Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-03

mas naQs out ne Is CeTIdlGiy the DCSN
known. He is the only Georgia gov
ernor, who left an autobiography. He
began in his old age to tell of men and
things as he had known them, and few
books are more delightful than his
gossip stories. A better view Of Geor-
gia as ii was is given by him, than in
the dignified account of events by
Stearns or Jones. No where except
perhaps in Boswell, Johnson or Pepys
Diary Is found an account OF men and
things more artlessly or more enter
tainingly told. Historians are expect
ed as a rule to be awfully dignifed and
to show men in the gown Of the forum,
the uniform of the field and the
dress suit of the parlor but now and
then one breaks away as we see the
man we are concerned with In his
shirt sleeves. The old governor told
of things as he knew them to be. His
book was a surprise and a mortifica-
ton to his admirers. He told OF peo-
pie with that freedom and abandon
which is never approved and always
enjoyed. He began to tell Of that re-
markable group who settled on Broad
river and told the story Of his own
life with glances at his times and with
an especially delightful chapter on
his charming wife, Lucy Grattan and
his Virginia and Georgia kin. Near
twenty-five years ago 1 sought in the
public libraries for the book, but
found that it had been quietly with
drawn. A year ago 1 sold my copy
for 5000 and sold it cheap. He tells
his own story at length, and pleas
ant story It is. A young Scotch ply
stefan came from Edingburg and set
tied in Williamsburg, then the capital
of Virginia, and his son George was
a student in after years in William
and Mary college. Frank Mer-
iwether was his chum and he went in
vacation the 80 miles to the foot OF
the Blue Ridge, to the home Of Col.
Merriwether, Franks father. He fell
in love with Franks sister and mar
ried her and went to the then from
tier of eastern Virginia.
The Blue Ridge was bar
rier not often crossed from the east,
but beyond il lay the beautiful valley
of Virginia, just filling up, and here
in Rockingham county, the young
Scotch Virginian fixed his home. His
son, Francis NJ. Gilmer, grew to man
hood here and married and after the
revolution, when the Broad River col
ony settled in Georgia he came with
his bride to the new state. Governor
Gilmer's picture of his father is a
graphic one. A man of great girth OF
body; exceedingly plain in his appar-
ell; rigidly honest in his dealings, and
of fine judgement and great industry;
he lived in sterling independence on
his Broad river plantation.
Here George Rockingham Gilmer
was born in 1890 The son had but
small chance for getting an educa-
ton in the baclxwoods, but he went to
a classical school in South Carolina,
and then to DR.. Waddell's famous
school at Wellington. He secured a
very good grammar school education,
but was not able because of his health
to go to college. Then he was teach
er of a country school, then a heuten-
ant in the army, then young law
yer in Lexington, then IN the legis-
lature, then in congress. and then a
governor. He had no unbroken series
of triumphs. but though defeated he
always came up again victor.
He was governor when gold was
discovered in the Cherokee country. All
the stories. of the Klondyke were an
ticipated by the tales Of the marvel
Gus wealth of these Georgia mines.
The governor was for seizing them,
driving the intruders from them and
working them for the benefit of the
people. He tried in vain to expel the
intruders from the mines, but found
himself in the presence of a greater
problem than even that.
The Cherokees claimed a fee simple
title to the lands on which they were.
The state of Georgia, denied their own
ership, and the United States govern
ment was called upon by the state to
remove them as 1t had removed the
Creeks, to land beyond the Mississip-
Of. The Indians refused to go Of their
own accord. White criminals as well
as adventures fed to the nation for
protection. A law was passed or
dering all whites from the nation,
and requiring those who were per
mitted to remain, to take an oath Of al
legiance to Georgia. The Indians re-
sisted the fiat of. Georgia, and appealed
to the supreme court of the United
States to support their claim to owner
ship. They employed William Writ TO
present their case and Judge Under
wood was their Georgia lawyer. There
were a number of white northern mis-
sionaries among the Indians and two OF
them refused positively to take the
oath. There was nothing that could
be done except to proceed to legal
measures. These sturdy missionaries
. were arrested and perhaps not too
delicately handled by the rude officers
VINO ola the WOIk. 4ueJ were lAlcu
before a jury in Gwinnett county and
were convicted of violating a state
law and sent TO the state prison. The
governor was fiercely abused, but he
stood firm. He offered the recalcit-
rant clergymen release If they W build
take the oath or leave the nation. but
they would do neither; so they were
clothed in prison garb and went
calmly to their cells. They had many
friends and much sympathy and every
influence was brought TO bear to Sc
cure their release. At last they were
advised by the missionary societies to
submit and they did so, and were par
doned. This course of the governors
did not render him so obnoxious to the
Georgians as his determined Opposi-
ton to lotterying of the good lands in
the Cherokee country.
He was fixed in his determination
and so at the end of his first term he
was defeated for reelection.
The lottery was held, and much to
the after sorrow of many Georgian
the gold lands were divided into 40 acre