Jackson County GaArchives History .....History of Harmony Grove-Commerce, Chapter 20 1949
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CHAPTER XX

ITEMS OF INTEREST, ANECDOTES AND PERSONALITIES
HARMONY GROVE VS. COMMERCE

Why the Name Was Changed

  The question is often asked why change the name of Harmony Grove to Commerce.
During the last decade of the 19th century there was a rapid advance in the
business of the town and there were various suggestions that we should have a
name more in keeping with the commercial air of the town. There were several
reasons advanced. One was the length of the double name took extra time to write
it and a shorter name would save time. Another reason was the desire for a name
that would indicate the spirit and progress of the community. Others thought
Harmony Grove sounded like a country village and they wanted a name more
attractive to the commercial world. The final reason was there is a post office
of the same name in Dawson County, Ga., and our mail often went to this post
office.

   It may be said that while the majority decided in favor of the change it was
far from unanimus. Among those who did not favor it was Dr. L. G. Hardman who
retained the name of Harmony Grove in some industries and businesses with which
he was connected. Some even now doubt the wisdom of the change and long for the
beautiful name under which they were born and reared.

   It may be added that the name adopted was suggested by a committee appointed
by a mass meeting of citizens. Attica was the first name suggested and adopted
but the postal authorities rejected this name because of its similarity and
proximity to Athens and Atlanta and consequent danger in getting mail mixed.
Some one then suggested Commerce for the reason that there was a progressive
town of similar size in Texas by that name. So Commerce was recommended by the
committee and adopted by the citizens.

   Some incidents connected with the name of Harmony Grove may be of interest.
Before the building of the Gainesville Middling Railroad by Jefferson, a daily
star route was in use from Jefferson to Harmony Grove. One of the carriers was
Raymond Roberts who was slightly afflicted in his limbs but was able to drive
his horse to the buck-board in which he carried the mail. The contract for the
route, let out by competitive bids, was very meager, some sixty or seventy cents
a day. So the carrier supplemented this stipend by carrying passengers each way
at twenty-five cents each. Raymond was a very genial, jovial fellow who enjoyed
conversation with his fellow passengers. On one occasion a drummer was his
travelling guest. As they reached the top of the hill on Jefferson road the
drummer remarked, "There is Harmony Grove. Why do they call this Harmony Grove?"
Raymond replied that he supposed that it was because of the many nice trees and
the people were harmonious and congenial. The drummer said, "No, that was not
the reason. They call it Harmony Grove because that is its name." Raymond turned
and looked the drummer square in the face and in a tone of surprise said,
"You've got more sense than you look like you have." The joke was so good that
the drummer told it when he called on his customers in town.

   About the time the change of name was under consideration a fine old English
gentleman, who had recently come from England and was travelling salesman for
Rogers Silverware Co., Wallingford, Conn., called on the writer and expressed
his admiration for the beautiful name of the town. He said he had never known
before of a town named Harmony Grove. A short time after the name was changed to
Commerce he returned and expressed great disappointment at the change. He then
related that shortly after he was here last his home city in England offered a
prize for the most suitable name for their park. He sent in the name Harmony
Grove which was accepted and he received the prize of $500.00. The writer felt a
bit chagrined that we had discarded a name that others considered so rare and
most beautiful and appropriate.

GRAYHILL CEMETERY

   The beginning of the cemetery was a gift of one acre of land donated by C. W.
Hood, Sr., in 1874, at the same time he gave the site to the Harmony Grove
Baptist Church and one acre to the school. Among the first burials were a young
son of E. H. Ingram, monument now standing, Mrs. J. T. Edwards, and Will
Deadwyler, son of Dr. V. H. Deadwyler. The area has been enlarged by purchase of
about one-half acre of land on the southeast corner from W. T. Stapler and by
purchase of nearly two acres on the southwest end from L. G. Hardman and N. W.
Perkins. In 1934 two acres were bought at a public sale from Mrs. M. E. Oliver.
This has been added to by purchase from private owners on the southwest end of
this newly purchased lot. The name Grayhill was given the cemetery by City
authorities. The cemetery is kept by a sexton employed and paid by the city. In
the earlier years the town paid for the upkeep of the walks and the owners kept
their own lots or paid for same. This city of the dead is at present kept more
efficiently, with improvements in keeping lots and coping and beautifying the
grounds.

ANECDOTES

   During an early period of Harmony Grove there was a countryman named Elisha
who usually came to town on Saturday afternoons and sometimes visited the grog
shop and imbibed too much. One afternoon he had gotten tanked up and became very
sick. He retired to the rear of one of the stores seeking relief. After
remaining there an hour or more and having emitted most of the contents of his
stomach one of his solicitous friends came around and said, "How are you by this
time, Elisha?" He replied, "Wal-1-1 I'm well to whut I wuz."

----------

   Mr. C. W. Hood, a reliable merchant in Harmony Grove, was a very efficient
business man and courteous to his customers. He had a soft, low, somewhat
whining tone of voice. He was a bit eccentric in his method of conversation with
his customers which gave rise to a number of amusing incidents told on him
during his business experience.

   On one occasion in his old wooden store house a customer by the name of. Tom
Butler came in. He had a fine and coarse voice which would change from a very
high tenor to a very deep bass in every sentence he spoke. As Mr. Butler came in
he said, "Want a dollar's worth of coffee, a pound or two of sugar." Mr. Hood
with his back turned waiting on another customer replied, " Just be patient,
I'll wait on both of you directly."

--------------

   Mr. Hood was very careful about his clerks. His idea of industry was that
every one should keep at work. A certain clerk, named Tyra Duncan, was one day
sitting on the counter swinging his feet, talking and laughing. Mr. Hood came
along and said, "Kyra, haven't you anything to do?" "No, sir," said Tyra. "Well,
you just go around to the warehouse and roll an empty barrel from one side to
the other. I don't want anybody around me without something to do."

--------------

   Mr. Williamson tells this on Mr. Hood. It was customary for the merchants to
bid on the farmers' cotton. Sometimes the buyers would run the price up on the
other merchant's customers. This occurred on one occasion when one of Mr. Hood's
customers had a load of cotton and reported he had been bid so much. Mr. Hood
replied, "This is above the market and is more than it is worth, but I'll meet
his price and throw you in a pint of goobers. Just go and have the load weighed
up."

-------------

   Many jokes were told on Uncle Solomon Seegar and Aunt Calline. Most of them
were true. One time after the railroad had been in operation for a short time,
the schedule was such that the evening train that brought passengers from
Atlanta arrived rather late in the night. One of the drummers was stopping
overnight with Aunt Calline. She related to him exultingly that she understood
they had exchanged the "skudule" and would be lighter on the old man. The
drummer remarked, "I haven't heard of that. Flow much?" "Yes," she said, "it has
been coming at ten o'clock. It's coming now at 9:6o and it will be a heap
lighter on the old man now to meet the train."

  On other occasions, John Tuggle, a popular tobacco drummer made regular visits
to the hotel and was very sociable in his manner. Aunt Calline's casual remark
about him was, "I like Mr. Tuggle very much. He is so homelike. He sticks his
feet up on the mantel in front of the fire, lights his cigar and behaves just
like one of the family."

   A well known citizen, Mr. Jet Bird, a painter by trade and the father of John
Bird, was painting Uncle Solomon Seegar's store building with a deep yellow
color. A little school boy, Tom Adair by name, chanced to pass by and cast his
eyes up the ladder and drawled out, "Hey-O, Mr. Byrd, whut are you geasing that
house with eggs fur?" Mr. Bird, a little insulted, looked down and replied, "Two
dollars a day and my board." The boy was satisfied.

--------------

   Back in the 70'S and early 80's it was the custom for some to pride
themselves on their physical prowess. Fights, known as `fist and skull bouts'
were common, especially at the grog and blacksmith shops or stores where people
congregated. Among some of those who were known as `bullies' were Linsey Dunson,
Sebe Dunson, Frank Coleman and Frank Stansby.

   Frank Stansby, a unique character, blew into Harmony Grove about the year
1880. No one seems to know from whence he came or whither he went. A man of few
words, uncommunicative as to his background yet withal a friendly fellow, he
operated a tanyard and harness shop here for about three years. Physically he
was a young giant, tall, raw-boned and muscular, about six feet four inches, he
tipped the beam at more than 200 pounds. Generally quiet, he was not averse to
matching his physical prowess to all corners. In those days there lived an
eccentric character, Rube Anthony by name, who considered himself `much of a
man' living in the vicinity of Apple Valley and a neighbor of Morgan Nix. He
came to Harmony Grove on one occasion to look over this man Stansby. On arrival,
being congregated with some of the town boys, he inquired, "Where is that man
Stansby? Let me see him." Some one pointed out Stansby, who was nearby, and
suggested he had better not talk too loud. Rube scanned the giant fellow up and
down and exclaimed, "Golly, boys, ain't he a buster! Come, Morgan, let's go home."

   Rube was a tenant farmer and boys were found of playing pranks on him. Judge
W. J. Colquitt, who was the founder of Apple Valley, a man of wide reputation
and a leader in the community and a farmer of original ideas, loved practical
jokes. On one occasion Rube had a large watermelon patch and the melons were
about ready for market. The Judge suggested to the boys that they get some
melons out of his own patch and take them around on a certain night. They cut
these melons, ate some of them, `busted' open others, and scattered them all
around the bushes on the outside of Rube's patch. They made a few tracks in and
out of the patch but with care not to pull a single melon. Next morning Rube
goes to look over his melons, sees the bursted melons and rinds all around and
without inspecting his own melons presumed they were from his patch. His ire
arose. He put on his fighting clothes and went to his friend, Morgan Nix.
"Morgan," he said, "Somebody has busted every melon in my patch and ruined it. I
am ready to "whoop the man or any number of men who will acknowledge doing it."
Morgan never told him that the Judge instigated the joke.

"The Old Buttin' Sheep"

   In the early days our neighbor, Bijah Wilbanks, who lived about a mile away,
owned a large ram sheep which his older boys had taught to butt and fight
anything that came in his way. Once the ram got out and came along by our home.
Willie C. Glenn, a neighbor boy of some twelve years of age, was passing from
school. The boy had just recovered from a long spell of sickness. The ram
attacked him viciously, butting him down several times. He tried to escape by
getting into a wagon nearby, but every time he made an effort the ram would butt
him over. My mother and grandmother, seeing his danger, went to his rescue. My
mother seizing a wide board received the attack of the ram against the board
while my grandmother carried the boy into the house. Then with skill my mother
backed off towards the front gate, warding off the ram all the time with the
board. Reaching the front gate she closed it and threw the plank at the ram,
rushed in and closed the front door. The ram jumped the fence, followed closely
and butted the front door like a battering-ram. I was some two years old and
playing in the back yard. My grandmother rushed out and brought me to safety
while my mother blew the horn for the older boys and the hands in the field.
They came and found the ram still vicious and the only way they could drive him
off was to load the shot-gun with peas and give him a volley or two. He finally
left for his home. This incident of the butting ram as told to me by my mother
and grandmother made a lasting impression on my memory. "The Old Buttin' Sheep!"

Dog Training

   Some thirty years ago a Negro lived near the railroad just north of
Nicholson. He built a ladder leading up to a wooden tower some twenty or thirty
feet high. At the top of this tower was a small platform and at the base a good
size pool of water.

   This Negro had trained his dog to climb the ladder and at a signal from his
master he would make a headlong dive into the pool.

   On one occasion a Methodist preacher passing by was interested and
interviewed the Negro. "How did you train that dog?" he asked. "I have tried to
train dogs and never could get them to mind." The Negro replied: "Fore you can
train a dog youse gotta have more sense than the dog."

   The preacher was so amused at the ready wit of the Negro that he related the
incident to a number of his friends.

The Old Man and His Bugle Up a Tree

   An old gentleman named Maston Bray lived two miles below Harmony Grove on the
Madison County road. He was the owner of a bugle. He was a man of quiet
disposition but not very industrious. His wife was of a fiery temper and very
energetic. When she developed one of her irate spells and went into a tantrum
the old gentleman, who had provided a seat up in the fork of a tall tree,
gathered his bugle and ascended the tree, took his seat and began to blow with
all his might in tones that could be heard a mile or two, seeking to drown the
rasping of the tongue lashing of his spouse. When the neighbors heard the bugle
blow they would remark, "Old man Bray's wife is fussin' again. Listen at his
bugle."

Farmers Grange

   The Farmers Grange was established' in the 80's. It had many supporters and
supply merchants catered to their trade by giving special prices. W. C. Farrabee
who lived in the lower part of town was an enthusiastic member.

   On one occasion a man was coming to town and as he was nearing Mr. Farrabee's
home a thunder shower came up. He asked if he might get refuge under his shelter
until the shower was over. Mr. Farrabee replied, "Ah-h-h, friend, there ain't a
bit there. You can get all you want up at the Granger Store."

The Three H's

   In the days of old Harmony Grove drummers were plentiful. Among them was a
friendly old man by the name of Fin-ley, the senior member of the Finley-Roberts
Hardware Co., of Baltimore. Mr. Finley came about twice a year on friendly
visits. As I remember him come racking down the plank side walks he would stop
and say, "Friend, Hardman, what can I send you?" "Well, not needing anything
today." He would reply, "0 you mean thing, you booger! I've just come to see the
three H's, the Hoods, the Harbers, the Hardmans."

   Some wag coined in the early days of Harmony Grove the following couplet:

   Hood's town, Shankle street,
   Seegar's hotel and nothing to eat.

W. T. Stapler's Yarn of "Old Bill"

   Mr. Stapler was a master in the art of telling anecdotes. Once on a hot
August day he was stopping at a hotel in Elberton, Ga. After the dinner hour the
Negro porter was playing with a billy goat, the pet around the hotel, and which
had been trained to accept a banter to fight. The Negro finally fell asleep on a
bench in the yard and began to nod his head up and down. Bill took this as a
challenge to fight. He stepped back a few paces and came with force and struck
the Negro's head just as it descended. The impact only caused the Negro to shake
his head and drop back to sleep and resume his nod-ding. Bill, not satisfied,
stepped back about twenty paces and came with double speed and force and struck
the Negro full in the forehead. The concussion was so great that Bill's head was
busted and he dropped over dead. The Negro, little disturbed, dropped asleep
again. After finishing his nap he saw the goat lying in front of him. He gave a
light kick and said, "Git up from thar, Bill." After repeating the kick the
second time he looked over and saw the goat's busted head and excitedly
exclaimed, "I'll swar if somebody ain't done killed old Bill."

PHOTOGRAPHER T. J. ALLEN

   Mr. Allen came to Harmony Grove about 1889 and was the principal photographer
here for thirty years. He had a very interesting family of wife and six
children. At first his photo shop was on the second floor of Strickland Hall.
Later he moved to a two-story house to the rear of Dale's tin shop. He had his
picture gallery in the second story.

   There was a croquet and marble yard close by his home. Mr. Allen was fond of
these games. His wife would call him to snap a picture and he would return to
his game while she did the work. In his gallery were hundreds of pictures,
samples of all he had taken. When it was noticed that a few of the pictures were
inverted, some one inquired the reason. Mr. Allen replied, "When any body don't
pay- for their pictures I stand the picture on its head. When they come in and
pay for them I turn the picture right side up." Mr. Allen wore a long beard and
was a great church man, attending prayer meetings regularly and all the services
of the church. He was the clock winder and delighted to repeat Scripture. He had
many favorite texts. He, with his friends, Brethren Jefferson Jennings and J. M.
Rhodes were landmarks in the Baptist Church. They were faithful and well versed
in the Scriptures.

   Mr. Allen operated the first improvised home-made telephone from his gallery
in Strickland Hall to his residence in the rear of Dale's Tin Shop.

   However, about the year 1878 Charley A. Bond, a pupil of M. L. Parker's
school, used a wax yarn string attached to a wooden match box at each end was
able to talk in a low tone of voice at a distance of zoo yards. This was about
the time Graham Bell was inventing the telephone that bears his name.

PHOTOGRAPHERS

   Since Mr. Allen left there have been only a few photographers to locate for
any length of time in Commerce. The extended use of the kodak by so many
amateurs has lessened the demand for photographers in small towns. The fully
equipped photographers seek locations in larger cities. However, we now have in
Commerce the Modem Art Studio, well equipped, established by Mr. Grady F.
Michael who has been located here for about three years. He is a splendid artist
and has produced most of the photographs from which the cuts were made for this
book.

IN HONOR AND MEMORY OF DR. L. G. HARDMAN ADDRESS BY T. C. HARDMAN TO THE
COMMERCE HIGH SCHOOL, JUNE, 1937:

THE PRACTICAL LIFE

   On this occasion I am to bring you some facts concerning a life lived in your
midst which I trust will be an incentive to worthy effort on your part.

   Dr. L. G. Hardman was born in Harmony Grove just a few hundred yards from
this spot, April 14, 1856. His boyhood was spent on the farm just a mile
southeast of the village post office, Harmony Grove, Georgia. The civil war
coming on when he was a young boy, school facilities were meager and, following
this great catastrophe, were years of hardship and struggle. With scant literary
educational opportunities in early manhood, before he reached the age of
eighteen he decided to follow in the footsteps of his father and began the study
of medicine, graduating from the Georgia Medical College, Augusta, Georgia, at
the age of nineteen. While practicing medicine for a year with his father, he
enjoyed the acquaintance and friendship of Dr. Crawford W. Long, of
international reputation. In the period of 1876-1877 he attended Bellevue, New
York, receiving his diploma a few days before reaching twenty-one years. Blessed
with a religious and pious father and mother, he entered into the practice of
medicine with the unfailing purpose to succeed. With the good fortune to fall
into the practice which his father had pursued for over twenty-five years, he
ministered to the physical man while the elder Dr. W. B. J. Hardman, having
entered the gospel ministry, ministered to the spiritual needs of the people.
After serving his generation with unswerving fidelity in the realm of medical
science for more than thirty years, he became interested in other lines of
endeavor, namely social well-being and the political and economical welfare of
the people of his state.

   His chief aim in early life was to relieve human suffering and prolong life.
This gradually developed into an absorbing desire to benefit man in every phase
of his need, to bring about those conditions productive of health, happiness and
comfort. His reputation as a surgeon and diagnostician and his leader-ship in
advanced medical thought was more than state wide.

   Preservation of records and establishing of memorials was a hobby and became
almost an obsession with him. He was interested in all of God's creation, in
things animate and in-animate, things geological and theological.

   I would like today to emphasize some of the characteristics and principles
that made his life successful and useful. First, his seriousness, sincerity and
simplicity. Life was real and worth living and the simple and common place
things the most profound. The serious side of life with him was dominant, the
humorous less developed and less apparent. Sincerity was a cardinal virtue.
Second, the moving principles in his life's career were industry, intelligent
research and investigation. To him indolence was a crime, ignorance inexcusable,
waste a tragedy.

   The life of Dr. Hardman may be considered in three distinct phases. First,
early environments and experiences; second, aim and purposes; third,
accomplishments. I have already spoken of his environments and early
experiences. His aims and purposes are evident throughout his long life of
public service. In the realm of medical science, he demonstrated the deadly
effect of nicotine, the narcotic effect of alcohol and its deletorious effect on
the human body. Second, in the realm of business, he was an outstanding leader
in business affairs. He was active in the organizing of various industries,
including manufacturing plants and banks. Third, in the realm of agriculture he
advocated and practiced diversifying of crops, the conservation of land by
forestry and proper drainage. Fourth, in the realm of education, while blessed
with but scant opportunities in early years, he had a growing interest in the
education of the youth, especially practical education. He was a number of years
President of the Board of Education of the Commerce High School, serving in this
capacity during his two terms as Governor of the state. He was President of the
Board of Trustees of the Agriculture College, University of Georgia, was trustee
of Shorter College, President of its Board, and trustee for several years of
Mercer University. He was donor of large gifts to these and other institutions
of similar character. Fifth, in the realm of political economy and social
service, he was successful in leading in many sound and helpful laws enacted in
the state. In introducing in the senate in 1906 the bill prohibiting the sale of
intoxicants, the enactment of which became the first state-wide dry law; he was
responsible for the law giving free treatment for rabies, also, for
establishment of Tubercular Sanitarium at Alto. He was closely connected with
the enactment of our drainage laws, public welfare department of the state and
all the for-ward looking legislation for the past thirty years.

   During his administration of two terms as Governor, he worked untiringly for
the betterment of the state and the placing of our financial system on a sounder
basis.

   We boast today of great progress and advancement, but the test of any
civilization is in its ability to solve the perplexing problems that confront it
and to minister to the permanent welfare of its people. We look in vain today to
leaders and high officials in state and nation for a note of high moral tone and
of sound business standards and business integrity. I challenge the refutation
of this statement. Witness the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment and the
consequential deluge of our country with the whiskey traffic, dissipation and
crime. The midnight signing of a bill that betrayed the people and controverted
their voice in an election is sufficient answer to the first charge. Financial
conditions and enormous state and national debt is an answer to the second.
Drinking and smoking, with their attending vices, are the bane of our social
order. Alcohol is the enemy of human life and all living organisms. Formed in
the midst of death, it becomes useful only as a preserver of fossils and dead
bodies. We find everywhere a temporizing and unsound procedure that lays
increasing burdens of taxation on the people. Our freedom of action is
jeopardized. Individualism and self-reliance are discounted. We find our country
in a state of moral collapse and the inevitable business collapse postponed to
future generations. Balancing the budget is a lost art. 'Waste, graft, greed,
political paternalism hold sway. We must look to the yeoman citizenry of our
nation to restore the well established principles that government is for the
protection of the people and its legitimate expenses must be met by them and not
to expect our government to support its citizens. We must hark back to the
founders and preservers of our, institutions in past generations. Not that we
are not making some progress, but no people can disregard the fundamentals of
government and human freedom and make real progress. The appeal is made to the
future historian and the records to establish the fundamental soundness and
value of Dr. Hardman's administration in state affairs.

   Certainly times are changing, but principles remain and we ignore them at our
hazard. Let me in a few sentences give a resume of the life of Dr. Hardman.

   Broadly speaking his mature life was divided into two periods. The first
thirty years were devoted to his chosen profession in medicine and business
affairs. The latter period of like duration, was devoted largely to religious
matters, to donations and helpfulness to country churches, to the establishment
and perpetuation of educational, religious and eleemosynary institutions. The
first period was years of bachelor-hood, the second, a period of married life.
His passing on leaves with us a wife, a son and three daughters. To him:
  
   "Life is real, life is earnest
   And the grave is not its goal;
   Dust thou are to dust returneth
   Was not spoken of the soul."

   Young people, the future lies before you. The present is the time to prepare
for its exigencies. It is imperative that you make preparation to meet life's
problems as you face them. It is yet to be demonstrated all that God can
accomplish in the life of an individual wholly committed to the will of God and
the service of humanity, and by a nation that recognizes the authority and
over-rulership of the God of the Universe.


Additional Comments:
From

HISTORY OF HARMONY GROVE - COMMERCE
JACKSON COUNTY, GEORGIA

BY
THOMAS COLQUITT HARDMAN
1810-1949




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