Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 241
But Georgia was fated soon to lose this wise protector. Governor
Ellis had made a most excellent chief magistrate. He was deservedly
popular with all classes of people. In fact, the welfare of the province
had ever been his central thought, had ever engaged his most strenuous
and resolute endeavors. There had been a general revival of industry
throughout the province, all bickerings had ceased, and the tide of
prosperity had commenced slowly to motmt higher and higher. But
the enervating effect of a warm climate had left its mark upon a con
stitution none too robust; and while loath to relinquish an office whose
duties he enjoyed or to leave a people , whom he had learned to
regard with a genuine affection, lie was nevertheless forced in deference
to his health to ask for permission to return to England. This request
having been granted by the Crown, Lieutenant-Governor James Wright
was designated to relieve him; and, on the latter's arrival in the prov-
incej on November 2, 1760, embarked for home, leaving behind him a
fragrant memory to enrich the colonial annals of Georgia, His depar
ture was a source of regret to all, profound, unalloyed, and universal.
Having arrived in England, he persuaded the Crown to relieve him per
manently of his responsibilities; but so efficient had he proven as an ad
ministrator of the Crown interests of England that he was soon after
wards made governor of Nova Scotia, a domain recently acquired by
England from the French. But here he found the climate entirely too
rigorous; and, after giving two years and a half of his life to the service
of the king in this far northern latitude, he sought to regain his health in
the south of France. Attaining to a ripe old age, he spent his last days
in a seaside villa, overlooking the Bay of Naples.
GALPHINTON OB "OLD TOWN.'''—Fifty miles southwest of Augusta, on the upper
banks of the Ogeechee Eiver, there once stood an old trading post, the origin of
which, probably antedates the coming of Oglethorpe to Georgia. At any rate, the
traditions of the locality indicate that at an early period there were Indian traders
from South Carolina in this immediate neighborhood, and, if not-the first Europeans
to establish themselves upon the soil of the future colony, "they at least penetrated
further into the interior. George Galphin was one of this adventurous baud. He
lived at Silver Bluff, on the east side of the Savannah River, where he owned an
elegant mansion, conducted an extensive trade with the various Indian tribes, and
became a sort of potentate upon whom the dusky natives of the forest looked with
awe and respect. They usually brought to him for settlement the issues on which
they disagreed; and whatever he advised them to do in the matter was ordinarily the
final word on the subject, for they acquiesced in his ruling as though he were an
oracle of wisdom. The trading-post which he established on : the Ogeechee Biver
was called Galphinton. It was also known as Ogeechee Town; and, after Louis
ville was settled, some ten miles to the northwest, it was commonly designated as
Old Town to distinguish it from New Town, a name which the residents of the
locality gave to the future capital of Georgia. In the course of time, there gath
ered about the old trading-post quite a settlement, due to the extensive barter with
the Indians which here took place at certain seasons of the year; but time has
spared only the barest remnants of the old fort. The following story is told of
how George Galphin acquired the land on which the town of Louisville was after
wards built. Attracted by the red coat which he wore, an old Indian chief, whose
wits had been somewhat sharpened by contact with the traders, thus approached
him, in the hope of securing the coveted garment. Said he:
"Me had dream last night."
"You did?" said Galphin. "What did you dream about?"
'' Me dream you give me dat coat.''
Vol. 1—16