Twiggs County, Ga
In The News 1880 - 1889
1880
January 10, 1880
The Georgia Weekly Telegraph and Messenger
Attempted Poisoning in Twiggs County.
    Yesterday we learned of an attempted poisoning of a whole family in Twiggs county. It seems that on Wednesday night, just before retiring, Mrs. C. R. Faulk took a drink of water from the bucket, which was placed as usual on the back verandah of the residence, and nothing peculiar was noticed about it. About an hour after, at half past ten o'clock, Mr. William Faulk, a son of Mrs. C. R. Faulk, returned home and commenced to take a drink of water from the same vessel but was arrested by an intense bitter taste. Thinking that it might have been caused by quinine from the lips of one of the family who had been taking that medicine, he turned the dipper around and found that the bitterness was in the water itself. The water was examined and a whitish sediment was discovered. It was set one side and the next morning Dr. O'Daniel was sent for and he examined it closely. He soon discovered that the bitterness was much more intense than that of quinine in solution. He applied such simple tests as he had at hand, such as applying sulfuric acid to the solution, which dispelled the cloudy appearance in the water, but on the introduction of ammonia in the test vessel no precipitation took place, as would have undoubtedly occurred had the bitterness been caused by quinine. He on further investigation concluded that an attempt at strychnine poisoning had been made.
  Yesterday a portion of the mixture was brought into the city and submitted to Mr. John Ingalls and Mr. George Payne, both of whom, after patient investigation, came to the conclusion that strychnine was used. Suspicion pointed strongly to a darkey living on Mr. Faulk's place, who was two years ago since charged with murder, but who was subsequently acquitted, the evidence against him being entirely circumstantial. He has been sullen and dissatisfied recently with his employer to whom he is bound. The occurrence caused some little excitement in the community in which it occurred.

January 29, 1880
The Georgia Weekly Telegraph and Messenger
Died in Twiggs County
  Yesterday morning in Twiggs county, Mrs. Carrie A. Bunn died at her residence at an advanced age. Her remains were brought to this city last evening, and will be interred this morning in Rose Hill Cemetery. Funeral services will be held at the residence of Colonel Pulaski Holt, on Orange street.
  The deceased was the widow of the late Rev. Henry Bunn, a Baptist minister, who was well known throughout this section of the State. He was for nearly half a century a subscriber of this paper, and for man years was its oldest subscriber. Mrs. Bunn was the mother-in-law of Mrs. Governor Colquitt, and a sister of Colonel Holt's wife. She was a most  estimable Christian lady, and went to her rest well stricken in years and full of grace.

Married in Houston county yesterday, Dr. James Solomon, of Twiggs county, to Miss Maggie Tharpe, Dr. B. P. Tharpe, the bride's uncle, performing the ceremony.

February 20, 1880
Macon Weekly Telegraph
Miss Neppie Jordan and Mr. John T. Wall, of Twiggs county, were married in Irwinton on Wednesday.

March 5, 1880
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
  DEATH OF JUDGE J. H. JONES. - Griffin News: Nearly two years go Judge J. H. Jones, of Twiggs county, moved with his family to this city, where he has since engaged in the practice of law. He left his old home on account of ill health, hoping for a new lease on life amid the healthful hills of Middle Georgia. Last fall, during a visit to Twiggs county, he was attacked with the fell disease that has long threatened him, consumption, and since his return he had been gradually but noticeably failing. For several weeks past it became evident that his end was drawing near, though until a few days he was on the street daily. Friday afternoon he returned home and took his bed from which he never rose. He died yesterday at noon. He was attended in his last hours by his family, his two brothers from Twiggs, and his brother-in-law, Representative Dupree, of Twiggs county. The body was conveyed last night to Twiggs county, where he will be interred.
  The deceased was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and talent, and was for many years a prominent citizen of his native county.

March 23,1880
Macon Weekly Telegraph
Colquitt Barclay's Death.
Bullards, Georgia, March 22nd, 1880
  EditorsTelegraph and Messenger - The sad and unfortunate accident occurring at Buzzard Roost last Saturday evening, has cast a shadow of gloom over our entire community, and is substantially as follows:
  Colquitt Barclay, youngest son of Captain J. A. Barclay, was attending school at Jeffersonville. His teacher being sick Friday dismissed the school for the day, he hastened home with joy, in the full vigor of health, to his parents. Missing a favorite dog and learning its whereabouts, he took the train that eve for Buzzard Roost. Next morning he walked three miles out, got the dog, and was waiting to return on the up train. Meanwhile, some young men were practicing target shooting with a pistol, the trigger of which was made to spring at a touch. After the shooting young Barclay asked to see the pistol, and supposed it was not loaded, he broke it as if to load, looking into the cylinder it fired, the ball taking effect in the left brow, penetrating the brain. He ell back on the plazza on which he was sitting, and never spoke again. Death relieved him in an hour, and he was brought up to his parents on the evening train, and was ushered unexpectedly into their presence  a corpse. Their grief is inconsolable and beyond measure.
  The community deeply sympathize with them in their great loss.
  Colquitt was the ideal of his parents, a bright, tender hearted, promising you, fifteen years old, lacking only three days, loved by all who knew him. His untimely end saddens every heart. L.

June 3, 1880
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~ Twiggs County, June 1, 1880.   Several deaths have occurred in the county within the last four weeks, one of which was that of Mr. William Crocker, who died in Jeffersonville on the 29th ult. He was always regarded as an honest, upright man, and died regretted and loved by all who have known him. He ws buried my the Marion and Liberty Hill Lodges with all the honors of the Masconic fraternity.

October 3, 1880
The Macon Telegraph and Messenger
  Mr. Hayden Hughes, of Atlanta, died in that city day before yesterday at 10½ o'clock a.m., of heart disease. He was the father of Mr. D. G. Hughes, of Twiggs county, a gentleman well known throughout middle Georgia.

October 5, 1880
The Telegraph and Messenger
Death of Mrs. D. G. Hughes.
  With deep regret we announce the death of this accomplished and estimable lady, which occurred on Friday last at her home in Twiggs county. The disease which ended her useful life was brain fever. Mrs. Hughes was well known in Macon, and the family have the sympathies of all who knew her, in this their hour of bereavement.

November 16, 1880
Macon Weekly Telegraph
~extract~    We regret to learn of the death of Mrs. Carrie C. Carswell, wife of Dr. B. S. Carswell, of Twiggs county.

November 30, 1880
Weekly Constitution
~excerpt~ The subject of this notice, William Faulk, son John Faulk, of Houston county, died at the residence of Dr. Massey, near Gordon, Wilkinson county, of general dropsy, age twenty-two years. Ben John, as he was familiarly called was universally beloved....
  He was brought to the family burial ground in Twiggs county, and deposited by the side of his angel mother beneath the oriental poplars where thunder's loud roar will never disturb his long repose...November 23, 1860.

December 1, 1880
Dublin Post
A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT
A Buggy Falls Down a Steep Embankment and E. S. Griffin Killed
Macon Herald
   Many acquaintances in this city were startled yesterday to hear of the terrible death of Mr. E. S. Griffin, Jr., of Twiggs county, which happened Wednesday night by an unfortunate accident.
  Last Tuesday evening Mr. Griffin, in company with Mr. Bud Lingo, came to Macon in a double buggy and put up at the popular stable of Mr. G. M. Davis.
  Wednesday afternoon, about 3 o'clock, Messrs. Lingo and Griffin had their team hitched up and prepared to return to Twiggs. There was also in the buggy two little negro girls who were being taken home and a steam mill shaft, we believe. Mr. Bud Lingo was driving. Anyone who has traveled the Jeffersonville road, knows how dangerous it is, especially in such a dark night as that of last Wednesday. Gullies twenty feet deep, with sides as perpendicular as the walls of a building, run on either side of the road, at a distance of some ten feet from the middle of the road-bed.
  When about four miles this side of Jeffersonville, and something like a quarter of a mile from the residence of Mr. Joe Bullock's, Mr. Lingo, who we before said was driving, having, in the darkness, lost the road way, alas!, drove too near the edge of the right hand gully, and the horse, buggy, the two Negro girls, and Messrs. Lingo, went crashing down through the air into the darkness, and down the side of a steep gully to a distance of twenty feet.
  It is supposed that Mr. Griffin fell out first, and the buggy with all its contents came with deadly force upon him-breaking an arm, one leg and his neck. His chin was split open and his breast, and head badly bruised. It is thought that the shaft that was in the buggy struck upon the head of Mr. Griffin.
   One of the negro girls was fastened to the earth by the buggy, but was not seriously hurt.
  Wonderful to say the horses and Mr. Lingo escaped all injury, likewise the second negro girl, who ran to the residence of Mr. bullock and gave the alarm, but when he reached the scene of accident Mr. Griffin was already dead. The disaster occurred about 8 o'clock Wednesday.
  Mr. Griffin was buried to-day. He leaves a wife and seven children to weep his untimely end. His wife was home dangerously ill at the hour her husband was plunged to death in the darkness of the ditch. Mr. Griffin was well know both in Bibb and Twiggs counties. His father has been sheriff of Twiggs and frequently represented it in the Legislature.


1881

January 16, 1881
Macon Weekly Telegraph
A Good Man Gone. We regret to learn of our friend, J. B. Peacock, Esq., clerk of the Superior Court of Twiggs county, died at his home in Jeffersonville, on Friday, of pneumonia. He was a man greatly esteemed by his neighbors for his many manly qualities. He was an affectionate husband and father. He was a consistent Christian, a good citizen, and one of the most efficient officers that has ever served in the county. He was a Mason of high standing. His loss will be sorely felt in that community, and the visiting member of the legal fraternity all feel that it will be hard to fill his place in the court-room. We have known him several years, and mingle our sorrows with the bereaved. He is at rest.

January 21, 1881
Macon Weekly Telegraph
Mr. H. M. Pace, of Twiggs county, died on the 15th inst. of pneumonia.

April 28, 1881
Macon Weekly Telegraph
Dead. Yesterday near Jeffersonville, in Twiggs county, died Mrs. John F. Glover. Her funeral will take place on Friday next.

May 27, 1881
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Gordon, May 23. - Yesterday the dull monotony of our town was broken by a vehicle drawn by a span of fine horses being driven rapidly through our streets. The occupants were a handsome young man and beautiful young lady-both from Twiggs county, and seeking the services of Squire Sam Dennard. The Squire was soon found, and a cloud lifted from the anxious brows and throbbing hearts of two fleeing lovers. The nuptials were soon over, and Miss Ella Griffin became the happy bridge of Mr. W. B. Edmundson. In the cool hours of the balmy eve the happy couple returned to the home of Mr. Edmundson.

July 26, 1881
Union and Recorder
  Mr. Thos. Jones of Twiggs county, lost three daughters from measles within 48 hours. Two died the same day. Their ages, respectively, were 15, 18 and 20 years.

August 24, 1881
Dublin Post
A Mystery
Wilkinson Appeal
    Several years ago a man by the name of Arnold gave his little son Charlie, to Col. J. D. Jones, of Jeffersonville to raise. The little fellow remained with Col. Jones, was kindly treated and apparently satisfied until some time this spring. Our informant says that Charlie had given some indication of a desire to run away previously, and about two months ago disappeared. As he was some sixteen or seventeen years old, it was supposed that he wanted to seek his fortune in the world, and nothing hard from him. Col. J. supposed that he had gone to a considerable distance, and made no further effort to get him back. But a sad sequel to his leaving home was discovered last week, by some of the boys in the neighborhood while out hunting. In the woods at no great distance, the bones of a human skeleton were found upon the ground, while a rope was dangling from above. By the remnant of clothing and the hat, the bare bones were identified as those of poor Charlie Arnold. If it was a case of suicide what was the cause; if murder, what prompted the deed" It is one of those said occurrences that will never be fully explained.

September 8, 1881
Atlanta Constitution
Death of Hon. James T. Glover
    Yesterday the house of representatives received the sad announcement of the death of Hon. James T. Glover, late representative of Twiggs county. For ten days past he had been suffering from bilious fever, and was recently removed from Atlanta to Twiggs county, where on last Sunday he expired at the residence of Dr. O'Daniel. He was about 55 years old and had been a representative of his county for six years. He was a man of means which his open heart freely dispensed. He had filled the office of judge of the inferior court in his county and enjoyed the confidence of his constituents so thoroughly that he was elected three times to the legislature without opposition. In announcing his death to the house Mr. DuPree of Macon, said:
   Mr Speaker-It is with feelings of the most profound sorrow that I arise to announce to the house of representatives the said news of the recent death of the Hon. James T. Glover, of the county of Twiggs, late member of, our body, who departed this life on Sunday last (September 4th, 1881,) while upon a bed of sickness with fever, on his way home from this city, at the home of a friend on the wayside. Yes, fellow members, he died surrounded by friends who had for years delighted to honor him. I would have preferred that this sad office had been performed by another far more worthy and capable than myself; but, sir, I was born upon the soil of Twiggs county, and it was upon that soil I was reared until I had attained manhood's estate, it having been only a few short years since my footsteps  directed me to that county which I now have the honor to represent in this chamber; and that alone,  I have thought, might render it fitting for me to make this announcement. And when with me "life's fitful fever is over," I would ask no higher privilege that to sleep that eternal rest beneath her soil, remembering as I do that in her bosom slumber the ashes of those who gave me being. Mr. Speaker, I offer the following resolution, and ask for its adoption by the house.
    The resolution was unanimously adopted, and a special committee of five appointed in pursuance thereof.

October 1, 1881
Macon Weekly Telegraph
 We learn from the Perry Journal that Mr. Charles Faulk, of Twiggs county, after suffering intensely, died of meningitis last Friday week, aged 53 years.

October 20, 1881
Atlanta Constitution
The first number of the Jeffersonville Express, edited by Mr. I. L. Hunter, has reached us. Mr. Hunter has some experience as an editor, and he is putting it to good account on the Express, which is a promising paper in every respect.

October 28, 1881
Georgia Weekly
Mr. Haywood Hughes, a well known citizen of Twiggs county, died last sunday night.

November 8, 1881
Union and Recorder
   Merriwether, Oct. 27th, 1881..
      Mr. Sam Woodall died at Mt. Vernon, Twiggs county, on Monday. He was a promising young man and was engaged in merchandizing. The only child of his widowed mother. He was a resident of this place and much beloved by a large circle of friends. May God sustain and comfort his heart broken mother and bereaved relatives, especially his aged grand parents Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Hughes.

November 15, 1881
Union and Recorder
Caroline Mitchell, colored, died in Twiggs county, Oct. 31st. She went with the late Mrs. Mitchell of this city, during the war, to Atlanta and Richmond, Va., and waited on our sick and wounded soldiers in the hospitals. She was a good and faithful servant.

November 18, 1881
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Married
   Two marriages occurred yesterday afternoon at the neighboring village of Jeffersonville. The happy parties are Mr. George Z. Glover andMiss Jones, of Twiggs county, and Mr. Charles Nutting, of Macon and Miss Peacock, of Twiggs. Mr Glover is a son of the late James Glover, who a the time of his death was a member of the Georgia Legislature, and Mr. Nutting is the only son of the Hon. Charles Nutting, who recently died in this city. The accomplished brides belong to the first families of Twiggs county. The entire party reached this city yesterday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Glover are stopping at the Brown House, and Mr. and Mrs. Nutting are at the residence of Mrs. Charles Nutting.

December 28, 1881
The Macon Telgraph and Messenger
Death of Col. John T. Glover, Information was brought yesterday that Col. John T. Glover, a prominent and promising lawyer of Twiggs county, died in that place yesterday morning. Col. Glover was the opponent of Hon. James H. Blount in the last nomination for Congress.



1882
March 30, 1882
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~...deed executed by W.A. Wigins of said county, on the 29th day of March, 1898,... recorded on the 2d of APril 1878, ...sell to the highest bidder,...parcel of land in the twenty-fifth (25th) district of orginally Wilkinson, now Twiggs county, known as the Allen Beckom plantation, being the place where said W. A. Wigins resided...containng one thousand (1,000) acres more or less, and bounded by the lands of J. R. Cook on the north, and lands of Thomas Lowe on the east; and lands of G. W. Faulk on the southeast, and lands of A. F. Beckom on the south, and lands of H. M. Loyless on the west, it being the place bequeathed to said W. A. Wigins by his mother, Mary A. Faulk,....Daniel Bullard. March 4th 1882.

April 8, 1882
Augusta Chronicle and Constitutionalist
  Savannah, Ga. April 7. Tartar Bryan, the negro who murdered and robbedWashington Wilson, a planter near Jeffersonville, Twiggs county, and outraged his sister in December, 1879, was arrested Sunday on an island below Darien and brought to this city. He left yesterday in charge of the sheriff of Twiggs county.

April 25 1882
New York Times
Macon, Ga., April 21. - A fearful cyclone struck the lower edge of Bibb County at 8 o'clock Saturday night, and passed into Twiggs, Jones, and Wilkinson Counties, plowing a track 800 yards wide and mowing down fences, farm buildings, &c.
Samuel Gove, father of the Hon. Samuel F. Gove, Republican ex-member of Congress, living one mile from Griswold's and a Miss Lockhart, living near Gordon, were killed.

May 23 1882
The Macon Telegraph and Messenger
Twiggs. May 21. I learned from Mr. J. C. Solomon the particulars of a pleasant little society event which unites Twiggs and Wilkinson in still closer bonds. On Tuesday last, at the residence of the bridges mother Mrs. Butler, Mr. B. F. Fitzpatrick was married to Miss Fleeta Butler. The attendants were Mr. R. Butler and Miss Annie Baum, Mr. J. N. Burke and Miss Lucia Carswell, all of Wilkinson county. The ceremony was performed by Rev. P. W. Edge, in the presence of a large number of friends, who had assembled to witness the consummation of the happy event. After the ceremony the guests were invited to partake of a dinner, which my informant says was just too gorgeous to be described. After lingering long over the table, the crowd dispersed and the happy couple started for their new home. There they found an elegant supper awaiting them, and Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick, with an ease and dignity that would have done credit to an older couple, received their friends till 12 o'clock. Then the guests, with best wishes for the future of the bridge and groom, retired, and the festivities were over.

July 4, 1882
Macon Telegraph
Bullard's. July 3. We are very much pained to chronicle the sad accident which befell our good pastor, Rev. P. W. Edge, on yesterday. The facts, as reported by Mr. Daniel Faulk, are substantially as follows" While Mr. Edge and Mr. Faulk were in company together, driving a wild and reckless horse owned by Faulk, one of the front wheels dropped from the buggy, the buggy fell fearfully to the ground, and Edge jumped with a vengeance forward, falling heavily on his hip, injuring it badly. The buggy was crushed, but the horse ran wildly on, dragging Mr. Faulk along the road, but fortunately without seriously injuring him. Mr. Edge was taken to Mr. Henry Howell's with great care and tenderness. At times Mr. Edge is in agony and his suffering is too dreadful to dwell upon.
  He is treated by Drs. Denson and Findlay, who are very kind and attentive, but unable as yet to relieve him, to give quiet or restore the dislocation. Dr. O'Daniel is, ere this, with the suffering man, and we truly hope his sufferings will soon be alleviated and be restored to his feet again.
  Judge W. S. Solomom and Col. Faulk went after their pastor, but he was unable to stir; he could not be moved.
  A Mr. Krumtin, from Wilkinson county, fell from his horse while riding through the woods of Twiggs on Saturday, breaking one of his elaviele bones. We do not know how serious this fracture, have not heard from this gentlemen since.
  Mr. John Everett, of this county, while driving home from Bullards on last Friday evening, was overtaken by a fearful accident, which resulted in a frightful gash on his head in the region of the temporal bone. The facts, as we learned on coming up soon afterward, are the following: Mr. Everett was out under a dark and threatening cloud; the winds blew lively, threw woods roared, the trees did nod and bend, and while near his house a mammoth dead pine reeled and rocked till it could stand no longer, and then fell with a thundering noise, barely saving the frightened man and beast from a most woeful death. The horse ran furiously, tore up the buggy and threw Mr. Everett most precipitously on his head, inflicting the might wound. He is now under the skillful treatment of Dr. W. O'Daniel. So we feel assured he will soon be well again.

July 6 1882
Atlanta Constitution
Two Men Killed
Macon, July 5 - Just after the close of the political convention held yesterday in Jeffersonville, Twiggs county, John M. Benford shot and killedJeff Wood and John Johnson in a drunken row. Benford was slightly wounded but escaped.

December 22, 1882
The Telegraph and Messenger
$50 REWARD
The above reward will be paid for John Anglin, who left Twiggs county December 20th, 1882. He is 5 feet 10 inches high, very dark complexion, very coarse, stubby, black whiskers, wears No. 6 shoe, and had on when he left a long black coat and a light brown hat. His right foot has been broken at the instep, and there is a lump on the top of his foot from it, but he does not limp. He is charged with stealing a dark horse mule with white nose, about 15 hands high, from Mrs. Elo. Love, in Twiggs county. Address the undersigned at Gordon, Ga. W. B. EDMUNDSON, JOHN LOVE..



1883
January 30, 1883
The Telegraph and Messenger
FAULK - JONES
On Sunday, the 28th instant, at the residence of the bride's mother, Mrs. M. C. Jones, by Rev. P. W. Edge, were married Mr. Wm. C. Faulk and Miss Alice P. Jones, of Twiggs county.
  "They go forth in the world with the best wishes and hearty congratulations of remnant of "the Eight."

March 24, 1883
The Telegraph and Messenger
Hon. Hardin T. Smith
Twiggs Lodge, No. 164, F. A. M. , March 17, 1883. Died, in Twiggs county, Georgia, on the 13th instant, Hon. Hardin T. Smith, in the seventy-first year of his age. Mr. Smith was an honored member of the Masonic fraternity and a citizen of unblemished character. He was generous and kind in all of the relations of life; always ready to contribute liberally to relieve the necessities of his brethren and the poor of his neighborhood when in his power. His charity was abundant. He served his county faithfully and satisfactorily as sheriff for a number of years when comparatively a young man, and in 1859 his people signified their high appreciation of him by electing him to the House of Representatives, in which position he served his constituents with honor and distinction, and proved himself worthy of the high trust which had been committed to him. As a husband, he was always generous, kind and affectionate. As a father, he was gently, devoted and faithful. As a friend, he was true, constant and benevolent. Therefore be ti
  "Resolved (1), That in the death of our worthy brother Twiggs Lodge has lost one of her most useful and faithful members, and the masonic fraternity a brother who was ever ready and willing to dispense unbounded charity.
  "Resolved (2),  That Twiggs county has sustained an irreparable loss, and the neighborhood in which he resided a great calamity.
  "Resolved (3), That the members of the Twiggs Lodge wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days and the jewels be draped in the same for the the same space of time, and that this preamble and resolutions be published in the daily and weekly Telegraph and Messenger of Macon."
W. L. Solomon, J. O. Solomon, F. D. Wimberly, W. O'Daniel, Committee.

May 29, 1883
Union and Recorder
BROWN-JONES. Married, May 16th, 1883, by Rev. Thos. H. Gibson, at the residence of the bride's mother in Twiggs county, Ga., Mr. D. W. BROWN  of Brown's Crossing, Baldwin county, Ga., and Miss ELLA JONES.

August 11, 1883
The Telegraph and Messenger
Marriage in Twiggs. On Thursday evening, at the residence of the bride's mother in Twiggs county, near No. 8 on the Macon and Brunswick railroad, Mr. Robert F. Cowart, of Bibb, was married to MissDilly Phillips. The happy couple started immediately for their future home in Texas.

September 23, 1883
Macon Telegraph
  About seven o'clock yesterday morning, Mr. James Dye, a well-to-do and highly respected farmer, of Twiggs county, while bringing a bale of cotton into Macon, met with a misfortune that will end in his death.
  The mule attached to the wagon in which he was seated got frightened at the escaping steam from the factory and ran away, beginning his frolic at the pump in East Macon. When about half way between the pump and the bridge, Mr. Dye was thrown out, and in some way became tangled up in the lines. He was dragged a considerable distance before he could disengage himself, and in doing so was thrown under the wheels, which rolled over him. He was picked up and taken to the house, near by, of Mr. Lingo, the night watchman at the new depot, and Dr. Ferguson called in. Hisson, who came with him, but who was not in the wagon at the time of the accident, telegraphed at once for another son and a cousin, and  they reached the city on the afternoon train from Brunswick.
  Mr. Dye was insensible when carried in the house, and remained in a comatose state, all during the day. Late in the afternoon, Dr. Ferguson again called, and gave up all hopes of his recovery. The sons decided to take him home last night, where he might die in the presence of his family.
  Mr. Dye is about sixty-five years of age, and has a farm four miles from Bird's Station, and about sixteen miles from Macon.

October 27, 1883
The Telegraph and Messenger
Mr. D. G. Hughes, of Twiggs county, who recently married Miss Deizell, of Indianapolis, was at the Edgerton last night with his fair young bride.

November 2, 1883
The Telegraph and Messenger
Death of Mr. Peter Solomon. At 6 o'clock yesterday morning Mr. Peter Solomon expired. His death was not unexpected. He had been confine to his room from sickness for about ten weeks. He had been long identified with this city and county and Central Georgia. He removed from Twiggs county, where he had filled the position of ordinary, to Macon, we are informed, about 1833. In 1836 he was elected the first cashier of the Monroe Railroad and Banking Company. He shortly afterwards settled in Vineville, and was one of the fathers of that beautiful suburb of Macon. In 1835 he  became a member of the Mulberry Street Methodist Church and was soon made one of its stewards. He was also trustee of the Academy for the Blind, and the oldest surviving trustee of Wesleyan Female College. It was but a few months ago that, in honor of his long services as an efficient member of the board of trustees of the college, the office of vice president was created and tendered to him. He was also one of the early members of the Macon Lodge of Masons. For many years prior to the war he was associated with Nathan Munroe in charge of the agency at the place of the Mechanics' Bank of Augusta. He was an industrious, energetic, intelligent and Christian gentleman, faithful to all the responsibilities of the various offices he filled, and he enjoyed the esteem of his fellow citizens. He reared a large family in our midst, who are identified with this community. With them we deeply sympathize in the loss of their parent, whom we may regard as one of the patriarchs of our county, he having several years ago passed the age of three-score and ten. His funeral will take place at 11 o'clock to-day from the Mulberry street church.
  The exercises of the Academy for the Blind and of Wesleyan Female College will be suspended this morning in order that the pupils may attend the funeral.

November 4, 1883
Macon Weekly Telegraph
Capt. Dennard Dead. Perry, Ga., November 3 - Capt. H. L. Dennard died at 8 o'clock last night, and will be buried at Evergreen cemetery tomorrow, at 11 o'clock.

November 14, 1883
Atlanta Constitution
  MissPenny Wimberly, a young lady from Twiggs county, who was on a visit to her sister, Mrs. Burgess, of Laurens county, had her clothes to catch on fire, last Tuesday and was burned so badly that she died Tuesday night.

November 22, 1883
Macon Telegraph and Messenger
A Marriage in the Country. Editors Telegraph and Messenger: A most delightful affair took place in Wilkinson county last night, which a friend describes as follows: At 7 p.m. a party of friends left Macon for the elegant home of Mr. and Mrs. Quackenbosh, at Griswoldville. Here they joined a party and proceeded to the residence of he late Dr. E. I. Massey, near Gordon, to attend the marriage ceremony which united the destiny of Captain James R. Van Buren and Miss Laura W. Massey. The ceremony was performed by Rev. J. W. Burke, and then followed a splendid supper served up in the best style. There were only a few friends and relatives preent. The ceremony was performed at 10 o'clock p.m., and at 1 o'clock the bridal party left for Gordon, where they boarded the Savannah train for a tour to Florida. The Macon party, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Powell and the officiating parson, returned by carriage to Griswoldville, and after a brief rest took the 6:30 o'clock feight and arrived at Macon safely at 7:30.
  We wish the happy couple much joy and a safe return to their delightful home at Griswoldville.

November 25, 1883
Macon Weekly Telegraph
   We regret to learn of the death of Mr.C. A. Solomon, ordinary of Twiggs county, on Friday. Mr. Solomon was well know in Macon, and had a large number of friends here who will be pained to hear of his death.

December 8, 1883
Atlanta Constitution
DEATH OF DR. RICHARDSON
Special to The Constitution
Jeffersonville, December 7 - Dr. S. L. Richardson, one of the finest physicians of Twiggs county, died at his home at six o'clock last Sunday evening, and was buried at Richland Baptist church at twelve o'clock yesterday.

December 13, 1883
The Macon Telegraph and Messenger
Married. At the residence of the bride's father in this city, yesterday, Mr. A. J. Glover and Miss Sallie Burkett were united in matrimony, Rev. E. W. Warren officiating.
  The groom is one of the most substantial young farmers of Twiggs county, while the bride is one of Macon's fairest and most charming young ladies. They were the receipients of a goodly number of presents from their many friends, which we will not attempt to enumerate. We extend our congratulations to the happy couple.



1884
January 13, 1884
The Telegraph and Messenger
~excerpt.T ribute of Respect. Mrs. Julia A. Lundy, daughter of William A. and Martha Tharp, was born near Stone Creek Church, in Twiggs county, December 2, 1825, and died at her home in Bibb county December 26, 1883.

January 20, 1884
Weekly Sumter Republican
~excerpt~ Departed this life, at his residence near the city of Americus, Ga., on the 3d inst., Rev. Washington Tharpe, in the fiftieth year of his age.
  Mr. Tharpe was born in Twiggs county, Ga., September 20, 1834 - united with the Baptist church in the same county in the year 1850, and entered the ministry in 1859...
   Mr. Tharpe was twice married, - first to Miss M. E. Hawkins, of Sumter county, Ga., who died in 1873, and afterwards to
Mrs. M. E. Lansford, who still lives to mourn the loss of a good, and faithful husband.....

March 19, 1884
Atlanta Constitution
BOATING ON THE OCMULGEE
History of the Blowing up of the Mary Prescott nearly Forty Years Ago. (Atlanta Constitution)
   About one and a half miles from Bullard's station is the "Bluff on the Ocmulgee." Here it was in the days of steamboating, on that river, the boats used to haul freight for the contiguous country. About half a mile below on the east side of the stream and almost buried in the mud, is the skeleton or hull of what was once, perhaps, the finest boat, upon the river. many have been the times while hunting and fishing in the swamp, I have stopped and looked curiously and wonderingly at the great hulk, half decayed, half gone to pieces lying there buried in the mud, a silent monument of misfortune, perhaps disaster. I have talked with those whom I have met in the swamp and at the station about it, but none of them could give me its history and but few seemed to take any interest in the matter. It lies there today as when I first saw it, and its history would still be a mystery but for the wreck of the City of Columbus.
  About three weeks ago I was breakfasting at the Edgerton in Macon. There were several at the table with myself, but all strangers to me. The wreck of the City of Columbus was being discussed in all of its details, whereupon an old gentleman, of kindly and intelligent mien, remarked that thirty years ago he came very near losing his life by a steamboat disaster not twenty miles distant from where we are now sitting.
  He proceeded: "At that time my home was in Florida and my best route to middle Georgia was by way of Darien, up the Altamaha and Ocmulgee, to Macon. The time consumed in the trip was frequently ten days or more, but the country wild along the rivers and the boats being very fine for those days had splendid passenger accommodations and the table surpassed those of many of our modern hotels. It was in the month of February when i took passage on the "Mary Prescott" from Darien to Macon. Continual rains had kept the river in fine boating order for several months and at the time to which I refer there was almost a freshet in the river. Nothing unusual  occurred until we sighted a river boats about a mile and half ahead of us, also bent for Macon. We were at this time about thirty miles below the Bluff. Immediately there was much activity amongst the officers and crew. The smoke from the stack grew darker until its color was an ink blackness. Then it was known to to the passengers that a race was to be run.
    "The other boat had been gaining on us and was evidently preparing for the race. The same activity could be distinctly discerned amongst its crew, and dark clouds of leaden smoke floated back and hung like a pall over the water and about the "Mary Prescott."
  "Our boat was now trembling us through it was a thing of life and nerves under the pressure of steam which hissed and spurted like thousands of vipers. The great wheel at the stern revolved with much greater speed, and the big timbers and irons which supported it creaked and groaned under the terrible strain. Deck hands were removing a consignment of rosin, in barrel back  to the engine and I saw the fiery tongues of flame lick up more that one as they were shoved in the furnace to get up more steam. The stack was now drawing finely. The current of hot smoke and flame went up the flume with the roar of a tornado. The sifter had been broken and partially carried out at the top by the current, and now great coals and chunks of fire poured out with smoke and flames and scattered about over deck and water. Already the hurricane deck had been twice set on fire and extinguished with buckets of water. The pressure of steam had grown so great that the safety valve had been blown partially open and was being held down by strong hands, when the captain a compact little fellow with a hard face, gave orders to "tie it down." A hawser was wound over it and fastened to staples driven in the floor for the purpose. Our passengers, of which there were many, had  gathered on the upper deck to  watch the race and to shake fists, jeer and flaunt handkerchiefs at the passengers of the river boat. We were now passing it and the race was evidently ours. We would run into the landing at the Bluff first, and consequently have a good start of the other boat for Macon. All of these thoughts seemed to dash through the brains of the wild and demented passengers and the crew of the Mary Prescott as they howled at and taunted those of the opposing boat not twenty yards distant. The chagrin of the defeated was so great that some of us distinctly saw a man disarmed who was making an effort to fire at us with a gun. The  stern of our boat had just left the bow of the other when a pre concerted cheer of derision (and it seemed to me of malignity) that drowned for the moment the roar of steam and splash of wheels, went up from the throats of our passengers, in one mighty climax of noise, to signal the victory. The echoes, from the banks had not been returned-the voices were still living upon the ear-the the cheer had not begun to soften when timbers and people were thrown in every direction, and the thunders of heaven seemed be to going through my head. The explosion was terrible - deafening, I did not hear well for weeks after, and to this day have never full regained it. How I escaped the Lord only knows. I and one other, a child, was picked up insensible from the muddy banks. The partial remains of some of the lost were recovered, probably catfish consumed most of them. I was afterwards told that the rival boat, though uninjured, did not stop to render any assistance, but wen on the Macon as though nothing had happened. The gentleman who gave me this history now resides in Fernandina, and his name is James B. Starnes. "JOSEPH PHAKAON"

April 1, 1884
Atlanta Constitution
Jeffersonville, March 31. Our quiet little village enjoyed the presence of Rev. P. H. Crumpler, the genial Sunday-school secretary of the twelfth district, yesterday. His mission was the organization of Twiggs county into a Sunday-school association to represent it in the State Sunday-school association to convene in columbus on the 28d of April. He is an enthusiastic worker, and our people will not soon forget his visit.

August 15, 1884
Atlanta Constitution
Macon, August 14 (Special) John Mobley is the colored mail carrier from Macon to Dry Branch, on the Jeffersonville route. This morning just as he was leaving the city he was approached by a negro of Jones county, named John Usury, who claimed to be the owner of the horse Mobley was driving, and stated that the animal was stolen from him about two years ago. Mobley bought the horse from Mr. George Lumpkin, of East Macon, who in turn purchased it from Mr. William Sheftall, of East Macon, who bought it of Mr. Frank Hammock, of Twiggs county. Where Hammock got the horse your correspondent could not learn to-day, as Hammock was not in the city. Mobley continued on his route to-day and returned this afternoon, when the horse was taken by Bailiff Nelson under warrant.

September 18, 1884
Atlanta Constitution
  Conductor Flourney's Marriage.
Macon, Ga., September 17 (Special) Mr. Robert Flournoy, a conductor of the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia railroad, was married to-day to MissLizzie Solomon, of Twiggs county. Rev. P. W. Edge performed the ceremony. The wedded couple reached Macon to-night and went on a bridal visit to Fort Valley.

October 14, 1884 
Union and Recorder
MARRIED, On the 6th inst., by Rev. P. W. Edge, at his home in Twiggs county, Capt. M. R. Bell, of this city, and Miss Mary Miller, who formerly lived in Jones county.
  The captain took us all by surprise. He kept his secret close. We had the pleasure of meeting them on their arrival at the Augusta depot in this city, and of greeting them with sincere congratulations. It is a real pleasure to us to record so happy an event, and we hereby, in a public way, express our earnest wishes for the health, happiness, and prosperity of himself and wife all the days they live.

November 23, 1884
Macon Weekly Telegraph
Jeffersonville. Death of Rev. William Griffin. November 22 - Rev. William Griffin died of typhoid fever at 2:30 o'clock this morning. He would have been sixty years old if he had lived till the 8th of January. The office of ordinary is made vacant by his death, and he leaves scores of relatives and friends to mourn their loss. He will be buried with masonic honors at 10 o'clock to-morrow.


1885
January 9, 1885
Atlanta Constitution
Macon, January 8 (Special) Next week in Twiggs county Mr. Shadrack Jones and Miss Mary Solomon will be married. It will be a grand occasion in that county. Both parties belong to old and influential families.

January 31, 1885
Atlanta Constitution
A FEARFUL RUNAWAY IN TWIGGS COUNTY.
Macon, Ga., January 30 (Special) Information was received here to-day of a frightful runaway in the upper portion of Twiggs county, that came near resulting very seriously.
  The accident occurred about twelve miles from the city. Mr. Steven Love was driving his sister, Mrs. Wm. Ladson home in a wagon with two mules, she was holding an infant in her arms. The journey was made quietly until the lane near the house of Mr. Henry Solomon was reached, and as the mules turned in a loose mule cane rushing up, frightening the team. They plunged forward and became unmanageable. The scene was a thrilling one. Mr. Love grasped the line with bout hands, standing up in the wagon and pulled for dear life. Mrs. Ladson held fast to the child and was screaming at the top of her voice. On the animals plunged in mad flight until the end of the lane was reached. A large ash tree standing in the center was struck by the end of the tongue. the animals reared back at the force of the blow, throwing the occupants of the wagon out. Mrs. Ladson was stunned, and the baby lay unconscious. Mr. Lane (Love) held on to the last moment, and then tried to save his sister and baby. Dr. T. M. Rice was summoned and relieved the mother and child. Mr. Love was not hurt, but the wagon was badly demolished.
  The parties are all well to-day, but the escape was a narrow one, and instant death seemed probable at any minute during the mad run of the team .

January  31, 1885
Atlanta Constitution
MACON
A citizen of Twiggs county, named A. F. Crosby, got on a big spree here to-day, resisted the police and drew a pistol. He was arrested and taken to the barracks.

February 6, 1885
Atlanta Constitution
Macon, Ga. February 5 (Special)
  One of the most successful farmers who come into the city is Mr. John A. Nelson, of the upper portion of Twiggs county, near Dry Branch. He is seventy-eight years of age, and has been farming sixty-five years. By careful management he has amassed a considerable fortune. He is a gentleman of the old type, and does not believe in modern farming. He uses such tools and implements as can be made on the farm, and leads a veritable home life. He says the farmers are making big preparations and are going to do all they can. They are set back some years by the poor crops of the past years, but are not going to be discouraged. Rather than that they are hoping to reap a better reward by hard labor another year. The are sowing lots of oats, and are preparing for a good crop of corn and cotton. He is going to plant, among other products, seven hundred acres of cotton. He believes he farmers of the present age are away behind, but they are in a good way to catch up. He holds that any good farmer, by perseverance and energy, can make a fortune if they will stick to it.
   Dr. T. M. C. Rice, of  Twiggs, says: "In my neighborhood the farmers are cheerful and in good spirits over the prospect of a big crop this years. A number of farmers made fine crops last year,  Among the most successful were Henry Kitchens and Frank Pettis. Both made splendid crops."

   Uncle Charlie Johnson, of Twiggs county, was in the city to-day on horseback. He is seventy-five years old, has been married three times, and is the father of twenty-six children, of which the youngest is three years old. He is healthy, strong and vigorous.

March 3, 1885
Atlanta Constitution
 In Twiggs county, some of the hands on Mr. H. S.Newby's place went into the crib to shuck corn, and while they were at work Mr. Newby's little daughter went into the crib, and was holding open a bag to put corn in, when a large pile of corn slipped or "caved" upon the child, completely covering her up. Just as they were getting her out the pile of corn slipped again, covering her up a second time. The negroes became alarmed and ran off, leaving the child to her fate. When she was extricated she was dead, having been smothered by the corn.

March 25, 1885
Union and Recorder
  Mr. J. A. Barclay, Sr., a prominent citizen of Twiggs county died last week of paralysis.

April 14, 1885
Union and Recorder
  Miss Lucy C. Hughes, daughter of Col. D. G. Hughes, of Twiggs county, died of pneumonia, on the 7th.

May 12, 1885
Atlanta Constitution
Major Robert Slappey, of Twiggs county, has a record of which no man, perhaps, in the state can boast. He is now in his 75th year, and for the past 55 years has attended every session of the superior court of his county but one. All this long period he has enjoyed almost perfect health, and at his present advanced age is active and robust as many men of half his years.

May 31, 1885
Atlanta Constitution
THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF TOM HILL, BEING DISCUSSED.
   Macon, Ga., may 30 (Special) About three weeks ago Tom Hill, a wealthy Twiggs county farmer, was fund dead in his house. This occurred on a Sunday night about ten o'clock. The day before Hill came to Macon and received from a bank, or a warehouse, several thousand dollars, which he carried home with him. he was an eccentric man, unmarried, and lived all along. His cook claimed to have discovered his death, probably a few moments after it occurred. Hill's death was ascribed to heart disease, and he was buried without an inquest being held.
   After the burial it was whispered around that several auspicious circumstances suggested that Bill had been murdered. The whispers grew into well defined rumors, and now the people of Twiggs county are seriously discussing the advisability of exhuming Bill's body and hold a coroner's inquest over it.
  Among the rumors circulated are the following:
  Hill's cook, a negro woman, said that she passed the window of his room at 10 on the night of his death and saw him lying on the floor dead. She informed the neighbors, among whom were the dead man's brother and nephew. The latter was Hill's adopted son and inherited his property. When an examination of hill's body was made, it was discovered that his skull had been crushed. Some of the persons present thought this might have been done by Hill's suddenly falling to the floor and striking his head against a chair, or some sharp-pointed instrument. The position of the body, however, prevented the acceptance of this theory. No chair, nor anything else likely to produce the wound, was near.
  Another suspicious circumstance was, that a much larger sum of money was expected to be found on the dead man's person than was found. It was known that he had brought several thousand dollars from Macon, but only a small sum comparatively, was discovered in the house.
  Still another cause of suspicion was the absence of a fine gold watch and chain which Bill always wore. When this loss was discovered, Hill's brother accused the cook of stealing the article, and told here that he would kill her if she did not produce them. She hastily left the soon, but soon returned, bringing the watch and chain.
  Hill's nephew desired to have an inquest held, but it was afterwards decided to be unnecessary.

June 5, 1885
Macon Weekly Telegraph
A Wealthy Lad. Mr. Tom Hill, near Jeffersonville, Twiggs county, died about ten days ago, leaving a magnificent estate valued at between sixty or seventy-five thousand dollars, all of which he leaves to his nephew and namesake, Tommie Hill, a lad about seventeen years old, whom he reared and educated. Montesuma Record.

June 5, 1885
Weekly Telegraph and Messenger
Death of a Good Citizen
Jeffersonville, June 2. Col. E. H. Wimberly, an honorable citizen of Twiggs county, died this morning at this home at 8 o'clock. He died in the same room in which he was born, in 1820, April 7. He was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. He was a bright and one of the oldest Masons in the county.

June 5, 1885
Weekly Telegraph & Messenger
Death of Mrs. T. P. Bond
  Yesterday morning at 7 o'clock the death of Mrs. T. P. Bond occurred at her home near Bond's mill, about twelve miles from the city, in Twiggs county. She was 73 years of age, and had been in declining health for some time. She was the mother of Mrs. J. M. W. Christian and grandmother of Mr. T. W. Bond, both of this city.
     Her funeral will be conducted from her residence at Bond's mill this morning at 10 o'clock. The notice is printed elsewhere.

June 13, 1885
Atlanta Constitution
Death of Mr. T. W. Burkette
Macon, Ga, June 12 (Special) Mr. T. W. Burkette, a well known citizen of Twiggs county, died at his home in that county at ten o'clock this morning. His death was caused by injuries sustained by being thrown from his buggy while visiting this city last month.

June 17, 1885
Macon Telegraph
     Death of Mrs. Dupree. Gordon, June 16. The sad intelligence of Mrs. Fannie Dupree's death was received on yesterday. A most exemplary lady, a devout Christian. She  was universally beloved. She died at the residence of her youngest  son, Dr. Ira E. Dupree, in Twiggs county. Hon. James M. Dupree, of Macon county and her elder son, and youngest daughter, Mrs. Snelling, of Atlanta, were dispatched to attend the funeral, which took place at Jeffersonville to-day.

July 9, 1885
The Telegraph and Messenger
Allentown, July7. - Mrs. Lark Kitchens died at this place today of typhoid fever. She leaves a husband and seven children.
   Dr. Ira Dupree and Ashley Vickers were converted at Richland church Sunday, and will be baptized tomorrow.

July 28, 1885
Macon Weekly Telegraph
OVERSEER AND TENANT. The Particulars of a Sunday Afternoon Tragedy in Twiggs County.
    The particulars of a homicide that occurred in Twiggs county Sunday afternoon, reached the city yesterday. They are brief, but tell of a deed that was unusually swift, both in its determination and execution.
   About fourteen miles from the city, at a point midway between Griswoldville and Gordon, in Twiggs county, is the plantation of Mrs. Betsy McWilliams. The place this year has been in charge of Wash Roberts, a young white man. Among the tenants on the place was an old negro man named Tobe Rivers. These two were the principals in the tragedy that furnishes this item.
   As the story goes, Roberts had been on a visit to his father a few miles from the plantation. He returned Saturday afternoon. In driving over the place Sunday to see how matters had been moving along during his absence, he discovered in the cornfield a spot where some of the corn had been pulled. Around it were footprints and other traces the supposed thief had left.
    Roberts immediately supposed that Tobe Rivers, one of the tenants, was the guilty party. To prove it on him, he determined to compel Rivers to accompany him to the spot that he might compare his shoe-tracks with those that had been noticed. River's house was some distance away, and he proceeded there without delay-on the way he provided himself with a whip and pistol, in the event that any trouble should arise.
   Rivers was found at his house, and made to go to the field. It is not known whether he resisted or not. After arriving there a comparison of the shoe tracks was made. While this was being done, the account goes, Rivers attempted to run. As he did so Roberts drew his pistol and fired, the bullet taking instant and fatal effect. The negro fell where he was, and did not speak afterward. He was dead when reached. He lay in the field until yesterday morning and wa seen by all who passed.  The coroner was preparing to conduct the inquest when our reporter left.
  Roberts, immediately after the deed was committed, left the premises and has not been heard of since. An endeavor will be made to discover his whereabouts and to affect his arrest. It was the opinion of those acquainted with the facts that the shooting was unprovoked and unjustifiable.

August 4, 1885
The Telegraph and Messenger
The Twiggs County Shooting.  Wash Roberts, who killed Tobe Rivers in Twiggs county a few days ago, and who afterwards made his escape, has been seen by parties living at Gordon in the vicinity of Big Commissioner Swamp, where, it is said, he has entrenched himself and bids defiance to the law. He has been joined there by his brother, Charlie Matthews, and Jack Cone. Matthews and Cone were before the courts in this city recently for stealing a cow from a party near Gordon, which they sold to an East Macon butcher.

October 26, 1885
Macon Telegraph
THROUGH THE HEAD. J. W. Cranford, of Twiggs County, Kills Himself With a Rifle.
  Saturday morning J. W. Cranford, a Twiggs county farmer, committed suicide by shoot himself through the head.
  Cranford was a tenant on Judge Solomon's farm, about thirteen miles from Macon. He was thirty-eight years old and had a wife and one child. He seems to have been a bad manager and involved himself in debt. The fact  that he owed money which he could not pay distressed him and some weeks ago he became despondent and continued on until the day of his death.
  Friday morning Cranford had a long talk with his wife  about his financial and mental condition and threatened to kill himself to get rid of his trouble. Mrs. Cranford reasoned with him and attempted to cheer him. He, however, continued in low spirits, and after the conversation with her, went to the residence of Dr. Wood, who lives near Judge Solomon's farm, and attempted to obtain some strychnine. Mrs. Wood, who was at home alone, suspected his purpose, and refused to supply his with the deadly drug.
  Friday night Cranford had another conversation with his wife and again THREATENED TO KILL HIMSELF.
   Mrs. Cranford spoke encouragingly to him, but to no effect. During the conversation he proposed to her that she should kill him and their child, and then kill herself. She rejected the proposition with horror, and retired to her bed with a heavy heart.
  Cranford was skilled in the use of the rifle. He was in the habit of carrying about with him a long, old-fashioned rifle, when walking or riding over his farm, and it was with that weapon that he committed suicide.
  Early Saturday morning, he arose and ate his breakfast. He then got his rifle and examined ti carefully. Mrs. Cranford paid no attention to his actions, supposing that he was in a better frame of mind. At 7 o'clock, she went into the yard to attend to her usual morning duties. A few minutes after, she heard the report of the rifle in the house, and hurried in to ascertain the cause. she found Cranford lying on the floor with a bullet hole in the center of his forehead. The blood was slowly coming from it and near his side lay the rifle. She immediately gave the alarm, and in a short while received assistance. Cranford was place on a bed and  A PHYSICIAN WAS SUMMONED.
   Everything possible was done to save the suicide's life, but to no avail. He lingered until 10 o'clock a.m., and then died.
  Yesterday morning a messenger was sent to Macon for a coffin, which was obtained from Messrs. Wood & Bond.
    Cranford was well known in Macon. For a number of years he bought supplies in this city. He was indebted to several persons here, but as far as could he learned, the amounts were small. Added to his financial trouble was an unfortunate habit of drinking to excess. It is understood that the two combined preyed upon his mind to such an extent as to weaken it, and for sometime past his neighbors have though him deranged.
   Cranford's remains were interred in Twiggs county yesterday afternoon.



1886
March 10, 1886
Dublin Post
Prof. F. A. Cannon, who is conducting a prosperous school at Cool Springs, Twiggs County paid his home a brief visit today.

May 7, 1886
Atlanta Constitution
An Apoplectic Stoke
Macon, Ga, May 6 (Special) Mr. John A. Nelson, who lives about ten miles from here, in Twiggs county, has been stricken with apoplexy. He is about 78 years old, and well known in Macon. Mrs. G. M. Davis is a daughter of Mr. Nelson. He was sitting at the table when stricken. His age precludes the probability of his recovery.

July 8, 1886
The Macon Telegraph
Death of Mrs. Dennard.
  The remains of Mrs. Hugh L. Dennard, who died at the residence of her son-in-law, Mr. D. G. Hughes, in Twiggs county, were brought to Macon yesterday and were sent to Perry last night.
   Mrs. Dennard was one of the best known and highly esteemed ladies in Houston county, and the news of her death will be read with pain by all who knew of her and her good works.

August 20, 1886
Atlanta Constitution
A Twiggs County Romance
Macon, Ga, August 19 (Special) At Antioch church Sunday school celebration, fifteen miles below Macon, in Twiggs county a romantic marriage occurred today. Charles Whitehurst, a prominent young lawyer of Hawkinsville, and Miss Alice, daughter of Colonel J. D. Jones, of Jeffersonville, loved each other, but there were parental objections to the match. Early this morning they slipped quietly away and drove up to the church and called for a minister. Rev. Simeon Thorpe being on hand, sat on the ground and tied the important knot, the couple remaining in the buggy. The happy pair then departed with the best wishes of the astonished congregation.

August 26, 1886
The Macon Telegraph
~extract
   A voice of weeping is again heard. Death came on us again to mourn the loss of one of our best friends.
Mrs. H. L. Dennard, of Perry, Houston county, Georgia, died at the residence of her son-in-law, Hon. D. M. Hughes, in Twiggs county, on the 6th day of July, 1886, in the seventy first year of her age. The maiden name of this estimable lady was Frances Crocker, daughter of Major Crocker, one of Twiggs' most influential and honored citizens of long ago. She married Mr. James Solomon, of Twiggs county, when quite young, and lived happily with him until 1842, when he died, leaving a widow with six children. Naturally endowed, as she was, with a mind strong and inquisitive, and eminently practical, together with sound discretion, good judgment and indomitable energy, she raised five children and educated them at the best schools and colleges in the country (one having died in infancy). Of these Judge W. L. Solomon,Mrs. C. R. Faulk and Mr.C. E. Solomon, still survive, the other two, Mrs. Cinderella Hartwell (formerly Tarver) and Mr. James Solomon, having died many years ago.
    After having lived a widow over eleven years, and seeing her children, nearly all grown, in 1853 she married Capt. H. L. Dennard, of Houston county, Ga. They, too, lived happily together until 1883, when she was again left a widow.
   The fruits of this marriage were two children, Mr. E. L. Dennard, of Perry, Ga., and Mrs. Dudley M. Hughes, of Twiggs county, Ga., all of whom are most excellent people, of irreproachable character, and ornaments to society. The are, indeed, ladies and gentlemen by inheritance and by education.
  Mrs. Dennard was truly a Christian woman. She always entreated her children and friends to cast away whatever animosities they entertained for others, that their Heavenly Father may forgive them their trespasses as they forgave others.
    She was a true and faithful wife, and affectionate and tender mother, a kind and generous neighbor, ever ready and willing to visit the sick and assist the needy.
    She was a consistent and exemplary member of the Baptist church at Perry, Ga., and was always especially noted for her Christian integrity.

September 2, 1886
Atlanta Constitution
GUILTY OF THREE MURDERS
A Desperate Criminal Brought Back From Alabama
Irwinton, GA. September 1- (Special)- On July fourth 1882, in the town of Jeffersonville, Twiggs county, John M. Benford, of Wilkinson county, killed T.J. Wood andJoseph Johnson, and defied the officers and made his escape. Prior to that time three warrants had been issued for his arrest from this county, one for wife whipping. His wife died soon after the whipping, and man of the citizens believe her death was due to his inhumane treatment. Soon after he made his escape, the facts were made to Governor Stephens, who offered a reward of one hundred dollars for his arrest.
THE MURDER CAUGHT.
   Our vigilant sheriff has been quietly working the  case up, and succeeded in locating him just across the Georgia line, in Alabama. He notified the proper authorities of this fact, and last night received a telegram from the sheriff of Carroll county, notifying him of Benford's arrest and asking instructions, to which he replied" "Hold the prisoner. Will leave on next train." Benford is a desperate character, and the sheriff will probably leave him in Macon jail.

September 7, 1886
Macon Weekly Telegraph
THE BENFORD CASE. His Attorney Has Something to Say About the Recently Published Account. Jeffersonville, September 4. - Editor Telegraph: In your issue of September 3d I find an interview with Sheriff Fountain, of Wilkinson county, and Sheriff Pettis, of Twiggs county, relative to the double murder, so called, as committed by J.M. Benford upon the bodies of T. J. Wood and Joe Johnson. These sheriffs know nothing personally of the killing of the two men. They are gentlemen who would not misrepresent facts if they knew then, but in this interview they have given a complete misrepresentation (unintentionally, I know, for I know both sheriffs to be gentlemen.
   Benford and another gentleman were at the bar taking a drink, when suddenly Wood came up and ran in between the two men and shoved them apart and took possession of the county. Benford then invited Wood to drink, but Wood refused, and urged a difficulty with Benford, which he did everything to evade, taking much abuse. Finally Wood abused Benford until "forbearance ceased to be a virtue," and they went into a few blows.  Wood, who was a very quarrelsome man and a bully, backed Benford into and on the corner of the counter, when Joe Johnson, who had, together with Wood, before that day threatened to whip Benford, ran up with his knife and plunged it at Benford under the front of the counter, and stuck his knife into the counter. From this Wood and Johnson, in conspiracy, too tedious to explain, pressed Benford with their knives and ran him twice from one end of the store tot he other. Mr. William Reynolds and Mr. Henry Pettis, brother of Sheriff Pettis, did all they could to stop the would-be murderers. I ran into the store as I saw numbers of men running out, and i caught Woods's arm as he made a plunge at Benford's back with a knife, As the men followed in quick order after Benford, they god him down, when, I think, Mr. Martin pulled one of them off, and Benford ran and came out of the door by me, and as the two men were immediately behind him, running after him, with drawn knives uplifted in their hands, I urged them to desist. Wood, who always listed to me before, heard me tell him he was about to get himself into a serious trouble with the law, stopped for a moment, and so did Johnson. Benford ran out one door and back into another, about four yards apart, and by that time both Wood and Johnson were again enraged. Benford shot one of them on the steps and the other just in front of me.
      I caught Johnson as he was falling and laid him gently down. I called for a physician. None appearing at once, and I opened my knife at once and either cut off his clothing or go another man to do so, so that physician might be read to act as soon as he could get there.
    Benford surrendered himself and I, as his attorney, demanded a trial. Judge Chambers, of the Irwinton bar, prosecuted the prisoner and I defended him. After closing both sides, I asked Judge Chambers to give me his points, and he stated to the court (two magistrates) that they were bound to commit without further effort by way of argument. I insisted that the court should hear my views, and which they died, and released the prisoner. Afterwards he insisted upon remaining in Twiggs, but some of his friends advised him that the prosecution might proceed, and it would cost much money to defend himself. He came to get my views, and I told him I thought he was in no danger and to do as he liked, but he might be prosecuted and would have to pay out much money to defend himself. He went to Carroll county, and has been there ever since.
   About a year ago, so I learn, he again insisted upon coming back, but I told his father to write him as he was doing well in Carroll to stay there. Your reporter talks of his stubborn appearance and refusal to communicate. No man is compelled to make every man his confidant. I requested Mr. Shannon a law student in my office, a few days since, having received a letter from John M. Benford, to write to him to "close his mouth" was all the advice I could give him. Knowing how of the reporters and others would misconstrue, I thought that the best.
     This __Col. Adamson, in Carollton, told that he read the letter Shannon wrote to Benford, who had so advised him  At best testimony from Mr. Pettis Webb _____, and  that his brother would swear that Benford was justified in the killing, and that about all the witnesses would also so swear, I cannot help believing that Mr. Pettis's statement were not understood by the reporter, for Pettis is a gentleman incapable of such when he knew different. if the evidence does not turn out as I say at the hearing I shall relieve Judge Kibbe from strictly following my opinions as positive law in the future. I will further state, injustice to the other side, that I am counsel for Benford, and I expect to fight the case upon the grounds of justificational. as the Atlanta Constitution published a severe tirade int he premises against Benford, I trust it will have this copy. Both Wood and Johnson were considered quarrelsome and dangerous men. In haste, J. D Jones

October 18, 1886
Macon Weekly Telegraph
The Acquittal of Benford
  The Telegraph's readers will remember an account of the placing in jail at this place of John Benford, of Twiggs county, who was brought down from near Carrollton by Sheriff Pettis. He was charged with the murder of two men four years ago in Twiggs county and brough here for safe keeping. At the trial, which took place in Jeffersonville, and was was concluded Saturday, Benford was acquitted.

October 26, 1886
Macon Weekly Telegraph
   The death of Mr. Thomas Marcy, a well known merchant of Bullards, occurred yesterday at that place. He had many friends in Macon.

November 23, 1886
The Macon Telegraph
Death of a Young Cadet.
Milledgeville Chronicle. Cadet Neal Cook, of Twiggs county, who was a student of the college, while running up the college steps one day last week sustained some internal injury, from which he died on last Tuesday evening. He was a noble young man, about 18 years of age, and the favorite of the college. His body was carried to his home in Twiggs county to be interred.



1887

February 4, 1887
The Macon Telegraph
excerpt - Camilla, February 3 -
Wylie Pearce died at his home in Decatur county January 26, 1887. Born in Chester county, S. C., on October 23, 1799, moved to Washington county, Ga. in 1805, then Twiggs county, where he married in 1824. Moved to Decatur county in 1827 where he lived up to the time of his death. Father of J. W. Pearce, clerk of Superior Court of Mitchell county.

June 5, 1887
The Macon Telegraph
Twiggs County News. Mr. Tillman J. Joiner died Monday at his home near Jeffersonville. He has been sick since June 4th. A remarkable fact connected with this death is that when Mr. Joiner married his present wife he was a widower with six children, and his wife was a widow with the same number of children. He leaves on child by his present wife, leaving Mrs. Joiner a widow with thirteen children.
  The wife of Mr. J. F. Balkcom, a brother of Messrs. M. C. and C. C. Balkcom, of this city, is lying very ill at her home three miles east of Griswoldville.
  Mr. S. D. Shannon, of Jeffersonville, who has been quite sick, is recovering.

July 31, 1887
Atlanta Constitution
From the Washington, Ga. Gazette
(excerpt about General Toombs escape after the surrender. Told by Charles E. Irvin who accompanied  General Toombs as far as New Orleans. " General Toombs and Major Luther Martin had long been warm friends and Martin treated him like a brother and kept him at his house as long as he would stay. Martin had been paroled at the surrender and he gave Toombs his parole, and from that time on Toombs went by the name of Major Martin.)"

 This interfered with the general's plans, and he turned his face southward. Irvin came on to this place with instructions to follow Toombs down to Old Town. Irvin was to inquire of Mr. Guss Bell, Mr. David Dickson, Judge Linton Stephens or Mr. Gonder.  A day or two passed and Irvin arrived at Old Town. Mr Guss Bell knew nothing, and he went then to Sparta to see Judge Stephens Both men took Irvin for a detective and it was with great difficulty that he could make himself know. Judge Stephens knew the Irvin family and asked the names and ages of every member. The Judge had not seen the general. Irvin rode hundreds of miles back and forth over the country. he finally got to David Dickson's and asked about Major Martin who was riding a gray mare. Dickson was suspicious and said he knew nothing of him. Irvin asked for directions to Gonder's, and Dickson told him there was no such man in that part of the country. Irvin was completely non-plussed. Dickson invited him to get down and stay with him. After a while Dickson concluded that Irvin was the right man and he direct him to Mr. Gonder's, tell him that Major Martin was there. Mr. Gonder was absent, and Mrs Gonder was sure Irvin was a detective who was on the track of Toombs. She vehemently protested that Martin had not been there. Irvin dismounted and went in any way. After remaining some time he was able to prove that he was a friend. She then told him that Major Martin and Mr. Gonder were over at Colonel Jack Smith's and there Irvin found Toombs. They remained there several days and all went fishing on the Oconee river.

   Colonel Smith put them across the river, and they went on, hoping to reach the Florida coast and get out of the country that way. The went on and stopped at Mr. Joseph Dee's in Wilkinson county. Mr. Dee told then he was right in Sherman's track and had very little left, but what he had they were welcome to. They went in and took supper, but did not make themselves known, though General Toombs knew them. Then traveling was done that day. That night after all had retired, Miss Dee went to her brother and said: "Joe Dee, are you a fool" That man is General Toombs." She said she had heard him make a speech at Toombsboro seventeen years before,, and had not seen him since.  Very early next morning Mr. Dee came into General Toombs's room and related what his sister had said, and he was overjoyed to know he had the great Georgia in his house. A negro man on the place also recognized him, he having heard him make the speech at Toombsboro.

   Mr. Dee told General Toombs the negro was very trusty and he piloted him and Irvin through the country for a day or two. They went to Mr. Hughes in Twiggs county, where they stayed for some time. Mr. Hughes knew the general and showed him every possible attention.
   Mr. Irvin says that the elegance of the homes at which they stopped and the whole__ hospitality of the people left sweet memories that will never be forgotten.
FOILED AND TURNED BACK
    Leaving Toombs at Mr. Hughes's, Irvin made his way to Macon to see General Gustavus Smith and Colonel DeGraffenried, two distinguished confederate officers. They sent Toombs word that he yankees had men at every ferry on the Ocmulgee river looking for him and it would not do for him to attempt to cross. They urged him to go back up to the mountains by all means and stay there till affairs had quieted down. To the meanwhile, the report was industriously circulated that Toombs had escaped to Cuba. While in Macon, Mr. Irvin encountered Mr. Gabriel Toombs at the Brown house. Mr. Toombs was very greatly surprised to see him, having thought his brother and Irvin were out of the country.
   Irvin went back to Toombs, and , relating what Smith and DeGraffenried said, they concluded to go back to the mountains. While at Colonel Hughes's a wounded confederate soldier came up and said he recognized Toombs as he passed along the road on old Alice, and telling him that had certain doctor had recognized and threatened to betray him. The soldier said he would fix the doctor if Toombs thought he would have any trouble from him, but nothing ever came of  it. A servant remarked to Mrs. Hughes that Major Martin  "was either President Davis or just as great a man.

September 17, 1887
Macon Weekly Telegraph
   Mrs. A. F. Martin died on Tuesday, and was buried here Thursday. She leaves a husband and two children, one of them a year old.

November 22, 1887
Union Recorder
  A sad suicide was the sensation in Macon on Thursday. Mrs. C. H. Taylor nee Miss Ella Jones, daughter of Mr. Bennett Jones of Twiggs county, took poison on Tuesday night, from the effects of which she did on Thursday morning. Every effort was made to save her, but she had swallowed forty-five grains of morphine, enough to kill twenty persons. She was married at 16, three weeks ago. No cause has been given the public for the act of Mrs. Taylor.

November 24, 1887
The Macon Daily Telegraph
Marriage at Jeffersonville.
  Jeffersonville, November 21. The most pleasant social event of the season occurred Tuesday evening, November 22, at the residence of Mr. W. H. McCrary, Rev. J. S. Lewis officiating. Mr. F. M. Johnston was united in holy bonds of matrimony to Miss Cordelia Hunter, both of Jeffersonville.
  Mr. Johnston is one of the noblest young men of our county. He is clerk of the Superior Court and makes one the best in Georgia.
  Miss Hunter is a Virginian. She is in charge of the music department in the Auburn Institute, under the charge of Prof. J. H. Napier. She has enjoyed the best musical advantages this country affords and is deservedly popular with her pupils and patrons.
  The community considers Mr. Johnston very fortunate in winning the heart and hand of one so beautiful and accomplished.

December 2, 1887
Atlanta Constitution
HEART AND HAND
A Notable Wedding Takes Place in Jeffersonville.
Jeffersonville, Ga. December 1 (Special) The most brilliant social event that was ever witnessed in this section was the marriage this morning at 10 o'clock of Dr. Mark H. O'Daniel, of Milledgeville, to Miss Pearl Napier, near this place, at the home of Mrs. W. T. Carswell, grandmother of the bride. Dr. E. W. Warren, of Macon, officiated. The attendants were C. O. Smith, of Hawkinsville with Miss Bessie Napier, of this place; Mr. E. T. Napier, of Macon, with Miss Mattie O'Daniel of Bullards; Mr. J. H. Napier, of this place  with Miss Helen Prescot, of Atlanta;  Dr. W. A. O'Daniel, of Bullards, with Miss Maud Napier, of Forsyth; W. D. Carswell, of Montezuma, with Miss Hallie Wimberly, of Twiggs county; Hon. Tom. M. Hunt, of Sparta with Miss Minnie Carswell, of this place; Dr. Harris Hall, of Milledgeville, with Miss Laura Carswell.
  The attendants were entertained in a most elegant manner last night at the home of the bride. The occasion was a most enjoyable one. This morning at ten o'clock the bridal party filed into the spacious parlors of the elegant home, while Mendelssohn's Wedding March was beautifully rendered by Mrs. Captain W. E. Carswell, when Dr. Warren, in a most impressive manner, pronounced the marriage ceremony, after which a sumptuous breakfast was served, and at 2 o'clock, accompanied by a few friends, the bridal party left for their new home in Milledgeville.
  Dr. O'Daniel, the bridegroom, is a physician of high attainments in his profession, and is one of the physicians at the insane asylum there. The bride is a charming and accomplished young lady, and is noted for her beauty and loveliness, and is the daughter of Mrs. E. C. Napier, who was the hostess on the occasion, and with queenly elegance rendered the occasion one of the most pleasant and enjoyable ones that was ever witnessed in this section. Many were the expressions of her kind entertainment by all present. There were no cards, and only a few of the immediate friends of the two families were present, except the attendants.
  The presents were numerous and elegant, and evinced the popularity of the happy couple. An amusing incident of the evening was cutting an elegant cake for the ring and dime. Mr. Tris Napier, amid cheering applause, got the former, and Hon. Tom Hunt the latter.



1888

January 14, 1888
The Macon Telegraph.
Death of Mrs. James W. Warren.
Atlanta, January 13. Mrs. James W. Warren, wife of Secretary Warren, of the executive department, died at her home in Kirkwood at 1 o'clock to-day. Saturday last she was attacked with pneumonia and her case from the first was believed to be a dangerous one. Yesterday her condition was quite critical. Mrs. Warren was Miss Laura Wimberly, of Twiggs county. At the time of her death she was fifty years of age. Her remains will be buried in Oakland cemetery.

April 29, 1888
The Macon Telegraph
Jeffersonville, April 28
  On last Sunday the pastor of the Methodist church married two couples, Mr. Josiah Cowart to Miss Lilian Beal, and Mr. W. L. Renfroe to MissVirgina A. Smith.

April 29, 1888
The Macon Daily Telegraph
   The wife of Mrs. Teaberry Newby, of Twiggs county, is very ill and not expected to live.

April 30, 1888
The Macon Daily Telegraph
Death of Mrs. Newby.
  Mention was made in yesterday's Telegraph of the serious illness of Mrs. Teaberry Newby, in Twiggs county. Yesterday an order was sent to Mr. Clay for a handsome casket, the lady having died.

May 11, 1888
Macon Weekly Telegraph
~Excerpt~   Died, at her home in Twiggs county, Georgia on the 1st day of May, 1888, Virginia Shannon Faulk, wife of John Faulk, and third daughter of James and Francis Carey Shannon, late of the State of Missouri. The subject of this sketch was born in Harodsburg, Ky, July 14th, 1847. She was educated at Christian Female College at Columbia, Mo., and at an early age united with the Christian Church, of which church she was a consistent and faithful member to the time of her death. In 1869 she came to Georgia and taught school a few years in Monroe county, but being in feeble health she relinquished the ardous duties of the school room and came to reside at the hOme of her brother, J. C. Shannon, in Twiggs county. Her health recovering she was married at the above mentioned place by the Rev. G. R. McCall  to Mr. John Faulk, of Houston county, May 30, 1878. Since her marriage she has lived with her husband on his plantation in Houston county until very recently, when the family moved to Twiggs county. She was a woman of great firmness of character, social in disposition and of a refined gentle and affectionate nature. Although she had no children living, she leaves a step daughter and two step sons who mourn her loss as if she were their own mother. Her devoted husband, her brothers, Carey and Lenoir Shannon, of Twiggs county, and a married sister in Missouri are also left to mourn the loss of this noble and lovely woman. ...........

May 14, 1888
Augusta Chronicle
Post offices have been established as follows: Solomon, Twiggs county, special service from Bullards, ten miles South, with Theodriek E. Jones postmaster.

June 6 1888
Augusta Chronicle
Mrs. Elo Love, a widow, runs a one-mule farm in the McDaniel district, in Twiggs county. She is 52 years of age and has with her three unmarried daughters, Misses Rebecca, Lucinda and Kittie. They rent the land, hire no help, and do all their own work. Last year they made 9 bales of cotton, 200 bushels of corn, 200 bushels of peas, 500 bushels of oats, killed 800 pounds of pork, have a herd of 15 cattle and milk 3 cows. Mother and daughters belong to Liberty Hill Methodist church. All are happy and entirely out of debt. Mrs. Love has reared nine children, all married except three, and is now raising one grandchild and a little orphan girl of no relations.

July 24, 1888
Columbus Daily Enquirer
Robert, aged sixteen years, son of Dr. B. S. Carswell, of Jeffersonville, was drowned Tuesday at Myrick's mill, seven mills from Jeffersonville.

August 31, 1888
Atlanta Constitution
Macon, Ga., August 30 (Special)
Mrs. Bull, of Twiggs county, widow of the late Dr. Bull, is dead. Parties were in Macon to obtain a coffin. Mrs. Bull had many friends, who regret her death.

September 22, 1888
Macon Telegraph
DEATH OF MONROE REID. One of a Family of Brothers Who Fought for the Confederacy.
  Justicer R. F. Reid of Reid's Station, Twiggs county, came into the city yesterday afternoon and purchased a casket from Undertaker Clay for his brother, Mr. Monroe Reid, who died in the afternoon at this farm in the lower edge of Bibb.
  William H. Reid, the father, was a chairmaker by trade and lived in this county. Long before the war, with fifty cents in his pocket, his entire earthly possession, he married a Miss Bridges. The result of the union was fourteen children, eight of whom were boys. One boy died before the war. Mr. Reid began life anew when he married, and by hard work and the aid of his good wife succeeded in accumulated a handsome property. The war came on and found six strong and sturdy young farmers. They responded to the call for soldiers, and in a short time the old homestead was left with only one boy, Monroe, who was too young to shoulder arms and follow his brothers. Alfred was stationed around Atlanta and was commisoned a major of militia by Gov. Brown. John went off in a company commanded by the late Col. John B. Cumming of Macon. Frank went with Capt. S. S. Dunlap's cavalry, and Joe, William and Floyd went off in Capt. Rice's company in the 48th regiment.
   When the war ended, four of the brothers had given up their lives for their county, Alfred, John, Joe and William. One died at Culpepper, one at Richmond, and two died near home of wounds received in battle. Lloyd came home with an empty sleeve, having lost an arm at Gettysburg, but Frank was more fortunate and came out of the battle unscathed. He is now a justice of the peace in Twiggs county. Floyd is a peaceful farmer of the same county. The death of Monroe leaves only two of the family.
  The father died in 1869. Even after he had accumulated a fortune he continued to make chairs simply as a matter of choice. Forty-six years ago he made a small table chair for Mr. Gilbert Davis, the well-known Macon stableman, when he was only three years old. That chair was used by three of Mr. Davis' children.

October 3, 1888
The Macon Telegraph
Justifiable Homicide. Parties who came in from Jeffersonville yesterday say that the coroner's jury in the inquest on the body of W. T. Reynolds, who was killed last Saturday by Sheriff Pettis, brought in a verdict on Sunday morning of justifiable homicide. The wife of Sheriff Pettis is an aunt of the deceased, and she was very much grieved over the tragic affair.

October 16, 1888
Macon Weekly Telegraph
A Negro Farmer's Sudden Death.
Burrell Walls, a well known colored farmer of Twiggs county was in Macon Saturday trading as usual. On Sunday night he died very suddenly at his home near Bond's Mills, in the upper portion of the county.

October 17, 1888
Macon Daily Telegraph
~extract (Grand Jurors Oct. term, 1888)
  F. D. Wimberly, foreman; R. A. Denson, R. R. Wimberly, Sr., J. H. Ray, Morgan Whitehurst, T. J. Bond, J. P. Mercer, S. F. Asbell, Linton Hatcher, J. W. Paul, Sr., J. W. Jones, D. T. Lamb, C, Y, Johnston, R. L. Harrison, F. S. Lee, A. J. Wood, J. A. Smith, S. E. Jones, E. W. Hughes, C. A. Vaughn, Jeremiah Sanders, J. A. Sanders, W. J. Sanders.

November 7, 1888
The Macon Telegraph
A LAWYER'S LITTLE PISTOL. Chas. M. Whitehurst Shoots Floyd Finch at Jeffersonville.
Jeffersonville, Oct. 6. - Charles M. Whitehurst has shot Mr. Floyd Finch. The facts are about these. Whitehurst, as attorney, had a claim against a colored man on Finch's place, and had ordered the constable to make a levy on a mule. The constable did so, and put up a notice to sell the mule. Finch claimed the mule and said the colored man had no claim upon it, and from this the trouble originated. Finch is shot in the lower bowels, and the wound is a bad one. The doctors say he may recover.

November 20, 1888
The Macon Telegraph
An Unusually Happy Father.  Mr. Fred Stokes, a well-known young farmer, who lives on Big Sandy creek in Twiggs, is now the happy father since Sunday, of triplets, two girls and one boy, weighing seventeen pounds, and all getting along splendidly.

November 30, 1888
The Columbus Enquirer-Sun
Death of Mr. John Sanders
    The friends of Mr. John R. Sanders will regret to learn of his death, which occurred at his home in this city yesterday. He was born in Twiggs county, Georgia, in 1831, where he lived until his twenty second year, when he moved to Crawford county, coming to Columbus in 1869, where he has lived ever since. He was a carpenter by trade, and by his honest dealings made many friends. He leaves a family to mourn his loss. The funeral will take place from the First Baptist church at 2:39 o'clock this afternoon.

December 25, 1888
Macon Weekly Telegraph
CHRISTMAS EVE TRAGEDY. AN UNKNOWN NEGRO MAN SHOT DOWN A FARMER. The Wounded Man Makes a Statement From Which no Description of His Assailant Can be Obtained - Cannot Recover.
  Mr. John Burkett, a farmer from Twiggs county, was shot in the abdomen last night about 9:30 o'clock, from the effects of which it is not probable that he can recover.
   From the man himself, as he lay in the station house awaiting medical attention a Telegraph reporter learned the facts of the shooting:
   "I had come from home early this morning, and at 3 o'clock ate a hearty dinner at my father's house, on Plum street near Second. About 8 o'clock I was walking down Fourth street, and had reached the flying jenny, when my attention was called to a fakir standing on the corner of Pine and Fourth street. He was selling chances at a drawing in which were silver-headed canes, jewelry, etc., and walking up to his stand, I stopped and watched the proceeding."
  Here the suffering man gasped for breath and moved uneasily, saying : "Oh, God, I cannot stand this; to be shot down as a dog. I can never stand it."
  Being quieted by the reporter, and in a rambling way, he said:
  "A low, chunky black negro stood by my side, and drawing some jewelry and a silver-headed cane, he turned to me and said "I will take 75 cents for this cane and 50 cents for the jewelry.'  Considering it worth that much, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my purse.' Oh, I cannot go on, this is killing me; I am dying. Save me, please. Give me something to make me die easy."
  Again there was a lull and finally nerving himself, Burkett continued.
  "The man grabbed my purse and ran. I followed as fast as could, shouting 'stop him! stop him!' Turning the corner of Pine street, he disappeared from view. I came to the corner and turning found the man not more than ten steps away and facing me. It was horrible. He drew his revolver and fired. I fell headlong on the ground and knew no more, until the people picked me up. I cannot say who is the man, I never saw him before, and I cannot describe him."
  Officer Daniels was on the beat and hearing the pistol shot ran to the place, only to find Burkett on the ground, surrounded by a crowd.
  Securing a hack, he brought Burkett to the station house, where Dr. Walker was called to render proper attention.
  Giving the man an opiate, the physician concluded it best to remove him to his father's home,
  Suffering intensely and barely able to talk, the wounded man was again placed in the hack and carried to his father's house on Plum street.
  Here Dr. Gibson was called in to consult with Dr. Walker, and after an investigation it was decided best not to probe for the ball.
  The bullet ranged downward and it is probable that it pierced the liver in its  course.
  Burkett's assailant is unknown and the officers can not find anything to base a clue upon as to his identify.
  At a late hour last night the physicians had no hopes for Mr. Burkett. The nature of his wound does not warrant them in the belief that he could not possibly recover.
See: Jan 12, 1889

December 26, 1888
Atlanta Constitution
 Macon, Ga., December 25
Yesterday, Mr. Hogan Carroll, a young man seventeen years old, and who resided in Twiggs county, about ten miles from Macon, went hunting, with a double barrel shot-gun, for squirrels. He did not return home last night, and this morning members of his family went hunting for him. He was discovered lying dead on his back in some mud under a tree. The gun, with both barrels discharged, and the ramrod were found near by. On examination it was found that the load of squirrel shot had penetrated the right side of the face, badly tearing it, passed through the brain and came out at the top of his head. His hat, perforated with shot holes, was fund lodged up in a tree, where it was blown by the lead as it went piercing through his brain and head. How the accident happened is not known. It is supposed that he was looking up the tree for a squirrel, and in walking back he stepped into an old stump hole that was covered with leaves, and the gun fired. The deceased was a brother of Dr. Carroll and Thomas Carroll, of Macon. A conveyance came to Macon this afternoon to Undertaker Keating for a coffin for the remains.

December 27, 1888
The Macon Telegraph
A Happy Marriage. At the bride's home at Bullard's Station yesterday afternoon Mr. T. J. Jordan was married to Miss Belle Everett. After the ceremony the young couple left for this city where they will make their home at No. 138 Holt street.

December 28, 1888
Macon Weekly Telegraph
A Georgian Wins a Washington Bride.
  Washington, Dec. 27 - (Special) Mr. William Yancey Griffin of Twiggs county, Georgia, and Miss Eleanor H. Libbey of this city, were married at Christ's church, Georgetown, this morning at 10 o'clock, and took the 11:30 o'clock train for Mr. Griffin's home at Jeffersonville, Ga. Mr. Griffin is a graduate of the State University of Georgia and also graduated at the Georgetown law school last summer. He is a son of Hon. E. S. Griffin, present member of the Georgia legislature from Twiggs, and is one of the most popular and promising young men of the state. His bride is one of the loveliest young ladies of this city, and is connected with one of the oldest and wealthiest families of Georgetown.



1889
January 12, 1889
Macon Weekly Telegraph
~excerpt WHO WAS THE MURDERER?
AFTER LINGERING SEVENTEEN DAYS FARMER JOHN BURKETT DIES. The Coroner's Jury Orders and Autopsy But No Bullet is Found - Some Damaging Evidence But the Witness is Absent.
 Mr. John Burkett, the Twiggs county farmer who was shot by an unknown negro on Christmas Eve near the corner of Pine and Fourth street, died at his father's home on Pine street yesterday morning about 11 o'clock from the effects of the wound.
    Mr. Burkett's condition was reported as being more favorable at a late hour Thursday night, but early yesterday morning he grew rapidly worse and died at the hour above stated.
  Coroner Henderson being notified, summoned the following jury of inquest at noon yesterday to view the remains.
  J. A. Orme, foreman; R. P. Menard, Victor A. Menard, F. R. Pomeroy, John C. Deita, S. G. Smith, Milton E. Smith, Paul T. Hill, J. W. Edwars, Asher Ayers, John C. Stirks and R. W. Jemison.
  At 1 o'clock the jury assembled and commenced the examination of witnesses. The father and brother testified in substance to the reports as published in the Telegraph at the time of the shooting.
  Dr. Walker testified as to having been called to attend Mr. Burkett on the night of the shooting and, also, as to having attended him until his death, which was caused by the wound.
  Judge Grannis stated to the jury that he had witnessed the signing of an affidavit by Mr. Burkett identifying Gabe Varner as the negro who shot him. He died not have the affidavit in his possession.
  After hearing other evidence, the jury requested an autopsy to be made and adjourned to meet at 10 o'clock this morning, when further evidence will be introduced.
  Dr. Walker performed the autopsy at a late hour yesterday afternoon and after a diligent search for two hours failed to find the bullet which proved so fatal. With such a state of affairs the case remains clouded in mystery and the best of detective skill will be required to unravel the same and hunt down the murderer.
  Gabe Varner, upon whose person was found a set of sleeve buttons similar to the ones which the negro showed Mr. Burkett on the fatal night, is today a free man. The fact of Mr. Burkett having identified him twice has prejudiced the case, but other circumstances proved tht he was probably innocent.
   Richard Lockhart was arrested a few days before Varner was released, and when searched nothing but six 38 caliber cartridges were found upon him. Lockhart remained in jail until last Thursday, when he was given a preliminary hearing by Justice Poe. The evidence being sufficient he was discharged. There was an important witness absent from that trial, and it is upon his evidence that the fate of Lockhart, now rests.
  The name of that witness is H. W. Royscon, and at the present time he is in Jacksonville, Florida, selling jewelry....

January 14, 1889
Daily Decatur (Illinois) Republican
He Devours Potato Custards and Sugar Cane by the Cartload. The Champion Eater
 On the plantation of Capt. W. H. Stokes, in Twiggs county, there resides a white tenant who promises to become the champion eater of Georgia without any opposition. The man's name is Ebb Floyd, and his is said to be a short, stout man of 80 years of age and of a jolly disposition.
  Floyd first attracted the attention of his neighbors on a log rolling which took place about a month ago. On that occasion, after finishing the work the workmen sat down to a supper, and before them, were placed fifteen large potato custards.  This dash was a favourite of Floyd's, and the fact was known to several of his friends, who were present at the supper. One of them, in a banter, offered to be with Floyd that he could not eat half the custards at the same meal, and was very much surprised when his farmer friend took him up, and agreed to eat ten of them without stopping.
   Piling up the dishes in a circle, he commenced upon the spread. Five were soon eaten, and then the fun began with a rush. One after another disappeared slowly but surely, until the magic number of then came to hand, and all present were in an uproar.
   Straightening himself out for the fray, the farmer commenced on the home stretch. Ten large sweet potato custards inside of him and five awaiting the attack presented a ludicrous scene. It was agony, but three soon sped away on their journey to meet their fellows, and gradually the last of the fifteen found itself on the way down to the depths. He had accomplished the feat, and the prize offered in the bet was his, and his only.
  This was, however, only a starter for Mr. Floyd, and so therefore, he chose a day for another effort, and again he came out victorious.
    This time it was a chewing contest, and sugar cane was the object of his attention.
    After a day of frolic and fun, and after indulging in a hearty dinner, with turkey and stuffing to his heart's content, he visited a house where he expected toe at supper and remain all night.
   This time a crowd had gathered to see the Twiggs wonder, and an abundance of good, juicy cane had been set in the room ready for the contest.
   As a preliminary, fourteen full stalks were chewed before supper, and then all hands sat down to an old time Thanksgiving supper, with 'possum and yams and plenty of rich gravy.
   Finishing supper, the host announced to his friends that the contest was ready to be opened, and asked if any one present wanted to make bets on the result.
   A school teacher in the crowd suggested that a speedy trial be made, and offered to wager that Floyd could not chew three stalks in ten minutes. This was accepted, and the schoolmaster set before him three large, fine stalks and called  time.
   Two of them were disposed of in five minutes, and the third one saw its fate in two more minutes, making the farmer the winner by three minutes.
  Thus settled the question of speed, and then some one offered to bet two to one that Floyd could not drink a quart of juice down without stopping. He was a wiser man in just a minute later, for, catching up a jug, Floyd drained it of three pints of the sweet stuff.
  Every one was satisfied and he was the hero of the hour, when a small hand cane mill was brought into the room and twenty stalks were crushed, giving out three gallons of juice.
  This was a startling announcement and it had the effect of making Floyd a lion among his friends, when they were taken aghast by the statement that he could chew twenty stalk before he retired and not feel the result.
  Every one laughed at him, and all thought him to be jesting when he laid out twenty of the largest stalks of cane near his chair and commenced on the work of grinding out the juice with his molars.
  One by one the stalks were taken up and stripped, chewed and the pieces thrown aside, and in exactly one hour and fifteen minutes the little pile was exhausted and the man was ready to quit and retire from the field.
  The news of his feat spread far and near in his neighborhood, and now he is the wonder of the section.
  His friends in Twiggs county put him against any man in the world for the championship and a prize of $100.
Macon (Ga) Telegraph

January 29, 1889
Atlanta Constitution
THE DEATH OF SANDERS
The Coroner's Jury Investigates the Matter Thoroughly.
Macon, Ga., January 28 (Special) Owing to the non-arrival until this afternoon of the train men who were aboard the East Tennessee freight whenGrant Sanders was killed Saturday afternoon, the coroner's jury did not hold an inquest until this evening at 5 p.m. The verdict was in accordance with the facts; that Sanders was knocked in the head by the bridge and killed. The body of Sanders presented a sickening sight. His head had been knocked almost completely off his shoulders, only the chin and part of the back of the head remaining. His left arm was broken in two places. The end of the bridge was splattered with blood where Sanders's head struck. The remains were delivered to Sander's relatives and will be interred at Bullards.

January 29, 1889
Union Recorder
MARRIED - In Twiggs county on Wednesday last Mr. J. Walker Jones and Miss Claud Jones were united in marriage. They are well known in this city, both of them having been pupils in our college. On their bridal tour they came to this city and spent two daus attending the marriage of their friends, Mr. Henry Wooten an Miss Minnie Harrell on Thursday afternoon. They left on the Friday 4:14 train to visit relatves at Brown's Crossing and Jackson, Butts county. Mr. Jones is a progressive farmer and his bride a most charming young lady. The Union Recorder joins with their many friends in wishing for them a long, happy and prosperous life.

January 31, 1889
The Macon Daily Telegraph
  Mr. H. L. Solomon who lives in Twiggs county near Bond's mill was in the city yesterday among the cotton factors. Last Monday Mr. Solomon, while returning home from a visit to the city, discovered that a farm house on his plantation was on fire. Although he was some distance from the burning house, yet he managed to reach it in time to rescue from the flames three small negro children, who had been left locked up in the house when the tenant left home. The gentleman barely escaped with his life in his daring work, but is now able to get around among his friends as usual.

February 23, 1889
The Macon Telegraph
Death of a Farmer.   Information was brought to the city yesterday of the death of Mr. G. M. Melton, a farmer living in Twiggs county, but formerly of Bibb from pneumonia. Mr. Melton was 60 years of age, and leaves a wife and a large family to mourn his loss. He was a staunch and reliable farmer, and had a number of friends in Macon, who learn of his death with sincere regret.

Febuary  27, 1889
The Macon Daily Telegraph
SHOT AND INSTANTLY KILLED. Mr. Carroll of Twiggs County Kills Mr. Warren Law.
 Cochran, Feb. 26. -(Special) Mr. Warren Law was shot and killed by a Mr. Carroll on W. B. Watts' place 12 or 13 miles north of this place on Sunday, the 24th ist.
  Mr. Carroll was employed by Watts as manager on his place, and it seems that this man Law went on the place and was meddling with the hanss on the place. He had run some of them off and was then trying to frighten or run others off when he was discovered by the Carrolls and was shot and instantly killed.
  Law was under the influence of whisky at the time. The killing occurred on the Watts place in Twiggs county near the line of Pulaski county.

March 1, 1889
Macon Telegraph
WHITE CAPS IN TWIGGS.
The Outrages of Indiana Rivaled In Georgia. White Men Visit a Negro's House and Unmercifully Whip Him-Escape of a Negro Teacher-A Reward for the Regulators.
Atlanta, Feb. 28 (Special) Representations have been made to Gov. Gordon of  a dastardly and brutal outrage committed on the night of the 18th inst. in Twiggs county, which reflects little credit on the fair name of that community. The statement is that a few white men in that county did not approve of a colored school that was on the plantation of Mr. J. H. Ward and determined to break it up.
 UNMERCIFULLY WHIPPED
    On the night in question they disguised themselves and went to the house of Jerry King, a colored man, who was a patron of the school, seized him and unmercifully whipped him as well as two of his children. They next proceeded to the house of Taylor Hill, a negro with whom one of the teachers of the school, a colored girl, boarded. They were refused admission, the occupants of the house being afraid of them. They broke down the doors and windows and fired guns and pistols through the opening, the evident intention being to kill the inmates, who, however, miraculously escaped.
HID BETWEEN THE MATTRESSES.
    The teacher hid between the mattresses and slats of her bed, and after the attacking party left, a half dozen bullets were picked from the bed clothing.
    The particulars of this outrage have been furnished the executive by reputable citizens of Twiggs and he is determined to do what is in his power to bring the perpetrators to justice. The law-abiding citizens of Twiggs owe it to themselves and the good name of their county to co-operate with the governor in his efforts in this direction.
FEAR TO TAKE ACTIVE STEPS.
   From the statements made here the evidence points very clearly to number of men, but the parties who complain of the outrage fear to take any active steps lest, perhaps, they should meet with assassination. This is a pretty state of things for a Georgia community.
  The governor has offered a reward of $250 for the apprehension, with proof to convict, of the disguised men who committed the outrage.
See March 8, 1889

March 2, 1889
The Macon Daily Telegraph
  Jeptha Carroll and his two sons have been arrested for the killing of Warren Laid (sic) in Twiggs county Sunday last. When the Telegraph's informant left Jeffersonville yesterday the preliminary trial was going on, and it was rumored that Jeptha Carroll had acknowledged that he did the killing, but that it was done in self-defense.

March 8, 1889
Macon Telegraph
  The Twiggs White Caps.  Mr. Glover of Twiggs county was in the city yesterday. Mr. Glover says that the accounts of the doings of the White Caps in Twiggs county are not exaggerated as has been reported. He says further that the perpetrators are not Twiggs county men, but that they came from across the line of Pulaski. He thinks that Twiggs has enough of her own faults to bear and that she should be relieved of this charge. The outgrage was committed near the line of Twiggs and Pulaski, but not by citizens of Twiggs.

March 19, 1889
Union Recorder
Maj. R. R. Wimberly, one of the best men, in Twiggs county, died on Friday 8th inst.

April 10, 1889
Macon Weekly Telegraph
Rev. P. W. Edge died at the residence of Mr. J. T. Bond in Twiggs county yesterday morning at 11:30 o'clock. Mr. Edge was a prominent minister of the Baptist Church. He was born in Cobb county, Georgia, and was about forty one years of age. He married Miss Mattie Miller of Jones county, who with four children survive him. Mr. Edge was a delegate to the constitutional convention of 1877. About eight years ago he was admitted to the bar and was making a wide reputation in that field when ill health compelled him to almost abandon practice.
  The funeral services will take place at the home of Mr. Bond at 9 o'clock. Immediately after the remains will be brought to Macon and interred in Rose Hill, where lie two of his children.

April 29, 1889
Macon Telegraph
Laid to rest. The funeral of Mrs. Lucinda N. Gibson, mother of Dr. W. C. Gibson of this city, took place yesterday afternoon at Mountain Spring in Jones county, and was attended by a large number of friends of the deceased and family. Rev. J. W. Burke officiated and paid a feeling tribute to the noble qualities of the lady and her Christian character. The remains were then laid to rest by the side of the mother and father in the family burial ground at Mountain Spring. Probably no resident of Twiggs county was so well known and universally beloved as was Mrs. Gibson, and her death has cuased deep sorrow among a wide circle of loving friends and relatives.

May 3, 1889
The Macon Telegraph
A Quiet Marriage. Mr. Jeff Butler, the genial salesman at Rogers, Worsham & Co.'s, left yesterday morning with his brother and Rev. Mr. Toole for Dry Branch, where, at 4 o'clock, he was to be united in marriage to MissBelle Burkett. Mr. Butler has a large number of friends who wish him prosperity and a long life.

May 7, 1889
Union Recorder
MARRIED - At the residence of the bride's mother in Twiggs county, Ga., April 30th, Mr. William H. Bird of Savannah and Miss
Alice Alford, Rev. L. H. Green officiating.

June 6, 1889
Macon Telegraph
Louisville Notes
   Mr. Charles Gardner, the well-known carriage maker, died Sunday and was buried in the Jeffersonville cemetery Monday morning.

June 27, 1889
The Macon Telegraph
A DOUBLE WEDDING Billingslea-Bullard and Tharpe-Billingslea Nuptials at Bullard's Yesterday.
  Yesterday Bullard's station, on the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia road, was the scene of a double marriage.
  It has been known to their friends for some time that Mr. Louis C. Billingslea and Miss Victoria Bullard would be married on yesterday. So it was no surprise to them to see Mr. Billingslea start off early yesterday morning behind a spanking double team for the home of the bride. Of course there must be bridesmaids and who would more naturally fill that office than MissMamie Billingslea, the sister of the groom. Then there must be a groomsman and there was no better friend to the groom than Mr. Frank B. Tharpe. And again it was no surprise when Mr. Tharpe was seen to drive off with the groom expectant, and it was still no surprise when Frank told them he was going to be married as he is fond of a practical joke, and while they could see good cause why he should not take such a step, they thought he was jesting. But when about 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon they all came back as Mr. and Mrs. Louise C. Billingslea and Mr. and Mrs. Frank B. Tharpe and registered a the National Hotel, where Mrs. Reeves, the mother of Mr. Billingslea and Mrs. Tharpe, had an elegant wedding feast prepared for them, it was accepted as true. It seems that Mr. Tharpe and Miss Billingslea had been contemplating such a step for some time and came to the conclusion that a double  wedding would be appropriate. Rev. B. F. Breedlove of East Macon performed the ceremony that united the two couples for better or for worse.
  The ceremony took place at 11 a.m., and the parties then took private conveyance to Macon.
  Mr. Billingslea is an express messenger running out of Macon, and is highly thought of by his employers. He is a young man of bright prospects. His bride is a daughter of Mr. Daniel Bullard of Bullard's and is a young lady of high attainments and lovable character.
  Mr. Frank B. Tharpe everybody knows. He was at one time a member of the police force, but for several years has been a merchant of East Macon. He is known as clever Frank Tharpe, an appellation that fits him well. His bride is the daughter of MRs. Reeves of the National Hotel and a number of friends called to pay their respects.
  There was a magnificent supper, consisting of everything that could be wished.

July 7, 1889
Augusta Chronicle
  J.A. Ray of Twiggs county, who sends the handsomest peaches to the Macon market on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, has on his place three peach trees which, to his certain knowledge, were bearing in 1843.

July 11, 1889
Atlanta Constitution
Collins Adams Drowned
Adams Park, Ga., July 10 (Special) Collins Adams, colored, while crossing a lake, making his way to the great Phillips melon company, to obtain work, was drowned. He was accompanied by four other negroes. There is something suspicious about it.

July 17, 1889
Macon Telegraph
Jeffersonville, July 15. Mr. Floid (Floyd) Finch, who has been confined to his room for several months, died Saturday morning about 11 o'clock.

July 25, 1889
The Macon Telegraph
St. John's Day.   Yesterday was St. John's day, the day that is usually celebrated by the masons. This year it was celebrated by the lodge at Lucy Chapel in the lower edge of Twiggs county. The celebration took place Saturday and Capt. W. A. Davis was invited to deliver the address. He went down Saturday and returned yesterday. He reports a most delightful time.
  Capt. Davis says that he was in portions of Twiggs, Pulaski and Laurens counties, and he never saw crops looking finer.

September 14, 1889
The Macon Telegraph
AN HONORED CITIZEN GONE.  Death of Hon. Herbert Reynolds of Twiggs County.
  For some weeks past Hon. Herbert Reynolds of Twiggs county has been in a precarious state of health. He has for some time been partially paralyzed, and recently was visited with an attack that forced him to take his bed.  Yesterday morning several of his neighbors were in the city and reported his condition as extremely critical, with little hope of his recovery. During the afternoon the sad news reached the city that he had died at 12:40 o'clock. There was no better known nor more popular man in his county than Mr. Reynolds. He twice represented Twiggs in the legislature. He was one of the largest and most prosperous farmers in the county, and was looked up to as a safe and capable leader in all emergencies. His funeral will take place from his late residence this afternoon at 2 o'clock.
  He will be buried with Masonic honors by Liberty Hill Lodge, of which he was a member.

September 19, 1889
The Macon Telegraph
  Mrs. J. A. Hunnicutt died in East Macon at 3 o'clock yesterday morning of heart trouble. The body was sent to Twiggs county, her old home, for burial. Her husband was formerly an engineer on the East Tennessee road.

November 19, 1899
Macon Weekly Telegraph
  Mr. J. U. Burkett, a prominent resident of Twiggs county, died near Dry Branch postoffice on Saturday. Mr. Burkett was well known in Macon, having resided in the city two years ago.

November 26, 1889
Macon Telegraph
  News was received in the city yesterday of the death of Mr. Joseph V. Burkett at his home in Twiggs county. The sad event was not unexpected, as the gentleman had been in a precarious condition for some weeks. This morning the funeral takes place, Rev. George W. Tharpe preaching the funeral service. Mr. Burkett was a good man and honored by his neighbors. Being a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Masonic ceremonies over the dead will be performed. A delegation from Macon lodge, consisting of W. A. Davis, W. M., and others, will leave at an early hour this morning for this purpose.

December 1, 1889
The Macon Telegraph
A Wedding Today. In Twiggs county, near Dry Branch, Rev. George W. Tharpe, will unite in marriage to-day Mr. Willie Bull and Miss Minie Melton. Both have friends in Macon.


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