History of Sheffield District, Rockdale Co.
By C. I. Mann
The first State Constitution of Georgia was signed
February 5, 1777, and eight counties were created; namely,
Burke, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Richmond, Liberty,
and Wilkes.
When the Cherokee Indians ceded certain lands to Georgia
in 1818, Walton and Gwinnett Counties were created. When the
Creek Indians ceded certain lands south of Hightower Trail in
1821, Henry and Newton Counties were formed. Rockdale County
was created on October 18, 1870, and named for Rockdale
Church. Four districts were formed, of which Sheffield was
one of them, reaching from Yellow River to the north and
taken from Walton, Gwinnett, and Newton Counties. Some of
the first industries in Rockdale County were in Sheffield
District.
The Governor of Georgia had the land south of the
Hightower Trail surveyed and numbered; there was a drawing
of the numbers and the lucky one, George Merritt, drew what
is now known as Costley's Mill, and he built a corn mill
there in 1823. Sometime later the Creek Indians attempting
to regain the land burned the mill in 1827. The mill was
rebuilt in 1830 and again burned in 1838 by the Cherokee
Indians, who after the discovery of gold at Dahlonega, tried
to reclaim the land thinking there was gold here. Upon
hearing that the Indians were coming, with the help of
neighbors the machinery was taken out of the mill and the
rocks were placed in the tail race at the back of the mill
were they still remain. This mill was just above the present
mill. Sortly after this, the mill was rebuilt and when
Sherman's Army marched to the sea, a part of them passed this
way. When they threatened to burn the mill, they were
persuaded not to by Mrs. Winnie Puckett.
In 1868 the first cotton gin was built here by a Mr.
Cushion, and it was a four-saw gin without condensers, having
to use a lint room. Mr. Cushion also built gins for sale,
which were powered with wood water wheels. This was the
first mill nearby powered by water. This gin was owned by
Jessie L. Baker, who formed a partnership with James A.
Kennedy in 1868 and built a sawmill which was called an up
and down sawmill. It was powered by two wooden water wheels,
one to pull the saw and the other to pull the carriage. It
was said you could put a 16 foot log on the carriage, start
the saw, go to dinner, come back, and it would still be
sawing the same line. The water wheel to pull the carriage
for the sawmill was set in a diagonal shape. In 1869 a
three-story house was built where the mill now stands to
grind both wheat and corn, which was the most modern mill of
its day. This mill was imported, the rocks were known as
French Buss and were said to be some of the finest rocks in
the world at that time.
In 1873 a two-story house where the gin now stands was
built for the first cotton mill in the County or Section. It
made thread which was balled in small balls by hand.
A small peanut oil mill was also added just for
providing oil for the machinery. Also added was a woolen
mill, which made woolen thread and wool hats only. Jessie
Baker died in 1879 and the mills were sold in 1883. The
cotton mill was sold and moved to Anniston and later burned.
The other mills were sold to J. L. T. Costley in 1884.
A Mr. Cushion, who worked there ran a wood shop, which
made wooden shoe lasts used in the making or repairing of
shoes which were pegged together with wooden pegs. These
were some of the first industries in this section of the
State. There is still an anvil vise, the bottom of an oil
press, work bench, and some beams and corn rocks used at the
place at the bottom of the mill water house still in good
condition to be seen there.
Costley's Mill was burned in 1909 and rebuilt in 1910 by
the Costley Brothers with a roller mill, corn mill, cotton
gin, and sawmill. In 1873 there were five water wheels used
at this mill. In 1870 J. W. B. Summers built a mill on
Little Haynes Creek. In 1855 Black's Mill was built and in
1884 Barnes Mill was built, which burned in 1953. All these
were in Sheffield District. Of these only two are standing
today. The first suction or modern gin in the County was
build by P. L. Graham in Sheffield at Zingara in 1906.
Churches of Sheffield District: Philadelphia Church met
at the spring at back of the present site of the church about
on quarter mile in constituion in November, 1850. This
church is located on Hightower Trail, formerly Walton County,
now Rockdale County. A small house was built on the present
ground which was given by L. H. Montgomery.
In 1869 another house was built while Rev. John Howard
was pastor. In 1904 the present house was built while Rev.
Olin King was pastor. The present pastor is the Rev. H. M.
Driver. Per information recorded in Deed Book I Page 298
Clerk, Superior Court, Rockdale County, Georgia, in 1935 one
half acre was given by the A. S. Farmer Estate. E. D. Holmes
gave one acre more or less in 1956, recorded in Deed Book 31
Page 573.
Pleasant Hill Church met at the spring below where the
church now stands on August 30, 1873, in Constitution. The
Presbytry was formed with Oliver Reagan, Luke Robertson, and
J. Z. Bush, members. They then went into conference and
elected J. Z. Bush the first Pastor and William Owens, Chruch
Clerk.
On September 2, 1884, W. D. Whitloe sold and conveyed
three acres of land more or less to William Owens and W. J.
Turner, Trustees for $45.00. This was recorded in Deed Book
C, Page 417, Clerk, Superior Court, Rockdale County, July 17,
1886. A building committee was thus appointed as follows: W.
J. Turner, W. H. Westley and W. R. Owens on June 19, 1875.
On April 17, 1880, the Committee reported the house
completed and paid for with $1.00 balance. The Treasurer
reported $14.20 raised for support of the church for the
first year and paid out $14.40. This church was replaced in
1916 with the present one. The Church is now eighty-one
years old and is a modern building, and old landmark, and a
beacon light to the community. Before there was a house in
which to meet, they often met under the trees or a brush
arbor, weather permitting, or in someone's house. It is an
old landmark of which we are proud. The present pastor is W.
C. Fowler, and Weyman Johnson, Church Clerk.
The Church of Christ called Mt. Zion met in Constitution
March 29, 1879. Rev. J. Hamby, N. B. Harde and T. Jordan,
all regular ordained ministers sat as presbytery to
constitute. J. Hamby was chosen Moderator and A. Whitaker,
Clerk. Letters were called for and seven members came
forward (viz) W. D. Almand and wife, Joel Marks and wife,
Joel Summerlin and wife, and M. J. Bailey. They then went to
conference and elected W. D. Almand first Pastor, James
Summerlin, Chruch Clerk and Joel Marks, Deacon, and ordained
by Elder N. B. Harde. The land was given by W. D. Almand who
was elected first pastor March 29, 1879. The house was begun
immediately. The present pastor is Rev. Beauford.
Bethel Church was partly organized October 5, 1885, with
thirty-five members and completed May 3, 1886, by the
ordination of elders and deacons by Rev. B. W. Golightly. On
May 2, 1886, B. W. Golightly was elected first Pastor; James
M. Summers and N. H. Capehart, Elders; George Smith and
George Haralson, Deacons and W. H. Trimble, Clerk. P. H.
Cooper was first to be baptised October 4, 1885, by B. W.
Golightly. March 31, 1888, a cemetery was surveyed and plat
made.
John H. Wood was ordained to preach by Rev. Thomas
Munnell and W. A. Chastain Novemer 27, 1892. W. H. Moon was
the only other member ordained to preach but date not given.
November 7, 1885, David Graham conveyed the land for the
Church to N. H. Capehart, G. L. Smith, G. P. Sigman, P. M.
Born and W. H. Trimble, Building Committee for the Christian
Church at Indians Camp Spring. This was recorded in Deed
Book C Page 37, Clerk Superior Court of Rockdale County.
December 31, 1889, Thomas A. White conveyed right of way to
spring to N. H. Capehart, G. L. Smith, G. P. Sigman, P. M.
Born and W. H. Trimble. Recorded in Deed Book D Page 417,
Clerk of Superior Court, Rockdale County. The present pastor
is Rev. Ted Jones.
There are two colored churches in Sheffield District,
both are Baptist. Double Springs, Colored Church, was
orgainized in 1879. This land was given by James B. McCalla
as shown on record for and in consideration of the love he
bore for the cause of Christ and from an earnest desire to
promote his heritage on earth, do give and grant by these
present convey unto the Trustees of the colored church a
certain lot.
The present building (of Bethel Elementary School) was
built in 1943. The gymnasium was built in 1935 and burned in
1948. Another gym was built of concrete block in 1949. This
school has running water from a deep well, nice restrooms and
a nice cafeteria. It is a meeting place for most of the
activities of the community.
There is a marker on Hightower Trail just off Highway
No. 20, placed there by John McIntosh Chapter and State of
Georgia D. A. R. in 1928. A part of Sherman's Army passed
over this trail on the march to the sea from Atlanta.
Many of Rockdale's best citizens were from Sheffield.
Judge A. C. McCalla was first Ordinary and later a
Representative. Other Representatives were James M. Summers,
R. H. Cannon, Chester Carmon, J. H. McCalla, D. W. Leach, and
others who filled county offices. Some were teachers,
preachers, and business men in all walks of life.
There are two Masonic Lodges in Rockdale County. The
oldest is Philogia Lodge No. 178 which was first held in
Sheffield District of originally Newton County, now Rockdale
County, Sheffield District. This Charter was granted October
29, 1853 and directed to W. R. Milner, Worshipful Master, B.
F. Sigman, Warden, and James White, Jr., Warden, J. P.
Henderson, Secretary. The building was a two-story wood
structure; the bottom was used for a school and the upper
floor for the Lodge. This Lodge was moved to Conyers in
1870. B. R. Mize, Jr. is Worshipful Master and Clyde
Grenade, Secretary, 1954.
Zingara Lodge was chartered on October 31, 1907. T. J.
Bowen, Worshipful Master and T. J. Day, Sr., Warden, C. A.
Blake, Jr., Warden, P. L. Graham, Secretary. Zingara Lodge
first met on the upper floor of a school house in 1907 and
moved to its present site in 1931, which is on Haralson
Shoals Road at Zingara Store.
In 1908 C. A. Blake presented the Lodge with a sword
which his father carried through the Revolution and he had
carried it through the War Between the States.
The present officers are: M. T. Bailey, Worshipful
Master; J. R. Leach, Jr., Senior Warden; W. M. Ragsdale, Jr.,
Warden; C. I. Mann, Secretary, and D. E. Corley, Treasurer.