Pulaski County GaArchives History .....Hawkinsville Businesses 1935
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 28, 2004, 11:49 pm

ICE PLANT

   In 1897 our first ice plant was completed with Mr. W. W. Thomas sponsoring
the enterprise. It flourished for quite a while, but again our town was
dependent on other cities for ice for a long period of time. A few years of this
inconvenience convinced the town of the imperative need for our own ice factory.
One was soon installed and the plant was enlarged and improved, not only
furnishing ice for our own town but for nearby towns.

   The Kennedy Ice Company, with a chain of ice factories, one located here,
supplies a large territory. The factory is modern in every way and manufactures
high grade ice.

TELEPHONE, LIGHT AND WATER PLANT

   Early in 1897 a telephone system was installed by L. F. Blasingame, which he
conducted until sold to the present owner, W. A. Jennings.

   The same year, 1897, the splendid light and water plant was completed, city
owned. In August, 1930, the town sold the light plant to the Georgia Power
Company, which has given most satisfactory service to our town and has been of
great benefit to the county, as many families in the country enjoy the luxury of
electricity. The city owns the water plant, which has been a continued success.

COTTON MILLS

   In 1900 the cotton mills were built by a stock company composed of the
leading and public-spirited citizens of the town. Like many such ventures, it
did not prove an asset to the first promoters. It

p. 111

was known for several years as the Henry Cotton Mills, W. N. Parsons, president,
and McC. Pate, secretary-treasurer. In 1904 the mill was enlarged and Mr. D. E.
Duggan of Cochran, a man of several years' experience in the mill business in
Cochran, came to Hawkinsville and assumed the management of the mill, later
buying it, and for a number of years successfully operating it. This mill has
never had a strike. A spirit of cooperation prevails between employer and
employee. The spinning and weaving capacity is 5,000 spindles, and they
manufacture cotton yarns and towels. There are 125 employees, forty of these
being women. The mill has recently installed new machinery, adding about 1,000
spindles. For eight years they generated their own electric power, but for the
past four years have purchased power from the Georgia Power Company. There are
no dyeing vats nor bleachery, and all goods made are shipped to Eastern points.
This mill is controlled and managed by Mr. Timothy Mooney, Fall River, Mass.,
who has had charge for the past seven years.

COCA-COLA BOTTLING COMPANY

   Buff and Bennett were the first to conduct a bottling company, manufacturing
both Coca-Cola and Chero-Cola, and continued in business for a number of years.
That was in the early history of the famous drink. In 1926 Mr. Ramsey Thompson,
after several years' experience in Birmingham, Ala., and Athens, Ga., assumed
management of the plant in Hawkinsville. With three counties as his territory,
by his fine methods, he has gained the enviable reputation for manufacturing the
best Coca-Cola in Georgia.

BANKS

   In 1831 the first bank in Hawkinsville opened for business, with $200,000.00
capital. General Hartwell H. Tarver of Twiggs County, a man of great wealth and
connected with banks in Savannah, Darien, and Macon, and John Rawls, a pioneer
citizen of Pulaski County and a man of large means, owned the bank. It was known
as the Bank of Hawkinsville, John Rawls, president. The banking business in the
early days of Georgia was a personal venture, and stood or fell on the financial
strength of its owners. Facilities for checking a "run" on a bank were extremely
limited. This is a true story of a threatened "run" on the Hawkinsville bank.
One of the owners, when once on a tour of inspection, found rumors were afloat
that the bank was without funds. Ominous groups of men were standing around
waiting for the doors of the bank to open. The banker, shrewd pioneer of
finance, knew something had to be done at once. Suddenly, through the groups of
brooding men,

p. 112

negroes came hurriedly rolling two kegs. clinking merrily as they were rolled
into the bank. After much splintering noise of opening kegs, the doors were
thrown open, and the waiting men invited to come in. Quickly faces began to
brighten, and after many cheery greetings were exchanged. the waiting men
dispersed. They said the "General" had arrived, bringing two kegs of money; they
had seen the kegs and had heard the money rattle. The kegs held only nails. The
noise was merely to gain time until General Tarver and John Rawls could get in
touch with the banks in Darien, Savannah, and Macon, in which they were interested.

   In 1872 the Hawkinsville Bank and Trust Company was organized. Col. C. T.
Lathrop, Major J. H. Pate, Captain R. W. Anderson, J. D. Stetson, E. J. Henry
and others formed the nucleus of this bank, insuring a very strong financial
support. The Hawkinsville Bank and Trust Company proved a valuable asset to
Hawkinsville and served a large territory.

   In 1882 Lewis Leonard and Company established a bank, operating in the
building known as the DeLamar Building, on Jackson Street. Doc. Leonard of
Vienna, and R. G. Lewis of Hawkinsville, men of business sagacity, were the
prime movers in this enterprise. This bank was one of Hawkinsville's best
financial assets for a number of years. At the death of Mr. Lewis, Mr. Nat
Jelks, as administrator, closed the affairs of Mr. Lewis. As Mr. Leonard lived
in Vienna, one of Hawkinsville's strongest financial institutions closed its
doors. Lewis Leonard and Company's banking interests were of great value in the
making for better business in the town, and was most successful.

   The Planters Bank was organized in March, 1896. J. F. Coney, Sr., was
president from its organization to April, 1916, and Walker McCall was the first
cashier. N. A. Jelks was made assistant cashier in 1899, cashier in January,
1900, and in 1916 was elected president, which position he continues to hold. W.
N. Parsons has been vice president since its organization. It was organized with
some of the most influential and prosperous citizens of Hawkinsville for its
financial background. It has been an asset that cannot be estimated. Since its
incipiency it has been one of the most successful financial institutions of our
city. Its first home was in the building now occupied by "Thompson Trading Post"
on Jackson Street; then they bought and moved to the famous "Red Bar" Building
on Jackson Street, where in 1915 they constructed a handsome building of marble
and brick, installing all modern banking equipment. The present officers are: N.
A. Jelks, president; W. N. Parsons, vice president; D. P. McGriff, cashier.

   In 1906 the First National Bank opened for business, with W. N.

p. 113

Parsons. president, and Morgan Thompson, cashier. These men felt the need of a
national bank in our town, and for several years served a large area. Later it
was merged with the Hawkinsville Bank and Trust Company, and finally organized
into a State bank.

   The Pulaski County Bank was organized for business with D. T. Mashburn,
president, and C. W. E. Marsch, cashier, and its principal supporters were
well-known and prosperous farmers. There were then four banks in Hawkinsville,
but at the present time only one, the Planters Bank, remains. Pulaski County has
only two banks-the Bank of Finleyson, and the Planters Bank, of Hawkinsvilleboth
strong financial institutions, serving a large territory.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from 


"HISTORY OF PULASKI COUNTY GEORGIA"

OFFICIAL HISTORY

COMPILED BY THE HAWKINSVILLE CHAPTER
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
PRESS OF WALTER W. BROWN PUBLISHING COMPANY
ATLANTA, GEORGIA

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/pulaski/history/other/gms108hawkinsv.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/

File size: 8.2 Kb