Pulaski County GaArchives History .....UDC History, Hawkinsville 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 29, 2004, 12:42 pm O. C. HORNE CHAPTER, UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY The O. C. Horne Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, was organized by Ellen Horne Mitchell (Mrs. S. W. Mitchell), at her home in Hawkinsville, March 1, 1899. The Chapter was named in honor of Mrs. Mitchell's father, General O. C. Horne. Charter members were: Miss Bessie Anthony, Mrs. T. H. Bridges, Mrs. E. C. Glover, Mrs. G. R. Glover, Mrs. W. L. Grice, Mrs. B. Holmes, Miss Lily Jelks, Miss Kathie Jelks, Mrs. George W. Jordan, Mrs. T. C. Kidd, Mrs. S. W. Mitchell, Mrs. McC. Pate, Miss Pearle Mitchell, and Miss Clyde Willis. p. 130 The first officers of the Chapter were: President, Mrs. S. W. Mitchell; Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. T. H. Bridges. Presidents of the Chapter served in the following order: First president, Ellen Horne Mitchell (Mrs. S. W. Mitchell), 1899-1903; second president, Righton Miller Brown (Mrs. J. P. Brown), 1903-1904; third president, Martha Wimberly Lovejoy (Mrs. P. H. Lovejoy), 1904-1906; fourth president, Henrietta Breazeal Jordan (Mrs. G. W. Jordan), 1906-1908; fifth president, Eloise Winifred (Lillie) Martin, 1908-1928. In 1906, during Mrs. Lovejoy's administration, the City Auditorium was built. At a meeting of the City Council a motion was made by Councilman G. Walker Jordan that the O. C. Horne Chapter U. D. C. be given the use of a certain room and adjoining kitchenette in the Auditorium for Chapter meetings. The motion was unanimously carried. For many years the Chapter could only afford a table and a few chairs, but after paying for the Confederate monument and marking soldiers' graves, funds became available and the assembly room and kitchenette were adequately and handsomely furnished, at the expenditure of $1,000.00. During Mrs. Jordan's administration, 1907, the greatest desire of the Chapter was consummated. The contract was signed for a $3,000.00 Confederate monument. That was a heroic undertaking for less than fifty women, but so splendid was the support given by the citizens of Pulaski and friends elsewhere, and so ceaseless was the determined pull of those patriotic women, that on July 21, 1908, a beautiful monument commemorating the Confederacy was unveiled. The Chapter deeded it to Pulaski County and the City of Hawkinsville, believing that it would be protected and cared for by such guardianship. Was that confidence misplaced? Those women struggled and toiled to honor with imperishable granite and marble the followers of Davis and Lee. Will future years cool the warmth of Southern hearts and blot out the memory of the valorous Confederate dead? Miss Martin, widely known as "Miss Lillie," was elected in the fall of 1908, and continued the beloved president for twenty years. In less than a year the debt of $2,000.00 on the monument was paid. By her tireless efforts the small chapter membership was increased to 659, making the 0. C. Horne rank third in the Georgia Division, U. D. C. The primary interest of the Chapter was the welfare of Confederate veterans of Pulaski County. A cake was sent to each on his birthday. Subscriptions to the "Confederate Veteran" were included in their Christmas packages. On Memorial Day, April 26th, a dinner was served them, their wives, and widows of veterans; baskets and trays were sent those who could not attend. p. 131 When the Stone Mountain Memorial coin was distributed, one was presented to each veteran. Several hundred names were secured for the Children's Founders' Roll, which was another Stone Mountain project. There were times when medicine and nurses were needed for some old soldier, and there were times when it was necessary to provide decent burial for a wearer of the Cross of Honor. No matter what-ever the need of a Confederate veteran, a way was found to provide it by that zealous body of women. As a last token of honor, on every veteran's bier a hand-made silk Confederate flag and an evergreen wreath tied with the Confederate colors, was placed. One certain member made most of those flags, and long after the O. C. Horne had become inactive, when the last veteran of Pulaski passed away, that faithful daughter of the Confederacy provided the wreath and flag for his casket. The evergreen wreath tied with the colors was never used for other than a veteran. During the years between 1907 and 1927, the 0. C. Horne Chapter bestowed 144 Crosses of Honor. Of the years preceding 1907, no State record of crosses is available. Veterans anywhere were given all possible aid in making application for crosses, and many were assisted in securing pensions. Many an itinerant veteran was helped to reach his journey's end. Interest in veterans was not for those of Pulaski County alone. Annually a crate of fruit, subscriptions to the "Confederate Veteran," valentines, Christmas cards, and many other remembrances were sent to those at the Georgia Soldiers' Home. It was at Miss Martin's suggestion that Pulaski's representative, Hon. H. E. Coates, introduced the bill providing the pension that Georgia now pays to the veterans living at the Soldiers' Home. Annually a bale of the Southern gray moss was sent to Madison, Wisconsin, to decorate the 136 graves of Confederate soldiers who, far from homeland and kindred, are buried there. A tremendous accomplishment was the purchasing of 150 white marble markers for graves of Confederate soldiers buried at "Orange Hill," the Hawkinsville cemetery, and in county graveyards. A Chapter member designed the markers, which design later was adopted by the Georgia Division, U. D. C., as the official design of markers for Georgia. Wives and widows of veterans who were members of the Chapter were exempt from paying dues. All local educational projects were aided. A great many boys and girls received gift scholarships to various schools and colleges through the efforts of the 0. C. Horne Chapter, and some were given clothing and money for school equip- p. 132 ment. A room in the Woman's Dormitory at the University of Georgia was completely furnished by the Chapter. In all county schools were placed U. S. flags and Confederate flags; portraits of Confederate heroes, books, and rosters of Pulaski companies that served the Confederacy. The Chapter contributed annually to every State and National U. D. C. project. The Raines banner offered annually for the greatest increase of membership within the year was won five times, four consecutive years, and one year later. The Selden banner offered for the largest number of historical essays, was held one year. It was the first Chapter to win the Alice Baxter cup awarded for the largest membership enrollment between the ages of 18 and 25. It was the first Chapter to win the Alice Mitchell Walker cup for the largest collection of service records of World War soldiers and sailors of Confederate lineage. This cup was finally awarded to the O. C. Horne Chapter for having made the highest percentage in the Georgia Division, U. D. C., in collecting World War records. It won the Blount Memorial cup for bestowing 51 World War Service Crosses, which was the largest number given by any Chapter within a year. It was the first Chapter to win the Lillian Huntley cup, offered for the best written Chapter report of the current year. Soon the 0. C. Horne Chapter became known as the "Banner Chapter" of the Georgia Division. At the State convention, held in Macon, 1920, it won every trophy offered except one. The President General, Mrs. Roy Weeks McKinney, was attending the convention and was so impressed by the report of the O. C. Horne Chapter that at the following general convention she commented upon its work and pronounced it 100 per cent. The most amazing work accomplished by that amazing Chapter was during the World War. To it was accredited one-fifth of the value of all World War work done by the Georgia Division; the exact amount was $12,305.68. Whatever women could do they did superlatively. They made quilts, pillows, socks, sweaters, jellies, preserves, scrapbooks; in fact, they contributed from every resource at their command. All members were active Red Cross workers. At the request of the Chapter president a member designed a World War service flag for the Chapter. It was patterned after the battle flag of the Confederacy. The colors were a white field bordered with red with a cross made of blue stars. For those who made the supreme sacrifice gold stars were placed in the center. There were 268 stars, one for each World War soldier and sailor of Pulaski County of Confederate lineage. Its unveiling at the courthouse was an epoch in Pulaski's history. What mother present could ever forget her blinding tears when that great flag, bearing her son's star, p. 133 slowly unfurled, or the breathless prayer in her heart, "0 God, let my boy, with honor, come home"? In 1921 the magnificent concrete bridge built by the U. S. government over the 0cmulgee River at Hawkinsville was completed. A suggestion from the O. C. Horne Chapter that it be dedicated as a memorial to the World War soldiers and sailors of Pulaski County was enthusiastically endorsed. They also suggested the placing of two bronze markers on the bridge, one in memory of those who gave their lives, and one in honor of those who offered their lives. This also was approved. The Chapter contributed generously to the price of the handsome markers, and was honored by being invited to christen the bridge. So, a daughter of a Confederate soldier, Georgia Jelks McGriff, christened Memorial Bridge, honoring the World War soldiers and sailors of Pulaski County. Associated with the editor and proprietor of the Dispatch and News, and the Hawkinsville Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, an edition of inestimable historic value was compiled and published in 1926. It was called the "Historical Edition of the Hawkinsville Dispatch and News." Two years of diligent research was made before this copartnership could present the edition to the public. The result is probably the most authentic available history of Pulaski at the present time (1935) . It will, no doubt, be the basis of information for all future county historians. Crape myrtle was the Chapter tree. Hundreds were planted by members on private grounds and city sidewalks. A row was planted on the right side of the western approach to Memorial Bridge. And through the U. S. Government a member of the Chapter secured Flanders poppy seed and sowed them on the embankment of the approach to the bridge. In 1927 "Miss Lillie" was stricken with paralysis and never again officiated for her beloved Chapter. At that time the Chapter was heavily in debt, but a few of the members stood by until every claim was fully paid. Then, gradually, the Chapter became inactive. Those who had been so closely affiliated with the last president during twenty years of service felt at her passing, in 1931, that the work of the old Chapter was over. Finis had been written. The "Banner Chapter" of the Georgia Division, U. D. C., lived gloriously, and closed its annals with honor. Chronicles of banners, silver trophies, and patriotic work may be written, but the little things not of Chapter routine can never be enumerated. Who knows of the flowers sent to the sick, offerings sent the dead, food and clothing given the destitute, or of the hundreds of unrecorded little kindnesses? Who knows? p. 134 With threads of the white, the red, and the gray, the 0. C. Horne Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, wove a marvelous fabric. Its achievements other Chapters may equal but none will ever surpass. 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 (1935) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/pulaski/history/other/gms115udchisto.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 12.4 Kb