A look back at Polk history
Editor's note: This article was dug up by Greg Gray from the archives at the Polk County Historical Society and comes from the pages of the Cedartown Standard in 1891. We thank Mr. Gray for his time and sending us this interesting look back in history. Tell us what you remember from Cedartown, Rockmart and Aragon and we'll include it in coming editions of the Standard Journal. -KM
When we look back to that time and think of the vicissitudes of fifty years it seems a long time, yet how short. Fifty years have past since I first put foot in Cedartown, which had the name, but little else as a town.
Yes, fifty years have come and gone since Sept. 21st, 1841, Then the vicinity of what is now the town of Cedartown was peopled with many substantial citizen farmers, but where are they now? Echo says where? All have gone the way of all the earth. Among those of my recollection were Asa Prior, with sons and daughters, none of whom are now living except one son, A. J. Prior, of Texas, and two mute daughters, Mrs. Payne and Miss Abigail Prior, still of Polk county, Then there were Maj. George West, Wm. E. West, Thos. Sparks, Dr. E H. Richardson, Sr., Daniel Roberts, Wilson Whatley, Robt. Gibson, John Wade, Daniel Witcher, who was post master and had his office about where Mr. J. C. Lumpkin now lives.
There were several brother Witchers, John, Daniel, Lacy and Benjamin, etc. Some of the children and many of the grandchildren and great grandchildren of these old citizens are still in Cedar Valley.
Mr. Wilson Whatley lived in the house now occupied by A. J. Tomlinson beyond Tanyard branch, which Is the oldest house in Cedartown, except a portion of the house now occupied by Mrs. Brooks, which was then used as a church and schoolhouse.
In this house the late B. L. Moseley taught, I think, about six years, beginning Feb. 1842. He, at that time, had the reputation of being the best teacher, especially of mathematics, in North Georgia. His method of drilling his pupils and requiring them to give a reason for what they did was, I think, the cause of his popularity.
Boys were required to apply themselves closely to study during study hours, and when they were called to recitation he plied them with many questions, but the question on which he placed most emphasis was "why?" A boy might answer every other question, but if he failed on this one he was told to "try it again; you don't know this lesson yet."
It took boys eight to ten months under Mr. Moseley to go through Smith's Arithmetic, but when they did get through they had some knowledge of the "whys and wherefores."
As to the difference then and now, I leave you to draw your own conclusions. Of the citizens of Cedartown, if there is one inside of town now except myself, who was here fifty years ago, I do not know it.
At this time there was no store here, if my memory serves me correctly. But sometime in 1842, Mr. R. S. Simmons, uncle to Mrs. J. S. Stubbs and Mrs. J. C. Harris, I think, put up a stock of goods in a house that stood just across the road from Big spring. The prices of goods were somewhat higher then than now. The nearest railroad station was Madison, Ga. Goods were hauled from that point on wagons to Cedartown.
More anon. Old Citizen