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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.

July 23, 1850
Federal Union
MARRIED - On Tuesay evening 16th inst. by the Rev. Daniel Goddard, Mr. ALCIBIADIES RAY to Miss MARY JANE BUCKNER, all of this county.



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.

September 4, 1851
Savannah Republican
  The case of James Johnson for killing Mrs. Amy G. Wright in March last, was decided at the late Term of the Superior Court for this county. The case was ably argued by Messers. Cone and Harris for the prisioner and Messers  Kenan and Hardeman for the State. The jury after a short absence returned a verdict, guilty of murder. Sentence of death was passed upon him by Judge Johnson. - Federal Union.
(Note: He was pardoned and set free by an act approved Nov 28, 1851)



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.

June 15, 1852
Southern Recorder
  ~excerpt~ Departed this life on the 10th inst. at the Residence of his father in this county Mr. ERASMUS ENNIS, in the twenty-sixth year of his age.

August 24, 1852
Federal Union
~excerpt~ DIED, suddenly, in this place, on the afternoon of Saturday the 7th inst., AMANDA M.S., third daughter of Nathan and Margery Hawkins, aged 6 years 2 months and 2 days.

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.

December 14, 1852
Federal Union
MARRIED. Near this City on Tuesday Evening the 7th inst., by Rev. John Baker, Mr. L. CARRINGTON of Hancock county, to Miss PAULINE V. second daughter of the late F. V. DeLaunay.



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

March 15, 1853
Southern Recorder
DIED, In Washington county, on the 8th of March MARCUS B. L. YATES, son of Mr. Marcus Yates, aged 10 months and 8 days,
  On the 10th, Mrs. SARAH YATES,  wife of Mr. Marcus Yates, in the 21st year of her age. She attached herself to the Baptist Church in the 16th year of her age. Many relatives and friends mourn her sudden departure.
  In this city on Thursday evening last, HARRIET SUSAN, infant daughter of Col. N. C. and Mrs. Mary Ann Barnett, aged 18 months and 1 day.

May 31, 1853
The Georgia Telegraph
  A negro man named Tobe, attempted to kill Mr. Nathan Hawkins, of Milledgeville on Saturday night last. Mr. Hawkins, who is in feeble health, had occasion to correct the wife of Tobe, in consequence of which the fellow attached him, and attempted with a large knife to cut his throat. Mr. Hawkins was very badly hurt, as were also Mrs. Hawkins and her sister, Mrs. Baily, who it is supposed went to the assistance of Mr. H. The wounds of the ladies are not considered dangerious. Tobe and his wife are in jail.



1854
January 17, 1854
The Georgia Telegraph
Homicide in Milledgeville.
  On the 11th instant, Wm. A. Ralston, a resident of this place, was killed in Milledgeville, by Archibald Hunt, of Albany. Ralston was standing in front of McCombs' Hotel, conversing with a gentleman, when Hunt approached him, familiarly saying, "well, Dick, you got me" - alluding, it is said, to a gaming transaction which had previously occurred between them. Ralston enquired what he meant, but Hunt merely repeated the words. Ralston then enquired if he meant to charge him with cheating, to which, we understand, Hunt replied, yes, I do. At which Ralston gave him the lie, and threw back a cloak which he was wearing. Hunt immediately drew a pistol and shot him through the heart, and Ralston fell exclaiming, "he has killed me." Hunt made some attempt to escape, but was soon captured and is now in the hands of the proper authorities, awaing his trial. It is said that there had been some previous difficulty, but the parties had afterwards seem to be reconciled. Ralston had no weapon of any kind about his person - not even a pen knife.

January 17, 1854
Southern Recorder
DIED, At his residence in Baldwin county, on Tuesday morning, 10th inst., JOHN B. CAY, in the 50th year of his age. Mr. C. was well known in this county to be kind in his disposition, friendly to all, honest in his transactions with his fellow men. He is gone where all flesh goes. Let his faults and follies be buried with him.

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.

April 3, 1856
Columbus Enquirer
DEATH OF AN OLD LADY - The mother of Col. John S. Thomas, of Baldwin co., died at Midway, near Milledgeville, on the 23d ult, at the advanced age of one hundred and ten years.

April 22, 1856
The Georgia Telegraph
Death of B. R. Gardner, Esq., of Milledgeville
   The Savannah Morning News, of April 16th says: "We regret to learn that B. R. Gardner, Esq., a well known and highly respected citizen of Milledgeville, was killed in Sparta yesterday morning, by a man by the name of O. J. Powell. Mr. Gardner, who was formerly a resident of Sparta, was in that town for the purpose of transacting some business in the Inferior Court. A misunderstanding in a reference to some pecuniary matter had previously existed between him and Powell, which is supposed to have been the cause of the killing. Mr. G. was shot in the street. Our informant, who left Sparta directly after the melancholy affair, is unable to give us an particulars, except that he heard four discharges of a pistol, which, as the deceased was an inoffensive man, who never went armed, he supposes to have been fired by Powell. He does not know whether Powell has been arrested.
   "Mr. Gardner was a wealthy and highly esteemed citizen, and was extensively known in the middle section of the State. He leaves a wife and an interesting family of children. His death is deeply deployed by the community of Sparta."

May 8, 1856
Columbus Enquirer
DIED, In Milledgeville on the 21st ult. Mrs. Margery P. Hawkins, wife of Nathan Hawkins in the 40th year of her age.

June 10, 1856
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
DREADFUL AFFAIR. The Wilkes Republican of May 30 states that Jesse Cocrahn, of Milledgeville, was quarrelling with his son, Jasper last week, both being intoxicatd, when they attacked each other with knives, and the son fell, stabbed in thirteen places, from the effects of which he died the following day. Jesse Cocrahn was committed to jail, to await his trial in our Superior Court, at September next.



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.)



1858
January 26, 1858
Southern Recorder
MARRIED,
  In the Methodist Episcopal Church in Milledgeville, on Tuesday morning, the 19th inst., by the Rev. Dr. Talmage, the Rev. ROBERT W. BIGHAM, of the California Conference, to Miss ELIZA C. DAVIES of Milledgeville.
  On Thursday night, the 21st inst., at Sycamore Level Baldwin county, Ga., the residence of Mrs. Matilda E. Hill, by the Rev. Dr. Talmage, Mr. EDWARD J. WHITE, of Milledgeville, to Miss MELISSA A. HILL, youngest daughter of Mrs. Hill.
  In Baldwin county, on the 19th inst., by the Rev. S. C. Leonard, Mr. GEORGE M. ENNIS to Miss NANCY A. HAYGOOD.


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.

April 21, 1859
Daily Enquirer
DIED. In Milledgeville, on the morning of the 18th of April, after a lingering illnewss, Miss SUSAN FORT, daughter of Dr. T. Fort  - aged 21 years.

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 2004-2009