Pabst:
Pabst was a 700 acre site built in 1970 by the Pabst Brewing Company. It was located six miles east of Perry.
Bonaire:
Bonaire was incorporated on 7 August 1912, and the name is French for "Good Air."
Henderson:
Henderson is located in the southern part of Houston County, Georgia.
The town was named for Soloman David Henderson, who came as an Indian trader. He was attracted by the broad Indian trails leading from the camps on the Ocmulgee to the Flint rivers. Those trails were used by Indians on their hunting visits from river to river. In early life, Henderson married Miss Penelope BROWN, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William BROWN. Mr. Henderson lived to be 98 years of age and raised a large family.
The lands of Henderson (and the rest of Georgia) were rapidly cleared by the white settlers and the Indians pushed southward until their famous chief, OSCEOLA, made his last stand in the Everglades of Florida.
An early couple was Henry TILL and his wife Becky, who came into the midst after landing from Ireland. They settled in the woods near Henderson. When he died around 1865, he owned a large number of slaves and his lands extended for more than 2 miles.
Mr. FITZGERALD, grandfather of Dr. C. R. MANN and Mrs. C. E. GILBERT of Perry, was also among the early settlers. He and his wife purchased land and built a comfortable home. Mr. FITZGERALD also built a school for his children. So thorough was the foundation for an education at this school in the woods, that a lad of the neighborhood who attended, won a cadetship to West Point and ended his brilliant military career as a Major General in the Condfederate Army: David Rumph JONES.
The KENDRICK family came early, when the county was a vast wilderness. The sons of this family were John, Dawson, Martin, and Benjamin.
Dr. Edward T. MCGEHEE and his wife, Clara A., came early as well. Dr. MCGEHEE, distinguished physician and earnest preacher, settled on land covered with woods. Later, he built larger quarters for his family and moved into town so that his children might get an education. He raised a large family.
William R. BROWN and Robertson BROWN were also among the citizens of long ago. When they grew wealthy, they moved away. Robertson BROWN entered the army of the Confederacy as Lieutenant of Henderson Rangers, and died of a wound received in service.
Honorable Joseph W. WIMBERLY first lived in a log house near Big Creek. He married Miss Amanda BROWN. They owned hundreds of acres of land and many valuable slaves. Mr. WIMBERLY served 4 full years in war.
Another citizen, and physician of the highest standing, was Dr. John Thomas COLEMAN, who in early life formed a co-partnership with Dr. Edward T. MCGEHEE and began and finished his practice of medicine in Henderson. Dr. COLEMAN's practice covered a large portion of Houston, Dooly, Pulaski, and Macon counties. He, too, entered the army and served with such loyalty that immediately after the war he enjoyed the distinction of entertaining and caring for General Robert TOOMBS when there was a reward of several thousand dollars offered by the Federal Gevernment for the gallant General's arrest. Dr. COLEMAN married Miss Sarah MCGEHEE. Both lived to the age of 78 years.
Captain William M. DAVIS of South Carolina was attracted to the fertile lands of Henderson. He purchased a tract of two thousand acres on Mossy Hill. He immediately moved with his family and brought 150 valuable slaves and stock to his new plantation. Captain DAVIS organized Comapny H of the Henderson Rangers. He was made Captain with John G. BROWN, C. R. ROUNTREE, and Robertson BROWN as Lieutenants. The company belonged to the 45th Georgia Regiment that made fame on the bettlefileds of Virginia. While leading his troops in a charge during the 7 days battle around Frazier's farm, he received a wound that caused the amputation of his left leg above the knee. Two of his sons entered the army with him, and a third son later.
"Colonel" WATKINS of Ohio, whose title of honor came by his wealth, for he wouldn't fight for his country on either side, owned a large plantation and many slaves in Henderson. His farm passed into the hands of Professor Leroy BROUN of Virginia, who with his wife, taught the famous boys' school at "Broun Hill". From Fort Valley came "Bully" AUSTIN and the BYINGTON and EVERETT boys. From Savannah came DUBIGNON and GRANTLAND. Later, Buford M. DAVIS, a well-known attorney of Macon, received his foundation for an education at that school. Professor BROUN's great ability as an educator was soon recognized, and he was given a professorship at the University of Georgia. Later, he became President of Alabama Polytechnical School at Auburn, Alabama.
Years before the Civil War, George WIMBERLY taught a large co-educational school that attracted such attention that many scholars from adjoining counties attended. At the call to arms, Professor WIMBERLY organized a military company and died in Virginia. Following him was Professor ALLEN of New York State.
Hayneville:
Hayneville, situated in the 12th district of Houston County, was one of the oldest communities and the largest of the river settlements. Circumstances had enticed wealthy cotton planters from Virginia, the Carolinas, and older Georgia counties to come to Hayneville. They brought with them a high-society lifestyle - spacious masions on large plantations. Cotton fields, the Cotton Gin, the steamboat, and African slaves perpetuated this style of life. Hayneville was settled in 1821, and consisted of about 100 acres. The Baptist and Methodist churches were on the west side, and the schoolhouse on the east side of Dixie Highway.
The spacious homes of the wealthiest class were of the old colonial type with large porticoes and fluted columns. These loomed white with a background of stately oaks.
The negro cabins consisted of one or two rooms built of hand-hewn oak. The overseer's house wasn't a far distance. Each plantation had its own blacksmith shop and made their own farm implements.
Slaves made their shoes out of tanned hides. In some of the homes, the women wore clothes made of material woven at home. The coarser grade, called "homespun", furnished material for the clothing of the slaves. The cotton was carded into small rolls with homemade cards. These rolls were spun into thread, and then woven into cloth on homemade looms. With very few exceptions, food products consumed on the plantation, and most of the wearing apparel, were produced right there on the plantation.
Mr. Joseph TOOKE was the largest owner of slaves and the wealthiest man of Hayneville in the 1860's. His vast acreage included Houston Factory, a cotton factory he owned. He operated grist mills, and at one time, manufactured furniture. He also had a wagon factory in Hawkinsville and owned a boat, "The Oak," which ran the rivers between Hawkinsville and Savannah. In 1850, with his slaves furnishing the labor, TOOKE built a Methodist Church. Other large planters were the following: Skelton NAPIER, John R. WIMBERLY, John H. RUTHERFORD, Bryant BROWN, Major E. H. WIMBERLY, Gus WIMBERLY, James POPE, the COALSONs, the BIVINs, the LAWSONs, the HALIBURTONs, Jerre BUNN, Marcus BUNN, Isaac MORELAND, Terrell PERRY, the SPENCEs, the RILEYs, the MCCORMICKs, and the HARRISONs. Other prominent men whose homes were in Hayneville: Gibson POWELL, Alexander EVERITT, Dr. W. H. ROBERTS, Dr. PATTISHALL, and Charles BASS. Bryant EDMONDSON lived just west of Hayneville.
At one time, Hayneville was one of the best trading points in Georgia. There were eight or more stores carrying a stock of general merchandise, a blacksmith shop, a doctor's office, two churches, and an academy. This academy was one of the oldest in Georgia, and in later years, such names as J. Pope BROWN and E. J. HENRY of Hawkinsville and Charles F. COOPER and John H. POWERS of Perry, were found on the enrollment.
There was a once a month preaching service. Crowds from every direction would begin to assemble early. The ladies in their carriages with their drivers, the men on horseback. Tie-reigns were swung over convenient limbs or secured to hitching posts. The meetings were not merely religious functions; they were also social gatherings. The Baptist preachers were as follows: A. T. HOLMES, Jesse H. CAMPBELL, and Dr. B. F. THARPE, while "Uncle" Jimmie DUNWOODY and Mr. Rufus FELDER occupied the Methodist pulpit. Though slaves were allowed the privilege of joining the same church as the whites, they sat in a place or gallery reserved for them.
Altogether, this was a "typically southern" age in the history of Hayneville. Fox hunting, deer hunting, and fishing were favorite pastimes for the men, while the ladies enjoyed their horse back rides and social functions. The legal sale of whiskey in Hayneville and the race track, where many thoroughbreds participated in races, were great drawing cards which attracted people from all parts of the county.
Prior to the Civil War, the people sent to Perry, the county seat, for their mail which came by stagecoach. Later, a railroad was built to Perry and mail was conveyed on the train. The first mail delivery Hayneville had was in the 1880s. The route from Perry included Hayneville, Spoonville, and Henderson. When the G. S. & F. Railroad was built, the town of Grovania, three miles west of Hayneville, was founded and a post office established. From this point, O. B. EDMONDSON brought mail to Hayneville tri-weekly. Later, the mail was delivered daily. R. L. BAIRD was the mail carrier.
When the Civil War began in 1861, the most prominent planters were the first to offer their services and their money to the Confederacy. In one way or other, every man of Hayneville became identified with the Confederate Army. Ezekiel H. WIMBERLY became a major in the quartermaster's department with headquarters in Atlanta. Dr. W. H. ROBERTS became a lieutenant in the army. Joseph TOOKE had the contract to build wagons for the army, and others served in various ways.
During Reconstruction, some of the slaves remained loyal to their former "masters". However, in a short time most of the large plantations were divided into small farms and the soil was cultivated by renters or by wage hands.
In the 1880's, such prominent men as J. Q. ELLIS, T. M. RENTZ, and John Greene BROWN operated extensive farmlands west of Hayneville.
Some of the graves of the pioneers are to be found in their family graveyards enclosed with the picturesque rock walls. Stone "markers" have been placed at the head of the graves of the old Confederate soldiers by the U.D.C. chapters of Perry, Georgia. The graves of others are to be found in the old Hayneville Cemetery in back of the Hayneville Baptist Church.
Kathleen:
What is now known as the Kathleen Community originated from numbers of large and substantial plantations bordering the Ocmulgee River - which was then navigated and all necessary products not raised on the farms, such as sugar, salt, etc., were brought by boat from Darien.
As the number of white families increased (and negroes, also, since they were slaves then and for many years thereafter), inroads were made on the virgin forests in order to provide homes and sustenance for the increase of population.
Of these first settlements, there is now left only an occasional family graveyard - some of the stones bearing very antiquated dates.
The oldest citizen of Wilna (a village one mile south of Kathleen) was James Averette BRYAN, born in 1801. A son of J. A. BRYAN, R. C. BRYAN, was for many years a prominent physician. J. A. BRYAN was County Surveyor and laid off the town of Perry. Doctors TUCKER, BELLE, and ALEXANDER were also prominent physicians at this time. The following were large planters and slave-holders: BASKIN, GILBERT, NESBIT, DAVIS, SMITH, WOODARD, and MCMURRAY.
The Methodist Church known as Andrew Chapel originally stood at old Wilna. T. J. CATER (father of R. L. CATER and L. F. Cater) was largely instrumental in the removal of the building to the location on Houston Lake. The late Mrs. J. W. T. HOWARD was one of its charter members. Among the pastors at Wilna was "Uncle Jimmie" DUNWOODY, who on his 96th birthday, was vigorous enough to address the congregation briefly, when on a visit in the community.
Just across the lake, there was the Sandbed Baptist Church (later known as Houston Factory Church) which was also organized at Wilna. The original building was given to the colored membership (all denominations then having negro members, with galleries built for their worship). The Baptists then erected the church that stood on the brow of Factory Hill.
To the north of Kathleen stood Beaver Creek Church, the Primitive Baptist Church, which was during the Civil war, the center of helpful activities looking to the comfort and welfare of the soldiers.
Prior to the establishment of this factory and grist mill, one of the enterprising citizens of Wilna, HADDOCK by name, operated a mill on Mossy Creek, not far from the town. And opposite this on Gilbert's Creek, a public ginnery was run some years later.
The leather for the soldiers' shoes was tanned nearby at an old tan yard.
Educational facilities of the community were meager prior to, and for some years after the War, though they were as good as average of that period. On the westside was Houston Factory Academy standing among the oaks at the old ANDERSON place, and among the first teachers was Mr. C. C. ANDERSON, father of W. T. ANDERSON (an editor of the Macon Telegraph). On the eastside a smaller school was taught by Miss Pheribe CROWDER.
J. H. DAVIS and son succeeded DENNARD and HUGHES as owners of the Houston Factory Milling Property, converting it into the beautiful summer resort known as Houston Lake while their milling, ginning, mercantile business and ice factory served the community at large.
The Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad was built through in 1889 and rapidly made many changes in and around the community. This helped greatly to develop it fully into an average community of the beloved county of Houston and state of Georgia.
Centerville:
The site occupied by Centerville, in the Northern part of Houston County, was settled in 1887. Being located halfway between Macon and Perry, and halfway between Byron and Wellston [Warner Robins], it was called Centerville.
This land was owned by Mr. Mitchell F. ETHERIDGE, he having bought it after the death of his father. Wanting a post office and there already being a Centerville in Gwinnett County, the name had to be changed. So it was decided to be called "Hattie" after the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. ETHERIDGE. At first mail came once a week on horseback, then later twice, and finally daily. In later years, the post office was abandoned and mail was delivered from Byron daily, and again the name Centerville was used.
Though Centerville was not settled until 1887, as early as 1885, Mr. ETHERIDGE operated a small store. As new settlers came in, this store was too small, so a new one was built and the smaller one was used as an undertaking establishment. A few years later, this new store had to give way to another still larger one. In 1917, R. N. ETHERIDGE built a large brick store, a modern gin and grist mill, and a blacksmith shop. These were sold several times. At one time, Mr. C. K. Watson was the owner. There was another general merchandise store and an automobile repair shop, belonging to D. A. GARVIN and Mr. M. E. AKIN, respectively.
In 1899, a school system was begun. It started with one room, but in the fall of 1900 a larger school was erected. Rev. Mr. GEIGER, field secretary of the Rehoboth Association, preached once a month in the small school building and Rev. W. L. CUTTS, pastor of the Byron Church, conducted a revival there extending an arm by which several members were received into the church. In 1900, when the school was enlarged, the church was organized, the building erected, and the church services held once a month. In the spring of 1901, the church dedication was held and the church was called Hattie Baptist Church. The pastors following Rev. Mr. CUTTS were as follows: W. H. NORTON, J. W. LITTLE, Z. T. WEAVER, A. S. DIX, C. R. HUTCHINGS, J. F. EDEN, R. O. MARTIN, S. S. HENDERSON, C. C. COOK, and others.
In 1906, the land was granted for a large cemetery. This land, as well as that for the school and church, was donated by Mr. M. F. ETHERIDGE. The first burial in the cemetery was that of the infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. H. STEMBRIDGE in 1907. She was the granddaughter of Mr. ETHERIDGE.
Mrs. Joyce Rape HARRISON, now a resident of Macon, Georgia, had this to say about attending Centerville Elementary School and growing up in Houston County: "...I went to school from first grade through seventh grade (1935-1942) at the old Centerville Elementary School. It was a wooden structure which sat directly in front of the cemetery on what is now the cemetery parking lot. There was a pathway between the cemetery fence and the back side of the school building. Children ran back and forth along this pathway for so many years that it had become almost a trench by the time I was a student there. We were not allowed into the cemetery which was fenced on all sides with a chain-link fence with double gates at the front, where the present day entrance is located. Our principal, George Riley HUNT, was a primitive Baptist minister, and he also taught sixth and seventh grades. We knew we would be in trouble if we were disrespectful of the cemetery and the graves. The restrooms were typical country "outhouses" at that time. The girls' restroom was outside the fence at the back of the cemetery on the right as you face the gates; the boys' restroom was on the opposite side of the cemetery outside the fence. After I graduated (in 1942) from the seventh grade and was a student at Perry High School, the old wooden Centerville School burned. I believe this happened about 1943. Afterwards, school was held in the old wooden Hattie Baptist Church building until the "new" school was built across the street [the building is now used by the First Baptist Church; click here for a photo]. Gordon SCARBOROUGH drove the school bus which picked up all the children in my section of Houston County and delivered the elementary school children to Centerville and the high school students to Perry. I have many happy memories of my years as a student at the old Centerville School and of life on the peach farm of my grandfather, about 3 miles from Centerville on what is now Scarborough Road. Gordon's father and mother had a farm next to ours, and the road is named for his father, Rabun Scarborough. For a number of years Rabun was a member of the Houston County School Board..."
Some of the above information can be found in the book, First Hundred and Ten Years of Houston County, Georgia (1822-1932) by the Central Georgia Genealogical Society.
