The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1872-09-20
a LITTLE SCRAP OF GEORGIA
HISTORY.

From the records OF Wilkes Sa-
perior Court, it appears that Henry
Osborne Of Augusta was Judge of the
Superior Courts of Georgia in 1890.
He died on st. Simon's Island while
on the circuit, November lst, 1900;
which shows that he was Judge for
at least ten years, and that there was
but one judicial circuit 10 the State
at that time.
Tradition has it that he was an r.
ishman by birth.
Il is said that he challenged Gov.
Jas. Jackson, went on The field and
received his fire without returning it.
1t is also stated that that he was i'm
peached for having ordered the polls
closed at an election earlier than al
lowed by Law. From this it would
seem that Judges had powers then
of which they have since been
shorn.
From pamphlet published by his
grandson it appears, that at the time
Of his death, he owned fifty thousand
acres of land in Camden county,
that he owned and laid out the
town Of St. Mary's and that by his
will, dated at Augusta, Nov. 1892,
he left all his property to his wife
Catherine during her life. She lived
to be nearly one hundred years old
and died at Scottsboro in 1868.
After the death Of Judge Osborne
she married man named Fitzger-
aid,
She was considered, when young,
one of the most elegant and accom-
plished women of her day, and was,
in consequence, selected to be the
partner of General Washington in
the dance when he visited Augusta,
and had the honor Of presenting him
with nosegay, as bouquets we
then called; which distinction she
considered the great event Of her
life.
A few years since, | had the
pleasure Of conversing with an old
time gentleman Of Augusta who
spoke most rapturously OF her ele-
gance and style and only a few
days since met lady who knew
and conversed with her in Scottsboro
in her latter years and when bedrid-
den. She represented her as taking
delight in nothing so much as talking
of the great event of the nosegay
presentation, and that she wore out
all her friends in requiring them to
read everything that had ever been
written about Gen'l Washington and
his times.
The life of this old lady is one of
the many instances Of the longevity
of those who have life estates, with
waiting and anxious heirs growing
gray with hope deferred. Also men
ton the fact for the benefit OF life
insurance agents and charge them
never again to ask me to avail NY
self Of the benefits of insurance.
1t is also worthy of notice that
dancing in those old days, must have
been looked upon more favorably
than it is by many now; and that it
was one of the essential features of
all grand and state festivities. Even
Washington, the Ioftiest, grandest,
most stately and digniied of men
considered it becoming in him, ard
probably essential that he should
"trip the light fantastic toe" and
in the merry dance. How
would General Grant or Horace
Greedy, or the prospective candidate
of the "Straight-outs" look threading
the mazes of modern Quadrille, or
whirling around through the gaIlop
clasping a fashionable maiden of
modern days in his arms Such a
sight would destroy all chances for
success on the part of either.
Many of the finest plantations on
the coast Of Georgia are included in
the large life estate, which seems to
have been sold for the debts of the
last husband.
The grandson, Jas. II. Osborne,
inherited the property at the death
of the old lady, and it is gratifying
to know that he is showing extraor-
binary liberality and generosity in
its disposition.
HIsToRICUs.