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Old News Stories
Chatsworth and Spring Place in 1908

From The Murray News
Spring Place, Ga.
June 5, 1908

A Flying Visit To Spring Place and
Chatsworth, GA., and Whom I Met.

by Mrs. Mary T. Whitson

What a pretty old town Spring Place is! And what nice people. I spent a few hours in the lovely historic old village, the second oldest town in the state, next to Savannah. There are many interesting legends connected with Spring Place. It was here that John Howard Payne, while in prison wrote "Home, Sweet Home."

In Spring Place, there is an historic old brick house in a splendid state of preservation where lived Chief Van of the Cherokees, which were removed from here in 1833.

How unkindly he must have thought of the United States Government! Another chief committed suicide declaring he would never leave the home of his fathers, and was buried here. I was in the Cherokee Nation in 1903 and at Tallequah, the capital. The Cherokees are further advanced in educational affairs than all the others. They are the whitest of all the Indians.

The early morning sunshine rested like a benediction over all the beautiful country as I drove from Chatsworth to Spring Place. The village has a population of four hundred, and is located in the Seventh Congressional District represented by Gordon Lee, and lies in the Forty Third state senatorial district and Cherokee Circuit. Hon. C. N. King, vice-president of the Cohutta Banking Co., and an eminent lawyer is ex-vice-president of the Cohutta Banking Co., and an eminent lawyer is ex-Senator.

There is one bank, three attorneys, two physicians, one drug store and eight business houses in the town. New life is springing up and from this time on it is expected that the town will rapidly improve. There is an excellent school here, and three churches.

I have the kindest recollections of ex-Representative Henry, a wealthy farmer and one of the best men in the General Assembly, one or two terms ago.

Mr. J. D. Gallman, Clerk of the Superior Court, has discharged his duties faithfully and conscientiously and has every qualification for satisfactorily filling the office. Mr. Gallman was born in Murray County, Ga., September 5th 1856. His father was C. J. Gallman, farmer. Mr. Gallman, though not having had the advantages of a classical education has made the best of his advantages and the lights he had before him. He was elected in 1906, in the primary by fifty three majority, and by fifty majority in the general election and is a candidate for re-election.

The Cohutta Banking Co. organized in 1906 with a capital stock of $25,000, is doing a splendid business. Deposits have reached $45,000. Every facility is provided for the protection of the money; a fine Victor safe, steel vault, burglar proof, fire proof, and all the very latest bank devices. The Cohutta Bank is officered by men of brains and influence. President, M. C. Horton, a well-known lawyer of Atlanta, office in the Temple Court building and a property holder in Atlanta, is originally from the old town of Pendleton, S.C.

Hon. C. N. King, ex-State Senator, is vice president, and W. Z. Latch, cashier. Mr. Latch was born in Murray County, GA. He is an accomplished and expert accountant, and up-to-date on financial affairs, and one of the most popular bank cashiers in the state. He was partly educated at Dahlonega and Mercer University.

There are five directors: S. M. Carter, W. C. Martin, O. C. Keith, J. L. Rouse, and O. E. Horton.

The Cohutta Bank never refused to honor a check or paid out a dollar in script.

The following gentlemen are some of the stockholders: T. M. Hemphill, A. R. Evans, J. W. Langston, H. O. Rouse, Alonso Whitson, A. L. Keith. The cashier is a Baptist and a Mason and past master of the lodge. The Cohutta Bank is a solid and safe institution.

On the train I met Col. W. W. Sampler, who has risen rapidly in his profession since his admission to the bar about 18 months ago. He has an office in the bank building with Col. King. Col. Sampler was bom at Tunnel Hill, Ga., February 1872. His mother was a Lewis of Greensboro, Ga., relative of Judge Hal Lewis, Supreme Court. Col. Sampler read law with Col. King, admitted to the bar in 1899. He taught school 12 years and entered the practice of law within the past ten years. He is clerk of the county commissioners, also clerk of the city.

I should have mentioned that the Hon. W. Z. Latch is mayor of Spring Place.

Col. King is the local council for the L. & N. at Chatsworth. Mr. L. W. Thompson, general merchandise, is one of the most prominent merchants in Spring Place. He has succeeded in building up a large business, having dealt honestly and squarely with the public. This business was started six years ago. Mr. Thompson averages from $10,000 to $15,000 a year. He uses two floors and supplies a good many farmers. He was born in Pickens County, Ga., 1866, located at Spring Place 12 years ago; is a Mason and Odd Fellow.

Mr. J. L. Rouse, one of the most prominent merchants and citizens is a Kentuckian by birth, born in Boone County, Ky.} Feb. 12,1847. The funniest thing, I thought he was a preacher, as I heard Col. Sampler, on the cars, address him as "Brother Rouse." He had been a delegate to Macon. Anyhow, he looks like a preacher and looks like he is good enough to be a preacher.

The firm is Arrowood & Rouse, Mr. G. H. Arrowood. The firm is also opening up a handsome drug store and will have a fine soda fountain, which will be a delight to the citizens on a hot day. The firm will serve all kinds of cool drinks. Mr. Rouse is a stockholder in the Cohutta Bank.

I wish Spring Place all kinds of good luck and that all Murray County may flourish like a green bay tree, and everybody may be prosperous and happy.

The Fast Growing Town of Chatsworth on the L. & N.

Chatsworth, Murray County, Ga., is most picturesquely located on the L. & N., three miles from Spring Place, the county seat.

The view from the verandahs of the DeSota Hotel is beautiful beyond words. The Cohutta Mountain, part of the blue Ridge, wreathed as it is in purple shadows, in the distance fleecy clouds edged with silver form an entrancing picture. The winds sweeping down from the mountains are a delight.

Chatsworth is new, started when the Railroad came. There is a fine future for the town. The mountains are full of gold; Georgia is rich in everything. A company has been formed here several weeks ago. Mrs. Lance and her sister, Mrs. McAllister, from Oklahoma City, at the head of it.

Chatsworth has a bank, one of the Wittam(?) system, two brick and two lumber companies, Talc Mill, two livery stables and ten business houses, and one eminent physician, Dr. Gregory, who I am told has a great reputation as a physician and surgeon.

Mr. Alvin Jones, Postmaster, is a pioneer of Chatsworth. He struck the first lick in the town and canceled the first stamp and built the first house. He was born in Johnson County, E.T. [East Tennessee], and he told me he was raised by my old friend, Judge Broderick?, ___Butler, Lawyer, and 覧illeg覧覧覧覧 覧謡as one of the finest postmaster East Tennessee ever had. Mr. Jones came here about six years ago, appointed Postmaster, April 5, 1906, office, fourth class, receipts, 預 year.

Mr. J. B. Gregory, general merchandise, has a beautiful store in the bank building. Dimensions 25 X 165 ft. Everything is new and fresh looking in his store. He opened business here January 25, 1905, and has built up a handsome trade. Mr. Gregory has such general pleasant manners, that one would expect him to make friends and bring custom. Mr. Gregory was born at Hasslers Mill, Murray County, 1874, attended the North Georgia Agricultural College. He is a Methodist, Mason, and Odd Fellow.

Chatsworth has a population of five hundred and is the best location for a town that I know of. Mr. Will S. Cox is Mayor.

Mr. W. S. Bradley, general merchandise, has a handsome store and can furnish you with almost every thing you want in a general line. He occupies one floor 24X80 ft. He makes a specialty of shoes, carries about $5,000 stock. He was born in 1874 and lived ten years in Gordon County, at Resaca.

Bank of Chatsworth has a capital stock of $15,000. Mr. A. L. Keith is president and J. B. Gregory, vice-president and S. M. Bartlett cashier, seven directors.

Mr. Hardy Rhyne, of the Rhyne Lumber Co., is a director. This lumber company handles from seventy-five to one hundred cars a year and all kinds of building materials. Ships to Vermont, New Hampshire, and the East. Mr. J. B. Henley, is one of the firm, recently married to Mr. Gregory's charming young daughter. He is the son of the Hon. Jno. W. Henley, Assistant and United States Attorney.

Railroad Agent, Mr. Cropper informed me that the L. & N. does a business of from $5,000 to $6,000 a year at this point.

Mr. Robt. Bruce, manager of the Chatsworth Construction and Repair Company, is one of the cleverest men in this town. Everybody likes him. The Company was established in October 1907. Does a large machine and repair business. Mr. Bruce was born in Cartersville and was connected with the Ladd Lime Co.

The Farmer's Union Warehouse is a handsome new brick building with a large storage capacity of about four thousand bales. Dimensions 50X100 ft. The warehouse is in charge of that extremely popular young man, Mr. I. N. Stewart who is a native of Murray County, twenty-eight years old. The farmers are the only people who did not suffer in the panic. The farmers smiled and thought of their stored cotton and their hogs and horses and corn and their chickens and butter and eggs and happy homes.

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