Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-07
WIN. GLAscoCK, GENTLEMAN. +

~ and useful men Of Georgia
~ just after the revolution
there was no one who went
bavond William Glascock, Gentleman,
of Richmond.
He came from a very old English
family. who had settled in Virginia
Thomas Cslascock, Gentleman, came
from England before 1850 and fixed his
home on the Potomac river in the
northern neck. When the Indians va
Gated the country on the border OF
North Carolina, and the new county
of Brunswick was laid out, John
Glascock, one Of the descendants OF
Thomas Glascock, came into TINS ne"
country. The Waltons, HoosonS; Slas -
cocks, Bacons, Laurens. were all from
eastern Virginia and settled together
in Brunswick. William GlaScock was
probably born in about 172O.
Along the Savannah river, above ana
below Augusta, this colony OF Vir-
Rinians established themselves about
f760 They were nearly all people OF
some means and the best land on
both sides of the river in South caro-
lima and Georgia, was taken by tneIn-
There was no danger from Indians
the river gave them easy access 10 the
coast. and while much of Georgia was
the luxuries of old settlements. Au-
gusta had been for thirty years quite
a eenter of trade. The Indians from
the banks of the Mississippi, and the
frontier people, from all the newly
onened country north of what is now
Scriven county and south Of what Is
now Habersham, came to the young
city to trade. The estate which Tnom-
as Glascoclx, who came before MS
father, purchased, jutted up to what IS
now the present city. IL was not
granted, but purchased, and DO not
know exactly when II was occupied
hut find 1t on De Brahmn's map made
in I761 or 1852. find a notice Of VII
liam Glascock in the earliest records
of Richmond county, which go BACK
TO about 1880 If there are any earlier
records they are not in the clerks OF
fee now. He was then evidently not
only a leading man but the Leading
man Of Richmond county.
He was president Of the county court.
This was an exact copy Of the county
court of Virginia. It consisted OF three
leading Iaymen and one lawyer, who
was the chief justice. These courts
were put in operation in 1852 and VIII
lam Glascock, Gent, as he is always
written, was the president OF the
court. This county court was at that
time the highest court in the state.
The chief justice presided twice year
and the laymen held their sessions once
a month. I am not familiar enough
with the laws controlling the court, 10
e able to say exactly what were its
powers In the absence of the chler JUS
tice but IT is evident that the hignest
county office that could be conferred
was to be president Of this court. At
Crocnnrtr HnO-|
sen Richmond county embraced all OF
Richmond, McDuffee, Columbia, part
Of Warren and Glaseock. The office
demanded a high order Of good sense,
intelligence and unimpeachable integri-
ty. The judges received no compensa-
ton, not even their expenses, the ser
vice was fully rendered for the public
good. At that time this court in Rich
mond was the most important court or
the kind IN the state, and the OLD
Virginia gentleman, who sat on the
bench In these judicial gowns had
lofty idea of the responsibility or their
position and the respect due them
The court met alternately in Browns
boro. Kiokee. Wrightsboro and Angus
ia.
In 1892 Columbia was cut on from
Richmond but William Glascock retain
ed HIS place as Judge, I think, till mis-
death in 1896.
There was no academy or high school
in Georgia, and Geo. Walton, Jos. Pan
nell and VIM. Glascock were made
board of trust to provide one in Au-
gusta. The legislature which met IN
August granted a large body OF land,
now covering a very considerable part
of Augusta. from Boundary street on
the south to Kollock street on the
north. which was to be disposed OF by
these trustees for the benef1t OF the
academy. These trustees had also con-
troll Of the young city and were invest
ed with the powers afterWard granted
to the mayor and council. There was
much responsibility, but no emoIu-
ment connected with this office but Tor
years VIM. Glascock watched over the
young city and the young academy
with unselfish solicitude. There are
few records to me more interesting
than the beautifully kept records OF the
trustees Of the Richmond academy
now in the hands of Colonel Frank
Miller Of Augusta, in which viii be
seen thesearnest effort Of these Virgin
fans. Walton. Glascock and Pannell TO
build the academy and lay out the city.
The first academy was built on Bay
street, corner of Ebert, and the an
cestor Of our governor took the con-
tract for building IT. It is somewhat
remarkable that VIM. Gambler, an
cestor of Governor Gambler, began the
academy, and that John Cobb, ances-
tor Of Governor Howell Cobb, finished
it and that Governor George Walton
was one of the commissioners. The first
rector of this academy was young
Abraham Baldwin, a New Englander,
who had just come to Georgia, and
who died % years afterward as SEN
atOr.
Abraham Baldwin was an educated
gentleman and was anxlUUs 10 nave a
bill passed for the establishment and
endowment of a state university. He
succeeded in enlisting others in his
scheme and the first board Of trustees
numbered among its members William
Glascock. The college was not opened
but the academy was and one Of the
quaintest pictures of those old times
is drawn in the record books OF the
first commencement. The gentleman Of
the board with their long queues. their
knee breeches and silver buckled shoes,
with hair well powdered and manners
very stately, came in and took seats
under the desk. Mr.. Palmer, the rec
tor, prayed. This same Mr. Palmer
was a little tinctured with New Eng
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