THROUGH
MOUNTAIN MISTS
Early Settlers of
Their
Descendants...Their Stories...Their Achievements
Lifting the
Mists of History on Their Way of Life
By: Ethelene Dyer Jones
Merchants
operating stores in Union Co. in 1881
In last week's column we
revisited the
store of Mr. John Andrew Wimpey and his wife, Nellie Jane Duckworth
Wimpey. I
neglected to write that their store, first opened in Choestoe, had the
misfortune to burn down. But they rebuilt on the same location on the
From census, tax and other
records we learn
the locations and names of merchants in 1881 in
In 1881, the county seat town of
Ivy Log had the most stores of
any of the
districts. In fact, Ivy Log was described as "a bustling place" in
early records. Those who kept the residents supplied with opportunities
to
purchase store-bought goods were Ruben Deavers, Isaac, Glazier,
Napoleon
Bonaparte Hill, L. P. King, William Lance, J. Ledford, Larkin Lewis,
Henry
McBee, Jasper Owen(s)by, Cannon Stephens, Caleb Thompson and James
Reed. These
twelve merchants were among the outstanding citizens in that section of
the
county.
Third in number of mercantile
places
operating was the Choestoe District. There Archibald Collins, Ruth
Collins,
James M. Dyer, James Nix, John Combs Hayes Souther, T. M. Swain, Willis
Twiggs
and Joshua Audern had places of trade. Except for Joshua Audern (whose
last
name may have been spelled wrong by the census taker), the store
keepers had
descendants who still live in that district today.
Gaddistown District "across the
mountain" at Suches had six merchants in 1881. These were James A.
Cavender, Charles Davis, John Davis, Henry Gurley, James Gurley and
John A.
Thomas. There, as in the other districts, last names of these merchants
are
familiar among citizens who live there today.
Coosa District had four stores
operated by
William Ledford, C. Nelson, Arthur Owensby and George W. Cavender.
Camp Creek settlement had four
stores
operated by Jesse Low, Thomas M. Lance, John Davenport and J. J. Cobb.
Young Cane had one store owned
by James F.
Reed.
All the forty-five merchants in
1881
offered needful products such as salt, sugar, coffee and tea. Many had
barrels
of staples from which they measured dry beans and rice. The barest
essentials
were main items in these stores. Far from well-stocked with goods, the
community stores were noted nonetheless for hospitality, and places
where
people could learn the latest news. The pot-bellied stove or open
fireplace was
a place of warmth in winter inviting everyone in to "sit a spell" and
visit.
Ethelene Dyer
Jones is a retired educator, freelance wirter,
poet, and historian. She may be reached
at email [email protected]; phone 478-453-8751; or mail 1708
Cedarwood
Road, Milledgeville, GA 31061-2411
Updated May 11,
2009
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