The Antioch Community's Historical Journey as "Yellow Stone Township"...

The Antioch Community's Historical Journey as 
"Yellow Stone Township"  
By Bobbie Wright Grogan

With the aforementioned information that Polk County, Georgia was created in 1851 from parts of Paulding County, we understand why the first census from the newly established Polk County was in the year 1860.  The following are the seven townships that made up the county, and most, if not all of these had their own post office:  Hawkinsville, Yellow Stone, Van Wert, Pumpkin Pile, Cedar Town, Vans Valley, and Easom Hill.  These are the original spellings of the names from the census.     

The community where Bednego Wright and his family settled in 1863 was then called the Yellow Stone Township, which is currently known as the Antioch Community.  It is a deeply historical community located almost exactly midway between the current cities of Rockmart and Cedartown.  There are 137 heads of households listed in the 1860 Yellow Stone Census.  We can note that many of the surnames listed below are still represented presently in this area.  The heads of households listed in this census are as follows:

1. Berry A. Adison

2. N. V Adkin

3. Joel Adkins

4. Peter Agan

5. William Agan

6. Thomas Akin

7. J. C. Baldwin

8. John Baldwin

9. Thomas Baldwin

10. C. U. Barton

11. Susan E. Blackman

12. Joel Brewer

13. James Brooks

14. John A. Brooks

15. Mariah Brooks

16. Micajah Brooks *Only known Revolutionary War Soldier’s Grave in Polk County

17. William Brooks

18. J. B. Broom

19. Levi Broonee

20. John Bryant

21. Henry Burton

22. Sarah Burton

23. Daniel Byars

24.Elias A. Camp

25. William Camp

26. Edward C. Carter

27. Melvin Check (Cheek)

28. James Cheek

29. E. J. Childers

30. Martin Childers

31. N. F. Cobb

32. Amanda Cockran

33. James Cockran

34. Moses Cockran

35. Doctor Coots

36. William D. Crab

37. John Dugger

38. James Evans

39. Catharine Ezzell

40. Henry Fincher

41. James Gallimore

42. Joseph B Goddard

43. Caroline Golding

44. William T. Golding

45. David Griffin

46. Berry Gurley

47. Nancy C. Gurley

48. Sarah Gurley

49. James A. Hackney

50. Edward Hampton

51. James Hardin

52. D. D. Heslep

53. John Hicks

54. E. D. Hightower

55. D. W. Horton

56. Thomas Hubbard

57. John Q. Hutching

58. Thomas J. James

59. James L. B. Johnson

60. Martha A. Junior

61. Nancy Junior

62. Henry S. Kilgore

63. Joseph Kitchen

64. Farrow Langester

65. Green Lee

66. Burrell Leverit

67. M. R. Lewis

68. John Long

69. John B. Long

70. Margaret Long

71. Sarah, A.C. Long

72. William Long

73. Jefferson Lovell

74. Madison Lovell

 75. Ann Martin

76. Charles A. Marton

77. William L McCormick

78. P. W. McCurry

79. Isaac McDowell

80. Mary McDowell

81. Amanda McGrady

82. John H. McGrady

83. John McGraw

84. Walter McGraw

85. John W. Morgan

86. Margaret Morgan

87. Sarah A. Morris

88. Thomas Morris

89. Lazarus Owens

90. Margaret Owens

91. Mary Parham

92. Rebecca Parham

93. G. W. Peck

94. Mary C. Peck

95. Thomas J. Peck * Thomas Jefferson Peek, my 3^rd great grandfather, Father in law to Dr B. F. Wright, Mary Ella Peek’s father, and Yellow Stone Post Master 1860

96. William C. Peck

97. Caroline Perkell

98. A. J. Perkins

99. Jackson Pollard

100. J. W. Reeves

101. Sarah F. Riddlespurger

102. Thomas Riddlespurger

103. John Roe (Rowe) owned the land of Bednego’s prior to the Wright purchase;  Rowe was Justice of the Peace

104. John L. Roe

105. Thomas Shaw

106. Hiram Spalding

107. Andrew J Stewart

108. J. M. Stewart

109. Thomas Swafford

110. Mary Swinney

111. R. W. Swinney

112. Martha E. Terry

113. Elizabeth D. Toler

114. Mary J. Toler

115. J.J. Underwood

116. William T. Vernon

117. John N. Voyles

118. Benjamin Waddel

119. William Waddel

120. Alford Waddle

121. Beverly Wadkins

122. Moses White

123. James L. Whitehead

124. James Sen Whitehead (Senior)

125. F. M. Whitfield

126. John C. Williams

127. John Willson

128. M. Wilson

129. Marian Wilson

130. Robert Winn

131. C. H. Wood

132. J. B. Wood

133. William A. Wood

134. Thomas J. Wright (unrelated to Bednego Wright, as far as we know)

135. Eliza Wynn

136. William R. Wynn

137. William W. Wynn  (The Wynns were the descendants of Minor R. Wynn, who was the first pastor of Antioch Baptist Church.  They were also related to the Bednego Wright family through marriage, and they ran a mill on the Wright property.)

Judging from the names in the Census list of 1860, we see that the Indigenous Cherokee and Creek people, who once made their homes here, are no longer present.  Sadly, there is not one reference to a Cherokee name or trace thereof by this time.  They had been removed more than two decades prior to 1860.  Chances are that this small historic community, as we now know it, was born shortly after the Trail of Tears.  
One has to assume that the men and women listed above were undoubtedly the historical foundation of the post-indigenous community we now call Antioch.  Many of these people were the assuredly the proactive leaders that established the initial opportunities of business, worship, and education that a viable Township of that time must possess to be prosperous.  These pioneers are responsible for creating the small rural post office, pony express, Antioch Academy, and general store that we know existed here during that day.  I believe the inception of the name “Yellow Stone” came well before the year of 1840, as stated in an earlier post entitled Da-lon-ni-ge-i: Golden Antioch.

  We have proof that our local community church, Antioch Church was established and erected in 1843, according physical church records and land deeds from that era of time.  The church building was initially constructed as a pole cabin and a shared Place of Worship between the Methodists and the Baptists, where each denomination alternated use of the facility every other Sunday.  All of this is additionally evidenced in a historical account written by Dr. Charles K. Henderson in a series of newspaper excerpts that were composed during 1897 through the early 1900s (article shown in italics below.)

          

In chapter twelve, or as I understand it, Henderson's twelfth historical column in the Cedartown Newspaper, he offers his audience a compiled personal and historical collection about the land and people around the Antioch community.  He makes mention that the church was made up of only five charter members.  Those members were Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin (Uncle Baldy) Peek, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan, and Elizabeth Pollard.  The first pastor of the church was Rev. Minor Wynn.  

Henderson speaks very highly of the pioneers of The Historic Antioch Community and its affluent affiliations.  Notice that he mentions Dr. Benjamin (B. F) Wright a few times.  As many of you are aware, he is the son of Bednego F. Wright and Mary Jenkins Wright, and he served as the local physician for the Youngs and Antioch Communities during the late 1870s until his death in 1898.  Dr. Wright was also a state legislator, as well as Surgical Medic in the Confederate States Army during the War.  Benjamin Wright was only 14-16 years old at the time of his entry into Civil War Service.

The following is the full chapter-twelve transcription of Dr. Charles K. Henderson’s Polk County History collection from his newspaper columns, as it was initially transcribed by Mary Read in 1999.  I have also made several minor grammatical corrections to the transcription, although I left some errors that place emphasis on the historically-relevant manner of Henderson's writing.

POLK COUNTY HISTORY
Written and Prepared by

Dr. Charles K. Henderson

Chapter Twelve

In a former paper I make reference to the land titles of Polk County. In this paper you will find the exact amount of the way the whites required the title to Polk County. In April, 1802, agreeable to a treaty, Georgia ceded to the United States all the territory belonging to her south of Tennessee, and west of the Chattahoochee up to the great bend, thence west of the line direct to Nickajack Creek, near the present city of Chattanooga, upon this condition: that the United States shall extinguish the Indian title to all lands in the state of Georgia.

Some of the Indians were in favor of emigration, others were not. In 1834 Eli Hicks, a son of an Indian chief, favored emigration and was shot by a band of Indians. John Ross was opposed to removal and John Ridge was in favor of it. Ridge’s side prevailed and a treaty with the Cherokees was signed at New Echota, Dec. 21, 1835. In this treaty the Indians gave up their lands in Georgia for five million dollars and a perpetual reservation of 7,000,000 acres of land west of the Mississippi River. The Indians were allowed to remain in the state for two years after the confirmation of the treaty. On May 18th, 1838, a force under General Scott began to collect the Indians. The last of June 14,000 Cherokees commenced their march to the west of the Mississippi. Meantime, Major Ridge and his son, John Ridge, were murdered. These were the first martyrs to removal. All genuine movements must be cemented in the blood of their founders. The Cherokees have advanced in civilization since their removal.

Soon after the removal of the Indians, there came to Antioch Township, "Baldy" Peek, Augustus Young, Joseph Morgan, Sr., Woodson Hubbard, A. J. Stewart and Mrs. E. Pollard.

Uncle Baldy Peek came to Polk County in 1839 on a January day. Polk was then Paulding County. He lived first in Collard Valley until 1834 in a pole cabin on the place now owned by John T. Phillips. At that time between his home and Cedartown there were living only two families, a distance of six-yards. These families were those of Ab Whatley and John Strong. Ab Whatley married a daughter of Governor Lumpkin. Many will remember that Governor Lumpkin’s’ wife died at Mr. John C. Lumpkin’s, near Cedartown, in the late Seventies. At one time it was necessary for Uncle Baldy and John Strong to buy themselves a hat each, perhaps of wool, of coon, or beaver fur. And what do you imagine they paid the storekeeper, who was also a distiller, for a hat apiece? Fourteen barrels of corn! One thing is certainly true, either hats were dear or corn whiskey was cheap. 

In those days, whiskey was a necessity, and water was the beverage. And this order of things has not changed with some today. But hats are cheaper, and whiskey is dearer,  just as dear as ever. Seventy bushels of corn for one hat then! Please consider this--Uncle Baldy even hauled the corn several miles and was glad to make the trade besides. In 1843 Uncle Baldy moved to where Dr. Wright now lives. This was his home until the day of his death. At that time between Collard Valley and Antioch, ten miles, there was but one dwelling.

In 1843, a pole cabin was organized Antioch Baptist church, of five members, namely: Joseph Morgan and wife, Baldwin Peek and wife and Elizabeth Pollard. The first pastor of Antioch was Rev. Minor Wynne, father of our fellow citizen, R. C. Wynne. Afterwards, Revs. Van Brewster, Camp, Mountain, Pittman, Reynolds and others were faithful pastors. Rev. Mr. Davis is now the shepherd of the flock.

In 1846, E. D. Hightower moved to Antioch. He was a man of great enterprise, and established a farm, grist and flour mills, and a wool-carding business. He also had a bee industry, and raised sheep. Mr. Hightower was a good and useful man. He lived long over the three score and ten. In the early Fifties, C. H. Wood moved to Antioch and was prominent in church and in all civil matters. He made a success of farming and died lamented by many.

During the War Between the States, B. F. Wright came to Antioch and has served his generation faithful as a physician and legislator. His popularity is very great. After the war, a number of families moved to Antioch from South Carolina. With these came Dr. Russell, who served a term in the Georgia Legislature and has been a leading physician and Baptist during his residence in Polk.

R. W. Everett came to Antioch after the war, and has served his generation both as a teacher and Congressman. He has taught the people how to live at home and make farming pay. He should do one thing more before he passes away to make the circuit of his example complete. May he live long after he had done that, and return "serum ad coelum."

O. B. Pullen was one of the men who helped to make Antioch. After the war the improvement of Antioch was rapid. Better homes took the place of pole cabins, farms were improved and schools were established. Antioch is noted for an industrious, law abiding, Christian citizenship. The pioneers of Antioch were God-fearing men. Her people have not figured largely in the courts. They pay their debts and obey the law.

Antioch has given to the county one Congressman, one State Senator, four Representatives, two Baptist preachers, two County Treasurers, three reputable physicians, besides machinists and farmers of the best kind. Since 1846, the Methodists and Baptists have jointly owned and been worshiping in the same church with little or no friction.  

But, alas, the pioneers are gone. We miss them now. Their influence lives and Antioch is dear for what she has been and is now. Let the sons make her more glorious than ever.  (Charles K. Henderson)

We are the “sons” that Dr. Henderson challenges in his last statement.  I have an unrelenting conviction that I personally must live up to this expectation, to  earnestly continue what our forefathers sought to create here in Antioch for God, the community, and for posterity’s sake.  We have been blessed by our Heavenly Father with such a beautiful landscape and a strong heritage here, and the responsibility lies within us to see that it continues to be great when we ourselves have since departed.  We are the Legacy...God's Legacy, the Legacy of these industrious Pioneers of Yellow Stone, and the Legacy of our fathers and mothers.  Are WE personally responsible for making our home, church, land, community, and our offspring "more glorious than ever?"  I would have to answer that with a resounding, "Yes, we are!"  


© Bobbie Wright Grogan 2014

Characters of Antioch's Past: Dr. Russell, Mentor to Dr. B.F. Wright

Our Wright ancestor, Dr. Benjamin Franklin Wright of Antioch received much of his medical training under the guidance of Dr. David Marion Russell.

War Record of Dr. David Marion Russell (1838-1916...Originally from South Carolina)

1861-1863 Various battle sites in SC, NC, VA

***The following brief and interesting account of Dr. Russell's service to the Confederacy was written by him for his family:

In February, 1861, I volunteered for the defense of the state of South Carolina, my term of enlistment being twelve months.  I assisted F. W. Kilpatrick in organizing a company known as the "Calhoun Mountaineers".  That company, of which I was a member, elected the lamented Kilpatrick their Captain.  It was assigned to the 4th S.C. Regiment, whose Colonel was J. B. E. Sloan.

April 14th, 1861, we received orders to report for duty, with three days rations and two blankets.  We boarded the train at Pendleton the next morning, expecting to go to Charleston, but as Fort Sumter had surrendered we were stopped in Columbia.  In May following, the Confederate Government having been fully organized, we transferred our allegiance from the state to the Confederate States.  Soon thereafter we were ordered to Richmond, Va., and from there to Leesburg on the Potomac River.  From there we were rushed down to the plains of Manassas, where we received our first "baptism of blood".

In the winter of 1862 (our terms of enlistment having expired,) all but a very few of our company re-volunteered for three years of the war.  All who re-volunteered of the 4th and 5th S.C. Regiments were put together, and formed into a regiment known as the "Palmetto Sharpshooters."  Miccah Jenkins was elected Colonel of the Regiment, Whit Kilpatrick Captain, N.W. Harbin 1st Lieutenant, myself 2nd Lieutenant, R. L. Lewis, 3rd Lieutenant of our Company.

I was in the following big battles:  1st Manassas, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Gaines Mill and Frazier's Farm, besides quite a number of skirmishes.  In the last named battle I was hit three times, twice on the head and once through the left ankle.  The balls that hit me on the head tore my little old Confederate cap into shreds; the ball that went through my ankle tore up both my shoes; a ball knocked my sword out of my hand and broke off the point.  I lay all night and till late in the evening the next day, near the battlefield, without any shelter.  When I at last was carried to hospital in Richmond, I was as wet as a "drowned rat", as muddy as a hog, as bloody as a butchered beef, and all the belongings I had was a shirt and one pair of pants.  You can imagine what sort of "critter" I looked like.

During my service in the army, I never reported sick, never missed a roll call, picket duty or a fight until I was wounded.

While lying up in Richmond nursing my wounds, I received my commission as Captain from the Confederate War Department.  That commission read "for gallant and meritorious service on the battlefield," approved by Gen. Longstreet.

As soon as I recovered sufficiently from my wounds to travel, I was given a sixty days furlough.  At the expiration of my furlough I was examined by the medical board in Columbia, who pronounced me permanently disabled and gave me an honorable discharge.  In this they were mistaken.  In less than a year thereafter I had organized a company of crippled soldiers like myself and 16 years old boys to guard the crossings on Tugalo River, picking up deserters, and running down bushwhackers.  My headquarters was at Knox's bridge.

I forgot to state at the proper place that in the election of officers in our Company I was the only candidate that received every vote.  This I regarded as one of the highest compliments ever paid me.

***

Moving to Georgia

After 1865, Georgia

After the War Between the States, Dr. Russell moved his family to Polk County in a covered wagon and first lived at Fish Creek, then settled in the Antioch Community on a farm known as "The Russell Farm" which was later purchased by Dr. Charles W. Peek.  After 15 years, Dr. Russell moved to Cedartown with his wife and children.