-Chapter IV- TOWNS, COMMUNITIES, AND MILITIA DISTRICTS (1880-1980)
Cisco-Alaculsey District
The present Cisco Militia District (No. 10ll)is the result of combining several once very distinct communities into one. Located in the northeast corner of Murray County. Cisco District is now noted for its prompt reporting of election returns. However, communication has not always been easy in this rugged, mountainous area which has one of the most fascinating histories of any Georgia District. Stories of churches, schools, mountain adventures, lost mines, counterfeiters, Union raids, and rugged living abound in Cisco history.
Geographically. Cisco District has several important features. In the extreme northeast portion of the district is the Alaculsey Valley. Spellings for Alaculsey vary and if someone simply writes or speaks of just "The Valley,'' everyone knows exactly the area to which he is referring. Of course mountains must exist for valleys to do so. and Cisco District has several: Bald (so named because of the sparse vegetation on its peak), Beaver. Rocky Face. Cowpen. Doogan, and Iron Mountains.
Several waterways dominate the Cisco District's geography, also. Rough Creek (because it arises in the eastern part of the county and runs through "rough territory"), Sumach Creek (named by the Indians for the sumac plant), Tearbritches Creek (arises on the north side of Bald Mountain), and Sheets Creek all empty into the principal waterway of the area, the Conasauga River. This river arises in western Fannin County, flows north through Alaculsey into Tennessee, meanders in and out of Georgia, and finally turns south to become the boundary line between Murray and Whitfield Counties. Most believe that Conasauga comes from the Cherokee "Kahnasagah" which means "grass." Another important tributary is Jack's River. Legends say that an Indian named Jack lived in the Valley and carried people across the river on his back, thus explaining the origin of the name.
Before the Civil War, many families settled in the Valley and on the surrounding hills. Many came from Tennessee, but others came from Germany. France, Holland, or Ireland. Some came by boat and others in wagons, on horseback, or on foot. Family histories say that the Valley was a peaceful, prosperous community where people worked hard and helped one another to build homes and care for families.
Names are often confusing when discussing the Cisco District because for several years three post offices operated in the area. One was called Alaculsey, described by a Georgia historian as "a post hamlet in extreme northeast Murray County." Postmasters for Alaculsey were William C. Kirby (1878-81), Thomas N. Taylor (1881). W.J. Linder (1881). John W. Linder (1881-84). Nasa M. payne (1884-87). Loranzo Poteet (1887-88). John Martin (1888-1903). A.S. Campbell (1903-04), William C. Chable (1904-12), and Jarnes C. Chable who served from 1912 until the post office was combined with Doogan in 1914.
According to long-time resident Rev. Mark Baxter. Alaculsey was an Indian name given to the area by one of the community's founders. Alphonso A. Chable. Chable was a Frenchman who had come to America and settled at Sylco just inside the Tennessee line. (Sylco was also called Vineland or The Old Dutch Settlement.) During the Civil War, Chable. whose father had fought under Napoleon, joined the Confederate Army and rose to the rank of Captain. Following the war he settled in the Valley and along with his son, Andrew (1866-1946), accumulated land, operated a mill, and became a prominent resident. The Chables called their home "Cloega Village" after a Cherokee Indian and built the first bridge over Jack's River. The present bridge, moved from somewhere above Conasauga. Tennessee, by the CCC, replaced that earlier bridge. Today, little remains of the once prosperous area of Cloega and Alaculsey except the Chable Bridge, the dam to the Chable Mill complex, the Chable Family Cemetery, and the Baxter Family Cemetery.
At Alaculsey. Baxter & Buchanan started an iron works by 1860. This venture was still in operation in 1869. but to what extent is not known. Also in the vicinity was a grist mill owned prior to 1886 by J.W. & J.H, Linder and after 1886 by Oliver Huckabee. Joe Horton had a grist mill on Jigger Creek for a time and A.L, Campbell also operated a store in the Valley. As previously mentioned the Chables also had a fine, well-built mill.
Another early settler was Solomon Fouls (formerly Feutz) of German descent. He. like the Chables, became quite an entrepreneur in the Valley, acquiring considerable land and large orchards, operating three mills (one on Jack's River and two on the Conasauga), and running a woodworking shop where he specialized in furniture. His lathes, saws, presses, etc. were run by water power. Mr. Fouts also owned slaves.
The post office and village of Doogan arose near the southern end of the Valley. Sometimes the place was referred to as Rice's since that family operated the post office for a time. The first official postmaster for Doogan was David White, appointed in 1S8S. For a brief time in 1887-88 the mail service stopped at Cisco until the Doogan office was re-established and Mr. White re-appointed. Succeeding postmasters at Doogan included W.P. Poteet (1904). Francis White (1904-08), Abner H. Green (1908-14). James Rice (1914-34), James J. Arthur (1934-36). and Luther Smith (1936-42). The Doogan office was again discontinued in 1942. Mail carriers at various times were Joe Horton. Bill Milsap and Mark Baxter. Jim Arthur and Luther Smith operated stores at Doogan, while Jim O'Neal ran a store near Cowpen Road for a while.
Other early settlers (before 1900) in the Valley were John & Jacob Pellom. Bub Carter. Lorenzo Douthitt (who along with W.P. Poteet was appointed road commissioner for the district in 1893), W.A. Collins, Ash Langford, Marion West. Levi Long, the Baxters. Isaac Greer, Thomas Phillips, Will Keener. John Thompson, Pete Arthur, Daily White, Garrison Poteet, Jim Poteet, the Kin-dricks, Sam Higdon, Harvey Silvers, and the Shields family. The Jack Cloer family and others settled near Pleasant Gap and Cloer Mountain, now reached by West Cowpen Road. The Valley prospered for many years with only occasional interruptions.
An important event took place in 1854 when a Dalton hunter, Dick Clark, froze to death in the mountains. He had walked ahead of the rest of his coon-hunting party which consisted of Oscar Long. Hix McClurd, Jud Dover, and Robert McClurd. (The last three were from Gilmer County.) Although warned about rugged terrain, worsening weather, and unfamiliar paths, Clark left anyway. The December days were short and the weather became unbearable. When Clark failed to arrive at the destination, the others began a search. Forced to give up for the night, the men renewed their efforts the following day and found Clark's frozen body on Rocky Face Mountain. He had lost his way on the unfamiliar mountain.
During the Civil War. Union troops converged on the Valley-perhaps aiming for the iron works and the mills. As the soldiers pillaged and plundered, they arrived at the Fouts homestead. During their 4-day stay the soldiers killed cattle and hogs, made the women cook round the clock, took the beds, crowded the fire, burned furniture, abused the children, and hanged Solomon Fouts from a tree in the yard. The soldiers then got into an argument (possibly because one soldier tried to end the mistreatment) and one man was killed. The men discovered that Mr. Fouts was not dead and cut the rope so he could bury the dead Yankee. Mr. Fouts did so and today the grave can still be seen on the north side of the Fouts Family Cemetery. When the soldiers departed the Fouts family was left with only a calf and a pig.
Another Civil War story is about Mr. Bearden who saw Union troops coming up the Mountain Road as he traveled down the East Cowpen Road. He turned back, but a soldier saw him and shot him. Mr. Bearden was buried in a lonely spot on the mountainside.
Several stories have been told about the lost silver mines in the Valley. According to members of the Langford and Head families, "Granny Becky" Good-win had found some silver mines of excellent quality. She wore out many aprons carrying ore out of the mountains. Shortly before her death "Granny" either told someone where the mine was located or someone found it. At any rate counterfeit silver dollars soon began circulating. However, the coins were of higher quality than regular U.S. coinage so the counterfeiters were never punished, although their identities were known. Over the years the secret of the mines' exact location was lost, but it was on the Head property near Land Lot 275. Some say that the area contained talc also. Many have searched for the silver but never found it.
A new challenge faced the inhabitants of Alaculsey at the turn of the century— the building of the Dalton and Alaculsey Railroad. The plans were for the tracks to begin near the Valley's southern end. curve south by Spring Place, and turn west toward Dalton where it would join the W&A line. This would have made it much easier to ship lumber and minerals from the Valley, but unfortunately the company folded in 1902 before any tracks were laid.
As if iron and silver were not enough, the discovery of manganese in the Valley brought new hopes in the first third of the century. Mark Baxter said some mining took place at "Gizzard" to the west of the Valley. Ore was hauled by mule and wagon to Conasauga, Tennessee, where it was shipped to Alabama.
The Valley was not without officials and a courtground (and a mill) were located near Mt. Sumach church. Jim Arthur and John Langford were justices of the peace at one time. Others were: Sam Higdon (1893-190!), L.M. Douthit (1893-97). Ben Fouts (1898-1904). A.H. Green (1909-1929). and E.C. Arthur (1930-34). Any medical services needed were provided by Doctors Parks and Gilbert from Tennessee and Dr. Kemp.
Schools and churches in the Valley were often in the same buildings. Until 1895 schools for Alaculsey and Cisco were grouped in the same school district. That year a separate school district (Alaculsey No. 1506) was formed. Trustees for the first 2 years were Mr. Wetsell, Andrew Poteet. Leonard Poteet, David White, and Loranzo Poteet. Unfortunately, school records are not complete and the locations of schools were not always given in the records which do exist.
The Pleasant Gap School and "a meeting house" were given a deed from A J. Cloer in 1881. Sometimes called the Cloer School, the school was on lot 227 (27th Dist.. 3rd Section). W.M. Langford. S.B. Cochran, and G.W. Cloer were the first trustees. Later trustees included John Keener (192944). Lee Long, and George B. Cloer. Among the teachers at Pleasant Gap were Ellen Douthitt (1899). Ina Henry (1900). Miss Delia Keener, Leila Cloer, Alice Higdon. Dee Baxter. James Arthur (1916-17). Lola and Nellie Gordon (1917-18). Opal Jenkins (1928-30), Ethel Douthit (1934-35), Robbie Huffstetler (1936-37). Edith Allen (1938-39) and U.S. Woodey (194243). Pleasant Gap school was consolidated with Cisco and today only a cemetery remains of the Pleasant Gap school and meeting house.
Another school, sometimes called "The Valley School." was located at Alaculsey by 1880. Teachers here included W.A. Collins (1881). Miss Mary Smith (1884), John Seymore(1891).J.B. Smith (1894). W.A. Campbell (1895). Mome-ville Douthitt (1896). Maud Williams (1899). Georgia Chable. Ginda Chable, H.L Smith (1916-17). J.T. Arthur (1917-18). Ella Chastain (1917-18), Mrs. S.W. Higdon (1929-30).
When the Hopewell Church was located near the Conasauga River, school was held in that building. At times this school was moved and called Doogan. Numerous people taught at this school which operated for at least 50 years-A new school was built in 1932. Among the teachers at the various Doogan schools were M.D. Douthitt (1897). Luther Smith. Myrtle Johnson. Johnnie Pierce Hartley. Leila Arthur. Mary Edwards. Jessie Henry, Lucas Watson, Andy Campbell, Adel Chable Tripplett, Viola Baggett. Mary Long, Flossie Brewer Stafford. Ralph Richards. Grace Wilkey. EstherWilkey. Jennings Whitener, Opal Jenkins Shields. Richard Kendrick (1919). Lizzie Fetzer (1918). Nannie Lou Brewer (1928-30). Lou Arthur Hopkins (192943). Icy Plemons (1932-33), Winfrey Leonard (1935-36). and Addle Mae Fuller (1943). Trustees of the Doogan School at various times were Mark Baxter, Ernes! Arthur. George Stafford. J.T. Arthur. Frank Pickle, and Luther Smith.
Other schools were taught in the Valley area also. In 1900 classes were held at "Central House" by S.T. Harris. A school was open at Windy Gap in 1899 while in 1884 W.A. Collins had taught a session at "Lone Hill." The locations of these schools are uncertain, however.
The church at Hopewell is the only one still existing in the Valley. Many of the pioneer families are buried in its cemetery. Among the pastors of Hopewell have been Jim Dunn. Jim Richie. Wallace Millsap. Mark Baxter. John T. Vineyard (1919). Staten Crisp. James Crawford, Tom Payne, Bo Davis, Monroe Steelman. and Hershal Watson.
Also, near Hopewell across from the old store, there had been a Methodist Episcopal church which received a deed from Thomas Douthitt in October, 1894. The trustees were Javan Campbell. David B. White, and John White. Located on Land Lot 95 (27th District, 2nd Section) these trustees then deeded the property to the Pleasant Valley M.E. Church in December, 1894. Evidently the church had been in existence for some time without having a deed or it did not last long. (Pleasant Valley was the former name of Eton so the members of the church in the Valley might have united with that group.)
The Blue Ridge Primitive Baptist Church was constituted in 1885-86 and joined the Blue Ridge Association of Primitive Baptists in 1887. The first two homes of this church were at Sylco, a community near Alaculsey. but in Tennessee. The Sylco cemetery is on the west side of the road, a short distance from the Chable Bridge, In 1897 when the church was to host its first Association meeting, the members hastily erected a log building, built benches, and left their first home-a private building with a dirt floor. A.H. Green played a major role in the construction of the church. The congregation moved from Sylco to the Alaculsey Valley about 1928 and remained there until 1948 when the group moved to Chatswurth. Members of the church were the Greens, Smiths, Curbows. Chables, Pickles. Becklers, O'Neals, and others. Ministers attending the church included Elders J.M. Davis. Jim Parker. Johnny Parker, J.H. Weaver. J.M. Moon-ey, and H.L. Smith who served as pastor over 50 years. The Alaculsey home of the church was located about 'A mile from the present Hopewell Church. (Information provided by Icy Plemons and J.D. Smith.)
Two other deeds to churches in the Valley are recorded in the Murray County Courthouse. On March 29. 1877 Isaac N. Greer deeded property to the trustees of the Mt. Zion M.E. Church who were W.C. Cole. James B. Taylor, and B.F. Smith. This property was located on Land Lot 128 (27th District. 2nd Section). In February 1881 Minerva Fouts deeded land to the trustees of a Methodist church located on the east side of the Conasauga River in Land Lot 161 (27th District, 2nd Section). This lot adjoins the one on which Mt. Zion was located. Trustees on the tatter deed are W.C. Kirby, William Richardson, and M.E. Es-linger. The Valley schools were possibly held at these places.
Though several denominations established churches in the Valley from time to time. Rev. Mark Baxter said that everyone went to all the churches in the district since none of the congregations was full-time. He said on one occasion that "sometimes it was hard to tel! a Baptist from a Methodist."
After the L&N Railroad was built in 1905. people gradually began leaving the Valley. Activity came to center around Cisco and Fairy where many of the Valley families re-settled. As the people left the mountains, schools closed and consolidated with Cisco, while churches moved or disbanded. Today a great deal of the Alaculsey Valley is included in the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Murray County Heritage