The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition Thursday, July 1, 1976 Section D, Page 9 HAMILTON HAD A "TOLL GATE FARM" About 1818 William RAGSDALE settled the place where Hamilton now stands. He was the first judge of the county and built a mill and cleared much of the land known as "Toll Gate Farm." The site was later owned by Col. HELVINGTON. He is aid to have owned a thousand acres of land between Williams Creek and Buttahatchee River. Slave labor was used to work the farm. Some of the earliest settlers were William RAGSDALE, Robert CLARK, Morris HALL, HOLLOWAYS, CRENSHAWS, McKAYS, MEADORS and McFADDEN families. Among the early builders of Toll Gate were: Col. HELVINGTON, Gen. CHOLSON, Dr. KEY, David HUBBARD, FRAZIER and SARGENT families. Fragmentary records give some accounts of Toll gate as far back as 1815 and the first post office seems to have been established soon after that date. It is definitely known that General Andrew JACKSON came back from the Battle of New Orleans and camped at Military Ford, three miles south of Hamilton. In 1820 he was appointed by the War Department to improve the highways so as to have a good road to operate the Grand Southern Mail, which ran from New Orleans to Nashville. Toll Gate was selected as one of the post offices and a stop over to change teams and pay tolls. It is said that a stage coach from the south would blow a horn for the number of meals the passengers wanted when they were on Cashion or Lewis Hill about four miles away. In this way the inn keeper could have the meals ready since the stop was short. Later a telegraph line was established from New Orleans to Nashville through Toll Gate. Messages could be sent over this line from Toll Gate to all points of U.S. When Toll Gate was first established the charges were set. For each wagon and team, seventy-five cents, for each four wheel pleasure carriage seventy-five cents, for each two wheel pleasure cart fifty cents, for one man and horse twelve and one half cents, for each loose or led horse six and one fourth cents, for each head of cattle, four cents, for each head of hogs, sheep or goats two cents, U.S. Mail and express wee to go free, also all people on foot or people going to or from a mill, or going to church could go free. Lemuel and Jacob FRANKS were the First Toll Gate keepers. In 1886 Hamilton had a few dozen people. Some of these families were: FITES, FORDS, HAMILTONS, CASHIONS, MIXONS, FRASIERS, CLARKS, KEYS and MARTINS. Barnes HOLLOWAY lived for many years. Only during the past 30 years has it been called Key Branch. There wee the TERRELLS, GASKINS, CARPENTERS, DUNNS, RIGGINS. Mail came each Saturday afternoon from Aberdeen, Miss., and went to the store of WHITE and HAMILTON. J. R. WHITE was postmaster. Early in the history of the town William NEAL came from Pikeville and built the first store. It was located where MIXON's Hardware Store now stands. He also built the old house called the FITE House, now owned by Miss Mattie FITE. FRASIER and GOST built a store where e Clint CANTRELL is now located.