History Of Subligna Georgia
1959 – By: Aleta White
Among the mountains of Northwest Georgia, in the county of Chattooga, you will find the little village of Subligna, nestled at the foot of Taylor's Ridge on the west, John's Mountain on the east, Little Sand Mountain on the southeast, and Dick's Ridge on the north.
Dr. William Dunlap Underwood, who was the first of the early pioneers in this section, came from Spartanburg, S.C. and settled at Villanow in 1850. As soon as he had time to explore the county, he decided to settle in Subligna in 1854, because he thought it was such a desire-able place for a little settlement. He built his home just in front of the present Methodist Parsonage.
As the little settlement grew the people decided they would like to name the place in honor of Dr. William Dunlap Underwood, who was a step-great-grandfather 0f Miss Mallie Lawrence. Since Dr. Underwood was a Latin Scholar of the "old school" he suggested that they name the little village Subligna, for "Sub" in Latin means "under" and "ligna" in Latin means "wood". Now, after all you have the name "Underwood.
Dr. Underwood and J. Y. Foster, grandfather of the White brothers, were the first merchants of Subligna. They established the first Post Office and Dr. Underwood served as the first postmaster. Dr. Underwood spent the greater part of his Life in Subligna and was buried in Subligna Cemetery.
In trying to decide where the county seat would be located for Chattooga, the older citizens remember when the question was voted on and they seem to be proud to say that only one vote was needed for it to have been located at Subligna.
Subligna was incorporated in the year 1866 when Cicero Cleghorn was Representative of Chattooga County. It was incorporated a quarter of a mile each way from the forks of the road on top of the hill. Subligna had three commissioners-Dr. J. W. Clements, W. F. Lowe, and Milton White. The jail house stood near the forks of the spring. It was built of pine poles and had a lot of big rocks piled on top, Jim Farnsworth was city Marshall.
Some of the early homes built in Subligna include a house built in 1858 by Dr. Sam Hamilton. It was located on the hill where Mr. Lawrence Scoggins home now stands. Dr. Hamilton also built the house that Uncle Jeff White lived in when he first came to Subligna.
Milton White’s home was where Miss Millie Lawrence lives. His Home burned down in 1865. He then moved to West Armuchee and lived there a few years. In 1867 he built the house where Mr. Jamie Scoggins lives and moved back to Subligna. This house is known as the "Old White Home".
Uncle Henry Lawrence settled on what is known as New Georgia in 1867. The house where Mrs. Harmon lives was built in 1868 by G. B, R. Smith. Mr. Blackburn put up a home just across the road from Mr. Smith's. Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Marsh had control of a tan yard where the gin now stands.
In 1871 Dr. Clements and his brother-in-law, W. P. Lowe, sold goods in a little house near the present stores of Mr. Lawrence Scoggins and Mr. Basil Self. Dr. Clements lived in the back of the store at that time. But later in the same year he built the house where Mr. Starret Self lives. Dr. Clements owned a blacksmith shop just across the road from his home, now known as Tom Manis home, for Tom Fallis. Dr. Clements was the first surgeon in Subligna and served the country during the Civil War. At that time Subligna was used as a training base for soldiers. According to all reports Dr. Clements was the beloved "Country Doctor" serving the people within a radius of ten to fifteen miles. Two of his daughters, Miss Lillian and Miss Iula Clements lived in their home located on the hill next to Harold Scoggins.
John Saylors built the house where the Edwards bay now lives in 1879.
Tom 0,Neal ran a shoe shop in a Little house between the spring and the Baptist Church. Dr. Clements, Milton White, Bill Lowe and Carroll built a shop for Obe Broom.
Dr. Anderson Lived where W. J. White, Jr, now lives. The house burned and later was rebuilt.
Mr. Azzariah Morton came to Subligna from North Carolina. According to reports he built in those days a very pretty two-story home in the country near the Johns home. Not long after it was completed his home burned.
Mr. R. L. Turner came from Virginia. These are grandparents of Mrs. W. J. White, Jr, Other early settlers include Ponders, Ramseys, Scoggins and Hix.
As the village grew the people wanted churches and a school. One of the oldest churches in Chattooga County is the Methodist Church, Dalton District. The first church in or near Subligna was undoubtedly established by the Methodist who came to this community after the departure of the Cherokee Indians. This church was known as Mt. Zion Methodist Church, was built of Logs and stood a short distance from where the present church now stands.
It is believed 0. F. Perry allowed Mt. Zion Church to be built on his land, and later gave this and other ground so that a new church might be erected. On March 21, 1857 the said 0. F. Perry made a deed to Davis Hix, J. T. Hamilton, W. William Hix, J. M. Bowman, J. W. Watts, Lloyd Ruthford, and J. 0. D. Hill, trustees of Mt. Zion Church and their successors, giving as a gift two acres of land including the ground on which Mt. Zion church stood to be used for the purpose of a place of worship by the M. E. Church South.
No records are available of the exact date, but it was about this time that the present building known as Subligna Methodist Church was erected, about two hundred feet north of the old church. Mt. Zion was not destroyed when the present church was built. It served as a grammar school until 1876. The earliest records were lost or destroyed but the older members recall hearing their parents tell of donating logs, hewing sills. and dressing lumber by hand, and with the help of slave labor built the Subligna Methodist Church. Two slave members of this church had special seats in the back of the church. The Methodist Church is ninety-five years old now and the Methodist (-----text missing------)
Going up the highway for about a mile from the heart of Subligna is the Silas Lawrence farm. Near this farm is the home of Walter Smith.
In the early years of Subligna the Primitive Baptist Church was built where his home now stands. This church was called Emmanis and Mr. Casey preached on the Fourth Sunday. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was located on the ground that Mr. Tom Manis owns in Subligna where Harold Scoggins Lives. Mr. McGee from Dalton served the Church for several years.
When the first Baptist Church was establishes in Subligna, it was in the old school building at the end of the lane. Mr. Ben Hunt, father bf Mr. Joe Hunt helped to establish the church and served as pastor, holding their services in the school building, until 1904, when the present Baptist Church waa built. Mr. Hunt moved away from Subligna for a few years, then came back and served as pastor of the church until his death. Miss Mallie Lawrence and Mrs. Ida Ballenger are the only charter members, now living.
The first school of Subligna was located on the present Methodist Parsonage garden. It was the old log Mr. Zion Church and the children attended this school from 1855 until 1876. Joe Scott, Bob Neal, Tenelle Strickland, Mr. Greer, Hiss Rosa Low, Miss Emily white, John Wildwood, Eugene Hale, General Graves, Jim Blackwell, and Captain Irvine each taught in the old school house. The children sat on slab seats around the room. The teacher occupied the middle of the floor. He held a stick in his hand and when he struck the floor with his stick it meant that every child from the smallest to the Largest recited or read aloud at the same time.
One hundred years ago the parents and teachers met together and their subject for discussion was; "THE SCHOOLS OF YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW. Everyone seemed to enjoy meeting together to discuss their problems.
In talking with Uncle Jeff and Hiss Mallie they gave the following statement that has been passed on to them: "A long time ago they took subjects and dog deep into the subject.
The next school house was built in 1876 at the end of the lane where the old sawmill is located just back of the "gym". Dr. Clernents and Milton White were the trustees. Mr. lrvine was the principal and General Graves was the assistant. Captain Jackson taught from 1877 to 1883. Then Gus Shropshire in 1884.
The children of Subligna attended school in this building until 1923. From the little one-room school house to the present buildings have emerged "The Schools of Yesterday and the Schools of Today"', and now we are wondering what the future will bring.