The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-25
NURSERY OF GREAT MEN.
A NOTED PLACE AMONG THE RED
HILLS OF GEORGIA.

Eminence-A Few OF the Men Whose
Fame is Not Limited by state Lines.
Talk With Old Citiz sns Of Culloden's
Past and of Those Who Began Their
Careers Within Her Limits.
CULLoDEN, Aug. 2S-This little town,
nesting among red hills, is one of Georgias
historic spots.
1t is rendered so by being the birthplace of
so many of the states eminent men.
1t has the distinction of furnishing
greater number of statesmen than any other
place of its size in America. Leaders in
every department, almost, Of the states
service have gone out from here. They have
held the reins Of government the greater
part of the last half century.
Legislators, jurists and governors have
left Culloden TO take their place among men
Of America and to become the leaders in
Georgia's affairs.
GEN. GORDON Bean THERE.
Gen. Gordon was born only a short dis
tance from here He spent most of his time
in Culloden during his boyhood. People
here are proud Of Gen. Gordon, and they
know him as "Plaln John" Emory Soeer,
ex-congressman and United States district
judge, was born here, and grew to man
hood on these hills The house in which he
was born Is a plain, four-room dwelling,
situated I'm the business part Of the town It
is occupied now by Ben Jordan, the great
wine maker. Hon. Thomas M. Norwood Of
Savannah was reared here. [ saw the very
spot upon which his fathers lanyard and
shoe shop stood. Everybody hereabout knew
the Norwoods, and many Is the story
old residents have to tell on Mr.. Norwood
when be was growing up. Though his
father was a hard working man, young
Norwood saw bigger things in life for him.
self, and his friends agree that he never
seemed so happy as the day when he left
home to begin life for himself Ex-Gov.
James Milton Smith OF Columbus was
brought up here in his fathers blacksmith
shop. The way young Smith used to sling
the sledge-hammer while his father shaped
the iron is a pleasant subject for old resi-
dents to remark on even now They love
to talk of "Mllt'sn life in Culloden People,
they say, know all about his public life, but
his boyhood days are theirs TO know. They
took me TO the ruins Of the old
smith shop. They spoke of its owners as If
they were striking hot iron at that moment,
and they recounted every incident with the
utmost fidelity. Then they pointed to the
graveyard where the pioneer village smith
lay in his humble sleep of death. Ex-Gov.
hood the other day. remarked that he wished
he was able to able TO purchase a little home
In Culloden, and, living out the rest Of his
days, be buried here.
JUDGE SIMMONS CAME FROM oULLODEN.
Judge Thomas Simmons Of the state
| supreme court is native of Culloden. He
was an unostentatious young man, and his
early life ran as quietly by as the brook by
which he sported. He attracted little
attention from the village inhabitants until
he begen to be honored with important
positions in the state.
Looking back over the track of these
great men then, they see no more commend
| able than Simmons. He came from the
plow handles on his fathers farm, and an
| old resident remarked that his licks for the
state and good government have been just
as honest and as sturdy as his labor In the
| field for his parents although it wasn't
| plain then, we see now what an air lie
course this Jurist made to eminence" said
an inhabitant. The character and conduct
of Judge Simmons is hold up to the boys In
| Culloden as thing worthy Of imitation.
Culloden is the birthplace OF ex-Con-
gressman aud ex-Attorney General Ma
| thaniel Hammond, better known here as
| Nat Hammond of Atlanta. His name is a
household word, and when old residents be-
gin to talk about him, in the language of
STOP"
OLD HOMESTEAD OF COL. HAMMOND.
The homestead Of old Col. Hammond,
where young Hammond attained his ma
| jority, is situated upon hill overlooking
the village. Although 1t is an ordinary
| structure, it mas an air of greatness about
it. II is occupied now by an honest farmer,
who delights to tell Of the distinguished
Georgian who went out from that humble
abode
The little office of old Col. Hammond was
intact until few years ago, when it was
superseded by business structure.
The fathers of the community, when
pointing out the places Of interest to visitors,
it is said, would gravely remark, whether
the visitor knew Col. Hammond or not,
"And here's where Nat got bis start. "
| Such is the esteem in which he is held In his
native horne. Supreme Court Judge Trippe
| Of North Georgia was born and reared here
| He was the forerunner, and is, perhaps, the
| Oldest public man born in Culloden now
| living.
HER FIRST OFFSPRING.
It is said that he was Cullodsn's first off,
spring, and all the rest have followed him.
| Few Of the residents who were reared with
Judge Trippe are living here now. But the
| eufeebled old man returns as often as spring
comes to the favorite haunts OF his boyhood
| In CulIOdGl. he BDeDQS Lne Ulu16 QuTlnR Ills
visits with the sons of his schoolmates and
early playfellows.
The other day while visiting here he told
sone cf his friends that the old place was
the dearest thing in his reoollections. He
said that he lives in the past and Culloden
| is his only reminder OF 1t.
When not conversing with his friends he
| is wanderi over the hills and through the
meadows, trying to bring back the feelings
| of his boyhood.
asked an old citizen why Culloden was
| so prolific of big brains.
WHY CULLoDENITEs ARE SMART.
"Why," said he, "have you never heard
Of that propitious star which shines about
us"
| He said that the chief reason, however,
| is that Culloden Is located in the healthiest
section of Georgia. The great red hills
| towering one above another. covered with
! giant oaks and hickory. interpreted with
walnut I'd pine, fill the winds with the
aroma Of health, and make sound minds In
healthy bodies The purest streams run
! through the valleys, and the very water is
| laden with invisorating life. A man is fit
! TO be a man-able and strong-he said,
when he has spent his boyhood in this rugged
/ country. Then, he continued, the boys
were proud Of tho country around their
| homes, where the corn grows tall, the COT
/ ton fruits well the potatoes grow large, the