History: Columbia County. Mike Reid and Nathan Crawford Barnett, 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: John Reid, Betsy Reid, James Luke Sr., Gracy (Reid), Thomas Hardin, Polly, Reuben Luke,John, James, Ezekial and Michael (Reid), Elizabeth Dixon,James Heggie, Jane (Reid), Mary Ann (Reid), Charles Estes, William James and Robert (Reid), Nathan Crawford Barnett, Anna Crawford, William H Crawford, Thos. W. Cobb , Stephen Upson , George R Gilmer. Miss Margaret Morton, Mary Ann Cooper, Geo. W Crawford, Gov Howell Cobb, Gov J. E. Brown's, N.C. Barnett, Chas J Jenkins, Gov James M Smith, Gov Colquitt. May 10, 1883 John Reid emigrated from Virginia just before the old Revolutionary War and bought land and settled in new District No 3 in Columbia count not far from Big Kiokee creek. He had four sons and three daughters. Betsy Reid married James Luke Sr. Gracy married Thomas Hardin and Polly married Reuben Luke. The sons were John, James, Ezekial and Michael, Old uncle. MIKE REID as he was a familiarly called, the subject of this sketch, was born in Columbia county in 1789. In 1814 he married Elizabeth Dixon. The raised 5 children -2 daughters and 3 sons. The daughters were Jane who married James Heggie and Mary Ann who married Charles Estes, so well and favorably known to the people of Augusta as the able and efficient Mayor for several years, also as the bold and enterprising projector and active spirit in the enlargement of the Augusta canal. The sons were William, James and Robert who are still living, but the daughters sleep that sleep that knows no waking. There was no citizen more respected than old Uncle Mike Reid. A peaceable, quiet, good citizen he lived at peace with all the world and died at last without an enemy. These two good old people were well matched and from the time they were hitched together as man and wife in double harness they worked most harmoniously. Their lives were a beautiful illustration of conjugual felicity. They not only loved each other devotedly but each was proud of the other. A few years before the old man's death, I have learned the old man say, when speaking of any large collection of ladies and how beautiful such or such a one was--"Well, I never see anybody as pretty as my old woman." It seemed that the six months honey-moon with this couple lasted from the night of the nuptials to the time that death seperated them. Uncle Mike was a successful farmer, not a progressive one, not a book farmer. He took no new departures from established usages. He did not believe in hill-side ditches. He did not lose time in frequent turning of mules--the longer the row the better suited him. He never bought a bushel of corn nor a pound of meat. His smoke-house and corn crib were always at home. He did not use tobacco in any shape and never touched the intoxicating bowl; and yet he lived in the famous District No 3 within a mile or two of "Luke's store" the great rendevous for fun and frolic in the flush times of old Columbia. His sons were William James and Robert who still live in District No 3. The daughters as before stated, are both dead. Uncle Mike died in 1863, aged 73 years. Aunt Betsy his wife died in 1873, age 80 years. William the oldest son died since the publication of these Reminiscences. Hon. Nathan Crawford Barnett, the present Secretary of State is a native of Columbia county. His father was Wm Barnett and his mother's maiden name was Anna Crawford, a sister of Hon. Wm Crawford. His parents were of English and Scotch extraction and emigrated from Virginia to Georgia and settled in Columbia-- Losing his father when quite young, the widow and the children moved to Oglethorpe and settled in Lexington. Here young Barnett grew up to manhood, surrounded by some of the best of Georgia's citizens--William H Crawford, Thos. W. Cobb (of both of whom I have already spoken), Stephen Upson and that "prince of good fellows", George R Gilmer. On reaching his majority Nathan C Barnett moved to Monroe, Walton County. Soon afterwards he moved to Clarke county, married Miss Margaret Morton and settled in Watkinsville. While here he was first elected Surveyor, and assisted in surveying the Cherokee Purchase. In 1836 he was elected to the Legislature and was one of the warm and zealous supporters of the act to build the Western and Atlantic Railroad. Having lost his wife several years previous, he married in 1811 Mary Ann Cooper of Harris County. In 1842 he was elected Secretary of State and was re-elected under Geo. W Crawford. Again, in 1850 he became Secretary of State under Gov Howell Cobb. In 1861 when the offices of the Surveyor-General and Secretary of State were combined, he was elected and continued in office during eight years of Gov J. E. Brown's administration. When the iron rule of military power proclaimed Georgia's territory N.C. Barnett, quietly yet patriotically folded the drapery of his honest office around him and boldly taking with him the Great Seal of the State followed the lead of the novle old Roman, Chas. J. Jenkins, the then Governor. When the Democracy again came into power, under Gov James M Smith, he again became Secretary of State and to-day holds the same office under Gov Colquitt. For many years he has been a prominent member of the Methodist Church.