Editing Enigma, Georgia (section)

==History==
Enigma is a small town in South Georgia located in the northwest tip of Berrien County, {{convert|9|mi|0}} east of [[Tifton, Georgia|Tifton]], on [[U.S. Route 82 in Georgia|U.S. Highway 82]]. The town was founded between 1876 and 1880 by John A. Ball. It was not initially named "Enigma". Originally a settlement, it was commonly referred to as "Gunn and Weston" until Ball decided he wanted a real name for this town. Two names, "Lax" and "Enigma", were proposed to state officials for review. Lax was already taken by another nearby settlement, and so "Enigma" became the official name.<ref name="Cauthen, Edna Dean 1975">Cauthen, Edna Dean, Elon Dean Murphy and Estelle Dean McMillan. ''The History of Berrien County: Enigma, Berrien County, Georgia'' 1975.</ref> Enigma is an odd name for a town; by definition it means a puzzle or mystery. Ball said, "It was a puzzle what to name it anyway." The town was incorporated on August 21, 1906.<ref name="Cauthen, Edna Dean 1975"/>
[[File:Enigma, Georgia (circa 1900).jpg|thumb|left|Enigma, circa 1900]]

Ball and his family originated in [[Raleigh, North Carolina]], traveling to Georgia on the [[Brunswick and Western Railroad]]. He became the town's first postmaster, and not long afterward, Capt J.B. Gunn from [[Terrell County, Georgia]], came as an assistant. Ball and his son Jim started a [[turpentine]] business around 1878. Ball returned to Raleigh to bring back a man named Tubb Daughtry and his family to help run the business. He gave them land to live on and permission to worship as they pleased. The turpentine business soon dwindled, and lumber became the main focus. Capt. J. B. Gunn and Capt. S. R. Weston built a sawmill two miles east of Enigma. H. F. Stewart came to work in the sawmill.<ref name="Cauthen, Edna Dean 1975"/>

Other businesses opened in Enigma throughout the years, including a grocery, merchandise, and hardware stores. E.F. Bussey set up a merchandise store in a building owned at one time by Gunn. This building also housed the U.S. Post Office and sold coffins on its second story.<ref name="Cauthen, Edna Dean 1975"/> It was located on the south side of the railroad. The railroad's closest depot was in [[Brookfield, Georgia|Brookfield]], {{convert|4|mi|0}} away. Enigma had a doctor's office run by G.R. Parker. There have been three banks in Enigma throughout the years. Two banks were started around 1915 to 1917, and the other one was started in 1973. The People's Bank opened in 1915 and closed in 1916, and the Ambrose-Enigma Banking Company opened on June 5, 1917, and closed around 1920. The Bank of Alapaha opened a branch in Enigma on March 1, 1973, and is still in business.