The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-26
MONTGOMERY WELL NAMED.
IT'S PEOPLE A TYPE OF THE HERO
WHOSE NAME THE COUNTY BEARS.

Fye-CoI. EstiIl's Trip to Mt. ver-
non and the Busy People He
Met Thcrc-A Section of the state
closely Allied With Savannah.
Georgia has always been given to
naming her counties after Revolution
ary heroes, and her own distinguished
sons said Col. ]. H. Estill on his re-
turn from Montgomery county a few
DAYS ago. "Of course. Chatham,
Burke, Camden, and Effingham coun-
ties are exceptions, and a few counties
have Indian names, like Cherokee. Ca
toosa, Coweta, etc. AS a rule, how
ever, the honor has been confined to
American patriots and statesmen.
Montgomery county was named after
CEN Richard Montgomery, and 1 sup
pose the county site, Mt. Vernon, re-
ceived it's name from Washington's
home on the Potomac. Washington's
Mt Vernon was named by his brother,
Capt Lawrence Washington, in honor
of Admiral Vernon of the British navy
under whom he served in colonial
times as an officer of Colonial troops
Cartegena, then a part of Spain's pos
sessions, and'I think our Vernon river,
which flows by the little village or
White Bluff, also takes it's name from
the old Admiral. Mt. Vernon always
sounds. sweet to my ears" said Col.
Estill land wanted to see Georgia's
Mt Vernon. How quick one can get
70 to- IN,
realized by a trip over the Seaboard
Air Line; leaving Savannah at 7:25 a.
m, railroad time, you are at your
destination at 1854 a. m. Twenty-Five
years ago it took three to four days to
go from Savannah to Mt. Vernon, but
now three hours pleasant ride is the
length of the journey. Mt. Vernon is
located one mile from the Oconee river
in the midst of fertile country.
Owing to its accessibility by river the
town has been the center of large
trade ever since it was founded. 1t
shows the same indication of growth
and improvements as most places in
Georgia. e-e
Montgomery county is decidedly
Scotch. think every other inhabi-
tsnt is a Mac" something" said Col.
Estill, land they have the appearance
of Scotchmen; they are sturdy, strong
built, honest, keen sighted men, and
look straight at you when they talk
The first settlers of Montgomery came
from the Scotch settlements of North
Carolina, during or just after, the Rev
dictionary War, and since then there
have been additions to the population
direct from Scotland; relatives of the
first corners. 1t is possible that a few
of the original settlers may have been
descendants nf AZ Doll
thorpe's Highland Regiment, which de-
feated the Spaniards in the battle of
Bloody March, ST. Simon's Island, and
their being there led to the North Car
DINA Scots coming stos settle along the
Oconee river. The Oconee was, and is
the water way from st. Simon's Island
to the interior. However, this is mere
~ a newspaper mans speculation
One thing is certain. however, said
Col. Estill Montgomery county is de-
cidedly Scotch, and it is none the
verse for it, The Greek Indians own
ed and occupied the land south and
west of the county long after it was
laid off. The county, as said before.
was named in honor of Gen. Richard
Montgomery of the Revolutionary Ar
my, who. after capturing Montreal and
other places in Canada, fell in the as
sault on the citadel of Quebec. Look
ing down from the ramparts of the
fortress, have seen the stone that
marks the spot where Montgomery and
Two of his aids We're killed by the only
shot that was fired by the British upon
the attacking columns. The gunners
could either not depress the pieces
enough to make their shots effective,
or they had mercy upon the brave
men who led a forlorn hope Every
tme L have visited Quebec. I have
looked down IInOra the sto,,a tl, . -. - L..
lhe spot where this heroic Irishman
shed his blood for American liberty.
Inc rock on which the citadel of
quebec stands rises almost perpendicu-
larly from the st. Lawrence river, and
II seems to me that it would be diff
cut TO climb ii under the most favor
able circumstances. His brave enemies
recognized Montgomery's heroism, and
MS remains were inferred by them near
the gates of the fortress. where they
remained for forty years, when the
United States government had them re-
moved and reinterred in ST Paul's
churchyard, New York A cenotaph
on the church walls tells the story of
me gallant Irishnlan, whose blood
eboed out in defense of American lib
efty half year before the signing of
The Declaration of Independence. A
county named after such a man may
on the day I spent in Mt. Vernon"
SAID Col. Estill, 1.-The Superior Court
was in session. Judge d. M. Roberts
was presiding, and every district was
Iepresented by jurymen. clients. law
Ners and lockers on. In addition to
their agricultural interests, the people
OF Montgomery county are largely en-
gagged in getting out and rafting tim
per and lumber on the river, as we'll as
shipping by rail. The people living
along the Oconee and Altamaha rivers
supply Darien. with much of the heavy
TIMBER shipped from that port to Eu-
rope and South America / had the
pleasure of meeting Hon. G. S. Hamil-
Ton, the member of the General Assem-
oly from Montgomery county; Hon.
Alexander Macarthur. the ordinary, the
county clerk, Mr.. ]. c. McAllister;
sheriff B. +. Biggs, ESQ.,; Tax Receiver
d. !. Geiger, Esq; j. L. Adams, Esq,
county treasurer and other officials.
lhey We're all very busy. because
much business is crowded into court
week l. also met Hon. John McRae,
county commissioner, and j. ]. Earle,
Esq, of the Hilton & Dodge Lumber
'ompany. Col. p. w. Meldrim of Sa-
,Vannah was also in Mt Vernon, though
me was so busy that few people saw
uim He is the best known man in
mat section OF the state, having prac-
ICED law in 1t ever since he was adj
"ltted TO the bar. when there were no
'allroads and he rode the circuit"
Congressman Brantley was a pleas
Sat company going to and coming from
MOUNT Vernon Mr.. w I, Wilson one