EDITOR’S NOTE: The following entries were published in March 1914 in the Pike County Journal to preserve the history of the city of Zebulon. These memories were shared by M.J. Redding (who was 83 at the time she wrote them) and have been edited to fit the space available in this edition. The articles were transcribed by Lynn Cunningham of the Pike County Historical Society.
Zebulon grew rapidly as the county seat of Pike. Her first courthouse was on the lot where the one now stands. There was, however, a difference in the two. The first one had only two rooms, one above the other, with no goddess of justice hanging over the jury room; but was then quite sufficient for what business was done in it. But as time went on it became necessary to have one larger and more comfortable, so it was torn down and the one was built which was taken away to give place for the present one.
Our churches were plain and unpretentious, built after the style of all the country churches in that day – one long room with door in front; opposite this was the big boxed pulpit. On each side of the building were windows and one door; the seats were plain pine benches. The churches were located on the edge of town, the Baptist church near the cemetery on the extreme north, and the Methodist church just below where the present one stands.
Our school buildings were better in appearance than the others; we had then two schools, the male academy, near the lot where Mrs. Moreland lives, a large room with an upper story. Among the first teachers was Mr. Gates, a northern man. His wife taught in the female academy, familiar, I know, to many readers of these lines, as it stood so long in the beautiful grove below the dormitory. Below the hill was the big spring, which really seemed a part of the school, as it supplied all the water to drink, and afforded a vast amount of pleasure, as most of our playtime was spent there on the beautiful grass among the rocks, the smaller children wading in the clear branch that ran from the spring. It was a place of resort for all classes of people.
The place selected for the county jail was in the edge of town, remote from any other building, on the lot now owned by Mr. Floyd Slade. It was made of hewn logs, with two rooms below, which were occupied by the jailer and his family, and two rooms above for the prisoners. One of them was a dungeon for extreme cases, the other not much better, as it had only two small windows high up in the wall.
Our business houses stood where they now stand, south of the courthouse. They were small wooden buildings, but there was good business done here. Some of the merchants I cannot recall. I remember well Mr. Samuel Mitchell, who came with others from old Newnan. He occupied the store that stood on the corner where the garage is now located [today it’s the 1828 Coffee Co.]. Back of this building was his home, on the lot where the hotel burned a few years ago. He was, by birth, a Welshman, a fine trader, and made money rapidly. In one deal he secured the land on which the city of Atlanta is built. Mitchell Street is named in honor of him. After retiring to his farm, he was succeeded in business by Mr. John Neal, whose name is a household word in so many homes. He was a merchant of fine business capacity, modest and charitable and many were the recipients of his bounty, especially the poor. After moving to Atlanta, his heart still turned to his old home here, and the old friends.
Another wealthy merchant was Mr. Wilson, who built the house that Dr. Head lived in before it was burned down. He sold to a Mr. Sills. While living there he was attacked one night on his way home from town by two blacks, who had planned to kill him, but his cries brought assistance and they were caught. One was a black woman who belonged to him, and the other a runaway man, common in those days. They were hanged near the place where our depot now stands and buried at the foot of the gallows.
On the hill where our Baptist church is located was the home of Uncle Eli Banks; it is to this day called “Banks’ hill.” Just below his little cottage home was a neat little shop, where he patiently sat and made his fine boots and shoes, and he took great pride in his work, for they are said to have no equal. The place was settled by Mr. Japhsey George.
In the row of business houses was a saloon; my father was passing it one day and he was attracted by a new sign on the door screen. It was snakes coiled in every conceivable way, with their fangs exposed. He stepped inside and said to the proprietor “My friend, you could not have selected a sign more appropriate,” and repeated a verse of scripture, “At the last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder.” The next day the snakes had disappeared.
Now I will digress a little, and tell the young people who never knew anything of slavery, of one instance, among many, of the confidence that existed between the master and his slaves. Mr. Jimsey Neal owned a man whose name was Jake; he was his wagoner, and in those days all the cotton was hauled to Macon to be sold on wagons. He gave Jake a wagon and six horses to do his own hauling, and also some for others. Jake was proud of his horses, and put little bells on each of his bridles, so one could always tell when Jake was coming. On some of his trips he would stay a month, trading horses. Often he would return without a single horse he had taken away with him, and turn over to his master the money he had made. The homecoming of Jake was quite an event, and the white people would meet him to hear the news. But this attention did not change him; he was always humble and polite. His master, at his death, left money to provide for Jake in his declining years.
Zebulon was laid off early in the 1920s. Among the earliest settlers was Mr. Hugh G. Johnson, who built the first house in Zebulon. He afterwards built a home on the lot where the nice new home of Mr. Jim Slade now is. Of the old landmarks there are four of the houses left. The Ballard house that was built by Mr. James Gray, who was sheriff of the county, and afterward representative in the legislature. The Blasingame house, which from time to time has been remodeled. Its first occupant was a Mr. Duggar, a wealthy gentleman. The place was bought by Mr. Jurnsey [Jimsey] Neal, who was very wealthy and a great help financially to the county and town. His remains now rest in the Baptist cemetery.
The house recently occupied by Mr. Ed Eppinger was built by Mr. Egbert Daniel, grandfather of our efficient judge of the Superior court. He afterwards moved and kept a hotel on the lot where Sullivan-Slade’s store now stands.
Where the Howard home now stands was a small home, then the property of Mr. Wesley Leak and in this home there occurred a strange thing. A little baby girl was given them without arms. She grew up to womanhood and learned, with her toes and feet, to be proficient in all kinds of needlework, and could play well on the piano. I expect some who will read these lines will remember Toody Leak.
The corner lot, now owned by Mr. Harrison, was owned by Mr. Madison Bloodworth. On it he remodeled a house and made a nice hotel, of which he himself was the manager. He was an uncle of our former solicitor, O.H.B. Bloodworth, and in addition to being a hotel man he was also a merchant.
The next home built was on the lot now owned by Mrs. Lou Mathews. Mr. Sidney Rivers lived there. He, with his brother, George, came here when a young man. They were not only successful in their business as tailors, but also in securing two noble women as their wives. Mr. George Rivers lived where Mr. Sam Means lives now.
Mrs. George Rivers owned a slave woman who she thought a great deal of, and her name was Hagar. It was about the close of the Indian War, and somebody came in town and said the Indians were coming in, and, as had been previously planned, all the women and children were to go to the courthouse for safety. Mr. and Mrs. Rivers took the children and went, and after reaching there, she thought of Aunt Hagar – for in those days, next to our own family, came the black mammy, especially by the children was she loved, and she was always allowed many liberties – so she sent Mr. Rivers for Hagar. He went until he found her, and delivered the message of her mistress. To his surprise she replied, “I aint a gwine nary step, I ain’t; I’se been down to de spring a washin’ all day, an’ I’se tired, I is; an den b’sides dere’s no Injuns in foh hundred miles o’ heah.” So she did not go, and it all turned out to be a joke, and after the excitement was over, Hagar enjoyed it as much as her mistress.
Among the first lawyers of our early settlers was Mr. Allen Pryor. He represented the people continuously both in the legislature and senate, till he was broken down in health. His home was the place owned now by Mrs. Green near the Methodist church. Pryor Street in Atlanta was named for him.
The name of Hartford Green is familiar to many of us. He did a fine practice in his profession and also represented the people in both houses. He was a charitable man and did a great deal of work gratuitously. His home was the place owned by Mr. Will Slade now, near the R.R.
On the same street where Mrs. Jim Howell yet lives, was the home of a Mr. Shivers, the sheriff. It was said that he had few equals as an auctioneer and was sent for to cry off properties in other counties.
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