Chattahoochee-Marion-Wilkinson County GaArchives Biographies.....McGlaun, David G. 1813 - unknown ************************************************ 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 November 4, 2004, 1:24 am Author: Mrs. Sallie Calhoun McGlaun DAVID G. McGLAUN By Mrs. Sallie Calhoun McGlaun There may be names of more distinguished men appearing upon the pages of the history of Chattahoochee County but the writer of this sketch is sure that no more upright, honorable, and worthy citizen ever abode within its limits than David Gaskin McGlaun. In 1828, a youth of fifteen years, he came to this section with his father from Monroe County where he was born. After assisting his father in erecting a temporary dwelling place, he returned to Muscogee County to attend school at Forsyth, but owing to failing health he was compelled to abandon the idea of obtaining an education and so rejoined his father's family where they had located in what was then Lee County about eight miles S. E. of the present town of Cusseta. He lived on the same farm for sixty-four years and during that period resided in Lee, Muscogee, Marion, and Chatahtoochee Counties as the various changes were made. At the age of twenty-five years he was married to Sarah Elizabeth John whose people were also pioneer settlers in the same community having come from Wilkinson County. In this company were a large number of persons among whom were some very prominent families. They lived together fifty-two years and they were years of compatibility and strong devotion. There were thirteen children in the family and all lived to grow up to manhood and womanhood save one infant. He could relate many interesting incidents in connection with his early days in this region. They moved in very soon after the Indians left and once it was rumored that they were going to be attacked by them. They were sufficiently alarmed to flee but the Indians failed to come and so they returned to their homes and remained unmolested. Soon after locating, they needed some corn ground and it was necessary for them to make an effort to find a mill (Cook and Eelbeck's) which they heard was somewhere north of them and it fell to the lot of David Gaskin to do this. So he, with a negro man set out with a load of corn drawn by a yoke of oxen, in search of the mill which was only a few miles distant. After two days and a night they returned home with the meal. They had to cut down trees and make a road. His physique was fine and his stature at sixteen years of age gave him the appearance of being twenty-one. He was fond of horses and dogs and his judgment regarding horses was quite superior and at various times brought him success in trading. I have heard him tell the following incident, with enjoyment, though it occured in his youth. A neighbor, who was a professional horse trader, possessed a nice four year old mare which David liked and wished to trade for. So, one day he rode over to the neighbor's house on an old, but high-stepping, racking horse and found Mr. _______ sitting in his yard. Not wishing his errand known, as a ruse, he inquired of the gentleman if he had seen a stray hound puppy, to which he replied, "No, but I would like to trade you out of that horse." David, eager enough to trade, knowing the good qualities Mr. __________'s horse possessed, feigned indifference but suggested that he bring out his horse and they try them out, which they did, each riding the other's horse. Halting, after a short ride, he saw from his friend's manner that he was much pleased with his horse and quietly waited for him to make a proposition, only venturing to ask a question regarding the young horse, to which the neighbor replied that he never asked nor answered a question in a horse trade. He offered to trade for $25.00 but David told him he would only give $10.00 and the gentleman agreed and they exchanged saddles. Mr. ______ was so elated over his trade, feeling that he had shamefully cheated the youth, he proceeded to the home of his brother-in-law that he might enjoy the joke with him and listen to him boast of his success, as horse trader. His brother-in-law, after hearing his story, proposed that they go out and look at the horse. As soon as he saw it he began laughing uproariously, saying, "I thought David's father had told every body in this country that horse's age. He brought him from Monroe County and he is twenty-seven years old." The gentleman became very angry as David knew he would and also knew that he would wish to rue back; so he instructed his father, in case he came in his absence, to give him $15.00 more as he had intended giving him the $25.00 he asked when trading, but, that if he talked insultingly to give him nothing. But in the meantime he had been to see a J. P. who was a staunch friend of David's and enquired of him if he could take a warrant for young David for cheating and swindling. The officer replied that if David had cheated and swindled him, he most assuredly could but desire to know the conditions of the trade, and on being informed that they traded, each on his own judgment, he replied: "You had better hunt another fool like yourself." Here is another incident that shows the confidence men placed in each other in those days. As he was returning home from Columbus on one occasion, when within a few miles of home he met his good friend, Jack Duncan. Mr. Duncan told him that he was in need of $500.00 and was on his way to see him in regard to borrowing it. He informed his friend that he had it with him and would accommodate him then and there. The only security given was that each inform his wife of the transaction, which in those times of honesty and uprightness was sufficient. Of his thirteen children, only two survive. He lost two sons in the Civil War, one dying of typhoid fever at Richmond, Va., and one of measles at Griffin, Ga., while a third son was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga. A son-in-law, Andrew Womack, was killed at Lookout Mt.; leaving to her father's care a widow of eighteen years, and a baby son. He, too, answered the call for old men, and rendered faithful service as food distributor to the end of the war. He was one of the first commissioners of the county and served for a number of years, assisting in the laying out of Chattahoochee County. He was a very successful farmer owning more than two thousand acres of land. He was a kind master, regarding his slaves as worthy of the kindest treatment. He freed sixty-five, some of whom remained with him for many years. He was an honored, respected, and public-spirited citizen, ever ready to do his part in the community. He always contributed liberally toward the support of schools and churches. He was, indeed, in every sense of the word a high-toned gentleman; a man whose judgment was sought in business matters; one who could wisely calculate his fellowman's value, giving him a solid esteem proportioned to it. Additional Comments: From: HISTORY OF CHATTAHOOCHEE COUNTY, GEORGIA By N. K. Rogers Dedicated to KASIHITA CHAPTER U. D. C. and all worthy descendants of the County's first settlers. Copyright 1933 by N. K. ROGERS PRINTED BY COLUMBUS OFFICE SUPPLY CO. COLUMBUS, GA. 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