Hancock County News 1860

Hancock County Ga.
In the News 1860 - 1869

1860

January 10, 1860
Southern Recorder
~excerpt~DIED, At the residence of her father, near Mt. Zion, Hancock county, Ga., on the 28th day of December, 1859, Miss KATE BEMAN, only daughter
of Rev. Dr. Beman.....
On the third day after the death of his sister KATE, died, of the same fatal disease, (typhoid fever,) EDWARD D. BEMAN, M. D., youngest son of
Rev. Dr. Beman......

January 24, 1860
Federal Union
~excerpt~ After a painful affliction of about fifty years, departed this life at this residence in Hancock county, Ga on the 16th of January 1860, Col. P. P. Bethea in his fifty-first year, leaving many friends and relations to mourn his irreparable loss.

February 7, 1860
Federal Union
MARRIED, At the residence of H. S. Beman, Esq., Mount Zion, Feb. 2d, 1860, by Rev. Dr. Beman, Orien Fowle, M. D., of Hillsdale, Michigan, to Janet C. McLean, M.D., of Sparta, Ga.

March 6, 1860
Federal Union
~excerpt~ Died in Hancock county, on the 10th of February, Sidney Rochelle, youngest son of W. H. and M. A. Speights, aged 3 years, 5 months, and 14 days....Little Chellie..same grave beside his little brother James L., who had preceded not quite six years, having fallen asleep on the 24th of May, 1854...

March 8, 1860

Federal Union
MARRIED, at the residence of Dr. Whitten, Mount Zion, Hancock Co., on Tuesday morning Feb. 28th, by the Rev. Dr. TALMAGE, MR. MICHAEL DENNIS of Eatonton, to
Mrs. F. GRIMES.

March 8, 1860
Daily Enquirer (Columbus)
Addison Attaway broke the skull of John H. Sanders with a decanter in a bar-room, on the 20th ult. Sanders is the man, it will be remembered, who was the slayer of one of the Gardners, a few years since. Attaway fled from justice and is still at large.
On the 28th ult., a young girl, aMiss Dickens, an operative in the factory, was accidentally shot by the guard on duty. It appears that the man on guard had been instructed to put out a drunkard who had been trespassing in the factory. He thereupon borrowed a pistol to scare him off, which, on incautiously handling, went off unexpectedly and killed the girl referred to. Southern Recorder.

March 13, 1860
Southern Recorder
Died, at the residence of Mrs. Nancy Watts, in Hancock county, on the morning of the 28th of February, her youngest daughter, WILLIAM ANNA, aged seven years and two months.
...Little Willie was a precious gift to her widowed mother after the death of her father, the late William Watts. ...

April 14, 1860
Macon Daily Telegraph
Clinton, April 11th, 1860. Mr. Clisby-Dear Sir: Horatio, a son of F. S. Johnson, of our town, was holding a loaded pistol with the muzzle near his thigh when by accident it was discharged and the contents entered his thigh, severing a large artery, and so great was the loss of blood that he died in about a day and a half, from exhaustion. This happened at Mt. Zion, Hancock county, on Saturday, the 7th inst., where his father had placed him at school. His remains were brought home and interred here to-day. He was in his sixteenth year, and gave promise of a fine vigorous man. The shock to his father and family is a painful and distressing one, and we would tender all our sympathies in this, their bereavement. Friend.

May 15, 1860
Southern Recorder
MARRIED, In this city, on the 9th inst., by the Rev. Mr. Curtis, Mr. WM. T. MAPP of Hancock, to Miss ELLA C., daughter of Wm. H. and Mrs. Martha E. W. Scott, of Milledgeville.

May 29, 1860
Southern Recorder
DIED, On the 17th instant, at the residence of her grandfather, Benjamin T. Harris, Esq., Sparta, Geo. LOUISA JOSEPHINE, infant daughter of Mrs. Mary J. and B. H. Bigham, Esq., of Lagrange, Ga. "God gave, he took, he will restore, He doeth all things well."

June 5,1860
Southern Recorder
~excerpt~ DIED, At his residence, Linton, Hancock Co. on the 16th of May, Mr. CYRUS C. KING, in the 25th year of his age.

June 12, 1860
Federal Union
~excerpt~ DIED, In Hancock county, June 1st, MARY JANE, only child of William and Nancy A. Grimes, aged about eighteen months.

July 17, 1860
Southern Recorder
~excerpt~DIED In Hancock county, Ga., on the morning of the 21st June, Mrs. MARY E. EVANS, wife of S. G. Evans, and daughter of John West, late of Greensboro, Ga., aged 32 years.

December 20, 1860
Augusta Chronicle
MARRIED, By Elder Wm. M. Verdery, on the 18th inst., at the residence of the bride's father, in Hancock county, Ga., Miss FRANCES E. HERRIN and Mr. CLAUDIUS R. WALL, of Burke county, Ga.

1861

June 25, 1861
The Macon Daily Telegraph
Died, In this city, on the 22d inst., Dr. John B. Wiley, in the 58th year of his age.
Dr. Wiley was a native of Hancock county, Georgia. In early manhood he removed to Macon and commenced the practice of medicine, and hy his energy, industry and scientific attainments he became eminent is his profession, and many of the families of Macon will long remember his labors with gratitude and affection. He was scrupulously honorable in his deportment as a gentleman and in all his dealings with his fellow men. His death has brought sorrow and affliction upon his stricken family, and a large circle of sympathysing friends share their grief, while Macon has lost one of her most gifted and useful citizens. G.

June 15, 1861
Southern Recorder
~excerpt~ DIED, In Hancock county, on the 11th instant, Miss LUCY A. THORNTON, in the 19th year of her age. Lucy never had attached herself to any church, but she had led an exemplary christian life and died in peace, after a few days illness of typhoid fever.

September 24, 1861
Southern Recorder
DIED, in Hancock County, on 6th inst., Mrs. Lucy, wife of Thomas S. Beman, Esq. and daughter of the late Rev. William Preston, D. D. , of Savannah.

October 15, 1861
Southern Recorder
DIED, In Hancock county, on the 2d inst. in the fourth year of his age, JAMES THOMAS ALLEN, son of James and Temperance Allen. A few days ago, the deceased was an interesting and lovely little boy. Health bloomed on his cheeks, and he was the delight of his parens, relatives and friends. It seemed that he was taken with measles and then with typhoid fever, and after an illness of about ten days, he died.

October 22, 1861
Southern Recorder
~excerpt~DIED. In the Georgia Hospital, Richmond Virginia, of typhoid fever, Jesse S. Butts, son of E. A. & S. A. Butts, in the 21st year of his age. The deceased was a member of the Hancock Volunteers, who left several months ago to defend their beloved cuntry from the invading foe,....... A dutiful affectionate son and loving brother,....Hiis father was permitted to be with him in his last moments and brings his remains home to be interred with his kindred dust,....M.V.W.

November 26, 1861
Southern Recorder
Departed this life October 30th, 1861, at her home in Hancock county, Mrs. JANE SMITH, wife of James Smith in the 52nd year of her age. Her sickness was painful and short. She suffered but 4 days and departed from this world of troubles-has now joined the angels in the world above, which is unknown to us. Her disease was Bilious Colic. She said while on her death bed "I see Jesus, I am going to Heaven." She was born in Baldwin county, Ga., Dec. 16th, 1810. She left 8 children, and a kind and indulgent husband to mourn her departure, but their loss is her eternal gain. She has been a consistent member of Mount Olive Baptist church for the last 28 or 9 years, was a dutiful wife and a kind and indulgent mother. J. W.

1862

January 3, 1862
Daily Constitutionalist
DIED, At his residence at Mount Zion, Hancock county, on the 29th of December last, Mr. JOSEPH BRYAN, in the ninety-third year of his age.

January 7, 1862
Southern Recorder
~excerpt~DIED, At Chestnut Grove, in Hancock county, at four o'clock on the morning of the 23d December, 1861, Mrs. FRANCES MASON BONNER, wife of Colonel John Bonner. Mrs. Bonner was the daughter of George Rives, lately deceased of this county, and was born on the 15th of March, 1810, She was married to Col. Bonner on the 13th of April, 1829. Their union was blessed with but one child-
Wm. Henry Bonner, who married the daughter of Col. Ramsey of Columbia county, and who resides near his father; they have three little daughters, Col. Bonner has been successful in the business of life. He and his son have about them all that comfort and refinement could suggest. To a family so few in numbers and thus happily situate in life, who can estimate the loss, by one fell stroke of death, of the true and devoted wife, the affectionate mother, the fond and doting grand-mother, for such she truly was in all these relations.

January 15, 1862
Daily Constitutionalist
~excerpt~DIED, On the 23d of October, 1861, in Charlottesville, Va., of Typhoid fever, Dr. EDWARD W. SIMPSON, eldest son of Wm. W. and T. J. Simpson, of Sparta, Ga. The deceased was in his 23d year, and was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. Only a few months before his death, from an earnest desire to serve his country, he left his home buoyant with hoe and youthful ardor, to join the 15th Ga. Regiment, Army of the Potomac, as an Independent Surgeon. He entered upon his task with energy, but the promptings of a generous spirit, added to arduous duties of his profession, and the exposure incident to camp life, proved too much for a constitution naturalily delicate, and after several weeks of unremitting toll, he was forced to go to Charlottesville, hoping there to retrieve his shattered health. For a few days he seemed to improve, but upon the development of Typhoid fever, he grew rapidly worse, and after a few weeks of suvvering, died. His father watched by his couch, which was only embittered by the thought that he could not receive the last embrace of his brother and sisters. His remains were brought home and on the 28 of October, in tears and sadness, committed to their narrow resting place...........Sparta, Ga., Jan. 11, 1862.

January 29, 1862
Augusta Chronicle
~excerpt~ DIED, At the residence of COLUMBUS F. SHIVERS, Esq., in Hancock county on the 15th January, 1862, of Consumption, Mrs. ELIZA ANN SHIVERS, his wife, in the 39th year of her age.
The deceased was a daughter of Mr. John S. and Elizabeth Latimer. In the Summer of 1841, she joined the Baptist Church at Bethel, in Hancock County, Ga. She was married on the 20th June, 1841.

February 25, 1862
Southern Recorder
MARRIED, At the residence of the bride's father in Sparta, Ga., Feb, 10th, 1862, by the Rev. A. W. Pitzer, Mr. JAMES M. REID and Miss MARY EMMA SIMPSON, both of Sparta.

February 25, 1862
Southern Recorder
~excerpt~ Mrs LUCY BONNER, relict of Hamilton Bonner, was born January 27th, 1782, in Warren County, N.C., of respectable parentage, being the daughter of William and Mary Green. She was married in the State of her nativity, and shortly afterwards moved with her husband to Hancock county, Ga., where they remained on the same plantation they first settled, until her husband's death, which occurred a few years since. Most of her remaining days she spent with her youngest daughter at White Plains, Green county, Ga., where she died, of Paralysis, February 1st, 1862, aged 80 years and 5 days.

March 11, 1862
Southern Recorder
DIED, In this city on the 5th inst., of consumtion, ROBERT MAPP, Esq., aged about 50 years, formerly of Hancock county-an upright citizen, and a christian gentleman..

April 16, 1862
Daily Enquirer (Columbus)
~excerpt
Died at his residence near Upatoie, Muscogee county, on the 20th of May, James H. Jones, Esq., aged 84 years."
Native of North Carolina, last 70 years resident of Hancock and Muscogee counties, Georgia. Thirty years he was clerk of the courts of Hancock County. In 1832 he moved to Muscogee Co. "where for the remainder of his life he was engaged in agricultural pursuits."

May 8, 1862
Southern Recorder
Miss LIZZIE AMOSS, daughter of Mr. John and Mrs. Eliza Amoss, died at the residence of her father, in Hanock county, on 1st April, 1862, aged 16 years.

June 3, 1862
Southern Recorder
~excerpt~ Died at his residence in Hancock county, on the 12th February, 1862, Mr. THOMAS M. HUNT, in the 58th year of his age.

June 17, 1862
Southern Recorder
Died, in this city, on Saturday evening last, after a few days illness, Capt. ELISHA CAIN, in the 34th year of his age. Capt. C. was taken sick here while on his way to join his company in Macon, the Turner Volunteers, (Hancock co.) where the regiment was yesterday to be organized. He was Captain of the first company that was raised in the commencement of the war in that county, but from infirm health was compelled to resign his command. Under a patriotic desire to serve his country, he lately raised another fine company, suffering, unfortunately, his patriotism to overcome his physical ability to undergo the hardships of camp life-having only been in camp a few weeks, he has fallen a victim to his noble impulses.
A lawyer by profession, Capt. C. has for years past occupied a prominent position at the bar, and his numerous friends will mourn is untimely death.

July 15, 1862
Southern Recorder
~excerpt!~Died at Richmond, in the Globe Hospital, on the 23d of May, Corporal WINFIELD S. BUTTS, a most worthy member of the Hancock Volunteers, in the 28th year of his age. He was among the first who went to the rescue of Virginia, and just as the invader was about to be driven from her soil. He was wounded on the 26th of April by fragments of a shell falling in a tent where he was quietly reposing, from which he ws recovering, when the invincible hand of disease terminated his earthly existence.......a letter written to his wife by the Chaplain of the hospital soon after his death, he says" "Mr. Butts was remarkably calm and always in a trustful frame of mind. Three days before his death, when I appocched his bedside, he said, brother Withers, I am, not long for this world.....This is the second son of William Butts of Baldwin county, whose life has been sacrificed on the soil of Virginia....

July 15, 1862
Southern Recorder
Died, in Richmond, Va., on the 19th of June, of typhoid fever, DAVID D. DUPREE, in he 30th year of his age, son of Lewis E. and Frances Dupree, of Mount Zion, Ga. Mr. Dupree was a member of Capt. Lane's company of Hancock Volunteers, and was wounded in the battle of the 30th of May. He was an upright man-a pure patriot and a good Christian. He leaves a bereaved wife and child to lament their loss. "Peace to his manes." A FRIEND.

July 19, 1862
Macon Daily Telegraph
~excerpt~ Gun Boat Fund - The Telegraph acknowledges. Mrs. M. J. Minor, ladies of Hancock. $25.00.

August 19, 1862
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

MARRIED. In Dooly county, at the residence of Col. Jos. D. Lester, by the Rev. Jno. P. Duncan, Judge J. T. B. Turner, of Stewart county, toMrs. Sarah S. Wright, of Hancock county, Ga.

1863

March 31, 1863
Southern Recorder
~excerpt~ Died, near Linton, Hancock county, Ga., on the 7th of January, 1863, SUSAN WADE, daughter of Nicholas and Mary Perkins, aged six years, four months and twenty days....

August 25, 1863
Southern Recorder
~excerpt~ GEORGE W. HANCOCK died in the Hospital near Gettysburg, Pa, on the 3d of July, aged 25 years. He enlisted as a private in Capt. Conn's Company, "Myrick Volunteers," and endured all the hardships incident to a soldier's life, until he fell mortally wounded in the battle of Gettysburg. He was the only child of Mrs. Jane Hancock of Hancock county, Ga. and a member of the Baptist Church.

December 29, 1863
Southern Recorder
Died, suddenly in Augusta, on 10th ult., in the 18th year of his age, Serg't A. A. UNDERWOOD, of Company "C" Arsenal Battalion, son of A. A. Underwood, of Mount Zion, Hancock county.

1864

April 12, 1864
Southern Recorder
MARRIED, At the residence of Col. J. T. Smith, Hancock county by Rev. C. W. Stevens, on the 23d ult, Dr. J. E. CLARKE of Hawkinsville, Ga., and Miss EMILY A. LATIMER of Sparta, Ga.

July 19, 1864
Southern Recorder
DIED, At Fort McAllister, near Savannah, on 3d inst. TULLY C. SANFORD of Island Creek, Hancock County. He was on duty as a soldier. A comrade in arms (Joseph Bond Beall) writes "Everyuone that knew him loved him, both officers and men," He was a brave and upright youth, and leaves many friends to mourn his early death. A brother of the deceased was killed in battle last year, in Gen. Lee'd army of Northern Virginia.

August 23, 1864
Southern Recorder
Died, at her residence in Hancock county, suddenly, on the morning of the 5th inst., Mrs. ADA SANFORD, at the advanced age of 88 years.

October 18, 1864
Southern Recorder
~excerpt~ On the 29th day of last July, at the residence of Mr. H. D. Amos, of Hancock county, the fatal struggle between life and death ended a protracted illness of then weeks, wafting, we have reason to hope, the soul of Mrs. L. M., wife of Dr. ALONZO F. HARRIS, into its haven of rest....her parents...her husband...brothers and sisters...
.....In September, 1831, Mrs. Harris united herself with the Baptist Church, was baptized at Island Creek....

October 18, 1864
Southern Recorder
~excerpt~ Again we are called upon to mourn the loss of another of Georgia's noble sons. Mr. JONAS WOOD, the subject of this notice was born March 15th, 1838, and joined the Methodist Church in his 19th year and lived up to his profession till his death. He was a class leader for two years before he entered the army, which was at an early state of the war. He was a resident of Hancock county, and volunteered in the Sam Robson Artillery of Washington county, commanded by Capt. E. F. Howell. He was in many battles, both in his own State and others, but God preserved him till the battle of Jonesboro', where he received a mortal wound on the 1st of September, 1864, and lingering for seven or eight days, ....He married Miss A. E. Smith, daughter of Mr. James Smith, and has one rosy little boy.

his spirit December 7, 1864
Daily Chronicle & Sentinel

Carswell's Brigade - Annexed is a list of the casualties which occurred in Carswell's Brigade, in the battle of Honey Hill, S. C. Nov. 3d

First Regiment, Lieut. Col. T. A. Walton, Commanding
Company A -
Wounded : T O'Keef, Wilkes county, in back slight; J W Smith, Wilkes county, left shoulder.
Company B -
Wounded: Peter Wright, Columbia county, left thigh; G W Martin, Columbia county, breast slightly;
Richard Foster, Columbia county, back.
Company C -
Wounded: Elijah Norman, Wilkes county, right thigh
Company G -
Wounded: Lieut E A Burgess, Green county, flesh wound in right leg.
Company K -
Joseph D Byrd, Lincoln county, both feet; Corporal Robt Davy, Lincoln county, right shoulder.

Second Regiment, Col. James Stapelton Comd'g
Company G -
Wounded: Private Jno Tompkins, Jefferson county, face severely; Private J Vining, Jefferson county, right arm;
Corporal John Barrow, face slightly
Company H -
Wounded : Private Allen Rountree, Emanuel county, left shoulder.

Third Regiment, Col. L G Johnston, Commanding
Company C-
Wounded: Private Walter Davis, Hancock county, groin; Lieut A D Butts, Hancock county, left leg.
Company D -
Killed: Corporal Thos A Orr, Washington county. Wounded: Sergt W H Armstrong, Washington county, left breast;
Private E F Orr, Washington county, left knee.
Company E -
Wounded: Private J Brown, Hancock county, right arm and shoulder
Company G -
Wounded: W C Faulkner, Elbert county, left wrist.
Company H -
Wounded: Lieut T T J Fortson. Elbert county, flesh wound in head.
Company K -
Wounded: Private C R Hitchcock, Oglethorpe county, face; Private W J Bell, Oglethrope county, back.
Company B - Killed: Corpl Oliver Griffeth, Madison county.

December 21, 1864
Chronicle & Sentinel
LETTER FROM MIDDLE GEORGIA
(Special correspondence Chronicle & Sentinel)
High handed proceedings - An outrageous outrage - A second Yankee raid under Confederate authority - The people pillaged and plundered by orders of Confederate offices, etc, etc
Mayfield Depot, Dec 16
On Monday, Dec. 15, the train on the Warrenton and Milledgeville railroad brought up two hundred Yankee prisoners. They had taken the oath and were going on to General Hood's army. They were nearly starved- They said they had no rations for a day and night. The Major in command turned them loose at the depot, and told them to get something to eat. They were off in quick time, and scattered in every direction, killing hogs and going into ladies' houses demanding something to eat. There are still prowling around every farm. Some of them were seen fifteen miles from here. In our opinion they can never be picked up again.
The Major today has gone to Sparta, fourteen miles from the depot, and the Captain has gone back to Augusta.
The residents of this section look upon the whole affair as a perfect outrage, and think the matter ought to be investigated. But as it was committed in the name of the Confederacy, we presume it will, like other outrages, be passed over.
The officer was offered rations for them if he would not disband them. But it appears he preferred to turn then loose among helpless women and children.
A Lady.

1865

February 15, 1865
Macon Daily Telegraph
From the Constitutionalist
LETTER FROM SPARTA
Sparta, Ga., February 4, 1865
Messrs editors: I hear every day so much complaint by travelers, refugees and speculators, passing through our once quiet little village, that I feel it my duty to inform the traveling public what they may expect, and at the same time to advise them not to start from Augusta (if possible) without making arrangements for transportation through to Milledgeville. In the first place, on arrival at Mayfield you can get nothing but a wagon to ride in, and very often not even that; and the charge is $20 a seat and $20 for each trunk to Sparta, which is twelve miles, from Sparta, to Milledgeville, twenty-three miles, it is from $50 to $100 a seat, and extra for all baggage, in two-horse and four-horse wagons, and hard to get at that. Persons frequently have to wait a day or two, not being able to make the connection with the trains at Midway. The people are unprepared for this excess of travel, and now that ploughing time is coming on, I have no doubt it will be much worse and difficult to get conveyance, and I therefore advise everybody to make arrangements beforehand, or to go some other route, unless they make up their minds beforehand to meet all these troubles and high prices without grumbling, as I assure you they will have then all to go through with. A CITIZEN.

March 6, 1865
Macon Daily Telegraph
~excerpt~
Died on the 27th day of January, near Sparta, Geo., Geo. E. Kelley, age twenty-nine years. Thus another youth fallen; another champion of the great principle of Southern rights, taken from the sphere of his usefulness; another wife and child bereft of their husband and father, and another mother's heart made to "sob a mighty grief."
The deceased was for several years prior to the war Editor of the Fort Gaines Advertiser. He also was at different times Editor of the papers at Tuskeegee and auburn, Ala., but upon the breaking out of the war, enlisted as a private soldier in the 14th Ga. Regiment, in which Regiment he passed through all the battles of the Army of Northern Virginia. As a brave chivalric and dauntless soldier he had no equal and at the battle of Cedar Run, was particularly remarked for his dashing gallantry. He had received a furlough of Indulgence, and was on his way (and within a few miles of his) home when he was overtaken by the grim destroyer.....

April 16, 1865
Daily Constitutionalist
~excerpt~ The HONORABLE ELI H. BAXTER, died on his plantation in Cherokee county, Texas, on the 3d day of January..He was a native of Hancock county, of which he continued, until his death to be a resident. He was education under Dr. N. S.S. Beman, and at the State University, read law in the office of his brother-in-law, Oliver S. Skinner and about the time of attaining his majority married and began the practice in the village of Sparta...... After a residence of six years in the village, he retired to his country seat, Cornucopia, six miles distant, where he continued every afterward to reside.....

July 12, 1865
Macon Daily Telegraph
The same paper says that Mr. Henry Amos, of Hancock county, was shot in his bed on Tuesday night last. No clue to the murderer has been discovered.

November 14, 1865
Southern Recorder
We regret to see it announced that the Rev. Dr. WM. J. SASNETT, died of typhoid fever at his farm near Sparta on the 3d inst. Dr. S. was among the first graduates of Oglethorpe College. He became a Methodist Minister and was highly respected for his mental endowments, christian integrity and devotion to letters.

November 30, 1865
Daily Constitutionalist
~excerpt~LUCY DAVENPORT JOHNSTON, second daughter of Col. Richard M. and Mrs. Fannie Mansfield Johnston, died, after a short and painful illness, at Rocky, the residence of her parents, near Sparta, Ga., on the last day of last August, in the fifteenth year of her age.

1866

January 16, 1866
Macon Daily Telegraph
HUNG. For the first time in many years, says the Augusta Constitutionalist of the 13th, an execution took place in this vicinity yesterday. The negro man Isaac, found guilty of the murder of Mr. Henry Amos, in Hancock county, last July, was hung yesterday, near the Powder Works, at 19 minutes past 12 o'clock. We are informed that on being led forth to meet his death, he asserted his innocence, but it is stated that on previous occasions he admitted his guilt.

March 23, 1866
Daily Constitutionalist
~excerpt~ Departed this life, ah his residencey, in Sparta, Georgia, on the 8th day of March, 1866, Captain HORATIO. W. FORBES, in the 36th year of his age.........

April 10, 1866
Southern Recorder
~excerpt~ Died, at his residence in Hancock county of affection of the bowels, on the 28th of February 1866, BENJAMIN SIMMONS, in his 88th year.

July 21, 1866
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
The Southern Recorder learns that Hon. James S. Thomas, an excellent citizen, an able lawyer, and for some years Judge of the Northern Circuit, died at his residence in Hancock county, on the 3d inst.

July 21, 1866
Macon Telegraph
Dr. J. S. Whitten, a prominent citizen of Hancock county, died on the 5th inst.

August 14, 1866
Augusta Chronicle
DIED, In Sparta, Ga., on Thursday, August 2d, 1866, Mrs. Wm, ELIZA TERRELL.

September 27, 1866
Augusta Chronicle
On Tuesday evening, the 25th instant, at the residence of the bride's father, Mr. Miles G. Harris, in Hancock county, by the Rev. R. O. Smith, Miss EMMA L. HARRIS and the Hon. JAMES T. GARDINER, of this city.

November 24, 1866
Macon Telegraph
Married, On the 20th inst., by Rev. O. L. Smith, Mr. J. ROBERT MERRITT, of Monroe county, to Miss MARY GAYLE LEWIS, of Hancock county, Ga.,

1867

July 21, 1867
Daily Constitutionalist
MARRIED, In Boston, Massachusetts, June 28th, at the Episcopal residence, by the Rev. Father Bapst, S. J.,Hon. LINTON STEPHENS, of Sparta, Ga., and Miss Mary W., daughter of R. H. Salter, M. D., of Boston.

November 8, 1867
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
TRIAL OF DAVID POUNDS - At the Superior Court of Hancock, which was held in Sparta last week, David Pounds was put upon trial for the murder of youngHarrison. Pounds was represented by Hon. Alexander H. Stevens, the State by Hon. James S. Hook and Col. Jordan. After a considerable absence the jury returned with any verdict, consequently it was what is commonly called a "misstrial."Sandersville Georgian, 30th
See June 23 1870

December 24, 1867
Southern Recorder
JOHN P. SYKES, of Hancock county, aged 72 years, died, we learn, last Thursday night. He was an enterprising, liberal and good citizen.

December 31, 1867
Southern Recorder
~excerpt~ A Tribute to the Memory of John P. Sykes, Born in Hancock County in 1796, Died on Thursday 19th Dec. 1867. Stith Lodge, No. 2, Dec. 23, '67....

1868

February 7, 1868
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Tuttle H. Audas, for more than thirty years Clerk of the Superior Court of Hancock county, and a gentleman greatly respected and esteemed, died in Sparta on the 29th ult., in the seventy-third year of his age.

July 10, 1868
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Leroy M. Wiley, the subject of this notice, was born in Hancock county, Georgia, and died at his plantation in Alabama, on the 16th day of April, 1868, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. His father was one of the early settlers of Baldwin county, and died when he was not more than fifteen years old, leaving his mother a widow with six children and with limited means of support. Without education, and thus thrown upon his own resources, he entered the store of the late Farish Carter, in Milledgeville, and by his energy, his faithfulness and activity in business, he soon gained the confidence of all those with whom he came in contact.
Upon his arrival at manhood, Mr. Wiley entered into business with Thomas W. Baxter, (who had married his eldest sister), and under the name of Wiley and Baxter, and for many years they continued a profitable business in the old store which still stands in Milledgeville, and is known as Wiley & Baxter's corner and belongs to the family.
After the settlement of Macon, they opened a store on the corner now known as Payne's Drug Store, and owning the entire square, they opened Cotton Avenue. In 1835 Mr. Wiley became associated with the parishes of New York and removed to New York, and established the house of L. M. Wiley & Co., which, under that and other names, continued until he retired from mercantile business, in 1854.
At the commencement of the war, he promptly removed South, and residing on his farm in Alabama, cast his lot with his section and his friends.
By his energy and superior skill, he amassed a large fortune, a considerable part of which was lost by the effects of emancipation. Commencing life with a limited education, and without influential friends, and without means, his success may well be posited to as an encouragement to the many toiling, struggling young men who are now commencing life, and ready to be overwhelmed with gloom and despondency. While engaged actively in business, Mr. Wiley was stern and unyielding, and by his strong will generally succeeded in his undertakings. But after his retirement from commercial life, he was affable and eminently social in his habits and disposition. In his intercourse with refined society, nonce could be more courtly in his manners; and in his intercourse with his immediate family, especially with his sisters and nieces, no one was more considerate and affectionate. Two of his sisters having been early left widows in dependent circumstances, he supported them handsomely and contributed to the education of their children. He was never married, and his defects of character were, perhaps, attributable to the fact that he never knew the soothing influence of a wife, or the quiet happiness enjoyed in the bosom of a family.
Mr. Wiley died of disease of the brain. He was sensible of his condition in the commencement of the disease, and it was painful to notice the struggling of his strong will with the fatal Destroyer. He sank rapidly under it's approaches, and fell quietly asleep under the affectionate ministrations of his nieces and three weeping widowed sisters.

1869

January 15, 1869
Macon Weekly Telegraph
OBITUARY
Mrs Lucinda Wright, of Wilkinson county, is no more. She is gone the way of the living-to the grave.
Sister Wright, prior to her marriage, was a Watkins. She was born in Hancock county, Ga., in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seven, July 15th. In 1822 she was married to Mr. Simeon Gray. Mr. Gray died about the year 1833-'34. In 1835, she was married to Brother John Wright, with whom she lived until Bro. Wright died. (The author does not recollect precise date of Brother Wright's death, but along some time about 1855 or '56.) Since then she has lived a widow up to the time of her death, which occurred the 11th of December last, twenty-five minutes after eleven P.M.
Sister Wright was a kind and affectionate wife-economical and saving, yet kind and charitable. With Bro. Wright, and since his death, she has accumulated a handsome property. She was a kind neighbor, and a good mistress u to the time slaves were set free, and although she lost much then, yet she has much to leave to her surviving kindred. She was a great as wife, as a neighbor, as a mistress, as a patriot, for she contributed much to the needy during the hard struggle through which we have recently passed (the war.) But she was great as a Christian. Sister Wright joined the Baptist Church in the year 1834. Since that time she has lived a Christian life. As a Christian, she was charitable and kind, and although the subject of much and severe affliction, she seemed to be resigned to the hand of a kind Providence. In last illness, she gave the strongest evidence of her peace with her heavenly Father, through the blood of her beloved Savior.
She has left numerous friends to mourn her loss yet they have the blessed hope that she is at rest, free from care and sorrow; and no doubt if she could speak from her sleeping tomb to-day she would say weep not for me.
The body sleeps in calm repose.
Wherein sin shall ne'er disturb it more:
The spirit's gone to God who gave it,
There to praise Him for redeeming grace and love.
A Friend

February 2, 1869
Southern Recorder
MARRIED, At Jewell's Mills, Hancock county, Ga., on the 26th ult., by Rev. C. W. Lane, Mr. A. T. Cason and Miss OLIVIA P. daughter of D. A. Jewell, Esq.

February 12, 1869
The Southern Christian Advocate
William Stembridge was born in Virginia, but was raised from a small boy in Hancock co., Ga. He joined the church more than 40 years ago and has been a member of Montepelier, in Baldwin co., where he died 14th Jan 1869, aged 72 years. J. V. M. Morris.

March 9, 1869
Federal Union
~excerpt~ DIED, in Linton, Hancock county, January 11th, 1869, Mrs. MARY E. REAVES, consort of Mr. William L. Reaves, aged twenty-five years.
She left an affectionate husband and two lovely promising boys to mourn her departure....

June 15, 1869
Daily Columbus Enquirer
ONE MAN KILLED AND TWO WOUNDED IN HANCOCK COUNTY. We learn from the Hancock paper that on last Saturday night, Mr. John Taylor, Superintendent of the Montour Factory was shot and killed by a young man named James Oxford, in the adjoining village of Montour. It seems (from the evidence given on the inquest) that Oxford was fiddling near the residence of Mr. Taylor, who went out to quiet the disturbance. After a little altercation between them, Taylor gave Oxford a punch in the breast, whereupon Oxford drew a pistol. Taylor remarked "Oh, you have a pistol and unwittingly made at him again, whether as an assailant or take the pistol from him, witness could not say. Oxford, it seems, took it seriously, and shot him in the breast; Taylor called for his step-son, young Farrish, to defend him, as he was shot. He immediately replied by shooting Oxford just above the heart, the ball fracturing a rib and glancing round, lodging in the back. Oxford returned the fire, shooting Farrish in the abdomen, just above the hip - the ball passing through without injuring the vicara. Oxford and Farish are both likely to recover, the former being put in jail until well enough to stand his trial for commitment.
Mr. Taylor died of his wounds on Sunday evening. Augusta Chron.
See October 23, 1869

June 25, 1869
The Georgia Weekly Telegraph
The Fight in Sparta
The Chronicle and Sentinel gives the following report of the row in Sparta last Tuesday:
It appears that on last Tuesday afternoon Ames Circus was performing near the depot of the Macon & Augusta Railroad, in the town of Sparta, and of course, a large crowd of negroes had come in from the country to witness the exhibition. Among others who were attracted to the place, was a negro man named Washington Pierson, a notorious scoundrel and desperado, who has for some time past been known as the ringleader in nearly every act of rascality committed in Hancock county, and another negro named Eli Barnes, the colored Representative in the Legislature from that county, who was expelled last year, who is also reported to be a bold, turbulent incendiary, and a constant stirrer-up of strife between the white and colored races. The circus exhibition opened at two o'clock in the afternoon, an the canvas was soon filled with a large crowd of both white people and negroes. Two hours later, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, a crowd of negroes, in which both Barnes and Pierson, assembled outside of the canvass, when the latter got into an altercation with two white men standing near. Some words passed between the parties when Pierson pronounced one of the white men to be a G-d d-d liar. At this the man drew his pistol and fired, the ball penetrating the heart of Pierson killing him instantly. Upon seeing the fall of their leader the negroes fired a volley into the two whites but id not execution. A ball, however, from one of their pistols struck a negro named Marshall, who happened to be in the way, in the abdomen, inflicted a mortal wound. The ball which struck Marshall was supposed to have come from a pistol held in the hands of Eli Barnes, the expelled negro Representative. The white men, as soon as Pierson fell, fled from Sparta into the county, pursued by the negroes. The pursuit had not been conducted a very great distance when, it is said, the white men rallied and fired a volley into the pursuers, which, though no one was injured, caused the negroes, in turn to take to their heels.
Soon after the negroes were killed, Mr. Rogers, the Sheriff of the county, summoned a posse comitatus of citizens and went out to arrest the supposed guilty parties. This posse was still out when our informant left Sparta yesterday morning. Our informant also states that "Rev." Wm. Henry Harrison, another expelled negro member of the Legislature from Hancock county, left yesterday for Atlanta. Of course, he was the bearer of dispatches to Bullock, and we may look out for another dispatch to the Radical journals North and West.
See October 23, 1869

July 9, 1869
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Uriah G. Buckner died in Sparta on the 29th ult., and was buried with Masonic honors.

August 24, 1869
Southern Recorder
Mr. Posey, of Hancock county, killed, last week, a negro man under the following circumstances: It seems that the children of the said negro, were in the habit of going through the premises of Mr. Posey, and on several occasions interfered with his fruit. Being forbidden to touch the trees, the children became impudent to Mrs. P., and it so happened that Mr. P. being near at hand, thrashed one of them for its impudence to his wife. The father of the child came over to see Mr. P., and being asked if he settled with his children for their improper conduct, remarked, that he came over to have a settlement with him, Posey, at the same time drawing a pistol, backed by two of his grown sons. Mr. P. stepped into his house, gathered his gun and coming to the door, fired upon the negro, the negro at the same time fired at Mr. P. striking him in the small of his back, the ball penetrating somewhere near the kidneys, and at the same time wounding a little child in the thigh. The negro man died soon after being shot.
The Coroner's Jury returned a verdict of justifiable homicide on the part of Mr. Posey.

October 20, 1869
Atlanta Constitution
Alfred Cooper, (colored) found guilty of voluntary manslaughter. Fourteen of the colored Ku Klux, charged with assault with intent to murder James Marchman, found guilty. C. S. DuBose admitted to the bar. Hancock Court adjourned until fourth Monday in November - Hancock Journal.

October 23, 1869
Daily Columbus Enquirer
THE KU KLUX - RESCUE OF OXFORD - On Wednesday night last, between the hours of eleven and twelve o'clock, a band of armed men, disguised, about sixty in number, entered our town, sought the jail first, and then the residence of the sheriff and jailor of Hancock county, for the avowed purpose of taking possession of the person of James Oxford, a prisoner in the county jail, charged with the murder of Capt. John Taylor. They first went to the jail and demanded the key of Mr. Harbin, who was in charge of the guard on duty around the jail. Being told that Mr. Rogers had the key at his residence, they peremptorily demanded that he (Mr. Harbin should conduct them to Mr. Roger's residence, and forced him to obey. - On arriving at Mr. Rogers house, they surrounded it, and called for the sheriff. Mr. Rogers opened his front door and found several pistols presented towards the door, and asked the parties what they wanted, when they quietly informed him that they had come for the jail key. Mr. Rogers remonstrated, but to no effect. - They demanded it in unmeasured terms, assuring him that they would have it, regardless of consequences, admitting, at the same time, that they knew it was his duty to refuse it, but insisting that he must go with them to the jail. Mr. Rogers, finding himself overwhelmed by numbers, told them where the key was rather than have them search his house and distress his sick family.
When they got the key they surrounded Mr. Rogers, and in that position marched to the jail. When at the jail door they told Mr. Rogers that they had come to relieve him of one his prisoners (Oxford), and that they would not molest any other prisoner or any civil person whatever, but assuring him that they would make such disposition of Oxford should forever relieve Hancock county and the citizens of his presence - imitating that they were going to kill him as soon as they got out of the town. The opened the door, took Oxford out, and retired in the direction of Sandersville or the Shoals of Ogeeches. And thus ended the first visit of the Ku Klux to Sparta.
The sheriff is wholly blameless, as resistance would have been foolish. Hancock Journal.

October 29, 1869
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Hancock Superior Court. - From the Journal we learn that Judge Andrews passed sentence on all the convicted criminals at the recent term of Hancock Superior Court, as follows: On Alfred Cooper, found guilty of voluntary manslaughter (Moses Morse), ten years imprisonment in the penitentiary; on the fourteen negroes found guilt of assault with intent to murder, four years; on Thomas O. Jackson, two years

October 27, 1869
Atlanta Constitution
Hancock Court adjourned to 4th Monday in November. Alfred Cooper, voluntary manslaughter, sentenced to ten years in the Penitentiary; fourteen Negroes, assault with intent to murder, four years; Thomas O. Jackson, rape, two years. Grand Jury condemned indiscriminate use of pardoning power. Hancock Journal.

December 21, 1869
Southern Recorder
~excerpt~ Mrs. NANCY CARTER was born in Hancock county, Ga., in 1806, was married to Hiram Carter in 1827, and died in Butler, December 3d, 1869.