The Gibby Farm

The farm covers 102 acres on the highest point of land near Royston. According to Mr. Gibby, it was secured when his father and a group of other north Georgians chased away a band of Indians Apparently, this took place in the late 19th century. It was after the Civil War. This action by the vigilantes was precipitated by the massacre of 11 people by Indians. One or two small girls escaped by hiding under a rock overhang. During the raid, the Indians also blew up a gold mine. The location of the gold mine is now forgotten. It is believed to be on the Middle Fork River. When the whites raided the Indian camp, at least one Indian was killed. This Indian was buried in a plank coffin with pots and weapons. Mr. Gibby promised to determine the location of the burial. The Indian camp is located on a ridge near a spring. Outlines of living areas may be seen covering an area of 20 by 30 feet. When the camp was raided all pottery was smashed and buried. A nearby field covering perhaps a quarter acre when being plowed yielded numerous artifacts. Artifacts have also been found on two other fields on the Gibby farm. There is another camp site on the farm but Mr. Gibby is unsure where it is. Around the known campsite, where the Indians pitched their "pee-pees". are numerous "hickeys" on trees. The marks do not appear to be too old, certainly no more than 100 years if that. There are also some small mounds which may be single burials. The most interesting site on the farm is boulder 15 feet long by four feet high. The boulder is covered with inscriptions. Mr. Gibby feels the inscriptions are a map to the gold mine. Although why Indians would map the location of something they wanted to destroy remains unclear. Mr. Gibby says the writing on the rock is similar to writing found on pottery fragments. The rock needs a good scrubbing to remove mossy growths before fine details may be examined. The rock faces the Middle Fork River some 200 yards away. It is approximately at an ninety degree angle from a small stream some 15 yards away. It is about two miles from the camp. Mr. Gibby's farm has numerous other "hickeys", Black Angus cattle prickly pears, rabbits, pink eyed water moccasins and beavers. He is quite willing to have anyone examine his Dighton II. Mr. Arthur Woods, a barber at Smith's Grocery, may have other information on Indians of the area.