BRIEF HISTORY OF BRANTLEY COUNTY

The people of the proposed county chose the name of Brantley, named for Benjamin Daniel Brantley of Blackshear. Brantley was a self-made man, not having “the advantages of schools and colleges, of influential friends, of family prestige and of money. “⁹ He worked his way up as a real leader of men and won lithe love and affection" of many people from this area of Georgia.¹⁰

Through his mercantile business, opened in 1857, B. D. Brantley came in contact with many of the people of the territory who became his friends. He furnished his customers with "supplies of all kinds… and a market for their products".^ll B. D. Brantley traveled extensive1y throughout the territory. He knew how the people lived, what they depended on to make money. He knew how their lives could be improved, and offered his help unse1fishly.¹²

Most people of the area depended on timber and wool for their livelihoods. With the increasing growth of the area, B. D. Brantley encouraged the growing of cotton and erected the first cotton gin and fertilizer plant.¹³ He also encouraged the development of the turpentine industry by 1I0perating the first turpentine still in Pierce County".^l4

B. D. Brantley was widely known and respected in the territory for all his helpful business advice, as well as the many public services he provided for the area, such as the building of schools and churches. Brantley's services “did not go without recognition … during his life time,” nor had people forgotten what he had done for them a generation after his death, when his name was chosen for the proposed new county.¹⁵ Benjamin Daniel Brant1ey's business is still in operation today as the A. P. Brantley Company; it has become one of the institutions of South Georgia, along with its subsidiary companies.¹⁶

When the Citizens Committee submitted the proposal for Brantley County, they called for Hoboken to be the County Seat.¹⁷ The Georgia General Assembly was furnished a map showing Hoboken as the center of the proposed new county. However, all information was not actually correct; Hoboken is several miles West of the center of the county. The General Assembly passed the act establishing Hoboken as the County Seat in 1920.¹⁸

The people of the County call ed for an e1ection to change the County Seat to Nahunta in 1921. In this first special election, Nahunta was named the County Seat; however, claims of undue activity brought the issue back to the polls within a six to eight month period of time. Nahunta again was named the County Seat. Citizens of Hoboken appealed the election to the Georgia Supreme Court in 1922. The Court upheld the results of the election, naming Nahunta as the County Seat of Brantley County.

The officials of Hoboken refused to surrender the county records to Nahunta. Story has it that one night, a group of citizens from Nahunta went to Hoboken by wagon to bring the county records to Nahunta. Thus, the story that Nahunta "sto1e the County Seat,” is told through the county.¹⁹ However, one citizen said, "How can you steal what is rightfully yours to begin with."²⁰

Nahunta is still the County Seat of Brantley County. The county records are housed at the Court House, located at the corner of Highways 84 and 301. The Court House was built in 1930 and remodeled in 1977.²¹ The County Jail is adjacent to the Courthouse. According to the Citizens Committee, Brantley County would be supported by ”tax values of approximately $2,039,852 and an additional tax income of approximately $8,000 from the rail roads. “ ²²They also said that Brantley County would have a higher income than fifty other Georgia counties.²³

The people of Brantley County depended on the cutting of timber, raising of sheep, and agriculture for the most part. There was never any major industry in Brantley County, only a few naval stores, the railroad, and a saw mill.

During the railroad era. Nahunta prospered. People traveling North and South would stop there, as well as the mi11ionairs who were going to the Jekyll Island Resort at that time.²⁴ Later, when Highway 301 came through, Nahunta once again had a lot of tourist travel, to and from Florida. Today with the new interstates, Brantley County does not get much tourist trade, nor does the railroad have a passenger stop there any longer.

Today most people in Brantley County depend on pulp wooding; raising of poultry and livestock; agriculture; the saw mill; a sewing factory; or a hat factory, located in Hoboken. There is no major industry in Brantley County and never has been. Brantley County can be described as a “ Bedroom Community ;” people 1ive there but commute everyday to work in the surrounding counties.

Education plays a part in the history of Brantley County, as it does in all counties. Brantley County elected the County Officials in December 1920. Mr. Everett B. Knox was elected the first Superintendent of Schools. The Brantley County Board of Education held their first meeting on January 25,1921; it consisted of five members. In 1921 Brantley County had a total of 1,873 students enrolled in 38 schools, most of which were one-teacher schools.

Between the years of 1921-1928, some of the 38 schools were consolidated leaving 20 schools in the County. In 1923 Nahunta opened the first brick schoolhouse; it had six rooms and four teachers. In 1927, Hoboken, Hortense, and Waynesville also built brick buildings and Hickox built a Spanish "stucco" schoo1.²⁵

In 1928, Brantley County had its first high school graduation from The Nahunta Consolidated School. There were only three members from the Class of 1928. Only one of these students continued on to college and became the first college graduate from Brantley County.²⁶

During the years 1929 and 1930, three more schools consolidated, 1eaving 17 in the County. From the years 1938 through 1940 the Brantley County School System underwent more school consolidations, leaving only 12 county schools.²⁷

Brantley County, in 1938, built two vocational agriculture buildings at the Nahunta and Hoboken school sites. Vocational Agriculture and Home Economics were taught at four county schools: Hoboken, Nahunta, Hortense, and Waynesville. The Future Farmers of America became the first significant club formed in 1937.²⁸ Today the FFA is still a vital part of Brantley County's educational program. They sponsor the Armadillo Olympics and the Wildlife Supper; both, of which, are unique to the Brantley County School.

In 1941-1943, Brantley County Schools underwent the last major consolidation, leaving only 5 schools in the county, namely, Hoboken, Nahunta, Hickox, Hortense, and Waynesville.²⁹

During the 1950's, the Brantley County Board had a contract with the Waycross City School System to transport Black students who had completed elementary school to Center High School, Waycross, Georgia. Brantley County had no separate high school for Blacks as was the policy of the time.³⁰

In 1954, Nahunta and Hoboken High Schools moved into new facilities. The Southern Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges placed the two Brantley High Schools on their accredited list in 1955.³¹

In 1965, the Hortense Elementary School consolidated with the Nahunta Elementary School and the transportation of Blacks to Waycross stopped. In 1967, Brantley County High School opened and the elementary schools moved into the vacant buildings. At this point, the Brantley County School System was established as it exists today, consisting of two elementary schools (Hoboken and Nahunta) and one high school (located approximately in the center of the County).³²

Brantley County, being a young county, has little history of its own. Its history is included as part of the histories of Wayne, Pierce, and Charlton Counties. Therefore, it is hard to find much recorded information within Brantley County.

Brantley County's history dates as far back as the Pre-American Revolution when Georgia was a very young colony. The Old Post Road, today, is marked by a granite marker where it intersects Highway 84. This road was originally an Indian Trail going "from St. Augustine, Florida, northward through South Georgia."³³ During the American Revolution, this road was used by American forces marching to attack British troops at Fort Tonyn, south of this point (which cannot be identified by historians).³⁴

The Post Road remained the popular route between Florida and Savannah until the Civil War.³⁵ Today, the Post Road is only a memory of Georgia's beginning; Brantley County residents make their homes up and down this old road.

During the same revolutionary period, the American forces fortified the Satilla River with Fort McIntosh approximately fifteen miles from Atkinson.³⁶ When the Revolutionary War broke out, Georgia needed some protection on her Southwestern border from the Indians, the Spanish, and the English Redcoats. To solve this problem, the Americans built a series of forts south of the Altamaha River with the primary fort being Fort Howe. Other forts were proposed in the area with one on the Satilla called Fort McIntosh.³⁷

The purpose of Fort McIntosh was not only for protection, but to provide a stockade for the large herds of cattle. The Fort was completed in December 1776.³⁸

On February 17, 1777, Thomas Brown led an attack on Fort McIntosh; however, the Patroits were able to hold them. McIntosh sent for reinforcements which never came. He surrendered Fort McIntosh on February 18,1777.³⁹ Fort McIntosh became the only Georgia Fort to surrender during the Revolution.

Fort McIntosh was burned by the British in 1777, and was never rebuilt by the Americans. Today the exact location of Fort McIntosh is not known. IIA historical marker is all that remains to remind us that Fort McIntosh ever existed.⁴⁰

A Revolutionary soldier's grave was located by the local DAR Chapter. In December 1976, they placed a marker on the grave of West Sheffield located at Linda Plantation, now known as the Satilla River Club.

West Sheffield of Wayne County, was the son of John Sheffield of North Carolina. Before coming to Wayne County around 1850, it is believed that West Sheffield lived in Beaufort, South Carolina, during and between the years of 1790 and 1850, and in Camden County, Georgia, in 1794. Sheffield is also believed to have lived in Laurens County in 1811. In 1815 his name appeared as a trustee in a Methodist Church located in Wayne County.⁴²

West Sheffield was a Revolutionary soldier, and drew lands as such in the Georgia Land Lottery of 1827. His war service was rendered in South Carolina.⁴³

West Sheffield died September 22, 1930, at his home in Wayne County (now Brantley County). He and his last wife are buried in a private burying ground about 100 yards from the old J. F. King residence (Linda Plantation), six miles South of Atkinson, Brantley County, Georgia.⁴⁴

The Waynesville Post Office is one of the six oldest Post Offices in the State of Georgia.⁴⁵ It was founded in 1826 and the first Post Master was John Fort.⁴⁶ The Old Waynesville Post Office was served by the Pony Express for a period of time (dates not available).⁴⁷

At the founding of the Waynesville Post Office, Waynesville was the County Seat of Wayne County. Today, as part of Brantley County, these memories are still part of the New Post Office opened in 1978, under Post Mistress Louise Jones.

The Mineral Springs Academy was also a first for Waynesville. It was the first school in Wayne County.48 It was given the name Mineral Springs because of the natural springs near the school. The Mineral Springs School no longer exist, it was destroyed by fire.⁴⁹

The Great Plantation Era was as much a part of the Brantley County area as it was Coastal Georgia. Some of the large plantation owners of Coastal Georgia also owned plantations inland (King, Hamilton, Couper, and Butler).

The "Linda Plantation," located about six miles from Atkinson, was originally settled by West Sheffield, a Revolutionary soldier. Sheffield received this 200-acre grant of land, in Camden County, for his services in the American Revolution.⁵⁰

The land bordering the Sheffield place on the Great Satilla River was purchased by Planter James Fort in 1805. He and his wife built a large plantation style home there. Their daughter married Stephen Clay King and they moved to the West Sheffield place which had been purchased for them. ⁵¹

Mrs. King named her home "Linda P1antation" after an opera she had seen in New York "called ‘Linda' a pure castilian work meaning beautiful."⁵² This name was a very fitting title to this land.

The Satilla River Club bought the "Linda Plantation" in 1922. They still maintain the buildings much as they were during plantation days.53

The King family owned other plantations in the area, The Maryfie1d, The College, Vernon, and Tabor. "They owned over 400 slaves and farmed a principal crop of rice."⁵⁴

“The Lodge," another plantation in the Waynesville area, was originally granted to Amos Roberts in 1802. James Hamilton Couper bought the 3l9-acre plantation around 1825, and sold it in 1874 to Major Leighton Hazlehurst. Hazlehurst, in turn, sold liThe Lodge" to James L. McVeigh in 1899. The McVeigh family still owns “The Lodge" today which looks much the same, and is located approximately one mile from Waynesville, Georgia.⁵⁵

“The Monticello^”was built in the Waynesville area in 1830 by Thomas Butler King. It was constructed of bricks and thought to be the most beautiful home in the area. “The Montice11o^”was destroyed by fire around 1899. Today traces of the old house, piles of brick, and parts of a water well can be found.⁵⁶

The Mumford House, located also in Waynesville, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. “It is the first in Brant1ey County to gain this type of recognition. “⁵⁷

This house was built more than 130 years ago by Sylvester Mumford, who was considered to be a “man of means.^”58 He moved there from New York and married a local girl. Mumford was involved in the local community; he owned the country store; was a cotton broker; was the Waynesville Post Master; and a Wayne County Ordinary. It is said that Sylvester Mumford, his wife, the pet dog, and a saddle horse are buried on the grounds.⁵⁹

Mumford had one daughter, Gertrude M. Parkhurst (1847-1943) who lived in the house until the 1890's when her family moved to Washington, D. C. Mrs. Parkhurst left a will providing for money to assist orphans and poor white girls to continue their education.⁶⁰ This fund is still active in Brantley County.

The Mumford house was bought by the McVeigh family who lived there until the early 1970's when Mr. McVeigh became ill and could no longer care for the grounds. In the years that followed, the house fell to bad repair.⁶¹

The house shows Plain Plantation style features in the original structure, with the additions, made after the Civil War, showing Victorian style architecture. These Victorian additions are “an excellent example of the evolution of a house over a period of time, and illustrate the concern of the owner for keeping up with current changes in architectural taste."⁶²

In 1976, Shaw McVeigh, along with his brother and sister, bought the old family home, and planned to restore it to its original condition. This property is historically important "because of the Mumford’s prominence and importance to the Waynesvi1 e community. “⁶³ The McVeighls wanted the house placed on the National Register to “he1p ensure that the integrity of the house would be preserved and Mumford's role in the history of Waynesville would be better remembered."⁶⁴

One day the McVeigh's hope to open the house to the public, however, at this time, it has not been done. Most of the restoration has been completed, but some work remains to be done.

When the Civil War broke out the people of this area were involved as was the rest of Georgia. Many plantation owners moved from the coast to their inland homes during the war.

It was reported by “a communication from G. W. Nichols in 1899 that ‘about 40’ veterans of the Confederacy were buried at Waynesville" near the Wiggins Estate.⁶⁵ According to the report, these graves were not being cared for. In July 1908, Nichols reported fences had been placed around the Confederate Graves. Later the Wayne County DAR placed markers on these graves.⁶⁶ This burial site is near the Waynesville Baptist Church.

Schlatterville is one of the oldest communities in Brantley County. Originally, it was a railroad station ten miles East of Waycross in Pierce county.⁶⁷

The community was named after the station’s general manager, Charles L. Schlatter, who was of German descent. It was rumored "that he was enamored with his home country of Germany at a time when relations between the United States and Germany were under heavy condemnation." It is believed that Schlatter returned to Germany a wealthy man, and during World War I, he used his wealth to support the Kaiser's cause.⁶⁸

People from the area felt that Strickland would have been a better name for the community since the Richard Strickland family owned much of the surrounding land.⁶⁹

Today Schlatterville is the part of Brantley County that straddles the county line between Brantley and Ware.⁷⁰ There is no train stop there any longer. The Schlatterville Community depends on the naval stores of the area and on the sale of stumps from the surrounding swamp to Hercules Incorporated in Brunswick, Georgia.^7l

During the depression, the people of Brantley County suffered “Hard Times" as did much of the United States. President Franklin Rooseve1t1s Work Relief Programs helped the people from this area.

A "CCC" (Civilian Conservation Corps) Camp was located in the Nahunta area.⁷² It provided work for single men between the ages of 18 and 25. These men would work in the forest and anywhere they could help conserve the natural resources.

These young men came to this area to work; some of the men met and married local girls, and still reside in Brantley County. The exact location of the "CCC" Camp is unknown,73 but its role in the history of Brantley County will remain in the hearts of the people.

The "WPA" (Works Progress Administration) also had an agency in Nahunta.⁷⁴ The workers of the "WPA" helped in many different ways by building schools, roads, and performing other public services. Many of the "WPA" project are not remembered as such, but they are here in Brantley County as they are throughout the United States.

Brantley County is a young county and has little history of its own; however, the. territory which now makes up the County of Brantley is rich in history. All one has to do is ask, and the people of the area are more than willing to share their homeland.

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NOTES

1 J. H. Morgan, "Welcome to this Grand Event in the History of Brantley County,1I July 22, 1978. pl.

2 Statement of Facts In Behalf of Brantley County Submitted for Consideration of Members of the General Assembly of Georgia by the Citizens Committee, 1920. p4.

3 Ibid., p.2-3.

4 Ibid., p.2-3.

5 Ibid., p.2.

6 Morgan, p.l.

7 Ibid., p.l.

8 J. H. Morgan, Interview,. January 1983.

9 “Brantley County: A Sketch of the Life of the Late Benjamin Daniel Brantley for Whom the Proposed County Is Named,” The Savannah Morning News, August 15, 1920.

10 Ibid.

11Ibid. l2Ibid. l3Ibid. l4Ibid. l5Ibid. l6Ibid.

l7 Statement of Facts, p.2.

l8 Morgan, Interview.

19 Huey Ham, Interview, February 1983.

Ann Lawson, Interview, January 1983.

20 Gene Wiley, Interview, February 1983. 21Morgan, Grand Event, p.3.

22 Statement of Facts, p.4.

23 Ibid., p.4.

24 Lawson, Interview.

25 Brant1ey County High School Student Handbook, September 1982, p.2. 26Ibid., p.2.

27Ibid., p.2-3.

28Ibid., p.3.

29Ibid., p.3.

30Ibid., p.3.

31Ibid., p.3.

32Ibid., p.3.

33“Tour 5," Georgia Guide to Towns and County Side, (copy provided

by Huey Ham), p.370.

34Ibid., pp.370-371. 35Ibid., p.371.

36“Georgia Forts, Fort McIntosh," Georgia Magazine,

August-September 1969, p.22.

37Ibid., p.21.

38Ibid., p.22.

39Ibid., p.22.

40Ibid., p.23.

41 Lawson, Interview.

42Ibid. 43Ibid. 44Ibid. 45Ibid.

46 Brantley County Enterprise, (Articles provided by Jock Ellis, Editor)•

47 Lawson, Interview.

48 Jesup Sentinel Papers, Provided by Ann Lawson. 49 Lawson, Interview.

50 Enterprise, (Linda Plantation).

51 Ibid.

52Ibid.

53Ibid.

54Ibid.

55 Enterprise, (The Lodge). 56 Enterprise, (Monticello)

57^“Historic Mumford House Placed on Register," Brunswick News,

August 21, 1982.

58Ibid. 59Ibid. 60Ibid. 61Ibid. 62Ibid. 63Ibid. 64Ibid.

65 Jesup Sentinel Papers. 66Ibid.

67“S_ch1atterville.^” Florida Times Union, Section 8, February 14,

1983.

68Ibid. 69Ibid. 70Ibid.

7l“Tour 5.^”

72 lawson Interview.

73Ibid. 74Ibid.

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