History
From Peachtree Corners
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About this page
Note: I'm just sketching in a rough outline. I have lots of maps and details to add but it will take time. I welcome your contributions. - Richard
Update: I'm fleshing out the information so it's less outline-ish. All the links in red need pages with more information. - Richard November 2005
Georgia 1600's
In the 1600's much of Georgia was not yet called Georgia. Peachtree Corners, and the thousands of square miles in the southeastern U.S., were often called Carolina or Florida on many maps of the day. Most maps contained detailed information about the coast but became vauge and highly inaccurate in the depictions of inland areas. (Maps coming soon)
Compact of 1802
With the Compact of 1802, the state of Georgia relinquished to the national government its western land claims (which became the states of Alabama and Mississippi). In exchange, the national government promised to eventually conduct treaties to relocate those Indian tribes living within Georgia, thus giving Georgia control of all land within its borders, including the area of modern day Peachtree Corners, which was then Cherokee land. This compact would later factor in to the Trail of Tears.
1817-1818 Land Purchased and Gwinnett County Formed
Rather than wait any longer for the Compact of 1802 to be enforced, land, including that of Peachtree Corners, was purchased from the Cherokee Indians on July 8, 1817 via the Treaty of the Cherokee Agency. Another purchase was made from the Creek Indians on January 22, 1818 in the Treaty of the Creek Agency. Subsequently Gwinnett County, named for Declaration of Independence signer Button Gwinnett, was formed on Dec. 15, 1818 by an act of the General Assembly (Ga. Laws 1818, p. 27). The entire county was home to 4,589 people in 1820.
The original officers of the county were:
- William Blake, Sheriff, March 25, 1819
- James Wardlaw, Clerk of the Superior Court, March 25, 1819
- Thomas A. Dobbs, Clerk of the Inferior Court, March 15, 1819
- James Loughridge, Tax Collector, March 30, 1819
- John W. Beauchamp, Tax Receiver, March 30, 1819
- John Wynn, Coroner, March 25, 1819
- James C. Reed, Surveyor, March 25, 1819
1812 - Peachtree Road
Peachtree Road is a very important part of local history, having been established almost 200 years ago. The name has endured and has become the source for the numerous Peachtree roads Atlanta has become famous for.
At the beginning of the War of 1812 two forts were established to protect settlers of the then western frontier from the Cherokee and Creek indians, who were colaborating with the enemy. Fort Daniel was located at Hog Mountain and Fort Peachtree was located at Standing Peachtree, about 30 miles inside the Indian lands. William Nesbit supervised the building of Military Rd from Ft. Daniel to a shallow ford on the Chattahoochee River. This became the beginnings of Peachtree Road. A road was constructed between the two forts along Peachtree Ridge and was called Peachtree Road. It passed from Hog Mountain, through Duluth and down modern-day South Old Peachtree Rd. into Peachtree Corners. At the intersection of South Old Peachtree Rd. and Medlock Bridge Road, which was the center of early Pinckneyville, Peachtree Road turned and ran through Historic Old Town Norcross. It followed the same path as modern-day Medlock Bridge Road to North Peachtree St. and West Peachtree St., into and out of old town Norcross, then roughly along the same path as the railroad tracks into Chamblee where it overlaps with our modern day Peachtree Road. Numerous small segments of streets bearing some variation of the name Peachtree Rd. can be found along this path, making it easier to piece together the route.
Historical Marker
Located on Buford Hwy near Thompson Dr., it says:
"PEACHTREE ROAD
At Fort Daniel on Hog Mountain, about 12 miles NE, began the original Peachtree Road to the village of Standing Peachtree on the Chattahoochee River. This old road was opened to haul military supplies to the river. These were to be floated downstream to Gen. Jackson's and Gen. Floyd's troops, converging on the Indians in the Creek Wars of 1813-1814. Built in late 1813 or early 1814, Fort Daniel, a stockade, was the extreme western point in Georgia. All land to the west and northwest was Indian country. The old road entered the present highway here.
067-2A GEORGIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1958"
Pinckneyville Established in 1826
Likely named for the prominent South Carolina Pinckney family, Pinckneyville was located in the area near the corners of present day Medlock Bridge Road and Spalding Drive/South Old Peachtree.
Washington Academy Established (1827)
1828 - Gold rush leads to the Trail of Tears
In the early 1820's Peachtree Corners land was adjacent to the Cherokee Nation, separated only by the Chattahoochee River. The Chattahoochee River was the dividing line between the white man's land and the Cherokee lands, a dividing line that was soon to be forgotten.
One version of the story goes like this: In 1828, a man walking along Findley Ridge in the North Georgia mountains kicked a rock -- and discovered it was full of gold, resulting in the first gold rush in U.S. history. This was in Cherokee Indian territory, and part of present day Lumpkin County, Georgia. Hopeful gold speculators began trespassing on Cherokee lands, and pressure began to mount on the Georgia government to fulfill the promises of the Compact of 1802. The indians were dismayed at the influx of unauthorized settlers. Numerous mines were started and the towns of in Auraria, Georgia and Dahlonega, Georgia were established on the Cherokee lands.
In 1835, John Ross the elected leader of the Cherokee nation and the Cherokee Nation council refused to cede their land to the government in exchange for land out west. However, the leader of a small faction of Cherokee did agree, and for a large sum of money signed the Treaty of New Echota, an act that eventually led to the Trail of Tears when soldiers began rounding up Cherokees in Georgia on 26 May 1838 for the forced march west.
About 17,000 Cherokees — along with approximately 2,000 black slaves owned by wealthy Cherokees — were removed at gunpoint from their homes over three weeks and gathered together in camps, often with only the clothes on their backs. The camps were plagued by dysentery and other illnesses, which led to many deaths. From there, they were sent to the Indian Territory, mostly travelling on foot, or by some combination of horse, wagon, and boat, a distance of around 1,200 miles along one of three routes.
The number of people who died as a result of the Trail of Tears has been variously estimated. The official government count at the time was 424 deaths; an American doctor who traveled with one party estimated 2,000 deaths in the camps and 2,000 on the trail; his total of 4,000 deaths remains the most cited figure. Other studies have estimated between 2,000 and 8,000 dead.
1837 - The Railroad
STATE R.R. SURVEY
July 4, 1837
Near here began the survey for the State R.R. (W&A) by Chief Engr. Stephen H. Long and Asst. Engr. Abbott H. Brisbane.
Trial lines were run to the Etowah River 38 mi. N. to determine if a Chattahoochee River crossing here would conform to levels established between Hog Mt. to the South & the Allatoona Range near the Etowah.
Failing to find suitable grades, other trial lines not only fixed the crossing at Bolton, 25 mi. down stream, but placed Atlanta where it is. 060-1 GEORGIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1952
Ferries and Bridges
The ferries and bridges of our area played an important part in the development of towns, roads, and homes. They are an important part of the history of Peachtree Corners. Jacob Brooks established the first ferry at the Shallow Ford of the Chattahoochee River in 1824. Early ferries charged on a sliding scale, from a man or horse (5 cents each) to a loaded wagon (a dollar for wagon, horse and driver).
In 1871 ferries began to be replaced by bridges for a number of reasons. Making profits becomes increasingly difficult. The ferries are unreliable in the late Winter and Spring, when heavy runoff after storms closes them down for days at a time. The railroads begin expanding in virtually every direction. And bridge-building techniques are advancing, making bridges cheaper to build and sturdier, in the event of a flood.
Jones Bridge
Andrew Martin and Larkin Martin started another of the early ferries. It's opening was listed as 1832 but they probably began transporting as early as 1826. They are unknown today because they sold their land on either side of the Chattahoochee River to a man named Jones who then ran Jones Ferry, and later Jones Bridge. Jones Bridge opened to traffic in 1904 and operated until the Depression, when it was closed. During the 1940's half of the bridge was stolen for it's scrap value. It's remains can be found in Jones Bridge Park today.
The land on both sides of the river had belonged to the Jones family and their ancestors, the Martins, since 1819. John Martin purchased the land after it was taken (bought?) from the Indians in 1818.
In the 1970's Jones Bridge Park, on the Gwinnett County side, and the Jones Bridge Unit of the Chattahoochee NRA, on the Fulton County side, were established.
Holcomb Bridge
In 1834, Robert McAfee bought land from the state on both sides of the river and built a covered bridge. Addison W. Holcombe bought the bridge in 1862 and operated it as a toll bridge. During the Civil War, Union forces burned the bridge. When Holcombe returned to the site after the war, lacking the capital to rebuild the bridge, he settled on operating a ferry service across the river.
The bridge that carries today's Holcomb Bridge Road across the Chattahoochee River runs near a lone granite pylon from the older bridge. The ruin rises from the water, on the western, downstream side of the modern span.
Gate's Ferry
CHEROKEE PHOENIX Wednesday, November 26, 1828 Volume 1 No. 39 Page 1 Col. 4b-5b Page 2 Col. 1b
GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE CHEROKEE NATION. NATIONAL COMMITTEE. Tuesday, Nov. 18, 1828 - The petition of John Beamer and Walking Stick, to establish a ferry at a certain point between the Lower Shallow Ford, and Gate's Ferry on the Chattahoochee was agreed to, but rejected by the Council. [1] (http://www.wcu.edu/library/CherokeePhoenix/Vol1/no39/pg1col4b-5bPg2col1b.htm)
Martin's Ferry
Coming soon.
Medlock Bridge
This was originally a toll bridge operated by William Oliver MEDLOCK, who also operated a ferry at the same location prior to the bridge. The medlock family were prominent land owners in Peachtree Corners, with many neighborhoods having been built on their land.
Plantation Days
1844 Jonathan Norcross Comes to Georgia
Johnathan Norcross
1808 - 1898
When Johnathan Norcross died on December 18, 1898, The Atlanta Constitution featured his picture on its front page, proclaiming him “The Father of Atlanta” and “Atlanta’s Most Historic Citizen” due to his tireless efforts in helping to shape the city of Atlanta for over 50 years. Mr. Norcross was born in Orono, Maine on April 18, 1808 and arrived in the wilderness of what would become downtown Atlanta in 1844 at the age of 36. He set up a saw mill near Five Points, which became the first manufacturing business in the area, to produce cross ties for the new railroad. He later opened a three-story general store on the corner of Marietta Street and Peachtree Street in Five Points, which became known for years as “Norcross Corner”. It was from this building in 1886 that Coca-Cola was first served at Jacobs Pharmacy. Mr. Norcross was very politically active in Atlanta, serving in the legislature, on the city council, and in 1851 was elected Atlanta’s fourth Mayor, as leader of the “Moral Party” and was credited with “saving Atlanta” from lawlessness and disobedience. In General Session, he proposed moving the State Capital from Milledgeville to Atlanta, he started Atlanta’s first weekly newspaper, serving on the steering committee to create the Chamber of Commerce, and proposed the creation of a new railroad to open up Northeast Georgia. In honor of his service, John J. Thrasher named the new town he founded along this new railroad after his good friend and comrade – Johnathan Norcross.
1868 Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church Established
Located on Spalding Drive, directly accross from River Valley Estates, in what was once called the Pinkneyville or Pinckneyville district.
"Shiloh Missionary Baptist church is in Pinkneyville district, near the Chattahoochee river. It was constituted in 1868 with B. F. Clement, Major James, Mrs. Major James, Mrs. M. K. Nesbit, John H. Westmoreland, and Mrs. Massey as members. The organization occurred in Washington Academy, and there services were held until 1885, when the present house of worship was erected at a cost of $800.
Rev. Westmoreland was the first pastor and served three years. The Rev. B. F. Clemant served the church twelve years, M. P. Talton two years, B. F. Sargent three years, N. B. Lee one year, E. M. Pilgrim two years, W. L. Singleton two years, Rev. Hase one year, Rev. Birgess one year, Clifford Liddell one year, W. J. Wooten two years, S. K. Beal four years. The last named is the present pastor.
Not far from this church in the Kirkland graveyard is buried an ex-congressman. His name was Hackett. He was in office before the civil war, and his grave is unmarked.
This church has fifty-eight members as follows:
J. S. Adams, Elizabeth Adams, Tylor Adams, Thomas Ashworth, Ida Ashworth, G. O. Ashworth, Malinda Ashworth, Isabel Ashworth, William Ashworth, Loula Ashworth, Ina Ashworth, Miss Abot, . J. A. Adkins, Julia Ashworth, M. Anderson, S. E. Anderson, Mrs. Anderson, T. W. Bentley, M. Bentley, B. B. Bentley, G. L. Bentley, T. E. Bentley, Mrs. Bromalo, I. A. Crow, Elizabeth Castleberry, Charley Croy, Susy Croy, C. Duncan, L. O. Dean, Lizzie Fowler, M. E. Honea, Dock Heney, Josa Herrington, Charley Herrington, Almer Lowery, Julia Massy, M. P. Nesbit, Lucy Roebuck, W. A. Singleton, Ida B. Singleton, O. U. Singleton, P. V. Singleton, W. A. B. Smith, Ana Smith, Alma Smith, Robt. Smith, S. C. Tidwell, Clifford Tidwell, Robt. Tidwell, Carl Tidwell, G. W. Tidwell, L. M. Tidwell, O. L. Tidwell, G. D. Turner, Murty Turner, Eunice Turner, Maybell Westbrook, Z. Turner."
Extracted from:
GWINNETT CHURCHES A COMPLETE HISTORY OF EVERY CHURCH IN GWINNETT COUNTY, GEORGIA, WITH SHORT BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ITS MINISTERS BY J. C. FLANIGAN
The Civil War
1870 City of Norcross Established
THRASHER PARK
NAMED FOR THE FOUNDER OF NORCROSS
Norcross was chartered in 1870 through its founder, J.J. "Cousin John" Thrasher, and named for his good friend, Jonathon Norcross, the fourth mayor (1851) of Atlanta. "Cousin John" purchased tracts of land which he subdivided and sold as lots along the developing Richmond and Danville Railroad Line in Gwinnett County. The first train on this line ran to Atlanta in June 1870. Norcross was made an incorporated town by act of the State Legislature on October 26, 1870, and "Cousin John" was elected the first mayor. He laid out and donated a square of land for a park "so to be used for all time, never for industrial purposes of any kind." For a period of time the park became known as "Dodson Park" because Mr. Dodson, a superintendent of the railroad, had a pavilion built which was given to the city. The name was changed to "Thrasher Park" by unanimous act of the Norcross City Council on January 1, 1934. We pay deepest respect to "Cousin John" Thrasher whose name stays with us in our park, if not in the name of our town.
1907 First Library was in Norcross
The earliest record of library service in the region is that of the Norcross Public Library which was established in the school by the Norcross Woman's Club in 1907. The library was moved in 1922 to a new facility built with funds provided by a benefactor, Edward Buchanan.
In 1935, the Lawrenceville Parent-Teacher Association supplied the impetus for the establishment of the Lawrenceville Public Library in City Hall. The Lawrenceville Public Library on November 3, 1936, became the Gwinnett County Library thus receiving additional support. Bookmobile service was begun in 1940. In 1944, the Georgia State Board of Education provided funds for the purchase of books to libraries whose local support qualified them for the funds.
Records indicate that there was some library service in Forsyth County in the 1920's. The Forsyth County Library remained in operation until 1955 when it closed due to limited financing.
Jones Bridge Stolen (1940's)
Excerpt from an AJC article, Gwinnett boasts its own Seven Wonders, published 11/27/2005:
A bridge to nowhere
The steel-girdered bridge once traversed the Chattahoochee at what is now Jones Bridge Park.
Opened to traffic in 1904, the bridge operated until the Depression, when officials in north Fulton County, on the other side of the river, fretted about the bridge's safety. They wanted to install new wooden flooring. Gwinnett County officials balked, and the bridge was closed and barricaded. Then, during the steel shortages of World War II, thieves with trucks and a crane dismantled and hauled off parts of the bridge, according to county historians. Residents, told the bridge had been bought as scrap, apparently figured anyone with all that equipment and working that hard couldn't be crooks. The larcenous crew carted away half of the bridge before disappearing.
The part of the bridge left behind stands still, rusting in the river.
1900-1970 Farms to Homes
When Bishop Smith married Susie Medlock, the Medlock family gave the newlyweds all the land that encompasses Fox Hill, The Orchards, Peachtree Plantation, and Jones Bridge Park as a wedding gift. This land, and much around it, has been in the Medlock family since before the Civil War. Corn, cotton, and row crops were always planted on the land, until the 1960's when the land was rented out, replacing the crops with cattle and horses. Land parcels were sold piece by piece by the aging Smith's. A detailed history of Fox Hill is available.
In the 1960's Paul Duke purchased purchased some rural acreage in what today would be called Peachtree Corners. He and some fellow investors established Technology Park Atlanta in 1967. He went on to form Peachtree Corners, Inc. as a development company with the goal of creating a planned community. In 1999 the section of Highway 141 which flows through Peachtree Corners was named Paul Duke Parkway in his honor.
1993 Undeveloped Land
The aerial photo to the right shows the area of Peachtree Corners Circle and Peachtree Parkway from 1993, before such developments as the Ingles Shopping Center (A), The Forum (B), and the Y.M.C.A. (C). There was only the one shopping center (D) and it's anchor store was a Bruno's grocery store, which was rather posh and had carpeted floors.
22:30, 4 Oct 2005 - OurPeachtreeCorners.com created
See the first page.
Suggested Reading
History of Gwinnett County, 1818-1960, Volume II, by James C. Flanigan, copyright 1959
Links
- Pat Sabin's History Website (http://patsabin.com/gwinnett/index.htm)
