Ed Jackson and Charles Pou

Carl Vinson Institute of Government

The University of Georgia

October 24

1733 In London, Georgia's Trustees ordered that a ship be sent to Rotterdam to pick a group of Lutherans expelled from Salzburg, Austria. The Salzburgers in turn would be sent on charity to the new colony of Georgia.

1790 At age 87, John Wesley made the last entry in his 55-year-long journal. After preaching a sermon, Wesley recorded: "I hope many even then resolved to choose the better part." He died the following March.

1819 Politician William Rabun died in Hancock County, Georgia. Rabun was born April 8, 1771 in North Carolina, but his family moved to Georgia in 1785 and William spent the rest of his life in Georgia. He began his political career in 1805 in the Georgia House of Representatives. From 1810-1817 he served in the Georgia Senate, and in 1812 was voted President of the Senate. When Governor David B. Mitchell resigned to accept President James Madison's appointment as U.S. agent to the Creek Indians, Rabun automatically succeeded him as governor on March 4, 1817. Later that year, Rabun was elected to full term as governor. Rabun's term was marked by increased support for free schools and improvements to the state's internal navigation of its rivers. Rabun also carried on acrimonious correspondence with General Andrew Jackson over his lack of defense for Georgia against Seminole and Creek Indian attacks. After one of these attacks, Rabun sent Georgia militia to retaliate, but they attacked an Indian village friendly to Jackson, thus incurring his wrath.

The Georgia legislature fully supported Rabun in his disagreement with Jackson. In one of his letters Rabun foreshadowed an argument Georgia and the South would use forty-three years later in seceding from the Union. Rabun wrote: "When the liberties of the people of Georgia shall have been prostrated at the feet of a military despotism, then, and not till then, will your imperious doctrine be submitted to." While visiting his home between legislative sessions in 1819, Rabun suddenly became ill and died of a fever on October 24, 1819. Two months later -- on December 21 -- the General Assembly created a new county and named it after him.

1823 Politician James Milton Smith was born in Twiggs County, Georgia. Smith began his political career by serving in the Confederate Congress after being severely wounded in the Battle of Cold Harbor. Following the war, he and Peter Alexander began a very successful law firm in Columbus, Georgia. He was elected to the Georgia General Assembly in 1870 as an outspoken opponent of Radical Reconstruction. Smith was elected Speaker of the House on 1871, then nominated and elected to fill the unexpired term of Governor Rufus Bullock. Smith was elected to his own four-year term the following year. His term as governor was marked by many impressive appointments to high state offices, most notably Gustavus Orr as state school commissioner, who received national notoriety for his work. Smith also retired the state debt and left office with a surplus in the Treasury. After an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate, Smith was appointed first chairman of the Georgia Railroad Commission, where he served a six-year term. Then Gov. John B. Gordon appointed him as superior court judge of the of the Chattahoochee judicial circuit in 1887 to fill an unexpired term. As with the governorship, Smith did so well that he was appointed to another full term in 1888. However, he suffered a stroke and died on November 25, 1890 at his home in Columbus. The Atlanta Constitution eulogized Smith as "one of the boldest and most fearless men in the history of Georgia."

1889 Gov. John B. Gordon signed a proposed constitutional amendment that supporters argued would reduce the length and cost of the legislative session. Georgia's constitution had long required three readings of a bill on three different days before the final floor vote could be taken. This was a safeguard against hastily-enacted legislation, as well as a necessity for those legislators or spectators who could not read. In practice, bills were read aloud on the floor of each house, which meant that all legislative deliberations came to a halt until the reading was completed. Because House and Senate rules prohibit debate on a bill at the time of first reading, this constitutional amendment provided that first reading of a bill in each house be by title (a brief summary of the major provisions of a bill) only. The only exception was full reading would be required if a bill is engrossed at the time of first reading (which prohibits committee or floor amendments).

1911 Blues singer and harmonica player Sonny Terry was born in Greensboro, Georgia. Terry toured and recorded with guitarist Brownie McGhee in 1941.

1932 After a brief visit to Warm Springs (see Oct. 23 entry), Franklin D. Roosvelet returned to Atlanta for what had been proclaimed "Roosevelt Day." The Democratic Party's presidential nominee was honored with a parade attended by over 200,000 vocal supporters. Roosevelt mounted a stage overflowing with flowers to deliver a campaign speech [see text] in which he scored the incumbent Hoover administration for failing to actively combat the Depression, which was hitting many already poor southerners especially hard. In his drive through the South Roosevelt made reference to "destruction, delay, deceit, and despair -- the four horsemen of the G.O.P." Upon his departure, Roosevelt requested that the flowers adorning the stage be delivered to the children's ward at Grady Hospital.

1960 For the second time in the year, Brenda Lee got a #1 hit with her recording of "I Want to be Wanted." This had proved to be a good year for the 15-year-old Lithonia, Georgia native. On April 18, her recording of "Sweet Nothin's" reached #4 on the popular music charts. "That's All You Gotta Do" peaked at #6 on July 4, and then on July 18, "I'm Sorry" went to #1.

1962 Unable to find a record company willing to back the project, rhythm-and-blues artist James Brown paid to have one of his performances recorded at the legendary Apollo Theater in New York. Released in 1963, his "Live at the Apollo" album quickly thrust the dyanmic singer from Augusta into the national popular music scene. The album went on to sell over one million copies--something unheard of at the time for a live R&B album.

1972 Baseball great Jackie Robinson died.

1976 Jimmy Carter and his family attended services at their hometown church in Plains, Ga. before re-embarking on the campaign trail. A Newsweek poll released on this day showed Carter had solid leads in 24 states and the District of Columbia, totaling 308 electoral votes (270 were needed to win)

1991 In game five of the 1991 World Series, the Atlanta Braves defeated the Minnesota Twins in a 14-5 victory.

1992 In the 11th inning of game six of the 1992 World Series, the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Atlanta Braves 4-3 becoming the first team from outside the United States to win the World Series of major league baseball.

1995 The Cleveland Indians won the third game of the 1995 World Series. Trailing by a run in the 11th inning, Cleveland pulled out a 7-6 victory over Atlanta reliever Mark Wohlers. The game that set a record for the longest night game in the history of the World Series.

1996 The New York Yankees defeated the Atlanta Braves 1-0 in game 5 to take the lead in the 1996 World Series.

1999 The Yankees domination of the Atlanta Braves continued in game 2 of the World Series with a 7-2 victory. The Yankees had 14 hits for the evening, including three runs in the first inning. [Click here to view summary of game.]

Georgia towns and cities first incorporated by acts approved on Oct. 24:

1870 Blakeley (Early County), Boston (Thomas County), Harlem (Columbia County), Hepzibah (Richmond County), Hiwassee (Towns County), and Jessup [later spelled Jesup] (Wayne County)

1887 Blue Ridge (Fannin County), Bluffton (Clay County), Collinsville (DeKalb County), Concord (Pike County), Culloden (Monroe County), Guyton (Effingham County), and Sugar Valley (Gordon County)

1889 Jenkinsburg (Butts County)
 
 

In Their Own Words on This Day. . .

1732 In London, Sir John Percival (would would become the first Earl of Egmont in 1733) recorded that attending this day's meeting of Georgia's Trustees were the first colonists selected to go to Georgia:

". . . The persons appointed for the Embarkation attended and the Articles of Agreement being read to them, and they being asked if they had any objection to them, Some of them made the following requests: 1. That the Sending Such goods after them as they would not be allow'd to carry with them might be considered. 2. That their daughters might be allow'd to inherit as well as Sons. 3. that the Widows Dower might be consider'd. 4. That they might go on board themselves when their goods went, and that provision might be allow'd them.The the Common Counsil [the executive committee of the Board of Trustees resolv'd, That the persons who went over, & desired it, Should have the privilege of naming a Successor to their lands, who in case they died without Issue, Should enjoy the Same to them and their Heirs forever, and that the Widows Should have their Thirds as in England. Order'd that each Comradeship Should be lodg'd on board according to Lot. Order'd 300£ into Mr. Heathcotes hands to defray the charges of the Embarkation . . . ."

Source: Robert G. McPherson (ed.), The Journal of The Earl of Egmont: Abstract of the Trustees Proceedings for Establishing the Colony of Georgia, 1732-1738 (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1962), p. 6.

1847 Two months before Atlanta was incorporated by the General Assembly, Atlanta schoolmaster William N. White (who was active in the movement to make the town an official city) wrote in his journal on this Sunday:

"We have in Atlanta as yet no city law or charter. The nights are full of noise and commotion which a city government would easily repress. Last night I was very much disturbed by these noises. No preaching here today. It does not seem like the Sabbath, except that the stores are closed."

Source: Franklin M. Garrett, Atlanta and Environs: A Chronicle of Its People and Events (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1969 reprint of 1954 original volume), Vol. I, p. 259.

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© Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia

If you have a date related to Georgia history or people that ought to be included, or if know of entries that should be corrected, send a note to Ed Jackson or Charles Pou.

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