The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-25
THE FIRST SUPERIOR COURT.
A "Reminiscences of Olden Days in
Lowndes County.


"Savage'' in VaLdosta (GG.) Times.
There are two kind of "reminiscences just
in demand, and both are read with interest
by all the people of the United States.
Ranking first are the stories of the late
war. The deeds of the blue and gray have
been written in fact and fiction, and have
doubtless done much good as national har-
monists.
''Be fo' de wah, )" negro stories, where the
bright side of a dark race has been brought
to view, have been plentiful and in the
main good delineators of a people now gone
forever.
now turn the leaves of time back
nearly seventy years to the time when
jackson having purchased Irwin and Early
counties of the Creek Indians the people
east of the Ocmulgee river began to cross
over and settle the vast region of wilder
ness now known as the wire-grass.
West of the Alapaha the first white set
tier was Joe Bryant in the fork of Ocapilco
and Mule Creek.
The first house built in Lowndes was by
James Rountree, and on the lands now
owned by West and James Rountree, in
the northwest corner of the county Here
was born in 1928 Irwin Belote, who is in
fact the oldest inhabitant, save uncle Nose
Lucas, who came here grown man, and is
oyer 100 years old. All, mel Irwin has had
time of it, but in his time a country that
was well supplied with Indians, bears,
panthers, wolves, and other uufriendIy
neighbors, has been populated, and made to
produce support for many thousand people.
OF course our forefathers were rough, but
like Gen Taylor were also ready in good
deeds. Pardon me, kind reader, If in re-
cording some scenes of the twenties or
thirties you recognize a venerated ancestor
They were honest. brave men, but saw some
fun when whisky, that would put to shame
our So cost, could be bought at three.or four
bits gallon.
believe Holt was Judge; know Levi ].
Knight was foreman of the grand jury, and
Sion Halls house, now in Brooks county.
near Morven, was the place of our first
superior court.
The men of Lowndes were gathered from
the Alapaha to Mule Creek, from the vii
lage LeConte to the Florida line, as much
to see, hear, get acquainted, drink whisky
and swap horses as any thing else.
And Father Knight was there the first
wood was there. They say favored him
when a boy, of whom more hereafter.
Uncle John and Uncle Isben and Jack
Sweat and Elze Lellman-well why emu
merate.
There were idle brains and the devil
rolled up his sleeves and entered his shop
as they peeped through tumbler bottoms.
After the half plnts had vanished some of
the old men could see their youthful days
again and began to act.
"Boys lets have foot race" said Hall as
the crowd began to brag-old men of
MISUNDERSTANDING" and young men of
the present. "Why, Uncle Green, Jack can
beat you now, and give you ten steps the
start for quartz bet quart he can't"
came from the crowd. Judges were Sc
lected, also the track, and as they ran Jack,
who was sober, tripped Uncle Green, who
was stimulated" and sprained arm and no
doctor the consequence.
Uncle Green was carried into the dwell
ling of Mr. Hall. Near the fireplace the
court was in session. At the farther end of
the room were two beds on one Of which
Law Uncle Green. Father knight, Pm
ruined, Pm eternallv ruined" walled I'm
Gle Green. "Hush Green, hushl' said I'm
Gle John, who had also seen through the
glass, "Durn you, you'll disturb the court"
The judge, convulsed with laughter, adj
journed in honor of the occasion. Men
were men in those days.