Georgia Farmers Kill Negro Boys Who had Nothing to Do with the Murder

Silas Hardin Turner, a young and prominent white farmer, was killed 4 July 1915 in Jones County, Georgia when he attempted to collect a debt.  Since the alleged killer was African American, the white people of the county went on a rampage and filled three black bodies with bullets.  Two of the victims, Alonzo Green and his son, had absolutely no connection to the killing of Turner.

Tampa Tribune (Florida)
Tuesday, 6 July 1915 -- pg. 1 [via GenealogyBank]

GEORGIA FARMERS KILL NEGRO BOYS

SHERIFF SAYS VICTIMS OF MOB KNEW NOTHING OF WHITE MAN'S MURDER

500 MEN IN MOB

Cut Telephone Wires So Word of Lynchings Could Not Be Sent

GRAY, Ga., July 5 – Sheriff Etheridge and his deputies have been through Jones County today hunting for the negroes who are alleged to have figured in the murder of Silas Turner, a prominent farmer, which occurred on Sunday morning near Round Oak.  No other arrests have been made and the only persons held are the three in jail at Macon.

"I have seen two dead bodies of negroes myself," said the Sheriff tonight.  "They tell me that there are others who have been killed in the race troubles, but I have nothing official."

"The dead negroes are Alonzo Green and his son, the boy being sixteen years old, of Wayside.  They had nothing to do with the murder of Silas Turner."

Enraged Jones County citizens started out Sunday, it is said, to avenge the murder of Turner by rounding up every negro in Jones County…

Shot Father and Son
Two negroes are known to have been shot to death by the mob last night near Round Oak and Wayside, about thirty miles from here…Telephone wires leading to the villages were cut last night and news of the lynchings did not become known here until early this morning when sheriff's deputies arrived with three negroes who were being held in connection with the killing of Silas Turner, a young farmer, whose death precipitated the outbreak of race feeling…

Another news article opted for a sympathetic tone regarding the lynching deaths of Alonzo Green and his son:

RACE TROUBLE FOLLOWS MURDER OF JONES FARMER

…The killing of old man Green and his son is pictured as most pitiful by those who learned the details.  Green and his son had asked some white persons, it is reported, if it would be safe for negroes to venture down the road from Wayside and were assured that they would be safe.  Hardly before going 200 yards the bodies of the two Greens are said to have been riddled with bullets.  It is said that the slaying was due to some members of the posse mistaking Green for the negro they sought.

Silas Turner, according to census and cemetery records, was a son of John D. Turner (1851-1930) and Mattie Hardin (1865-1946).  The three are buried at Hillsboro Baptist Church Cemetery in Jasper County.

The 1910 Jones County, Georgia Federal census shows Alonzo Green was born about 1880 in Georgia.  He and wife Cora were married about 1902, and Alonzo was supporting his family as an axe man in a saw mill.  By the Spring of 1910, Alonzo's household bore two children – James D. (b. abt 1901) and Annie M. (b. abt 1903).  Based on this information, it appears James D. Green was the son of Alonzo lynched without cause in July 1915.

A simple search on Google will give you the statistics. The Tuskegee Institute kept track of lynchings in America from 1882 - 1968. There were 581 in Mississippi, 531 in Georgia, 493 in Texas, 391 in Louisiana, 347 in Alabama, and so on. Total from all states: 4,743. That's more than one lynching and victim a week.

I feel a little like I should try to explain why I would give the horrible acts – those committed by the criminal, as well as those committed on the criminal – voice on this blog. There are no (at least to my knowledge) statistics showing the accuracy of the lynchers. How many times was an innocent person hung, riddled with bullets, and mutilated in the name of "justice?" I mean, we probably agree there are innocent people sitting in jail right now – with supposed checks and balances in place. Imagine when there were none. Shouldn't those innocent people be remembered?

Now, make no mistake, sometimes the lynching party "punished" the right person. As in, sometimes the true perpetrator was indeed apprehended – and then disposed of, often in a barbaric fashion. Even if you take the literal "eye for an eye" death penalty approach, I would not be surprised if that would have been an applicable punishment in only an infinitesimal number of cases. People were lynched for stealing, people were lynched for "insubordination," people were lynched for literally being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And let us not be cowards and leave out the racism debacle that lingers to this day. So another reason for giving voice to these past atrocities is in the same vein of "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

As a family historian, I am saddened to think (1) these revolting deeds took place, and (2) while statistics are easy to find, the names and stories of the individual victims are much harder to locate. A list of lynching victims will unfortunately never be complete. I hope that in a small way, posts such as these will serve as a memorial to those who were victims of Judge Lynch and his frightful law.

Marmaduke G. Bayne, a Biographical Sketch

Source: Georgia and Florida Biographies [database on-line].
Original Data from Biographical Souvenir of the States of Georgia and Florida,
Containing Biographical Sketches of the Representative Public, and many
Early Settled Families in These States. F. A. Battey & Company, 1889.
Transcribed by S. Lincecum about 2006.

Marmaduke G. Bayne is one of the progressive young lawyers of Macon, Bibb County, Ga, and was born in Jones County, Ga, November 26, 1854; a son of Henry H. and Nancy (Gresham) Bayne, both native of Jones County. Henry H. Bayne was a son of John Bayne, a school teacher, and a gentleman of prominence in his day, having represented Jones County in the legislature of 1830. Henry H. was a planter, but also a patriot, and was killed in the fight at Ocean Pond, Fla, in 1863, while serving in the Confederate service under General Colquitt. He was the father of eight children, of whom seven are still living -- Emily M., William E., John W., M. G. (our subject), Charles E., Henry F., and Nancy F.

Marmaduke G. Bayne, as will be seen from the above, was left an orphan before he was eight years of age, and, having no inheritance, was compelled to care for himself. He went from Jones to Bibb County, where for six years he worked for his board and clothing, his employer and protector being John Mitchell. He then worked on a farm for some time, saved money and entered Carrollton Institute, John M. Richardson, president, and studied ten months; he next taught a while, saved money, and entered the University of Georgia, at Athens, from which he graduated in 1878. Once more he resorted to school teaching, reading law the meanwhile under preceptorship of W. E. Collier, and was admitted to the bar, November 10, 1879, at Macon. He first practiced at Fort Valley, Ga, where he remained five years, filled the offices of city treasurer and alderman, and then, in 1884, returned to Macon, where he has since resided, and where his professional abilities are fully recognized. He was married in April, 1879, to Miss Minnie Rushing, of Byron, Ga, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Hardison) Rushing, of Houston County. To this happy marriage have been born four children, namely: Lester, Alva, Emma and Marmaduke. Mr. Bayne is a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church.

Griswoldville: Site of a Bloody Battle (Military Monday)

Site of Griswoldville and the battle.  Nothing is left but the
reason Samuel Griswold came to the area -- the railroad.

The town of Griswoldville is located approximately 10 miles east of Macon, Georgia, off of Highway 57 in Jones County. It was named for Samuel Griswold who moved his iron foundries and cotton gin to this location from Clinton (near Gray, Jones County) to be on the railroad.

The following is from the historical markers at the site of (the Battle of) Griswoldville:

"...A disastrous battle was fought here in 1864 when a force of old men and youths under General Phillips, Captain Robert H. Barron, and Lieutenant Henry Greaves, sent from Macon by General Howell Cobb in an attempt to force the Federals from the city, fought a bloody diversionary action against Kilpatrick's Union Cavalry which then proceeded to Irwinton. Griswold's factories and property were destroyed because he had made arms and ammunition for the Confederacy."

"On 22 November 1864, the Right Wing (15th and 17th Corps) of General Sherman's army marched southeast from the vicinity of Gray toward Gordon and Irwinton on its destructive March to the Sea. To protect the right against Wheeler's Cavalry, Brigadier General C. C. Walcutt's brigade of Woods' division, 15th corps, with two guns of Arndt's Michigan Battery, was sent toward Macon. Near Griswoldville, Walcutt found Murray's brigade of Kilpatrick's cavalry division engaged with Wheeler. Together, they drove Wheeler through Griswoldville, after which Walcutt withdrew and took up a strong position on the Duncan Farm, south of the railroad and about 1 and 1/2 miles east of town. He entrenched hastily on a slight elevation behind a small stream (Little Sandy Creek), his flanks protected by swamps and open fields in his front. The guns were placed on the road near the center of his line. About 2:30PM, he was attacked by the 1st Division, Georgia Militia, Brigadier General P. J. Phillips with 4 guns. Advancing in three lines across the open fields, the Georgians made seven determined assaults; they silenced Arndt's guns but could not break the Union line. About 3:30PM, Walcutt was wounded and Colonel R. F. Catterson, 97th Indiana Infantry, assumed command. At dusk, Phillips was forced to retire, but Catterson made no attempt to pursue him. Wounded: 523 Confederates, 92 Union Soldiers."

Griswold's Confederate Pistol Factory:

In 1862, to meet the pressing need of the Confederate States Army for revolvers of the Colt pattern, the Griswold Cotton Gin Company's plant, on this site, was converted to a pistol factory. In March, the production of cotton gin machinery was discontinued and the task of retooling was begun. In July, Griswold and Grier produced their first revolving pistols.

On 5 August, the Macon Telegraph announced that the "Colt's Navy Repeater" made at the machine shop of Messers, Griswold, at Griswoldville, had passed the inspections of the Confederate Superintendent of Armories in Macon, and that a contract had been let for as many as could be produced. The peak output became 5 finished revolvers per day; the total produced was about 3,500.

The Griswold and Grier revolver is known to collectors as the "brass-frame Confederate Colt." It is the most common of all Confederate manufactured revolvers. It is a six-shot, .36 caliber weapon, with a 7 and 1/2 inch barrel and rifled six grooves right. It cost about $50.00 to manufacture.

On 20 November 1864, during General Sherman's destructive March to the Sea, the Griswold and Grier factory was burned by the 3rd Cavalry Division, Brigadier General J. L. Kilpatrick, USA, together with a valuable soap and candle factory, a train of cars loaded with locomotive parts, and other local facilities."

From Joe Brown's Pets: The Georgia Militia, 1861-1865 by William Scaife:

When the Confederate artillery finally fell silent...The fight was over; the remaining disheartened Southern troops fell slowly back toward Griswoldville.

When the Federal skirmishers advanced onto the abandoned field before their works, they found a sickening and pathetic scene. On the slopes, in the thickets surrounding the stream, and in the fields beyond, they clearly saw their recent antagonists for the first time. At close range they finally realized that they had been fighting, for the most part, only old men and young boys. Lieutenant Charles W. Wills of the 103rd Illinois Regiment, who thought it "awful the way we slaughtered those men," described what he saw on the killing ground: "Old grey-haired and weakly-looking men and little boys, not over 15 years old, lay dead or writhing in pain...I hope we will never have to shoot at such men again. They knew nothing at all about fighting, and I think their officers knew as little, or else, certainly knew nothing about our being there."

From Civil War Macon by Richard W. Iobst:

The Daily Telegraph and Confederate's correspondent commented upon the gallantry of the militia at Griswoldville, saying they "behaved with distinguished gallantry, advancing upon the enemy's breastworks in perfect order and no straggling. They charged through an open field within fifty yards of the Yankee works and maintained their ground until ordered to withdraw."

As the fighting receded to the east Macon gradually returned to normal. By 24 November the Southern Express Company had resumed business...Refugees who had fled the city earlier were returning, and the community was considered safe...

Dr. Robert B. Barron, a Biographical Sketch

From Memoirs of Georgia, Volume II by The Southern Historical Association, 1895.
Transcribed by S. Lincecum about 2006.

Dr. Robert B. Barron, a leading physician of Macon, Ga, is the son of Dr. James Finney and Joannah E. (Shropshire) Barron, and was born in Clinton, Jones Co., GA, Dec 26, 1859. Dr. James F. Barron was born in Jones county in 1825 and has always lived there. He was educated at Powelton, Hancock Co., and was graduated in medicine at the University Medical college of the city of New York in 1849. He served in both branches of the general assembly before the war and was a member of the secession convention, being in favor of that movement. In 1853-4-5 he was justice of the inferior court of Jones county. He was exempt from active military service on account of physical disablity, but was one of four men in his native county who, during the war, looked after the widows and orphans at home, and in so doing spent all he had. He was married in 1853, his wife being a daughter of Capt. James H. Shropshire, an officer in the Seminole war, and a granddaughter of James Shropshire, a native of England. They had six children: James H. of Jasper county, Ga; William W. of Jones county, ex-sheriff and clerk of the superior court; Dr. R. B.; Jackson Clay, Jones county, lawyer and judge of the county court, now serving his second term, having been elected first at the age of twenty-three; he was for two years at West Point academy; Abington L., a teacher in Putnam county; Sallie E., unmarried. Dr. James F. Barron's father was William Barron, also a native of what is now Jones county, Ga, and was born in 1798. He was a farmer all his life, was at one time sheriff of the county, and died in 1837. His father, Dr. Robert B. Barron's great-grandfather, was Samuel Barron, who was born in Virginia in 1772, and came with his father to Hancock county, Ga, in 1783. He became an extensive planter, was one of the original settlers of Jones county, and owned several hundred slaves. He had eleven children and at his death left to each of them between thirty-five and forty slaves. His father, Dr. Barron's great-great-grandfather, James Barron, was a native of Scotland. The great Commodore Barron, who fought a duel with Commodore Decatur, was a first cousin of James Barron. The name James, has been given to the eldest son of the Barron family for six generations. Dr. Robert B. Barron was brought up and primarily educated at Clinton. At the age of seventeen he entered Mercer university at Macon, Ga, graduating with the degree of A. B. in 1881. Returning home he read medicine with his father one year, then went to Bellevue Hospital Medical college in New York city and was graduated from that institution in 1883. He came back to Clinton, Ga, after his graduation and practiced with his father until 1889. From that time until August, 1891, he was employed as physician and surgeon by the Southern Lumber company and the Wadley & Mount Vernon Railway company at Wadley, Ga. He came from Wadley to Macon and has since practiced there. Dr. Barron is a member and president of the Jones County Medical society, and also of the Macon Medical society; is a member of the Georgia Medical association and of the American Medical Association, to whose meeting in 1887 he was a delegate. He is past high priest of Constantine chapter No. 4, R. A. M., and master of Mabel lodge No. 255, F. & A. M., and senior of St. Omar commandery No. 2, Knights Templar, and a member of the A. T. O. (Greek society). In 1885 he received the degree of A. M. from Mercer university. He was married in the year last mentioned to Miss Willa, daughter of William Etheridge. In 1887, he read before the Georgia Medical association a paper on "Uterine Disorders," which was published in the report of the society's transactions. He has read many other widely-noticed papers before the Jones county and Macon Medical societies and is orator of the Georgia Medical association for 1896. Dr. Barron is an honored member of the Baptist church, and his wife is a member of the Methodist church.

Dr. Joseph D. Maynard, a Biographical Sketch

From Memoirs of Georgia, Volume II by The Southern Historical Association, 1895.
Transcribed by S. Lincecum 2004

Dr. Joseph D. MAYNARD, physician and surgeon, Abbeville, Wilcox Co., Ga., was born in Jones county, Ga., Dec. 26, 1856. He is the son of Sanford B. Maynard, who was native of Edgefield district, S.C., whence he moved to Georgia. By occupation a planter, and a most successful one, highly esteemed and kindly regarded in the county where he lived, he died in 1868. Dr. Maynard was educated at Tremble institute, Winchester, Tenn. In 1882 he matriculated at Atlanta Medical college and was graduated in 1883. He was enabled to do this by reason of having read medicine for several years previously under a preceptor. He then supplemented his course in Atlanta college with a short one at Vanderbilt university, Nashville, Tenn., and then entered actively on the practice of his profession at Tallapoosa, Ga. After one year he removed to Abbeville, where he has since resided. When he removed to Wilcox county there were only three physicians within its limits, making a large territory to be covered by each. On April 11, 1883, he was united in marriage to Miss Lillie May, daughter of William M. Shephard, at that time a resident of Atlanta, subsequently moved to Savannah. Dr. and Mrs. Maynard are the parents of two very bright and beautiful little girls, the elder of whom, Lillie May, is eight, and the younger, Jessie Myrtle, six years of age. Dr. Maynard is a blue lodge Mason, and exemplifies in his life the teachings of that noble fraternity. He is prominently identified with the railroad interests of his section, being surgeon for the Savannah, Americus & Montgomery railway, of which he is a director; and projector and president of the Waycross & Abbeville railway.