Whitfield County GaArchives History .....Chapter IV History of Whitfield County 1936 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 1, 2004, 12:55 pm p. 71 CHAPTER IV The Reconstruction Era And so the War was over. Whitfield county was in the path of the conflict; both armies were encamped within its borders for various lengths of time toward the end of the period and both city and county paid the price. Within the limits of Dalton very few buildings were left standing, mainly those used as headquarters, hospitals or commissaries by one army or both. The wonderful old oaks that had made the quiet village streets green lanes of beauty were, for the most part, gone. The soldiers, coming back, found their homes in ruins, their stock gone, the slaves freed, and nothing left but the firm spirit of determination to take up life again and carry on. Four years of army discipline had caused many to lose touch with civilian duties but their splendid reaction was what one might expect and the little city of their dreams, despite discouragement and poverty and unaccustomed toil, began to rise again from the ashes and take shape before their eyes. Of the buildings remaining must be mentioned the old National Hotel. It was headquarters, commissary and hospital for both armies at different times. After the Federal troops occupied the city, they also used it as headquarters, as a hospital and as a prison, and the basement became a stable. It was estimated that ten thousand sick and wounded soldiers of both armies were sheltered under its roof at various times. Fortunately Whitfield had never been a district of large slave owners, but rather a county of small farms, largely tended by the owners and their stalwart sons, so that there was not the wholesale change of habit necessary in some other sections. And within a few years new buildings and new stock had restored agriculture in the county to some semblance of the years before the war. Those halcyon days had departed, never to return, ---------------- p. 72 but they had built into the citizenry of the county here, as elsewhere, a deep conviction that no part of the world was as desirable as the home county and state. And where that spirit is prevalent and encouraged to bloom, the section must grow steadily toward the ideal held of it. So it is not surprising that Whitfield county shortly covered the scars of war with a new growth of prosperity. One of the most important forward steps was taken in 1868 when the first county fair was held. Unfortunately there is no data concerning this, and the first succeeding fairs, in existence, so far as known prior to 1874. But a printed copy of the prize list of that year is now in the possession of Mrs. H. L. Jarvis, whose father, John H. Bitting, was secretary in that year and it is from this prize list that the following information is taken. The name of the organization was The North Georgia Agricultural and Mechanical Association, and was officered by the following public-spirited citizens: T. J. Eason, president; G. W. Sapp, vice-president for Whitfield; John Bryant, vice-president for Murray; John H. Bitting, secretary; W. J. Underwood, treasurer; Ben E. Green, W. W. Cooksey, Dr. Moses Quinn, Dr. Fol-som, L. W. Barrett, W. H. Tibbs, L. D. Palmer, Stephen Phillips, T. H. Pitner, J. D. Bivings, B. F. Prater, John Brooker, James L. Mclntire, R. E. Kingsley, R. W. Jones, and Hon. C. D. McCutchen, directors. At the fair of 1874 there were five departments: Domestic, Ornamental and Art, Agriculture, Mechanical and Live Stock. There was a speed ring and races were enthusiastically supported. Each day an address was given by a prominent speaker; in an old copy of The Dalton Argus it is stated that Belva Lockwood delivered an address. The fair lasted four days and the admission charge was fifty cents. Under the Domestic Department the prizes were for such items as the best six yards of jeans, best six yards of linsey, flannel, linen and rag carpet, best pair of woolen blankets, best bedspread, best pound of linen sewing thread and best pound of cotton sewing thread. This department was in charge of Frank Stanford and Silas demons. ---------------- p. 73 The dairy and household division of this department had prizes offered for best ten pounds of dried beef, corned beef, cured sides, hard soap, soft soap, candles and starch, all to be home-made. J. W. Bivings and W. W. Gidden had this department in charge. There were the usual prizes for preserves and pickles, grape and blackberry wine. This department was in charge of B. Movers and John W. Stocks. The second department offered prizes for plain and ornamental hand needlework, embroidery, patchwork quilts, braided work, darned work, knitting—socks and stockings; wax, hair, shell, bead and rustic work, millinery, and artificial flowers. This department being in charge of D. Bukofzer, J. W. Williamson, B. Z. Herndon, B. T. Luttrell, W. W. Higgins, B. F. C. Loughridge, Martin Berry and Professor King. The livestock department was much the same as the usual county fairs of a later period. It included horses, mules, cattle, sheep, swine and pairs of graded cashmere goats. One division of this department included poultry, pigeons, rabbits, singing birds and bees. The superintendents were A. P. Roberts, D. E. Allen, Dr. M. M. Quinn, Henry Davis, J. F. Prather and B. B. Brown. The committee to arrange for speakers consisted of George W. Sapp, D. E. Allen and R. J. Keith. The third department—Agriculture—had three divisions: field crops; garden products; orchard, vineyard and nursery. The prizes were in the main for the usual farm products including red and white wheat, oats, buckwheat, rye, barley, etc. The superintendents of this department were: D. W. Mitchell, G. P. Fraker, J. A. Maddox, E. J. Tarver and J. M. Maddox. The fourth department was the mechanical. It is interesting to note the number of articles that were then manufactured in the county as evidenced by the prizes offered for the best family carriage by maker; best buggy, wheelbarrow, horse collar, harness, saddle, plow-gear, and bridle by maker; best pair of boots, men's brogans, ladies' shoes; best bedstead and bureau; best side of sole leather and harness leather. This division was in charge of E. D. Wood and W. H. Kenner. ---------------- p. 74 It is also interesting to note the advertisers on this old premium list as giving some names of families still represented here, as well as others long passed on to other fields of endeavor. Doctors Weaver and Fann, dentists, have a business card; R. P. O'Neill advertises provisions, fancy groceries, imported liquors and wines, as well as imported porter on draught and Cincinnati lager beer for family use; the City Drug Store, owned by L. P. Gudger & Company, has a list of the things offered for sale in drug stores, then as now; Mr. Hirschburg advertises books, fancy goods and toys. The only full page space advertises general merchandise to be sold by McCutcheon and Luttrell. These fairs were continued for a number of years and were a great benefit to the county. OLD HOMES When we come across the statement in White's historical Collections published in 1847 that Dalton was the largest town between Knoxville, Tennessee, and Augusta, Georgia, we gain a better perspective of her past history. There was no little wealth centered in this point in pioneer days. The people reared substantial homes, employed the best teachers in the schools and gave to the virgin wilderness an atmosphere of culture while the tracks of the Indians were still fresh in the forest. The homes of a number of her citizens were built with that stateliness of proportion and simple elegance of design so typical of southern homes of that time. There are few towns in the state around whose old homes there clusters more of architectural beauty and social charm or of historic renown. Some of them stand to-day as fine old landmarks such as the old Hamilton house which was built by Colonel John Hamilton on the site of an Indian village. It was used as a hospital during the War between the States. The Frank Manly home on Thornton Avenue is reminiscent of the South's palmiest days. The home was rebuilt a number of years ago by Mr. Manly. The Harben house on Selvidge street, now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ogburn Alley, is another ante-bellum home. It was here that Will N. Harben, the noted author, spent his young manhood. ---------------- p. 75 The Kirby home on Thornton Avenue was built by a pioneer citizen of Dalton, Ainsworth Emery Blunt, who came to Dalton in 1843 and served the town as its first mayor and postmaster. It is one of the few homes that is occupied by the descendants of the man who built it, being the home of Mrs. Lillie Blunt Kirby, a daughter of Ainsworth E. Blunt. The old Davis home on Selvidge street built by Henry Davis, is another ante-bellum house, now the property of Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Brown. The foundations of this home were laid in the virgin forest before the street was laid out. The Huff home on Selvidge street is another fine old landmark. Its kistory is given elsewhere; also that of the Tibbs house on North Hamilton street. There are many other old homes that are still standing that have been almost entirely rebuilt but have retained the general style of architecture as the older building, such as the handsome colonial home of Mr. and Mrs. Will Moore on Thornton Avenue. These homes are still standing, but there were many others that yielded to the torch of the invader. The summit of Fort Hill, which was then terraced, was crowned with three beautiful homes. In the center, the home of Colonel J. A. R. Hanks, a brick building of pure colonial design; at the southern end of the hill was the Norris home, a splendid house half hidden in a grove of trees; on the northern end of the hill stood the Johnston house built by Colonel J. A. W. Johnston, one of the leading lawyers of the state. In the rear of these three homes were the negro quarters, which made almost a village in itself. There were many others that have been burned or destroyed by the march of progress. The Fitzgerald house, built by Reverend Archibald Fitzgerald, once the home of the country club, the old Chester house, built by William P. Chester, the Glenn house in North Dalton, built by Jesse P. Glenn, the McCohen house, the W. J. Manly house, which stood on the elevation now occupied by the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Horan. Another old home with a historic past is the brick, colonial house some miles south of Dalton known as the John Brown homeplace. .It was built by the late Amos Sutherland, by slave ---------------- p. 76 labor, many years before the war between the states, as Mr. Sutherland was a large slave-holder. SOCIAL LIFE Dalton has from the beginning been the center of a delightful social life for the surrounding counties. One of the first social affairs was the "New County Ball" to celebrate the separation from Murray County. There are several printed copies of invitations to social affairs, some of them on beautifully embossed paper, that are in the possession of Mrs. D. E. Allen. One of them dated August 2, 1855, is to a "Military Soiree" in honor of the Cadets of the Georgia Military Institute. This was at the Academy. The managers of this event bring to mind many names prominent in the business as well as social life of Dalton. They were: Gen'l S. Dunn, Col. L. W. Earnest, Col. W. J. Underwood, Col. J. A. W. Johnson, Col. G. W. Roberts, Col. Wm. Gordon, Col. John Thomas, Major W. P. Chester, Capt. James Morris, Capt. J. W. Anderson, Dr. W. Gordon, Col. J. F. B. Jackson, Col. J. R. Brown, Col. Wm. K. Moore, Col. D. P. Wright, A. B. Holt, Wm. C. Mangum, Wm. A. Waugh, J. H. Hamilton, R. A. Holt, Jr., J. A. Nelson, R. G. Whitman. Another event was a Washington Anniversary party given by the Dalton Guards at the Court House February 22, 1861. This paper is embossed and has a picture of Washington. Another invitation was a "Grand Social Hop" at Trevitt Hall in 1871. It too contains names familiar to many old Daltonians. Such as: S. Percy Greene, Dr. T. L. Kelly, Thos. R. Jones, W. H. Brooker, M. H. Bogle, Dr. R. Warren, Henry C. Hamilton, R. A. Rushton, Henry Lansdell, B. F. C. Loughridge, John Miller, Chas. Chester, D. E. Allen, W. H. Davis, D. Bukofzer, John Towns, R. P. O'Neill, T. M. Kirby. From there and many other sources we gain faint glimpses of those happy days "before the war." We know that in after years the memories of those times, whatever fate may have done, were bright dreams of the past that could not be destroyed. POST OFFICE The post office was housed for many years in various rented p. 77 buildings and it was not till 1910 that the present handsome building was erected. The Hon. Gordon Lee was the representative in Congress and he secured the appropriation for the building. It stands on the corner of Hamilton and Crawford streets and is a credit to the city. It is said to be a replica of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pa. Due to the increase in the amount of business handled by the office an addition was made in 1931. It is built of brick and stone and is well adapted and equipped for taking care of the postal business of the city. The men and women who have served the office have always been representative citizens. UNITED STATES POST OFFICE Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia This office was established as Cross Plains, Murray County, Georgia, August 30, 1837. ---------------- p. 78 Postmasters Date Appointed Ambrose McGhee August 30, 1837 Frederick Cox December 4, 1838 William I. Underwood July 9, 1839 Robert Baker September 4, 1841 Frederick Cox June 9, 1842 Benjamin C. Morse November 14, 1843 Ainsworth E. Blunt June 26, 1845 The name of this office was changed to Dalton, March 27, 1847. Postmasters Date Appointed Edward H. Edwards April 14, 1853 This office was changed to Whitfield County. Postmasters Date Appointed William P. Chester January 12, 1858 Tolliver M. McHan September 15, 1865 Lorenzo P. Gudger March 16, 1869 John C. Ballew January 8, 1874 Jesse A. Glenn January 26, 1877 James G. Riley March 31, 1880 Thomas H. Triplett April 30, 1884 Jefferson T. Whitman June 14, 1888 Columbus Browning September 28, 1889 Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor October 22, 1890 William M. Denton January 10, 1895 John A. Crawford January 10, 1899 Buford L. Heartsell January 27, 1916 John A. Crawford (Acting) November 12, 1920 John A. Crawford March 13, 1922 Mrs. Josie M. Crawford (Acting) July 18, 1923 Mrs. Josie M. Crawford February 10, 1925 Thomas A. Hopper (Acting) May 16, 1933 William M. Denton May 22, 1934 This is an authentic list of the Postmasters furnished from the records of the Post Office Department by Hon. W. W. Howe, First Assistant Postmaster General, at the request of the committee through William M. Denton, Postmaster. GROWTH OF DALTON The population of Dalton in 1870 was listed as eighteen hundred; by 1880 this number was increased to two thousand five hundred sixteen and the citizenry began to become city minded. The Dalton Argus, of which a file from 1880 to 1890 furnishes much of the material for this chapter, is full of agitation for water-works, macadam streets, a public school ---------------- p. 79 system and various other city necessities. The grand jury in 1884 recommended the establishment of a county farm to care for the county poor. And also took occasion to offer congratulations on the fact that the county had voted "to abolish the retail liquor traffic in their midst." It is not perhaps generally known that this was the first county in any state to vote bone-dry. The county tax digest for 1882 gives some interesting figures : White tax-payers, one thousand five hundred thirty-four; colored, three hundred seven; lawyers, fourteen; doctors, fifteen ; dentists, two; number of acres listed, one hundred seventy-five thousand three hundred thirty-four, valued at $805,503; town and city property, value $470,653. This shows an increase of taxpayers of ninety-one over the preceding year, and a considerable increase in values. Whitfield's school population in that year is given as: Males, white, fourteen hundred eighty-six; females, white, thirteen hundred ninety-three; colored, total, six hundred twenty-six; an increase of nearly four hundred from the preceding year. This does nqt mean that these children were in school as the public school system was not established until February, 1883. It was bitterly opposed in some quarters, and the Inferior Court at first refused to make appropriation for its support. But the school board was made up of men who saw clearly that the county could never go forward to take its proper place unless the coming citizens had a chance for an education, and finally an appropriation was made. This school board numbered among its members, W. K. Moore, chairman; J. P. Freeman, T. H. Pitner, W. C. Richardson and John H. Bitting. The City of Dalton had no public schools at this time, nor till some years later, but several excellent private schools were supplemented by a free school for children not otherwise provided for, supported by the Ladies Dorcas Society and held in the late Dr. Gudger's home on Thornton Avenue, beginning in October, 1884. The Crown Cotton Mill was opened January 24, 1885. This was the first large manufacturing plant in the county though there had been several smaller plants of various kinds as early as 1882, and perhaps earlier, including a flour mill, an axe han- ---------------- p. 80 dle plant, a hub and spoke factory, a planing mill and small furniture factory, a cotton press, two gins, a number of saw mills and a small tannery. One of the first meat packing plants in the state was started in 1882, shipping sausage and cured meats in some quantity. The Argus speaks in this year of "Happy Dalton on a boom." But so much of Dalton's early prosperity and so much of its present wealth came from the Crown Cotton Mills that the date of its opening deserves special mention. The Opera House was opened in August, 1885, It was owned and operated by Messrs. F. T. Hardwick, R. M. Herron, D. K. McKamy and Ben Gudger. Many plays with actors and actresses of national reputation were brought to Dalton as well as many distinguished lecturers and entertainers. It was used as a ball room and many notable social affairs took place there. It was burned in the great fire and was never rebuilt. Street lighting was first seriously discussed in 1885 though it was several years before it became a fact. During 1887, charters of organization were granted to the Dalton Building and Loan Association, the Dalton Electric and Gas Light Company and the Dalton Land and Improvement Company, as well as to several small manufacturing companies. The tax receiver's report showed a gratifying increase in the number of tax payers, and in the value of taxable property. A most thrilling experience, calculated to make all Dalton city-conscious, was the turning on of water from the new plant which occurred on Saturday, August 4, 1888, though the plant was not actually completed till some weeks later. An impromptu banquet at the Lewis House celebrated the occasion. In July, 1901, Dalton entertained the Fifth Regiment of State troops. They camped on the hill west of Dalton and the camp was called Camp Warren Davis, in memory of a prominent citizen of Dalton and a Confederate veteran. Governor Candler reviewed the troops camped here which consisted of ten companies. It is axiomatic that a good newspaper makes a good town, and while all the credit for Dalton's advance does not belong to the newspapers of the county, it is certain that they have been more than helpful. The first of these, published while the ---------------- p. 81 ink on Whitfield's incorporation charter was still wet, was called The Mountain Eagle which began life in 1847 with J. A. Ware and a Mr. Wyatt as editors; later J. A. R. Hanks edited the paper for some time, and in 1862, we find it in the hands of J. T. Whitman as editor, under the name of the Daily North Georgia Times.* It is unfortunate that the old files of both these papers were destroyed by fire so that the date of this change of name, and the later change to the North Georgia Citizen, is not certainly known. But it is certain that the Dajly Times shortly became a weekly paper again, and that J. T. Whitman was still the editor in 1866 by which time the paper had almost its present name. During the War Between the States J. T. Whitman was the editor and proprietor of the Daily North Georgia Times, now the Dalton Citizen. He was one of the most cultured of the several editors who have guided the destinies of this newspaper. He was a true Southerner of the old school and came to Dalton from Athens. Later editors of this newspaper were J. Troup Taylor, later secretary of the Georgia State Senate; Frank T. Reynolds, from whose voluminous scrap book much of this material is taken; and the present editor, T. S. Shope, under whose able direction the North Georgia Citizen, and under its later name the Dalton Citizen has won golden honors. In October, 1865, J. A. R. Hanks, a former editor of the present Citizen, established the Cherokee Georgian but it lasted only a year or so. Colonel H. A. Wrench, once an associate of Colonel Henry Watterson, of honored memory, moved back to Dalton about 1870, and established The Dalton Headlight which he edited for a time, sold to Walter Jefferson, Ben F. Carter, Gordon Russell and Frank T. Reynolds, and after a short time took it back, and edited it for some years, finally changing its name to the Dalton Argus, which was still being edited in 1890, standing always for the up-building of the county and a power in this part of the state. There have been other ventures in the newspaper field, but none that made any permanent impression on the county prior to 1890, except these mentioned. ___________ *From an editorial in the Anniversary Edition of tbe Dalton Citizen August 25, 1932. ---------------- p. 82 The Dalton News was organized in 1927 with William M. Harris editor, and Gordon Kettles business manager. The next year it was incorporated with Mr. Van Kettles as publisher and Mr. R. E. Hamilton as editor. Mr. J. A. McFarland is the present president of the company. Mr. R. E. Hamilton is editor and manager. In 1929 The News edited a fifty-two page special industrial and agricultural edition. It has won the Hal M. Stanley trophy for typographical excellence and several smaller trophies. In another particular the county has been unusually fortunate, and that is in its banks. It is a matter of pride that Whitfield has never had a bank failure from the organization of the county till this day. The first of its several banks was organized before this county was cut off from Murray, and was known as the Bank of Murray. In 1855 the Planters and Mechanics Bank, of which James Morris was president and T. B. Thompson, cashier, was a going concern but in November, 1862, Mr. L. Fullilove, who owned most of this bank, sold his entire interest in Planters and Mechanics to the Bank of Whitfield, of which M. Burns was president and John B. White, cashier. Another early bank of which there seems to be no definite record, was the Cherokee Insurance & Banking Company, of which W. J. M. Thomas was cashier, and James D. Bard, president. A dollar bill issued in 18G2, by this bank is still in existence. As the name appears in none of the records of the county, it was probably short lived and merged with one of the other banks of the time. Mr. Frank T. Hardwick opened his bank in 1873 in partnership with his father and his brother, John Hardwick, under the name of C. L. Hardwick and Company. This was located in the old National Hotel, before mentioned, which stood on the corner now occupied by Hotel Dalton. In 1888, the First National Bank was organized with R. I. Peak, of Lexington, Kentucky, J. D. Williamson, John Bryant, T. R. Jones, J. H. Kenner, T. M. Felker, R. J. McCamy, Sam B. Scott and T. Starr, as directors; R. J. McCamy was president; R. I. Peak, cashier; and S. B. Scott, teller. Later on Paul B. ---------------- p. 83 Trammell reorganized this bank whose later history is given further on. With many thriving industries, two unusually well managed newspapers, a good hotel and two sound banks, as well as many handsome homes, Dalton had reason to consider herself thriving. It is true there was not a foot of paving in the city; not a sidewalk, except the rough brick on Hamilton street, and not a public school of any kind within the city limits in 1890. But when one looks back twenty-five years beyond that date to what there was to work with at the close of the war, the progress already made was remarkable. The foundation for further growth had been well and firmly laid. And if it is true—which no one will deny—that the first step in any successful building is to make a foundation that will support any superstructure that is to follow, then we must gratefully admit that these city fathers of ours built well. Additional Comments: From: OFFICIAL HISTORY OF WHITFIELD COUNTY, GEORGIA BY WHITFIELD COUNTY HISTORY COMMISSION File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/whitfield/history/other/gms189chapteri.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 26.3 Kb