Dodge County GaArchives History .....Town of Empire 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 December 27, 2004, 5:52 pm

Empire.

  EMPIRE is situated about thirteen miles north of Eastman on the Southern
Railway, at which point the W. & T. Railway crosses the Southern Railway.

  In 1885 Jim Few erected a sawmill at what is now the town of Empire. Then in
the latter part of 1886 John Anderson and John W. Hightower bought the mill from
Mr. Few and named the location Empire. They sawed the lumber at this mill with
which to build the large one hundred thousand dollar nickel-plate lumber mill
which they erected in 1887.

  The depot was built in 1887 and a railroad agency established. A postoffice
was also established here in that year. A Mr. Charlie Beaks was the first
railroad agent, and a Mr. Dismukes was the first postmaster.

  Like all sawmill sites of those times, likened only to the oil wells in Texas
and other western states, a city sprang up almost over night, and we find that
in 1888 the town was lighted with electric lights, also that a good water
system, with deep wells, was put in. By the year 1890 there were in the mills
and railroads both about 500 employees. A good school was established, and
Empire also built and donated to the Methodists a nice church building. It had a
large membership and good congregations. The late Mr. C. C. Horsford, of
Eastman, was an important factor in the establishment of this church and a great
church worker.

  In the year 1888 the mill began building timber or tram roads out east of
Empire towards what is now Younker, and later obtained a charter for the Oconee
and Western Railroad. They continued to build the road farther east, building it
more permanently, and this road is now a part of the W. & T. Railroad. In 1891
and 1892 the road was built in to Dublin and west to Hawkinsville under the
supervision of Mr. A. T. Bowers. About this time a machine shop was erected to
do all repair work of the rolling stock of the railroad and mill machinery.
These shops were operated until the removal of the mill from here in 1898.
During this time the population of Empire was around 500, but the town was not
incorporated.

  In 1910 a nice stock company ginnery was erected, and also one of the Walker
banks. Both flourished for several years, but have long since been liquidated.
  In 1911 the town was incorporated and the late Mr. P. T. Etheridge was elected
mayor, and Mr. R. H. Beauchamp was elected clerk.

  Sad to relate, but the Empire of today does not in any way resemble the Empire
in the days when it was a flourishing town. It is still inhabited by some of the
best citizens of Dodge County, some of whom are engaged in the mercantile and
other lucrative businesses.

  Among the prominent citizens of Empire at present are: A. T. Bowers, J. H.
Hall, 0. E. Woodson, A. R. Johnson, W. W. Davis, H. A. Pearce, W. F. Phillips,
John Dunn, E. L. Gore, R. P. Cooper, S. C. Harrison, R. N. Lupo, J. B. Phillips,
Cliff Jamieson.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY
OF
DODGE COUNTY

COPYRIGHT    1932
By MRS. WILTON PHILIP COBB

Printed by
FOOTE & DAVIES CO., ATLANTA.


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