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Local Werewolf Roams Talbot County
October 29, 2005
It?s True from Talbot County
As the story goes; the Burt family was a very prominent family in the Woodland area of Talbot County. Mildred Owen Burt was 37 when her husband passed away leaving her to care for their children alone. She still managed to send the children to school and to Europe, which was no small feat in her day (mid-1830?s). [Talbot County was created in 1827 by Georgia General Assembly from lands once part of Muscogee County.]
Her daughter Isabella was said to be extremely introverted. After returning from Europe Isabella begin to suffer from insomnia and would take to roaming at night. She was said to have dark shaggy hair, small eyes with bushy brows and pointed teeth. Soon after there were reports of strange cry?s in the night; sheep and cattle were being found killed but not eaten; the body?s drained of their blood. Isabella seemed to take a great interest in the news of these killings.
One night her mother decided to follow Isabella on one of her nightly wanderings. Sarah, Isabella?s sister, also had decided to follow Isabella and now mom (Mildred) that same night. The farmers had also formed a posse to search and track that night for the werewolf killing their livestock. Mildred caught Isabella with a knife in her hand about to spring on an unsuspecting sheep. Mildred called out and Isabella turned on her in anger! Two shots rang out, Sarah fainted and Isabella was wounded in the left hand.
The Doctor that attended Isabella told Sarah that Isabella?s hand had been shot by one of the men in the posse. The men stated that Isabella got caught in the middle of the werewolf they were tracking. Mildred too was carrying a pistol and suffered powder burns on her hand as the pistol had misfired when she stumbled and fell. Mildred recovered and Isabella was sent to Europe.
The family told the locals she was sent to visit relatives. In reality she was sent to a specialist who treats people with a psychological disease called Lycanthrope. This disease causes an emotionally disturbed person to believe they are or have become a werewolf. Isabella returned to Woodland after several months of treatment and lived the rest of her life there.
She died in 1911, at the age of 70 she is buried in the Owen and Holmes Cemetery in Woodland. By the way, Isabella is a cousin of Miss Emma Owen who was murdered by Dr. Ryder and they are buried in the same cemetery.
I will be writing on the Emma Owens Murder Part one and Part two.
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SCROLL DOWN BELOW STORIES TO SEE PICTURES NOT INCLUDED ON COLUMBUS GEORGIA ON LINE!
Part one
Easter Sunrise to Deadly Dark in Talbot County
April 5, 1896
It had been a beautiful spring weekend at "The Elms" in Pleasant Hill, the home of Daniel Owen and family. This home was a social center for the young adults in Talbot County, as Mr. Owen two beautiful daughters often entertained their young friends and school mates at his county home.. On this occasion his daughters Sallie Emma Owen and Lizzie Mae Owen had both just graduated from Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia and invited their friends, Miss Mary Mathews and Miss Jennie Beall McCoy, over for the weekend.
Easter Sunday the young ladies rise early that morning as they are awaiting the arrival of three young gentlemen coming to call on them and latter to drive them to Talbotton. A great time was had at the Elems that day. At mid-afternoon three brightly painted buggies pulled by strong but sleek horses left the Owen home in the country and made their way toward Talbotton.
The first buggie carried Miss Mary Mathews and Will Gorman, the second Miss Sallie Emma Owen and Dr. Will Ryder, and the third buggie carried Miss Lizzie Mae Owen, Miss Jennie Beall McCoy and Matthews McCoy. Laughter and merriment continued along their way. Suddenly, Dr. Ryder?s horse bolted and with great burst of speed passed the front buggie on the narrow road almost turning them both over as they just miss each other. Dr. Ryder gain control of his horse, after endangering both occupants in the two buggies, and they travel on reaching Talbotton about dusk.
This runaway incident was to prove just a warning of things to come! [Dr. Will Ryder was the newest member of this prominent group of young adults. He was considered a very eligible bachelor and made many friends, among them was a young attorney by the name of Gus Persons. He stated that Gus Persons was his best friend in the whole world. He was easily accepted by the younger social set and made it soon evident that he was very much in love with the lovely Sallie Emma Owen whom he tried to spend much time with as possible. This day Sallie Emma had just told him that she could not return his love as she did like him as a friend but had no romantic feelings for him. She also made known that her affections were directed toward the young attorney A.P. Persons.] As the buggies arrived in Talbotton, the girls were dropped at the home of John H. McCoy where the Owen sisters were to spend the night with Jennie Beall McCoy.
Somewhere around 7pm Dr. Ryder knocks on the McCoy home door. Jennie Beall opens the door and he asked if Sallie Emma might go with him to the Sunday night service at the Methodist Church. Jennie Beall informs him the Sallie Emma's mother had ask that she not go out in the night air as she had just got over the measles. Reluctantly, Dr. Ryder leaves the McCoy home and goes the short distance to the church alone.
Meanwhile Gus Persons is told that Sallie Emma is at the McCoy home so he drops by the McCoy home to visit Sallie Emma shortly after Dr. Ryder left for the church. He goes in and meets Jennie Beall and Sallie Emma in the parlor. After a short time Jennie Beall leaves to go to the back of the house so they can be alone in the parlor.
Not before or since has Talbbot County ever witness such an emotional frenzy, nothing has ever been equal to this night, not before or since.
Part two of Easter Sunrise to Deadly Dark in Talbot County to follow. ********************************************************
SCROLL DOWN BELOW STORIES TO SEE PICTURES NOT INCLUDED ON COLUMBUS GEORGIA ON LINE!
Part II: Easter Sunday Turns To Deadly Dark April 5, 1896
PART Two
When we left you last week in Part I, Sallie Emma Owen and Jennie Beall McCoy had stayed home from Church and had told Dr. Ryder that Sallie Emma could not go out in the night air. Lizzie Mae Owen and Mary Mathews had supposedly left for church earlier and Dr. Ryder after talking to Jennie Beall had also left for church alone. Gus Persons had been told by friends that Sallie Emma was in town and had joined her at the McCoy home, they were seated in the parlor by a warm fire talking as Jennie Beall leaves the room for the back of the house, so the couple could be alone.
Shortly before 9 o?clock Mary and Lizzie Mae return to the McCoy home. Jennie Beall returns to join them with Gus and Sallie Emma in the parlor. A few minutes later Dr .Ryder open the door and came in with out a knock. Gus invites his old friend to have a seat and join them in the parlor. Dr. Ryder ignored responding to the invitation and turns to leave. Before leaving Dr. Ryder remarks to Mary, "I didn't see you and Lizzie Mae at church this evening" and Mary jokingly replied " I didn?t see you at this evening either" yet she knew he was there.
As Dr. Ryder leaves the house Gus hears the courthouse clock strike 9 o'clock. At church very few people were present, it was not difficult to notice that Dr. Ryder was restless and troubled as he sat in church that night alone. One of the people at church that night was Mr. J. R. Kimbrough, a prominent merchant, who after church stopped by his store which, was the bottom floor to Dr. Ryder?s office. He speaks to Dr .Ryder and goes to Ryder?s office to chat with him a few minutes.
Dr. Ryder picks up a pen and paper as if to write a note, Mr. Kimbrought suggests that he should leave as Dr. Ryder appears to be starting to write a note, but Dr. Ryder replied he wasn't going to write a note. He states he has had a wonderful day visiting with Sallie Emma at the Owen home today. Mr. Kimbrough and Dr. Ryder leave the office and start towards home; Dr. Ryder to his room at the Weston Hotel and Mr. Kimbrough to his home.
Along the way Mr. Kimbrough comes across Mr. Webster, the night watchman, and spends the next ten minutes talking to him. At the Weston Hotel Mr. C. C. Grant and Mr. Tuck Persons were in the lobby and saw Dr. Ryder go to his room on the second floor. In less than a minute they heard him hurriedly come back down the stairs and leave.
At the McCoy home, all the young ladies were preparing for bed while Sallie Emma and Gus remained in the parlor. Mr. McCoy had donned his nightshirt and prepared for bed in his room across from the parlor. Dilly Canty, a black man, was passing the McCoy home on his way to the Baldwin home to check on Miss Mae Baldwin. As he passed the McCoy he notices a man standing in the front yard of the house; while not recognizing the man he senses something amiss and becomes very frightened. Hurrying by he doesn't look back till he reaches the Baldwin home 200yards down the street.
Just as he opens the door he hears two loud blasts coming from the McCoy home. In the McCoy parlor Gus and Sallie Emma sat; the first blast of the shotgun shook the house. Gus turned his head toward the parlor door where he saw a cloud of smoke. The second blast was fired. Gus feels a sting on his right cheek. Stunned he again looks at the doorway and in the smoke sees a man's figure wheel and run with the gun out the front door.
Standing to follow the gunman he looks toward Sallie Emma and sees that her death had been instantaneous because she had never moved or made a sound as she sat dead in the rocking chair. Shortly before 9:30pm Mr. Will Thornton and his helper Wes Freeman saw a man run by whom Wes recognized as Dr. Ryder. They called out to him ?what?s the matter? but he kept running so they followed him shortly joined by Mr. Kimbrough and the night watchman.
They follow him to his office. They hear him inside gulping some type of liquid. Trying to light a lamp they hear Dr. Ryder leave by a rear stairway once they get outside they see him running west down the Waverly Hall Road. The word of the shooting spread quickly and a rowd gathered to chase the murderer.
About ½ a mile from town in Persons Pond they find Dr. Ryder bloody, muddy, and incoherent in the shallow water half concealed by lily pads. He was removed from the pond and carried to Dr. Bardwell?s office where he started to try to save Dr. Ryder?s life. He treated his stab wounds and pumped his stomach to remove the drug he had taken. He worked for hours to save him even though the crowd now called out to let him die.
Soon after midnight he revived Dr. Ryder. The Sheriff Burrell Richards placed him in the county jail. The town folk were becoming rebellious, Dr. Ryder was moved to a jail in Macon on Tuesday. The crowd called for Judge William Butt to call for a special session of the Grand Jury. Judge Butt complied and a date was set for the first Monday in May.
The Grand Jury bound Dr. W. L. Ryder over to stand trial for the murder of Miss Sallie Emma Owen with malice afterthought on Sunday night, April 5, 1896 killed her with a shotgun blast in the McCoy home. ***************************************************************************************************************
PART Three (If you missed Part One click here)
On April 7,1896, a group of citizens of Talbotton drafted a resolution to call Judge William Butt to call for a Grand Jury to meet on Monday, May 1,1896. The Grand Jury did meet on that day and indicted Dr. W. L. Ryder for murder, "in that he did with malice aforethought kill Miss Sallie Emma Owen with a shotgun blast on Sunday night April 5,1896." Now the stage was set for one of the most remarkable trials ever in Talbot County history . Dr. Ryder's relatives lost no time in securing a Defense Team for the trail.They were: Col. J. J. Bull of Talbotton, Col. J.H.Worrel of Talbotton, A.A.Carson and C.J.Thornton of Columbus. Then one of middle Georgia most outstanding trial lawyers, Dupont Guerry of Macon, to round out the legal team to do battle to save Dr. Ryder's life.
The Prosecution Team was just as impressive: A popular solicitor-general Sterling Price Gilbert was one of the best attorneys in Georgia( he later served as a Superior Court Judge and as a justice on the Supreme Court of Georgia,) Col.J.H. Martin( a former Superior Court Judge, Col. J.H. McGehee of Talboltton, and Col, S.B. Hatcher of Columbus. May 25,1896 the trial began. The first move that the Defense made was to state that Dr. Ryder could not get a fair trial in Talbot County and ask for a change of venue. They also clamed that in his present physical condition he should not stand trial at this time. In the motion on change of venue they called witnesses who testified of ill feelings in the County against Dr. Ryder. Roscoe Gorman, a cousin of the slain girl, said that he had heard a lot of talk about lynching and parties had offered" to come and lynch Dr. Ryder". Sheriff Richards testified that he was told that a mob of 60 men from Upson County had planed on Tuesday, after Miss Owen death, to lynch Dr. Ryder; on advice from local citizens he moved Dr. Ryder to the Macon jail that Tuesday afternoon . George H. Estes testified that "while a great many people want Dr. Ryder to stand trial there are some that say he ought to be hanged". Another witness said the general feeling was that "Ryder should be mobbed". The Defense rests! The Prosecution called over 100 prominent citizens from every section of the County who testified with out exception that they believed Dr.Ryder could get a fair trial. The court felt after testimony that even though feeling against Ryder were high the overwhelming testimony of these prominent citizens prompted him to overrule the motion on May 26,1896. The Defense voiced a strong objection to this ruling! On the Question of Ryder's condition to stand trial;Judge Butt knowing this question would be faced had sent Dr. Bardwell to Macon the examine the defendant. Dr. Bardwell returned late that afternoon and told the judge that Ryder was "prostrate and appeared to be drugged." This news shook the courtroom! Supported by affidavits from two other doctors; Judge Butt had no other choice but to grant a continuance until the September term of court. The citizens were shocked by this change of events! " How had Ryder been drugged?" they ask." What Doctor had prescribed for him?" " Who slipped him Dope?" The next day a citizen told a reporter that " no one here now believes that Ryder will ever stand trial."The people had lost faith in the court and said the court would never deal with a criminal that was backed by money and influence.
After a long hot Georgia summer with no news on Ryder's health on the streets; September 1896 arrived! September 13th, Sheriff Richards and a squad of Deputies brought Dr. Ryder from Macon by railroad to Geneva and from there by buggy to the Talbotton jail. Two Deputies guarded the cell and the next day 12 Deputies escorted the defendant Ryder to the courthouse. Word that Ryder was in town spread like a wild fire and the court room was filled to capacity. At 9am, September 14th, Judge Butt calls the case State of Georgia vs. W.L. Ryder. A murmur moved trough the courtroom;"Where Is Ryder?' Defense attorney Dupont Guerry arose and spoke to the court;" Your honor, the defendant waives his presence here in court this morning. We have a motion to make." The motion he made to the court was to drop the indictment against Ryder on the grounds news stories surrounding the event had completely prejudiced the minds of the public against the defendant, and had already convicted him of murder, and that under no circumstances could he obtain justice in any court in Georgia. Judge Butt Allowed the defense to proceed; even though this type of motions was unusual in this time. The defense clamed the Atlanta Constitution and the Talbotton New Era stories had caused Prejudiced in the minds of all Georgians with tales and descriptions of the death of Miss Owen, pictures of the bloody room and stating Dr.Ryder guilty of the crime before a trial and causing all to know him guilty while no one had placed him in the house at the time of the murder.The morning of September 15th 1896; Judge Butt overruled the motion based on newspaper coverage of the event. ( it was 70 years later when the U.S. Supreme Court was to grant a motion stating newspapers can bias citizens and allowed a new trial for a defendant in a murder case of his wife.)Once the motion was overruled the defense filled another motion for a continuance due to insanity growing out of a ear ailment. The motion was heard and on the morning of September 16th the State rested it rebuttal, Judge Butt overruled the motion. The trial will begin September 17th1896 the day was consumed by selection of 12 jurors. 8am, September 18th the State started presenting it's case. All day witness was made on Dr. Ryder for the state connecting him to the crime. The State rest it's case. September 19, a Saturday; The defense call their witnesses. At 2pm Dr.T.C. Johnson, Ryder's childhood physician was called to tell of Ryder's ear ailment which cause severe headaches and moodiness as well as pain that would drive him insane. The Dr. Johnson when called didn't appear in the court room and was nowhere to be found. Court closed ar 4pm. Shortly after close of court news arrived that Dr.Johnson had been injured in a train wreck near Bostick where he was severely injured. It seems the Doctor had received word at the courthouse his wife was badly ill in Richland he had left the courthouse to go to her without permission from the court. At the depot while leaving he told David Lawson he knew Dr. Ryder in his childhood "he had nothing worth swearing to in the case. Due to his injury's from the train wreck he never was heard by the Jury. September 21, the defense continued to call witnesses to prove Dr. Ryder 's insanity, several well none friends and towns people spoke of seeing him go insane after complaining with headaches and going into rages and act strangely for 2 to 3 days at a time over the course of the 4 years he had been in town. September 22, most of the day was taken up with the State's witnesses rebuttal of the insanity, most of whom were close friends, co-workers, or Doctors that had checked him over the past months since the murder. September 23,1896 the defense again try for motion for continuance, and when it was again overruled, motioned for a mistrial and it to was denied. With all the evidence presented and all motions exhausted, both the State and the Defense rested at 1:30pm. the Judge ordered the jury arguments to begin. The State presen ted it's argument for 4 hours that day and continued at 7:30am September 24thand argued all that day, then closed. All Day September 25th was allotted to the defense, who made their arguments to the jury all that day. People in the courtroom all stated both sides gave great speeches in their attempted to sway the jury. September 26th,1896 the court convened at 7:30am with the State making it's closing argument concluding alittle after 10am. Judge Butt gave a 2hr. charge to the jury, then called for a lunch recess. At 1pm the judge ordered the jury to" retire and make a verdict." After a short time the foreman rapped on the door. After returning to the jury box, Judge Butt ask of the foreman"Do you have a verdict?" When the foreman answered "Yes" the judge told solicitor Gilbert to read the verdict. Everyone sat a waited as he read " We the jury find the defendant guilty. This September 26,1896. J.E.Garrett, foreman". The Judge Butt broke the silence"bring the prisoner forward." 2 guards lift Dr. Ryder to his feet and stand him in front of the judge. Ryder didn't appear to know what was happening or hear the judge, but he did blink his eye when the judges statement ended with "on January 15,1897,be hanged by your neck until dead."The crowd left the courtroom in an orderly fashion. Some were weeping but most felt satisfied that justice was done. Dr. Ryder was returned to jail in Columbus while his lawyers worked on a motion for a new trial. News headlines read ROPE FOR RYDER. They also talked of this trial being one of the biggest fought ever known in the history of Georgia. By Monday trouble started as Judge Butt was notified that his sentence was illegal by one of the defense lawyers. Rumors started to go around town that Ryder was going to escape death due to a technicality. Judge Butt returned on Monday to Talbotton only to discover that Georgia law required that a person convicted of a capital offence without a recommendation of mercy would be hanged not less than 20 days nor more than 60 days from the date of the conviction. The January 15th date exceeded the 60 day period and was in conflict with the law. After several conferences with the state and defense attorneys; Judge Butt would vacate the original sentence and set a new hanging at the jail between 11am and 2pm on November 24, 1896. Ryder's attorneys filed a motion for a new trial, Judge Butt again overruled. This made the motion perfect to go before the Ga .Supreme Court, a stay of execution was granted till heard by the court. The Hanging is on hold! The Supreme Court put the hearing on the February calendar. It would be argued on Febuary 24-25 1987. After all was said and done Ryder won a new trial on March 12,1897. News of the new trial was met with mix feelings by the Talbot County people. A new date was set for July 19,1897 and Dr. Ryder was brought to the Talbot jail from Columbus where he had been held since his last trial. At 10am he was brought under guard to the courthouse by a group of guards and the Sheriff Ryder's steps were weak and unsteady, he told the Sheriff he didn't think he could walk that far. Judge Hart was going to hear the case as Judge Butt was ill. the first thing the defense did was state the had missing witnesses and they came forward with an arm full of affidavits from missing councils and witnesses and made a motion for a continuance. The state argued for over two hours to not allow the motion. Judge Hart knowing the Supreme Court had ordered the new trial because of a similar motion in the first trial being refused granted the motion at 5pm and moved the date to the September court term. During the time at 4:30pm when Ryder was being taken back to jail 8 men also left the court room; as Ryder was brought by one man quietly said to the others" we've had enough, each of you bring one other and meet on the Waverly Hall road west of town at 6 pm. Ryder looked at the group and knew them well. Sheriff Richards had guarded his prisoner well while he was in Talbot County. He was proud of the citizens as they let the law run it's course and caused no trouble. He felt his prisoner was safe and detailed deputies Murphy and Boswell to take Ryder by carriage 12 miles to Waverly Hall to catch a south bound train to Columbus taking Ryder to Jail. The Deputies and Ryder leave for Waverly Hall with no trouble. Shortly before 6 pm, 16 men fully armed load up on a wagon and 2 buggies leave toward Waverly Hall with their quarry 4 miles ahead they leave to overtake them down the road. Just as they head down the road in pursuit, a thunder storm hits with heavy lightning and rain. This slows down the mob in their chase of their prey, but they continue on. At 6:30 a excited citizen knocks on the Sheriff's door and quickly tells him a mob is after Ryder. The Sheriff runs to the livery stable demands the fastest team of horses be harnessed to a carriage. He goes around the town square and Deputized 20 men and gave them rifles. Almost an hour behind the mob they st rict out down the Waverly Hall Road. 5 miles west of town the posse stops at a farm house where he demands the fastest horse the farmer has and sends Seab Jones ahead as a courier to try and reach his Deputies and warn them,who are now at Pitts Store in Waverly Hall. The Train is due in about 10 minutes. Arriving ahead of the deputies and Ryder was George Palmer the court reporter on his way home in Columbus. Mr. Palmer see's coming over a hill beyond the depot, in the dark a wagon and buggy. He says later " as soon as I saw the crowd I knew what was up." The mob completely overpower the guards and take Ryder.As Ryder was being loaded in the wagon Seab Jones the courier approaches from Talbotton, he is haul ted by the mob and his gun taken, Seab was 5 minutes to late to save Ryder The Mob Had its quarry. The original plan was to take Ryder back to Talbotton and hang him at the McCoy house near the spot where had shot Sallie Emma Owen. The arrival of the courier just warned the mob that the Sheriff can't be far behind. Sure enough after traveling 2 miles east of Waverly Hall they heard horses and wagon coming at a high rate of speed in the dark. The mob pulls over to the edge of the woods near the road and sit quietly. Sheriff Richards see the wagons sitting on the side but isn't concerned as he was told the mob numbered 200 or more. He passed on by headed to town loosing Ryder his last chance to survive. Just missing the law caused the mob to change the plan. They turned on to the Alabama Road toward Woodland the time is now 8:30pm. The 16 men stop at a farm house of John Willis just ahead is an oak grove. They dump Ryder out in the mud from the rain and tie his hands and feet with short rope . A long piece of rope was placed around his neck in a hangman's noose. The other end was placed in a high limb and 4 men held the end. At this time Ryder was asked if wished to pray? If he heard them he never made sound or gave a response of any kind. The rope was then pull taunt and held firmly as 2 men raised Ryder up on their shoulders and when the rope was tightened they dropped out from under him and left him hanging till all life was gone from his frail weaken body. Ryder was put to death 1 year 3 months and 14 days since he had shot and killed Sallie Emma Owen. Just after mid-night Ryder's body was taken back to Talbotton and placed in a coffin. His grief stricken brothers vowed to have the lynchers punished. The September Superior Court had called for a Grand Jury investigation of the lynching. Judge Butt ask for a through investigation of this unmitigated murder. After 2 days the Grand Jury brought a report on September 14,1897. The report stated" after investigating this matter diligently and examining a large number of witnesses, we have not secured evidence enough to indict anyone". THE END
Research Sources: The Atlanta Constitution- Archives The Harris County
Journal -Sept. 2005 Article on Reenactment of THE trial THERE WAS A LAND-1971 Judge R.H.Jordann
Talbotton City Cemetery
Personnel Relationships to Think About: Prof. R.A Ryder was married to Katie Gorman a cousin of the Owen girls. Dr. C.A.Ryder was married to Lucy McCoy. Gus Persons married Jennie Beall McCoy.
Questions Raised in my mind:
Why did Sallie Owen & Jennie McCoy really stay home?
Why did Mary Matthews and Lizzie Mae Owen go to church and never get there ?
Were these two girls the friends that told Gus Gorman that Sallie Emma was at the house?
Was this a game the girls played to get Gus and Sallie Emma together or maybe a way to start trouble for Sallie and Gus or to free up Gus for Jennie Beall, being he was Ryder's best friend and maybe not see her if it upset Ryder?
Why did they want Ryder at Church alone?
Where was Mathew McCoy all this time after dropping them off after the trip from the Elms?
After knowing Ryder for 3 yrs. they had to know he'd go off when he saw Gus and Sallie together.
What were they up to??? *********************************************************************************************************************************************************************
TALES AS TOLD TO RON ROLLINS
FOLLOWING THE SANDS OF TIME LEDS US BACK TO THE ROCK.
Sunday June 26, 2005, Sandra Doolittle and I attended the 180th Anniversary of Bethel Baptist Church in Midland, Ga. It was a glorious day for the church, it's history, and the 80 + guests and members.
t made this day so special was it brought together a reality, the people, the place, and a view into a past history of people who helped get us to where we are today as a Nation.
STORY: In 1825 a group of God fearing people started meeting together to worship and formed a church near Old Alabama Road in Muscogee County. They named it Bethel Church. Bethel is located on what is now Flat Rock Road.
1827, Georgia held it's first Land Lottery of Indian Lands, a large number of familles began to move to the area. Land in Muscogee County was split up to make several new Counties of smaller size. With the influx of more people, more organization of local governments and religion began.
1829, The Columbus Baptist Association organized on November 22. Members of the Presbytery of the Association for Constituting New Churches were Rev. Anderson Smith, Rev. George Grandberry, Rev. Hiram Powell, and Rev. Green Berry Waldrop. ( Rev.G.B.Waldrop is Sandra Doolittle's Great-Great Grandfather).
June 29, 1829, Bethel was constituted as the Baptist Church of Christ. Also on this date Cary Willis became the first member of the church and later pastored the church for 54 years after being ordained minister by Rev.G. B. Waldrop.
TODAY: The Morning opened in celebration of 180 years by song as Southern Vision of Valley, Alabama a Premier Gospel Quartet, set the spirit of the day. Greeter was Rev. Jimmy Blanton of the Columbus Baptist Association. Guest Speaker was Rev. Mac Hammond of Brooklin Park, Minnesota.( He is the Great-Great Grandson of Rev Cary Willis who Pastored Bethel Church from 1840 to 1894). The Church History was read and copies were made available for all. Bethel's Pastor Rev. Ralph Horne put together a great Celebration of the Church and it's History. Rev. Hammond gave great examples of how over time, all those that the Church touched in the Spirit multiplied to influence many others. The original 13 members, like our founding States, have for over 180 years effected the lives of people all over the World!
IT was a great day! Good Singing, Good Sermon, Good Food with Good People.
sure and visit my site. Thanks Ron Rollins
"Ins and Outs of Harris County" every Sunday AM Visit his "Memories" website
HARRIS COUNTY &?THE SACRED HARP?
Whitesville, once the Settlement of Mountain Creek, was Incorporated in 1837 and named for the Pioneer ?White? family.
In May of 1842, Benjamin Franklin White moved his family in a covered wagon to Harris County . Ben made friends in the surrounding area and found a place to settle. In February 1843, Ben purchased 95 acres of land near Whitesville, Ga.
From the time Ben arrived in Harris County, he treasured the dream of compiling a songbook . He gathered tunes, experimented with them in his singing schools, and watched the reaction of his pupils. From 1843-1844; Ben edited a weekly newspaper in Hamilton, Ga. In the music section of the paper, where? fasola ? songs were printed, he placed 13 of his songs. After 13 weeks of printing songs, they became so popular that the songs from the 13 issues of the newspaper were clipped out and pinned together to make the first ? The Sacred Harp ?. In the spring of 1844, the manuscript was sent to Philadelphia and 1500 copies of the songbook were printed.
After the publication of the Sacred Harp, Ben White?s reputation and popularity Increased considerably. He held singing schools, taught shape note singing of the?fasola? syllables and promoted his book THE SACRED HARP. In 1850 the second edition was published with 97 new songs on 103 pages.
This style of singing became very popular in churches and music conventions. It could be done without musical accompaniment and was written in shaped notes for four to five part harmony . Easy to read and learn.
B.F. White lived a busy life while in Harris County----- In the 1840?s Ben taught music at the Hamilton Female Institute in Harris County. He was the editor of the Harris County Organ newspaper in 1852. He joined Mountain Creek Baptist Church , now Midway Baptist Church, in1856. He was elected clerk of the Inferior Court of Harris County in 1858. He was Mayor of Hamilton in 1865.He was a Major in the Ga. Militia.
In 1866 he moved back to Dekalb County ,Ga. And died there November 28,1879 and is buried in Atlanta?s Oakland Cemetery along with his wife.
HUTCHINSON CEMETERY
MONUMEMT ROAD STORY AS TOLD TO RON ROLLINS
One Fall in the late 1970's, as Fire Chief of our local Fire Department, I was called out of a nights sleep, I was told we had a house fire out by the church on the dirt road west of Whitesville. I leave my home to respond along with other neighbors, who are volunteer fire- fighters, to the location of the fire. The fire was so far along that the old home was damaged beyond repair. These were times when in Harris County did not yet have 911, Fire radio's, water hydrants or up to date equiptment as it does today.
Just caring neighbors banning to gether to help when fire broke out. Emergency addressing and street signs also weren't there. I as Chief; as the fire was over and everyone going back home to get back in thier normal routene; was left at the location to fill out the paper work and fire report. Here is where my Story and Tale begins!
I had to know the road name of this location. As I inquired of the residents of the road I received several road names of that location. One older black gentelman said it use to be the old West Point- Whitesville Road when he was a boy, a black women spoke up and said they called it the Big House Creek Road as it didn't really go to much of nothing but crosses the old Creek of that name. All agreed their mail came as RT#1 Box --# West Point, Ga. As I left that blank for now, A Sheriff Deputy drove up to check out the fire ; I ask if he knew the road name he shakes his head NO but says he will check the map of the County and call me back as soon as he got in from his rounds. A Rural Area, old Road to No where populated--- What was it's name???
It's Name Was Monument Road! The Deputy did call back, he had checked the new County Map and that what it says the name is. I thanked him and completed the fire report.I gave a copy of the report to the family for their insurance company and then the they ask the question that drove me to seek the answer" WHY IS IT CALLED MONUMENT ROAD?"
Less than a week later, we were holding our fire department monthly Boad meeting; I ask the question of the road name to Board member Sherman Norwood said he knew why! Sherman, who is a prominent black community leader and Deacon of the AME Church, spent most of his working life as a timber and pulpwood worker as the farm lands of the County were changing into forrest lands; as they grew up due to lack of farming of the soil depleted lands. Sherman said the Road from Whitsville did use to be the West Point Rd., but now ended at Marshell-Williams Rd when the covered bridge was out in a flood of Flat Shoals Creek. It is now called Monument Rd, because where it ends there is a large 30' monument at a family cemetery. You used to see it from the road before the pines grew up on the farm lands. NOW I WANT TO KNOW MORE!
I talked to J.T.Cox,who came to Harris Couny as Agriculture Agent in Late 1920's, another fire board member and he said the monument is to the Hutchinson Family at their cemetery off Marshall- Williams on the north side just past the intersection with Monument Road.Their big house used to be in a triangle that Monument road made as it split around the house to connect with Marshall- Williams Rd.It's not that way today and the house is gone. Oh,By the way, there is an interesting story about how they moved the monument and cemetery stones to the location it is on. Do You want to hear it? He says!
The Story Goes as told to me by J.T.Cox: Back in the early 1900s (exact date not known) after the death of Nicholas and Mary Pratt Hutchinson the granit and marble parts of the cemetery and monument were built in Alabama to be shipped by rail to West Point.When they arrived at the depot the stuggle to whitesville began, as at this time there were no trucks invented, the rest of the trip had to be made on wagons with mules pulling the load. As those of us who have seen this large monument, it had to be brought in piece by piece as marble and granite are very heavy and also had to be assembled on the site. The pieces were shipped in order of assembly on heavy wagons and 20 mule teams to pull it. Also you should know one of the biggest problems they will face is the crossing of flat shoals creek a mile north of the site; and all the bridges are wooden covered bridges not able to hold the weight of the wagons; so fording the creek was to be done at a set of shoals near the Whitesville- West Point Rd bridge just North of the plantion,
As with all good plans problems do occur! Rain on muddy road, swollen creek and broken wagons under the massive weight of the stones. At one point a third set of 20 mule team had to be brought in just to assist at mud holes and the ford as ware and tear took place due to the two wagons a day making the trip on the narrow road from West Point.
As the trip was being made daily with the crew of men and wagons to bring in the stone to the site ,there was also a crew of men at the hard task of putting the heavy stone in place, stacking the monument and securing them in place. We don't know how long it took to complete the project or how they moved the heavy stones in place without use of modern equiptment to lift the weight; but the finished product is to something see and the work done to be awed. The love of family members who passed and the hardships that were incured in making the monument a reality was a major undertaking in is time.The craftmanship with it's marble inlayed granite and wrought iron fences was a work of art. THE MONUMENT WAS FINISH.
J.T.Cox was a Whitesville resident who raised a large family, a millright who worked on the TVA Dam Project on the Tennessee River, a wielder, sawmiller, and ran the Grissmill still located in Whitesville today.He took a lot of pride in his handycraft and actknowledged the craft and labors of others. He is surely missed by those of us in the community that learned from him.
******** NOTE *******
THE REST OF THE STORY: After putting the story told to me about Hutchinson Monument on the Site, I had a couple of E-mails telling me that the story doesn't fit with what Mrs. Barfield put in her book History Of Harris County. I decided to go back and review her story and see.
What I found in the story did set a foundation for the story I had been told. Her story was about the trip taken by the stones that had been polished by steam machines done in Columbus and shipped by rail to Chipley and then wagons shipped to the location for assembly. In the same paragraph she mentions the granite blocks were hand cut by a company in West Point. These are the stones that must be talked about in the story told to me, as the Route taken in the story was from West Point across Flat Shoals Creek to the location of the Monument. Most of the stones were not polished and most granite used was on the base structure and the wall that surrounds the Monument and grave site area
Two different type stones, shipped from two different locations, in two different directions to the resting-place, by two different ship companies and means.
MUST BE THE REST OF THE STORY AS TOLD TO ME!
THANKS FOR THE E- MAILS-- KEEP CHECKING THE SITE, RON
A message from Ron: you will note from the photo on this page modern vandales have broken head stones,fences,dumped trash, and even dug up graves in a lot of old cemeteries in Harris County. I would like to ask our careing people to take the time to join others to help clean up and repair the cemeteries of Harris County. Some families have either died out, moved away, or may not respect their ancesters;but we of the living owe them that have gone the respect for the legency they left to us that improved our lives. We need to Volunteer to take care of their resting place as it was left to them in their death. Take a few hours of your time once a year to clean up a cemetery near you.
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