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Milledgeville-Baldwin County, Ga.
In The News 1850's
1850
July 10, 1850
Daily Alabama Journal
DISTRESSING CASUALTY - The Southern Presbyterian, published at Milledgeville, Ga., on the 29th ult., has the following: "A very solemn and afflicting dispensation of Providence occurred, we learn, at Oglethorpe University on Wednesday last. Two of the students, Mr. L. P. M'Cutchen and Mr. P. B. Luce were going to their boarding house to breakfast, when a sudden thunder shower overtook them. The lightning struck the umbrella under which they were walking shivered it to atoms, and the fluid entering at the top of the cap of Mr. Luce and passing down on his left side and on the right side of the other, killed them both on the spot."
  "They were room-mates and members of the Freshman Class; both of them lovely, pious and promising young men, and candidates for the Christian Ministry. On returning from their morning recitation they had retired as was their daily custom, and united in prayer. It was but a few minutes after they had risen from their knees and left their dormitory, that the awful calamity occurred. When they were found by their fellow-students, they were lying side by side on their faces, with their arms still locked together. "They were lovely in their lives, and in their death they were not divided."

July 16, 1850
Georgia Telegraph
DIED. In Milledgeville, on the 9th inst. Mrs. Eliza M. Jarratt, wife of Dr. W. A. Jarratt, aged 24 years.



1851
June 13, 1851
Daily Alabama Journal
SOUTHERN WATERCURE INSTITUTE
Located at Milledgeville, Ga.
Being recently enlarged, is now capable of accommodating two hundred and fifty persons. The appointments of this Institution render it most attractive to invalids who may be forced to seek redemption from disease.
T. Carlton Coyle, Physician.


1852

March 16, 1852
The Georgia Telegraph
Died. In Laurens county, at half-past 12 o'clock, A.M. on Monday, the 1st inst., after an illness of eight days, Mrs. Fannie N. Kellum, wife of Mr. G.T. Kellum, and daughter of the late Sam'l Buffington, of Milledgeville, aged 20 years and three days.

June 1, 1852
Southern Recorder
KILLED
Berkely Babb, living east of the Oconee, in Baldwin county, was killed by a stroke of lightening, together with his horse and dog, on Monday afternoon (24th Ult.) during a thunder storm.

October 12, 1852
Georgia Telegraph
Married - Near Columbus on the 28th ult by Rev. James F. Evans, Mr. Samuel E. Whitaker, of Baldwin county, to Miss Henrietta, daughter of Van Leonard, Esq. of Muscogee county.



1853

January 4, 1853
The Georgia Telegraph
DIED, at his residence, in Baker county, on the 25th ult., Major L. S. Brookin, aged about 38 years, formerly of Hancock county. Major Brookin was a planter; a good citizen, a kind neighbor and friend, and was much respected by all who knew him. He was for several years Sheriff of Hancock county.
 

January 11, 1853
The Georgia Telegraph
     The Governor has made the following appointments, being the same as last year, except Mr. James Polk, of Madison county, Inspector, who is in the place of Col. Fair, resigned:
     Penitentiary - Lewis Zachary, Principal Keeper; James S. Gholston; Book Keeper. James Polk, Inspector; Dr. C. J. Paine, Physician; Rev. F. Blake, Chaplain.
J. E. Stirk, Military Store Keeper, Savannah
Benj. Cook, Military Store Keeper, Milledgeville
A. Newsom, Captain State House Guard



1854
February 7, 1854
The Southern Recorder
DIED
At his residence in Baldwin County, on Sunday morning, 29th of January, Mr. William Babb, Sr., aged 81 years. Mr. Babb was formerly from North Carolina, but for the last 30 years was a worthy and respectable citizen of Baldwin County, Georgia. He has raised up a large family of children, who mourn their loss. A FRIEND

March 27, 1854
New York Daily Times
EARTHQUAKES IN GEORGIA - Milledgeville an d Macon were visited with slight shocks of an earthquake on the 20th. In regard to the one in Macon,  the Citizen of the 21st, says: "There seems to be some doubt whether the phenomena which occurred here yesterday morning was an earthquake or the effect of some meteorite explosion overhead. At Gordon, Milledgeville, and Forsyth, the same shaking of houses, and rumbling noise like heavy distant thunder, took place, and a correspondent from Forsyth says that some of the villages there distinctly heard the noise over their heads: "The first shock took place here about 6½ A.M., and a second slight one about half an hour afterwards. The house we live in trembled and rocked like a strong man in convulsions, leading to the supposition that it was an earthquake, and nothing else. The direction of the vibration was from southwest to northeast." Of the on in Milledgeville, the Recorder, of the 21st, says: " "The first, which was alarmingly perceptible, occurred about 6:20 o'clock; the last shock, which was very slight, was felt about half an hour later. An old (he would be offended were we to say "the oldest" ) inhabitant says a severe shock had not been experienced at this place since 1810. It was very fitly described by a little child, who observed, "Papa! the house is riding off."

November 12, 1854
The Farmer's Cabinet
MARRIED
In Nashua, -3d, Mr. E. M. Cowles of Milledgeville, Ga., to Miss H. J. Atwood, daughter of Capt. S. Atwood of N.



1856
January 22, 1856
The Georgia Telegraph
Married On the 15th inst. by Rev. A. M. Thigpen, Mr. Robert H. Barron, of Clinton, to Miss Ellen A. Brown, daughter of Mr. David P. Brown of Baldwin county, Ga.

March 25, 1856
The Georgia Telegraph
~extract
Obituary
   At the residence of Dr. Green, in Midway, on the 11th inst. of Bronchitis and Pneumonia, Doctor William W. Holmes, Assistant Physician of the State Lunatic Asylum, in the thirty-sixth year of his age.



1857
March 12, 1857
The Sun
  On Sunday night, March 1, a severe shock of an earthquake was felt at Milledgeville, Ga. It was so severe that it awoke many from their sleep.

April 21, 1857
The Georgia Telegraph
Col. Robert McComb, of Milledgeville, so well know to the public as a kind and bountiful Landlord, died in that city on the 9th instant.

September 17, 1857
Pittsfield Sun
   The Milledgeville, Georgia, Union learns that John I. Bass was killed in his own house in Hancock county by Mrs. Hudson. Bass came home drunk, maltreated his wife and drove her and her children and Mrs. Hudson and her children out of the house. Mrs. Hudson bursted two caps at him; then she went home, and next morning very early, just as Bass was getting up she entered his room, placed a pistol to his breast and fired, killing him instantly.

Washington County Newspaper Clippings Vol 1 1852-1866, Tad Evans
TRIAL OF MRS HUDSON
(Sparta) The trial of this woman for commitment for the murder of John Bass of this county came up on Saturday last, before Justices Little, Berry and Turner. Cain appeared for the prosecution and DuBose for the defendant.
  The only evidence of much force, as we understand, was a youth of some twelve years of age, the son of Mr. Bass. He stated that Mrs. hudson came to his father's on the morning of the second instant and went into the kitchen. Bass followed her, and asked if  wanted to shoot at him again, rubbing his fist in her face. She drew a pistol and Bass retreated behind the door. She following him and shot him in the left breast. He died instantly.
  We suppose other witnesses must have been before the court, favorable to the prisoner, of which we know nothing, as they admitted her to bail in the nominal sum of $800. Her father, Mr. Josiah Collins, who is a planter of respectable means, stood her security.
  Her husband, Mr.Josiah Collins (wrong, this should be Mr. Joseph Hudson,) is now in Milledgeville Jail for shooting a man at the city ferry.  She demeaned herself during the trial as one who had about as much interest in it as any of the bystanders. She appears to be about 25 years of age, is good looking and had nothing in her countenance that indicates the heart of a murderer.
(Note she was sent to prison Oct. 18, 1859.)



1859
March 2, 1859
Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel
The obituary list of our late California exchanges contains the name of John C. V. Andrews, civil engineer, a native of Milledgeville, Ga., who died at Campo Seco, Calaveras county, California, on the 25th January, in the 39th year of his age, leaving a wife and four children.

November 3, 1859
Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel
   The frosts yesterday and this morning were quite heavy, and several gentlemen report ice, even to the thickness of an inch-so that cotton, though "down" ought to be looking up.
  The Telegraph is not yet in operation to this place, but I noticed Saturday that the posts were nearly all up, and the wire is ready, so that in a week or ten days we may expect to be in intimate connection with "all the world and the rest of mankind."
  The accommodations here for visitors are quiet extensive and good now, compared to former years. Besides this, (the Milledgeville Hotel) which is a crack house, and capable of lodging a vast number, there are the "McComb Hotel" once the "Harry Clay House" of old days, connected with which is also the old "Huson Hotel" and the "Godwin Hotel," kept at present by "N.C.Barnett:" The "State Rights Hotel" is converted into a private boarding house, besides which there are many others all said to be good. In fact nobody every complained of the tables of Milledgeville-the complaint was solely about space and room.
   There are in the place a steam cotton and wool factory, and a steam planing mill, I believe, and a number of shops, and dry goods and grocery stores, all doing apparently a fine business. Every things has on its Sunday look, except that there is no cessation of business, and no church going. The town and county together have lately had finished a most excellent covered toll-bridge across the Oconee, on the road leading to Sparta, just above Carter's old Ferry and below Trainor's Merchant Mills, three hundred and fifty feet long, exclusive of the aprons and the earthworks, supported by three massive brick arches-all built at a cost of $11,700. There is also a very good covered bridge, of the same make, erected by the county across Fishing Creek, near the Town, on the Scottsboro road
    This morning I visited that conservative State Institution, where people are taught a good trade at the expense of honest men. There are within the walls 219 convicts, two of which only are women-a fact which speaks loudly of the inherent goodness of the gentler sex, or else of the tender mercies of the lords of creation. Some improvements are finished and going on inside the walls. The sleeping apartments or cells are being added to or top-built of brick, though the material of the lower stories is rough stone. Two large brick buildings are nearly finished - the first for a store room, hospital, dining room and chapel, on different floors, and the second for machinery, furniture, shoemaking, &c. The Penitentiary at Milledgeville ought to be abolished, because materials and provisions are always high priced, the manufactured articles frequently unsaleable, and always sold in competition with honest workmen, and at lower prices than the latter can afford. If convicts must be kept at hard labor at the expense of the State, why not put them to getting out granite at Stone Mountain, or to making railroads, or to building and mending the common earth roads of the country? The latter seems preferable, as there could be no competition, and the greatest need of Georgia is good roads. They increase the value of land in the same ration as they cheapen transportation.
   Passing by the Executive Mansion this morning, I noticed on the grounds a solitary, forlorn calf grazing on the brown withered gras, and his Excellency's children enjoying themselves much as other people's children- the largest boy drawing two smaller ones in a little wagon.
  The public Cemetery looks old and dreary, with the tangled woods and grass choking up the way-. There are some fine monuments, however, the most magnificent of which is that erected to a private citizen, a very wealthy gentleman, Benjamin S. Jordan. It is a beautiful shaft, perhaps twenty feet high, surrounded by a marble "Hope", fast anchored and pointing upwards.
Yours, B.
 
 


Eileen Babb McAdams copyright 2004-2007