Information on Georgia.
General James Oglethorpe established the first permanent settlement in Georgia in 1733 as a refuge for English debtors. In 1742, Oglethorpe defeated Spanish invaders in the Battle of Bloody Marsh. A Confederate stronghold, Georgia was the scene of extensive military action during the Civil War. Union general William T. Sherman burned Atlanta and destroyed a 60 mile wide path to the coast, where he captured Savannah in 1864.
Other Information
This site is primarily for Worth, Irwin, Dooly and Crisp Counties but you will find information for all counties here. I have been researching my family’s surnames in the Georgia area since 2004. In the years of researching I found numerous websites that provide information that anyone might be able to use. I am researching the Buzbee’s (Ruskin and Riverview Buzbee’s), Sumner, Haman, Rooks and Pitts, all from the Arabi, Cordele area of Georgia. The Pitts family settled in Hillsborough County around 1920. Genealogy is my passion and I hope that my website will assist you in your search as it has in mine.
Crimes
August 29, 1894
Four conductors of the Savannah street railway have been arrested and jailed, charged with stealing from the company. The accused men are R. L. Hamilton, T. M. Mackinfuss, R. L. Adams and James E. Douglass. All the men have confessed to robbing the company except Douglass, and he claims to be innocent, and will make a fight. [Source: Columbus Daily Enquirer]
August 29, 1894
Dr. J. Rawson, a Savannah dentist, has been in considerable trouble lately. Early in August; he volunteered to accompany the remains of the late Garvin B. Taylor to Whitby, Ontario, where the dead man’s people are, where he was to be buried. Dr. Rawson was furnished with $65 to pay his expenses, and was also given a bill to be presented to the family of the deceased for the funeral expenses. At Whitby, Dr. Rawson was given $150, to be paid equally on the accounts of the physician and the undertaker, in Savannah. Dr. Rawson failed to pay this amount over to the proper parties when he returned home, claiming it had been given him for his expenses, and all of it had been spent, and he didn’t have the money. He was arrested on the charge of larceny after trust. Dr. Rawson and his friends have succeeded in settling the matter however. The doctor turned over to the undertaker and the physician two gold watches, two diamond rings and some other jewelry to secure the amount. One of the watches was presented to him at Whitby by Mr. Philip Taylor, father of the deceased, for his services, with an appropriate inscription. [Source: Columbus Daily Enquirer]
Accidents
HOME IN RUINS
D. R. Haman, of Bellevue, Has Narrow Escape.
Fire of undetermined origin destroyed the home of D. R. Haman on the American Boluevard [sic], Bellevue, shortly before 3 o’clock yesterday morning. The flames spread to adjoining houses on either side, one owned by a family named Sharpe and the other by a family named Helgood, but the chemical company from engine house No. 2 saved the adjoining property. Mr. Haman, who is transfer clerk at the Central of Georgia freight house, was alone in his home when the fire broke out. He didn’t have time to dress, and collapsed after saving a few articles of furniture. Mr. Haman’s loss on the bungalow will be more than $3,000. It was partly covered by insurance. The fire could be seen from the hills in the down town district. Mr. Haman’s wife and two children were away visiting at the time. He has a narrow escape from being burned to death in the fire.
ACCIDENTALLY SHOT. Mr. Hardy Pitts Meets With a Painful Accident
Mr. Hardy Pitts of near Sibley, was out hunting a few days ago and when in a thick place in a branch the gun was struck some way and fired off in his hands, the load taking effect in his right foot. His foot was badley mangled, with the losing of one toe. We trust that he will soon recover from the injuries.
Gossip
Dakota, Ga., Dec. 4th
Mr. Bart Pitts and daughter, of Taylor county, have been on an extended visit to relatives and friends in this community. We wish for them a most pleasant time while in our midst.
Our school closed the 28th of Nov. and our much beloved teacher, Miss Susie Hall, returned to her home a few miles East of Vienna. Her many friends regret very much to have her leave.
Miss Bettie Rainey and Mr. Mark Rainey accompanied by her father and cousin, Miss Lidia Pitts, of Florida, made a short visit to the family of Mr. Sam Pate, of Arabi Monday.
Mr. Nass Rainey and son, Frank, made a business trip to Cordele last Saturday.
Mr. M. A. Greer, of this state, is on a business trip to Alabama.
Mr. Mark Rainey, a prominent farmer of near here, was here Wednesday. [Source: The Vienna News, Saturday, December 6, 1902; Vol. 2. No. 50 page 1.]
Dooling Local News.
Miss Caroline Johnson, near here, is very sick. We hope she will soon be up again.
Mr. A. W. Calhoun, of Vienna, was the guest of E. J. Dooling’s family a short while Wednesday of last week.
J. M. Roberts and Prof. Oliver, of Little Creek, was in our vicinity a while Saturday afternoon. They looked as though they would stop with their best on their return home.
Miss Ola Wilkes and Charlie Holland went to Snow Tuesday.
D. P. McDovie, of Houston county, visited J. A. Jenkins Saturday. [Source: The Vienna News, Saturday, December 6, 1902; Vol. 2 No. 50. Page 1.]