The Eli Glover House

by John Harvey

Records in the Jasper County Courthouse in Monticello aren't very clear on when the Eli Glover house, located across from the Presbyterian Church and cemetery was first built.

Stories about early events in the county say that the Indians watched the original cottage being built sometime around 1807.  Records from about 1817 show rooms being added and the house being improved by the owner, Eli Glover.

The shrubbery around the house is almost as old as the house.  One magnolia in the front yard is said to have been brought from Augusta in a buggy by Mrs. Glover.  The lot is not as large as it once was, a portion having seen sold by the Glover sisters, grandchildren of the first Eli Glover to Mrs. and Mrs. Petty McKinley in the 1940's.  The McKinleys replanted much of the original shrubbery around their house.

A visit to the house on a tour conducted by Legree Roberts, the present owner, finds the basic house still in good condition.  The porches and a part of the roof are in need of repair.  Inside, the plaster has few cracks and looks something like cement.  In an upstairs bedroom near the fireplace a small wooden door leads to the secret room where it is said that one of the Glover sons hid from General Sherman's troops when they came through Monticello in 1864.

Downstairs again, we see the mail slot in the kitchen wall.  This house was one of the first post offices west of the Oconee river.  Outside se see the little "Bumble Bee Academy" where Miss Joyce Glover taught boys and girls the "three R's" in the 1880's and 90's while her mother taught them music in the living room.

The other sisters were remembered as very active in the life of Jasper County and Monticello.  Miss Maggie kept the home, Miss Lizzie was book keeper for Jordan and Company and later McKinley's Market and Miss Gussy was postmistress for many years, book keeper for Harvey and Kelly Insurance Agency and organist for the Presbyterian Church.

Additional Comments:
Transcribed by Suzanne Forte (suzanneforte@bellsouth.net) April 2005,  from copies of articles contained in the Monticello News. There articles were prepared by Mr. 
John Harvey and published in this newspaper during the 1970's and 1980's time frame. Some were under the title "Jasper Reflections", others "Bicentennial Bits".
Permission has been granted by Mr. Harvey for use of these very valuable and informative articles.

Copies of articles provided by Benny Hawthorne.