Clarke County GaArchives History .....Clarke History 1854
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CLARKE COUNTY.

  This portion of the State was laid out from Jackson in 1801; a part taken from
Greene, 1802, 1807; part set off to Madison in 1811; part added to Oglethorpe,
1813; and part added to Madison in 1829. Length, 20 m.; breadth, 14 m.; area
square miles, 280.

   WATKINSVILLE, named after Colonel Robert Watkins, of Augusta, was made the
county site in 1802.

   It is situated three miles west of the Oconee, and sixty-four miles
north-northwest of Milledgeville.

   Athens is on the west bank of the Oconee. The public buildings, not including
those connected with the University, are the Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist,
Presbyterian, and two churches for coloured people, Town Hall, &c.

   Franklin College is located in Athens. As early as 1788-9, the Legislature of
Georgia made liberal endowments for the establishment of the University; but it
did not go into operation until 1801. Its first President was Mr. Josiah Meigs,
Professor of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy in Yale College. Mr. Meigs
resigned the Presidency in 1811, and the Rev. Dr. Kollock was elected to fill
the vacancy. This gentleman, however, declined the appointment, and Dr. Brown,
Professor of Moral Philosophy, Columbia College, South Carolina, was then chosen
to the office, who continued to preside over the University until 1816, when he
resigned. Dr. Finley, of New Jersey, was appointed his successor. This great and
good man applied himself with indefatigable zeal to the advancement of the
College, and confidence was felt throughout the State that it would soon occupy
a prominent stand among the literary institutions of the United States; but his
sudden and lamented death for a time obscured the cheering prospect. The Rev. N.
S. S. Beman was selected to fill the vacancy occasioned by the demise of Dr.
Finley; but this gentleman declined serving. In 1819, Dr. Moses Waddel was
elected President, under whose administration the University succeeded. Dr.
Waddel resigned in 1829, when the present incumbent, Dr. Alonzo Church, of
Brattleborough, Vermont, was appointed to this distinguished station.

   The resources of the University are 100,000 dollars in stock of the Bank of
the State of Georgia, and about $1,500 in other stocks, together with the
proceeds of the tuition of students, and a small amount of town lots. The
buildings are: Two three-story, 120 by 45 feet, for lodging rooms for students;
a philosophical hall and chemical laboratory, a chapel, a library and cabinet,
president's house, and three houses for the professors. The library contains
between eight and nine thousand volumes. The philosophical apparatus is one of
the most extensive and complete in the country; the chemical laboratory is
ample, the cabinet of minerals large, and the botanic garden in good order.

   The College has forty-four acres of ground, on which the buildings are
erected, and which are set apart by the Legislature of the State for that
purpose, and can never be diminished.

   Salem is eleven miles south of Watkinsville.

   Farmington is six miles south of Watkinsville.

   The face of the country is hilly. One-third of the land is worn out; but, in
the opinion of many, may be restored with proper care. The richest lands are on
the different forks of the Oconee.

   Among the early settlers of this county were, THOMAS GREER, CHARLES DEAN, F.
ROBERSON, JAMES GREER, Col. WM. CRAIG, SOLOMON EDWARDS, WM. CLARK, WM. WILLIAMS,
WILLIAM JONES, FRANCIS OLIVER, THOMAS WADE, DAVID ELDER, ZADOCK COOK, JOHN
JACKSON, HUGH NEISLER, THOMAS MITCHELL, JAMES COOK, WYATT LEE, ROBERT BARBER,
Rev. HOPE HULL, A. BOGGS, JESSE WHITE, General MERIWETHER, THOMAS MITCHELL,
JOSEPH ESPEY, JOHN ESPEY.

   Extract from the Census of 1850.-Dwellings, 1,024; families, 1,024; white
males, 2,711; white females, 2,804; free coloured males, 11; free coloured
females, 4. Total population of free persons, 5,530; slaves 5,589; deaths, 149;
farms, 400; manufacturing establishments, 55; value of real estate, $2,122,644;
value of personal estate, $3,039,428.

   In this county great attention has been paid to manufactures. The following
are the factories: 

   Athens Manufacturing Company, capital, $92,600; spindles, 2,500; looms, 40;
operatives, mostly females, 85; overseers, 3; expenses per month, `800; goods
manufactured per day, 1,500 yards; bunches of yarn per day, 100; machinery made
in New Jersey; cost, $60,000.

   Princeton Manufacturing Company, capital $54,000, organized in 1836, and
purchased by the present company in 1845, is situated two miles southwest of
Athens, on the middle branch of the Oconee. Cotton spindles, 2,184; wool do.,
240; looms, 45; bales of cotton used per week, 21; yards of cloth made per day,
1,700; bundles of yarn per day, 90; mattresses made per year, 100. The goods
manufactured are shirtings, bed-ticking, linsey-woolsey, jeans, and checks,
quality very superior.

   Mars Hill Factory is situated on Barber's Creek, seven miles south-west of
Athens. Capital, $20,000; owned by Moses & Jenkinson. Water power fine.
Spindles, 350; looms, 12; machinery cost $8,000; yards of cloth made per day,
400; bales of cotton consumed per day, 12; number of operatives, 25; wages of
operatives per month, from $5 to $25; saw-mill, 1; grist-mill, 1.

   Georgia Factory, owned by John White, Esq.; situated four miles south of
Athens. Machinery cost $50,000; spindles, 1,704; bundles of yarn per day, 140;
looms, 20; yards of cloth per day, 800; operatives, 70. Goods sent to North and
South Carolina, Philadelphia, and New-Orleans. New machinery has recently been
erected.

   Pioneer Paper Mill, owned by Albon Chase and J. S. Linton. Located on
Barber's Creek, three and a half miles southwest of Athens. Building of wood,
upon a stone basement, two stories high. At this mill is manufactured writing,
printing, and wrapping paper.

   The Watkinsville Tanning, &c., Company is situated at Watkinsville. There are
two brick buildings; the larger, 40 by 50 feet, three stories high; engine 25
horse power; mill can turn out 200 bushels of grain per clay. Saw-mill turns out
1,500 feet of lumber per day. Connected with the establishment is a fulling mill
for hides; 7 or 8,000 pairs of shoes are made per annum. Establishment supplied
with water from a spring fifty yards distant.

DISTINGUISHED MEN.

   REV. HOPE HULL.-This gentleman was one of the founders of Methodism in
Georgia. He was born on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, in 1763, and was admitted
to the travelling ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1785. His
itinerant career, with the exception of a short interval which he spent in the
New-England States, was devoted to the introduction and propagation of Methodism
in North and South Carolina and Georgia, to which last State he came in 1788.
Wherever he preached he produced a deep sensation. There are a few persons now
living in Wilkes, Burke, and Chatham Counties, who retain a recollection of the
great eloquence of Mr. Hull. A venerable clergyman, who remembers him well,
says, I knew Mr. Hull, and almost envied him his talents. I thought, indeed, if
I possessed his qualifications, I could be instrumental in saving thousands.
This extraordinary young man drew multitudes after him, who, disarmed of their
prejudices, were under the influence of his discourses like clay in the hands of
the potter." In 1796, Mr. Hull married Miss Ann Wingfield, of Wilkes County; and
about this time, or perhaps before, ceased to be a travelling minister. In
connection with the Rev. Mr. Springer, Mr. Hull established a classical school
at Washington, in Wilkes County. In 1803 he settled at Athens, the seat of the
State University, having been appointed one of its trustees. In the prosperity
of this institution he took a very deep interest; and perhaps we may venture to
say, that to very few persons is our University more indebted than to Mr. Hull.
He died at Athens, October 1, 1818.

   He left two sons, the elder of whom, the Hon. Asbury Hull, is well known to
the people of Georgia. He has filled a number of important stations in the
State, such as Judge of the Inferior Court, member and Speaker of the House of
Representatives, delegate, &c.

   The second son, Dr. Henry Hull, has been a successful practitioner of
medicine, and subsequently Professor of Mathematics in the State University.

   Mr. Hull left one daughter, the wife of Professor James P. Waddel, of
Franklin College.

   Rev. MOSES WADDEL, D. D., was born on the 29th of July, 1770, in Iredell
County, North Carolina. So confident were his parents that Moses would not
survive his birth a single day, that when they found themselves mistaken, they
gave him the name of the Patriarch, who was providentially preserved in his
infancy.

   In May, 1777, he entered, as a half scholar, a school about three miles from
his father's residence. At his tender age, it was believed that he would not be
able to attend more than half the year; and this proved true. In the May
following, he left this school, having received at it, in all, about six months'
instruction. In this time he learned to read accurately, and to write a fair
hand. His proficiency here, which was unequalled by any child of his age in the
school, opened the way to all his subsequent usefulness.

   In 1778, by the instrumentality of the Rev. James Hall, a Presbyterian
divine, a grammar school was established in the neighbourhood, and Mr. Waddel's
friends besought him 1o enter his son Moses in the Latin department. The old man
objected, upon the very reasonable ground that he was not able to purchase the
books, much less to endure the more heavy expenses of such a course of study. He
at length, however, yielded to the importunities of his friends, casting himself
on Providence for the means.

   On the 15th of October, 1784, he took charge of a school not far from his
father’s residence. This was the beginning of his labours in that field in which
he reaped so much renown.

   At this place, near the waters of Hunting Creek, in what is now Iredell
County, and in its vicinity, he continued to teach, giving general satisfaction
to his employers, until the latter part of the year 1786, when he removed to
Greene County, in the State of Georgia. In January following, he established a
school, composed mostly of English scholars, with one or two in Latin. This, his
first establishment in Georgia, was near the North Ogeechee River. In the summer
of 1787, a threatened invasion of the Creeks forced him to break up his school,
and now being out of employment, he visited his parents in North Carolina, who
determined to accompany him to Georgia. He preceded them, however, about a
month; and on his return, found that the Indian alarms had been but too well
founded. The Creeks had invaded the white settlements, burnt Greenesborough, and
committed several murders still farther to the eastward. Mr. Waddel found his
old patrons and friends had abandoned their houses, and taken refuge in forks.
He now went to Augusta, and after having spent nearly a month in an ineffectual
attempt to procure a place in the Richmond Academy, he returned to Greene, where
he found quiet restored, and his parents just arrived from North Carolina. In
1788 he opened another school; and while engaged in its duties, received
religious impressions.

   Mr. Waddel now determined to enter the ministry, and preparatory thereto, to
obtain a collegiate education. In the fall of the year 1790, he set out, by the
advice of the Rev. John Springer, for Hampden Sydney College. He arrived there
in September, and after employing himself in preparatory studies until the 3d of
January following, entered the Senior Class in that Institution. On the 29th
September, 1791, he graduated, after remaining in College but eight months and
twenty-six days.

   In 1793 or 1794 he opened a school in Columbia County. In 1804 he removed to
Wellington, in South Carolina, where he remained until 1819, when he was elected
President of Franklin College, and immediately entered upon its duties.

   The effect of his coming to take the Presidency of this institution was
magical. It rose instantly to a rank which it had never before held. In 1829 he
resigned, and retired to Wellington; and on the 21st of July, 1840, died at the
residence of his son in Athens. (Abridged from a discourse delivered by the Rev.
Dr. Longstreet.)

JOSEPH HENRY LUMPKIN was born in Oglethorpe County, on the 23d of December,
1799. At an early age he entered the University of Georgia, but upon the death
of President Finley, he left it and entered the Junior Class at Princeton, half
advanced. Here he soon distinguished himself, and was graduated with high
honour, the salutatory address being awarded to him. Soon after his return from
college he organized the Phi Kappa Society at the University of Georgia. In
1846, he was elected Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory in the University, which
chair, however, he declined. In 1820, he was admitted to the bar, and opened an
office in Lexington. He lingered, not as many great men have done, for many
years a briefless lawyer, but sprung almost per saltem to the head of his
profession. He had to contend with the first men of that day. They had
experience and reputation; he had neither; but he possessed, in a high degree,
integrity, talent, and industry. With these qualities to support him in the
contest, the most celebrated lawyers acknowledged him an equal.

   His devotion to his profession for twenty-four years greatly enfeebled his
health, and in 1844 he retired from the bar. In 1845, whilst he was in Europe,
his friends offered his name as a candidate for a seat upon the bench of the
Supreme Court, and he was elected. As a judge, he has a profound sense of the
solemnity of judicial functions. In the discharge of his duties, he exhibits
labour, conscientiousness, and independence. It is believed that his opinions,
to be found in the nine volumes of the Reports of the Supreme Court of Georgia,
will compare well with those of any of the judges in the United States. Mr.
Lumpkin has not had much to do with politics. He was a member of the Legislature
from Oglethorpe County two years, which embraced a period when party spirit
raged with great violence. Mr. Lumpkin belonged to the State Rights party, at
the head of which was George M. Troup. Had he thought proper to continue his
political career, he might have received any distinction that he asked, but he
abandoned politics, and although he still acts with his party, he is by no means
uncharitable or exclusive.

   For the classics Mr. Lumpkin has always had a great fondness. His use of the
Latin language in his public addresses, and in the graver literature of his
judicial opinions, is very happy.

   As a speaker, he has acquired a high reputation. His action is free and
natural, very often emphatic, and rarely otherwise than graceful.

   At the bar, Judge Lumpkin was mostly distinguished as an advocate-not because
he did not deserve distinction for his deep re-search, his quick perception, and
his sound judgment of the law, but because public opinion, which hesitates to
award to one man more than one excellence, having cheerfully yielded to him the
palm of eloquence and power as an advocate, was partially blind to his other
attainments. As an advocate, however, in criminal causes especially -in opening
the fountains of the heart-in awakening the spirit of mercy and charity-in
skilfully grouping the facts in favour of the hypothesis of innocence-in staying
and driving back the mad passions of the human soul, which, in the reckless mob,
are generally found arrayed against the prisoner, and crying out "Crucify him,
crucify him"-in those higher efforts of genius and eloquence, for the display of
which our criminal trials furnish frequent occasions, we hazard little in saying
that Judge Lumpkin was without equal or rival in his native State.

   Very soon after beginning public life, he enlisted in the cause of
temperance. Steadily and zealously, by example, by argument, the most fruitful
illustrations, by appeals the most persuasive, and by a judicious patronage of
every feasible expedient, he has given him-self to the temperance reform.

   We are glad to inform our readers that Mr. Lumpkin is a religious man. For
twenty-five years he has been a member of the Presbyterian Church. In the person
of Judge Lumpkin, religion has never suffered. His study has been to let his
light shine; and his life proves that he endeavours to imitate the example of
Him who went about doing good.

   His attachment to Georgia is great; and whilst he feels interested for the
welfare of every section of his wide-spread country, we believe there is not a
Georgian that can say with greater truth than Judge Lumpkin

     "I love thee next to Heaven above-
      Land of my fathers ! thee I love!
      And, rail thy slanderers as they will,
      With all thy faults, I love thee still."

(we have drawn freely in the preparation of this sketch from an article in the
"United States Law Magazine," vol. iv., page 34.)

   General DAVID MERIWETHER resided in this county for many years. By birth he
was a Virginian. During the whole Revolutionary conflict he was actively
engaged. He was at the siege of Savannah, and there taken prisoner by the
British. In a former work, the compiler has spoken of this gentleman. He died in
Clarke County.

   COPY of GENERAL MERIWETHER'S PAROLE.-I do hereby acknowledge myself to be a
prisoner of war, upon my parole to his Excellency Sir Henry Clinton; and that I
am thereby engaged, until I shall be exchanged, or otherwise released therefrom,
to remain at the barracks at Haddrell's Point, or within six miles thereof,
without passing any rivers, creek, or arm of the sea; and that I shall not in
the meantime do, or cause anything to be done, prejudicial to the success of his
Majesty's arms, or have intercourse or hold correspondence with his enemies; and
that upon a summons from his Excellency, or other person having authority
thereto, that I will surrender myself to him or them at such time and place as I
shall hereafter be required.

   Witness my hand this 18th day of May, 1780.

                 (Signed)    DAVID MERIWETHER, Lieutenant.

Witness: C. H. SIMMONS.

   I do hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the parole this day
signed by Major Stuart, Com. of Prisoners.

   JOSIAH MEIGS was one of the ablest men of his day. Dr. Church, in a discourse
delivered before the Georgia Historical Society, says: 

   "President Meigs commenced the exercises of the University when no College
buildings of any description had been erected. Recitations were often heard, and
lectures delivered, under the shade of the forest oak; and for years he had the
almost entire instruction of the College, aided only by a tutor or some member
of one of the higher classes. The institution was without library-without
apparatus-without professors-without buildings-without productive funds! And yet
the President was called upon to instruct from forty to sixty students, to
superintend the erection of buildings, and frequently to meet the Board of
Trustees and the Legislature at a distance from the seat of the College, leaving
the institution under the superintendence of a tutor, or without any control but
the discretion of inexperienced youth. And yet, because he did not, in a few
years, call together as many students as were found at Harvard or Yale, and give
to the College as high a reputation as was enjoyed by those ancient seminaries,
he has been thought by some to have been deficient in zeal and in talents.

   "Few men, perhaps, ever laboured with more untiring zeal and unremitting
industry than this faithful pioneer in the cause of learning in our State. His
views upon the subject of instruction were enlarged, and the measures which he
recommended to the Trustees of the College and to the Legislature were
judicious-such as fully to sustain his character as a man of learning, and one
who had carefully studied the subject of general education. The only failure on
his part was a failure to accomplish an impossibility-to build up, without
means, a flourishing College. The Israelites had not a harder task when required
to make brick without straw, than President Meigs, when, under such
circumstances, he was required to raise up in a few years an institution which
would compare with those which had been long established and well endowed."

   In a letter addressed by Mr. Meigs to Governor Milledge, dated May 11, 1808,
now in our possession, referring to the arrival of the philosophical apparatus,
he says-"I have been much embarrassed with company since its arrival, but I have
patiently attended to the wishes of the people. It is thought we know
everything. Alas! how limited is all our knowledge! yet when we compare
ourselves with others, we look down with a species of pride, but upwards with
humility."

   Colonel REYNOLDS, father of the late Governor Reynolds, of Alabama, was among
the most enterprising of the first settlers.

   EDWARD PAYNE, attorney at law, was among the early settlers of this county.
As a lawyer, he occupied a very high position.

   Colonel BARBER was a man of great integrity. In the Indian wars he greatly
distinguished himself. He was much confided in by his men, and under his command
they seemed to fear no danger. Colonel Barber had many escapes from the savages,
some of which were almost miraculous.

   Hon. ZADOCK COOK is still living near Athens, over 85 years of age. He has
frequently been a member of the Legislature of Georgia. He was a member of
Congress in 1817 and 1819. Mr. Cook has been a great reader. His memory is
wonderful. We have heard that, after once reading a chapter in the Bible, he can
repeat from memory every word of it.

   Hon. AUGUSTUS S. CLAYTON was one among the most eminent men in Georgia. He
was a member of the first class that graduated at our University. In a knowledge
of the classics he made great proficiency, and was esteemed one of the best
writers in Georgia. He was a member of Congress, and a Judge of the Superior
Court. When Washington visited Augusta, in 17___, he attended an exhibition of
the students of the Richmond Academy. The great chief was so pleased with the
performances of the young orators, that previous to his departure he desired a
list of their names to be furnished him, which was accordingly done. Upon his
return home, he sent each of the speakers a book. Mr. Clayton was among the
speakers, and received from Washington a copy of Caesar's Commentaries.

   Major DOUGHERTY was an early settler of Clarke, remarkable for his activity
and integrity. He left three sons, one residing in Athens, Judge Dougherty, one
residing in Columbus, and the third in Alabama--gentlemen who do honour to their
father. (Since the above was written, this gentleman has departed this life. He
was one of the best and most respectable citizens of Georgia.)

   Mr. THOMAS MITCHELL, an early settler of Clarke, was a very useful and worthy
citizen.

   General J. V. HARRIS has long been a resident of Clarke. He was one of the
first class that graduated at Athens College; and practised law in Elbert, in
which he was very successful. He has been a member of the Legislature, a trustee
of the College, &c. Six of this gentleman's sons have been educated at Athens.
Mr. Harris possesses great conversational powers, and his memory is filled with
interesting reminiscences connected with the history of Middle Georgia.

  We acknowledge our obligations to him for most of the information concerning
the prominent men of Clarke.


Additional Comments:
From: "Sketches of Counties" in



HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

OF

GEORGIA

CONTAINING THE MOST INTERESTING

FACTS, TRADITIONS, BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, ANECDOTES, ETC.

RELATING TO ITS HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES, FROM ITS FIRST 

COMPILED FROM ORIGINAL RECORDS AND OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS.



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