davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16
INTERVIEW WITH
MRS. STEWART

Mrs. S. F. Stewart says: Il was
for tie first year member of the La
dies Circle of the G. A. R. and l en-
joyed my associations particularly well
with Mrs. Pieper, Mrs. Knapp, Mrs.
Frink, Mrs. nellie Smith, Mrs. Wiki
erson, Mrs. Emmons, and many 9TH
ers who have since died or removed
from Fitzgerald. Our Circle was es-
pecially Interested. that first season in
our schools that would open in SeptenI-
Der, and we were concerned about the
text books that they should be furnish
ed to all who might be hampered IN
buying them, before the schools could
be legally taken over to municipal con-
troll from the Colony directors.
Thereafter it was planned that free
text books should be a plan of the
school system, but in the meantime
we had many people who were so
reduced in their funds that 1t would
have been considerable hardship to
buy books especially for such short use
So our Circle decided to give big
dinner at my home on west Magnolia
street. Our lower floor having been
designed for stoxe purposes and being
ample in size and CONVENIENT. We do
mated the food and charged a ridicu-
lousy low price for the menu and
quality but we made near $40 and were
happy over it besides having enjoyed
the day as a real picnic, together as
families and friends.
! used to enjoy our long Sunday
walks, watching the Improvements
from week to week, here was new
street cleaned, here another house .go-
ing up. | loved the smell Of the pines
and of the burning logs at night
There was no need of electric lights
that first spring and summer. Every
one had a stump or two burning every
night in their own yard and great
piles of logs were burned in all parts
OF town. I had lived so long IN a
prairie state that it seemed terrible
waste. but there seemed no other way
to remove them fast enough and es-
pecially after it was suggested that
so much decaying wood would cause
sickness. The logs lay so thick that
friends of mine who lived in the south
part and attended church over or
Jackson street made the assertion that
they could walk all the way on pine
logs never stepping their foot On the
ground, A neighbor of mine was
much disappointed in the woods o.
Georgia. She said 81 thought where
there was forest there was shade but
here you woull have to go up 100 feet
in the air before you get to it"
j enjoyed our first mild winter ant
our. cool summer nights. How we usec
to listen for the roaring Of the pine:
in the distance about a certain regular
time of nights and we called it tn,
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16
RECOLLECTIONS OF
MRS. MARY GREEN

We came here in the first year of
the Colony, 1895, when Shack town
was III its glory, when people were
living iii tents, wagon covers or Slab
shtnties, when all were good neighbors
to every one. that came.
Our house was built of green 1um-
Der right from the mill, which as it
dried left large cracks for ventilation,
That winter was a very mild one and
we loved to go through the woods and
gather flowers, which was. quite a
contrast from the weather we left the
day we started from Harvey, Ill,
They were having a blizzard and it
was very cold there. A good many Of
the first settlers haye lived to see our
little city grow up from the sticks"
to its present beautiful proportions,
although it was intended as a NORTH
ern soldiers colony" it was soon quite
evident that Others thought it was a
desirable place to locate for at the pres
ent time it is mostly southern, only
we acknowledge no north or south as
was proven by the OF organization OF the
first camp, of the blue and Gray
where they met as comrades and broth
ers and where we have lived in peace
and quiet all these wears.
We went in as Charter members in
l'ost and Corps, and have always been
ready to zip in any way we could to
be loval members. While Mr.. Green
was living we Helped in many enter
tainments for the pleasure OF our
friends as well as financially.
And when we ,tarted the w. R. C.
tiall. we all put forth extra effort to
accomplish our great undertaking. but
by hard work and by the help of LOYAL
friends we finally had it so we could
use its We were very proud of it and
have enjoyed having place we could
call our home.
The first step taken by those who
had belonged the to Christian church
elsewhere was to publish a notice in
the paper calling upon all members of
the Christian church to assemble at
headquarters for the purpose of trying
20 effect a church organization.
IN response to this notice seven or
eight responded. They met in an old
shack and discussed the matter of or
ganizing a church,society.
Among those present at this first
meeting was NJ. H. Plopper. DR..
Thompson, O. S Childs, L. f. Hen
derson, !. d. Wellman. Mr.. Halsey,
Mr.. Ginens.
In time their number increased to-
about seventeen and they then decid-
ed to build church house, And with
the energy of pioneers they succeeded
in 1897 and 1898 in completing the
first Christian church on east Jessa-
mine street. This church with its va
rious experiences has continued TO
grow, in 1901 had reached member
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16
INTERVIEW WITH
MRS MARY DREW

Mrs. Drew says: my first trip to
our present location of Fitzgerald was
in the year 1888. Three of the Drew
families and that of Mr. Lowther left
our home in South Carolina, landing
on the Savannah river and boarded
two decked steamer, flat bottomed,
with all our worldly effects including
cows, mules, pigs, chickens and even
cats, veritable Noah's Ark. How
ever this boat was named the Swan
and this gave me the suggestion for
the name of our new settlement when
we sometime later made our applica-
ton for a post office.
. The trip was wonderful. have often
wished | had the ability to write it
up IN an interesting way. We sailed
down the Savannah river and then
skirting the shore line goig through
ever SO many sounds we at length
came to the mouth of the Altamaha
river at Darien, thence we sailed up
ward and with a spring freshet as a
great advantage we were enabled to
finish our trip iwth ease on the Oc-
mulgee, coming as far as Crisp land
ing in the incredible time of five DAYS
days
Here we disembarked and made our
way to our new turpeatine still and
saw mill settlement, soon drawing a
small population of white people and
probably thirty families of negroes
about us. We erected three substantial
tial homes that we're land marks in
the new colony. Our first post . zee
was at Irwinville, but in '8o ~ re
given one of our own, my husband
being the first postmaster until Fitz-
gerald was incorporated and Republi-
can administration in power.
One of my first recollections of the
coionists is the struggle that took
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16
SKETCH BY MRS.
DICKINSON BURNETT

Alter a. continuous residence of 10
years In Minneapolis, our ambitions
turned southwark, at first toward the
state Of Tennessee, but after we he
gan to read and talk more of the South
IT was easy to fall in with the process
sion toward the old soldiers COLONY
and so here we found ourselves Nov
18th 1895. pitching our tent. and nv
husband and son George finding work
the next day. They took their demo-
Graf wagon and would meet the
tram at nights. and during the day
drove the surveyors all over the Col
ony lands, learning in this way the
numbers OF the tracts so that thew
could easily carry the newcomers to
their allotments.
'One OF our shares drew us the s acre
tract 4l0 Lincoln avenue, which we
used for our home. Ny sons allot-
ment was later traded for the lots on
Pine street where I make INV home
and rent my two houses. NV men
worked with our Colonist neiehbors
Van. Osdel. Buck, Wilbur Oliver, Al
drich, Louks. Lee, Buckley, Harnish,
Hite and Hagerman and others in
cutting trees and making the first
bridges over the creek on Lincoln av-
enue west of Merrimac drive. We
were in the Roanoke district and our
women formed an aid society for the
purpose of building school house.
Those were days of hope and happi-
ness and good will. Everyone in the
district gave their encouragement and
financial support so that we were able
to build comfortable school house
IN 1879, which was our community
centre as we'll and we paid our first
teacher from private funds: Later
when we gave it to the county they
built another building to the west. Be-
lore this however we had won flag
from the Youths Companion for hav-
ing the best country school house in
South Georgia and another from the
a. D. A., and won aliirels at a state
meeting in Athens, being voted the
second best county school in Georgia.
Both OF our boys attended the town
schools the most. and we moved into
town in 1909, My son George went
TO st. Petersburg, Fla. where he lives
now and Harry learned the printing
trade as little boy working under
Arthur tones on the Daily People and
later for Hon, Jesse Mercer for ten
years and along with Mr.. B. F. Knapp
after Mr.. Gelders had purchased the
paper He too lives in St. Petersburg,
where is a linotype and monotvpe op4
orator Since my husbands death |
sun make NV home on our old camping
grounds of Fitzgerald, though making
long visits at intervals to nv childrdi
who are both married and in nice
MONIES OF their own, and who are
KIND and dutiful, looking out for their
mothers needs in her old age.
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

place every day when the mail came
in. Not many had ever seen any
thing quite like that experience and
as for me 1 was i'll and nervous at the
time and really frightened The men
would line up for block distance in
length and policemen with their clubs
had to patrol the lines to keep order
for the men would just naturally
crowd and push in their anxiety to
get their home letters and papers as
quickly as possible. 1t was matter
of some difficulty for the colonists to
get sleeping quarters as fast as they
arrived. But they were very generous
and hospitable with each other in that
respect and Jesse Drew's opened their
home for dodgers, while there were
a few hotels soon ready. l used to
take care of our Triton friends, Capt.
J. A. Phillips, J. H. Harris, and their
families, also Ex-Governor Northern
stopped with me on his several trips
here.
1t was my nome ne was hunting
on the occasion when he got lost.
Our first church was Georgia
Chapel over on the river but after a
while we had little building erected
with burying ground beside it. This
was used for time by the South
Methodist and Episcopal Congrega-
tions until they had other places pre-
pared, Several of the first Colonists
were inferred in our burial ground
but in the final adjustment we gave up
this ground and the graves were trans
ferred to Evergreen Cemetery.
Our children had to be sent away
to boarding schools of course. Dur
ing part of this time Mr. R. J. Prem
tiss was highly popular and efficient
teacher at Abbeyille, Our daughter.
Lulu attended Milledgeville. We had
acquaintance with the Bowens. the
Dormineys, the Hendersons, the Glenn
ents, and others of the early sawmill
settlements.
Ny first northern neighbor was
Mrs. H. L. Beauchamp, whom I liked
so much. The colonists had SO little
housekeeping to do that first winter,
how they walked and talked and inves-
tigated
Some times my yard was full OF
ladies inspecting and .adniring
flowers and shrubs, most of these being
strange to them. Our relations were
most happy and enjoyable and pleasant
to recollect
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16
CURTIS M WISE

Curtis M. Wise was carly on the
Colony grounds as boolkeeper for the
Colony Company. Everybody soon be-
came familiar with his handsome face
and his signature as he met them over
the desk at the Colony headquarters.
Diligence and efficiency were his
most conspicuous attribute then and
IN later times when he held for SO long
the office Of Ordinary.
AS soon as the first rush of Colony
business was Ger and everything on
secure and stable footing. Mr.. Wise
allowed himself the diversion of get
ting married, getting his bride from the
old home in Indiana. Theirs was one
OF the early weddings in 81 and theirs
one OF the new and hospitable homes
N winch many happy gatherings can
be recalled
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

ship of 100
Mrs. K. ]. Abrams was our first
splendid leader in music with Mrs.
Hattie Thompson North, for many
years organist. We had a chorus
choir, some fine voices, that insured
good music. DIR. L. A. Turner and l
are all that is left here of that old
choir.
OF the many pleasant and comical
things that happened in those early
days. it would be hard to tell of them,
they would have to be lived to be ap-
preciated, but there were plenty
Mrs: Fox ran the first hotel in a very
small building. The P. o. was about
ox8 if my memory serves me right
The people would stand in line to be
served. No lock boxes of course. But
there is SO much to tell when you go
back to those days that might not be
interesting to the present generation.
So will leave the rest for their imag-
nations. Mary A. Green.
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

One of the very good and very tai
ented young men OF the early days
was Edward A. Butcher, son of DR.. C..
A, Butcher. Ed was a wonderful cor
netist and contributed not little to
the musical circles in concert and band
work. He went with the band to Gu
ba in the. Spanish war and there con-
tracted a fever that wrecked his
health and made him a speedy victim
of tuberculosis on his return.
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

Gulf breeze. Of late years l never
hear or feel it. Cutting so much tim
Der has seemed to change the atmos-
pheric conditions somewhat.
| liked our early people so mucfhs
there was a warmth and cordially
that seems wanting now, but I believe
that is Characteristic of pioneers who
doing without SO many material pleas
ures make more of their human inter
ests. OF course have my own warm
friends now as ever, but one. can feel
strange in a crowd, In those days
there were always crowds, but there
were no strangers Where are You
frcm?" was the usual greeting and no
further introduction was REQUIRED.
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

A second church wedding in Febru-
ary Of ljo7 was that of Miss Ida Lee
and Mr., Ed Beck, who resided here for
some years but later went north where
they are still living. The attendants at
their wedding were Misses Bertha
6osworth, Lucy Beck, Maud Beck.
Grace Beck, Maud Lee and Mabel
Lee. also Pr. Holtzehdorf, Mr.. Van
Ness and Messrs Clarence and Fred
Bosworth.
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

One of the greatest handicaps to
the colony at present is railroad trans
portation. The only practical way in
to Swan at present is through Able
willie and Lulaville. The A.. 4 w. road
connecting these two places is poorly
equipped and has not been able to
handle the immense amount of freight
that comes into Abbeville. 1t is hoped
that whoever secures the road at the
receivers sale next month will not
only make great improvements in the
present road. but will continoe it to
Swan with all possible haste.
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16
A SKETCH OF ROSE rEBEAu

Mrs. Rose Tebeau came to Fitzger--
aid in the summer of 1896 bringing
their four children to join her husband
Mr.. f: P. Tebeau who was already
engaged for several months past in
the real estate business. She at once
became the leading soloist and choir
leader in the town as she. possessed
beautiful high soprano voice, well
cultivated. and was thoroughly equip
ped in technical skill directing and
teaching music.
She began teaching limited numb
er of pupils at once, but as her hus-
bands health failed followed only too,
soon by his death, Mrs. Tebeau then
made most strenuous use of her tall
ents for livelihood.
She was always in demand for choir
leader. soIoist and teacher. So zeal
Gus was she. her friends feared she
would break herself down. In addi--
ton she was an ideal mother, per-
feet friend, a Conscientious Christian
worker, Identifying herself with tenn
perance work and whatever else she
might find to do. Mrs. Tebeau was
a close friend of Mrs. Nettie c. Hall
and had some qualities in common with
her She greatly surprised her friends
by her marriage in '98 to Mr.. Wheel
wright VIII was a splendid Christian
gentleman. but who died and left her
again widow in few years.
The very peak of sorrow came into
her life since her last visit in Fitz-
gerald when she lost by sudden death,
+ her noble son Emmett who grew up
I here but went into the navy and ad-
vanced by merit to the very highest
rank possible at his age. He was his.
mothers support and pride 1t was a
terrible blow, but her beautiful spirit
| has not been crushed.Some day her
friends expect to greet her here again.
and renew "au1d lang syne.".
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

The fifteenth of this month the col
ony assumed full control of affairs at
Swan Drew Bros. had retained poses
sion until that date to close up their
business
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16
u. CIV a
U. { ". A.
(From Citizen Inne f6 1eosl

CFrom Citizen June rs, 1899
The Y, c. " A. met in Fitzgerald
June 9th and enrolled new members
and elected the following as officers.
!. l. jay first lieutenant Commando,
Wiley Whitley. End Lieut.. Com: F
M. Taylor. Adit.; w. H. Hardin, Chan.
lin: ]. w Turner, Historian: R v,
Bowen, Asst Com. Gen: DR.. !. H.
Powell. Surgeon; las. T. Saunders.
Secretary: T. p. Littlefield, Treas ,
On motion OF brother Wiley Whitley
The following resolution was unani-
mously adopted: viz
The Irwin County United Confed-
crate Veterans Association hereby ex-
tends to all the posts OF Federal Vet
Grams in the city of Fitzgerald. and to
all Union Soldiers OF the late war.
whether members of any post or not.
cordial invitation to Join with this
association in attending the annual re-
union of Confederate Veterans to be
held in the city OF Atlanta from the
10th to the 23rd OF July next, and also
to join in any and all of It's meetings.
ID B. Null, Commander.
Jas. T Saunders, Secy.
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

1t is significant fact in regard to
the founding of the colony at Fitzger-
aid, one of the most important events
in the history of Ga, that it was first
attracted toward Georgia as home
for the colonists by Georgia's sending
carloads of provisions to suffering fam
lies in Nebraska, when the state was
swept by famine two years ago. Thus
1t seems that to an act of charity Geor-
gla owes one of her greatest CONNER
cial and industrial blessings Macon
Telegraph.
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

Thanksgiving was by no means
forgotten by the colonists. There was
lively chase around the town for
turkeys and chickens The fortunate
ones had regular Northern turkey
roast. The merchants are already lay
ing in stock of things good to eat
for Christmas and the holidays A big
Xmas tree is a probability.
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

DIR. Fnssell, talented young ply
sician of Seville, Ga, will locate with
us this week. We predict him rapid
rise in his profession.
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

Editor DeLoach of the Irwin County
News paid this office friendly call
Tuesday.
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16
SALUTATORY

With this issue the ENTERPRISE
enters the field as the pioneer paper
of Fitzgerald. 1t is our desire to re-
fleet credit on the colony and do all
in our power to further the progress
of this great movement We shall give
the complete and exact news and voice
the sentiments OF the people through
our editorial columns.
The ENTERPRISE will always
stand for good government, wisely
and economically administered. 1t will
be run independently and will be in
fluenced by no man or organization OF
any kind.
We trust that the public will assist
in maintaining a paper that will always
be alive to its interests and welfare.
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

From present indications the resi-
dence portions OF the city are going
to be on souht Main street ad east
Pine street, A large majority of resi-
dence lots that have been sold are in
these localities.
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

The old darby church has been NOV
ed over to block 7, where it it is to
be fitted up and used for a private
school house.
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16
Locals

When the pole is up, look out for
the weather flags on the Model Steam
Laundry.
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

The class of people that are locat-
ing in and around Fitzgerald may be
judged from the fact that the city has
no officers and no laws for its gov
eminent. In fact there is no city or
ganization of any kind. Each individu-
al is looking after his own interests
and is too busy to be interfering with
the rights of others.
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

A party Of sixteen emigrants from
Horton, Kansas, passed through Col
urnbus few days ago enroute to Fitz-
gerald, the G. A. r. Colony town, in
Irwin County. They reported that 1923
families from Horton will shortly fol-
low them and that 4 general emigra-
ton from that section to this new Ell
Dorado is in progress, They will en-
gage in fruit raising to large extent.
Cochran (Ga,) Telegram.
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

Presbyterian unday School
Citizen, March 81, 1889
The following officers were elected
last Sunday: Supt. o. H, Johnson;
Asst. Supt Wylie Moore. Sec, Ruth
Goodnow; Treas. Nina Emery
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

There should be some action taken
by the colonists in regard to adopting
uniform time. AS it now is, we have
both railroad and sun time Considera-
bic confusion has arisen when meet
ings are announced for certain hours
Some get there by one time and some
by the other thereby causing delay and
confusion
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

BORN--To Mr. and Mrs. Otto FL
lars on Saturday. April. l, 1898 son
OF the regulation weight
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

If there ever was town pump Fitz-
gerald has one.
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

The colony could hardly have been
located at a more favorable time. The
exceedingly dry fall has been bless
ing to all.
Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16

AS yet the weather has been all that
could be desired. Although there have
been a few cold sharp nights and sew
eral rainy days, one can work out of
doors almost any day in his shirt
sleeves.