
 kept a sharp lookout ahead. Rain was 
 falling in a gloomy drizzle. 
 
 Capt. Fuller figured that the down- 
 grade to Etowah Station, at the Eto- 
 wah river, would probably enable him 
 to get to that point (fifteen miles from 
 Moon's) by the time "The General" had 
 climbed the grade thence to Kingston, 
 and that at Kingston freight trains 
 were due to hold up the raiders a while. 
 A pile of crossties was removed from 
 the track a mile north of Moon's. At 
 Acworth they got pistols and wei-e 
 joined by Steve Stokely, of Cobb Coun- 
 ty, and a Mr. Smith, of Jonesboro, 
 Two rails had been removed just be- 
 
 fore reaching Etowah, so the hand- 
 car had to be lifted along some 75 feet. 
 
 After a heroic effort, Etowah was 
 reached, and there, justifying the 
 hopes of Capt. Fuller, stood the old 
 engine "Yonah," the property of the 
 Cooper Iron Works. The engine was 
 standing on a sidetrack near the Eto- 
 wah trestle, and the tender, detached, 
 was on the turn-table. The tender was 
 turned around and attached to the en- 
 gine, and off they went. No further 
 impediments were encountered up to 
 Kingston, fifteen miles from Etowah. 
 By this time the countryside was in 
 a fever of excitement. Andrews was 
 telling curious station masters and 
 trainmen that he was running an am- 
 munition train to the relief of Gen. 
 G. T. Beauregard, at Corinth, Miss. 
 He also stated that Capt. Fuller's pas- 
 senger train was coming along behind ; 
 but when the people saw Capt. Ful- 
 ler's bedraggled crew, they knew the 
 truth. 
 
 The "Yonah" pawed up sparks as 
 her wheels slipped in starting; then 
 she made record speed to Kingston. 
 Andrews had just left. He had per- 
 suaded the freight engineers to give 
 him right of way, and was off with a 
 mocking laugh. The "Texas" found 
 the freights so arranged that she was 
 hopelessly pocketed, but on the left- 
 hand prong of the "Y," pointed toward 
 Rome, was the "Wm. R. Smith," steam 
 up and waiting for the Atlanta trans- 
 fer passengers. Capt. Fuller pressed 
 this engine into service, and her en- 
 gineer, O. Wiley Harbin, ran her a 
 distance of five miles, faster than the 
 "stringers" and flat rails of the Rome 
 railroad would have stood. In the cab 
 of the Rome engine were also seated 
 the Rome train conductor, Cicero A. 
 Smith, Capt. Fuller, Mr. Cain, Mr. 
 Murphy, Mr. Stokely and Mr. Smith. 
 Four miles south of Adairsville (Cass 
 County), 60 yards of track was found 
 to have been torn up. The "Smith" 
 was stopped with a jerk and Capt. Ful- 
 ler and his four companions ran ahead 
 after thanking the crew from Rome. 
 The Romans remained behind to look 
 after their engine, and slowly steamed 
 back to Kingston and took up their 
 previous position. 
 
 Capt. Fuller pressed on two miles as 
 fast as his legs would carry him, again 
 leading his crowd by several furlongs. 
 After half a mile Murphy was the 
 only one he could see. Presentb?^ an 
 express freight train came puffing 
 along with 20 cars. Capt. Fuller stood 
 
 ♦Authority : H. H. Wimpee.
 
 A Rome Engine Chases the "General" 
 
 149 
 
 on the track, brandished his pistol and 
 brought the train to a stop. The en- 
 gineer, Peter Bracken, recognized him 
 ?nd heard his hastily-told story. They 
 waited for Capt. Murphy to arrive, 
 then backed up the road as fast as pos- 
 sible, Capt. Fuller standing on the last 
 box car, 20 lengths away, and giving 
 signals so the engineer could tell how 
 to run. Others now on the train were 
 Fleming Cox and Henry Haney, fire- 
 man of the freight, and Alonzo Mar- 
 tin, wood passer. Smith and Stokely 
 had been left behind. The train was 
 now being pushed by the Danforth and 
 Cook engine "Texas." 
 
 When within 200 yards of the switch 
 at Adairsville, Capt. Fuller jumped 
 down, ran ahead and changed the 
 switch so as to throw the 20 cars on 
 the sidetrack. He then reversed the 
 switch and hopped on the "Texas," 
 which sped on her way. So quickly 
 had this change been effected that en- 
 gine and cars ran side by side for near- 
 ly 1,000 feet. The "Texas," it should 
 be borne in mind, was still running 
 backward, whereas the "General" was 
 pointed ahead. This gave the "Gen- 
 eral" quite an advantage because the 
 instability of a tender running fast 
 ahead tends to throw it off the track. 
 Calhoun, Gordon County, ten miles 
 from Adairsville, was reached in 
 twelve minutes. Here Edward Hen- 
 derson, 17, telegraph operator at Dal- 
 ton, had arrived on the morning pas- 
 senger train, to see what was the mat- 
 ter with the telegraph wires. Running 
 at 1.5 miles an hour, Capt. Fuller 
 stretched out a hand to him and pulled 
 him aboard the engine. 
 
 While they sped along as fast as an 
 engine with 5 feet, 10-inch driving 
 wheels could run, Capt. Fuller wrote 
 the following telegram to Gen. Ledbet- 
 ter at Chattanooga, handed it to young 
 Henderson and told him to hop off 
 quick at Dalton and put it through: 
 
 "My train was captured this morn- 
 ing at Big Shanty, evidently by P^ed- 
 eral soldiers in disguise. They are 
 making rapidly for Chattanooga, pos- 
 sibly with an idea of burning the rail- 
 road bridges in their rear. If I do 
 not capture them in the meantime, see 
 that they do not pass Chattanooga." 
 
 Two miles north of Calhoun the fly- 
 ing raiders were sighted by the pur- 
 suers for the first time. They de- 
 tached the rear freight car at a point 
 where they had made a fruitless effort 
 to tear up a rail with a crow-bar. This 
 car was coupled in front of the "Tex- 
 as" without stopping, and Capt. Fuller 
 mounted it and signalled to the en- 
 
 gineer, who could not see ahead. The 
 end of this car had been punched out 
 so crossties could be strewn along the 
 tiack, ties having been taken from the 
 roadbed at various points. Two and a 
 half miles farther, Capt. Fuller en- 
 countered another loose freight car. 
 This was taken on in front, and the 
 gallant captain moved up a car length. 
 The bridge over the Oostanaula River 
 was crossed safely and at Resaca Capt. 
 Fuller left the two cumbersome freight 
 cars on a siding, and sped onward with 
 the "Texas" only. At a short curve 
 tw^o miles north of Resaca a T-rail 
 diagonally across the track was seen 
 too late to stop. Capt. Fuller was 
 standing on the tender, and he clung 
 to the side and closed his eyes a mo- 
 ment in anticipation of a crash. The 
 right fore wheel swept the rail off the 
 track like it had been a straw, and 
 they were safe again. They were said 
 to have been making 55 miles an hour. 
 This was undoubtedly one of the rails 
 whose removal halted the engine from 
 Rome. It was probably dropped off 
 the third and last box car, hence there 
 was no time to place it straight across. 
 Only two or three times were obstruc- 
 tions met with between Resaca and 
 Dalton, a distance of fifteen miles; 
 these were quickly removed. At Dal- 
 
 COl.. WADI-: S. COTHKAN. banki-r an. I pro- 
 moter, who, with John Hume, caused the 
 Nobles to move to Rome.
 
 150 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 ton the telegraph operator was drop- 
 ped, and he managed to get his mes- 
 sage on the line a few seconds before 
 the wires were snipped up the road. 
 The customary acknowledgment at the 
 end of the message was not received 
 from Chattanooga because the pliers 
 had been used so quickly. 
 
 Two miles north of Dalton the des- 
 perate fugitives were seen frantically 
 attempting to tear up a rail. Col. Jesse 
 A. Glenn's regiment was camping 
 nearby, and its members also noticed 
 the work of Andrews' men. Before 
 the soldiers could come up, the An- 
 drews band had made off again. The 
 fifteen miles from Dalton to Ringgold 
 (Catoosa County) was made in faster 
 time than Capt. Fuller had ever made 
 it in his 22 years as a conductor. At 
 middle distance between these two 
 points stood the long tunnel at Tunnel 
 Hill, Whitfield County. Here was a 
 fine opportunity for the pursued to 
 wreck the determined pursuers. Had 
 they stopped a short distance beyond 
 the tunnel and sent their last box car 
 into the dark passageway, a shocking 
 tragedy might have been enacted. 
 However, they were too hotly pursued 
 to try such an experiment. 
 
 The intervening distance had been 
 eaten up by the "Texas" until, half 
 way between Ringgold and Graysville 
 (a mile and a half north of Ringgold), 
 the "General" was only a quarter of 
 a mile in the lead. The "General" was 
 weakening perceptibly, due to complete 
 exhaustion of her wood and water sup- 
 ply. The last splinter had been shoved 
 into the firebox and the last drop of 
 water squeezed from her tank. The 
 once white smoke belching from her 
 clumsy but business-like stack had 
 been transformed into a hot breath. 
 The 20 reckless mutineers who had 
 commandeered her would have chucked 
 in their hats, shirts and shoes except 
 for the job of tearing through bram- 
 bles and streams. Several pine knots 
 had been passed back to the box cars 
 to set them on fire and send to the rear 
 a flaming messenger of death. Had 
 this sortie been successful, the chance 
 of escape might have been greatly 
 heightened, for the flames would have 
 closed around the chugging "Texas" 
 like a snare. A small fire was started 
 in the car, but the dampness madd the 
 attempt a failure. It was probable 
 that the plan was to fire the car and 
 leave it on the next bridge, but the 
 "General" could not pull the grade, 
 and the car was cut loose. Capt. Ful- 
 ler picked it up, and put out the fire. 
 The fugitives now abandoned the 
 
 "General" and ran through the woods 
 to the west. "Every man take care of 
 himself!" shouted Andrews, and they 
 scattered in squads of three or four. 
 
 At Ringgold Capt. Fuller had sight- 
 ed 50 or 75 soldiers and had shouted 
 word for them to mount their horses 
 and come forward in the chase. At a 
 fork in the Chickamauga near Grays- 
 ville four of the raiders were captured, 
 and one of them was forced to tell who 
 they were. The neighborhood was 
 thoroughly awakened, and within a 
 fortnight all of the 22 had been round- 
 ed up, including the two who had failed 
 to take the train at Marietta. Although 
 badly tuckered out, Capt. Fuller, Capt. 
 Murphy, Fleming Cox and Alonzo 
 Martin took to the woods in pursuit of 
 the raiders, but soon left the chase to 
 the men on horseback. Some of the 
 pursued hid out in mountains and 
 canebrakes, but were turned up when 
 they applied at farm houses for food. 
 
 The following Kentucky and Ohio 
 men participated in the raid:* 
 
 Jas. J. Andrews, leader, citizen, 
 Flemingsburg, Ky. ; Wm. H. Campbell, 
 citizen, of Kentucky. 
 
 Marion A. Ross, sergeant major; 
 Wm. Pittinger, sergeant. Company G; 
 Geo. D. Wilson, private, Company B; 
 Chas. P. Shadrach, private. Company 
 K, all of Second Ohio Infantry. 
 
 Elihu H. Mason, sergeant, Company 
 K; Jno. M. Scott, sergeant. Company 
 F ; Wilson M. Brown, corporal. Com- 
 pany F ; Mark Wood, private, Com- 
 pany C; Jno. A. Wilson, private, Com- 
 pany C; Wm. Knight, private. Compa- 
 ny E ; Jno. R. Porter, private, Com- 
 pany G ; Wm. Bensinger, private, Com- 
 pany G ; Robt. Buff um, private, Com- 
 pany H, all of 21st Ohio Infantry. 
 
 Martin J. Hawkins, corporal. Com- 
 pany A; Wm. H. Reddick, corporal. 
 Company B ; Daniel A. Dorsey, coi'- 
 poral. Company H; John Wollam, pri- 
 vate. Company C; Samuel Slavens, pri- 
 vate. Company E ; Samuel Robertson, 
 private, Company G; Jacob Pari-ott, 
 private, Company K, all of 33rd Ohio 
 Infantry. 
 
 Eight of these men, whose names ap- 
 pear below, were executed by the Con- 
 federate authorities at Atlanta, Ga., in 
 June, 1862; Andrews on June 7, and 
 Campbell, Ross, Geo. D. Wilson, Shad- 
 rach, Scott, Slavens and Robertson on 
 June 18. On Oct. 16, 1862, the eight 
 following named made their escape 
 from prison at Atlanta: Brown, Wood, 
 
 '•'Letter, Feb. 18, 1903, from F. C. Ainsworth, 
 chief of Record and Pension office, Washing- 
 ton, D. C, to W. L. Danley, Nashville, Tenn.
 
 A Rome Engine Chases the "General' 
 
 151 
 
 John A. Wilson, Knight, Porter, Haw- 
 kins, Dorsey and WoHam. The re- 
 maining six members of the raiding 
 party were paroled at City Point, Va., 
 March 17, 1863. Their names follow: 
 Pittinger, Mason, Bensinger, Buffum, 
 Reddick and Parrott. Congress gave 
 medals to all the survivors, who erect- 
 ed a monument to their comrades in 
 the National cemetery at Chicka- 
 mauga, Ga. The N., C". & St. L. rail- 
 way erected tablet stones at the points 
 where the "General" was captured and 
 was abandoned. The "Texas" stands 
 in the southeastern part of Grant 
 Park, Atlanta, defying the wind and 
 the weather. The "Yonah" and the 
 "Wm. R. Smith" are supposed to have 
 been scrapped.* 
 
 Sergt. Pittinger testified at his 
 trial that wlien the "General" 
 "broke down," they were burning 
 oil cans, tool boxes and planks 
 ripped off the freight car. As they 
 abandoned her they reversed her 
 in order to bring on a collision with 
 the "Texas," but in their haste and 
 excitement they left the brake on 
 the tender, and there was not suf- 
 ficient steam to back the engine. 
 In his book, "Capttiring a Locomo- 
 tive," he says : 
 
 We obstructed the track as well as 
 we could by laying on crossties at dif- 
 ferent places. We also cut the wires 
 between every station. Finally, when 
 we were nearly to the station where 
 we expected to meet the last train, 
 we stopped to take up a rail. We had 
 no instruments but a crowbar, and 
 instead of pulling out the spikes, as 
 we could have done with the pinch 
 bars used for that purpose by rail- 
 road men, we had to batter them out. 
 Just as we were going to relinquish 
 the effort, the whistle of an engine in 
 pursuit sounded in our ears.** With 
 one convulsive effort we broke the 
 
 ♦Georgia's liandmarks. Memorials & Legends, 
 Vol. II, p. 234, says Andrews was hanged at 
 Ponce DeLeon Avenue and Peachtree Street, 
 followinp: his conviction at Chattanooga as a 
 spy : that the seven others hanged were tried 
 alt Knoxville, and were talten from the old jail 
 at Fair and Fraser Streett-, Atlanta, and 
 hanged near Oakland cemetery, on land now 
 owned by the street railway company ; and that 
 the eight escai)ed the Atlanta jail in l)road 
 daylight and made thei^ way to the Union lines. 
 
 '*The whistle they heard was on the Rome 
 engine, the "Wm. R. Smith." According to the 
 N., C. & St. L. booklet, p. 9, 60 yards of track 
 was torn up at that point. 
 
 ***N., C. & St. L. booklet, ps. 21-23. 
 
 ****P^ather of Robt. F. Maddox, former mayor 
 of Atlanta. 
 
 rail in two, took up our precious half 
 rail and left. 
 
 We were scarcely out of sight of the 
 place where we had taken up the half 
 rail before the other train met us. 
 This was safely passed. When our 
 pursuers came to the place where the 
 broken rail was taken up, they aban- 
 doned their engine and ran on foot 
 till they met the freight train, and 
 turned it back after us. 
 
 We adopted every expedient we 
 could think of to delay pursuit, but as 
 we were cutting the wire near Cal- 
 houn, they came in sight of us. We 
 instantly put our engine to full speed, 
 and in a moment the wheels were 
 striking fire from the rails in their 
 rapid revolutions. The car in which 
 we rode rocked furiously and threw 
 us from one side to the other like 
 peas rattled in a gourd. 
 
 I then proposed to Andrews to let 
 our engineer take the engine out of 
 sight, while we hid in a curve, after 
 putting a crosstie on the track; when 
 they checked to remove the obstruc- 
 tions, we could rush on them, shoot 
 every person on the engine, reverse it 
 and let it drive backward at will. 
 
 The vSouthern Confederacy, a 
 paper published in Atlanta at the 
 time, wrote :*** 
 
 The fugitives, not expecting pur- 
 suit, quietly took in wood and water 
 at Cass Station, and borrowed a 
 schedule from the bank tender on the 
 plausible pretext that they were run- 
 ning a pressed train loaded with pow- 
 der for Beauregard. 
 
 They had on the engine a red hand- 
 kerchief, indicating that the regular 
 passenger train would be along pres- 
 ently. They stopped at Adairsville 
 and said that Fuller, with the regu- 
 lar passenger train, was behind, and 
 would wait at Kingston for the freight 
 train, and told the conductor to i)ush 
 ahead and meet him at that i)()int. 
 This was done to produce a collision 
 with Capt. Fuller's train. 
 
 When the morning freight reached 
 Big Shanty, Lieut. Cols. R. F. Mad- 
 dox**** and C. D. Phillips took the en- 
 gine, and with 50 picked men, follow- 
 ed on as rapidly as possible. Capt. 
 Fuller on his return met them at Tun- 
 nel Hill and turned them back. Peter 
 Bracken, the engineer on the "Texas," 
 ran his engine 50 '^ miles — two miles 
 backing the whole freight train up to 
 Adairsville; made twelve stops, cou- 
 pled the two cars dropped by the fu- 
 gitives, and switched them off on sid-
 
 152 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 ings — all in one hour and five min- 
 utes." 
 
 The ])ai"t ])la\e(l l)y the Rome en- 
 j^'ine and her ere\\- was Avarmly 
 l)raise(l I)y the citizens and the 
 military authorities. Indeed, not 
 only was an important link sup- 
 plied, l)ut tile api)earance of the en- 
 gine at the point of broken track 
 no doubt prevented a wreck of the 
 southbound freight piloted by En- 
 gineer Bracken. Ihul a wreck oc- 
 curred, Capt. Fuller would have 
 ]Hished on to Adairsville afoot, and 
 the raiders would probably have 
 been able to carry out at least a 
 part of their design. 
 
 Out on his farm in North Rome 
 Col. Wade S. Cothran, superin- 
 tendent of the Rome Railroad, 
 always took note of the time when 
 the train passed the Rome brick 
 3^ard, not far to the southeast. On 
 this occasion no train came, and 
 Col. Cothran remarked to his fam- 
 ily that something must have hap- 
 pened. Next morning a messenger 
 
 arrived with news of the capture 
 and Col. Cothran announced with 
 a great deal of pride at the break- 
 fast table that Wiley Harbin and 
 '"Little Cis" Smith had written 
 their names on history's everlast- 
 ing scroll. 
 
 As for the Highland Rangers 
 and the Wimpee brothers, of 
 Rome, they made a praiseworthy 
 dash through the hills by horse 
 but could not keep up with the fly- 
 ing Fuller and his daredevil pace- 
 makers. 
 
 Frustation of this daring sally 
 and plot postponed until August 
 1863, the capture of Chattanooga 
 by the Federal general, Wm. S. 
 Rosecrans. 
 
 *It appears that the total distance traveled 
 by Capt. Fuller was about 85 V^ miles: afoot 
 two miles to Moon's, 12 miles by handcar to 
 Etowah, 14 miles by the "Yonah" to Kingston, .5 
 miles beyond Kingston on the "Wm. R. Smith," 
 two more afoot, and then 50 1-> miles on the 
 "Texas." Although practically all the partici- 
 pants were armed, there is no evidence that 
 any shots were exchanged. The Tri-Weekly 
 Courier recorded the fall of Huntsville Apr. 11, 
 but did not mention the Andrews Raid.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 Activities of the Folks at Home 
 
 WHILE there was such a fe- 
 verish activity at the front, 
 what were the "Home 
 (iuarcl"and the women do- 
 ing far from the sound of musket 
 and drum ? 
 
 Mrs. Mary Turnley Reynolds, 
 historian of the Rome Chapter, 
 United Daughters of the Confed- 
 eracy, contributed the following 
 to the archives of that institution 
 m 1900: 
 
 The woi"k accomplished by the ladies 
 of Rome for the gallant men who sac- 
 I'ificed the comforts of home and fire- 
 side, donned the suit of gray to fight 
 for native land and Southern rights, 
 is a part of the history of our South- 
 land that is too noble to be for- 
 gotten ; and the names of the heroines 
 who figured behind the lines must be 
 recorded along with the names of the 
 heroes who sacrificed their all for 
 Southern rights. 
 
 Of those who were prominent in the 
 work for their country during those 
 troublous times, your historian finds 
 many who have passed into the beau- 
 tiful and far-away land. Some have 
 removed their homes to other states. 
 Some are living at a ripe and happy 
 old age among the families and friends 
 of their youth. Included in these 
 might be mentioned Mrs. J. G. Yeiser, 
 widow of Col. Yeiser, who also served 
 in the Mexican war; Mrs. J. M. Greg- 
 ory, widow of Dr. Gregory, once mayor 
 of Rome and a surgeon in Company 
 A, Eighth Georgia Regiment; Mrs. 
 Martha Battey, widow of Dr. Robt. 
 Battey, a surgeon in the 19th Geor- 
 gia Regiment; and Mrs. P. L. Turn- 
 ley, wife of Dr. Turnley, the drug- 
 gist. From the above-named ladies 
 and Mrs. Eben Hillyer, wife of Dr. 
 Eben Hillyer, your historian has gath- 
 ered valuable data which gives us a 
 vivid picture of the times. 
 
 The first thing to cheer the soldier 
 to duty was an illumination of the 
 town at night. This was very gen- 
 eral in Rome. An exception was made 
 by Mrs. Battey, who, with her native 
 d( cision of character, refused to "light 
 up," saying, "We should fight under 
 the Stars and Stripes." But loving 
 her country and her people, she soon 
 
 joined in the serious part of the 
 diama. 
 
 Our first charity organization for 
 war purposes was the Ladies' Benevo- 
 lent Association. Mrs. Nicholas J. 
 Bayard, mother of Mrs. John J. Seay, 
 was made president, and Mrs. Wm. A. 
 Fort secretary. Unfortunately, the 
 minutes kept by Mrs. Fort have been 
 destroyed. 
 
 The vice-president was Mrs. Wade 
 S. Cothran. 
 
 Among the members were Mesdames 
 J. M. Gregory, Jno. W. H. Under- 
 wood, Robt. T. Hargrove, J. J. Cohen, 
 Wm. Ketcham, Hollis Cooley, Eben 
 Hillyer, Dan'l S. Printup, D. Mack 
 Hood, H. V. M. Miller, Jas. Noble, 
 M. A. Pearson, A. G. Pitner, O. B. 
 Eve, Thos. W. Alexander, Thos. Haw- 
 kins, Chas. H. Smith, Reuben S. Nor- 
 ton, Nicholas J. Omberg, J. M. M. 
 Caldwell, Mary Sullivan, Wm. Moore, 
 Jas. W. Hinton, W. I. Brookes, M. H. 
 Graves, Mrs. Booten, Mrs. Lawrence 
 and Mrs. Johnson. 
 
 The society was founded in Jan- 
 uary, 1861, at the suggestion of Rev. 
 Jas. W. Hinton, then pastor of the 
 First Methodist church. Its main pur- 
 pose at first was to make garments 
 and attend to other physical needs of 
 the soldiers. Edward C. Hough, a na- 
 tive of the north, who had volunteer- 
 ed for field service, was exempted in 
 order that he might direct the making 
 of these garments at home; Nicholas 
 J. Omberg, another tailor, who was 
 killed by a scout band in 18G4, as- 
 sisted him. 
 
 The city hall, southwest corner of 
 Broad Street and Fifth Avenue, was 
 occupied for garment making. How 
 valiantly the ladies went at their task 
 is thus told by Editor Dwinell in The 
 Courier of May 17, 1861: 
 
 "The Ladies at Worh:— The ladies 
 of Rome are now engaged at the city 
 hall in m.aking uniforms and articles 
 of clothing for the volunteer compa- 
 nies. Some 20 or 30 are there all the 
 time; they work as their circum- 
 stances will admit; some in the after- 
 noon, some one day, others next, while 
 still others are there early and late 
 every day. Such zealous patriotism 
 is worthy of the highest commenda- 
 tion, and men who would not fight for 
 tho defense and protection of such la-
 
 154 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 dies ought to be forever banished from 
 the pleasures of their society." 
 
 Another little notice reads thus: 
 
 "The Work Goes Beautifully On. — 
 There is quite a large number of la- 
 dies still daily engaged at the city hall 
 ir, the manufacture of clothing for the 
 volunteers. They have a number of 
 patent sewing machines, yet it is 
 patent ('how Mr. Dwinell loved to 
 pun!') to every susceptible gentleman 
 that those with black or blues eyes, 
 whose almost continuous chatter is 
 like the soft, silvery tones of sweetest 
 bells, are incomparably more interest- 
 ing. We are requested to state that 
 any lady wishing to assist in this 
 patriotic work is expected to report at 
 the city hall at once." 
 
 Mrs. Underwood and Mrs. Fort were 
 the first to remove their sewing ma- 
 chines to the city hall, and others fol- 
 lowed. The association did fine work 
 among the poor, and furnished work 
 for many women who would have 
 suffered when winter came. 
 
 On Aug. 19, 1861, a call was sound- 
 ed for an organization of broader ob- 
 jects and service, since it was seen 
 that the war would be long and bloody. 
 Four days later a meeting was held 
 at the city hall and the Ladies' Aid 
 Society formed. Rev. Chas. H. Still- 
 well, pastor of the First Baptist 
 church, was made president; Mrs. 
 Geo. P. Burnett, Mrs. M. H. Graves, 
 Mrs. N. J. Bayard, and Mrs. Booten, 
 vice-presidents; and Rev. James W. 
 Hinton, pastor of the First Methodist 
 church, secretary and treasui'er. 
 Among the members were the follow- 
 ing: 
 
 Mrs. Dr. Anderson, Mrs. Attaway, 
 Mrs. J. W. M. Berrien, Mrs. Robt. 
 Battey, Miss Florida Bayard, Mrs N. 
 J. Bayard, Mrs. Billups, Miss Mol- 
 lie Billups, Miss Mary Billups, Mrs. 
 A. W. Caldwell, Mrs. J. J. Cohen, Mrs. 
 Hollis Cooley, Mrs. Wade S. Cothran, 
 Mrs. Wm. A. Fort, Mrs. Jno. R. Free- 
 man, Mrs. Simpson Fouche, Mrs. A. 
 E. Graves, Miss E. W. Graves, Mrs. 
 M. H. Graves, Mrs. Dennis Hills, Mrs. 
 Jno. W. Hooper, Miss Malinda Har- 
 grove, Mrs. Robt. T. Hargi'ove, Mrs. 
 Hale, Mrs. A. R. Harper, Mrs. Jno. 
 Harkins, Mrs. John Hume, Mrs. D. M. 
 Hood, Mrs. Jesse Lamberth, Mrs. C. 
 H. Lee, Mrs. Lilienthal, Mrs. Morris 
 Marks, Mrs. C. W. Mills, Mrs. L. 
 Magnus, Mrs. Morrison, Miss M. E. 
 Murphy, Miss V. A. Murphy, Mrs. J. 
 H. McClung, Mrs. Wm. Moore, Mrs. 
 Wm. T. Newman, Mrs. Jas. Noble, 
 Mrs. Reuben S. Norton, Miss Mary 
 
 W. Noble, Miss Parks, Mrs. M. A. 
 Pearson, Mrs. C. M. Pennington, Mrs. 
 A. G. Pitner, Mrs. Pepper, Mrs. Wm. 
 Quinn, Mrs. Dr. Chas. Todd Quin- 
 tard, Mrs. Wm. Ramey, Mrs. Jane 
 Russell, Mrs. Rawls, Jr'., Mrs. Rawls, 
 Sr., Mrs. Roberts, Mrs. Sanders, Mrs. 
 A. M. Sloan, Miss Martha B. Spullock, 
 Mrs. Samuel Stewart, Mrs. Samuel J. 
 Stevens, Mrs. Chas. H. Stillwell, Miss 
 Savannah E. Stillwell, Mrs. Mary Sul- 
 livan, Mrs. Chas. H. Smith, Mrs. Jno. 
 R. Towers, Miss Lizzie Underwood, 
 Mrs. Jno. W. H. Underwood, Mrs. 
 Jas. Banks Underwood, Mrs. Jos. E. 
 Veal, Mrs. James Ware, Mrs. C. Wat- 
 ters, Mrs. Whittesey, Mrs. Thos. J. 
 Word, Mrs. Augustus R. Wright, Mrs. 
 J. G. Yeiser. 
 
 This society adopted a constitution 
 and by-laws, and the members paid $1 
 a year membership dues. Three wom- 
 en in each county district solicited 
 contributions. Mrs. Jas. Ware made 
 some blankets that were very fine. 
 Among things sent in were wool, 
 socks, vegetables, red peppers, pepper 
 sauce, tomato catsup, blackberry wine 
 and cordial ; in fact, everything of a 
 useful nature poured into headquar- 
 ters, and was despatched as fast as 
 limited transportation facilities would 
 allow. Five carloads were sent to the 
 front and training camps before the 
 first year closed. 
 
 Auxiliaries were formed in each 
 district, and a Children's Aid Society 
 came into being in September, 1861. 
 Mrs. Easter, wife of the Episcopal 
 rector, had charge. The children were 
 a great help in running errands, and 
 some of them could knit and sew. They 
 sent many sheets, pillow cases and 
 bandages to the Savannah hospital. 
 
 Quite a number of beautiful tab- 
 leaux were presented at the city hall 
 under the management of Mrs. Daniel 
 S. Printup and Mrs. D. Mack Hood, 
 and the sum raised was $137.70. One 
 of the scenes showed Kentucky in 
 chains held by Lincoln, and another 
 Maryland prostrate, and Lincoln bend- 
 ing over her with a sword. Twenty- 
 four girls in homespun from Rev. 
 Chas. W. Howard's school at Spring 
 Bank, Bartow County, attended this 
 tableau. 
 
 The Soldiers' Aid Association decid- 
 ed in August, 1861, that a relief room 
 was needed for the wounded soldiers 
 who were coming back from the front 
 as the excess from the crowded army 
 hospitals. Mrs. Robt. Battey was 
 elected president of this new organi- 
 zation, and on Aug. 23 the "Wayside 
 Home" was onened at the southeast
 
 Activities of the Folks at Home 
 
 155
 
 156 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 corner of Broad Street and First Ave- 
 nue, opposite the Hamilton-Shorter 
 block, and quite convenient to the 
 Rome railroad station, just across the 
 street. Drs. T. J. Word and J. M. 
 Gregory had charge as managers, and 
 the committee on arrangements was 
 made up of Col. Wade S. Cothran, J. 
 M. Elliott, Robt. T. Hargrove, C. W. 
 Mills and Daniel R. Mitchell. The 
 v/omen's committees follow: Mrs. Fort, 
 Mrs. Rawls and Mrs. Bayard for 
 Monday; Mrs. Battey, Mrs. Sloan 
 and Mrs. Yeiser, Tuesday; Mrs. Noble, 
 Mrs. Marks, and Mrs. Hargrove, Wed- 
 nesday; Mrs. Mills, Mrs. Hills and 
 Mrs. Stillwell, Thursday; Mrs. Smith, 
 Mrs. Hooper and Mrs. McClung, Fri- 
 day; Mrs. Towers, Mrs. Freeman and 
 Mrs. Russell, Saturday; Mrs. Roberts, 
 Mrs. Morrison, Mrs. Rawls, Sr., Mrs. 
 Ramey, Mrs. Lilienthal and Mrs. 
 Cohen, Sunday. 
 
 A great deal of medicine, bandages 
 and everything needed in a first-aid 
 station, including considerable cloth- 
 ing, was put at the Wayside Home for 
 the use of doctors and committees, and 
 quite a number of sick and wounded 
 soldiers were served satisfactorily. 
 Presently came a sick soldier who was 
 little more than a boy, named Wil- 
 
 MARTHA BALDWIN SMITH, 18, just after 
 her marriage in 1849 to Dr. Robt. Battey. 
 She died Sunday, Feb. 5, 1922, aged 91. 
 
 liam Lynch, of Louisiana. During the 
 days before a complete diagnosis could 
 be made by Dr. Word, the lad was at- 
 tended by Mesdames Smith, Harper, 
 Stewart, Underwood, Spullock, Cooley, 
 Harkins, Stillwell, Hale, Rawls, Sr., 
 Lilienthal, Cothran, A. E. Graves, At- 
 taway, Norton, Sanders, Moore and 
 Quinn. After a week. Dr. Word said 
 it was smallpox. That was Tuesday. 
 Necessarily there was a great deal 
 of alarm. The women were isolated 
 at once; everybody was afraid to go 
 near them. 
 
 On Tuesday afternoon Mrs. Battey 
 went to the room, having heard the 
 news. She was warned by Dr. Greg- 
 ory that a smallpox patient was on 
 the inside, but she insisted on going 
 in, and there she found the lad crying. 
 She told him not to be troubled, that 
 he would be cared for. Having en- 
 countered the advanced stages, Mrs. 
 Battey was requested to keep company 
 with herself. Three or four days later 
 she took sick, and she says the only 
 person in town who was brave enough 
 to come to her relief was Col. W. A. 
 Fort. Col. Fort treated her for a se- 
 vere cold and she was up again pres- 
 ently. 
 
 When Mrs. Battey fell ill, William 
 Howe volunteered to take charge of 
 William Lynch. Here is an extract 
 from a letter written by Mr. Howe 
 from the sick room: 
 
 "Thinking that the public would 
 like to hear what is going on in this 
 dreaded chamber of disease, I feel a 
 desire to gratify it. My friends may 
 think that time rolls heavily with me, 
 but such is not the case. However, 
 the room is under martial law and I 
 am monarch of all I survey. His 
 Honor the Mayor (Dr. Thos. J. Word) 
 has created me military dictator. 
 
 "I have two patients to nurse, two 
 of the most patient, gentle sufferers 
 that were ever afflicted. I really love 
 them. The boy who has smallpox is 
 Wm. Lynch, who is only 17 years old 
 and has been in six battles. He had 
 been discharged on account of feeble- 
 ness caused from a long spell of ty- 
 phoid fever, and was on the way to 
 his hoine in Louisiana when he took 
 smallpox here. The boy soldier will 
 yet be a man if careful nursing on 
 my part and the skill of the doctor 
 can save him. 
 
 "God bless our women! Here their 
 true worth is felt. Every comfort, ev- 
 ery appliance to the wants of the sick 
 is within my reach ; and when I have 
 occasion for a clean pillow slip, sheet
 
 Activities of the Folks at Home 
 
 157 
 
 or towel, the closet is crammed full 
 of them, and I involuntarily exclaim, 
 'God bless them!' 
 
 "I can not close this letter without 
 furnishing a g^rateful acknowledgment 
 to Col. Penning-ton, His Honor the 
 Mayor, Dr. Gregory, Mrs. Wm. A. 
 Fort, Mrs. Dr. Battey, Mrs. Dr. Un- 
 derwood and Mrs. Omberg." 
 
 The plight of the women and 
 their sense of duty is expressed in 
 the following card to The Courier : 
 
 While we all lament the existence of 
 this horrible war, shall we leave our 
 brave defenders to suffer alone? Shall 
 we not bravely endure our portion of 
 the toil and danger? Oh, yes; let us 
 not shrink from the duty that lies 
 before us; and while we make use of 
 every precaution for the safety of our 
 families, go steadily forward trusting 
 in God, thankful that we have only 
 disease to contend with and have been 
 spared the barbarous treatment which 
 our bloody and deceitful enemies have 
 inflicted on other parts of our country. 
 It sometimes happens that those who 
 flee are the first to perish, while God 
 protects the faithful. 
 
 As the Mayor of the City has taken 
 charge of the Soldiers' Relief room, 
 no more appointments will be made by 
 the committee of ladies, who will now 
 withdraw until again called upon by 
 the gentlemen to perform their duties. 
 
 The boy recovered ; two negroes 
 contracted the disease from him, 
 and one of them died. He soon 
 left for his home, his heart grate- 
 ful to the kindly Romans. As if 
 echoing the prophetic words of 
 Mr. Howe he used to lie on his 
 cot and repeat, "Once a man, twice 
 a child!" 
 
 Airs. Re^'uolds continues: 
 
 The doors of the Wayside Home 
 were never opened again, and the con- 
 tents were burned to prevent a spread 
 of the disease. What the destruction 
 of all this meant to those whose fin- 
 gers had worked so ceaselessly to make 
 it can scarcely be imagined. For sev- 
 eral months the women contributed as 
 individuals. An earlier donation by 
 Mrs. Thos. J. Perry will give an idea 
 of the extent: 1 quilt, 10 i)airs of 
 woolen socks, 10 of cotton dravvers, 1 
 of suspenders, 2 of gloves, 3 towels, 2 
 pillow cases, 3 nubias, 1 bundle of 
 bandages, G cakes of salve, 8 of soap, 
 1 bottle of black pepper, 1 bunch of 
 
 red pepper, 1 bundle of sage, and 6 
 candles. In addition to the societies 
 mentioned the St. Peter's Hospital As- 
 sociation (of the Episcopal church) 
 had been organized by Dr. Easter, and 
 it sent forward a vast amount of hos- 
 pital supplies. Prominent in the or- 
 ganization were Mrs. Jos. E. Veal, 
 Mrs. Geo. R. Ward, Mrs. Jno. W. 
 Noble, Miss Mary W. Noble and Miss 
 Palmer. 
 
 On February 16, 1862, Fort Donel- 
 son, Mississippi River, fell after a ter- 
 rible battle, and hospitals in the South, 
 already well filled, were taxed be- 
 yond their capacities. This fact sug- 
 gested that Rome open hospitals. The 
 first was on Broad Street between 
 Fourth Avenue and the old city hall, 
 at Fifth; Dr. Fox had charge, and the 
 matrons were Mrs. Reeves and Mrs. 
 Merck. Several hundred injured were 
 taken into Rome residences, but these 
 were removed when the churches were 
 converted into places of operation, 
 treatment and convalescence. 
 
 A hospital association was formed 
 at the court house with Mrs. Nicholas 
 J. Bayard president and Mrs. Wm. 
 A. Fort secretary and treasurer. As 
 usual, the entire county was canvass- 
 ed for members and supplies. Mrs. 
 J. G. Yeiser received much praise for 
 her tireless efforts with the sick and 
 the wounded. Part of the time of 
 the women was spent cutting ban- 
 
 MRS. ALFRED SHORTER, from an old minia- 
 ture in the possession of Mrs. Waller T. 
 Turnbull.
 
 158 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 dag-es out of old sheets and the like, 
 and in combing old table cloths for lint. 
 Dr. Robt. Battey was in charge of 
 the hospitals at this time.* Gradually 
 the Northern army came closer to 
 Rome, and the hospitals were moved 
 to Macon and elsewhere farther 
 south.** 
 
 Again, in 1867, we see our noble 
 women rally with grateful and loving 
 hearts in a tribute to their dead. The 
 "Ladies' Memorial Association" was or- 
 ganized with Mrs. N. J. Bayard as 
 its first president; Mrs. D. Mack 
 Hood was the second president, Mrs. 
 Thos. W. Alexander the third, until 
 her death; and then Mrs. Henry A. 
 Smith — all kept bright like burning 
 incense the deeds of our beloved broth- 
 ers, scattered posies and twined the 
 evergreen where our heroes lie. The 
 Daughters of the Confederacy must 
 not let such efforts go unsung. As 
 long as time lasts we will weave gar- 
 lands of myrtle and ivy for their head- 
 stones, and moisten their graves with 
 our tears. 
 
 The struggle for food further 
 exemplified the splendid fortitude 
 and spirit of self-sacrifice among 
 the women. It must be remem- 
 
 MR. AND MRS. I. D. FORD, a beloved couple 
 of Rome, the parents of the first Mrs. Joseph 
 L. Bass. 
 
 bered that the blockade of South- 
 ern ports was almost "water 
 tight," and that the absence from 
 farm and shop of nearly all the 
 younger men curtailed production 
 enormously. 
 
 Spinning wheel and loom were 
 recalled to make thread so that 
 socks might be sent the soldiers, 
 and worn at home. 
 
 Alany of the articles of food 
 that had been abundant were ob- 
 tainal^le no more, and various sub- 
 .'ititutes were employed. For cof- 
 fee they used rye, wheat, okra 
 seed, dried apples, sweet potatoees 
 and persimmon seed ; the rye and 
 okra seed were simply parched and 
 ground, and sweet potatoes were 
 cut into small pieces, dried and 
 parched. 
 
 Salt was so scarce that it was 
 priced the same as sugar in Con- 
 federate money in 1862 — $10 a 
 bushel. The salt from meats in 
 smoke houses was used. This was 
 obtained by wetting smoke house 
 earth, and boiling' down the drip- 
 pings until nothing but salt re- 
 mained. Presently this gave out. 
 
 Sorghum syrup made a poor 
 substitute for sugar. 
 
 People dipped tallow and made 
 candles, or poured hog fat into tin 
 moulds. Wicks were put in first, 
 and when cold, the candles were 
 drawn out. 
 
 Dyes for clothing were cop- 
 peras, bark stain and pokeberry 
 extract. 
 
 All the leather went into shoes, 
 saddles and pistol holsters for the 
 soldiers. Women's shoe tops were 
 made of coarse duck and dyed 
 l)Iack with oil and soot. Shoe 
 strings were made of hard twisted 
 
 *In 1863 Dr. Battey had charge of the Bell 
 hospital, and it is presumed this was on Broad 
 between Fourth and Fifth Avenues. He also 
 had charpre of the Polk hospital, on the west 
 side of Broad Street between Second and Third 
 Avenues. Polk hospital was moved to Macon. 
 
 **Accordinff to the war diary of the late 
 Reuben S. Norton, the last hospital was moved 
 from Rome Dec. 8, 18G3.
 
 Activities of the Folks at Home 
 
 159 
 
 A GROUP WHICH SUGGESTS THE LONG AGO. 
 
 At the top is Mrs. T. J. Simmons, for a ;number of years, with her husband, the head 
 of Shorter College; beside her are Dr. and Mrs. Robt. T. Hoyt; on the left at the bottom 
 is Mrs. W. I. Brookes, then come John Locke Martin, journalist and poet, and Mrs. Mary> 
 Eve, of Eve Station. 
 
 thread. Squirrel skins made good 
 shoe tops and caps. 
 
 Good toilet and laundry soap 
 were "manufactured" from lye 
 extracted from ashes. 
 
 For soda, corn cobs Avcre burn- 
 ed intd aslies and lye made there- 
 from, and this was mixed with 
 sour milk. Butter l^ean hulls were 
 used in the same war. 
 
 I)urin^' the autumn, when the 
 sorghum was being ground, 
 ]ieaches, apples, wild grapes and 
 wild clierries furnished the "base" 
 for jams and jellies. The sorg- 
 hum was used as sweetening, ami 
 the product after eooking was 
 called preserves. 
 
 If the invaders shot down sheep 
 in tlie pa'-ture, the g(^(Ml woman
 
 160 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 went to the spot with her shears 
 and got enough wool for socks 
 and stocking's. 
 
 Serviceable women's hats were 
 fashioned out of corn shucks, and 
 in fact, every product of nature 
 was utilized in some way, and the 
 people learned indelibly just what 
 is necessary to sustain life, and 
 just what contributes to "high 
 life." 
 
 The situation was helped with 
 some families when the Northern 
 troops captured the country. "We 
 have the shelter," invited certain 
 householders. "We have the 
 food," responded many of the boys 
 in blue ; so those who could not 
 be accommodated in tents moved 
 into homes, and shared their food 
 with the occupants. Cooking was 
 done in common. 
 
 When the corn was gathered in 
 the fall of 1864, it constituted the 
 principal article of food. Families 
 lived through the winter on lye 
 hominy, grits and sorghum and 
 what little bread they could find. 
 
 Eventually the soldiers left and 
 all semblance of authority col- 
 lapsed. Little food was to be had, 
 and blood-thirsty, plundering van- 
 dals stalked through the prostrat- 
 ed communities, robbing and mur- 
 dering the defenseless inhabitants. 
 
 The final surrender in the spring 
 of 1865 brought the men home, 
 and they agreed that the front was 
 little worse ; so all set to work to 
 make something out of little or 
 
 nothing. How heroically and well 
 they repaired their broken for- 
 tunes is a story that furnishes one 
 of the .most helpful chapters in 
 the history of Dixieland. 
 
 Many cases of extreme dan- 
 ger and acute suffering were re- 
 ported from the country districts, 
 where women often stepped into 
 the places of the men in the fields. 
 
 "The most novel thing I have 
 seen in some time u-as a woman 
 l^lowing yesterday, with a pistol 
 buckled around her," wrote "R.," 
 a Courier correspondent, May 5, 
 1863, from Bridgeport, Ala. ; and 
 he continued : 
 
 She is an intelligent woman, and her 
 husband is in the army at Shelby- 
 ville. I asked her why she carried 
 a pistol and she said she knew the 
 thieving disposition of the Federals, 
 and had been dispossessed of every- 
 thing but one horse and corn barely 
 sufficient to make a crop, and she was 
 determined to defend what was left 
 to the last. One of our men, a noble- 
 hearted farmer from Floyd County, 
 was on picket, but being off post at 
 the time, took hold of the plow and 
 assisted her in laying off her corn 
 rows. 
 
 Sir, with such women, starvation is 
 out of the question, and subjugation 
 impossible. This woman, with her 
 child sitting in the field, toils away, 
 knowing that justice is God's empire. 
 Let the faint-hearted and effeminate 
 take courage at such examples. 
 
 News of Forrest's great victory near 
 Rome has just reached us and dis- 
 appointment is seen in the countenance 
 of every man of this battalion, be- 
 cause we were not permitted to go 
 on and participate in the brilliant af- 
 fair so near our homes.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest 
 
 Ax LXCIDENT of the war 
 which vied in spectacularity 
 with the Andrews' raid was 
 the Hathaway-Streight in- 
 cursion into /\lal:)ama and Georgia 
 from Tennessee, in April and May, 
 1863, and the capture of the com- 
 mand by Forrest's force, less than 
 one-third as large. Indeed, this 
 incident was not surpassed by any 
 similar occurrence during the con- 
 flict, yet we find the historians 
 (especially outside of the South) 
 complacently sleeping on their 
 pens with regard to it. 
 
 There were two circumstances 
 which called for proper exploita- 
 tion from the native historians and 
 for a degree of silence elsewhere ; 
 410 men captured 1,466, and the 
 event developed a hero whose ride 
 in certain respects outstripped the 
 well - sung Paul Revere — soldier, 
 silversmith, electro-engraver and 
 manufacturer of cannon. 
 
 John H. Wisdom, stage coach 
 driver and rural mail carrier, 
 warned Rome of the enemy's ap- 
 proach, and Gen. Forrest captured 
 them almost at the city's gates. 
 That was Sunday, May 3, f863— 
 the first Union troops Romans had 
 seen. Gen. Sherman later com- 
 plimented Forrest with the state- 
 ment that "his cavalry will travel 
 100 miles while ours travels ten." 
 It had been left to the intrepid 
 Confederate general to demon- 
 strate how a small band could 
 pursue such a superior force 
 through tlie mountains and over 
 the streams of two states and 
 make them lay down their arms. 
 The feat was accomplished 
 through strategy as well as force. 
 After Forrest had sent in a flag of 
 truce, demanding surrender. Col. 
 Abel D. Streight, of the 51st In- 
 diana Volunteers, asked the terms. 
 
 "Unconditional surrender, your 
 officers to retain their side arms 
 and personal efifects," was the re- 
 ply. "I have reinforcements and 
 it is useless for you to sacrifice 
 your men." 
 
 Forrest met Streight at the 
 meeting place. Streight wanted to 
 argue, and Forrest wanted an an- 
 swer. Capt. Henry Poynter dash- 
 ed up, and Forrest gave him or- 
 ders for the disposition of certain 
 imaginary units of men ; the order 
 had previously been given to 
 march the artillery around a hill, 
 then out of sight, and to keep them 
 circling the brow. vStrcight was 
 so impressed that he capitulated. 
 The place was in Alabama near 
 the Georgia line, about 20 miles 
 below Rome. 
 
 From the Tri-Weekly Courier, 
 with dates as indicated, we get 
 other details : 
 
 Great Victory— Great Joi/!—The 
 Yankees in Rome at last! Sunday 
 morning last opened at half past two 
 o'clock a. m. with an alarm. Mr. 
 John H. Wisdom, of Gadsden, Ala., 
 and a former resident of this city, 
 reached here after riding with hot 
 haste for eleven hours, and gave in- 
 formation that the enemy wer€ at 
 Gadsden when he left, and were bound 
 for Rome. 
 
 Preparations were begun with de- 
 spatch, and by 9 o'clock in the morn- 
 ing our soldiery and citizens were pre- 
 pared to give them a warm reception. 
 Two pieces of artillery were placed in 
 position, commanding the roacl and the 
 l)ridge, cotton barricades erected at 
 all the defiles of the city, videttes 
 sent out to watch the enemy's ap- 
 proach. Everything was got in read- 
 iness for determined resistance. Dur- 
 ing the morning several couriers with 
 despatches from (Jen. Forrest arrived, 
 urging our commander here to hold 
 them at bay for a few hours if possi- 
 ble, at all hazards. About 2 o'clock 
 another despatch from Gen. Forrest, 
 saying he was fighting them at Gay- 
 lesville, Ala., with an int'i'rior force.
 
 162 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 About 9 o'clock a. m. a small body 
 of the enemy's advance (about 200) 
 reached the environs of the city, and 
 were actually bold enough to dismount 
 and feed their horses almost in sight 
 of the city. They picked up all the 
 horses and mules in the neighborhood, 
 took some citizens prisoners and re- 
 connoitered the defenses of the city. 
 Learning that we were prepared with 
 artillery, they bivouacked, and seemed 
 to await the arrival of the main body. 
 For some cause they retreated about 3 
 o'clock down the Alabama road. They 
 were pursued by a small but resolute 
 band of citizens, who were determined 
 that the affair should not end thus. 
 
 In the meantime. Gen. Forrest had 
 overtaken the main body near Gayles- 
 ville, and not far this side of Cedar 
 Bluff. After some slight skirmishing. 
 Gen. Forrest demanded a surrender. 
 An interview was held under flag of 
 truce and the terms of surrender 
 agreed upon. The entire Yankee force, 
 consisting of 1,800 men, were made 
 prisoners of war, and as this included 
 the bold adventurers who had looked 
 with insulting eyes upon the church 
 spires of the city, they, too, were turn- 
 ed into disarmed infantry. They were 
 met by Gen. Forrest's advance, about 
 the same time that our citizen cavalry 
 overtook them in the pursuit. 
 
 Gen. Forrest arrived in the city 
 with all the Yankee officers and the 
 small body of troops alluded to on 
 Sunday evening about 6 o'clock p. m. 
 The rest of both forces reached here 
 yesterday morning. But mark what 
 remains to be told. 
 
 Gen. Forrest accomplished this bold 
 feat with less than 700 men, though 
 the rest of his command were in sup- 
 porting distance. Thus terminated the 
 last Sabbath. Such a jubilee Rome 
 has never experienced! Such raptures 
 over Gen. Forrest and his brave men ! 
 
 When it is considered what a dar- 
 ing raid the enemy aspired to — what 
 an extensive circuit they contemplated 
 — what irreparable damage they had 
 deliberately planned (being the burn- 
 ing of the bridges on the State road, 
 and the destruction of government 
 property at Round Mountain, Dalton 
 and Rome) it is wonderful how Gen. 
 Forrest has managed to prevent the 
 consummation of their designs. With 
 more than 100 miles the start of him, 
 he nevertheless has pressed them so 
 hard with hot pursuit as to prevent 
 material damage being done; except 
 the destruction of the Round Moun- 
 tain Iron Works in Cherokee County, 
 
 Ala., they have done but little dam- 
 age. Gen. Forrest has lost not exceed- 
 ing 20 men in this glorious work. He 
 killed and wounded about 300 of the 
 enemy, among them Col. Hathaway, of 
 Indiana. Col. Streight, of Indiana, 
 was commanding the Federal forces. 
 
 Heavy reinforcements arrived hei'e 
 yesterday at noon from Atlanta, but 
 owing to the peculiar nature of exist- 
 ing circumstances, they will have noth- 
 ing to do but guard duty. — Tuesday 
 morning. May 5, 1863. 
 
 The Greatest Cavalry Achievement 
 of the War — We had hoped to have 
 been able to furnish our readers with 
 the full particulars of the brilliant and 
 successful achievement of Gen. For- 
 rest in this issue of our paper, but 
 our own business engagements and the 
 constant occupation of the General 
 with his official duties have rendered 
 it impossible for us to obtain all the 
 facts necessary for the preparation of 
 such an article. Our readers may ex- 
 pect a full history in our next issue, 
 and until we can give a full and suc- 
 cinct account of this brilliant cam- 
 paign and glorious victory, we will 
 refrain from further comment. — May 
 7, 1863. 
 
 Picnic to Gen. Forrest and His 
 Brave Men on Saturday Next — Con- 
 tributions expected from all the citi- 
 zens of the county who feel able and 
 willing to give honor to whom honor 
 is due. Bring sufficient supplies, ready 
 cooked and prepared; bring for 20 
 men if you can, or for 10 men, or for 
 5, besides a sufficient supply for your 
 own family who attend. Report your 
 name, with the number you will pro- 
 vide for, to one of the undersigned: 
 A. G. Pitner, T. G. Watters, C. H. 
 Smith, A. M. Sloan, T. McGuire; Rome, 
 Ga., May 4, 1863. 
 
 We learn that the number of 
 Yankees paroled (by Gen. Forrest in 
 the capture of Streight) was 1,466 — 
 officers and men. They were all sent 
 off on Tuesday last. 
 
 Rumor, with her thousand tongues, 
 has got every one of them going, and 
 there is no end to the wild reports 
 that are in circulation. Report is hav- 
 ing it that all North Georgia and 
 Alabama are swarming with Yankees. 
 
 A large number of horses were in 
 the streets on Tuesday, many of which 
 were identified as having been stolen 
 by the Yankees in their recent raid 
 through the country. 
 
 The Yankees captured by Gen. For- 
 rest are said to have been the pick
 
 Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest 
 
 163 
 
 of Rosencrantz's army, and were really 
 mounted infantry, having been drilled 
 in both services. It is reported that 
 Rosencrantz had offered them a boun- 
 ty of $300 apiece and a discharge from 
 the service to accomplish their object, 
 which was to destroy Rome and the 
 State road bridges. And better sub- 
 jects for such infernal designs could 
 scarcely have been selected, for a more 
 villainous-looking set of scoundrels it 
 has never been our misfortune to have 
 seen before, and that, too, with scarce- 
 ly an exception. What an escape a 
 merciful Providence has vouchsafed to 
 Rome! 
 
 We noticed a telegram stating that 
 the citizens of Rome met and fought 
 the Yankees here on Sunday last. The 
 only fighting was done by a few in- 
 dependent scouts and videttes, who 
 tried a round or two at them. But 
 we learn that they were much sur- 
 prised, as they expected to march in 
 without any opposition. 
 
 Tory Band — A citizen of Jackson 
 County tells us that a number of 
 Tories have banded themselves to- 
 gether in Sand Mountain (Ala.) to 
 resist conscription and the arrest of 
 deserters — that they worsted a com- 
 pany, more or less, of Confederate cav- 
 alry who went there to arrest desert- 
 ers and conscripts, some eight or ten 
 days ago; that the facts have been 
 reported to Tullahoma headquarters, 
 and a force has been detailed suffi- 
 cient to overcome the Tories. (Hunts- 
 ville Confederate.) — Thursday, May 
 7, 1863. 
 
 The Most Brilliant Feat of the War 
 — Soon after the fight between the 
 Federals and Col. Roddy near Tus- 
 cumbia, Ala., a column of 2,000 Fed- 
 eral cavalry, all under command of 
 Col. Hathaway, of the 73rd Indiana 
 Cavalry, consisting of the 73rd and 
 51st Indiana, 80th Illinois, and 3rd 
 Ohio, diverged south, with two moun- 
 tain Howitzers, with a view to cross 
 the Sand Mountain and strike the 
 Coosa River at Gadsden, Ala.; thence 
 pass the Round Mountain and Chat- 
 tooga River Iron Works, to Rome; 
 thence to Dalton, Ga. ; thence through 
 East Tennessee and join Rosenci'antz 
 with a view to destroying the towns, 
 bridges, iron foundries, railroads, com- 
 missary supplies on this entire route, 
 making a raid of some 1,500 miles. 
 
 This was a daring, well-planned, 
 well-executed expedition, as far as it 
 went. The troops and commanders 
 were regarded as select, and the in- 
 
 ducements to success were strong and 
 overwhelming with the well-known 
 Yankee character. The plunder and 
 stealage belonged to the capturers. In 
 the event of success, each member of 
 the raid was to receive a gold medal, 
 $300 in gold, and a discharge from 
 the service during the war. To ac- 
 celerate their movements they seized 
 every valuable horse and mule that 
 they could find, taking them from 
 wagons, buggies, stables or plows, and 
 as their surplus increased, dropping 
 out their own weak and broken-down 
 stock, and by this means always keep- 
 ing mounted on fresh stock. 
 
 On Wednesday, the 29th, Gen. For- 
 rest, with 500 mounted men and two 
 brass cannon, started in pursuit, the 
 Federals having taken a lead of about 
 80 miles. On Thursday night he over- 
 took them, fought and repulsed them 
 on Sand Mountain; in this fight Gen. 
 Forrest had his horse killed under him. 
 From that time onward, until Sunday, 
 the 3rd of May, the time of the final 
 surrender of the Federals, he fought 
 and drove them back, or rather, for- 
 ward, about three times every 24 
 hours. 
 
 As they passed through Gadsden 
 they destroyed part of the town and 
 the depot, always destroying every 
 
 GEN. NATJIAN i;i:pI(ii:ii i (ii;i;i-.< i', whose 
 locks were cut li.v udniiiinK wniiuii when he 
 saved Rome from Streight's raiders in '63.
 
 164 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 bridge behind them and otherwise ob- 
 structing the road as best they could. 
 P\)rrest fought them near Major 
 Blount's plantation Friday evening or 
 Saturday morning. Here their com- 
 mander-in-chief, Hathaway, was kill- 
 ed. The command then devolved on 
 Col. Streight, of the 51st Indiana. As 
 they passed onward they destroyed the 
 Round Mountain Iron Works. Cross- 
 ing Chattooga River, they destroyed 
 the bridge. Some time during Sat- 
 urday night. Gen. Forrest succeeded 
 in crossing the river, and fell on them 
 Sunday afternoon at Mrs. Lawrence's, 
 about five miles east of Gaylesville, 
 and here after a short fight, terms of 
 capitulation for the entire Federal 
 forces was agreed upon, and the Fed- 
 erals stacked their arms. 
 
 During Saturday evening a detach- 
 ment of 200 had been sent ahead to 
 reconnoiter and attack Rome, as cir- 
 cumstances might indicate. 
 
 The first intimation the people of 
 Rome had of the raid was the arrival 
 of Mr. John H. Wisdom, from Gads- 
 den, giving information of the rapid 
 approach of the Federals. Tremendous 
 excitement, and be it said to the dis- 
 credit of some, much liquor was wast- 
 ed, doubtless to screw up their cour- 
 age to the fighting point. By 8 p. m. 
 two cannon, with barricades of cotton 
 bags, were mounted and placed in po- 
 sition on the river bank. The citi- 
 zens from the country flocked in with 
 their rifles and squirrel guns, and 
 there soon were enough to make a 
 pretty formidable fight, if they had 
 been under any sort of organization. 
 But the organization amounted to as 
 near none as possible. About half past 
 8 some pickets and videttes went out 
 and a short distance from the city en- 
 countered the enemy's advance pick- 
 ets. Here some skirmishing for sev- 
 eral hours took place between the 
 enemy and these pickets and some 
 citizens who had advanced on the 
 enemy. About 2 p. m. the enemy very 
 suddenly and apparently in a great 
 hurry mounted and retreated down the 
 road, followed by our skirmishers. 
 They met Gen. Forrest and his party 
 about 8 or 9 miles below Rome, Col. 
 Streight and all the Federal officers 
 being their prisoners. It is said the 
 reason of the sudden departure of the 
 Federals from Shorter's was a cour- 
 ier from Col. Streight, their com- 
 mander, informing them that they 
 were prisoners of war, and had been 
 for eight hours. 
 
 About 6 p. m. Gen. Forrest, with 
 120 Federal officers and this detach- 
 
 ment reached the city, under such 
 booming of cannon and rejoicing as 
 has never been seen in Rome, and may 
 never again. Indeed, it was right and 
 just to him and his brave men. But 
 for the noble and gallant Forrest and 
 his equally noble and gallant men, who 
 had pursued and fought this band of 
 outlaws, robbers and murderers for 
 five consecutive days and nights, al- 
 most without eating or sleeping, our 
 beautiful little Mountain City would at 
 this hour be in ashes, and many of 
 our best citizens robbed and murder- 
 ed. A thousand blessings upon them, 
 and a thousand prayers for them! 
 
 In their vanity and folly some of 
 our vain and swaggering people are 
 trying to claim credit to themselves for 
 this glorious success of the truly in- 
 domitable and noble Forrest. If we 
 did anything, it was clumsily done. 
 Forrest has justly won for himself 
 by this almost superhuman effort a 
 title to a major generalship, and if he 
 is not promoted, he will not have jus- 
 tice done him, especially when it is 
 remembered that with a picked force 
 of Federals, four to his one, he dash- 
 ed on them by day and by night, and 
 in chasing them a little over 200 miles, 
 he killed or captured the last one of 
 them, with all their cannon, arms, 
 horses, stores, etc., killing outright 
 their leader and 300 men, with a loss 
 of only 10 killed and 40 wounded. And 
 he thereby saved millions of dollars 
 worth of property from destruction by 
 the hands of the cowardly scoundrels 
 and vandals. 
 
 We of North Alabama and North- 
 western Georgia will cheer him and 
 reiterate our cheers for him, and never 
 cease until he shall receive a major 
 general's commission. We have but 
 one complaint to make. We thought 
 he was a little too lenient to the im- 
 pudent, boasting, threatening, coward- 
 ly Federal officers. 
 
 A CITIZEN OF ROME. 
 
 To Arms! To Arms! — The citizens 
 of Floyd and surrounding counties are 
 requested to meet in Rome on Thurs- 
 day next at 11 o'clock a. m.. May 14, 
 to form a military organization for 
 repelling the thieving, house-burning 
 and vandal foe that may venture on 
 our soil. Let everybody come and go 
 to work in earnest. 
 
 Defend Your Homes and Your Pro})- 
 crty. — It will be seen from a notice in 
 this issue of our paper that the citi- 
 zens of Floyd and the surrounding 
 counties are called on to meet at the 
 court house in this city on Thursday
 
 Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest 
 
 165 
 
 ^ 
 
 A MAP OF ROME IN 1890. (Scale, one mile to the inch). 
 
 night, the 14th inst., for the purpose 
 of forming a military organization for 
 the protection of their homes and 
 their property. This is a highly im- 
 portant movement and we give it our 
 most cordial and hearty endorsement. 
 Let every boy and man from 15 to (>() 
 years old fall into line and stand up 
 for the protection of their mothers, 
 
 wives and sisters. If the love of coun- 
 try does not move you, these sacred 
 claims will surely spur you to action. 
 It is plain now that the enemy, be- 
 ing foiled and routed ui)on every field 
 of general engagement, has determined 
 to tui-n loose liis army in maraud- 
 ing hands, to dash through our coun- 
 try with torch and sword, to burn and
 
 166 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 plunder our citizens and homes, mur- 
 der our men and dishonor our women. 
 
 We are advised that good arms will 
 be furnished to all who are not able 
 to supply themselves. 
 
 Let all the people in this and the 
 surrounding counties meet in this city 
 on next Thursday; and the ladies will 
 do well to encourage this movement by 
 their presence — they are all wanted. 
 Come, ladies, and bring your sons and 
 your husbands. — May 9, 1863. 
 
 The Yankee Prisoners at Rome. — 
 Among this batch of thieves and mur- 
 derers was found two companies of 
 North Alabama Tories; and amongst 
 them a man by the name of Funder- 
 burk, who was born and raised with- 
 in three miles of Rome. This villain- 
 ous whelp had a gallant brother in 
 the Eighth Georgia who fell covered 
 with honor and glory at the First Bat- 
 tle of Manassas, July 21st, 1861. This 
 scoundrel, with his widowed mother, 
 moved to the Sand Mountain in 1852, 
 and since the death of his brother has 
 been here trying to get a share of 
 his honored brother's estate. He ad- 
 mits he piloted the Yankees to this 
 place. He is safely under lock in jail. 
 There was also found among them a 
 man by the name of Phillips, who was 
 raised in Forsyth County, Georgia. 
 He is alleged to be a Confederate de- 
 serter. He is with Funderburk, to- 
 gether with a Methodist preacher, who 
 says his name is Brown, who the 
 Yankees say also piloted them, and 
 many years ago was a circuit rider 
 in Floyd. But no such a man ever 
 rode the circuit in this county. 
 
 The prisoners generally were re- 
 markably impudent and insulting, es- 
 pecially the officers. One of their of- 
 ficers, a major, publicly cursed Gen. 
 Forrest on the streets for a scoundrel 
 and a rascal, stating that when For- 
 rest demanded a surrender the Yankee 
 negotiators were trying to get the best 
 terms possible, and Forrest suddenly 
 appeared to get very mad. Swore he 
 would wait no longer, that he would 
 rather kill the whole of them than 
 not; ordered his couriers immediately 
 to direct the commanders of four sep- 
 arate batteries to place them on sep- 
 arate points of hills; and ordered the 
 commanders of four separate regi- 
 ments to be formed immediately at 
 particular points in line of battle, and 
 that the couriers absolutely dashed 
 off, as though they were going to 
 have these orders executed. And as 
 they dashed off, Forrest told them his 
 signal gun would be fired in ten min- 
 
 utes, when in fact (he said) the ras- 
 cal had but two little cannon, and not 
 more than a half regiment all told. 
 Finally, that Forrest was nothing but 
 a damned swindler. 
 
 The impudent whelps, openly on the 
 streets, avowed their intention to be 
 back here in less than three months, 
 burn up the town and hang every 
 man in it because, they say, they were 
 bushwhacked. This, of course, is an 
 idle boast of the poor cowardly devils, 
 to cover up their shame and disgrace. 
 They said they did not come into Rome 
 just as they expected; that they could 
 stand all that; but such a number of 
 them to be gobbled up by a little squad 
 of "dirty, snotty-nosed butternuts" 
 was past endurance. 
 
 We regret to learn that Capt. For- 
 rest, a brother of the General's, com- 
 manding a company in his old regi- 
 ment, was severely and it is feared 
 mortally wounded in the recent run- 
 ning fight with the Yankees from 
 Courtland to Rome. 
 
 Gen. Forrest has received a dispatch 
 from Col. Roddy, announcing that the 
 Yankees have evacuated Tuscumbia. 
 
 The Steamer Laura Moore blew her 
 whistle off yesterday morning as she 
 was about signalling her departure. 
 Her steam escaping prevented her de- 
 parture.— Saturday, May 9, 1863. 
 
 "BILL ARP" ON ROME "BATTLE" 
 
 (Southern Confederacy, Atlanta). 
 Rome, Gorgy. 
 Mr. Adeer & Smith: 
 
 So many onreliable persuns will be 
 sirkulatin spewrius akkounts of the 
 "Grand Rounds" tuk by the infernal 
 Yankees in these Roman-tik rejuns, 
 that I think it highly proper you 
 should git the streight of it from one 
 who seed it with his eyes, and hearn 
 it with his years, and a piece of it 
 fell on his big toe. 
 
 More than 200 years ago Genrul D. 
 Soto had a big fight with the Injuns 
 on or about these consekrated grounds. 
 Since that time an oninterrupted peece 
 hav rained around these classic hills 
 and hollers. Flowers hav bloomed 
 sweetly, lambs hav skipd about, dog 
 fennel hav yallered the ground, and 
 the Coosa river, which were then a 
 little spring branch, hav grown both 
 wide and deep, until now the majestik 
 steamboat can float upon its bosom, 
 and the big mud cat gobble up the 
 yearthworms what chance to fall into 
 its watters. 
 
 But rollen years will change a pro- 
 gram. Anno domini will tell ! Jest
 
 Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest 
 
 167 
 
 afore the broke of day, on Sunday, 
 the third of May, 1863, eighteen hun- 
 dred and 63, the cityzens of the eternal 
 city were arowsed from their slumbers 
 with the chorus of the Marsales hymn, 
 "To arms, to arms, ye brave! Abe 
 Linkhorn are pegging away, and the 
 Yankees are ridin to Rome on a raid!" 
 Ah! then were the time to try men's 
 soles! But there were no panik, no 
 skedadlin, to shakin of nees — but one 
 universal determynation to do sum- 
 thin. The burial squad organized fust 
 and foremost and begun to inter ther 
 money, and spoons and 4 pronged 
 forks, and sich like about the prem- 
 ises. Babies were sent to the rear. 
 Hosses hid in the cane brake. Cows 
 milked oncommon dry. Cashiers and 
 bank agents carried off their phunds 
 in a pair of saddle bags, which very 
 much exposed ther facilities and the 
 small compass of ther resources. It 
 were, however, a satisfactory solushun 
 of ther refusin to discount for the last 
 3 months. Skouts were sent out on 
 every road to snuff the tainted breeze. 
 Kotton bags were piled up across ev- 
 ery high way and low way. Shot 
 guns and cannon and powder and ball 
 were brought to the front. The yeo- 
 manry and the melishy jined a squad 
 of Confederate troops and formed in 
 line of battle. They were marched 
 across the Oustanawly River, and then 
 the plank of the bridge torn up so 
 that they couldn't retreat. This were 
 done, however, at ther own valyunt 
 request, because of the natural weak- 
 ness of the flesh. They determined 
 jintly and sevrally, firmly by these 
 presents, to do sumthin. 
 
 Two cracked cannon, what had holes 
 in the ends, and two or three on the 
 side, were propped up between the 
 kotten bags, and pinted dead straight 
 down the road to Alabam. They were 
 fust loaded with buckshot and tacks, 
 and then a round ball rammed on top. 
 The ball were to take the raid in front, 
 and the bullets and tacks to rake 'em 
 in the phlanks. These latter it was 
 supposed would go through the cracks 
 in the sides and shoot around gener- 
 ally. Everybody and everything de- 
 termined to die in their tracks, or do 
 sumtlmi. 
 
 The steamboats dropped quietly 
 down the river to get out of the thick 
 of the fight. The sharp shooters got 
 on top of semmetery hill with ther re- 
 peaters and pokit pistols. The videttes 
 dashed with spy glasses to the top of 
 the court house to see a fur off. 
 Dashin Comanchy couriers rode on- 
 ruly steeds to and fro, like a fiddler's 
 
 elbow. Sum went forward to rekenoy- 
 ter as skouts. Everybody resolved to 
 do sumthin. 
 
 At this critical junkture, and pre- 
 vious and afterwards, reports were 
 brought into these Head Quai-ters, and 
 all other quarters, to the effeck that 
 10,000 Yankees were kummin, and 5,- 
 000 and 2,000, and any other number; 
 that they were ten miles from town, 
 and 6 miles, and 2 miles, and any 
 other number of miles; that they were 
 on the Alabam road, and the Cave 
 Spring road, and the River road, and 
 any other road; that they were cross- 
 in the river at Quin's Ferry, and Wil- 
 liamson's Ferry, and Bell's Ferry, and 
 any other ferry; that they had tuck 
 the Steembote Laura Moore, and Chi- 
 rokee and Alfaratta, and any other 
 steembote; that they had shot at a 
 Comanchy rider, and hit him in the 
 coat tail, or his hosses tail, or any 
 other tale; that they had seezed Sis 
 Morris, or Bill Morris, or Jep Mor- 
 ris, or any other Morris. In fak, a 
 man could hear anything by gwine 
 about, and more too. 
 
 Shore enuf, however, the important 
 crisis which were to have arriven did 
 actually arriv, about 10 o'klock in the 
 mornin, a. m., on May 3rd, 1863. I 
 am thus portikler, Mr. Editurs, bekaus 
 
 JUDGE JNO. W. MADDOX. who entered the 
 Confederate Army at 15, and served several 
 terms in Congress from the Seventh District.
 
 168 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 it are to be entered on next year's 
 almynak as a remarkabul event. The 
 head of the raid did aktully arriv at 
 the suburban vilhi of Mr. Myers, and 
 thar it stoped to rekonnoiter. Thar 
 they learned as how we had 600 head 
 of artillery, and 6,000 kotton bags, and 
 a permiskous number infantry taktix, 
 and we were only waitin to see the 
 whites of their eyes. Also that the his- 
 tory of Gen. Jackson at New Orleans 
 wer red in publik, and that everything 
 were inspired to do si())itliin; where- 
 upon the head of the raid turned pale, 
 and sent forward a picket. At this 
 onspishus moment a foot skout on our 
 side let fly a whistlen bullit, which 
 tuk effek somewhat in those rejuns. 
 It were reasonably suposed that one 
 Yankee were killed, and perhaps two, 
 for even to this time sumthing dead 
 can be smelt in those parts, tho' the 
 buryal squad had not been able to find 
 it up to yestiddy. After right smart 
 skirmishin, the head of the raid feii 
 back down the road to the Alabam, 
 and were persued by our mounted 
 yeomanry at a respectabul distance. 
 
 Now Mr. Adeer & Smith, while all 
 these vaylunt feets were going on 
 hereabouts. Gen. Forrest had been 
 fighting the body and tail of the raid 
 away down at the Alabam line. Final- 
 ly he proposed to the raid to stop 
 fightin and play a game or two of 
 poker, under a cedar tree, which they 
 aksepted. But the Ginerul were not in 
 luck and he had a pore hand, and had 
 stalked his last dollar. The Yankees 
 had a Streight, which would hav tuk 
 Forrest and raked down the pile, but 
 he looked on rite in the eye and sed 
 he would see 'm, and "4,000 better." 
 The raid looked at him, and he looked 
 at the raid, and never blinked. The 
 raid trembled all over it boots, and gin 
 it up. The Generul bluffed 'em, and 
 ever since that game was played, the 
 little town hard by has bin called 
 Cedar Bluff. It were flush times in 
 the Alabam, that day, shore! 
 
 Well, Mr Editurs, you know the 
 sequil. The Generul bagged 'em and 
 broght 'em on. The planks were put 
 back on the bridge. The river bank 
 infantry countermarched and fired a 
 permiscous volley in token of jew- 
 bilee. One of the side-swipin cannon 
 went off on its own hook, and the ball 
 went ded through a house and tore a 
 buro all to flinders. Sum sed it were 
 a Niter Buro, but a potash man who 
 examined sed he reckin not, for ther 
 weren't no ashes in the drawers, nor 
 naro ash hopper on the premises. 
 
 By and by the Comanchy Skouts and 
 
 pickets all kum in, and shuk ther am- 
 brosial locks and received the congrat- 
 ulations of ther friends. Then begun 
 the ovashun of fair women and brave 
 men to Gen. Forrest and his gallant 
 boys Bokays and tears were all mixed 
 up promiskous. Big chunks of cake and 
 gratitude were distributed generally 
 and frequent. Strawberries and cream, 
 eggs and inyuns, pies and pancakes — 
 all flew aroun amazin, for everybody 
 was determined to do sKnithin. Gen. 
 Forrest subsided, and General Jew- 
 bilee tuk command, and Rome her- 
 self again. The 4 pronged forks and 
 silver spoons ros from the dead and 
 even the old hen what one of our city 
 aldemen had hurried with her head 
 out, was disinterred and sacrificed im- 
 mediately for the good of the koun- 
 try. 
 
 Thus hav ended the raid, and no 
 loss on our side. Howsumever, I sup- 
 pose that Mr. Linkhorn will keep "peg- 
 gin' away." 
 
 Yours truly and immensely, 
 
 THE ORTHOR, 
 Adjective Generul of Yeomanry. 
 
 The Yankee cavalry roamed a little 
 too far from home when they ventured 
 a journey to Rome. The citizens there- 
 of were Romans enough to meet them 
 in battle array, and Forrest, at Rome, 
 was the "noblest Roman of them all." 
 —Rebel. 
 
 Proclamation. — To the Citizens of 
 Rome: A little more than a week ago 
 our city was beleaguered by the most 
 lawless band of incendiaries that ever 
 disgraced humanity. This enemy came 
 with "lust in his eye, poverty in his 
 purse and hell in his heart. He came 
 a robber and a murderer." But at our 
 very threshold he was arrested by the 
 Lord God of Hosts. Thus we were de- 
 livered, and thus our city was saved 
 from destruction. Under such circum- 
 stances it is right, proper and our 
 bounden duty as a people to bow down 
 in adoring thankfulness to that kind 
 F'ather whose everlasting arms have 
 been around, about and underneath 
 us, to protect us from harm, and it is 
 our duty and privilege to ascribe to 
 him all the honor of our deliverance. 
 
 Now, therefore, I, John M. Gregory, 
 mayor of the City of Rome, do issue 
 this, my proclamation, setting apart 
 Wednesday, the 13th inst., as a day of 
 thanksgiving and prayer to Almighty 
 God for the great mercies vouchsafed 
 to us, and I do therefore earnestly in- 
 vite the people of the city to assemble 
 at their respective places of worship
 
 Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest 
 
 169 
 
 on that day, and to unite in render- 
 ing thanks and praise to God. Given 
 under my hand and seal of office, this 
 May 11, 1863. J. M. Gregory, Mayor 
 of the City of Rome. — Tuesday, May 
 12, 1863. 
 
 Gen. Forrest and the Citizens of 
 Rome — As a slight appreciation of the 
 services of the gallant Forrest in sav- 
 ing our beautiful city from sack and 
 flames, at the hands of the ruthless 
 vandals, who lately came to lay our 
 homes in desolation, a suggestion was 
 made that it would be expressive of 
 our gratitude to present the General 
 with a fine horse, and in the course 
 of an hour or two over $1,000 was con- 
 tributed for this purpose. But. Col. 
 A. M. Sloan, anticipating the move- 
 ment, on his own private account pre- 
 sented Gen. Forrest with his splendid 
 saddle horse, for which he would not 
 on any other account have taken the 
 best negro fellow in the State. This 
 was an appropriate and magnificent 
 offering on the part of Col. Sloan.* 
 
 We are advised that the money 
 which had been contributed by the 
 citizens for this purpose was turn- 
 ed over to Gen. Forrest to be used for 
 the benefit of the sick and wounded of 
 his command. 
 
 The Alabama Traitors. — We have 
 had the pleasure of reading a letter 
 from Gov. Shorter, of Alabama, to 
 Surgeon P. C. Winn, in regard to the 
 Alabama traitors captured by Gen. 
 P"'orrest in North Alabama, in which 
 the Governor says he has demanded 
 "under the order of President Davis, 
 all the officers taken in Alabama, 
 found serving with armed slaves," etc. 
 
 We greatly admire the spirit of Gov. 
 Shorter in this matter and hope to see 
 his example emulated in every state. 
 
 Perhaps no event of the war has 
 caused more profound regret through- 
 out the Confederacy or more real sat- 
 isfaction to the Yankees than the 
 death of glorious old Stonewall Jack- 
 son. After having made such hair- 
 breadth escapes from Yankee bullets 
 he has died at last at the hands of his 
 own men. His memory is embalmed 
 in the hearts of the people, and his 
 name will live through all times. 
 
 Some of our contemporaries are de- 
 termined that the royal ape of Wash- 
 ington shall have his proper cognomen 
 of "Hanks," and "Hanks" let it be, 
 and thereby free the respectable name 
 of Lincoln from the odium attached to 
 
 *A. M. Sloan, banker and warehouseman, 
 formerly of Columbus. 
 
 it from his bearing it. It is said that 
 old Hanks has started the old pegging 
 system of tactics. If so, we suppose 
 the recent raid to Rome was one of 
 the pegs driven in and broken off. — 
 Thursday, May 14, 1863. 
 
 The Meeting on Thursday — A large 
 number of the citizens of Floyd and 
 the surrounding counties met in this 
 city on Thursday last to consult to- 
 gether on the best means of defending 
 our city and the approaches to the 
 State road, against raiding parties of 
 the public enemy. Major John Rush 
 was chosen president and Mr. John M. 
 Berry secretary. Col. Fouche explain- 
 ed the object of the meeting, and 
 moved the appointment of a commit- 
 tee of five, who were himself. Col. 
 D. R. Mitchell, Maj. J. G. Yeiser, Rev. 
 J. W. Glenn and Col. Alfred Shorter. 
 During the absence of the committee, 
 Hon. John W. H. Underwood was in- 
 vited to address the meeting, but de- 
 clining to do so, called on Dr. P. C. 
 Winn, of Alabama, who entertained 
 the audience with a spirited plea for 
 home defense. The committee report- 
 ed stirring resolutions, which were 
 unanimously adopted. 
 
 We would appeal to every boy and 
 man who has the pluck to defend his 
 home, to join some military company. 
 We know of but three excuses which 
 any man could offer for not joining: 
 utter physical inability, innate, incur- 
 able cowardice and old age. But the 
 man should be so old that he would not 
 think of maiTying again if his wife 
 should die. If any man will come out 
 and establish his right to plead any of 
 those three excuses, let him be perpet- 
 ually exempt from all military serv- 
 ice;" but let all others shoulder arms 
 and fall into ranks for the defense of 
 their native soil. — Saturday, May 16, 
 1863. 
 
 To Arms, Ye Romans! — We find the 
 following astounding telegram to the 
 Associated Press, which, if true, it is 
 time Romans were looking to their lau- 
 rels : 
 
 Atlanta, May 16.— Quartermaster 
 Polk's Corps arrived and passed 
 through this morning. We have re- 
 l)orts that 7,000 or 8,000 of the enemy 
 are approaching Rome. All the avail- 
 able force here is ordered to be held 
 in readiness. 
 
 There is a grape-vine telegram 
 afloat that Jackson, Miss., has iK^en 
 taken by the enemy, and that our 
 forces have them surrounded and cut 
 off.— Tuesday, May 19, 1863.
 
 170 
 
 A'^HisTORY OF Rome and Floyd County 
 
 NINETEEN DWELLINGS OF MANY TYPES. 
 
 1 — Wilson M. Hardy; 2 — old A. R. Sullivan home; 3 — old Goetchius home; 4 — Dr. J. C. 
 Watts (C. N. Featherston) ; 5 — part of old Battey infirmary; 6 — J. W. Rounsaville; 7 — 
 Eliza Frances Andrews; 8 — A. B. S. Moseley; 9 — T. J. Simpson (J. L. Sulzbacher)S 10 — 
 Ed. L. Bosworth; 11 — O. L. Stamps (C. Rowell) ; 12 — S. F. Magruder; 13 — old Harper home; 
 i^ ii^ Reynolds (R. D. VanDyke) ; 15 — Hood-Cumming-Featherston (Rixie); 16 — Dr. 
 
 T. R. Garlington (J. D. Hanks); 17 — Unknown; 18 — VanDyke-Maddox; 19 — Henry Stoffregen.
 
 Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest 
 
 171 
 
 To All People Who Are Able to Bear 
 A^rms! — The question can no longer be 
 blinked. You must either fight, run 
 or take the oath of allegiance to Lin- 
 coln. This call is made to the fight- 
 ing men, young and old. If there be 
 any of the other classes, we don't want 
 them; the sooner they take care of 
 themselves, the better. Daily develop- 
 ments convince all thinking men of the 
 immediate necessity of a strong mili- 
 tary organization for self-defense. The 
 people are invited, perhaps for the last 
 time, to meet at the court house in 
 Rome on Tuesday morning next, May 
 26 at 10 o'clock a. m., to learn what 
 has been done, and to determine, un- 
 der a proper organization, what they 
 will do in defense of their property, 
 their wives and their children. We 
 beseech you to come and to come ready 
 to make all needed sacrifices for your 
 country! — J. M. Gregory, mayor; S. 
 Fouche, D. R. Mitchell, "j. G. Yeiser, 
 A. Shorter, J. W. Glenn, Committee. — 
 Tuesday, May 26, 1863. 
 
 Rev. Georg'e Pierce, son of the 
 bishop of that name who served 
 the Rome district after the war, 
 had intended to preach at one of 
 the IMethodist chtirches on the 
 Sunday Forrest appeared, but he 
 quickly caught the war fever and 
 shouldered a gun.* 
 
 According to William Hardin 
 and Jas. O. Winfrey, the well- 
 known Confederate veterans. Col. 
 Streight cried over his plight, and 
 it was said on good authority at 
 the time that he tried to get a pis- 
 tol to shoot himself. He was de- 
 scribed by all who knew him as 
 an intrepid soldier. 
 
 Reminiscences by the late Dr. 
 P. L. Turnley, presented to the U. 
 D. C, add this information : 
 
 Col. Hathaway, original commander 
 of the raiders, was shot through the 
 neck and killed at the foot of Owl 
 Mountain, near Turkeytown, Etowah 
 County, Ala., while eating breakfast. 
 Two young sharijshooters, brothers 
 named Hall, had climbed to the top of 
 
 ♦Authority : 20th Contiiry Rome, Tribune In- 
 dustrial Edition, Oct., 1902. 
 
 **Accordin!j to Mrs. Robt. Battey, several 
 younpr women snipped ofT lonK raven locks. 
 
 ***Authority : Edward C. Peters, of Rome. 
 Since the total casualties are 1,T•>A^ by this esti- 
 mate, there is a discrepancy of 453 men, the 
 number at the start having been 2,000. 
 
 the spur above the invaders and crack- 
 ed down on the officer. Streight was 
 then placed in command. 
 
 The news that Streight was ap- 
 proaching spread like prairie fire, and 
 more activity was shown in Rome than 
 for a long time. By noon the town 
 was fairly well garrisoned by men and 
 boys of all ages. The bridges were 
 blocked with cotton bales, and the 
 floors covered with straw saturated 
 with oil. Every cellar and garret had 
 been ransacked for arms and weapons 
 of any kind. Col. J. G. "Yeiser obtain- 
 ed two old honey-combed cannon, and 
 placed the dangerous ends toward the 
 enemy. These, with old rusty flint- 
 lock rifles and a few pistols, were all 
 the defenders had, but they were suf- 
 ficient to turn back Streight's advance 
 guard. 
 
 Rome was so hilarious that Gen. 
 Forrest could hardly attend to his du- 
 ties; and it has been said by one who 
 was present that the brave general 
 would have been bald had he given 
 locks of his hair to all the ladies who 
 made the request.** 
 
 Forrest's losses were said to 
 have been ten killed and 40 wound- 
 ed. Streight's losses from Apr. 
 27 through May 3, 1863, from Tus- 
 cumbia to Rome (including Day's 
 Gap, Apr. 30, Black Warrior Creek, 
 Mav 1, and Blount's Farm, May 2) 
 were twelve killed, 69 wounded. 
 1.466 captured. The captives were 
 the 51st and 73rd Indiana Volun- 
 teers, the 3rd Ohio, the 80th Illi- 
 nois Mounted Infantry and two 
 companies of the First Alabama 
 Cavalry who were mostly desert- 
 ers from the Confederate ar- 
 my.*^=* 
 
 Streight's men were worn out 
 from their forced marches and 
 loss of sleep, and when Forrest 
 came up, many whtc sleei)ing on 
 their arms, and their commander 
 could make them hght no longer. 
 
 In or<ler to get the facts of Wis- 
 dom's ride. Ca])t. W. P. Pay. of 
 Gadsden, visited Mr. Wisdom at 
 Hoke's l-.luff, Ala. Capt. Lay re- 
 lated the story to Walter Harper, 
 who i)resented it July 29. 1909. in 
 the Gadsden Daily Times-News, 
 a (lav after Mr. Wisdom dicil :
 
 172 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 John H. Wisdom, long a citizen of 
 Etowah County, Alabama, and for- 
 merly of Rome, Ga., died at his home 
 at Hoke's Bluff, ten miles east of 
 Gadsden, on July 28, 1909. He was 
 89 years of age and one of the sub- 
 stantial citizens of the county. He 
 was extremely modest and for that 
 reason but little has ever been said 
 or known about the crowning exploit 
 of his life, which saved a city, result- 
 ed in the capture of a host of Federal 
 soldiers and placed him in the class of 
 heroes of the Civil War. 
 
 John H. Wisdom and Emma Sanson 
 were jointly responsible for the saving 
 of Rome, Ga., and the capture of Col. 
 Abel D. Streight's raiders by Gen. 
 Nathan B. Forrest, yet neither of these 
 heroes was aware of the part the other 
 was playing at the time. 
 
 Shortly after Emma Sanson had di- 
 rected Gen. Forrest over Black War- 
 rior Creek, Mr. Wisdom, then a mail 
 carrier and 43 years old, left his home 
 at Gadsden on a mail trip, and after 
 crossing the Coosa river went several 
 miles beyond. In the afternoon of the 
 same day he returned to Gadsden, to 
 find that the Federals under Col. 
 Streight had been in the town and 
 were proceeding toward Rome. The 
 enemy had cut a hole in the bottom 
 of the ferry boat of which he was the 
 proprietor and had set it loose to 
 drift down the Coosa. Consequently, 
 Mr. Wisdom did not recross the river, 
 but called to a neighbor to tell his 
 family that he had gone to warn Rome 
 of its danger. Still in his trusty buggy, 
 he dashed toward Rome. This was at 
 3:30 p. m. By changing steeds he 
 made the 67 miles a few minutes be- 
 fore midnight, or a little less than 
 eight hours and a half. Deducting an 
 hour and a half for changes of horses 
 and other delays, he negotiated the 
 hilly, river-crossing journey in about 
 seven hours, or at the rate of 9.6 
 miles per hour.* 
 
 In the early Revolutionary days 
 Paul Revere rode from Boston to Con- 
 cord, Mass., a distance of 18 miles, to 
 warn the citizens of the approach of 
 the British soldiers.** His act has been 
 the subject of song and story for more 
 than 100 years, while the much more 
 difficult and daring feat of John H. 
 Wisdom is known to but a comparative 
 few in Alabama and Georgia. 
 
 Following is the story in Mr. Wis- 
 dom's own words, beginning when he 
 returned to the Coosa River at Gads- 
 den on the afternoon of Saturday, May 
 2, 1863:*** 
 
 "It occurred to me at once that I 
 could beat them to Rome and sound 
 the alarm. I called across the river 
 that I was going, and whipped my 
 horse toward Rome. This was about 
 3:30 p. m. I dashed by Hoke's Bluff, 
 Gnatville, Goshen and Spring Garden, 
 and at the last-named place turned 
 into the Rome and Jacksonville stage 
 road, which I had traveled often as 
 driver of a stage from Rome to the 
 Alabama town. 
 
 "The first 'lap' of the ride was from 
 the east bank of the river at Gadsden 
 to Gnatville, 22 miles, which I drove 
 in my buggy in a little more than two 
 hours. Here my horse became ex- 
 hausted and I left him and the buggy 
 with the Widow Hanks,**** who offered 
 me a lame pony on my promise to ride 
 it only five miles, to Goshen, where I 
 thought I could get another horse. On 
 account of the pony's condition, I was 
 obliged to leave him at Goshen, where 
 I found Simpson Johnson coming in 
 from his farm. He saddled two horses 
 and let me ride one, and sent his son 
 with me on the other horse to bring 
 both back. I was delayed at Goshen 
 only a short while, but it was not dark 
 and I realized I must lose more time 
 changing steeds. 
 
 "We rode the Johnson horses in a 
 swift gallop eleven miles to the home 
 of Rev. Joel Weems, above Spring 
 Garden, Ala., where I was delayed 
 some time, but finally managed to get 
 a fresh horse. 
 
 "On the next 'lap' I stopped several 
 times, trying to get a new animal. At 
 one place I woke up a farmer and told 
 him what I wanted. He replied gruffly 
 that I couldn't get any of his horses, 
 so I rode eleven miles farther to John 
 Baker's, one mile south of Cave Spring, 
 and after a short delay mounted an- 
 other horse and asked him to keep for 
 the owner the one I had discarded. I 
 was now in Georgia, and Cave Spring 
 loomed ahead, then I raced through 
 Vann's Valley. While going down a 
 long hill in a sweeping- gallop, Mr. 
 Baker's horse stumbled and fell, throw- 
 ing me in an ungraceful sprawl ahead 
 of him. I got up quickly, remounted 
 and made off. After proceeding 
 twelve miles, to within six miles of 
 
 *The Courier account stated that Wisdom 
 arrived at 2 :3() a. m., after a ride of eleven 
 hours. 
 
 ** Revere was bound for Concord, hut was 
 held up about half way, at Lexington, by 
 British soldiers. 
 
 '**Mr. Wisdom lived prior to the war in a 
 cottage with his mother at Second Avenue and 
 East Third Street, where B. T. Haynes" home 
 now stands. 
 
 ****Her first name was Nancy, it is said.
 
 Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest 
 
 173 
 
 Rome, I changed horses for the last 
 time. A gentleman whose name I do 
 not remember loaned me a horse and I 
 lost little time entering on the last 
 'lap.' This horse carried me safely 
 into Rome, where I arrived at four 
 minutes before midnight, May 2, 1863. 
 I thus made the ride of about 67 miles 
 in slightly less than eight and a half 
 hours, including delays. Lost time 
 amounted to about an hour and a 
 half. 
 
 "On arriving in the city I galloped 
 to the leading hotel, the Etowah 
 House, then kept by Mr. G. S. Black, 
 and told him the Yankees were com- 
 ing. At his request, I rode through 
 the streets, sounding the alarm and 
 waking the people. Everybody jump- 
 ed out of bed, and the excitement was 
 great. The people ran in all direc- 
 tions, but under the command of their 
 leader got down to the business of pil- 
 ing cotton bales in breastwork style on 
 the Rome ends of the bridges. 
 
 "There were few men in Rome at 
 the time, most of them having gone 
 away to war, but those who were left 
 soon hauled out all the old squirrel 
 rifles, shot guns and muzzle-loading 
 muskets that could be found, and di- 
 vided them among those able to bear 
 arms. 
 
 "The little railroad from Rome to 
 Kingston fired up the engines and ran 
 them every 30 minutes in and out of 
 the city, carrying the news into the 
 country districts and bringing to town 
 the farmers with their old battle 
 pieces. 
 
 "The handful of convalescent Con- 
 federate soldiers in Rome took charge 
 of the home guard and lined them up 
 behind the breastworks of cotton. The 
 Bridge Street (Fifth Avenue) bridge 
 across the Oostanaula River, a wooden 
 structure, was filled with hay which 
 was saturated with turpentine so it 
 could be fired in case of defeat and 
 a retreat. 
 
 "About sunrise next morning. May 
 3, (Sunday) six hours after my ar- 
 rival, Streight's advance guard ap- 
 peared on Shorter's Hill, one mile west 
 of Rome. Through their field glasses 
 they saw the 'fortifications' and the 
 bustling activity in the town. An old 
 negro woman, asked if there were any 
 Confederates around, replied, 'Yassir, 
 boss, de town am full of sojers!' 
 
 "So impressive was the scene that 
 the advance guard retreated without 
 any attempt to take the bridge. A few 
 shots were fired between the sharp- 
 shooters. 
 
 "About 3 or 4 o'clock that after- 
 noon Forrest marched into Rome with 
 Streight's command as prisoners. 
 When the Yankees found out there 
 had been no real soldiers in Rome, and 
 that they had been captured by For- 
 rest's inferior force, they became very 
 angry, and it was feared that they 
 would revolt, but Gen. Forrest's fore- 
 sight in separating officers and men, 
 imprisoning the officers in the court 
 house and putting the privates under 
 guard at the forks of the rivers, 
 averted trouble. 
 
 "It has been erroneously stated that 
 I was sent to Rome by Gen. Forrest. 
 I knew nothing of Gen. Forrest's pur- 
 suit of the raiders until he marched 
 into Rome with them. 
 
 "The people of Rome made me a 
 present of a silver service valued at 
 $400, which I now have and prize very 
 highly. They also gave me $400 in 
 money and sent the Widow Hanks 
 $400 for giving me the use of her lame 
 pony." 
 
 According to the oflficial reports of 
 Col. Abel D. Streight. made after his 
 escape from Libby prison to Union 
 headquarters, Aug. 22, 1864, John H. 
 Wisdom was directly responsible for 
 his surrender to Gen. Forrest. The 
 following from Col. Streight's report 
 is significant: 
 
 "After some maneuvering, Forrest 
 sent in a flag of truce, demanding sur- 
 render, so I called a council of war. I 
 had previously learned in the mean- 
 time, however, that Capt. Milton Rus- 
 sell had been unable to take the bridge 
 at Rome. Our condition was can- 
 vassed, and although personally op- 
 posed to surrender, and so expressing 
 myself at the time, yet I yielded to the 
 unanimous voice of my regimental 
 commanders, and at about noon of 
 May 3 we surrendered as prisoners of 
 war. 
 
 Col. Streight continued with the 
 statement that he had dispatched Capt. 
 Russell with 200 picked men to take 
 the Rome bridge, and this officer had 
 reported that it was held by a formi- 
 dable force of Confederates, and in 
 his opinion could not be captured by 
 the forces available. 
 
 Tn one ])art df :in orio-inal ac- 
 count in his own liatul-writini^-, Ct^l. 
 Wisdom staled tliat in addition to 
 five horses, he used one mule. He 
 recited that Miss l\mma Sanson, 
 daus-hter of the W'itlow Sanson, 
 \\h(") lived near T.lack Warrior
 
 174 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Creek l)ridi^e, two miles west of 
 Gadsden, got up behind Gen. For- 
 rest on his horse and directed him 
 to ford the creek after Streight 
 had burned the bridge. Streight's 
 rear guard sent a fusillade of bul- 
 lets tow^ard the double-mounted 
 horse, and Forrest and Miss San- 
 son were forced to dismount and 
 hide behind a bank. The general 
 finally rode back to the farm house 
 with the brave girl, then crossed 
 the ford with his men. 
 
 During the delay, Streight's 
 men had entered Gadsden and be- 
 gun burning and plundering. They 
 discovered Col. Wisdom's smoke 
 house, in which had been stored 
 a quantity of bacon by a crowd of 
 refugees from Tennessee. While 
 Streight's men tried to find the 
 key to the smoke house and made 
 preparations to batter down the 
 door, Forrest's men arrived, 
 chased them and devoured the ba- 
 con. 
 
 According to Col. Wisdom, 
 Streight surrendered at Law- 
 rence's Spring, four miles east of 
 Cedar Bluff, Cherokee County, 
 Ala., and 24 miles west of Rome. 
 He confirms the statement that 
 spirituous liquor flow^ed pretty 
 freely in Rome that Sunday : "I 
 thought a lieutenant would ride 
 his black mare to death. He kept 
 riding up and down the Oosta- 
 naula from Battey's Shoals to 
 towai and back, to keep the 
 Yankees from crossing. They 
 said he w^as 'tight.' " 
 
 Gen. Forrest hurried down into 
 Alabama to engage in a new chase, 
 w^ithout waiting to attend the pic- 
 nic Romans had planned for him. 
 While awaiting orders in Rome for 
 about four days, Forrest maintain- 
 ed headquarters at the Choice 
 House, wdiere the Hotel Forrest 
 now stands, and the hospitality of 
 the Temple of Justice a block to 
 the east was enjoyed by the of- 
 ficers he had corralled. 
 
 TWO FAMOUS RIDES COMPARED. 
 
 John H. Wisdom's famous ride, mentioned in the foregoing, is here 
 compared with Paul Revere's : 
 
 PAUL REVERE'S RIDE. 
 
 Date— Apr. 19, 1775. 
 
 War — Revolutionary. 
 
 Starting Point — Charlestown, Mass. 
 
 Destination — Concord, Mass. 
 
 Place Reached — Lexington, Mass. 
 
 Distance — Nine miles. 
 
 Time — Two hours, 15 minutes. 
 
 Miles per Hour — Four. 
 
 How Traveled — Horseback. 
 
 Object to Save — Lex. and Concord. 
 
 Start of Ride — About 11:45 p. m. 
 
 End of Ride— Two a. m. 
 
 Horses Used — One. 
 
 Road Condition — Fair. 
 
 Riding by Dark — Two hours, 15 min. 
 
 Riding by Light — None. 
 
 Country — Undulating. 
 
 JNO. H. WISDOM'S RIDE. 
 
 Date— May 2, 1863. 
 War— Civil. 
 
 Starting Point — Gadsden, Ala. 
 Destination — Rome, Ga. 
 Place Reached — Rome, Ga. 
 Distance^Sixty-seven miles. 
 Time — Eleven hours (814 riding). 
 Miles per Hour — Eight. 
 How Traveled — Buggy, horseback. 
 Object to Save — Rome, Ga. 
 Start of Ride— About 3:30 p. m. 
 End of Ride — Two-thirty a. m. 
 Horses Used — Five (one mule). 
 Road Condition — Rough. 
 Riding by Dark — Seven hours. 
 Riding by Light — Four hours. 
 Country — Hilly.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 Sherman's Army Captures Rome 
 
 HE climax to Rome's mili- 
 tary successes and failures 
 was Gen. Wm. Tecumseh 
 vSherman, United States ar- 
 my, of Ohio. In a chase after Gen. 
 Jos. E. Johnston from Dalton and 
 Resaca, the right wing of his ar- 
 my (14th and 16th corps), under 
 command of Gen. Jas. Birdseye 
 McPherson,* also of Ohio, sent its 
 scouts into Rome May 17, 1864, 
 after an artillery duel for a day 
 with Gen. Stuart's defenders.** 
 
 Virgil A. Stewart, a sharpshoot- 
 er wdio helped defend Rome, states 
 that a spirited resistance was 
 maintained for a day through the 
 artillery but the superiority of 
 the Federal force was so great 
 that the Confederates were forced 
 to retire, burning the Fifth Ave- 
 nue and Broad Street bridges as 
 they went. From him, Horry 
 Wimpee, Wm. M. Hardin and 
 others we get the following gen- 
 eral description of activities : 
 
 Gen. Sherman had sent Garrard's 
 Cavah-y*'''* dotwn the Oostanaula 
 River from Resaca, and Gen. Jefferson 
 C. Davis' division of McPherson's Ar- 
 my of the Tennessee in support of it. 
 The Federals were advised that only 
 a small garrison defended Rome, so 
 they chose to go against the point of 
 greatest resistance rather than lose 
 the time involved in circumvention. 
 They proceeded down the right or 
 north bank of the river to Armuchee 
 creek, where they found the Confed- 
 erate skirmishers. Shots were ex- 
 changed and one man was killed, prob- 
 ably a Confederate. 
 
 Cannon had been placed on Fort 
 
 *KilIpd while reconnoitericiK near Atlanta 
 some three months later by a Confocleratc 
 sharpshooter named McPherson. 
 
 ♦♦Authority: Virpril A. Stewart. This Stuart 
 was undoubtedly not Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. The 
 Weekly Courier of Thursday, Aug. .■?!, 18G5, 
 says May 17 was the day of ;nv<^tment. The 
 diary of Reuben S. Norton says May 18. It is 
 likely that the main body of ttie troops entered 
 on the latter date. 
 
 ♦♦*The famous Black Horse Troop. 
 
 ♦♦♦*A trench two or three feet deep can still 
 be found on the southeastern slope of the water- 
 works hill : picture of it is shown herein. 
 
 Jackson, the city pumping station site, 
 on the top of a high hill in North 
 Rome, then known as Fort Norton; on 
 the ridge crossing the Summerville 
 road one mile northwest of the court- 
 house, at the rock quarry, then known 
 as Fort Attaway, overlooking Little 
 Dry creek; and on the crest of Myrtle 
 Hill cemetery, then known as Fort 
 Stovall. At the foot of Fort Norton 
 a redoubt was built to impede the 
 progress of the enemy in any attempt 
 to scale the heights for a hand-to- 
 hand encounter. In front of the pres- 
 ent Second (or Fifth Avenue) Baptist 
 church, on a slight ridge where John 
 Ross used to live, was a trench to 
 which the Confederate infantrymen 
 fell back after their outposts had been 
 driven in and Ft. Attaway silenced.**** 
 The second fort to withdraw its fire 
 was Fort Norton, and its garrison unit 
 withdrew to points in the city and as- 
 sisted the remaining unit on Fort Sto- 
 vall (cemetery hill) to hold out. 
 
 Gen. Davis had planted his artillery 
 on the ridge above and southwest of 
 Shorter's Spring, being the site of the 
 new Shorter College, and particularly 
 the location of the Selkirk home, now 
 known as "Maplehurst," the residence 
 of the president of the institution. 
 
 The cannonading had started about 
 daybreak. A column of Confederate 
 cavalry had skirmished with the Fed- 
 erals around Little Dry creek, but 
 these retired before the hosts of Gar- 
 rard. All but 42 of the non-combatant 
 population had taken bag and baggage 
 and selves away from Rome. The 
 others preferred to remain and em- 
 brace whatever fate awaited them, for 
 it might be worse farther down, and 
 home was home. One of those who 
 remained was as staunch and militant 
 a "Rel)cl" as ever lived — Mrs. Lizzie 
 Roach Hughes, dressmaker and mil- 
 liner and resident of the P\)urth Ward. 
 "Miss Lizzie," as she was called all 
 over Rome, used to do a lot of sewing 
 for the soldiers, and the day was never 
 too wet or cold or the night too dark 
 for her to go foraging ifor "sumpin' 
 t'eat." Her activities caused many a 
 gray-jacketed heart to throb grate- 
 fully. However, there were always 
 people of low enough conscience and 
 purpose to tell the invaders what Ro- 
 mans were the most unflagging in 
 support of the Southern cause, and
 
 176 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 those who were informed upon were 
 forced to suffer. The Union troops 
 cultivated "Miss Lizzie," and nuide 
 life unbearable for her. Their first 
 meeting: came when the soldiers en- 
 tered West Rome. Gen. Davis and 
 several officers "requested" "Miss Liz- 
 zie" to go with them to the top of the 
 hill to see if any more Confederates 
 were on cemetery hill. The Confed- 
 erates recognized "Miss Lizzie" 
 through their field glasses, and waved 
 a flag at her. 
 
 "Thank you, 'Miss Lizzie/ " said Gen. 
 Davis. 
 
 In a minute there came a cannon 
 ball screeching overhead, too close for 
 conxfort. "Miss Lizzie," mad as a wet 
 hen, shouted, "So THAT was why you 
 invited me up here ! Evidently, Gen. 
 Davis, some of our men ARE left, 
 and they have the nerve to express 
 themselves!" 
 
 Grabbing up her skirts, "Miss Liz- 
 zie" ran home, there to find that the 
 invaders had ransacked everything 
 had stolen her fowls and her eggs, 
 and made her brother-in-law a pris- 
 oner. The man was placed in the cus- 
 tody of "Miss Lizzie" on her assurance 
 that his wife was very ill, and on her 
 promise to make him behave. After 
 the occupation of Rome, "Miss Lizzie" 
 got even with the "Yankees" by 
 charging them top prices for fancy 
 hats and flowers to send home to 
 their wives. From an astute old wom- 
 an of Rome "Miss Lizzie" had learned 
 to make feathers into artificial flow- 
 ers. Hidden out at Coosa were a few 
 white ganders and at Floyd Springs 
 some guineas and a peafowl or two, 
 so "Miss Lizzie" went to these places 
 after material. If she could get a 
 horse, all right, and if not, she would 
 walk, five miles, ten miles — it made 
 no difference. Once she indignantly 
 refused to let a Northern soldier help 
 her mount a steed. This exhibition of 
 lese majeste caused the soldier to call 
 the corporal of the guard, who es- 
 corted her with an armed squad to 
 Gen. Davis' headquarters on Fourth 
 Avenue. Some more of her privileges 
 were taken away, including her lib- 
 erty for a day, but this only served 
 to make her increase the price of her 
 wares. 
 
 "Miss Lizzie" was also suspected of 
 furnishing "underground telephone" 
 information to the Confederates; she 
 was undoubtedly guilty, as were most 
 of the other women, and proud of it, 
 but the "Yankees" couldn't get a thing 
 on her, so she remained a privileged 
 
 character and added greatly to the 
 drab camp life of the uninvited guests 
 of Rome. 
 
 The cannon of the enemy were 
 trained almost exclusively on the de- 
 fending forts, and practically all the 
 buildings and houses escaped destruc- 
 tion at that time. No doubt many a 
 shell could be found buried in the va- 
 rious hills.* The figures as to losses 
 are not available, but it is believed 
 that the casualties were few. While 
 the bombardment was at its height, B. 
 G. Salvage, foreman of The Courier 
 composing room, who had succeeded 
 Capt. Dwinell as editor while the lat- 
 ter laid aside editorial pellets for the 
 real kind, was busy grinding out the 
 last issue of the paper that Romans 
 were to receive before Aug. 31, 1865. 
 The makeshift editor pied his type and 
 took to swamps and hills. The May 
 16, 1864, issue is not available, hence 
 much that took place on that stirring 
 occasion is forever lost. 
 
 However, we are told by the sur- 
 vivors mentioned above that the Con- 
 federates withdrew from the last fort 
 (Stovall) under cover of the dark- 
 ness of May 16, and took up sniping 
 positions on Cantrell's Ridge, South 
 Rome; on Tubbs' Mountain and other 
 vantage points; also that the invading 
 skirmishers cautiously entered on May 
 17 after having crossed the Oosta- 
 naula at or near Battey's Shoals, and 
 by noon had advanced their line to 
 Maiden Lane (now Third Avenue). 
 On the following day. May 18, after 
 awaiting orders and packing up, Gen. 
 Davis' hosts, said to have been parts 
 of the 14th and 16th Army corps, 
 numbering pei-haps 30,000 men, cross- 
 ed the Oostanaula at Printup's wharf, 
 midway between the Second Avenue 
 and Fifth Avenue bridges, six abreast 
 and on pontoon bridges made partly 
 of church pews. Their heavy wagons 
 and artillery went over safely. Gen. 
 Wm. Vandever tarried a short time, 
 but soon pushed on to Kingston, and 
 left Gen. John M. Corse in charge of 
 the garrison of 1,054 men. 
 
 The most serious infantry and cav- 
 alry engagement took place at Fort 
 Attaway, lasting from 3 to 5 p. m. of 
 May 16. As the Confederates with- 
 drew, they took with them everything 
 that could possibly be used, and de- 
 stroyed all that might benefit the ene- 
 my. A Texas regiment is said to have 
 removed $150,000 in provisions and 
 clothing from Broad Street stores. 
 
 *C. L. Kins, cemetery sexton, has several 
 which were dug out of graves in Myrtle Hill.
 
 Sherman's Army Captures Rome 
 
 177 
 
 A PAIR OF GENERALS WHO "DROPPED IN" ON ROME. 
 
 At the left is Gen. Jefferson C. Davis, commander of the Garrison, and at right 
 is Gen. Wm. T. Sherman, who spent several days on Fourth Avenue, 
 
 The new "tenants" finished the job. 
 The few pigs, chickens and cows that 
 were left were eagerly seized and 
 killed, and it was "every Roman for 
 himself." Things of no military value 
 were smashed or burned. "Bulls" got 
 into the "china shop" of the Buena 
 Vista Hotel and had a lively time. 
 
 Dr. J. M. Gregory had been mayor 
 the year before. He had refugeed, 
 but his good wife and her mother, 
 Mrs. Hutchings, the kindly proprie- 
 tress, wrung her hands vainly in pro- 
 test. 
 
 Mrs. John Choice remained behind, 
 cheering the retreating Confederates 
 as they passed. For the offense of 
 keeping two buckets of water sitting 
 at the front of her place to slake the 
 thirst of the boys in gray, Mrs. Greg- 
 ory's home was set on fire. The flames 
 spread over the lower floor, and her 
 aged mother had to be carried down a 
 ladder from the second story. The 
 colored maid, later a resident of Chi- 
 cago, followed her just as the fire was 
 entering the room. 
 
 Mrs. Samuel Stewart's home on 
 Eighth Avenue could be seen from 
 afar, and clothing hung up in a cei-- 
 tain way on the back porch gave sig- 
 nals to the Confederates. Union sol- 
 diers went to this home and carried 
 away everything of value, and poured 
 ink on Mrs. Stewart's wearing ap- 
 parel. 
 
 A lot of munitions of war and a 
 cannon or two were thrown into the 
 Oostanaula above Fifth Avenue by the 
 Federals, who had more than they 
 could carry. A little gunpowder and 
 a few shells found in the arsenal at 
 Myrtle Hill were destroyed. Zach 
 Mooney, who had been employed to 
 help make cannon at the Noble Foun- 
 dry, took two old pieces and did away 
 with them; one went "kerchug!" into 
 the Etowah nearby, and another 
 splashed into an old well. 
 
 The Lumpkin-Holmes-Morris home 
 on Eighth Avenue was used as a hos- 
 pital for the wounded Union men. The 
 Spullock home was made the head- 
 quarters of Gen. Corse, and Gen. Van- 
 dever occupied first the Hood-Cum- 
 niing - Featherston - Rixie home on 
 Broad, and then the Chas. H. Smith 
 ("Bill Arp") home on Fourth Ave- 
 nue, which was used successively by 
 Gens. Jefl'erson C. Davis and Wm. T. 
 Sherman. A Gen. Cox is also men- 
 tioned as having had charge foi- a 
 short time at Rome. 
 
 Horry Wimiiee and many others 
 unite in praising Gens. Vandever and 
 Davis as kind - hearted gentlemen 
 whose treatment of Ronuins was all 
 that could have been expected. Gen. 
 Sherman ajipears not to have engaged 
 in any atrocities at Rome. As for 
 Gen. Corse, he was not possessed of 
 the amenities bestowed upon the oth- 
 ers; early in his career at Konie he
 
 178 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 caused the handsome Hawkins home 
 on the Lindale road to be burned be- 
 cause a crowd of his foragers were 
 ambushed at that spot. He was a 
 stubborn fighter, however; when near- 
 ly overwhelmed by Gen. S. G. French 
 at Allatoona, he signalled Gen. Sher- 
 man: "I am short a cheek bone and 
 part of an ear, but am able to whip 
 all hell yet!" 
 
 Gen. Sherman entered Rome from 
 Kingston Oct. 12, 1864, on a chase 
 after Gen. Hood, who, after the fall 
 of Atlanta Sept. 2, rambled all over 
 the old Cherokee nation in Georgia, 
 Alabama and Tennessee, and proved 
 as elusive as a Jack-o-Lantern. Hood 
 had marched down the south bank of 
 the Etowah, passing through or close 
 to Cave Spring, and crossing the 
 Coosa at Veal's Ferry, near the vil- 
 lage of Coosa. He flitted through 
 Texas Valley on the northwestern side 
 of Lavender Mountain, with the pur- 
 pose of destroying the W. & A. railroad 
 and cutting off Sherman's supplies 
 from Chattanooga. Part of Hardee's 
 corps went to Mt. Pleasant Methodist 
 church (now Oreburg) , turned to the 
 left at Farmer's bridge, Armuchee 
 Creek, and then went through Floyd 
 Springs to Chattooga County, and 
 hauled up near Dalton ; Gen. Stuart's* 
 corps penetrated Robinson's gap, Lav- 
 ender Mountain, then went through 
 Texas Valley and crossed Little Ar- 
 muchee Creek at Echols' Mill. A junc- 
 tion of some of the units was ef- 
 fected near Resaca and Hood demand- 
 ed the surrender of the garrison there, 
 but was refused. 
 
 Hood had crossed the Coosa Oct. 10 
 and left a part of Harrison's Brigade 
 (being the 8th and 11th Texas Regi- 
 ments, the 3rd Arkansas and the 4th 
 Tennessee) strung from Lavender Mt. 
 to Veal's Ferry; also Stuart's corps of 
 four regiments at Sardis church, 
 Coosa. A feint on Rome Nov. 12 from 
 1,200 to 1,500 of these troops so alarm- 
 ed Gen. Sherman that he wired At- 
 lanta that Hood was turning back on 
 the Hill City, and ordered 50,000 men 
 from At'anta rushed to his aid!** This 
 order was countermanded later when 
 Sherman learned that Hood's main 
 force was bearing down on Resaca. 
 Sherman went on to Resaca the night 
 of Oct. 12 and left Corse in charge at 
 Rome; and Corse scouted into the 
 Coosa Valley and brought back some 
 prisoners and guns. 
 
 Gen. Sherman returned to Rome the 
 night of Oct. 28 with his staff, and 
 again perched himself on Fourth Ave- 
 nue ; and for four days and a half, 
 
 until the morning of Nov. 2, directed 
 operations from that point. On this 
 occasion he was returning after a 
 chase with Hood which had taken him 
 down the Chattooga Valley to Gayles- 
 ville, Ala. The grizzled West Pointer 
 exhibited considerable chagi-in that he 
 had been unable to corner the South- 
 ern army and wipe it out with his 
 superior force. On the retreat from 
 Dalton, Gen. Johnston had scarcely 
 lost a prisoner or a gun, nor had he 
 left behind many loaves or fishes for 
 the Federals to feed upon. As for 
 Hood, his baggage was so light that 
 he moved like the wind. Finally Sher- 
 man gave up the chase, and set his 
 course for the sea. The evacuation of 
 Rome started Nov. 10, 1864, and was 
 completed by 9 a. m. of Nov. 11. Act- 
 ing on orders from Sherman, then at 
 Kingston, Gen. Corse burned all the 
 mills and factories and some other es- 
 tablishments that might be of use to 
 the Confederates. 
 
 The burning took place on the night 
 of November 10. Never had a scene 
 of such wantonness and misery been 
 presented to Rome. Dry goods boxes 
 and trash were piled high in stores 
 and set off, and the crackling of the 
 timbers furnished a melancholy echo 
 to the wails of women and children. 
 Soldiers ran from place to place with 
 fii-ebrands in their hands, setting the 
 places designated here, and perfectly 
 harmless places there. Necessarily 
 the stores and shops next to the con- 
 demned improvements went up in 
 smoke. With hundreds of bayonets 
 bristling, the 40 steadfast male Ro- 
 mans could do nothing but watch and 
 allow their souls to fill with regret. 
 
 Here are some of the Broad Street 
 or central establishments which were 
 destroyed; both depots, Cunning- 
 ham's cotton warehouse, the bank, 
 David J. Meyerhardt's store house, 
 Daniel R. Mitchell's houses, the Eto- 
 wah Hotel (then at Howard Street, 
 or Second Avenue). Cohen's gr'jst 
 mill on Silver Creek, between East 
 Rome and South Rome burnt mer- 
 rily. The great brick smoke stacks 
 of the Noble Foundry were blown 
 up with powder blasts, and the build- 
 ings then fired. Only isolated struc- 
 tures escaped, until there was 
 no place much to do business, and 
 less business to do than places. A 
 livery stable caught, and the odor of 
 burning horseflesh could be detected 
 for several blocks. The whinnies of 
 the horses told of their awful plight. 
 
 *Not J. E. B. Stuart. 
 ♦♦Authority : Wm. M. Hardin.
 
 Sherman's Army Captures Rome 
 
 179 
 
 With this kind of a gesture, Gen. 
 Corse bade farewell to Rome. . Had 
 he fiddled as well, the picture could 
 have been little less complete. There 
 was more work for him to do. As 
 Sherman left Kingston, he said: 
 "Corse, the torch." It was not always 
 Corse who happened to be convenient. 
 Gen. Davis was hard by when Gen. 
 Sherman on Nov. 21 found himself on 
 
 *Gen. Sherman no doubt traversed after tlie 
 war a considerable part of his course throii-jh 
 Georgia., to verify data for his book. He was 
 interested in the Tecumseh Iron Works at Te- 
 cumseh, Cherokee Co., Ala., two miles north of 
 Borden-Wheeler Springs, and the manager of 
 that concern. Gen. Willard Warner, a member 
 of Gen. Sherman's staff, used to buy largj quan- 
 tities of goods through the wholesile grocery 
 house of IBerrys & Co. (later Montgomery, IVIe- 
 Laurin & Co.), of Rome. On one occasion, 
 about 18S0, Gen. Sherman came indnnounced 
 to Rome, and spent some little time waiting to 
 change trains at the Rome Railroad depot, 
 going to or coming from Tecumseh. Several 
 Romans recognized him by his stubby chin dec- 
 orations and shook hands with him. It was 
 too soon after the war, however, and most of 
 the little crowd contented themselves with a 
 look and grunt from a distance, and voted him 
 the ugliest mortal they had ever daen. 
 
 the Howell Cobb plantation in middle 
 Georgia. Hardly a scrap of that place 
 was spared, becau.se Cobb had just 
 left a cabinet position at Washington. 
 Although it is popularly accepted 
 that Sherman's March to the Sea 
 started at 7 a. m., Nov. 15, from At- 
 lanta, the preliminaries were staged 
 at Rome, Kingston, Cartersville and 
 other points north of the capital. 
 
 The stern injunction, "Leave 
 not a blade of grass that a grass- 
 hopper could subsist upon !" was 
 likewise applicable to the conduct 
 of the army in the upper section 
 of the state. 
 
 It was a devastating scourge, 
 this march ; it left many a wrecked 
 fortune, bleeding heart and broken 
 spirit, but it was also the forerun- 
 ner of a new era of development 
 and progress for the entire South- 
 land.
 
 180 
 
 jA History of Rome and Floyd County
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself 
 
 X DEFERKNCR to the 
 feelings and preferences of 
 a large majority of readers, 
 an effort was made to ob- 
 tain a complete and accurate ac- 
 count of the troop movements 
 around Rome, written from the 
 Southern viewpoint. Gen. Jos. R. 
 Johnston's story was consulted, 
 but it contained such a scanty ref- 
 erence to Rome that it was con- 
 sidered unavailable for the pur- 
 pose. Other works that have fal- 
 len under the notice of the author 
 have likewise failed to satisfy the 
 curiosity for details, hence the ac- 
 count by Gen. Sherman is present- 
 ed herewith, in the belief that the 
 fairness and accuracy of it will 
 commend it to all. The extracts 
 are from the "Memoirs of Gen. 
 Wm. T. Sherman, Vol. II (D. Ap- 
 pleton & Co., New York, N. Y., 
 1875). 
 
 On the 18th day of March, 1864, at 
 Nashville, Tenn., I relieved Lt. Gen. 
 Ulysses S. Grant in command of the 
 Military Division of the Mississippi, 
 embracing the Departments of the 
 Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee and 
 Arkansas, commanded respectively by 
 Maj. Gens. Schofield, Thomas, Mc- 
 Pherson and Steele. General Grant 
 was in the act of starting east to as- 
 sume command of all the Armies of 
 the United States, but more particu- 
 larly to give direction in person to 
 the Armies of the Potomac and James 
 operating against Richmond. 
 
 In the early part of April I was 
 much disturbed by a bold raid made 
 by the rebel General Forrest between 
 the Mississippi and Tennessee rivers. 
 He reached the Ohio River at Padu- 
 cah, but was handsomely repulsed by 
 Colonel Hicks. He then swung 
 down toward Memphis, massacring 
 a part of its garrison, composed 
 wholly of negro ti'oops. No doubt 
 Forrest's men acted like a set 
 of barbarians, shooting down the help- 
 less negro garrison, but I am told that 
 Forrest personally disclaims any 
 active participation in tiie assault and 
 that he stopped the firing as soon as 
 
 he could. I was told by hundreds of 
 our men, who were at various times 
 prisoners in Forrest's possession, that 
 he was usually very kind to them. 
 
 Writing' from Nashville head- 
 quarters Apr. 10, 1864, Gen. Sher- 
 man outlined to Gen. Grant at 
 Washington some of the plans for 
 his campaign against Atlanta, via 
 Ringgold, Dalton, Resaca, Rome, 
 Cartersville, Kingston, Allatoona 
 and Marietta : 
 
 McPherson will have nine divisions 
 of the Army of the Tennessee; if A. J. 
 Smith gets here he will have full 30,- 
 000 of the best men in America. He 
 will cross the Tennessee at Decatur 
 and Whitesburg, march toward Rome 
 and feel for Thomas. If Johnston 
 falls behind the Coosa, then McPher- 
 son will push for Rome, and if John- 
 ston falls behind the Chattahoochee, 
 as I believe he will, then McPherson 
 will cross over and join Thomas. 
 
 On Apr. 28, Gen. Sherman re- 
 moved his headquarters to Chatta- 
 nooga, and on May 5 he took the 
 field personally and marched with 
 about 100,000' men into Georgia 
 against Gen. Johnston, who re- 
 treated from rX'illini after a brief 
 skirmish stand. 
 
 On May 11 the Federal com- 
 mander, then at Tunnel Hill. Whit- 
 field County, ordered Gen. McPher- 
 son, in Sugar Valley, to anticipate 
 Gen. Johnston's evacuation of Dal- 
 ton by sending On. Garrard by 
 Summerville to threaten Rome antl 
 that flank. Instead of taking the 
 small Confederate garrison at Re- 
 saca. G.ordon County, Gen. Mc- 
 riicrson fell back into a defensive 
 position in Sugar X'alley. on the 
 Resaca side of Snake Creek Gap. 
 Sherman continues : 
 
 Johnston, as 1 anticipated, had 
 abandoned all iiis weil-pri'pared de- 
 fenses at Dalton and was found inside 
 (.f Resaca with tlie bulk of his army, 
 holding his divisions well in hand, 
 acting purely on the defensive, and
 
 182 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 fighting well at all points of conflict. 
 A complete line of entrenchments was 
 found covering the place, and this was 
 strongly manned at all points. On the 
 14th we closed in, enveloping the town 
 on its north and west, and during the 
 15th we had a continual day of battle 
 and skirmish. At the same time I 
 caused two pontoon bridges to be laid 
 across the Oostanaula river at Lay's 
 Ferry, about three miles below the 
 town, by which we could threaten Cal- 
 houn, a station on the railroad seven 
 miles below Resaca. I also dispatched 
 Oen. Garrard with his cavalry di- 
 vision down the Oostanaula by the 
 Rome road, with orders to cross over, 
 if possible, and to attack or threaten 
 the railroad at any point below Cal- 
 houn and above Kingston. 
 
 During the 15th, without attempt- 
 ii'.g to assault the fortified works, we 
 pressed at all points, and the sound 
 of cannon and musketry rose all day 
 to the dignity of a battle. Toward 
 evening McPherson moved his whole 
 line of battle forward, till he had 
 gained a ridge overlooking the town, 
 from which his field artillery could 
 reach the railroad bridge across the 
 Oostanaula. The enemy made several 
 attempts to drive him away, but in 
 every instance he was repulsed with 
 bloody loss. 
 
 Hooker's Corps had also had some 
 heavy and handsome fighting that aft- 
 ernoon and night on the left, where 
 the Dalton road entered the entrench- 
 ments, capturing a 4-gun entrenched 
 battery, with its men and guns; and 
 generally all our men showed the finest 
 fighting qualities. Howard's Corps 
 had followed Johnston dovvm from 
 Dalton and was in line; Stoneman's 
 Division of Cavalry had also got up, 
 and was on the extreme left, beyond 
 the Oostanaula. On the night of May 
 15 Johnston got his army across the 
 bridges, set them on fire and we en- 
 tered Resaca at daylight. Our loss 
 up to that time was about 600 dead 
 and 3,375 wounded. 
 
 That Johnston had deliberately de- 
 signed in advance to give up such 
 strong positions as Dalton and Resaca, 
 for the purpose of drawing us farther 
 South, is simply absurd. Had he re- 
 mained in Dalton another hour it 
 would have been his total defeat, and 
 he only evacuated Resaca because his 
 safety demanded it. The movement 
 by us through Snake Creek Gap was 
 a total surprise to him. My army 
 about doubled his in size, but he had 
 all the advantage of natural positions, 
 of artificial forts and roads, and of 
 
 concentrated action. We were com- 
 pelled to grope our way through for- 
 ests, across mountains with a large 
 army, necessarily more or less dis- 
 persed. 
 
 Johnston having retreated, imme- 
 diate pursuit was begun. A division 
 of infantry (Jefferson C. Davis') was 
 at once dispatched down the valley 
 toward Rome, to support Garrard's 
 Cavalry, and the whole army was or- 
 dered to pursue — McPherson by Lay's 
 Ferry, on the right, Thomas "directly 
 by the railroad, and Schofield by the 
 left, by the old road that crossed the 
 Oostanaula above Echota or Nevrtown. 
 We hastily repaired the railroad 
 bridge at Resaca, which had been par- 
 tially burned, and built a temporary 
 floating bridge out of timber and ma- 
 terials found on the spot, so that 
 Thomas got his advance corps over 
 during the 16th, and marched as far 
 as Calhoun, where he came into com- 
 munication with McPherson's troops, 
 which had crossed the Oostanaula at 
 Lay's Ferry by our pontoon bridges 
 previously laid. Inasmuch as the 
 bridge at Resaca was overtaxed, 
 Hooker's Twentieth Corps was also 
 diverted to cross by the fords and 
 ferries above Resaca, in the neighbor- 
 hood of Echota. 
 
 On the 17th, toward evening, the 
 head of Thomas' column, Newton's Di- 
 vision, encountered the rear guard of 
 Johnston's Army near Adairsville. I 
 was near the head of the column at 
 the time, trying to get a view of the 
 position of the enemy from an eleva- 
 tion in an open field. My party at- 
 tracted the fire of a battery; a shell 
 passed through the group of staff of- 
 ficers and burst just beyond, which 
 scattered us promptly. The next 
 morning the enemy had disappeared, 
 and our pursuit was continued to 
 Kingston, which we reached during 
 Sunday afternoon, the 19th. 
 
 From Resaca the railroad runs 
 nearly due south, but at Kingston it 
 makes junction with another railroad 
 from Rome, and changes direction due 
 east (west). At that time McPher- 
 son's head of column was about four 
 miles to the west of Kingston, at a 
 country place called "Woodlawn;" 
 Schofield and Hooker were on the di- 
 rect roads leading from Newtown to 
 Cassville, diagonal to the i-oute fol- 
 lowed by Thomas. Thomas' head of 
 column, which had followed the coun- 
 try roads alongside of the railroad, 
 was about four miles east of Kingston, 
 toward Cassville. About noon I got 
 a message from him that he had found
 
 Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself 
 
 183 
 
 the enemy drawn up in line of battle 
 on some extensive, open gi'ound, about 
 half-way between Kingston and Cass- 
 ville, and that appearances indicated 
 a willingness and preparation for bat- 
 tle. 
 
 Hurriedly sending orders to Mc- 
 Pherson to resume the march, to 
 hasten forward by roads leading to 
 the south of Kingston, so as to leave 
 for Thomas' troops and trains the use 
 of the main road, and to come up on 
 his right, I rode forward rapidly over 
 some rough gravel hills, and about six 
 miles from Kingston found Gen. 
 Thomas with his troops deployed ; but 
 he reported that the enemy had fallen 
 back in echelon of divisions, steadily 
 and in superb order, into Cassville. 
 
 I knew that the roads by which 
 Gens. Hooker and Schofield were ap- 
 proaching would lead them to a sem- 
 inary near Cassville, and that it was 
 all-important to secure the point of 
 junction of these roads with the main 
 road along which we were marching. 
 Therefore, I ordered Gen. Thomas to 
 push forward his deployed lines as 
 rapidly as possible, and as night was 
 approaching, I ordered two field bat- 
 teries to close up at a gallop on some 
 woods which lay between us and the 
 town of Cassville. We could not see 
 the towTi by reason of these woods, 
 but a high range of hills just back of 
 the town was visible over the tree tops. 
 On these hills could be seen fresh- 
 made parapets and the movement of 
 men, against whom I directed the ar- 
 tillery to fire at long range. 
 
 The stout resistance made by the 
 enemy along our whole front of a 
 couple of miles indicated a purpose to 
 fight at Cassville, and as the night 
 was closing in. Gen. Thomas and I 
 were together, along with our skirmish 
 lines near the seminary, on the edge 
 of the town, where musket bullets 
 from the enemy were cutting the 
 leaves of the trees pretty thickly 
 about us. We went back to the bat- 
 tery, where we passed the night on 
 the ground. 
 
 *The wonderful cave visited in 1835 by John 
 Howard Payne. Col. Mark A. Hardin, mem- 
 bei- of Morgan's Cavalry, had houjrht it in 
 IKGl, and with several hundreds of slaves work- 
 inpT, had sent (luantities of nitre to Knoxville 
 to make (gunpowder for the Confederate Army. 
 He refused an offer of .$100,000 for the cave, 
 and shortly afterward, it was seized by the 
 Confederate Covernment, which was in charge 
 when (ien. Sherman captured it. Authority: 
 Miss Virginia Hardin, of Atlanta. It is said 
 this cave's tributaries extend several miles, and 
 that they have never been thoroughly explored. 
 The place is visited yearly by thousands, nota- 
 bly by the Boy Scouts. 
 
 During the night I had reports from 
 McPherson, Hooker and Schofield. The 
 former was about five miles to my 
 right rear, near the "nitre caves;"" 
 Schofield was about six mils:, north 
 and Hooker between us, within two 
 miles. All were ordered to clos'i down 
 on Cassville at daylight, and to attack 
 the enemy wherever found. Skirmish- 
 ing was kept up all night, but when 
 day broke the next morning. May 
 20th, the enemy was gone, and our 
 cavalry was sent in pursuit. These 
 reported him beyond the Etowah Riv- 
 er. We were then well in advance of 
 our railroad trains, so I determined 
 to pause a few days to repair the rail- 
 road. 
 
 Nearly all the people of the coun- 
 try seemed to have fled with John- 
 ston's Army, yet some few families 
 remained, and from one of them I pro- 
 cured a copy of an order which John- 
 ston had made at Adairsville in which 
 he recited that he had retreated as 
 far as strategy required, and that his 
 army must be prepared for battle at 
 Cassville. The newspapers of the 
 South, many of which we found, were 
 loud in denunciation of Johnston's 
 failing back before us without a se- 
 rious battle, simply resisting by his 
 
 COL. THOMAS W. ALEXANDKR, once M.iyor 
 of Rome, in the uniform he wore as a Con- 
 federate Army officer.
 
 184 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 skirmish line and rear guard. But 
 his friends proclaimed that it was all 
 strategic, that he was deliberately 
 drawing us farther and farther into 
 the meshes, farther and farther away 
 from our base of supplies, and that 
 in due season he would not only halt 
 for battle, but assume the bold offen- 
 sive. 
 
 Of course it was to my interest to 
 bring him to battle as soon as possi- 
 ble, when our numerical superiority 
 was at the greatest; for he was pick- 
 ing up his detachments as he fell 
 back, whereas I was compelled to make 
 similar and stronger detachments to 
 repair the railroads as we advanced, 
 and to guard them. I found at Cass- 
 ville many evidences of preparation 
 for a grand battle, among them a 
 long line of fresh entrenchments on 
 the hill beyond the town, extending 
 nearly three miles to the south, eii- 
 bracing the railroad crossing. I was 
 also convinced that the whole of Polk's 
 corps had joined Johnston from Mis- 
 sissippi, and that he had in hand three 
 full corps, viz.. Hood's, Polk's and Har- 
 dee's, numbering about 60,000 men, 
 and could not then imagine why he 
 had declined battle, and did not learn 
 the real reason till after the wai: was 
 over, and then from Gen. Johnston 
 himself. 
 
 In the autumn of 1865, when in 
 command of the Military Division of 
 the Mis.souri, I went from St. Louis 
 to Little Rock, Ark., and afterward 
 to Memphis. Taking a steamer for 
 Cairo, I found as fellow passengers 
 Gens. Johnston and Frank Blair. We 
 were, of course, on the most friendly 
 terms, and on our way up we talked 
 over our battles again, played cards, 
 and ouestioned each other as to par- 
 ticular parts of our mutual conduct 
 in the game of war. I told Johnston 
 that I had seen his order of prepara- 
 tion, in the nature of an address to 
 his army, announcing his purpose to 
 retreat no more, but to accept battle 
 at Cassville. He answered that such 
 was his purpose; that he had left 
 Hardee's corps in the open fields to 
 check Thomas and gain time for his 
 formations on the ridge, just behind 
 Cassville; and it was this corps that 
 Gen. Thomas had seen deployed, and 
 whose handsome movement in retreat 
 he had reported in such complimenta- 
 ry terms. Johnston described how he 
 had placed Hood's Corps on the right, 
 Polk's in the center and Hardee's on 
 the left. He said he had ridden over 
 the ground, given to each corps com- 
 mander his position and orders to 
 
 throw up parapets during the night; 
 that he was with Hardee on his ex- 
 treme left as the night closed in, and 
 as Hardee's troops fell back to the 
 position assigned them for the intend- 
 ed battle of the next day; and that 
 after giving Hardee some general in- 
 structions he and his staff rode back 
 to Cassville. As he entered the town, 
 or village, he met Gens. Hood and 
 Polk. Hood inquired of him if he had 
 had anything to eat, and he said no, 
 that he was both hungry and tired, 
 when Hood invited him to go and share 
 a supper which had been prepared for 
 him at a house close by. 
 
 At the supper they discussed the 
 chances of the impending battle, when 
 Hood spoke of the ground assigned to 
 him as being enfiladed by our (Union) 
 artillery, which Johnston disputed, 
 when Gen. Polk chimed in with the 
 remark that Gen. Hood was right; 
 that the cannon shots fired .by us 
 at nightfall had enfiladed their gen- 
 eral line of battle, and for this reason 
 he feared they could not hold their 
 men. Gen. Johnston was surprised at 
 this, for he understood Gen. Hood to 
 be one of those who professed to crit- 
 icize his strategy, contending that, in- 
 stead of retreating, he should have 
 risked a battle. Gen. Johnston said 
 he was provoked, accused them of 
 having been in conference, with be- 
 ing beaten before battle, and added 
 that he was unwilling to engage in 
 a critical battle with an army so su- 
 perior to his own in numbers, with 
 two of his three corps commanders 
 dissatisfied with the ground and posi- 
 tions assigned them. He then and there 
 made up his mind to retreat still far- 
 ther South, to put the Etowah River 
 and the Allatoona Range between us; 
 and he at once gave orders to resume 
 the retrograde movement. 
 
 This was my recollection of the sub- 
 stance of the conversation, of which I 
 made no note at the time; but at a 
 meeting of the Society of the Army 
 of the Cumberland some years after, 
 at Cleveland, O., about 1868, in a short 
 after-dinner speech I related this con- 
 versation, and it got into print. Sub- 
 sequently, in the spring of 1870, when 
 I was at New Orleans, en route for 
 Texas, Gen. Hood called to see me 
 at the St. Charles Hotel, explained 
 that he had seen my speech reprint- 
 ed in the newspapers and gave me his 
 version of the same event. He stated 
 that he had argued against fighting 
 the battle purely on the defensive, but 
 had asked Gen. Johnston to permit him 
 with his own corps and part of Polk's
 
 Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself 
 
 185 
 
 to quit their lines and to march rapid- 
 ly to attack and overwhelm Schofield, 
 who was known to be separated from 
 Thomas by an interval of nearly five 
 miles, claiming that he could have de- 
 feated Scho^'ield and got back to his 
 position in time to meet Gen. Thomas' 
 attack in front. He also stated that 
 he had contended with Johnston for 
 the "offensive-defensive" game, instead 
 of the pure "defensive," as proposed 
 by Gen. Johnston; and he said it was 
 at this time that Gen. Johnston had 
 taken offense, and that it was for this 
 reason that he had ordered the retreat 
 that night. As subsequent events es- 
 tranged these two officers, it is very 
 natural they should now differ on this 
 point; but it was sufficient for us that 
 the rebel army did retreat that night, 
 leaving us masters of all the country 
 above the Etowah River. 
 
 For the purposes of rest, to give 
 time for the repair of the railroads 
 and to replenish supplies, we lay by 
 some few days in that quarter — Scho- 
 field with Stoneman's cavalry holding 
 the gi'ound at Cassville Depot, at 
 Cartersville, and the Etowah Bridge; 
 Thomas holding his ground near Cass- 
 ville, and McPherson that near King- 
 ston. The officer intrusted with the 
 repair of the railroads was Col. W. 
 W. Wright, a railroad engineer, who, 
 with about 2,000 men, was so indus- 
 trious and skillful that the bridge at 
 Resaca was rebuilt in three days, and 
 cars loaded with stores came forward 
 to Kingston on the 24th. The tele- 
 graph also brought us the news of the 
 desperate and bloody battles of the 
 Wilderness, in Virginia, and that Gen. 
 Grant was pushing his operations 
 against Lee with terrific energy. I 
 was therefore resolved to give my 
 enemy no rest. 
 
 In early days, 1844, when a lieu- 
 tenant of the Third Artillery, I had 
 been sent from Charleston, S. C, to 
 Marietta, Ga., to assist Inspector Gen- 
 eral Churchill to take testimony con- 
 cerning certain losses of horses and 
 accoutrements by the Georgia Volun- 
 teers during the Florida War; and 
 after completing the work at Mainetta 
 we transferred our party over to 
 Bellefonte, Ala. I had ridden the dis- 
 tance on horseback, and had noted well 
 the topography of the country, espe- 
 cially that about Kennesaw, Allatoona 
 and the Etowah River. On that oc- 
 casion I had stopped some days with 
 a Colonel Tumlin," to see some remark- 
 able Indian mounds on the Etowah 
 River, usually called the "Hightower." 
 
 *Lewis Tumlin. 
 
 I therefore knew that the Allatoona 
 Pass was very strong, would be hard 
 to force, and resolved not even to at- 
 tempt it, but to turn the position by 
 moving from Kingston to Marietta via 
 Dallas; accordingly, I made orders on 
 May 20 to get ready for the march 
 to begin on the 23d. The army of 
 the Cumberland was ordered to march 
 for Dallas, by Euharlee and Stiles- 
 boro; Davis's Division, then at Rome, 
 by Van Wert; the Army of the Ohio 
 to keep on the left of Thomas, by a 
 place called Burnt Hickory; and the 
 Army of the Tennessee to march for 
 a position a little to the South, so as 
 to be on the right of the general army 
 when grouped about Dallas. The move- 
 ment contemplated leaving our rail- 
 road, and to depend for 20 days on 
 the contents of our wagons; and as 
 the country was very obscure, mostly 
 in a state of nature, densely wooded 
 and with few roads, our movements 
 were necessarily slow. We crossed 
 the Etowah by several bridges and 
 fords, and took as many roads as pos- 
 sible, keeping up communication by 
 cross-roads, or by couriers through 
 the woods. I personally joined Gen. 
 Thomas, who had the center, and was 
 consequently the main column, or "col- 
 umn of direction." The several col- 
 umns followed generally the Valley of 
 the Euharlee, a tributary coming into 
 the Etowah from the South, and grad 
 ually crossed over a ridge of moun- 
 tains, parts of which had been work- 
 ed over for gold, and were conse- 
 quently full of paths and unused 
 wagon roads or tracks. 
 
 A "cavalry picket" of the enemy at 
 Burnt Hickory was captured and had 
 on his person an order from Gen. 
 Johnston, dated at Allatoona, which 
 showed that he had detected my pur- 
 pose of turning his position, and it 
 accordingly became necessary to use 
 great caution, lest some of the minor 
 columns should fall into ambush, but, 
 luckily, the enemy was not much more 
 familiar with that part of the coun- 
 try than we were. On the other side 
 of the .\llatoona Range, the Pumpkin- 
 Vine Creek, also a tril)utary of the 
 Etowah, flowed north and west; Dal- 
 las, the point aimed at, was a small 
 town on the other, or cast side of this 
 creek, and was a point of concentra- 
 tion of a great many roads that led 
 in every direction. Its possession would 
 be a threat to Marietta and Atlanta, 
 but I could not then venture to at- 
 t(>mpt either, till I had regained use 
 of the railroad, at least as far down 
 as its debouch from the Allatoona
 
 186 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Range of mountains. Therefore, the 
 movement was chiefly designed to com- 
 pel Johnston to give up Allatoona. 
 
 In his description of the "drawn 
 battle" of New Hope Church at 
 Dallas, Paulding County, May 26, 
 Gen. Sherman notes that Gen. Jef- 
 ferson C. Davis' Federal Garrison 
 or Division of the Fourteenth Ar- 
 my Corps had left Rome and come 
 to his assistance. He says he or- 
 dered Gen. Hooker to capture the 
 New Hope position the night of 
 the 25th, if possible, and goes on: 
 
 The woods were so dense and the 
 resistance so spirited that Hooker 
 could not carry the position, though 
 the battle was noisy and prolonged 
 far into the night. From the bloody 
 fighting there for the next week it 
 was called by the soldiers "Hell-Hole." 
 The night was pitch-dark, it rained 
 hard and the convergence of our col- 
 umns toward Dallas produced much 
 confusion. I am sure similar confusion 
 existed in the army opposed to us, for 
 we were all mixed up. I slept on the 
 ground without cover, alongside of ;. 
 log, got little sleep, resolved at day- 
 light to renew the battle. The battle 
 was renewed, and without success. A 
 continual battle was in progress by 
 strong skirmish lines taking advan- 
 tage of every species of cover, and 
 both parties fortifying each night by 
 rifle-trenches, with head-logs. Occ; 
 sionally one party or the other would 
 make a dash in the nature of a sally, 
 but usually it sustained a repulse with 
 gTeat loss of life. I visited personally 
 all parts of cur lines nearly every 
 day, was constantly within musket 
 range, and though the fire of mus- 
 ketry and cannon resounded day and 
 night along the whole line, I rarely 
 saw a dozen of the enemy at one 
 time, and these were always skirmish- 
 ers, dodging from tree to tree, or be- 
 hind logs on the ground, or who oc- 
 casionally showed their heads above 
 the hastily-constructed but remark- 
 ably strong rifle-trenches. On the oc- 
 casion of my visit to McPherson on the 
 30th of May, while standing with a 
 group of officers, among whom were 
 Gens. McPherson, Logan and Barry, 
 and Col. Taylor, my former chief of 
 artillery, a Minie ball passed through 
 Logan's coat sleeve, scratching the 
 skin, and struck Col. Taylor square 
 in the breast; luckily, he had in his 
 pocket a famous memorandum book in 
 which he kept a sort of diary, about 
 which we used to joke him a good deal; 
 
 its thickness saved his life, breaking 
 the force of the ball. 
 
 Next are chronicled the bat- 
 tles before the fall of Atlanta, 
 Sept. 2, 1864. Gen. Johnston had 
 now been succeeded in command 
 in Georgia by Gen. John B. Hood, 
 and Hood led Sherman a merry 
 chase back toward Rome and over 
 a considerable part of the terri- 
 tory that had been traversed on 
 the drive down. Atlanta was or- 
 dered evacuated by the civilian 
 population, and in reply to pro- 
 tests. Gen. Sherman wrote Gen. 
 H. W. Halleck, chief of staff, at 
 Washington : 
 
 If the people raise a howl against 
 my barbarity and cruelty, I will an- 
 swer that war is war, and not pop- 
 ularity-seeking. If they want peace, 
 they and their relatives must stop the 
 war. 
 
 By date Sept. 28, 1864, Gen. Hal- 
 leck wrote Gen. Sherman, "I 
 wotdd destroy every mill and fac- 
 tory within reach that I did not 
 want for my own use. This the 
 rebels have done, not only in Ma- 
 ryland and Pennsylvania, but also 
 in Virginia and other rebel states, 
 when compelled to fall back before 
 our armies. In many sections of 
 the country they have not left a 
 mill to grind grain for their own 
 suffering families, lest we might 
 use them to supply our armies. We 
 must do the same."* 
 
 Hearing that Gen. Joe Wheel- 
 er's Confederate Cavalry was 
 threatening the railroad commti- 
 nications in Middle Tennessee and 
 that Gen. Forrest was coming up 
 from Mississippi to join him, Gen. 
 Sherman ordered Newton's di- 
 vision of the Fourth Army Corps 
 back to Chattanooga, Corse's di- 
 vision of the Seventeenth Corps 
 back to Rome, and warned other 
 commands to watch out. 
 
 "I take it for gi'anted that Forrest 
 will cut our road, but think we can 
 prevent him from making a serious 
 
 *This message was received at Rome.
 
 Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself 
 
 187 
 
 lodgment," wired '^•en. Sherman Sept. 
 29, 1864, to Gen. Halleck. "His cav- 
 alry will travel a hundred miles where 
 ours will ten. I have sent two divis- 
 ions up to Chattanooga and one to 
 Rome. Our roads should be watched 
 from the rear. I prefer for the fu- 
 ture to make the movement on Mil- 
 len, Milledgeville and Savannah. Hood 
 now rests 24 miles south, on the Chat- 
 tahoochee, with his right on the West 
 Point road. I can whip his infantry, 
 but his cavalry is to be feared." 
 
 The Union army under com- 
 mand of Gen. Sherman had been 
 radically reconstituted, and he 
 claimed 60,000 infantry and artil- 
 lery, with two small divisions of 
 cavalry, in the pursuit after Gen. 
 Hood, whose forces he estimated 
 at 35,000 to 40,000 men, including- 
 abotit 3,000 of cavalry under Gen. 
 Wheeler. 
 
 "We had strong railroad guards at 
 Marietta and Kennesaw, Allatoona, 
 Etowah Bridge, Kingston, Rome, Re- 
 saca, Dalton, Ringgold and Chatta- 
 nooga," continues the Sherman nar- 
 rative. "All the important bridges 
 were likewise protected by good block 
 houses, admirably constructed, and 
 capable of a strong defense against 
 cavalry or infantry We crossed the 
 Chattahoochee River during the 3rd 
 and 4th of October, rendezvoused at 
 the old battlefield of Smyrna Camp, 
 and the next day reached Marietta 
 and Kennesaw. On the 4th of Octo- 
 ber I signalled from Vining's Station 
 to Kennesaw, and from Kennesaw to 
 Allatoona, over the heads of the enemy, 
 a message to Gen. Corse at Rome, to 
 hurry back to the assistance of the 
 garrison at Allatoona, which was held 
 by a small brigade commanded by 
 Lieut. Col. Tourtelotte, my present 
 aide de camp, who had two small re- 
 doubts on either side of the railroad, 
 overlooking the village of Allatoona 
 and the warehouses, in which were 
 stored over a million rations of bread." 
 
 Here he comes to the Big Shan- 
 ty neighborhood : 
 
 Reaching Kennesaw Mountain about 
 8 a. m. of Oct. 5 (a beautiful day), 
 I had a superb view of the vast pan- 
 orama to the north and west. To the 
 southwest, aboiK Dallas, could bo seen 
 the smoke of camp-fires, indicating 
 the presence of a large force of the 
 enemy, and the whole line of railroad 
 from Big Shanty up to Allatoona (full 
 fifteen miles) was mai'ked by the fires 
 
 of the burning railroad. We could 
 plainly see the smoke of battle about 
 Allatoona and hear the faint reverber- 
 ation of the cannon. 
 
 The signal officer on Kennesaw re- 
 ported that since daylight he had fail- 
 ed to obtain any answer to his call 
 for Allatoona; but while I was with 
 him he caught a faint glimpse of the 
 tell-tale flag through an embrasure 
 and after much time he made out 
 these letters: "C," "R," "S." "E," 
 "H," "E," "R," and translated the mes- 
 sage, "Corse is here." 
 
 Later in the afternoon the signal 
 flag announced that the attack at Al- 
 latoona had been fairly repulsed. The 
 next day my aide. Col. L. M. Dayton, 
 received this characteristic despatch 
 from Gen. Corse at Allatoona : "I am 
 short a cheekbone and an ear, but am 
 able to whip all hell yet! My losses 
 are very heavy. A force moving from 
 Stilesboro to Kingston gives me some 
 anxiety. Tell me where Sherman is." 
 
 Inasmuch as the enemy had retreat- 
 ed southwest and would probably next 
 appear at Rome, I ordered Gen. Corse 
 to get back to Rome with his troops 
 as quickly as possible. Gen. Corse's 
 report of his fight at Allatoona is 
 very full and graphic. It is dated 
 Rome, Oct. 27, 1864; recites the fact 
 that he received his orders by signal 
 to go to the assistance of Allatoona on 
 the 4th, when he telegraphed to Kings- 
 ton for cars, and a train of 30 empty 
 cars was started for him, but about 
 ten of them got off the track and 
 caused delay. By 7 p. m. he had at 
 Rome a train of 20 cars, which he 
 loaded up with Col. Rowett's Brigade 
 and part of the Twelfth Illinois In- 
 fantry; started at 8 p. m., reached 
 Allatoona (35 miles) at 1 a. m. of 
 the 5th and sent the train back for 
 more men; but the road was in bad 
 order and no more came in time. 
 
 The gallant Major Gen. S. G. 
 French, commanding some 4,000 
 Confederates, surrounded the 2.0(X) 
 Federals under Gen. Corse and Col. 
 Tourtelotte, and sent in a demand 
 for surrender "to avoid a needless 
 effusion of l)loo(l." Gen. Corse re- 
 fused to surrender ; he was badly 
 wounded ; Gen. French withdrew 
 at the approach of a superior force 
 from Sherman's army. A bullet 
 cut across Gen. C(irse's face and 
 pimctured one of his ears ; Col. 
 Tourtelotte was shot through the
 
 188 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 hips, but continued to command ; 
 Col. Redlield, of the 39th Iowa 
 regiment, was killed, and Col. 
 Rowett, also of the Union army, 
 was wounded. Corse's casualties 
 were 707, or more than one-third 
 of his command, (icn. Sherman's 
 account continues : 
 
 In person I reached Allatoona on 
 the 9th of October, still in doubt as 
 to Hood's immediate intentions. Our 
 cavalry could do little ag:ainst his in- 
 fantry in the rough and wooded coun- 
 try about Dallas, which masked the 
 enemy's movements; but Gen. Corse, 
 at Rome, with Spencer's First Ala- 
 bama Cavalry and a mounted regi- 
 ment of Illinois Infantry, could feel 
 the country south of Rome about 
 Cedartown and Villa Rica, and report- 
 ed the enemy to be in force at both 
 places. On the 9th I telegraphed to 
 Gen. Thomas at Nashville, as follows: 
 
 "I came up here to relieve our road. 
 The Twentieth Corps remains at At 
 lanta. Hood reached the road and 
 broke it up between Big Shanty and 
 Acworth. He attacked Allatoona, but 
 was repulsed. We have plenty of bread 
 and meat, but forage is scarce. I want 
 to destroy all the road below Chatta- 
 nooga, including Atlanta, and to make 
 for the seacoast. We can not defend 
 this long line of road. 
 
 And on the same day I telegraplied 
 to Gen. Grant at City Point, Va.: 
 
 "It will be a physical impossibility 
 to protect the roads, now that Hood, 
 Forrest, Wheeler and the whole patch 
 of devils are turned loose without 
 home or habitation. I think Hood's 
 movements indicate a diversion to the 
 end of the Selma & Talladega road, at 
 Blue Mountain, about 60 miles south- 
 west of Rome, from which he will 
 threaten Kingston, Bridgeport and De- 
 catur, Ala. I propose that we break 
 up the railroad from Chattanooga for- 
 ward, and that we strike out with 
 our wagons for Milledgeville, Millen 
 and Savannah. Until we can repopu- 
 late Georgia, it is useless for us to oc- 
 cupy it; but the utter destruction of 
 its roads, houses and people will crip- 
 ple their military resources. By at- 
 tempting to hold the roads we will lose 
 a thousand men each month, and will 
 gain no result. I can make this march 
 and make Georgia howl! We have on 
 hand over 8,000 head of cattle, and 
 .3,000,000 rations of bread, but no corn. 
 We can find plenty of forage in the 
 interior of the state." 
 
 Meantime, the rebel Gen. Forrest 
 had made a bold circuit in Mid- 
 dle Tennessee, avoiding all forti- 
 fied points, and breaking up the rail- 
 road at several places; but as usual, 
 he did his work so hastily and care- 
 lessly that our engineers soon repair- 
 ed the damage — then retreating before 
 Gen. Rousseau, he left the State of 
 Tennessee, crossing the river near 
 Florence, Ala., and got off unharmed. 
 
 On the 10th of October the enemy 
 appeared south of the Etowah River 
 at Rome, when I ordered all the ?irm- 
 ies to march to Kingston, rode myself 
 to Cartersville with the 23rd Corps 
 (Gen. Cox) and telegraphed from 
 there to Gen. Thomas at Nashville: 
 
 "It looks to me as though Hood was 
 bound for Tuscumbia. He is now 
 crossing the Coosa River below Rome, 
 looking west. Let me know if you can 
 hold him with your forces now in Ten- 
 nessee and the expected re-enforce- 
 ments, as, in that event, you know 
 what I propose to do. I will be at 
 Kingston tomorrow. I think Rome is 
 strong enough to resist any attacks, 
 and the rivers are all high. If he 
 turns up by Summerville, I will get 
 in behind him." 
 
 And on the same day to Gen. Grant 
 at City Point: 
 
 "Hood is now ci'ossing the Coosa, 
 twelve miles below Rome, bound west. 
 If he passes over to the Mobile & 
 Ohio railroad, had I not better execute 
 the plan of my letter sent you by Col- 
 onel Porter, and leave Gen. Thomas, 
 with the troops now in Tennessee, to 
 defend the state? He will have an am- 
 ple force when the re-enforcements or- 
 dered reach Nashville." 
 
 I found Gen. John E. Smith at Car- 
 tersville, and on the 11th rode on to 
 Kingston, where I had telegraphic 
 communications in all directions. From 
 Gen. Corse, at Rome, I learned that 
 Hood's army had disappeared, but in 
 what direction he was still in doubt; 
 and I was so strongly convinced of the 
 wisdom of my proposition to change 
 the whole tactics of the campaign, to 
 leave Hood to Gen. Thomas, and to 
 march across Georgia for Savannah 
 or Charleston, that I again telegraph- 
 ed Gen. Grant: 
 
 "We can not now remain on the de- 
 fensive. With 25,999 infantry and the 
 bold cavalry he has, Hood can con- 
 stantly break my road. I would in- 
 finitely prefer to make a wreck of the 
 road and the country from Chatta- 
 nooga to Atlanta, including the lat- 
 ter city; send back all my wounded
 
 Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself 
 
 189
 
 190 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 and unserviceable men, and with my 
 effective army move through Georgia, 
 smashing things to the sea. Hood may 
 turn into Tennessee and Kentucky, but 
 I believe he will be forced to follow 
 me. Instead of being on the defensive, 
 I will be on the offensive. Instead of 
 my gTjessing at what he means to do, 
 he will have to guess at my plans. The 
 difference in war would be fully 25 
 per cent. I can make Savannah, 
 Charleston or the mouth of the Chat- 
 tahoochee (Appalachicola). Answer 
 quick, as I know we will not have the 
 telegraph long." 
 
 I received no answer to this at the 
 time, and the next day went on to 
 Rome, where the news came that Hood 
 had made his appearance at Resaca 
 and had demanded the surrender of 
 the place, which was commanded by 
 Col. Weaver, reinforced by Brevet 
 Brig.-Gen. Raum. Gen. Hood had ev- 
 idently marched with rapidity up the 
 Chattooga Valley by Summerville. La- 
 Fayette, Ship's Gap and Snake Creek 
 Gap, and had with him his whole 
 army, except a small force left behind 
 to watch Rome. I ordered Resaca to 
 be further reinforced by rail from 
 Kingston, and ordered Gen. Corse to 
 make a bold reconnoisance down the 
 Coosa Valley, which captured and 
 brought into Rome some cavalrymen 
 and a couple of field guns, with their 
 horses and men. At first I thought 
 of interposing my whole army in the 
 Chattooga Valley, so as to prevent 
 Hood's escape south; but I saw at a 
 glance that he did not mean to fight, 
 and in that event, after damaging the 
 road all he could, he would be likely 
 to retreat eastward by Spring Place, 
 which I did not want him to do; and 
 hearing from Gen. Raum that he still 
 held Resaca safe, and that Gen. Ed- 
 ward McCook had also got there with 
 some cavalry re-enforcements, I turn- 
 ed all the heads of columns from Re- 
 saca, viz., Gen. Cox's from Rome; Gen. 
 Stanley's from McGuire's, and Gen. O. 
 0. Howard's from Kingston. We all 
 reached Resaca during that night, and 
 the next morning (13th) learned that 
 Hood's whole army had passed up 
 the valley toward Dalton, burning the 
 railroad and doing all the damage 
 possible. On the 12th he had demand- 
 ed the surrender of Resaca in the fol- 
 lowing letter : 
 
 Headquarters Army of Tennessee, 
 In the Field, Oct. 12, 1864. 
 
 To the Officer Commanding the Unit- 
 ed States Forces at Resaca, Ga.: 
 Sir: I demand the immediate and 
 
 unconditional surrender of the post 
 
 and garrison under your command, 
 and, should this be acceded to, all 
 white officers and soldiers will be 
 paroled in a few days. If the place 
 is carried by assault, no prisoners will 
 be taken. 
 
 Most respectfully, your obedient ser- 
 vant, 
 
 J. B. HOOD, General. 
 
 To this. Col. Weaver, then in com- 
 mand, replied: 
 
 Headquarters Second Brigade, Third 
 
 Division, Fifteenth Corps, Resaca, 
 
 Ga., Oct. 12, 1864. 
 
 To General J. B. Hood: Your com- 
 munication of this date just received. 
 In reply I have to state that I am 
 somewhat surprised at the concluding 
 paragraph, to the effect that if the 
 place is carried by assault, no pris- 
 oners will be taken. In my opinion, 
 I can hold this post. If you want it, 
 come and take it. 
 
 I am, general, very respectfully, 
 your most obedient servant, 
 
 CLARK R. WEAVER, 
 Commanding Officer. 
 
 This brigade was very small, and 
 as Hood's investment extended only 
 from the Oostanaula, below the town, 
 to the Connasauga, above, he left open 
 the approach from the south, which 
 enabled Gen. Raum and the cavalry of 
 Gen. Edward McCook to re-enforce 
 from Kingston. In fact, Hood, admon- 
 ished by his losses at Allatoona, did 
 not attempt an assault at all, but lim- 
 ited his attack to the above threat and 
 to some skirmishing, giving his atten- 
 tion chiefly to the destruction of the 
 railroad, which he accomplished all 
 the way up to Tunnel Hill, nearly 20 
 miles, capturing en route the regiment 
 of black troops at Dalton (Johnson's 
 44th United States, colored). On the 
 14th I turned Gen. Howard through 
 Snake Creek Gap, and sent Gen. Stan- 
 ley around by Tilton, with orders to 
 cross the mountain to the west, so as 
 to capture, if possible, the force left 
 by the enemy in Snake Creek Gap. We 
 found this gap very badly obstructed 
 by fallen timber, but got through that 
 night, and the next day the main army 
 was at Villanow (Walker County). On 
 the morning of the 16th, the leading 
 division of Gen. Howard's column, com- 
 manded by Gen. Chas. R. Woods, car- 
 ried Ship's Gap, taking prisoners part 
 of the 24th South Carolina Regiment, 
 which had been left there to hold us in 
 check. 
 
 The best information there obtained 
 located Hood's army at LaFayette,
 
 Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself 
 
 191 
 
 •near which place I hoped to catch 
 him and force him to battle; but by 
 the time we had got enoug^h troops 
 across the mountain at Ship's Gap, 
 Hood had escaped down the Valley of 
 the Chattooga, and all we could do 
 was to follow him as closely as pos- 
 sible. From Ship's Gap I dispatched 
 couriers to Chattanooga, and received 
 word back that Gen. Schofield was 
 there, endeavoring to co-operate with 
 me, but Hood had broken up the tele- 
 graph, and had thus prevented quick 
 communication. Gen. Schofield did 
 not reach me until the army had got 
 down to Gaylesville, Ala., about the 
 21st of October. We quietly followed 
 him down the Chattooga Valley to the 
 neighborhood of Gadsden, but failed 
 the main armies near the Coosa River, 
 at the mouth of the Chattooga. 
 
 On Oct. 19 I telegraphed Gen. Amos 
 Beckwith, chief commissary in At- 
 lanta : 
 
 "Hood will escape me. I want to 
 prepare for my big raid. On the 1st 
 of November I want nothing in At- 
 lanta but what is necessary for war. 
 Send all trash to the rear at once, and 
 have on hand 30 days' food and but 
 little forage. I propose to abandon 
 Atlanta and the railroad back to Chat- 
 tanooga, to sally forth to ruin Geor- 
 gia, and bring up on the seashore. I 
 will go down the Coosa until I am sure 
 that Hood has gone to Blue Moun- 
 tain." 
 
 On the 21st of October I reached 
 Gaylesville, had my bivouac in an open 
 field back of the village, and remained 
 there until the 28th. At Gaylesville 
 the pursuit of Hood by the army un- 
 der my immediate command may be 
 said to have ceased. During the pur- 
 suit the Fifteenth Corps was com- 
 manded by its senior major general 
 present, P. J. Osterhaus, in the ab- 
 sence of Gen. John A. Logan; and the 
 Seventeenth Corps was commanded by 
 Brig. Gen. T. E. G. Ransom, the senior 
 officer present, in the absence of- Gen. 
 Frank P. Blair. Gen. Ransom was a 
 young, most gallant and promising of- 
 ficer, son of the Col. Ransom who was 
 killed at Chapultepec, in the Mexican 
 War. He had served with the Army 
 of the Tennessee in 1862 and 1863 at 
 Vicksburg, where he was severely 
 wounded. He was not well when we 
 started from Atlanta, but he insisted 
 on going along with his command. His 
 symptoms became more aggravated on 
 the march, and when we were encamp- 
 ed near Gaylesville I visited him in 
 company with Surgeon John Moore, 
 who said the case was one of typhoid 
 
 fever, which would likely prove fatal. 
 I few days later, viz., the 28th, he 
 was being carried on a litter toward 
 Rome; and as I rode from Gaylesville 
 to Rome I passed him by the way, stop- 
 ped and spoke to him, but did not then 
 suppose he was so near his end. The 
 next day, however, his escort reached 
 Rome, bearing his dead body. The of- 
 ficer in charge reported that shortly 
 after I had passed, his symptoms be- 
 came so much worse that they stopped 
 at a farm-house by the roadside, 
 where he died that evening. His body 
 was at once sent to Chicago for burial, 
 and a monument has been ordered by 
 the Society of the Army of the Ten- 
 nessee to be erected in his memory. 
 
 It had become almost an ob- 
 session with Gen. Sherman that 
 be should take up his proposed 
 "March to the Sea," and now the 
 opportunity was to be given him. 
 Up to this time he had been kept 
 pretty busy by Johnston, Hood, 
 Wheeler and Forrest, and for them 
 all had acc[uired a considerable ad- 
 miration. He respected Johnston 
 for his strategy and tenacious 
 fighting against heavy odds; he 
 
 JAMES NOBLE. SR., hoad of the Noble fam- 
 ily, which added to Rome's advancement and 
 later established Anniston.
 
 192 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 gave left-handed praise to Hood 
 for his elusiveness ; he worship- 
 ped the boldness of Wheeler's cav- 
 alry ; and he took off his hat to 
 Forrest May 3, 1863, when For- 
 rest's handful of men captured 
 Streight with a force three times 
 as large and marched the captives 
 into Rome. 
 
 Sherman reports that on Oct. 31, 
 1864, "Forrest made his appearance 
 on the Tennessee River opposite John- 
 sonville (whence a new raih-oad led to 
 Nashville), and with his cavalry and 
 field pieces actually crippled and cap- 
 tured two gunboats with five of our 
 transports, a feat of arms which I 
 confess excited my admiration. There 
 is no doubt that the month of October 
 closed to us looking decidedly squally; 
 but somehow I was sustained in the 
 belief that in a very few days the tide 
 would turn." 
 
 Oct. 28, 1864, found Gen. Sher- 
 man quartered in the comfortable 
 two-story frame dwelling of Ma- 
 jor Chas. H. Smith ("Bill Arp"), 
 where the handsome modern home 
 of Mrs. Chas. A. Hight now stands 
 at 312 Fourth Avenue, Rome. The 
 general was an exceedingly busy 
 man. He did not have time for 
 social entertainments, assuming 
 that any of the "natives" felt in- 
 clined to be sociable. He was 
 busy writing some dispatches, de- 
 livering others orally, penning tel- 
 egrams to Grant, Halleck and 
 Thomas, snatching a hasty meal 
 here and there and dashing away 
 on his trusty charger. Assuming 
 that he arrived in Rome the night 
 of Oct. 28 and that he remained 
 until the morning of Nov. 2, when 
 he left for Kingston, he spent 
 three and a half days on this oc- 
 casion in the City of Seven Hills. 
 He had first visited Rome as a 
 3^oung army lieutenant in 1844, go- 
 ing to Bellefonte, Ala., from Ma- 
 rietta and back two months later 
 by horseback, presumably follow- 
 ing the same route both ways ; and 
 again, Oct. 12, 1864, he mentions 
 that he went to Rome from King- 
 ston, and on the 14th was before 
 
 Resaca, hence on that visit proba- 
 bly stayed several hours. Gen. Jef- 
 ferson C. Davis, having been sent 
 down the Oostanaula River from 
 Resaca toward Rome, May 16, 
 probably arrived at Rome May 17, 
 and made his headquarters at the 
 Smith home on Fourth Avenue 
 until he executed orders issued 
 May 20 by Sherman to March 
 May 23 for Dallas via Van Wert, 
 a dead town of Polk Cotmty. Per- 
 haps 20,000 men and nearly 1,000 
 wagons in Davis' command 
 marched on Rome, which was gar- 
 risoned by a small Confederate 
 force. After firing on the invaders 
 from a fort on Myrtle Plill Ceme- 
 tery, the Confederates evacuated 
 the town, and the invaders crossed 
 the Oostanaula River at the old 
 Printup Wharf, midway between 
 the present Second and Fifth Ave- 
 nue bridges, on pontoons partly 
 constructed of pews taken out of 
 the churches of Rome. 
 
 The plan of Sherman's advance 
 had been this : The Army of the 
 Ohio (Gen. McPherson) made up 
 the left wing, and marched south- 
 ward from Resaca on the left-hand 
 side of the Western & Atlantic 
 (state) railroad ; the Army of the 
 Cumberland (Gen. Thomas) made 
 up the center and marched along 
 the track and right-of-way; the 
 Army of the Tennessee (Gen. 
 McPherson) made up the right 
 wing, and took the right-hand side. 
 Davis' Division and Garrard's Cav- 
 alry, dispatched to Rome, evident-, 
 ly were a part of the right wing, 
 or Army of the Tennessee. In view 
 of the fact that Gen. Sherman was 
 traveling with his center and left 
 in the close pursuit of Johnston 
 through Bartow County (Adairs- 
 ville, Kingston, Cassville and Car- 
 tersville) it is probable that dur- 
 ing this period (May 18-20) the 
 Federal commander did not come 
 to Rome. 
 
 "On the first day of November, 
 1864," wi'ites Gen. Sherman in his
 
 Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself 
 
 193 
 
 Memoirs, "I telegraphed very fully to 
 Gen. Grant at City Point (who must 
 have been disturbed by the wild ru- 
 mors that filled the country), and on 
 the second of November (at Rome) re- 
 ceived this dispatch: 
 
 " 'City Point, Va., Nov. 1, 1864, 6 P. M. 
 '• 'Major-General Sherman: 
 
 " 'Do you not think it advisable, 
 now that Hood has gone so far north, 
 to entirely ruin him before starting on 
 your proposed campaign? With Hood's 
 army destroyed, you can go where you 
 please with impunity. I believed and 
 still believe if you had started south 
 while Hood was still in the neighbor- 
 hood, he would have been forced to 
 go after you. Now that he is far 
 away he might look upon the chase as 
 useless, and he will go in one direc- 
 tion while you are pushing in another. 
 If you can see a chance of destroying 
 Hood's army, attend to that first, and 
 make your other move secondary. 
 
 " 'U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-Gen.' 
 
 "My answer is dated: 
 
 "Rome, Georgia, Nov. 2, 1864. 
 "Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant, City 
 
 Point, Virginia : 
 
 "Your dispatch is received. If I 
 could hope to overhaul Hood, I would 
 turn against him with my whole force; 
 then he would retreat to the southwest, 
 drawing me as a decoy away from 
 Georgia, which is his chief object. If 
 he ventures north of the Tennessee 
 River, I may turn in that direction, 
 and endeavor to get below him on his 
 line of retreat; but thus far he has 
 not gone above the Tennessee River. 
 General Thomas will have a force 
 strong enough to prevent his reaching 
 any country in which we have an in- 
 terest; and he has orders, if Hood 
 turns to follow me, to push for Selma, 
 Alabama. No single army can catch 
 Hood and I am convinced the best re- 
 sults will follow from our defeating 
 Jeff Davis's cherished plan of making 
 me leave Georgia by maneuvering. 
 Thus far I have confined my efforts to 
 thwart this plan, and have reduced 
 baggage so that I can pick up and 
 start in any direction ; but I regard 
 the pursuit of Hood as useless. Still, 
 if he attempts to invade Middle Ten- 
 nessee, I will hold Decatur and be pi'c- 
 pared to move in that direction; but 
 unless I let go of Atlanta, my force 
 will not be equal to his. 
 
 "W. T. SHERMAN, Maj.-Gen." 
 
 By this date, under the intelligent 
 and energetic action of Col. W. W. 
 
 Wright, and with the labor of some 
 1,500 men, the railroad bi-eak of fif- 
 teen miles about Dalton was repaired 
 so as to admit of the passage of cars, 
 and I transferred my headquarters to 
 Kingston as more central. (Note: By 
 this last statement it is inevitable that 
 his headquarters had been at Rome, 
 and he was not there merely on one 
 of his "rounds"). From that place 
 (Kingston) on the same day (Nov. 2) 
 I again telegraphed to Gen. Grant: 
 
 "Kingston, Ga., Nov. 2, 1864. 
 "Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant, 
 City Point, Virginia. 
 
 "If I turn back, the whole effect 
 of my campaign will be lost. By my 
 movements I have thrown Beauregard 
 (Hood) well to the west, and Thomas 
 will have ample time and sufficient 
 troops at Chattanooga and Atlanta, 
 and I can stand a month's interruption 
 to our communications. I do not be- 
 lieve the Confederate army can reach 
 our railroad lines except by cavalry 
 raids, and Wilson will have cavalry 
 enough to checkmate them. I am clear- 
 ly of the opinion that the best results 
 will follow my contemplated movement 
 through Georgia. 
 
 "W. T. SHERMAN, Maj.-Gen." 
 
 J. A. (iLGVER, banker and loadintr citizen, 
 for many years closely identilied with the 
 commercial development of Rome.
 
 194 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 That same day I received, in answer 
 to the Rome dispatch, the following: 
 
 "City Point, Va., Nov. 2, 1862, 11:30 
 
 A. M. 
 "Major-General Sherman: 
 
 "Your dispatch of 9 a. m. yesterday 
 is just received. I dispatched you the 
 same date, advising that Hood's army, 
 now that it had worked so far north, 
 ought to be looked upon now as the 
 'object.' With the force, however, that 
 you have left with General Thomas, 
 he must be able to take care of Hood 
 and destroy him. I do not see that 
 you can withdraw from where you are 
 to follow Hood, without giving up all 
 we have gained in territory. I say, 
 then, go on as you propose. 
 
 "U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-Gen." 
 
 Sherman's word to "go" was 
 thus received while he was head- 
 quartered at Kingston, and came 
 in response to his urgent appeal 
 from Rome, and in consequence 
 of recommendations before. There 
 is an evident error in the Grant 
 message just above, dated Nov. 2 
 and referring to Sherman's Rome 
 message, also dated Nov. 2, as 
 "your dispatch of 9 a. m. yester- 
 day." The Grant dispatch date 
 undoubtedly should have been 
 Nov. 3. 
 
 This was the first time that Gen. 
 Grant assented to the "March to the 
 Sea" and although many of his warm 
 friends and admirers insist that he 
 was the author and projector of that 
 march, and that I simply executed his 
 plans. Gen. Grant has never, in my 
 opinion, thought so or said so. The 
 truth is fully given in an original let- 
 ter of President Lincoln, which I re- 
 ceived at Savannah, Ga., and have at 
 this instant before me, every word of 
 which is in his own familiar hand- 
 writing. It is dated — 
 
 "Washington, Dec. 26, 1864. 
 
 "When you were about leaving At- 
 lanta for the Atlantic Coast, I was 
 anxious, if not fearful; but, feeling 
 that you were the better judge, and 
 remembering 'nothing risked, nothing 
 gained,' I did not interfere. Now, the 
 undertaking being a success, the honor 
 is all yours; for I believe none of us 
 went further than to acquiesce; and, 
 taking the work of Gen. Thomas into 
 account, as it should be taken, it is 
 indeed a great success. Not only does 
 
 it afford the obvious and immediate 
 military advantages, but, in showing 
 Lo the world that your army could be 
 divided, putting the stronger part to 
 an important new service, and yet 
 leaving enough to vanquish the old op- 
 posing force of the whole. Hood's 
 army, it brings to those who sat in 
 darkness to see a great light. But 
 what next? I suppose it will be safer 
 if i leave General Grant and yourself 
 to decide. 
 
 "A. LINCOLN." 
 
 On the 2nd of November I was at 
 Kingston, Ga., and my four corps — 
 the Fifteenth, Seventeenth, Four- 
 teenth and Twentieth — with one divis- 
 ion of cavalry, were strung from Rome 
 to Atlanta. Our raih-oads and tele- 
 graph had been repaired, and I de- 
 liberately prepared for a march to Sa- 
 vannah, distant 300 miles from Atlan- 
 ta. All the sick and wounded men 
 had been sent back by rail to Chat- 
 tanooga; all our wagon trains had 
 been carefully overhauled and load- 
 ed, so as to be ready to start on an 
 hour's notice, and there was no se- 
 rious enemy in our front. 
 
 Gen. Hood remained still at Flor- 
 ence, Ala., occupying both banks of 
 the Tennessee River, busy in collect- 
 ing shoes and clothing for his men 
 and the necessary ammunition and 
 stores with which to invade Tennessee. 
 Beauregard was at Corinth, hastening 
 forward these necessary preparations. 
 Gen. Thomas was at Nashville, with 
 Wilson's dismounted cavalry and a 
 mass of new troops and quartermas- 
 ter's employes, amply sufficient to de- 
 fend the place. 
 
 On the 6th of November, at Kings- 
 ton, I wrote and telegraphed to Gen. 
 Grant, reviewing th'3 whole situation, 
 gave him my full plan of action, stated 
 that I was ready to march as soon as 
 the election was over, and appointed 
 Nov. 10 as the day for starting. On 
 the 8th I received this dispatch: 
 
 "City Point, Va., Nov. 7, 1864, 10:30 
 
 P."M. 
 
 "Major-General Sherman : 
 
 " i our dispatch of this evening re- 
 reived. I see no present reason for 
 changing your plan. Should any arise, 
 you will see it, or if I do I will in- 
 form you. I think everything here is 
 favorable now. Great good fortune 
 attend you ! I believe you will be emi- 
 nently successful, and at worst, can 
 only make a march less fruitful than 
 hoped for. 
 
 "U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-Gen."
 
 Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself 
 
 195 
 
 Meantime, trains of cars were whirl- 
 ing by, carrying to the rear an im- 
 mense amount of stores which had ac- 
 cumulated at Atlanta and at the other 
 stations along the railroad; and Gen. 
 Steedman had come down to Kingston 
 to take charge of the final evacua- 
 tion and withdrawal of the several 
 garrisons below Chattanooga. (Enter 
 another "villain!" — Author.) 
 
 On the 10th of November the move- 
 ment may be said to have fairly be- 
 gun. All the troops designed for the 
 campaign were ordered to march for 
 Atlanta, and Gen. Corse, before eva- 
 cuating his post at Rome, was order- 
 ed to burn all the mills, factories, etc., 
 etc., that could be useful to the enemy 
 should he undertake to pursue us or 
 resume military possession of the 
 country. This was done on the night 
 of the 10th and next day Corse reach- 
 ed Kingston. Maj. Gen. Jefferson 
 Davis commanded the 14th Corps of 
 the left wing, and Corse a division of 
 the 15th Corps. 
 
 On the 12th, with a full staff, I 
 started from Kingston for Atlanta, 
 and about noon of that day we reach- 
 ed Cartersville and sat on the edge 
 of a porch to rest, when the telegraph 
 operator, Mr. Van Valkenburg, or Ed- 
 dy, got the wire down from the poles 
 to his lap, in which he held a small 
 pocket instrument. Calling "Chatta- 
 nooga," he received a message from 
 Gen. Thomas. 
 
 Gen. Sherman records that just 
 after the message from Gen. 
 Thomas had come, and he had an- 
 
 swered "Dis])atch received — all 
 right," some of the marchers burnt 
 a bridge, which severed the tele- 
 graph wire and cut all communi- 
 cation with the rear. 
 
 As we rode on toward Atlanta that 
 night, I remember the railroad trains 
 going to the rear with a furious speed; 
 the engineers and the few men about 
 the trains waving us an affectionate 
 adieu. It surely was a strange event 
 — two hostile armies marching in op- 
 posite directions, each in the full be- 
 lief that it was achieving a final and 
 conclusive result in a great war; and 
 I was strongly inspired with the feel- 
 ing that the movement on our part 
 was a direct attack upon the rebel 
 army and the rebel capital at Rich- 
 mond, though a full thousand miles of 
 hostile country intervened, and that, 
 for better or worse, it would end the 
 war. 
 
 Thus started the ruthless cru- 
 sade of this modern Attila the 
 Hun, in which all rules of war 
 touching the destruction of prop- 
 erty and the treatment of human 
 beings in the broad swath of war 
 were suspended. Thus did ^^^m. 
 Tecumseh Sherman write his name 
 in fire and blood across the pages 
 of Georgia history ; justified, as 
 he claimed, by the objects in view, 
 l)Ut indelibly, as Georgians of to- 
 day still attest.
 
 196 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 A NOTED SCHOOLHOUSE AND SEVEN DWELLINGS. 
 
 At top left, is No. 6 E. Ninth Avenue, where Prof. Hay Watson Smith, brother of Dr. 
 ij"u- '-""'^ Smith, president of Washington and Lee University, taught schooL Next is the 
 old Hines Smith home; the homes of W. H. Pickling, Mather D. Daniel, Ed. L Bosworth J P 
 Malone, Dr. J. D. Moreland and Mrs. Martha Battey, follow from left to right
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 Extreme Desolation Pictured in Diary 
 
 Till'". Rcmic Chapter of tin- 
 L'nited Daughters oi the 
 Confederacy has preserved 
 ill its archives a choice Ht- 
 erary morsel in the form of ex- 
 tracts from the diary of Reuben v^. 
 Norton, which was placed at its 
 disposal by Mrs. Wm. M. Towers, 
 his only daughter, and which sheds 
 a flood of light on the dark days 
 between September, 1863, and the 
 Confederate surrender in April, 
 1865. These extracts follow : 
 
 Mary Norton, then twelve years of 
 age, was sent with friends of the fam- 
 ily in 1863 to points of safety farther 
 South, but her mother and 1 decided 
 to remain in Rome and meet whatever 
 fate might befall us. 
 
 The autumn of 1863 found our citi- 
 zens in a great condition of uneasiness 
 because raiding parties had moved on 
 Rome from various directions; and so 
 the people began sending their fam- 
 ilies and negroes to safer places. 
 Heavy reinforcements came in fi-om 
 Virginia and Mississippi, but as the 
 Yankees were now in possession of 
 Chattanooga, the worst was feared for 
 Rome. In October, 1863, the com- 
 mands of Gens. Walker and Grist 
 passed through Rome, and having no 
 means of transportation, impressed all 
 the wagons and teams they could find 
 v/ithin ten miles, leaving the people 
 with no stock to make a crop. Such 
 were the terrible straits to which our 
 army was reduced at the time. 
 
 On Dec. 8, 1863, all the government 
 hospitals were removed from Rome. 
 The people realized the town would 
 soon be in the hands of the enemy, and 
 numerous families left every day. Pro- 
 visions were exceedingly high and 
 scarce, and were preferred to money 
 in all trading. Conditions grew stead- 
 ily worse in January, 1864. All the 
 schools were closed, and the Rome Fe- 
 male College was moved away by the 
 Caldwells. 
 
 Four months later, on May 17, our 
 forces began to evacuate the town to 
 escape the heavy cannonading. About 
 dark the men in gray drew into the 
 town and began to move out. Think- 
 ing the enemy would capture the 
 available stores, clothing and food- 
 
 stuffs, they cari-ied off whatever they 
 could. Several Texas regiments sack- 
 ed the stores of about .$1.50,000 in cit- 
 izens' property. 
 
 Early on the morning of May 18 
 our men burned the Oostanaula River 
 l)ridge. The Etowah bridge had also 
 been burned. About 11 o'clock the 
 Yankees pushed their outposts into 
 town, but our battery on Myrtle Hill 
 continued to fire throughout the day. 
 The town was now at the mercy of 
 ihe invaders, who started burning 
 houses and making themselves com- 
 fortable. Certain wooden structures 
 were torn down so the lumber could 
 be used to make temporary shacks for 
 the Union soldiers. The home of Dr. 
 Hicks in DeSoto (now the Fourth 
 Ward) was burned because it was 
 charged Mrs. Hicks had insulted 
 Streight's men when they were 
 brought in the year befoi'e as prison- 
 ers by Gen. Forrest. Mrs. Choice's 
 home also went up in smoke, and the 
 family had a narrow escape. Several 
 attempts were made to burn the Nor- 
 ton home and barn, but the fire was 
 put out each time. Many more fam- 
 ilies left town in haste and confusion. 
 Pillaging day and night was comnion. 
 The Confederates were scattered 
 through the country, and Yankee 
 wagon trains on foraging expeditions 
 were handled roughly. Scores of ne- 
 groes were sent North by the Union 
 army leaders; they were not only of 
 no help to our people, but in the way. 
 Free transportation North was given 
 such people as wished to go, and a 
 few took advantage of the opportu- 
 nity; I think there were eight or ten, 
 whom we could well spare. 
 
 Homes were quickly turned into hos- 
 pitals. Only three male members of 
 the Presbyterian church were left: 
 Nicholas J. Omberg, H. G. Peter and 
 myself. The authorities took up the 
 carpets of the church, and moved the 
 furniture and i)rayer books; pews were 
 removed and used to float ponttwn 
 bridges across the rivers. The First 
 Presbyterian was used as a store 
 house." The Methodist church was fill- 
 ed with anununition and the Baptist 
 and Episcopal structures were con- 
 verted into hospitals. 
 
 A provost marshal's establishment 
 was set up, and the civilians were vir- 
 tually i)risoners. No mails were re-
 
 198 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 ceived or sent, and no person could 
 pass the lines going' or coming with- 
 out a permit. Thus four dreary 
 months passed. 
 
 On Sept. 18 the Confederates fired 
 on the Yankees on the Cave Spring 
 road, killing eight or ten and wound- 
 ing others. The Federals, fearing a 
 surprise attack, dug additional rifle 
 pits. The people, in the meantime, 
 remained in their homes as much as 
 possible.* They were moved about, as 
 their ch filings were needed for mili- 
 tary purposes. They lived on what- 
 ever they could hide out; sometimes 
 cooked for the enemy and thus fed 
 themselves. Miss Joe Stewart (later 
 Mrs. J. A. Stansbury) told how she 
 penned up a lot of chickens in her 
 basement, and how their feathers were 
 missing when they were finally turned 
 out after the departure of the enemy. 
 
 Oct. 29 was noteworthy as the date 
 Gen. Sherman and his staff came into 
 town. They entered at night. On 
 Nov. 10 at 5 a. m. it became evident 
 that the invaders were preparing to 
 evacuate, for they started burning the 
 places of military value. Several ad- 
 ditional citizens went North. The last 
 of the Federals left at 9 o'clock, a. m., 
 Nov. 11, 1864, and they destroyed such 
 stores as they could not take along. 
 Two days later there was not a sol- 
 dier of either army to be seen. The 
 streets were entirely deserted. Every- 
 thing was as still and quiet as if no 
 war were in progress. The business 
 section was dead; only a little drug 
 store was left, and that kept by Dr. 
 J. H. Nowlin. The 40 men left be- 
 hind organized a patrol force for the 
 protection of their homes. They were 
 as follows: 
 
 A. Tabor Hardin, postmaster; Dr. 
 J. H. Nowlin, Geo. P. Burnett, mayor; 
 Jas. Lumpkin, Wm. Quinn, A. M. 
 Kerr, Lewis D. Burwell, Terrence Mc- 
 Guire, Jesse Lamberth, M. Marks, 
 Green Stewart, S. G. Wells, C. W. 
 Mills, Reuben S. Norton, John De- 
 Journett, Nicholas J. Omberg, Peter 
 Omberg, Wm. Lumpkin, Solomon Mc- 
 Kenzie, Jas. Langston, Jas. Noble, Sr., 
 J. G. Dailey, A. P. Neal. Ben Thorn- 
 ton, Lee Lumpkin, O. Wiley Harbin, 
 Logan Graves, Peter M. Sheibley, C. 
 H. Morefield, John B. Jenkins, Dr. 
 Wm. Farell, Jno. T. Riley, Jas. Lee, 
 Joe Norris, Dr. Brown, Mr. Porter, 
 Mr. McGinnis, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Raw- 
 lins, Mr. Galceren. 
 
 Of these. Judge Burwell, Mr. Quinn 
 and Mr. Lee were unable to bear arms. 
 The ages of the men left were 18 to 
 70. Among the women who remained 
 
 at home might be mentioned Mrs. Liz- 
 zie Roach Hughes, Mrs. J. M. Greg- 
 ory, Mrs. Robt. Battey, Mrs. John 
 Choice, Mrs. Peter M. Sheibley and 
 Mrs. R. S. Norton. 
 
 Different sections were assigned to 
 the civilian guard. Mr. Omberg and 
 Mr. McGuire were on duty in the 
 Broad Street neighborhood north of 
 the Buena Vista hotel (Sixth Avenue). 
 Early one night they heard the shrill 
 voice of a woman, calling for help. 
 They rushed forward and discovered 
 it was old Mrs. Quinn. Before they 
 reached her, a ruffian of a Scout band 
 held them up at the point of a pis- 
 tol. Another ruffian placed them un- 
 der guard. Conversation between the 
 two robbers revealed that they had 
 been hanging Mr. Quinn by the neck 
 to make him give up money and val- 
 uables. He surrendered what he had, 
 so they did not kill him. Mr. Mc- 
 Guire and Mr. Omberg were ordered 
 to follow the gang leaders, who would 
 'fix them' out of town. The two ran 
 for their lives. A dozen shots were 
 fired at them, one taking effect in 
 Mr. Omberg's leg. Mr. OmTserg's vdfe 
 was dead, and he and his children were 
 living with his sister-in-law, Mrs. 
 Thos. J. Perry. Mrs. Perry was in 
 her yard when she discovered Mr. 
 Omberg coming up lamely with his 
 hat in his hand, and without a weapon. 
 He told her he thought he was done 
 for, and begged her to hide him, for 
 he knew the marauders would follow. 
 She got him upstairs into an attic** 
 and ran to the nearest neighbor's to 
 get aid for him. The neighbors were 
 afraid to venture out, so Mrs. Perry 
 returned to the sufferer and did the 
 best she could.*** Later she went to 
 the home of her neighbors and implored 
 them to go for Dr. Nowlin. The doc- 
 
 *This probably refers to an ambuscade at the 
 Hawkins place, on the Lindale road one mile 
 north of Lindale, by Colquitt's Scouts. Some 25 
 wagons manned by soldiers and drawn by 
 horses and mules were held up by fire from the 
 bushes. The beasts broke into a wild stampede, 
 several overturning the wagons. Colquitt's men 
 escaped into the hills. Gen. Jno. M. Corse, com- 
 manding at Rome, sent ambulances out and 
 brought in the wounded, several of whom had 
 been taken into the home of Mrs. Tom Hawkins 
 and given first aid. Gen. Corse held Mrs. Haw- 
 kins, her absent husband and her father, Roland 
 Bryant, responsible for the attack, and burned 
 her home while she looked on. 
 
 **Some say it was a hay loft. 
 
 ***Judge John C. Printup is authority for the 
 statement that Mr. Omberg was shot near 
 Eighth Avenue and Broad Street, and died at 
 the home of his brother-in-law, Thos. J. Perry, 
 at the northwest corner of Eighth Avenue and 
 E. First Street. It is generally accepted that this 
 job was done by Colquitt's Scouts, and it is 
 said that several young men of Rome were 
 recognized in the crowd. Mrs. Judge Jno. H. 
 Lumpkin was also robbed.
 
 Extreme Desolation Pictured in Diary 
 
 199 
 
 tor finally came, but could do little, 
 and Mr. Omberg died about 9 the next 
 morning. 
 
 Getting him buried was just as dif- 
 ficult. Everybody stayed cooped up 
 in their homes for fear of being shot 
 down by a hidden foe. Presently the 
 men ventured forth, made a coffin out 
 of pine boards and laid him away. 
 
 Judge Burwell and Mr. Cohen were 
 hung up until they agreed to hand 
 over their valuables. '*' 
 
 These robbers were deserters from 
 both armies, and they banded together 
 to prey upon defenseless citizens. They 
 committed many atrocities in the coun- 
 try, but did not come to Rome again. 
 
 The steamboat (probably the Laura 
 Moore) arrived from Gadsden to see 
 how things were getting along at 
 Rome, but went back the next day. 
 Many country people came to town 
 to avoid the Scouts; they crossed the 
 rivers in batteaux. 
 
 Postmaster Hardin arranged to get 
 mail through the country in a buggy, 
 and gradually the people began to cir- 
 cumvent Sherman's army and to re- 
 turn home. After the final surrender, 
 the refugees came in large numbers 
 and turned willing hands to the res- 
 toration of their premises and their 
 fortunes. Rome cotton that had been 
 hid out was brought to town and 
 made a little trade; it brought 25 to 
 30 cents in greenback. 
 
 On May 13, 1865, the condition of 
 affairs was dreadful; negroes trouble- 
 some, food scarce, very little specie in 
 the country. Not a yard of cloth could 
 be bought. There were no shoes, no 
 groceries, no anything except a few 
 drugs at Dr. Nowlin's, and they could 
 not be eaten. All was used up, wast- 
 ed away. That our people rose above 
 these conditions is a splendid tribute 
 to their stamina and light-heartedness. 
 
 The Federal authorities came into 
 Rome on June 20, 1865, and announced 
 to Mayor Jas. Noble, Jr., that his of- 
 fice was vacant and the town was un- 
 der military rule. The Freedmen's 
 Bureau was established with Capt. C. 
 A de la Mesa in charge, and thus 
 began the rule of the carpetbagger, 
 under which our people endured life 
 calmly until their country was once 
 more restored to their keeping. 
 
 The following- letter, sent from 
 Rome Nov. 17- 1864, (one day aft- 
 er Sherman started his March to 
 the Sea from Atlanta), by Mrs. 
 
 *Mr. Cohen's people deny he was hung up ; 
 he may have been forced to give over his money. 
 
 Rol)ert P>attey to her husband, 
 then presumably at Selma, Ala., 
 contains a graphic description of 
 the privations endured by the few 
 people left at home : 
 
 My Darling: I have just received 
 your letter from Selma. I am so 
 sorry that you could not come home 
 for a few days. I feel as if you are 
 so far from me now; it may be a long 
 time before I see you again, if ever. 
 I'm feeling sad tonight. I have had 
 a hard time for the last two months. 
 The negroes all left me and went to 
 the Yankees, and when the Yankees 
 left, the negroes all had to "foot it" to 
 Kingston, Aunt Cheney carrying her 
 clothes and Belle the baby; Bill car- 
 rying himself the best he could. Pagey 
 got along very well, but old Mary had 
 a hard time walking so far and by the 
 time they reached Kingston they were 
 sick of the Yankees and turned and 
 came home. 
 
 Two miles this side of Kingston a 
 man took Belle and carried her to his 
 home. Day before yesterday the ne- 
 groes all returned except Belle. I 
 heard that she was at Mr. Sheibley's 
 place, so Mr. Sheibley went up, found 
 her and brought her home today. Now 
 
 MRS. WILLIAM SMITH (later Mrs. Anderson 
 W. Redding, of Jamestown, Lee County, 
 Ga.), mother of Mrs. Robert Battey.
 
 200 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 I have them all home. They lost all 
 their bedding' and clothing. They have 
 treated me very badly, left me sick; 
 Bessie to nurse; cow^s to milk, cook- 
 ing to do, washing and everything 
 else. No one to help but George. We 
 had a hard time. 
 
 Willie went with Mrs. Hawkins to 
 Columbus. I look for them back Sun- 
 day. I need him very much. We 
 have no wood, and no one to get it 
 for me. My fences are all gone. You 
 would not know our home. 
 
 I was ready to go South when Mr. 
 Maupin came home. He told me that 
 you thought it best for me to stay at 
 home, even if I had to live in one side 
 of the house and burn the other, so I 
 concluded to stay. I had no one to 
 help me out with my children. I felt 
 that I could not carry Bessie, so I 
 hope it will all be for the best. 
 
 I don't know how the negroes will 
 treat me when I take to my bed. I 
 miss poor old Coyle. I wrote you that 
 he was dead. He died two or three 
 months ago. 
 
 Should I ever see you I will tell 
 you what I have to go through. Don't 
 have too much confidence in all of the 
 negroes; some of them are mean. 
 
 The Yankees are gone, I hear, to 
 Macon. They have 60 days' rations. 
 I fear we have no force there, and am 
 so anxious to know what they are go- 
 ing to do. I feel more discouraged now 
 than I ever have before. 
 
 Our people are doing so badly. They 
 are in hei-e robbing and killing. They 
 robbed old Mr. Burwell a few nights 
 ago, and again last night they hung 
 him until he was almost dead, for his 
 money. They have it all now. They 
 killed Mr. N. J. Omberg last. He was 
 out in the yard, he and Mr. McGuire, 
 and they heard somebody cry out, and 
 ran to old Mrs. Quinn, and found they 
 were hanging Mr. Quinn. They met 
 Mr. Omberg and he asked them who 
 they were. They replied, "Friends." 
 Mr. Omberg put down his gun and 
 they walked up to him and took all 
 his greenbacks, then shot him. He 
 lived until today. They robbed Mrs. 
 Lumpkin of everything she had, and 
 Peter Omberg, too. I look for them 
 all night. 
 
 I don't undress for fear they will 
 come. I have no money for them to 
 get, and hope they will spare me. 
 Such a life to lead! No rest night or 
 day! I had expected that when the 
 Yankees left I would get to sleep some 
 at night, but it is worse than ever. 
 You don't know anything about it. 
 
 The night the town was burned I 
 was all alone, except for my little chil- 
 dren. I can not describe my feelings. 
 I did not know what to do, so I went 
 to washing, and washed two or three 
 dozen pieces. I had not had any done 
 for four weeks. I passed the night 
 away somehow and am still alive. But 
 I must not write you all these things. 
 I hope you will excuse me, as I can 
 not think of anything else. 
 
 Dear Grace, I am glad to hear she 
 is well and wish so much I had her 
 with me. The poor child would not 
 feel at home here now; everything is 
 so changed. I will write her tonight. 
 She had better come home if I stay 
 here. Oh, how I long to see you, to be 
 near one who feels an interest in me! 
 I don't know what I will do while I 
 am sick, but I hope that you will be 
 here or that something may happen 
 to help me. 
 
 Don't bother about money; if you 
 can't get it you can do without it. I 
 owe some greenback, but they will 
 have to wait for it. I have tried to get 
 along the best I could since you left. 
 
 The children are all well. Little 
 Bessie is well, but cannot walk; I feel 
 very anxious about her and fear she 
 never will. Reddy looks delicate, but 
 keeps up and is a good little thing. 
 George, Mary and Henry are well and 
 help me all they can. They want to 
 see their dear father very much. 
 
 Mr. Norton and family are well. 
 Aunt Cooley is not in good health. 
 Georgia and Mary are well. Where is 
 Mrs. Stillwell? I heard from Bailie; 
 he was well but needed money. He 
 wrote Mr. Moore for some. I sent 
 him $5, all I had, but don't know 
 whether he got it or not. I would 
 write to Mrs. Stillwell if I knew 
 where to write. Mrs. Lee and children 
 are well. Some of their negroes are 
 gone — old Annie, Richmond and Hay- 
 good. Jack's wife has not gone. She 
 had a baby and is doing well. I hope 
 Mrs. Graves will get home soon now. 
 
 I might write you a more interest- 
 ing letter and tell you how I fared 
 with the new commander we had here. 
 I will write again when I feel more 
 cheerful. I will finish this in the 
 morning. 
 
 Your devoted wife, 
 
 M. BATTEY. 
 
 Mrs. Naomi P. Bale (Rome's 
 venerated "Grandma Georgy"), 
 tells in a contribution to the U. 
 D. C. this graphic story of war
 
 Extreme Desolation Pictured in Diary 
 
 201 
 
 trials and tribulations in Dirttown 
 Valley, Chattooga County, about 
 fifteen miles from Rome: 
 
 The first real sorrow that came to 
 me during the Civil War was when 
 my only brother was brought back 
 home in his coffin from Cumberland 
 Gap, Tenn., Dec. 1, 1862. It had never 
 occurred to me that his home-coming 
 would be so sad, that with my dear 
 old father, whose life was bound up 
 in his promising son, and whose heart 
 never recovered from this stroke, and 
 with the broken-hearted young widow 
 and the five little children, I would 
 stand beside the form of a strong 
 young soldier, cut down in the hey- 
 day of his youth. 
 
 Nearer and darker grew the war 
 cloud in 1863. Marching and coun- 
 ter-marching was the order of the day. 
 Wheeler's and Forrest's cavalries 
 dashed in and out of our quiet little 
 Dirttown Valley. Thousands of cav- 
 alry camped on my father's extensive 
 plantation; the commanding officers 
 quartered in our home, and often sat 
 at our table. 
 
 In the latter part of the summer of 
 1863 nearly every family of promi- 
 nence in our neighborhood refugeed. On 
 Sept. 20 and 21, 1863, the thunders 
 of artillery from Chickamauga battle- 
 field startled us, and from then until 
 the capture of Kennesaw mountain 
 the roar of cannon reverberated over 
 this section of Georgia day and night. 
 Then came the lull before the storm. 
 For six long weeks everybody in our 
 neighborhood kept close at home; not 
 a human outside our own family did I 
 see, save my step-brother-in-law as he 
 passed twice a day going to and from 
 his mill. 
 
 One bright moonlight night I was 
 awakened by a low, rumbling sound; 
 the sound came nearer and nearer 
 until I recognized the hoof beats of 
 cavalry. In a short time the noise 
 increased and I heard the command, 
 "Halt!" given. Instantly the quiet 
 became intense. I raised up in bed 
 and peered through my window. The 
 whole front grove seemed full of 
 mounted soldiers, whether friend or 
 foe I could not tell. In a few moments 
 a trim, soldierly fellow rapped loudly 
 on the front door. I threw uj) a win- 
 dow and asked, "Who knocks?" He 
 replied, "I am Capt. Harvey, of Mis- 
 sissippi, and I have been ordered by 
 Gen. Johnston to his rear to tear u]) 
 the railroad between Chattanooga and 
 Kingston. I am here in command of 
 100 men. We have ridden 100 miles 
 
 out of our way just to forage on 
 Wesley Shropshire's farm." 
 
 In the meantime, my father remain- 
 ed in his room listening to the con- 
 versation. His life had been threat- 
 ened often, and for this reason we 
 never allowed him to appear at the 
 front door until some of the family 
 had first reconnoitered. I said to the 
 captain, "Step out into the moonlight 
 and let me see your uniform." He 
 jumped lightly over the bannisters 
 and jocularly remarked, "Are you sat- 
 isfied?" I made him promise on his 
 honor as a soldier and a gentleman 
 that my father should suffer no vio- 
 lence from him or his men. He sol- 
 emnly gave his word, and I then di- 
 rected him to a window in my father's 
 room. He and father had quite a 
 chat; he gave father several Confed- 
 erate newspapers and father presented 
 him with a number of Northern pa- 
 pers that a neighbor had secured in 
 Chattanooga. Father then directed 
 Capt. Harvey where he could find corn 
 and fodder for his horses. 
 
 Capt. Harvey and his command re- 
 mained in our neighborhood six weeks 
 or more, raiding the railroads up about 
 Ringgold and Dalton, and capturing 
 many Federal prisoners, many of 
 whom could not sceak a word of Eng- 
 
 Ri:V. (;. A. NUNNALLY. Baptist minister 
 who once ran for Governor of (leorRia on 
 a liquor prohibition platform.
 
 202 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 lish intelligibly — these were foreign- 
 ers imported by wealthy Northerners 
 as substitutes in the Federal army. 
 The prisoners were taken to Cedar 
 BluflF, Ala., and as a member of Capt. 
 Hai-vey's command told me, "were lost 
 in the Coosa river." 
 
 I can say that Capt. Harvey was a 
 gentleman, and we suffered no violence 
 from him or his command. He was 
 very fond of music and liked to play 
 whist, and was a frequent guest in 
 our house. Thus he whiled away his 
 time with my step-sister and myself. 
 Once when I sang "The Officer's Fu- 
 neral," he leaned his head on the table 
 and sobbed aloud. He begged me to 
 overlook his apparent weakness, for 
 he had a wife and a little boy in Mis- 
 sissippi, and the chances were he 
 would never see them again. 
 
 On Sept. 15, 1864, we met a different 
 band of men. These were the "Inde- 
 pendent Scouts." Yes, write the name 
 in blood, drape it with the pall of 
 death, trace it with fire, and then you 
 cannot conceive the full meaning of 
 the term. A horde of these marauders 
 made their camp in our neighborhood, 
 committing the most outrageous atroci- 
 ties on old and feeble men. A gang 
 of perhaps a dozen came to our home, 
 and took everything they could carry 
 away. Before leaving they laid violent 
 
 MAX MEYERHARDT, once judge of the City 
 Court and for many years prominent in 
 Masonic and civic affairs of Rome. 
 
 hands on my father, swearing he 
 should be hung unless he gave them 
 money, either gold or silver. A rope 
 was thrown over his head, and with 
 an oath one of them started to drag 
 him off to a limb. I threw up my 
 hands and begged for my father's life 
 with all the fervor of a pent-up soul, 
 assuring them he had no specie. The 
 ring-leader looked me steadily in the 
 face and said, "I believe you are tell- 
 ing the truth." I answered, "On my 
 honor as a lady, as sure as there is a 
 God, I am!" The rope was removed 
 from my father's neck, the leader re- 
 marking, "Old man, you owe your life 
 to your daughter; but for her we 
 would have hung you as high as Ha- 
 maan." 
 
 On Oct. 10 and 12 Hood's weary 
 horde appeared and passed in hot re- 
 treat. It was ragged, worn, foot-sore 
 and dejected in spirit. Yet they plod- 
 ded on their weary march, some bare- 
 foot, others with raw-hide tied over 
 their bleeding feet. "Lost Cause" was 
 stamped on every face. I knew then 
 the Confederacy was doomed. 
 
 On Oct. 14 and 15 the center of 
 Sherman's army passed, following 
 Hood. I think this part was com- 
 manded by Gens. Slocum and Frank 
 Blair. What the "Scouts" left was 
 appropriated by the Federals. Again 
 our home was pillaged from founda- 
 tion to attic. Large army wagons 
 were loaded to the brim vdth corn, 
 fodder and wheat; cows and hogs were 
 driven off or shot, smoke houses strip- 
 ped, pantries cleaned of every mova- 
 ble article, and such as could not be 
 carried off was broken or damaged. 
 The negroes huddled together in their 
 houses, like sheep among wolves, 
 scared out of their wits and fright- 
 ened almost white. 
 
 P'ather and several neighbors had 
 left a few days before for Blue Moun- 
 tain, Ala., to procure salt, all of this 
 commodity having been exhausted 
 some time before from the smoke 
 houses. My step-mother, a woman of 
 unusual courage, was so prostrated 
 with fear that she took to her bed. 
 Thus I again had to run the household. 
 Capt. Hall, of Kentucky, kept guard 
 over us for four hours, and after he 
 left we were at the mercy of "wagon 
 dogs." Three of these prowlers shut 
 my step-sister, Em White, and myself 
 in a room, swearing they would 
 search us. Em collapsed in a large 
 rocking chair. One of the marauders 
 stood with his back to the door, while 
 another ransacked bureau drawers, 
 wardrobes, turned up the mattress,
 
 Extreme Desolation Pictured in Diary 
 
 203 
 
 etc. I engaged the third in conversa- 
 tion, holding in my hand a heavy 
 wrought iron poker, with which I oc- 
 casionally poked the fire, but really 
 kept in readiness to give the fellow 
 a whack if he dared lay hands on me. 
 That "dog" never made a movement 
 to touch me, although he said he had 
 "stripped many as damned good- 
 looking women as I was and searched 
 them." One jerked Em from the 
 rocker and pretended that he would 
 strip her. I begged for her and he 
 let her go. They left very much dis- 
 appointed that they found little of 
 value. 
 
 Hoop skirts were in vogue then, and 
 so were full skirts. I had several 
 thousand dollars in Confederate money 
 in a bustle around my waist, and my 
 small amount of jewelry and a few 
 keepsakes in huge pockets under my 
 hoops. Em had her jewelry and sil- 
 ver forks and spoons in pockets under 
 her hoop. 
 
 After the Federals had passed, des- 
 olation was writ throughout the val- 
 ley. For three weeks a hundred in 
 our family (including slaves) literally 
 lived from hand to mouth. We picked 
 up scraps of potatoes left in the fields, 
 small scattered turnips and meat from 
 
 *JudKe John W. Maddox declared in a speech 
 early in 1921 at the City Auditorium that all 
 the Yankees left in Chattooga County was a 
 broken-down steer that was not fit to be eaten 
 by man or beast. 
 
 **Mr. Lincoln's proclamation was issued in 
 1S63, but news of it evidently hadn't reached 
 Georgia. 
 
 the carcasses left by the Yankees and 
 dragged in by the negroes. The new 
 corn left was sufficiently soft to be 
 grated on graters constructed from 
 mutilated tinware.* 
 
 Oh, those were strenuous, perilous 
 times. I will say in justice to our 
 faithful slaves that only four left us; 
 they stood by us nobly until my father 
 came in from Rome and announced 
 that Lee had surrendered. My father 
 called them all up and told them they 
 were all free.** He employed some; 
 others "spread wing." None went 
 away empty-handed. Father helped 
 them to the extent of his ability. 
 
 When Gen. Lee furled the Stars and 
 Bars, sheathed his sword and shook 
 hands with Gen. Grant, I did the same 
 and on that day I buried every feeling 
 of animosity, never to resurrect the 
 dead past. With thousands of other 
 Southern women I had my baptism of 
 fire and blood that tears cannot efface. 
 
 Standing on this mountain-top of 
 three-score and eleven years (she is 
 now well around 80), and looking back 
 through the vista of time, I see how 
 lovingly my Heavenly Father led me 
 
 "Sometimes through scenes of deepest 
 
 gloom, 
 Sometimes through bowers of Eden 
 
 bloom." 
 
 I exclaim with the Psalmist, "Bless 
 the Lord, O my soul, and forget not 
 all His benefits."
 
 204 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 SS«L 
 
 PRESENT-DAY ROMANS IN STRIKING ATTITUDES 
 
 1 — Rev. J. E. Sammons. 2 — E. E. Lindsey. 3 — Rev. H. F. Saumenig. 4 — W. C. Rash. 
 
 5 Rev. E. F. Dempsey. 6 — F. W. Copeland. 7 (Top) — Judge Moses Wright, addressing Easter 
 
 crowd, Myrtle Hill Cemetery, Sunday, March 26, 1921. 8 — B. F. Quigg. 9 — Mrs. Bessie B. 
 Troutman. 10 — Wm. A. Patton. 11 — Mrs. Robt. Battey at 90. 12 — Young folk in Washington s 
 Birthday fete. 13 — Virgil A. Stewart. 14 — Miss Lilly Mitchell. IS — Miss Martha Berry. 
 16 — E. P. Treadaway. 17 — Miss Marion Moultrie. 18 — Burnett Norton. 19 — Miss Helen Knox 
 Spain.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 Depredations of the Independent Scouts 
 
 V 
 
 ARTOUS roving- bands, or- 
 o-anized for good purposes 
 and bad, added substantial- 
 ly to the misery which hov- 
 ered like a spectre over the people 
 at the close of the Civil War. Pri- 
 marily, these bands separated 
 themselves from the main body of 
 the Confederate forces in order to 
 impede the i)rogress of the Union 
 troops (or they were cut ofT), and 
 to this extent their existence Avas 
 justified. P\arts ot the forces ot 
 Gen. Johnston and Gen. Hood had 
 been forced steadily back into 
 Georgia by the driving power of 
 Sherman's army, and they never 
 rejoined their regular commands, 
 but carried on a bushwhacking 
 campaign from the hills. As long 
 as opposition to the invaders re- 
 mained their object, they acquitted 
 themselves with l^ravery and 
 credit, but once the Union army 
 had passed, certain of these bands 
 fell behind and plundered the coun- 
 tryside ; they stole, destroyed and 
 murdered, and for a time the peo- 
 ple were completely at their mer- 
 cy. 
 
 These organizations were usu- 
 ally made u]) of liorsemen, 30 to 
 50 in number, l^'xcellent riders 
 thev were, and well heeled. They 
 had a rather definite range, but 
 no ])articular headquarters. When 
 the men l)ecame hungry, they 
 would swoop down upon a ])lan- 
 tation or small house and take 
 v^ hat tliey could find : they were 
 always looking for saddles and 
 riding boots as well as mone\' and 
 food, v^ometimes they paid tor 
 things ai)propriate(l, but this was 
 not often. 
 
 Now and then the scout organi- 
 zations clashed with each othor 
 to determine which crowd should 
 subsist on a certain section. As a 
 
 general rule, however, they were 
 content to prey upon the defense- 
 less. 
 
 In the "uj) ccjunties" near the 
 Tennessee line, perhaps the best- 
 known gang was Gatewood's 
 Scouts, organized and led by John 
 Gatewood, of Tennessee, assisted 
 by his brother, Henry Gatewood, 
 who kept the books and accounts 
 of the company. John (kitewood 
 was an illiterate mountaineer 
 whose red hair fell In long fronds 
 down his back, like Daniel Boone 
 and David Crockett ; and when he 
 wished to escape detection in a 
 tlaring dash, he would cram his 
 locks into the crown of his soft 
 felt hat. He was a man of won- 
 derful physique, tall and angular, 
 with the fire of \'ulcan in his eye ; 
 and it used to be said that while 
 galloping" on his horse he could 
 shoot a partridge off a rail fence 
 with his pistol in either hand. His 
 reason for taking the saddle inde- 
 pendently against the Union men 
 was that the>' had killed his old 
 father in Tennessee, and he was 
 pledged to vengeance, .\fter the 
 Federals had left, however, his men 
 terrorized llie country from 
 Gaylesville. Ala., as far northeast 
 as LaFayette. Walker Co., Ga., and 
 touching Al])ine, Summerville and 
 Trion. Chattooga County, Ih-- 
 tween. it was nnchnibtedly (".ate- 
 wood's Scouts who visited the 
 W'eslev Shroi:)shire ])lantation in 
 Dirttown X'alley. Chattooga Coun- 
 tv, Sept. 15. 1864: but so far as is 
 Ivuowii tliey ]iai(l only one \isit to 
 i\( inie. 
 
 bihn ('latt'wood had an Indian 
 who looked after his horse. One 
 lav he sent the Indian to a grist 
 mill near Trion, to have some corn_ 
 ground into meal. .\ band of 
 "scouts favorable to the Union, led
 
 206 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 I y John Long', killed this Indian 
 by way of defying Gatewood. The 
 challenge was accepted, and a 
 pitched battle was fought near 
 the spot at night. Later Long 
 was convicted of kilHng Blev. Tay- 
 lor in Alabama near Frix's Mill, 
 McLemore's Cove, Chattooga Co., 
 and died in an Alalxima peniten- 
 tiary camp near Wetumpka while 
 serving a life sentence. 
 
 Gatewood is said to have killed 
 Green Cordle, another independent 
 scout leader and a man of some 
 years, in Walker County, after 
 running him out of a house where 
 he was enjoying a meal. It was 
 Gatewood's policy to exterminate 
 the other leaders and bands wher- 
 ever he could, but in several in- 
 stances he found strong opposi- 
 tion. His gang gradually broke up 
 and he left Gaylesville on horse- 
 back, riding over Lookout Moun- 
 tain to Texas, where he established 
 himself on a ranch. Maj. John T. 
 
 ,<5«i»*» 
 
 
 -w \., kM ' 
 
 
 WM. SMITH, one of the four founders of 
 Rome, who contributed much to the young 
 city's growth and progress. 
 
 Burns, of Rome, state comptroller 
 general in 1869, who also went to 
 Texas, once ran across Gatewood 
 after the war, and found him en- 
 gaged in peaceful pursuits. 
 
 Gatewood's Scouts participated 
 in one of the most spectacular 
 events of the war at Chattanooga, 
 probably early in 1864. They rode 
 boldly into the Northern army 
 camp at night (this time with no 
 less than 100 men) and stampeded 
 and drove away 2,000 cattle and 
 horses which they took to Gayles- 
 ville and sold or turned over to the 
 Confederate army. 
 
 The scout band best known to 
 Rome was that of Capt. Jack Col- 
 quitt, a member of a Texas regi- 
 ment who remained behind in 
 1864 and married a daughter of 
 Jerry Isbell, of Polk County, near 
 Etna and Prior's Station. Its clash 
 with the Prior boys and its daring 
 incursion into Rome in November, 
 1864, will long be remembered by 
 the older Romans. Reference has 
 already been made to the gang's 
 murder of Nicholas J. Omberg and 
 its hanging of Judge L. D. Bur- 
 well and Wm. Ouinn to make them 
 give up their money and valua- 
 bles ; also of its robbery of Mrs. 
 [no. H. Lumpkin and J. J. Cohen. 
 
 Judge Burwell was keeping a 
 c[uantity of gold (said to have been 
 at least $1,800) for a Jewish mer- 
 chant named Wise, of the firm of 
 Magnus & Wise. He was afflicted 
 with some physical deformity that 
 caused him to bend far forward 
 when he walked, and the scouts 
 told him if he didn't give up the 
 gold they would "straighten him 
 out." He didn't surrender it until 
 the noose began to cut into his 
 neck. They said "We've got 
 Wise's gold ; now tell us where 
 yours is, or we'll hang you up 
 again." As it happened. Judge 
 Burwell had entrusted $500 in gold 
 to Mrs. Robt. Battey, who had put 
 it in her stockings. When the scouts
 
 Depredations of the Independent Scouts 
 
 207 
 
 came to her house the same night, 
 they stole a lot of small things, 
 but did not get the money. They 
 also intended to hang up James 
 Noble, Sr., on Howard Street, but 
 were scared off by the determined 
 attitude of his daughters. 
 
 There appear to be two versions 
 as to what brought the Priors into 
 conflict with Colquitt's Scouts, 
 with such disastrous results to the 
 latter. One says that Capt. Jack 
 Colquitt was killed by the Priors 
 in the presence of Hayden Prior, 
 the father, near Prior's Station, 
 because he had driven off some of 
 the cattle of the family when he 
 stocked the farm of his father-in- 
 law, Jerry Isbell. The other, more 
 generally accepted, is that Col- 
 quitt's men first killed Hayden 
 Prior, better known as "Hayd" 
 Prior, and the sons then took up 
 the feud and accounted for seven 
 r»f the scouts, including their 
 leader. At any rate, Hayden 
 was shot oft' his mule between Cave 
 Spring and Prior's Station, and 
 fell face forward into a branch 
 where the animal was drinking. A 
 brother of Capt. Jack Colquitt is 
 supposed to have been in this am- 
 bushing party, as well as the ca])- 
 lain himself. 
 
 Capt. Col(|uitt was found one 
 day in 1864 in Cedartown by the 
 brothers, John T. and James j\I. 
 Prior. He was in a grocery store, 
 and pretty well loaded with mean 
 liquor as well as his brace of ])is- 
 tols. The brothers took him by 
 surprise and got his pistols away 
 by covering him with their own. It 
 was apparently their intention to 
 put him under arrest and get him 
 a trial, but he showed fight. 
 
 "Cimme a chance with my gun 
 nnd I'll clean all of yer up, one at 
 a time !" he roared, at the same 
 instant drawing a long Bowie 
 knife out of his right boot. 
 
 Quick as lightning Jim Prior 
 shot Colquitt over John's shoul- 
 
 der, and the two pumped bullets 
 into his chest until there were 
 eight. John explained as follows 
 to a friend and hunting companion 
 some time later : 
 
 "I was so close when I fired my 
 first shot that I saw smoke come 
 out of his mouth." 
 
 The men in the store removed a 
 ham and box of baking powder 
 and stretched Capt. Jack Colquitt 
 otit on the counter. He wore a 
 red-spotted calico shirt ; the white 
 spots were now dyed deep in the 
 red of his own blood. 
 
 The Prior boys went quietly oft' 
 and were not arrested, nor did they 
 ever answer in court for taking 
 seven scout scalps. They had 
 sworn to exterminate the Colquitt 
 gang as a service to the commu- 
 nity. 
 
 John Prior was a man of iron 
 will and nerves in a knotty bundle. 
 He had little beady, black eyes 
 that danced as he talked, and he 
 
 JOS. L. BASS, merchant and i)r(imuter. who 
 was head of the old dummy line at Rome 
 and a constructive fo- ce in many ways.
 
 208 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 ^vasn't afraid of the devil. He was 
 loval to his friends and an impla- 
 cable foe to his enemies. Men who 
 hunted with him said he was the 
 deadest shot for miles around; he 
 could lay his double-barreled shot- 
 gun on the ground, flush a covey 
 of partridges, pick up his gun and 
 kill two every time. Jim was of 
 more even temper, regular build, 
 but he also took no foolishness 
 from any man, and he contributed 
 his part toward a genuine pair in 
 those stormy days. 
 
 The brothers quit the corn and 
 cotton fields and hunted scouts. A 
 man named Tracy and several oth- 
 er friends joined them at various 
 times. Tracy later went to Texas 
 to live. The Priors came upon Col- 
 quitt's Scouts in camp near Ball 
 Play and Turkeytown, Etowah 
 County, Ala., on the Coosa River ; 
 gave them a surprise at night and 
 put them to flight. The scouts 
 scattered and the Priors found 
 two of them eating at a 
 house by the road. John 
 killed one as he hopped oft the 
 near end of the porch and the other 
 as he left the far end. On their 
 persons w-ere found a number of 
 $20 gold pieces (Wise's money cap- 
 tured in November, 1864, at 
 Rome) ; when things had quieted 
 down John Prior sent one of these 
 coins to New York and had a cav- 
 alry battle engraved on the ob- 
 verse side, and wore the trinket 
 as a watch charm. 
 
 Near Cave Spring the Priors 
 came upon two scouts riding along 
 the road. Surrender was de- 
 manded. One young fellow held 
 up his hands and came in. The 
 other wheeled about, dug his spurs 
 into the flanks of his horse and 
 sped away like a flash. John was 
 carrying the shotgun his father 
 had used so long. As the fugitive 
 turned a sharp curve in the road, 
 he cracked down. It was impos- 
 si1)le to tell the result, and the 
 
 young captive said : 
 
 "I believe you missed him." 
 "We'll see," responded the 
 marksman; "if I missed him. Til 
 turn you loose !" 
 
 The poor devil was dying in the 
 bushes ; his horse kept going. Sev^ 
 tral buckshot had entered the 
 man's back, and several the base of 
 the saddle. It is supposed, but not 
 definitely known, that the fellow 
 taken captive met a violent end. 
 
 The next victim was a farnier 
 of the neighborhood. John Prior 
 walked up to this man's house and 
 asked his wife where he was. The 
 woman replied that he was plow- 
 ing in the bottom. John went 
 down there and told the farmer to 
 unhitch his horse and send him in 
 a canter to the house; to say his 
 prayers if he w^anted to, because 
 he was going to be killed. The man 
 begged for his life ; he w^as re- 
 minded that old man Prior was 
 shown no mercy. A shot in the 
 breast finished him. 
 
 The hunter next heard that one 
 of the marked men was living in 
 the West, maybe Arkansas, maybe 
 Texas. He went to the man's 
 residence and executed his design. 
 After living a while out there. 
 Prior returned to Prior's Station, 
 and later removed to the territory 
 of Washington, on the Pacific 
 coast, where he died. Jim died 
 at his Prior Station home. 
 
 A farmer named Ritchie, killed 
 on the Carlier Springs road about 
 five miles east of Rome, was 
 charged up to Colquitt's Scouts. 
 Isoni Blevins, a young Texan, was 
 killed at night by a Rome crowd 
 at Flat Rock, where the Southern 
 crosses the N., C. & St. L. (or 
 Rome) Railroad. His boots and 
 spurs were removed and his body 
 w^as thrown some 50 feet off the 
 blufl: into the Etowah River. Sev- 
 eral days days later the body w^as 
 found lodged against a willow 
 snag at the foot of Myrtle Hill
 
 Depredations of the Independent Scouts 
 
 209 
 
 cemetery, and was buried on the 
 river bank. A scout, sometimes 
 known as "The Lone Soldier," was 
 waylaid and killed on the Ala- 
 bama Road between Coosa and 
 Beech Creek, and lies buried on 
 the Rogers place, near the road, 
 about five miles west of Rome. The 
 grave is surmounted by a head- 
 stone, and residents of the neigh- 
 borhood have kept it green for 57 
 years, and have maintained around 
 it a neat picket fence. 
 
 In these fierce depredations 
 Romans were reminded of the 
 lawlessness of the Indian days ; 
 and as if to answer their prayers, 
 a local scout organization was 
 formed by "Little Zach" Har- 
 grove. Many people thought "Lit- 
 tle Zach's" crowd would prove to 
 be as bad as the test, but Horry 
 Wimpee and others testify that it 
 was organized for protective pur- 
 poses, and did much to drive the 
 camp - followers and deserters 
 away. It was reported that "Little 
 Zach" attracted the attention of 
 John Gatewood, and that Gatewood 
 brushed by Rome with an invita- 
 
 tion to fight ; but the result is not 
 known. 
 
 The Ku Klux was also active 
 soon after this period, especially 
 around Coosa, so the anxiety of 
 the civilian population, who were 
 bent on making crops and a liv- 
 ing, can well be imagined. One 
 night the Ku Klux called on Prof. 
 Peter J\I. Sheibley, a Northerner 
 by birth and a non-combatant in 
 the war. When Mr. Sheibley 
 opened his front door, a wooden 
 coffin fell into his arms. 
 
 The political views of Judge Jno. 
 W. H. Underwood caused the Ku 
 Klux to play a gruesome joke on 
 this sparkling humorist. A young 
 fellow well disguised by a turned- 
 up coat collar and a turned-down 
 hat walked up to Judge Under- 
 wood after dark and ofifered him 
 a cordial greeting. The extended 
 hand was left with him, and it was 
 made of wood ! 
 
 Such incidents added a piquant 
 touch to the lives of Romans, 
 wrung the hearts of many, and 
 brought a strong desire for peace, 
 ci. helpful understanding and a con- 
 structive program.
 
 210 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 WHEN MAN TAKES HIS PADDLE IN HAND. 
 
 Batteau and canoe trips on the rivers of Rome afford endless pleasure. Dr. Hugh I. Bat- 
 tey of Atlanta, native son of Rome, here forgets incisions and bandages. His "voyage" was taken 
 in October, 1920, from Carter's Quarters, Murray County, down to "Head of Coosa," 105 miles, 
 and was made leisurely in three nights and two days. He brought a string of pearls for the 
 Home-coming queen, Miss Penelope Stiles.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 ROSS-RIDGE FACTIONS FIGHT. 
 — The following item from the Georgia 
 Constitutionalist (Augusta) of Friday, 
 Aug. 21, 1835, will give an idea of the 
 feeling between the factions repre- 
 sented by Ross and Ridge: 
 
 More Indians Murdered. — The Cass- 
 ville Pioneer of the 7th inst. says: 
 
 "We have just learned of another 
 murder having been committed in this 
 country on the 3d of August, inst. The 
 names of the Indians killed were Mur- 
 phy and Duck. It occurred, we un- 
 derstand, at an Indian dance on the 
 Oostanaula river, where a considerable 
 number of the town or clan had col- 
 lected to enjoy the customary pastime. 
 
 "Sometime within the night the In- 
 dians murdered were seen standing 
 conversing in apparent friendship. A 
 few minutes later Murphy exclaimed 
 that he was stabbed, and expired im- 
 mediately. 
 
 "Duck was heard to say at the time 
 that there was but one other Ridge 
 man on the ground, and that he would 
 inherit the same fate if he did not 
 leave the place instantly. 
 
 "Duck was found dead on the en- 
 suing morning, murdered, it is be- 
 lieved, by the friends of Murphy. 
 Neither man, it is thought, was drunk. 
 
 "Is it not manifest from the many 
 outrages of the kind that it is the set- 
 tled determination of Ross' myrmidons 
 to silence opposition by the knife of the 
 assassin, and unless they are kept in 
 awe by the Guard will go far to ex- 
 ecute their hellish purpose?" 
 * * * 
 
 In 1835 (or 1837) an atrocity that 
 was typical of the others committed in 
 the section occurred in Floyd County 
 near the Polk line. The body of Eze- 
 kiel Blatchford (or Braselton), a land 
 trader from Hall County, was discov- 
 ered in a lime sink; he had been mur- 
 dered, it was believed. A single gold 
 button was found on one of his coat 
 sleeves, and it was of odd design, pi'ob- 
 ably having been worked out of a nug- 
 
 *Authority : Hilliard HoiTy Wimpee. Virgil 
 A. Stewart statetl that the name of the In- 
 dians' victim was White. Mrs. Robt. Battey 
 stated his name was IJraselton. The name Eze- 
 kiel Buffinston appears on the real estate rec- 
 ords of that period at the courthouse. The name 
 Blatchford war- taken from an account in 1H89 
 by Belle K. Abbott, written for The Atlanta 
 Constitution. 
 
 **At Rome: Cherokee Indians, ConKi-essional 
 Documents (1835-6), Doc. 120, p. 593. 
 
 get extracted by the wearer from a 
 gold mine in Hall. With the button 
 as a clue, the local authorities and 
 friends of the deceased went to work. 
 The police in Indian Territory arrest- 
 ed two Indians wearing bottons similar 
 to the one found on the sleeve. Bar- 
 ney Swimmer and Terrapin were 
 brought back to Rome, were given a 
 fair trial at the old court house, found 
 guilty of murder and sentenced by 
 Judge Owen H. Kenan, of Newnan, to 
 die by hanging. This was the first 
 capital punishment meted out to In- 
 dians in Floyd County, and it was a 
 coincidence that a cousin of the mur- 
 dered man, Wm. Smith, who was serv- 
 ing temporarily as sheriff, should 
 have met the duty of sending them to 
 their happy hunting grounds. The 
 hanging took place at a tree at Broad 
 Street and Ninth Avenue, and was wit- 
 nessed by practically everybody in the 
 town, and by hundreds from the coun- 
 ty. Several hours before the Indians 
 were due to have been hung they re- 
 quested permission to take a last swim 
 where the Etowah and the Oostanaula 
 join. This was the place they had often 
 swum as boys. Judge Kenan granted 
 the request, and a strong guard watch- 
 ed them from the various banks. They 
 thanked the court and the officers for 
 the privilege, and went to their death 
 with the courage of Stoics. It was 
 said that Terrapin was full of whis- 
 key during his trial and up to the time 
 of his execution.* 
 
 A LETTER FULL OF NEWS.— 
 The following letter from Geo. M. 
 Lavender, trading post man at Major 
 Ridge's up the Oostanaula, gives a 
 picture of pioneer life around Rome: 
 *-Major Ridge's Ferry, May 3, 1836. 
 Mr. John Ridge: 
 
 Dear Sir: I have received but one 
 letter from you since your departure, 
 and that was received some time since 
 and should have written you, but ex- 
 pected, for some weeks back, that you 
 were on your way home. I have con- 
 cluded from the " last letters received 
 from you that you remain at Wash- 
 ington some time yet. 
 
 I have but little news of impor- 
 tance to communicate to you. Mrs. 
 Betsy Waitie, con.sort of Stand 
 Waitie. Esq.. died four or five days 
 since from the delivery of a child,
 
 212 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 which also died, it is said. She had 
 medical aid, but died under great af- 
 flictions.^'^ 
 
 One of the emigrants, named Seek- 
 atowwa,** of Hightown, was shot two 
 or there weeks ago by a white man 
 at a little whiskey shop, one mile from 
 Artsellers or Dun Steers, '="=^* said to 
 be an accident; he is, however, dead 
 and no more. 
 
 Your family are all well and every- 
 thing about vour crop appears to be 
 going on finely. Major Ridge's fam- 
 ily are all well, and your mother is 
 going on in her usual and fine way 
 in making a crop, though frequently 
 a little unwell, but no ways danger- 
 ous. No person, except a Mr. Cox, 
 has taken any of the cleared land; he 
 has taken one-half of the long field 
 on the west side of the river .*-=='^' 
 She has lost none on the side we live. 
 
 Our season for planting has been 
 very bad, owing to so much rain; but 
 all appears to be getting on very well 
 except the poor Cherokees, of which 
 there is not a few who have been dis- 
 possessed of their fields and dwellings, 
 and turned out to seek refuge in Ala- 
 bama and Tennessee, without any kind 
 of support, moneyless and nothing to 
 buy provisions. I know of a number 
 of families destitute of provision, or 
 money to buy it, and wandering and 
 eating from them that has a little sub- 
 sistence, and many of whom are emi- 
 grants. The circumstance calls aloud 
 on the authorities of Government for 
 relief of these people. It seems im- 
 possible for them to last through the 
 season. Corn is scarce and worth $1 
 per bushel by the quantity, cash ; flour 
 could now be had, and bacon at toler- 
 able moderate prices. You can scarce 
 have any idea of the suffering your 
 Cherokee friends are now encounter- 
 ing. Every week we have lots of men 
 hunting stolen property, and smoke 
 houses robbed of bacon, and every kind 
 of stealing going on. 
 
 Your friend Knitts, of Donehutta, 
 received 120 lashes a few days ago, 
 supposed to be concerned in robbing 
 a smoke house; but I think he will 
 be proved innocent. 
 
 I see my Cherokee friends, emi- 
 grants, within this vicinity every week, 
 inquiring what is doing at Washing- 
 ton, and trying to find out what will 
 be done as regards their perilous sit- 
 uation. 
 
 Many families in our neighborhood 
 would "be glad to emigrate if the Gov- 
 ernment would enable them to do so. 
 
 Please give my respects to the Ma- 
 jor and all your delegation. 
 
 Respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 GEO. M. LAVENDER. 
 
 (Note: Referred to the Indian Of- 
 fice by Major Ridge.) 
 
 CAVE SPRING INDIANS.— Now 
 and then a roving band of Creek In- 
 dians would descend upon the newly- 
 created Floyd County to fight or treat 
 with their ancient foes, the Cherokees. 
 It was probably in 1832 that a group 
 of them pitched camp close to the white 
 settlement at Cave Spring, prepared 
 to go into a pow-wow the next day 
 with their more intelligent neighbors, 
 whose camp was situated not a great 
 hark away. 
 
 Among the old settlers living at 
 Cave Spring then was William Smith, 
 who removed to Rome two years later. 
 Mr. Smith was away from home when 
 the Creeks appeared, and his wife was 
 badly frightened. The visitors look- 
 ed so dark and villainous, and they 
 crept about like snakes. When night 
 came, Mrs. Smith gathered her baby 
 Martha (Mrs. Robt. Battey) m her 
 arms, and taking a negro nurse, stole 
 out of the house into the underbrush, 
 where, wrapped in shawls and an In- 
 dian blanket, they spent thfe night. 
 Mrs Smith had feared the Creeks 
 might break into her house during the 
 night; they could be seen moving 
 stealthily and keeping a close watch, 
 but they attempted no outrage. 
 
 Included in the Cherokees fc CfY^ 
 Spring was a young fellow called Lit- 
 tle Meat. He was in the habit ot 
 scaring wee Martha Smith now and 
 then by appearing suddenly and grunt- 
 ing "Ugh!" and at the same time lift- 
 ing her up into his swarthy arms. He 
 was a playful rascal and never meant 
 any harm, but he nearly scared the lit- 
 tle' girl out of her wits many times. 
 They called him Little Meat because 
 he killed so many small birds and 
 roasted them on a spit. 
 
 The country was wild, sparsely set- 
 tled full of bad Indians and adventur- 
 ous whites, a few soldiers at isolated 
 
 ♦Should be Watie. „, 
 
 **Sukatowie's enrollment number was biS. 
 He was of the Chickamaugee district and votea 
 with Ross at the Rome council 
 
 ***Probably intended for Dirtsel ler s Chat- 
 tooga County. A map dated 1810, m the Car- 
 negie Library at Atlanta, places .Hightown 
 between the rivers where Rome ""^ 'S- H^gh- 
 tower" is probably a variation of Hightown 
 and may have referred to an Indian signal 
 station on the present Tower HiU. 
 ^ *iUNow part of the bottom land on the 
 Linton A. Dean farm.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 213 
 
 posts, and here and thei-e a rough In- 
 dian trail that sufficed for a road. 
 As settlers came in they were chosen 
 by mutual consent for certain duties. 
 William Smith was usually in "saddle 
 and boots," prospecting- a mine down 
 the Coosa, trading in land up the 
 Oostanaula, attending court at Living- 
 ston, hence acted as "sheriff" before 
 the county machinery had been set up 
 (and perhaps afterward). On one oc- 
 casion an Indian charged with a se- 
 rious offense was caught and brought 
 to Cave Spring behind Mr. Smith with 
 hands tied. They rode a horse. There 
 was no secure place to keep the In- 
 dian, so Mr. Smith lashed him with 
 rope to a bed-post at the foot of the 
 bed, after which Mr. and Mrs. Smith 
 retired, and Mr. Smith slept soundly. 
 
 Once several years later at the 
 Forks Ferry, Rome, a sullen Indian 
 provoked the wrath of Mr. Smith, who 
 knocked the man unconscious with a 
 heavy stick. The condition of the In- 
 dian for a time was serious, and Mr. 
 Smith, following the advice of friends 
 that he should be careful of violence, 
 went for a week to live with Philip W. 
 Hemphill at the place now known as 
 DeSoto Park. Most of the Indians were 
 his friends, however, and they sent 
 him word that no harm would come 
 tij him. 
 
 David Vann, the sub-chief, was the 
 most powerful member of his tribe 
 around Cave Spring, and Vann's Val- 
 ley was named after him. On July 
 28, 1850, he was living temporarily 
 at the Lake House, Cave Spring. He 
 was very well educated and wrote a 
 pleasing hand with occasional mis- 
 spelt words, like most of the Indian 
 leaders. He had two handsome, pleas- 
 ant mannered sons called Cooey and 
 Clem, who in 1851 were living in 
 Crandsalem, Cherokee Nation, Arkan- 
 sas, and about that time visited Dr. 
 and Mrs. Robert Battey on Second 
 Avenue on their way to a law school 
 in Baltimore. Other sons were said 
 to have been Augustus and Washing- 
 ton. Under date of Aug. 27, 1850, Da- 
 vid Vann wrote William Smith at 
 Rome from Washington, D. C. : 
 
 "Dear Sir: I wrote to you some 
 time since infoi-ming you that I would 
 be glad to hear from you respecting 
 our silver mine in Alabama, but have 
 not yet received anything from you. 
 Will you be kind enough to write me a 
 few lines and let me know how you 
 are getting along? I have determined 
 to go that way when I leave here foi- 
 home. I can not say when that will 
 be. It may be some time in October. 
 
 I have no idea that I can get away 
 before Congress adjourns & there i's 
 no time set yet for the adjournment 
 of Congress, though I will let you know 
 before I leave when I will be at your 
 house. I wrote a few lines to M*ajor 
 Richardson a few days ago requesting 
 him to save me some peech seed from 
 my old orchard (those large white 
 peeches). I have no news but what 
 you see in the papers. Mr. Clay has 
 got back this morning. He has" been 
 absent ever since his Compromise bill 
 was defeated. The Senate has passed 
 all the measures that he had in his 
 Compromise bill separately with very 
 slight alterations. Give my respects 
 to your family and accept for your- 
 self my best wishes for your health 
 and prosperity. 
 
 Your friend and obt. svt., 
 
 "DAVID VANN." 
 (In haste.) 
 
 Under date of July 28, 1850, Chief 
 Vann wrote Mr. Smith from Washing- 
 ton and stated that he was having 
 some trouble getting his patent to 40 
 acres of land containing the silver 
 mine, and adding: 
 
 "I presume the water is now low 
 enough to examine the ford of the 
 
 MONTt;OML0KY M. J 01..SUM. cUwr uriUr ui 
 vcrsp, in his rPKalia aa an orticer of Chorokee 
 LocIkp 66 of Masons.
 
 214 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 creek. By looking in the ford you 
 will find where old Campbell cut the 
 hole in the rock and filled it up, and 
 just below the ford he said there was 
 a deep hole, evidently dug out by 
 some person." 
 
 Shortly after this the two, accom- 
 panied by Col. Cunningham M. Pen- 
 nington, of Rome, visited the mine on 
 Sand river, but failed to find anything 
 of special interest. 
 
 From Rome, Feb. 2, 1851, Mr. Smith 
 wrote David Vann at Grandsalem, 
 Ark. : 
 
 "My apology for delaying to write 
 you before this time is hardly suffi- 
 cient excuse. I have been run to death 
 of daylight and so tired of nights that 
 I have put it off from time to time, 
 till I have got through with the bridge 
 and have some leisure. 
 
 "After you left Gunter's Landing, 
 I went up to where they were to run 
 their horse race; there I found all 
 parties concerned in that lot we want- 
 ed. I took Collins and fixed things 
 with him to bring about the trade with 
 D. A. Smith. He managed it as I di- 
 rected it and I got the lot for $125 
 cash. . . . Pennington is in high spirits, 
 though he had very bad luck in the 
 matter. He took some eight or ten 
 pounds of the best ore we could get 
 and took it to Washington, or I should 
 have said started with it at Wilming- 
 ton. He had his trunk stolen and lost 
 his specimens and all his clothing and 
 has never heard of them yet. He was 
 on other business at Washington and 
 has just returned. We will consult 
 as soon as this awful cold weather 
 breaks and make a thorough examina- 
 tion and write you immediately. There 
 is great excitement about it. I give 
 them no satisfaction. I shall take a 
 good geologist with me, D. A. White, 
 of Savannah; he I have seen and he is 
 anxious to accompany us over there. 
 I shall lie low; it must count. I am 
 in hopes you will be able to get the 
 old man Campbell to come out with 
 you soon. Don't count the expenses if 
 you can prevail on liim to come. It 
 will do more good to have him here 
 looking than anything. We must bare- 
 ly let the people know he is here. 
 
 "Well, I have no news to write you 
 more than you have seen by the pa- 
 pers. Georgia has killed the Disun- 
 ionist in the South. Our Convention 
 was composed of the best talent in 
 Georgia; there were but 18 Disunion- 
 ists in the convention out of nearly 
 300 members. They have broken up 
 all old party lines and left the Dis- 
 
 unionists to themselves, with Colquitt 
 and Towns to manage; they are dead 
 letters in Georgia; you can't get one 
 of them to talk about it. 
 
 "What is to hinder Clem from com- 
 ing? I think he would like to stay a 
 year or two with us and read law 
 with Judge Wright or Judge Under- 
 wood. 
 
 "You have no idea how our town 
 has grown in the last three months. 
 They have built all around me clear 
 to the railroad and back to the bridge. 
 We have but a few lots left and I 
 don't expect to keep them two weeks. 
 It is a lively business at last, though 
 it was a long time coming. My wife 
 joins me in our love to your wife and 
 children and says she remembers her 
 kindness to her in bygone days. Ac- 
 cept for yourself my best wishes. 
 "WM. SMITH." 
 
 DANCE AT CHIEFTAIN'S.— Mrs. 
 Jno. S. Prather (Susan Verdery), of 
 Atlanta, who once lived at the old 
 home of Major Ridge, contributes the 
 following: 
 
 "It was evening and the night was 
 bright, with a galaxy of stars bending 
 their pale beams through a wealth of 
 climbing roses, clinging woodbine and 
 white star jessamines. Candle light 
 sent a glimmer through the windows 
 to the front porch, and shadows from 
 the tall Colonial pillars fell across the 
 mossy lawn. A swish of satin could 
 be heard here and there and the gleam 
 of white muslin and a more somber 
 contrast of black broadcloth and white 
 vests as the couples lined up for the 
 dance. 
 
 "A scraping of the preliminary 
 chords and the popping of a fiddle 
 string made known that the plantation 
 orchestra was nearly ready to begin 
 its part of the performance. The two 
 black fiddlers were the property of 
 the owner of the mansion. 
 
 "Ah, there went the light footsteps 
 in perfect unison with the music of 
 the cotillion! They danced for half 
 an hour. Occasionally a couple for- 
 sook the crowd and repaired to the 
 veranda through the leafy screens of 
 honeysuckle, there to exchange words 
 of understanding and to pluck a nose- 
 gay that carried its silent message 
 straight to the heart. 
 
 "Milady sounded the gong; the danc- 
 ing ceased and supper was enjoyed in 
 the dining room. What a supper! Of 
 quality and variety the choicest, and 
 prepared after Aunt Lindy's favorite 
 recipes. Then Augustus Nicholas Ver-
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 215 
 
 dery, son of a French planter of the 
 West Indies and master of the planta- 
 tion, struck a martial air on his fine 
 violin. The couples formed again, and 
 the son of the house, Thos. Jefferson 
 Verdery, and a fair young lady from 
 Charleston led the gay company out 
 into the ball room again. The colored 
 fiddlers played 'Oh Miss Nancy, Don't 
 You Cry! Your Sweetheart Will Come 
 to You Bime By!' 
 
 "A specialty was introduced by Mr. 
 Chas. De I'Aigle, of Augusta, whose 
 polkas and schottisches set the young 
 feet patting and young hearts palpi- 
 tating; and Tom Verdery and his lit- 
 tle sister, Susan, danced steps that en- 
 joyed a wide vogue more than 50 years 
 later. 
 
 "At 11 the guests climbed into the 
 barge 'Mary Berrien' and were poled 
 down the Oostanaula to Rome — all 
 save the guests of the house. A lone 
 figure drew into the shadow of a giant 
 sycamore as the merrymakers passed. 
 It darted near the mansion, peered in 
 with a vengeful look and was swallow- 
 ed in the gloom of the nearby forest. 
 'Twas an Indian woman left behind 
 when her sister and brother redskins 
 departed for the west, an inhabitant 
 of a cave in the hills who had stolen 
 down into the lowlands to gaze on the 
 Cherokee retreat of the olden days 
 with a prayer for the return of the 
 tribe to its happy hunting grounds." 
 * * * 
 
 CREEK CHIEF IS CAPTURED.— 
 
 White's Historical Collections of Geor- 
 gia (p. 151) and an old Rome news- 
 paper clipping furnish data for an in- 
 teresting story of the capture in 1835 
 of old Fosach Fixico, the Creek Indian 
 chief, by Georgia and Alabama troop- 
 ers, part of whom were recruited from 
 the Coosa Valley near Rome. Historian 
 White records: "Very soon after the 
 ratification of the New Echota treaty, 
 an apprehension was entertained by 
 many citizens in Georgia that the 
 party who had opposed the treaty 
 would become hostile, and petitions 
 for arms, troops and ammunition were 
 presented to the Executive, and grant- 
 ed. Orders were issued to Brig. Gen. 
 James Hemphill to raise a battalion 
 of militia and place them at Lesley's 
 Ferry, on the Coosa River, for the pur- 
 pose not only of keeping the Chero- 
 kees in check, but also of preventing 
 the Creeks from swarming into (ieor- 
 gia, which orders were executed, and 
 the battalion was organized under the 
 command of Gen. James Hemphill and 
 Maj. Chas. H. Nelson. A part of the 
 Cherokees were disarmed, and 500 
 
 nmskets and accouterments were or- 
 dered and sent to Cherokee County, 
 in case of any hostile movements on 
 the part of the Indians. These prep- 
 arations on the part of Georgia, to- 
 gether with the appearance of the 
 Tennessee troops under Brig. Gen. 
 Jno. E. Wool, of the United States 
 army, quieted the fears of the citi- 
 zens." 
 
 The clipping referred to states that 
 Capt. Mitchell was placed in charge 
 of the expedition down the Coosa, hav- 
 ing heard that the Creeks were mov- 
 ing down toward the Cherokee country 
 from the head of Terrapin Creek, Ala., 
 to excite their tribal cousins in the 
 Valley of the Coosa. A scout. Fields, 
 was sent out, and reported that the 
 Indians were concentrated and ready 
 to strike from the mountains at the 
 head of Terrapin, which empties into 
 the Coosa just below Centre, Cherokee 
 County, Ala. Without waiting for re- 
 inforcements, on scout duty or fur- 
 lough, Capt. Mitchell left Rome with 
 20 men mounted on horseback and 
 muleback, some with saddles, some 
 with blankets and others riding bare- 
 back. They galloped down the Ala- 
 bama road through the Coosa Valley, 
 gaining recruits with squirrel guns as 
 they went. At dusk the command, now 
 120 men, was within six miles of the 
 Indian camp, and at sunrise the next 
 morning they were on the spot, ready 
 for an attack. In the meantime, the 
 good women of the neighborhood had 
 sent in breakfast rations for all of 
 the troopers. The expectation was 
 that there would be a bloody fight. 
 These Coosa farmers and Georgiji Vol- 
 unteers were determined to strike a 
 telling blow in defense of their wives 
 and children, and this determination 
 was not any less sharp from the fcict 
 of their crude arms and scanty equip- 
 ment. 
 
 About 200 warriors, practically 
 naked and well daubed with paint, 
 swarmed from their wigwams like 
 bees, until a side of Craig's Moun- 
 tain was well dotted with them. As 
 the Georgia troops were about to close 
 in, a clatter of hoofs was heard and 
 up dashed Capt. Arnold with a com- 
 pany of fiO cavalry from Jacksonville, 
 Ala. Capt. Mitchell cried out: "No 
 time for consultation ; you fight to the 
 right and occupy the creek above the 
 camp!" 
 
 Capt. Arnold's men sped to the point 
 indicated, while Capt. Mitchell's swept 
 to the left, crossed Terrapin Creek, 
 dismounted and deployed in skirmisli 
 line and ajiproached to within 40 yards
 
 216 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 of the camp. Orders were not to fire 
 until fired upon. Suddenly a long 
 strip of white canvas was hoisted on 
 a pole as a flag of truce, and an in- 
 terpreter was sent out to declare, "I 
 am directed by Chief Fosach Fixico to 
 say that he is not hostile." 
 
 The Indian was ordered to return 
 and direct that the chief appear in 
 person. Fosach quickly appeared, the 
 finest diked-out Indian ever seen be- 
 fore or since; he wore a red and blue 
 turban, with crimson and white war 
 gown of velvet that extended to his 
 knees, and hung profusely with beads 
 and tassels of all kinds; his face and 
 neck were ablaze with war paint. He 
 came forward with an elastic and 
 somewhat defiant step. As Capt. 
 Mitchell met him a few paces in ad- 
 vance of the line, he repeated through 
 his interpreter: "I am not hostile." 
 Capt. Mitchell asked him if he surrend- 
 ered, to which he replied: "I am not 
 hostile, but if you require it, I do." 
 
 At this juncture Capt. Luckie dash- 
 ed up with a troop of farmers from 
 near the mouth of Terrapin Creek, ar- 
 riving on the west side. He and Capt. 
 Arnold were consulted and the terms 
 of capitulation agreed upon. Fosach 
 was to deliver all his arms to Capt. 
 Luckie. who was to march the In- 
 dians forth to Mardisville, whence they 
 were to proceed under additional guard 
 to Arkansas. Twenty-four hours was 
 given for the red-skins to gather up 
 their ponies, women and children. Such 
 of the Coosa River Volunteers as wish- 
 ed to remain with Capt. Luckie could 
 do so, and the others were free to re- 
 turn to their homes. Five hundred 
 muskets and accouterments surrender- 
 ed by the Indians were sent to Chero- 
 kee County. 
 
 Shortly afterward, three cavalary 
 companies from Floyd and one from 
 Cherokee were organized into a bat- 
 talion at Rome and were put in camp 
 at Lashley's Ferry, eighteen miles be- 
 low Rome, on the north side of the 
 Coosa. These were under direction of 
 Gen. Hemphill and under direct charge 
 of Maj. Nelson and Capt. Mitchell. 
 The command was known as the High- 
 land Battalion, and was sworn into 
 the United States service by Capt. 
 Paine, U. S. A., and served until after 
 most of the Indians had been removed 
 to the west. On the resignation of 
 Lieut. Carter, Joseph Watters was 
 elected to the vacancy, and when Capt. 
 Mitchell resigned, Watters was named 
 in his place. This was undoubtedly 
 the same Joseph Watters for whom 
 
 the Watters district of Floyd County 
 
 was named. 
 
 * * * 
 
 RIDGE'S LUCKY SHOT.— The fol- 
 lowing anecdote, summarized from the 
 Cartersville Courant of Apr. 2, 1885, 
 (by Judge Jno. W. H. Underwood) 
 will show how a red-man would now 
 and then befriend a pale-face: 
 
 "In old Pendleton District, South 
 Carolina, lived Col. James Blair, a 
 Revolutionary soldier, last commander 
 of Oconee Station and one of the con- 
 stables of Col. Benj. Cleveland, a hei'O 
 of the Revolution, colloquially known 
 as 'Old Roundabout.' For 20 years 
 Col. Blair had rounded up Tories and 
 thieves and had swung many a 'bad 
 man' to the gate gallows in front of 
 Col. Cleveland's plantation home. 
 
 "On this occasion. Col. Blair was 
 following Wiley Hyde and Tom Phil- 
 lips, half breed Indians who had stolen 
 two fine horses from Benj. Mosely, 
 who lived near Oconee Station. He 
 was equipped with a horse in leash as 
 well as his saddle animal, and two 
 large horse pistols. At Reece's Spring, 
 a mile east of the home of Major 
 Ridge, the Cherokee chief, and two 
 whoops and a holler from Ft. Jack- 
 son, Col. Blair came upon the Indians, 
 drinking at the spring. They were 
 also fairly full of fire-water, and as 
 he approached (having tethered his 
 horses nearby), they covered him with 
 their rifles. 
 
 "Col. Blair threw up his hands, but 
 quickly said, 'Don't shoot! I am a 
 friend with some good whiskey! Don't 
 shoot a friend with some whiskey on 
 his hip!' 
 
 "The Indians relented and began to 
 question him in their maudlin way. 
 He told them he wanted to join a 
 crowd and go over into Vann's Valley 
 and steal some horses. The suspicions 
 of Wiley Hyde were aroused, and he 
 said, 'Tom Phillips, you are a fool. 
 He's from over the line, and he'll be 
 shooting us full of holes in a minute. 
 Let's kill him and throw him in the 
 river.' 
 
 "Hyde raised his gun, cocked it and 
 was about to crack down on CoL 
 Blair's chest when 'Bang!' came from 
 the nearby forest. Hyde fell face 
 forward into the branch, and as he 
 went down. Col. Blair seized his gun 
 and covered Wiley Hyde, who threw 
 up his hands. 
 
 "Major Ridge rushed forward from 
 a clump of underbrush and explained 
 that he had been out hunting wild tur- 
 keys when the pantomine was re-
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 217 
 
 hearsed before his eyes. He knew the 
 two men to be worthless scoundrels, 
 and was glad to do Col. Blair and the 
 state the service of dispatching one of 
 them. John Ridge, the Major's son, 
 Stand Watie, John's cousin, and Sally 
 Ridge, the Major's pretty young 
 daughter, came running up, and with 
 a courtly bow. Col. Blair presented 
 his handsome gold watch to the little 
 girl. John and Stand Watie got the 
 stolen horses together for Col. Blair; 
 Tom Phillips was tied securely and put 
 on one of them, and Col. Blair went 
 back to the Pendleton district of 
 South Carolina. The dead Indian was 
 buried 150 yards below the spring, 
 without even a tear from Miss Sally 
 to damped the sod. 
 
 "This act gained for Major Ridge 
 an honorable name among the pale- 
 faces, who ever after looked to him 
 to redress wrongs committed by mem- 
 bers of his clan; and when he fought 
 so bravely at the Battle of the Horse- 
 shoe, Ala., several years later, under 
 Gen. Jackson, all felt that his laurels 
 were lightly worn." 
 
 TROUBLES OF THE CHIEFS.— 
 That life was not a bed of Cherokee 
 roses for the Ridges and their kins- 
 man, Elias Boudinot, is evident from 
 the following letters : 
 
 *Washington City, Mar. 13, 1835. 
 
 To Hon. Lewis Cass, 
 Secretary of War, 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 Sir: I read this letter this morn- 
 ing, advising me of the progress of 
 intrusion upon my plantation and 
 ferry within the chartered limits of 
 Alabama. The damage done to me 
 v/ill be considerable if this is suffered 
 to proceed. Deplorable will be the fate 
 of the Indians if lawless men, without 
 the authorities of the States, are suf- 
 fered to throw free people out of their 
 houses while they are preparing to 
 leave the land of their forefathers. 
 This is not a solitary case, but these 
 aggravating cases are transpiring al- 
 most every day. The Government 
 should give instructions to its agents 
 upon this subject without delay. 
 
 I am, sir, respectfully your friend, 
 JOHN RIDGE. 
 
 (Enclosure.) 
 **Childersville, Ala., Dec. 23, 1835. 
 Mr. John Ridge, 
 (Washington, D. C.) 
 
 Dear Friend: It has been some 
 weeks since I wrote to you. I have 
 been expecting to receive a letter from 
 you, but have not received any yet. I 
 now write to give you the times here. 
 We are all well. I have commenced 
 clearing up my ground for a crop. I 
 shall start my ploughs in a few days. 
 Jno. W. Garrot'-'*"' is here on the other 
 side of the river; has got large dou- 
 ble houses built, and has taken those 
 old houses that Pathkiller used to live 
 in, and made kitchens of them. He has 
 moved part of the fencing there and 
 says he intends to hold all the pos- 
 sessions, and that he will take the 
 ferry as soon as you return. I for- 
 bid him to build there, before wit- 
 nesses. He threatens to shoot any 
 man that would interrupt him. He 
 says he can raise a militia force any 
 time to protect himself. Major B. F. 
 Currey was here shortly after Garrot 
 first came, and ordered him off. Gar- 
 rot now says they had a private con- 
 versation, and Currey had told him 
 that he should not be interrupted, and 
 
 ♦Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee 
 Treaty (183.5), p. 357. 
 
 **Ibid. Uncioubtedly the present Childersburp. 
 Talladega County, on the Coosa River, 125 
 miles below Rome. 
 
 ***A man named Garrett is supposed to have 
 molested Major Ridge's ferry at Rome. 
 
 DR. GAMALIEL W. HOLMES, who estab- 
 lished a reputation as a family physician 
 after the Civil War.
 
 218 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 that they (Currey and himself) had 
 made a compromise of the business. 
 I hope you will be able while you are 
 there to make arrangements from Gov- 
 ernment to have him put off from this 
 place. If you can not do that, it will 
 injure you more than one thousand 
 dollars. If he was away from here 
 I could get $2,500 for the place at any 
 time, but it will not sell for half that 
 amount under the present circum- 
 stances. 
 
 I have bad news to tell you about 
 the money business here. My share 
 this winter is but little. The small- 
 pox turned the people away in the 
 fore part of the winter, and now and 
 for some time back the people are 
 afraid to travel on account of the 
 highway robbers. The travellers are 
 getting killed and robbed in all parts 
 of the country. Between Mr. West's 
 and Spanish John's old place there 
 have been found a man and two horses 
 killed. On the mountain between here 
 and Mr. Bell's a man has been robbed 
 of a horse. Down at Mill creek, on 
 this road, a man was robbed of $192. 
 On the mountain near Cox's, a man 
 was killed and robbed of his horse and 
 money. In Chattooga Valley there 
 were two men shot, but neither of 
 them killed. Near Montgomery, a few 
 days ago, a man was killed and rob- 
 bed of several hundred dollars. 
 
 I heard from Mrs. Ridge a few days 
 ago. They were all well. Today I 
 shall send Mrs. Ridge $45 of cash. I 
 must conclude by saying to you that 
 I still remain, 
 
 Your sincere friend, 
 
 WM. CHILDERS. 
 "'Headquarters, Army Cherokee Na- 
 tion, Valley Town, N. C, Aug. 12, 
 1836. 
 Brig. Gen. Dunlap,** 
 Of the Brigade of 
 Tennessee Volunteers. 
 
 Sir: Captain Vernon, stationed at 
 New Echota, informs me that John 
 Ridge has complained to him that some 
 white man is about to take forcible 
 possession of his ferry on Coosa River. 
 You will without delay inquire into the 
 case, and if you should find the com- 
 plaint to be just, you will, until fur- 
 ther orders, protect Ridge in his rights 
 and property. This order will apply to 
 all cases of similar character in the 
 Cherokee country. 
 
 You are further directed that in 
 case you should find any troops with- 
 in the limits of the Cherokee nation, 
 whether in Georgia, Alabama, Tennes- 
 see or North Carolina, not belonging 
 
 to the East Tennessee brigade, to no- 
 tify them that they are exclusively 
 subject to my authority, and unless 
 they report to me without delay, and 
 become subject to my orders, will 
 either leave the nation or be disband- 
 ed. In your proceedings, you will be 
 governed by your instructions of the 
 4th instant. 
 
 I am, very respectfully, your obe- 
 dient servant, 
 
 JOHN E. WOOL, 
 Brigadier General Commanding. 
 
 In September, 1836, Gov. Lumpkin 
 wrote as follows of the Ridge ferry 
 seizure at Rome to Gen. John E. 
 
 Wool:*** 
 
 "I herewith enclose you sundry pa- 
 pers placed in my hands by Mr. Gar- 
 rett, on the subject of Ridge's ferry. 
 From these papers it would seem that 
 Garrett is willing to yield his claims 
 to the civil authority, and yet to obey 
 and respect any military orders to him 
 directed by you. 
 
 "Garrett alleges that he will cease 
 to run his ferry boat provided Ridge 
 will keep up the ferry and not disap- 
 point travelers, but further states that 
 Ridge is like the dog in the manger — 
 that he will neither run his own boat 
 nor suffer him to run one. The pa- 
 pers, however, will place you in pos- 
 session of the facts and relieve you 
 from further trouble in the case. 
 
 "With gi-eat respect, your obedient 
 servant, 
 
 "WILSON LUMPKIN." 
 
 ****New Echota, June 15, 1836. 
 Hon. Elbert Herring, 
 Commissioner of Indian Affairs. 
 
 Sir: By the last mail I addressed 
 a letter to Mr. Schermerhorn, to your 
 care, which you have probably perused. 
 What I there stated in regard to the 
 state of feeling among the Cherokees 
 has only been confirmed to my satis- 
 faction. Indeed, I will venture to say 
 there has never been a time for the 
 last five years when appearances were 
 so favorable as at present. I know 
 of no hostility to the treaty. I hear 
 now, on the contrary, the Cherokees in 
 this region will receive it with cheer- 
 fulness. They say the matter is now 
 settled and they are glad of it. I 
 speak of the mass of the Cherokees. 
 
 *Secretary of War's Report on Cherokee 
 Treaty (1835), p. 640. 
 
 **W. C. Dunlap. 
 
 ***Removal of the Cherokee Indians from 
 Georgia, (Lumpkin), Vol. II, p. 43. 
 
 ****Report of Secretary of War on CheroTcee 
 Treaty (1835), ps. 600-1.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 219 
 
 There is a portion who, no doubt, feel 
 far otherwise; but they are those 
 whose ambition has been disappointed. 
 Without their interference there will 
 be no excitement. I trust they will not 
 endeavor to excite the people. 
 
 The white inhabitants of this coun- 
 try are in a state of great alarm, 
 founded upon some unfounded appre- 
 hensions. I believe it is owing a great 
 deal to what is transpiring in the 
 Creek nation. Our people are not even 
 aware of the state of feeling among 
 the whites, much less are they think- 
 ing of making war. I trust, sir, that 
 no exaggerated rumors, which, no 
 doubt, will go out of this country, will 
 induce the Government to believe the 
 Cherokees are in a hostile attitude. 
 They are not, nor do I believe, even 
 with Ross's influence, will a portion 
 of them ever assume such an attitude. 
 
 Our people are greatly suffering 
 for food. It is very important that the 
 necessary appropriations should be 
 made soon for their relief. If I had 
 authority to do so, I would begin to 
 supply them in this neighborhood. 
 
 In my letters to Mr. Schermerhorn 
 I have referred to the speculations that 
 are going on upon the Indians by 
 whites and half breeds. Strong meas- 
 ures are necessary to prevent it. The 
 president ought to have the right of 
 deciding what are the just debts of 
 the Indians, for the protection of that 
 class. If not, they will go to the west 
 deprived of every cent of their prop- 
 erty, and the money will go into the 
 hands of the whites and such Indians 
 as have opposed the very treaty by 
 which they are now trying to amass 
 wealth. I say again, strong measures 
 are necessary. 
 
 I trust the President will think it 
 best to send Mr. Schermerhorn again. 
 I think he is a suitable person be- 
 cause he is a terror to speculators, and 
 understands the situation of these peo- 
 ple and their affairs. 
 
 With sentiments of high esteem, I 
 remain yours, 
 
 ELIAS BOUDINOT. 
 
 *New Echota, Ga., June 16, 1836. 
 Hon. Elbert Herring, 
 Commissioner of Indian Affairs. 
 
 Sir: I addressed a letter to you yes- 
 terday, giving you a favorable account 
 of the state of feeling among the 
 Cherokees. I have since then i-eceived 
 the enclosed letter, which would seem 
 to contradict what I have stated. I 
 
 *Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee 
 Treaty (1835), ps. 602-3-4. 
 
 wish to be understood as speaking of 
 the Cherokees in this region, and from 
 which I have direct information. There 
 are neighborhoods where I have every 
 reason to presume there is hostility 
 towards us as a treaty party, and there 
 are individuals who would willingly 
 take our lives if they could. I have 
 no idea that the danger is as great 
 as is apprehended by the writers of 
 the two letters enclosed. 
 
 I came through the neighborhood 
 where hostility is said to exist, and 
 the frolic or dance spoken of was held 
 before I came along. I saw Thos. 
 Taylor there, and he told me that he 
 found the people better satisfied than 
 he expected. 
 
 I yet think there may be some mis- 
 take about Welch being waylaid. Fos- 
 ter, one of our delegation, was here 
 the other day, and he told me every- 
 thing was going right for the treaty. 
 But as I have before stated, inflam- 
 matory statements from the other side 
 may change the state of feeling. I 
 shall not be excited, and shall take 
 the matter coolly and deliberately, and 
 shall endeavor to keep you apprized of 
 what is happening. I shall repeat 
 again what I have said, that matters 
 have never appeared so favorable 
 within the compass of my observations 
 within the last five years, as at pres- 
 ent, and if Ross would only keep away, 
 the nation would almost be unanimous 
 for the treaty. 
 
 To give you an instance how these 
 poor people are deluded and misled, it 
 is said that one of Ross's delegation on 
 his return reported that the Cherokee 
 countries here and in Arkansas have- 
 been sold, and that the Cherokees will' 
 have to go to a far country, infested 
 by man-eaters. The people protested' 
 going there, but are willing to go tO' 
 Arkansas. 
 
 I should have addressed these let- 
 ters to Mr. Schermerhorn, if I thought 
 he was still there. Please give my 
 respects to him, and let him see these 
 letters. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 ELIAS BOUDINOT. 
 
 (Two Enclosures.) 
 Coal Mountain, June 8, 1836. 
 Mr. Elias Boudinot, 
 
 Sir: There was an Indian frolic or 
 dance on Saturday night last, and 
 there was some white men went to 
 the same. They have rei)<)rted that 
 the Indians said that they had no 
 malice towards the white people, but
 
 220 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 that they intended killing Ridge and 
 yourself.' I have written you that you 
 "might be on your guard, which no 
 doubt you are. The citizens of this 
 county had a meeting yesterday; they 
 are resolved to punish all offenses, if 
 any. I would recommend for your 
 safety for you and family to leave the 
 country until the excitement is over a 
 little. ' Please to accept for yourself 
 and family my best wishes. 
 Truly yours, 
 
 GEORGE KELLOG. 
 
 Chattahoochee, June 8, 1836. 
 
 My dear Boudinot: I have just re- 
 ceived a letter from Welch, informing 
 me that his house has been waylaid 
 by the Indians, who are seeking an 
 opportunity to kill him. Our friend 
 Tom Taylor is scattering the fire- 
 brands. All my friends are well 
 pleased that our treaty has been rati- 
 fied and are ready to pledge their lives 
 in defense of the treaty party. We 
 have thousands of friends amongst the 
 Georgians, ready to do the same. 
 
 If you are at all apprehensive of 
 danger, let me advise you to collect 
 all your friends and form an encamp- 
 ment at Ridge's; arm but act on the 
 defensive; make any contracts neces- 
 sary to your support. The treaty must 
 meet them. I have just written to 
 Schermerhorn, informing him of Tay- 
 lor's conduct. Write to me often. I 
 am much concerned for your safety. 
 Sincerely your friend, 
 
 WILLIAM RODGERS." 
 
 ROSS DRIVEN FROM HOME. 
 —In April, 1835, it would appear, 
 Ross returned from Washington to his 
 home at "Head of Coosa," Rome. On 
 Mar. 14, the Ridge party had signed 
 with the Government the preliminar- 
 ies of the New Echota treaty, giving 
 the Indians $5,000,000 for Cherokee 
 Georgia. In order to reach Washing- 
 ton in those days it was necessary to 
 travel by stage or horse to Charles- 
 ton, and' there take the steamer north 
 or go the entire way on horseback. 
 He had come in on his trusty charger, 
 tired and hopeful of a kiss from his 
 wife and children. Instead, he found 
 his family gone — thrown out with a 
 few scant things they could carry 
 with them, and making for Tennessee 
 ever the dusty road. 
 
 The following statement was signed 
 by eight leading Cherokees,** including 
 Ross, and it was undoubtedly written 
 or dictated by Ross himself. Although 
 the ejectment seems to have taken 
 
 place in April, complaint was not made 
 to Washington until June 21, 1836, 
 more than a year later. Here is the 
 summary of grievances, including the 
 tale of the ejectment; it states that 
 Ross's father, Daniel Ross, was buried 
 at Rome, whereas members of the 
 family in Oklahoma have always 
 thought the parent and certain others 
 were buried at Lookout Mountain, 
 Tenn. 
 
 "The Cherokees were then left to the 
 mercy of an interested agent. This 
 agent, under the act of 1834, was the 
 notorious Wm. N. Bishop, the captain 
 of the Georgia Guard, aid to the Gov- 
 ernor, clerk of court, postmaster, etc., 
 and his mode of trying Indian rights 
 is here submitted: 
 
 " 'Murray County, Ga., 
 Jan. 20, 1835. 
 " 'Mr. John Martin: 
 
 " 'Sir — The legal representative of 
 lots of land No. 95, 25th district, 2nd 
 section, No. 86, 25th district, 2nd sec- 
 tion, No. 93, 25th district, 2nd section, 
 No. 89, 25th district, 2nd section. No. 
 57. 25th district, 2nd section, has 
 called on me, as State's agent, to give 
 possession of the above described lots 
 of land, and informs me that you are 
 the occupant upon them. Under the 
 laws of the State of Georgia, passed 
 in 1833 and 1834. it is made my duty 
 to comply with his request, therefore, 
 prepare yourself to give entire pos- 
 session of said premises on or before 
 the 20th day of February next; fail 
 not under the penalty of the law. 
 "'WM. N. BISHOP, 
 
 " 'State's Agent.' 
 
 "Mr. Martin,='^='-* a Cherokee, was a 
 man of wealth, had an extensive farm, 
 large fields of wheat growing; and 
 was turned out of house and home, 
 and compelled, in the month of Feb- 
 ruary, to seek a new residence within 
 the limits of Tennessee. 
 
 *Usually spelled Rogers. 
 
 **John Ross, John Martin, James Brown, 
 Joseph Vann, John Benpce, Lewis Ross, Elijah 
 Hicks and Richard Fields. Authority: Cher- 
 okee Indians, Congressional Documents 
 (1S35-6), Doc. No. 286, ps. 5-6-7. After Ross 
 was dispossessed, he went to live in Bradley 
 County, Tenn., where he and John Howard 
 Payne were arrested a few months later. 
 
 ***Martin had been a judge of one of the 
 Cherokee districts (Amoah). On Aug. 10, 
 1835, he was arrested by I-ieut. Jno. L. Hooper, 
 commander of Co. F, 4th Inf., U. S. A., at Ft. 
 Cass, Calhoun, Tenn., and confined at the home 
 of Lewis Ross at that place, whence he soon 
 made his escape. A spirited tilt then took 
 place between Hooper and Major Currey. Mar- 
 tin was charged with having threatened the 
 life of John Ridge for negotiating with the 
 Government.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 221 
 
 "Mr. Richard Taylor was also at 
 Washington, and in his absence his 
 family was threatened with expulsion, 
 and compelled to give $200 for leave 
 to remain at home for a few months 
 only. 
 
 "This is the 'real humanity' the 
 Cherokees were shown by the real or 
 pretended authorities of Georgia, dis- 
 avowing any selfish or sinister motives 
 towards them. 
 
 "Mr. Jos. Vann, also a native Chero- 
 kee, was a man of great wealth ; had 
 about 800 acres of land in cultivation; 
 had made extensive improvements, 
 consisting, in part, of a brick house, 
 costing about $10,000, mills, kitchens, 
 negro houses, and other buildings. He 
 had fine gardens, and extensive apple 
 and peach orchards. His business was 
 so extensive he was compelled to em- 
 ploy an overseer and other agents. In 
 the fall of 1833 he was called from 
 home, but before leaving made a con- 
 ditional contract with a Mr. Howell, 
 a white man, to oversee for him in the 
 year 1834, to commence on the first 
 of January of that year. He returned 
 about the 28th or "29th of December, 
 1833, and learning that Georgia had 
 prohibited any Cherokee from hiring a 
 white man, told Mr. Howell he did 
 not want his services. 
 
 "Yet Mr. Bishop, the State's agent, 
 represented to the authorities of Geor- 
 gia that Mr. Vann had violated the 
 laws of that State by hiring a white 
 man, had forfeited his right of oc- 
 cupancy, and that a grant ought to 
 issue for his lands. 
 
 "There were conflicting claims un- 
 der Georgia laws for his possessions. 
 A Mr. Riley* pretended a claim, and 
 took possession of the upper part of 
 the dwelling house, armed for battle. 
 Mr. Bishop, the State's agent, and his 
 party came to take possession, and be- 
 tween them and R*ley a fight com- 
 menced, and from 20 to 50 guns were 
 fired in the house. While this was 
 going on, Mr. Vann gathered his trem- 
 bling wife and children into a room 
 for safety. Riley could not be dis- 
 lodged from his position upstairs, even 
 after being wounded, and Bishop's par- 
 ty finally set fire to the house. Riley 
 surrendered and the fire was extin- 
 guished. 
 
 Mr. Vann and his family were then 
 
 ♦Spencer Riley, of Cass County, formerly or 
 Bibb. The fipht took place Mar. 2, 1835 ; au- 
 thority : Georgia Journal, Milledgeville, Apr. 7, 
 1835. 
 
 **Tallapoosa River, with Andrew Jackson 
 and Major Ridne. 
 
 ***Reference to the Ridges, Boudinot and 
 others of the Treaty party. 
 
 driven out, unprepared, in the dead of 
 winter, and snow on the ground, 
 through which they were compelled 
 to wade and to take shelter within 
 the limits of Tennessee, in an open 
 log cabin, upon a dirt floor, and Bishop 
 put his brother, Absalom Bishop, in 
 posession of Mr. Vann's house. This 
 Mr. Vann is the same who, when a 
 boy, volunteered as a private soldier 
 in the Cherokee regiment in the serv- 
 ice of the United States, in the Creek 
 war, periled his life in crossing the 
 river at the Battle of the Horse 
 Shoe.** What has been his reward? 
 
 "Hundreds of other cases might be 
 added. In. fact, nearly all the Chero- 
 kees in Georgia who had improve- 
 ments of any value, except the favor- 
 ites of the United States agent,*** 
 under one pretext or another have 
 been driven from their homes. Amid 
 the process of expulsion, the Rev. John 
 F. Schermerhorn, the United States 
 commissioner, visited the legislatures 
 of Tennessee and Alabama, and im- 
 portuned those bodies to pass laws 
 prohibiting the Cherokees who might 
 be turned out of their possessions from 
 within the Georgia limits, taking up 
 a residence in the limits of those 
 states. 
 
 WADE SAMUEL COTHRAN, Icadinj? spirit in 
 the First Presbyterian church, who removed 
 from Rome to Anniston.
 
 222 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 "The same summary process was 
 used toward Mr. John Ross, the prin- 
 cipal chief of the Cherokee Nation. He 
 was at Washington City, on the busi- 
 ness of his nation. When he returned, 
 he traveled until about 10 o'clock at 
 night to reach his family; rode up to 
 the gate; saw a servant believed to be 
 his own; dismounted, ordered his horse 
 taken; went in, and to his utter as- 
 tonishment found himself a stranger 
 in his own home, his family having 
 been some days before driven out to 
 seek a new home. 
 
 "A thought then flitted across his 
 mind — that he could not, under all the 
 circumstances of the situation, recon- 
 cile it to himself to tarry all night 
 under the roof of his own house as a 
 stranger, the new host of that house 
 being the tenant of that mercenary 
 band of Georgia speculators at whose 
 instance his helpless family had been 
 turned out and made homeless. 
 
 "Upon reflecting, however, that 'man 
 is born unto trouble,' Mr. Ross at once 
 concluded to take up his lodgings 
 there for the night, and to console 
 himself under the conviction of having 
 met his afflictions and trials in a man- 
 ner consistent with every principle of 
 moral obligation towards himself and 
 family, his country and his God. 
 
 "On the next morning he arose early, 
 and went out into the yard, and saw 
 some straggling herds of his cattle and 
 sheep browsing about the place — his 
 crop of corn undisposed of. In cast- 
 ing a look up into the widespread 
 branches of a majestic oak, standing 
 within the enclosure of the garden, 
 and which overshadows the spot where 
 lie the remains of his dear babe and 
 most beloved and affectionate father, 
 he there saw, perched upon its boughs, 
 that flock of beautiful pea-fowls, once 
 the matron's care and delight, but now 
 left to destruction and never more to 
 be seen. 
 
 "He ordered his horse, paid his bill, 
 and departed in search of his family. 
 After traveling amid heavy rains he 
 had the happiness of overtaking them 
 on the road, bound for some place of 
 refuge within the limits of Tennessee. 
 Thus have his houses, farm, public 
 ferries, and other property been wrest- 
 ed from him." 
 
 * * * 
 
 JOHN RIDGE IN NEW YORK.— 
 Martin Grahame, of Briarlea, Sas- 
 katchewan, Canada, who for some 
 years lived on the East Rome place 
 owned by J. Paul Cooper, sent the fol- 
 lowing in 1921 to Linton A. Dean 
 
 from the diary of his father, W. R. 
 Grahame : 
 
 "New York, N. Y., Feb. 2, 1832.— 
 Was also with Testes Dwight to the 
 City Hotel and was introduced to and 
 had conversation with two Indian 
 chiefs, the first and only I have seen — 
 Mr. John Ridge and another chief 
 whose name I do not remember. They 
 were well-dressed men in surtouts, 
 (wide-skirted coats reaching below the 
 knees. — Webster's New Standard Dic- 
 tionary) , spoke good English and be- 
 haved themselves like gentlemen. Ridge 
 is the son of an orator, the greatest, 
 Mr. Dwight said, among the Cherokees, 
 a chief of the Deer Tribe. The other 
 Indian was of the Wolf Tribe, of the 
 Cherokee Nation, both of them. They 
 had beautiful, small hands and feet, 
 especially Ridge, who is married to a 
 New England lady. They have come 
 to New York to raise the sympathy of 
 the public in behalf of their country- 
 men who have deputized them with 
 that design, for the purpose of getting 
 them allowed to remain in their lands 
 guaranteed them in Georgia, Tennes- 
 see and North Carolina in their treaty 
 with the United States. 
 
 "The Cherokees consist of 16,000 to 
 20,000 people, the women more numer- 
 ous than the men. The Sequoyan al- 
 phabet, according to Ridge, can be 
 learned in three days by a quick schol- 
 ar, and in six days by a slow one. 
 They have left ofl; the chase largely of 
 late and devote themselves to agri- 
 culture. Mr. Ridge said superstition 
 kept the Indian from gaining more 
 information. He stated that legend 
 had it that God first made the 
 Indian and then the white man. The 
 Indian was offered the choice of a 
 book or a bow and arrow, and while 
 he hesitated, the white man stole the 
 book; thus the bow and arrow was left 
 to the Indian, and*, he has made good 
 use of them ever since. Mr. Ridge's 
 father's home is a two-story one, 52 
 by 28 feet, and there are many others 
 of handsome design which show the 
 wealth and civilization of the owners. 
 
 "Tonight at a public meeting in 
 Clinton Hall, Mr. Ridge mentioned 
 that the chiefs of the Cherokees had 
 voluntarily resigned their ancient pow- 
 ers and modeled their state into a Re- 
 public on the general plan of the Unit- 
 ed States, with frequent elections (uni- 
 versal suffrage there is also, but he 
 did not mention that) . 
 
 "In the morning he mentioned that 
 among the Creek Nation women are 
 monthly put out of the house to purify,
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 223 
 
 and at these seasons men do not ap- 
 proach them, even to speak, except 
 from a distance. Adultery in high or 
 low deg'ree is punished with beating 
 until the criminals faint, and then cut- 
 ting the ears off. Formerly, passing 
 between a woman and the wind or 
 bathing higher up a stream at the same 
 time with her was held adultery, com- 
 municated of the water or the wind. 
 After punishment is inflicted, how- 
 ever, the off"ender resumes his rank, 
 and if he can escape until after an an- 
 nual jubilee, he may save himself en- 
 tirely from punishment. 
 
 "A married man may have as many 
 wives as he pleases, if they are not 
 the wives of others. The ladies have 
 not that privilege." 
 
 WHEN THE RED MAN LEFT.— 
 (By Jno. W. H. Underwood, in The 
 Cartersville Courant, 1883). — The 
 County of Floyd is perhaps the most 
 interesting locality of this section of 
 the state. Situated on the confluence 
 of the Oostanaula and Etowah rivers, 
 it has attracted the attention of many 
 people. It was the favorite resort of 
 the Red Man, and when the treaty of 
 Dec. 29, 1835, was made, the influx 
 of population was greatly increased. 
 
 The Cherokee country was surveyed 
 by the authorities of the State of 
 Georgia in 1830 and 1831. The lots 
 were 160 acres and 40 acres in size. 
 That supposed to be the gold region 
 was laid off in 40-acre lots, and that 
 where there was supposed to be no 
 gold was laid off in 160-acre lots. The 
 whole of the Cherokee country com- 
 prised in the chartered limits of Geor- 
 gia was made into one county, called 
 Cherokee County. The extent of the 
 territory embraced was very consider- 
 able, beginning at the point where the 
 35th parallel of N. Latitude comes in 
 contact with a point on the Blue Ridge 
 fixed by James Blair and Wilson Lump- 
 kin that now divides Towns and Ra- 
 bun counties, running thence west to 
 Nickajack Cave, the northwest corner 
 of Georgia, thence due south, nearly 
 in the direction of Miller's bend, on the 
 Chattahoochee River, two miles south 
 of West Point, Ga., until it strikes 
 the north of Carroll County, thence 
 east until it reaches the Chattahoochee 
 River, thence along said river to the 
 mouth of the Chestatee, thence up the 
 Chestatee River to the head and then 
 
 *Not at Princeton University. It is generally 
 accepted that he attended the mission schools 
 at Spring Place, Murray County, and at Corn- 
 wall, Conn. 
 
 due north to the top of the Blue Ridge, 
 then in an easterly direction to Hick- 
 ory Gap, then with the meanders of 
 the Blue Ridge to the beginning. 
 
 Cherokee County was organized early 
 in 1832. The courthouse was located 
 where the town of Canton now is. A 
 judge and solicitor general were elect- 
 ed. The Hon. Jno. W. Hooper was the 
 first judge of the Superior Court. He 
 was the father of Mrs. Thos. W. Alex- 
 ander and John W. Hooper, long a 
 resident of Rome. Hon. Wm. Ezzard 
 was elected the first solicitor general. 
 He now resides in Atlanta, Ga., a hale 
 and hearty, well-preserved man be- 
 tween 80 and 90 years of age, an orna- 
 ment to mankind, an honor to his race, 
 a connecting link between the past and 
 present. Jacob M. Scudder, who had 
 long resided among the Indians as a 
 licensed trader, under the new inter- 
 course laws of the United States, res- 
 ident in the nation, was elected sena- 
 tor, and a man by the name of Wil- 
 liams representative. Scudder was a 
 highly intelligent and able man, and 
 very soon made a favorable impres- 
 sion upon the legislature. Early in 
 the session he introduced a bill to lay 
 off the country into ten counties, as 
 follows: Forsyth, Cobb, Lumpkin, 
 Union, Gilmer, Cherokee, Murray, 
 Cass, Floyd and Paulding. Murray 
 County embraced the territory that is 
 now in Whitfield, Catoosa, Walker, and 
 one-half of Chattooga. It would per- 
 haps have been best if the original 
 counties had remained as they were, 
 with slight exceptions. Mr. Scudder 
 laid off Floyd County with the view 
 of the existence of a city where Rome 
 now is. John Ross, the principal chief 
 of the Cherokees, resided immediately 
 north and opposite the junction of the 
 rivers, and called his place "Head of 
 Coosa." I have seen his letters to my 
 father often. 
 
 Major Ridge, who was made a major 
 by Gen. Jackson at the Battle of the 
 Horseshoe on the Tallapoosa River, in 
 TMabama. for gallant conduct, resided 
 up the Oostanaula River nearly two 
 miles north of the courthouse, on the 
 east bank of the river. Major Ridge's 
 son, John, was educated at Princeton, 
 N. J.,* and John's sister, Sallie. at Mrs. 
 Elsworth's School. John Ridge was 
 flic great rival of John Ross, and Sal- 
 lie Ridge was the first wife of George 
 W. Paschal, deceased, who was once 
 one of the judges of the Sui)reme Court 
 of Texas. Ridge Paschal, their son, is 
 a distinguished lawyer in Texas. 
 
 There exists no record of the first 
 settlers of Floyd County. The site
 
 224 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 was at first located down the Coosa 
 River, ten miles from Rome and called 
 Livingston. In 1834, however, there 
 was a very heated contest, and the seat 
 of justice, the courthouse, was moved 
 to the junction of the rivers and the 
 place named Rome. Among the early 
 settlers were the two Hemphills — 
 James and Philip W. Hemphill. One 
 of them resided at the Mobley place, 
 now owned by Col. Yancey, and the 
 other in Vann's Valley, at what has 
 been for many years known as the 
 Montgomery farm. 
 
 Walton H. Jones was the brother- 
 in-law of Hemphill and was an early 
 settler. So was Edward Ware, who 
 resided eight miles south of Rome, 
 where Mr, Alexander White now lives. 
 Joseph Ford, the father of I. D. Ford 
 and Arthur Ford, was another, and 
 resided in Vann's Valley where Mr. 
 W. S. Gibbons now lives. He built the 
 brick residence there. John Rush was 
 another early settler, and resided on 
 the Calhoun Road, seven miles north- 
 cast of Rome. Joseph Watters was an 
 early settler, settling eight miles north- 
 east of Rome at the "Hermitage." Wal- 
 lace Warren was here early, and re- 
 sided on the west side of the Oosta- 
 naula six miles from Rome. Dr. Alvin 
 Dean, the grandfather of Linton Dean, 
 was another one of them. He resided 
 about nine miles down the Coosa at 
 the residence of John W. Turner, who 
 married his daughter. Thos. S. Price 
 was another striking man, for sixteen 
 years sheriff and deputy sheriff with 
 Thos. G. Watters, now of Rome. The 
 Loyds were heard of at an early date, 
 and so were Thomas and Elijah Lump- 
 kin. John H. Lumpkin was here in 
 1834. Joseph Watters was many times 
 a senator from Floyd. John H. Lump- 
 kin was for three terms a member of 
 the Superior Court. Among the men 
 of mark who were here at an early 
 day may be mentioned Daniel R. 
 Mitchell, Wallace Mitchell, A. T. Har- 
 din, Elkanah Everett, and Thos. Sel- 
 man, the father of the numerous and 
 highly respected Selmans. 
 
 Perhaps the most far-seeing man 
 devoted to the interests of Rome that 
 ever lived in our midst was William 
 Smith. He was of great energy and 
 very full capacity, with the will 
 and courage of Andrew Jackson — 
 warm in his friendships and attach- 
 ments. He saw at an early day the 
 prospective commercial importance of 
 Rome. He was very far in advance of 
 the place and the people. He caused 
 to be projected and built the first 
 
 steamboat. He was born to command 
 and generally had at least one-half of 
 the voters of the county under his 
 control. He was often honored with 
 positions of trust by the people of the 
 county, and was once state senator. 
 He died at comparatively an early age. 
 He was a close and intimate friend of 
 Col. Alfred Shorter. 
 
 Of the earliest settlers, few if any 
 remain — alas, alas! they have gone 
 to that bourne whence no traveler re- 
 turns! Melancholy reflection! The 
 writer knew them all — they were his 
 friends and are now in the grave. 
 
 Among the later settlers were Wm. 
 H. Underwood. Dr. H. V. M. Miller, 
 A. D. Shackelford, Wm. T. Price, R. 
 S. Norton, Wm. E. Alexander, Pente- 
 cost and Ihly, the Alexanders, the 
 Smith family. Col. Alfred Shorter and 
 Wade S. Cothran, active-minded and 
 public-spirited men. 
 
 A. B. Ross, clerk of the Superior 
 Court, the father of our present clerk, 
 was here at an early day. He held 
 the office of clerk until his death, and 
 was as good a man as ever lived in 
 the county. 
 
 Jobe Rogers, John DeJournett, 
 Ewell Meredith and the Berryhills 
 were sterling men. The Rev. Geo, 
 White, of Savannah, Ga., published two 
 books, history and statistics of Geor- 
 gia, and there is very little said of 
 Floyd County. Floyd is now the fifth 
 or sixth county in point of population, 
 and Rome is the sixth city in the state. 
 The future of Rome is very promis- 
 ing. The growth has been gradual and 
 it is a remarkable fact that Rome has 
 built up by money made in the place 
 principally. Very little capital from 
 abroad has been used. 
 
 Rome ought to be the great manu- 
 facturing, commercial and financial 
 center of this northwest Georgia. We 
 have considerable manufacturing in- 
 terests here now, and with the ore, 
 slate, marble, and other precious and 
 valuable stones near enough to us, the 
 future of Rome must be upward and 
 onward. 
 
 There is no collision of interests be- 
 tween Rome, Dalton, Rockmart and 
 Cartersville. The interest of one is 
 the interest of the whole. Let there 
 be no jealousy and no rivalry. Let 
 each and all push forward the wheel 
 of our progress, and make this section 
 in point of fact and development what 
 the god of nature intended, the most 
 prosperous and lovely section of this 
 great country.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 225 
 
 AN OLD RAMBLER.— The follow- 
 ing Floyd County humor is from Bill 
 Arp's Scrap Book, Chapt. 1, The Orig- 
 inal Bill Arp, by Chas. H. Smith, At- 
 lanta, Jas. P. Harrison & Co., 1884: 
 
 "Some time in the spring of 1861, 
 when the boys were hunting for a fight 
 and felt like they could whip all crea- 
 tion, Mr. Lincoln issued a proclama- 
 tion ordering us all to disperse and 
 retire within 30 days, and to quit ca- 
 vorting around in a hostile and bellig- 
 erent manner. I remember writing an 
 answer to it, though I was a good Un- 
 ion man and a law-abiding citizen, and 
 was willing to disperse, if I could, but 
 it was almost impossible, for the boys 
 were mighty hot, and the way we made 
 up our military companies was to send 
 a man down the lines with a bucket of 
 water to sprinkle 'em as he came to 
 'em, and if a fellow sizzed like hot iron 
 in a slack-trough, we took him, and if 
 he didn't sizz, we dident take him; but 
 still, nevertheless, notwithstanding, 
 and so forth, if we could possibly dis- 
 perse in 30 days we would do so, but 
 I thought he had better give us a little 
 more time, for I had been out in an 
 old field and tried to disperse myself 
 and couldent quite do it. 
 
 "I thought the letter was pretty 
 smart, and read it to Dr. Miller and 
 Judge Underwood, and they seemed to 
 think it was right smart too. About 
 that time I looked around and saw Bill 
 Arp standing at the door with his 
 mouth open and a merry glisten in his 
 eye. As he came forward, says he to 
 me, 'Squire, are ye gwine to print 
 that?' 
 
 " 'I reckon I will. Bill,' said I. 
 'What name are ye gwine to put to 
 it?' said he. 'I havent thought about 
 a name.' Then he brightened up and 
 said, 'Well, Squire, I wish you would 
 put mine, for them's my sentiments!' 
 And I promised him that I would. 
 
 "So I did not rob Bill Arp of his 
 good name, but took it on request, and 
 now at this late day, when the moss 
 has covered his grave, I will record 
 .some pleasant memories of a man 
 whose notoriety was not extensive, but 
 who filled up a gap that was open, and 
 who brightened up the flight of many 
 an hour in the good old time, say from 
 20 to 30 years ago. 
 
 "Bill Arp was a small, sinewy man, 
 weighing about 130 pounds, as active 
 as a cat, as quick in movement as he 
 was active, and always presenting a 
 bright, cheerful face. He had an 
 amiable disposition, a generous heart 
 and was as brave a man as nature 
 
 makes. He was an humble man and 
 unlettered in books; never went to 
 school but a month or two in his life, 
 and could neither read nor write; but 
 .;till, he had more than his share of 
 common sense, more than his share of 
 ingenuity, and plan and contrivance, 
 more than his share of good mother- 
 wit and humor, and was always wel- 
 come when he came about. 
 
 "Lawyers and doctors and editors, 
 and such gentlemen of leisure as who 
 used to, in the good old times, sit 
 around and chat and have a good time, 
 always said, 'Come in. Bill, and take 
 a seat.' And Bill seemed grateful for 
 the compliment, and with a conscious 
 humility squatted on about half the 
 chair and waited for questions. The 
 bearing of the man was one of rever- 
 ence for his superiors and thankful- 
 ness for their notice. 
 
 "Bill Arp was a contented man — 
 contented with his humble lot. He 
 never grumbled or complained at any- 
 thing; he had desires and ambitions, 
 but they did not trouble him. He kept 
 a ferry for a wealthy gentleman who 
 lived a few miles above Rome, on the 
 Etowah River, and he cultivated a 
 small portion of his land; but the 
 ferry was not of much consequence, 
 and when Bill could step off to Rome 
 and hear the lawyers talk, he would 
 turn over the boat and poles to his 
 wife or children, and go. I have known 
 him to take a back seat in the court- 
 house for a day at a time and with a 
 face all greedy for entertainment, 
 listen to the learned speeches of the 
 lawyers and charge of the court, and 
 
 ^\^ . 
 
 
 THE ORIGINAL BILL ARP.
 
 226 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 
 TESTING THE ROME BOYS FOR WAR DUTY. 
 
 "Bill Arp's" book, "Peace Papers," tells how the recruiting officers at Rome 
 poured water on candidates who were hot over Mr. Lincoln's "disarmament proc- 
 lamation." If "sizzling" resulted, they were sworn in. The author's several books 
 reflect vividly the humorous incidents and philosophy of the times. 
 
 go home happy, and be able to tell to 
 his admiring family what Judge Un- 
 derwood said and what Judge Wright 
 said, and what Col. Alexander said, 
 and what the judge on the bench 
 said; and if there was any fun 
 in anything that was said, Bill always 
 got it, and never forgot it. When 
 court was not in session, he still slip- 
 ped off to town and would frequent 
 the lawyers' offices and listen to 'em 
 talk, and the brighter the talk, the 
 
 faster Bill would chew his tobacco, and 
 the brighter his little, merry eyes 
 would sparkle. 
 
 "He had the greatest reverence for 
 Col. Johnston, his landlord, and always 
 said he would rather belong to him 
 than to be free; 'for,' said he, 'Mrs. 
 Johnston throws away enough old 
 clothes and vittles to support my chil- 
 dren, and they are always nigh enough 
 to pick 'em up.'
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 227 
 
 "Bill Arp lived in Chulio district.* 
 We had eleven districts in the county, 
 and they had all such names as Pop- 
 Skull, and Blue Gizzard, and Wolf- 
 Skin, and Shake-Rag, and Wild-Cat, 
 but Bill lived and reigned in Chulio. 
 Every district had its best man in 
 those days, and Bill was the 
 best man in Chulio. He could 
 out-run, out-jump, out-swim, out- 
 rastle, out-ride, out-shoot anybody in 
 Chulio, and was so far ahead that 
 everybody else had given it up, and 
 Bill reigned supreme. He put on no 
 airs about this, and his neighbors were 
 all his friends. 
 
 "But there was another district ad- 
 joining, and it had its best man, too. 
 One Ben McGinnis ruled the boys of 
 that beat, and after a while it began 
 to be whispered around that Ben 
 wasn't satisfied with his limited terri- 
 tory, but would like to have a small 
 tackle with Bill Arp. Ben was a pre- 
 tentious man. He weighed about 165 
 pounds, and was considered a regular 
 bruiser; and he, too, like Bill Arp, had 
 never been whipped. When Ben hit a 
 man, it was generally understood that 
 he meant business, and his adversary 
 was hurt, badly hurt, and Ben was 
 glad of it, and vain of it. But when 
 Bill Arp hit a man he was sorry for 
 him, and if he knocked him down, he 
 would rather help him up and brush 
 the dirt off his clothes than swell 
 around in triumph. Fighting was not 
 very common with either. The quicker 
 a man whips a fight, the less often he 
 has to do it, and both Ben and Bill 
 had settled their standing most effec- 
 tually. Bill was satisfied with his 
 honors, but Ben was not, for there was 
 many a Ransy Sniffle** who lived along 
 the line between the districts and car- 
 ried news from the one to the other, 
 and made up the coloring, and soon 
 it was norated around that Ben and 
 Bill had to meet and settle it. 
 
 "The court grounds of that day con- 
 sisted of a little shanty and a shelf. 
 The shanty had a dirt floor and a pun- 
 cheon seat and a slab for the Squire's 
 docket, and the shelf was outside for 
 the whisky. The whisky was kept in 
 a jug — a gallon jug — and that held 
 just about enough for the day's busi- 
 ness. Most everybody took a dram in 
 those days, but very few took too 
 much, unless, indeed, a dram was too 
 
 ♦According to Miss Virginia C. Hardin, of 
 Atlanta, Chulio was called after an Indian sub- 
 chief who lies buried on the Stubbs place, ad- 
 joining the Hardin plantation, near Kingston. 
 
 **A busy-body character in Longstreet's 
 "Georgia Scenes." 
 
 ***W. Frank Ayer, once Mayor of Rome. 
 
 much. It was very uncommon to see 
 a man drunk at a county court ground. 
 Pistols were unknown, bowie-knives 
 were unknown, brass knuckles and 
 slingshots were unknown, and all 
 other devices that gave one man an 
 artful advantage over another. The 
 boys came there in their shirt sleeves 
 and galluses, and if they got to quar- 
 reling, they settled it according to na- 
 ture. 
 
 "When Col. Johnston, who was Bill 
 Arp's landlord, and Maj. Ayer*** and 
 myself got to Chulio, Bill Arp was 
 there, and was pleasantly howdying 
 with his neighbors, when suddenly we 
 discovered Ben McGinnis trapoosing 
 around, and every little crowd he got 
 to, he would lean forward in an in- 
 solent manner and say, 'Anybody here 
 got anything agin Ben McGinnis? Ef 
 they have, I golly, I'll give 'em five 
 dollars to hit that; I golly, I dare any- 
 body to hit that,' and he would point 
 to his forehead with an air of defiance. 
 
 "Bill Arp was standing by us, and 
 I thought he looked a little more se- 
 rious than I had ever seen him. Frank 
 Ayer says to him, 'Bill, I see that 
 Ben is coming around here to pick a 
 fight with you, and I want to say 
 that you have got no cause to quarrel 
 with him, and if he comes, do you just 
 let him come and go, that's all.' Col. 
 Johnston says, 'Bill, he is too big for 
 you, and your own beat knows you, 
 and you haven't done anything against 
 Ben, and so I advise you to let him 
 pass — do you hear me?' 
 
 "By this time. Bill's nervous system 
 was all in a quiver. His face had an 
 air of rigid determination, and ho re- 
 plied humbly, but firmly, 'Col. John- 
 
 BEN McGINNIS.
 
 228 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 BILL ARP, OF CHULIO, TRIUMPHS OVER BEN M'GINNIS. 
 
 stone, I love you, and I respect you, 
 too; but if Ben McGinnis comes up 
 here outen his beat, and into my beat, 
 and me not havin' done nothin' agin 
 him, and he dares me to hit him, I'm 
 gwine to hit him, if it is the last 
 lick I ever strike. I'm no phist puppy 
 dog, sir, that he should come outen his 
 deestrict to bully me.' 
 
 "I've seen Bill Arp in battle, and he 
 was a hero. I've seen him when shot 
 and shell rained around him, and he 
 was cool and calm, and the same old 
 smile was on his features. I've seen 
 him when his first-born was stricken 
 down at Manassas, and he was near 
 enough to see him fall headforemost 
 to the foe, but I never have seen him 
 as intensely excited as he was that 
 moment when Ben McGinnis approach- 
 ed us, and addressing himself to Bill 
 Arp, said, 'I golly, I dare anybody to 
 hit that!' 
 
 "As Ben straightened himself up, 
 Bill let fly with his hard, bony fist 
 right in his left eye, and followed it 
 up with another. I don't know how it 
 was, and never will know; but I do 
 know this, that in less than a second. 
 Bill had him down and was on him, 
 and his fists and his elbows and his 
 knees seemed all at work. He after- 
 ward said that his knees worked on 
 
 Ben's bread basket, which he knew 
 was his weakest part. Ben hollered 
 enough in due time, which was con- 
 sidered honorable to do, and all right, 
 and Bill helped him up and brushed 
 the dirt off his clothes, and said, 'Now, 
 Ben, is it all over 'twixt you and me; 
 is you and me all right?' And Ben 
 said, 'It's all right 'twixt you and 
 me, Bill; I give it up, and you are 
 a gentleman.' Bill invited all hands 
 up to the shelf, and they took a drink, 
 and Bill paid for the treat as a gen- 
 erous victor, and he and Ben were 
 friends. 
 
 "I was not at the big wrestle be- 
 tween Bill Arp and Ike McCoy, and 
 had heard so many versions of it that 
 one night, while we were sitting 
 around the camp fire in Virginia, I 
 insisted on hearing it from Bill's own 
 lips. Said he, 'Well, gentlemen (he 
 always accented the men), my motto 
 has been to never say die, as Ginrul 
 Jackson said at the Battle of New Or- 
 leans, and all things considered, I have 
 had a power of good luck in my life. 
 I don't mean money luck by no means, 
 for most of my life I've been so ded 
 pore that Lazarus would have resign- 
 ed in my favor, but I've been in a 
 heap of close places, and somehow al- 
 ways come out right-side-up with care.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 229 
 
 " 'You see, Ike McCoy was perhaps 
 the best rasler in all Cherokee, and 
 he just hankered after a chance to 
 break a bone or two in my body. Now, 
 you know I never hunted for a fight 
 nor a fuss in my life, but I never 
 dodged one. I didn't want a tilt with 
 Ike, for my opinion was that he was 
 the best man of the two, but I never 
 said anything, but just trusted to luck. 
 
 " 'We was both at the barbycu, and 
 he put on a heap of airs, and strutted 
 around with his shirt collar open clean 
 down to his waist, and his hat cocked 
 on one side of his head, as sassy as 
 a Confederate quartermaster. He took 
 a dram, and then stuffed himself full 
 of fresh meat at dinner. Along in 
 the evening it was norated around that 
 Ike was going to banter me for a ras- 
 sle, and shore enuf, he did. The boys 
 were all up for some fun, and Ike 
 got on a stump and hollered out, 'I'll 
 bet ten dollars I can plaster the length 
 of any man on the ground, and I'll 
 give Bill Arp five dollars to take the 
 bet!' 
 
 " 'Of course, there was no gettin' 
 around the like of that. The banter 
 got my blood up, and so, without wait- 
 in' for ceremony, I shucked myself and 
 went in. The boys was all powerfully 
 excited, and was a bettin' every dollar 
 they could raise, and Bob Moore, the 
 feller I had licked about a year before, 
 said he'd bet twenty dollars to ten 
 that Ike would knock the breath outen 
 me the first fall. I borrowed the money 
 from Col. Johnston, and walked over 
 to him and said, 'I'll take that bet!'" 
 
 " 'The river* was right close to the 
 spring, and the bank was purty steep. 
 I had on an old pair of copprass 
 britches that had been seined in and 
 dried so often they was about half 
 rotten. When we hitched, Ike took 
 good britches-holt and lifted me up and 
 down a few times like I was a child. 
 He was the heaviest, but I had the 
 most spring in me, and so I jest let 
 him play around for some time, lim- 
 ber like, until suddenly he took a no- 
 tion to make short work of it with one 
 of his back-leg trip movements. He 
 drawed me up to his body and lifted 
 me into the air with a powerful twist. 
 Jest at that minit his back was close 
 to the river bank, and as my feet 
 teched the ground, I give a tremendous 
 jerk backwards and a shove forwards, 
 and my britches split plum open in 
 the back and tore clean offen my 
 bread basket, and Ike fell from me 
 
 * Etowah. 
 
 backwards and tumbled down the bank 
 into the river — kerchug! 
 
 " 'Sich hollerin' as them boys done 
 I reckon never was hearn before in 
 all them woods. I jumped in and 
 helped Ike out as he riz to the top. 
 He had took in a quart or so of water 
 right on top of his whisky and bar- 
 bycu, and as he set upon the bank, 
 it all come forth like a dost of ippe- 
 cack. When he gotten over it he 
 laughed sorter weakly and said Sally 
 Ann told him afore he left home he 
 had better let Bill Arp alone, for no- 
 body could run against his luck. Ike 
 always believed he would have thrown 
 me if britches holt hadent bx'oke, and 
 I reckon he would. One thing is cer- 
 tain; it cured Ike of braggin', and it 
 cured Bob Moore of bettin', and that 
 was a good thing.' 
 
 "Bill was full of mischief and his 
 indulgence in practical jokes some- 
 times led him into trouble, but he al- 
 ways managed to get out. Col. John- 
 ston says that one time a young man 
 stayed over night at his house, and 
 had occasion to cross the ferry next 
 morning. He was from Charleston, 
 
 BILL ARP "LOW RATES" M'COY.
 
 230 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 THE YOUNG MAN FROM CHARLESTON. 
 
 and had on a pair of fine boots and 
 a fashionable hat and a white vest 
 and kid gloves, and was altogether 
 quite dandy-like in his appearance. Bill 
 came over with the ferry boat and 
 eyed the man with a look of surprise 
 and contempt. The young man asked 
 him if his boat was entirely safe, and 
 insisted on having every drop of water 
 bailed out for fear of muddying his 
 boots. Bill showed great alacrity in 
 complying, and when the boat was 
 nearly across, and the young man was 
 standing near the gunnel, looking 
 down into the water, the long pole 
 that Bill was managing came sudden- 
 ly against his shoulders and keeled 
 him overboard. Bill did not hesitate 
 a moment, but jumped in after him, 
 and quickly pulled him up into the 
 boat again. The youth was dread- 
 fully alarmed and grateful for his 
 safe deliverance. He went back again 
 to the Colonel's house for some dry 
 clothes, but before he left he insisted 
 on rewarding Bill for saving his life, 
 but Bill modestly refused to receive 
 anything. 
 
 "When we went into camp near Ma- 
 nassas, while Gen. Wm. M. Gardner, 
 later of Rome, was in command. Bill 
 took the general a lot of beautiful 
 honey, which was highly appreciated, 
 and while he was enjoying it at the 
 breakfast table an old man came up 
 
 and in pitiful language informed him 
 how some soldiers came to his house 
 last night and robbed him of all his 
 honey, twelve hives in all, and they 
 worth five dollars apiece, and now he 
 was a ruint man, and the girls couldn't 
 git no clothes, and the cofee was out, 
 and the old 'oman was sick, and so 
 forth. 
 
 "The general was a West Pointer 
 and a strict constructionist, and he 
 was proud of his regiment; so that 
 evening at dress parade he made them 
 a nice little speech about a soldier's 
 honor, and about this honey business, 
 and wound up by saying that he didn't 
 know who stole the honey, and didn't 
 vv^ant to know, and he wasn't going to 
 try to find out, but he wanted every 
 man who was willing to help pay the 
 old man for his loss to step five paces 
 to the front. 
 
 "Bill Arp was the first man to step 
 out; he threw up his hat and hollered 
 'Hurrah for Ginrul Gardner!' The 
 whole regiment stepped forward and 
 joined in cheers for their noble gen- 
 eral, while Bill, without waiting for 
 orders, went down the line with his 
 hat, saying, 'Put in, boys, put in; the 
 general is right; let's pay the old man 
 and git the gals some clothes. I golly, 
 the gals must have some clothes!' 
 
 "They made up about ninety dollars 
 and the old man was paid and went
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 231 
 
 his way rejoicing, and the remainder 
 of the fund was turned over to the 
 hospital. 
 
 "While in camp at Centerville dur- 
 ing the bitter winter of 1861-2, the or- 
 ders against contraband whisky were 
 very strict, but still, the soldiers man- 
 aged somehow to keep in pretty good 
 spirits. One day a six-horse team from 
 Page County drove into camp, loaded 
 down with sixteen barrels of very fine 
 apples. The hind gate was taken off 
 and a barrel set down and the head 
 knocked in, and the boys bought them 
 quite freely. After a while another 
 barrel was set down, and in course of 
 time Col. Jno. R. Towers, another no- 
 ble Roman, of the Miller Rifles, ob- 
 served that Bill and some others were 
 quite hilarious, and he suspected there 
 was something wrong about that 
 wagon, and procured an order from 
 Gen. Sam Jones to examine it. On 
 inspection he found there was a five 
 gallon keg of apple brandy in each of 
 six of the barrels, and the kegs were 
 packed around with apples. The gen- 
 eral ordered a confiscation. He sent a 
 keg to each of the five regimental hos- 
 pitals, and had the sixth keg sent to 
 his tent and put under his cot. 
 
 "Bill Arp did not seem to be pleased 
 with the distribution, and wagged his 
 head ominously. He was on the de- 
 tail that was to guard the general's 
 headquarters that night; and so, the 
 next morning, when the general con- 
 cluded to sample the brandy, and sent 
 down for a few of us to come up and 
 join him in a morning cocktail, he 
 discovered that the keg was gone. Col. 
 Towers was there, and sent for a list 
 of the guard, and when he saw Bill 
 Arp's name, he quietly remarked, 'I un- 
 derstand it now.' All doubts were re- 
 moved; no search was made, for the 
 general enjoyed the joke; but that 
 night the keg was replaced under his 
 cot with about half its original con- 
 tents. Bill said he was always will- 
 ing to 'tote fair and divide with his 
 friends.' 
 
 "This is enough of Bill Arp — the 
 original simon pure. He was a good 
 soldier in war, the wit and wag of 
 the camp-fires, and made many a 
 home-sick youth laugh away his mel- 
 ancholy. He was a good citizen in 
 peace. When told that his son was 
 dead, he showed no surjirise, but sim- 
 ply said, 'Major, did he die all right?' 
 When assured that he did, Bill wiped 
 away a falling tear and said, 'I only 
 wanted to tell his mother.' 
 
 "You may talk about heroes and 
 
 heroines. I have seen all sorts, and 
 so has most everybody who was in 
 the war, but I never saw a more de- 
 voted heroine than Bill Arp's wife. 
 She was a very humble woman, very, 
 but she loved her husband with a love 
 that was passing strange. I don't 
 mean to say that any woman's love 
 is passing strange, but I have seen 
 that woman in town, three miles from 
 her home, hunting around by night for 
 her husband, going from one grocery 
 to another and in her kind, loving 
 voice inquiring 'Is William here?' or 
 'Do you know where William is?' 
 
 "Blessings on that poor woman! I 
 have almost cried for her many a time. 
 Poor William — hdw she loved him! 
 How tenderly would she take him 
 when she found him, and lead him 
 home, bathe his head and put him to 
 bed. She always looked pleased and 
 thankful when asked about him, and 
 would say, 'He is a good little man, 
 but you know he has his failings.' 
 
 "She loved Bill and he loved her; he 
 was weak and she was strong. There 
 are some such women now, I reckon; 
 I hope so. I know there are some 
 such men." 
 
 * * * 
 
 "BIG JOHN" UNDERWOOD.— 
 " 'Big John' was one of the earliest 
 settlers of Rome, and one of her most 
 notable men. For several years he 
 was known by his proper name of 
 John H. Underwood, but when John 
 W. H. Underwood moved there, he was 
 identified by his superior size and 
 gradually lost his surname, and was 
 known far and near as 'Big John.' 
 Col. Jno. W. H. Underwood, who came 
 to be distinguished as a member of 
 Congress, and afterward as a judge, 
 was a man of large physiciue, weigh- 
 ing about 225 pounds, but 'Big John' 
 pulled down the scales at a hundred 
 ])oun(ls more, and had shorter arms 
 and shorter legs, but his circumfer- 
 ence was correspondingly immense. He 
 was noted for his good humor. _ The 
 best town jokes came from his jolly, 
 fertile fancy, and his comments on 
 men and things were always origi- 
 nal, and as terse and vigorous as ever 
 came from the brain of Dr. Johnson. 
 He was a diamond in the rough. He 
 had lived a pioneer among the Indians 
 of the Cherokee, and it was said fell 
 in love with an Indan maid, the daugh- 
 ter of old Te.stenuggee, a limited chief, 
 and never married liecause he could 
 not marry her. But if his disappoint- 
 ment preyed upon his heart, it did 
 not prey upon tlie region that enclosed 
 it, for iie continued to expand his pro-
 
 232 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 portions. He was a good talker and 
 earnest laugher. Whether he laugh- 
 ed and grew fat, or grew fat and 
 laughed, the doctors could not tell; 
 which was cause and which was ef- 
 fect is still in doubt, but I have heard 
 the wise men affirm that laughing was 
 the fat man's safety valve, that if he 
 did not laugh and shake and vibrate 
 frequently, he would grow fatter and 
 fatter until his epidermic cuticle could 
 not contain his oleaginous corporosity. 
 Dr. Chisolm, of Charleston, is said to 
 have put this matter beyond all dis- 
 pute, for he had seen a fat man 
 weighed but a few hours before Ar- 
 temus Ward lectured in that city, and 
 this fat man laughed so hard and so 
 continuously at Ward's wit that he 
 overdone the thing, and died in his 
 seat. The coroner sat upon him, and 
 the doctor weighed him and found he 
 had lost eighteen pounds of flesh that 
 night — laughed it away, which would 
 seem to settle the vexed question. 
 
 "Big John had no patience with the 
 war, and when he looked upon the 
 boys strutting around in uniform and 
 fixing up their canteens and haver- 
 sacks, he seemed as much disgusted as 
 astonished. He sat in his big chair 
 on the sidewalk in front of his gro- 
 cery and liquor shop, and would re- 
 mark, 'I don't see any fun in the like 
 of that. Somebody is going to be hurt, 
 and fightin' don't prove anything. 
 Some of our best people in this town 
 are kin to them fellers up North, and 
 I don't see any sense in tearing up 
 families by a fight.' He rarely looked 
 serious or solemn, but the pending 
 fight seemed to settle him. 'Boys,' said 
 he, 'I hope to God this thing will be 
 fixed up without a fight, for fighting 
 is mighty bad business, and I never 
 knowed it to do any good.' 
 
 "Big John had had a little war ex- 
 perience — that is, he had volunteered 
 in a company to drive the Creeks and 
 Cherokees to the far west in 1833, 
 just 50 years ago. It was said that 
 he was no belligerent then, but want- 
 ed to give the Indian maiden he loved 
 a safe transit, and so he escorted the 
 old chief and his clan as far as Tus- 
 cumbia, and then broke down and re- 
 turned to Ross's Landing on the Ten- 
 nessee River. He was too heavy to 
 march, and when he arrived at the 
 landing, a prisoner was put in his 
 charge for safe-keeping. Ross's Land- 
 ing is Chattanooga now, and John 
 Ross once lived thei'e, and was one 
 of the chiefs of the Cherokees. The 
 prisoner was Ross's guest, and his 
 name was John Howard Payne. He 
 
 was suspected of trying to instigate 
 the Cherokees to revolt and fight, and 
 not leave their beautiful forest homes 
 on the Tennessee and Coosa and Oosta- 
 naula and Etowah and Connasauga 
 rivers. He brought Payne back as 
 far as New Echota, or New Town, as 
 it was called, an Indian settlement on 
 the Coosawattee, a few miles east of 
 Calhoun, as now known. There he 
 kept the author of 'Home, Sweet 
 Home' under guard, or on his parole 
 of honor, for three weeks, and night 
 after night slept with him in his tent, 
 and listened to his music upon the 
 violin, and heard him sing his own 
 sad songs until orders came for his 
 discharge, and Payne started afoot on 
 his way to Washington. He said Payne 
 was much of a gentleman. 
 
 "Many a time have I heard Big John 
 recite his sad adventures. 'It was a 
 most distressive business,' said he. 
 'Them Injuns was heart-broken. I al- 
 ways knowed an Injun loved his hunt- 
 ing-ground and his rivers, but I never 
 knowed how much they loved 'em be- 
 fore. You know, they killed Ridge 
 for consentin' to the treaty. They kill- 
 ed him on the first day's march and 
 they wouldn't bury him. We soldiers 
 had to stop and dig a grave and put 
 him away. John Ross and Ridge were 
 the sons of two Scotchmen who came 
 over here when they were young men 
 and mixed up with these tribes and 
 got their good will. These two boys 
 were splendid looking men, tall and 
 handsome, with long auburn hair, and 
 they were active and strong, and could 
 shoot a bow equal to the best bow- 
 man of the tribe, and they beat 'em 
 all to pieces on the cross-bow. They 
 married the daughters of the old 
 chiefs, and when the old chiefs died 
 they just fell into line and succeeded 
 to the old chiefs' places, and the tribes 
 liked 'em mighty well, for they were 
 good men and made good chiefs. 
 
 " 'Well, you see, Ross didn't like the 
 treaty. He said it wasn't fair, that 
 the price of the territory was too low, 
 and the fact is, he didn't want to go 
 at all. There are the ruins of his old 
 home over there now inDeSoto, close 
 to Rome, and I tell you, he was a king. 
 His word was the law of the Injun 
 nations, and he had their love and re- 
 spect. His half-breed children were 
 the purtiest things I ever saw in my 
 life. 
 
 " 'Well, Ridge lived up the Oosta- 
 naula River al30ut a mile, and he was 
 a good man, too. Ross and Ridge al- 
 ways consulted about everything that 
 was for the good of the tribes, but
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 233 
 
 "BIG JOHN" UNDERWOOD'S RETURN TO ROME AFTER THE WAR. 
 
 Ridge was a more milder man than 
 Ross, and was more easily persuaded 
 to sign the treaty that gave the lands 
 to the state, and to take other lands 
 away out in Mississippi. You see, our 
 state owned the territory then clean 
 out to the Mississippi River. 
 
 " 'Well, when the whole thing 
 seemed to be settled with the chiefs, 
 we found that the Injuns wasn't go- 
 in' to move. We couldn't get 'em 
 started. They raised a howl all over 
 the settlements. It was just like the 
 mourners at a camp meeting. The 
 families would just set about and 
 mourn. They wouldn't eat nor sleep, 
 and the old squaws would sway back- 
 wards and forwards and mourn, and 
 nobody could get 'em up. 
 
 " 'Well, it took us a month to get 
 'em all together and begin the march 
 to the Mississippi, and they wouldn't 
 march then. The women would go out 
 of line and set down in the woods and 
 go to grieving, and you may believe it 
 or not, but I'll tell you what is a fact: 
 we started for Tuscumbia with 14,000 
 and 4,000 of 'em died before we got 
 to Tuscumbia. They died on the side 
 of the road ; they died of broken 
 hearts; they died of starvation, for 
 they wouldn't eat a thing. They just 
 died all along the way. We didn't 
 make more than five miles a day on 
 the march, and my company didn't do 
 much but dig graves and bury Injuns 
 all the way to Tuscumbia. They died 
 of grief and broken hearts, and no 
 mistake. 
 
 " 'An Injun's heart is tender and his 
 love is strong; it's his natur. I'd a 
 rather risk an Injun for a true friend 
 than a white man. He is the best 
 friend in the world and the worst 
 enemy. He has got more gratitude 
 and more revenge in him than any- 
 body. I remember that Dick Juhan 
 swindled an Injun out of his pony, and 
 
 that night the Injun stepped up to 
 Vann's Valley and stole the pony out 
 of the stable and carried him off, and 
 Dick followed him next day and 
 caught him and tied him, and brought 
 him up to old Livingston before a 
 magistrate. I was there and took the 
 Injun's part and got him discharged; 
 and he kept his pony, and he was so 
 grateful to me that I couldn't get rid 
 of him. He just followed me about 
 like a nigger and waited on me; hunt- 
 ed for me and brought me squirrels 
 and deer and turkeys, and when time 
 came for 'em all to go west, he hung 
 around camp and wouldn't leave me. 
 When I left him at Tuscumbia, he 
 cried and moaned and took on, and I 
 don't reckin he ever got to the prom- 
 ised land.' 
 
 "Big John was a stout and active 
 man, considering his weight. He was 
 patriotic, too, and when he found that 
 the fight had to come, he came up 
 manfully to the cause and declared he 
 was ready to join a buggy regiment 
 and fight until they plugged him, 
 which they were sure to do, he said. 
 if they pinted any ways down South. 
 When Joe Brown called for state vol- 
 unteers, he responded promptly, and 
 seemed proud that he was in the lino 
 of military service, and was enrolled 
 on the Governor's staff. He said that 
 he couldn't march, but he could set 
 on one of the hills around Rome and 
 guard the ramparts. 
 
 "Nevertheless, notwithstanding, it 
 .so turned out that old Joe got fight- 
 ing mad after while and ordered all 
 his staff and his militia to the front, 
 and Big John had to go. The view 
 he took of his now departure in mili- 
 tary strategy will appear in the sequel, 
 and also his remarkable retreat bo- 
 fore the foul invader when Sherman 
 took the Hill City and dispersed the 
 home guard to remoter regions.
 
 234 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 "Big John is dead. The last time 
 I saw him he had lost his fat, and 
 his old clothes were a world too big 
 for him. He said he was juicing away 
 so as to fit a respectable coffin and 
 save a winding sheet or two in his 
 shrouding. He owed no man anything 
 and no man owed him a grudge. Fat 
 men die like lean ones, but they rare- 
 ly die fat. Their fat is their vitality. 
 Fat men are generally good men, kind 
 men, peaceable men, and they axe 
 honest. Their fat makes them good- 
 natured, and their good nature keeps 
 them from swindling or cheating any- 
 body. If I was thrown among 
 strangers and wanted a favor, I would 
 pass by all lean and hungi-y strangers 
 and sit down by the biggest, roundest 
 man I saw. 
 
 "Big John's special comfort was a 
 circus. He never missed one, and it 
 was a good part of the show to see 
 him laugh and shake and spread his 
 magnificent face. I saw the clown 
 run from the ring-master's whip and 
 take refuge close by Big John, and as 
 he looked up in his face he said, 'You 
 are my friend, ain't you?' and Big 
 John sniiled all over as he replied, 
 'Why, yes, of course I am.' 'Well,' 
 then,' said the clown, 'if you are my 
 friend, please lend me a half a dol- 
 lar.' The crowd yelled tumultuously 
 as Big John handed over the coin, 
 and the joke of it was worth half a 
 dollar to him. 
 
 "Big John took no pleasure in the 
 quarrels of mankind, and never back- 
 ed a man in a fight, but when two 
 dogs locked teeth, or two bulls locked 
 horns, or two game chickens locked 
 spurs, he always liked to be about. 
 'It is their natur to fight,' said he, 
 'and let 'em fight.' He took delight 
 in watching dogs and commenting on 
 their sense and dispositions. He com- 
 pared them to the men about town, 
 and drew some humorous analogies. 
 'There is Jimmy Jones,' said he, 'who 
 ripped and plunged around because 
 Georgia wouldn't secede in a minute 
 and a half, and he swore he was go- 
 in' over to South Calliny to fight; and 
 when Georgia did secede shore enuf he 
 didn't jine the army at all, and always 
 had some cussed excuse, and when con- 
 scription come along, he got on a de- 
 tail to make potash, con-ding 'im, and 
 when that played out he got a couple 
 of track dogs and got detailed to 
 ketch runaway prisoners. Just so I've 
 seen dogs run up and down the fence 
 palings like they was dyin' to get to 
 one nuther, and so one day I picked 
 up my dog by the nap of the neck 
 
 and dropped him over on the outside. 
 I never knowed he could jump that 
 fence before, but he bounced back like 
 an Injun rubber ball, and the other 
 dog streaked it down the sidewalk 
 like the dickens was after him. Dogs 
 are like folks and folks are like dogs, 
 and a heap of 'em want the palings 
 between. 
 
 " 'Jack Bogin used to strut around 
 and whip the boys in his beat, and 
 kick 'em awful, because he knew he 
 could do it, for he had the most mus- 
 sle; but he couldn't look a brave man 
 in the eye, mussle or no mussle, and 
 I've seen him shut up quick when he 
 met one. A man has got to be right 
 to be brave, and I'd rather see a bully 
 get a lickin' than to eat sugar!'" 
 
 Author's Note — The above highly 
 interesting and entertaining account 
 contains a number of historical er- 
 rors, particularly with regard to John 
 Howard Payne and the Indians, 
 against which the history lover should 
 guard himself. It is well to remember 
 that Big John was apt to depart now 
 and then from the path of historic 
 rectitude. 
 
 "BILL ARP" TO "ABE LINK- 
 HORN."— Maj. Chas. H. Smith wrote 
 a saucy open letter from Rome to 
 Abraham Lincoln at Washington on 
 the eve of the opening of the Civil 
 War. It was this letter which caused 
 him to write thereafter under the pen 
 name of "Bill Arp." The original Bill 
 Arp happening along, Maj. Smith said, 
 "This letter is so hot, I don't know 
 whose name to sign to it!" Arp said: 
 "Them's my sentiments. Major; just 
 sign mine." And he did. The letter 
 was widely copied and made Major 
 Smith famous and uncomfortable as 
 well. Here it is:* 
 
 "Rome, Ga., Aprile, 1861. 
 "Mr. Linkhorn, Sur: These are to 
 inform you that we are all well, and 
 hope these lines may find you in statue 
 ko. We received your proklamation, 
 and as you have put us on very short 
 notis, a few of us boys have conklud- 
 ed to write you, and ax for a little 
 more time. 'The fact is, we are most 
 obleeged to have a few more days, for 
 the way things are happening, it is 
 utterly onpossible for us to disperse 
 in twenty days. Old Virginny, and 
 Tennessee and North Carolina are con- 
 tinually aggravatin' us into tumults 
 and carousements, and a body can't 
 disperse until you put a stop to sich 
 
 "From Bill Arp's "Peace Papers."
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 235 
 
 
 
 
 WHEREIN MAJOR SMITH TRIES HIS HAND AT FARMING. 
 When "Bill Arp" emei-ged from the war, all he had was a bolt of cotton 
 cloth and a hunk of gum opium, which he quickly swapped for food. He tried to 
 raise vegetables for a while, and here he is seen turning a few furrows. His 
 boys are enjoying' the sport, and the eldest advises him to keep at the law. 
 
 onruly konduct on their part. I tried 
 my darndest yisterday to disperse and 
 retire, but it was no go; and besides, 
 your marshal here isn't doing a darn- 
 ed thing — he don't read the riot act, 
 nor remonstrate, nor nothing, and 
 ought to be turned out. If you con- 
 klude to do so, I am authorized to 
 rekummend to you Col. Gibbons or 
 Mr. McLung, who would attend to 
 the bizness as well as most anybody. 
 "The fact is, the boys round here 
 want watchin, or they'll take sumthin. 
 
 A few days ago I heard they surround- 
 ed two of our best citizens, because 
 they was named Fort and Sumter. 
 Most of 'em are so hot that they fair- 
 ly siz when you pour water on 'em, 
 and that's the way they make up their 
 military companies here now — when a 
 man applies to jine the volunteers, 
 they sprinkle him, and if he sizzes, 
 they take him, and if he don't they 
 don't. 
 
 "Mr. Linkhoni. sur. privately speak- 
 in, I'm afeered I'll git in a tite place
 
 236 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 here among these bloods, and have to 
 slope out of it, and I would like to 
 have your Scotch cap and kloak that 
 you traveled in to Washington. I sup- 
 pose you wouldn't be likely to use the 
 same disgize agin, when you left, and 
 therefore I would propose to swap. I 
 am five feet five, and could git my 
 plow breeches and coat to you in eight 
 or ten days if you can wait that long. 
 I want you to write me immegitly 
 about things generally, and let us 
 know whereabouts you intend to do 
 your fitin. Your proklamation says 
 somethin about taking possession of 
 all the private property at 'All Haz- 
 ards.' We can't find no such place on 
 the map. I thot it must be about 
 Charleston, or Savannah, or Harper's 
 Ferry, but they say it ain't anywhere 
 down South. One man said it was a 
 little Faktory on an iland in Lake 
 Champlain, where they make sand 
 bags. My opinun is that sand bisness 
 won't pay, and it is a great waste of 
 money. Our boys here carry thei-e 
 sand in there gizzards, where it keeps 
 better, and is always handy. I'm 
 afeered your government is givin you 
 and your kangaroo a great deal of on- 
 necessary trubbul, and my humble ad- 
 vice is, if things don't work out bet- 
 ter soon, you'd better grease it, or 
 trade the darned old thing off. I'd 
 show you a slite-of-hand trick that 
 would change the whole concern into 
 buttons quick. If you don't trade or 
 do sumthin with it soon, it will spile 
 or die on your hands, sertain. 
 
 "Give my respects to Bill Seward 
 and the other members of the Kanga- 
 roo. What's Hannibal doin? I don't 
 hear anything from him nowadays. 
 
 "Yours, with care, 
 
 "BILL ARP." 
 
 "P. S. — If you can possibly extend 
 that order to .30 days, do so. We have 
 sent you a check at Harper's Ferry 
 (who keeps that darnd old ferry now? 
 It's givin us a heap of trubble), but 
 if you positively won't extend, we'll 
 send you a check drawn by Jeff Da- 
 vis, Borygard endorser, payable on 
 sight anywhere. 
 
 "Yours, 
 
 "B. A." 
 
 "BILL ARP" AND THE LOT- 
 TERY. — We publish in another col- 
 umn a letter from the managers of a 
 lottery establishment in Baltimore to 
 Chas. H. Smith, Esq., of this place, 
 and his reply. . . The public owes 
 Mr. Smith a debt of gratitude for ex- 
 posing this iniquitous scheme. 
 
 ( Correspondence.) 
 "Gilbert & Co., Bankers and Brok- 
 ers and General Agents for the Dela- 
 ware State Lotteries. 
 
 "Baltimore, Md., Jan. 10, 1860. 
 "C. H. Smith, Esq., 
 "Rome, Ga. 
 
 "Dear Sir: We take the liberty to 
 enclose you a scheme of the Delaware 
 State Lottery, for which we are gen- 
 eral agents, our object being to try 
 and sell you a prize so as to create 
 an excitement in your locality that 
 will tend to increase our business. 
 With this end in view, we offer you 
 the preference to purchase a very fine- 
 ly arranged package of 25 tickets, 
 which we have selected in the lottery 
 drawing Feb. 11, Class 72. This pack- 
 age gives you the advantage of $31.25 
 worth of tickets for the cost of only 
 $20 ; and to convince you of our con- 
 fidence in its success, we will guaran- 
 tee you another package of our extra 
 lotteries free of charge if the above 
 fails to draw a prize, the lowest be- 
 ing $200 (see full scheme within). We 
 make this offer in good faith, with 
 a desire to sell you the Capital, $37,- 
 000. Should you think favorably of 
 it, enclose us $20, and the package 
 will be sent by return mail, the re- 
 sult of which we confidently think will 
 be satisfactory to you. 
 
 "Yours truly, 
 
 "GILBERT & CO." 
 
 "(This is confidential.)" 
 
 "Messrs. Gilbert & Co., Gents.: I 
 acknowledge receipt of your kind let- 
 ter of the 10th. I send you my note 
 for $20, instead of the cash, as it will 
 save exchange, and there is really no 
 necessity of sending money to Balti- 
 more and having it sent back again in 
 a few days. This arrangement, I 
 confidently think, will be satisfactory 
 to you, for it is done in good faith. 
 
 "I really feel under many obliga- 
 tions that you have chosen me as the 
 object of your liberality and do assure 
 you that when that $37,000 prize comes 
 to hand, the excitement which it will 
 raise in this community will swallow 
 up and extinguish the John Brown 
 raid, and you will sell more tickets 
 here than traveling circuses and mon- 
 key shows take off in 20 years. This 
 is a good locality for such an experi- 
 ment, for there is a vast number of 
 clever people who are in the habit 
 of racking their brains to devise some 
 way to get money without working for 
 it, and I know very well that when 
 they are satisfied they can do so
 
 Anecdotes and Reminsicences 
 
 237 
 
 through your company, they will 
 cheerfully give you that preference 
 which you have shown to me. 
 
 "Our court is now in session, and I 
 very much regret you are not here to 
 lay your proposition before our Grand 
 Jury, for I have no doubt they would 
 properly appreciate it, and out of grat- 
 itude board you a while at public ex- 
 pense. Our legislature, in its genero- 
 sity, passed a special act, (which may 
 be found in the 11th division of the 
 Penal Code) to compensate such hon- 
 orable gentlemen as you seem to be. 
 
 "You are hereby authorized to de- 
 duct the $20 and send the remainder 
 to me by Adams & Company's Ex- 
 press. 
 
 "CHAS. H. SMITH." 
 
 "(This is confidential.)" 
 
 "P. S. — A friend of mine has just 
 shown me a letter from your firm to 
 him, making him the same proposition 
 which you have made to me; and he 
 professed some suspicion, but I as- 
 sured him that you knew we were in- 
 timate friends, and that we would di- 
 vide the prize between us, or you 
 thought that possibly one of us might 
 be away from home. 
 
 "C. H. S." 
 
 "P. S. No. 2 — As I was about to 
 mail this, another friend confided to 
 me a similar letter to him. I am at 
 a loss to know how to satisfy him. 
 Please give me the dots. 
 
 "C. H. S." 
 THE NOTE. 
 "$20 — On demand I promise to pay 
 Gilbert & Co. twenty dollars, provid- 
 ed the finely-arranged package of 
 tickets which they have selected for 
 me draws a prize of not less than 
 $200. 
 
 "CHAS. H. SMITH." 
 — Tri-Weekly Courier, Jan. 17, 1860. 
 * * * 
 
 "BILL ARP" ON ROME.— (By J. 
 D. McCartney, in Rome Tribune-Her- 
 ald, July 2i, 1920).— Mrs. Harriet 
 Connor Stevens came up from Cave 
 Spring the other day and brought me 
 some papers that had been the prop- 
 erty of the lamented Prof. Wesley O. 
 Connor, her father. They are very 
 interesting. One of them contains a 
 speech of Samuel J. Tilden made in 
 September of 18G8 that is well worth 
 reading today. The others are the 
 last issue of the Rome Courier and the 
 first issue of the Tribune of Rome, 
 bearing date of Oct. 2, 1887. 
 
 I shall have more to say about 
 those papers from time to time, but 
 the subject of today's sketch is an ar- 
 ticle in the "Southerner and Commer- 
 cial," a triweekly bearing date of 
 April 10, 1870. It is entitled "Ancient 
 History of Modern Rome," and is from 
 the talented pen of Major Chas. H. 
 Smith ("Bill Arp"). Older Romans de- 
 lighted to read Bill Arp's writings and 
 I am sure the younger generation, too, 
 will enjoy the style as well as the sub- 
 stance of his words about the begin- 
 nings of Rome, quotations from which 
 follow: 
 
 "In the year 1832, the county of 
 Floyd was laid off by the government 
 surveyors, and in 1833 the county site 
 was fixed at Livingston (a place about 
 12 miles distant, and situated near 
 the South bank of the Coosa). A few 
 houses were built and one court held 
 there by Judge John W. Hooper. About 
 this time a number of the fortunate 
 drawers in the land lottery were seek- 
 ing to take forcible possession of the 
 very homes of the Indians. Judge 
 Hooper did not deem this just until 
 the Indians were paid for their im- 
 provements, and he therefore granted 
 many bills of injunction at the in- 
 stance of Judge Wm. H. Underwood, 
 the leading counsel for the tribe. 
 
 "In the year 1834 a Rome town^com- 
 pany was formed, consisting of Z. B. 
 Hargrove, Philip W. Hemphill, Wm. 
 Smith and D. R. Mitchell. The upper 
 portion of the town was surveyed and 
 laid off into town lots. Favorable 
 propositions were made by the com- 
 pany to the county authorities, and 
 Rome was made the county site in 
 1835. The frames of some of the first 
 houses erected were brought up from 
 Livingston on keel boats, one of them 
 occupied by Dr. G. W. Holmes, and 
 another by Col. Sam Gibbons. The old- 
 est house in the place is a small tene- 
 ment next above the fire engine house. 
 The first court was held by Judge 
 Owen H. Kenan in a log cabin 16x18, 
 erected on Academy Hill, and the 
 grand jury held their first session in 
 a lime sink a few rods distant. The 
 diligence and energy of the town com- 
 pany, and the many advantages of tlie 
 location, soon began to attract men of 
 education and means and connnercial 
 influence. In a short time Rome be- 
 came a market for a considei-ahle ex- 
 tent of territory. Many of those who 
 co-operated in giving vitality and im- 
 petus to the place are long since dead 
 and gone, but as long as Rome has a 
 record, the names of John H. Lump- 
 kin, William Smith, Dennis Hills, Jobe
 
 238 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Rogers and James M. Sumter will be 
 remembered when her early history is 
 recalled. 
 
 "In the days of these pioneers, Rome 
 was but a hamlet. From a single 
 point a school boy's bow could send 
 an arrow beyond the farthest house. 
 All that portion of the city now known 
 as 'down town' was a stately forest of 
 aged oaks, and the best society of 
 Howard Street were the owls who 
 hooted from their hollows. Until about 
 the year 1850, Mr. Norton's store was 
 the extreme Southern boundary of all 
 improvements. The first hotel was kept 
 by Francis Burke, in the house now 
 occupied by Dr. Holmes. Not long 
 after, James McEntee built and kept 
 up a public house for many years. 
 His blunt Scotch ancestry made him a 
 universal favorite, and we are glad 
 to know that he still lives near us in 
 the enjoyment of good health. The 
 hotel built by him is now known as 
 the residence of Dr. J. B. Undei-wood. 
 Euclid Waterhouse, a man well known 
 in commercial circles, opened the first 
 store in the place. Nathan Yarbrough, 
 Judge Lamberth and David Rounsaville 
 were his competitors in the mercantile 
 business. 
 
 "Wm. Smith was the first sheriff 
 of the county. In the year 1834 he 
 had to perform the unpleasant duty 
 of hanging two Indians, Barney Swim- 
 mer and Terrapin, found guilty of the 
 murder of Ezekiel Blatchford (or 
 Braselton). He represented this coun- 
 ty in both branches of the General As- 
 sembly. He was defeated for re-elec- 
 tion because of his bold and strenuous 
 exertions to change the projected 
 route of the Western & Atlantic 
 (state) railroad between Chattanooga 
 and Atlanta so as to include Rome. 
 He was a man of wonderful energy 
 and foresight, and it is universally 
 conceded that he did more than any 
 other person to insure the progress 
 and prosperity of the little city. It 
 was chiefly his influence that made 
 Rome the county site; his urgent ef- 
 forts that caused the building of the 
 first steamboat, that projected the 
 first railroad (the Rome), and that in- 
 duced the coming of such men as Col. 
 Alfred Shorter, A. M. Sloan, Wm. E. 
 Alexander, John H. Lumpkin and 
 others of like means and spirit. He 
 died in 1850, and, as is too often the 
 case, before the happy results of his 
 foresight and energy were fully real- 
 ized. 
 
 "J. T. Riley and wife were the first 
 couple married and now live in the 
 town. Col. A. T. Hardin and Morris 
 
 Marks are the old merchants who are 
 still engaged in that occupation. Judge 
 Kenan was succeeded by the following 
 judges, in the order named: Turner 
 H. Trippe, George D. Wright, John W. 
 Hooper, John H. Lumpkin, Leander W. 
 Crook, Dennis T. Hammond, L. H. 
 Featherston, J. W. H. Underwood and 
 Francis A. Kirby. John Townsend was 
 the first foreman of the first grand 
 jury, and the first bill of indictment 
 found was against the Indians Choosa- 
 kelqua and Teasalaka, charged with 
 assault with intent to murder. 
 
 "From the year 1840 Rome con- 
 tinued to make substantial progress. 
 In the year 1845 a steamboat was 
 built at Greensport, Ala., by Capt. 
 John Lafferty. For months the rude 
 settlers in the adjacent counties had 
 heard of the 'varmint,' as they called 
 it, and when the time came for its 
 first trip to the junction at Rome, the 
 scattered inhabitants gathered in 
 camps along the banks to see the 'var- 
 mint' go. When it did come, it was 
 to these rude settlers a show equal 
 to a circus. At one point, more than 
 100 people had congregated, the men 
 all wearing coon-skin caps with coons' 
 tails hanging down their backs. One 
 very consequential and 'highly-educat- 
 ed' patriarch. Squire Bogan, of Cedar 
 Bluff, Ala., stood forward to make a 
 reconnoisance and give the crowd the 
 benefit of his vast learning. He saw 
 the large letters 'U. S. M.' painted on 
 the wheelhouse, and underneath them 
 the letters Coosa. He spelled it over 
 carefully, letter by letter, in a loud 
 tone of voice, and after a third ef- 
 fort, declared: 'I've got it, boys. Its 
 name is Use 'em Susy!' The 'var- 
 mint' never got rid of this nom de 
 plume. In the course of time, other 
 steamboats were built, and a branch 
 road from Kingston to Rome project- 
 ed. 
 
 "Even the newspapers adopted the 
 name. Bill Ramey and Tom Perry 
 built a little boat that they said could 
 snake its way thi'ough any shoal when 
 the rivers were not a foot deep. In 
 fact, Ramey used to swear his craft 
 could run on dry land if there was 
 a thick fog or heavy dew. 
 
 "From the days of steamboats and 
 raih-oads the history of our city is too 
 familiar to be rehearsed, but I will 
 venture to remind you in closing these 
 remarks that the lamps which have lit 
 her pleasing progress have not always 
 been brightly burning. There have 
 been shadows, and still are shadows, 
 which set in mourning the happy pros- 
 perity of our city. Dark lines are
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 239 
 
 drawn around, and the stricken heart 
 beats sadly the knell of our heroic 
 dead. Noble sons, husbands and fath- 
 ers are missing — missing from here 
 tonight. They have been long missing 
 from the fireside and the forum, from 
 the farm, the shop and the counting 
 room, from court, church and hall." 
 =1= * * 
 
 TURN ABOUT WANTED. — A 
 Floyd County farmer, attacked by his 
 neighbor's bull-dog, defended himself 
 and badly wounded the dog. The irate 
 neighbor said: "If you had to use 
 that pitchfork, why didn't you go at 
 him with the other end?" The farmer 
 replied, "Why didn't he come at me 
 with the other end of him?" 
 
 SHERMAN'S GEORGIA SWEET- 
 HEART. — In the Lucian Knight Geor- 
 gia historical books and elsewhere is 
 found a charmingly romantic story of 
 Civil War days and before in which 
 a Roman played an important part 
 Marcellus A. Stovall, of Augusta, later 
 of Rome, in 1836 had entered ithe 
 United States Military Academy at 
 West Point and chosen as roommate 
 Wm. Tecumseh Sherman, an eagle- 
 eyed lad of 16 from Mansfield, 0. 
 Cadet Stovall was a brother of Miss 
 Cecelia Stovall, a noted Georgia belle 
 and beauty, who presently on a visit 
 to her brother became a favorite 
 among the dancing set at the academy. 
 
 In the forefront of her admirers 
 stood young Sherman, who did not 
 fail to make capital out of the fact 
 that he was her brother's bosom 
 friend; and it was whispered that the 
 Ohioan, highly diffident toward the 
 average young lady, had been smitten 
 beyond hope of redemption by the 
 dark-eyed girl from Georgia. The his- 
 torians record that on one occasion 
 when he was diplomatically sparring 
 for a snug place in Miss Cecelia's af- 
 fections (it may have been a straight- 
 out proposal), she said quite frankly: 
 
 "Your eyes are so cold and cruel. I 
 pity the man who ever becomes your 
 antagonist. Ah, how you would crush 
 an enemy!" 
 
 To which he replied gallantly, 
 "Even though you were my enemy, niy 
 dear, I would love you and protect 
 you." 
 
 Joseph Hooker, of Massachusetts, a 
 graduate of West Point in the class 
 of 1837, was another who claimed 
 many dances with Miss Cecelia and 
 whose heart sank within him when 
 she returned to her Southern home. 
 
 Still another was handsome Richard B. 
 Garnett, a West Point graduate in 
 charge of the arsenal at Augusta, 
 whose geogi-aphical position gave him 
 a decided advantage over the others 
 and who got to the point of acceptance 
 of his proposal. However, parental 
 objection was raised, and Dick Gar- 
 nett went to his death at Gettysburg 
 in 1863 with the image of lovely Ce- 
 celia Stovall graven on his heai't; he 
 had never married, and when the 
 Grim Reaper cut him down he was a 
 general and one of the bravest men in 
 the army of Northern Virginia. 
 
 It may have been a coincidence that 
 Wm. T. Sherman, then a lieutenant, 
 was assigned in 1845 to detached duty 
 at this same arsenal at Augusta ; he 
 may have wanted to see his old room- 
 mate, but more than likely he pined 
 for sight of Miss Cecelia. However, 
 if he sang the old love song over again, 
 her answer was the same, and here was 
 one citadel, at least, that an irrepres- 
 sible West Pointer could not take by 
 storm. 
 
 So with Dick Garnett, a noble son 
 of old Virginia, who could trace his 
 ancestry back to Adam; but he was 
 on a salary that would little more 
 than care for two. Miss Cecelia's 
 
 GKN. MARCELLUS A. STOVALL, roommate 
 at West Point of Gen. Wm. T. Sherman, who 
 became the sweetheart of Miss Cecelia Sto- 
 vall.
 
 240 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 proud parent, Pleasant Stovall, once 
 a resident of Athens, desired that she 
 should marry a man of wealth and in- 
 fluence. She was forbidden the pleas- 
 ui'e of young Garnett's company and 
 sent to visit relatives in South Caro- 
 lina. There she met Capt. Chas. Shell- 
 man, whose suit was favored by daugh- 
 ter and parent, and so they were mar- 
 ried. 
 
 Lieut. Sherman's stay in Augusta 
 terminated abruptly; in 1850 he mar- 
 ried his adopted father's daughter, 
 Nellie Ewing, and his biographer re- 
 corded many years later that she was 
 his "first love." Marcellus A. Stovall 
 moved to Rome in 1846, and he was 
 soon joined by his young half-brother, 
 George T. Stovall, who became asso- 
 ciate editor of the Rome Courier and 
 was killed at First Manassas. Here 
 the beautiful sister visited them often. 
 
 In 1861 Capt. Chas. Shellman built 
 for his Augusta princess the mansion 
 on the Etowah River, near Carters- 
 ville, known as "Shellman Heights." 
 Three more years passed, until Sher- 
 man's army of human locusts swept 
 down from Chattanooga, trampled on 
 Rome and continued into Bartow 
 County. As the torch brigade set fire 
 to this establishment and that. Gen. 
 Sherman's attention was directed by 
 a fellow oflficer to a fine mansion on a 
 hill. "Looks like the palatial retreat 
 of an old plantation grandee," re- 
 marked this personage. Sherman and 
 his staff went to the place and ad- 
 mired its Colonial columns and its at- 
 mosphere throughout. An old negro 
 mammy sat on the front steps moan- 
 ing her life away. "Oh, Ginrul. whut 
 yo' gwine do? I sholy is glad Missus 
 Cecelia ain't here to see it wid her own 
 eyes!" 
 
 "Miss Cecelia?" queried Gen. Sher- 
 man, as the little hob-goblins began to 
 prance around his memory chest. "Who 
 lives here, auntie?" 
 
 "Missus Shellman, — Ceclia Stovall 
 Shellman, sur, an' she's gone away 
 now, bless her politeness!" 
 
 "My God!" exclaimed the warrior. 
 "Can it be possible?" 
 
 Momentarily he bowed his head, a 
 lump formed in his throat, he swal- 
 lowed hard and his eyes became moist. 
 On learning from the old woman that 
 Mrs. Shellman had sought safety in 
 flight, Gen. Sherman ordered his plun- 
 dering soldiers to restore everything 
 they had taken, and he placed a guard 
 to protect the premises. Then he said, 
 "Auntie, you get word to your mis- 
 tress that she will be perfectly safe in 
 
 returning here, and when you see her, 
 do you hand her this card from me." 
 
 On his card Gen. Sherman had writ- 
 ten, "You once said I would crush an 
 enemy, and you pitied my foe. Do you 
 recall my reply? Although many years 
 have passed, my answer is the same 
 now as then, 'I would ever shield and 
 protect you.' That I have done. For- 
 give me all else. I am only a soldier. 
 
 "W. T. SHERMAN." 
 
 Later came Gen. Joseph Hooker, 
 soon to be cited for bravery in the Bat- 
 tle of Atlanta. Learning the situa- 
 tion, he repeated the orders of Gen. 
 Sherman, shed a tear over a boxwood 
 hedge and departed on the chase which 
 was the forerunner of the famous 
 March to the Sea. 
 
 The armies gone. Miss Cecelia re- 
 turned to Shellman Heights, gazed out 
 over the winding Etowah, and breath- 
 ed a prayer and a poem to friendship. 
 There she passed the rest of her days. 
 On Jan. 1, 1911, fire took Shellman 
 Heights, uninsured, and today the spot 
 is but a shadow of its former self, but 
 it will always live in memory. 
 
 When Gen. Sherman approached Au- 
 gusta from Savannah, the Augustans 
 took their cotton out of the ware- 
 houses and burned it, anticipating that 
 he would destroy everything when he 
 arrived, and preferring to do a part of 
 it themselves. The surprise of every- 
 body was great, therefore, when Gen. 
 Sherman made a detour across the 
 Savannah River into South Carolina 
 and left their beautiful city unmolest- 
 ed. There may have been military 
 reasons, but Augusta folk to this day 
 declare he spared the town because it 
 had been the home of the heroine of 
 his romance at West Point. 
 
 In 1915, faithful to a promise he 
 had made to Miss Cecelia and to him- 
 self, old Uncle Josiah Stovall, the fam- 
 ily slave and master's bodyguard, turn- 
 ed up at the G. A. R. reunion at 
 Washington to thank Gen. Sherman 
 for sparing the home. This old "Ches- 
 terfield in charcoal" carried a carpet 
 bag grip, a heavy hickory cane, and 
 wore a silk hat and a sleek broadcloth 
 Prince Albert coat. His head and chin 
 were full of African cotton and he 
 attracted considerable attention as he 
 tried to get out of the way of traffic. 
 To a policeman he confided that he had 
 come to find Gen. Sherman, and wanted 
 to thank him "in pusson," and to claim 
 a gift he vowed Sherman had promised 
 him.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 241 
 
 "You're out of luck, old man. Gen. 
 Sherman won't be in the parade today. 
 He's been dead nearly 25 years." 
 
 "Oh Lordy, white folks, den dis nig- 
 ger's sholy got to march back to Geor- 
 gia!" 
 
 * t- * 
 
 MARTHA SMITH'S POLITICAL 
 COUP.— In 1844 when pretty Martha 
 Smith was 13 and riding a pony into 
 town to school from her father's home 
 on the Alabama Road, and was begin- 
 ning to "dress up" and attract the 
 boys, she was taken by Col. Smith on 
 a trip to Milledgeville, then capital of 
 the state. Colonel Smith was a mem- 
 ber of the Legislature and as an ardent 
 Whig was boosting the stock of Zach- 
 ary Taylor for President. He was to 
 make a speech at the town hall or 
 opera house, and various speakers 
 were to tell the virtues of Taylor to his 
 Baldwin County friends and any oth- 
 ers who might wish to be enlightened. 
 Now, the indulgent father had bought 
 his daughter a beautiful new hat, of 
 which she was highly proud. He left 
 her shortly before the meeting with a 
 friend stopping at the hotel and the 
 friend escorted her through the town 
 square to a seat in the front of the 
 hall. As the chairman rapped for or- 
 der and introduced Colonel Smith, and 
 a few enthusiasts yelled "Hurrah for 
 Taylor and the Whig Party!" Miss 
 Martha strode down the aisle. She 
 was dressed in a becoming pink and 
 blue frock, and her new hat was the 
 cause of an uproar. Colonel Smith 
 looked embarrassed ; halted for a mo- 
 ment, and a wag rose in his seat and 
 yelled, "Hurrah for Polk and the 
 Democrats!" 
 
 Miss Martha, being for Polk and 
 having that afternoon raced through 
 the nearby stubble fields, had trimmed 
 her bonnet in a garland of pokeber- 
 ries. The meeting broke up in con- 
 fusion ; Polk eventually got the nomi- 
 nation and was elected. The irate 
 father did not speak to his little daugh- 
 ter for a week. 
 
 =!: * * 
 
 JEFFERSON DAVIS ARRESTED 
 BY ROMANS.— Miss Mary W. Noble, 
 of Anniston, Ala., relates the follow- 
 ing unpublished incident of May, 185.5, 
 in which her family, traveling from 
 Reading, Pa., to Rome, lost about 
 $4,000, accused Jefferson Davis, then 
 Secretary of War, of stealing it, and 
 actually had him arrested at Augusta, 
 and consented to his release only after 
 he had shown papers establishing his 
 identity. Mr. Davis had graduated 
 
 from the United States Military Acad- 
 emy at West Point, N. Y., in 1828, 
 and had left his seat in Congress in 
 1847 to enter the Mexican War. His 
 service in this war was so meritorious 
 that when Franklin Pierce was elect- 
 ed President in 1853 he appointed Mr. 
 Davis his Secretary of War, and Mr. 
 Davis held that position until the elec- 
 tion of James Buchanan to the Presi- 
 dency in 1857. 
 
 Miss Mary writes: 
 
 "In 1855, while on a visit to the 
 South, my father, James Noble, Sr., 
 stopped at Rome. My brothers, at 
 Reading, especially Samuel, were anx- 
 ious to obey Horace Greeley's injunc- 
 tion 'Go West, Young Man,' but my 
 father had practically decided to set- 
 tle at Chattanooga, Tenn. However, 
 my father met two old-time Southern 
 gentlemen, formerly of South Carolina 
 — Col, Wade S. Cothran and John 
 Hume, Sr. — who were so courteous and 
 who advanced Rome's glories so ad- 
 mirably that he wrote the boys to put 
 the machinery at Reading on a sailing 
 vessel and bring it to Charleston, 
 whence it could be transported by 
 train and overland to Rome. 
 
 "In May of that year the older boys 
 embarked from Philadelphia for 
 Charleston, and my parents and my- 
 self, Stephen N., then about 10, and 
 my sisters, Jane, Susan, Eliza Jane 
 (Jenny), Josephine and Elizabeth 
 (Lilly), started from the same city to 
 Charleston by train. On reaching 
 Charleston, we discovered that the reg- 
 ular train had left, but that we could 
 be accommodated in a caboose at- 
 tached to a freight train which was 
 going as far as Augusta. It was Sun- 
 day afternoon when we boarded the 
 caboose. We were carrying a large 
 carpet bag filled with valuables, in- 
 cluding about $4,000 with which we 
 expected to start our new inacliine 
 shop and foundry enterprise at Rome. 
 In the caboose with us was an English 
 family on their way to the Duck mines 
 of Tennessee, with whom our parents 
 became friendly because of their own 
 Elnglish birth, and at Branchville. Or- 
 angeburg County, S. C, two quiet, 
 well-dressed gentlemen in civilian 
 clothes, about 50 years of age, board- 
 ed the train as the last ))assengers 
 before Augusta was reached. 
 
 "It was at the suggestion of the 
 conductor that we had determined to 
 travel in the caboose. Our trunks were 
 in the baggage room, and fearing lie 
 would not have enough money to pay 
 our way home, my father had opened
 
 242 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 one of the trunks, removed the carpet 
 hag (which also contained jewelry and 
 papers) and extracted enough in bills 
 to see us all the way. On looking up, 
 we noticed the conductor peering at us 
 through a window. Then the conductor 
 rushed into the baggage room and 
 shouted, 'Hurry up; train's about to 
 leave!' and at the same time grabbed 
 the unlocked trunk and began to pull 
 it out on the platform. My father 
 stopped him long enough to lock the 
 trunk; and then he took the carpet 
 bag into the caboose and put it under 
 the trunks in a compartment which 
 was separated from the seating sec- 
 tion by a thin partition. In the room 
 with the trunks was a bench or a 
 settee, and my sister, Jane, being tired, 
 reclined on it. 
 
 "When the two strangers got on at 
 Branchville, one of them went into 
 the room where my sister was. She 
 arose and came back where we 'Were, 
 and he took the seat behind her, leaned 
 over and apologized for his intrusion, 
 saying he was unaware the room was 
 occupied. He talked pleasantly to her 
 for about ten minutes. 
 
 "About 6 o'clock the next morning 
 we reached Augusta, when lo and be- 
 hold, the carpet bag was gone, and 
 with it our $4,000. Our parents were 
 much excited, and accused the con- 
 ductor, recalling that he had peeked 
 at the valuables through the window, 
 and that he had been in such a hurry 
 to remove the trunk. The conductor 
 denied the charge, and pointing at the 
 two strangers, said, 'There are the 
 thieves.' Suspicion seemed to involve 
 the two, so they were arrested right 
 there on the platform by an officer 
 whom my father had summoned. The 
 strangers politely but with some show 
 of feeling proclaimed their innocence. 
 Quite a scene had been produced and 
 a crowd had gathered. The taller of 
 the two declared, 'Sir, I am Jefferson 
 Davis, Secretary of War, and my com- 
 panion is an officer of the United 
 States army.' They produced papers 
 of identification and were released 
 with an apology from my father, who 
 then proceeded to press the original 
 charge against the conductor. How- 
 ever, the conductor had disappeared, 
 and as our train for northwest Geor- 
 gia was about to leave, we dropped 
 the matter for the time. 
 
 "On reaching Rome we consulted a 
 lawyer, who promised to investigate, 
 but we were strangers in a strange 
 land, our father unknown save through 
 short acquaintance with Col. Cothran, 
 Mr. Hume and a few others; our story 
 
 was doubted and nothing was done. 
 Some time later we received a state- 
 ment by mail, I believe from a Cath- 
 olic priest, to the effect that he had at- 
 tended a conductor following a fatal 
 accident, who had confessed to him 
 on his deathbed that he had passed the 
 carpet bag out of a window to a con- 
 federate between Branchville and Au- 
 gusta. 
 
 "When the Civil War broke out and 
 Mr. Davis was chosen President of 
 the Confederacy, with his headquar- 
 ters at the seat of g'overnment at 
 Montgomery, Ala., the Noble foundry 
 at Rome was taken over for the manu- 
 facture of cannon, and my father had 
 to consult frequently with Mr. Davis 
 at Montgomery concerning orders. Mr. 
 Davis always alluded with a smile to 
 the incident at Augusta and sent his 
 regards to mother and the girls; and 
 my father never failed to respond with 
 a gracious apology and a nice compli- 
 ment on Mr. Davis' fortitude and abil- 
 ity in the trials of the war. 
 
 "In connection with Confederate 
 cannon it may be appropriate to men- 
 tion that Col. Josiah Gorgas, father 
 of Gen. Wm. C. Gorgas, U. S. A., 
 whose engineering skill made possible 
 the Panama Canal, visited Rome fre- 
 quently as chief of ordinance for the 
 Confederate States government, and 
 occupied as the guest of the Noble 
 family the front upstairs room at 304 
 East First St., Rome, which overlooks 
 the First Presbyterian churchyard, 
 and we always called this 'Gorgas 
 room.' Quite a friendship existed be- 
 tween Col. Gorgas and my father, 
 which in after years was cemented 
 between Gen. Gorgas and Robt. E. 
 Noble, a surgeon in the United States 
 Army, and son of George Noble. Dr. 
 Robt. Noble was closely associated with 
 Gen. Gorgas for seven years in Pan- 
 ama, then spent six months with him 
 in South Africa, studying fever causes. 
 The two were on their way to Africa 
 again when Gen. Gorgas was stricken 
 and died in London. My nephew re- 
 mained until after the funeral, then 
 took up his duties as assistant surgeon 
 general of the army with the expedi- 
 tion." 
 
 * * * 
 
 DE LA MESA AND THE TAB- 
 LEAU.— Capt. Chas. A. de la Mesa 
 succeeded Capt. Kyes as reconstruction 
 officer of the United States Army at 
 Rome, and opened up the so-called 
 Freedman's Bureau at 530 Broad St. 
 Here he tried to bring housewives and 
 newly-freed servants into agreement 
 as to what should be paid for services
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 243 
 
 and wash. In the event agreements 
 could not be reached privately, the 
 contestants were hailed before Capt. 
 de la Mesa. Naturally that official's 
 life was full of misery. Clashes be- 
 tween provost guard and citizens were 
 frequent, but not of a serious nature, 
 for it was bad policy for either side 
 to carry a chip on the shoulder.* 
 
 It was reported that Wm. Hemphill 
 Jones had a spat with the captain. It 
 may have been over wash or some- 
 thing else, but Mr. Jones picked up a 
 foot tub or a wash tub and slammed 
 Capt. de la Mesa over the head with 
 it, according to the report. The cap- 
 tain enjoyed a considerable range. He 
 once went to Summerville, and the 
 picture of his leaving resembled that 
 of Wm. J. Burns 50 years later, bid- 
 ding farewell to Marietta. A young- 
 man at Summerville claimed that Capt. 
 de la Mesa insulted or mistreated his 
 sister in some transaction, and pro- 
 ceeded to arm himself. He was halted 
 by the late Jno. W. Maddox, then a 
 resident of the Chattooga town, and 
 Capt. de la Mesa moved on. At Dal- 
 ton Capt. de la Mesa was served with 
 papers in a court action, but explana- 
 tions were made and the case was 
 thrown out. There were other similar 
 incidents in the path of Capt. de la 
 Mesa's duty, concerning which, hap- 
 pily, there is no longer any feeling. 
 
 Capt. de la Mesa hung out a large 
 United States flag in front of the bu- 
 reau, and forced all passersby to sa- 
 lute it. Of course he was acting under 
 orders; Romans made a wide detour. 
 Then came the tableau in May, 1867, — 
 an intensely "dramatic" affair. 
 
 In order to replace pews in the local 
 churches and to repair other damage 
 done by the Northern soldiers,** the 
 female members of the congregations 
 had formed a society to present tab- 
 leaux at the old city hall, southwest 
 corner of Broad Street and Fifth Ave- 
 nue, where the Fifth Avenue Drug 
 Company is now located. On this par- 
 ticular occasion the managers were 
 
 *Capt. De ]a Mesa is supposed to have come 
 from Brooklyn, N. Y., an<l to have been a 
 nsilive of Spain. He had a dauprhter, Miss 
 Leila de la Mesa, who married A. C. Fetterolf, 
 of Upper Montclair. N. .J. At the time of her 
 marriaKe. the family wrote to Rome for a 
 picture of the old Kreedmen's Bureau, and the 
 request was complied with by Mrs. Ed Harris. 
 Capt. de la Mesa died a jrood many years aRo, 
 and it is understood that his widow remarried. 
 
 **Quite a while after the war, the Gov- 
 ernment sent a representative to Rome to as- 
 sess the damage done the First Baptist church. 
 Hearings were held at this institution, and 
 some spicy comments were made by the women 
 who testified, notably Mrs. Eben Hillyer. An 
 award of about .$600 was recommended to 
 WashinRton, and this amount paid the church. 
 
 Mrs. J. M. Gregory, Mrs. M. A. Nevin 
 and Miss Mary W. Noble, and they 
 received a surprise and shock when 
 Capt. de la Mesa bought tickets for 
 himself and his beautiful brunette 
 wife, and planted himself in his mili- 
 tary trappings on a front seat. The 
 following is a summary of two ac- 
 counts of the affair: 
 
 "The audience filed in, some of the 
 young women with noses pretty high in 
 the air at sight of the 'intruders.' The 
 tableau was 'The Officer's Funeral,' 
 and all went well for a while. The 
 de la Mesas enjoyed the first part and 
 applauded liberally. A little play pre- 
 ceded the tableau, in which " Mrs. 
 Hiram D. Hill (then Florence Mitch- 
 ell, daughter of Col. Daniel R. Mitch- 
 ell), played the part of the Irish Maid 
 of Coi'k, thrummed a piece on her 
 guitar and was wooed by the hero. 
 
 "Then — bless Patsy! — the fireworks! 
 The curtain went up on the tableau 
 in question. There stood 'Ferd' 
 Hutchings, Dave Powers, 'Billy' Gib- 
 bons, 'Tal' Wells and Leonidas Timo- 
 leon Mitchell. 'Coon' Mitchell, by the 
 way, was a son of old Daniel R. and 
 the very man who had carried Gen. 
 Neal Dow, the famous Maine aboli- 
 tionist, to Libby Prison, Richmond, 
 from Mobile. All the others had 
 fought the 'Yankees' with the Rome 
 Light Guards. And now they had the 
 temerity to stand up before the 'Yan- 
 kee' reconstruction officer in their uni- 
 forms of gray! Furthermore, the of- 
 ficer's casket was draped in a battle- 
 torn Confederate flag, the property of 
 Col. Sam Gibbons, father of Billy. Com- 
 pleting the scene were Miss Belle Lo- 
 gan as the widow, and Mrs. Hill's 
 niece, little Irene Hicks, as the orphan. 
 
 "Capt. de la Mesa began to boil; his 
 wife reddened sympathetically as the 
 boys began to sing that famous and 
 heart-touching song, 'The Officer's Fu- 
 neral :' 
 
 'Hark, 'tis the shrill trumpet calling. 
 
 It pierceth the soft summer air. 
 And a tear from each comrade is fall- 
 ing.— 
 The widow and orphan are there; 
 The bayonets earthward are turning 
 And the drums' muffled sound rolls 
 around. 
 But hears not the voice of tlieir 
 mourning. 
 Nor awakes to the shrill bugle sound. 
 
 'Sleep, soldier, though many regret 
 thee 
 Who stand by thy cold bier today. 
 Soon, soon will the kindest forget thee,
 
 244 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 And thy name from the earth pass 
 away ; 
 The man thou didst love as a brother, 
 A friend in thy place will have 
 gained, 
 Thy dog will keep watch for another 
 And thy steed by a stranger be 
 reined. 
 
 'Though many now mourn for thee 
 sadly. 
 Soon joyous as ever shall be, 
 Thy bright orphan boy will laugh 
 gladly 
 As he sits on some kind comrade's 
 knee; 
 There is one who will still pay the 
 duty 
 Of tears to the true and the brave, 
 As first in the bloom of her beauty, 
 She knelt by her boy soldiers' grave!' 
 
 "Miss Ford stepped from behind the 
 arras and sang 'The Jacket of Gray,' 
 and as she concluded, with the line 
 'Fold it up carefully, lay it aside!' 
 she lifted a soiled and thread-bare coat 
 into full view of the audience. A 
 shower of applause followed. The de 
 la Mesas boiled over, and trudged out 
 of the hall, to the accompaniment of 
 a perfect chorus of boos and cat-calls, 
 and a shrill defi flung above the tumult 
 by a young 'Rebel,' 'Go it; that's not 
 the first time you ever ran from that 
 flag!' 
 
 "'Delia Meezer, lemon squeezer!' 
 shouted an impertinent little boy. 
 
 "This 'good riddance of bad rub- 
 bish' (as the players expressed it) 
 was thought to have ended the inci- 
 dent, but not so. Capt. de la Mesa 
 sent a hot message to headquarters in 
 Atlanta, making a charge of high trea- 
 son, and requesting a company of sol- 
 diers to spirit away the culprits. In 
 the meantime, the Federal commander 
 had recognized all the ofl'enders and 
 had clapped handcuff's on each and 
 marched them to the guard room in the 
 courthouse between files of troopers 
 with fixed bayonets. Several of the 
 young women went to the 'prison' to 
 console the boys, and one of them, un- 
 accustomed to Federal uniforms, asked 
 quite audibly, 'Do all these dogs wear 
 collars?' The cordon around the pris- 
 oners was only drawn the tighter. 
 
 "After the boys had spent a night 
 thus, a company of 59 soldiers from 
 Atlanta appeared at the Rome rail- 
 road station, marched up Broad Street 
 with bayonets fixed, and escorted the 
 'prisoners' and Capt. de la Mesa to 
 the station, where they caught the 
 next train for the state capital. A 
 
 tremendous crowd gathered and sul- 
 lenly watched their friends and their 
 enemies go away. De la Mesa turned 
 back at Kingston. He had obtained 
 the services of another company or 
 part thereof somewhere, and these 
 escorted him back to Rome, and for 
 several days kept watch over him and 
 his bureau, until the excitement had 
 subsided. Henry A. Smith, bookseller 
 who had lost an arm in the war, was 
 due to have been arrested, too, but he 
 had prudently gone to visit relatives 
 up the Etowah river. The women, 
 also, it was rumored, would be held 
 as traitors. 
 
 "Col. Mitchell got on the train with 
 the intention of going to Savannah to 
 protest with Judge Erskine, of the 
 P'ederal Court. Instead, he wired 
 Judge Erskine from Atlanta. The 
 two got into touch with Gen. John 
 Pope, commander of the district, and 
 a release order came within three 
 weeks. However, the order did not 
 forestall serious indignities to the 
 captives, who had been confined in a 
 miserable pen or cage. They were 
 taunted and cursed by their captors, 
 who prodded with bayonets gifts of 
 sweetmeats sent by relatives and sym- 
 pathizing friends, and forced them to 
 eat the poorly prepared food that had 
 been provided for them. 
 
 "A telegram announced the release to 
 Romans, and a huge crowd welcomed 
 the boys at the station, and a supper 
 at the City Hall softened the sting of 
 their humiliation and enabled them to 
 chalk up the event as one of fate's 
 weird pranks." 
 
 Mrs. Hiram Hill adds the following: 
 
 "Our home in the Fourth Ward had 
 been divested of its sides, blinds, 
 doors, plastering and everything that 
 the Union soldiers could tear down or 
 carry away, and we had gone to live 
 at the old Buena Vista Hotel, south- 
 west corner of Broad and Sixth Ave- 
 nue, where Seale & Floyd's garage and 
 a grocery store now are. My father 
 owned this place and occupied a small 
 one-story house on the west side of 
 it as his law office. Mrs. de la Mesa 
 had been coming to the hotel from next 
 door to give instructions to a Rome 
 woman who was sewing for her, and 
 when I saw her after my brother's 
 arrest, I told her to get out of the 
 hotel and istay out. She sent nte 
 word that she would march me up 
 and down Broad Street in charge of 
 two soldiers and under a United States 
 flag. I defied her to try it, and she
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 245 
 
 THE FREEDMEN'S BUREAU ON BROAD STREET. 
 
 This structure, still standing near Sixth Avenue, was the headquarters of Capt. 
 Chas. A. de le Mesa during the Civil War. Capt. de la Mesa participated in a number 
 of hair raising episodes. Rome's oldest brick building is at the right. 
 
 never did. There would have been a 
 lot more trouble in Rome, Ga. 
 
 "I suppose Capt. de la Mesa v\^as 
 carrying out orders and ruled sternly 
 for that reason. He and his wife im- 
 pressed me as people of refinement, 
 and I was especially struck with her 
 beauty and the style of her clothes." 
 
 :!: ^: :!: 
 
 A DRAMATIC SCENE. — When 
 William Smith entered his last illness 
 in January, 1852, he summoned several 
 friends whom he wished to transact 
 certain business matters for him re- 
 lating to his property in Rome. While 
 they were still with him in the cot- 
 tage on Howard Street where he died, 
 he raised himself to his feet by hold- 
 ing to his chair, and said: 
 
 "Gentlemen, you will have to help 
 me to my bed. I have done all that 
 I can do for myself," 
 
 They assisted him, and when he was 
 comfortably stretched out, he con- 
 tinued: 
 
 "I am not a member of any church, 
 but I have done the best I could in 
 this life. Whatever I have had has 
 belonged to the people of this commu- 
 nity. No man has ever been turned 
 away hungry from my door if I had 
 anything to divide with him. 
 
 "You gentlemen know that I have 
 served this section, and if my body is 
 of any use to science, I ask you to 
 take it when I am gone." 
 
 Col. Smith had waited for Col. Al- 
 fred Shorter to come, so they could 
 have a settlement with resi)ect to the 
 property they owned equally. Col. 
 Shorter sent his representative, Col. 
 C. M. Pennington, to see Col. Smith. 
 
 "I am glad to see you, Col. Pen- 
 nington," declared Col." Smith, "but I 
 sent for Col. Shorter." 
 
 Col. Pennington delivered the mes- 
 sage promptly a second time, and it 
 was 24 hours before Col. Shorter found 
 it convenient to come. When he ar- 
 rived, Col. Smith raised himself on his 
 left elbow, and with his right hand 
 reached under his pillow. Col. Shorter 
 drew back and Col. Pennington step- 
 ped between them. During one of 
 Col. Smith's naps Mrs. Smith, the 
 wife, had removed his pistol. 
 
 "Alfred Shorter, you are a rascal!" 
 .shouted Col. Smith, the old-time fire 
 flashing from his small, black eyes. 
 "This is a fine time to come to see 
 a man — on his death bed!" 
 
 Shortly before noon the next day, 
 Jan. 27, Col. Smith died. Only a few 
 days before, his grandson, William 
 Cephas, had been born to Dr. ami iMrs. 
 Robt. Battey. 
 
 The Widow Baldwin, whom Col. 
 Shorter had married at Monticello, 
 placed at his disposal .$10. ()()() in cash, 
 a handsome fortune in tliose days of 
 low values. Col. Shorter brought this 
 to Rome with him at the instance of 
 Col. Smith, and invested it in the land 
 which Col. Smith had acquired, and 
 made certain improvements thereon. 
 Col. Smith's energy and Col. Shorter's 
 long business head made an ideal 
 combination, and their partnershii) 
 interests grew rapidly- After the 
 Civil War, Col. Shorter settled 
 with Mrs. Battey, the daughter, for 
 $1(),()00 cash, and took her receipt. 
 
 It was a satisfactory ending of an 
 unfortunate affair, and left Col.
 
 246 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Shorter free to conserve his part, 
 most of which went to Shorter College 
 for the education of young women of 
 the South.* 
 
 HENRY W. GRADY AT ROME.— 
 
 As a youth, Henry Woodfin Grady 
 had visited his uncle, Henry A. Gart- 
 rell, in Rome, and thence had gone 
 to see another branch of his family 
 at Floyd Springs.** Capt. Gartrell re- 
 moved' to Athens in 1865, after hav- 
 ing served Rome as mayor in 1859-60. 
 Pleasant recollections of Rome and a 
 chance visit with the Georgia Press 
 excursion in 1869 caused Mr. Grady 
 to anchor his quill, paste pot and 
 shears at the foot of Tower Hill for 
 three years. 
 
 Col. E. Hulbert, superintendent of 
 the W. & A. (state) Railroad, had in- 
 vited the Georgia press to send rep- 
 resentatives for an excursion into 
 Southeastern Tennessee, Northwest 
 Georgia and Northeastern Alabama, to 
 write up the natural resources of 
 those sections. The excursion started 
 from Atlanta at 7 a. m., Wednesday, 
 August 25, 1869. At Cartersville the 
 members were addressed on the sub- 
 ject of minerals, agriculture and the 
 new railroad to Van Wert, Polk 
 County, by Mark A. Cooper, grand- 
 father of J. Paul Cooper and father 
 of John Frederick Cooper, of Rome. 
 Thence they went to Chattanooga, 100 
 strong. Then they turned southward, 
 and arrived at Rome via the Rome 
 Railroad, on their special train, at 
 1:30 a. m., Friday, Sept. 3. 
 
 True to the spirit of newspaper en- 
 terprise, young Grady, then only 19, 
 rushed to the sanctum of Editor Mel- 
 ville Dwinell, of the Rome Weekly 
 Courier. The hour was unearthly, yet 
 the editor had remained at his desk to 
 "cover" the momentous event of the 
 arrival of the excursionists. Capt. 
 Dwinell stated that he had left a col- 
 umn open. Mr. Grady declared a col- 
 umn would hardly start the story he 
 bore, so Capt. Dwinell side-tracked 
 some of his livest news and no doubt 
 a few advertisements. Mr. Grady had 
 been writing his "yarn" on the train. 
 He continued it for an hour, and for 
 good measure threw in an optimistic 
 editorial squib. A faithful printer 
 hand-set type the balance of the night 
 and The Courier woke up the citizens 
 with Mr. Grady's remarkable narra- 
 tive. It was a sample of journalistic 
 endeavor to which the quiet Hill City 
 had not been accustomed. 
 
 Grady's wonderful speech, "The 
 New South," delivered before the New 
 
 England Society of New York, N. Y., 
 Dec. 22, 1886, is well known. At 
 Rome on this occasion, however, he ap- 
 pears to have struck his original "New 
 South" note, as follows: 
 
 "Every citizen of Cherokee Georgia 
 has long been convinced that our min- 
 eral resources are unsurpassed, and 
 all that was wanting was for some- 
 one to make a start, and induce men 
 of means to come among, to aid in 
 developing the same. . . . Our broth- 
 ers of the quill will now have some- 
 thing interesting to write about and 
 for a while, at least, will devote their 
 time to something more substantial 
 than politics, and of infinitely more 
 advantage to our bankrupt people. It 
 is refreshing to see men of all politi- 
 cal shades quietly traveling together, 
 and for once making a united effort 
 to forget political differences, and to 
 lend their efforts to the more laudable 
 cause of developing the great wealth 
 that nature had bestowed upon us. 
 Cuffee for once has been forgotten. 
 The splendid scenery of our moun- 
 tains and valleys, with the battlefields, 
 which give us a prominent place in 
 history, has made a deep impression 
 upon the minds of all, and proclaims 
 in thunder tones what men will do 
 when pressed to the wall. Mutual 
 forbearance seems to exist, and we 
 predict that in future a better state 
 of sentiment and feeling will prevail." 
 
 At this time, maybe, Grady made 
 arrangements to work for The Cour- 
 ier. The preliminaries may have been 
 started by letter a while before. At 
 any rate, he soon came back. 
 
 At 3 p. m., after a speech by Mayor 
 Zach Hargi-ove and a serenade by a 
 brass band and dinner at the Choice 
 House, the party left for a trip down 
 the Coosa River on the Steamboat 
 Etowah as the guests of Col. Wade 
 S Cothran. After inspecting the 
 Round Mountain and Cornwall, Ala., 
 iron works, they came back to Rome 
 Sunday on the Etowah, put up at the 
 Choice House and Monday morning at 
 9 left by rail for Selma, Ala. Wed- 
 nesday morning at 6:30 the editors re- 
 turned to Rome, had breakfast at the 
 Choice House and departed two hours 
 later for Atlanta, where the "junket" 
 
 *Col Pennington was authority for the por- 
 tion of the above narrative relating to the 
 pistol ; he told the story to Judge John C. 
 Printup. Mrs. Robt. Battey was authority tor 
 the statement that Col. Smith sent for Col. 
 Shorter to make a settlement, and that the 
 $10,000 was later paid to her. 
 
 **Doyle A. Moore, of Rome, is kin to the 
 Gradys through this branch.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 247 
 
 ended. On both these stops Mr. Grady 
 fraternized with Editor Dwinell. 
 
 The impelling reason why Grady 
 went to Rome lies largely in the realm 
 of surmise. The lad was possessed of 
 a proud spirit which he called ambi- 
 tion and which a handful of sniping 
 contemporaries, less talented, might 
 have called bumptiousness. He was 
 precocious to the extent that he had 
 become an orator in his knee pants, 
 and he was made to suffer more than 
 once because he pitted his skill against 
 older competitors. Through a politi- 
 cal deal at the University of Virginia 
 he had suffered a keen disappoint- 
 ment, and it is likely that in associat- 
 ing himself as "free-lance" corre- 
 spondent with the Atlanta Constitu- 
 tion he was inviting rebuffs that his 
 gifts did not warrant. The Constitu- 
 tion's editor was Col. Carey W. Styles, 
 an experienced journalist, who, by the 
 way, had been involved in the Yacht 
 Wanderer affair nine years before at 
 Savannah. Col. Styles had sat up with 
 legislators at Milledgeville before 
 Henry Grady had ever thought of 
 them, hence when the dashing young 
 collegian essayed to pass voluminous 
 editorial sentence on a governor or a 
 congressman, it was out of the ques- 
 tion. 
 
 Grady was trying to marry. He 
 was fired with ambition to take the 
 lead in molding public opinion. He 
 enjoyed writing "from the street and 
 hustings," but he preferred the dignity 
 of a job at a desk. Brain work was 
 one thing to Henry Grady, and "leg 
 work" another. The Constitution was 
 a new concern, having been founded 
 in the summer of 18G8, had a full 
 staff, and could not find a regular 
 place for him yet awhile. Further- 
 more, Henry was ambitious enough to 
 believe that what he was writing, 
 mostly of a political nature, was just 
 about as important as anything in the 
 paper, and had as much right to 
 "front page" position as the other 
 stuff they were printing. He believed 
 that an excursion of the state's lead- 
 ing editors was a big news event, and 
 was worth writing columns every day, 
 perhaps. Consequently, he wielded a 
 loquacious pen. The Constitution's tel- 
 egraph tolls became enormous when 
 Press Excursion news started from 
 Cartersville and continued through 
 Chattanooga and Rome. Henry was 
 shooting readable material, but they 
 couldn't see it at the office ; they cut 
 his doipe to the bone and dropped 
 his pen name, "King Hans." In the 
 following fashion did they knock liiiii 
 
 off the limb in a squib of Sept. 10, 
 1869: 
 
 "We are compelled by pressure upon 
 our space to abbreviate and condense 
 the report of the Press Excursion pro- 
 ceedings. Neither the editors nor the 
 proprietors of this paper were pres- 
 ent." 
 
 Wow! that should hold any young 
 man, no matter how brilliant or pro- 
 gressive, in entirely reasonable bounds. 
 
 "Damn 'em, I'll fix 'em!" muttered 
 Henry, who had been introduced by V. 
 A. Gaskell, of the Atlanta New Era, 
 and J. S. Peterson, of the Atlanta In- 
 telligencer, as the Constitution's "rep- 
 resentative" on the editors' jaunt. He 
 shot a wad of his copy at Melville 
 Dwinell, editor of the Rome Weekly 
 Courier, over the signature "Zip." Ed- 
 itor Dwinell ate his contributions with 
 a relish; sometimes they ran several 
 columns long, but it was good read- 
 ing, and it landed Henry a nice job. 
 He put over three columns Sept. 3, 
 and duplicated with three a week 
 later — quite a contribution to a four- 
 page newspaper. 
 
 Right proudly did Capt. Dwinell 
 pave the way for the young literary 
 crusader under date of Friday, Sept. 
 10, 1869: 
 
 "To the Readers of the Courier: 
 With this issue of our paper we pre- 
 sent Mr. Henry W. Grady in the ca- 
 pacity of associate editor. The vigor, 
 versatility and polish of his pen has 
 recently been exhibited in his corre- 
 spondence for the Atlanta Constitution 
 over the nom de plume of 'King Hans,' 
 and we may reasonal)ly hope with his 
 assistance to materially increase the 
 interest of these columns. Feeling con- 
 fident that this effort to interest and 
 please will be successful, we let Mr. 
 Grady make his own bow to the pub- 
 lic— M. Dwinell." 
 
 Mr. Grady's bow follows : 
 "The above notice renders necessary 
 the infliction of a salutatory upon 
 you. We shall be as brief as possible. 
 We are young and without editorial 
 judgment or experience, yet we hope 
 that the enthusiasm with which wo en- 
 ter upon our new profession and the 
 constant labor with which we are de- 
 termined to bend to our work may par- 
 tially, at least, atone for these de- 
 ficiencies. 
 
 "The Courier shall be in the future, 
 so far as our management is concern- 
 ed, devoted as it has l)een in the past 
 to the dissemination of useful and in- 
 teresting information, to the bold as-
 
 248 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 sertion and maintenance of correct po- 
 litical opinions and to the development 
 of the best interests of the commu- 
 nity. 
 
 "We enter the editorial ranks of the 
 state with ill feeling' toward none, but 
 with kindness toward all. We shall 
 cheerfully and with vigor co-operate 
 with the press in the furtherance of 
 any project which tends toward good, 
 and we shall endeavor with courtesy 
 and politeness to adjust nicely any dif- 
 ferences of opinion which may arise 
 between us and any of our contem- 
 poraries. 
 
 "Begging in conclusion that the 
 justice you render us may be tempered 
 with mercy, we don our harness and 
 enter the lists. 
 
 "Most respectfully yours, 
 
 "HENRY W. GRADY." 
 
 The young journalist's "bold asser- 
 tion of correct political opinions" found 
 expression in the same issue of The 
 Courier in the following editorial 
 broadside leveled at Governor Rufus 
 B. Bullock, who also was a guest on 
 the Press Excursion : 
 
 "His Accidency." — " 'We were de- 
 lighted with Governor Bullock — he is 
 the right man in the right place, and 
 will do all that any man could do to 
 restore Georgia to her former condi- 
 tion of peace and prosperity.' " — Talla- 
 dega Sun. 
 
 "The above tribute to the accident 
 that now occupies the Gubernatorial 
 Chair, though clipped from a Radical 
 paper and written by a Radical re- 
 porter, whose official duty it was to 
 become enamored of the Accident and 
 all of his party, has a considerable 
 significance notwithstanding. 
 
 "The truth of the matter is that 
 any man who knows nothing of Bul- 
 lock's political filthiness will inevit- 
 ably become 'delighted with him,' etc. 
 We have never, in the whole course of 
 our life, seen a man who was gifted 
 with so great an amount of beguiling 
 blarney as is this man. Present him 
 to a Democrat and the sweetness of 
 his countenance is absolutely appall- 
 ing; infinite smiles ripple over his 
 cheeks and break in soft laughter on 
 his lips; a thousand and one benevo- 
 lent sparkles are beamed from his 
 eyes; his nostrils play with kindly pal- 
 pitations, and — believe me, for I tell 
 ye the truth — his whiskers resolve 
 themselves into a standing committee 
 to invite you just to walk down into 
 his heart and take a place in that 
 
 large and open receptacle. Oh, his 
 face is tremendously delusive! 
 
 "We were presented to him, and 
 went to the presentation primed with 
 about a dozen pardon proclamations, 
 and about three of his reports on the 
 condition of Georgia. We had serious- 
 ly contemplated taking a friend along 
 to prevent the murderous onslaught, 
 which we were afraid our outraged 
 feelings would urge us to make upon 
 the Accident when introduced to it. 
 And lo! when the crisis came we found 
 ourself basking calmly beneath his ra- 
 diant countenance like a rose beneath 
 an April sky. A clear voice saluted 
 us with a dreamy kind of tenderness, 
 and we found ourself exclaiming, 
 'Surely this man is not our enemy!' 
 
 "We looked for the famous 'sinister 
 expression' which, according to novel- 
 ists, invariably resides about the nose 
 and eyes of a villain. But we found 
 it not; the nose possessed a very mild 
 curvative, and the eyes were gushing 
 with cheery good humor. Instantly, as 
 a last resort, we had to commence 
 recounting his crimes, in order to pro- 
 tect ourself against his blandish- 
 ments, and actually had to come down 
 to the appointment of Foster Blodgett 
 before we could sufficiently hate him 
 to satify our Democratic conscience. 
 How deep down and how effectually 
 does this man hide his rascality! 
 
 "So much the more dangerous is he. 
 No man who visits him, without about 
 one-third of his political villainies full 
 in view, is safe. Beware, then, of this 
 mermaid with a siren voice — he will 
 laugh welcome in your face, and then 
 pardon the brute that ravished your 
 sister. He is far more dangerous than 
 Swayze — though the latter is his supe- 
 rior in force — for in the eye of the lat- 
 ter there is a warning that puts us 
 upon guard. 
 
 "A child is never hurt by a poison- 
 ous toad ; it is the bright serpent, with 
 its spots of purple and gold, that 
 charms and slays him. We do not 
 fear the uncouth ruffian that is with 
 hideous leer distorted, but the soft and 
 supple gentleman scoundrel that 'can 
 smile and smile, and play the villain 
 still.' " 
 
 Other public officials on the Press 
 Excursion escaped the darts of young 
 Mr. Grady. They included Mayor Hul- 
 sey, of Atlanta, Comptroller General 
 Madison Bell, R. L. McWhorter, speak- 
 er of the house; and Senators Smith, 
 Candler and Nunnally. 
 
 Evidently the following item Grady 
 wrote for The Courier on Friday, Sep-
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 249 
 
 tember 10, was prompted by a pang 
 of conscience: 
 
 "We hereby announce to our read- 
 ers that we shall not say another 
 word about the Press Excursion. We 
 enjoyed it and 'developed' everything 
 we saw, and now we are done with it. 
 Not another remark shall we make 
 about it. If information about it is 
 wanted by any who may not have seen 
 our notices as yet, we refer them to 
 our back files." 
 
 It is significant that on the same 
 day Grady penned the following in re- 
 sponse to a jibe from the Savannah 
 News: 
 
 "This excellent but sometimes impru- 
 dent newspaper makes a bold attack 
 upon us concerning an article of ours 
 on the Press Excursion. We would 
 answer the charges contained therein, 
 but we promised our readers in our 
 last issue not to write anything more 
 concerning the excursion. To this 
 promise our contemporary owes its fu- 
 ture salvation. For, were our hands 
 not bound by that promise, we would 
 just tear The News all to pieces! So 
 return thanks. Brother Thompson, for 
 your narrow escape." 
 
 As a reporter he showed the same 
 enterprise and aptitude as in his ed- 
 itorial work. On Nov. 12, 1869, he 
 published this : 
 
 "Fights, Robberies, Shooting. — A 
 sable son of Africa was tickled by a 
 bullet from the pistol of Col. Sam 
 Stewart, because he struck Col. Stew- 
 art. Another African was perforated 
 in four places, through the arm and 
 shoulder, by a leaden messenger from 
 Col. Stewart — cause, not known. 
 
 "A Mr. Neph was robbed of $500 in 
 money and a $1,000 check last night 
 by a thief who entered his room at the 
 Choice House. 
 
 "A few episodical but very interest- 
 ing fights took place last night among 
 the 'boys.' No serious damage report- 
 ed. Mr. C. W. Nowlin was robbed of 
 his watch and chain Wednesday night. 
 There were many other fights, rob- 
 beries and drunks which happened 
 around loose that we wot not of, and 
 that deserve no mention in this paper. 
 Verily, Rome is getting to be as nice 
 a city as Atlanta." 
 
 Although Mr. Grady was fond of 
 Capt. Dwinell, he chafed at the su- 
 pervision over his copy and destinies 
 in The Courier office ; it is also re- 
 lated that he became irritated that 
 he was not allowed to expose a petty 
 local political ring, so we find him 
 
 leaving The Courier July 31, 1870, to 
 assume the proprietorship of the Rome 
 Weekly Commercial. So quietly had 
 his plans been laid that his name ap- 
 peared on the masthead of The Cour- 
 ier as associate editor and on the mast- 
 head of The Commercial as editor on 
 the same date. 
 
 Capt. Dwinell then wrote: 
 
 "To the Patrons of The Courier:— 
 By the following card it will be seen 
 that a change has been made in the 
 associate editorship of this paper. The 
 relations of the paper with Mr. Grady, 
 who now retires from The Courier to 
 take charge of The Commercial, have 
 been entirely pleasant and we regi-et 
 to lose his valuable services. We wish 
 him abundant success in his new field 
 of labor. Col. B. F. Sawyer, for some 
 time past editor of the Rome Daily, 
 a gentleman of high literary reputa- 
 tion and considerable editorial experi- 
 ence, takes his place. We have no 
 doubt The Courier will be fully sus- 
 tained in its previous position as a 
 readable newspaper." 
 
 Col. Sawyer's salutatory reads thus: 
 "I this day assume editorial control 
 of The Courier. It shall be my con- 
 stant aim to sustain The Courier in 
 
 HF:NRY WOODKIN GRADY, omtor, who 
 started his journalistic career in Ronio and 
 brouKht his bride there to reside.
 
 250 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 the high position of popular favor it 
 has heretofore enjoyed. Should I suc- 
 ceed in this, I shall be contented, and 
 the patrons of The Courier can ask 
 no more." 
 
 Mr. Grady wrote : 
 
 "To the Patrons of The Courier: 
 Having been called to another field of 
 labor, my connection with The Cour- 
 ier ceases with this issue. I will say 
 nothing of the sadness I feel in break- 
 ing loose from the old Courier — noth- 
 ing of the honest courtesy and kind- 
 ness of the proprietor, who has been 
 my friend and counsellor through thick 
 and thin; because these things be- 
 long not to the public, nor do they in- 
 terest the public. But I feel that I 
 would be lacking in gratitude did I 
 not express my thanks to those of you 
 who have encouraged me with your 
 kind words and approving patronage 
 during this, the first year of my ed- 
 itorial life. Tendering you my most 
 sincere acknowledgments, I remain, 
 "Yours very truly, 
 "HENRY W. GRADY." 
 
 Henry Grady and his younger broth- 
 er. Will S. Grady, ran The Daily Com- 
 mercial* as editor and business man- 
 ager, respectively. Associated with 
 them for part of this time was Col. 
 J. F. Shanklin, the firm name being 
 Grady Brothers & Shanklin. Some of 
 Mr. Grady's best work appeared dur- 
 ing this period. Col. Sawyer was a 
 peppery old fellow, and he and Grady 
 had many an epistolary interchange 
 which old timers say came near re- 
 sulting in a duel, but Mr. Grady's 
 diplomacy turned trouble into smiles. 
 
 A free-hearted fellow was Henry 
 Grady. He gave liberally to old ne- 
 groes to get their anecdotes or stories 
 of their lives, and traversed many an 
 untraveled thoroughfare to obtain a 
 glimpse of types which the average 
 man of his sphere seldom sees in their 
 element. He had been accustomed to 
 everything that money could buy, 
 hence did not deny his friends any- 
 thing he could possibly bestow upon 
 them. He was fond of candy, and so 
 were the neighborhood children; so 
 was the blushing bride when she 
 finally arrived; a confectioner kept all 
 kinds near the newspaper office, so 
 Henry would now and then run up a 
 bill of $15 or more. 
 
 It is noteworthy that, although he 
 started using the nom de plume "King 
 Hans" early in 1869, he did not ob- 
 tain real authority to do so until two 
 years later. This cognomen was a 
 
 combination of his first name and the 
 last name of his sweetheart in Ath- 
 ens, to whom we can fancy hearing 
 him say: 
 
 "Well, Julia, I will use your name 
 with mine, since you will not let me 
 change it for a while." 
 
 Henry worked industriously; he 
 could afford matrimony, or thought he 
 could, in the fall of 1871, and so they 
 were married, and came to the old 
 Wood home, at the northwest corner 
 of Broad Street and Sixth Avenue, to 
 reside. Some say they lived first at 
 the southeast corner of Third Avenue 
 and East First Street, where the of- 
 fice of the Harbin Hospital now 
 stands. At any rate, Henry had been 
 "batching it" here and there, and at 
 one time had boarded with Mrs. W. 
 W. Watters; and his first cousin, Wm. 
 C. Grady, Roman in the iron business, 
 had boarded there at the same time. 
 A Roman who had been his roommate 
 at Athens also acted as a groomsman 
 at his wedding — Col. Hamilton Yan- 
 cey. Another Roman, Rev. George T. 
 Goetchius, pastor of the First Pres- 
 byterian church, had been his class- 
 mate through four pleasant years. 
 
 The newspaper business is not al- 
 ways remunerative. The Gradys and 
 Col. Shanklin had been publishing a 
 paper that in that day would be call- 
 ed "jam-up." Thev had bought it in 
 July, 1870, from Mitchell A. Nevin, 
 who appeared to be glad to sell. Soon 
 it was "jam-up" against the wall, so 
 they poured it back into the jug. 
 Mitchell A. Nevin was willing to try 
 it again. 
 
 Just when the Gradys relinquished 
 hold is problematical. The Atlanta 
 Constitution recorded that on May 8, 
 1872, Mr. Grady represented The Com- 
 mercial and Capt. Dwinell The Cour- 
 ier at the Press Convention in Atlan- 
 ta. Col. Carey W. Styles had gone 
 in June, 1871, to the Albany News 
 from the editorial chair of The Con- 
 stitution, and had been succeeded by 
 Col. I. W. Avery, who later wrote an 
 entertaining history of Georgia. On 
 Nov. 5, 1872, The Constitution noted 
 the sale of The Commercial by Grady 
 Brothers & Shanklin to Nevin & Co., 
 and a coup-d'etat by Capt. Dwinell 
 in announcing the addition of Major 
 Chas. H. Smith (Bill Arp) to The 
 Courier staff. The Nov. 10, 1872, is- 
 
 ♦This was Rome's first daily, and it was es- 
 tablished by M. A. Nevin. A number bearing 
 date of Friday, June 28, 1871, with the mast- 
 head carrying the names of the Gradys as ed- 
 itor and business manager and Col. Shanklin 
 as managing editor, is still in existence.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 251 
 
 sue of the Atlanta Herald was vicious- 
 ly attacked by The Constitution for its 
 "sensational New York journalism." 
 Since Mr. Grady started The Herald 
 soon after his removal from Rome, it 
 is more than likely that he left the 
 Hill City and was presiding over the 
 destinies of the new Atlanta paper at 
 this time. 
 
 In leaving Rome, this adventurous 
 young journalist and budding orator 
 managed to elude a battery of bill col- 
 lectors and bailiffs by giving up his 
 trunk. The trunk was finally re- 
 leased and put in storage several 
 months; John Webb, a friend, paid the 
 storage charges and sent Henry his 
 trunk and "wardrobe." The wedding 
 silver escaped, for it had gone tem- 
 porarily with Mrs. Grady to the home 
 of Dr. and Mrs. Robert Battey at the 
 easternmost end of First Avenue. Hard 
 lines for the young couple, just start- 
 ing life's struggle, but they never gave 
 up, and lived to speak in a philosophi- 
 cal and humorous vein of their early 
 experiences. 
 
 Henry was persistently hounded by 
 this motley pack, to the point where 
 his friends claim he was literally run 
 away from Rome — to make famous an- 
 other town. These incidents did not 
 embitter him; they came to him as 
 part of the game of life, and when the 
 years had removed from his memory 
 the grim faces of his nemesises, he 
 often commented on his pleasant recol- 
 lections of the sublimated Seven Hills. 
 
 From the top of the editorial and 
 oi'atorical perch, with the plaudits of 
 the thousands ringing in his ears and 
 his own image deeply graven on their 
 hearts, it was truly a retrospective pic- 
 ture in a golden frame. He thought 
 of the time when he used to scribble 
 news notes on his cuffs, which neces- 
 sitated changing shirts every day; 
 when "Uncle Remus" came unan- 
 nounced to Rome and found him rid- 
 ing a "flying Jenny;" when he bought 
 a dozen pairs of scissors and set every- 
 body in the office to clipping an ar- 
 ticle out of each copy of the paper 
 in order not to offend a lady. 
 
 Rome reciprocated this feeling of 
 love by sending a beautiful wreath 
 May 24, 1921, to Atlanta to adorn his 
 monument as orators extolled him; and 
 Romans reciprocate it every day of 
 their lives. 
 
 ROME STORIES OF GRADY.— 
 Mrs. Samuel C. Whitmire, of New- 
 York, N. Y., formerly of Everett 
 Springs, tells this one: "Mr. Grady 
 
 used to visit a relative, a Mrs. Bal- 
 lenger, at Floyd Springs. A neighbor- 
 hood story has it that on a trip across 
 the Oostanaula after he had failed to 
 catch any fish he had found a net full 
 that belonged to a farmer living near- 
 by. Going to Farmer Corntassel's 
 house, he said, 'My friend, I have 
 taken your fish and I want you to 
 take my dollar. I know better than 
 to go home without any fish.' He had 
 great consideration for older people, 
 and spent much time talking to de- 
 crepit darkies, from whom he received 
 many inspirations for editorials." 
 
 A. Rawlins, former mayor of North 
 Rome, and father-in-law of Chas. T. 
 Jervis, relates the following anecdote: 
 
 "I came down from North Rome one 
 day to pay my subscription to Mr. 
 Grady's paper when his office was 
 about the middle of the Hotel Forrest 
 block on Broad. I found him standing 
 in a stairway and I announced my in- 
 tention. He looked at me hard and 
 said: *Mr. Rawlins, you say you 
 came to pay a subscription?' 
 
 " 'Yes.' 
 
 " 'Do you really mean that you vol- 
 untarily want to pay a subscription to 
 this newspaper?' 
 
 '"That's right.' 
 
 " 'Then I must say that you are to 
 be commended as the first man I have 
 met in this community who wanted to 
 do that. I have worn out $49 worth 
 of shoe leather calling on the others.' " 
 
 Chas. W. Morris, real estate deal- 
 er of 300 W. Fifth Avenue and father 
 of Paul I. Morris, tells this story: 
 
 "When I was a youngster, Henry 
 Grady used to buy two cakes of soap 
 every now and then and take me 
 down to the wash-hole at the foot of 
 Fourth Avenue, Etowah River, and go 
 in washing with me. He was chunky 
 and a good swimmer, but not much on 
 diving. This was the shallow place 
 where the downtown boys used to wade 
 across after a session of play at the 
 Gammon home nearby. Mr. Grady also 
 went in at Seventh Avenue on the 
 Oostanaula. Before he married he had 
 a room upstairs near the newspaper 
 plant, on Broad Stiect in the Hotel 
 Forrest block." 
 
 Judge Max Meyerhaidt relates this: 
 
 "Mr. Grady was editor, reporter and 
 everything that his brother Will (bus- 
 iness manager) wasn't. He wore white 
 shirts that he changed every 24 liours 
 because his cuffs were full of news- 
 paper notes taken during the day. He 
 was liberal, even extravagant, and did
 
 252 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 not develop much business ability in 
 Rome; he and his bride were fond of 
 candy, and he often owed an indulgent 
 confectioner $15 at a time. He was 
 literally run out of town by bailiffs 
 serving: attachments on him, and they 
 even seized his trunk when he left for 
 Atlanta." 
 
 J. A. Rounsaville remembers him 
 well because of an unusual incident: 
 "My brother Wes' and I were conduct- 
 ing our warehouse and grocery busi- 
 ness when Mr. Grady came by and 
 asked us to give him an advertisement. 
 We told him good-naturedly that his 
 old paper couldn't sell any more goods 
 than we could, and that on general 
 principles we didn't believe in adver- 
 tising. He went away without say- 
 ing any more about it, and the next 
 day we were treated to a deluge of 
 cats : every small boy in town, it seem- 
 ed, brought from one to six cats, and 
 when we asked them why they came, 
 they said we had advertised in The 
 Commercial. We bought a paper and 
 found a small 'want ad' saying, 'Will 
 pay good cash price for cats. — Rounsa- 
 ville & Bro.' We sent for Mr. Grady 
 and told him it was his duty to stop 
 the applications. He said he could 
 do that only by inserting a half-page 
 ad. We replied, 'All right, but put in 
 the center of it that we don't want any 
 more cats!' " 
 
 "Uncle Steve" Eberhart, the slavery 
 time darkey character who entertains 
 thousands at the convention of Con- 
 federate Veterans and is a regular 
 member of Floyd County Camp 368, 
 revealed in dramatic fashion Feb. 5, 
 1921, at the camp meeting in the base- 
 ment of the Carnegie library that he 
 used to be Henry Grady's valet while 
 the great orator and former Roman 
 was a student at the University of 
 Georgia at Athens. 
 
 When Mr. Grady's name was men- 
 tioned, "Uncle Steve" jumped to his 
 feet, shouted and clapped his hands, 
 hugged himself until he grunted, and 
 then exclaimed as tears rolled down 
 his cheeks: 
 
 "Lordy, white folks, I had the extin- 
 gruished honor to dust off Mr. Grady's 
 coat and black his shoes. He thought 
 er whole lot of your yumble servant." 
 
 "Uncle Steve" was "in college" with 
 the younger Ben Hill and a long list 
 of noted men. He lived in Athens un- 
 til the dispensary times, he said, and 
 then sought a better town, so settled 
 in Rome. In Rome he fell in with 
 the veterans, put on a stove-pipe hat, 
 and tucked two frying-sized chickens 
 
 under his arms for a parade. He has 
 been dressing up and cutting up ever 
 since. 
 
 Comrade Treadaway told a story on 
 the Grady brothers that brought a 
 laugh. 
 
 "Henry and Will had some prop- 
 erty in Athens, and Henry sent Will 
 from Rome to sell it. Will sold it and 
 passed through Atlanta. When he re- 
 turned to Rome, Henry said, 'Well, did 
 you sell the land?' 
 
 " 'Yep.' 
 
 " 'Where's the money?' 
 
 "'In the bank at Atlanta?' 
 
 '"What bank?' 
 
 " 'They called it the Faro Bank.' " 
 
 Romans played a leading part in 
 Mr. Grady's funeral, Dec. 25, 1889, in 
 Atlanta. Gen. Clement A. Evans and 
 the Rev. J. W. Lee, former pastors 
 of the First Methodist Church of 
 Rome, headed the funeral procession 
 to DeGive's Opera House, where John 
 Temple Graves, then a Rome editor, 
 was one of the speakers. Montgomery 
 M. Folsom and Frank L. Stanton, 
 Rome journalists, wrote poems to Mr. 
 Grady's memory, and the late Rev. G. 
 A. Nunnally, father of Judge W. J. 
 Nunnally, and then president of Mer- 
 cer University, pronounced the bene- 
 diction at a memorial meeting held in 
 Macon.— Feb. 7, 1921. 
 
 GRADY AS "CORRESPONDENT." 
 — The following letter to the Rome 
 weekly shows Henry Grady in a new 
 role : 
 
 "Macon, Ga., Nov. 17, 1869. 
 
 "Dear Courier: Arrived here safe. I 
 found it storming heavily, but soon 
 after our arrival it cleared off beauti- 
 fully and at the present writing the 
 moon finds her full face reflected from 
 a thousand rapidly evaporating pud- 
 dles that dot the streets. All will be 
 delightful in the morning. 
 
 "The city is jammed; every profes- 
 sion or handicraft in the world has 
 many and vigorous repi'esentatives 
 here, from the editorial profession 
 down to the profession of pickpocket- 
 ical — especially the latter. The gam- 
 blers, the respectable, genteel class of 
 gamblers, are in full force and atro- 
 ciously energetic. 
 
 "In company with certain other edi- 
 tors, we paid a visit to a fancily fur- 
 nished saloon, wherein these old gen- 
 try plied their craft. The fascination 
 that these places are said to possess 
 was speedily dispelled as far as your 
 humble servant is concerned. I fol-
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 253
 
 254 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 lowed my companions from table to 
 table; in no case did I see a single man 
 win save those who were evidently 
 connected with the establishment. 
 Teaching Sunday School in the north 
 of Patagonia may be a profitable 
 pecuniary venture, but I feel no hesi- 
 tancy in asserting that gambling is 
 not. Among the devotees of the tables 
 I noticed many faces that I had seen 
 migrating through Rome about the 
 season of our fair. 
 
 "As I did not get back here till after 
 dark, I can report nothing interesting 
 save the cardinal facts which have al- 
 ready been given you by the telegrams. 
 
 "The Georgia Press is largely repre- 
 sented — almost every paper in the 
 state. Joe Brown, the fragrant; Bul- 
 lock, the bewitching; McWhorter, the 
 accident; Hampton, the chivalric; Cap- 
 ron, the Commissioner; and Gordon, 
 the Governor, are in this house, and 
 figured conspicuously in the parlor to- 
 night. 
 
 "Men who have attended fairs for 
 years say they never saw a larger 
 crowd than is gathered here now. 
 Thousands of ladies, plenty of shows. 
 enough to eat, too much to do, and 
 more anon. 
 
 "KING HANS." 
 (Henry W. Grady.) 
 
 "P. S. — The unanimous opinion is 
 that there is a radical and shameful 
 mismanagement of all things pertain- 
 ing to said institution. The arrange- 
 ments are huge, but unwieldly; im- 
 mense, but muddled. ... I heard a 
 man exclaim this morning while try- 
 ing to get his goods entered. 'Oh, if 
 we had them Joneses from the Rome 
 Fair we'd get things straightened 
 out!' Sensible. A villainous store- 
 keeper today refused to take Rome 
 money.* What must be done with 
 him? 
 
 "One of the prettiest and most hope- 
 ful features of the fair is that the 
 exhibitors all show an anxiety to get 
 their advertisements in The Courier. 
 Success will attend such sensible men ! 
 Rome has many representatives here. 
 Messrs. Noble and Cohen are attract- 
 ing considerable attention. 
 
 "K. H." 
 
 HENRY GRADY TO GENERAL 
 SHERMAN.— On Dec. 22, 1886, at a 
 banquet of the New England Society 
 at New York, at which Gen. Wm. 
 T. Sherman sat at the speakers' table, 
 Henry W. Grady declai-ed: 
 
 " 'Bill Arp' struck the keynote when 
 
 he said, 'Well, I killed as many of 
 them as they did of me, and so I'm 
 going to work!' A Confederate soldier 
 returning home after defeat and roast- 
 ing some corn on the roadside, said 
 to his comrades, 'You may leave the 
 South if you want to, but I'm going to 
 SaTidersville, kiss my wife and raise 
 a crop, and if the Yankees fool with 
 me any more, I'll whip 'em again!' I 
 want to say to Gen. Sherman, who is 
 considered an able man in our parts, 
 though some people think he is kind 
 of careless about fire, that from the 
 ashes he left us in 1864 we have built 
 a brave and beautiful city; that some- 
 how or other we have caught the sun- 
 shine in the bricks and mortar of our 
 homes and have builded therein not one 
 ignoble prejudice or memory!"** 
 
 AN OLD TIMER.— Virgil A. Stew- 
 art, son of the late Samuel Stewart, 
 Rome's first marshal before the Civil 
 War, and grandfather of our own Capt. 
 Henry J. Stewart, favored us with a 
 call at the office yesterday afternoon 
 that was greatly appreciated. Mr. 
 Stewart was born Jan. 24, 1836, at 
 Rome, consequently is 85 years of age 
 and remembers more than most people 
 around here. He is one of the two 
 surviving members of the Rome Light 
 Guards who went out to fight for the 
 Confederacy in April, 1861, the other 
 being B. James Franks, of Armuchee. 
 Mr. Franks was a recruit, so that 
 leaves "Virge" as the last surviving 
 charter member. 
 
 He is a nephew of his uncle name- 
 sake, the late Virgil A. Stewart, of 
 Lawrenceville, who under the guise of 
 an "outlaw" joined the band of John 
 A. Murrell and captured that notorious 
 character at the Mississippi River in 
 Arkansas. Murrell's gang operated 
 through the South, as far as Florida, 
 before the removal of the Indians to 
 the west, and the Indians got the credit 
 for many of their villainies. One of 
 their hang-outs in Georgia was at Jug 
 Tavern, now Winder, county seat of 
 Bartow County. Murrell's capture re- 
 sulted in a trial in Tennessee which 
 pu^ him in the penitentiary for life at 
 Nashville, and he died there. The 
 original Virgil A. Stewart went to 
 Mississippi before the Civil War and 
 warned the people of a contemplated 
 insurrection among the negroes. 
 
 When asked how old he was, Rome's 
 
 *This must have been some of the printing: 
 px'ess money issued by Mayor Zach Hargrove 
 in 1869 to relieve a local stringency. 
 
 **Sherman joined in the general tumult pro- 
 voked by these remarks.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 255 
 
 Virgil A. Stewart replied that he was 
 "thirteen." Somebody in the office 
 remarked that he could pass for 60 
 easily enough, which seemed to please 
 him greatly. He said he did it living 
 out in the open, "catching water moc- 
 casins, eels and fish" from the rivers 
 of Rome. 
 
 "I see by the paper," remarked Mr. 
 Stewart, "that Judge George Harris, 
 of the Flat Woods, thinks he can walk 
 anybody down in a day that ain't less 
 than 70. You can just tell him for me 
 that if he talks much like that I'll 
 take him up the river banks and back 
 again in a way he won't forget!" 
 
 Mr. Stewart relates how a big crowd 
 gathered about the year 1835 to see 
 two Indians hung on Broad Street 
 near Ninth Avenue. Somebody that 
 wanted to see the spectacle lugged 
 him along, although he was only two 
 years old. The Indians were Bai-ney 
 Swimmer and Terrapin, convicted of 
 killing a pale face named Ezekiel 
 Blatchford (or Braselton). They were 
 strung from a piece of timber laid 
 across two limbs, and for a long time 
 afterward the tree bore notches to 
 show the spot. 
 
 Mr. Stewart is authority for the fol- 
 lowing statements : 
 
 He was at one time, at 2 years of 
 age, the only boy in Rome; Arthur 
 Hood started the first newspaper, and 
 Howard Jack and a Mr. Walker fol- 
 lowed him ; William Smith owned the 
 first ferry, which served DeSoto, the 
 peninsula and Hillsboro (South Rome) 
 at the head of the Coosa, and hired 
 William H. Adkins, Sr., to build him 
 the first steamboat, and Matt and 
 Overton Hitchcock to erect the first 
 bridge, a covered affair, where the 
 Fifth Avenue bridge now stands. 
 
 Smith owned the land where the Al- 
 fred Shorter (D. B. Hamilton) home 
 is on the Alabama road, and kept a 
 crib of corn open to the poor. He built 
 on the hill across the Alabama road 
 from the spring nearby. John Smith, 
 a brother, went to California during 
 the gold epidemic and died there. Chas. 
 Smith, another brother, moved to Cass 
 (Bartow) county and died there. 
 
 Mr. Stewart says deer used to run 
 wild through the woods around Rome 
 in the thirties, and that Jim Ragan 
 shot one near the Etowah River and 
 the foot of Third Avenue, about the 
 location of the John W. Maddox place, 
 in front of the old J. A. Gammon 
 home spot. 
 
 Mrs. Robert Battey used to have a 
 pet deer given her by her father, 
 
 William Smith, and she had seen deer 
 jump the fences while the dogs chased 
 them. Her deer became enraged on 
 one occasion, attacked a woman and 
 had to be shot. 
 
 * * * 
 
 READY WIT OF THE UNDER- 
 WOODS.— Many clever stories are 
 told of the "absolution" with which 
 the late Judge John W. H. Under- 
 wood, Congressman from Rome before 
 the Civil War and noted humorist and 
 wit, dominated jury and bar. Rome 
 lawyers of the old school like Judge 
 Joel Branham, Judge G. A. H. Harris 
 and Frank Copeland remember well 
 his fine sarcasm, his rare good nature 
 and the quickness of his intellect. 
 
 A lawyer whose client had "gone up 
 the spout— guilty" asked Judge Un- 
 derwood for a light sentence because 
 the defendant was somewhat dull, to 
 v/hich the Judge replied: "Then it 
 will take a heavy penalty to make an 
 impression on him," and gave the man 
 the limit. 
 
 At a meeting in Pittsburg of the 
 Tariff Commission to which President 
 Arthur in 1882 appointed Judge Un- 
 derwood, a Mr. Butler stated that pro- 
 tection would increase the number of 
 furnaces and thus reduce the price of 
 pig iron. "Then," queried Judge Un- 
 derwood, "you want a high tariff so 
 you can sell your product at a low 
 price?" 
 
 At another time the elder Under- 
 wood wrote to a friend: "I cheerfully 
 recommend my son, John, for the job 
 of Solicitor General. He has more 
 ambition for office and fewer qualifi- 
 cations than any man I ever saw!" 
 
 A story is told locally which illus- 
 trates the fine sense of humor and the 
 quick perception of Judge John W. H. 
 Underwood. A Rome man who was in 
 a financial tight went to Judge Under- 
 wood to obtain his endorsement. 
 
 "If you will sign mv note I will go 
 to the bank and get .$300," stated the 
 caller. 
 
 "Just make it $(iOO." shot back Judge 
 Underwood, "I need that much my- 
 self." 
 
 Judge Nisbet wrote of tin' elder l^n- 
 derwood, who was the block of which 
 the son was a chip: "Judge Un- 
 derwood, the elder, was a greater wit 
 than Sheridan, but unfortunately, he 
 had no Boswell to write liis biogra- 
 phy or Constitution reporter to pub- 
 lish what he said. He was once en- 
 gaged in a case, and the judge, after
 
 256 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 chargfing very violently against him, 
 locked the jury up for the night and 
 adjourned the court. After tea the 
 Judge and Underwood were walking on 
 the piazza of the hotel near the court- 
 house, and heard quite a movement of 
 chairs and feet in the jury room, at 
 which the judge remarked, 'I believe 
 the jury have gone to prayers.' Un- 
 derwood said: 'I suspect so. Failing 
 to get any light from your honor's 
 charge, they are seeking it from 
 above.' " 
 
 Governor John B. Gordon wrote: 
 "When Underwood lived in Elbert, a 
 man was abusing him roundly, and 
 ended by saying, 'Yes, sir, and I un- 
 derstand you were a Federalist!' To 
 this Judge Underwood replied : 'In 
 those times there were but two par- 
 ties in this country: — Federalists and 
 fools. I was a Federalist and I never 
 heard you, sir, accused of being one.' " 
 
 The following story is told of the 
 elder Underwood: 
 
 "Cooahullie Creek, near Dalton, was 
 swollen from rains and Judge Under- 
 wood and other lawyers were trying 
 to reach a courthouse on the opposite 
 side in buggies. The Judge hauled 
 up in front and was urged on by his 
 companions. He answered, 'No, it is 
 appointed unto man once to die, but it 
 shall never be said of Wm. H. Under- 
 wood that he was drowned in Cooa- 
 hullie Creek.' " 
 
 John T. Boifeuillet, of Macon, relates 
 the following: 
 
 "In these prohibition times of court 
 trials of liquor violations it may be 
 apropos to tell of an incident that hap- 
 pened when Judge J. W. H. Underwood, 
 the celebrated Georgia wit, was on 
 the Superior Court bench. Certain 
 temperance regulations were in ex- 
 istence. In the hearing of a liquor 
 case the defendant said he sold the 
 whisky on a doctor's prescription, 
 which he was at the time holding in 
 his hand. 'Let me see that paper,' 
 said the judge. It was handed to him, 
 and he read it aloud from the bench. 
 
 " 'Let the bearer have one quart of 
 whisky for sickness. 
 
 'JOHN JOHNSON, M. D.' 
 
 " 'Yes,' said the judge, 'M. D. in the 
 morning means 'mighty dry,' and in 
 the evening, 'mighty drunk.' " 
 
 The following incident is related by 
 Henry Peeples, Atlanta attorney: 
 
 "The Tariff Commission appointed 
 to visit the various sections of the 
 country and report on the tariff work- 
 
 ings came to Atlanta and sent out in- 
 vitations asking any one interested to 
 meet with them and point out unjust 
 discriminations as they saw them. 
 Judge J. W. H. Underwood was a mem- 
 ber of the comm,ission. When the 
 board assembled in the convention hall 
 of the Kimball House they were greet- 
 ed by a single man, come to talk over 
 the tariff. For two hours or more he 
 fired question after question at the 
 tariff experts, turned the 'evidence 
 meeting' into a debate between himself 
 and the board and showed those gen- 
 tlemen just what the situation was in 
 the South. 
 
 " 'What is your name?' asked the 
 commission of the young man. 
 
 " 'I am Woodrow Wilson, a lawyer,' 
 he answered. 
 
 "Mr. Wilson was a practicing attor- 
 ney in Atlanta at the time of the visit 
 of the commission, having been there 
 possibly two years. 
 
 "Judge Underwood's wit was caustic 
 at times. He once made the follow- 
 ing statement to which many persons 
 may agree: 'Debt and death sound 
 very much alike, and there is but lit- 
 tle difference between them.' " 
 
 UNDERWOOD'S FIRST FEE.— 
 Mrs. Florence Underwood Eastman re- 
 lates how her father, the late Judge 
 Jno. W. H. Underwood, won his first 
 "legal fee." Her grandfather, Judge 
 Wm. H. Underwood, had been commis- 
 sioned by John Ross to attend to legal 
 matters connected with the removal of 
 the Cherokee Indians westward. About 
 the same time. Rev. Jno. F. Schermer- 
 horn, of Utica, N. Y., was sent to 
 Rome by the government as removal 
 commissioner. A big pow-wow was 
 held at the home of John Ridge, Cher- 
 okee Indian, at "Running Waters." 
 Near here the Cherokees held their 
 Green Corn dances, at which the In- 
 dians would gather from miles around, 
 pin corn shuck aprons around their 
 waists, and tie shells containing peb- 
 bles around their ankles and dance for 
 hours. 
 
 Mr. Schermerhorn and Judge Wm. 
 H. Underwood opened the meeting 
 July 19, 1835, and were preparing for 
 a continuation of the pow-wow at 
 New Echota (New Town), Gordon 
 County, north of Calhoun, where the 
 treaty was finally to be signed (it was 
 signed Dec. 29, 1835), and there was 
 much "paper work" to be done. Judge 
 Underwood and Mr. Schermerhorn 
 pitched into the work. The Judge's 
 son, John, was waiting nearby, watch- 
 ing. "Why couldn't we put the lad to
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 257 
 
 work?" inquired Mr. Schermerhorn. 
 'Try him," suggested the father. 
 
 Young John caught on readily, work- 
 ed all night, and next morning Mr. 
 Schermerhorn handed him $50. "Not 
 bad for a starter in legal business!" 
 chuckled young Underwood, as he 
 crammed the bill down into his jeans 
 and ran home. — Jan. 19, 1921. 
 * * * 
 
 A PEN PICTURE OF ROME.*— 
 (H. W. Johnstone, in the Rome Trib- 
 une Jan. 26, 1907) : 
 
 "The man looks back on what the 
 boy saw with his eager eyes before the 
 Civil War. Among the boy's earliest 
 recollections is a group around the 
 old courthouse at court (East First) 
 and Bridge Streets (Fifth Avenue), 
 and the building itself, with its white 
 medallions and red gables reminded 
 him that here was a civilizing outpost 
 in North Georgia which kept watch 
 over the destinies of mankind. 
 
 "The corner opposite the courthouse 
 building was a two-story affair with 
 a wide veranda across the front. 
 
 "Down the hill from the courthouse 
 on the west side of Broad Street was 
 a two-story hotel known as the 'Amer- 
 ican House,' with a wide veranda 
 across the front. The postoflfice was 
 in this building at one time. 
 
 "South of this were the stores of 
 Sanders, Sullivan, the two Ombergs, 
 Henry Smith and R. S. Norton. The 
 first brick store in this block was 
 erected by Sanders, and is now oc- 
 cupied by a hardware house. 
 
 "This store, and the yard in its 
 rear, was the scene of an escapade of 
 which the boy may tell you later. It 
 was so near a tragedy that he never 
 divulged his knowledge of it for twen- 
 ty years! 
 
 "On the corner below Norton's was 
 Miles and Riley Johnson's, then came 
 Wimpee's shop, and White's har- 
 ness store, which stood about where 
 Todd's grocery now is. Thence it 
 was vacant (being low and often 
 ponded), with a bridge walk built 
 several feet above ground to where 
 Lanham's store stands. Here stood 
 the 'Wells Hotel,' and in rear of this 
 was a small frame building. Miss Liz- 
 zie Smith's school. 
 
 "Farther down Broad Street were 
 other business houses, among them 
 A. M. Sloan's, which stood alyout where 
 W. H. Coker is now located. Thence 
 it was low and swampy to Oostanaula 
 and Etowah Rivers, the only building 
 
 *The scene goes back to 185G. 
 
 being the Rome Railroad depot, which 
 was also used by the boats. This was 
 located about where the Central depot 
 now IS. It was an ordinary 'up and 
 down' frame house raised several feet 
 upon piling. The vacant space, sev- 
 eral acres, was the 'circus gi-ound ' 
 It was covered with grass and in wet 
 seasons a pond was near the depot. 
 
 "At the foot of Broad Street the 
 new bridge connected Rome with 'Lick 
 bkiiJet hills, now South Rome. On 
 these hills the stage driver always 
 wmded his bugle as signal for pas- 
 sengers and mail. 
 
 ''Crossing Broad Street at the depot 
 and coming north, the fir.st building 
 he remembers was the Ketcham House 
 on the ground now occupied by the 
 Taylor-Norton Drug Co. Back of this 
 was a field, and where Second Avenue 
 now enters Broad Street was a gate 
 thence along Broad Street was a fence 
 to where J. J. Cohen's store stood— 
 about where Fahy's now is. Thence 
 to Fourth Avenue was vacant. 
 
 "The rear of Rounsaville's ware- 
 house covers a spring, the branch from 
 it flowed through Douglas' stable lot, 
 crossed Broad Street, formed a 'pond' 
 and went through a deep ravine into 
 Oostanaula River where Third Avenue 
 ends. 
 
 "Hardin & Smyer were on the cor- 
 ner of Fourth Avenue, then came 
 Johnson & Gwyn, next was Fried's, 
 then vacant lots to the Choice House. 
 About 1852 Wm. Ramey established 
 the first livery stable on the site of 
 the present Masonic Temple. A year 
 later Wm. C. G. Johnstone built a ve- 
 hicle repository where Kay's stable 
 is and a large brick warehouse on the 
 present Baptist church lot. 
 
 "Wm. R. Smith's 'Continental Shop' 
 was on the corner above the Choice 
 House. Immediately fronting this was 
 DeJournett's, a two-story frame struct- 
 ure. In the upper story of this build- 
 ing the first Masonic lodge was insti- 
 tuted. Later, under the lead of Wm. 
 Choice, Arm. Harper, 'Billie' Ross, and 
 others, it became 'Thespian Hall.' This 
 was used for theatrical performances 
 and school exhibitions. Across the 
 years the boy can still hear the 
 voice of Billy Hills addressing the 
 'Conscript Fathers.' The ringing in- 
 quiry of Cooper Nesbit, 'Why is the 
 Forum Crowded? What means this 
 stir in Rome?' And the eloquent Jack 
 Hutchings assuring us that he 'came 
 to bury Caesar, not to praise him!' 
 
 "Some of the little boys of those 
 days are with us still. I am sui'e
 
 258 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Charlie H. could again entrance us 
 with the 'Sailor Boy's Dream,' and 
 Dolph R. could tell 'us of that dis- 
 astrous 'Smacking in the District 
 School, not far away.' 
 
 "Memory fixes no residences south 
 of Fourth Avenue and east of Second 
 Street, except Cooley's, and one or two 
 near the present site of the Baptist 
 church. 
 
 "From Third Street east, to the 
 river, and south of Fourth Avenue, 
 nearly to Second Avenue, was the fin- 
 est grove of oaks he ever saw. A few 
 of these trees were standing near East 
 Fourth street lately. This was known 
 as 'The Grove,' sacred to political bar- 
 becues, and Cupid's delightful arch- 
 ery. 
 
 "Between Fourth and Fifth Avenues 
 on the east side of Third Street were 
 two residences facing west, their broad 
 lots extending back to the Etowah 
 river. Fronting these residences, and 
 extending over the hill to the court- 
 house, was nearly all a grove of field 
 pines. The only residences on this 
 space were Callahan's, where the 
 Episcopal church now is, Duke's, on 
 southeast corner, and Wm. C. G. John- 
 stone's near the crest, just back of the 
 courthouse. 
 
 "On the crest of the hill stood the 
 academy, a long one-story, two-room 
 brick building, its west entrance 
 guarded by an enormjous gnarled 
 chestnut tree. If memory is true, this 
 academy was built by' subscription 
 under the auspices of S. J. Stevens. 
 While it was being erected Mr. Ste- 
 vens' school was located on a mound 
 just beyond the Shropshire residence 
 — all woods then — now Forrestville. 
 
 "About 1853 Mr. Stevens built an 
 academy in the valley between the 
 residence of Major Ross and Reece's 
 spring. This academy was a two- 
 story frame structure. A long stair- 
 way, built outside, gave entrance to 
 the upper school room. This build- 
 ing was burned a few years later. At 
 this school the boy first knew Dick 
 Cothran, Button and Ike Hume, Billie 
 Ross, Tom Berrien, Wm. Hills, Wm. 
 Tuggle, Jack Hutchings and Cooper 
 Nesbit, and among the small lads were 
 George C. Douglas, son of Dr. George 
 B. Douglas, 'Randy' Mitchell, Sam 
 liumpkin, Thomas Cuyler, T. J. Ver- 
 dery (whose home was the old resi- 
 dence of Major Ridge, chief of the 
 Cherokees, which stood, and remains 
 on Oostanaula River above Battey's 
 Shoals). Henry Stovall rode his pony 
 to school from his home on the Suni- 
 
 merville road, where Mr. Brown now 
 resides — just beyond the old Asa 
 Smith home — now Willingham's. 
 
 "The second principal at the Rome 
 Academy was P. M. Sheibley, then a 
 young man of fine appearance and 
 pleasing manners. He was a finish- 
 ed scholar, a firm, competent teacher. 
 His pupils owe to him more than can 
 be expressed here. At this school the 
 boy first knew C. M. Harper, Dolph 
 Rounsaville, John and 'Scrap' Black, 
 Tyler Mobley, and that fine youth who 
 was drowned in the Oostanaula, Albert 
 Jones. 
 
 "On the corner of Seventh Avenue 
 stood Simpson's cabinet shop, where 
 sash, doors and blinds were first made 
 in Rome. West of this, on the emi- 
 nence, stood the residence of R. S. 
 Norton. What a home-maker he was, 
 what a character builder! His sons 
 were often welcome visitors at the 
 homes of the boy's father and paternal 
 grandfather. No finer gentleman ever 
 tinted the 'grey' with the ultimate 
 sacrifice than did Charles Norton ! 
 Two of the great marts of the Central 
 West and the iron metropolis of the 
 South feel the impress of R. S. Nor- 
 ton's character, through his living sons. 
 His life-work was a benediction to this 
 city! Even the flowers bloomed rapt- 
 urously in tribute to his gentleness and 
 care ! 
 
 "Probably the oldest hotel in Rome 
 stood on the corner of Eighth Ave- 
 nue. It was constructed of hewn tim- 
 bers, drawn shingles, split lathes and 
 plaster. On a medallion sign, swing- 
 ing over the road, was the legend, 
 'Travelers' Rest — John Quinn.' 
 
 "Across Broad Street, fronting 
 'Travelers' Rest,' was the residence of 
 Judge Nathan Yarbrough. Nestling 
 far back in a shaded yard on south- 
 v/est corner of Ninth Avenue was the 
 home of Dr. Vernon, whose daughter, 
 Helen, was the first 'belle' the boy re- 
 members, but on the next corner above 
 was a yardfull, where Hon. J. W. H. 
 Underwood resided. 
 
 "North of this, extending to the 
 brick residence of Daniel R. Mitchell, 
 located about where John Davis now 
 resides, was a forest of oaks and pop- 
 lars, enclosing Mitchell's Pond, fit to 
 be 'God's first temples.' 
 
 "The square as now bounded by 
 First and Second Streets, Fifth and 
 Sixth Avenues, was a deep ravine, then 
 heavily wooded. On its southwest cor- 
 ner was the Episcopal church, on the 
 northeast was the Methodist 'meeting 
 house.' In the bottom of the ravine
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 259 
 
 stood the old gaol, built of logs, and 
 the windows strongly grated. Near 
 the gaol was a spring which flowed 
 down the ravine, across Sixth Ave- 
 nue and Broad Street and into the 
 Oostanaula. 
 
 "Ah! what memories — from boy to 
 man!" 
 
 * * * 
 
 (Mar. 24, 1907.) 
 
 The DeSoto chronicles describe the 
 location of the Cherokee capital vil- 
 lage as being on a long island — and, 
 according to the Indian legends, the 
 Oostanaula must have divided near 
 Battey's Shoals, the "cut off" passing 
 near the east foot of the Hills o'Ross 
 across the bottom under the present 
 Central railroad trestle to the Coosa. 
 There are indications of this old 
 course even now. Many changes of 
 this nature could, and have, come in 
 the 365 years since DeSoto passed. 
 
 Let us go back to the early "fifties" 
 and meet some of the old citizens. 
 
 That tall man walking this way is 
 Col. Pennington; he believes in rail- 
 roads and steamboats. He always 
 carries that cane and umbrella, but 
 never uses either. 
 
 Notice that nervous, quick moving 
 man meeting him. He has a habit of 
 bringing his hand to his waist, then 
 swings it out as if to brush you aside, 
 but Thomas Perry is a fine man "for 
 a' that." 
 
 That portly gentleman walking up 
 the terrace is Judge Lumpkin. He 
 had that mansion built in 184.3. He 
 is big hearted, broad minded and de- 
 serves his great popularity. You see 
 John Quinn has changed his sign from 
 "Travelers' Rest" to "Ci'oss Keys Ho- 
 tel," and, you can buy ginger cakes 
 from Mother Quinn — in the cellar. 
 
 That's Mr. Lamkin's grocery store 
 next to the Choice House. Just be- 
 low it is A. M. Lamb's candy store, ad- 
 joining Tom Perry's store, only a 
 plank partition separates them. 
 
 That's Jimmie Lee, he owns the 
 fish traps above the ford on the "High- 
 tower." He is the same fellow who 
 nearly drowned Will Adkins. 
 
 That flowered silk dress designates 
 Mrs. Sholes. She watches Jimmie's 
 "traps" and tells on every boy she 
 sees near them. None of the boys like 
 her. The boys and girls do not like 
 that fancy dressed man with her — for 
 he trades in negroes — his name is Jo- 
 seph Norris. 
 
 *Father of L. W. McCay, professor of chem- 
 istry at Princeton University and native Roman. 
 
 Look out for that short, stout, keen- 
 eyed man with the "big stick." He is 
 the town marshal, Samuel Stewart 
 Ihat enormous creature following at 
 his heels is "Wolf'-his terrible hound. 
 Ho never failed to catch boys who did 
 any devilment-but once! Sometime 
 1 may tell you of that "once." 
 
 That gentleman with the Alsatian 
 face— who talks with his hands— is 
 one of God^ helpers in beautifying 
 the earth. We should not forget' Dr 
 Berckmans. 
 
 You will notice that Robt. T. Mc- 
 Cay s- hardware store is on that cor- 
 ner, the first hardware store in Rome 
 Ihat stocky, earnest-faced man talking 
 to McCay is an Englishman who is 
 introducing the iron industry in Rome 
 — Mr. Noble. 
 
 Those six men sitting on the veranda 
 of the Choice House are more or less 
 politicians, yet each one has an inter- 
 esting history. 
 
 The tallest one with the smooth 
 strong Scotch face is the "Iron King" 
 of Georgia, Mark A. Cooper, a visitor. 
 Next to him is Augustus R. Wright, 
 a Congressman, a great lawyer and an 
 impassioned forensic orator. His gifts 
 have descended, in good measure, to 
 his sons. The tall, clean faced man 
 with the cane is James M. Spullock, 
 one of the finest fingered politicians 
 in the state. He is the man who as 
 United States Marshal for Georgia 
 seized the yacht "Wanderer" and sold 
 her as a condemned "slaver." The 
 "Wanderer" was Charles B. Lamar's 
 private yacht — she was chartered by a 
 party of Northern men to make a cruise. 
 She returned to Savannah loaded with 
 African slaves, was captured, con- 
 demned and sold. Her owner, Lamar, 
 was exonerated from all blame, but 
 lost his yacht. The Northern men who 
 made the cruise escaped to New York. 
 This is the nearest the South ever 
 became interested in "slave trade." 
 Most of these Africans were seized and 
 returned to their country. 
 
 That stout, jolly gentleman was 
 later a captain under Forrest. His 
 memory will abide principally In^- 
 cau.'^e he was Henry W. Grady's uncle 
 — Henry A. Gartrell. 
 
 The brown-eyed gentleman with 
 black hair and moustache — so erect in 
 carriage — and earnest in manner, was 
 the first Mayor of Rome (the only 
 public ofllice he ever held — except the 
 Confederate marslialship of Georgia). 
 He was appointed Colonel of a regi- 
 ment of a Partisan Rangers, but was 
 induced to resign it and head the com-
 
 260 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 STEAMBOATS AND THEIR HARDY "SKIPPERS." 
 
 1 xu» l„Kn I Smv 2 The Clifford B. Seay; 3 — Capt. F. M. Coulter, who built a 
 
 dozen"^Iats;' 4-The MUchell; ^-Tol;," V^ MarableV 6_The' Magnolia probably the nnest 
 steamer on the river; 7-The Alabama; 8-The Gadsden; 9-Capt Frank Benjamm ; 1 0-Capt. 
 J. M. Elliott; 11— The Resaca, with hunting party and game; 12— The Annie H. in a calm 
 sea. All these vessels succumbed to gales, financial or otherwise.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 261 
 
 pany which produced salt for the poor 
 of the state, during- the war between 
 the states. He is Wm. C. G. Johnstone 
 (known familiarly as "Black Wm. 
 Johnstone") . 
 
 The last of the group, who appears 
 so elegantly at ease, could claim dis- 
 tinction in science, politics and liter- 
 ature. He was a physician, a United 
 States Senator, an author of note and 
 an orator of exceptional power. During 
 the war of 1812-15, two young men 
 became close comrades and friends. 
 When they parted it was agi-eed that 
 their sons should bear the same names. 
 Both were scholars and curiously they 
 selected the names of the great poets. 
 Time passed. Major Clem Powers, of 
 Effingham County, named his three 
 sons Homer, Virgil and Milton. Some 
 years later he named his fourth son 
 Horace. 
 
 Meantime his friend had one son 
 born to him, and he was named Homer 
 Virgil Milton Miller. The second wife 
 of Wm. C. G. Johnstone was a daugh- 
 ter of Major Clem Powers, and her 
 meeting with Dr. Miller is a vivid 
 memory. 
 
 Picture — Lumpkin, Hamilton, Mil- 
 ler, Wright, Battey, Underwood, Smith 
 ("Bill Arp"), Spullock, with their 
 ladies at our hospitable board — with 
 Gartrell to fire the train — and you can 
 imagine how humor flowed, wit spar- 
 kled, whether the subject be politics 
 or literature — and remember, litera- 
 ture was mostly the "leather-bound" 
 classics, also that the ladies often bore 
 the palms. 
 
 I do not say such people are not 
 with us. But somehow I do not meet 
 them. I may be "out of date" — but 
 I enjoy recalling the days when hon- 
 or was kept bright — a mortgage was 
 a curiosity — and slander dared not 
 touch a woman ! But I digress — yet 
 I warned you that this — 
 
 "Might, perhaps, turn out a song; 
 Perhaps turn out a sermon!" 
 
 Let us again go up the river. We 
 will pass the service cottage erected 
 by Dr. George Battey, "When you and 
 I were young," and stop by those large 
 trees about an hundred paces anent 
 the old Ridge house. I hope the old 
 trees are yet there. 
 
 The Ridge house was then occupied 
 by Mr. Verdery, one of whose daugh- 
 ters married Warren Akin; another 
 married Dr. George Battey. The fam- 
 ily moved to Polk County, thence to 
 Augusta, Ga. 
 
 Under these trees (near the Ridge 
 house) was located the earliest and 
 liugest store in this section of Geor- 
 gia — if not in the whole Cherokee 
 country. It was operated in the name 
 of George M. Lavender, Major Ridge 
 (the chief) being a silent partner. An 
 immense business was transacted and 
 the owners grew very rich. The busi- 
 ness was closed about 1837 and in the 
 division Lavender received a large 
 amount in money and property, esti- 
 mated by some to have been more than 
 a quarter of a million dollars. George 
 Lavender never married. His estate 
 passed to his sisters, one of whom 
 married Ray, whose descendants live 
 about Newnan and Atlanta. Another 
 sister, Edith Lavender, resided on an 
 eminence east of the present North 
 Rome depot. She remained unniar- 
 ried until about 1847, when a man 
 appeared to take the contract to grade 
 the Rome Railroad. This was Joseph 
 Printup. He secured the contract, but 
 had not the means to operate success- 
 fully. Edith Lavender fell in love 
 with the enterprising stranger, mar- 
 ried him, and her money enabled him 
 to make his venture a success. 
 
 Joseph assisted his brother, Daniel 
 S. Printup, through Union college, 
 New York, and located him here, where 
 his family remain. Major Joseph 
 Printup had no children. Many years 
 ago he was drowned in an insignifi- 
 cant branch near his home. His prop- 
 erty, including the "Printup Ferry" es- 
 tate in Gordon County, passed to the 
 children of Daniel S. Printup. 
 
 Dr. Reece. the father of John H. 
 and James Reece, was a delicate gen- 
 tleman who was surgeon of the regi- 
 ment of state troops sent here to re- 
 move the Cherokees to the banks of 
 the Tennessee. Miles Reece, an uncle 
 of Capt. John Reece, came to Cher- 
 okee before his brother. He became 
 intimately conversant with legends and 
 affairs of the Cherokees, and was an 
 encyclopedia of Indian lore. 
 
 An anecdote of Chief Ridge will 
 serve to show how Indian traits clung 
 to him. 
 
 John Ridge, a son of Major Ridge, 
 resided in Ri(lge's Valley. Chief Ridge 
 had a handsome daughter; educated, 
 proud and given more or less to van- 
 ity. She induced her father to order 
 her a fine coach. It was sent from 
 New York and created a sensation. 
 It was hung on leather swings at- 
 tached to large "C" springs, the 
 driver's seat being on top. 
 
 This outfit arrived just before the
 
 262 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 annual "Green corn dance," which was 
 held at Major Ridge's. The coach was 
 ordered to convey Sarah to the dance. 
 The horses were harnessed to it and 
 the negro driver stood ready. Chief 
 Ridge inspected the outfit, even shak- 
 ing the wheels to be sure they would 
 stand up. 
 
 Sarah came out in silks and feath- 
 ers; her father assisted her to climb 
 the folding steps, closed the steps and 
 door, then walked around to the driver, 
 took the reins and ordered the driver 
 to go back to his field work. Chief 
 Ridge then mounted one of the horses, 
 with the gathered reins in his hands 
 and galloped away to the "Green corn 
 dance." 
 
 * * * 
 
 DAYS THAT ARE GONE.— Maj. 
 Chas. H. Smith (Bill Arp), sent the 
 following letter to the Rome Tribune 
 of Sunday, Sept. 2, 1894: 
 
 "Cartersville, Ga., Sept. 1, 1894. 
 "To Mr. W. Addison Knowles, 
 "Editor The Tribune, 
 "Rome, Ga. 
 
 "Dear Mr. Knowles: 'Illium fuit — 
 Illium est,' Rome was — Rome is, but 
 it is not the same Rome we old Ro- 
 mans used to know. Everything is 
 changed but the rivers and Bill Ramey 
 and old father Norton. 
 
 "I moved to Rome in 1851, but for 
 several years before that I used to 
 visit there and prospect for a place 
 to move to. I had a brother there 
 practising medicine. It is nearly 50 
 years since I made my first visit. The 
 Rome railroad was finished to Eve's 
 Station, and the hacks met us there. 
 There were no bridges across the 
 rivers and the ferrying was done at 
 the junctions. All down town was in 
 the woods. What magnificent timber 
 covered the bottom where down town 
 is now! 
 
 "I went squirrel hunting there with 
 Joe Norris. .Toe was clearing the low 
 ground for Colonel Shorter and had 
 deadened the timber. The road from 
 the ferry was awful. I have seen six- 
 mule teams stall in the gulch that was 
 where the Lumpkin block was after- 
 ward built. But you don't know where 
 that is. It is the block opposite the 
 Denson building. But you never heard 
 of Denson. Well, the lowest part of 
 the gulch was right in the middle of 
 the street that comes down Cooley hill 
 and crosses Broad. 
 
 "Maybe you have heard of Hollis 
 Cooley. He was an unpretending gen- 
 tleman ; as honest a Yankee as ever 
 
 lived. I went to school to his sister in 
 Lawrenceville when I was a lad. Hol- 
 lis Cooley never had a lawsuit in his 
 life, and always declared that there 
 was no necessity for anybody having 
 one. 
 
 "Old father Norton said, 'But, Hol- 
 lis, suppose some rascal was to come 
 along, and knowing your mind about 
 going to law, should lay claim to your 
 house and lot, when then?' *I would 
 give up to him before I would go to 
 law with him,' said Hollis. 'Yes, and 
 you would play the fool,' said Norton. 
 'By George, I would law him till his 
 heels flew up.' 
 
 "I was remarking about that awful 
 pull up the little steep hill from the 
 gulch to where Major Ayer's store 
 was. But I forgot. The major hasn't 
 got any store. Well, it was about op- 
 posite Morrison's livery stable, or 
 Flemming's saddle shop, or Tom Per- 
 ry's law office, or somewhere there in 
 the middle of the road. It's bothering 
 me awfully to locate things. Bill Ra- 
 mey will show you where it was. The 
 hill was short and steep and sticky, 
 and I have seen strong teams stall 
 there and the wagon cut back and 
 nearly turn over. Norton's store was 
 then away down town. It was right 
 where it is now, but it was down town, 
 the lowest down of any, and was a lit- 
 tle, low, long, narrow, one-story house 
 with the hind end stuck in the hill so 
 deep that you could almost step on the 
 roof. 
 
 "There were no houses down town. 
 Old man Crutchfield was building the 
 court house. The Western Bank of 
 Georgia was doing a busting business 
 in that office back of the Choice Hotel 
 — that same little office on the corner 
 as you go up the hill to the court 
 house. Yes, it was doing a busting 
 business, and it busted. Not long after 
 it closed its doors I went there with 
 $7,000 of its money and knocked at the 
 door and demanded payment in bi- 
 metallic currency, but there was no 
 response and nobody opened the door. 
 I had to make the demand at the 
 bank's last place of doing business be- 
 fore I could sue. But the dog was 
 dead and my client never realized a 
 dollar. 
 
 "By the time we moved to Rome 
 down town was looming up. C. T. 
 Cunningham had a big cotton ware- 
 house on the river bank, and Rhode 
 Hill and Bill Cox were clerking for 
 him. The first time I ever saw Rhode 
 he was having big fun by hiding an 
 egg under Jack Shorter's shirt collar,
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 263 
 
 and he bet Cox a dime that he couldn't 
 find it. Cox felt all about Jack's 
 clothes, and accidentally broke the agg, 
 and it ran down Jack's back. But 
 Jack got the dime and that satisfied 
 him. 
 
 "Rhode found bigger game later on 
 and is now a Peachtree nabob in At- 
 lanta. Cunningham built a nice resi- 
 dence at the end of Howard Street. 
 It is the Woodruff place, and Wm. 
 E. Alexander built the Rounsaville 
 house, and Dr. Battey built where he 
 now lives. Alexander was Norton's 
 partner for a while, but he moved 
 down town and took in Colonel Shorter 
 as a partner. Mr. Norton never moved 
 — neither his dwelling place nor his 
 store. He improved both, but never 
 moved. Before I moved I bought me 
 a very nice home over there on the 
 hill where DeJournett and Treada- 
 way and Omberg lived. You know 
 v/here that is. No, you don't, either, 
 you are too young to know much about 
 anything — anything antiquated, I 
 mean. Well, it is not far from father 
 Norton's house, the third house from 
 the corner as you go down towards 
 the river. Dr. Smith, my brother, lived 
 in the first and Nicholas Omberg in the 
 second. Old Mother Ragan lived right 
 in front of Norton's, and Sumter & 
 Torbet's machine works were down in 
 the corner of his garden. 
 
 "Jim Sumter was one of the best 
 men I ever knew, the best mechanic, 
 the best magistrate, the best mayor, 
 the best alderman, the best citizen and 
 the truest friend. He made for me a 
 large and beautiful walnut book case. 
 We have it now in our sitting room, 
 and I prize it for his sake. It is the 
 only piece of furniture the Yankees 
 left me. It was so big they couldn't 
 move it. They did move the books. 
 They loved to read, but they didn't 
 read their titles clear to my books. 
 About that time the people who were 
 the best off made their homes on 
 the hills. Andrew M. Sloan, who was 
 a big merchant and banker, lived in 
 a one-story house on the hill where 
 Hiles now lives. Dr. P. L. Turnley 
 lived nearby. Mr. Thomas D. Shel- 
 ton lived where Shorter College stands. 
 Rev. J. M. M. Caldwell and his wife 
 lived and taught school in the house 
 adjacent to the old Methodist church. 
 Old Judge Underwood lived on the 
 Caldwell college hill with his daugh- 
 ter, Mrs. Wilson. The First Baptist 
 church was nearby, on the same hill, 
 and the old gi'aveyard is not far away. 
 
 "I shall never forget that graveyard, 
 for one time I was a Masonic pall- 
 
 bearer there, and I did not stoop low- 
 enough as we passed under some 
 limbs of the crowded trees, and one of 
 them took off my hat and my scratch 
 with it, and my bald head showed no 
 hair apparent to the crown, and ex- 
 cited too much levity for the solemn 
 occasion. I put the hat on my head 
 with much alacrity and put the wig 
 in my pocket. I have never worn one 
 to a funeral since, nor anywhere else. 
 It is one of the comforts of old age 
 that a man is not expected to have a 
 great profusion of hair, but when he 
 is young a very small vacancy hurts 
 his feelings mighty bad. 
 
 "James McEntee had been keeping 
 hotel midway of the block next above 
 the Choice House in 1849, I think, and 
 Colonel D. R. Mitchell acquired the 
 Buena Vista soon after. Old Jesse 
 Lamberth was one of the pioneers, and 
 lived in a little house back of the Odd 
 P'ellows' hall building, but he built a 
 better house in front afterward, and 
 lived there for many years. 
 
 "Sam Stewart was a very notable 
 character in those days, and had the 
 reputation of being a cool and daring 
 man. His brother, Virgil, helped to 
 give Sam reputation, for it was he who 
 ran down and caught John A. Murrell, 
 the notorious horse thief and highway 
 robber. Sam was city marshal for 
 many years, and kept all evil doers in 
 subjection. He was a good officer, 
 but it is said that every man will 
 sooner or later meet his match, if not 
 his superior. One day Nicholas Om- 
 berg broke down the gate of the city 
 pound and took his cow out and drove 
 her home. Someliody had opened Om- 
 berg's gate and let his cow out so as to 
 put her in the pound and get the fee 
 for taking up stray cattle. Omberg was 
 dreadfully mad when his wife told him 
 about it, and, as he didn't favor the 
 anti-cow ordinance nohow, he took the 
 shortest way to recover his cow. 
 
 "When Stewart found what Omberg 
 had done he got mad, too, and forth- 
 with went to the merchant tailor to 
 arrest him. The Norwegian never 
 winked or quailed, but seizing an enor- 
 mous pair of shears, he rushed at 
 Stewart like a mad man and ran him 
 out in the street. Stewart said after- 
 v.ard that he had either to run or 
 kill him. 
 
 "The city council fined Omberg $50, 
 but he carried the case to the supreme 
 court and gained it. Nic Omberg was 
 a very superior man, and was highly 
 esteemed as a citizen and a Christian 
 gentleman. About the close of the war
 
 264 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 , 1^ 
 
 4^ 
 
 1'ift 
 
 / 
 
 ''w"'''*"^"™ 
 
 ■sssib 
 
 # * 
 
 't 
 
 i^- 
 
 • •:^^B 
 
 F— -"-Tt 
 
 (■■f. J - -^ ^ 
 
 *• :|, II t 
 
 :£***"'■• 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS VIEWS RECALLING ROME. 
 
 Here may be seen: a 1921 group of girl High School graduates emerging from the Auditorium 
 with their beautiful nosegays; Billy King, 9, Rome's youngest and most famous cartoonist; Iho 
 Second Avenue (E. Rome) Methodist Church; views around the courthouse; a group of young 
 players; Gay Jespersen's Lindale band; and a tiny glimpse of Rome.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminsicences 
 
 265 
 
 some lawless scouts visited old man 
 Quinn's house one night to rob him. 
 The old man cried for help, and Om- 
 berg ran over to defend him and was 
 himself shot down and killed. 
 
 "And that causes me to think of 
 Tom Perry, at whose house poor Om- 
 berg died. Tom Perry was perhaps 
 the best known and most beloved cit- 
 izen Rome ever had. He was raised 
 poor and hard, and had but little ed- 
 ucation. He used to haul wood with 
 steers in the cold winter with his toes 
 sticking out of his old shoes. He mi- 
 grated from Lawrenceville to Rome 
 before anybody, and when I first visit- 
 ed Rome Tom was keeping bar for a 
 free negro, Wm. Higginbotham. Next 
 he hired to old William R. Smith to 
 sweep out the store and knock around. 
 Next he got to be clerk in the post- 
 office for Nathan Yarbrough. Next 
 he was postmaster and then a steam- 
 boat captain. Next he was elected 
 J. P. and held that office for many 
 years. He was the chief promoter of 
 the Masons and Odd Fellows. He was 
 United States commissioner. He was 
 the best friend the widows and or- 
 phans ever had in Rome, the best 
 chairman of the street committee. He 
 was always at work doing something 
 for somebody. He wrote much for the 
 Rome Courier and pasted everything 
 he wrote in a scrapbook, and would 
 read it on Sundays. When he had 
 planned any public thing he would 
 write a piece and sign it Vox Populi, 
 and then call a meeting at the court 
 house to put his measure through. If 
 nobody came he called himself to the 
 chair and acted as secretary, and pass- 
 ed a string of resolutions and had 
 them published as the sense of the 
 meeting. He never lost any space in 
 his manuscript. If there was not room 
 for an 'and' at the end of a line, he 
 would divide the word and put the d 
 at the beginning of the next line. He 
 worked up to the full measure of his 
 capacity and was everybody's friend. 
 He looked like a Democrat, for he was 
 pigeon-toed and loose-jointed, and chew- 
 ed cheap tobacco, but he was an un- 
 compromising Whig. 
 
 "When your good father was edit- 
 ing the Rome Courier, Tom gave him 
 aid and comfort as best he could. I 
 remember your father well. He was a 
 courtly gentleman. His company was 
 always welcome, for he was a good 
 talker and never indulged in slang 
 or vulgarity or intolerant assertions. 
 His gold spectacles became his fea- 
 tures and added grace to his individ 
 uality. You were not then in the land 
 
 of the living where peace may be 
 sought and pardon found. May you 
 emulate your good father's Christian 
 example and make the world better 
 with your presence. 
 
 But I must not monopolize your 
 space. It would take a book to tell 
 of ancient Rome and the citizens who 
 have gone to the undiscovered countrv. 
 Of William R. Smith and Wm. Smith 
 (Mrs. Dr. Battcy's father) and Johnny 
 Smith, a good man who for the love of 
 the beautiful planted water oaks and 
 elms around the churches and along the 
 down town sidewalks. The trees are 
 there yet, and men and women walk 
 and children play under their shade. 
 Then there was McGuire and Hardin, 
 and Quinn, and T. S. Wood, and 
 Isham Wood, and Cohen, and Dr. Pat- 
 ton, and Dr. Starr, and Dr. King, and 
 Dr. Geo. M. Battey, who kept the drug 
 store under the Choice House. Ram- 
 sey Alexander was a leading lawyer 
 there when I moved to Rome. Tom 
 came later and so did Judge Under- 
 wood. I formed a partnership with 
 Colonel Underwood in 1852 and it con- 
 tinued for thirteen long and pleasant 
 years. 
 
 "Then there appeared some lesser 
 lights who kept the little town lively. 
 Old Jake Herndon, for instance, the 
 town loafer, who never lied from mal- 
 ice, but only from habit. He used to 
 tell about the big freshet that came in 
 June, 1S40, and covered all the country 
 save the top of court house hill, and 
 how he tied his batteau to a gum tree 
 on top of that hill, and seeing no place 
 for the sole of his foot, he untied it 
 and paddled to Horseleg mountain, and 
 ic was hot, devilish hot. and his ther- 
 mometer rose to 240 in the shade. He 
 always said thermoneter for thermom- 
 eter. Old Jake had told that lie so 
 often that he believed it. I think he 
 has a son now in the United States 
 navy. If folks do 'laugh and grow 
 fat,' I think that big John Under- 
 wood took on his fat from his daily 
 intercourse with old Jake Herndon. 
 
 "And there was Old Man Laub, the 
 inimitable cuss who was created just 
 to fill uo the cracks, like siiralls in a 
 stone wall. He was a little sassy, loud- 
 mouthed rascal, who kejit a bakery and 
 cake shop, and some blind tiger and 
 oysters, just below Dr. Battcy's drug 
 store. He had two front doors. Over 
 one was painted "Laub's here.'' Over 
 the other was painted "Laub's here, 
 too." He drove a pair of calico ]ionies, 
 and was always in a fuss with some- 
 body, and especially with his wife. 
 She would run him out of one front
 
 266 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 door wth a broom and he would dodge 
 into the other. Big John's grocery 
 was right opposite across the street, 
 and it was a good part of his business 
 to watch the antics of the Laub fam- 
 ily and shake his fat sides with laugh- 
 ter. When I first saw Laub's name 
 and sign I thought that Laub's was 
 something to sell — some kind of fish 
 like oysters or shrimps. I had no idea 
 that it was a man's name. 
 
 "Of the notable men who moved 
 away and still live, Dr. Miller was 
 chief. He lived in a cottage where 
 your new court house now stands, and 
 his office was on Broad Street, near 
 the McEntee house. He had a very 
 smart cur dog named Cartouch, who 
 laid in the piazza of the doctor's of- 
 fice and watched for country dogs as 
 they came to town behind farmers' 
 wagons. Forthwith Cartouch would 
 run to assault him, and would whip 
 him if he could, and hurry back be- 
 fore the waggoner could punish him. 
 If the dog was too big and showed 
 fight, Cartouch would hasten back to 
 Dailey's house, which was next door, 
 and get Dailey's big dog and away 
 they both would go and jump on the 
 country dog with irresistible violence. 
 The doctor enjoyed it immensely, and 
 declares to this day that dogs have 
 a language and understand each other. 
 Cartouch would say to Dailey's dog, 
 'Come and help me, come quick, 
 there's a big country dog out here that 
 I can't manage by myself.' 
 
 "But I will now forbear until the 
 spirit moves me again, for I do not 
 suppose there are a dozen men living 
 who will enjoy these memories. This 
 generation is moving forward, not 
 backward. 
 
 "Yours truly, 
 
 "CHAS. H. SMITH." 
 
 * * * 
 
 A PROLIFIC BUILDER.— A news- 
 paper squib of 1888 says: 
 
 "Jos. B. Patton builds court houses, 
 but does not patronize them, never 
 having sued or been sued on any con- 
 tract." 
 
 Court houses he had erected up to 
 that time included Trousdale County, 
 Tenn., Benton County, Tenn., Russell 
 County, Ky., Chattanooga, Tenn., Cen- 
 ter, Cherokee County, Ala., Anniston, 
 Calhoun County, Ala., LaFayette, 
 Walker County, Ga., Gainesville, Hall 
 County, Ga. In the same year he built 
 the buildings near DeSoto park for the 
 North Georgia & Alabama Exposition. 
 Prior to that time and afterward he 
 erected many other public buildings 
 
 and residences, notably at Rome. In 
 1892-3 he built the Floyd County court 
 house, one of the most substantial 
 structures anywhere. His work and 
 materials were of such a high order 
 that he made little money. He died 
 comparatively poor, but he has left 
 buildings which for a century more 
 will silently sing his praises. 
 
 ;|: :i: * 
 
 "GRANDMA GEORGY'S" "PEN 
 PRATTLE."— Mrs. Naomi P. Bale 
 contributed these reminiscences to the 
 Rome News of Oct. 3, 1921: 
 
 One by one they are passing away 
 to give place to new structures, these 
 old landmarks of Rome. When the old 
 Bradbury house on the corner of Broad 
 Street and Sixth Avenue was built, 
 I don't know, certainly more than 
 seventy years ago, such a thing as a 
 "filling station" was not known in the 
 wide world. 
 
 This old building has stood the 
 storms of more than three score and 
 ten years. About forty years ago Col. 
 Stokes (grandfather of Misses Estelle 
 and Addie Mitchell) came in possession 
 of it, put the old house in repair. At 
 that time the name "Dolly Varden" 
 was prominent — how it originated I 
 don't know, but the name was stamp- 
 ed on dry goods of every bright color. 
 Col. Stokes had the old house painted 
 and trimmed in bright colors, and it 
 was called "The Dolly Varden." 
 
 Later, Mr. J. L. Bass came in pos- 
 session of it and added the "L" that 
 jutted out toward Sixth Avenue. 
 Neither Col. Stokes nor Mr. Bass ever 
 lived in this house. All these years it 
 has been occupied by tenants. The 
 passing of this old Bradbury house 
 brings to mind other localities of homes 
 now passed into the "yesterdays" of 
 Rome. Just across Broad Street from 
 the Bradbury house, where the Audi- 
 torium now stands, lived Dr. King (I 
 think his name was Joshua), a den- 
 tist and medical practitioner combined. 
 
 The Carnegie Library occupies the 
 old home place of Mrs. Fannie Moore, 
 maternal grandmother of Miss Battle 
 Shropshire. 
 
 The west corner of Broad Street 
 and Seventh Avenue, where a "filling 
 station" has been recently built, was 
 once the home of a Mrs. Mitchell. I 
 think she was a dressmaker. 
 
 Northwest corner of Seventh Avenue 
 and Broad Street, part of the R. S. 
 Norton lot, once stood a large furni- 
 ture factory operated by Mr. Sumter. 
 Mr. Sumter made everything from a
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 267 
 
 pin-tray to a coffin. He was also an 
 undertaker. Made the coffin and 
 buried the people. Coming back down 
 Broad Street where there is another 
 "filling' station" southwest corner Sixth 
 Avenue and Broad Street, stood the 
 home of Mrs. Pierson; later, Col. W. 
 S. Cothran, also Dr. J. B. Underwood 
 and until a few years ago occupied by 
 Mrs. Isham J. Wood. Mr. Waring 
 Best's garage is where Col. Thomas 
 Alexander lived right after the Civil 
 war. On the enclosed lot adjoining the 
 Best garage stood the old McEntee 
 House — the first hotel in Rome. Sev- 
 eral years ago this old building was 
 sold to Dr. Robert Battey, who con- 
 verted it into a hospital and it was 
 known as the Martha Battey Hospital. 
 I think the property is now owned by 
 the Kuttner Realty Company. The 
 old Buena Vista is yet fresh in our 
 minds. This at one time was the lead- 
 ing hotel in Rome, with Mrs. Choice 
 proprietress. The Curtis Undertaking 
 Company (colored) occupies the oldest 
 brick building in Rome. I have been 
 told that the oldest wooden house in 
 Rome is the corner of Fifth Avenue 
 and East Second Street, now occupied 
 by Mr. Ward. Probably Misses Om- 
 berg on West First Street are the only 
 residents who occupy their ancestral 
 home of ante-bellum days. The Spul- 
 lock home on Broad Street, now occu- 
 pied by Dr. Shamblin, was built about 
 18.57. Judge D. M. Hood's home, ad- 
 joining the Spullocks, has been moved 
 nearer Broad Street, the lot divided 
 and a bungalow built. Col. A. T. Har- 
 din also lived here. 
 
 Judge J. W. H. Underwood's old 
 home has passed into stranger hands 
 — the house raised, and the homes of 
 Dr. McKoy and Mr. J. M. Lay have 
 been built. 
 
 Where Joe Jenkins and Mr. McKew 
 now live was Judge Underwood's gar- 
 den. Mr. Max Meyerhardt lives on 
 the Quinn lot. The Quinn property 
 was divided into building lots after Mr. 
 Quinn's death and sold. Linton Van- 
 diver, Mr. Keith and Mr. Berry have 
 homes on what was once the Quinn 
 garden. The large brick house now 
 occupied by R. L. Morris was built by 
 Mr. Crutchfield and given to his 
 daughter, Mrs. J. H. Lumpkin, as a 
 bridal present in the early forties. The 
 homes of Mr. A. S. Burney and Mr. 
 Fuller occupy the site of the Chero- 
 kee Female Institute, built and man- 
 aged by Col. Simpson Fouche. Later 
 this building passed into the posses- 
 sion of the Presbyterian church, and 
 was known as the Rome Female Col- 
 
 lege with Rev. and Mrs. J. M. M. 
 Caldwell as president and dean. After 
 the suspension of the college. Dr. J. 
 B. S. Holmes converted it into a san- 
 itarium. The building was burned and 
 the property divided into lots and sold 
 for residences. 
 
 The First Baptist church, organized 
 in 1835, yet stands on the corner of 
 Eighth Avenue and West Fifth Street 
 and is now an apartment house owned 
 by Mrs. Griffin. My own home, 601 
 East First Street, was the cradle of 
 the first newspaper published in Rome 
 — Samuel Jack, editor and printer. It 
 was called the Rome Enterprise. This 
 item was given me by Miss Amanda 
 Jack, a daughter of Mr. Samuel Jack. 
 My home was also the Methodist par- 
 sonage before the Civil War. In 1906 
 the old house went down in ashes and 
 I had it rebuilt on practically the 
 same foundation. My husband pur- 
 chased it from the estate of Mr. Mc- 
 Guire about thirty years ago. Thei-e 
 are yet many old homes in Rome of 
 historical interest. Col. Alfred Shorter, 
 Daniel R. Mitchell, C. M. Penning- 
 ton, Major Ayer and other prominent 
 men did much in laying the foun- 
 dation on which Rome now stands. 
 Some of the statements herein given 
 were told me by my father, Wesley 
 Shropshire, Sr., and my uncle, Mon- 
 roe Shropshire, both of whom came to 
 Rome in 1835. Other items are from 
 my own observations, for I have been 
 in touch with this city for 71 years. 
 
 "GRANDMA GEORGY" RECALLS 
 STAR BOARDERS. — "Thank you 
 very much, Judge Branham, for a 
 copy of 'Sketches and Reminiscences 
 of the Rome Bar,' compiled by your- 
 self. After reading it with the aid of 
 a reading-glass a reminiscent mood 
 laid a canny hand on me and I began 
 to count the faces of some of these 
 lawyers who sat at my table three 
 times a day when I kept boarders on 
 Fifth Avenue where the courthouse 
 now stands. Col. W. H. Dabney was 
 an inmate in my home for several 
 years. He was a quiet, unassuming, 
 pleasant gentleman. When court was 
 in session he ate sparingly — sometimes 
 only a bit of bread and a glass of 
 milk. He often asked me where to 
 find certain passages of Scripture, 
 saying he had need for them. 
 
 "Capt. C. N. Featherston and Cols. 
 E. N. Broyles and Dan'l. R. Mitchell 
 were regular table boarders. Judge A. 
 R. Wright a dinner guest when court 
 was in session. All of these gentle-
 
 268 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 269 
 
 men were very courteous to me and 
 my housekeeper, Miss McCauley. Thir- 
 ty-two young men sat at my table reg- 
 ularly — business men and clerks. All 
 have passed the Great Divide and 'left 
 me counting on this spot the faces that 
 are gone.' 
 
 "In my young days I was often a 
 guest in the house of Judge Wright. 
 He was fond of music, and would lie 
 on a sofa while I would play and sing 
 for him. Sometimes tears would creep 
 through his closed lids, especially when 
 I sang 'Bonnie Doon' — sometimes he 
 walked to and fro in the parlor and 
 called for his favorite songs. 
 
 "The curtain of years now veils my 
 eyes, and the drum beats of time 
 have sadly dulled my hearing, but 
 memory lingers and I see again many 
 beautiful pictures, and many sad 
 scenes that have come into my stren- 
 uous life of three score and eighteen 
 years. 
 
 "God is my Father and He leads me 
 on daily nearer to the City that hath 
 foundation. 
 
 "Very truly, 
 "NAOMI P. BALE." 
 
 —Tribune-Herald, June 22, 1921. 
 
 LOVE FOR OLD SLAVES.— The 
 tender bond of sentiment existing be- 
 tween master and slave in the ante-bel- 
 lum days is an old story, and it has 
 plenty of verification in fact. While 
 it is quite true that there were oc- 
 casional instances of cruelty and op- 
 pression, as a rule master and mistress 
 treated the slaves with great consider- 
 ation. Few people would want slav- 
 ery re-established, yet it is interesting 
 to take note of instances in which 
 slaves were treated almost like mem- 
 bers of the family by the "white folks." 
 
 When the war came, many slaves 
 begged to accompany their masters as 
 bodyguards, and were allowed to go. 
 These faithful souls will never be for- 
 gotten by the people of the South. 
 
 H. W. Johnstone, of Curryville, Gor- 
 don County, relates how "Aunt Mam- 
 my Anne," his family's old slave, died 
 at Rome in 1855, and was buried be- 
 side the Johnstone family vault in 
 North Rome. 
 
 Philip Harper, a 10-year-old boy, 
 was sold Aug. 3, 1854, with three other 
 darkies from John Ilarkins to Alex- 
 ander Thornton Harper, of Cave 
 Spring, for $2,275 cash. Quite an 
 attachment grew up betwoen master 
 and slave, which found its highest ex- 
 pression when Mr. Harper was forced 
 
 to sell Philip in 1803 at the court 
 house in Atlanta. The master attend- 
 ed the sale and promised to buy him 
 back at the first opportunity. Both 
 wept as the auctioneer sold the boy, 
 then 19. 
 
 In 1908, when Philip Harper was 
 G4 years old, he wrote Mrs. Harper 
 from Marietta as follows: 
 
 "Dear Madame: This missive leaves 
 me as well as I will ever be again in 
 this life. I fear I would have been 
 up there before now, but my old wom- 
 an keeps so very poorly until I fear 
 to leave her. How are you and all 
 the children? Well, I hope. My dear- 
 est associaton as a boy began in and 
 around old Cave Spring. It has been 
 so long since I have been there that 
 I believe I would not know the place, 
 but if the good Lord will spare me a 
 few days longer, I will in real life 
 review my old, old home once more in 
 this life. All the people that I once 
 knew are gone, gone; and I have only 
 a few days — then I shall join them in 
 Heaven. I have thought a thousand 
 times about the last meeting Mr. 
 Alexander and myself had was in At- 
 lanta in 1863 at the court house after 
 the sale was made. Then it was I 
 did my best at crying. He cried, too, 
 but he promise to buy me back. 
 
 "I know you will excuse the bold- 
 ness I take in writing you. When I 
 got sick, you was my doctor; cared 
 for me in sickness. You remember 
 how you cared for me when I got my 
 finger broke? 
 
 "WM. PHILIP HARPER." 
 
 Mrs. Harper immediately sent the 
 old darkey enough money to come to 
 Cave Spring, which he did, and both 
 of them cried as they reviewed the 
 days that will return no more. As a 
 member of the Harper family express- 
 ed it, Philip's appearance was like the 
 return of a long-lost son. 
 * * * 
 
 WES' ROUNSAVILLE'S BOY- 
 HOOD.— The following extracts are 
 from the autobiography of Jno. Wesley 
 Rounsaville, who died at Rome Oct. 4, 
 1910: 
 
 "When my father, David Rounsa- 
 ville, died, I was in my eleventh year; 
 Sister Josephine was six. Brother 
 'Dolph' five; these, with our mother, 
 constituted the family. The question 
 that faced us was how we were to 
 get a support. Father had been sick 
 a long time and the small amount of 
 money he had accumulated with a view 
 of entering the mercantile business
 
 270 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 again was soon spent and we were 
 practically without means. Fortunate- 
 ly, we had a home at Sixth Avenue 
 and East First Street, and this was 
 a great help because we didn't have 
 to pay rent. 
 
 "My first work was with ^r Mr. Bay- 
 less, who kept a confectionery store in 
 part of the old Exchange Hotel. I 
 think my salary was $5 per month. 
 Father left us a team which we hired 
 out and from which we collected the 
 hire every night, and this with my 
 pay was our only means of support. 
 Our mother was a very industrious 
 and economical manager. 
 
 "About this time a small affair 
 probably changed the current of my 
 life. Mr. Bayless told me one hot 
 day to sweep out the store. I did 
 so to my own satisfaction, but not to 
 his; therefore, he ordered me to sweep 
 it again. I demurred and he jjunch- 
 ed me with the brushing part o^. the 
 broom. I deliberately walked into the 
 street and procured a good-sized rock 
 and went into the store and threw it 
 at him with all my might. He ran 
 out the back door and I got my little 
 red calico coat and left, and never 
 went back again. 
 
 "Mr. Bayless was a northern man. 
 He continued to do a prosperous bus- 
 iness, and finally went into groceries 
 and wholesale liquors. He kept large 
 quantities of liquor in barrels and cof- 
 fee in sacks, and had them piled up 
 in tiers against the walls of his store. 
 One morning it was announced in the 
 Rome Southerner that Mr. Bayless had 
 sold his large business to Gen. Geo. 
 S. Black and associates. It seems Mr. 
 Bayless bantered Gen. Black into a 
 trade, and sold on an inventory just 
 taken by himself. A check for the 
 money was given by Gen. Black (most 
 likely on the Bank of the Empire 
 State), and Mr. Bayless left imme- 
 diately for the east. A few days later 
 Gen. Black showed a customer a sam- 
 ple of the fine whiskey, but the whis- 
 key turned out to be water, and the 
 bags of coffee were in reality corn or 
 peas put up so as to deceive. The 
 whole stock was that way, more or 
 less. Gen. Black made a strong ef- 
 fort to locate Mr. Bayless, but did not 
 succeed. 
 
 "About 44 years after this happen- 
 ed, I was in New Yoi'k and getting 
 ready to come home. I stepped into a 
 railroad ticket booth in the hotel and 
 saw a handsome, white-haired gentle- 
 man standing behind the desk. I ask- 
 ed the man what was the price of tick- 
 ets to the South, and he asked me 
 
 where I wanted to go. I told him 
 Rome, Ga., and he inquired if I lived 
 there. I replied in the affirmative, 
 and he said, 'Do you know Col. Printup 
 in Rome?' 
 
 " 'I did know him, but he is dead,' 
 I replied. 
 
 "I inquired as to where he had 
 known Col. Printup and he said in 
 Rome, more than 40 years before. He 
 stated in answer to my query that his 
 name was Bayless, adding that he had 
 just returned from Australia, where he 
 had gone from Rome, and had never 
 returned in the meantime to this coun- 
 try. 
 
 " 'Mr. Bayless, do you remember 
 Gen. Black?' I asked. He hesitated 
 a moment, looked me straight in the 
 eyes, and then dropped his head. I 
 said, 'I know you well. I clerked for 
 you when you first came to Rome and 
 opened your confectionery.' 'No,' he 
 answered, 'you are mistaken; I was in 
 the cotton business.' 
 
 "I informed him that I was not 
 leaving New York until the next day 
 and would call back to see him. I 
 called several times, but he was not 
 there. 
 
 "After leaving the confectionery 
 shop, I went to work for Mr. O. A. 
 Myers, a most excellent gentleman and 
 editor and proprietor of the Rome 
 Southerner. He took me in his office 
 at $5 a month and my clothing. How 
 well do I remember the first thing he 
 gave me — a pair of fine gray cash- 
 mere trousers. I thought they were 
 the prettiest things I had ever seen 
 and it seemed they never wore out. 
 Mr. Myers appreciated my efforts so 
 much in my thirteenth year that he 
 sent me out to travel for the paper. 
 I remember one night at Cave Spring, 
 where I spent the day collecting sub- 
 scriptions until I had a considerable 
 sum of money. I was afraid to go to 
 the hotel, lest I might be robbed or 
 miss the stage coach, which was due 
 to leave for Rome at midnight, so after 
 dark I slipped into the coach, croucher? 
 in a corner and waited until the driver 
 climbed onto his box and made off. 
 
 "Once I went to Summerville, and 
 saw two men arguing politics in the 
 town square. Buchanan was running 
 for president. One man seemed to 
 have the advantage of the other, and 
 I championed the weaker side, asking 
 the other man a question he couldn't 
 answer. The crowd whooped and yell- 
 ed, and the man turned on me and 
 said, 'Look here, my little fellow, you
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 271 
 
 ought to be at home with your 
 mammy!' That year I made $450. 
 
 "Mother soon decided that I must go 
 to school on what Little Dolph and I 
 had made, so I went two terms to 
 Prof. Peter M. Sheibley, one of the 
 finest teachers Rome ever had. In 
 1858 we removed to the farm of Uncle 
 Jimmie Meredith in Broomtown Val- 
 ley, Cherokee County, Ala., and farm- 
 ed there until the war broke out. The 
 people were very kind to us, although 
 the young farmers laughed at us be- 
 cause we plowed in gloves and large 
 straw hats, and could not lay off 
 straight rows. I often amused a crowd 
 telling them of schemes I had to make 
 farming easier, like boring a hole in 
 the end of the plow foot, and putting 
 up an umbrella to plow under. 
 
 "I also said a man ought to be able 
 to ride while he plowed, and I per- 
 fected a three-foot plow that would 
 list land with two furrows, and save 
 the labor of two men and one horse. 
 For irons I used hickory withes and 
 attached them to the front wheels of 
 a tv/o-horse wagon and pulled the con- 
 traption with two oxen, Mike and 
 Bright. I demonstrated that this plow 
 would work, but lack of means and 
 the taunt from the Alabama farmers 
 that it was a lazy, mean method, 
 caused me to give it up. Years later 
 I saw men patent this idea and de- 
 velop it into some of our labor-sav- 
 ing plows of today, and I have always 
 thought my plow deserved the priority. 
 
 "Our life in the country was not 
 only a pleasant and happy one, but 
 I verily believe it paved the way 
 for our future success in business. 
 It taught us to work and brought us 
 a knowledge of the people from whom 
 in after years we received our great- 
 est help in building and maintaining 
 our wholesale grocery and cotton bus- 
 iness. 
 
 "We learned nature and the sea- 
 sons and the peculiarities of agricul- 
 tural products of the section. We 
 were taught the value of money, how 
 hard it was to make, and at the char- 
 acter-forming time, instead of carous- 
 ing en the streets of a city until mid- 
 night, we went to sleep soon after 
 supper and slept the sleep of the in- 
 nocent and the just. In later years 
 we opened our store at daylight and 
 closed it at midniglit." 
 
 COST OF A COLLEGE EDUCA- 
 TION.— The following letter was sent 
 recently by a Floyd County man to his 
 son at college : "I write to send you 
 
 two pairs of old breeches, that you 
 may have a new coat made of them; 
 also some new socks, which your 
 mother has just knit by cutting down 
 some of mine. Your mother sends you 
 $10 without my knowledge, and for 
 fear you might not spend it wisely, I 
 have kept back half, and send you only 
 five. We are all well, except that 
 your sister has got the measles, which 
 may spread among the other girls. I 
 hope you will do honor to my teach- 
 ings. If you do not, you are an ass, 
 and your mother and myself are your 
 affectionate parents." — Rome Tri- 
 Weekly Courier, Jan. 21, 1860. 
 
 ROBT. BATTEY'S TROUBLES 
 AT SCHOOL.— At 11 years of age 
 and under date of May 12, 1839, Robert 
 Battey wrote as follows to his mother 
 in Augusta from Phillips-Andover 
 Academy, Andover, Mass. His brother 
 George, 13, was there with him at the 
 time : 
 
 "My dear Mother: We received a 
 bundle from you not long since con- 
 taining a letter, 4 dollars, some cot- 
 ton seed, a pocket handkerchief, 2 
 flags, 2 knives, 2 books, the violet and 
 Juvenile Forget-me-not which I 
 thought was very good and interest- 
 ing. Brother goes to writing school 
 to Mr. Badger and is improving very 
 fast. As soon as he has done his 
 coarse of lessons he will write you a 
 letter so that you can see how much 
 he has improved. Chas. Hall is here 
 at present. We have got a new boarder, 
 his name is Daniel E. Safford. Brother 
 has five rabbits and one of them has 
 or is a going to have some young ones. 
 I have been reading Rolo Learning to 
 Read and Rolo's Vacasion. I like them 
 very much indeed. Last Tuesday we 
 had a company of 100 Latin and Eng- 
 lish students. They marched up and 
 down town and then they had a re- 
 ces of about 15 minutes. They had 
 water and molasses and water. After 
 that they marched around again; 
 their dress was simply their Sunday 
 best clothes, a cane and a role of paste- 
 board with a blue ribbon tied around 
 it. I have found a very great fait 
 in brother, that is, tolling tilings 
 arround town that I never told him. 
 and when he gets caught in telling 
 a lie he says that I told him some- 
 thing like it". His object in doing this 
 is to make folks think better of him 
 and worse of me. Sometimes he is 
 kind and affectionate. I believe you 
 wrote me to tell Mrs. Green when he 
 imposes uppon me, but I do not like 
 to tell her but I do not do anything to
 
 272 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 him but stand and bare it. The other 
 day I went down to Mr. Abbott's and 
 bought some sugar to put in some 
 chocolate as I and D. E. Safford used 
 to go over in a field and build up a 
 fire in an old tea kettle for a stove 
 and had an old coffee pot which we 
 found out there which we made our 
 chocolate in. However one day I had 
 the sugar in my pocket and Mrs. Green 
 took it out and said it was hers. I 
 told her it was not for I bought it 
 down to Mr. Abbott's and if she was 
 a mind to she might ask him but after 
 that she got pretty cool about it. I 
 have got a book called My Brother's 
 Letters which I think is a very good 
 book. Give my love to father, Aunt 
 Mary Anna and all other inquiring 
 friends and my best love for your- 
 self. I hope you will write me soon. 
 "Your affectionate son, 
 
 "ROBERT." 
 
 Shortly after the death of his father, 
 Cephas Battey, from yellow fever, 
 Robert wrote his mother from Ando- 
 ver (under date of Dec. 8, 1839) : 
 
 "My dear Mother: I received a let- 
 ter from Aunt Susan last Thursday 
 morning. Wednesday before last there 
 was a great fire up town. Wednes- 
 day before last the book bindery burnt 
 it belonged to Mr. Wm. Waters there 
 has been a subscription for him. 
 Thanks be unto the Lord it was not 
 our house for I was sick. I had eaten 
 something that did not agree with me. 
 Mr. Green had his hog killed last Wed- 
 nesday. Some body set fire to our 
 chicken house la-.3t Thursday. George 
 lost 7 rabbits. My little pigeon is do- 
 ing very well. Daniel came last Fri- 
 day. Mrs. Green's flowers are doing 
 very well. Tell me is cousin Miller 
 alive. Tell aunt creasy I am well. 
 Mrs. Blanchard, Rhoda & I all send 
 their love. 
 
 "Your son, 
 
 "ROBERT." 
 
 George added a postscript, saying: 
 "You will see by Robby's letter that 
 we have had a fire. I have been play- 
 ing chess with Robby and he can play 
 pretty well for the time he has been 
 learning." 
 
 FRANK L. STANTON'S SANC- 
 TUM.— The casual visitor to Frank 
 L Stanton's sanctum in the Atlanta 
 Constitution building is deeply and 
 lastingly impressed with the physical 
 aspects of the place; a roll-top desk 
 over in a corner; a swivel chair for 
 the poet which he seldoms "swivels;" 
 
 a cane-bottom chair for a friend; on 
 the dark, smoky, spider-webbed walls 
 a Lewis Gregg pen sketch of Joel 
 Chandler Harris ("Uncle Remus") 
 and cartoons by Opper and Fox past- 
 ed up without frames; a sea of old 
 newspaper exchanges, the accumula- 
 tion of months, stacked so high on 
 both sides of the desk as to obscure 
 the pigeon holes, which are crammed 
 with letters, papers and poems; the 
 top of the desk burdened with daily ' 
 and weekly journals from all over the 
 country, and surmounting them a tan- 
 gled heap of spider nests and ancient 
 dust; on the floor a discarded shower 
 of his literary sheaves; a single elec- 
 trip drop globe and a clouded window 
 to admit a little more light; a rat's 
 nest in nearly every drawer of the 
 desk. 
 
 Stanton is always absorbed in plots 
 for poems and paragraphs; he moves 
 solitarily between office and home; 
 year in and year out he grinds his 
 daily grist, a column known as "Just 
 From Georgia," and his political 
 quips and a serious editorial daily; he 
 is one of the most prolific writers in 
 the United States; he is friendly and 
 reminiscent, but he seldom invites any- 
 body to his den, and when they come 
 they do not consume much of his time. 
 His office is in a rather remote part 
 of the building; not so remote as it is 
 "unsuspected" and undiscovered, for 
 the human stream that flows out of 
 the elevator and the stairway does not 
 pass his door. 
 
 In a sense, Stanton is comparable 
 to Sir Walter Scott, who used to 
 throw his manuscript over his shoul- 
 der, to be picked up later by some- 
 body and put into print. He exudes 
 so much poetry that it sometimes gets 
 out of his reach in the junk that sur- 
 rounds him, and does not appear for 
 days, weeks or months afterward. In 
 a sense, he is comparable to Horace 
 Greeley, who wrote such a miserable 
 hand that but one compositor on the 
 New York Tribune could read it. 
 Stanton can write plainly and pleas- 
 ingly when he takes the time. How- 
 ever, he usually leaves much to the 
 imagination, and unless the printer 
 reads it who is accustomed to his style, 
 there is trouble in the plant. 
 
 A story is told of Stanton which 
 will illustrate his accustomed environ- 
 ment: 
 
 John Temple Graves, editor of the 
 Tribune of Rome, had hired a new of- 
 fice boy, to whom these instructions 
 were given:
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 1273
 
 274 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 "One of your duties, son, will be to 
 carry the copy to the composing room. 
 Whenever I write anything, you come 
 in here and get it, and whenever Mr. 
 Stanton writes anything, go in there 
 and take it back. I think Mr. Stan- 
 ton has some now." 
 
 The boy returned in a minute to Col. 
 Graves' desk and said: 
 
 "I couldn't make him answer." 
 
 "What's that?" 
 
 "He just kept on working when I 
 asked him if he had wrote anything." 
 
 "Oh!" exclaimed Col. Graves with a 
 twinkle in his eye. "Let's see." 
 
 They went to the doorway and peek- 
 ed in. There sat Stanton with his 
 elbows aspread, his head low and his 
 right hand fighting furiously with a 
 pencil. He had dug so deeply into a 
 mountain of papers that no part of 
 him was discernible below his should- 
 ers. He would make a great effort 
 and out would come a sheet of long 
 hand, suggestive of a doodle-bug play- 
 ing in a sand hill or a mole starting 
 a direct route to China. 
 
 "I forgot to tell you the way you 
 should approach Mr. Stanton. The boy 
 that had your job understood it. You 
 notice the rope on the hook here at 
 
 FRANK LEBBY STANTON. Georgia's lyric 
 poet, who served as night editor of The 
 Tribune of Rome under Jno. Temple Graves. 
 
 the door is attached to the chandelier 
 in the middle of the room. The easiest 
 and quietest way to get in there is to 
 grab the rope and swing from the 
 door to the table beside his desk, 
 where you will be able to get the copy. 
 Then you swing back. The idea is not 
 to disturb his muse. Let's see how 
 well you can do it.' 
 
 "Colonel Graves, I ain't lost nothin' 
 in there." 
 
 "Why, what's the matter?" 
 "A man from Mt. Alto just come 
 out, sayin' he wanted a write-up, but 
 saw Mr. Stanton was busy, so just 
 left his box on the table and said he 
 v/ould be back. No, sir, I ain't goin' 
 in there!" 
 
 "What sort of write-up did he 
 want?" 
 
 "He said he had broke the record at 
 Mt. Alto for ketchin' the biggest rat- 
 tlesnake!" 
 
 Mr. Stanton was the owner of a 
 small dog which had the distinction 
 of having been named after a famous 
 expression. Sam Jones used to come 
 to Rome and exclaim at his great 
 meetings, "My, my, man — can not you 
 see the error of your ways?" So the 
 dog was named "My-my." 
 
 "My-my" was a product of the flood 
 of 1886. He has been born in the 
 Fourth Ward in February of that 
 year; when the high water came, he 
 swam into Rome proper for the first 
 time, and anchored on Broad Street. 
 It was cold and the puppy took refuge 
 in a hallway, where he was found and 
 adopted by Col. Graves, who carried 
 him home to 402 First Avenue. Here 
 the little dog forgot his late experi- 
 ences, and his humility at the same 
 time. He bit Dr. Henry Battey sav- 
 agely on the ankle, so that ever after 
 the "doctor bowed himself out of the 
 house backwards. 
 
 The dog soon became a pet at The 
 Tribune office, and since Stanton fed 
 him and kept him as a "paperweight" 
 on his desk, he soon forsook his orig- 
 inal benefactor. Presently Col. Graves' 
 first wife died and they buried her 
 over on Myrtle Hill. Bishop Warren 
 A. Candler came to Rome, called on 
 Col. Graves and proposed that they go 
 to the cemetery for a silent word of 
 prayer. As they approached the tomb, 
 they saw Mr. and Mrs. Stanton, ac- 
 companied by "My-my." 
 
 "Even my dog seems to have de- 
 serted me!" exclaimed Col. Graves dis- 
 consolately. "My-my, you must choose 
 this day whom you will serve." So
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 275 
 
 saying, Col. Graves walked off, and 
 Bishop Candler followed. "My-my" 
 hesitated a moment, swallowed hard, 
 smacked his lips meekly and tucking 
 his tail between his legs, followed the 
 Stantons. Col. Graves declared philo- 
 sophically, "Thus it is with all earthly 
 friends!" 
 
 Stanton soon moved to Atlanta at 
 the instance of Wm. A. Hemphill and 
 brought "My-my" along, and the dog 
 became a prime favorite around his 
 sanctum. When "My-my" died at the 
 age when all good dogs are supposed 
 to die, The Constitution printed his 
 picture and recorded that many of his 
 friends among the children followed 
 him sorrowfully to a decent burial 
 place, and concluded: "My-my was in 
 many respects a remarkable dog, but 
 particularly so because he was the 
 only canine we ever heard of who was 
 knock-kneed in front and bow-legged 
 in the rear." 
 
 FRANK L. STANTON TO HIS 
 MOTHER.*— The beloved Georgia 
 poet once penned this beautiful son- 
 net: 
 
 Thou shalt have grave where glory is 
 forgot, 
 Thy star all luminous in the world's 
 last night, 
 Thy children's arms shall be thy neck- 
 lace bright. 
 And all love's roses clamber to thy 
 cot; 
 And if a storm one steadfast star shall 
 blot 
 From thy clear Heaven, God's an- 
 gels shall re-light 
 The lamps for thee and make the dark- 
 ness write — 
 The lilies of His love shall be thy 
 lot! 
 He shall give all His angels charge 
 of thee, 
 Thy coming and thy going shall be 
 known, 
 Their steps shall shine before thee 
 radiantly. 
 Lest thou shouldst dasli thy foot 
 against a stone; 
 The cross still stands; who will that 
 love condemn 
 Whose mother lips kissed Christ at 
 Bethlehem? 
 
 FROM A SHERMAN SCOUT.— 
 Thos. D. Collins, of Middletown, N. Y., 
 courier, guide and scout of the 20th 
 
 *From The Mothers of Some Fa'inous Geor- 
 gians. 
 
 **SiKnal sent by Gen. Wm. Vandever, who 
 for a time occupied the post at Rome. 
 
 corps, Army of the Cumberland (U. 
 S.), writes: 
 
 "I was at Rome on the night of Oct. 
 3, 1864, having been sent with orders 
 to Brig. Gen. Jno. M. Corse to move 
 his conimand at once to Allatoona Pass 
 and reinforce the post there, where 
 Sherman had stored 1,000,000 rations. 
 We reached Allatoona on the after- 
 noon of the 4th; John B. Hood, in com- 
 mand of the Rebel forces, had got in 
 our rear, and on the morning of the 
 5th, Gen. S. G. French, in command 
 of a division of Rebels, sent us by flag 
 of truce information that if we would 
 surrender, we would be treated well, 
 but if he was forced to attack, every 
 one of us would be massacred. To this. 
 Corse replied after consulting the 
 small force at hand, 'Come and take 
 us if you can!' 
 
 "On they came, and I assure you 
 French paid dearly for his assault, 
 and tov/ard night he began withdraw- 
 ing his forces, or what was left of 
 them. During the battle, a signal was 
 seen flying from the top of Kennesaw 
 Mountain,** telling us to hold out, 
 that help was coming to us. Corse 
 answered, 'I am minus a cheek bone 
 and part of an ear, but am able to 
 whip all hell yet!' Corse had been 
 hit late in the afternoon by a rifle ball 
 and knocked senseless. We thought 
 him killed, but he soon rallied. We 
 suffered severely for the number en- 
 gaged. My horse was killed in the 
 fracas. The gun I used that terrible 
 day of slaughter stands this moment in 
 my bedroom, and money couldn't buy 
 it. It is an 8-shot Spencer repeating 
 rifle. 
 
 "French's troops were heroes, every 
 one. They were in the open and we 
 were behind strong breastworks. They 
 had no chance to dislodge us. French 
 had cut our wires. Americans against 
 Americans, and I am glad to hope that 
 North and South are now one united 
 country." 
 
 THE BARTOWS IN FLOYD 
 COUNTY.— Comparatively few people 
 know that the Bartow family, of Sa- 
 vannah, once maintained (luite an es- 
 tablishment at Gave Spring. It is 
 likely that they removed to Floyd 
 County prior to 1850, and that they 
 lived "there part of the time for five 
 years or more. Mrs. Bartow moved 
 back to Cave Spring after the death of 
 her husband and her .son. The head of 
 the house was Dr. Theodosius Bartow, 
 who was born at Savannah Nov. 2,
 
 276 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 1792, and married Frances Lloyd Feb. 
 26, 1812. 
 
 Says The Mothers of Some Famous 
 Georgians: 
 
 "After Francis S. Bartow's sad end, 
 Mrs. Bartow returned to her home in 
 Floyd, now endeared to her by many 
 sacred memories, which threw a halo 
 around her pathway, for it lay in 
 shadows the rest of her days since the 
 lip:ht of her life, her counsellor and 
 friend, would no more ro in and out 
 with words of peace. Her GOth birth- 
 day was Nov. 1, 1852, and her son 
 wrote : 
 
 " 'I now take advantage of the clos- 
 ino- hours of this day which completes 
 your GOth year. It has been one of 
 those bland, bright days, more like 
 spring than autumn, neither warm nor 
 cold, and I have thought of the green 
 hills of Floyd and wished myself there, 
 that I might walk with you through 
 the quaint garden and see the sun, as 
 he sets behind the mountains, light up 
 the sky with golden radiance. How 
 beautiful does nature present to the 
 mind the evening of a well-spent life; 
 how few are the dark hours between 
 the mellow twilight, so full of peace 
 and rest and the glorious reappear- 
 ance of the rosy beams of morning. 
 
 " 'For you I cannot wish those many 
 years on earth which is the customary 
 greeting. I know enough of life's 
 meridian, of its fleeting joy and con- 
 stant cates to feel that the happiest 
 home is where the soul is freed. But 
 for me my prayer would be that you 
 who first held me up to the light of 
 day should close my eyes. A selfish 
 prayer, at least, that I may so live 
 that, like you, some golden light may 
 ba reflected in my evening days! 
 
 "'God's will be done! May He guide 
 you and me and all of us! My heart 
 is with you always!'" 
 
 For quite a while Mrs. Bartow's 
 daughter, Theodosia (Mrs. Edward E. 
 Ford) , was the principal of a girls' 
 school at Cave Spring. This place be- 
 came known as "Woodstock," and it 
 was conducted by Mrs. Ford before and 
 after the war; it was once owned by 
 the Nobles, of Rome. The Bartows 
 were the principal donors of the Epis- 
 copal church at Cave Spring, and sev- 
 eral of the old-time residents remem- 
 ber them with deep affection. Mrs. 
 Bartow died at about 80 years of age. 
 She was a kindly and true Southern 
 gentlewoman, typical of a race that is 
 no more. 
 
 GEN. NEAL DOW PRISONER OF 
 A ROMAN. — It is not commonly known 
 that Neal Dow, once Mayor of Port- 
 land, Me., and a general in command 
 of colored soldiers durinp- the Civil 
 War, was taken to Libby Prison, Rich- 
 mond, Va., probably in 1863, by Leon- 
 idas Timoleon ("Coon") Mitchell, 
 brother of Mrs. Hiram Hill, of Rome. 
 "Little Neal" Dow, as he was known, 
 had carried his negro troops against 
 the Confederate works at Port Hudson, 
 Mississippi River, La., May 28, 1863, 
 had lost 500 in killed and wounded 
 from his brigade, and himself had 
 been wounded twice. Subsequently he 
 was captured and put in prison at 
 Mobile. Feeling was so intense against 
 him there on account of the fact that 
 he had led colored troopers that it was 
 deemed best to remove him north. A 
 Roman, "Coon" Mitchell, member of 
 the Rome Light Guards of the Eighth 
 Georgia Infantry, was selected to take 
 him. 
 
 The route, for sake of safety, was 
 through New Orleans. Gen Dow, dress- 
 ed as a private, was taken there, and 
 lodged over night at a hotel. Some- 
 how the secret got abroad and a crowd 
 of angry people gathered at the hotel, 
 demanding the body of the prisoner. 
 The proprietor sent word to the 
 room of captive and escort to flee. 
 Mitchell had been guarding his charge 
 and had had little sleep; had not re- 
 moved his clothing; but in spite of his 
 fatigue he smuggled Gen. Dow out of 
 a rear passageway and caught a train 
 at a way station and landed him at 
 Richmond. Gen. Dow was later ex- 
 changed for Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, neph- 
 ew of Robt. E. Lee. 
 
 Gen. Dow got his commission as 
 brigadier from President Lincoln and 
 was regarded as a capital prize by 
 the Confederate hosts. He was a great 
 temperance leader and as prohibition 
 candidate for president in 1880 he re- 
 ceived 10,000 popular votes. He died 
 at Portland Oct. 2, 1897, at the ripe 
 old age of 93. 
 
 "Coon" Mitchell himself, it will be 
 remembered, was imprisoned shortly 
 after the war by Capt. Chas. A. de la 
 Mesa for his participation in a Con- 
 federate uniform in the tableau "The 
 Officer's Funeral" at Rome. Capt. de la 
 Mesa was in charge of the Freedmen's 
 Bureau at that time, and objected to 
 the presentation of the tableau as an 
 insult to the United States flag. 
 
 Mitchell was born in March, 1839, 
 hence was 24 when he took "Little 
 Neal" in tow. He died a good many
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 277 
 
 years ago and was buried in the Sol- 
 diers' Section of Oakland Cemetery, 
 Atlanta. 
 
 * * * 
 
 "GINRUL" VANDEVER AND 
 "THE WIDOW LUMPKIN."— When 
 Maj. William Vandever, of Sherman's 
 Army, took charge of Rome in 1864, 
 one of the early callers at his head- 
 quarters (whether by official invita- 
 tion or otherwise it is not known) 
 was the handsome widow of Judge 
 John H. Lumpkin, congressman, who 
 had died four years before. A state- 
 ly ex-congressman from Iowa and 
 a splendid gentleman. General Van- 
 dever had been cited for bravery 
 on many a battlefield, but he was 
 a married man and there was undoubt- 
 edly no justification for the gossip 
 which wagging tongues soon spread 
 concerning his "affair" with Mrs. 
 Lumpkin, who, by the way, had been 
 Miss Mary Jane Crutchfield, daughter 
 of Col. Thos. Crutchfield, of Chatta- 
 nooga. Mrs. Lumpkin lived on Eighth 
 Avenue in Rome's finest home, five 
 blocks from the General's headquar- 
 ters. 
 
 However, the tongues did wag, and 
 on numerous occasions connected the 
 names of the two in a way that must 
 have been embarrassing to both, but 
 furnished them considerable amuse- 
 ment at the same time. 
 
 Enter a mischievous young Rome 
 woman determined to protest in her 
 own way at the Yankee occupation, as 
 General Vendever's carriage passed 
 by. 
 
 "Ginrul, Ginrul, may I stop you a 
 moment?" 
 
 "Hold up there. Bob; let's see what 
 the lady wants. What can I do for 
 you, ma'am?" 
 
 "Ginrul, would you be kind enough 
 to lend me a planner?" 
 
 "Madam, I'm sorry, but I've got no 
 piano." 
 
 "Why, Ginrul, I hearn ye had seven 
 at the Widow Lumpkin's!" 
 
 Mrs. Thos. Hawkins, formerly the 
 beautiful and cultured Miss Pauline 
 Bryant, whose father was pi'osperous 
 in a comfortable estate on the Cave 
 Spring road, got a pass through the 
 lines and appeared at General Vende- 
 ver's headciuarters ("Bill Arp's" old 
 home on Fourth Avenue) and asked 
 for protection from maraud in o- bands 
 of soldiers. Her husband was away 
 with the "Rebels" and she was practi- 
 cally alone in a great big house. 
 General Vandever courteously offered 
 
 her a guard, to which she replied feel- 
 ingly: 
 
 "Oh, General, I can not express my 
 gratitude! I can only hope that be- 
 fore you die you will succeed in win- 
 ning the heart of the Widow Lump- 
 kin!" 
 
 Mrs. Hawkins went through trials 
 second to none during the war. After 
 the evacuation of Rome Capt. Jack 
 Colquitt maintained a band of bush- 
 whackers around Rome, Cave Spring 
 and Cedartown who had formerly been 
 members of a Texas unit opposing 
 Sherman's attack on Rome. This band 
 traveled under the name of Colquitt's 
 Independent Scouts. A foraging party 
 of Union soldiers having gone out in 
 wagons toward the present site of 
 Lindale the Scouts ambushed it in 
 front of the Bryant-Hawkins home, 
 killed several men and stampeded the 
 horses. In retaliation Gen. Jno. M. 
 Corse, of Pennsylvania, the Northern 
 commander, claiming Mrs. Hawkins' 
 husband and son had led the attack- 
 ing party, caused the home to be burn- 
 ed to the ground. It was stated by 
 neighbors that Mrs. Hawkins had 
 time to save only the family Bible; 
 also that a soldier invited her to 
 rescue the portraits of her ancestors, 
 to which she replied contemptuously, 
 "I would not lower myself to accept 
 such an invitation! I will stand here 
 and watch it all burn together! The 
 piano and the funiture and the grand- 
 father clock are equally sacred to 
 me!" 
 
 Mrs. Hawkins was then arrested 
 and sent to share the roof and the 
 scanty wardrobe of sympathetic 
 friends. 
 
 :{: :J: H« 
 
 STORY OF THE WHITE PA- 
 POOSE.— Mrs. Pattie Wright Stone, 
 of Farill, Ala., contributes the fol- 
 lowing story of Alexander Thornton 
 Harper, of Cave Spring, who married 
 Miss Elizabeth Whatley Sparks, the 
 girlhood sweetheart of Gen. John B. 
 Gordon : 
 
 "On Mar. 28. 1832, there was born 
 in Vann's Valley, near the beautiful 
 Little Cedar Creek, to Thornton Har- 
 per and his wife, Frances Long Rich- 
 ardson, a baby boy named Alexander 
 Thornton. On the night of the third 
 day of the child's birth there came a 
 knocking at the door of the Harper log 
 cabin. At that time the valley swarmed 
 with Red Men, and well did the in- 
 mates of the forest home know when- 
 ever a red knuckle rapped. 
 
 "'Oh, dear, dear, it's the Indians,'
 
 278 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Mrs. Harper whispered, and with one 
 hand she drew her baby nearer her 
 breast, and with the other gathered 
 up little Elizabeth, their only other 
 child. 
 
 " 'Don't be alarmed, "Chick," reas- 
 sured the husband. 'There is no harm 
 in them.' 
 
 "Mr. Harper opened the door and in 
 filed several Cherokees, the leader of 
 whom said with a grunt and in gut- 
 tural tones, 'Indians want to see white 
 papoose.' 
 
 "It was the first white child born 
 in Floyd County. 
 
 "'Give white papoose to Indian; In- 
 dian hold him in his arms.' 
 
 "Mr. Harper, confident of the In- 
 dian's good intentions, placed his 
 young son in the Red Man's arms, and 
 then each Indian insisted on holding 
 the baby in turn, and on scrutinizing 
 the little fellow to determine how the 
 Great Spirit had made him so pale 
 instead of red. When the baby told 
 them in his own peculiar way that he 
 wanted to go back to his mother, the 
 Indians knew it was not the sound of 
 the brown papoose. They went away 
 reverently and were swallowed up in 
 the gloom of the nearby forests. 
 
 THE HOTEL ARMSTRONG in fire of Mar. 
 8, 1921. Note burning cupola and fireman 
 at top of ladder. 
 
 "Mr. Harper was a pioneer of the 
 highest type, and his savage neigh- 
 bors admired his hum^anizing quali- 
 ties. On one occasion an Indian boy 
 was sentenced to receive 40 lashes for 
 horse theft, and he pleaded that Mr. 
 Harper be allowed to apply the pun- 
 ishment. 
 
 "The valley was full of game and 
 the Indian boys hunted much on their 
 fleet footed ponies. Often they would 
 expend a quiver of arrows at wild 
 turkeys and come home laden with the 
 great black birds; they also killed 
 deer and exchanged the venison for 
 beads and other things the settlers had 
 to offer. 
 
 "Mr. Harper built the first house of 
 size in that neighborhood. It was a 
 two-story affair and was known as 
 the White House. Practically all the 
 other establishments were log cabins, 
 with a room on each end and a pas- 
 sageway through the middle, or a sin- 
 gle room without hall. He made his 
 plantation blossom with slave labor 
 brought from South Georgia. Pres- 
 ently there were five white papooses 
 instead of two, and when Alexander 
 and Elizabeth had grown up some- 
 what they used to play with the In- 
 dian boys and girls. The boys played 
 a game with thick stones shaped like 
 wheels. These would be rolled across 
 an open space and shot at with ar- 
 rows, and the side which scored the 
 most hits was declared the winner. 
 
 "Once when Alexander and Eliza- 
 beth were playing with a lot of pearls 
 and wampum in a bureau drawer at 
 David Vann's home they heard some- 
 body ask Mrs. Vann if she were not 
 afraid the pale-faces would drive the 
 Indian out. 'No,' she answered scorn- 
 fully, 'right now I could sound the 
 war whoop and a thousand braves 
 would answer from forest and field.' 
 
 "Little did she realize how soon the 
 Indians were to inarch sullenly by 
 for the west as Alexander and Eliza- 
 beth hung on the fence and waved 
 them farewell. We have their val- 
 leys, rivers and hills and they are gone 
 to the land of the setting sun; but so 
 has the little white papoose gone to 
 the happy hunting ground of Heaven. 
 On Saturday, Jan. 2, 1905, Alexander 
 Thornton Harper died at his Cave 
 Spring home. 'A noble man has gone 
 to that reward promised the faithful 
 in Holy Writ. He fought the good 
 fight, he kept the faith throughout the 
 allotted years of life and now enjoys 
 that bliss accorded the righteous who 
 die in the Lord.' "
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 279 
 
 A FAMOUS LEAP-YEAR PARTY. 
 The Rome News of Dec. 29, 1920, car- 
 i-ied the following story: 
 
 Only two more days of Leap Year, — 
 two more days and then a lapse of 
 four long years! 
 
 Look before you leap, young ladies 
 of Rome, but leap while ye may! Next 
 year, 1921, is not divisible by four to 
 a nicety, nor is it divisible by twos 
 or couples if the plaints of the hard 
 time croakers are to be taken seri- 
 ously. 
 
 'Twas the same in the old days, and 
 'tis the same now. The love song is 
 sung in season and out. Fair maids 
 sing it one year in four and handsome 
 men the remaining three. 
 
 Back in 1860, just before the muffled 
 drums started beating for the Civil 
 War, there resided in Rome a young 
 bachelor by the name of George T. 
 Stovall, member of one of Georgia's 
 most prominent families, who in ad- 
 dition to being a lawyer, wrote ed- 
 itorials for The Rome Courier. 
 
 He was one of the first to fall in 
 the First Battle of Manassas in 1861. 
 His senior editor on The Courier was 
 M. Dwinell, who was also a bachelor, 
 and who went away with Stovall as 
 a second lieutenant in the Rome Light 
 Guards. The Courier having no so- 
 ciety editor Jan. 27, 1860, a leap-year 
 party was handled in the editorial col- 
 umn as follows by Bachelor Dwinell : 
 
 "It was our pleasure on last Friday 
 night to attend a most delightful party 
 gotten up and entirely managed by the 
 young ladies of Rome. Everything was 
 arranged in excellent good taste and 
 the young ladies played the gallants 
 most admirably. They showed that 
 they not only knew how to gracefully 
 receive the attentions of the sterner 
 sex but also that they can most charm- 
 ingly bestow them. It was a sweet 
 season of joyous hilarity, mirth and 
 social amusements, — a genuine 'feast 
 of reason and flow of soul.' There are 
 many more young ocntlemen than 
 young ladies in the place, and if the 
 former did not all get special invita- 
 tions, we see no reason why they 
 should be growling about it. The ladies 
 deserve great credit for the pleasing 
 exhibition they made of their 'rights' 
 for the coming year. May they all 
 live long and happily and each be the 
 pure center of sacred household joys." 
 
 Having read this squib in the proof. 
 Bachelor Stovall wrote the following: 
 
 "Now, we wish to say a word or two 
 on the subject. All that sounds very 
 
 nice and pretty coming from our ed- 
 itorial senior, and although he insists 
 we must not, we will say it, senior in 
 years as well as editorial experience. 
 He can aff'ord to write that way about 
 Leap Year parties when he gets a spe- 
 cial invitation to go and has an escort. 
 But there are two sides to every ques- 
 tion and we are on the other side of 
 this one, for we did not have a 'pecu- 
 liar institution' in embryo to come and 
 hand us a sweetly-scented billet doux 
 written in the most delicate chirog- 
 raphy, respectfully soliciting the pleas- 
 ure of our company. 
 
 "It is true we did get through the 
 postoffice a sort of general invitation 
 or permission or something of the kind 
 which seemed to say 'If you are not 
 afraid to come by yourself, you can 
 come, or you can stay away, just as 
 you please; if you come you can take 
 care of yourself, and if you stay away, 
 nobody will miss you anyhow.' 
 
 "We have never done anything we 
 know of that makes us deserve such 
 treatment. We have never been caught 
 disturbing the midnight slumber of 
 anybody's hen roost or in mistaking 
 another man's pocket for our own. We 
 don't recall ever having said that wom- 
 en were intellectually inferior to Be- 
 con, or Newton or Bonaparte or J. 
 Caesar or Pompey or Solomon or Brig- 
 ham Young or Joe Brown, and we are 
 satisfied we have never compared them 
 to a huge fodder stack with a little 
 piece of ribbon or turkey feather flut- 
 tering from the top of it. However 
 much we have thought all this, we 
 have prudently kept it to ourselves; 
 but we vow we won't do so any longer! 
 
 "On the other hand, ever since we 
 had heard there was to be a Leap 
 Year party we had been studiously at- 
 tentive and polite to every one of the 
 'Dear (Bah!) creatures.' Whenever 
 we have met them on the street we 
 have invariably tipped our hat as 
 gracefully as we knew how and smiled 
 a little sweeter than we ever thought 
 we could before, and ever can again; 
 and in one or two instances we fol- 
 lowed them several lilocks hojiing we 
 might have an opportunity of ])icking 
 up and returning to its owner a glove 
 or a handkerchief she may have 'un- 
 intentionally' dropped. 
 
 "And yet, after all this, not one of 
 them otfercd to escort us to the party; 
 and we waited as patiently as Job un- 
 til 9:30 that night. Then hope and 
 our fire going out about the same 
 time, we concluded to follow their ex- 
 ample and stroll up to the city hall,
 
 280 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 A TRULY COSMOPOLITAN ASSEMBLAGE. 
 
 In this group are three physicians, a lawyer, a sheriff, a merchant, a mining engineer, a 
 minister and a college professor. They are, left to right. Dr. Harry. Huzza, Dr. Geo. R. West, 
 of Chattanooga, and Lyle B. West; Edwin Watters, Rev. R. B. Headden, long pastor of the First 
 Baptist church; Judge Robt. D. Harvey, Jake C. Moore, Robt. D. Van Dyke, of Atlanta; Prof. 
 Jos. Lustrat, of Athens, and Dr. Geo. B. Glover, of Monticello, Fla.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 281 
 
 only to see how many and who were 
 there. We very foolishly went in by 
 way of testing the matter a little fur- 
 ther, and just as we expected, nobody 
 came to ask us to promenade or insist 
 on our singing Jeremiah, or to play 
 the elephant or any other animal, or 
 to ask us how we were enjoying the 
 evening, or even to inform us of the 
 state of the weather. 
 
 "One young lady (bless her sweet 
 soul) did offer to take our hat, and it 
 was such an extraordinary act of at- 
 tention that we would have given it 
 to her if it had not cost us five dollars 
 and was the last one we had. We 
 were satisfied from what we saw that 
 our senior's rhapsodies are all put on, 
 for he was a most neglected wall flow- 
 er. It may be called spite or spleen, 
 but to us the whole aff"air was a per- 
 fect humbug. 
 
 "We would rather eat sour grapes 
 any time than attend one for half an 
 hour. The man that started the idea 
 of giving up for twelve months the 
 dearest privileges of his sex to a par- 
 cel of unappreciative and capricious 
 women deserved a coat of tar and 
 feathers, and on Friday night w^e had 
 the great satisfaction of burning the 
 wretch in effigy and singing his re- 
 quiem. 
 
 "So far as any advancement of our 
 own from a state of single blessedness 
 to one of double wretchedness is con- 
 cerned, when we record in our journal 
 the events of 1860 we will simply leave 
 a blank page. 
 
 "We think Patrick Henry could have 
 made the expression a great deal 
 stronger if he had said 'Give me Lib- 
 erty or give me Leap Year!' We only 
 wish it were 1861; we would see how 
 far another Leap Year would catch us 
 in this fix again. As it is we have a 
 notion to spend the balance of this 
 one in Utah. There we reckon the 
 ladies are not so independent. Leap 
 Year indeed!" 
 
 Bachelor Dwinell read the proof on 
 the above sally by Bachelor Stovall 
 and tacked on the following: 
 
 "Our junior has fully justified the 
 fable of the Fox and the Grapes. We 
 pity him; but since he wrote the above 
 we discover unmistakable signs of 
 convalescence and assure the ladies 
 that he will be in his right mind in 
 a few days." 
 
 CARRYING ON.— The following 
 items from The Rome Weekly Courier, 
 Vol. 20, New Series No. 1, Thursday, 
 Aug. 31, 1865, will give further in- 
 
 formation on the status of Rome and 
 Romans directly after the Civil War: 
 
 To Former Patron.^. — Greeting: On 
 the 16th of May, 1864, the last number 
 of this paper was published. The Fed- 
 eral forces occupied Rome on the next 
 day, and since then, up to about the 
 first of last May, it was not deemed 
 prudent for such a 'Reb" as we have 
 been to engage in any permanent busi- 
 ness in Rome. 
 
 Some three months since we returned 
 to the old office and found it in great 
 confusion. What a pickle it was in, 
 to be sure! Stands, tables, cases, 
 presses, stones and stove pipe, impos- 
 ing stone, cabinets, racks and every- 
 thing else all turned topsy-turvy; and 
 then the whole chawdered up and 
 beaten to pieces with sledge hammers 
 and crowbars until the office looked 
 like the Demons from the Infernal Re- 
 gions had been holding high carnival 
 there. 
 
 Of course we felt bad. It looked 
 very much like "Othello's occupation 
 was gone!" It would do no good to 
 think hard things and still less to say 
 wicked words; we at once resolved 
 that as for us and our house, we would 
 arise and go back to the old fold again. 
 Well, the first thing to be done was 
 to take the Amnesty Oath. Now, about 
 that we felt a little like the keeper of 
 a cheap boarding house did about eat- 
 ing crow, after he had foi'ced down 
 a little for a wager. He said he could 
 eat crow, but he "didn't hanker arter 
 it!" We took the oath and have been 
 feeling better ever since. It was prob- 
 ably just the medicine needed. We 
 would advise every citizen of tho state 
 to embrace the first opportunity to 
 take the Oath of Allegiance. It is as 
 little as could possibly be asked of us 
 after four years of most determined 
 and earnest eff'ort to disrupt the Fed- 
 eral Nation, and besides it is really 
 our duty to give an honest jiledge that 
 hereafter we will give a full and cor- 
 dial support of that government, which 
 after all our sins against it proposes 
 now not only to pardon (with a few 
 exceptions) but also to spread over us 
 the aegis of its protecting wings. 
 
 Having taken the Oath, we went in- 
 dustriously to work and with tlie as- 
 sistance of one good printer, by pick- 
 ing up the debris, assorting the type, 
 ))atching some marhim'ry and buying 
 a little (with borrowed money), we 
 are now enabled to come out with the 
 paper as you see it. It is our deter- 
 mination to publish a first-rate family 
 newspaper, giving the subscriber as
 
 282 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 much reliable and interesting informa- 
 tion on Commercial, Political and Mis- 
 cellaneous subjects as the columns will 
 contain. All Military and Govern- 
 ment orders and Proclamations that 
 pertain to the people of this section 
 will be published as soon as received. 
 The paper will be neither partisan nor 
 sectarian, but we shall do all in our 
 power to support President Johnson 
 and the Provisional Governor in their 
 present policy of restoring the Empire 
 State of the South to its once proud 
 position in the great family of States. 
 
 Wanted — One Thousand Subscribers 
 to This Paper — Our rates are low. The 
 paper will be the best News Paper we 
 can possibly make it. Terms, $1 for 
 three months; $2 for six, or $4 for 
 12 months. We will take in payment 
 currency or produce, anything we can 
 eat, drink or wear, at market price; 
 also clean cotton or linen rags at 2 
 cents per pound. No name will be 
 entered on the Subscription Book until 
 the paper is paid for, and the paper 
 will be stopped as soon as the time 
 paid for expires. 
 
 Bill Arp. — We are promised a series 
 of communications from this inimitable 
 wit and satirist. Probably we may 
 have one article from him next week. 
 
 Important Military Order. — Capt. 
 Kyes, commandant of this post, re- 
 ceived a telegraphic dispatch from 
 Gen. Steedman on the 29th inst. or- 
 dering that no cotton shall be shipped 
 from this place after that date until 
 further orders. It is supposed that this 
 order is general throughout the cotton 
 states, and that all cotton will have to 
 remain where it is for the present — 
 one object of this order is to prevent 
 the stealing of cotton that is now car- 
 ried on to such a shameful extent in 
 some sections. 
 
 Taking the Ooi/i.— While Capt. 
 Heirs was Provost Marshal, from June 
 10 to July 26, he administered the Oath 
 to 342 persons; since August 14 Jesse 
 Lamberth, ordinary of the county, has 
 administered it to 770, making the 
 total number up to noon yesterday 
 1,112, and still they come. 
 
 Schools ill Rome. — Arrangements 
 are made for a good number of ex- 
 cellent schools for the children of 
 Rome and vicinity. Mrs. Dr. Brown 
 still continues her school at the former 
 place. Mrs. Reeves has returned and 
 will reopen her school on Monday next. 
 See Advertisement. Mrs. Susan Smith 
 is also about to commence another 
 school, and Misses Maggie Riley and 
 Mattie Sawrie each have prosperous 
 
 schools now in operation. Mrs. J. W. 
 M. Berrien also has a fine school, and 
 Mrs. Jennings, her sister, teaches mu- 
 sic. Mr. Nevin has a school for boys 
 that we understand is well patronized 
 and doing well. 
 
 Rolling Mill and Machine Shop. — We 
 are pleased to learn that H. M. An- 
 derson & Co. are preparing to rebuild 
 their rolling mill. Messrs. Noble 
 Brothers are also arranging to rebuild 
 their Machine Shops and Foundry, and 
 we hope ere long to hear the genial 
 hum of machinery all along Railroad 
 Street as in times before the war. 
 
 Business of Rome. — The business of 
 this place has increased nearly 100 per 
 cent a week for the last three months. 
 We now have twelve dry goods stores, 
 nearly all keeping more or less hard- 
 wai-e, crockery and groceries; seven 
 family grocery stores, two wholesale 
 and retail grocery stores, two hotels, 
 three eating saloons, six bar rooms, 
 two billiard rooms, two livery stables, 
 etc., and all doing a good business. 
 
 "Home Again." — Nearly all the for- 
 mer citizens of Rome and vicinity have 
 returned and others intend coming 
 soon. Among those who are still ab- 
 sent are Dr. H. V. M. Miller, who is 
 now in Macon but still claims Rome 
 as his home and will soon return; A. 
 M. Sloan, now in Thomasville, but ex- 
 pects to move back in October; D. R. 
 Mitchell and Dr. Jas. B. Underwood, 
 now in Valdosta, intend to return this 
 fall; Wade S. Cothran, now at Valula, 
 is expected soon; Jno. R. Freeman, now 
 at Flat Shoals, Meriwether County, is 
 due before Christmas; Asahel R. Smith 
 expects to move here again in a short 
 time. In fine, nearly every one of the 
 former residents are certain to return, 
 and before long Rome will be herself 
 again. 
 
 M^ist Ladies Take the Oath?— "The 
 orders are very plain on this subject. 
 The ladies are required to take the 
 Oath before taking their letters. By 
 command of Maj. Gen. Steedman, S. 
 B. Moe, Adjutant." The above is an 
 extract of an order received by our 
 Postmaster in reference to ladies re- 
 receiving letters by mail. 
 
 Drouth. — This section is suffering 
 from drouth to an extent almost un- 
 precedented. Since July 16 there has 
 been but one little shower here, and 
 then only one-fourth of an inch of wa- 
 ter fell. The consequence is that all 
 corn is greatly injured, and the late 
 corn nearly ruined. The garden vege- 
 tables and potato crop are nearly cut 
 off.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 283 
 
 Coiinty Meeting. — A call has been 
 published for a meeting at the City 
 Hall in Rome on Saturday, Sept. 9, to 
 nominate candidates for the State Con- 
 vention at Milledgeville. The State 
 Convention will be entrusted with the 
 most important and vital interests of 
 the people, and the very truest and 
 best men should be sent from every 
 county. 
 
 Neiv Steamboat. — Our friends down 
 the river and many others elsewhere 
 will be glad to learn that fine progress 
 is being made by H M. Anderson & 
 Co. in constructing a new boat for the 
 Coosa River. The boat is being built 
 at McArver's Ferry, and we under- 
 stand that a portion of the machinery 
 of the old Alfarata will be used. 
 
 Specimen Copies. — We send this 
 number of The Courier to many of 
 our old subscribers, in hopes that they 
 will subscribe again. We can not fur- 
 nish the paper on a credit. 
 
 Garrison. — The military force now 
 stationed here is Co. C, 29th Indiana 
 troops, Capt. Kyes commanding. 
 
 Hymeneal. — Married on the 20th 
 inst., by Hon. Augustus R. Wright, 
 Dr. Miller A. Wright and Miss Sallie 
 Park, formerly of Columbia. On the 
 24th inst., by the Rev. Jesse Lamberth, 
 Mr. John Holland to Mrs. S. A. Stans- 
 bury; all of this city. 
 * * * 
 
 A WAR-TIME LOTHARIO.— After 
 having attended the Confederate Vet- 
 erans' Reunion at Chattanooga, Curtis 
 Green, of Oglesby, Tex., came to Rome 
 Saturday, Oct. 29, 1921, to visit his 
 relatives, Mrs. M. B. Eubanks and Ed 
 A. Green; then developed a story of 
 Civil War romance that it is the for- 
 tune of few in a lifetime to hear or 
 experience. Miss Sarah (Sallie) Wal- 
 lace Howard appears as the heroine, 
 and the meeting between the two, for 
 the first time in 57 years, is staged 
 at the home of R. E. Griffin, 101 West 
 Eighth Avenue, where the circum- 
 stances are recalled. 
 
 In May, 1864, shortly after Rome 
 was first occupied, Gen. Wm. T. Sher- 
 man's headquarters for the Union Ar- 
 my were at "Spring Bank," Bartow 
 County, home of Capt. (Rev.) Chas. 
 Wallace Howard, father of Miss Sallie 
 Howard and of Miss Frances Thomas 
 Howard, who in 1905 vividly recount- 
 ed the family's war experience in a 
 book entitled "In and Out of the 
 Lines." "Spring Bank" was about 
 midway between Kingston and "Barns- 
 ley Gardens," the palatial estate of 
 the Englishman, Godfrey Barnsley. 
 
 The neighborhood was alive with 
 "Yankees," but the confusion incident 
 to the chase after Gen. Jos. E. John- 
 ston's stubbornly retreating columns 
 gave Curtis Gi*een an opportunity to 
 come within 100 yards of Gen. Sher- 
 man's headquarters and to speak with 
 Miss Sallie, then a slip of a girl at 
 18. Mr. Green had been detailed as a 
 spy to obtain information of Gen. Sher- 
 man's movements, and he had boldly 
 walked through the lines in a Union 
 uniform, using a stretch of woodland 
 to cover the dangerous distance be- 
 tween his own men and the enemy. 
 
 Miss Sallie was incredulous at first, 
 but when he told her in a decided 
 Southern accent that he was a mem- 
 ber of the Sixth Georgia Cavalry un- 
 der command of Gen. Jos. Wheeler, 
 she believed his story, and admiringly 
 declared she was so glad to see a Con- 
 federate soldier that she desired to 
 make him a nice present. It was his 
 privilege to choose what the gift should 
 be. Quite possibly he exacted a for- 
 feit expressive of the happiness they 
 felt at meeting, but history must record 
 simply the fact that he asked her to 
 make him a suit of home-spun clothes 
 — not a military uniform, but a habit 
 that might serve him better in gath- 
 ering information for his chief. 
 
 "But, little lady, we have only a 
 minute more to talk," he warned her. 
 "I must hurry back. If you would do 
 your honored father and the Confed- 
 eracy a service, you will meet me at 
 1 o'clock after midnight tonight in the 
 clump of pines at the top of yonder 
 hill. Lucky for our cause if the clouds 
 obscure the moon!" 
 
 Miss Sallie's heart beat warm for 
 the boys in gray. Her father was bat- 
 tling to save the home fron^ the in- 
 vader. Her sisters and her mother 
 were dyed-in-the-wool Rebels, and with 
 all the strength at their command they 
 had resisted the efforts of the foe. It 
 was a perilous task but she could not 
 be less brave than Curtis Green, for 
 what is life without liberty and hon- 
 or? Her smile told him she would be 
 there, and he rushed away, as if to 
 transact some important business at 
 the front of the Union line. 
 
 Miss Sallie took into her confidence 
 Miss Fannie, who was 19, and undoubt- 
 edly "Mother" Howard knew, for they 
 never kept anything from her. At 
 any rate, the young ladies dressed 
 themselves in dark waists and dark 
 skirts. If they were caught they would 
 probably be "shot, but they might es- 
 cape by pleading that they had ven-
 
 284 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 ROMANS AND "NEAR ROMANS" HERE AND THERE. 
 
 Wm. M. Hardin, Judge Harry Johnson, Chas. W. Morris, Richard Venable Mitchell and James 
 D'Arcy; Miss Elizabeth Lanier and a group of Romans at "Oak Hill", home of Mrs. Thos. Berry; 
 Col. Hamilton Yancey; George Rounsavillc on parade; Little Miss Jean Landrum; Ernest E. 
 Lindsey; Hughes Reynolds and W. S. Rowell in a playful argument; Wm. J. Vincent; Little Miss 
 Patti O'Neill; a Kiwanis Club group helping to dedicate the Municipal bandstand.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 285 
 
 tured forth with heavy hearts, unable 
 to sleep, to search for the body of 
 kinsman or friend. These heavy hearts 
 were in their slender, white throats as 
 they approached the most advantage- 
 ous point in the line. Sentries stalked 
 heavily to and fro at intervals while 
 the snores of the rank and file told 
 that they were at peace with the world 
 for the nonce. 
 
 By dodging behind an ammunition 
 wagon here and a friendly tree there 
 the girls managed to get through, and 
 how they did fly up the hill! They had 
 reached the clump of pines before Cur- 
 tis Green, and they crouched low, and 
 held their breaths; the pine needles 
 seemed to spring up around and half 
 to envelop them. Presently the young 
 Confederate appeared. He was 24 and 
 handsome. He greeted them with a 
 warmth that reflected his admiration of 
 their courage; pressed them to make 
 haste; received valuable pointers on 
 the number of Sherman's men and 
 their disposition; bade them foi'ewell 
 with a promise to call presently for 
 the suit of clothes, and bespoke the 
 tender care of the Almighty in their 
 return to the Howard home. The girls, 
 having found the path one way, trod 
 it safely again, and spelt soundly until 
 morning. 
 
 In two days the wool for Curtis 
 Green's suit had been carded and spun. 
 The outfit was ready, but lo! the hero 
 v/as gone. Private arrangements with 
 fair damsels in war are one thing, and 
 stern army commands are quite an- 
 other. Curtis Green's unit had been 
 ordered on a scouting expedition near 
 State Line, between Floyd County, Ga., 
 and Cherokee County. Ala., and here 
 he had been cut off and captured. After 
 a considerable stay elsewhere, he was 
 removed Sept. 23, 1864, to a rough 
 wooden shack in Rome which stood at 
 the southwest corner of Sixth Avenue 
 and West Second Street, about 150 
 feet north of the Floyd County jail and 
 200 feet east of the Oostanaula River. 
 A drum-head courtmartial had found 
 him guilty of espionage and he had been 
 sentenced to be shot Oct. 4 at sunrise. 
 
 The prison was a rudely-improvised 
 affair, either with a loose-plank floor- 
 ing or a flooring of native earth. It 
 contained a number of other prisoners 
 whose capture had greatly increased 
 their docility, and who did not become 
 actively interested — at least not for 
 themselves- — in Green's plan to escape. 
 The prisoners were mustered and 
 counted every hour during daylight, 
 so Green was forced to do his digging 
 quickly. 
 
 On the night before his execution 
 ''"'iT^ -v ^ l^^^^*^' ^^ ^^'is singing that 
 old familiar Confederate air, "The Bon- 
 nie Blue Flag:" 
 
 "We are a band of brothers, 
 
 And native to the soil 
 Fighting for our liberty 
 
 With treasure, blood and toil 
 And when our rights were threatened 
 
 Ihe cry rose near and far: 
 Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag 
 
 That bears a single star!' 
 Chorus : 
 "Hurrah, hurrah, for Southern rights 
 
 — hurrah ! 
 Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag 
 That bears a single star!" 
 
 ^u'^.^l'^^^'P^^'^^ °^ *h^ ^ai'd remarked 
 that he would be singing a different 
 tune at daybreak and asked if he had 
 any request or statement to make The 
 fiery "Rebel" lit into the petty officer 
 with a volley of vituperative abuse of 
 the Union army and cause. Then he 
 went about his digging, and by mid- 
 night or shortly after had scooped out 
 with hands and an old soup spoon 
 enough earth to permit of his crawling 
 to freedom. It is only fair to his com- 
 P^f'ons to say that they assisted him 
 with the excavation, and as he was 
 about to make his getaway, snored 
 loud enough to prevent the' scraping 
 of his brass buttons against the silh 
 of the jail from being heard outside./ 
 A miserable gas lamp at the corner 
 flickered and sputtered; it shed a dim 
 glow about the front of the prison and 
 the sentry box, and cast a comforting 
 shadow down a gulch that led to the 
 Oostanaula River. Through this de- 
 pression the escaped spy ran, tripped 
 and rolled. He was greatlv handi- 
 capped because they had handcuffed 
 him in front, but liberty was sweet, 
 and when he reached the river he slid 
 into it and began to swim as best he 
 could, kicking hard with his feet, 
 working his hands together in a side- 
 wise position, and occasionally turning 
 over on his back and churning the wa- 
 ter with his feet like the paddle wheel 
 of a steamboat. His escape was soon 
 detected, and the firing of muskets let 
 Gen. Jefferson C. Davis' garri.son know 
 something unusual had happened. 
 
 When Mr. Green came to Cave 
 Spring at 17 years of age he began 
 swimming regularly in Big and Little 
 Cedar Creeks; he possessed a strong 
 and clever stroke; and he was so fa- 
 miliar with Rome that instead of 
 merely crossing the river and landing 
 at the other side, as his guards be-
 
 286 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 lieved he would do, he set out for 
 Black's Bluff, three miles down the 
 Coosa, which in this day and time is 
 considered a fair distance for a swim- 
 mer to make with hands free. Here and 
 there he could touch bottom, or he 
 would snake himself on a half sub- 
 merged log and admire the stars. Fi- 
 nally, after several tedious hours, he 
 reached the bluff, where he knew there 
 were Confederate scouts or natives, 
 and with the aid of a bit of soap sup- 
 plied by a farmwife, slipped off the 
 manacles from his wrists. 
 
 In the meantime. Miss Sallie How- 
 ard had been wonderng what could 
 have happened to Curtis Green, and 
 had been keeping the home-spun suit 
 beyond any "Yankee" reach. Eventu- 
 ally her father received a serious 
 wound and was paroled to Athens, and 
 Miss Sallie went there to attend him, 
 charging her good mother that if the 
 Confederate trooper returned, the suit 
 should be delivered to him. One day 
 a dust-covered traveler in a tattered 
 gray uniform rode up on a limping 
 horse. He had surrendered with the 
 Sixth Ga. Inf. in North Carolina and 
 was on his way to Texas, to grow up 
 with the "new country." He was very 
 sorry indeed that pretty Miss Sallie 
 was absent, but said he with a note 
 of hope in his voice, it would be some 
 consolation in view of the eventuali- 
 ties of 1865 if he could take with him 
 the substantial garments she had 
 made with her own hands the year 
 before. It was Curtis Green. 
 
 "God bless you, Mrs. Howard!" he 
 cried as he mounted his steed and 
 started for the Etowah ford; "and 
 may your halls and lawn never again 
 be defiled Vvith such a motley throng! 
 I'll keep this suit as long as nature 
 will spare it; and I'll save these hand- 
 cuffs to remind me of a pleasant voy- 
 age around Rome!" 
 
 * :>= * 
 
 SAM P. JONES AT ROME.— When 
 Sam Jones was 9 his mother died and 
 his father married Jessie Skinner; and 
 in 1859 they went to live at Carters- 
 ville. The young man was being pre- 
 pared for college, but he developed a 
 wild streak, started drinking heavily 
 and by 21 had practically wrecked his 
 health. Straightening up for a time, 
 he studied law and was admitted to 
 the bar, but never carried his practice 
 far. His devoted father died in 1878 
 and San' promised him on his death- 
 bed to reform. His experiences had 
 not broken his spirit and he saw in 
 them an opportunity to benefit his fel- 
 low men. A week after his father's 
 
 death he preached his first sermon at 
 New Hope church, two miles from Car- 
 tersville. His first appointment was 
 to Van Wert circuit, where he served 
 three years until 1875, when he was 
 assigned to the DeSoto (Rome) Cir- 
 cuit as pastor of the Second Methodist 
 (now Trinity) church and six small 
 churches through the county, includ- 
 ing Prospect Methodist at Coosa. He 
 built his church in the Fourth Ward; 
 when Trinity Methodist was erected, 
 the old structure was moved to 402 
 W. Fifth Avenue, next door to the 
 Second Christian church, and was con- 
 verted into a dwelling. It is standing 
 today. He and his wife occupied the 
 lower story of 733 Avenue A, south- 
 west corner of W. Tenth Street, now 
 the home of Varnell Chambers. 
 
 Mr. Jones continued to fight the devil 
 and also to tamper with the devil's 
 firewater. He was not sensitive to the 
 extent of excluding his own shortcom- 
 ings fror: his pulpit discourses, and 
 ofteJi told of this harrowing experience 
 and that, and warned young men to 
 go the other way. Rome was a wide- 
 open barroom town, so Mr. Jones found 
 many human wrecks to shoot at, and 
 an occasional door that swung open 
 for himself. On one occasion the 
 Fourth Ward brethren discovered Mr. 
 Jones unable to proceed with his du- 
 ties and they wired Rev. Thos. F. 
 Pierce, presiding elder of the district, 
 asking what to do. Dr. Pierce wired, 
 "Tell him to go to preaching." He 
 went to preaching and recovered his 
 mental and physical equilibrium. His 
 lodge brethren expelled him from 
 membership, but years later when his 
 reformation was complete and fame 
 crowned his brow like a benediction he 
 accepted reinstatement with the grace 
 of a prince. 
 
 His first revival work was done at 
 the First Methodist church (where the 
 Candler Duilding now stands) in At- 
 lanta, with Rev. Clement A. Evans, 
 who had previously, in 1879, filled the 
 pulpit of the First Methodist at Rome, 
 but it was not until January, 1883, at 
 Memphis, +,hat his fame began to grow, 
 as thousands hit the "sawdust trail." 
 Thereafter he preached all over the 
 United States and converted countless 
 sinners. It is estimated that he ad- 
 dressed 1,000,000 people a year. Every 
 now and then he would come back to 
 Rome. The South Broad Methodist 
 church sponsored his visit in 1897 and 
 received its share of the proceeds of 
 the collection. No church in Rome was 
 large enough to hold the crowd, so the 
 Howel cotton warehouse was selected.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 287 
 
 Romans will not soon forget his pow- 
 erful arraignment of Satan and his 
 works. 
 
 "Shams and the Genuine" was his 
 subject on this occasion. 
 
 Several years before this Mr. Jones 
 had come to Rome to conduct a two 
 weeks' revival. On the very first night 
 he painted a glowing picture of the 
 sins of the community. Judge Jno. 
 W. Maddox happened to be presiding 
 officer of the Superior Court at the 
 time, and when he read of Sam Jones' 
 castigations on Rome and Floyd Coun- 
 ty he laid the matter before the grand 
 jury, with the demand that Mr. Jones 
 be made to appeal'' and prove his 
 charges. The evangelist cut his Rome 
 engagement short. He explained later 
 that he was dealing in generalities 
 which he knew to be true, whether he 
 could prove them or not. 
 
 The story is told that one Saturday 
 Mr. Jones left Rome to fill the pulpit 
 at Prospect church, Coosa. There was 
 a narrow gauge railroad known as 
 the Rome & Jacksonville, which was 
 "limited" to the Rome-Coosa reglion 
 and at the latter point "quit." Mr. 
 Jones drove horse and buggy along 
 the railroad for several miles, mutter- 
 ing that if a train could run on such 
 a track, with the help of the Almighty 
 HE certainly could, and his mare could 
 hit the crossties like the devil in the 
 ten-pin alley of irresolute souls. 
 
 Mr. Jones was fond of telling stories 
 incident to his travels. His favorite 
 was the following from an old-time 
 darkey, a compliment he always said 
 was the highest he had ever received: 
 
 "Well, Brudder Jones, you sholy does 
 preach like a nigger! You may have 
 a white skin, but I tell you, sir, you 
 has a big black heart!" 
 
 Mr. Jones' churchmen and neigh- 
 bors at Cartersville were accustomed 
 to gather yearly to celebrate his birth- 
 day. They had made elaborate prepa- 
 rations in 1906 to welcome him home 
 from a swing through the west. He 
 died Oct. 15, of that year while his 
 train sped homeward, a day before 
 the event, and the rejoicing was turned 
 into a funeral dirge. The brave heart, 
 the massive brain had worn themselves 
 out in the strenuous effort to pilot sin- 
 ful humanity through the heavenly 
 
 gates. 
 
 * * * 
 
 RAZZING MR. GRADY.— Captain 
 Dwinell reproduced the following squib 
 in The Courier of Nov. 2G, 18(i9, and 
 added a touch of his own: 
 
 " 'Gloria MnncU — which, being inter- 
 
 preted, might mean that Rome is to 
 have glory on Monday, the 22d inst., 
 from "G. G. Grady's old-fashioned cir- 
 cus." As there seems to be a consid- 
 erable number of the Grady family 
 connected with this saw-dust enter- 
 tainment, we beg leave to inquire if 
 the immortal "six" or the prolific 
 "King Hans," concerning which a vast 
 amount of inky tears have been shed, 
 have been retained. If not, the pro- 
 prietor has lost a trump card. — Au- 
 gusta Constitutionalist.' 
 
 "Our junior is attending the fair at 
 Macon, and since he is well known as 
 a Hans-ome man, is doubtless think- 
 ing more of diamond than of sawdust 
 rings. As to the 'immortal six,' they 
 may be tumbling around somewhere 
 but whether it is 'ground' or 'lofty' 
 tumbling we are not advised." 
 
 * * :|: 
 
 ONE WAY TO MAKE MONEY.— 
 "Skinning a flea for his hide and tal- 
 low" was a popular occupation 
 throughout the South after the Civil 
 War. There was little to eat and lit- 
 tle money. Along came Zachariah B. 
 Hargrove, Jr., in 1869 as mayor, and 
 decided on an easy way to relieve the 
 local money shortage. 
 
 "Hell," exclaimed 'Little Zach" with 
 
 SAM V. JONKS. f\aiiv,'i'list. who built a Meth- 
 odist Church in Home and became its pastor, 
 later removing to Cartersville.
 
 288 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 characteristic directness, "I'll PRINT 
 some money!" 
 
 And he did. An expert engraver 
 was hired, and before he had ceased 
 his operations he had gi'ound out $50,- 
 000, which was considered sufficient. 
 About the time the last $1,000 was 
 being spent to "ease things," word 
 came from the Treasury Department 
 informing the Rome mayor that the 
 money printing monopoly was located 
 in Washington. After cussing out the 
 "ti'oublesome Yankees," "Little Zach" 
 reluctantly called the money in. Now 
 and then a bill that didn't get caught 
 in the call bobs up and is stuck in a 
 scrap book as a precious relic of those 
 palmy printing press days. 
 * * * 
 
 A PLEASANT HOUSE PARTY.— 
 All kinds of entertainments were en- 
 joyed by the guests of a house party 
 at the F. M. Freeman home at Free- 
 man's Ferry in 1898. A lawn party 
 there, a band-wagon ride to Mobley 
 Park for an evening theatrical per- 
 formance and dance following, a swell 
 supper at the Armstrong, then the 
 ride by moonlight back to the banks 
 of the gurgling Etowah, formed part 
 of the entertainment 
 
 Among the guests were Mrs. J. G. 
 Blount, chaperon; Misses Lou Flem- 
 ing, Eldith Carver, Julia and Edith 
 Smith, Mary Berry, Hazel Adkins, Ce- 
 leste Ayer, Clara and Ella Johnson, 
 Laura Jones, Orie Best, Mayme Hud- 
 gins, Lillian Hurt, Susie Freeman, Lil- 
 lian Lochi'ane and "Merrimac" Arnold, 
 and Messrs Harry Patton, W. Addi- 
 son Knowles, Bernard Hale, Walter 
 Ross, Sproull Fouche, Waring Best, 
 Oscar H. McWilliams, Langdon Gam- 
 mon, Dr. Wm. J. Shaw, Griff Sproull, 
 Sam Hardin, J. A. Blount, John M. 
 and Tom Berry, Nick Ayer, Paul 
 Jones, Horace Johnson, Julian Hurt, 
 R. S. Best, Wm. McWilliams and Hor- 
 ace King. 
 
 WROTE WHAT HE THOUGHT.— 
 "Nathan Yarbrough, former mayor, 
 was sheriff in 186(5-7," says Judge 
 Joel Branham's booklet, "The Old 
 Court House in Rome," (p. 65). "He 
 was a stout, broad-shouldered, red- 
 headed man, abrupt in manner, firin 
 and fearless in conduct and opinion. 
 He moved to Texas many years ago, 
 and died there. His docket shows 
 these characteristic entries: 
 
 J. J. Cohen Admr. 
 
 Vs. 
 
 J. L. Ellis 
 
 Judgt. 1866, $22.50. 
 
 "Cost paid to J. M. Langston, clerk. 
 Principal and interest of this fi. fa. 
 paid by me at the request of the de- 
 fendant. He has kept me out of this 
 money two years by lying, and then 
 swindled me out of $10" by lying. Fi. 
 fa. given to him satisfied." — Docket, 
 p. 4. 
 
 Robt. T. McCay 
 
 Vs. 
 
 A. M. Kerr 
 
 $93.87 and cost. Nov. 13, 1859. Nulla 
 bona. 
 
 "Bad eggs. Both gone up the spout. 
 Kerr has since come to life, and like 
 a good many of us, is kicking to make 
 a living, but can't pay old debts. Let 
 them go with the past. Feb. 3, 1860." 
 —Docket, p. 40. 
 
 Magnus & Wise 
 
 Vs. 
 
 J. J. Skinner 
 
 $178 and cost. 
 
 "Joe may come to it after a while, 
 
 but the Radicals have released him. 
 
 April 13, 1867."— Docket, p. 45. 
 
 JUDGE BRANHAM ON OLD 
 TIMES.— The Rome News of Oct. 3, 
 1921, carried the following reminis- 
 cences from the late Judge Joel Bran- 
 ham : 
 
 "The first time I ever saw the city 
 of Rome was in April, 1861, and again 
 on the 20th day of that month. The 
 population then, I suppose, was about 
 3,500. Sam Stewart was the marshal 
 and had been for several years, and 
 he ruled the discordant elements of the 
 city successfully. He had no pistol. 
 He carried a gold headed cane. When 
 he said stop, they stopped. I wish we 
 had his like again. 
 
 "I came from Kingston to Rome on 
 the Rome railroad, then the only rail- 
 road to this city. The track was laid 
 on stringers with bar iron a little 
 thicker than the iron tire that goes 
 around a wagon wheel. Holes were 
 punched in the iron and it was spiked 
 down on the stringers. Such a thing 
 as a "T" rail was unknown. The depot 
 stood where the Stamps wholesale 
 fruit house now stands on the north 
 side of Broad Street. The cars con- 
 sisted of a little engine which burned 
 wood, a baggage car. a passenger car 
 with side seats such as is used on 
 street railroads. The passengers faced 
 one another in this little car. The 
 depot building was as long as the train 
 and no cars stood across Bi-oad Street. 
 Wade S. Cothran was the president. 
 He was a man of magnificent mind,
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 289 
 
 the most progressive citizen of the city 
 of Rome, and a man of strict hon- 
 esty. C. M. Pennington, whose house 
 stood where the Country Club now 
 stands, was the superintendent. 
 
 "The Shorter block between Broad, 
 Second Avenue and the river was all 
 vacant property except the depot 
 building referred to. It was seven feet 
 below the present grade. 
 
 "The Etowah Hotel stood on that 
 parcel of ground now embraced by 
 the Norton Drug Store and all the 
 buildings down to and including the 
 Rome Hardware Store and extended 
 back from Broad Street of the same 
 width to East First Street. The hotel 
 was a wooden building, three stories, 
 with a veranda around it and stood 
 back from Broad Street. I stopped 
 there when I came to Rome to be 
 married on the 20th of April, 1861. It 
 was kept by Geo. S. Black. 
 
 "The block between First and Sec- 
 ond Avenue, East First and East Sec- 
 ond Streets was vacant, and it was 
 also vacant when I moved to Rome in 
 January, 1867. I had a barley patch 
 where the Cooper warehouse now 
 stands and my cow grazed in that bar- 
 ley patch. 
 
 "The block on which I now live, 264x 
 400, was vacant except for my resi- 
 dence, then a six-room house, four 
 rooms on the first floor and two 
 above, and a little old dwelling on the 
 extreme corner opposite the Methodist 
 church. In the middle of this block 
 v/here the Rounsaville warehouse now 
 stands there was a pond of stagnant 
 and green water. In the summer time 
 the frogs croaked their 'jug-o'-rum,' 
 'jug-o'-rum, 'jug-o'-rum,' an article 
 which we do not now have in that 
 neighborhood. 
 
 "Asahel R. Smith, father of Bill 
 Arp, my partner, resided on the lot 
 where the Methodist church now 
 stands. 
 
 "The town was originally built on 
 245, 23rd and 3rd; 276 belonged to 
 Alfred Shorter. It contained the old 
 farm house, a log building in the cen- 
 ter of the north half of the block 
 lying between Third and Fourth Ave- 
 nues and East Second and East Third 
 Streets. Only the farm house and the 
 residence of P. M. Sheibley was on 
 that block. There were no other 
 houses on it. 
 
 "Maj. Chas. H. Smith's home em- 
 braced all the territory lying between 
 Fourth Avenue, Shorter College alley 
 and East Third and East Fourth 
 Streets. Mrs. Charlie Hight's resi- 
 
 dence and a number of other residences 
 are now on this property. 
 
 "I came through the country from 
 Milner, Ga., with a friend of mine in 
 a buggy in February, 1865. He 
 brought $10,000 buckled around his 
 waist; I had $12,000. We came here 
 to buy land; we didn't buy it; we 
 still have our money. We crossed on 
 a ferry boat. There was not a man 
 to be seen on Broad Street. The town 
 was desolate. 
 
 "I came to Cartersville just after the 
 surrender of Lee in a wagon driven 
 by Harrison Watters and owned by 
 Z. B. Hargrove. They were running 
 a passenger line between Atlanta and 
 Cartersville. At Cartersville we took 
 the railroad to Rome. It was then op- 
 erated by Federal troops, and they 
 were cursing and swearing and drink- 
 ing on the train in the presence of 
 my wife. Just before I left Macon on 
 this occasion a company of lawyers 
 were gathered at the corner of Zeiland 
 & Hunt's drug store. There was but 
 one dollar of green back in the crowd. 
 Not a single one of us had a cent of 
 money. I said, 'I am going to leave 
 this country and go to a country where 
 there are no negroes.' At this Clif- 
 ford Anderson, who was afterwards 
 attorney general, laughed heartily. He 
 said it reminded him of a man who 
 was sitting on a cart tongue and the 
 steers were running away with him. 
 Some man cried out, 'Why don't you 
 jump off?' 'Hell,' he says, 'it's all I 
 can do to hold on.' " 
 * * * 
 
 PAYING THE FIDDLER HIS 
 MITE.— The following letter to E. F. 
 Shropshire, clerk of the City Council, 
 from Cave Spring, dated Feb. 24, 1871, 
 will illustrate the penchant many peo- 
 ple have of piping "economy notes" 
 unto worthy "scops and gleemen:" 
 
 "Dear Sir: Yours of 19h inst., en- 
 closing check for $4, balance due Cave 
 Spring Band for services rendered the 
 citizens of Rome at the Waterworks 
 Celebration, has been received. As 
 that amount does not pay our leader 
 (outside of the other performers), we 
 very respectfully return it. 
 
 "The hotel charges are wrong. Only 
 six members of the band stopped at 
 Mr. Graves', which number had two 
 meals each with the exception of my- 
 self, who had three meals. He also 
 makes a bar bill which I am author- 
 ized by each and every member of 
 the band to say is false. 
 
 "Hoping that when the city of Rome 
 again needs the services of a band that
 
 290 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 it will procure those of one that will 
 give it better satisfaction, I am, dear 
 sir, as representative of the band, 
 "Very respectfully yours, 
 "P. E. ALEXANDER, 
 "Secretary Star Cornet Band." 
 "P. S. — Our understanding was that 
 we were to receive $25 and all ex- 
 penses. P. E. A." 
 
 Mr. Shropshire eased the municipal 
 conscience by appending on the outside 
 of the sheet the trite notation, "Cave 
 Spring Band Busted." 
 
 :J; :t: =!: 
 
 A RELATIONSHIP EXPLAINED. 
 — Since many people are confused as 
 to the relationship between Woodrow 
 Wilson and the Bones family, once 
 residents of Rome, a lady close to them 
 offers the following explanation: 
 
 "The Bones family are related to 
 the Wilson family through Mrs. Bones, 
 who before her marriage to Mr. James 
 W. Bones was Miss Marion Woodrow, 
 the sister of Miss Jennie Woodrow, who 
 married Mr. Joseph Wilson, the father 
 of President Woodrow Wilson. Hence 
 Mrs. Bones Vas Woodrow Wilson's 
 aunt, whom his mother, he and his 
 brother Joseph used to visit when Mrs. 
 Bones lived on upper Broad Street, 
 
 ELLEN LOU AXSON. as she looked in 1882 
 during the courtship of Woodrow Wilson at 
 Rome, which included a Silver Creek picnic. 
 
 in the house at 709 known as 
 the Featherston place. When Wood- 
 row Wilson later became a young man 
 he visited Mrs. Bones, then living in 
 East Rome, and his cousin, Mrs. A. 
 Thew H. (Jessie Bones) Brower. It 
 was at Mrs. Brower's home that he 
 met Miss Ellen Louise Axson, who 
 later became his wife in Savannah. At 
 this time the home of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Brower was on the hill just west of 
 the Southern depot, and then was the 
 only house on the hill, and the grounds 
 extended down to the Terhune place 
 (and may have included it) and em- 
 braced the ground on which the Ted- 
 castle home was built, now known as 
 'Hillcrest,' the residence of Mr. and 
 Mrs. John M. Graham. Mr. Brower 
 was interested in the East Rome Land 
 Co., which owned most of East Rome. 
 "The Brower house was afterwards 
 bought by Judge John W. Maddox, and 
 when the Ragan home was erected next 
 to it. Judge Maddox moved it some 
 distance to the site it now occupies. 
 The present occupants are Mr. and 
 Mrs. Arthur D. Hull, and the location 
 is 6 Coral Avenue. The Browers re- 
 moved to Chicago in April, 1884." 
 
 WOODROW WILSON'S COURT- 
 SHIP. — The chance circumstance of a 
 slack legal practice for a young law- 
 yer quite possibly explains how Rome 
 was put more prominently in the pub- 
 lic eye than in any other chain of 
 circumstances since the city's estab- 
 lishment. Woodrow Wilson was born 
 Dec. 28, 1856, at Staunton, Va., hence 
 was 26 years old in 1882, when Judge 
 George Hillyer, of Atlanta, and others 
 signed his license to practise his pro- 
 fession in that city, shortly before he 
 paid a visit to Rome. Judge Hillyer 
 is authority for the statement that 
 Mr. Wilson first practised a short time 
 in the Central building, southwest cor- 
 ner of E. Alabama and S. Pryor 
 Streets, and then on Marietta Street 
 near the southeast corner of N. For- 
 syth, where the Ivan Allen-Marshall 
 Co. office supply store is now located, 
 and in the second story. At this lat- 
 ter place he was in partnership with 
 Edward J. Renick, later assistant sec- 
 retary of state in President Cleve- 
 land's second administration, and still 
 later special legal representative of 
 th(- banking concern of Coudert Broth- 
 ers. He had graduated at Princeton 
 University in 1879 and in law at the 
 University of Virginia in 1880, and 
 after the usual preliminaries of pri- 
 vate study a committee examined him 
 two hours in the Fulton County Su-
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 291 
 
 perior Court and decided he was well 
 qualified. Attorney Gadsden, of South 
 Carolina, was chairman of the bar 
 committee, and Judge Hillyer was a 
 member of it. 
 
 The shingle of Wilson & Renick 
 failed to produce business in spite of 
 their earnest application, and in the 
 summer of 1882 Mr. Wilson found it 
 convenient to take a two-months' va- 
 cation in Rome as the guest of his 
 cousin, Mrs. A. Thew H. Brewer, 
 and his aunt, Mrs. Jas. W. Bones, 
 whose husband was maintaining the 
 Rome branch of the well-known Au- 
 gusta hardware concern of J. & S. 
 Bones & Co. The Bones home was 
 built by Mr. Bones, and is identified 
 today as the residence of S. L. Han- 
 cock, in Oak Park, East Rome, south- 
 west of the Yancey place. Some years 
 previously the family had lived on 
 Broad. Half a mile away lived a first 
 cousin, Jessie Bones, who had become 
 the second wife of A. Thew H. Brower. 
 Col. Brewer's first wife, Mary Mar- 
 garet (Minnie) Lester, had died Feb. 
 6, 1878. 
 
 The Bones family were staunch 
 Presbyterians. Mrs. Bones' father 
 was Dr. James Woodrow, a teacher in 
 the old Oglethorpe University at Mil- 
 ledgeville, and whose championship of 
 the Darwinish theory and other ad- 
 vanced ideas after the war caused his 
 suspension by the Presbyterian Synod 
 of South Carolina from the faculty of 
 the Columbia Theological Seminary at 
 Columbia.* 
 
 Mr. Bones was a high official in the 
 Rome church, and Woodrow Wilson's 
 father. Dr. Jos. R. Wilson, was a 
 Presbyterian minister at Augusta; 
 hence when Sunday rolled around 
 there was no conflict as to whether the 
 young barrister should attend services, 
 and where. With Mr. and Mrs. Bones 
 and his first cousin. Miss Helen Bones 
 (who became Mrs. Wilson's White 
 House secretary) , Mr. Wilson went to 
 the brick church at Third Avenue and 
 E. First Street. 
 
 The sermon was not so engrossing 
 that the visitor failed to notice the 
 piquant beauty of a girl with brown 
 eyes and hair that fell in graceful 
 curls upon her forehead, sitting hard 
 
 *The synod later exonci-atcd him by electing 
 him moderator, the hishest office in its power ; 
 and still later he became president of the 
 University of South Carolina. Thus his own 
 evolutions and theirs were of a pronouncea 
 character. Dr. Woodrow tauprht Sidney Lanier, 
 Southern poet, at OKlethorpe, and Mr. Lanier 
 proclaimed his old teacher the greatest moral 
 influence in his life. Authority: Dr. Thorn- 
 tvall Jacobs, president of Oglethorpe University, 
 Atlanta. 
 
 by. He looked not once, but several 
 times before the sermon was concluded, 
 and stole a glance or so as the congre- 
 gation were leaving for their homes. 
 He was so fascinated by this young 
 lady's beauty that he inquired as to 
 who she might be and if by some 
 chance he might not be privileged to 
 meet her. He was told that it was 
 Ellen Louise Axson, daughter of the 
 Rev. Samuel Edward Axson, the pas- 
 tor, who was living in a cottage on 
 the Third Avenue lot where Jno. C. 
 Glover now resides. 
 
 Mrs. Brower found that she could 
 do her Atlanta cousin a good turn, so 
 proposed that they invite Miss Axson 
 and several others to go on a picnic 
 east of Lindale, to a spring which 
 forms part of the headwaters of Silver 
 Creek. The meeting place was at the 
 Brower home, and when young Wood- 
 row asked if he hadn't' better take 
 some lunch. Miss Ellen Lou readily 
 suggested that she had plenty for 
 two, and this offer left no room for 
 argument. Others who were invited 
 and went were Edith Lester, 6 years 
 old, now Mrs. Wm. P. Harbin; her 
 nephew, Jno. Lefoy Brower, 4, de- 
 ceased; Ella, Mary Florence, Harry 
 and Frank Young, of East Rome; and 
 
 (THOMAS) W'OODROW WILSON, about the 
 time he first saw ?;ilen Lou Axson in the 
 First Presbyterian Church, Rome.
 
 292 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Helen and Marion M. Bones (died Mar. 
 6, 1888). The distance was eight or 
 nine miles, and two rigs were used; 
 the more attractive of the two for the 
 young folks was Col. Brower's wagon 
 with side seats, in the body of which 
 plenty of wheat straw had been piled; 
 and then there was the buggy, which 
 carried Col. and Mrs. Brower and their 
 baby, and Mrs. B. S. Lester, mother 
 of Edith Lester and of Mr. Brower's 
 first wife. 
 
 'Tis said Woodrow and Ellen Lou 
 chose the back of the wagon that they 
 might dangle their feet behind, and 
 away went the future president of the 
 United States and the future First 
 Lady of the Land, caring little wheth- 
 er school kept or law business were 
 remunerative or not. 
 
 After bumping along country roads 
 for an hour and a half they arrived 
 at the picnic ground. The lisping of 
 the gentle waters and the droning of 
 the bees in a nearby field of wild flow- 
 ers furnished the systematic tremolo 
 for the young lawyer's love sonata, and 
 soon they strayed off from the crowd. 
 Lunch time came and all were sum- 
 moned to the well-filled baskets. All 
 save two were ravenously hungry after 
 a session of romping and wading. 
 These two were industriously search- 
 ing for four-leaf closers on the pasture 
 greensward; playing "Love-me; love 
 me not" with flower petals; blowing 
 the downy tops off dandelion stems. 
 
 "I wonder where Ellie Lou and 
 
 A. THEW H. BROWER. 
 
 Woodrow can be?" asked Mrs. Brower, 
 as if aware of nothing. 
 
 "I know," piped one of the chil- 
 dren; "he's over there cutting a heart 
 on a beech tree!" 
 
 The preliminaries were all disposed 
 of that day and fervent resolutions 
 made if not promises exacted. The 
 fates which had been cruel to Rome 
 smiled upon the dilemma of the young 
 Atlanta lawyer. A freshet in 1881 and 
 swept away the first East Rome bridge 
 (over the Etowah at Second Avenue). 
 The river separated Woodrow and El- 
 len Lou, so the former borrowed a bat- 
 teau built personally by Col. Brower, 
 and they not only crossed, but paddled 
 up and down." We hear much of 
 President Wilson's famous typewriter, 
 and of how he would put on his old 
 gray sweater of his Princeton days and 
 peck away at it on the George Wash- 
 ington; League of Nations "dope" 
 ground out on the high seas, as well as 
 Gay Paree and Washington. But 
 again we must go back to Rome. He 
 brought his typewriter with him in 
 1882 and did some copying for Col. 
 Brower in the Cothran-Brower suit 
 over the East Rome land. 
 
 However, all was not so smooth for 
 the youthful lovers as the surface of 
 the crooning Etowah; they would be 
 obliged to wait until the wherewithal 
 was forthcoming. Woodrow came back 
 now and then. A year or two passed 
 and Ellen Lou (who removed to Sa- 
 vannah) went to New York with Anna 
 Lester (older sister of Edith) and 
 Florence Young. The girls were bound 
 for the Art Students' League, to study 
 art and kindergarten work. Mr. Wil- 
 son may have been teaching at Bryn 
 Mawr then, and again he mayn't, but 
 he got on the train at Philadelphia 
 and soon joined the young ladies and 
 escorted them to the big city of the 
 East. The three boarded at an es- 
 tablishment similar to the Y. W. C. A. 
 of the present time. Alas ! as long as 
 they were here they were supposed to 
 be hard at work and not to receive their 
 gentlemen friends. This rule did not 
 comport with the desires of Miss Axson 
 or Mr. Wilson, so she found more con- 
 genial surroundings. She was un- 
 usually talented with the brush, and 
 their homes wherever they lived in 
 later years contained numerous evi- 
 dences of her handiwork. On June 
 24, 1885, they were married at Sa- 
 vannah, at the home of the bride's 
 grandparents, with whom she was then 
 residing. On visits of Mrs. Wilson to 
 Gainesville two of her daughters were
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 293 
 
 RECALLING WOODROW WILSONS COURTSHIP. 
 
 anriilver Creek, on which a picnic brought the young couple together.
 
 294 
 
 A History of'Rome and Floyd County 
 
 born; there she was the guest of her 
 aunt, Mrs. Louisa C. Hoyt-Brown, 
 mother of Col. Edward T. Brown, of 
 Atlanta and Washington, D. C. Most 
 of the time they lived in the North. 
 From 1890 to 1910 they were residents 
 of Princeton, N. J., the last eight years 
 of which Mr. Wilson was president of 
 Princeton University. Then he was 
 chosen governor of New Jersey, and 
 in 1912 became twenty-eighth Presi- 
 dent of the United States. 
 
 From the executive mansion at Tren- 
 ton Mrs. Wilson engaged in welfare 
 work throughout New Jersey, and she 
 continued her efforts two years in the 
 White House, where she died Aug. 6, 
 1914. The grief-stricken husband ac- 
 companied her to the Old Home Town 
 and to Myrtle Hill cemetery, there to 
 lay her beside her loving parents. On 
 the hill above the depot stood the two- 
 story frame dwelling where he had first 
 met her, and beyond the hill Silver 
 Creek murmured its old-time love-song 
 as it -went tumbling on down toward 
 the sea. 
 
 ::- * t- 
 
 HOME GUARDS (THE ROME 
 TRUE BLUES).— This military com- 
 pany, with tents pitched July 6, 1884, 
 at Camp DeForrest, Forrestville 
 (North Rome), and Gov. Henry D. 
 McDaniel looking on, received a hand- 
 some flag from Mr. and Mrs. M. A. 
 Nevin, containing on one side the 
 Stars and Stripes, and on the other 
 the Georgia coat of arms. 
 
 The "ossifers" were Richard V. 
 Mitchell, Jr., captain; Jas. B. Nevin, 
 first lieutenant; Chas. J. Warner, Jr., 
 first sergeant; Louis S. Rosenberg, 
 second; Paul P. Fenner, third; Wm. 
 Coleman, fourth; Jno. W. Bale, first 
 corporal; Herbert T. Amos, second; 
 Wyly Snider, third; Frank Omberg, 
 fourth ; Dr. J. M. Gregory, surgeon ; 
 Julius S. Mitchell, color bearer. 
 
 The "privates," outnumbering the 
 "ossifers" by two, were Dickson C. 
 Stroud, George Snider, Baker and Wal- 
 ter Weems, Gregory Omberg, Henry 
 Adkins, Sam and Max Kuttner, Hugo 
 Spitz, Ed Lamkin, Frank S. Bale, Ben 
 Cooper, Wm. Harbour and Frank D. 
 Edge. 
 
 The company's captain tells the fol- 
 lowing "tales out of school:" 
 
 "Most of the boys were very young, 
 and they were quartered in three large 
 tents next to the state troops, who 
 were in annual encampment in For- 
 restville. During the night a terrific 
 wind storm broke on the camp, making 
 the tents behave like balloons, and caus- 
 ing the True Blues to think of home. 
 
 A faithful sentry was ordered to round 
 up the scattered members, but could 
 not find them until next morning, and 
 then all were at church in Rome. The 
 captain was found there, too, and after 
 a while the bunch disbanded. 
 
 "In the winter of 1884, several 
 months prior to this incident, the ladies 
 gave a bazaar in Noble Hall (the old 
 City Hall) for the benefit of the Rome 
 Light Guards or the Hill City Cadets. 
 A prize drill at night was on the pro- 
 gram for Broad Street, with the 
 Guards, the Cadets, the True Blues 
 and a Cave Spring company com- 
 manded by Col. H. D. Capers as con- 
 testants. 
 
 "The True Blues were sure their 
 drill was the best, and when they failed 
 to receive even 'honorable m'ention,' 
 they left for their armory in consider- 
 able disorder. On passing an alley 
 back of the Choice House, they were 
 confronted by a Ku Klux 'ghost' in 
 spooky white. The captain was seized 
 by the 'ghost,' and the company left 
 him for the light of a gas burner 
 down on Broad. If the 'ghost' had 
 taken full advantage of the situation, 
 he could have had more guns and ac- 
 coutrements than he could have car- 
 ried. The captain got away by scratch- 
 ing and biting the 'ghost.' " 
 
 AN OBSTREPEROUS MAYOR.— 
 A good many years ago, — it may have 
 been before the Civil War and again 
 it may have been after — Rome had a 
 mayor who often wrestled with "John 
 Barleycorn" and nearly always got 
 "thrown." On this occasion he ate a 
 little lunch and drank a lot of beer 
 and licker at the bar at Fifth Avenue 
 and Broad, and was trying to make it 
 to the next "station" when a policeman 
 accosted him. His "Irish" was now up 
 and he pulled away from the officer, 
 saying, "Don't you know the mayor 
 of this (hie) town?" Then he went 
 back into the saloon and loaded up 
 good ; proceeded home with outraged 
 feelings and armed himself to the 
 teeth. 
 
 Some said his gun was 30 inches long 
 and weighed nine pounds; others that 
 it was 18 and weighed seven. Anyway, 
 he went back to town looking for po- 
 licemen, and when he saw two, backed 
 behind a telephone pole and shouted 
 defiance. The officers took him in tow 
 and chucked him into the "jug," where 
 he became so noisy that they confined 
 him in a sort of cage in the rear of 
 the station. He obtained a hose and 
 turned it on himself; Etowah water
 
 Anecdotes and Reminsicences 
 
 295 
 
 sobered him and he called for the turn- 
 key to bring the "Black Maria" so he 
 could go home again in style. 
 
 It was said that on one of his sprees 
 he "kissed the candy man's wife," no 
 doubt thinking she was his own; and 
 that he was "put in" on another occa- 
 sion. When "at himself," said the old 
 timers, he made one of the best mayors 
 Rome ever had. 
 
 A PEACE PRAYER IN 1898— Sup- 
 plications for international amity did 
 not start after the German Armistice 
 Nov. 11, 1918. In the Rome Georgian 
 of May 28, 1898 (Beulah S. Moseley, 
 editor), we find the following from 
 Capt. Christopher Rowell, a veteran of 
 the Civil War: 
 
 "There is much in the pomp of war 
 to attract the multitude ; the noise of 
 contending legions, the shouts of vic- 
 tory, of strains of martial music. The 
 outward panoply of war always com- 
 mands close attention, more of those 
 who are not familiar with the details 
 than of those who in retrospect contem- 
 plate the progi'ess of such a state of 
 things. A war waged for humanity's 
 sake would look like a contradiction, 
 but it is through the ordeal of shed- 
 ding blood that many of the changes 
 in the progress of civilization have 
 been brought about. A war of defense 
 is jilways justifiable, but a war for ac- 
 quisition of territory or political ag- 
 grandizement, in fact, for any pur- 
 pose except for defense of humanity's 
 sake, must be of questionable pro- 
 priety in this so-called civilized age. 
 May we not hope that there will always 
 be a redeeming spirit of law and hu- 
 manity in war? It may be many days 
 yet before 'gi-im visaged war shall 
 smooth its wrinkled front,' but we hope 
 it will not be long before our bugles 
 will again sing truce, when the storm 
 cloud of war has fled. It may be that 
 the writer's views of war may not 
 accord with the notions of this utili- 
 tarian age; but the time is surely com- 
 ing when the first streaks of morning 
 shall broaden into the full fruition of 
 the coming day — on some occasion, too, 
 when the great Arch Angel standing 
 with one foot upon the land and one 
 foot upon the sea shall proclaim that 
 time shall be no more." 
 * * * 
 
 BESSIE MOORE'S THRILLING 
 FLIGHTS.— Miss Bessie A. Moore, 
 former society editor of The Rome 
 News, made the first flight taken by a 
 Roman from Towers Aviation Field at 
 the North Georgia Fair grounds, in 
 
 West Rome, and was perhaps the first 
 woman to fly over the Hill City. This 
 was a day following the dedication of 
 the field, Tuesday, October 11, 1919, 
 by Commander John H. Towers of the 
 navy. The flight was made at I'l a. m 
 with Lieut. Kenneth B. Wolfe, U. S. 
 A., in his Hispania Suiss plane, and 
 lasted 30 minutes. 
 
 In 1920 Miss Moore participated in 
 fl- Piore mteresting and sensational 
 flight. Major Lawrence S. Churchill, 
 
 c ■ .r ^'- nS^'"^ "P ^« ^^^^^ fi-om 
 bouther Field, Americus, to claim her 
 for his bride. He flew to Rome in his 
 airship and flew away after the cere- 
 mony with the blushing Miss Bessie. 
 Let her tell in her own words of what 
 she saw in Rome on the first-mentioned 
 flight: 
 
 "Strapped in and ready to go! The 
 feeling is indescribable. While the 
 propeller raises a cloud of dust and 
 sends a stiff wind into your face, your 
 emotions are mixed. You are curious, 
 pleased, anxious, filled with wonder as 
 to how it will feel, if you will be fright- 
 ened, if you will be sick, and every 
 minute seems like five before you 
 get away. 
 
 "We took off facing town. The plane, 
 once started, ran along over the 
 ground, then got smoother. Pleased 
 irfinitely, I was anxious to rise, 
 and eager for the sensation that comes 
 when you ascend in your first flight. 
 I had waved my handkerchief to all 
 the spectators and was sitting still 
 waiting for the big thrill to come when 
 we would actually go up, and looking 
 from the side I caught a glimpse of 
 telegraph wires and I knew we were 
 already flying over the Land Company 
 bridge. Then we crossed the river. To 
 the right was Myrtle Hill cemetery. 
 Then I saw Broad Street, and we went 
 higher and higher, sailing toward East 
 Rome at 100 miles per hour. What a 
 sheer exquisite pleasure! I was actual- 
 ly flying. It was delightful. I sat 
 back, surprised that I wasn't fright- 
 ened, my hands which at first held 
 tensely to the sides of the car, were 
 relaxed. I was flying higher and higher. 
 A thing I had wanted for years had 
 happened to me, and I was supremely 
 glad. Thus I sat, musing and think- 
 ing. I was up in an aeroplane. I had 
 no knowledge of fear. The thing I 
 had dreaded, getting sick, had not hap- 
 pened. I never felt better. Then re- 
 membering that I wanted to see more 
 of Rome, I came out of my delirium of 
 pleasure, and took a look over. 
 
 "I saw a beautiful space of woodland,
 
 296 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 a wonderful panoramic view of the 
 country beneath me, a stretch of moun- 
 tain, blue and purple, whose top melt- 
 ed into the low clouds of a damp Octo- 
 ber morning. Yes, it was Rome, and 
 how tiny everything was! I couldn't 
 find out where we were, nor did I rec- 
 ognize a single land mark. I knew 
 by instinct it must be far out of the 
 city, and later learned it was quite a 
 distance east of the town. Then we 
 circled around coming in the direction 
 of Rome, but swinging far out toward 
 West Rome. 
 
 "It was nothing less than a beautiful 
 canvas painting in tones of green and 
 dull brown. Houses looked like minia- 
 ture toys, straight, precise little rows 
 of growing things on farm lands took 
 on the aspect of a piece of striped silk, 
 roof-tops of white, red and brown 
 skirting the farm lands, nestled close 
 to the trees, which were tiny green 
 bushes. As I looked in wonder upon 
 the town I knew so well, I laughed to 
 think of a plane as strong and defiant 
 as ours ever being caught or hung up 
 on a tree-top like the little ones I saw. 
 Then we crossed a river, and there was 
 a great stretch of green velvet, much 
 like a carpet. Presently I saw the 
 George Stiles race track in West Rome, 
 and growing directly in the center was 
 a tree which looked larger than any I 
 had seen. Around and around we fiew, 
 then back toward town over Shorter 
 College, which looked like a set of 
 child's playing bricks. Circling high- 
 er, climbing up, up, up, the car be- 
 came filled with steam. A fine spray 
 of rain pelted my face and hands and 
 the wind roared by my ears like 
 thunder. I attributed the steam to 
 some exhaust or defect of the engine, 
 but looking down saw a fine white veil 
 between plane and earth and knew we 
 were in the clouds. The indicator reg- 
 istered 2,000 feet. The clouds were 
 damp, cold and refreshing, with 
 flecks of yellow and brown rolling here 
 and there in the white. 
 
 "Presently I felt myself hanging en- 
 tirely to the plane by the support of 
 my iielt. I learned later it had been 
 a loop. Looking to the right I saw 
 the great wings of the plane turn high- 
 er and higher, and was told afterward 
 we had done some king overs, which is 
 a popular form of stunt. Above the 
 city clock, which resembled a spool of 
 brown thread, we came down in a 
 spiral. I didn't know what particular 
 feat we were performing, but felt the 
 sensation one has when shot down to 
 earth suddenly in a swift elevator. I 
 did not look down as we did these 
 
 stunts but kept my eye directly on the 
 instruments in front of me. I had 
 previously been told this would pre- 
 vent the possibility of any sickness. 
 
 "We came around to West Rome 
 again. This time we were nearer 
 Shorter College. The girls outside were 
 taking exercise. We could discern that 
 plainly. They stopped to wave their 
 hands as we sailed overhead. 
 
 "Then I recognized the circus ring 
 of the Coosa Golf course, and saw a 
 tiny trough of water which I knew was 
 the swimming pool. The club house 
 seemed entirely concealed by a tiny 
 bunch of green bushes. Then over the 
 cemetery we flew. The cemetery seem- 
 ed flat and scattered with broken 
 china. The extreme summit, where 
 stands the Confederate monument, re- 
 sembled a nicely browned dough-nut. 
 Then over the Etowah River, a narrow 
 winding strip of brown ribbon, laid 
 in green velvet. I saw the perfect Y 
 where the two rivers form the Coosa. 
 
 "I was trying to place a certain queer, 
 looking red brick house, and discovered 
 it was the courthouse, and one inch 
 away from it was Broad Street. None 
 of the blocks in Rome appeared over 
 one inch square. Around we circled 
 again. The third time we came over 
 Shorter we sailed at a low altitude. 
 The girls were wearing white middies 
 and blue bloomers; they looked up and 
 shouted. We were closer than ever 
 before. Then around again. This time 
 above the fair grounds. Towers Field 
 with its big white T could be seen 
 plainly. We were approaching from 
 East Rome. We were getting lower 
 and lower, and just like a huge bird 
 with out-stretched wings we sailed 
 down smoothly, without a bobble, land- 
 ed in the upper end of the field, and 
 like the same big bird, hopped along 
 the field, until two of the mechanics 
 who had signaled a safe landing ran 
 up and swung themselves on the 
 wings. The engine stopped and we 
 were down. The taking off and the 
 landing, which I had always heard was 
 most difficult, was the easiest, smooth- 
 est part of the entire flight." 
 
 Miss Bessie took part in a more in- 
 teresting and thrilling episode Jan. 17, 
 1920 — her flight from the state of sin- 
 gle blessedness. Major Lawrence S. 
 Churchill, U. S. A., aspired to be the 
 pioneer in an airplane romance that 
 would thrill Rome. He started in an 
 airplane from Souther Field, Ameri- 
 cus, with Lt. Perry W. Blackler as 
 pilot. In an accompanying plane were 
 Lieut. Wolfe, of the aforementioned
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 297 
 
 ROME AS VIEWED FROM AN AIRPLANE. 
 
 A daredevil aviator came buzzing over Rome in the spring of 1921. He was on his way to 
 Texas and was willing to carry up a few passengers for the price of his gasoline. David A. 
 Sparks flew and got some snaps. We see the Municipal Building, the business section, Myrtle 
 Hill Cemetery (in center), the wings of the plane and Shorter College through them, and lastly, 
 the beautiful Etowah.
 
 298 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 flight, and Sergeant Jones. The last- 
 named pair landed at Towers Field, 
 where they were received by City Com- 
 missioner Ike May, with the keys of 
 the city, and by a curious crowd. The 
 other machine encountered unfavorable 
 winds and was forced to land at King- 
 ston, whence the remainder of the trip 
 was made by Maj. Churchill in an au- 
 tomobile. Lieut. Blackler flew the 
 plane to Rome on Saturday morning 
 of the wedding, and although the at- 
 mospheric conditions were unfavorable, 
 he thrilled the bride with a series of 
 barrel rolls over her apartments at 
 the home of Miss Camilla Fouche. Mr. 
 Blackler was killed at Souther Field, 
 Americus, May 10, 1920, when the 
 wings of his German Fokker machine 
 came off while he was executing one 
 of these same aerial contortions. 
 
 THE BOYS IN GRAY.— The recent 
 story by Bessie Moore Churchill in the 
 History Series on the Rome Light 
 Guards in the Civil War was read by a 
 good many people, but by none more 
 appreciatively, perhaps, than Frank 
 Stovall Roberts, a cousin of Judge Joel 
 Branham, who wrote from Apartment 
 312, "The Cordova," Washington, D. 
 
 C, under date of January 7, 1921: 
 
 "Thank you very much for the story 
 of the Rome Light Guards. Many of 
 the names given in the article are 
 quite familiar to me. I knew many 
 of them, a few having been my school- 
 mates, though older than myself, back 
 in 1855, 1856 and 1857. Geo. W. Fleet- 
 wood was one of them who went to 
 Mr. Stevens' school in these years. 
 
 (Mr. Fleetwood died last fall in "Okla- 
 homa and was buried in Myrtle Hill 
 cemetery, Rome. — Editor). Virgil 
 
 CVirge') Stewart was another. H. 
 
 D. Cothran and "Coon" Mitchell also 
 attended this school. 
 
 "I do not recall Captain Magruder, 
 who took the company to Virginia, but 
 I remember, as a boy, Miss Florence 
 Fouche, whom he married. I recall 
 many members of that company: Mel- 
 ville Dwinell, Geo. R. Lumpkin, Wil- 
 liam ('Bill') Skidmore, Dr. J. M. Greg- 
 ory (as memory serves, he married 
 a sister of Mrs. Daniel S. Printup) ; 
 R. D. DeJournett, F. M. Ezzell (he 
 married Miss Lena Sherwood, of Ma- 
 con, lived in Macon after the war and 
 then went to Atlanta) ; A. R. Johnson, 
 Chas. B. and George C. Norton, W. F. 
 (Bill) Omberg (went to Mr. Stevens' 
 school, and after the war lived in 
 Louisville, Ky.) ; A. R. (Arch) Pem- 
 berton, 'Zach' Hargrove, M. A. Ross, 
 
 Geo. T. Stovall (my cousin) ; Henry A. 
 Smith (he kept a book store before and 
 after the war; I met him once early 
 in the eighties) ; F. M. Stovall (my 
 cousin, went from Athens to Virginia 
 and joined the Light Guards) ; Chas. 
 H. Smith ('Bill Arp'), Scott Hardin, 
 and others. Clinton Hargro;ve was 
 another one I knew. He was a friend 
 of my half-brother, Wm. A. ('Bill') 
 Roberts. 
 
 "This story brings up memories of 
 a handsome, gallant and brave lot of 
 young men in Rome. I doubtless knew 
 many more than are named, but nearly 
 64 years have passed since I lived in 
 Rome. 
 
 "The Light Guards had their first 
 taste of fighting at Firt Manassas, Va., 
 July 21, 1861. The Eighth Georgia, 
 under the gallant Francis Bartow, who 
 was killed there, covered itself with 
 glory and gave up many of its best 
 members, including Chax'lie Norton, 
 Geo. T. Stovall and 'Clint' Hargrove. 
 
 "These recollections are very inter- 
 esting, with a tinge of sadness to 
 those who knew and were associated 
 with these boys long ago. I daresay 
 I am one of the very few of that day 
 who are now living to recall them." 
 
 Mr. Roberts was among the boys of 
 Rome who sent their older brothers 
 and cousins off to war with a shout 
 and who stayed behind and helped their 
 families care for still younger ones. — 
 Jan. 12, 1921. 
 
 * * * 
 
 A LETTER FROM THE FRONT. 
 — James Madison Gartrell, younger 
 brother of Gen. Lucius J. Gartrell and 
 Capt. Henry A. Gartrell (of Rome), 
 wrote Mrs. J. D. Thomas, then Miss 
 Mary Fort, under date of April 21, 
 1864, from Dalton. (Mr. Gartrell, it 
 will be recalled, was an uncle of Henry 
 W. Grady). 
 
 "I hope in my next to be able to give 
 the details of a grand battle which re- 
 sulted in the overthrow of Sherman's 
 and Thomas' armies which will tend to 
 a speedy termination of this unholy, 
 unwise and unpleasant war . . . You 
 need have no fears as to the safety of 
 Rome. Those sacred hills will never 
 be polluted by the foul tread of the 
 Yankee soldiery until our army is 
 crushed, which to accomplish Sherman 
 with his present force is quite inade- 
 quate. 
 
 "The little tobacco bag you gave me 
 is now in daily use. I have quit chew- 
 ing and learned to smoke a pipe.
 
 Anecdotes and'Reminiscences 
 
 299 
 
 "You say you were expecting Henry 
 Gartrell in Macon on the 8th. I should 
 like to hear from the gentleman. If 
 he is as prompt in the discharge of his 
 military duties as he is in answering 
 letters, he must be a splendid soldier. 
 I don't see how Forrest has succeeded 
 so well without him!" 
 
 J. M. Gartrell was killed a short time 
 later at New Hope church, near At- 
 lanta. 
 
 Capt. Henry A. Gartrell wrote Mary 
 Fort January 1, 1865, from Johnson's 
 Island, Ohio, where he was a prisoner 
 of war: 
 
 "A happy new year to you. I was 
 captured near Nashville on the morn- 
 ing of the 17th ultimo. I was cut off, 
 made a desperate effort to escape on 
 the night of the 16th by running over 
 the Federal pickets. At least 20 shots 
 were fired at me from not more than 20 
 to 100 yards, but with the exception 
 of a wound to my horse and a ball 
 through my coat, they did no harm to 
 me. I am going to write to Gen. For- 
 rest in a day or two asking him to pro- 
 ciire a special change for me. 
 
 "I employ my time reading and vis- 
 iting my friends and acquaintances on 
 this ice-bound island. Major Printup 
 is very well. He hasn't heard from 
 home in five months. I never saw a 
 braver soldier than Dick Fort. He and 
 Joe Stillwell could not be beaten the 
 world over. I don't know whether any 
 of my men wei-e captured or not." — 
 Sept. 16, 1921. 
 
 * * * 
 
 WHO ARE THEY?— The following 
 letter has been handed us by Col. Stew- 
 ai't, for publication. The name of the 
 writer we suppress for obvious rea- 
 sons. 
 
 "Mr. Steward. 
 
 "As you is the Mar- 
 shal of this town I thoght I would tell 
 you how I am treated. My husband is 
 lying sick and one of my children 
 to an yesterdy my cow dide, I had to 
 come to town to git a little mele an 
 when I was gone some boys from rome 
 went huntin up the River and found 
 my ducks an shot um — two of um dide 
 this morning an one never come home 
 yit and I ant got but one drake just by 
 his self, a friend of mine said thay was 
 three boys one boy was a big hi boy, 
 and one was a little boy and one was a 
 short thick set boy. if you can find 
 out who was the boys tell them to pay 
 m,e for the ducks as I have a mity hard 
 time to git along. I ant mad much 
 about it only I can't aford to loose my 
 
 ducks after the cow dide and the fam- 
 ily so sick, plea.se hunt up the boys 
 and tell them how it stands and how 
 pore I am. Respectfully, 
 
 Col. Stewart informs us he has 
 "hunted up the boys," and knows who 
 they are, and requests us to say that 
 unless they fully remunerate this poor 
 woman for the injury they have done 
 her, he will give their names to the 
 public next week. We hope a sense of 
 justice will prompt them to do this, 
 and that such a case may never hap- 
 pen again in a thousand miles of Rome. 
 
 "TAKEN IN AND DONE FOR."— 
 A young gambler from an adjoining 
 county, who had made up a game of 
 "seven up," in Rome last week, and 
 desired a secret room to play in, was 
 admirably accommodated at the sug- 
 gestion of our City Marshal, Col. Stew- 
 art. The gamester expressed his want 
 in the presence of Col. S., who is a bit 
 of a wag and loves a practical joke 
 as well as any one, and he gave a slight 
 wink to the person enquired of, and 
 at the same time handed him the key 
 of the Calaboose. The contract was 
 soon made for the use of a small office, 
 of which the gentleman, at that time, 
 had the control, takes the gamester 
 and his friends to the Calaboose — 
 opens the door — and just then hap- 
 pens to think that he has no matches, 
 and he requests the young novice to 
 remain there until he can go and get 
 them. This he consents to do, and they 
 all step out and lock the door after 
 them and leave him there to play sol- 
 itaire in the dark, until next morning. 
 We hope this gavie will prove to be a 
 profitable one to the young man. — • 
 Weekly Courier, Feb. 28, 1866. 
 * * * 
 
 "PARSON" WINN'S "HELPING 
 HAND."— Rev. Genuluth Winn was 
 an old settler who "rode the circuit" of 
 the Methodist church in the Coosa 
 Valley during the Indian days. 
 
 Dr. Winn was noted for his aggres- 
 siveness in practical business affairs 
 as well as the work of the Lord. He 
 came to Floyd County with the early 
 inhabitants and either bought or drew 
 by lottery large tracts of land in and 
 j>round Cave Spring, and lived on one 
 of them five miles south of Rome on 
 the Cave Spring road, where he owned 
 m;iny .slaves. He was exempt from 
 miitary service and went among the 
 Confederate sodiers exhorting them to 
 express their divine faith by slaying 
 Yankees.
 
 300 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 The following story is told of his 
 response to a call for help from a 
 brother of the Methodist persuasion : 
 
 D. R. Mitchell, a pillar in the First 
 Methodist church, then located at Sixth 
 Avenue and East Second Street, had 
 picked a hardy settler or two to run 
 his ferries where the eccentric char- 
 acter known to the Indians as the 
 "Widow Fool" had run them some fif- 
 teen years before, at the forks of the 
 rivers of Rome. One day a ferry- 
 man went to Colonel Mitchell with the 
 story that the "strong-arm" men of a 
 rival pioneer had seized the ferries 
 and driven off the Mitchell men. The 
 old Colonel grabbed his stout hickory 
 stick, called to the ferryman to follow, 
 and gathering up a number of his sup- 
 porters, charged the invaders on the 
 ferry boat. The fight proved fast and 
 furious. Reinforcements, including a 
 number of half-drunken Indians, hav- 
 ing also reached the other side, the 
 Mitchell crowd were about to be 
 worsted, when along happened Rev. 
 Genuluth Winn in a buggy drawn by 
 a somewhat broken-down pony, want- 
 ing to cross the river. 
 
 Seeing Rev. Dr. Winn, Col. Mitchell 
 yelled, "Help, Bro. Winn! If you never 
 did anything for the Lord and D. R. 
 Mitchell, do it now!" 
 
 Dr. Winn sprang out of the buggy 
 seized a long pole fi'om the bank, and 
 handled it so dexterously that in little 
 more time than it takes to tell it he 
 had knocked all of Colonel Mitchell's 
 enemies, including the Indians, into 
 the river, and Col. Mitchell had the 
 ferry for keeps. 
 
 * * * 
 
 A SAILOR'S ODD "CRUISE."— A 
 touching story is told of a lieutenant 
 of the United States navy who lies 
 buried in Myrtle Hill cemetery. Bayard 
 E. Hand, a step-son of Col. Nicholas J. 
 Bayard, had just graduated from the 
 naval academy at Annapolis, Md., 
 when he fell in love with a beautiful 
 young lady of Virginia. His court- 
 ship resulted in an early wedding 
 and the honeymoon was spent in the 
 Old Dominion. The budding young 
 officer was on 30-day leave, at the ex- 
 piration of which he bade his bride 
 farewell and rejoined his ship, which 
 immediately sailed for South America. 
 
 While Lieut. Hand was on his trip, 
 his wife came to visit Col. and Mrs. 
 Bayard at Rome, anticipating that he 
 would return ere long. The ship tied 
 up at Wilmington, N. C, and the of- 
 ficer hurried to Rome to rejoin his 
 young wife. His second leave being 
 
 up, he departed for Wilmington. In 
 some manner he had contracted pneu- 
 monia, and on July 16, 1855, he died 
 at that city. Out of respect for the 
 wishes of Col. and Mrs. Bayard, the 
 Hands agreed that he should be buried 
 in Myrtle Hill cemetery at Rome. Col. 
 Bayard had his tombstone engraved 
 with navy characters, and there he 
 lay in peace several years. 
 
 Soon came the Civil War, and in 
 1864 a band of Sherman's men, read- 
 ing that Lieut. Hand had been in the 
 service of the United States, decided 
 they would send him to a "better land." 
 They dug up the coffin and expressed 
 it to the National cemetery at Arling- 
 ton, Va., across the Potomac River 
 from Washington. This high-handed 
 procedure did not suit the fiery Col. 
 Bayard, who after the war went north 
 and brought the body back to Rome at 
 an expense to himself of $300. 
 
 An appropriate line decorates the 
 sailor's tomb: "The anchor of his soul 
 was faith in Christ." 
 
 REMINISCENCES OF 1886.— The 
 late B. I. Hughes wrote in The Rome 
 News of Dec. 10, 1920, as follows con- 
 cerning the experience the First Na. 
 tional Bank had in the flood of March- 
 April, 1886: 
 
 "At that time we had $55,000 in 
 paper money in the vault, in $5,000 
 packages, each package containing ten 
 $500 packages. We opened the safe, 
 and found that notwithstanding the 
 water had seeped through two combina- 
 tions, these packages were so covered 
 with muck that you would not have 
 known they contained money. We 
 washed them off just as we would if 
 they had been brick, and then the ques- 
 tion was as to how we would treat the 
 wet currency. 
 
 "Finally, we hit upon the plan of 
 building a big fire in the grate and 
 setting in front of it, on a slant, a 
 piece of glass, about three by four 
 feet. The glass was soon hot and we 
 opened up the packages and placed the 
 separate bills on it. The space would 
 take about the number of bills that 
 were in each $500 package, and the 
 heat of the glass and fire was suffi- 
 cient to dry them out as rapidly as we 
 could place them. 
 
 "The result was that in less than an 
 hour, we had dry currency that we 
 could use, and as far as I can re- 
 member, not a single dollar had to be 
 sent to the treasury department. The 
 year's business, as we have before
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 301 
 
 stated, was perhaps the most prosper- 
 ous that Rome ever saw. 
 
 "Altogether, within a week's time, 
 our business was running practically 
 as smooth as before. Wasn't this a 
 wonderful outcome for such condi- 
 tions?" 
 
 TO ARMS, ROMANS!— There may 
 be more modern speakers than our 
 friend Mrs. Beulah S. Moseley, but few 
 can serve up an introduction better. 
 It fell to Mrs. Moseley's lot to intro- 
 duce Judge Max Meyerhardt to the 
 League of Women Voters, (Mrs. An- 
 nie Freeman Johnson, president) , and 
 she said in effect the following: 
 
 "I well remember an introduction 
 which Judge Meyerhardt gave to Judge 
 Branham at a meeting of the women 
 of the Order of Eastern Star. 'Ladies,' 
 he said, 'we welcome you to our city 
 with open arms, which is with me 
 merely a figure of speech, but with 
 my young companion Judge Branham 
 is a matter of action.' 
 
 "So I say to Judge Meyerhardt that 
 the women voters welcome him in the 
 same fashion. With me that is a fig- 
 ure of speech, but with our lovely 
 
 president, !" — Rome News, Dec. 
 
 10, 1920. 
 
 * * * 
 
 ANECDOTES OF MAJOR DENT. 
 — Maj. Jno. H. Dent lived at Big Ce- 
 dar Creek, Vann's Valley, two miles 
 north of Cave Spring, and for quite a 
 number of years contributed articles 
 on farming and poultry to Northern 
 agricultural journals and to Southern 
 newspapers. Once upon a time, a 
 Pennsylvania farmer, who had been 
 reading the Major's wise rules for 
 farming, visited Rome and took a hack 
 down to Vann's Valley. The hackman 
 stopped and announced that Maj. Dent 
 lived up the hill in the two-story brick 
 house. The traveler expressed some 
 doubt that the Major resided there (for 
 nothing out of the ordinary was grow- 
 ing) , but he went to the door and 
 knocked. 
 
 "Is this Major Dent?" inquired the 
 visitor. 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "Well, I came down from near Phila- 
 delphia to see your chicken runs." 
 
 "I'm sorry, sir, but I haven't got 
 any chicken runs or chickens either." 
 
 "But I've been reading your advice 
 on chickens for several years." 
 
 "Oh, I don't write for myself, but 
 for the other fellow!" 
 
 Walter D. Wellborn, formerly of 
 New Orleans, now of Atlanta, and 
 brother of M. B. Wellborn, relates how 
 he visited his grandfather Dent many 
 years ago as a boy. Young Walter 
 wanted to go over and see Col. Benj. 
 C. Yancey, a neighbor, and asked his 
 grandfather if he didn't want to go too. 
 
 "No, son," replied Maj. Dent. "I 
 admire Col. Yancey very much, but he 
 can talk a saint out of patience." 
 
 Walter went over and met Col. Yan- 
 cey, who was superintending the erec- 
 tion of a barn. 
 
 "How is your grandfather getting 
 along, my boy?" asked the colonel. 
 
 "He's doing all right, thank you." 
 
 "Well, I am very fond of Major Dent, 
 but he bores me to death; he could 
 talk the wings off of an angel." 
 
 PAT CONWAY AND THE 
 "GOAT." — Patrick Conway, said to be 
 residing in Texas, was a well-known 
 and efficient tinner of Rome. In 1890 
 he contracted to repair the stove in 
 the hall of Cherokee Lodge No. 66 in 
 the Masonic Temple, and also to fix the 
 roof so the weather would not beat 
 down upon the assembled brethren. He 
 was due to start the job one morning, 
 but decided he could mend the stove 
 at night and thus save time. Climbing 
 the long stairway with a repair kit, 
 he opened the lodge room door, when 
 out dashed a white object like a streak 
 of greased lightning, upsetting the 
 stove and sending clinkers and soot 
 all over the floor. The stovepipe must 
 have hit Pat, for he emerged with some 
 fine smudges of soot. It was not known 
 which got to Broad Sti'eet first— the 
 biped or the quadruped — but neither 
 hit the stairs many times coming down. 
 Pat lost his hat and didn't stop until 
 he had reached a corner light, there 
 to "review" himself. 
 
 It is said Pat never went back for 
 his tools, nor did he mount the roof 
 to complete his undertaking. Asked 
 why by a committee from the Lodge, 
 he "said, "Faith, 1 never bargained for 
 to be chased out by the bloody goat! 
 And now, begorra, he will nivver be 
 caught again, and you will be foriver 
 blamin' me!" 
 
 The "goat" was a white bird dog 
 left in the hall by a hunter member. 
 
 * !(: * 
 
 A RELIC OF LONG AGO.— Floyd 
 County has a "show place," now some- 
 what in a state of disrepair, that in 
 some respects suggests Barnsley Gar-
 
 302 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 dens in the neighboring county of Bar- 
 tow. On a ridge about a mile north 
 of Silver Creek Station, Southern rail- 
 way, near Lindale, is a residence built 
 like they used to build them: cement 
 walls two feet thick, rooms approxi- 
 mately 50 feet square, including re- 
 ception and ball rooms, and a barn 
 in keeping with the rest. It was the 
 property of Elmer E. Kirkland, of 
 Schenectady, N. Y. Rumor had it that 
 the mansion and the beautiful and ex- 
 tensive grounds would be converted 
 into a country club, but the place was 
 recently acquired by Will Collins, de- 
 veloper of Collinwood Park, East 
 Rome's residence subdivision, and will 
 probably be used for manufacturing 
 purposes. 
 
 * :;: * 
 
 GEMS FROM "UNCLE STEVE." 
 — Steve Eberhart, the slavery time dar- 
 key whose gyrations around Confed- 
 erate veterans' reunions with live 
 chickens under his arm always stir up 
 the ebullitions of guilty bystanders 
 and others, yesterday submitted to an 
 interview as he filled a place in the 
 picket line at their meeting at the 
 Carnegie Library. 
 
 "Steve, how does your corporosity 
 seem to segashuate?" 
 
 "Fine as split silk," promptly re- 
 turned Steve, who had borrowed that 
 expression in Cedartown. 
 
 "Well, Steve, do you suppose your 
 opsonic index would coagulate should 
 the Republican administration at 
 Washington send down here and try 
 to get you to accept an office?" 
 
 "It mout, boss, but dere ain't no 
 chance to git dis here Steve to 'cept 
 no place wid dem folks." 
 
 "Wouldn't you like to represent your 
 country in the jungles of Africa?" 
 
 "Lordy, boss, I's skeered enuf o' de 
 varmints we have right here around 
 Rome. And as fer dem cannibalists, 
 you sholy don't ketch dis old nigger 
 furnishin' de bones for none o' dat 
 missionary stew. Naw, sir, I's bleeged 
 to decline with profound deliberation. 
 Dem 'publicans jes' want de nigger's 
 vote. Steve Eberhart's a lily white 
 Democrat, Steve is!" — Aug. 7, 1921. 
 
 STEVE EBERHART, an old slav,- wh.. ua- 
 Henry Grady's valet in colleKe at Athe^^^ 
 and is now mascot of the Veterans. 
 
 Steve Eberhart, the ancient Sene- 
 gambian who dresses up in flags and 
 feathers, mostly just before Confeder- 
 ate reunion time, has written a card in 
 which he pours out his libations of joy 
 and gratitude to the "white folks" for 
 their generosity in giving him enough 
 money to attend the state meeting at 
 Albany. 
 
 Steve hopes the fountain of satis- 
 faction may overflow for his friends 
 and the wax tapers burn brightly on 
 high, while he stews in the sacred unc- 
 tion here below.— May 16, 1921. 
 
 "I want to thank the good white 
 people of Rome for sending me to 
 Texas to the Old Soldiers' Reunion. 
 I am thankful. I shall ever remain 
 in my place, and be obedient to all the 
 white people. I pray that the angels 
 may guard the homes of all Rome, and 
 the light of God shine upon them. I 
 will now give you a rest until the re- 
 union next year, if the Lord lets me 
 live to see it. Your humble servant, 
 Steve Eberhart."— 1920. 
 
 ONE WEEK A ROMAN.— Harry 
 A. Etheridge, Atlanta lawyer, once 
 said goodbye to Rome after a brief 
 stay. His folks were living on the old 
 Sequoyah "ranch" at Alpine, Chat- 
 tooga County, when he finished his 
 studies at the University of Virginia. 
 He came home; no opportunity, and 
 wise heads advised him to seek his for- 
 tune in Rome. That was about 1891. 
 He became connected with the law of- 
 fice of Capt. Christopher Rowell and
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 303 
 
 was doing a thriving business for one 
 so young, until something happened, a 
 week later. 
 
 Mr. Etheridge's uncle, Wm. J. 
 Northen, was governor at the time. He 
 mentioned the connection to Capt. 
 Rowell, who said, "That's fortunate; 
 I should like to fill a judgeship va- 
 cancy. You go to Atlanta and see 
 what a high recommendation you can 
 give me." 
 
 The young lawyer agreed; went to 
 see his uncle at the capitol in Atlanta, 
 and presented Capt. Rowell's attain- 
 ments with the eloquence of a com- 
 mencement orator. He also shook 
 hands with some Atlanta lawyer 
 friends. The result was that Capt. 
 Rowell did not land the judgeship, but 
 Harry Etheridge landed in Atlanta, 
 and has been there ever since. 
 
 TRIBUTE TO A PRINC:e.— A 
 young lawyer, a highly eligible bache- 
 lor named Eli S. Shorter, Jr., son of 
 the war-time Governor of Alabama, 
 and nephew of Col. Alfred Shorter, 
 came to Rome perhaps 50 years ago 
 from Eufaula, Ala., to practise his 
 profession. He was a tall, handsome, 
 dashing fellow — a social lion as well 
 as a clever barrister — and he became 
 immensely popular. His acquaintance 
 was wide geographically and many 
 were the invitations which the post- 
 man brought to him from out of town, 
 as well as from around the corner. 
 
 One day he died of pneumonia, and 
 thus were the hearts of his friends 
 put to the test, nor did they waver. 
 Three beautiful young women appear- 
 ed in Rome from different points — 
 Augusta, Macon, Athens; representa- 
 tives of some of the state's leading 
 families they were, nor were they of 
 his kith and kin. All donned mourn- 
 ing as preparations were made to 
 send him home; all softened their 
 grief through their tears; and one, 
 more ingenious than her sorrowing sis- 
 ters, lifted the lid of the coffin and 
 put something in. It was a lock of 
 her hair. 
 
 * * * 
 
 A DISCORDANT NOTE AMONG 
 THE METHODISTS. — Orthodoxy 
 with religious sects was more studious- 
 ly adhered to half a century ago than 
 it is today. P^or instance, when the 
 first Methodist Church was built at 
 Sixth Avenue and P"]ast Second Street 
 in 1850, the members generally gave 
 vent to their religious fervor by shout- 
 ing; some of them even became ex- 
 hausted and rolled on the floor. Such 
 
 a new-fangled device as a pipe organ 
 was not to be tolerated, for was not 
 the natural melody of the human voice 
 sufficient unto the Lord? 
 
 Little by little, however, a progres- 
 sive spirit asserted itself, and arti- 
 ficial notes were held by a faction of 
 the brethren and sisters to be not only 
 desirable, but necessary to a whole- 
 some development of the soul. The 
 progressives were led by a woman — 
 Mrs. Wm. A. Fort, formerly Eudocia 
 Hargrove, daughter of Zachariah B. 
 Hargrove, one of the founders of 
 Rome ; the conservatives were led by 
 Daniel R. Mitchell, himself one of 
 Rome's founders, who named Rome, 
 and a donor of the very land on which 
 the church stood, and a liberal sub- 
 scriber to the building fund. Colonel 
 Mitchell invariably carried a heavy 
 hickory walking cane and was accom- 
 panied everywhere he went by a mon- 
 grel dog whose elongevity and bench- 
 leggedness would dub him in Germany 
 a dachshund. For convenience in at- 
 tending to his church duties, Col. 
 Mitchell did not always sit with the 
 family, but occupied the corner of a 
 bench or pew in the extreme front of 
 the edifice. Mrs. Fort sat dangerously 
 close by, and on the occasion in ques- 
 tion she had brought well wrapped in 
 a shawl and unknown to Col. Mitchell 
 a bulky object. 
 
 As the choir lifted up their voices, 
 Mrs. Fort jumped to her feet and be- 
 gan playing vigorously on a melodeon, 
 and singing "Hallelujah!" until the 
 rafters rattled. Colonel Mitchell gave 
 her a withering look, seized his walk- 
 ing stick and stalked out of the church, 
 closely followed by his dog and a num- 
 ber of churchmen who shared his feel- 
 ings. When the Forts and the Har- 
 groves spoke to the Mitchell adherents 
 again it was to announce (thank you!) 
 that they had affiliated with the Pres- 
 byterian" Church, and when the Under- 
 woods (boi'n musicians) spoke, it was 
 to declare they had gone to the Episco- 
 pal. 
 
 Time and a better understanding 
 heal all such rifts among Christian 
 brethren. Colonel Mitchell passed 
 away in 1870 in Florida, and eight 
 years later the "shouting" brothers 
 and the "musical" brothers who were 
 left put their shoulders to the wheel 
 for a brand new church in a differ- 
 ent neighborhood, with one of the best 
 pipe organs that could be procured. 
 
 The removal, writes Mrs. Naomi P. 
 Bale, "caused much dissension and 
 heartache among the membership.
 
 304 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 A GROUP OF PICTURESQUE OLD HOMES OF ROME. 
 
 1 — "Terrace Hill," John H. Lumpkin (now Robt. L. Morris) home. 2 — "Oak Hill," home 
 of Miss Martha Berry. 3— "Alhambra." DeSoto Park, b""* by Philip W. Hemphill. 4— 
 "Nemophila," the Hoyt home, where Frank L. Stanton brought his bride S—A. i. Burney 
 home. 6 — "Arcadia," Daniel S. Printup home, in North Rome. 7— "Woodlawn, home ot Ur 
 A. C. Shamblin, built by Judge Jas. M. SpuUock, and once owned by Judge Max Meyerhardt.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 305 
 
 Many had been led into the light about 
 the old institution's sacred altars. 
 There, too, had marriage vows been 
 plighted, children consecrated by bap- 
 tism to God; and from these dear por- 
 tals loved ones had been borne, never 
 to return. Is it any wonder that our 
 hearts clung tenaciously to this old 
 edifice?" 
 
 A FAMOUS SCHOOL TEACHER. 
 — Rome and Cave Spring used to boast 
 a school teacher whose reputation for 
 whipping obstreperous youths spread 
 far beyond the borders of the state. 
 In the days before the war it was left 
 for Col. Simpson Fouche to apply doses 
 of "hickory oil" — a dozen sharp licks 
 in the palm of the hand with a ruler — 
 but when Palemon J. King caine along 
 he outdid Col. Fouche at his best. 
 
 Prof. King fought through the Civil 
 War and made a fine soldier. He was 
 brought up with straight-laced ideas 
 about obedience and pure book learn- 
 ing, and was always prepared to back 
 up his words with force if need be. 
 His military school was the Confeder- 
 ate army, and his preparation was 
 made at Hearn Academy at Cave 
 Spring. 
 
 Plenty of Romans remember Prof. 
 King — "P. J.," as many preferred to 
 call him. He was a powerfully-built 
 man of six feet and 200 pounds, a kind- 
 ly man, but one who insisted on hav- 
 ing his way with the pupils placed 
 under his charge. His hair was thin, 
 but long and white, and he wore a full 
 beard. His coat was a Prince Albert 
 cut, always black; his trousers were 
 black, and his shirt was stiff bosomed 
 and white; his collar standing and his 
 tie usually a loose bow with long free 
 ends; and he wore a sort of gaiter on 
 his feet, with broad toe, and thick 
 soles, and elastic for stretching the up- 
 pers over the foot, with straps to pull 
 'em on. Like many of the people of 
 the time, he blacked his own boots. 
 He carried a white cotton handker- 
 chief in his right-hand hip pocket or 
 hid away in his coat-tails, and on oc- 
 casion he wore specs that magnified 
 small print for his eyes of blue. He 
 had no time for the frivolities of the 
 day, but religiously read from the 
 Bible each morning some helpful pas- 
 sage to his young charges; and if he 
 laughed it was usually after hours or 
 on some jaunt when he could i)roperly 
 relax. His idea was to let them learn, 
 and if they refused, then — take the 
 "consequences." 
 
 Several stories are told concerning 
 
 the stern though just measures Prof. 
 King pursued. One concerns Hal 
 Wright, who later became a popular 
 and leading member of the Rome bar. 
 Hal was moi-e or less of a wayward 
 and good-for-nothing boy, as the ped- 
 agogue viewed him. While going to 
 school to Prof. King at Cave Spring, 
 Hal broke one of the rules, but be- 
 fore Prof. King could get to him with 
 a hickory, he had run out of the build- 
 ing and made good his escape. Prof. 
 King followed, but the young imp of 
 Satan had too much start to be over- 
 hauled. From a safe distance Hal 
 placed his thumb to his nose and wig- 
 gled his fingers, but he did not go 
 back to school next day. He went far, 
 far away — to Texas, some folks say. 
 Prof. King did not forget that super- 
 latively contemptuous gesture or the 
 infraction of discipline. 
 
 In two years Hal decided to come 
 home. His good mother, Mrs. Har- 
 riet Wright, herself a teacher who had 
 had experience with mischievous boys, 
 laid the law down to him. "If you re- 
 turn here, I'm going to put you in 
 school again, so you won't be worry- 
 ing the life out of me," she wrote. 
 Hal was willing, only he was hoping 
 deep in his heart that Prof. King had 
 moved on. Prof. King hadn't. 
 
 "Well, 'fesser, I'm back." announced 
 Hal, with a grin. 
 
 "All right, Hal, just take that front 
 row desk and I'll lend you a blue back 
 speller until you can provide yourself 
 with a book. Here is a slate, too." 
 
 Recess time came and Hal romped 
 like a care-free kangaroo over the 
 school greensward with his playmates, 
 and splashed through the water cress 
 as if nary a moccasin lay hidden there. 
 Finally time came for school to let 
 out for the day, and Hal started side- 
 wise for the door. 
 
 "Hold on, Hal, I want to speak with 
 you," invited Prof. King. 
 
 Hal declined the invitation, for Prof. 
 King had taken two giant strides to 
 the blackboard, and had brought out 
 from behind it with a savage swish 
 a l)un(ne of hickories with newspapers 
 wrapped around the handles, and 
 mean-looking and long. Hal grablxMl 
 his hat and jumped down the steps 
 four at a time. Hal's legs had grown 
 those two years, but so had the de- 
 termination' of Prof. King. The old 
 war-horse ran so fast that his long 
 coattails stood out straight behind and 
 his whiskers pai'tcd iierfectly in the 
 middle and met again back of his neck. 
 All the boys and all the girls stood
 
 306 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 in awed silence, and most of them 
 were pulling for Hal. 
 
 Little Cedar Creek, three feet deep 
 and fifteen feet wide, loomed ahead. 
 "No time to hunt a foot-log," reason- 
 ed Hal, as he plunged in and came out 
 dripping on the other side. 
 
 "I've nearly got the young jack- 
 anapes!" exclaimed Prof. King as he 
 followed Hal's lead and lost one of his 
 gaiters in the creek bottom's sand. 
 
 Yes, gentle reader, Prof. King 
 caught that boy; caught him under 
 a weeping willow tree, but it wasn't 
 a willow switch he tamed him with, 
 and Hal wept copiously under the 
 weeping willow. 
 
 Several years elapsed and Prof. 
 King hired a hall in the Masonic Tem- 
 ple Annex at Rome, and set up his 
 school. There was room for about 20 
 boys, and some of them were the three 
 Rounsaville brothers, Barry and Louis 
 Wright, Wilson Hardy, Lindley Mc- 
 Clure, Hugh Parks, Fred Hanson, 
 Hamilton Yancey, Jr., Eddie Peters, 
 Andrew Mitchell, Victor Smith, Harry 
 Morris, Waldo Davis and Oscar Todd. 
 It was the good year 1895, and all 
 was well until Rob Rounsaville dan- 
 gled a cork spider with rubber legs 
 over the face of a boy in front. The 
 boy jumped out of his seat and Prof. 
 King caught sight of Rob's wonder- 
 ful insect. 
 
 "Come up here!" thundered Prof. 
 King; "I'll teach you how to make 
 light of my instruction, sir!" 
 
 Prof. King reached for a ruler this 
 time, to crack Rob across the knuckles, 
 when George Rounsaville let loose an 
 ink bottle from the rear of the room. 
 The cork flew out of the bottle, and 
 everybody got a little ink, but Prof. 
 King received most of it, as the bottle 
 hit him on the right temple where 
 his hair had receded. Roy Rounsa- 
 ville was about to hurl an arithmetic 
 but the old gentleman had disappear- 
 ed down the long hall, yelling "Po- 
 lice!" as he went. The scholars took 
 a recess; no use to hold school any 
 more that day. As usual, the police 
 were somewhere else, and it was ten 
 or fifteen minutes before Prof. King 
 could locate one, or swab most of the 
 ink and blood from his face. By that 
 time the Rounsaville boys had entirely 
 disappeared. 
 
 "I know where to find 'em," said 
 Joe Sharp to Bill Jones. Sure enough, 
 George and Rob and Roy were hid- 
 ing under some bales of hay at the 
 Rounsaville warehouse. The police- 
 
 men told them to come to police court, 
 and there some kind of justice was 
 meted out — it matters not just how 
 much. George left to join a circus 
 and Rome quieted down. School really 
 broke up. 
 
 Not very long after this incident, 
 Prof. King encountered another bit of 
 bad luck, this time of a less deliber- 
 ate character. He was getting his 
 whiskers trimmed in a barber shop 
 about where the Nixon Music House 
 is located. A careless brick-mason 
 working on the roof above let a brick 
 fall through a sky-light and hit Prof. 
 King on the head. Result: the barber 
 lost the price of a perfectly good trim. 
 
 In the spring of 1898, while the 
 Spanish-American war was on, the 
 King School was opened over the Cald- 
 well Printing Company's present lo- 
 cation on Third Avenue. A large 
 brass dinner bell rung out of the front 
 window by Prof. King announced that 
 recess was over. The hallway stairs 
 were long and carried the human voice 
 in a sonorous volume into the profes- 
 sor's sanctum and ears. This hap- 
 pened often. The boys emitted cat 
 calls and yells until the old man's 
 life was miserable. After perpetrating 
 a war-whoop or a bleating "Baa-a-a!" 
 they would disappear around the near- 
 by corner. Prof. King's chin would 
 appear at the window, his whiskers 
 quivering. The boys would come to 
 the class room next day in all the 
 robes of perfect innocence. 
 
 Across the street in "Poverty Hall" 
 Rev. Hay Watson Smith, a Presbyte- 
 rian minister, as well as a teacher, 
 had started a select boys' school, and 
 had taken some of the cream of the 
 students away from Prof. King. One 
 day the Smith School boys made use 
 of Prof. King's hall; likely as not 
 they heaved some coal up the steps. 
 Prof. King threw the dinner bell out 
 the window at them, and was about 
 to invade the Smith premises when 
 Wilson Hardy and Barry Wright came 
 across with an apology. 
 
 A week after this Hugh Parks got 
 a whipping for whistling in school, and 
 when he whistled again. Prof. King 
 choked him until he grew white in the 
 face. Two chastisements in one day 
 for one boy was not unusual. Many 
 wore a double thickness of pants and 
 an occasional book in the seat. 
 
 That was one way, the old fashioned 
 way, of learning, and they all learned 
 to love the courage, the manhood and 
 the ideals of Palemon J. King.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 307 
 
 WHIGS IN FLOYD.— Floyd Coun- 
 ty Whigs met Tuesday, Aug. 3, 1852, 
 at the court house and elected dele- 
 gates to their state convention, which 
 convened Aug. 17 at Macon. The 
 leading Whigs of the county follow, 
 according to The Courier of July 29 : 
 
 A. N. Verdery 
 J. H. Craven 
 W. E. Alexander 
 H. A. Gartrell 
 Richard S. Zuber 
 J. J. Yarbrough 
 J. D. Ford 
 Henry Harris 
 Robt. O'Barr 
 G. W. Shaw 
 W. J. McCoy 
 Wm. A. Choice 
 A. G. Ware 
 C. M. Bayless 
 J. S. Ward 
 G. M. T. Ware 
 Jno. DeJournett 
 Jno. C. Eve 
 Dr. Geo. M. Battey 
 
 A. B. Coulter 
 Robt. Battey 
 R. J. Mulkey 
 S. W. Stafford 
 
 B. T. Hawkins 
 Henry A. Smith 
 J. D. Dickerson 
 O. Renaud 
 Alfred Shorter 
 J. W. Gear 
 
 C. Attaway 
 Jno. Harkins 
 S. T. Sawrie 
 C. W. Johnson 
 F. M. Allen 
 
 S. Allman 
 Wm. Ketcham 
 C. H. Morefield 
 
 Jno. Hendricks 
 T. J. Verdery 
 Wm. H. White 
 Robt. T. McCay 
 Genuluth Winn 
 T. J. Treadaway 
 Larkin Barnett 
 C. L. Webb 
 Joel Marable 
 J. G. McKenzie 
 Jos. Ford 
 W. C. Hendricks 
 Dr. H. B. Ransom 
 P. Steward 
 Wm. Adkins 
 F. D. Locke 
 M. W. Johnson 
 A. M. Lazenby 
 Willis Bobo 
 Edmund Metts 
 A. G. Pitner 
 C. McCoy 
 
 A. L. Patton 
 Allen Griffin 
 Wm. Clark 
 T. M. Wood 
 
 B. W. Ross 
 J. R. Payne 
 F. M. Cabot 
 
 C. T. Cunningham 
 S. G. Wells 
 
 N. W. Lovell 
 A. M. Sloan 
 J. Berry 
 I. Dave Ford 
 L. R. Blakeman 
 Thos. J. Perry. 
 
 A DUEL ON BROAD.— It was sort 
 of customary in the old days to shoot 
 folks you didn't like. The original 
 "Bill" Arp and "Bill" Johnson had 
 been good friends up to about 1863. 
 "Bill" Johnson had asked "Bill" Arp 
 to look after his younger brother, Jeff 
 Johnson, at the front in Virginia. Jeff 
 had got down sick, and here was 
 "Bill" Arp back in Rome on a fur- 
 lough. The two "Bills" met out in 
 the country somewhere and came to 
 town in "Bill" Johnson's buggy. They 
 went into a saloon next to the old 
 Choice House or Central Hotel, where 
 the Hotel Forrest now stands. After 
 a few drinks, they fell to quarreling. 
 "Bill" Johnson accused "Bill" Arp of 
 neglecting his brother Jeff. 
 
 Both of them may have been armed ; 
 one account says "Bill" Johnson gave 
 
 "Bill" Arp the choice of two of John- 
 son's pistols. At any rate, they went 
 outside, and "Bill" Johnson said. 
 "Now, you walk across the street, and 
 when you reach the sidewalk, you turn 
 around and shoot, because I'm going 
 to be shootin' at you!" 
 
 "Bill" Arp was born in Bartow 
 County and had lived nearly all his 
 life in Chulio District of Floyd, and 
 he was game to the core. 
 
 "Bill" Johnson waited coolly at the 
 near curb and "Bill" Arp strode brave- 
 ly across. The firing started. As they 
 shot, they advanced on each other. No 
 cover was between, not even a trash 
 box. L. P. Reynolds, of 216 North 
 PMfth Avenue, Fourth Ward, an eye- 
 witness, says when "Bill" Arp's pis- 
 tol was empty, he rushed forward to 
 strike "Bill" Johnson with the butt 
 of it. This was not necessary. His 
 antagonist was down and dying from 
 several wounds, for Arp was a crack 
 shot. "Bill" Johnson had counted at 
 least once. He shot Arp in the chest 
 or side and the bullet followed a rib 
 to the back, lodged under the skin and 
 was cut out. 
 
 After the war Bill Arp and Jeff 
 Johnson happened to find themselves 
 crossing the Etowah River at Free- 
 man's Ferry in the same batteau. Arp 
 couldn't swim, and Johnson started 
 rocking the boat. Arp shucked off his 
 coat and started rocking until the 
 water began coming over the side. 
 "All right, Jeff," said Arp, "when 
 she sinks I'm going to camp around 
 your neck— I golly!" "Quit that, Bill; 
 don't be a fool!" urged Johnson. Arp 
 ceased rocking and they paddled the 
 balance of the distance in peace. 
 
 Bill Arp later moved to Clarendon, 
 Ark, and went to farming again. IMr. 
 Reynolds and Virgil A. Stewart say 
 he fell off a wagon load of corn in 
 1883 and was killed. Another account 
 has it that he was traveling \yith a 
 caravan of "prairie scho<mers," tied 
 up at night, went to sleep under a 
 wagon and had his neck broken when 
 the mules, still hitched to the convey- 
 ance, started off suddenly. There he 
 lies, in the forks of the Military and 
 Helena roads — the man who furnish- 
 ed a noted name to Georgia. 
 t- * * 
 
 AN INLAND VOYAGE.— We left 
 Rome about daylight on a drizzly Fri- 
 day morning on board the steamer Re- 
 saca, of the White Star line. Captain 
 George H. Magruder in command, with 
 a full crew and the venerable Captain 
 Frank J. Benjamin in the engine room.
 
 308 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 said Montgomery M. Folsom in The 
 Rome Tribune about 1895. 
 
 Sam Cosper was first mate and Hub 
 Coulter second, and I was the lone 
 passenger. I was weary and worn out, 
 sick and disgusted, and I wanted to 
 get as far from civilization as possi- 
 ble with the means at my command. 
 
 Some men would have started for 
 darkest Africa, feeling as I did, but I 
 decided to compromise on darkest Ala- 
 bamia, and I succeeded beyond my own 
 expectations. 
 
 We carried as cook and steward two 
 of the most peculiar characters that 
 it has ever been my fortune to run 
 up with — Amy, a matronly negress of 
 the old sort, ready to sympathize with 
 all your sorrows and to offer you a 
 cup of coffee or sassafras tea every 
 time she saw the wrinkles deepen on 
 your forehead, and Dick, a diminutive 
 darkey who might have been anywhere 
 from fifty to one hundred and fifty 
 years of age, just as you chose to 
 calculate. 
 
 Dick was about five feet high, of a 
 pale dun color, with a little goatee of 
 scattered whiskers on his retreating 
 chin and a short-stemmed black pipe 
 of the rankest sort that the fiends of 
 nicotine ever dreamed of in their wild- 
 est vagaries stuck between his lips, 
 the kindliest, most inoffensive and ob- 
 liging darkey I ever laid my eyes upon. 
 
 There was such an air of humility, 
 without any fawning affectation, 
 about him, such a desire to please and 
 such an air of general obligingness 
 about both Dick and Amy that we 
 made friends on the spot, after Cap- 
 tain Magruder had kindly placed them 
 at my disposal. 
 
 As for Captain George Magruder, 
 the good Lord never created a more 
 royal-hearted gentleman, and many 
 were the legends and traditions that 
 he recounted as we stood on the deck 
 looking out over the broad expanse of 
 rippling waters, all agleam with the 
 shimmer of myriad stars, with the 
 searchlight of the steamer wandering 
 from shore to shore of the historic 
 river. 
 
 And then how delightful it was to 
 creep up into the pilot house with Sam 
 Cosper and listen to his rich fund of 
 anecdotes and incidents and to hear 
 his merry laugh ring out through the 
 sombre silence above the throb, throb, 
 throb of the engine and the swish of 
 the parting waters. 
 
 We had reached the ultima thule 
 of our voyage, Lock 1, 300 miles be- 
 low Rome, by water. Heaven only 
 
 knows how far it was by land, for 
 nobody ever traversed it, but we could 
 feel a change in the air which indi- 
 cated a marked difference in latitude, 
 and, besides, there was a glint of green 
 on the waving willows and a dash of 
 crimson on the maples that showed 
 that we had glided down nearer to 
 meet the springtime. 
 
 This was about noon on Saturday. 
 The drifting clouds had passed away 
 and the sun shone hazily on the shaggy 
 mountain peaks that loomed up all 
 around us, for we had reached the 
 point where the wild Sand mountain 
 range crosses the course of the Coosa, 
 and below us for eighty miles the river 
 rushes over rapids and plunges along 
 through narrow gorges and dashes 
 over cataracts, offering an insur- 
 mountable barrier to further naviga- 
 tion. 
 
 The Federal government has ex- 
 pended many thousands of dollars in 
 the improvements at the three locks, 
 where there is a fall of over twenty- 
 five feet in the river within a few 
 miles, and is still at work, as often 
 as an appropriation can be secured, 
 endeavoring to extend the navigable 
 portion of the stream still farther 
 southward. 
 
 If that eighty miles between Lock 
 3 and Wetumpka could be opened, 
 Rome would have 1,200 miles of water- 
 way through one of the most fertile 
 sections of the south, taking in the 
 granaries of the Coosa valley and the 
 rich cotton fields along those alluvial 
 bottoms, as well as the fine timber- 
 lands of the mountain region below. 
 
 But oh, how lonely is that out-of- 
 the-way region, peopled only by the 
 lumbermen and "hill billies," as the 
 rural population is characterized by 
 the steamboat men. I gazed on the 
 lock-keeper's house, provided by the 
 government, perched high on a swell- 
 ing hill above the river, and wonder- 
 ed how he managed to while away his 
 leisure hours. 
 
 You see, it is his duty to open the 
 locks twice a day and see that they 
 are in working order, whether any boat 
 passes or not, and otherwise he has 
 nothing to do. But there are plenty 
 of buffalo perch in the river, and dur- 
 ing the winter large flocks of wild 
 geese and ducks, so that aside from 
 the solitude of his surroundings, his 
 situation is not an unpleasant one. 
 
 Dinner was announced soon after we 
 turned our faces homeward, and we 
 sat down with a relish to a bountiful 
 meal, which we enjoyed as only such
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 309 
 
 WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE — AND BOATS. 
 
 Note at the top the sea-going appearance of the good ship "Sequoyah", built by Troop 2 of 
 the Boy Scouts in "Beaverslide" . Is it any wonder that Rome lads can swim, dive and sail? 
 .sewhere are seen various boats and bathers, the Eagle Troop of Girl Scouts at the Carnegie 
 Library, and boys engaged in games on Hamilton Field. Most of the pictures were taken Sept. 
 5, 1921. ^
 
 310 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 voyagers are able after a breezy ride 
 in "the face of a stiff gale. 
 
 Then began the toilsome journey up 
 the river, which is full of shoals and 
 unusually low for the season, which 
 necessitates the most careful naviga- 
 tion to prevent the vessel sticking on 
 the rocks or running her nose into a 
 mud bank. Six miles an hour was the 
 average speed, and I had an opportu- 
 nity of viewing many points noted in 
 the history of the country. 
 
 There was Canoe Creek, coming in 
 from the westward, which glides 
 through the wildest portion of that 
 mountain region, whose inhabitants 
 are cut off from civilization amid the 
 gloomy forests of the mountain sides 
 and the low green valleys, where they 
 raise their little crops and look after 
 their small flocks of half wild goats, 
 razor back hogs and scrub cattle. 
 
 Then there was Big Will's valley 
 and Will's creek, lying between the 
 Lookout and Sand Mountain regions, 
 where thousands of acres of wheat 
 lands lie green and glowing with the 
 first touches of spring, and where 
 once the Cherokees had one of their 
 most important towns in the long ago. 
 
 A little farther up is Greensport, 
 consisting of a small country store and 
 a shack of a sawmill to cut the tim- 
 ber rafted down from the adjacent 
 mountain slopes; and nearby, the old 
 P'ederal road, which was opened by 
 General Andrew Jackson during his 
 campaigns against the Five Nations, 
 especially the mighty Muscogees, 
 crosses the river. 
 
 As I gazed on the adjacent landings 
 on either side of the river, memories 
 of Talladega, Big Bend and Emucfau 
 came up before me with all the ro- 
 mance attached to those memorable 
 days when "Old Hickory" broke the 
 spirit of those dauntless warriors and 
 haughty chieftains and laid waste 
 their towns, destroyed their crops and 
 forced them to make terms with the 
 hated pale faces. 
 
 Ever and anon we passed a ferry 
 with its long wire stretched from shore 
 to shore, and slack enough to permit 
 the boat to pass over it without foul- 
 ing, and the ferryman squatted in his 
 flat craft, which was tied to the roots 
 of some ancient tree on the shore. 
 
 Then we would pass a group of "hill 
 billies," male and female, in pictures- 
 que garments huddled together on 
 some overlooking bluff, in various at- 
 titudes of listless interest, the girls 
 giggling and gesticulating and the 
 men smoking short pipes or whittling 
 
 with long-bladed knives on some treas- 
 urad scrap of white pine board which 
 had been saved up for that special 
 purpose. 
 
 About the middle of the afternoon 
 we reached the quaint old town of 
 Gadsden, at one time one of the most 
 important points in all that country, 
 since it was in the center of the rich 
 lands along the river and supplied a 
 territory extending far down the river 
 and far up into the hills on every 
 hand. Prior to the war, a great deal 
 of business was done at Gadsden, and 
 as the only means of transportation 
 was by the river, the traffic was very 
 profitable to the steamboat owners. 
 
 But the building of the Rome and 
 Decatur and Cincinnati Southern rail- 
 roads changed the face of things. At- 
 talla has taken away much of the trade 
 formerly enjoyed by Gadsden, and 
 Birmingham and Chattanooga are get- 
 ting the greater share of the business 
 that formerly went to Rome, and 
 steamboating is not very profitable 
 these days. 
 
 By the time we had taken on the 
 cargo destined for Rome, twilight had 
 fallen and we were just able to dis- 
 cern a group of raftsmen signaling 
 from the shore when we reached the 
 ancient landing at Turkeytown. They 
 were "hill billies" from away back, 
 and a young lady who embarked at 
 the same place had the dew of the 
 mountain in her deep blue eyes, and 
 the scent of sweet balsam on her 
 clothes, so that I knew she had come 
 down from some homestead, old and 
 gray, in the neighborhood of the House 
 of Rocks. 
 
 This curious place is located on the 
 crest of one of the spurs of Dirtseller 
 mountain, just above a circular val- 
 ley through which flows Yellow Creek, 
 a far-famed fishing stream. It covers 
 several acx-es, and the towering bould- 
 ers are scattered around with turrets 
 and pinnacles, and regular streets and 
 alleys between, and looks like a de- 
 serted pueblo that had been inhabited 
 by a race of giants. 
 
 Near Turkeytown, on a beautiful 
 bluff crowned wieh groves of wild 
 cedar, is the site of the old Moravian 
 mission that was located there more 
 than a hundred years ago. The rock 
 work of an ancient landing place on 
 the river is still to be seen, but why it 
 was built in such a substantial man- 
 ner is hard to imagine, as that was 
 before the days of steamboats, and be- 
 fore Rome or Gadsden, Birmingham 
 or Chattanooga had been located.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 311 
 
 There is a legend that those Moravian 
 missionaries learned the secret of the 
 Raccoon Creek silver mines from the 
 Indians, and that they took out a 
 great deal of ore in the olden days. 
 But they have passed away and few 
 memorials of their existence remain, 
 and the location of the silver mines 
 has passed from the knowledge of 
 men for lo these many years. 
 
 From that point up, the river in- 
 dulges in a series of remarkable bends, 
 now trending away to the southward 
 in a mighty curve ; now rushing back 
 to the northward in the same eccentric 
 manner; and in every fold of its 
 mighty sinuosities lie bodies of fertile 
 lands, on which wheat, corn, cotton 
 and other crops are grown. 
 
 The amount of chickens and eggs 
 shipped to Rome from this section is 
 enormous and almost incredible. We 
 took on several hundred dozen at va- 
 rious landings during the night, and 
 when morning dawned the bow of the 
 Resaca looked like a large incubator. 
 
 As we glided along the river I asked 
 Captain Benjamin if he did not con- 
 sider it very crooked, as it is only fifty 
 miles from Rome to Gadsden by land 
 and 165 by river. 
 
 "Well," said he, "it bends and twists 
 around pretty smartly, but it is noth- 
 ing to a river on which I boated in 
 my younger days. It was so crooked 
 that sometimes we would have to shut 
 off steam and let her drift because of 
 the danger of fouling the rudder in the 
 forechains at the bow of the boat." 
 Then I went forward and looked out 
 over the water and meditated. 
 
 Before we reached Round mountain 
 I had retired to my berth, leaving the 
 forward cabin in full possession of the 
 "hill billies," who were piled and cross- 
 ed on the floor enjoying a much needed 
 rest. One of them slept with a fid- 
 dle under his arm, and I heai'd Cap- 
 tain Magruder making very emphatic 
 remarks as he picked his way through 
 the throng, and then I fell asleep. 
 
 Along about midnight I was awak- 
 ened by the wailing blast of the whis- 
 tle announcing the approach to some 
 landing, and just as I opened my eyes 
 I heard an old familiar strain from 
 the front cabin : 
 
 "Oh, hop light, ladies, yer cake's all 
 
 dough ; 
 Hop light, ladies, yer cake's all dough; 
 Oh, hop light, ladies, yer cake's all 
 
 dough ; 
 Ye needn't mind the weather so the 
 
 wind don't blow!" 
 
 The fiddler had roused up and was 
 regaling us with his choicest music, 
 and it sounded so much like old times 
 that I was real sorry when I heard the 
 sound of his fiddle growing fainter 
 and fainter as he left the boat at the 
 landing and disappeared in the dark- 
 ness. 
 
 FOLSOM'S FAREWELL TO 
 ROME. — Montgomery M. Folsom, one 
 of Georgia's accomplished journalists, 
 is believed to have lived about five 
 years in Rome, in which time he was 
 employed as a member of the staff of 
 The Tribune. He wrote much verse 
 and ntany editorials, as well as the 
 squibs in the day's news. He was a 
 prominent member of Cherokee Lodge 
 66 of Masons, and for a time lived at 
 the Catholic parsonage on East First 
 Street, between Fourth and Fifth Ave- 
 nues. He is known to have been on 
 The Tribune Nov. 20, 1892; on Nov. 
 15, 1896, he was still there. It is be- 
 lieved he left in 1897 or 1898. His 
 path led to Atlanta, where he contrib- 
 uted for some years to the Atlanta 
 Journal and the Atlanta Constitution 
 before his deah. His lyrical valedictory 
 to Romans follows: 
 
 "And now a few words at parting, 
 for the day is drawing nigh when I 
 shall turn my face toward other scenes 
 than these that have become endeared 
 to me thi'ough many trials and 
 triumphs. Let us sit down and have 
 a plain, old timey talk. You all know 
 how near to my heart I hold you. That 
 includes all. I make no reservation. 
 I came among you without a friend. 
 I want to go away without an enemy. 
 If there be any of you who feel that 
 I have wrongfully used you, I ask 
 your forgiveness. All of you whom 
 i feel have misjudged me I forgive 
 freely. I love Rome and the welfare 
 of her people above all petty person- 
 alities. 
 
 "Time will efface all the scars. In 
 the golden glory of the beautiful years 
 to come I shall look back with pride 
 and gratitude that I was once a citi- 
 zen of Rome. I trust tliat the Great 
 Ruler of the universe will strengtlien 
 and sustain me so that you may never 
 have cause to deplore the confidence 
 which you have so generously reposed 
 in me. Your faults are so infinitesi- 
 mal that they are lost to sight in the 
 contemplation of your virtues. You 
 are an ambitious and a high-spirited 
 people, and fair as the dawn is the 
 horoscope of your future destiny. 
 
 "I utter this prediction, and I do it
 
 312 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 without flattery, that the day will 
 come when yours will be one of the 
 fairest cities in all the Southland. I 
 have traveled much and during my 
 checkered career I have come in con- 
 tact with many people. I have never 
 seen the superiors of the good people 
 of Rome and there are more genuine 
 good people and fewer sorry ones to 
 the size of the place than I have ever 
 found anywhere. Your men would 
 hold their own in any community and 
 your women would atiorn the highest 
 circles in any sphere. 
 
 "When I speak of the women of 
 Rome, a great flood of chivalrous ten- 
 derness sweeps over my soul. I have 
 watched them in their works and ways. 
 I have seen their generous kindliness 
 and their deeds of daring, their pa- 
 tience and perseverance, aiid, above 
 all, the ideals of moral and spiritual 
 elevation after which their daily lives 
 are patterned. Verily, the prediction 
 of the future achievement of the race 
 is well assured with such an exalted 
 motherhood. These are not idle words, 
 but the freely rendered homage of one 
 who claims to be able to appreciate 
 the splendor of their glorious exem- 
 plification of true womanliness. 
 
 "Oh, I have had a good time in 
 Rome. I have had some troubles, but 
 I am going to forget them. When I 
 think of the innumerable blessings that 
 I have enjoyed during my stay here, 
 the ills are already forgotten. My 
 memory is very defective in regard to 
 troubles, anyway. It is so much pleas- 
 anter to remember the things that I 
 have enjoyed. Recalling sorrows gives 
 people mental indigestion and sourness 
 of the intellect. Life is so short that 
 we ought to keep the flowers bloom- 
 ing inside when the frost nips them 
 outside, and pluck up and cast out the 
 weeds as fast as they appear. 
 
 "And your preachers. Now, you 
 have caught me. I confess to being 
 a jolly old pagan, for I have not been 
 to preaching often. I have not heard 
 them preach. But you forget one 
 thing. I have felt them preach. I 
 have seen them day and night in the 
 highways and byways, in the privacy 
 of the home and in public places, and 
 what I have lacked in hearing I have 
 absorbed through the pores of my 
 heart, which I never allow to become 
 clogged to the prevention of that re- 
 ceptivity of good influences which 
 keeps the trembling needle of con- 
 science pointing steadily to the pole 
 star of God. 
 
 "Oh, you are a good people, a great 
 people, destined to be a grander still. 
 
 in the beautiful years to come. Call 
 me an idle dreamer, an optimist, if 
 you please. The sons of these gra- 
 cious mothers shall yet inherit a richer 
 legacy than falls to the share of many 
 of the sons of men. They will inherit 
 that faith and fortitude, that fidelity 
 to duty and perseverance in the paths 
 of progress that are so characteristic 
 of those whose white hands are sus- 
 taining their white souls in the uprear- 
 ing of a fabric that shall stand till 
 time shall be no more! 
 
 "Go on in your ways of energetic 
 development. Give free rein to every 
 noble aim and aspiration. You can- 
 not place your ideals too high. Better 
 that you should never reach them than 
 that you should set them so low that 
 when attained you would be mortified 
 to realize that they were so ignoble 
 as not to be worth the toil and trou- 
 ble. I am following out my own des- 
 tiny. My life is in the hands of God. 
 All that I ask is that He will 
 strengthen and sustain me in my ef- 
 forts until my life work is ended this 
 side the river. 
 
 "I am sorry that I shall not be the 
 first to discover the fringe of green 
 on the grim old willows on the banks 
 of the Etowah. Think of me when you 
 hear the wild birds singing among 
 their budding boughs. Remember me 
 for the good that I desired to do, and 
 not for the mistakes I made, for they 
 are many. But you will do that. You 
 are all too generous to treasure ill 
 feelings and too high-spirited to be 
 mean and malicious. We know each 
 other, you and I. But here the roads 
 fork. I must be going. So must you. 
 And now God be with you till we meet 
 again !" 
 
 "LORD BERESFORD'S" ADVEN- 
 TURES.— The period of 1890-1900 was 
 marked by the decline of the steamboat 
 business, due to increased competition 
 from the railroads, and the appear- 
 ance of the plausible "Lord Beres- 
 ford," known in real life by the name 
 of Sidney Lascelles.* 
 
 "Lord Beresford" was "discovered" 
 in New York City about 1893 by a 
 young Roman named McGuire. He 
 was living in style and to all appear- 
 ances was a polished gentleman and 
 everything else he claimed to be. in- 
 cluding his descendancy from Lord 
 Beresford, the English nobleman. Ac- 
 cording to his story, he was looking 
 
 *One of the Lascelles family in 1922 married 
 Princess Mary, tlaughter of King George V., of 
 London, Ensr.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 313 
 
 5! Z&H^t.i4v 
 
 
 FOUR BUILDERS. 
 Left to right, J. K. 
 Williamson, a member of 
 the Rome City Council in 
 1889; Col. D. B. Hamil- 
 ton, for many years pres- 
 ident of the Board of 
 Trustees of Shorter Col- 
 lege and the Board of 
 of the University of 
 
 >r -^''- I 
 
 Georgia ; Foster Harper, 
 of the well-known family 
 from Cave Spring; at bot- 
 tom, Rev. A. J. Battle, 
 president of Shorter Col- 
 lege in the nineties and a 
 minister of the gospel who 
 occasionally filled the pul- 
 pit of the First Baptist 
 church. 
 
 for an opportunity to invest $1,000,- 
 000. Mr. McGuire told him he knew 
 where such an opportunity reposed — 
 at Rome, Ga. 
 
 "Lord Beresford" may or inay not 
 have had the price of a railroad ticket 
 to Rome; he got to Rome nevertheless, 
 and was immediately taken in tow by 
 the proprietors of the Etna Iron 
 Works. This concern's properties were 
 given in for taxation at about $30,000, 
 but out of consideration of the plight 
 of such an exceptional stranger, he 
 might have half of the stock of the 
 concern for $500,000. After negotiat- 
 ing for a week, during which time he 
 expressed complete satisfaction over 
 his contemplated trade, "Lord Beres- 
 ford" stated that he would need a bit 
 of "change" to complete his arrange- 
 ments. He proposed to give his per- 
 sonal check on a London bank for 
 something like $2,000; the Etna inter- 
 ests accepted the check and financed 
 it through the First National Bank of 
 Rome. 
 
 Long before the check could reach 
 the astonished officials of the London 
 institution with which no such indi- 
 vidual had an account, "Lord Beres- 
 ford" had bought a ticket back to New 
 York without saving goodbye to his 
 
 hosts, and he carried with him a dia- 
 mond ring loaned by a young woman 
 friend of short acquaintance. 
 
 J. W. Lancaster, local photographer 
 who had at one time or another snap- 
 ped nearly every family group in the 
 Hill City, was kept busy several days 
 making copies of photographs of "Lord 
 Beresford" for detective agencies and 
 police stations throughout the coun- 
 try. Eventually the culprit was ap- 
 prehended in New York, and Deputy 
 Sheriff Dallas Turner went uji and 
 brought him back. On the train re- 
 turning was a Roman who engaged in 
 conversation with His Highness, and 
 was so deeply impressed with his phil- 
 anthropic pretensions that he declared 
 to his fellow townsman that nothing 
 but good could emanate from this man. 
 Indeed, "Lord Beresford" had friends 
 whose sympathies were so thoroughly 
 touched that they sent flowers to his 
 cell in the Floyd County jail and sup- 
 plied him with every toothsome viand 
 and literary morsel the heart could 
 wish. The steady stream of visitors 
 taxed the patience of the sheriff and 
 jailor, Jake C. Moore; those stories of 
 the castle in England and of princes 
 and princesses, taken with the laven- 
 der in his silk handkerchief and his
 
 314 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 exquisite get-up in general, proved ir- 
 resistible. 
 
 "Lord Beresford" appeared to have 
 been looking for money rather than for 
 an opportunity to spend his own. His 
 note book was full of the names and 
 addresses of persons he had met here 
 and there, so he dropped them a line 
 explaining the horrible misapprehen- 
 sion which had led to his temporary 
 detainment. One of his former travel- 
 ing companions was the late George 
 Selden, head of the Erie City Iron 
 Works, of Erie, Pa., an uncle of the 
 late George D. Selden, until his death 
 recently also head of that concern, and 
 well known to older Romans through 
 business deals at Rome. Mr. Selden 
 wrote a friend to advance "Lord Beres- 
 ford" a reasonable amount of money. 
 The erudite friend visited the jail, 
 heard from the lips of Sheriff Mooi-e 
 that "Lord Beresford" did not need 
 any additional physical comforts and 
 was an unconscionable scoundrel, and 
 wrote back to Mr. Selden these im- 
 pressions. It was learned later that 
 Mr. Selden sent him $200 or $300 
 through another individual. 
 
 The prisoner had married a wealthy 
 woman in New York, through whose 
 influence with Atlanta friends and rel- 
 atives he was freed on bond. While 
 awaiting trial, he opened a bicycle 
 shop on the ground floor of the Arm- 
 strong Hotel ; the bicycle craze was 
 at its height, and he sold a lot of 
 bicycles in Rome and elsewhere, and 
 probably made part payments on some 
 of them. He gave a Rome boy a nice 
 bicycle and touched his "daddy" for 
 a loan of $600. He always said he 
 would explain the whole affair at the 
 proper time, but when the time came, 
 his excuses were too flimsy; a jury 
 found him guilty of cheating and 
 swindling, and Judge Jno. W. Maddox 
 sentenced him to two years in the pen- 
 itentiary, or similar term. He was 
 represented by Attorney Linton A. 
 Dean, and prosecuted by Solicitor Gen- 
 eral Cicero T. Clements. He served 
 part of his sentence in a lumber camp 
 as time keeper and sort of secretary of 
 the gang; and it was said he was so 
 smooth that he would soon have own- 
 ed the "works" had he not decided to 
 depart and breath the air of freedom. 
 He was captured near Americus and 
 put back again, and finally his sen- 
 tence ended. 
 
 During his confinement he enjoyed 
 considerable leisure, as before, and 
 wrote a humorous paper on his ex- 
 periences, which he published in pam- 
 phlet form at perhaps 25 cents a copy, 
 
 and which his friends bought eagerly 
 to see what he had to say about Rome. 
 From the memory of one who read a 
 copy the following is quoted: 
 
 "I was much impressed by the 
 thoughtfulness of my host and hostess, 
 and also occasionally amused. The 
 good lady inquired of me, 'Milord, at 
 what hour would it suit Your High- 
 ness to breakfast?' 
 
 "Midam, at 11 o'clock," I replied. 
 
 "She had thoughtfully instructed 
 the colored butler to observe the royal 
 etiquette and to follow the royal form, 
 and so he said to me at table: 
 
 " 'Won't you have some buckwheat 
 cakes, My God?' 
 
 "I had exceeding difficulty repress- 
 ing a smile." 
 
 "Lord Beresbord's" wife received ev- 
 idence of his pranks with other wom- 
 en and quit him; presently he turned 
 up in Fitzgerald and married another 
 with monev, and when she died shortly 
 afterward 'he got about $40,000 of her 
 funds. Everywhere he went he left in 
 his wage a string of shady transac- 
 tions. His real name and defalcations 
 bobbed up in New York; he went west 
 and got into another peck of trouble, 
 and finally succumbed to consumption 
 at Asheville, N. C, about 1898. 
 
 The confidence which certain friends 
 had in "Lord Beresford's" good inten- 
 tions was expressed in the following 
 incident: After he had made bond 
 and entered the bicycle business, the 
 Merchants' Association had occasion 
 to hold a meeting and elect a delegate 
 to a convention in a far-off city. 
 Somebody seriously nominated "Lord 
 Beresford," and it appeared that he 
 might have no opposition until a mem- 
 ber arose and declared if Beresford 
 went, he would resign. This bomb- 
 shell broke up the plan, and another 
 delegate was chosen. 
 
 HAIR FOR THE HAIRLESS.— 
 In the year 1895 a fraud w^as discov- 
 ered that outdid "wooden nutmegs." A 
 salesman appeared who guaranteed 
 that in a month or two he could grow 
 hair on the baldest head. He showed 
 a photogi-aph of his own shiny dome 
 "before using;" and, quoth he, "just 
 look at me now!" 
 
 Sure enough, the picture was a hope- 
 less sight; only a lonesome fringe hung 
 around his ears; while on his head as 
 he stood before the prospective "vic- 
 tim" was as fine a growth of hair 
 as could be found. For $25 he would 
 warrant a "cure" to anybody, no mat-
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 315 
 
 ter how everything else had failed; 
 only $10 was to be paid on receipt of 
 a large bottle of "hair restorer," and 
 the balance was due after the hair 
 appeared in luxuriance. 
 
 Quite a number of leading Romans 
 who had almost given up hope added 
 tc the man's worldly store; but along 
 came one noted for his sagacity and 
 ability to detect fakes, and said: 
 
 "Stranger, you can't sell anybody in 
 this store. The day of miracles is 
 past. It looks to me like you shaved 
 your head for that picture, and the 
 photographer made you a sleek dome 
 instead of one covered with fine stub- 
 ble. Get out of here!" 
 
 ROME SUBMERGED: A REAL 
 FRESHET.— When a town is built 
 upon a hill, it must encounter high 
 winds, and when it is built on a river, 
 it must combat high water. Rome has 
 hills on all sides, but the heart of Ronie 
 is between two rivers at their junc- 
 tion, and when the high waters come, 
 Romans move upstairs and paddle 
 about as best they can until the reces- 
 sion sets in. 
 
 At the Azores Islands the natives 
 are constantly battling plagues which 
 take their fruits and other crops. Now 
 and then a volcano spews forth its hot 
 lava and covers a town; but the na- 
 tives never give up, and neither do 
 the Romans lose heart when the Eto- 
 wah and the Oostanaula occasionally 
 break out of bank and race through 
 front yards. For that matter, pre- 
 ventive measures have been taken 
 which greatly lessen the inconven- 
 iences ; Broad Street has been raised 
 a maximum of eight feet over its for- 
 mer level, and every possible approach 
 to it has been elevated corresponding- 
 ly. Perhaps once a year, as in most 
 river towns, a little water goes in store 
 basements, so that shifting of "cargo" 
 to an upper "deck" is necessary; the 
 rabbits are all driven out of the low 
 gi'ounds, and the rabbit hunters have 
 a picnic for two or three days. Event- 
 ually all the inconvenience will no 
 doubt disappear, for the town is grow- 
 ing in the direction of hills which 
 tower high above any possible rise; 
 and it has even been suggested that 
 some 100 acres at the forks be left 
 clear of buildings in the distant fu- 
 ture and converted into a park. Some 
 people think there is no further dan- 
 ger of a serious flood, while others 
 claim that the backage from the Mayo 
 Bar Lock (lock and dam), eight miles 
 down the Coosa, has raised the nor- 
 
 mal level of the water two or three 
 feet at Rome above the old level. 
 
 Snggests Something to Think About. 
 —-Things used to be different. There 
 is a legend which says citizens once 
 hitched their canoes on Tower Hill 
 above the old court house. This yarn 
 related to the time the Indians were 
 still around here, and it sounds like 
 Virgil A. Stewart after a feast of ice 
 cream and catfish. Old settlers tell 
 of a freshet in 1881 which broke 
 through the banks at Foster's Bend, 
 Coosa River, some 16 miles below 
 Rome, and washed clear a lot of In- 
 dian relics in a mound on the Foster 
 (Moultrie) farm, so that Wesley O. 
 Connor went over from Cave Spring 
 and got a lot of valuable specimens. 
 
 Prof. Connor took a one-horse wagon 
 to the same place after the freshet of 
 1886, and carried it home well filled; 
 he got mortars and pestles, toma- 
 hawks, wampum, spear heads, peace 
 pipes, pottery, Indian money and at 
 least a bushel of arrow heads, and also 
 several skulls of warriors bold. 
 
 The rain appears to have begun 
 falling Monday, March 29, 1886. It 
 kept up in a deluge for several days, 
 until the waters were at flood stage 
 on Wednesday, March 31, and worse 
 on Thursday. Rome was not the only 
 sufferer. The South suffered, from 
 Virginia to Texas. The towns in the 
 hills did not escape. A number of 
 lives were lost, but none definitely at 
 Rome. Atlanta's waterwoi-ks plant 
 and pumping station were seriously 
 crippled and many of her streets made 
 impassable. 
 
 The Rome correspondent of the At- 
 lanta Constitution sent messages by 
 wire to his paper as long as the wa- 
 ter remained below the operator's 
 transmitter. Then ho went out to get 
 a ham sandwich by canoe and left the 
 field to the late Edward C. Bruffey. 
 who was admirably qualified to paddlti' 
 through it. "Bruff" tells all about it 
 in the last three dispatches quoted be- 
 low. The items are all from The Con- 
 stitution and the dates of dispatching 
 and of printing are affixed at the 
 opening and closing of each article, 
 respectively : 
 
 Rome Drenched. — Rome, Ga., March 
 29, 1886.— (Special.)— The heavy 
 rains have swelled the ci'eeks and 
 rivers, and there is great danger of 
 freshets. Advices from the headwaters 
 of the Oostanaula report heavy rains. 
 —Tuesday, March 30, 1886.
 
 316 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Rome Submerged. — Rome, Ga.. Mar. 
 30. — (Special.) — Rome is threatened 
 with the greatest freshet in her his- 
 tory. Since Friday night it is estimat- 
 ed there has been a rainfall of more 
 than six inches, nearly two inches more 
 than preceded the great freshet of 
 1881. Worst of all, the end is not 
 yet. The rain still continues, and at 
 noon is pouring in torrents. The old- 
 est inhabitants shake their heads 
 gloomily and are despondent. 
 
 The Oostanaula River is rising 
 eight inches an hour, and the Coosa 
 and the Etowah are making terrible 
 headway. The water has just reach- 
 ed Broad Street and will be two or 
 three feet from the Rome Hotel to 
 Norton's corner. At the foot of How- 
 ard Street (Second Avenue) and in the 
 Fourth Ward it will be deeper. 
 
 Early this morning the middle sec- 
 tion of the new bridge of the Rome 
 and Carrollton Railway washed away 
 and is now lodged against the piers 
 of the Broad Street bridge. Great 
 fears are entertained for the latter 
 bridge, and men are at work trying 
 to remove the debris. 
 
 Broad Street this afternoon presents 
 a busy scene. Merchants are remov- 
 ing goods from their stores and tak- 
 ing every possible precaution against 
 the flood. Being thoroughly fore- 
 warned, there will be no damage to 
 the merchandise. At the foot of How- 
 ard Street the residents are moving 
 from one-stol'y houses, and those resid- 
 ing in two-story buildings are moving 
 upstairs. 
 
 The Superior Court, which has been 
 in session, adjourned until Monday. 
 
 Our railroad communication is en- 
 tirely cut off, no mail having been re- 
 ceived or dispatched today. 
 
 At this hour, 8:30 p. m., Broad 
 Street from Norton's corner to the 
 bridge is one sheet of water from two 
 to four feet deep. Every leading bus- 
 iness house, except for a few between 
 Norton's and the Central Hotel, is sub- 
 merged. The cotton warehouse, water 
 works, gas house, and a large number 
 of private dwellings are under water. 
 The flood is now within a few inches 
 of that of 1881, which was the highest 
 ever known in Rome, and the rivers 
 are still rising eight inches an hour. 
 It is raining in torrents. We do not 
 know what tomorrow will bring forth. 
 Intense excitement prevails and 
 groups of people are on that part of 
 Broad Street that is still dry. It is 
 feared that many mei'chants have not 
 raised their goods high enough, though 
 
 all have raised them four or five feet 
 above the high water mark of 1881. 
 No loss of life is yet reported. The 
 streets are in darkness. Thus far 
 there is little damage except to the 
 railroads. 
 
 Nine O'clock P. M. — The rivers are 
 still rising. The water is nearly at 
 the top of the tables in the Western 
 Union office here, and communication 
 can be held but a few minutes longer. 
 The operator is telegraphing while 
 standing on his table and momentarily 
 looks for a break. Your correspond- 
 ent has just returned from — (At this 
 point the wires refused to work, and 
 communication between Rome and At- 
 lanta ended for the night. — Editors 
 Constitution. — Wednesday, March 31, 
 1886. 
 
 The Delayed Weddi)ig. — Mr. Geo. 
 N. West, of Carrollton, who came 
 to Atlanta two evenings ago, intend- 
 ing to go on through to Rome, where 
 he was to have been married yester- 
 day at 1 o'clock to Miss Mary Lou 
 Colclough, is still in the city. He 
 could get no word to Rome, and the 
 people there have no idea where he 
 is. Nor does he know anything about 
 the people in Rome, except the fact 
 that the hoivte at which he was to 
 have been married is more than ten 
 feet under water. — Thursday, April 1, 
 1886. 
 
 Rome Absolutely Cut Off.— The 
 Constitution made every endeavor 
 to reach Rome yesterday by wire, 
 but without success. The Rome 
 and Carrollton Railway is almost 
 washed away, and the Rome and King- 
 ston road is in almost as bad a fix. 
 The East Tennessee does not know 
 when it can again reach Rome. This 
 absolutely cuts the city off from the 
 world. At last accounts it was ten 
 feet under water in some places, and 
 the water was still rising. The coun- 
 ty is water-bound by the flooded creeks 
 and the bridges of its public roads are 
 gone. It is possible that something 
 will be heard from the city today. 
 
 There have been filed at the West- 
 ern Union office in Atlanta over 200 
 messages from individuals in this city 
 to those in Rome, and all still hang on 
 the hook of the telegraph office in this 
 city, or have been returned. As it is, 
 The Constitution's message of Tues- 
 day night is the last from Rome. — 
 Thursday, April 1, 1886. 
 
 An Olive Leaf From the Flooded 
 Hill City. — Rome has been heard from
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 317 
 
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 318 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 at last, but the news is only that 
 up to Wednesday night. What 
 is known of the condition of the 
 city comes from an extra edition of 
 the Rome Bulletin, printed yesterday 
 and brought to The Constitution by 
 Capt. Sanford Bell, of the Western & 
 Atlantic Road. It was printed yes- 
 terday (Friday) on a little 8xl2-inch 
 hand press, and a copy was carried 
 from Rome to Kingston by somebody 
 who succeeded in getting through the 
 country. Here it fell into Capt. Bell's 
 hands. Extracts from it follow: 
 
 "On Tuesday morning a bulletin 
 board was placed in front of The Bul- 
 letin office. We put up a bulletin: 
 'Move your goods 12 inches higher 
 than the mark of 1881.' 
 
 "We moved everything up except 
 our heavy presses, and took out a large 
 sized Liberty press to Dr. P. L. Turn- 
 ley's drug store, where this issue was 
 printed. The editor tried long to get 
 a boat, and finally procured one half 
 full of water. He managed to reach 
 the office door about 12 noon, where 
 there was three feet of water. The 
 boat was then nearly full of water, 
 and it was a desperate effort to get 
 it to land before it would sink. With 
 wet clothing and wet feet he caught 
 cramp and had to beat a retreat. By 
 10 the next morning there was eight 
 feet of water in The Bulletin office. 
 
 "It was appalling to go down Broad 
 Street. The water was five feet high- 
 er than the flood of 1881. 
 
 "Losses and damage: 
 
 "Thos. Fahy's, silks, laces, etc., $15,- 
 000; Hardy & Co., $5,000; Rounsaville 
 & Bro., $1.5,000. J. A. Rounsaville got 
 in at the second story and cut a hole 
 through the floor and got out books 
 and papers. 
 
 "In nine or ten feet of water a cow 
 and a calf were swimming on Broad 
 Street. Connor O'Rear's stern-wheel 
 boat came along and several men call- 
 ed to the animals to follow. The cow 
 was about to give up when Mr. O'Rear 
 caught her by the horns and towed her 
 to land. The calf swam out. Mules 
 swam after boats past the First Pres- 
 byterian Church. 
 
 "The young ladies of the Rome Fe- 
 male College came to the Central Hotel 
 in charge of Prof. Sam C. Caldwell 
 and Prof. McLean, and went out rid- 
 ing in two boats. 
 
 "Dr. J. B. S. Holmes had to swim 
 his horses out of his stable on How- 
 ard Street (Second Avenue). 
 
 "Ten homes between the Rome Rail- 
 
 road and the Etowah River floated 
 away. Samuel Lusk, Pink Turner, 
 Will Curr, I. S. Davis, Dr. E. P. Love- 
 lace, Charlie Ansley, Capt. W. T. 
 Smith, Dan Ramsey, M. F. Govan, W. 
 P. O'Neill, Mr. Jones, J. M. Lovelace, 
 Chas. Gammon and C. O. Stillwell lost 
 their houses and most of the contents. 
 John Eve's house floated to the mid- 
 dle of Howard Street and finally went 
 on down. 
 
 "A party of gentlemen were watch- 
 ing the Etowah River near Howard 
 Street and saw a house float down. 
 On its roof was a man who was ges- 
 ticulating and calling for help. An- 
 other report said a whole family was 
 on the house. 
 
 "A good deal of anxiety was felt for 
 Capt. J. N. Perkins, who was calmly 
 looking out of a second-story window. 
 He and his family were rescued and 
 taken to Bi'oad Street. 
 
 "A gentleman said to a Bulletin 
 man : 'I have lost everything. I said 
 to my wife at breakfast time, "When 
 you married me I was worth $3,000 to 
 $3,500. Now, it is all gone!" "Well," 
 said she, "we have four boys and good 
 health; that is all we need!" 
 
 "A box car floated away from the 
 railroad into South Street (First Ave- 
 nue) and was turned upside down. 
 
 "The Steamer Mitchell spent some 
 time relieving people in DeSoto and 
 taking them away from their homes. 
 
 "A. W. Walton estimates the dam- 
 age to cotton at $10,000 to $15,000. 
 B. I. Hughes thinks $25,000 will cover 
 the damage to the town. 
 
 "The trestle approaching the Rome 
 and Carrollton bridge is gone, as well 
 as the bridge. 
 
 "The people in East Rome held a 
 meeting to establish a ferry at the site 
 of the late bridge (over the Etowah 
 at Howard Street). 
 
 "It was reported that Mr. Woodruff 
 counted fifteen houses floating by. J. 
 L. Johnson's stable and Mr. Belcher's 
 house in East Rome have gone. 
 
 "At 1:15 a. m. a tremendous crash 
 was heard in the lower part of the city, 
 and it was known that the bridge at 
 the lower end of Broad Street was 
 gone. A gentleman at the Rome Hotel 
 said he saw a light on the bridge and 
 it went out just as the crash came, 
 and he heard a man cry, 'Ain't you 
 coming to help me? Are you going 
 to let me drown?' It was rumored 
 that there was a special watchman on 
 the bridge.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 319 
 
 "When morning' came there was not 
 a bridge on the Etowah but the E. T. 
 V. & G. near Forrestville. The only 
 bridge remaining to Rome is the one 
 across the Oostanaula River at Bridge 
 Street (Fifth Avenue). 
 
 "We learn from Capt. E. J. Ma- 
 gruder that there was no watchman on 
 the Broad Street bridge, but there was 
 one at Patton's, who called out to peo- 
 ple at the E. T. V. & G. Railroad 
 depot just before the bridge went." — 
 Saturday, April 3, 1886. 
 
 Waters Receding. — Rome, Ga., April 
 2. — (Special.) — The waters which 
 have been raging in Rome since 
 Tuesday last are receding, and the Hill 
 City people are beginning to smile 
 again. One who has not seen the des- 
 titution and desolation caused by the 
 flood can have no idea of the situa- 
 tion. The city is full of water, the 
 streets are hidden from view, and the 
 houses for a quarter of a mile away 
 from the river are surrounded by the 
 yellow, muddy stuff that no more de- 
 serves the name of water than does 
 the water from the Atlanta water- 
 works. 
 
 Rome was finally reached by your 
 correspondent after a perilous train 
 trip across the Etowah River bridge, 
 thence by way of Kingston in a buggy. 
 The spectacle that greeted me as I 
 reached the city was one never to be 
 flood can have an idea of the sieua- 
 forgotten. Broad Street from the Cen- 
 tral Hotel to the rivers is one sheet 
 of muddy water, while every street 
 running parallel with Broad is cover- 
 ed too. The Central Hotel is the point 
 nearest the stream, and here every- 
 body congregates. A hundred skiffs 
 are moored neax'by. Men who have 
 built these water riders are reaping a 
 small fortune by conveying people 
 around to look at the roofs of their 
 houses, or to hunt a house that has 
 floated away. A ride down Broad 
 Street in one of these Venetian gon- 
 dolas made of Georgia pine makes a 
 cold shiver run down one's back. Stores 
 with closed doors, and goods and boxes 
 floating about greet the eye. Thurs- 
 day night the flood was seven feet 
 higher than the flood of 1881. Not 
 less than 20 dwellings have been swept 
 away. Late Tuesday night, March 30, 
 the Broad Street bridge, the Howard 
 Street bridge and the East Tennessee 
 Railroad bridge were swept out of ex- 
 istence. Conservative men in Rome 
 place the damage at $300,000, and as 
 much more in the country. 
 
 It is i-eported that a negro woman 
 and her boy have been drowned. 
 
 There has been no mail since Tues- 
 day. 
 
 A boat with four negroes capsized 
 on Howard Street. They were saved 
 by a party of gentlemen. 
 
 The Baptists are determined that 
 the state convention shall be held here 
 as planned. The people will provide 
 generously for the delegates, despite 
 their misfortune. 
 
 Fourth Ward is completely under 
 water. Thirty cases of measles had to 
 be moved. One store with a stock of 
 merchandise floated away. Many poor 
 families lost all. The suffering is in- 
 tense, but for once it is among the 
 rich as well as among the poor. 
 
 Howard Street, the Peachtree of 
 Rome, is a sheet of water from end 
 to end, and Brussels carpets, parlor 
 furniture, lace curtains, pianos and 
 bric-a-brac are ruined by the carloads. 
 
 John Lovelace was driven from his 
 house and carried nothing out. J. L. 
 McGhee got away no better. Judge 
 Joel Branham has deserted his lower 
 floor and is living on the top floor. 
 One of the finest pianos in Rome was 
 saved here. H. H. Smith was driven 
 out of his handsome residence. Mrs. 
 W. L. Whitely escaped with her life 
 only. William Ramey surrendered his 
 house to the water. Major Fouche and 
 Capt. Stillwell are living away from 
 home. 
 
 Bales of cotton, box cars and hogs 
 on rafts are floating about the streets. 
 A bale of hay came down one of the 
 rivers with a crowing rooster on it. 
 The people are cheerful. — Edward C. 
 Bruffey, Saturday, April 3, 1886. 
 
 A Perilous Trip to Rome. — King- 
 ston Ga., April 2. — (Special.) — 
 Tuesday morning, after all trains had 
 stopped running on the Rome Rail- 
 road, and the Etowah overflow had 
 covered most of its track, Capt. John 
 J. Seay came up from Atlanta to 
 Kingston on the morning passenger, 
 saying he must get to Rome, where 
 his family and his property were. He 
 and John H. Harris started on this 
 perilous trip in a buggy, while the 
 rain came down in blinding sheets. 
 They drove through water some three 
 or four feet deep for four miles. 
 Reaching what is usually a small 
 sti-eam, near the Barnsley place, and 
 being advised by a farmer that it was 
 fordable, they drove in. The horse had 
 gone only a few steps when he be-
 
 320 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 VARIOUS WAYS EMPLOYED TO GET AROUND. 
 
 Batteaux are in heavy demand when the water rises. In addition to serving for trans- 
 portation purposes, they are often used by hunting parties who find many rabbits caught 
 in queer places. An automobile is shown splashing its way along Second Avenue, and others 
 are plowing across a low place in West Fifth. The pictures were taken in the spring of 1921.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 321 
 
 gan to swim. The current was so 
 swift it washed horse and buggy down 
 the creek. 
 
 Capt. Seay cried out, "Mr. Harris, 
 can you swim?" 
 
 "Like a duck," returned Mr. Harris. 
 
 "I can't; not a stroke," declared 
 Capt. Seay. 
 
 At this moment the horse and buggy 
 stopped against a log. Mr. Harris 
 made a flying leap for a sawmill slab 
 he espied protruding from the water, 
 which he caught and clung to until he 
 could unhitch the horse. Jumping on 
 the animal, he swam to the rear of 
 the buggy, which by that time had 
 again started down stream. Catching 
 on to the wheel, still holding to the 
 horse, Mr. Harris started for the 
 shore. 
 
 All this time Capt Seay was sitting 
 in the buggy, wet and shivering with 
 cold, amazement depicted on his coun- 
 tenance at the coolness and daring of 
 his companion. 
 
 After the wheels had hit bottom, 
 Mr. Harris made fast the lines and 
 pulled the buggy safely on the bank, 
 Capt. Seay exclaiming, "We are safe! 
 We are safe!" 
 
 Messrs. Foots Roode, Judge Sanford, 
 Prof. Agostino, and Mr. Drewry left 
 Rome the same day and came near 
 drowning in a stream. They had to 
 cut their horses loose and swim out, 
 leaving their carriage to float down- 
 stream. — Edward C. Buffey, Saturday, 
 April 3, 1886. 
 
 Spirit of the Romans. — Rome, Ga., 
 April 3. — (Special.) — The people are 
 remarkably buoyant in spirit, and as 
 the waters recede their buoyancy 
 ascends little by little. 
 
 The flood is the most wonderful and 
 remarkable in the South, but decided- 
 ly more wonderful and remarkable are 
 the courage, nerve and equipoise of the 
 people who have suffered. 
 
 No city in the world has more ener- 
 getic, conservative and safe business 
 men than Rome, and evei-y factor in 
 her trade, commerce and society is 
 loyal to his city and devoted to her 
 interests None of them think of de- 
 serting her now in the hour of adver- 
 sity, but on the contrary, the bad luck 
 seems to weld tighter and harder the 
 bond between them and their home. 
 The men are not alone in their de- 
 termination to stick by the Hill City. 
 The ladies, young and old, married and 
 single, love the town, and with tongue 
 and pen they boast of her advantages. 
 
 They burden each mail with letters to 
 their friends telling them that Rome 
 is still sitting on her hills, from 
 whence she will continue to rule the 
 commerce of the Coosa Valley. 
 
 On the banks of the Etowah stand 
 the warerooms of Battey & Hamiltons. 
 These gentlemen conduct a large 
 wholesale and retail grocery business, 
 and handle many bales of cotton. They 
 probably had 1,500 bales of cotton in 
 the warehouse. Mr. Battey is one of 
 the most energetic men in the Hill 
 City; he has push and pluck enough 
 for half a dozen men, and when he re- 
 alized the danger he hired a colony of 
 negroes and went to work. He packed 
 his cotton above high water mark, and 
 when the water still came up, he chop- 
 ped holes through the roof of the ware- 
 house and lifted the cotton out. A 
 great many bales floated out, and 
 steamers gathered them in. The task 
 was a hard one, but nearly all the cot- 
 ton was saved. The firm's stock of 
 groceries was quite low, but was con- 
 siderably damaged. Probably Battey 
 & Hamiltons can come nearer telling 
 their loss than any one in Rome, and 
 it is put down by them at $8,000 to 
 $10,000. 
 
 Across the street is the new Rome 
 Hotel. The water reached the second 
 story of this building, and as the 
 water went up, the people in the hotel 
 also went up. They have since been 
 living upstairs. Boats ride up to the 
 second-story porch and take on or dis- 
 charge their cargo of human freight. 
 —Edward C. Bruffey, Sunday. April 
 4, 1886. 
 
 The water rose to 40.3 feet above 
 normal water level. Judge Joel Bran- 
 ham's law office and residence at the 
 northeast corner of Second Avenue 
 and East First Street is 33 feet above 
 normal, and the water reached his 
 ground floor mantels. Judge Bran- 
 ham hired a negi-o to help him move 
 upstairs; his fine piano was hitched 
 to the lower stairway. He was due 
 to celebrate on April 24 his silver wed- 
 ding anniversary with his wife, who 
 was Miss Georgia Cuyler, but the con- 
 fusion arising from the freshet caused 
 the event to he posti)oned. The con- 
 vention of Georgia Baptists was held 
 as planned, a few days after the 
 water went down, and the judge, lx>- 
 ing a staunch Baptist and favorable to 
 immersion (if necessary) on such an 
 occasion, bought up all the frying-size 
 chickens in the neigliborhood and had 
 them cooked for the visitors.
 
 322 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 The determination of Romans was 
 aptly expressed by a delegate: "You 
 folks can dispense more genuine hos- 
 pitality in a sea of mud than anybody 
 I ever knew!" 
 
 The mayor of Rome at that time 
 was Samuel M. Knox. He wanted to 
 appeal to sister cities for help. "I 
 can have $5,000 here in 24 hours," he 
 declared. "Don't do any such thing," 
 urged Judge Branham; "it would cost 
 us more than $5,000. We have a lot 
 of Baptists coming, and they won't 
 make the trip if they get scared of a 
 little water. We can take care of our- 
 selves." 
 
 The appeal was not sent, and Rome 
 pulled herself together handsomely. 
 
 It was an event never to be for- 
 gotten. Citizens went looking for their 
 houses and certain straying members 
 of their families. A "freshet scout" 
 came in with the report that a house 
 had just floated by with the owner, 
 an Irishman, on the roof, and com- 
 placently smoking a corn-cob pipe. It 
 was stated that the marooner said ev- 
 erything he possessed had been swept 
 down, and his only hope lay in going 
 in the same direction. 
 
 Luke C. Mitchell, of the Fourth 
 Ward, is authority for the statement 
 that it was his steamboat, the Mitch- 
 ell, with himself at the wheel, that 
 steamed up Broad Street, which was 
 about ten feet deep in water. The 
 Mitchell had been tied up at the old 
 wharf on the town side of the Etowah 
 near the junction of the rivers. Capt. 
 Mitchell had just received word that 
 Adolphus Harbour's fine mare was 
 swimming in Mr. Harbour's barnyard 
 in the Fourth Ward, so he determined 
 to rescue her. With Jep Camp as en- 
 gineer and Hutch Moore along as 
 "able-bodied seaman," he cut up the 
 Etowah to Broad, turned wheel hard 
 left and set his course northward up 
 Rome's main business thoroughfare. 
 Broad was under water as far as 
 Fifth Avenue, so Capt. Mitchell turn- 
 ed to the left at Fourth Avenue, 
 steamed past the City Hall and across 
 the Oostanaula into the Fourth Ward. 
 At Fourth and Broad Virgil A. Stew- 
 art and Jas. 0. Winfrey tied their 
 batteaux alongside and clambered 
 aboard. The course lay along Fifth 
 Avenue, and close to the Fifth Ave- 
 nue Baptist Church.* 
 
 Cries for help being heard, Capt. 
 Mitchell stopped and took Barnum El- 
 ders out of a second story window. On 
 reaching the Harbour place, they 
 found the mare half frozen from the 
 
 cold, and nearly exhausted. They 
 broke the fence and led her by a halter 
 to a high point near the home of Mrs. 
 Hiram D. Hill, on Avenue C. The 
 mare was shivering, and so weak she 
 could scarcely stand. Mr. Harbour, 
 the owner, now lives at Wimpee's 
 Ferry, Oostanaula River. 
 
 Shortly prior to this incident, Capt. 
 Mitchell had manned the Steamer ^oel 
 Marable and set out in pursuit of the 
 Selma, Rome & Dalton Railroad 
 wooden bridge down the Coosa River. 
 He ran a line from his pilot house 
 to a bridge stay and reversed his en- 
 gines; but the Marable was too light 
 and of insufficient power. After play- 
 ing with the bridge all the way to 
 Coosa (about 16 miles), he cast off 
 and returned to his base. He had less 
 trouble saving a freight car loaded 
 with cotton and provisions.** 
 
 B. I. Hughes, cashier of the First 
 National Bank, reported the water 
 over the doors of the vault, and per- 
 haps $100,000 in bills flooded. 
 
 He took out the packages, heavily 
 covered with river mud, and spread 
 the bills before a grate fire, and in 
 time had them all dry. The bank did 
 not lose a dollar except in a small lot 
 of new stationery. Mr. Hughes re- 
 ported further that very few failures 
 resulted from flood losses, and that 
 the balance of the year was full of 
 building activity. 
 
 It is worthy of note that two other 
 pranks of nature were played on Ro- 
 mans about this time. A distinct 
 earthquake shock was felt, and two 
 feet of snow, the heaviest Rome has 
 ever had, blocked the horse cars and 
 seriously interfered with other traffic 
 for two or three days.*** 
 
 Less than a year after the freshet. 
 Judge Branham, Jack King and Wes' 
 Rounsaville were appointed by the city 
 council to go to Washington and bring 
 a government engineer to figure on a 
 levee to keep the water out. They 
 brought Oberlin M. Carter, a brilliant 
 young government employee, and two 
 assistants, whom Judge Branham quar- 
 tered over his office on Second Ave- 
 nue. Judge Branham wanted to ask 
 what the survey was going to cost, but 
 
 ♦Frank Holbrook, skipper of the "Annie 
 H." and former city councilman, saw the 
 steamer pass this point. 
 
 **Capt. Mitchell states that it is not true 
 that his steamer's waves broke glasses out ot 
 Broad Street windows, and that the owners 
 sued him for damages. 
 
 ***According to the best recollection of Nick 
 Ayer, the well-known weather i^rophet, the 
 earthquake came Aug. 30 and the snow either 
 Dec. 1 or 25.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 323 
 
 DAME NATURE MAKES ROMANS STEP LIVELY. 
 
 Like practically all river towns, Rome experiences an occasional freshet, and lucky are 
 those who are perched on the hills. However, the damage is usually small and the incon- 
 venience trifling. Prominent in the pictures are a street car on Second Avenue and the 
 Howel Cotton Co.'s compress on First; an automobile and a cow on Fifth. Two ponies are 
 marooned on an island on West Seventh Avenue.
 
 324 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Mr. King and Mr. Rounsaville thought 
 that might offend the tender sensibil- 
 ities of Rome's guests, and requested 
 them to render a bill. The bill was 
 $1,500, which the city council thought 
 excessive. The price was finally beat- 
 en down to $1,250; council paid $700 
 of it and let the three committeemen 
 pay the $550. 
 
 There were two plans. One was to 
 build a high bank from the edge of 
 the water between the two rivers, and 
 the other to follow the W. & A. rail- 
 road down the Etowah and around to 
 the Broad Street station, putting the 
 railroad tracks on the top of the bank. 
 The first was considered too expen- 
 sive and the point was raised that 
 crawfish would gnaw through the bank 
 and cause it to crumble. The rail- 
 road, it is said, failed to concur in the 
 second plan, so nothing was done ex- 
 cept to pay the engineering bill and 
 take two interesting maps which the 
 gentlemen fi'om Washington had 
 drawn. 
 
 The freshet damage suggests Stan- 
 ton's lines: 
 
 "Dis ole world we're livin' in, 
 Am mighty hard to beat; 
 
 You get a thorn with every rose, 
 But ain't the roses sweet?" 
 
 Not only were the people awaken- 
 ed to the necessity of curbing the high 
 waters, but they declared, "It is time 
 Rome was going out and getting more 
 people, more industries, more prosper- 
 ity. Let us form an association which 
 will herald to the world the glories 
 and advantages of Rome and Floyd 
 County!" 
 
 The idea spread like the measles. 
 Everybody took it up, especially the 
 financial leaders. Result: The Rome 
 Land Co., which dealt in land and a 
 hundred other things. In February, 
 1887, this company was formed with 
 J. W. Rounsaville as president, Jos. 
 L. Bass, general manager, and Jno. 
 H. Reynolds treasurer. Judge Bran- 
 ham and numerous other Romans join- 
 ed in, until the $1,000,000 capital stock 
 was well gobbled up in a short time. 
 It was the biggest boom Rome had 
 ever experienced. 
 
 In an anniversary book issued Octo- 
 ber 2, 1888, by the f ribune-of-Rome un- 
 der the direction of John Temple 
 Graves, editor, and Jno. G. Taylor, 
 business manager, we find the follow- 
 ing description of the company's ac- 
 tivities: 
 
 "The company purchased nearly 
 2,500 acres of the city's best subur- 
 
 ban land, and vigorously began the 
 work of development. The property of 
 the Rome Street Railroad Company 
 was at once acquired, and its lines ex- 
 tended through the lands of the com- 
 pany. Steam motors were installed, 
 and this was the first dummy line 
 ever started in Georgia. Only Bald- 
 win's best motors and Brill's best cars 
 were used, and the equipment was of 
 the finest. These steam trains have 
 been in use here more than twelve 
 months — a part of the time in opera- 
 tion on the main thoroughfares of the 
 city — and they have given eminent sat- 
 isfaction. Nothing does more to ad- 
 vertise a city of enterprise than the 
 operation of well-equipped dummy 
 trains on its principal streets, and the 
 company, realizing this, will extend 
 its lines into every portion of the city 
 wherever practicable. 
 
 "The company bought 2,000 acres of 
 land in a body on the south side of 
 the city, adjoining East Rome, its 
 northern boundai-y being about a mile 
 from the business center of Rome, and 
 traversed by Silver Creek. The pop- 
 ularity of this land has been estab- 
 lished in the sale of more than $50,000 
 in lots and the erection of a number 
 of handsome homes. Nature has 
 shaped a goodly area on this land for 
 a park. There is a natural basin of 
 iseveral acres in which a lake has been 
 constructed which is fed by five large 
 springs. This park is the present 
 terminus of the dummy line on this 
 side of the city. (Author's Note — 
 Reference is to DeSoto Park, former- 
 ly Mobley Park). 
 
 "The company owns 500 acres of 
 land in one body west of Rome, three- 
 eighths of a mile from the center of 
 the city, and to make this accessible 
 has recently opened to the public an 
 elegant iron draw bridge across the 
 Oostanaula River at the foot of How- 
 ard Street (Second Avenue), iat a 
 cost of $20,000, and has also graded 
 and macadamized at its own expense 
 a splendid road to its own railroad 
 depot in the heart of this property. 
 The dummy line will run to this depot 
 before the ides of March have come 
 and gone. The erection of and open- 
 ing of this bridge is but one of the 
 many valuable works which this com- 
 pany has done for the public. 
 
 "A year ago, when the great Pied- 
 mont Exposition at Atlanta invited the 
 exhibit of the products and resources 
 of the South Atlantic and Gulf States, 
 Floyd County, for herself, was silent. 
 It was known that to enter so large 
 a field of competition with a shadow
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 325 
 
 of a hope of championship would re- 
 quii-e the outlay of large sums of 
 money, supplemented with a vast deal 
 of systematic and laborious work. In 
 the absence of any answer from the 
 county, the Rome Land Co., in the 
 name of and for the county, undertook 
 the task, knowing that should the un- 
 dertaking prove a success, its credit 
 would go to the county, while a fail- 
 ure would be set down against the 
 company. 
 
 "The grand prize of the exposition, 
 offered to the county making the 
 largest and best display of agi-icultu- 
 ral products, was $1,000 in cash. The 
 valleys of the Coosa, Etowah and the 
 Oostanaula were put upon their met- 
 tle, and for the county they bore aloft 
 the banner and captured the handsome 
 award. Also, the first prize for the 
 best bale of cotton was awarded to 
 Floyd, and so it was in the case of 
 hay, wheat, corn, oats, potatoes, 
 grapes, wine, cattle, hogs, etc., etc. 
 
 "Great interest centered in the min- 
 eral exhibit, a new field for Floyd 
 County. Our best-informed citizens 
 had no conception of the great wealth 
 that lay at our very doors. The min- 
 eralogist had to go only a short dis- 
 tance beyond the city limits to gather 
 his materials for the contest. That 
 our county secured the first premiujn 
 against the efforts of boastful Birm- 
 ingham, ambitious Anniston, hopeful 
 Gadsden and other pretentious cities 
 and counties naturally aroused the 
 pride of our citizens, the wonder of 
 people in the mineral districts of North 
 Alabama and Tennessee, and the anx- 
 ious inquiry of Eastern investors. 
 Since the exposition, a large amount 
 of money has flowed into the county, 
 attracted by the superb qualities of 
 the iron ore and manganese exhibited 
 on that occasion. 
 
 "Finally, the first premium for the 
 fullest and best display of forest prod- 
 ucts was awarded to Floyd County. 
 With 42 prizes and premiums, Floyd 
 County scored almost a clean sweep. 
 
 "The Armstrong Hotel idea was 
 born in the office of the Rome Land 
 Co., and Capt. R. T. Armstrong, the 
 builder, was attracted to Rome from 
 Birmingham by the activities of the 
 company. The Tribune-of-Romo and 
 a large number of factories may be 
 said to have received their inspiration 
 from the activities of this wide-awake 
 development concern." 
 
 ♦Authority : R. L. Haire, Atlanta, now an 
 engineer on the BirminKham division of the 
 Southern Railway. 
 
 THE CALHOUN-WILLIAMSON 
 DUEL. — The people of Georgia and of 
 Alabama and the governors of the two 
 states — Jno. B. Gordon and Tom Seay 
 — were furnished with quite an excite- 
 ment in 1889 through a duel between 
 Patrick Calhoun, railroad attorney, 
 later prominent in street railway af- 
 fairs of Cleveland, 0., and Califor- 
 nia, and Capt. Jno. D. Williamson, 
 railroad construction genius, a native 
 of Whitfield County and at the time 
 stated a casual resident of Rome. 
 
 The prominence of the principals 
 and the issue between them accen- 
 tuated the interest in their affair. Mr. 
 Calhoun's grandfather was John C. 
 Calhoun, the South Carolina states- 
 man. Capt. Williamson was also a 
 man of education and remarkable will ; 
 he had spent four years in railroad de- 
 velopment in Mexico, and had come 
 back to Rome to develop her trans- 
 portation enterprises, and had started 
 the Rome dummy line as the first in 
 the state. He lived part of his time 
 at the Armstrong Hotel; his interests 
 called him away frequently and he 
 nearly always traveled in his private 
 car. 
 
 A tilt before the railroad commit- 
 tee of the Georgia Legislature at At- 
 lanta led to the trouble. Mr. Calhoun 
 stated that Capt. Williamson had so- 
 licited him to become leading counsel 
 for the C. R. & C. railroad, hoping 
 to use the Calhoun influence to unload 
 that property on the Central of Geor- 
 gia. Capt. Williamson was present 
 and denounced this statement as a 
 falsehood. Correspondence transmitted 
 through the hands of friends failed 
 to bring an understanding, and they 
 agreed to fight it out with pistols at 
 the Alabama line. A boundary line 
 was convenient because duelists could 
 often step from one state into another 
 and avoid arrest; incident;illy, this 
 was the last duel fought under the 
 old style in the South. 
 
 That the duel was not fought on 
 the line was due to the vigilance of 
 Gov. Seay and Gov. Gordon, who kept 
 the wires hot until a number of posses 
 had been formed along the "border." 
 They fought at the point of least re- 
 sistance after several harrowing 
 chases by the authorities; this was 
 close to the R. & D. tracks, between 
 Lawrence and Farill, Ala., on the 
 Farill plantation, aliout three miles 
 east of the place where Forrest cap- 
 tured Streight's men in 1863, four 
 miles west of the Georgia line and 
 18 miles west of Rome.*
 
 326 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS THERE IS GREAT FUN. 
 
 The children dance in glee when it snows or rains hard enough to send the rivers out 
 of their banks. Wading, bathing and exploring furnish many an adventure. Boatmen of 
 all ages do a thriving business. The third picture shows the Linton Dean homo place on 
 the Summerville Road nearly isolated. At the bottom are motor craft "riding easy" at their 
 moorings.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 327 
 
 Although great care had been taken 
 to keep the affair secret, the mothers 
 and friends of several Romans who 
 boarded Capt. Williamson's private car 
 when it stopped a minute at Howard 
 Street (Second Avenue) knew that 
 something unusual was going on. A 
 sudden demand was created for loco- 
 motives, due to the fact that at Chat- 
 tanooga junction, about two miles 
 west of Rome, two of the newspaper 
 correspondents, Hurtel and Barrett* 
 were diplomatically kicked off the 
 train, and had to foot it back to town. 
 Capt. Seay and Dr. J. B. S. Holmes as- 
 sisted in getting Engineer W. T. Do- 
 zier off the dummy line and in charge 
 of an engine. R. L. Haire and his 
 brother, Paul Haire, rushed to For- 
 restville (North Rome) and fired up 
 the "Daniel S. Printup," the first en- 
 gine built for the Selma, Rome & Dal- 
 ton railroad. Evidently The Journal 
 and The Constitution were determined 
 not to be "scooped," and each repre- 
 sentative had a pocket full of money 
 to charter trains or anything else. 
 
 "The Printup" and the Dozier en- 
 gine (believed to have belonged to the 
 Rome railroad), reached Chattanoo- 
 ga Junction about the same time, and 
 there they found the Williamson en- 
 gine and coach held up because the 
 engineer was a stranger to the road. 
 The newcomers proposed that they 
 would furnish plenty of engines and 
 engineers just so they were allowed 
 to sit on the soft plush of Capt. Wil- 
 l-.amson's private coach. Thie offer 
 was accepted, and the duelling lions 
 and the journalistic lambs lay down 
 together. Capt. Seay and Mr. Taylor 
 came in when the bars were let down. 
 Fortunately, nobody was hurt by the 
 duel. Mr. Calhoun thought he was to 
 fire one shot, then look above his smoke 
 to see the result, and if there was no 
 hit, to blaze away again. Capt. Wil- 
 liamson's understanding was that they 
 were to fire at will, hence his weapon 
 stuttered five times, also without hit- 
 ting the mark. Then Capt. William- 
 son's gun was empty, and Mr. Calhoun 
 held four balls in reserve. What Mr. 
 Calhoun did with his perfectly good 
 four balls is told hereafter. Capt. Wil- 
 liamson had stood close to a slender 
 pine sapling, and Mr. Calhoun's single 
 shot had knocked bark into his face. 
 Undoubtedly the next shot would have 
 laid the Roman out. It was never 
 fired. 
 
 Some mischievous persons sought to 
 represent the fight as a sham affair, 
 particularly a "champagne lark." It is 
 true that Mr. Barrett got a bottle of 
 
 wine from the train porter, and offered 
 the others some going down. It is also 
 true that the physicians ordered their 
 champions to calm their nerves. Maybe 
 some of the stuff was left for the re- 
 turn trip; at any rate, Pat Calhoun 
 and Jno. D. Williamson and everybody 
 else were fast friends ere dark had 
 settled on the expectant countryside. 
 John Temple Graves took the position 
 editorially that the affair was full of 
 honor and that both principals ac- 
 quitted themselves adn^irably. The duel 
 was the subject of gossip for a long 
 time; then duelling, already in a hope- 
 less decline, petered out altogether. 
 
 For details the reader is invited to 
 wade into the accounts by Barrett and 
 Hurtel. Bruffey came to the duel 
 walking on a crutch and at it got a 
 finger shot off by accident, hence Bruf- 
 fey relied on his colleague to do the 
 heavy work. Hurtel's story appeared 
 in The Atlanta Journal of Monday 
 afternoon, Aug. 12, 1889. It is pre- 
 ceded by the correspondence between 
 the principals. 
 
 THE CORRESPONDENCE. — The 
 following is the correspondence which 
 led to the duel: 
 
 I. 
 Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 8, 1889. 
 Mr. John D. Williamson, Kimball 
 
 House: 
 
 Dear Sir: — Before the railroad com- 
 mission of the house of representatives 
 this afternoon, in the discussion of the 
 Olive bill, you characterized certain 
 statements which had been made by 
 me as false. I request an unqualified 
 retraction of this charge. 
 
 This conxmunication will be handed 
 to you by my friend, Mr. Harry Jack- 
 son,** who is authorized to receive the 
 reply which you may see jn-oper to 
 make. Respectfully, 
 
 PAT CALHOUN. 
 II. 
 Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 8, 1889. 
 Mr. Pat Calhoun, City: 
 
 Dear Sir: — Your note of this eve- 
 ning has been delivered to me by Mr. 
 
 *Mr. Hurtel died in 1921 at Atlanta, and 
 Mr. Hari-ett (then propriotor of The AKe- 
 Herahl) at Rirminnliam in .July. 1022. Mr. 
 RrulTey, tho other Atlanta scribe, died in At- 
 lanta Friday. November 2(i, l')20. For many 
 years afterwar<l Mr. Hurtel was on The 
 Constitution, to which he contributed a 
 rare column called "Police Matinee Pen Shots, 
 and was Recorder Pro Tern, of the Atlanta 
 police court when he died. 
 
 ♦♦Father of Marion M. .Tackson, the late lom 
 Cobb Jackson, Mrs. Wilmer Moore. Mrs. 
 Aquilla J. Ornic and Mrs. Shepard Bryan, all 
 of Atlanta.
 
 328 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Henry Jackson. You stated before the 
 committee that I had solicited you to 
 act as general counsel of the Chatta- 
 nooga, Rome & Columbus Railroad 
 Company, and that my purpose was to 
 unload that road upon the Central Rail- 
 road Company of Georgia through 
 your influence. This statement car- 
 ried with it a reflection upon myself. 
 It was without foundation, and I 
 promptly pronounced it false. So long 
 as this language, used by you, is not 
 withdrawn, I must decline to make the 
 retraction which you request. 
 
 This will be handed to you by my 
 friend, Hon. J. Lindsay Johnson. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 J. D. WILLIAMSON. 
 
 IIL 
 
 Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 9, 1889. 
 Mr. John D. Williamson, Kimball 
 
 House: 
 
 Dear Sir: — Your communication of 
 last evening reached me at half past 
 
 9 this morning. I cannot consent to a 
 discussion of the correctness of a state- 
 ment made by me before the railroad 
 committee of the house, so long as 
 your charge of falsehood stands. I 
 must, therefore, repeat my request that 
 you make an unqualified retraction of 
 this charge. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 PAT CALHOUN. 
 IV. 
 Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 9, 1889. 
 Mr. Pat Calhoun, City: 
 
 Dear Sir: — Your note of this morn- 
 ing was delivered to me at 10:45 a. m. 
 My communication of last evening was 
 delivered to Mr. Henry Jackson about 
 
 10 p. m., and of course I do not know 
 why it did not reach you before 9:30 
 this a. m. I have nothing to add to 
 my communication of last evening, ex- 
 cept to repeat that I decline to comply 
 with your request for the reason stated 
 in that communication. 
 
 This will be handed to you by my 
 friend, Hon. J. Lindsay Johnson. 
 Respectfully, 
 J. D. WILLIAMSON. 
 V. 
 Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 9, 1889. 
 Mr. John D. Williamson, Kimball 
 House: 
 
 Dear Sir: — Your communication of 
 this date has just reached me. In re- 
 ply I would ask that you name some 
 place without the limits of the state 
 
 of Georgia, where this correspondence 
 can be continued. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 PAT CALHOUN. 
 VL 
 Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 9, 1889. 
 Mr. Pat Calhoun, City: 
 
 Dear Sir: — I am just in receipt of 
 your last note. As you know, Atlanta 
 is not my home. I only requested Hon. 
 J. Lindsay Johnson to act temprarily 
 to prevent delay. A friend who has 
 been fully authorized to represent me 
 has telegraphed that he will be here 
 at 6:30 this p. m. I will then commu- 
 nicate with you for the purpose of ar- 
 ranging the continuation of this cor- 
 respondence outside of this state. 
 
 This will be handed to you by my 
 friend, Hon. J. Lindsay Johnson. 
 Respectfully, 
 J. D. WILLIAMSON. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 9, 1889. 
 Mr. Pat Calhoun, City: 
 
 Dear Sir: — My friend, Mr. J. King, 
 of Rome, Ga., has arrived, and has 
 been put in possession of contents of 
 the correspondence between us. In 
 conformity with your request in your 
 last note delivered at 1:05 p. m. today, 
 I will meet you in Alabama, at Cedar 
 Bluff, on the Rome and Decatur Rail- 
 road, tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon, 
 at 5 o'clock. Unless I hear to the con- 
 trary, I shall expect to find you there 
 at that hour. 
 
 Mr. friend, Mr. King, will deliver 
 this note. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 J. D. WILLIAMSON. 
 
 The Journal narrative starts here: 
 
 Captain John D. Williamson and 
 Mr. Pat Calhoun fought a duel with 
 pistols Saturday night at thirty-five 
 minutes past seven o'clock on the Rome 
 and Decatur Railroad somewhere near 
 the state line, probably in Alabama. 
 
 The weapons used were the in> 
 proved Smith & Wesson hammerless 
 pistols. 
 
 Capt. Henry Jackson acted as Mr. 
 Calhoun's second, and Mr. Jack King, 
 of Rome, as Capt. Williamson's sec- 
 ond. 
 
 Neither principal was hurt. 
 
 A Journal reporter* was on the field 
 when the fight took place, having fol- 
 
 *Gordon Noel Hurtel.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences" 
 
 329 
 
 ir— jl 
 
 PROMINENT FIGURES IN THE DUEL.
 
 330 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 lowed the Williamson party from At- 
 lanta. But for the lateness of the 
 hour, nearly eight o'clock, and the re- 
 moteness of the place from a telegraph 
 station, the full particulars would have 
 appeared in Saturday evening's extra. 
 The first authentic news which 
 reached the city Saturday night was 
 wired by The Journal representative, 
 but it reached Atlanta too late to be 
 used. 
 
 The Journal reporter, Gordon Noel 
 Hurtel, gives a graphic account of the 
 aflFair below: 
 
 "Follow the Williamson party and 
 don't lose sight of them until the duel 
 is fought or the men make friends," 
 were my instructions when I left The 
 Journal office Saturday morning. 
 
 And I carried out those instructions 
 to the letter, as Journal men are known 
 to do. 
 
 I boarded the outgoing Western and 
 Atlantic train at the (Union) depot 
 Saturday morning at 8 o'clock and 
 found the Williamson party occupying 
 the parlor car. The party consisted 
 of Capt. Williamson, Mr. Jack King, 
 his second; Judge H. B. Tompkins, and 
 Maj. C. B. F. Lowe.* 
 
 Dr. Hunter P. Cooper was on the 
 train, but not with the party, as he 
 expected to act as Mr. Calhoun's phy- 
 sician. 
 
 I paid my way to Marietta, and 
 when I learned from the conductor to 
 what point the Williamson party had 
 paid their way I antied up more cash 
 to carry me to Kingston. 
 
 At Kingston, Capt. Williamson's 
 private car was in waiting. It was 
 placed next to the engine. I knew this 
 meant a quick cut loose and fast run 
 through Rome to avoid arrest, and to 
 get rid of me, as I had been spotted. 
 When Rome was reached, the train was 
 stopped at the depot, and I ran to the 
 private car and took my seat on the 
 steps. As I expected, the special car 
 was uncoupled and run through town 
 at the rate of twenty miles an hour. 
 Two miles the other side of Rome Mr. 
 Jack King discovered me hiding on the 
 steps. The train was stopped and I 
 was put off like a tramp, and had to 
 count the crossties for two miles 
 through the hot sun. 
 
 Dr. Battey boarded the train at 
 Rome to act as Capt. Williamson's phy- 
 sician. Dr. Cooper got off. 
 
 In Rome I called upon Colonel John 
 T. Graves, and Mr. Taylor, the city 
 editor of his paper. Mr. E. W. Bar- 
 
 rett, of The Constitution, and myself 
 went to woi-k to secure a special en- 
 gine to follow the Williamson party. 
 We called upon Major Lawrence, of 
 the Rome and Decatur Road. He in- 
 formed us that the Williamson party 
 had sent to him for permission to go 
 over his road on a tour of inspection, 
 and he replied that he had no engineer 
 to pilot them. The Williamson party 
 was then side-tracked at a junction 
 two miles from the city. 
 
 "Having no engineer we cannot let 
 you gentlemen have a special engine," 
 said Major Lawrence. 
 
 But a wide-awake citizen of Rome, 
 Maj. John J. Seay, to whom we had 
 told the story, enlisted in our cause, 
 and he procured an engineer from his 
 dummy who knew the Rome and De- 
 catur road. 
 
 We got the special engine and start- 
 ed out in a hard driving rain. I had 
 to help turn the engine on the turning 
 board, and got soaking wet. 
 
 At the junction we found Capt. Wil- 
 liamson's car. We offered them our 
 pilot and they invited us into the pri- 
 vate car, giving us a fine lunch and 
 champagne and cigars. This was the 
 car from which I had been fired like a 
 tramp an hour before. 
 
 While waiting for Capt. William- 
 son's engine to return, the party went 
 into the woods and the captain prac- 
 ticed handling his revolver by firing at 
 a blazed pine tree. The blaze was the 
 height of a man with a round place for 
 the head. 
 
 Judge Tompkins would give the com- 
 mand: "Are you ready? One, two 
 three, fire!" And Capt. Williamson 
 would raise his pistol and send five 
 balls into the ti'ee, many shots striking 
 the blazed place. 
 
 Somebody ran into the woods and 
 stated that the sheriff of Floyd County, 
 with a deputy, was coming down the 
 track. Hurriedly an arrangement was 
 made and Capt. Williamson and Mr. 
 King ran through the woods, with the 
 understanding that the train was to 
 pick them up two miles down the road. 
 
 *According to the Barrett narrative, it was 
 W. B. Lowe. Capt. Wm. B. Lowe was about 
 this time engaged in railroad construction and 
 was a casual resident of Rome. He was the 
 father of Miss Rebie Lowe, who married Baron 
 Rosencrantz, of Austria. Capt. Jas. W. Eng- 
 lish, of Atlanta, a business associate and close 
 friend, states that Capt. Lowe was ill when 
 the duel was fought, and in his opinion was 
 not present. Practically all the principals In 
 the duel are now dead. Exceptions are Mr. 
 Calhoun, now a resident of Frankfort, Ky., 
 and Dr. Henry Battey, of Rome.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 331 
 
 The sheriff produced a telegram 
 from Governor Gordon instructing him 
 to arrest certain gentlemen. He didn't 
 find whom he wanted, and when the 
 other engine arrived, the party pulled 
 out. Two miles down the track Capt. 
 Williamson and Mr. King got aboai'd, 
 and we were rolling towards Cedar 
 Bluff, the place of meeting, at thirty 
 miles an hour. As we passed Raynes 
 Station, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, 
 I left a telegram for The Journal, and 
 two hours afterward found that it had 
 not been sent off. The mail is better 
 than telegraphing from a country rail- 
 way station. 
 
 We reached Cedar Bluff at about 4 
 o'clock, and had to sidetrack for a pas- 
 senger. 
 
 We had hardly stopped at Cedar 
 Bluff when somebody cried out: 
 
 "Here comes the sheriff!" 
 
 There was a scramble for the pri- 
 vate car and special engine, and the 
 order given to "pull out." 
 
 We were in Cherokee County, Ala- 
 bama, and the sheriff was one of those 
 bushy, black-whiskered fellows with a 
 broad-brim white hat on, who meant 
 business. 
 
 The private car got off, but the spe- 
 cial engine was stopped by the sheriff. 
 However, the car did not get far when 
 it met the regular passenger. Our 
 car had to be backed to Cedar Bluff 
 and into the hands of the bushy-whis- 
 kered sheriff. 
 
 Mr. Calhoun and Capt. Harry Jack- 
 son were on the regular passenger, 
 having come from Atlanta by the way 
 of Anniston. They got off, and there 
 was Ed Bruffey, hobbling behind them 
 on one crutch. 
 
 The sheriff made his way to Mr. Cal- 
 houn and said: 
 
 "Mr. Williamson, consider yourself 
 under arrest." 
 
 Capt. Seay, who was known to the 
 sheriff, made affidavit that the gentle- 
 man was not Capt. Williamson and 
 Mr. Calhoun was released. Mr. Bruf- 
 fey repi-esented himself as Pat Calhoun 
 and was arrested, but was released 
 when the station master, who knew 
 Mr. Calhoun, saw him. 
 
 The sheriff swore he would hold the 
 special train and engine. Both trains 
 were searched. Mr. Calhoun and Capt. 
 Jackson were locked up in a closet in 
 the private car. Capt. Williamson and 
 Mr. King were in a closet on the regu- 
 lar passenger. An arrangement had 
 been made for as many of the party as 
 possible to leave on this train. When 
 
 the passenger train pulled out, it car- 
 ried off Capt. Williamson, Mr. King, 
 Dr. Battey, Capt. Williamson's private 
 secretary, Capt. Seay and myself. The 
 rest of the party were left behind on 
 the private car. 
 
 We ran down to Raynes' Station, 
 five miles nearer Rome than Cedar 
 Bluff, and there got off. 
 
 The passenger train coming from 
 Rome was an hour late when it reached 
 Raynes' Station. Dr. Cooper was 
 aboard. Myself, Capt. Seay and Capt. 
 Williamson's private secretary got 
 aboard and returned to Cedar Bluff. 
 The bushy-whiskered sheriff of Chero- 
 kee County was still on hand, and he 
 had been made to believe that the en- 
 tire duelling party had gone to 
 Raynes' Station on the regular pas- 
 senger. He was anxious to know what 
 happened. He was told that mutual 
 apologies had been made and every- 
 thing satisfactorily settled. This ex- 
 planation induced him to let the spe- 
 cial train and engine move off. 
 
 At Raynes' Station everybody got 
 off and the seconds had a talk. The 
 sun was just setting, and I wired The 
 Journal that the fight was about to 
 take place. 
 
 While the seconds were arranging 
 preliminaries, there was a loud clatter 
 of horses' feet, and four men on mules 
 and carrying shotguns came in sight. 
 
 "Everybody to the train!" came the 
 order. 
 
 "If anybody moves I'll shoot!" came 
 from one of the four men, as he cov- 
 ered the crowd with his gun. 
 
 This only increased the scramble for 
 the coach and engine. 
 
 "Move that train and you are a dead 
 man!" came from the four Alabama 
 cowboys, as they brought their guns 
 to bear upon the engineer. 
 
 Dodging down in his cab, the en- 
 gineer pulled the throttle wide open, 
 and away we went. 
 
 The special engine was Iwhind. but 
 no effort was made to stop it. 
 
 After a run of three miles we stop- 
 ped by the side of a beautiful green 
 valley," and the party disembai-ked 
 again. 
 
 It was nearly dark and we had left 
 the only telegraph station between 
 Cedar Bluff and Rome behind us. I 
 knew the lateness of the hour and the 
 remoteness of a telegraph station 
 would make it impossible for me to 
 reach The Journal with the news in
 
 332 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 SOME DAY MAN WILL CONQUER WATER. 
 
 Vigorous steps have been taken by Rome leaders to frustrate the freshets or get above 
 them. One plan is to dam up ravines far above Rome, and rlease th water when th« "^^^ 
 are low. Another is to have the city grow northward on the hjlls and use the abandoned 
 river fork land for a park. (Near the bottom of the picture is Hamilton athletic field sub- 
 merged.)
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 333 
 
 time for its publication Saturday aft- 
 ernoon. 
 
 A greensward was selected as the 
 field, and the seconds were holding 
 their last private interview, when — 
 
 "Look out! Everybody on the train!" 
 
 The warning was none too soon. 
 Down the railroad the four men with 
 shotguns were coming at a dog trot. 
 Everybody jumped aboard and the train 
 moved off toward Rome before the men 
 got in shooting distance. 
 
 Another run of four or five miles 
 was made and we were very near the 
 line which divides Georgia and Ala- 
 bama. 
 
 Once more everybody disembarked 
 and preparations were made for the 
 fight. 
 
 A small natural clearing in an oak 
 grove was selected as the spot for the 
 meeting. 
 
 Capt. Seay, who was a disinterested 
 party, interfered and tried to make the 
 men come to a settlement. His efforts 
 were fruitless. 
 
 It had to be a fight. 
 
 No written challenge passed. 
 
 Capt. Williamson had the choice of 
 weapons and selected the hammerless 
 Smith & Wesson five-shooter. Mr. King 
 was to give the command as follows: 
 
 "Gentlemen, are you ready?" 
 
 And without waiting for a reply was 
 to continue: 
 
 "One, two, three, fire!" 
 
 At the command "fire," each princi- 
 pal was to raise his weapon and shoot 
 five shots and to stop when their re- 
 volvers were empty. The command 
 and the manner of firing was not that 
 laid down in the Code, and some ob- 
 jection was made at first by Capt. 
 Jackson. But, as Mr. Calhoun didn't 
 seem to care, the arrangement was ac- 
 cepted as satisfactory. Capt. Jackson 
 thought the men should fire one shot 
 at a time, and that the command should 
 be "Gentleman, are you ready? Fire, 
 one, two, three, — stop!" 
 
 At thirty-five minutes past seven 
 o'clock, the principals were placed in 
 position twelve paces apart. Only the 
 principals, seconds, doctors, reporters 
 and Capt. Seay were allowed on the 
 field. 
 
 The last rays of daylight were fad- 
 ing out of the western sky, while in 
 the east the full moon was rising above 
 the tree tops. Each man stood facing 
 the other against a background of un- 
 derbrush. Not a breath of wind stirred 
 the leaves, and the only sound that 
 
 bi'oke the stillness was the subdued 
 voices of the seconds as they made 
 the final arrangements. 
 
 Capt. Williamson stood facing east 
 and Mr. Calhoun facing west. 
 
 Mr. King produced two new nickel- 
 plated pistols and Capt. Jackson se- 
 lected one and went over to his prin- 
 cipal to show him how^ it had to be 
 fired. 
 
 When he returned to where Mr. 
 King was standing, a box of cartridges 
 was opened. 
 
 Mr. King loaded his pistol and 
 handed it to his principal. 
 
 Capt. Jackson found some difficulty 
 in loading his, not being used to that 
 kind of revolver. 
 
 "I don't think I can load this 
 weapon," said Capt. Jackson. 
 
 "I can. Cap," spoke up Mr. Bruffey, 
 and he took the pistol in his hand. 
 
 There was two or three seconds of 
 silence. 
 "Bang!" 
 
 "There, my finger's gone!" and Mr. 
 Bruffey walked off holding up a bloody 
 hand. A part of the third finger of 
 his right hand had been torn away by 
 the ball. 
 
 "Let me dress the wound," said Dr. 
 Cooper. 
 
 "Oh, go on with the fight," said Mr. 
 Bruffey as he wrapped a handkerchief 
 about his lacerated finger. "A finger 
 don't amount to anything." 
 
 Capt. Jackson loaded Mr. Calhoun's 
 pistol and handed it to him. 
 
 A black cloud passed over the moon 
 and it was hard to distinguish a per- 
 son twelve paces away. 
 
 At this time I passed close to Capt. 
 Williamson and Mr. Calhoun, to see if 
 there was any quick breathing, or any- 
 thing to indicate nervousness. But the 
 breathing of both was slow and regu- 
 lar, and there was not a tremor of the 
 body. Two cooler, braver men never 
 stood on the field of honor. 
 
 Capt. Williamson raised his iiistnl 
 slightly. 
 
 "Lower those weapons!" came from 
 Capt. Jackson. Mr. Williamson's 
 w-eapon was dropped. 
 
 The affair was getting to be dra- 
 matically sensational. 
 
 Capt. Seay rushed forward and stood 
 in front of "Capt. Williamson. 
 
 "As a citizen of Georgia and in the 
 name of the Governor of Alabama." 
 cried out Capt. Seay, "I call upon you 
 to stop!"
 
 334 
 
 A HisTORvroF Rome and Floyd County 
 
 THE "PRINTUP," S., R. & D. ENGINE IN THE DUEL. 
 
 The captain didn't know which state 
 he was in. 
 
 "It's a shame," he continued, "for 
 two such men to stand up and shoot 
 at each other, and this thing niust be 
 stopped!" 
 
 Capt. Seay had to be forcibly nioved 
 out of the way. He then called upon 
 the doctors and the reporters to help 
 him remove the principals and the sec- 
 onds into the coach and take them back 
 to Rome. 
 
 Mr. BrufFey put in with: "Yes, these 
 men are two of the best citizens of 
 Georgia, and it would be a terrible 
 calamity if either of them was killed. 
 Gentlemen, if it will satisfy you, you 
 can each take a couple of cracks at 
 me." 
 
 "Gentlemen, must this thing be?" 
 asked Dr. Cooper. 
 
 There was no reply. 
 
 "Gentlemen, are you ready?" came 
 from Mr. King, and after a second's 
 pause he proceeded: 
 
 "One, two, three, fire!" 
 
 Six rapid shots rang out on the still 
 night air. Mr. Calhoun was asked if 
 he was hurt and he said, "No." Capt. 
 Williamson was asked if he was hurt 
 and he answered that he was not. 
 
 "Load my pistol again," said Capt. 
 Williamson. 
 
 Mr. King made a movement to go 
 towards his principal. 
 
 Capt. Jackson raised his revolver 
 and said: 
 
 "I'll shoot the first man who moves, 
 if I can!" 
 
 "I think I have the right to speak 
 to my principal," protested Mr. King. 
 
 "I wish Judge Tompkins sent for to 
 see how this shooting shall proceed," 
 said Capt. Williamson. 
 
 "I'll kill the man who crosses the 
 
 line, so help me God!" said Mr. Cal- 
 houn as he looked towards Mr. King. 
 
 Capt. Jackson said he believed Mr. 
 King had the right to speak to his 
 principal. 
 
 Mr. King went to Capt. Williamson 
 and Capt. Jackson conferred with Mr. 
 Calhoun. 
 
 Mr. King began to examine Capt. 
 Williamson's pistol. 
 
 "What does that mean?" said Capt. 
 Jackson, coming towards Mr. King. 
 
 "I am looking to see if my princi- 
 pal's weapon is empty," replied Mr. 
 King. "You can see for yourself." 
 
 "That's all right," replied Capt. 
 Jackson. 
 
 Then Mr. Calhoun's voice was heard 
 clear and strong: 
 
 "Mr. Williamson, I have reserved 
 four of my shots and I now have the 
 right to fire them at you." 
 
 "I am ready to receive them," came 
 from Mr. Williamson in a steady voice. 
 
 "Mr. Williamson, I ask you to with- 
 draw the statement you used in speak- 
 ing about me before the legislative 
 committee." 
 
 "I will do so," replied Capt. William- 
 son, "when you say you meant no per- 
 sonal reflection on me by your remarks 
 before that committee." 
 
 "My statement before that commit- 
 tee was to impress the legislature with 
 the fact that your railroad was offered 
 to the Central in 1887. I say this with 
 four balls, and I do not wish to take 
 your life." 
 
 "When you say you meant no re- 
 flection upon me personally then I will 
 retract, but not until then." 
 
 "I want you to retract uncondition- 
 ally." 
 
 "You will get such when you tell me
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 335 
 
 you did not intend to reflect upon my 
 character." 
 
 "Mr. Williamson, will you retract?" 
 again asked Mr. Calhoun. 
 
 Capt. Jackson interrupted the dia- 
 logue with the question : 
 
 "Mr. Williamson, have you any re- 
 spect for me as a man of honor?" 
 
 "I have," was the reply. 
 
 "Then I say to you as a man of 
 honor that I would withdraw the state- 
 ment." 
 
 "Capt. Jackson, I will not do so until 
 Mr. Calhoun tells me that he meant no 
 personal reflection by his remarks." 
 
 "I hold four balls," said Mr. Cal- 
 houn. "Will you withdraw?" 
 
 "I'm ready for your fire," replied 
 Mr. Williamson with firmness. 
 
 Then Mr. Calhoun raised his pistol 
 aloft and said: 
 
 "Mr. Williamson, in my remarks be- 
 fore the legislative committee, you did 
 not personally enter my mind. I say 
 this holding four shots in reserve, and 
 when I have fired them in the air I ex- 
 pect you to withdraw your remarks, 
 since I have made this statement." 
 
 Pointing the pistol upward, Mr. Cal- 
 houn fired the four shots. The flashes 
 of the pistol could be seen. 
 
 As soon as the shots were fired, Capt. 
 Williamson said : 
 
 "Since you have stated that you 
 meant nothing personal in your re- 
 marks, I now withdraw the statement 
 I made before the legislative commit- 
 tee." 
 
 Mr. Calhoun walked over to Capt. 
 Williamson and the two gentlemen 
 shook hands. 
 
 "Let all this be a matter of the 
 past," said Mr. Calhoun. 
 
 "It shall be with me," said Capt. 
 Williamson. "You have shown your- 
 self to be a man of courage and I be- 
 lieve I have." 
 
 "You certainly have," replied Mr. 
 Calhoun. 
 
 Capt. Jackson then threw his arms 
 about Mr. Calhoun's neck and kissed 
 him. 
 
 The party returned to the train and 
 champagne and cigars were in order. 
 
 We arrived in Rome a few minutes 
 after 9 o'clock, and that was the first 
 telegraph station reached after the 
 fight. I sent the first authentic news 
 of the fight to Atlanta at that hour. 
 
 Cap. Williamson and the other gen- 
 tlemen who live in Rome got off, and 
 Mr. Calhoun, Capt. Jackson, Dr. Coop- 
 
 er, Judge Tompkins, Major Lowe and 
 myself were sent through on Capt. 
 Williamson's private car, arriving in 
 Atlanta at 2 o'clock on Sunday morn- 
 ing. 
 
 NOTES OF THE FIGHT. 
 
 Capt. Jackson tells a good story on 
 Mr. Ed Bruffey. He says when they 
 found it impossible to give Ed the 
 shake, they just swore him in. The 
 party had to travel as secretly as pos- 
 sible to avoid arrest. Soon after Bruf- 
 fey had been "sworn in" he approached 
 Capt. Jackson and said: "Captain, is 
 there any particular lie you want me 
 to tell, or shall I just lie generally?" 
 
 The saddest thing of the day was the 
 grief of Capt. Williamson's private 
 secretary at the thought of his em- 
 ployer's having to face death. He re- 
 mained in the coach during the fight, 
 and when the six shots rang out, he 
 jumped to his feet and exclaimed: "My 
 God! Is he killed?" 
 
 Mr. Calhoun did some practising 
 early Saturday morning, and he is 
 said to have turned over a silver dol- 
 lar three shots out of five. 
 
 It is claimed by Mr. Williamson that 
 it did not occur to him that he could 
 reserve any shot, and that was why 
 he fired so rapidly and left himself 
 unarmed. 
 
 Mr. Calhoun says he did not hear any 
 bullets whizzing past him. "I felt as 
 calm and cool," says he, "as if I had 
 been making a law speech." And he 
 looked just as he said he felt. 
 
 There came near being a serious col- 
 lision at Cedar Bluff between Capt. 
 Williamson's special and the regular 
 passenger, on which Capt. Jackson and 
 Mr. Calhoun arrived. Had the special 
 had a few minutes more time when it 
 pulled out from the sheriff there wouhl 
 have been a smashup. 
 
 About an hour before the fight took 
 place Capt. Williamson was asked by 
 me if he felt any apprehension of what 
 was coming. lie said: "I don't any 
 more mind going into this fight than I 
 do going to breakfast. I have no fear 
 of death and I attribute this to my phi- 
 losophy. A man must eventually die 
 anyway, and to die now is only to 
 hasten matters a few years." 
 
 When the duel was over, it was a 
 happy party that boarded the train 
 and "made the champagne corks pop. 
 Mr. Calhoun called Capt. Williamson 
 "John," and Capt. Williamson called
 
 336 
 
 A History of Rom e and Floyd County 
 
 i-Mrs cTf DWELLINGS OF HIGH ALTITUDE AND LOW 
 
 Vista/, on'^t^e EtowaKr'''4-B'a7rrWri^.h^- Tjohn'^^c"/- ^"' f^'i.'- ^'"'^^^ •'°»>-on ("R- 
 A. Denny (formerly Capt. John "^ Sely and~Thos W Ti"- «-»"sh B. Parks. 7-Richard 
 9— Judge and Mrs. Waller T Tu^buH f"sfrJ m .^^•t'L^"der) . 8— Mrs. Henry J. Hine- 
 
 Bryan (J. Park Bowie,. ^^-ll^'tfJe^YolT^^Xol^ryl'^^""^^^^^^ ^^"^ Co.e„,a«
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 337 
 
 him "Pat," and both were on the most 
 friendly terms. 
 
 The way he dodged around, jumping 
 from car to car, perplexed the old sher- 
 iff as bad as the harlequin in Humpty- 
 Dumpty did Goody Two-Shoes. 
 
 They tried to make the old Cherokee 
 sheriff believe the special train car- 
 ried the mail and that he would be 
 hung for interfering with the mails, 
 but it was no go. 
 
 Capt. Jackson, in discussing the duel 
 after it was over, said: "My man 
 showed as noble courage as was ever 
 witnessed on the field, and he had a 
 man of true grit in front of him." 
 
 Before going on the field, Mr. King 
 told Capt. Jackson that he was un- 
 armed. 
 
 When Ed Bruffey, who has been un- 
 able to walk without crutches for sev- 
 eral months, left the train to go on the 
 field he forgot his crutches and jumped 
 about in a very lively manner. 
 
 And now the fight is over, everybody 
 is satisfied and happy, and will remain 
 so unless the Governor of Alabama 
 opens up a correspondence with the 
 Governor of Georgia. 
 
 GORDON NOEL HURTEL. 
 
 The Barrett narrative, written in 
 collaboration with Bruffey for The 
 Constitution of Monday morning, Aug. 
 12, 1889, follows: 
 
 Mr. Calhoun and Capt. Jackson are 
 back at home again. 
 
 Mr. Williamson and Mr. King are 
 in Rome. 
 
 The duel is a thing of the past and 
 the friends of all concerned are pleas- 
 ed at the bloodless result. But those 
 who were upon the field may have to 
 make another trip to Alabama. Gov. 
 Tom Seay wants to see them. 
 
 Alabama's chief executive made 
 every exertion to prevent the duel in 
 his state. He telegraphed to every 
 county, and yesterday morning when 
 he ascertained that his officers had 
 been eluded, and that the fight took 
 place near the state line, he was an- 
 gry- 
 Gentlemen who were in Montgomery 
 yesterday morning and who reached 
 Atlanta last night say that Gov. Seay 
 says he will have officers sent for all 
 parties interested in the affair, and see 
 that the law is vindicated. Just what 
 will be done remains to be seen. 
 
 Mr. Calhoun passed the day at his 
 home and will remain in the city some 
 
 time. Capt. Jackson has no idea of 
 going away, and if Gov. Seay wants 
 them he will have no trouble in secur- 
 ing them. 
 
 On our return to Atlanta yesterday 
 Mr. Bruffey and myself were asked 
 thousands of questions iibout the Cal- 
 houn-Williamson duel — among them if 
 the men really shot to kill? Were the 
 pistols loaded with balls or were the 
 cartridges blank? And hundreds of 
 other such, I may say, foolish ques- 
 tions. 
 
 The bravery shown by both parties 
 in the fight was simply unequaled. 
 They are the two bravest men I ever 
 saw, and in the history of this coun- 
 try, it is safe to say, there will never 
 be another such duel. 
 
 Had it not been for the darkness, 
 both men would have been killed, for 
 both are good shots. Mr. Williamson 
 apparently wanted to hit Mr. Calhoun 
 before the latter could get good aim, 
 and therefore fired all five of his 
 balls in less than two seconds. He 
 was familiar with his pistol, but his 
 haste was evidently the cause of his 
 wild shots. 
 
 Mr. Calhoun, on the other hand, was 
 a perfect stranger to the hammerless 
 Smith & Wesson self-cocker. In fact, 
 Capt. Harry Jackson says Mr. Calhoun 
 not only never used one before but 
 had never had one in his hands, and 
 as for himself, he never saw one until 
 yesterday on the grounds. Capt. Jack- 
 son at first protested against the 
 weapons, but Mr. Calhoun said he was 
 perfectly willing to use them. Mr. 
 Calhoun is a dead shot, and while he 
 might have shot to kill, it struck me 
 otherwise. 
 
 After the first shots and when the 
 colloquy ensued, Mr. Calhoun simply 
 held Mr. Williamson's life in his hands. 
 He could have killed him at any mo- 
 ment, and it would have been perfectly 
 justifiable under the code. Whether 
 he ever had any idea of shooting again 
 is the question. No one knew then 
 and perhaps no one knows now. Mr. 
 Williamson's cool bravery in telling 
 him to "shoot your remaining four 
 halls and then we will load and shoot 
 again," folding his arnts and standing 
 erect to receive the balls, was an ex- 
 hibition of courage that gained for him 
 the admiration of everyone on the field. 
 Mr. Calhoun's action in firing liis four 
 l)alls into the air was magnanimous 
 and a clear exhibition of the manhood 
 of the man.
 
 338 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 When Mr. King started to approach 
 Mr. Williamson during the colloquy 
 and Capt. Jackson leveled his revolver 
 and cried "Hold your position; if you 
 approach I will kill you!" — the scene 
 was dramatic beyond description. 
 
 There were on the field besides the 
 principals and the seconds the two sur- 
 geons, Dr. Cooper and Dr. Battey, Col. 
 John J. Seay, of Rome; Mr. Dozier, 
 The Constitution's engineer; John G. 
 Taylor, of The Rome Tribune, and Mr. 
 Bruffey and myself. 
 
 Everyone thought Mr. King was 
 armed, and expecting a general shoot- 
 ing, there was somewhat of a scram- 
 ble among the spectators. Bruffey 
 dropped on the ground behind a stump ; 
 the others drew back in the woods, and 
 I sought shelter of a pine sapling the 
 size of my arm to the immediate right 
 of Capt. Jackson. 
 
 As a scene for a wild and pictur- 
 esque duel no more strange spot could 
 have been selected than in that small 
 clearing in a clump of woods. It was 
 not more than 75 feet square and was 
 covered with a growth of scrubby 
 bushes. On three sides were great tall 
 trees underneath which was a dense 
 undergrowth. On the fourth side was 
 the railroad track with The Constitu- 
 tion engine and Mr. Williamson's car, 
 containing Judge Tompkins and Mr. 
 W. B. Lowe, both of whom Capt. Jack- 
 son refused to allow on the field. 
 
 With the puffing engine, the dimly- 
 lighted car, the group in the clearing- 
 surrounded by the great, tall trees in 
 the gathering shadows, the scene was 
 a weird one. Then the reports of the 
 pistols, the flames from their muzzles, 
 — next the silence, the colloquy, the 
 four shots in the air, the frightened 
 owls hooting and moaning in the dis- 
 tance — it was a queer, a picturesque, 
 a strange, a grand picture. 
 
 BruflFey was twice the hero of the 
 day. Once when he shot his little fin- 
 ger off. Again at Cedar Bluff. 
 
 The special engine and the car bear- 
 ing Mr. Williamson and party and the 
 train with Mr. Calhoun and Capt. 
 Jackson arrived in Cedar Bluff at the 
 same minute. A big, black-bearded 
 sheriff with a pistol in one hand, a 
 telegram in the other, followed by a 
 posse of five armed men, jumped on 
 the platform of Mr. Williamson's car. 
 
 "I want Williamson," he gruffly 
 cried to Mr. King. 
 
 "I don't know anything about him," 
 Mr. King replied. Then pointing to 
 Mr. Calhoun and Capt. Jackson, who 
 
 had gotten off their train, "That might 
 be him." 
 
 The sheriff immediately ran toward 
 them and grabbed Mr. Calhoun's arm. 
 
 "You are Williamson; I arrest you!" 
 
 But Col. Seay told the sheriff he was 
 mistaken, and got him away. Then 
 Bruffey whispered to me, "You cover 
 all this. I am going to be arrested 
 and go to jail, and it won't be the 
 first time, either." 
 
 Then he said to the sheriff, "Mr. 
 Sheriff, I am Pat Calhoun, but you 
 can't take me." 
 
 In a second the cold muzzle of a 
 pistol was against Bruffey's temple. 
 "We'll see!" cried the sheriff, jerking 
 his arm and lifting him off his crutches. 
 
 "Well, what are you going to do with 
 me?" 
 
 Then Capt. Jackson spoke up and 
 said to Mr. Bruffey, "Pat, you will 
 find your passes in my valise." 
 
 "Here," said the sheriff, "this man 
 must be identified." To the crowd, 
 "Is this Mr. Calhoun?" 
 
 Then some smart Aleck who had 
 been on the train spoke up and said, 
 "No, sir, that ain't him. He's a big- 
 ger man and ain't got no crutches." 
 
 The sheriff said in disgust: "You're 
 damned smart, ain't you?" as he re- 
 leased the badly-bunged-up scribe. 
 
 But Bruffey's game gave Mr. Cal- 
 houn and Mr. Williamson time to hide 
 in the cars and get off. Without it 
 there would have been no duel. 
 
 One of the bravest men I ever saw 
 was Mr. Dozier, The Constitution's 
 engineer. He runs a dummy on Col. 
 Seay's line in Rome, and through Col. 
 Seay's kindness I was able to secure 
 his services to run the engine I had 
 obtained. At Raynes' Station a party 
 of officers ran up to arrest the crowd. 
 A big fellow with a rifle went toward 
 the engine, to the edge of the cut in 
 which it stood, and leveled his rifle at 
 Mr. Dozier. 
 
 "Stop that train!" he commanded. 
 
 "Not today, thanks," answered Do- 
 zier, as with a wave of his hand he 
 threw the throttle wide open, without 
 even dodging. 
 
 The officer did not shoot and the 
 train moved off. 
 
 Col. John J. Seay and Dr. J. B. S. 
 Holmes, of Rome, are trumps. Rush- 
 ing back to Rome after being put off 
 Mr. Williamson's car in the woods, I 
 went imanediately to Dr. Holmes' of- 
 fice to telephone General Manager
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 339 
 
 Lawrence, of the Rome & Decatur, to 
 have an engine ready for me imme- 
 diately. Mr. Lawrence replied he had 
 only one engine and no engineer who 
 had ever been over his road. I could 
 have it if he had an engineer, but 
 without one it was impossible. 
 
 Dr. Holmes went to the phone and 
 said: "Lawrence, he must have an 
 engine. Arrange it, please, if not for 
 The Constitution, for me." 
 
 I left in search of an engineer while 
 Dr. Holmes was talking. I met Col. 
 Seay and told him I must have an 
 engineer at any cost. 
 
 "That's just what I have and you 
 shall have him. Here he comes in a 
 dummy now, and he knows the road, 
 too." 
 
 "Bring him out to the Rome and De- 
 catur, quick," I replied. 
 
 Then I drove out to the depot, told 
 Mr. Lawrence I had a man, secured a 
 fireman as Mr. Lawrence went to his 
 ofRce to write instructions for the en- 
 gineer. Mr. Seay and Engineer Dozier 
 arrived, jumped in the engine, threw 
 the throttle wide open and we were off 
 running wildly down the track with- 
 out orders or instructions, but fortu- 
 nately, the track was clear and we 
 got through safely. 
 
 Catching Mr. Williamson's engine 
 and car which were side-tracked at the 
 junction and were not able to move 
 without a pilot, I offered them our 
 pilot, provided we were taken aboard 
 their car, with the understanding that 
 that engine was to pull the car and 
 ours to follow. They had no alterna- 
 tive. It was take us aboard or not 
 get to the dueling grounds on time. 
 They accepted the offer with thanks, 
 but just then the sheriff appeared. We 
 took Mr. Williamson and Mr. King on 
 our engine and were off. Their en- 
 gine and car followed. 
 
 The remainder of the story was told 
 yesterday. 
 
 E. W. BARRETT. 
 
 The Constitution added the following 
 details : 
 
 The Calhoun-Williamson duel was 
 the one thing discussed in the hotel 
 corridors, private parlors and on the 
 streets yesterday from dawn to dark. 
 Minute details of the fight were in 
 great demand. The Constitution's 
 magnificent and complete work ex- 
 cited the admiration of everybody, and 
 the issue of the paper was exhausted 
 long before the noon hour. Twice the 
 edition could have been sold. 
 
 On Friday last, when the trouble 
 then pending between the gentlemen 
 became known, members of The Con- 
 stitution staff were instructed to watch 
 it closely and to shadow the gentlemen 
 connected with it until the conclusion 
 was reached. Their work in yester- 
 day's edition shows how faithfully they 
 carried out their orders. Mr. iE. W. 
 Barrett was assigned to the William- 
 son pai-ty. Mr. Edward C. Bruffey 
 was put on the Calhoun party. 
 
 This was Friday afternoon about 
 half past 4 o'clock. The Kimball 
 House was then the battlefield and 
 the two reporters hung closely around 
 with ears and eyes open, never leav- 
 ing the hotel except to follow either 
 Mr. Williamson or Mr. Calhoun. The 
 work was slow, but it was interesting. 
 
 Late Friday night it became appar- 
 ent to those who were conversant with 
 the latest work that the gentlemen 
 were preparing to leave the city. About 
 half past 10 o'clock Capt. Jackson en- 
 tered the Kimball and went up the 
 elevator. In a few minutes he came 
 down and walked hurriedly out the 
 Wall Street entrance with his shadow 
 close behind him. At the Union Depot 
 he entered a cab and was driven rap- 
 idly to his residence. A cab followed 
 closely behind. 
 
 Capt. Jackson remained at his resi- 
 dence about 10 minutes, and came out 
 carrying a small satchel. He then 
 re-entered the cab and was driven to 
 the Union Depot. Stopping at the 
 eastern end, he was joined by Mr. Cal- 
 houn, who was awaiting him. Together 
 the two gentlemen entered a Mann car 
 and went to a section which had been 
 reserved for them. Mr. Bruffey was 
 on the same train when it pulled out. 
 
 No one knew whither the gentlemen 
 were bound, and a careful watch was 
 necessary to prevent a loss. At every 
 station the front and rear entrances 
 had to be watched, and when Captain 
 Jackson emerged from the section at 
 Anniston, followed by Mr. Calhoun, his 
 shadow made himself scarce. Capt. 
 Jackson passed within three feet of 
 Mr. Bruffey in leaving the car, without 
 knowing it". From that time on it was 
 a game of hide and seek. No two gen- 
 tlemen ever tried harder to evade 
 friends and avoid observation than 
 Capt. Jackson and Mr. Calhoun, and 
 the watch kept upon them was hard 
 work. But Mr. Bruffey was eciual to 
 the task, and when the fight came off 
 he was on hand to see it. 
 
 Mr. Barrett was not long in ascer- 
 taining that the Calhoun party had
 
 340 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 ROME'S HISTORIC CLOCK TOWER, AND OTHER SCENES 
 
 bvTIl^i^r "' ^^^ tower is the highest point in downtown Rome, and it has often been sought 
 by romantic young people who wanted to get married in an unusual way. Other vieJr on this 
 page include the office of the Howel Cotton Co the iail the N C X, it y^ !V, ^' ,* °" ^n'j 
 station (in oval), the City Hall Park bandst^n/a^V^varit^ '"machi^es^^fo^lo^oroVion'^"'''"^'
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 341 
 
 left the city and with renewed intei-- 
 est and increased watchfulness linger- 
 ed about the Kimball, all night long. 
 About 6 the next morning Mr. Wil- 
 liamson left his room, closely followed 
 by Mr. Barrett. The gentleman and 
 his friend walked to the Union Depot 
 and boarded a Western & Atlantic 
 train, Mr. Barrett within reach. At 
 Kingston, where Mr. Williamson's pri- 
 vate car was awaiting him, Mr. Bar- 
 rett's presence was detected, and an 
 attempt was made to give him the 
 shake. But he would not have it, and 
 accepting a seat upon the front plat- 
 form, made his way into Rome. Outside 
 of Rome, on the Rome and Decatur 
 road, Mr. Barrett was made to leave 
 the train. He felt knocked out, but 
 not defeated. Hurrying back to Rome 
 he sought Mr. Lawrence, superintend- 
 ent of the Rome & Decatur, and char- 
 tered a special engine. But Mr. Law- 
 rence could not furnish an engineer. 
 Then Mr. Barrett "bought" one off a 
 dummy line and in a short time over- 
 took Mr. Williamson's private car. The 
 car was standing upon a side-track and 
 could not move. Mr. Williamson's en- 
 gineer had never been over the road 
 and the superintendent would not per- 
 mit the train to move under a man un- 
 acquainted with the line. 
 
 Mr. Barrett's engineer, however, 
 knew the road. When he pulled out 
 of Rome, Mr. Barrett was in a hurry, 
 and ordered the engineer to turn the 
 machine loose. By those who were on 
 the engine the ride was described as 
 having been wild, reckless and dan- 
 gerous. But Mr. Barrett was willing 
 to take all chances. Realizing that 
 Mr. Williamson could never reach the 
 field without his help, Mr. Barrett ap- 
 proached Judge Tompkins, saying: 
 
 "You cannot get there without my 
 assistance. Now, if you want to fight 
 that duel, I will take you to the grounds 
 upon one condition." 
 
 "What is it?" asked tlie judge. 
 
 "Give me and my party seats in 
 your car." 
 
 Judge Tompkins did so and Mr. Bar- 
 rett was at the fight. 
 
 The last line of the duel heading in 
 yesterday's Constitution, stating that 
 Mr. Williamson makes retraction, con- 
 veyed a wrong idea. The fact was 
 that Mr. Williamson withdrew his re- 
 mai'ks when Mr. Calhoun stated that 
 in his statements before the legisla- 
 tive committee Mr. Williamson per- 
 sonally did not enter his mind. 
 
 Capt. Jackson explained as follows 
 to the editor of The Constitution under 
 date of Aug. 11 : 
 
 "In your issue of yesterday, under 
 the heading "To Meet in Alabama," 
 appears this language: 
 
 " 'Capt. Jackson carried with him 
 a pair of dueling pistols which were 
 believed by those who saw them to in- 
 dicate that the worst is anticipated.' 
 
 "Your reporter is mistaken. I did 
 not carry with me a pair of dueling 
 pistols. I have never had a pair of 
 dueling pistols in my hand, and have 
 never seen but one pair in my life. 
 
 "In the report in your issue of today 
 there are some inaccuracies in mat- 
 ters of detail which I do not deeni it 
 necessary to correct. Reference to the 
 dueling pistols is made only because 
 I wish to correct the public impres- 
 sion that I am supplied with such 
 weapons. My connection with these 
 matters has always been in the inter- 
 est of peace and humanity. Though 
 sometimes necessary to prevent certain 
 bloodshed, duels are always to be de- 
 plored by no one more than yours, 
 
 "HENRY JACKSON." 
 
 Under the caption "Hardly Fair to 
 the Duellists," John Temple Graves 
 commented as follows in The Tribune 
 of Rome : 
 
 The idea is prevalent that public 
 opinion is generally right, and this 
 view has some foundation in fact; but 
 a certain public opinion which has of 
 li;te been expressed through the col- 
 umns of the daily press must be noted 
 as an exception to the rule. 
 
 There are few newspapers in this 
 country that believe in dueling, and 
 The Tribune is not one of them. It is 
 a practice which few people can con- 
 template in the abstract with approval, 
 but it appears to us that the daily 
 press, in its eagerness to condemn the 
 l)ractice, has done serious injustice both 
 to the courage and the character of 
 two brave and honorable gentlemen, 
 and has failed to give proper emphasis 
 to one of the few i-eally noble episodes 
 that ever occurred in a duel in the 
 South. 
 
 The writer of his personal knowl- 
 edge has been aware for many years 
 that Pat Calhoun was one of the cool- 
 est and bravest men that this country 
 has produced. There have been few 
 Americans possessed of more unques- 
 tioned nerve and coolness, and these 
 qualities, rising higher than a mere ab- 
 sence of fear and indifference to dan-
 
 342 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 ger, are born of a loftiness of pur- 
 pose and a devotion to interest which 
 completely dominate the mere issues 
 to person and to life. In this view, 
 Mr. Calhoun is a man of phenomenal 
 loftiness and self-abnegation in dan- 
 ger, and this statement did not need the 
 episode in Alabama to prove it, but 
 has been tested upon other occasions 
 of equal trial, and is characteristic 
 of a family of brothers whose history 
 and i-ecord, if told to the world, would 
 read like a romance of daring and 
 manly resolution. 
 
 Without knowing anything further 
 of Mr. Williamson than the report of 
 the duel which reliable witnesses have 
 given to the newspapers, The Tribune 
 has expressed its opinion of his cour- 
 age and resolution in similar terms; 
 but if one should found his opinion 
 of these gentlemen upon the current 
 comments of the newspapers, he would 
 believe that they were both cowardly 
 in their natures and fraudulent in 
 their effort to palm themselves off as 
 brave men before the public. 
 
 There were just three things that 
 any thoughtful and truthful man 
 ought to realize in the attitude of Mr. 
 Calhoun upon the field of combat. In 
 the first place, if fear had silenced his 
 weapon when Mr. Williamson began 
 to shoot, it is scarcely probable that 
 he could have recovered his equanimity 
 in time to address such calm, tran- 
 quil and commanding words to the ad- 
 versary who confronted him. Mr. Cal- 
 houn's character and record justify 
 the view that he was a man who, with 
 his adversary's life in his hands, hes- 
 itated to make the sacrifice upon a 
 misunderstandjng, and that his hu- 
 manity triumphed over his indignation 
 and vengeance and he parleyed for 
 the life that he had a right, under the 
 code, to destroy. 
 
 An even stronger view is in the fact 
 that Mr. Calhoun endeavored to estab- 
 lish before that duel terminated the 
 truth of the assertions which he had 
 made before the legislative committee, 
 and endeavored to fix upon the records 
 that would go from that battleground 
 the correctness of his position and the 
 argument he had sought to make for 
 the cause. And this view is also sus- 
 tained in the minds of those who know 
 him by the knowledge of his absolute 
 and self-sacrificing devotion to all the 
 great interests that he has from time 
 to time represented. A third view, also 
 probable to those who know the nature 
 of the man, was that Mr. Calhoun hav- 
 ing coolly received the fire of a cour- 
 ageous antagonist, determined, with 
 
 his own life safe, to seek a nobler re- 
 venge in sparing the life that he had 
 a technical right to take, and to give 
 back to the man whom he thought had 
 insulted him the life which might be 
 spent in usefulness hereafter. 
 
 The Tribune, that has something 
 more than a casual acquaintance with 
 these parties, believes that either one 
 of these views might have actuated 
 Mr. Calhoun, and that all of them did 
 actuate him as he stood there upon 
 this famous field of honor. 
 
 Moreover, while it does not approve 
 of duelling, this paper is frank to ex- 
 press the belief that a more genuine, 
 honorable and bona fide duel was never 
 fought by brave men with better faith, 
 or terminated in higher honor than 
 this. 
 
 THE VERDERYS AT CASS- 
 VILLE.— Mrs. Susan Verdery Prath- 
 er, of Atlanta, tells in the following- 
 manner the touching story of how 
 Thos. J. Verdery, her brother, and 
 other members of the family happened 
 to be buried at Cassville, Bartow Coun- 
 ty, once a flourishing town, now little 
 more than a memory : 
 
 "My sister, Mary Verderv, married 
 Col. Warren Akin in 1849 ^at 'Chief- 
 tain's,' on the Oostanaula River, near 
 Rome. He was a widower, his first 
 wife having been Miss Eliza Hooper, 
 daughter of Judge Jno. W. Hooper. 
 When Miss Eliza died, a year after 
 their marriage, she was buried in the 
 cemetery at Cassville. In the early 
 fifties, Col. Akin built a home in the 
 suburbs of Cassville. Two colleges, 
 the Cassville Female College, built by 
 the Methodists, for young women, and 
 the Cherokee Baptist College, built by 
 the Baptists, for the young men, were 
 situated on either side of his handsome 
 home. 
 
 "Col. Akin was 36 years old when he 
 married my sister Mary, just turned 
 18 years. He was a kind brother and 
 son-in-law, and was devoted to the Ver- 
 derys. After Brother Thomas was 
 killed at Fredericksburg, Va., in 1862, 
 Col. Akin insisted that he be buried 
 at Cassville, and this was done. Dur- 
 ing the war the Yankees burned the 
 colleges and Col. Akin's home. They 
 took special delight in destroying the 
 Akin place because Col. Akin was a 
 member of the Confederate Congress; 
 he had refugeed to Oxford, and later 
 to Elberton. After the war. Col. Akin 
 built a home in Cartersville, near Cass- 
 ville, and resided there. My mother 
 was visiting the Akins when she died,
 
 Anecdotes and Reminsicences 
 
 343 
 
 and since she had expressed the wish 
 that she should rest beside Brother 
 George, her wish was complied with. 
 
 "Three years later — in 1875 — when 
 my father, Augustus N. Verdery, and 
 his sister, Mrs. Pleasant Stovall, of 
 Athens and later Augusta, were living 
 with us in Atlanta, they went to visit 
 the Akins. My father died there and 
 was buried beside my mother and my 
 brother. My aunt, Mrs. Stovall, lived 
 with us some years longer, and before 
 she died said, 'Please bury me by my 
 dear brother Augustus.' She was laid 
 at rest beside him. My sister, Vir- 
 ginia (Mrs. Dr. Hezekiah Witcher, of 
 Cedartown), who died in 1900, and 
 Oriana were buried with the family 
 at Cassville in accordance with their 
 requests." 
 
 JUDGE WRIGHT AND COL. 
 SHORTER'S COTTON.— Partners of- 
 ten fall out and go their respective 
 ways thereafter. In ante-bellum days 
 Judge Augustus R. Wright and Col. 
 Alfred Shorter owned the bridges of 
 Rome, and charged folks to cross them. 
 An estrangement developed between 
 the two men, and at a speech in Cedar- 
 town, Judge Wright paid his respects 
 to his former associate by declaring, 
 "Alfred Shorter shears his sheep and 
 turns them out to grow more wool." 
 
 The break did not come until after 
 the war, for we find these old Romans 
 in substantial agi-eement on business 
 matters during the conflict. Col. 
 Shorter owned fertile farms in Ala- 
 bama, Mississippi and Georgia, con- 
 ducted several mercantile establish- 
 ments, and each year grew better off 
 than the year before. He had no time 
 to waste, no bump of folly, no extrav- 
 agances, few luxuries ; he had plenty 
 of time for business, plenty of money 
 for education and charity, lots of de- 
 sire to listen to hard common sense. 
 He could see an advantage or a disad- 
 vantage in a trade in a minute, and 
 was extremely cautious about going 
 into enterprises; but once he was in, 
 he put forward all his energies until 
 success was assured. It has been said 
 that the only m.an who ever worsted 
 Col. Shorter in any kind of a large 
 business transaction was Judge 
 Wright. 
 
 Col. Shorter was above age (58) 
 when the Civil War broke out; he 
 made arrangements to help the Con- 
 federacy financially, and in the darker 
 days just prior to the occupation of 
 Rome in 1864 by the Union army, 
 refugeed to a safer place in Thomas 
 
 County. Naturally he couldn't carry 
 his cotton with him, nor did he have 
 time to dispose of it. Judge Wright 
 was in the Confederate Congress, help- 
 ing in an executive capacity to direct 
 the war. The judge crossed the Po- 
 tomac from Richmond on some kind 
 of a pass and laid before President 
 Lincoln the question of Col. Shorter's 
 cotton and Southern cotton in 
 general, saying he wanted to save 
 as much of it as possible from 
 destruction by the Yankee army. Mr. 
 Lincoln was deeply moved and gave 
 Judge Wright a pass back through the 
 lines, but said in effect: "I am sorry 
 I can't furnish you men to transport 
 it, but if you can arrange that detail, 
 I will probably be looking the other 
 way." 
 
 Judge Wright had access to Rome 
 and Col. Shorter's cotton. Alexander 
 Thornton Harper, of Cave Spring, had 
 made "contact" with the latter through 
 the trust Col. Shorter reposed in him. 
 The authority to dispose of the cotton 
 was somewhat in doubt, but it was 
 war times, and Judge Wright took 
 the bull by the horns. Sherman was 
 fast swooping down upon Rome with 
 an appetite for material things, so 
 Judge Wright loaded the cotton on 
 freight cars, clambered aboard and 
 set out for Savannah or other con- 
 venient mart, and there disposed of it 
 on a "commission" basis. 
 
 Cotton was extremely valuable then, 
 worth nearly a dollar a pound, and 
 it was said Col. Shorter's lot brought 
 around $50,000. Judge Joel Branham 
 was authority for the statement that 
 Judge Wright was twitted about Col. 
 Shorter's cotton in a post-bellum po- 
 litical campaign, and with characteris- 
 tic directness replied. "Well, if I did 
 steal Shorter's cotton, I left him 
 enough to go on!" 
 
 Col. Shorter was satisfied that he 
 got anvthing at all, for otherwise the 
 cotton "would have been appropriated 
 by the Yankee army to turn against 
 the South, and he is said to have re- 
 marked that under ordinary conditions 
 neither Judge Wright nor any other 
 man could do him up in a deal, and 
 if Judge Wright would continue to 
 transact business with him in peace 
 times, he would consider the associa- 
 tion highly desirable. 
 
 :|: :••= * 
 
 THE TRAGIC DEATH OF VON 
 GAMMON. — Few events have touched 
 more profoundly the hearts of Ro- 
 mans than the death of Von Albade
 
 344 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Gammon^'^ following- a football game 
 played at Brisbine Park, Atlanta, Sat- 
 urday, Oct. ;50, 1897, between the Uni- 
 versity of Virginia and the University 
 of Georgia teams. 
 
 Von Gammon was born Dec. 4, 1879, 
 at Rome. His paternal grandfather 
 was Col. Wm. Gamble Gammon, Ten- 
 nessee farmer and banker, who died in 
 1895 at Rome and was there buried. 
 His maternal grandfather was Maj. 
 Jno. T. Burns, State Attorney General 
 in 1869, who moved to Texas. His 
 father was Jno. Aiken Gammon, Rome 
 clothing merchant, and his mother was 
 Rosalind Burns. An uncle was Wm. 
 Melville Gammon, the first chairman 
 in 1916 of the city commission. His 
 older brother, E. Montague Gammon, 
 was for several years principal of the 
 Rome City Schools, and is now teach- 
 ing at Savannah. Wm. G. Gammon, a 
 younger brother, was killed more than 
 20 years ago at Cartersville after 
 playing a game of baseball with the 
 Rome team, by falling under a freight 
 train. Will lies buried in Myrtle Hill, 
 Rome, by the side of Von. 
 
 The Gammon home was a comfort- 
 able two-story frame structure at 420 
 Third Avenue, one block west of the 
 Etowah river and a wash-hole which 
 drew the Gammon boys and their 
 young friends like a magnet. The home 
 was on the upper edge of a lot that 
 extended about 100 feet below the 
 dwelling to the old Rome railroad 
 tracks, and to the rear 300 feet to an 
 alley. At the lower corner front, un- 
 der a large sycamore tree, were two 
 parallel tennis couits, which were al- 
 ways full of players, and at the upper 
 side was a green-carpeted bank which 
 held the "audience." Nearby was a 
 grassy spot where the boys tried their 
 skill at wrestling, French and Amer- 
 ican style. Of his age. Von Gammon 
 was the best wrestler; in fact, he was 
 best at everything he tried — a typical 
 young Greek god, and admired ex- 
 travagantly as such without an ex- 
 ception anywhere. "Ros," his young- 
 est brother, sometimes known in fun 
 by the nickname of the "Polk County 
 one-eyed giant," was the best wrestler 
 in his class, and game little Hunter 
 McCIure was not far behind him. 
 
 The parents of the Gammon boys 
 provided them with the latest things 
 in the athletic line. On the back porch 
 were the parallel bars and the punch- 
 ing bag and boxing gloves; a down- 
 stairs locker kept skates, baseballs, 
 bats and mitts, football togs and bath- 
 ing suits, tennis racquets, etc. ; and 
 
 any boy who came without his own 
 could dig into the Gammon collection 
 and have what was there. In the back 
 yard was the high-jumping and pole- 
 vaulting apparatus, and nearby could 
 be found the 16-pound shot which 
 Von and "Monty" used regularly in 
 practice. In the barn was located the 
 flying trapeze for wet weather use. 
 Once a year the barn was cleaned out, 
 the boys of the neighborhood brought 
 their shinny sticks, moved bales of hay 
 and sacks of feed, and mowed down 
 rats. In 1896 they killed 40-odd in 
 15 minutes. 
 
 The favorite game for the crowd 
 was shinny, the forerunner of hockey 
 and golf. Two sides tried to knock 
 a wooden block through goals with 
 wooden sticks. This game was played 
 in a vacant lot near the Gammon 
 place, across the railroad. Occasion- 
 ally the tennis courts were cleared 
 and all engaged in the games of "foot- 
 and-a-half," "follow-the-leader" and 
 "stinga-ma-ree." The grand climax 
 came in two ways. Somebody would 
 yell, "Let's go in washin'!" That was 
 enough to break up any game except 
 the one Mrs. Gammon favored, ex- 
 pressed in this query as she appeared 
 at the end of the porch : 
 
 "Boys, do any of you eat pineapple 
 sherbet?" 
 
 Yum, yum — what good frozen things 
 Mrs. Gammon did make, and nearly 
 every time chocolate or cocoanut cake 
 went with it ! Truly, the Gammon 
 place was the "honey pot" for the boys 
 of Rome. The East Rome gang came 
 occasionally, the Uptown gang, the 
 South Rome gang and the West Rome 
 gang; but the Downtown gang lived 
 there, almost. The "mascots" of the 
 Downtown gang were Archie McClure 
 and Sam (Robt.) Maddox. Among the 
 members were Walter, Wade and 
 James Cothran; Barry and Laurie 
 Cothran, Bob Harper, "Pat" Cline, 
 Jim Jones, Ed., Linton, Dick, Frank 
 and Jim ("Skinny") Maddox, Glover, 
 Pierce, Ralph, Morgan and Frank Mc- 
 Ghee, Carl Yeiser, Millard Parrish, 
 Marshall Scott, Linton and James 
 Vandiver, Ralph Carver, Claire J. 
 Wyatt, Mayfield and Wm. Wimberly, 
 Tom Quinn, Manning Marshall, Donny 
 Hancock, Joel B. Peniston, Will Hoyt, 
 George Pitner, Lindley and Hunter 
 McClure, Wurts, Langdon and Hal 
 Bowie, Cliff Seay, Claude and Johnny 
 Saunders, Muff. Rob and Fox Word, 
 George, Roy and Rob Rounsavillej 
 
 *He was christened thus and the name ap- 
 pears on his headstone, but he preferred to 
 call himself Richard Von Gammon.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 345 
 
 Will, Joe and Duke Fahy, Arthur and 
 Boiling Sullivan. 
 
 If other parents wanted to get rid 
 of their boys, Mrs. Gammon was al- 
 ways glad to "mother" them. She was 
 a tall lady with a fine head of auburn 
 hair, a most kindly smile, a fine sense 
 of humor and a whole-soulness that 
 made her a friend to every boy. On 
 her lawn and under her watchful eye 
 a splendid spirit of sportsmanship and 
 play was developed; and in a large de- 
 gree she was responsible for the spirit 
 that Rom,ans have shown in the years 
 that have followed. She urged her 
 boys to do their best, no matter the 
 consequences, and on every athletic 
 field they excelled. "Monty" was 
 known as the "strong man" of Rome. 
 Some six feet six inches tall, he could 
 throw the hammer or put the shot far- 
 ther than anybody in town. At the 
 North Rome Park field day in 1895 
 or 1896 he threw the hammer so far 
 that it hit Capt. J. W. Ewing between 
 the shoulders. Capt. Ewing was car- 
 ried from the field in a cab, but soon 
 recovered. Von exhibited his strength 
 that day by lying on his back and 
 lifting "Monty" (feet in hands) en- 
 tirely off the ground. 
 
 Many a boy now a man remembers 
 how "Monty" and Von took him in 
 their arms, standing six feet apart, 
 and tossed him from one to the other 
 through the air, caught him safely 
 and flung him back and forth. Von 
 was of such heroic build and nature 
 that many held it the highest privi- 
 lege to stand in his presence, that they 
 might do his bidding, or simply be 
 free to admire his noble qualities. He 
 never smoked, drank, cursed or got out 
 of humor; he never lorded it over a 
 boy of weaker build or took advantage 
 of a fallen foe; his parents were in 
 comfortable circumstances, but not 
 wealthy, hence he was not proud of 
 purse, nor would all the money in the 
 world have changed him from the 
 manly boy that he was. 
 
 Bicycling having been taken up en- 
 thusiastically by the young people of 
 both sexes, a racing club of amateurs 
 was formed at Rome, and it included 
 Von Gammon, Frank Bowie, Will Fahy 
 and others. Von got away with the 
 most prizes. That was in 1896 and 
 the summer of 1897. On August 24, 
 1897, Von was due to have raced with 
 the amateurs in Atlanta, but hurt his 
 leg in practice and was unable to com- 
 pete. R. D. Jackson won. In the pro- 
 fessional class, Bobby Walthour, later 
 national champion, defeated Anderson, 
 and M. A. Elliott won the mile han- 
 
 dicap in 2:07 1-5. The Rome Tribune 
 of Friday, Oct. 1, 1897, reported: "Mr. 
 Von Gammon left yesterday afternoon 
 to enter the University. lie will go 
 into training for the football team and 
 will add great strength to it." 
 
 The year before, in the fall of 1896, 
 Von had entered the freshman class at 
 the University of Georgia, Athens, and 
 had made the football team as quar- 
 terback. He was regarded as one of 
 the University's most promising ath- 
 letes. In the autumn of 1897, W. Rey- 
 nolds Tichenor, who had played quar- 
 terback at Auburn the year before, 
 entered Georgia. "Tick" was so small 
 he could play quarter only, and Von's 
 driving power was needed at fullback. 
 
 VON ALBADE GAMMON, who died Sunday. 
 Oct. 31, 1897, from injuries received Oct. 
 'M) in a GeorKia-Virginia football game in 
 Atlanta.
 
 346 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 so this change was made, and they 
 were playing those positions when Von 
 met his death. "Tick," now an attor- 
 ney in Atlanta, and for m.any years a 
 football referee, states that Virginia 
 had scored 11 points and Georgia 4 
 when the accident happened. Virginia 
 had the ball, and sent a mass play 
 over Georgia's left tackle. Von was 
 playing behind the line, and he went 
 under the play like he had been thrown 
 from a catapult. When the players 
 had been disentaglcd. Von was uncon- 
 scious, and a substitute slipped upon 
 him "Tick's" Auburn sweater. Miss 
 Mary Connally, now Mrs. John Spald- 
 ing, sent him a carriage blanket. He 
 was taken from the field to the Grady 
 Hospital, where he lingered 11 hours, 
 and died at 3:45 a. m., Sunday, Oc- 
 
 The game went on; Geo. Price* was 
 shifted from right guard to fullback, 
 and S. Ed. Bayless, of Kingston, placed 
 at right guard. Virginia won it by 
 the score of 17 to 4. After the game 
 the Georgia players realized the con- 
 dition of their comrade, and among a 
 few of the alumni and supporters the 
 cry of foul play was heard; a small 
 crowd went to the Virginia hotel 
 headquarters inquiring, "Where's Col- 
 lier; we want Collier!" 
 
 Such an imputation, according to 
 Mr. Tichenor, was entirely unjust. 
 There was no foul play; the field was 
 hard and it is likely that Von's head 
 hit the sun-baked clay as he fell un- 
 der the struggling players, or it may 
 have been that his head was kicked 
 by somebody's shoe, just as likely by 
 one of his own teammates. Tichenor 
 also received injuries which necessi- 
 tated his removal. 
 
 The diagnosis of the doctors showed 
 a fractured skull and concussion of the 
 brain in the case of Von Gammon. 
 He died at 18 years, in the flush of 
 young manhood, and mourned by every- 
 body. His father was with him a few 
 minutes before the end, and his Spar- 
 tan mother arrived shortly afterward. 
 
 Seldom had news cast such a pall 
 over Rome. The word was received 
 as the good people were on the eve 
 of entering the churches for their de- 
 votional services, and the announce- 
 ment was made from the pulpits. 
 James Cothran carried the sad intel- 
 ligence to the central church neigh- 
 borhood and broke it to Von's sweet- 
 heart, who expressed her great grief 
 through her tears. The body was re- 
 moved to the residence at 4:55 p. m., 
 Sunday, where many friends gazed for 
 the last time on the fine features of 
 their hero; then the funeral was held 
 
 at 11 o'clock Monday morning, Nov. 
 1, 1897, from the First Presbyterian 
 Church, the pastor, the Rev. Geo. T. 
 Goetchius, officiating, assisted by the 
 Rev. S. R. Belk, pastor of the First 
 Methodist Church, and the interment 
 was in the Branham addition of Myr- 
 tle Hill cemetery. 
 
 A number of college friends accom- 
 panied the body to Rome, and mem- 
 bers of the Bachelors' Club (or Pov- 
 erty Hall Boys) acted as pallbearers 
 between the station and the home, and 
 as honorary pallbearers at the funeral. 
 They sent a beautiful floral wreath, 
 "Gates Ajar," a featui-e of which was 
 a dove of pure white hovering over 
 the lilies. The boys of the Virginia 
 football team also sent a handsome of- 
 fering, and the coffin was transform- 
 ed into a bower of roses, carnations 
 and their accompanying green. Offer- 
 ings came from Atlanta and fi-om the 
 students at Athens and Auburn, Ala. 
 
 The active pallbearers were Edward 
 E. Pomeroy, Sam Carter, Jim Mell 
 and Ed Lyndon, representing the Uni- 
 versity of Georgia; and Walter and 
 Laurie Cothran, Charlie Hill, Reuben 
 Towers, Clifford B. Seay and Boil- 
 ing Sullivan, from Rome. The bal- 
 conies of the famous old church were 
 well filled, as well as the ground floor; 
 a larger crowd had never attended a 
 funeral in Rome, and few eyes were 
 dry at the conclusion. 
 
 Von's teammates, led by the captain, 
 Wm. B. Kent, occupied a pew in the 
 center section near the front. The 
 other players present were J. Threatt 
 Moore, H. S. Walden, Brooks Clark, 
 V. L. Watson and Lawton ("Cow") 
 Nalley. Col. Chas. M. Snelling rep- 
 resented the University faculty. 
 
 Dr. Goetchius was so overcome that 
 he made his remarks very brief; but 
 they expressed the feeling of every 
 sorrowing heart. He had in mind the 
 sad fate of his own son, "Arnie" 
 Goetchius, who a year or two before 
 had been killed when he skated off a 
 balcony, as a student at the Alabama 
 Polytechnic Institute, at Auburn. 
 Misses May and Carrie Clark and 
 Messrs. Horace King and Dick Coth- 
 ran sang "Some Sweet Day." A vast 
 concourse of people rode or trudged 
 to the cemetery. The water sprites 
 of the Etowah, the Oostanaula and 
 the Coosa piped a melancholy requiem 
 far below, and the spirits of his an- 
 cestors and the ancestors of his friends 
 opened up their arms and received 
 
 *Now connected with the insurance office 
 of J. L. Riley & Co. in the Candler tSuUding, 
 Atlanta.
 
 Anecdotes and Remin'scences 
 
 347 
 
 him with a warm embrace as he en- 
 tered their beautiful subterranean re- 
 treat. 
 
 The following- faced each other in 
 the game : 
 
 Georgia — — Virginia 
 
 Clark, A., 1. e Martin, 1. e. 
 
 Walden, 1. t Collier, 1. t. 
 
 Clark, B., 1. g Templeman, 1. g. 
 
 Bond, c Wallace, c. 
 
 Price, r. g Davis, r. g. 
 
 Kent, (Capt.) r. t Marsh, r. t. 
 
 Watson, r. e. Estes, r. e. 
 
 Tichenor, q. b Walsh, q. b. 
 
 Jones, 1. h. b Hill, 1. h. b. 
 
 Moore, r. h. b Carney, r. h. b. 
 
 Gammon, f. b Morrison, (Capt.) f. b. 
 
 According to the Atlanta Constitu- 
 tion of Oct. 31, 1897, Von was injured 
 in the middle of the field, on the left 
 hand side, at the beginning of the sec- 
 ond half. After six and a half min- 
 utes, Hill, of Virginia, scored the first 
 touchdown by bucking a yard. A 
 touchdown counted four and a goal two 
 at that time, and Templeman's goal 
 made the score 6-0 in favor of Vir- 
 ginia. After a punt to near the Vir- 
 ginia line, Morrison punted and the 
 ball hit Walden, of Georgia, in the 
 breast, and rolled back of the line, 
 where Capt. Kent, of Georgia, fell on 
 it for Georgia's only score of the game. 
 Tichenor failed at goal, and the score 
 stood: Virginia, 6; Georgia, 4. From 
 Georgia's 15-yard line Morrison kick- 
 ed a drop-kick goal, which made the 
 score 11-4. The half ended in a few 
 minutes more. In the second half, Hill 
 scored on an end run from the Geor- 
 gia 25-yard line, and Templeman kick- 
 ed goal. There w^as no further scor- 
 ing, and the final was 17-4. After 
 Von's injury, Tichenor retired; he got 
 two hard clouts on the head, and Har- 
 mon Cox took his place and played a 
 good game. Kent made the longest 
 run of the game, 40 yards, on a trick 
 play in the first half. The accounts 
 stated that the play was rough and 
 injuries were frequent; that Georgia 
 played gamely, but was outclassed by 
 the heavy Virginians. 
 
 Georgia's coach was Chas. Hallan 
 McCarthy, old Brown fullback and 
 now a college pi'ofessor residing at 
 Brookland, D. C. Glenn Warner, later 
 Carlisle Indian school coach, had 
 coached Georgia and Von (iammon the 
 year before. Hugh Jennings, of 
 Brooklyn's ball club, later of Detroit, 
 was coach of the baseball team. Frank 
 R. Mitchell was manager. A Mr. 
 Izard was referee for the Virginia- 
 Georgia game, and Wm. Martin Wil- 
 
 liams, "Tick's" Auburn roommate and 
 Commissioner of Internal Revenue un- 
 der appointment by Woodrow Wilson, 
 was umpire. Hatton Lovejoy, of Geor- 
 gia, and a Mr. Smith were lines- 
 men, and Fred Morton, of Athens, 
 timekeeper. Dr. Bizzell, of Atlanta, 
 and Dr. Samuel C. Benedict, of Ath- 
 ens, attended Von on the field, and 
 Dr. William Perrin Nicolson attended 
 him at the Grady Hospital. 
 
 Georgia's sponsors, driven in a car- 
 riage behind four beautiful black 
 horses, were Misses Dee Murphy (Mrs. 
 Boykin Robinson, of New York,' N. Y.) 
 and Leontine Chisholm (Mrs. Walter 
 P. Andrews, of Atlanta), and Vir- 
 ginia's sponsors were Misses Callie 
 Jackson and Catherine Gay (Mrs. In- 
 man Sanders, of Atlanta).' 
 
 The Rome boys in college when Von 
 Gammon met his death were: From 
 the freshman class (1901), Wm. D. 
 Hoyt, Jr., C. P. Morton and Rol)t. 
 Yancey; from the junior class (1899). 
 Laurence A. Cothran and J. Boiling 
 Sullivan; from the .senior class (1898), 
 Eenj. C. Yancey; and from the law 
 class, R. P. White. Von had entered 
 the class of 1900 the year before, but 
 on account of some conditoins and late 
 entry in the fall of 1897 was repeat- 
 ing some of his work and was class- 
 ed with 1901. 
 
 The Rome Daily Argus of Sunday, 
 Nov. 14, printed this from Savannah: 
 
 "Captain Morrison, of the Virginia 
 football team, writes a letter to the 
 Savannah Press in reply to statements 
 of its correspondent that the Virginia 
 men deliberately tried to injure the 
 Georgia players. 
 
 "Capt. Morrison denies this charge 
 and sends extracts from a letter writ- 
 ten to him by Capt. Kent, of Georgia, 
 thanking him for considei-ations shown 
 the memory of Von Gannnon, and 
 .wishing the Virginia team much suc- 
 cess. 
 
 "Morrison says the injuries sustain- 
 ed by Tichenor and Gammon, of the 
 Georgia team, were entirely acciden- 
 tal and deei)ly regretted by the Vir- 
 ginia team." 
 
 Martin V. Bergen, ,Ii-., old Prince- 
 ton player and then coach of Virginia, 
 wrote to a friend in Atlanta under 
 date of Nov. 1, 1897, from ("hai-lottes- 
 ville, Va.: 
 
 "The game was clean, liard played, 
 but yet not a rough, foul game. Our 
 men had been instructed to play fair- 
 ly and did so, and you have my word 
 on the fact that I saw no hitting at
 
 348 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 
 i-.i» 
 
 THE HOME OF VON GAMMON, 420 THIRD AVENUE. 
 
 The Gammon place was the mecca for the young men of Rome, who gathered 
 to test their physical prowess in numerous ways. Tennis, weight exercises, wrestling 
 and boxing were enjoyed here, while at the foot of the avenue was the wash-hole 
 which drew more boys than any in town. 
 
 all, and no kneeing or such work. 
 
 "Gammon was hurt while we had 
 the ball, attempting to make a tackle, 
 which precludes any probability that 
 we were to blame. The play was a 
 straight formation play. 
 
 "We have done all we could to ex- 
 press our regret — sent flowers and 
 messages, and our men are all broken 
 up personally, as I am. 
 
 "I write you this partly because I 
 thought you would like to have my 
 assurances of the character of the 
 game and the absolute absence of 
 either premeditated or actual rough 
 play or intentional injury to men." 
 
 The Georgia team and others dis- 
 banded for the season. In the last 
 session of the Georgia Legislature a 
 bill had been introduced outlawing 
 football, but it had failed of passage. 
 Now a new attempt was made. A 
 legislator said: "The boys at Athens 
 will have to cut their 'wool' and sell 
 the 5-cent cotton out of their pants." 
 The bill would no doubt have been 
 successful but for the intervention of 
 Von Gammon's mother, who stated 
 publicly that a mishap to an individ- 
 ual should not be allowed to cut off 
 the pleasure and profit uf thousand ^ 
 of youths, and she declared to friends 
 that she would sacrifice her other boys, 
 if need be, to the cause of such body- 
 developing and character-building con- 
 
 tests.* The Georgia Legislature had 
 railroaded through an anti-football 
 bill by a vote of 91 to 3, the Senate 
 passed it Nov. 18 by 31 to 4, and it 
 was up for Gov. Wm. Y. Atkinson's 
 signature when Mrs. Gammon wrote 
 the executive a letter which stayed his 
 pen. An Atlanta dispatch to the Rome 
 Tribune of Dec. 9, 1897, said: 
 
 "The bill was passed soon after the 
 killing of young Von Gammon, and 
 the legislators felt that they were 
 avenging his death by so promntl 
 making future accidents of a similar 
 nature impossible. But it turns out 
 that Von Gammon came from a Spar- 
 tan family and that neither his rela- 
 tives nor friends are seeking that sort 
 of vengeance. 
 
 "It is the dead man's own mother 
 who has induced the governor to veto 
 the bill. Mrs. Gammon in her peti- 
 
 *Mrs. Gammon's tenacity of purpose Is il- 
 lustrated by the followinB incident of nearly 20 
 years ago : One of the larg-est and most beau- 
 tiful trees in Rome is an elm which prrows out 
 of the far sidewalk in front of the (iammon 
 home, and also in front of Judge Jno. W. 
 Maddox's abode. A telephone lineman came 
 one day to cut off some limbs to make way 
 for wires. Mrs. Gammon requested him to 
 "spare the tree,"- — it was dear to her boys and 
 everybody in the neighborhood. He said it was 
 necessary to cut the limbs, and went away. 
 When he returned with his saw, he found 
 Mrs. Gammon sitting under the tree in a 
 chair, with a double-barrel shotgun across her 
 lap. The man went away again, and stayea 
 away.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 349 
 
 tion says that football was her son's 
 favorite game, and that if he could 
 be consulted he would join in the re- 
 quest of his fellow students for the 
 veto of the bill. 
 
 "In her letter this heroic mother 
 calls the governor's attention to the 
 fact that two of her sons's school- 
 mates. Will Reynolds and Arnie 
 Goetchius''' have recently met acciden- 
 tal deaths, one by falling over a preci- 
 pice and one by falling down stairs. 
 She asks if it is not equally sensible 
 for the legislature to abolish preci- 
 pices and stairways on account of 
 those deaths as it is to abolish foot- 
 ball because of the death of her son. 
 
 "Letters from all parts of the coun- 
 try have poured in upon the governor, 
 and the state has also been thorough- 
 ly aroused. It has been argued that 
 if football is prohibited at the Georgia 
 University and the other colleges of 
 the state, these institutions will be un- 
 able to compete with the big schools 
 of the north, where football is played. 
 
 "One of the most forcible argu- 
 ments for the veto is contained in the 
 following paragraph from Mr. Gam- 
 mon's letter to the governor : 
 
 " 'You are confronted with the prop- 
 osition whether the game is of such 
 a character as should be prohibited by 
 
 *Arnie Goetchius was on roller skates when 
 he fell to his death. He was a good student 
 and well liked by his classmates and the boys 
 of Rome. Will Reynolds had gone with his 
 family to White Cliff Springs, Tenn., neai- 
 Athens, for the summer vacation, and one 
 Sunday afternoon while out walking with Miss 
 Mattie Rowell and others of Rome Tie ventured 
 too near a precipice and plunged to a ledge 
 perhaps 100 feet below, taking with him Miss 
 Rowell's parasol. Two mountaineers climbed 
 down the steep mountainside, tied WilTs life- 
 less body to a pole and carried it between 
 them to the top. In order to catch an early 
 morning train for Rome, the funeral party 
 were obliged to go down to the valley in hacks 
 at night, by the light of pine torches and 
 lanterns. Will was one of the most popular 
 young men in Rome, and hundreds of sorrow- 
 ing friends attended his funeral from the First 
 Presbyterian Church. A sad circumstance con- 
 nected with the tragedy was that his mother 
 had intended leaving with her children on 
 the day after the accident for a visit to her 
 old home at .Jacksonville, Ala. 
 
 **The reference is to Dr. Chas. H. Herty, tor 
 whom old Herty Athletic Field at Athens was 
 named, and who wrote as follows : "It stands 
 as a fact which cannot be contradictetl that 
 active jihysical exercise is an absolute neces- 
 sity. Even in cases of sickness, one of the 
 best treatments a physician can give is to 
 take exercise. Over three hundred young men 
 confined to their books, with no well directed 
 exercise, would in a year or two present a 
 pitiable figure. It is in consequence of this 
 that college faculties are forced into all kinds 
 of schemes to give regulated and active exer- 
 cise to their students. Some colleges, in order 
 to avoid the rough forms of field sports, have 
 large grounds for physical exercise, as well 
 as thoroughly eriuipped gymnasiums. Even 
 then certain forms of field sports are necessary." 
 
 law in the interests of society. In an- 
 .swer, unquestionably it is not. In the 
 first; place, the conditions necessary 
 to its highest development are tota'l 
 abstinence from intoxicating and stim- 
 ulating drinks — alcoholic or other- 
 wise—as well as from cigarettes and 
 tobacco in any form; strict regard for 
 proper and healthiest diet and for all 
 the laws of health; persistent regular- 
 ity in the hours of going to bed and 
 absolute purity of life." 
 
 Jas. B. Nevin, Jno. H. Reece and 
 Wm. H. Ennis were Floyd County's 
 representatives in the legislature that 
 year. They made strenuous efforts to 
 defeat the legislation after Mrs. Gam- 
 mon had written Mr. Nevin as fol- 
 lows from Rome under date of Nov. 
 2, 1897: 
 
 "Dear Mr. Nevin: It would be the 
 greatest favor to the family of Von 
 Gammon if your influence could pre- 
 vent his death from being used as an 
 argun^ent detrimental to the athletic 
 cause and its advancement at the Uni- 
 versity. His love for his college and 
 his interest in all manly sports, with- 
 out which he deemed the highest type 
 of manhood impossible, is well known 
 by his classmates and friends, and it 
 would be inexpressibly sad to have the 
 cause he held so dear injured by his 
 sacrifice. Grant me the right to re- 
 quest that my boy's death should not 
 be used to defeat the most cherished 
 oliject of his life. Dr. Herty's article 
 in the Constitution of Nov. 2d is time- 
 ly, and the authorities of the Univers- 
 ity can be trusted to make all needed 
 changes for all possible consideration 
 pertaining to the welfare of its stu- 
 dents, if they are given the means and 
 the confidence their loyalty and high 
 sense of duty should deserve. '^'^^ 
 "Yours most respectfully, 
 "VON GAMMON'S MOTHER." 
 
 For several weeks the enemies of 
 football trained the guns on the game 
 through the newspapers, and its de- 
 fenders replied. 'The Athens Banner, 
 the ancient pai)er published at the 
 seat of the University of Georgia, de- 
 clared, "We do not favor a game where 
 ])rutality steps in and usurps the place 
 of athletic development; it was a dis- 
 play of savagery which tarnishes the 
 fair names of both of the great uni- 
 versities represented in the contest." 
 
 The Charleston News and Courier 
 declared : 
 
 "Football is worse than 'hazing' and 
 'prize fighting.' both of which are pro- 
 hibitcd in all well regulated colleges.
 
 350 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 ALLS FAIR AT THE NORTH GEORGIA "EXPOSITION." 
 
 Claude H. Porter addressing "tremendous audience" on "Peace"; part of the Home-coming 
 
 f-R"**^,,'" *^^ grandstand; Gov. Thos. W. Hardwick and Lee J. Langley after barbecue and 
 
 Bevo ; George G. Stiles, noted horseman; a group containing Gov. Hardwick and a party of 
 
 hospitable Romans; Lee J. Langley, Mrs. A. B. S. Moseley and Telamon Cruger Smith-Cuylers 
 
 elsewhere, the young carnival performers.
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 351 
 
 Young men go to college to make use- 
 ful citizens of themselves, not crip- 
 ples. There are numerous *manly' 
 sports and athletic exercises which do 
 not involve risk of lifelong injury or 
 death as the price of indulging 
 in them. If we must have football 
 riots for the popular entertainment — 
 nugilistic mills and bull fights and 
 bear baitings being forbidden — let 
 them be committed to professions. 
 They are not adapted to the proper 
 character and ends of college train- 
 ing. They should be prohibited to 
 their students by every college faculty 
 without waiting for an untimely fu- 
 neral to make the necessity of such 
 action more obvious than it is al- 
 ready." 
 
 Other press comnTents, as repro- 
 duced by Editor W. A. Knowles in 
 the Rome Tribune of Nov. 9, 1897, 
 follow : 
 
 "The Georgia legislature should by 
 all means at its present session pass a 
 bill to prohibit football in this state." 
 — Jackson Times. 
 
 "Mrs. Gammon bears no ill-will to- 
 ward the game because of her son's 
 death, and requests that his death be 
 not used to defeat the most cherished 
 object of his life. She would have 
 the game go on. But the lives of 
 other worthy sons are to be consider- 
 ed. It seems impossible to prevent 
 brutality in the game by revision of 
 the rules, hence the only thing to be 
 done is to prohibit the game." — Savan- 
 nah News. 
 
 "Editor Stovall's opinion of football 
 would be more expert and valuable if 
 he had been bunged up in a game. He 
 says: 
 
 " 'No, I never played a game of foot- 
 ball in my life and have no special 
 interest in the matter. But if I had 
 a son and he were afraid to go into 
 a game because of the dangers of in- 
 jury, I should be ashamed of him. I 
 am sure young Americans are made of 
 sterner stuff. Are we ready to or- 
 dain tiddle-de-winks and lawn tennis 
 as national games?' 
 
 "If the son happened to be brought 
 home mutilated or dead, we suspect 
 that our friend would look at the mat- 
 ter differently. There are plenty of 
 ways other than brutal sport for a 
 young man to exhibit his courage, en- 
 durance and i)luck." — Augusta Chron- 
 icle. 
 
 Gov. Atkinson vetoed the football 
 bill on Dec. 7, 1897; no attempt to 
 
 revive the measure wa.s made and it 
 expired with the ending of the session 
 of the Legislature soon afterward. The 
 governor was moved by Mrs. Gam- 
 mon's letter and his own belief that 
 the progress of the world necessarily 
 brings suffering to a few. 
 
 In his veto, Gov. Atkinson said: 
 "Football causes less deaths than 
 hunting, boating, fishing, horseback 
 riding, bathing or bicycling. If we 
 are to engage in legislation of this 
 character now under discussion, the 
 state should assume the position of 
 parent, forbid all these sports to boys, 
 make it a penal offense for a boy to 
 engage in any of them, and for any 
 parent to permit his child to engage 
 in them. The government should not 
 usuj'p all the authority of the parent. 
 Yet this legislation is a long stride in 
 that direction. 
 
 "It would be unfortunate to entirely 
 suppress in our schools and colleges a 
 game of so great value in the physi- 
 cal, moral and intellectual develop- 
 ment of boys and young men. 
 
 "The president of the university of 
 one of our sister state.s said to me: 
 'If these young men were not per- 
 mitted to expend their exuberant 
 spirits and excess of youthful energies 
 in this way, they would find vent in 
 carousals, debaucheries and dissipa- 
 tions.' 
 
 "Chancellor Day, of the University 
 of Syracuse, a Methodist institution, 
 says: 'I do not feel like joining the 
 universal outcry against the game. 
 Football is encouraged by the faculty 
 of Syracuse University. During my 
 three years of office there has not 
 been a serious accident on our field 
 or to our team. I believe that some 
 such game a.s football which contains 
 elements of roughness and danger is 
 necessary to the development of many 
 young men in university, college and 
 seminary. Its future, I am told by 
 lovers of the game, is tending toward 
 more open playing.' 
 
 "P^'ootball would fail of one of its 
 chief ends, in my estimation, if it did 
 not teach the young men self-control. 
 A man who goes through a season of 
 being trodden upon and kiuaked down 
 deserves fairly a diiiloma in the art 
 of self-control. It is valuable disci- 
 pline. FootI)all in the university has 
 been a source of gratification^ to the 
 faculty and trustees. We rejoice at 
 the high standard of scholarship kept 
 up by the men in active play. One 
 man who played the game during his 
 entire course was able to keep up his
 
 352 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 work to the extent that the adminis- 
 tration selected him as instructor in 
 our institution after graduation." 
 
 On Wednesday, Dec. 12, 1895, a 
 group of friends of Von Gammon de- 
 cided to play a free admission game 
 of football on Christmas Day, Dec. 
 25, at the North Rome Athletic Park. 
 Cliff Seay was referee, Laurie Coth- 
 ran umpire and Barry Cothran time- 
 keeper. 
 
 The line-ups: 
 
 Harper, c Word, c 
 
 Spiegelberg, q. b Saunders, q. b. 
 
 McGhee. r. g Jones, r. g. 
 
 Wvnn, 1. g Jones, 1. g. 
 
 Mitchell, r. t Quinn, r. t. 
 
 Huffaker, 1. t Morris, 1. t. 
 
 Maddox, r. e Smith, r. e. 
 
 Maddox, 1. e Parrish, 1. e. 
 
 Ledbetter, r. h. b Rounsaville, r. h. b. 
 
 P^ahy. 1. h. b Cline, 1. h. b. 
 
 Vandiver, f. b Williamson, f. b. 
 
 Substitutes — Turner and Maddox. 
 
 Although the fond parents were 
 bowed down with grief, there were 
 many consolations in the loss of their 
 devoted son. Mrs. Cammdn caused 
 the news of Von's death to be print- 
 ed in the native language in every civ- 
 ilized country of the world. Into her 
 scrapbook went the many written ex- 
 pressions of sympathy. The faculty 
 and students of the University met at 
 the chapel, under the leadership of 
 Chancellor Boggs, and resolutions 
 passed there were signed by Harry 
 Dodd (now of Atlanta), president of 
 the Athletic Council; Paul H. Doyal, 
 (of Rome), president of the Demos- 
 thenian Literary Society; Macon Dud- 
 ley, vice president of the Bicycle As- 
 sociation, and Harmon Cox (of At- 
 lanta and Chicago), for the Sigma 
 Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Von was 
 then a member of the freshman class 
 (1901), and its conimittee — Robt. 
 Yancey, of Rome; C. H. Story and 
 J. A. Scruggs — also passed resolutions. 
 
 A student correspondent wrote The 
 Tribune from Athens Dec. 15 that Von 
 was one of the most popular men in 
 college, and that he had just been 
 elected president of the Bicycle Asso- 
 ciation, and was a member of the Phi 
 Kappa Literary Society and the Sigma 
 Alpha Epsilon college fraternity. And 
 he added : 
 
 "Rome is as usual well represented. 
 Rome boys have always stood well at 
 the university and the ones there now 
 are endeavoring to keep up their good 
 
 'Cieorjria had held Harvard two weeks before 
 at Cambridge to a 10-7 score. 
 
 reputation. They will be home for 
 the holidays Dec! 23. 
 
 "There are at present eight boys 
 from Rome attending the college. 
 These are: Ben C. Yancey, '98, Chi 
 Phi fraternity and member of Phi 
 Kappa Literary Society; Hugh White, 
 '98, Sigma Nu fraternity and Phi 
 Kappa; J. B. Sullivan, '99, Sigma Al- 
 pha Epsilon and Phi Kappa; Paul H. 
 Doyal, '99, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and 
 Phi Kappa; Robert C. Yancey, '01, 
 Chi Phi and Phi Kappa; Will Hoyt, 
 '01, Chi Psi and Phi Kappa, and C. 
 P. Morton, '01. 
 
 "Among the offices held by these 
 boys may be mentioned: Editor in 
 chief of 'The Georgian,' business man- 
 ager 'Red and Black,' manager ten- 
 nis team, manager track team, pres- 
 ident Phi Kappa Society, 1st lieuten- 
 ant and sergeant major in the bat- 
 talion, two members of athletic coun- 
 cil, editor in chief of 'Pandora,' vice 
 president bicycle club and other small- 
 er offices. 
 
 "Two Romans belong to the literary 
 club and two are on the track team; 
 they took one first, one second and 
 three third prizes in the field day a 
 week ago." 
 
 An exceedingly graceful act was 
 performed by the authorities of the 
 University of Virginia, the surviving 
 members of the 1897 football team and 
 others in subscribing $500 for a bronze 
 plaque to Von Gammon and his nxoth- 
 er. This memorial was presented in 
 the University of Georgia chapel at 
 Athens Saturday morning, Nov. 5, 
 1921, 24 years after the game in 
 which Von played. It was given into 
 the hands of Chancellor David C. Bar- 
 row and Prof. S. V. Sanford by an 
 official of the University of Virginia, 
 and Prof. Sanford has since acted as 
 its custodian, pending selection of a 
 particular spot to place it for all 
 time. The plaque is circular in shape, 
 about three feet in diameter, and 
 shows the son gazing with love and ad- 
 miration into the face of his mother. 
 Among the Romans present at the ex- 
 ercises were Walter S. Cothiian, J. 
 Ed Maddox, Wilson M. Hardy, Barry 
 Wright, Paul H. Doyal, Jas. P. Jones, 
 Thos. D. Caldwell, Sam S. King and 
 Thos. E. Clemmons. 
 
 Incidentally, Virginia and Georgia 
 played another football game that 
 same afternoon on Sanford Mead, be- 
 fore a big crowd, and the Red and Black 
 of Georgia triumphed over the Old 
 Gold and Blue of Virginia by the record 
 score of 21 to 0.*
 
 Anecdotes and Reminiscences 
 
 353 
 
 WRIGHT WILLINGHAM'S CIR- 
 CUS.— Romans all— or 500 of them— 
 gathered at the Municipal Building 
 Saturday, Jan. 1, 1921, on call of John 
 M. Vandiver, president of the Cham- 
 ber of Commerce, who thought a mass 
 meeting and some oratorical prescrip. 
 tions might make the farmers and ev- 
 erybody else feel better over bad 
 times. 
 
 "There is too much pessimism!" as- 
 serted B. I. Hughes. 
 
 "There is not enough plain grit!" 
 declared R. C. Sharp. 
 
 "All pull together," suggested Hen- 
 derson Lanham. 
 
 "You don't know any hard times," 
 said Judge John W. Maddox. "At the 
 end of the Civil War we had nothing 
 in Chattooga County but a broken- 
 down steer that was not worth the 
 Yankees' trouble to take away." 
 
 The Rev. Elam F. Dempsey, pastor 
 of the First Methodist Church, and the 
 Rev. A. J. Moncrief, pastor of the 
 First Baptist Church, were listening 
 attentively from comfortable seats on 
 the platform. Somebody shouted that 
 it was time to give the bean-spillers 
 a chance to be heard. No names were 
 mentioned. 
 
 Mr. Vandiver diplomatically ignored 
 the suggestion by conferring in an un- 
 dertone with a stage "confederate," 
 after which he announced that Wright 
 Willingham would speak. Col. Willing- 
 ham's first shot woke the ministers 
 up. 
 
 "My friends, I ain't much of a pro- 
 hibitionist, myself. I can fight bet- 
 ter and talk better with a little en- 
 couragement in me. Gaze at my friend 
 Dr. Dempsey here on my right; he 
 has been getting fat drinking tea. And 
 as for old Dr. Moncrief there, he looks 
 like he never had a drink in his life! 
 Ha-ha!" 
 
 When the rude guffaws of the audi- 
 ence and the embarrassment of the 
 ministers had subsided, Col. Willing- 
 ham continued : 
 
 "Judge Maddox may think just be- 
 cause it didn't hurt to lose a leg in 
 the war that a man's swollen jaw in 
 the present contains no pain. My jaw 
 hurts and there's no use to deny it. 
 I'm just about as careful tackling this 
 situation as I was going after a bull 
 dog out at George Stallings' house 
 during our own war here recently, 
 when I was weak from influenza. I 
 went to George's place in the sticks 
 one night; had quite a time climbing- 
 fences, crossing race tracks in getting 
 
 near the house, and when I thought 
 I was there a great big dog came bow- 
 wowing down the front walk in my di- 
 rection. I could tell by his voice he 
 was a bull dog. I was too weak to 
 fight or run. There was only one way 
 in the world, my friends, to' stop tha't 
 bull dog, and that was by diplomacy. 
 With a prayer on my lips I stooped 
 down and with all the graciousness at 
 my command, I said, 'Here, doggie, 
 here doggie, nice old doggie!' 
 
 "I got away with it, and in 1921 
 I'm going to be as diplomatic as I 
 know how until I feel lots stronger 
 than I feel now." 
 
 Col. Willingham caused considerable 
 merriment several weeks later by diag- 
 nosing religious creeds in a speech. 
 
 "My picture of religion up toward 
 old Shorter hill is the picture of the 
 shouting Methodists. I ain't ready to 
 embrace that. And coming on down 
 toward Broad Street we find the or- 
 thordox Presbyterians. Why, my 
 friends, the Presbyterians are so or- 
 thodox that you couldn't pierce their 
 orthodoxy with a Beg Bertha shell!" 
 
 ROME'S WAR MAYOR.— The Tri- 
 Weekly Courier of Jan. 3, 1861, pre- 
 sented the following official count for 
 the election of Dec. 31, 1860: 
 
 For Mayor — Dr. Thos. Jefferson 
 Word, 156; Zachariah Branscome Har- 
 grove, Jr., 138. 
 
 For Council — The Winners — A. R. 
 Harper, 192; W. F. Ayer, 186; Chas. 
 H. Smith, 172; Oswell B. Eve, 153; 
 Jno. M. Quinn, 152; Nicholas J. Om- 
 berg, 148. 
 
 For Council — The Losers — Jno. W. 
 Noble, 147; J. G. Yeiser, 144; A. Cald- 
 well, 141; J. H. McClung. 134; Robt. 
 T. Fouche, 122; J. W. Wofford, 104. 
 
 Dr. Word was re-elected mayor in 
 1861 for 1862, and his record was 
 such that his friends championed his 
 cause a third time; but he declined, 
 saying that since no man had ever 
 been mayor of Rome three times in 
 succession, he would not care to break 
 the precedent. Dr. J. M. Gregory was 
 accordingly elected without opposition 
 Dec. 29, 1862. His aldermen from the 
 P'irst Ward were J. C. Pemberton and 
 Jos. E. Veal; from the Second, Albert 
 G. Pitner and Wm. T. Newman, and 
 from the Third, J. H. Cooper and Chas. 
 II. Smith. Others who were put for- 
 ward for Council and Aldermen were 
 Reuben S. Norton, RoI)t. T. Hargrove, 
 Jno. W. Noble, Dr. Joshua King, Gen. 
 Geo. S. Black and Wm. Ramey.
 
 354 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 ^(:^f^ 
 
 LINDALE, A THRIVING FLOYD COUNTY TOWN. 
 
 From the top, the Lindale Inn; the Auditorium, erected by the Massachusetts Mills of 
 Georgia in honor of Lindale's sacrifices in the World War; the old Hoss mill, now deserted; 
 beautiful Silver Creek, which divides Lindale in half and flows through the mill property, 
 as shown in the next; homes of mill employes, who are encouraged in every way to developi 
 better citizenship.
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 ARMSTRONG (CHEROKEE) HO- 
 TEL. — This noted structure stands at 
 the southwest corner of Second Ave- 
 nue and East First Street. It was 
 built and opened by R. T. Armstrong, 
 of I'ii-niiimluini, Ala., at a cost of near- 
 ly !i;L'')(),()0(). The first floor walls are 
 of g:ray p:ranite and the four stories 
 above of brick. It is owned by the 
 Rome Hotel Co., of which concern the 
 J. A. Rousavilles are the principal 
 stockholders. For several years sub- 
 sequent to 1900 the hotel was called 
 The Cherokee, but recently the original 
 name has been used. As lonp: as the 
 younger p:enei'ation can remember its 
 ground floor has sheltered a barber 
 shop — first, Ned Huj^gins' (Ned was 
 also sexton of the First Presbyterian 
 Church), and now Slaughter McCain's 
 — where enough hair and whiskers 
 have been cut to fill the Armstrong. 
 In the corner Dick Cothran conducted 
 a brokerage business for quite a while. 
 
 Some of the glories of The Arm- 
 sti'ong were recounted by W. S. Row- 
 ell in The Tribune-Herald of March 
 9, 1921, as follows: 
 
 "The partial destruction by fire of 
 one section of the Armstrong hotel 
 early yesterday morning injures for a 
 short time a building" that has stood 
 as an ornament to this city for more 
 than 30 yeai-s. 
 
 "When this hotel was constructed 
 and opened, it was the largest and 
 finest in Noi'thwest (Georgia. It was 
 a veritable capitol, as hotels went in 
 those days. It pushed Rome at one 
 swoop from a town into the j)r'opor- 
 tions of a city. 
 
 "The annual banquets of the Mer- 
 chants' and Manufacturers' Associa- 
 tion were long famed foi- tlieir feast- 
 ing and their oi'atory. 
 
 "Among those famous orators and 
 notable men who have held forth here 
 were Senators A. O. Bacon, A. S. Clay 
 and Hoke Smith, of (Jeorgia; Senator 
 liroussard, of Louisiana; Congressman 
 James Tawney, of Minnesota; .John 
 Temple Graves, Gordon Lee, Judge 
 Wm. T. Newman, Seaborn Wright, 
 Senator Burton, of Ohio; Congressman 
 Jno. L. Burnett, of Alabama; Wni. J. 
 Bryan, of Nebraska; David B. Hill, of 
 New York, and a host of others that 
 we cannot now recall. 
 
 "The dining room of the hotel has 
 been used as a ball room by the local 
 cotillion club, since its organization, 
 
 and many other clubs and dance or- 
 ganizations used it. 
 
 "When the hotel was first opened a 
 large number of Rome's wealthiest and 
 most prominent families left their 
 homes and I'esided there. For a while 
 it was the center around which the so- 
 cial life of Rome revolved. 
 
 "Many times since its construction 
 the hotel has l)een on fire, but always 
 hei'ctofore the fire depailment has 
 been able to conti-ol the flames. The 
 inside architecture of the hotel was 
 peculiarly sensitive to fire, being such 
 as readily drew a draft to any part 
 of the building. This class of hotel 
 construction is now out of date." 
 
 * M: * 
 
 BELCJIAN COLONY.— In 1848 Gen. 
 Louis Joseph Barthold LeIIardy (Vis- 
 count de Beaulieu), dissatisfied with 
 jjolitical conditions growing out of the 
 liberation of Belgium from the Unit- 
 ed Neitherlands, left Brus.sels at the 
 head of a company of Belgians to 
 found a colony in the Unitecl States, 
 for the pui'i)ose of engaging in agricul- 
 tural pui-suits. The old General and 
 those members of his household who 
 joined him were idealists to whom the 
 songs of birds and bees in trees and 
 clover constitued much sweeter music 
 than the hum-drum strife of the Old 
 World, .so they tui-ned their faces 
 southward on reaching America's 
 friendly shores. 
 
 It is (juite likely that they disem- 
 barked at New Yoi-k, asked for new 
 country, were directed to Charleston 
 and there sent I)y a Rome "Scout" to 
 the heart of (Cherokee Geoi'gia. Rome 
 was a place of some .'J, 000 inhabitants, 
 and it stood out as the lai'gest settle- 
 ment in that corner of the state and 
 a city which nmst grow fast. 
 
 General Lellaidy was a man ac- 
 customed to ainiy life and the hard- 
 ships of the outdoors; his training had 
 been along democratic, practical lines, 
 and he welcomed an opi)oi'tunity to re- 
 move the restraints of political obliga- 
 tions like a bird released from the 
 cage. He tuined his estate into cash 
 and financed the colony across the At- 
 lantic. In the party were his son, Ca- 
 mille LeIIardy, an(i family; his neph- 
 ews, the sons of his brother, Compte 
 Adolph LeIIardy— Eugene LeHardy, 
 21, and J. C. LeIIardy, 17; Louis 
 Henry Carlier, a civil engineer and Ca- 
 mille" LeIIardy's I)rother-in-Iaw; Prof.
 
 356 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 E. Gaussoin and daughter, Miss Elise 
 Gaussoin. whom Henry Carlier married 
 after they reached Rome; a Miss Rob- 
 ert (pronounced like the French), who 
 later married Max Van Den Corput, 
 of Cave Spring:, (Max Corput and 
 Felix Corput, his brother, w^ere also 
 Belfrians) ; and a number of others, 
 perhaps a total of 25. General Le- 
 Hardv. Caniille LeHardy and Louis 
 Carlier selected a farm tract three 
 miles east of Rome, where in a low- 
 land dip there was an abundance of 
 fresh water bubbling from a dozen 
 springs. This was on the Etowah 
 River and included a productive bot- 
 ton land full of arrow heads and bits 
 of pottery, evidence that an Indian vil- 
 lage was* once there located. Included 
 in their settlement were several men 
 and women of the agricultural class. 
 The others scattered; Eugene and 
 Julius ("Jules") went to work in Rome, 
 while a few of the Belgians set out 
 stakes between the eastern foot of Mt. 
 Alto and the Coosa River. Dr. L. M. 
 E. Berckmans, another Belgian, was 
 attracted to Rome by the exploits of 
 his friends, the LeHardys, but he did 
 not arrive until about 1870. 
 
 The farming Belgians raised truck 
 and fruit, especially grapes, and they 
 sent their goods to the Rome market 
 in little wagons drawn by ponies or 
 mules. Everything they offered for 
 sale was fresh and wholesome and put 
 up in good style; the apples in nice 
 boxes, the grapes covered with mos- 
 quito netting, and their prices were as 
 low as could be found. The law per- 
 mitted of making wine out of grapes, 
 and considerable wine was made. 
 
 As in most cases where aristocrats 
 attempt to go back to the soil, how- 
 ever, the colony plan was not a suc- 
 cess financially. The titled Belgians 
 undoubtedly did their utmost with 
 Dame Nature, but Her Highness, treat- 
 ed to the picture of the grandeur of 
 palaces and of refined tastes and tem- 
 peramental dispositions, did not smile 
 her favor upon them. The story is 
 told that a fastidious young Belgian 
 was in the habit of driving an ox cart 
 to Rome, the while he was dressed in 
 a summer suit of snowy whiteness, 
 suede gloves and patent leather shoes. 
 
 After some seven years, disintegra- 
 tion of the colony, individually and 
 collectively, set in. General LeHardy 
 and Camille LeHardy and family left 
 for Charleston, where they lived until 
 18.58, when they returned to Brussels. 
 Dr. J. C. LeHardy went to live in Sa- 
 vannah. Eugene LeHardy departed 
 Jan. 2, 1861, for Europe to buy sup- 
 
 plies for the Confederate Government, 
 and was there marooned until after the 
 Civil War. 
 
 But a circumstance was eventually 
 to arise which was to pile sorrow upon 
 disappointment for the doughty Bel- 
 gians. Cam,ille LeHardy, it will be re- 
 called, had married Rosine Marie 
 Terese Josephine Carlier, a sister of 
 Henry Carlier. Relations between the 
 brothers-in-law were apparently pleas- 
 ant enough to permit Mr. LeHardy to 
 go back to Belgium and leave the coun- 
 try place in the care of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Carlier. Quite possibly Mr. Carlier 
 never expected Mr. LeHardy to return, 
 so that when he and his family did 
 come back after the close of the war, 
 friction arose between the two men 
 over possession of the place. They 
 continued to live together, but it was 
 a house divided. According to the 
 story told by Mr. LeHardy, Mr. Carlier 
 would frequent throw rocks at him 
 from the woods, and otherwise nag him 
 and members of the LeHardy family. 
 Finally one day Mr. LeHardy heard a 
 commotion in the barn, and, rushing 
 to the scene, found Mr. Carlier astride 
 of and pummeling Henry LeHardv 
 then 17. Mr. LeHardy went to the 
 house and got a gun, and, poking it 
 through a crack in the barn, fired and 
 killed Mr. Carlier, whose body was laid 
 to rest in Myrtle Hill cemetery. Mr. 
 LeHardy's peaceful disposition, his un- 
 blemished reputation and the attend- 
 ant circumstances caused a jury to 
 render a verdict of acquittal. 
 
 The tragedy occurred in the sum- 
 mer of 1870 and about eight years 
 later Mr. LeHardy removed his family 
 to Eagle Cliff, Lookout Mountain, near 
 Flintstone, Walker County, Georgia, 
 where he died March 6, 1888. He was 
 the last of the Belgians at Rome, Eu- 
 gene LeHardy, his cousin, having died 
 there Dec. 27, 1874, and having been 
 put to rest in Myrtle Hill. 
 
 BERRY INFANTRY.— A Civil War 
 company organized by Col. Thos. W. 
 Alexander, commanding officer, and 
 named after Capt. Thos. Berry, Mex- 
 ican War veteran and father of Miss 
 Martha Berry, head of the Bel'ry 
 Schools. 
 
 On the eve of its departure for camp 
 near Griffin, the company was pre- 
 sented with a handsome battle flag by 
 Miss Florence W. Underwood (Mrs. 
 E. M. Eastman), a daughter of Judge 
 John W. H. Underwood.
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 357 
 
 NOTED GUESTS AT THE BERRY SCHOOLS. 
 
 1— Dr. Howard A. Kelly, of Baltimore, Md., in group on g.rls "^P«^- ^ay S. 1921. 
 2— Princess Caroline R. Radziwill among girls. 3-Pres.dent Theodore Roosevelt Oct 8 19 O, 
 —a Republican with a background intensely Democratic '*—'^'"„Al.ce Nielsen m » e^°"P^ 
 5— Dr. Albert Shaw, of New York, editor of the American Review of Reviews, and Mrs. Shaw, on 
 visit Apr. 22-26, 1921. 6 — A group containing Miss Helen Keller.
 
 358 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 BOOTEN & HARKINS' CAVALRY 
 COMPANY.— The following officers 
 were listed in the Tri-Weekly Courier 
 of Apr. 20, 1862: 
 
 Daniel F. Booten, captain; John 
 Harkins, 1st lieut.; A. J. Bearden, 2d 
 lieut.; N. C. Napier, 3d lieut.; M. A. 
 Ross, orderly sergrt. 
 
 BROAD STREP:T "INHABI- 
 
 TANTS."— Now and then an old-time 
 chronicler comes back to Rome and 
 takes note of the many changes in bus- 
 iness locations. In order that the pres- 
 ent occupants may "write their own," 
 the following' list of establishments 
 and individuals (furnished by R. V. 
 Mitchell)- for 1922, is herewith set 
 down. The chronicler starts at the 
 foot of Broad (Etowah River) and 
 walks northward through North Rome. 
 On his left at 1 and 3 Broad is the 
 market produce establishment of 
 Stamps & Co., after which the 100 block 
 starts, and continues to Second Ave- 
 nue; the 200 block starts at Second 
 and ends at Third, and so on. 
 
 Left 
 
 101— 
 101 1/> 
 103—. 
 
 1 Os- 
 lo? 
 
 109- 
 
 111- 
 
 113— 
 115— 
 117— 
 119 
 
 Hcnid Side— 100 (Shoytey) Block. 
 
 Holder Coal & Lumber Co. 
 
 Rome Musical Center. 
 J. P. Reid Wholesale Grocery. 
 
 Gibson & DeJournett, wholesale 
 grocery. 
 
 Montgomery & Co., wholesale gro- 
 cery. 
 
 Scoggins Furniture Co. 
 McGhee Cotton Co, 
 
 R. J. Ragan, wholesale grocery. 
 
 121— 
 
 201— 
 
 205— 
 107— 
 209— 
 2091/0 
 
 211— 
 213— 
 215— 
 2151/, 
 
 J. L. Brannon & Co., wholesale 
 
 grocery. 
 Arrington-Buick Co. 
 
 200 (Noble) Block. 
 
 First National Bank. 
 Rome Chamber of Commerce, 
 Floyd County Farm Bureau and 
 Boy Scout headquarters (in 
 rear). 
 
 Rome Book Store Co. 
 
 McGhee Tire Co. 
 
 Floyd County Bank. 
 
 — Drs. M. M. McCord and Carl 
 L. Betts. 
 
 Griffin-Cantrell Hardware Co. 
 
 Newark Shoe Store. 
 — Frank W. Copeland, Nat Har- 
 ris and Wm. H. Ennis, attor- 
 neys. 
 217— Wyatt Book Store. 
 
 *The telephone directory has also been free."y 
 consulted. 
 
 219 — McGinnis & Welch, lunch room. 
 
 221 — Edward A. Farley, clothing. 
 
 223— S. H. Kress 5 and 10-cent store. 
 
 225— Elite Motion Picture Theater. 
 
 22511.— Drs. L. F. McKoy and J. I. 
 Todd, dentists. 
 
 227— Citizens' Bank. 
 
 227 — Will S. Hawkins, tailoring and 
 haberdashery. 
 
 229— M. M. J. Mendleson, tailor. 
 
 231 — Nixon Hardware Co. 
 
 2311/.— McCrary & Co., photographers. 
 
 233— Strand Motion Picture Theater. 
 
 235— H. B. Parks Co., crockery. 
 
 237-239— W. M. Gammon & Son, cloth- 
 ing. 
 
 241-243 — Owens & King, gents' fur- 
 nishings. 
 
 2431/1.— L>r. J. S. Daniel, dentist. 
 
 247 — Daniel Furniture Co. 
 
 300 (Nevi)i's Opera House) Block. 
 
 301 — Piggly Wiggly, retail grocery. 
 
 303— Allen Jewelry Co. 
 
 Dr. Geo. B. Wood, optometrist. 
 
 305 — Johnston Hardware Co. 
 
 3051/2— Drs. J. Turner McCall and J. 
 H. Mull, physicians; Dr. A. F. 
 Daniel, dentist. 
 
 307-309-311— Ira A. Watson Salvage 
 Co., dry goods and groceries. 
 
 3111/.— Quick "Lunch stand. 
 
 313— F. W. Woolworth Co., 5 and 10- 
 cent store. 
 
 315 — Porter Phillips, soft drinks. 
 
 323 — Second Precinct Police rest room. 
 
 325 — Rome Supply Co., electric outfits 
 and plumbing. 
 
 327 — E. A. Leonard, dry goods. 
 
 329— Walker Electric & Plumbing Co. 
 
 331 — Henry Powers, shoes. 
 
 333 — Fred M. Henderson, retail gro- 
 cer. 
 
 3331/2— Todd & Hickman, tailoring and 
 pressing. 
 
 335 — Rome Shoe Hospital. 
 
 337— Palace Barber Shop. 
 
 3371/2— Drs. Geo. B. Smith and Wm. 
 J. Shaw, physicians. Shoe 
 shine parlor and news stand. 
 
 339 — McGinnis', cigars, soda, lunch. 
 
 400 (Old Cihj Hall) Block. 
 
 401 — Lanham & Sons' Co., dry goods. 
 Eugene Logan Kandy Kitchen. 
 
 403 — Broadway Motion Picture Thea- 
 ter. 
 
 407 — Friedman Co., dry goofls. 
 
 409— Paris Cafe. 
 
 4091/2— W. P. Bradfield, contractor. 
 Wilkerson Realty Co, 
 
 411 — L. H. Esserman, dry goods. 
 
 413 — Boston Shoe Store. 
 Liberty Shoe Shop. 
 Lewis Barrett, barber shop (c). 
 
 417 — Watson Shoe Store.
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 359 
 
 419 — Culpepper, Storey & Co., gents' 
 
 furnishings. 
 419 ]/, —Rome Tribune-Herald. 
 421 — M. Rosenberg, dry goods. 
 423 — Watson's grocery. 
 425-427 — Esserman & Co., dry goods 
 
 and shoes. 
 4291/2— Drs. R. H. Wicker, Henry A. 
 
 Turner, Roland D. Russell and 
 
 A. W. Wright, physicians. 
 431 — Sam McKinney, meat market. 
 431 — Fifth Avenue "Drug Co. 
 
 500 (Hargrove-Bofiworth) Block. 
 501— National City Bank. 
 503— L. W. Rogers Grocery Co. 
 503% — Industrial Life and American 
 
 National Life Insurance Com- 
 panies. 
 505— Buehler Bros. Market. 
 511 — Purity Ice Cream Co. 
 
 Isom Jones' Restaurant (c). 
 
 Guarantee Shoe Repair Shop. 
 
 Asa Johnson's Barber Shop (c). 
 513 — Rome Co-operative Drug Co. (c) . 
 
 Dr. C. T. Cain, physician. 
 515 — Rome Fish Produce Co. 
 517 — Paul Henderson, grocer. 
 525-533— Best Motor Car Co. 
 535-537— Woco Oil Co. 
 600 Block. 
 
 Standard Oil Co., gasoline and 
 
 oils. 
 
 700 Block. 
 700 — Gulf Refining Co., gasoline and 
 
 oils. 
 
 1600 Block. 
 
 Atkinson & Jolly, general mer- 
 chandise. 
 
 Right Hand Side— 100 (Etowah) 
 Block. 
 
 100— Chero-Cola Bottling W,orks. 
 
 100 1/0— Shrine Club and Dance Hall. 
 
 102 — Consolidated Grocery Co. 
 
 104 — McCord-Stewart, wholesale gro- 
 cery. 
 
 106 — Mann Bros., moat market. 
 
 108 — People's Cafe (Tony Vincenzi). 
 
 110 — I. M. Adams, meat market. 
 
 llOy.— E. R. Fishburnc, watch re- 
 pairer. 
 
 112— 
 
 1 14 — Rome Hardware Co. 
 
 116 — A grocery warehouse. 
 
 118 — Empire Lunch room. 
 
 120 — Sam Bredosky, shoes. 
 
 122— New York Slioe Stores. 
 
 124 — Anaerican Lunch Room (c). 
 
 126 — Fred Huffman, shoe repairer. 
 
 128 — Harris & Vann, meat market. 
 
 130 — Norton Drug Co. 
 
 1301/3— Drs. Ross P. Cox, J. C. Watts 
 and A. C. Shamblin. 
 200 {Veranda-Yancey) Block. 
 
 200 — Curry-Arrington Drug Co. 
 
 202 
 204 
 206 
 208 
 208 
 
 210 
 
 212 
 
 212 
 
 214 
 216 
 218 
 220 
 222 
 224 
 226 
 
 228 
 232 
 236 
 238 
 240 
 242 
 
 246 
 250 
 
 300 
 
 300 
 300 
 
 : — Bartlett Automotive Co. 
 
 —Miller Shoe Co. 
 
 —Lesser Bros., dry goods. 
 
 ! — L. W. Rogers, retail grocery 
 
 '1/2— Dr. J. D. Moreland, dentist; 
 
 Dr. J. J. Farmer; H. E. Beery, 
 
 attorney. 
 I — The Bee Hive, dry goods. 
 — Burnes-White Mercantile Co., 
 
 wholesale grocers. 
 V> — Henson Pressing Club. 
 — Wm. J. Pilson, Jr., groceries. 
 —Holder's 5 and 10-cent store. 
 — Misses Hawkins, millinery. 
 
 302- 
 304- 
 306- 
 308- 
 
 SIO- 
 312- 
 
 314- 
 316- 
 
 318- 
 324- 
 
 — Busy Bee Cafe. 
 
 — Central Barber Shop. 
 
 —Exchange National Bank. 
 
 Burney's Department Store. 
 -230— 
 
 234 — Fahy's Store, dry goods. 
 -238 — J. Kuttner, dry goods. 
 1/2 —Dr. A. A. Orr, dentist. 
 — Cantrell & Owens, shoes. 
 :-244— Miller's Cash Store, dry 
 
 goods and clothing. 
 — R. L. Williamson Jewelry Co. 
 I — S. P. Coalson Co., general mer- 
 chandise. 
 
 {Medical Building-Masonic Tem- 
 ple) Block. 
 —Hale Drug Co. 
 
 %— Drs. Henry H. Battey and 
 Robt. O. Simmons, physicians; 
 Dr. T. L. Morgan, 'dentist; 
 Henry Walker, lawyer. 
 
 5241/ 
 
 326— 
 
 328- 
 330- 
 332- 
 334- 
 
 334 i/j 
 
 Wyatt Jewelry Co. 
 
 A. Pintchuck," tailor. 
 
 City Supply & Vulcanizing Co. 
 
 Brown Transfer Co. 
 ■Reagan's Barber Shop, 
 Graves-Harper Co., coal. 
 
 E. J. Moultrie, real estate. 
 •New York Hat Shop. 
 Rome Pawn Brokers. 
 Sam Williams' lunch room. 
 Shoe shine parlor. 
 Miller's Electric Shoe Shop. 
 Misses Belle & Estelle Cato, mil- 
 linery. 
 —Claude H. Porter and W. B. 
 Mebane, and J no. W. Bale and 
 Joe Lesser, lawyers; Judge Geo. 
 S. Reese, justice of the peace; 
 Clarence J. Mull, lawyer. 
 E. S. and Paul Nixon, music 
 
 store. 
 Singer Sewing Machine Co. 
 Reese's Garage. 
 
 E. R. Fishburnc, watch repairer. 
 Orr Art Studio, photograph gal- 
 lery. 
 
 W. A. Mullinix Shoe Shop. 
 — Jno. P. Davis, real estate; 
 Jno. Camp Davis, lawyer; Jas.
 
 360 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 
 A STUDY IN BETTER CITIZENSHIP. 
 
 "Human products of the soil" at the Berry Schools, Mt. Berry (via Rome), in Floyd 
 a De"e7'i„^Vhe It'. ^ VMf '^' ^°yf ^^"^^.^^^'^^ - - "wind-jamminV organization without 
 fl,*^ I 1, fu H-}^^ "^"^^X '^ ^ ^'^^^ ^^y eroup receiving medals from the girls and 
 
 the onlookers are the children of Georgia farmers. In the oval is the champion baseball team
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 361 
 
 P. Jones, lawyer; C. N. Feath- 
 erston and C. Irving Carey, 
 lawyers; Linton A. Dean and 
 Lamar Camp, lawyers. 
 
 338-340 — Jervis-Davidson Co., drugs 
 and tea garden. 
 
 334-340— (In Masonic Temple). 
 
 400 (Liimpkin-Empire) Block. 
 400— Southern Bell Telephone & Tel- 
 egraph Co. Exchange. 
 408— McCartha Bros. Garage. 
 410— Blue Ribbon Shoe Shop. 
 
 A. Victor, confectionery and 
 lunch room. 
 412 — Rome Bakery. 
 414— R. A. Jones" Marble Co. 
 416-418— McBrayer Bros. Furniture 
 
 Co. 
 420-422— McDonald Furniture Co. 
 424 — Franklin Auto Supply Co. 
 424% — Willingham, Wright & Coving. 
 
 ton, lawyers. 
 428 — Harvey-Given Co., r-eal estate. 
 430— Hotel Forrest Building. 
 The Flower Shop. 
 Hotel Forrest Barber Shop. 
 Sam J. Davis, real estate and 
 insurance. 
 
 Woodmen of the World, W. A. 
 Keown, clerk. 
 
 Hale-Brannon Co., real estate. 
 Frank Salmon Piano Co. 
 
 500 (Bnena Vista) Block. 
 500 — Parsons & Ward, life insurance. 
 
 Updegrove Marketing Co. 
 502-504— Howell-Cantrell Furniture 
 
 Co. 
 506 — Misses McGinnis, millinery. 
 508— Howell-Cantrell Undertaking Co. 
 510 — Hape Sing Steam Laundry. 
 512— Franklin Meat Market. 
 514- Rome Cafe (c). 
 516 — Rome Pressing Club (c). 
 518— Smith-Malone Barber Shop (c). 
 520 — Auto Repair Co. 
 522-524— E. E. Lindsey, automobiles. 
 526—0. W. Curtis, undertaker, (c). 
 
 Drs. Eugene W. Weaver and J. 
 W. Sams, physicians, (c). 
 528.530— Curtis Cafe (c). 
 532-534— Daniell's Garage. 
 
 E. L. Adams Motor Car Co. 
 
 J. H. Carroll Auto Repair Co. 
 536— Keith-Gray Grocery Co. 
 
 600 Block. 
 600 — Texas Co., gasoline and oils. 
 
 800 Block. 
 800— Rome Railway & Light Co. 
 
 1000 Block. 
 1010— W. G. Duke, grocery, (c). 
 
 1100 Block. 
 1100 — Florence Restaurant (c). 
 
 Dozier Undertaking Co. (c). 
 
 P. D. Q. Dyeing & Cleaning Co. 
 (c). 
 
 1300 Block. 
 1310— Howell Grocery Co. No. 2. 
 
 1500 Block. 
 1502— Harvey Chair Co. 
 
 Standard Marble Co. 
 1506— F. M. Scott Coal Yard. 
 Byrd's Engine Mills. 
 J. W. Mullinix, shoe shop. 
 1800 Block. 
 1806— Harper Mfg. Co. 
 
 1900 Block. 
 1904 — Harry Brooks, grocery. 
 
 On South Broad Street, South Rome, 
 may be mentioned the following estab- 
 lishments, nestling close to Myrtle 
 Hill cemetery: 
 
 East Side. 
 
 1 03 — Colegate-Calloway Confectionery 
 and Ice Cream Parlor. 
 
 113— Beard & Helton Garage. 
 
 123 — Thos. Warters Cigar Factory, 
 
 133— C. O. Walden, grocery. 
 
 102— Dry Cleaners (c). 
 
 Ever-Ready Garage. 
 
 104 — Sims' Barber Shop (c). 
 
 206— H. J. Klasing Carriage Works. 
 
 310 — Frances Berrien Hospital. 
 
 420 — August Vincenzi, fruits and gro- 
 ceries. 
 
 601— Howell Grocery Co., No. 1. 
 
 BURIED TREASURE.— There are 
 various tales of buried treasure and 
 frenzied hunts around Rome. North- 
 ern soldiers dug into an old cemetery 
 in North Rome, later abandoned. Now 
 and then somebody gets an idea old 
 Dr. Berckmans was rich, and disturbs 
 the ruins of his retreat on Mt. Alto, as 
 they do the sacred precincts of Gen. 
 Burwell's deserted home near Hell's 
 Hollow. Virgil A. Stewart tells how 
 his father, Samuel Stewart, used to 
 receive from the Indians gifts of pieces 
 of gold, lead and tin which they could 
 produce at any time by going out on 
 the trail for four hours. White men 
 often tried to follow the Indians to 
 these treasure beds, but the redskins 
 were too nimble for them, and the 
 secret is supposed never to have been 
 discovered. 
 
 James Foreman, an Indian, was 
 brought back from the west after the 
 war by the Nobles to locate precious 
 metals and ores. He searched some 
 time, but claimed the face of the coun- 
 try and the forests had changed, and 
 he could not find anything. The forks 
 of the rivers wei-e thought to be a
 
 362 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 jcood direction point, but this did not 
 help him. 
 
 James went to gardening: for Mrs. 
 P.obt. Battey. She showed him one 
 day how to set out okra seed. When 
 the plants came up they were too close 
 together, for which Mrs. Battey re- 
 buked him. James was half full of 
 "fire-water," and he replied with a 
 fiendish grin, "Do you know I'm an 
 Indian?" She replied, "Do you re- 
 member my father, William Smith? He 
 often whipped Indians bigger than 
 you!" 
 
 James soon went back to his tribes- 
 men. He told Horry H. Winipee while 
 he was here that Coosa meant "rip- 
 pling water" or "where two waters 
 meet," Oostanaula meant "mother of 
 waters" or "clear water," and Etowah 
 meant "muddy bottom." These mean- 
 ings are doubtful. "Etowah" is said to 
 mean "high banks." 
 
 Will Mitchell tells of a spooky hunt 
 for buried treasure. Looking wistfully 
 from a window of the North Rome 
 Public Schools one day when he was 
 a boy, wishing he could be out where 
 the birds were singing so sweetly, he 
 saw two men drive up to the front of 
 the school lot and measure off a cer- 
 tain distance from a tree, and then 
 measure from another tree. Inquiry 
 next morning of a negi-o family living 
 near the school disclosed that at mid- 
 night two men had driven up in a 
 buggy and gone to digging by the light 
 of a lantern, and sure enough — by 
 looking down the hole Will could dis- 
 cern plainly the print of a tin or steel 
 box which had been removed. 
 
 A Cherokee Indian, Holland, came 
 to Rome between 1874 and 1880, prob- 
 ably from Indian Territory, looking for 
 minerals. He may have been the In- 
 dian who went to the Sproull place 
 on the Kingston road and told Capt. 
 C. Wm. Sproull that he had a chart 
 which showed where buried treasure 
 was located and would give him half 
 if they found anything. The Indian 
 stepped off distances from certain 
 large trees, made cross marks on the 
 ground and finally came to the black- 
 smith shop. His chart showed that the 
 treasure was supposed to have been 
 hidden under the anvil. The anvil was 
 moved and the Indian and a negro dug 
 a deep hole, but without success. 
 
 * :!= * 
 
 ^ CARLIER SPRINGS.— On the Chu- 
 110 road, three miles east of Rome 
 Here in 1848 Gen. L. J. B. LeHardy. 
 Camille LeHardy, Louis Henry Carlier 
 and others started a Belgian colony. 
 
 with the idea of housing other colon- 
 ists from Belgium if the venture 
 proved a success. The Belgians built 
 a two-room log house and several out- 
 buildings, and lived there perhaps 
 seven years. Around the springs was 
 a tract of 100 acres which extended to 
 the Etowah River. J. J. Cohen ac- 
 quired it later, and sold to Geo. M. 
 Battey, who about 1890 sold to his 
 father. Dr. Robert Battey, who died 
 there in 1895. S. R. Cockrill, a grad- 
 uate of Cornell University, now con- 
 ducting a truck farm on the Alabama 
 road near the North Georgia Fair 
 Grounds, bought the place from Mrs. 
 Martha Battey, having lived in a cabin 
 on a part of it for some years pre- 
 viously. The present owner is Mrs. 
 Ella tarvin. 
 
 In a two-story frame house on this 
 place Mrs. Battey established about 
 1894 a small school for the neighbor- 
 hood children, and maintained it at her 
 own expense. Sunday School under 
 Methodist auspices was held on Sun- 
 days. The day school later was taken 
 over by Floyd County and called the 
 Battey Heights School, and in time 
 was removed to another building in 
 the neighborhood. 
 
 There is a suggestion of the old 
 world on this place for which the Bel- 
 gians were not i-esponsible. Many 
 years ago Godfrey Barnsley, the Eng- 
 lishman who developed Barnsley Gar- 
 dens near Adairsville, brought from 
 the grave of Napoleon on the Island 
 of St. Helena a willow switch which 
 he transplanted on his Bartow Coun- 
 ty estate. Some years later he pre- 
 sented an off-shoot of this willow to 
 Mrs. Battey and she planted it on or 
 near a pond at Carlier Springs, and 
 there it is today in the form of quite 
 
 a willow tree. 
 
 * * * 
 
 CARNEGIE LIBRARY.— Erected 
 
 in 1911 with funds donated by Andrew 
 Carnegie, of Pittsburg, Pa.; 7,000 vol- 
 umes; nearly 5,000 members; main 
 story and basement devoted to meet- 
 ings of the U. D. C, Floyd County 
 Camp 368 of Confederate Veterans, the 
 Junior Music Lovers' Club, Woman's 
 Club, Girl Scouts and other organiza- 
 tions and conventions. Librarian since 
 establishment, Miss Helen Underwood 
 Eastman; board of trustees. Judge 
 Max Meyerhardt, president; Mrs. J. 
 Lindsay Johnson, vice president; W. 
 Sinclair Rowell, secretary; Mrs. Jno. 
 C. Printup, Mrs. J. A. Rounsaville, 
 Mrs. Perrin Bestor Brown and Prof. 
 Byard F. Quigg. Located on city prop- 
 erty on west side of Broad Street be-
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 363 
 
 SCENES ON THE BERRY SCHOOL CAMPUS. 
 
 At top, a dormitory built by the boys; in oval, the log cabin on the Thos Berry place, 
 where the idea of the institutioi^ originated in small classes taught by Miss Martha Berry , 
 the handsome chapel, inside which is a blank tablet to be engraved at the anonymous donor s 
 death; at bottom, the "shack" where Col. Roosevelt, Wm. G. McAdoo, Dr. Albert Shaw and 
 a host of noted men and women have been entertained. 
 
 tween Sixth and Seventh Avenues, 
 next to and north of the City Audi- 
 torium. 
 
 CAVES AROUND ROME.— The 
 
 best known cave in Floyd County i.s 
 at Cave Spring:, sixteen miles south- 
 west of Rome. From this flows a 
 spring that is an important part of 
 Little Cedar Creek, and from which 
 
 the town is supplied with pure, spark- 
 ling water through a ram, at practi- 
 cally no cost. Entrance is effected in 
 a steep, rocky bluff innnodiately above 
 the point whence the water issues, and 
 still higher is a second opening, lined 
 with rusty brown boulders. It is pos- 
 siblo to go quite a distance down on a 
 bidder. Water and beautiful stalac- 
 tites and stalagmites are found; it is
 
 364 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 said there are small blind fish in the 
 niiniature lake of the interior. Thou- 
 sands of people visit the cave yearly 
 from all directions. 
 
 On a ridpce equidistant between the 
 old Lytle Park in South Rome and De- 
 Soto Park, back of the home of J. 
 Nephew Kinp: and on his land, is what 
 used to be known as Jonas King's cave. 
 This is easily entered and candles or 
 lamps reveal a large, irregularly 
 shaped compartment, at the bottom of 
 which flows a small stream. There 
 are several smaller compartments con- 
 nected by tunnels which must be crawl- 
 ed through on the stomach. At cer- 
 tain intervals during the Civil War 
 this cave was used as a "magazine" 
 for the storage of gun powder made 
 from the salt peter in Bartow Coun- 
 ty, and for other war materials. 
 At one time also the magazine had 
 been located on Myrtle Hill cemetery 
 near the section which now contains 
 the mortal remains of 277 Confeder- 
 ate soldiers. The entrance of this cave 
 is in a small oak grove and is free 
 from obstructions. 
 
 Rome's so-called "salt peter cave" is 
 about half a mile north of Reece's 
 spring, in North Rome. This is ob- 
 scured by a heavy growth of under- 
 brush in the center of a cultivated 
 field. Small boys say the Oostanaula 
 River, perhaps a mile and a half away, 
 can be reached through the cave, but 
 nobody has ever ventured to explore it 
 to that extent. In 1854 it was called 
 Nix's Cave by White's Historical Col- 
 lections of Georgia. 
 
 Mitchell's cave, named after Daniel 
 R. Mitchell, is located in the face of 
 Whitmore's Bluff, nine miles up the 
 Oostanaula River. A cool stream of 
 water flows out of it and treakles 
 laughingly down the mountainside to 
 the silvery Oostanaula. White's Col- 
 lections called it Woodward Cave and 
 stated it was once a noted cache for 
 stolen goods. 
 
 Another cave of some interest can 
 be found on Black's Bluff, three miles 
 down the Coosa River. It was ex- 
 plored more than a year ago by a 
 group of Boy Scouts. 
 
 A large cave is located in Turkey 
 Mountain, northeastern end of Texas 
 Valley, and another of some size in 
 Texas Valley is on the farm of the late 
 J. J. Fisher. 
 
 William Salmon's place, quarter of 
 a mile south of Armuchee Creek, on 
 the Summerville I'oad, contains a cave. 
 
 When Rome was first settled a cave 
 was found in the northern part of Myr- 
 
 tle Hill cemetery, and Indian relics 
 and skeletons were discovered. 
 
 On May 23, 1922, a cave was found 
 on the Peek place 1,000 feet south of 
 Bird Station, quarter of a mile from 
 the Polk County line. It was explored 
 by County Engineer Kieffer Lindsey 
 and County Commissioner J. E. Campj 
 who found it to be 30 feet deep and 
 20 feet wide at the bottom. The walls 
 were smooth and composed of hard 
 shale rock, and they tapered into a 
 cone. shape toward the top. Mr. Lind- 
 sey was the first man who had ever 
 entered it, for the earth at the open- 
 ing had just given away when he was 
 called. He threw a lighted newspaper 
 to the bottom. The paper exhausted the 
 oxygen, so when he went down by rope 
 his lantern was extinguished. His 
 opinion was that the place had been 
 a lime-sink and the lime had worn 
 away through erosion, leaving an un- 
 derground chamber as perfectly form- 
 ed as the cupola of a knight's castle. 
 * * * 
 
 CAVE SPRING, MONTGOMERY 
 M. FOLSOM ON.— "At last we as- 
 cended a rising ground, from which we 
 could see the tapering spires and arch- 
 ing roofs of the most beautiful town 
 in Georgia. There sat Cave Spring 
 like a happy school girl, framed in a 
 setting of green and gold, with the 
 deep blue sky and the purple hills of 
 the Coosa in the background; Little 
 Cedar Creek bubbling melodiously at 
 her feet; the vine-clad summits of the 
 hills rising ovei-head; the streets wind- 
 ing leisurely along through verdant 
 bowers, under spreading branches and 
 over grassy levels; each happy home 
 nestled cozily among the yards and 
 gardens, orchards and vineyards. It 
 was a scene once beheld never to be 
 forgotten." 
 
 CAVE SPRING, HENRY W. GRA- 
 DY ON. — Henry W. Grady, traveling 
 with the Georgia Press Excursion be- 
 tween Rome and Selma, Ala., wrote 
 as follows for the Sept. 10, 1869, is- 
 sue of the Rome Weekly Courier: "Our 
 first stop was made at Cave Spring, 
 and all hands made a flying visit to 
 the cave, and to niany of the party 
 it was quite a show. From the cave, 
 many visited the Asylum for the Deaf 
 and Dumb, and all united in pronounc- 
 ing Cave Spring one of the most beau- 
 tiful spots in all the land, but were at 
 a loss to understand why the railroad 
 did not pass through the town. I will 
 not repeat the sad story of old fogy- 
 ism that was related to us as a rea-
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 365 
 
 son. Suffice to say, property sudden- 
 ly became valuable, right-of-way a ter- 
 rible obstacle, and the boss of the road 
 simply made a little curve, and went 
 around our forest village." 
 
 CAVE SPRING, COL. JNO. L. 
 MARTIN ON.— Col. Jno. L. Martin 
 wrote as follows of Cave Spring in 
 the Anniston (Ala.) Hot Blast in 
 1888: 
 
 "There is no more beautiful inter- 
 vallation in all the Blue Ridge chain 
 of mountains than Vann's Valley, and 
 its most charming scenery is in and 
 about Cave Spring. No one, unless 
 he be a dullard, can look upon the out- 
 stretching panorama of Vann's Valley 
 without being lastingly impressed with 
 its marvelous picture, in which there 
 stand forth most striking beauties of 
 wooded mountainside, groves of majes- 
 tic trees, greensward on whose bosom 
 rest in gentlest touch most inviting 
 shades, and through which, like loved 
 bands of silver, there merrily run bab- 
 bling streams of pure water, fresh 
 from the dark depths of the sternal 
 hills. 
 
 "Cave Spring and its surroundings 
 is one of the most picturesque and 
 pleasant spots in the world. It is a 
 spot where nature has lavished her 
 deftest charms with captivating wealth, 
 and is, like Auburn of old, the fair- 
 est village of all the plain. Its nat- 
 ural attractiveness is almost peerless. 
 Some day when the younger genera- 
 tion takes charge, grand hotels, bath- 
 ing houses, fountains and parks will 
 draw to this spot each succeeding sum- 
 mer thousands of guests, every one of 
 whom will become a lover." (The col- 
 onel evidently meant "nature lover." — 
 Author.) 
 
 * * * 
 
 CHEROKEE ARTILLERY (LA- 
 TER CORPUT'S BATTERY).— The 
 following were the original officers of 
 this concern, organized early in 1861 : 
 
 Captain— M. A. Stovall. 
 
 First Lieut. — J. G. Yeiser. 
 
 Second Lieut. — J. H. Lawrence. 
 
 Third Lieut.— Max V. D. Corput. 
 
 Fourth Lieut.— C. O. Stillwell. 
 
 First Sergt.— T. D. Attaway. 
 
 Second Sergt.— J. M. Bowen. 
 
 Third Sergt.— G. N. Sandifer. 
 
 Fourth Sergt. — A. S. Hamilton. 
 
 Fifth Sergt.— Wm. Noble. 
 
 Sixth Sergt.— J. B. Clark. 
 
 First Corporal— T. F. Hooper. 
 
 Second Corporal — D. G. Love. 
 
 Third Corporal— Jno. S. Holland. 
 
 Fourth Corporal— R. M. Farrar. 
 
 Fifth Corporal — S. Magnus. 
 Sixth Corporal— G. B. Butler. 
 Surgeon — Dr. Robt. Battey. 
 
 CENTRAL GROVE DISTRICT.— 
 
 This part of Floyd County was settled 
 in 1854, Jimmie Duke and his family 
 being the first settlers. Mr. Duke 
 bought 160 acres of land at the inter- 
 fection of the O'Brien and Central 
 Grove roads for a gun valued at $25. 
 His son, Lumpkin Duke, was a prom- 
 inent man in the neighborhood and 
 raised a large family, the boys of 
 which engaged in the saw mill busi- 
 ness. Two of his sons, Lumpkin and 
 Tom Duke, are now living in Rome 
 and are still engaged in the same kind 
 of work. 
 
 Jim Duke's brother, Green R. Duke, 
 settled on what is known as the Green 
 Duke place in 1860. His son, Martin 
 M. Duke, who is now living in this 
 neighborhood, is the oldest living de- 
 scendant of the original settlers. Mar- 
 tin M. Duke gave the land on which 
 the Central Grove School was built in 
 1900. The institution was known as 
 the Duke School House for many years. 
 Mrs. Henry O. Littlejohn, one of his 
 daughters, lives near the school. An. 
 other early settler was Joel Stowe, who 
 was a noted barbecuer. Assisted by 
 William A. Littlejohn, he barbecued 
 the meat for the joint encampment of 
 the Confederate and Union veterans at 
 Chickamauga 35 years ago. W. A. 
 Littlejohn, his stepson, lives near Cen- 
 tral Grove School. Jesse P. Ayers, 
 who settled on what is known as the 
 Math Beard place, was another one 
 of the pioneers. He was the father 
 of Mrs. Georgia Allen, Frank and Ab. 
 Ayers, all still living in this conimu- 
 nity. Some of the present residents 
 who are doing work of interest to the 
 public are R. L. Brown, who taught 
 when the school was located where 
 Mountain Springs church now stands 
 and is now county surveyor; W. Ed. 
 Beard, who has been bailiff for a num- 
 ber of years; W. P. Bradfield, who is 
 one of the county commissioners and 
 has been instrumental in giving this 
 part of the county its share of good 
 roads; Willis Griffin, a strong advo- 
 cate of Tom Watson, who was reared 
 in this settlement; Henry O. Littlejohn, 
 who served the Berry School for the 
 longest continuous period of any of its 
 employees, in charge of much of the 
 carpentry work and the superintend- 
 ent who built all of the log houses; 
 C. Ira But lei-, wlio is prominent in 
 church and Sunday School work, and 
 a song leader; and M. A. Hughes, who
 
 366 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 found on his farm the Indian relics 
 displayed at the North Georgia Fair 
 in October, 1921; O. L. Titrud, who 
 came from Minnesota in the fall of 
 1907 to teach aprriculture at the Berry 
 Schools and held that ])osition for eig:ht 
 years, helping: to lay the foundation for 
 the ag-ricultural work of the school. He 
 was the first president of the Floyd 
 County Farm Bureau and is now a 
 member of the Advisory Board for 
 Glen wood District. He has developed 
 a laying? strain of Barred Rock chick- 
 ens; is a breeder of Holstein cattle, 
 and has developed a variety of white 
 cob yellow dent corn. Mr. Titrud was 
 one of the division presidents of the 
 Georg-ia Sunday School Association for 
 a number of years and was succeeded 
 by Fair C. Moon. He is now secre- 
 tary of the County Sunday School As. 
 sociation, and has been superintendent 
 of the Central Grove Sunday School 
 ever since the church was org:anized. 
 He is also lay leader of the Rome cir- 
 cuit of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
 Central Grove School District has been 
 prominent in the work fostered by the 
 county agricultural and home demon- 
 stration agents. The following people 
 have been especially interested and 
 helpful in the home demonstration 
 work: Mrs. W. A. Littlejohn, Mrs. 
 C. I. Butler. Mrs. H. O. Littlejohn and 
 Mr. and Mrs. O. L. Titrud. Lillie Bell 
 Butler received the first scholarship 
 here to the Athens short course in can- 
 ning work. Bculah Buchanan Titrud 
 won a scholarship for poultry work. 
 Lois Littlejohn won two scholarships 
 for home demonstration work. Among 
 the boys who received prizes were Al- 
 bert Littlejohn, for Pig Club work; 
 Jack Beard and Benson Butler, for 
 Corn Club work, and Clyde Titrud for 
 Calf Club work. Central Grove won 
 second prize for community exhibits at 
 the North Georgia Fair of 1921. There 
 are two Methodist churches in this lo- 
 cality, Mountain Springs church, which 
 was moved from the Summerville road 
 about 1900, and Central Grove, organ- 
 ized June 28, 1914. 
 
 * * * 
 
 CHILDREN'S FREE CLINIC— 
 Since Floyd County was the leader 
 among Georgia provinces to adopt the 
 Ellis Public Health law, unusual in- 
 terest attaches to the early results. 
 The law was adopted in 1915 on the 
 approval of two successive grand 
 juries, and the County Board of Health 
 was then organized and Dr. M. M. 
 McCord chosen county commissioner 
 of health from a field of twelve appli. 
 cants from over the state. The board 
 
 was composed of Jno. C. King, chair- 
 man, as county superintendent of 
 schools; J. G. Pollock, by virtue of his 
 office as chairman of the County 
 Board of Roads and Revenues ; and 
 Dr. Wm. P. Harbin, elected by the 
 grand jury. Active work of the health 
 office began Jan. 1, 1916. Appreciat- 
 ing the need of a thorough canvass of 
 the county. Dr. McCord applied to the 
 Treasury Department at Washington, 
 D. C, for a corps of public health med- 
 ical experts to prepare a survey. Op. 
 position was met at first, but it was 
 overcome, and from March to Novem- 
 ber a staff working under the direc- 
 tion of Maj. L. L. Lumsden, U. S. A., 
 gathered data for a survey. 
 
 Every home, school, church, factory, 
 dairy, cafe, drug store, hotel, grocery 
 store, meat market and slaughter pen 
 was visited and an examination made 
 looking to the prevention of commu- 
 nicable disease. 
 
 Dr. McCord was ex-officio medical 
 inspector of the public schools, and he 
 made frequent visits and delivered a 
 series of lectures on sanitation and 
 personal hygiene. Of 6,000 children 
 examined, it was found that 40 per 
 cent of them had serious physical de- 
 fects, either curable or correctible 
 through medical or surgical skill or 
 dental attention. Card index records 
 were kept and reports made to parents. 
 Every effort was made to the end that 
 each defective child should report to 
 dentist or physician. On checking the 
 cards the second year. Dr. McCord 
 found that while several hundred chil- 
 dren had received attention, one-third 
 of the defectives were unable to pay 
 for professional services and had had 
 nothing done. He therefore associat- 
 ed with him one of the teachers in the 
 public schools in a plan for a free 
 clinic. Civic organizations and citi- 
 zens contributed the necessary money 
 and a competent nurse was put in 
 charge of the Children's Free Clinic in 
 Municipal Building quarters. The ex. 
 periment in Floyd County proved a 
 fine investment and received warm ap- 
 proval all over the state. Dr. Mc- 
 Cord resigned in 1919 and he was suc- 
 ceeded by Dr. Eugene 0. Chimene, who 
 resigned in 1921 to go to Greenville, 
 S. C. Dr. B. V. Elmore, an experienced 
 health offidal of Blountstown, Fla., 
 was elected to the vacancy, and still 
 fills it. Dr. Elmore has been relent- 
 less in his war on germs, mosquitoes, 
 flies and their ilk, and is doing his 
 part to maintain the reputation of 
 Ronie and Floyd as the healthiest parts 
 of an unusually healthy section.
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 367 
 
 WHERE EVERY BOY LEARNS A TRADE. 
 
 At top, the blacksmith shop of the Berry Schools, and a group of earnest workers. 
 All metal part repairs for the farm are made here. At the bottom is the wood shop, over 
 the other. This is in charge of Mr. Nesbit, an experienced carpenter and wood worker, who 
 teaches his boys to make hall trees, lamp stands, book cases, cabinets, and furniture of alb 
 kinds. This place is a stranger to loafers and shams. 
 
 CITY CLERKS.— The first mention 
 of City Clerks comes in a Rome Week- 
 ly Courier of 1852. As deputy clerk 
 Chas. H. Smith issued an official notice 
 under date of July 15. It is safe to 
 assume that Mr. Smith soon thereafter 
 wrote and talked himself into a clerk- 
 ship. D. Clinton Harg:rove was clerk 
 in 1860, Reuben S. Norton in 1865, and 
 Henry A. Smith (mayor in 1870-1) 
 just after him. The others, according: 
 
 to the best recollections and records 
 available, were Ed. F. Shropshire, 
 1870-1; Henry C. Norton, 1873-83; 
 W^m. Seay, 1883-7; Mitchell A. Nevin, 
 1887.April, 1894; Halstead Smith. 
 April, 1894-1906; J. R. Cantrell, 1906. 
 12; Hu{?h McCrary, 1912-17; J. M. 
 Cooley, April 1 to Nov. 1; Sim F. Ma- 
 gruder, Nov. 1, 1919 (incumbent). 
 
 J. H. McClung was City Treasurer 
 in 1860 and his annual salary was $25.
 
 368 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 The City Clerk (Mr. Hargrove), drew 
 $100, and the marshal, Samuel Stew- 
 art, $650 for all his time. 
 * * * 
 
 COOSA. — A village on the right 
 bank of the Coosa River, eleven mile.s 
 west of Rome, at the southern foot of 
 Turnip Mountain and one niile south- 
 west of Judy Mountain; center of the 
 North Carolina District, which, with 
 the exception of Rome and Cave 
 Spring, pays more tax than any other 
 district in the county. Nearby are the 
 farms once or now owned by the 
 Camps, Montgomerys, Quins, Turners, 
 Deans, Sheltons, Catheys and McAr- 
 vers, on which is raised some of the 
 finest cotton in the South, and where 
 great quantities of wheat were pro- 
 duced in the old steamboat days. Some? 
 people erroneously call the place Coo- 
 saville. 
 
 It was via Veal's Ferry at Coosa 
 that the Confederate Army of Gen. 
 Jno. B. Hood crossed the Coosa River 
 after the fall of Atlanta in 1864, lead- 
 ing Sherman's Army in a hot pursuit 
 through Texas Valley and in the di- 
 rection of Resaca and Dalton. 
 
 Coosa was first known as Missionary 
 Station. In January, 1821, Rev. and 
 Mrs. Elijah Butler were sent to this 
 spot by the American Baptist For- 
 eign Mission Society of South Canaan, 
 Conn., and they set up a mission house 
 for the religious and educational in- 
 struction of the Indians. After eight 
 years of arduous toil Mrs. Butler died 
 there at 31 years of age, and was 
 buried in front of the present home of 
 Cicero Evans. A large wild cherry 
 tree has grown up directly over her 
 gi-ave. Dr. Butler's activities among 
 the Indians led to a charge by the 
 Georgia authorities that he was in- 
 citing them to revolt, and he and Rev. 
 Samuel A. Worcester, of Vermont, 
 who was stationed at the mission at 
 New Echota, Gordon County, were 
 sentenced to serve four years in the 
 Georgia penitentiary, and served a 
 year and four months. The United 
 States Supreme Court had reversed 
 the lower court, but Georgia disregard, 
 ed the decision. The missionaries wei-e 
 released on their promise to leave the 
 state. 
 
 An old description of Coosa by an 
 appreciative visitor of 1888 reads: 
 "Coosa does not boast any brownstone 
 fronts towering spires, "but when it 
 ccmes to rolling up a tremendous Dem- 
 ocratic majority, good living, .solid 
 comfort, or getting up a free show, or 
 anything from a North Georgia fair 
 to an old-time barbecue, you can set 
 
 her down as a file leader at the head 
 of the column." 
 
 COURTS— The Inferior courts of 
 before the Civil War gave way to the 
 Superior and County (now City) 
 courts. The first County Court of 
 Ployd was organized in conformity 
 with a general law passed Mar. 17, 
 1866, by the Georgia Legislature.* 
 Rome was in the Tallapoosa Circuit 
 of the Superior Court from 1864 until 
 1869, when the Rome Circuit, still ex- 
 istent now, came into being.** Dennis 
 Hills was the first clerk. 
 
 From Judge Joel Branham's book- 
 let, "The Old Court House in Rome," 
 (ps. 6 and 7) the following material 
 is taken: 
 
 The Superior Court judges for the 
 Tallapoosa Circuit were L. H. Feath- 
 erston, 1864-7; Jno. W. H. Under- 
 wood, 1867-9; Jno. S. Bigby, 1869. 
 
 The judges /of the Rome Circuit 
 were Francis A. Kirbv, 1869-70; Robt. 
 D. Harvey, 1870-73; Jno. W. H. Un- 
 derwood, 1873-82; Joel Branham, 
 1882-8; Jno. W. Maddox, 1886-92; 
 Wm. M. Henry, 1892-94; Waller T. 
 Turnbull, 1894-96.*** 
 
 The County Court judges were D. 
 M^ck Hood,' 1866.70; Wm. Barclay 
 Terhune, Mar. 24, 1873-1874; Richard 
 R. Harris, July, 1874,-1879; Junius 
 F. Hillyer, May 30, 1883-Sept. 27, 1883. 
 
 In 1883 the County Court became 
 the City Court by an act passed Sept. 
 25 and 27,**** and the judges who 
 served were Richard R. Harris, 1894- 
 98; Jno. H. Reece, 1898-1903; Harper 
 Hamilton, 1903-10; W. J. Nunnally, 
 May to October, 1910; Jno. H. Reece, 
 1910-15.***** 
 
 Jesse Lamberth served as Ordinary 
 of Floyd County from 1861 to 1868, 
 when he was succeeded by Henry J. 
 Johnson, who served 25 years, until 
 1893.****** 
 
 The Solicitor General of the Supe- 
 rior Court from 1882-6 was J. I. 
 Wright, and of the County Court from 
 1866-70 Jas. P. Perkins'; from 1873 
 until Octber, 1874, Dunlap Scott, and 
 from December, 1874, until 1879, Col. 
 Hamilton Yancey. 
 
 *Acts, 1865-6, p. 64. 
 
 **Acts, 1869, p. 20. 
 
 ***Since 1896 and to the present time the 
 judges have been Moses R. Wright (incum- 
 bent) and Jno. W. Maddox. 
 
 ****Acts, 1882-3, ps. .534-5. 
 
 *****W. J. Nunnally again became judge in 
 1915 and held the office until Sept. 13, 1922, 
 when he was succeeded by Jno. W. Bale. 
 
 ******Henry J. Johnson was the father of 
 the present ordinary, Harry Johnson, who suc- 
 ceeded Jno. P. Davis, Judge Davis having suc- 
 ceeded the elder Johnson.
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 369 
 
 The clerk of the Superior Court from 
 1867-70 was Adolphus E. Ross.* 
 
 Nathan Yarbrough was SheriflF in 
 1866-7, and he was followed by Col. 
 Jno. R. Towers. The justices of the 
 peace in 1867 were Thos. J. Perry and 
 Samuel Johnson. 
 
 A list of the lawyers of the period 
 covered by Judge Branham's account 
 will be found elsewhere herein. 
 
 Judge Jno. W. Maddox, former Su- 
 perior Court justice, died at Rome 
 Thursday, Sept. 28, 1922, aged 74, and 
 was buried Friday in Myrtle Hill cem- 
 etery, Rome. 
 
 CREEKS OF FLOYD COUNTY.— 
 The principal creeks of Floyd County: 
 
 Armuchee, probably the largest;'''* 
 made up of East Armuchee and West 
 Armuchee both rising in CTiattooga 
 County; flows southeasterly and emp- 
 ties into Oostanaula River at Pope's 
 Ferry and the farm of Mrs. Bessie 
 Battey Troutman. 
 
 Big Cedar, the second largest; head- 
 waters in Polk County; flows north- 
 westerly and empties into Coosa River 
 one mile east of the Alabama line. 
 
 Big Dry; rises on the southern side 
 of Lavender Mountain, flows south- 
 easterly through the Berry School 
 property and empties into the Oosta- 
 naula about three miles north of Rome. 
 
 Little Dry; rises in West Rome, 
 flows easterly through the Flat Woods 
 and empties into the Oostanaula at the 
 Linton A. Dean place, near the Sum- 
 merville road, one mile north of Rome. 
 
 Lavender; rises south of Rock 
 Mountain, in Little Texas Valley, flows 
 northeasterly through the valley and 
 empties into Armuchee Creek a mile 
 above Armuchee. 
 
 Heath; rises southeast of Simms' 
 Mountain, flows northeasterly through 
 Big Texas Valley and empties into Ar- 
 muchee creek 2 miles above Armuchee. 
 
 Woodward; rises in Gordon and Bar- 
 tow Counties, flows southwesterly and 
 empties into the Oostanaula half a 
 mile (by land) south of Pope's Ferry. 
 
 Jimmy Long; rises near Hermitage, 
 Ridge Valley, flows westerly and 
 empties into the Oostanaula a mile 
 north of Harper Station. 
 
 Dykes'; named after Dr. G. J. Dykes, 
 who came to Rome in 18;5G; rises on 
 the southern side of Armstrong Moun- 
 tain, flows south and empties into the 
 Etowah River about a mile above 
 Freeman's Ferry. It is fed by the 
 large spring at Morrison's Camp 
 Ground and other springs. 
 
 Barnsley; rises south of Armstrong 
 Mountain, flows south through the 
 western edge of Bartow County and 
 empties into the Etowah in Bartow, 
 three miles east of Bass' Ferry. 
 
 Spi-ing; rises in Chulio district, runs 
 northward to the Etowah between 
 I'reeman's and Bass' Ferry. 
 
 Spring; rises in Chulio district, runs 
 northward to the Etowah between 
 Freeman's and Bass' Ferries. 
 
 Silver; rises in Polk Cotinty six 
 miles northeast of Cedartown, flows 
 northward into the Etowah River mid- 
 way between the East Rome and Broad 
 Street bridges, at Rome. 
 
 Lake; rises four miles east of Ce- 
 dartown in Polk County, flows gen- 
 erally northwestward and empties into 
 Big Cedar Creek near Chubbtown. 
 
 Little Cedar; rises near Etna in 
 Polk County, flows northeastward and 
 empties into Big Cedar Creek near 
 Vann's Valley Station. 
 
 Spring; rises in Indian Moun- 
 tain, Polk County, practically on the 
 Alabama line, flows northward into 
 Floyd, then westward into Alabama 
 and empties into the Coosa River near 
 Yancey's Bend. 
 
 Mud; rises four miles west of Cave 
 Spring, flows northwestward into Ala- 
 bama and empties into the Coosa near 
 Kirk's Grove, Ala. 
 
 Webb; rises near Landers and the 
 Southern railroad, Vann's Valley, flows 
 northwardly through the valley and 
 empties into the Coosa at the W. Green 
 Foster-Van Dyke farm, four miles 
 northeast of Livingston. One of the 
 headwaters of Webb Creek is the Cress 
 Spring on the farm of Wm. S. Gib- 
 bons, Cave Spring road. 
 
 Cabin; rises south of Simms' Moun- 
 tain, western end of Lavender Moun- 
 tain, flows southwardly and empties 
 into the Coosa about a mile east of 
 Coosa and Veal's Ferry. 
 
 Beach; rises a mile northeast of 
 Judy Mountain, flows south, then west, 
 and empties into the Coosa at Turner's 
 Bend. 
 
 Burwell; rises on the old home place 
 of Capt. Wm. Moore near the North 
 Rome depot. Southern railway, flows 
 west and empties into the Oostanaula 
 quarter of a mile north of Rome. 
 
 Horseleg; rises three miles north of 
 Ilorseleg Mountain (Mt. Alto), flows 
 
 *See Memorial of Feb. 2, 1S<)1, in Minutes 
 No. 25, p. 1. 
 
 ♦♦Authority : County Kiit'ineer KielTor Linii- 
 sey.
 
 370 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 eastward through Shorter College prop- 
 erty and empties into the Coosa one 
 mile west of Rome. 
 
 Note: Exact accuracy is not claimed 
 for the above descriptions. The mnp 
 principally consulted was the "Rome 
 Quadranfrk''' of the U. S. Geological 
 Survey, which is very helpful. A more 
 elaborate map, but of a different char- 
 acter, is the soil map published by 
 the Federal Department of Agricul- 
 ture, Washington, many copies of 
 which have been sent out by Congress- 
 man Gordon Lee. 
 
 DARKEYS OF ROME, OLD-TIME. 
 
 — Among the "segashuating corporosi- 
 ties" of the older colored folk of Rome 
 may be mentioned the following, as 
 mostly supplied by Richard Venable 
 Mitchell: 
 
 Lewis Barrett: "Veteran barber, 
 while an old timer, he says he is never 
 too tired to entertain his friends." 
 
 Jack Battel) : ''The body-guard of 
 Dr. Robt. Battey in the Civil War. 
 Jack had charge of 'Fleeter,' Dr. Bat- 
 tey's faithful mare, which safely swam 
 with her master across the Potomac 
 River at night in 1863 in the Gettys- 
 burg campaign. 'Fleeter' was given 
 shortly afterward by Dr. Battey to the 
 Sproull boys on the Kingston road, and 
 was put to plowing, which she had 
 never done before. She was a small 
 gray mare, almost white, and a fine 
 pacer; she went through the Battles 
 of First Manassas, the Wilderness, 
 Gettysburg, Richmond and others, 
 without a scratch, although a cannon 
 ball once knocked dirt upon her and 
 Jack and an iron gray pack horse 
 which Jack rode. Jack died in 1912 
 at Chattanooga. He had been employ- 
 ed in a hotel restaurant by Sam P. 
 Light. On one occasion he had a ter- 
 rible fight with another cook over the 
 question of who could make the best 
 chicken chop suey. He was a con- 
 temporary of two other servants of 
 Dr. Battey: Jim Hagan, who drove 
 the one-horse wagon, and 'Aunt Che. 
 ney,' an old slave. 'Aunt Cheney's' 
 only picture was taken by W. Kennedy 
 Laurie Dickson, assistant to Thos. A. 
 Edison, while he was sojourning in 
 Rome in 1890 after a siege of work 
 on the motion picture invention." 
 
 Gus Carlton: "Retired blacksmith, 
 with age about 9.'5, and slightly bowed 
 from bending over the hind hoof of 
 many a 'jarhead.' Resides on Tower 
 Hill and is now blind." 
 
 Chubb Faviily: "These darkeys were 
 farmers around Chubbtown, near Cave 
 
 Spring and the Polk County line, whose 
 industry and thrift enabled them to ac- 
 cumulate considerable property, gins, 
 mills, houses, etc. They are law-abid- 
 ing, respected by the whites and gen- 
 erally good citizens. Their master set 
 them free before the Civil War." 
 
 Allen Collier: "His occupation is 
 that of a cook. He knows how to pre- 
 pare something that will satisfy one's 
 bread basket. His wife, Alice Collier, 
 washed many a garment in her younger 
 days, but as she was suffering from 
 the white swelling, she retired about 
 15 years ago and has always lived with 
 her old man. She never knew she was 
 an offspring of one of Col. Alfred 
 Shorter's slaves. Allen does not belong 
 to the aristocratic Shorter crowd, how- 
 ever." 
 
 Charlie Coppee: "Retired drayman. 
 Some eight years ago Charlie quit and 
 has since been doing pretty much as 
 he pleases as a butler in a good family 
 on West Eleventh Street, Fourth Ward. 
 He is 80 years old. His team con. 
 sisted of a small flat-top wagon drawn 
 by a slow-moving 'hard-tail.' He leaped 
 tf) this city in 1885 from Athens. When 
 he talks to you he squinches out of one 
 eye and smiles out of one side of his 
 mouth. He can still do a plantation 
 breakdown if you give him a young 
 enough partner and a shot of mean 
 licker. In size he is very low and 
 stumpy, but can cover ground. His 
 home is in the rear of the place where 
 he works." 
 
 Loit Cothran: "For 25 years cook 
 and nurse for the Moultrie ifamily and 
 now nurse of the Ernest E. Lindsey 
 children." 
 
 Ellen Pentecost Daniel: "A slave of 
 Col. Alfred Shorter. She died in Octo- 
 ber, 1914, at the ripe old age of 73. 
 One of the most appetizing cooks in 
 her day. She was my nurse and I 
 understand held the bottle for quite 
 a number of Romans, all of whom re- 
 member her affectionately. Poor old 
 soul ; she never rusted, but wore her- 
 self out." 
 
 Steve Eberhart (or Perry) : "Pro- 
 fession, whitewasher. Steve came to 
 Rome about 20 years ago from Athens, 
 where he was the slave in the war 
 of Col. Abraham Eberhart. He is the 
 mascot of the Confederate Veterans of 
 Rome, and in his attempts to attend 
 every reunion of the Boys in Gray 
 collects a lot of money under various 
 false pretenses, and gets away with it. 
 Some of his whitewash might well be 
 used on himself, for he is as black 
 as African midnight and nearly as
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 371 
 
 ^' ■ iMMh- 
 
 OLD-TIME DARKIES WITH THEIR "HABITS ON." 
 
 The South owes much to its ante-bellum population, and will always ••'^•"r"^^J^r j/l'^'"^^'^'; 
 deep affection. In this group we get a glimpse of a number of well-known ^^a^cters caught 
 here and there. Included are the old sprinkler sprucing up the yard of the F'"* ^["J'*'*^"^" 
 church; Steve Eberhart in a "fowl escapade." "Aunt Martha" Stevenson. Aunt Cheney. 
 Augustus Sams, Bob Lake and others.
 
 372 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 small as a chinquepin, but he carries 
 himself with an erectile strut that im- 
 mediately becomes a dissembling: sham- 
 ble when he wants to pass around the 
 hat. At reunion time he puts on his 
 artillery uniform of red and gray, and 
 lays a "barrage of profanity that with- 
 ers every new-fangled darkey that 
 crosses his path. Under his arm is his 
 pet rooster, borrowed from a conven- 
 ient hen-house, and such feathers as 
 are missing from the fowl's tail can 
 be found in Steve's beaver hat. Steve 
 is on the shady side of 80. His side- 
 line is collecting clothes from the white 
 folks so the women can wash 'em, and 
 on his shiny dome he can balance a 
 bag of clothes nearly as well as a wa- 
 termelon. He is of the aristocracy, 
 having been just after the war valet 
 at Athens to Henry W. Grady and Ben 
 Hill. He is a powerful orator, with 
 'Fiddling Bob' Taylor's ability to cry 
 on occasion, and if his education had 
 not been cut short by Mr. Grady's 
 gi-aduation from the University, he 
 might have been the Daniel Webster 
 of his race. While he has never been 
 ordained as a minister, he can preach 
 with the best of them. He served with 
 his 'mar.ster' in the war on the west 
 Coast of Florida, and there learned 
 how to fish." 
 
 Lena Hudson: "Age about 70; oc- 
 cupation, sick nurse." 
 
 Ned Huggins: "Retired Arm- 
 strong Hotel barber and retired sex- 
 ton of the First Presbyterian church. 
 His good word was always 'Call 
 again.' " 
 
 Boh Lake: "Bob is only middle-aged 
 but has old-fashioned ways. He still 
 works when there is a chance to make 
 an honest living. At Christmas time 
 he helps the Rotary Club distribute 
 baskets to the poor, and totes home a 
 well-filled basket for himself. He is 
 the handy man at Judge Harper Ham- 
 ilton's on East Fourth Street, but for 
 80 years has 'drayed' for the Simpson 
 Grocery Company and is an expert at 
 handling salt meat with a cotton hook." 
 
 Hennj Little: "Farmer; bachelor; 
 his home is one quarter of a mile north 
 of the city limits, near the old Ridge 
 place, on the Oostanaula River road. 
 His complexion is slate color and hair 
 and mustache a dark gray; he is tall, 
 comports himself like a soldier and 
 has a pleasing address. Henry still 
 wears his clod-hoppers at 73, and says 
 he can see a boll weevil as far as any 
 man, but is wise enough to try corn 
 and wheat." 
 
 Pomp Lovejoy: "Faithful standby 
 
 janitor of the N., C. & St. L. passen- 
 ger depot for 37 years. He swears he 
 never used an oath or an alcoholic bev- 
 erage. Is a native of Floyd Springs 
 and resides in 'Tim-buck-too,' where 
 he has a fine home." 
 
 Mack Madison : "An old-time farm- 
 er who can always get together a 
 mess of vittles like ham, cracklin' 
 bread, pot licker and turnip greens, 
 in spite of the boll weevil and potato 
 bugs. He is a shy old rascal, and when 
 he comes to town, which is not often, 
 he keeps out of the way of the police. 
 If you eye him too closely or try to 
 question him, he gets off' like a rabbit 
 through a brier patch. He has a sweet 
 tooth, so keeps a bee gum, and is as 
 industrious as anybody in the hive. 
 Once he ignored a summons to court, 
 and two officers brought him in. Asked 
 by a friend why he finally went, he said 
 his legs got in motion and his body 
 had to go too." 
 
 West McCoy: "Retired plasterer; 
 uncertain age. He winks out of one 
 eye because he has lost the other. He 
 sits around on garbage boxes and holds 
 out his hand for a penny, saying, 'It 
 takes only 100 to make a dollar.' " 
 
 Pomp Mosclcy: "Lives with his wife, 
 Lucy, 72, in South Rome. Always con- 
 nected with the furniture business, and 
 he hung many a shade and stretched 
 many a carpet before the days of rugs 
 and waxed floors. He carries his age 
 of 76 as lightly as a man of 40, and 
 withal is as quiet and polite as a 
 basket of chips, being one of the Shor- 
 ter slaves. He carries a yard stick 
 for a cane, to advertise his business." 
 
 Carrie Mullen: "Lives on Gibson 
 Street and is 80 and highly respected." 
 
 Flora Payne: "Cook for the Wade 
 S. Cothran family. Long since gone 
 to her reward." 
 
 Harrison Payne: "Retired teamster; 
 occasionally is seen at the curb mar- 
 ket with his spring wagon full of veg- 
 etables at reasonable prices. His nag 
 is an old-fashioned high stepper, but 
 now somewhat broken down." 
 
 Hamp Pentecost: "The bodyguard 
 of Col. Chas. M. Harper during the 
 Civil War. He was one of the blue- 
 blooded darkeys of Rome, having be- 
 longed to Col. Shorter, and was faith- 
 ful to the last. For a long time he 
 w^as assistant boss of Ed. L. Bos- 
 worth's dray line, and could always 
 be depended upon." 
 
 Taylor E. R. Persons: "Died at the 
 age of 72. He was discovered in 1882 
 by City Clerk M. A. Nevin, who re-
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 373 
 
 quisitioned his services to fight cob- 
 webs and dust at the old City Hall, 
 and to plaster up rat holes. He was a 
 stout darkey and was often called upon 
 by the police to help put an unruly 
 character into the 'jug.' He made such 
 a favorable impression upon Rev. Jas. 
 W. Lee that when Dr. Lee was trans- 
 ferred in 1885 to the pastorate of the 
 Trinity Methodist church in Atlanta 
 he made a special trip to Rome and 
 borrowed Taylor to fill a sexton's place. 
 Taylor did not come back to Rome until 
 Dr. Lee tried to take him to Missouri. 
 On returning, he assumed his old posi- 
 ion, and when the City Hall was moved 
 to its present location, he went along, 
 and served there until age caused him 
 to be 'let out.' He took a vacation 
 once in 1898, and remained away until 
 after the Spanish-American War, 
 where he acquired quite a military 
 presence. It gave him great pleasure 
 to crack his heels together and salute 
 any of the white folks who asked him 
 a favor; and he was well cared for in 
 his old age. He was a pillar in the 
 Upper Broad Street Colored Methodist 
 Episcopal church." 
 
 Jim Ponder: "Has been dead about 
 20 years. Used to haul slops from the 
 Battey Infirmary. He was a sort of 
 doctor among his people; buried buz- 
 zards in large frying pans, and when 
 the grease ran out used it to cure 
 rheumatism." 
 
 Tol Reed: "Had a white beard and 
 could cover lots of ground. His neph- 
 ew was hanged near the old Rome rail- 
 road above the Southern crossing about 
 1900, and he was run out of Rome and 
 is supposed to have died in Atlanta. 
 He sometimes went by the name of 
 Dr. Potter. He was a mortar mixer 
 and boasted loudly that he helped build 
 the Armstrong Hotel. His hobby was 
 fine horseflesh, on which he was an au- 
 thority." 
 
 Alice Richardson: "Resident of Pen- 
 nington Avenue." 
 
 Anna Richardson : "Once residing 
 in West Rome, but moved away to 
 a better opportunity in Atlanta." 
 
 Palmer Ri.r: "Retired from farming 
 to gardening; aged 7G, and still active 
 on his trade. He resides near the 
 Oostanaula on West Second Street, to 
 the height of where the stream when 
 it is too full does not quite reach and 
 disturb his comforts." 
 
 Andy Robinson: "Aged 90 and re- 
 sides at 605 W. Second Street. He re- 
 members the founders of Rome and 
 the Indian chiefs; says Col. Chas. H. 
 Nelson gave passes to Ross and Ridge 
 
 and moved 500 Indians from Cave 
 Spring to Red River, Ark., in wagons." 
 
 Angnstus Sams: "Business is wood- 
 chopper and age about 80. He chops 
 wood all around the country, and for 
 the want of a conveyance sometimes 
 walks to Cedartown for a job, and then 
 walks back. He will not quit chop- 
 ping wood except to go 'possum hunt- 
 ing or to eat a watermelon. He wears 
 a black felt hat with a curve in it, 
 only needs a turkey feather to make 
 him look like a Dutch admiral; and 
 he carries his lunch in a crocus sack. 
 He has a keen sense of humor, but oc- 
 casionally when outraged rears back 
 on his dignity like an angry porcu- 
 pine." 
 
 Mary Sheppard: "Aged 80; resides 
 on Blossom Hill." 
 
 "Mink" Sims: "A darkey of 25 
 years ago who hunted and fished a 
 great deal, but was never known to 
 hit a lick of work. He used to sing 
 a song that started 'Rabbit and the 
 Ha.sh,' and which brought in the pole- 
 cat, the jaybird and the other birds 
 and animals of the menagerie." 
 
 "Tip" Smith: "Passed to the other 
 world Jan. 25, 1911, at the age of 77. 
 He was an old slave who had belonged 
 to Maj. Chas. H. Smith ('Bill Arp'). 
 After he got his freedom, he took up 
 the trade of carpet and mattress 
 stretcher and house cleaner, and made 
 a very useful citizen. He hung shades, 
 did wall-papering and generally helped 
 many a housewife of Rome. At enter- 
 tainments he was indispensable, wheth- 
 er it was freezing the pineapple sher- 
 bet or handing the guests their hats 
 and coats; and many a grateful Roman 
 said if he could have 'Tip' around at 
 the final trumpet call, he would not 
 bother to summon an undertaker. 'Tip' 
 lived in peace and African plenitude 
 on the gentle slopes of Blossom Hill." 
 
 Martha Stevoison: "She is shoi-t 
 and dark and wears a turban. For a 
 long time she cooked for Mrs. Seaboi-n 
 Wright, then served Mrs. Bessie B. 
 Troutnian at Pope's Ferry, then was 
 cooking for Mrs. Robt. Battey when 
 Mrs. Battey died and now is indispen- 
 sable at Mrs. Evan P. Harvey's. She 
 is nigh onto 75 and spry as a cricket, 
 but occasionally complains of the 
 misery in her side." 
 
 Mark- Taylor: "Veteran barber, 
 long since dead. Ned Iluggins start- 
 ed with him as a bootblack, and he 
 trained many others in the tonsorial 
 art. Mark never used vulgarity or 
 profanity, nor would he allow any 
 roughhouse in his shop."
 
 374 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 "Shcvi" ThoDias: "Not particular, 
 ly old, but exceedingly old-fashioned. 
 Janitor at Darlington School. Though 
 not a millionaire, he gave $2.5 to the 
 Greater Darlington Endowment Fund 
 in 1922. He is sure to pass through 
 the pearly gates." 
 
 "Uncle Toivns:" Never seemed to 
 have any other name, but worked many 
 years around yard and flower garden 
 of the I. D. Fords on Second Avenue. 
 He wore a heavy gray beard, and his 
 old back was bent from much cutting 
 of grass and pruning of shrubs. He 
 bore a closer resemblance to a certain 
 large creature of the jungle than any- 
 body in Rome. His fondness for lit- 
 tle children was well known, but such 
 as he didn't like he would scarce with 
 a fiendish grin." 
 
 Lex'f'.s" Vcmible: "The male cook of 
 Dr. and Mrs. Robt. Battey on First 
 Avenue. Every time the Rome rail- 
 road trains would pass, Lewis would 
 climb to the barn roof, dressed in a 
 Japanese gown, with a crimson sash 
 around his waist and a feather-dec- 
 orated silk hat on his head. Thus ar- 
 rayed, he would dance to the delight 
 of train crew and passengers. He has 
 long ago gone to his Heavenly Master. 
 He was hired by the Venable family 
 of Atlanta before coming to Rome." 
 
 Annie Walker: "About 80; lives on 
 Reservoir Street." 
 
 Caleb Walker: "Perhaps the oldest 
 person in Rome; born in 1824, as well 
 as he remembers, and is consequently 
 98. He began to feel a bit old last 
 year, and cut him a hickory stick in 
 the neighborhood of his home at 114 
 Chambers Street, Sixth Ward; but he 
 can get about like a cricket when he 
 sees greenback or coin for light car- 
 pentry work. He has always been fair 
 and square, and is thoroughly con- 
 firmed in his ways of thrift and hon- 
 esty. He claims to have been a soldier 
 in 1864 and 186.5, though in just what 
 capacity he does not make clear." 
 
 William Walker: "Not less than 
 80, but gets about like a man of 45. 
 He is a retired plasterer and his earth- 
 ly home is in Hell's Hollow. He says 
 he has mixed lots of Etowah River 
 sand and slack lime for buildings in 
 Rome, has always served the Lord and 
 expects to make the acquaintance of 
 St. Peter instead of the devil." 
 
 DEBTS OF LONG AGO.— Members 
 of the City Commission and other.s 
 who speak in whispers of Rome's aw- 
 ful S40,000 overdraft might do well 
 to peek into the records for the year 
 
 1875, when $450,000 hung above the 
 heads of the city fathers like the quiv- 
 ering Sword of Damocles. Included in 
 this was $100,000 in Memphis Branch 
 Railroad bonds; $100,000 in North and 
 South Railroad bonds; $107,500 in wa- 
 ter works bonds; $65,000 in currency 
 bonds; $32,000 in floating debt bonds; 
 and accrued interest making up the 
 balance. In 1877 and 1878 this debt 
 had been reduced to $337,100. and in 
 1884 it stood at $312,000. The an- 
 nual income from all sources in 1888 
 was about $60,000 and expenses un- 
 der prudent management about the 
 same. 
 
 Says an old clipping of 1888: "Since 
 the new bonds were issued in 1877, 
 never has the city been an hour in 
 default in meeting her interest. Every 
 obligation to creditors has been prompt- 
 ly met, and so firm is the standing 
 of the city in the financial world that 
 not even her 5 per cent bonds can be 
 purchased at less than par, and her 
 other bonds command from 1.06 to 1.16. 
 
 "A large part of our city debt arises 
 from investments in railroads that 
 were never built. The hearts of Rome's 
 people always went out to those who 
 proposed to develop her resources and 
 asked her aid. To say that she was 
 imposed upon is putting it lightly. But 
 she has never faltered; she has cheer- 
 fully undertaken to pay this $200,000 
 for which she has never received one 
 dollar's benefit, and now goes on to 
 fight greater battles. Victory has 
 crowned her on every field, and still 
 beckons her on." 
 
 DESOTO, SUBURB OF.— Named 
 after Ferdinand DeSoto, Spanish cav- 
 alier, who is supposed to have pitched 
 camp on the spot in June, 1540, for 
 about 30 days. Located west of Rome 
 proper and across the Oostanaula 
 River. The heart of it is known as 
 the Fourth Ward, containing about 160 
 acres of land, most or all of which 
 was owned up to 1835 by John Ross, 
 the Indian chief, then became the prop- 
 erty of Jno. B. Winfrey. Mr. Win. 
 frey sold 60 of the 160 acres to Dan'l. 
 R. Mitchell and 60 to Col. Alfred 
 Shorter. The part bought by Col. 
 Shorter contained the John Ross home, 
 which stood in the rear of the site of 
 the J. M. Bradshaw home at 505 Fifth 
 Avenue. To the Ross house in 1845 
 Col. Shorter brought the J. M. M. Cald- 
 wells, and they taught school there for 
 some time prior to establishment of 
 the Rome Female College on Eighth 
 Avenue.
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 375 
 
 I 'lis '■ ^&"-^'<^' 
 
 PRACTICAL LESSONS IN DEMOCRACY. 
 
 Here are views which will demonstrate that Berry School boys work hard and U»al^\\y. 
 Miss Ma^h^sryTth: sons of the rich -^^ J^*^"r '' V T ''IchLl'lor" smluTo^s" ^L'^Tr: 
 ire- in\he"ov:i;'%r-.aW^e; Z '::^ '^J^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^l a^nd T p'^rd^^ractor in a 
 
 furrowed field are also presented
 
 376 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 DeSoto was once a separate town 
 from Rome, and came into the city cor- 
 poration under an act of the Legisla- 
 ture of 1884-5 which abolished its char- 
 ter. Most of the DeSotans fought in- 
 clusion strenuously, and to win out, 
 Rome was forced to grant liberal tax 
 and improvement concessions. The con- 
 tract in the bill was drawn by Attor- 
 ney J. I. Wright, of the law firm of 
 Alexander & Wright. It provided that 
 no saloon license should ever be grant- 
 ed in DeSoto. The population then was 
 about 500, and now it is estimated at 
 about five times that figure. The land 
 is flat and low, and the citizens han- 
 dle themselves very nimbly when the 
 rivers overflow. 
 
 DeSoto has furnished some of 
 Rome's leading citizens. It was the 
 birthplace of Milford W. Howard, of 
 Los Angeles, Cal., formerly Congress- 
 man from Fort Payne, Ala., who used 
 to wield a powerful axe in the forests 
 nearby that he might sell wood and 
 complete his education. Its mayor for 
 several terms was D. R. Mitchell, the 
 grocer, w'ho was a nephew of Col. 
 Danl. R. Mitchell, one of the found- 
 ers of Rome. J. H, Lanham was 
 once the postmaster. 
 
 DeSoto (or the Fourth Ward) con- 
 tains Hamilton Athletic Field; the 
 North Georgia Fair Grounds; the Trin- 
 ity Methodist Church (founded by Rev. 
 Sam P. Jones) ; the Jones residence; 
 the Fifth Avenue Baptist and Sec- 
 ond Christian churches; the Fourth 
 Ward Public School, and the homes of 
 J. A. Glover and Mrs. Hiram Hill, 
 also a thriving business section on 
 Fifth Avenue at the Oostanaula River 
 bridge. The Stone Quarry hill, Sum- 
 merville Road, was used by the Con- 
 federates and was known as Fort At- 
 taway. 
 
 ELKS' CLUB (B. P. O. E.)— Rome 
 Lodge No. 694 was organized July 25, 
 1901, and surrendered its charter June 
 14, 1918. Its motto was "Fidelity, 
 brotherly love, justice." At one time 
 it boasted a membership of 250. At 
 the time of ceasing operations, it had 
 the following names on the "Red, 
 White and Blue Roll:" 
 A. A. Antognoli Isaac May 
 A. E. Anderson Geo. H. Magruder 
 J. P. Broylcs J. D. McCartney 
 
 W. T. Brown Robt. H. McGinnis 
 
 Hiram M. Bobo R. V. Mitchell 
 Wesley O. Connor, Wm. J. Nunnallv 
 J. S. Cleghorn R. Sewell 
 
 J. Ed. Camp Ray G. Stewart 
 
 W. M. Carey Hart H. Smith 
 
 Lloyd Damron Joe H. Sulzbacher 
 
 Paul Duke 
 Wm. H. Ennis 
 Augustus A. Fite 
 
 E. A. Green, P. E. . 
 John M. Good 
 
 F. L. Godwin 
 Nathan Harris 
 Horace C. Johnson 
 J. N. King 
 Clifton H. Lansdell 
 Moultrie S. Lanier 
 
 Joe Spiegelberg 
 Wm. Siglin 
 W. J. Shaw 
 Roy R. W«st 
 A. C. Williamson 
 R. H. West 
 Phil S. Wilby 
 Moses Wright 
 Ben Watts 
 R. W. Watts 
 Arthur West 
 
 The death roll showed the following 
 names: 1903— Maj. Wm. A. Patton, 
 Sr., and Gordon Tatum; 1904— J. H. 
 Sanders; 1905— J. W. Grant; 1906— 
 Halsted Smith, Sr.; 1907— M. C. 
 White, J. C. Lewis, Wm. J. West; 1909 
 — C. N. Patterson; 1910— Mark G. 
 McDonald, Robt. Yancey and J. H. 
 Roberson; 1911— E. B. Marshall, J. L. 
 Young, W. B. Everett, B. F. A. Saylor 
 and C. A. Woods; 1912— M. B. Gerry, 
 Wurts W. Bowie, A. S. Gresham, W. 
 Chinnick, Gordon Wheeler; 1914— Dr. 
 Thos. R. Garlington; 1915 — J. Lindsay 
 Johnson, Sr., Arthur R. Sullivan, Jr.; 
 1916— Thos. Evins; 1917— N. J. Steele; 
 1918— Geo. H. Magi'uder. 
 
 FIRE COMPANIES IN 1888.— "The 
 fire department of the city of Rome 
 consists of three companies : Rainbow 
 Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 1, Moun- 
 tain City Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 
 2, and Citizens' Hook & Ladder Co. No. 
 1. The membership of the whole is 
 165 men — the most gallant and cour- 
 ageous in the city. As an illustration 
 of their promptness and discipline, an 
 instance is characteristic of the depart- 
 ment: An old fire trap in the rear 
 of a saddle shop on Broad Street, con- 
 taining about 2,500 bundles of fodder, 
 caught fire, and whilst all the ends of 
 the bundles were burned, not a whole 
 bundle was destroyed. The work of 
 extinguishment was done so quickly by 
 one company that the other company, 
 400 yards off, was cut out from fire 
 plugs and could not throw any water 
 upon the fire, much to their chagrin. 
 Each of these rival companies accuses 
 the other of keeping men at the reel 
 houses, ready to turn out for a fire. 
 Further proof of their gallantry and 
 skill is seen in the fact that the ac- 
 tual losses from fire in the city of 
 Rome have not averaged $1,500 per 
 year for the last ten years. This fact 
 is the more remarkable because it is 
 a volunteer department, the members 
 themselves bearing a goodly share of 
 the expenses of their organizations. 
 Not a single Georgia pine building of 
 one story has burned to the ground in 
 15 years. In 1884 the fire loss was
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 377 
 
 $2,580; in 1885, $167, and in 1886, 
 $6,780. 
 
 "Each of the companies has substan- 
 tial trophies of the victories gained in 
 speed contests abroad, and no city in 
 the country can show as effective a 
 fire service by any paid department." 
 — Tribune of Rome, Anniversary and 
 Trade Number, Oct. 2, 1888. 
 
 FIRESIDE DEFENDERS.— This 
 Civil War company was organized 
 Aug. 4, 1861, at Spring (or Silver) 
 Creek, near Lindale, by Robt. H. Jones, 
 who later became a wagon and buggy 
 manufacturer at Cartersville. There 
 were 95 original members and 26 re- 
 cruits; total, 121. Mrs. John Reese 
 sent the boys away with a stirring 
 speech and the gift of a beautiful flag. 
 She was well qualified for this duty, 
 as may be judged by an incident of a 
 few years before. Mrs. Reese was 
 the wife of a well-known physician; as 
 a girl she was Elizabeth Hills, grand- 
 daughter of old Dennis Hills, a "down 
 East Yankee" from Leominster, Mass. 
 She was sent to school in New Eng- 
 land at the age of fifteen. One day 
 in chapel or class a teacher addressed 
 the pupils on the subject of slavery in 
 the South. "The Southei*j people," de- 
 clared the teacher, "drive ine poor ne- 
 gro to the plow, and shut him up m 
 a crib and feed him raw corn." 
 
 Little Miss Elizabeth jumped to her 
 feet, her face aflame with indignation, 
 and cried, "That is a lie!" She was 
 allowed to return home to continue her 
 studies, and she became one of the 
 most steadfast advocates of the South- 
 ern cause. 
 
 By way of putting fire into the Fire- 
 side Defenders, Miss Elizabeth said: 
 
 "Soldiers of the Fireside Defenders: 
 On behalf of the ladies of Silver Creek 
 and vicinity I am before you today to 
 ask the acceptance of this flag. You 
 are all aware that every nation on 
 earth has its ensign. This, my brave 
 friends, is the ensign of the Southern 
 Confederate States of America. It is 
 needless for me to retrospect the his- 
 tory of this nation, to tell you why 
 the flag of the Union no longer floats 
 over the land of sunshine and flowers 
 or why the crashing of mu.sketry and 
 the booming of cannon is heard in our 
 border states. Suffice it to say that 
 our cause is a just one, and on present- 
 ing these colors to you, you have a 
 testimony of the spirit which governs 
 the women of the South. 
 
 "Be assured we disdain as much as 
 yourselves the idea of becoming slaves 
 
 to the oppressors of our land, and 
 should it become necessary there is not 
 a free woman in the Southern Confed- 
 eracy who would not dispute the 
 ground inch by inch, and who would 
 not die in the cause of libertv and 
 justice. 
 
 "To you as the first agents in the 
 hands of an all-wise Father we consign 
 these colors. Never, never, my friends 
 permit it to trail in the dust; never 
 lower the flag in servile submission to 
 the ruthless invaders of our homes, 
 our liberties and our most sacred 
 rights; never furl these ample folds 
 not until liberty shall be perched upon 
 this banner. 
 
 "There is a just God who presides 
 over the destinies of nations. He it is 
 who will give might to your arms in 
 the deadly strife. The battle is not 
 to the strong in numbers alone. It is 
 to the just, to the right, to the brave. 
 Oh, do not permit our enemies to forge 
 chains to bind in degradation our pos- 
 terity. With hearts within and God 
 overhead, press onward higher and 
 higher. Wave these colors, and that 
 God in whom we trust may permit 
 every soldier of the Fireside Defend- 
 ers to return under the protection of 
 this banner is our prayer to God. We 
 shall rise incessantly in your behalf 
 and we entreat you to yield your 
 hearts and lives into His charge, 'and 
 if it be your doom, as it has been for 
 many near and dear to us, to meet 
 death on the battlefield, in a nation's 
 heart shall be written your epitaph. 
 'History shall prolong, posterity shall 
 bless the valiant arms and noble spirits 
 who fought, bled and died to purchase 
 for us liberty and freedom.' 
 
 Oh. flag of the South, still thy way, 
 
 Undimmed the ages untold. 
 Over earth's proud nations the stars 
 display 
 Like morning's radiant changes un- 
 fold ; 
 Oh, flag of Dixie's noble band, 
 Oh, flag of the South, still peerless, 
 shine. 
 O'er earth, remotest lands expand. 
 Till every heart and hand entwine! 
 
 The Fireside Defenders went to 
 camp twelve days after they were or- 
 ganized. Their first stop was Big 
 Shanty, Cobb County, now known as 
 Kenncsaw. Thence they went into 
 training at Columbus, and thence to 
 the front in Virginia. They became 
 Company G, 22d Georgia Regiment of 
 Infantry, and Capt. Jones, their com- 
 manding officer, was advanced to col. 
 onel of the regiment.
 
 378 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 At the surrender April 9, 1865, at 
 Appomattox, Va., the following mem- 
 bers laid down their arms: 
 
 Capt. G. W. Thomas, Sergt. W. B. 
 Judkins, and Privates J. W. Judkins, 
 Jno. S. Black, Wm. Morris, Ephraim 
 Morris, Jason Morrfs. Wm. J. and T. 
 X. Vincent, 11. N. and Alfonzo Queen, 
 Jos. A. Sharp, Wm. M. Gossett, Wm. 
 A. Witcher, E. E. Burkhalter, Wm. R. 
 Mountcastle, J. M. Fuller, J. W. Miller, 
 I. N. Teat, T. J. Gossett, W. J. Pope. 
 
 Starting in 1895, the survivors held 
 annual reunions at the Primitive Bap- 
 tist Church (now the First Presbyte- 
 rian) at Lindale. On this occasion 
 they were addressed by Paul Reese, 
 son of Dr. and Mrs. Reese. Capt. 
 Harry P. Meikleham, superintendent 
 of the Massachusetts Mills at Lindale, 
 gave them a bit of ground 10 feet 
 square, on which they erected a monu- 
 ment which bears the names of the 
 company's officers. Capt. Meikleham 
 also stands for a yearly barbecue, but 
 there are only three or four left to 
 eat it now, and they include Jos. A. 
 Sharp and Win. J. Vincent, of Rome. 
 
 FLOYD.— (From the Rome News, 
 Wednesday, April 0, 1921.)— Floyd 
 County was named for Gen. Jno. Floyd 
 because his Indian victories made it 
 possible for white men to settle in com- 
 parative safety in the region around 
 Rome, according to Judge Junius F. 
 Hillyer, who has furnished the follow- 
 ing sketch on this intrepid leader, 
 after an exhaustive search of books. 
 
 "Gen. Floyd was born in South Caro- 
 lina, came to Georgia early in life, and 
 settled in Camden County, where he 
 died June 27, 1829. His father was 
 Capt. Chas. Floyd, a conspicuous sol- 
 dier in the Revolutionary War, who 
 wore on the front of his helmet a sil- 
 ver crescent with the inscription, 'Lib- 
 erty or Death.'* 
 
 "Gen. Floyd was a member of the 
 Georgia Legislature in 1803. Among 
 his associates in that body were James 
 Jackson. John Milledge and Josiah Tat- 
 nall. Tatnall County, Jackson Coun- 
 ty and Milledgeville in the state of 
 Georgia bear respectively the names of 
 these, his associates, and Floyd Coun- 
 ty bears his name. 
 
 "He was elected to Congress from 
 Georgia in 1826, and served two years. 
 He was appointed brigadier general of 
 the Georgia Militia in 1803. His serv- 
 ice with this command established his 
 reputation for military skill and in- 
 flexible patriotism. On one occasion 
 the savages surprised a fort where 300 
 
 men, women and children, except 17, 
 were cruelly put to death. Gen. Floyd 
 was recognized as the proper man to 
 suppress and avenge such wrongs. Ac- 
 cordingly, Gov. Peter Early selected 
 him to command the Georgia troops 
 in an expedition against the Creeks 
 and Choctaw Indians, who for some 
 time had been troubling helpless fron. 
 tier settlements of Georgia and Ala- 
 bama. Co-operating with Gen. An- 
 drew Jackson, he waged a destructive 
 war against the savages, who were de- 
 feated and permanently dispersed with 
 great loss. The three famous battles 
 of this campaign were fought at Au- 
 tossee, Tallassee and Camp Defiance 
 in Alabama. In one of these battles 
 Gen. Floyd was severely wounded, but 
 refused to retire from the field. His 
 civic honors furnished proof of the 
 high esteem in which he was held by 
 his contemporaries. His success in the 
 military service to which he was ap- 
 pointed fully vindicated the judgment 
 of Gov. Early in making the appoint- 
 ment. The ability he displayed more 
 than sustained his reputation and at 
 the same time illustrated the energy 
 and force of his character. 
 
 "As a private citizen, Gen. Floyd is 
 accredited to us by the historians as 
 a man of lofty ideals and unspotted 
 integrity, unscrupulous in moral dis- 
 tinctions, honest with a warm and gen- 
 erous nature. His military success no 
 doubt contributed to the peaceful term- 
 ination of Georgia's Indian problems. 
 Soon after, in 1829, as stated. Gen. 
 Floyd died; and then in 1833, the Geor- 
 gia Legislature, as was fit, gave to 
 Floyd County his name. It was emi- 
 nently appropriate that the newly- 
 made county, carved out of Georgia 
 territory, should bear the name of 
 Floyd, after her battle-scarred hero, 
 whose recent victories had redeemed 
 that territory from the Indian peril, 
 thereby as if by magic transforming 
 a semi-barbarous frontier into a veri- 
 table Arcadia of civilization, and cap- 
 italizing its dormant treasures into un- 
 told millions of wealth for its deni- 
 zens and the commonwealth at large. 
 
 "The citizens of Floyd County are 
 justly proud of their county because of 
 its intrinsic merits; its incomparable 
 situation and climate; its natural and 
 acquired resources; and of its honor- 
 able history. The county hopefully 
 faces the dawn of a new era, in which 
 it is to solve greater problems and win 
 
 *Now in the possession of a grandson sev- 
 eral times removed, Wm. G. McAdoo, of New 
 York, formerly Secretary of the Treasury, and 
 son-in-law of Woodrow Wilson.
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 379 
 
 A PEEK AT THE BERRY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS. 
 
 At top, mountain lassies at old-fashioned spinning wheels, and below, making rugs 
 at the looms; boys building a house for the girls; the greenhouse; in oval. Miss Ida M. 
 Tarbell and Miss Martha Berry, with students; at bottom, the rustic chapel, designed by a 
 neighborhood character who thus expressed his interest in this seat of learning; the dining- 
 halls, which seat about 200.
 
 380 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 uieater victories, in which its honored 
 name is to put on new luster and to 
 become more and more j?lorious." 
 
 The Weekly Georprian, Savannah, 
 printed the following squib under date 
 of Saturday, July (i, 1839: "The late 
 Gen. John Floyd. — The intelligence of 
 the death of Gen. John Floyd has been 
 received in this city. At one period 
 of his life Gen. Floyd had the honor 
 ot representing his state m the Con. 
 g-ress of the Union, and was always 
 respected and esteemed in every sta- 
 tion which his confiding fellow citizens 
 invited him to occupy." 
 
 Officers of the First Regiment of Sa- 
 vannah, John Millen, chairman, and 
 Jno. W. Anderson, secretary, passed 
 resolutions of respect under date of 
 July 3, 1839. 
 
 Gen. Floyd served in the Twentieth 
 Congri-ess, 1827-9, with Tomlinson Fort, 
 Chas. E. Haynes, Wiley Thompson, 
 Richard Henry Wilds, Wilson Lump- 
 kin and Geo. R. Gilmer, the last two 
 of whom as Governors of Georgia 
 fought hard for the removal of the 
 Indians to the West. 
 
 Lucian L. Knight, in Vol. II, Geor- 
 gia's Landmarks, Memorials and Leg- 
 ends (ps. 27-28) tells of a famous duel 
 fought by Gen. Floyd with a Mr. Hop- 
 kins in Camden County. Mr. Hopkins 
 had been challenged, so it was his right 
 under the existent code to name the 
 weapons, and he stipulated that they 
 should first shoot from a distance with 
 shotguns, and if that did not bring a 
 conclusion they would advance with 
 pistols, and if that failed, they would 
 fight with their Bowie knives. At the 
 first or second stage Mr. Hopkins was 
 so badly> wounded that the duel was 
 halted. Gen. F'loyd's sons, Gen. Chas. 
 L. Floyd and Captain Richard S. Floyd, 
 also fought duels. 
 
 FLOYD COUNTY LEGISLATORS. 
 (From the State Department of His- 
 tory, Atlanta.) 
 
 Members of the State Senate: 1833- 
 35, James Hemphill; 1836, William 
 Smith; 1837, James Wells; 1838, Wil- 
 liam Smith; 1839-40, Joseph Watters; 
 1841-43, William Smith. 
 
 From 1845 to 1853, there was a 
 grouping of counties into districts (old 
 system), and Floyd was put in the 
 Forty-Seventh District. There were 
 four Senators during this period, two 
 of whom were from Floyd: 1845-6, 
 Thomas C. Hackett; 1851-2, Joseph 
 Watters. 
 
 From 1853 to 18G1 there was a re. 
 
 turn to the former basis of representa- 
 tion, each county electing a Senator: 
 1853-4, Jesse Lamberth; 1855-8, Ter- 
 rence McGuire; 1859-60, Daniel S. 
 Printup. 
 
 Since 1861 Floyd has been in the 
 Forty-Second District, and during this 
 time she has furnished the following 
 Senators: 1861-2, D. R. Mitchell; 
 1865-6, C. H. Smith ("Bill Arp") ; 
 1868-72, John T. Burns; 1877, James 
 R. Gamble; 1880-1, R. T. Fouche; 
 1886-7, L. A. Dean; 1888-9, James W. 
 Harris; 1890-1, W. T. Irwin; 1898-9, 
 R. T. Fouche; 1905-6, W. S. McHenry; 
 1911-12, W. H. Ennis; 1917-18, R. A. 
 Denny; 1922-23, Jno. Camp Davis. 
 
 Members of the House: 1833, John 
 Ellis; 1835, John H. Lumpkin; 
 1836, John Ellis; 1837-8, Jesse 
 Lamberth; 1839-40, A. J. Liddell, 
 Wesley Shropshire; 1841, Philip W. 
 Hemphill, Alfred Brown; 1842, A. Ta- 
 bor Hardin, John Townsend; 1843, Jer- 
 emiah L. McArver, A. Tabor Hardin; 
 1845, Nathan Yarbrough ; 1847, Wm. 
 T. Price; 1849-50, Isaac N. Culbertson; 
 1851-2, Wm. T. Price; 1853-4, M. H. 
 Haynie; 1855-6, W. B. Terhune, M. H. 
 Haynie; 1857-8, J. W. H. Underwood 
 (Speaker), W. R. Webster; 1859, Thos. 
 W. Alexander, Z. B. Hargrove; 1861-2, 
 Z. B. Hargrove, Geo. S. Black; 1863-4, 
 Melville Dwinell, Kinchin Rambo; 1865, 
 G. W. Thomas, W. A. Woods; 1868-72, 
 Dr. M. R. Ballenger, Dunlap Scott; 
 1873-4, Jno. R. Towers, Fielding Hight; 
 1875-6, John W. Turner, D. B. Hamil- 
 ton; 1877, Jno. R. Freeman, John H. 
 Reece; 1878-9, A. J. King, John H. 
 Reece; 1880-1, John W. Turner, Sea- 
 born Wright; 1882-3, Seaborn Wright, 
 W. G. Foster, Walker W. Brookes; 
 1884-5, J. Lindsay Johnson, J. W. Tur- 
 ner, J. M. Walker; 1886.7, J. M. Walk- 
 er, C. N. Featherston, Richard A. 
 Denny; 1888-9, J. W. Turner, J. W. 
 Ewing, J. Lindsay Johnson; 1890-1, J. 
 W. Turner, W. C. "Bryan, John J. Seay; 
 1892-3, E. P. Price, W. C. Bryan. W. 
 J. Neel; 1894-5, John H. Reece, Robt. 
 T. Fouche, Moses Wright; 1896-7, Jas. 
 B. Nevin, J. H. Reece, Wm. H. Ennis; 
 1898-9, Richard A. Denny, J. Lindsay 
 Johnson, W. C. Bryan; 1900-1, Jno. C. 
 P'oster, W. A. Knowles, Seaborn 
 Wright; 1902-3, W. S. McHenry, W. A. 
 Knowles, Wm. H. Ennis; 1905-6, G. B. 
 Holder, Claude H. Porter, Seaborn 
 Wright; 1907-8, Seaborn Wright, Lin- 
 ton A. Dean, R. L. Chamblee; 1909-10, 
 Claude H. Porter, G. B. Holder, Barry 
 Wright; 1911-12, John C. Foster, G. 
 D. Anderson, Walter Harris; 1913-14, 
 John C. Foster, Barry Wright, W. J. 
 Nunnally; 1915-16, G. D. Anderson,
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 381 
 
 John W. Bale, A. W. Findley; 1917-18, 
 John W. Bale, Seaborn Wright, James 
 W. Russell; 1919-20, John W. Bale, 
 Harper Hamilton, R. H. Copeland ; 
 1921-2, Harper Hamilton, Jno. Camp 
 Davis, Jas. W. Salmon; 1923-4, Lee J. 
 Langley, Jas. P. Jones, J. Scott Davis. 
 
 FLOYD INFANTRY. — Organized 
 at Rome in March, 1861, by Jno. Fred- 
 erick Cooper, son of Hon. Mark An- 
 thony Cooper, of Cass County, and 
 father of J. Paul Cooper, of Rome, and 
 Walter G. Cooper, of Atlanta. It 
 started with 46 men ; good-byes were 
 said May 10, 1861, for the boys were 
 going straight to Virginia. 
 
 An item in The Courier said : "The 
 Infantry were escorted to the station 
 by the other companies then forming. 
 The train moved off amid the cheers 
 of the crowd and the thunders of ar- 
 tillery." 
 
 The original officers follow: Cap- 
 tain, Jno. F. Cooper; first lieutenant, 
 D. C. Hargi-ove; second, John H. 
 Reece; third, R. W. Echols; first ser- 
 geant, Harvey M. Langston; second, 
 G. G. Martin; third, Henry Burns; 
 fourth, L. P. Bryant; fifth, John Osley; 
 first corporal, T. B. Moore; second, J. 
 P. Duke; third, Harvey Shackelford; 
 fourth, Henry Cohen. Before the 
 company left, D. C. Hargrove joined 
 the Light Guards, and was killed July 
 21, 1861, at the First Battle of Ma- 
 nassas. 
 
 Equipment was poor, and only 46 
 of the following 74 privates went out 
 with the first contingent: Wm. T. 
 Allen, J. D. Alton. Joel Bagwell, B. P. 
 Barker, T. J. Barber, Frank Bean, R. 
 O. Beavers, Jr., Wm. Bishop, Julius 
 Borck, W. C. Brantley, J. J. Buchan- 
 an, J. M. Burns, F. M. Burrow, J. L. 
 Callahan, W. J. Chastain, M. E. Coop- 
 er, Howell Davis, W. J. Drennon, J. H. 
 Drummond, J. H. Dunn, J. H. Echols, 
 T. C. Estes, L. H. Farmer, L. J. Far- 
 mer, B. L. Ford, M. B. Formby, W. E. 
 Fowler, A. J. Cordon, J. M. Cordon, 
 J. M. Green, Geo. W. Griffith, W. A. 
 Hammett, A. W. Harshaw, Wm. Hen- 
 derson, W. Henderson, W. J. Ilidle, W. 
 R. Hidle, J. L. Holbrook, F. N. Hop- 
 kins, J. D. Hubbard, Adolphus Jonas, 
 C. D. Lumpkin, Edward Maness, J. F. 
 Mandry, A. F. Manning, T. R. Martin, 
 Wm. McGuire, T. M. McKinney, L. 
 
 *Rome's Sunday School superintendents 
 have met with sad fates in war. Geo. T. Sto- 
 vall, of the First Methodist, was killed at First 
 Manassas, and A. Walton Shanklln, head of 
 the same institution in 1917, was kilTcd In 
 France in 1918 as a soldier of the World War. 
 apt. Melville winell, who precede<i Mr. Sto- 
 vall as superintendent, came out unscathed. 
 
 Morrow, S. J. Nowlin, J. H. Overby, 
 F. A. Owings, John Padget, J. L. Phil- 
 lips, D. A. Pool, G. B. Quarles, A. J. 
 Reed, John Reeves, C. B. Rogers, J. 
 W. Selman, J. P. Smith, W. A. Smith, 
 Geo. Somers, J. B. Stallings, J. H. 
 Steadman, R. M. Stephens, H. A. 
 Stone, Jack Tate, G. M. Tolbert, J. T. 
 Wamack, R. I. H. Warren. A. White, 
 F. R. Woodel, Thos. Wright. 
 
 Among the Manassas casualties were 
 W. T. Chastain, George Martin, A. W. 
 Harshaw, F. M. Mandry, J. T. War- 
 mack and J. H. Dunn, killed; Capt. 
 Cooper, Oswell B. Eve and Thos. J. 
 Hills, mortally wounded. Capt. Coop- 
 er was shot in the knee or the leg, and 
 refused to submit to amputation. Com- 
 plications set in and he died several 
 weeks later at Culpepper, Va. Mr. Hills 
 died about two weeks after the battle. 
 He had been superintendent of the 
 Sunday School at Running Waters,* 
 the John Ridge place north of Rome. 
 
 FORREST MONUMENT.— Broad 
 Street at Second Avenue; about 20 
 feet high, with reduced figure of Gen. 
 Forrest at top. Presented to Rome by 
 the United Daughters of the Confed- 
 eracy, assisted by other organizations, 
 and unveiled Friday, Apr. 23, 1909, 
 by Sarah Elizabeth Bass; presentation 
 speech by Judge Jno. W. Maddox; ac- 
 ceptance by Mayor Thos. W. Lips- 
 comb; prayer by Rev. C. B. Hudgins, 
 rector of St. Luke's Episcopal church, 
 and Rev. Chas. C. Jarrell. pastor of 
 the First Methodist church; present: 
 Governor-elect Jos. M. Brown. Con- 
 gressman Jas. A. Tawney (Minn.), 
 Jno. A. Moon (Tenn.), Jno. L. Bur- 
 nett (Ala.) and Gordon Lee (Ga.). 
 The monument inscriptions feature the 
 capture of Gen. Abel D. Streight's 
 force Sunday, May 3, 1863, at Law- 
 rence, Ala., by a handful of men under 
 Gen. Forrest, and the march of the 
 prisoners to Rome. 
 
 :|: * :i= 
 
 FORT JACKSON RESERVOIR.— 
 When the old waterworks system built 
 by the Nobles, consisting of the pump- 
 ing station near Fourth Avenue and 
 the N., C. & St. L. railroad and the 
 tower on Neely School Hill, was aban- 
 doned, the modern reservoir on Ft. 
 Jackson and the pum])ing station a 
 mile below on the Oostanaula River 
 were constructed. This work was done 
 in 1892 and 1893 while Sam S. King, 
 Sr., was mayor, and Louis J. Wagner 
 was City Engineer in charge. Wm. J. 
 Griffin was chairman of the water- 
 works committee, made up of Chas. W.
 
 382 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 Underwood and W. H. Steele in 1892 
 and of J. F. McClure and Wm. A. 
 ("Blue Billy") Wright in 1893. The 
 filter plant was opened for use Jan. 
 27, 1900. The original cost was $20,- 
 000. 
 
 City Manager Sam S. King furnishes 
 the following information: 
 
 The Fort Jackson plant has been in- 
 creased steadily until it is made up 
 of seven filters; one 2.000,000-gallon 
 settlement basin; one 1,000, 000. gallon 
 settlement basin; one 500,000-gallon 
 clear water basin; one emergency 
 stand pipe of 18,000 gallons (the city 
 clock tower) ; two 2,000,000-gallon 
 compressed steam pumps; one 4,500,- 
 000-gallon electric drum centrifugal 
 pump; 36 miles of cast-iron water 
 mains; 269 hydrants for the fire de- 
 partment's use; 3,200 water services 
 (individual and company taps, etc.) ; 
 also chlorine apparatus, alum tanks, 
 pumps and other necessary apparatus. 
 
 Sam M. Frye is the superintendent 
 at Fort Jackson reservoir, and Jno. T. 
 Sessler is the engineer in charge of 
 the pumping station at the Oostanaula 
 River. Both are constantly on their 
 jobs to give Rome one of the best flows 
 of pure water to be found anywhere. 
 The Municipal swimming pool near 
 the jail puts an extra tax upon the 
 apparatus, but the officials say they 
 can stand the racket. If it were not 
 for the pool, perhaps, more water 
 would be needed to bathe the children 
 at home. 
 
 FOSTER'S INFANTRY.— This Civil 
 War organization was formed in Floyd 
 County down the Coosa River by Col. 
 W. Green Foster in 1861. The fol- 
 lowing account is taken from a Rome 
 Tribune account of about 1910: 
 
 "A feature of the recent Memorial 
 Day in Rome was the tattered old 
 battle-flag carried by the thin gray 
 line of veterans. The flag's dingy 
 folds show a crimson stain, the blood 
 of one of the color bearers, who fell, 
 shot dead, across the flag. 
 
 "The colors were carried through 
 the war by Co. D of the 65th Geor- 
 gia. This was the company and reg- 
 iment of Col. W. G. Foster. That 
 officer enlisted in 1861, and was 
 made second lieutenant. Later he be- 
 came captain. In 1862 there was a 
 reorganization into six companies of 
 infantry and six of cavalry, which 
 were called Smith's Legion of the First 
 Georgia, Partisan Rangers. 
 
 "In 1863, after the campaign through 
 Kentucky, there was again a reorgani- 
 zation, and they were assigned to 
 
 Walker's division of the 65th Georgia, 
 and later still to Cheatham's division. 
 Gist's brigade. The general was killed 
 at Franklin, Tenn., and then Col. Fos- 
 ter was put in command of the brigade 
 and remained in this position until the 
 surrender. He was in line for the rank 
 of brigadier general, but never received 
 his commission. 
 
 "The hardest fighting of the regi- 
 ment was at Franklin, Tenn., where 
 the color bearers were killed. After 
 the first fall. Col. Foster picked 
 up the colors and was almost instant- 
 ly shot through the arm, and the staff' 
 of the flag was shot off'. Private Da- 
 vis then picked up the colors, and car- 
 ried them along until the flag was stuck 
 on the breastworks captured by the 
 regiment. 
 
 "At the surrender the color-bearer 
 tore the colors from the staff, and 
 stuffed them in his boot, thus keep- 
 ing possession of them. They are still 
 in the possession of the surviving mem- 
 bers of the company, and are an object 
 of reverence to all, and especially to 
 those who know of their history. 
 
 "The company and regiment saw 
 much hard fighting in this vicinity. 
 Its roster included many familiar 
 names, some of whom are still living, 
 and others whose memory is perpetu- 
 ated by their descendants. The gen- 
 eral engamenets of the regiment and 
 the roll of Company D follows: 
 
 Perryville, Ky., Big Creek Gap, 
 Tenn., and Snake Creek Gap, Tenn., 
 1862; Chickamauga, Ga., Missionary 
 Ridge, Tenn., Ringgold, Ga., (Nov. 
 27), 1863; Mill Creek Gap (May 9), 
 Dug Creek Gap (May 8), Resaca, Ga. 
 (May 15), Lay's Ferry (May 15), 
 New Hope Church, Pickett's Mill 
 (May 27), Allatoona, Ga. (Oct. 5), 
 Kennesaw Mt. (June 27), capture of 
 Degress' Battery (July 7), Franklin, 
 Tenn. (Dec. 1) , Nashvi'lle, Tenn. (Dec. 
 15), 1864; suri-endered at Greensboro, 
 N. C, 1865. 
 
 Officers: Captain, W. Green Foster; 
 first lieutenant, J. F. Morton; second 
 lieutenant, F. T. Griffin; third lieu- 
 tenant, A. C. Hawkins; orderly ser- 
 geant, H. Hammond; second sergeant, 
 
 C. V. pass; third sergeant, H. P. Cross- 
 man; fourth sergeant, J. P. McDonald; 
 corporals, H. V. Bruce, J. W. McDon- 
 ald, Jos. Davis, J. L. Worthington. 
 
 Privates: A. D. Anderson, D. D. 
 Anderson, S. J. Anderson, L. H. Aus- 
 tin, M. Alfred, J. W. H. Burnes, F. 
 Brewer, D. M. Coleman, J. E. Cook, I. 
 Chapman, F. A. Chapman, C. Cordle, 
 
 D. P. Copeland, W. H. Collier, R. C.
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 383 
 
 Cox, E. Garter, H. Carter, W. M. 
 Crocker, E. M. Dyer, Jno. Davis, B. M. 
 Davenport, Jos. Espy, J. H. Eng'lish, 
 Thomas Edge, W. M. Fincher, A. V. 
 Ford, C. Green, R. S. Glasgow, V. A. 
 
 C. Harbin, J. N. Hendricks, Eli Hub- 
 bard, J. T. Holtzclaw, W. D. Hawkins, 
 T. J. Harris, J. V. Huff, R. Jackson, 
 
 D. J. Kenney, W. M. King, J. A. Lyons, 
 J. D. Lynch, W. A. Martin, D. A. Mil. 
 ler, Eli Miller, A. P. Milam, T. Ma- 
 roney, W. Nelson, P. M. Nelson, R. F. 
 Patman, F. M. Penson, W. D. Penson, 
 W. Phelps, W. C. D. Phelps, J. L. 
 Reese, J. J. Reese, Isaac Ramsey, H. A. 
 Roe, W. T. Selman, J. J. Smith, W. T. 
 Strickland, Charles Snow, W. R. Ship- 
 ley, R. Sherwood, Jno. Talley, T. J. 
 Wortham, F. M. Watters, J. W. Wat- 
 ters, S. B. Worthington, J. H. Worth- 
 ington, C. Worthington, Robt. Worth- 
 ington, John Worthington, Jack Worth- 
 ington, Samuel Worthington, G. B. 
 Whitehead, F. W. Young, T. V. Young, 
 S. H. Zuber, J. B. Zuber, J. L. Gravit, 
 Jim Webb. 
 
 HARBIN HOSPITAL.— This insti- 
 tution, of which Rome is justly proud, 
 was established in 1908 with twelve 
 beds by Drs. Robt. Maxwell Harbin 
 and William Pickens Harbin, brothers. 
 In 1917 a new fireproof 40-bed, four- 
 story structure was opened, and the 
 original building was converted into a 
 nurses' dormitory. This dormitory, by 
 the way, was once occupied as a resi- 
 dence by Henry W. Grady, who brought 
 his bride there from Athens. It is lo- 
 cated at the southeast corner of Third 
 Avenue and East First Street, directly 
 opposite the First Presbyterian church; 
 and beside it on Third Avenue is the 
 hospital proper. 
 
 In 1920 three additional stories and 
 other enlargements were added to the 
 main building, raising the bed capacity 
 to 75, and making in all a seven-story 
 building. The architects were R. S. 
 Pringle and the late W. T. Downing, 
 of Atlanta, with M. J. Sturm, hospital 
 aix'hitect of Chicago, as consultant, and 
 the concrete engineers were Spiker & 
 Lose, of Atlanta. 
 
 The building is a marvel of sturdi- 
 ness, architectural beauty and com- 
 pleteness, and is highly symbolic of the 
 character of work performed by the 
 staff. It contains every modern im- 
 provement and convenience, such as 
 vapor heating and electric light signal 
 systems, silent calls, running hot and 
 cold water in every room, linoleum on 
 cement floors in corridors, nqiseless 
 closing doors, three complete operating 
 rooms, large sun parlors on three 
 
 floors, private telephone exchange with 
 telephones in private rooms, etc. The 
 safety gate elevator runs from base- 
 ment to roof garden. The kitchens are 
 models of cleanliness and the cuisine is 
 in charge of an expert. 
 
 The structure represents practically 
 all the savings from hospital income 
 and professional fees during the life 
 of the owners, with obligations to last 
 five or ten years, and the idea of serv- 
 ice to patients has been put ahead of 
 the idea of material gain. Romans 
 who understand the spirit of the insti- 
 tation are as proud of it as of any. 
 thing that Rome boasts. 
 
 Disinterested opinions, however, are 
 even more convincing. The 1922 re- 
 port of the American College of Sur- 
 geons on hospital standardization 
 places the Harbin Hospital among 
 three others in Georgia which stood the 
 test conducted in 1921. The others 
 were the Georgia Baptist and Grady 
 hospitals in Atlanta and the hospital 
 of the Medical Department of the Uni- 
 versity of Georgia at Augusta. 
 
 Harbin Hospital was given a rating 
 of 100% at the first inspection, and Dr. 
 Franklin D. Martin, director general 
 of the American College of Surgeons, 
 wrote as follows from Chicago under 
 date of Dec. 27, 1921: 
 
 "You are aware of the fact, no doubt, 
 that your hospital appears on the 1921 
 list of hospitals meeting the minimum 
 standard of the College. This recog- 
 nition by the College is, we feel, a 
 well deserved one. Hospital stand- 
 ardization, in essence, is the desire for 
 welfare of the i)atient felt by the com- 
 bined medical and hospital professions 
 — a desire put into action and made 
 practicable. Your splendid work and 
 the fruits of it, which are apparent in 
 your community, must afford you more 
 gratification than the stamp of our 
 approval ever can. However, it gives 
 us real pleasure to recognize and to 
 commemorate the stand for better hos- 
 pital service which you have made. 
 
 "There are yet further advances to 
 be made in the hospital, just as in med- 
 icine itself. With the co-operation of 
 the medical and hospital professions, 
 however, these advances cannot fail to 
 be realized." 
 
 On the attending staff are Drs. R. 
 M. and W. P. Harbin and W. H. Lewis, 
 and on the associate staff Drs. Wm. J. 
 Shaw (President), Ross P. Cox, (Jeo. 
 B. Smith, J. Turner McCall, J. C. 
 Watts, A. C. Shamblin and M. M. Mc- 
 Cord. Dr. W. P. Harbin is also physi- 
 cian to the Berry School.
 
 384 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 AN INSTITUTION WITH A FINE RECORD. 
 
 The Harbin Hospital, erected by Drs. Robt. M. and Wm. P. Harbin at Third Avenue and 
 East First Street, is not only one of the handsomest structures in the city, but it has scored 
 practically perfect in the rigid test conducted by the American College of Surgeons, and 
 is one of four Georgia hospitals with the highest rating. 
 
 Miss Blanche Rakestraw, to whom 
 much of the credit for the success of 
 the institution is due, is superin- 
 tendent; Miss Agnes Gattis is super- 
 intendent of nurses; Miss Velma 
 Owens is night supervisor; Miss So- 
 phie Pintchuck is technician of the 
 clinical laboratory; Miss B. L. Rob- 
 erts is technician of the X-ray labor- 
 atory; W. C. Bell is secretary and 
 treasurer; Miss Nell Sloan is book- 
 keeper; Miss Christine Smith is his- 
 torian; Mrs. C. Bryan is dietician, and 
 Miss Bessie Carlson is reception room 
 clerk. 
 
 J. Paul Cooper, whose numerous 
 gifts to public enterprises have placed 
 Rome under lasting obligations, sev- 
 eral years ago bought 100 mg. of ra- 
 dium at a cost of about $11,000, which 
 he placed at the disposal of the hos- 
 
 pital, and which has greatly facilitat- 
 ed the treatment of numerous com- 
 plicated cases. 
 
 HIGHLAND RANGERS. — This 
 Cave Spring company of 66 cavalry- 
 men left for the Civil War front from 
 Broad Street, Rome, on Saturday, Apr. 
 5, 1862, according to the Tri-Weekly 
 Courier of Apr. 8. The muster roll 
 follows : 
 
 Officers: M. H. Haynie, captain; B. 
 C. Montgomery, first lieutenant; A. Y, 
 Harper, second lieutenant; E. S. Grim- 
 met, second lieutenant; E. Leslie, first 
 sergeant; J. Simmons, second sergeant; 
 S. Reynolds, third sergeant; M. Bobo, 
 fourth sergeant; F. Milligan, fifth ser- 
 geant; J. V. Bobo, first corporal; J. 
 C. Herrage, second corporal; D. M. 
 Dempsey, third corporal; S. K. Hogue,
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 385 
 
 fourth corporal; W. H. Herrage, en- 
 sign. 
 
 Privates: J. W. Abrams, R. W. Ba- 
 ker, R. Barker, J. H. Dean, V. H. 
 Dean, Y. P. Dean, B. W. Dempsey, A. 
 Dollar, H. J. Dollar, W. Dollar, C. C. 
 Ellis, D. E. Elmore, J. Elmore, J. Q. 
 Ferguson, G. G. Gill, J. A. Graham, 
 J. T. Greenwood, M. T. Greenwood, J. 
 J. Hamilton, J. Hayes, H. Herrage, J. 
 Higgenbottam, W. W. Hunt, G. B. 
 Johns, M. Knight, J. McKibbins, J. 
 McKelvy, W. H. Montgomery, J. Oli- 
 ver, Jno. T. Prior, T. M. Putnam, Wm. 
 N. Pricket, B. H. Reynolds, D. Rey. 
 nolds, J. M. Reynolds, H. Richardson, 
 M. J. Richardson, B. R. Simmons, W. 
 J. Simmons, E. W. Sanders, W. B. 
 Sanders, M. H. Shoemake, Geo. T. 
 Watts, W. C. West, J. H. Wharton, L. 
 W. Wharton, J. B. White, J. W. Wil- 
 kins, N. W. Williams, W. A. Williams, 
 O. R. Witcher, T. Witcher. 
 
 Another company of Highland Ran- 
 gers, from Rome and vicinity, numer- 
 ing 96 men, was listed in The Courier 
 of Saturday, Apr. 12, 1862. It is likely 
 they had been sent to Camp McDon- 
 ald at Big Shanty (Kennesaw) a few 
 days before, for they joined in the 
 cross-country chase the same day after 
 Andrews' wild raiders. The muster 
 roll : 
 
 Officers: J. L. Kerr, captain; J. M. 
 Pepper, first lieutenant; R. S. Zuber, 
 second lieutenant; S. M. May, ensign; 
 L. R. Wragg, first sergeant; J. M. 
 Webb, second sergeant; Davis Long, 
 third sergeant; L. Weathers, fourth 
 sergeant; J. R. Penny, first corporal; 
 L. W. Webb, second corporal; J. W. 
 Witzell, third corporal ; W. G. Ney. 
 man, fourth corporal. 
 
 Privates: V. S. Allen, Z. Y. Allen, 
 C. Anderson, J. F. Ashworth, Gilbert 
 Atwood, J. H. Aycock, W. L. H. Bar- 
 nett, J. Y. Briscoe, Y. R. Brown, J. J. 
 Buchanan, T. S. Burney, A. L. Capps, 
 S. B. Carley, W. D. Cheney, J. S. Clem- 
 ents, M. L. Clontz, M. Cooley, Francis 
 M. Coulter, C. S. Cox, John Cox, R. J. 
 Cox, C. Cuzzart, J. P. Davidson, A. H. 
 Davis, Jr., S. L. Davison, E. Denning- 
 ton, S. Dennington, S. B. Ellis, A. G. 
 Felmont, J. A. Franks, J. H. Graves, 
 A. S. Griswell, M. P. Hall, H. C. Har- 
 dy, A. B. Henson, A. Holcombe, W. J. 
 Holmes, E. Huckeby, W. H. Johnson, 
 W. H. King, J. W. Lawrence, Barnett 
 Leak, Moses Lockelen, R. T. Logan, 
 W. S. Lumpkin, W. A. Lyle, R. R. 
 McGee, Z. McGuffee, A. W. Metcalf, 
 C. S. Montgomery, B. C. Moore, 
 Samuel Moore, L. Morris, Willis 
 Morris L. Morrow, P. M. Y, 
 
 Mydlin, M. L. Overby, J. W. 
 Padgett, Willis Pannel, Robt. Phillips, 
 W. H. Pruitt, L. Rabun, W. M. Rabun, 
 Ransom Raunes, Jno. Reeves, J. M. 
 Reynolds, E. M. Robinson, J. J. Rob- 
 inson, H. R. Smith, T. Z. Smith, A. 
 Sorrell, N. B. Terry, Jas. Tomlinson, 
 S. Tomlinson, G. W. Warren, J. K. 
 Warren, W. H. Watters, Alex West, 
 J. Y. Wilson, D. H. Wimpee. G. W. 
 Wimpee, M. A. Wimpee, T. N. Wimpee, 
 E. K. Winnett. 
 
 HILLS O' ROME, THE SUBLIM- 
 ATED SEVEN.— Sir Walter Scott 
 must have been standing on a hill ad- 
 miring the place of his birth when he 
 piped in the sixth canto of "The Lay 
 of the Last Minstrel'' the following: 
 
 "Breathes there the man with soul so 
 
 dead, 
 Who never to himself hath said, 
 'This is my own, my native land!' 
 Whose heart hath ne'er within him 
 
 burned 
 As home his footsteps he hath turned 
 From wandering on a foreign strand?" 
 
 For to properly appreciate a place 
 n^eans not alone to grind faithfully 
 through the years; not, in the case of 
 Romans, to ply merely between home 
 and busy Broad; but to climb the 
 heights and there obtain a perspective 
 which nature offers only to those who 
 are willing to climb. Nature's master- 
 piece is well calculated to beget a 
 spirit of progress, pride and achieve- 
 ment, yet how many have ever viewed 
 it? Everybody in Rome has seen Mt. 
 Alto, Lavender and New Shorter Hill 
 from Rome. How many have seen the 
 far more picturesque sight of Rome 
 from Alto, Lavender or Shorter Hill? 
 Poets, bestir yourselves! Belated 
 climbers, forsake the low ground and 
 mount the heights ! 
 
 Here are the seven hills, mostly 
 within the city limits, concerning which 
 Rome yields nothing of beauty to her 
 worthy namesake on the historic Ti- 
 ber: 
 
 Tower Hill, supporting the majestic 
 clock tower and the Neely grammar 
 school. 
 
 Old Shorter Hill, with its castle-like 
 spires, once supporting Shorter Col- 
 lege, whose buildings now fly the flag 
 of the Rome High School. 
 
 Lumpkin Hill (I^ighth Avenue), 
 which looks down on the old Seventh 
 Avenue cemetery and Rome from close 
 range. 
 
 Blossom Hill, North Rome suburb, 
 which swirling freshets ne'er disturb
 
 386 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 sonis in spring time furnish a sweet 
 aroma for the breezes to waft over 
 Rome. 
 
 Fort Jackson, historic in its battle 
 trenches, and from which North Rome 
 resembles a pearl in a setting: of plat- 
 inum, and the Valley of the Oostanaula 
 stretches away to the north like the 
 velvety approach to the palace of a 
 king. 
 
 Mt. Aventine, the ridge of mysterious 
 name which parallels the purling Eto. 
 wah in South Rome. 
 
 Myrtle Hill, where sleep the patron 
 saints of Rome, who beckon in tender 
 tones for all to come and rest when 
 their earthly tasks are done. 
 
 INDIAN CLANS.— There were orig- 
 inally seven clans in the Cherokee In- 
 dian'nation: Wolf, Deer, Paint, Long- 
 hair, Bird, Blind (or Long) Savan- 
 nah and Hollv. John Ross belonged 
 to the Bird clan. Major Ridge to the 
 Deer, Clement Neelev Vann and David 
 Vann probably to the Wolf. The cus- 
 toms relevant to the clan system fell 
 into disuse shortly after 1800.* 
 
 The seal of the Cherokee Nation was 
 a double circle with a seven-pointed 
 star (each point representing a clan) 
 in the center; between star points and 
 inner circle was a wreath; in the space 
 between circles were some Sequoyan 
 characters, in the center of which were 
 the letters "cwy." Prosperous members 
 of the various clans today use this seal 
 on their stationery, and surmount it 
 with a wolf, bird or other object re- 
 ferring to their particular clans. 
 
 :\i ^ * 
 
 INDIAN DISTRICTS.— The Com- 
 mittee and Council of the Cherokee 
 Nation in 1S20 divided the remaining 
 territory into eight districts, and Chas. 
 R. Hicks, principal chief, approved 
 them, according to The Laws of the 
 Cherokee Nation, published by the 
 Cherokee Advocate Office, Tahlequah, 
 Indian Territory, 1852. The districts 
 were Amoah, Aquohee, Challoogee, 
 Chickamaugee, Coosewatee, Etowah, 
 Hickory Log and Tahquohee. Chal- 
 loogee, "Chickamaugee, Coosewattee and 
 p:towah included Floyd County, and 
 several of them cornered at "Forks of 
 Coosa." The descriptions are: 
 
 1 — The First District shall be called 
 by the name Chickamaugee, and be 
 bounded as follows: Beginning at the 
 mouth of Armuchee Creek, on Oosta- 
 nallah River, thence north in a straight 
 course to a spring branch between the 
 island and Rackoon Village; thence a 
 straight course over the Lookout Moun- 
 
 tain, where the heads of Wills and 
 Lookout Creeks oppose against each 
 other on the Blue Ridge ; then a 
 straight course to the main source of 
 Rackoon Creek, and down the same 
 into the Tennessee River, and up said 
 river to the mouth of Ooletiwah Creek, 
 and up said creek to take the most 
 southeastern fork; thence a southern 
 course to the mouths of Sugar Creek, 
 into the Connasauga River, and down 
 the said river to its confluence with 
 Oostennallah River, and down the 
 same to the place of beginning. 
 
 2 — The Second District shall be 
 called by the name Challoogee, and be 
 bounded as follows: Beginning on the 
 mouth of Rackoon Creek, in the Ten- 
 nessee River, and down the said river 
 to the boundary line, commonly called 
 Coffee's line, and along said line where 
 it strikes Wills Creek, and down the 
 said creek to its confluence with the 
 Coosa River; and thence embracing 
 the boundary line between the Chero- 
 kees and Creeks, run by Wm. Mcin- 
 tosh and other Cherokee Commission- 
 ers by the respective nations, running 
 southeastwardly to its intersection with 
 Chinibee's Trace, and along said trace 
 leading eastvv^ardly by Avery Vann's 
 place, including his plantation, and 
 thence on said trace to where it crosses 
 the Etowah River, at the old ford 
 above the fork, and down said river to 
 its confluence with Oostennallah River, 
 and up said river to the mouth of Ar- 
 muchee Creek, and to be bounded by 
 the First District. 
 
 3_The Third District shall be 
 called by the name Coosewattee, and 
 bounded as follows: Beginning at the 
 Widow Fool's Ferry, on Oostannallah 
 River where the Alabama Road crosses 
 it, along said wagon road eastwardly, 
 leading toward Etowah Town to a 
 large creek above Thomas Pettit's 
 plantation, near to the Sixes, and said 
 creek northeastward to its source; 
 thence a straight course to the head of 
 Tnlloney Creek, up which the Federal 
 Road leads; thence a straight course 
 to the Red Bank Creek, near Cartikee 
 Village; thence a straight course to 
 the head source of Potato Mine Creek; 
 thence a straight course to the head 
 of Clapboard Creek; thence a straight 
 course to the most southern head 
 source of Cannasawgee River, to strike 
 opposite to the mouth of Sugar Creek 
 into the Cannasawgee River, and to 
 be bounded by the First and Second 
 Districts. 
 
 ♦Authority : Dr. Emmet Starr, Oklahoma 
 City, Okla., a member of the Wolf clan.
 
 XlNNjESSEIE 
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 .'''nCRTH CAROLINA 
 / 
 
 387 
 
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 A 
 
 4— The Fourth District shall be 
 called by the name of Amoah, and be 
 bounded as follows: Beginninp: at the 
 head source of Cannasawp^t'e River, 
 where the Third District strikes the 
 said source; thence eastwardly a 
 straight course to Spring Town, above 
 Hiwassee Old Town; thence to the 
 boundary line run by Col. Houston, 
 v/here it crosses Sloan Creek; thence 
 westwardly along said line to the Hi- 
 wassee River; thence down said river 
 
 into the Tennessee River, and down 
 the same to the mouth of Oolotiwah 
 Creek, and to be bounded by the First 
 and Third Districts. 
 
 r,_The Fifth District shall be 
 called by the name of Hickory Log. 
 and shall be bounded as follows: Be- 
 ginning at the head of Potato Mine 
 Creek, on the Blue Ridge, thence 
 southeastwardly along the Blue Ridge 
 to where Cheewostoyeh path crosses 
 said ridge, and along said path to the
 
 388 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 head branch of Frog: Town Creek, and 
 down the same to its confluence with 
 Tahsantee; thence down the Chestotee 
 River, and into the Chattahoochee Riv- 
 er, and down the same to the shallow 
 wag:on ford on said river, above the 
 standing: Peach Tree; thence westward 
 
 along: said wagfon road leading to 
 
 Town, to where it crosses Little River, 
 a fork of the Etowah River, and down 
 the same to its confluence with Etowah 
 River, and down the same in a direct 
 course to a larg:e creek, and up said 
 creek to where the road crosses it to 
 the opposite side, and to be bounded 
 by the Third District. 
 
 6— The Sixth District shall be called 
 by the name Etowah, and be bounded 
 ar. follows: Begrinning: on the Chat- 
 tahoochee River, at the shallow wagon 
 ford on said river, and down the same 
 to the Buzzard Roost, where the Creek 
 and Cherokee boundary line intersects 
 the said river; thence along said boun- 
 dary line westward to where it inter- 
 sects Chinibee's Trace, and to be bound- 
 ed by the Fifth and Third Districts, 
 leaving Thos. Pettit's family in Eto- 
 wah District. 
 
 7— The Seventh District shall be 
 known by the name of Tahquohee, and 
 be bounded as follows: Beginning 
 
 LEE JEFFERSON LANGLEY, lawyer and 
 writer whom the voters of Floyd elected to 
 the Legislature Sept. 13, 1922. 
 
 where Col. Houston's boundary line 
 crosses Slare's Creek, thence along said 
 boundary line southeastwardly to the 
 Unicoy Turnpike road, and along said 
 road to where it crosses the Hiwassee 
 River, in the Valley Towns; thence a 
 straight course to the head source of 
 Coosa Creek, on the Blue Ridge above 
 Cheewostoyeh, and along said ridge 
 eastwardly, where the Unicoy Turn- 
 pike road crosses it, and thence a di- 
 rect course to the head source of Per- 
 simmon Creek; thence down the same 
 to the confluence of Tahsantee, and 
 with the Frog Town Creek; and to 
 be bound by the Third, Fourth and 
 Fifth Districts. 
 
 8— The Eighth District shall be 
 known by the name of Aquohee and be 
 bounded as follows : Beginning where 
 the Seventh District intersects the 
 Blue Ridge, where the Unicoy Turn- 
 pike road crosses the same, thence 
 along said line to the confluence of 
 Nanteyalee and Little Tennessee 
 River; thence down the same to Tal- 
 lassee Village; thence along said boun- 
 dary line westwardly to where it in- 
 tersects the Unicoy Turnpike road, 
 and to be bounded by the Seventh Dis- 
 trict. 
 
 The districts were to hold their 
 councils or courts as follows: 
 
 The first Mondays in May and Sep- 
 tember for Chickamaugee, Coosewattee, 
 Hickory Log and Aquohee, and the sec- 
 ond Mondays in May and September 
 for Amoah, Etowah and Tahuohee. 
 (Challogee was omitted). 
 
 It would appear from a rough trac- 
 ing of these boundaries that the fol- 
 lowing places would be included as set 
 forth : 
 
 First District (Chickamaugee) : Dal- 
 ton, Villanow, Curryville, Sugar Val- 
 ley, Floyd Springs, the Pocket, Chick- 
 amauga, LaFayette, Rising Fawn, 
 Chattanooga, Ooltewah, Tenn., and a 
 few towns in upper DeKalb and east- 
 ern Jackson County, Ala. 
 
 Second District (Challoogee) : All of 
 Floyd County west of a north-and- 
 south line running through the forks 
 of the rivers at Rome: South Rome, 
 East Rome, West Rome, Lindale, Sil- 
 ver Creek, Cave Spring, Mt. Berry, 
 Armuchee, Rice's Spring, Coosa, Liv- 
 ingston, etc., and Cedartown; all of 
 Chattooga County and a narrow part 
 of lower Walker County; all of Cher- 
 okee, the central part of DeKalb and 
 the upper parts of Cleburne and Cal- 
 houn Counties, Ala. 
 
 Third District (Coosewattee) : The
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 389 
 
 main part of Rome between the rivers, 
 and all the towns north of the Etowah 
 River as far east as Cassville, includ- 
 \ng Adairsville, Barnsley Gardens, all 
 of Gordon County and Murray and 
 such of Cohutta Mountain as is in Gil- 
 mer County. 
 
 Fourth District (Amoah) : The 
 smallest section of the eight, lying 
 north of the First District, and includ- 
 ing practically all of James and Brad- 
 ley Counties, Tenn., and one-eighth of 
 Polk in the western part. 
 
 Fifth District (Hickory Log) : Car- 
 tersville and the eastern third of Bar- 
 tow County, three-fourths of the north- 
 ern parts of Cherokee and Forsyth, 
 and one-fourth of the northern part 
 of Milton, all of Pickens and Dawson 
 Counties, all except one-tenth, the 
 northwestern corner of Gilmer; the 
 southern part of Fannin, the southern 
 tip of Union and the western half of 
 Lumpkin, with Dahlonega. This dis- 
 trict follows such part of the old treaty 
 boundary, the Chattahoochee River, as 
 lies north of the shallow ford on the 
 river in the lower end of Forsyth Coun- 
 ty northeastward to Dahlonega. 
 
 Sixth District (Etowah) : All that 
 section south of the Etowah and north- 
 west of the Chattahoochee, including 
 the southeastern section of Floyd Coun- 
 ty, Kingston and the southwestern 
 quarter of Bartow County, and the 
 eastern half of Polk, the lower tip of 
 Forsyth, nearly all of Milton, the lower 
 fifth of Cherokee, parts of Chambers, 
 Cleburne and Randolph Counties, Ala., 
 and western parts of Heard and Troup 
 (to West Point), and all of the coun- 
 ties of Cobb, Paulding, Haralson, 
 Douglas, and Carroll in Georgia. 
 
 Seventh District (Tahquohee) : Most 
 of Polk County, Tenn., the lower part 
 of Cherokee and the southwestern part 
 of Clay in North Carolina, the north- 
 ern half of Fannin County, the east- 
 ern half of Lumpkin, northern of Hall, 
 western half of Towns and White, and 
 nearly all of Union in Georgia. 
 
 Eighth District (Aquohoe) : The 
 northwestern part of Habersham, 
 eastern half of Towns, western half of 
 Rabun, Western North Carolina west 
 of the Little Tennessee River, includ- 
 ing most of Macon, Clay and Chero- 
 kee Counties in North (Carolina. 
 
 In general, the Cherokee territory at 
 this time embraced all of the north- 
 west portion of the state, known as 
 Cherokee Georgia, bounded on the 
 southeast by the Chattahoochee River 
 and its tributaries in Northeast Geor- 
 gia ; the southwestern portion of North 
 
 Carolina as far east as the Little Ten- 
 nessee River; the Southeastern portion 
 of Tennessee south of the Hiawassee 
 River and east and south of the Ten- 
 nessee, bordering on Fannin, Murray, 
 Whitfield, Walker, Catoosa and Dade 
 Counties in Georgia; and westward in 
 Alabama to the Tennessee River and 
 Attalla and Gadsden on the Coosa, 
 and thence following the Cherokee- 
 Creek boundary line run by Wm. Mc- 
 intosh and others, and then Chinibee's 
 Trace and the Cherokee-Creek line to 
 the Chattahoochee River near Colum- 
 bus. 
 
 INDIANS, INDIVIDUAL.— Follow- 
 ing is a list of Indians who composed 
 part of the mammoth assemblage 
 which congregated at Running Waters, 
 near Rome, July 19, 20 and 21, 1835. 
 By consulting the list of Indian dis- 
 tricts and the towns in them, it is pos- 
 sible to fix approximately the local 
 range of many red. skins and identify 
 the "Rome Indians," who lived in Chal- 
 loogee, Chickamaugee, Coosewattee and 
 Etowah districts. Little Meat is known 
 to have lived at Cave Spring, Wood- 
 ward and Ground Mole (or Ground 
 Hog) at Pinson Station, Tah-chan-sie 
 
 ROBT H CLAGETT, manaKing editor of The 
 Rome News and a constructive force in the 
 movement for a bipKer Rome.
 
 390 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 in Floyd near Adairsville, and Wm. 
 J. Carter ("Urekus" or "Wild Cat") 
 in Sugar Valley, Gordon County. 
 
 District of Amoah. 
 
 Wolf Murphy 
 
 Lame Dave 
 
 Sitting Down 
 
 T. Foreman 
 
 Thos. Bigboy 
 
 Dog 
 
 Crowniocker 
 
 N. Sanders 
 
 Going Snake 
 
 Mink Watts 
 
 Quart Whisky 
 
 Tesatesky 
 
 Young Duck 
 
 Man-spoiler 
 
 Sleeping Deer 
 
 Mouse 
 
 In-the-water 
 
 Four Killer 
 
 Pheasant 
 
 Spade 
 
 Outrunner 
 
 Didapper 
 
 Bark 
 
 Chinubby 
 
 Scraper 
 
 Capt. Watts 
 
 Geo. Fields 
 
 Sign 
 
 Rib 
 
 Dew 
 
 Dew-in-water 
 
 Thief 
 
 Wolf 
 
 Young Pup 
 
 Woman Killer 
 
 Rambling 
 
 Running Wolf 
 
 Shadow 
 
 Turnover 
 
 Elijah 
 
 Mouse 
 
 Deer-in-water 
 
 Smoke 
 
 Going-away 
 
 Flint 
 
 Sparrow Hawl 
 
 Knob 
 
 Beaver Toter 
 
 Shadow 
 
 Crowing Chicken 
 
 Turnabout 
 
 Bullfrog 
 
 Bridgemakcr 
 
 Shoe 
 
 Tail Up 
 
 Rock 
 
 Thick String 
 
 War 
 
 Bellows 
 
 M. Waters 
 
 Squirrel 
 
 Horsefly 
 
 Crying Wolf 
 
 Tobacco 
 
 Path-killer 
 
 Housekeeper 
 
 Beat-about 
 
 Jos. Foreman 
 
 S. Candy, Sr. 
 
 Jas. Ross 
 
 Cheater 
 
 Geo. Hicks 
 
 Poor Bear 
 
 Musk rat 
 
 Waterbird 
 
 Caesar 
 
 Toad 
 
 Hurricane 
 
 Crazy 
 
 Sapsucker 
 
 Black Fox 
 
 Clamacre 
 
 Hawk 
 
 Treader 
 
 July 
 
 Pigeon 
 
 Goose 
 
 Soldier 
 
 Chips 
 
 Shell 
 
 Jay Hicks 
 : Jack Bushyhead 
 Bigmusle 
 
 District of Aqnohee. 
 
 Sweet Water 
 Jesse Grass 
 Young Tui-key 
 Spike Buck 
 Ned Christy 
 Lookout 
 Nicoochi 
 
 Bcar-Sitting-Down 
 Going-back 
 Lightning Bug 
 Daylight 
 Bear Drowned 
 E. Buffington 
 
 Geo. Blair 
 Horse-fly 
 Throw It Down 
 Otterlifter 
 Chunoaka 
 Jno. Christy 
 Stooping About 
 Crawler 
 Rising Tower 
 Ridge 
 Bear Meat 
 Young Chicken 
 Mashabout 
 
 Spring Frog 
 
 Axe 
 
 Shoe 
 
 Situaga 
 
 Jno. Rogers 
 
 Catcher 
 
 Dragging Canal 
 
 Waxie 
 
 Old Rabbit 
 
 Bony 
 
 Shot-bag 
 
 Chulihaw 
 
 Swinged 
 
 Swimmer 
 
 David England 
 
 Headout 
 
 Lizard 
 
 Grog 
 
 District of 
 Chas. H. Vann 
 Stephen Harris 
 Parch Corn 
 Uma-tois-ka 
 Pigeon Roost 
 Oos-ca-wattie 
 Arch Campbell 
 Eating-up 
 G. Baldridge 
 F'ishtrap 
 Twister 
 Folly 
 
 Manstanding 
 Standing Inside 
 Hitinhead 
 Leaking 
 Razor 
 Tallow 
 Jno. Rogers 
 Big Feather 
 Money Crier 
 Robin Brown 
 Threadtoter 
 Richard Guess 
 Going-to-sleep 
 Jaybird 
 Elijah Moore 
 Chewaga 
 Geo. Chambers 
 Bear Toat 
 Stay-all-night 
 Robbin 
 
 Stephen Foreman 
 Wm. Grimit 
 Writer 
 Natburntup 
 Wagon 
 Eataha 
 Tran^ping 
 Musk-melon 
 Cornsilk 
 Cabbage 
 Spring Frog 
 Trunk 
 
 James Gunter 
 Catcheni 
 Thief 
 
 Listening 
 
 Crow 
 
 Little Dog 
 
 Wm. Foreman 
 
 Jug 
 
 Conazeen 
 
 Snow Bird 
 
 Eagle 
 
 Sofskie 
 
 Overtaker 
 
 Cloud 
 
 Turnover 
 
 Sent-for 
 
 Duck 
 
 Snakie 
 
 Big Head 
 
 Fodder 
 
 Cup 
 
 Challoogee. 
 
 Jim Bear Skin 
 
 Raincrow 
 
 Milk 
 
 Robin Baggs 
 
 Snuga 
 
 Jas. Chambers 
 
 Guess 
 
 Log 
 
 Four-killer 
 
 Geo. Sanders 
 
 Laughatmush 
 
 Torchtoter 
 
 Garfish 
 
 Kooiskooi 
 
 Chickasaw 
 
 Jumper 
 
 Geo. Campbell 
 
 Runabout 
 
 Ground Hog 
 
 Arch Simpson 
 
 Chas. Justice 
 
 Bat 
 
 Turtle Fields 
 
 Dirtseller 
 
 Raven 
 
 D. Raincrow 
 
 Bread Butter 
 
 Owl 
 
 Hair Tied 
 
 Beans Pouch 
 
 Thos. Watts 
 
 Screech-owl 
 
 Six-Killer 
 
 Wind 
 
 Something 
 
 Mushroom 
 
 Sequata 
 
 Mose Lee 
 
 Beavertail 
 
 B. B. Wisner 
 
 Lifter 
 
 Bullbat 
 
 Pat 
 
 Fox Frying 
 
 Pay-up 
 
 Jas. Lusley 
 
 Saml. Gunter
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 391 
 
 Dew 
 
 Beat-about 
 J, Spencer 
 Jno. Blackbird 
 
 A. Lowrv 
 Bald Head 
 Bread 
 
 Swallow 
 
 Big Dollar 
 Dick Benge 
 
 Rich. 
 
 Walegoolie 
 Five Killer 
 Taylor, Ja. 
 
 Partridge 
 
 District of 
 Thos. Taylor 
 Jno. Vann 
 Young Glass 
 Pathkiller 
 Samuel Buck 
 Tarapin Head 
 T. Rallinggourd 
 Thos. Manning 
 Smoke 
 
 James Lowry 
 Johnson Murphy 
 Doublehead 
 Withcalooski 
 Whirlwind 
 Hawk 
 Chinabi 
 Manstriker 
 Gander 
 Shade 
 Chuiska 
 Scrapeskin 
 Goodmoney 
 Mole 
 
 Red Bird 
 Peter 
 
 Sitting Bear 
 Saquah 
 
 Standing Crane 
 Big Kittle 
 Jas. Taylor 
 
 Sleeping Rabbit 
 
 Robt. Benge 
 
 Speaker 
 
 Dick Foreman 
 
 Tanchichi 
 Jas. Taylor 
 
 Tracker" 
 
 Hunter Langley 
 
 Black Fox 
 
 Drowning Bear 
 
 Olisitunki 
 
 Corntassle 
 
 Arch Lowry 
 
 Rock 
 
 Sparrowhawk 
 
 Rustybelly 
 
 Littlemeat 
 
 Osulanah 
 
 Alanitah 
 
 Letusstop 
 
 Horns 
 
 Lion 
 
 Blue Bird 
 
 Sooksarah 
 
 Messenger 
 
 Chichi 
 
 Pelican 
 
 Nath. Hicks 
 
 Dick Taylor 
 
 Levi Timberlake 
 
 Chickainangee. 
 Tom Fox 
 Jas. Sanders 
 Otter 
 Runabout 
 Landseller 
 Leaf 
 Stump 
 
 Crying Wolf 
 Spirit 
 
 Chinaquayah 
 Wash Lowry 
 Chilhowie 
 Going Snake 
 Noonday 
 Tyger 
 Peacock 
 Buzzard 
 Otterlifter 
 J. Ratlinggourd 
 Three Killer 
 Lewis Bark 
 Little Barrow 
 Turkeytoter 
 Jas. Brown 
 Jno. Baldridge 
 Moses Campbell 
 Ned Bark 
 Singer 
 
 Cold weather 
 Cloud 
 Swan 
 
 Sitting Bear 
 Robin 
 
 Ta-chan-sie 
 Canadawaski 
 Watt 
 Osage 
 
 Chas. Manning 
 Chuit 
 Ashhopper 
 Fodder 
 (Jrog 
 Owl 
 Key 
 
 Scaffold 
 Water Lizai'd 
 W. Griffin 
 Dreadfuhvater 
 Big Nose 
 Wallace Vann 
 Eight Killer 
 N. McDaniel 
 Stud Horse 
 C. Mcintosh 
 Peach 
 Zallowska 
 Spring Frog 
 Jno. Benge 
 Sukatowie 
 Bushyhead 
 
 District of 
 Avery Vann 
 Collin McDaniel 
 Terrapin Striker 
 Daylight 
 John Wayne 
 Mortar 
 Baesling 
 Ga-Ta-la-na 
 Tailor 
 
 Chu-no-lus-ka 
 Fool 
 
 Housekeeper 
 Turkey 
 
 Tom Gillespie 
 Walter Ridge 
 Isaac 
 
 John Ridge 
 Matthew Moore 
 Harry Scott 
 Bear" Meat 
 Edward Adair 
 
 Coosewattee. 
 Money Sealer 
 Hang Foot 
 Wm. Lowry 
 Chow-send 
 Doing-so 
 Ta-es-kee 
 Stand Watie 
 Jim-Six-Killer 
 Huckleberry 
 Carnton Hicks 
 Standing 
 John Watie 
 Wat Liver 
 Two Heads 
 By-him-self 
 Ground Hog 
 In-the.field 
 Oo-tata-ti 
 Six-Killer 
 Turn Over 
 Major Ridge 
 
 District of Etowah (Hightower) 
 
 Leach 
 
 Take After 
 
 You-as-so-walta 
 
 Armup 
 
 Ice 
 
 Goy-a-chesa 
 
 Crawfish 
 
 Shutter 
 
 Moses 
 
 Boiled-down 
 
 GEO. M. BATTKY, .)K.. a.ssociate editor of 
 The Rome News and author of "A History 
 of Rome & Floyd County."
 
 392 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 Peach Shooter 
 
 Cow-e-chur-kah 
 
 Pumpkinpie 
 
 Pound-it-over 
 
 Handshaker 
 
 Let-it-fall 
 
 Ground Hog 
 
 John Wayne 
 
 John Eliot 
 
 Flax Bird 
 
 Walte Gutte 
 
 Seed 
 
 Talassee 
 
 Chippie 
 
 Grapes 
 
 Big: Tongue 
 
 Buffalo-fish 
 
 Pouch Laugher 
 
 Epaw-wessus 
 
 Melter 
 
 Catch-him 
 
 Standing Wolf 
 
 Red Bird 
 
 Water Hunter 
 
 Push-off 
 
 Jack West 
 
 Frozen Foot 
 
 Eagle Setting 
 
 Swinger 
 
 Viper 
 
 Thos. Petit 
 
 Lets-hunt-em 
 
 Bundle 
 
 Little Deer 
 
 White Path 
 
 Bran 
 
 Humming Bird 
 
 Seen-them 
 
 Walking Stick 
 
 Bird Hunter 
 
 Shell 
 
 Big Burn 
 
 Catcher 
 
 Nelson West 
 
 Fog 
 
 Chu-no-ha-ha 
 
 Bone-carrier 
 
 Smallwood 
 
 Guts 
 
 Gusty 
 
 Little Terrapin 
 
 Woman Killer 
 
 Knitts 
 
 Kick-up 
 
 Wah-hatchie 
 
 Bushy 
 
 Pipe 
 
 Stee-kee 
 
 Corn Silk 
 
 Hairy-Breast 
 
 Rib 
 
 Dirt-Thrower 
 
 Samuel Mayo 
 District of Hickory Log. 
 
 Buffalo Pouch 
 
 Goodman 
 
 C. S. Adair 
 
 Takingout 
 
 Teacher 
 
 Take-out-beans 
 
 Blanket 
 
 Eye 
 
 Chin 
 
 B. F. Adair 
 
 Walkingstick 
 
 Dirtpot 
 
 Sparrow Hawk 
 
 G. M. Walters 
 
 Crying Bear 
 
 Swimmer 
 
 Humming Bird 
 
 Mixture 
 
 Flying Fish 
 
 John Proctor 
 
 Spaniard 
 
 Spy 
 
 Fallingpot 
 Climbing 
 Jim Proctor 
 Walter Daniel 
 Goodgals 
 Rattling Gourd 
 Big Boy 
 Pushim 
 
 Mose Drowning 
 Jas 
 
 Blackhorse 
 
 Cotton 
 
 Jack Winn 
 
 Tobacco Purse 
 
 Wm. Rogers 
 
 Sampson 
 
 Bird Cutter 
 
 Tassle 
 
 Raining 
 
 Falling 
 
 Dirty-belly 
 
 N of ire 
 
 Hawk 
 
 Guess 
 
 Capsou 
 
 Prince 
 
 Takeitout 
 
 Santaga 
 
 Geo. Still 
 
 Eel 
 
 Drawer 
 
 Bean 
 
 Luck 
 
 E. Towns 
 
 Naked 
 
 Stop 
 
 Beginning 
 
 Mink 
 
 Doghead 
 
 Pincheater 
 
 Trash Gatherer 
 
 Daniel 
 
 District 
 
 Bunchlegs 
 
 Hogfish 
 
 Mistake 
 
 Flaxbird 
 
 Raincrow 
 
 Hogshooter 
 
 Biter 
 
 Ear 
 
 Little Bone 
 
 of Tahquohee. 
 Whip 
 Spirit 
 Cat 
 Getup 
 
 John Rogers 
 Kinkyhead 
 Knockmi 
 Buzzard 
 Rising Fawn 
 
 Miscellaneous. 
 D J. Hook, Turkey Town; J. Saun- 
 ders, Tallonev; A. Ratley, Teu River; 
 Jno. Adair, Oothcalouga; Jos. Rogers, 
 Sawana; Ezekiel Fields, Teu River; 
 A Adair, Oothcalouga; R. Rogers, Sa- 
 wana; Jas. Vann, Talloha; Johnson 
 Thompson, Pine Log; B. F. Thompson, 
 Sala Coa; J. F. Adair, Two Run; 
 Wastuwaha, Old Town; Jas. McNair, 
 Connasauga; D. Foreman Candy 
 Creek; Stephen Ray, Candy Creek; 
 J Rogers, Chattahoochee; Jack bour- 
 mush. Two Run; J. L. McKay Will s 
 Valley; Elijah Hicks, New Echota; 
 Black Fox, Oothcalouga; Henderson 
 Harris, Forks of Coosa; D. McCoy, 
 Red Clay; Willy Bigby, Candy's Creek; 
 J A.Thompson, Pine Log; bird Hai- 
 ris, Sawana; Jno. Fields, Sr., Turnip 
 Mountain; John Williams, Rock 
 Creek; Geo. Candy, Mouse Creek; G. 
 W Adair, Sala Coa; J. C. Towers, 
 Oothcalouga; Jas. Vann, Connasauga; 
 Jno. Blvthe, Long Savannah; C. Mc- 
 Nair, Connasauga; Yese-taes-a, iur- 
 nip Mountain. 
 
 ;■: * * 
 
 INDIAN TRAILS, ROADS AND 
 STAGES.— Most of the Indian ti-ails 
 of Cherokee Georgia have been oblit- 
 erated or swallowed up in the improved 
 roadways of today. In the early part 
 of the nineteenth century the so-called 
 Federal Road was built from Tennes- 
 see through sections of Georgia. This 
 is mentioned as part of the route of 
 Gen. Sherman's army on its march 
 from Resaca to Bartow County m 1864, 
 and now and then there are other ref- 
 erences to it, notably by the Indians. 
 Quite possibly it passed near Dalton 
 and generally followed the route of the 
 Western and Atlantic Railroad. 
 
 Mrs J L. Walker, of Waycross, 
 contributes the following on certain 
 old trails and roads: 
 
 "There is rich romance linking Geor- 
 gia's old roads and trails with the dim 
 past, for many of them ran by the cu- 
 riously-gabled villages that dotted the 
 countryside, and the huts of priests and 
 the wigwams of the Indians were seen 
 along the way.
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 393 
 
 "The possessions of most of the early 
 settlers consisted of a few acres of 
 cleared g'round, a log hut and a wife 
 and children. The lives of the pioneers 
 were filled with thrilling experiences, 
 and the wives were quite as brave. The 
 existence of the women was anything 
 but peaceful, for while the men worked 
 in the fields they guarded every inch of 
 the gi'ound close around the home. 
 Tragedies were common; the trusty 
 rifles were often taken down from 
 above the door to bag a wild cat, an 
 Indian or a bear. When the men went 
 to town, the women and children usual- 
 ly had to go too because of fear of wild 
 beasts and Indians, and together they 
 traveled the old trails. 
 
 "In the lives of stage coach trav- 
 elers, stopping places were quite im- 
 portant. Taverns and post houses were 
 a necessity, because horses had to be 
 changed and travelers rested and fed. 
 
 "The Blue Pond road in Floyd Coun- 
 ty followed the Coosa River into Ala- 
 bama and on to Sand Mountain. This 
 was named after Blue Pond, in Ala- 
 bama, and probably corresponds to the 
 Alabama road of today. Earlier it was 
 known as the Creek path, after the 
 Creek Indians of Alabama and Geor- 
 gia. 
 
 "Oostanaula or Hightower Path ran 
 eastward from Alabama along the 
 northern boundary line between the 
 Creeks and the Cherokees, as fixed by 
 Gen. Coffee in 1830. It crossed Shallow 
 Ford on a tributary of the Etowah in 
 the upper northwest corner of Cobb 
 County, near Acworth ; passed through 
 Marietta, the northern ends of Fulton 
 and DeKalb Counties ; through Dun- 
 woody, Norcross, Cross Keys and into 
 Gwinnett County and Bay Creek in 
 Walton ; through Logansville and 
 crossed into Oconee County via High 
 Shoals; through Watkinsville; and 
 thence over the Oconee River into 
 Clarke County and Athens. 
 
 "Etowah Path led from the village 
 of Two Runs, in the southern ))art of 
 Gordon County, to Suwanee Old Town 
 in Lumpkin County. 
 
 "The chief north-south stage route 
 was from Milledgevillc, then the capi- 
 tal of Georgia, to Nickajack, Tenn., 
 near the Ga. -Ala. -Tenn. "corner," 
 and a branch connected with Rome. At 
 Eatonton there was another branch 
 to Athens, via Madison. If the traveler 
 wished to go by Athens on the way 
 from Milledgeville to Nickajuck he 
 must travel 2.55 miles, striking Vann's 
 F'erry (on the Chattahoochee River in 
 Hall County), Blackburn's (on Etowah 
 
 River), Etowah and Coosawattee 
 Town. Weekly stages were run from 
 Milledgeville to Athens and reverse, 
 and the fare was $6.25." 
 
 Sherwood's Gazetteer (1829) tabu- 
 lates the Milledgeville-Nickajack route 
 as follows: 
 
 Miles. 
 
 Milledgeville to Eatonton 21 lA 
 
 Eatonton to Madison 22 
 
 Madison to Athens 2714 
 
 Athens to Vann's Ferry 47 
 
 Vann's Ferry to Blackburn's 
 
 Ferry 20 
 
 Blackburn's to Harnage Ford 
 
 on Long Swamp Creek 15 
 
 Harnage's to Coosawattee Town 28 
 Coosawattee Town to Mrs. 
 
 Scott's 34 
 
 Mrs. Scott's to Daniel Ross' 18 
 
 Daniel Ross' to Willson's at Nick- 
 ajack 22 
 
 Total 255 
 
 The stage started from Milledge- 
 ville on Tuesdays for Athens and re- 
 turned on Saturdays. A few miles 
 might be saved on the way to Nicka- 
 jack by leaving Athens on the right 
 and passing through Clarkesborough, 
 Jackson County. The Gazetteer states 
 
 WM. SINCLAIR R0W?:LL. referee in bank- 
 ruptcy, editor of The Tribune-Herald and 
 Kiwanis Club member.
 
 394 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 FEDERAL AGENTS AND A "MOONSHINE" STILL, 1921. 
 
 that Vann's Ferry, 11 miles west of 
 Gainesville, Hall County, was on the 
 Federal road. 
 
 An old Rome newspaper stated that 
 Mr. and Mrs. J. M. M. Caldwell put 
 up at the McEntee House, Broad 
 street, Rome, in February, 1845, hav- 
 ing arrived by the Covington stage. 
 
 * * :!: 
 
 INTERNATIONAL ORDER OF 
 GOOD TEMPLARS.— Shortly after 
 the Civil War a number of lodges of 
 this organization, founded by James 
 G. Thrower, of Atlanta, were estab- 
 lished at Rome, and included many of 
 the Hill City's leading men who were 
 opposed to liquor. Among the local 
 units were Sacred Promise Lodge No. 
 125, headed by C. G. Samuel; Forrest- 
 ville Lodge No. 106, and Mothers' Hope 
 Temple No. 14. Among the leaders 
 were Judge Waller T. Turnbull, Rev. 
 L. R. Gwaltney, Major Z. B. Hargrove, 
 Judge J. W. H. Underwood, Judge Joel 
 Branham, Dunlap Scott, Col. Thos. W. 
 Alexander and Chas. H. Smith ("Bill 
 Arp"). The Cold Water Temple w 
 composed of young men, with W. R. 
 Fenner as secretary. "Water only!" 
 was its motto. The Grand Lodge* of 
 Georgia convention was held at Rome 
 Oct. 9, 1872, and more than 200 lodges 
 wei-e represented. 
 
 On June 6, 18G0, a local organiza- 
 tion known as the Sons of Temperance 
 held a meeting at Rome. Chas. H 
 Smith was president, and the other of- 
 ficers were J. H. McClung, G. B. T. 
 Moore, R. Ferdinand Hutchings, R. W. 
 Echols, W. Ai. Barron and T. W. 
 Swank. 
 
 In spite of the refusal of this noble 
 handful to drink, Rome's barrooms con- 
 
 tinued to multiply, until in 1900 there 
 were thirteen on Broad Street, or an 
 average of one for each block. Soon 
 thereafter for a few years, due to the 
 efforts of Seaborn Wright and others, 
 the barrooms were voted out and a 
 dispensary put in. "Package goods" 
 were passed out from the east side of 
 Broad Street midway between Third 
 and Fourth Avenues. 
 
 The following additional general in- 
 formation is furnished by one of the 
 prohibitionists: 
 
 The prohibition bill was passed by 
 the Georgia Senate July 14, 1907, by a 
 vote of 34 to 7; in the House it pas' 
 July 31 by a vote of 139 to 39. Gov- 
 Hoke Smith signed the bill on the 31st, 
 declaring "This is the happiest day of 
 my life!" 
 
 LAKES AND PONDS. — While 
 there are no lakes of size in Floyd 
 County, there are a number of bodies 
 of water that furnish sport in sum- 
 mer for boaters, bathers and fisher- 
 men, among which may be mentioned : 
 
 DeSoto (Mobley Park) lake, which 
 is to be enlarged for the boys of the 
 Darlington school. 
 
 Updegrove lake, Armuchee Creek, 
 near the Dalton road. 
 
 Wright & Powers' lake, Calhoun 
 road, one mile north of the city limits 
 of North Rome. 
 
 Young's mill pond, Kingston road, 
 eight miles northeast of Rome. 
 
 Hackney's pond, half a mile north of 
 Big Dry Creek, on the Summerville 
 Road. 
 
 "Woodstock" lake, two miles south-
 
 Encyclopedic Sectiop 
 
 395 
 
 t 
 
 -JS^ 
 
 4 
 
 GEORGIA'S FIRST GOVERNOR AND A "POET LAUREATE. " 
 
 At left, James Edward Oglethorpe, leader who established the colony, and Sidney 
 Lanier, whose verse won him world-wide fame. 
 
 west of Cave Spring, on a place once 
 owned by the parents of Col. Francis 
 S. Bartow. 
 
 "Talalah" lake, between "Wood- 
 stock" and Cave Spring, the property 
 of Robt. Swain Perry, of Philadelphia. 
 
 Rotary lake, Horseleg Creek, Shor- 
 ter College, the dam of which was do- 
 nated by the Rotary Club of Rome. 
 
 Berry School lake, on the Berry cam- 
 pus. 
 
 The Mountain Farm School lake, 
 also on the Berry grounds at the foot 
 of Lavender Mountain. 
 
 Sullivan pond, on the John M. Gra- 
 ham place, "Hillcrest," East Rome, 
 near Silver Creek. 
 
 Crystal Springs Mill pond, Armu- 
 chee Creek. 
 
 The Tarvin pond, at Carlier Springs, 
 two miles east of Rome. 
 
 Jas. P. Jones' lake, below Black's 
 Bluff. 
 
 There is a natural fish pond three 
 miles north of the court house on the 
 Kingston road, owned by Mitchell Mo- 
 ran (col.), 6.5 years of age and a 
 great-grandfather, and a resident of 
 Floyd County for 37 years. The pond 
 is fringed with trees and is an acre 
 and a half large. It is fed by two 
 springs at the north end; there is no 
 visible outlet, and it is supposed the 
 water goes underground to the p]towah 
 River. The pond is stocked with small 
 fish — mainly bass — and Mitchell 
 charges folks a quarter to catch all 
 they can. 
 
 W. A. Smith has a pond at 1920 N. 
 Broad Street. 
 
 A number of others might be men- 
 tioned which are not much more than 
 puddles. A few which are well re- 
 membered to skaters in winter and 
 fishermen in summer have dried up, 
 notably a large pond in East Rome 
 near Silver Creek, between the Anchor 
 Duck Mill and the Etowah River, and 
 a pond in North Rome drained in 1864 
 by the Northern army. 
 
 Dr. Jno. F. Lawrence is planning a 
 pond at "Glen Alto," his country de- 
 velopment at Radio Springs, Coosa 
 River road, and several others expect 
 to dam up their streams so as to make 
 places for year-round pleasure on an 
 adequate scale. 
 
 LANIER CIRCLE.— This literary 
 and musical organization, like the 
 Round Table Club of before the Civil 
 War, was established on old Shorter 
 College Hill. A newspaper clipping 
 from The Rome Tribune of May 1, 
 1895, gives the officers as follows: Dr. 
 A. J. Battle, president of Shorter Col- 
 lege, president; Miss Mabel Hillyer, 
 vice-president; Miss Martha Berry, 
 treasurer, and Mrs. Christopher Row- 
 ell, secretary. 
 
 The Circle was named after Sidney 
 Lanier, poetical song bird of the South, 
 and Montgomery M. FoLsom, the Rome 
 poet, wrote a clever poem to Lanier 
 and presented it to the club. Since 
 Lanier had once said he considered 
 music and warm fire, next to wife,
 
 396 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 children, a house and friends, essen- 
 tial to home life, music was introduced 
 under the drection of Mrs. W. S. Mc- 
 Henry, and the rest of each evening's 
 program was devoted to literary pa- 
 pers and discussions. Mrs. Jno. H. 
 Reynolds and other leading Rome wom- 
 en used to belong to the Circle, and 
 many pleasant and profitable sessions 
 were held, until interest that had been 
 devoted to it gradually diffused and 
 flowed — alas! — into various enterprises 
 less devoted to aestheticism. 
 * * * 
 
 LeHARDY springs.— Some con- 
 fusion arises between this term and 
 the term "Carlier Springs." The place 
 three miles east of Rome commonly 
 known as "Carlier Springs," was own- 
 ed by Gen. L. J. B. LeHardy and his 
 son Camille LeHardy, but Louis Henry 
 Carlier kept it during the Civil War. 
 J. Paul Cooper offers the following 
 explanation: 
 
 "Eugene LeHardy bought the planta- 
 tion afterward owned by Dr. G. W. 
 Holmes, consisting of three land lots, 
 on part of which I now live. The spring 
 itself was on another land lot, original, 
 ly belonging to the plantation which 
 the East Rome Town Company bought 
 and developed. Before that purchase. 
 
 EUGENE LeHARDY de BEAULIEU, of 
 Rome's BelKian colony, who went to Europe 
 to buy supplies for the Confederate Army. 
 
 however, the owner of that plantation 
 had exchanged a corner lot, amounting 
 to five acres, containing the spring, 
 giving it to LeHardy in return for 
 about the same area lying in one of 
 LeHardy's lots up toward Tubbs' 
 Mountain. There is the small spring 
 now owned by Dick Cothran. All this 
 appears from the county records. 
 
 "Colonel LeHardy had at that time, 
 so far as I know, only a log cabin, built 
 on the hill almost exactly where my 
 house is located, and not where Martin 
 Grahame afterward built. There was 
 a tenant house between LeHardy's set- 
 tlement and the spring, in my boy- 
 hood days, though whether it existed 
 there in LeHardy's time I do not know. 
 It was occupied by Pete Cato, and near 
 that spot Martin Grahame built his 
 house. The old cabin had burned and 
 the place grown up in young timber 
 before I bought the land on which I 
 live. The scars of the burning, how- 
 ever, were on the trees which stood 
 near my first residence, one of them 
 having closed over and been occupied 
 by a swarm of wild bees. I found near 
 the place where the old cabin stood a 
 sweet briar rose, evidently planted 
 there by LeHardy. A small root of it 
 is still growing on the place." 
 
 Dr. Henry LeHardy, of Chattanoo- 
 ga, writes: 
 
 "As well as I remember, my father. 
 Gen. L. J. B. LeHardy, owned two lots 
 of land, on the Spring Creek road, 
 about three miles east of Rome. The 
 spring was a large one, "lowing be- 
 tween some big rocks, and was sit- 
 uated in a fine grove of tiees — oaks, 
 hickories, sweet gums and cedars. Eu- 
 gene LeHardy owned a farm some- 
 where between Rome and my father's 
 plantation. I never saw his farm and 
 could not say what kind of a spring 
 was there. My father's spring was 
 known to us as LeHardy's and is the 
 one that is often called the 'Carlier 
 Spring.'" (See Carlier Springs). 
 
 LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS.— Col- 
 
 loquial terms have been applied to a 
 number of sections of Floyd County. 
 Before the war there were regularly 
 organized voting districts known as 
 Wolf Skin and Dirt Town, which later 
 bore more dignified titles. 
 
 Booger Hollow is about two miles 
 south of Lindale. 
 
 Lick Skillet is a part of South Rome. 
 
 Pop Skull is on the Alabama road, 
 west of Oak Park and Faii'banks. 
 
 Possum Trot is between the Berry 
 School buildings and the foot of Lav-
 
 Encyclopedic SEcrior 
 
 397 
 
 ender Mountain, on the Berry farm. 
 
 Tim-buck-too is on the Calhoun road 
 adjoining the city limits in North 
 Rome. 
 
 Blue Gizzard and Beef Tongue are 
 neighborhoods in Texas Valley. 
 
 Chubbtown is a settlement of pros- 
 perous and respectable negroes four 
 miles southeast of Cave Spring, at the 
 Polk County line. 
 
 Hell's Hollow (now sometimes called 
 Reservoir Hollow) is a colored section 
 200 yards north of Ninth Avenue, 
 three blocks above the old Seventh Ave- 
 nue cemetery. 
 
 Beaver Slide is on the north bank of 
 the Oostanaula River in the Fourth 
 Ward, above the Fifth Avenue bridge; 
 bounded on the west by Avenue A. 
 
 Goat Hill got its name from a herd 
 of goats and is situated in East Rome, 
 near Carlier Springs. 
 
 Blossom Hill is one of the principal 
 colored residence sections of Rome. It 
 is an eminence that affords a fine view 
 of the surrounding country, and is in 
 the path of real estate development to 
 the north. It is several blocks north 
 of Eighth Avenue. 
 
 MAYORS OF ROME. 
 Explanatory Note. — Rome was in- 
 corporated Dec. 21, 1847, by act of the 
 Georgia Legislature at Milledgeville, 
 and it is certain that the city govern- 
 ment was not set up much before 1849. 
 Prior to this time — from and after 
 1835, when the town was established — 
 the "intendant" (superintendent) and 
 the town marshal held undisputed 
 sway. There is some question as to 
 who certain of the mayors were before 
 the Civil War, since various records 
 were destroyed by fire and the names 
 were never replaced. However, the fol- 
 lowing roster, perfected by various 
 "old settlers," is believed to be the 
 nearest approach to a complete list in 
 existence. According to Virgil A. 
 Stewart, one of Rome's oldest citizens, 
 the first mayor was Dr. J. D. Dicker- 
 son, a druggist, who came from New 
 Orleans, La., and who returned thei'e 
 later. Others have made the same 
 statement, and their version is accept- 
 ed in preference to that of an individ- 
 ual who claims the distinction for Wm. 
 Cook Gautier Johnstone (better known 
 as Wm. Johnstone), a merchant and 
 banker. Henry A. Gartrell was mayor 
 in 1860. He ran against Geo. P. Bur- 
 nett in 1859 and it is believed was 
 elected. At 33 years of age Thos. W. 
 Lipscomb became Rome's youngest 
 
 mayor, in 1908. Ben C. Yancey was 
 second youngest at 35 in 1912, and he 
 is said to have been the only native- 
 born mayor Rome has ever had. Sam 
 and Jack King, however, were natives 
 of Floyd County. The commission 
 form of government was instituted in 
 1915 and the late W. M. Gammon be- 
 came the first head of the City Com- 
 mission. During part of 1863 Capt. 
 Jacob H. Hoss served as military "gov- 
 ernor" for the Confederacy. 
 
 Dr. J. D. Dickerson, 1849-50; Jas. P. 
 Perkins, 1851 ; Nathan Yarbrough, 
 1852; 1853 (?); Wm. C. G. Johnstone, 
 1854(7); 1855(?); 1856(?); Robt. D. 
 Harvey, 1857; J. M. Sumter, 1858(?); 
 Henry A. Gartrell, 1859(7); Henrv A. 
 Gartrell, 1860; Dr. Thos. Jefferson 
 Word, 1861-2; Dr. Jno. M. Gregory 
 and Capt. Jacob H. Hoss, C. S. A., 
 1863; Geo. P. Burnett, 1864; Jas. No- 
 ble, Jr., 1865; Daniel S. Printup, 1866; 
 Chas. H. Smith, 1867-8; Zachariah B. 
 Hargrove, 1869; Henry A. Smith, 
 1870-1; Hugh Dickson Cothran, Sr., 
 1872; W. F. Ayer, 1873-4; Judge Jas. 
 M. Spullock, 1875; Thos. W. Alexan. 
 der, 1876-7; Mitchell A. Nevin, 1878- 
 79-80; Samuel Morgan, 1881; Jas. G. 
 Dailev, 1882; Daniel S. Printup, 1883; 
 Jack King, 1884-5; Samuel M. Knox, 
 1886-7; W. F. Ayer, 1888-89; Almeron 
 W. Walton, 1890-1; Samuel S. King. 
 1892-3; Jno. D. Moore, 1894-5; Samuel 
 S. King, 1896-7; Jno. J. Seay, 1898-9; 
 Thompson Hiles, 1900-1; J. Dave 
 Hanks, 1902-3; Chas. H. Lavender, 
 1904-5; Judge Jno. W. Maddox, 1906- 
 7; Thos. W. Lipscomb, 1908-10; J. W. 
 Hancock, 1911-12; Benj. C. Yancey, 
 1912-13; J. Dave Hanks, 1914. 
 
 The "First Commissoners." — W. 
 M. Gammon, 1915; Chas. S. Pru- 
 den, 1916; D. W. Simmons, 1917-18. 
 
 Chairmen of Commissions — Jno. M. 
 Vandiver, 1919; Isaac May, 1920; Er- 
 nest E. Lindsey, 1921-2 (incumbent). 
 
 Mayoi-ft and Cou.ncilmoi, 1866-1894. 
 (From Tribune clipping of 1894.) — 
 The first mayor after the war was 
 James Noble, Jr., who served in that 
 capacity in 18(55. 
 
 In 1866, Daniel S. Printup was 
 mayor, and the following were his 
 councilmen: Jesse Lamberth, T. J. 
 Perry, Samuel Gibbons, J. H. Cooper, 
 Sam Noble and John M. Quinii; H. \. 
 Smith was clerk. 
 
 In 1867-68. Chas. H. Smith (Hill 
 Arp) was mayor and Messrs. Lam- 
 berth, Perry, Jas. Noble, Sr., D. M. 
 Hood, J. W. Hooper, Jr., and J. C. 
 Pemberton were councilmen.
 
 398 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 Major Z. B. Hargri-ove was mayor in 
 1869. In that year T. J. Perry/C. H. 
 Smith, J. C. Rawlins, Jas. Noble, J. 
 M. Grep:ory and J. J. Cohen were the 
 councilmen. 
 
 Henry A. Smith was mayor in 1870- 
 1871. and Hup:h Dickson Cothran, Sr., 
 in 1872. 
 
 In 1873, Major W. F. Ayer was 
 mayor and G. W. Holmes, T. McGuire, 
 R. V. Mitchell, W. L. Whitely and A. 
 T. Hardin were councilmen; Henry 
 Norton was clerk. 
 
 Major Ayer was also mayor in 1874 
 and had with him the following coun- 
 cilmen: T. McGuire, R. V. Mitchell 
 C. H. Smith, C. G. Samuel, J. E. Veal 
 and R. J. Gwaltney; J. F. Shanklin 
 was clerk. 
 
 J. M. Spullock was mayor in 1875. 
 Jesse Lamberth, J. G. Dailey, W. M. 
 Shropshire, Geo. Bowen, J. *L. Camp 
 and Wm. West were councilmen. J. 
 W. Meakin was elected councilman 
 during this year to fill an unexpired 
 term. 
 
 In 1876 the council was composed of 
 T. W. Alexander, mayor; R. S. Norton, 
 J. G. Dailey, Wm. West, J. C. Raw- 
 lins, J. W. Bones and J. W. Meakin. 
 J. F. Shanklin was clerk. This was 
 the council that issued the bonds which 
 are soon to be redeemed. 
 
 In 1877, T. W. Alexander remained 
 as mayor, with the same council except 
 that Messrs. Frank Woodruff and W. 
 F. Ayer succeeded Messrs. Dailey and 
 Meakin. 
 
 City Clerk M. A. Nevin was elected 
 mayor in 1878 with the following 
 strong council: J. G. Dailev, C. T. 
 Clements, Jas. Noble, Halstead Smith, 
 John J. Seay and T. J. Williamson. 
 W. W. Seay was the clerk. 
 
 This council served until 1880, when 
 Mayor Nevin was again re-elected with 
 the following council: T. J. William- 
 son, Jas. Noble, P. H. Hardin. E. H. 
 West, Jack King and W. L. Whitely. 
 
 In 1881 Major Sam Morgan was 
 elected mayor and Messrs. Jas. Noble, 
 E. H. West, T. J. Williamson, M. M. 
 Pepper, W. M. Towers and J. W. Wil- 
 liams were elected councilmen. This 
 council elected Col. Nevin clerk, and he 
 has served in that capacity down to the 
 present day. 
 
 J. G. Dailey was the mayor in 1882, 
 and with Judge Dailey were James 
 Wyatt, R. A. Denny, R. T. Hargrove, 
 Joe Printup, R. H. West and F. Wood- 
 rrff as councilmen. 
 
 Col. D. S. Printup was mayor in 
 1883, and J. F. Shanklin, Jack King, 
 
 R. A. Denny, R. T. Hargrove, Sam 
 Knox and A. W. Walton were the 
 councilmen. 
 
 Jack King was mayor in 1884. Mr. 
 King had as his council W. H. Ward- 
 law, W. H. Adkins, M. C. Mathis, S. 
 M. Knox, C. T. Clements and R. T. 
 Hargrove. Mr. Hargrove resigned and 
 W. T. McWilliams was elected to fill 
 his unexpired term. 
 
 In 1884 the charter was so changed 
 that councilmen and mayors were to 
 serve two years and could not succeed 
 themselves. The following year Mayor 
 King and Councilmen Adkins, Knox 
 and McWilliams retained their posi- 
 tions and Messrs. T. J. Williamson, W. 
 M. Towers and H. S. Lansdell were 
 elected to succeed Messrs. Wardlaw, 
 Mathis and Clements. 
 
 Sam. Knox was elected mayor in 
 1886. J. C. Printup, S. S. King and 
 J. T. Vandiver were elected council- 
 men. Shortly before this election, the 
 Fourth Ward was admitted into the 
 city and at this time J. W. Mitchell 
 and W. A. Wright were elected to rep- 
 resent her. 
 
 The charter was again changed so 
 councilmen were to be elected every 
 year, one from each ward to serve 
 two years, and in 1887 W. H. Adkins, 
 A. W. Walton, W. T. Smith and J. I. 
 Wright were elected to succeed Messrs. 
 Williamson, Towers, Lansdell and 
 Mitchell. 
 
 The council of 1888 was composed 
 of W. F. Ayer, mayor, and W. H. Ad- 
 kins, W. W. Seay, A. W. Walton, H. S. 
 Lansdell, W. T. Smith, Jack King, J. 
 I. Wright and H. D. Hill. 
 
 In 1889, Messrs. J. C. Printup, M. C. 
 Mathis, John J. Seay and John D. 
 Moore were elected to succeed Messrs. 
 Adkins, Walton, Smith and Wright. 
 This was Mayor-elect Moore's first 
 service and his election was somewhat 
 of a surprise, as he defeated J. W. 
 Mitchell, who was at that time con- 
 sidered one of the strongest men in the 
 Fourth Ward. While serving in this 
 council, Mr. Moore demonstrated his 
 "backbone," if we may so express it, 
 by standing single handed by the 
 mayor in fining the violators of the 
 prohibition law, where the entire coun- 
 cil was against him. H. D. Hill had 
 previous to this time resigned from 
 the council and J. K. Williamson was 
 elected to succeed him. 
 
 The election of 1890 was very excit- 
 ing, the candidates for mayor being 
 Messrs. A. W. Walton and W." W. Seay. 
 The Fifth Ward had just been admit- 
 ted and added enthusiasm to the race.
 
 Encyclopedic SECTior 
 
 399 
 
 AT SAM GRAHAM'S BARBECUE, 20 YEARS AGO. 
 
 Among the "merrymakers" can be seen Oscar McWilliams, John Graham, Rob Rounsa- 
 ville, Reuben Towers, Laurie Cothran, Mortimer Griffin, Ed. Maddox, Rob Yancey, Boiling 
 Sullivan, Mel Gammon, Rob Graves, Walter Cothran, John C. Reese, Wm. A. Wright, Capt. 
 Jno. J. Seay, Moses Wright, Dr. T. R. Garlington, Foster Graham, Wilson Hardy and 
 Horace Johnson. 
 
 Walton was elected with the entire 
 ticket and the council this year stood : 
 
 Mayor, A. W. Walton; councilmen, 
 J. C. Printup, J. R. Cantrell, M. C. 
 Mathis, S. M. Knox, John J. Seay, S. 
 S. King, John D. Moore, J. W. Mitchell. 
 Messrs. M. M. Pepper and D. Turner 
 were elected to represent the Fifth 
 Ward. In 1891 C. W. Underwood, W. 
 H. Steele, J. L. Camp, C. W. Morris 
 and T. J. McCaffrey were the council- 
 men elected. 
 
 In 1893, Mayor King and his ticket 
 were elected, defeating Mayor-elect 
 Moore, but in 1894, it is Moore's in- 
 ning. 
 
 The councilmen since 1894 follow: 
 
 1894— First Ward, A. B. McArver; 
 Second, W. J. Neel; Third, H. G. Stof- 
 fregen, Sr. ; Fourth, Walter Harris; 
 Fifth, T. J. McCaffrey. 
 
 1895— First Ward, Geo. F. Chidsey, 
 Jr.; Second, Sam M. Lowry; Third, 
 Joel Branham; Fourth, J. A. Glover; 
 Fifth, Tom L. Cornelius. 
 
 1896— First Ward, Dr. Lindsay 
 Johnson; Second, Thompson Hilcs; 
 Third, J. A. Gammon; Fourth, Wm. 
 J. Gordon; Fifth, J. D. Hanks. 
 
 1897— First Ward, Frank J. Kane, 
 Sr.; Second, W. T. Jones; Third, Rich- 
 ard A. Denny; Fourth, Chas. W. Mor- 
 ris; Fifth, J. Dallis Turner. 
 
 1898— First Ward, A. B. McArver; 
 Second, D. B. Hamilton, Jr.; Third, 
 B. T. Haynes; Fourth, Walter Harris; 
 Fifth, Tom J. Reese. 
 
 1899— First Ward, C. E. McLin; 
 Second, Albert G. Ewing, Jr.; Third. 
 Hunter H. McClure; Fourth, Hiram 
 D. Hill; Fifth, J. Robert Cantrell. 
 
 1900— First Ward, Frank J. Kane; 
 Second, Chas. S. Pruden and D. E. 
 Lowry, Sr.; Third, Chas. B. Wilburn; 
 Fourth, Asbury Randle; Fifth, J. Dave 
 Hanks. 
 
 1901— First Ward, Wm. M. Towers, 
 Sr.; Second, Harper Hamilton; Third, 
 Chas. H. Lavender; Fourth, Harry W. 
 Williamson; Fifth, P. H. Vandiver. 
 
 1902— First Ward, John M. Graham; 
 Second, Chas. S. Pruden; Third, Jos. 
 B. Owens; Fourth, Hugh McCrary; 
 Fifth, J. G. Pollock. 
 
 1903— First Ward, John C. Printup; 
 Second, A. B. Arrington; Third, J. W. 
 Hancock; Fourth, Chas. W. Morris; 
 Fifth, Jas. B. King. 
 
 1904— First Ward. Robt. W. Graves; 
 Second, John M. Graham; Third. Har- 
 ry C. Harrington; Fourth, Asbury 
 Randle; Fifth, P. H. Vandiver. 
 
 190,5— First Ward, F. H. Moore; Sec- 
 ond, A. B. Arrington; Third. J. W. 
 Hancock; Fourth, Harry W. William- 
 son; Fifth. J. G. Pollock. 
 
 lOOC- First Ward, Frank J. Kane; 
 Second. Jas. M. Lay; Third. Chas. H. 
 Lavender, Fourth, Geo. A. H. Harris; 
 Fifth, J. Dave Hairks. 
 
 1907— Fir.st Ward, J. W. Russell; 
 Second, Chas. B. Goetcbius; Third. J. 
 W. Hancock; Fourth. Harry W. Wil- 
 liamson; Fifth. J. C;. Pollock; Sixth,
 
 400 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 ; Seventh, Peter D. Burks 
 
 and W. M. Gammon. 
 
 1908— First Ward, E. W. Best; Sec- 
 ond, D. B. Hamilton, Jr.; Tliird. Isaac 
 Mav; Fourth, Luke C. Mitchell, Jr.; 
 Fifth. P. H. Vandiver; Sixth, Frank 
 W. Copeland; Seventh, Thos. L. Lloyd. 
 
 1909— First Ward, Wm. DeLay; Sec- 
 ond, Wm. P. Harbin; Third, Frank 
 M. Irwin; Fourth, Walter Harris; 
 Fifth, Gary J. King; Sixth, Frank W. 
 Gopeland; Seventh, Frank B. Freeman. 
 
 1910— First Ward, Sam J. Powers; 
 Second, Richard M. Johnston; Third, 
 Isaac May; Fourth, J. K. Williamson. 
 
 1911— First Ward, T. Berry Broach; 
 Second, Luke G. McDonald; Third, 
 Frank M. Irwin; Fourth, Dan O. By- 
 ars; Fifth, P. H. Vandiver; Sixth, 
 Frank W. Copeland; Seventh, Wm. L. 
 Daniel. 
 
 1912 — Aldermen: Frank S. Barron, 
 E. W. Best and Rufus W. McClain. 
 
 1913— First Ward, T. Berry Broach; 
 Second, Philip J. Mullen; Third, L. F. 
 McKoy; Fourth, J. W. Keown; Fifth, 
 P. H. Vandiver; Sixth, Frank W. 
 Copeland; Seventh, Wm. L. Daniel. 
 
 1914 — Aldermen: Cornelius Terhune, 
 Chas. T. Jervis and C. O. Walden. 
 
 1915 — Commission government insti- 
 tuted. W. M. Gammon, first commis- 
 sioner; Ernest E. Lindsey, second com- 
 missioner; A. B. Arrington, Frank B. 
 Holbrook, J. P. Jones, commissioners. 
 
 1916 — Chas. S. Pruden, chairman; 
 1917-18, D. W. Simmons, chairman; 
 1919, John M. Vandiver, Second 
 Ward, chairman; L. F. McKoy, First 
 Ward; Isaac May, Third Ward; C. F. 
 Gaines, Fourth Ward; R. Earl Young, 
 Fifth Ward; W. C. Atkinson, Sixth 
 Ward; H. B. Cruise, Seventh Ward, 
 commissioners; 1920, Isaac May, chair- 
 man; L. F. McKoy, First Ward; Har- 
 per Hamilton, Second Ward; Hugh 
 Burnes, Fourth Ward; Ben Gann, 
 Fifth Ward; W. C. Atkinson, Sixth 
 Ward; Henry B. Cruise, Seventh Ward, 
 commissioners. 1921-22, Ernest E. 
 Lindsey, chairman; L. F. McKoy, First 
 Ward; Isaac May, Third Ward; Hugh 
 Burnes, Fourth Ward; Ben Gann, 
 Fifth Ward; W. C. Atkinson, Sixth 
 Ward; H. B. Cruise, Seventh Ward, 
 commissioners. 
 
 Soon after the death in 1922 of Com- 
 missioner Burnes, W. H. Burnes, his 
 father, was elected; and Geo. Berry 
 Hawkins was elected to succeed Isaac 
 May, resigned. 
 
 MILLER RIFLES.— The following 
 sketch and roster were obtained 
 
 through courtesy of Jno. W. Quarles, 
 whose father, Frank W. Quarles, was 
 an original member. This record was 
 filed with the Floyd County ordinary 
 in August, 1898, in compliance with a 
 state law passed just prior to that 
 time: 
 
 The Miller Rifles left Rome about 
 May 15, 1861. It was one of the ten 
 companies forming the Eighth Georgia 
 Volunteer regiment as organized in 
 May at Richmond, Va. The company 
 was named in honor of Dr. H. V. M. 
 Miller, of Rome, one of the most dis- 
 tinguished physicians in the south. 
 
 Col. Francis S. Bartow was in com- 
 mand and Lieut. Col. W. M. Gardner, 
 of Rome; Maj. T. L. Cooper and Adj. 
 J. L. Branch regimental officers. 
 
 The regiment was ordered to Har- 
 per's Ferry, Va., and joined the forces 
 commanded by Gen. Joseph E. John- 
 ston. It was one of the few regiments 
 which bore the brunt of the fighting 
 in the first battle of Manassas, July 
 21, 1861, in which the loss in killed 
 and wounded was fearful. 
 
 The regiment served thi'ough the 
 war in a brigade commanded first by 
 Gen. Jones and later by Gen. George 
 T. Anderson, better known as "Tige" 
 Anderson. They formed a part of 
 Longstreet's corps in the army of 
 Northern Virginia, and participated in 
 nearly every battle in which Gen. Lee's 
 army was engaged, and surrendered 
 with him and the army on April 9, 
 1865, at Appomattox, Va. Of the six- 
 teen officers when the company was 
 organized, only three were living at 
 the time the above record was filed: 
 Col. John R. Towers, A. C. Morrison, 
 first corporal, and F. L. Miller, mu- 
 sician. 
 
 The Miller Rifles was afterwards 
 known as Company E, Eighth Georgia 
 Regiment Volunteers. 
 
 Original organization officers : 
 
 Captain — John R. Towers, promoted 
 to lieutenant colonel and then colonel. 
 
 First Lieut.— Edward W. Hull (re- 
 signed December, 1861). 
 
 Second Lieut. — Dunlap Scott, pro- 
 moted to first lieutenant and then cap- 
 tain. 
 
 Third Lieut. — A. R. Harper, pro- 
 moted to major. First Georgia Cavalry, 
 and then lieutenant colonel. 
 
 First Sergt. — Oswell B. Eve, died of 
 wounds received at First Battle of 
 Manassas. 
 
 Second Sergt. — J. M. Berry, dis- 
 charged for wounds received at First 
 Battle of Manassas.
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 401 
 
 Third Sergt.— Curtis C. Campbell, 
 died of disease, September, 1861. 
 
 Fourth Sergt. — J. L. Skinner, by 
 reason of substitution. 
 
 First Corporal — Augustus C. Morri- 
 son, now living. 
 
 Second Corporal — Thos. J. Hills, 
 died of wounds received at First Bat- 
 tle of Manassas. 
 
 Third Corporal— B. F. Price, died of 
 disease in September, 1861. 
 
 Fourth Corporal — Frank Lathrop, 
 killed at First Battle of Manassas. 
 
 Musician — J. H. Miller, died of dis- 
 ease. 
 
 Musician — F. L. Miller, living at 
 time of filing this record. 
 
 Surgeon — Dr. A. M. Boyd. 
 
 Chaplain— Rev. V. A. Bell. 
 
 Sec.-Treas. — Dr. J. F. Duane, killed 
 at First Battle of Manassas. 
 
 Privates — 
 S. H. Adams 
 W. J. Andrews 
 Jas. W. Arp 
 S. B. Asbury 
 T. W. Asbury 
 John Bailey 
 Von A. Bell 
 Edw. Bishop 
 A. G. Bobo 
 R. N. Bowden 
 A. M. Boyd 
 Win. J. Cannon 
 S. A. Chambers 
 John H. Cooper 
 W. T. Cornelius 
 Jas. I. Davis 
 John Davis 
 E. R. Diamond 
 W. B. Diamond 
 E. Donnough 
 E. M. Eason 
 T. T. Eason 
 W. T. Evans 
 John C. Eve 
 N. J. Fain 
 L. L. Floyd 
 W. L. Foster 
 M. L. Funderburk 
 H. T. Garrett 
 Thos. J. Glenn 
 E. P. Griffeth 
 W. A. Hardin 
 Chas. M. Harper 
 D. C. Harper 
 H. C. Harper 
 
 R. J. F. Hill 
 C. W. Hooper 
 Gabriel Jones 
 Wm. A. King 
 W. H. May 
 Joe McKenzie 
 W. S. McNatt 
 John Minton 
 Jas. L. Mitchell 
 Thos. Mobley 
 J. M. Montgomery 
 J. E. Moore 
 Tyler Motes 
 J. T. Oswalt 
 Wm. Parks 
 Geo. W. Payne 
 R. D. Price 
 J. L. Pyle 
 F. W. Quarles 
 F. M. Reynolds 
 J. W. Robertson 
 John H. Silvey 
 W. H. Skinner 
 T. C. Sparks 
 J. M. Taylor 
 W. J. Taylor 
 S. C. Trout 
 Wm. P. Trout 
 W. W. Ware 
 A. J. Wilkins 
 R. F. Wimpee 
 S. B. Wimpee 
 W. S. Wimpee 
 M. M. Wright 
 L. G. Yarbrough 
 
 Recruits Received in 1861 — 
 
 B. P. Barker 
 H. A. Brice 
 R. P. Brice 
 W. B. Dawson 
 J. T. Ellis 
 
 T. C. Estes 
 E. P. Freeman 
 Wm. M. Greer 
 John Hill 
 A. C. Huntington 
 
 i. x%. 
 
 WILLIAM JOSEPH ATTAWAY, Floyd County 
 boy killed in the World War in France as a 
 volunteer member of the U. S. Marines. 
 
 B. A. Johnston 
 M. J. Johnston 
 Wm. M. Mobley 
 Alex Moore 
 John Osley 
 Hamp H. Penny 
 J. M. Pledger 
 
 Recruits Received in 1862 — 
 Seaborn Bolt J. A. Estes 
 
 E. W. Clyett J. A. Frix 
 
 J. R. Eason W. W. Garrett 
 
 Jordan Reece 
 W. F. Rice 
 J. M. Sparks 
 W. M. Sparks 
 Robert Wade 
 B. F. Whitehead 
 T. S. Williamson
 
 402 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 R. A. Graham J. E. Lee 
 
 E. P. Hankins J. M. Martin 
 
 J. A. Hardin B. F. May 
 
 R, F. Harvey W. H. McCroskey 
 
 W. H. Harvey F. F. Norton 
 
 J. V. Henry Daniel Parks 
 
 W. R. Henry James Perry 
 
 David Hill A. J. Read 
 
 J. M. Hill T. K. Reeves 
 
 S. R. Jones B. F. Reynolds 
 
 Wm. H. Jones Samuel Roberts 
 Wm. Harris Jones Thos. J. Self 
 
 M. S. Judkins D. R. Towers 
 
 B. P. Lanham H. I. Ware 
 
 S. J. Lanham L. W. White 
 C. P. Whitehead 
 
 The follow^ing' sixteen laid down 
 their arms at Appomattox: 
 W. T. Cornelius W. H. McCroskey 
 E. M. Eason Joe McKenzie 
 
 J. T. Eason A. C. Morrison 
 
 Thos. J. Glenn Geo. W. Payne 
 
 Lt. C. M. Harper Hamph H. Penny 
 H. C. Harper Col. J. R. Towers 
 
 B. F. Johnson Wm. P. Trout 
 
 M. S. Judkins A. J. Wilkins 
 
 The record shows that of the 145 
 men enlisted in the company from first 
 to last, only 37 were living: at the time 
 the record was filed. Fourteen were 
 killed in battle, seven died of wounds 
 and 29 died from disease during the 
 war. Only sixteen were present at the 
 surrender; 42 had died since the war. 
 In tabulated form the record shows up 
 as follows: 
 
 Killed in battle 14 
 
 Died of wounds 7 
 
 Died of disease 29 
 
 Surrendered at Appomattox 16 
 
 Died since the war 42 
 
 Surviving members 37 
 
 Total number enlisted 145 
 
 * :!= * 
 
 MILLS. — Following is a partial list 
 of grist mills in Floyd County, as fur- 
 nished by R. V. Mitchell: 
 
 Barrett's, at North Rome bridge, 
 near Southern railway. 
 
 Culpepper's, on John's creek, "The 
 Pocket," northern end of the county. 
 
 Rounsaville's, Chambers Station, 
 east of Lindale. 
 
 Shores', Summerville Road, Armu- 
 chee Creek, on old Armuchee route. 
 
 Dick Zuber's, Horton place, Floyd 
 Springs road, Armuchee creek. 
 
 Richardson's, Alabama road at junc- 
 tion of the Central railway and Rome 
 and Attalla branch of the Southern. 
 
 John C. Foster's (formerly Thomas') 
 Foster's Mill road, four miles north 
 
 of Cave Spring, on Big Cedar Creek. 
 
 Bryant's, Chulio Road at Smiley S. 
 Johnson's place, six miles east of 
 Rome, on Spring Creek. 
 
 Tom C. Ayer's, Spring Creek, Chu- 
 lio district. 
 
 Nichols', Fifth Avenue bridge, 
 Fourth Ward, once owned by Daniel 
 R. Mitchell. 
 
 Echols', at Crystal Springs, Sum- 
 merville Road, Armuchee Creek. 
 
 Young's, on the Kingston Road. 
 
 One of the most picturesque in the 
 county is on Silver Creek at Lindale. 
 It was known in the old days as Hoss' 
 mill ; it has a large metal wheel which 
 turns no more; water was carried to 
 it in a race from the high ground. 
 It was destroyed by the Northern 
 troops during the war, and rebuilt by 
 the owner, Capt. Jacob H. Hoss. For 
 a time it was known as Barnett's mill. 
 
 Cohen's Mill (later Loeb's) stood on 
 a high spot in South Rome near the 
 mouth of Silver Creek. It burned 
 down about 20 years ago and nothing 
 remains but a pile of ruins. 
 
 Jones' mill, Armuchee Creek, Dal- 
 ton road, near Pope's Ferry, was torn 
 away by the owner, Seaborn Wright. 
 
 * * * 
 
 MISSIONS.— In various parts of 
 Cherokee Georgia missions for teach- 
 ing the Indians were established in 
 1816 under a Congressional appropria- 
 tion of $10,000 yearly, which was prob- 
 ably increased. The nearest mission to 
 the site of Rome was established in 
 1821 on the Quin place at Coosa, and 
 was known as Missionary Station. Mis- 
 sionary Ridge, near Chattanooga, 
 Tenn., is said to have taken its name 
 from the Indian school there, known as 
 Brainerd Mission. Another important 
 mission was maintained at New 
 Echota, Gordon County, capital of the 
 Cherokee Nation, and still another at 
 Spring Place, Murray County, both of 
 which were taught by Rev. Samuel A. 
 Worcester, of Vermont. Missionary 
 Station was in charge of Rev. Elijah 
 Butler and his wife, Mrs. Esther But- 
 ler, who were sent out by the Ameri- 
 can Baptist Committee on Foreign 
 Missions, at S. Canaan, Conn. 
 
 Still another mission has been locat- 
 ed at Turkeytown, Etowah County, 
 Alabama. 
 
 * * * 
 
 MITCHELL GUARDS.— This Civil 
 War company was named after Daniel 
 R. Mitchell, lawyer and one of the 
 four founders of Rome. The Rome
 
 Encyclopedic SECTior 
 
 403 
 
 Courier of Tuesday morning, Feb. 18, 
 J 862, commented as follows : 
 
 "On Monday, the 10th inst., Capt. 
 Z. B. Hargrove's company, the 'Mitch- 
 ell Guards,' assembled in the City Hall 
 for the purpose of receiving a beauti- 
 ful flag from the hands of Miss 
 Florence T. Mitchell, before departing 
 from their homes for the tended field, 
 and perhaps the field of blood. This 
 is a fine, full company of vigorous- 
 looking men, that will make their mark 
 some day. This makes the twelfth 
 company that are now in the field from 
 this county. Capt. Kerr's company 
 will leave in a few days; also Capt. 
 Haney's. These two companies will 
 make fourteen companies from Floyd, 
 and about 150 recruits. The war spirit 
 is up, and old Floyd is 'spreading her- 
 self.' " 
 
 The following was the address of 
 Miss Mitchell on presenting the flag: 
 "Capt. Hargrove and Gentlemen of 
 the Mitchell Guards: My father, in 
 honor of whom your company of citi- 
 zen soldiers has been named, has del- 
 egated me to present you this flag. 
 He instructs me to tender to you his 
 thanks, and assure you of his high re- 
 gard for your partiality in the selec- 
 tion of a name for your company. 
 
 "My friends, your country is in- 
 vaded by the foulest and most ruth- 
 less enemy known in the history of the 
 civilized world; their impudent preten- 
 sions, their unspeakable barbarity, 
 their vandal and revengeful spirit, in 
 the accomplishment of their thieving 
 and plundering objects have called you 
 to the battlefield in defense of your 
 country, your honor, your fathers, 
 mothers, brothers and sisters, wives 
 and children, your altars, and even 
 your lives. 
 
 "Upon that battlefield you will doubt- 
 less carry this flag. When I look upon 
 your bright volunteer faces, your stout 
 hearts and strong arms, I feel that it 
 is unnecessary to say that this flag 
 will never be trailed in the dust before 
 such a wicked, vandal foe while one 
 of you is living. I read from every 
 bright countenance now before me the 
 united shout upon the bloody field, that 
 may be just before you, 'Give me lib- 
 erty or give me death!' Go, my friends, 
 at the call of your country with hearts 
 and arms nerved at the justice of our 
 cause, and may the God of Battles go 
 with you." 
 
 On the receipt of the flag. Captain 
 Hargrove replied: 
 
 "Miss Florence Mitchell: In the 
 name and behalf of the company which 
 
 I have the honor to command, I ac- 
 cept at your fair hands this beauti- 
 ful banner; I accept it, not only as a 
 token of your regard for our com- 
 pany, but also the love and devotion 
 which you have for the holy cause 
 which we have espoused. In a'ccepting 
 this banner, permit me to say that 
 not only I, but each and every member 
 cf our company, will ever love and 
 cherish it, and with our lives will ever 
 defend it? sacred folds. In the course 
 of events this flag may be borne on 
 a field of blood and carnage. If this 
 should be the case, and troubles throwTi 
 about us from which there is no escape, 
 we will remember this scene and this 
 day, and ere its sacred folds are pol- 
 luted by the foul touch of our enemy 
 it shall be bathed in the bravest and 
 best blood of our company. I love this 
 banner because you have presented it 
 to us. I love it for its beauty — I love 
 it in remembrance of the glorious deeds 
 ar;d victories won under it at Oak Hill, 
 Belmont, Leesburg, Bethel and Manas- 
 sas Plains. 
 
 "But, more than all, I love it be- 
 cause it is the ensign of a nation strug- 
 gling to perpetuate the liberties be- 
 queathed to us by our fathers. Pei- 
 mit me again to thank you and to say 
 
 ALMERON WALTON SHANKLIN. suporin- 
 tendent of the First McthcKlist Sunday School, 
 who was killed in France in 191S.
 
 404 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 that so long as there is one of us able 
 to wield a sword or spring a trigger 
 it shall never 'trail in the dust.' 
 
 "Permit me to say to you, my brave 
 companions in arms, notwithstanding 
 the dark clouds of gloom which seem 
 to hang around us, though we may in 
 the providence of God have to pass 
 through dark and bitter waters, ere we 
 achieve our liberty, we are as sure 
 of ultimate success as the justice of 
 our cause, and with God as arbiter of 
 nations — if we but do our duty. A 
 cause like ours can never be surrend- 
 ered! No, never! We are fighting 
 for all that is worth living for — our 
 country, our liberty, our altars, and 
 our honor. We will all stand or fall 
 together. A people united and deter- 
 mined to be free, as we are, can never 
 be conquered. 
 
 "Our reverses at Roanoke and Don- 
 elson have kindled the fires of liberty 
 afresh from the Potomac to the Rio 
 Grande, which is burning with a blaze 
 of glory from center to circumference. 
 The tocsin of war is now sounding 
 throughout the length and breadth of 
 our land, and thousands of the chival- 
 rous sons of the Sunny South are 
 flocking to their country's standard 
 and swearing eternal allegiance to the 
 Stars and Bars. In this terrible strug- 
 gle many of the bravest and best of 
 us may die, but this is necessary that 
 liberty may live. In this we say, the 
 will of God be done. To you, my brave 
 companions in arms, let me say when 
 the hour of trial comes (as come it 
 will) remember Leonidas and his 300 
 Spartans. 
 
 "And now to you, Lieut. Hanson, I 
 commit this flag. It is unnecessary for 
 me to say to you, guard and defend 
 it as you would your honor. Resolve 
 to fall a freeman rather than live a 
 slave." 
 
 On receiving the flag, Lieut. Han- 
 son replied: "I receive it to defend 
 it, and the cause it represents; rather 
 will I die than either shall be dishonor- 
 ed in my hands." 
 
 Muster- Roll of the Mitchell GKctrds. 
 
 Officers — 
 
 Z. B. Hargrove, captain. 
 
 L. T. Mitchell. First Lieut. 
 
 A. C. Camp, Second Lieut. 
 
 W. B. Hanson, Third Lieut. 
 
 A. M. Carter, Orderly Sergt. 
 W. J. Shockley, Second Sergt. 
 T. J. Hanson, Third Sergt. 
 
 L. M. Cobb, Fourth Sergt. 
 
 B. J. McGinnis, Fifth Sergt. 
 J. Tropp, First Corporal. 
 
 R. M. White, Second Corporal. 
 
 C. B. Adkins, Third Corporal. 
 W. T. Burns, Fourth Corporal. 
 J. Haley, Fifth Corporal. 
 Privates — 
 
 W. S. Alcorn 
 J. F. Allen 
 T. T. Arnold 
 L. Ashealds 
 T. P. Ayres 
 J. W. Bagwell 
 P. H. Baker 
 I. T. Bell 
 J. Boswell 
 W. J. Bradshaw 
 W. J. Camp 
 W. M. Campbell 
 W. C. Carr 
 J. N. Coker 
 R. A. Cowan 
 
 A. Cordle 
 
 J. H. Crocker 
 
 B. Davis 
 
 S. H. Devore 
 T. J. Dodd 
 A. J. Doig 
 W. P. Doig 
 W. W. Duke 
 E. Estes 
 M. Farmer 
 J. H. Fuller 
 J. P. Fuller 
 G. W. Green 
 E. J. Hanson 
 J. D. House 
 W. Howe 
 J. Hubert 
 J. T. Hughes 
 J. P. Isbell 
 W. B. Johnston 
 W. C. Kerce 
 
 S. H. Kyle 
 
 E. H. Lumpkin 
 
 J. W. Miller 
 
 C. C. Morrison 
 J. B. Morrison 
 W. S. Morrison 
 J. H. McArver 
 J. M. McKane 
 T. J. McLain 
 
 D. N. Nichols 
 N. T. Nichols 
 W. Nichols 
 
 R. W. Nix 
 T. H. Norman 
 T. Norman 
 H. B. Oswalt 
 J. T. Oswalt 
 S. C. Oswalt 
 R. Patlow 
 R. Peppers 
 T. P. Plumer 
 T. M. Pruit 
 
 E. P. Scott 
 H. F. Sharpe 
 J. N. Smith 
 
 J. F. Spragins 
 W. T. Spragins 
 W. S. Thomas 
 R. Wadle 
 C. N. Waters 
 Daniel Waters 
 J. E. Weathers 
 J. C. Willis 
 J. W. Woods 
 L. D. Wooten 
 W. P. Young 
 
 MOUNTAINS OF FLOYD COUN- 
 TY. — According to the "Rome Quad- 
 rangle" map of the United States Geo- 
 logical Survey, the highest point in 
 Floyd County is the triangulation sta- 
 tion on Lavender Mountain, a mile 
 and a half southwest of Redmond Gap 
 — 1,695 feet above sea level. The sec- 
 ond highest is the southern tip of 
 John's Mountain, in the extreme north- 
 ern part of the county, between Crys- 
 tal Springs and Floyd Springs — 1,549 
 feet. The third is Mt. Alto (Horse- 
 leg Mountain), four miles southwest 
 of Rome— 1,529 feet. Others follow: 
 
 Rock Mountain, separating Little 
 Texas and Big Texas valleys, and 
 northwest of Lavender; 1,000 feet. 
 
 Armstrong Mountain, Ridge Valley, 
 between Pinson and Hermitage; 1,000 
 feet. 
 
 Simms Mountain, bordering Big 
 Texas Valley on the northwest and 
 constituting the main part of the boun-
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 405 
 
 dary line between Floyd and Chat- 
 tooga Counties; 1,000 feet. 
 
 Turnip Mountain, an offshoot of the 
 Lavender range, southwest of it and 
 north of and overlooking the Coosa 
 River at Camp's Bend; 1,000 feet. 
 
 Tubbs Mountain, East Rome, which 
 is owned by Mrs. Waller T. Turnbull 
 and contains her home; 937 feet. 
 
 Judy Mountain, two miles west of 
 Turnip, and Turkey Mountain, two 
 miles southeast of Floyd Springs, a 
 mile and a half west of the Gordon 
 County line, and belted on its eastern 
 and southern sides by the Oostanaula 
 River, are not labeled as to height. 
 
 The ridges inclosing Vann's and 
 Ridge Valleys are from 600 to 1,000 
 feet in altitude, and a spur midway 
 between Silver Creek and Chulio is 
 1,138 feet. The shaggy manes of sev- 
 eral brown promontories shake be- 
 nignly over Everett Springs from a 
 height of 1,000 feet. 
 
 :|; :i; :|: 
 
 MUNICIPAL BUILDING (CITY 
 HALL). — Location: West side of 
 Broad Street, on northwest corner of 
 Broad and Sixth Avenue, next to Car- 
 negie Library. Work was begun Apr. 
 3, 1915, under the administration of 
 Mayor J. D. Hanks, was continued un- 
 der the administration of W. M. Gam- 
 mon (first commissioner) and was fin- 
 ished under the administration of First 
 Commissioner Chas. S. Pruden in 1916. 
 
 The Councilmen in office when the 
 ground was broken were T. B. Broach, 
 P. J. Mullen, L. F. McKoy, J. W. 
 Keown, P. H. Vandiver, W. L. Daniel 
 and F. W. Copeland. T. Edward Graf- 
 ton was superintendent of public 
 works, Sam S. King assistant, and 
 Hugh McCrary secretary of the com- 
 mission. Max Meyerhardt was city 
 attorney. The aldermen were Corne- 
 lius Terhune, Chas. T. Jervis and C. 0. 
 Walden. 
 
 The architect was A. Ten Eyck 
 Brown, of Atlanta. The J. F. DuPree 
 Sons Co. were the general contrac- 
 tors. The Walker Electric & Plumb- 
 ing Co. furnished the heating and 
 plunibing apparatus, and the Rome 
 Supply Co. did the electrical work. 
 
 The election for $100,000 of bonds 
 was carried Dec. 28, 1914. The bonds 
 were sold and the contract signed Mar. 
 31, 1915. An issue of $40,000 addi- 
 tional was authorized in 1916. 
 
 An unusual circumstance spurred 
 far-seeing Romans to action in the 
 purchase of the block of real estate on 
 which the structure stands. Upper 
 Broad Sti-eet and the surrounding 
 
 neighborhood had always been used 
 more or less by the negi-oes for their 
 shops and to some extent for their 
 homps and houses of worship. This 
 section lay in the path of Rome's nat- 
 ural commercial expansion. Word was 
 passed in 1907 that the colored people 
 had raised a fund to buy the lot, and 
 were planning to erect a Masonic lodge 
 building. A Roman, who didn't have 
 an umbrella, pulled on his galoshes 
 and paddled ai'ound in the rain long 
 enough to buy an option. Had he 
 waiLtd a day longer, the other trade 
 would have been completed, and the 
 Municipal Building and Carnegie Li- 
 brary wordd today be occupying dif- 
 ferent and probably less desirable sites. 
 * * * 
 
 NEVIN'S OPERA HOUSE.— Open- 
 ed Oct. 1, 1880; destroyed by fire Dec. 
 31, 19J9. Was located between Wool- 
 worth store and Rome Supply Co. on 
 Broad Street. Erected by Mitchell A. 
 Nevin and Thos. H. Jonas at a cost 
 of $21,000 and was managed by Mr. 
 Nevin and Israel S. Jonas in the early 
 days, and by Jas. B. Nevin later. Early 
 booking was done by Frank P. O'Brien, 
 of Birmingham and New York. Had 
 seating capacity of 1,000. Most of the 
 theatrical performances now showing 
 in Rome use the City Auditorium. 
 
 RHODEF SHOLEM CONGREGA- 
 TION ("Followers of Peace").— 
 Founded in 1871 by David Jacob Mey- 
 erhardt, father of Judge Max Meyer- 
 hardt, who officiated until his death in 
 1890. Jacob Kuttner then officiated 
 until his death in 1905, at which time 
 Isaac May assumed charge, and is the 
 incumbent. The vice-president is Judge 
 Max Meyerhardt and the secretary and 
 treasurer Joe Esserman. M. Miller is 
 the rabbi, and the trustees are Harry 
 Lesser, Pressley Esserman and Jake 
 Mendelson. Rabbi David Esserman 
 served from 1898 until 1916. when ill 
 health forced him to resign. He died 
 in 1917. 
 
 The congregation still worships in a 
 rented hall in the Masonic Temple, but 
 a building has been created which will 
 be used later to erect a handsome house 
 of v/orship. The Sunday School, 
 taught by Judge Max Meyerhardt, ha.s 
 a membership of nearly 60. 
 
 RIVERS OF FLOYD COUNTY.— 
 The rivers which (hain Floyd County 
 flow in a generally southwestward di- 
 rection; the Oostanaula and the Eto~ 
 wah unite at Rome to form the Coosa, 
 which threads its way in a serpentine
 
 406 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 course throuprVi eastern Alabama until 
 it joins the Tallapoosa near Wetunip- 
 ka and Montg:omery and then glides 
 into the Alabama River and finally 
 loses itself in the Gulf of Mexico. The 
 Etowah is not navigable. The Oosta- 
 naula admits small steamers as far 
 up as Carter's Quarters, Murray Coun- 
 ty, 105 miles, while the Coosa can be 
 plied 250 miles, nearly to the junc- 
 tion with ihe Tallapoosa. Greensport 
 is the extremity and Gadsden a popu- 
 lar ink nd port. The navigable ex- 
 tent of the two rivers is therefore 355 
 miles. 
 
 A keg placed in the Etowah at its 
 source, if unobstructed, would reach 
 Rome in about three days, as it would 
 if set free in the Oostanaula, the flow 
 being a rapid at the start, and rush- 
 ing on at the rate of about seven miles 
 an hour 100 miles up and calming 
 down to two or three miles at Rome. 
 Should a giant stand at the head wa- 
 ters of the Oostanaula, break a stone 
 and drop half into the water, particles 
 of it would be washed eventually into 
 the Gulf of Mexico via Rome and Mo- 
 bile Bay; if he should place the other 
 ha:f of the rock in his sling and hurl 
 it a quarter of a mile to another rush- 
 ing stream, particles would be carried 
 into the Toccoa River, then the Ocoee, 
 then Hiwassee, then the Tennessee 
 (past Chattanooga and Muscle Shoals) 
 and finally into the Gulf at New Or- 
 leans by the majestic Mississippi. The 
 sandy particles would find their way 
 to Mobile Bay via Rome if cast into 
 the Etowah, but if they should be slung 
 into the gurgling Tesnatee, a tributary 
 of the Chattahoochee, they would pass 
 Atlanta and Columbus and ble dis- 
 charged into the Gulf via the Appa- 
 lachicola River and Appalachicola Bay. 
 
 Should a mischievous and adventur- 
 ous hob-goblin mount the keg as it 
 skimmed along the Etowah, he would 
 not only see the muskrats, the fish, the 
 eels and mussels at play, and the squir- 
 rels cracking nuts on the banks, but 
 he would hear the farmers singing 
 through the bottom land cornfields and 
 the moonshiners droning over their 
 mash. If he could stretch his neck a 
 bit — so it would put his head above 
 the tallest sycamore trees fringing the 
 bank — he could gaze on Dahlonega, 
 Lumpkin County; Dawsonville, Daw- 
 son County; High tower, Forsyth Coun- 
 ty; Canton, Cherokee County; Car- 
 tersville and Kingston, Bartow Coun- 
 ty; and finally the arching spires of 
 Rome. 
 
 Should the hob-goblin forsake the 
 muddy river for the clear Oostanaula 
 
 he would take his start in the classic 
 Cohutta Mountains in Fannin County, 
 pass through a part of Polk and Brad- 
 ley Counties, Tenn., then come back 
 to Georgia, go within hailing distance 
 of Dalton, Whitfield County, straddle 
 the county line between Whitfield and 
 Murray, pass Resaca and Calhoun in 
 Gordon County, and amble on down to 
 Rome; or if he took the Coosawattee 
 branch of the Oostanaula he would 
 start his impish journey on Cherrylog 
 Creek, near Blue Ridge, Fannin Coun- 
 ty, bow his way into the Ellijay River, 
 doff his purple velvet cap at Ellijay, 
 Gilmer County, yell at Sam Carter at 
 Carter's Quarters, Murray County, and 
 enter the purling Oostanaula at Re- 
 saca, in Gordon. 
 
 After sailing along more slowly to 
 Rome and the Mayo Bar Lock, eight 
 miles below, the little gamin would 
 shoot the rapids beyond the lock and 
 dam, and by the time he reached the 
 mouth of Big Cedar Creek, near the 
 Alabama line, he would be apt to hop 
 off the keg, skip along the creek until 
 he reached Cave Spring, and there ex- 
 plore the wonderful cave and play with 
 the school children to his heart's con- 
 tent. 
 
 ROMANS IN CONGRESS.— The 
 nresent senior Senator from Georgia, 
 Wm. J. Harris, of Cedartown, was 
 once a resident of Rome, and Milford 
 W. Howard, who went to Congress in 
 the nineties from Ft. Payne, Ala., was 
 born in the DeSoto district, now the 
 Fourth Ward. Mr. Howard wrote a 
 book entitled "If Christ Came to 
 Congress." This was such a scath- 
 ing arraignment that when Mr. How- 
 ard arrived to resume his duties, his 
 .scat was contested by Speaker Thos. 
 B. Reed and others. 
 
 In 1868 Dr. H. V. M. Miller was 
 elected to the United States Senate 
 from Atlanta, defeating Jos. E. Brown. 
 He had removed from Rome the year 
 before. He was not seated until a few 
 days before his term expired. 
 
 The following Romans have been 
 elected to Congress from Rome: 
 
 Before the War. 
 
 JNO. H. LUMPKIN; 28th Congress, 
 1843-5; Georgia contemporaries: Ed- 
 ward J. Black, Absalom H. Chappell, 
 Duncan L. Clinch, Howell Cobb, Hugh 
 A. Haralson, John Millen, Alexander 
 H. Stephens, Wm. H. Stiles. Twenty- 
 ninth Congress, 1845-7; contempora- 
 ries: Howell Cobb, Hugh A. Haralson, 
 Seaborn Jones, Thos. Butler King,
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 407 
 
 BEFORE "KING WEEVIL" HAD USURPED THE THRONE. 
 
 The picture shows a "cotton patch" transplanted in Broad Street; year, 1916. Miss 
 Frances Wright (Mrs. Julius Clyde Price) telling a crowd of Dixie and Forrest Highway 
 tourists the advantages of good roads and diversified agriculture. James M. Cox, of Ohio, 
 candidate for President in 1920, is in the automobile in the left foreground. 
 
 Washington Poe, Alexander H. Steph- 
 ens, Robt. Toombs, Geo. W. Towns. 
 Thirtieth Congi-ess, 1847-9 ; contempo- 
 raries: Howell Cobb, Hugh A. Haral- 
 son, Alfred Iverson, John W. Jones, 
 Thos. Butler King, Alexiander H. 
 Stephens, Robt. Toombs. Thirty-fourth 
 Congress, 185.5-7; contemporaries: 
 Howell Cobb, Martin J. Crawford, Na- 
 thaniel G. Foster, Jas. L. Seward, Al- 
 exander H. Stephens, Robt. P. Trippe, 
 Hiram Warner. 
 
 THOS. C. HACKETT;* Thirty- 
 first Congress, 1849-51; contempora- 
 ries: Howell Cobb (elected speaker 
 Dec. 21, 1849), Hugh A. Haralson, 
 Jos. W. Jackson, Thos. Butler King, 
 Allen F. Owen, Alexander H. Steph- 
 ens, Robt. Toombs, Marshall J. Well- 
 born. 
 
 AUGUSTUS R. WRIGHT; 35th 
 Congress, 1857-9; contemporaries: 
 Martin J. Crawford, Lucius J. Gartrell, 
 Joshua Hill, James Jackson, James L. 
 Seward, Alexander H. Stephens, Robt. 
 P. Trippe, Hii'am Warner. 
 
 JOHN W. H. UNDERWOOD; 36th 
 Congress, 1859-()1; contemporaries: 
 Martin J. Crawford, Lucius J. Gartrell, 
 Thos. Hardeman, Jr., Joshua Hill, Jas. 
 Jackson, John J. Jones, Peter E. Love. 
 (On Jan. 23, 18(51, the Georgia dele- 
 gation retired from Congress, and 
 
 *Died Oct. 8, 18.51, at Marietta, Ga. 
 
 Joshua Hill was the only one who went 
 through the formality of a resigna- 
 tion). 
 
 After the War. 
 
 JUDSON C. CLEMENTS; 51st 
 Congress, 1889-91; contemporaries: 
 Geo. T. Barnes, Jas. H. Blount, Allen 
 D. Candler, Henry H. Carlton, Chas. 
 F. Crisp, Thos. W. Grimes, Rufus E. 
 Lester, Jno. D. Stewart, Henry G. 
 Turner. (Judge Clements removed to 
 Rome in 1887 from LaFayette, Walker 
 County, having heen just returned to 
 Congress from that point. At the next 
 election he was living at Rome, but 
 after his service in the 51st he declined 
 re-election. While living in Walker he- 
 had served in the 47th through the 
 49th, 1881-7. In the 50th, 1887-9, 
 he served with the same colleagues as 
 in the 51st, except that Thos. M. Nor- 
 wood was serving in the 50th, and was 
 succeeded bv Rufus E. Lester in the 
 51st). 
 
 JOHN W. MADDOX; 53rd Con- 
 gress, 1893-5; contemporaries: J. C. 
 C. Black, Thos. B. Cabaniss, Chas. F. 
 Crisp, Thos. G. Lawson. Rufus E. Les- 
 ter, Leonidas F. Livingston. Chas. L. 
 Moses, Benj. E. Russell, F. Garter 
 Tate, Henry G. Turner. Fifty-fourth 
 Congress, 1895-7; contemporaries: C. 
 L. Bartlett, Chas. F. Crisp, the father; 
 Chas. R. Crisp, the son; Thos. G. Law- 
 son, Rufus E. Lester, Leonidas F. Liv-
 
 408 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 ingston, Chas. L. Moses, F. Carter 
 Tate, Henry G. Turner. Fifty-fifth 
 Congress, 1897-9 ; contemporaries : 
 Wm. C. Adamson, Chas. L. Bartlett, 
 Wm. G. Brantley, Wm. H. Fleming, 
 Jas. M. Griggs, Wm. M. Howard, Rufus 
 
 E. Lester, Elijah B. Lewis, Leonidas 
 
 F. Livingston, F. Carter Tate. Fifty- 
 sixth Congress, 1899-1901; contempo- 
 raries: Same as in 55th. Fifty-sev- 
 enth Congress, 1901-3; contemporaries: 
 Same as in 55th and 56th. Fifty- 
 eighth Congress, 1903-5 ; contempora- 
 ries: Same as in 55th, 56th and 57th 
 except that Thos. W. Hardwick took 
 the place of Wm. H. Fleming. 
 
 * * * 
 
 ROME FEMALE COLLEGE.— 
 Founded about 1853 by Col. Simpson 
 Fouche, as the Cherokee Female Insti- 
 tute. Col. Fouche conducted it until 
 Jan. 1, 1857, when he was succeeded 
 by Dr. and Mrs. Jno. M. M. Caldwell, 
 who had previously operated a school 
 for day students in their home, the 
 old John Ross house, in the Fourth 
 Ward. It was situated on the north 
 side of Eighth Avenue where the Bur- 
 ney and Willingham homes are now 
 located. After Mrs. Caldwell's death 
 June 8, 1886, at the school. Dr. Cald- 
 well continued the institution, but it 
 finally passed into the hands of Dr. 
 J. B. S. Holmes, who converted it into 
 a private sanitarium, which burned 
 down in the early nineties. 
 
 As claimed by the Caldwells and ac- 
 cording to fact, the college was an 
 outgrowth of the Institute, for in the 
 larger institution boarding pupils were 
 accepted, and they came from many 
 states. It began its career under the 
 auspices of the Presbyterian Synod of 
 Georgia, but in 1860, along with simi- 
 lar institutions, passed into the owner- 
 ship of Dr. Caldwell. A new charter 
 was granted in July, 1877. The Synod 
 again tried to obtain control in 1885. 
 
 The twenty-fifth anniversary was 
 celebrated in 1882. On Sunday, June 
 4, the Rev. John Jones, president of 
 the first board of trustees, delivered 
 the baccalaureate address, and on 
 commencement day, June 8, Dr. Cald- 
 well spoke, and the Alumnae Society 
 held a reunion at the college. 
 
 On Feb. 15, 1886, the art and music 
 departments, dining room and kitchen 
 wei-e destroyed by fire, with a loss of 
 a valuable collection of art treasures, 
 the accumulation of 25 years. The 
 building loss was soon restored. 
 
 The booklet of 1886 lists the follow- 
 ing faculty: Dr. Caldwell, president 
 and professor of Evidences of Chris- 
 
 tianity; Samuel Craighead Caldwell* 
 vice-president and professor of meta- 
 physics, natural science and higher 
 mathematics; Mrs. S. C. Caldwell, lady 
 principal and in charge of dormitories; 
 Miss Ella Young, Latin and Belles- 
 Letters; Miss S. P. Bai'ker, elocution, 
 reading and English Composition; 
 Prof. A. Buttel, principal of music de- 
 partment; Madame A. Buttel, French 
 and German; Miss Ella Bailey, art; 
 S. C. Caldwell, secretary and treas- 
 urer. Among other teachers of va- 
 rious periods might be mentioned Mrs. 
 Arthur W. Tedcastle, of Boston. The 
 school maintained a primary depart- 
 ment as well as the advanced gi'ades. 
 
 ROME LIGHT GUARDS.— This 
 
 Civil War company was formed as 
 .soon as the war clouds began to gather 
 definitely — in 1858 — by Edward Jones 
 Magruder, a graduate of the Virginia 
 Miltary Institute at Lexington, Va., 
 and who in later years taught a mil- 
 itary school at Rome. The following 
 muster roll was taken from The Rome 
 Tri-Weekly Courier of Tuesday morn- 
 ing. May 28, 1861. A few recruits 
 have been added to The Courier list: 
 
 Officers — 
 
 Captain — Edward J. Magruder. 
 
 First Lieut.— Sidney H. Hall. 
 
 Second Lieut. — Melville Dwinell. 
 
 Third Lieut. — Geo. R. Lumpkin. 
 
 First Sergt.— Jas. T. Moore. 
 
 Second Sergt. — Rufus F. Hutchings. 
 
 Third Sergt.— W. S. Hutchings. 
 
 Fourth Sergt. — Isaac Donkle. 
 
 First Corp. — Wm. S. Skidmore. 
 
 Second Corp.— M. B. Holland 
 
 Third Corp.— Leonidas T. Mitchell. 
 
 Fourth Corp.- — Jno. J. Black. 
 
 Bugler.— Geo. G. Merck. 
 
 Surgeon. — Dr. Jno. M. Gregory. 
 
 Drummers — 
 
 Jimmy A. Smith, Johnson Willbanks, 
 C. M. Fouche, Henry S. Lansdell. 
 
 Privates — 
 Jas. H. Anderson S. S. Clayton 
 Geo. S. Aycock Philip Cohen 
 Wm. Aycock Hugh D. Cothran 
 
 Geo. Barnsley R. D. DeJournett 
 
 L. Barnsley Geo. G. Demming 
 
 W. J. Barrett F. M. Ezzell 
 
 Wm. A. Barron Geo. W. Fleetwood 
 A. J. Bearden Robt. T. Fouche 
 
 Jno. N. Bearden B. J. Franks 
 Jno. F. Beasley John S. Gibbons 
 R. W. Boggs Wm. F. Glenn 
 
 Wm. S. Booten Lewis Graves 
 
 Will Burnett Larkin Green 
 
 Jas. B. Clark Lindsey Hall 
 
 *A graduate in 1868 of Princeton University, 
 Princeton, N. J. ; a. m. in 1871.
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 409 
 
 Scott Hardin 
 Z. B. Hargrove 
 D. C. Hargrove 
 T. C. Howard 
 G. W. Hutchings 
 J. M. Jack 
 A. R. Johnson 
 
 C. L. Johnson 
 Josiah Johnston 
 Silas R. Jones 
 M. Kauffman 
 Geo. W. King 
 W. S. Lansdell 
 Wm. F. Leigh 
 Wm. Lother 
 
 W. H. H. Martin 
 Hugh McCullough 
 Thos McGrath 
 Wm. McKay 
 M. D. McOsker 
 
 D. H. Miller 
 
 Wm. L. 
 
 Chas. B. Norton 
 Geo. C. Norton 
 W. F. Omberg 
 W. M. Payne 
 J. R. Penny 
 A. F. Pemberton 
 M. A. Ross 
 C. W. Rush 
 M. L. Sanders 
 Geo. K. Sanford 
 J. T. Shackelford 
 J. F. Shelton 
 Chas. H. Smith 
 Henry A. Smith 
 Virgil A. Stewart 
 F. M. Stovall 
 Geo. T. Stovall 
 J. A. Stevenson, Jr. 
 J. J. Stinson 
 T. W. Swank 
 R. P. Watters 
 Morefield 
 
 H. S. Lansdell furnished The Trib- 
 une of Rome of May 26, 1895, with 
 the following list of 39 Light Guard 
 members then living: 
 J. H. Anderson W. S. Lansdell 
 
 Geo. Barnsley 
 W. J. Barrett 
 A. J. Bearden 
 J. J. Black 
 R. W. Boggs 
 
 M. D. McOsker 
 Geo. G. Merck 
 Geo. Milam 
 D. H. Miller 
 L. T. Mitchell 
 
 R. D. DeJournett J. T. Moore 
 F. M. Ezzell Geo. C. Norton 
 
 R. T. Fouche W. F. Omberg 
 
 J. A. Franks W. M. Payne 
 
 W. F. Glenn Jno. Pinson 
 
 A. F. Gregory C. A. Rush 
 
 Z. B. Hargi-ove J. F. Shelton 
 A. R. Johnson W. J. Shockley 
 
 C. L. Johnson J. A. Smith 
 
 Joe Johnson H. A. Smith 
 
 J. D. Jones J. A. Stephenson 
 
 S. R. Jones V. A. Stewart 
 
 M. Kauffman T. W. Swank 
 
 H. S. Lansdell 
 Of the survivors in 1865, the fol- 
 lowing stacked arms with Lee at Ap- 
 pomattox, having remained with the 
 Guards to the end: 
 
 W, A. Barron 
 R. W. Boggs 
 W. A. Choice 
 J. A. Franks 
 G. W. Hutchings 
 R. F. Hutchings 
 
 C. L. Johnson 
 H. S. Lansdell 
 W. S. Lansdell 
 
 D. H. Miller 
 J. F. Shelton 
 H. A. Smith 
 
 A. R. Johnson 
 
 The Reserve Recruiting Corps was 
 composed of A. E. Ross, secretary and 
 treasurer; W. H. Collier, Jno. R. Paye, 
 H. C. Miner and J. L. Pinson. 
 
 ROME'S MILITARY RULERS.— 
 Four principal chieftains of the Union 
 Army presided over Rome's destinies 
 
 at various periods during 1864. Brig. 
 Gen. Jefferson Columbus Davis was 
 commanding the right wing of Sher- 
 man's army when it entered Rome for 
 the first time May 18. He personally 
 supervised battery work from the new 
 Shorter College hill in West Rome, and 
 drove the Confederates off Ft. Stovall 
 (Myrtle Hill cemetery), for which 
 "gallant and meritorious conduct" he 
 was cited in general orders. A story 
 is told that he tried the ruse of taking 
 a woman — Mrs. Lizzie Roach Hughes — 
 to the top of Shorter hill, saying to 
 her that they would go up and see 
 whether any Confederates were left in 
 Rome, but in reality, it was claimed, 
 thinking the "Rebs" wouldn't fire with 
 a woman present. As soon as the Con- 
 federates made out the general and 
 Mrs. Roach through their glasses, they 
 sent a shell screeching overhead. 
 
 Gen. Davis was a native of Indiana, 
 born in 1828, and came out of the Mex- 
 ican War as a lieutenant, having dis- 
 tinguished himself at Buena Vista. He 
 was a member of the garrison which 
 burned Ft. Moultrie before the fall of 
 
 ■•'#►' 
 
 JUDGE M. B. GERRY, once of Macon, and 
 seven years a resident of Rome, a leading 
 
 lawyer and jurist.
 
 410 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Ft. Sumter in 1861, and his record 
 throughout the war was one of con- 
 spicuous gallantry. He was mustered 
 out as a major general. On Sept. 29, 
 1862, he had the misfortune to engage 
 in an altercation over military matters 
 with Gen. Wm. Nelson at the Gait 
 House, Louisville, Ky., and shot Gen. 
 Nelson dead with a pistol. He was ar- 
 rested, but restored to duty and was 
 never tried. He died at Chicago in 
 1879. 
 
 After five days in Rome, Gen. Davis 
 hurried on in the pursuit of Gen. Jos. 
 E. Johnston's army, and fought May 
 26 at New Hope church, near Dallas. 
 He left Brig. Gen. Wm. Vandever in 
 command. Gen. Vandever set up head- 
 quarters in the James M. Spullock 
 home, 911 Broad Street. Gen. Van- 
 dever was a native of Baltimore, and 
 was 47 years old when he was at Rome. 
 He had lived a while in Illinois, and 
 when the war broke out was serving 
 in Congress from the Dubuque dis- 
 trict of Iowa. He resigned his seat in 
 Congress and entered the war. His 
 men traveled 45 miles March 5, 1862, 
 and turned the tide at Pea Ridge, Ark., 
 the next day, and on a number of oc- 
 casions later he was cited, and was 
 discharged with the rank of brevet 
 major general. After the war he re- 
 moved to California, where he was 
 again elected to Congress, and he died 
 in 1893 at Buena Ventura at 77 years 
 of age. 
 
 WARREN G. HARDING, president of the 
 United States, as he addressed a crowd from 
 rear of train in East Rome, Jan. 21, 1921. 
 
 Gen. Vandever also soon hurried on 
 with his command and left Rome to 
 Brig. Gen. Jno. Murry Corse, who 
 moved headquarters to the Hood-Cum- 
 ming-Feathersto'ii-Rixie place at 709 
 Broad, and soon thereafter to the home 
 of Maj. Chas. H. Smith at 312 Fourth 
 Avenue, where the home of Mrs. Chas. 
 A. Hight is now located. For four and 
 a half months Gen. Corse ruled over 
 Rome; he was not as popular with the 
 citizens as Gen. Davis or Gen. Van- 
 dever, due, perhaps, to the fact that 
 the heavy work of the occupation fell 
 to his lot. Atlanta had been taken 
 Sept. 2, 1864, and Sherman was chas- 
 ing Hood northward along the W. & A. 
 raih'oad. Gen. Corse had been ordered 
 to withdraw his garrison of 1,054 men 
 from Rome and to reinforce Col. Tour- 
 telotte at Allatoona Pass, Bartow 
 County. Corse arrived Oct. 5 and he 
 and Tourtelotte were beset by a su- 
 perior force under Maj. Gen. S. G. 
 French. Before the onslaught Gen. 
 French demanded surrender, but Corse 
 returned a defiant answer. While lying 
 seriously wounded, Corse directed his 
 part of the fight, and finally received 
 a signal message over the heads of 
 the Confederates from Gen. Vandever, 
 "Sherman says 'Hold on; I am com- 
 ing.' " Corse continued the fight, and 
 was saved when Sherman came up 
 from Kennesaw Mountain; and the 
 Confederates, now outnumbered, with- 
 drew. 
 
 Gen. Corse was a native of Pennsyl- 
 vania but went into the Federal army 
 from Iowa. He was born about 1832, 
 and started his military career at West 
 Point. He was cited for his conduct 
 at Allatoona Pass and was breveted 
 major general before he was mustered 
 out. He died Apr. 27, 1893. It was 
 Gen. Corse and his men, acting under 
 direct orders of Gen. Sherman, who 
 destroyed Kingston by fire as the Un- 
 ion columns swung into line on the 
 March to the Sea. 
 
 Gen. Wm. T. Sherman came into the 
 picture after the other three. He had 
 his headquarters at the Smith home on 
 two occasions. His diary mentions 
 that he went from Kingston to Rome 
 Nov. 12, 1864, and on the 14th was 
 before Resaca, 30 miles away, so he 
 may have spent the night in Rome and 
 left the next morning, the 13th. The 
 diary of R. S. Norton, father of Mrs. 
 Wm. M. Towers, states that Sherman 
 and his staff entered Rome the night 
 of Oct. 29, 1864; on this occasion he 
 is supposed to have remained two and 
 a half days. He went back to King- 
 ston.
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 411
 
 412 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Sherman left Rome in charge of Gen. 
 Davis. This marked the beg-inning of 
 the evacuation of Rome, and it started 
 at 5 a. m. Nov. 10, according to the 
 Norton diary, with a bonfire made out 
 of Rome business and manufacturing 
 establishments. It was Gen. Davis' 
 duty to carry out Sherman's orders 
 to burn certain valuable structui-es; 
 however, it is understood that Gen. 
 Jno. M. Corse, serving under Gen. Da- 
 vis, actually applied the torch. 
 
 A fifth Federal commander ap- 
 peared on the scene after the war. He 
 was Capt. Chas. A. de la Mesa, of Co. 
 I, 39th New York Infantry during the 
 hostilities. On June 20, 18G5, Capt. 
 de la Mesa opened the Freedmen's Bu- 
 reau on Broad Street and took charge 
 as reconstruction commander, with 
 several companies of troops.* His po- 
 sition was difficult with so many post- 
 war antagonisms, and he participated 
 in a number of narrow escapes from 
 the infuriated citizenry. He served 
 two or three years. After his death, 
 thought to have taken place in Brook- 
 lyn, N. Y., his widow, Francis A. M. 
 de la Mesa, married Chas. H. Terry, 
 late assistant surgeon of the 13th New 
 York cavalry. She died Mar. 9, 1920. 
 The de la Mesas lived at the bureau. 
 
 MISS MARTHA BERRY (left) and MISS 
 E:LIZABETH I.ANIER (Mrs. Robt. Boiling, 
 of Philadelphia), at the Berry home, "Oak 
 Hill." 
 
 next door to the old Buena Vista Ho- 
 tel. 
 
 When Gen. Davis came back to Rome 
 after the fall of Atlanta,** he called 
 on Mrs. Robt. Battey on First Avenue, 
 dismissing his orderly at the front 
 door. Also paying a call were Mr. and 
 Mrs. Addison Maupin, Virginia peo- 
 ple and neighbors. Mr. Maupin kept 
 a drug store at Rome with J. H. Now- 
 lin, under the firm name of Nowlin & 
 Maupin. He had a herd of cows and 
 had been selling milk to the soldiers, 
 and had had trouble protecting the 
 herd from thieves. 
 
 The following conversation ensued; 
 Gen. Davis: "Mrs. Battey, I want 
 to ask if you can tell me how far it is 
 to Atlanta." 
 
 Mrs. Battey: "You ought to know. 
 General; you have just come from 
 there." 
 
 "How far is it to Jacksonville, Ala.?" 
 "About as far as it is to Atlanta, I 
 suppose." 
 
 "Where is your husband?" 
 "I don't know, exactly, maybe in 
 Mississippi. Why do you ask me these 
 questions?" 
 
 "Because I thought I could send your 
 husband back to you." 
 
 Mr. Maupin requested Gen. Davis 
 to help him protect his cows. 
 
 "General," he said, "Are you aware 
 that boys over in DeSoto are shooting 
 rifles into Rome?" 
 
 Mrs. Battey replied sharply, "Mr. 
 Maupin, you know that is not true. 
 The boys of Rome have nothing to 
 shoot with." 
 
 Gen. Davis said: "Our soldiers will 
 take care of themselves." Then he 
 politely bowed his way out. 
 
 Present also and a witness to this 
 conversation was Wm. H. Smith, a 
 cousin of Wm. Smith and Mrs. Battey, 
 who from July, 1868, until November, 
 1870, served as reconstruction governor 
 of Alabama. Wm. H. Smith was a 
 Union man and came to Rome in the 
 wake of Sherman's army. He spent 
 three months in the Battey home. 
 
 Mrs. Battey was an invalid at this 
 time, with several small children to 
 care for, and Gen. Davis gave her a 
 guard of two soldiers to keep marau- 
 ders from tearing away her fences and 
 stealing her things. She soon repaid 
 him for his kindness. Overhearing a 
 
 *Thi3 is evidently an error, since The Rome 
 Weekly Courier reported Capt. Kyes in charge 
 Aug. 31, 1865. 
 ♦"The morning of Sept. 2, 1864.
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 413 
 
 plot among some of his own soldiers 
 to kill him (whether as an echo from 
 the Nelson affair is not known), she 
 sent for him and warned him. It seems 
 that Gen. Davis was expected to pass 
 a certain spot near the Burwell Creek 
 bridge on the Oostanaula River road, 
 and here the assassins were due to 
 have been waiting. 
 
 Gen. Davis sent a patrol squad and 
 they brought back a number of suits of 
 Confederate clothing, found hidden in 
 a hollow log. From the evidence it 
 appeared that the plotters had ex- 
 pected to kill Gen. Davis and throw 
 his body into the river, then to don 
 the gray uniforms and take to the 
 woods. In some manner word got to 
 them that Gen. Davis was aware of 
 their game, and they failed to gather 
 at the meeting place, and probably fin- 
 ished the war under his command. Gen. 
 Davis told his riends his escape was 
 exceedingly narrow. 
 
 It may be appropriate to append here 
 a short sketch of Col. Abel D. Streight, 
 who, though not a "military ruler of 
 Rome," knew the place through his 
 visit May 3, 1863 as the "guest" of 
 Gen. Forrest:* 
 
 Abel D. Streight was born June 17, 
 1828, in Steuben Co., N. Y. He learned 
 the carpenter's trade, and at the age of 
 19 took a contract for a large mill, 
 which he successfully completed. He 
 purchased a sawmill and engaged in 
 the lumber business at Wheeler, N. Y., 
 until 1858, when he moved to Cincin- 
 nati. The following year he removed 
 to Indianapolis and engaged in pub- 
 lishing. He published a pamphlet, 
 urging the preservation of the Union 
 at all hazards. In Sept., 1861, he joined 
 the army as Colonel of the 51st In- 
 diana Volunteer Infantry. In April, 
 1863, Streight was sent by Rosecrans 
 with a force of men to cut the rail- 
 roads in western Georgia, over which 
 supplies were being sent to Bragg's 
 army. The force divided and Streight 
 was overtaken and forced to surren- 
 der to a force under General Forrest. 
 He was imprisoned in Libby prison for 
 eight months, when he escaped. He 
 was recaptured and put in irons in a 
 dungeon. On Feb. 8, 1864, he escaped 
 with 108 others through a tunnel under 
 the prison wall. After a few weeks 
 in Indianapolis he went to the front 
 again. 
 
 Gen. Streight died May 27, 1892, and 
 his widow, Mrs. Lovina Streight, died 
 June 5, 1910. 
 
 ♦Summarized from .T. P. Dunn's "Indiana 
 and Indianans," v. 2, ps. 571-2. 
 
 ROUND TABLE CLUB.— A litera- 
 ry organization founded Dec. 21 I860 
 o'^/'The Hill" (probably the home of 
 Col. Nicholas J. Bayard), with Henry 
 A. Gartrell president and George 
 Trippe Stovall secretary, and the fol- 
 lowing other members: Misses Flor- 
 ida Bayard, Mary Billups, Ellen and 
 Martha Cooley, Mary Cothran, Eddie 
 Magruder, Sallie Park, Laura and 
 Mary Smith, Annie Jeffers and Ellen 
 Stovall, and Messrs. I. H. Branham 
 Melville Dwinell, Geo. C. and Chas. B. 
 Norton, Wm. L. Skidmore, Henry A 
 Smith and W. H. Jeffers. 
 * * * 
 
 SARDIS VOLUNTEERS. — This 
 Civil War company was formed at Sar- 
 dis Presbyterian church, Coosa, May 
 9, 1861, and was mustered into the 
 service at Lynchburg, Va., June 11 
 1861, by Major Clag. The following 
 muster roll was completed Dec. 25, 
 1894, by Curtis Green, of Oglesby, 
 Tex., a member who still survives; and 
 was authenticated by a survivor: 
 
 Officers — 
 
 Captain — John R. Hart. 
 
 First Lieut.— Alfred F. Bate. 
 
 Second Lieut.— Wm. W. Tutt. 
 
 Third Lieut.— J. D. Bouchillon. 
 
 First Sergt. — John R. Lay. 
 
 IVY LEDBETTER LEE, former Roman, now 
 New Yorker, publicity director of the Stand- 
 ard Oil Co. and the GcorRia Ry. & Power Co.
 
 414 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Second Sergt.— G. W. Mathis. 
 Third Ser^.— C. C. Williamson. 
 Fourth Sergt. — Wm. D. Moore. 
 First Corp. — Jno. P. Fleming. 
 Second Corp. — Isaac P. Smith. 
 Third Corp. — J. H. Williamson. 
 Fourth Corp. — Robt. N. Hays. 
 Musicians — David W. Guthrie, Jno. 
 L. Guthrie. 
 
 Privates — 
 Leonard N. Austin 
 Jasper Barkley 
 John W. Berryhill 
 Martin Bolt 
 James E. Buford 
 John W. Buford 
 Robert Burnes 
 Henry H. Burns 
 Richard Carey 
 Frank Carder 
 William A. Carder 
 Louis Carpenter 
 Asbury Chapman 
 James A. Coffer 
 James M. Collins 
 Martin V. Collins 
 Wm. G. Collins 
 Jos. A. D. Comer 
 A. S. Cone 
 Geo. B. Crawford 
 Hugh S. Davidson 
 John Davis 
 
 William Davis 
 William D'Boice 
 John H. Doogan 
 Joseph A. Duke 
 William C. Duke 
 Henry Dutton 
 Henry W. Fisher 
 Thomas Ford 
 James A. Frazier 
 Robert N. Frazier 
 Trustman Frazier 
 William N. Frazier 
 Curtis Green 
 Lee Green 
 William H. Griffin 
 Johnson S. Griswel 
 G. A. Hall 
 Tom M. Hall 
 Waddv J. Hall 
 William J. Hall 
 Harrison Hamilton 
 William Hardin 
 
 William H. H. HayWilliam B. Nelms 
 James D. Holcomb David C. Neyman 
 William Holder Joseph K. Neyman 
 P. J. Huckabv Samuel North 
 
 William M. Husky G. W. Pilgrim 
 Wm. L M. James Isaac Pilgrim 
 Wm. H. Johnson Wm. M. Pilgrim 
 Wm. R. Johnson William Pledger 
 George King J. A. Powell 
 
 Jo Lay Draton L. Rains 
 
 German M. Lester Garrett Robinson 
 Thomas F. Love Thos. S. Robinson 
 John T. Lowry Andrew J. Rose 
 William Lumpkin David A. Self 
 Jo Mathis Archa Shirey 
 
 J. S. McCollaugh Enoch P. Shirey 
 Abe McGee Henry B. Smith 
 
 Robert McKenzie John F. Smith 
 James C. Millican John A. Smith 
 Thomas Millican James Studard 
 George Minix Henry Walker 
 
 Nathan S. Moore Joseph W. West 
 James R. MurdockWm. H. Williams 
 David Neely John R. Wood 
 
 Wm. H. H. Wright 
 
 Recruits — 
 Richard Bailey 
 James Barkley 
 G. R. A. Brison 
 Eenj. F. Bryan 
 A. J. Collins 
 J. J. Comer 
 James Davis 
 N. B. Ford 
 Adolphus Furr 
 Walter Furr 
 Barnev Hall 
 John Hall 
 Quince Harbour 
 Henry Huffman 
 Vestal Johnson 
 iv. W. Kincade 
 Z. T. Lawrence 
 Frank Luster 
 
 Tho 
 
 THOS. W. LIPSCOMB, leading member of the 
 Rome bar, who was probably the youngest 
 mayor Rome ever had. 
 
 Sam Martin 
 John Medlock 
 Newton Murdock 
 Jake Neyman 
 William Owens 
 Newton Pelt 
 Garrison Perry 
 John Robinson 
 James Sheridan 
 Green Smith 
 A. M. Vann 
 Dave Vann 
 D. D. Vann 
 W. K. Vann 
 D. A. Williamson 
 Isaac Williamson 
 John L. Williamson 
 Robert Wood 
 mas Wood 
 Dr. J. W. Farell, assistant surgeon. 
 
 Transferred from Infantry to Cav- 
 alry Battalion, Smith's Legion, Parti- 
 zan Rangers, 1862, under command of 
 Col. J. I. Smith and Adjutant Edward 
 R. Hardin: Jno. R. Hart, Lieut.-Col.; 
 B. F. Brown, Major; B, F. Chastain, 
 Adjutant; A. F. Bale, Capt. Co. C. 
 
 Sixth Ga. Cavalry, organized in 1863; 
 John R. Hart, Col.; Cicero Fain, Lieut.- 
 Col.; Alfred F. Bale, Major; J. W. 
 Farell, assistant surgeon; John R. Lay, 
 Capt. Co. G; First Lieut., W. I. M. 
 James, Second Lieut. G. W. Mathis, 
 Third Lieut. Wm. J. Hall., when war 
 closed. 
 
 SINGERS AND MUSICIANS OF 
 ROME. — The following incomplete list 
 is furnished by one of them:
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 415 
 
 First Baptist CJuirch: Miss Beulah 
 Cunyus, Miss Elizabeth Betts (Mrs. 
 Robt. Wyatt), Henry Arnold, Mrs. 
 Taul B. White, Miss Helen Knox Spain, 
 J. Glover McGhee, Miss Frances 
 Brown, Miss Sarah Glover, Wm. Mc- 
 Williams. 
 
 First Presbyterian: Mrs. Frederic 
 E. Vaissiere and Edward R. Leyburn, 
 Jr. (organist) ; Miss Inez Ebling, Thos. 
 E. Clemmons, Tom Rawls, Miss Mir- 
 iam Reynolds (organist and soloist). 
 
 First Methodist: Chas. J. Warner, 
 Mrs. Paul Nixon (Edith Allen), Mrs. 
 Leon Covington, Pierce McGhee, Mrs. 
 Wm. 0. Tarpley (organist), Walter 
 and Battey Coker, Miss Helen Rhodes, 
 Miss Mary Julia Woodruff. 
 
 St. Peter's Episcopal: Mrs. Geo. P. 
 Weathers, Mrs. Jno. M. Proctor, Mrs. 
 Geo. T. Watts, Miss Mary Veal, Mrs. 
 Howard Hull (organist) , Mrs. Felton 
 Jones. 
 
 First Christian: T. L. Bagley, Mr. 
 and Mrs. J. W. Barton, Mrs. Thos. E. 
 Edwards, Mrs. B. F. Archer, Chas. 
 Schnedl, Mrs. Jno. H. Wood, Mrs. J. C. 
 Thedford, Mrs. Jno. Howell, Mrs. Roy 
 Burkhalter and G. F. Winfrey. 
 
 Christian Science: Mrs. Henry 
 Stewart (soloist), D. W. Milliken (or- 
 ganist). 
 
 Among the "informals" who sing a 
 good deal, but usually outside of the 
 churches, might be mentioned Joe Pat- 
 ton, Fred and Cyril Hull, Felton Mitch- 
 ell and Arthur West. Mr. West is 
 also an accomplished 'cellist. 
 
 Rome is essentially a musical town, 
 and talent is being developed that will 
 no doubt some day be heard wherever 
 music is in demand. The Music Lovers' 
 Clubs, under the capable direction of 
 Mrs. Frederic E. Vaissiere, Mrs. Wm. 
 P. Harbin, Miss Lula Warner and oth- 
 ers, have greatly stimulated the in- 
 terest in things musical; and Mrs. 
 Vaissiere's capabilities have been twice 
 recognized through her elevation to 
 the presidency of the State Federated 
 Musical Clubs, a position she now 
 holds. 
 
 In the spring of 1922 the First Meth- 
 odist church, Rev. Wallace Rogers, 
 pastor, started Sunday evening orches- 
 tral concerts under the direction of 
 Miss Helen Rhodes. 
 
 Community singing in the parks, 
 led by Miss Helen Knox Spain, has 
 caused Romans to lift up their voices 
 in soulful rhapsodies. 
 
 An interesting group of players is 
 the "Nixon Trio." Paul Nixon, the 
 'cellist, is the composer of a beautiful 
 
 and popular song entitled "Your Pic- 
 ture," dedicated to Miss Edith Allen, 
 now his wife. His mother, Mrs. E. S. 
 Nixon, is the pianist of the three, and 
 his sister, Mrs. Lucia Nixon McKay, 
 plays the violin, and also teaches it 
 capably. Mrs. Paul Nixon teaches 
 piano. The Nixons came fi-om Nash- 
 ville, Tenn. Paul belongs in a musical 
 center like New York and will no doubt 
 be called there, so his friends declare. 
 
 A younger group are "The Three 
 Musical Harbins," William and Lester, 
 sons of Dr. and Mrs. Wm. P. Harbin, 
 who play the violin and the 'cello, 
 respectively, and Rosa Harbin, daugh- 
 ter of Dr. and Mrs. Robt. M. Harbin, 
 who is quite an accomplished young 
 pianist. 
 
 Other players, most of whom have 
 been teaching some time, include Misses 
 Debby Moses and Clara Shahan, piano; 
 Margaret Wilkerson (pupil of Geo. 
 Friar Lindner), violin and piano; Mrs. 
 H. B. Goff, violin, and Miss Amelia 
 Berry, piano. 
 
 * * * 
 
 SPRINGS IN FLOYD COUNTY.— 
 (Partial list) — There are four things 
 that are primarily necessary to life 
 and comfort. The first is air, the sec- 
 ond water, the third food and the 
 fourth clothing. It is easy to under- 
 stand, therefore, that the Indian tribes 
 laid great store by bubbling springs 
 
 E. PIERCE M'GHEE.
 
 416 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 of water when they settled in North- 
 west Georgia. When the Ridges drove 
 their stakes in the fertile soil of Ridge 
 Valley, where the Rush place is sit- 
 uated", a spring boiled forth its refresh- 
 ing product nearby; and when Major 
 Ridge removed to the Oostanaula Riv. 
 er, nearer Rome, he still had the use 
 of Reece's Spring, near the city pump- 
 ing station, and his son. John, re- 
 moved to three miles north of Rome, 
 where the spring was called "Tantata- 
 nara" (Running Waters). Likewise, 
 the Belgian Colony, more than 50 years 
 later, chose some of the best oases in 
 the countryside. Today picnic parties 
 claim them, and as long as they flow 
 clear, cold and pure they will attract 
 man, bird and beast. Here are some 
 of the better known springs: 
 
 Booz's, at Boozville. 
 
 Barnett's, at Lindale. 
 
 Howel Spring, one mile from north- 
 ern city limits on Kingston Road. 
 
 Morrison's Camp Ground Spring, 
 eight miles north, on Kingston Road, is 
 the chief headwater of Dykes' Creek. 
 It flows 10,000,000 gallons daily, the 
 largest in the county, and is said to 
 be as high as the top of the old water 
 tower at Rome. 
 
 Carlier Springs (perhaps ten, close 
 
 DR. LOUIS MATHIEU EDOUARD BERCK- 
 MANS, native Belgian and accomplished vio- 
 linist, who lived on Mt. Alto. 
 
 together), on the Carlier Springs Road, 
 two miles east of Rome. 
 
 LeHardy Spring, on the J. Paul 
 Cooper place in East Rome. 
 
 Lovers' Leap Spring, on the N., C. 
 & St. L. railroad and Etowah River 
 near the Southern railway bridge and 
 a rocky bluff, one mile east of Rome. 
 
 Silver Creek Springs, part of head 
 water of Silver Creek, seven miles 
 southeast of Rome on the Atlanta Di- 
 vision of the Southern railway. (Wood- 
 row Wilson once took his first wife to 
 this spot on a picnic). 
 
 Shorter Spring, Alabama Road, op- 
 posite the Shorter place and on land 
 owned by Shorter College. 
 
 Lytle Spring (formerly the Jonas 
 King Spring) , near the Anchor Duck 
 Mill on East Main Street, South Rome, 
 opposite the W^. W. Woodruff home. 
 (This spring, once in Lytle Park, was 
 covered over and piped down to Silver 
 Creek to make way for the mill's resi- 
 dence development) . 
 
 Floyd Springs, some twelve miles 
 north of Rome and west of Turkey 
 Mountain. 
 
 Crystal Springs, twelve miles north- 
 west of Rome on the Summerville 
 Road. 
 
 Sand Springs, midway between Rome 
 and the northeastern end of Lavender 
 Mountain. 
 
 Rice's Spring, on the Alabama Road 
 about five miles west of Rome. 
 
 DeSoto Park Spring (formerly Mob- 
 ley), Cave Spring Road two miles south 
 of Rome. 
 
 Harbour's Spring (radio active), 
 six miles north of Rome near the Oosta- 
 naula River. 
 
 Burwell Spring, which rises in North 
 Rome and forms Burwell Creek, which 
 empties into the Oostanaula a quarter 
 of a mile above the court house. 
 
 "Glen Alto," Dr. Jno. F. Lawrence's 
 radio-active mineral spring, on a gen- 
 tle slope near the southwestern ex- 
 tremity of Mt. Alto, a mile west of the 
 Coosa River Road. This site lends 
 itself naturally to an extensive devel- 
 opment, a start toward which has been 
 made in the erection of a number of 
 cottages for the use of summer so- 
 journers. 
 
 Cave Spring, located at the town of 
 that name sixteen miles southwest of 
 Rome, and which flows into Little Ce- 
 dar Creek and then into Big Cedar 
 Creek and then into the Coosa River 
 near the Alabama line. This spring 
 is the second largest in the county
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 417 
 
 CLYDE MOORE SHROPSHIRE, native Ro- 
 man, once Speaker of the Tennessee House, 
 candidate for governor of Tennessee. 
 
 WILLIAM SMITH, pioneer who led the Jack- 
 son County delegation in their pilgrimage 
 to the Cherokee Nation. 
 
 and one of the most beautiful any- 
 where. It is smaller than the City 
 Park Spring at Huntsville, Ala., but 
 in its natural effects surpasses it. The 
 flow from this spring is 3,444,846 gal- 
 lons every 24 hours, or 143,535 gal- 
 lons per hour. The fall is considera- 
 ble and a ram lifts enough water 100 
 feet to a concrete reservoir on the 
 overhanging cliff to supply Cave 
 Spring with water at practically no 
 cost. 
 
 Vann's Valley is also well supplied 
 with springs. One is Cress Spring, 
 on Wm. S. Gibbons' place on the Cave 
 Spring Road. This takes its name 
 from the water cress that carpets the 
 marsh where the spring has its source. 
 The flow has been confined in a race 
 and a wheel installed by an enterpris- 
 ing farmer who has developed about 
 one horsepower, enough to furnish 
 electric power for all the needs of his 
 nearby dwelling. Yancey's and Jones' 
 Springs are also in the valley. 
 
 Spout Spring, located between Fos- 
 ter's Mill and Cave Spring, was once 
 owned by Prof. Wesley O. Connor. 
 This is a stream as big as a man's 
 arm which leaps out of a rock and 
 falls several feet and disappears into 
 
 the ground. It is about a mile from 
 Foster's Mill. 
 
 At Black's Bluff, three miles down 
 the Coosa River south of Rome, is a 
 spring that issues from rock, snakes 
 its way under the road and appears 
 again as a spring within 40 feet of 
 the river. A spring at the southern 
 end of the bluff is a favorite site for 
 bai'becues. 
 
 The headwater spring of Spring 
 Creek is eight miles east of Rome on 
 the Chulio Road. 
 
 The headwater spring of Little Dry 
 Creek is located at the foot of Laven- 
 der Mountain on its southwestern side. 
 
 Everett Spring is in the extreme 
 northern end of Floyd County, in a 
 highly artistic setting of gray moun- 
 tains'and little valleys. 
 
 Wet weather springs can be found 
 on both sides of Mt. Alto, half way to 
 
 the valleys. 
 
 * * * 
 
 TOWER CLOCK.— Located on Tow- 
 er Hill, southeast corner of Filth Ave- 
 nue and East Second Street, on city 
 property which also includes the Neely 
 Grammar School. Mrs. Naomi P. Bale 
 ("Grandma Georgy") was authority
 
 418 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 for the following statements, made in 
 1921: 
 
 "The water tower was built by John 
 W. Noble for the city at a cost of 
 $107,000. The clock was made by the 
 Howard Clock Co., of Boston, Mass., 
 and with the bell cost $1,200. J. E. 
 Veal placed the clock on the tower in 
 1871 and was timekeeper for five 
 years; T. S. Wood kept time five years; 
 M. D. McOsker, ten years; Clip Wil- 
 liamson, twelve years; R. V. Allen is 
 now responsible for correct time." 
 
 For many years the tow-er served the 
 city with water pumped from the sta- 
 tion on the Etowah River at Fourth 
 Avenue, but the water now comes from 
 the Ft. Jackson station, and the tower 
 is no longer used. The tower is nearly 
 100 feet high and affords a command- 
 ing view of the surrounding country. 
 It is the first thing people see from 
 all directions on approaching Rome. 
 Several couples, seeking romance, have 
 been married near its top. 
 
 In April, 1922, E. R. Fishburne, the 
 jeweler and watch repairer, was named 
 timekeeper to succeed R. V. Allen. 
 
 VALLEYS OF FLOYD COUNTY. 
 — Kieffer Lindsey, County Engineer, 
 furnishes the following information: 
 
 Big Texas, runs northeast and south- 
 west ten miles, from Fouche to Crys- 
 tal Springs, with Simms' Mountain 
 marking its upper border and Rock 
 Mountain its lower, separating it from 
 Little Texas Valley. It is bisected by 
 Heath Creek. 
 
 Little Texas, runs generally par- 
 allel to Big Texas, but at its south- 
 western end bends northward around 
 Rock Mountain to Fouche, and etends 
 to Armuchee, twelve miles. It is bi- 
 sected by Lavender Creek. Lavender 
 Mountain to the southeast separates it 
 from the Flat Woods. 
 
 Ridge, named after Major Ridge, the 
 Indian chief, extends twelve miles, 
 from Rome northeast to Plainville, 
 Gordon County. Armstrong Mountain 
 forms one of its outer edges. It is 
 bisected by the Southern railway. 
 
 Vann's. named after David Vann, 
 the Indian sub-chief, extends south- 
 westward from Six Mile Station to 
 Cave Spring, ten miles. It is bisect- 
 ed by the Southern railway and at 
 its Cave Spring end is broken by Lit- 
 tle Cedar Creek. 
 
 The valleys of the Coosa, Etowah 
 and Oostanaula follow the courses of 
 those streams, but are usually not 
 shown on the maps. 
 
 WILSON MOORE HARDY, former newspaper 
 man, now banker, who has contributed much 
 to the upbuildinB of the Hill City. 
 
 JOHN TEMPLE GRAVES, editor and orator. 
 
 who established The Tribune of Rome in 
 1887 and was head of it three years.
 
 Encyclopedic Section 
 
 419 
 
 YOUNG MEN'S LIBRARY ASSO- 
 CIATION.— The Carnegie Library of 
 Rome is an outgrowth of an associa- 
 tion formed Feb. 10, 1879, in the law 
 office of Wright & Featherston, with the 
 following Romans present: Rev. Clem- 
 ent A. Evans, Rev. G. A. Nunnally, 
 Jno. J. Black, Robt. T. Hargi-ove, t. 
 L. Robinson, Dr. J. B. S. Holmes, E. 
 A. Williams, Max Meyerhardt, R. A. 
 Denny, R. T. Baker, Dr. E. P. Love- 
 lace, J. G. Yeiser, Hugh B. Parks, 
 Junius F. Hillyer, Jno. R. Towers, Jr., 
 Park Harper, Walker W. Brookes, 
 Freeman Shropshire, C. L. Omberg, 
 Sam C. Caldwell, H. S. Garlington, C. 
 N. Featherston, C. A. Thornwell and 
 Dr. R. I. Hampton. More than $100 
 was subscribed by those present to 
 start the movement. 
 
 Mr. Caldwell was elected president, 
 Mr. Hillyer vice-president, Mr. Meyer- 
 hardt secretary, and Mr. Denny treas- 
 urer. R. T. Baker was elected libra- 
 rian. Mr. Caldwell served two years; 
 E. A. Williams was president from 
 May to October, 1880, when he died; 
 Mr. Hillyer filled the unexpired term 
 and was re-elected; Mr. Black, A. R. 
 Sullivan and J. A. Rounsaville held 
 the position one year; and J. F. Shank- 
 lin was serving his second year in 
 1888. 
 
 The original directors were Rev. G. 
 A. Nunnally, M. A. Nevin, E. A. Wil- 
 liams, J. R. Towers, Jr., J. G. Yeiser, 
 Jno. J. Black and Dr. J. B. S. Holmes; 
 and the directors in 1888 were J. F. 
 Hillyer, R. A. Denny, Max Meyerhardt, 
 
 R. H. West, Mulford M. Pepper, M. A. 
 Nevin, Morton R. Emmons, W H 
 Adkins, C. A. Thornwell, J. A. Roun- 
 saville and Jno. J. Black. 
 
 An account of 1888 says: "The 
 courage of the projectors who dared 
 to inaugurate this movement is already 
 vindicated, and is a strong evidence 
 that the interests of the young men of 
 thi.s community are not altogether ma- 
 terial. The organization grew until 
 there were 350 members and 14,000 
 books and pamphlets." 
 
 Here is mentioned the first "wom- 
 an's auxiliary:" 
 
 "The most powez'ful auxiliary that 
 has contributed to the success of the 
 association has been the everl-ready 
 hand of woman. Up to 1886 it has 
 been the policy of the board to employ 
 only male librarians, but that policy 
 was then changed, and Miss Hallie Al- 
 exander was elected librarian. The 
 change was a happy one. She soon 
 increased the circulation of books and 
 the usefulness of the library by dem- 
 onstrating that a librarian* is not a 
 mere 'keeper of books,' but is largely 
 instrumental in stimulating and direct- 
 ing the mental activities of a commu- 
 nity. Miss Alexander resigned Sept. 
 1, 1887, and was succeeded by Miss 
 Nellie Ayer, whose administration was 
 rewarded by the same success. Miss 
 Ayer died in August, 1888; she left 
 upon the community the impress of a 
 life devoted to duty. Miss Lilla Mor- 
 rel, a young lady of splendid attain- 
 ments, succeeded her."
 
 420 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 "DUCKS" MAKE MERRY IN WATER CARNIVAL. 
 
 The photographs show groups of Boy Scouts in their contests on Labor Day, September 5, 
 1921. These sports are held annually at the junction of the rivers, and are witnessed by thous- 
 ands of people, principally from Myrtle Park, at the northern foot of Myrtle Hill cemetery. 
 Near the top is the Boy Scout barge "Sequoyah" and elsewhere groups of the Eagle and Haw- 
 thorne troops of Girl Scouts.
 
 Miscellaneous 
 
 SCOUTS EXPLORE DEEP CAVE— 
 
 Excitement a-plenty attended the all- 
 day hike of Boy Scouts yesterday to the 
 neighborhood of Black's Bluff and "the 
 place whore the Jaybird Jarred the 
 Mountain." "The White Team" fought 
 the "Red Team" for possession of the 
 hilltop, conquered them and put them on 
 the ladder's lower rung for the day. Cy- 
 ril Hull, ambitious and daring young 
 son of Howard Hull, of Shorter College, 
 explored a wild and wooly cave, and 
 James Glover, an incorrigible Gcout, col- 
 lapsed after taking a strenuous part in 
 the battle, the tug-of-war and two foot 
 races. 
 
 W. M. Barnett, H. F. Joyner, and G. 
 E. Bennett, the three flying parsons, 
 were pretty well fagged out from the 
 heart-breaking dose of hiking given 
 them by the boys. 
 
 Eighty-two scouts lined up behind 
 the colors at 9 o'clock at Broad and 
 Third avenue. As soon as one of the 
 scouts had run around the corner with 
 a kodak they stepped off in column of 
 fours across the South Rome bridge, 
 leaving a lot of office boys and messen- 
 ger boys with heavy hearts behind. 
 
 One little lad with a leg shorter than 
 the other carried a cocoanut to feast 
 upon. Others were laden with all kinds 
 of grub and plastered with all varieties 
 of cooking utensils as well as scout par- 
 aphernalia. First hike that all the 
 scouts of Rome had been invited to take 
 together, and everybody was proud. 
 
 Two miles from the Bluff sealed or- 
 ders were opened and the troopsmen 
 told where lay the objective point. The 
 bunch were divided, pathfinders and 
 signalmen were sent ahead to recon- 
 noiter, and the scouts followed trails 
 that existed and made trails that did 
 not. By their more favorable detour 
 the Whites beat the Reds to the hill 
 peak and thus became the defenders 
 when their wild Indian rivals hove into 
 sight. The game was to hold a sham- 
 battle and score on points. Arm bands 
 snatched off counted so many dead 
 scouts. A scout taken along with his 
 arm band and brought into camp was 
 a prisoner. The Whites won with a 
 margin of seven scout prisoners and 
 deceased, when — 
 
 "Object ahead, sir!" (from a look- 
 out), 
 
 "Can you make it out?" (from Scout 
 Executive Bennett.) 
 
 "Object is a cave, sir." 
 
 Discipline suffered as the 82 scouts 
 and three officials gathered around a 
 depression in the earth pi-etty well cov- 
 ered with brush. Below the face of the 
 bluff the Coosa wound in a silver thread 
 toward the Alabama line. 
 
 "Who'll volunteer to explore?" 
 
 "DeSoto.'s my name!" exclaimed 
 Scout Cyril Hull in true cavalier style. 
 
 The rope had been bought of the 
 Nixon Hardware Co. at the outset and 
 it looked to be 100 feet long; a conser- 
 vative estimate put it at 75. In a jiffy 
 the rope had been secured about Cyril's 
 waist just below his palpitating heart, 
 and after the opposite end had been 
 tied to a tree and a dozen scouts, re-in- 
 forced by 70 more, had seized the rope, 
 Cyril was shoved into the aperture. 
 They fed him rope until none was left. 
 "Gimme more rope," signaled the scout 
 in the scouts' own peculiar way. 
 
 "You're at the end of it," signaled 
 back the boys out in the day-light. Cy- 
 ril cut into the side of the cave with his 
 hatchet, shot a flood of light down- 
 ward with his flash-light, and kicked 
 against the sides as he dangled, when 
 suddenly, without warning, somebody 
 shouted from quarter of a mile below, 
 
 "Get out of that cave!" 
 
 The boys had begun to pull Cyril out 
 already and just as his posteriority ap- 
 peared at the opening, followed by his 
 hair and hatchet, a farmer rushed up 
 waving his arms. 
 
 "Snakes down thar, and blind fish," 
 he said. 
 
 The boys threw the brush back and 
 beat it to the camp, since it was time 
 for chow. They prepared a fine dinner, 
 stayed until after dark and lit up the 
 campfires, on which they cooked sup- 
 per, consisting of hot dogs and toasted 
 marshmallows. The boy with one leg 
 shorter than it really ought to be did 
 not eat anything hot; he was too busy 
 gnawing away at his cold cocoanut. 
 
 About 0:30 o'clock the scouts stum- 
 bled down the mountain side and came 
 home, voting the day the best ever 
 spent, and wanting very much to go 
 again without waiting a life-time. 
 James Glover had entirely recovered 
 from his collapse and finished strong. — 
 Dec. 12, 1920.
 
 422 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 ACTIVITIES AMONG THE BOY AND GIRL SCOUTS OF ROME. 
 
 A well-kept Boy Scout tent; Frank Holbrook's Steamer "Annie H."; Scout leaders and 
 Rome troops ready for a hike; Scouts competing at Hamilton Field; Eagle Troop of Girt 
 Scouts on steps of Carnegie Library. The same natural beauties and advantages that at- 
 tracted the Indians of "Cherokee Georgia" now make scouting a fruitful pastime.
 
 Miscellaneous — Scout Section 
 
 423 
 
 SCOUT WORK BOOMING— In mak- 
 ing my 1920 and first report to the 
 Cherokee Council I beg to submit the 
 following: Upon our arrival Sept. 15, 
 to take charge of the work of the Boy 
 Scouts in Floyd county under the Cher- 
 okee Council, we found four regularly 
 organized troops with 85 registered 
 scouts. Troop No. 4, which had previ- 
 )usly been registered, had disbanded 
 luring the summer because the scout- 
 master moved from the city. This troup, 
 however, had only six registered scouts. 
 
 Seven new troops have been organiz- 
 ed, and seven scoutmasters and four 
 assistant scoutmasters have been com- 
 missioned as leaders of these new 
 troops. The total number of additional 
 scouts that have been registered, includ- 
 ing leaders, is 161. Only four scouts 
 have dropped out of scouting since Sept. 
 15, which leaves a total of 250 regis- 
 tered leaders and scouts now under the 
 council. 
 
 The following are the troops regis- 
 tered in Floyd county: 
 
 Old Troops: Lindale, No. 1, Rev. G. 
 W. Ridley, scoutmaster; Rome, No. 1, 
 Rev. W. M. Barnett, scoutmaster, W. 
 F. Hosteller, assistant; No. 2, Ed L. 
 King, scoutmaster, H. L. Lanham, as- 
 sistant; No. 3, W. J. Marshall, scout- 
 master, Marion Cole, assistant. 
 
 New Troops: Rome, No. 4, Dr. Carl 
 Betts, scoutmaster, Percy Landers, as- 
 sistant; No. 5, Gordon Ezzell, scout- 
 master; No. 6, Rev. H. F. Joyner, scout- 
 master; No. 7, R. B. Combs, scoutmas- 
 ter, J. C. Henson, assistant; No. 8, Wm. 
 J. Carey, scoutmaster; No. 9, A. L. 
 Stein, scoutmaster, Philip Friedman, 
 assistant; No. 10, A. C. Taylor, scout- 
 master, C. A. Townes, assistant. 
 
 The council is very fortunate in be- 
 ing able to secure the splendid men who 
 are now the leaders of these troops. 
 There is being conducted a Scout Lead- 
 ers' Training Course at scout head- 
 quarters every Monday night for the 
 benefit of the troop leaders and others 
 who desire to know the scout program. 
 
 A total of 184 scouts registered and 
 were on duty during the Noith Georgia 
 Fair which was held at the fair grounds 
 Oct, 11-16; 40 first aid cases were taken 
 care of by the scouts; 20 lost children 
 were found. The scouts acted as mes- 
 sengers, assisted the police to handle 
 the crowds at the races and at the fire- 
 worku at night, acted as ushers at the 
 grandstand, and helped to inflate the 
 balloon each day for the ascension. At 
 the request of the government officials 
 at Washington a squad of scouts were 
 
 on duty at the United States Agricul- 
 tural Building every day. During the 
 six days' work the scouts did hundreds 
 of good turns and in every task as- 
 signed to them they lived up to the 
 scout motto: "Be Prepared." 
 
 Fifteen scouts were on duty one day 
 putting up Red Cross posters; 80 scouts 
 reported on Armistice Day to take part 
 in the exercises conducted by the Amer- 
 ican Legion; 20 scouts distributed liter- 
 ature advertising the sale of the Red 
 Cross Christmas stamps; 18 scouts as- 
 sisted at the Christmas tree given for 
 the poor children at the Auditorium on 
 Christmas Eve. A number of scouts 
 worked several days gathering bundles 
 of clothing for the poor, to be dis- 
 tributed by the Red Cross. 
 
 The scouts under the Cherokee 
 Council have never failed to respond to 
 the call for service, and always stand 
 ready to be of assistance to the city or 
 community. 
 
 On Dec. 11, 85 scouts under the lead- 
 ership of Commissioner W. M. Barnett, 
 Scoutmaster Rev. H. F. Joyner, and the 
 Scout Executive, went on an all day 
 hike to Black's Bluff and spent the day 
 in scouting. This council is highly 
 favored with being in the midst of such 
 a wonderful country for scouting. With 
 headquarters at Rome — Rome the beau- 
 tiful — beautiful for situation, with her 
 glorious sunsets, her majestic rivers 
 winding their way through her borders 
 as they hasten on their journey toward 
 the sea, her surrounding green clad hills 
 and mountains with their hundreds of 
 sparkling brooks and gushing springs 
 ■ — all seem to have been designed by the 
 Great Master Builder of the universe as 
 an ideal place for our boys to go out 
 and come in touch with the great out-of- 
 doors and learn lessons that they cannot 
 obtain from books. The scouts under 
 this council are taking advantage of 
 these opportunities and every troop has 
 taken an average of one hike each 
 month, either all night, all day or af- 
 ternoon, in open air scouting. — Jan. 9, 
 1921. 
 
 HOW TO BE MEN— One of the most 
 powerful talks ever heard in Rome on 
 boy culture was delivered Tuesday night 
 to an audience of 500 at the Auditorium 
 by Prof. W. A. Sutton, principal of the 
 Tech High School and Atlanta Scout 
 Commissioner, and Prof. Sutton imme- 
 diately received an invitation from G. 
 E. Bennett, local scout executive, the 
 Rev. H. F. Saumenig. who introduced 
 him, and Robt. W. Graves, who also 
 sat on the stage, to come back again in 
 the near future.
 
 424 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 WATER SPORTS ON LABOR DAY, SEPT. 5, 1921 
 
 At top is Rex Culpepper's "Nell" passing under Second Avenue bridge, and bottom, Fred 
 Hoi¥man's "A. M. L." winning race. In lower center, Ed. King's Boy Scout barge "Sequoyah" 
 making knots. Lower center, right, the Daniel boat underway, 
 where seen in characteristic attitudes. 
 
 Scouts and others are else-
 
 Miscellaneous — Scout Section 
 
 425 
 
 Prof. Sutton's talk followed one he 
 had made a few hours before at a lunch- 
 eon tendered him by the Rome Kiwanis 
 Club at the Hotel Forrest, in which his 
 points were very much the same. He 
 gave seven stages in the making of a 
 man, saying that some boys pass 
 through all and make great men, but 
 that some people who pass for men 
 never pass through any. 
 
 To the fathers he said they should 
 know their Boy Scout sons, go on hikes 
 with them and advise them throughout. 
 "Two things are necessary to getting 
 along with boys," he declared. "One is 
 honesty and sincerity and the other is 
 a sense of humor." 
 
 Mr. Sutton told the boys to keep 
 their bodies clean, to have reverence and 
 respect for their elders, to be industri- 
 ous, to be mentally alert, to be helpful 
 to other people, to do their best at every 
 try, to love their Creator, and never to 
 give up. 
 
 "When a good thought comes into 
 your head, write it down, boys. Some 
 people who don't know any better will 
 say you are crazy. Pay no attention to 
 them. Make something out of yourself 
 if you die in the attempt. An English 
 boy named Thomas Watt watched his 
 mother's tea-kettle boiling. The top 
 r'anced around when the steam lifted it. 
 He poured a little cold water in, and 
 the dancing stopped. Then he wrote in 
 his note book, There is something in 
 hot water that is not in cold.' Later he 
 made the steam engine. 
 
 "Thomas A. Edison was a profiteer 
 in the Civil war. He bought newspa- 
 pers telling of the Battle of Gettysburg 
 for ten cents and sold them for $5. 
 From the boat that took him across the 
 bay with his papers he would yell to 
 the waiting people, 'I'm coming!' and 
 his voice came back to him in an echo. 
 He wrote in his badly-worn note book, 
 'There is something in the curvature of 
 the earth that causes the human voice 
 to rebound.' Years later he perfected 
 the phonograph. 
 
 "When the Wright boys of Toledo 
 saw a buzzard fly through the sky, they 
 asked why human beings with more in- 
 telligence than buzzards could not do 
 the same. 'Let's fly' suggested Wilbur. 
 'All right.' agreed Orville. Their father 
 mortgaged his farm so the boys could 
 build a model. People of narrow vis- 
 ion said all of them were crazy. The 
 boys wrote the government at Wash- 
 ington that they would like to give their 
 device to their country, and the govern- 
 ment wrote back that it didn't have 
 time to bother with any more foolish 
 
 schemes. The letters are on file in 
 Washington today. 
 
 "A man propounded the theory that 
 the bite of the mosquito stegomyia fas- 
 ciata caused yellow fever. He went to 
 Cuba, let this type of mosquito bite him, 
 and died, but his death caused millions 
 to be saved. Needn't be afraid to die, 
 boys, if you can give something like that 
 to the world. Dare to do, boys. Don't 
 be balked by petty objections from peo- 
 ple too small to appreciate big things. 
 Money does not make manhood. If a 
 boy is good-looking and his father has 
 money, he's got a poor chance to suc- 
 ceed." 
 
 Mr. Sutton declared he enjoyed see- 
 ing a little boy draw his biceps up into 
 a hard knot and feel it to see if his 
 muscles were growing. "That boy 
 wants to develop and make himself into 
 a man," asserted the speaker. "I believe 
 in occasional fist fights to develop boys, 
 but not as an every-day diversion. Where 
 boys hold grudges against each other 
 the best way for them to forget it is to 
 pummel each other and shake hands. 
 If you develop the physical you may 
 never have to use it, but you are always 
 prepared for a bully or one who wants 
 to take advantage of you. If you are a 
 good Scout you will never need to smoke 
 cigarettes or drink whiskey or otherwise 
 tear down your health. Keep yourself 
 clean. Be a man." 
 
 The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts were 
 entertained in this fasion for more than 
 an hour, and their enjoyment was at- 
 tested by the heartiness in their hand- 
 claps, for they cheered Prof. Sutton a 
 full minute when he concluded. Prof. 
 Sutton complimented the youthful mu- 
 sicians in the orchestra and said Rome 
 is an ideal location for scouting. 
 
 The Pine Tree Patrol of Scouts went 
 through a drill in the scout creed, con- 
 sisting of a repetition of scout lines 
 and the lighting of candles on a pre- 
 paredness design by each scout on the 
 stage.— Feb. 9, 1921. 
 
 TWO "WILD CATS" TAMED— 
 Scout Executive G. E. Bennett told to- 
 day of how he and a small group of 
 Boy Scouts, including a visitor from 
 Washington. D. C, Friday captured two 
 gray cats which had been penned up in 
 a house on West Fifth street. Fourth 
 Ward, without food or water during the 
 freshet. 
 
 "The house dweller had gone into 
 town with his wife and eight -days-old 
 babv and left the cats penned up," 
 stated Mr. Bennett. "Man. they were 
 wild. We had to catch them and they 
 fought hard for nearly half an hour,
 
 426 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 INDIAN CANOES GIVE WAY TO CHUGGING MOTOR BOATS. 
 
 A wag once remarked that if Atlanta had the Coosa at Five Points she would anchor a 
 battleship there in a fortnight. Romans prefer smaller craft. 1 — School girls ready for a motor 
 boat ride. 2 and 7 — Girl Scouts. 3, 4, 5 and 6 — Boy Scout, "flagship" of "Snake-Doctor Fleet." 
 8 — Holmes Smith's boat. 9 and 10 — Annie H. 11 — Steamer Cherokee of Rome.
 
 Miscellaneous — Scout Section 
 
 427 
 
 dashing desperately up the sides of the 
 house, jumping and running into bureau 
 drawers. Two fingers of a glove I was 
 wearing were torn off and a rent made 
 in the palm of the other." 
 
 After the cats had been caught they 
 were taken to high land and left with 
 a neighbor of the owner, who fed them 
 and gave them drink.— Feto. 14, 1921. 
 
 TWENTY-FOUR ENJOY TRIP— 
 Fifteen Boy and Girl Scouts and nine 
 others went on a trip up the Oostanaula 
 river on Capt. Frank Holbrook's 
 "steamer" Annie H, and returned at 
 7:50 o'clock last night. They all had a 
 good time and no mishaps. 
 
 The boat left the Second avenue 
 bridge at 3:30 p. m., half an hour after 
 the sailing time, and arived at Whit- 
 more's Bluff at 5:30 p. m. As the even- 
 ing shadows were near, only half an 
 hour was spent ashore, and this was 
 taken up exploring the rocky bluff and 
 eating picnic lunch. At 6 o'clock the 
 little steamer shoved off for town un- 
 der a canopy of stars and beams from 
 a half moon that shone brightly on the 
 water. Singing and guitar music kept 
 the crowd lively going back. 
 
 On the way up, a motor boat man in 
 the "Emmagene H." ran ahead of the 
 steamer and shot several dive-dappers 
 and ducks which he took ashore about 
 five miles up and gave to some men 
 camping on the bank. At the bluff the 
 Scouts were gi'eeted by more little boy 
 "Brownies" who were camping out at 
 that point. 
 
 The hosts of the trip were James 
 Maddox, E. L. Wright, head-master of 
 Darlington, and Geo. M. Battey, Jr. 
 
 The burden-bearing Boy Scouts were 
 Robert Shahan, who makes fire by fric- 
 tion; Joe Fickling, Alfred Spears, James 
 Barton and Robert Norton. Those boys 
 made themselves useful about the boat 
 in accordance with ship rules; carried 
 the "plunder" on and off the boat and 
 in many ways proved indispensable. 
 
 Mrs. James Maddox assisted Miss 
 Adelene Bowie with the Girl Scouts, 
 who included Dorothy and May Morton, 
 Martha Porter, Sinclair Norton, Martha 
 Ledbetter, Dot Harrison. Kathrme Al- 
 len Thelma Davis, Joy Shackelton and 
 Florence Morgan. Other guests were 
 Misses Allene Burney, Marshall Nor- 
 ton, Lucie Daniel and Ethnel Morton, 
 making a total of 24 on board. 
 
 Eleven Girl Scouts got left because 
 three of them had to go home for lunch- 
 es and the rest waited at Curry-Arring- 
 ton's corner. — Apr. 15, 1921. 
 
 SECOND RIVER TRIP TAKEN— 
 The second party of a series to points 
 around Rome will shove off Thursday 
 afternoon at 3 o'clock from the Fourth 
 Ward side of the Second avenue (Land 
 Company) bridge over the Oostanaula 
 river, on the Good Ship Annie H., Frank 
 Holbrook, skipper. 
 
 As on Thursday, April 14, the desti- 
 nation will be Whitmore's Bluff, about 
 nine miles up, and a group of Girl and 
 Boy Scouts who did not get to go the 
 first time will be taken. The girls are 
 mostly Mrs. Holmes Cheney's and Miss 
 Amelia Berry's Eagle Troop, and Miss 
 Adelene Bowie's Hawthorne Troop, and 
 the burden-bearing Boy Scouts will be 
 chosen from several troops. 
 
 Names of the chaperones, the senti- 
 nels and a few others will be announced 
 later. 
 
 Whitmore's Bluff is a beautiful prom- 
 ontory which projects a shaggy chin 
 over the winding Oostanaula. Its face 
 is gray with a mass of native boulders 
 which contain shelves and landing 
 places. The top affords a fine view of 
 the surrounding terrain. 
 
 At the base of the rocks is Mitchell's 
 cave, from which issues in gay little 
 cascades the purest spring water. 
 
 Daniel R. Mitchell, who named Rome, 
 had a plantation of 2,500 acres on the 
 Oostanaula. Whitmore's Bluff was part 
 of it. In 1863, when the Civil War was 
 at its fiercest, he was offered $60,000 
 in gold or $80,000 in Confederate money 
 for it. The fortunes of the Confederacy 
 were never higher. He took the Con- 
 federate money. In another year his 
 money was almost without value. Sea- 
 born and Barry Wright now own Whit- 
 more's Bluff and they have built an at- 
 tractive cottage on it. 
 
 Other sights to see on this river are 
 the "Chieftain's" the home of Major 
 Ridge, Cherokee Indian chief, two miles 
 up, and the mouths of Big and Little 
 Dry creeks. 
 
 An hour and a half each way on the 
 Annie H- is required, which gives the 
 "Brownies" about an hour to scout and 
 enjoy lunch on land, in order to l>e 
 back in Rome before 8 o'clock. 
 
 Guitar and ukulele music and singing 
 will again be a feature, provided the 
 weather man is kind.— Apr. 25, 1021. 
 
 THIRD TRIP ON RIVER— The third 
 of a series of trips on the rivers in 
 Frank Holbrook's Annie H. was taken 
 Monday afternoon by a group of Boy 
 and Girl Scouts as the guests of E. L. 
 Wright, headmaster of Darlington
 
 428 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 
 O-v 
 
 '^^ri 
 
 
 V/4 ^t-<-^^:c- 
 
 Iff )^ ©o-^lt^lrx*-^^' 
 
 
 
 ^^, /^^^ 
 
 AUTOGRAPHS OF ROMANS, MOSTLY OF THE PERIOD AROUND 1870.'71— I.
 
 Miscellaneous — Scout Section 
 
 429 
 
 WHERE THE BEAUTIFUL OOSTANAULA RIVER ENTERS ROME. 
 
 Upper Broad Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, about 1905: Extreme left. Bos- 
 worth Block; left center, Martha Battey Hospital; house with white roof, old Wood home, 
 where Henry W. Grady once lived. 
 
 School, and Geo. M. Battey, Jr. Mrs. 
 Holmes Cheney chaperoned. 
 
 The party went to Black's Bluff, and 
 on account of the close proximity of 
 that point did not start until 3:56 p. m. ; 
 they landed at the Bluff at 4:45 p. m. 
 and left at 6:30 for Rome, arriving at 
 7 p. m. The party spread lunch about 
 100 yards above the bank and a spring, 
 and after feasting went back to the 
 boat and had music and songs. No ac- 
 cidents occurred. 
 
 The following others attended: Misses 
 Tot Moultrie, Mildred Wilkerson, Mary 
 J. Doyal, Ruth Maddox, Annette Stroud 
 and Leila Hill Newsom, of the Haw- 
 thorne Troop of Girl Scouts; Elizabeth 
 McRae, Elizabeth Ward, Elizabeth Lips- 
 comb, Helen McLeod and Maynor Mc- 
 Williams, of the Eagle Troop of Girl 
 Scouts; Miss Virginia Dixon, of Birm- 
 ingham; and the following Boy Scouts: 
 William and Lester Harbin, John W. 
 Quarles, Jr., Riley McKoy, Otis Par- 
 sons, Benj. Archer, Ben Grafton and 
 Benj. Cothran.— May 18, 1921. 
 
 SCOUTS TO COLLECT FOR POOR 
 — The Boy Scouts have another call for 
 service on Wednesday. The committee 
 that has charge of gathering the bun- 
 dles for the poor of the city has asked 
 the scouts to go with the automobile 
 trucks and assist in the work of bring- 
 ing the bundles of clothing to the Red 
 Cross headquarters. All scouts that 
 can assist in this work will report at 
 scout headquarters Tuesday at 10 
 o'clock to receive instructions regarding 
 the work and where to meet Wednes- 
 day and territory which they are to 
 cover. 
 
 North Rome is to have a new troop 
 
 to register before the first of the year. 
 Troop No. 5, of which the Rev. Gordon 
 Ezzell is scoutmaster, is full with 32 
 scouts, and a new troop is forming. 
 
 All scouts that have not registered 
 in troops 1 and 2 and Lindale will reg- 
 ister at headquarters before the first 
 of the year in order to get the benefit 
 of the special price of 25 cents each 
 for 1921 membership. 
 
 The Boy Scouts of Rome had an oppor- 
 tunity last Friday to prove their worth 
 when called upon by the committee that 
 had charge of the Christmas tree for the 
 poor at the Auditorium to assist in mak- 
 ing the affair a success. They dis- 
 tributed song sheets, acted as messen- 
 gers, helped the committee pass the 
 children out of the building after they 
 had received their presents, located a 
 number of lost children and found sev- 
 eral lost articles. 
 
 They demonstrated again that a scout 
 is ready for service, and remembered 
 the scout motto: "Be Prepared." The 
 committee has sent them formal thanks. 
 —Dec. 24, 1920. 
 
 HIKE TO ROCKY HOLLOW— Troop 
 "Lucky Seven" of the Boy Scouts, R. B. 
 Combs, scoutmaster, and Jerome C. Hen- 
 son, assistant, will hike out to Rocky 
 Hollow, near Rotary Lake on Horseleg 
 Creek, Friday afternoon. They will 
 cook supper and return by the light of 
 the moon. Mr. Henson will accom- 
 pany them and be in charge. The boys 
 will" meet at 3:30 in front of Nixon's 
 Hardware store on Broad. 
 
 Several tests will be given the Scouts, 
 including the preparation of supper by
 
 430 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 each boy, who will use only one or two 
 matches and will cook quarter of a 
 pound of steak and half a pound of 
 Irish potatoes without the aid of cook- 
 ing utensils. — Jan. 6, 1921. 
 
 "SNAKE DOCTOR" FLEET— Scout- 
 masters of the eleven Boy Scout troops 
 in Rome, representing 250 boys, will 
 meet Monday night at 7:30 o'clock at 
 headquarters, 313 ^4 Broad street, on 
 call of Executive Geo. E. Bennett, who 
 will present to them a plan whereby 
 each troop may own its own boat for 
 use on the rivers around Rome. 
 
 Mr. Bennett will tell the scoutmasters 
 that three motor boats can be purchased 
 at a total cost of $400, which will be 
 things of pleasure for a long time and 
 will be useful in emergencies as they 
 arise; also that this would represent a 
 tax of less than $2 apiece if the 250 
 Scouts paid for it out of what they 
 might save or earn. 
 
 He will suggest that each troop can 
 obtain some kind of craft within two 
 weeks by doing a little planning and 
 work. The "flagship" of the fleet unit 
 will be the motor boat already in use, 
 known as the "Boy Scout," and "the three 
 other motor boats would be appropri- 
 ately named. The four would be allotted 
 to certain troop units for certain pe- 
 riods of time, and seven batteaux or 
 canoes would be bought which troops 
 could use when not in charge of the 
 motor boats. The allotments would be 
 constantly changing, so that, for in- 
 stance. Scoutmaster George R. Popay's 
 Troop 7 would have charge of one of 
 the motor boats for a week, and for 
 three weeks would take a batteau or 
 
 canoe, and the fifth week come back to 
 another motor boat. The power boats 
 would tow the paddle craft often, so all 
 could have fun. 
 
 Two of the troops already have craft 
 which could be substituted for that 
 many boats with paddles or oars. Troop 
 11 (Horace Gillespie, scoutmaster) has 
 bought a batteau in the Fourth Ward, 
 has painted it and is due by now to 
 have shoved it in the water. Troop 2 
 (Ed King, scoutmaster) will meet in 
 the Fourth Ward tomorrow afternoon 
 at 3 o'clock to put finishing touches on 
 their house boat, work on which was in- 
 terrupted by the recent week spent at 
 camp at Cloudland. Mr. King says the 
 boys are going to launch their house- 
 boat with all kinds of salty ceremony, 
 including the selection of a fair young 
 lady sponsor, the reading of passages 
 from the manual and a speech or so, 
 and free lemonade and all the sand- 
 wiches anybody could eat. 
 
 It is unnecessary to say the "Snake 
 Doctor Fleet" will take official recog- 
 nition of the event and turn out in full 
 array, and will sound their gongs and 
 toot their whistles as the strange craft 
 slips from the ways. The honor of 
 pushing the house boat a piece up the 
 Oostanaula will then be given one of 
 the visiting host. 
 
 Mr. King's boys have built the house 
 boat entirely without help. They laid 
 her keel and sides, nailed on the cross 
 pieces for the bottom, poured tar pitch 
 on the outside and painted her with 
 tar inside. The boat's length is 22 feet 
 and her width 8 feet. She will be a 
 scow for a while, because Mr. King said 
 the patience of the boys would be 
 
 MODERN EXPLORERS ON THE PLACID OOSTANAULA.
 
 Miscellaneous — Scout Section 
 
 431 
 
 threadbare if he tried to put on the 
 house part right away. So they are go- 
 ing to slip her sidewise in the water and 
 rig out some cross pieces for the 32 
 Scouts to perch upon. 
 
 Part of them will bail until the boat 
 seems to stop leaking, then everybody 
 will sit on the seats and yell defiantly 
 at all passing craft. Presently the en- 
 gine will be installed so she can kick 
 along under her own power. Whether 
 she will be fitted out with a propeller 
 or rear wheel like a steamboat has not 
 been decided. The Annie H. has a rear 
 paddle wheel, and works with a motor 
 forward. 
 
 The Scouts have two months of va- 
 cation left and plenty of afternoons 
 thereafter, and they seem determined 
 to spend a good part of it on the water. 
 —July 14, 1921. 
 
 SCOUTS LAUNCH HOUSE BOAT 
 
 — An event in the life of the Boy Scouts 
 of Rome, and particularly of Troop 2, 
 Ed King, scoutmaster, will be the 
 launching Wednesday afternoon at 
 4:30 o'clock of the "Sequoyah," house 
 boat, at a point in the Fourth Ward, 
 opposite the middle distance between the 
 old Seventh Avenue cemetery and the 
 city pumping station. A large crowd 
 of Scouts will no doubt see the "Se- 
 quoyah" slide from the ways into the 
 Oostanaula River, for every member in 
 the county has been invited by Troop 2 
 and Scout Executive Bennett, and there 
 are 350 of them. The Lindale and Cave 
 Spring Troops are also invited. 
 
 A tub of free lemonade and free 
 sandwiches while they last will be 
 served. Troop 11, Horace Gillespie, 
 scoutmaster, will probably launch its 
 batteau at the same time. 
 
 All units of the "Snake Doctor Fleet" 
 are requested to get under way at 4 
 o'clock for the scene of the launching. 
 These include the Annie H., the Nell, 
 the Katie, the Emmagene H., the Daniel 
 Boat, the Boy Scout, other motor boats, 
 and all the canoes and batteaux that 
 can be made seaworthy by that time. 
 The craft will land above the scene of 
 the launching and prepare to toot their 
 whistles and sound their gongs as the 
 "Sequoyah" plunges in. After she is 
 launched, the boys will man her and as 
 many as she will hold will take a ride, 
 and the other Scouts will be taken 
 aboard the various craft for a grand 
 parade. 
 
 The "Sequoyah" is due to have a fair 
 sponsor and a dark blue flag with white 
 stars and a white anchor on it. Her 
 engine will be put in after the boys 
 
 have had their first ride in front of one 
 of the motor boats. A short sketch of 
 Sequoyah, who invented the Cherokee 
 Indian alphabet, will be read during 
 the exercises. 
 
 The Girl Scouts and the public gen- 
 erally are invited and the boys will try 
 to show them how a real boat should be 
 launched. 
 
 As the fleet steams slowly up and 
 down the river, past Sixth Avenue, it 
 will be reviewed by city officials, and 
 Jim D'Arcy, an old sailor, and "Chips" 
 Berliner, the local navy recruiting 
 agent, are invited to join them. The 
 whole affair will probably break up in 
 a swimming party on the Oostanaula. — 
 July 24, 1921. 
 
 TWO SCOUTS RIDE 50 MILES— 
 Boy Scouts Julius M. Cooley, Jr., 13, 
 son of Julius M. Cooley, of the Rome 
 Farm Equipment Co. and resident of 5 
 Butler street, and Ralph Jones, 14, son 
 of H. L. Jones, traveling salesman of 
 the H. B. Parks Co. and resident of 
 Pennington avenue. South Rome, re- 
 turned to Rome about 6:50 o'clock last 
 night after a memorable quest for merit 
 badges. They pedaled to Cartersville 
 and back, approximately 50 miles, in 
 20 minutes less than 10 hours. Both 
 boys are members of Troop No. 8. 
 
 Asked if his legs hurt like he had 
 growing pains. Scout Cooley declared: 
 
 "I'll say they do!" 
 
 The boys were told that it was a 
 good test of scout ability to make it to 
 Cartersville and back starting at 9:10 
 o'clock yesterday morning. That gave 
 them until 7:10 last night. Neither 
 had been there before, so the trip had 
 an added zest. 
 
 Julius said: 
 
 "The roads were bad most of the way 
 and we saw convicts working them near 
 Cartersville. We took our lunches with 
 us and ate them along the road at a 
 stream, and had supper when we re- 
 turned home. There were no accidents 
 except that I hit a bump and fell once, 
 throwing me off on my side, and Ralph'.s 
 pedal struck me. I was not hurt but 
 lost a little breath and saw a few stars. 
 It was a great trip." 
 
 The boys reported to Scout Executive 
 Bennett and are due to receive their 
 merit badges soon. Part of the test had 
 been completed before. This consisted 
 of reading a map and repairing bicycle 
 punctures and taking their bicycles 
 apart and putting them together again. 
 —Jan. 23, 1921.
 
 432 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 A GLIMPSE OF MOBLEY (DeSOTO) PARK AND LAKE 
 
 The hill to the left was where Philip W. Hemphill, one of Rome's founders, built his 
 home. The park property has been acquired for the Greater Darlington School, and removal 
 to the site will mark a new era in that institution's career. 
 
 GIRL SCOUTS HEAR TALK— At 
 the Lindale Methodist church Sunday 
 afternoon a large number of girl scouts 
 with their captains and lieutenants as- 
 sembled to hear Mrs. Juliette Lowe, of 
 Savannah, an international figure in 
 the scout movement, make an address 
 on scouting. 
 
 Mrs. Lowe, who lived for many years 
 in England, told of the organization 
 there of the Boy and Girl Scouts, and 
 of the work of Baden Powell, who was 
 so impressed by the splendid work done 
 by the boys in the Boer war that he de- 
 termined to train the youths of England 
 in some of the minor details of war re- 
 gardless of whether they were ever to 
 be soldiers or sailors. 
 
 Receiving enthusiasm and inspiration 
 from Mr. Powell, who is a warm person- 
 al friend of hers, Mrs. Lowe started 
 work with a band of seven girls who 
 lived near her home up in the Scotland 
 hills, and with the assistance of some 
 work with a band of seven girls who 
 taught signalling, cooking, sewing, tak- 
 
 ing care of the sick and other things es- 
 sential to making them strong and capa- 
 ble women. Now there are 80,000 Girl 
 Scouts in America alone. 
 
 Mrs. Lowe went into detail about 
 scouting. She told what was required 
 before a girl could become a citizen 
 scout; the motto being "Be Prepared." 
 
 In closing she related a story of the 
 heroism of a Polish girl whom she had 
 known at an international conference 
 in London, and told how the girls' train- 
 ing as scouts had prepared them for 
 the trials and undertakings of life. 
 
 Capt. H. P. Meikleham introduced 
 Mrs. Lowe with a few apt remarks, em- 
 phasizing the fact that Mrs. Lowe was 
 going to tell her audience (which con- 
 sisted almost entirely of Girl Scouts) 
 how to be real girls and appreciate 
 natural things. 
 
 Mrs. Lowe left on an afternoon train 
 for Atlanta. While in Lindale she was 
 Miss Helen Marshall's guest. — Jan. 24, 
 1922.
 
 Miscellaneous — Scout Section 
 
 433 
 
 
 ^/^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 0> 
 
 
 
 ^^— ^/^^S^^^ 
 
 yi<^^cO ^. 
 
 AUTOGRAPHS OF ROMANS OF THE PERIOD AROUND 1870-'71— II.
 
 434 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 THE OLD COURT HOUSE, ON COURT (EAST FIRST) STREET, ROME 
 
 THE REAL FRANK L. STANTON. 
 — Lucian L. Knight, state historian, 
 once remarked as follows concerning 
 Stanton : 
 
 "He is a lyrical genius. He has 
 never used a typewriter, but employs 
 long-hand in pencil exclusively; he 
 seldom scratches out a mistake, and 
 he makes no erasures. His is a brand 
 of genius that is not often fclund. 
 Writing with him is spontaneous; his 
 thoughts are transferred to paper with- 
 out the usual mental effort, and thus 
 do they appear in print. They go to 
 the printer in 'strings,' sheet after 
 sheet pasted together. Truly, he just 
 pipes his unpremeditated lay. 
 
 "When I was handling the religious 
 page of The Constitution, Stanton had 
 not reached financial independence, 
 and would occasionally ask me for a 
 small loan. On one occasion he said, 
 'Lucian, let me have some money.' 
 
 " 'I haven't got any money,' I re- 
 plied. 
 
 " 'Knight, I want you to let me have 
 some money!' 
 
 " 'Sorry, but I can't.' 
 
 " 'Dr. Knight, you are the religious 
 editor of this newspaper; for Christ's 
 sake let me have some money!' 
 
 "'You win; there's a pawn shop 
 ai'ound the corner; take my grand- 
 father's watch and soak it!'" 
 
 AN ODD APPEAL.— In the race 
 for mayor for the term of 1882 were 
 three candidates: Jas. G. Dailey, who 
 was elected; Wm. W. Seay and J. F. 
 Harbour. The two first named beat 
 the bushes in stump speeches, but Mr. 
 Harbour, being short of oratorical thun- 
 der, contented himself with a card in 
 the local newspaper which ended: 
 
 "I hope you will Seay your way 
 Dailey through the Harbour of safety." 
 
 QUICK WITS IN COURT.— Inter- 
 esting situations are always aris- 
 ing in the present as the members 
 of the Rome bar gather in Judge Moses 
 Wright's Superior Court. Judge 
 Wright's charges to the juries, his fine 
 sense of humor and of fairness fur- 
 nish a considerable part of this inter- 
 est, and then occasionally an attorney 
 is called upon to furnish it. 
 
 Several days ago Attorneys Frank 
 Copeland and W. B. Mebane found 
 themselves on opposite sides of a case. 
 
 "Hold up your right hand," com- 
 manded Mr. Mebane to a witness. 
 
 "The witness has already been 
 sworn," interposed Mr. Copeland. 
 
 "Take it down!" snapped Mr. Meb- 
 ane before the witness could realize 
 what was going on. — Jan. 26, 1921.
 
 Miscellaneous— Scout Sectiop 
 
 435
 
 436 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 BILL OF SALE FOR SLAVES 
 
 Georgia, Floyd County: Know all men by these presents that I, Philip W. 
 Hemphill, of the county and state aforesaid, for and in consideration of the sum 
 of $4,000 to me in hand paid by James Hemphill, of the same place, receipt of which 
 I do hereby acknowledge, have granted, bargained and sold, and by these presents 
 do gi-ant, bargain and sell unto the said James Hemphill, his heirs and assigns, the 
 following property, to wit: Lucy, a woman 60 years old. Bill, a man, 65. Penny, 
 a woman, 60, Terril, a boy, 13, William, a boy, il, Margaret, a girl. 8, Myrum, a 
 girl, 9, Berryman, a boy, 7, Penny, a gii'l, 7, Elvira, a woman, 18, and child at the 
 breast, Catharine, a girl, 8, Emily, a girl, 12, Arena, a girl, 10, Lena, a girl, 8, 
 Evilene, a girl, 12, Tana, a girl, 6, Madison, a boy, 7, Jane, a girl, 13, Tony, a 
 boy, 7, Martha, a girl, 2 years old. 
 
 To have and to hold the aforesaid bargained property, to him the said James 
 Hemphill, his heirs and assigns, forever. And I, the said Philip W. Hemphill, for 
 myself, my heirs, executors and administrators, all and singular, the said bar- 
 gained property unto the said James Hemphill, his heirs and assigns, against me 
 and my said executors and administrators and against all and every other person 
 and persons claiming under me, shall and will warrant and defend by their presents. 
 
 In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 12th day of 
 October, one thousand, eight hundred and forty-six (1846). 
 
 P. W. Hemphill. 
 Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of 
 
 John B. Hemphill, witness, and Chas. Smith, justice of the peace. 
 
 STORY OF A FROLICSOME TORNADO 
 
 {From the Rome Neivs, Sunday, Ajxril 17, 1921.) 
 
 (By George Magruder Battey, Jr.) 
 
 A frolicsome tornado supposed to have been an offshoot of a cyclone starting in 
 Kentucky bounded through the downtown business section of Rome yesterday (Sat- 
 urday, April 16, 1921), at approximately 11:45 a. m., and left a trail of destruc- 
 tion 500 feet wide behind. The start of it was traced as far down the Coosa as a 
 point between Mt. Alto and Black's Bluff, where it left the stream and swept 
 across a stretch of green bottom land in a generally northeastern direction. 
 
 The tornado fell like a blight upon a quiet negro settlement in the boundaries 
 of Cherokee street, Branham avenue (south) and Pennington avenue, and turned 
 a square block into heaps of brick and loose timbers and snapping trees. Small 
 frame houses that had stood compactly a few minutes before were reduced to piles 
 like jackstraws. Across a ridge studded with stately pine trees the brusque charger 
 raced at 80 miles an hour, breaking pines and poplars in half and bowling over oaks 
 and hickories as their roots snapped under the strain. 
 
 Through Myrtle Hill cemetery this first time visitor sped, irreverently upset 
 tombstones and crushed a pavilion into kindling wood; skirted the brow of the hill, 
 swung its tail over the summit of the Confederate monument and swooped like a 
 hungry hawk over the Etowah and down upon peaceful, unsuspecting Rome. 
 
 Buildings trembled and struggled in the grip of this unshorn young monster, 
 then gave up parts of themselves, like brick and mortar, tin roofs, chimneys and 
 contents, — anything to be free of his cave-like grip. He hurried on without apolo- 
 gies; knocked down the electrical contraptions raised by man on high poles, 
 smashed windows with the care-free demeanor of a spend-thrift, shoved a cornice 
 off a store to the main street without caring whether it hit anybody on the head or 
 not; blew young ladies' dresses and tresses in a shocking manner; sent dogs, 
 chickens and birds scurrying to places of safety, even as men; and disappeared 
 with a defiant gesture and a mocking laugh. 
 
 The tornado paralelled the Oostanaula river northward up West First street, 
 then executed a right-angle zag and dealt a right uppercut again to the things of 
 the land. Past Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth avenues he leaped, with 
 always the same tale, — a roof lifted off here, a sheet of tin sent smashing through 
 a plate glass window there, a tree sent crashing against a house, a house sat upon 
 until its timbers gT'oaned and gave way. 
 
 Near the foot of West First street three mules were killed under electric wires 
 and walls of brick, and their owner was injured; at the jail a lad was hurt, in 
 North Rome a house was blown a mile, scattering five children and a woman along 
 the way.
 
 Miscellaneous — Two Playful Windstorms 
 
 437 
 
 SPOTS WHICH DARED TO RESIST THE TORNADO. 
 
 The windstorm of Saturday. April 16. 1921. ->-d as a stern re.nind.^r of the ins^^^^^^^^^ 
 of man and his earthly shrines. Pictures 1. 2 and 6 show Myrtle »■'' «;^* ^ house on 
 like broom straws. 5 and 7 West Second Street damage 3--Tree «?»'"^t „, 'd a man 
 Seventh Avenue. 4— A sugarberry at the News office which nearly hit a hoi se and a man.
 
 438 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Then the tornado was lost to view. He had been introduced to Romans most 
 forcibly. Maybe he went where he came from. He was not a very welcome 
 guest. Details of his pranks are to be found elsewhere herein. 
 
 A hard rain fell soon after the tornado had passed, and continued for several 
 hours. It held up a while, but let in again before midnight. Woodmen and other 
 workers took their axes and set to work repairing the damage, and said some un- 
 kind things about frolicsome gusts of wind. 
 
 Rome's pet tornado had certainly not behaved like Oliver Herford's "Bashful 
 Earthquake." 
 
 Tornadoes are exciting phenomena and always coin)n.it freakish 
 and ^oeird acts as well as tragic and frightening. In the folloiving 
 riinning story are told incidents as they were heard and discovered by 
 The News during Saturday afternoon: 
 The worst damage in Rome was in the area bounded by Eighth avenue, the 
 Oostanaula river, head of Coosa and Broad street. Moving toward North Rome, 
 the tornado in this area first struck the rear of the old Hamilton block, occupied by 
 Stamps & Co., and took it off, a lot of brick falling and helping to demolish a shed 
 in the rear of the place. It swept through West First street between the rears of 
 the second Broad street block of wholesale grocery concerns and the Curry-Arring- 
 ton warehouse, caroming off the rear of the Rome Mercantile Co. and throwing a 
 shower of brick and timbers into the street on a group of a dozen or more mules 
 and wagons parked there by farmers, and carrying down three poles full of heavily- 
 charged electric wires. One of the wires fell across the back of a small gray mule 
 and killed it instantly, while the brick which fell from the rear of the Rome Mer- 
 cantile Co. buried a pair of mules driven to a wagon by Mose Middleton, a Black's 
 Bluff Road farmer. One of the mules was killed instantly and one was hurt and 
 it was thought it would have to be shot. Mr. Middleton was slightly injured. He 
 heard the storm had swept his home neighborhood, and went down to see. 
 
 The electric current was immediately cut off by the Rome Railway & Light Co., 
 thus reducing the danger of broken and depending wires. Police and firemen, the 
 Boy Scouts, American Legion and citizen volunteers rendered first aid and went 
 on duty informally where needed. Linemen and other electrical workers went to 
 work with a vim to relieve the city fi'om the predicament of no electric power or 
 lights, all having been cut off in the city except the trolley car current. Candles 
 and lamps were used pretty freely for illuminating purposes. The gas plant on 
 West First street, by the way, escaped any damage from the tornado, but an ad- 
 joining building had the roof taken off. 
 
 After a few hours most of the lights were switched on again, but throughout 
 the night the downtown area of devastation was dotted only with red danger 
 lights. The white way lights on the Oostanaula side of Broad street were dark, 
 and the two picture shows and business establishments in that row did not at- 
 tempt to keep open last night. 
 
 Part of the roof of the Rome Manufacturing company on Second avenue was 
 lifted and the rain began to pour in, so a lot of goods were moved to a warehouse 
 at the rear of the First National Bank building. Although the wind sliced off a 
 layer of brick from the Arrington-Buick building across the street, it bowed before 
 the tall First National structure and swept over the Rome Manufacturing Com- 
 pany, where it also sent down a shower of brick. 
 
 The McWilliams Feed and Grocery Co. sign was doubled up at Third avenue 
 and West First street, and one screen door opening outward was torn from its 
 hinges and another partly unhinged. A hogshead was blown from a platform to 
 the middle of the street. A lot of tin was ripped from warehouses in this neigh- 
 borhood and sent whirling and whistling toward the courthouse. A tin ice can of 
 the Atlantic Ice & Coal Corporation was blown 50 feet to Fourth avenue. 
 
 At the Wyatt Book Store a plate glass over the show or display windows was 
 blown out, three show cases were broken and the picture rack was demolished. 
 
 A pair of penny weighing scales was torn up in front of the Strand movie 
 theatre and a traffic sign at Broad and Third avenue was blown over. 
 
 The following sustained broken plate glass windows: Bartlett Automotive 
 Equipment Co., Gammon's, G. H. Hays, the McDonald Furniture Co., O. Willing- 
 ham and several of the fronts of the wholesale houses on the west side of Broad 
 street between First and Second avenues.
 
 Miscellaneous — Two Playful Windstorms 439 
 
 BROAD STREET BY NIGHT, CARPETED IN 3 INCHES OF SNOW, JAN. 27, 1921. 
 
 Many small windows, awnings and signs were caught and broken down. Trees 
 were blown down in the yards of Wade Hoyt, 603 West First street; 600 Broad 
 street, corner of Sixth avenue; J. W. Bryson, 10 Seventh avenue, the old W. M. 
 Towers place (large tree against center of house) ; the old Underwood cottage, 
 across West First street from the Bryson home (large tree took off corner and 
 rested against house) ; the cottage of Miss Julia Omberg, next door to the Lanham 
 place on West First street; the home between the Wade Hoyt place and the Oostan- 
 aula river. Limbs were strewn over the yard of Ed Maddox at Broad and Seventh 
 avenue, and across Fifth avenue back of the Hotel Forrest. 
 
 A large sugar berry tree at the corner of The Rome News office blew toward 
 the building, narrowly missing P. J. Fulcher, a farmer living on the Central Grove 
 road beyond the Berry Schools, and demolishing a Ford automobile owned by F. 
 C. Bennett, of 13 Fourth avenue, and the Fulcher buggy. Mr. Fulcher had just 
 taken his horse out of the vehicle. A falling wire burnt him slightly on the right 
 hand. An American Railway Express Co. delivery wagon was passing at Fourth 
 avenue and West First when the tree crashed down. The wind blew the wagoTi 
 over on its side and threw out the driver, Geo. W. Turner, and a lot of large empty 
 pasteboard cartons, one of which was blown into the hole left by the tree roots. 
 The horse ran away down Broad street, probably to the express company stable. 
 
 Parts of two chimneys were blown off TJie News building into jin alley near 
 the Oostanaula river. 
 
 The tornado swept up the Oostanaula, raising the water about 12 feet, accord- 
 ing to two men who were sitting on the end of a platform of the Atlantic Ice & 
 Coal Corporation plant, on Fourth avenue and the river. The tail of the thmg 
 swept within 35 feet of them, snapping off several limbs and curvmg in front of 
 the Rome Laundry Company across the street and carrying a shower of roof tin 
 with it, after which it hit the tree at The News corner. Then it twisted to the 
 left of the courthouse and stripped enough tin off the Davis Foundry & Machme Co. 
 to smash a plate glass window or so of the Dodge Automobile agency at I'lfth 
 avenue and West First street. 
 
 It tore tin off the city stables on West First, between Fifth and Sixth avenues. 
 Lawrence Wilson, Boy Scout, son of Sheriff Robt. E. Wilson, was sitting in his 
 father's apartments at the Floyd county jail at that point and was slamming down 
 a window when tin or timber crashed into the window pane and cut his left arm 
 in several places. He was attended by Dr. J. Turner McCall. 
 
 After laying low a lot of trees on West Fir.st street, as told above, the tornad.) 
 swept toward Eighth avenue, to the home of Louis A. Dempsey, at 713. where 
 a tree was uprooted and two rooms of the house damage<l. Five Inrtre ti-^o^ in the 
 Robt. W. Graves yard, 110 Eighth avenue, were blown down, and Robt. W. Graves, 
 Jr., amateur weather prognosticator, lost a rain gauge. A corn crib and mule barn 
 of the Graves-Harper Co. at West Second street and Eighth avenue were demol-
 
 440 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 ished. A large tree blew down between the home of Wm. E. Fuller, 104 West 
 Eighth avenue, and that of A. S. Burney. 
 
 Thence the wind blew through North Rome. Will Akridge, who owns a place 
 about two miles north of North Rome, phoned The News that the tornado hit one 
 of his tenant houses, occupied by Alvin Gilliam, and that the five small Gilliam 
 children narrowly escaped death. Some were free, others caught under flying 
 timbers and none hurt beyond a bad shaking up. They were gathered up and 
 Taken to the home of a neighbor nearby. Mrs. Henry Gilliam was hit in the head 
 by a flying timber and painfully hurt. She was attended by Dr. Henry A. Turner, 
 of Rome. A baby three months old was uninjured. 
 
 On Jim Stewart's place on the road leading over to the Oostanaula river, con- 
 tinued Mr. Akridge, the one-story frame cottage occupied by W. H. Sims, had only 
 two rooms left after the twister had passed. The front and back porches, kitchen 
 and two chimneys were blown away. It seemed like a thousand trees had been 
 blown down, he said. 
 
 While Mr. Akridge was talking, a flash of lightning hit the telephone wire. 
 "Did you see that lightning?" he asked. "Let's get away from here!" 
 
 The tornado was traced westward below Rome to a point on the Coosa river 
 between Black's Bluff and Mt. Alto. It skipped across the valley land northwest 
 
 <7^ 
 
 •--Tifflfeiiiiiii^ 
 
 ■B 
 
 A TALL SENTINEL ON A LOFTY HILL 
 
 Rome's historic clock tower, built in 1871 by John W. Noble, 
 plant on Fort Jackson it supplied the city with water. 
 
 Prior to erection of the
 
 Miscellaneous — Two Playful W indstorms 441 
 
 of the Ab Dean farm and tore a path through clumps of woods to the neighbor- 
 hood of Cherokee street and Branham avenue (South). At this point the wind 
 lifted off the front of the Hugley grocery store, then got into a block of negro 
 one-story frame dwellings on Pennington avenue. Six houses in a row had their 
 brick chimneys knocked off and one was smashed almost flat. In the house set 
 down upon the ground Mattie Rogers, crippled daughter of Fletcher Rogers, the 
 colored barber, was slightly hurt in the mouth. Two chickens (hens) were killed. 
 Debris was scattered everywhere. Then the twister snorted up a ridge and blew 
 a pine tree across a pig pen, where the pig grunted his eminent satisfaction. On 
 top of this ridge was a one story frame dwelling said to be owned by Mrs. Alia 
 Holmes Nunnally. The wind hugged this cottage and shook it down off its brick 
 foundations to the ground. The paper roofing was banged in. 
 
 Slivers of plaster peeled off across the street as the tornado shook a frail 
 wooden house. Then the mischievous fellow visited the home of City Commis- 
 sioner Ben Gann on Klasing Hill, slid his refrigerator across the back porch and 
 stripped the under part of the house of its frail lattice work. Then it romped 
 into Myrtle Hill cemetery, ruthlessly upsetting tombstones. The tornado uprooted 
 seven large trees in Myrtle Hill and broke off two others that fell across graves, 
 in addition to demolishing the pavilion near the Confederate Soldiers' sanctuary. 
 A tree fell across the headstone of A. B. S. Moseley, long a newspaper editor in 
 Rome. One knocked over the headstone of Mrs. T. O. Hand. Others fell across 
 the Denny, Grossman, Burks, Sharp and Thos. G. Watters lots. 
 City forces were put to work to clear the trees away. 
 
 The tail of the tornado swished within half a block of the Frances Berrien 
 hospital on South Broad and yanked off a limb as large as a fat man's leg, and did 
 the same near the old Klasing machine shop (now the establishment of Coffin & 
 Co.) Leaves and dead branches were scattered everywhere. 
 Jim Hall's house was unroofed about a mile north of Rome. 
 Half the roof of the Nixon Hardware Co. warehouse was blown off in the rear 
 of the Broad street store and the goods had to be moved to safe quarters. 
 
 The aftermath of Rome's romping tornado of Saturday morning at 11:45 o'clock 
 found the citizens setting their houses and yards in order. Some of the houses 
 were beyond hope of redemption. They had been crushed like eggshells and their 
 timbers blown into near woods. 
 
 Estimates of the total damage varied with the individual. Insurance men 
 said one person's guess was as good as another's. The estimates ranged between 
 $150,000 and $250,000 for the Rome district. Much of this is salvage. Trees 
 blown down make good wood; they have to be cut up but don't need cutting down. 
 Alvin Gilliam, farmer tenanting the Will Akridge farm two miles north of 
 the Southern Co-operative Foundry in North Rome, found his razor and his wife's 
 hat a mile toward the Oostanaula river from where the tornado smashed his house. 
 He congratulated his wife on her "close shave." 
 
 His mother, Mrs. Henry Gilliam, and his five children were in the house at the 
 time. The wind dumped them from the floor to a side wall, then deposited them 
 on the upside-down ceiling and carried the floor over their heads up the hillside. 
 In the ceiling was a trap door two feet by three. The lid flew off as the ceiling 
 went over, and two of the children, including the two-months-old baby, were thrown 
 into the hole to safety, while a mass of timbers crashed down over them. Rescuers 
 pulled them out shortly afterward. 
 
 Mr. Gilliam's 18-year-old boy, formerly in the navy, went searching for his 
 navy discharge papers, fearing they might have been blown to the Bureau of Navi- 
 gation at Washington and he might find himself back in the outfit again. 
 
 Houses are few and far between in this neighborhood, and not a great deal of 
 damage was done. On the Akridge place, however, the tornado played some of its 
 queerest tricks. It made a 180-degree curve, pointing back toward Rome, around 
 the brow of a thickly wooded hill, scattering tall trees, then darted off at riglit 
 angles to the right far enough to miss a barn and several horses. The next thing 
 it hit was the Gilliam cottage of four rooms, where the elder Mrs. Gilliam was 
 making dough in a pan. 
 
 City workmen labored all day Sunday with axes and saws, removing overturned 
 trees from dwellings and from across streets. Citizens wielded axes in many 
 cases. Some waited until Monday, and it seemed probable that within a week few 
 signs of the damage would remain, except in the case of houses badly demolished.
 
 442 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 ROME IN BLANKETS OF "BEAUTIFUL WHITE." 
 
 The central photograph, showing two feet of snow on Broad Street, was taken in December, 
 1887. The horse cars were abandoned and traffic generally was demoralized. This was a year 
 of disasters. In March and April came the record flood, with water 40.3 feet high at Rome, 
 
 and prior to the flood a slight earthpuake shock was felt. The other pictures were taken 
 
 January 27, 1921.
 
 Miscellaneous — Two Playful Windstorms 443 
 
 Two or three cases were reported in which men were caught in the tornado 
 and lifted off the g:i-ound or blown some distance. They all landed on their feet 
 and used them. 
 
 Steps will probably be taken by the city or patriotic organizations to replace 
 the pavilion which was destroyed at the Confederate soldiers' graves in Myrtle Hill 
 cemetery. Workmen started removing nine trees blown down across graves, up- 
 setting several tombstones. The tornado swept across the summit and eastern face 
 of Myrtle Hill and jumped over the Steamer Cherokee, lying moored at the base of 
 the cemetery on the Etowah river. It then hit the lower business district. 
 
 The gay destroyer did not spare the abandoned old Seventh avenue cemetery 
 either. It twisted off several large limbs and blew them across graves. One 
 landed on the tomb of George Hamilton, (1833-1854), but did not break the slab. 
 
 Between the Seventh avenue cemetery and the Auditorium several houses were 
 damaged. Five medium-sized trees were blown across West Second street north 
 of Seventh avenue. 
 
 The Graves-Harper barn near Eighth avenue and West Second was knocked 
 off its concrete rat-proof foundations and thrown down the hill toward Hell's Hol- 
 low, and turned upside down. It was a nice wreck. 
 
 After blowing down several trees on Eighth avenue the tornado dived into 
 Hell's Hollow. It missed the city water pumping station on Fort Jackson by at 
 least 500 feet and swept over Blossom Hill, inhabited by negroes. Here the main 
 damage was to fi-uit trees, which was true of other neighborhoods. 
 
 Windows in the court house offices of Judges Moses Wright and W. J. Nunnally 
 were smashed. A lot of women and children were attending a court hearing in 
 Judge Wright's office, and they sought places of safety. The Judge's office was in 
 the teeth of the gale, as it were, but the occupants soon got into a different position. 
 
 Rome's commercial concerns hit by the storm quickly began to get back into 
 shape. Carpenters and tinners did a land office business, and many others, in- 
 cluding electrical workers, did pretty much the same. The forces of the Southern 
 Bell Telephone Company and the Rome Railway & Light Company worked hard to 
 restore conditions to normalcy. 
 
 Insurance men carrying tornado policies made ready to pay up. It was a new 
 experience for them to get hit. W. B. Hale, of the Hale-Brannon Co., declared his 
 firm stood ready to protect Romans and if another such rumpus came, he would 
 surrender the cash. The others felt the same way about it. 
 
 As usual with tornadoes, the weather following was cold. The thermometer 
 dropped down to where folks thought a freeze might greet them Monday morning, 
 
 AN INFORMAL GARDEN OF DAYS THAT ARE PAST 
 
 This Third avenue spot was included in "Belvidere," the home place of Hollis Cooley, 
 
 which later became the habitation of Walker W. Brookes and Judge Waller T. Turnbull. It 
 nestled at the foot of old Shorter Hill.
 
 444 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
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 C2-^<Ci^^ 
 
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 7r~7xje.^ 
 
 Oi/~-uS-^^^cJ<^ 
 
 
 
 ^^, JTrf (ry<i'-<>fy^ 
 
 AUTOGRAPHS OF ROMANS OF THE PERIOD AROUND 1870-71- 
 
 -iri.
 
 Miscellaneous — Two Playful Windstorms 
 
 445 
 
 Carnegie Library and the City Auditorium. 
 
 but this did not come. A stiff wind most of Sunday aggi-avated the situation. 
 Opinions seemed to be that fruit and crops would be hurt, but not seriously. 
 
 TREMENDOUS STORM 
 
 On Thursday, the 12th inst., at one o'clock, a violent storm, moving in a South- 
 erly direction, passed over this place, carrying with it dense, black clouds of dust, 
 leaves, branches of trees, and all sorts of light trash, and doing very considerable 
 damage in its course. The bands of ^olus seemed to have been loosed and verily 
 "the winds did blow and crack their cheeks." 
 
 The following damages by the storm have come to our knowledge : Two freight 
 cars standing on the track just north of the depot were driven down the track, by 
 the force of the wind, to the foundry, where a switch being turned wrong for 
 them to go farther, they were thrown from the track and one of them smashed up; 
 about one-third of the sheet iron roof of the depot on each side of the building, 
 commencing on the north end, was torn off; the chimney of the store of Sloan & 
 Hoopers was blown down, breaking through the roof and into the store room of 
 Magnus & Wyse, just missing several persons sitting there; the chimney of the 
 store occupied by W. T. Newman and owned by P. M. Sheibley was blown down 
 and broke through the roof; the sky-light to Bcarden's Daguerrean gallery was 
 blown quite off. and the entire chimney to Wm. R. Smith's old store was blown en- 
 tirely down. We hear that the tin on the whole south side of the depot at Kingston 
 was blown off and carried in the arms of the storm to the hotel of Mrs. Johnson; 
 the depot at Cass Station suffered the same fate, and that at Cartersville was en- 
 tirely uncovered, and several other buildings injured. 
 
 Capt. Partin, the old cotton buyer, while riding up Broad street was blown 
 from his horse, and being blinded by the storm, while attempting to get into 
 Harper & Butler's Hardware store, fell into the ditch and severely sprained his 
 ankle. A Rev. Mr. Lowe, of the Methodist Church, traveling in a buggy, was over- 
 taken by the storm on the Summerville road, some six miles from here, and seeing 
 a tree about to fall on them, himself and negro boy, barely saved their lives by 
 jumping from the vehicle; the falling tree killed the horse and crushed the buggy. 
 Thousands of trees were twisted off. but, the ground being so very dry and liard, 
 comparatively few were turned up by the roots. All through the country great 
 damage has been done to fences and out-buildings. — Rome Tri-Weekly Courier, 
 July 14, 1860. 
 
 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF GEORGIA 
 (From Sherivood's Gazetteer, 1829) 
 "Georgia is bounded on the north by Tennessee and North Carolina, on the 
 northeast by South Carolina, from which it is separated by the Savannah River; 
 on the southeast by the Atlantic Ocean; on the south by P'lorida; and on the we.st 
 by a corner of Florida and Alabama. The line between this state and Tennessee 
 begins at Nickajack, in Latitude 35 degrees, West Longitude from Washington 
 City 8 degrees, 38 minutes, 45 seconds, and runs due east 110 miles within a mile 
 of the corner of Habersham and Rabun counties, where it jueets the North Carolina 
 boundary. The line between us and North Carolina is 30 miles in length, so that
 
 446 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 the whole of our northern boundary, from Nickajack to Elicott's rock, at the head 
 of the Chatuga, is 140 miles. From the confluence of the Chattahoochee and Flint 
 Rivers, in Latitude 30 degrees, 42 minutes, 42 seconds, and Longitude 8 degrees, 
 53 minutes, 15 seconds, to the head of the St. Mary's, the distance is 157 miles. 
 Extend this line to the Atlantic, 47 more, and we have a southern boundary of 
 200 miles. The Chattahoochee, in its various meanderings, forms the western 
 bounaary, 36U miles, to Miller's Bend, in Latitude 32 degrees, 52 minutes, IG sec- 
 onds, Longitude 8 degrees, 12 minutes, 45 seconds. Here the line diverges fi-om 
 the river, and runs north 90 degrees, 26 minutes. West, to Nickajack. a distance 
 of 146 miles. 
 
 "Georgia extends from Latitude 30 degrees, 34 minutes, 26 seconds, 6 North, 
 to the 35 degree; and fi-om 3 degrees, 45 minutes, to 8 degi'ees, 38 minutes, 45 sec- 
 onds. West Longitude from Washington City. Length from north to south, 300 
 miles; breadth from east to west, 240, containing upwards of 58,000 square miles, 
 equal to 37,120,000,000 acres. In shape, this state is a pentagon, having its north- 
 eastern angle in Rabun, its southeastern in Chatham, its south-southeastern in 
 Camden, its southwestern in Decatur, its northwestern on the summit of Rackoon 
 Mountain, in the Cherokee Nation. 
 
 "Sir Walter Raleigh is the reputed discoverer of the territory now called 
 Georgia. (Historians, is that correct? — Azithor.) On the 9th June, 1732, a char- 
 ter was obtained of George II, King of England, to plant a colony. Nov. 24, 114 
 persons, with James Edward Oglethorpe as Governor of the Colony, sailed from 
 Gravesend, Eng. On the 13th January, 1733, they arrived at Charleston; repaired 
 to Georgia, which was named after the king, and laid out Savannah in February. 
 The Creek Indians, who then had possession of the country, were invited to a 
 council; about 50 chiefs assembled and granted the colonists full and free liberty 
 to settle their land. 
 
 "In 1751, the colonial assembly, consisting of 16 members from the 11 dis- 
 tricts, was authorized; and this body met in Savannah, 25th January. 
 
 "In 1752, the trustees, finding the colony did not flourish under their patronage, 
 resigned their charter; and the province was formed into a royal government in 
 1754, by the appointment of John Reynolds, Governor. 
 
 "The reigns of the British government were thrown off" in January, 1776. The 
 provincial governor, Wright, was imprisoned, and Archibald Bullock acted as gov- 
 ernor. In 1777, our constitution was formed. The separate sections of the settled 
 parts of the state were denominated parishes, St. John's, St. Paul's, etc., eight in 
 number; now they were called counties; and, except Liberty, received their names 
 from distinguished :~idividuals in the English Parliament, who were opposing the 
 war and justifying the Americans in their manly resistance to oppressive taxation 
 without representation. The constitution was revised in 1789 and 1795. 
 
 "The sessions of our legislature were held at Savannah until 1776; then the 
 body met in Augusta. Its sessions were at Savannah and Augusta, as the perilous 
 
 THE COWS WHICH SUPPLY SHORTER COLLEGE WITH MILK.
 
 Miscellaneous — General Information 
 
 447 
 
 - ^sw^ 
 
 
 THE OLD BROAD STREET BRIDGE OVER THE ETOWAH RIVER. 
 
 This hooded structure was swept away in the freshet of 1886, after which a 
 steel bridge was built, and finally one of concrete that is "freshet proof." 
 
 conditions would admit, to the close of the war. Major Prince could find no account 
 of any session in 1780. The governor and council were once at Ebenezer, when it 
 was dangerous to remain at either of the above cities. 
 
 "The first session at Louisville was held in the winter of 1795-6. In 1807. Mil- 
 ledgeville became the seat of government, ana tne sessions of the legislature have 
 ever since been held in that place. 
 
 "By royal charter of the King of England, dated June 9, 1732, to Gen. Ogle- 
 thorpe and other trustees, the lands between the Savannah and Altamaha Rivers 
 were granted in trust, and in 1763, the lands between the Altamaha and St. Mary's. 
 In 1739, Gen. Oglethorpe held a treaty of friendship with the Creeks, at an Indian 
 town, on the west bank of the Chattahoochee, above the falls, called Coweta. 
 
 "By a treaty held at Augusta, 1773, with the Creeks and Cherokees, the lands 
 were acquired which now compose Wilkes, Lincoln, etc.; and by another treaty at 
 the same place, in 1783, the land was acquired up to the mouth of the Kiowe, and 
 the line followed nearly the present line between Elbert and Franklin, leaving 
 Danielsville a little south; thence on west to the source of the Appalachee; and 
 down this stream, the Oconee, and Altamaha, to an old line. The south part of 
 this territory was, in the next year, named Washington county, and the north part 
 Franklin. The treaty of Golphinton was held in 1785. Possession was obtained 
 of the lands included in a line running southwest, from the forks of the Ocmulgee 
 and Oconee to the south stream of St. Mary's. 
 
 "The treaty at Shoulderbone, 1786, was not to acquire land, but to establisli the 
 others more permanently, and to secure the punishment of offenders. 
 
 "In 1802, by a treaty held at Fort Wilkinson, just below Millodgeville. part of 
 the lands between the Oconee and the Ocmulgee was obtained. The line began on 
 the Appalachee. at the High Shoals, leaving Madison four miles east, crossing Lit- 
 tle River at Lumsden's Mill; Commissioner's Creek at Rushing's Mills, and down 
 Palmetto Creek to the Oconee. In 1805, at Washington City, the remainder of the 
 lands between the Oconee and Ocmulgee were acquired, up to the mouth of the 
 Alcovee River, the corner of Newton and Jasper counties. These lands were dis- 
 tributed by lotteries since, and all acquired. 
 
 "In 1814, Gen. Jackson having conquered the Creeks, on the Tallapoosa, made 
 a treaty with them at Ft. Jackson on that river, by which the lands between the
 
 448 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 I 
 
 .-. n 
 
 trz'-'k'- 
 
 7>l^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 - - <,^-^ - u^ // 
 
 
 
 ^ r^^^ 
 ^^' -^^^^<^^- 
 
 'J^Sif^ 
 
 '-ts. 
 
 
 — ^^— ^^.^ i^ .^ — — ~ 
 
 
 
 AUTOGRAPHS OF ROMANS OF THE PERIOD AROUND 1870-'71— IV.
 
 Miscellaneous — General Information 
 
 449 
 
 WESLEY O. CONNOR IN HIS FAVORITE TURN-OUT 
 
 Prof. Connor served for a long time as head of the state school for the deaf and 
 dumb at Cave Spring. He was the owner of one of the most complete collections of 
 Cherokee Indian relics in Georgia. 
 
 Chattahoochee and Altamaha were acquired. This territory includes Early, Baker, 
 the south part of Irwin, Appling, Ware, etc. The act to survey these lands was 
 not passed until 1818. 
 
 "In 1817, by treaty at the Cherokee agency, and by another at Ft. Laurens, 
 on the Flint River, in 1818, that territory which now includes Newton, DeKalb, 
 Gwinnett, Walton, most of Hall and Habersham, was acquired. In 1819, by a 
 treaty at Washington, Rabun county was obtained, and the western part of Hall 
 and Habersham to the Chestatee. In 1821, the lands between the Flint and the 
 Ocmulgee were acquired by a treaty. The counties are Monroe, Bibb, Crawford. 
 Dooly, Houston, Upson, Fayette, Pike, and Henry. 
 
 "In 1825, those between the Flint and Chattahoochee were acquired by treaty 
 at the Indian Springs. Counties — Coweta, Campbell, Carroll, Troup, etc." 
 
 GENERAL INFORMATION. 
 (Furnished by the Rome Chamber of Commerce) 
 
 Population: Rome, 13,252 (including environs. 20,000); Floyd County, 39.000. 
 Assessed tax valuations. City of Rome, $14,000,000. 
 Assessed tax valuations, Floyd County, $22,500,000. 
 City of Rome tax rate, $1.50 per $100; Floyd County, $1.50 per $100. 
 Commission manager form of municipal government. 
 
 Altitude, 625 feet; average annual rainfall, 52''.' inches; average summer tem- 
 perature, 70 degrees; winter, 55 degrees. 
 
 City waterworks— 1,300,000 gallons daily capacity, 50 miles mains and pipes. 
 
 Lowest insurance rates in State of Georgia. 
 
 Best motorized fire department in Georgia, four companies. 
 
 Gamewell fire alarm system; White Way lighting system. 
 
 Eight and three-tenths miles street paving. 
 
 Four bridges in city, costing approximately $300,000. 
 
 Street railway system with 12 miles of trackage. 
 
 Hydro-electric power and gas plant with 25 miles of mains and pipe. 
 
 $250,000 Municipal Building and Auditorium, seating 2,000 people. 
 
 Two daily newspapers — Rome News and Rome Tribune-Herald.
 
 450 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 A NOBLE ROMAN FATHER AND HIS SIX NOBLE SONS 
 
 1 — James Noble, Sr. 2 — William Noble. 3 — James Noble, Jr., once mayor of Anniston, 
 Ala. 4 — Stephen N. Noble, superintendent of Jenifer Furnace and builder and superintendent 
 of C'ifton Furnaces, Ironaton, Ala. 5 — George Noble. 6 — Samuel Noble. 7 — John W. Noble, 
 builder of Rome's clock tower in 1871 and St. Michael's and All-Angels' Episcopal Church, 
 Anniston. 1 he Nobles made cannon for the Confederacy and built the South's first native 
 locomotive. Several of them left Rome to found the thriving town of Anniston.
 
 Miscellaneous — General Information 
 
 451 
 
 . '^' '% 
 
 
 
 vist^ '^r^ '^V*' ' jit«'« 4^ *-." I ', • » H i*^ »^wl' I '. ' * * ' Bv'w- 
 
 
 THE NOBLE BROTHERS' FOUNDRY & MACHINE WORKS. 
 
 This concern manufactured the first locomotive in the South which was made 
 out of native materials, and during the Civil War supplied the Confederacy with 
 cannon. The plant was located at the N., C. & St. L. Railway and the foot of E. 
 Third Street. It was destroyed in 1864 by Gen. Sherman and rebuilt after the 
 war. The Nobles abandoned it in the eighties when they moved away to found 
 Anniston. 
 
 $300,000 Hotel General Forrest, American plan; Third Avenue and Armstrong 
 Hotels, European. 
 
 Twenty-two passenger trains daily to all parts of the country. 
 
 Six lines of railway — Southern, main line, Montgomery and Gadsden branches; 
 Central of Georgia, N., C. & St. L., and Rome & Northern. 
 
 Two modern, elevator equipped, office buildings. 
 
 Head of navigation of the Coosa River. 
 
 Seventeen churches, representing nine different denominations. 
 
 140 miles of railroad in Floyd County. 
 
 1,200 miles of public highways in Floyd County. 
 
 300 miles hard surfaced road in Floyd County. 
 
 United States Federal Court held in Rome semi-annually. 
 
 Rotary Club — first organized in city of this size in U. S. A. 
 
 Kiwanis Club — second organized in State. 
 
 Best theatrical productions appear in Rome. 
 
 First monument erected in memory of the Women of the Confederacy. 
 
 INDUSTRIAL DATA 
 
 Rome has 73 factories, with 5,287 employees; Rome has $7,000,000 of capital 
 invested in manufacturing. 
 
 Rome's 1920 manufactured products were valued at $16,000,000. 
 
 Rome's factory pay rolls average normally $1,000,000 per month. 
 
 Rome has largest furniture factory in Georgia. 
 
 Rome has 102,010 spindles in Rome-Lindale cotton mills. 
 
 Rome-Lindale cotton mills employ 2.500 people. 
 
 Rome-Lindale cotton products are sold throughout world. 
 
 Rome has the largest stove foundry in Georgia. 
 
 Rome's four stove foundries make 110,000 stoves annually. 
 
 Rome's two hosiery mills make nearly 9,000,000 pairs of hose annually. 
 
 Rome's two pants "factories make 725,000 pairs annually and fill large United 
 States and Mexican orders; Rome's industrial machinery manufacturers sell to 
 North and South American markets; Rome-made scales and trucks have world- 
 wide sale; Rome Tannery tans leather for Diamond Belting Co.; Rome s two box 
 factories have annual output of 780,000 boxes; Rome is the home of famous 
 McKay Disc Plows. 
 
 "MADE IN ROME" 
 
 Rome manufacturers make the following: Plows, ^^f "\/''^V>?m ^"7' ,F^ 
 hullers and agricultural implements, steel wheelbarrows trucks, mill supplies 
 scales turbine water wheels, saw mills, grates, castmgs, hollow-ware, cotton seed 
 oil Sd hulls frrtiSers, bai'rels, boxes, ordinary face and fire brick, sewer pipe.
 
 452 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 A GROUP OF BOOSTERS FOR ROME. 
 
 Of "live wires" the Hill City has no lack. The seven up before the camera are: 1 — 
 Thos. E. Clemmons; 2 — J. D. Robards; 3 — Judge W. J. Nunnally; 4 — Prof. Paul M. Cousins; 
 5 — A. A. Simonton; 6 — Rev. Geo. E. Bennett; 7 — Dr. Carl L. Betts. 
 
 tile, cotton duck, bags, rope, hosiery, ore. cars, furniture, chairs, cornices, interior 
 fittings, sash, doors and blinds, marble monuments, coke and tar, mattresses, 
 belting leather, pig iron, pants, overalls, uniforms, candy, cigars, ice cream, 
 buggies, wagons, fire apparatus, medicines and medicine preparations, harness, 
 tinware, beverages, etc. 
 
 MINERALS 
 
 Found in Rome territory: Iron ore, halloysite, limestone, manganese, bauxite, 
 kaolin, ochre, fire clay, building stone, potter's clay, lithographing stone, bitumi- 
 nous shale, iron pyrites, mica, graphite, quartz and plumbago. 
 
 AGRICULTURE 
 
 College of Agriculture agents for farmers' service. 
 
 County Farm Bureau has 260 members. 
 
 Average cotton yield Floyd County, 20,000 bales. 
 
 Cotton marketed in Rome annually, 57,000 bales. 
 
 Five cotton warehouses, 17,000 bales capacity. 
 
 Duroc hogs of Berryton farms, famous in the South. 
 
 Dairying industry recently inaugurated profitably. 
 
 Five live stock dealers and fifteen cotton buyers and factories' representatives.
 
 454 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 A LEADING CITIZEN OF ROME. 
 
 The late Wm. Melville Gammon, merchant, who did a great deal 
 ot constructive work. He served for years as chairman of the Floyd 
 County Board of Roads and Revenues and as first commissioner of 
 the City Commission. The county's modern roads stand as a monu- 
 ment to his efforts. 
 
 FINANCIAL 
 
 Five banks with combined resources of 
 ?!6,000,000. 
 
 5,000,000; deposits approximating 
 
 EDUCATION AND HEALTH 
 
 Ninety public schools in county, six in City of Rome. 
 Darlington — boys' school, enrollment of 60. 
 Berry Schools for worthy boys and girls. 
 
 Shorter College — Baptist school for girls, students from 14 States — only fire- 
 proof school building in the South. 
 
 $50,000 Carnegie Public Library, 8.000 volumes. 
 
 Harbin Hospital, 75 beds, best in Southeast, says U. S. Public Health Service. 
 
 Frances Berrien Hospital.
 
 Miscellaneous — General Information 
 
 455 
 
 AN OLD INDIAN CAUGHT ON THE WING. 
 
 Wm. J. Carter, herb doctor, 98 years old in 1919, at the Confederate Veter- 
 ans' Reunion in Atlanta. Dr. Carter lives in Montgomery, Ala. He was a scout 
 for Forrest and knew well Wm. Smith, of Rome, great-great-grandfather of the 
 two lads in the picture — Geo. Bernard Bonney (left) and Holbrook V. Bonney. 
 
 RECREATIONAL FEATURES 
 
 Rome Baseball Club, member Georgia State League. 
 Motor boating, bathing, fishing, hunting. 
 2,000 automobiles registered in Rome and Floyd County. 
 
 Coosa Country Club, with splendid nine-hole golf course, swimming pool and 
 other club equipment. 
 
 Athletic Club with membership of 125. 
 North Georgia Fair Association. 
 Fraternal and social organizations. 
 
 STATE AND COUNTY OFFICERS, FLOYD COUNTY, GA., 189G-1921. 
 
 Election of June 6, 1896.— Legislature: J. H. Reece, Wm. H. Ennis. Jas. 
 B. Nevin (Mr. Nevin named at October general election); Clerk of Court: W. E. 
 Beysiegel; Ordinary: John P. Davis; Treasurer: James B. Hill; Tax Collector: J.J. 
 Black; Tax Receiver: R. L. Foster; Coroner: F. H. Schlapbach; Surveyor: J. T. 
 Moore; County Commissioners: C. N. Featherston, D. W. Simmons, W. C. Nixon, 
 R. B. McArver, Geo. W. Trammell; Sheriff: J. P. McConncll. 
 
 Election of June 6, 1898.— Legislature: J. Lindsay Johnson, W. C. Bryan. 
 R. A. Denny; State Senate: R. T. Fouche; Clerk of Court: D. W. Simmons; Trcas.: 
 James B. Hill; Tax Collector: Vincent T. Sanford; Tax Receiver: J. N. Crozier; 
 Coroner: F. H. Schlapbach; Surveyor: J. T. Moore; SherilT: J. E. Camp. 
 
 Election of May 18, 1900— Legislature: John C. Foster. W. A. Knowles. Sea- 
 born Wright; Clerk of Court: D. W. Simmons; Ordinary: John P. Davis; Treas- 
 urer: James B. Hill; Tax Collector: Vincent T. Sanford; Tax Receiver: J. N. 
 Crozier; Coroner: Lon Sudduth; Surveyor: J. T. Moore; Sheriff: J. E. Camp; 
 County Commissioners: Dr. J. C. Watts, R. S. Hamrick, W. M. Gammon, Geo. 
 A. Gray, Robt. D. VanDyke; Solicitor General: Moses Wright. 
 
 Election of June 5, 1902— Legislature: Wm. H. Ennis, W. A. Knowles, Wm. S. 
 McHenry; Clerk of Court: D. W. Simmons; Tax Collector: John M. Vandiver;
 
 456 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 A GROUP AT THE BENEDICT SCHOOL, EUHARLEE, ABOUT 1900. 
 
 Tax Receiver: J. N. Crozier; Treasurer: J. B. Hill; Surveyor: J. T. Moore; 
 Coroner: Lon Sudduth; Sheriff: W. G. Dunehoo. 
 
 Election of Apr. 20, 1904— Legislature: Seaborn Wright, G. B. Holder, C. H. 
 Porter; State Senate: Wm. S. McHenry; Ordinary: John P. Davis; Solicitor 
 General; Wm. H. Ennis; Clerk of Court: D. W. Simmons; Sheriff: D. 0. Byars; 
 Tax Receiver: Ike J. Berry; Surveyor: J. T. Moore; Coroner: John W. Miller; 
 County Commissioners: J. R. Cantrell, J. C. Mull, L. A. Helms, W. N. Horton, 
 D. H. ^Shelton. 
 
 Election of May 3, 1906 — Legislature: Linton A. Dean, Seaborn Wright, R. L. 
 Chamblee; Sheriff: Dan O. Byars; Tax Collector: John M. Vandiver; Tax Re- 
 ceiver: Ike J. Berry; Coroner: John W. Miller; City Court Judge, Harper Ham- 
 ilton. 
 
 Election of June 4. 1908— Legislature: C. H. Porter, G. B. Holder, Barry 
 Wright; Ordinary: John P. Davis; Solicitor General: Wm. H. Ennis; Clerk of 
 Court: D. W. Simmons; Sheriff: T. Berry Broach; Tax Receiver: J. Tom Jen- 
 kins; Tax Collector: John M. Vandiver; Treasurer: James B. Hill; Coroner: 
 John W. Miller; County Commissioners: W. M. Gammon, Wesley O. Connor, 
 J. Tom Watters; T. E. Bridges, J. R. Cantrell, W. G. Dunehoo. 
 
 Election of Aug. 23, 1910: — State Senator: Wm. H. Ennis; Legislature: John 
 C. Foster, George Anderson, Walter Harris; City Court Judge: John H. Reece; 
 Sheriff: W. G. Dunehoo; Tax Receiver: J. Tom Jenkins; Treasurer: T. B. Owens; 
 Coroner: John W. Miller; Tax Collector : John M. Vandiver; Clerk of Court: D. W. 
 Simmons; Surveyor: R. L. Brown; School Commissioner: J. C. King. 
 
 Election of Aug. 21, 1912 — Legislature: John C. Foster, W. J. Nunnally, 
 Barry Wright; Solicitor General: Wm. S. McHenry; County Commissioners: J. 
 G. Pollock, C. M. Young, J. M. Yarbrough, J. Scott Davis, W. N. Horton, R. S. 
 Hamrick. 
 
 Election of Apr. 28, 1914 — Legislature: John Wesley Bale, A. W. Findley, 
 George Anderson; City Court Judge: W. J. Nunnally; Clerk of Court: D. W. 
 Simmons; Treasurer: T. B. Ov/ens; Surveyor: R. L. Brown; Tax Collector: 
 John M. Vandiver; Tax Receiver: J. Zach Salmon; Sheriff: Joe Barron; Coroner: 
 John W. Miller; County Commissioners: J. G. Pollock, C. L. Conn, W. N. Horton, 
 P. C. Griffin, C. M. Young, J. Scott Davis. 
 
 Election of Apr. 6, 1916 — Ordinary: Harry Johnson; Tax Collector: John M. 
 Vandiver; Tax Receiver: J. Zach Salmon; Clerk of Court: Sam, L. Graham; 
 Sheriff: G. Wash Smith; Treasurer: T. B. Owens; Coroner: John W. Miller; 
 County School Commissioner: W. C. Rash; Solicitor City Court: J. Fred Kelly. 
 
 Election of Sept. 12, 1916— Legislature: John W. Bale, Seaborn Wright, J. W. 
 Russell; State Senate: R. A. Denny; Solicitor General Superior Court: Claude H. 
 Porter; County Commissioners (unexpired term) : D. W. Simmons, H. M. Penn. 
 
 Election of Sept. 11, 1918 — Judge Superior Court: Moses Wright; Judge City
 
 Miscellaneous — General Information 
 
 
 'i^»?^ .. 'i- v.<-C 
 
 457 
 
 
 .i,-.». » 
 
 KNIGHTS TEMPLAR AT WALTON SHANKLIN'S FUNERAL, Sept. 2, 1921. 
 
 Court: W. J. Nunnally; Legislature: John W. Bale, R. H. Copeland, Harper 
 Hamilton. 
 
 Election of Mar. 18, 1920— Solicitor General City Court: James Maddox; 
 County Commissioners: Wm. L. Daniel and J. Dave Hanks (for city), T. C. 
 Autrey, W. P. Bradfield and J. E. Camp (for county); Clerk of Commission: 
 J. R. Cantrell; Tax Collector: Thos. E. Clemmons; Tax Receiver: Weldon W. 
 Hawkins; Clerk of Court: Sam L. Graham; Ordinary: Harry Johnson; Sheriff: 
 Robt. E. Wilson; Treasurer: W. W. Phillips. 
 
 Note: In a special election Sept. 19, 1901, John M. Vandiver was elected 
 Tax Collector to fill the unexpired term of V. T. Sanford. In the dispensary 
 election of Feb. 19, 1902, the majority for the dispensary system and against the 
 open saloons was 269, the vote being 1.459 for dispensary and 1,190 against. In 
 the dispensary election of Apr. 19, 1904, the majority for the dispensary system 
 was 1,258, the vote being 2,231 for dispensary and 973 against. 
 
 Original names of Rome thoroughfares, First, Second and Third Wards 
 (Changes made about 1890) : 
 
 RUNNING EAST AND WEST. 
 
 Old Name. New Name. 
 
 South Street First Avenue 
 
 Howard Street Second Avenue 
 
 Maiden Lane Third Avenue 
 
 Oostanaula Street Fourth Avenue 
 
 Bridge Street Fifth Avenue 
 
 Etowah Street Sixth Avenue 
 
 King Street Seventh Avenue 
 
 Lincoln or 
 
 Lumpkin Street Eighth Avenue 
 
 North Boundary Street.. ..Ninth Avenue 
 
 Ross Street '. No change 
 
 Smith Street No change 
 
 Old Name. New Name. 
 
 Gibson Street Gibbons Street 
 
 Green Street West First Street 
 
 Jail Street West Second Street 
 
 Dwinell Street No change 
 
 Reservoir Street No change 
 
 Brooks Street Xc change 
 
 RUNNING NORTH AND SOUTH. 
 
 Court Street East First Street 
 
 Alpine Street East Second Street 
 
 Franklin Street East Third Street 
 
 Cherokee Street East Fourth Street 
 
 Railroad Street East Fifth Street 
 
 Agricultural Fair Association {For the Cherokee Country oj Georf/m a ud 
 Alabama) .—OY^aniwd July, 1869, at Rome. The first fair was held m the autumn 
 of 1869 and the second Oct. 11-14, 1870, at which time the directors were: A. A. 
 Jones, president; Geo. S. Black, vice-president; B. F. Jones .«ecretaiT ; ^^^f- }}• 
 Smith, C. W. Sproull, J. W. Turner, J. A. Stewart, W. F. Ayer J H. Dent, M. 
 Dwinell, W. H. Jones, Dr. J. P. Ralls, M. H. Bunn, Wm. H. Stiles, Cicero C. 
 Cleghorn.
 
 458 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 THE 28 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 Top, left to right, Geo. Washington, John Adams, Thos. Jefferson, James Madison, James 
 Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, Wm. Henry Harrison, John 
 Tyler, Jas. Knox Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, 
 Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, Jas. A. Garfield 
 Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Benj. Harrison, Wm. McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt Wm' 
 H. Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding.
 
 Miscellaneous — General Inform ATior 
 
 459 
 
 STATISTICS OF THE PRESIDENTS 
 
 No. 
 
 President 
 
 Party 
 
 Inaug. 
 
 Age 
 
 Yrs. Served 
 
 Religion 
 
 Death 
 
 Age 
 
 i 
 
 Geo. Washington 
 
 Fed. 
 
 1789 
 
 57 
 
 7y-10m-4d 
 
 Epis. 
 
 12-14-1799 
 
 67 
 
 2 
 
 John Adams 
 
 Fed. 
 
 1797 
 
 61 
 
 4 
 
 Unit. 
 
 7-4-1826 
 
 90 
 
 3 
 
 Thos. Jefferson 
 
 Rep. 
 
 1801 
 
 67 
 
 8 
 
 Liberal 
 
 7-4-1826 
 
 83 
 
 4 
 
 James Miadison 
 
 Rep. 
 
 1809 
 
 57 
 
 8 
 
 Epis. 
 
 6-28-1836 
 
 85 
 
 6 
 
 James Ivlonroe 
 
 Rep. 
 
 1817 
 
 58 
 
 8 
 
 Epis. 
 
 7-4-1831 
 
 73 
 
 6 
 
 Jno. Quincy Adams __ 
 
 Rep._ 
 
 1825 
 
 57 
 
 4 
 
 Unit. 
 
 2-23-1848 
 
 80 
 
 7 
 
 Andrew Jackson 
 
 Dem. 
 
 1829 
 
 61 
 
 8 
 
 Pres. 
 
 6-8-1846 
 
 78 
 
 8 
 
 Martin VanBuren 
 
 Dem. 
 
 1837 
 
 54 
 
 4 
 
 Ref. Dut. 
 
 7-24-1862 
 
 79 
 
 9 
 
 Wm. Henry Harrison 
 
 Whig. 
 
 1841 
 
 68 
 
 Im 
 
 Epis. 
 
 4-4-1841 
 
 68 
 
 in 
 
 Jno Tyler, . . 
 
 
 1841 
 
 51 
 
 3y- 11m 
 4 
 
 Epis. 
 Pres. 
 
 
 71 
 53 
 
 11 
 
 Jas. K. Polk 
 
 Dem. 
 
 1845 
 
 49 
 
 6-15-1849 
 
 12 
 
 Zachary Taylor 
 
 Whig. 
 
 1849 
 
 64 
 
 ly-4m-6d 
 
 Epis. 
 
 7-9-1850 
 
 66 
 
 13 
 
 Millard Fillmore 
 
 Whig. 
 
 1850 
 
 50 
 
 2y-7m-26d 
 
 Unit. 
 
 3-8-1874 
 
 74 
 
 14 
 
 Franklin Pierce 
 
 Dem. 
 
 1853 
 
 48 
 
 4 
 
 Epis. 
 
 10-8-1869 
 
 64 
 
 15 
 
 James Buchanan 
 
 Dem. 
 
 1857 
 
 65 
 
 4 
 
 Pres. 
 
 6-1-1868 
 
 77 
 
 18 
 
 Abraham Lincoln 
 
 Rep. 
 
 1861 
 
 62 
 
 4v-lm-lld 
 
 Pres. 
 
 4-15-1865 
 
 66 
 
 17 
 
 Andrew Johnson 
 
 Rep. 
 
 1865 
 
 56 
 
 3y-10m-19d 
 
 Meth. 
 
 7-31-1875 
 
 66 
 
 IB 
 
 Ulysses S. Grant 
 
 Rep. 
 
 1869 
 
 46 
 
 8 
 
 Meth. 
 
 7-23-1885 
 
 63 
 
 10 
 
 Rutherford B. Hayes 
 
 Rep. 
 
 1877 
 
 54 
 
 4 
 
 Meth. 
 
 1-17-1893 
 
 70 
 
 20 
 
 James A. Garfield 
 
 Rep. 
 
 1881 
 
 49 
 
 6m-16d 
 
 Disciple 
 
 9-18-1881 
 
 49 
 
 21 
 
 Chester A. Arthur 
 
 Rep. 
 
 1881 
 
 60 
 
 3v-6ml5-d 
 
 Epis. 
 
 11-18-1886 
 
 66 
 
 22 
 
 Grover Cleveland 
 
 Dem. 
 
 1885 
 
 47 
 
 4 
 
 Pres. 
 
 6-24-1908 
 
 71 
 
 23 
 
 Benjamin Harrison^ ^ 
 
 Rep. 
 
 1889 
 
 65 
 
 4 
 
 Pres. 
 
 3-13-1901 
 
 67 
 
 24 
 
 Grover Cleveland 
 
 Dem. 
 
 1893 
 
 55 
 
 4 
 
 Pres. 
 
 6-24-1908 
 
 71 
 
 25 
 
 William McKinley.^. 
 
 Rep. 
 
 1897 
 
 64 
 
 4y-6m-10d 
 
 IVIeth. 
 
 9 14-1901 
 
 58 
 
 28 
 
 Theodore Roosevelt 
 
 Rep. 
 
 1901 
 
 42 
 
 7y-6m-18d 
 
 Ref. Dut. 
 
 l-t-1919 
 
 61 
 
 27 
 
 Wm. H. Taft 
 
 Rep. 
 
 1907 
 
 61 
 
 4 
 
 Unit. 
 
 
 
 28 
 
 WoodroTV Wilson 
 
 Warren G. Harding. _ 
 
 Dem. 
 Rep. 
 
 1913 
 1921 
 
 66 
 56 
 
 8 
 
 Pres. 
 Bap. 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 Note. — The above information was taken from the World Almanac, New 
 York, N. Y. It will be noted that the total in numbers is 29. This is caused by 
 the fact that Grover Cleveland's name appears in two columns. 
 
 sterling R. COCKRILL, once of Nashville, 
 I enn., and his "shack" on the Alabama 
 Road. DeSoto, where he conducts a scien- 
 tific truck farm. Mr. Cockrill farmed for 
 years at Carlier Springs. He is a grad- 
 uate of Cornell University and a cousm of 
 Helen Keller.
 
 460 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 SEVEN "HIGH ROLLERS" OF THE KIWANIS CLUB. 
 
 Top, left to right, Byard F. Quigg, superintendent of the Rome Public Schools; D. A. Nolan, 
 in his uniform as a member of Rome Commandery, Knights Templar; B. A. Richards; C. M. 
 Strange; bottom, J. Frank McGhee, Jr., Dr. A. F. Routledge, in his World War uniform, and 
 Jas. W. Bryson. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL CENSUS REPORTS OF SURROUNDING COUNTIES 
 
 COMPARED 
 
 Per Cent Per Ct. Inc. Inc. in Land Per Ct. 
 
 Increase Imp. Land and Buildings Inc. in 
 
 Counties. No. Farms. Since 1910. Since 1910. Since 1910. Value 
 
 Floyd 3,516 13.7 9.3 $6,799,309 143.6 
 
 Bartow 3,091 7.6 1.8 4,485,298 94.8 
 
 Polk 2,229 .1 None 2,814,629 94.6 
 
 Chattooga 1.870 .9 27.3 4,069.857 159.9 
 
 Gordon 2,736 3.0 2.1 5,186,926 148.0 
 
 From the foregoing table, which has been tabulated by W. E. Bowers, County 
 Agi-icultural Agent, from agricultural census reports of Floyd and adjoining 
 Georgia counties, it will be seen that Floyd County leads in the number of farms 
 and has made a much greater increase since 1910, with 13.7 per cent, than any 
 of the other counties named, almost doubling Bartow, the nearest in gain to Floyd. 
 
 Floyd shows a creditable increase in improved lands during the last ten years, 
 having 9.3 per cent more, or a greater increase than any of the surrounding 
 counties, except Chattooga, which shows a 27.3 increase. 
 
 The increase in land and buildings since 1910 shows Floyd ranking third in 
 per cent but greater in total increase, with almost seven million dollars. Chattooga 
 has increased her value 159.9 per cent; Gordon comes next with 148, and Floyd 
 has a 143.6 per cent increase. Bartow and Polk have about the same, with more 
 than 94. 
 
 Mr. Bowers has received about 100 reports of different Georgia counties, and 
 says that anyone who is interested in the agricultural census of any of these 
 counties can get the report at his office. — June 29, 1921.
 
 Miscellaneous — General iNFORMAXior 
 
 461 
 
 FARM VALUES IN FLOYD SHOW ENORMOUS INCREASE 
 
 The Director of the Census announces, subject to correction, the following 
 preliminary figures from the Census of Agriculture for Floyd County. Georgia: 
 
 FARMS AND FARM ACREAGE FARM VALUES 
 
 Jan. 1, Apr. 15, Increase Value of land and buildings: 
 
 1920. 1910. Per Ct. 
 
 Farms 3,516 3,092 13.7 January 1, 1920 $11,535,030 
 
 Operated by April 15, 1910 4,735,721 
 
 White farmers-. .-2,704 2,327 16.2 
 
 Colored farmers.. 812 765 6.1 Increase, 1910-20: 
 
 Operated by 
 
 Owners and Amount $ 6,799,309 
 
 Managers 1,303 1,151 13.2 
 
 Tenants 2,213 1,941 14.0 Per cent 143.6 
 
 DOMESTIC ANIMALS PRINCIPAL CROPS 
 
 Jan. 1, Apr. 15, Acres Quantity 
 
 1920. 1910. Harvested. Harvested. 
 
 Farms reporting Corn 1919 36,315 520,865 bu. 
 
 domestic animals ...3,455 3,333 1909 27,291 305,431 bu. 
 
 Animals reported: Wheat... .1919 1,579 8.522 bu. 
 
 Horses 1.761 1,511 1909 27,291 305,431 bu. 
 
 Mules - 5,029 3,673 Hav 1919 763 5,517 bu. 
 
 Cattle 9,673 8,907 " 1909 6,707 6,216 tons 
 
 Sheep 417 1,053 Cotton. ...1919 51,523 23,474 bales 
 
 Swine 9,281 6,961 1909 38,150 13,955 bales 
 
 Goats 317 781 
 
 The figures for domestic animals in 1910 are not very closely comparable with 
 those for 1920, since the present census was taken in January, before the breeding 
 season had begun, while the 1910 census was taken in April, or about the middle of 
 the breeding season, and included many spring calves, colts, etc. — June 28, 1921. 
 
 FLOYD COUNTY POPULATION TABLE. 
 
 A population table sent to John Camp Davis, of Floyd's delegation in the House 
 of Representatives, by Senator Wm. J. Harris at Washington, shows some inter- 
 esting facts touching the State, Floyd County and Rome. In 1790 Georgia's pop- 
 ulation was 82,548, and in 1920 2,895,832, an increase of 286,711 people over the 
 1910 census, or 11 per cent. The increase for the United States was 14.9 per 
 cent. There are 13,252 people living in Floyd County towns and 26,589 in the 
 country; in 1910 there were 12,099 in the towns and 24,637 in the country; and in 
 1900 there were 7,291 in the towns and 25,822 in the country. 
 
 The table shows that Rome gained 115 people in 1920 over 1900: 
 
 Floyd County 1920. 1910. 1900. 
 
 Cave Spring, including Cave Spring town 2,142 2,253 2.283 
 
 North Carolina 1,259 1,249 1,206 
 
 Watters 2,418 2,353 1,224 
 
 Rome, including Rome city 14,150 13,696 14,035 
 
 Texas Valley 873 1,174 1.18.5 
 
 Barker's 1,101 1,081 1.098 
 
 Floyd Springs 618 1,301 1,096 
 
 Chulio. 1,499 1,457 1,191 
 
 Etowah 1,544 1,215 892 
 
 Livingston 700 451 789 
 
 Mount Alto 2,548 2.046 1,122 
 
 Everett Springs 544 674 590 
 
 Foster's Mill 517 363 472 
 
 Vann's Valley 1,665 846 975 
 
 Howell's 1,382 1,270 1.045 
 
 Lindale 3,962 3,699 2.643 
 
 State Line 650 600 614 
 
 Glenwood 984 1,008 
 
 Armuchee 1,285 
 
 Totals 39,841 36,736 33,113
 
 462 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 MEN WHO HAVE PUT ROME ON THE POLITICAL MAP. 
 
 Top, left to right, Milford W. Howard, native wood hauler of DeSoto, who was named rep- 
 resentative to Washington, and wrote a book, "If Christ Came to Congress;" Judge Augustus 
 R. Wright, m Federal and Confederate Congresses; Judge John W. Hooper, who befriended the 
 Indians; Judge Jno. Henry Lumpkin, congressman; Thos. C. Hackett, congressman; Dr. H. V. 
 M. Miller, "Demosthenes of the Mountains," United States Senator; Judson Claudius Clements, 
 congressman and Interstate Commerce Commission chairman.
 
 Miscellaneous — General Information 
 
 463 
 
 GOVERNORS OF GEORGIA 
 
 Jas. Edward Oglethorpe 1732-43 
 
 William Stephens 1743-51 
 
 Henry Parker 1751-54 
 
 John Reynolds 1754-57 
 
 Henry Ellis 1757-60 
 
 James Wright 1760-71 
 
 James Habersham 1771-75 
 
 William Ewen 1775-76 
 
 Archibald Bullock 1776-77 
 
 Button Gwinnett 1777-77 
 
 John A. Treutlen 1777-78 
 
 John Houston 1778-78 
 
 John Wereat 1778-79 
 
 George Walton 1779-80 
 
 Richard Howley 1780-81 
 
 Stephen Heard, (Pres. Sen.)-.. 1781-81 
 
 Nathan Brownson 1781-82 
 
 John Martin 1782-83 
 
 Lyman Hall 1783-84 
 
 John Houston 1784-85 
 
 Samuel Elbert 1785-86 
 
 Edward Telfair 1786-87 
 
 George Matthews 1787-88 
 
 George Handley 1788-89 
 
 George Walton 1789-90 
 
 Edward Telfair 1790-93 
 
 George Matthews 1793-96 
 
 Jared Irwin 1796-98 
 
 James Jackson 1798-01 
 
 David Emmanuel 1801-01 
 
 Josiah Tatnall 1801-02 
 
 John Milledge 1802-06 
 
 Jared Irwin 1806-09 
 
 David B. Mitchell 1809-13 
 
 Peter Early 1813-15 
 
 David B. Mitchell 1815-17 
 
 William Rabun 1817-19 
 
 Matthew Talbott, (Pres. Sen.) .. 1819-19 
 
 John Clark 1819-23 
 
 George M. TrouD 1823-27 
 
 John Forsyth 1827-29 
 
 George R. Gilmer 1829-31 
 
 Wilson Lumpkin 1831-35 
 
 William Schley 1835-37 
 
 George R. Gilmer 1837-39 
 
 Chas. J. McDonald 1839-43 
 
 Geo. W. Crawford 1843-47 
 
 Geo. W. Towns 1847-51 
 
 Howell Cobb 1851-53 
 
 Herschel V. Johnson 1853-57 
 
 Joseph E. Brown 1857-65 
 
 James Johnson. (Provisional).. 1865-65 
 
 Chas. J. Jenkins 1865-68 
 
 Gen. T. H. Ruger, U. S. A 1868-68 
 
 (military governor) 
 Gen. Jno. Pope, U. S. A 1868-68 
 
 (military commander) 
 Gen. Geo. G. "Meade. U. S. A 1868-68 
 
 (military commander) 
 
 Rufus B. Bullock ._ 1868-71 
 
 Benj. Conley, (Pres. Sen.) 1871-72 
 
 James M. Smith 1872-76 
 
 Alfred H. Colquitt 1876-82 
 
 Alexander H. Stephens 1882-83 
 
 James S. Boynton, (Pres. Sen.) 1883-83 
 
 Henry D. McDaniel 1883-86 
 
 John B. Gordon 1886-90 
 
 Wm. J. Northen .- 1890-94 
 
 Wm. Y. Atkinson 1894-98 
 
 Allen D. Candler 1898-02 
 
 Joseph M. Terrell 1902-07 
 
 Hoke Smith 1907-09 
 
 Joseph M. Brown 1909-11 
 
 Hoke Smith 1911-11 
 
 John M. Slaton, (Pres. Sen.).... 1911-12 
 
 Joseph M. Brown 1912-13 
 
 John M. Slaton 1913-15 
 
 Nathaniel E. Harris 1915-17 
 
 Hugh M. Dorsev 1917-21 
 
 Thns. W. Hardwick 1921-22 
 
 Clifford M. Walker 1922 
 
 Fire Department in lS69(Vobmteer) . — James Noble. Jr.. chief, W. T. Mapp. 
 first assistant chief; R. T. Hoyt, second assistant chief; W. T. Seavey. secretary. 
 
 Rainbow Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 1.— Mulford M. Pepper, president; T. S. 
 McAfee, vice-president; E. J. Stevens, secretary. 
 
 Mountain City Fire Engine Co. No. 2.— Dr. David ,1. Powers, president; Geo. 
 Noble, captain; W. R. Fenner, secretary. 
 
 Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1.— Ed. F. Shropshire, foreman; S. C. Anderson, 
 assistant foreman; Robt. J. Gwaltney, secretary. 
 
 Attorneys, 1868 to 1894 (Partial L/sO •— Dan'l. R. Mitchell. John W. 11. Un- 
 derwood, Chas. H. Smith, Joel Branham, A. R. Wright, Edwin N. Broyles, C. N. 
 Featherston, R. D. Harvey, Sr., D. B. Hamilton, Sr., Dunlap Scott, DanM. S. 
 Printup, R. T. Fouche, Wm. H. Dabncy, C. D. Forsyth, John H. Reece. Sr.. Rich.
 
 464 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 MORE SILHOUETTES BY EUGENE LE HARDY DE BEAULIEU. 
 
 1 — Anna Hume, a descendant of the celebrated Hume family, of the English nobility; 
 2 — Martha Shorter Cooley (Mrs. Walker I. Brooks); 3 — Col. Alfred Shorter; 4 and 5 — John 
 and Eliza Hume; 6 — Sarah Hendricks; 7 — Mary Russell (mother of Jno. J. Eagan, of At- 
 lanta); 8 — Mary Hendricks; 9 — Robt. Battey; 10 — Dr. Geo. M. Battey; 11 — Mrs. Robt. Battey; 
 12 — Mrs. Geo. M. Battey.
 
 Miscellaneous — General Information 465 
 
 $750,000 FOR GOOD ROADS IN FLOYD 
 
 On Thursday, June 16, 1921, the voters of Floyd County, by an almost unani- 
 mous vote, authorized an issue of $750,000 bonds for road improvements, following 
 a resolution favoring the issue passed by the County Board of Roads and Revenues 
 at its meeting May 11. A considerable part of this money has already been spent, 
 and Floyd County is assured of a system of roads that cannot be excelled in 
 Northwest Georgia. The program called for the expenditure of $616,000 on 257 
 miles of first and second-class roads, and the balance, $134,000, on second and 
 third-class roads. It follows: 
 
 FIRST-CLASS ROADS 
 
 Miles. Amount. 
 
 Kingston road to Bartow County line 8 $60,000 
 
 Summerville road, Armuchee to Chattooga line 5 70,000 
 
 Including a bridge over Armuchee Creek. 
 
 Calhoun road to Gordon County line 13 50,000 
 
 Cave Spring road to Alabama line 21 60,000 
 
 Including a bridge over Big Cedar Creek. 
 
 Bluff road to Alabama line 16 50,000 
 
 Chulio road to Bartow County line 8 25,000 
 
 Seney road from Lindale to Polk County line 7 30,000 
 
 Dalton road from Summerville road to Gordon County line 12 25,000 
 
 Cave Spring and Cedartown road to Polk County line 2 5,000 
 
 SECOND-CLASS ROADS 
 
 Floyd Springs road — Armuchee to Everett Springs at Pocket 17 25,000 
 
 Pope's Ferry from Calhoun road to Bell's Ferry 10 20.000 
 
 Plainville road from Calhoun road to Plainville 2V2 4,000 
 
 Adairsville road from Calhoun road at Martin's store to Bartow line 2V'o 5,000 
 
 Hermitage road from Calhoun road at Watters to beyond Hermitage 4 2,000 
 Wayside School road from Calhoun road at Dr. Floyd's to Bartow 
 
 County line 8 6,000 
 
 Freeman Ferry road from Kingston road to Etowah River 4 4,000 
 
 Taylorsville road from Seney road to Bartow line 9 15,000 
 
 Foster's Mill road to Cave Spring road 6 5,000 
 
 Melson and Cave Spring road 7 8,000 
 
 Booger Hollow road from Six Mile to Pork County 8 8,000 
 
 River road from Alabama road at Hamilton's, Alabama road, to 
 
 near Cabin Creek Bridge 12 20,000 
 
 Burnett's Ferry road from Pop Skull 7 15,000 
 
 Foster's Mill to Coosa River 7 7,000 
 
 Coosa from Alabama road to Lavender 3 2,000 
 
 Lavender road from Alabama road to Texas Valley 7 12.000 
 
 Redmond road from Summerville road to Texas Valley 7 12,000 
 
 O'Brian Gap road from Summerville road to Texas Valley 7 12,000 
 
 Big Texas Valley from Crystal Springs to Texas Valley 8 12,000 
 
 Little Texas Valley road from Armuchee to Lavender 10 15,000 
 
 Livingston road to Bluff road 4 5,000 
 
 Pinson's, Calhoun road, to Pope's Ferry road 4 5,000 
 
 Brown's Store, Holland road 3 4.000 
 
 Early to Ford's Bend 5 5,000 
 
 Culpepper's Mill to Everett Springs 3 3,000 
 
 Totals 257 $616,000 
 
 Historic Gavel. — The Xavier Chapter of the Daughters of the American Rev. 
 olution is the possessor of a gavel made from the historic wood of the old La- 
 Fayette House, Montgomery, Ala. The place was torn down in 1900 and the gavel 
 was presented by Mrs. R. V. Mitchell. 
 
 City Marshals and Police Chiefs. — Samuel Stewart, before and after the 
 Civil War; Dr. S. F. Powers, Jobe B. Rogers, J. B. Sills. Col. E. .1. Magruder. 
 Jas. C. Brown and J. B. ("Pink") Shropshire, marshals; Wm. H. Steele. .las. A. 
 Collier, H. H. Wimpee, Chas. I. Harris (first term), Henry J. Stewart (grandson 
 of Col. Samuel Stewart), Wm. S. Simmons and Chas. I. Harris (incumbent).
 
 466 A Hi story of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Congressmen in Rome. — On Apr. 23, 1909, a committee of Congressmen and 
 other leaders sat down to a banquet as the guests of the Merchants & Manu- 
 facturers' Association at the Hotel Cherokee (Armstrong). Among those present 
 were Congressmen Jas. A. Tawney, of Minnesota; Geo. P. Lawrence, Massachu- 
 setts; John A. Moon, Tennessee; John L. Burnett, Alabama; Gordon Lee, Georgia; 
 and Jos. L. Ransdell, Louisiana; Senators A. S. Clay and Thos. W. Hardwick, 
 Georgia; Jos. M. Brown, Governor of Georgia; Jos. M. Terrell, former Governor 
 of Georgia; John Temple Graves, W. J. Spillman, of the Federal Department of 
 Agi-iculture, Washington, and W. W. Finley, president of the Southern Railway. 
 
 J. N. King, president of the Merchants & Manufacturers' Association, pre- 
 sided as toastmaster and introduced a number of speakers who discussed the 
 question of opening up the Coosa River to navigation. Mr. King paid the following 
 tribute to Rome: 
 
 "Surely the Great Giver of all good never delivered into the hands of mortal 
 stewardship a section more favored, a fragment of this old earth more blest 
 than this in which we live; a climate more healthful, or natural resources moi'e 
 abundant. Remarkable Rome ! — remarkable in that she is not now a city of 
 50,000 souls instead of having to wait for that minimum of population. Re- 
 markable Rome! — born under the blue canopy of a North Georgia sky, than which 
 there is nothing more beautiful in Italy or Switzerland; in an atmosphere free 
 from the extremes of temperature, and laden with the perfume of the blossoms 
 of rare fruits and flowers; resting in a cradle of most exceptional natural ad- 
 vantages, nourished by the rich and varied agricultural products of her fertile 
 valleys, strengthened by the iron in her rugged hills; quenching her thirst in her 
 own bubbling springs; clothed with the cotton grown in her broad fields; made 
 warm by the coal within reach of her extended hands; with her beautiful head 
 resting upon the mighty shoulders of old Mount Alto, her shapely feet bathed in 
 the cooling water of the deep-flowing Coosa, and her graceful sides laved by the 
 health-giving tides of the swiftly-flowing Etowah and Oostanaula, — surely, gen- 
 tlemen, surely never was a city more favored, never were a people more blessed!" 
 
 After the Freshet. — Floyd County folks "did about" as a consequence of the 
 freshet of March-April, 1886. Col. W. G. Gammon was chairman of the county 
 board at that time, and he called his compatriots together in a special session. 
 The minutes of A. W. Shropshire, clerk, show the following entries during April: 
 
 Ferry boats were ordered put on the Etowah at Broad Street and at Howard 
 Street (Second Avenue), and Wm. M. Towers was awarded a contract to construct 
 a foot pontoon bridge at the former site. 
 
 Capt. Wm. T. Smith was authorized to build a pontoon for passengers and 
 vehicles. Pedestrians were charged 3 cents to cross, or 5 cents round trip, and 
 vehicles paid 20 to 35 cents, round trip. 
 
 The Smith bridge cost $200 and the Towers bridge $169.27. The sheriff served 
 an order on the city to erect the bridges. 
 
 Hines M. Smith, engineer, later constructed a military bridge at Broad 
 Street from the old timbers of bridges that had been washed down the Coosa. He 
 was allowed $2 per day for his services, but this was increased to $100 a month. 
 
 The Morse Bridge Co. got the contract for constructing the new iron bridges. 
 The Broad Street bridge iron cost $5.75 per foot, and the iron for the Howard 
 Street structure $4.55 per foot (erected), making $12,000 for the former and 
 $8,000 for the latter; the total for both, with masonry at $12,000, was $31,030. 
 
 The Fifth Avenue iron bridge was built in 1887 by the Penn Bridge Co. for 
 $24,914. 
 
 A bond election for bridges and other improvements failed June 3, with 
 1,719 for and 2,218 against, and two-thirds needed to carry; 2,997 had voted at 
 the last general election. The bonds carried at a second election. 
 
 Three modern bridges, two of them (Second Avenue and Broad) of concrete, 
 have since been erected.
 
 468 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 ROME'S SPLENDID WATERWORKS PLANT. 
 
 At top is the Fort Jackson filter station, and at bottom Sam P. Frye, superintendent, 
 at one of the immense outdoor tanks. In center is a peek at North Rome from the plant 
 elevation. 
 
 A FAMOUS FLAG.— Miss Sallie 
 Howard, daughter of the Rev. Chas. 
 Wallace Howard (owner of "Spring 
 Bank" plantation and school near old 
 Cassville, Bartow County), and sis- 
 ter of the late Miss Frances Thomas 
 Howard, author of "In and Out of 
 the Lines," is the possessor of a hand- 
 some water color sketch of the old bat- 
 tle flag of the Eighth Georgia Reg- 
 iment. The original flag, she says, 
 was borne aloft in the following hec- 
 tic engagements : 
 
 First Battle of Manassas, Seven 
 Days' Battle, Second Battle of Ma- 
 nassas, Chantilly, Boonesborough, Suf- 
 folk, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Get- 
 tysburg, Frankstown, various skirm- 
 ishes on Jones Island, near Charles- 
 
 ton, Campbell's Station, E. Tennessee 
 engagements, siege of Knoxville, at- 
 tack on Fort Sanders, Battle of the 
 Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, 
 the flank movements of Grant, includ- 
 ing Cold Harbor; Bermuda Hundreds. 
 
 AS THE WAR OPENED.— Rev. 
 John Jones, pastor of the First Pres- 
 byterian church, on April 13, 1861, 
 wrote Rev. Dr. Palmer, Presbyterian 
 minister at New Orleans; 
 
 "The war has opened. At this mo- 
 ment the Charleston batteries are play- 
 ing on Fort Sumter. I unite with 
 you in praying for our native South. 
 'May the Lord cover her head in this 
 her day of battle!"
 
 Miscellaneous — General Information 
 
 469 
 
 MAYORALTY ELECTION IN 
 1872.*— For the 1873 term, Maj. Wm. 
 r'ranklin Ayer was elected over At- 
 torney J. I. Wright. A mixed coun- 
 cil went in. The tickets follow: 
 
 For Mayor — W. F. Ayer; for alder- 
 men: First Ward, Dr. G. W. Holmes 
 and Terrence McGuire; Second Ward, 
 Col. W. G. Gammon and W. L. White- 
 ly; Third Ward, J. A. Stansbury and 
 J. L. Camp. 
 
 For Mayor— J. I. Wright; for al- 
 dermen: Dr. G. W. Holmes and A. 
 Tabor Hardin; W. L. Whitely and Dr. 
 R. V. Mitchell; Robt. T. Hargi-ove and 
 Edward H. West. 
 
 Thus was ended a controver.sy that 
 had existed since 18,35. As an old cit- 
 izen said, "The cat was finally 'bell- 
 ed.' " 
 
 CITY OFFICERS IN 1888.**— 
 Mayor — Maj. W. F. Ayer; city attor- 
 ney, Junius F. Hillyer; city treasurer, 
 Edward C. Hough; city clerk, Mitchell 
 A. Nevin; chief of police, Capt. Ed- 
 ward J. Magruder. 
 
 FREE BRIDGES.— How the toll 
 bridges of Rome were made "free" is 
 related by the late Judge Joel Bran- 
 ham in his booklet, "The Old Court 
 House in Rome," (ps. 24-26) : 
 
 On Dec. 5, 3 872, the East Rome 
 Town Co. obtained a conditional license 
 from the Board of County Commis- 
 sioners establishing their new bridge 
 over the Etowah to East Rome as a 
 "toll bridge." A bill of injunction had 
 been filed against the company by Col. 
 Alfred Shorter and Judge Augustus 
 R. Wright, owners of the other bridges 
 yielding an income, and who made the 
 point that the Inferior Court had is- 
 sued them an exclusive grant. Judge 
 Robt. D. Hai'vey denied the injunction, 
 and the decision was affirmed by the 
 State Supreme Court and then the 
 U. S. Supreme Court,*** where 
 it was fought out by Judge Joel Bran- 
 ham for the company and by Judge 
 Wright in person for himself and Col. 
 Shorter. 
 
 A. Thew H. Brower later purchased 
 a large block of the company's stock 
 and 20 acres of land on the ridge 
 along the river below East Second 
 Avenue, and at his instance the bridge 
 was eventually opened to the public, 
 toll free. Still later the county bought 
 all the bridges and abolished the tolls. 
 
 ♦Authority : Election tickets. 
 
 **Authoritv : Tribune of Rome, Anniversary 
 and Trade Number, Tues.. Oct. 2. 1888, p. 4. 
 
 ***101 U. .S. Reports, p. 79L 
 
 ****The Tribune of Rome, Anniversary and 
 Trade Number, Tues., Oct. 2, 1888, p. .'). 
 
 *****Ibid, p. .3. 
 
 ******The honored father of Col. Craves, who 
 died 32 years later in Washington, D. C, and 
 was buried in Westview cemetery, Atlanta. 
 
 CLERGYMEN OF ROME IN 
 1888.****— Rev. G. T. Goetchius, Pres- 
 byterian; Rev. Robt. B. Headden, Bap- 
 tist; Revs. W. F. Quillian, W. M. 
 Bridges and W. F. Robison, Metho- 
 dists; Rev. C. Buckner Hudgins. Epis- 
 copalian, and Rev. Father M. J. Clif- 
 ford, Catholic. 
 
 THE TRIBUNE IN 1888.*****— 
 When John Temple Graves came to 
 Rome from the Atlanta Evening Jour- 
 nal to establish the Tribune of Rome 
 on Oct. 2, 1887, he had evidently im- 
 bibed some of the lofty enthusiasm 
 which was so prevalent among mem- 
 bers of the Rome Land Co. and other 
 "boom" org'anizations of the period. 
 He gathered around him for his new 
 paper not only 60 able stockholders 
 (suggestive of the present-day arrays) 
 but put on the payroll a producing 
 force of 43 people, or three times as 
 many as the experts say are neces- 
 sary to put out a paper in a town 
 the size of Rome. 'The 43 follow: 
 
 Col. Graves, editor and general mana- 
 ger; Gen. J. P. Graves, assistant;****** 
 Houstoun R. Harper, city editor; J. Dan 
 
 RKV. HARRY F. JOYNKR. Baptist minister 
 whoso Maple Street Community House plan 
 has attracted wide attention.
 
 470 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Cleaton, assistant; E. Fletcher Smith, 
 night editor; Jno. G. Taylor, business 
 manager; F. A. Webster, bookkeeper; 
 Sam C. Whitmire, collector; Henry 
 Thompson, office boy; Fred H. Wright, 
 composing room foreman, and B. C. 
 Edwards, Dick Dempsey, J. B. Spence, 
 J. N. Swaggartv, W.' H. Peters, B. 
 C. Kelton, G. S. McAfee, A. B. Theo- 
 bold, F. J. Estes, Tom Turner, W. 
 B. Lathrop, C. A. Cook. P. A. W. 
 Keel, Tom Barnett and W. H. May- 
 neck, with Pete and John Roser as 
 "devils;" Sam Whitmire, superintend- 
 ent of machinery and press room; 
 Oliver Elmore, pressman, Charlie 
 Wright, feeder, and Hienry Thomp- 
 son, mailing clerk. In the carrier and 
 delivery department were Simon Ray, 
 Jimmy and Willy Elders, John and 
 Henry Wright, John Harper, Bob 
 Moss, George Starr, Scab Higgin- 
 botham and Hayes Ray; the Associat- 
 ed Press reporters were Cothran 
 Smith, Luther Gwaltney and Wirt 
 Marshall. 
 
 The leaders in the movement for an 
 up-to-date daily newspaper were J. W. 
 and J. A. Rounsaville, Dr. J. B. S. 
 Holmes and Dr. Robt. Battey. Dr. 
 Battey was made president, and the 
 other directors were Dr. Holmes, J. 
 A. Rounsaville, Col. Graves, R. T. 
 Armstrong, T. F. Howel, and D. F. 
 Allgood. In addition to the directors, 
 the stockholders were H. B. Parks & 
 Co., Alfred S. Hamilton, Emmons, Mc- 
 Kee & Co., Simpson, Glover & Hight, 
 Elbert T. McGhee, R. G. Clark & Co., 
 Chas. H. Cothran, C. Oliver Stillwell, 
 Geo. M. Battey, Wm. W. Seay, J. A. 
 Sniith, Jos. B. Patton, Robt. H. Jones 
 & Sons, E. H. Colclough, Dean & 
 Ewing, Wm. M. Towers, Almeron W. 
 Walton, Joel Branham, T. J. McCaf- 
 frey, D. B. Hamilton, M. A. Taylor, 
 Jas. T. Vandiver, B. T. Haynes, Mark 
 G. McDonald, Henry A. Smith, P. L. 
 Turnley & Co., W. H. Wardlaw, Jas. 
 G. Dailey, Chas. D. Wood, M. A. 
 Nevin, Wm. H. Roe, Jas. Douglas, L. 
 R. Gwaltney, A. McGhee. Henry G. 
 Stoffregen, Jas. D. Gwaltney, Wm. H. 
 Adkins, Jno. T. Warlick. jack King, 
 J. T. Crouch & Co., Park Harper, R. 
 J. Ragan, Jno. J. Seay, II. D. Coth- 
 ran, Jno. Montgomery, David W. Cur- 
 ry, Bradford & Watts, Lamkin & 
 Funkhouser, Harper Hamilton, Capt. 
 W. N. Moore, Wm. A. Wright, Jno. 
 G. Taylor and Jno. H. Reynolds. 
 
 The Tribune of Rome was a mint 
 of money from the start — for the 
 stockholders to pay out. One day a 
 "nxass meeting" was held, and orders 
 given to "cut to the bone." This was 
 
 done, and after struggling along for 
 three years with his "corporal's 
 guard," Col. Graves departed for a 
 different clime. In the meantime, 
 F'rank L. Stanton had broken in from 
 the Smithville (Lee County) News, 
 but his prodigous efforts to prop 
 things up with poety availed little, and 
 he escaped to Atlanta a short distance 
 ahead of the crash. 
 
 "OWE NO MAN ANYTHING."— 
 "The Cash System is Best for Mer- 
 chant and Customers." — Messrs. Edi- 
 tors: With your permission we take 
 this occasion to set forth to our friends 
 and patrons a few reasons why we 
 ought to be encouraged in our re- 
 cently adopted system, Cash. We be- 
 lieve it is best for both merchant and 
 customer. When we go to market 
 with the cash, we are independent and 
 can buy goods when we please and 
 where we find goods at the lowest 
 prices — we buy at reduced prices and 
 divide with the customer. The cus- 
 tomer is under no obligation to buy 
 of us because of an unpaid debt, 
 whether it is to his interest or not; 
 merchant and customer stand on equal 
 ground. Again, the cash system makes 
 no bad debts. It is the good solvent 
 
 TELAMON CRUGER SMITH-CUYLER, a 
 Roman who has traveled all over the world 
 and is an entertainer without a peer.
 
 472 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 customers that pay the merchant, who 
 loses by those who don't pay. Trade 
 is like the fluid in a spirit level — it 
 will equalize itself — and competition 
 compels meix-hants to sell as low as 
 they can affoid to, and if they can af- 
 ford to sell at 25 per cent and lose 
 10 per cent for bad debts and law- 
 yers' fees, then of course they can 
 sell at 15 per cent profit when no bad 
 debts are made. 
 
 By the credit system, bad debts 
 have always been made and always 
 will be made, and bails and attach- 
 ments, and bills of injunction, and 
 lawyers' fees and court costs, and liv- 
 ery bills, and troubles with trust es- 
 tates, and administrators and guard- 
 ians create a heavy sinking fund in 
 every credit house, and the loss is met 
 by the promptly paying, solvent cred- 
 itors. The credit system must employ 
 a good bookkeeper and pay liberally 
 for one. Day book, journal, ledger, 
 note book, invoice book, cash book, 
 bills receivable and bills payable and 
 hundreds of dunning letters are indis- 
 pensable — but with us "Othello's occu- 
 pation is gone" — the bookkeeper is ab- 
 sent behind the counter. 
 
 The cash system leaves no room for 
 quarrels about settlements at the end 
 
 FRANK STOVALL ROBERTS, of Washing- 
 ton, D. C, Roman of before the war, whose 
 recollections of Rome have entertained hun- 
 dreds. 
 
 of the year, for with us the year has 
 no end; there are no long accounts to 
 be astonished at, no family jars, no 
 cloudy evenings at home because of 
 the family's extravagance. The cash 
 system saves the buyer a good deal 
 by forcing economy upon him — his pur- 
 chases will be less if he pays the 
 money down. His family will buy 
 fewer of the fancies that dazzle the 
 eye, and will themselves begin a new 
 system of economy. It avoids the 
 necessity of performing that unpleas- 
 ant duty of prying into everybody's 
 financial condition and of refusing 
 credit to clever men because we fear 
 they can't pay promptly — perhaps 
 never. We intend to make a fair and 
 diligent experiment, to test its virtues 
 thoroughly; we assure you that this 
 is no trick fixed up to trap the un- 
 wary, but an honest effort, worthy 
 of consideration. 
 
 Finally, we say to our friends that 
 there is one unanswerable argument 
 which we shall leave untold. If you 
 will call at our place of bueiness we 
 will take much plaesure in giving you 
 this unwritten reason, and will even 
 make your pocket sensible of its truth. 
 JONES, SCOTT, OMBERG & CO. 
 
 N. B. — Southerner & Advertiser, 
 Banner & Baptist, Cassville Standard, 
 Jacksonville Republican and Coosa 
 River Argus please copy. — Jan. 31, 
 1860. 
 
 THE CARELESS SMOKER.— Will 
 the next nation-wide crusade be 
 against the use of tobacco? There are 
 many who believe so. The other day 
 I received a questionnaire from a New 
 York company that makes a business 
 of compiling information as to pub- 
 lic opinion on public questions. It is 
 getting the sentiment of newspaper 
 men all over the country as to whether 
 the anti-tobacco movement is favored 
 or opposed by the people of their 
 communities, wrote J. D. McCartney 
 in the Rome Tribune-Herald Jan. 7, 
 1921. 
 
 To the average man it seems absurd 
 that anyone should attempt to take 
 his pipe or cigarette or cigar away 
 fi'om him. Twenty years ago the 
 average man thought it silly to talk 
 of taking away his beer — but they did 
 it. It would not surprise me in the 
 least if there should be legislation 
 against the use of tobacco within the 
 next decade. To be sure, tobacco never 
 caused men to beat their wives, or 
 lose their money, or neglect their chil- 
 dren, or do the hundreds of other evils
 
 Miscellaneous — General Information 
 
 473 
 
 charged against liquor. But there are 
 many people who consider that tobacco 
 lessens the efficiency and impairs the 
 mentality of its users, hence they re- 
 gard it as a curse. Many more re- 
 gard it as a nuisance. 
 
 Personally I do not favor anti-to- 
 bacco legislation, having used tobacco 
 in the past and knowing just how 
 enjoyable it is. But as a non-user of 
 tobacco at present I am aware that 
 many smokers — in fact, most smokers 
 — are utterly inconsiderate of the com- 
 fort and convenience of those who do 
 not smoke. As the non-sniokers out- 
 number the devotees of the weed, it 
 is by no means improbable that leg- 
 islation restricting the use of tobacco 
 may be enacted. Certainly the sell- 
 ers and users of tobacco might take 
 a leaf out of the book of the sellers 
 and users of liquor, who by abusing 
 existing rights and privileges hasten- 
 ed the day of their taking away. If 
 saloonkeepers had all been decent and 
 law-abiding, liquor would still be with 
 us. If tobacconists and smokers would 
 be law-abiding and considerate there 
 would be no danger of legislation 
 against tobacco. 
 
 There are laws in many states 
 against the sale of cigarettes and to. 
 bacco to minors. Those laws are con- 
 stantly violated and this gives a just 
 cause of complaint to the anti-tobac- 
 co people and is a powerful weapon 
 for their cause. The general indif- 
 ference of smokers to the rights of 
 non-users of the weed is, however, the 
 main thing that strengthens the hand 
 of the agitators against tobacco. 
 
 If there was an organization whose 
 members were pledged to the decent 
 use of tobacco, and the consequent 
 consideration for the rights of others, 
 there would be no need for blue laws 
 to suppress smoking. To begin with, 
 an accompaniment to the use of to- 
 bacco is the constant and unhygienic- 
 spitting, half of it due to habit and 
 entirely unnecessary. The expectora- 
 tion may be aimed at a cuspidor, but 
 it often finds its way to the flooi-, 
 the sidewalk, or the rug. The prac- 
 tice is disgusting and it ought to be 
 stopped. 
 
 Smokers are constantly encroach- 
 ing on new territory. They "light up" 
 in cafes and restaurants at the con- 
 clusion of their own dinner, without 
 a thought that they may be spoiling 
 the dinner of someone else. They in- 
 hale deeply and blow clouds of smoke 
 all over whoever may be sitting next 
 to them. They erect their smoke- 
 
 screen in every public gathering, even 
 though ladies may be present. At 
 banciuets or lodge meetings they soon 
 get the air so thick it can be cut with 
 a knife and the unhappy non-smoker, 
 comi)elled to attend, goes home with 
 smjirting eyes and aching head. They 
 trail their fumes through business 
 offices and homes. At the theaters 
 they twist nervously until the intermis- 
 sion, when they crawl over other peo- 
 ple in a mad rush for a cigarette, then 
 crawl back again, reeking with the 
 fumes of tobacco. Such a thing as 
 exercising a little self-restraint in pub. 
 he places, where the health and com- 
 fort of others might be affected, never 
 enters the head of the average smoker 
 — and if there is a growing sentiment 
 against smoking, it is the thought- 
 less smoker who contributes most to 
 the growth of that sentiment. 
 
 There is a more serious side to the 
 question, and that is the loss of prop- 
 erty and sometimes life due to the 
 careless handling of fire. Just recall 
 the many newspaper accounts of fires 
 attributed to a "smoldering cigar 
 butt" or "a carelessly thrown match." 
 Look at the furniture in any public 
 place or hotel. You will find desks 
 scorched, furniture blackened, rugs 
 
 
 CAPT. CIIA.S. NICIIOl.A.S IKAIllEUS ION. 
 in his Civil War unifdrni. Captain Fi-athor- 
 ston was one of Rome's l>«'<t Inwyir^ nnil 
 students.
 
 474 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 with holes burned in them, polished 
 surfaces showing scratches, all the 
 work of the careless smoker. 
 
 The smoker has the privilege of 
 fi-eedom and full enjoyment now. If 
 he continues to abuse it by making 
 himself a nuisance to non-smokers, by 
 burning carpets, scorching furniture, 
 spitting on the sidewalks and setting 
 fire to houses, it is problematic as to 
 how long this freedom will continue. 
 It is not beyond the bounds of possi- 
 bility that the cigarette boot-legger 
 may be a development of the future. 
 
 AS IT USED TO BE.— The Tri- 
 Weekly Courier of June 24, 1860, re- 
 printed the following as a jolt to the 
 "weed mashers:" 
 
 "The Portsmouth Transcript ex- 
 claims against the shameful desecra- 
 tion of church floors and walls by 
 thoughtless and mannerless tobacco 
 chewers. We copy the last paragraph 
 of the article : 
 
 " 'It is contrary to common etiquette 
 to expectorate in a parlor. Why not 
 in a church? We have seen a pious 
 pew holder praising God and rolling 
 his quid in the most delighted manner 
 imaginable — spitting great jets of am- 
 
 ber and groaning "Amen" in the next 
 breath, singing half a line of a hymn 
 and spitting and grunting the other. 
 The vestibules frequently suffer and 
 stains are everywhere visible. Hov/ 
 much of the poetic beauty that shines 
 along the pathway of religion and in- 
 vests it with a charm which causes 
 even the infidel to respect it will re- 
 main if the filthy customs of pervert- 
 ed taste are tolerated in its temples? 
 Why should a beautiful house be con- 
 secrated to God, if it is to be desecrated 
 by indecency? We should as soon see 
 a man carry his bottle with him, and 
 drink in full view of all, as to see him 
 sit and squirt, or clandestinely dribble 
 his disgusting expectorations amidst 
 the pews and aisles of the sanctuary. 
 The deed would be more decent, at 
 least would not defile, as well as in- 
 sult, the House of God.' " 
 
 BENJAMIN CUDWORTH YANCEY, police 
 court recorder and probably the only na- 
 tive-born mayor Rome ever had. 
 
 FATHOMING A VACUUM.— Al- 
 though C. A. Bundschu, North Rome 
 meat market man shot in the head 
 last Thursday night by Mark Johnson, 
 tried to smoke a cigarette this morn- 
 ing to soothe his nerves, the experi- 
 ment was not very satisfactory, and 
 the patient had to throw the weed 
 away. His wife helped him fire off, 
 but owing to the fact that the right 
 side of his face is paralyzed, he could 
 not get up enough vacuum or suction 
 to make a draught to cause it to burn. 
 
 A discussion was started in The 
 News office the other day concerning 
 the physical aspects of smoking a 
 cigarette. One man said that a cigar- 
 ette is consumed because a vacuum is 
 formed in the mouth of the smoker 
 which causes the air to rush into the 
 burning end from without and through 
 the cigarette into the mouth and 
 throat, causing combustion of the 
 smoking materials and carrying with 
 it the smoke. Another was of the opin- 
 ion that no vacuum was caused, that 
 it was entirely a matter of draft. If 
 you will reverse the current, contend- 
 ed this latter gentleman, you will find 
 that you get an effect that is not 
 caused by a vacuum. Smoke issues 
 in increased volume from the end of 
 the cigarette, or "pill." 
 
 Although the man holding to the 
 draught theory seemed to have a good 
 argument, the other dismissed the sub- 
 ject by saying: 
 
 "You can't tell me that a vacuum 
 has nothing to do with it. I could 
 never come to any other conclusion." — 
 Rome News, July 12, 1921.
 
 Miscellaneous — General Information 
 
 475 
 
 DAYS OF THE "HOWLING 
 DERVISHES."— In few towns do the 
 white and colored races get along bet- 
 ter together than in Rome. This has 
 not always been true. In Reconstruc- 
 tion days, for instance, the situation 
 was chaotic, to say the least. A citi- 
 zen wrote the Weekly Courier of 
 Thursday, Aug. 20, 1868, as follows: 
 
 "Mr. Editor: We have the most 
 pious reverence for the Christian re- 
 ligion and its honest votaries — we have 
 been reared to esteem those who pro- 
 fess and follow its teachings, as the 
 salt of the earth. More than this, we 
 have as little sectarianism and as 
 large a charity for all Christian de- 
 nominations as any one, but we must 
 and do solemnly protest against the 
 use now being made of the houses of 
 religious worship by the colored pop- 
 ulation of the city. Their manner of 
 conducting religious service is not only 
 a nuisance to those who live near, but 
 it is a mockery and an insult to Him 
 for whom these temples have been 
 built. Let any one who has not heard 
 those howling Dervishes in their night- 
 ly orgies draw near some night and 
 listen. A few minutes will suffice to 
 convince. 
 
 "At a recent attendance we heard 
 a whining voice sing out, 'I'm gwine 
 to Heben on a white hos.' Another 
 jumped up and echoed, 'Bless de Lord, 
 here's a poor sister gwine to hell on 
 a black mule.' One raises her hands 
 and with eyes fixed on the ceiling 
 screams, 'I see Jesus, I see Jesus, I see 
 Jesus a lookin' at me.' Another re- 
 plies, 'I see him, too, a lookin' out de 
 winder at me.' Another cries, 'Bless 
 de Lord, tell Jesus to send down a rope, 
 and I'll climb up to Heben.' This last 
 idea strikes a dozen or more with force, 
 and they jump up and down, shouting, 
 'Send down de rope, and we'll all climb 
 to Heben.' 
 
 "Now, Mr. Editor, our observation 
 long has been that the negroes who 
 have the most of this kind of religion 
 are the very meanest of the race. They 
 are most idle, rougish and disobedi- 
 ent. They will shout all night, on Sun- 
 day night, and old Satan will possess 
 them all the week after. The best ne- 
 groes of the community are not of this 
 sort, and there are very many good 
 ones — negroes who make good serv- 
 ants, faithful agents, and diligent la- 
 borers. These have the sympathy of 
 our race, and will always have it. They 
 will be supported and protected by u.s. 
 But there is a class, and it is nmch 
 the largest class, who are idle and vie- 
 ious, who make no effort to lay up a 
 
 dollar for winter or want or sickness. 
 We are informed that our city fath- 
 ers have expended within the "last 18 
 months nearly a thousand dollars in 
 burying the pauper negroes. A negro 
 child died in the city on Thursday 
 last about noon. The sexton was sent 
 for, and he informed the mother he 
 had his orders to bury no more at the 
 public expense. The house was full of 
 negroes. They sang over the child all 
 night, and had a good time, but made 
 no more demonstrations whatever to- 
 wards its interment. Next day about 
 noon the sexton called again and found 
 no progress. He called on a negro car- 
 penter near by, and told him he had 
 better make a box, or some sort of a 
 coffin. The carpenter utterly refused, 
 and the sexton had to bury the child 
 at last. 
 
 "The mortality of the negroes in the 
 city for the past year has been ten to 
 one as compared with the whites, and 
 it is not decreasing, but increasing. The 
 charity practiced by our physicians 
 among them has become a serious tax 
 upon their time, and this is no small 
 charity of this kind-hearted profession, 
 for it is done among the most ignor- 
 ant and neglectful of our population. 
 What is to be done with them? Are 
 
 DR. ROUT. RATTKY, in tho uniform of a 
 colonel, Medical Corps, Confederate States 
 Army, taken about 18fi3.
 
 476 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 they under our care avid protection, or 
 not? If they are, then they ought to 
 he under our control. Surely we have 
 laws enough to reach the case. Will 
 the city fathers, or the grand juries, 
 or both take the matter in hand? We 
 owe it as a duty to the negro and to 
 ourselves. If pestilence comes among 
 us, it will find an inviting field in 
 these hovels, and from thence it will 
 spread among us all. 
 
 "No, let the negro be made to un- 
 derstand the laws of labor and the laws 
 of society. Freedom has exhausted it- 
 self in an effort to civilize him. There 
 are many poor, very poor whites in 
 our community, but they know they 
 must labor and toil and struggle. They 
 are generally cleanly and industrious 
 — at all events, they live, and are not 
 termed as paupers. 
 
 "Now we are not of the faith of 
 Ariel — far from it — we believe the ne- 
 gro has a soul. More than this, we 
 believe, as a race, they are peculiarly 
 religious in their notions, and what is 
 most wanted is a control of them by 
 reasonable and well-directed effort. 
 They should not be allowed to become 
 vagrants and paupers, nor should they 
 be allowed to howl and whoop like Hot- 
 tentots and savages, under the idea 
 that such is the way to worship God. 
 If, however, this way is their profes- 
 sion, let them worship so far from our 
 habitations as not to annoy or disturb 
 our repose in the still hours of the 
 night. 
 
 "We have said this much upon a 
 subject that will have to be considered 
 hereafter, though it is ignored now. 
 The timie has passed when the negro 
 is considered superior to the white 
 race. The time is almost at hand when 
 he will take his own proper position, 
 and be made to know his entire de- 
 pendence upon his white friends. We 
 fear that few of them will profit by 
 any advice we may give, for their ele- 
 vation has been so sudden and their 
 ignorance so feasted by office seekers 
 that they are not in condition to know 
 the truth." 
 
 THE COST OF HIGH LIVING.— 
 An exchange asks, "How civilized are 
 we?" Not very, perhaps, when you 
 consider that the big portion of our 
 tax money (some say 95 per cent) goes 
 into wars or preparations for wars, 
 the big portion of the balance goes for 
 luxuries and a measly sum, compara- 
 tively, goes toward education and other 
 things that benefit the masses. 
 
 The High Point (N. C.) Enterprise 
 
 presents the following amazing fig- 
 ures : 
 
 "Americans are quite given to 
 boasting of their large expeditures for 
 public education. 
 
 "From the point of view of relativ- 
 ity the boasting doesn't square with 
 the facts. 
 
 "We spend something less than $1,- 
 000,000,000 a year on public educa- 
 tion. 
 
 "In 1920 our tobacco bill was more 
 than double this, and for face powder, 
 cosmetics, perfumes, etc., we spent 
 three-quarters of a billion. 
 
 "For every dollar we spend on pub- 
 lic education, we spend 25 cents for 
 ice cream, 50 cents for jewelry, 35 
 cents for soft drinks and 30 cents for 
 furs. 
 
 "The $50,000,000 a year we spend 
 for chewing gum is two and a half 
 times the total expenditures for normal 
 schools and almost exactly the same 
 as all state and city appropriations for 
 higher education. 
 
 "The U. S. Commissioner of Educa- 
 tion points out that if we would smoke 
 two cigarettes instead of three, two 
 cigars instead of three, take two chews 
 instead of three, and add the money 
 thus saved to the teachers' pay roll, 
 the salaries of teachers could be in- 
 creased 120 per cent. 
 
 "As it is pretty generally admitted 
 that our teachers as a class are crimi- 
 nally underpaid, these figures are, to 
 say the least, rather humiliating. 
 
 " 'We think we believe in education,' 
 says Claxton. 'No doubt we do believe 
 in education in a way, but we have 
 not paid and do not pay much for 
 it.' " 
 
 Suppose we should spend 50 per 
 cent of our tax money for education. 
 Wouldn't we be well enough educated 
 eventually to do without some of the 
 luxuries, including wars? — Rome News, 
 July 18, 1921. 
 
 FREE RURAL MAIL DELIVERY 
 ROUTES (Floyd County, 1922).— No. 
 
 1, Summerville Road to Armuchee; No. 
 
 2, Calhoun Road; No. 3, Kingston 
 Road; No. 4, Carlier Springs and 
 Chulio; No. 5, Foster's Mill and Liv- 
 ingston District; No. 6, Black's Bluff 
 Road and Cave Spring; No. 7, Horse- 
 leg Creek (Coosa River) and Burnett's 
 Ferry roads; No. 8, Alabama Road, 
 via Hamilton's and Shorter College; 
 No. 9, O'Brien Gap and Redmond 
 Gap Roads; No. 10, Chulio and Wax.
 
 ^Miscellaneous — 1920-1921 Chronology 
 
 1920 
 
 OCTOBER— 
 
 27 — Rev. D. Coe Love, Presbyterian missionary, lectured at the Berry Schools. 
 
 NOVEMBER— 
 
 2 — Rome News flashed results of overwhelming victory of Harding for President 
 
 on screen at Elite Theatre; Tribune-Herald flashed results on Lanham store. 
 5 — Miss Margaret Romaine, soprano, in recital at Shorter College. 
 6 — Brewster Hall, first dormitory at the Berry Schools, destroyed by fire at 7:30 
 A. M. Professors and students lost their clothing. 
 11 — Thos. H. Johnston, dean of St. Philip's Cathedral, Atlanta, addressed Rotary 
 Club at Brown Betty Tea Room on Irish and International affairs. Parade 
 down Broad Street by Confederate Veterans, World War Veterans, Boy Scouts 
 and others, celebrating signing of the Armistice with the Germans. 
 12 — Rev. John H. Elliott, of College Park, started two weeks' revival at the First 
 Presbyterian church. Hagenback-Wallace Circus disbanded for the season at 
 Rome. 
 
 13 — Football at Hamilton Field: Darlington School 14, Powder Springs 6. 
 
 14 (Sunday) — Ice on streets; 25 degrees. Congressman Wm. D. Upshaw, of At- 
 lanta, spoke on "A Stainless Flag and a Sober World" at the First Baptist church 
 in the morning, the Cave Spring Methodist church and Shorter College in the 
 afternoon, and the Fifth Avenue Baptist church at night. 
 
 16 — Municipal election; Miss Ava Duncan was first Rome woman to vote, and 
 Paul I. Morris first man to vote, at court house. Conference announced change 
 of Rev. T. R. Kendall, Jr., from First Methodist Church to First Methodist at 
 Gainesville, Rev. Elam F. Dempsey, of First Methodist at Athens to First Meth- 
 odist at Rome; Rev. J. R. King, presiding elder of the Rome District, superannu- 
 ated, and succeeded by Rev. W. T. Irvine, of Augusta. 
 
 19 — Branch chapter of the League of Women Voters formed at Rome with Mrs. 
 Annie Freeman Johnson as president. 
 
 21 (Sunday) — Rev. Sam W. Small, evangelist, spoke at Fifth Avenue Baptist 
 church, and Rev. John H. Elliott at Berry Schools. 
 
 25 — Football at Hamilton Field: Darlington School 6, Rome High School 0. 
 
 28 (Sunday)— Rev. T. R. Kendall, Jr. left for Gainesville, and Rev. Elam F. Demp- 
 sey, of Athens, assumed pastorate of First Methodist church. 
 
 DECEMBER— 
 l_Seventh District Medical Society, Dr. Howard E. Felton, of Cartersville, pres- 
 ident, in one-day session at City Auditorium. 
 
 15 — Kenneth G. Matheson, president of the Georgia School of Technology, Atlanta, 
 addressed Rotary Club at Hotel Forrest; "Intelligence." 
 
 21— Tumlin Mercantile Co. burned at Cave Spring; loss, $25,000. 
 
 31 — "Watch Nights" at churches; New Year ushered in. 
 
 1921 
 
 JANUARY— 
 
 1— Board of Roads and Revenues elected Judge John W. Maddox county attorney 
 to succeed Graham Wright. 
 
 3_New city officials sworn in. Rev. A. J. Moncrief, pastor of the First Baptist 
 church, accepted call to First Baptist of Pensacola, Fla. 
 
 4— Horace A. Wade, author at 12, drew 2,000 people in success talk at City Audi- 
 torium. Floyd County Farm Bureau guests of Kiwanis Club at Hotel Forrest 
 in move to establish creamery. 
 
 7 — Rome Writers' Club organized with Mrs. Perrin Bestcr Brown president and 
 
 Jack D. McCartney secretary. 
 10— Alex W. Chambliss, mayor of Chattanooga, appeared in civil case in Judge 
 Moses Wright's Superior Court at Court House.
 
 478 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 21 — President-elect Warren G. Harding, going to Florida, spoke ten minutes from 
 rear of train to crowd of Romans at Southern Railway depot, promising an un- 
 derstanding between North and South, and was heartily cheered. 
 
 23 (Sunday) — Small fire in Taul B. White's apartment at Hotel Armstrong; water 
 damage considerable. 
 
 24 — Miss Elizabeth Lanier, of Greenwich, Conn, (now Mrs. Robert Boiling, of 
 Philadelphia, Pa.) arrived to spend a week teaching folk songs and dancing at 
 the Berry Schools. 
 
 27 — Mrs. George Maynard Minor, President-General of the Daughters of the Amer- 
 ican Revolution, and Mrs. J. L. Buell, State Regent of Connecticut, at Berry 
 Schools on visit. City Commission instructed Chief Harris to stop children from 
 skating on streets. 
 
 FEBRUARY— 
 
 7 — Dr. Chas. E. Barker, of Detroit, Mich., in talks deploring modern moral ten- 
 dencies, addressed boys and girls, then women, at Auditorium, was entertained 
 by Rotary Club at the Brown Betty Tea Room for dinner, and spoke again at 
 night at the First Baptist church. 
 
 8 — W. A. Sutton, principal of Tech High School, Atlanta, spoke to Boy and Girl 
 Scouts at City Auditorium. Georgia School of Technology campaign for $5,000,- 
 000 launched in Floyd County. Wilson M. Hardy's garage on 3rd Avenue 
 smashed by landslide from old Shorter College Hill. 
 11 — Congressman Gordon Lee, of Chickamauga, registered for day at Armstrong 
 Hotel. 
 
 MARCH— 
 2 — Curb market projected by committee composed of Taul B. White, Walter S. 
 
 Cothran, Wilson M. Hardy, and John M. Graham. 
 3 — Capt. N. C. Remsen, of Greenville, S. C, new Tribune-Herald manager. 
 4 — Better business predicted in Rome as Warren G. Harding, twenty-ninth Presi- 
 dent of the United States, is inaugurated at Washington, D. C, 
 5 — Supt. W. C. Rash announced county school teachers would soon be paid. 
 7 — Basketball at Mt. Berry: Berry Schools 43, Rome Athletic Club 35. 
 8 — Fire at Armstrong Hotel; damage about $40,000. 
 10 — Georgia Federated Musical Clubs, Mrs. Frederic E. Vaissiere, of Rome, 
 president, opened three-day session in Carnegie Library Auditorium; delegates 
 welcomed by Miss Lula Warner, president of the Rome Music Lovers' Club, 
 and Mrs. Wm. P. Harbin, and response was made by Mrs. Harry P. Hermance, 
 of Atlanta. 
 11 — Lester C. Bush, of LaGrange, elected secretary of the Rome Chamber of Com- 
 merce, to report April 1. 
 20 (Sunday) — S. E. DeFrese, of Chattanooga, president of the Rome Municipal 
 Gas Co., arrived at Hotel Forrest to investigate complaints against service 
 furnished by his concern. Left hurriedly when Rome News invited irate citi- 
 zens to lodge complaints with him by telephone. 
 24 — Boy Scouts clean up Myrtle Hill cemetery. 
 
 27 — First "Easter Sing" on top of Myrtle Hill Cemetery; speaker, Judge Moses 
 
 Wright. 
 28 — Baseball at Macon; University of Georgia 6, Yale 5. 
 30 — Berry School students put in day of work on new artificial lake. 
 
 APRIL— 
 
 1 — City Commission discussed $300,000 street and school bond issue. 
 
 2 — Baseball at Athens: University of Georgia 2, Yale 1. Eagle Troop of Girl 
 Scouts hiked to Rotary Lake, Shorter College. 
 
 3 — Dr. B. V. Elmore, of Blountstown, Fla., arrived as new County Commissioner 
 of Health, succeeding Dr. E. 0. Chimene, who went to Greenville, S. C. 
 
 4 — Georgia Tech Industrial Tour party, with K. G. Matheson, Governor Hugh M. 
 Dorsey, former Governor Jos. M. Brown and others and Tech band, lunched at 
 Hotel Forrest, was welcomed by J. Ed Maddox, responded through Dr. Mathe- 
 son and inspected Rome.
 
 480 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 5 — J. H. HoflFman, Atlanta landscape architect, Inspected City Auditorium Park 
 with Mrs. W. M. Henrv and Miss Anna Graham, of Women's Club. Simpson 
 Grocery Co. fire; loss, $125,000. 
 9 — Hawthorne Troop of Girl Scouts on hike to Carlier Springs. 
 
 11-12 — American Legion showed official war films at City Auditorium. 
 
 14 — Twenty-four Boy and Girl Scouts on trip up Oostanaula River nine miles to 
 Whitmore's Bluff in Frank Holbrook's Steamer Annie H. 
 
 16 — Emory University Glee Club at Shorter College. 
 
 21 — Dr. Albert Shaw, of New York, editor of American Review of Reviews, and 
 Mrs. Shaw arrived for five-day visit to Berry Schools from Cuba. Seventh Dis- 
 trict Water Power Convention in hot session at City Auditorium. Floyd County 
 men pledged $6,000 to Georgia Tech fund. 
 
 25 — Second Boy and Girl Scout trip to Whitmore's Bluff on Annie H. 
 
 26 — Confederate Memorial Day exercises in Myrtle Hill Cemetery led by Judge 
 John W. Maddox, Capt. Henry J. Stewart, Rev. E. R. Leyburn, Miss Helen 
 Knox Spain and Major Wm. A. Patton; about 200 present. 
 
 27 — Jos. S. Stewart, of Athens, professor of secondary education, on visit to Rome 
 Public Schools. 
 
 28 — City Attorney Max Meyerhardt, Mrs. Roy Berry, Mrs. J. Lindsay Johnson, 
 Mrs. C. T. Jervis and Mrs. James Maddox as committee laid before State Rail- 
 road Commission at Capitol, Atlanta, Rome's complaint against inferior gas 
 service. 
 
 MAY— 
 
 1 (Sunday) — C. R. Wilcox, of the McCallie School, Chattanooga, Tenn., arrived 
 to take charge of the Darlington School. Camp sites at Cloudland, Chattooga 
 County, offered Boy and Girl Scouts by Will and John Ledbetter. Rev. J. Ellis 
 Sammons preached first sermon as pastor of the First Baptist church. 
 2 — Southeastern Express branch office opened. City Commission in special ses- 
 sion voted wreaths for Battey shaft May 5 at Rome and Grady shaft May 24 
 in Atlanta. 
 3 — Dr. H. A. Morgan, president of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, spoke 
 
 at the Berry Schools. 
 4 — Medical Association of Georgia opened three-day session at City Auditorium. 
 Seventh District Masonic convention opened two-day session at Masonic Temple. 
 University of Georgia drive for $1,000,000 started. Municipal band stand an- 
 nounced ready on City Hall park site. 
 5 — Masons adjourned after midnight feast at Masonic Temple. Dr. Howard A. 
 Kelly, of Baltimore, Dr. E. T. Coleman, of Graymont, Dr. Howard E. Felton, of 
 Cartersville, and Dr. Geo. R. West, of Chattanooga, spoke at unveiling of mon- 
 ument to Dr. Robert Battey in City Hall Park, and shaft was accepted for 
 City of Rome by Ernest E. Lindsey. Doctors repaired to Coosa Country Club 
 for barbecue; at morning session passed resolutions giving to Dr. Crawford W. 
 Long credit for the discovery of anesthesia, and calling on the Legislature to 
 appropriate money to put his statue in Statuary Hall at Washington. 
 6 — Doctors adjourned. 
 
 9 — Baseball at Hamilton Park opened season in Georgia State League : Lindale 
 3, Rome 2 (15 innings). 
 
 14 — Rome Curb Market opened opposite postoffice on Fourth Avenue, with Mrs. 
 Hamilton Yancey, Jr. and Mrs. Bessie B. Troutman, president of the Women's 
 Auxiliary of the Chamber of Commerce, and Chief of Police Charlie Harris in 
 charge. Aurora Borealis seen in sky near midnight; got Thos. Colegate out of 
 bed. 
 
 18 — Third Boy and Girl Scout trip, to Black's Bluff, Coosa River, on Annie H. At 
 Macon: Drill team of Rome Commandery No. 8, Knights Templar, Chas. N. 
 Burks, drillmaster, won $100 Liberty Bond for drill. 
 
 20 — Shorter College's 47th Commencement started. 
 
 21 — Shorter players staged Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." 
 
 22 — Municipal band stand in City Hall Park presented to City of Rome by Wo- 
 men's Club through Mrs. W. M. Henry and accepted by E. E. Lindsey for City. 
 Rev. J. Ellis Sammons delivered baccalaureate sermon at Shorter College.
 
 Miscellaneous — 1920-1921 Chronology 
 
 481 
 
 A SUBSTANTIAL AMPHITHEATER FOR ORATORICAL FIREWORKS. 
 
 The Floyd County Court House, built in 1892-93 by Jos. B. Patton, contractor and which 
 replaced the old structure of Court (East First) Street, where barristers had pleaded the cause 
 of justice for half a century. The northern outlook is upon the Oostanaula River.
 
 482 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Princess Rahnie Haider, of Syria, and Miss Lucille Burgess in performance at 
 Fifth Avenue Baptist church. 
 
 23 — Rev. Wm. Russell Owen, of Macon, delivered Shorter Commencement oration; 
 award of diplomas and barbecue at "Maplehurst." Berry Schools summer sea- 
 son opened. 
 
 26 — Rev. Elam F. Dempsey spoke at Edmonia Newman Institute graduation exer- 
 cises at First Baptist church. Darlington School commencement in East Rome. 
 
 27 — Chautauqua Week opened; performances in tent behind City Auditorium. 
 
 31 — Ben Greet Players on Chautauqua program. 
 
 JUNE— 
 
 3 — Ralph Bingham, Philadelphia humorist, delighted large Chautauqua crowd. 
 5 — North Georgia Fair Association directors elected H. A. Dean president; John 
 M. Berry first vice-president; H. H. Shackelton second vice-president; James 
 M. Harris treasurer and Lester C. Bush secretary. 
 6 — Women held mass meeting in favor of issue of $750,000 road bonds for Floyd 
 County. 
 16— Floyd County's $750,000 road bond issue carried by 3,102 to 67. 
 21 — District School performance at City Auditorium as benefit for Women's Aux- 
 iliary of Chamber of Commerce. 
 
 JULY— 
 
 1 — Judge Moses Wright, Barry Wright and Harry P. Meikleham speakers at Lin- 
 dale, when Massachusetts Mills Auditorium is accepted by American Legion as 
 memorial to Lindale men who lost lives in World War. 
 2 — Greenwich, Conn.: J. Simpson Dean, Princeton 1921, of Rome, won Intercol- 
 legiate Golf championship, defeating Jesse Sweetser and others. 
 4 — Double header baseball game at Hamilton Park: Lindale 5 — 2, Rome 2 — 3. 
 
 Motor boats active all day on rivers. 
 7 — Opening gun fired in fight to extend city limits of Rome and include 7,000 more 
 people and revenue. Doctors returned from Seventh District Society meeting 
 at Calhoun. Adj. Gen. Peter C. Harris told Rotary Club at Hotel Forrest ha 
 hoped for early end of all wars. 
 9 — Municipal swimming pool project started. 
 
 33 — Robt. W. Van Tassel, of Lindale, made Colonel on Governor Kardwick's staff. 
 16 — Mrs. J. Lindsay Johnson sold controlling interest in Rome Tribune-Herald to 
 
 J. Ed Maddox, Thos. W. Lipscomb, E. E. Lindsey and associates. 
 27 — "Sequoyah," house boat built by Scoutmaster Ed King's Boy Scout Troop 2, 
 launched on Oostanaula river in Fourth Ward before large crowd; prayer by 
 Rev. J. L. Hodges; principal speakers, James Maddox and Claire J. Wyatt. 
 30 — Rev. Harry F. Joyner's Maple Street Community House playground and gym- 
 nasium opened in East Rome. 
 31 (Sunday) — Notice given of approaching city Clean-up Week. 
 
 AUGUST— 
 
 3 — Committees named for Home-coming Week, October 10-16. 
 8 — Limits extension bill introduced in Georgia Legislature, Atlanta, by Hon. John 
 Camp Davis, of Floyd. 
 
 11 — News — Kiwanis dairying and creamery project commended at Hotel Forrest 
 luncheon by Roland Turner, of Southern Railway Development Service. Rotary 
 Club, Walter S. Cothran, president, started city planning project. 
 
 19 — Kiwanis Club and Women's Auxiliary of the Chamber of Commerce presented 
 Miss Frances Brown, lyric soprano, in song recital at City Auditorium. 
 
 20 — Dr. Carl Betts, Richard A. Denny, Jr., and Edward Hine winners of finals 
 cups in North Georgia Tennis Tournament at Coosa Country Club. 
 
 21 (Sunday) — Judge John C. Printup launched movement to erect monument to 
 Floyd County boys who lost lives in World War. 
 
 22 — Hughes T. Reynolds, Kiwanis Club president, and W. E. Bowers, county agri- 
 cultural agent, addressed one-day farm institute members at Berry School. Dr. 
 Carl Betts' Scout Troop 4 off for Ship Island, Oostanaula River, on Annie H.
 
 Miscellaneous — 1920-1921 Chronology 
 
 483 
 
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 — 13 

 
 484 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 23 — Floyd County Sunday School Association Convention at Berry Schools. 
 
 24 — Barclay Terhune, Chulio District farmer, again brought to Rome first bale of 
 cotton of season; sold to Taul B. White at 21 1/2 cents a pound. 
 
 26 — Congressman Gordon Lee got Howitzer at Camp Jackson, S. C, for memorial 
 to Floyd County boys of World War. 
 
 27 — Coosa Country Club held swimming and diving contests. Miss Helen Knox 
 Spain started Rome Musical Center on Lower Broad Street, with touch of Bo- 
 hemia. Floyd County Farm Bureau's first annual picnic at Morrison's Camp 
 Ground. 
 
 SEPTEMBER— 
 
 2 — Rev. S. E. Wasson, of Atlanta, and Rev. Horace Freeman, of Newnan, offici- 
 ated at military funeral at First Methodist church of Lieut. Walton Shanklin, 
 U. S. A., killed in France Oct. 15, 1918, in Argonne Forest drive. City Com- 
 mission refused petition of Rome Municipal Gas Co. for increased gas rate. 
 Lee J. Langley, attorney, appointed by Governor Hardwick member of State 
 Waterway and' Canal Commission. Girls' School at Mt. Berry opened. 
 3 — Hugh L. Hodgson, pianist, and T. Goodwin, both of Athens, motored through 
 
 Rome on way home from Chattanooga tennis tournament. 
 5 (Labor Day) — Boy Scout swimming and diving events at "Head of Coosa." 
 Motor boat races won by Fred Hoffman's "A. M. L." Baseball, double header: 
 Lindale 6—2, Rome 2—1. 
 6 — Rome committee failed to make connection at Cartersville with Dixie tourists 
 going to Cincinnati from Jacksonville. Cotton up; 20 cents a pound. 
 
 10 — Miss Nettie Dickerson, 60, of Cave Spring, killed in auto accident on Alabama 
 Road. Fifty Rome girls nominated for Home-coming Queen. 
 
 11 (Sunday) — Rev. and Mrs. G. Campbell Morgan and Misses E. and K. Morgan 
 and Howard Morgan, their children, had supper at the Hotel Forrest en route 
 to their new home in Athens, Ga. Gordon L. Hight returned from Chicago 
 radio convention. 
 
 12 — LaGrange won Georgia State League baseball pennant from Lindale. Etowah 
 River clearer than the Oostanaula at Rome. 
 
 13 — Jas. A. Holloman, of Washington, addressed Kiwanis Club at Hotel Forrest on 
 tax problems. Fatty Arbuckle movie pictures at Elite Theatre called off by 
 Manager O. C. Lam. Main leak under Oostanaula River at Fifth Avenue caused 
 City Manager Sam S. King to cut off water for about 10 hours for Fourth 
 Ward, West Rome and Berry Schools. 
 
 15 — Shorter College opened forty-eighth annual session with 207 girls from 16 
 states; 135 from Georgia, 15 from Alabama, 15 from Florida and 12 from Ten- 
 nessee. Senator Wm. J. Harris, of Cedartown, on visit to Rome and Berry 
 Schools. 
 
 16 — Roman Minstrels put on Red Cross benefit performance at City Auditorium. 
 
 17 — Robt. M. Gibson winner over Arthur S. West of Coosa Country Club golf 
 trophy. 
 
 20 — Public meeting addressed by Linton A. Dean, Bernard S. Fahy, Byard F. 
 Quigg, H. H. Shackelton, Rev. W. M. Barnett and Gordon Watson, urging more 
 money for public schools. 
 
 21 — John Robinson's circus in Fourth Ward. 
 
 22 — Salvation Army drive opened with W. L. Shaddix in charge. Dr. Elizabeth 
 B. Reed, of the U. S. Public Health Service, Washington, spoke at the Berry 
 Schools. 
 
 23 — Miss Madeline Cashin, of Peoria, His., put on local amateur players in "0, O 
 Cindy!" Gay Jespersen's Lindale band signed for North Georgia Fair, Octo- 
 ber 10-15. 
 
 24— Congressman Gordon Lee visited Curb Market. Bowie Stove Works destroyed 
 in East Rome fire with loss of $100,000. 
 
 OCTOBER— 
 
 '^—^'^^^^^^ on Darlington Field, East Rome: Central High School (Chattanooga) 
 7, Darlmgton School 6. 
 
 2 — Jewish New Year celebrated two days.
 
 a^C
 
 486 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 3 — Mass meeting at City Auditorium discussed city limits extension and proposed 
 
 McLin cotton mill. 
 8 — Miss Louise Berry elected Queen of Home-coming week and ball. Football at 
 Hamilton Field: Rome High School 30, Disque of Gadsden 0. 
 
 10 — Fritz Lieber, Shakespearean player, in "The Merchant of Venice" at City Audi- 
 torium. Governor Thomas W. Hardwick, of Atlanta, spoke at opening of North 
 Georgia Fair on state tax and revenue problems. 
 
 11 — Horse races at fair, George Stiles winning. Principal speaker for day, Lee 
 J. Langley. 
 
 ]2 — Horse races at fair. Principal speaker, State Senator J. H. Mills, of Butts Co. 
 
 14 — Home-coming day at Fair. Races. Miss Louise Berry crowned Queen by H. A. 
 Dean, following addresses by H. H. Shackelton, home-coming chairman, and 
 Hon. Wright Willingham. Hon. Claude H. Porter spoke under auspices of the 
 League of Women Voters in favor of disarmament and peace. Day's attend- 
 ance, 10,000. Queen's Ball at Shrine Hall at night, Fred Malone acting as King. 
 
 14 — Dairy Day at Fair. Roland Turner and J. F. Bazemore, speakers. Races. 
 Boy Scouts in Indian pageant at night. Football at Marietta, Ga. : Rome High 
 School 6, Marietta High School 0. 
 
 16 (Sunday) — Mrs. John R. Barclay assured of strong support in race for Rome 
 postmastership. W. A. Parker, of Community Service, New York, N. Y., spoke 
 at First Methodist and First Christian churches on need of more recreational 
 and outdoor facilities in Rome as an aid to healthful and wholesome young citi- 
 zenship. 
 
 21— Football at Hamilton Field: Rome High School 25, Marist College (Atlanta) 7. 
 
 MAKING THE MOST OF WAR CONDITIONS. 
 
 "Big John" Underwood, the grocer, "steered" away fron» Rome, according to "Bill 
 Arp's Scrap Book," to accept a commission at Savannah as a member of the staff of 
 Gov. Jos. E. Brown Lacking harness, he employed other means. "Big John" was in 
 the Georgia Guard detail which arrested John Howard Payne in 1835. Many other 
 Romans refugeed from the city from 1863 to 1865.
 
 Tabloid Facts 
 
 Did You Know That — 
 
 "Chiaha" was the Indian for "Otter Place" (now Rome) ? 
 
 Bayard Franklin Jones, New York artist, was born in Rome in 1869? 
 
 Alexander H. Stephens, Benj. H. Hill and Alfred Iverson visited Rome in the 
 same week in 1860? 
 
 James Noble, Jr., and associates founded the Rome Volunteer Fire Department? 
 Henry W. Grady was a member of Rainbow Steam Fire Engine Company No. 1? 
 
 Judge John W. Hooper moved from Cassville to Rome directly after the Civil 
 War? 
 
 George Barnsley, of Barnsley Gardens, Bartow County, before 1861 boarded 
 with Mrs. J. G. Yeiser on Third Avenue, and Frank L. Stanton lived there for a 
 short time? 
 
 Major Wm. A. Patton, stationed at headquarters telephones, helped direct 
 sector artillery operations in the World War battles of St. Mihiel and the Argonne, 
 France? 
 
 John Hume brought the first bath-tub to Rome, from Charleston, about 1850? 
 
 Daniel R. Mitchell owned the first piano? 
 
 Coosa Old Town was an Indian village on the Coosa River near Rome, South 
 Rome side, and was destroyed on or about Oct. 17, 1793, by Gen. John Sevier, 
 ancestor of numerous Romans? 
 
 An erratic character known to the Cherokee Indians as the "Widow Fool" 
 operated a ferry in 1819 at the forks of the Oostanaula and Hightower (Etowah) 
 Rivers? 
 
 Miss Eliza Frances Andrews, botanist, has had her habitat in Rome since 1911? 
 
 Major Ridge's ferry, opposite his home on the Oostanaula, was seized in 1835 
 by a white man named Garrett, who claimed Ridge would not run it or let any- 
 body else run it? 
 
 Father Ryan, Indiana poet, once visited Rome to see about the Kane property 
 in New York, and was the guest of Mrs. Mary Adkins, mother of Wm. H. Adkins? 
 
 Thos. A. Wheat, of Ridge Valley, loaded the first ten-inch Mortar cartridge 
 fired at Fort Sumter in 1861? 
 
 The Santa Anna silver service, captured by Houston at the Battle of San 
 Jacinto, was once the property of Henry Pope at Pope's Ferry? 
 
 Heavy guns furnished the Cherokee Artillery by the Nobles were captured by 
 Gen. Sherman at Resaca? 
 
 Before Barney Swimmer and Terrapin, Cherokees, were hung on Broad Street 
 for robbing and murdering Ezekiel Blatchford (or Braselton), of Hall County, 
 a land seeker, in 1837, they were allowed to take a last swim under guard at the 
 forks of the Etowah and the Oostanaula? 
 
 "Ga-la-gi-na" ("male deer" or "turkey") who later took the name of Elias 
 Boudinot, president of Congress, was born in the present Floyd County in 1803? 
 
 "Stand Watie", Major Ridge's brother, who commanded a regiment of Indians 
 in the Civil War as Confederates, lived near Rome? 
 
 Clyde Moore Shropshire, speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives, 
 Nashville, ran for Governor of Tennessee in 1918? 
 
 Col. Benj. Cudworth Yancey served in the Legislatures of South Carolina, 
 Alabama and Georgia? 
 
 Rome once had thirteen whisky saloons? 
 
 Jack King was the second of Capt. Jno. D. Williamson in the Calhoun-William- 
 son duel. Dr. Henry Halsey Battey was his physician, and Capt. Jno. J. Seay and 
 John G. Taylor were spectators? 
 
 William Smith owned a horse-race track between the forks of the rivers? 
 
 Col. Chas. Iverson Graves was in charge of the Confederate Naval School at 
 Richmond, Va., in the Civil War, and in 1865 sent his wife and son. Chas. I. 
 Graves, Jr., then a baby, in a covered wagon to Georgia from Richmond, in 
 company with Mrs. Jefferson Davis?
 
 488 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Prize chicken fights used to be held in cock-pits on Broad Street? 
 
 Terrell Speed, Oostanaula River fisherman and trapper, was known as "The 
 Coonskin Statesman," and that a cigar was named after him? 
 
 Judge William H. Underwood, father of Congressman Jno. W. H. Underwood, 
 represented the Indians in claims against the Government, and sleeps in an un- 
 marked grave in the old Seventh Avenue Cemetery, Rome? 
 
 The organ played by George Whitefield, the great churchman, at Savannah, 
 once was installed in St. Peter's Episcopal Church? 
 
 Fourteen thousand Cherokees, headed by John Ross and others, marched afoot 
 600 miles to "The Arkansaw" in 1838 and 1839, and 4,500 of them died of disease 
 or exposure, or were slain by United States troops, and the pilgrimage was known 
 as "The Trail of Tears"? 
 
 Cave Spring, on Little Cedar Creek, was incorporated with a "growth radius" 
 of % mile and is an older town than Rome, and Rome is older than Atlanta? 
 
 The Bowies of Rome were descended from Gen. Bowie, of Alamo and "Bowie 
 knife" fame? 
 
 Col. Nicholas James Bayard, Roman, was descended from Chevalier Bayard, 
 the great Frenchman? 
 
 The Cherokees used to play a game similar to football? 
 
 Some historians claim that Ferdinand DeSoto, Spanish cavalier, spent nearly 
 30 days on the site of the present Rome in 1540? 
 
 Part of the Fourth Ward of Rome has always been called "DeSoto"? 
 
 The region north of the Chattahoochee River, some 25 counties, was called 
 "Cherokee Georgia" before the Civil War? 
 
 John Ross, principal chief of the Chei'okees, lived several years in DeSoto and 
 started his letters "Head of Coosa"? 
 
 Major Ridge, leader of the Treaty Party of the Indians, lived from 1794 to 
 1837, 43 years, up the Oostanaula River two miles from Rome? 
 
 The Cherokees were the most intelligent nation of Indians on the North Amer- 
 ican continent? 
 
 Sequoyah, who invented the Cherokee alphabet, lived in the adjoining county 
 of Chattooga, near Alpine? 
 
 Gen. John Floyd, of Fairfield Plantation, Camden County, made possible 
 the peaceful settlement of Floyd County by dispersing Indian bands in Alabama? 
 Also that Floyd County was named for him in 1832 when "Cherokee Georgia" 
 was broken up into counties? 
 
 The county seat of Floyd County for about two years was Livingston, down the 
 Coosa River? 
 
 Rome was founded in 1834 by Zachariah B. Hargrove, Philip W, Hemphill and 
 Daniel R. Mitchell, lawyers, and William Smith, planter? 
 
 Names were drawn from a hat, and one put in by Col. Mitchell — Rome — was 
 chosen? 
 
 Three of the four founders of Rome lie buried in Myrtle Hill? 
 
 William Smith built Rome's first steamboat, the William Smith? 
 
 Rome once depended upon her steamboat trade for her life? 
 
 Rome came near being placed on the main line of the W. & A. Railroad between 
 Chattanooga and Atlanta? 
 
 Rome sent four men to Congress before the Civil War? 
 
 Rome has sent two men to Congress since the Civil War? 
 
 Floyd and several adjoining counties have never furnished a Governor? 
 
 Gen. Beauregard said after the First Battle of Manassas, "I lift my hat to the 
 Eighth Georgia Regiment! (Rome companies). History will never forget you!"? 
 
 Gen. Forrest, with 410 Confederates, Sunday, May 3, 1863, captured 1,466 
 Union soldiers, marched them into Rome and saved it from destruction? 
 
 Forrest was given the finest horse in Rome by Col. A. M. Sloan, and admiring 
 women cut off locks of his hair? 
 
 The celebrated "Green Corn Dances'" of the Cherokee Indians used to be held 
 on the lawn of Chief Ridge's home?
 
 Miscellaneous — Tabloid Fact s 489 
 
 Maj. C. A. De La Mesa, U. S. A., hung a large American flag over Broad 
 street in Reconstruction days and forced ex-Confederates and civilians to sa- 
 lute it? 
 
 Col. Marrast Perkins has served with the Marines all over the world? 
 Rome's first real cyclone came Saturday, April 16, 1921, and resulted in a loss of 
 no lives? 
 
 The first Mrs. Woodrow Wilson lies buried beside her parents, Rev. and Mrs. 
 Saml. Edward Axson, in Myrtle Hill Cemetery? 
 
 The term "Cherokee" means "Upland Fields"? 
 
 A Congressman — Judge John H. Lumpkin — sleeps in the old Seventh Avenue 
 Cemetery? 
 
 Henry Grady was accustomed as a Rome newspaper editor to scratch notes on 
 his cuffs? That his trunk was attached when he left Rome for Atlanta, and his 
 wedding silver was threatened? 
 
 The Rev. Sam P. Jones did not start fighting liquor until after he had left 
 Rome? 
 
 Major Chas. H. Smith ("Bill Arp") wrote a saucy open letter in 1861 to "Abe 
 Linkhorn"? The original Bill Arp was a Chulio District farmer? Major Smith 
 was a law partner of Judge Joel Branham and Judge J. W. H. Underwood? 
 
 Theodore P. Shonts, Chicago and New York traction magnate, came to Rome 
 about 1900 to select a school for his daughters, Theodora and Marguerite, and on 
 requesting a negro cabman to take him to the most interesting spot in town, was 
 driven to Myrtle Hill Cemetery? 
 
 The Noble Foundry made cannon for the Confederacy in the Civil War, and 
 Ihe machine lathe that bored them is still in use at the Davis Foundry & Ma- 
 chine Shop? 
 
 Rome's business district was burned by Sherman's army in 1864, and the mes- 
 sage that brought his orders to march to the sea was sent from Rome? 
 
 Chas. Morgan Seay, actor and playwright, formerly made motion pictures 
 for Thos. A. Edison, and has had 50 photoplays produced? 
 
 Gen. Jos. E. Johnston, C. S. A., visited Rome Dec. 3, 1868, as the guest of 
 Major Chas. H. Smith? 
 
 Henry A. Gartrell, uncle of Henry W. Grady, was mayor of Rome in 1860, 
 and moved to Athens in 1865? 
 
 Mayor Zach Hargrove once issued .$50,000 of local money to meet a financial 
 stringency, and was called to account by the Federal authorities? 
 
 A sword hilt, a carved pipe and piece of breastplate were unearthed at Rome 
 which are believed to have belonged to Ferdinand DeSoto? 
 
 The old Seventh Avenue Cemetery was abandoned and Myrtle Hill established 
 in 1857? 
 
 Martha Baldwin Smith (Mrs. Robt. Battey) was the first white child to be 
 brought into Floyd County? 
 
 The first monument to the Women of the Confederacy was erected in Rome? 
 
 Rome was visited Saturday, Oct. 8, 1910, by Theodore Roosevelt, and President 
 Harding spoke to her citizens Friday, Jan. 21, 1921? 
 
 Woodrow Wilson was visiting an aunt, Mrs. J. W. Bones, at Ronio. when he 
 met his first wife, Ellen Lou Axson? 
 
 Mrs. Wilson's father, the Rev. Saml. Edward Axson. accepted the pastorate 
 of the First Presbyterian Church in 1866 without any promise of salary? 
 
 The benches of Rome churches were used to build pontoon bridges during the 
 Civil War? 
 
 Church basements were used to quarter horses of the Northern .\rniy? 
 
 William Jennings Brvan, Wm. G. McAdoo. Col. Roosevelt, Dr. Albert Shaw, 
 Miss Ida M. Tarbell and "Dr. Howard A. Kelly have addressed the students of the 
 famous Berry Schools? 
 
 The Berry Schools constantly refuse admission to the sons of wealthy fathers? 
 
 Rome's Belgian Colony settled at Carlier Springs, three miles east of the city? 
 
 Dr. Louis Mathieu Edouard Berckmans, native Belgian, was a skilled violinist 
 and maintained a hermit's retreat at Mt. Alto?
 
 490 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Chief John Ross as a boy was known as "Tsan-usdi" ("Little John"), and later 
 as "Koo-wes-koo-wee" ("Swan") ? 
 
 Chief Ridg'e was called "Ka-nun-ta-cla-ge" ("Man who walks on the ridges 
 or mountain tops")? 
 
 Prof. J. J. Darlington furnished the inspiration for the establishment of the 
 Darlington School? 
 
 Gen. John B. Gordon attended school at Hearn Academy, Cave Spring? 
 
 Lavender Mountain and Lavender Village were named after George Michael 
 Lavender, pioneer trading post man? 
 
 Ferries were a profitable industry before Rome's bridges were built? 
 
 Col. John H. Wisdom rode like Paul Revere to warn Romans of the approach 
 of the Federals from Gadsden in May, 1863? 
 
 Rome entertained Governors Jos. E. Brown, Herschel V. Johnson, John B. 
 Gordon and other executives? 
 
 Benj. Cudworth Yancey, brother of Wm. L. Yancey, of Alabama, secession 
 leader, served as minister to Argentina? Also that he was slated for Ambassador 
 to Great Britain by President Buchanan when Civil War complications interfered? 
 
 A casual Roman — Capt. John D. Williamson — participated in the last aifair of 
 honor in the South under the code duello, with Pat Calhoun, of Atlanta, near Cedar 
 Bluff, Ala., Saturday, Aug. 10, 1889? 
 
 A Roman — Wm. G. Campbell — established a world's record for looping-the- 
 loop in an aeroplane? 
 
 Jim Montgomery created the "Velvet Joe" tobacco advertising? 
 
 Chas. Iverson Graves served abroad in the Khedive of Egypt's' army? 
 
 Thomas Berry and Col. J. G. Yeiser once commanded American troops on the 
 Mexican border? 
 
 Two Romans — Rev. G. A. Nunnally and Seaborn Wright — once ran for Gov- 
 ernor on the Prohibition ticket, and Seaborn Wright was mentioned for President? 
 Hooper Alexander ran for Governor and Congress? 
 
 John Temple Graves once ran for Vice-President on the Independent ticket? 
 
 Col. J. Lindsay Johnson served as census director of the Philippines and died 
 in the islands? 
 
 Donald Harper, Paris lawyer, is a chevalier of the French Legion of Honor? 
 "Lord Beresford's" real name was Sidney Lascelles, and that he wrote a book- 
 let about Rome? 
 
 Stockton Axson, brother of Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, was born at Rome in 1867? 
 
 The site of Rome 381 years ago was possibly an island? 
 
 Col. Cunningham M. Pennington laid before the Confederate Cabinet in 1861 
 at Montgomery a plan for an armored warship? 
 
 Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest hitched his horse where the Hotel Forrest now 
 stands? 
 
 Danl. R. Mitchell was known as the father of the Rome bar? 
 
 A Confederate signal station was operated on Eighth avenue during the Fed- 
 eral occupation of Rome in 1864? 
 
 The bachelors of "Poverty Hall" some 25 years ago bought a tract of land on 
 Mt. Alto with the idea of building a lodge? 
 
 Judge John H. Lumpkin died on the veranda of the Choice House (later the 
 Central Hotel), July 10, 1860, while conversing with political friends? 
 
 Howard Tinsley is in the consular service at Montevideo, Uruguay? 
 
 A locomotive of the Rome Railroad, called the "Wm. R. Smith," was used 
 April 12, 1862, in the pursuit past Kingston after Andrews' Wild Raiders on the 
 "General"? 
 
 The Nobles tested Confederate cannon by shooting them into a bluff across the 
 Etowah River during the Civil War? 
 
 A steamer steamed up Broad street to Third avenue in the flood, March 
 ol, 1886? 
 
 Dr. George Magruder Battey, of the Augustus N. Verdery place, "Riverbank 
 Farm," had one of the finest poultry establishments in the United States?
 
 '/Y~0-€<r^'-^
 
 492 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Rev. Luther R. Gwaltney first suggested to Col. Alfred Shorter the establish- 
 ment of Shorter College? 
 
 Capt. Francis Marion Coulter built a dozen steamboats at Rome? 
 
 Telamon Cruger Smith-Cuyler shook hands with Grover Cleveland and King 
 Edward VII of England? 
 
 Sproull Fouche filled the post of American vice-consul at Bucharest, Rou- 
 mania? 
 
 Rome and Georgia doctors held indignation meetings and threatened to lynch 
 Dr. Robert Battey for performing the Battey operation, Aug. 27, 1872? Also 
 that Dr. Battey defended himself so ably at a meeting in the State Capitol, At- 
 lanta, that Henry W. Grady referred to him as the "Cicero of the Georgia Medical 
 Profession"? Dr. Battey was a civil engineer, then pharmacist, and had six chil- 
 di'en before he practised medicine? In his youth he clerked in a dry goods store at 
 Detroit, Mich., for Zach Chandler, later United States Senator? 
 
 Col. Hamilton Yancey roomed with Henry W. Grady at the University of 
 Georgia, Athens, and was one of his groomsmen at his marriage in Athens to 
 Miss Julia King.? 
 
 Col. Alfred Shorter nearly always walked to town, a mile, from "Thornwood," 
 his West Rome home, with his walking stick under his arm? 
 
 "Maplehurst," home place of the president of Shorter College, was bought in 
 January, 1869, by Capt. J. M. Selkirk, of Charleston, and later became the prop- 
 erty of Hugh T. Inman, of Atlanta, and Joe L. Bass, of Rome? 
 
 Dunlap Scott, member of the Legislature, passed around a petition March 20, 
 1872, for a bill admitting Forrestville (North Rome) into Rome? North Rome 
 was first called Woodville? 
 
 Judge Joel Branham about 50 years ago enjoined owners from selling the face 
 of Myrtle Hill Cemetery to negroes for residence purposes? 
 
 The Nobles left Rome and founded Anniston, Ala., because they thought East 
 Rome land they wanted for their foundry extensions was priced too high? 
 
 Other names suggested for Rome were Hillsboro, Hamburg, Warsaw and 
 Pittsburg? Also that South Rome along the Etowah River was once known as 
 Hillsboro? Also that the Etowah was sometimes known as "Hightower"? 
 
 The Rev. Marcellus Lyttleton Troutman, Methodist minister of Pope's Ferry, 
 graduated at the University of Georgia law school after he was 50? 
 
 Generals of the Northern Army occupying Rome in 1864 accused prominent 
 Rome women of supplying the Confederates with information by "underground 
 telephone"? 
 
 A Cherokee Indian returned from Indian Territory about 40 years ago and 
 dug for buried treasure on the Sproull (Haynes-Howel) place, north of Rome? 
 
 Soldiers of the Union Army dug into graves in North Rome, searching for gold 
 and silver plate? 
 
 Colquitt's Scouts hung Col. L. D. Burwell several minutes by the neck to 
 make him tell where his money was hid? Also that Mrs. Robt. Battey concealed 
 $500 in gold in her stockings and shoes for him? 
 
 Rome women used "smoke house salt" during the Civil War? 
 
 Miss Florence Fouche, the newly-wed wife of Capt. Edward Jones Magruder, 
 of the Rome Light Guards, went marching off to war with him with pistol and 
 dagger in her belt? 
 
 Mrs. Hiram Hill sent the Mitchell Guards away with a speech and a silk 
 battle flag? 
 
 The Rome Courier, Capt. Melville Dwinell, editor, used to swap subscriptions 
 for stove wood and "anything that could be eaten or worn"? 
 
 Danl. R. Mitchell gave the land on which the First Methodist Church origi- 
 nally stood on Sixth avenue? 
 
 Bishop Thos. Fielding Scott, of Marietta, founded St. Peter's Episcopal Church 
 in Rome? 
 
 Alfred Shorter was a Baptist? 
 
 Ivy Ledbetter Lee, publicity director of the Standard Oil Co., New York, lived 
 in Rome more than two years? 
 
 Bauxite was first mined in Floyd County?
 
 Miscellaneous — Tabloid Facts 
 
 493 
 
 MISS MARY DARLINGTON, of Washington. 
 D. C, first graduate (in 1877) of Shorter 
 College, and sister of J. J. Darlington. 
 
 J. J. DARLINGTON, lawyer and educator, 
 who taught many Romans and whose gene- 
 rosity made possible the Darlington School. 
 
 The "Pony Clubs" were white men who blacked their faces and robbed the 
 Indians, between 1830 and 1839? 
 
 Capt. Reuben Grove Clark donated $3,000 toward the Sunday School room of 
 the First Presbyterian Church in 1896, and it was named the Rosalie Clark Me- 
 morial? 
 
 Prof. Palemon J. King was once the best-known school teacher in Floyd County? 
 
 Prof. Hay Watson Smith was a Presbyterian preacher as well as a teacher? 
 
 Miss Elizabeth Lanier, granddaughter of Sidney Lanier, the poet, spent a 
 week from Jan. 24, 1921, at the Berry Schools? That Dr. Albert Shaw, of New 
 York, editor of the American Review of Reviews, visited Berry April 21-2(i, 1921, 
 with Mrs. Shaw and called the school idea the greatest in America? 
 
 The late Dr. A. W. Van Hoose, president of Shorter College, taught young 
 ladies for 40 years? 
 
 Mrs. Woodrow Wilson attended the Rome Female College? 
 
 Joshua Daniel, grandfather of Lucian L. Knight, state historian, owned a 
 plantation up the Oostanaula River? 
 
 Daniel R. Mitchell sold the Mitchell plantation of 2,500 acres, up the Oosta- 
 naula, including Whitmore's Bluff and Island, in 18G3, for $80,000 in Confederate 
 money in preference to $60,000 in gold? 
 
 Chief John Ross was arrested in Tennessee in 1835 near Spring Place, Murray 
 County, with John Howard Payne, author of "Home, Sweet Home," and John H. 
 ("Big John") Underwood, of Rome, was one of their military guard? 
 
 Ross offered to sell the Cherokee lands to the Government for $20,000,000, 
 but the proposition of his rival. Ridge, for $5,000,000, was accepted? 
 
 Major Ridge was breveted by General Andrew Jackson for bravery at the 
 Battle of Horseshoe Bend, Tallapoosa River. Alabama, March, 1814? ALso that 
 the Cherokees nicknamed Jackson "Straight Talk"? 
 
 Judge Jas. M. Spullock, superintendent of the W. & A. (State) Railroad con- 
 tracted with the Noble Foundry for the construction of the fir.st locomotive built
 
 494 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 of native materials in the South, the Alfred Shorter (1856), at $11,000, and Gov- 
 ernor Jos. E. Brown refused to pay such an "excessive price"? 
 
 John Ridge (son of Major Ridge) and his sister, Sally, were educated in the 
 East, and were accomplished musicians? 
 
 In June, 1839, at an Indian Territory settlement, Major Ridge was shot to 
 death from ambush; his son John was killed with knives, and Elias Boudinot, 
 editor of the Cherokee Phoenix, was hacked to death with tomahawks by Chero- 
 kees who claimed they had betrayed the Nation? 
 
 The first automobile in Rome was driven from Atlanta by Edward H. Inman? 
 
 Boiling Sulivan owned the first pneumatic tire bicycle? 
 
 John Temple Graves rode a "big and little wheel" bicycle dressed in a silk hat? 
 
 The Mayo Bar Lock ("lock and dam") was named after Micajah Mayo? 
 
 Motor boating is now a popular sport in Rome? 
 
 The steamboats have practically disappeared? 
 
 Boy and Girl Scout organizations in Rome are among the livest in the State? 
 
 Rome lends itself more readily to development by the city beautiful plan 
 than nearly any city in Georgia? 
 
 Rome and Floyd County commercial, educational, religious and social advan- 
 tages are unsurpassed, and climate and water are of the best? 
 
 Rome and Floyd County have produced or sheltered the following: Congress- 
 men Augustus R. Wright, Thos. C. Hackett, John H. Lumpkin, Jno. W. H. Under- 
 wood, Judson C. Clements, John W, Maddox and Milford W. Howard; 
 United States Senators H. V. M. Miller and Wm. J. Harris; Comptroller General 
 John T. Burns. Attorney General Richard A. Denny, Assistant Attorney General 
 Graham Wright; William H. Hidell, secretary to Alexander H. Stephens; John 
 Johnathan Pratt, inventor of the pterotype (typewriter) ; Col. B. F. Sawyer, in- 
 ventor of the paper bag and a newspaper press; James Noble, Sr., and his six 
 sons, the "Iron Kings"; Frank L. Stanton; the Rev. Jas. W. Lee; Jas. W. Lee, 
 Jr., New York advertising expert; Major Chas. H. Smith ("Bill Arp") ; Mont- 
 gomery M. Folsom; Jno. Locke Martin; Jos. A. Magnus; Israel S. Jonas; Jno. H. 
 Towers, naval aviator; Gen. Wm. L. Marshall; Eliza Frances Andrews, botanist; 
 Miss Martha Berry; Geo. B. Ward, mayor of Birmingham; Arthur W. Tedcastle, 
 shoe merchant; Jno. W. Bale, speaker pro tern of the Georgia Legislature and 
 later Indian claim agent; Edward A. Heard, New York dry goods merchant; Will 
 McKee, Boston shoe merchant; Edward E. Magill, of St. Louis; Dr. Elijah L. 
 Connally, M. B. Wellborn, Walter C. Taylor and Walter G. Cooper, of Atlanta; 
 Dr. Julius Caesar LeHardy de Beaulieu, yellow fever expert of Savannah; Eugene 
 LeHardy de Beaulieu, chief construction engineer of the Selma, Rome & Dalton 
 Railroad; Prof. Wesley O. Connor and Prof. Jas. Coffee Harris, principals of the 
 Georgia School for the Deaf, Cave Spring; Gen. Francis S. Bartow, of Savan- 
 nah and the Confederate Army; Col. B. F. Sawyer, Geo. T. Stovall, Phil Glenn 
 Byrd, Melville Dwinell, John Temple Graves, J. B. Nevin, J. Lindsay Johnson, M. A. 
 Nevin, Chas. H. Smith ("Bill Arp"), W. A. Knowles and A. B. S. Moseley, 
 newspaper editors; Gen. James Hemphill, of Mississippi; Joseph Watters, Dun- 
 lap Scott, William Smith and James Wells, Legislators; Dr. W. C. Doss, of Col- 
 lege Park, Ga., and Allie Watters, of Atlanta, inventors of the Doss puncture- 
 proof automobile tire; J. H. Lanham, inventor of the Lanham cotton cultivator; 
 Thos. F. Pierce, Wm. M. Crumley, Atticus G. Haygood, Alex M. Thigpen, Wm. H. 
 LaPrade, Sr., Gen. Clement A. Evans, Weyman H. Potter, T. R. Kendall, Sr., W. 
 F. Quillian, S. R. Belk, J. H. Eakes, B. F. Eraser, C. O. Jones, Walker Lewis, S. E. 
 Wasson, Chas. H. Stillwell, W. M. Bridges, J. M. M. Caldwell, George T. 
 Goetchius, Sam P. Jones, G. G. Sydnor, C. B. Hudgins, Father M. J. Clifford, and 
 Marcellus L. Troutman, among ministers; L. P. Hammond, T. R. Garlington, 
 James Banks Underwood, G. W. Holmes, Robert Battey, J. B. S. Holmes and Henry 
 H. Battey, among doctors; John Temple Graves, Jr., and James Montgomery, au- 
 thors; Gordon L. Hight, wireless expert; Hooper Alexander, United States District 
 Attorney, and David J. Meyerhardt, Assistant United States District Attorney?
 
 Items from the T^ress 
 
 A SPLENDID METEOR— On last 
 Thursday night we were so fortunate 
 as to behold one of those grand meteoric 
 phenomena of which we had often read, 
 but never before witnessed. A little 
 before 10 o'clock our attention was at- 
 tracted by a streak of pale white light 
 which seemed to proceed from the 
 moon. It moved with great rapidity 
 across the sky, increasing in brilliancy 
 and size, until about half way its ca- 
 reer, it appeared as large as the full 
 moon, its body as dazzling as the sun, 
 surrounded by a beautiful purple and 
 blue light, and followed by a stream of 
 fire a foot or two in length. Just be- 
 fore it apparently reached the earth it 
 changed to a red ball of fire, and ex- 
 ploding with a cracking noise, threw off 
 fragments in every direction and disap- 
 peared. Its course was from southeast 
 to the north and was visible not more 
 than half a minute, but in that time 
 traversed nearly the entire arch of the 
 firmament, hundreds of miles in length. 
 Although the moon, which was shining 
 very brightly, was completely eclipsed, 
 yet if that luminary had been below 
 the horizon the effect would have been 
 grander, if possible. 
 
 None of the meteors recently seen, 
 of which graphic accounts have reached 
 us, could have excelled this in magnifi- 
 cence and sublimity. Its size, brilliancy 
 and velocity excited in the beholder sen- 
 sations of mingled awe and admiration. 
 It impressed us as a spark from the 
 
 glory of Heaven, appearing for a little 
 while to remind man of the existence 
 of an avenging God and the doom of 
 this wicked world, and then as if to 
 remind him of His mercy also, it speed- 
 ily vanished, lest he might gaze upon 
 it and perish. — Rome Tri-Weekly Cour- 
 ier, 1860. 
 
 TOM COLEGATE SUSPECTED— 
 Don't know whether Thomas Colegate, 
 prominent advocate of the single tax 
 system, and resident of the Fifth Ward, 
 had anything to do with it, but it mat- 
 ters not whether he was the cause of 
 this week-end of rain or not, he is re- 
 sponsible for a great deal of disap- 
 pointment on the part of ardent lovers. 
 
 Last week, getting out his books on 
 the stars and other things in the heav- 
 ens, he made the discovery that on 
 the night of November 27 the old world 
 would pass through the tail of Biela's 
 Comet, or rather what had been the 
 tail, and that as it did the country 
 would be treated to a great and grand 
 shower of shooting stars. 
 
 This show comes about by reason of 
 the fact that this comet has become di- 
 vided against itself and is now only a 
 mass of flying fragments, having 
 broken in half a number of years ago, 
 and is continually breaking up since 
 that time. 
 
 Now, with the warning of the shoot- 
 ing stars for the twenty-seventh, young 
 
 THE BATTERED HYDROPLANE NC-3 MAKING PORT AT PONTA DELGADA 
 
 John Towers comrrandcd the trans-Atlantic expedition in the spring of 1919. .indperson.illy 
 had charge of the NC-3, which was nearly lost in a storm. (Note condition of lower wins). 
 Lieut. Commander A. C. Read, in the NC-4, completed the flight to Plymouth, England, via the 
 Azores and Portugal. It was the Irst time an air vessel had crossed the ocean.
 
 496 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 and artful lovers recalling the right of 
 man to implant a kiss on lips of maid 
 for every shooting star, went out and 
 made numerous "dates." 
 
 The dates v^^ere kept, and maybe the 
 rest of it was carried out, but the shoot- 
 ing stars were not seen, for the skies 
 are dark with clouds, and the heavens 
 cannot be seen. It's a sad world, and 
 no one is to blame but the weather man, 
 unless Mr. Colegate by reason of the 
 fact that he feared his reputation as an 
 astrologer brought out the clouds and 
 turned on the rain. 
 
 Lightning bugs can't even be rung 
 in, as their season has passed with the 
 coming of Jack Frost. — Wm. A. Patton 
 in Rome News, Nov. 28, 1920. 
 
 ROME IS TREATED TO HAIL— 
 Hail, hail, the gang don't care! 
 This parody on the popular song was 
 sung by early risers going to work 
 Tuesday about 8:30 o'clock in certain 
 sections of Rome, including East. Rain 
 fell hard first, then hail for five min- 
 utes, then more rain. The sky looked 
 like it would be overcast practically 
 all day. 
 
 The fall of rain was heaviest about 
 8. Street gutters became clogged with 
 
 leaves, and citizens used rakes, espe- 
 cially at Second avenue and East Sec- 
 ond street. Much warmer weather 
 ruled during the day, and fires were 
 not badly needed.— Feb. 8, 1921. 
 
 COMET FIZZLES OUT. 
 By G. M. B., Jr. 
 Just ten short years ago at night 
 
 A comet came to town 
 By name of Halley; flitted by 
 
 In sphere of great renown. 
 Full widely heralded as bright 
 
 And largest of the age, 
 The wonder of the milky way, 
 
 The joy of every sage. 
 It came and stayed a little while, 
 
 Proved quite a chilly frost; 
 Some folks fell off their lofty perch, 
 
 While other folks got lost. 
 
 Now, Biela's comet, so they say. 
 
 Was due in Rome last night; 
 The fog and rain so heavy fell 
 
 That none could get a sight, 
 But early tumbled off to bed 
 
 And did not bother much 
 About the comet's escapades, 
 
 Their debts or sins or such. 
 
 "The comets often worry me," 
 Piped Thomas Colegate, seer; 
 "I sometimes wish they'd chase them- 
 selves 
 Around the world from here." 
 
 —Nov. 28, 1920. 
 
 JOHN H. TOWERS, U. S. N., whose attempt 
 to fly across the Atlantic Ocean in 1919 near- 
 ly cost him his life oflf the Azores Islands. 
 
 SEES WILSON IN METEOR— A 
 meteor of unusual brilliancy was ob- 
 served in the northern heavens Fri- 
 day night, March 4, about 6:40 by stu- 
 dents and teachers of the Berry School 
 as they were leaving the dining hall 
 and going to their dormitories. 
 
 David Reynolds, who occupies the 
 chair of history and has made a repu- 
 tation at Berry as lecturer on "South- 
 ern Heroes and. Celebrities," imme- 
 diately attached a significance to the 
 falling star in connection with the 
 passing of Mr. Wilson from his high 
 public position. "The brightest star 
 in the political firmament is thus pass- 
 ing," said Mr. Reynolds, as he watched 
 the meteor sweep slowly across the 
 northern sky from west to east and dis- 
 appear from sight. 
 
 "When beggars die there are no com- 
 ets seen. The heavens themselves blaze 
 forth the death of princes. 
 
 "I consider Mr. Wilson the third 
 great American — Washington, the 
 Father of his Country; Lincoln, the 
 Emancipator, and Wilson, the great 
 Pacificator and Idealist — stand alone
 
 498 
 
 A History oprRoME and Floyd County 
 
 and unique among the many lesser stars 
 in the wide stretch of our firmament 
 of the great and wise and good lead- 
 ers that have been raised up for our 
 country."— Mar. 7, 1921. 
 
 AURORA BOREALIS THRILLS 
 ROME — The occasional appearing Au- 
 rora Borealis appeared in the sky over 
 Rome last night near midnight and cut 
 its capers for about 15 minutes, finally 
 retreating after a spasm of subdued 
 but spirted flashes. The flashes seem- 
 ed to come together at a central point 
 at zenith, arriving from a considerable 
 distance outward. They shed a little 
 light as far down as earth. The light 
 was in beams. 
 
 Robert Shahan, Boy Scout and resi- 
 dent of Eighth avenue, phoned The 
 News that he and Porter Harvey and 
 Cundy Bryson were on Tower Hill 
 watching the performance. The News 
 passed the word to Thomas Colegate, 
 the well-known astronomer, of 103 Myi'- 
 tle street. South Rome, and Mr. Cole- 
 gate declared he would stick his bean 
 out the front door immediately. 
 
 Webster's Shorter School Dictionary 
 gives the following definition of au- 
 rora borealis: "An atmospheric phe- 
 nomenon consisting usually of streams 
 
 GEORGE B. WARD, former Roman, who served 
 twice as Mayor of Birmingham, Ala., during 
 the period of that city's greatest growth. 
 
 of light radiating upwards and out- 
 ward toward the east and west from the 
 north polar region." 
 
 It was said that aurora interfered 
 with the telephones and the telegraph. 
 
 After the above was written, a fair 
 young lady of East Rome phoned The 
 News that a young man calling on her 
 had discovered the lights in the sky 
 while looking for an inspiration up 
 there.— May 15, 1921. 
 
 HOTTEST DAY IN 7 YEARS— 
 Romans had a perfect right to swelter 
 today. 
 
 At 2:30 this afternoon it was the 
 hottest in seven years, the thermome- 
 ter registering 108 degres. 
 
 Records kept by Miss Mary Towers 
 and by her father prior to his death 
 showed that the previous high record 
 was in 1913, at 109 degrees. No higher 
 temperature has ever been recorded 
 here.— Aug. 1, 1921. 
 
 A STAR THE LOVERS SAW— How 
 
 many people saw that wonderful shoot- 
 ing star Monday night about 10:10 
 o'clock? (Of course all the lovers did!) 
 It seemed to leave its place over Lav- 
 ender Mountain and proceed in a curve 
 toward John's Mountain, in a generally 
 northern direction. For ten or fifteen 
 seconds it could be seen, shooting like a 
 fireball. Wonder it didn't hit some 
 other star, and cause a shower of 
 sparks to descend. Maybe it didn't 
 because space is so infinite. The dis- 
 tance between stars must be as great 
 as from the earth to the moon, which 
 the astronomers say is 93,000,000 miles, 
 if your correspondent remembers cor- 
 rectly.— Sept. 20, 1921. 
 
 PASTOR SINGS OF ROME— The 
 Rev. J. L. Ballard, of Atlanta, a visitor 
 to Rome Thursday, January 13, throws 
 some nice bouquets at the Hill City in 
 the current issue of the Wesleyan 
 Christian Advocate, as follows: 
 
 "The work of the week was closed 
 Thursday at Rome. Were you ever in 
 Rome? If you never were, the first 
 time you have the opportunity, go. It 
 is one of the most picturesque places 
 the writer ever saw. Wide streets, all 
 paved, splendid stores mostly of brick 
 or stone. Fine office buildings and 
 handsome residences. But my, what a 
 beautiful church! It was built in 1884 
 by the wonderful man. Dr. J. W. Lee, 
 who was the greatest church builder 
 among us. Bro. Irvine, the presiding 
 elder, and Dr. Dempsey, pastor of the
 
 Miscellaneous — Items From the Press 
 
 499 
 
 First Church, Rome, are both first-year 
 men, but have gotten hold of things, 
 and the work moves on with great 
 promise. 
 
 "The week's work was closed at beau- 
 tiful, picturesque Rome. A hurried 
 walk to the train, a ride to Kingston in 
 sight of the beautiful Etowah River, 
 then through the mountains trimmed 
 with sleet and snow, and we came to 
 Atlanta."— Jan. 24, 1921. 
 
 TO SWAT TEA HOUNDS— A brand 
 new social club has been formed at 
 Rome for the purpose of pursuing 
 pleasure to her seductive lair and mak- 
 ing war on all "tea hounds, lounge liz- 
 ards, chewing gum buddies and cake 
 eaters," as the charter preamble fiercely 
 states. The members are petitioning in- 
 formally for the right to operate and 
 be operated upon in the courts of Epi- 
 curus, God of Pleasure, father of Epi- 
 curean June; Cupid, God of Love and 
 Trouble, and Thor, God of Thunder and 
 White Lightning. Thev are Ed Cald- 
 well, W. E. Weathers, Fred Hull, Will 
 A. Patton, Roy Echols, Fred Malone, 
 Edwin Reese, Donald Cantrell, W. B. 
 Watts, Denny King, Tom Rawls, Alfred 
 King and Harris Best — thirteen leather- 
 
 necked gentlemen who rise above the 
 superstition of unlucky numbers. 
 
 The constitution swears, in addition 
 to other things, that "the object of the 
 corporation is not pecuniary gain for 
 itself and members, but rather for a 
 generous distribution of any pecuniary 
 gains the members might latch onto 
 from any possible source," and this ob- 
 ject has caused their friends to hint 
 that a deep-dyed plot is being hatch- 
 ed to resurrect the "Boys of Poverty 
 Hall." The name for the present will 
 be the "Moonlight Golf Association," 
 and the members intend to let theirs 
 shine. Branch clubs, not clubs on 
 branches, are to be formed if desired. 
 
 The chief meeting place is not stated, 
 but a rumor has it that the first initia- 
 tion will be held at the place "where 
 the jay— bird jarred the mountain," 
 near Black's Bluff. If sky water does 
 not prevent, that meeting will prob- 
 ably be held tonight, and the first 
 monthly dinner will occur within a 
 week at the Forrest. There will be no 
 officers for the present, unless Charlie 
 Harris should butt in. Each of the Si- 
 lent Thirteen will govern himself in 
 accordance with the emergency and the 
 best interest of (the) society. — 1-25-'21. 
 
 MRS. C.EO. R. WARD, who prior to her mar- 
 riage was Miss Margaret Ketcham, quite a 
 belle in her day. 
 
 GEO. li. WAKD. a lonilinK business man of 
 Rome, and the father of Ceo. B. Ward, of 
 Birmincham.
 
 502 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Justice E. P. Treadaway yesterday 
 bound over Charles Hand, charged with 
 kicking Linton Jones, 10-year-old boy. 
 near the Rome Hosiery Mills and on a 
 tender part of his anatomy. — Feb. 11, 
 1921. 
 
 5 THROWN INTO LAKE— Members 
 of the Women's Auxiliary of the Floyd 
 County Farm Bureau had a big time 
 at Updegrove Lake, Armuchee, at their 
 big picnic. A feature was the upsetting 
 of a canoe carrying Misses Bertha 
 Evans and Willie Bohannon, Harry 
 Selman, Arthur and Elmore Miller, 
 caused when one of the boys and one 
 of the girls tried to exchange seats and 
 produced an uneven keel effect which 
 let water in. Several jumped to the 
 other side of the boat all at once and 
 she went over. 
 
 Most of those aboard could swim. 
 The boys helped the girls and the girls 
 clung to the boat, while Mr. Harrison 
 luckily came along and fished them 
 out. Mr. Harrison advised them that 
 it was well to keep an even keel, but 
 the boys were too busy blowing and the 
 girls wringing out their skirts to hear. 
 
 Ethel Salmon, six-year-old daughter 
 of one of the Salmons, of Armuchee, 
 
 got run over by a buggy, but it did 
 not hurt her to speak of. 
 
 After the excitement had subsided, 
 the regular program was carried out, 
 being the picnic and a lot of handshak- 
 ing.— June 10, 1921. 
 
 SEABORN WRIGHT, orator and "prohi." 
 leader, who once ran for Governor and was 
 mentioned for President on dry ticket. 
 
 500 PEOPLE "BAPTIZED"— The 
 
 largest "baptizing by immersion" in the 
 history of Floyd County took place yes- 
 terday afternoon at 3 o'clock at Ar- 
 muchee, 100 yards below the bridge over 
 Armuchee Creek and the Summerville 
 road. Five hundred, more or less, re- 
 ceived the heavenly sacrament, which 
 penetrated to their skins and poured off 
 their bonnets and hats. 
 
 The occasion was the scheduled bap- 
 tism of 14 candidates for admission to 
 the Armuchee Baptist Church, and the 
 fact that so many others got drenched 
 was due entirely to a sudden rain. 
 
 The Rev. Gordon Ezzell, pastor of the 
 North Broad Baptist Church, also of 
 the Armuchee Church, had arranged to 
 submerge the following: Mrs. Cleve 
 Salmon, Miss Lizzie Graham, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Plant and their mother, Mrs. Ea- 
 gle, Hill Yarbrough, Clifford and Sel- 
 man Johnson and Jim Goodwin. At the 
 water's edge Misses Beatrice and Annie 
 Holder, Clara Graham and Addie May 
 Salmon asked to be included. 
 
 Leaders of the church attending the 
 candidates began singing that old 
 hymn, "When We Gather at the River." 
 The clouds, in the meantime, had been 
 gathering, but very cautiously, and only 
 a puny sprinkle gave warning of the 
 buckets that were soon to fall. The 
 pastor stood firm, the candidates for 
 immersion held their ground and the 
 singers chanted on. Only a few on the 
 outer edge of the crowd scampered 
 away to the bridge. The storm broke. 
 Most of the crowd remained under the 
 trees. A few ran to the gin house. A 
 couple with a baby, six months old, 
 across the creek from the most of the 
 folks, crept into a dry goods box that 
 some boys had set in the bank as a 
 "cave" or "dugout," and they didn't 
 come out until the rain had stopped, 
 nearly an hour later. 
 
 Gradually those under the trees 
 broke away to gin or bridge, until both 
 places of refuge were well filled. The gin 
 house was so full that the overflow ran 
 to the bridge. The faces of some of the 
 girls lost their luster, and many silk 
 stockings and white shoes were dyed 
 with the red old mud of Georgia. Hats 
 were a sight. Nearly a hundred auto- 
 mobiles and conveyances stood in two 
 or three inches of water near the gin.
 
 Miscellaneous — Items From the Press 
 
 503 
 
 WHERE THE CROWD SOUGHT SHELTER. 
 
 The old Armuchee covered bridge (right), below which the baptizing took place. The old 
 Buena Vista hotel, which stood at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Sixth Avenue, is 
 shown at the left. The small frame building was Daniel R. Mitchell's law office. 
 
 Dr. Ezzell and the churchmen held 
 their ground and were soaked thor- 
 oughly. 
 
 Half the crowd hopped into convey- 
 ances and went elsewhere. The other 
 half trooped back to the creek with the 
 candidates due to be immersed. They 
 were all set again when a flash of 
 lightning lit up the sky and struck a 
 tree near the bridge, and the thunder 
 roared like the wrath of Old Scratch. 
 Nearly half of those remaining went 
 back to the gin house, and it was an- 
 nounced that the ceremonies would be 
 performed next Sunday at 2:30, provid- 
 ed it didn't rain. 
 
 The Rev. A. V. Carnes a little later 
 immersed several new members in 
 Hackney's pond, Summerville road, near 
 Big Dry Creek. Members of this party 
 arriving at Armuchee asked: "Did you 
 have any rain here?" 
 
 And the answer came back: "We 
 didn't have anything else." — Sept. 12, 
 1921. 
 
 COW IN "TANGLEFOOT TRAP"— 
 Mrs. J. D. Clark called up the police yes- 
 terday and told them a cow had bogged 
 up in a hole filled with tar at the end of 
 the North Rome car line. When the of- 
 ficer arrived, the cow and the tar were 
 gone.— Sept. 2, 1921. 
 
 Policeman Poole was painfully hurt 
 yesterday afternoon when the fire 
 chief's automobile hit him. Mr. Poole 
 was in a Ford car ahead of the chief's 
 car, which was answering a call to the 
 Rome Oil Mill, and fearing a collision 
 from behind, Mr. Poole jumped out of 
 
 the Ford. In order to avoid hitting the 
 Ford, the chief turned a.side and hit 
 the policeman.— Feb. 18, 1921. 
 
 INJURED IN FALL— Mrs. Fanny 
 Nance, of South Rome, is being treated 
 for a broken or badly sprained right 
 arm as the result of an accident Friday 
 night in the yard of her home after a 
 visit to neighbors across the street. 
 
 About six years ago Mrs. Nance fell 
 and broke her left wrist, and four years 
 ago an automobile ran over her and 
 broke her right shoulder and dislocated 
 her left hip. Friends and relatives have 
 made many inquiries about her. — Dec. 
 19, 1920. 
 
 GARAGE HIT BY LANDSLIDE— A 
 landslide not quite political came Wil- 
 son M. Hardy's way last night at 1 
 o'clock which caused him to bounce out 
 of bed in a hurry. Bank and rock wall 
 on the old Nicholas J. Bayard lot. just 
 above him at the northeast corner of 
 Third avenue and East Fourth street, 
 loosened by the heavy rains, came slid- 
 ing down into his cement garageway. 
 part of it falling against and crushing 
 an edge of his garage and Idocking the 
 removal of his car until "Dr." Will 
 Mitchell arrived with a gang of men and 
 saved the situation. 
 
 Several tons of dirt from the steep 
 bank came down with a five-foot re- 
 taining wall and made a nile about a 
 foot high for a distance of 2.t feet, the 
 entire length of the garageway. 
 
 The highest point of the Imnk is sev- 
 eral feet higher than the top of Mr. 
 Hardv's bungalow, but it was thought
 
 506 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 "OBSEQUIES' AT THE COURTHOUSE OVER A KEG OF "LICKER." 
 
 POURS OUT LIQUOR— City Man- 
 ager Sam King had the rare pleasure 
 last night of pouring out a gallon of 
 licker at the police station which had 
 been captured at the home of Bill Bal- 
 lard, colored, on East Third street, near 
 the railroad, by Revenue Raider Grover 
 C. Williams and Policemen Jess and 
 Mell Johnson. Bill was landed in a 
 cell. I ^' 
 
 Mr. King poured it into a sink which 
 became stopped up as the white light- 
 ning tried to escape through the drain. 
 He could onlv sigh. "Them was the 
 happy days."— Jan. 19, 1921. 
 
 INTO WATER WAGON— Harv. 
 Wood, a hefty negro ditch digger em- 
 ployed by the city, was arrested yester- 
 day at noon on West Fifth avenue by 
 Officer Tolbert, charged with plain 
 drunkenness. He worked hard for sev- 
 eral hours, but got too close to some 
 licker and fell off the water wagon, hav- 
 ing been on it about a week. 
 
 The old man boarded a car bound for 
 West Rome on Second avenue and 
 started singing. He was warned at the 
 transfer station to keep quiet, but the 
 licker had put him in paradise, and so 
 he was easy for the police to catch. It 
 is said he can dig a lot of ditches when 
 he leaves whisky alone, which he doesn't 
 do about the same time each Saturday. 
 —Sept. 4, 1921. 
 
 BOOTLEGGER WARNED— Judge 
 W. J. Nunnally handed out Saturday in 
 City Court sentences to a number of 
 persons convicted during the week. Will 
 Martin, old bootlegger, was fined $100 
 and given 12 months on the chaingang, 
 but sentence was suspended pending 
 good behavior. "If you are caught with 
 a bottle on your hip, or whisky on your 
 breath, Will, in you go," announced the 
 
 court. "You have been coming up here 
 about 40 years, it seems, and I have 
 almost given up hope of reforming you. 
 Last time you told me you were going 
 to get into the church. I hope you will 
 reform this time." Will swore by the 
 everlasting devils that he was going to 
 straighten up and be a man. — March 
 20, 1921. 
 
 FIERCE RABBITS— A rabbit fights 
 and whips a hound belonging to John 
 Andrews, farmer, says a report from 
 Kingston, North Carolina. 
 
 Andrews says the rabbit had been 
 grazing around a moonshine still. 
 
 This is of great scientific interest to 
 frequenters of back rooms and cellars, 
 where they sell you a whisk broom with 
 every drink, to brush yourself off when 
 you get up. 
 
 It confirms the minstrel gag that 
 "one drink of white-mule will make a 
 rabbit spit in a bulldog's eye." — Sept. 
 2, 1921. 
 
 A QUEER APPETITE— An over- 
 dose of watermelon, canned fish and 
 corn liquor proved more serious early 
 this morning for Henderson Jackson, 
 40, than the usual colored folks' relish 
 of catfish and ice cream might have 
 been. 
 
 Henderson kept his soft drink stand 
 open near the Fairbanks plant in West 
 Rome Sunday and appeared to be all 
 right up to 10 o'clock p. m. He had 
 eaten some watermelon and salmon. At 
 1 a. m. today he staggered up to Annie 
 Perkins' home nearby and complained 
 of pains in his abdomen. He said he 
 thought he would be able to make it 
 home soon. He never got away from 
 here, although Dr. C. I. Gain was 
 called.
 
 c£ .(^.. 4^^-^^J^
 
 510 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 "After getting a stout punch in the 
 'slats' or the nose, a boy comes up 
 laughing, and everybody laughs with 
 him. It is seldom anybody gets mad. 
 The exercise is good for the boys, and 
 if they are ever called upon to defend 
 themselves, they can do a good job. 
 The boys bring their girls to our bouts; 
 they leave oaths outside and cigarettes 
 at home. 
 
 "Rubbing shoulders is the best thing 
 in the world for boys. Competition puts 
 them on the same plane. They learn 
 to win through merit, and this encour- 
 ages them to make adequate prepara- 
 tion, and to be prepared always. A boy 
 who joins in with the bunch makes a 
 better citizen than he who keeps aloof. 
 He develops a sense of humor, of give 
 and take, that is helpful throughout his 
 
 "Boys who engage in these friendly 
 little bouts do not go around spreading 
 tales and scandal about their compan- 
 ions. They are too busy playing the 
 game right to indulge in such." 
 
 Lockers for the gymnasium are due 
 to be installed this week, and the next 
 thing, Mr. Joyner hinted, would be a 
 Maple Street Athletic Association re- 
 cruited from the boys of the Anchor 
 Duck Mill.— Aug. 16," 1921. 
 
 SAKAH .iOVcK STEWART and Ben Yan- 
 cey's South American parrot, "Polly," who 
 is a great pet with children near the 
 Clock Tower. 
 
 HOUSEWIVES SUFFER— J. S. Ri- 
 der, manager of the local gas plant, 
 found himself an unpopular mortal this 
 morning when he was forced to cut the 
 gas off from every home, office and shop 
 in Rome. The trouble was that a main 
 under the plant got clogged up with 
 tar or water, or both. Housewives 
 called the plant from so many sources 
 that the office man left the telephone re- 
 ceiver off the hook until the damage 
 could be remedied temporarily. — Nov. 2. 
 1920. 
 
 HIGHT'S WIRELESS MUSIC— 
 Gordon L. Hight, amateur wireless op- 
 erator, entertained his friends at The 
 News office and a good many others 
 last night with a wireless phone concert, 
 having picked up a "message" out of 
 the air fi'om Pittsburg and connected 
 it through his instrument with tele- 
 phones around Rome. — Nov. 21, 1920. 
 
 BIBLE READING SET-BACK— De- 
 claring the resolutions passed by the 
 ministers and laymen on Bible reading 
 in the public schools to be camouflage, 
 Rev. H. Fields Saumenig, rector of St. 
 Peter's Episcopal Church, Sunday urg- 
 ed his communicants to oppose the 
 movement. He said he approved read- 
 ing and prayer in principle, but was 
 against the "unlimited measure" of the 
 proponents. — Dec. 6, 1920. 
 
 YANCEY PARROT ON HIKE— Ben 
 Yancey's parrot "Polly" felt a touch of 
 spring Tuesday and went flying away 
 from his adopted home on East Second 
 street. Tower Hill. He flew to the top 
 of an oak tree in the yard of the Cath- 
 olic parsonage on East First street, 
 and there wailed: 
 
 "Polly wants a cracker, cracker, chew 
 tobacco!" 
 
 Seeing a likely perch on the top of 
 St. Peter's Episcopal Church, he flew 
 there, and began to curse frightfully. 
 His raucous cries brought a jaybird to 
 find out what was the matter, and when 
 the jay discovered that it was only a 
 feathered biped like himself, he flew at 
 "Polly" as if to devour him. The par- 
 rot flung out a long wing, and, as the 
 small boy would say, "hit him on the 
 chin." 
 
 "Polly" is a South American bird and 
 has a tail about 18 inches long and a 
 beautiful coat of red and green feath- 
 ers. 
 
 He created considerable interest dur- 
 ing the recent World War by perching 
 on the end of a large American flag 
 which flew from a flagstaff at the top
 
 Miscellaneous — Items From the Press 
 
 511 
 
 of the Neely School on Tower Hill, thus 
 carrying out with a fine relish the eagle- 
 like symbolism in Old Glory. The wind 
 was strong enough to bear "Polly" at 
 the tip end of the huge flag, and there 
 he clung, shouting "Over the top and 
 at the damned Germans, boys!" until 
 hunger told him it was time to come 
 down.— Mar. 17, 1921. 
 
 FINDS POSSUM IN TRAP— Sam 
 Whitmire, of Everett Springs, is lucky 
 at catching 'possums now and then. He 
 was coming in to the town the other 
 day and wishing he had one to take 
 Mrs. Robert Battey. Before leaving, 
 he went to the hen house to gather the 
 eggs, and attached to a steel trap which 
 he had set for some quadruped that had 
 been catching his chickens he found a 
 big fat 'possum. 
 
 Mr. 'Possum had been caught by the 
 left hind foot. He was shoved into a 
 crocus sack and brought to town, and 
 served by Mrs. Battey with his best 
 smile on and potatoes six inches high. — 
 Jan. 10, 1921. 
 
 LINDALE HEN BUSY— R. C. 
 Banks, who resides near Lindale, is the 
 proud possessor of a hen — a real old- 
 time hen — that is worth her weight in 
 gold. Banks declared that she is lay- 
 ing one huge eg^ each day in the week, 
 not resting on Sunday, and that every 
 egg she lays has two yolks, which would 
 make her laying equal to two eggs a 
 day. At this rate, at the present price 
 of fresh eggs, she would lay $50 worth 
 of eggs in twelve months. — Tribune- 
 Herald, October 29, 1920. 
 
 FOG HINDERS FIREMEN— The 
 heaviest fog in years hung over Rome 
 Monday night like a blanket and proved 
 dangerous for vehicle drivers and pe- 
 destrians. It was possible to see ahead 
 only about 50 feet, and automobile 
 lights proved almost useless. Horns 
 sounded like the noise makers of steam- 
 ers stuck in fogs. 
 
 At 10:02 p. m. the fire department 
 answered a false alarm call from box 
 14, Fourth Ward, evidently turned in 
 by a mischief maker. Through the fog 
 the chief's car and the wagons plowed 
 at reduced speed. The East Rome com- 
 pany also answered. It was found that 
 the glass plate over the key to the box 
 had been broken, and the key was gone. 
 So were the practical jokers. — Feb. 4, 
 1921. 
 
 INSECT PLAGUE HALTS CARS— 
 An insect plague hit Rome for a few 
 
 hours Friday night. Although less 
 were out last night, they could not bo 
 counted by any human device. 
 
 Romans attempted to get to their 
 homes Friday night about 8:30 o'clock 
 across the Second avenue bridge span- 
 ning the Etowah and Oostanaula Riv- 
 ers, only to be held up because the in- 
 sects were two feet thick in places. One 
 business man's automobile was stalled 
 on the Etowah bridge. His wheels slid 
 around as if he had been on a ball- 
 room floor, and it was only by apply- 
 ing a generous sprinkle of sand that 
 he found it possible to continue home. 
 
 The insects swarmed on the wind- 
 shield of another young citizen so he 
 had to get down and scrape them off 
 with a monkey wrench. At that he got 
 plenty of them in his ears, eyes and 
 hair, for they arose at his approach. 
 
 This young man said the critters 
 emitted an odor as of stale fish. He 
 ran into a meat market for some air. 
 
 The insects were about an inch long, 
 with wings nearly that length, and 
 narrow, black bodies. They did not 
 bear any resemblance to anything 
 worth while, but appeared to be de- 
 void of all stingers. They congregated 
 
 FRANCIS MARION FREEMAN, of "River- 
 side." Etowah river, whose home was a 
 center of generous hosi>itality many years.
 
 514 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 I mi 
 
 ROBERT BATTEY AS A DRUG CLERK IN ROME. 
 
 Dr. Battey went into business with his brother, Dr. Geo. M. Battey, at No. 3 Exchange 
 Hotel Block, and was a pharmacist nearly ten years before he studied surgery. On the left 
 is Dr. Wm. Farell, once city physician, and between them Dr. Farell's son, Johnathan. (From 
 a daguerreotype, about 1848). 
 
 on the streets four days. Nearly every- 
 body is included. The streets are said 
 to be in bad condition, particularly in 
 some of the neighborhoods, and if 
 everybody will work, they can be put in 
 shape to walk and ride upon. 
 
 However, anybody who can't afford 
 to work for a dollar a day will plank 
 down $4 and be excused. — May 26, 
 1921. 
 
 A POET'S TRIBUTE TO THE 
 COW— By R. S. Kennard: Little do we 
 realize the debt we owe to the cow. 
 During the dark ages of savagery and 
 barbarism, we find her early ancestors 
 natives of the forests of the old world. 
 As the bright rays of civilization pene- 
 trated the darkness of that early pe- 
 riod, man called upon the cow, and 
 she came forth from her seclusion to 
 share in the efforts that gave us a 
 greater nation and more enlightened 
 people. 
 
 In 1493, when Columbus made his 
 second voyage to America, the cow 
 came with him. Her sons helped till 
 the soil of our ancestors, helped clear 
 dense forests, and made homes possi- 
 ble for the coming generations — and 
 when the tide of emigration turned 
 westward, they hauled the belongings 
 )f the pioneer across the sun-scorched 
 plains and over the mountain ranges to 
 the homes beyond. Truly the cow is 
 man's greatest benefactor. Hail, wind, 
 drought and floods may come, destroy 
 our crops and banish our hopes, but 
 from what is left, the cow manufac- 
 
 tures the most nourishing and life-sus- 
 taining foods. We love her for her 
 docility, her beauty and her usefulness. 
 Her loyalty has never weakened and 
 should misfortune overtake us, as we 
 become bowed down with the weight of 
 years, we know that in the cow we have 
 a friend that was never known to fal- 
 ter. She pays the debt. She saves 
 the home.— May 1, 1921. 
 
 NECROLOGICAL— Frank C. Cald- 
 well, aged 30 years, whose young wife 
 died less than a year ago, and 
 whose son died last week, passed away 
 early this morning at his home, No. 604 
 East Third street, after a short illness 
 with pneumonia. His only remaining 
 child, a young boy, is now critically ill 
 with the same disease. 
 
 The funeral, which will occur at 2 
 o'clock this afternoon from the resi- 
 dence, will be conducted by Rev. Mr, 
 Nelson, under the direction of the local 
 camp of Modern Woodmen of America, 
 of which deceased was a member. In- 
 terment will be at Antioch Cemetery, 
 where the wife and child also lie. 
 
 Mr. Caldwell .was an honest, indus- 
 trious and moral young man whose 
 passing away is a source of regret to 
 all who knew him.— Nov. 24, 1920. 
 
 FIRE AND RIDING HABIT— Miss 
 Ora Belle Updegrove yesterday donned 
 a habit not quite as extreme as the gray 
 check riding suit she wore through the 
 streets of Rome Friday following a fire
 
 MARTHA BURNETT SPULLOCK, daughter of Judge and Mrs. Jas. 
 M. Spullock, in her day one of the most beautiful belles in Cherokee 
 Georgia. She married Willis P. Chisholm and went to live in Atlanta.
 
 518 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 FLOYD COUNTY'S FIRST COURTHOUSE, LIVINGSTON, 1833. 
 
 "OLD SETTLERS" 
 
 Following is a partial list of "pioneers" whose names appear on the books in 
 the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court as having participated in transfers 
 of Rome and Floyd County real estate from 1833 through 1837. Among them are 
 the ancestors of many well-known Georgians : 
 
 1833-1835— J. L. Abraham, A. B. Austin, J. B. Arnold, Mark Ambrose, J. F. Ab- 
 ernathy, A. J. Austin, John Bailey, Nathan Briton, James Belk, Robert Boyle, Eze- 
 kiel Buffington, Lewis M. Brantley, John Brewster, E. T. Bush, Jos. G. Blance, John 
 Brooks, Jas. H. Bryan, William Blalock, John Baker, Benjamin Baker, T. Byrd, 
 John Barry, A. L. Barry, W. B. Cone, John Caldwell, James Cunningham, J. C. 
 Coker, John Carmichael, Jesse W. Cozzart, W. H. Cleghorn, Thos. Camp, Reuben 
 Cone, Thos. W. Connally, H. M. Cunningham, John Copeland, Henry B. Cone, 
 Henry Dillon, Thos. Dillard, James Donahoo, Alvin Dean, D. Dickson, Norman 
 Duffie, W. H. Edwards, Jas. Eppinger, James Ellis, J. P. Ellington, Wm. Ezzard, 
 Tomlinson Fort, Wm. Fish, Jos. Ford, A. B. Griffin, Benj. Garrett, W. B. Graves, 
 Z. B. Hargrove, P. W. Hemphill, A. T. Harper, H. B. Hathaway, ■ .il. Hale, Josiah 
 Horton, Nathaniel Harris, K. W. Hargrove, Wm. Hardin, Seaton '■ .11, Jas. Hemp- 
 hill, John Harwell, Thos. H. Hughes, John A. Hughes, Moses Hendricks, Alex 
 Hawkins, Thos. Holland, Theo T. Horseby, Joab Kendricks, John Humphries, S. J. 
 Johnson, T. D. Johnson, John A. Jones, Jesse Johnson, A. H. Johnson, Berry Jones, 
 Thos. G. James, Seaborn Johnson, Joseph Johnson, J. W. Jackson, John Jolly, Jr., 
 Thos. B. King, Freeman Kellogg, Andrew Kimberley, Jas. S. King, Francis W. 
 King, Francis Kirby, Robt. Knight, Anson Kimberly, G. W. F. Lamkin, John La- 
 mar, B. Lawrence, Geo. M. Lavender, Jas. Lawrence, Sarah Leggett, James 
 Long, Peter Lamar, Jesse Lane, Tice Lowry, Lewis A. L. Lamkin, Tb; . W. A. 
 Lumtix, Pleasant R. Lyle, J. H. Lumpkin, Robt. Ligon, Setha Moore, -.1. Mont- 
 gomery, Geo. Miller, Mordecai Myers, David Mimms, Lelm Milliga, Pat Marlow, 
 Chas. H. McCall, Shad Morris, Hudson Moss, F. G. Moss, Elijah Maddox, Wm. G. 
 Morris, Wright Murph, X. G. McFarland, D. R. Mitchell, John W. Martin, Geo. 
 Moore, Robt. Mitchell, Jas. A. Nesbit, P. Nugent, J. M. Norwood, James O'Bryan, 
 Benj. Odell, Asa Prior, Wm. T. Price, James Price, Drewery Peoples, M. Pende- 
 grass, Chas. Price, Jacob C. Putnam, George Park, John L. Ponder, Jas. Phillips, 
 Saml. T. Payne, Hugh Quin, J. Richards, W. T. Richards, C. P. Richardson, E. G. 
 Rogers, Jos. Rivers, Jas. Russell, John Rush, Saml. Roe, Edwin G. Rogers, Isham 
 S. Rainey, Amos G. Robinson, Robt. Ralston, Wm. Smith, Peter Strickland, Mor- 
 gan H. Snow, Leastom Snead, Stephen Smith, Adam G. Safford, Eralboa Seymour, 
 Wm. R. Smith, W. Shropshire, Jas. Sanborn, John Smith, James Scott, Reuben C.
 
 Miscellaneous — Lists 
 
 519 
 
 HOME BUILT BY COL. DANIEL S. PRINTUP AT 707 BROAD STREET. 
 
 Shutre, W. C. Street, Jackson Trout, John Townsend, Thos. Treadaway, Tucbey 
 F. Thomas, John Trammell, Wm. Terrell, Geo. W. Underwood, Henry Vincent, Asa 
 W. Veal, Aug. N. Verdery, Math. Varner, Sr., N. N. Verdery, A. Weatherford, 
 J. B. Williams, Benj. Watson, Jos. Watson, George Wood, Robt. Ware, Wm. H. 
 Williamson, James Wells, Jeremiah Wptters. Moses Wright, Norman Wallace, 
 Jos. Watters, Elisha Yancey, Joseph York, Danl. Zuber, Jas. B. Zachey, N. B. 
 Felton, Nathan Maroney, Joshua Smith, John Dailey. Jr., Edwin Lattimer, Lyman 
 Sherwood, Cranberry Templeton, Silas Mercer, Jr.. Wm. Carlisle, W. M. Clemons, 
 Francis Riviere, E. B. Wallace, Telfair 7osey, Richmond Holmes, Thos. Eason. P. 
 W. Kimbrell, S. R. Hargis, Wm. R. Patton, Wm. P. Kolb, Jeremiah Clarke, Wm. 
 Chestnutt, F. B. Holliday, Wm. Todd, W. R. Welborn, John B. Harvey. W. Con- 
 nor, Joshua Humphries, Sarah Woodcock, Eli Ajor, John Cabbage, Wm. Seals, 
 Z. Carpenter, Jas. H. Watts, Jesse Walker, Pressley Garner, Ann Smith, Saml. 
 Whitfield, Jno. Nablett. Mary Ford, H. Redingfield. Jno. J. Averett, H. B. Hill, 
 Esther Jepson, Benj. Jepson, Reuben Early, Jno. Sparrow, Nancy Yancey, Am- 
 brose Sander.s, Wm. S. Booth, J. D. Jourden, Nath Johnson, Rhoda Whidden. Fi-r- 
 riba Freeman, Jos. Brantley, Barnea West, Denny Peeples, Jas. W. Cooper. L^^aac 
 Roberts, Major Peace, H. P. Brannon, Simeon Taylor. Saml. Wilkins, .Mark Wil- 
 cox, Allen Vanderford, J. C. Campbell, Henry S. Melton, Littleton Thomaston, 
 Aaron Cross, John Higgs, C. G. Fleming, Geo. W. Mcintosh, Wm. Hardin, Wm, 
 Young, Julius Clark, B erry Hob ])s. Eping Harris. C. Garri.son, Fountain Wood, 
 Jno. Osteen, John Stewart, Henry T. Brumby, Isham R. Burkhalter, A. T. Hardin, 
 Danl. Majors, Wm. Duke, Wm. Carroll, Thos. Pope, Garrett Hudman, Seaborn Hall. 
 Seaborn Nally, Ausborn Reeves, Isaiah Goulden, Jas. Monk. Thos. Edge, Marquis 
 Ambrose, Luke Johnson, Absalom Duncan^ John R. Jeter. Wm. Henderson. Henry 
 Monger, Stephen O. Kelly','T^T)tmiompson, Josh Hatcheisiegnor, Mary Parish. 
 Mary Carter, Gilford Kent, Hosea Camp, John Buckner, H. V. Hathaway, Abel 
 Lee, Thos. Dillard, Jesse Lipthrop, Thos. C. Bolton, Sampoa Black. Jno. R. Boon. 
 Asa Weaver, Garrett Hudinaw, Seaborn Delk. Washington Baker, \. D. Woods, 
 Vincent Gordon, Wm. Truscott, Jno. Pedon, Hollis Cooley, Wm. D. Hansell. J. Mc- 
 Kinney, Richard Ferkinson, Saml. H. Harrison. Jos. Bohan. Asa McLusky. Jacob 
 Coxe, Jas. C. Grizzle, Sion Hall, Jos. Janson, Mathew Siglar, G. McFarland. Wm. 
 H. Broach, John Kilgore, J. M. Kilgore, Nathan Lewis, Wm. C. Swindle, Wm. B. 
 Hardison, N. Yancey, John Carlton, Mary Yates and Jesse Lickroy.
 
 522 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 
 A "LANDSLIDE" NOT QUITE POLITICAL. 
 
 Early in 1921, late at night, a part of the old Shorter College wall gave awayi 
 and crushed Wilson Hardy's garage like an egg-shell. Mr. Hardy's friends declared 
 this is what comes of owning one bank and living next to another. 
 
 students — Dick Harrison, B. I. Hughes, Jr., John Jervis, T. N. Kennebrew, E. E. 
 Lindsey, James Maddox, R. L. Nichols, A. A. Simonton, Norris N. Smith, Dr. H. 
 A. Turner, Geo. P. Weathers, Joe White and J. Tim Willis. Students— R. B. 
 Betts, R. G. Burkhalter, S. P. Coalson, James D'Arcy, B. E. HuflPaker, J. H. Tay- 
 lor and J. W. Weems. Other Tech men in Floyd County — Quin McArver, Coosa; 
 V. M. Davis, Cave Spring; C. H. Edmondson and J. W. Houseal, Lindale; J. T. 
 Watters, Hermitage. 
 
 Home-Coming Visitors, Oct. 11-16, 1920— L. W. Arnold and wife and C. K. 
 Ayer, Atlanta; Elmo Ballew, Calhoun; J. M. Brisendine, Griffin; B. M. Brewer 
 and wife, Chattanooga, Tenn.; B. S. Earner, Gainesville; F. F. Berry, Cambridge, 
 Mass.; George Battey, Jr., Dr. H. I. Battey and H. Branch, Atlanta; Mrs. D. C. 
 Buell, Nashville, Tenn.; J. H. Bradfield and Chas. Berst, Atlanta; R. G. Black, 
 Washington, D. C; Miss Amy K. Crook, Bluffton, Ala.; Mrs. S. J. Cobb, Gads- 
 den, Ala.; Whit Cooper, Salem, Oreg.; J. L. Couch, Atlanta; Mrs. B. H. Cannon, 
 Cedar Rapids, Iowa; W. B. Cody and Roy Chamblee, Atlanta; Mrs. J. W. Craw- 
 ford, Dalton; Mrs. L. A. Crumley, Miss Lena Clark and G. B. Carther, Atlanta; 
 Mrs. J. R. DuBose, Lorain, O.; J. F. Davis, Gadsden, Ala.; Maj. R. C. Eddy, Sims- 
 bury, Conn.; H. A. Ewing, Atlanta; Jay Fowler, Subligna; Mrs. F. F. Foster, 
 Selma, Ala.; Jesse Foster, Atlanta; Mrs. A. B. Freeman, New Orleans, La.; Ward 
 Greene and wife, Miss Mary Glenn, L. C. Goering, Jr., J. C. Gentry and R. L. 
 Haire, Atlanta; Mrs. H. R. Hume, Cedar Bluff, Ala.; Mrs. R. M. Heptinstall, 
 Lawton, Okla.; Mrs. J. M. Hunt, Jora Harrison, L W. Hill, G. W. Hanson, J. N. 
 Hull, H. S. Hammett and Maj. Baxter Hunter, Atlanta; H. B. Harper, Evansville, 
 Ind.; Mrs. J. H. Hawkins, Youngs; P. C. Haire, Greenville, Ala.; H. R. Hume, 
 Cedar Bluff, Ala.; Shelley Ivey, Shelley Ivey, Jr., Fred Jones, Lang Jones and 
 John Jentzen, Atlanta; K. E. Johnston, Montpelier, Vt.; E. M. Jones, Tampa, Fla.; 
 Steve R. Johnston, Miss Frances Jones, Miss Lucille Jones, J. L. Key and A. R. 
 King, Atlanta; G. E. Kammerer, Wilmington, N. C; Mrs. Howard King, Nash- 
 ville, Tenn.; J. C. Landers, Eastman; H. L. Lansdell and wife, Atlanta, Ga. ; 
 E. A. Leonard and wife, Summerville; J. N. Landers, Atlanta; W. E. Meredith, 
 Doe Run; Gip McWilliams, Ooltewah, Tenn.; Mrs. R. M. Martin, Columbia, Tenn.; 
 
 A. J. Miller, A. H. Martin and W. F. Moat, Atlanta; Mrs. Clopton Mitchell, Chevy 
 Chase, Md.; Andy McElroy, Atlanta; J. W. McCord, Tallahassee, Fla.; James 
 
 B. Nevin, Atlanta; Geo. C. Norton, Nashville, Tenn.; R. S. Pringle, W. C. Pierce,
 
 Miscellaneous — Lists 
 
 523 
 
 E. A. Randle, J. O. Reynolds. Hill Shropshire, Miss Tommie Strickland, Joe 
 Spiegelberg, J. R. Seawright and I. F. Styron, Atlanta; Mrs, Alvah Stone, Roan- 
 oke, Va.; Paul Stevenson, Mrs. Jno. E. Smith, Ralph Smith and wife and Jno. E. 
 Smith, Atlanta; Miss Margaret Taylor and Miss Frances Taylor, Bowling Green 
 Ky.; Mrs. J. G. Tracy, Syracuse, N. Y.; Mrs. C. C. Turner, L. M. Turner, Jr., 
 Cedartown; Miss Jessie Turner, J. S. Turner, Lieut. F. B. Teganer, Ralph Trate, 
 Miss Marion Van Dyke and H. B. Vaughan, Atlanta; Miss Ora White, Subligna; 
 Miss Mary White, Atlanta; A. W. Walton, Decatur, Ala.; D. R. Wilder and B. 
 Graham West, Atlanta. 
 
 Rome Volunteer Fire Department Chiefs from Apr. 6, 1868— Jas. Noble, Jr., 
 3 years; Harry A. Hills, 3 years (secretary National Fire Chiefs' Convention); 
 Henry A. Smith, 3 years; Richard V. Allen, 1 year; Mulford M. Pepper, 1 year; 
 Richard V. Allen, 2 years; Wm. M. Towers, 1 year; Mulford M. Pepper, 1 year; 
 Louis J. Wagner, 3 years; Wm. W. Seay, 2 years; Wm. H. Steele, 2 years; J. D. 
 Hanks, 2 years; Thomas J. Cornelius, 2 years; Joseph B. Owens, 1 year; Wm. J. 
 Griffin, 1 year; Arthur M. Word, 1 year; P. H. Vandiver, 2 years; Harry C. Har- 
 rington, 7 years with Volunteers, until beginning as fully paid department of city 
 (July 1, 1908) ; J. Albert Sharp, Horace L. Taylor. 
 
 Rainboiv Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 1, (organized Apr. 6, 1868— list from 1902 
 to 1908). Motto: "When duty calls us, it is ours to respond." 
 
 Honorary Members: Thomas R. Logan, M. D. McOsker, G. H. Rawlins, Henry 
 
 A. Smith, W. P. McLeod, James A. Smith, W. H. Steele, Wm. M. Towers, H. 
 Yancey, George Ramey. 
 
 Active Members: J. D. Hanks, Pres. ; Andrew V. Brown, V. P.; Frank J. 
 Kane, Sec'y; J- H. Lanham, Treas. ; Tom Caldwell, 1st Director; W. E. Bryan, 
 2nd Director; R. W. Calloway, 3rd Director; John Cantrell, 4th Director; Dr. 
 R. H. Wicker, Surgeon; Jas. McLeod and A. W. Davis, Pipemen; L. A. Helms 
 and G. F. Redden, Axmen; A. M. Word, Delegate; Jas. M. Lay, Geo. Ramey and 
 W. M. Towers, Trustees; James M. Dempsey, Driver; Gib Austin, Asst. Driver; 
 Walter Quin, John Watson and R. V. Mitchell, Finance Committee; J. A. Buf- 
 fington, A. B. McArver, Wm. May, Jr., Joe Johnson, Frank Holtzclaw, W. M. 
 Lanham, W. J. Atwood, Eugene Logan, Tom Tolbert, Albert Sharp, George Sharp, 
 W. L. Tolbert, Newt Tolbert and A. Randle. 
 
 Floyd County World War Victims. — Capt. Thomas Edward Grafton, Lieut. 
 Lofton H. Stamps, Lieut. Roy Lanham, Lieut. A. Walton Shanklin, Cadet James 
 Hugh Webb, Sgt. Raymond Lee Johnson. Julius Clyde Price (U. S. N.), Addis E. 
 Moore, William Joseph Attaway, George M. Fisher, Allen D'Arcy. Carl Davis, 
 George E. Davis, Clifford Davis Washington, Penny Spann and Albert Wright, 
 Rome; Lester Taylor, Wax; Quillian Hayes, Robert J. McClain. Robert J. Stan- 
 sell, Archie C. Autrey, Mikel Whalem Satterfield, Porter Williams, Thomas L, 
 
 
 lUcstcnHBanh (5airi\ia 
 
 /- ••''.,.. ^^///' ////// / '-=- ' .-'tV//, / ^-j r ^'^^^';^3iiS ' 
 
 •«ai««u>^.«n$Mi«.«aHM«n« 
 
 ROME'S OLDEST BANK NOTE. (Courtesy of Chas. J. Warner.)
 
 526 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 DOCTORS HONOR ROME SURGEON WITH SHAFT. 
 
 On Thursday, April 5, 1921, the Medical Association of the State of Georgia unveiled a 
 monument at City Hall park to the late Dr. Robert Battey, at its annual meeting in Rome. 
 Dr. Howard A. Kelly, of Baltimore, delivered the principal address, and the monument was 
 accepted for the city by E. E. Lindsey. A group of the Seventh District Medical Society, 
 which started the movement, is shown above. 
 
 Strange and Cundy Bryson will be among the Rome boys at Emory, 
 to leave about the 24th. 
 
 They expect 
 
 Albert Swain will be at Mercer and William Wimbish will go to Young-Harris. 
 
 Miss Laura Weller Graham leaves the 12th for Sweetbriar College in Vir- 
 ginia, Miss Ora Cole the following day for Winston-Salem, Miss Kathleen Bar- 
 ron the 19th to Hollins Institute at Hollins, Va.; Miss Marshall Norton, the 18th, 
 to Sophie Newcomb, at New Orleans; Miss Mildred McFall to Barnard College, 
 New Yoi'k; Miss Pearl Smith will return to Agnes Scott; Misses Mildred Wood, 
 Virginia Daniel, Florence Burney, Katherine Beysiegel, Gertrude and Louise De- 
 Lay will again enroll at G. N. I. C. at Milledgeville. 
 
 At Wesleyan, in Macon, will be Misses Doris Morris and Mary and Sarah Wil- 
 kerson. 
 
 Miss Louise Orr will return to Bethel College, at Hopkinsville, Ky., and Miss 
 Katherine Cox will again be at Peabody, in Nashville. 
 
 Misses Bonnie and Grace Hale will return to LaGrange Female College at 
 LaGrange. 
 
 Misses Mary Harrison, Mary McKoy and Lila Willingham returned Wednes- 
 day to Forsyth, where they will resume their work at Bessie Tift. 
 
 Among the Rome girls who will attend Shorter College at Rome are the fol- 
 lowing: Misses Rebecca Yeargan, Virginia Penn, Patti Berry, Olyra Horton, 
 Ruby Mae Sherard, Ruby Mae Ward, Emma Jane Hanna, Geraldine McKenzie, 
 Lillian Venable, Evelyn Cantrell, Mary Warters, May Morton, Elizabeth Ram- 
 cy, Miriam McConnell, Minette Weems, Sarah Glover, Mabel Owens, Edith 
 McKenzie and Isabel Bross.— Sept. 9, 1921. 
 
 Home-Comivcj Queen Entrants, 1921. — Louise Berry (winner), Betty Betts, 
 Tot Moultrie, Maynor Montgomery, Bobby Daniel, Ruby Wilkerson, Minette 
 Weems, Patti B. Berry, Elise Stamps, Virginia Dixon, Annie Mae Bachman, Diana 
 Meyerhardt, Louise Shamblin, Maybeth Graham, Lucille Nicholson, Maebeth 
 Hagin, Shelia Roberts, Eleanor Graham, Polly McGill, Eugenia Malone, Janice 
 McCormack, Goodwyn Denny, Josephine Arrington, Mary Best, Cobbie Mae Dean, 
 Hazel Blackstock, Elizabeth Bryan, Jessie Collier, Beth Turner, Ruby Wilson, 
 Virginia Mann, Inez Carter, Mildred Burney, Willine Roberts, Katherine Daniel,
 
 Miscellaneous — Lists 
 
 527 
 
 IMPROVING THE BICEPS ON TOWER HILL. 
 
 Prof. E. Montague Gammon, principal of the Rome High School, exercising a group of 
 his charges with iron dumb-bells, about 1897. Prof. Gammon was the "giant" of Rome at 
 this time, and took part in most of the athletic games with his younger brother, Von Al- 
 bade Gammon. The third boy in the picture is Dr. Robert O. Simmons. 
 
 Velma Maxwell, Blanche Wilkins. Julia Pope Smith, Isabel Bross, Edith INIcKen- 
 zie, Lee Ella Dean, Mary Emma Saunders, Evelyn Harrington, Miriam McConnell, 
 Verda Broach, Ruth Colegate, Mrs. Kenneth Hamilton, Mrs. Leo F. Hackett, Mrs. 
 Max Kuttner, Mrs. Felton Jones and Mrs. Garden Bunn. 
 
 Rome Chapter, Shorter College Alumnae AsfiociatioH, 1921 — Miss Daisy Allen. 
 Mrs. Leland Angle, Mrs. A. B. Arrington, Sr., Miss Amelia Berry, Mrs. Carl 
 Betts, Miss Elizabeth Betts, Miss Mary Boyd, Mrs. Bestor Brown, Miss Hattie 
 Benjamin, Mrs. Josie Hine Boozer, Mrs. J. R. Cantrell, Miss Ethel Cantrell, Miss 
 Eva Cantrell, Mrs. M. A. Cooper, Mrs. J. P. Cooper, Mrs. Mark Cooper. Miss Imo 
 Coulter, Miss Gertrude Cheney, Miss Jessie Cheney, Mrs. J. C. Davis. Miss Cobbie 
 Mae Dean, Mrs. R. A. Denny", Mrs. Tom Davison, Mrs. Paul Doyal. Miss Moselle 
 Eubanks, Miss Nellie Vail Eubanks, Mrs. Albert Fahy. Mrs. Walter Futrelle, Mrs. 
 Robt. W. Graves, Mrs. Mel Gammon, Mrs. James Glover, Mrs. John M. Graham, 
 Mrs. E. P. Grant, Mrs. W. T. Guest, Mrs. W. B. Hale, Mrs. Linton Hamilton, Miss 
 Edith Harvey. Miss Lillie Hardin, Miss Elizabeth Harris, Mrs. Ed. Harris, Mrs. 
 Wm. P. Harbin, Miss Gussie Henderson, Mrs. A. C. Hogg, Miss Sara Hardy, 
 Miss Rosa Hammond, Miss Ada Jenkins, Mrs. C. W. King, Miss Elizabeth 
 Knowles, Mrs. Will Ledbetter, Mrs. John Ledbetter. Mrs. Bessie M. Law- 
 rence, Mrs. E. E. Lindsey, Mrs. T. W. Lipscomb, Mrs. Ed. Maddox, Mrs. F. G. 
 Merriam, Mrs. D. A. Moore, Mrs. A. B. S. Moseley, Miss Maynor Montgomery, .Mis. 
 Geo. Miller, Mrs. Arthur Milhollin, Mrs. Glover McGhee, Mrs. Frank McGhee, 
 Mrs. Pierce McGhee, Mrs. Oscar McWilliams. Mrs. Mark McDonald, 
 Mrs. Luke McDonald, Miss Lilly Nunnally, Mrs. Pennington Nixon, Mrs. 
 J. B. Owens, Mrs. J. H. O'Neill, Miss Leni O'Neill, Miss Alice Parks, rs. Joe Pal- 
 mer, Miss Alida Printup, Mrs. Ed. Proctor, Mrs. C. S. Pruden. Mrs. G. C. Phillips. 
 Mrs. R. O. Pitts, Jr., Miss Miriam Reynolds, Miss Gussie Ross. Mi.ss ^hattie Shoib- 
 ley, Mrs. George B. Smith, Miss Florence Smith. Mrs. C. S. Sparks, Mrs. Boiling 
 Sullivan, Miss Lilly Trawick, Mrs. E. P. Treadaway, Mrs. Clarence Todd. Mrs. 
 Leonard Todd, Mrs. Henry A. Turner, Miss Cordelia P. Veal. Mrs. A. W. Van 
 Hoose, Miss Fannie Wood", Miss Susie Warlick, Miss Ruth Watters. Miss Lilly 
 Williamson, Miss Mary Williamson, Miss Ethel Wilker.'^on. Miss Eleanor Wilcox. 
 Mrs. C. J. Wyatt, Mrs. William Wyatt, Mrs. Leila Hill Wright, Miss :\l;iry Julia 
 Woodruff and Mrs. Ben C. Yancey. 
 
 Floijd County Road Worl: District Committees, 1921 — Amuuiu'c, Dr. J. H. (nif- 
 fin, Kieffer Lindsey, J. C. Lovell; Barker's. J. D. Washington. Ernest Taylor. J. H. 
 Orr; Cave Spring, G. W. Williamson. A. J. Spence. C. W. Wright; Chulio, Sam 
 R. Ellis, Smilev Johnson, Sr., J. C. Couch; Etowah, Kinney Fmcher. W. G. Kerce. 
 Jno. F. Sproull; Everett Springs, J. H. Barton. S. H. Dew. J. C. Everett; Floyd
 
 Miscellaneous — Lists 
 
 529 
 
 J. D. Moreland, W. G. McWilliams, H. W. Morton, Mahan Co., McWillianis & Co 
 Norton Drug Co., Paul Nixon, G. C. Phillips Motor Co., B. F. Quigg Rome Mfg' 
 Co., J. M. Randall, W. S. Rowell, Rome Coca-Cola Co., Rome Bakery Co Rome 
 Farm Equip. Co., L. W. Rogers Co.. Rome Whistle Bott. Co., Rome Ry. & Lt. Co. 
 Norris N. Smith & Co., S. H. Smith, Standard Oil Co., Shorter College, Dr. Geo b' 
 Smith, Standard Sewer Pipe Co., Dr. R. 0. Simmons, W. C. Tucker, u'tter-Johnson 
 Co., Tony Vincenzi. Rev. Jno. H. Wood, Moses Wright, Dr. Wm. Winston, Willing- 
 ham, Wright & Covington, Atlantic Ice & Coal Corp.. B. F. Archer, G. H. Albea, 
 A. S. Burney, Brittain Bros. Co., Bowie Stove Co., Battev Mch. Co., J. S. Bach- 
 man, W. P. Bradfield, D. A. Boulgaris, Chas. Blackstock, Commercial Printing Co., 
 Consolidated Groc. Co., Culpepper-Storey Co., C. I. Carey, Leon H. Covington, J. B. 
 Chidsey, Sam J. Davis, Rev. E. F. Dempsey, L. A. Dean, Dr. B. V. Elmore, Fifth 
 Ave. Drug Co.. Fidelity Loan & Trust Co., Graves-Harper Co., W. M. Gammon & 
 Sons, Ben Gann, Harper Mfg. Co., Hight Access. Co., Dr. Chas. Hamilton, Hale 
 Drug Co., E. A. Heard, Harper Hamilton, Hanks Stove & Range Co., Rev. H. F. 
 Joyner, Harry Johnson, Keith & Gray, J. Kuttner & Co., E. E. Lindsey, E. A. 
 Leonard Co., Gordon Lee, Merriam Coal Co., Maddox & Doyal. W. H. Mitchell, Dr. 
 J. T. McCall, Geo. P. Weathers, Miller Cash Store, Hugh McCrary, E. J. Moul- 
 trie, James Maddox, Max Meyerhardt, National City Bank, E. H. Norrell, Parsons 
 & Ward, Pete Petropol, Rome Oil Mill, 0. R. Ross, Dr. A. F. Routledge, Rome 
 Chero-Cola Bott. Co., Rome News, Rome Supply Co., B. E. Rakestraw & Co., 
 L. C. Robertson, Rome Box & Mfg. Co., Rome Hosiery Mills, F. L. Sammons. H. H. 
 Shackelton, Stotts Bros., Rev. J. E. Sammons, R. C. Sharp, W. T. Sherard. Stamps 
 & Co., John T, Taylor, Updegrove Mkt. Assn., John M. Vandiver. Walker Elec. & 
 PL Co., C. 0. Walden, Wyatt Jewelry Co., Hamilton Yancey L Agy.. Geo. B. 
 Wood, O. P. Willingham, Young-Hamilton Jewelry Co., Dr. R. E. Andrews, As- 
 rington-Buick Co., J. L. Adams, Thos. Berry, Bradfield & Striplin, Hugh H. Best, 
 J. L. Brannon & Co., J. W. Bryson, Bartlett Auto E. Co., Beard & Helton, W. H. 
 Bennett, Dr. R. P. Cox, R. E. Carter, Citizens' Bank, Central of Ga. Ry., Andrew 
 A. Cooper, Curry-Arrington Co., Daniel Furniture Co., Dempsey & Holloway, 
 Etowah Cooperage Co., Exide Battery Service Co., Floyd County Bank, A. R. 
 Fouche, Geston Garner, GrifRn-Cantrell Hdwe. Co., Holder Coal & Lumber Co., 
 G. H. Hays, W. W. Hawkins, W. T. Huff, Hill & Owens, Howel Cotton Co. of Ga.. 
 Geo. W. Hamby, Hale-Brannon Co., Jones Poster Adv. Co., James Supply Co., 
 Jas. H. Keown, C. J. King & Starr, Dr. T. E. Lindsey, A. Lehmann, Jr., Kieffer 
 Lindsey, McGhee Cotton Co., McWilliams Feed & Groc. Co., Paul L Morris, Mar- 
 shall Cigar Co., E. Pierce McGhee, Marshall Mfg. Co., Dr. L. F. McKoy, G. H. Mc- 
 Rae, McGhee Tire Co., McDonald Furniture Co., W. J. Nunnally, Nixon Hwde. 
 Co., H. B. Parks & Co., Persinger Co., Rome Tribune-Herald, Rome Merc. Co.. 
 Rome Furn. Co., Geo. S. Reese, R. J. Ragan, Rome Mch. & Fdry. Co., Rabuzzi 
 & Thomas, Rome Stationery Co., Rome Laundry Co., H. T. Reynolds, Standard 
 Marble Co., Simpson Groc. Co., H. A. Spencer, Southern Bell T. & T. Co., Dr. W. 
 J. Shaw, Geo. G. Stiles, Towers & Sullivan Co., Third Avenue Hotel, Dr. F. E. 
 Vaissiere, Thos. Warters, B. E. Welch, R. E. Wilson, Wyatt Book Store, Dr. J. C. 
 Watts and O. Willingham. 
 
 THE HORSE IN THE DAYS OF HIS UNDISPUTED RIGHT-OF-WAY. 
 
 Memorial Day marshals, snapped on the old Land Comp.Tny Bridijc about 20 years ago. 
 From left to right the riders are J. H. Camp, Capt. A. B. S. Moselcy, Col. A. B. Montgomery, 
 Capt. Henry S. Lansdell, W. Addison Knowlcs and Terrell Speed, "Coonskin Statesman.
 
 530 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 TIDING THE FARMER OVER THE CRISIS. 
 
 The pictures above show scenes at Rome's curb market, started in 1921 by the Woman's 
 Auxiliary of the Chamber of Commerce, with Mrs. Bessie B. Troutman in charge, and onat 
 of the first trading meccas in Georgia under the new plan, which seeks to remove the 
 farmer from the influence of exploiters and put him in a position to make a living by direct 
 trading at a fixed price. 
 
 Girl Scout Organization. — The Rome Council, Girl Scouts of America, was 
 organized Nov. 11, 1921, with Mrs. Howard Hull as commissioner. In October, 
 1922, the officers were as follows: Mrs. W. H. Lewis, commissioner; Mrs. J. Paul 
 Cooper, deputy commissioner; Mrs. Wm. Winston, deputy commissioner; Mrs. 
 R. L. Wilson, secretary; Mrs. S. B. Norton, treasurer. 
 
 The Eecutive Committee was made up of the officers and Mrs. J. H. O'Neill 
 and Mrs. C. Bryant Graves. 
 
 In 1921 John and Will Ledbetter, representing the Cloudland Park Corpora, 
 tion, developers of the mountain resort known as Cloudland, Chattooga County, 
 gave a ten-acre tract of land to the Cherokee Council of Boy Scouts at Cloudland, 
 for camp purposes. They also presented a site some distance away from the 
 Boy Scout camp for the girls' summer playground, and this latter is now known 
 as Camp Juliette Lowe, after the Scout leader from Savannah by that name. 
 Miss Dorris S. Hough, of Southern Regional headquarters, 84 Marietta Street, 
 Atlanta, is in charge. Mrs. J. P. Cooper, Mrs. J. H. O'Neill and Mrs. W. H. 
 Lewis represented the Rome Council in the negotiations and construction.
 
 Miscellaneous — Lists 
 
 531 
 
 A few shacks were built by the boys in 1921, and in 1922 others were added 
 The girls have an assembly hall, 40x72 feet. The grounds of each camp are high 
 and healthful, and each season finds larger numbers of Scouts attending The 
 length of stay is usually two weeks. Ample facilities are offered for bathing and 
 athletic games, in addition to the Scout progi-ams. 
 
 Rome is proud of the second girl in Georgia to receive the order of the 
 Golden Eaglet. She is Virginia Robert Lipscomb, of Troop 2. 
 
 The eight troops, their officers and members follow: 
 
 ROME GIRL SCOUT TROOPS. 
 
 Troop 1, — Mrs. Julian Reese, captain (Mrs. Andrew Cooper resigned in Sep- 
 tember, 1922) ; Ellen Hagin, lieutenant. 
 
 Madeline Peacock, 
 Louise Caldwell, 
 Lucille Scott, 
 Frances Bridgen, 
 Mary Hammer, 
 Margaret Landrell, 
 Lulu Schnedl, 
 Elizabeth Wilkins, 
 Marguerite McKenzie, 
 
 Evelyn McDonald, 
 Louise Harbour, 
 Mary Louise Stillwell, 
 Daisy Harrington, 
 Mildred Tippen, 
 Lillian McCormack, 
 Annie Hicks, 
 Juanita Schnedl, 
 Martha White, 
 
 Troop 2. — Mrs. Mark A. Cooper, captain; Mrs. Gordon Hight and Mrs. Dorris 
 Morris, lieutenants; Virginia Robert Lipscomb (the Golden Eaglet). 
 
 Nellie Cooley, 
 Marion Peacock, 
 Annie Harris, 
 Evelyn Copeland, 
 Marguerite Elmore, 
 Isabel Wilkins, 
 Ollie Drummond, 
 Anna L. Venable, 
 Janie Shropshire. 
 
 Florence Morgan, 
 Elizabeth Morris, 
 Juliet Graves, 
 Maynor McWilliams, 
 Elizabeth McRae, 
 Martha Ledbetter, 
 Margaret Hardin, 
 Media Godwin, 
 Ruth McConnell, 
 Sarah Malone, 
 Bessie McConnell, 
 
 Troop 3.— Mrs. Will 
 Margaret Bryson, 
 Mary J. Doyal, 
 Ruth Maddox, 
 Mildred Wilkerson, 
 Myra Daniel, 
 Adelaide Simpson, 
 Elizabeth Hand, 
 Katherine Phillips, 
 Lucy E. Trammell, 
 Rose Williams, 
 
 Olivia Coalson, 
 Dorothy Stamps, 
 Anna King, 
 Bonnie Angle, 
 Sinclair Norton, 
 Martha Porter, 
 Dorothy Ledbetter, 
 Cornelia Littleton, 
 Helen McCloud, 
 Sarah Belle Penrod, 
 Katherine Burney, 
 
 Wimberly, captain. 
 Annette Stroud, 
 Dorothy Harrison, 
 Nell Daniel, 
 Frances Adams, 
 Mary J. Pyle, 
 Willie Waters, 
 Leonora Stone, 
 Eunice Stone, 
 Lucy E. Coulter, 
 Katherine Allen, 
 
 Troop 4. — Miss Rae Sheppard, captain. 
 Ruth Mendelson, Freda Levinston, 
 
 Rebecca Mendelson, Terba Pinlchuck, 
 
 Sadie Sheppard, Beulah Mendelson, 
 
 Lillie Miller, Mildred Es.serman, 
 
 Fagie Esseniian, 
 
 Elizabeth Ward, 
 Elizabeth Barton, 
 Joy Shackelton, 
 Anna Lawrence, 
 Marv Bryan, 
 Edith Bryan, 
 Elizabeth Lipscomb, 
 Nan Elizabeth Penn, 
 Elizabeth Warner, 
 Dorothy Holland, 
 Eleanor Lawrence. 
 
 Katherine Gann, 
 Edith Stroud. 
 Frankie Daniel, 
 Dorothy Trammell, 
 Genevieve Burke, 
 Thelma Davis, 
 Imogene Dempsey, 
 Elizabeth Daniel. 
 
 Mendel] Rothenburg, 
 Celia Lesser, 
 Fannie Shapiro, 
 Edna Esserman. 
 
 Troop 5. — Miss Louie Crawford, captain. 
 Patti W. McGhee, Mildred Crawford, 
 
 Mary Harbin, Fiances Ledbetter, 
 
 Martha King, Marjorie Moi'eland, 
 
 Ellen Harvey, Louise Hardin. 
 
 Louise Smith, Mary L. Slaton, 
 
 Mattie Wall Glover, 
 
 Troop 6. — Miss Verda Broach, captain; Miss Diana Meycrhardt, first lieuten- 
 ant; Miss Louise Shamblin, second lieutenant. 
 
 Sarah Rose, Helen Tate, Louise Loveless, 
 
 Helen Ellis, Lena Miller, Ludie Higgins, 
 
 Christine Frix, 
 Jean Landruni, 
 lean Hancock, 
 Mae K. Ennis, 
 Josephine Brazelton.
 
 532 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Lulu Stanley, 
 Myrtle Stone, 
 Eunice Fricks, 
 Frances Wunden, 
 
 Adele Lumpkin, 
 Janie Hill, 
 Clara Ramsey, 
 Marlin Beddin, 
 Mabel Brown, 
 
 Troop 7. — Mrs. James O'Neill, Jr., captain; Miss 
 
 Virginia Moore, 
 Agnes Moss, 
 Elizabeth Wilkins, 
 Amy Lou Lester, 
 Irma Farom, 
 Augusta Ragsdale, 
 Louise Johnson, 
 Opal Hill, 
 
 Amy Avery, 
 Jewell Lester, 
 Ruby Johnson, 
 Mary Broach, 
 Rochelle Stewart, 
 Cleo Moss, 
 Susie Arnold, 
 Rowie Ragsdale, 
 
 Troop 8. — Macbeth Hagin, captain. 
 
 Ida Coalson, 
 Margaret Coalson, 
 Margaret Lansdell, 
 Madeline McConnell, 
 
 Virginia McConnell, 
 Mildred Tippin, 
 Lois Wallace, 
 Daisy M. Price, 
 
 Beatrice Phillips, 
 Jane Tolbert, 
 Susie Tolbert, 
 Louie Brown. 
 
 Goodwyn Denny, lieutenant. 
 
 Adelene Wright, 
 Ruth Coker, 
 Alma Bishop, 
 Lillian Fletcher, 
 Cecelia Kughlman, 
 Gertrude Shropshire, 
 Anna F. Head, 
 Louise Sewell. 
 
 Lucile Dowman, 
 Mary A. Davis, 
 Nell' Daniel. 
 
 CHEROKEE COUNCIL, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA. 
 
 Officers and members of Council (list dated June, 1922) : President, Robt. 
 W. Graves; first vice-president, Geston Garner; second vice-president. Rev. Wal- 
 lace Rogers; third vice-president, James Maddox; fourth vice-president, L. H. 
 Covington; commissioner, H. P. Meikleham; treasurer, Julian Gumming; C. B. 
 Caperton, Trion, Chattooga County chairman; Walter Shaw, LaFayette, Walker 
 County chairman; A. L. Henson, Calhoun, Gordon County chairman; C. L. Vass, 
 Cartersville, Bartow County chairman; Herbert Judd, Dalton, Whitfield County 
 chairman; G. N. Lemmon, Marietta, Cobb County chairman; W. W. Mundy, Ce- 
 dartown, Polk County chairman. 
 
 Dr. H. F. Saumenig, 
 H. T. Reynolds, 
 E. Pierce McGhee, 
 Prof. B. F. Quigg, 
 R. H. Clagett, 
 Dr. C. L. Betts, 
 Joe Sulzbacher, 
 H. E. Kelley, 
 Isaac May, 
 W. S. Cothran, 
 J. N. King, 
 P. H. Doyal, 
 J. L. Brannon, 
 J. M. Graham, 
 T. J. Simpson, 
 H. H. Arrington, 
 Wilson Hardy, 
 George Nixon, 
 S. A. Marshall, 
 M. S. Lanier, 
 B. S. Fahv, 
 H. J. Arnold, 
 
 W. W. Woodruff, 
 G. L. Hight, 
 J. B. Chidsey, 
 Mather Daniel, 
 J. W. Quarles, 
 T. E. Edwards, 
 H. F. Yeargan, 
 L. B. Gammon, 
 S. B. Norton, 
 C. E. McLin, 
 J. B. Sullivan, 
 N. N. Smith, 
 Dr. Geo. B. Smith, 
 Graham Wright, 
 Hugh McCrary, 
 H. L. Lanham, 
 Rev. H. F. Joyner, 
 J. E. Sammons, 
 Rev. E. R. Leyburn, 
 Rev. John H. Wood, 
 Thos. D. Caldwell, 
 Dr. M. M. McCord, 
 
 B. C. Yancey, 
 R. B. Combs, 
 J. P. Cooper, 
 S. H. Smith, 
 W. C. Rash, 
 
 J. H. Townes, 
 E. P. Grant, 
 E. P. Harvey, 
 
 C. J. Wyatt, 
 John C. Glover, 
 E. L. Wright, 
 J. M. Harris, 
 B. S. Tilly, 
 
 A. Lehman, 
 
 A. P. Hardin, 
 W. O. Parsons, 
 
 B. F. Archer, 
 J. M. Cooley, 
 
 J. F. Carmany, 
 S. L. Hancock, 
 Homer Davis. 
 
 BOY SCOUTS, FLOYD COUNTY, JUNE, 1922 
 Troop 1, Rome. — Geston Garner, scoutmaster; C. N. Featherston, assistant. 
 
 Ralph Griffin, 
 Joe Stegall, 
 Claude Saunders, 
 Cyril Hull, 
 Paul Carmany, 
 
 James Hill, 
 Ben Grafton, 
 James Bryson, 
 Riley McKoy, 
 Carl Griffin, 
 Clifford Carmany, 
 
 Hendree Harrison, 
 Frank Anderson, 
 Frank Dobbins, 
 Claude White, 
 Robert Miller.
 
 mm i 
 
 ZACHARIAH BRANSCOME HARGROVE, one of four founders of 
 Rome and a prominent Cherokee Georpria pioneer. He sleeps on the 
 peak of beautiful Myrtle Hill, which once was his prized possession.
 
 534 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Troop 2, Rome. 
 
 Hayne Wicker, 
 Burie Sammons, 
 L. C. Mitchell, Jr., 
 James Whitehead, 
 Clarence Rash, 
 Harbin Holland, 
 Robert Wilkerson, 
 Darrell McKenzie, 
 Malcolmn Curdy, 
 
 Troop 3, Rome. — W. J. 
 
 John Locklear, 
 Clarence Cowart, 
 Alvin Minis, 
 Thos. Spratling, 
 
 Troop 4, Rome. — Dr. 
 
 William Betts, 
 Ellis Hale, 
 Edmund Yeargan, 
 Richard Smith, 
 Will Cothran, 
 William Harbin, 
 Lester Harbin, 
 
 -Ed. L. King, scoutmaster; J. F. 
 
 Tom Harris, 
 John T. Sessler, 
 William Treadaway, 
 Wesley Terrell, 
 Blandford Eubanks, 
 Charles Duncan, 
 Howard Painter, 
 Wilbur Culpepper, 
 George McGinnis, 
 
 Marshall, scoutmaster. 
 
 John Hames, 
 Clyde Locklear, 
 Oliie Cole, 
 Kellett Goodwin, 
 
 Brooks, assistant. 
 
 William A. Brooks, 
 Harry Fricks, 
 Hillyer Johnson, 
 Hendricks Landers, 
 Scab Horton, 
 William Jones, 
 Jack Walker, 
 Wallace Tatum. 
 
 Arthur Ellison, 
 Fred Mathis, 
 Alton Cole, 
 James Locklear. 
 
 Carl L. Betts, scoutmaster; P. A. Landers, assistant. 
 
 Wingfield Glover, 
 James Glover, 
 J. D. Bryan, 
 Parks Dodd, 
 William Gibbons, 
 Alfred Barron, 
 William Davis, 
 
 John Gumming, 
 Jennings Gordon, 
 Maitland Lawrence, 
 Lang Gammon, 
 John Maddox, 
 Thomas Strickland, 
 Hamilton Yancey. 
 
 Troop 5, Rome. 
 sistant. 
 
 -C. Beecher Funderburk, scoutmaster, W. H. Powers, as- 
 
 Leroy Wright, 
 Lewis Davis, 
 Lloyd Wright, 
 Alton Floyd, 
 Howard Langston, 
 Donald Ragsdale, 
 Herbert Hardin, 
 
 Hastings Scoggins, 
 Elvis Kendrick, 
 Willie Kendrick, 
 Donald Hall, 
 Ralph Penn, 
 Hugh Green, 
 Shaw Hardin, 
 Carl Hammond, 
 
 John Penn, 
 Bruce Clement, 
 Lewis Dodson, 
 Chas. Akridge, 
 Henry Lovelace, 
 Dean Hall, 
 Grafton Copeland. 
 
 Troop 6, Rome. — Rev. H. F. Joyner, scoutmaster; R. H. Elliott, assistant. 
 
 Hoyt Cook, 
 George Reeves, 
 Pi-eston Blackwelder, 
 Harry Booz, 
 Elbert Sheldon, 
 Marion Free, 
 Aubrey Verner, 
 Otis Parsons, 
 
 Edmund O'Connor, 
 I. T. O'Bryan, 
 Joe Branda, 
 J. Kenneth Elliott, 
 C. H. Booker, 
 Robert Wood, 
 Cecil Branda, 
 Frank Foster, 
 
 Franks Cabes, 
 Paul Hames 
 John Hames, 
 Ernest Bland, 
 Hugh Hitchcock, 
 Burton Collins, 
 Claude Shiflett. 
 
 Troop 7, Rome. — Jerome C. Henson, scoutmaster; Rev. Jno H. Wood as- 
 sistant. 
 
 R. C. Gilmer, 
 James Barton, 
 J. B. Flemming, 
 Clinton Flemming. 
 Victor Vincenzi, 
 Waring Best, 
 
 Troop 8, Rome.—W. J. 
 
 John House, 
 Paul Grimm, 
 William Holler, 
 James Carey, 
 Julius Cooley, 
 Thomas Warters, 
 Walter Jones, 
 J. W. Whitehead, Jr., 
 
 J. S. Schnedl, 
 Aubrey McBrayer, 
 Paul Morris, 
 Benj. Archer, 
 Robert Stephens, 
 Wm. Montgomery, 
 
 Carey, scoutmaster; Chas. 
 
 Malcolm Pyle, 
 Marvin House, 
 G. W. Warren, 
 Harold Wallace, 
 Ross Montague, 
 Ryan Hicks, 
 Copeland Bridges, 
 Roy Knight, 
 Ralph Caldwell, 
 
 John Watson, 
 Murrell McGinnis, 
 George Nixon, 
 George Morrow, 
 Gordon Higgins. 
 
 N. Burks, assistant. 
 
 Charles Landsell, 
 Watson Clement, 
 Marshall Griffin, 
 George Clement, 
 James Keown, 
 Thos. McKinney, 
 Samuel Vandiver, 
 Charles Franks.
 
 Miscellaneous — Lists 
 
 535 
 
 Troop 9, Rome. — Jos. H. Lesser, scoutmaster; Hyman Esserman, assistant. 
 
 Felix Lesser, 
 Alex Pintchuck, 
 Abe Aronoff, 
 Phillip Friedman, 
 Joe Esserman, 
 
 Moses Esserman, 
 Isadore Levy, 
 Ben Esserman, 
 Frank Lesser, 
 Herman Lesser, 
 
 Ike Pintchuck, 
 Alex. Levison, 
 Harry Essern\an, 
 David Freedman, 
 Lazarus Levy. 
 
 Troop 10, Ro)iie. — Jno. K. Hardin, scoutmaster; W. E. Dunwoody, assistant. 
 
 Edward Gaines, 
 George Jones, 
 Linton Broach, 
 Luther Wacaster, 
 John W. Hardin, 
 
 Eugene McCurry, 
 Lawrence Barnett, 
 Ralph Drummond, 
 John Smith, 
 Lindsey Ford, 
 
 Troop 11, Rome. — Frank McLeod, scoutmaster. 
 
 Robert Mixon, 
 Morris Keener, 
 Melvin Fuller, 
 Bud Keys, 
 Hugh Lanham, 
 John Williamson, 
 
 Huston Patterson, 
 Pat Gentry, 
 William Allen, 
 Burk Floyd, 
 Embree Walden, 
 Henry Stone, 
 Fred Mixon, 
 
 Lawrence Wilkins, 
 Varnell Littlejohn, 
 Herbert Barton, 
 John Smith, 
 Paul Lackey. 
 
 Vandiver Reed, 
 Shaion Williams, 
 James Tutton, 
 Homer Masters, 
 Jack Permenter, 
 Lawrence Wilkins. 
 
 Troop 12, Ro)ne. — L. A. Farr, scoutmaster; W. E. Lunijikin, assistant. 
 
 Olin A. Deitz, 
 S. Leroy Hancock, 
 Elmer Cooper, 
 Hubert Langston, 
 Clyde Langston, 
 Ed. Dobson, 
 Wade Conn, 
 
 Troop 13, Rome.—F,. F. 
 
 James W. Whatley, 
 William Fain, 
 Cecil White, 
 Ronald Padgett, 
 Thomas Davis, 
 Edwin Fain, 
 Guy Davis, 
 Johnnie Beam, 
 Harry Davis, 
 
 Troop 14, Rome. — Wm. B. Broach, scoutmaster. 
 Walter Camp, John Bennett, 
 
 Wafford Farr, 
 Wallace Cooper, 
 Ray Holland, 
 W.'C. Dobson, 
 Clarke Landers, 
 Eddie Conn, 
 Herbert Conn, 
 Allen Partee, 
 
 Padgett, scoutmaster; 
 
 William Ward, 
 Delsar Barber, 
 Winford Rush, 
 Ralph Perry, 
 Millard M. Fincher, 
 Robt. Billingsley, 
 William McCary, 
 Howard Rush, 
 Raymond Stephens, 
 
 Holmes Smith, Jr., 
 Kerner Primm, 
 
 Allen Hammond, 
 Coley Harvey, 
 
 Webb Roberts, 
 Lytill Dobson, 
 Fred Henson, 
 Eshin Henson, 
 Walter McCreary, 
 William Saul, 
 Shaw White. 
 
 S. L. Rush, assistant. 
 
 Edmund Horton, 
 Henley Floyd, 
 Tennis Light, 
 Samuel Cowan, 
 Charles Hall. 
 Reece Dempsev, 
 Carl White, 
 Hugh White. 
 Winthrop Murchist)n. 
 
 Rali)h McCord. 
 .Alfred Spears. 
 Victor Yeai-gan. 
 
 The departure of Rev. Geo. E. Bennett in the summer of 1;>12'J for Florida 
 left a vacancy in the Scout executive's ofTice which was filled by the selection of 
 W. A. Dobson; and the death Sunday, Sept. 24, 1922, of Robt. W. (Jraves. presi- 
 dent of the Cherokee Council, caused a vacancy in that position. Mr. (J raves was 
 51 years old. He was buried Tuesday, Sept. 26, in Myrtle Hill cemetery. Rome. 
 
 Troop 1, Lindale. — 
 
 Robert Hill, 
 Charles MacDonald, 
 Forrest Porter, 
 Grady Rogers, 
 Harry Davidson, 
 Melvin Pool, 
 Athos Pool, 
 
 Roy Roach, 
 Darnell Richardson, 
 Wyatt Wallace. 
 John B. Satterfield. 
 Clarence Bowman, 
 Harry Marion, 
 Paul J. Marion, 
 Will Ed. Hopkins, 
 
 Rosser Wallace, 
 Richard Beam. 
 Beit Bruce, 
 Clilford Tyson. 
 Charles McCarson, Jr. 
 Roscoe Reynolds, 
 Roy Coggins.
 
 536 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Troop 2, Lindale. — 
 
 Harry Loyd, 
 Lonnie Coley, 
 Glen Baker, 
 Howard West, 
 Harrv P"'oss, 
 Richard Smith, 
 Fred Smith, 
 George Morris, 
 
 Troop 3, Lindale. — 
 
 Harold Crow, 
 Elmer Spratling, 
 Wallace Rogers, 
 Mark Webb, 
 James Erwin, 
 Victor Schram, 
 Arvil Schram, 
 Clifford Merony, 
 Eugene Williams, 
 Wm. Thomason, 
 Overton Tyson, 
 
 Troop 4, Lindale. — 
 
 Henry Autrey, 
 Wm. Clinton, 
 Huston Hendricks, 
 Robt. Padgett, 
 John Bagley, 
 Roy Baker, 
 Bill Wynn, 
 Harry Stagg, 
 Clarence Padgett, 
 Marshall Turley, 
 
 Troop 1, Cave Spri)ig. 
 
 R. W. Fincher, 
 Otis Grimes, 
 Earl Wilson, 
 John Pruitt, 
 Samuel Parres, 
 
 Nixon Webb, 
 Clayton White, 
 Philip Duckett, 
 Claude Beam, 
 Robt. Green, 
 Elmer Holsomback, 
 Leonard Holsomback, 
 Keith Humphrey, 
 Bill Jones, 
 
 Homer Smith, 
 Grady Shields, 
 Robt. Stephens, 
 Lonnie Roberts, 
 David New, 
 Cecil Looney, 
 Lawrence Jackson, 
 Henry Henderson, 
 Gwinie Grogan, 
 J. T. Gravett, 
 Reuben Fields, 
 
 Claude Eaton, 
 Clyde Watson, 
 Henry Neal, 
 Walter Green, 
 Wm. Watson, 
 James Reed, 
 Thos. Howe, 
 Lamar Burns, 
 Dewey Patterson, 
 J. P. "Melton, 
 Leroy Watson, 
 
 Bill Montgomery, 
 Ellis Casey, 
 Marshall Berry, 
 William Spence, 
 Bennie Jessmith, 
 George Lou Albea, 
 
 Wesley Lewis, 
 Henry Parker, 
 Edell Evans, 
 Lewis Baker, 
 Ben Godfrey, 
 Joe Roberts, 
 Floyd Bell, 
 Barnett Barton. 
 
 Ted. Christian, 
 Jefferson Bramlett, 
 L. T. Bannister, 
 Clyde Cox, _ 
 Wesley Lewis, 
 Leslie Lenning, 
 John Fulton, 
 Will E. Hopkins, 
 Paul Ray, 
 Ernest Mathis. 
 
 Alvin Gaddy, 
 Roy Lanham, 
 Detroy Bell, 
 T. J. Craton, 
 T. J. Eubanks, 
 Burley Eaton, 
 Donald Callaway, 
 Grady Williams, 
 Henry Wynn, 
 Lawrence Dillingham. 
 
 A. J. Casey, Jr., 
 Weldon Griffith, 
 Isaac Sewell, 
 Duel Wilson, 
 Louie Casey. 
 
 GOING SNAKE'S ADVENTURE. 
 — In a memorial to Congress and Pres- 
 ident Jackson, John Ross and his as- 
 sociates recited that the arrangements 
 made by the Government agents for 
 the July, 1835, council at Running 
 Waters (Rome), were entirely inad- 
 equate. The Indians were quartered 
 ill a wood convenient to the council 
 ground; they slept on the earth, and 
 their horses were tethered nearby. 
 Going Snake was there. He was the 
 speaker of the Cherokee National 
 Council and one of Ross' right-hand 
 men. His son, it will be recalled, was 
 occupying a "'berth" in the log cabin 
 at Spring Place when John Howard 
 Payne and Ross arrived there as pris- 
 oners. 
 
 Going Snake's horse got loose and 
 stepped on his head while he slept. 
 The chief's injuries were thought to 
 have been serious, but he stayed on 
 his feet and in a short while came 
 around all right. 
 
 DOLLARS AND IDEAS.— Mrs. 
 Simpson Fouche Magruder expressed 
 a helpful thought at the Chamber of 
 Commerce banquet Jan. 1, 1921, at the 
 Armstrong Hotel when she declared: 
 "If I have a dollar and you have a 
 dollar, and we swap, each of us still 
 has only a dollar; but if I have an 
 idea and you have an idea, and we 
 exchange, each of us has two ideas 
 which may lead to something worth 
 while."
 
 Life in the Districts 
 
 Pinson. 
 
 By Major Tom Noodle. 
 (Tribune-Herald, Nov. 24, 1920) 
 
 Low-priced cotton is putting a crimp 
 in most people's programs. I am like 
 an old man I boarded with once. He 
 always carried his family to the circus, 
 and one fall he had no money and they 
 were greatly upset over not being able 
 to see the show. However, the last 
 morning he found his cow had broken 
 her neck. He rushed to the house and 
 told his wife that providence was with 
 them, to get ready, he would sell the 
 cow hide and take in the show after 
 all. It seems I am lucky. I planted for 
 a bale of cotton, but the weevils caused 
 me to miss it; therefore I have no bale 
 for cheap price. 
 
 I went to church Sunday afternoon 
 and came home and found the old cow 
 out and gone. She was located in a 
 neighbor's garden. She put me to a 
 nice trip across plowed ground on my 
 way home. I beefed the calf the other 
 day. The cow has not found it out 
 yet. I am afraid to tell her about it. 
 That cow puzzles me at times. She 
 often refuses to let the milk flow. I 
 pull and squeeze, but get nothing but 
 a thin "speen" in the bucket till she 
 consents to give it down, and now on a 
 cold morning that little "speen" is no 
 attractive sound. I am glad that cow 
 is no twin. 
 
 Several killed hogs last week. 
 
 Henry Johnston and family, of Rome, 
 were here last Sunday. 
 
 Arthur Thedford was here last week. 
 
 Most everybody out this way is fat 
 and saucy. 
 
 (Won't you invite us out to dinner^ 
 Major Noodle? We of the city must eat 
 now and then! — Author.) 
 
 School begins next Monday. 
 
 Things are getting cheaper. I hear 
 that silk and whisky are off a lot 
 Land seems to be selling lower and 
 cattle and stock are cheap. Diamonds 
 are off a little, so is radium. Cotton 
 sure is. Coal, eggs, foodstuff and fruit 
 are not. Politics is off. Taxes 
 are not. Money is timid. Tramps are 
 increasing. Too many people are go- 
 ing to town. Wages will be cheap if 
 you don't look out. Because of one 
 bad year on the farm is no reason to 
 quit. Call the farmer an "opulent 
 cuss" if you desire, but what business 
 
 or manufacture is expected to go on 
 sellmg below cost of production? There 
 IS a silver lining, however. Better 
 market conditions, facilities and organ- 
 ization for farmers will and must come 
 or blooie! 
 
 One of the best ways for farmers to 
 economize I find is to make their syrup 
 thick and put it in jugs. Onlv a little 
 will run out during cold weather. I am 
 trying that plan. It certainly works. 
 A gallon will outlast two in buckets. 
 There are many ways to save if you 
 will only think them out. One's wife 
 will not eat so much if one will have 
 her teeth pulled. I offer that sugges- 
 tion. It will work out nicely. It will 
 help greatly to work, save and carry on. 
 
 By Major Tom Noodle. 
 (Rome News, Sept. 13, 1921) 
 Busy times. Fodder-pulling, hay- 
 making and sirup-making on hand all 
 at once. 
 
 Edgar Sanders and bride spent last 
 week with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. 
 E. S. Sanders. 
 
 .lO.S. WATTKR.S, state son.Mtor who viponuisly 
 fouKht the so-called "lire-eaters," or men 
 who wanted the Civil War in l.<!50.
 
 538 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Mrs. W. T. Garden is convalescing 
 after a serious illness of three weeks. 
 
 Some road-working been done and 
 some yet to be done. 
 
 Sam Davis was out this way Thurs- 
 day. 
 
 Cotton picking in full blast. If kept 
 up with, the present crop may be gath- 
 ered in September. The yield will be 
 about half. 
 
 Phew! Hot weather makes you 
 sweat and fret but have to work. Light 
 showers intersperse the torrid term, 
 however. 
 
 Will the disarmament conference 
 interfere with courting? 
 
 Mrs. Cora Hopkins' baby was quite 
 sick last week. 
 
 Hugh Sanders and Miss Minnie It- 
 son were quietly married Sunday at 
 Plainville, Esq. W. M. Miller officiat- 
 ing. Congratulations. 
 
 Do they eat ham at Hamburg ^nd 
 liver at Liverpool? Do they wash at 
 Washington and roam at Rome? 
 
 If weeds were cultivated, would they 
 be hard to get a stand like cultivated 
 plants? 
 
 Chickens are the dickens — if they 
 belong to neighbors and often if they 
 
 are your own. They scratch up what 
 you plant, eat what comes up and 
 then try to get the rest of it when it 
 ripens. They begin on the fruit soon 
 after it blooms and continue till it is 
 gone. They eat up all outdoors, come 
 into the house to devour and rob the 
 stock of their meals. They eat any- 
 thing and everything. One time I 
 went to sleep out on the porch and 
 they tried to peck out my teeth, and 
 one lighted on the stove and began 
 eating fried corn that was cooking. 
 They are sights. They are pretty good 
 eats, however, when cooked right. 
 
 Will Gaines, Sr., who recently broke 
 his arm playing ball, is doing as well 
 as could be expected. 
 
 (Sept. 19, 1921) 
 
 Nice rain Sunday. Good deal of hay 
 down, but it was needed on pastures 
 and gardens. 
 
 Rev, J. L. Hodges was called as 
 pastor of Enon Church Saturday for 
 another year. 
 
 Rev. J. N. Hightower filled Rev. Mr. 
 Hodges' appointment at Enon Satur- 
 day and Sunday. 
 
 Odis Drummonds and family, of 
 Rome, visited his father and family 
 Sunday. 
 
 J. W. Sisk and wife, O. L. Floyd, 
 wife and son, of Plainville, visited rel- 
 atives here Sunday afternoon. 
 
 I do not believe a hen can reason, 
 for if she could she would not set on 
 a door knob in the nest till she raised 
 blood blisters on her bosom. 
 
 It is funny to see a dog laugh. He 
 just wags his tail. 
 
 A mule carries his defense in the 
 rear and fights backwards, but it is ef- 
 fective. 
 
 If the eating end of a cow is pro- 
 vided for, the milking end will take 
 care of itself. 
 
 One time one of my children was 
 sick at night. To be on the safe side 
 I gave it castor oil. Next morning I 
 found a sore toe was the trouble. 
 
 It takes corn to curl a pig's tail. 
 
 COL. J. G. YEISER, in his uniform of the 
 Mexican War. Col. Yeiser also fought with 
 distinction in the war of 1861-1865. 
 
 (Feb. 6, 1922) 
 
 Will Johnson, who moved across the 
 river Christmas, has moved back to this 
 side, 
 
 Mrs. Wiley Davis is on the sick list. 
 
 Mrs. Lizzie Frix came up from Rome 
 Thursday to visit her children and 
 parents.
 
 Life In the Districts 
 
 539 
 
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 540 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 W. E. Walters and Mrs. J. G. What- 
 ley attended the funeral of Mrs. Net- 
 tie Milner in Atlanta last week. 
 
 School at Enon is overflowing. 
 
 Several farmers lately had their sor- 
 ghum seed and soy beans threshed. 
 
 The old churn runs the old cat out 
 of the chimney corner these days. 
 
 Old Man Winter has not swatted all 
 the flies yet; so it must be the same 
 with the boll weevils. Cut your cotton 
 acreage. 
 
 I once heard a fellow say that there 
 were only two classes of people — the 
 caught and the uncaught. Court pro- 
 ceedings reveal that there is some 
 truth to the statement. 
 
 Miss Oline Arnold gave a singing 
 Sunday night and Oren Dodd gave a 
 singing Sunday afternoon. 
 
 Bush Arbor. 
 
 (Dec. 28, 1920) 
 
 Mrs. G. A. Cantrell spent one night 
 last week with her daughter, Mrs. 
 Will Knight. 
 
 P. M. Foster has vacated his school 
 at Foster's academy until January 10, 
 1921. 
 
 H. A. Swinford, who is at work in 
 Lindale, spent the holidays with hi^ 
 family here. 
 
 Mrs. C. A. Cantrell and Mrs. Will 
 Knight had dinner Sunday with J. P. 
 Swinford, of West Point. 
 
 Ira Thrasher, of Anniston, is here 
 visiting his uncle, H. A. Swinford. 
 
 P. W. Pew has moved to the home- 
 stead of Miss Bulah Thomas, of Rome. 
 
 JAS. B. NEVIN, one of Rome's most brilliant 
 sons, snapped at his desk as editor of The 
 Atlanta Georgian and American. 
 
 (Jan. 27, 1921) 
 
 Ed Swinford and Jesse Cantrell, of 
 West Rome, had dinner with James 
 A. Cantrell and family. 
 
 Mrs. Georgia Hart is still unimprov- 
 ed, confined in bed. 
 
 H. A. Swinford has gone to Annis- 
 ton to secure work. 
 
 The Bush Arbor singing society met 
 in their regular monthly singing Sun- 
 day afternoon. 
 
 (Feb. 2, 1921) 
 
 H. A. Swinford has returned from 
 Anniston, where he went to secure 
 work. He reports a very dull place 
 there. 
 
 J. A. Elrod has moved from Mr. J. 
 T. Bryant's farm to Mr. Wm. Par- 
 ker's farm. 
 
 Mesdames G. A. Cantrell and Stella 
 Blackwelder visited Mrs. Kate Swin- 
 ford and family last week. 
 
 Will Knight was in Rome last week 
 on business. 
 
 Mrs. Gladys Phillips and children, 
 of Anniston, while here on an extend- 
 ed visit to her mother, Mrs. H. A. 
 Swinford, spent Friday night with her 
 aunt, Mrs. G. A. Cantrell. 
 
 (Feb. 15, 1921) 
 
 Mrs. Mattie Sharp is reported very 
 feeble at present. 
 
 P. W. Pew intends to move to J. B. 
 Williams' farm at Livingston. 
 
 The high water has stopped all traf- 
 fic on the road here. Also U. S. mail 
 and school children. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Swinford had 
 dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Jas. A. Can- 
 trell Friday. 
 
 (Apr. 5, 1821) 
 
 John Warnack, of Lindale, was here 
 last week looking after the finny 
 tribe. 
 
 Several of the music people attend- 
 ed the singing at Livingston Sunday 
 afternoon.
 
 ^^ ^ Ut,^c/^
 
 542 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 1 -1 ^^ 
 
 THE OLD ROME FEMALE COLLEGE. 
 
 The Eighth Avenue institution was established about 1850 by Col. Simpson Fouche, who 
 was soon succeeded by Rev. and Mrs. J. M. M. Caldwell. Here the first Mrs. Woodrow Wil- 
 son was taught, with numerous young women of the South. The building was later used 
 as the Holmes sanitarium, and eventually burned down. It was located where the A. S. 
 Burney home now stands. 
 
 (May 12, 1921) 
 
 Mrs. Lois Hill has gone to Anniston, 
 Ala., for a position. 
 
 There was a large number of people 
 at Bush Arbor last Friday who cleaned 
 up the cemetery in good order. 
 
 Jesse Cantrell, of Rome, spent Sun- 
 day night with his parents, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Jas. A. Cantrell. 
 
 The farmers are having to plant their 
 cotton over. The cold weather was the 
 cause for the poor stand of the first 
 planting. 
 
 (July 7, 1921) 
 
 Dr. H. A. Turner, of Rome, was in 
 our midst last week. 
 
 A storm passed through here last 
 Saturday afternoon. It blew the roof 
 off of Will Knight's barn. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Will Knight and chil- 
 dren spent the week-end with the lat- 
 ter's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Can- 
 trell. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Cantrell, of near 
 Canton, Ga.. are visiting his parents, 
 Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Cantrell. 
 
 Last week was the hottest weather 
 this summer. The thermometer was at 
 100 degrees three days in the shade. 
 
 Gus Glozier, with a fishing party from 
 
 Lindale, are on a fishing spree here. 
 
 Jesse Cantrell and brothers, Earl, 
 Raymond, Dewey and Willie, were in 
 Rome the Fourth to see the fun. 
 
 Jas. A. Cantrell and family had as 
 their guests for dinner Sunday Will 
 Knight and family and Mr. and Mrs. 
 Dewey Cantrell. After dinner the 
 party received a nice ice cream repast 
 and then motored to the lock and dam 
 for pleasure. 
 
 Will Knight and Dewey Cantrell were 
 in Rome last week on legal business. 
 
 During the rain storm one day last 
 week the lightning set fire to some 
 fodder in W. J. Carter's barn, but he 
 was quick enough to put it out. 
 
 Kieffer Lindsey and his staff of Rome 
 were here making some surveys on the 
 public road last week. 
 
 The county chaingang is going to 
 take camp here — near the Foster Acad- 
 emy school house. 
 
 H. A. Swinford, of Anniston, is here 
 visiting his family. 
 
 Rev. S. H. Pendley, of Cave Spring, 
 preached at Bush Arbor last Satur- 
 day. 
 
 Rev. J. E. Smith and son, Cheney, of 
 Silver Creek, had dinner last Saturday 
 with J. W. Keith.
 
 Life In the Districts 
 
 543 
 
 Arthur Hunt, of Summerville, wor- 
 shipped at Bush Arbor Sunday. 
 
 Rev. S. H. Pendley and C. L. Casey, 
 of Cave Spring, had dinner with Mr. 
 and Mrs. Jas. A. Cantrell Saturday. 
 They are students of the Hearn Acad- 
 emy. 
 
 (Sept. 7, 1921) 
 
 The inad dogs are causing a great 
 excitement around here. They have 
 bit Mrs. C. McDaniel, also a little boy 
 at Buck Lemming's. One dog was 
 killed Sunday. 
 
 Messrs. J. T. Spann and B. M. Barna 
 attended the dedication of the new 
 house of worship at Pleasant Hope 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 W. J. Carter's little child was bit- 
 ten by a snake Sunday morning. 
 
 Centred Grove. 
 
 (Jan. 27, 1921) 
 
 One of the things which we have 
 been hoping for has come to pass. 
 There is a new bridge across Cooper 
 creek where the ford was. The fill is 
 high enough that travel need not be 
 stopped during a flood. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Moon and son, 
 Robert, have returned from a visit 
 
 with Mr. Moon's two brothers near 
 Tampa, Fla. They report vegetables 
 and fruit flourishing, and beautiful, 
 sunny weather, but prefer to live in 
 Floyd County, Georgia. 
 
 Horace King has moved his family 
 into one of the houses on the Butler 
 farm. 
 
 C. Reese and family are living on 
 the farm formerly owned by J. L. Ped- 
 dycourt. 
 
 Mr. Hubbard, from Rome, is occupy- 
 ing the McGinnis place on Central 
 Grove road. 
 
 Miss Grace Anderson, home demon- 
 stration agent, spent Thursday after- 
 noon and night with the W. A. Little- 
 john family. 
 
 Dr. Chimene, county health officer, 
 visited Central Grove school Monday 
 and examined the pupils. 
 
 (Feb. 3, 1921) 
 H. O. Littlejohn has become posses- 
 sor of a young mule. 
 
 (Apr. 27, 1921) 
 
 All last week the pupils at Central 
 
 Grove school spent their spare time 
 
 making a flower garden back of the 
 
 school house. Jack Beard plowed the 
 
 THE OLD ROBT. BATTEY HOME ON FIRST AVENUE.
 
 544 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 "THORNWOOD," OLD HOME OF COL. ALFRED SHORTER. 
 
 land, which was then laid off in beds, 
 each of which was in charge of a 
 group of children. There was consid- 
 erable competition among the groups 
 arranging the plants to make the pret- 
 tiest bed, for which a prize is offered. 
 Plans were laid to keep up the work 
 John, chairman of the Woman's Branch 
 of the Farm Bureau, and Mrs. H. O. 
 Littlejohn, chairman of the Beauti,- 
 fication Committee, are supervising the 
 work. 
 
 Friday was the last day of the 
 school term at Central Grove. Al- 
 though the day was rainy, the pupils 
 had a good time. There was a contest 
 in running and jumping, in charge of 
 O. L. Titrud. After lunch the children 
 played games and had a general good 
 time before parting for the long vaca- 
 tion. 
 
 Those who attended school regularly 
 during the term made good progress 
 and the patrons are all pleased with 
 the good work of the teacher. Miss 
 Kate Morrison. 
 
 Hattie Price, Clara Hogan, Helen 
 Camp, Bessie Lee Hopkins, Felton 
 Beard, Clyde Titrud and Lon Thomp- 
 son were the winners in the races. 
 
 Mr. Fulcher was in the path of the 
 tornado last week and had his buggy 
 and harness badly damaged. 
 
 Mrs. H. O. Littlejohn and Mrs. 0. L. 
 Titrud visited the Berry School for 
 Girls Wednesday. 
 
 The little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Cliff Hughes has been quite ill. 
 
 Mrs. Rip Payne and children have 
 been visiting their relatives, the 
 Hughes, this past week. 
 
 Mrs. W. A. Littlejohn and Madge 
 made a week-end visit with the for- 
 mer's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Beard, at 
 Silver Creek. Mr. Littlejohn and Lois 
 visited there Sunday and brought them 
 home. 
 
 Elbert Beard is working at Pine- 
 haven this summer. He has joined the 
 Corn Club, and Clyde Titrud has joined 
 the Calf Club. 
 
 Charlie Thompson and Milton Brown 
 are working at Gore. 
 
 Sam McClung is working at the stone 
 quarry in Rome. 
 
 (Jan. 18, 1921) 
 
 F. C. Moon and family are enjoying 
 a visit with Mr. Moon's two brothers, 
 who live near Tampa, Fla. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Harris and niece, 
 May Bell, are living at the Moon resi- 
 dence during their absence. 
 
 C. L Butler has bought the farm he 
 once owned from Mr. Crumley, and ex- 
 pects to move back some time during 
 the year. 
 
 Charlie Thompson has moved his 
 family into Mr. Butler's house for the 
 winter. 
 
 Charlie Fowler and family have 
 rented from Ed. Beard and are now liv- 
 ing in this settlement again. 
 
 Bill Hogan has moved his familv to 
 a house on the Beard place.
 
 Life In the Districts 
 
 545 
 
 Floyd Springs. 
 
 (Feb. 13, 1921) 
 
 Miss Edna Holsonback is on the sick 
 list with the chicken pox. 
 
 The school at this place is progress- 
 ing fine under Misses Barton and Cleo 
 Whisenant. 
 
 Miss Amie Jackson is on the sick list 
 at this writing. 
 
 (Mar. 30, 1921) 
 
 All farmers are busy plowing and 
 planting corn. Gardens are looking 
 fine. Everybody will soon have some- 
 thing to eat at home. 
 
 Miss Cora Whistnant was Miss Lil- 
 lie Boatfield's guest Sunday. 
 
 Miss Lillie Boatfield, Mrs. Gussie 
 Boatfield and Mrs. Cora Whisenant 
 motored to Rome Sunday afternoon. 
 
 Wayside. 
 
 (Jan. 27. 1921) 
 
 The box supper at Wayside school 
 house has been postponed until Feb- 
 ruary 12. Every one is cordially in- 
 vited. 
 
 Misses Autha Hopkins and Agnes 
 Barnes were pleasant guests of Misses 
 Grace and Ozella Byars Sunday. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Rogers spent 
 the week-end with Mr. and Mrs. Sam 
 Bing. 
 
 (Feb. 18, 1921) 
 
 Aunt Betsy Carnes, of Barnsley, is 
 seriously ill at this writing. 
 
 The many friends of Mrs. Mittie 
 Taylor will rejoice to know that her 
 bone-felon is improving nicely. 
 
 J. V. Kerce got hurt hauling cross- 
 ties last week. 
 
 E. N. Moat is on the sick list. 
 
 Mrs. Jim Bing was the pleasant guest 
 of Mrs. Bill Reeves Sunday. 
 
 (May 12, 1921) 
 We appreciate these beautiful warm 
 days after so much Jack Frost and cold 
 north wind. It makes us think we are 
 soon to say "good-bye lettuce and 
 turnip greens and welcome tomatoes 
 and snap beans." 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hamp McClain an- 
 nounce the birth of a son born last 
 Friday. The baby has been named 
 William Thomas. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hice visited rela- 
 tives at this place last Sunday. 
 
 Several of our young people attend- 
 ed service at Barnsley Chapel last Sun- 
 day. 
 
 We rejoice that the whooping cough 
 epidemic in this section has about sub- 
 sided. Its excuse for doing so is that 
 it has served them all. 
 
 Early. 
 
 (Apr. 5, 1921) 
 
 Mrs. J. I. Early and Sybil motored to 
 Rome Tuesday. 
 
 Mrs. Lois Hall is the proud mother 
 of a fine bouncing baby boy. 
 
 C. A. Hall was in Rome Thursday on 
 business. 
 
 THE^lTNTFiY 
 prflLOSOPHQl 
 
 MA.I. CHAS. H. SMITH appeared under the 
 above caption for many years as a contribu- 
 tor to The Atlanta Constitution.
 
 546 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Mrs. C. A. J. Ware was the guest 
 of her daughter, Mrs. Nannie Hall, last 
 week. 
 
 G. B. Good and J. I. Early made a 
 flying trip to Rome Friday afternoon. 
 
 Miss Beth Bridges has accepted a 
 position with the Georgia School for 
 the Deaf. 
 
 Dr. Garner was in town Wednesday 
 on business. 
 
 Van Hall was the guest of his father, 
 Lon Hall, last week. 
 
 Utopia. 
 
 (May 16, 1921) 
 The farmers are very busy getting 
 
 their crops planted this pretty 
 weather. 
 
 R. E. Holsonback motored to Rome 
 Saturday morning on business. 
 
 The many friends of Miss Mattie 
 Barnett are sorry to hear of her se- 
 rious illness. 
 
 (Sept. 9, 1921) 
 
 A large crowd attended the singing 
 at this place Sunday afternoon. 
 
 Rev. Green spent the day with Mar- 
 vin Owens, Sunday. 
 
 Azmon Mills was the guest of Arte- 
 mus Barton Saturday night. 
 
 FIVE ROMANS OF THE EARLY DAYS. 
 
 Top left to light, DeWitt Clinton Hargrove, who was killed at the First Battle of Manas- 
 sas as a member of the Rome Light Guards; Henry W. Dean, father of Linton A., H. A. 
 and J. Ed. Dean; Dr. George M. Battey, pharmacist and physician; Zachariah B. Hargrove, 
 Jr., mayor of Rome in 1869; Wm. Hemphill Jones, son of Walton H. Jones and husband of 
 Mrs. Flora McAfee Jones.
 
 cteKiA^l
 
 548 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 A DISTINGUISHED VISITOR AND HIS SECRETARY. 
 
 Alexander H. Stephens (at bottom) visited Rome in the fall of 1860 and was introduced 
 the next day at a Floyd Springs barbecue speaking by Judge Augustus R. Wright. At another 
 time he was the guest of C. G. Samuel at 101 Second Avenue. His private secretary during 
 the Civil War was Col. Wm. H. Hidell (at top), lawyer, who bought The Courier from Capt. 
 Dwinell. Frank W. Copeland now owns the Hidell home in North Rome. 
 
 Miss Edna Holsonback was Miss Ag- 
 nes Davis' guest Sunday. 
 
 The ice cream party given by Misses 
 Marie and Janie Barton Saturday was 
 highly enjoyed by a large crowd. 
 
 Everett Springs. 
 
 (Mar. 14. 1921) 
 Prof. T. E. Perry, principal of the 
 school, is justly proud of the record 
 made so far this year. Seventy-five 
 pupils are enrolled and the attendance 
 has been excellent. 
 
 Prof. Perry's hobby is mathematics, 
 and the pupils in the higher grades 
 have made great progress in this 
 study. 
 
 Mrs. Ina White, of John's Creek 
 Valley, is entitled to rank with farm 
 supervisors, if results count. Her gar- 
 
 den is acknowledged to be the finest 
 in the vicinity. English peas, beets, 
 onions and lettuce are far above the 
 ground and long rows of perfect cab- 
 bage are beginning to head. 
 
 The younger set had a candy pulling 
 at the home of Marcus Burns. 
 
 Miss Gilla Landrum is in charge of 
 the school and her pupils are devoted 
 to her. She is always alert and enthu- 
 siastic. Her department is particularly 
 elated because through their efforts a 
 very fine portrait of President Wilson 
 has been secured for the school and 
 they are expecting its arrival daily. 
 
 Dr. Chas. McArthur is making an 
 enviable reputation in surgery. He 
 performed a major operation on Mrs. 
 Geo. Deason last Monday. Dr. Russell, 
 of Rome, assisted, and Mrs. McAr- 
 thur, who is a graduate nurse, admin- 
 istered the anesthetic.
 
 Life In the Districts 
 
 549 
 
 There are over 150 bales of cotton 
 in the valley. The farmers are hold- 
 ing it, hoping for a better price. 
 
 DeWitt Dew will leave this week 
 for Bristol, Tenn. He will travel for 
 the Barrow-Scott Milling Co., selling 
 Supreme Loaf Flour. 
 
 Oscar Patterson, of this valley, 
 ranked second in a class of 34 who 
 stood examinations at the Rome Post- 
 office for carrier and clerical posi- 
 tions. 
 
 Probably this item belongs in your 
 exchange column: Mr. Tump Holson- 
 back wishes to swap eight drakes for 
 laying ducks. 
 
 Mrs. John Pettitt continues critical- 
 ly ill at her home in the Pocket. 
 
 Miss Josie Touchstone, from the 
 Bend of the River, is visiting her sis- 
 ter, Mrs. Price Christian. 
 
 (Mar. 27, 1921) 
 
 Easter week — beginning the spirit- 
 ual New Year. 
 
 Aside from the Sunday School, con- 
 ducted by a few faithful members of 
 the congregation, there have been no 
 regular services in the Baptist Church 
 since last October. 
 
 The pastor. Rev. Hightower, broke 
 
 his leg and it was impossible to se- 
 cure a substitute for him, or it. 
 
 (May 31, 1921) 
 
 In a straw ballot taken at Whit- 
 mire's Store, Saturday night, among 
 registered voters, the result was 16 to 
 1 in favor of the issue of road bonds in 
 Floyd County. 
 
 Farmer Lincolnfeldt went to Calhoun 
 last week and sold a load of produce, 
 and while on the way home after night 
 he was held up in Rocky Creek Valley, 
 tied and gagged and robbed of his cash 
 — $38.50. He believes he knows who 
 got his money. 
 
 J. C. Everett has the largest onions 
 in the valley, and J. Mitt White the 
 finest field of growing watermelon 
 vines. 
 
 Christian Bros, are to reopen their 
 grocery store at Everett Springs about 
 June 1, having compromised with their 
 creditors. 
 
 Everett Springs has another grocery 
 store, opened by J. A. Lynch, who was 
 in business here years ago. 
 
 Judge John W. Maddox has been in- 
 vited to come here at 4 p. m., Saturday, 
 June 4, to address the natives on the 
 road bond question. All of the voters 
 
 IT MAY NOT BE "HANTED." BUT LOOKS THE PART. 
 
 The abandoned Lewis D. Burwell house near the Seventh Avenue cemetery is a 
 finely built place, but ghost stories connected with it make superstitious neighbor* 
 stay away at dark. Judge Burwell was hung up in 1864 by Colquitt's Scouts, who 
 got his money, but he was not on this placa at the time. The site has been sug- 
 gested for a city school and park connecting with other city property— Ft. Jackson 
 and the Seventh Avenue cemetery. The owner is an old Roman, John Montgomery.
 
 550 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 have agi-eed to take a half-holiday to 
 hear him. 
 
 Two weeks ago a record assembly 
 welcomed Dr. Hodges, of Rome, and 
 this Sunday practically the entire Val- 
 ley came to greet Rev. Culpepper. He 
 had ministered to this congregation 
 years ago and is held in sincerest love 
 and respect. 
 
 Now come glad tidings indeed — Mr. 
 Hightower is well and will preach our 
 Easter sermon. The people are de- 
 lighted and are planning for serious 
 church work in future. 
 
 The Methodist Church has been do- 
 ing double duty during this period 
 and a feeling of neighborly (Chris- 
 tian) good fellowship has resulted from 
 a seeming affliction. 
 
 Despite the hard times, we of Ever- 
 ett Springs have much to be grateful 
 for in running up our blessings. 
 
 The farmers and their families are 
 intensely interested in the Curb Mar- 
 ket, and much earnest thought and dis- 
 cussion are devoted to the project. But, 
 on all sides objections are made to the 
 plans of holding it indoors or on Broad 
 street. There must be ample space for 
 
 it 
 
 *■ i 
 
 
 wagons to line up and for crowds to 
 move freely among them. Just a hint to 
 prove we are studying the field. 
 
 The school children are enjoying an 
 egg hunt. Instead of daring Death by 
 the consumption of untold quantities of 
 hard-boiled eggs, the children have 
 brought dozens of laid-fresh-today eggs 
 that will be hidden in every conceivable 
 nook and cranny of the big school 
 yard. Then the hunt, and when un- 
 covered again the children will form 
 in line and march to the stores, where 
 the eggs will be exchanged for candy, 
 cakes, soda pop and chewing gum. 
 
 There is a new baby in the home of 
 Mr. Hughes, a boy. 
 
 A big crowd enjoyed a sacred musi- 
 cal at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Levi 
 Hidler Sunday night. 
 
 Sidney Drew was here this week. 
 His home is in St. Louis, Mo., but he 
 comes every few weeks to inspect his 
 large plantation. He is enthusiastic- 
 ally welcomed, for his own sake prin- 
 cipally, and then because his pay roll 
 is large and real money accompanies 
 him. 
 
 A BATTLE TRENCH, thrown up by "Reb- 
 els" or "Yanks" between Fort Jackson (wa- 
 terworks) and the old Seventh avenue cem- 
 etery. 
 
 Cedartown. 
 
 (Mar. 27, 1921) 
 
 Mrs. R. 0. Pitts, Jr., and young son. 
 Robt. Ill, have returned from a visit 
 in Rome. 
 
 Mrs. W. O. Robinson, who has been 
 visiting Mr, and Mrs. F. D. Noble, re- 
 turned to her home in Anniston last 
 Friday. 
 
 Mrs. Carl Pickett entertained infor- 
 mally at a delightful luncheon on Fri- 
 day. Covers were marked for Mrs, C. 
 C. Bunn, Mrs, T. B, Munroe, Mrs. H. 
 H. Hogg, Mrs. R. O. Pitts, Jr., Mrs. R. 
 A. Adams. 
 
 Capt. J. A, Peek is the guest of his 
 daughter, Mrs. C. R. Brown, in Atco. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Richardson, of 
 Atlanta, were the week-end guests of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Adamson. 
 
 Guy Ritchie, of Commerce, was here 
 over Sunday. 
 
 Chas. Adamson, Jr., and Liddell Tur- 
 ner spent Wednesday in Rome. 
 
 Miss Frances Wood was home from 
 Shorter College the first of the week. 
 
 The Kiwanis Club enjoyed their 
 weekly luncheon held Friday at the 
 Wayside Inn. Senator W. J. Harris, 
 an honorary member, and Prof. J. C. 
 Harris, of Cave Spring, made inter- 
 esting talks.
 
 Life In the Districts 
 
 551 
 
 The members of the Cedartown Club 
 are looking forward to the Fancy 
 Dress Ball to be given on April 1. Prizes 
 will be given for the best costumes. 
 The judges have not been announced as 
 
 yet. 
 
 Hon. L. S. Ledbetter has bought the 
 Beasley place on College street and 
 will begin remodeling it at an early 
 date. 
 
 (Apr. 3, 1921) 
 
 Congressman Gordon Lee was here 
 Friday morning en route to Newnan. 
 
 Miss Laura Belle Brewster, of Shor- 
 ter College, is spending the week-end 
 with relatives here. 
 
 Miss Rea King, of Atlanta, is the 
 guest of her sister, Mrs. J. C. Porter. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. F. D. Noble spent 
 Thursday in Rome as the guests of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Roy Berry. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Homer Watkins are 
 remodeling their home on College 
 street. 
 
 Miss Christine Smith, of England, 
 who has been visiting her cousins. Dr. 
 and Mrs. William Parker, left Satur- 
 day for a visit to Mrs. W. H. Hall, in 
 Yalaba, Fla. 
 
 The Fancy Dress Ball given at the 
 Cedartown Club rooms Friday evening 
 was one of the most enjoyable of the 
 season. A number of pretty costumes 
 were worn and many visitors from 
 Rome, Cartersville and Atlanta added 
 to the gaiety of the occasion. 
 
 Mrs. Edgar Stubbs, of Atlanta, and 
 Mrs. Hal Bowie, of Rome, are expected 
 to arrive Tuesday and be the guests 
 of Mrs. A. W. Stubbs. 
 
 Mrs. C. C. Bunn returned Friday 
 after a few days' visit to her mother, 
 Mrs. Annie F. Johnson, in Rome. 
 
 Mrs. H. H. Hogg, Mrs. John Black- 
 well, Mrs. R. 0. Pitts, Jr., returned 
 the last of the week after a short visit 
 to relatives in Rome. 
 
 Mrs. O. D. Bartlett returned to 
 Rome last Sunday after a visit to her 
 parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Fielder. 
 
 NOW SERVING GEORGIA IN CONGRESS. 
 
 Gordon Lee (left) represents the Seventh District in the House and W.ti. J, H«rri;^ i. 
 rgia's senii 
 rlie Hight 
 ris is a br 
 he clerked se\ 
 
 ts the ;5evenin uisirici in im- ....".-.^ ■■■•- ----. _ 
 
 Georgia's senior in the Senate. Mr. Lee is not a "-»*-«-'-• ..'^^^'ir^.l^ -.'"r^Z."'- M- 
 Charlie Hight and has been such a frequent sojourner th.^t h.s .idopl.on ,'*/;,"]P _ ^ ^„„ 
 
 Harris is a 
 
 ht and has been sucn a ireque... s^j«...... u„ „ rii.P of the f.ict th.it .■^^ .t hoy 
 
 brother of Prof. J. C. Harris, and .s »«»"-" ^^^.^^V hI went away and finally 
 
 several months at a grocery stone on Second Avenue. nc weni y 
 
 landed at the peak in Washington.
 
 552 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 W. K. Fielder spent Tuesday in An- 
 niston. 
 
 J. W. Houseal, of Lindale, spent Sun- 
 day here. 
 
 Summerville. 
 
 (May 2, 1921) 
 
 Miss Essie Martin spent the week- 
 end with relatives in Broomtown Val- 
 ley. 
 
 Miss Eleanor Wilson, of Cedar Bluff, 
 Ala., is visiting her sister, Miss Fran- 
 ces Wilson, who is critically ill. 
 
 Misses Mattie Green and Margaret 
 Myers, who are teaching in the Lindale 
 sciaool. spent the week-end with their 
 parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. T. Myers. 
 
 Miss Mary Cordle spent Sunday with 
 Mrs. Bob McWhorter at Menlo. 
 
 Burrell Simmons spent Sunday in 
 Trion with his sister, Miss Ethel Sim- 
 mons. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. C. Cleghorn and chil- 
 dren spent Thursday in Rome. 
 
 Coosa. 
 
 (Jan. 27, 1921) 
 Jake Hooker and Billie Spinks, of 
 Atlanta, spent the week-end with Mr. 
 and Mrs. Kinnie Vann. 
 
 MRS. NAOMI PRISCILLA BALE, Rome's 
 beloved "Grandma Georgy," whose pen has 
 made Romans venerate their town. 
 
 PALEMON J. KING, an old-fashioned school 
 teacher who believed that spare rods meant 
 spoiled children, and acted accordingly. 
 
 W. M. McCurry was visiting friends 
 at Dalton Sunday. 
 
 William Wimbish and Martin 
 D'Arcy, of Rome, were at Coosa Sat- 
 urday on a hunting trip. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Ben Vann and chil- 
 dren, of Bush Creek, were the guests 
 Sunday of Mr. and Mrs. H. O. Wea- 
 ver. 
 
 Arthur Lloyd is attending court in 
 Rome this week. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Joe Lumpkin are ex- 
 pected home from New Orleans Thurs- 
 day, and will be with Cicero Evans for 
 several days before going to their 
 home in Virginia. 
 
 Mt. Alto. 
 
 (Apr. 20, 1921) 
 
 The little child of Mr. and Mrs. Dock 
 Alexander was badly burned Friday 
 afternoon. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Johnie Salmon were 
 the guests of Ed. Salmon and family 
 at Armuchee, Sunday. 
 
 Miss Minnie Watson was the guest of 
 Mrs. Ruth Salmon Thursday afternoon. 
 
 Grady Holland was in Rome Mon- 
 day on business.
 
 Life In the Districts 
 
 553 
 
 A HOME ONCE VANN'S VALLEY'S PRIDE. 
 
 Cave Spring road residence built about 1840 by Gen. Jas. Hemphill, state senator and 
 militia officer who helped remove the Indians. Gen. Hemphill sold it to Wm. Montgomery 
 and moved to Mississippi in 1846. Note the unique entrance, entirely open, and the winding 
 hardwood stairway; this arrangement has been changed. Ten large and beautiful cedars grace 
 the front yard. 
 
 Misses Maud, Cora and Effie Holla- 
 way were the pleasant guests of Miss 
 Nola Alexander Sunday afternoon. 
 
 Wesley Dillard was at the home of 
 B. F. Watson's, Sunday. 
 
 Lindale. 
 
 (Tribune-Herald, Dec. 25, 1920) 
 
 There will be no issue of The Trib- 
 une-Herald tomorrow, therefore no pa- 
 per can be delivered in Lindale. 
 
 Mrs. C. E. League left yesterday for 
 a visit to her mother at Trion. She will 
 be gone a week. 
 
 Mrs. C. Irby, of Kingston, after a 
 brief visit to her daughter, Mrs. C. 
 L. Bradley, returned home yesterday. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Seab Bryant and chil- 
 dren, of Columbus. Ga., and Clifford 
 Bryant, of Gordon, Ga., are guests 
 of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. 
 Bryant. 
 
 Mr. T. Mungall and daughter, Miss 
 Martha Mungall, of Pell City, Ala., are 
 guests of his son, A. W. Mungall. for 
 the holidays. 
 
 Mrs. J. H. Anderson was removed 
 from her home at 117 Park avenue 
 yesterday to the Frances Berrien Hos- 
 pital for treatment. 
 
 T. N. Holsomback, of Wyatt, La., 
 was a recent guest of T. P. Fitzpat- 
 rick. 
 
 Mrs. H. S. Clinton is .•seriously ill 
 at her home in Boozeville. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Hayes, of Trion, 
 are the guests of liis motlicr, Mrs. C. 
 S. Hayes, during the holidays. 
 
 Foster's Mill. 
 
 (May 12, 1921) 
 
 The people of this place are busy 
 farming. 
 
 There will be an all-day .singing at 
 Cedar Creek Baptist Church the .sec- 
 ond Sunday in June. Everybody i.<i 
 invited to come and bring well-fillod 
 baskets and spend the day. 
 
 Mrs. Berta McGhee spent last week 
 with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. 
 Vann, of near Cave Springs.
 
 554 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 A GEM IN NATURE'S FIRMAMENT. 
 
 Cave Spring is admitted by poets, writers and admirers everywhere to be one of the 
 most beautiful spots in the United States. The views carry us to Woodstock Lake and the 
 Episcopal church, with both of which Dr. and Mrs. Theodosius Bartow and their son, Col. 
 Francis S. Bartow, were connected; the Alexander Thornton Harper home; the ancient Baptist 
 church, and the marvalous cave, from which gush nearly 3,500,000 gallons of crystal pure< 
 water daily. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Sam Steed took dinner 
 with Mr. and Mrs. Dan House Sun- 
 day. 
 
 Rockmart. 
 
 (Mar. 22, 1921. 
 The farmers of this place are very 
 busy turning their land for another 
 crop. 
 
 Miss Marion Smith spent Thursday 
 afternoon with Miss Mary Morgan. 
 
 Miss Mattie Lou Gann has been on 
 the sick list but is better now. 
 
 Miss Jennie Bee Carter and Sam 
 Finch are married. 
 
 Miss Zelma Allgood has returned to 
 her home in Rockmart after spending 
 a few days in Atlanta. 
 
 Miss Marie Carpenter is on the sick 
 list now. 
 
 Armuchee. 
 
 (Tribune-Herald, Apr. 13, 1921) 
 Miss Annie Louise Rush was a 
 charming hostess Wednesday evening 
 when she entertained about forty of
 
 Life In the Districts 
 
 555 
 
 ONE OF ROME'S EARLY MAYORS AND HIS WIFE. 
 
 Nathan Yarbrough was mayor of Rome in 1852; some say he was the first mayor. At 
 any rate, he wasn't satisfied, so after the war he was made sheriff. He was a short, red- 
 headed man, and a terror to lawbreakers. He moved to Texas and eventually died there. His 
 wife is shown by his side. 
 
 her friends in honor of her sixteenth 
 birthday anniversary at the home of her 
 sister, Mrs. Barnett Rice. Honeysuck- 
 les and roses were used in an artistic 
 effect as decorations. Music and games 
 were the diversions of the evening and 
 at a late hour an ice course was served. 
 The many beautiful presents received 
 denoted the popularity of the young 
 hostess. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Stuart will preach at the 
 Methodist Church Sunday morning at 
 11 o'clock and his subject is "Mother, 
 Home and Heaven." Special music will 
 be an enjoyable feature also. The mem- 
 bers of both the Baptist churches as 
 well as the Methodist are most cordially 
 invited. 
 
 Mrs. Jabe Hendricks is the guest for 
 a fortnight of her sister, Mrs. Scab 
 Evans. 
 
 Mrs. W. G. Scoggin and Mrs. John 
 W. Salmon were guests of Mrs. Scab 
 Terry Saturday. 
 
 Mrs. George Shouse and sons. Willie 
 and Tom. were guests of relatives near 
 Trion Sunday. 
 
 Cave Spring. 
 
 (Tribune-Herald, Apr. 28, 1921) 
 The passing of the old Carroll home- 
 stead, which was completely destroyed 
 
 by fire a few days ago, removes an- 
 other link in the chain which bound the 
 Cave Spring of the present to that 
 other Cave Spring of ante-bellum days. 
 In the olden days this splendid south- 
 ern home was a noted center of social 
 life and gaiety, sheltering dozens of 
 guests in its large high ceiling rooms, 
 with that hospitality known so well to 
 the Old South. 
 
 During the past few years, since 
 Mrs. John Hill, nee Miss Ann Carroll, 
 took up her permanent residence in 
 Atlanta, the place has had other occu- 
 pants, but it was still owned by the 
 family until last year, when it was pur- 
 chased by Hearn Academy. At the 
 time of the fire it was occupied by Rev. 
 Mr. Harris and the family of a student 
 minister. 
 
 The many friends of Harold Wil- 
 liams will l>e very sorry to learn that 
 he has not been improving satisfac- 
 torily during the past few days. Mr. 
 Williams has been critically ill with 
 pneumonia. 
 
 The teachers of the Georgia School 
 for the Deaf enjoyed a little outing at 
 Woodstock Lake Tuesday afternoon. 
 
 Mrs. James Perry entertained a few 
 friends at a bridge party Wednesday 
 afternoon at her beautiful home, "Sun- 
 shine."
 
 556 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 WHY CAVE SPRINGERS LOVE THEIR TOWN. 
 
 love ^f"' ^' r^''''^^^'' °"" ^^''^ °' Dartmouth: "It is a small college, but there are those who 
 sJain P.rrb ^?f r*"'"^ 'f also small. The picture at the top is "Sunshine," built by, Robt. 
 C^lJu Perry, of Germantown, Pa a descendant of Commodore Oliver H. Perry; Big Cedar 
 also .Presented """^ ''^' ^"'^ ^^" ^""'' '^'"'^'^^^^^ U -year-old Babylonian willow are
 
 T^oetry 
 
 THE VALES OF ROME. 
 By Frank L. Stanton. 
 No cold and crumbling arches — 
 
 The frolic of the Fates; 
 No senatorial marches 
 
 Through the lion-guarded gates; 
 No Caesar's glittering legions, 
 
 Whose eagles crown its dome, 
 But Love, in Love's own regions, — 
 
 The violet vales of Rome ! 
 
 There rise the dark, blue mountains. 
 
 Where clouds are fair and fleet; 
 There leap the living fountains. 
 
 There sing the rivers sweet! 
 There morning breaks in showers 
 
 Of light and silver foam, 
 And from their airy towers 
 
 Smile stormless stars on Rome ! 
 
 And there gay birds are winging 
 
 Their wild and wondrous flight; 
 The splendid day dies singing 
 
 A dream song to the night; 
 And Love's sweet voices calling 
 
 Love's weary wanderers home, 
 In golden music falling 
 
 'Thrill all the vales of Rome. 
 
 That love which woos and wonders 
 
 Far from the wreck and strife, 
 Is echoed in the thunders 
 
 And tempests of my life, 
 And answers, "Love, I hear thee, 
 
 O'er the seas of storm and foam; 
 Thy lover's steps draw near thee, — 
 
 Ring sweet, ye bells of Rome!" 
 
 RETROSPECTIVE. 
 By Montyomery M. Folsom. 
 I watch the sunshine slowly ebb 
 
 Along the shores of day. 
 And winter weaves a silver web 
 
 On the hillsides far away. 
 Above my head there shines afar 
 
 Heaven's softly beaming eyes. 
 But Oh, my God, I miss the star 
 
 That illumed my paradise! 
 
 One summer morn when field and wood 
 
 Were promiseful and green, 
 Far off the blue Cohuttas stood, 
 
 Oostanaula rolled between ; 
 On this same spot I met my love 
 
 And held her hand in mine, 
 And all the earth and heaven above 
 
 O'erflowed with light divine! 
 
 In whispered accents breathed low 
 I pledged my solemn vow; 
 
 And would to heaven that she might 
 know 
 How much I miss her now ! 
 
 I loved as few have loved with all 
 
 Of heart's devotion free ; 
 She held my very soul in thrall, 
 
 I knew that she loved me! 
 
 What recks the dull routine of life 
 
 If wrong may Christ forgive? 
 The joy is not worth half the strife 
 
 To simply breathe and live! 
 Poor erring creature, this my prayer, 
 
 To heaven my only plea. 
 That in that blissful region there 
 
 My love may be with me! 
 
 "LOVE ME AND THE HAT IS 
 
 THINE." 
 
 By Frank L. Stanton. 
 
 Each eve she meets me at the gate — 
 
 Her brow has roses on it; 
 And for one kiss she gives me eight. 
 (That means an Easter bonnet!) 
 
 Each dish that most delights my eyes 
 
 The table has upon it; 
 And "Dear, try this and this!" she 
 cries. 
 
 (That means an Easter bonnet!) 
 
 My slippers always are in sight, 
 My smoking cap, I don it; 
 
 She strokes my hair; "You're tired to- 
 night !" 
 (That means an Easter bonnet!) 
 
 Such kind attention! Never saw 
 The like! Heaven's blessing on it; 
 
 God praise both wife and mother-in- 
 law! 
 (I'll BUY that Easter bonnet!) 
 
 UNDER THE SPELL OF SUMMER. 
 
 By Montgonm^/ M. Fohotn, in The 
 
 Rome TribKnc, Ahnat 1895. 
 
 Sweet solitude 
 
 Of field and wood, 
 Free from all worldly '""I't" ""^^ cankcM-, 
 
 On yon bright sky 
 
 The light clouds lie 
 Like fair dream freighted shipd at 
 anchor. 
 
 And soon to sail 
 
 With favoring gale 
 To ports beyond the gates of even 
 
 Where bloom the flowers 
 
 .•\mi rise the towers 
 Reflected in the sunset heaven. 
 
 The south wind sighs 
 Low lullal>ies. 
 The day seems fill'd with love unspok'n, 
 And pours its balm
 
 558 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 CATHOLIC PARSONAGE, ONCE HOME OF MONTGOMERY M. FOLSOM. 
 
 Of summer calm 
 In this sad heart so bruised and bro- 
 ken! 
 
 Through arches green 
 With summer sheen 
 Their gay festoons the wild vines 
 wreathing 
 
 In every breeze 
 That stirs the trees 
 The still small voice of God is breath- 
 ing! 
 
 Oh, love, if thou 
 
 Wert with me now 
 To add thy presence to my vision, 
 
 My wondering eyes 
 
 Might realize 
 The poet's fondly dreamed Elysian! 
 
 Still incomplete 
 
 This rare retreat 
 Though all the arts of earth contended 
 
 To add their grace 
 
 Since in thy face 
 All life and light and love are blended! 
 
 RUSTICATING. 
 
 I wish you could be out here with 
 me for a day, dear. 
 
 It is so sweet and pleasant to be 
 away from the busy din of the city. 
 
 The restful sighs of the summer 
 wind among the trees and the show- 
 ers of sunshine flood the weird trunks 
 of the stately oaks. 
 
 Then there are birds and bees and 
 blossoms, and all complete to fill the 
 world with summer dreams. 
 
 It seems to me that if you were here 
 I could dream away the hours in sweet 
 content, but, alas! you are elsewhere. 
 
 There are four young mockingbirds 
 here whom I have made friends with 
 already. 
 
 I have asked them many things and 
 in their way they have told me and 
 they are very cheerful and comfort- 
 ing. 
 
 Then out yonder where the orchard 
 trees are fluttering their bannerets in 
 the breezes, there is a royal singer. 
 
 And when she is at her best she re- 
 minds me of you. 
 
 There are nooks and corners among 
 the somber cedars and the waving 
 altheas, crimson and purple with bloom, 
 like the refined hues of an old maid's 
 cheek, and I have counted half a dozen 
 sorts of birds that join in the most 
 delightful melodies at sundown time. 
 
 You know I never see the sun set in 
 glory upon the western hills but I 
 think of you. 
 
 I saw a brown thrush slipping along 
 the Cherokee rose hedge today — the 
 sly old poacher — and as I attempted 
 to get a better view, a drab-colored 
 cedar bird with shining eyes fluttered 
 up from the path and accosted me pet- 
 ulantly. 
 
 But they will soon know me better 
 and then they will permit me to pass
 
 ^l^i-M-yC^ 
 
 3
 
 560 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 unheeded, knowing that I would not 
 harm them for worlds. 
 
 I have been sitting out on the green 
 grass, all alone, watching the sun go 
 down beyond the ranges of old Lav- 
 ender. 
 
 Oh, how gloriously beautiful is the 
 prospect. The amethystine dyes of the 
 bright blue heavens are blended with 
 the purple hues of the distant peaks, 
 and God's own sunshine enriches the 
 landscape and the changeful clouds 
 afloat in seas of splendor indescribable. 
 
 I have been so weak and ill that I 
 have almost lost heart. "Cerebro-Spi- 
 nal," the doctors call it, but it comes 
 nearer being heart break. 
 
 Rest was never sweeter to me than 
 it has been here. In the songs of the 
 soothing winds it seems to me that I 
 can hear the still, small voice of God 
 bidding me look up and be brave and 
 strong to endure. 
 
 You have often chided me gently, 
 dear, for being so weak and despond- 
 ent, but you never realized how fierce 
 was the battle that raged within me. 
 
 For your sake I have accomplished 
 many things, and the same holy inspi- 
 ration shall bear my spirit up until I 
 stand upon the shore of yon myste- 
 rious river. 
 
 Work is restful when it is not filled 
 with anxiety and foreboding. 
 
 It is the worry that kills. When you 
 know that your strength is failing and 
 your labor accumulating, then is when 
 despondency and gloom overwhelm the 
 soul. 
 
 MY MOTHER IN HEAVEN. 
 By Montgomery M. Folsom. 
 (Republished by request of a Tribune 
 reader. ) 
 
 Shines the green upon the willow 
 And the sheen upon the billow 
 
 HENRY W. GRADY AND THE SPIRIT OF PLAY. 
 
 The late Joel Chandler Harris ("Uncle Remus") once went unannounced to Rome! 
 to see his friend Grady. He was directed by the office boy to the circus, where 
 he found Mr. Grady riding a "flying Jenny." The ride over, the young scribe 
 rushed to Mr. Harris and embraced him fondly.
 
 Miscellaneous — Poetry 
 
 561 
 
 With the limning of the rainbow on the 
 spray, 
 Now amid life's dark afflictions 
 Come the cheering benedictions 
 
 Of thy spirit up in Heaven far away. 
 
 Unrelenting gales have driven 
 This frail bark from out the haven 
 Where 'twas sheltered when the dark- 
 ness fell that day, 
 Yet among the shadows groping 
 I am seeking thee and hoping 
 For thy welcome up in Heaven far 
 away. 
 
 Nevermore shall feet unheeding 
 Trample on the heart that's bleeding 
 When the sunburst of that presence 
 sheds its ray 
 On the path that 1 have trodden, 
 With salt views of sorrows sodden 
 And I reach that restful Heaven fai 
 away. 
 
 Well thou kennest every weakness 
 Of my heart, the dreary bleakness 
 Of my life and anguish stricken as I 
 pray. 
 Every tear-bedimmed confession 
 Through thy blessed intercession 
 Reaches Him who reigns in Heaven far 
 away. 
 
 THE TWO GATES. 
 
 Brj G. S. Kinard. 
 
 In the far away east is a beautiful 
 
 gate; 
 
 We call it the gate of the morn; 
 
 It opens, and through it, in royal estate, 
 
 Comes the king of the day just born. 
 
 In the far away west is a beautiful 
 gate; 
 We call it the gate of the eve; 
 It opens, and through it, 'mid shadows 
 of fate. 
 The king of the day takes his leave. 
 
 Both gates, far away in the east and 
 the west. 
 Are closed by the goddess of night; 
 Above them she hovers, with star- 
 sprinkled breast, 
 'Mid the stars with their twinkling 
 light. 
 
 And the starlets are saying, to comfort 
 our hearts: 
 "The king of the day still lives; 
 From his course through the gates he 
 never departs; 
 We shine with the light that he 
 gives!" 
 
 As pilgrims, we pass on our way, like 
 the sun; 
 We enter the morn-gate ait birth, , 
 
 Go out by the eve-gate at death, and 
 are done 
 With the course of our life on the 
 earth. 
 
 But the gates are not closed by the god- 
 dess of night 
 That sits at the end of the way; 
 They are shut by the hand of an angel 
 of light, 
 And he leads to the perfect day. 
 
 ODE TO BIG SHANTY (Kennesaw.) 
 
 By an ainonymous writer, probably 
 Chas. H. Smith, in The Rome Tri- 
 Weekly Courier, Feb. 9, 18G0. Writ- 
 ten in memory of a half dollar in- 
 vested — and lost. 
 
 All hail to ye. Big Shanty, hail! 
 Ye offspring of the big Black Cat! 
 Ye eminent appintment of Spikey John, 
 By and with tho advice and consent of 
 
 Joe, the Senate! 
 How ye did kill up "Fletcher" 
 And shake the dew drops off of 
 Dr. Thompson's mane! 
 
 How ye doth git a half dollar 
 With an eagle on it, and give a pas- 
 senger 
 No chicken back ! 
 
 Oh, whar did ye hatch that little shanty 
 What's nursed by Mr. Hilburn; 
 And will the progeny be like its great 
 ancestor? 
 
 Whar did ye git that kind of tabol 
 
 cloth 
 What lasts so long without washin'? 
 It may be water's scarce, and soap 
 In yore free-stone country. 
 Whar did ye buy yore ioe 
 To put around yore coffy pot 
 And keep yore coffy cold? 
 
 Oh, whar, tell me whar, has yore Kal- 
 
 orie gone 
 When I tuck supper with ye? 
 Oh, hail. Big Shanty, hail agin! 
 Could ye tell me whar ye buy suh 
 
 strong kologne 
 To odorize them darkies what hands 
 Them sassengers unto the passengers! 
 
 Did ye import your knives and forks 
 
 from Greece; 
 What makes their handles greasy? 
 \m\ tell us whar ye got yore 'S elcfnnl 
 Wiiat steps on pies and things (pi/.en 
 
 things) 
 ,\nd makes 'em so flat! 
 
 Ye object of commiseration! 
 
 Ye stationary beggar! 
 
 What gi-eat misfortune did hefall
 
 562 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 That so many people daily does give 
 Yer a half dollar out of charity? 
 
 Maybe ye was shipwrecked 
 
 Or maybe old Versuvious 
 
 Run down its red hot gravy 
 
 Upon yore little town! 
 
 Or mavbe ye was gored by the Pope's 
 
 bull 
 In Italy or some such like! 
 
 Great Big Shanty, ye state institu- 
 
 shoon 
 Ye publik work, ye metropolitan hotel! 
 Ye speculator upon appetite ! In yer 
 
 brief history 
 Does ye ever remember to have fed the 
 
 same man twice? 
 If so, alas! for Paradise was never 
 
 made for fools ! 
 
 OOSTANAULA, WHISPERING 
 WATER. 
 By Elinor Van Dozier Allen. 
 Oo^tanaula, whispering water, 
 As upon your brink I stand, 
 Comes the gentle murmur, murmur 
 
 Of your lapping on the sand. 
 Come the lisping, whispering voices, 
 Where your ripples kiss the land. 
 
 Oostanaula, whispering water, 
 What is this you speak so low? 
 
 Where the willows gently quiver, 
 And the water lilies grow, 
 
 Where the sun and shadows mingle 
 As you softly, softly flow? 
 
 Oostanaula, whispering water. 
 Did you catch the morning breeze 
 
 Where the throstle sings his love-song 
 To his mate among the trees? 
 
 Did you hear the droning work-song 
 Of the honey-gathering bees? 
 
 Up and down the hills and valleys, 
 Where the waters dash and roar. 
 
 Have you heard the mountain folk- 
 songs 
 Echo back, and yearn for more — • 
 
 Heart-songs of the lads and lassies. 
 Home-songs loved in days of yore? 
 
 Oostanaula, whispering water, 
 
 In the years of long ago 
 Did some Indian maiden linger 
 
 Where the muscadine does grow; 
 Did you hear her swarthy lover 
 
 Galling to her soft and low? 
 
 Oostanaula, whispering water, 
 You have heard them every one, 
 
 Heard the songs of love and gladness, 
 Where your silver waters run; 
 
 And you'll bear them on your bosom 
 'Till your earthly course is done! 
 
 OOSTANAULA.* 
 By Lollie Belle Wylie. 
 
 O, beautiful river. 
 The moonbeams aquiver. 
 
 Lie palpitant now on thy bosom so fair, 
 And through the tall rushes. 
 And dew-scented bushes 
 
 Dim mist-shapes arise like wraiths on 
 the air. 
 
 O, silver, still river. 
 Flowing onward forever. 
 Breathing heavenly harmonies out on 
 the night. 
 
 Each musical number 
 Awakes my soul-slumber. 
 To quick revelation of Heaven and 
 Light. 
 
 O, mystical river. 
 When soul-life shall sever. 
 From flesh of the Adam-Dream, seraphs 
 divine. 
 
 From sphere far-celestial. 
 May come sphere terrestrial 
 Just to resolve my glad spirit with 
 thine! 
 
 THE HUCKLEBERRY PICNIC. 
 
 (An old Virginia animal song, as played 
 on the guitar and sung by E. L. 
 Wright, headmaster of Darlington 
 School, to the delight of many young 
 Romans.) 
 I looked down the river 'bout the crack 
 
 of day, 
 I heard a big commotion 'bout a mile 
 
 away ; 
 The critters from the fields and the 
 
 forests had come, 
 All had collected for to have a little 
 
 fun; 
 'Twas the badger and the bear, the fox 
 
 and the hare, 
 The otter and the coon, the mink and 
 
 baboon. 
 The 'possum and the kangaroo, the 
 
 wolf and weasel, too; 
 The monkey and the owl were a-settin' 
 
 up a howl ! 
 
 Chorus : 
 
 "Come jine the huckleberry picnic, 
 'Tis gwine to take place today; 
 
 I'm on the committee for to 'vite you all, 
 But I ain't got long to stay!" 
 
 'Long about noon the table was set. — 
 They brought out to eat everything 
 
 they could get; 
 The badger and the bear took hash 
 
 Francaise, 
 
 *Whispering Water.
 
 jQllJVlcXixJ/
 
 564 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 THE STEAMER "CHEROKEE" "MAKING KNOTS." 
 
 This picture was taken as the First Methodist Church Sunday School members 
 were on their annual picnic down the Coosa in June, 1921. Behind the speedy 
 "Cherokee" sputtered the Boy Scout Motor Boat, which gave the "big wagon" a hot 
 race coming back to Rome, and kicked some salty spray on her noble bow. 
 
 The fox and the hare took consomme; 
 
 The otter and the coon took simmons 
 a-la-frost, 
 
 The mink and baboon took fish cream 
 sauce. 
 
 The mule had a fit and the ground- 
 hog died, 
 
 And all were chuck full when the 
 hyena cried : 
 
 Choriis 
 
 Buffalo and hogs hollered "Right hand 
 
 across!" 
 Jenny and Jack hollered "Left hand 
 
 back!" 
 It looked sorter strange in the ladies' 
 
 change 
 To see the nanny goat swapping places 
 
 with the shoat; 
 They tried to "grand change" over and 
 
 again, 
 But a little cur pup kep' a-mixin' 'em 
 
 up, 
 'Bout to be a fight in the "ladies to the 
 
 right," 
 When the cats began to bawl, "Prome- 
 nade all!" 
 
 Chorus 
 
 'Long about night the varmints took 
 
 sick. 
 Sent for the old snake doctor mighty 
 
 quick, 
 
 Like the railroad cars his wings did 
 
 hum ; 
 The varmints all hollered, "Yon he 
 
 come!" 
 Started for to open the head of the 
 
 boss, 
 When the varmints all hollered, "Hold 
 
 on. Boss! 
 It ain't no use to do like dat. 
 Dat ain't de place whar de misery's at!" 
 
 Choi'iis 
 
 Tied the tail of the monkey with a rope, 
 
 Looked down his throat with a micro- 
 scope ; 
 
 You just ought to seen that monkey's 
 tail — 
 
 'Clare 'fore goodness it turned right 
 pale! 
 
 Rubbed it and he rubbed it, but 'twant 
 no use. 
 
 So he greased it all over with pokeberry 
 juice. 
 
 When that ugly monkey up and died, 
 
 He turned right over and softly 
 sighed: 
 
 Cho7ms 
 
 Animals went down the river for to 
 
 bathe, 
 Just couldn't make the baboon behave; 
 When it came time to look for a towel, 
 They had to wipe off on the little 
 
 screech owl.
 
 Miscellaneous — Poetry 
 
 565 
 
 SAM P. JONES AND HIS ROME SANCTUARIES. 
 
 The great evangelist came to Rome about 187S from the Van Wert (Polk County) cir- 
 cuit, and spent two stormy years, in which he had Trinity Methodist church (at the bot- 
 tom, then known as the Second) and two churches in the country. He built the original 
 church, part of which is now a residence next to the Second Christian on W. Fifth Avenue. 
 The other house, at 733 Avenue A, was his home. 
 
 The screech owl screeched and the bull- 
 frog hopped, 
 
 The tadpole wiggled and the terrapin 
 flopped, 
 
 The monkey he then run out and hid, 
 
 The elephant spied him and said, "O, 
 you kid!" 
 
 THE SWEETNESS OF SORROW. 
 
 By Col. B. F. Sawyer. 
 
 (From The Rome Georgian, May 28, 
 
 1898.) 
 
 Cheer up, cheer up, thou fainting heart, 
 
 Put off thy sad repining; 
 The darkest cloud that ever lowered 
 
 Must have its silver lining! 
 
 And every bitter has its sweet, — 
 The bitterest the sweetest, — 
 
 For deepest sorrows always make 
 Their after-joys completest. 
 
 The heavy load, the bitter cup, 
 Are oft in memory given; 
 
 Even death itself is but the gate 
 That opens up to Heaven. 
 
 Then let us gather faith and hope 
 From life's unfailing crosses. 
 
 Nor idly hope to reap a gain 
 Without its price of losses! 
 
 A FRIEND. 
 By Alfred AnioUl. 
 A fiicnd is one who's lived a while 
 
 And learned a world of stuff; 
 Who smiles a kind of patient smile 
 Though things be smooth or rough. 
 
 A friend is one who's tried you out ; 
 
 Who's heard your every plan; 
 Knows all your weakness and your 
 doubt. 
 
 And says, "I like that man." 
 
 A friend is one who knows your faults, 
 
 Yet doesn't hide his own; 
 Who'd rather walk with one who halts 
 
 Than plod along alone.
 
 566 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 BALLAD OF FERDINAND DeSOTO 
 
 By George Magruder Battey, Jr. 
 
 Decorations by Frank L. Stanton, Jr. 
 
 When Ferdinand DeSoto went to Rome in search of gold, 
 He never thought to make a name like pirate chiefs of old, 
 But rather hoped to gather pelf from far-off hills and near. 
 And divvy with his hard-up king — he was no profiteer! 
 
 No doubt he would have got away in handsome style with this 
 Except he thought that fire and sword were not so far amiss 
 And Gent of Elvas, taking notes, not heard all Ferdie said 
 And writ the story out in Spain long after Ferd was dead. 
 
 Now, harking back a span or so, we find Ferd in Peru, 
 A-fighting for the native spoils — in Nicaragua, too — 
 So when he took himself back home, a pretty maiden there 
 Thought Ferdie was the bravest man in Spain or anywhere. 
 
 Yet Isabella's dad was rich and Ferdie's dad was poor; 
 The king took Ferdie's share of gold and loudly called for more. 
 Here Isabella proved her worth — she married Ferdinand, 
 Forsook her dad and all his wealth for Ferdie's horny hand. 
 
 Away they went in rocking ships, stopped on a lonely isle. 
 Proceeded on their honeymoon, the journey seemed a mile — 
 'Till Cuba's pearly shore loomed up, Havana on the bow. 
 And Ferd reviewed his motley crew from soldier down to sow. 
 
 In town they rented cozy flat that gave them latitude 
 For all the charms of wedded life, their souls with love imbued; 
 But Ferdinand was wise enough to know it couldn't last. 
 And so he piped to Isabelle that time for love was past. 
 
 "Oh, Ferdinand, you cannot go and leave me lonely here 
 With perfect strangers, out of funds!" she wailed into his ear. 
 But Ferdinand was adamant; "You do not vote," quoth he, — 
 "My orders say to Florida to see what I can see." 
 
 He took his leave of Isabelle and promised soon return; 
 She sobbed aloud, disconsolate; her heart with grief did burn. 
 Six hundred of this little band, some wearing coats of mail, 
 A lot of horses, pigs and food, but not a wife set sail. 
 
 Interpreters there were a few, some priests and sailor men, 
 A doctor, prophet and a wag to cheer them now and then; 
 The chroniclers formed quite a train, a cannoneer had piece 
 To thunder through the country-side that red-skin war must cease. 
 
 Some muskets, lances, spears and shot they bore in proud array, 
 A banner by DeSoto planned, fierce bloodhounds, meat and hay. 
 In Florida they landed well, at Tampa, in a calm; 
 DeSoto lifted up his voice, the chorus sang a psalm. 
 
 From inland quite a distance came Juan Ortiz, Spanish lad. 
 
 Left with the savage years before by Narvaez the Bad. 
 
 Ten Indians with Juan were took by Baltasar and men. 
 
 To camp brought in that they might guide DeSoto through the fen.
 
 Miscellaneous — Poetry 
 
 567 
 
 Before the troop began its march from Tampa up the coast, 
 DeSoto sent a lengthy note to Santiago host 
 Of townsmen and their magistrate to tell them how he lit. 
 But loving news to Isabelle he failed to send a bit. 
 
 Now, lots of fights DeSoto had with red-skins bold and gory. 
 His exploits made his little band far-famed in song and story. 
 He came to Cutifachiqui, Savannah River city, 
 And how he grubbed in sepulchres — Egad, it was a pity! 
 
 The Princess Cuti gave him drink, a regal string of pearls, 
 
 Threw up a piny barricade around the tribal girls; 
 
 Then handed Ferd his feathered hat, and prayed he would not hurry; 
 
 "If I could think YOU would not go," said Ferdie, "I should worry!" 
 
 So saying Ferd put tenderly iron band upon her neck; 
 
 "I guess we'll travel safely now or all bite dust, by heck!" 
 
 He let her bear a box of gems, not wishing to be rude. 
 
 And planned to get them when she left — with tale of solitude. 
 
 But Cutifachiqui was wise, and wisely built, was good; 
 She took the pearls and Soto's ring, escaped into the wood; 
 Poor Ferd could ill have turned around to chase her in the night; 
 He thought of 'Bella's sacrifice, but still he didn't write. 
 
 Nacoochee Valley broke ahead, Gray Yonah called them on, 
 Lorenzo, Soto's cavalier, went searching after corn. 
 But found fair Echoee, the wife of savage Chief Tee-halp, 
 Who hacked Lorenzo on the bean and snipt Garillo's scalp. 
 
 "All roads from here," the chief did grunt, "lead o'er the hills to Rome!" 
 "That's Eldorado!" Soto cried. "Let's find our happy home!" 
 Meanwile, glum Isabella wept, her grief she did confess. 
 And would have writ a lot except for Ferdie's vague address. 
 
 Chiaha, site of Rome, was reached by dashing Soto's men; 
 They found a lot of salty dope for Gent of Elvas' pen. 
 Pearl hunt along the Coosa took with forty red-skins brave, 
 Louis Bravo shot old Mateos at entrance to the cave. 
 
 Silvestre, Villalobos fared to Chisca, seeking gold; 
 They stalked back in a week or so, in rags, downcast and cold. 
 When Soto asked for 30 squaws to join his hapless band, 
 The chief wrote out a double cross on Oostanaula sand. 
 
 Away they trudged to Cosa next— no Eldorado found. 
 But poisoned dart of Cherokee put Spaniards in the ground. 
 Strong heart kept Soto on the mark to cop the king some dough; 
 Neglected 'Bella languished still a thousand miles below. 
 
 At last DeSoto crossed a stream full dark and deep and wide, 
 And with the fever in his blood one day he up and died; 
 His bones found welcome resting place beneath the waters cold. 
 But never did he sip content from Midas cup of gold. 
 
 The faithful Isabella, too, explored the other shore 
 With broken heart still full of love for Soto evermore. 
 Quite possfbly both might have lived a humlred >-ars and nine. 
 If Soto in his frenzied quest had penned her just a line. 

 
 568 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 ROME IN 1934— A DREAM. 
 
 Oh. noblo Roman, let us trip to good year Thirty-four, 
 Which witnesseth 100 years have srone on here before. 
 Sinee Rome became a husky babe and now is called a town; 
 Up goes the curtain on a scene of passing great renown: 
 
 One hundred thousand folks there be and happily reside 
 For quite a distance 'round the clock within our limits wide; 
 Fair Chattanooga keeps an eye on Rome's expanding chest, 
 Atlanta girds her loins to fight, and so do all the rest. 
 
 In every ward we have a park where children play and grow — 
 Red-blooded life is everywhere: the folks aren't dying so! 
 The sexton's looking for a job as keeper of the log 
 That tells how Romans live and love but slip no mortal cog. 
 
 The city swimming pool is built, the market owns its home; 
 Things "generally are looking up in ancient modern Rome! 
 Around for miles is boulevard that hits the mountain tops 
 And jumps the rivers seven times — Egad, it never st<)ps! 
 
 The Berry School has built a shaft to doughty Cherokee 
 
 Consisting of a model course in beads and basketry; 
 
 And Shorter College now has oaks instead of trees austere. 
 
 Which give the scholars welcome shade and make them dream while here. 
 
 The little czars that reigned in state on seven hills of yore 
 
 Are chumming with the rest of us: they're haughty nevermore! 
 
 The schools are adequate at last and every child is in; 
 
 ^liss Spain yells through a megaphone and Langley sees them win. 
 
 The Fair is run by ^Iv. Bush and mighty Fair it seems; 
 The aeroplanes are hauling freight, the sun looks down and beams. 
 The river banks have had a shave, mosquitoes gone from here, 
 All undesirables have quit; the bootleg sheds a tear. 
 
 John Berry in the suburbs lives — he's moved his plant to Wax, 
 His hosiery is still the rage — to Rome he pays his tax. 
 Judge Wright has gone to Washington to get some things for Rome; 
 The farmers keep on digging deep in Floyd County's loam. 
 
 The President and Cabinet on Lavender have perch; 
 They ponder o'er the nation's weal, and come to Rome to church. 
 The diplomats of other lands troop here with open purse. 
 The shark of yesterday has left, some other field to curse. 
 
 And how has Rome attained to this — by finding pot of gold 
 In Alto's top or miser's hoard or anything of old? 
 Ah. no, my friend, the Rome we love received belated start 
 By tapping of the gold that lies in every Roman heart! 
 
 LOVE'S KISS THE SWEETEST. 
 By Phil Glenn Byrd 
 in The Hustler of Rome, Jan. 15, 1895. 
 
 The pure kiss of friendship that falls from the lips 
 
 Of a girl is as precious as gems of the realm. 
 Like the signals exchanged in the passing of ships; 
 
 "All is well. There's no fear, for a man's at the helm!" 
 
 But when the caress kindles passion's wild fire. 
 
 There is danger ahead, there's the squall and the reef 
 In the waters forbidden, 'round the Isle of Desire, 
 And the craft that would land is indeed doomed to grief. 
 
 Yet the best of them all is the clinging caress. 
 When a soul meets a soul and in lover-like bliss. 
 
 In the language of eyes plight the truth they confess. 
 As thev seal the sweet vows in a Love's deathless kiss!
 
 570 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 PSYCHE'S MIRROR AT ROME. (Now Turn the Book Upside Down.) 
 
 THE RIVERS OF CHEROKEE GEORGIA. 
 By Ernest Neal. 
 
 Have you heard of the land of the Cherokees, 
 With its wonderful streams and beautiful trees, 
 Of its flowers abloom and the wild perfume 
 That floated like myrrh on the evening breeze? 
 
 Have you heard of Echota, the capital town, 
 And the brave old chief with feathery crown? 
 Of the warrior band and the pow-wow grand. 
 In the light of the moon when the sun went down? 
 
 Far away in the past this quaint land lies, 
 And around it the mists obscure arise; 
 It is only in dreams we hear shrill screams 
 Of the eagles afloat in their native skies. 
 
 But the rivers glide on in rhythmical flow 
 Through fields of today that grew maize long ago. 
 The slow Connasauga, the clear Oostanaula — 
 Like their musical names — gurgle soft and low. 
 
 In the laugh of the ripples of sweet Salacoa, 
 
 In the fall of the current of silvery Toccoa, 
 
 In the roar of Tallulah and the splash of Yahoola 
 
 Are the weird and sad notes of an unwritten lore. 
 
 And we list to the song of the sad Etowah — 
 
 In his voice is a sob, a refrain from afar — 
 
 While the rough Chattahoochee makes love to Nachooochee 
 
 In the shade of the vale of the Evening Star. 
 
 From the gold-bearing mountains comes rich Chestatee 
 Through the vales to the west flows Coosawattee; 
 In their music shall roll the Indian soul 
 As long as his rivers flow into the sea !
 
 Miscellaneous — Poetry 571 
 
 SUBMERGENCE OF THE SHORTER "PERISCOPE." 
 
 (From The Rome News, Jan. 9, 1921.) 
 
 Two months ago The Periscope for Shorter girls was full of dope, ground out 
 by Senior Class so wise, concerning pretty hills and skies, philosophy on how to 
 live, study, work and gladly give; replete with health and beauty hints, fine art 
 in rouge and fleshy tints, and brimming o'er with snappy ads and warnings not 
 to break their Dads. 
 
 Alas; though Periscopes may skim the placid seas of joy and whim, they also 
 now and then submerge (hark to the Seniors' mournful dirge!) ; and this one 
 truly dropped from sight completely as it could one night. The reason why; the 
 censor took a more than friendly, passing look at what the Seniors wished to tell 
 within that periscopean shell, and so the sad-eyed Seniors swore of Periscopes 
 they'd have no more. 
 
 Alumnae now will try their hand to make subscribers understand just why for 
 such a lengthy time they've missed their prose and jokes and rhyme. Eventually 
 the Freshmen brave will take the helm and try to save this pleasing vehicle 
 the fate of steaming deep and slow and late. The teachers long ago have fled to tall 
 uncut with aching head, lest torpedo should hit His Nibs between his first and 
 second ribs. In dreams we hear the Freshmen shout as censor tries to cut it out: 
 
 "Please buy the verdant Periscope and get the latest Shorter dope!" 
 
 THE UNBECKONED HEART. 
 
 By Montgomery M. Folsom. 
 (From Tribune, Nov. 15, 1896.) 
 
 Convinced at last, and I have striven so long 
 To win and keep you, all my powers of song 
 
 And sentiment and pure ideals, too, 
 
 Have I exerted, sweetheart, just for you. 
 
 Sweetheart! Ah! did I use that sacred word? 
 
 'Tis long, so long, ah me! since I have heard 
 From those dear lips the thrilling accents sweet 
 
 That gladdest echoes in my heart repeat! 
 
 I will not chide you. I have learned to bear 
 Through long gi'ay days of deepening despair 
 
 The burdens of indifference and wrong, — 
 
 The faith once placed in you has made me strong! 
 
 This is the last remonstrance I shall make 
 
 Who sacrificed so much; my heart may ache 
 But though my love and labor all are vain, 
 For your dear sake I'd do as much again! 
 
 'Tis sad to be deceived, I must confess, 
 And yet I love you in my loneliness! 
 'Twas not ephemeral, this love of mine. 
 But lasting as eternity divine! 
 
 The chords are mute you woke within my soul. 
 
 And ne'er again shall those sweet dream bells toll; 
 To you I gave my full heart harvest store, — 
 And fallow shall it stay forever more ! 
 
 THE JAYBIRD'S RETORT. 
 (An old jingle sung by small boys in 1895.) 
 
 Jaybird sittin' on a hickory limb.— 
 He winked at me and I winked at hini; 
 
 Picked up a rock and hit him on tlio cliin; 
 He said, "Little boy, don't you do that again!'
 
 572 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 POVERTY HALL (Southwest Corner of Third Avenue and E. First Street.) 
 
 THE POVERTY HALL BOYS. 
 
 Oh, who does not with joy recall 
 The noble boys of Poverty Hall, 
 Full panoplied in manly pride, 
 With naught but poverty to hide? 
 
 Theirs not to dodge the sheriff's men, 
 Theirs but to say, "Please' call again!" 
 Theirs but to pluck a summer rose, 
 And go the way the lover goes ! 
 
 Oh, time will bless them every one. 
 As maids in every clime have done ! 
 High up or with no funds at all, — 
 Heroic knights of Poverty Hall ! 
 
 THE WEALTH OF POVERTY HALL 
 
 Oh, how can time or weather dim 
 The glory and the joy of him 
 
 Who lived in Poverty Hall? 
 Full courtly, kind, immaculate. 
 With many dates, and never late. 
 
 Though pressed against the wall! 
 
 A red carnation in his coat, 
 
 A thousand letters fondly wrote, — 
 
 Perfumed his handkerchief; 
 Fared bravely forth as moon shone 
 
 bright. 
 With banjo tunes lost in the night. 
 
 And often came to grief! 
 
 His plaint he piped into her ear, — 
 Forsooth, she showed a little fear. — 
 
 At party or at ball; 
 "Fair maid of Rome, please take my life. 
 My everything, — just be my wife, — 
 
 And live in Poverty Hall!" 
 
 Some maids succumbed and some did 
 
 not. 
 Love lingered on; the chase was hot, 
 
 And many took a fall; 
 Great in the present be the men 
 Who hoped and fought and perished 
 then 
 As the Boys of Poverty Hall! 
 
 Twenty-one of the original Poverty 
 Hall boys, as recalled by one of the sur- 
 vivors: Jas. Creswell Sproull, B. Tolly 
 Haynes, William L. McKee. Jas. Neph- 
 ew King, Harry P. Weatherly, Samuel 
 L. Crook, Ellery A. Johnson, C. S. 
 ("Tap") Sparks, William A. McGhee, 
 Samuel S. King, Harry Page Johnson, 
 Wade Cothran Sproull^ Hunter H. Mc- 
 Clure, Claude B. Hargrove, Fleetwood 
 Lester, Morton R. Emmons, Edward S. 
 Emmons. Charles N. Patterson, Craw- 
 ford W. Wingfield, Nat Trout, and 
 George McManigal. 
 
 LYRIC OF THE OOSTANAULA. 
 
 (June 1, 1921.) 
 
 June trips in quite blithesomely, 
 
 Speckled trout is king, 
 Lads are bathing in the creeks, — 
 
 What a heap to bring! 
 
 Hurry, hurry, carpenter, — 
 
 Speed our craft along! 
 Let the heavy winter hearts 
 
 Sing our boating song!
 
 574 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 ROME. 
 By Montgomery M. Folsom. 
 
 Guarded by thy mighty mountains 
 
 Softly toned by sun and shade, 
 Watered in thy flowing fountains 
 
 Flashing through each glen and glade 
 Twined amid thy winding rivers, 
 
 Mirrored by their shining foam, 
 Where thy glowing splendor quivers, 
 
 Standest thou, imperial Rome! 
 
 Pictured plains and verdant valleys 
 
 Flushed with glorious harvest hopes, 
 Blithe the balmy breeze that dallies 
 
 On thy bloom-embroidered slopes; 
 Opulent with promise springing 
 
 From the freshly-furrowed loam. 
 Jubilant the joy bells ringing 
 
 On thy hills, resplendent Rome! 
 
 Other lands may boast their trophies, 
 
 Vacuous vagaries of art, 
 Nature needs no straining strophes 
 
 To reveal thy golden heart; 
 And indelibly recorded 
 
 In each love-illumined tome. 
 Free from every instinct sordid 
 
 Shines thy story, radiant Rome! 
 
 Fertile fields and frowsy fallows. 
 Breezy banks where violets blow. 
 
 JACK D. M'CARTNEY, of Savannah, whose 
 lyrics and journalistic quips entertained Ro- 
 mans for more than a decade. 
 
 Fragfrant flags and musky mallows 
 Framed in drowsy deeps below; 
 
 Shadowy woodlands, history haunted. 
 Where each fancied nymph and 
 gnome 
 
 Long thy varied charms have daunted, 
 Rome, incomparable Rome! 
 
 There may each wayfaring stranger, 
 
 Free as falls the summer dew 
 Menaced by no dread or danger. 
 
 Find a welcome warm and true; 
 Free to share in all thy treasures 
 
 And to find in thee a home. 
 Peace pursue and plenteous pleasures 
 
 In thy precincts, prosperous Rome! 
 
 Sturdy sons and star-eyed daughters 
 
 Blend their songs of hope and joy. 
 Sweet as sound of falling waters 
 
 Busied with each sweet employ; 
 Peace and plenty reign around thee. 
 
 Potent progress gilds each dome 
 Where thy stalwart sons have crowned 
 thee 
 
 Realmed in riches, regal Rome! 
 
 LOWLAND PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 By The Canoe Man. 
 (From The Rome News, Feb. 10, 1921; 
 
 inspired by the high water.) 
 Said the sage, "You can't have rivers 
 three 
 That wind in silver threads, 
 Without some water now and then 
 That leaves the river beds!" 
 
 Said the Roman of the lowland sweep, 
 "When freshets come, — who cares? 
 
 We simply shut the front door fast 
 And move our things upstairs!" 
 
 BRICK, BRICK, BRICK! 
 
 Brick, brick, brick 
 
 On thy warm gray landscape, Rome, 
 And I would that my tongue could utter 
 
 The thoughts of the ideal home! 
 
 O, well for the fisherman's boy 
 
 And well for the shop-keeper's, too, 
 
 O, well for the man who doesn't care 
 But not so well for YOU ! 
 
 And the motor boats go on 
 To their cozy mooring place, 
 
 But O, for the touch of an artist's 
 hand 
 On this God-given place! 
 
 Brick, brick, brick 
 
 On Broad and highest hill. 
 But the tender grace of a load of stone 
 
 May come to soothe us still !
 
 Miscellaneous — ^Poetry 
 
 575
 
 576 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 HOUSE PARTY DAYS AT POPE'S FERRY. 
 
 A group at the Troutman place, on the Oostanaula, which includes Rev. and Mrs. 
 Marcellus L. Troutman, Henry, Baldwin and Grace Troutman, Mrs. Mary B. King, 
 Linton C. Hopkins and Miss Maggie Foote, of Atlanta, and the Lustrat girls of 
 Athens, formerly of Rome. The dwelling was destroyed by fire in 1921. 
 
 LITTLE HANDS THAT MOTHER 
 
 LOVES. 
 
 By Frank L. Stanton. 
 
 Little hands whose work is o'er, 
 Tired hands that toil no more. 
 Tender little hands that rest 
 Folded on the sinless breast — 
 Bending o'er them mother stands, 
 Kisses still these little hands. 
 
 God, who ever does the best, 
 Crossed them there and bade them rest, 
 Would He then these hands condemn 
 With a mother's kiss on them 
 When they've crossed the burning 
 
 sands? 
 Mother loved those little hands! 
 
 Mother loved them in the past, 
 Mother's kiss was on them last; 
 Little hands, beneath the sod, 
 Take a mother's kiss to God! 
 Waft it o'er the troubled lands, — 
 Little snow-white angel hands! 
 
 CAPTIVE WATER LILIES. 
 
 Montgomery M. Folsom 
 
 (In The Rome Tribune Nov. 7, 1896.) 
 
 Wide eyed and golden hearted 
 Ye peep through lattice bars; 
 
 Far from your sisters parted 
 Spirits of stolen stars. 
 
 Not where the soft waves tumble 
 
 Along the marshy glen ; 
 But near the roar and rumble 
 
 And hurrying feet of men. 
 
 Born where the rushes bending 
 To hear the reed birds sing; 
 
 Where wayward winds are wending 
 The heron plumes her wing. 
 
 Your heavenly kin half hiding 
 Peep at the blushing dawn; 
 
 When the Lord of day comes striding 
 Through crimson curtains drawn. 
 
 How can ye bloom so blithely 
 Amid this groan and grind? 
 
 How can you float so lithely 
 In this cold close confined? 
 
 No humming birds shall kiss you 
 
 On flashing wings aglide; 
 The western winds will miss you 
 
 When falls the eventide. 
 Pale prisoners ! In wonder 
 
 Ye gaze through darkened bars 
 From life and light asunder; 
 
 Wan wraiths of fallen stars! 
 
 THE GRASSHOPPER'S REVENGE. 
 
 News Item. — A St. Louis paper says 
 the grasshoppers have eaten up the 
 entire tobacco crop of Franklin county, 
 Missouri, and the last that was heard 
 from them they were seated on the 
 street corners, begging every man that 
 passed for a chew. — Rome Tri-Weekly 
 Courier, 1860. 
 
 A locust with a gauzy wing, 
 Orthopterous and full of vim, 
 
 Met sad mishap one summer day — 
 A man with quid spat juice on him! 
 
 Enraged, the locust flew ahead 
 
 And spat right in the bad man's eye, 
 
 Then perched upon a limb and yelled, 
 "You may can squirt, but you can't 
 fly!"
 
 578 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 JOHN WISDOM'S RIDE. 
 By George M. Battey, Jr. 
 
 Listen, O, Romans, and you shall hear 
 Of a midnight ride — not Paul Revere — 
 But John H. Wisdom, Roman true; 
 There's scarce a poet who dares to do 
 Him justice on this mundane sphere! 
 
 He yelled to a friend, "The Yankees 
 
 march 
 From Gadsden; Rome to take by night! 
 My steed is old, my throat does parch. 
 But I will bear the beacon light 
 That all the countryside may see 
 What dangers lurking near there be; 
 I'll sound the note of shrill alarm 
 From town to town and farm to farm, 
 That Rome and all may up and arm!" 
 
 Then said adieu to Coosa's shore 
 And whipped his charger more and 
 
 more, 
 'Till buggy creaked and jerked along 
 Like unpoetic, mournful song; 
 Hoke's Bluff he passed with piercing 
 
 shout, 
 At Gnatville horse's strength gave out, 
 And handsome Widow Hanks did pout 
 At lending pony young and small. 
 To take John on to Goshen Hall. 
 
 JNO. H. WISDOM, Rome stage coach driver, 
 who rode 67 miles like Paul Revere to warn 
 Romans of Streight's approach in 1863. 
 
 But pony's lameness proved severe: 
 With stubborn "plug" John hit the 
 
 trail; 
 Five miles they thumped the beaten 
 
 track 
 And met old Farmer Johnson near; 
 Two steeds espied, then told his tale, — 
 The son rode one to bring them back. 
 
 Full forty miles were left to go, 
 'Twas seven then and dark the night; 
 Like wild birds in a sudden flight 
 The horses raced, their nostrils red; 
 The riders rushed to halt the blow 
 Intended for the star so bright 
 That shone above the Southland's 
 dead. 
 
 Now, Wisdom once the stage had 
 
 manned 
 From Rome to Alabama town; 
 Spring Garden put him well adown 
 The pike he oft had traveled o'er. 
 Eleven miles to preacher's home 
 And fresher horse; the boy returned; 
 'Twas not so very far to Rome, — 
 John's bump of indignation burned. 
 This latest horse was likewise old. 
 But put him to the Georgia line, — 
 There groaned in pain and could not 
 
 go 
 And died, no doubt, for all I know. 
 So John did spur himself again 
 And rapped with pistol butt on door: 
 The farmer answered with a scold, 
 "You can't take nary horse of mine!" 
 
 Not far ahead he got a steed, 
 Passed Cave Spring like a lightning 
 
 streak, 
 Heard "Halt!" a musket shot or so, — 
 Just kept on riding, did not speak; 
 Vann's Valley reached in cloud of dust, 
 Then cast aside another horse, 
 And buckled saddle on a mule 
 With spirits high, without remorse. 
 No telephone from west to east. 
 No train to bear the message grim. 
 But get the warning there he must, 
 And Rome was just an hour from him; 
 Once charger stumbled to his knees. 
 The rider hit the rocky road: 
 'Twas but a trifle; up came John, 
 Still more his faithful mount to goad. 
 
 Meanwhile, unknown to John, the foe 
 Across the Coosa raced for Rome; 
 Two hundred, if they sacked the town. 
 Could have some gold and then go 
 
 home. 
 With Captain Russell at their head 
 This troop would win or join the dead; 
 And also, back of Russell came 
 Streight's main command, full sorely 
 
 stung 
 By Forrest's hornets, tired but game.
 
 Miscellaneous — Poetry 
 
 579 
 
 A COUNTRY PLACE NOTED FOR ITS HOSPITALITY. 
 
 Here are shown some congenial parties at "Riverside," the home of Francis Marion 
 Freeman, at Freeman's Ferry, Etowah River. Under the spreading mulberry tree arc Robt. 
 W. Graves and his wife, who was then Miss Juliet Howel, and Ed. Maddox and Misis Sub 
 F'reeman. Col. Freeman entertained Benj. H. Hill here late in 1860 when the statesman came 
 to Rome to make a political speech. Other noted Georgians were hiii guests at various timrs. 
 
 'Twas early morn by Tower clock 
 When bridge at Rome John dashed 
 
 across; 
 He heard no bleating of the flock 
 Or twitter of birds among the trees, 
 But snores of Romans filled the breeze, 
 Blowing over the river moss; 
 "To arms, to arms!" he cried with glee, 
 "And if you have not arms, then flee! 
 Under the sloping banks, away!" 
 The church bells rang out on the air, 
 Then princely John sank in a chair 
 And a lovely maiden stroked his hair. 
 
 You know the rest. In the books you've 
 read 
 
 How at dawn Streight's motley cnnv 
 
 looked down 
 A cannon's mouth, squir'l guns and all. 
 And swore they couldn't take the town, 
 And Forrest, pushing on behind. 
 With force one-third as large a.s 
 
 Streight 
 Nabbed the bunch near the city's watery 
 
 gate. 
 
 Thus ends our tale of Honest Jnhn ; 
 
 Pray let his fame spread far and 
 near, 
 
 For he could ride with the best of them. 
 
 And so could the patriot Paul Re- 
 vere !
 
 580 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 SIDNEY LANIER. 
 
 By Montgomery M. Folsom. 
 
 (From The Rome Tribune, May 1, 1895; dedicated to the Lanier Circle of Rome 
 and read at the anniversary meeting by the president, Rev. A. J. Battle.) 
 
 He caught the lisp of lowly wings in shadowy nooks remote. 
 And counted them as holy things; the glad inspiring note 
 Of mocking bird at break of day in songful Southern woods, 
 Or whip-poor-will's weird roundelay in somber solitudes; 
 The whispers of the dying wind on sunless summer eves 
 In minor key incarnadined among the listless leaves; 
 He was our chivalrous Bayard, without reproach or fear. 
 Incomparable Southern bard, our myrtle-crowned Lanier! 
 
 His mind exalted far above earth's circumscribing bound, 
 
 Still stooped with tenderest touch of love to soothe the weakling's wound, 
 
 And though he sang in martial tone of victories won for art, 
 
 As gentle as a woman's own his sympathetic heart; 
 
 Rapt seer of a prophetic age, now that his work is done 
 
 His name is writ on fairer page than human triumph won; 
 
 Our constellation mourns the loss of such scintillant sphere, 
 
 The brightest in the Southern Cross, our troubadour — Lanier ! 
 
 He lived within the realm of dreams of more than mortal ken. 
 His spirit dwelt on loftier themes than move the hearts of men. 
 And while his weary, way-worn feet still pressed the tear-stained sod, 
 In solemn, soul-communion sweet his form did walk with God, 
 Interpreting the unvoiced thought which in a blossom lies, 
 And from the flash of star-beams caught a glimpse of Paradise! 
 Though fell the dark, untimely blight upon his earthly bier, 
 Still blooms anew in life and light the spirit of Lanier! 
 
 He searched the depths of seas unknown, their treasure chests revealed, 
 He caught the sweet, sad undertone ftom other hearts concealed. 
 He swept the chords of nature's lyre with potent, master hand, 
 And felt the wild, prophetic fire that few can understand. 
 What if the branch be withered now, the drooping tree bereft. 
 Still clinging round that broken bough the rare perfume is left; 
 Bequeathing us his deathless fame, he sought a nobler sphere. 
 But earth shall claim that sacred name forevermore — Lanier! 
 
 No more the soul of song shall thrill with joy that magic flute, — 
 
 The lips melodious are still, the vibrant voice is mute, — 
 
 But where the sacred seraphim their gladdest anthems raise 
 
 And all the chanting cherubim echo the lingering lays. 
 
 And asphodels of Eden bloom in fair Elysian fields. 
 
 The lily's lingering perfume divine ambrosia yields; 
 
 There, foremost of that choral throng the hosts of Heaven hear 
 
 The voice attuned to raptured song of our own lost Lanier! 
 
 NEW YEAR'S CALLIN'. 
 
 By Frank L. Stanton. 
 
 (From The Tribune of Rome, Jan. 21, 1895.) 
 
 I ain't much on sassiety — hain't bin thar more'n twice — 
 But when they take a feller round, he gits to feelin' nice! 
 They had been goin' New Year's night, an' sakes alive! the way 
 Them purty girls kept smilin' made me think the dark was day! 
 
 "Now, let me interduce you, Frank," John Taylor sez, sez be, 
 
 An' he whispered, "Pull yer gloves off — you mus' shake hands, don't yer see?" 
 
 An..' then he muttered, with a frown, "Well, I wish I may be ded, 
 
 But you're goin' in the parlor with your hat upon yer head!" 
 
 'Twas a fact! I clean forgot and didn't realize at all 
 I was bang up in sassiety and on a New Year's call!
 
 /^U'€^(^-'^^i^^^^'^
 
 582 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 "Some folks is quite pertick-ler," says Taylor, "See the Jack! 
 He's hung his hat upon the floor as if there warn't a rack!" 
 
 He throwed me clean at every turn — kerflummuxed all erbout; 
 
 I didn't know which way ter move, but felt like movin' out; 
 
 "Now here's Miss Blank a-comin' in," he sez, "Don't look so flat; 
 
 Why, bless my soul, you've clean forgot — now whar's yer white cravat?" 
 
 My patience was a-weakenin fast; sez I, "Now look a-here! 
 I'm tired o' this 'ere foolin', an' I'm gwine to git in there!" 
 An' in I walked, and heard him say (still viewin' my construction), 
 "Jes' look at him a-shakin' hands 'thout ary interduction!" 
 
 An' "Whut's yer name?" I sez to one, all drest in pink an' white; 
 "That diamond you're a-wearin' mus' ha' cost a powerful sight! 
 You're jes' the purtiest creetur that I've seed fer many a year; 
 Nigh onto twenty years, ain't yer; been long a-livin' here?" 
 
 Then Taylor nudged me with his arm, all in a powerful rage: 
 "Fer pity's sake, my fren'," he sez, "don't ax the girls their age!" 
 That fairy creetur smil'd on me like basket full o' chips, — 
 Sed it didn't make no difference. (An' Oh! them rosy lips!) 
 
 One place we went I can't ferget; a chap who didn't know 
 
 The custom of the purty girls got 'neath the mistletoe, 
 
 When — Smack! she give him such a kiss, 'twould done yer good ter see; 
 
 But I think I kinder miss'd it when I axed her ter kiss me! 
 
 Good gracious; but the purtiness — I never seed the like: 
 
 The ugly people in the worl' was all out on a strike! 
 
 An' lookin' at them faces fair, them cheeks o' lovely glow 
 
 I felt like sayin' loud, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow!" 
 
 Well, I got on first-class foremost, 'spite of Taylor an' his talk, 
 
 Shook hands with all the purty girls an' made the vittles walk! 
 
 I et three dozen suppers, 'cause I minded well the text: 
 
 "Ef you're hungry on a New Year's night, you'll be that way till next!" 
 
 We went fum house to house; shuk hands, and sich a happy shakin'! 
 Until when nuthin' else would break, the day hit went to breakin'. 
 As if the Lord had smiled upon the world an' made it bright 
 An' I went out o' sassiety chock full o' New Year's Night! 
 
 THE OLD TOWN CLOCK. 
 By Mrs. Naomi P. Bale. 
 Since 1871, thus mused the old town 
 clock, 
 I've stood the storms of wind and 
 rain, 
 Have felt the earthquake shock. 
 
 My house was torn by lightning 
 stroke. 
 Yet my patient hands moved on 
 
 And not a moment have I lost 
 In all the years agone. 
 
 Many who oft looked in my face. 
 Are scattered far and wide. 
 
 Others are quietly resting in peace 
 On the hill by the river's side. 
 
 Other bright faces still greet me here, 
 Each day in their school hour's task. 
 And I make new friends year after 
 year 
 
 And this is all I could ask. 
 To you, my new friends, who look on 
 
 With eager and laughing eyes. 
 Upon each mind this lesson I'd trace, 
 
 "Be earnest, be watchful, be wise." 
 
 There's a place in the strenuous battle 
 of life. 
 Which each one must surely fill. 
 The hero's place can be yours in the 
 strife, 
 Or the sluggard's place, if you so 
 will. 
 
 Then choose your place — 
 The voice was hushed — 
 There was silence in the old town 
 clock. 
 The potent spell of the fairy was 
 
 gone. 
 And nothing was heard but "tick, 
 tock."
 
 Miscellaneous — -Poetry 
 
 583 
 
 FINE HOMES, LARGE HOMES AND SMALL. 
 
 1-P. B. Brown (Dr. Eben Hillyer) ; 2-Wright WilUngham (Dr. •V"Ha'';ncrIc ^w'^Kin.) ; 
 Noble home; 4— W. J. Griffin (S. G. Hardy-Thompson H.les): 5-BTHaync«^C. W King.. 
 6— H. W. Morton (W. T. McWilliams) ; 7— Part of old R"''*"^ ^attcy homo 8 . . M. :.nc 
 ley (now owned by Woman's Auxiliary of Chamber of Com^mcrcc). 9— Batlcylnl.rmary o_p 
 l(J_Miss Julia Omberg; 11-Geo F- N-°": ^^-B. F^ Q-S/^^^o.^.J^ Bayard)^ J^^ 
 R. M. Harbin; 14— Judge Joel Branham; 1,5— Robt. W. J-ravcs, lo— r>.cv. 
 17— J. W. Bryson (W. M. Towers); 18— Judge Jno. W. Maddox.
 
 584 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 THE ACCESSION OF QUEEN 
 LOUISE. 
 
 (To Miss Louise Berry, Home-Coming 
 Week, Oct. 13, 1921.) 
 
 And now we'll give attention, please. 
 To crowning of the fair Louise: 
 
 This Indian Summer day her host 
 
 Of loyal subjects trooped in state 
 Through panoplied procession grand 
 
 Her gentleness to emulate, 
 Forsooth, her beauty and her charm, 
 
 Her wisdom and her wit adore. 
 And suppliant, with loving hands. 
 
 Obey her bidding evermore! 
 (That is, as long as she return 
 
 The queenly incense for to burn) . 
 
 Sat also in an autumn haze 
 
 Of fast expiring, gracious reign 
 The fair Penelope the First, 
 
 Who soon will be a queen again! 
 And all around were courtiers, 
 
 'Till one rose up with bulging chest 
 And by the power in his voice 
 
 Writ down himself with princes best. 
 
 Prince Willingham! His doublet fit 
 Immaculate; his sleeves of lace 
 
 And coat of purple told entire 
 The glory of a noble race; 
 
 A JOLLY IIO.MK-COMING GROUP of vis- 
 itors and hostesses at the East Rome en- 
 trance to the city, October, 1920. 
 
 And from his silver tongue there flowed 
 
 Philippic to the moulding past: 
 "Good Queen Penelope is gone. 
 
 Good Queen Louise is not the last!" 
 (Prince Dean, of passing great re- 
 nown, 
 Then gave Her Loveliness the 
 crown) . 
 
 A chapter yet ere day is done: 
 
 In gathering shadows comes the Ball ; 
 The queens will slowly march and 
 shed 
 
 Their radiant loveliness o'er all; 
 The hills will echo back the note 
 
 Of herald's trumpet blast ahead: 
 "Wake, Romans, wake, and look be- 
 yond 
 
 To future bright; the past is dead!" 
 
 SONNET TO A DEPARTED FRIEND 
 
 (Sept. 3, 1920.) 
 Sweet lady of the olden South we come 
 To pay our fond respects as thou dost 
 
 go 
 Up into fairer land that none may know 
 Or wonder how strange mystery issues 
 
 from ! 
 Amid a bower of roses, lilies, phlox 
 We sadly sing from deep our souls 
 
 within, — 
 If not too late, thy peaceful smile to 
 
 win ; 
 Thy Lord beyond the portal gently 
 
 knocks ! 
 And then the last farewell; 'tis good to 
 
 live 
 If living means to think of thee in 
 
 prayer, 
 Uncovered, stand in swishing autumn 
 
 wind 
 And wonder if the noble life you give 
 Can find its saintly counterpart up 
 
 there ; 
 Oh, how we need thee who are left 
 
 behind! 
 
 LINES TO A HUMMINGBIRD SEEN 
 AT A LADY'S WINDOW. 
 By John Rollin Ridge. 
 Yon dew-drunk bacchanal 
 
 Hath emptied all the roses of their 
 sweets. 
 And drained the fluent souls 
 
 Of all the lilies from their jeweled 
 bowls; 
 And now on rapid wings he fleets 
 
 To where by yonder crystal pane 
 A lady, young and fair. 
 
 Looks out upon the sifting sun-lit 
 rain. 
 
 That ripe, red mouth he takes 
 
 For rarer flower than ever yet was 
 quaff"ed.
 
 Miscellaneous — Poetry 
 
 585 
 
 ^1 
 
 U 
 
 
 
 
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 586 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 And longeth much to sip 
 
 The honey of that warm and dewy 
 lip, 
 And drain its sweetness at a draught. 
 Ah! vain, delusive hope! 'tis hard, 
 But rainbow-winged bird, 
 
 Thou'rt not alone from those sweet 
 lips debarred ! 
 
 Now, charmed with her eyes. 
 
 And dazzled by their moire than 
 sunny light. 
 He winnoweth with his wings 
 
 The fineness of the golden mist, and 
 swings, 
 A breathing glory in her sight! 
 
 Too happy bird, he's won a smile 
 From that proud beauty rare 
 
 Which from his throne an angel 
 might beguile! 
 
 How dizzy with delight 
 
 He spins his radiant circles in the 
 air! 
 Now, on their spiral breath 
 
 Upborn, he 'scapes th' enchantress 
 underneath 
 And will not die of joy or of despair — 
 The gleam in her bright eyes, and 
 wild. 
 Ne'er hoping once to win 
 
 The nectar from those lips which on 
 him smiled! 
 
 A CHEROKEE LOVE SONG.* 
 By John Rollin Ridge. 
 Come with me by moonlight, love 
 
 And let us seek the river's shore; 
 My light canoe awaits thee, love, 
 The sweetest burden e'er it bore! 
 
 The soft, low winds are whispering 
 there 
 
 Of human beauty, human love. 
 And with approving faces, too, 
 
 The stars are shining from above. 
 
 Come place thy small white hand in 
 mine. 
 My boat is 'neath the willow trees, 
 And with my practised arm the oar 
 Will ask no favor from the breeze. 
 
 Now, now, we're on the waters, love, 
 Alone upon the murmuring tide — 
 
 Alone! but why should we regret 
 If there were none on earth besides? 
 
 What matters it if all were gone? 
 
 Thy bird-like voice would yet beguile, 
 And earth were heaven's substitute 
 
 If thou wert left to make it smile! 
 
 Oh, mark how soft the dipping oar. 
 That silent cleaves the yielding 
 blue — 
 
 Oh, list the low sweet melody 
 
 Of waves that beat our vessel too! 
 
 Oh, look to heaven, how pure it seems. 
 No cloud to dim, no blot, no stain* 
 
 And say — if we refuse to love. 
 
 Ought we to hope or smile again? 
 
 That island green, with roses 
 gemmed,** 
 Let's seek it, love — how sweet |a 
 spot! 
 Then let the hours of night speed on — 
 We live to love — it matters not! 
 
 HALLOWED GROUND. 
 
 Oh, some may think it matters not 
 
 Where one first sees the light of 
 day. 
 But lucky is the man whose lot 
 
 It was to enter life's glad way, 
 Feneath the Oostanaula's shade, 
 
 W^here red-skin once his pallet laid! 
 Yea, hallowed be the ground of Rome — 
 
 My heart is there though I'm afar! 
 Abode I like, I worship home. 
 
 And all its folk who blithesome are! 
 May not all those who love it still 
 
 Clasp hands sonte day in Myrtle 
 Hill? 
 
 DR. RICHARD VENABLE MITCHELL, an 
 old Roman who is fondly recalled by many 
 members of the present generation. 
 
 *His thoughts here go back to his happy 
 days spent on the Oostanaula. 
 
 **Reference is probably to Whitmore's Island.
 
 Myrtle Hill Cemetery Interments 
 
 587 
 
 PARTIAL LIST OF INTERMENTS IN MYRTLE HILL CEMETERY 
 
 Note— This list was taken from the records of City Sexton C. L. King, dating 
 from 1874 through Sept. 2, 1922, and contains approximately 1,500 names, which is 
 probably one-sixth of total. Additions and corrections for Vol. II. are desired. 
 
 The figure after the name is the age at death ; the figure after the date of death 
 is the day of burial. In most cases the deceased were natives of Rome or Floyd 
 County; unless otherwise noted, death occurred there. The first entry is translated 
 thus: Burwell, Lewis D.; 59 years old; born in North Carolina; 'died at Rome 
 Jan. 9, 1874; buried Jan. 11, 1874. 
 
 Myrtle Hill Cemetery is situated in South Rome at the junction of the Etowah 
 and the Oostanaula on a knoll 100 feet or more above the rivers. It is often re- 
 ferred to by visitors as one of the most beautiful natural locations in the United 
 States. The first interments were made in 1S57, when the old Seventh Avenue 
 Cemetery was officially abandoned, but the records do not go back that far. 
 
 1874. 
 
 Burwell. Lewis D., 59; bn. N. C; 1-9- 
 
 74; 1-11. 
 Bruce, Caleb, 57; 2-11-74; 2-14. 
 Terhune, Wm. Barclay, 53, of N. J.; 6- 
 
 30-74; 7-1. 
 Landrum, Mrs. C. T., 28; bn. Ala.; De- 
 
 Soto; 2-27-74; 2-28. 
 McGuire, Mrs. T. J., 34; bn. Ga.; 3-8- 
 
 74; 3-9. 
 Landers, J. M. B., 61; bn. Ala.; 3-19-74; 
 
 3-21. 
 Buchanan, A. J.. 57; bn. Ga.; 3-2-74; 
 
 3-21 ; drowned. 
 Bergman, Peter, 35; of Sweden, res. 
 
 Ala.; 3-24-74; 3-25. 
 Moonev, J. P., 27; of N. C, killed; 4- 
 
 18-74; 4-25. 
 Shockley, Mrs. Elizabeth, 86; Fl. Co.; 
 
 5-14-74; 5-15. 
 Adkins, W. E.; 6-16-75; 6-17. 
 Morrison, Geo., 20; bn. Ga.; killed on 
 
 R. R., 7-14-74; 7-16. 
 Seay, Mrs. Mary, 28; bn. Ga., 7-25-74; 
 
 7-26. 
 Wimpee, Mrs. A. V., 30; DeSoto; 10-25- 
 
 74; 10-26. 
 McAfee, Mrs. M. M., 64; 11-22-74; 11- 
 
 23. 
 Marable, Mrs. M. A.; 58; 12-22-74; 12- 
 
 23. 
 LeHardy, Eugene, 58; bn. Belgium; 12- 
 27-74; 12-28. 
 
 1875. 
 
 Mills, Mrs. Lizzie, 30; 4-2-75; 4-4. 
 Funderburk, Mrs. T., 65; S. C; 3-7-75; 
 
 3-8 
 Attaway, Charley. 73; S. C; 3-26-75; 
 
 3-28. 
 Mattson, Emil, 23; Sweden; 4-2-75; 4- 
 
 12. 
 Smith, Rev. J. H., 23; bn. Ga.; res. Fla., 
 
 4-13-75; 4-17. 
 Veal, Mrs. Sarah A., 42; bn. Ga.; 5-30- 
 
 75; 5-31. 
 
 Smith, Asahel R., 81; 6-25-75; 6-26. 
 Sullivan, Walter; 20; bn. S. C; dd. X. 
 
 Y.; 8-2-75; 8-6. 
 Scott, Dunlap, 42; 10-30-75; 11-1. 
 Stillwell, Mrs. Mary, 23; 11-10-75; 11- 
 
 11. 
 Stansbury, Miss Mary, 25; Tenn.; 11- 
 
 17-75; 11-18. 
 
 1876. 
 
 McDonald, Mrs. Ellen, 72; 1-6-76; 1-7. 
 Jack, Mrs. Eliza. 72; N. C; 1-12-76; 
 
 1-13. 
 Brownlow, Jas., 88; S. C; 2-16-76; 2-17. 
 Jack, Howard, 44; 4-11-76; 4-12. 
 Burwell, Mrs. M., 75; Va.; 4-11-76; 4- 
 
 13. 
 Printup, Mrs. J. J., 25; 5-11-76; 5-12. 
 West, Jane M., 81; Tenn.; 5-20-75; 5-23. 
 Edmondson, Mrs. Belle Watters, 25; 7- 
 
 17-76; 7-18. 
 Stewart, Sam'l., 64; 9-4-76; 9-5. 
 Selkirk, Mrs. M. C; 54; 8-17-76: 8-10. 
 Carver, Mrs. Edith, 63; N. C; 9-24-76; 
 
 9-25. 
 Mitchell, D. R.. 74; bn. Ga.; 11-10-76, 
 
 in Fla.; 11-18. 
 Jones, Wm. F.. 76; res. N. C; bn. Ga.; 
 
 12-14-76; 12-16. 
 Dayton, Thos., 26, of Pa.; 12-27-76 
 
 from pistol wound: 12-29. 
 
 1877. 
 
 Gregory, Mrs. S. M.; 77; 1-4-77; 1-6. 
 Grahani. G. W.. 52; S. C; 2-5-77; 2-6. 
 Underwood. John H.. 61; 2-24-77; 2-26. 
 Wildsmith. Jane. 29; England; 3-4-77; 
 
 3-5. 
 Butler, Green B.. 42; res. Atlanta; 3-13- 
 
 77; 3-14. 
 Shorter, Mrs. Martha. 78; 3-22-77; 3-23. 
 Meigs, R. L.. 62; bn. N. C; 4-22-77. 
 Cutter. M. N., 61; bn. N. Y.; 4-23-77; 
 
 4-24. 
 May, Mrs. S. M.. 48; bn. Tonn.: 5-10- 
 
 77; 5-11.
 
 588 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 GLIMPSES IN ROME'S "SILENT CITY OF THE DEAD." 
 
 A crowd at Easter singing, 1921; tomb of Alfred Shorter; the Confederate monument; 
 Daniel S. Printup shaft; the Connally lot; Forrest monument and shaft to Women of the Con- 
 federacy, on Broad; a group at the Battey vault; the C. N. Featherston grave; grave of 
 Mitchell A. Nevin; Chas. A. Hight lot; a group at the grave of the first Mrs. Woodrow Wilson.
 
 Myrtle Hill Cemetery Interments 
 
 589 
 
 Woods, Thos., 27; bn. England; 5-29- 
 
 77; 5-30. 
 Norton, Wm. G., 20; bn. Conn.; 6-2-77; 
 
 Cothran, W. S., 73; bn. S. C; 7-20-77; 
 
 7-21. 
 Wildsmith, Ann, 54; bn. England; 8-6- 
 
 77; 8-7. 
 Mav, S. M., 50; bn. Tenn;. 8-9-77; 8-10. 
 Wilkerson, Eliza, 66; 8-21-77; 8-22. 
 Beysiegel, Chas., 55; bn. Germany; 
 
 'lived DeSoto; 8-21-77; 8-22. 
 Dewberry, Thos.. 43; bn. S. C.; 9-14-77; 
 
 9-15. 
 Hazelton, Mrs. Mary., 103; bn. Eng- 
 land; 10-11-77; 10-12. 
 Reynolds, Larkin H.; 33; bn. Bartow 
 
 Co.; 11-12-77; 11-13. 
 Connor, Mrs. R. L., 54; 12-7-77; 12-9. 
 Shropshire, Lizzie, 19; 11-18-77; 11-19. 
 Grossman, J. W., 45; lived DeSoto; 12- 
 
 30-77; 12-31. 
 
 1878. 
 
 Bowen, Elizabeth; 57; 4-29-78; 4-30. 
 Brower, Minnie Lester, 21; bn. S. C; 
 
 2-6-78; 2-7. 
 Watters, G. W.; 56; 3-9-78; 3-11. 
 Sproull, J. C, 46; bn. S. C; Carters- 
 
 ville 1-12-66; mvd to Rome 4-4-78. 
 Mills, Mrs. E. W., 60; bn. N. C; 4-14- 
 
 78; 4-15. 
 Howell, J. C, 21; kid. in battle, 7-30- 
 
 64; mvd. from Kingston 4-24-78. 
 Hart, J. R., 52; bn. N. C; 6-1-78; 6-2. 
 Seavev, Wm. T., 31; Hot Springs, Ark., 
 
 6-25-78; 6-28. 
 Gardner, Geo. H., 56; bn. England; 8- 
 
 25-78' 8-27 
 Smith, Greenville, 64; bn. Tenn.; 9-17- 
 
 78; 9-18. 
 Perry, Thos. J., 54; 9-28-78; 9-29. 
 Maguire. Terrence; 57; bn. N. Y.; 10-3- 
 
 78; 10-4. 
 Howell. G. W., 61; bn. Tenn., Ived Ala.; 
 
 10-13-78; 10-14. 
 Pitner, A. G.; 62; 11-28-78; 11-30. 
 Miller, H. H., 60; bn. Tenn;. 11-30-78; 
 
 12-1. 
 
 1879. 
 
 Wardlaw, H. H., 27; bn. Ga.; res. Ark.; 
 1-3-79: 1-7. 
 
 Jackson. Wm., 79; bn. S. C; 2-5-79; 2-6. 
 
 Jones. Elizabeth, 59; res. Floyd Co.; 3- 
 2-79; 3-3. 
 
 Mclntyre, Mrs. Margaret, 40; bn. Scot- 
 land, Ivd S. Rome; 3-3-79; 3-4. 
 
 McKenzie, Hattie. 32; 3-7-79; 3-9. 
 
 Walker. L. P.. 56; bn. Penn., res. De- 
 Soto; 3-24-79; 3-25. 
 
 O'Rear, Richard, 7; drowned 5-17-79; 
 5-21. 
 
 Lee. Geo. W., 49; 4-3-79; 4-6. 
 
 Gallowav, Thos., 30; bn. Scotland; 5- 
 28-79; 5-29. 
 
 Graves, M. L., 83; bn. N. C; G-1-79; 
 
 6-2. 
 Wood, Mrs. Sarah G., 78; bn. X. C; 
 
 6-4-79; 6-5. 
 Aldridge, Mrs. A. M., bn. England; G- 
 
 7-79; 6-8. 
 Cooley, J. C, 15; bn. Tenn.; concussion 
 
 brain caused by fall; 6-25-79; 6-26. 
 Lang.ston. Mrs. A. J., 42; 6-27-79; 6-29. 
 Britt, Mrs. F. R.; 48; res. DeSoto; 6- 
 
 28-79; 6-30. 
 Lee, James, 73; bn. Ireland; 7-11-79; 
 
 7-12. 
 Gersley, Mrs. M. E., 65; bn. Germany. 
 
 Ivd Ohio; 7-13-79; 7-14. 
 Lansdell. Mrs. A. M., 70; 7-26-79; 7-28. 
 Towns, J. R.. DeSoto; 8-3-79; 8-4. 
 Mapp Frank. 16; concussion brain, ac- 
 cident; 8-17-79; 8-18. 
 Lee. Mrs. Marv, 65; 8-22-79; 8-23. 
 Buford, Mrs. Mary A.; bn. S. C; res. 
 
 DeSoto; 9-8-79; 9. 
 Tramniell, V. B.; 35; res. DeSoto; dd. 
 
 9-15-79, of gunshot wds.; 16. 
 Gibbons, Mrs. C; 77; bn. Va.; dd. 
 
 9-16-79; 17. 
 Freeman, Mrs. Sarah G.; 9-26-79; 28. 
 Berry, James E.; 59; bn. Tenn.; 10-2- 
 
 79' 3 
 Omberg.Nick; 24; 10-3-79; 4. 
 McDonald. Alexander; 82; 10-6-79; 7. 
 Wimpee, John; 29; 10-7-79; 8. 
 Trainor. Mrs. Kate; 29; bn. Penna.; 
 
 res. S. Rome; dd. 11-4-79, by drown- 
 ing in well ; 5. 
 Bowie, Mrs. Clara Mills; 26; bn. Ills.; 
 
 11-7-79; 9. 
 Buckley, Dan'l C; bn. Irol'd; 12-1-79; 3. 
 Morris. Mrs. Mary; 32; E. Rome; 12- 
 
 2-79; 4. 
 
 1880. 
 
 Rurke, Mrs. Sarah E.; 39; bn. .-Ma.: 
 
 2-17-80; 18. 
 Ilinton. Mrs. Sarah; 71; bn. N. C; 2- 
 
 20-80; 21. 
 Omberg. Mrs. M. A.; 43; bn. S. ( .; 
 
 2-22-80; 23. 
 Marion. Mrs. Mary B.; 36; 3-1-80; 2. 
 Lansdell. A. M.; 73; bn. N. C; 3-25-80; 
 
 28. 
 McDonald, Mrs. Marth.i; 11: l-l-M': 3. 
 Johnson, Geo.; 36; bn. S. I'ome: dd. 
 
 4-17-80, from knife wounds; 19. 
 McDonald. Mat tie; 19: 4-29-SO; May 1. 
 Clino. Mrs. Jane: 41: bn. S. C; res. E. 
 
 Rome; 5-24-80: 26. 
 Richardson. Mrs. Lizzie; 18; dd. 6-4-SO. 
 
 of burns at homo; 6. 
 Hargrove, Malinda; 78; res. S. Rome: 
 
 6-7-80; 8. 
 .Johnson, Janie; 20; S. Rome; 6-23-80; 
 
 24. , J 
 
 McCullough, Thos.: 69: bn. Scotland; 
 E. Rome; 6-28-80; 23.
 
 590 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 THROUGH THE COUNTRY WITH A KODAK. 
 
 Top, left to right, the Tarvin place, Carlier Springs, deathplace of Dr. Robt. Battey; 
 a view from Tubbs' Mountain; old school house at Carlier; the Mt. Alto school; A. C. Fincher, 
 mayor of Cave Spring; the Rush place, near which Major Ridge used to live; Dr. John F. 
 Lawrence at his Radio Spring; a rural cottage; the Gailliard place; Dykes' Creek spring; 
 Primitive (Hardshell) Baptist church. East Rome; the Wyatt place, near Mt. Alto.
 
 Myrtle Hill Cemetery Interments 
 
 591 
 
 Bryant, Mrs. Julia H.; 80; bn. N. C; 
 
 7-24-80; 26. 
 A.xe, David; 45; bn. Pa.; 8-2-80; 3. 
 McNulty, Gertrude; 20; bn. S. C; 8- 
 
 18-80; 19. 
 Perkins, Henry; 22; bn. Tenn.; killed 
 
 8-20-80, under falling bank of dirt; 
 
 21. 
 Thomas, J. A.; 44; bn. N. C; res. Ohio; 
 
 9-16-80; 18. 
 Williams, E. A.; 37; bn. Va.; 10-10-80; 
 
 12. 
 Gunn, Donald M.; 42; bn. Scotland; 
 
 10-18-80; 19. 
 Cornelius. W. T. ; 38; bn. Cobb Co.; 11- 
 
 3-80; 5. 
 Pearson, Mrs. M. A.; 63; bn. S. C. 
 
 11-10-80; 11. 
 Keith, E. M. ; 60; bn. Tenn., lived Ala. 
 
 11-25-80; 27. 
 Berry, M. J.; 35; bn. Ala.; 11-28-80 
 
 30. 
 Ross, Eugene M.; 34; 11-29-80; Dec. 1. 
 Norton, Isaac; 53; bn. Conn.; 12-7- 
 
 80; 8. 
 Berry, Emma; 16; 12-7-80; 9. 
 Ross, Mrs. Nancy; 70; 12-8-80; 9. 
 
 1881. 
 
 Moore, Mrs. M. L.; 42; bn. Va.; 1-26- 
 81; 27. 
 
 Mitchell, Effie; 19; bn. Ala.; dd. from 
 burns; 2-8-81; 9. 
 
 Gregory, Jackson; 81; bn. Va. ; res. 
 Polk Co.; 2-9-81; 11. 
 
 Carwile, Mrs. Martha; 42; bn. Ala.; 
 2-14-81; 15. 
 
 Mills, Mrs. C. W.; 68; res. S. Rome; 
 bn. Va.; 2-19-81; 21. 
 
 Moore, Mrs. Matilda; 90; bn. S. C; 3- 
 28-81; 29. 
 
 Ramey, Lula; 18; dd. 4-15-81, from 
 gangrene in lung caused by swal- 
 lowing piece of cedar; 16. 
 
 Rumph, Wm. M.; 72; bn. S. C; 4-16-81; 
 18. 
 
 Battey. Robt. ; 15; dd. at Bishop Hay- 
 good's home, Emory College, Oxford, 
 Ga.; 4-18-81; 19. 
 
 Wingfield, M. P.; 62; 4-18-81; 19. 
 
 Underwood, Dr. Jno. Banks; 71; res. 
 Floyd Co.; 5-6-81; 8. 
 
 Mitchell, Mrs. Amanda C; 47; bn. S. 
 C; res. DeSoto; 5-10-81; 11. 
 
 DeJournett, Jno. C; 71; bn. N. C; 5- 
 17-81; 18. 
 
 Thomnson, W. A.; 60; bn. N. C; res. 
 DeSoto; 6-3-81; 4. 
 
 Harris, Mrs. Emma D.; 39; bn. Ala.; 
 6-6-81; 7. 
 
 Williamson, Jeff C; 9; drowned by ac- 
 cident; 6-6-81; 9. 
 
 Harris, Elizabeth; 82; bn. Va.; res. De- 
 Soto; 6-15-81; 16. 
 
 Callahan, M. H.; 64; bn. Ireland; 6- 
 20-81; 21. 
 
 Trainer, C. A.; 51; bn. Md.; res. S. 
 
 Rome; 8-18-81; 19. 
 Reece, Mrs. Agnes Silvers; 24; bn. 
 
 Eng.; res. DeSoto; 9-6-81; 7. 
 Robinson, Mrs. Frances A.; 48; 9-11- 
 
 81; 12. 
 Axson, Mrs. Margaret E.; 43; 11-4- 
 
 81; 5. 
 Graves, Fannie; 18; 11-23-81; 25. 
 Alexander, Thos.; 22; res. S. Rome; 
 
 12-10-81; 11. 
 
 1882. 
 Richardson, Geo.; 28; dd. Catoosa, 
 
 Ga. 1-7-82; 9. 
 Hamilton, Mrs. Malinda; res. DeSoto; 
 
 dd. Atlanta; 1-27-82; 28. 
 Cooley, Milton A.; 54; res. Gordon Co.; 
 
 dd. of accidental gunshot wound in 
 
 Gordon; 1-31-82; 2-1. 
 Harris, Bud; 25; res. Polk Co.; drown- 
 ed; 2-21-82; Mar. 16. 
 Wardlaw, Mrs. E. L.; 59; 4-24-82; 25. 
 Govan, Moore Fontenoy, Jr.; 16; 4-28- 
 
 82 30 
 Holbrook, Mrs. S. C; 54; bn. Tenn.; 5- 
 
 19-82; 20. 
 Craig, Mrs. Anna; 36; bn. X. Y.; 5- 
 
 20-82; 22. 
 Maguffee, Mrs. Elizabeth; 83; bn. X. 
 
 C; res. DeSoto; 5-21-82; 22. 
 West. Mattie, 15; 5-30-82; 31. 
 Connor, Ty C; 65; 6-30-82; 1. 
 Dick, Sm'l., Sr.; 75; bn. Tenn.; dd. 
 
 Tenn.; 1-25-1867; 7-18-82. 
 Shorter, Alfred, 79; bn. Ga.; 7-18-82; 
 
 20. 
 Stokes, Andrew J.; 46; bn. Tenn.; 7- 
 
 20-82; 21. 
 Rawlins, J. C. ; 66; bn. Va.; dd. Atlan- 
 ta; 7-28-82; 30. 
 Moon, A. F.; 60; bn. Mass.; 8-2-82; 2. 
 Barron, Mrs. H. A.; 62; S-8-82; 9. 
 Hardin, Mrs. Rebecca; (\G; 8-9-S2; 10. 
 Moore, Gardner; 21; 9-4-82; 5. 
 Woodward, Mrs. Maggie; 36; bn. .Ma.; 
 
 9-10-82; 11. 
 Bones, Mrs. J. W.; 49; bn. Eng.; res. 
 
 E. Rome; 9-24-82; 26. 
 Reynolds, W. B.; 62; bn. Ind.: 10-7- 
 
 *82; 9. 
 Parks. H. H.; 42; res. DeSoto; 10-2.1- 
 
 82: 26. 
 Sill, O. W.; 65; l)n. X. C; dil. fn>ni 
 
 concussion of lirain; 11-5-82; <•. 
 Bayard. Xiiholas J.. Jr.; 34; bn. Ga.; 
 
 "dd. Fla.; 11-20-82; 23. 
 Cheney, Dr. F. W.; 74;. res. Chattooga 
 
 Co."; 12-5-82; 7. 
 Moore, Mrs. Frances; 82; 12-29-82; 30. 
 
 1883. 
 
 Webb. Mrs. L. M.; 68; bn. S. C; 2-14- 
 
 83; 16. „ ,, 
 
 Tolbey, Wm.; bn. Ala.; 2-28-S3: Mar. 
 
 Mapp. Wm. T.; 44; .3-21-83; 23.
 
 592 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Sproull, Chas. Wm.; 35; res. Bartow 
 
 Co.; dd. Bartow Co.; 3-24-83; 26. 
 Colclough, Walter; 22; 3-24-83; 26. 
 Echols, Lon A.; 22; bn. Ala.; 4-1-83; 3. 
 Hutchings, Mrs. A. R.; 72; bn. Va.; 
 
 4-7-83; 8. 
 Mavo, Jno. Willis; 72; dd. concussion 
 
 of brain; 4-12-83; 13. 
 Glanton, Mrs. Polk; 48; bn. S. C; 4-21- 
 
 83; 23. 
 Elam, Mrs. M. N.; 56; 5-5-83; 6. 
 Omberg, Mrs. Emma M.; 79; bn. Nor- 
 way; 5-23-83; 25. 
 Berry, John M.; 48; bn. Tenn.; 6-20-83; 
 
 21. 
 White, Mrs. Jane; 81; bn. S. C; res. 
 
 Macon; 7-14-83; 15. 
 Noble, Rosa; 19; res. S. Rome; 8-3- 
 
 83; 4. 
 Hovt. Ida Belle; 16; 8-14-83; 15. 
 Smalley, Geo. G.; bn. Whitfield Co.; 
 
 res. Chattooga Co.; 9-19-83; 20. 
 Jenkins, Mrs. Matilda C; 44; bn. Va.; 
 
 9-26-83; 27. 
 Messenger. L. E.; 59; bn. Sweden; res. 
 
 S. Rome; 10-13-83; 14. 
 Gentry, Mrs. Flora S.; 35; 10-20-83; 
 
 21. 
 Sheras, Thos. S.; 50; bn. N. Y.; 11-3- 
 
 83; 4. 
 Jenkins, Jos.; 25; res. DeSoto; 11-4- 
 
 83; 5. 
 Smith, Geo.; 67; bn. England; res. S. 
 
 Rome; 11-6-83; 7. 
 Watkins, Mrs. Lizzie; 35; bn. Ga.; res. 
 
 Tenn.; 11-11-83; 13. 
 Wilson, Rev. G. W.; 50; bn. Ohio; 11- 
 
 16-83; 17. 
 Bailey, Mrs. Martha; 60; res. DeSoto; 
 
 11-17-83; 18. 
 Spullock, Jas. M.; 67; 12-5-83; 6. 
 Cashman. Wesley; 39: bn. Ohio; killed 
 
 on railroad; 12-12-83; 14. 
 Jones, Wm.; 45; res. Flovd Co.; 12- 
 
 31-83; 1-1-84. 
 
 1884, 
 Clyne, P. H.; 53; bn. Ireland; res. S. 
 
 Rome; 1-6-84; 7. 
 Towers, Mrs. Mary; 23; res. S. Rome; 
 
 1-23-84; 25. 
 Bale, Mrs. P. G.; 79; bn. S. C; res. 
 
 DeSoto; 2-13-84; 14. 
 Hughes, Wm.; 25; 2-29-84; Mar. 1. 
 McEntee, James; 91; bn. Ireland; 3-8- 
 
 84; 8. 
 West, Mrs. Martha; 55; bn. Tenn.; 3- 
 
 11-84; 12. 
 Taylor, Mrs. Malinda; 73; bn. N. C; 
 
 3-21-84; 23. 
 Camp, Elizabeth; 35; res. DeSoto; 3- 
 
 27-84; 28. 
 Bernhard, Augustus; 35; bn. Germany; 
 
 4-4-84; 5. 
 West, Wm.; 67; bn. Tenn.; 4-19-84; 21. 
 Trammell, Mrs. Elizabeth; 80; res. N. 
 
 Rome; 5-21-84; 22. 
 
 Axson, Rev. Sm'l. E.; 48; 4-28-84; 30. 
 Todd, Mrs. Augusta; 58; 6-10-84; 11. 
 Smith, Tom M.; 36; 6-23-84; 24. 
 Webb, Mrs. Blanche; 26; bn. N. Y.; 7- 
 
 5-84; 6. 
 Peter, Mrs. H. G.; 39; bn. Holland; 7- 
 
 18-84; 19. 
 Stokes, Mrs. Sallie; 42; 7-20-84; 21. 
 Harris, John; 35; dd. concussion of 
 
 brain; res. DeSoto; 7-24-84; 25. 
 Sproull, Mrs. Fannie; 27; bn. and res. 
 
 Bartow Co.; 8-14-84; 15. 
 Crozier, G. W.; 36; bn. and res. W. Va.; 
 
 8-23-84; 24. 
 Knight, Job; 68; bn. England; 9-12-84; 
 
 13. 
 Griffin, Jerry; 25; bn. Pa.; res. Miss-.; 
 
 killed on railroad train, York, Miss.; 
 
 9-13-84; 15. 
 Franks, John; 58; bn. S. C; res. De- 
 Soto; 9-21-84; 22. 
 Denny, Mrs. R. B.; 56; bn. Pa.; 10-9- 
 
 84; 11. 
 Horn, Q. N. or I. N. ; 46; bn. Tenn.; 
 
 res. Atlanta; 11-5-84; 7. 
 Pentecost, Mrs. E. A.; 40; 11-11-84; 13. 
 Hardwick, Mrs. M. A.; 37; res. Selma, 
 
 Ala.; 11-26-84; 28. 
 Wheeler. H. A.; 65; bn. Mo.; lived N. 
 
 Y.; 12-20-84; 22. 
 May, Mrs. Catherine; 12-26-84; 27. 
 
 1885. 
 
 Omberg, A. A.; 65; bn. Norway; 1-9- 
 
 85; 10. 
 Smith, Jacob H.; 75; bn. Vermont; 1- 
 
 12-85; 13. 
 Cheney, Mrs. M. L.; 58; 1-24-85; 26. 
 Moffett, Wm.; 70; bn. Mexico; 1-28- 
 85; 30. 
 Panchen, Mrs. Gertie B.; 41; bn. Deca- 
 tur, Ga.; dd. Atlanta; 2-7-85; 9. 
 George, Mrs. Hannah; 34; bn. Ind. ; 3-5- 
 
 85; 7. 
 Allen, Tim; 28; bn. Ala.; res. E, Rome; 
 
 3-11-85 • 12 
 Whitely, W. L. ; 66; bn. Va.; 3-11-85; 
 
 14. 
 Glover, Cain; 57; bn. S. C; 3-17-85; 
 
 20. 
 Fouche, Simpson; 59; 4-1-85; 3. 
 Young, J. S.; 58; bn. Ohio; res. E. 
 
 Rome; 4-3-85; 4. 
 Stoffregen. H. A.; 65; bn. Germany; 
 
 res. Cedartown; 4-7-85; 9. 
 Stewart, Mrs. Bettie; 37; bn, Va.; 4-15- 
 
 85; 17. 
 Hine, J. B.; 44; 4-20-85; 21. 
 Ralston, James Emmett; 37; bn. Ills.; 
 
 res. Chattanooga; 4-23-85; 24. 
 Hardy, Mrs. Kate M.; 35; bn. Mo.; 4- 
 
 28-85; 29. 
 Stanbury, L.; 85; bn. N. C; 5-22-85; 
 
 24. 
 Smith, Dr. S. P.; 72; bn. Tenn.; dd. 
 
 Floyd Co.; 5-23-85; 24.
 
 Myrtle Hill Cemetery Interments 
 
 593 
 
 FOUR BROTHERS OF THE "OLD SCHOOL. " 
 
 Left to right, Anderson Redding ("Red"), George Magruder, William Cephas and Dr. Henry 
 Halsey Battey, well known to the hunting, business and professional world. 
 
 Tracy, James; 44; 6-15-85; 16. 
 Williams, Lillie P.; 30; res. Atlanta; 
 
 7-13-85; 14. 
 Rhodes, Mrs. Mary; 42; 8-9-85; 10. 
 Proctor, Alice; 26; bn. Bartow Co.; res. 
 
 S. Rome; 8-15-85; 17. 
 Black, Belle M.; 38; bn. Ala.; res. 
 
 Floyd Co.; 8-20-85; 21. 
 Pennington. Cunninprham M.; 72; bn. 
 
 S. C; res. S. Rome; 8-23-85; 24. 
 Battey, Henry VanDyke; 3; 8-28-85; 
 
 29. Later to Battey vault. 
 Coulter, Mary, 15, and Vivian, 3; 
 drowned in Coosa River; 9-6- 
 85; 8. 
 Lambert, Robt.; 75; bn. Ireland; 9-29- 
 
 85; Oct. 1. 
 Maxwell, Madison; 26; bn. Bartow Co.; 
 
 lived Atlanta; dd. fractured skull; 9- 
 
 25-85; 27. 
 Westuntcr, Thos.; 58; bn. Ireland; res. 
 
 S. Rome; 10-8-85; 9. 
 Powers, Mrs. Julia A.; 45; bn. Ala.; 
 
 11-17-85; 18. 
 Ford. Oscar R.; 30; bn. Floyd Co.; res. 
 
 Kans.; 11-16-85; 21. 
 Hardy. S. G.; 38; bn. Va.; n-24-85; 
 27. 
 
 1886. 
 
 Hovt. Robt. T.; 50; bn. Athens; 1-3- 
 
 86; 5. 
 Wimberly, W. W.; 29; 1-5-86; 7. 
 Almand. B. H.; 28; res. S. Rome; 1- 
 
 11-S6; 12. 
 Morrison. John; 35; 1-15-86; 16.
 
 594 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Rice, Mrs. F. D.; 63; bn. McMinn Co., 
 
 Tenn; 1-29-86; 30. 
 Fouche, Miss Sally B.; 30; 2-16-86; 18. 
 Omberg, Wm. L.; 30; 2-24-86; 26. 
 King, Dr. Joshua; 62; bn. N. C; 3-1- 
 
 86; 4. 
 Smith, Caroline A.; 77; bn. S. C; 3-9- 
 
 86; 10. 
 Wimpee, Mary L.; 30; bn. Ala.; 3-17- 
 
 86; 19. 
 Powell, Mrs. E. A. E.; 46; res. S. Rome; 
 
 burned to death; 3-26-86; 27. 
 Nowlin, Dr. James H. ; 73; bn. Va.; 
 
 4-12-86; 13. 
 Jones, Walton H.; 71; bn. Ga.; dd. in- 
 juries in railroad accident; 5-2- 
 86; 4. 
 Andrews, Mrs. L. E.; 50; bn. Ohio; 
 
 res. Tenn; 5-13-86; 14. 
 Caldwell, Mrs. J. M. M.; 63; bn. N. H.; 
 
 6-9-86; 10. 
 Beavers, T. R.; 28; bn. Texas; lived 
 
 Chattanooga; 6-10-86; 11. 
 Smith, Cicero A.; 51; bn. Morgan Co.; 
 
 7-14-86; 15. 
 Trammell, Wm.; 82; bn. Lincoln Co.; 
 
 res. Forrestville; 6-25-86; 26. 
 MacKenzie, Mrs. Catherine; 83; bn. S. 
 
 C; 7-8-86; 9. 
 Fouche, Stella M.; 19; bn. and res. 
 
 Floyd Co.; 7-12-86; 13. 
 Cheney, Paul; 21; 7-14-86; 16. 
 Wimpee, Mrs. Mary C; 35; 4 wd.; 7- 
 
 27-86; 28. 
 Harbour, James M.; 24; 4 wd. ; 7-30- 
 
 86; 31. 
 Hardy, Dabney T.; 26; bn. Va.; 9-26- 
 
 86; 28. 
 McGlashan, Andrew; 64; bn. Scotland; 
 
 10-6-86; 7. 
 Savage, Florence A.; 38; bn. Rome: dd. 
 
 Chicago; 11-6-86; 10. 
 Buttel, August; 51; bn. Prussia; 11-16- 
 
 86; 18. 
 Wolff, Mrs. G. 0.; 40; bn. Ala.; 11- 
 
 21-86; 22. 
 Sanders, Miss Nina; 26; bn. S. C; res. 
 Charleston; 12-22-86; 24. 
 
 1887. 
 
 Printup, Col. Danl. S. ; 64; bn. N. Y.; 
 
 1-18-87; ID. 
 Berry, Capt. Thos. ; 65; bn. Tenn.; 
 
 1-18-87; 20. 
 Mclntyre, James; 50; bn. Scotland; 
 
 res. S. Rome; 2-4-87; 5. 
 Wharton, Ann F.; 76; bn. Va.; 3-5- 
 Stansburv, Mrs. D. ; 84; bn. Tenn.; 
 
 3-8-87; 9. 
 Harvey, Judge R. D.; 60; dd. injuries 
 
 runaway horse; 3-12-87; 13. 
 Meakin, Mrs. Sophia; 50; res. Atlanta; 
 
 4-23-87; 25. 
 Wood, Mrs. Mary E.; 59; 5-15-87; 16. 
 
 Clinard, A. D.; 57; bn. N, C; drown- 
 ed; 4-27-87; May 1. 
 Watters, Mrs. E. C; 58; 6-3-87; 4. 
 Stansbury, Jas. L.; 26; bn. Rome; dd, 
 
 B'ham; 6-6-87; 7. 
 Harris, Miss Callie V.; 18; bn. Tenn.; 
 
 7-4-87; 5. 
 Lamkin, Obedience C; 83; bn. N. C; 
 
 res. E. Rome; 7-6-87; 7. 
 Bailey, W. M.; 65; bn. N. C; 7-27- 
 
 87; 28. 
 Mapp, Mrs. S. A.: 71; 8-4-87; 5. 
 Penny, Mrs. Jennie; 28; bn. Tenn.; 
 
 res. Gadsden, Ala.; 8-20-87; 21. 
 Printup, Col. Dan'l. S.; 64; bn. N. Y.; 
 
 1-18-87; 19. 
 Berry, Capt. Thos.; 65; bn. Tenn.; 1-18- 
 
 87; 20. 
 Pritchett, Mrs. S. J.; 43; bn. Ala.; 8- 
 
 21-87; 22. 
 Barker, Dr. Rufus; 75; res. Floyd Co.; 
 
 8-30-87; 31. 
 Williams. Mrs. Maria; 80; bn. N. C; 
 
 9-6-87; 7. 
 Conner, Eugene C; 22: bn. Rome; 
 
 res. Chicago; 9-6-87; 9. 
 Stillwell, Rev. Chas. H.; 82; bn. Sa- 
 vannah; 9-10-87; 11. 
 Sargent, J. H.; 56; bn. Vermont; 9- 
 
 13-87; 14. 
 Steele, Miss Sadie; bn. S. C; lived 
 
 Chattooga Co.; 9-30-87; Oct. 1. 
 Dempsey, Mrs. Edna; 53; bn. S. C; 11- 
 
 23-87; 24. 
 Hidle, Mrs. Anna M.; 69; 11-30-87; 
 
 Dec. 1. 
 Neeld, Mrs. H. W.; 65; bn. Ills.; 12- 
 
 4-87; 5. 
 Warren, Sarah C; 49; bn. N. C; 12-19- 
 87; 20. 
 
 1888. 
 
 Pressly, J. H. ; 58; bn. S. C; 1-9-88; 10. 
 Lamberth, Jesse; 77; bn. Walton Co.; 
 
 1-17-88; 18. 
 Bones, Miss Marion M.; bn. Augusta; 
 
 res. Rome; 3-6-88; 9. 
 Benjamin, Forrest; 29; 4-4-88; 5. 
 Hood. Donald Mack; 63; bn. Tenn.; 
 
 4-7-88 • 8 
 
 Harrison,' John; 48; bn. N. Y.; 4-12- 
 
 87; 13. 
 Gough, Rosanna; 47; res. S. Rome; 5- 
 
 14-88; 14. 
 Dodson. Mrs.; 65; bn. S. C; 5-20-88; 21 
 Mitchell, Alden; 20; bn. La.; res. N. 
 
 O.; accidentally killed on bridge; 6- 
 
 16-88; 17. 
 Stillwell, Mrs. Mary; 70; 7-3-88; 4. 
 Hartman, L. R.; 61; bn. Md.; res. Ills. 
 
 7-10-88; 11. 
 Buffington, Jno. W.; 16; res. N. Rome 
 
 7-15-88; 16. 
 Underwood, Jno. W. H.; 71; 7-18-88 
 
 30.
 
 
 "-W^dJii^^U^AM^
 
 596 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Burch, Mary J.; 70; bn. N. C; res. 
 
 Gordon Co.; 7-22-88; 23. 
 Omberg, Albin; 40; bn. Norway; 7-31- 
 
 88; Aug. 1. 
 Gwaltney, Lizzie S.; 20; bn. S. C; 8-3- 
 
 88 • 5 
 Wimpee,' Sarah; 76; bn. S. C; 8-5- 
 
 88 • 7 
 Walker, "l. V. A., Jr.; 26; killed by 
 
 lightning; 8-9-88; 10. 
 Wardlaw, Wm. H. ; 36; 8-29-88; 30. 
 Ayer. Nellie; 26; bn. S. C; 9-4-88; 5. 
 Hall, A. J.; 27; res. Ala.; 9-5-88; 8. 
 Peter, H. G.; 66; bn. Germany; 9-16- 
 
 88; 18. 
 Burnett, Elizabeth A.; 51; bn. Ala.; 
 
 9-26-88; 28. 
 Fort, Eudocia; 65; res. S. Rome; 9- 
 
 28-88; 30. 
 Robison, Mrs. W. F.; 45; Floyd Co.; 
 
 10-3-88; 4. 
 Clement, Mrs. W. A.; 73; bn. Va.; 10- 
 
 21-88; 22. 
 Jones, Wm. Hemphill; 11-88. 
 Dailey, J. G.; 64; bn. Ireland; 11-26- 
 
 88 ■ 28 
 Wood,' I. J.; 73; bn. S. C; 12-3-88; 4. 
 Vandiver, J. T.; 39; bn. Ala.; 12-3- 
 
 88; 5. 
 Battey, Lucie Stollenwerck ; 30; bn. 
 Ala.; 12-30-88; Jan. 1. 
 
 1889. 
 
 Eastman, E. M.; 55; bn. Ohio; 1-2- 
 
 89; 3. 
 Lampkin, Frances R. ; 44; bn. Ala.; 
 
 1-7-89; 9. 
 Lancaster, Lula; 22; res. Augusta; 1- 
 
 9-89; 11. 
 Branham, Mrs. Joel; 45; 1-13-89; 14. 
 Neal. Mrs. Mary Octavia; 53; 1-15- 
 
 89; 17. 
 Smith, Mrs. Emily W.; 77; 1-16-89; 17. 
 Cuyler, Thos.; 41; 1-17-89; 18. 
 Johnson, Mrs. Willie; 33; bn. S. C; 
 
 1-17-89; 18. 
 Gregory, Dr. Jas. M.; 65; bn. Va.; 1- 
 
 31-89; Feb. 2. 
 Stillwell, Clarence; 18; res. Cave Spg.; 
 
 bn. Rome; 2-8-89; 9. 
 Lee, Joe; 62; bn. China; murdered; 2- 
 
 9-89; 11. 
 Hardin, A. T.; 78; 2-20-89; 21. 
 Logan, E. G. ; 71; bn. N. C; res. Gads- 
 den, Ala.; 2-24-89; 25. 
 Robinson, F. P.; 33; res. Anniston, 
 
 Ala.; 3-4-89; 4. 
 Graham, John; bn. S. C; res. Floyd 
 
 Co.; 3-8-89; 10. 
 Watters. Thos. G.; 71; bn. Ala.; 3-7- 
 
 89; 9. 
 Johnson, Euclid; 53; bn. Ala.; 3-10- 
 
 89; 11. 
 Martin. J. N.; 54; bn. Va.; res. Chat- 
 tooga Co.; 3-23-89; 26. 
 Smith, H. M., Jr.; 4-22-89; 23. 
 
 Harrison, Martha A.; 56; res. Floyd 
 
 Co.; 3-29-89; 31. 
 Dozier, Thos. H.; 81; res. S. Rome; 
 4-5-89; 6. 
 
 Carlin, A. J.; 59; bn. Ills.; 4-28-89; 29. 
 
 Sprayberry, Mary; 17; bn. Ala.; res. 
 Floyd Co.; 5-17-89; 18. 
 
 Mills, Julia Q.; 41; bn. La.; res. At- 
 lanta; 5-20-89; 21. 
 
 Lyon, Henry; 19; bn. Ala.; crushed 
 on railroad; 5-29-89; 1. 
 
 Autrev, Mary L.; 76; 6-2-89; 4 P. 
 
 Moore, Fannie S.; 40; bn. Fla.; 6-15- 
 89; 16. 
 
 Howel, Hudon; 8; accidental drown- 
 ing; 6-17-89; 18. 
 
 Ivey. Jno. T.; 60; res. E. Rome; 6-24- 
 89; 25. 
 
 Wortham, J. T.; 31; 7-2-89; 3. 
 
 Rhudy, S. G.; 64; bn. Va.; 7-23-89; 24. 
 
 Coats, W. J.; 53; bn. S. C; res. E. 
 Rome; 7-27-89; 28 P. 
 
 Graves, Mattie S.; 33; 8-12-89; 13. 
 
 Enslev, Matilda; 75; bn. Pa.; res. 
 Floyd Co.; 8-18-89; 19. 
 
 Rhudy, Rachel A.; 56; 8-28-89; 29. 
 
 Townsley, Fannie; 21; bn. Tenn.; 9-2- 
 89; 3. 
 
 Lamkin, G. W. F.; 89; bn. N. C; res. 
 E. Rome; 9-4-89; 6. 
 
 Elliott, Lillie; 31; bn. Miss.; res. Rnd. 
 Mt., Ala.; 9-30-89; 1. 
 
 Roebuck, Willis; 86; bn. S. C; 10-16- 
 89; 17. 
 
 Sproull, C. M.; 31; bn. S. C; killed on 
 railroad; 10-5-89; 6. 
 
 DeGraffenried, Mrs. L. T.; 77; bn. S. 
 C; res. Decatur, Ga.; dd. Decatur, 
 6-30-80; removed to Rome 11-6-89. 
 
 Dailey, S. A.; 62; 11-13-89; 14. 
 
 Lansdell, Edward; 16; accidental shoot- 
 ing; 11-27-89; 29. 
 
 Pritchett, Wm.; 31; 12-25-89; 27. 
 
 1890. 
 
 McCaffrey, Mrs. C. A. (M. E.) ; 27; 
 
 bn. Ala.; 1-14-90; 15. 
 Billbro, Harriet A.; 66; bn. N. C; res. 
 
 Forrestville; 2-7-90; 9. 
 Marion, Mrs. Lena; 77; res. Floyd 
 
 Co.; 2-17-90; 19. 
 Willingham, Harriet R. ; 65; res. W. 
 
 Rome; 3-6-90; 8. 
 Reynolds, Mrs. C. J.; 63; res. E. Rome; 
 
 4-2-90; 3. 
 Mitchell, W. H.; 70; res. Floyd Co.; 
 
 4-9-90; 11. 
 Bowen, Mrs. Elizabeth A.; 85; bn. Va. 
 Coleman, Jno. H. ; 49; bn. Tenn.; 5-6- 
 
 90; 7. 
 McDonald, Mrs. Theresa; 64; res. At- 
 lanta; 5-11-90; 13. 
 Word, Thos. Jefferson, M. D.; 64; 5- 
 
 31-90" 31. 
 Brown, Sallie; 36; bn. Tenn.; 6-10- 
 
 90; 11.
 
 Myrtle Hill Cemetery Interments 
 
 597 
 
 Cantrell. Julia E.; 28; 6-30-90; 1. 
 
 Bass, Julia F. ; 29; 7-5-90; 6. 
 
 Bass, Jno. Hix; 48; res. Floyd Co.; 7- 
 
 11-90; 13. 
 Shanklin, Rachel I.; 44; bn. Miss.; 7- 
 
 13-90; 14. 
 Ross, Adolphus E.; 58; 7-25-90; 27. 
 Taylor, Geo. J.; 48; bn. Ala.; res. E. 
 
 Rome; killed on railroad; 8-13-90; 
 
 15. 
 Donkle, Isaac; 59; bn. Pa.; res. Atlan- 
 ta; 8-22-90; 23. 
 Webber, Jos.; 44; bn. Germany; killed; 
 
 9-4-90; 6. 
 Bass, N. H., Sr.; 82; res. Floyd Co.; 
 
 9-22-90; 24. 
 Wimpee, Mrs. M. A.; 55; poisoned; 
 
 10-5-90; 6. 
 Gwaltney, L. R., Jr.; 18; 10-14-90; 18. 
 Holmes, Dr. G. W. ; 66; 11-3-90; 5. 
 Lamkin, G. W. F., Jr.; 62; bn. N. C; 
 
 11-10-90; 12. 
 Ayer. Mrs. Lavinia; 55; bn. S. C; res. 
 
 Floyd Co.; 12-18-90; 20. 
 Meredith, Hugh; 78; res. Floyd Co.; 
 
 12-25-90; 26. 
 
 1891. 
 
 Anderson, Lars; 65; bn. Denmark; 1- 
 
 5-91; 6. 
 Schirmer, Mrs. F. M.; 44; res. Kansas 
 
 City, Mo.; 1-6-91; 8. 
 Pepper, E. G.; 64; 1-17-91; 18. 
 Snyder, Mrs. Ida U.; 39; res. Texas; 
 
 murdered; 1-25-91; 30. 
 Hull, Frank; 19; bn. Ala.; res. B'ham; 
 
 accidental death; 2-24-91; 25. 
 Jenkins, J. M.; 51; 2-25-91; 27. 
 Wright, Augustus R.; 78; res. Floyd 
 
 Co.; 3-31-91; Apr. 2. 
 Willingham, Eugenia; 45; bn. Ala.; res. 
 
 W. Rome; 4-8-91; 9. 
 Williams, W. T.; 65; bn. Ind.; res. 
 
 Floyd Co.; 4-15-91; 16. 
 Cothran, H. D.; 51; bn. S. C; res. E. 
 
 Rome; 6-2-91; 3. 
 Holmes, Dr. T. M.; res. E. Rome; 6- 
 
 18-91; 19. 
 Freeman, Mrs. M. A.; 58; res. Floyd 
 
 Co.; 6-19-91; 20. 
 Clark. Mrs. S. A.; 48; res. E. Rome; 
 
 6-24-91; 26. 
 McKenzie, Mrs. Parmelia; 81; bn. N. 
 
 C; res. E. Rome; 6-25-91; 27. 
 Ayer, H. C; 38; res. Floyd Co.; 7-17- 
 
 91; 18. 
 Nixon, R. P.; 49; bn. Va.; 6-25-91; 5. 
 Harvey, Henry; 21; res. E. Rome; 
 
 drowned; 7-25-91; 26. 
 Kane, Mrs. Mary S.; 55; bn. Ireland; 
 
 8-8-91; 9. 
 Morton, Mrs. Delia J.; 52; 9-7-91; 9. 
 Wingfield. J. S.; 39; res. Floyd Co.; 
 
 9-16-91; 18. 
 Carey, Mrs. Alice; 38; bn. Conn.; 9- 
 
 22-91; 23. 
 
 Hawkins, Mrs. A. P.; 55; 9-25-91; 26. 
 Sheppard, H. K.; 45; bn. Ireland; res. 
 
 Ohio; 9-27-91; 28. 
 Lindsey, John; 20; bn. Ala.; res. E. 
 
 Rome; 10-5-91; 6. 
 Hoyt, Annie; 18; 10-14-91; 15. 
 Allee, A. J.; 43; bn. Pa.; 10-21-91; 22. 
 Yancey, B. C; 74; bn. S. C; res. E. 
 
 Rome; 10-24-91; 25. 
 Rowell, Annio Lou; 16; 11-4-91; 6. 
 Mills, Frank A.; 50; bn. La.; 12-3- 
 
 91; 4. 
 George, Mary; 75; bn. X. Y.; 12-10- 
 
 91; 11. 
 Brooks, Martha; 59; 12-25-91; 26. 
 Hill, Jane; 43; bn. Ky. ; 12-24-91; 26. 
 Adkins, M. L.; 70; bn. N. Y.; 12-25- 
 
 91; 27. 
 
 1892. 
 
 Yeiser, V. A.; 26; 1-2-92; 3. 
 
 Hall, Fenton; 79; bn. S. C; res. B'ham; 
 1-7-92- 9. 
 
 Fort, Wm. A.; 79; 1-13-92; 16. 
 
 Willingham, John; 25; res. W. Rome; 
 1-14-92; 15. 
 
 Dick, Sarah; 72; bn. Tenn.; res. Ma- 
 rietta; 1-18-92; 19. 
 
 Reeves, Elizabeth; 89; 1-19-92; 20. 
 
 Irwin, Mrs. E. A.; 72; bn. S. C; 1-25- 
 92- 26. 
 
 Geer, Mrs. Irene G.; 71; 1-29-92; 30. 
 
 Hall, Mrs. Sarah; 85; bn. S. C; 1-31- 
 92; 2. 
 
 Spears, J. L. ; 31; res. LaGrange; 2-1- 
 92; 4. 
 
 Dempler, L.; 75; bn. Germany; res. 
 Floyd Co.; 2-5-92; 7. 
 
 Quinn. Mrs. Mary; 72; bn. N. C; 2- 
 6-92; 8. 
 
 McCaffrey, Mrs. J.; 37; bn. Pa.; 2-14- 
 92; 17. 
 
 Hughes, John; 65; bn. Wales; res. W. 
 Rome; 2-20-92; 2. 
 
 Underwood, Mrs. M. A.; 68; 2-25-92; 28. 
 
 Magruder, E. J.; 56; bn. Va. ; 2-26- 
 92* 27. 
 
 Roser,' Mrs. P. D.; 55; bn. Va.; 3-7- 
 92; 8. 
 
 Graves, Marl L.; 75; bn. N. C; res. 
 Ala.; 3-20-92; 22. 
 
 Butler, Elizabeth A.; 78; res. Atlan- 
 ta; 4-30-92; 6. 
 
 Spullock, Mrs. E. A.; 65; 5-14-92; 17. 
 
 Elam, W. D.; 76; res. B'ham, Ala.; <',- 
 26-92; 27. 
 
 Gibbons, Sam'l.; 25; 7-5-92; 5. 
 
 Norton. H. C; 46; 7-8-92; 10. 
 
 Wimpee, W. M.; 81; 8-2-92; 3. 
 
 Mitchell, Dr. R. V.; 58; 8-9-92; 11. 
 
 Pitner. Mrs. Albert G.; 72; 8-12-92; 14. 
 
 Wingfield. Judson, 22; res. Texas; 8- 
 28-92; 1. 
 
 Ayer, Mrs. E. W.; 78; 9-9-92; 10. 
 
 Caldwell. J. M. M.; 80; res. Frank- 
 lin, Ky.; 9-21-92; 23.
 
 598 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Towers. Robt. II.; 32; res. B'hani; 9-27- 
 
 92; 28. 
 Yancey, Mrs. B. C; 72; res. Augusta; 
 
 10-2-92; 3. 
 Johnson, E. V.; 48; 10-12-92; 12. 
 Govan, Mrs. M. F.; 48; 11-5-92; 7. 
 Robinson, Mrs. Mary; 83; 12-7-92; 7. 
 Neely, Prof. Benj.; 58; 12-20-92; 20. 
 
 1893. 
 
 Thomas, Mrs. Mary; 65; 1-6-93; 8. 
 Henley, John H.; 30; 1-18-93. 
 Linton, Mrs. Annie; 68; B'ham. 
 Shanklin, Fletcher; 19; 7-14-93; 18. 
 Printup, Henry; 70; 7-20-93; 22. 
 Shanklin, Col. J. F.; 57; 7-20-93; 22. 
 Denny, Mrs. R. A.; 35; 8-12-93; 15. 
 Stansbury, Capt. Jas. A.; 59; 9-20- 
 
 93; 21. 
 Meredith, James; 73; 12-27-93; 28. 
 
 1894. 
 
 DeJournett, Mrs. Mary; 78; 1-2-94; 2. 
 
 Carroll, Mrs. Thos.; 54; 1-6-94; 7. 
 
 Miller, Mrs. H. V. M.; 76; res. Atlan- 
 ta* 1-9-94" 9. 
 
 Powers, Dr. S. F. dd. 1-13-94. 
 
 Schirmer, N. R. ; 60; res. Kansas City, 
 Mo.; 1-26-94; 28. 
 
 Smith, Charlie; 63; 4-2-94; 3. 
 
 Ingram, C. J. M.; 4-27-94; 27. 
 
 Sproull, Mrs. C. W.; 61; 6-12-94; 12. 
 
 Dick, Hal; 43; res. Atlanta; dd. 9-94. 
 
 1895. 
 
 Cothran, Bessie; 17; 1-1-95. 
 
 Fouche, Mrs. S. E.; 77; 2-3-95. 
 
 Sawrie, Mrs.; 84; 3-4-95; 5. 
 
 Yeiser, Col. J. G.; 69; dd. 3-7-95. 
 
 Howel, T. F.; 50; 3-18-95. 
 
 Wardlaw, J. M.; 73; dd. from a fall; 4- 
 21-95' 22. 
 
 Sparks, Mrs.' Ann; 63; dd. 5-4-95. 
 
 Mills, C. M.; 73; 6-4-95; 6. 
 
 Stillwell, C. Oliver; 61; 6-15-95. 
 
 Black, Mrs. Jno. J.; 6-28-95. 
 
 Wood, J. C; 71; 7-18-95. 
 
 Clark, Miss Rosa; 7-29-95. 
 
 Vandiver, James; 10; 9-28-95. 
 
 Thompson, W. F.; 29; killed by rail- 
 road; 10-25-95; 26. 
 
 Battey, Dr. Robt.; 11-8-95; 10; in Bat- 
 tey vault. 
 
 Rr.mey, Wm.; 11-29-95. 
 
 Alexander, Mrs. T. W.; 12-95. 
 
 Nevin, M. A.; 54; 12-15-95. 
 
 1896. 
 
 Rhudy, Mrs. Amv; 89; 1-8-96. 
 Walton, Miss Ruth; 21; 1-27-96. 
 Perkins, Jno. N.; 82; Feb. 96. 
 Pepper, Mrs. M. M.; 50; March, 96. 
 Pepper, M. M.; 42; 3-29-96. 
 Miller, Dr. H. V. M.; 84; 6-8-96. 
 Cothran, Mrs. Wade S.; 40; June, 96. 
 
 Freeman, Col. Jno. R.; 84; 6-15-96. 
 King, Mrs.; 55; 7-21-96. 
 Black, Jno. J.; 55; 7-21-96. 
 Jenkins, John; 52; 8-2-96. 
 Hidell, Miss; 22; 8-7-96. 
 Reynolds, W. B.; 43; 8-22-96. 
 Armstrong, R. T.; 43; 8-22-96. 
 Chidsey, Mrs. Geo. F.; 9-1-96. 
 Gwaltney, Rob.; 11-19-96. 
 Graves, Col. Chas. I.; 59; 11-1-96. 
 
 1897. 
 
 Moore, J. C; 73; 2-27-97. 
 Norton, Reuben S.; 80; 4-4-97. 
 Wilkerson, R. T.; 60; 5-15-97. 
 Foster, W. P.; 41; 6-1-97. 
 Mitchell, Luke; 64; 7-2-97. 
 Jeffries, Dr. F. M.; 64; 8-2-97. 
 Freeman, Maj. Frank M.; 59; bn. Jones 
 Co.; res. Floyd Co.; 9-18-97; 19. 
 George, Junius A.; 52; 9-28-97. 
 Quinn, Jno. M.; 77; 10-15-97. 
 Lansdell, Chas.; 23; 10-25-97. 
 Gammon, Von Albade; 18; 11-1-97. 
 Beard, James; 77; 11-17-97. 
 Roser, P. D.; 62; 11-25-97. 
 Turnley, Geo. P.; 35; accident; 12-25- 
 
 97; 26. 
 Connor. Miss Virginia; 52; 12-31- 
 
 97; 1. 
 
 1898, 
 
 Perry, Mrs. Jos.; 35; 1-4-98; 5. 
 Nixon, Dr. W. C; 49; Ridge Valley; 
 
 1-13-98; 14. 
 Gammon, Chas. A.; 39; res. Anniston; 
 
 1-21-98; 22. 
 Sullivan, Mrs. Mary; 83; 1-24-98; 25. 
 Garrard, A. O.; 61; 2-8-98; 9. 
 Talley, G. T.; 54; 2-15-98; 16. 
 Caldwell, Mrs. S. C; 51; bn. N. C; 
 
 3-18-98; 20. 
 Franks, Miss Eugene; 34; 3-19-98; 20. 
 Hills. Wm. S.; 59; res. Charleston, S. 
 
 C; 3-26-98; 30; put in Battey vault, 
 
 6-26-02; removed to Detroit, Mich. 
 Hardin, P. H.; 74; 4-3-98; 6. 
 Hall, Jno. H.; 51; Lock 3. Ala.; 4-23- 
 
 98; 25. 
 Morris, Wm., Margaret H., Sam, Frank, 
 
 Clifford and infant of Wm. and 
 
 Margaret Morris, and Minnie and 
 
 Kate McKenzie; 8 bodies moved 
 
 from Pleasant Valley to Myrtle 
 
 Hill; 4-28-98. 
 Cothran. Hugh; 6 1-2; 5-10-98; 10. 
 Hume. Mrs. Mary W.; 59; 6-7-98; 8. 
 Rowell, Miss Fanny U.; 21; 6-10-98; 11. 
 Prather, John Q.; 47; res. Stone Mt.; 
 
 6-10-98; 11. 
 Hand, Mrs. Thos. 0.; 37; 6-26-98; 27. 
 Montgomery, Mrs. Col. A. B.; 45; bd. 
 
 7-16-98. 
 Reynolds. L. B.; 29; Reynolds, Bend.; 
 accidental gunshot at Chickamau- 
 ga; 24; 7-23-98.
 
 Myrtle Hill Cemetery Interments 
 
 599 
 
 SIX OTHER PEEKS AT CAVE SPRING. 
 
 Top, the Harper lot, containing Major Armistead Richardson, founder of Cave Sprinir. 
 whose shaft is seen at the right; tomb of Alexander Thornton Harper. II.; the postofficc. on 
 which site is buried the Indian wife of the Big Rattling Gourd, who hit off her nose because 
 she was unfaithful; in the oval, Little Cedar Creek, and at bottom, a side view of the home 
 of A. T. Harper, II.
 
 600 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Graham, Mrs. Jno. M.; 21; 7-24-98; 25. 
 Hiles, Mrs. Thompson; 56; 7-26-98; 28. 
 Harper, Alfred Shorter; 30; 7-27-98; 
 
 28 
 Ellis, E. F.; 19; Co. D, 3rd Ga. Inf., U. 
 
 S. v., dd. typhoid fever, Griffin; 
 
 9-3-98; 5. 
 Reagin, Miss Carry; 73; 3 Wd.; 10-9- 
 
 98; 10; bd. Old Cemetery. 
 Flemister, Robt.; 67; res. E. Rome; 
 
 11-21-98; 22. 
 Hargrove, R. T.; 63; dd. at Kingston; 
 
 12-15-98; 16; put in Battey vault; 
 
 removed from vault and interred, 
 
 5-23-03. 
 
 1899. 
 
 Meaks, Mrs. S. J.; 64; 101 Main St.. 
 
 Atlanta; 1-2-99; 5. 
 Epperson, Mrs. Mary; 66; Cave Sprg.; 
 
 1-19-99; 20. 
 Wildsmith, Arthur; res. Missionary 
 
 Ridge, Walker Co.; 2-7-99; 9. 
 Wright, Seaborn, Jr.; 7; 2-21-99. 
 Fenner, Dr. W. R.; 54; 2-26-99; 28. 
 Fouche. Mrs. Dora Ross; 38; 3-8-99; 9. 
 Dozier, Martha S.; 84; B'ham, Ala.; 
 
 3-22-99; 24. 
 Todd. Isaac L.; 5-1-99; 2. 
 Beard, H. A. J.; 51; 4 Wd.; 5-3-99; 5. 
 Powell, Mrs. J. C; 54; 5 Wd.; 5-13- 
 
 99* 14. 
 Woodruff, Capt. F.; 86; 2 Ave.; 4-13- 
 
 99; 15. 
 Hudgins. Mrs. C. Buckner; 41; 5-15- 
 
 99; 16. 
 Miller, Mrs. Rachel; 58; disinterred at 
 
 Eve Sta. and moved to Rome, 5-19-99. 
 Elliott, Capt. J. M., Sr.; 74; Ala.; 5-28- 
 
 99 ■ 30 
 Arrington, Mrs. H. H.; 32; 5-29-99; 30. 
 Quinn, Mrs. J. M.; 66; 6-2-99; 2. 
 Morrison, Robt. B.; 47; N. Rome; 6-2- 
 
 99. 4_ 
 
 Martin. Mrs. Ella; 81; N. Rome; 6-15- 
 99. i7_ 
 
 Dean,' Mrs. Eve S.; 28; 3 Ave.; 6-18^ 
 
 99. 
 Kane.'Wm. P.; 33; 5 Wd.; 7-4-99; 5. 
 Hamilton. Mrs. A. S.; 32; lived Trion; 
 
 dd. Atlanta; 7-15-99; 16. 
 Alexander, I. W.; 78; E. Rome; 7- 
 
 29-99- 12. 
 Cook. "j.'e.;'67; 2 Wd.; 9-22-99; 22. 
 McClure, Samuel S.; 44; 10-6-99; 8. 
 King, Samuel S.; 44; 10-6-99; 8. 
 Wyatt, W. R.; 57; 11-19-99; 21. 
 Crozier. Mrs. Henrv; 39; E. Rome; 12- 
 
 17-99; 18. 
 
 1900. 
 
 Gibson, Andrew; 75; Mobley Springs; 
 
 1-4-00; 5. 
 McNultv, Mrs. A. D.; Brunswick; 2- 
 
 4-00; 6. 
 Norton, W. F.; 1 Wd.; 2-16-00; 18. 
 
 Marshall, Dr. E. B., Jr.; 28; Cedar- 
 town; 2-6-00; 7. 
 Sims. Mrs. Rebecca; 77; Floyd Co.; 
 
 3-21-00; 22. 
 Clark, Capt. Reuben G.; 67; 3-28- 
 
 00; 30. 
 Gunn, Donald G.; 21; Effingham, Ills.; 
 
 4-15-00; 17. 
 Helm, Mrs. Rosa Hardin; 45; 4-21-00; 
 
 22; Old Cemetery. 
 Cook, Mrs. Lucindy; 68; 3 Wd.; 4-21- 
 
 00; 22. 
 George, Mrs. J. B.; 60; 1 Wd.; 4-22- 
 
 00; 23. 
 Harper, H. C; 63; E. Rome; 5-13- 
 
 00; 14. 
 Pitner, Albert G.; 41; 3 Wd.; 5-14-00; 
 
 15. 
 Byrd, Mrs. Philip G.; 38; 3 Wd.; 5-17- 
 
 00; 18. 
 Stanton, Mrs. Edwin; 29; 3 Wd.; 5-31- 
 
 00; June 2. 
 Willcox, Warren Palmer; 59; dd. Park 
 
 Ave. Hotel, N. Y. ; 6-18-00; placed 
 in Battey vault, 21; removed to 
 Branham addition 7-20-00. 
 Wingfield, Mary E.; 74; Atlanta; 7-7- 
 
 00; 8. 
 Mathis, Mary C; 67; 5 Wd.; 9-13- 
 
 00; 15. 
 Simpson, Mrs. M. A.; 77; Floyd Co.; 
 
 8-2-00; 3. 
 Gammon, Wm. G.; 18; railroad acci- 
 dent Cartersville; 8-17-00; 19. 
 Bass, Mrs. Caroline; 88; 4 Wd.; 8-28- 
 
 00; 29. 
 Ivey, Mrs. Mary J.; 75; E. Rome; 8- 
 
 29-00; 30. 
 Goetchius, Rev. Geo. T.; 54; 8-31-00; 
 
 Sept. 2. 
 McConnell, J. P.; 55; Mobley Spgs; 8- 
 
 20-00; 22. 
 Cruise, Mrs. H. B.; 22; Atlanta; 8-29- 
 
 00; 30. 
 Lester, Annie M.; 38; 2 Wd.; 10-17- 
 
 00; 18. 
 Cutter, Mrs. M. N.; 76; Floyd Co.; 
 
 burned to death; 11-3-00; 4. 
 Byars, Zack; 44; 11-19-00; 20. 
 Bale, J. A.; 73; accidental fall; 12- 
 15-00; 17 to Battey vault; removed 
 19. 
 
 1901. 
 
 Lamkin, J. B. F.; E. Rome; 2-12-01; 
 
 13. 
 Nevin, Mrs. Jas. B.; 3-7-01; 9. 
 Sharp, Mrs. Mvra A.; 55; 4 Wd.; 3- 
 
 11-01; 13. 
 Arrington, Jas. J.; 22; Summerville; 
 
 shot; 4-9-01; 10. 
 Lumpkin, Fred; 16; 5 Wd.; drowned 
 
 Silver creek: 4-13-01; 14. 
 Harper, Mrs. Fannie; 28; B'ham; 4- 
 
 15-01; 17. 
 DeMooney, Geo.; 101; Boozville, Floyd 
 
 Co.; 4-20-01; 22.
 
 602 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Ross. Miss Imogene; 46; 5-3-01; 7. 
 King, Mrs. Fannie J.; 48; 4 Wd.; ba- 
 nana ice cream poisoning; 5-11-01; 
 
 12. 
 Wimpee, Mrs. H. H.; 49; 5 Wd.; 5-19- 
 
 01; 20. 
 Watters, J. B.; 52; 4 Wd.; 5-30-01; 31. 
 Stewart, Mrs. Virgil A.; 65; 6-27-01; 
 
 put in Battey vault 30, and removed 
 
 8-4-01. 
 Todd. Clarence; 52; 7-11-01; 12. 
 Connallv. Mrs. R. T.; 40; Rockmart; 
 
 7-13-01; 14. 
 McLin, Clifton; 18; 8-7-01; 8. 
 Funkhouser, Saml.; 53; 8-7-01; 10. 
 Smith, Halstead, Jr.; 29; Cleburne, 
 
 Texas; 8-16-01; 21. 
 Black, Eugene; 40; 8-22-01; 23. 
 Turnlev, Dr. P. L.; 71; 9-10-01; 11. 
 Lindsey, Mrs. M. C; 53; E. Rome; 9- 
 
 18-01; 19. 
 Crouch, Dr. J. T.; 44; 11-21-01; 22. 
 Wvlv, Mrs. Josephine; 66; 12-8-01; 9. 
 Sproull, C. Wm.; 82; Anniston; 12-25- 
 
 01; 26. 
 McCrary, C. F.; 59; 4 Wd.; 12-31- 
 
 01; 2. 
 
 1902. 
 
 Tracy, Frank; 45; Oostanaula, Gordon 
 
 Co.; killed in railroad collision; 1- 
 
 12-02; 14 . 
 Smith, Fletcher; 45; 4 Wd.; 1-15-02; 
 
 17. 
 Scott, Thos. W.; 43; 3 Wd.; 1-29-02; 30. 
 Wells, Henry E.; New Orleans; yellow 
 
 fever; 1-13-97; 1-31-02. 
 Gregory, Mrs. Mary Choice; 70; 1 Wd.; 
 
 2-10-02; 11. 
 Carver, Mrs. Beulah M.; 48; 2-16-02; 
 
 18. 
 Hood, Frances H.; 80; 2-17-02; 18. 
 Hamilton, Joe; 32; 3-25-02; 26. 
 Lanham, Mrs. E. J.; 69; 4-7-02; 7. 
 Wyly, A. C; 63; K. C, Mo.; 5-5-92; 4- 
 
 16-02. 
 Spence. Wm. ; 81; 2 Wd.; 4-12-02; 13. 
 McEntyre, Jas. J.; 40; New Decatur, 
 
 Ala.; 5-23-02; 24. 
 Banks, Miss Lizzie; 42; dd. Battey 
 
 Inf.; 4-24-02. 
 Clinard, Mrs. M. A.; 65; Cave Spg.; 
 
 4-26-02; 27. 
 King, C. L.; dd. 5-25-02; 5-16-02; 17; 
 
 Battey vault. 
 Garrison, Georgia Harvey ; 19 ; Colum- 
 bia, S. C. ; 5-29-02; in Battey vault; 
 
 6-1-02; removed 11-3-02. 
 Green, C. K.; 59; 5 Wd.; 6-8-02; 8. 
 Lester, Bannester S.; 72; 6-9-02; 11. 
 Brett, Mrs. Catherine R.; 54; 2 Wd.; 
 
 7-12-02* 13. 
 Griffin, A.' E.;" 70; 4 Wd.; 7-17-02; 18. 
 Camp, Mrs. J. L.; 2 Wd.; 8-15-02; 10. 
 Jeffries, Andrew J.; 25; B'ham; 11-10- 
 
 02; 11. 
 
 Nevin, Mrs. Mitchell A.; 62; 11-11-02; 
 
 13. 
 Allen, Geo. M.; 34; Tallapoosa; 11-26- 
 02; 28. 
 
 1903. 
 Magruder, Mrs. Annie P.; 30; 1 Wd.; 
 
 1-22-03; 23. 
 Hull, B. F.; 70; Floyd Co.; 2-1-03; 2. 
 Lumpkin, Mrs. J. H.; 66; 1 Wd.; 1-1- 
 
 03; 3. 
 Lumpkin, J. H.; 66; 2-18-03; 19. 
 Johnson, Nellie Gough; 36; Columbus, 
 
 Miss.; 2-25-03; 27. 
 Hert, Mrs. A. F.; 71; Gordon Co.; 
 
 accidental fall; 4-16-03; Nov. 16. 
 Turnbull, Judge Waller T. ; 42; 5-6-03; 
 
 8; in Battey vault; buried May 23. 
 Pitner, George; 18; Selma, Ala.; 5-27- 
 
 03; 29. 
 Sanders, Wm. ; 45; England; killed by 
 
 C. of G. train; 6-11-03; 11. 
 Patton, Maj. Wm. A.; 35; E. Rome; 
 
 6-18-03; 19. 
 Carver, Mrs. Jennie J.; 48; Carters- 
 
 ville, Ga.; 7-1-03; 2. 
 Wright. W. A.; 65; 3 Wd.; 7-24-03; 25. 
 Rollins, (Rawlins), Mrs. Catherine; 81; 
 
 Cleveland, 0.; 8-16-03; 18. 
 O'Rear, Jno. C; 41; 5 Wd.; 9-11-03; 12. 
 Maddox, Agnes; 22; 2 Wd.; 10-27-03; 
 
 28. 
 Spiegelberg, Mrs. M.; 63; 2 Wd. 10- 
 
 31-03; 1. 
 Rowell, Capt. Christopher; 68; 11-4- 
 
 03; 6. 
 Huffaker. N. J.; 73; Floyd Co.; 11- 
 
 12-03" 13. 
 O'Rear, Mrs.' S. A. F.; 76; 2 Wd.; bd. 
 
 12-3-03. 
 Stafford, Mrs.; 3 Wd.; 12-19-03; 21; 
 
 in Battey vault; bd. 9-27-04. 
 
 1904. 
 
 Ewing, Mrs. J. W.; 55; Floyd Co.; bd. 
 
 1-4-04. 
 Hardin, J. S.; 58; 2 Wd.; bd. 1-10-04. 
 Norton, Mrs. Jane A.; 75; Grand Is- 
 land, Neb.; 1-8-04; 11. 
 McClure. H.; 48; 2 Wd.; 1-14-04; 17. 
 Kane, Frank; 69; 5 Wd.; 1-25-04; 26. 
 Park, Mrs. N. D.; 84; Chattanooga, 
 
 Tenn.; 1-25-04; 26. 
 Montgomery, Col. A. B.; 2-2-04; 3. 
 Brower, Jno. LeFoy; 26; Cedar Rapids, 
 
 Iowa; 2-6-04; 8. 
 Johnson, Mrs. Mary E.; 63; Atlanta; 
 
 2-12-04; 13. 
 Mitchell, Mrs.; 32; 4 Wd.; 2-21-04; 22. 
 O'Bear, R. H.; 82; 5 Wd. ; 2-29-04; 1. 
 Harper, Foster; 55; bd. 4-4-04. 
 Battey, Anderson Redding; dd. 4-9-04; 
 
 Battey vault; 10. 
 Hiles, Will W.; 30; 2 Wd.; 4-11-04; 12. 
 Hancock. Mrs.; 82; 2 Wd.; bd. 5-5-04. 
 Helm, Capt. Thos. J.; 63; 2 Wd.; 5-17- 
 
 04; 18; Old Cemetery.
 
 Myrtle Hill Cemetery Interments 
 
 603 
 
 A GROUP OF SUBSTANTIAL BUILDINGS. 
 
 At top, the Government postoffice, southwest corner of Fourth Avenue and East First 
 Street; the Masonic Temple and annex (west of and adjoining postoffice), which for many 
 years has been the home of Cherokee Lodge No. 66 of Masons; the Medical Buildini:. north- 
 east corner of Broad Street and Third Avenue, and adjoining- it, tlie Third AvenueHotel. 
 
 King, Jack; 52; 3 Wd.; 5-27-04; 28. 
 Berrien, Mrs. M. L.; 73; 2 Wd.; 5-29- 
 
 04; 31. 
 Jeffries, T. F.; 77; Floyd Co.; killed 
 
 by horse in Rounsaville stable; 6-5- 
 
 04; 7. 
 Printup, Mrs. Dan'l. S.; 73; I Wd.; 6- 
 
 21-04; 23. 
 Ayer, Wm. Franklin; 74; 3 Wd. ; 6- 
 
 21-04; 23. 
 
 Mitchell Mrs. Laura; 44; 4 Wd.; 7- 
 
 28-04; 29. 
 Townes, Miss Ida; 4 Wd.; 1-29-04; 30. 
 Antoprnoli, Peter; 52; 2 Wd.; 8-0-04. 
 
 10. 
 O'Rear, G. W.; 86; 2 Wd.; 8-19-04; 21. 
 Adkins, Henrv; 30; B'ham; 8-22-04; 23. 
 Gwaltney, Robt. J. ; 35 ; 2 Wd. ; 8-30-04 ; 
 
 31. 
 Tig-ner, J. A.; 76; 2 Wd.; 10-26-04; 28.
 
 604 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Gammon, Mrs. J. A.; 50; 11-1-04; 2. 
 Aver, Thos.; E. Rome; 11-3-04; 4. 
 King, Capt. John B.; 54; Macon; 11-14- 
 
 04; 16, Battey vault. 
 Ford, I. Dave; 76; 3 Wd.; 12-24-04; 25. 
 Coulter, Nelson H.; 32; dd. Asheville, 
 N. C; 12-23-04; 28. 
 
 1905. 
 
 Garrard, Clarence A.; 35; 2 Wd.; 1- 
 
 2-05; 4. 
 Freeman, Dr. E. B.; 74; E. Rome; 1-5- 
 
 05; 7. 
 Orr, Robt. F.; 67; 5 Wd. ; 1-5-05; 7. 
 Benjamin, Frank Julian; 83; 1 Wd. 
 
 1-9-05; 10. 
 Ellis, Jos. L.; 74; Atlanta; 1-16-05 
 
 19. 
 Rice, Mrs. M. A. E.; 88; Floyd Co. 
 
 1-26-05; 27. 
 Ross, A. F.; 52; 3 Wd.; 1-30-05; 31. 
 Sargeant, Mrs. Mary Jane; 68; St. 
 
 Louis; 2-7-05; 9. 
 Harper, Mrs. Chas. M.; 59; 3 Wd.; 2- 
 
 26-05; 28. 
 Wood, Chas. D.; 50; 3 Wd.; 3-5-05; 7. 
 Wilkerson, Mrs. Sallie; 2 Wd.; 3-16- 
 
 05; 17. 
 Allen, M. D.; 81; Anniston; 3-29-05; 
 
 30. 
 Tigner, Mrs. J. A.; 76; 2 Wd.; 4-26- 
 
 05; 8. 
 Tippen, J. B.; 74; E. Rome; 4-26-05; 
 
 27. 
 Marshall, Mrs. D. B.; 62; 1 Wd.; 5-3- 
 
 05; 4. 
 Rhodes, Catal ; 74; 3 Wd.; 5-14-05; 15. 
 Wood, Mrs. A.; 74; 2 Wd.; 5-17-05; 18. 
 Grant, J. W.; 71; W. Rome; 5-24-05; 25. 
 Sing, Young, or Joe Tang; China; 
 
 by accident; 6-2-05. 
 Mitchell, Mrs. R. V.; 2 Wd.; 6-16- 
 
 05; 18. 
 Wildsmith, Mrs. Lena; 50; Knoxville, 
 
 Tenn.; 6-27-05; 28. 
 Bowie, Sophie Park; 61; Atlanta; 7- 
 
 8-05; 9. 
 Howell, W. D.; 48; N. Y.; pistol wound; 
 
 7-11-05; 16. 
 Wright, George; 24; 2 Wd.; shot; 7- 
 
 19-05; 20. 
 Gammon, J. A. ; 61; 3 Wd.; 8-5-05; 7. 
 Veal. Joe; 38; 3 Wd.; 8-10-05; 11. 
 Smith, Mrs. Halstead; 53; 8-25-05; 27. 
 Anthony, Mrs. M. E.; 78; 1 Wd.; 9- 
 
 20-05; 21; in Old Cemetery. 
 Gardner. Mrs. Annie; 82; Meridian, 
 
 Miss.; 10-10-05; 12. 
 Little, Capt. A. J.; 65; 3 Wd.; 10-16- 
 
 05; 17. 
 Hardin, Mrs. P. H.; 72; 3 Wd.; 10-17- 
 
 05; 18. 
 Whitmore. Col. W. P.; 91; Floyd Co.; 
 
 10-18-05; 19. 
 Troutman, Chas. Reeve; 21; killed by 
 
 street car, Atlanta; 11-4-05; 6; 
 
 Battey vault. 
 Watters, A. J.; 79; 5 Wd.; 11-17-05; 18. 
 Omberg, Clarence L.; 51; B'ham, Ala.; 
 
 12-5-05; 7. 
 McCallie, Mrs. Margaret; 83; 2 Wd.; 
 
 12-7-05; 9. 
 Young, Harry W.; 37; Montgomery, 
 
 Ala.; 12-14-05; 15. 
 Vinson, J. T.; 31; killed at Suwanee, 
 
 Ga.. by electric shock — accident; 12- 
 
 21-05; 23. 
 Whatley, Mrs. C. A.; 71; Atlanta; 12- 
 
 29-05; 30. 
 Randall, Mrs. Harriet; 42; Los Angeles, 
 
 Cal.: 12-19-05; 10. 
 
 1906. 
 
 Gwaltney, Rev. Luther Rice; 65; E. 
 
 Rome; 1-14-06; 15. 
 Weatherlv, A. B.; 40; Cleveland, Tenn.; 
 
 1-22-06; 23. 
 Pullen, Geo. P.; 41; 5 Wd.; 1-30-06; 31. 
 Lambert, Mrs. Martha; 85; Atlanta; 
 
 2-4-06; 5. 
 McOsker, M. D.; 68; bn. Scotland; 2- 
 
 12-06. 
 Whitmore, Mrs.; 56; Floyd Co.; 3-2-06. 
 West, W. J.; 45; Blountville, Tenn.; 3- 
 
 19-06. 
 Hicks. W. D.; 56; 3-24-06. 
 Hargrove, C. B.; Enterprise, Ala.; ac- 
 cidental gunshot; 3-24-06; 27. 
 Johnson, Mrs. R. J.; 80; 3 Wd.; 3-27- 
 
 06; 29. 
 Grossman, Mrs. Emeline; 66; 4-18-06; 
 
 18. 
 Smith, Halstead; 57; 4-21-06; 21. 
 Lanham, E. J.; 75; old age; 4-28-06; 30 
 Woodruff, Mrs. Martha; 86; B'ham; 6- 
 
 12-06; 12. 
 Scott, Mary Reynolds; 24; Louisville, 
 
 Ky.; 6-13-06; 13. 
 Smith, Linton; 32; Memphis, Tenn.; 
 
 8-12-06; 12. 
 Chambers, Mrs. Alice; 46; 8-25-06. 
 Montgomery. Mrs. John; 45; dd. Conn.; 
 
 9-21-06.' 
 Mullen, J. E.; 70; 9-22-06. 
 Gammon, Edward E.; 21; B'ham; 9- 
 
 20-06; 28. 
 Sproull, Mrs. J. C; 84; res. Bartow 
 
 Co.; 10-4-06. 
 Mull, Dr. J. C; 35; 10-24-06. 
 Lanham, Mrs. J. D.; 48; 11-3-06. 
 Webb, J. P.; 62; Cobb Co.; 11-14-06. 
 Eastman, Mrs. Guy; 23; 11-14-06. 
 Warner, Chas. J.; 70; 11-29-06. 
 Shropshire, Ann Moore; 83; 12-4-06. 
 Gentry, H. C; 70; 12-23-06. 
 
 1907. 
 
 Towers, Ruth; 18; 1-13-07. 
 
 Watters, Mrs. Geo. W.; 83; Carrollton; 
 
 1-13-07. 
 Farris, John; 66; 4-2-07.
 
 606 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Howell, Millard F.; 56; res. Cherokee 
 
 Co., Ala.; dd. Phila.; 4-15-07. 
 Rowell, Mrs. Lou; 64; 6-16-07. 
 Trawick, Mrs. J. B.; 50; 6-18-07. 
 Black, J L.; 67; res. Penna.; dd. Rome; 
 
 6-29-07. 
 Colclough, E. H.; 74; res. Cherokee 
 
 Co., Ala.; 9-18-07. 
 Berry, Bose; 22; shot in New Orleans; 
 
 10-26-07. 
 Lewis, J. C; 52; res. France; 11-6-07. 
 West, Mrs. R. H.; 60; res. Tenn.; 11- 
 
 15-07. 
 Veal, J. E.; 84; res. Columbia, S. C; 
 
 11-23-07. 
 
 1908. 
 
 Wells, T. P.; 62; res. Bartow Co.; 2- 
 
 2-08. 
 Miller, Mrs. G. H.; 76; E. Rome; 2-6- 
 
 08. 
 Morton, Judge G. B.; 76; res. Athens; 
 2-6-08. 
 
 Fouche, Robt. T.; 72; 3-3-08. 
 Smith, Mrs. Martha; 60; res. Rome; 
 
 dd. Chattanooga; 3-16-08. 
 Scott, Frank; 59; Ohio; ^-31-08. 
 Holder, Luther; 32; Id. Texas, res. 
 
 Floyd Co.; 4-6-08. 
 Whitehead, J. J.; 77; 4-8-08. 
 Bridges, Mrs. Warren; 68; res. S. C; 
 
 dd. Rome; 4-23-08. 
 Snlmon, N. L.; 35; res. Ala.; killed by 
 
 accident; 3-25-08. 
 Gordon, Col. W. L.; 68; 8-24-08. 
 Burgwalt, Mrs. Jno.; 68; Sweden; 8- 
 
 19-08. 
 Willingham, Griffin; 87; S. C; dd. 
 
 Floyd Co.; 10-26-08. 
 Keel, Henry; 21; Gadsden; killed by 
 
 accident; 10-28-08. 
 Bridges, W. W.; 64; res. S. C; dd. 
 
 Rome; 6-10-08. 
 Smith, Owen O.; 26; dd. Atlanta; 7-6-08 
 Powers, N. F.; 59; 7-9-08. 
 Henson, Martha; 52; 7-9-08. 
 Wilkerson, Mrs. R. T. ; 80; res. Tenn.; 
 
 8-22-08. 
 Gailliard, Mrs. Manor; 65; S. C; 11- 
 
 3-08. 
 Lanham, Will L.; 48; Floyd Co.; 11- 
 
 5-08. 
 Clark, J. C; 18; 12-28-08. 
 
 1909. 
 
 Taylor, Mrs. Mary M.; 72; Ala.; 1- 
 
 19-09. 
 Johnson, Mrs. Luke; 47; N. Rome; 1- 
 
 29-09. 
 Earle, j! P.; 72; S. C. ; N. Rome; 1- 
 
 29-09. 
 Jarvis, J. L.; 70; S. C; 2-17-09. 
 Cheney, Walter T.; 56; bn. Chattooga 
 
 Co.; dd. Rome; 3-19-09. 
 Ramey, Mrs. E. E.; 82; 3-26-09. 
 Hight, Chas. A.; 56; 11-30-09. 
 
 Harper, A. R.; 46; dd. Chicago; 3-30-09. 
 Thompson, Miss Susan; 52; S. C. ; 4- 
 
 2-09. 
 Ayer, Frank; 50; 4-5-09. 
 Fleetwood, Mrs. Annie; 62; 5-5-09. 
 Trammell, Dennis; 91; N. Rome; May 
 
 5-8-09. 
 Graves, Chas. L; 46; 6-1-09. 
 Morrison, Gus A.; 77; S. C; 6-2-09. 
 Willingham, J. H.; 6-4-09. 
 Shaw, Daisy; 35; Floyd Co.; dd. Phila. 
 
 6-5-09. 
 Lytle, L.; 72; S. C; 6-10-09. 
 Callahan, F. N. ; 76; S. C; 6-19-09. 
 Dougherty, A.; 67; Floyd Co.; 7-4-09. 
 Perkins, Mrs. Bettie; 72; Va.; dd. 
 
 Rome; 8-11-09. 
 Beysiegel, W. E.; 45; Ala.; 10-13-09. 
 Wade, Miss Mary; 76; N. Rome 10- 
 
 22-09. 
 Sullivan, Arthur R.; 57; 10-22-09. 
 Harper, Chas. M. ; 70; N. C; dd. Rome; 
 
 11-4-09. 
 Hemphill, Miss Mabel; 50; bn. Rome; 
 
 dd. Atlanta; 11-14-09. 
 Kelly, Wm.; 73; bn. S. C; dd. Rome; 
 
 11-13-09. 
 Morrison, H. G.; 73; bn. N. C; N. 
 
 Rome; 11-25-09. 
 Smith, H. A.; 77; bn. N. C; N. Rome; 
 
 11-24-09. 
 Sargent, John; 38; bn. Rome; dd. 
 
 Ark.; 12-2-09. 
 Parks, Frank R.; 35; bn. Floyd Co.; 
 
 dd. Los Angeles; 12-8-09. 
 Beysiegel, Charlie; Ala.; 12-24-09. 
 Tippen, Will; 35; Floyd Co.; 12-25-09. 
 Lamberth, Mrs. Jesse; 65; Floyd Co.; 
 
 dd. Atlanta; 12-25-09. 
 
 1910. 
 
 Wood, T. C; 91; N. C; dd. Atlanta; 
 old age; 2-19-10. 
 
 Patton, Mrs. Ida Nevin; 35; 3-24-10. 
 
 Woodward, Edward; 35; bn. Carters- 
 ville. dd. Rome; 4-2-10. 
 
 DeJournett, Will; 65; bn. Floyd Co.; 
 dd. Atlanta; 4-3-10. 
 
 Camp, Mrs. James; 75; 4-3-10. 
 
 Sharpe, Miss Sarah Virginia; 55; bn. 
 Chattooga Co.; 4-11-10. 
 
 Landers, J. L.; 35; bn. Chattooga Co.; 
 dd. Lindale; 4-14-10. 
 
 Hudson, J. E.; 87; bn. N. C; dd. Floyd 
 Co.; 4-27-10. 
 
 Cheney, Miss Daisy; 19; Floyd Co.; 4- 
 30-10. 
 
 White, Louis M.; 35; bn and dd. Cal- 
 houn; 5-16-10. 
 
 Gomez, Mrs. M.; Floyd Co.; dd. Ma- 
 rietta; 5-16-10. 
 
 MoflFet, J. B.; 50; dd. Macon; 5-17-10. 
 
 Turner, Capt. L. M.; 50; bn. Chero- 
 kee Co.; dd. 5-27-10. 
 
 Farrell, Mrs. Charlie; 75; bn. N. C; 
 dd. Rome; 6-5-10.
 
 Myrtle Hill Cemetery Interments 
 
 607 
 
 OLD-FASHIONED ROMANS IN PICTURES. 
 Top. left to right Miss Julia Omberg; Prof J M^ Proctor ^-^^ "j^^'j'J-^^-'-'^-- 
 Proctor School and father of Edward and Jno J^- proctor Mr,, j ^^^ ^.^ ^.^^^^ 
 
 Sa^-LlTtLr" wko"iera.^^K;H^n\t°tlVcU.^^^^^ Mrs. Jno. P. Eve; Hine. 
 
 M. Imith. a son of Maj. Chas. H. Smith ("Bill Arp. )
 
 608 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Stillwell, Mrs. O. M.; 75; 6-11-10. 
 Hampkin, J. R.; 58; S. C; 6-14-10. 
 George, J. B.; 73; bn. N. Y.; 6-18-10. 
 Shiflett, Mrs. C. A.; 30; Floyd Co.; 
 
 6-28-10. 
 Harris, Judge Richard R. ; 75; bn. 
 
 Bradley Co., Tenn.; 7-6-10. 
 Pyle, Chas.; 30; Floyd Co.; 6-28-10. 
 Reese, J. J.; 68; Floyd Co.; 7-11-10. 
 Reese, Miss G. A.; 18; 7-12-10. 
 Gwaltnev, Rev. Lutlier Rice; 80; 7- 
 
 18-10; 20. 
 Collier, Dick; 35; dd. at B'ham; 7- 
 
 30-10. 
 Watters, Mrs. Kate; 86; bn. Gilmer 
 
 Co.; 6-10-10. 
 Hanson, George; 12; drowned; 8-31-10. 
 Clarkeson, W. G.; 23; 8-9-10. 
 Sullivan, Mrs. J. B.; 75; bn. N. C; 
 
 Aug. 31, 10. 
 Simpson, J, H.; 54; dd. Anniston; 9- 
 
 27-10. 
 Jackson, Miles; 80; iFloyd Co.; dd. 
 
 Rome; 9-30-10. 
 Rounsaville, Jno. Wesley; 68; dd. 
 
 Rome; 10-5-10. 
 McDonald, Mark G.; 59; 10-18-10. 
 Stafford, Mrs. Sarah; 81; Floyd Co.; 
 
 dd. Chattanooga; 10-25-10. 
 Magruder. Mrs.; 78; 11-4-10. 
 Yancey, Robt. B.; hot in Fla.; 11- 
 
 27-10. 
 Hillyer, Dr. Eben; 80; 12-22-10. 
 
 1911. 
 
 Hill, J. B.; 68; 1-1-11. 
 Vincent, Mrs. Wm. J.; 68; 1-9-11. 
 Hamilton, David Blount; 77; 1-31-11. 
 Funderburk, Mrs.; 66; Floyd Co.; 2-7- 
 
 11. 
 Moss, A. C; 35; 2-11-11. 
 Gammon, Mrs. Laura; 50; 2-21-11. 
 Rice, Jno. H.; 68; bn. N. C; dd. Rome; 
 
 2-27-11. 
 Sullivan, James B.; 86; 4-22-11. 
 Camp, James; 72; 4-29-11. 
 Martin, Mrs. Margaret; 82; S. C; 5- 
 
 15-11. 
 Daniel, T. E.; 38; Cherokee Co.; dd. 
 
 Rome; 6-1-11. 
 Marshall, E. B. ; 72; bn. Floyd Co.; 
 
 dd. Rome; 6-2-11. 
 Owens, Georgia; 28; 6-4-11. 
 Watson, A. P.; 65; Floyd Co.; dd. 
 
 Rome; 6-13-11. 
 Mitchell, Walter; 55; bn and dd. Floyd 
 
 Co.; 6-26-11. 
 Hendricks, John; 44; Floyd Co.; dd. 
 
 Rome; 6-28-11. 
 Daniel, R. H.; 56; bn. Ala.; 8-3-11. 
 Bailey, Mrs. Curtis; 66; bn. Floyd Co.; 
 
 dd. W. Rome; 8-23-11. 
 Reese, Paul D.; 45; dd. Boozville; 10- 
 
 21-11. 
 Sharpe, Miss Annie; 35; 11-24-11. 
 
 Mebane, Mrs. W. B.; 27; bn. Floyd Co.; 
 dd. Rome; 11-22-11. 
 
 1912. 
 
 Thompson, Henry; 86; bn. Floyd Co.; 
 
 dd. Rome; 1-9-12. 
 Moseley, A. B. S.; 72; 2-12-12. 
 Jack, Tony; 72; 2-14-12. 
 Gould, Capt. J. P.; 62; W. Rome; 3- 
 
 13-12. 
 Coulter, Mrs.; 52; bn. Floyd Co.; dd. 
 
 Rome; 3-13-12. 
 Wood, Harvey C; 66; 4-15-12; 16. 
 Gresham, A. S.; 27; 4-17-12. 
 Owens, Dr. J. D.; dd. 1850; dug up Apr. 
 
 16-12 on Upper Broad and interred 
 
 in pauper section. 
 Hughes, Mrs. Lizzie Roach; 75; E. 3d 
 
 St.; dd. 4-21-12. 
 Mulkey, Miss Annie; 51; dd. 6-15-12; 
 
 16. 
 Bright, Mrs. Emaline; 69; 6-17-12; 18. 
 Vandiver, J. M.; 41; 6-19-12; 20. 
 Stoffregen, Mrs. J. H.; 89; Hanover, 
 
 Germany; dd. 6-21-12; 23. 
 reiser, Mrs. J. G.; 79; dd. 6-29-12; 
 
 July 2. 
 Wright, Mrs. E. C; 40; Polk Co.; dd. 
 
 7-3-12; 4. 
 Iroutman, Rev. Marcellus L.; 52; res. 
 
 Athens, Ga.; dd. 7-5-12; 7; Battey 
 
 vault. 
 Bowie, Wm. Wurts; 32; 7-11-12; 13. 
 Ramey, Geo.; 56; 7-27-12; 28. 
 Bowie, Langdon, Sr. ; 70; 8-4-12. 
 Hunt, Dr. D. G.; 82; Va.; 8-4-12; 6. 
 Simpson, Capt. W. P.; 72; Tenn; 8- 
 
 12-12; 13. 
 Ayer, Mrs. W. F.; 80; 9-4-12; 5. 
 Smith, Mrs. Hines M.; 63; 9-27-12; 29. 
 Hardin, Mrs. Rebecca; 52; 10-29-12; 30. 
 Haynes, Mrs. B. T.; 56; 10-81-12; 1. 
 Ramsaur, Dr. D. H.; 73; res. Atlanta; 
 
 dd. there; 11-1-12; 2. 
 Shrewsbury, Mrs. M. A.; 78; 11-5-12; 6. 
 Maxwell, G. L.; 80; 11-6-12; 7. 
 Wimpee, M. A.; 77; 11-23-12; 25. 
 Attaway, M. K.; bd. 11-29-12; plowed 
 
 up on N. Broad St. with 3 infants 
 
 26, in iron caskets. 
 Shropshire, W. M.; 94; 11-29-12; bd. 1. 
 Gould, Mrs. Pearl; 28; 12-14-12; 15. 
 Howell, Mrs. G. W. ; 92; Howell's Cross 
 
 Roads; 12-16-12; 18. 
 Twyman, Mrs. L. C; 67; non-res.; 12- 
 
 28-12; 29. 
 
 1913. 
 
 Unknown hody in' iron • casket, N* 
 Broad St.; buried on C. Attaway 
 lot; 1-1-13. 
 
 Chidsey, Frances; 16; 1-18-13; 19. 
 
 Hawkins, Mrs. J. H.; 68; 1-23-13; 24. 
 
 Ivey, Mrs. Elizabeth E.; 83; E. Rome: 
 2-7-13; 8. 
 
 O'Neill, J. J.; 69; dd. 2-9-13; 10.
 
 Myrtle Hill Cemetery Interments 
 
 609 
 
 "WHEN MRS. WOODROW WILSON CAME HOME." 
 
 As Ellen Louise Axson. Mrs. Wilson was the schoolmate and friend of numerous Romans; 
 she lived in Rome nearly 20 years, and on Thursday. Aug. 6. 1914. breathed her last at the 
 White House in Washington. D. C. She was buried Wednesday. August 12. beside her 
 parents. Rev. and Mrs. S. E. Axson. in Myrtle Hill cemetery at Rome. At top. the people 
 at foot of cemetery; Broad Street Bridge; President Wilson's carriage on Second Avenue 
 near East Fifth Street; cenietery scenes.
 
 610 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Davies, Mrs. Anna; 63; 2-22-13; 25. 
 Beysiegel, Mrs. Carrie; 49; 2-28-13; 
 
 3-?.. 
 Smith, Jas. A.; 67; 3-10-13; 11. 
 Wright, Mrs. Carlton; 3-20-13'; 23; 
 
 auto accident. 
 O'Neill, W. P.; 67; res. Atlanta; dd. 
 
 E. Rome; 4-9-13; 10. 
 Spiegelberg, M.; 73; 4-19-13; 21. 
 Allen, Mrs. R. V.; 4-23-13; 25. 
 Grace, Wm. T., Jr.; 25; res. Macon: 
 
 4-23-13; 25. 
 Fouche, C. M.; 71; 4-27-13; 29. 
 Pollock, Mrs. J. G.; S. Rome; bn. S. 
 
 W. Ga.; dd. 5-5-13; 6. 
 Boyd, Dr. W. H.; 85; E. Rome; 5-8- 
 
 13; 9. 
 Mitchell, Mrs. Mary; 76; res. Co.; dd. 
 
 5-10-13; 11. 
 McGhee, Mrs. Joe; 58; 6-11-13; 13. 
 v^eal, Mrs. J. Sam; 45; 6-26-13; 27. 
 Patton, Jos. B.; 64; Tenn. dd. 7-3- 
 
 13; 4. 
 Saylor, Elvira; 43; 7-4-13; 4. 
 Hudgins, Mrs. Mamie; 40; 7-21-13; 22. 
 Sproull, Griuin Wm.; 35; res. B'ham; 
 
 dd. 7-26-13; 28. 
 Lawrence, Geo. A.; 38; 1 Wd.; dd. 8- 
 
 15-13; 15. 
 Headden. Rev. Robt. B.; 74; 2 Wd.; 8- 
 
 14-13; 16. 
 Powers, D. J.; 65; res. Lyons, Ga.; 
 
 non-res.; 9-6-13; 8. 
 Elliott, Mrs. J. M.; 89; res. Gadsden; 
 
 9-16-13; 18. 
 Hiles, Capt. Thompson; 72; bn. Tenn.; 
 
 9-18-13; 19. 
 Nealy, Dr. Jno. C. ; 43; res. Bain- 
 bridge; 9-19-13; 20. 
 Keeley, Mrs. Grace Lanham; 29; bn. 
 
 Rome; dd. Macon; 9-19-13; 21. 
 Moss, Wm. M.; 68; S. Rome; dd. 9-22- 
 
 13* 23. 
 Lumpkin, B. F.; 63; S. Rome; dd. 10- 
 
 9-13; 10. 
 Tracy, Mrs. J. T.; 53; E. Rome; 10- 
 
 25-13; 26. 
 Drennon, Mrs. Charlie; 45; 10-26-13; 
 
 27. (Oakland Cemetery). 
 Hillyer, Mrs. Eben; 11-8-13; 9. 
 Plumb, Mrs. Mary; 66; 12-3-13; 4. 
 Jack, Miss Amanda; 79; res. Atlanta; 
 
 12-3-13; 4. 
 Alexander, Mrs. J. W.; 54; 12-28-13; 
 
 30. 
 
 1914. 
 
 Allen, W. C; 79; 1-5-14; 5. 
 
 Terhune, Mrs. E. A.; 66; 1 Wd.; 1-11- 
 14; 12. 
 
 Holder, Mrs. C. B.; 66; S. Rome; 1- 
 13-14; 14. 
 
 Jones, Mrs. Maud Allgood; 43; Atlan- 
 ta; bn. Trion; 1-15-14; 17. 
 
 Root, Mrs. Louise Bass; 30; N. Waki- 
 ma. Wash.; 3-21-14; 28. 
 
 Wicker, Robt.; 29; 1-27-14; 28. 
 Todd, Mrs. L. A.; 61; 5-13-14; 14. 
 Brett, Mrs. M. W.; 75; res. States- 
 
 boro; 5-20-14; 22. 
 Holder, G. B.; 70; 6-18-14; 19. 
 Ledbetter, Mrs. A. W.; 68; 6-28-14; 
 
 29. 
 Hawkins, Mrs. Jno. H.; 74; 2d Ave.; 7- 
 
 15-14; 16. 
 West, Capt. Ernest E., U. S. A.; res. 
 
 Rhea Spgs., Tenn.; dd. 7-17-14; 18. 
 
 Wilson, Mrs. Woodrow; 54 yrs. 3 mos., 
 
 22 days; dd. at the White House, 
 
 Washington, D. C; 8-6-14; 12. 
 
 McWilliams, Oscar H.; 75; E. Rome 
 
 8-29-14; 31. 
 Williamson, Capt. Toin J.; N. Rome; 
 
 70; 9-21-14; 22. 
 Archer, W. N.; 64; E. Rome; 10-16- 
 
 14; 17. 
 Hamilton, Mrs. David Blount; 78; 1- 
 
 27-14; 28. 
 Ross, Mrs. A. F.; 50; 2 Wd.; 11-25- 
 
 14; 26. 
 Donkle, Mrs. Jane; 86; res. Anniston; 
 
 12-7-14; 9. 
 
 1915. 
 
 Reece, Jno. C; 44; dd. Atlanta; 1-1- 
 15; 2. 
 
 Moore, Mrs. Mary C; 82; res. and dd. 
 Atlanta; 12-31-15; 1-2. 
 
 Franklin, Ben; drowned in Oostanaula 
 river; 1-3-15; bd. 5, Jewish Ceme- 
 tery. 
 
 Clements, T. E.; 61; N. Broad; 1-13- 
 15; 14. 
 
 Alexander, Col. Thos. W.; 88; 3 Wd.; 
 1-22-15. 
 
 Gomez, N. M.; 70; res. and dd. Mari- 
 etta" 2-3-15* 5. 
 
 Brannon, R. S.'; 75; 5 Wd.; 3-6-15; 7. 
 
 Attaway, Mrs. Joe; 40; 4 Wd.; 3-10-15; 
 11. 
 
 Harris, Judge Walter; 57; 4 Wd.; 3- 
 17-15; 18. 
 
 Ruggles, Chas.; 55; 3-26-15; 27; Oak- 
 land. 
 
 Hough, Mrs. Edward C; 87; 4-18-15; 
 19. 
 
 West, J. H.; 73; 7 Wd.; 5-2-15; 4; bd. 
 in Soldiers' lot. 
 
 Goetchius. Chas. B.; 53; 5-15-15; 16. 
 
 Simpson, Mrs. W. P.; 69; dd. Battle 
 Creek, Mich.; 6-23-15; 25. 
 
 Rounsaville, Mrs. Jno. Wesley; 70; 7- 
 15-15; 16. 
 
 Ivey, Dr. Jas. E.; 61; E. Rome; 8-11- 
 15; 13. 
 
 Johnson, J. Lindsay; 60; dd. Manila, 
 P. L, July, 1915; bd. 9-20-15. 
 
 Bass, Mrs. N. H.; 70; 5 Wd.; 9-22- 
 15; 23. 
 
 Shropshire, Sam; 73; dd. in N. Rome; 
 10-2-15; 3.
 
 Myrtle Hill Cemetery Interments 
 
 611 
 
 Seay, Mrs. W. W.; 79; 10-21-15; 22. 
 
 Sullivan, Arthur R., Jr.; 31; dd. Mem- 
 phis, Tenn.; 12-3-15; 5. 
 
 Rowell, Miss Bessie; 37; E. Rome; 
 12-14-15; 16. 
 
 1916. 
 
 Nixon, Mrs. Mary P.; 72; S. Rome; 
 1-20-16; 22. 
 Funderburk, Miss Emma; 70; N. 
 
 1-22-16. 
 Chidsey, Geo.; 64; 1-29-16; 30. 
 Wright, R. B.; 77; dd. Soldiers Home, 
 
 Atlanta; 2-18-16; 20; Soldiers' lot. 
 Lewis, Wm. M.; 46; E. Rome; killed 
 
 by car on Southern; 3-4-16; 5. 
 Gammon, Wm. Melville; 75; E. Rome; 
 
 3-9-16; 11. 
 Funderburk, Miss Emma; 70; N. 
 
 Rome; 4-14-16; 15. 
 Condit, Elmer J.; 60; 4-15-16; 16. 
 May, Mrs. Isaac; 50; 4-20-16; 21. 
 Best, Wm.; 46; S. Rome; 4-21-16; 22. 
 Given, Mrs. R. W. ; 42; res. and dd. 
 
 Oakdale, Tenn.; 5-7-16; 9. 
 Moore, Capt. Jim Tom; 80; 5-20-16; 21. 
 Rounsaville, Fred; 42; 6-6-16; 7. 
 McConnell, Mrs. J. P.; 68; res. and 
 
 dd. Chattanooga; 6-12-16; 14. 
 Procter, H. C; 55; dd. Atlanta; 7-12- 
 
 16; 14. 
 Seay, Jno. J.; 73; 8-17-16. 
 Hargis, Mrs. Mary M.; 72; lived 
 
 B'ham; 8-20-16; 21. 
 Howel, Mrs. Mary Park; 53; 8-24-16; 
 
 25. 
 Walton, Mrs. lone K.; 72; res. and dd. 
 
 Meridian, Miss.; 8-27-16; 29. 
 Trammell, H. C; 71; N. Rome; 8-25- 
 
 16; 26; (Oakland). 
 Miller, Geo. H.; 80; 9-11-16; 12. 
 McDonald, V. A.; 38; S. Rome; killed 
 
 by shooting in 4 Wd.; 9-17-16; 19. 
 Harvey. Mrs. S. P.; 80; N. Rome; 9- 
 
 20-16; 21. 
 Wright, F. Carlton; 48; 9-22-16; 23. 
 Hackett, John; 64; 4 Wd.; 6-27-16; 29. 
 Headden, Mrs. R. B.; 7-17-15; 19. 
 Hough, Edward C; 89; 10-13-16; 15. 
 Sullivan, Mrs. Arthur R.; 63; 10-7-16; 
 
 19. 
 Crumley, G. W.; 64; res. E. Rome; dd. 
 
 DeSoto Park; 11-15-16; 16. 
 Burney, Stark J.; 58; 2-15-17; 17. 
 Lanham, E. E.; 53; S. Rome; 11-20- 
 
 16; 21. 
 Elliott, Ben H.; 60; res. and dd. Tenn.; 
 
 11-28-16; 30. 
 Prathel^ Mrs. Georgia Hodges;' 67; 
 
 lived and dd. Macon; 12-9-16; 10. 
 Rounsaville, Jas. Roy; 35; 12-21-16; 22. 
 
 1917. 
 
 Satterfield. W. J.; 61; 2-3-17; 5. 
 Wimpee, Mrs. Mary; 64; res. Dalton; 
 2-17; 3; (Oakland). 
 
 Burney, Stark J.; 58; 2-15-17; 17. 
 Dean, Joel; 34; dd. 2-13-17 at San 
 
 Antonio, Texas; 18. 
 Pruden, Chas. S.; 57; 2-19-17; 21. 
 Coulter, Clinton; 29; 2-27-17; 28. 
 Quarles, Linton; 35; res. St. Louis, 
 
 Mo.; 2-4-17; 8; (Oakland). 
 Esserman, Rabbi; 75; 3-14-17; 15; 
 
 (Jewish Cemetery). 
 Ballard, Tom; 48; ,5 Wd.; drowned in 
 
 Etowah river, 3-3-17; found near 
 
 Cedar Bluff, Ala.; 3-24; bd. 24. 
 Wimpee. John; 71; 4 Wd. ; 4-8-17; 9. 
 Bowie, Mrs. Langdon ; 70; res. Hotel 
 
 Forrest; 4-8-17; 9. 
 McGhee, L. M.; 34; dd. on train be- 
 tween Chicago and Chattanooga; 4- 
 
 17-17; 18. 
 Hawkins, Hal; 64; E. 8th St., E. Rome; 
 
 4-18-17; 19. 
 Cantrell, Mrs. E. E.; 26; lived below 
 
 Mobley Park; 4-20-17; 21. 
 Mullen, Mrs. S. F.; 75; 2d Ave.; 5-7- 
 
 17; 9. 
 McArver, A. B.; 59; E. 3d St.; 5-9- 
 
 17; 10. 
 Steele, N. J.; 66; E. Rome; killed by 
 
 Southern engine; 5-29-17; 30. 
 Neal, W. M.; 86; E. 3d St.; 6-4-17; 6. 
 Dupree, Mrs. J. F.; 71; S. Broad; dd. 
 
 from fall; 6-5-17; 6. 
 Wingfield, Mrs. J. F.; 71; W. Rome; 
 
 6-10-17; 11. 
 Lindsay, C. S.; 75; res. and dd. At- 
 lanta; 6-21-17; 22. 
 Attaway, W. R.; 65; dd. 3d Ave. room; 
 
 7-13-17; 16. 
 Parks, Hugh B., Jr.; 32; 7-20-17. 
 May, J. Will; 56; 7-23-17; 24. 
 Battey, Wm. Cephas; 67; dd. Hender- 
 
 sonville, N. C; 7-1-17; 8-3. 
 Harris, Mrs. R. R.; 80; S. Rome; S- 
 
 3-17; 5. 
 Conn, Rev. C. L; 54; W. Rome; 8- 
 
 21-17* 22. 
 Benjamin, Mrs. Frank; 78; E. 2d St.; 
 
 8-26-17; 27. 
 Govan, M. F.; 83; res. Atlanta; old 
 
 age; 9-3-17; 5. 
 Seav, Florida Bavard; 84; dd. N. Y.; 
 
 9-30-17; Oft. 3. 
 Dempsey, Richard; (HI; 1 Wd.; 10-8-17; 
 
 10. 
 Shropshire, Miss Lillie; CO; 2 Wd.; 11- 
 
 27-17; 28. 
 Jenkins. Tom; 36; E. of Rome; pistol 
 
 shot in breast; 11-28-17; .30. 
 Fahv. Thos.; 74; 11-30-17; 1. 
 Lansdell, Mrs. W. S.; SO; 4 Wd.; 12-16- 
 
 17; 18. 
 rowers. Mrs. W. M.; 68; 12-31-17; 3. 
 
 1918. 
 
 McCrary, Mrs. Mary Mitrh..ll: 73; 1- 
 22-18; 23.
 
 612 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 ROMANS OF THE OLD SCHOOL AND THE NEW. 
 
 Left to right, Mark B. Eubanks, three views of the late Judge Joel Branham, Geo. Rounsa- 
 ville. Misses Nellie Bass and Frances Graves, Thos. E. Clemmons, the "young hopeful of hire 
 Chief Horace L. Taylor, Dr. Jno. F. Lawrence, City Court Solicitor James Maddox, with A. C. 
 Fincher, mayor of Cave Spring; Judge Jno. P. Davis, Nathan Harris and Judge Harper Hamilton.
 
 Myrtle Hill Cemetery Interments 
 
 613 
 
 Hagin, James; 58; E. Rome, 1-26-18; 
 
 27. 
 Shropshire, Capt. Chas. Freeman; U. S. 
 
 A.; 45; dd. Phila., Pa.; 1-29-18; 1. 
 Morton, E. H.; 52; Floyd Co.; 2-6-18; 9. 
 Stamps, Lt. Lofton H., U. S. A.; res. 
 
 and dd. Lawton, Okla.; burned in 
 
 aeroplane accident; 2-8-18; 11. 
 Lester, Mrs. Bannester S.; 82; 2-15-18; 
 
 16. 
 Webb, James Hugh, U. S. A.; 24; 4 
 
 Wd.; dd. Memphis, Tenn.; aeroplane 
 
 collision; 2-23-18; 27. 
 Stansbury, Mrs. Josephine; 79; 4 Wd. ; 
 
 2-27-18; 1. 
 Fouche, Mrs. Robt. T.; 75; 2 Wd. ; 4- 
 
 14-18; 16. 
 Omberg, Miss Emma; 64; 1 Wd.; 4-16- 
 
 16-18; 17. 
 Omberg, Mrs. Susan; 70; res. Atlanta; 
 
 dd. Pittsburg, Pa.; 4-23-18; 26. 
 Arrington, A. B.; 49; 4-29-18; 30. 
 Trammell, Geo. Lee; 40; N. Rome; 5- 
 
 2-18; 3; (Oakland). 
 Rupee, J. M.; 78; 5 Wd. ; 7-4-18; 5. 
 Cox, Mrs. Ross P.; 46; 5-7-18; 11. 
 Redrean, (Redmond?), John; 26; 5 
 
 Wd. ; motorcycle accident, Cleveland, 
 
 Tenn.; 7-13-18; 15. 
 Bass, Col. Josiah; 80; 5-25-18; 27. 
 Magruder, Geo. H.; 52; 8-14-18; 15. 
 Harbin, D. D.; 70; C. S. A.; 1 Wd.; 
 
 9-17-18; 18; soldiers' lot. 
 Rounsaville, Mrs. Susie; 36; 2 Wd.; 9- 
 
 26-18; 27. 
 Gwaltney, Mrs. Susan; 75; 2 Wd. ; 
 
 10-1-18; 3. 
 Price, Wm. Clyde; 26; U. S. N.; dd. 
 
 of flu, Norfolk, Va.; 10-2-18; 6. 
 Johnson, Raymond; 23; U. S. A.; 4 
 
 Wd.; dd. of flu, Baltimore; 10-1- 
 
 18; 6. 
 Baxter, Mrs. W. H. Hanson; 28; res. 
 
 and dd. Chattanooga; 10-14-18; 16. 
 Wilbey, Philip Sheridan; 29; dd. of flu, 
 
 Minn.; 10-19-18; 24. 
 Griffin, Mrs. Alice Glover; 34; W. 
 
 Rome; 10-24-18; 25; Harper vault. 
 Gwaltney, Miss Mary; 35; E. Rome; 10- 
 
 28-18; 29. 
 Cooley, Mrs. Ella; 80; res. and dd. 
 
 Sugar Valley, Ga.; 10-28-18; 29. 
 Chastain, T. C; 46; E .Rome; dd. An- 
 chor Duck; 10-15-18; 17; (Oak- 
 land). 
 Futrelle, A. W.; 62; 2 Wd.; dd. hos- 
 pital, Atlanta; 11-2-18; 4. 
 Strange, Mrs. W. T.; 47; 11-6-18; 7. 
 Harris, Walter, Jr.; 26; 4 Wd.; 11-9- 
 Terhune, Cornelius; 65; 11-6-18; 8. 
 
 10-18; 11. 
 Judkins, Jas. R.; 33; res. and dd. Chi- 
 cago; 11-20-18; 22. 
 Byars, Mrs. Hardin C; 33; 2 Wd.; 11- 
 
 20-18; 22. 
 
 Coulter, Mrs. Ben; 33; 1 Wd. ; 11-24- 
 
 18; 25. 
 Stillwell, Oliver; 52; 4 Wd.; 11-24-18- 
 
 26. 
 Baumgartner, C; 69; S. Rome; 11- 
 
 26-18; 28. 
 Lumpkin, J. H.; 60; 4 Wd.; 11-28-18. 
 Hallock, Capt. Roy Edgar, U. S. A.; 33; 
 
 res. N. J.; 12-27-18; 31. 
 
 1919. 
 
 West, Mrs. Mary; 55; 3 Wd. 2d Ave.; 
 
 1-7-19; 9. 
 Broach, Mrs. Nancy; 85; res. and dd 
 
 N. Rome; 1-15-19; 17; (Oakland). 
 Byars, C. T.; 26; S. Rome; 1-18-19. 
 DeJournett, J. R.; 75; res. and dd. 
 
 Greenville, Ga.; 1-18-19; 20. 
 May, Wm. J.; 53; res. and dd. B'ham; 
 
 1-28-19; 29. 
 Wilkerson, C. L.; 50; 5th Ave., X. 
 
 Rome; 2-4-19; 6. 
 Arp, J. D.; 55; res. and dd. Floyd Co.; 
 
 2-8-19; 9. 
 Treadaway, Mrs. Sallie; 60; res. N. 
 
 Rome; 2-25-19; 26; (Oakland). 
 DeJournette, Mrs. Jonte Ragan; 28; 
 
 dd. N. Y.; 2-28-19; 2. 
 Allen, Asberry; 78; res. E. Rome; dd. 
 
 Fla.; 3-6-19; 9. 
 McHenry, Col. W. S.; 73; 2d Ave.; 3- 
 
 21-19; 22. 
 Lansdell, Henry S., Jr.; 41; res. and 
 
 dd. Atlanta; 3-26-19; 28. 
 Bowie, James Park; 65; E. Rome; 4- 
 
 6-19; 8. 
 Latimer, Rev. A. H.; 72; res. and dd. 
 
 Savannah; 4-8-19; 11. 
 Chidsey, Lt. Geo. B.; 39; U. S. A.; dd. 
 
 Ft. McPherson; 5-7-19. 
 Adamson, N. E.; 69; 1 Wd.; 6-1G-19; 
 
 18. 
 Angle, J. Y. ; 82; S. Rome; 6-30-19; 1. 
 Mann, Mrs. Mary Frances; 56; 5 Wd.; 
 
 7-4-19; 6. 
 Malone, D. T.; dd. Mo., Julv, 1919. 
 Maddox, Mrs. Jas. W.; 69; 7-21-19; 22. 
 Graves, Mrs. Chas. L; 79; 8-5-19; 7. 
 Archer, Mrs. Fannie Ivey; 61; E. Rome; 
 
 8-7-19; 9. 
 Walker, Mrs. Margaret E.; 67; res. 
 
 and dd. Atlanta; 8-7-19; 9. 
 Hammond. Dr. L. P.; 63; 2 Wd.; dd. 
 
 St. Jos. Hos., Atlanta; 8-24-19; 25. 
 Williamson, Mrs. Theodore H.; 42; res. 
 
 and dd. Los Angeles; 8-12-19; 19. 
 Brvant. Mrs. W. W.; 48; 8-27-19; 28. 
 Simpson. J. E.; 76; 4 Wd.; 9-13-19; 15. 
 McPeak, Mrs. O.; 39; E. Rome; drown- 
 ed; 9-23-19; 26. 
 Lumpkin. Mrs. J. B.; 48; Ave. A. 4 
 
 Wd.; 9-30-19; 1. 
 Panchen. J. S.; 82; res. and dd. At- 
 lanta; 10-1-19; 2. 
 Ledbetter. Ollie G.; 43; 2 Wd. ; 10-8- 
 
 19; 9.
 
 614 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Sharp, Garnett W.; 36; res. and dd. 
 
 Macon; 4-22-19; found dead on cot; 
 
 9-25-19. 
 Moody, Mrs. Ruth Howell; 23; res. 
 
 and dd. Tuscaloosa, Ala.; 10-10- 
 
 19; 11. 
 Glover, Mrs. J. A.; 72; 10-14-19; 15. 
 Shropshire, Mrs. Mary Bell; 76; N, 
 
 Rome; 10-27-19; 28; (Oakland). 
 Morris, J. M.; 61; res. Atlanta; dd. St. 
 
 Joseph Hosp.; 11-3-19; 5. 
 Jamison, Rev. A. C.; 65; res. and dd. 
 
 Atlanta; 11-7-19; 8. 
 Hillyer, Mrs. Elizabeth; 66; E. Rome; 
 
 11-19-19; 21. 
 Foster, Mrs. Lena McDonald; 49; res. 
 
 and dd. Chattanooga; 12-6-19; 9. 
 Lansdell, Hy S.; 73; res. and dd. At- 
 lanta; 12-9-19; 11. 
 Carey, Mrs. James S.; 95; E. 1st St.; 1 
 
 Wd.; 12-13-19; 14. 
 
 1920. 
 
 Beysiegel, Mrs. Will.; 57; 1-3-20; 6. 
 Landrum, L. M.; 70; res. and dd. N. 
 
 Broad St.; 1-26-20; 28. 
 Jones, Mrs. Jno. R.; 39; res. Atlanta; 
 
 dd. Phoenix, Ariz.; 2-1-20; 7. 
 Green, Ben W.; 48; 1 Wd. ; 2-8-20; 10. 
 Wood, Claud C; 31; res. and dd. An- 
 
 niston; 2-15-20; 16. 
 Woodruff, Mrs. Elizabeth; 79; res. and 
 
 dd. B'ham; 2-22-20; 24. 
 Braselton, Dr. B. F.; 65; N. of Rome; 
 
 3-6-20; 8. 
 Stoffregen, Charley; 66; 5 Wd.; 3-7- 
 
 20; 9. 
 Storey, J. L.; 68; Summerville Rd.; 3- 
 
 14-20; 16. 
 Thomas, Dr. J. D.; 77; 3-19-20; 20. 
 Wimpee, Mrs. Delia; 66; 4 Wd.; 3- 
 
 31-20; 1. 
 King, Robt. N.; 43; res. and dd. Phila. 
 
 Gen. Hosp.; 3-27-20; 1. 
 Cothran, Guy S., Sr.; 45; res. Laven- 
 der Mt. ; burned to death in house 
 
 at Subligna; 4-6-20; 8. 
 Shibley, (Shiebley?), C. B.; res. and 
 
 dd. Washington, D. C; 4-9-20; 13. 
 May, Mrs. Lula M.; 50; E. Rome; 4- 
 
 18-20; 20. 
 Mullen, Miss Lula S.; 52; S. Rome; 
 
 May 10-20; 12. 
 Agnew, Mrs. Emma S.; 52; res. At- 
 lanta; 6-14-20; 15. 
 McCloud, (McLeod), Jas. F.; 60; 4 
 
 Wd.; 6-21-20; 22. 
 Given, Hughie C; 87; 3 Wd.; 7-2-20; 4. 
 Reece, Judge Jno. H.; 82; N. Rome; 
 
 7-19-20; 21. 
 Holcomb, John; U. S. A.; 24; dd. Den- 
 ver, Col., hosp.; 8-30-20; 2. 
 Lanham, Rov E.; U. S. A.; dd. France, 
 
 Oct., 1918; 9-24-20. 
 Hidell, Miss Lizzie; 76; 10-16-20; 17. 
 
 Wright, Mrs. Ava Butler; 85; res. and 
 
 dd. Atlanta; 10-4-20; 6. 
 Hargrove, Miss Linnie; 82; 10-15-20; 
 
 16. 
 Washington, Clifford D.; U. S. A.; 24; 
 
 E. Rome; dd. France, 1919; 10-3-20. 
 Lanham, J. Henry; 61; 4 Wd.; 10-23- 
 
 20; 24. 
 Steele, Capt. Jno. N.; U. S. A.; 26; 
 
 killed at Ft. Oglethorpe by horse in 
 
 polo game; 11-14-20; 17. 
 Behrens, Alfred H.; 67; 1 Wd.; 11-16- 
 
 20; 17; (Oakland). 
 Fleetwood, Geo. W.; 82; C. S. A.; Tul- 
 sa, Okla.; 11-17-20; 19. 
 Hagin, J. S.; 55; E. Rome; 12-3-20; 5. 
 Trammell, Mrs. Henry; 70; N. Rome; 
 
 12-23-20; 26; (Oakland). 
 Hine, Henry J.; 55; E. Rome; 12-30- 
 
 20; 31. 
 
 1921. 
 
 Hardin, A. D.; 77; N. Rome; 1-8-21; 
 
 10. 
 Appleton, Mrs. Jessica Branham; 52; 
 res. and dd. Washington, D. C.; 2- 
 1-21; 4. 
 Simmons, W. S.; 68; 2-13-21; 14. 
 Johns, D. B.; 39; res. Berry Schls; 2- 
 
 12-21; 14. 
 Garlington, Mrs. Annie; 68; 1 Wd.; 2- 
 
 25-2; 27. 
 Hughes, Benj. L; 67; 3-18-21; 20. 
 Bowie, Jno. M.; 75; res. and dd. An- 
 
 niston; 3-19-21; 21. 
 Terhune, Mrs. Susie Bowie; 65; 5-23- 
 
 21; 25. 
 Maddox. Mrs. Frank; 32; 6-13-21; 14. 
 Burks, Peter D.; 65; 2 Ave., 1917, ac- 
 cident Southern railway, Ala.; 6- 
 21-21 • 23. 
 Hamilton, David Blount; 61; "Thorn- 
 wood;" 7-7-21; 11. 
 Wyatt, Mrs. Frances R.; 61; 8-5-21; 6. 
 Shanklin, Almeron Walton; 33; Lieut,. 
 U. S. A.; killed October 15, 1918, 
 in Argonne Forest Drive, France; 
 funeral and interment Sept. 2, 1921. 
 Sexton, W. T.; 70; 4 W.; 9-5; 7. 
 Camp, F. B.; 26; U. S. A.; 9-21; 21. 
 Fickling, Mrs. W. H. ; 53; 10-8; 10. 
 Dykes, Mrs. Dr. J. H.; 80; 10-13; 14. 
 Hill, Hiram D.; 79; broke hip in fall; 
 
 10-22; 23. 
 Johnson, Joe; 57; killed, 10-23, in 4 W.; 
 
 25. 
 Attaway, Wm. Jos.; 21; died from bat- 
 tle wounds in France, June, 1918; 
 11-11. 
 Daniel, Wm. LaFayette; 69; E. Rome; 
 
 11-16; 17. 
 Hurt, A. F.; 92; died 11-22 in Gordon 
 
 Co.; 22. 
 Barnes, George, 68; killed by Southern 
 train at Tannery, 12-2; 4.
 
 ■u^^^^:^-^ (?7C^
 
 616 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 ^''Di'AiiiiiLLiiXiA 
 
 
 
 MONEY THAT WILL NEVER COME BACK. 
 
 Confederate Government and state bills in general use during the Civil War, preserved 
 here as a reminder of the South of slavery and plantation days. This money gradually 
 depreciated until at the end of the war a trunkful would just about buy a square meal, if 
 such could be found. Stacks of it are still in the possession of families who have nevei* 
 become reconciled to the new order of things.
 
 Myrtle Hill Cemetery Interments 
 
 617 
 
 Norton, Mrs. Henry C. ; 67; 12-8; 10. 
 Armstrong, John ; 40 ; res. Floyd Co. ; 
 
 died Asheville, N. C; 12-10; 12. 
 McClure, Hunter; 35; U. S. Army; 
 
 died in France, 1918; 12-14. 
 Ross, Walter; 51; 12-18; 20. 
 Hamilton, Henry; 36; died at Annis- 
 
 ton, Ala.; 12-24; 26. 
 Dougherty, Wm.; 72; E. Rome; 12-31; 
 
 Jan. 2. 
 
 1922. 
 
 Clements, Cicero T. ; 80; E. Rome; 
 1-13; 15. 
 
 Morris, S. W.; 65; 1-16; 17. 
 
 Earle, W. Cull; 45; E. Rome; 1-17; 18. 
 
 Pendley, John; 26; died at Lindale 
 1-21; 22. 
 
 Stokes, J. B.; 32; dd. at Anchor Duck 
 Mill; 1-21; 22. 
 
 Battev, Mrs. Robert; 91; dd. Sunday, 
 Feb. 5, at 400 First Ave.; 6, Bat- 
 tey vault. 
 
 Clements, P. P.; 75; 2-6; 6, in Oak- 
 land cemetery. 
 
 Morton, H. D.; 31; dd. 3-2, in Shreve- 
 port. La.; 5. 
 
 Sanders, Mrs. D. B.; 67; dd. at Birm- 
 ingham, Ala.; 3-24; 26. 
 
 Dempsey, L. A.; 54; 3-30; Apr. 1. 
 
 Bower, Jno. A.; 72; E. Rome; 4-8; 10. 
 
 Hughes, Roy; 38; dd. 4-8 in Fla.; 10. 
 
 *Omberg, Miss Julia; 80; 4-18; 20. 
 
 Penn, J. C; 58; 4-26; 27. 
 
 Burnes, Hugh; 30; dd. 5-4 as result of 
 shell shock as soldier in France; 5. 
 
 Parks, Mrs. Hugh B.; 65; E. Rome; 
 5-13; 14. 
 
 Reece, J. Walter; 69; 4 W.; 5-10; 11. 
 
 Jones, J. Walter; 30; killed by electric 
 shock; 5-15. 
 
 Hawkins, Weldon W.; 42; E. Rome; 
 5-18; 19. 
 
 Quinn, Mrs. F. E.; 62; 5-22; 24. 
 
 Wright, Jule; 35; dd. 5-25 in Okla.; 
 28 
 
 Hall, Mrs. F. N.; 36; 5-28; 30. 
 
 Collier, Mrs. J. A.; 82; Floyd Co.; 
 6-5; 6. 
 
 McLain, Dan; 65; dd. 6-5, in Atlanta; 7. 
 
 Slaton, G. A.; 70; 6-9; 11. 
 
 Branham, Judge Joel; 87; dd. 6-16 at 
 101 2d Ave.; 18. 
 
 Frasier, Miss Florence; 18; 4 W.; 6-24; 
 25. 
 
 Stribling, Miss Catherine; 51; Nash- 
 ville, Tenn.; dd. Rome; 7-4; 5. 
 
 Cothran, Mrs. H. D.; 83; dd. Wash- 
 ington, D. C; 7-5; 8. 
 
 Glover, Capt. J. A.; 74; 4 W.; 7-7; 9. 
 
 Colclough, Mrs. S. F.; 85; dd. 7-12, at 
 Carrollton; 13. 
 
 **Wright, Adaline Allman; 94; dd. 
 Mentone, Ala.; 7-24; 25. 
 
 Cherry, Lemuel; 12; 4 W.; drowned 
 8-10 in Horseleg lake; 12; Oak- 
 land. 
 
 McHenrv, Mrs. W. S.; 70; died 8-18 in 
 S. Ga.; 20. 
 
 Dunn, W. M.; 74; 9-1; 3. 
 
 Bradford, Mrs. Mary A.; 88; 9-2; 3. 
 
 *Miss Ombci-K was the first subject of the so- 
 called Battey operation, performed at her cot- 
 tage homo, 015 W. First St., Aug. 27, 1S72. 
 She (lied of organic heart trouble. 
 
 **At the time of her death, Mrs. Wright 
 was probably the oldest white i)erson in Rome. 
 
 MYRTLE HILL ADDENDA. 
 
 Little of the following information appears elsewhere herein. The data was 
 taken from headstones and slabs because it could not be obtained from the sex- 
 ton's records. 
 
 The Axson lot: 
 
 Jane M. Stevens, born in Liberty County, Ga., Oct. 31, 1814; died March 15, 
 1897. 
 
 Janie. wife of Rev. Sam'l. Edward Axson, born Sept. 8, 1838; died at Rome, 
 Nov. 4, 1881. "Asleep in Jesus." 
 
 Rev. Samuel Edward Axson, who departed this life May 28, 1884. aged 47 
 years, 5 mos. For 17 years pastor of the Rome Presbyterian church. "While yet l^ 
 the noonday of life, in the heat of a well-fought fight, the Master called lum to 
 his exceeding great reward." 
 
 "Sacred to the memory of Ellen Louise Axson, born 15 May, 1860 at Savan- 
 nah, Ga., died 6 Aug., 1914, at Washington, D. C. 
 
 " 'A traveler between life and death 
 The rea.son firm, the temperate will. 
 Endurance, foresight, strength and skill 
 A perfect woman, nobly planned. 
 To warn, to comfort and command; 
 And yet, a spirit still and bright. 
 With" something of angelic light.'"
 
 618 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 FLOYD COUNTY HOMES AND BURIAL GROUNDS. 
 
 At top, the Philip Walker Hemphill lot at DeSoto Park, containing the first wife and 
 two children of one of the founders of Rome; the James Hemphill-Jones-Jolly home on the 
 Cave Spring road, near which in a private lot lie the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Mont- 
 gomery; the Wm. S. Gibbons (Jos. Ford) home, also in Vann's valley, built by Jos. Ford, 
 who lies buried in the 50-loot square lot seen at the bottom. 
 
 Dr. Homer Virgil Milton Miller; born Apr. 29, 1814; died May 31, 1896. "A 
 Christian who faithfully served his God, a physician who loved his fellow man, 
 a soldier and a senator from Georgia. He never did anything that caused a citizen 
 of Georgia to put on mourning. Adsum." 
 
 Rachel Cheri Miller, wife of Gen. Andrew Miller; died Aug. 15, 1841, aged 58. 
 
 Sarah Joyce Alexander; died Mar. 6, 1895. "She stretcheth out her hand to 
 the poor, yes, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy." 
 
 1892 
 
 Our mother: Sarah, wife of Henry J. Dick; born May 2, 1820; died Jan. 17,
 
 ^ 
 
 ^O-^^t:-/ 
 
 J^ 
 ^"-<
 
 620 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Henrv J. Dick; born Mar. 27, 1814; died July 22, 1866. 
 Hal B. Dick; born Mar. 17, 1853; died Sept. 24, 1894. 
 Benj. A. Dick; born Nov. 26, 1844; died Sept. 30, 1868. 
 
 Cunningham M. Pennington; died Aug. 23, 1885, aged 73. His wife, Elizabeth 
 Freeman; died Jan. 5, 1873, aged 58. 
 
 Jno. Temple Graves lot: Grandmother, Lucretia Calhoun, wife of Dr. H. H. 
 Townes, later of Dr. DeGraffenried; died 1881. Favorite niece of Jno. C. Calhoun. 
 A noble woman of the old regime." 
 
 Our mother: Mrs. Sabrey Hemphill; born Apr. 21, 1772; died May 12, 1872, 
 100 years and 21 days. 
 
 Dr. J. H. Nowlin; born Oct. 20, 1822; died May 15, 1871. 
 
 Mary A. Choice; born Mar. 6, 1809; died Oct. 26, 1870. 
 
 Samuel Gibbons; born in the Valley of Virginia, June 17, 1806; died Aug. 
 27, 1870. 
 
 Susan Farrar Shelton; born June 12, 1809, at Charlottesville, Va.; died Mar. 
 28, 1869. 
 
 Fleming Rice; born Mar. 5, 1802; died Apr. 24, 1873, and wife, M. E. A. Ar- 
 rington; born Apr. 21, 1817; died Jan. 26, 1865. 
 
 Sarah R., daughter of W. B. and Elizabeth A. Lowery; born July 30, 1851; 
 died Feb. 26, 1856. 
 
 Marina, wife of Thos. Pollard; born Apr. 6, 1800; died Apr. 6, 1858. (This 
 was one of the first burials in Myrtle Hill). 
 
 Jordan Reese; born June 20, 1842; died at Culpepper, Va., Aug. 18, 1861, 
 from wounds received Apr. 21, 1861, at the First Battle of Manassas. 
 
 Louisa Reese, wife of Dr. Jordan Reese; died May 13, 1864, aged 55. 
 
 Dr. Jordan Reese; died May 10, 1849, aged 50. 
 
 G. B. T. Moore; born Nov. 1, 1833 in Greenville District, S. C; died Mar. 29, 
 1861; M. H. Reese; born June 3, 1831; died May 19, 1863, at Rome. 
 
 Dr. James R. Smith; born Mar. 3, 1824; died July 3, 1857. (Two infant sons 
 are buried in the Smith lot). (One of first interments). 
 
 Asahel R. Smith; born Aug. 20, 1774; died June 25, 1875. (Father of Maj. 
 Chas. H. Smith, "Bill Arp"). 
 
 Bayard E. Hand, Lt. U. S. Navy; born Mar. 25, 1830, at Darien, Ga.; died 
 July 16, 1885 Wilmington, N. C. "The anchor of his soul was faith in Christ." 
 
 Mary A. Jones, wife of B. F. Jones; died Dec. 13, 1862. "For so He giveth 
 his beloved sleep." 
 
 Rev. Jas. F. Swanson ; born Jan. 27, 1825; died Oct. 28, 1869. 
 Lt. Col. Armistead Richardson Harper, 1 Ga. cavalry, C. S. A.; born Mar. 
 4, 1835; died Oct. 28, 1863. of wounds received in battle. 
 
 Roena Harper; born Nov. 17, 1870; died Sept. 27, 1894. 
 
 Mary J. A. Selkirk, relict of James McGlashan, of Edinburgh, Scotland; 
 died Dec. 31, 1870, aged 79. 
 
 Alexander McDonald; born Apr. 13, 1797, in Mcintosh County, Ga.; died 
 at Rome, Oct. 6, 1879, aged 82; Martha Morton, wife of J. C. McDonald; born 
 May 5, 1840. in Athens, Ga.; died at Rome Apr. 1, 1880, aged 40. 
 
 J. R. Stevens; born March 22, 1822; died Feb. 11, 1871. 
 
 Thos. McCulloch, a native of Scotland, late secretary of the Cornwall (Ala.)
 
 Myrtle Hill Cemetery Interments 
 
 621 
 
 WAP OF 
 
 FLOYD 
 
 SCALE 9 
 N 
 
 > COUNTY M 
 
 MILES TO ONE INCH /; ij{] ^ 
 
 /?; ; o 
 
 .. OlIVERETT 
 /// ": I SPOS 
 
 h-TLT 
 
 OCAVC SPCS., 
 
 PO UK COUNTY 
 
 Langdon Bowie; born Aug. 27, 1800; died July 27, 1870. 
 Iron Works; died July 22, 1880; aged G9. 
 
 Elizabeth Yarborough, wife of Wm. Davis; born Feb. 27, 1795; died July 
 30, 1869. 
 
 America Addaline, wife of Daniel Walker; died J:in. 24, 1871, at 24. 
 John Robinson; born Jan. 8. 1808; died Feb. 3, 18G8; aged GO. 
 Annie E. Wright, only daughter of G. H. and A. Gardner; born Dec. 14, 
 1850; died Sept. 13, 1878. 
 
 On the topmost peak of Myrtle Hill Cemetery, looking to the west, is the 
 heroic marble monument to the* heroes of the Confdracy. On a large pedestal 
 stands a Confederate soldier at parade rest, facing the west. Inscriptions say: 
 
 "This monument is the testimony of the present to the future that these were 
 they who kept the faith given them by the fathers. Be it known by this token that 
 these men were true to the traditions of their country's call; steadfast in their 
 duty, faithful even in despair, and illustrated in the unflinching heroism of their 
 deaths, the free-born courage of their lives." 
 
 "They have crossed the river and sleep beneath the shade." 
 
 "How well they served the faith their people know. A thousand battlefields 
 attest, dungeon and hospital bear witness. To their sons they left but honor and
 
 622 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 their country. Let this stone forever warn those who keep these valleys that only 
 their sires are dead — the principles for which they fought can never die." 
 
 "The Confederate States of America, 22 Feb., 1862. Deo Vindice. Erected by 
 the Women of Rome to the memory of the soldiers of Floyd County, Ga., who 
 died in defense of the Confederate States of America, 1861-65." 
 
 CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS' SECTION. 
 
 In the part of Myrtle Hill Cemetery reserved for the deceased of the Civil 
 War are 377 graves, this number includes 81 Confederate unknown and two un- 
 known of the Federal Army. These Boys in Gray died at or near Rome; most of 
 them succumbed to wounds or disease in Rome hospitals, while some were killed 
 in defending Rome against Sherman's army in May, 1864, and in skirmishes 
 before and after that date. The dead soldiers sleep with their heads pointed 
 toward the beautiful Coosa Valley and their feet pointed northeastward toward 
 Rome. Over the graves of the departed are simple headstone slabs of gray marble 
 about 20 inches high. 
 
 In the list are many honored names from the Southern States. Included is one 
 Spanish-American War veteran— E. L. Ellis, of Co. D, 3rd Ga., U. S. Volunteers. 
 
 The first abbreviation refers to the company to which the soldier belonged; 
 the second and third refer to his regiment and state: 
 
 J. W. Grizzard, K-8 S. C; Fred Wayland, 7 Ala.; Capt. A. C. Wells, F-51 Ga.; 
 
 J. Batson, G-27 Miss.; — Burney, ; Captain W. H. Lawrence, 8 Ala. cavalry; 
 
 Melvin, ; J. W. Corprew, I-l Tex. Legion, Ross' Brigade; S. F. Mapp, 
 
 A-28 Miss, cavalry; J. P. Z. Bragg, F-8 Miss.; Lt. R. W. Echols, Floyd Infantry, 
 8-Ga.; Quillian V. Hayes, B-23 Ga.; (died July 14, 1918). 
 
 J. F. Kelley, D-20 Ga. (died Jan. 17, 1909; 65 years of age) ; J. R. Slaughter, 
 E-3 Ark.; J. J. Morrison, ; J. C. M., G-43 Ga.; Jasper Corbet, G-4 Ga. cav- 
 alry; Albert Lewis, A-8 Miss.; M. Cornelius, E-28 Ala.; H. H. Albritton, B-5 Miss. 
 
 cavalrv; G. W. Woodward, D-5 Miss, cavalry; M. McGilvray, ; M. Rait, 
 
 E-36 Ala.; Geo. Rose, C-6 Tex.; R. T. Bonter, E-18 N. C. 
 
 A. F. Mauks, 54 Va.; T. Tucker, K-21 Tenn.; A. H. Bradshaw, C-38 Tenn. ; 
 J. A. Estill, D-9 Kv.; J. T. Jowers, F-46 Ga.; J. L. Turner, D-1 Ky. ; Jno. Phipps, 
 D-21 Miss.; Robt. Miller, 27 Ga.; A. McCrow. 63 Va.; W. G. Austin, C-19 La.; 
 W. Sanders, A-63 Tenn.; J. L. Henderson, F-3 Ga.; J. Phillips, K-47 Ga.; J. H. 
 Bray. 44 Tenn.; J. P. Nowland, 4 La. battery; O. Miller, E-36 Ala.; N. A. Basshaw, 
 1-54 Va.; J. W. Pratt, D-54 Va.; J. Temple, G-50 Ga. 
 
 J. C. Sheppard, 33 Ala.; Jno. Glohasey, C-11 Tenn.; C. D. Coleman, A-54 Ala.; 
 W. Griffin, 44 Miss.; E. G. Denton. 25 La.; W. H. Wiley, K-51 Tenn.; J. W. Lee, 
 E-26 Ga.; N. Morris, 56 Ga.; J. C. Brown, B Fla.; J. Durrett, F-15 Ala.; D. R. 
 Malo, F-8 Tenn.; W. G. Stone, F-45 Miss.; J. Ester, G-50 Ala.; A. S. Wilson, D-19 
 Ala.; J. W. Wells, D-1 Ala. cavalry; P. B. Bird, D-36 Ala.; J. Murray, D-3 Ark. 
 
 M. Williams, 54 Va.; James Gregg ; Isaac Moss, D-24 Miss.; W. Keelan, 
 
 1-26 Tenn.; W. D. Bayne, D-9 Ga.; J. R. Thweatt, K-17 Miss.; Jno. West, A. 
 Hampton's Legion; J. Fulmer, C-25 Ala.; F. Noel, F-3 Tenn.; G. W. Beach, C-19 
 Tenn.; J. Bartlett, K-28 Tenn.; G. B. Andrews. H-16 Ala.; A. Wyatt Prior, K-18 
 Tex.; Chas. Moster, F-65 Ga.; J. S. Losey, F-33 Ala. 
 
 Chas. Foster. F-65 Ga.; J. G. Balev, Ga. State troops; J. R. Daniel, E-26 
 Tenn.; J. J. Groome, E-59 Ala.; E. L. McLendon, C-36 Ala.; J. O. Hunter, Pharis' 
 Engineers; J. L. Barksdale, B-41 Miss.; J. Meadows, Saf ton's regiment; J. Cow- 
 
 erel, B Tenn.; Phillips, Va.; W. C. Sparkman, 5-32 Tenn.; S. Crevison, 
 
 Cobb's Ga. battery; J. M. Hill, D-58 Ala.; Sgt. Curry, ; R. B. Greer, F-16 
 
 S. C; E. C. Murdoch, E-10 Tenn. 
 
 Wm. Arrowsmith, B-32 Tenn.; Jas. H. Meneose, Cynthiana, Ky.; J. S. Cashan, 
 A. Henderson's regiment; D. Davis, A-8 Tenn.; M. Mahan, C-10 Tenn.; A. S. 
 Parker, H. Henderson's regiment; P. Wright, E-1 Ark.; H. Rains, D Tenn.; W. H. 
 Purdue, C-2 Tenn.; Wm. Lard, A-4 battalion; N. O. E. Stone, A-10 Miss.; T. Jor- 
 dan, H-8 Miss.; Rev. E. N. Poland, (member Ga. Conference, Methodist church), 
 46 Ga.; J. Davenport, C-8 Tenn.; J. M. Heard, 13 La. sharpshooters; T, Tallison, 
 E-16 S. C. 
 
 J. Arly, A-29 Miss.; D. Murdock, F-41 Ga.; J. Floyd, E-16 S. C; R. W. Rog- 
 ers, C-19 Ala.; W. E. Yort, D-30 Miss.; J. H. Adaway, H-14 Ark.; J. G. Cowan, 
 G-18 Ala.; J. R. Hunt, H-41 Mss.; A. J. Harwell, H-3*2 Tenn.; Wm. Knight, B-29 
 La.; A. Babbet, G-8 Confederate cavalry; A. Scroggins, D-18 Ala.; S. Tilton, 4—;
 
 Myrtle Hill Cemetery Interments 
 
 623 
 
 FOUR VIEWS IN MYRTLE HILL CEMETERY 
 
 Rome from the hill top. with the Battey vault in the foreground; tomb of Bcnj C. Yan«y. 
 United States Minister to Argentine; grave of Mrs. Woodrow Wilson <"«-«-„EIIcn Lou Ax»on). 
 with headstone selected by the President; resting places of some 300 Confederate soldiers 
 who died or were killed at Rome.
 
 624 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 H. J. Middleton. D-1 — : C. Bruce, South Carolina; J. H. McKnight, G-10 Tex.: 
 S. O. Young, C-24 S. C. s , , 
 
 S. L. Ambrose, 10 Ky.; J. Gileas, A-Ala.; E. Herran, F-24 S. C; N. A. Ran- 
 kin, A-24 Tex.; Wiggins; David Phillips, E-58 N. C; J. C. Day, E-6 Tenn.; 
 
 Col. Jno. R. Hart, 6 Ga. cavalry, died Aug. 6, 1886 (shaft erected by comrades and 
 friends) ; J. Phillips, H-19 Ala.; J. R. Coulder, A-4 Ark.; J. M. Haynie, C-6 Tenn,; 
 Wm. Bolton, . 
 
 W. M. Davis, F-28 Ala.; E. F. Gordon, 1-24 Miss.; E. S. Godard, 33 Tenn.; E. 
 Horn, B-9 S. C; B. Bradwell, A-30 Miss.; S. L. Jones, A-31 Miss.; W. S. Bil- 
 lingslen, D-28 Tenn.; R. G. Omen, C-31 Ark.; Jno. Wilson, 29 N. C. ; R. E. Davis, 
 A-26 Miss.; Jos. P. Brown, D. Murray's battery; Sgt. Jas. A. Currie, B-9 Tenn; 
 
 Langford, K-10 Miss.; B. F. Tubb, K-27 Miss.; D. Browman. F-29 Tenn.; 
 
 J. W. Queen, ; , K-46 Miss.; M. Camp, G-25 Ala.; Jno. Stone, F-19 S. C. 
 
 S. Caldwell, D-28 Ala.; D. Caffman, C-39 N. C; J. D. Smith, 39 Ala.; A. Sur- 
 rat, 4 Tenn.; Chris Jones, 1-9 Ky.; H. B. Melton, E-24 Ala.; J. N. Seyler, A-30 
 
 Miss.; A. D. Parker, D-3 Ala.; Wm. Carter,E-26 Ala.; J. J. G. ; M. S. Dodd, 
 
 G-22 Ala.; S. F. Graham, H-27 Miss.; A. J. Jones, D-39 N. C; Jno. Privatt, A-44 
 Tenn.; J. L. Shepard, F-10 Tex.; W. R. G., Ark. cavalry; A. Reynolds, H-34 Miss. 
 
 A. B. Lane, D-27 Miss.; W. H. Graves, 10 Tex.; H. C. B., A-26 Ala.; H. A. 
 Cagle, B-34 Ala.; F. M. Bailey, G-25 Ala.; W B. Goodwin, 79 Miss.; R. Elliott, 
 Eufaula battery; R. H. Bayne, 1-29 Miss.; D. Jackson, E-28 Ala.; M. Diton, C-28 
 Ala.; James Raney, F-10 Tex.; S. R. Allen, E-39 Ala.; Jno. Coffee, C-26 Ala.; 
 S. B. Nelson, A-19 Ala.; S. M. Bennett, H-28 Ala.; J. P. Coins, 25 Miss.; R. C. 
 Hayes (born May 14, 1842, died Dec. 8, 1916), E-1 Ga. battalion; W. M. Kelly, 
 (born Aug. 1, 1835, died Nov. 13. 1909; four years in army); J. W. Goodwin,, 
 B-26 Ala. 
 
 P. Wnrseburn, B-Am. Ga. Vols.; J. C. Paris, E-23 Miss.; Albert Jones, 1-23 
 Miss.; J. A. Stafford, A-30 Miss.; A. M. Dunn, K-30 Miss.; J, Randolph, B-25 
 Ark.; R. J. Childs, B-26 Miss.; Jno. Hyatt, A. Rope's battery; W. Williams, C-5 
 Ark.; J. Walton, 27 Miss.; P. A. Vinson, 45 Ala.; J. M. Gray, B-4 — ; W. Denton, 
 C-41 Miss.; J. Dickey, H-28 Ala.; R. L. S., — ; W. N. McAruilty, E-19 Tex,; 
 Jno, Hill, B-29 Miss. 
 
 N. H. Sanders, B-39 N. C; E. Smith, H-15 Ark.; C. Buckner, E-31 Ala.; S, C. 
 Smith, C-30 Miss.; Jno. Till, H-15 Tex. cavalry; J, W. Armes, G-23 Miss.; J, T, 
 McCarthy, — ; Ed Riley. H Ala.; L. Poe, D-34 Miss.; F. M. Thornton, E-8 Tenn.; 
 Lt. J. M. Sumner, B-28 Tenn.; Capt. Jno. N. Perkins, Rome, Ga., (born Dec. 2, 
 1822, died Feb. 15, 1896; a gallant soldier and a brave man, 
 
 R, T. McGaskill, L-13 Tenn.; J. E. Hicks, K-37 Miss.; J. T. Wilbanks, K-10 
 Miss,; J. A, Reeves, C-4 Tenn.; W. N. Holt, E-26 Ala.; M. McAuley, D-34 Miss.; 
 F. M. Robinson. B-4 Ark.; F. M. Mayhew, 41 Miss.; R. E. Bennett, 2 Ark.; E. L, 
 Ellis, D-3 Ga., U, S. Vols., Spanish-American war (died Sept, 3, 1898) ; W, G. H. 
 Howard, E-1 Mo,; W, J. Smith, G-19 Ala.; Jno, Mull, B-31 Ark,; J, D, Pullen, 
 D-3 — ; P. R. Shipley, H-37 Miss,; J. C, Betterton, H-27 Miss, 
 
 C. Bernard, G-30 Miss.; O. R. Brown, A-47 Tenn.; M. V. Warren, H-8 Miss,; 
 Unknown, 28 Ala.; E. Hyatt. C-22 Ala.; Reuben Riggs, 31 Ark.; W. J. Steele, G-39 
 
 N, C; Cornelius, B-28 Ala.; W. T. Mitchell, F-24 Miss.; B. O, Tidwell, 
 
 K-11 Tenn.; S, M, McDonald, F-7 Miss; Wieb, C-28 Al:i,; Mr, King, A-25 
 
 Ala,; J. C, Greenway, D-22 Ala,; W. R. Harowick, B-19 S, C; W. S. Dellis, H-38 
 Tenn, 
 
 J. H, Young, A-25 Ala.; E. G. Lester, A-28 Ala.; S. W. Masters, 1-24 Ala.; 
 J. P. Vaughn, D-25 Ala.; J. C. Thehoine. C-37 Miss.; J. D. Hill, G-26 Ala; J. 
 Smith, K-29 Tenn.; Jno. McGhor, E-9 Ala.; Josiah Griffin, — battery, — ; D. Mc- 
 Junkin, F-19 Tenn.; J, M, Mitchell, 26 Ala.; O. W. Martin, Eufaula battery; A, 
 Vaughn, B-33 Ala,; C. C, Hall, E-26 Ala.; D. Page, A-25 Ala,; R. E, Howard, 
 C-45 Ala.; W, J, Burden, D-9 Ga.; W. M. Hill, — ; J, H, Woolbright, E-41 Miss,; 
 J. R, Giles, H-10 S, C, 
 
 C. M, , G-43 Ga.; J, Rachel. 3 Ga. battalion; D, W, Lane, F-34 Miss,; 
 
 E. Glamron, Walters' battery; J. M. Breckenridge, H-41 Miss,; S. T. Warthen, C-4 
 Ala.; B. F. Suttle, 6 Ky.; H. Pearce, 34 Ala,; L J, Valentine, 1-39 Ala.; J. W. 
 Kmgrel, Biggs' cavalry company; I. Faulkner, C-2 Ark.; H, M, Coffee. K-39 
 N. C; F, M. McAllister, C-18 Ala.; T, H. Lansdell, A-24 Miss.; W, A, Aikin, 19 
 «J^V,'l- ^- Jamison, E-10 Miss.; E. Moore, K-38 Tenn.; S Travis, H-27 Miss; J. 
 W. McLowan, H-27 Miss.; E. Hyatt, C-22 Ala,
 
 Other Cemetery Occupants
 
 626 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 MYRTLE HILL SEXTONS. 
 
 No record is available of the early sextons, from 1857, when Myrtle Hill was 
 opened, through 1873. The following others have served: 
 
 1874-1885, Jas. E. Mullen; 1885-7, W. Mayfield Neal; 1887-92, Jas. E. Mullen; 
 1892-97, Peter David Roser; 1897, Fred S. House (ad interim); 1897-1906, C. L. 
 King; 1906-12, Alvin D. Hardin; 1912-22, C. L. King (now serving). 
 
 THE PHILIP W. HEMPHILL GRAVEYARD. 
 This mortal sanctuary reposes in a grove of oaks and hickories on the top 
 of the hill between DeSoto (Mobley) Park lake and the street car line, about 100 
 yards west of the old home of Philip Walker Hemphill, and contains the sacred 
 dust of the following: 
 
 Elizabeth Cunningham Hemphill, 
 first wife of Philip W. Hemphill, died 
 Apr. 9, 1844; aged 34 years and 24 
 days. Two daughters, Margaret Jane 
 Hemphill, who died July 3, 1837; aged 
 3 years, 3 months, 14 days, and Nancy 
 whose slab contains the date 1841 but 
 is otherwise indistinct. Mrs. Hemp- 
 hill's slab states that she was for six- 
 teen years a member of the Presbyte- 
 
 rian church. James M. Cunningham, 
 born Jan. 26, 1821, died Oct. 22, 1851. 
 These graves are boxed over, with 
 flat slabs on top. Fifteen feet north- 
 west of the four are headstone and 
 footstone marking the grave of a 
 daughter of Samuel and Mary G. Mob- 
 ley; time and weather have erased the 
 first name and the dates of birth and 
 death. 
 
 THE JOHN HUME CEMETERY. 
 This private burial ground was established by John Hume, the pioneer, on 
 his country estate, "Tantatanara'' ("Running Waters") on the Southern railway 
 two miles north of North Rome and about two miles east of the Oostanaula 
 river. It is 1,500 feet northwest of the old home. In this lonely spot, nurtured 
 by the gentle breezes and the glamour of the long ago, sleep the following in 
 peace everlasting: 
 
 John Hume, senior, born Charles- 
 ton, S. C, Feb. 8, 1798, died Rome, Ga., 
 Oct. 19, 1872. 
 
 Ann Mazyck, wife of John Hume, 
 born July 10, 1818, died May 14, 1881. 
 John Hume, Jr., born June 24, 1834, 
 died May 11, 1888. 
 
 Ariana S., wife of John Hume, Jr., 
 born Apr. 6, 1830, died Dec. 6, 1878. 
 
 Anne W. Hume, born Dec. 18, 1831, 
 died Feb. 13, 1884. 
 
 Eliza Simons, born July 29, 1834, 
 died Feb. 4, 1858. 
 
 Isaac Wilson Hume, born May 3, 
 1836, died July 11, 1880. 
 
 Chas. C. Hume, born Oct. 30, 1867. 
 died July 24, 1876. 
 
 Leila Ada Hume, born May 6, 1858, 
 died 16th; (year and month not given). 
 
 James O'Hear Hume, born Apr. 5, 
 1851, died June 30, 1852. 
 
 Harriet W. Hume, born July 15, 
 1860, died May 1, 1862. 
 
 John H. Hume, born June 24, 1870, 
 died July 9, 1876. 
 
 Twelve Humes are buried there, and 
 the only others are two or three of 
 , „ the children of Jim Berry, who used 
 
 THE HUME CEMETERY. North Rome, on ,^ ,. ,^ „„„,.V.,r TX^^ Vi^^Ur nV.UAi'o-n'is 
 
 land which was once the home of Jno. ^o live nearby. The Berry children s 
 
 Ridge and the pow-wow site of the Cherokees. graves are not marked.
 
 Other Cemetery Occupants 
 
 627 
 
 BEAUTIFUL SUBJECTS IN BEAUTIFUL SETTINGS 
 
 Graduation procession of Shorter College, "Maplchiirst." 1919, at top. The seniors are 
 accompanied by the sophomores bearing daisy chain, and the sophomores followed by the 
 juniors. In the central picture Miss Sarah Glover. '22. drives the prizc-winnmg Shorter float 
 
 ace 
 
 junio 
 
 in the Home-coming parade, Oct. 13, 1921 
 
 At the bottom i» the prize float of 1920.
 
 6 28 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Judge William H. Underwood, father 
 of Judge Jno. W. H. Underwood, and 
 an important figure in the removal of 
 the Cherokee Indians west, sleeps in 
 an unmarked grave. 
 
 Dr. George Magruder Battey's grave 
 was once surmounted by a flat, vine- 
 covered slab which contained the single 
 word "Georg-e," laced there by his 
 wife, Emily Verdery Battey, a native 
 of Augusta. It has been lost with num- 
 erous others. Dr. Battey was born in 
 1826 at Augusta, and died in 1856 at 
 Rome; aged 30. 
 
 Other graves: 
 
 John Henry Lumpkin, born June 13, 
 1812, died July 10, 1860. The shaft to 
 Judge Lumpkin is of white marble, 
 about 12 feet high, and is the largest in 
 
 OCCUPANTS OF THE OLD SEVENTH AVENUE CEMETERY. 
 
 Note: The cemetery that usually goes by the above title was known to some 
 as "Oak Hill." The first burials appears to have been those of James McEntee 
 and Mrs. Rebecca Mann, in 1837, and the last of Thos. Jefferson Helm, in 1904. 
 The place was generally abandoned in 1857, when Myrtle Hill Cemetery was 
 opened up by the city, and since then all but perhaps 100 of the deceased have 
 been removed to the new burial place. Its location is on Seventh Avenue, three 
 blocks north of the City Auditorium, overlooking the Oostanaula river and within 
 sight of the home of Major Ridge. Notes are appended below in the hope that 
 the preservation of these fragments of the past will constitute a service and an 
 inspiration to future generations. 
 
 the cemetery. On it are Masonic sym- 
 bols. He was once a member of Con- 
 gress. 
 
 Dr. John Noble's grave is covered 
 with a raised slab of gray stone and on 
 it is the inscription "Generous and just, 
 He lived and died without an enemy." 
 Dr. Noble died November 16, 1848, at 
 the age of 24. He was a brother of the 
 second wife of Weems Berrien, father 
 of Miss Frances Berrien, of Rome, half- 
 brother of McPherson Berrien, of Sa- 
 vannah, whose only daughter, Lou, 
 married Francis S. Bartow, colonel of 
 the 8th Georgia Regiment of the Con- 
 federacy. 
 
 Robert Ligon, born Feb. 26, 1812 
 died Oct. 23, 1841. 
 
 Esther Ligon, born Dec. 2, 1775 
 died June 10, 1859. Ancestors of Miss 
 Lilly Mitchell, of Rome, Mrs. Wm 
 Worth Martin, of Atlanta, and Mrs 
 Geo. Turrentine, of Rome. The Berrien 
 children are buried in the lot. 
 
 Mary Elizabeth Reeves, born Dec. 
 12, 1826; died Oct. 23, 1847, only child 
 of Absalom E. and Eliza Hall Reeves. 
 
 Eliza Hall Reeves, born July 6, 1803, 
 died June 20. 1892. Mrs. Reeves taught 
 private school on or near Eighth Ave- 
 nue near cotton factory and W. & A. 
 R. R. Taught Judge John C. Printup 
 and many others. She and her husband 
 kept the old Exchange Hotel for a time 
 and the old Choice House, where the 
 Hotel Forrest now stands. 
 
 Jas. H. McEntee, died May 5, 1837, 
 aged 4 years, 3 months, 28 days. This 
 lad was probably son of Jim McEntee, 
 who kept a store and boarding house 
 on the north side of Broad street where 
 the Martha Berry hospital was later lo- 
 cated. The boy was playing near the 
 house while workmen were putting up 
 lumber, and a piece fell and killed him. 
 A granddaughter of Jim McEntee was 
 the late Mrs. J. Aiken (Rosalind 
 Burns) Gammon. The only daughter 
 of the McEntees was Mary Jane, who 
 married John T. Burns of South Caro- 
 lina, the father of Rosalind Gammon. 
 THE JNO H. LUMPKIN SHAFT in the m^. McEntee was an Irishman and his 
 
 old cemetery, beneath which sleeps a jurist ., , ,.« , » i_ n 
 
 and Congressman. Wife a beautiful woman of great renne-
 
 Other Cemetery Occupants 
 
 629 
 
 ment. Martha Baldwin Smith, living on 
 the Alabama Road opposite the Shorter 
 College lot, used to spend nights at the 
 McEntee's when it was too late to re- 
 turn home from school, and Mr. McEn- 
 tee would bounce her and Mary Jane 
 on his knee. Mr. McEntee in "his de- 
 clining years lived on a farm on the 
 Etowah River near the W. & A. R. R.. 
 where his daughter Avas wooed and won 
 by J. Aiken Gammon. 
 
 Henry Montague Burns, son of Wil- 
 liam O. and Mary J. Burns; born June 
 1853. Died 
 
 Mrs. Mary Amanda Wood, died Aug. 
 2, 1856; 29 years old. 
 
 Jacob B. Slavey (of Seavev). born 
 April 12, 1817, died Jan. 19, 1852. 
 
 Solomon Stanberry, born Mar. 7, 
 1826, died Feb. 24, 1856. 
 
 Mrs. Eliza T. Mobley, died Jan. 31, 
 1857 (?) at 38 years. A Mobley in- 
 fant rests nearby. 
 
 Two sisters lie side by side. Sallie 
 R. Freeman died June 27, 1878 at 20, 
 and Mary Joe Freeman Oct. 30, 1876, at 
 11 years. "So through the clouds their 
 spirits passed into that pure and un- 
 known world of love where suffering 
 cannot come." 
 
 Mary T. Freeman, born Dec. 16, 
 1830; died Sept. 23, 1900. 
 
 John R. Freeman, born Apr. 12, 1821, 
 died June 7, 1896. 
 
 Dennis Parke Hills, born Jan. 20, 
 1818, died Mar. 15, 1856, and Jonah C, 
 1 vear old. 
 
 Henry E. Hills, born Oct. 18, 1851; 
 died Jan. 14, 1864. 
 
 Ann Eliza Hills, born Oct. 27, 1846; 
 died Mar. 5, 1847. 
 
 Dennis Hills, born Leominster, Mass., 
 May 6, 1800, died Mar. 11, 1868; mar- 
 ried Eliza A. Henderson, Dec. 4, 1834. 
 
 Mrs. Fannie E. Perry, consort of 
 Thos. J. Perry, born Feb. 22, 1834, died 
 July 2, 1856; 23 years, 4 months, 11 
 days. Mr. Perry was Rome's postmas- 
 ter for a long time; his wife was kin 
 to the Ombergs of Rome. Her gi'ave 
 has a flat marble slab over it. 
 
 Mrs. Mary Rogers, born- Aug. 8, 
 1799, died May 3, 1876. Sister of Miss 
 Linnie Hargrove's mother; aunt of 
 Zachariah B. and Rob Hargrove and 
 Mrs. Wm. Fort. Was mother of Jobe 
 Rogers. She lived at one time in the 
 John J. Seay home, built by the Forts, 
 at the southeast corner of Second ave- 
 nue and E. Fourth street. Was noted 
 for keeping her home in perfect order. 
 
 James R. Ihlv. born Apr. 18, 1815, 
 died Nov. 4, 1851. 
 
 Anna Johnston, born May 2, 1797, 
 died June 25, 1852. 
 
 Elizabeth E. and John Summers, 
 infants. 
 
 Athaliah Adaliza Johnson, died Oct. 
 9, 1839; 5 years, 11 months, 14 days. 
 
 Robertus Johnson, died Oct. 5, 184"3; 
 17 years, 6 months, 27 days. 
 
 Jacob Herndon, died May 11, 1855; 
 52 years, 7 months, 6 days. 
 
 James M. Herndon, died Feb., 1856; 
 29 years. 3 months, 19 davs. 
 
 Mattie Saurie, died Oct* 4, 1869; 22 
 years old. Cynthia M. Saurie, died 
 Sept. 9, 1853; 15 years. Mrs. Selma 
 Saurie, died Mar. 3, 1895; 83 years, 9 
 months. "I have fought a good fight; 
 I have finished my course; I have kept 
 the faith." Richard E. Saurie, died Feb. 
 13, 1850; 34 years. Mrs. Selma Saurie 
 was a member of the Methodist church 
 and lived near the present home of Mrs. 
 Naomi P. Bale. 
 
 Mary E. Winfrey, wife of John B. 
 Winfrey, died Sept. 1837, in the John 
 Ross home. Fourth Ward, aged 21 
 years. 11 months, 29 days. 
 
 Mrs. Anna S. Eddelman, wife of A. 
 M. Eddelman, born Nov. 24, 1830, died 
 June 21, 1863. 
 
 David Rounsaville, son of David and 
 S. Rounsaville, born Nov 16, 1802, died 
 Nov. 22, 1845. Sarah Ann Rounsa- 
 ville, wife of David Rounsaville, born 
 Mar. 12, 1818, died Feb. 4. 1867. 
 
 REV. SAMUEL KDWARD AXSON. the fntlicr 
 of the first Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, and Icad- 
 itiK Prosbytt-rian divine, once of Aiijfiistn.
 
 630 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 A GLIMPSE OF THE ABANDONED CEMETERY. 
 
 This property belongs to the city and holds the sacred dust of many old Romans famed 
 in song and story. A movement has been started to preserve it like Colonial Park in Sa^ 
 vannah, and to connect it with the city's extensive tract on Ft. Jackson Hill. Land in this 
 neighborhood can now be had at a reasonable price, and it is in the direct path of the city's 
 logical growth. 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Rounsaville Conger, 
 wife of Abijah Conger, aunt of J. A. 
 Rounsaville, born June 21, 1800, died 
 May 16, 1872. 
 
 Sophia Amanda Cooper, died Nov. 
 16, 1845; aged 20 years, 6 months, 10 
 days. 
 
 Jos. R. Scroggs, died Sept. 5, 1847; 
 aged 29 years, 4 months, 12 days. 
 
 Margaret L., wife of Allan A. Wil- 
 liams and eldest daughter of Jno. M. 
 Berrien, born Sept. 15, 1804, at Sa- 
 vannah, died Dec. 5, 1851, at her resi- 
 dence in Cass county. 
 
 Thos. S. Wright, son of Augustus R. 
 and A. E. Wright, born Feb. 14, 1850, 
 died Feb. 23, 1866 ; son of Judge Wright 
 and Mrs. Wright; said to have been a 
 brilliant speaker, though only 16; 
 brother of Seaborn and Moses Wright. 
 
 Emeline, infant daughter of A. R. 
 and A. E. Wright, died 1856. 
 
 Jno. L. Holbrook, died May 10, 1872; 
 54 years old. Sarah C. Holbrook, died 
 May 12, 1882; 53 years old. 
 
 "Johnnie" (on 3-foot pyramid, with 
 no other information). 
 
 E. A. Spullock (mother), born Oct. 
 22, 1823, died Mar. 15, 1892. J. (Jas.) 
 M. Spullock, (father), born Nov. 19, 
 1816, died Dec. 5, 1883. The parents of 
 Misses Fannie. Ida, Callie and Jessie 
 Spullock and of Jamse Spullock. Also: 
 "In memory of our little boy, Owen H. 
 Spullock, died Nov, 1, 1852; 2 years, 
 7 days old." 
 
 Rev. John Hendricks, a Baptist min- 
 ister, died June 18, 1856; aged 56. 
 
 The following inscriptions are on the 
 monument of Dr. Hendricks : "Thus he 
 sleeps, like one who draws the drapery 
 of his couch about him and lies down 
 to pleasant dreams." "He was lovely 
 and pleasant in his life and his body 
 
 rests beneath this memorial. This mon- 
 ument is reared by his beloved widow 
 and orphan children as a testimonial of 
 a servant of Jesus Christ, who like 
 Enoch, walked with God, like Abraham 
 attained the righteousness of faith, 
 and like Paul finished his course with 
 joy." 
 
 J. Thos. Hendricks, born March 7, 
 1839, died May 14. 1851. 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Hendricks, died Jan. 
 19, 1873; aged 63. "Illustrious as wife, 
 mother and Christian. Our hope, Je- 
 sus." 
 
 Mrs. Rebecca Mann, died Feb. 7, 
 1837; at 74 years; gn'andmother of 
 Mrs. Hiram Hill and ancestor of her 
 descendants. "She died as she had 
 lived, a Chirstian. Let this slab pro- 
 tect her dust. God shall bid her arise." 
 
 Thomas Hamilton, M. D., born Mar. 
 18, 1790, died Oct. 9, 1859. A Mason 
 and a Quaker; grandfather of Mrs. 
 Annie Freeman Johnson and Mrs. Ju- 
 lian Gumming; moved from near Car- 
 tersville, Cass county, to Rome. His 
 wife, a Miss Glower, was a Methodist. 
 Grandfather of Telemon Cruger Smith- 
 Guyler, who lives on Glower place at 
 Wayside, Ga. Ancestor of Rome Ham- 
 iltons. 
 
 Mrs. Malinda Hamilton (nee Malin- 
 da Glower), born June 4, 1803, died 
 June 27, 1882. Was mother of Mrs. 
 D. Mack Hood, mother of Mrs. Joel 
 Branham. 
 
 George P. Hamilton, M. D., a Ma- 
 son, born Nov. 11, 1825, died June 7, 
 1859. 
 
 George Thomas Hamilton, born May 
 23. 1831. died Nov. 5, 1851. 
 
 Wm. Scott, infant son of C. A. and 
 Madeline Hamilton, born Jan. 30, 1853, 
 died April 28, 1853.
 
 Other Cemetery Occupants 
 
 631 
 
 Rosa Hardin Helm, died Apr. 21, 
 1900; aged 45 years. Thomas Jefferson 
 Helm, born April 17, 1840; died May 17, 
 1904. Was from Columbia, Tenn., and 
 friend of J. W. Ewing; kin to Spul- 
 locks. 
 
 Rebecca Cloud Hardin, died Aug. 9, 
 1880; 66 years old. 
 
 Peter Reagan and Nancy Reagan, 
 
 dates of birth and death blank. 
 
 Mrs. Rachel L. Meigs, born July 4, 
 1816, died Apr. 22, 1877. Was Rachel 
 Reagan. 
 
 Charlotte E. Brown, died Sept. 7, 
 1845; aged 21 years. 4 months. 12 days. 
 
 Prunella (?) daughter T. J. and M. 
 V. Treadaway, died Dec. 1, 1831; 1 
 year, 16 days. 
 
 THE JOSEPH WATTERS BURIAL GROUND. 
 On the Calhoun Road, six miles north of Rome, in Ridge Valley. Watters 
 District, is the resting place of the rugged pioneer, Joseph Watters, and most of 
 his descendants who have gone to their reward. It is near the Watters and Rush 
 homes and Floyd County Model School. Eight of the graves are located by small 
 rock markers, and the other stones bear the following inscriptions: 
 Joseph Watters, born Feb. 24, 1792, 1839, died Aug. 13, 1811; Sarah Cor- 
 
 died Mar. 1, 1866; Elizabeth Watters, 
 (his wife), born June 23, 1779, died 
 Feb. 19, 1881; William Watters, born 
 Mar. 20, 1820, died Sept. 7, 1886; Su- 
 san Antoinette Watters, born Nov. 12, 
 
 nelia Watters, wife of James :\I. Wat- 
 ters, born Aug., 1850, died May. 1914; 
 Thos. Jackson Davis, born July 9, 
 1862, died July 23, 1909. and an in- 
 fant son of Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Jackson 
 Davis, died Mar. 9, 1906. 
 
 HEBREW CEMETERY INTERMENTS. 
 
 A partial list of well-known persons buried in the Jewish Cemetery, near 
 Silver Creek in South Rome, follows : 
 
 Ed J. Esserman, died Dec. 21, 1907; David Esserman, died March 14. 1917; 
 Moritz Spiegelberg, died April 19, 1913; Benj. Franklin, died Jan. 2, 1915; Phillip 
 Cohen, died Nov. 30. 1886; Henry Kuttner, died June 4, 1890; Jacob Kuttner, died 
 May 16, 1905; F. Abramson, died April 2, 1922. 
 
 J^gniappe 
 
 LANGLEY RAPS SNOBBERY. 
 
 By Lee J. Lav y ley. 
 
 These be evil days for snobs and 
 snobbery. Practically all the authors 
 of the late popular books have turned 
 the X-ray on the warped and festering 
 torso of the snob, and the public has 
 first laughed at his puny soul, and then 
 grieved over his misfortune. 
 
 The moving pictures are beginning to 
 hold him up to ridicule and scorn, and 
 to portray him as a social blight and a 
 public nuisance. 
 
 His neighbors, at the risk of giving 
 offense, are courageously trying to 
 purge the community of him. During 
 the past week George Battey took a 
 well-aimed shot at his nest, as did like- 
 wise my conservative friend. Editor 
 Clair Rowell. Mr. Battey called the 
 practice of snobbery the "old order" of 
 things, and declared we must abandon 
 it. Editor Rowell called it provincial- 
 ism, and said we must modernize with 
 the times. 
 
 I call it plain damphoolishness; 
 symptoms of a cripi)k'(l mentality. 
 
 Edith Wharton's book. "Tlie Age of 
 Innocence,'' took the Pulitzer prize 
 of $1,000 for the best book of 1920 por- 
 traying American character and tiadi- 
 TJ^os. Jackson Davis, born July 9, 
 Innocence" says of the snob: 
 
 "Cultui'e! Yes, if you only had it! 
 But there are just a few little hual 
 patches, dying out here and there for 
 lack of — well, hoeing and cross ferti- 
 lizing; the last remnants of the old Eu- 
 ropean traditions that your forelx-ars 
 brought with them. But you're in a 
 pitiful little minority. You've got no 
 center, no competition, no audience. 
 You're like the pictures on tlie walls 
 of a deserted house; the iior trait of a 
 gentleman. You'll never amount to any- 
 thing, any of you. till you roll up your 
 sleeves and get right down into the 
 muck. That, or emigrate." 
 
 Sinclair Lewis, in his "]\Iain Street." 
 asks, "Why try to reform them when 
 dvnamite is so cheap?"
 
 632 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 Snobbery cost Chas. Evans Hughes, 
 now Secretary of State, the presidency 
 of the United States. California was 
 safe for Hughes, but against the ad- 
 vice of his friends, Hughes went to 
 California. When he got there he clos- 
 eted himself with the silk hat and kid 
 gloved crowd and refused to receive 
 the "wool hat'" boys. The wool hat- 
 ters openly swore vengeance, and 
 Hughes lost California, which alone 
 cost him the presidency. His campaign 
 manager, Mr. Wilcox, was an icicle 
 personified. 
 
 Correspondents say that this taught 
 Mr. Hughes a lesson, and that today 
 he is the most amiable, approachable 
 and most democratic official in Wash- 
 ington, except the president. 
 
 Snobbery cost the late A. 0. Bacon 
 the governorship of Georgia. At a po- 
 litical speaking at Jug Tavern, now 
 Winder, a farmer's wife asked Mr. Ba- 
 con to buy four pairs of wool socks for 
 $1, which she had knit herself. Mr. 
 Bacon frowned and asked her what on 
 earth she thought he wanted with that 
 kind of sock, — that he wore only silk 
 socks. That settled Bacon's chances of 
 election. Mr. Bacon heard of his snob- 
 bish "bust" when it was too late. This 
 taught him a lesson — he reformed and 
 a few years later was elected to the 
 United States Senate and made Geor- 
 gia one of the greatest Senators in 
 her history. 
 
 It gives me genuine pleasure here to 
 pay high tribute to the character, 
 statesmanship and intellect of the late 
 Senator Bacon; he simply made the 
 mistake in his early career of being 
 snobbish, or appearing so, and paid the 
 penalty that some mighty good men 
 with political ambitions living not a 
 thousand miles from Rome must pay, 
 unless they reform. 
 
 It never offends me for a fellow to 
 make it known that he thinks he is too 
 good to associate with me; it only 
 makes me laugh. It would not offend 
 me if he should come out and tell me 
 so. I would laugh all the more. 
 
 I've got a trap set for whatever there 
 may be of snobbery in Rome. I'm go- 
 ing to catch it in whichever direction 
 it moves, and if it assays up to any 
 appreciable standard, three or four of 
 us are going to plan a snipe party for 
 the snob victims, either political, so- 
 cial, financial or commercial, accord- 
 ing to the particular turn the snobbery 
 takes, and then there will be another 
 story to tell. 
 
 There is no snob in the world who 
 won't fall for a snipe hunt. — 8-12-21. 
 
 SNIPE HUNT PLANS. 
 By Lee J. Langley. 
 
 George Battey asked me in his col- 
 umn last Sunday when I am going to 
 stage my snob snipe party. 
 
 That must depend on conditions and 
 circumstances, George. I haven't got 
 my snob covey rounded up yet. I have 
 a little bunch of about a half dozen 
 real nice juicy ones nibbling around 
 my trap, but they are a little chary of 
 my bait. I've got a slow and rather 
 new delivery and they are not quite 
 certain just when and where my re- 
 lease will cut the plate. I ran across 
 what appeared to be a fine specimen 
 of the breed the other day and he 
 looked sick and sort of locoed, but when 
 I got him square in the eye he gave 
 me a belligerent and defiant stare. 
 
 I have been hoping, and am hoping 
 yet, that the lonesome little school of 
 the tribe we have here will reform 
 and sign up for life in the HE -man 
 league, challenge success and fortune 
 on their own merits and add luster and 
 renown to the family names and con- 
 nections instead of swashbuckling 
 aiound in a circle and trying to collect 
 dividends enough to live off the capital 
 of the good name left them by two- 
 fisted, fighting and successful fathers. 
 
 Considerable preliminary prepara- 
 tion will have to be made before we 
 can stage the first snipe party. I have 
 heretofore said that snobbery is a 
 mental disease, and there are several 
 types of it, and each case demands a 
 different treatment. 
 
 There is the political snob who be- 
 lieves that by reason of his inherited 
 preferment, or superior ability and 
 qualifications, he is entitled to all the 
 political honors in sight. This chap 
 is afraid to let anybody else advance 
 or advantage in any place or position 
 for fear it would in some way inter- 
 fere with himself. He quietly stabs 
 his most promising neighbor on every 
 occasion. 
 
 To handle this bird we would have 
 to get some of my pals in Washington 
 to wire him to come on to the capitol 
 and sign a receipt for the Rome post- 
 office or take a place as assistant to 
 Charles Evans Hughes, Secretary of 
 State. We would have to give him a 
 big torchlight parade before he left, 
 and otherwise in a most public man- 
 ner show our appreciation of his great- 
 ness. Also we would have a mighty 
 big reception committee meet him at 
 the Union station, as well as a bunch 
 of correspondents to tell the world how 
 it all came out.
 
 Miscellaneous — Lagniappe 
 
 633 
 
 Then we have in some unfortunate 
 spots in this bij? world the financial 
 snobs who get themselves attached to 
 a little 2x4 bank of some kind, with 
 about enough capital to finance a good 
 Chinese laundry and work themselves 
 up into the conviction that they are 
 Napoleons of finance. These are the 
 beauty boys. 
 
 For this kind we would have some of 
 the bunch in New York wire them that 
 their distinction as bank executives 
 and renowed financial abilities had 
 attracted the attention of Wall Street 
 and that they had been elected presi- 
 dent of the National City Bank (the 
 New York National City Bank) to 
 succeed Jim Stillman and that they 
 were requested to report as early as 
 possible to take charge of "the biggest 
 bank in America." 
 
 Now we would have to give this bug 
 a big banquet where he could hear his 
 praises sung as he has murmured them 
 to himself since his first infection, 
 and appoint a committee to go with 
 him and see him at last enter upon his 
 own; also to rescue him from the ob- 
 servation ward of Bellevue hospital 
 following the close of his argument 
 with the bank officers. 
 
 The social snob is of course the 
 catch-as-catch-can champion of all the 
 snobs on earth. He has been one of 
 the chief nuisances of civilization ever 
 fcince the Mayflower bumped its nose 
 against Plymouth Rock. He has added 
 to the gaiety of all nations, and we 
 have a very few specimens of him left, 
 the age of social democracy notwith- 
 standing. 
 
 He has a brain about as big as a 
 hummingbird's and the nerve of a 
 Fatty Arbuckle. He is a third or 
 fourth sprout sprung from a good 
 strong original stock that went to seed 
 in the last generation and left only 
 this fibrous sprig that is not strong 
 enough or hardy enough to ever reach 
 maturity. 
 
 We would have to tip the boys off 
 down in Atlanta, or Athens, to recog- 
 nize his social position and superior- 
 ity by giving a big reception in liis 
 honor to which would be invited all 
 the exclusive social queens and raging- 
 social lions of the state. Wouhl he 
 fall? Say, will a hobo take chicken 
 pie? 
 
 Also we have the church snob. The 
 sleek, smiling, pawing and parading 
 hypocrite who wants to pose as the one 
 big, controlling church leader. He 
 arrays himself in his cutaway or 
 Prince Albert, gets to church before 
 
 anybody else, takes charge and gives 
 general directions to all comers He 
 cant be comfortable in a seat where 
 be will not hold the spotlight all the 
 time; he stands around' the walls goes 
 from one department of the services to 
 another frowns on some things and 
 smiles his approval on others. His 
 ambition is to have the world recog- 
 nize and acknowledge him as the lead- 
 er of some big influential church and 
 congregation. 
 
 This class of snob is as jealous and 
 envious of every possible competitor 
 tor church honors as a first violinist 
 IS of the orchestra leader. He would 
 murder the best Christian on earth for 
 getting m his way if he just dared to. 
 
 I have never tried to handle one of 
 these snobs and must work out a pro- 
 gram. I have wanted to slay a few of 
 them. 
 
 But, George, be patient; this cam- 
 paign is on to stay. There is no room 
 :n the good old world for anvbody 
 these days except real men, working 
 men, accomplishing men and unselfish 
 men, and if there are others they must 
 reform or emigrate. — Sept. 20,' 1921. 
 
 TOWN ANALYSIS. 
 By Robt. H. Clagett. 
 
 Whenever anybody residing in a 
 town or city undertakes the analysis 
 of the characteristics and peculiari- 
 ties of the place, he is sure to create 
 considerable comment. Such analyses 
 provide the focus for a subject of con- 
 versation that almost everybody de- 
 lights in — a subject in which" they 
 themselves are the characters to be 
 talked about. Lee Langley, ex-newspa- 
 per man and clever writer, has started 
 such conversation in Rome by his re- 
 cent articles in which he undertook 
 to reveal some of the characteristics 
 of Rome and Romans, neither shunning 
 the bad nor witiiholding tlie good. 
 
 In our opinion Lee Langley's articles 
 have been good for Rome, l>ecause tliey 
 have set many peoi)h' to talking al)out 
 their town and analyzing their rela- 
 tionship to it. Anything that causes 
 such retrospection is healthful. Ro- 
 mans who have read his articles may 
 or may not agree with them. He doe-s 
 not seem to care about that. \ye 
 cannot agree with all that he has writ- 
 ten, if he intended to leave the im- 
 pression that some of the things he 
 said are ai)plicahle to Rome alone, be- 
 cause it has been our observation that 
 the worst characteristics he attributed 
 tn this town are with equal verity ap- 
 olicable to all Southern towns of sim-
 
 634 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 ilar size and environment. To us a 
 distinct characteristic of Rome is its 
 similarity to other smaller Southern 
 cities. 
 
 In substance Mr. Langley said in a 
 ^ood natured way that to become a 
 Roman it is necessary for a person 
 either to be born into that hig:h estate, 
 marry into it or buy himself into it. 
 To a certain extent the same thing 
 may be said of any other city, North 
 or South — if he meant by that to rank 
 high in social, political or business cir- 
 cles one must achieve his position 
 through the good will of the inhabi- 
 tants of the place in which he dwells. 
 It has been our experience that it is 
 very easy to become just any kind of 
 Roman one has the desire to become, 
 provided he has sufficient intelligence, 
 social gi'ace, business ability and in- 
 dividual personality to deserve the po- 
 sition or recognition that he aspires to. 
 
 Rome is not a Utopia. Nor is there 
 a Utopia anywhere in the United 
 States or any other country on the 
 face of the earth. We have our ob- 
 jectionable characteristics, which in 
 most instances are the same as the ob- 
 jections that may be pointed out in any 
 other town in this section of the United 
 States. Likewise, we have our admir- 
 able features, some of which, it is 
 pleasing to contemplate, are not to be 
 found in all other places. If we have 
 any criticism to make of the town that 
 we have chosen as our future abode, 
 it is that it is too much like other 
 towns in which we have dwelt. What 
 v/e would like to see happen is that 
 Rome become so distinctly different 
 from other towns either in good or 
 bad qualities, if you please, that she 
 will attract extraordinary attention. 
 
 As was said at the outset of this ed- 
 itorial, Lee Langley has done a good 
 service by setting us to thinking about 
 ourselves. He did it in a good natured 
 way, and if there was anything writ- 
 ten that offended anybody we feel that 
 he did not intend to do that or care 
 whether he did or not. What we would 
 like to see transpire here is that all 
 inhabitants of this town — old-timers 
 and new-comers, men and women, boys 
 and girls, merchants and tradesmen, 
 professional men and manufacturers 
 alike — consider themselves Romans in 
 every sense of the word and deport 
 themselves in the manner that they 
 think Romans should act. 
 
 The manner, then, in which the ma- 
 jority deport themselves, will be ac- 
 ccputed as the Rome Spirit and all 
 who do not conform thereto will be 
 aliens, because have we not the classic 
 
 admonition that when in Rome one 
 should do as Rome does? If there be 
 anyone among us who can change our 
 ways sufficiently to cause a majority 
 to conform to his idea of what is the 
 proper way, that new way will become 
 the Rome way for better or for worse. 
 If there be any immediate improve- 
 ment in prospect, it lies in an endeavor 
 to make Rome different from any other 
 small city in the South. — July 12, 1921. 
 
 "BOLSHEVIK" DINNER RULES. 
 By Jack D. McCartney. 
 
 Every sport has its rules, even the 
 social sport, and it is unwise to vio- 
 late any of these strict regulations. 
 
 When asked to take your hostess 
 out to dinner, were you ever penal- 
 ized with a cold glance for being off 
 side? Did you ever invite two young 
 ladies to the same party and find 
 yourself playing doubles, when you 
 had meant it to be only a single court? 
 Did you ever play all the courses at 
 a formal dinner and find you had the 
 wrong iron left for the last shot? Have 
 you ever tried to steal home with your 
 wife on second floor and your mother- 
 in-law on third? If so, you will ap- 
 preciate these few random but im- 
 portant rules, and use them as an 
 amateur in good standing, says a 
 writer in the Kansas City Times. 
 
 1. Approach a formal dinner party 
 as you would a railroad track, with 
 its "Stop, Look and Listen," sign. You 
 .<top eating, look hungry and listen to 
 the conversation of the experienced 
 lady next to you who ate at home first. 
 
 2. To save embarrassment, never 
 attend the wrong party or the wrong 
 funeral. Imagine looking into the face 
 of the host or the corpse, as the case 
 may be, and finding him a perfect 
 stranger. 
 
 3. Caution your wife ahead of time 
 to avoid dwelling on your ordinarily 
 huge appetite. Your hostess may in- 
 sist on your taking a second helping 
 of the pickled turnips or some such 
 dish. 
 
 4. When seated uncomfortably 
 against the leg of a table at one of 
 these narrow apartment house festive 
 boards, never kick irritably against 
 what you believe to be the obstruction. 
 It is just possible the leg may be that 
 of the lady opposite. 
 
 5. The sport of seating ladies at a 
 dinner party is the most hazardous 
 of all. The procedure urgently re- 
 quires the detailed instructions which 
 follow.
 
 Miscellaneous — Lagniappe 
 
 635 
 
 The whole matter might be sim- 
 plified and accidents avoided, if cus- 
 tom were not so fixed. For instance, 
 the show method of seating: the per- 
 formers would be splendid. The butler, 
 serving as interlocutor, should move 
 to the piano, directly all the guests are 
 in the dining room and at their chairs. 
 Then he should call out in a loud, clear 
 voice: "Ladies, be seated!" (Chord). 
 All then would sink into their chairs 
 with pleasing unanimity, the hostess 
 would give friend husband the cue for 
 tiiat humorous little monologue of his, 
 after which he, in turn, should ad- 
 dress a guest with, "And where were 
 you last night, Mr. Bones?" and all 
 would go rattlingly. 
 
 Then there is the military method. 
 Guests form in column of twos and 
 troop in to the tune of a stirring 
 march on the phonograph. Reaching 
 a position in rear of their chairs the 
 host commands, "In place, halt!'' The 
 following commands then are given in 
 quick succession: "Chair with the 
 right hand grab!" "One pace to the 
 left, march!" "Chairs to the rear, 
 march!" "Take seats" and "Come and 
 get it!" 
 
 Custom, however, almost precludes 
 such efforts. Hence it is a question 
 of best way — old style. 
 
 The alert gentleman will not always 
 seat the lady on his right, not if he is 
 a judge of weights. Pick the lighter 
 lady. Then, if the chair and the lady 
 miss connection, the resulting crash 
 will not be so noisy and even may be 
 drowned with a loud guffaw. 
 
 The lady to be seated maneuvers the 
 chair behind her. If she insists on 
 standing too long, waiting for the 
 hostess to sit or counting to see if 
 there are thirteen at the table, the 
 time has come for action. Drawing 
 the chair still farther back to gain 
 a start, rush it toward the lady, strik- 
 ing her at the bend of the knees with 
 the chair and taking her by surprise. 
 That IS a most important factor, the 
 surprise element. It avoids that pos- 
 sibility, already mentioned, of her get- 
 ting out of control and crashing. 
 
 With the lady once in the chair, 
 the clever gentleman will propel it 
 instantly toward the festive board. 
 Some of the sex is just tricky enough 
 to attempt to rise again if given an 
 opportunity. Speed foils 'em. Don't 
 cut down the momentum for fear of 
 pushing the lady's chair too far for- 
 ward. She will rebound from the edge 
 of the table nicely. 
 
 If the gentleman has followed in- 
 structions thus far faithfully, he will 
 find the lady safely parked at her 
 place and undoubtedly somewhat wind- 
 ed from caroming off the table. Before 
 she can regain the power of speech, 
 the alert gentleman will have an op- 
 portunity of making most lusty inroads 
 on the soup, relishes and even part of 
 the fish course, unhindered by the de- 
 mands of conversation. — Tribune-Her- 
 ald, Jan. 16, 1921. 
 
 A MONKEY DOES HIS BIT. 
 
 By W. S. Rou-ell. 
 
 As a result of a very unusual in- 
 jury — particularly for a ruling sov- 
 ereign — he King of Greece is dead 
 from the bite of a pet money. King 
 Alexander had ruled but a short while, 
 — about three years, in fact. He was 
 placed on the throne when former 
 Ring Constantine was deposed by the 
 allies, on account of his pro-German 
 activities. He had been a mere figure- 
 head, possessing no real power, and 
 there is, therefore, no reason for any 
 disturbance in Greece on that account. 
 
 King Alexander was the nephew of 
 the former German Emperor, as are, 
 of course, his brothers, one of whom. 
 Prince Paul, has just been elected his 
 successor by the Greek parliament. The 
 new sovereign is the third son of Con- 
 stantine, and is a man of about the 
 same calibre as Alexander, and will 
 be just about as much of a king, which 
 will be very little. — Tribune-Herald, 
 Oct. 27, 1920. 
 
 WHEN WOMEN GO TO VOTE. 
 By W. S. Ronrll. 
 
 Well, won't it be worth going miles 
 to see — when women stalk up to the 
 courthouse to vote! In the first place, 
 lack of experience will embarrass them 
 to some extent. They won't know whi-re 
 to go nor what to do. But the aver- 
 age woman is (juick to catcli on and 
 we don't anticipate nuicii trouble in 
 this regard. 
 
 The woman will start upstairs to 
 the voting place, and be as mad as 
 pepper if some man should perchance 
 bo in front of her. for naturally all 
 women feel that tliey should go in 
 front of the men. Then, by the time 
 -.he gets fairlv started, an election 
 manager will call her back, and tell 
 ber that she must first find out if she 
 i« registered. If she IS. she will be 
 given a ticket with a number on it 
 and if she is not. there will be the 
 dickens to play in explaining to her
 
 636 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 why she can't vote because she is not 
 registered. 
 
 The woman will then take the ticket 
 handed her by the manager and go on 
 up stairs. When stopped by another 
 manager at the top. she will protest 
 against giving up the ticket she has 
 in order to receive another that she 
 knows nothing about. But after ar- 
 gument this will be settled. 
 
 Then she won't want to go into the 
 booth to fix her ticket, and she is not 
 going to let any mere man fix it, be- 
 cause it's no man's business how she 
 votes, and she don't want them to 
 know anyway. 
 
 After having fixed her own ticket 
 in her own way (probably having 
 scratched the candidates she wanted 
 to vote for), she looks around and 
 sees the ballot box. After some dis- 
 cussion she will hand the ticket to 
 the manager, who will call out her 
 name and a number. This will bring 
 on more talk; she will want to know 
 v;hy hei' name is called out without 
 her consent and what the number is 
 for. 
 
 This having been satisfactorily ex- 
 plained, she will start out the way she 
 came and when barred by a police of- 
 ficer, there'll be another long discus- 
 sion coupled with protests. Findmg: 
 that she cannot go out the way she 
 came in she will follow the advice of 
 the officer and go out the way pointed 
 out. All of which she will consider 
 totally unnecessary, and something of 
 an insult. 
 
 It is our opinion that woinen will 
 go to the polls in twos or threes, dress- 
 ed in the height of fashion, in order 
 to create an impression on the men 
 standing around the polls. Of course, 
 the men will be duly impressed. 
 
 When the returns come in and they 
 find that their candidates are defeated, 
 a mighty howl will go up, fraud, 
 cheating,' bribing and swindling will be 
 charged. They will declare that they 
 will never go to the polls again, to be 
 cheated out of their rights by unfair 
 counters, and they won't go again until 
 another elections rolls around. — Oct. 
 80, 1920. 
 
 WOMEN LIKE WINNERS. 
 By W. S. Rowell. 
 It is a natural factor in the fem- 
 inine make-up that women like win- 
 ners, and it is well that they do — it 
 acts as an additional incentive to men 
 to put things over. 
 
 Women are tender - hearted, of 
 
 course; they'll stand by an unfortu- 
 nate man, one who is in real trouble, 
 he he husband, brother or friend, to 
 the last extremity — they are always 
 the friend of the disabled or oppressed, 
 but among men possessing all their 
 faculties, they want winners. 
 
 We do not believe this is due to 
 selfishness or hard-heartedness. We 
 believe that it is implanted in the 
 woman nature to make men work 
 hf.rder and fight fiercer. Take a strong, 
 healthy man, in possession of all his 
 faculties, he had better succeed in his 
 undertakings if he expects to win the 
 favor of women. They think he's got 
 no business losing, and he has not. 
 
 We are not criticizing women for 
 liking winners; in fact, we rather ad- 
 mire their perspicacity, and as stated 
 above, this quality in their natures fre- 
 quently acts as an incentive for men, 
 stirring their energies and ambitions 
 to greater and higher things. 
 
 "DEAR SIR." 
 By W. S. Roivell. 
 
 There are some old-fashioned cus- 
 toms that do not fit into the modern 
 scheme of things — they are out of 
 date, and apparently silly. One of 
 these is the custom of beginning all 
 letters with "dear sir" or "dear mad- 
 am." It is true that this is polite, and 
 people should always be polite. But 
 when a man or woman writes to his 
 or her deadly enemy, and uses the pro- 
 noun "dear," it is inconsistent, to say 
 ihe least. 
 
 We don't know how this custom 
 started; it was probably in the dark 
 ages, when language had a different 
 nieaning from that of the present. In 
 some instances it may have been in- 
 tended as sarcasm; it certainly has 
 that effect in a great many instances. 
 We have often wondered why this par- 
 ticular form of address is used. It 
 would have been just as reasonable 
 to say "gentle sir," "kind sir" or 
 "hated sir" as the circumstances 
 seemed to warrant. But just why men 
 started the fashion of always address- 
 ing each other as "dear sir" and stuck 
 to it whether appropriate or not we 
 have never been able to understand. 
 
 In a great many instances, for a 
 man to address another as "dear sir" 
 amounts to about the same thing as 
 two rivals kissing each other when 
 they meet. They hate each other to 
 such an extent that their lips should 
 burn on touching, yet they kiss and 
 smile most sweetly. This is equally
 
 Miscellaneous — Lagniappe 
 
 637 
 
 as out of place as addressing every 
 man you write to as "dear sir." 
 
 We don't know any reason why you 
 sliould not say ''miserable sir" if that 
 should fit the occasion, or "fat sir" or 
 "lean sir." Why not address each 
 person you write to under an appro- 
 priate designation? What is the use 
 in calling a man "dear" when you hate 
 him like a fish?— Dec. 3, 1920. 
 
 AT HOME-COMING, OCT. 14, 1920. 
 From Judge Wright's Address of Wel- 
 come. 
 "Rome's Who's Who contains every- 
 body, with one man as good as another. 
 There are roses in Rome whose petals 
 wave a welcome of pink and white and 
 red to our distinguished visitors. Out 
 in the Flat Woods there are sweet 
 potato patches containing the same 
 'possum tracks which long ago beck- 
 oned us to the hunt, and the whip- 
 poorwills call not today 'Whip-poor- 
 wil' but 'Welcome Home.' Everybody 
 is happy at your coming, and only the 
 skies are blue." 
 
 From the Response of Col. John Tem- 
 ple Gj'ctves. 
 "When I think of Rome I recall the 
 dearest period of my existence. Once 
 a Roman, always a Roman. It is bet- 
 ter to be a Roman than a king. This 
 is the land of the Indians and the 
 pioneer pale-face, the land of memory 
 and dreams. I learned to ride a horse 
 in Rome; I learned to ride a bicycle 
 in Rome; I have taken a header from 
 all the hills of Rome into the purling 
 waters of the Etowah, the Oostanaula 
 and the Coosa." 
 
 A BASHFUL BRIDEGROOOM.— 
 
 The following story, taken from the 
 scrap book of the late John M. Gra- 
 ham, of 'Jennessee, now in the posses- 
 sion of a good lady of Rome, is re- 
 printed from the Rome News of some 
 date in 1921. Prudish persons should 
 not read beyond these introductory 
 lines; all others are cordially invited 
 to wade in : 
 
 "Senator Sebastian, of Arkansas, 
 was a native of Hickman County, 
 Tenn. On one occasion a member of 
 Congress was lamenting his own bash- 
 fulness and awkwardness. 'Why,' said 
 the Senator from Rackensack, 'you 
 don't know what bashfulness is. Let 
 me tell a story, and when it is through 
 I will stand the bob if you don't agree 
 that you never knew anything about 
 bashfulness and its baneful effects. 
 
 " 'I was the most bashful boy west 
 of the Alleghenies. I wouldn't look 
 at a girl, much less speak to a maiden. 
 But for all that I fell desperately in 
 love with a sweet, beautiful, neighbor 
 girl. It was a desirable match on both 
 sides and the folks saw the drift and 
 fixed it up. I thought I s.houl(l die 
 just thinking of it. I was a gawky, 
 country lout some 19 years old. She 
 was an intelligent, refined and fairly 
 well educated girl in a country and 
 at a time when girls had superior ad- 
 vantages, and were therefore superior 
 in culture to the boys. I fixed the day 
 as far oflf as I could have put it. I 
 lay awake in a cold perspiration as the 
 time drew near, and shivered with 
 agony as I thought of the terrible or- 
 deal. 
 
 " 'The dreadful day came. I went 
 through with the program somehow in 
 a dazed, confused, mechanical sort of 
 way like an automaton booby through 
 a supper where I could eat nothing, 
 and through such games as "possum 
 pie," ''Sister Phoebe" and all that sort 
 of thing. The guests one by one de- 
 parted and my hair began to stand on 
 end. Beyond the awful curtain of Isis 
 lay the terrible unknown. My blood 
 grew cold and boiled by turns. I v.as 
 in a fever and then an ague, pale and 
 flushed by turns. I felt like fleeing to 
 the woods, spending the night in the 
 barn, or leaving for the West never 
 to come back. 
 
 " 'I was deeply devoted to Sally, — 
 loved her harder than a mule can kick, 
 but that dreadful ordeal, I could not, 
 I dared not, stand it. Finally the last 
 guest was gone, the bride retired, the 
 family repaired to bed, and I was left 
 alone, horror of horrors, — alone with 
 the old man. "John," said ]v\ "you 
 can take that candle. You will find 
 your room right over this. Good night, 
 John, and may the Lord have mercy 
 on your soul," and with a mischievous 
 twiiikle in his fine gray eyes tlie old 
 man left the room. I mentally said 
 "Amen!'" to his "Heaven help you." 
 and when I heard him close a distant 
 door, staggered to my feet and seized 
 the farthing dip with a nervous grasp. 
 I stood for some minutes conteni)>lating 
 my terrible fate and the inovitaltle and 
 speedy doom about to overwhelm me. 
 I knew tliat if could not be avoided, 
 and vet I hesitated to meet my fate 
 like a man. I stood so long that three 
 love letters grew on the wick of the 
 tallow dip, and a winding sheet was 
 decorating the sides of the brass can- 
 dlestick. 
 
 " 'A happy thought struck me. I
 
 638 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 hastily climbed the stair, marked the 
 position of the landing and the door 
 of the bridal chamber. I would have 
 died before I would have disrobed in 
 that holy sanctuary, where awaited 
 me a trembling and beautiful girl, a 
 blushing maiden, "clothed upon" with 
 her own beauty and modesty, and her 
 snowy robe de n^tit. The thought 
 was that I could make the usual prep- 
 arations outside in the hall, blow out 
 the light, open the door and friendly 
 night would shield my shrinking mod- 
 esty and bashfulness, and grateful 
 darkness at least mitigate the horror 
 of the situation. It was soon done. 
 Preparations for retiring were few 
 and simple in Hickman, although con- 
 sisting of disrobing, and owing to 
 scarcity of cloth in those days man was 
 somewhat near the Adamic state when 
 he was prepared to woo sweet sleep. 
 
 " 'The dreaded hour had come. I 
 was ready. I blew out the light, 
 grasped the door knob with a deathly 
 grip and nervous clutch. One moment 
 and it would be over! One moment 
 and it wasn't over, by a darned sight! 
 " 'I leaped within, slamming the door 
 with a loud noise behind, and at the 
 same time with a sickening gasp ut- 
 tering the name of my sweetheart. 
 
 ^ "There, seated in front of a blazing, 
 glowing hickory log fire, with candles 
 burning brightly on the mantel and 
 bureau, was the blushing bride, sur- 
 rounded by the six lovely brides- 
 maids.' " 
 
 TOO LATE TO BE CLASSIFIED. 
 On the eve of going to press, a good 
 "story" has been received. Mrs. Mabel 
 Washbourne Anderson, of Pryor, Okla., 
 sends a book of poems by her father, 
 the late John Rollin Ridge" (son of John 
 Ridge, grandson of Major Ridge and 
 native of the present Floyd County), 
 in which is contained a preface with 
 a highly engrossing narrative by the 
 poet, which carries the reader back to 
 the Indian days at Rome.* This ac- 
 count speaks for itself in the main. 
 It needs explaining with respect to 
 the location of the home of John Ridge. 
 It leaves for the reader to figure out 
 whether Mr. Ridge lived in Ridge Val- 
 ley (at "Hermitage") or at the old 
 Hume place about two miles north of 
 North Rome, on the Southern railway. 
 
 John Rollin Ridge mentions his 
 father's house "on a high hill, with a 
 large spring at the foot of it," and 
 another nearby hill, 200 yards away. 
 The Rush place is on an elevation, at 
 the foot of which, in Ridge Valley, is a 
 
 bold spring. The Hume place is 
 mostly flat, and its spring is probably 
 smaller than the other spring. 
 
 But to the article by the poet. It is 
 contained in a book called "Poems," 
 published in 1868 by Henry Payot & 
 Co., and printed by Edward Bosqui & 
 Co., at 517 Clay St., San Francisco, 
 Cal. The book has been out of print so 
 many years that copies of it are rare. 
 The publisher's prefatory note pre- 
 cedes the Ridge account, and both now 
 follow : 
 
 "Most of the poems in this little vol- 
 ume are the productions of boyhood; 
 very few of them were written after 
 the author had reached the age of 20. 
 As his career on the coast, in connec- 
 tion with political and literary jour- 
 nalism, is familiar to all readers, we 
 will add nothing to this letter." 
 
 " *I was born in the Cherokee Na- 
 tion, east of the Mississippi River, on 
 the 19th of Mar., 1827.** My earliest 
 recollections are of such things as are 
 pleasing to childhood, the fondness of 
 a kind father, and the smiles of an 
 affectionate mother. My father, the 
 late John Ridge, as you know, was one 
 of the chiefs of the tribe, and son of 
 the warrior and orator distinguished 
 in Cherokee councils and battles, who 
 was known among the whites as Major 
 Ridge, and amongst his own people as 
 Ka-nun-ta-cla-ge. My father grew up 
 until he was twelve or fifteen years of 
 age, as any untutored Indian, and he 
 used well to remember the time when 
 his greatest delight was to strip him- 
 self of his Indian costume, and with 
 aboriginal cane-gig in hand, while away 
 the long summer days in wading up 
 and down creeks in search of craw- 
 fish. 
 
 " 'At the age which I have men- 
 tioned before, a missionary station 
 sprang into existence, and Major 
 Ridge sent his son John, who could 
 not speak a word of English, to school 
 at this station, placing him under the 
 instruction of a venerable missionary 
 named Gambol.*** Here he learned 
 
 *Undoubtedly at Running Waters. 
 
 **John Rollin Ridge died in 1S67 at Grass 
 Valley, Cal., and was there buried under a 
 stunted tree which he had planted years before 
 while engaged in placer mining. His wife died 
 about 1910 at Berkeley, Cal., and was laid to 
 rest at that place, which is the site of the 
 University of California. Mrs. Ridge got to- 
 gether the choicest of her husband's poems and 
 had them published a year after his death. 
 Among his best serious efforts are "Mt. Shasta" 
 and "The Atlantic Cable." He was often 
 called upon to read his verses at public meet- 
 ings and college commencements. 
 
 *** Supposed to have been at Spring Place.
 
 Miscellaneous — Lagniappe 
 
 639 
 
 rapidly, and in the course of a year 
 acquired a sufficient knowledge of the 
 white man's language to speak it quite 
 fluently. 
 
 *' 'Major Ridge had become fully 
 impressed with the importance of civil- 
 ization. He had built him a log cabin, 
 in imitation of the border whites, and 
 opened him a farm. The missionary. 
 Gambol, told him of an Institution 
 built up in a distant land especially 
 for the education of Indian youths 
 (Cornwall, Conn.), and here he con- 
 cluded to send his son. After hearing 
 some stern advice from his father, 
 with respect to the manner in which 
 he should conduct himself among the 
 "palefaces,'' John left for the Corn- 
 wall school, in charge of a friendly 
 missionary. He remained there until 
 his education was completed. During 
 his attendance at this institution, he 
 fell in love with a young white girl of 
 the place, daughter of Mr. Nor- 
 thrup.* 
 
 " 'His love was reciprocated. He re- 
 turned home to his father, gained his 
 consent, though with much difficulty 
 (for the old Major wished him to 
 marry a chief's daughter amongst his 
 own people), went back again to Corn- 
 wall, and shortly brought his "pale- 
 faced bride to the wild country of 
 the Cherokees. In due course of time, 
 I, John Rollin, came into the world. 
 I was called by my grandfather 
 "Chees-quat-a-law-ny," which, inter- 
 preted, means "Yellow Bird.'' Thus 
 you have a knowledge of my parent- 
 age and how it happened that I am 
 an Indian. 
 
 " 'Things had now changed with the 
 Cherokees. They had a written Con- 
 stitution and laws. They had legis- 
 lative halls, houses and farms, courts 
 and juries. The general mass, it is 
 true, were ignorant, but happy under 
 the administration of a few simple, 
 just and wholesome laws. Major 
 Ridge had become wealthy by trading 
 with the whites and by prudent man- 
 agement. He had built him an ele- 
 gant house on the banks of the "Oos- 
 te-nar-ly River," on which now stands 
 the thriving town of Rome, Ga. 
 
 " 'Many a time in my buoyant l)oy- 
 hood have I strayed along its summer- 
 shaded shores and glided in a light 
 canoe over its swiftly-rolling bosom, 
 and beneath its ever-hanging willows. 
 Alas for the beautiful scene! The 
 Indian's form haunts it no more! 
 
 " 'My father's residence was a few 
 miles east of the "Oostenar-ly." I re- 
 
 *Sarah Bird Northriip. 
 
 member it well, — a large two-story 
 house, on a high hill, crowned with a 
 fine grove of oak and hickory, a large 
 clear spring at the foot of the hill, and 
 an extensive farm stretching away 
 down into the valley, with a fine or- 
 chard on the left. On another hill 
 some 200 yards distant stood the school 
 house, built at my father's expense, 
 for the use of a missionary, Miss 
 Sophie Sawyer, who made her home 
 v;ith our family and taught my father's 
 children and all who chose to come for 
 her instruction. I went to this school 
 until I was ten years of age — which 
 was in 1837. Then another change 
 had come over the Cherokee Nation. 
 A demon spell had fallen upon it. The 
 white man had become covetous cf the 
 soil. The unhappy Indian was driven 
 from his house, — not one, but thous- 
 ands — and the white man's plough- 
 share turned up the acres which he had 
 called his own. Wherever the Indian 
 built his cabin and planted his corn, 
 there was the spot which the white 
 man craved. Convicted on suspicion, 
 they were sentenced to death by laws 
 whose authority they could not ac- 
 knowledge, and hanged on the white 
 man's gallows. Oppression became in- 
 tolerable, and forced by extreme ne- 
 cessity, they at last gave up their 
 homes, yielded their beloved country 
 to the rapacity of the Georgians, and 
 wended their way in silence and sor- 
 row to the forests of the far west. In 
 1837 my father moved his family to 
 his new'home. He built his houses and 
 opened his farm; gave encouragement 
 to the rising neighborhood and fed 
 many a naked and hungry Indian 
 whom oppression had prostrated to 
 the dust. 
 
 " 'A second time he built a school- 
 house, and Miss Sawyer again in- 
 structed his own children and the chil- 
 dren of his neighbors. Two years 
 rolled away in (luietude, but the spring 
 of '39 brought in a terrible train of 
 c\ents. Parties had arisen in the Na- 
 tion. The removal west had fomented 
 discontents of the darkest and dead- 
 liest nature. The ignorant Indians, 
 unable to vent their rage on the 
 whites, turned their wrath toward then- 
 own chiefs, and chose to hold them re- 
 sponsible for what had happened. John 
 Ross made use of these prejudices to 
 establish his own power. He held a 
 secret council and plotted tlie death 
 of my father and grandfather, and 
 Boudinot and others who were friendly 
 to the interests of these men. John 
 Ridge was at this time the most pow- 
 erful man in the Nation, and it was
 
 640 
 
 A History of Rome and Floyd County 
 
 necessary for Ross, in order to realize 
 his ambitious scheme for ruling the 
 whole Nation, not only to put the 
 Ridges out of the way, but those who 
 most prominently supported them, lest 
 they might cause trouble afterwards.* 
 
 " 'These bloody deeds were perpe- 
 trated under circumstances of peculiar 
 aggravation. On the morning of the 
 22nd of June, 1839, about daybreak, 
 our family was aroused from sleep by 
 a violent noise. The doors were broken 
 down and the house was full of armed 
 men. I saw my father in the hands 
 of assassins. He endeavored to speak 
 to them, but they shouted and drowned 
 his voice, for they were instructed not 
 to listen to him for a moment, for fear 
 they would be persuaded not to kill 
 him. They dragged him into the yard 
 and prepared to murder him. Two "men 
 held him by the arms, and others by 
 the body, while another stabbed him 
 deliberately with a dirk 29 times. My 
 mother rushed ou< to the door, but 
 they pushed her back with their guns 
 into the house, and prevented her 
 egress until their act was finished. My 
 father fell to the earth, but did not 
 immediately expire. My mother ran 
 out to him. He raised himself on his 
 elbow and tried to speak, but the blood 
 flowed into his mouth and prevented 
 him. In a few moments more he died, 
 without speaking that last word which 
 he wished to say. 
 
 " 'Then succeeded a scene of agony 
 the sight of which might make one re- 
 gret that the human race had ever been 
 created. It has darkened my mind 
 with an eternal shadow. In a room 
 -rerai'ed for the purpose lay pale in 
 death the man whose voice had been 
 listened to with awe and admiration 
 in the councils of his Nation, and whose 
 fame had passed to the remotest of 
 the United States, the blood oozing 
 through his winding sheet and falling 
 drop by drop on the floor. By his side 
 sat my mother, with hands clasped and 
 in speechless agony — she who had 
 given him her heart in the days of her 
 youth and beauty, left the home of 
 her parents and followed the husband 
 of her choice to a wild and distant 
 land. And bending over him was his 
 own afflicted mother, with her long, 
 white hair flung loose over her shoul- 
 ders and bosom, crying to the Great 
 Spirit to sustain her in that dreadful 
 hour. And in addition to all these, the 
 wife, the mother and the little children, 
 who scarcely knew their loss, were the 
 dark faces of those who had been the 
 murdered man's friends, and possibly 
 some who had been privy to the assas- 
 
 sination, who had come to smile over 
 the scene. 
 
 " 'There was yet another blow to be 
 dealt. Major Ridge had started on a 
 journey the day before to Van Buren, a 
 town on the Arkansas River, in Ar- 
 kansas. He was traveling down what 
 was called the Line Road, in the di- 
 rection of Evansville. A runner was 
 sent with all possible speed to inform 
 him of what had happened. The run- 
 ner returned with the news that Major 
 Kidge himself was killed. It is use- 
 less to lengthen description. It would 
 fall short, far short, of the theme.** 
 
 " 'These events happened when I 
 was twelve years old. Great excite- 
 ment existed in the Nation, and my 
 mother, thinking her children unsafe 
 in the country of their father's mur- 
 derers, and unwilling to remain longer 
 vv'here all that she saw reminded her of 
 her dreadful bereavement, removed to 
 the state of Arkansas and settled in 
 the town of Fayetteville. In that place 
 I went to school until I was 14 years 
 of age, when my mother sent me to 
 New England to flnish my education. 
 There it was that I became acquainted 
 with you, and you know all about my 
 history during my attendance at the 
 Great Barrington School as well as I 
 do myself. Owing to the rigor of the 
 climate, my health failed me about the 
 time I was ready to enter college, and 
 I returned to my mother in Arkansas. 
 Here I read Latin and Greek and pur- 
 sued my studies with the Rev. Cephas 
 Washbourne (who had formerly been 
 a missionary in the Cherokee Nation) 
 till the summer of 1845, when the dif- 
 ficulties which had existed in the Na- 
 tion ever since my father's death, more 
 or less, had drawn to a crisis.' 
 
 " 'Thus have I briefly and hurriedly 
 complied with your request and given 
 you a sketch of my life. I shall not 
 return to the Nation now until cir- 
 cumstances are materially changed. I 
 shall cast my fortunes for some time 
 with the whites. I am 23 years old, 
 married and have an infant daugh- 
 ter. I will still devote my life to my 
 people, though not amongst them, and 
 before I die I hope to see the Chero- 
 kee Nation, in conjunction with the 
 Choctaws, admitted into the Confed- 
 eracy of the United States.' " ^^ 
 
 *Elias Boudinot, it will be remembered, was 
 killed at the same time by the same assassins. 
 
 **The reader should bear in mind that Ross 
 disclaimed any personal responsibility in the 
 riot and its execution, and that the culprits 
 were never apprehended. The new Indian 
 country was not amenable to such laws at 
 that time as would cause a strict reckoning 
 to be had in the circumstances.
 
 T* O 
 
 
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