Jackson County GaArchives History .....History of Harmony Grove-Commerce, Chapter 6 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 August 21, 2004, 2:50 pm

CHAPTER VI
TRAVELLERS TO MARKET

   Before and after the Civil War, the mountaineers travelled in covered wagons
and drove their stock, cattle, hogs, sheep and turkeys to market. These mountain
travellers hailed from this side and beyond the Blue Ridge from Union, Towns,
Rabun, White and Habersham counties in Georgia and from Cherokee, Clay and Macon
counties in North Carolina. Generally speaking, the mules and horses came from
North Carolina while the cattle and other products came from the Georgia counties.

   These droves of cattle and sheep, hogs and turkeys were driven by two, or
three, footers (men on foot), usually followed by two or three covered wagons
loaded with cabbage, apples, chestnuts and other fruits and a liberal supply of
feed for their stock. They travelled from fifteen to twenty miles a day except
those with the droves of mules and horses, who made thirty or forty miles a day.
These were led by one rider in front with usually two riders in the rear,
leading stock that had been traded for on the way. These mule drivers traded
along the road and sold their products wherever opportunity offered, and stopped
for the night with some large farmer where they expected to make some sales.

   Those driving cattle, sheep or hogs were well acquainted with the itinerary
and usually stopped for the night where there was a large lot or pasture and
feed. But the turkey drivers were somewhat different. For when the sun set, Mr.
Turkey would jump into a bush or tree, or on a nearby fence and roost for the
night. After the fall of twilight, they refused to go farther. So the driver of
turkeys must plan to make a suitable place before sundown for his camp. One such
place on the Athens Road was just below the Polk Nash house in the fork of the
Athens and Hood Mill roads. Another such place for camping was on the Madison
County Road just below the residence of James E. Haggard, which was known as
"The Glade" from the fact that the yellow clay and underlying rock were near the
surface of the ground. This was an excellent place for camping in the woods of
W. B. J. Hardman near the frog pond. All the wagoners knew of this camping site.

   The methods of driving were varied. The mule drivers rode, usually, in front
of the drove. As they went along,. they would holler "Co-ap, Co-ap," especially
at the forks of the road when they would take the wrong route. The drove was
followed by two riders who rounded up any stragglers. The cattle drivers were
perhaps the most interesting. They followed their droves of some forty or fifty,
with one or two belled cows leading the way and the drivers alternately calling,
"ho! ho! ho!" "hoa, hoa, hoa!" and popping the long leather whip.

   This was the chief kind of marketing during the fall season and we boys, when
we heard the cow bells and the drivers signal, were thrilled with anticipation.
We ran to the fence to watch the procession and asked the drivers, "How many
cows you got?" "Can't you count 'em?" "So many we can't count 'em all," the boys
would say. "About forty-five cows and two bob-tail bulls," came the reply from
the drivers. The droves usually numbered from thirty-five to sixty.

   Only occasionally was there a drove of sheep or a drove of hogs passing
through. Sheep were very easy to drive as they marched in compact order and
somewhat in the shape of an A, like a drove of ducks. If the road was dusty,
they were covered with red dust.

   Perhaps, the most interesting in the method of driving were the turkeys. An
expert driver would carry along a whip lash about 30 feet long on a staff. If
any high-stepping gobbler strayed to the road side, the driver would sling his
long whip with dexterity, wrap it around Mr. Gobbler's neck and pull him into
his proper place.

   The market for these mountaineers was either Lexington, Washington, Athens,
but chiefly Augusta. Harmony Grove being located on the ridge road to these
cities and the Athens and Augusta Roads forked at Harris's, now Waters' Store,
practically all the mountain wagons and droves passed through the town and was
quite an event for fall trade. They would go down with all their wares, their
purpose being to trade for clothing, shoes and other necessities not obtainable
in the mountain section.

   Eventually in the twenty years between 1880 to 1900, these people found that
Harmony Grove was a good trading center, so they reserved a good part of their
trade, especially of heavy goods, for their return trip in order that they might
not have to haul them so far as from Athens or Augusta. At this period, their
trade of plow goods, stoves and household utensils was very considerable.
Sometimes neighbors of the same county travelled in groups of several wagons. I
recall selling to one such bunch of wagons several cook stoves, consisting of
about forty cooking utensils, loading two or three on each wagon. The stove with
utensils sold for $12.50.

   Eventually, most of the mountain trade went to Gainesville as that city grew,
developed and enlarged as a jobbing point.

   In 1875, the commercial fertilizer business began to be enlarged. Among the
first fertilizers used was one called "Merriman's" and it sold for $75.00 a ton.
The old "Merriman" had such an odor a wagon loaded with this product could be
detected half a mile from the road.

The Mountain Covered Wagon

   This unique and distinct vehicle deserves more than passing notice in this
narrative. These wagons were home-made in blacksmith shops. They had wooden
axles, homemade iron skeins attached, built up wooden wheels, homemade bodies
covered with heavy drill or duck cloth on bow frames. These covers were drawn
together at each end by draw cords, leaving enough open space in front for the
driver to see his way. These covers furnished shelter from rain and wind.
Underneath the rear axle hung a tar bucket filled with home run tar for greasing.

   In these wagons were various things for sale and for camping, usually
skillets, frying pans, side meat, bedding and quilts and an axe. Sometimes a dog
was tied underneath. In the wagon the various articles for sale consisted of
cabbage, apples, Irish potatoes, chestnuts, home-twist tobacco and other items.
Sometimes a sample was hung out in front or sometimes an apple or cabbage was
stuck on a stick and attached on the top of the bow frame.

The North Carolina Covered Wagons

   Wagons from the North Carolina counties were a different pattern. They were
flared up some four or five feet, front and rear, which gave better access for
loading and were painted blue. Wooden feed troughs were attached to the rear
end. These were referred to as the North "Calliny" wagons and were
representative of the old covered wagon era. These two types of wagons were
familiar objects as they passed through Harmony Grove during the fall season,
sometimes in groups. The writer, being in the hardware business, often sold them
a set of bows for their wagons.

   These campers enjoyed the freedom of the roadside and wood necessary for
their use as they usually camped in the edge of woods by the side of the road.
As a rule the campers arose before day, cooked their breakfast and prepared
their dinner for the day's journey and were on the road by the rising of the sun.


Additional Comments:
From

HISTORY OF HARMONY GROVE - COMMERCE
JACKSON COUNTY, GEORGIA

BY
THOMAS COLQUITT HARDMAN
1810-1949




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