Old short stories and random facts

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Atlanta, we will be offering historical stories and photos each week throughout 2022. These articles were researched using various sources in the Atlanta Public Library and old copies of the newspaper.

In the early days of newspapers, reporting and writing the news was very different. Often only the major stories got a separate headline, with the rest written one after the other, reading down one column, then the next – usually with seven skinny columns on each page. In the small-town papers It was common for paragraphs to encompass only one, long run-on sentence.

Reading the old pre-1900 newspapers was truly a chore – but every now and again you find a hidden gem amongst the rows and rows of club member names and such. So today, we are sharing some of those gems for a giggle and a wow. Enjoy.

Cass County Populations: 1850 – 4,991 (1,902 slaves); 1860 – 8,411 (3475 slaves); 1870 – 8,875; 2880 – 16,724; 1890 – 22,554; 1900 – 22,841; 1910 – 27, 587. Atlanta populations: 1890-1764; 1900 – 1301; 1910 – 1604.

Sawmills flourished in and near Atlanta for several years. The first one was located near the Presbyterian Church, and another was in the south part of town. Capt. Boyle operated it.

The first sports team in Atlanta was a baseball team, formed by the nine Sheets brothers, in the 1880’s. The family-owned Sheets Lumber Mill, which was located on West and Thomas streets (from the tracks to about where Hanner Funeral Home is now).

Dr R.L. McClung came from Upshur County to Atlanta in 1877. Dr. Hugh Currie came in 1878. A few years later Dr. Virgil Jeter came.

Benjamin Franklin “Frank” Lumpkin, who was among the first settlers of Atlanta, was born in Floyd County, Georgia on October 4, 1846. He came to Cass County with his parents, George and Mary Lumpkin about 1850. He married three daughters of Henry G. and Sarah Law – Josephine in 1865, Mattie Alice in 1867, and Mary Addeline in 1882. Frank died January 8, 1929 and was buried at Laws Chapel Cemetery, which had been his home in later years.

The States apportionment to Cass County for school purposes in 1859 was $2,042.82.

` Masonic Lodge #463 was chartered in 1876. Preston Rose Scott was a charter member and L.A. Whatley was master in 1876; Scott was Worshipful Master in 1879. Meetings were held upstairs in the building that now houses Rocking A Western Wear on the corner of William and Main.

1870 - Davis County Districts Defined: Police court in session divided the county into five districts as follows: No. 1 Linden; No. 2 Hickory Hill, now Avinger; No. 3 Unionville, northwest part of county; No. 4 Courtland district, northeast part of county; No. 5 North Carolina District, southeast part of county.

The following is the Cass County car registration to May 15th, 1929: Passenger…2,508; Trucks…558. This is about the same number as in 1928.

From 1929: Old Soldiers Wife – Mrs. E. Eargle, 71 years old, has been a resident of Cass County for 61 years. Wife of the late E. Eargle, an old Confederate soldier. They were married Aug. 2nd, 1874 near Cass by Rev. Nels Porterfield. She is the mother of ten children, all living.

Texas Legislature

James Wilson Hurt, one of Atlanta’s early citizens, was born in 1843 in South Carolina. He was the son of James Harvey Hurt and Lucinda Selman Hurt. One of seven children, James Wilson was a member of the Georgia Sharp Shooters regiment in the Confederate Army. After serving time in a prison camp, he moved with his family to Miller County Arkansas. After living a year in Arkansas, the Hurt family moved to the Rock Springs community in 1869.

James Wilson Hurt purchased a section of land between Bloomburg and Atlanta after his marriage to Florence Pool in 1873. He was elected to the Texas Legislature by the citizens of Cass County, serving two terms, 1901-1905, alongside such men as Senator Tom Connally, Pat Neff, and John Nance Garner. Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Hurt were the parents of four children: Robert Spurgeon, Lula Hurt Stuckey, Delta Hurt Hutches, and Florence Hurt Porter.

1929 Agriculture

From a 1929 Citizens Journal: Cass County produces from 30-48,000 bales of cotton annually, the average over a ten-year period being around 45,000 bales. Much of this cotton is produced on what was formerly worn-out sandy land that has been reclaimed and rebuilt by terracing, crop rotation and diversified farming methods. Corn, hygeria, velvet beans, soy beans, cow peas, peanuts and sorghums constitute the main feed crops. While cotton is the main cash crop, other farm enterprises are carried on extensively. Over twenty purebred registered Jersey bulls have been imported into the county within the past two years, and farmers of the county are turning their attention to breeding up their dairy herds, with the result that the standard of production of the Cass County farm herds is being constantly raised. Dairy products of the county are marketed in the form of butter, sweet milk and sour cream. Poultry raising is also carried on extensively, it being, however, a minor farm enterprise. A large hatchery located in Atlanta, the largest and wealthiest town of the county, furnishes baby chicks for Cass and adjoining counties.

Citizens Journal, November 13, 1884

H.C. Roberts was elected Justice of the Peace at Queen City and Ragsdale elected constable. J.E. Goodman came up Monday from Kildare. Rev. Jackson went home with him to go deer hunting. Rev. J.W. Erwin has bargained for the Bohanan place near D. Blackwells and will move near Christ, as he will take the school next year at Ellington school house.

John Morriss lost some hats when his house was robbed and took the editors new hat to be one of them but we can prove that it came out of Christians superb lot before the robbery. Rev. B.T. Hayes preached his last sermon of the conference year at the Methodist church Sunday night. He will attend the conference at Sulphur Springs next week. Cotton selling around 8c. M.V. Looney, supt. Atlanta school. J.J. Hall was riding the mail Linden to Kildare and carrying passengers.

The following were elected in the Nov. election: Cleveland, president; Gov., Ireland; Congress, Culberson; District Judge, Vaughn; Dist. Attorney, Sheppard; Representative, Hearn; County Judge, Henderson; Attorney, Sheffield; County Clerk, Frazier; District Clerk, Simmons; Sheriff, Choate; Assessor, Creekmore; Collector, Rand; Treasurer, Kinkhead; Surveyor, Yeatman; Com. 1 Beaty; Com. 2 Henderson; Com.3 Robinson; Com. 4 Crawford.