, 1890-07-31
! Hopewcll presbytery. 1t met

lne removal To Georgia OF Rev.
John Springer was largely the re-
suit of the invitation of an early
settler, who may well bo of interest
to my readers. This was John Tai
bot, who was father oil
Matthew Talbot, governor OF
Georgia. tho ancestor of General
w. II. Il. Walker, killed at the
siege Of Atlanta; also of Mrs. Oc-
tavia w. La Vert. and of Albert,
Lamar, known well as n Journalist
In our times. Mr.. Talbot was II
lineal descendant of the English
Talbots, earls.of Shrewsbury, and he
was one of the most accomplished
OF the early settlers. He had fine
library, of which few books still
exist in Wilkes. One of them Is
one of the original subscription
copies of tho famous book, ed
wards on the WILL" The dwelling
house of Mr.. Talbot, still standing,
Is over 100 years old, and is, 1 feel
sure, the oldest dwellug-hoise In
the country above Augusta. II Is
now used by negroes. One OF the
rooms is paneled very much like II
handsome house built I'm Washing
ton in 1883.
John Talbot died In 17OS, aud the
exertlon of Rev. John Springer ut
his funeral, which took place In
August, probably caused the death
OF Mr.. Springer, who was already
sick. There are two yellow docu-
ments In the ordinary's office in
Washington, which are the wills of
John Talbot aud Rev. John Spring
er Some of the provisions are very
curious. Mr.. Sprir ger, who seems
to have been an excellent business
man, ana who mdde II good thing of
the opportunities he had for buying
land cheap, was In easy circum-
stances. To each of his four daugh-
ters he left, beside land and negroes
a good horse and saddle and Il
feather bed. Nearly all the
wills In the old book which
records these contain legacies of
feather beds to daughters. John Tai.
bot was probably one of the richest
men in the county.
His will names eight feather beds,
but he left them all to his wife, to
whom he made another curious be-
quest, namely, his two stills, for
brandy.
Mr.. Springer was buried at Wal
nut Hill. The road passing TO his
house was changed about forty
years ago, and now passes directly
over his grave. Many years after
his death his house was taken down
and brought to Washington, where
II forms u part of Mrs. DR.. Lanes
house. The town of Washington is
full of houses built of older ones,
which were brought here. The
scarcity of sawed lumber caused this
to be done.
The poplar tree OH Mr.. Alexan.
der's place is not very far from his
dwelling-house, n large and hand
some brick mansion, which is the
Oldest brick dwelling.house north of
Augusta--in fact, there Is only one
brick house of any kind older; that
Is the oldest of the dormitories i'm
Athens. Mr.. AleXander's house was
built (tinished) in 1908, by his
grandfather, Felix III. Gilbert, who
was one OF the early settlers from
Virginia. 1t is "A fine old house,
Will thick walls, making deep win
dow embrasures, and Is said to con-
tain brick enough for two modern
houses rs large. 1t Is finely proper
toned and finished, and the walls
IN the principal rooms are succeed
In graceful, quaint designs. 1t is
situated in u beautiful grove.
But this house Is as noted from
the persons who lived in it as for
any other reason. Felix Gilbert and
his wife died soon after this house
was built, leaving an only daughter,
who married a. l.. Alexander, and
together they lived in it for many
years. Mr. Alexander never held
or offered for any office, and so is
not widely known to all classes of
men, but he was one of the most
highly educated, cultivated and pol
shed gentlemen Georgia has ever
and was much appreciated
In intelligent circles. He was one
Of the handsomest men of his time,
and also u wit of great readiness.
He was graduate of Yale college,
and through his life of seventy
years retained his acquaintance with
Latin and Greek classics.
General T.. p. Alexander, Mr.. w.
Felix Alexander and his brother, j.
Ii. Alexander, of Augusta, were
reared in this house. Mrs. General
J. +. Gilmer, of Savannah, Mrs.
Alexander Lawton, Mrs. Wallace
Mrs. George Hull, Mrs.
Or. Boggs, OF Athens; Mrs. Judge
Haskell, of Columbia, 5. c., are all
of the house, and many
If them inherit their fathers wit.
There Is one thing for which nearly
very one of the family is noted, and
hat Is for being delight
'ul letter writer's. During the
,ivil was the daughters were
to men prominent
II the confederate service, and the
IONS occupied advantageous posi-
ions, so that there are not many
great events which one or another
If the family did not see, and not
many distinguished persons whom
me or another did not know. When
heir father died II few years ago
here was in existence, know, q
of family letters, which,
t published, would make one of the
most delightful and valuable contri-
buttons ever made to the history of
he great contest. l know another
family in which there
vas u similar collection quite as
valuable.
Governor Alexander Fl. Stephens
was an inmate of Mrs. A. l.. Alex |
,nder's fine old house when he went |
o school AS u Presbyterian benef-
,iary in Washington. To the last
ie retained his friendship of the
amily, but Mr.. Alexander never
his opposition to the con-
ederate administration. Said he.
stephens is n pretty man to be