From Days Gone By June 3, 1915

June 3, 1915.

    Mrs. J. L. Walker was one of the organizers of the local Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), an organization to perpetuate the memory of the men and women who achieved American Independence. They also aid and encourage historical research relative to the revolution and preserve documents and records of Revolutionary soldiers and patriots.

    The descendants of Samuel Webb, patriot, met at the home of Mrs. T. S. Page on March 31, 1915, for the purpose of organizing a chapter of the D.A.R. here. These women were to aid in preserving the records of Johnson County. They hoped to locate all the Revolutionary graves in the county, and their were some that were almost obliterated by the hand of time. The plowman has driven his furrow across old fields where many of these patriots are sleeping.

    The following are some of Mrs. Walker's notes on Johnson County. Some we all know, some will be new revelations even to me.

    Johnson Co. was created Dec. 11, 1858, out of lands formerly Washington, Laurens, and Emanuel. Wrightsville was incorporated Feb. 23, 1866. In observing the dates one would naturally suppose that the town and county had little history worth preserving; yet Johnson Co. is rich in unrevealed history. The traditions and legends of various deeds of the pioneer patriots have not been recorded and they have become almost forgotten stories of yesterday. There are historic rites that will soon pass with the years, if not marked, and it is "up to" the people of Johnson Co. to preserve the history of our county by designating these places.

    The Outlaw home (which stood on corner of Court St. where Rite-Aid is) was a travelers inn. It was once known as a tavern and the stopping place for all who passed this way. The lights from that old home, long gone now, often shed their hospitable rays to guide the tired traveler for the night. The first post-house stood somewhere near Mason's bridge, important place for a marker. It was here the stage-coach horses rested before proceeding on their journey to Milledgeville. The stage-coach line that ran through Johnson was a branch of the Macon Trunk Line that passed the lands near Sandersville. This line was 192 miles long and ran stages twice a week, or oftener, if the traffic demanded it.

    The first settlers lived in close proximity to each other and some of the houses were constructed with fortifications to withstand the attacks of the Indians. They were known as block houses, in 1915, one was still standing, formerly known as the Tootle house, and later became the home of the Hilson family. The house was substaintially built of heavy timbers that were squared by the axe. The upper floor was lighted by curiously cut port-holes from which many an anxious eye once looked out on approaching dangers, in the forms of stealthy Indians. The pioneers who lived on the lands, now known as Johnson, were not different from other American citizens and had little faith in the so-called friendly Indians, and they frequently demonstrated that feeling with, "we must extirpate them or they will exterminate us."

    The old battleground of Johnson contains a store house of unrecorded history. The battles fought here between the pioneer and the Indian are both thrilling and pathetic. This place should have an imperishable marker somewhere near the public road, for the wave of progression that is sweeping over the land will soon place doubt in the minds of the people of the real location.

    There are old trails to be marked. The Uchee Trail that led from Uchee Town, near Savannah, passed many villages before reaching Johnson. This trail is the longest in Georgia. Another old trail leading from old battleground passes near the Leaston Powell plantation and extends across the Stephens plantation in an eastern direction. These places and others should be marked for future generations.