Upson County, GAGenWeb Project Page -- Books Last update:Wednesday, 01-Mar-2000 12:55:06 MST

Letter to Editor re: History

Linda Green has shared with us this very interesting article from the Thomaston Times around 1900. (Sorry we don't have a precise date) (Sure wish we had more letters like this!)
An Old Timer Writes,
Editor Consolation-
Bill Arps;s in regard to his
recent visit to Upson Co., Ga. has put me back to my boyhood days. 

[This story was told by Charles H. Raley, Sibley, La. 1900. Charles H. Raley was the son of John and Rebecca Raley]

I was born in Twiggs Co., Ga. the 11th day of July, 1817. About this time all section of the country between the Ocmulgee and Flint River was surveyed off into 202-1/2 acre lots and settlers were allowed to draw for these lots. By what authority these lots were laid off and who were entitled to share in drawing, I do not know.

I know that my [father] drew a lot in what is now Upson County about seven miles south of Thomaston, the county site. I know not the extent of this county when drawn for nor can give dates as to when the drawing took place, as I was a small boy when my father moved from Twiggs county and settled on his land in Upson County.

At the time the Indians inhabited all the country west of the Flint River to Line Creek, in Ala. When my father first moved on his possession there was but few settlers in all that region, but people soon began to move in and settle on the lands they had drawn, and eight or ten years the country was settled up and in a good state of cultivation.

I remember one day being with my father as he was chopping in his clearing, when an old man by the name Robertson rode up, and after the usual saluation, said: "Our county is named "Upson".

At first there was little or no civilization among the peiple. They would collect together, drink whiskey and fight like dogs. But some preachers moved in and began to preach the gospel, and soon churches and schoool houses went up, and in a short time a great change for the better was everywhere appparent.

I will name some of these good old men of God: John Rose, John Hambrick, Creed Colwell, Zacoriah Gordon and Jacob King. All these were Baptists preachers and Wimbush, Edwards and Holloway were Methodist preachers. I remember sitting on the back of a little creek and Jacob King baptize my father and mother. Some years ago I saw it stated in a paper that Bethlam Association, in Upson Couny, had erected a monument in the memory of Jacob King, their former moderator.

Well, Thomaston, soon grew up to be a new country town. I remember it's first disastrous fire. On the block north of the courthouse square there two large hotels, one at the southeast corner and one at the southeast corner and one ate the southwest corner, the houses nearing touching each other were standing between these hotels. These hotels and all the houses between burned. I remember that a few days after the fire I was sent to town, and saw some of the timbers still burning. I heard one of the merchants say that his loss was about $5,000.00.

This story was told by Charles H. Raley, Sibley, La. 1900. Charles H. Raley was the son of John and Rebecca Raley

Linda's webpage: http://community.webtv.net/Linda497/RaileyRaley




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