Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-11
SUMTER COUNTY HISTORY.
A Big County of Bygone Days-Some of
the Sturdy Settlers.
From the americas Recorder.

From the Americas Recorder.
In 1926, nearly sixty years ago, there
was great big county laid out between
the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers. From
the great swamp that shuts out the light
from Flint rivers western shore, on the
eastern side of what is now Macon
county, across by the head waters of
Juniper creek, and among the blue hills
of Muscogee, till 1t terminated in the I'M
penetrable cane brakes of the broad Chat
tohOochee. ran the northern boundary
The southern boundary ran across from
the big bend ust above Albany, through
that fertile and we'll watered country, till
il rested on the great ChattahOOchee in
the neighborhood of Fort Gaines. This
was a county indeed, Macon, Sehiey,
Sumter. Webster, Stewart, Randolph,
Clay, Terrell and Lee, az 1t is now, were
made either wholly, or In part from this
huge county. 1t was a glorious land to
live in. The soil was fertile and the range
uneXcel ed, and one by one the hardy
rangers passed over the river and erected
their log cabins in this goOdly land. In
honor of as brave soldier as ever drew
sword in the cause of right the immortal
Richard Henry Lee, of revolutionary
fame, they called it Lee county.
One by one new counties were carved
out, and in 1881 the grand old county that
bears the name of another Southern
patriot, who distinguished himself in the
war for liberty, Gen. Sumter.
John KINNEY was Sheriff for long
time-a rather small, dark-eyed man,
brave as a lion and generous tn q fault.
After filling the office to the entire salts
faction Of the people for long time, he
Mt last had an opponent, one Robinson.
They fell out about political matters and
a fight ensued, KINNEY shot and mOrtally
wounded Robinson and fled to the old
hotel that stood on the southwest
corner of the public square in
Americas, and crawled under it. There
was terrible excitement over the affair,
and jim Sharon, nephew of Robinson,
procured a torch, it being then dark, and
with drawn pistol in his hand began
peering under the building. At last he
discovered KINNEY crouchiug in gloomy
corner, and leyeled his weapon as though
be were aiming at u dog. KINNEY ssked
Sharon to allow him showing, and give
him a fair chance, but the spirit of
revenge was too strong, and without a
moments hesitation Sharon fired, killing
KINNEY dead. He then fed in the dark-
ness, and was never heard of any more.
Jacob Little was Tax Collector, and
merry old gent was he. He would come
to Americas, get a little tipsy, and meet a
friend. "HellOi John, didn't you pay me
over your tax last weekT' ''Ohl yes,
Uncle Jake, Ipaiddt'' (whether hehRd or
nOt). "Well, jest hold on mint, an
LII gin We a receipt whereunOna he
would scrawl out receipt, never stop
Ping to investigate. He was often i'm
posed upon IN this way, but little cared
he. One day he was out splitting rails,
barefOOted, bareheaded, with only n
shirt and trousers on, when Gov. Towns
came along. GOOD morning, Uncle
Jake, let's 20 to Starkesyille," which was
then the county seat OF Lee. "Wa-al,
don't keel, ef I do. Here, Bud" to his
son, ''you finish this job, and tell yer
nanny l'm going, to Starkesville,7 and
he seated himself in the buggy, without
more ado, and he and Towns had Fegu-
lar bust before they came back. Such
was the character of many, Of the hardy
pioneers who made their home Ia old
sumter, IN the olden time. 'a9 ss. in