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The Ellen Payne Odom Genealogy Library Family Tree
Moultrie
Beth's Weekly Moultrie Observer Column - Week 1
(This appears here courtesy of The Moultrie Observer)


In 1895 there was a bath house in Moultrie!

Holloway Company, located on East Broad (now First Street), operated a Bath House Department in the summer of 1895. After a hot and dusty tip into town on horseback or in a wagon, many an adult was ready for a bath. News reports of the day said the bath house was "well patronized."

W. H. Cooper, first editor and publisher of The Moultrie Observer, was recognized as the "youngest editor in Georgia" in 1894.  He established the newspaper when he had hardly turned 20 years of age.

A PTA was formed in Norman Park back on November 14, 1927. Sponsored by the Moultrie organization of Parent-Teachers, the new group named Mrs. O.F. Creech, president; Mrs. W. O. Sharpe, Vice-president; Miss Jewel White, secretary-treasurer; and Miss Lillian Branan, corresponding secretary.

Four rural free delivery mail routes were being operated from the Doerun Post Office in 1907.

In 1895, Gum Creek was a pretty little community in northern Colquitt County.  It had a creek flowing through what land authorities described as "some of the best land in the county."

Professor I.M. Folsom of Randel, Georgia, was teaching school in the community of Gum Creek.  Rev. Cox was preaching at regular intervals at the Antioch Church. Does anyone know exactly where Gum Creek was?

Kingwood, east of Moultrie, was once a thriving sawmill and naval stores center. In the old papers is a photograph of a summer school closing.  Identified in this wonderful old picture are: Clyde Pittman, Dewey Hammock, Charlie Burch, Mary Lee Hay, Ruby Hiers, Ollie Hay, Georgia Brooks, Leroy Gay, Roy Cowan, Hughie Gurr and Mr. Roland.  You can also see Annie Roland, Minnie Cowan, Birta Lee West, Miss Mollie Hiers, Harry Hiers, All McArthur, Cora Burch and Pearl Hay. Does anyone know where Kingwood was?

Flournoy Clark is recognized as one of the earliest of the circuit riding preachers in the Colquitt County area.  He died in 1884 and his wife, Mrs. Cynthia Clark, passed away February 14, 1908 at the age of almost 80.  Most of the Rev. Clark's ministry was accomplished riding horseback and walking through the dense forests from place to place.

Remember the great Colquitt County historian, Elton Clark? If I am right, and I think I am, Flournoy Clark was Mr. Elton Clark's grandfather. There's a story that Mr. Elton Clark told to me that's not written down anywhere that I know of.  I'll share it with you…

Mr. Elton Clark said: During the days of the War Between the States, the group from Colquitt County was in Virginia in the dead of winter.  It was snowing and very cold and sentry's were freezing to death as they had no heat and inadequate, ragged clothing. One freezing cold evening, my grandfather saw a sentry who obviously was in serious trouble from the cold.  "I'll stand the rest of your watch.  You go to the fire," Flournoy Clark said to the sentry. A few days later, the men were all gathered around the campfire.  Mr. Flournoy Clark said, "I'd surely love to go home.  My wife is expecting a baby in a few days." The soldier whose life Mr. Clark had saved by relieving him of his icy duty spoke up. "Mr. Clark, you go home to your wife and I'll stand your duty while you're gone." Flournoy Clark walked from Virginia to Georgia and arrived home in Colquitt County just in time to hear the first cry of his new son…who was Mr. Elton Clark's father. The soldier whose life had been saved by Flounoy Clark?  Why that was John Gay, my husband's great grandfather.  John Gay is buried at Pleasant Grove Cemetery and his headstone simply says, "John Gay, 12 GA Mil."


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