Roswell History
Around every corner in Roswell sits a piece of history. Churches, plantation homes and cemeteries tell the tales of a community that has stood the test of time. From its Cherokee Indian heritage, to the gold rush and later the beginnings of a mill town, Roswell is now home to fine shops, museums and restaurants – many of which are housed in the very buildings that formed the town’s history.
While history is our calling card, Roswell has abundant natural resources, with miles of trails as well as the Chattahoochee River. Roswell’s many festivals and events satisfy the thirst for heritage, tall tales and the arts. Whatever your interests, you’ll find something to please you in Roswell.
The Cherokee
Roswell is located on the northern banks of the Chattahoochee River in an area the Cherokee Indians once called “Enchanted Land.” Originally, the white man was forbidden on this land by Georgia law, but the law was often ignored and many treaties were broken. The discovery of gold in North Georgia brought more and more settlers with powerful weapons. The Cherokee became increasingly aware that they must learn to co-exist, or their way of life would surely perish. They adopted some of the white man’s ways and became shop owners, storekeepers, farmers, and even operated mills, ferries and other businesses.
By 1821, one of their leaders, Sequoyah, had created the “Talking Leaves,” an alphabet consisting of 85 letters. Within a short time of adopting this alphabet, thousands of Cherokee were able to read and write. They created the first Native American newspaper and also had a centralized government and a constitution.
For all the tribe’s progress, they could not curtail the white man’s greed for the glittering substance found on their land. Georgia declared the Cherokee Nation illegal and took possession of their land, dividing it into counties and giving the land to white settlers through a land lottery. The Cherokee pursued action through the courts to protect their rights, but President Andrew Jackson ignored a mandate by the Supreme Court and approved removal of the Cherokee. In 1838, the Cherokee people traveled west on a path that was to become known as “The Trail of Tears.”
The Settlement of Roswell
In 1828, gold was found in north Georgia, causing many to prospect the areas of Dahlonega and Auraria. This activity attracted the interest of Roswell King, a citizen of Darien, Georgia. As he traveled on horseback following Indian trails, he came upon the ChattahoocheeRiver near what is now Roswell. Here he discovered vast forests and the rushing waters of Vickery Creek. He envisioned a mill powered by the water, and a community close by.
In 1838, Mr. King began work on the first cotton mill. In 1839, it was incorporated as The Roswell Manufacturing Company. The mills were extremely successful as orders for cloth, tenting, rope, flannels and yarn poured in. Mr. King offered home sites and investment opportunities to his friends and associates from coastal Georgia. Magnificent homes were built for the founding families. They constructed cottages and apartments for the mill workers, a church, and an educational academy for the children. Before Roswell King’s wife, Catherine, could move from Darien, she died. Roswell King lived until 1844, but his son Barrington worked to carry on his father’s dream.
There were several distinct styles of life in Roswell … the prominent families, the mill workers who often labored 11-hour days, and the slaves. The issues of slavery and states’ rights would have a major impact on the town. Secession of Georgia from the Union took place in January 1861 at the beginning of the War Between the States. Those families who could afford to do so gathered as many possessions as possible and fled to safer areas. As the was reached its close, the Union cavalry, under the command of Brigadier General Kenner Garrard, arrived in Roswell on July 5, 1864. Retreating Confederate soldiers burned the covered bridge at the ChattahoocheeRiver in order to slow the advancing Union troops.
Theophile Roche, a French citizen, had been employed by the cotton mills and later the woolen mill. In an attempt to save the mills, he flew a French flag in hopes of claiming neutrality. However, the letters “CSA” (Confederate States of America) were found on cloth being produced, and on July 7, Gen. Sherman ordered everyone connected with the woolen mill to be charged with treason when it was found the neutrality claim was false. The nearby cotton mill was also destroyed. Mill workers, mostly women and children, were arrested, charged with treason, and sent north to uncertain fates. The magnificent homes and church escaped destruction. After the war, families returned to the area and began to pick up the pieces of their lives. The mills were rebuilt and the textile industry once again became a strong part of the town’s economy, remaining so until 1975.
For more information regarding the History of Roswell, please contact the Historic Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau at 770/640-3253 or online at www.visitroswellga.com.
The information listed above has been copied from The Official Guide to Historic Roswell and is printed here with permission from the Historic Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau All information listed is subject to the protections allowed by our Privacy Statement.
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