-Chapter IV- TOWNS, COMMUNITIES, AND MILITIA DISTRICTS (1880-1980)
Tenth District
One of Murray County's oldest militia districts is the Tenth (No. 874), so named because all of its land lies in the 10th District, 3rd Section of the original 1832 land surveys of old Cherokee County. Located in the northwestern corner of Murray, the Tenth District was much larger in early days when it included parts of present-day Tennga, Shuck Pen. Cisco, and McDonald's Districts. Today, these four districts share a common border with the Tenth on its eastern and southern sides while the Tennessee line is the district's northern limit. Sugar Creek and the Conasauga River divide the Tenth from Whitfield County on the west. Due to its fine farm land and numerous waterways, the Tenth was rapidly settled when Murray was opened for white occupation in the 1830's.
Many of the area's pioneers came from nearby Tennessee and even today residents have many ties with northern neighbors. Among the old families in the Tenth are the Hill. Ridley, Henry. Wheat. Bryant, Coffee. Brakebill. Carson, McCamy, Holcomb, Bookout, Adair, Whittle, Caylor, Stroud, Isenhower. Haggard, Waterhouse, Petty. Dunn. Gregory, McCroskey, Leach, and Colvard clans. Today Colvard's and Little Murray are major place names while Temple Grove, Union Springs, and Gregory-important in the District's past-are also still around.
Early school trustees for District No. 874 included John Bryant (1877-92), B.F. Smith (1877-79). William Dunn (1877-79). John Quinn (1879), Samuel Grigsby (1879), Steven Gregory (1881), J.L. Waterhouse (1883-84), Sam Haggard (1884), Dick Hill (1885). Joseph Lacewell (1890-92). N.H. Henry (1890-95), William Shields (1892-95). John Bookout (1892-95), James Gregory (1895-96), James Leamon (1895), W.L. Henry (1895). and James Dunn (1896).
John Howard Parker is said to have been one of the area's first teachers while in 1877 Hirarn C. Smith and M.C. Smith were the teacher's at the district's two schools. Five years later the Tenth had three schools and the teachers were J.C. Haggard, Miss S.E. Isbel. and E.A. Earnest. In 1891 C.L. Henry taught at a school called "Hope" which is believed to have been in this district.
The following are listed as justices of the peace for the Tenth District: W.B. Shields (1887-95), T.J. Bryant (1885-93), J.W. Leamon (1893-97), L.N. Waters (1895-98), Daniel C. Dunn (1901-09), N.H. Henry (1905-1936), LA. Heartly (1909-13). T.J. Ovbey (1913-25), and John W. Thompson (1924-40).
The voting place for the district has long been at what is now Colvard's. At earlier times separate "courthouses" existed, but all voting is now done at Colvard's Store—a landmark for many years. This spot where several roads meet (now on Georgia Highway 225) was originally named Cohutta Springs.
Cohutta Springs Post Office was established Nov. 28, 1836 with James Ed-mondson as postmaster. Succeeding postal officials were William Whitten (1845-50), Euclid Waterhouse (1850-52), Alvin Logan (1852-55), James S. May (1855-56), Samuel M. Walls (1856). and William T. Amos (1856-66). The office was discontinued until 1873 or 1874 when it was reinstated with Euclid Waterhouse as postmaster. Euclid Waterhouse, Jr, succeeded his father for a brief time in 1880-81. Several residents held the position during the next two decades including John T. Henry (1881-82), John F. Lacewell (1882-83). William L, Williams (1883-86), Miss Fannie Hammond (1886-87), James A. Bryant (1887). William L. Waterhouse (1887-89). Henry Ridley, Sr. (1889-91), and John H. Kerr (1891-92). Thomas Ridley was appointed postmaster on March 14, 1892 and served until Cohutta Springs post office was closed in favor of Temple Grove in 1900. At this time the name Cohutta Springs was then given to the old Lough-ridge post office near present-day Crandall.
Cohutta Springs was the home of the Euclid Waterhouse family for many years. A native Tennesseean, Mr. Waterhouse was an extremely wealthy man who had been involved in the early mining at Copper Hill and had also been a banker in Cleveland. He accumulated some 3,000 acres of land in Murray County and built a large house called Oakwood just south of the Tennessee line. Mrs. Ocoa Moore, a Waterhouse descendant, described the house as follows:
"It stood on a hill. The house was some distance from the road, possibly 400 feel. At the foot of an incline, was the original springhouse, where the milk and butter were kept. It was of stone and there was quite a volume of water flowing through it. There was a fenced-in yard around the house -a white picket fence-so grandma could have flowers. The front door opened into a wide hall with a rear door and stairs to the second floor. The rooms were large with high ceilings. To the right was the parlor and on the left, a room grandpa used for his office.
"There were one-story L's extending from each side of the house in the rear forming a court where grandma grew flowers. There was a covered porch around three sides. The front hall opened oul into this porch. The rooms in the right L were bedrooms for the boys. The rooms in the left L were used for a dining room and eventually a kitchen which followed the custom of the day when there were plenty of servants to do the work. A little distance back of the house were log cabins . . . where the servants lived. There was also a stone or brick icehouse. As soon as the ice became firm on the river grandpa had the men cut enough to fill this house and it was packed with sawdust. There was generally enough ice to last through the summer."
As the Civil War approached, Mr. Waterhouse was selected as one of Murray County's delegates to the Georgia secession convention. Voting against secession, he returned home to become the victim of mistreatment by his neighbors. Mr. Waterhouse had already freed his slaves and did not believe in war. His home was raided and his family threatened to the point that he had to prepare a special, secret room in the attic as a hiding place during emergencies. Finally, around 1864 the family left Georgia for the North and lived in New York until 1871 when they returned to Oakwood. He died in Chattanooga in 1885.
The family members eventually moved away and Oakwood was sold to Major M.D.L, McCroskey, a Civil War veteran, farmer, and retired merchant. His daughter. Julia, married Dr. T.W. Colvard and members of this family still occupy the house, located just off 225. east of the store. Dr. Colvard, a one-time superintendent of schools, practiced medicine in die area for over 50 years before his death in 1945. As a doctor, he was the first in the community to have a telephone.
The Waterhouses. McCroskeys, and the Colvards were very supportive of schools and churches in their community. C.F. Waterhouse deeded property for the Edmondson Camp Ground and Burial Ground to John Bryant, Trustee in the 1880's. A non-denominational facility, the campground featured a shed and summer camp meetings for many years. Then in 1901 Mrs. L.M. McCroskey and Mrs. Julia Colvard deeded one acre "on which the church has been built lying near the cemetery between the Cleveland Road (225) and the mill road" to a "Union Tabernacle." Trustees mentioned were James H. Hayes and Daniel W. Petty of the Baptist Church. Joseph B. Cox and B.A. Gregory of the Presbyterian Church, and Georgia W. Swinney and James W. Lehman of the Methodist Church. The Baptist group mentioned was the new Calvary Baptist Church, begun about 1895 as an outgrowth of the Temple Grove Baptist Church. The inter-denominational work continued for a time drawing great crowds to summer revivals. In 1915 the tabernacle property was deeded to the Calvary group.
Calvary had been given land east of the tabernacle site by Mrs. Lizzie McCroskey in 1895. Trustees at the time were Pastor W.C. Haddock, David W. Pritchett, D.W. Petty. T.W. Colvard. J.D. Whittle. J.H. Hayes. and John Caylor. Other early families were the Tom Holloways, W.T. Clint. Orville, and Mart Caylors, T.J. Burns', J.C. Mathis'. John Officers. T.J. Ovbeys and F.C. Wells'. The church joined the North Georgia Baptist Association in 1907.
T.J. Burns was Sunday school superintendent in 1916 and W.P. Rymer held the office in 1921 when 109 were enrolled with an average attendance of 58. Charlie Plemons was superintendent and Roy Thomas was pastor in 1930 when Sunday school rooms were added to the sanctuary. This building burned one fall Sunday morning during the time Walter Harper was pastor. Following the fire a new church was erected.
The church training union was organized in 1951 and Mrs. Olen Dycus was the first director. Four years later Mrs. Kenneth Moore was elected as the first president of the Women's Missionary Society. Also in the 1950's the church was remodeled and modernized.
Pastors of the church not previously mentioned included A.P. Stokes. T.M. Davjs. A. Bishop, E.G. Davis, W.H. Rymer. W.J. Darnell. Sam Melton, Frank Harper, Charlie Plemons, J.W. Boatner. W.C. Crider (twice), Kirby Park, and Charlie Plemons again from 1956 until 1967 when Leon Ensley became pastor. In 1968 Calvary withdrew from the North Georgia Association and united with the newly formed Murray County Baptist Association. In 1972 the church had just under 400 members.
The Calvary Cemetery, located west of the church and north of the former tabernacle site, is much older than the church. It predates even the Edmondson Camp Ground as several members of the Bryant family were interred there in the 1840's. Other burials date before 1870. Apparently the cemetery began as a community burial ground.
Another old cemetery, north of Calvary off 225 on the R.F. Hill farm is the final resting place of William Dunn, a veteran of the War of 1812, who died in 1855. Four Union soldiers are also buried there. Many graves are unmarked and the last interments were made in the 1880's.
East of this Hill Cemetery in what was once part of the Tenth District (now in Tennga) is the Coffee Family Cemetery. Located off the Tennga-Gregory Road, the cemetery contains the remains of Mary Coffee who died in 1861, Elisha Coffey who died in 1897, and others in both marked and unmarked graves. Also in this vicinity was the Coffee-Mt. Pleasant School which received property from William Shields in 1889 though the school had begun in 1880. In 1881 Corene Bates taught at Mt. Pleasant while Mrs. Plemmons was the teacher in 1884. Trustees on the 1889 deed were S,E. Gregory, William Caylor, W.B. Shields, M.A. Shields, and J.P. Lace we 11. Teachers after this time were J.W. Wooten (1891), G.H. Arrowood (1894). J.A. McLain (1895). Giles Dunn (1896-97). J.M. Gregory (1899) and W.J. Gregory (1900). Coffee's had 52 pupils in 1891.
After the days of the Coffee-Mt. Pleasant facility, a new school was begun at Colvard's. On July 20, 1909 Mr.& Mrs. Colvard gave five acres of land on land lot 97 (10th & 3rd) for a school named for the donors. Located west of the present-day Colvard's Store, Colvard High School opened in 1910 and was perhaps the best built school in the county. W.M. Rogers was the first principal and Lucy Waters was the assistant. Winfrey Colvard and Paul Sarvis are said to have been the first graduates of Colvard High.
Miss Lula Gladden was a noted principal at Colvard's for a time. Others who taught there include Minnie Pritchett (1916), Will Wheat (1916). M.T. Taylor (1917), Minnie Dunn (1917. 1935-36). Waymon Wilson (1917), Susie Cookerly 0918-19), B.D. Flowers (1918-19),Mossie Bryant (1918-19). W.J. Moore (1928-29). Hoke Jackson (1932-33). Principal W.H. Cordle (1932-36). Verna Gregory (1932-35. 1936-38). and Elva Hicks (1933-34).
The county high school opened in 1934 so Colvard's became an elementary school. In 1940 the school burned and the next year a small, two-room wooden building was constructed. In 1948 a new brick school was begun and classes were first held there in January 1949.
Two long-time teachers at Colvard's were Mattie Harris and Rossie McNeely. Both taught at all three buildings and their careers spanned five decades. Other teachers included. Ollie Higdon (1934-35). Everett Weeks (1934-37), Maude Autry (1935-36), Sara Mayo. Sidney Bowers (1936-37), Principal George Cofvard (1937-39), Agnes Hawkins (1937-38). Rossie O'Neal, Dee Baxter, and Walter Richards (1942-43). Louise Plemons and Arlene Phillips (1944^5). Mrs. Mitchell Crider (1945-46), Minnie Crider (1948). Mrs. George Colvard (1949-50). Mrs. Wright Loughridge (1952-53), Ruby Burnette (1954-56). Principal George Ross 0951-56). and Mildred McCarny (1953-56). In 1956 Colvard. Franklin, and Sumach Schools were combined at Northwest Elementary. Mr. Ross and his four teachers Mrs. McCamy, Mrs. Burnette, Miss Harris and Miss McNeely moved to the new school.
Naturally. Dr. Colvard was a school trustee for many years. Others were -———Arrowood. O.P. Caylor (1930). C.W. Headrick (1929), J.W. Curd (1921) W.H. Crider (1942), E.D. Dalton (1942), A.C. Harris (1942). W.C. Colvard (1942), Olen Dycus (1947-50). William Crider. G.C. Arthur (1940). T. Headrick, Mrs. Etsel Bandy.
Also at Colvard's was the Arrowood Blacksmith Shop and a store, north on the Cleveland Road. Singing schools and Sunday schools were held at the Col-vard School also.
A short distance north and west of Cohutta Springs-Colvard's, was Gregory's Mill, a thriving community for over a century. Located on the Conasauga River's east side, Gregory's was a large mill building which was dismantled in 1937. During the long period of operation the Gregory Mill complex grew to include a sawmill, a cotton gin. a blacksmith shop, and a store. From October 17, 1902 until June 15. 1909 B.A. (Ad) Gregory was postmaster at the Gregory post office. J.C. Wheat operated a store.
According to residents, the river often shifted in the vicinity of Gregory's Mill so mill operators frequently had to make repairs. Census records of 1880 reveal that the Gregory Mill operated year around and ground wheat as well as corn. It produced some 270.000 pounds of meal and 66.000 pounds of feed during 1879. At the peak of success Gregory's even had overnight accommodations for those who did not get all their business completed in one day. Portions of some of the Gregory buildings survive and most of the property is owned by the Petty family.
A well known part of the Tenth District is Little Murray, so named because of its size and location between the Conasauga River and Sugar Creek. It is a V-shaped section of land containing about 4000 acres of property. In the beginning the area was somewhat cut off from the rest of the county until three fords were established. The fords, all on the Conasauga, were named for pioneer families-Hills, Campbells. and Wheats, Later a wooden bridge was constructed across the river at Gregory's, This bridge was replaced by a still-used concrete span in 1912.
John Hill was one of the first white men to settle in north Murray County. He came from McMinn County. Tennessee, before the Cherokees were removed. Since he had acquired land on the Conasauga, south of the Tennessee line, from a Cherokee chief, the State of Georgia did not recognize this transaction. Mr, Hill had to re-purchase the property after the Land Lottery. The farm was passed on to Hill's son, Thomas, and was later sold to Andy Randolph.
During and following the Lottery, many Little Murray acres were bought for speculation purposes. One story is that Euclid Waterhouse bought his land for one cent per acre and increased his fortune by selling it at a higher price. Much of the farm land in Little Murray, still under cultivation, was probably cleared by slave labor. While most residents were engaged in subsistence-type farming, a few, like Mr. Waterhouse, produced large quantities of grain. After harvest and during the winter rains, the com was loaded on barges and floated down the Conasauga to other streams until it reached the market in Rome.
Other early families in the area were the Cooper, Wilson, Smith. Looney, Pullum. Eslinger. Bandy. Cochran, Barnes. Waters. Douthitt, and Thompson clans. Ransey Douthitt was a justice of the peace while the Campbells were long-time mill operators, Cal Campbell was the last miller, but in 1880 G. Campbell had been C.F. Waterhouse"s partner in the operation, probably begun by older Waterhouses. The mill had operated all 12 months of 1879 and had ground 135,000 pounds of meal along with 33.000 pounds of feed. According to one source, Euclid Waterhouse II built the first cotton gin in the area A J (Jack) Martm owned land on the river in the southeast part of Little Murray A Mr McKissick and. later, Wilburn Cline owned the property. Sam Grigsby owned a tract of land in northwest Little Murray as early as the 1830's. The C.W. Criders owned this tract in more recent times. According to one map, Abe Looney lived near an "old salt well" on Sugar Creek–across from another mill in Whitfield County
In early days Doctors W.M. Wilson (1889) W.R. Cochran (1890), O. H. Hughes (1899) and R.P. Cochran (1903) served the area. Doctors William M. Painter . Kemp. Gilbert, and Colvard practiced in Little Murray as well. Criders had a store in their home and Hoyle Weber had one on his farm. In the northwest part of Little Murray. R.F. (Bob) and Mattie Cochran ran a store, later operated by Tom and Martha Orr. John Plemmons was a blacksmith on the Cochran farm. Elbert Bandy ran the store at Campbell's mill.
About 1 ½ miles south of the Tennessee line was another store which housed the Hughes post office. William W. Wilson was the first postmaster (1881-93). John Evans succeeded him and served until 1898. Well-known members of the Keith family were the next three postal officials-James W. (1898-1904). Thomas H. (1904-08). and Robert H. (1906-08). A.L. Bandy served less than a year when the post office was discontinued and the area placed on a rural route from Cisco. Crandall's rural carrier now serves Little Murray. A.L. and Richard Bandy continued to operate the store at Hughes which had a population of 47 in 1900 for some time. Charlie Plemons had a blacksmith shop there in 1921.
Across the road from the store was the Oak Grove Methodist Church which also served as a school. The church was discontinued in 1955 but the building survives on the Calvin Stinson property. A school began operating at Oak Grove Church in 1880. Teachers there were Elizabeth Isbel (1881), J.D. Barnes (1884), Luther Grigsby (1892), C.W. Richards (1899), J.B. Hughes (1894-97. 1900), John Bandy (1916), J. Davis (1917). Lela Henry, Mattie Hannah. Lena Cochran, Blanche Salts, Emma Weaver and Ella Mae Weaver. A school called "Waterhouse" is mentioned twice in county records. In 1884 Samuel Grigsby was the teacher while in 1891 Mrs. Fannie Grigsby taught there. This was near Oak Grove.
In 1929 a new school for Oak Grove students was constructed south of the old site on Deverell farm. Destroyed by a tornado in 1932, the school was rebuilt and used until Oak Grove was consolidated with Colvard's. Teachers here included: T.P. & Beulah Thomton (1932), Jessie Dunnagan (1932-33), Maude Morris Autry (1933-35), Mrs. Chester Hannah and Harriett Smith (1935-36), Ralph Richards and Edgar Hawkins (1937-38), Jessie Brown (1942), Mrs. Leonard Deverell (1945), George. Lucille and Virginia Colvard. Ruth Caylor. Luke Jarrett. Mildred B. Petty, Mary Jo Autry, Etta Hampton, Florence Bartenfield, Elizabeth Petty, and Blanche Allen.
Trustees for the school included W.E. Bandy (1930-34). J.F. Singleton, R.E. Weber, C.W. Crider (1947-50). B.W. Ratcliff (1932). D.V. Mathis (1933). Kenneth Headrick (1947-50), and Bill Deverell (1947-50).
The other church in Little Murray is the Conasauga Baptist congregation. School was also held here with Lena Cochran the teacher in 1918-19 and Lucy Haggard in 1898-1900. Winfrey Crider also taught there. This church was destroyed in the 1932 tornado but it was rebuilt. A small cemetery, the only one in Little Murray, adjoins the church. Two long-time ministers who lived in Little Murray were C.W. Crider and Charlie Plemons.
The 1932 tornado was a great tragedy for Little Murray residents. In addition to destroying the church and school, the March 21 twister left seven people dead including George, Willard and Marie Autry, Mr. & Mrs. Lynch Lauderdale, Maggie. Sampson and Mrs. J.B. Hawkins, according to the North Georgia Citizen. Another source lists five members of the Raymond Parks family and a Green infant as victims also. Numerous other homes were damaged or destroyed and others injured. The Red Cross and local residents gave the survivors a great amount of assistance as they recovered from the tragedy.
Another important event was the Brownlee Lumber Company fire. The Company had bought large tracts of pine forests, cut the timber, and stacked the lumber for air-drying. Somehow the stacks caught fire and were completely destroyed as were several acres of woodland.
Mrs. Wave Hill, a nearby resident, closed a story of Little Murray like this:
Little Murray is principally an agricultural community . . . from the beginning to the present day. Beautiful modem homes have been built and the people take great pride in the land. They received electricity, telephone service and paved roads in the early forties. Industry has not touched the area, but some of its residents commute to nearby towns to work.
Little Murray has never had a railroad, highway, nor can they claim any of the Cohutta Mountain range, although from two vantage points there are picturesque views of the mountains. On a clear day, with the sun reflecting against the mountains, it looks as if the mountains are only a short distance away.
West of Colvard's on Highway 2 was the well-known Union Springs School. Though possibly begun as early as Civil War days, Union Springs is not mentioned in deeds until 1885 when John Bryant gave one acre of land for the school. Though long abandoned, the building is still standing and is a reminder of past days when many Murray Countians began their education at Union Springs. Church services were also held there at times.
During its many years of existence. Union Springs had many fine teachers. Among them were: Nick Lackey (1884), W.L. Henry (1891), Thomas Haggard (1892-94). Mollie Hughes (1895). Lucy Haggard (1897. 1900), Freeling B. Richards (1899), Harris Richards (1916), Nellie Pritchett and Maggie Woods (1917), Nellie Gordon (1918-19). Neptha Rogers (1928-29). Troy Richards (1930), Walter Richards (1932-34). Nora Anderson Bond (1902). Lena Anderson, Joe Anderson, George Rogers, Bess Hemphill, Mandy Jones, Minnie Dunn, Zona Ensley, Brasky Hampton, Jennie Hurst, Bill Rogers, and A. Vaughn. W.C. Holland, J.A. Beavers, and W.B. Richards were trustees in the 1930's.
In the 1920's. Union Springs School boasted one of the finest basketball teams ever formed in Murray County. For 5 consecutive years the team was undefeated. Among those who played on these famed teams were Tom Holland, Frank James. Milburn Wheat, W.T. Richards, Homer Carson. R.G. Richards, Sam Wheat. Walter Richards, Glint Bryant. Charlie Wheat, and Sell Johnson. Most of these men lived to enjoy 50-year reunions in the 1970's.
The Wheats and Bryants were among the earliest settlers of the Tenth District and owned much land in the area. On the old Wheat farm is an old cemetery containing several unmarked graves, some of them probably slave burials. L.T. Brotherton (1800-1861). Mary C. Wheat (1933-1903). and Samuel Wheat (1833-1915) are interred there. The Bryants now own this land.
Debbie Bryant Wilson captured the lifestyles of Tenth District residents in an account of her ancestors, George and Onie Bryant:
George and Onie were staunch church-goers. On Sunday mornings they would load their wagon up with children and head for Oak Grove Church across the river in Little Murray. On Sunday evenings, they attended the Colvard Sunday School, where George served as superintendent and Onie as organist. Many services were conducted with Onie's organ accompaniment to her daughters' duet singing.
Onie, or Grandma, as she was fondly called, could recount many fascinating memories for her children and grandchildren. Among these was "Court Day,"when she would accompany her husband George to Spring Place, then the county seat, and stay at the Spring Place hotel overnight. Then, on a more serious note, she recalled a story her mother had told her of how she had hid her dead baby's clothing down a well in the wake of an approaching Yankee army. Later, while soldiers roamed the yard, she nonchalantly scrubbed clothes in a large wash pot, silently vowing to "push them in" if they looked into the well.
Doctors M.W. Harris. A.E. Main, Joseph A. Price and John T. Henry practiced in the area, but the most famous physician was Thomas Leach (1816-1905). In practice until shortly before his death. Dr. Leach left his house to Leach Henry. It is now known as the Grover C. Arthur home.
Another old family is the Hill clan. Several generations of this family have called the Tenth District their home. Mr. George Hill, like his ancestors and his descendants, was a prominent farmer. The death of his daughter, Lucy, was a great tragedy and is described with 19th-century flavor in the October 10, 1895 Cleveland, Tennessee, newspaper as follows:
THE CLEVELAND HERALD: MISS LUCY HILL Hurled Into Eternity by a Vicious Horse An Accomplished Young Lady Cut Off At Nineteen Years
One of the most horrible accidents that ever happened in this territory occurred in North Georgia last Thursday afternoon, by which a beautiful young lady, well known and deservedly popular in Cleveland and elsewhere was hurled into eternity is a most shocking manner. We refer to Miss Lucille Hill. Her father. Mr. Geo. Hill, lives just 20 miles from this city, near Beaverdale, Ga. Miss Hill was out riding on horse back, (and by the way she was acknowledged to be the best lady rider in North Georgia.) the horse came tunning home, very much frightened, the young ladies brother mounted the animal and started to find his sister. Three quarters of a mile from home, he ran upon her lying in the road, her skull crushed, her neck dislocated, her nose and left arm broken-dead. It was evident that the horse was running away, fell down und Miss Hill was thrown over the animal's head and then crushed under his hoofs. The remains were tenderly removed to the home, where a loving father and devoted mother wore wild with grief.
Miss Hill would have been nineteen years of age in one month. She was well known in Cleveland, having attended Centenary College two terms, and every one who knew her loved her.
She was a cousin of E. F. Campbell and Mrs. Winston McNabb, of this city, being a niece of Mrs. Alex Campbell of Chatata Valley.
The remains were interred Saturday afternoon within a few yards of her present home, in the presence of an immense throng of friends and relatives.
She was an accomplished young lady in the fullest sense of the term and her tragic death has caused a gloom over this whole section where she was known and loved.
Her parents and brother have the heart felt sympathy of this entire community.
In later years Mr. Hilt (1837-1902) and his wife, Mary (1844-1914), were also buried in the family cemetery near Miss Lucy. Before his death Mr. Hill had donated what was then a large sum of money to the county Board of Education. They built Lucy Hill Institute at Spring Place in her memory.
Two churches existed in this vicinity also. In 1845 Isaac Laymance deeded land in lot ISO (10th & 3rd) for a "Baptist Church at Sugar Creek." No other information on this church is available and only slightly more is known about the Brakebill Methodist Episcopal Church which was located east of the Conasauga River in the southeast corner of lot 173 (10th & 3rd). William McCamy granted one acre to trustees John Bryant. Peter Brakebill, James C. Wilson, Humphrey Hembree, and John H. Julian on March 8. 1853. The Brakebill Chapel existed into the 1870's and was near what later became the "Huse" Henry house, now owned by Clarence Cross. Peter Brakebiil was a large landowner who had come to Murray County from Pennsylvania by way of Tennessee in the I840's.
This portion of Murray County was once served by post offices named Upper King's Bridge (I860) and Beaverdale (1890's), both located in Whitfield County. Postal service now comes by way of Route 1. Crandall. In the 1920's the community reported local news events to The Chatsworrh Times under the name "River Bend." Many still-remembered residents are mentioned in this account from January 1928:
RIVER BEND -Jan. 1928
Agnes and Clotine Beavers were shopping at Selma Johnson's last Saturday afternoon.
Mrs. A.J. Slaughter is spending this week visiting in Chattanooga.
J.R. McEntire and wife spent last Sunday night with Mr. Dan Greene,of Dalton.
Arthur James and Sam Wheat made a business trip to Chattanooga last Thursday night.
It's reported that W.B. Richards bought a mule too big for his collar, too large for his fodder, and is talking of building a lot large enough for the poor thing to wallow.
Tom Holland is still in charge of Union Springs school. Miss Rogers is reported better, but not able to take charge of the school yet.
Howard Fisher is on the sick list this week.
Nick James takes his 22 target with him rabbit hunting, but was seen taking one out of Nick Henry's guns last Monday.
Mrs. Aub Holconib has been right sick, but is better at this time.
It's reported that G.W. Hampton rides at break-neck speed since swapping with J.A. Beavers, and got Lightning. George ain't to blame. Jim trained him to that.
T.K.R
South of Colvard's east of Georgia Highway 225 is the area known as Temple Grove. Apparently the name originated with a school established in the community around 1890. Board of Education records reveal that in 1891, Temple Grove was "doing well" and had 20 pupils enrolled. Teachers recorded for this school are Claudia Haggard (1894), G.H. Arrowood (1895), J.M. Gregory (1896-97), and Nora Anderson (1899-1900). On September 30. 1898 the Board of Education granted permission to the Baptist church to use the school building for services "until spring." This church became Calvary Baptist Church.
Dr. J.F. Gilbert had a Temple Grove address in 1902. just 2 years after the post office was established with Thomas Ridley as the postmaster. Succeeding postal officials at Temple Grove were Thomas Bums (Jan.-March, 1904 and 1905-07), Adia Ridley (1904-05), and Timothy J. Ovbey from 1907 until the office was discontinued in 1909. The Ridley family once operated a store at Temple Grove while in the 1980's the Corbin family has had the Temple Grove General Store-at a newer location south of the old community center.
Near the original Temple Grove site is an old cemetery containing the graves of several members of the Henry Ridley family. The oldest burial is that of little George Ridley who died in 1858 at the age of 2. Near the eastern end of the road from Temple Grove to U.S. 411 was an old church which left behind a small cemetery containing several unmarked graves, some of them said to be blacks. One grave has a headstone—Ben Trimmier (1826-75).
An old map shows Rattlesnake Springs and an old iron mine (near the Haggard place) west of 225 and south of Temple Grove. Nearby was the McCamy Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church. South. Named for one of Murray County's first families, this church was located near the Hawkins' Garage on Highway 225, William (Bill) McCamy is said to have given the land and the building was erected by volunteers from the community. A deed dated March 21, 18741ists S.B. McCamy, R.J. McCamy, R.E. Harris, and F.W. McCamy as trustees. Mrs-Julia Colvard taught Sunday school at McCamy's for a time and in 1919 a Sunday school convention was held there. Services were held regularly once a month through the 1920's. A.W. Williams was pastor in 1928.
Near the Tenth-Shuckpen district line was the Adair community. The post office was established June 19, 1899 with John H. Kerr as postmaster. Others who held the position were John I. Adair (1900-02), Thomas S. McLain (1902), Calvin E. McLain (1902-05), David S. McLain (1905-06), Horace E. Haggard (1906-07), and Daniel R. Dunn (1907-09). A W.P.A. writer named Pearson gave this description of Adair in 1937.
Adair, a hamlet located in [he northwestern part of Murray County, is accessible by a county road leading west from Fairy, Georgia. The nearest railroad facilities are available at Eton, Georgia. The post office address is Cisco; the population 14; and the altitude 900 ft. The town was named for a descendant of James Adair, Indian trader and historian.
It also had a blacksmith shop in the 1880's.
Not far from what later became Adair was the site of one of the first schools in Murray County-Sandy Springs Academy. Approved and incorporated by the Georgia legislature in December, 1840, the school was built on land obtained from Jesse Wimpey and Abel Edwards in January. The deed specified that the grounds were to be used for school and preaching and that a spring was included. The act creating Sandy Springs reads.
AN ACT to incorporate the Sandy Spring Academy, in Murray county, on Lot Number two hundred and five, in the tenth District, third Section, and to appoint Trustees for the same.
SECTION 1. Be it enacKd by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Stale of Georgia, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby unacted by the authority of the same. That Robert McCarna, Robert Reid, Abraham B. Ware, William McDonald, Esquire, and James Juten, shall be, and they are hereby declared to be a body politic and corporate, by the name and style of the Trustees of the Sandy Spring Academy, in Murray county; and that the Trustees aforesaid, and their successors in office, shall be invested with full power and authority to hold all manner of property, both real and personal, which they may hereafter acquire, or which they may not possess, by gift, grant or otherwise, and with all privileges and immunities whatever, which may belong to said Trustees of said Academy, of which hereafter may belong to said Trustees of said Academy, or hereafter may be made, granted or transferred to them, to have and to hold the same, for the proper use, benefit and behoof of said Academy; and the said Trustees and their successors in office, in the name and style aforesaid, shall be, and they are hereby declared to be capable of suing and being sued, and of using all necessary and legal steps of recovering and defending any property whatever, which said Trustees may hold or claim.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said Trustees, or a majority of them, shall have full power and authority to make all laws and ordinances necessary for the government of the temporal affairs of said Academy, not repugnant to the laws and Constitution of this State; and also to appoint such subordinate officers as they may deem necessary for the conducting of the business of said corporation.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said Trustees, or a majority of them, shall have full power and authority to fill all vacancies which may occur in said Board by death, resignation or otherwise, in such manner as they may ordain and establish in and by the by-laws of said corporation.
Little else is known about this academy, but one can guess that it closed as another school across the creek at Sumach arose.
Murray County Heritage