A Stage Route was operated as early as 1833, between Spring Place and Athens, Tenn. They changed horses every eighteen miles. There were post offices along the route. One of these was located at what is now Eton. About 1835 Packard and Turner began to sell goods there. The store stood near where Mrs. Bryant's residence now stands. The widow Tally kept a tavern at the old Harris place. There were two rooms up-stairs and two down-stairs. There was a log post office.
A Settlement Near Carter's Quarter was begun about this time.". Turner and Humphreys sold goods there.
The Federal Road was the great highway of that time and was full of droves of horses, hogs and nudes going from Kentucky and Tennessee to Savannah or Augusta. A covered scoop shaped wagon, drawn by four or six horses, was a common conveyance. Naturally settlements sprang up along this road.
The McEntire Settlement was begun several years before the Indians were removed. A school was started in 1838 near the Rock Spring, it was taught by a Mr. Parker. Soon after "old field schools" started up in many places. Many of the settlers were intelligent people and felt keenly the need of schools.
Difficulties of the Early Settlers were many and great. They were without many of the conveniences of life. The rugged wilderness had to be conquered. It was far from market and the roads were often almost impassable. There was no organized justice and the outlaws of the border States sought refuge here. Yet in the face of all this settlements grew, schools were conducted and churches established.
Trouble With the Indians. But worst of all the Indian had become hostile. They were jealous of the encroachments of the whites and the settlers lived in constant fear. The Bowman family, consisting of his wife, a little girl and an old. blind aunt, was attacked at night by a band of Indians who broke down the door with an ax, killed Bowman and his wife, bursting out their brains. They left the blind woman to burn to death. The little girl ran out of the house while it was burning. The little thing came to them begging for mercy. The leader, George Took, threw her back into the flames, she taking, clenched in her hand, a piece of his shirt-sleeve. "Surely," says Rev. Cotter, who is authority for the above, "surely we were in the midst of alarms! The barking of a dog, the whoop of an Indian or the presence of a stranger aroused fears till the object of his coming was made known."
Soldiers were called out and stationed at Spring Place to protect the settlers and intimidate the Indians. Capt. A. B. Bishop commanded the Georgia Guards. He was quite a polished gentleman, brave and kind hearted. We shall hear more of him and his brother, William N. Bishop in another chapter.
Murray County History 1911