Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-06-24
UnveiIinu a Monument

UnVeIlIng a monument
On June 10 1 was able to conclude and
finish up one of my dearest plans and
I have peen feeling so much relief and
sincere satisfaction over the result that
1 must take my dear Semi-Weel1ly read
ers into my confidence and allow them TO
rejoice with me.
e MY Semi-Weekly readers are very dear
to my old heart, and for nearly II years
have been going to them twice week
with the things which were uppermost IN
my mind, and this monument means SO
much to me that l feel like rising TO
question of personal privilege, as con-
gressmen and legislators areawont to say
of things that are of first Importance to
themselves. t...-
Because my deceased husband had ser
we'd his state and nation so ably and
faithfully, 1 felt as if some enduring me-
mento should be placed somewhere, so
that the youth of the country could recall
the memory and emulate the example OF
an able and honest public servant.
Then, too, he had preached the first
sermon that was ever delivered in the city
of Gainesville.
when he moved to Cass, now Barlow
county. the Western and Atlantic rail-
road was in progress of construction. The
end from Atlanta 0hen called Marthas-
yille) had barely reached Kingston when
he with his parents and his family aDght-
ed from the train in the little hamlet
known as Gainesville.
Everything in this little railroad town
was crude and raw; except store or
two and a GROCERY or so and rough
railroad depot-the town was lost In the
woods-native forest growth. The indian
trails had broadened into two well-trav-
a
hama road" and the "Old Tennessee
road" These roads converged at Car
tersvilIe and then separated east and
west. No church building could be found
in the town but there were some we'll
attended country churches, some miles
away. -s. -.-,-... ...-. $50
After DIR. FELTON, was licensed to preach
by Bishop James o. Andrew, ne preacheu
somebody's funeral sermon in the meagre
little town and with some others OIL the
Methodist church begun to agitate the
building of a church house, and as a
trustee and chairman of the building
committee he stood by when the forest
growth was cut and taken away 10 allow
the placing of the hewed sills OF the ne"
church to be built For 90 years, ana uh-
iii his infrmities overcame his physical
strength he gave noble and gratuitous
service to the congregations OF the new
town. From the beginning he gave OF ms
substance, of his time and of his superb
intellect to this religious service Oh ms
people.
I desired that this work should not be
forqotten when the Grim Reaper had
moved the last one of his immaculate
family and of his hearers to hnal lods-
ment in the cemetery.
He had left his impress on the county
in various ways beside the one l nave
mentioned He had served SIX years IN
the national congress, with distinguished
ability and also eight years in the stare
legislature II was largely owing 10 MS
persistence and able defense Of Georgfas
best paying property, that the state rail-
road has been paying into the strong
box, of Georgia in clean cash $4,000 per
anum.
When the present lease expires, there
will have been paid in $12,0OOOOO in clean
cash, and the property will be Up much
better condition than when it was leased
% years before.
did not wish his countrymen to for
get his noble and disinterested service to
them and to all the citizens OF the EN-
pire State of the South.
l might consume a full page in recit-
ing the various legislative acts in which
he led and participated. -.
felt that my time here was obliged TO
be Drle1. w men one 4ACA acN-A
milestone on the journey of life the
chances are that not many more can
be- safely counted upon, and | desired 10
place a shaft of remembrance on the
court house square before went hence
TO be no more because it was essentially
pleasing to my heart and because was
favored with the ability to conclude the
task.
So we gathered in the Methodist
church last Sunday. located on the very
spot where he had stood and watched
the axernen cut down the first sapling
on a heavy wooden tract, 60 years ago,
and where he served previous congrega-
lions with more than 30 years Of minis
terial service, and l listened to his old
time friends as they paid a tribute OF
IL spect to one who had served so long
and loved so well. -.-t
They told us that he had given of the
best that was in him without money and
without price in all those long, toilsome
years, wartimes and poverty-stricken
times of peace. and that his loyalty and
his benefactions were continuous.
The young men and young ladies gave
us beautiful music, and while less than
one-third of those present couId crowd
into the beautiful Sam Jones Memorial
authorities who received IT graciousis
on the courth ouse lawn near by in social
intercourse with each other.
The monument was unveiled very soon
and I turned over the beautiful shaft
built OF enduring granite to the county