Geneva
Geneva, previously an existing & prosperous farming community quickly became one of the most wealthy trading centers for this area upon the completion of the Muscogee Railroad Company’s track in 1852. Thomas Jordan was said to have built the first home here, a log cabin, which was later used as a community building, a church and a schoolhouse. Robert H. & Rebecca Hammock McBryde settled near Geneva, about 5 ½ miles south of Talbotton around 1832, and developed a stagecoach stop there. The house is across the road from the Methodist Central Camp Ground developed in 1875. The McCrary brothers, Matthew, Jonathan B., and William came into Talbot County before 1830. They built their plantations adjoining one another in the Geneva area about 1830. Jonathan and William purchased the Thomas Jordan lands whereon Geneva is now standing. Isaac R. McCrary had a store before the railroad came through the area. In about 1850, when the Muscogee Railroad began laying its rail between Columbus, Muscogee County, to Wolf Pens (Butler), then Macon County, Jonathan B. McCrary envisioned a railroad town on this land & contracted to sign over the rail right of way, the site for the depot and "turn around" to his new partners, John D. Gray of Bibb County, Bodwell E. Wells of Murray County, and Samuel G. Jones of Montgomery, Alabama who was a prominent builder of Alabama rail lines. Development of the Geneva area real estate began with these 4 owners of Geneva. The Muscogee Rail Road had began operation to build through from Columbus to Butler, and on to Macon, and the first train reached Geneva on June 10, 1852. The surveyors for the Railroad, Wells & DuBose, were hired to survey and lay out the lots in Geneva. These lots were up for sale in the fall of 1852. Geneva was widely and enthusiastically promoted as a new shipping point to plantations in Talbot and neighboring counties to newly arriving settlers, businessmen, farmers, commercial endeavors, peddlers plying their trade, freight companies, passenger lines, real estate speculators, and the building trade, contractors, and carpenters. Various entertainment, such as sight seeing excursions, picnics and cookouts, were held to attract the interested and the curious. Notable political figures, such as President Millard Fillmore, and his entourage, and others were given much fanfare and publicity. Figures vary, but between 1875-1880, Geneva was receiving more cotton than any point between Columbus and Fort Valley, with an average of 10,000 bales received and shipped each year. Guano fertilizer, cotton, corn, & other produce was shipped through Geneva. In 1853, J. B. McCrary & John T. McBryde built a general merchandise store, Sam Koockogey built the Koockogey Hotel, and John G. White built the White House Hotel, John D. Gray & Van Pelt built a general merchandise store, Hammack & Goolsby built a bar room and blacksmith shop, McBryde & Brothers had a general store, Dr. Charles B. Leitner and Albert T. Candler of Columbia County moved to Geneva in 1854, and were prominent in developing the area building a sawmill and owning various businesses in the community. Bussey & Jordan, of Columbus erected 2 large cotton warehouses, Hope H. Hammack built a cotton warehouse. The first post office was established here in 1852, and Sam Koockogey was the first postmaster, succeeded by Edward G. Harvey in 1854. Most of the town businesses burned March 24, 1865, including the railroad depot and freight station, the Koockogey Hotel and stores nearby, and most of the cotton warehouses. When Columbus fell to the Yankees on April 16, 1865, incorporated in 1870 with a commissioner form of government, and J. T. Candler, John Durden, George W. Jordan, Charles B. Leitner, John T. McBryde, Perry Morris and Anderson W. Wynn were named first council members. In 1913, the charter was changed, to a mayor and council type government.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva%2C_Georgia
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