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Talbot County Communities |
Bostick
An early settlement on the Southwestern Rail Road, the railway that ran between Macon and Columbus. Later it served as the juncture of the Talbotton Railroad line with the Southwestern, and still later, the Atlantic, Birmingham & Coast. Located in the 16th Land District.When Bostick got its first post office in 1881, the US Post Office discovered there was another Bostick in Georgia, so the name of the community was changed to Paschal.
Junction City grew up around Paschal, and when it was incorporated in 1906, most of Paschal was also included.
Junction City was an important shipping point for the sand "mined" there.
Box Springs
Box Springs is in the SW corner of Talbot co, with Baker Creek the county line with Muscogee Co. -- 2 or 3 miles from the East city limits of Columbus. Take out of Columbus Hwy US80 / GA22 (in town this hwy is called the Macon road).Early settlers were: Wiley Pope, James & Edith Rogers Parker, John & Elizabeth DuBose King, Richard & Milly Garrett Hollis, Rogers, Fort, Benjamin & Amazon Johnson Emanuel, John W. G. & Lucinda Milner Smith, Joseph E. & Sarah McNeil Biggs, Wiley & Martha Pope, Jacob & Sarah Funderburk, Reason Edge & Nancy Hollis, Archibald Calhoun (Colquhouns),and Wellborn G. Davie.
Benjamin J. King was the first postmaster in 1853, followed by Hezekiah D. Williams in 1855
Carsonville
The Act of 1796 established the Creek Indian Reservation on the Flint River, in what was later to become Talbot Co. President George Washington appointed Benjamin Hawkins the Indian Agent, and he settled in the area in 1803. The reservation & Agency soon attracted other settlers.Well known for his decent, just and humane treatment of his charges, and as a generous & hospitable host, Hawkins developed a prosperous plantation before his death in 1816. Visitors from far and near came to call, often stopping there as they proceeded across the Creek Nation.
John & Robert Carson were early settlers to the area, arriving around 1835 or earlier. Carsonville was named for the brothers.
Carsonville’s first postmaster was William A. Skellie, appointed in 1839, followed by Robert Carson, George W. Davis, Henry H. Mangham and William S. Wallace. The post office there was discontinued March 1855.
On January 15, 1852, the Carsonville area was included in the portion of Talbot Co given to the formation of Taylor Co.
Centreville
When Centreville was surveyed & laid out on Land Lot 221, 23rd Land District, Centerville GMD 877, it was intended to be the county seat. A square block was reserved in the middle of the town for a courthouse, but Talbotton, a few miles away, was chosen instead.Although originally named Centreville, the name has shortened to Centerville through usage.
Not much is known concerning the formation of the settle-ment. Apparently a Corporation was set up to sell the land, with John T. Booth, Joseph Brown, William T. Burke, Ichabod Cox, Archibald Grey, Robert Howe, James Mason, Joseph Riley, Richard B. Rucker, William Searcy, John Tamplin, Arthur F. Walker, William L. Walker and William Williamson as stock-holders. John C. Boynton was appointed as their agent and representative, to sell the lots. Known purchasers:
Lot 1 Thomas G. Pearson $90
2 Reserved for Academy
3 Thomas G. Pearson $90
4 Thomas G. Pearson $90
9 James Mason
10 James Mason
21 Ferrell
22 Cook
23 Lunsford
Other early residents were Lewis & Matilda Garrett Wimberly, Jacob & Martha Carreker, William Thornton, Robert & Margaret Boyd Foster. The town was incorporated in Dec 21, 1833. John B. Boon, William Collin, Gillam Hicks, Thomas G. Pearson and Dr Hamilton P. Smead were appointed as the first Commissioners, until the first elections were held January 1835.
Thomas G. Pearson became the first postmaster in 1833, followed by Charles H. McCall in 1838, 1844 by Joseph M. Roberts, William A. Campbell in 1845, A. C. McCoy in 1846, and Simon T. Viele in 1848, until it was discontinued in January 1867.
The Centerville Store became the hub of the community. Built about 1836, probably by John C. Boynton. The necessities of life could be found there, groceries, tools, clothing, dry goods, patent medicines, tobacco, notions, hardware, the latest news and gossip, and good conversation.
Daviston
Flint Hill
Located in the northwest section of Talbot, it is just southwest of Hodo's Gap, and thus on one of the early pioneer trails where the Hodo family kept a trading post.Some of the early families settling in this area included, Hodo, Mullins, Moran, Mulholland, Smith, Kellum, Brakefield, Hanson, Roberts, Grant, Rush, and Fuller.
Geneva
Previously an existing & prosperous farming community, with a but a few businesses, it 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, some 5 ˝ miles south of Talbotton, about 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 McCrary, Jonathan B., and William & McCrary 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 Co to Wolf Pens (Butler), then Macon Co, 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 Co, Bodwell E. Wells of Murray Co, and Samuel G. Jones of Montgomery, Ala 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 June 10, 1852.
The surveyors for the Railroad, Wells & DuBose, were hired to survey & 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 Co 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, 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 & 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 barroom and blacksmith shop, McBryde & Bros. had a general store, Dr Charles B. Leitner and Albert T. Candler of Columbia Co, Ga 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.
Large, beautiful, and stately mansions were built by Joseph A. Hagerman, Dr Charles B. Leitner, Albert T. Candler, Jonathan B. McCrary, Charles Kaufman, Ansel Turner, Isaac Cheney, Benson C. Bailey, Perry A. S. Morris, among others.
Other early settlers were: George & Nancy Nash Jameson, William Terrell Cosby, Whitmel & Nancy Eason.
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 April 16, 1865, the Union army headed for Macon, passing through Geneva. They torched most of the remaining stores.
The town was 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.
Junction City
Located in the southeast corner of Talbot, Junction City was incorporated August 21, 1906. First mayor was F.A. Montgomery and councilmen: J.H.Mayo, C.W. Pye, C.W. Moore, J.M. Gilbert and J.H. Hackson. Earlier this area was known as Bostwick. See above Bostwick for more information.Pleasant Hill
An outgrowth of an old Indian trail used by indians, settlers, traders and travelers, Pleasant Hill is the gate-way to Talbot Valley, and into Meriwether Co.Businesses gradually built up in the community, becoming the main trading point for that area of the county, and in 1876 there were 7 General Stores, 2 grocery stores, 1 clothing store, 1 carriage shop, a doctor and a drug store, a Masonic Hall, and 4 churches. A Post Office was established here in 1832, with John Thomas appointed as the first postmaster. He was followed in 1833 by Francis Douglass, Joseph Lloyd in 1834, Stephen Carter in 1836, and Robert H. Dixon in 1838.
Among the first settlers, Dickson & Luraney Cureton. Abner and Sallie Baugh Woodall, Hardy & Charlotte Wheelus, George W. Evans, DuBignon, George D. Chambless, Edwin & Mary J. Nelson, John Pye, Seth & Sallie Hunter, Isaac & Elizabeth Middlebrooks Cheney, Peter F. Mahone and Jeptha & Jemima Spears Sprewell,
Prattsburgh
Twelve miles NE of Talbotton, close to the Taylor Co line, and built up on Land Lots 57, 74, 56 & 75, 24th Land District.Early settlers were William Parker, Josiah & Jane Brown Mathews, Tapley Booth, Nathaniel Raines, John Dennis, Edwin Callier, John H. Wallace, Walton Thomas & Sabrina Mathews Carter, Dr William & Martha Winfrey Drane, Cassandra Magruder Drane, Rev Zackariah "Uncle Zeke" Stearns, Joseph & Mary Brown, Young & Martha Daniel, Catherine Brown.
The first postmaster was Silvester S. Radney, in 1833, followed by James M. Harvey in 1842.
Sardis
Located in the Flint Hill District, on northwest side of Talbot, this community came into existence around 1828, and the Methodist Church was organized there soon afterward. Sardis was a fast growing community, surrounded by large plantations.Early families were Pickard, Ellison, Reid, Garrett, Pound, Foster, Crawford, Chapman, Buchanan, Hendricks, Jenkins, Collier, Rush and others.
The pioneer Methodist preacher, Leonard Rush moved to Sardis in 1836 and lived here until he died in 1897.
Tax
Located in the northwest Flint Hill District in the early 1900's, Tax was named because it was the place there county tax officials made a stop to collect the taxes. R.C. and J.O. Fryer --Dealers in General Merchandise with the post office and cotton gin were the main establishments. Early families included the Russells, Fryers, Colliers, and others.Terryville
Valley Grove
Ypsilanti
Approximately 9 miles northeast of Talbotton, one of the oldest communities in the county, laid out in 1825. It boasted of an early postoffice and in 1976, a still substantial number of residents. It was named for the Greek War of Independence patriot, Demetrios Ypsilanti (1798-1832) Its other name is Red Bone.Early settlers were William V. Collier, Thomas Callier, Dr William Drane, Thomas Freeman in 1842, the Ingrams, Thomas Reid Lumsden, Thomas & Matilda Jones Matthews, William Parker, Charles Lee & Martha Glenn Smith, Rev "Uncle Zeke" Stearns.
Woodland
Located in the north central section, this is one of the newer community, being formed July 30, 1908. W.T. Smith was the first mayor and J.L. Jackson, W.W. Woodall, S.O. Bryan, I.B. Butler and J.T. Russell served as Councilmen.Before Woodland was formed, the only building was the Presbyterian Church. The spot was selected by A.B. & A Railroad to be a station (rather than Bellvue, a mile further south) The chief engineer of the surveying company was Boonyman, but there was already a station by that name. So Woodland was selected after C.S. Woods of Virginia, who had purchased the surrounding lands and laid off the town lots.
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