History:  Columbia County.  Biographical Sketch of Maj. Moody Burt, 
part 2,  Reminisces of Dr. H. R. Casey
=======================================================================

USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing
         free information on the Internet, data may be used by
         non-commercial entities, as long as this message 
         remains on all copied material. These electronic 
         pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit
         or for presentation by other persons or organizations. 

         Persons or organizations desiring to use this material
         for purposes other than stated above must obtain the 
         written consent of the file contributor. 

         The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb 
	 Archives to store this file permanently for free access.
	 This file was contributed by: Stephanie Harrison
                                  info@conquestmusic.com 

=======================================================================
Articles written for the Columbia Sentinel in 1883.

Permission granted by the Columbia County News and transcribed by 
Stephanie Harrison.

The articles were written in 1883 by Dr H. R. Casey for the Columbia 
Sentinel. He writes about many of the early pioneers of Columbia County 
who arrived in Georgia in the late 1700's and early 1800's.

Names mentioned in this article:  Maj Burt, Judge Henry L Benning, 
General Toombs. 

May 31, 1883
He was a most remarkable man in many respects of most commanding
personnel, standing 61/2 feet, without a pound of surplus flesh with 
big bone and muscle, a fine florid complexion, high open brow and
captivating colloquial powers, he was every inch a man. Suddenly and
with little premonition, the dread Messenger came and the silver cord
was loosened and the golden bowl broken" and that once manly form was
cold in death. He was not a member of any of the churches, (his
predictions were for the Baptist) yet he was a moral man. He took not
the name of the Lord in vain; he loved his neighbor; did good to those
who abused him; kept most of the commandments; was a reader of the 
Bible and though he made it not the "man of council", yet it was a dear 
book to him. Having done so much good and so little evil in this world 
of the hereafter. When I thus hold up for the moralist I know I am in
autagonism to the "drippings of the santuary" and I bow in great 
respect and verneration to the superior claims to credibility on this 
subject and do not and would not advise any one to risk his hopes of 
salvation on anything short of the merits of the Great Redeemer 
himself. I am hones, however, in my convictions that the moralist will 
not be placed side by side with those who were in open rebellion- they 
are grades of reward in Heaven. One star will exceed another star in 
glory.

The death of Maj Burt was lamented by all who knew him. The poor lost
a friend in the death of this charitable citizen. "Put down in book"
said one of Jackson's neighbors, "that the General was the prince of
hospitality; not because he entertained a great many people, but 
because the poor belated peddlar was as welcome as the President of the 
United States and made so much at his case that he felt as if he had 
gotten his. Maj Burt entertained many in the days of his prosperity. He 
kept an open house and his table was always noted for it's rich varied
viands, and the poor man was as welcome to his hearthstone as the most
favored. The home of Maj Burt, on the Petersburg road was once the home
and perhaps the birth place of Judge Henry L Benning--- "Old Rock, as
he familiarly called, in military parlance, the result of the war,
together with his numerous personal acts and kindness to friends and to
the poor supplemented with security debts, so embarressed Maj Burt that
previous to his death his hospitable mansion with all it's surroundings
was sold to and is now the property of General Toombs.

Maj Burt was a very popular man, and has served several terms in the
lower branch of the General Assembly. He was an active partisan-- an
old line Henry Clay Whig then a native American and last a Democrat. He
was fond of angling and was a good fisherman as a noted fox hunter his
fame was not confined to Georgia. He kept a fine pack of pure blood fox
hounds and reynard had to "git up and git" and when up was almost sure
to be taken in at the end of the chase. He was by long odds the best
shot in the field I ever encountered or ever knew and the most adroit
hunter of game birds. Knowing as well their habits, his game bag
generally showing the best results shot in the field lever encountered
or ever knew. His fame and that of his pointer, Jerry were not confined
to the State. The lovers of sport in Palmetto State often visited him
to witness their performances in the field. Even from Lookout Mountain
invitations have been received by the Major to bring his noted dog and
try his skill on the wing of that country. But Jerry, the well trained
pointer and handsome has pointed his last bird. Major, the splendid
hunter has shot his last shot, and the like of them we never shall see
any more. He sleeps well-peace to his ashes.
But for the excessive use of tobacco I think Major Burt with his iron
constitution might have lived to be a centenarian. But he was a slave
to the weed which has filled more graves than opium or whiskey.