Wilkinson County, Ga.
News Articles 1870's

1870
 January 7, 1870
Southern Christian Advocate
Married. On December 26th, by Rev. W. F. Roberts, Mr. J. L. Roberts of Jefferson county, Fla., to Miss Mattie J. Tarpley, of Irwinton, Ga., daughter of the late Edward J. Tarpley.

January 7, 1870
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Postponed Adminstratrix' Sale
Will be sold, on the first Tuesday in February next, between the legal hours of sale, Lots Nos. 11 and 5, in the fifth district, and fraction 212 in the twenty-seventh district of Wilkinson county, belonging to the estate of John Fitzpatrick, deceased, the same having been sold to W. M. Whitehurst, who has failed to comply with terms of sale. Terms cash. Elizabeth G. Fitzpatrick, Administratrix John Fitzpatrick, deceased. dec 6

January 11, 1870
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
COTILLION PARTY AT GORDON. - We acknowledge thankfully a card of invitation to a cotillion party to be given at the Gordon Hotel next Thursday night - W. A. Ryle, L. Butts, R. Nelson and E. A. Walker, Committee of Invitation; S. Simons, W. A. Ryle, D. M. Pope, F. S. Barclay and R. G. Solomon, Floor Managers. In this party, we rejoice to see, we are not required to go in white satin tights tied up with blue ribbons - a spangled red coat with a very short tail, and a comical hat with a long feather, to enact Mr. Tracy Tupman under similar difficulties - nor to wear a yellow hat, a green cloak and a huge butcher knife as the Jew in the Merchant of Venice, and frighten the ladies with horrid scowls. We shall be neither Nicholas Bottom, Francis Flute, Tommy Stout, Sir Walter Raleigh, the Duke of Richmond or a Spanish Cavalier. Some years ago, the writer attended Shaker worship, and after sitting while in silence, the old Elder got up and says he "Let us praise God in a Square Dance,: and he spoke our mind exactly. When we get to Gordon we shall go in for a square dance, and in spite of all the reverend doctors say, there'll be no harm in it, unless the ladies should be so unfortunate as to get their toes under one of our heels, when we shall not be responsible for the consequences. By no means, John. So look out for Gordon and a square dance, next Thursday night.

January 25, 1870
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
State of Georgia, Wilkinson county
Superior Court, November Adjourned Term, 1869
Present His Honor Philip B. Robinson, Judge
Susan Denard vs. Wm. N. (M) Denard
Libel for Divorce, Rule to Perfect Service
  It appearing to the Court by the return of the Sheriff, that the defendant does not reside in this county, and it further appearing that he does not reside in this State; it is ordered, on motion of counsel, that the said defendant appear and answer at the next term of this Court, else that the case be considered in default and the plaintiff allowed to proceed. And it is further ordered that this Rule be published in the Telegraph & Messenger once a month for four months.
By the Court. Jones & Hall, for plaintiff
Georgia, Wilkinson County-Clerk's Office, Superior Court.
I certify that the above is a true extract from the Minutes of Wilkinson Superior Court, November adjourned Term, 1869. Given under my hand this 18th November, 1869
Geo. W. Tarpley, Clerk

March 8, 1870
Macon Weekly Telegraph
Bible Society Meeting in Wilkinson County.
Irwinton, Ga., February 27, 1870. A portion of the citizens of Wilkinson county met in convention this day, for the purpose of organizing a Bible Society. Religious services by Rev. W. N. Parks. Bro. T. N. Beall was elected temporary Chairman and A. L. Barge temporary Secretary. Rev. W. H. Parks, Agent American Bible Society, then delivered an address in support of the Bible cause full of pathos and chasteness, reflecting honor upon the speaker and delighting and chaining his audience. If we know what "the right man in the right place" signifies, we are certain that in Bro. Parks the American Bible Society has an able and efficient agent. After the address, collections were taken up, resulting as follows:
Cash received.............$95.00
Amount subscribed.......40.00
Total.........................$135.00
  The Constitution of the American Bible Society was then read, and with some few exceptions adopted.
  The election of officers was then proceeded to, which resulted as follows: President, Rev. Ellis Harville; Vice President, T. N. Beall; Secretary, A. L. Barge; Treasurer, H. E. Hyman. Upon the Executive Committee the following gentlemen were elected: Rev. B. E. L. Timmons, Rev. E. J. Coates, R. J. Cochran, F. Chambers and John Methvin.
  Resolved, 1st. That the Executive Committee of this Society be authorized to fill all vacancies that may occur in its body by death, resignation or otherwise.
  Resolved, 2d. That the Executive Committee be authorized to add its number an advisory member from each militia district, or from each church in the county.
  Resolved, 3d. That the Executive Committee be authorized to appoint four call meetings of this Society during the year, at such times and places as it may see proper.
  Resolved, 4th. Than an abstract of the proceedings of this meeting be published in the TELEGRAPH AND MESSENGER.
T. N. Beall, Chairman. Allen L. Barge, Secretary.

May 20, 1870
Southern Christian Advocate
Married. On the 5th May 1870, by Rev. J. J. Morgan, Mr. Thos. M. Tarply, of Wilkinson co., to Miss Anna Linder, of Laurens co., Ga.

June 21, 1870
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
State of Georgia, Wilkinson county
Superior Court, April Term, 1870
Present His Honor Philip B. Robinson, Judge
Carry M. Richardson vs Richard Richardson
Libel for Divorce, Rule to Prefect Service
  It appearing to the Court by the return of the Sheriff, that the defendant does not reside in this county, and it further appearing that he does not reside in this State; it is ordered, on motion of counsel, that the said defendant appear and answer at the next term of this Court, else that the case be considered in default and the plaintiff allowed to proceed. And it is further ordered that this Rule be published in the Journal & Messenger, weekly,  once a month for four months.
J. D. Jones,  Plaintiff's Attorney
Georgia, Wilkinson County-Clerk's Office, Superior Court.
I certify that the above is a true extract from the Minutes of Wilkinson Superior Court.Given under my hand  and official signature, this 2d day of May, 1870.
Iverson H. Fleetwood, Deputy Clerk. May 4

July 26, 1870
Southern Recorder
DIED. In Gordon, Ga., on the 18th Feb., 1869, Mrs. Julia B. Palmer, aged 73 years 2 months and six days.
  At the same place, Lillian, infant daughter of S. H. and Annnie E. Palmer, born Aug. 21, 1869, and died Oct 12, 1868, aged 1 month and 21 days.
  Also, at the same place, J. M. Palmer, on the 17th July, 1870, aged 62 years 8 months and 29 days.

August 11, 1870
Atlanta Constitution
   The lightning struck the brick warehouse at Toombsboro, on the Central Railroad, a few days since, splintering the doors and windows and knocking down a white man and colored boy. The latter was not hurt.

September 23, 1870
The Atlanta Constitution
   Judge Rawls of Wilkinson county, states that about two weeks ago he and two or three of his neighbors killed twenty-six rattlesnakes all in one den. One of the serpents supposed to be the mother of the other twenty five, was unusually age, and the others some eighteen inches in length

August 23, 1870
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
~excerpt
Died, in Gordon, Georgia, August 8th, Ida M., infant daughter of F. S. and Mary Barclay.

October 5, 1870
The Atlanta Constitution
Crawford Dorsey (colored) has for the past three years brought the first bale of cotton to Irwinton, Wilkinson county. He is living on George Carswell's plantation farming on shares, and will make this years twenty-five bales of cotton, 800 bushels of corn, twenty bushels of peas, and 100 bushels of potatoes. He also raised twenty-eight head of hogs this year.

November 1, 1870
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Administrator's Sale.
Will be sold before the Court house door in the town of Irwinton, Wilkinson county, on the first Tuesday in December next, within the legal hours of sale, the following Real Estate to wit:
  Fifteen hundred and thirty-nine (1539) acres of land, more or less, lying in the 23 and 26th districts of said county of Wilkinson, known as the Lucinda H. Wright place, adjoining lands of W. E. Carswell, Sr., A. McAllum, estate of William Todd, Mrs. Eliza Whipple and others
   About one-half the place is in a good state of cultivation and under fence.
   There is a good two-story house on the place, with all the necessary out-buildings, cribs, stables, etc.  ., two good wells of water and a good gin house and screw.
   Also, the Plantation known as the Parks place lying in the 23d district of said county, containing six hundred and thirty acres, more or less, and one hundred acres adjoining, know as the "Hays place", adjoining lands of Mrs. Eliza Whipple, George Carswell and others.
   There are on the place a dwelling house, gin house and screw, and the necessary out buildings, cribs, stables, etc. and a good well of water.
  All of these lands are well known as the Porter's Creek land and the best cotton lands in the county.
   Also, will be sold at the same time and place, a Store-house and Lot in the town of Irwinton. The house is new, 50 feet long by 2? feet wide, and two stores high. It is directly in front of the Courthouse, and one of the best business stands in town.
     All of the above and foregoing property sold as the property of B. A. Whipple, late of said county, deceased, for the benefits of heirs and creditors. Sold by authority of an order of the Ordinary of said county.
    Term of sale, one-half cash and the balance at twelve months, with mortgage on the property as security, and interest from date if not punctually paid. Possession, 25th December. S. B. Whipple, Administrator.

November 25, 1870
Southern Christian Advocate
Married. On Nov. 13, 1870, by Rev. B. E. L. Timmons, Mr. Milton Davis and Miss Emily Freeman, all of Wilkinson co., Ga.

November 29, 1870
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Gordon Hotel On the Central Railroad, For Sale. By virtue of an order in Chancery at the last term of Wilkinson Superior Court, will be sold at Irwinton, on the First Tuesday in January next, the remainder interest after the dower of Serena A. Jones, widow of Josiah H. Jones, deceased, in the noted Hotel at Gordon, Ga., known as Solomons' Hotel, and the same interest in two hundred and twenty-four (224) acres of land, adjoining the said Hotel  Sold by the undersigned for the purpose of place the estate of said deceased in condition for distribution among the creditors of the same. Terms
cash-purschaser to pay for stamps.
Junius Wingfield, L. H. Briscoe, F. Chambers,
Commissioners

November 29, 1870
Macon Weekly Telegraph
Administrator's Sale
GEORGIA, WILKINSON COUNTY - In pursuance of an order from the Ordinary Court of said county, there will be sold before the Court-house door in the town of Irwinton, in said county, on the first Tuesday in December next, during the legal hours of sale, a good Cotton Plantation, of four hundred acres, well improved, and lying eight miles south of Irwinton. Sold as the property of the estate of William W. Collins, deceased, for the purpose of division. Terms of sale cash. F. C. RUTHERFORD, Adm'r. oct 19

 December 16, 1870
Southern Christian Advocate
In Marshallville, 1st Dec., by Rev. B. F. Breedlove, Mr. T. M. Tarpley of Irwinton, Ga., to Miss A. F. Vanlandingham of the former place.



1871
January 4, 1871
Southern Christian Advocate
Mrs. Cornelia Guyton, wife of Mr. M. J. Guyton, died in Laurens co., Ga., Nov. 11th 1870 in her 20th year. She was the daughter of the late Dr. William Fisher, of Irwinton, Ga. When but a child her father was taken to his reward. She married Mr. Guyton Nov. 28th 1867. W. S. Baker.
(buried Irwinton City Cemetery)

 January 18, 1871
Southern Christian Advocate
Married. On Dec. 11th 1870, by Rev. B. E. L. Timmons, Mr. Isaac O. Bower to Miss Olive E. Bishop, all of Irwinton, Ga.

January 24, 1871
Macon Weekly Telegraph
Valuable Real Estate for Sale
Will be sold before the Court-house in Irwinton, Wilkinson county, on the first Tuesday in February next, five hundred and fifty seven acres of land, more or less, in the fifth district of said county, numbers not known, but being known as the mill place formerly owned by Joel Rivers, deceased, for distribution. W. M. WHITEHURST, A. O. FLEMISTER, E. S. MASSEY, Commissioners.

February 7, 1871
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Georgia, Wilkinson County
Isaac H. Watkins, adm'r ofLucinda H. Wright, vs. Mitchell Watkins et al. Heirs at law of Lucinda H. Wright.
In Equity, Bill for direction. In the Superior Court of said County. October Term, 1870.
It appearing to the Court that the children of Levin Watkins, deceased, Sarah Cottonhead, deceased (formerly Sarah Watkins,) Tabitha Brown, deceased, (formerly Tabitha Watkins) and a portion of the children and grandchildren of Wealthy Fountain, formerly Wealthy Watkins, who are heirs at law of the said Lucinda H. Wright, do not reside within this State, and it further appearing that their names and residences are unknown to the complainant in the above state cause, it is therefore ordered by the Court that they and each of them and all others claiming an interest in said estate, do be and appear at the next term of this Court to be held on the first Monday in April next, then and here to make known and establish their identity and relationship to the said Lucinda H. Wright, and the nature and extent of their claim to participate in the distribution of the estate of said Lucinda H. Wright. And it is further ordered that service of this order be perfected upon all and each of them by publication of the same weekly for four months previous to the next term of this Court in the following public gazettes, to-wit: Weekly Telegraph and Messenger, published at Macon, Ga.; Federal Union, published at Milledgeville, Ga., and the Central Georgia, published at Sandersville Ga.
Georgia, Wilkinson County - Clerk's Office Superior Court, October 25th, 1870. I hereby certify that the within is a true extract from the minutes of said Court. October Term, 1870. Geo. W. Tarpley, Clerk.

February 28, 1871
Macon Weekly Telegraph
DIED.   At his residence at Cool Spring, Wilkinson county, Ga., at 6 o'clock A.M. on the 21st inst., Willis Allen, 55 years of age. An old and much loved citizen of the county. His place in the county can never be filled. Peace to his ashes. H

April 11, 1871
Macon Weekly Telegraph
Information Wanted, Of my son, G. W. Cannon, 16 years old, abut five feet high, fair complexion, blue eyes, auburn hair-cut close. He left home on Saturday night. Last heard of him, was on the Central Railroad train for Macon. Address Mrs. Leah Cannon, Toombsboro, Ga. apr9

 May 10, 1871
Southern Christian Advocate
Brother James Hatcher was born in Wilkinson co., Ga., March 18th 1832, where he died April 18th 1871.

June 7, 1871
Federal Union
   Bloody Affray. On Friday afternoon last, a difficulty occurred at Davis' Store, in Wilkinson county, near the Baldwin line between Messrs. William Davis and Daniel H. Tucker on one side, and Robert and Jack Parker, brothers, on the other. Robert Parker was killed and William Davis was shot three times, two of the balls passing through his body, inflicting mortal wounds, it was thought, but he is still living; D. H. Tucker was shot in four places, in the face, shoulder and arm, and is seriously wounded. Dr. Herty who is attending him is hopeful of his recovery. Jack Parker is thought to be only slightly wounded.
    We are not informed as to the causes which led to the above shocking results. It may, however, be proper to state that politics had nothing to do with the matter, as we believe all the parties were of the same political faith. The unfortunate difficulty is greatly to be regretted, for, as far as we know, the men engaged in this desperate rencontre have always borne the character of being peaceable, law-abiding citizens. Their worse passions must have been fired by artificial stimulants. WHen will me learn to avoid this Great Enemy which leads his victims to ruin an death?
  P.S. Since writing the above we are informed that a previous difficulty occurred between Mr. Jack Parker and Mr. Tucker, and at the time of the shooting took place the attack was made by the Parkers on Mr. Tucker. Mr.  Davis came to his (Tucker's)  assistance and became involved in the difficulty. We learn an inquest was held over the body of Robt. Parker and a verdict of justifiable homicide rendered in the case of Tucker and Davis. We also learn that Mr. Davis is better and hopes are entertained of his recovery.

July 4, 1871
Macon Weekly Telegraph
Closing Exercise of the Irwinton High School
Correspondence of the Telegraph and Messenger. Editors Telegraph and Messenger: After many weeks of busy preparation, brightly dawned Tuesday, 27th ult, the day for examination. By 8 o'clock the teachers and bright-eyed students, together with a few patrons of the school, and visitors, had gathered themselves within the walls of the schoolroom, there to anxiously await the events of the day. Soon thereafter the examinations were commenced. Some were conducted by solicited members of the audience, but more by the youthful though worthy principal, Mr. J. C. Wilson, and his assistant, Miss J. Wilson, both of whom, by their questioning, exhibited a willingness to display only that which had been taught. The audience, which continually swelled in size, preserved commendable decorum throughout the day's exercises; the pupils, numbering more than seventy-five, showed marks of satisfactory improvement, and the anxious hopes of all seem to have been realized.
  Although a want of time and space forbids my dwelling as lengthily as I wish on the examination of the several classes; the elegantly composed essays of the young ladies, and their appropriate and graceful reading of them, as well as the tastefully selected declamations, and the admirable deliver of them by the young men and boys of the school, yet I am constrained to make mention of the address by Mr. Warren D. Nottingham who though youthful himself is also an instructor of youths of our county. The forenoon exercises of the school being concluded he was introduced to the audience, and taking for his theme, "Composition Writing," he for twenty minutes successfully exposed the folly of almost utterly neglecting so important a branch of study in many of our common schools and colleges, and came off the state amid the loud applause of the delighted audience.
  An entertainment, which I will call a school-theatrical-exhibition, was intended to be given on Tuesday evening; but owing to the apprehended weakness of the underworks to the Academy Hall; and the inconvenience, trouble and expense which would necessarily have attached to having it in the new courtroom, in its stead, was substituted a "sociable;" which was largely attended, and which, in every respect, was all that could have been desired. Visitors from Twiggs, Laurence, Washington, Baldwin and Bibb counties, were in attendance.
THE CONCERT
Held in the capacious new court-room, on Wednesday evening, was a complete success. To Prof. F. A. Guttenberger, who is instructor in the musical department, praise is due for the accomplishments of his students. He was aided in the concert performance, however, by several ladies who were not his pupils. The concert hall was crowded to its utmost extent. During the latter part of the afternoon of the day, the streets of Irwinton were perfectly alive with fine steeds, drawing at a rapid rate fast beaux and beautiful damsels, flushed with pleasure and excitement. Until the light of day sunk below the western horizon, seekers of pleasure came in from every direction; being doubly attracted by the grand concert and the grand ball which was to follow in the wake of the concert after its brief performance were concluded. Yes, the crowd was large, and although the entertainment lasted little more that a couple of hours, it was capitally enjoyed by all this massive and mixed assembly. Conspicuous among the performers were Mrs. Dr. Peeples, Mrs. Guttenberger, Misses Josey A. Breazeal, Matilda Baum and Emma Guttenberger.
  Shortly after 10 o'clock, the concert closed. Those who wished to remain, either to participate in or witness the dancing, were respectfully invited to do so. But the anti-dancing party, as well as some others, seemed to think "put me in my little bed," and retired; while a large and respectable crowd remained to prolong their sport. I, myself retired, therefore will not comment.
  And now in conclusion, I believe that I speak only the universal impression, when I say for myself, that high as my expectations were, with reference to the "sociable." and the progress of the students - both literary and musical- they were by no means disappointed; but on the contrary, surpassed.
  I am authorized to state that the fall term of the school will open on Monday, 31st July, next. RespectfullY CORRESPONDENT. Irwinton, June 29th.

July 18, 1871
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
OBITUARY
-excerpt~Died, in Wilkinson county, Ga., on the 6th inst., little Fannie Marion, only daughter of R. H. and Pennie Carswell, about fifteen months of age.

August 15, 1871
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
 excerpt
black man named Green Porter, and the other a white man named Thomas McRae, who got the negro dead. Our Coroner has informed me that the verdict of his jury is "Willful murder". It seems that McRae had employed the negro's services for the year: but that about two months ago he refused to work longer, when McRae then and since then, endeavored to drive him from his premises. he, with his family remained, however, until his death. It is presumed that this was the cause of the affray.

September 9, 1871
Columbus Ledger Enquirer
A FLAGRANT OUTRAGE.  A Wilkinson county correspondent informs us that a body of disguised mounted men rode into the village of Irwinton about 11 o'clock on Monday night, 11 inst., and at once proceeded to the residence of the jailor, from whom they by force obtained the keys of the jail, which they entered. They then removed a negro prisoner by the name of Harry Lowther, and after securing him, they conveyed him about two miles from the village, and mutilating his body in a mot demonical manner abandoned him to await the coming of he grim monster. He was found in an insensible condition the following morning, and taken back to the jail, where h is now in a very precarious condition. This negro bears a notoriously bad character, and at the time of the unfortunate affair was in jail awaiting trail for one of the many crimes with which he is charged. There is a law for the punishment of offenders, which, if not sufficiently adequate for the suppression of crime, can be made so; and we regret that the people of Wilkinson county, among whom we number some of our dearest and most cherished friends, should have allowed the baser passions of their nature to obtain the mastery over their judgment and lend them into the commission of a graver crime than that with which their victim was charged. Macon Citizen, 7th.

September 11, 1871
Daily Gazette and Bulletin
MORE KU-KLUX WORK
Washington, Sept. 10. Information has just been received here of a dreadful tragedy in Wilkinson county, Georgia, about midnight on Wednesday last. A part of unknown men gagged and killed Matthew Deason, sheriff of Wilkinson county, and also a negro woman in his employ, and threw their bodies into a mill pond near by. The bodies were recovered on Friday morning. The sheriff had a gun shot wound in his head and the remains of the woman gave evidence of having been badly mutilated with a knife. No arrest have been made so far.

October 6, 1871
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
HORRIBLE TRAGEDY - We learn from a reliable gentleman the following particulars of a terrible tragedy that occurred near Toomsboro, in Wilkinson county, on Sunday afternoon last. Our informant states that MrJoel Dees, an old and highly respected citizen of the county above named, was foully murdered by some person or person unknown, and his body secreted in the woods near his residence. Mr. Dees was a peaceable, inoffensive old man, and his untimely taking off by the hand of an assassin cannot be accounted for, inasmuch as he was known to have no enemy who would perpetrate such a coward and infamous crime. We are glad to know that the killing of Mr. Dees cannot be attributed to political matters, as it is well known to the friends of the deceased, ourselves among the number, that he was never a partisan and was generally inclined to eschew politics altogether. Macon Citizen, 3d.

October 10, 1871
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
General Presentments. State of Georgia, Wilkinson County
We, the Grand Jurors selected and sworn for the county of Wilkinson, beg leave to make the following report:
  We very much regret the causes for the adjournment of our court, viz: The illness of Col. Cumming, and the family affliction of F. Chambers, Esq., who was so recently bereft of one of his children. Under the excellent charge of His Honor Judge Robinson, all of which we highly approve, and which we should have been able to have ferreted out all the offenders of the law in our county, and brought the same to as strict account and trial, and thereby dissipate all the false rumors afloat in our borders, and which until, and at our adjourned term we shall endeavor ceaselessly to ferret out and bring to trial. We do feel, and therefore this expression, that our own people are law abiding and that justice can and will be done to every offender of the laws, white or colored, and to every party or suit in the court, of any citizens whatever, and above expressed shall do everything to effect that rule. We therefore do hope all the false reports and rumors will be entirely discredited and suppressed by all the good citizens, under the assurance from this body that all will be done speedily to bring the offenders to the justice of that punishment the offenses justify. And we request the publication of this in the Macon Telegraph and Messenger.
Wm. A. Hall, Foreman
Isaac Lindsay, Isaac W. Davis, David W. Rutland, Alfred J. Willis, Jesse J. Green, Miles M. Bloodworth, Thomas Lister, Wm. E. Carswell, Jr., Oliver H. P. Rawls, Thomas J. Jordan, Wade H. Green, Thomas H. Rutland, Samuel Rutherford, John R. Green, John Taylor, Jesse R. Arington, Solomon Ward, Bennett King, Thomas W. Dupree, William H. Hall, Jr., Henry F. Rutland.
Wilkinson Superior Court, October Term, 1871
  Upon hearing the above General Presentment, ordered that a copy of the same be furnished the editors of the Telegraph and Messenger of Macon, Georgia, for publication By the Court. A true copy from the minutes of this Court October 4th, 1871. Andrew J. Porter,Clk.

October 12, 1871
Savannah Morning News
   Mr. Robert Solomon of Gordon, died recently.

October 25, 1871
Southern Christian Advocate
Ira Story, only son of Col. R. L. Story of Wilkinson co., died on 16th ult., aged 8 years and 7 months.

November 7, 1871
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
GUARDIAN'S SALE -By virtue of an order of the Court of Ordinary of Wilkinson county, will be sold before the Court-house door, in Irwinton, in said county, on the first Tuesday in November next, within the legal hours of sale, the following lands, to wit: Lots Nos. 257, 258, 267 and 268 containing 810 acres. On this place is a dwelling house, gin house and screw and all necessary outbuildings.
  Also, lots Nos. 259, 266 and 100 acres of lot No. 230 and 92 acres of lot No. 241. Containing in all 5,971 (note: should be 597) acres, known as the Hicks places.
  Also 110½ acres of lot No. 241, and 92 acres of lot No. 242, known as the Nelson place.
  These places are all under a good fence, and the most of the open land in a fine state of cultivation, the remainder in original forest. To those who desire to combine stock raising with farming, no better opportunity will ever be offered in this county for obtaining a place so well adapted to this purpose. The other lands are very productive, as can be seen from the crop grown this year, and the stock range cannot be surpassed by any place in the Oconee Swamp.
   For further particulars apply to F. Chambers, at Irwinton, or to John Hooks, on the place or the undersigned, at Clinton, Ga.
  The above property sold for distribution among the children of D.N. Smith, dec'd. ROBT. HARDEMAN, Guardian.

November 15, 1871
Southern Christian Advocate
Married. By Rev. C. W. Smith, October 31st, in Wilkinson co., Ga., Mr. Jas. B. Stevens to MissSue Brewer.



1872
 January 10, 1872
Southern Christian Advocate
Married. Dec. 12th, by Rev. T. B. Lanier, Mr. William P. Chapman, of Wilkinson co., Ga., to to Miss Louisa _ Sinquefield, of Effingham co,. Ga.

February 13, 1872
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Notice To Debtors and Creditors - All persons having claim against the estate of Joel Deese, late of Wilkinson county, deceased, will please present them and persons indebted in said estate will make payment of the same to the undersigned.
T. M. FREEMAN,  J. B. DUGGAN, Administrators.

February 27, 1872
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Horrible Murder in Wilkinson County
  We received, yesterday, the following details of a horrible murder, perpetrated last Sunday night, in Wilkinson county, and of which brief mention was made in our local columns yesterday. Our correspondent writes:
Joel Burke, a young man in Wilkinson county, owned a plantation, and on it he had a store about one mile from his father's, Mr. Nimrod Burke. He boarded with his father and slept at his store. Last Sunday night, about seven o'clock, he left for his store, but, Monday morning, he did not come to his breakfast. His brother went to hunt him, but returned at twelve o'clock and reported the store closed, and that he saw no sign where Joel had come out and gone off or into the plantation.  His father and several of the family went and broke the store open, but he was not in it. Diligent search was then made, and he was found near Providence Church about half way between his father's and his store, murdered in the most shocking and brutal manner. His skull was broken and being in pieces on one side of his head, his throat cut open and his purse, money and knife taken, as were the store and iron safe keys also. On breaking open the store, it was found that the iron safe had been robbed and the money drawer cleared of change, and also about a dozen pair small size ladies' shoes, two bolts of calico and some other goods taken, the murderer carrying the keys off with  him.  It is not known how much money the murderer got but it is thought some $40 or $50 - about $4 in silver and $1 in gold, and the most of the other in greenbacks.
    Joel Burke was regular in his habits and went to his store every night; and being a cripple having but one leg-the one that killed him had not much to contend with, as he was weakly and small. Young  Burke served during the whole of the late war and was twice wounded, losing his leg in the last battle around Richmond. He was quiet and attentive to his business, and is the last man that I would have expected to be killed. W. Twiggs County,. February 21, 1872.

March 26, 1872
Macon Weekly Telegraph, Page 4
The Dyer Homicide
  An intelligent friend from Twiggs says that the account of the Dyer homicide, in yesterday's edition, was erroneous in some particulars, and did injustice to the officer in whose hands the warrant of arrest was placed. When Dyer started home in an intoxicated condition and overtook the party on the Twiggs road, it consisted of a negro man and three women. Dyer hailed them in a gossiping way and asked the old woman where she was living. She made no reply. He then asked her "who do you belong to?" Her reply was "Don't belong to you, yer rebel." He then asked her to take a drink, which she refused very curtly. He said "you appear to cut me up might short." She replied, "Good enough for a rebel." He, then, having his pocket knife in his hand, rode towards her, when she commenced a vigorous defense with her umbrella. The rest of the party ran off, and the killing occurred as described.
  Our informant says that it was late at night before the coroner's jury made up their verdict and Dyer's house was six miles off. The arrest would have been made next morning, but Dyer received notice that the negroes would be after him during the night. They did call at the house during the night, in an armed party of fifteen, with very sanguinary threats, if they had found him. He was at home the next night prepared for defense if he had received a similar visit. But for this occurrence the arrest would have been next morning after the homicide. Our informant thinks Dyer will surrender himself for trial, but does not mean to be lynched.
  Dyer is reported by this gentleman who has know him from early youth, to be ordinarily a very quiet, peaceable person, who never had a difficulty with anybody until this lamentable occurrence.

March 25, 1872
Macon Weekly Telegraph
Page 6. The Dyer Homicide.
Editors Telegraph and Messenger: I propose to set the seeming discrepancies in the statements regarding the Dyer homicide in the issues of the 19th and 20 inst., at rest. I give the facts as derived from the coroner and examining surgeon, and from the evidence as elicited before the jury of inquest.
  Dyer had been to Gordon and had become intoxicated, and was returning to his home in Twiggs county. The testimony of Caroline Brantley is that she was on the road with her mother, Jane Johnson, the deceased. Dallas Dyer overtook them; he ran his horse against her mother, who pushed the horse with her umbrella, at which time Dyer commenced cutting her with a large pocketknife before he had gotten off his horse; Dyer afterwards got off his horse and gave her many licks with the knife; she fell down before he quit cutting her.
  Georgianne Lingo, another witness before the coroner's jury of inquest, corroborates the statement of Charles Brantley.
  Martin Fitzpatrick, another witness says he was with Dallas Dyer and Henry Parker and overtook Jane Johnson, the deceased, and other women, when he (Fitzpatrick) and Parker stopped and Dyer rode on. He saw Dyer cutting at Jane Johnson many times and ran to them and took Dyer away from her.
  The verdict of the coroner's jury, composed of good and intelligent men, was murder.
   The murder was committed on Saturday last at about 3 o'clock P.M. That same evening Andrew Choate, a son of the deceased, went to Justice Tharpe and procured a warrant for Dyer's arrest and carried it to Constable Dickson for execution. Dickson refused to take or execute the warrant, but promised to meet Choate in Gordon on Sunday morning following. Choate went to Gordon at the time proposed but failed to see Dickson, whereupon he took some six or seven colored men and went to the house of Dyer, but failed to find him at home. Choate then returned to his home with the others.
   The inquest was held at about 2 o'clock P.M. on Sunday. The coroner was not notified of the occurrence of the murder until between 9  and 10 o'clock A.M. on Sunday
  The colored man, Andrew Choate, who went with others to arrest Dyer on Sunday, morning, stands very high in the estimation of the most prominent citizens in and around Gordon, and stated to several persons present at the inquest, that he did not aim to injure Dyer in any way, but merely wanted to place him in the hands of the officers of the law, the deceased being his mother.
  The warrant issued by Justice Tharpe was on Sunday night placed in the hands of Sheriff Ethridge, who, early on Monday morning, went to the house of Dyer, to arrest him, but failed to find him, or to discover his whereabouts. If Dyer wants to give himself up, there would be no difficulty about doing so. There has been no disposition on the part of any one to lynch him, that we have heard of.
  From neighbors of the murderer we learn that he is a hard-working clever gentleman, and it is to be regretted that in a luckless hour he has brought upon himself and family this shocking calamity. I am requested to state that the statement of the affair contained in your Tuesday's issue was entirely correct.
  These are the facts of the case. Anybody questioning the same are referred to Coroner Bush. Respectfully, JUSTICE. Irwinton, GA, March 21

March 25, 1872
Macon Weekly Telegraph
Page 8, A Horrid Murder
  We are sorry to learn from various sources that one Dallas Dyer, of Twiggs county, perpetrated on Saturday last one of the most inexcusable homicides we ever hear of. Dyer went to Gordon on Saturday and got to drinking.  He started homeward from Gordon in a drunken condition on Saturday afternoon and on the road overtook a negro woman named Jennie Brantley, about seventy years old, who, with two younger women, had started for Twiggs to attend church on Sunday.
  Dyer accosted the old woman with a proposition to drink, which she declined. He then demanded "who she belong to." and receiving an answer at which, in his drunken condition he took offense, and attempted to ride over her. The old woman fended off the horse with her umbrella, and then Dyer, dismounting-drew a knife and cut her almost into pieces. The old woman was conveyed to Dr. Massey's house, where she died in about two hours.
 A coroner's jury was immediately summoned and a verdict of willful murder returned. A warrant was issued for Dyer, but for some reason unknown was not attempted to be executed by the officer into whose hands it fell till Sunday morning, when it was reported that Dyer had fled. Dyer is the son of a peaceful and worthy citizen
of Twiggs county, and a quiet and well disposed man when sober, but a demon when drunk. The event has excited much indignation and regret among the people of the neighborhood of all classes.

April 9, 1872
Macon Weekly Telegraph
A Proclamaton. Georgia: By James M. Smith, Governor of said State.
Whereas Official information has been received at this Department that, on the 16th day of March, last, a murder was committed in the county of Wilkinson, upon the body of Jane Johnson by one DALLAS DYER, of Twiggs county, and that the said Dallas Dyer has fled from justice and is now at large.
  Now, therefore, I have thought proper to issue this, my proclamation, hereby offering a reward of Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars for the apprehension and delivery of the said Dallas Dyer to the  Sheriff of Wilkinson county, in order that he may be brought to trial for the offense with which he stands charged.
  Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State, at the Capitol in Atlanta, this 1st day of April, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and seventy-two, and of the Independence of the United States of American the ninety-sixth. James M. Smith. By the Governor, David G. Cotting, Secretary of State
DESCRIPTION: The said Dallas Dyer is about 23 years of age, five feet eight inches high, light complextion, blue eyes, thin visage and weighs about 130 pounds.

April 30, 1872
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Attempted Robbery and Murder in Wilkinson County.
  Editors Telegraph and Messenger: As I have seen nothing in your paper in regard to the attempted robbery and murder of Mrs. Chambers, by Jonah Stinson, I will try to give you a correct statement of the facts. Stinson is a young man about 22 or 23 years of age, and has for several weeks past been in Irwinton doing nothing from which anyone could see that he could make a support.
  On Thursday the 11th of this month, he approached Rack Bell, a negro living on the plantation of Col. Eli Cumming, with the proposition that if he, Rack, would assist him he knew where there was $1,000 in gold and silver, and that he could get it by his assistance, and would give him a good share of the spoils. Rack did not give him an answer then whether he would or would not, but came to Irwinton to tell Col. C. of it who was not at home at that time. He then went to Mr. T. N. Beall, in whose family he had been raised, and disclosed to him the the arrangement proposed by Stinson. The next day Stinson went to Rack again with the same proposition, and told him that he would hire a mule from Jake Wheeler, another negro on the same place and for Rack to take the horse he was plowing, to which Rack assented, telling him that he could not go that night, but would go the next (Saturday) night. Stinon would not agree to go Saturday night because there was too much passing and they might be detected, so they put it off until Monday night. Sunday evening Rack came to Col. C. and told him of the proposed arrangement but did not know who the one to be robbed was, but that Stinson would be over to see him the next morning when he would tell him all about it. Col. C. doubted the truth of his statement, but decided to look out and see if Stinson would go to Rack's the next morning.  Early the next morning (Monday) Col. C. saw Stinson coming from Rack's and then spoke to other men in the town asking their advice. They thought it best to send for Rack in order that he might be questioned by different men, and see if his statements to these, separately, would correspond. Several different men heard him, one after another, and were satisfied in their opinions that he was telling the truth. He then said that Stinson had told him that the old lady Chambers, between 80 and 90 years of age, was the one to be robbed - that she lived about nine miles from Irwinton, and no one lived with her but a cripple grandson, a cousin of Stinson. Stinson told him that he would get a pistol from some of the boys in town - would disguise himself as a Ku-Klux, for he said that he belonged to them and had a disguise - that they would burst in and kick up a row - make the old lady hand over the money, and if she did not he intended to kill her. After that statement had been considered it was thought best to get a crowd who would go and take him at the place appointed for the robbery. A party was formed consisting of H. E. Hyman, A. A. Beall, Thos. Rutland, Eli Peacock and Wesley King, Jr. These, after having watched his movements through the evening, trying to borrow a pistol from different ones, saw him leave town about 8 o'clock going in the direction of Rack's. They then waited until 9 o'clock when they went to within 400 yards of the house where they hitched their horses and walked up to the grave yard, 40 or 50 yards from the house of Mrs. Chambers where they concealed themselves. Waiting there about three hours they crossed the road and were speaking of going back when the proposition was made to wait one hour longer to which all assented. Tow of the party then went to see if the horses were standing, and had not been gone two minutes before Stinson and Rack passed the remaining three, who were lying about ten steps from them. Stinson disguised, Rack was not but was following close after Stinson who was walking rapidly toward the house. The two who had gone to see after the horses having been sent for and coming up, the whole party moved on behind them until they reached the gate, where they concealed themselves behind the fence. Stinson was in the yard at the back end of the house working a window, a white sheet thrown over his body and handkerchief tied over his face. He then walked back in the front piazza, ordered the door to be opened three times, and the third time told the inmates of the house to open the door or it would be broken down, that they were Ku-Klux and had to be obeyed, changing his voice so as to make them think that there was several. In answer to his demand he was told to go the other door where he could open and come in, for the front was fastened in such a way that he could not get it open. He went round the other side into the piazza and up to the door where he was arrested, having partially opened the door. He and the negro both dropped the clubs they had in their possession when arrested. That it was their intention to kill the old lady, was believed by all who was there. They were brought back to town upon the horses of Col. C. A warrant for burglary and one for horse stealing was taken out, an he was arrested upon the first, and after trial before a court, of commitment was ordered to jail until he could give bond, which he has yet failed to do the bond being only $500, and if he should give it, he will be arrested immediately upon another. Respectfully. EYE WITNESS. Irwinton, April 25th, 1872

April 21, 1872
Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel
How to MAKE LIGHTWOOD. -Mr. Bloodworth of Wilkinson county, gives us the following plan for making lightwood, and assures us it never fails:
    In the Spring, when the sap is up, skin the pine trees all around, except a small slip up the northside, just enough to keep the tree alive, and in a few years they will be good lightwood. Mr. Bloodworth says the skinning can be accomplished, (unreadable) expense, and one hand with an axe and a skinner (which any blacksmith can make), fastened on the end of a pole, can skin a large number of trees in a day. In this way he thinks any pine forests near railroads (even old field pines), can be greatly increased in value. -Federal Union.

July 12, 1872
Augusta Chronicle
Death of Hon. E. Cumming, of Irwinton. This gentleman died at his residence in Irwinton, Wilkinson county, on the 29th ult. Col. Cumming was a native of Washington
county, and a lawyer by profession. For twenty years he had lived in Wilkinson county, from which county he had been elected to the Legislature and State Convention.

July 17, 1872
Union Recorder
~excerpts~ Wilkinson Sheriff Sale...sold..first Tuesday in August next....:
     One black mare; levied on as the property of James Batson, to satisfy one fi fa in favor of C. M. Lindsey, Ordinary...
     Also,...six hundred acres of land, more or less...fifth District...place on which V. W. Tharp now lives; ..agent of Willis Epps.
    Also, at the same time and place,,one house and lot near the town of Gordon, ..property of Jesse B. Carroll..two tax fi fas..L. L. PEACOCK, D.Sh'ff. jUNE 3, 1872

Wilkinson Sheriff's Sale......
    Ninety-two acres of land lying in the 5th District of said county, known as the Thomas Fountain place, whereon Pet Dkyes now lives, and adjoining lands of S. J. Fountain, Jerry Dixon and J. I. Fountain..property of S. J. Fountain..fi fa..Mrs. M. M. Reid, adm'rx of G. H. C. Reid, against Seaborn J. Fountain

      Also at the same time ...twenty acres of land...adjoining lands of E. Harvile, Elizabeth Bruner, E. J. Gilbert and others..property of E. J. Gilbert, ..in favor of Nelson Murphy, for the use of Rose Gilbert against said E. J. Gilbert...WM. B. ETHRIDGE, D. Sh'ff W C.

   One hundred and fifty-six (156) acres of land, lot No. 8; one hundred and eighteen (118) acres of lot No. 9; seventy-three (73) acres of lot No. 18; two hundred two and a half (202 1-2) acres of lot No. 14; all lying and being in the fourth district...containing in all nine hundred and fifty (950) acres,..part of plantation known in said county as the G. B. Burney plantation...in favor of Nathaniel Myrick vs. J. F. & G. E. Burney, ex'rs of Green B. Burney, deceased....W. B. ETHRIDGE, D. Sh'ff. July 5, 1872.
 

July 24, 1872
Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel
Old Mr. Hyman, an aged and much esteemed citizen of Glascock county, died at Toomsboro, Wilkinson County, on Thursday night last. He was on a visit to his sons, in Wilkinson, retired to his usual  health Thursday night and was found dead in his bed Friday morning.

August 6, 1872
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
DIED.   In Wilkinson county, on the 2d of June, Mrs. Arabella Brown, wife of Matthew E. Brown and daughter of Francis M. and Sarah Gibbs; aged 32 years.
  She was a great sufferer for nearly four months, but amid all that she was never know to murmur. She bore her afflictions with Christian fortitude. She attached herself to the Baptist Church twelve years ago, and lived an exemplary member up to the time of her death,. About a week before her departure she said death was her portion, and only a few more days on earth for her. At times she would professor a desire for her wonted health and energy again; but on the morning before she expired at night she had a calm and consoling conversation with her companion, and exhorted him to live right, and said that death was close at hand but she knew not exactly the hour; though at the close of that day the hour of death made its full appearance, and she said to her weeping companion that she was dying fast, and told him to prepare to meet her in Heaven. She then bid him an affectionate farewell, and soon closed her eyes in death. Her task was done; the work which she came to earth to do was finished; her mission had ended; the appointed hour had come. As a wife she was ever faithful and affectionate,  endowed with all the good qualities to make her husband and home bright and happy. She was admired by all who knew her for her many virtues and high tones of morality. She was a most obedient and dutiful daughter, and had always been the pride of her bereaved parents' heats. She was a devoted and loving sister and has left a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn her loss. All who knew her loved her, and those that knew her most, but now her poor earthly garment is laid in the cold grave, and her generous, loving, truthful spirit, with its mind of unwrought wealth, can be with us only the the eye of faith. If tears and prayers could avail Bell would be here now, but they cannot; though hearts may be riven with mortal anguish and bleed and break and die, it cannot alter the decrees of Providence. God's only appointed will is done, and the only hope is, now though seen no longer, that she may be a ministering angle in the homes of her bereaved ones.
M.Y. R.

October 23, 1872
Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel
Arrest Under the KuKlux Law
  Enraged at the result of the recent election in this State, Grant seems to have put Georgia under the ban and has instructed his myrmidons to commence the work of hounding down and incarcerating her citizens.
  This warfare was inaugurated night before last by a raid upon the people of Wilkinson County. From a gentleman who came in yesterday on the Central Railroad we obtained the particulars of the affair:
  On Friday night the train from Macon brought down a strong detachment of soldiers - detailed for duty from the Atlanta garrison. The party was accompanied by a number of colored guides.
  At Station No. 16, which is near Irwinton- the county site of Wilkinson, a squad of soldiers, and three of the negro guides left the cars and sallied into the country. At Station No. 15, the remainder of the soldiers and two negro guides disembarked. At the dead of night, these troops marched from house to house, arresting citizens, dragging them from their beds and carrying them away from their families.
  During the night they arrested ten citizens: Dr. T. A. Simmons, E. A. Hyman, W. C. D. Carwile, Geo. Gilbert, Eli Peacock, William Dickson, Jethro Vanlandingham, Charles Peacock and Milton Lindsay.
  The prisoners were taken on the train yesterday and were taken to Savannah under guard.
  The charges against the parties are not definitely known. It is supposed that three of the gentleman are being accused of implicating in the killing of Deason, the sheriff of the county which occurred more that a year ago. The others,  it is believed,  are charged with having mutilated some colored men.
 Note:  Carwile should be Carlisle

October 24, 1872
Atlanta Constitution
South Carolina Atrocities Inaugurated in Georgia. The Game of Intimidation Begun. Grant's Minions at Work
From the Macon Telegraph
   From Mr. W. Cannon, a highly respectable citizen of Toombsboro, we gathered last night the following particulars of one of the most high-handed outrages that has ever been perpetrated upon the soil of Georgia:
  It seems one Morris, the negro candidate from Wilkinson, has been up to Atlanta for some time, operating upon H. P. Farrow and A. T. Akerman, and fabricating the most absurd and preposterous Ku-Klux charges against many of the best citizens of that county. These worthies believing, doubtless, that a bold coup de main in behalf of Grant, on the eve of election, might alarm and demoralize his opponents, it is said, lent a willing ear to Morris, and and assisted him in procuring from the United States Commissioner Swayze warrants for the arrest of a large number of citizens upon negro affidavits.
  On Monday night, this man Morris came down from Atlanta at the head of a large detachment of United States troops, under the command of a Lieutenant, and proceeding to Toombsboro, Irwinton and other points, seized in their beds and arrested the following gentleman: Dr. T. A. Simmons, Messrs, Henry Hymans, R. Hymans, W. Dickson, J. S. Vanlandingham, George Gilbert, Milton Lindsay, D. Carlisle and two brothers Peacock. These unfortunate individuals were then hurried off to Savannah, there to be tried for their lives upon the accusation of ignorant negroes, who more than probable, neither know nor care for the obligations of an oath.
  Our informant had been sent to Macon to procure counsel for the prisoners, and had obtained for them the services of Colonel W. A. Lofton, who left for Savannah by the night train.
    Other arrests, as will be seen in another column, were also made in this city yesterday. We are not posted as the precise nature of the charges against any of the Wilkinson parties, but learn that some of them date back one or two years, and all are of the Ku-Klux description.
   A considerable number of soldiers are still encamped near Toombsboro, and will doubtless continue to harry every peaceful citizen who many happen to incur the ire of any vagabond negro.

October 25, 1872
Atlanta Constitution
Grant's Tyranny In Georgia. Bayonet Outrages in Irwinton. The Soldiers Drag Undressed Women from their Beds to Pilot Them
The Climax of Wanton Lawlessness
 We have obtained some information about the Federal soldiers who went down below Macon. The facts make out a case of atrocious interference with personal right that should stir a fever of indignation in the hear of every true man against an administration that oppresses a peaceable community with the violence of the rude soldier. If anything should spur the people to vote down such an administration it seems to us this is calculated to do it.
  A gentleman from Irwinton informs us that the United States marshal, accompanied by armed negroes picked up in the neighborhood, appeared in the village to make arrests at the hour of 2 o'clock a m. They went to the house of Mr. Gilbert and inquired for his son. They impatiently went to the room occupied by his daughters , and aroused them and did not allow them time to dress, but caused them to show the way to their brothers room in their night dress.
  They also did the same at Mr. Peacock's At one house the first notice the ladies had was the peering of negroes through their windows. Great alarm was caused.

October 26, 1872
Telegraph & Messenger
BEFORE UNITED STATE COMMISSIONER A. W. STONE - Yesterday at noon, Messrs. Robert Hyman, Jerthro Linningham (VanLandingham), and "Buck" William
Dickson, of Wilkinson county, brought to this city Tuesday night under arrest by the United States authorities, were arraigned for a preliminary hearing upon the charge
of violating the Enforcement Act, on the 29th day of August, 1871 - more than a year ago - by attacking in disguises and murdering Matthew Deason, white, the then
Radical sheriff of Wilkinson county. Mr. Isaac Beckett appeared for the Government, and Captain George A. Mercer, of Savannah, leading counsel, with Colonel W. A. Lofton, of Macon, Major J. N. Gilmore, of Sandersville, and Colonel John W. Lindsay, of the local bar of Irwington, responded for the defendants. After consultation of the attorneys and their clients, it was agreed between the counsel for the prosecution and for the defense, that the case be set down for a hearing on next Friday at 10o'clock A.M., before the Commissioner. District Attorney H. P. Farrow has been telegraphed for and will be present to conduct the examination for the government. The man Deason, the sheriff alleged to have been murdered as set forth in the affidavit above, is said to have been a middle-aged man, who had long lived in Wilkinson county,and had had a there a family, consisting of a wife and several grown children. This family, living in comfortable and respectable circumstances at the time, he had deserted, after grossly abusing and mistreating every member and repeatedly brutally beating his wife, and had taken up and was living in open concubinage with a notorious negro woman, near the village of Irwinton. The black harlot he is said to have dressed up in the costliest and grandest array, and more than once, in open
daylight and in defiance of all decency and propriety, carried in a carriage to church - himself sitting on the seat beside the woman - when his wife and family and
neighbors were attending services at the sanctuary at the time.
  The second warrant alleges that three citizens of Wilkinson therein nominated, committed mayhem by castration upon the person of one Henry Lowther, a colored man,
during the summer of last year. The first of these is Doctor Thos. A. Simmons, a popular and influential physician practicing his profession at Irwinton, and at present
the presiding officer in the Masonic Lodge at that place. The second is Mr. Henry Hyman, a prominent merchant of Irwinton, and the third is Mr. Milton Lindsay, a
young man employed as clerk in Mr. Hyman's store. The third warrant, alleges that two citizens named in the warrant, shipped last summer, a lewd negro woman named
Harriet Calhoun, who now lives in Macon, Ga., where she has resided for the last fifteen or twenty months. The first of these, so accused, is Mr. W. C. D. Carlisle, a
most respected merchant of Irwinton, and the second is Mr. George Gilbert, a youth at that time going to school, and this year farming near that town. The fourth
warrant, charges that three citizens of Wilkinson county, about August, 1871, and seized and castigated a colored prostitute, name Jane Bush. This woman and the one
alleged in the foregoing warrant to have been whipped, to-wit: Harriet Calhoun, are said to be sisters, and Jane, like her sister, has been living in Macon for the past
year and a half. The first party charged in the warrant is Mr. Eli Peacock, a merchant of long standing in Irwinton; the second is Mr. Charles Peacock, a youth of
seventeen, going to school in Irwinton; and the third is Mr. Carlisle, accused similarly in the third warrant we have mentioned.
  The last three warrants will scarcely be heard, as we are informed, until the first warrant, the partied to which were yesterday before Commissioner Stone, is again
brought up on Friday and disposed of.

October 26, 1872
Atlanta Constitution
  Among the ten prisoners from Wilkinson county now confined in the Chatham county jail under the Enforcement Act are six Free and Accepted Masons. One of them is a Royal Arch.

October 29, 1872
Atlanta Constitution
GRANT'S GRACE.
Unparalleled Outrage. Ladies Insulted by United States Soldiers and Officials- More Citizens Dragged from their Beds and Carried to Prison
 A gentleman from the vicinity of Gordon called at this office yesterday and made the following startling disclosures:
    On Wednesday night, about 2 p.m., a band of ten United States soldiers, led by some brevet official, appeared at the dwelling of Dr. J. B. Terrell in quest of the Doctor and his son, who were from home. They entered the house and searched the premises in the rudest manner, violating with their ruffian presence the sleeping chamber of two young ladies, and even tearing from persons the bed covering which protected them. Disappointed at not finding their prey, they then visited other domiciles and arrested and bore away with them Messrs. Wm. Fountain, Wm. Califf, Wm. Bridges, Frank Kennington, Edward Walker, railroad agent, and James Fountain. Not content with thus outraging the houses and persons of their victims, these exemplary representatives of Radical law proceeded to rifle the pockets of one of their prisoners, Mr. Wm. Fountain, of about fifteen dollars. For the truth of this latter characteristic set our informant hs the authority of the brother of Mr. Fountain.
  We are told the whole demeanour of these emissaries of Grant and his henchmen, Akerman and Farrow, was rude, insolent and overbearing in the extreme. -Macon Telegraph.

EIGHT MORE PRISONERS FROM WILKINSON COUNTY
reached Savannah by the Central train last evening, in custody of two Deputy United States Marshals, a Federal Lieutenant and squad of soldiers, and were lodged in the county jail of Chatham to await the tardy progress of the law for their vindication and deliverance from prison. The military guard in charge, on the route down, robbed these citizens of their money, knives and pistols-taking this property on pretense of returning it on reaching Savannah , but failing to do so when they turned them over to the custody of the civil authorities.
  These citizens were arrested at their peaceful homes in and near Gordon, Wilkinson county, before day yesterday morning, having been captured in every instance in bed beneath quiet and once hallowed roofs. Aroused at the dead hour of night, by a posse of armed men, who in some of the arrests roughly broke open the doors and windows of the apartments and rudely entered unannounced with drawn pistols and cocked guns, violating the privicies of homes and in one instance disregarding the sanctities of a sick chamber and dragging a weak and enfeebled man from his couch while three little motherless children in vain cried as their only remaining parent was unexpectedly and quickly hurried from them, these   eight citizens of Georgia have been brought to Savannah and vilely incarcerated in felons' cells, buy the strong arm of the Federal power.
  Of these citizens Mr. William T. Fountain, nearly fifty years old, was born and reared in Wilkinson, and is planting in a miles and a half of Gordon, in which place he has a store; Mr. James M. Fountain, son of the preceding gentleman, is a young man unmarried and farming near his father's place; Mr. J. Frank Carroll, a young married man of twenty-two, is a farmer, living in a mile or so of Gordon (was arrested over at his father's); Mr. Frank Kennington, a single farmer of twenty three, lives in two miles of Gordon (was arrested at his brother's in Gordon where he was staying that night); Mr. William J. Bridger, a young merchant of twenty, in doing business in Gordon (was arrested at his room in the hotel;)  Mr. William H. Calef, a young married man, is merchandising in a Gordon (was arrested in his bedchamber, door broken open before he could unlatch it, and officers and soldiers and negroes entered with drawn weapons;) Mr. James T. Kirkpatrick is a mechanic in Gordon (was arrested in his sickbed, window broken open before a friend staying with him could unfasten it, armed men rushed in and hurried him off, leaving his young children whose mother is just dead unprotected and crying;) and Mr. B. F. Sanders, a young man of nineteen is a clerk in a store in Gordon (was sleeping in back room of the store and was knocked up and arrested.)
  the soldiers who constituted the guard hailed from Atlanta, and the two Deputy United States Marshals were one Blacker from Atlanta, and an officer named Martin.
   There is, we learn, a separate warrant against each prisoner, although the charge is the same against each. The warrants were issued by United States Commissioner J. Clarke Swayze, of Macon, and respectively allege a criminal violation of the Enforcement Act, in the beating for his political opinions sake of one Henry Charlton, colored, during the past summer of 1872.
  The negro is about thirty years old, is married, and had become notorious in that section of the country on account of his bold, undisguised and illicit communications and commerce with a degraded and abandoned white woman, about twenty-five or thirty years old, living in the neighborhood, named Caroline Myers. Savannah Republican

November 6, 1872
Union and Recorder
~excerpt~Wilkinson County Sheriff Sale.
....on the First Tuesday in December next.....

   Two hundred two and one-half acres of land, known as the Absalom Jordan lot in the __ district of Wilkinson county...in favor of the Tax Collector of Wilkinson county vs. Eli Cumming, Adm'r for the tax of 1871 of the estate of R. F. Rozar, late of said county deceased; bounded on the east by the place of Joseph Davidson and on the north by the John Ganey place.

.....will be sold fractional lot of land No. 115 containing one hundred acres more or less, in the 4th District of Wilkinson county...in favor of the Tax Collector of Wilkinson county vs. A. J. Cumming for the tax of 1871; bound on the southeast by F P Crutchfield and on the east by R. A. Carter and others.

..one hundred and fifty-six acres, in the 4th District of said county, part of lot No. 210...in favor of the Tax Collector of Wilkinson county vs. Mills Lord for tax for the year 1871...adjoins the lands of Jackson Holland and Peyton Clay, et al.

...one hundred acres of land in the 4th District of Wilkinson county, being parts of lots 18 and 19; in favor of Tax Collector of Wilkinson vs R A Carter for his tax for the year 1871. Land adjoins Mrs. Holder, Sarah Herndon and others.

.....one hudred acres of land, part of lot No. 207...27th District...adjoining the lands of Jackson Fountain, Mrs. Reed and others;...in favor of the Tax Collector ...vs. Jerry Dixon for his tax for the year 1871.

....sold lot of land No. 141 in the 27th District of Wilkinson county containing 202 1/2 acres. more or less, levied on as the property of Jefferson Sanders ..in favor of the Tax Collector of Wilkinson county vs M N Murphy for taxes for the years 1869, 1870, 1871..
L. L. PEACOCK, Dep. Sh'ff. Nov 1, 1872

December 4, 1872
Union and Recorder
~excerpt~ sold..first Tuesday in December next:..One hundred and thirty-two (132) acres of land more or less, being parts of lots No. 144 and 145 in the 27th District of said county, being the place whereon C. T. Green deceased resided at the time of his death; adjoining lands of B. Fountain, Charles Johnson and Rebecca Valentine. Levied on as the property of C. T. Green dec'd, by virtue of a fi fa, David Welch vs. Nancy A. Green, administratrix of C. T. Green......
  Also at the same time and place, two acres of land more or less....town of Irwinton..on road leading from the Court house to 16 Central R. R., in front of what is known as the Wm. O. Beall place, adjoinng lands of Ellis Harville, the estate of G. B. Burney and others..property of J. T. Hughs..mortgage...in favor of B. W. Todd and James Pittman..L. L. Peacock, Dep't Sheriff. Oct. 15th, 1872.

December 18, 1872
Union and Recorder
Wilkinson Sheriff's Sale. Will be sold before the Court house door in the town of Irwinton on the first Tuesday in January next within the legal hours of sale the following land to wit: Twenty acres more or less known as the Harrison land, being part of lot number forty-two, in the fifth District of Wilkinson county, levied on as the property of James W. Branan to satisfy a laborer's and mechanic's lien fi fa, by virture of said fi fa, which was issued from the Justices Court of the 331st District, G. M., in favor of Daniel Myers vs said J. W. Branan. Levy made by Jerry Dixon, Constable of said District, and returned to me for sale to satisfy said fi fa. Deed paid for by  purchaser. Terms cash. This December 34d, 1872. W. B. ETHERIDGE, Deputy Sheriff



1873
January 1, 1873
Union and Recorder
~excerpt~ Wilkinson Sheriff's Sale. ..first Tuesday in Fberary next..
one hundred one and a quarter of land in the 4th District...property of S. B. Murphy..
  Also, one house and lot in the town of Irwinton, known as the Old Fisher place lot, containing one acres of land, more
or less with all buildings and improvements..bounded..by streets of said town, adjoining lots of A. H. Cumming,
Mrs. A. A. Ramsey, and others, being now in possession of James Adams; levied on as the property of R. E. and S. A. Hatfield..
    Also, one hundred and seventy-five acres of land in the second District...property of Eason Green...
  Also, eighty acres of land more or less, being parts of lots No's 68 and 69 in the 4th District...whereon the defendant
Wiley F. Rogers now lives and being all that he owns of said lots, adjoining lands of P. Donnelly, and P. L. Etheridge, a good gin house and screw, and a good dwelling and out houses and also a good orchard on the place.....
W. B. Etheridge, Deputy Sheriff. Dec. 31, 1872.

January 15, 1873
Southern Christian Advocate
Benjamin F. Kemp was born Feb. 19th 1851, and died in Wilkinson county, Dec. 2, 1872.

February 28, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
ACCIDENT AND LOST OF LIFE - The Milledgeville Union and Recorder says an accident occurred at Stevens' Pottery, on the Eatonton and Gordon Railroad-on Saturday last, resulting in the death of a Mr. Byington, and the seriously wounding of a son of Mr. Henry Stevens and two negroes. The party were removing scaffolding from a kiln prepared for burning fire brick, etc., when it fell and precipitated them to the ground. Mr. Byington was a young man of eighteen or nineteen years of age, and son of the late Mr. Charles Byington. We are pleased to learn that young Stevens and the colored men will recover. (James  Byington)

March 5, 1873
Union and Recorder
DIED in Wilkinson county, after a lingering illness of Consumption, on the 10th of February, Rev. B. B. Shepherd in the 60th year of his age. He was a Baptist minister and had preached the gospel for the past thirty years.

May 6, 1873
Macon Weekly Telegraph
  ~excerpt
Died, on the 11th day of April, 1873, Dr. Thomas A. Simmons, in the thirty-seventh year of his age.

May 6, 1873
Macon Weekly Telegraph
WILKINSON SHERIFF SALE - Will be sold before the Court house door in the town of Iwinton, between the legal hours of sale, on the first Tuesday in July next, the following described property, to-wit:
  One pale sorrel ball faced mare, nine or ten years old. Levied on as the property of James M. Batson to satisfy one mortgage fi.fa. issued from the Superior Court of said county, in favor of Salle Herndon vs. J. M. Batson. Property described in said mortgage fi. fa. J. K. BRANAN, Deputy Sheriff.

May 16, 1873
Telegraph & Messenger
  ~excerpt~After a protracted illness, died, at his residence in Wilkinson county, O. H. P. RAWLS, in the fifty-third year of his age.
  The subject of this sketch was born on the first day of October, 1820, in the State of North Carolina, and came to Georgia in early life. His home has been in Wilkinson county thirty-five yers. He was well known to the citizens of the county as an upright man and a consistent Christian. He has been a member of the Baptist church twenty-eight years. ..........
  ....At ten o'clock P.M., 29th April, 1873, he closed his eyes calmly and peacefully in death, and his spirit returned unto God who gave it. J. L. DUPREE.

June 5, 1873
Atlanta Constitution
Macon. On Sunday morning as the express passenger train was coming up from Savannah to this city, the engineer discovered a man lying partially across the track. He promptly blew down the brakes, reversed his engine, and made every exertion to stop the train. But his efforts to stop were unavailing, and the cars passed over him. It proved to be Larkin Parker, of Wilkinson county. Both legs were severed above the knee. He lived three hours after the accident, if accident it may be called, for the story which comes to as runs, that he was intoxicated to a sufficient extent to be desperate, but still had a vague idea of the responsibility of railways as "common carriers." Enterprise

July 8, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Georgia, Wilkinson County. - On the first Monday in August, 1873, I shall apply to the Court of Ordinary of said county for leave to sell all the lands of the estate of Henry Chambers, late of said county. James Pittman, Administrator de bonis next.

July 15, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Wilkinson Sheriff Sale.  - Will be sold before the Court-house door in the town of Irwinton, on the first Tuesday in August next, during the legal hours of sale, one hundred and fifty acres of land, more or less, lying in the Fourth District of said county, known as E Cumming's Nelson place, lying on Commissioners creek, near old No. 16 Central railroad, adjoining the lands of John Nelson, Martin J. Carswell, John C. Mackey, et, al. Levied on to satisfy one fi fa in favor of G. W. Payne, Tax Collector, vs. E. Cumming, for the year 1873. Levy made and returned to me by a Constable, June 28, 1873.
James K. Branan, Deputy Sheriff.

July 23, 1873
Union and Recorder
  ~excerpt~ DIED. In Wilkinson count, on the 5th of July, Mr. Allen Rains, in the 82nd year of his age. The deceased was a native of South Carolina, was born in 1791 emigrated to Georgia, while very  young and settled in Warren County, afterward removed to Baldwin County. He was a member of the Methodist Church..

August 5, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Georgia, Wilkinson County. - On the first Monday in September next, I shall apply to the Court of Ordinary of said county for leave to sell all the lands of the estate of D. F. Brown, deceased. James Pittman, Adminstrator.

August 5, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Wilkinson County Sheriff's Sale. Will be sold, before the Court house door, in town of Irwinton, in said county, on the first day of September next, within the legal hours of sale One hundred acres of lot of land No. 259, in the 23d district of said county; levied on by W. D. Kemp, constable of the 352d district G.M., as the poperty of Elbert J. Davidson, the defendant, to satisfy fourteen fi fas issued from the Justices' Court of the 352d district G. M., seven of which are against said E. J. Davidson, and seven against said E. J. Davidson, as security. Property pointed out by plaintiff. Levy returned to me by said constable.
T. M. Freeman, Sheriff.

August 5, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Wilkinson Sheriff Sale - Will be sold, before the Court-house door, in the town of Irwinton, Wilkinson county, within the usual hours of sale, on the first Tuesday in Spetember next, the following described property, to-wit:
  Forty acres of land, being part of lot No. 118, in the 5th district of said county, adjoining lands of Charles Ivey and Joseph Youngblood. Levied on as the propertyof Wilson Galloway by virtue of one morgage fi fa in favor of Ira Chambers vs. Wilson Galloway. J. K. Branan, Deputy Sheriff. july 4

August 5, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Wilkinson County Sheriff's Sales - Will be sold, before the Court house door, in the town of Irwinton, Wilkinson county, on the first Tuesday in September next, within the legal hours of sale, the following property, to-wit:
  Lot No. 167 in the town of Gordon, in said county, now in possession of E. A. Walker; also, one house and lot in possession of a colored man, Hamp Massey, lying north of the W. J. Solomon lot, and west of the lot No. 167, cornering on said No. 167-both of said lots containing three acres, more or less: levied on as the property of James M. Folsom, to satisfy a morgage fi fa in favor of James S. Graybill, said James M. Folsom. Property pointed out in the fi fa,
  Also, at the same time and place, one rone mule and one large two horse wagon, as the property of R. L. Story, to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa in favor of John Gardner vs King Story and Jolly. Terms of sale cash. Property pointed out by plaintiff's attorney.
  Also, at the same time and place, three hundred and ten acres of land, more or less, number not known, adjoining lands to
R. H. Carswell, Mrs. Paulk and others; levied on as the property of John Smith, to saisty one Superior Court fi fa in favor of Lighfoot & Flanders vs John Smith. Property now in possession of J. J. L. Smith. J. K. Branan, Deputy Sheriff. aug1

August 12, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
~excerpt
Georgia, Wilkinson County. - Whereas John McArtha and J. W. Branan, executors of the last will and testament of
Sarah Hudson, deceased, have applied for dismission from said executorship of said deceased. August 5, 1873. W. F. Cannon, Ordinary

August 12, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
~excerpt
Whereas, George W. Lord, executor of the estate of Wm. Lord, deceased, applies to me for letters of dismission.
8th day of July, 1873. W. F. Cannon, Ordinary

August 19, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Georgia, Wilkinson County - Whereas, the estate of E. J. Rozar, late of said county, deceased, has been represented to the undersigned as without representation.
  These are therefore, to cite and admonish all persons concerned to be and appear at my office, on or before the first Monday in September next, and show cause, if any they have, why letters of administration should not be granted to the Clerk of the Superior Court, or some other proper person.
  Wittiness my hand and official signature, this, August 5th, 1873. W. F. Cannon, Ordinary, Wilkinson County.

August 28, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
The Killing of Major Kelley at Gordon
Gordon, August 22, 1873
Editors Telegraph and Messenger: I noticed in your paper of the 17th instant and account of the killing of Major Chas. Kelley by Silas Sanders, which is a very incorrect account of the difficulty. In the first place Sanders started the difficulty with Kelly - Kelley all the time trying to avoid Sanders, by saying he wanted no difficulty, and, in fact, was not able to fight a man so much his superior in strength' Kelley being almost an invalid. In spite of Kelley's pleas Sanders kept on after him, slapping Kelley's face several times, and then knocking him down. Kelley not being able to resent any of the above inanities, and seeing there was no chance to avoid a difficulty, went off and armed himself-Sanders doing the same. They met again, and after passing a few works Sanders knocked Kelley down, and as Kelley rose he fired at Sanders. Sanders then commenced firing on Kelley - Kelley trying to get our of the way all the time. Sanders shot him four times - twice in the back and twice in the side. After Kelley commenced giving way under the first three shots, and was in the act of falling, Sanders done shot him again in the back.
  As for the characters of the two men, they were both drinking men. Though Kelley was never known to raise a difficulty with anyone -unless forced on him. Whereas, Sanders was always getting into difficulties - in not with his enemies, with his friends. I am sure Kelley never had aught against Sanders. Sanders had an old army grudge against Kelley, Kelley having refused, as an officer, to sign a furlough for him. the above is a plain and true statement of an eye witness and can be proven by fifty witnesses. JUSTICE.

September 2, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Application For Leave To Sell Land. Four weeks after date application will be made to the Ordinary of Wilkinson county for leave to sell all the real estate belonging to the estate of Romulus F. Rozar, late of said county, deceased. A. R. Rozar, administrator de bonis non. Aug 6 30 d

September 2, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Application For Leave To Sell Land. On the first Monday in September next we will apply to the Court of Ordinary of Wilkinson county for leave to sell a portion of the real estate of William Dickson, late of said county, deceased. Hansford A. Hall, John A. Dickson, Administrators.

September 2, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
~extract. Whereas Joel J. Brewer, administrator of the estate of Sarah Brewer, late of said county, deceased, has filed his application for dismission from said administration. this August 5th, 1873. W. F. Cannon, Ordinary, Wilkinson County

September 9, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Georgia, Wilkinson County - On the first Monday in October next I will apply to the Court of Ordinary of said county for leave to sell the lands of the estate of Jacob Shepherd, of said county, deceased. John J. Shepherd, Administrator

September 9, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
~excerpt
Whereas, Samuel H. Palmer, administrator on the estate of James Palmer, late of said county, deceased, has filed his application for letters of dismission from said administration.
August 26, 1873. W. F. Cannon, Ordinary

September 9, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
~excerpt
Whereas, Nelson Stuckey applies to me for letters of administration on the estate of William A. Stuckey, late of said county, deceased. August 26, 1873. W. F. Cannon, Ordinary

September 12, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Wilkinson Sheriff Sales - Will be sold, before the Court-house door, in the town of Irwinton, Wilkinson county, Georgia, between the usual hours of sale, on the first Tuesday in October next, the following property to:
  One hundred and eighty-seven acres of land No. 58 in the 4th district of said county. Levied on as the property of Love Herndon to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa in favor of G. H. C. Reid vs James W. Herndon and Love Herndon.
  Also 405 acres of land No. 50 and 51 in the 4th district of said county. Levied on as the property of Love Herndon to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa in favor of Abner Abbot and wife vs Love Herndon, and one Superior Court fi fa in favor of John W. Fears vs Love Herndon, and one Superior Court fi fa in favor of Mary Ann McCullers, by her next friend for use of Mary Hicks vs Love Herndon. Also 187 acres of land, lot No. 58 in the 4th district of said county.
  Also at the same time and place, 136 acres of land, more or less, in the 5th district of said county, as the property of James A. Davis, to satisfy one County Court fi fa in favor of Henry Temples vs James Davis. Land now in possession of Daniel McCook. Property pointed out plaintiff's attorney.
  Also at the same time and place, one lot of land No. 58 containing 187 acres, more or less, in the 4th district of said county, in favor of C. Cumming vs. James W. Herndon and Love Herndon.
   Also at the same time and place, 50 acres of lot of land No. 142 in the 4th district of said county, adjoining lands of J. T. Smith and the places where David Herndon now lives, to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa in favor of J. L. Brannan, administrator, vs. Griffin Miller, Lawson Criswell and John Wheeler, securities.
 Also at the same time and place, 107 acres of land, more or less, No. 91, in the 5th district of said county, in favor of Joel Butler vs Wiley Weaver.
  Also at the same time and place, 300 acres of land, more or less, as the property of the estate of E. J. Rozar in the 23d district of said county, to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa in favor of John Smith vs E. J. Rozar, and R. F. Rozar, and one County Court fi fa in favor of G. W. Butler, executor, vs E. J. Rozar.
  Also at the same time and place, one lot of land No. 61 in the 5th district of said county, as J. W. Brannan; also 300 acres of land, more or less, in the 5th district of said county. No. not known, lying on the north side of Commissioner Creek, and on both sides of the Milledgeville road, as the property ofC. H. Brannan, one of the defendants. property pointed out by both the defendants to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa in favor of Richard W. Bonner, guardian, etc., vs James W. Brannan and Caswell H. Brannan, principals, and David Solomons, security.
  Also at the same time and place, the reversionary interest of theestate of Thomas H. Parker, deceased, in the land assigned to Mrs. Nancy Parker, widow of said Thomas H. Parker as dowers, being the place whereon the said Thomas H. Parker resided at the time of his death, consisting of 380 acres, more or less, in the 4th district of said county, to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa in favor of Isham W. Walters vs Robert N. Parker, administrator. Property pointed out by plaintiff's attorney.
  Also at the same time and place, one lot of land No. not known, adjoining land of J. T. Parker, Dr. Taylor, James Stephens and others on the Oconee river swamp, in the 4th district of said county, to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa in favor of A. H. Kennan vs Julius W. Evans. Property pointed out by defendant.
  ALso at the same time and place, one large bay horse mule about 12 years old (Wiley), on dark bay mule, (Mary), one gray mare mule (Pete), one light bay horse mule (Brit), one work ox and fourteen cows and yearlings, more or less, as the property of John G. Carswell, to satisfy one Superor court fi fa in favor of Charles Hooks, trustee, vs John G. Carswell, and one County Court fi fa in favor of George W. Butler vs John G. Carswell and Rufus J. Cochran.
  Also at the same time and place, 100 acres of land in the 3d district of said county, No. not known, adjoining lands of B. W. Todd, T. J. Jordan, Mrs. Stephens and others. Sold to satisfy one Justice Court fi fa in favor of A. Baum vs G. M. Pittman, one Justice Court if fa in favor of Ira Chambers, survivor, vs. G. M. Pittman, one Justice Court fi fa in favor of Brigham, Holst & Co. vs G. M. Pittman, and one tax fi fa in favor of the State vs, G. M. Pittman. Levy made and returned to me by constables.
  Also at the same time and place, the Wheeler land, No. not known, in the 4th district of said county, being the place on which J. K. Patterson now lives, adjoining the lands of J. P. Brannan, J. C. Shepherd and others. Sold to satisy 9 Justice Court fi fas in favor of W. C. Parker vs John Wheeler and Asa Downing. Levy made and returned to me by Richard snow, constable.
  Also at the same time and place 200 acres of land, No. not known, adjoining lands of A. H. Cumming. Sold to satisfy 8 Justice Court fi fas in favor of Wm. C. Parker vs F. P. Crutchfield and Joseph Parks. Levy made and returned to by Richard Snow, constable.
  Also at the same time and place, 400 acres of land, part of No. 114, 115, 125, the place upon which F. P. Crutchfield now lives. sold to satisfy two County Court fi fas in favor of Wm. C. Parker vs F. P. Crutchfield, and E. Cumming, endorser and two County fi fas in favor of Wm. J. Chambers vs Francis P. Crutchfield.
  Also at the same time and place, 172½ acres of land, No. not known, adjoining lands of Joel Coney, A. J. Kingery and others in the 3d district of said county, one County Court fi fa in favor of Wm. C. Parker vs.E. Cumming and Jno. M. Garrett, administrators, and one in favor of E. Cumming and Jno. M. Garrett, administrator vs Julius W. Evans, administrator.
  Also at the same time and place, 328 acres of land, more or less, belonging to the estate of Daniel McNair, deceased, whereon Ashley White lives except the dower adjoining lands of Rufus McNair, Nimrod Burke and others. Sold to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa in favor of Samuel R. Methvin, administrator, etc., vs. Henry Gainey, administrator, and John Burke. Property pointed out by plaintiff's attorney.
  Purchasers to pay for deeds, etc. J. T. Smith, Dept'y Sheriff

September 30, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Georgia, Wilkinson County. Whereas, Ezekial McNair having applied to me for exemption of personalty and setting apart and valuation of homestead, I will pass upon the same at my office in Irwinton, at 11 o'clock A.M., on the 6th day of October next. W. F. Cannon, Ordinary

September 30, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
~excerpt
Whereas, Jonah G. Pearson applies to me for letters of administration de bonis non on the estate of Jonathan Pearson, late of said county, deceased.  September 2, 1873, W. F. Cannon, Ordinary

September 30, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
WILKINSON SHERIFF SALE - Will be sold, on the first Tuesday in October next within the usual hours of sale, before the Courthouse door, in the town of Irwinton, the following described lands, to-wit:
  Three hundred and fifty-five acres of land, more or less, being 202½ acres of lot No. 99, and 152½ acres of lot No. 98, in the 23d district of said county. Sold as the property of John Allen to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa in favor of Sarah R. Allen, executrix on the estate of Willis Allen, deceased, vs. John Allen. Purchasers to pay for deeds, etc. J. T. SMITH, Deputy Sheriff.

September 30, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
WILKINSON COUNTY SHERIFF SALES. Will be sold, before the Court-house door, in the town of Irwinton, in the county aforesaid, within the legal hours of sale, on the first Tuesday in October next, the following lands, to wit:
Sixty-three (63) acres of land, of No. 246, in the twenty-sixth district of said county, adjoining lands of Larkin McConnell, Seaborn Fountain and others. Levied on by virture of fi. fa. from the Superior Court of said county, on a judgment obtained in the County Court of said county in favor of William R. Pixley, against Richard Taylor, as the property of said Richard Taylor.
  Also, will be sold at the same time and place, seventy-five acres of land, of lot No. 28, in the 5th district of said county, adjoining lands of Peter Roach, as the property of James Stevens. Levied on by virtue of a fi. fa. from the Superior Court of said county, in favor of Jones & Hall, against said James Stevens.
  Also, at the same time and place, four hundred and two and one-half acres, more or less, of land known as the Bloodworth Place, being all of lot No. 123, 100 acres of lot No. 115 and 100 acres of lot No. 116, all in the 4th district of Wilkinson county, adjoining lands of Thomas Temples, F. P. Crutchfield and others. Levied on as the property of A. H. Cumming under a fi. fa. of T.N. Beall, Receiver vs said A. H. Cumming, issued from the Superior Court of said county. This August 20, 1873.  J. K. BRANAN, Deputy Sheriff

September 30, 1873
Macon Weekly Telegraph
GEORGIA, WILKINSON COUNTY - Whereas, Mrs. S. A. R. Sanders, wife of S. J. Sanders, having applied to me for exemption of personalty, and acting apart and valuation of homestead, I will pass upon the same at my office in Irwinton, at 11 o'clock A.M., on the 6th day of October next. W. F. CANNON, Ordinary.

October 28, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Georgia, Wilkinson County, - On the first Monday in November next, I will apply to the Court of Ordinary of said county, for leave to sell all the lands belonging to the estate ofNicey Anderson, late of said county, deceased.
Thomas D. Etheridge, Administrator

October 28, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
~extract
Georgia, Wilkinson County - Whereas, G. W. Payne, Administrator of the estate of P. F. Payne, last of said county, deceased, has filed his application for dismission from said administration.
25th day of September, 1873. W. F. Cannon, Ordinary

October 28, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Administrator's Sale - Agreeable to an order of the Court of Ordinary of Wilkinson county, will be sold before the Court-house door in the town of Irwinton, Wilkinson county, on the first Tuesday in November next, within the legal hours of sale, the following property, to-wit:
  Three hundred and fifty-five acres of land, more or less, being parts of lots No. 122, 123, 144 and 145, in the 27th district of said county, being the place whereon Thos. Valentine resided at the time of his death. Sold as the property of Thomas Valentine, deceased, for the purpose of distribution among the heirs at law. Terms on the day of sale. John M. Sheffield Administrator

October 28, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Wilkinson County Sheriff Sale - Will be sold before the Court-house door in the town of Irwinton in said county, on the first Tuesday in November next, within the usual hours of sale, the following described property to-wit:
  Lot of land No. 146 in the 4th district of Wilkinson county, containing 185 acres more or less, and known as the "Guilford Miller place." Levied on as the property of E. Cumming, deceased, to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa in favor of Wm. E. Carswell, vs. A. H. Cumming, and E. Cumming security. Property pointed out by plaintiff's attorney, and now in the possession of Harry Napper, a tenant of the said E. Cummings, administrator. J. K. Branan, Dep'ty Sh'ff.

October 28, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Wilkinson County Sheriff Sale - Will be sold before the Court-house door in the town of Irwinton in said county, on the first Tuesday in November next, within the usual hours of sale, the following described property to-wit:
   Fourteen hundred and sixty acres of land, in the 4th and 5th districts of said county, adjoining lands of John Council, Lovey Council, William Johns and others. Levied on as the property of the estate of Rebecca Jones, deceased, to satisfy twelve fi fas issued from Wilkinson County Court in favor of Wm. C. Parker vs. James Jackson, administrator on said estate of Rebecca Jones, deceased.
   Also, at the same time and place, five hundred acres of land, more or less, including a grist and saw mill on the place; said land and mill lying in the 5th district of Wilkinson county, and known as the John Eady mill and place. Levied on as the property of John Eady to satisfy a fi fa issued from the Superior Court of said county in favor of Eugenia Cochran, adminstratrix vs. said John Eady.
   Also, at the same time and place, one hundred and forty acres of land, more or less, lying in the 27th district of said county of Wilkinson, being parts of lots Nos. 99 and 200, lying south of the road leading from the Gordon spring branch, extending to Dr. E. J. Massey's line of land southeast, and adjoining lands of the Arch Smith place and D. Solomon on the east; also, ten acres, more or less, lying is said county, near the creek, on the road from Gordon to E. J. Massey's adjoining Dr. Massey on the south. Levied on as the property of Eli Fraseur to satisfy a mortgage fi fa issued by the Superior Court of said county in favor of Charles H. Rogers, survivor of the late firm of George T. Rogers & Son vs. said Eli Fraseur. Property pointed out in mortgage fi fa. T. M. Freeman, Sheriff.

November 4, 1873
Macon Weekly Telegraph
Wilkinson Sheriff's Sale - Will be sold before the Court-house door in Irwinton, Wilkinson county, on the first Tuesday in December next, the reversionary interest of the estate of Thomas H. Parker, late of said county, deceased, in the land act apart out of said said estate to the widow, Mrs. Nancy Parker, as dower; supposed to be lot No. 198 and 177½ acres of lot No. 199, in the 4th district of said county, being three hundred and eighty acres, more or less; well known as the home-place whereon said Thomas H. Parker lived at the time of his death, adjoining lands of John R. Rains, M. M. Bloodworth, Augustus Pennington and Daniel McCook, Sr. Levied on as the property of Thomas H. Parker, deceased, to satisfy a fi fa from the Superior Court of said county in favor of J. W. Waters vs. R.N. Parker, administrator of Thomas H. Parker, deceased. Resold at risk of J.N. Parker, to whom the same was knocked off on 1st Tuesday in October, 1873, he failing to pay his bid. John T. Smith, Deputy Sheriff.

November 11, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Wilkinson Sheriff Sales - Will be sold, before the Court-house door, in the town of Irwinton, in said county, on the first Tuesday in December next, during the legal hours of sale, the following property, to-wit: One hundred acres of land, being part of lot No. 57, in the 4th district of said county, and known as theCumming Brewner place, near Irwinton. One house and lot in the town of Irwinton, know as the place whereon Mary Beall now lives, containing 4 acres, more or less, as the property of E. Cumming; 302½ acres of land, known as the A H Cumming Bloodworth place, in said county, adjoining lands of Crutchfield, Jas. Temples, et. al, and 14 acres, more or less, sitatued near Irwinton, adjoining lands to M. J. Carswell and the D. A. Moore place, on the road leading from Irwinton to No. 16 Central Railroad. Sold as the property of A. H. Cumming to satisfy one County Court fi fa in favor of W. C. Parker vs John T. Branan, and E. Cumming, principal, and S. J. Stubbs and A. H. Cumming, securities. Property pointed out by plaintiff. Legal notice served as law directs.
  Also, at the same time and place, 650 acres of land, more or less in the 26th district of said county, in the possession of Wm. Whitehurst; 115 acres, more or less in the possession of Jas. Stevens, of said county; 120 acres, more or less, now in the possession of Jasper Aycock, of said county; 50 acres of land, more or less, now in the possession of Riley Shepard; 300 acres of land, more or less, now in the possession of V. W. Tharp, of said county. All levied on as the property of V. W. Tharp to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa from said county, in favor of Garner Mercer vs V. W. Tharp. Legal notice served upon the parties as required by law. Property pointed out by plaintiff. JAS. K. BRANAN, Deputy Sheriff.

November 12, 1873
Southern Christian Advocate
Married. By Rev. W. S. Baker, October 23d,Mr. Columbus M. Brannan to Miss Hellen A. Tarpley, all of Irwinton, Ga. By Rev. W. S. Baker, October 28th, Mr. S. F. B. Lester, of Savannah, to Miss E. J. Stubbs, of Irwinton, Ga.

November 18, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
WILKINSON SHERIFF SALES  - Will be sold before the Court-house door in the town of Irwinton, in said county, on the first Tuesday in December next, within the legal hours of sale, the following property, to-wit:
  Four hundred acres of land belonging to the estate of R. N. Parker, and being all the the land owned by said Parker at the time of his death, adjoining lands of A.J. Stubbs, Willy Holland, John Mackey and others, to satisfy one County Court fi fa in favor of Wm. C. Parker vs . W. L. John and R. L. Parker. Property pointed out by plaintiff's attorney.
  Also, at the same time and place, one house and lot in the town of Irwinton, known as the J. T. Hughes lot, now occupied by Capt. G. W. Bishop, as the property of A. C. Hooks to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa in favor of J. Holmes & Co. vs. A. C. Hooks. Property pointed out by plaintiff's attorney.
  Also, at the same time and place, ______ acres more or less, adjoining John T. Branan, Carswell Branan and others, whereon James A. Davis now lives, to satisfy one County Court fi fa in favor of Henry Temples vs James A. Davis. Property pointed out by plaintiff's attorney. Also, one bay mare, as the property of James A. Davis to satisfy one County Court fi fa in favor of S. J. Stubbs vs James A. Davis.
  Also, at the same time and place, one buggy and harness, as the property ofJohn Kemp to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa in favor of James C. Boron vs John Kemp. Property pointed out by the defendant. Also will be sold one cart and oxen as the property of Starling Stuckey to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa in favor of M. D. Mooney vs Starling Stuckey.
  Also, at the same time and place, will be sold one hundred acres of lot No. 85 in the 4th district of said county, adjoining the land of Tho. Hooks, Nesbitt and others, as the property of the estate of S. B. Murphy to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa in favor of John Breedlove vs S. B. Murphy, M. M. Murphy, Wm. O'Bannon, John O'Bannon and John Lady, securities. Property pointed out by transferee. John T. Smith, Deputy Sheriff.

November 23, 1873
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~Departed this life,  on the 8th of November at hhis residence in Perry, Ga., after a short illness of pheumonia. ROBERT W. BASKIN. He had reached the age of 71 years. He was one of the first settlers of Houston county, having moved here from Wilkinson, his native county about the time of the removable of the Indians from this part of the country.
   As a business man he was sucessful,. and a good financier. He was remarkable for stong common shense, which controlled him in all his business transactions. He was punctual to all his engagements, and eminently a honest man. He  He was a man of extraordinary decision of character, and of natural and moral courage. He dared to do right and to reprove an evil doer. He was three times married, and leaves an affectionate wife and six children-all the daughters of his first wife-to mourn his loss. He was an excellent father and husband, and shared largely in the affections os his family.....

November 25, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
~extract
Wheras, Caswell H. Branan, of said county, has applied to me for letters of administration on the estate of Mary Wood, late of said county, deceased. W. F. Cannon, Ordinary
nov 22 30d

November 25, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Wilkinson County Sheriff Sale - Will be sold, before the Court-house door, in the town of Irwinton, in said county, on the first Tuesday in December next, within the usual hours of sale, the following described property, to wit:
  Forty acres of land, being part of lot No. 118, in the 5th district of Wilkinson county, adjoining lands of Charles Ivey and Joseph Youngblood. Levied on as the property of Wilson Galloway to satisfy one mortgage fi fa from Wilkinson Superior Court, in favor of Ira Chambers vs Wilson Galloway. Property described in said mortgage fi fa. J. K. Branan, Deputy Sheriff.

Adminstrator's Sale - Agreeable to an order of the Court of Ordinary of Wilkinson county, will be sold, before the Court-house door, in the town of Irwinton, Wilkinson county, on the first Tuesday in December next, within the legal hours of sale, the following property, to-wit: 75 acres of land, more or less, being the place whereon Nicy Anderson resided at the time of her death, in the 4th district of said county, adjoining lands of Peter Youngblood, estate of S. J. Stubbs and B. B. Shepherd's estate. Sold as the property of said Nicy Anderson, deceased, for the purpose of distribution among the heirs at law of said deceased. Terms cash. Thomas D. Etheridge, Administrator.

Adminstrator's Sale - Agreeable to an order of the Court of Ordinary of Wilkinson county, will be sold, before the Court-house door, in the town of Irwinton, Wilkinson county, on the first Tuesday in December next, within the legal hours of sale, the following property, to-wit: 392 acres of land, more or less, being lot No. 72 and part of lot No. 73, in the 4th district of said county, being the place whereon Jacob Shepherd resided at the time of his death. Sold as the property of said Jacob Shepherd, deceased, for the purpose of distribution among the heirs at law of said deceased. Terms cash. John I. Shepherd, Administrator.
 

December 2, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
~extract
Whereas, Mary W. Holder, of said county, has applied for letters of administration on the estate of George W. Holder, late of said county, deceased. W. F. Cannon, Ordinary.

 December 3, 1873
Southern Christian Advocate
Martha Emma Cates was born Sept. 22d, 1847; married to Jno. D. Outlaw, Feb. 1873, died Nov. 14th 1873, in Wilkinson county, Ga.

December 16, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
~excerpt
Whereas, Thomas Hooks has applied to me for letters of administration on the estate of Charles Hooks, late of said county, deceased. nov 22 30d W. F. Cannon, Ordinary

December 16, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Wilkinson Sheriff Sales. Will be sold, before the Court-house door, in the town of Irwinton, in said county, on the first Tuesday in January next, during the legal hours of sale, the following property to-wit:
   Lots of land Nos. 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 156, 190, and 17 acres of Lot No. 163 and 15 acres of a lot the number of which is unknown, all lying in the 26th district of said county of Wilkinson, and all lying in a body, and being the lands and premises on which Wesley King now lives, containing 1,450 acres, more or less, on which are valuable improvements, such as dwelling house, gin-house, screw and out houses. Levied on as the property of  Wesley King, to satisfy one fi fa in favor of Lucinda H. Wright, against Wesley king, issued from the Superior Court of said county. Terms cash.
    Also, at the same time and place, part of lot of land No. 58, in the 4th district of said county, containing 180 acres, now in possession of defendant, adjoining lands of Ellis Harvell, Mrs. Cuzza A. Hall and others. Levied on as the property of Love Herndon to satisfy one fi fas issued from the Superior Court of said county in favor of Green B. Burney against Love Herndon. Property pointed out by the defendant, Love Herndon. Terms cash.
  Also, at the same time and place, 35 acres of land, more or less, of lot No. 80, in the 5th district of said county, it lying on the Gordon and Milledgeville railroad, adjoining lands of Daniel Brewer, Sr., and George McCook and others. Sold as the property of J. K. Paterson (Patterson) to satisfy a tax fi fa against the said Paterson for his tax of 1872. Levy made and returned to me by a constable. Property pointed out by defendant.
  Also, at the same time and place, 25 acres of land, more or less, being part of lot No. 92, in the 4th district of said county. Levied on as the property of James L. Branan to satisfy a tax fi fa against said Branan for his tax for the year 1872. Levy made and returned to me by constable. Property pointed out by defendant.
  Also, at the same time and place, 128 acres of land, number unknown, it being the place whereon Jeremiah Dixon now lives, in the 26th district of said county, adjoining lands of I. J. Fountain, G. H. Hatfield and others. Levied on as the property of Jeremiah Dixon to satisfy one County Court fi fa in favor of J. Bloodworth vs Jeremiah Dixon. Legal notice served on defendant of levy.
  Also, at the same time and place, one house and lot in the town of Gordon, in said county, now in possession of James T. Kirkpatrick, containing one acre, more or less. Levied on as the property of John S. Stephens to satisfy a fi fa issued from the Superior Court of Baldwin county, in favor of M. Sanders vs John Roberts and John Stephens. Legal notice served on James T. Kirpatrick, in possession. Terms Cash

December 16, 1873
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Wilkinson County Sheriff's Sale. Will be sold, before the Court-house door in the town of Irwinton, in said county, on the first Tuesday in January next, between the usual hours of sale, the following described land, to-wit:
     Two hundred and two and oneself acres of land, more or less, as the property of Julius W. Evans, (number not known( adjoining land of  J.T. Parker, Stephens and others, and the place where Julius W. Evans now lives, in the 3d district of said county. Sold as the property of said Julius W. Evans to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa in favor of E. Cumming and John M. Garrett, administrators, vs. Julius W. Evans and A. J. Kingery, security.
  Purchasers to pay for titles. J. K. Brannan, Deputy Sheriff.

Wilkinson County Sheriff's Sale. Will be sold before the Court-house door, in the town of Irwinton, in said county, on the first Tuesday in january next, within the legal hours of sale, the following property, to-wit:
  Two hundred acres of land, more or less. Sold as the property of Julius W. Evans, of said county, lying on the Oconee river, adjoining lands of J. T. Parker, Dr. Wm. Taylor and others, to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa issued from said court, in favor of James C. Bower vs Julius W. Evans. Property pointed out by defendant. Legal notice served on defendant of said levy.
  Also, at the time and place, 6 oxen, 40 head of cattle, 65 head of hogs, 1 carriage, 2 six-horse wagons, 1 two-horse wagons and 2 ox-carts. Sold as the property of M. J. Carswell to satisfy one fi fa issued from the Superior Court of said county, in favor of Peyton Clay vs Mathew J. Carswell. All of said property is now on the plantation known in said county as M. J. Carswell's old plantation, at which place the same will be delivered to purchasers.
  Also, at the same time and place, 202½ acres of land, more or less, being lot No. 216 in the 3d district of said county, which land is now in the control of M. J. Shepherd. Sold as the property of the estate of W. Garrett to satisfy one fi fa issued from the Superior Court of said county, in favor of Sarah Russel vs. E. Cumming and John M. Garrett, administrator of Wm. Garrett, deceased, and one fi fa issued from the County Court of said county in favor of Wm. C.Parker vs E. Cumming and John M. Garrett, administrators of Wm. Garrett, deceased.
  Also, at the same time and place, will be sold 202½ acres of land, more or less, in said county, being lot No. 135, in the 5th district. Sold as the property of Peter Roach to satisfy one fi fa issued from the County Court of said county, in favor of
J. C. Shepherd vs Peter Roach. Property pointed out by defendant. Legal notice served on defendant. John T. Smith, Deputy Sheriff.

Georgia, Wilkinson County - On the first Monday in January next I will apply to the Court of Ordinary of said county for leave to sell all the lands belonging to the estate ofW. A. Stuckey, late of said county, deceased. Nelson Stuckey, Administrator.

Administrators Sale  - Agreeable to an order of the Court of Ordinary of Wilkinson county, will be sold, before the Court-house door, in the town of Irwinton, Wilkinson county, on the first Tuesday in January next, within the legal hours of sale, the following property, to-wit: 190 acres of land, number not known, but known as the Pearson place, in the 4th district of said county, adjoining lands of Mrs. Hicks, Paton Clay and others. Sold as the property of Jonathan Pearson, late of said county, deceased, for distribution among the heirs of said deceased. Terms cash. Jonah G. Pearson Administrator de bonis non.
Wilkinson Sheriff Sale - Will be sold before the Court-house door in the town of Irwinton, in said county, on the first Tuesday in January next, within the legal hours of sale the following property, to-wit
  One lot of land, No. 252, in the fourth district of said county, containing two hundred two and half acres, adjoining lands of Joseph T. Jones, the Jessop mill tract and others. Levied on as the property of John Council, to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa in favor of John I. Shepherd vs Jesse Millirons and John Council. Property pointed ut by defendant, John Council. T. M. Freeman, Sheriff.


1874

January 6, 1874
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Wilkinson County Sheriff Sale
  Will be sold before the Court-house door, in the town of Irwinton, in said county, on the first Tuesday in March next, within the legal hours of sale, the following land as the property of Eli Fraseur, to-wit:
  One hundred and forty-five acres of land, more or less, lying in the 27th district of said county, being parts of lots Nos. 99 and 200, lying south of the road leading from the Gordon Spring branch, extending to Dr. E. J. Massey a line of land southeast, and adjoining lands of the Archy Smith place and D Solomon on the east. Also, ten acres more or less, lying in said county, near the creek on the road leading from Gordon to Dr. E. J. Massey's, adjoining Dr. Massey on the south. Levied on as the property of Eli Fraseur to satisfy a mortgage fi fa issued by the Superior Court of said county in favor of Charles H. Rogers, survivor of the late firm of George T. Rogers & Son vs Eli Fraseur. Property pointed out in mortgage fi fa, and property in possession of defendant, Eli Fraseur. Terms cash. J. K. Branan, Deputy Sheriff. dec28

January 13, 1874
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
WILKINSON COUNTY SHERIFF SALE. Will be dold before the Court-house door in the town of Irwinton, in said county, on the first Tuesday in February next, the following property  to-wit:
  Two timber carts, three stave carts and harness, and a lot of axes, wedges, etc. Levied on as the property of C. B. Warrand and J. R. Lasseter to satisfy a laborer's lien in favor of Mills J. Lord vs. C. B. Warrand and J. R. Lasseter. T. M. FREEMAN, Sheriff. dec 28.

January 13, 1874
Atlanta Constitution
  Married, at the residence of the bride's father, Col. J. D. Harris on the 1st instant, Mr. Perry Smith, of Wilkinson county, to Miss Jenny Harris of Perry.

January 21, 1874
Southern Christian Advocate
In Sumpter county, Ga., Jan. 13th, 1874, by Rev. Geo. C. Thompson, Mr. J. W. Bower, of Irwinton, Ga., to Miss Maggie Kitchens, of Sumpter county, Ga.

January 27, 1874
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Wilkinson Sheriff Sales - Will be sold before the Court-house door in the town of Irwinton, in said county, on the first Tuesday in February next, within the legal hours of sale, the following property, to-wit:
  Lot of land No 259, lying in the 329th district G.M., of said county, containing 202½ acres, more or less. Levied on as the property of R. B. Hardeman to satisfy a tax fi fa against said R. B. Hardeman for his tax for the year 1873.
  Also, at the same time and place, lot of land No. 143, in the 4th district of said county, containing 202½ acres, more or less. Sold as the property of J. T. Smith to satisfy a tax fi fa against J. T. Smith for his tax for the year 1873.
  Also, at the same time and place, 127 acres of land, more or less, being part of lot No. 207, lying in the 23d district of said county. Levied on as the property of John Burk to satisfy a tax fi fa against John Burk for his tax for the year 1873.
  Also, at the same time and place, 150 acres of land, more or less, being part of lot No. 154, lying in the 4th district of said county. Sold to satisfy a tax fi fa against J. T. Smith, administrator of E. Cumming, for his tax for the year 1873.
  Also, at the same time and place, lot of land No. 364, lying in the 23d district of said county, containing 202½ acres, more or less. Sold as the property of F. Wimberly to satisfy a tax fi fa against F. Wimberly for his tax for the year 1873.
  Also, at the same time and place, lot of land No. 149, lying in the 23d district of said county, containing 202½ acres, more or less. Sold as the property of W. P. Phillips to satisfy a tax fi fa against said Williams for his tax for the year 1873.
  Also, at the same time and place, 100 acres of land off of lot No. 144, lying in the 23d district of  said county. Sold as the property of A. M. White, agent forElla McNair, for her tax for the year 1873.
  Also, at the same time and place, 70 acres of land, more or less, being part of lot No. 178, lying in the 328th district, G. M. Sold as the property of Nicey Anderson to satisfy a tax fi fa for her tax for the year 1873.
  Also, at the same time and place, lot of land No. 100, lying in the 2d district of said county, containing 202½ acre more or less. Sold to satisfy a tax fi fa against W. F. Canon, agent forMrs. M.N. Butler, for her tax for the year 1873.
  Also, at the same time and place, 177 acres of land, more or less, of lot number not known, lying in the 4th district of said county. Sold as the property ofJ. L. Branan to satisfy a tax fi fa against J. L. Branan, and one tax fi fa against J. L. Branan, agent for wife, and one tax fi fa against  J. L. Branan, administrator of J. H. Jones, for their tax for the year 1873. Levies made and returned to me by John T. Hughes, constable. Terms cash.
  Also, at the same time and plae, 150 bushels of corn, more or less. Levied on as the property of V. W. Tharp to satisfy a mortgage lien fi fa issued from the Superior Court of said county in favor of Cleghorn, Herring & Co. vs V. E. Tharp. Said property is nailed up on the premises of V. W. Tharp, at which place the same will be delivered to purchaser. Terms cash. J. K. Branan, Deputy Sheriff .

February 2, 1874
Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel
A Narrow Escape. - The "balloon man," of Wootten & Andrews Managerie, came very near losing his life at Toombsboro. As the balloon was ascending, the "machine" took fire and when up in the air some distance split and fell. In descending it struck a top of a tall chimney, the man falling upon the roof of a two story building and thence to the ground. How he escaped with whole bones, or even with his life, is remarkable.

February 17, 1874
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
ADMINISTRATOR'S SALE - I will sell, before the Court-house door, in the town of Irwinton, in Wilkinson county, on the first Tuesday in April next, within the usual hours of sale the following described property, to wit:
  Lot of land No. 287, in the 2d district of originally Wilkinson, now Laurens county, containing 202½ acres, more or less; also, fractional lot No. 294, in the 2d district of originally Wilkinson, now Laurens county, containing 147 acres, more or less, adjoining lands of J. M., B. Hall, Lewis Metts and others; also, Lot No. 241 in the 2d district of Wilkinson county, containing 202½ acres, more or less, adjoining lands of Mrs. Kettles and the lands of Joel Deese, deceased. Sold as the property of Joel Deese, deceased, under an order of the Court of Ordinary of said county, of Wilkinson for the benefit of creditors. Terms cash.
Thomas W. Freeman
J. B. Duggan
Administrators Joel Deese, deceased.

February 17, 1874
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Wilkinson County Sheriff Sale
   Will be sold, before the Court-house door, in the town of Irwinton, in said county, on the first Tuesday in March next, within the legal hours of sale, the following property to-wit:
  Part of lot of land No. 48, in the  4th district of said county, of Wilkinson, containing 180 acres, more or less, now in possession of Love Herndon, adjoining lands of Mrs. Cuzza A. Hall, Ellis Harvill and others. Levied on as the property of Love Herndon to satisfy one fi fa issued from the Superior Court of said county, in favor of Green B. Burney, against Love Herndon. Property pointed out by defendant. Terms cash.
J. K Branan, Deputy Sheriff

February 17, 1874
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Wilkinson County Sheriff Sales
   Will be sold before the Court-house door, in the town of Irwinton, in said county, on the first Tuesday in March next, within the usual hours of sale, the following described property to-wit:
   Twenty-five acres of land of Lot No. 192 (district 4), in the corner of said lot, adjoining Mrs. S. J. Stubbs and W. C. Parker, being the lot on which Malinda Smith now lives. Levied on as the property of Malinda Smith to satisfy a fi favor of G. H. C. Reed vs Malinda Smith, and James Jackson, trustee.
   Also, at the same time and place, one house and lot in the town of Irwinton, known as the Fleetwood Hotel, now kept by S. W. Hatfield. Levied on to satisfy one fi fa in favor of Wm. C. Parker vs. Martin Easom, Jasper N. Wall and Leroy Fleetwood, securities. Levied on as the property of Leroy Fleetwood.
   Also, at the same time and place, 56 ¾ acres of land, adjoining E. J. Holland and Peyton Clay. Levied on as the property of Mills J. Lord  to satisfy one Justice Court fi fa in favor of E. W. Clay vs Mills J. Lord. Levy made and returned to me by a constable.
   Terms of sale cash. Purchasers to pay for deeds, etc. J. T. Smith, Deputy Sheriff

February 17, 1874
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Wilkinson County Sheriff Sales
Will be sold before the Court-house door, in the town of Irwinton, in said county, on the first Tuesday in March next, during the lawful hours of sale, the following described property to wit:
  One house and lot in the town of Irwinton, known as the lot where M.V.B. Eason now lives, adjoining the lot of the estate of J. A. Simmons, M. E. Fisher and the academy lands, containing two acres, more or less. Levied on as the property of M.V. B. Eason to satisfy a Superior Court fi fa in favor of W. C. Parker vs Martin V. B. Eason, principal, Jasper N. Wall and Leroy Fleetwood, securities.
  Also at the same time and place, one vacant lot in the town of Irwinton, in said county, adjoining the lots of Morse Paulk, Haroll, et al, and lying immediately in front of the dwelling of J. W. Lindsay, containing two acres, more or less. Levied on as the property of the estate of Green B. Burney to satisfy the cost due upon a fi fa issued from the Superior Court of said county, in favor of W. C. Parker vs M. E. Boatwright and John F. Burney, and Guilford E. Burney, executors of G. B. Burney.
   Also at the same time and place, 76 acres of land, more or less, No. not known, but containing and being the lands heretofore known as the Lee old mill tract, lying on Black creek, now owned by Lawson Creswell. Levied on to satisfy fourteen Justice Court fi fas issued from the justice Court of the 328 district, G.M., of said county, in favor of W. C. Parker vs Lawson Creswell and Leroy Fleetwood, security. Levy made and returned to me by constable.
Terms of sale cash-purchasers to pay for deeds.
J. T.  Smith, Deputy Sheriff

March 10, 1874
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Wilkinson County Sheriff Sales
Will be sold before the Courthouse door in Irwinton, in said county, on the first Tuesday in April next, within the legal hours of sale, the following property, to-wit:
  Part of lot of land No. 58, lying in the 4th district of said county of Wilkinson, containing 180 acres, more or less, now in possession of defendant, Love Herndon, adjoining lands of Mrs. Cuzza A. Hall, Ellis Harvill, and others. Levied on as the property of Love Herndon, to satisfy one fi. fa. issued from the Superior Court of said county, in favor of Green B. Burney against Love Herndon. Property pointed out by defendant.
  Also, at the same time and place, will be sold, 202½ acres, more or less, of lot No. 200, 21 acres more or less, of lot No. 190, 50 acres of land reserved wherever John R. Rains may select; said land lying in the 4th district of said county, adjoining lands of A. A. Pennington and others. Sold to satisfy a fi. fa. issued from the Superior Court of said county of Wilkinson, in favor of Bryant O. Banon (sic) vs. J. F. Branan, J. T. Branan and John R. Rains; said land is now in possession ofJohn R. Rains. Property pointed out by plaintiff.
  Also, at the same time and place, will be sold, 202½ acres of land, lot No. 70, 6½ acres of lot No. 144, 65 acres of lot No. 143, 173 acres of lots Nos 45 and 45, 120 acres of lot No. 67, 207 acres of lots Nos. 72 and 73, lying in the 3d district of said county, and 175 acres of lot No. 45 in the 4th district of said county, adjoining lands of Rufus Carswell and others. Sold as the property of John Smith, to satisfy a fi. fa. issued from the Superior Court of said county in favor of Lightfoot & Flanders vs. John Smith. Property pointed out by plaintiff's attorney.
     Also, at same time and place, will be sold, 35 acres of land, more or less, number not known, lying in the 5th district of Wilkinson county, lying near the Milledgeville and Gordon railroad, adjoining lands of D. Brewer, Sr. and George McCook and others, to satisfy a fi. fa. issued from the Superior Court of said county in favor of Thomas Johnson vs. J. K. Patterson. Terms cash. J. K. Branan, Deputy Sheriff

March 10, 1874
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Wilkinson County Sheriff Sales. Will be sold, before the Court-house door, in the town of Irwinton, in said county, on the first Tuesday in April next, between the usual hours of sale, the following described property to-wit:
  Three yokes of oxen, one two-horse wagon, two six-horse wagons, two ox-carts and one carriage Levied on as the property ofM. J. Carswell to satisfy a fi fa issued from the Superior Court of said county in favor of Peyton Clay vs M. J. Carswell.
  Also, at the same time and place, will be sold what is known as the Burney old carriage shop, situate in the town of Irwinton, containing two acres, more or less, adjoining lots of Lasseter, Mrs. Reed, et al. Levied on as the property of G. B. Burney to satisfy the balance due on a fi fa issued from the Superior Court of said county in favor of Wm. C. Parker vs M. E. Boatright, John F. Burney and Guilford E. Burney, executors of Green B. Burney, deceased.
  Also, at the same time and place, one dark bay horse. Levied on as the property of A. C. Hooks to satisfy one Superior Court fi fa in favor of John F. Burney vs A. C. Hooks. Terms of sale cash. Purchasers to pay for deeds. JOHN T. SMITH, Deputy Sheriff. mar6

March 10, 1874
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
~excerpt
Georgia, Wilkinson County. Whereas, Braswell Wynn has made application to me for letters of administration on the estate of N. J. L. Kittels, late of said county, deceased.
  2d day of March 1874, W. F. Cannon, Ord'y

March 10, 1874
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
~excerpt
Georgia, Wilkinson County.  Whereas, George W. Bishop has made application for me for letters of administration on the estate of Thomas S. McCarty, late of said county deceased.
   this 2d day of March, 1874. W. F. Cannon, Ordinary. mar5

March 12, 1874
Chronicle and Sentinel
 Rev. Mr. Car (Carr) of Wilkinson county, while endeavoring to prevent a young mule from running away last week, had his thumb pulled off at the first joint, carrying away the sinews as far up as the elbow.

March 13, 1874
Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel
Closing Out Hughes and Vickers
Two or three of additional sales of the plantations of Hughes and Vickers have been made since the last report. A Wilkinson County place belonging to A.E. Vickers, and which cost him $20,000 before the war was knocked down to $4,299. A plantation in Laurens containing  1,500 acres brought only $1,200. Not much more of the estate remains to be disposed of by the receiver. When all is wound up the debts remaining to be paid will foot up at least $140,000. Selah! Check!

March 17, 1874
Macon Telegraph & Messenger
 The Irwington Southerner says the farmers of Wilkinson county have sown a larger area of land in wheat, oats and rye this year than any year since the war, and the
prospect for an abundant yield is promising.
  The same paper says that "botanic wonder, the bonnet gourd or dish-rag plant" has been grown for years in that county. Miss Rebecca Hughes the accomplished
daughter of Mr. N. C. Hughes, obtained in 1873 a premium at the Washington county fair for a bonnet made from the pulp of one of them, grown by her father. The
outside shell resembles in appearance raw hide and is easily indented, while the inside has the properties of a sponge. They attain a length of eighteen inches and a
diameter of two or three, and if not obstructed grow perfectly straight.
  Mr. JAMES SPEARS, of Wilkinson county, caught eighteen foxes and thirty wild cats last fall. In 1873 Mr. John Dixon of the same county, caught 69 grey foxes.

April 29, 1874
Southern Christian Advocate
Newton Bullock of Wilkinson county, Ga., died at the house of Jasper Bullock, Bibb county, Ga., on 13th of April 1874 in the 47th year. His Brother

 May 27, 1874
Southern Christian Advocate
Married. May 6th, 1874, by Rev. W. S. Baker, Rev. J. J. Methvin, of Cleveland, to Miss E. L. Beall, of Irwinton, Ga.

June 2, 1874
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
       The Sandersville Herald and Georgian says that Lt.-Gov. Hyman, of Nevada, was in that place last Tuesday. He lived and did business in that place twenty-five years ago, whence he went to California. The Rev. J. J. Hyman, of Sandersville and the Messrs. Hyman, of Toomsboro, are his brothers.
Submitted by R. Elizabeth Brewer

June 3, 1874
Southern Christian Advocate
Died. At Gordon, Wilkinson county, Ga., May 12th 1874, Minnie Georgia, daughter of J. F. and Sarah A. Stevens, aged on year, one month and fifteen days.

June 9, 1874
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
DEASON'S HOTEL, TOOMBSBORO, GA. The travelling public will be entertained with comfortable rooms and the best fare that the market affords. Porters will be in attendance upon the arrivals of all trains. In connection with the Hotel will be found a Livery Stable, From which hacks will run to Dublin on Tuesday and Fridays, leaving at 7 A.M. and returning at 4½ P.M. the following days. The patronage of the public is respectfully solicited. W. A. DEASON.

July 7, 1874
Macon Weekly Telegraph
~extract~ Georgia, Wilkinson County - Whereas, Daniel Burke, administrator on the estate of Joel Burke, late of said county, has made application for letters of dismission from said administration.
30th day of June, 1874. W. F. Cannon, Ordinary

July 7, 1874
Macon Weekly Telegraph
Georgia, Wilkinson County - By W. F. Cannon, Ordinary. Whereas, D. J. Ryle has applied for exemption of personalty, and the setting apart and valuation of homestead, and I will pass upon the same at my office, in Irwinton, on 6th day of July next by 10 o'clock, A.M. W. F. Cannon, Ordinary. June 26

 July 15, 1874
Southern Christian Advocate
William Pace was born September 28, 1788 in Kershaw district, S. C., and died at Gordon, Ga., June 9, 1874. When yet a boy, his father's family moved to Georgia. He returned to Charleston, S. C., to receive his education. C. W. Smith

July 14, 1874
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Georgia, Wilkinson County. Thirty days after date application will be made to the Ordinary of said county for leave to sell the real estate in said county belonging to the estate of T. A. Simmons, deceased. D. C. Simmons, Administratrix. Jun 20.

July 28, 1874
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
~extract
Mrs. Mary M. Reed, administratrix on the estate of G.H.C. Reed, late of said county, deceased has made application for letters of dismission from said administration.
30th day of June, 1874

July 29, 1874
Union and Recorder
  ~excerpt~ Died on Monday night, July 20th, 1874, very suddenly at her residence in Wilkinson county, Georgia, Mrs. LEAH CANNON, aged sixty-four years, four months and twenty days. The deceased leaves three sons and six daughter and a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn her death.

November 27, 1874
Cuthbert Appeal
DIED, At his residence in Quitman county, Ga., on the night of the 21st last, of old age and a complication of diseases Mr. JAS. A. P. METHVIN, who at the time of his death was sixty-eight years, ten months and twenty-one days old. Deceased was born in Wilkinson county, Ga., on the second day of January, 1806, and lived there until December, 1846, when he removed with his family to Randolp county, where he resided till the time of his death. Mr. METHVIN married the daughter of Daniel Burk and began life in poverty, but by indomitable energy and frugality, acquired a handsome competence. He was an honest, upright and intelligent gentleman, a valuable citizen, an affectionate father and husband, and beloved by all who knew him, and such a man as any county can ill afford to lose; yet such are the inscrutable always of an all-wise providence. Deceased was a member of the Baptist Church for the last thirty five years of his live. Peace to his ashes.

October 28, 1874
Union and Recorder
Married. At the residence of the brides father in Wilkinson county, the 22 inst, by the Rev. Jas. M. Hall, Mr. Jas. A. Easy and MissE. F. Blood worth all of the former county.

December 15, 1874
The Georgia Weekly Telegraph and Journal & Messenger
We find these items in the Wilkinson  Appeal:
LOST.- Mrs. Barrow, an aged lady from Indian Spring, arrived last Thursday, on her way to visit her sister, Mrs. John Thomas, of Lauren's county. Judge Cannon and Mr. T. D. Smith forwarded her to Stephensville on the edge of Wilkinson and Lauren's counties, where she became the guests of Mr. O. H. P. Rails, until preparations could be made to forward her to her destination. She showed at the supper table unmistakable signs of derangement, which increased to such a degree that she fled from the house after supper into the swamp of Big Sandy creek, without bonnet or shawl. Ineffectual pursuit was made, which continued the entire night and next day. She, however, managed to elude her pursuers, and fears were entertained that she had destroyed her life. Her brother-in-law, Mr. Thomas, aided by the people in the vicinity, scoured the swamp and the adjacent country in search of her, and hopeless and dejected they had given up the search, when Saturday afternoon she emerged from the swamp and going to the residence of Mr. Robert Fordham, asked for a potato, which was given her, when she again fled but was overtaken and captured, offering a stout resistance, and carried to the residence of her sister, where she was quietly domiciled at last accounts.

December 23/30, 1874
Southern Christian Advocate
Married
In Irwinton, Ga., Nov. 26, 1874, by Rev. A. M. Williams, Mr. W. S. Van Landingham to Miss Fannie Rutland.


1875

February 2, 1875
Union and Recorder
CAUGHT AT LAST - Mr. John L. Johnson, formerly of this city, now of Savannah, was married in Irwinton on the evening of the 28th ult., to Miss Joe Fisher. Our friend and his bride have our most sincere good wishes - may a full measure of happiness be theirs. We learn they are at present on a bridal tour to Florida.

February 3, 1875
Southern Christian Advocate
Miss Nancy J. Ross, daughter of Rev. John Ross, died near Gordon, Wilkinson county, Ga., December 19th 1874, in her fifteenth year.

February 16, 1875
Macon Weekly Telegraph
  The Irwinton Southener says officers " Pool and Peacock executed a writ of ejectment on Mrs. John D. Bostick, of this county, on Wednesday last, removing his wife and furniture from a house belonging to the estate of the late Joel Deese. The writ was issued sometime ago at the instance of the administrators of Joel Deese, and several attempts had been previously made to execute it, but owing to the stubborn resistance of the parties the officers had retired before the indignant remonstrances of the lady. Officers Pool and Peacock carried the good and chattels from the house to the road, after which, the lady refusing to go, they picked up the chair in which she was sitting, and place it by the side of her household goods."
  The same paper says the lien law has done the farmers more harm than any ever placed upon the statute book, and in Wilkinson county many of that class have been so completely ruined by it that they have abandoned their farms and are trying to earn a living at some other occupation.

March 17, 1875
Southern Christian Advocate
William R. Stevens, my brother, was born near Jeffersonville, Twiggs county, Ga., July 16th 1853, and died at Gordon, Ga., January 29th 1875. J. F. Stevens

March 21, 1875
Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel
TERRIFIC CYCLONE
Monday, March 15 witnessed a fearful tornado that swept portions of Jefferson, Johnson, Laurens, Bibb, Twiggs and Wilkinson counties, leaving a scene of rain along its tract.........
     The cyclone also appeared along the line of Laurens and Wilkinson counties. The gin house and store of Nelson Stucky was completely demolished; the barn of Jackson Cook was blown over; the roof of the dwelling of Wm. Crumley was carried away. All ___ around the place of Mr. Jas. Slaughter and others were blown away and scattered in every direction. Trees were torn up, and the destruction was great for many miles. ..........

April 2, 1875
The Atlanta Constitution
  Irwinton  - Mr. Ethel Ogburn, of Wilkinson county, 70 years of age, was ejected by a United States marshal, and his goods thrown into the road. The land was sold by the marshal, and Ogburn refused to give possession.  --The prisoners open the jail for the grand  jury to inspect it. --About four miles from this town, in a southwestern direction, the skeletons of two human beings were found some time since, in a situation and a position, which convinced all who viewed the bones, that they were the victims of vengeance of Judge Lynch. They were found some distance from the road on a small stream of water, in a thicket, and one of them when found had a rope around his neck, and was lying under a tree, which was probably used for a gallows. The other one was probably shot. Persons who have examined these skeletons are of the opinion that they are the mortal remains of two negroes, who four or five years ago committed an assault upon a widow and her daughters by the name of Kemp, living near there, inflicting injuries upon one of them from which she has never recovered. He struck her on the head with a stick which so injured the nervous system that she now frequently has fits. These negroes were arrested by and officer, and on their way to jail were intercepted near this place by unknown parties, and the negroes taken from him. Since that day nothing has  been heard of them, and the finding of these bones probably explains the mystery that has enshrouded their fate. -Southerner.

April 2, 1875
Savannah Morning News
   Irwinton "Southerner" We lean that about four miles from this town, in a southwestern direction, the skeletons of two human beings were found some time since, in a situation, and in a position, which has convinced all who have viewed the bones that they were the  victims of the vengeance of Judge Lynch. They were found some distance from the road on a small stream of water, in a thicket and one of them, when found, had a rope around its neck, and was lying under a tree, which was probably used for a gallows. The other one was probably shot. Persons who have examined these skeletons are of the opinion that they are the mortal remains of two negroes, who four or five years ago committed and assault upon a widow and her daughter by the name of Kenny, living near there, inflicting injuries upon one of them from which she has never recovered. He struck her a severe blow on the head with a stick, which so injured the nervous system that she now frequently has fits. These negroes were arrested by an officer, and on their way to jail were intercepted near this place by unknown parties, and the negroes taken from him. Since that day nothing has been heard of them, and the finding of these bones probably explains the mystery that has enshrouded their fate. Crimes like this, in a country where our families are frequently exposed to the brutility of the negro, have, it is well known, subjected the perpetrators to the swift and sure vengeance of the exasperated people, and while we are opposed to the mob law, we must say that under some circumstances it is excusaable.     

April 6, 1875
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
ACCIDENT AND CURE - The Wilkinson Appeal prints the following, under that head:
  Mr. W. J. Wood, of this county, informs us that on Thursday, the 25th of March, while his little son Benjamin, only six years old, was in the field, where Mr. Wood's other children were burning logs, he accidentally fell into a burning heap of logs, and was terribly burned. All of the left side of his head was burned, his right hand and arm and both of his feet were burned and blistered, and his left hand and arm were so badly burned that they seemed almost cooked to the bone. Mr. Woods says it was the worst case of burning he ever saw, and it seems wonderful that the child escaped alive. Its suffering was so great that it came near producing spasms before any relief could be afforded. What is most remarkable, however, is the successful treatment and cure of the child so terribly burned. Mrs. Woods says that he took one handful of green wheat, a handful elder bark, one tea cup full of lard, and about three cups full of water, and boiled all together down to about one cup full when strained. He then strained the mixture carefully, and added to it one tablespoon of mustard _uiment. The mixture thus prepared was applied to the burns, and, strange to say, the child was considerably relieved by it in five or six minutes. The child, he says, was burned on the 25th ult., and that on the 27th, two days afterwards, it was running about at play with the other children, apparently suffering very little inconvenience from the burns. This was certainly a very remarkable cure, and deserves to be carefully remembered.

April 9, 1875
Atlanta Constitution
Married in Georgia. W. H. Hatcher to Mrs. Sallie Parker, of Wilkinson county.

April 14, 1875
Union and Recorder
W. F. Brantly, of Gordon, died suddenly the other day.

April 18, 1875
Atlanta Constitution
Irwinton - The kitchen of Mr. William Pool partially destroyed by fire- Appeal

April 27, 1875
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
The Southerner also tells this story:
  A few days ago a couple of young men desired to make a visit to that classical spot known as Bloodworth's Courtground. One of them borrowed from a doctor a double buggy and harness, and the other furnished a couple of  mules to draw it. The visit was made, and although generally correct and sober, they met so many old friends and took so many drinks with them that twilight found them jovially proceeding home with a bottle of Pike's Magnolia. Nothing occurred to mar the festivity of the occasion until they approached a house where the owner of the mules desired to make a call. The borrower of the buggy objected, and a fierce war of words commenced, which ended by the mule owner taking one of the animals from the vehicle and leaving. His friend remained in the buggy, and waited, Micawber-like, for something to turn up, being determined to carry the buggy home. Finally a gentleman mounted on a mule came up, and learning the condition of affairs cheerfully agreed to harness his animal in the place of the missing one and proceed on the journey. A few miles were rapidly and agreeably accomplished by them, when they were overtaken by the owner of the mules who demanded the other mule. This was resisted by the borrower of the buggy and in the fight which occurred the mule owner came off victorious, captured the mule, and left, leaving the buggy a second time with only one animal. The borrower of the buggy swore that the buggy should arrive at home at the appointed time, and he took the place of the missing mule and triumphantly carried the buggy home. The gentleman who handled the ribbons is something of a horse-jockey, and says he has some as fine points about him as any jackass he ever saw, and with the exception of an occasional profane imitation of the animal which Balaam rode, was a better buggy nag than the quadruped by his side.

May 24, 1875
Macon Weekly Telegraph
   The Irwinton Southerner says the"Bethel ghost" is still on the rampage in that county. The last scare was of a married man who "says the thing was as large as an ox and as long as a fence. In his efforts to escape from the monster he knocked down three panels of fence, destroyed a thrifty plum orchard, and reached home badly bruised, prayed a long and fervent prayer, and spoke not again in three days."

June 1, 1875
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
  The cat fish crop of the Oconee river this year is very fine. The Irwinton Southerner speaks of a blue cat caught in that stream that measured forty inches in length, was seven inches between the eyes and weighted thirty-five pounds. It also says nine cat fish aggregating 120 pounds were taken last week in a basket at one haul.

June 1, 1875
Macon Weekly Telegraph
STORM AT IRWINTON - HOUSE STRUCK BY LIGHTENING
  We learn from Mr. C. E. Carnes, of he Irwinton Southerner, that a severe storm of wind and rain passed over that place on Monday afternoon, during which the chimney of Professor J. R. Glenn, of Talmage Institute, was struck by lightning. The electric fluid passed from the chimney to the comb of the house, and ran down a post between the wall and the weatherboarding, tearing off planks and covering a cradle and a child lying in it, about three  feet from the wall, with boards and splinters, and knocking down Mrs. Glenn, who was in an adjoining room. The child was also severely shocked.

June 8, 1875
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
   Miss Annie Hall, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Hall, young, beautiful and accomplished, died of typhoid fever at Irwinton, on the 30th of May. The above we glean from the Southerner.

June 15, 1875
Augusta Chronicle
STARTLING TRADEDY
A Highly Respected Citizen of Wilkinson County Killed by His Son-in-Law.
[Toomsboro Appeal, June 11.]
  The sad news reached us from a reliable source yesterday morning of the deplorable death of Mr. John H. Freeman, a peaceable, prosperous and highly respected citizen, who resides about six miles from here, in this county. He is about fifty-five years of age, is a cousin and brother-in-law of ex-Sheriff T. M. Freeman, leaves a wife, five children and numerous relatives and friends to mourn his untimely death. Mr. H. H. Watkins, the son-in-law who shot the fatal balls, also enjoys the reputation of being a peaceable and respectable citizen.
  An old feud has existed between them for some time. Mr. Watkins and family for several years occupied a small farm belonging to the deceased, free of rent charge, and everything went on smoothly until recently. Watkins' wife, daughter of deceased, died a few months sice, and afterwards, it seems, from various causes, a feeling of animosity gradually engendered itself in the bosom of each against the other. A month or two ago deceased demanded possession of the aforesaid farm occupied by Watkins, but failed, for some reason, to institute legal proceedings to recover the same, and leaves Watkins still in possession, claiming under verbal contract of deceased. Only Wednesday (the afternon obefore the homicide of next morning) the writ of habeas corpus was issued by the Ordinary, at the instance of Watkins, for the recovery from the possession of deceased of his son E. Thomas Watkins, a child about three years old.
  Thursday morning early Bob Smith, another son-in-law of deceased, heard some one cry out as if in distress, and proceeding hastily to the spot, discovered the deceased lying on the ground pierce by three or four pistol balls, dead or in a dying condition, and a short way off Mr. Watkins running away on a mule. Only Mr. Watkins sister and son (four or five years old) were near the corpse. Mr. Watkins proceeded at once to a baliff, gave himself up, and requested the issuance of a warrant and a trial that he might be disposed of as the law directs.
  This is an exceedingly sad misfortune, and is rendered sadder when we consider the standing of the men and their family connection.

June 15, 1875
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
The Irwinton Masonic Lodge and the Irwinton Grange bought the old Courthouse last Tuesday for $500.
   The Irwinton Southerner publishes the following unique document.
  THANKS - A Few Dark and Gloomy Hours never to be Forgotten. - On the 9th of January I rose with a firm hope of a pleasant day's work. When Aurora mounted the horizon for the first time it shaded itself in the year of 1875, I started to work, but completing the job of cutting timber for 250 rails by half past 11 o'clock, I returned home and at once started to Toomsboro, with a firm hope of being at home by the time Aurora faded in the west. But being overpersuaded by comrades and friends, as I thought them, I staid until dark, and by taking too much of that poisonous drink I was insane part of my way home; and my horse ran against a tree in front of Ebenezer Church, and broke my left thigh, and I am due many thanks for the narrow escape and attention paid to me. First to my Maker, and then to parents and kind sisters, and especially to my mother, for I consider that I have been an infant for the second time on her hands. I tender my thanks to Dr. A. H. Cumming, of Irwinton for his promptness and tenderness towards me. I also render my thanks to Dr. J. B. Duggan, our able Representative for his advice the first night-the night long to be remembered and never forgotten by me. I really think I owe all my visitors many thanks, especially E. W. Smith, and many others whose names are too numerous to mention. And to J. S. Hilton of Toombsboro, I owe some thanks for his attention to me the night of remembrance, as I will call it, but not any for his bust head or rather (break leg). I also ask pardon of the officers and members of the U.F.T. for the past, and hope that they will _________ for I intend to walk the path of a man to the end of my row. Very Respectfully, J. L. Kemp

June 18, 1875
Atlanta Constitution
  Mr. Webster Paulk has carried the mail between Irwinton and No. 16 station for the past 11 years and has never missed the morning's mail train.
   Mr. Daniel Brewer, Jr., of Wilkinson county, has a pig eight months old weighing 40 lbs, that has six perfectly developed feet. His four legs branch and the extremities are ornamented with cleven hoofs.

Died in Georgia
   - Mrs John Smith, of Wilkinson county, aged 78

July 1, 1875
Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel
the Irwinton (Ga.) Southern relates the following parallel experience: "In the battle of Hatcher's Run, in 1864, Green Pittman, of Wilkinson county, received a wound in the face, the ball entering the upper portion of the nose on the left side. The wound was probed and dressed by an army surgeon, and finally healed up, and although the surgeon stated that the ball was still in the head, Mr. Pittman had almost forgotten it, never having experienced the least pain or inconvenience from it. In 1869, one Sunday morning in February, five years after receiving the wound, as Mr. Pittman was making his toilet to attend church, it fell out of his mouth. Mr. Pittman was combing his hair at the time, standing perfectly erect, and came near swallowing the ball after it fell into his mouth. Strange to say, no hemorrhage followed its exit nor was there any pain felt. The ball weight one ounce and two pennyweights. It is now in possession of Mr. Pittman, who was a gallant member of the Third Georgia Regiment during the war."

July 6, 1875
Atlanta Constitution
TOOMSBORO
_Jesse Metz (Metts) brought in a muskmelon weighing 28½ pounds.
_A Sabbath school mass meeting will be held at Antioch church on August 9. [Appeal.

July 27, 1875
Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel
Dr. R. J. Cochran of Irwinton, has resumed the practice of medicine.
The last number of the Wilkinson Appeal contains the salutatory of Rev. E. B. Barrett.
Jesse Mets of Wilkinson County raised a muskmelon this year 36 inches in circumference, 18 inches in length and weighing 28 1/2 pounds.
Deaths In Wilkinson County, 16th, Mrs. J. F. Lindsey

July 29, 1875
The Constitution
Died in Georgia. Rufus C. Bostick, of Irwinton, on the 11th.

IRWINTON
   Messrs. Andrew and John Porter killed last week seven alligators in a lake near Chapman's mill pond.
   Mr. I. N. Hall while seining in Big Sandy creek last week, run his arm into the mouth of an alligator about four feet long,  He with his other hand pushed him away before he had time to bit, and thus saved his arm.

August 5, 1875
The Constitution
IRWINTON
-Judge W. M. Whitehurst, of Gordon, exported to Liverpool last season, through the direct trade union, six bales of cotton which netted him 17 cents per pound.
-The Glenella threshing company threshed out 2,372½ bushels of wheat.
-Work has been commenced on the new jail.
-The horse of Allen Dixon stepped on a pole four feet long, which flew up and struck him in the flank inflicting a wound from which he bled to death in a few minutes. Southerner

August 17, 1875
Macon Weekly Telegraph
 Mr. Jeremiah Walker, the last survivor of the war of 1812 in Wilkinson county, died last Friday, aged 80 years.

September 1, 1875
Atlanta Constitution
IRWINTON. -Judge Bartlett declines to hold a special term to try the insurrectionary prisoners, and they will be tried at the regular October term.
-M.M. Bloodworth, Jr., is captain of the Home Guards.
-W. W. Whitaker, aged 57, shot himself with a rifle. Cause supposed to be a cancer on the temple.
-Wilkinson county has 624 sheep, 340 dogs, 150 goats.
-The county tax of Wilkinson is $1.32 on the state tax. -(Southerner).

September 5, 1875
Atlanta Constitution
MARRIED. G. F. Fossett of Gwinnett county to Miss Celia Stevens of Wilkinson county on the first.

September 7, 1875
Union and Recorder
From the Irwinton Southerner
  Mr. Josiah Whitehurst, one of the best citizens of Wilkinson county, died last week.
   Mr. Wm. Whitaker, a well-to-do farmer of Wilkinson county, committed suicide by shooting himself through the head with a rifle last Friday. He had suffered for years from a cancer on his face.

September 28, 1875
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Mr.Elam Hinson, an old citizen of Wilkinson county died recently, aged 74 years.
   A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT - On Thursday night last, Mr. W. G. Solomon, son of Mr. David Solomon, of Gordon, was going to his father's house, a short distance above the warehouse, he encountered the down passenger train, and, blinded by the head-light or from some unexplained cause, failed to get off the track, and was struck by the pilot, and thrown down with his right leg on the track, which was run over by the truck wheels of the engine, and crushed off at the ankle. The accident was discovered, and the fireman ran back and found him lying in an almost insensible condition by the roadside. His friends repaired to the spot and carried him to his father's residence, and called in Drs. Massey and O'Brien, who amputated the limb below the knee. At last accounts he was doing well.
  A NOVELTY- Mr. M. O. McMullen, an ingenious mechanic, who has considerable experience in the construction of machinery for water mills is now building a mill for Mr. T. Jeff. Jordan, of this county, on a principle, never before employed in the propulsion of water wheels. The stream upon which the mill is being constructed is a spring branch, and the wheel is an overshot, twenty-five feet in diameter. Attached to the machinery of the mill is a powerful pump, capable of lifting and conducting to the pond the greater quantity of the water used in propelling the wheel. Mr. McMullen is so well satisfied, from tests, that it will prove a success, that he has agreed to forfeit all demands upon Mr. Jordan for the construction of the mill if it should not work successfully. And if it does work successfully, it will revolutionize the mill system of the county. Every mountain spring will be employed in turning a mill, and as it works the same water over and over again, some speculation spirit will no doubt try to employ the principle in running a mill, depending upon carrying his water to a tank by hand.
  And when that mills runs people will carry themselves in tubs to see it.

September 29, 1875
Macon Weekly Telegraph
HIGHWAY ROBBERY IN WILKINSON - Mr. Wash. Smith, of Wilkinson county, was assaulted a few evenings ago, while driving along the road in his buggy, by a person dressed in woman's clothes, who sprang up behind his buggy and attempted to cut his throat with a  knife. He warded off the knife with his hand and received a slight wound, and seizing his whip, struck the assassin a blow with the staff, knocked her out of the buggy, and whipping his horse, made his escape, the person running after the buggy some distance. So states the Appeal.

October 5, 1875
Macon Weekly Telegraph
  The Irwinton Southerner says a"grass widow," who left her husband some time ago, on account of uncongeniality, as she stated, has been playing with the domestic happiness of several families in this county recently. About two months ago she wove her spell around the heart of a married man, and so fascinated him that he left his family and started West with her. Money ran low, and they returned, and the wife took back the recusant husband. Eight or ten days ago she left again with another married man, and the two have not been heard of since.
  Col. Smith, of Wilkinson county was found dead in his bed last Thursday morning. He was in the 74th year of his age.

October 6, 1875
The Constitution
DIED IN GEORGIA. - J. Macon Smith, of Irwinton, on the 23th ult.
Summary of State News
TOOMBSBORO. -There are good sites for a dozen factories in Wilkinson county.
-R. F. Crutchfield killed a rattlesnake four feet three inches long, having in her stomach seven little rattlesnakes each nearly a foot long. [Appeal

October 8, 1875
The Wilkinson Appeal
DEATH OFA. J. PORTER
We see in the Southerner an account of the death of this gentleman.  He died October the first of malarial fever, contracted while rebuilding Browns bridge over Turkey Creek.  He was buried at Pleasant Plains Saturday last.

October 25, 1875
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
   Mr. Wm. Solomon, of Gordon, who was run over by a passenger engine on the Central Railroad about a month ago and had his right leg so badly crushed as to require amputation, died on last Friday from his injuries.

October 28, 1875
Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel
Incendiaries burned the store of Mr. Robert J. Smith, at Allen's X roads in Wilkinson County, the other night. A nephew of Mr. Smith was sleeping in the store at the time. He was awakened by his incendiaries and allowed to take out his effects, and also the more valuable books and papers of his uncle. The store was then fired and entirely consumed. The building was a new one and contained a new stock of goods. There were several bales of cotton in the store and a wagon standing outside containing six bales, all of which was burned.

October 29, 1875
Atlanta Constitution
Married. In Washington county, Dr. J. L. Linder, of Wilkinson, to Lina Jordan.

November 4, 1875
Atlanta Constitution
IRWINTON
Mr. John Bostwick and wife were arraigned last week before magistrates Dean, Wright and Shepherd, charged with setting fire to the fence around the premises of Rev. G. M. Prescott. They were bound over in a bond of $50 for their appearance at the superior court.

November 16, 1875
Telegraph & Messenger
A VALUABLE HORSE - Under this head the Irwinton Southerner says:
  Deacon Smith of Wilkinson county, owns, or did own a horse, which one time in its life saved him an incalculable amount of money by its horse sense. The deacon says himself and wife, while partaking of their noonday meal, were very much surprised at the actions of the horse, which was loose in the road near the house. It would run up to the gate, neigh vigorously, and then run off again. This was repeated several times, and the deacon arose from the table to ascertain the cause of its strange conduct. He reached the door and looked out, and saw away off in the direction the horse had run a dense smoke. He seized his hat and ran to the place "Gentlemen," said he, "lightning had struck a tree and set it on fire, and the flames had communicated to my fence around my cornfield, containing about 300 bushels of corn. The fire had consumed about a dozen panels of fencing and reached a branch. My horse, when I arrived, was standing in this branch dipping her tail into the water, and throwing the water on the burning fence." The crowd looked incredulous. The deacon said, "gentlemen, if you don't believe it, you ask Mahaly."

November 16, 1875
Georgia Weekly Telegraph.
  The Hawkinsville Dispatch hears from a reliable source "that Mingo Baker, the daring burglar, has met his death. As one of the convicts in the penitentiary chain-gang, he was leased by a gentleman in Wilkinson county, and a few nights ago he attempted to make his escape with five others. The gang was fired upon by the guard and two or three of the convicts were wounded and captured. But Mingo, as usual, was too intrepid to submit to arrest, and his daring caused him his life. His body was pierced by sixty buck shot, and he fell to the ground and died without a moan."

November 17, 1875
Atlanta Constitution
IRWINTON
 - Several young men killed 100 squirrels within two miles from here.
  -After running a fox twenty miles John Dixon and S. P. Thompson captured him.
  -James Stuckey was thrown from a wagon and had his thigh broken.
Southerner

November 25, 1875
Atlanta Constitution
IRWINTON
-Sheriff Branan has lost his horse by blind staggers. By vigilant effort he could beat a tortoise in a slow race.
-The editor received a bouquet containing 29 squirrel tails, a beaver's paw and dapper's foot.
-W. D. Carlisle caught 43 possums in six weeks.
-The last of the goats has gone up.
-Mr. Samuel Lindsay, Mr. Tilman Jones and Robinson, three young energetic and worthy citizens of this county, will soon leave with their families for Texas.

MARRIED IN GEORGIA
Eli J. Davis to Miss Nancy Elizabeth Sanders, of Wilkinson county.

December 2, 1875
Augusta Chronicle
Negro KuKlux
Thrown Into the River for dead with a Plow and a Wheelbarrow Around His neck -
A Brutal Murder in Washington County of a Witness of the State
(Irwinton Southerner)
A party of negroes, with one white man, visited the house of a colored man named Rack Beall, in Irwinton, at 3 o'clock on Tuesday morning and took him off and carried him to Sand Bed bridge on "Big Sandy" creek to drown him. When they got him in possession they bound his hands behind his back, gagged him, tied an Allen plow and an old wheelbarrow wheel around his neck, the whole weighing about thirty pounds and in this manner took him to the bridge, a negro fired a pistol, shot at his head, which fortunately missed him. He dropped as if dead, and in this condition was rolled off the bridge into the water, which was eight or ten feet in depth. By a favorable intervention of Providence he contrived to get upon a sleeper that he felt as he sunk into the water and was then saved from drowning. Immediately after they threw him in they fled and left him, as they supposed, to his fate. He contrived to get to the bank after a long and fatiguing effort, caused by the weight around his neck, and not having the use of his hands. He made his way to a house near by, and was released of his encumbrance; he then returned to Irwinton and made his statement to the authorities. He recognized nearly every member of the would be murderers. He then reported the names, but he refused to tell the name of the white man, They arrested nine of the eleven negroes on Wednesday, and have them confined in jail at Irwinton.
Rack Beall's Statement
  I was in Irwinton on the night of the 23d of November. A party of eleven negroes and one white man came to the house where I was. I heard as I thought an unusual noise, and went to the back door; there I encountered several men; they made an effort to grab me; I knocked three of them down, but they overpowered, gagged and put an old bag over my head, carrying me through the streets of Irwinton. When we arrived at Mr. Nat Hughes they got and old wheel barrow wheel and an old plow which they attached to my neck. I heard them say, "lets burn the town up." They then took me to the creek, when one of the party drew a pistol, aimed at my head and shot; as he fired I fell, they thought I was dead and rolled me in the creek; I sunk once and was going under the second time when my knee struck a log, I made an effort to get on it, which I did, any by several strong efforts reach the bank and began to climb up, lost my hold and had it not been for the plow attached to my neck would have fallen back in the water.-Fortunately I succeeded in getting on dry land. I was still gagged and bound, and in that critical condition when to the house of Mr. Toller's; arrived there about day light. Mr. Toller extricated the weight from my neck, and cut the gag from my mouth.

A Dark Deed
(Wilkinson Appeal)
On Thursday night last, 18th instant, a most brutal murder was perpetrated on the premises of Mr. R. J. Moye, in this county, about fifteen miles from this city on the Blackshear Ferry road. The victim wasJordan Chambers, a quiet, inoffensive negro. The circumstances as related to us by Mr. Moye are these: About 9:15 o'clock Thursday night the report of a gun was heard and a few minutes after a boy ran up to Mr. Moye's house and reported that his brother was shot. Mr. Moye went down immediately and found Jordan lying at the corner of his cabin, with seven buckshot wounds in his body and two in his arm. Mr. Moye had him carried ton the house, and Dr. J. S. Wood was sent for immediately . Dr. Wood came, but could do nothing for the wounded man. He lived until about 1 1/4 o'clock Friday morning.  He conversed with Mr. Moye and Dr. Wood, and said he did not know who shot him, or for what purpose. The night was very dark, and he did not see the person shooting. An inquest was held by Coroner Orr, and four negroes examined.
  They stated that they had been there that night helping Jordan cover some corn that was in a pen. They had a fire in the yard near the cabin. Witnesses went in the house and Jordan stopped outside and was cracking some walnuts. A few moments after witnesses got in the house they heard the report of a gun and upon going out found Jordan shot. Jordan was one of the State's witnesses in the late insurrection trials, and circumstances, not best here to state, point strongly to parties deeply implicated in the attempted insurrection as the perpetrators of this foul murder. For prudential reasons were withhold the names of the party or parties suspected. Mr. Moye and the good people of the community are determined to ferret the matter out and bring the guilty part to justice if possible. This makes the third State's witness that has been mysteriously killed since the attempted insurrection - two in adjoining counties and one in this.

December 7, 1875
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
From the Irwinton Southerner:FOX HUNTING - Messrs. B. Hall, Joel Pierce and David Watson, of this county, have lately caught, just over the line in Laurens county, three red foxes. They sent us on Friday the foot of the last one they caught, and inform us that this fox was four feet and ten inches long. They started it near Chappell's mills and run it from there to Cool Springs, in this county; then back to Chappell's mills, and from there to Mrs. Knight's, near Dublin, and then to the Oconee river, and then back to Chappell's mills, when the dogs caught it. The distance run was over forty miles, and Messrs. Hall and Watson being good riders and well mounted kept up with the dogs and were in at the death.

December 17, 1875
The Constitution
IRWINTON
Two little children of Mr. H. W. Price of No. 16 C.R.R., were poisoned Saturday night from eating cheese. They were relieved by the medical skill of Dr. Fluker who was called in.

This locality was visited on Saturday night with the rare phenomenon of a violent thunder storm with the thermometer below 50 degrees. Several trees were struck a show distance from town and fired, and burned the entire night.

Judge Wiley Holland, one of the county commissioners, over 70 years of age, was, notwithstanding the rain of last Tuesday, the first one of the board to arrive at the court house. For eight years prior to the war he served the people as tax collector and was a most efficient officer, and during that time never missed an appointment to meet the people to collect the tax. - Southerner



1876

January 11, 1876
Union and Recorder
  The Irwinton Southerner makes the following important discovery:
  Mr. Peter Youngblood, of this county, was 52 years old the 28th of last November. He has never bought a pound of bacon or a bushel of corn, has never had a lawsuit or a difficulty with one of his neighbors, does not owe a dollar in the world, never was sued, and for the past seventeen years has sold bacon and corn, and has now some to sell.

January 15, 1876
The Constitution
CUPID'S CENTENNIAL CROP
J. F. Porter to Miss Julia F. Williams, of Wilkinson county.
Nathaniel Pace to Miss Fannie Simpson, of Wilkinson county.
J. B. Hall, of Wilkinson county to Miss L.I. Bender, of Laurens county.

January 18, 1876
Macon Weekly Telegraph
   The Wilkinson Southerner, of to-day, furnishes the three following items'
  Mr. J. W. Ussery, of this county, raised the past years on six acres of land, three hundred and fifteen bushels and eighteen pounds of corn, or fifty-two bushels and thirteen pounds to the acre.
  The negro Lish Coats, who, a short time ago, murdered his cousin, Ellen Coats, and left her body in Turkey creek swamp, has been arrested. He confessed the horrid murder to his captors, but plead in extenuation that it was not his intention to kill her, but merely to giver her a severe whipping. He was lodged in Dublin jail to await his trial.
  On Tuesday night, the 28th inst., a party of disguised negro Kuklux went to the house of Jake Coney, an old, peaceable, law-abiding, well to do negro farmer of Laurens county-respected by the whites for his honesty and his efforts to control the evil passions of his colored friends- and shot a valuable horse belonging to him, and fired several volleys through the window of the house where Jake was, with the intention of killing him, but which fortunately failed. They then fled. Suspicious parties were arrested, but not being identified were released.

January 21, 1876
The Daily Constitution
Irwinton. Mr. and Mrs. A. Baum celebrated their silver wedding on Saturday.

January 22, 1876
The Daily Constitution
Marriages in Georgia
James McInnis to Miss Delpha Chivers, of Irwinton

January 27, 1876
The Daily Constitution
IRWINTON. The Rev. Albert Lockett, col., of the Southern methodist church, who was stationed on this circuit in 1875, has absconded, carrying with him funds of the Irwinton church, contributed by friends and members to erect a house of worship. - Southerner.

January 29, 1876
The Daily Constitution
Married: T. K. Balcum of Texas to MissK.C. Gainey of Irwinton.
J. T. Fordham of Laurens County, to Miss Lucy Pierceof Wilkinson county
E. Fowler to Miss Susan Chambers of Wilkinson county.

 February 2, 1876
Southern Christian Advocate
Died. In Irwinton, Ga., January 8th 1876, Mary L. Baker, daughter of Rev. W. S. and Mrs. M. A. Baker, aged four years, four months, and thirteen days.

February 29, 1876
Union and Recorder
  The Irwinton Southerner and Appeal says that a vein of copper ore was found some time ago permeating the rocky foundation of the mill at Toombsboro. Specimens analyzed by Dr. Robinson and Mr. O. Bower, showed beyond a doubt that the ore was pure copper. The vein was small and the wonder of a day, and then forgotten. Last week, however, Mr. Slaughter, the overseer on Judge Cannon's plantation near by, in sinking a well, came to a mine of metal supposed to be copper, and a connection of the vein at the mill, from which he took specimens of ore weighing several pounds, which are now being analyzed.

 March 1, 1876
Southern Christian Advocate
David Solomon was born in Germany, June 13th 1792; and died at Gordon, Ga., January 23d 1876. Wm. J. Green
(Buried Gordon City Cemetery)

March 7, 1876
Weekly Constitution
MARRIED IN GEORGIA. W. H. Ashley of Lawrence Co. to Miss Ella Butler of Wilkinson Co.
W. W. Smith to Miss Luly J. Holliman, of Wilkson county.
DIED IN GEORGIA: Mrs. Elizabeth Yopp of Irwinton, aged 76.

March 12, 1876
Daily Constitution
A lot of land sold at sheriff's sale for 14 1-2 per acre....John Perry, sr., in his ninety-second year is quite active

March 12, 1876
Daily Constitution
IRWINTON
_Mr. Joel T. Coney of Laurens county has sown over 800 acres for small grain, which is now looking fine...Mr. Wigglesworth was digging a well on the land of Judge Cannon, on the North side of Commissioner creek, and had reached the depth of 54 feet without striking water. A few days since he came out to eat his dinner, and remained out 30 minutes. When he started back he discovered that the well had 37 feet of water in it. His work was done-the object for which he had been working was attained, and he found himself out of work, with his shoes, hat, pick and shovel buried under 37 feet of water, he having left these things in the well when he stopped for dinner. Southerner

March 28, 1876
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Georgia, Wilkinson County - All persons indebted to the estate of David Solomon, late of said county, deceased, are required to make immediate payment to either of the undersigned, and those having claims to render them in terms of the law. Mrs. Jane Solomon, Executrix, A. O. Flemister, R. J. Massey, Executors.

April 9, 1876
Atlanta Constitution
Summary of State News
IRWINTON
-In accordance with law, the county commissioners have appointed Dr. Wm. Taylor, Dr. Geo. E. Carlton and Judge W. F. Cannon the board of health for Wilkinson county....On Wednesday evening Sharper Solomon and Matt Kemp were sentenced by his honor to ten years each at hard labor in the penitentiary for complicity in the attempt to take the live of Jack Beall last November. -Southerner.

May 2, 1876
Daily Constitution
-Judge Wiley Holland was in Irwinton last week selling home made syrup at 75 cents per gallon.
-Wilkinson county farmers are planting rice and German millet largely.

June 04, 1876
Daily Constitution
- There are in Irwinton 21 little boys and girls just shedding their front teeth- and they are not very handsome-and there are 14 babies just cutting their stomach teeth.

June 4, 1876
The Constitution
-Mr. W. T. Knight, of Toomsboro, recently caught 119 cat fish out of one basket, the aggregate weight of which was 156 lbs. and they realized him the neat little sum of $15.,10.
-The average merchant of Irwinton spends his time now fighting flies and cussing fleas.
-Mr. Richard Lavender, who resided near Stephensville, in Wilkinson county, lost one of his eyes last Saturday by the bursting of a percussion cap.

June 14, 1876
Chronicle and Sentinel
  We learn that a destructive hail storm occurred last Sunday morning in the upper edge of Wilkinson county. The farms of Messrs. Meadows, Fountain and Jackson, and Mrs. Bloodworth were badly  damaged-the growing crops being completely destroyed. The hail stones were as large as a man's fist, and split the shingles on the roofs of houses.

June 14, 1876
The Daily Constitution
The Irwinton jail is haunted, and evil-doers have found it out and avoided it. It has been empty since April court.

June 18, 1876
Atlanta Constitution
 Mr. Webster Paulk has carried the mail between Irwinton and No. 16 station for the past 11 years, and has never missed the morning's mail train.
   Mr. Daniel Brewer, jr., of Wilkinson county, has a pig eight months old weighing 40 lbs, that has six perfectly developed feet. His four legs branch and the extremities are ornamented with cloven hoofs.
  Died. Mrs John Smith, of Wilkinson county, aged 78

June 20, 1876
The Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel
     The bridge across Commissioner  creek at Toombsboro has been again swept away by the water of Toombsboro mill pond, and no crossing there is possible.
     Mr. Webster Paulk has carried the mail between Irwinton and No. 16 station for the past 11 years, and has never missed the morning's mail train. This is promptness and faithfulness.
     Misses Rebecca Baum, Nellie Carswell, Fannie Easom and Mollie Hughes have succeeded in raising a sufficient amount to purchase the material for a flag for the Wilkinson Greys. It is now being made and will be flung to the breeze on the 4th of July next.
     Southerner and Appeal: Several years ago, after a prolonged illness, Mr. Passmore, of this county, died, leaving in worldly wealth sixty acres of land to a wife and daughter. His prolonged sickness had exhausted everything else except this, and it was almost worthless on account of the dilapidated fences. After the death of Mr. Passmore, Mr. Andrew Spence and other neighbors offered his widow and orphan a home at their house, which was refused. Mrs. Passmore went to work, she procured a horse and some provisions, repaired the fences with her own hands, and herself and daughter made a crop, and paid for the horse and provisions used. She was now independent, and has since with the assistance of her daughter, made several crops, and from the proceeds has purchased 100 acres of land; has over $500 worth of stock; has provisions to sell and owes only $59.

June 25, 1876
The Daily Constitution
Crop Notes. Irwinton Southern. Wilkinson county has harvested her small grain crop, and we have made industrious and diligent inquiry in regard to the quantity, and are satisfied that the county has made over 75,000 bushels, divided as follows: Wheat 15,000; oats 45,000, and rye 15,000.  The harvesting of this crop has relieved much of the distress that has prevailed this year.
  Mr. James Stevens, of Gordon, raised sixty-one bushels of oats on one and one eighth acres of land, and Mr. Wm. Stevens, of the same place, raised about thirty-five bushels to the acre, after pasturing his cows on the patch until the first of March. Mr. Isaac Wheeler made thirty-five bushels to the acre on a large field, and Dr. J. N. Shinholser made 1,500 bushels on less that seventy-five acres of land. The average product in the county is about eighteen bushels to the acre.

June 27, 1876
Union and Recorder
Executive Officers. We visited, on business, the different departments of our State Government in the capitol of Atlanta recently, and found the incumbents of the carious departmental offices at their posts, busily engaged in attending to their various duties.
  The senior office of the corps is the venerable Secretary of State, Hon. N. C. Barnett. He is an aged, vigorous and well preserved gentlemen, and fills his office with that dignity and promptness only acquired by long experience. His long residence at Milledgeville as Secretary of State under various administrators, has acquainted him with numbers of our people, and identified him with our section of the State, and although he did not say so, we thought we detected, during a half hour's chat, a desire to see Milledgeville re-invested with her honors. The ashes of an affectionate brother, who was a citizen of Wilkinson, repose in the Irwinton cemetery. He informed us that he fled with some of the State's property in his custody before the vandal army of Sherman, and traveled over a portion of Laurens and Montgomery counties, seeking a place of safety for the State's property, and after the passage of Sherman he returned to Milledgeville via Laurens Hill, Cool Springs and Irwinton. The day before he reached Irwinton he passed the night with the late Mr. Frank Rozar, and the next morning mounted his horse and resumed his journey. He had not proceeded far before he bet two gentlemen, one of whom was the late Col. John Smith. They were looking for stragglers from Sherman's army and stopped him. The man who accompanied Col. Smith was armed with a rifle, and appeared surly and indisposed to accept any proofs of identity that Col. Barnett could offer, and wanted to arrest him and carry him to some military personage at a distance, but was prevented by Col. Smith, who examined his papers and allowed him to proceed on his journey. Col. Barnett has spent the greater portion of his life in the public service, and will no doubt retain his present position until unfitted by age and infirmity for transacting official business, which incapacity will be many years hence we hope. (Southerner & Appeal.

June 27, 1876
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
  The Irwinton Southerner says" The warrants issued against Messrs. Wiggins, Pate, Nelson and Hooks (the Georgia Tigers) citizens of this county, by Judge Jones, of Twiggs county court, for riotous conduct, having been dismissed, for want of evidence to sustain the charges against these parties, Judge Jones issued warrants sometime ago against the two Taylor brothers and Mr. Lister on the same charge, and they went to Jeffersonville last Saturday for trial. The witnesses for the prosecution not being present, the case was continued, and they required to give bonds in the sum of $100 each for their appearance in the future to answer the charges. Judge F. Chambers of this place represented the prisoners.

Note: See July 11, 1876 below

July 9, 1876
The Daily Constitution
Irwinton Southern
-Samuel Bently jailed for wife beating.
A new post office has been established at Stuckey's store, called Cool Spring.

July 9, 1876
The Daily Constitution
MARRIED IN GEORGIA
Col. M. N. Murphy to Mrs. M. J. E. Randall, of Wilkinson county.

July 11, 1876
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
    The "Georgia Tigers," who were arrested in Wilkinson county, some time since, have been tried before the County Court, and the Appeal says Wilson Lister and Mac Taylor were sentenced to pay a fine of $300 each, or in default to serve six months in the chain gang; and Tom Taylor, the youngest of the trio, was sentenced to pay a fine of $100 or serve two months in the chain gang. The cases were taken to the Superior Court by a writ of certiorari.

August 2, 1876
The Constitution
Irwinton Southerner. -While in Dublin last week we saw Mr. Jackson Perry, a hale and hearty old gentleman, who has reached the ripe old age of 93 years, and is the oldest citizen of Laurens county. He is the father of Mrs. Edwin Perry, of that county who is 69 years of age, and is the grandfather of Mr. Henry Rutland of Irwinton. Notwithstanding his great age, he is in full possession of all of his faculties, and possesses sufficient bodily vigor to enable him to walk a considerable distance without fatigue. The secret of his longevity lies in a good constitution, an even temper, and the fact that he has always attended to his own business, never run for an office, and always paid the subscription price of his paper unmurmuringly in advance.
- A few days ago Mr. Wm. Butler and his stepson, Mr. Frank McGowan, accompanied by several young men, were bathing in Cedar creek in this county.  Mr. McGowan plunged in head foremost into the creek, and disappearing from sight for a longer time than is usual with divers, his companions became alarmed and commenced searching for him, and found him some distance from where he plunged in, with his head out of the water and apparently suffering. They removed him home and sent for Dr. Carleton who pronounced him hopelessly paralyzed from concussion of the brain. The water was only four feet deep and his head struck the bottom with sufficient force to produce the result. He is paralyzed from his neck downward, and is unable to move hand or foot, but is perfectly conscious and can talk fluently. His limbs and body are insensible to pain and the pricking of the flesh with needles and pins produces not the slightest sensibility. The only joint in his body which can move is his right shoulder but the arm and hand attached to it are complete paralleled. Mr. McGowan is a young man of great industry, sober habits and correct deportment, and has the sympathy of every one in his great affliction. All that medial skill can do to restore the suspended animation to the lifeless limbs will be done and his friends can only hope that the efforts of his physician may be successful.

August 15, 1876
Macon Weekly Telegraph
  The Irwinton Appeal relates the following: About seven years ago Capt. Wm. Ryals, of this county, died. His remains were enclosed in a mahogany casket and consigned to the grave, where they remained six years, when his wife had them took up and removed to a cemetery prepared for them near the homestead. When they were removed the coffin was opened and his relatives and friends who had known him in life were astonished to find that no decomposition had taken place. The form, features, color, hair and clothes of the deceased were as natural as they were the day he was buried, and his flesh was soft and capable of resisting a good deal of pressure. A short time ago his aged wife died, and before death placed his seal upon her lips she requested her friends to bury her by the side of her husband. In digging her grave the coffin containing the remains of Capt. Ryals was again exposed, and again opened, and with the exception of a change of color the corpse was found in a state of remarkable preservation. His face was changed to an inky blackness, and the outside of his grave clothes were covered with mildew. With this exception there was no change. His form and features still retained their regular outline, and the muscles and flesh were still preserved soft and elastic, and even the skin was unbroken. There was no petrifaction, and the wonder is why he should resist the decaying influences of the grave as effecutally as if embalmed.

August 28, 1876
Union and Recorder
  Mr. Louis Manderson, died at his residence in Wilkinson county on the 21st.

August 29, 1876
Union and Recorder
  We are permitted by M. M. Bloodworth, Esq., to make the following extract from a letter from his brother, Mr. Timothy Bloodworth, who now lives in Taylor county:
  "If you see the editors of the UNION soon, say to them that I have read their paper through over forty campaigns and would like to read it through this. There are some things in my life that my oldest friends do not think of, if they know. I am now in my 75th year. I was a married man and had one child at the reception of Gen. LaFayette. I blew the fife to escort the General to the dinner table, and viewed the line of our revolutionary fathers. I am still living with the same woman-both, as yet, able to pursue the same course we have for nearly 54 years - I running a farm by own labor, she spinning our clothes. I have never had a fight or lawsuit with any one in my life. I have attended every important election and never cast any but a democratic vote."

August 29, 1876
The Daily Constitution
   A monster alligator, measuring 10 feet 2 inches, was killed in Toombsboro millpond, by its proprietor, Judge W. F. Cannon, last week. For more than a year it has been seen and shot at by various parties at different times. The shot that killed it entered its brain from the neck. It was skinned and its stomach examined, and a fine shoat weighing fifty or sixty pounds was found in it.

August 29, 1876
Macon Weekly Telegraph
Adventure By Rail, Full Particulars of the Accident on the Central Railroad.
   The train from Savannah, due at Macon 6:45 P.M., Friday, was detained by an accident until 1 A.M. Saturday. The accident occurred at the 162 mile post, in Wilkinson county, about a quarter of a mile beyond McIntyre station. The engine was the "Maryland," John Kell engineer.
   The accident was caused by the breaking of the front axle of the tender, close up to the wheel. All the wheels of the front truck went apart, rolling along the line of road for seventy-five yards. The rear truck of the tender was entirely demolished, and the axles bent and twisted around each other in the bottom of the tender and wrenching bolts and bars. All the trucks of the two front cars-a freight box and he mail and express car-were carried away and the cars stretched crossways on the track. Fragments of iron work and splintered timber strewed the grounds upwards of seventy-five yards. One passenger coach was also badly damaged and several passengers in the rear car thrown from their seats.
  The accident occurred at 5:10, and the train and passengers were delayed at the scene of the wreck until 11 o'clock. When the accident occurred conductor James Marlow, after examining the wreck and looking after the safety and comfort of the passengers, started off for Gordon, eight and a half miles distant. After walking three miles he found a hand ar and was polled to Gordon, where he got things in readiness for the moving of the Milledgeville and Eatonton engine and train for the scene of the disaster, which it was impossible to do, however, until the arrival of the down regular 7:30 P.M. train from Macon, which Capt. C. E. Whiting followed from Gordon. Taking with him Mr. W. M. Stephens; Supervisor and a full force of hands, with two flats loaded with cross-ties, stingers, tools, etc. They arrived at 10½ and went to work at once clearing the wreck. The passengers, express matter, mails, etc, were transferred to Captain Whiting's train in a few minutes and brought to Macon. There were about sixteen persons aboard, none of whom were injured except Mr. E. Wall, express messenger, who was slightly cut on the head and bruised on the left shoulder. He was thrown from his car amid the flying fragments of wood and iron, and was only saved through miraculous good luck. Notwithstanding his injury, he stuck to his post and his packages, until he got them into good order. Mail Agent Lucius Belcher jumped from his car and was considerably stunned but not hurt.
   Engineer Kell, immediately on the giving away of the tender, reversed his engine, blowed on the brakes, and with his fireman,Tom O'Brien, ran out upon the boiler. The train was stopped within 75 years, and had it not been that the engine had just been shut off for McIntire station, and had been brought down to about thirteen miles and hour, there is no telling how serious the damage might have been, or what the loss of life. The accident occurred just after crossing a ten-foot culvert, and the train was brought to a stand just a few yards short of another of about the same length. Everything seemed singularly fortunate, and Mr. Kell was voted by the passengers, after the excitement had subsided, the right man in a tight place, and a real champion when it comes to bringing an iron horse to a sudden stand.
  President Wadley went up on the train from Macon, and with Mr. Stephens, gave his personal attention to the removing of the wreck and the replacing of the track.
   The passengers were Prof. W. D. Williams and son, of Macon; Mr. John R. Griffin, of Macon; Mr. J. R. Stripling, of Jones county; Mr. J. F. DeLacy and Joseph M. DeLacy, of Eastman; Mr. M. J. Divine, of the Atlantic Coast Line, and Mrs. Henry Mess, of San Francisco.
   Everything in the front cars was piled up, scattered, etc. Many rumours in the neighborhood, greatly exaggerated, soon brought numerous spectators to the ground, among them Mr. E. W. Lingo, well known in Macon, who had heard several were killed and a number wounded. He kindly placed his house and himself at the service of the passengers, and invited them to his house for supper and the night.
    The passenger train from Macon Friday night went through at 6:30 yesterday morning, and the Savannah trains came in on time. The wrecked cars were turned over on the side of the road and will be removed at once.

September 5, 1876
The Georgia Weekly Telegraph and Journal & Messenger
  The Irwinton Appeal says: Mr. James Bush of this county killed, a few days ago, a rattlesnake five feet two inches long and about five inches in diameter, with thirteen rattles. He was killed with a stick and made no effort to escape or resist. The destruction of Southern hogs has allowed these reptiles to increase rapidly, and hundreds have been killed in this section the past year.
  The same paper has this: A little negro girl, about 12 years of age, was brought to Irwinton last Saturday by Mr. Andrew Cowart, and lodged in jail, committed on a charge of attempting to burn the house of a freedman, upon the plantation of Mr. W. P. Williams, on Turkey creek. She entered the house and set fire to the bed in several places, and then started to leave but encountered the man's wife near the door, and returned with her and helped subdue the flames and save the house.
  And this also: A large otter was attacked a short time ago on Commissioner creek, in this county, by Messrs. John Davis and Frank Langford's pack of hounds, who were hunting cats on the creek, and a lively fight ensued, which finally ended in the killing of the amphibious animal, after a long contested and obstinate defence, in which several of the dogs were severely wounded by the sharp teeth of the otter. The dogs would have been vanquished if Mr. Langford had not aided them by plunging his knife into the otter.

September 19, 1876
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
  The Irwinton Appeal says: A group of six cattle took refuge under a shade tree during the storm last Sunday evening in Bloodworth's district, and lightning struck the tree and killed every one of them.
  The same paper has the following: Joe Temples, a turbulent and disorderly negro, in the employ of Mr. James Jackson left his work last Friday evening and went to the field of Mr. Bryant O'Bannon and assaulted a negro named Joe O'Bannon. Joe O'Bannon left the field and Joe Temples ran him to his house, threatening him with a club which he carried in his hand. When they arrived with 200 yards of the house Temples returned to the field and waited for him to return. O'Bannon came with a gun, and when Temples attempted to advance upon him he warned him to stand back or he would fire. Temples paid no attention to the warning and O'Bannon fired and shot him through the heart. Joe O'Bannon gave himself up and had an examination and was released, as he acted strictly in self defense.
  The following item is from the same source: A man named Mehaffey attempted on Friday to kill his daughter at Toombsboro, in this county, near which he resides. Mehaffey, who is a violinist, and accompanied by his daughter, had attended a ball at Gordon's on Thursday night, and reached Toombsboro by the down morning train on the Central railroad. Mehaffey was under the influence of liquor and left Toombsboro with his daughter for home. In crossing the bridge below Cannon's mill pond, he commenced to beat his daughter with his fists and to abuse her in a most brutal manner. Finally becoming furious he drew his pistol and aimed it at her hand with the intention of no doubt of killing of her. She grasped the pistol and turned it aside and he fired it, and the ball went through the first joint of the forefinger. Afterwards, when home, he again attempted to shoot her, but was prevent by Mr. Sam Fleetwood and some one else, who came upon him and saved the girl. On Friday night he was arrested on a warrant charging him with assault with intent to murder. He was released by promising to drink no more liquor and not to abuse his family again. A violation of this promise was to subject him to arrest and trial for the crime he had committed. He left Saturday, it is said, for Florida.

October  22, 1876
The Daily Constitution
Died in Georgia. T. R. Porter of Wilkinson County
Married in Georgia
E. Daniel toBettie Fountain, of Wilkinson county.
J T. Hatchfield (Hatfield), to Ada Hughes,  of Wilkinson county.

October 27 1876
The Daily Constitution
YELLOW FEVER
Savannah News, 25
The mortuary report for the twenty four hours ending six o'clock yesterday gives the total number of interments as seven of which five were of yellow fever. Of the total number, three were whites and four colored, one of the deaths of the former being in Wilkinson county, Ga., and brought to the city for burial.
Interments for October 24
LAUREL GROVE CEMETERY
Whites - Charlotte E. Gnann, aged 8 days, yellow fever, *Lawrence T. Crosby, aged 3 years, fever.
*Died in Wilkinson county

November 5, 1876
Daily Constitution
-Mr. J. K. Branan, the sheriff of Wilkinson county, is making arrangements to go to Texas. There are nearer routes to the cemetery than by way of Texas.
  A negro boy was killed in a cane mill in Wilkinson county recently.
  The Baptist of Gordon have erected a beautiful chapel.

November 7, 1876
The Daily Constitution
    The Irwinton Southerner and Appeal learns that Mr. J. N. Wall, one of the best stock raisers in Wilkinson county, has lost every hog he owned with hog cholera. There were over a hundred head, and some of the were large and fine, and the loss to Mr. Wall is serious as he was depending upon them for next year's supply  of bacon. Capt. Lingo says that charcoal, sulphur and salt fed to the hogs in a trough with their food, has been found by him to be a sure preventive.

November 7, 1876
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
The Wilkinson Appeal has these items:
  MILKING A COW. - Mr. E. Bullock has an unruly cow. Her heels are very tight, and she kicks as strong as Tump Ponder's roan mule. He milks her himself. There is not a woman in the county that could perform that operation. A gentleman informs us that he was present the other day and witnessed the milking operation. Mr. Bullock took his piggin and went to the pen. He walked up on the left side of the cow, regular dairy maid fashion, and then with great vehemence began to scream "so! so now!"  After repeating this exclamation about a dozen times he stooped down and took hold of the teat. In the twinkling of an eye the cow kicked and Mr. Bullock fell in the corner of the fence. When he started for the corner he commenced the exclamation, "So, you old heifer!" the last syllable of which was finished while he was on his back. He picked himself up and procured a couple of ropes. He put one over her horns and tied that end of the cow to the fence. He then went to work to lasso her left leg, and succeeded after being kicked down several times. He then stretched the cow across the pen and finished his milking operation. That cow is stretched now twice a day.
    INDIAN RELICS. We were shown a few days ago, by Mr. M. M. Bloodworth, a stone relic taken by him from an Indian mound on Black lake, near Oconee river, in this county. The stone is of a red brick color, so hard that it successfully resists all attempts of our lapidaries to cut it. It is shaped like a revolving fan, is about 3½ inches in length and 2 inches wife, thick in the centre and thin at the edges. Notwithstanding its great hardness, through its centre a ½ inch round hole has been drilled perfectly true for 3½ inches,. The mound from which this stone was taken contained only stone relics. Two other mounds near by are filled with human bones. These mounds are from six to ten feet high, and one of them is now under cultivation, and by the action of the elements its height has been reduced four feet. Mr. Bloodworth first saw these mounds sixty years ago, and was one of a party who examined the largest after the Harrison fresh, and he says it was completely filled with bones, and the surrounding soil for the space of half an acres also contained them in large quantities.

November 26, 1876
Macon Telegraph
A Double Homicide. The following dispatch reached us yesterday afternoon. GORDON, GA. November 25. Two men were killed here this evening by W. H. Dykes, policeman, for whom two hundred dollards reward is offered. WILSON SANDERS.
    From a gentleman who was in Gordon shortly after the occcurrence, we obtain the following particulars: It seems that Mr. Daniel Sanders and Dr. W. Gibson had a fight, in which the latter was severely handled. Mr. W. H. Dykes, Town Marshal, attempted the arrest of Sanders. A brother of Sanders interfered to prevent the arrest, and Sanders drew a knife and advanced threateningly upon Dykes, who drew a pistol and shot Sanders dead. A man named Barantine then drew his knife and swore he would kill Dykes, whereupon Dykes fired another shot, and Barantine fell dead. Dykes then fired two shots at the father of Sanders, but without effect.
   Dykes was not arrested, but was generally understood to be still in Gordon. He is a brother-in-law of Sanders, whom he killed.
 

December 3, 1876
The Daily Constitution
Irwinton Southerner: We learn that on Tuesday night last the store house of Mr. P. C. Smith of Toomsboro, was robbed and burned. The fire was discovered in time for many of his goods to be saved. The first parties who arrived discovered the money drawer open and robbed of its contents. Nothing but the dampness of the night prevented a general conflagration, as the house in the row in which the house was standing are very near each together. The house of Mr. J. L. Kinney, nearby was badly scorched. We have not been able to ascertain the amount of Mr. Smith's loss but learn it was considerable. There was no insurance and we deeply sympathize with him in his calamity. If the incendiary can be identified we are satisfied that Judge Bartlett will inflict the severest sentence upon him.



1877

January 9, 1877
Union and Recorder
MARRIED, In Wilkinson county, on the 28th of December, 1876, by Rev. Mr. Carter, Mr. Thomas Traynham and Miss Emma, daughter of Mr. Mark Yates.

January 23, 1877
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
  The Irwinton Southerner & Appeal says: On Saturday the 23d day of December last, two negro men, John Jackson and Allen O'Bannon, left their homes in Passmores district, Wilkinson county, a few miles from the Oconee river, intending to cross over into Washington county, for the purpose of visiting some acquaintances. The weather was cold and rainy, and it is believed that they got lost in the swamp and perished with cold. This conjecture is almost made certainty from the fact that on Wednesday last, Mr. Wm. Hoover, found in the swamp a body of a negro man, who had apparently been dead some time, which is probably the mortal remains of either Jackson or O'Bannon. The coroner will probably hold an inquest to-day on the body.

January 30, 1877
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
The Irwinton Appeal says: Raben Lewis, an old negro man, aged 108 years, died recently near Gordon in this county. He was six years of age when the Declaration of Independence was signed, and nineteen years old when Washington was inaugurated the first President of the United States. He was the oldest living person in the county before he died.

February 20, 1877
Union and Recorder
The Irwinton Appeal announces the deaths of Mrs. James McInnis, Mr. David D. Etheridge, Mr. John T. Parker and Mr. George W. Brown.

May 8, 1877
Southern Christian Advocate
Dr. A. C. C. Thompson was born October 12, 1821, in Dorchester county, Maryland, and died at Gordon, Ga., April 24, 1877. His son Rev. George C. Thompson of the South Georgia Conference. His mother died in his infancy and left him the only child of Dr. Absalom Thompson. Educated at St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland. He married Miss S. A. Hadaway in his 24th year; moved to Wilmington, Del, came to Burke co., Ga., in 1852. He leaves a wife, two married daughters, a son and seven grandchildren. His remains were buried in Sandersville, Ga., April 25, 1877. J. W. Burke

May 27, 1877
Union and Recorder
John R. Bostick died in Gordon on Sunday 13th inst. aged 67. He was born in Washington co. but had lived the last 20 years in Wilkinson co. -South. & Appeal.

May 29, 1877
Macon Weekly Telegraph
  The Irwinton Southern and Appeal is responsible for the following:
That panther is still in the fork of Sandy and Clear creeks, frightening people with its terrible shrieks, which is described by Mr. Johnson, who heard it forty yards off hand, as similar to the wailing shrieks of a strong lunged young woman who has lost her sweetheart, the concluding or lower notes resembling a growl. Mr. Johnson did not, however, listen to the beast's chin music with the calmness and particularity of a musical critic, but was on the wing, making for home after the manner of a kangaroo, jumping over six feet each bound. The startling cry assailed his ears while alone replanting some swamp land with corn. He doesn't recollect crossing the fence, and believed, when he got home, that he had not crossed it. Inspection, however, proved that he jumped it. Mr. Johnson is a brave man, but what's a Scovil weeding hoe against a panther's claws.
  Mr. Brannan has heard it often. He lives very near its promenade. He loaded his gun he other day and concluded he would go and kill it. He was gone but a little while. He came home out of breath, with the bosom torn out of his shirt. He had not encountered the best but had run through a bamboo-brier thicket at the rate of fifteen miles an hour. A bull frog singing basso profundo had given him  start. He says he saw where the beast jumped fifteen feet at one bound from a stand.

June 7, 1877
The Daily Constitution
Irwinton Southern and Appeal: Farmers who have employed the chain gang to labor on their farms are delighted with their operations.Messrs Hughs & Toler employed them to dig the canal that carries the water to their mill, and say that they did twice the amount of work of other hands, and work that other hands would not do, being a portion of the time up to their knees in water. Dr. Fluker employed them last week to chop his cotton to a stand and they average about two acres per day to the hand, doing their work well too. Any one may go and look at them work and then notice a lot of free negroes and they can very easily solve the vexed question why farming doesn't pay now like it did before the war. A stern overseer armed with a broad strap will get work out of a negro if it is in him. These convicts are fed upon an ample quantify of wholesome food- corn and wheat bread, meat, vegetables, syrup, milk, etc. - are comfortably clothed and lodged, and when they go to work they are in a condition to do a plenty of it, and if they don't keep up with the leader, they know exactly what the consequences will be, and there is no lagging.

August 18, 1877
The Daily Constitution
THE MYSTERY SOLVED
John L. Justice Alive - He Deserted His Wife- Arrested in Echols County-Brought Back to Irwinton and Safely Lodged in Jail
Irwinton Southerner
      It is with pleasure that we announce that the missing man John L. Justice is alive. The mystery that enshrouded his fate has been cleared away, and it has been ascertained that instead of being the victim of a brutal assassination that he is a fugitive from justice, and the heartless deserter of his helpless family. The strong and commendable current of public sympathy for him as the victim of a foul murder, has changed, and is now running against him as a fugitive criminal. The feeling of public indignation against the gentleman, who by the force of circumstances and the temporary advantage which falsehood sometimes gains over truth, has abated, and generous men will seek to wipe away the injustice done him by a complete vindication of his character. The simple caption of this article is a complete and triumphant refutation of every charge against Mr. James Wright in connection with Justice's disappearance, and we hope that with the clearing up of the mystery of his fate that all excitement, enmity, crimination and recrimination will end, and that neighbors and friends who have been estranged by this affair, will forget and forgive and be re-united in the bonds of friendship. Ever since the sixth of June the excitement in Laurens and Wilkinson over his disappearance has been intense, and every effort has been made to find his body, as he was believed to be dead. Rumors and circumstances had convinced many citizens that he had been foully dealt with, and on the 21st of July when Mr. Wade Knight and James Vaughn came to Dublin and swore that he was at their house in Telfair county on the 8th of June, many were incredulous. So strong had the conviction of his death been impressed upon their minds that they refused to receive as truth statements to the contrary made under the solemn and impressive sanctity of an oath. Mr. Justice's father, who had been unremitting in his efforts to discover the remains of his son, went to Telfair and came back pretty thoroughly convinced by the testimony of persons there that the statements of Knight and Vaughn was correct.
  On the 22d of July, Mrs. Justice, wife of the missing man, received a letter from him postmarked Stockton, Clinch county, whose contents convinced her that it was from her husband. The letter was said to have been unfeeling and heartless, and to have been an announcement to the poor, deserted wife that he had forsaken her forever, and was going to Florida.
  The address on the envelope was written by a good pensman, and the letters were sloped from left to right. This envelope was procured and enclosed in a letter to the postmaster at Stockton asking for information in regard to the writer of the address on the envelope, and also in regard to the whereabouts of Justice, who was under a bond for appearance a the October term of our court for a misdemeanor. The answer came promptly. The postmaster at Stockton stated that the address was written by a gentleman named Cunningham, and that Justice-who had assumed the name of John L. Johnson-was laboring on a farm in Echols county. The postmaster also stated that he was a widower, and had a daughter going to school in Wilkinson county. Col. John W. Lindsey received his letter, and immediately sent word to Messrs. L. L Hall, Joel A. Smith and Hamp Green, Justices's bondsmen, in whose interest Col. Lindsey was working, and on Sunday evening Mr. Hamp Green left for Echols county armed with the warrant to bring him back.
    He proceeded to Stockton, had an interview with the postmaster and others, who satisfied him that he was on the right tract, and that John L. Johnson and John L. Justice were one and the same. He procured the services of a bailiff and a determined and active man as a posse, and sent them after the prisoner, who was ten miles distant in Echols county. They found him in a corn field pulling fodder and stealthily and silently approached him. While in the act of stripping the blades of fodder from a stalk, the strong and nervous hand of the bailiff's companion was laid upon his shoulder and he was unresistingly made a prison and carried back to Stockton, where he was guarded until the train left, and he was brought on here by Mr. Green, who arrived Wednesday night and lodged him in jail. He says he did not hear from home after he left, and had no knowledge of the excitement his absence caused. he says he will tell his reasons for leaving only when they are pulled out of him. He earnestly requested Mr. Green to inform his family that he did not desire to see any of them.
  Thus ended one of the most remarkable cases on record of the injustice and unreliability of circumstantial evidence, or rather the powerful force of a chain of unfavorable fortuitous circumstances. For two months unremitting search has been made for Justice's body by sincere, honest and just men, who were mentally satisfied that Justice had been murdered. And during that period Mr. Wright has been twice arrested for murdering him, and although no legal evidence could be bought up to prove that he committed the deed, he has been regarded as his slayer, shielded from punishment by the insufficiency of the evidence. The excitement ran high, and tattling mischief-makers have fed it by inventing stories and telling them as truths to the credulous portion of our population, who retold them as facts and thus misled many good men, who generally believe nothing that cannot be proved beyond the shadow of a doubt.
 

August 21, 1877
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
AN EXPLOSION - We quote the following from the Irwinton Southern and Appeal:
  Mr. Lawrence Butts had one of his hands burned, and made a narrow escape from a more serious injury, if not from death itself, on last Thursday night, at his distillery
near Gordon by the explosion of a barrel, into which he was pouring peach brandy. There was about five gallons of brandy in the barrel, and he was pouring more in, when
it became ignited from the lamp that was furnishing light for him, which was held by a young man, and the explosion was instantaneous and terrific, the report being as
loud as if produced by gunpowder. The barrel was in a horizontal position, and Mr. Butts was pouring the liquor into it through the bunghole, and one of the heads was
blown through the side of a box made of inch plank.

September 4, 1877
Union and Recorder
  Married on the 27th ult., at the residence of the bride's father, by  Rev. J. M. Langford, Mr. W. B. Breedlove, of Baldwin county, to Miss Aurelia J. Bell, daughter of Mr. J. Ross Bell, of Wilkinson county.

Friday, October 5, 1877
The Southerner-Appeal
~Excerpt~IMPOSITION:
In the last issue of the Christian Index we find the following appeal from this county for aid.
TO THE BAPTISTS OF GEORGIA-READ, REFLECT, and ACT! DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS:
We are compelled, by dire calamity, to appeal to your generous sympathy.  We are encouraged, too, because we
know that your hearts are ever open to the cry of distress; and we believe that your liberal aid will not be withheld from us in this time of sore need.  The district in which I live (Bloodworths, Wilkinson County) has during the past few months, been visited by a terrible scourge, in the form of a very malignant type of typhoid fever.  It seems utterly beyond the control of the physicians, and our community is still being thinned by this mighty agency of death.  The rate of mortality has been as great as that last year in Savannah under the yellow fever, Children have been made orphans, aged parents have been left with no
child upon whom to lean for support, and there is everywhere the cry of distress.  Those who could do so in our midst, have contributed liberally to the relief of the suffering, but owing to the amount of sickness in the community, and the drought, small crops have been made; and unless we can get help from abroad, there will be still greater distress.  This is a Baptist community, and hence we turn for help to the sympathetic hearts of our Baptist brethren and sisters.  Shall the appeal be in vain?  Shall a deaf ear be turned to the cries of the aged and helpless, the widow and orphan, in their affliction? Let every Christian who reads this send what help they can to the undersigned, and it will be paid to those most in need.  Please let your answers be
prompt, Assistance is needed Now! Now!
Your brother in Christ,
W. J. Golden
Bloodworth, Wilkinson Co., GA
And the editor of the Index endorses and strengthens the appeal of Mr. Golden in the following editorial:
HELP FOR THE AFFLICTED- In another column will be found an appeal in behalf of the distressed people of Wilkinson County, which must touch the heart of every reader.  _______ furnished us make a darker picture of distress than that portrayed in our brothers letter.  We trust that there will be paup and speedy answers, which will comfort those whom
this terrible blow has fallen.  If we use not our means to relieve and comfort our Father's children, we are unworthy of trust, and may expect to have it removed from our hands. The publication by the Christian Index of this heart-rending appeal created a profound sensation among the readers of that paper in this county.  It is true that a few families have suffered terribly with
this scourge in that district this year, the particulars of which can be found elsewhere in this paper, but this suffering could not be relieved by charitable contributions, and we are requested by the people who have been the greatest sufferers to state
that the disease has abated - that there is not now nor has there ever been any suffering among the victims of this fever for the necessaries of life or medical aid - that the writer of this appeal who signs himself so sanctimoniously "Your brother in Christ, W. J. Golden", is not a member of any church - but is a crippled pauper- that the appeal is unnecessary, unjust, dishonest, and was made for a selfish purpose.  They earnestly exhort the charitable and Christian people to whom the appeal is made to pay no attention to it, as the sufferers need only the prayers and sympathy of ..(the rest of the article has been torn since it is a
the bottom of the paper).
DEATH'S DOING
From Mr. M. M. Bloodworth we learn that 24 deaths have occurred in his neighborhood, in Bloodworth District,
in this county, from the 31st of January to the 24th of September.  The deaths have all occurred within a radius of four miles and most of them from typhoid fever.  The number includes infancy, old age, and vigorous manhood.  None were spared.  But few households in that locality escaped its fearful ravages, and while the rest of the county has had an exceptional freedom from disease and death this year, that neighborhood is draped in the habiliments of woe.  The survivors mourn the loss of husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, children, and grandchildren.  The hand of affliction has been heavy and this fearful dispensation of Providence inscrutable, yet no murmurs have been heard.  "Let thy will, oh Lord, and not mine, be done" is the burden of their prayers.  Notwithstanding the contagious nature of the disorder, the last moments of the deceased have been cheered by
the ministrations of affectionate love.  No one has absented him or herself from the sick rooms from fear of the pestilence, but all have heroically done their duty towards the suffering and the dying.  May the hand of affliction be soon removed from this people is the fervent prayer of every citizen.
The best bird hunter in Wilkinson County lives in Gordon and his name is Wm. Caliph.  He killed 49 partridges on the wing the other day at 51 shots.
Mr. Jesse Metts of this county continues to present to us specimens of his skill as a farmer.  A stalk of pepper 6 feet high and full of red and green pods is his latest contribution to the agricultural museum of Wilkinson county.  This present of pepper has solved a vexed question in our household.  We had been wondering for some time where we could procure a sufficiency of this aromatic and pungent condiment to season our sausages.  We have got it.
The best pea patch in Wilkinson County is owned by Mr. J. M. Boone.  He sewed the peas after he cut the oats
on the stubble land and they are fine.
Mr. I. J. Fountain is one of the best nurserymen in Middle Georgia.  The number of crates of peaches he has shipped to Savannah and the Northern markets is really astonishing.  We would give it but it might be disputed and then we have an aversion to figures.  Last Tuesday he came in and paid his subscription and left with us a crate of large white, finely flavored
October peaches, for which he will accept our warmest thanks.  Success to you, Jack.
Mr. Samuel I. Dennard announces he has re-opened at his old stand in Gordon. Go and see him.
A LUCKY SHOT
We learn from Mr. J. U. Parker and Mr. Nash (?) McCook killed three dogs and one sheep at one discharge of his gun a few nights since.  The dogs were the property of Dr. Crawford, and were taken out by some Negroes on his plantation for the purpose of hunting possums.  They found a flock of sheep and, following natural instinct of the hound, commenced killing them.
 Mr. McCook seized his gun and went out to stop them.  He saw in the dark a mass of struggling dogs and sheep
and he fired the pile and bagged three dogs and one sheep.
Mr. McCook, of Bloodworth district recently made two and a half gallons of very fair syrup from a load of
green corn stalks.
Mr. Jacob Gainey, a good farmer and pomologist, presented us last Tuesday with an apple weighing 16
ounces.  It was  of a late variety, and finely flavored.
APOPLEXY
Mr. J. G. Freeman had an attack of apoplexy while standing upon the streets conversing with Dr. Cumming
on Monday last.  He was carried home, and at last accounts was doing well.

October 30, 1877
Atlanta Constitution
-Mr. James Stevens, of Gordon, has a cluster of eight perfectly formed ears of corn growing from one stem.
_The Irwinton Southern and Appeal announces the death of Master Leonard Freeman, of Toombsboro, who was in every respect a model youth.
November 6, 1877
 Union and  Recorder
  ~Excertp~ Sandersville Fair. The special correspondent of the Savannah Morning News writing from the Sandersville Fair puts down the following as Worthy of Notice. Personal Mention
  Although the parents of the bride do not think it a fair transaction, Mr. John G. Lindsay and Miss Anna J. Baum, of Irwinton were married here on Thursday by Rev. J. D. Anthony, editor of the Courier. The fair young bride is a jewish maiden but love laughs at religious barriers, as well as locks and bars. Miss Baum has several very handsome worsted mottoes on exhibition in the fair, one of which,  "The Lord s Prayer." attracts general attention and wins deserved praise.
 
November 11, 1877
Macon Weekly Telegraph
A BRACE OF STUFFED WILD CATS
The Irwinton Southerner says:
  After several lively races Mr. Carlisle succeeded in catching the mate to the wild cat reported us last week. He has both of their hides stuffed and in his store, where they can be seen by all who are fond of zoological exhibitions. They are savage looking creatures and one of  them when killed was full of pig bones and goose feathers which it had purloined from some of the farmers living on Commissioner creek.
  A citizen of Irwinton proposed the other day that Commissioner creek be ditched into Big Sandy, and that Irwinton purchase a  steamboat to float upon the bosom of the united streams. The proposition was voted down instantly.
December 11, 1877
Southern Christian Advocate
Mrs. Emma Dawson Price, wife of Thos. L. Kitchens, died near Irwinton, Ga., October 10th 1877, aged 22 years. She was the daughter of John V. Price, deceased. She had been married not quite one year. A little babe of an hour was buried in her arms. T. T. Christian.
December 25, 1877
Union and Recorder
DEATH OF MR. C. E. CARNES.  We are deeply pained to learn tht Mr. Charles E. Carnes, editor of the Southerner & Appeal, died at his residence in Irwinton, on the 18th inst., of pneumonia. Mr. Carnes published a good paper, and will be greatly missed, not only in Wilkinson county, but wherever his valuable paper was read. He did good service for Milledgeville in the late campaign.


1878
January 10, 1878
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Rev. Ellis Harville, of Irwinton, died on Thursday last at that place from the effects of a cancer in the face. At the time of his death he was treasurer of the county.
January 17, 1878
The Augusta Chronicle
NIPPED IN THE BUD
A Duel That Didn't Take Place - Two Professional Men Have a Difficulty and Agree to have it Out at Sand Bar Ferry, But One of the Principals Is Arrested.
     Last Sunday night a gentlemen reached the city, on the Macon and Augusta passenger train and registered at the Central Hotel as Dr. D.R. Fluker, of Irwinton. Tuesday morning, two others, Mr. Henry Clay of Toomsboro, and Dr. J.B. Roberts, of Sandersville, registered at the same hotel. Yesterday morning these gentlemen returned home, and it then leaked out that they had come to Augusta for the purpose of fighting a duel. Dr. Fluker was to be one of the principals, Mr. Clay his second and Dr. Roberts the surgeon. The other principal, we understand, was a Mr. Lee, a lawyer of Irwinton. The duel was to have take place at Sand Bar Ferry Tuesday morning, but Mr. Lee was not on hand. Dr. Fluker then telegraphed to Irwinton to ascertain why Lee did not come, and received a reply stating that he had been arrested at Irwinton. Dr. Fluker and his friends therefore returned home. We understand that the Doctor says this will not be the end of the affair.
      As far as we can learn the difficulty grew out of a controversy about a horse. Dr. Fluker had attended a lady in Irwinton, who gave him a horse in payment of his bill. Mr. Lee had obtained a judgment against a son of the lady, and claimed that the horse was the property of the son and not of the mother. Dr. Fluker and Mr. Lee had some words about the matter, and finally, we are told, Mr. Lee attacked Dr. Fluker with a knife. Dr. Fluker retorted by knocking Mr. Lee down three times with a pistol. Mr. Lee son afterwards wrote a note to Dr. Fluker, calling him a coward, and Dr. Fluker immediately challenged him. Mr. Lee accepted the challenge, and a meeting was arranged to take place at Sand Bar Ferry, as above indicated.

February 1878
Southern Christian Advocate
Peter Vanlandingham was born in Wilkinson county, Ga., October 21st 1821; died in Decatur county, Ga., February 26th 1878.

February 5, 1878
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
  The same paper, through a correspondent, tells of the capture of Washington McDaniels alias Charles Heath, a notorious jail-breaker and felon under sentence of death by the Sheriff of Screven county. He was taken to Augusta, from whence he will be taken to Wilkinson county to expiate the sentence of death passed on him ten years since. Judge George T. Bartlett issued the arresting order.

February 5, 1878
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
   The Irwinton Southerner and Appeal announces the death of Mr. Bently Outlaw, an old and respectable citizen of Wilkinson county.
    The unloaded pistol is still playing a leading role in depopulating the country. Witness the following: Fatal Accident - We learn of another accident in Laurens County from the carelessness of fire-arms. Mr. Vann who lives near the line between Wilkinson and Laurens was carelessly snapping a pistol which he thought was unloaded, when it exploded the cartridge that was in it, the ball entering the abdomen of his brother-in-law,Mr. Dean. Medical aid was secured and the ball extracted, but he died last Sunday.

March 5, 1878
Union and Recorder
MATRIMONIAL - At 7 o'clock last Wednesday evening, at the residence of the bride's father, Mr. Jas. Dennard, near Gordon, Mr. James T. Bragg was married to Miss Alice Dennard.

March 12, 1878
Union and Recorder
  MrIra Carswell, oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Carswell, died at his home near Irwinton Sunday morning at 7 o'clock, after an illness of one week of pneumonia.

March 25, 1878
Dublin Post
DIED. Mrs. Zenus Fordham, of this county, on 22. inst.
A little child of Wm. Fordham, on 20.inst

March 19, 1878
Southern Christian Advocate
By Rev. J. W. Domingos, February 7, 1878, Mr. Andrew A. Cowart, of Wilkinson county, Ga., to Miss Carrie E. Rutherford, of the same county.

April 9, 1878
Union and Recorder
RESENTENCED - Mr. Washington McDaniel, the Wilkinson county murderer, who has for the past three or four months been in the jail at Augusta for safe keeping, was carried back to Wilkinson county to be resentenced by Judge Bartlett.
  About ten years since McDaniel murdered a man by the name of Texas near Gorden, on the Central railroad and was captured, tried and sentenced to be hanged. A short time afterward he broke out of jail, and has been at large ever since, until very recently, when having committed, an assault on a party in Scriven county, he was arrested, and in some way it was discovered that this was the same man who, ten years before, had committed the murder. He was taken to Augusta for safe-keeping. In speaking of the case the Irwinton Southerner and Appeal says:
  On last Tuesday, by order of the court, deputy sheriff S. A. Hatfield and posse went to Augusta for the prisoner, and returned with him on Tuesday evening. When brought into court Thursday morning Judge Bartlett passed the sentence of death upon him. McDaniel is to be carried to Fulton county and lodged in the jail there until Friday, the 3rd of May next, when he is to be brought back to Irwinton and privately hanged by the neck until he is dead. The prisoner received the sentence in silence.

 April 23, 1878
Southern Christian Advocate
Married. By Rev. J. W. Domingos,April 11, 1878, Mr. James S. Burke to Miss Lula E. Sinquefield, both of Wilkinson county, Ga.

May 23, 1878
Savannah Morning News

  Says the Irwinton Southerner and Appeal: "On Tuesday morning an infant negro child died on Mr. Lott Lee's place, and the circumstances attending its death were as to give rise to the suspicion of foul play on the part of the nurse, a hired negro boy, about ten years old. The parents of the child had gone to their work and left it in charge of the boy. The father came back to the cabin during the morning to look after the child which was sick, and found it dead. We have not been able to learn definite upon what grounds the suspicion is founded, but it is thought that the boy whipped the child so severely as to cause its death. The Coroner held and inquest over the body, and the jury returned the following verdict: 'We, the jury, find that Lavonia Gainey, deceased, came to her death by a blow upon the head by Joe Burke, after inflicting lesser injuries with his teeth." The infant was about a year old." 

June 11, 1878
Union and Recorder
  Irwinton Appeal:Jimmie Hughes, son of Mr. and Mrs. James G. Hughes, aged 14 years, died on the 4th.

June 22, 1878
The Augusta Chronicle
Irwinton witnessed the fall of a brilliant meteor last Wednesday afternoon. The smoke of the burning serolite was seen for ten minutes afterwards.

July 2, 1878
Union and Recorder
MARRIED. - In Wilkinson county, on the evening of the 26 ult., Mr. Warren Edwards of this city, led to the altar the lovely Miss Mary Miller, daughter of Maj. A. J. Miller - Rev. G. T. Goetchius officiating. The happy couple arrived in this city Thursday. We tender our congratulations and best wishes.

July 11, 1878
The Atlanta Constitution
~extract
 No candid man who reads the evidence in this case, can resist the conclusion that commuting the sentence of McDaniel was not an arbitrary exercise of executive clemency, but was just and proper under the circumstances. This, we have no doubt, induced the large number of petitions, including the county officers of the county where he was sentenced, to sign the petition for McDaniel's pardon or a commutation of his sentence. If those who read this testimony still clamor for McDaniel's death, and say he ought to be hung for other murders committed by him, it is only necessary to put these rumors of his being guilty of those crimes in the shape of evidence, lay it before the grand jury in the county where the crimes were committed, if at all; have a true bill and trial, and if he is adjudged guilty of murder, he can be hung; until then he is safely confined for life, working out a sentence more terrible than death.

August 1, 1878
Dublin Post
Mr. U. D. Wynn of Wilkinson County  favored us with a call last week. He reports cotton suffering greatly for rain.
Mr. W. C. Adams, of Wilkinson County brother of the late Wm Adams of this county was in town last Friday.

August 8, 1878
Dublin Post
   A little child of Hiram Porter, colored, living on the place of Mr. R. H. Carswell, died one day last week from the effects of Morphine. A small package of medicine had been found in the road and carried home, the medicine was mistaken for quince, and administered to the sick child. The child died, but not until its death was it discovered that morphine had been given instead of quinine. This adds another to the long list of deaths from ignorant and careless use of medicine. - Southerner and Appeal.

August 6, 1878
Macon Weekly Telegraph
Death of Judge Whitehurst.   On the 2d instant, at his residence near Gordon,Judge William M. Whitehurst, one of the old and most honored citizens of that section, died of dropsy.
  He was highly respected, and was a very prominent man in his day in that portion of the State, having held positions of honor and trust.

August 27, 1878
Union and Recorder
  Mr. B. H. Byington, son of the late C. A. Byington, died at the residence of A. M. McMullen, in Wilkinson county, on the 20th inst., aged 18 years.

August 28, 1878
Dublin Post
Mr. O. H. L. Strubing of Toomsboro was in town last Sunday. He tells of a remarkable death near Toomsboro on last Thursday night. OldMr. Shinholster and his wife went to bed as usual and during the night some time Mr. Shinholster died, but his wife did not find out till she rose the next morning.

September 3, 1878
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
The Irwinton Southerner and Appeal says Mr. Joseph Hightower, of that county, was bitten by his dog last Sunday, and since then has shown symptoms of hydrophobia. On Tuesday he was reported to be in critical condition.

September 10, 1878
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Georgia, Jones County - Four weeks after date I will apply to the Court of Ordinary of Jones county for an order to sell all the lands, situate in Wilkinson county, that belongs to the estate of John Barfield, deceased, the same being encumbered with dower. John R. Barfield, Administrator, August 20, 1878.

Nov. 6, 1878
Dublin Post
Advertisement
The Strubing House
Toomsboro, Georgia
O.H.L. Strubing Proprietor
Thank the public for their liberal patronage in the past. I respectively ask a
continuance of the same. My home is near the depot and first class in all it's appointments.
Good Conveyance
Always ready to accommodate the Travelling Public who may wish to go
from Toomsboro to Dublin or any other point.

November 18, 1878
Atlanta Constitution
  An accident occurred in Toombsboro last week that resulted in the instant death of little Emma, second daughter, aged about seven years, of Mrs. John D. Rawlins. Miss Ella Clay, a neice of Mrs. Rawlins, had gone on horseback to Toombsboro on a visit to her aunt, and when she was ready to return Emma Rawlins was helped to a seat on the horse behind her. The horse was restive and soon began running, and the little girl, losing her balance, fell to the grown, her head striking against a stump. Her skull was broken, killing her instantly. The horse continued to run, and, the girth of the saddle breaking. Miss Clay was thrown off, but not injured saved by a few slight bruises.
(Buried Jackson Family Cemetery)



1879

January 1, 1879
Dublin Post
Married. On the 22d ult., Mr. Zenus Fordham to Miss Mary Ann Hogan.

January 28, 1879
Union and Recorder
  On Tuesday last Mr. John H. Hodges, editor of the Irwinton Southern & Appeal, was married to Miss Kate V. Norwood, of Houston county.

February 18, 1879
Union and Recorder
Irwinton. Mrs. Joseph Webb is death.

February 25, 1879
Union and Recorder
  MR. JAMES SHINHOLSER died suddenly, at his residence in Wilkinson county, on Thursday night last. He was the father of our esteemed townsman, Dr. J. N. Shinholser.

March 11, 1879
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
A MILD WAY OF EXPRESSING IT- Southerner and Appeal: Mr. Wm. Cherry obtained a wife one night last week with out the consent of her parents. The bride (Senia Walters) is a (step) daughter of Mr. Thomas Cass who lives about three miles from town.
   Runaway matches are seldom happy.
(Note - Tom Cass was Senia’s stepfather. Senia’s parent were Madison Walters and Letha Stevens. He was killed in the Civil War,)

March 19, 1879
Dublin Post
Mr. Eason Green, 72 years of age, of Wilkinson County, just over the Laurens line, died suddenly last week of apoplexy.

March 26, 1879
Dublin Post
Dr. Forbes, who has recently moved from Dooley County to Stephensville, Wilkinson County was in town last Friday and Saturday.

April 2, 1879
Dublin Post
Information has reached here that Mr. James Pierce of Wilkinson County was burnt out on last Sunday. He has suffered severely from fire on Saturday.

April 9 1879
Dublin Post
"Lightwood Knot Bridge
(Irwinton Appeal.)
      In the estimation of the Dublin Post, and "Critic" a contributor to the columns of said paper, in this county, Lightwood knot bridge is a stumbling block to the traveling and trade between Dublin and Toomsboro. Said bridge is owned by a gentlemen in this county, and toll is charged all who cross there over. The people of Laurens County, as per above, think the bridge should be made free, and for toll to be charged is for Wilkinson County, and especially Toomsboro to stand in her own light. Through the Post, Dublin threatens to remover her patronage, whatever that may be from Toomsboro unless toll is removed from Lightwood knot bridge. The question arises is the patronage worth the toll?
     As a rule, we are opposed to toll bridges but are sufficiently acquainted  with the facts to venture an opinion in this particular case. If the case is __ so grievous as the Post represents it to be  common humanity demands that something be done to alleviate the pain that said toll causes the people of Laurens County. Let us hear from Toomsboro on the subject."

May 28, 1879
Dublin Post
    "The Appeal gives the particulars of the horrible death of Mr.Cass Wood, which occurred seven miles from Irwinton a few days ago.  While riding a mule with plow gear on home from the field, the mule threw him to the ground, broke his neck, and his foot getting entangled in one of the traces, he was whirled and dragged around until the back of his head was beaten to a jelly, one eye torn out, an arm broken in two places and his face and body terribly mangled."

July 16, 1879
Dublin Post
Mr. Strubing of Toomsboro was in town last week. It is said he is contemplating removing to Dublin. So as it should be!

July 22, 1879
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
A HUSBAND AND WIFE DIE SUDDENLYMr. and Mrs. Wm. Wood, of Wilkinson county, died very suddenly on the 7th inst., of brain fever, there being only five hours differences - the wife dying at 2 p.m. and the husband at 7 p.m. Both were buried in the same coffin.

July 22, 1879
Union and Recorder
Mrs. ___McCook died in this city last Tuesday. She had been in feeble health for a long time. She came here from Wilkinson county, for medical attention, and was unable to return.

August 13, 1879
Dublin Post
Messers. J. W. Green and J. S. Smith of Wilkinson County and Col. J. W. Lindsey of Irwinton were in town last Thursday and favored the POST with a call.
 
August 14, 1879
The Southerner Appeal
A FAMILY REUNION
On the 10th of August, 1877, the children and grandchildren of Mr. Caswell Branan, of this county, had a reunion at his house, that being the day upon which he arrived at ____________________________ (missing a whole line) age of _____ reunions have been held yearly since then.  Last Sunday he was 72 years of age, and on that day there was gathered at his  house 27 grandchildren, 6 sons and daughters, besides 80 others more or less that were related to him by marriage or otherwise.  The occasion was a joyful one, the dinner all that could be asked, and those present enjoyed it thoroughly.  It was our intention to be present but so many from town attending church at Liberty that day deprived us the liberty of going - we  could not get a conveyance.  For Mr. Branan, we wish many happy returns of these annual reunions.  May his years grow lighter as their number is increased.

August 20, 1879
Dublin Post
Mr. Richard Stanley of Wilkinson County came down last week and thrashed out the oat crop of Judge Wolfe, Judge Duncan and others of our farmers. He did the work in a jiffy.

Mr. I J. Fountain of this county has a mare and a  colt in connection with which the natural order of maternal regard is reversed. The mare has made frequent attempts to kill the colt, and though quiet young it is kept separated from it's mother, and is only allowed to suckle when the mare is caught and held by two or three negro men.- Wilkinson Appeal

September 6, 1879
Atlanta Constitution
  Mr. Charles Day, of Wilkinson county has sold in the markets of Gordon and Milledgeville this season over 2,000 watermelons, at an average of 8 cents per melon.

October 29, 1879
Dublin Post
Laurens County of Ordinary
October Term, 1879
Whereas, D.R. V. Smith, administrator on the estate ofLaura Rozar, makes application for leave to sell the west half of lot of land No. 238 in the 23rd district of Wilkinson county.
  These are therefore to cite and admonish all persons concerned to show causes, if any they have, why said order should not be granted the applicant on the first Monday in November next.
Given under my Official Signature
John T. Duncan
Ordinary

November 26, 1879
The Dublin Post
GLAD TIDINGS, GLAD TIDINGS!
TO ALL WHO WOULD SAVE MONEY. THE BEST GOODS AT THE LOWEST PRICES.
J. I. DEESE & CO.
TOOMSBORO, GA
Have now on hand and are constantly receiving heavy stocks of General Merchandise
Such as BACON, LARD, FLOUR SUGAR, COFFEE, RICE, TOBACCO, CIGARS, BOOTS, SHOES, HATS
Tin, Wood and Willow Ware, PLOWS, HOES, SPADES, FORKS, SHOVELS, PLANTATION TOOLS, RAGGING, TIES, CALICOES, DOMESTICS, BLEACHING
One Car Load Salt $1.00 Per Sack
WE MAKE A SPECIALTY OF THE OLD
BAY STATE SCREW FASTENED BOOTS AND SHOES
We are the only house in the place that can keep this make of boots and shoes, and WE WARRANT EVERY PAIR. If not as represented you have but to bring them back and we will return your money or give you a new pair. $2,000 worth of this Celebrated Shoe now in stock. TRY ONE PAIR.
    We buy goods direct from the manufacturing companies, and hence get better terms than smaller houses that deal with middle men. The benefit of our advantages in prices we share with our customers.
  To our friends and the citizens generally of Laurens we offer a cordial invitation to come and see up. We will make it to your interest.
J. I. Deese & Co.
Toombsboro, Nov. 26, 1879

December 3, 1879
Dublin Post
Robbery in Irwinton
     "Night before last, Col. O. Bower was knocked down as he entered his office, his key taken from him, and his safe robbed of $1200. Col. B. is county school commissioner and the money belonged to the school fund."

December 25, 1879
Atlanta Constitution
A Toombsboro Thief.
    Some time since the residence of Dennis Doke, of Toombsboro, was entered and a quantity of money and notes stolen. We have been informed that the amount was about $250 in money and about $4,700 in notes. Circumstances pointed to a negro by the name of "Bill" Hightower as the thief and Mr. Doke telegraphed to this city authorizing the police to arrest the above named negro if he should put in an appearance. Last night the police came up with Hightower and succeeded in making the arrest.
      Hightower was carried to the station house and locked up for safe-keeping until otherwise disposed of. The police, upon taking an inventory of his clothing, found a few dollars in silver. An effort will be made to find out where he has been living so that the house can be searched. We learn that there was a reward of two hundred and fifty dollars offered for Hightower.

December 30, 1879
Union and Recorder
   Mr. Frank Strong of Gordon, and an employee of the Central railroad, died a few days ago at the above place.


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