-Chapter IV- TOWNS, COMMUNITIES, AND MILITIA DISTRICTS (1880-1980)
Carters - Ball Ground District
Lower Murray County was once divided into three militia districts-the Eighth, Carters, and Ball Ground. While the Eighth is still geographically the same, Carters and Ball Ground have been realigned several times. Both areas have histories which go back to Cherokee times.
Militia District No. 825 was the second one formed in Murray County and was named for Farish Carter who owned some 15,000 acres of land in the area. By the 1880's the western part of this district was called Ball Ground, but then (to confuse matters) around the turn of the century another district, Coosawattee No. 1807, was formed when No. 825 was called Ball Ground. In 1934 District No. 825 in the extreme southeast comer of the county, once again became Carters and No. 1807 between Carters and the Eighth became Ball Ground. At last the name was official. Around 1959, however, the two were once again joined and No. 1807 was abolished. In more recent years Carters has been combined with Doolittle for voting purposes.
Geographic features of these areas are Fields Gap and Buck Knob Mountain in the northeast corner of Carters District, Talking Rock Creek in the southeastern corner, the Coosawattee River on the southern edge and Buck Creek north and west of Ball Ground. Parts of Sugar. Rock, and Holly Creeks form of the northern district lines. Several springs are also found in these areas.
As evidenced by the creation of an additional district and then two reductions in districting, the population of the area increased for many years, but then began a steady decline between the World Wars and afterward. Farming was the Primary occupation in this section of Murray, but "moonshining" was widespread for some time! Many people left the somewhat secluded areas to be closer to other jobs and better schools. Even today many roads are unpaved, houses are far apart, and some areas are not joined by power lines and telephone cables. Many acres are owned by pulpwood companies like Bowaters. Other is now part of the Carters Dam complex and the Coosawattee Wildlife Magement Area. Recently, however, some slight population growth has occurred.
Carters-Ball Ground never boasted a large town, but at least a dozen small afies or communities have existed within their boundaries. Justices of the peace and school trustees are the only district officials on record. Past holders of the trustee position include John Berry (1877-92), J. Love (1877-79). John D. Spruell (1877-78). James McEntire (1878-92), Cicero D. Gilbert (1879-92) A.J. Martin (1892-95). Ben Becton (1892.95). David Heartsill (1892-95). Steven E. Cowart (1895). W.J. Smith (1895) and J.D. Durham (1895). Teachers in No. 825 during the first year of the Murray County School System (1877) were D.V. Thomason, J.C. Ellis, M. Hubbard.G.B. Bolan, and T.R.Johns (colored). Teachers in 1882 were R.P. Messer. G.C. Dalton, J.L. Simpson.W.C. Martin, and Miss H.I. Spruell. H.W. Bagley was a long-time justice of the peace in the district serving from 1885 until 1893 and again from 1897-1901 before holding the office from 1904 until his death in 1929. Other J.P.'s include W.D. Heartsll (1885-93), S.G. Carter (1885-89), D.L. Ridley (1893-97), L.N. Moore (1893-97). J.D. Durham (1895-97), W.P. Hemphill (1905-09), Patterson Messer (1907-11). C.F. Durham (1911-15), J.D. Calhoun (1915-24). T.B. Foster (1924-28), D.W. Smith (1929-32) and C.C. Deal (1933-41).
Murray County Heritage