Pulaski County GaArchives History .....Black History 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, 9:03 pm THE COLORED CITIZENS OF PULASKI COUNTY A history of Pulaski County exclusive of its colored population would be incomplete. They are and have been an essential, integral part of this community, participating in all the vicissitudes that have accompanied the process of developing the county from an original forest to its present conspicuous place among the progressive counties of Georgia. As we all know, the Negroes were originally brought here by Northern slave traders and sold to the planters of the South, and as a whole were well treated. A great many were taught useful and profitable trades and occupations as well as being given an elementary education. Some were very industrious and economical and were allowed to keep their savings. By this means, Aunt Jenny Buck, being an expert in cooking ginger cakes, made and sold them until she saved enough money to buy both her freedom and that of her husband. She called him "Buck," and when Buck did not do as she desired, she would say in the following characteristic fashion: "Look here, Buck, you ain't free-you belongs to me. I bought you and paid for you, and if you mess with me I'll sell you and put the money in my pocket." She owned and lived in a house on the property where Mrs. J. H. Hendrix's and Mrs. W. D. McEachern's houses now stand, until several years after the Civil War. Beginning now with the period just after the war, I will mention the names of a few of the most conspicuous colored characters in Pulaski's history. Joe Benfield was a licensed pilot on the Ocmulgee River, and also Anderson Newsom. John Swain, who held both pilot's and captain's licenses. Their positions did not make them ever forget their places, and they were always respectful to all with whom they came in contact, and were in return respected. John Swain's license was a most valuable asset and passport to him on one of his journeys. A few years after the war, a Northern man came here, and, making glorious promises, persuaded quite a number of Negroes to go to Liberia. Among those who went were John Swain, Henry Lucius and his wife, Candis. After arriving in Liberia, they were disillusioned and suffered hardships, but had no way to get back home. John Swain got on an island and, after waiting several days, hailed a passing ship. The captain, thinking he had been shipwrecked, sent a small boat to him and took him aboard. He was carried to another foreign port, where he was transferred to another vessel and finally reached home. Judge Bozeman sent the money to pay for the return trip of Henry Lucius and his wife. Henry Way, for many years a Baptist preacher and leader, was p. 85 brought here by E. F. Way, on the back of his sulky, before the war. It is doubtful if there ever lived here a man more useful in advancing the moral and religious interest of his people. A street, Henry's Way, is named for him. Adam McGhee, who owned and ran a store on North Jackson street, made money and was respected by both black and white, as well as was his brother, Marshall McGhee. Marshall was a carpenter, contractor and builder, as was Turner Whitehead and Charlie White-head. Charlie's master had the trade taught him, and when freed gave him a complete set of tools. William Daniels, Essex Duhart and others helped build many of the best houses now standing in the city. Bill Stephens, the plasterer, who plastered at the home of J. H. Rutherford before the war, did such a lasting job that after fifty years he was called back to repair the damage which the ravages of time claimed, and found that there were only a few places that needed repair. Edmund Carey, the shoemaker, accumulated an independence, and had the good judgment to invest his savings in Hawkinsville property. D. C. Brantley, the first principal in the colored schools under the public school system, Jonas Love, the brick mason, and many other good and useful ones that have passed away, deserve mention. So far I have only mentioned men. Among the outstanding women were Puss Daniels, Liza Dukes, and Barbara Mitchell, who were adequate substitutes for the modern trained nurse. In every home where they worked they have a tender place in the recollections of the mothers. There are many others whose faithful service and consistent loyalty have gained for them the most generous consideration of the white people whom they served, and who always responded to this service in the most liberal way, not only to them individually, but by helping them to establish good churches and to maintain good schools. I believe I am fully justified in saying that we have the best set of well-behaved and law-abiding Negroes in Georgia, and that a greater number own their homes than in any other town this size in the South. I have known of as many as five thousand colored people to gather here at one time without a particle of disorder. They have several good church buildings, one of which is brick. As an illustration of the confidence they have in the white people of this city, when the public school system was inaugurated, the city council appointed a board of colored trustees for their school. After two or three years, they sent a committee to the council requesting them to appoint a white committee to manage the school for them. They now have a large commodious building fully supplied with books, and have a competent corps of teachers. p. 86 In addition to a full literary course, there is now being added a course in Home Economics and Manual Training. The colored people of the town are proud to have an educated and ethical physician, Dr. Tracy, who does most of their practice. He is a devout churchman and established a Protestant Episcopal mission among the colored people. In conclusion, I would mention Will Savage, the barber; Henry Button, the old reliable fireman at the power plants; Will Walton, the lineman; and last but not least, that faithful and well-liked employe of the city, Jackson Pooler, who alone knows the location of every sewer, every culvert and drainage ditch in this city. He has served continuously and faithfully forty-six years and is still in active service. The following and others are worthy of special mention: Biddie Thomas Hannah Bennefield Mollie Leath Catherine Baldwin Ann Daniels Martha Brantley Liza Andrews Liza Colson Esther Walker Addie Horne Hagar Stevens Hannah Lester Harriett Andrews Martha Clay Maggie Lee Martha Duhart Rose Walker Lily Horne Anna Ferguson Annie Lundy Lizzie Roberson Lizzie Brown Nelson Caline Maloy Beckie Daniels Hannah Lampkin Emma Lampkin Aunt Puss Bozeman Henrietta Johnson Barbara Mitchell Mary Horne Leah Lowry Martha Baker Lou Virgil Phil Mayo Sol. Thomas Bob Cross Mance Jenkins George Leath Prof. Moseley Bob Daniels "Wash" Ward Redick Smith Griffin Love John Maloy Bob William Henry Horne May Bozeman (ex slave) Wash Hamilton Peter Smith Dempsey McCormick Dempsey Clark Robert Polhill Jess Lampkin Austin Lampkin Isaiah Lampkin Adam McGee Charlie Bembry EARLY HISTORY 87 Ike Lathrop John Lee Bones Lowry Charlie Love Jeff Roebuck Joe Baker Owen Virgil Anthony Summerford Hector Burns Rose Green (ex slave) 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/gms91blackhis.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 8.0 Kb