In The News - Article

Souter Plantation - A Southern Tradition

A one-of-a-kind property, Souter Plantation is pure Georgia luxury in the heart of the south's prime hunting and farming region. Located in Macon County, Georgia, the Souter Plantation has stood the test of time through six generations, providing a homestead and livelihood for the many descendants of Colly and Elizabeth Souter and the backdrop for an intriguing historic tale of the Souter family.

In 1849, the Souters left Dutch Fork, a prominent German settlement at Newberry County in South Carolina, choosing to make Georgia the new home for them and their nine children. As a young man in the 1800s, John Wesley Souter, the oldest son of Colly Souter, left his family's new Georgia home and came to Macon County, where he married Eliza Barfield. They purchased acreage to establish a working plantation and later inherited additional property from Eliza's family, bringing the total to 3,000 pristine acres.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, John Wesley joined Rylander's Battalion and fought valiantly throughout the entirety of the war before returning home to oversee the plantation. The Souters had four children, including James Frederick, who later moved to Preston, GA and became a lawyer. His son, James Lester Souter, worked the family property as a farmer, lumberman and exporter, while serving three terms in state legislature.

The most recent owners, James Lester Souter Jr., and his wife, Betty Ann, continued to treasure the family plantation and the long history that accompanied it. Souter made his living in lumber and pulpwood, and his son, Les Souter, carries on the family tradition today, overseeing the property for his family.

Located on Highway 240 near Oglethorpe, Georgia, in that area of Macon County known as Payne's Bottom, the Souter Plantation at one time included a grist mill, where meal was ground and syrup made. Nearby stands the historic County Line Baptist Church, that used to serve as a school during the week and a church on Sundays.

An exquisite property reminiscent of the prime plantation property , 1,200 acres of Souter Plantation are being offered for sale to the public for the first time in more than 150 years. Featuring all the grace and beauty one would expect from such an exclusive property in the south, Souter plantation is a mix of pines and hardwoods, a perfect blend for wildlife habitat. Currently, 126 acres of open row cropland is being farmed, with an additional 300 acres in planted pines.

The plantation includes a modest cabin, the Greenberry Brown House, perfect for overnight hunts and gatherings on the property. Two miles of frontage on Buck Creek, a major tributary of the Flint River, provides highly sought after fishing for red breast, bass and channel cat, delicious fish coming from the sandy bottom creek. In addition, a smaller creek on the plantation provides year round flow and could be dammed for creating a manmade lake if desired.

The Souters have operated a successful buck management program since the mid-80s, and numerous trophies have been taken on the property from hunters who come from across the country to experience first class hunting on a gem of a southern property, where 8-point minimum practices were the norm for years. In fact, Macon County was recently voted the number one county in the state of Georgia for harvesting trophy buck, a title the county has been awarded over a dozen times.

Lately, more stringent deer harvesting practices on Souter Plantation require a minimum of 17-inch wide racks and have resulted in numerous 140 class bucks being taken in recent years, with deer in the 150-160 class taken in the past seven to eight years.  

In addition to deer, other wildlife abounds on the property, including wild turkey. In the mid 1950s, after years of successful dove and quail hunting on the property, James Souter introduced five pair of wild turkey to the farm. Because of his success with the release and the prime habitat, Souter was asked in the 1970s by the Department of Natural Resources for permission to release more turkey on the property as part of a restocking program. Today, the property remains a top spot for turkey hunting.

Because of the long success with deer and turkey, owners have recently concentrated on improving the wild quail habitat on Souter Plantation and already have numerous wild bird coveys on the property. In addition, duck hunting is resplendent here, with an abundance of wood ducks coming in to two ponds. Other small game abounds here as well, including rabbit and squirrel.

Additional highlights of this classic southern plantation property include miles of wood roads throughout the property, making all reaches of the acreage accessible. Power and a deep well are also located on Souter Plantation.

Potential buyers have an opportunity to acquire a piece of Georgia history with Souter Plantation, which for generations has enjoyed a good reputation for encouraging and facilitating wildlife habitats and enhancing the natural beauty in Macon County, Georgia. Don't miss this opportunity to own an historic southern plantation property!

 If you have property that you are considering selling, maybe a J. Durham & Associates, Inc. auction is right for you. To find out more about selling property at auction contact J. Durham & Associates, Inc. at (800) 342-2666.