Clay County GA Fort Gaines File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Lindy Hard" http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/clay.htm Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Georgia Table of Contents: Some History of Fort Gaines, Clay County, Georgia From Articles in the Cuthbert Appeal, a Cuthbert, Randolph County, Georgia newspaper. Contributed by Lindy Lee Hard lindy.hard@ccconncection.com It was common for the editors of The Cuthbert Appeal to occasionally visit surrounding counties and towns and write articles about them in order to stimulate reader interest and subscriptions. 27 Jan 1871 "Visit to Fort Gaines." "We made a visit to Fort Gaines this week; but owing to the unavoidable short stay we made, are able to give but a few items of news. Like all other points of business, Fort Gaines is doing but little in the way of trade, compared to other days, when cotton sold at 20 and 25 cents per pound. We were glad to meet several of our old friends and acquaintences there, who knew us well in our boyhood days. They have our thanks for the interest they manifested in our welfare; and their kind words of encouragement, which we will not forget. May success always atend them. We were glad also to meet Capt. J. B. Johnson, the recently elected member of the Legislature, from Clay county. The Captain is receiving a great many letters now from parties looking to office at the assembling of the Legislature in November. We hope those who have been most devoted to the cause of democracy, will be remembered first, when the day comes for electing the officers required by the state government.-- Clay is to have a new court house, which is now in process of construction. It is being built of a very fine new brick, and when finished, will be quite an elegant structure. We were informed by Judge J. C. Wells, that the estimated cost of the building is $12,000. Very cheap for the style, material, and conveniences that will be attached to it. This certainly speaks well for the public spirit of old Clay, and evinces a county pride highly commendable. It is to be hoped that Randolph will ere long, follow the example, and that we too can have a court house that will reflect credit on any community. The bridge across the Chattahoochee river, is in successful operation, and has opened up a vast field of trade to Fort Gaines, that hitherto went to Eufaula. This grand structure (except one brick arch) is made entirely of wood, and spans a distance of 250 yards supported only by three arches. The middle arch being brick is the main pillar of support. While in Fort Gaines, we stopped with Mr. Peterson the proprietor of the Kennon house. He treated us kindly, and better than all, gave us plenty of fried chicken. A dish, to which we are particularly partial." [The Editors of the paper at this time were J. P. Sawtell & T. J. Perry] 31 Mar 1871 "Fort Gaines.-- We visited the thriving town of Fort Gaines on Tuesday. Though not exempt from the dearth of business complained of by business men all through this section, we were pleased to find the people far from being despondent, and making estensive preparations for a good spring trade and a big crop of the staple next fall. The farmers are supplying themselves to a reasonable extent with popular and thoroughly tested fertilizers. From what information we could gain from short conversations with planters of the county, we think there is little complaint of the scarcity of labor-- the freedmen, as a general thing, being willing to make reasonable contracts, and working satisfactorily. We were highly gratified to learn that the present low price of cotton is having at least one good effect in Clay, as well as our own county--that is, the determination of the people to plant more grain than last year.-- We heard more than one planter express their determination to try the plan of keeping their smoke houses and corn cribs on their own places, instead of several hundred miles west. This is sensible The spring term of Clay Superior Court was in session -- Judge Harrell presiding, and dispatching business in a dignified but business-like way. The bar was well represented. In addition to the legal ability of Clay county, we met Col. Hood, Judge Kiddoo, Judge Clarke, Col. Douglass, and Col. Fielder, of our city, and attorneys from several other counties. We also formed the acquaintance of Judge Wells, the Ordinary, and Mr. Mann, the Sheriff of Clay county-- both of whom we found clever and agreeable gentlemen. In order to make the Appeal more interesting to our Clay county friends, we are making arrangements to devote a liberal share of the paper to the affairs of Fort Gaines and Clay county--giving all the local news of interest, and advocating such measures as may be calculated to advance the general interest of that people. The department is to be edited be a live, thoroughly posted citizen of Fort Gaines." The Cuthbert Appeal; Cuthbert, Randolph Co GA/ Jas. P. Sawtell, editor 13 Aug 1875 "Fort Gaines. It was our priviledge as well as pleasure to spend a portion of the week in this pleasant little town, and mix and mingle with her hospitable people. We found business dull and quiet, yet the business men were hopeful and cheerful and hopeful-- to all appearences out of debt, and having no fears for the future and ultimate prosperity of the country. As the best evidence of their prosperity we will state; there is not a vacant business house or residence in the town--all are occupied, and none that we heard were desirous to leave. We spent many pleasant moments with the big-hearted, whole-souled, genial Tom Renfro, who is just as clever as may be found in any community and would be a real "ornament" to any city. In S. E. Freeman & Co.'s drug store we also found a pleasant place of resort. The taste and order manifested in the arrangement of their large stock of goods, as well as the genial faces of the young proprietors, is inviting and never fails to create a call again, which we will surely do when occasion presents. We met and had social chats with many of the business men, but our short stay precluded the possibility of accepting the cordial invitations given to call and see them at their places of business. To Mr. Peterson, of the Central Hotel, and our old friend W. C. Brooks, (late of the Brooks house of Cuthbert) we are especially under obligations for many kindnesses shown, in the way of nice rooms, elegant fare, pleasant buggie rides, and an open hearted welcome to their hospitalities. What a pleasure it would be to travel if hotels generally were presided over by such genial spirits. Although our columns are full, and our foreman assures us that every line now written will be at the loss of matter already in type, we cannot forebear speaking of an hour pleasantly spent in looking through Jernigan's establishment, where he manufactures, every variety of vehicles from a minature baby wagon to a four-horse omnibus. To say that he has been in the business in Fort Gaines for over forty years, and for the last quarter of a century on his own merits, may be sufficient to enable our readers to form some idea of his enterprise as well as the universal satisfaction he gives in the work turned ourt, during which time a score or more attempts have been made by different parties to share his business but have all been forced to retire from the field by his steady and well directed blows over the anvil and work bench. The number and style of buggies turned out in this establishment annually is astonishing to those who are not familiar with his business. He is master of his own affairs, and may be found daily shaping the glowing iron across the anvil, in the work shop dressing and properly adjusting bodies, hacks and seats of buggies, or in the painting department personally applying the brush. The omnibus run daily in Fort Gaines, is a fair specimen of his skill as a workman, while the paintings to be seen on it display a cultivated taste and an artistic touch. Lovely nature fails to surpass the figures there delineated-- they are ripe, full juicy, and can but arouse one's admiration upon beholding them. It takes just such men as Jernigan to build up a town, and we doubt if Fort Gaines to day contains any one who has contributed more to her material prosperity then he. We hope soon to spend another day with this good people and extend further our acquaintances." From the Cuthbert Appeal, Cuthbert, Randolph County, GA newspaper 26 Sept 1873 Fort Gaines.-Glad of an excuse to escape from office work for a short space, we last Monday evening took passage for the above and interesting little city, on board the train in charge of the polite and efficient conductor, Mr. G. D. Smith. A conveyance to and from the Depot is provided by Mr. J. T Walker, proprietor of the stables. Fort Gaines has about 600 or 700 inhabitants, is pleasantly situated on a bluff overlooking the Chatahoochee, a view of which from the lower edge of town affords some very nice scenery. The elevation of this place, together with the fact that it passed comparatively untouched through the last fatal season, would justify the inference that it is a health point. In ante-railroad days Fort Gaines was one of the most important trading points in Southern Georgia, during which time many persons here amassed considerable wealth. It still commands a large business from both Alabama and Georgia. About 3,700 bales is the average yearly receipt of cotton at the two warehouses, most of which is sold in the town; in addition to this between 1,500 and 2,000 bales are shipped through without storing. Up to Tuesday morning 342 bales had been received this season against slightly less than that number this time last year. On this day but little was doing in cotton, owing to the depression in price. In this connection we would recommend to our readers the advantages offered by the "Railroad and River Warehouse" in way of security, convenience for shipping by rail or water, low rates, etc. The present proprietor, Mr. A. D. Steverns, has had long experience in the business while it was conducted by Sutlive and Graham, and solicits the patronage of the planters. On Monday last his books showed receipt of 200 bales this season. In way of public buildings Fort Gaines has a large and conveniently arranged brick Court House, which, when entirely finished throughout the interior, will be one of the most substantial and commodious buildings of the kind to be found in any of our towns; also three churches, two hotels and several stores. We cannon soon forget the variety and excellence of the bill of fare furnished by Mr. Stevenson, the well known and popular proprietor of the Central Hotel. The fare and accommodation cannot be surpassed. His house has this week been crowded almost to overflowing-an evidence that his name has gone out and that commensurate return repays his effort to make comfortable a traveling public. May his patronage and larder never grow less. Court has this week been in session-his honor, Judge Kiddoo distributing law and justice with no very sparing ladle. We had the pleasure of forming acquaintaince of Mr. S. A. McLendon, a prominent member of the Fort Gaines bar. Cuthbert is well represented in the legal profession. We had pleasure of listening to one of the maiden efforts of our gifted young townsman, Mr. Idus L. Fielder. Perhaps the most youthful member of the Georgia bar, he already gives evidence of that genius and ability which will before many years roll round place his name high on the list of fame.-Col. W. W. Fleming, of the Early County News, with whom we enjoyed a few minutes' conversation before his departure for home, was also in the city on Tuesday.