The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-26
AN HISTORICAL COUNTY.
FAMOUS MEN AND NOTED PLACES
OF LIBERTY.

MIo"SS NnArca-NameS known to
Fame-Esriy Settlers and How They
Lived-Some Anecdotes That Have
More Than a Passing Interest.
have recently visited the eastern nor
ton of old Liberty county, known in
colonial times as st. Johns parish. and
passed several days amid the scenes and
haunts OF my youth and early manhood.
Nature. indeed. wears the same ineface-
able profile and landmarks, albeit thousands
of broad acres once teeming with rich hAr-
vests are now covered with broomsedge and
brambles. but almost without exception
the hospitable and handsome abodss of the
OLD NoBLEssE
have disappeared or are now crumblin0
into ruin. The bosom of a civil struayls
unparalleled IN history has swept over this
region, leaving it paralyzed, despoiled of
its wealth and well nigh deserted by the
whites The latter result was caused bv
emancipation aud the insalubrity OF the
climate. Inc land owners formerly in a
prosperous condition were too poor To
travel or seek summer retreats during the
unhealthy season on the sesshore or 10 the
piney woods. To do so would leave their
crops at the mercy of the hundreds OF
negroes. many of them too lazy to work.
and subslsting mainly by theft. Hence.
impelIed by
STERN NECESSITY,
very large portion of the Fourteenth
district OF Liberty county has been divided
up into small lots of twenty-five and fifty
acres eacn, ana sold to the more thrifty
blacks.
The owners, for the most part, either re-
tired to Walthourville. Pennington and the
upper part OF the county, or sought their
fortunes in other fields Thus they are 20
be found In all portions of the state and
union, carrying with them wherever they
went that high civilization, intelligence and
morality which had been their character
istics for five generations.
The above remarks as stated apply SOLELY
TO that part of the county south OF the Sa
vannah, Florida and Western railroad.
The upper portion under the impetus of the
lumber and terpentine industries has in
creased rapidly in wealth, intelligence and
population. A signal proof of this may be
found In the fact that from this region
comes our erndite state school commits
sloner,
HON. s. D. BRADwELL,
your own efficient Solicitor General Frazer
and Hon. j. N. Norman, who elected
Gordon, and rendered good service to his
constituents in the last general assembly.
- Walthourville also furnishes the lieuten-
ant colonel OF our cavalry regiment, Z. P.
Miller. who Is also a successful and enter
prlsing merchant; Judge Harden, and the
talented young pastor OF the Presby
church there, Rev. William Way, who is a
son OF Edgar Way, oae of the bssb teachers
in your city. .-...
Liberty is also represented in Savannah
by Supt. w. II. Baker and Samuel Spencer
In her public schools, DR.. R. Harris In the
medical faculty, and Hon. Aneas Way, q
brilliant member of the bar.
1t will thus be seen that despite the
glamor cast over everything by the war
and the poverty Of che people, this noble old
county is again grandly
STRUGGLING TO THE FRONT,
end Of late years has made wonderful
strides in the march OF progress The chief
object OF the writer, however, on this
occasion Is Go talk about his late visit into
the erstwblle famous district of Liberty
county now irreverently, by some, styled
New Africa which includes Midway
church, Sunbury and the adjacent sea-
coast. After buggy drive OF about five
miles from Mcintosh station through a
country as level as Holland and interspersed
with swamps but thiokly settled up by
small negro freeholders, and at Snelsouville,
boasting q capRcious church and school
house, the latter presided over by SCHOOL
mOrms' during the winter months, with
feelings akin to deepest reverence we halted
In front of
VENERABLE MIDWAY CHURCH,
that sacred fame around which clusters 60
many historic associations and treasured
traditions. ..... .,--.-..
1t is just 100 years since the present
structure was erected to replace the taber-
nacle destroyed by the British under Col
Provost, and under its caves may still be
collected the wrought nails and molten bits
- IL oh ,at, % -
vandal act
The building. which is 60 feet long by 40
feet in width. was originally painted
bright red, which has been followed at
divers times with repeated applications of
white lead But the elements, assisted by
the humid climate after the lapse of a few
years invariably destroys the latter, and
the old red crops out again just as q mans
true character is certain to be revealed de-
spite subterfuges, falRehocds and white
washing-vide some OF our radical politi-
clans.
In this article, a mere desultory narrative
of happenings by the way and personal in
cIdents, l cannot assume the role of
historiographer for this grand old religious
foundation. Its career and work has been
for one and half centuries illustrated by
the lives and deeds of her SONS who have
been distinguished ia all tho walks of life.
Suffice it to say. that IN a district that never
polled over 200 white votes, Midway has
sent forth over
FIFTY MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL.
Among the numbsr the famous revivalist.
Rev. Daniel Baker, Revs. Samuel and
Josiah Law, father and son; Rev. Q. C.
Jones, d. D., Charles 0. Screven and
James Screven, father and son; Robert
Quarterman, 8. s. Cassells. Peter John and
Sumner Vim, the present chaplain OF the
state Senate, John Jones, Patrick Nell, late
chancellor Of the state university James
Cosby and many others, Of whom want of
space forbids mention.
THE PASTORS OF THE CHURCH.
dating from the first settlement Of the
colony on May 10, 1859. to the close of the
late civil war, eight pastors filed the pulpit
of Midway church. Their names are as
fellows: Rev. John Osgood, who emigrated
with his flock from Dorchester, s. c.; Rev.
Moses Allen, Rev. Abril Holmes, ID. ID. !;
Rev. Cyrus Gildersleeve. Rev. Murdoch
Murphy, Rev. /. s. K. Arson, d. d. {;
Rev. Sumner VIM and Rev. D. L. But
toeph, D. D.
Since that period there has been no reg
uarly elected pastor, but Rev. - Waite,
worthy Congregational minister from the
north has preached regularly to the negroes,
the white congregation having been scat
tered and dispersed by the war. Al this
time, the colored communicates number
about 500, and small rent Is charged for
the use of the building, which Is devoted 70