Georgia:  Oglethorpe County:  Prominent Ante-Bellum Families
From the Oglethorpe Echo, 1 October 1909

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Oglethorpe echo Oct. 1st 1909
PROMINENT ANTE-BELLUM
         CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTY
Men who gave oglethorpe fame for its Execeptional High 
                 Class of the Most Noble of Citizenry

               AS REMEMBERED BY  MR. J. S. BAUGHN
  
  EDITOR OGLETHORPE ECHO:  In compliance with request and a promise I 
proceed to give a breif history of our old county for a decade and a 
half before the war between the states as a prelude to the  part taken 
in that memorable contest.  It is said that peace has victorys as well 
as war, so it has it’s heros.  No county had a better citizenship than 
Oglethorpe  during the period designated, noted alike for honor and 
probity as well as for general intelligence.  
     
There were giants in those days and this was the arena for political 
discussions.  I cannot give the names of all, for many I did not know.  
I will commence and go west from Lexington, having previously given my 
reminiscence of the town.
      
The first place was the home of Henry Jordan who died the latter part 
of the sixtys, next was the home of L. M. Johnson, father of Mesdames 
Chedal and Foster, and L. M. Johnson Jr., now of Atlanta.  I will give 
here the names of all the sons of James Johnson, who’s home was north 
of L. M. Johnson’s.  They were L. W. , Jas. T., D. D., E, W., Mid W., 
and H. W., or Capt. Whit as he is known, and the only living member of 
the family.  I can but name to praise.  Next the now thriving city of 
Crawford.  In those days E. M. Gilham, agent, and Chris Winter were the 
sum total of the citizens.  Close by, at Woodlawn, was the hospitable 
home of Shelton Oliver; above, the Daniel Deupree place, and later 
years the home of Richard Gaulding.  Next came Judge H. J. Hall and 
here I would state that the superior court of those days had in charge 
the roads and revenues of the county and was clothed with certain 
judicial powers and was a badge of honor.
       
On the opposite side of the road, Thomas Baldwin lived until about 
1851, when he and John Hopkins and Barnett Moore moved to Desoto 
Parrish, La.  The Pope place was managed by overseers, the family 
making their homes in Athens.  The next place was Dr. Smith’s, who 
built the brick house now the house of A. C. Daniel.  The next place 
was Richard Winfrey’s, who though possessed of wealth was so 
unpretentious in his dress and ways that many were the jokes told on 
him as to the distrust of hotel porter and clerks.  The last place, 
wherein Geo. H. Thomas now lived was John D. Moss, father of R. L. Moss 
of Athens, and another brother, Chessley, a warm friend and schoolmate 
of mine.  On or near the Winterville road were the two Dillard 
brothers, Jos. B. and Richard Dillard.  In after years Jos. B. bought 
the Smythe place and moved to it.  Near them was Dr. T. D. Hutchinson 
and his father, Judge Peter W. Hutchinson, who, in my youth I 
considered, par example, a gentleman of dignity, intelligence, culture 
and honor, and looking back through the vista of years, must say I 
never knew a more type of citizen.  I was not acquainted much about 
where Winterville now is but will say that Germany made a valuable 
contribution to our citizenship in the person of the Winters and 
Meyers.  North of Winterville were the Eberharts, Carters, and other 
families.  In the extreme portion of the county, John Sims lived, now 
the home of B. B. Williams.  
        
Near Beaverdam church the late Geo. H. Lester was raised.  William 
Beadles, one of the most eccentric of characters, moved from there to 
Coweta County.  The Busbys, Fleemans, and other good families were 
comfortably domiciled near this old church.  Between the Beaverdam and 
Danielsville roads were David and Nathan Johnson, B. H. Barnett, Major 
Charles Hargrove, Charley Broach, Henry Hawk, several families of 
Glenns, the Coile of whom I spoke, Winston Johnson was well known.  For 
years he was clerk of the Sarepta Association, and when voted 
compensation for his services, he would donate it to missions.  Where 
Smithonia  now is Park Arnold once lived, but moved to Coweta County, 
William Mathews, one of our best citizens, raised a large family of 
children near this place.
											J. S. B.