6 Aug 1873 Cuthbert Appeal [Cuthbert, Randolph Co GA newspaper] FORT GAINES DEPARTMENT J B JOHNSON, Editor --Bluffton, dear reader, is a village in the South-eastern portion of Clay county, equi-distant from Fort Gaines, Blakely, Cuthbert, Morgan, Arlington, and almost any other place, and about 13 miles from each. It was settled in 1869 by Dr. C. B. Holmes, Col. T. F. Jones, and one or two other enterprising gentlemen, who fully appreciated the great advantages offered, both as to location and salubrity, for establishing a first-class school, and surrounding it with the elite and wealthy families of other villages and form [sic] the large plantations around. Of the early history of Bluffton it behooves us not to speak. Now it is in the height of its prosperity with a fine school, an accomplished teacher, and everything else to recommend it to persons, desiring to remove to a village for the purpose of educating their children and enjoying superlative church facilities. In point of health, it is equal to the mountains-- nay, vastly superior, for the diseases endemic to its locality are light and trivial when compared with the typhoid and pulmonary forms of more northern latitudes, while its general climate and delightful breezes render it a most desirable home. In point of morals it is the equal of any place. None of its citizens drink, consequently there are no tippling shops to seduce the unwary youth from the straight and narrow path of rectitude and virtue, thereby fastening upon him habits which shall leave their baleful impress upon his future life, and send him forth into the world, unfit and unfitted to fill any station. There you will find no billard saloons, no card tables, nor any of the frivilous amusements which too often distract the mind of the student from the more serious and important duties of his life, and causes him to launch his little, frail barque upon this uncertain sea, illy prepared for the voyage even though it be all calm and sunshine. .........[article continues] Lindy