After the Indians had been
dispelled forever, the pioneers began to feel a sense of security. They
settled down in earnest to the task of making permanent homes. There was a
continual influx of new settlers from the north and east.
The homes the first settlers built
were log houses with hewn floors and wooden shutters. Near this home would
be found a log barn surrounded by a crude fence to form a barnyard. The
field fences were of the zig-zag type built of rails. The wells were dug
deep, usually having a hewn sweep and a long, slim rope for a chain.
Everything bore a home-made appearance.
Most of the families who settled
in Cook County were in fair circumstances, but few of them were rich. A more
honest and hospitable group hardly could be found. They were a thrifty
people, too. Some of the most prosperous families owned slaves. These slaves
helped with the house and field work. Farming was then and is yet the
leading industry of the county.
Clothes were made from cloth
manufactured by themselves. The women carded cotton and wool into small
rolls. These were spun into thread in spinning wheels roll of this thread
was called a hank. They dyed the thread and then wove it into cloth in a
home-made loom. Indigo blue, soft brown and yellow were popular colors. Some
of the ladies were quite expert in this art and made beautiful cloth as well
as lovely blankets and coverlets.
The spinning wheel and loom are
almost unheard of now. Occasionally you can find one which has been
preserved as a relic of colonial days.
Kerosene lamps were unknown at
that time. Tallow candles made in home-made molds were used to illumine the
homes.
The houses were usually built with
one large room for the fire room and another smaller room at the back for
sleeping quarters. The kitchen and dining room were in most instances a
separate house adjacent to the "big house." This small house, or kitchen,
usually had a chimney at one end. The floor to this building was often made
of clay. The chimneys were made of sticks and clay. The fire places were
broad and in many of them the women did their cooking. Stoves were quite
rare with the poorer families. The women used large covered iron pots,
spiders and bakers for their utensils. The kettle, where water was heated,
was often hung from a crane above the fire. Meat was often roasted on spits
hung before the fire.
In many of these pioneer homes the
round dining or turn tables, were found. The plates, knives, forks and
spoons were placed on the outer and lower circle which was about one and one
fourth feet broad. The next circle was raised about six inches. This center
section would revolve. At intervals about every two feet around this inner
circle were pegs. Upon this upper section, the food was placed and instead
of asking for what one wanted at the table, he took hold of a rig and turned
the inner section until he brought the desired dish to his plate.
In some of the richest homes they
had grand pianos. They were so big and long that they almost filled a room.
Churches in this section in the
early days were few and far between. Services at these churches were held
only once a month on the Sabbath and the preceding Saturday. The people were
quite religiously inclined. They looked forward to these monthly
appointments with the keenest anticipation, as they were hungry for the Word
of God.
As soon as these pioneer settlers
had built themselves comfortable places of abode, they began clearings for
fields. There was much virgin timber which was used for homes, barns,
fences, etc. After the clearings were made, crude plows were used for
breaking the land. Oxen were often used when there was a scarcity of stock.
The first settlers raised their stock as quickly as possible.
It was found that the land, while
comparatively smooth, was quite fertile. Almost anything would grow. Corn,
cotton and potatoes did exceptionally well.
The country was full of wild
animals. Fox and wild turkey hunts were great sports. The wolves often came
out of the creeks and branches at night and devoured fat hogs and calves if
these were not carefully housed. Many did they get even in the day time.
Bears were not infrequent. Deer were also plentiful. Most of the wild
animals are gone today. An occasional fox hunt is about all the sport one
has to remind him of the early days of our section. Back to the top ^
LIFE OF COLONEL PHILIP COOK
Philip Cook, soldier, was born in
Twiggs County, Georgia, July 31, 1817. He sprang from a soldiery and
distinguished lineage. His great-grandfather Cook was a wealthy citizen of
Brunswick County, Virginia. His grandfather, John Cook, was a Captain in
Colonel William Washington's calvary legion, and married Martha, of the
noted revolutionary family of Pearsons.
His father, Major Philip Cook, 8th
U. S. Infantry, who was stationed at Fort Hawkins, Ga., about 1812, wedded
the gifted beauty, Anna, daughter of Major John Wooten who was killed at
Fort Wilkinson in 1812.
General Cook was graduated from
Oglethorpe University and began the practice of law with Zach Harmon in
Forsyth, Ga., in 1841. He bought a farm in Sumter County in 1843; settled
later in Lanier, and removed thence to Oglethorpe, to practice law until
1869, when he took up his residence in Americus, living there until a few
years ago, where he made his home on a plantation in Lee County.
He was state representative in
1854, and state senator in 1859, 1860 and 1863. Enlisting in 1861, a private
in the Fourth Georgia Infantry, he became Lieutenant, Adjutant, Lieutenant
Colonel, Colonel and Brigadier. After the war he was in President Johnson's
reconstruction Georgia constitutional convention; elected national
representative in 1865 to the thirty-ninth congress, but excluded by
political disabilities, and in 1872, 1874, 1876 and 1880, to the
forty-third, forty-fourth, forty-fifth, forth-sixth and forty-seventh
congresses; appointed Georgia Capitol Commissioner in 1882, and in 1890
appointed and then elected Georgia Secretary of State, which position he
continued to hold up to the time of his death.
General Cook has been an excellent
lawyer, heroic general, valuable legislator, and in all private relations a
model citizen. His war career was signally gallant and distinguished. He won
by rapid strides the splendid sobriquet of "The Old War Norse." His brave
conduct carried him at one leap from Adjutant to Lieutenant Colonel.
